LTC Adventure Travel

Adventure in Costa Rica

2011-11-25T17:01:00.001-08:00

Costa Rica is a wonderful destination, especially if you like active adventures. Whether you’re planning on traveling on your own, with a friend or partner or going with the whole family, Costa Rica has something for everyone. Here are some of the top activities:

Mountains and volcanoes

Costa Rica has a number of stunning mountains and volcanoes to explore. Arenal and Irazu Volcano are quite popular and offer beautiful hiking trails and amazing mountain biking. The lush Monteverde cloud forest is an incredible destination for hiking and biking, horseback riding and zip lining. Monteverde is currently in danger of disappearing due to deforestation and climate change. If you have the chance, definitely go and see it before it disappears!

Water

Over time, Costa Rica has been shaped by winding valleys and canyons. This has made it a hugely popular destination for white water rafting and kayaking. Some of the most picturesque and exhilarating rivers include the Pacuare, Sarapiqui and Reventazon, which offer from 3 to 4 grade rapids. If you prefer surfing to rafting, be sure to check out Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Puerto Viejo is a really popular surfing destination for everyone from beginners to experts. If you’re an advanced surfer, the Salsa Brava Reef is one of the best and heaviest surf spots in Costa Rica.

Animals

Costa Rica is crawling with all sorts of critters and is, therefore, a great destination for animal viewing. For bird watching the best regions are Sarapiqui, Turrialba and Cano Negro. If you’re fascinated by the unique and slow-moving sloth, visit the Sloth Sanctuary and rescue facility in Limon (located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica). For tropical butterflies, visit the Butterfly Conservatory in El Castillo (near Arenal). If you’re really enthusiastic about nature and have a few weeks to spare, the Sea Turtle Conservation Project is a wonderful project to volunteer with in Costa Rica.

Have you been to Costa Rica? What were your favourite adventure activities?

South Africa with Pat and Doug

2011-10-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

Pat and Doug were just in South Africa. If you've never been to South Africa, the Lonely Planet describes it as "befitting its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at". I got a chance to ask Pat about the trip, and she shared her experience with me.

"We were in South Africa for about 15 days with two days of travel at either end," shared Pat, "the trip was 19 days in total."

"We had a couple overnights, but the key places were the Kapama River Lodge and the Bayethe Tented Lodge, both were fabulous," shared Pat, "In
Knysna we stayed at the Protea Hotel Knysna Quays and in Cape Town we stayed at the Portswood. Both places were wonderfully located."

Pat and Doug also were on safaris while they were there, giving the trip an element of adventure! "All the safari accommodations were great, especially the Bayethe Tented Lodge at Shamwari," said Pat, "it was unique!" Overall, all the places Pat and Doug stayed were very, very good and homes to great locations in South Africa.

As for the rest, I had to ask what kind of activities they enjoyed during the safaris. "Apart from the morning and evening drives, we used the spa services at Kapama. The spa itself and the location were beautiful," shared Pat, "We also sat by the pool at Kapama as the temperature was in the high 20's C. We had less time at Shamwari, but there too, we relaxed outside and enjoyed the weather."

Everyone has a favourite part about their trip, and Pat is no exception. "My favourites were the safaris of course, Cape Town activities including Robben Island - we arranged the Robben Island activities ourselves when we got there," shared Pat.

Any downsides? "Nothing really," said Pat, "I would have liked more time if anything! More time to stay at another location along the Indian Ocean, like Plettenberg, or stay in a wine country town like Franschhoek. It would have also been nice to have more time for activities I couldn't fit in too, like whale watching, or more time on the Table Mountain exploring."

I asked Pat if there was anything she'd like to share with the readers, and she had a great piece of advice: "Everyone should do at least one safari in their lifetime! The experience is so incredible it's almost indescribable," shared Pat, "It was great to experience both the Kapama and Shamwari safaris in that although the animals viewed were similar, the terrain, habitat, the accommodation and food were quite different."

We'd like to thank Pat for sharing her experience with us! Ever been on a safari? Share your insight below.

Spotlight on Safari in South Africa

2011-10-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Imagine watching a leopard up a tree with its kill; being surprised by hippos suddenly surging into a pond; listening to the sounds of the bush and gazing at the bright stars of the African night sky. These amazing experiences and more await you on a South African safari. It's amongst the world's finest travel experiences and one you'll never forget.

Adventure in Africa

Safari means adventure and there's plenty of adventure in South Africa. From the vast, pristine beaches of the Indian Ocean to the natural bush of the national parks, this is a diverse and beautiful land with many exciting adventure activities for you to experience.

Game Parks & Reserves

Going on safari for game viewing is the first thing visitors think of when planning a trip to Africa. You'll hear a lot about The Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion) which were the animals highly sought after in the days of hunting safaris. They can all be found in South Africa along with many other animals and birds.

Game Parks & Reserves

South Africa has some of the best national parks, reserves and wilderness areas on the continent offering a range of experiences from basic to deluxe. You'll come across game viewing areas all around the country. The biggest is Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park is world renowned, offering the most diverse game viewing experience in Africa.

An area the size of Scotland covering nearly 2 million hectares with 16 ecosystems, Kruger is found in the northeastern part of the country.
Established as a park in 1894, today it is home to 100,000 impala, 10,000 blue wildebeest, 9,000 kudu, 5,000 warthog, 25,000 zebra, 180 cheetah, over 1,000 leopard and 1,500 lion.
You'll easily find elephant, giraffe, rhino, hippopotamus, hyena, crocodile and many more exotic species.
You'll stay in camps where you are shut in while the animals roam freely in the park.
Accommodation ranges from standard, self catering rest camps to luxury lodges with every amenity for the discerning traveller.
Guided game drives and bush walks with an armed ranger are safe ways to see the animals.
Be sure to stay in your car if driving without a guide. Animals are extremely well camouflaged.
The park is a leading conservation area which has nurtured the white rhino from extinction and now safeguards the world's largest population.

The Kruger Park experience has been duplicated on a smaller scale at other parks and private reserves around the country.

Safari Options

In South Africa, the safari experience has evolved to suit all types of travellers with some rather unique options available:

Spa-faris at luxury lodges and camps let you combine a health and wellness vacation with game viewing. Be pampered with African treatments at the on- site spa in between your game viewing drives.
The Big 7 Safar - Head for the Eastern Cape where you'll see the Big 5 on your land safari and the white shark and southern right whale on the coast. South Africa is a leader in shark cage diving which is both safe and exciting.
Safari Flights - View herds of game during scenic, time-saving flights between safari camps and lodges.
Safari & Rail Journeys - Enjoy the spectacular rail routes of Southern Africa on journeys from Cape Town to Namibia, Johannesburg to the Victoria Falls or Pretoria to Durban. There are several routes to choose from for a scenic way to get around the region combined with game viewing safaris.
Tour and Safari - South Africa is a beautiful country with many areas well worth visiting. Combine a tour with your safari experience to discover more of this unique country. Itineraries include the major cities plus the Garden Route, Swaziland, Kwa Zulu, the Drakensbergs, Cape Point and the Cape winelands region.
Multi-country Safaris - For those with more time, add game viewing safaris in neighbouring countries like Botswana (home to some of the most untouched game viewing areas in Africa), Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and even Tanzania and Kenya. A visit to the spectacular Victoria Falls is included in many itineraries.
Cruising plus Safari - Enjoy a safari experience when your ship calls at South African ports. Cruise lines offer overnight safaris to private reserves pre, post or during your South African cruise.

A safari in the African bush is certainly a must. Bring plenty of memory cards for your camera as you'll be taking shots continually to capture this remarkable vacation.

The Journey to Timbuktu...

2011-09-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, Timbuktu really does exist - and what a journey it was to get there!

Our bad luck streak started before we even left Canada! Each airline we tried to book on went out of business, and when we finally found a solvent one, we weren't sure that it would get us home, but we took our chances anyway. We had nothing to lose and we really wanted to get to Timbuktu!

We arrived in Dakar, Senegal, but our luggage did not! It finally showed up 48 hours later, after we had spent many hours and lots of money on clothing and essentials (underwear was $25.00 a pair!) Our tour leader then informed us that Air Mali was bankrupt and would not be flying us from Timbuktu to Bamako at the end of our trip. We would have to travel by land - a 2-day delay. Oh well!

Dakar, once a beautiful old French Colonial city, is now just full of deteriorated old buildings. The city is a music mecca, a "must see" if you are a fan of Senegalese music!

We departed Senegal on what we later nicknamed the "cockroach express". The Dakar - Bamako train was scheduled to take 28 hours, but actually took 40! Among the many things one could purchase at the colourful stations along the way were lovely straw fans. These were as close as we came to air conditioning. The open window on the 25km/hour train just didn't cut it! The dining car had a set menu comprising of one dish only! It wasn't too bad considering the kitchen conditions. Sometimes we dined there, and other times we bought lovely French baguettes out of the train window, as we passed through mud/thatch villages.

We finally we arrived in Bamako and were met by our local tour guide, Telly. After 40 hours of hell, he was a welcome sight, as was our lovely air-conditioned bus and the clean air-conditioned hotel rooms. Refreshed and rejuvenated, we set off in our mini-van to Djenne (via Segou). Djenne is a UNESCO sight and one of the highlights of the trip. It houses the largest mud mosque in the world, which is very impressive. You should really try and make it there in time for the colourful Monday market which takes place in the square - backdropped by the beautiful mosque. The sights and sounds and colour really stand out against all the brown. We spent our time wandering through the alleyways, and over the rooftops, looking down on life below. We engaged a couple of local boys as our "personal shoppers". They helped us bargain for mudcloth, batik, bangles, and organized a tailor for us too!

Our next stop was Dogon country. WOW! We were driven to the middle of the escarpment and descended on foot down the uneven, steep grade into the valley below. It was incredible watching our porters effortlessly snake down the rock-face, laden with boxes, cooking and camping gear on their heads, and only flip-flops on their feet! We finally made it down and arrived at our first night stop. We were promptly offered cold beer and coke (we thought they were kidding, but the Chief had a fridge in his mud hut!) Our cook whipped up a wonderful 3-course meal in one pot, over an open fire, in the middle of nowhere, for 14 people. He did this every day, 3 times a day. Incredible!

Our days in Dogon were spent walking to villages in the cool early morning hours, then lunching and having a little siesta before continuing on to our night stop. We constantly ran into inquisitive little kids or farmers as we wandered between villages. At the end of each day we erected our tents on the villagers' roofs or in a nearby field. One of the highlights of our Dogon visit was when we were treated to some colourful and traditional masked dancing, performed by the young men of the village, and witnessed and blessed by their elders. A truly unique and unforgettable experience.

On day 4 we finally made the journey up and out of the valley. It was steep, and it was hot, but it was worth it, as it afforded us some truly magnificent views over Dogon country below.

From Dogon we made our way to Mopti where we spent the night before heading up the Niger River to Timbuktu. This was a 3 day/2 night cruise, although I use the term "cruise," loosely! Our boat was a thatch covered pinasse (dugout canoe), with hard wooden bench seats. The life on the river was amazing. We passed fishing boats, crowded local ferries and lots of little fishing villages (bozo villages). As we docked at each of these, hundreds of kids ran out to greet us, shouting "ca va', 'cadeaux' and 'bon bon' . We felt like explorers from a bygone era. The locals thought we were such a novelty and we had lots of fun with them! At night we camped along the desert shores. Beautiful and peaceful. We saw no other tourists for the whole 3 days.

We reached the end of our river journey and were welcomed by our drivers who brought us to Timbuktu by jeep. Timbuktu has the feel of a frontier town, right on the edge of something big, which it is! We enjoyed our day wandering the streets with our guide "Mohammed Ali" pointing out the mosques, Koran schools and the homes of the explorers that had first come there. It is dusty and brown, with the monotony only broken by the vibrant dress of the women strolling by. We did the touristy thing and rode a camel with the Tuaregs, out into the Sahara. It was beautiful looking back and seeing Timbuktu in the distance, blending into the desert.

After boarding our privately chartered Russian plane, (with Kazak pilots), we made our way back to Bamako, where we bid a sad farewell to the group and leaders. Over the weeks we had learned so much from Telly about Mali and it's people, and had developed a lovely friendship with him. We had all experienced so much!

I departed West Africa with a range of mixed emotions. I was physically tired, and by the time we had finished with the Bamako airport beaurocracy, I was frustrated and truly happy to be heading home. We encountered even more difficulties than I have written about (we lost more luggage, hotel beds collapsed from under us and I was almost knocked unconscious when a mud brick fell out of the roof and onto my head while I slept). All of that certainly made for a challenging trip. Despite all of our bad luck, when I think about the smiles of the kids, the colour and sounds of the markets, and the warmth of the people of Mali, I am so glad that I made the remarkable journey to Timbuktu.

We got back to Canada only to discover that we had made it out on Sabena's last flight to North America! I guess we really were meant to make the trip after all! Despite all of the difficulties we encountered and the bad luck we had along the way, this was an amazing trip and well worth doing!

-Lesli

Vietnam Part 2: Hue, Ha Long Bay and Hanoi

2011-09-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

The next stop on our trip was Hue. Hue was the old imperial city and the ruins of the city are still there. Hue is built on the banks of the Perfume River, so it is worth taking a boat downstream to watch life go by as well as visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. If you can, stay in the old part of town right behind the walls of the imperial city. Rent a bike and cycle around exploring pagodas and the markets.

One of the highlights of my trip was renting a motorbike and driver and touring the countryside for the day. We journeyed through villages, rice paddies, war remnants and had the most incredible lunch at a monastery. Then we visited another monastery while the monks were chanting, saw joss sticks getting made along the side of the road and drove by canals with canoes made from pieces of American war planes. It was just a fantastic day and I think, the highlight for everyone.

From Hue we took the Reunification Express overnight, north to Hanoi. It was a great 12 hour trip. The train was spotless and the service was terrific. You may wish to pack your own cheese and French bread though!

After arriving in Hanoi we took a bus directly to Ha Long Bay. This takes about 3 hours and we then spent the afternoon cruising the bay and marveling at the limestone peaks that rise from the waters. There are hundreds of them. It was a very misty afternoon, not really warm enough for swimming, although some brave souls took the plunge! We explored some great caves and then had a sumptuous seafood feast onboard!

Back to Hanoi the next day along 'dog alley', so named for the many restaurants along the route serving dog! Hanoi is lovely. You can easily while away several days here wandering through the old quarter, strolling tree lined boulevards and admiring the beautiful lakes and faded colonial architecture. A definite must see is the water puppets. The troupe does several shows a day and the variety of puppets and stories they tell is incredible!

This rounded up the trip aptly named 'The Spirit of Vietnam'. I toured with a small group and the trip went off without a hitch. Whether you decide to go with a small group or tour Vietnam on your own, its a wonderful destination that offers a very special travel experience.

Vietnam Part 1 - Saigon, Hoi An and the Marble Mountains

2011-09-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Vietnam had been on my list for 10 years, so I could easily have been disappointed after all that time, but I wasn't. Vietnam is absolutely amazing! It is geographically stunning, the people are genuinely friendly, the food is delicious and the colonial architecture elegant. It has a complex history with memories and visions of war everywhere. Now a country at peace, it has been an emerging travel destination over the years, yet you still feel it is refreshingly unspoiled. And as I discovered, Vietnam is so much more than rice fields and conical hats!

  My trip began in Saigon and finished 12 days later in Hanoi. The streets of Saigon were incredible with motorbikes everywhere! There are 3 million motorbikes on the street at any given time - imagine the round-abouts! I took my own cyclo tour visiting the War Museum, City Hall, the Rex Hotel and various other sights including the famous ones from the book/movie 'The Quiet American'. I also strolled down Dong Khoi street which was famous for its brothels and massage parlours. It is now a rather chic area of Saigon with fancy restaurants and shops. The buildings are all very elegant and more sophisticated shopping can be done here.   

Eating is easy in Saigon as there are outdoor night markets everywhere; food was wonderful and very inexpensive! An average dinner cost about $3.00USD - and that includes a large beer!   

We spent a day boating on the Mekong, which is well worth a visit. If you can get in a small boat and pole down the tributaries it is quite beautiful, very lush and very peaceful. We stopped at various islands and wandered through villages.  

From Saigon we made our way to Hoi An. Once a bustling port town, Hoi An is now a lovely haven of cobbled stone streets where coloured lanterns hanging from colonial buildings. You can get anything made to measure here. There are over 300 tailors! But try not to spend your whole time shopping! Instead just wander the streets, rent a bike and cycle into the country - it is very flat, rent a boat and paddle to some of the nearby islands and wander through villages, visit the early morning fish market, watch the school girls bike to school wearing their immaculate white ao dais. Hoi An is a treasure, so enjoy!   

From Hoi An we drove north to the Marble Mountains and China Beach. It is definitely worth climbing the 200 steps to the top of the Marble Mountains. Get a beautiful view and poke your head into some of the cave temples. From there a quick stop to see China Beach – an untouched beach (at least at the moment). We continued on and went over the Hai Van Pass. If it wasn't foggy, which it usually is, the view would have been spectacular.

-Lesli

Egypt Part 3 - Hot Air Ballooning

2011-09-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to go hot air ballooning and thought I would give it a go over the Valley of the Kings. This was truly one of the highlights of my trip! I thought it would be a bit of a jerky lift off but we seemed to just float into the air. One of our first sights was Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, what a gorgeous setting at the foot of a limestone cliff-face. The view from up there gave a great perspective of the division between life alongside the Nile and the desert.

See Part 1 or Part 2

Instead of taking normal transportation into The Valley of the Kings, such as a bus, we rode donkeys - that's right - for 7 miles, seemed like 50! But we were a great spectacle for the Japanese tourists as we trotted in! We may even have attracted more attention than King Tut's tomb!

There were many tombs open to view. The walls of the tombs are covered in unbelievably well preserved paintings of gods and goddesses, and complex hieroglyphics depicting their life and afterlife. Most of the burial chambers were looted except King Tutankhamun, hence the fantastic displays at the Cairo Museum. But you will still find King Tut's body in his tomb. You pay extra to enter King Tut's tomb if you are so inclined.

From the valley we hiked up and over to Deir el Medina, which is the workers village. On the way you end up over top of Queen Hatshepsut Temple and get another fantastic view. In Deir el Medina you can still see the remains of the tomb builder’s homes and their own tombs that are almost more beautifully preserved than the king’s tombs. We then climbed back onboard our donkeys to make our way back to the Nile. On our way back we trotted through a little village, and the kids were just getting out of school. They must of thought we were a silly sight, but they were high- fiving us nonetheless!

We had a fantastic last dinner in Luxor and some last minute shopping. Silver and gold are pretty good purchases in Luxor. We were up very early the next morning for our convoy to Hurghada and the Red Sea. The winter winds had picked up so it was far cooler on the coast than I had expected. What to say about Hurghada, not much really. It is a seaside resort in either constant disrepair or expansion, hard to know which. What was wonderful was our day out at sea, snorkeling. The underwater life was fantastic and the sea was that gorgeous blue that just invites you in.

Once back in Cairo, I did some more last minute shopping and eating before saying goodbye to a great group of people I had spent the past 2 weeks with and reflecting on the fact that I had indeed seen the Great Pyramids, Abu Simbel , hot air ballooned over the Valley of the Kings and cruised down the Nile! Not bad!

-Lesli

Egypt Part 2 - Aswan and Luxor

2011-09-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

From Cairo we took an overnight sleeper train to Aswan. It was heaven waking up with the sun reflecting off the desert dunes and peering out the window to see the Nile right beside us as we followed it south.

See Egypt Part 1

Aswan is an interesting town but very hectic. It is supposed to be famous for it's spice market but I have seen far better ones in Turkey and Morocco. An afternoon sail in a felucca is a great way to while away the afternoon before heading off to The Old Cataracts Hotel, of Agatha Christie fame, for a cocktail. And if you can, ask them for a peak at the suite named after her. Also well worth a visit is the Nubian Museum with excellent displays and the interpretation is far superior to the Cairo Museum.

Since the shooting in the Valley of the Kings in 1997 security is tight everywhere including police escorted convoys to various parts of the country. For this reason we were up at 3:00am for our 4:00am coach convoy down to Abu Simbel. But what a sight once there, as long as you can ignore the masses of tourists. Ramses II had the temples built to honor himself and his wife Nefertari. These temples were threatened by the damning of Lake Nassar. Various world organizations got together and funded the project, moving the temples to higher ground. There is a fascinating display of photographs of the work that took place over 14 years to accomplish this move.

From Aswan we boarded our lovely little cruise boat Melody and started to make our way up the Nile. The Nile is really fascinating as about 90% of Egypt's population lives on the Nile and the green belt spreads a couple of kilometers away from the river on both sides. Then it abruptly stops and becomes desert as far as the eye can see. So lots of life to see as we cruised by. We made several stops along the way visiting the temples of Kom Ombo and Edfu before arriving in Luxor and disembarking.

Luxor is a great little city. I had a good feeling about it right away. Not sure if it was because the grand colonnades of the Luxor Temple illuminated as the sun was starting to set or it's proximity to the Valley of the Kings, the fact that local transportation was by horse drawn carriages, or the fact that we had access to McDonald ice cream sundaes! By far the best sights are Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Adel was our fantastic Egyptologist guide who accompanied us to both Karnak and the Valley of the Kings and his wealth of information and passion for Egypt's history were very engaging!

Karnak Temple is over 2000 years old and must have at least 100 columns and fantastic reliefs with the colours still as vibrant as they were all those years ago. There are various sound and light shows in Egypt including one here at Karnak. It was worthwhile, if a bit long.

-Lesli

Egypt Part 1 - Ramadan in Bustling Cairo

2011-09-08T14:43:00.001-07:00

Pyramids, pharaohs, King Tut, the Sphynx, all these images I grew up with had me in a constant state of excitement during my two week trip to Egypt. How would the sites be? Would they live up to my expectations? Are the pyramids as grand as they seem on TV? Are the carved statues at Abu Simbel as massive as they seem in pictures? The answer is absolutely yes to all of the above!

From the moment I arrived in Cairo I was just thrilled to be in Egypt. Cairo is a bustling city of 20 million plus people and approximately 3 million taxis. Cars, six abreast, squeeze along on 2 lane roads! The initial challenge was learning how to cross the street. I soon learned to look out for any locals crossing and attach myself to them and this worked really well.

I was in Egypt for the last week of Ramadan so I got to experience both Ramadan and the festivities that followed. The positive aspect of visiting at that time was learning all about it on a day to day basis – plus, nobody was smoking. The downside was that a lot of sites visited were open shorter hours but the number of tourists was the same. When Ramadan ended the streets were filled with women and children out celebrating which was great fun as our day-to-day exchanges were most typically with men.

I had just 3 days in Cairo but it deserves many more. One could spend days walking the maze of streets in the Khan al Kalili bazaar and exploring all the exhibits in the Egyptian Museum. Other sights worth seeing are Coptic Cairo, the Christian area, and the Citadel, with fantastic views of the city and hopefully a glimpse of the pyramids.

The pyramids were amazing and took my breath away. Each one made with over 20 million slabs. You marvel at how they managed to build them and still there are no real answers to that question. The Great Pyramid (of Cheops) is open for you to go inside, as long as you do not suffer from claustrophobia or mind walking bent over uphill for quite a ways!

-Lesli

Canyonlands - Part 2

2011-08-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

See Canyonlands - Part 1

As we continued following the winding Colorado River we made our way to Page, Utah and the stunning slots of Antelope Canyon. Another amazing natural wonder formed over time by flash floods from the plains below. A few hours north of Page we came across our first glimpse of the beautiful clay hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, also known as the ‘Valley of the Standing Man’. We enjoyed some spectacular hikes here, on the rim and down into the canyon, climbing through narrow gaps between these standing men. Once again the varying colours of these wind eroded land forms was a camera buffs dream!

Zion National Park, a few hours south of Bryce, was our last stop and also our lowest point so hardly any snow! Zion is quite a contrast to the other two parks as you are actually driving into the park through desert terrain and looking up 3000 feet at towering sandstone walls, monoliths and sculpted rock. Once again the most wonderful shades of red against the deep blue skies.

There are lots of hiking options of varying degrees and a few of us challenged ourselves to attempt Angels Landing - this is not for the faint of heart! This is one of the most thrilling hikes that takes you up the stunning switchbacks known as Walters Wiggles to a rock face with a narrow trail and chains to hang on to. Its best not attempted at the time of year we were there as ice and snow make the rock face very perilous. Needless to say after going a few hundred feet along the face we decided Angels Landing was just not worth the risk. Instead we sat at Scouts Landing, still enjoying a magnificent view, as our heart rates slowly returned to normal!

And then it was back to the glitz and glam known as Las Vegas all too soon.

This was a fast paced trip with an awesome exposure to the Canyonlands of Utah and Arizona. It really left you wanting to explore more. Hotels and lodges were all moderate with a great degree of comfort and all just outside park entrances, so very convenient. Although hiking was all optional this trip is really geared towards hiking but the hikes are at your own pace and level so ideally suited for anyone who enjoys walking.

This adventure for me can be summed up in miles and miles of 'oohs and aahs'.

Canyonlands - Part 1

2011-08-29T11:06:00.001-07:00

A few years ago I had the opportunity to explore the amazing Canyonlands in Utah and Arizona. What could be easier than a 2.5 hour flight to Las Vegas, the jumping off point for the trip? I traveled with Explore Worldwide, one of the many small group adventure companies we work with.

After meeting my fellow hikers we hit the road, crossed Hoover Dam and drove a stretch of the famed Route 66 - very kitschy. We came upon the Grand Canyon at the south rim just in time for a spectacular sunset! It just opened up in front of us and although I knew what to expect I was still awestruck by the size of the expanse.

We spent the next couple of days doing various hikes at our own pace along the rim or down into the Canyon, on the Bright Angel Trail. This was a bit tricky as it was still early for hiking and the trails were snowy and icy. But you could rent or buy crampons for your boots and so managed fairly well. We eventually had to leave this amazing place and as we drove out the East Gate we managed to time the sunrise just right for more jaw dropping views.

From Grand Canyon we met the ‘wild west’ as we made our way through Navajo land to the classic site of Monument Valley. As we crested a small hill, there it was, right in front of us, the scene from every Western movie I had ever seen. Mesas and buttes in various shades of red, eroded over time, silhouetted against the blue, blue skies. We enjoyed a fantastic jeep tour led by our Navajo guide who shared Navajo folklore and drummed us into a trancelike state in a beautiful natural rock amphitheatre as the sun slowly set.

I seemed to be in a constant state of exclamation during the trip as it was an endless collection of unbelievable sunrises, sunsets, vistas, colours and rock formations!

Cruising Jordan & Israel

2011-08-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Imagine experiencing the wondrous sights of Israel and Jordan while living aboard a cruise ship. This is possible on Eastern Mediterranean and Suez Canal/Red Sea sailings.

An excursion to a Kibbutz is often arranged by cruise lines when in Israel, giving you a unique cultural experience.

Visit Israel on Eastern Mediterranean and Suez Canal cruises which call at the ports of Haifa and Ashdod on the Mediterranean and occasionally, Eilat on the Red Sea.
- Visits to Jerusalem can be made from both Haifa and Ashdod, with Ashdod the closest port.
- From Haifa, visit Jerusalem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.
- From Ashdod visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada, Dead Sea and the sparkling city and beaches of Tel Aviv.
- From Eilat visit Masada, Dead Sea and Sodom.
Visit Jordan on cruises to the Suez Canal and Red Sea.

From Aqaba, Jordan's only seaport, you have the opportunity to visit ancient Petra, stunning Wadi Rum, a Bedouin camp as well as the highlights of Aqaba.

A unique opportunity is offered by Azamara Club Cruises on November 5, 2012 when Azamara Journey sails for 10 nights, round trip from Suez, Egypt calling at Aqaba, Jordan, Eilat, Israel plus Safaga and Sharm-el -Sheikh, Egypt, with two days in each port of call.

However you choose to visit Israel and Jordan, you are in for a unique travel experience.

Spotlight on Israel and Jordan

2011-08-22T15:25:00.001-07:00

The ancient sights of the Holy Land draw visitors from around the world with 3.5 million tourists visiting in 2010. The wondrous religious sights are not the only attraction however. Fabulous beaches, renowned cultural events, excellent food and wine plus outstanding wellness, spa and eco vacations make the region inviting for all types of visitors. Israel and Jordan are certainly alluring lands with much to offer today's traveller.

The beautiful land and seascapes of Israel and Jordan are steeped in ancient history and spiritual heritage. It can be an overwhelming experience for visitors to take in sights and places of such great historic and religious significance in places like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, Masada, the Baptism Site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan and ancient Petra, carved out of the mountain side, dating back as far as 7,000 BC.

These modern countries offer many other destinations, well known for recent historic events and natural beauty, as well as some outstanding activities not to be missed:

See some of the most striking desert scenery in the world at Wadi Rum near Aqaba, Jordan. This is where T.E. Lawrence began his revolt against the Turks in 1917 and the area was used in the filming of the movie, Lawrence of Arabia.
The city of Tel Aviv is well known as a cultural and entertainment centre, home to some stunning Bauhaus architecture as well as great beaches. It's one of the six UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Israel.
Active adventures abound with some unique opportunities. A rare mix of desert cliffs, alpine meadows, rivers and forested ridges offer year round activities with excellent rappelling, skiing, hiking, river rafting and kayaking. Divers can enjoy an underwater tour of Roman antiquities at Caesarea while beach and water sport vacations are popular at the many excellent Mediterranean and Red Sea resorts.
Enjoy a variety of music festivals in the region like the Jacob's Ladder Folk Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, the annual Jerusalem Woodstock Revival and the Al Balad alternative music festival. The most breathtaking concert location is at the fortress of Masada in the Judean Desert which overlooks the Dead Sea. This venue is renowned for its world class operatic productions in this dramatic setting.
You might be surprised at the excellent quality of food and wine you'll enjoy during your stay. Jordan offers a wide range of delicious Arabic food and wine. Drinking strong Arabic coffee is a customary tradition. Israel is a noted destination for food aficionados due its great cultural diversity which is reflected in the food scene around the country. The new haute Middle Eastern cuisine is served at fine restaurants in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Try the local wine with your meals as Israel's wine industry is thriving.

There'll be more on the fascinating and alluring worlds of Jordan and Israel later this week!

Gorilla Trekking Rwanda - Part 2

2011-08-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

The night before my trek was hardly sleep filled as I lay there in anticipation of the day to come! We met at the park headquarters at about 6am and got divided into groups of no more than 8. There are approximately 7 different gorilla groups in the area. Our gorilla group was called 'Group 13', with approximately 15 gorillas in that group. My fellow trekkers were 2 other couples. Plus we had 2 guides and armed military escorts provided by the park.

Our trackers had already been up at the crack of dawn and were tracing the steps of our group from the previous day. We had a 30 minute drive from the park headquarters before we began our walk. We walked on marked trails through farm land, slowly gaining altitude before we reached the park border fence. We were at about 3000 metres, which did pose some altitude issues for me and a couple of the others, but we took it slow and just plodded along. Once we crossed into the park it was basically bushwacking, some scrambling on all fours and trying to stay away from the stinging nettle!

Our guides were in constant communication with the trackers via 2 way radio and when we heard they had come upon them and they were not far up ahead a hush fell over our group. When we came upon our trackers it was in a little clearing and there were some black furry balls dotted here and there.

As we approached, the gorillas looked at us but weren't the least bit bothered. We just sat or crouched and soaked it all up. The moms were nursing babies or just grooming, the teens were flying around above us in the bamboo doing Tarzan acrobatics. It was definitely playtime. We never knew when one was going to land right in front of us and we had to scurry out of the way so as not to be perceived as a threat. We walked a tiny bit further and discovered the silverback. Although you know they must be formidable, it isn't till you are a few feet away that you feel dwarfed by their presence. Once again he was not the least bit interested or bothered by us. The maximum time allowed each day with a group is one hour and that went all too quickly. I walked away trying to sum up what had just happened and realized I had been mesmerized, but that I also had just had one of the purest experiences ever.

The next day I did a trek to see the Golden Monkeys. This was also fabulous. An easier trek, wandering through farmers’ fields and low lying bamboo forest. We saw hundreds of these monkeys flying over our heads and swinging on bamboo. Unfortunately they just wouldn't stay still for photos! The bamboo forest we hiked through was stunningly gorgeous! One can also hike up to Diane Fossey's grave site or do another gorilla trek or just tour this very scenic area.

I thought seeing the gorillas once would be enough, but it isn't. They are magnificent creatures and I will be going back! Suffice it to say it was absolutely fabulous!

Gorilla Trekking Rwanda - Part 1

2011-08-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

As my friends would attest, I have been going on about the Mountain Gorillas for years. Finally, in October 2006, I experienced the most amazing visit with them.

There are approximately 700 mountain gorillas in the Virunga Range of volcanic mountains bordering the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. I chose Rwanda as my destination. I have been drawn to it over the years in part due to its unbelievably sad past but also its beauty which I had only seen in books. And it truly is a beautiful country.

Seeing the gorillas still only appeals to a small number of travelers and Rwanda does make people feel trepidatious; therefore small group touring is limited. I ended up organizing a private tour with a wonderful local company. I was met at Kigali airport by my lovely guide Gilbert. It is about a 3 hour drive to the Parc de Volcans, in the north east. What a beautiful drive.

The country is agriculturally based and most people sustain themselves with their little plots of extremely fertile soil. The country is considered the Land of a Thousand Hills, Mille Collines. As you drive along, the countryside is made up of undulating hills, with a patchwork of terraced farms. So picturesque! Mode of transport for most Rwandese is by foot or bicycle, so the roads are a sea of people hauling all sorts of things on their heads, backs and bikes.

The area surrounding the park has a small main town and a couple of hotels/guesthouses for tourists visiting the gorillas. The accommodation is basic but good and the food is varied and wonderful. I think I had the most delicious tomatoes and avocados I have ever had and certainly the largest avocados! There are quite a few different hikes to do in the area and some beautiful scenic drives. But most people are of course coming here to see the mountain gorillas.

Where to encounter penguins

2011-06-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Penguins are some of the world’s most fascinating creatures. They are graceful and elegant, yet seemingly awkward as they waddle along on land. The flightless birds spend more than half of their lives in the water and are only ever airborne when they leap onto land. Having no natural fear of humans, these curious birds sometimes come quite close to their observers. For this reason, many animal-lovers travel far and wide to have an experience with their favourite birds.

Emperor Penguins, Photo: Martha de Jong-Lantink on Flickr

If you want to encounter penguins on your next adventure, there are several places you can find them. Most penguin species reside in the Antarctic and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Different species of penguin thrive in different climates. The tropical Galapagos Islands are home to the world’s smallest penguin: the Galapagos Penguin. Emperor penguins live in the vast, icy wilderness of Antarctica. The Galapagos and Antarctica are typically the most popular destinations to view penguins, however, they can also be found in South Africa, New Zealand and various regions in the south of South America.

Antarctica: Land of Ice and Snow

2011-06-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Earth's southernmost continent, Antarctica, is a truly unique destination. The continent is almost completely covered in ice that is, on average, at least 1.6 kilometers thick. Antarctica is also home to the largest ice shelves in the world, including the Ross Ice Shelf which is around the size of France and the Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf which is about the size of Spain.

Antarctica: Castle Rock & Mt. Erebus, Photo: elisfanclub on Flickr

Antarctica is the only continent that has never been home to an indigenous human population. Although it is 58 times the size of the UK, and 1.4 times the size of the US, it still only has a population of 1,000 in the winter. The population reaches a staggering 30,000 in the summer due to floods of tourists and Antarctica’s 4,000 scientific bases. Many travelers take the journey to Antarctica to discover its vast wilderness and experience the thrill of visiting a place unlike any other. Some travelers compare the trip to Antarctica to visiting the moon.

When traveling to Antarctica, the most popular tourist area is Anver Island Bay. This bay is home to the only two cruise ship stops on the continent: the US Palmer Station, and a museum at Port Lockroy. Another favourite for tourists is Cuverville Island. From rugged glaciers to endless deserts to enormous mountain ranges, Antarctica offers spectacular scenery. Antarctica is also home to a wide spectrum of wildlife including penguins, seals, whales, krill, and several kinds of birds. Some animals have adapted in such a way that they are able to create their own anti-freeze.

There is really no place on earth like Antarctica. Whether you’re a nature lover or an adventure travel enthusiast, this majestic destination should be on your bucket list!

Tips for Trekking Abroad

2010-09-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Planning on going trekking or hiking abroad anytime soon? Here are some things you should consider before going on a trek. If you have your own trekking tips, feel free to share them in the comments.

1. Health: It is essential that you are in good health before taking any trip - especially trekking trips. If you decide to embark on a trek you should be at a high fitness level. Depending on where you are traveling to, you may need to have vaccinations for malaria, cholera, tetanus, typhoid or hepatitis. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, you should always carry your medication with you while trekking.

2. Dehydration: It is common for trekkers to get dehydrated. Make sure you take an adequate amount of water with you each day so that you have enough fluid to rehydrate. Depending on where you travel to, you may need to bring iodine tablets in order to dilute the water so it is safe to drink. Make sure you research the destination and bring an adequate supply of iodine tablets with you.

3. Footwear: Trekking is not a simple stroll through the park; you will be hiking through rough and sometimes wet and slippery terrain. For this reason it is important to bring a good pair of shoes or hiking boots. A poor choice in footwear can leave you with seriously sore and even injured feet. Make sure that the shoes are comfortable, with good arch support and have good grip on the soles.

Also, don’t forget to wear stockings or thick socks while you are trekking. Synthetic blended socks are great, as they are specially designed to prevent blisters.

4. Carbs: It is important to carry a good balance of food. That being said, you should always have a mix of solid proteins and carbohydrates in your food supply when you trek. This will supply you with the energy you need to get you through the hike.

5. Always bring a first aid kit with you.

Trekking in Vietnam

2010-09-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for an exotic destination for your next trek? Many people have found that Vietnam is a wonderful destination for trekking. Vietnam is characterized by tropical jungles, rolling green hills and lush, dense mountains. Much of Vietnam is feasible for treks, hikes or walks.

One of the most popular mountains for trekking in Vietnam is Sapa. Trekkers from around the world are attracted to Sapa by the mountains stunning natural beauty. Sapa is a perfect destination for both beginners and seasoned trekking experts. Hikes through the valleys are generally easier to undertake. For a more challenging hike, there are many steep trails near the village of Cat Cat. Another popular trekking area is Phin village.

Travelers going to the Sapa should be well prepared. The trails are often wet and can be quite slippery. The temperatures can become very cold, so warm clothing is an absolute must.

For an adventurous hiking experience, try the Hoang Lien Mountain range (nicknamed the Tonkinese Alps by the French) which is surrounds Sapa. This mountain range is located at the tail end of the Himalaya.

Adventure in Alaska

2010-08-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Alaska is a wonderful destination for adventure travel. Experience majestic wildlife and amazing scenery in this breathtaking destination. If you're planning a trip to Alaska, make sure you check out these national parks:

Katmai National Park

At over 3.5 Million acres, Katmai National Park is home to the largest brown bear population in the world, holds the spawning grounds of literally millions of sockeye salmon, and contains within its wild borders the unaltered evidence of one of the world's most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded. Although created in 1918 to preserve the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a landscape completely changed by the 1912 Novarupta eruption, Katmai National park is most known for its majestic Brown Bears, most notably those at Brooks Falls. Whether backpacking the austere landscape of the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, bear viewing at a remote camp along a salmon choked river, or padding along the park’s 400 miles of coastline, Katmai National Park remains one of the most spectacular parks in!

Kenai Fjords National Park

An area of ever changing landscapes, Kenai Fjords National Park is as diverse as the wildlife that calls it home. From its miles of coastline to surreal glacially carved valleys, this National Park gem is not to be missed. Best explored by kayaks, the rich waters of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park are home to humpback and orca whales, playful dall porpoises, and countless avian residents. While brown bears explore the tidal flats and rivers, mountain goats perch on the sheer cliffs of the towering mountains above. With virtually unlimited space for exploration, Kenia Fjords beacons the adventurer in all of us. Whether you want to go hiking at the Harding Ice Field, the Exit Glacier, or go kayaking in Kenai Fjords, you will definitely walk away with amazing memories.

Touring Ladakh by Bike

2010-08-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ladakh is a part of Jammu and Kashmir in India and is situated at an altitude above 10000 ft. It is also known as Little Tibet. In the summer the climate ranges from 15ºC to 30ºC in the day and the nights tend to be below freezing level. Most of the inhabitants of this region are Buddhist and they follow Tibetan culture. Tourism is one of the increasing scopes of income for people in Ladakh. It is the second coldest inhabited place in the world.

Touring Leh Ladakh on bike is an amazing experience for people who love an adventure. Ride through beautiful villages and past Buddhist temples and gaze up at breathtaking snow-capped mountains as you tour this amazing region.

Best time to tour Leh Ladakh is from June to September, as the weather is much nicer. It is always recommended to hire a good bike tour operating company rather than simply going on your own. At times it can be very difficult to ride as the roads tend to be rough and will be unfamiliar to you. Tour companies have an extensive knowledge of routes and will analyze the conditions every morning to ensure that you don’t travel down a blocked road. Also, tour companies often bring along a support car for luggage which makes your ride much more comfortable.

Riders touring Leh Ladakh must be excellent bikers. This is not a route for beginners by any means.

Adventure in New Zealand

2010-08-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

New Zealand is a land of fantastic diversities and offers adventures on the water, land and in the air. A huge range of adventures are available – everything from walking and hiking, bicycling, ecotourism, zoos and wildlife parks, to skiing and snowboarding in the wintertime.

Here are a couple of handful of adventure travel tips for the North Island of New Zealand – some activities and adventures are not for the faint hearted visitor – so be aware of the following:

Zorbing in Rotorua
Kiwis are famous for their strange inventions; one of them is called zorbing. You are locked inside a giant transparent ball and then pushed down a hill. This adventure is loads of fun; however I do not recommend eating a big plate of pasta beforehand. Big mistake!

Diving at Poor Knights Islands
This is one of the top ten dive sites in New Zealand. The Poor Knights are home to many beautifully colourfed fish. Dive around sunken shipwrecks and see how many different types of fish you can count! This is a great diving spot for divers of all levels.

Caving at Waitomo
The Waitomo Caves are a great place to work test any fear of confined spaces. There are many different caves to choose from and lots of activities. Try abseiling, blackwater rafting or just admiring the strange yet wonderful rock formations.

Hiking in New Zealand
One famous hike is the Tongariro Crossing at Tongariro National Park in the heart of the North Island. However, there are many great hikes and different terrains in New Zealand. Chances are that you will get wet and dirty as rain is fairly common, even in the summer, and the trails tend to be quite muddy. So, come prepared!

New Zealand offers a wide variety of fantastic adventures and cultural attractions nationwide such as museums, art galleries, thermal resorts, food and wine tours, uncountable restaurants and wineries where you can rest and unwind from an exhilarating day of adventures wherever you happen to be.

Top Adventure Travel Spots in Asia

2010-08-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Asia is home to fascinating cultures, ancient sites and an abundance of adventure travel opportunities. From wildlife watching to biking and trekking there is something here for everyone.

Perhaps the most visited region of Asia is South-East Asia. With some of the friendliest people, some of the worlds most beautiful beaches, and with such amazing cuisine, it’s no wonder that South East Asia keeps us coming back for more. Travellers to the region can discover many activities such as trekking, diving in coral reefs, kayaking by limestone pinnacles and much more.

For the ultimate in Asian adventure travel opportunities you can also visit Central Asia. This region of Asia is home to many “off the beaten track” adventures.

Below are some of the top Asian adventure travel destinations:

1. See orang-utans in Malaysia - Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary attracts travellers and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to get face to face with orang-utans up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.

2. Explore Angkor Wat - There are countless temples at Angkor but the main one of course, is Angkor Wat itself. Angkor Wat is regarded as the masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Discover the walled city of Angkor Thom; The Baphoun, an 11th century temple with a 131 ft reclining Buddha; the Bayon, famous for its superb bas reliefs and mysterious faces and Ta Prohm, still cloaked in jungle.

3. Volunteer in Borneo - Immerse yourself in the culture and live and work with the local communities and wildlife of Malaysia.

4. Cycle in Vietnam - 30,000,000 Vietnamese can’t be wrong - handle-bar height gives you the best view of Vietnam. Cycling through this beautiful country provides opportunities to meet the local people and experience the local culture in a way that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

5. Swim with whale sharks in the Philippines - Swimming with a whale shark, locally known as Butanding (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is the epitome of wildlife encounters - the sheer size of the largest fish in the ocean will start your adrenaline pumping. An experience of a lifetime!

With so much to offer it’s a small wonder visitors return to this part of the world many times over!

More Things to See in Nepal

2010-07-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

BHAKTAPUR

About 20km east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur was once a place of ramshackle enchantment with splendid temples guarded by wonderful stone creatures. These days, it has been impressively transformed and has become a sort of paradise regained that now outshines Kathmandu in terms of living heritage. Traffic isn't allowed into the large old town, so you park and walk straight into the 16th century.

CHATUR VARNA
The tiny Chatur Varna monastery is officially a Buddhist establishment, yet both Hindus and Buddhists worship here and the eaves of its 14th-century courtyard are decorated with images of Ganesh and other Hindu gods. It is perhaps the most absorbing of all Bhaktapur's sights.

DURBAR SQUARE
Explore Bhaktapur's Durbar Square, with its erotic carvings and its magnificent Palace of 55 Windows - newly restored after years of conservation work.

TAUMADHI SQUARE
Don't miss Taumadhi Square and its great five-storey pagoda temple.

DHULIKHEL

A small Newari town set on the outer fringes of the Kathmandu Valley, Dhulikhel has extensive panoramas of snowy peaks. People come here to gaze, feasting on views of the Himalayan range a little west of Everest: Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Gauri Shankar (one of Nepal's three holy mountains) and much more.

NAMOBUDDHA
A Buddhist shrine and monastery, which is swarming with cheerful Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims - a three-hour hike from Dhulkihel.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK
Gentle is not an adjective you might readily apply to Nepal's terrain, and the rocky if well-maintained paths of the Annapurna Circuit are often vertiginous. The rural scenes are as compelling as the snow-clad mountains. Lodge to lodge treks are increasingly popular in Nepal.

A big advantage of the lodge-to-lodge hikes is that you get away from the main trails, sharing quiet routes with farmers and the domestic traffic of locals and animals: women bearing huge bundles of aromatic plants, sturdy young men gently transporting enormous loads of eggs in baskets on their backs, mule caravans carrying grain in large jute sacks. The landscape of the terraced hills is ineffably beautiful, the details of daily life mesmerising. You gaze down on man and ox dexterously ploughing tiny fields, gaggles of children arriving at school, and millet being threshed by cows driven round a pole.

Paris of the East

2010-06-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

Bucharest is a city for fantasists, with a wealth of history. The Greek Viceroys ruled the city in the name of the imperial government in Istanbul until 1821. Dubbed the 'Paris of the East' for its cosmopolitan social scene and architecture, the city's grand avenues recall its pre-World War II heyday when the Romanian aristocracy was among the richest in Europe. Today, the city is an eccentric cocktail of faded elegance, failed megalomania and flashy glamour.

What to see:

MUSEUMS

Bucharest is one of Europe's great museum cities. Originally occupied by Dacians, colonised by Greeks and Romans, invaded by Turks, it has a turbulent past; yet one which has left a remarkable ark of treasures, notably the National Art Museum and the Natural History Museum.

THE ROYAL PALACE AND NATIONAL ART MUSEUM
The former Royal Palace is the most imposing of the buildings surrounding the Piata Revolutiei. Since 1950 the Palace has housed the National Art Museum in its southern wing. Open Wed to Sun, 10am-6pm October to April, 11am-5pm May to September.
South-east of the square stands the former Communist Party Headquarters, a Stalinist building that now houses government offices.

CALEA VICTORIEI, 'VICTORY AVENUE'
This has been Bucharest's most fashionable address, with marked contrasts; elegant and sleepy at its northern end, and an eclectic jumble of old apartment buildings, shops selling cakes and Western couture at the southern end.

THE NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Calea Victoriei 12. This museum houses plaster casts from Trajan's Column covered with depictions of his Dacian campaigns, as well as Greek, Roman and medieval tombstones and carvings. A basement vault displays Romania's national treasures: a dazzling display of gold and jewellery, from prehistoric finds to Queen Marie's crown and the casket said to hold her heart, to the sceptres of Ferdinand I and Carol II.

THE PALACE OF PARLIAMENT
This colossal palace is the third-biggest building in the world, after the Pentagon and Potala. It epitomises the megalomania that overtook Ceausescu in the 1980s. Here he intended to house ministries, Communist Party offices and the apartments of high functionaries. The interiors are lavishly decorated with marble and gold leaf and there are 4,500 chandeliers. The decoration was never finished due to Ceausescus' ever-changing whims.

NB Opening hours in Romania are notoriously unreliable and over weekends a surprising number of restaurants and cinemas can close mid-afternoon, or not open at all. Shops may also close for several hours during the middle of the day.

Things to Do in Kathmandu

2010-06-24T16:08:00.000-07:00

After years of turmoil, the magical Himalayan nation of Nepal is welcoming visitors once more. Go soon, for a gentle trek among amazing landscapes, and for an experience that will take your breath away. A striking aspect of the culture of the Kathmandu Valley is the mutual respect of Hinduism and Buddhism (Buddhists form a sizeable minority in Nepal) and the way that in some places they become interwoven.

KATHMANDU
Nepal's capital almost doubled in population during the decade of Maoist insurgency that preceded peace, and it has become notoriously traffic-clogged and polluted while many of its low-rise streets are lined with an unappealing mish-mash of modern buildings. But the historic centre is still intoxicating. And with much of the city's architectural heritage subject to preservation programmes over the last two or so decades, the oldest areas are far cleaner and better-kept than they used to be.

BAZAARS
Kathmandu's bazaars offer a vibrant world of traders, temples and bustling human traffic - colourful and utterly captivating. The traders do brisk business.

BODHNATH
The Buddhist stupa of Bodhnath on the outskirts of Kathmandu, has a big, rounded, white base crowned with a tower and pyramid on which Buddha's all-seeing eyes are painted. Strings of prayer flags flutter above and the air is resounding with bells, horms and chanting.

DURBAR SQUARE
The ancient hub of the city where kings were once crowned and where the most historic of the many temples dates back to the 12th century.

KUMARI GHAR
The House of the Living Goddess (adjacent to Durbar Square) is home to a young girl worshipped as a deity, her residence set around a lovely courtyard with ornately carved woodwork.

PASHUPATINATH
The Hindu temple of Pashupatinath - close to Bodhnath - is set on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. This is one of Nepal's most sacred sights, attracting worshippers from across the subcontinent. It is a gentle world unto itself, the main golden temple fringed on one side by a complex of venerable hospices for the dying and by burning ghats for cremations. Non-Hindus may not enter the inner sanctum, but surrounding terraces command views across the temple and numerous outlying shrines.

The Pride of Africa

2010-06-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

Botswana is the pride of Africa - a country that after its independence in 1966 has enjoyed economic and political stability. Although the country is completely landlocked - between Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa - its two big rivers, the Okavango Delta and the Chobe River, keep the traditional safari animals in the country all year round, and it's the place to go if you want to see The Big Five (lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard) in the wild, along with zebras and other mammals. On a visit to Botswana be sure to visit the following:

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
This vast park is home to the most varied wildlife in Botswana and, as a result, it's got the most safari lodges and companies. With water supply from the rivers, animals can stay alive in the region all year round, and you have good chances of seeing lions, elephants and giraffes. Kasane is the main town from which most safari companies work and you can spend the night here before heading out to the bush.

OKAVANGO DELTA
Based around the Okavango River, which gives life to much of the region, the Delta is flooded every year, attracting both wildlife and birds. The Tsodilo Hills - four in number - are located in the Okavango Delta and rise mysteriously in the desert. With plenty of ancient rock paintings, most likely created by the San people thousands of years ago, there's plenty to discover here. Maun is the closest main town.

THE KALAHARI
Southern Africa's famous desert is the home to plenty of game reserves. Maun is the easiest way into the Kalahari, and you'll find local safari guides in the town. Be aware that distances are large and transport rare - you are likely to fly into a camp before you head out on safari by jeep. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Africa's largest protected area with 52,000 sq km of land.

Going on a safari is a great way to discover the rich wildlife and stunning landscape in Botswana. We suggest you find a lodge you like in an area of the country you prefer and let them take you out on daytrips in the wild. Remember to do exactly what the trained guides tell you to do - most animals are harmless until they get agitated.

Trekking the Pindari Glacier

2010-06-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Pindari Glacier is the source of Pindari valley. It has been attracting nature lovers and trekkers from all across the world because of its amazing rugged beauty, breathtaking sight and easy trekking routes. Experience its pristine glory and at the same time trek in one of the most popular trekking routes present in India, when you holiday here the next time.

Pindari Glacier is indeed an ultimate place for adventure travel in India. Lying in the Bageshwar district, this glacier is among the most easily accessible trek of all other Himalayan treks that India boasts of. Terminating at a height of 3627 M, Pindari glacier stretches between the Nandakot peaks and the Nanda Devi situated in the Pindar valley. The beautiful Pindar River flows through the sedimentary rocks of the region before descending towards the plains. You will find here that the Pindar River has carved out a 10 Km long gorge on both sides of the thick glacial deposit of the mountain.

Trekking in Pindari glacier begins from the Saung base-camp. From Saung you have to trek a distance of 3 Km to reach Loharkhet. From here you will then move towards Dhakuri, Khati, Dwali, Phurkia and finally to Pindari Glacier. The entire distance is 45 Km long so you need to be highly fit and carry with you necessary clothing and food to last the entire trek.

Some of the prominent peaks that you will encounter while trekking in Pindari glacier are the Balijuri, the Panwalidwar, the Nanda Khat, the Changuch and the Nanda Kot. Pindari glacier trek will also take you to the pristine village of Loharkhet. Here you can climb up the beautiful Dhakuri pass and enjoy its scenic beauty. Moving down hill towards the village of Khati, you can see the snow clad Himalayan peak from a distance.

The best time for trekking in the Pindari Glacier is between the months of May to October. The Saung base-camp can be easily reached from Bageshwar, Almora and Kathgodam. The nearest airport is in Pant Nagar and the nearest railhead is in Kathgodam. If you want to travel by road Bageshwar will be the best choice since it is well-connected by road with all other major cities of Uttarakhand.

Above all, trekking in Pindari glacier is an exciting mix of pleasure, adventure and self realization. The natural beauty of Pindari Glacier cannot be explained in words. You need to be there to feel it yourself. So pack your bags to travel to Pindari glacier!

Adventure in Turkey!

2010-06-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

1 Go white-water rafting on the Coruh river
With high-volume rapids fed by the snow melt from the Black Sea mountains, this river in north-east Turkey is one of the world's best white-water rivers. Alternatif Outdoor offers five-day guided rafting expeditions which start and finish in Erzurum and take in spectacular canyons, narrow valleys, ruined castles and the class-five rapids of the Ispir gorge. No rafting experience is required, you just need to be reasonably fit and able to swim.

2 Mountain bike through Cappadocia
Explore the deep canyons and mesas of Cappadocia by bike with Kirkit Voyage. With camping accommodation en route, the seven-night trip takes in the Dereyamanli valley, with its multiple "fairy chimneys" (rock formations), the rocky outcrop of Uçhisar – the highest peak in the region – and the ancient ruins of Mount Golgoli.

3 Take the train from Istanbul to the Georgian valleys
Travel the length of the country, from Istanbul to Erzurum, by sleeper train. The 24-hour journey is offered as part of a six-night guided tour of the Georgian valleys of north-east Turkey, launched by travel writer Margaret Scully. Visit the tea gardens of Rize, bake bread with the women of Uzundere, explore cliff-hanging Sümela monastery and visit Tortum waterfall.

4 Cruise from Fethiye to Marmaris by gulet
The best way to explore Turkey's unspoilt south coast is by traditional wooden gulet. Anatolian Sky offers a seven-night trip, from Fethiye to Marmaris, including visits to Cleopatra's bay, the ruins of Tersane island and the mud baths of Dalyan.

5 Ramble around Lake Van
Lake Van in eastern Anatolia is a holy grail for walkers. It is surrounded by snow-clad mountains crisscrossed with high passes, where you're likely to encounter Kurdish herders. Round off your day with a swim in the lake or a boat trip to Akdamar island, home to a 10th-century Armenian church.

Five Amazing Riding Adventures

2010-06-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

BOTSWANA

Explore the vast plains of Botswana on a four-day riding safari across the Kalahari, meeting bushmen and learning the techniques of food-gathering, animal tracking and hunting. Rides are accompanied by a "San" bushman who will track wildlife including leopard, springbok, cheetah and wildebeest. Riders should be of good intermediate level.

MOROCCO

The best way to tackle the Sahara desert is by camel, just as the Bedouin have been doing for thousands of years. Camel trekking moves at a slow place and is an ideal way to soak up the atmosphere of the desert, with six- or seven-hour treks through dunes and kasbahs and nights spent under canvas. A reasonable level of fitness is needed.

AZORES

If you've always longed to learn to ride, there are options besides a cold muddy field in the UK. Head to the Azores for a learn-to-ride week that combines lessons with dolphin- and whale-watching, alongside other excursions to explore the history and culture of these little-visited Portuguese islands. Accommodation is at a local quinta with riding school attached.

LAOS

Spend a few days learning to be a "mahout" and you don't just learn to ride an elephant, but bath and feed it and become generally responsible for its wellbeing. The three-day course takes place at an ecolodge in Luang Prabang in Laos, under the watchful eye of experienced mahouts, and also includes the chance to go kayaking or bamboo rafting in the Nam Khan river.

COSTA RICA

Riding adventures aren't just for adults – increasingly companies are offering family-friendly tours, where children can ride out or take part in other organised activities. Costa Rica offers breathtaking riding through cloudforest, savannah and plantation lands, with the chance to stay on a ranch where kids can also try kayaking, snorkelling, canopy tours and wildlife-spotting.

Five Wonderful Walking Adventures

2010-06-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Italy

During the first world war, the Italian army constructed a system of metal steps, fixed cables, and ladders in the Dolomites, to enable troops to safely move around the high peaks that were the front line. Today the Via Ferrata allow walkers to take on precipitous routes without the need for climbing equipment and ropes, and are a great way for families to take their walking holidays to the next level.

Mexico

Besides the beaches and Aztec ruins, Mexico offers ambitious trekkers the chance to get some high altitude experience without needing technical climbing skills, thanks to the gently sloping volcanoes that rise high above the central plains. At 5,746m, Pico de Orizaba is the biggest mountain in the country, and the third highest in all of North America, but it is achievable by any fit trekker.

Spain

Women who want to avoid the macho culture that sometimes accompanies trekking trips can join female-only holidays with Walking Women. The 2010 programme includes everything from a long weekend exploring the Quantock Hills to a fortnight trekking in the Himalayas. In April, there's a week's trip walking in the Alpujarras mountains in southern Spain. In high summer the pretty whitewashed villages can get busy with tourists clutching copies of Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons, but in spring you'll get a real glimpse of rural Spain.

Nepal

The Annapurna region is renowned for its trekking possibilities, including the classic three-week Annapurna Circuit. Teahouses along the main routes offer food and basic lodging, so it's easy to organise your own trips and you only need carry a sleeping bag. However, to get off the beaten track, you can join a unique trek in May next year led by Sir Chris Bonington. The trip marks the 50th anniversary of his successful first ascent of the 7,937m Annapurna II, and trekkers will follow a lesser-used route, reaching an altitude of 5,560m when they cross the Namun Bhanjyang pass.

Turkey

If you want a walking trip that offers stunning views without tackling high mountains, consider Turkey's Lycian Way. It stretches 500km from Fethiye to Antalya, following the coast on trails that used to be ancient trade routes and passing ruins and white sand beaches where you can cool off with a swim.

Adventure in San Jose, Costa Rica

2010-06-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica journey Travel Packages

San Jose is the capital town of Costa Rica and is conveniently found in the middle of the country, providing visitors with simple access to several of the country’s most well-liked activities. The town lies in the middle of the Meseta Central, or Central Valley, and enjoys a nice climate year round with temperatures that tend to hover around seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

History & Culture

Thanks to its central location and its status as the capital city, San Jose and the surrounding valley is home to over 2 3rds of the state’s whole population. The town also hosts a global airfield, as well as colleges, major surgeries, and commercial complexes.

Lodging & Dining

If you are looking to be close to all the capital town has to offer, then you are going to love Hotel Grano de Oro or Hotel Alta. Both of these luxurious hotels offer renowned restaurants of their own, and are within walking distance to all the culture, nightlife, and dining found in San Jose.
If tranquility is what you seek, but you would like to take advantage of the conveniences of the city, then try Vista del Valle, El Silencio Lodge & Spa, Peace Lodge, or Xandari.

As this region is home to the capital town of San Jose, you’ll find no deficit of great eateries featuring local and international cuisine. If you are staying close to the downtown area, try Bakea, an international/fusion cafe in a restored mansion. This popular choice features creative cuisine and delicious desserts.
San Jose boasts a number of tiny cafeterias offering lighter fare and less expensive costs. Some of the finest of these include Café Moro and Café Mundo. Also, do not miss El Balcn de Europa, one of San Jose’s oldest restaurants.

For meals with an ethnic twist, try the Tin Jo for Asian food, Vishnu for Indian/vegetarian, Machu Picchu for Peruvian, Lubnan for Middle Eastern, or Le Monastere for upscale French cuisine.

Activities

From this central area, you actually can experience all the finest that Costa Rica has to supply thru a number of exciting tours that depart daily from the local hotels. You may want to commence with a tour of San Jose itself or visit the nearby consequential cities of Sarchi and Grecia. History buffs will also love a trip to the Pueblo Antiguo Experience which transports visitors back to the Costa Rica of the early 1900’s. Proceeds from this judicious attraction benefit the Costa Rican Countrywide Kids’s Hospital.

Many visitors come to Costa Rica to see volcanoes and looking for costa rica adventure travel packages, and tours to Poás and Irazu are an option from San Jose and can be included with other tours of the region. Are you a coffee fan? Then try a tour of the Café Britt Plantation or the Doka Estate where you may follow the life of a bean from being picked all the way to your mug. Scenic tours of the Orosi Valley and the Lankester Orchid Gardens are a way to soak in the lush landscape of this beautiful country.

Adventurous souls will find lots to do too. Experience the thrill of white water rafting, or soar through the jungle on astounding cover tours. Horseback rides and hiking are other great methods to experience the area while staying a little nearer to solid ground. Boating tours to golden beaches can also be prepared if the sea is calling your name.

Preparing for a Backpacking Adventure

2010-05-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

If you are desperate to get away but only have a few days to spare a backpacking adventure may be the perfect solution. Backpacking adventures are often much simpler to plan and offer a nice break from ones everyday routine. Here are some tips for how to prepare for a backpacking holiday:

Before you start to plan your getaway, decide how long you have. If you plan on being going for only a day, a daypack should suffice. However, if you’re planning a multi-day backpacking adventure, you should opt for a larger bag. When choosing your backpack, keep a few things in mind. Your backpack should come with strong, sturdy shoulder straps. Try on the backpack and make sure that it isn’t clunky or awkward; you should be able to walk comfortably with it on your back. In addition make sure your backpack has enough padding and curves in order to protect your collarbone from chaffing.

When selecting your backpack, make sure the zippers are strong and durable. Your backpack should also come with a good waist strap. A waist strap is essential as it takes much of the weight off of your shoulders so you don’t get as tired. Don’t pick a bag based on the price tag; make sure that the backpack is made of quality material even if it costs more. (Imagine having your backpack give out in the middle of your vacation!)

Now that you have your backpack, here are some things you should remember to take with you. First and foremost is water. Don’t get dehydrated; make sure that you bring a sturdy water bottle with you on your vacation. Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to bring iodine tablets with you to treat the water. Bring a sufficient amount of iodine tablets if the water does need to be treated, as you cannot carry all the water you will need on your adventure and will need to fill up periodically.

If you are planning to go backpacking through the mountains, and won’t have access to grocery stores or restaurants, you will need to pack some food. A good way to do this is to pack each meal separately to save space in your bag. Always pack a little extra food just in case. Bring a good pair of comfortable walking shoes and clothes that are appropriate for the destination you’re traveling to.

Keep in mind that your preparation will greatly depend on the location you choose for your backpacking adventure. Check the areas type of terrain and weather conditions. Be sure to perform as much research as possible before you depart in order to ensure your experience is fantastic.

Nepal Adventure Travel

2010-05-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

Nepal is a small country in neighboring to India. It is a very popular and much loved destination for adventure enthusiasts & trekkers with its majestic Himalayan mountain peaks and fascinating local traditions. Every year thousands of visitors flock to Nepal to discover this wonderful destination and to embark on Nepal trekking tours.

Adventure enthusiasts will marvel at spectacular vistas from high mountain peaks in the mighty Himalayas. Eight of the of the fourteen highest mountain peaks above 8000 meters are located in Nepal and Nepal is home to over 1300 peaks above 6000 meters. For this reason, Nepal is a trekker’s paradise. Trekking in this country gives travelers a wonderful opportunity to explore its untamed natural beauty and discover its unique cultural traditions.

Trekking tours in the Himalayas of Nepal also provides travelers the perfect setting to try out some other adventure and sport activities like mountain climbing, mountain biking, rock climbing, peak climbing, hiking, and more. Nepal has been a preferred destination of mountain climbers and rock climbers for a number of years. There are well over 100 mountain peaks open to mountain and rock climbers in Nepal including Mount Everest – the highest mountain peak in the world. The numerous challenging mountains have drawn climbers from all over the world.

Some other popular adventure activities in Nepal also include white water rafting and kayaking. Travelers can view Nepal’s majestic mountains from another perspective and enjoy the countries natural setting far from the overrun, well-traveled paths. Many adventure enthusiasts also enjoy jungle safaris, riding through the jungle on a jeep or an elephant. For wildlife enthusiasts, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Nepal are home to a variety of rare animals including royal bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, musk deer, wild yak, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear and wild elephants.

Alaska Adventure Travel

2010-05-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

Alaska adventure travel is becoming more and more popular every year. People love that they get the chance to explore Alaska’s immense wilderness various wildlife and at the same time are able to take part in some of the most exciting extreme and not so extreme sports on earth.

Some popular activities in Alaska are sea kayaking, whale watching and wildlife tours, camping, hiking, and especially white water rafting. Alaska is characterized by snow peaked mountain tops, majestic glaciers, rivers teeming with salmon, and overall, untamed, unparalleled natural beauty. Denali National Park is a must see for nature lovers. Booking a tour is often recommended as they can offer you the opportunity to get involved in a variety of guided hikes, gold panning, fishing, and more. Mount McKinley National Park is situated within Denali and the tours here offer incredible views of this amazing, glacier covered mountain. The mountain is also the highest peak in the whole of North America at an incredible 20,320 feet.

Kenai National Wildlife sanctuary is another wonderful area to explore during your Alaska vacation. The Kenai Mountains border this phenomenal refuge, with hundreds of glacier fed lakes, and a great diversity of wildlife species. Some wildlife species include brown bears, black bears, caribou, various species of birds, many different whales, seals and much more.

If you plan on visiting northern Alaska and the Artic realm, the Artic National Wildlife sanctuary, is definitely worth a visit. This sanctuary is home to several indigenous tribes, including the Gwinch’in people and Inupiat people, who survive solely on the natural resources within the sanctuary and have maintained much of their traditional culture.

Alaska adventure travel is the perfect way to get closer to nature. On an Alaska adventure vacation you can experience one of the most divine ecosystems on the planet, discover a new and fascinating culture and try your hand at some exciting outdoor activities all in the same trip!

What Does Adventure Travel Mean to You?

2010-05-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

What type of adventures appeal to you? The kind where you push your body or your mind? Adventure travel is not the same thing to everyone. While some people enjoy white water rafting and kayaking, others might prefer sky diving or hand gliding. This is why it is often recommended that you utilize the services of a travel agent so that they can tailor make your adventure experience to suit your wants and needs.

If you’re the kind of traveler that likes to step outside their comfort zone, there are a number of adventure trips that will do just that! Try bicycling along the Tour de France route or hiking fourteen miles in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. How about zip lining at 30 miles per hour between two trees in the Costa Rican jungle, catching air on your snowboard in a Super pipe or white water rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon? If you’re out for thrills, think carefully about the extent of adventure you’ll really enjoy.

If the above sounds a little too intense, here are some other possibilities. Float through the sky in a hot air balloon. Walk through Cambodia’s Angkor Thom, where temple ruins are smothered by giant trees. Explore trails in the Amazon jungle and gaze at parrots and other lovely creatures. An adventure travel specialist can help you find an adventure vacation that is at your comfort level. Adventure travel does not mean travel that puts your life at risk. While some travelers go for physical thrills, other travelers prefer cultural thrills or experiences with nature.

Each person’s definition of adventure travel is unique. The question to ask is: what is yours? Don’t embark on an adventure full of activities that you wouldn’t consider trying, find what appeals to you personally. Travel journals, books and blogs are a great place to look for ideas. And once you have an idea, call your travel agent and find out what’s available!

New Safari Lodges

2010-05-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

A safari, a sundowner – and wireless internet? Indeed. Today’s breed of safari lodges is focusing as much on the amenities as the adventure – think Thai massage rooms and high-tech touches like flat-screen TVs. In Africa alone, a slew of new properties have popped up, while others have unveiled sparkling renovations. Here’s a sampling of what’s on tap.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Rwanda

The first 5-star hotel in the area, this handsome, eco-friendly lodge adds modern touches (wireless internet and flat-screen TVs in every room) to the standard safari lodge offerings. Opened in March, the 24-suites and villas are located on a tea plantation near the largest remaining mountain rain forest in East Africa, where primates are the main draw (the 13 species include the chimpanzee, the acrobatic black and white colobus monkeys and the baboon-like mangabeys). The area, which predates the last Ice Age, is also great for exploring on foot. Guests can walk to the Kamicanovu swamp or hike along an extensive network of well-maintained trails, nestled among 200 different tree species and an array of eye-popping flowering plants.

Sanctuary Swala Camp, Tanzania

Following a $1.5 million rebuild, Sanctuary Swala Camp is ready to show off its shiny new facelift. The spruced-up property offers an authentic safari experience in the southwestern corner of Tanzania’s secluded Tarangire National Park, where some of the largest elephant herds in Africa gather. Each of the 12 canvas suites/tents feature a spacious floorplan, indoor/outdoor showers, a personal attendant, and private lounging decks that overlook the river basin, which regularly draws lions, leopards, and bull elephants. The camp is also gaining a reputation as a place to get up close to wild bat-eared foxes.

By day, hop onto a guided 4×4 for tracking tours (a walking tour is soon to be added to the itinerary), and take a plunge in the new infinity pool. By night, enjoy locally-inspired cuisine paired with African wines in the main dining area, which is built on stilts around an enormous ancient baobab tree.

Bilila Lodge Kempinski, Tanzania

Opened less than a year ago, this stunning, 74-room property in the Serengeti National Park raises the bar for luxury (Thai massage rooms and private sun decks) – without a whiff of pretention. If there were any new-property glitches here, they’re already taken care of: Guests raved about the lodge and its staff on several travel review sites. Overlooking the majestic Serengeti plans, the lodge is anchored by handsome stone architecture and a sprawling freshwater pool perfect for cooling off after a private game drive, bush walk or even a hot-air balloon ride, all of which can be arranged by the hotel. The well-appointed suites feature outdoor showers and private infinity pools, but every room has a stunning view of the plains beyond. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the elephants that come up to a nearby watering hole.

Adventure in Southern Arizona

2010-04-30T15:52:00.001-07:00

If you seek adventure try a vacation to Southern Arizona. This dry, desolate area has been inhabited by humans for a long time, however, the climate has made it difficult if not impossible for the area to become over populated.

Southern Arizona hiking trails are really off the beaten path. Traveling by dirt road to The Superstition Mountains, you will find an endless area of mountain desert. Embark on a hiking exploration and you may stumble upon the Lost Dutchman's Mine. The story goes that a miner brought millions of dollars of gold out of the mountain, never returned to the area and died before telling a living soul where the mine was located. Located near Yuma, Madera Canyon rises to 8,000 feet and is a great way to hike from the desert to the trees. The elevation can make this area really cold, so hiking is best done in the summer.

Ghost Towns in Southern Arizona are full of history and fun for everyone. If you have children, Tombstone will create a memory your family will not soon forget. Actors reenact the 1900 train robbery of the Wells Fargo Train. It can be a little cheesy for adults, but kids love it. Fairbanks is a true ghost town and people last lived there in 1970. Fairbanks was once a bustling mining and milling town located along the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona.

Some delicious wines can be found in Southern Arizona, with the grapes thriving at the 5,000 to 6,000 elevation in the Sonita-Elgin area. Producing a nice Petit Verdot, local winemakers man there own tasting rooms. There are 39 licensed wineries in Arizona. The area is lovely and if you want to miss the rush of tourist, avoid coming during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Overall, Southern Arizona is a wonderful destination for adults and children alike. Whether you seek adventure or a relaxing tour of wineries, Southern Arizona can accommodate you.

Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka

2010-04-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

Wilpattu national park is a park in Sri Lanka forming a part of the island. The exclusive feature of the National Park is the presence of the “Willus”. The park forms the north – west shore lowland which experiences a dry season. It lies in the dry zone of the country. Thepark is situated on the western side of the Anuradhapura at a distance of 30 km from Puttalam. The word Wipattu means “Land Of lakes”.

The park occupies the area of 131,693 hectares and ranges between 0 to 152 meters above the sea level. Initially this park was a sanctuary but later on it was converted in to a national park in 1908. The climate experienced by the national park is monsoon oriented. It rains only during the months of February and March. Because of the amount of rainfall received here the park is full of greenery.

There are lots of plants and animal species fund in the Wilpattu national park. There are 31 species of mammals out of which the elephants are the most cherished and admired by the tourist. You can also come across various other species like the mouse, shrew and mongoose. Also you can find colorful bird species that includes eagles, owls, kites buzzards etc.

It is also the home for the different varieties of reptiles. These embrace the monitor lizard, crocodile, cobra, rat snake, turtles etc. it is the largest park of Sri Lanka that is known for the exotic animal species including the leopards, bears, pigs and many more.

Initially it was the most visited amongst all the parks but due to the deterioration it had to be closed down. Later on it was open again and then a large number of animals were brought in. Till then the number of visitors has been increasing every year. It is very mush a spectacular view to watch the animals and their activities. Visiting it is more like being apart of any festival.

Though January to May is the peak season when this national park is most visited but it can be also visited in the months of October even. There are special tours organized by the government who takes the visitors for exploring the wildlife of the Wilpattu national park.

So if you love animals and wish to see them you can definitely visit the Wilpattu national park. Therefore plan your trip and go ahead to make your trip a life long experience for you and your family.

Top Travel Destinations in Africa

2010-04-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

Choosing top travel destinations in Africa is not an easy job known for the size and assortment of the continent. However, below are some destinations to add to your bucket list.

In Kenya, Masai Mara is the place to be. From July to October is the dry season and the wildlife sight is unmatched. You can also watch the yearly migration of over a million wildebeest from a hot-air balloon.

In the middle of Zambia and Zimbabwe lies Victoria Falls. Getting a thorough sopping from the boisterous, powerful Victoria Falls is quite an experience of its own. People actually feel as if they are in the middle of a torrential rainstorm. Mosi-oa-Tunya means smoke that thunders; is a name given to Victoria Falls because the hard to believe amount of water generates a huge amount of spray which shoots thousand feet into the sky and can be seen thirty miles away.

Outside Cairo and in Egypt lies the Pyramids of Giza. It’s one the greatest architectural feats by mankind. The great Pyramid of Giza is one of the world’s oldest tourist attractions and also known as the last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World. The great pyramid of Khufu, Kafhre and Menkura are the three main pyramids in Giza.

One of the Africa’s oldest cities is Djenne in Mali. Situated on an island in the Niger delta; Djenne was a natural hub for traders who used to shuttle their goods between Sahara Desert and forests of Guinesa. Market square subjugated by the beautiful Grand Mosque is a center of Islamic learning. Located a few miles from Timbuktu, the market there is held on every Monday. It is suppose to be one of the most appealing and sparkling markets in Africa.

The highlight of any trip to Africa has to be Cape Town. This city is known for its natural beauty. With its beautiful beaches and real impressive Table Mountains, wines and restaurants over here are world class. Cape Town has a reputation for social tolerance and is one of the most culturally assorted cities in Africa.

The imperial city if Marrakech is situated at the foot the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. This city is large, noisy, polluted and at the same time, fascinating. You are going to have lots of fun if you enjoy daily assaults on all your senses. There are actually many things to see over here because this is where all the action is. Djemma el Fnaa, the heart of the medina, should be on priority list who visits here.

Another fascinating travel destination in Africa is Omo River Region of Ethopia. Anyone looking for a cultural adventure, this is the perfect place to be. Virunga Mountains in Uganda is known for inhabit Gorillas. For adventure travel, Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, known for adventure lovers’ who come here for hiking. Last but not the least, Zanzibar in Tanzania is famous for its beaches.

Adventure Travel Tips

2010-04-13T10:57:00.001-07:00

Planning an adventure any time soon? Here are some top tips for staying healthy from a few seasoned experts.

I bring enough PowerBars so I can eat them three times a day if necessary. I bring gels, and I always travel with a few packs of all-natural turkey jerky, so I have protein.—Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods

It’s important to stay clean. Iodine to clean wounds. Purell. People make fun of Purell, but touching things, shaking hands—that’s how you’ll pick something up.—Antonin Kratochvil, photojournalist and former conscript of the French Foreign Legion

What’s got me in most places is heat exhaustion. I’ve made fun of this in the past, when I was a younger traveler. But I’m telling you, that’s it. When you’re at home, you’re not in the sun for 12 hours. This is what is right in your face that will sidetrack a trip really quickly. Wear a hat, drink a lot of water, and take a break in the middle of the day.—Robert Reid, U.S. Travel Editor, Lonely Planet

Destinations for Short Adventure Vacations

2010-04-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

Looking for an idea for your next adventure vacation? Only have a week to spare? Here are two fabulous adventure destintions!

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Trail dolphins and dodge dirt bikes under 'Apocalypse Now' sunsets.

It’s a long way to go for eight nights, but even brief exposure to Cambodia’s anarchic beauty can feel restorative. First, check off the must-sees: Book a guided tuk-tuk trip to the phantasmal ruins of Angkor Wat through the concierge at Viroth’s Hotel in Siem Reap. Next, take a dirt-bike tour of the ancient capital Koh Ker. A four-hour, $10 bus ride gets you to Kratie, home to over 50 endangered Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. Two hundred miles down the Mekong River, in Phnom Penh, Colonial style waits at the Pavilion. Grab a bowl of fried rice at the Russian Market in the Boeng Kak lake district and flag a cab ($40) for a three-hour drive to the seaside resort of Kep, where the Gulf of Thailand nearly laps against the open-air beds at the Veranda Natural Resort.

Transylvania, Romania

Raft, hike, horseback ride, and rappel in deepest Dracula country.

Full of climbable cliffs, fantastic scenery, and vampire-chic lodging, Transylvania has become a sort of outdoor defibrillator for jaded Europeans. Book a white-water-rafting trip through the gorges of the Crisul Repede River or an “adventure weekend” of canyoning, rappelling, and kayaking. Back in semi-civilization, stay at the Kálnoky Estate’s guesthouses in Miklósvár, where proprietor Count Kálnoky (his real title) can organize riding and hiking expeditions.