News that an avalanche in Canadian British Columbia killed two snowboarders has sent a warning to all adventure sports fans: Beware the power of nature. We get to enjoy our sports thanks to the changing seasons, the ebbs and flows, and flurries and gales that nature provides. Enjoyment, however, needs to be tempered with respect.

If, harnessing the wind or surfing a wave, you think you are in control: think again. Countries such as Canada and New Zealand are often described as adventure sports playgrounds. That said, nature agrees entry times, and also decides when its time to pack up and go. The key to safe extreme sporting is knowing the limits – while pushing them a little, too; realising when playtime is over could be key to saving your life.

Reports of the incident at Boulder Mountain suggest that the avalanche was caused by snowmobile riders, taking turns to climb farther and farther up a slope. What also comes through is that competitors in the Big Iron Shootout snowmobile rally, using their own safety equipment, led the rescue efforts. A couple of lessons then for us all: ‘Extreme’, as a sports category, has limits, safety gear should always be taken, and nature is the law.

OK, this is an adventure sports blog so we all love our outdoor activities. But don’t think for a minute we are exclusive here; even the hardiest mountaineer chooses good weather over bad. So what is it about the outdoors that makes them so great and which indoor sports, if any, tempt us from our treks?

Mmmm, pause for thought. I can see indoor versions of outdoor activities being really enjoyable. A good climbing wall can test the best climbers’ abilities, but it’s just practice really, preparation for the real thing.

A friend of mine is training for a marathon – on a running machine. In his case he has little option, as he works on an oil platform. But I bet when he gets time off he’s not switching on a treadmill at home, he’s off up some wooded lowland trail.

Training simulators have been around for some time: feeble looking, wind turbine-like Heath Robinson contraptions that replace the back wheels of road bikes; rowing machines with hypnotic digital readouts and arctic ski-ing machines with brushed steel pulse points.

Slightly surreal don’t you think? An arctic ski-trainer plonked in a warmed conservatory, cup of tea on the side, washing machine finishing its cycle, watching the Winter Olympics on TV.

Enough on the solo sports. Where indoor sports come good is when they are team events. You’ll never convince all of your work colleagues that playing in the driving rain is preferable to hiring a gym. And why should you; any fool can be cold.

So for group events, indoor activities often trump: it’s the team experience that’s most important. But for solo pursuits, forget it. The reward is the effort, the elements are the challenge, the truth is out there.

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Portability, networkability, and connectivity: with the latest laptops, it’s definitely about ability. Although, when it comes to travelling, there is still more to consider. Airlines are strict on weight limits and some of their baggage charges are stratospheric: so weight is also a factor. And there’s survivability, too. Not all the machines in this list are designed to survive the wildest of windstorms, still we have included a couple of purpose-built mud-pluggers for the explorers out there. As well as laptops, we feature three netbooks – diminutive, web-ready, micro-machines that have ditched their CD drives but are still packed with power- three laptops, a pair of custom heavyweights and of course, a ringer.

So if you can’t face being without Facebook and a larger screen, and your mobile just doesn’t have the processing power, look no further than our top ten travel laptops.

HP Mini 311
Not waterproof, not even splash proof, this Hewlett-Packard model was not developed for extreme sports. However, it is extremely well designed and tips the scales at just 3.3lb (1.49Kg). Closed, its 11.4-inch (28.95cm) screen fits snuggly to its body, within which you’ll find the popular Intel Atom N270/1.6GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM. With a 160 GB hard drive you should have plenty space for your favourite music, and the NVIDIA Ion graphics processor won’t struggle with your top movie clips. As with most netbooks, there is no CD/DVD drive, although connectivity is guaranteed thanks to Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless networking.

Asus Eee PC 1001P
Asus has made its name with netbooks. This PC 1001P packs a lot of features into a very small price tag, and on battery life alone it is surely worth a mention. Tiny, just 10.3 (26.14cm) x 7-inches (17.78cm) and light, only 2.8lb (1.27Kg), this netbook can slip into a rucksack or daysack with ease. A white keyboard distinguishes this model from most competitors and there’s also a multi-function touchpad. Connectivity is helped with 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and three USB ports. Ethernet, car reader and microphone jack prove useful, too. Memory is again 1 GB, but upgradeable to 2 GB, hard drive is also 160 GB and the Asus comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition. And that battery life? It’s a whopping eight hours.

Sony VPC-M11M1E/B
Always known for build quality and functionality, Sony makes them strong. While sharing a similar spec with many of its rivals, this model should prove a favourite with travellers – I say should, it’s only just released and very hard to find. The familiar Intel Atom N450/1.66GHz processor returns, as does Windows 7 Starter and 1 GB of RAM. This Sony has a very competitive 250 GB hard drive and a 10.1inch (25.65cm) screen, which looks well protected. Sony has yet to officially launch this model, so keep your eyes peeled. If earlier efforts are anything to go by, expect top connectivity and plenty of ports.

“Laptops, they’re so last year!” Well, in some ways the trend has been toward smaller, less spec’d netbooks. But if it’s processing power, full screen immersion, and DVD drives you need, there are still plenty of larger models to choose from.

MacBook Air
When PCs went smaller, Apple went on a diet. Boasting a 13.3-inch (33.78cm) screen, but at just 0.4cm (0.15 inches) to 1.9cm thin (0.74 inches), this svelte aluminium beauty will slip easily into your travel gear. Expensive? Yes, but Mac owners know why: No viruses, intuitive operating systems that lead where Microsoft can only follow, and true longevity. Power too. In top spec the MacBook Air boasts a 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM and either 120 GB hard drive or a 128 GB solid-state drive. CD/DVD drive? No chance, but you do get the best Wi-Fi (based on 802.11n draft specification) and enhanced Bluetooth connectivity. Its supermodel waistline leaves only enough space for one USB, but with a full-size keyboard and top environmental credentials, it has to be a contender.

HP ProBook 5310m
This made the grade thanks to its ultra-portability. With a whopping 2.3GHz Inter Core 2 Duo processor, 13.3-inch screen (33.78cm) up to 320 GB hard drive and plethora of ports, it’s the best spec’d machine so far. All this power adds weight – at 3.8lb (1.72kg) it is the lardiest of competitors so far, but the extra uumph needed to lug it around soon pays off. Its 802.11n wireless set up helps for fast connections and all manner of media can be hooked up via three USB ports. While no looker, this HP does have functionality on its side. It also hides the weight well, at just 2.35cm thick (less than one inch). Optical drives are again extra. Decent chipset and graphics cards, a useful 2MP built-in webcam, and a card reader further help this HP into our top ten list.

Sony VGN-Z598U/B
Pricey, very pricey. This is one expensive laptop. But if you are fortunate enough to have lots of money to spare, it’s a great choice. The Sony’s 13.1-inch (33.27cm) screen is a useful size, and as with this brand’s other products, build quality is a given. It’s underneath its case where the investment can be seen. Specifications vary depending on what you want, but the all-singing, all-dancing model is stacked. Twin 128 GB solid-state hard drives (SSDs), a 2.53GHz processor, 4 GB of Ram, dedicated Ge Force graphics card, slots for Express Card, SD card, Memory Stick and two further media ports are also shoe-horned in. However, at more than 4lbs (1.81kg), this Sony is on the weight limit, as well as past some travellers’ price limit.

Acer laptops (TravelMate Timeline 8371-733G32n)
All Acer’s products are worth considering, thanks in part to the company offering a one-year international travel warranty. Bonus!

Acer laptops are now covered against hardware failures just about anywhere you care to take them. Pick of the laptops is perhaps the TravelMate Timeline 8371-733G32n . Its eight-hour battery life and 13.3-inch (33.27cm) screen, will help on those long connecting flights. It’s also pretty trim, at less than one inch thick. Surprisingly, this Acer crams in 3 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive and a high definition graphics card. Connectivity is equal to that of its rivals, although its 3MP integrated camera is a little lacking in the power stakes. Running the latest Microsoft software (Vista Business) and with the back up of the tried and tested Intel Core 2 Duo processor, it should rarely be found wanting.

Panasonic Toughbook C1 Field
A proper explorer’s laptop: Bombproof. Panasonic is one of the few mainstream electronics companies to build laptops suited for the needs of adventure sports travellers. Shock-mounted hard drives, spill-resistance, drop ratings, the spec on these specialised boxes reads like a Land Rover options list.

The C1 is perhaps the most progressive model in its design. It has a 12-inch (30.48cm) screen that swivels, turning it into a tablet PC – handy. Decent power from its Intel Core processors, and batteries that are “hot-swappable” means you can keep up with the most demanding of tasks, without stopping to charge – great when you are away from base camp for longer periods.

Panasonic Toughbook H1 Field
If the C1 is a 4×4, the Panasonic H1 is a tank. This fully-sealed, military specification, magnesium alloy, all-round tough cookie can survive. Whatever the weather, the H1 should stay connected thanks to its Gobi mobile broadband option. Data should stay safe as it is written to a 64 GB reinforced solid-state drive (SSD) – not the largest in the sector, but possibly the safest. Power again is by Intel (Atom Z540,1.86GHz) and while the screen is just 10.4-inches (26.41cm) across, it is an anti-glare touch-screen and completely protected. Further useful details include its 2MP camera, GPS receiver and hot-swappable batteries.

Some manufacturers claim their products can survive the rough and tumble of everyday life. This Toughbook is certified to bounce back to life from a six-foot drop: Solid.

The Ringer: Apple iPad
By building up the iPod Touch, Apple has again moved the goal posts. Not made to deflect savannah rains or desert dust, this tablet Mac is however the new kid on the block, and is turning heads. Imagine a Touch or iPhone, make it almost ten inches (25.5cm) square and there you have it. Running up to ten hours without a charge, just 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) light and (1.27 cm) 0.5- inches thin, this is a jet-setters dream. Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, running from Apple’s own A4 chip and with up to 64 GB of flash memory, it should prove more than a match for any traveller’s needs. Back from your adventures, you can always connect the screen directly to a designated keyboard. And it runs Apple’s 150,000 Apps, too. Clever and compact, just how adventure sports travellers like their technology.

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Diving and skiing aren’t exactly the cheapest of outdoor sports. However, if you look in the right places, there are more than enough full-on, high-adrenaline outdoor pursuits around the world – and ones even the budget traveller can afford.

Here, you can find a number of destinations you might not have associated with surfing, skiing or diving before. Also, South America has some of the most under-rated ski slopes. These are found across its Andean peaks, which reach for more than 6,400km. And there’s  fantastic skiing in central and eastern Europe to be had too; With hire costs and day passes coming in at about half the regular price, your average budget traveller should still have money to spare.

But if skiing isn’t your thing and you are on a budget, there are always more adventure sports to do.

HD, 3-D, MMORPG: Just how extreme can our sports games be?

If gamers aren’t shooting their way through a horde of toxic vomit spewing aliens, or thrashing air guitar, there is a good chance they are playing sporting games.

Despite there being only one video game in the current all-time top ten (Madden NFL ‘07), games firms have long tried to harness interest in extreme sports.

But, even with High Definition (HD) picture quality, Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG’s) and the inevitable arrival of 3-D, are we really ever going to get close to the ‘real’ experience?

No chance. Not even wired up to a surfboard, in an over-sized bath, with someone chucking buckets of salty water over my face. Yes, we can toy with the experience: copy moves, map routes, and send vibrations through neoprene-gloved hands. But it’s chalk and cheese, real and hyper-real, and never the twain shall meet.

That’s not to say we can’t have loads of fun. For me, Konami’s Track and Field (1983) was the beginning of sports gaming. Since then, the FIFA series has perhaps been the benchmark.

With extreme sports, it’s Tony Hawks. Yes, he’s a legend in both sporting and gaming communities. His first tie-in with Activision (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, 1999) sold more than four million games across platforms. The latest version (RIDE) can be played with a motion-sensing skateboard. Interactive indeed, but real? Never.

Soon to be released and exclusively tested on TheSixthAxis.com is Wakeboarding HD (TikGames/Creat Studios). Sceptical at first, the site’s tester was soon won over. Check out the game preview below:

So, is the verdict still out on extreme sports gaming, or should we just get out more and play the ‘real’ version?

The riots in Greece bring it home how unstable a world it is in which we live. Tens of thousands of people, it has been reported, have taken to the streets. While their complaint is not with us, the adventure sports tourist, their actions may put off potential holiday-makers.

People like security: it’s secure. Holidays, for most, are periods of rest and recuperation. They may incorporate sporting activities – though riot drills and water cannon wakeboarding are not usually pencilled in.

In reality, even countries once ravaged by war, conflict, and famine have been appearing on tour operators’ radars for some time. Take, for example, Cambodia and Vietnam, now two highly popular backpacking bases.

Many South American countries have, at some time, been locked in violent struggle and some, such as Venezuela and Colombia, continue to bare teeth at each other across borders. No reason to not go trekking, mind.

Even as war rages there is hope; a travel adventure sports service has even launched in Afghanistan. And Croatia, despite its tumultuous times and war wounds, is now popular with wind sports fans and wanderers alike.

Amid the battles there is beauty and once the smoke clears, thanks perhaps to the TV coverage, we can be looking at the next global adventure sports playground: Once a battle zone, now a fun zone!

Taking the correct precautions – perhaps a look at the Foreign Office advice would be useful – planning carefully, doing your research, and drawing on the experiences of other travellers, are wise pre-trip points to consider.

To answer the question: Is any country ever off limits? The answer has to be yes. But be patient. Once the peacekeepers have done their jobs, it could be the chance of the thrill-seekers to help put a country back on the adventure travel map.

For many divers, wreck diving presents a tantalising challenge. Wrecks are ghosts of the past preserved on the seabed, which also connect the underwater world with life on solid ground. The majority of wrecks are military ships, offering divers a glimpse into a life that most know little of. Wrecks become artificial reefs, so can often be found covered in coral and teeming with fish. Wrecks tend to be in deep water, and so are sometimes only suitable for experienced and technical divers, but interesting wrecks are found at shallower depths, too.

1. Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands

Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands is home to a variety of wrecks, most are from the German High Seas Fleet of nearly 100 battleships, which was scuppered here after the First World War. Visibility can be up to thirty metres -very high for UK waters. The size of the fleet and the number of submerged vessels is the main attraction here; with so many wrecks to choose from, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get bored. The largest are the Kronprinz Wilhelm, the Markgraf, and the Konig, which is 177-metres long.

2. Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll is known both for its excellent wreck diving and its varied reef diving, so there’s something here for all divers. Most spectacular of the wrecks is the USS Saratoga, a 300-metre long aircraft carrier, larger than the Titanic, with eight decks. Almost intact, she was sunk in the first underwater atom bomb test in 1946. Dive down the elevator shaft, and into the hangar past parked planes, bombs and rockets. Many personal objects, such as coffee pots and aftershave bottles, still remain.

3. Andrea Doria, North Atlantic

The ‘Mount Everest’ of scuba-diving, the Andrea Doria was an Italian passenger liner before it was sunk near Nantucket in 1956 – the last of the great ocean before the age of air travel. It lies at a forbidding depth of 73 metres and is only for the most experienced technical divers – 15 divers have died here. Those who dive will find a ship that is beginning to crumble, although artefacts such as china and glass are still sometimes recovered, and revered among divers.

4.  Truk Lagoon, Micronesia

The remains of the Japanese fleet, more than 60 ships and planes attacked by the US in 1944, lie at the bottom of the Truk Lagoon. One of the best is the Fujikawa Maru, a 132-metre long freighter lying at a shallow depth – the top of the wreck is at 9 metres, the bottom at 34 metres, putting it within reach of all recreational divers. Colourful corals grow all over its decks, and fossilised sake bottles can even still be found. The engine room is fascinating, but only suitable for those with the right training.

5. Thistlegorm, Sharm-El-Sheikh

This area is home to wonderful diving of all kinds, but this wreck stands out. She was a British ship sunk in the Gulf of Suez in 1941 while transporting supplies to the British army stationed at Alexandria. These included gun carriers, rifles, radio equipment, jeeps and wellington boots. This is also a great dive for fish-spotting, with schools of barracuda, giant tuna and snapper regularly seen. The Dunraven, a Victorian steam ship sunk in 1876, is also nearby.

6. Umbria, Sudan

Also in the Red Sea, the Umbria is an Italian cargo ship sunk in 1940. It sits in a quieter region than that near Sharm-El-Sheikh. Lying at a shallow depth of 5-35metres, the Umbria provides perhaps the perfect wreck dive: she is small enough so divers can cover the basics in one dive, yet large enough to not leave them bored, so they still want to come back. Watch out for Fiat cars, wine bottles, lifeboats and munitions. Those trained in wreck penetration can reach the engine room and bakery.

7. Zenobia, Cyprus

A much newer wreck than many, the Zenobia sank on her first voyage in 1980 when her computerised ballast system malfunctioned. A roll-on, roll-off vehicle ferry, the Zenobia sank with 104 articulated lorries on board. The ship is huge at 178-metres long, giving plenty to explore. The acommodation deck and canteen are interesting, and it’s even possible to sit in the ship’s lifeboats! The highlight though is surely the egg lorry, with its cargo still perfectly preserved.

8. Yongala, Australia

The most intact wreck in Australia, the Yongala sits in that diving haven: the Great Barrier Reef. She was a passenger steam ship and went down suddenly in a cyclone in 1911, killing all on board. As well as the obvious historical interest, the Yongala hosts a wonderful variety of fish and marine life. Because it acts as an artificial reef, you’ll see ten times more species here than on a simple reef dive. The ship is particularly famed for its sea anenomes and clownfish.

9. Coolidge Vanuatu

At 198-metres this is a very large wreck, and highly accesssible as it sits at between 20 and 40 metres deep. The Coolidge was a luxury liner converted to use as troop ship by the US, and sank in 1942 when she ran into mines. There is so much to explore here: masses of military goodies, guns, tanks, trucks, helmets and gas masks. The medical area is fascinating, with medicine bottles and syringes visible, as is the captain’s bathroom. Many relics of her life, such as a mosaic fountain, remain intact, despite the weathering of the sea.

10. Oriskany, Florida

The Oriskany, or the ‘Mighty-O’, was deliberately sunk off the Florida coast near Pensacola in 2004, and now functions as the world’s largest artificial reef. She is a 275-metre long ex-US army aircraft carrier that was used in Vietnam. The flight deck has a depth of 40 metres – so for the more experienced – but the bridge and gun platforms are visible at much shallower depths. Marine life, including grouper and tuna, gather all over the ship and its variety should improve the longer she sits on the bottom.

So come on tell us – are there any better wrecks out there?

News that British Airways staff could again be looking to strike is bad news for travellers. We all have some sympathy for workers facing job cuts – life isn’t easy for most of us at the moment – but when strikes affect our precious adventure getaway, patience wears thin, quickly.

For the intrepid adventure sports fanatic air travel has never been easy: try checking in two boards and three sails, as well as your rucksack. And no, no matter how hard you try, that 7ft polished wave cutter is not fitting in the overhead locker.

If you are crossing only a couple of borders to reach your slope, shore or seabed, then there are options. First up: The Road Trip. Great if you have a van, fantastic with a couple of friends, lovely for a leisurely potter around the French coast, terrible if your family prefers its creature comforts.

OK, next option: The Rail Trip. Nice idea if your sporting equipment is limited to just a bodyboard. But with anything bigger under your arm, all those changes and cramped corridors could dull the experience before it has begun.

The Coach Trip: As daft as it sounds, it is feasible. Arguably more eco-friendly than driving on your own; rarely any baggage charges – but worth a check beforehand; little effort involved, you just need to be seated next to someone you can get on with – for 17 hours.

For long haul, there are no practical alternatives. For short haul, well, you have a few options. As for those hidden baggage charges and airline strikes, like the wind and the waves, they are beyond our control.

A safari features on most people’s bucket lists. Watching a pride of lions saunter a few metres away from you, a tiger cross the road in front of your 4X4, or a herd of elephants gently filling up your telephoto lens – a safari promises extraordinary experiences. There is something truly magical about seeing the moon shining through the skeletal branches of a lonely tree on a stretch of grassland, or viewing a hippopotamus baking in the sun with egrets perched on its back. The word safari comes from ‘Ar safar’, Swahili for journey. Let the urban jungle take a backseat as you embark on a journey of a lifetime through grasslands, forests and deserts.

1. Tanzania

A 2000-feet deep crater brimming over with wildlife, one of the world’s most diverse eco-systems and ancient baobab trees – every aspect of Tanzania presents a traveller with photo opportunities worthy of a National Geographic magazine cover. It’s renowned for three spectacular game parks: the baobab tree spread of Tarangire, the Lake Manyara national park (famous for its tree-climbing lions) and the Ngorongoro Crater – one of the easiest places in Africa to spot ‘The Big Five’ (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). Wind up with dinner at sunset at the rim of the crater, as the plains of the Serengeti lull you into a calm communion with nature.

2. Masai Mara

The northern extension of the Serengeti, called the Mara, stretches out in tall grassland, occasionally interrupted by the odd acacia. The Kruger and Chobe national parks offer sights of numerous animals: grazing wildebeest, zebra and giraffe, and their predatory counterparts: lions, leopards and cheetahs. It is without doubt one of the most spectacular places on the planet, with red cliffs, grassy plains and rock towers made of hardened lava. Although the parks are open all-year-round, it’s best to visit between mid-August and November to see one of the ten natural wonders of the world – the migration of animals from the north to the freshly rained plains of south Serengeti.

3. Botswana

Who’d have guessed that a swamp would turn out to be one of nature’s biggest wonders? The swamps of the Okavango delta in Botswana, located right in the middle of the Kalahari desert, are a network of waterways that are best explored on the mokoro (a dug-out canoe). Highlights include slow rides through the reed-filled channels and the Khama rhino sanctuary.

4. India

Spotting a tiger’s wheat and black stripes from the surrounding plains of tall fawn-coloured dry grass is part of the thrill of an Indian safari. Ranthambore national park in Rajasthan is known for its safaris on elephant back and of course the regal tiger. You can spot monkey, leopard, deer, elephant, antelope, bear, squirrel, crocodile and countless species of birds at nearby park Bharatpur and the Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary. Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks are thick, green and lush forests where spotting tigers is as commonplace as finding a McDonald’s back home – they are around every corner.

5. Sri Lanka

The eerie landscape of the Udawalawe national forest begs for ghost stories around camp fires. Bleached skeletal branches and trunks of dead trees emerge from water bodies spread across the reserve, lending it its haunted air. It’s a favourite spot for elephants where entire herds gather to drink, bathe and play and the 30,821-hectare dry zone game park is also home to water buffalo, monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard.

6. Egypt

Egypt offers more than just the enigmatic sphinx and majestic pyramids. Sand dunes and canyons also have stories and histories etched on them, and the best way to experience it: on camel back. Most safaris start at the Wadi Arada, where you can spend the night under the stars at the El Guna plateau and watch the sun rise over Mount Sinai. Sitting in tents drinking Bedouin tea is one of the simpler pleasures of the journey, and you come back home knowing you have experienced a slice of history still very much alive today centuries on.

7. Namibia

For one of the rarest experiences life could ever offer you, we would recommend a trip to Namibia between April and August. A safari here isn’t in a 4X4, on camel or elephant back; in Namibia the safari is conducted on foot. As part of the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) initiative, teams of local trackers lead expeditions through the oldest desert in the world, Namib, to catch a glimpse of the rare desert-adapted rhino. It isn’t just a one-off sighting and a photograph that you come back with; thanks to the work of the employed trackers you will have helped with the research and monitoring of the animal as well.

8. Cape town

The southern tip of Africa is so richly packed with flora, fauna and exciting options of experiencing nature in its finest and most beautiful form, it seems to puzzle visitors why anyone would opt to go anywhere else. Besides trekking on Table Mountain and drinking through the wine estate of Stellenbosch, between May and December you can also watch humpback whales on their annual migration around the Cape. There is also the chance to spy on a penguin colony at Boulders Beach, spend an afternoon at an ostrich farm at Karoo, or glide by silently sunning crocodiles at St Lucia’s estuary. The Hluhluwe Imfolozi is South Africa’s oldest reserve and offers a rare opportunity to spot white rhinos. The Garden Route also takes you to Blourkans Bridge for the world’s highest bungee jump.

9. Zambia

Safaris in Zambia tend to be overshadowed by the magnificence of the Victoria Falls. However it is Africa and wildlife does not stay in the shadows for long. The South Luangwa park is home to the giraffe, bushbuck, lion and hyena, and cranes and storks have found perfect hunting grounds at the Kakumbi salt pans. The famous falls offer something exceptional for adrenaline junkies – white water rafting – as well as canoe safaris for the tamer tourists.

10. Mexico

Between July and September the dense jungles of Mexico invite intrepid travellers by the busload. The Mayan forests offer culture and wildlife in equal measure, with several archaeological sites to explore and numerous safaris to embark on. We recommend a trip to the Sian ka’an biosphere reserve, snorkelling in the Gran Cenote cavern – with its striking stalagmites and stalactites – and especially, a night hike and cruise by the Coba lagoon to look for crocodiles. And if that proves too tame a pastime for you, why not try snorkelling with whale sharks at Holbox?

Panama is the southern most country in Central America, bordering Costa Rica in the north and separated from Colombia by the infamous Darian Gap to the south. Dense rainforest walks, Pacific palm fringed beaches, the Islands of Bocas del Toro, the Panama Canal, the Sand blas Islands & of course Panama City are just some of the experiences Panama has to offer.

But why accept our word for it?! Kevin from Barefoot Panama, one of our member operators based in Panama, gives us his top 5 reasons to visit Panama. For more information on what Kevin and his team have to offer visit their home page