Latest Blog Posts from the addictedtotravel.com Community

nttmuscat: National Travel and Tourism (NTT)

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:10:03 GMT

WELCOME TO NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM

As Oman’s premier tours, travel and cargo services company, National Travel & Tourism (NTT) offers a unique one-stop total solution providing capability. We are part of the renowned Saud Bahwan Group with an experience profile.

In Oman, our unmatched service delivery and response is by a motivated team backed by professional management and system infrastructure. Innumerable client accolades bear testimony to this.

Winner of major awards from airlines, accommodation consolidators, cruise liners, etc., NTT remains Oman’s favourite tours, travel & cargo house.

While demonstrating an aggressive growth profile in terms of market image and business share, the company has consistently responded to emerging opportunities by diversifying into cargo and freight operations in the early 1990s and soon thereafter commencing its Destination Management division.

Kaunostours: Open Green Spaces Award

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 10:42:45 GMT

Hello every one. One of the Turkish Protected Turtle beaches has won an award. Iztuzu beach is the breeding area for the carreta turtle, the Iztuzu beach, also know as turtle beach located in Dalyan. Has won the Best Open Spaces Award 2008. Have a look at the following link. From here you can go direct to the papers article.

colinbrichards: Competition result!

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:28:34 GMT

Congratulations from the addictedtotravel.com team to welshclare for winning the 'Cottage break in North Yorkshire' competition, supplied by our travel specialist North Yorkshire Holiday Cottages.

Well it might be a bit chilly in North Yorkshire at the moment, but the break should be stunning later in the year, with some of the best scenery and walking the UK can offer, staying at Ammonite Cottage on the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

Have a great trip welshclare and hope to see your photos on our site soon.

As a reminder, our new recently launched competition offers the lucky winner and up to 7 travelling companions, 7 fantastic nights in the fabled 'Red City' of Marrakech in Morocco. Spending a week accommodated in Riad Africa - the newest exclusive luxury riad to open in the heart of the World Heritage medina of Marrakech, courtesy of Riad Africa and addictedtotravel.com.

The trip gives you plenty of time to explore the numerous palaces, museums, souks and gardens of Marrakech, and includes two return flights on easyjet from Gatwick to Marrakech to the value of £150 each ticket, a day trip to the High Atlas mountains and a revitalising traditional Moroccan hammam experience.

If you would like to enter then simply click on 'win a week in Riad Africa, Marrakech' and follow the instructions.

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following this link and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you are not yet a member, it will take less than 2 minutes to register for free and you will then be entered into the draw!

The competition ends on 31st January 2009, so make sure you enter to win!

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team.......and merry christmas too!!

dannyd1972: Christmas in South Africa

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:55:13 GMT

Wishing everyone who is a travel addict like me, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

I am off to South Africa on Boxing Day and can't wait. Plenty of Turkey and all the trimmings tomorrow and then off to the airport on Friday.

I'm hoping my £'s will still buy a few rands.

10 days to cover as many miles and see and do as much as I can!! If anyone has any good tips or advice on places to see in either Jo'burg or Cape Town, then drop me a message on here - thanks.

Enjoy your travels and good luck for 2009!!

Carlwelsby: More Great Additions to the Site

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:05:15 GMT

Most regulars to the site already know we have a wide range of travel guides to over 100 destinations around the world. Within each are all the things you'd expect from a great travel guide - background information, how to get around, important places of interest and fantastic local attractions etc.

A recent site development is to add Travel Books and Travel Maps to each destination's Travel Information section. Take India for example - head to the India Travel Information section and you'll see headings for Travel Books and Travel Maps. Click these links for a huge selection of relevant travel literature to hone your research further or just whet your travel appetite...

Looking ahead keep an eye on the site as we expand the destinations that have relevent Travel News too, as well as something that will bring music to your ears...

Stuart: Responsible Gifts for the Festive Season – Tree Planting in Peru

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:11:06 GMT

Still looking for that special something for Christmas?

London’s Evening Standard yesterday suggested the 12 best travel gifts for under £100, which included travel books, travel wash kits, portable high-performance iPod speakers and something a little bit different...

Quote:

Under £90
A donation of £90 pays for 600 seedlings to plant and grow into trees in the communities of the high Andes in Peru. The area has suffered deforestation due to the demand for firewood, both from local communities and tourism. The target is to plant 20,000 Polylepis seedlings by next month to help rejuvenate the deforested patches.

Interested?
Look at the Responsible Travel pages of the LATA Foundation for more details.

Read about other excellent Responsible Travel projects worldwide, for inspiration on more great organisations you could support this Christmas, making unusual presents that can do communities and the environment some genuine good.

Flying_Kiwi: New Zealand Tours

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:45:55 GMT

If your thinking of takign time out to travel New Zealand and experience the wonderful outdoor and active side of the country then check out http://www.flyingkiwi.com.

The tours range from 3-27 days and include transport, great food, accommodation and use of sports equipment on board.

The main focus is on spending more time in the outdoors and maximising the time you have to enjoy activities, hikes, bike rides and more.

The custom made vehicles carry everything including the kitchen sink and allow everyone to get well beyond the tourist trail.

For more information visit http://www.flyingkiwi.com

visit29: Desert Hot Springs

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:01:06 GMT

It all started with a man, a mule, and a mission. In 1913, the natural beauty of this idyllic spot, located at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, beckoned homesteader Cabot Yerxa and his trusty black burro named Merry Christmas. His successful quest for water paved the way for modern explorers to continue the trek to Desert Hot Springs. These days, visitors come to stake a claim on the tranquility found at a cadre of boutique spas, and the back-to-nature state of mind in its village atmosphere.

So Desert Hot Springs plays its signature attribute for all it's worth. In a community of only 23 square miles there are 39 lodging properties, most of which long ago dropped the "motel" from their name and replaced it with "spa" or "resort."

Speaking of H2O, although cities throughout the West struggle to procure and provide safe and adequate drinking water, Desert Hot Springs has been tapped as having some of the best-tasting water in the world. At the international Berkeley Springs Water Tasting and Competition, the same water served domestically in the City of Desert Hot Springs by Mission Springs Water District, has taken five medals in eight years of competition. With two gold, two silver, and one bronze, it has become obvious that there is no water in the west like the water in Desert Hot Springs.

[advertising removed]

africanick: Air Tanzania Grounded

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:11:34 GMT

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has been banned to operate any flight within and outside Tanzania, at the same time had its operations certificate revoked by Tanzania's aviation authorities.

Reports from Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) said the embattled and loss- making national airline was not air-worth after a number of discrepancies and operational failures were discovered within ATCL management this month.

Aviation authorities revoked ATCL's flying certificate on Tuesday this week (December 8) and forced the airline to ground its planes for an unknown period.

It has been known that ATCL failed to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) flying standards and regulations after an inspection by IATA and TCAA aviation experts who jotted down more than 500 operational gaps within the airline.

IATA wrote to Tanzania aviation authorities looking for indefinite suspension of ATCL's flying certificate until the time that the airline solves its operational problems.

Carlwelsby: Buffalo Tours launch new Voluntourism trips

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:35:12 GMT

Based in Vietnam (see our Vietnam Travel Guide here) Buffalo Tours are one of Indochina's leading tour operators, operating a huge range of great adventure holidays in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

Owned and operated by Kien and a range of travel professionals both local and from around the world Buffalo Tours have just launched a series of set-departure date, small group (max just 15 travellers), 'voluntourism' trips. Buffalo Tours are not new to responsible tourism as they have a long-standing tradition of working with good causes, but these are a new concept for them - and the region.

One trip we feature is called "Indochina With Purpose" - an epic 40-day trip starting in Bangkok and travelleing through Laos, into Vietnam, then Cambodia and back into Thailand. In Thailand you'll look at the work of the Mirror Art Foundation and then in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia help out in worthwhile projects. If you haven't got a full 40-days yu don't need to miss out as the trip can be broken down into 3 different, 2-week adventures.

This is a great way of seeing local life from a grassroots level whilst really making a meaningful contribution where it's most needed.

For more details look at Indochina volunteering holidays here or contact Buffalo Tours to check out what else they offer in the way of volunteering in South East Asia.

Need more inspiration? Check out the range of Buffalo Tours photos here.

Carlwelsby: Cruise the Croatian Coast

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:25:41 GMT

As our Travel Guide to Croatia continues to grow we are pleased to welcome award-winning operator Katarina Line to the addictedtotravel.com site.

Those who have been to Croatia report jewel-like islands, amazing history friendly people and medieval towns and villages. It's places such as Hvar, Korcula and Dubrovnik that are well know, but Daniel Hauptfeld of Katarina Line says their cruises take their clients to off the beaten track places too.

The Croatian 'oldtimer' is a motor-yacht using an engine for power most of the time but hoisting the sails when conditions allow. There are three categories of boat - A (en-suite cabins) and B (shared facilities), plus A+ (private charter). Katarina Line sell cabins on fixed-date Croatia sailing holidays trips that depart weekly from April right through to October, making what is a wonderful holiday highly affordable. Costs are further kept down by not naming boats, allowing travellers to be assigned boats as they book.

Check out these wonderful sailing holidays to Croatia and enjoy a holiday with a difference!

colinbrichards: Competition update!!

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:39:12 GMT

It's been a busy month on the competition front, with a couple of winners to announce and an exciting new competition recently launched.

Firstly, congratulations from the addictedtotravel.com team to khartley for winning the 'trip for 2 in North Cyprus' competition, supplied by our travel specialist Ornek Holidays. I’m sure you will join us in wishing her a fantastic time and look forward to reading about her adventure in our blog section.

And the winner of the best video submission goes to dannyd1972, with his 'Where the Hell Was Matt' video clip. It is an old one, but we still enjoy watching the origial video of Matt Harding the Dancing Man. Some great countries included in the video.

So dannyd1972 wins the prize of the 10 meg video camera and lets hope we see some of his travels in the future.

And finally, our new competition just launched offers the lucky winner and up to 7 travelling companions, 7 fantastic nights in the fabled 'Red City' of Marrakech in Morocco. Spending a week accommodated in Riad Africa - the newest exclusive luxury riad to open in the heart of the World Heritage medina of Marrakech, courtesy of Riad Africa and addictedtotravel.com.

The trip gives you plenty of time to explore the numerous palaces, museums, souks and gardens of Marrakech, and includes two return flights on easyjet from Gatwick to Marrakech to the value of £150 each ticket, a day trip to the High Atlas mountains and a revitalising traditional Moroccan hammam experience.

If you would like to enter then simply click on 'win a week in Riad Africa, Marrakech' and follow the instructions.

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following this link and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you are not yet a member, it will take less than 2 minutes to register for free and you will then be entered into the draw!

The competition ends on 31st January 2009, so make sure you enter to win!

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team

wildernessscotland: Skiing in Scotland this weekend?

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:47:13 GMT

Winter arrived early in Scotland this year, with significant snowfalls at the end of October and during November. This cold weather is set to continue through December as we've already had some heavy snowfalls in parts of the Highlands and the outlook is for it to remain cold.

The recent snows have persuaded some of the Scottish ski centres to open for skiing this weekend. However, while the skiing may not be great at the centres, some of our guides have already been out ski-touring in the backcountry.

One of the benefits of ski-touring is that you are able to seek out the best snow conditions and parts of the Cairngorms are already in condition. Although our ski touring trips in Scotland do not run until March, the early snowfalls and cold conditions bode well for a great season.

Of course, for those of you who enjoy winter walking, the hills are already in perfect condition and we can't wait until Janaury when our winter walking breaks begin. Many of these trips already have limited availability, so it is worth thinking about booking your place before the post-Christmas rush starts, especially if you can only make certain dates.

Have a look at some of the winter videos we've posted recently and you'll see the snow that we have up in the Highlands already!

africanick: Boom Time for Travel to South Africa

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:40:40 GMT

Almost a year after first publication our in-depth online Travel Guide to South Africa is now complete. Now has never been a better time to visit South Africa – with over 15 Rand to £1, South Africa is one of only a handful of top-notch destinations where all your local costs offer remarkable value for money. With the country set to enter a booming busy period around the 2010 Soccer World Cup, 2009 may well be the time to travel.

Combining the in-depth local knowledge of our South African travel specialist partners with the travel experiences of an expert in-house team we have brought together a hand-picked selection of the best places that South Africa has to offer. Featuring inspiring photo galleries to whet your appetite, an introduction and background to each place, great reasons to visit, and details of attractions and activities on offer, you can also search over 60 holidays that visit your favourite places, over 20 adventurous activities and day trips, or choose from over 30 hand-picked safari lodges, character hotels and boutique guesthouses.

Featuring over 75 places to visit in South Africa’s 9 provinces, including mini-guides to 26 of the most popular holiday destinations in Western Cape, and 15 in the wild and rugged province of KwaZulu Natal, all of the Rainbow Nation’s major cities, interesting towns, and best wilderness areas, UNESCO World Heritage sites and 36 national parks are featured – all easily searchable through a ‘Places to Visit’ filter search. Whether your interests lie in locating the ‘Big 5’, ticking off SA’s big game parks or delving into the cultural diversity of South Africa, the places to visit search will help you find the places that might interest you.

tomislav: Dubrovnik by winter

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:50:54 GMT

Hi from Viator Travel, this blog is about Dubrovnik in winter or reasons why travel in Dubrovnik during cold months….

To walk through Dubrovnik in winter, whether with a guided group or alone, or with someone dear, will enrich your soul, more than you think possible. You will get to know a wonderful, amazing city, one you could not even begin to imagine.

Come, listen to concerts, visit the theatre, climb the walls, go to one of the many museums or the aquarium located in St. John's Fort, see an exhibition in one of the many exhibition areas and galleries, dance, take photographs, talk, think, dream, love...

And if not even this should be enough for you, go to Cavtat, or Trsteno and visit the Arboretum or take a regular ferry to the islands of Kolocep, Lopud or Sipan.

And when you get tired, have a seat in one of the numerous cafés on Stradun or in the surrounding streets.

December in Dubrovnik is particularly attractive- filled with the
fragrances and beauty of centuries old customs including Christmas and New Year carols, when the well-wishing carol singers are offered delicious warm doughnuts and a glass of home made brandy.

The winter atmosphere in Dubrovnik during January and February begins with a spectacular open air New Year's Party in Stradun, in the square in front of St Blaise's Church, by the Bell tower and Orlando's Column.
The Colonia Dance Group and the bands Jinx and Christmas Gala Jazz Band will be in charge of creating a good mood and a merry beginning to the year 2009. On 1st January 2009 the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra will give its superb traditional New Year concert in Stradun. If you wish to spend New Year's Eve in the circle of close friends you may choose some of the New Year's programmes offered by the Dubrovnik hotels.

Each Friday, one of the famous wines from Korčula, Pelješac, Neretva or Konavle will be offered (wine-tasting) in one of the hotels, the best olive oil producers will also be presented.

Besides these programs, you must not miss one of the theatrical plays in the Baroque Marin Držić Theater or a concert with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra in the medieval Fort Revelin or a candlelight concert in the votive Church of St. Savior.
And for those who need more, there is live music each night at the Arsenal Club and other Dubrovnik night clubs and discotheques.

In addition to the above, there are traditional and thematic events in this period (III. International Festival of Nativity Scenes and Christmas Traditions, Christmas Concerts, St. Blaise Festivities and the Day of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Carnival, etc.), so that we can claim that the Dubrovnik winter offer is different and unique

There are many reasons why Dubrovnik is worth visiting in winter. If you whish to visit Dubrovnik during one of the cold months then just contact us in agency Viator Travel and we will create your unforgettable winter holidays in Dubrovnik.
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Louisewelsby: Hot Mauritian holidays special offer!

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:00:30 GMT

If you are looking for a luxurious break in an exotic location, the island of Mauritius has it all with tropical beaches, plentiful water-sports, sailing, golf, luxury hotels and fine cuisine and brilliant hotels. One such hotel, located on the Belle Mare Coast, is the hotel Beau Rivage and Mauritian Travel Specialist, Connections, are offering the following deal for all new bookings at the Beau Rivage Hotel from 1st December 2008.

For stays between the 7th January - 9th April 2009 and the 1st May – 31st July 2009 you can claim a 10% discount on your stay, paying for 5 nights and staying for 7! What’s more it’s applicable to all room types, including kids in their own room. Room price includes accommodation on a half board basis (full board at a supplement).
Contact Connections through their Travel Specialist page or via the Beau Rivage accommodation page and quote Ref: NA Special Beau Rivage.

Obviously there are conditions:
Offers are not combinable unless mentioned, accommodation must be booked 30 days before arrival. There’s a minimum stay of 7 nights.

Enjoy!

Anatolian: Merhaba from "Anatolian Adventures"

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:47:24 GMT

It is our proud that Anatolian Adventures have completed 7 years of success in adventure travel with hundreds of customers and many operators all over the world. Thanks to everyone that have chosen us in their adventure travel and thanks to all operators who have chosen us for their organizations in Turkey during this time. We wish to welcome new friends in our trips for the upcoming years.

We, Anatolian Adventures , aim to provide expert knowledge and assistance for your mountain adventures with our professional guides and experienced staff.

Our reputation has been gained by offering treks and expeditions at realistic prices without compromising from quality and being very flexible. Our commitment to excellent customer service has taken high ratings from our past customers who also thanked us for being well organized, flexible, enjoyable and professional. Small groups and skilled leaders ensure a high quality personal service which cannot be matched by our larger competitors.

Our motto is "You are part of a team - not a hand-held client!” We are all members of a team aiming to achieve the same goal whilst maximizing the enjoyment of our adventure experience altogether. We are aware that everyone we met has something to add our life and friendship.

So, as you plan your next adventure holiday, remember that there is a simple short cut: ANATOLIAN ADVENTURES . Unforgettable adventure travel memories are just one phone call or mouse click away.

Welcome to our Adventure world!

Sinan Haliç
Managing Director & Founder

Anatolian: The Legendary Ararat by Sinan Haliç

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:04:13 GMT

The legendary Ararat Mountain is attracting tourists worldwide and offering an unforgettable adventure with unique cultural and geographical experiences.

Mount Ararat is lying on the border of Turkey, Armenia and Iran,is a volcano with 5137 meters altitude. Not the highest in Europe and Middle east but higher than Mont Blanc and 500 meter shorter than Elbrus which is accepted to be the highest of Europe and 500 meter shorter than Mount Damavand of Iran.

The summit view is surely a rewarding experience. One can view 3 countries at a time from the summit; Armenia in the north-northeast, Iran in the east and rest directions are all Turkey.

The summit of Ararat is accesible from 4-5 different routes but only the direct southern route is allowed by the officials. The best time to climb the mountain is between July - September. Anybody who is willing to climb the summit should have a basic experience about self arrest, ice-axe and crampon use. Minimum trekking experience of 5-6 hours in high altitude (Above 3000 meters) is essential.

With the guidance of "professional guides" the last 200 meters altitude offering the glacier, will be passed without any problem if the weather is good enough.

The permit procedure is seriously taking time (minimum 35-40 days) and the basic information of a passport is needed as well as the information about the closest Turkish Embassy/consulate in the hometown of the climber.

The most important thing about the safety, is the tour operator. There are many operators providing trekking services illegally in the internet. Because the region has not been so crowded yet, in the name of tourism, there are still misuse of the goodwill of foreigners, by some local and other illegal "operators"

In any case, the travel arrangements should be done with a full bonded A group travel agency licensed by the Ministry of Tourism of Turkey and should be a member of TURSAB (Turkish Travel Agencies Association) This will protect the climbers financially in case of bad hospitality & disagreement, and will provide an obligatory insurance coverage of the association.

Anatolian: CLIMBING MT. ARARAT - MOUNT ARARAT EXPEDITIONS

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:00:10 GMT

The 5137 meter high Mt. Ararat (Turkish: Buyuk Agri Dagi) is the highest mountain in Turkey. For European alpinists it is the nearest mountain in this height category.

Climbing Mount Ararat does not represent a major challenge for people in good physical condition. It is not necessary to have a high level of technical knowledge or climbing skills. Experience in hill walking is of advantage. However, one basic requirement is a very good state of fitness and stamina. Above 5,000m the air is very thin, it becomes more difficult to breathe and every step is strenuous.

Climbing Mt. Ararat summit requires very good stamina and good physical condition of all participants, but no special alpinist skills. For an optimal acclimatisation to this extreme altitude a targeted training is recommended.

The climb is long, but there is a fairly easy route from the south in late summer for climbers who are familiar with the use of axe and crampons. Snow covers the last 400 m (¼ mile) year-round. There are two possible campsites on the mountain, and the glacier begins around 4,800 m (15,750 ft). The Turkish government requires a climbing permit and use of a certified Turkish guide. Arrangements can take two months to complete.

Mt Ararat offers a challenging climb. Unlike the Kackars, it has no green glens, canyons, rivers, lakes, or waterfalls. It is a bare mountain with a majestic peak which is difficult to reach.

Water is sparse on the mountain. In general, it is very difficult to find water outside the designated camp grounds. Since the source for this water is melted "wormy" snow, drinking it may cause diarrhea. Therefore it is advisable to bring filters and/or disinfectants.

Mount Ararat / Mount Agri is covered with volcanic rocks. It exhibits the characteristics of all volcanic mountains, that is, slopes with a gentle initial incline become steep very quickly as the elevation increases. There are no trees on this mountain, climbers should not dream of resting on green grass under a shade tree.

There is 2 main camp site over south route. 3100m and 4200m. The greenest area is at camp 3100m, and it is only 1000 sqm. It is used for tents only. Camp 4200 m is rocky. The space for 20-30 tents is packed earth which has been cleared of rocks. If needed, one can pitch tents on leveled rocks. It is difficult to sleep at this camp, because of sulphorous emissions from the rocks.

Environmental protection is not enforced. Therefore one frequently encounters garbage. There are no rest areas for toilet facilities, but the dirt accumulated in secluded spots used for bathroom purposes, is washed away with the winter snow.

The southern route from camp 3200 to the peak is equipped with signs bearing the coordinates. But most of the posts have been demolished either by people or the harsh winds.

The view from the peak, on a clear day, is extraordinary. To the east and south you can see into Iran and Armenia , the Suphan dag and sometime the Lake Van . To the north, the Kackar Mountains and the Caucuses may be visible.

Ararat Mountain generates its own weather conditions; it is not wise to depend on weather forecasts. The peak is subject to severe winds, and sudden changes in temperature. Every year several deaths have been recorded due to weather conditions. One has to be equipped for the worst, and one has to know when to quit.

After you leave Dogubeyazit, you can reach the village of Eli at 2200m. In fact the road could take you to 2800m but the severe winter of 2002 season damaged the higher portion of the road. That is to say to one has to walk after reaching 2200m.

Serious climbers will no doubt wish to discover Turkey's most challenging peaks, the best known of which is Mount Ararat or Agri Dagi, which is the country's highest peak. The summit of Ararat was first climbed by Dr Parrot, a German, in 1829 and has been popular with international climbers ever since. The best time of year is between June and September being the most pleasant months. The ascent is non-technical although it does include some rough terrain. The southern face of the mountain offers the easiest and safest ascent to the summit, as it has the best routes as well as having safer communication and transportation systems. It is not advised to climb Mount Agri (Ararat) alone and without a guide. You will, in any case, need official permission for the climb.

WINTER ASCENTS

Doing a winter ascent of Ararat can be compared to a 7000 meter mountain in summer conditions. Prepare yourself for tough conditions: The weather may be very cold (down to minus 30-40 degrees centigrade) and windy. To do a successful winter ascent, you will need a strong psychology and very good physical condition.

SKIING / SKI-TOURING FROM ARARAT MOUNTAIN

The best season for the ski-climbing to Ararat begins in April and runs until end of May. The weather can be snowy in the middle of April; however, it is possible to ski touring to the summit. Usually the snow is starting at 2700-2800 meters, which is why we pitch the tents at 2800 meters for Camp1. We are using porters for the luggages until 3800m camp site. Snow conditions are excellent and offer high quality, fresh powder sometimes hard. The skiers can downhill from the top (5137m) until 2800 meters. Some of the ski-climb skiers will need ski-crampons after Camp 2 for the summit trail.

PERMIT PROCEDURE FOR MT ARARAT

As it is well known, the Ararat Mountain which had been a favorite for climbers until 1980 was closed to the public during the Kurdish insurgence. It was reopened to visitors in 2001 when security in the area was reestablished. Nevertheless, to ensure continuance of security, visits to Mount Ararat are now under strict government control.

Individual climbers are subject to security investigation and only those who are approved are allowed to visit.

Foreigners traveling alone who wish to climb Mt. Ararat should apply to the Turkish consulate in their country and apply for an "ARARAT CLIMBING" visa. Even individuals from those countries that do not require an entry visa to Turkey, should have their passports stamped with a special purpose visa by the Turkish consulate in their own countries. Applications made through the consulate are then sent to the office of the General Staff of Turkey, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and the Ministry of Tourism. Those applications that are approved are then forwarded to the office of the governor of Agri city and the local military police. The same documents are sent to the Turkish consulate of the originating country. Upon entry to Turkey these special visas are shown to the appropriate offices.

These procedures take up to two months, but if you go with an agency all these procedures will result faster.

After you leave Dogubayazit, you have to show your documents to the border police; without their permission you cannot start your climb. Permission is necessary to keep the number of climbers at a certain level and is given at first come first served basis. In other words, even if you have all your documents in order, you may not get to climb because of the number of people on the mountain.

If you prefer to join an expedition arranged by a travel company it is enough to give the company the information on your passport. The company will carry out the proper procedures in you name. This is the easiest way to obtain the necessary visas and permissions.

It is our strong recommendation that you join a group arranged by a travel company. Not only do the government officials look kindly on individuals applying through an approved travel agency, but it is the safest way to climb the mountain.

SEASON AND WEATHER

Ararat is a dormant volcano; the last eruption was on June 2, 1840. At present the upper third of the mountain is covered with snow all the time; the last hundred meters of snow at the top have turned to ice. For climbers on the mountain, fresh running water is available after the sun has been up a while to melt the snow, but it is cut off in the late afternoon when cold air has overcome the heat of the sun. Below the snow the slopes are covered with great blocks of black basalt rock, some as large as village houses.

Because of its high elevation and its distance to the sea, the climate is harsh. Summers are short, hot and dry, and winters are long, snowy and very cold.

There is a large shift between day and night time temperatures. Spring and fall are rainy and mild. The coldest temperatures in the country are recorded here at, (-430-450) degrees centigrade... The mean temperature in this land that belongs in the terrestrial climate region of Turkey is 6.10 centigrade.

The air in Igdir, which is on the northern slopes of the mountain, is hazy and cold. Dogubeyazit, on the other hand, which is situated on the southern slope, boasts of clear skies and warm weather. On days when one needs a heavy coat in Igdir, in Dogubeyazit, one can enjoy a walk under clear and sunny skies wearing just a shirt.

Ararat Mountain creates its own weather conditions; meteorological broadcasts are not to be trusted. The peak is visited frequently by harsh winds, and weather can change in a split second. Every year several deaths are reported due to
changing weather conditions prevailing on the mountain. One needs to be prepared and not overly insistent about climbing to the top.

In summer, the glacier on the peak is subjected to bright sun in the day time and below freezing temperatures in the night. The ice is glass-like. If the temperatures are mild in the day, footing may become softer, but in all conditions one needs to wear crampons. When the conditions are for glass-ice, crampons are not sufficient; and rope stations have to be established. One of the best known mountaineers has lost his life for this reason.. Some times if there is snow-fall at night, conditions become better for the climb to the peak.

The winds at the peak are so fierce and cold that regular goretex mountaineering coats are like a sieve offering no protection. One can be frozen in ten minutes in a bona-fide storm. One has to stay home under such extremely windy
conditions, or be heavily protected. Of course, proper clothing does not stave off all the danger, because there is always the danger of losing ones balance and falling off the glacial passes.

If you want to climb in winter you should know that no mules can be used, only porters are available, so all services fee will be doubled.

Best season for ski from top is May.

Every 30th August there is a traditional climb for the Victory Day. People aim to be in top on 30th August. So be aware not to go between 28 Agust-02 Sep. Because hundreds of mountaineer will be there and not enough space for tents.

SOUTHERN ROUTE

The Southern route is the easiest and by far the most popular one; therefore we will describe it in detail.

The Southern route of Ararat starts in Dogubayazit. It is rated 1 (easiest in the snow), but the difficulty is in acclimatization and the changeable weather conditions. Ararat, at an elevation of 5137 meters, is the highest mountain in Turkey by 1000 meters. The climb becomes very steep very fast, and most mountaineers are quickly affected by mountain sickness.

AKUT (search and rescue unit) erected sign posts at every 100 meters. These signs, which denote the altitude, irritate some of the purist climbers, but are helpful in showing the correct way up the mountain. Unfortunately, some of the signs have been damaged; it is not advisable to depend on them entirely for the climb to the peak.

The first stop after leaving Dogubayazit is the village of Eli. Eli is 2 hours by truck or minibus from Dogubeyazit. Camp at 3200m. (called Green Camp as well) is one of the rare places where you can find greenery and water. It is generally crowded and dirty. Since there are no toilet facilities, almost all the crevices (spaces) beneath the rocks have been used as such.

From camp 3200, a 3 hour walk on a steep and rocky path will take you to camp 4200. (Notice that the small 400m elevation difference between Eli and camp 3200 is traversed in 4 hours, and the 1000 m difference and between camps 3200 and 4200 takes and equal amount of time.)

The day of the climb to the peak, you should start with the first lights of dawn. The walk between camp 4200 and 4950m where the glacier starts is very steep and rocky. You put on your crampons at 4900 m. The last bit of the climb is relatively easy with a gentle grade. The first peak you will encounter when you enter the glacier is called Inonu peak. The main peak is to your left. You reach the main peak after you pass Inonu peak, enter the cone (crater) and walk a short distance on the flat and then up a slight incline. The climb from camp 4200 to the main peak takes about 5-6 hours.

The descent is almost as hard as the ascent; toes and knees suffer. The route is the same in reverse.

OTHER ROUTES

You may want to use the alternate routes to the Southern route, namely the Eastern and Western routes. Beware that they are not used often; the valleys and the plateaus at the lower skirts of the mountain have been poorly kept up because of infrequent use.

The eastern route, which is relatively popular, starts at the valley of Aras on the northern side. It continues through Serdarbulak through a deep pit (Mine Shaft) to the pass between the Little and Great Ararat mountains. The route then follows a terraced slope and reaches a rock formation known as the Rock Church. After that comes a long glacial slope, to the left there is a path of loose rocks, which will take you to the peak.

The Northwestern route starts at a small village between Igdir and Dogubayazit and follows the route to Lake Kup. This lake is usually used as a camp ground. You leave the vast flat ground around the lake, take a steep glacial and rocky road to first peak Inonu and then to the main peak.

The Northern route starts at Igdir; it is a difficult, technical climb on a glacial route to the right (east) of an impressively empty valley. The weather on the Northern route offers even more difficult conditions than on the Southern route. During the spring and summer months, the melted snow carries literally rivers of ice blocks and rocks into the valleys. Therefore it is strongly advised that you do not enter the valleys but keep to the ridges.

On the north side, Ararat has its roots in the Araxes (Aras) River valley. There it rises from the valley elevation of about 760 meters above sea level. In that area the Araxes River is the border demarcation between Turkey and Russia. The top of the mountain is only about 30 kilometers from the border. For some years both the Turkish and the Soviet governments have been touchy about foreigners exploring on Ararat because of military security precautions. Therefore it was difficult to get permission to climb it for sports fans. On 1st of November 2004 Ararat Mountain and surroundings were declared as the 35th National Park of Turkey by the Government so it's believed that it will attract more visitors and help to the local economy as well. So far there are no ski resorts on the mountain but you never know, maybe one day... The nearest one is on Bubi Mountain which is open from December till April.

What is the different between Ararat North Route (Korhan) and Classic South Route?

For many years the companies have only organized the tours from the classic south side of Ararat Mountain. The reason is, everything is easier on the south side, especially when carrying all the equipment with horses until high camp (4170m). Also there are many local people working on this business. Climbing to the summit is also easier because of walking on the trail. It is not a technical climb and you will need crampons only after 4970 meter and for a maximum of 45 minutes walk.

At the north side the horses can only transfer until 3700 meters. At this point we have two choices. The first is to pitch tents at 3700 meters and start the summit climb from here. The second option is to use porters after 3.700 and up to 4250 meters, and set up high camp in front of the great glacier of Mt. Ararat. If we do this, the summit climb starts directly on the glacier. You will need to use your crampons from here to the summit. It is not really steep but you will need to have crampon walking experience on the glacier. There are some cracks, but not large and deep. However, they can be dangerous when descending if snow closed on one of the crevasses.

Not many people are interested in and have the advanced climbing skills necessary for this route. Understandably, this is why companies don't want to organize this tour.

LITTLE ARARAT

Little Ararat is closed to climbers.

Anatolian: MOUNT ARARAT DETAILED INFORMATION GUIDE

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:55:10 GMT

Mount Ararat is the tallest peak in Turkey. This snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone is located near the northeast corner of Turkey, 16 km (10 miles) west of the Iranian and 32 km (20 miles) south of the Armenian border.

Technically, Ararat is a stratovolcano, formed of lava flows and pyroclastic ejecta. A smaller 3,896 m (12,782 ft) cone, Little Ararat, rises from the same base, southeast of the main peak. The lava plateau stretches out between the two pinnacles. The last activity on the mountain was a major earthquake in July 1840 centered around the Ahora Gorge, a northeast trending chasm that drops 1,825 metres (6,000 ft) from the top of the mountain.

Its two peaks, Great Ararat (Büyük Agri, 5137 meters/16,854 feet) and Little Ararat (Kücük Agri, 3895 meters/12,779 feet) were revered by the people of ancient Urartu (13th to 7th centuries BC), who gave their name (Urartu = Ararat) to the mountain. The two mountains Great Ararat and Little Ararat, together, they cover about 250 km2.

LOCATION OF ARARAT MOUNTAIN

Ararat is located at Agri in eastern Turkey near the Russian and Iranian borders. As the crow flies, it is about 250 kilometers east of Erzurum, 130 kilometers southeast of Kars, and 160 kilometers north of Van. The main road between Turkey and Iran goes from Erzurum through Dogubayazit (just south of Ararat) to Tabriz. The summit of Mt. Ararat is 5,137 meters above sea level. It is higher than any mountain in the continental United States except for Alaska or in Europe outside the Caucasus. The nearest town to the mountain is Dogubayazit. When permits are granted for climbs up the Ararat mountain, the treks depart from this town..

NOAH'S ARK

Famous in the Bible as the final resting-place of Noah's Ark, Mount Ararat has been wreathed in legends for millennia. In many languages, the mountain is referred to as Ararat. In Abrahamic religions, the mountain is the place Noah landed after the flood. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2000 BC) describes a great flood, as does the later record of Berossus (3rd century BC), and of course the Bible (Genesis and Gospels) and the Kur'an. In the story, a flood lasting 40 days and nights wipes out all living things except those in a boat or ark built, on orders of God, to survive The Deluge. In the ark are male and female representatives of each species, including Noah, his wife and family. This myth has always attracted ark-hunters, who have trekked up Ararat over the years in search of Noah's Ark. The most famous expedition was that led by ex-US Astronaut James Irwin in 1982. In 1985 an expedition led by David Fusold discovered a boat-shaped stone formation on a nearby mountain called Musa Dagi ("Mount Moses") east of Dogubayazit near the village of Üzengili. Using ground-penetrating sonar, Fusold mapped the site and produced intriguing but inconclusive evidence that the stone formation was anything more than a curious stone formation. Mount Ararat has been the subject of search attempts to recover Noah's Ark. In the 1950s, the Frenchman De Navarre claimed to have found a piece of wood from the ark, but subsequent scientific dating showed it to be too recent. Another famous searcher for the ark on Mount Ararat was astronaut James Irwin, who walked on the moon in 1971. The story of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat is an important feature of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Over the years various groups have explored Ararat in the hopes of finding remains of Noah's Ark. Both Josephus in about 70 A.D. and Marco Polo about 1300 A.D. mention its existence on the mountain, but their reports are based on others' accounts. Josephus remarks that its remains are on display for all to see without need of an organized exploration. In more recent years many groups have hunted for it there. The possibility that ancient fables are historical fact is intriguing, and each new discovery of truth in previously discredited records gives additional strength to continuing the search for archaeological confirmation.

However, the problems of establishing exactly what the biblical record in this case means are serious ones that need to be settled even before one accepts this particular high mountain as the right place to look for the ark. In itself even that ignores the possibility that Noah and his family used up the ark in bits and pieces to build their new homes, a fate that has destroyed many other famous structures in the Near East since.

The story of Noah's ark, as it is told in the Bible, is a reworking of an earlier Babylonian myth recorded in the Gilgamesh Epic. The hero of the earlier version is one Utnapishtim, the favorite of Ea, the god of wisdom. It seems probable that the Babylonian story was based on an unusually devastating flood in the Euphrates (Firat) River basin, and that the ark in it grounded on the slopes of one of the Zagros mountains. The biblical word that we read as "Ararat" could as well be read "Urartu"; the text has merely "rrt" and the proper vowels must be supplied.

Ararat is what the ancient Assyrians called the Urartian kingdom, which was centered here as early as the 13th Century BC; the word appears to be an elision of "Urartu" meaning 'mountain of mountains'. The word also meant "a land far away" and "a place in the north." So, while Buyuk Agri Dagi is a spectacular mountain and not a difficult one to climb for those experienced in high altitude exercise, it still seems less than likely that Noah's Ark will be found there. That doubt does not detract from the continuing interest in it, nor from the important achievements of archaeologists in deepening our understanding of the Old Testament.

The Ararat anomaly is an interesting feature located on the northwest corner of the Western Plateau of Mount Ararat (approximately 39°42'10'N, 44°16'30'E) at about 4,724 meters (15,500 feet), some 2.2 km (1.4 miles) west of the 5,137 m (16,854 ft) summit, on the edge of what appears from the photographs to be a steep downward slope. It is claimed by a number of Biblical literalists that this anomaly is the remains of Noah's Ark (from the Old Testament).

FIRST ASCENT TO MOUNTARARAT

Dr. Friedrich Parrot, with the help of Khachatur Abovian, was the first explorer in modern times to reach the summit of Mount Ararat, subsequent to the onset of Russian rule in 1829. He was followed in 1856 by a group of five explorers led by Major Robert Stuart.

MOUNT ARARAT ELEVATION DILEMMA

An elevation of 5,165 m (16,946 ft) for Mount Ararat is given by some authorities, but others, including Encyclopedia Britannica give 5,137 m (16,854 ft). Public domain and verifiable SRTM data and a 2007 GPS measurement not only show that 5,137 m is more accurate, but also both suggest that the true elevation may be lower still. 5,137 m is also supported by detailed topographic mapping.

Carlos: TLACOTALPAN, VERACRUZ, MEXICO. A WORLD HERITAGE SITE BY UNESCO.

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:18:39 GMT

Tlacotalpan ...welcomes you with open arms!

Tlacotalpan is derived from the Aztec Nahuatl word "tlaxcotaliapan" meaning "land between the waters" as the area was an island and was inhabited in ancient times by the indigenous Totonacs.

In 1518, Pedro de Alvarado first explored the Papaloapan river delta, for his homeland of Spain. This also was the first contact with the Indigenous people.
around 1521 a Spanish land grant was given to Sr. Alonso Romero Soldier. The town government was created, and the new name..” SAN CRISTOBAL de TLACOTALPAN ” was given to the area.

Three sections of the community were established.

1. First Settlement…the official government offices and residences
2. The Native Congregation
3. The Spanish Settlement
Then in 1580 TLACOTALPAN was given the title ” Pueblo de Cabeceras “…roughly meaning …official recognition as a Pueblo by Spain.
At this time, and throughout the 17th century, the population was divided into two groups.
The Spanish, around the Zocalo and to the west side of it and the Native village to the east side of the Zocalo or plaza de Armas.
Until the early 1600s, TLACOTALPAN was mainly an Indigenous community where a Spanish minority lived.
On into the 17th century more and more Spanish and other Europeans arrived and the Indigenous were pushed back to the area surrounding the current neighbour of the San Miguel Church.

The main streets were planned in an East-West direction, running parallel to the river. The houses benefited from this position, taking advantage of the ventilation from the Northwest prevailing winds. Porticos were created to protect the houses from the morning and afternoon sun, and providing a covered walkway for the pedestrians.

The lime and brick factories, as well as the first meat and fish markets were located on the opposite side of the river, in accordance to Spanish statutes. The remains of the brick factory can still be seen there today.

The construction of the Royal Shipyard in 1750, and a Spanish court decree, turned TLACOTALPAN into a port by the early 1800s.
By 1821, TLACOTALPAN was a significant port with established trade routes with New Orleans, Havana, and Bordeaux.

One of the reasons for the ports great success was the fact that it was easy to defend from PIRATES and even the invading French of Napoleon III. The port was defended from the French for 3 full years, until the end of the conflict.
At the height of its trading days, The Port of TLACOTALPAN owned over 13 steamships.
Amongst the items exported were: Leathers, Tobacco, Seeds, Cotton, cut Corn, Rum, Moral Stick, Alligators, Sugar, Cedar, Mahogany, Pine, and Heron Feathers.

In 1849 the Government Building was built and oil burning street lamps were installed. Also during this period, the central market was built, and several public squares were created. Also a city Band and a music academy were established.

In 1885, with donations from merchants, traders and ranchers, construction was begun on the San Cristobal Church and Parrish. Two years later the right tower was completed and the clock was installed. During this period, the Casino Tlacotalpaño was constructed, where today, the Hotel Doña LaLa now stands. This was also the time in which the NETZAHUALCOYOTL THEATRE was constructed.
By 1909, TLACOTALPAN had eight government offices, six public schools, four private schools, three hotels, nine factories, and one Parrish with two churches. one hospital, one jail and 1200 houses.

In 1905 the Isthmus Railroad bypassed TLACOTALPAN, for the Port of Veracruz…..This combined with a cyclone and earthquake in the 1930s, and several subsequent floods, brought commerce to a halt and the ultimate decline of ” THE PEARL OF THE PAPALOAPAN”. In 1944, 460 hectares of the Popaloapan river delta were flooded.
By the end of the 19TH century, sugar cane and cattle rising had taken over about 95% of all the surrounding land.

The type of housing construction seen today was developed in the 18th & 19th centuries, partially due to a series of fires that devastated most of the village. After that, buildings made from palm wood were prohibited in the urban area.

Besides cattle and horse raising, some of the crops cultivated at the time were : Corn, Sugar cane, Cotton, Rice, Beans, Tobacco, Water Mellon, Mellon, Pineapple, Sweet potato, Mamey, seven different types of Bananas, Oranges, Lemons, limes, Papaya, Avocado, Plum, Red Current, Coco, Nanche, Guava, Apple, Fig, Almonds, Coconut, Pumpkin, and Mangos.
Squash, Chayote, Yucca, Cabbage, Radishes, Jicama, Beets, Chard, Squash, Eggplant, Sweet & Common Chillies, Tomatoes, Garlic, Onions, and Kidney Beans.
There were, and are, many species of animals and birds…but hunting was never a preferred activity.
Fish, including Sea Bass, Jolote, Stripped Mullitt, Lake Trout, Shad, Eel, Blue Crab, Black and White Mojarra, Catfish, Shrimp, and Grouper. As well as several species of Turtles.

In 1998, TLACOTALPAN was recognized by UNESCO as a WORLD HERITAGE SITE. TLACOTALPAN is one of only a few places to have the entire town so designated.
The modest, single story homes, with colonnades, porticos, and tile roofs, are a blend of Spanish and Caribbean architectural design. This theme continues with the brightly painted buildings and wide streets that are virtually untouched today. The historic town center has maintained its Renaissance layout ..” For the Foundation and Establishments of Towns ” ..dictated by FELIPE II of Spain, in the so called “Laws Of The Indies “.

Today Tlacotalpan is known as the "Pearl of the Papaloapan River", it is distinguished by elements of classical architecture, columns, arches and red tiled roofs.
The facades of Tlacotalpan are exuberant with contrasting colors which express the joy of local folks. Many of the homes, with their wrought iron and wooden doors and windows remain open, allowing visitors a glimpse inside to appreciate the tradition of fine crafted furniture and needle crafts.
Nineteenth century paintings by Alberto Fuster and Salvador Ferrando may also be admired in the museum and "Casa de la Cultura".

Every year we have a very important celebration in honour to the "Virgin of the Candle mass". It begins January 31 through February 9th.

The activities of the Festival of the Candelaria include, the "Encuentro de Jaraneros" (a music style traditional to the region), a cavalcade "Parade of Horses", "crew-style" boat races, the running of the bulls, rooster fights, horse races, "fandangos", dance events (popular and danzón), samplings of the local cuisine and exhibits of local crafts and furniture.

Perhaps the highlight of these festivities is the procession along the river of the "Virgin of the Candelaria." (Not to be missed.)

As a TLACOTALPAN proverb states..” JUST BY STANDING ON THIS LAND, YOU BECOME MY BROTHER “.
Julio Sesto, a romantic Spanish poet who visited TLACOTALPAN wrote: ” Oh, my brother, if you are weary of suffering, go to the Papaloapan, take in the air of the Sotavento,..everything is cured in TLACOTALPAN, everything is forgotten. The soul that, when injured, is incurable…is cured” !

And to all who visit... may you enjoy our traditions, arts and crafts, hospitality and the "magic" that is Tlacotalpan!

Carlwelsby: Secrets of Iceland?

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:06:58 GMT

Why is it Iceland is so popular? Iceland has joined Jordan (see an earlier Blog) in bucking the credit crunch trend and is seeing great interest by travellers, evidenced by the many enquiries made through the addictedtotravel.com site when the Times picked up on Explore's Icelandic Escapades trip and featured it in an Editorial. Incidentally, we understand there are still places left on several departures, so (and if you'll forgive the icy pun...) you'd better get your skates on!

If you find space full why not check out the Iceland Travel Guide where there are dozend of amazing activities in Iceland and trips to Iceland. Both Arctic Adventures and renowned local operator Gudmundur Jonasson have several enticing trips and day activities to check out.

Tofi at Arctic Adventures explained to me that their philosophy was to provide the very day-long activities in Iceland at an unbeatable price. He confirms that Iceland is a popualar weekend-break destination and that people often book a cheap flight with Iceland Express, sort a hotel with a local operator and book their activities with them. He says that their snowmobile excursions, glacier trips and super jeep tours (you can drive yourself) are most popular.

Gudmundur Jonasson have been welcoming travellers to Iceland for decades and are recognised as leading lights in what they do - superb holidays to Iceland with a difference. Able to arrange all elements of a stay from airport meet and greet and hotels to comprehensive sightseeing tours of Iceland they offer a range of trips right here.

So, of you looking for a break with a difference - head north to Iceland.

Carlwelsby: Congratulations to Wanderlust magazine!

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:41:57 GMT

All the very best to Lyn and the team at Wanderlust magazine who are celebrating 15 years of success!

I remember when the magazine was launched all those years ago. Today as then it's a breath of fresh air to the independent traveller, packed full of inspiring articles, good advice, reviews and country guides.

Amongst other things this month the team look at 100 great travel secrets, amongst other things, and many feature right here on addictedtotravel.com too. The obvious places like the Nabatean city of Petra, ash-covered Pompeii, vibrant Sydney and Egypt's stunning Sinai region are there, but so are less obvious places too.

Controversial Burma features as destination 2 (let us know what you think – to travel or not to travel – that is the question), a favourite of more intrepid travellers – Sudan – is number 3 (see the Sudan Travel Guide here) and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman rolls in at number 5 (I travelled there last year and it’s a truly spectacular landscape – the Travel Guide to Oman is here).

Socotra will form part of our Travel Guide to the Yemen next year and then there are gems such as Madagascar and Assam (check out Travel the Unknown’s amazing trips here). In fact India deservedly gets a double page spread – with holidays to southern India growing in popularity I can see why.

The Senegal Travel Guide went live not long ago and Wanderlust make it their 59th hidden gem with Torres del Paine – as featured in the Travel Guide to Chile – is at 67. Cuba is always popular with our Travel Guide to Cuba being one of the most-visited parts of the site – Vinales is in at number 83. Our new Travel Guide to St Helena will provide you with information to their number 87 slot.

Finally, much space is devoted to Bhutan. I’ve a keen interest in the country since working on the Bhutan Travel Guide, seeing the crowning of the new king and speaking with Pawan of specialist operator Dharma Adventures – Wanderlust devote around 19 pages to the country. Check out our trips to Bhutan here.

So, it’s congratulations once again to the team at Wanderlust – here’s to the next 15 years!

wildernessscotland: The ultimate winter sports

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:39:12 GMT

Winter is snowballing its way towards us, with snowfalls recorded across the UK. In the Highlands last weekend, it was thigh-deep in places! Hopefully this is a good omen for lots of snowfall throughout the winter season. Plenty of snow means that we can indulge in our favourite winter adventure activities: Winter Walking and Ski Touring! So read on for a few suggestions of how you can make the most out of the coming winter ...

Our winter walking breaks explore the snow capped mountains of The Cairngorms and Creag Meagaidh - the reliable snow cover here means this trip is great for skills development. You can also join our trip to the remote Knoydart Peninsula or, for more experienced walkers, the stunning ridges and skylines of Kintail and Skye. In their own way each trip can happily lay claim to the finest winter walking in Scotland.

Escape from the busy ski centres and experience skiing in the backcountry on one of our ski touring trips. You'll soon discover that the best skiing lies beyond the confines of the pisted areas and will revel in a true winter mountain experience. Our Scotland trips are based in the Cairngorms and are designed to inspire newcomers and take you to a the next level. We also run ski touring trips overseas in the Alps, the classic Haute Route ski tour and several other superb ski tours in Italy, Switzerland and Alaska.

For more information visit Wilderness Scotland, the award winning and adventure travel company

Weblaser: Christmas in ancient Scottish castle.

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:36:58 GMT

What kind of stress do you usually have during winter trips? Are you fond of endless beaches and white sand or maybe magic evening near fireplace with your favourite wine in ancient Scottish castle? What is you prefect Christmas?

You still have time to organise a fun house party this Christmas and New Year - or curl up in front of the fire in a secluded cottage.

You'll also save lots of time planning your holiday with your family and friends using our unique Holiday Options. When you find a holiday property of interest add it to Holiday Options for later review. You can then add your comments and send the selections to your friends. They can add their comments online so that all of your party will be aware of how everyone feels.

Best part of it - you don't have to send 'round robin' emails. And everyone can see which properties are available in real time.

If you're the party organiser you'll appreciate the huge amount of time you'll be saving.

This attention to detail and consideration of your needs extends to all parts of our organisation - from vetting the cleaners to checking the quality of the linen supplied; we try to ensure nothing is overlooked. To make your holiday in Scotland very special we can arrange for caterers for dinner parties or deliver cases of choicest wine and luxury foods.

We're sure you'll find the perfect holiday accommodation here, and we're very confident we'll create one of your most memorable holidays ever.

CanopusMaldives: Full Moon Resort to be Rebranded as Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:22:34 GMT

Starwood has signed a joint venture agreement with Full Moon Private Limited to rebrand the Full Moon Resort to Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa and targets to officially open the resort as a Sheraton on 1st December 2008. Starwood, currently offering more than 16 resorts in the Asia Pacific, indicates an insistent growth of the brand’s portfolio of world-class resorts in popular destinations across the world.
The 156 room Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa will offer guests 7 restaurants and bars, a spa and various indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa located in the North Male Atoll on its own private island “Furana Fushi”, is just a 20 minute boat ride away from the Male’ International Airport.
If you would like to have the Sheraton Maldives experience, here is the chance. Should you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at – info@canopusmaldives.com

davidshang: The Great Family Holiday Destination Paris

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:45:20 GMT

Paris, the capital of France is the famous tourist place for all age’s travelers. It is more then 2000 years old city. Paris is also known as city of light because if you are travel by flight in the night and have cross Paris at that time you feel that lots of Stars present on earth, actually because of lots of big malls, hotels and bars in night Paris look like city of light. Only because of its night there are millions of visitors comes every years.

It’s fact that Paris is really best destination for any travelers because it has everything related to any travels means if travels has ages from 18 years to 25 years then they must try to find night life, beaches, bars and restaurants, so everything you can find here. Not only for teenagers but also for any age’s travelers it’s a really best destination for travelers. If you are new married and have plan to go on honeymoon then I will advice you that go Paris and enjoy your new married life there, you really enjoy there.

While Paris is considered one of the world’s global cities, along with New York, London, and Tokyo, it nevertheless maintains its Old World feel, with as many historical sites and monuments as pigeons in the parks. Paris is one of the largest urban areas in all of Europe, with one of its largest metro systems.

If you really plan to go Paris then before going there you should know the best places to go in Paris. Few best places in Paris where you must go are-

Arc De Triomphe
Museum d'Orsay
The Eiffel
The Louvre Museum
Notre Dame Cathedral
Picasso Museum
Basilique du Sacre Coeur
Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Place de la Concorde
Lido Caberet
Paris Aquarium
Versailles

The climate of this city is rally good because here you can see hot summers as well as cold winters too. I will advice you avoid to go Paris in August because at this month you will feel much more humid here. And also avoid September month because at this month you have to suffer with stormy cold. In winter you can see time to time snow fall.

You really enjoy here in night means if you stay here in night and wants to enjoy your night life in Paris then everything is present here like best sound, music, dance, bars, restaurants etc. In fact, most any big-city diversion you could conceive of is available in France’s capital. Relaxed bar-cafes, high-tech dance clubs, and mellow jazz haunts fit your mood like a well-worn glove, promising good times in any format.

After finish your dinner, if you are looking for rest then you can go beautiful café’s and here you can give rest your feet. These Paris coffee houses serve up more than delicious coffee and sodas. You can choose from a selection of draft beers, both domestic and imported or even a glass of wine or mixed drink of your choice.

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davidshang: Zurich: The World Famous Destination for Europe Traveler

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:43:00 GMT

Introduction: Zurich, the world famous Europe city situated in the north side of Switzerland is the lovely city for any age. It’s a really romantic city. It is a largest city in Switzerland, also the most economical center too. Due to Zurich is situated on shores of Lake Zurich it is known as Zurich. The population of this city is near about 380,000. This famous city is found by the Romans in 58BC. As the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, Zurich became a free imperial city. Now days Zurich is the world famous due to its large market in Gold and also due to the world’s fourth-largest stock market after New York, London and Tokyo.

Zurich’s Weather: Zurich is world famous for its nice and cool weather. The cold and snow season start form November and it run through out the April. In winter the temperature range of this lovely city is in between from 5C to 6C. Officially the rainy season start form June and end in September last week but rain falling start from April. In summer the highest temperature is Zurich is nearly 30C to 32C. SO from the temperature point of view Zurich is best holiday destination for Asian people, so Asian people can go any time form January to December in Zurich and for other travelers they have to go from November to April which is the beat time for see Zurich natural color.

Where to Go: If you are really love art then you should have to go Kunsthaus it is an art gallery which is situated in the famous peacock square in Zurich. You can also go Lake Zurich, it’s a really nice to see its high speed water fall. The water at Lake Zurichsee is exceptionally clear and it has even been said that it is fit to drink. You can also visit Bahnhofstrasse, it is a business center of whole country. It stretches from Hauptbahnhof towards the shore of Lake Zurich.

If you are really wants to enjoy your summer in Zurich then never misses Zurich famous lakes and in winter you can enjoy wonderfull ski resorts in Zurich. But many are the towns and the villages which properly deserve a visit, at a very short distance from Zurich. Dielsdorf and Regensberg, just to mention two enchanting villages among the manies!

If you have planned to stay Zurich in night then do not worry because here in Zurich there is a variety of amusements are presents.

There is not only the famous Schauspielhaus but some small but fine theatres with less well known ensembles that offer exquisite drama. As for a small city of less than 400,000 inhabitants, Zürich also has excellent movie theatres (for a price, though). Unlike in Germany, movies here are not dubbed and mostly shown in their original language with German and French subtitles - and usually you'll see good copies.

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davidshang: The Great Holiday Destination London

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:41:45 GMT

London, the capital city of England is word famous city where most of the visitor comes from all part of the world. London is not an easy for traveler because it is most busy city, so if you are looking to see London in one day so it is not possible so keep time to see London.

If you are try to go London then you should have to go form mid April to mid October. If you are really wants to enjoy London then you should have to go in Christmas. I will suggest you do not go in August for visiting London because it’s most busy time to go there. Here you really enjoy in double-decker buses. In London you really enjoy there famous bar’s. Here most of the bars open in night mean you can take your drink at last 2:00 A.M. in night. You can also enjoy the historical places in London.

If you have time to stay in London, then explore some areas that provide a few London activities that are outside the norm. These areas are interesting to wander around in the day and party at night: Brixton, Brick Lane, Notting Hill, Hoxton, and Camden town. It can be easier to have a local show you around, for this, check out Insider London's cutting-edge and bespoke tour.

It’s truth that London is world famous for his night life. Here you can see world best attractive pubs and bars. Some 5,000-plus pubs and bars include everything from public houses to exclusive celebrity hangouts. From top London dance clubs with all types of music to theatre, movies, shopping, pubs, live entertainment, and family fun are all on the menu when the sun goes down in London.
Top 10 London Nightlife ares-
1. Fabric
2. The End
3. 333
4. Egg
5. Ministry of Sound
6. Heaven
7. 93 Feet East
8. Ginglik
9. Pacha
10. WorkingMen's Club

If you are interested in historic buildings and old world sights, London is an absolutely fantastic place to go sightseeing and the London Pass is without doubt the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

During the 19th century London was the world's largest city and capital of the British Empire. Its population expanded from 1 million in 1800 to 6.7 million a century later. During this period, London became a global political, financial, and trading capital. In this position, it was largely unrivaled until the latter part of the century, when Paris and New York began to threaten its dominance.

The famous historical places in London are-

1. Tower of London
2. Tower Bridge Exhibition
3. St Paul’s Cathedral
4. Windsor Castle
5. Royal Albert Hall
6. Kensington Palace
7. Jewel Tower
8. Royal Mews
9. Hampton Court Palace
10. Eltham Palace
11. Eton College
12. Wellington Arch
13. All Hallows by the Tower
14. Benjamin Franklin House
15. Apsley House

So you really want to spend your holidays in Europe then sure go London and visit this city with much fun from pubs to historical places.

[advertising removed]

Carlwelsby: Bhutan gets a new King

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:01:40 GMT

Celebrations are taking place throughout Bhutan as the new King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is crowned, as reported by the BBC

"The new king of Bhutan has been crowned in a lavish coronation ceremony in the isolated Himalayan kingdom.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, an Oxford-educated bachelor, becomes the world's youngest monarch.

He has become head of state of the world's newest democracy after his father abdicated in 2006 as Bhutan changed to a constitutional monarchy.

Bhutan held its first democratic elections for a new parliament and prime minister in March.

The coronation of the Buddhist nation's fifth hereditary king fell in what is known in Bhutan as the month of the male earth rat.

Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said three enlightened astrologers had jointly proposed 6 November as the most auspicious date for the "historic occasion".

'Gross National Happiness'
The ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual in a white-walled royal palace in the capital, Thimphu.

Thousands of foreign dignitaries, including India's President, Pratibha Patil, governing Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood stars were present.

The guests were surrounded by lines of local people dressed in their national costumes.

The crown was bestowed on the new king by his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 52, who stepped down in 2006 as part of his five-year plan to gradually introduce democracy to Bhutan's 600,000 citizens.

"I am happy, my friends are happy and in general as a nation we are happy," Sonam Phuntsho, a civil servant, told the AFP news agency.

"He [the new king] is reaching out to the people. He is very smart and decent man," he said.

Prime Minister Lyonchhen said earlier the coronation would further consolidate the country's "sovereign independence and security and promote further unity, harmony, and peace in the kingdom".

But correspondents say that while 2008 will be remembered as the year democracy was introduced to Bhutan, revolutionary change is not on the agenda.

The transition to democracy has been deliberately designed to be slow and steady and the monarchy will continue to play a central role in Bhutanese life.

Both the new government and the opposition say they are committed to the royal philosophy of Gross National Happiness - or GNH - which aims to strike a better balance between the spiritual and the material."

Enjoy a video of the coronation here and take a look at our Travel Guide to Bhutan where you'll find a whole range of adventure holidays to Bhutan.

With thanks to the BBC.

atlaswalking: Toubkal ascent 2 days & 1 nights

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:15:43 GMT

Toubkal Ascent (4167m) the top of North Africa
Period: from March to November
Duration: 2 days /1 night
Grade: Hard

Itinerary
Day 1:
After an early breakfast at the hotel in Marrakech, our driver will pick you up and take to to the heart of Morocco’s high atlas mountains, the trip start from Imlil (1740m), the big berber village situated at 65km on the south of Marrakech, here you will meet the team who will accompany you during this amazing trip.
The driver will drop you off in the village, the multeers will deal with your luggage, food & all aother equipments that we usually offer for our clients, within half an houre you start the walk with an experienced mountain guide through the berber villages following a mule track which will take you to the mountain hut via the shrine sidi Chamhrouch (2500m) where you will have you pic-nic lunch prpared in advance by our cook, after lunch a a short break, you may need to continue toward the refuge (3200m), our staff will be waiting for you a tasty mint tea & a smile.
The hot shower is available to clean you body and be ready for the next day.
Option: the night could be spent on the tent but in summer time.

Day 2:
Wake up early to avoid the sunny way, breakfast around 5.00am and start the ascent climb at 5.30am, each one of you may need to pack his own pack-lunch, step by step until you get to the point above the hut where you have a short break with nuts, water & organges etc..
After 3h/4h walking up the hill, you will be able to see all the high atlas mountains, its valleys & berber villages, a break of 45min on the summit will allow to take picture s & enjoy the views before start going down to the hut, a diversify lunch will be ready for you there. After lunch you walk down hill towards Imlil by the same route but you have an option to stay on the hut 2nd night depending to your flight time.
Pick up from Imlil and return to your riad in Marrakech or the airport.

Arrangement :
Mountain guide
Multeers & mules
Cook
Equipments
Accommodation on the hut ( domitories no ensuite rooms)
Food during the trek
Tranfer from & to Marrakech.

Contact details:
E-mail: atlaswalking@yahoo.fr
Web: www.atlaswalking.co.cc
Phone: 00212 68 56 87 47

atlaswalking: Hiking & Trekking Tours in Imlil - High Atlas Mountains Morocco

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:12:13 GMT

Trekking from Imlil to Setti Fadma
Experience the walk through 3 berber valleys
Period: from March to November
Duration: 4 days /3 night (2nd option : 3 days / 2 nights)
Grade: Easy

Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech - Imlil - Ouanskra :
Transfer from Marrakech towards Imlil, meet your guide & muleteers then start the trek to Ouanskra via the pass Tizi n'Tamaterte (2279m),nice views above both valleys, Imlil & Imnane and also the high atlas peaks over 4000m of altitude. the lunch will be provided by our cook on the same pass, after a break continue to the village Ouanskra, checking the berber house or Inn.
5h walking time.
Day 2: Ouanskra - Oukaimeden:
After breakfast, leaving Ouaneskra towards Oukaïmeden ski station passing by Tizi n’Addi (2920m) and then trek down to Oukaïmeden spend the night in the refuge or bivouac.
5 to 6 hours walking time.
Day 3: Oukaimeden - Timishi village:
walking from Oukaïmeden to reach Timichi village on the otherside via the Tiferguine labourers then Tizi n’Ouhattar (3100m). we will cross many berber village of Ourika valley sach as Agounss and Timichchi. spend a night in a bivouac or Berber gîte.
6 to 7 hours walking time.
Day 4: Timishi Village - Setti Fadma - Marrakech:
last day trek will take you from Timichchi to Setti Fatma, walking along the Ourika valley with its beautiful gorges, berber villages (Tiourdou, Anfli, Tadrart, Chiker) & laboures . we stop on the way at one these village for lunch then continue on the afternoon to Setti Fadma via Agadir n’Aït Boulmane
after the wterfull visit, pick up and return to Marrakech.
6 hours walking time.

Services :
Mountain guide
Multeers & mules
Cook
Equipments
Accommodation on the hut ( domitories no ensuite rooms)
Food during the trek
Tranfer from & to Marrakech.
Notes:
It's possible to start from setti Fadma & finish the trek in Imlil.
Thsi trip could be done in 3 days if we cancell Oukaimeden and go straight from Ouanskra to Timishi.
Day 1: Imlil - Ouanskra
Day 2: Ouanskra - Tizi n'Tachdirte - Timishi.
Day 3: Timishi - Setti Fadma.

Contact details:
E-mail: info@ trekking-walking-morocco.com
Web: http://www.trekking-walking-morocco.com
Phone: 00212 68 56 87 47

CanopusMaldives: An Enigmatic Evening at W Retreat Maldives..!!!

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:40:57 GMT

For the "Enigmatic Evening", Executive Chef Hector Jimenez-Bravo has created an avant-garde seven-course menu that will leave you asking "Is this art or is this food?" The backdrop will be the dramatic signature restaurant FISH set over the water and under the stars. With courses including foie gras covered in 24 karat edible gold, frozen and "stacked" lobster bisque with scallops, and translucent tagiatelle with duck confit - your mind will think its playing tricks on your
palate. With each course, a whiskey pairing is included.

Diageo has invited their Brand Ambassador and Bollywood actor Arif Zakaria to be the Whiskey Mentor for the evening. Arif has been fully trained in Scotland for mentoring and travels around the world informing and inculcating the concepts of blends and malts.

On November 27, our Culinary Team will prepare for the "RAW/BAR White Party". The concept is to chill. Situated at WET, the pool bar, guests can chill to cool beats by our resident DJ, DJ CTA from Germany; consume as much chilled seafood until they can say "NO MORE", and imbibe on a variety of vodka concoctions, included in the cost, and created especially for this event. The selection of seafood includes unlimited oysters, sashimi, crab legs, prawns, lobsters and more!

Our mixologists will pass around an assortment of shots and cocktails specially created for this evening. In ddition, if guests show up in their favorite white ensemble, they will receive a complimentary vodka cocktail at 15BELOW, the only true nightclub in the Maldives set underground with a choice of over 95 vodkas. he award-winning W Retreat & Spa-Maldives epitomizes indulgence in every way.

With 78 exclusive retreats set in the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean, the island becomes a jetsetters private playground. The culinary and beverage outlets will tempt your taste buds with their exciting options. This past June, our Culinary Team received 7 medals (out of 8 categories entered) at the 2008 Hotel Asia Culinary Challenge.
For accommodations at the W Retreat & Spa-Maldives, please visit W Retreat Maldives page by clicking the link http://www.addictedtotravel.com/accommodation/w-retreat-and-spa-maldives_maldives/ef15c
Beach Oasis retreats start from $1100USD per night through December 2008.

About Diageo -
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wine and beer categories. These brands include: Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Baileys, J&B, José Cuervo, Tanqueray, Guinness, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines, and Bushmills Irish whiskey.

Diageo is a global company, trading in over 180 markets around the world. The company is listed on both the London stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). They employ over 22,000 talented people worldwide with offices in around 80 countries.
Diageo has manufacturing facilities across the globe including Great Britain, Ireland, United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Africa, Latin America, Australia, India and the Caribbean. Diageo was formed in 1997, following the merger of GrandMet and Guinness, and is headquartered in London.

The word Diageo comes from the Latin for day (dia) and the Greek for world (geo). They take this to mean every day, everywhere, people celebrate with our brands. Their brands offer consumers a variety of ways to mark big events in their lives and brighten small ones.

MetropolitanTouringEcuador: CHIVA EXPRESS - ECUADOR ANDES

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:25:20 GMT

The CHIVA EXPRESS journeys --a unique and exclusive product of Metropolitan Touring-- are a great way to experience the best of mainland Ecuador, from the Andean patchwork countryside to the lush tropical coastal lowlands. The Chiva Express is a must-do trip through the unbeaten paths and ever-changing scenery of this beautiful country, designed to offer a relaxed, fun and truly authentic experience for world class travelers.

berliegirlie: Maldives Dhoni Cruise (Explore)

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:30:34 GMT

Landing in the Maldives is a bit of an experience in itself as the airport is just an island comprising the runway and airport buildings surrounded by turquoise sea, with the actual capital city Male being a few minutes ferry boat ride ($1) across the channel. So for the final few moments of the airplane’s descent you are literally just a few feet above the water… scary, until you see the blue of the airport’s lagoon and then it’s just ‘wow’!
The transfer to the ‘hotel’ has to be the easiest ever! A short walk across the road outside the airport to the jetty and we were on board the dhoni ‘Gulfaam’. Once everyone was on board we set off towards our first overnight stay. We knew this was going to be a wonderful trip when, within an hour of setting off, we encountered the first of two large schools of dolphins, and the captain headed the dhoni straight towards them so we could see them up close and they could play in our bow-wave.
Later, after a snorkel over the nearby reef and safely anchored in the shelter of an island, we were treated to the most spectacular sunset; 36 photos (yes really and none of them deletable!) later and it was dark, but rather romantic with the lights of other moored boats to keep us company.

The rest of the week went pretty much the same way; breakfast – snorkel – lunch – snorkel, up anchor and sail to the next deserted island and reef - dinner. Occasionally the routine was changed to breakfast – sail – snorkel – lunch- snorkel – dinner :).
Talking of food, it was all great, and loads of it; fresh fish caught en route by the crew (some by us too on an early morning fishing trip) usually curried but sometimes fried, pasta, veg and fruit, coffee, tea, juices, fresh pancakes for breakfast, snacks and cakes mid- morning and mid-afternoon … all necessary for a day spent on the reefs! Oh and one night the crew prepared a surprise BBQ for us on a desert ‘picnic’ island, where they had sculpted a ray in the sand and dug holes for candles to light our way.

The snorkelling in the Maldives is fantastic, huge numbers and variety of colourful and sometimes huge, fish, moray eels, sea turtles, octopus, sharks and beautiful corals that are within arms reach of the surface, there’s no need to scuba here! The currents can be quite strong and in some places it was like being on a conveyor belt, we just had to float there and watch as we were transported past all these amazing sights.

During the week we visited two of the country’s 200 inhabited islands in the evening and were treated to an impromptu bodu beru (Big Drum) performance put on by the village men, and on another we wandered around the shipyard that was the island’s industry and saw something of the village life on the islands.
Our final day included a short tour around Male, which has 100,000 people on a very small crowded piece of land. It was amazing to see all the produce for the islands being loaded on to the numerous boats that were jammed into the harbour. Then back on the ferry to the airport for our last night on board, anchored in the airport’s lagoon.
But our tour leader had kept the best for last and we set off at 6am for the reef of a small local resort island and a final, (but the best) snorkel trip, seeing all the above creatures up close, and especially a number of good sized reef sharks! Shower and breakfast on the way back to the airport with half an hour to spare before check-in, it was the best way to end a fantastic trip, with no time to moon around because it was time to go home!

Carlwelsby: All change in Kathmandu

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:28:40 GMT

The guys at Creative Travel are reporting,

"Nepal gets a new 'Kumari' The Living Goddess. Three-year-old Matina Shakya, is the new Kumari or Living Goddess. She was formally installed at a religious function at Kumari House in centre of Kathmandu. The new Kumari has been open for offering prayers for the general public after ritual performance of installation at Basantapur Durbar in the capital.

Preeti Shakya, 12, the previous Kumari retired as she reaches the age of puberty paving way for Virgin Goddess Kumari. The new Kumari was taken to Hanumandhoka Old Palace for ritual performances by priests before her installation. She was carried on shoulders by the priests amidst dozens of media persons and television crew with hundreds of onlookers waiting for her glimpse. The Nepalese President Dr Ram Baran Yadav received Tika or vermilion powder mixed with curd and rice on his forehead from Kumari for formal recognition of the new Kumari."

colinbrichards: Competitions closing - 7 days to go!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:41:48 GMT

Just a quick reminder that both competitions we are running come to a close on Friday 31st October. As you know with us, they are both free to enter!

Our first offering is a chance to win a free holiday in North Cyprus in association with expert local operator, Ornek Holidays.

Or if you fancy updating your camera, how about our second competition to win a 10 meg camera. Don't forget to share your travel snaps and videos with us at addictedtotravel.com

Both competitions are quick and easy to enter - and free!

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following either of the links and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw.

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team

Win a holiday.

Enter camera competition.

Carlwelsby: New Destinations and Adventures on Addictedtotravel.com

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:47:35 GMT

With a whole world to explore we are expanding our range of destinations week by week. Our latest additions include a travel guide to the Philippines and a travel guide to Sri Lanka, whilst the last few weeks have seen us launch Mongolia, Bonaire (where? Check out the Bonaire travel guide here) and Scotland, with Russia and Tibet in their formative stages.

All these destinations offer a wide range of adventure holiday possibilities and we are hard at work finding small local operators which offer a range of both small group adventure holidays and tailor-made holiday options. Take Splash Whitewater Rafting as an example. Based in Scotland they and their sister organisation Ace Adventures offer a huge range of day trips in Scotland, mainly rafting and water-based activities on the most beautiful rivers in the country. Catering to individuals, groups of mates, families and stag and hen parties they have a wide variety of river and land based activities available. Check out their trips in the Travel Guide to Scotland.

Over in the Italy Travel Guide a range of horse riding holidays in Tuscany are on offer with Chianti Rufina Trails. This Italio-Kiwi venture is run by Paolo and Jess Cadoni whose passion for horses is behind the success of the company. They have a variety of multi-day horse riding holidays and day long horse treks on offer.

Maybe an Indian jungle lodge is more your thing? Well why not look up Junglemantra, located in the heart of India it’s a delightful jungle lodge on the edge of Bandhavgarh National Park, famous for its tigers. The wonderful, local-style rooms are just the thing after a hard day wildlife spotting.

Finally, over coming weeks the team hope to be bringing you adventure holidays in Mongolia with a renowned local operator, Mongolian Ways, as well as special interest trips to discover the railway heritage of India with rail tour specialist, Darjeeling Tours.

colinbrichards: Kilimanjaro Marathon 2009

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:15:12 GMT

For those keen runners out there who want to combine the ultimate challenge of running a marathon with the natural beauty of Mt. Kilimanjaro as a back drop, then this may just be for you!

The 2009 Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi on 1 MARCH 2009 is set to be even bigger than last year. Now in its seventh year, this is the only IAAF and AIMS approved race in Tanzania and in 2008 year attracted over 3200 runners from over 40 countries around the world.

A full marathon, half and a fun run take place in this scenic town in the foothills of Africa's highest mountain (5995 m amsl), and the highest free standing mountain in the world.

Run at a low altitude (between 800 and 1100 m amsl) the race runs through the town and then into rural villages and farms and coffee plantations, and attracts amazing crowd support. As well as the race, entertainment, music, meals and tribal dancers add to the African feel of this event.

New for 2009 is a disabled category, thanks to Standard Chartered Bank, with prizes for 4 categories in the half marathon. Prize money in the main events is set to increase substantially this year too.

If you would like to find out more details about the run or travelling in Moshi then contact our local travel expert.

If running a marathon is not your thing, but you are tempted to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro then take a look at some of the Tours we have to get you there!

Stuart: Special Two-for-One Galapagos Offer !!

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:37:20 GMT

A warm welcome to Ocean Adventures, who have just joined addictedtotravel.com with their offering of Luxury Cruises in the Galapagos Islands on board the M/V Eclipse.

And as a special welcome offer, Ocean Adventures have kindly offered addictedtotravel.com a special two-for-one offer for certain departures later this year.

This offer gives travellers the opportunity to travel half price in the Galapagos Islands on certain dates before Christmas 2008*.

Click the following links to read all about Ocean Adventures, the M/V Eclipse and their Luxury Galapagos Island Cruises:

Galapagos Eclipse Cruise
Galapagos Eclipse Family Cruise

These unbeatable prices are valid on the following 2008 departures:

November 01 – 08 (Galapagos Eclipse Cruise)
November 08 – 15 (Galapagos Eclipse Cruise)
November 29 – 06 December (Galapagos Eclipse Cruise)

December 06 – 13 (Galapagos Eclipse Family Cruise)
December 13 – 20 (Galapagos Eclipse Family Cruise)

All cabins have sea views, and for this offer the rates are:

Deluxe Staterooms (Boat Deck, Queens & Triples)
USD $5647 per cabin

Superior Staterooms (Boat Deck, Twins & Doubles)
USD $5176 per cabin

Staterooms (Main Deck, Twins & Doubles)
USD $4706 per cabin

Single Staterooms (Main Deck)
USD $4941 per cabin

For more details about the cabins read more about M/V Eclipse.

Please click the Enquiry Button on the Ocean Adventures pages to reserve your half price cabin.

This offer is subject to availability, so act now!

* Terms and conditions apply.

You can read more in Ocean Adventure's Blog.

Ocean: 2 FOR 1 Galapagos cruise - Second passenger free on board the M/V ECLIPSE on selected departures

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:44:39 GMT

On Saturday October 11th the M/V ECLIPSE will be back in Galapagos after an extensive dry dock.

Oceanadventures, which next month will be celebrating 10 years of operations, has still some spaces left for the following cruise dates and has launched this special “2 for 1” promotion.

NOVEMBER 01 – 08
NOVEMBER 08 - 15
NOVEMBER 29 – 06 DECEMBER
DECEMBER 06 – 13 / FAMILY DEPARTURE
DECEMBER 13 – 20 / FAMILY DEPARTURE

ACCOMMODATION (All cabins have sea views)/ RATES PER CABIN

Deluxe Staterooms Boat Deck, Cabins 17-20 / USD 5.647

Superior Staterooms Boat Deck, Cabins 21-28 / USD 5.176

Staterooms Main Deck, Cabins 3-15 / USD 4.706

Single Staterooms Main Deck, Cabins 1-2 / USD 4.941

Included:
 All shore excursions
 All meals while onboard
 Up to two glasses of house wine with meals (lunch & dinner)
 All soft drinks and juices onboard
 VIP lounge on outbound flight from Galapagos
 Complimentary use of snorkeling equipment
 Complimentary use of wet suits
 Complimentary one-time stocked minibar in Deluxe Staterooms

Not included:
 Fuel surcharge USD180,00 per person
 Guide and crew gratuities
 Premium liquor, beer and cocktails onboard
 Air tickets to and from the Galapagos Islands
 Galapagos National Park Entrance fee USD100.00 per person
 Tourist Transit Card USD10.00 per person

Notes:
Prices are in US Dollars, PER CABIN for 7 night cruises
This promotion is applicable to new bookings only and is subject to availability

CanopusMaldives: Tasting Wine Under The Sea...!!!

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:26:24 GMT

Being one of the only 264 “Masters of Wine” in the world, Ron Georgiou the “master of wine” of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island keeps control over the world-class wine offered at the 7 restaurants and 3 bars at the island.
He has created an underground wine cellar housing over 10,000 bottles of wine from the Old and New worlds, which won the “2 Glass Award-Winning Wine List” for the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island voted by Wine Spectator Magazine 2008.
Another exquisite eye-catching event is to be held on Friday 21st November 2008. Ron Georgiou is hosting a Gourmet Wine Celebration at “Ithaa” undersea restaurant of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Set 5 metres below the surface, “Ithaa” restaurant is a unique diving venue and one of the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurants.
Ron Georgiou with his ardent mixing of wine, music and art anecdotes combined with travel will create a truly exceptional night in many different aspects.
So if anyone out here likes to dine and have classy wine at a renowned restaurant under the hands of a maestro at work…, you shouldn’t miss this event. We will be most pleased to help you through your bookings. Should there be any, you can email us at marketing@canopusmaldives.com

Carlwelsby: Travellers to Jordan take note!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:11:16 GMT

I've just had a very interesting conversation with Wendy Botham of Petra Moon Tours, one of our Travel Specialsts in Jordan...

Back in April I reported how things were busy down in Egypt, with hotels in short supply and people being encouraged to book early. Well it seems that the problem in Jordan is even 'worse'.

It seems that the reputation of Jordan as a safe Middle Eastern country with stacks of things to see and do has got out and people are flocking there. Hotels in Petra - arguably the country's highlight - are full and there are no plans to build more in the town of Wadi Musa where most people stay.

The situation is being alleviated in Amman and at the Dead Sea where new hotels are being constructed (a project that Wendy says started 3 years ago and has 2 more years to run), but Petra remains a pinch point. Guides are at full stretch with few if any being available at last minute.

So, is it all doom and gloom? The answer is a definate no. There are several ways of enjoying a visit to Jordan - it just takes some careful planning...

1. Obviously book ahead - ahead means 6 months at least; 9 months or more for Christmas or Easter.
2. Travel in the off season - visit May to the end of August and you should find some rooms available.
3. Be prepared to take budget accommodation in Petra (plus it leaves money for a splurge elsewhere).
4. Consider a small-group trip - such operators (Explore, Intrepid, GAP, Families and Walks Worldwide, Equine Adventures - see Travel Specialists/UK for their pages) hold flight and hotel room allocations, but note you still need to book well in advance.
5. Visit Petra as a day trip from Wadi Rum or Aqaba - SPecialists such as Aventure Jordanienne can tailor-make arrangements excuding a stay in Wadi Musa and yet still enabling a visit to Petra.
6. Camp outside of Petra. If you are happy to stay in the desert outside of Petra you can still enjoy daily visits to the site AND you get to sleep under the stars.

According to Wendy if all things remain equal there doesn't seem to be a time when Jordan is going to see a slowdown. Certainly the credit crunch hasn't slowed things up. The Jordan Tourist Board has gone to great lengths over the last decade to try and get across to the public what all of us in the industry knew - Jordan is a wonderful, safe country with heaps to see - seems the message is finally out there.

mara: landcruiser for rent in Kenya Tanzania

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:42:06 GMT

We did buy a car in Kenya and when we ourselves are not travelling in Africa we would like to rent out our Cruiser.
So for slefdrive East Africa: a real adventure!!
We want to give others the opportunity to enjoy the same way we do!
For information please send me an email
sam85@chello.nl

Rate Euro 50 pd

Mara
Holland

africanick: Partnering with Know Before You Go

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:41:40 GMT

Stay safe overseas – know before you go

Whatever your reason for travelling abroad, you’re sure to want a trouble free trip. Many of the things that often go wrong for travellers can be prevented or made less stressful by taking a few simple precautions. So it makes sense to spend a little time getting prepared before you travel – you could save yourself a lot of problems later on.

With this in mind, we are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help British nationals stay safe abroad. The FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk/travel) offers straightforward travel advice, top tips and up to date country information to help you plan your holiday.

Tips include:

• Make sure you have valid travel insurance, even if you’re only planning a short trip.
• Visit your GP at least 6 weeks before you travel to get any vaccinations you might need.
• Read up on your destination, including local laws and customs.
• Make photocopies of your passport, visas and insurance details and leave a copy with a relative or friend at home.

You can also find handy checklists to use before you set off and whilst you’re away. Plus it’s worth reading up on what the local British Consulate can do to help you if you run into problems abroad – and what they can’t do.

For all this and more information, visit the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/travel. Or if you prefer, call the 24 hour FCO travel advice line on 0845 850 2829

Carlwelsby: Adventures in Asia - Diving in Ko Tao and Biking in China (and Mongolia and Japan and...)

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:31:19 GMT

Back in 1994 I spent a few weeks on the idyllic Thai island of Ko Tao. Ko Tao translates as Turtle Island and its stunning waters really do lap agaainst some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. It was here that I learned to dive and so it is with some nostalgia that I welcome Black Tip Diving and Watersports to addictedtotravel.com today.

Black Tip have been operating since 2000 and are today a PADI Gold Palm Resort - this in itself speaks volumes about their diving. They offer a full range of Koh Tao dive excursions which utilise their 4 superb boats. Those seeking to learn to dive should check out their Thailand dive courses. You can even stay in their wonderful bungalow accommodation whilst you learn. Qualified divers can take their Advanced Open Water Diver course and there are Pro dive courses too. If you are not into diving then you’ll be well looked after – non-divers are welcome, as are kids who can participate in the PADI Bubblemaker program.

Over in China we welcome Bike Asia, a biking specialist based down in Yangshuo. Naomi and Scott are two Aussies with a passion for two-wheeled exploration and their range of biking holidays in China, Mongolia, Japan and Tibet are the stuff true adventures are made of. With top quality bikes (or bring your own) and support vehicle in attendance their small-group cycling holidays are a great way to get under the skin of these great destinations.

Bike Asia also tailor-made biking holidays according to your specific requirements, so if you want a trip with a particular set of inclusions or on a specific date and there is just you and a partner or group of friends – give them a go.

kiran1: A Week in Norway

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:46:07 GMT

Norway... I never would have taught that i would be visiting this place... I had my own plans to go some other place near Newzealand... This was planned by my cousins and my bro... They all wanted to spend some nice quality time so they dragged me along with them.... Although I didn’t wanted to go... when we all reached there and seen the beautiful views I did changed my mind.

Cross country skiing... is the best attraction here in Norway… And trust me it is one feeling any one would like to have.... skiing from top of the mountain... Skiing in Rondane and in Venabu... After playing in the snow was finished... we left to fjords... the breathtaking views of fjords is simply mind blowing...
Glacial melting is also accompanied by a rebound in the earth's crust as the ice load is removed. well all had fun playing in the lake Loenvatnet in stryn. It’s a fresh water lake... so there was no need to worry that any one getting ill.

After that we all went for Kayaking in the Geirangerfjord. It takes a lot of muscle power to pull that kayak. Just few inches from the water it’s an amazing experience. When finished with the kayaking all went for a scuba diving in Lake Lygnstøylsvatnet when I was there swimming underwater.... it was like I was in a different world. It’s an amazing view when you come close to a fish, crab, or any other animal it's one experience that any one has to do it to feel it.
And now its time for hiking... although they didn’t allow us to go up to much extent but yes we did go pretty far... it was the time of winter... although we didn’t get see the polar bear but we got to see the Musk ox, reindeer and grouse.

Hunting the grouse was fun, when everything was done... it was the time for freshwater fishing.... guss trout fish was mostly in common... all of caught one for each of them, and it weighed amazingly heavy..... We did a few other things... like Mountain climbing and ice climbing, river rafting... and finally the National parks... It was fun and exiting all this made me do a lot to work out....[advertising removed]

colinbrichards: Competition news

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:01:37 GMT

Congratulations from the addictedtotravel.com team to awarren for winning the '3-centre Holiday to Southern Morocco' competition in association with Rendez-vous Marocain.

We wish them a fantastic trip and look forward to reading about their adventure in our blog section, watch their videos or see their images!

Sorry if you didn’t win this time, but if you enjoy competitions, we run them regularly with some amazing prizes for all members of addictedtotravel.com. Join up for free to receive our monthly newsletter for the latest travel news and competitions.

For example this month we are running two competitons. One to win a free holiday in North Cyprus in association with expert local operator, Ornek Holidays, and one to win a 10 meg camera.

Both competitions are free and easy to enter, with closing date of Friday 31st October so good luck and don't forget to enter.

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following this link and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw.

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team

Carlwelsby: Discover the world – with Explore!

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:51:05 GMT

Explore are one of the UK’s foremost small group adventure travel tour operators, operating in over 130 countries around the world they offer around 500 trips! With a range of adventure holidays for both families and adults Explore! are sure to have something for you, whether you are looking for a discovery tour, a walking and trekking trip, short-break or a wildlife tour.

Explore are over 25 years old and were the people who pioneered the Nile felucca sailtrek way back in the ‘80s - arguably no-one knows more about Egypt than them (mind you that can be said for everywhere they operate: attention to detail when planning trips is their forte). Check out the Egypt video in addictedtotravel.com the Community pages for a taste of the variety of experinces on an Explore trip.

Explore have a strong Responsible Tourism policy too which is at work abroad and at home. Whether initiating and supporting projects overseas or getting involved in the local community Explore are always trying to raise awareness and money for worthwhile causes.

We are profiling an increasing number of Explore tours and given their breadth of experience and high standards of operation are delighted to welcome them to addictedtotravel.com.

africanick: The Mongol Rally 2008

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:37:23 GMT

Earlier this year I was approached by Lewis Woodcock who had a funky idea to enter the 2008 Mongal Rally to raise money for charity by driving from London to Mongolia via 18 countries in a 998cc Classic Mini with a red K6 Telephone Box on the roof!

We ended up sponsoring his team 'AVeryBritishAdventure' and in return got some nice exposure for addictedtotravel.com on the front of his mini and phonebox. We're now looking forward to welcoming some new members from Central Asia over the next few weeks!

Lewis arrived in Ulaanbaatar a few days ago after a great adventure. After a number of breakdowns and some dreadful road conditions, the trip took 2 and a half weeks longer than expected. But they finally made it!

We're also delighted to hear from Lewis... "As an extra piece of feedback a lot of the ralliers are travelling on now after the rally and so we told everyone about addictedtotravel.com and quite a few people have used it for travel advice on where to go and all the feedback has been excellent!"

Keep an eye out for Lewis's blogs of his great adventure over the next few months on his profile page: AVeryBritishAdventure.

HolidaysinSpain: Spain Overview

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:59:41 GMT

Spain is a diverse country in terms of geography, cultures and language. It is supposedly the 51st largest country in the world and just to give you an idea of it's size, Andalucia alone is approximately the same size as Portugal.
Bordered with Portugal, Morocco, via its cities of Ceuta and Melilla ,and France via the Pyrenees, Spain is a fascinating mixture of cultures , history and wonderful landscapes.
Each region has something different to offer . We will aim to include articles on the different regions, highlighting festivals, typical foods, places to go etc. Also items on local events, items of history.

Our team is spread between Andalucia and Catalonia, so we will tend to put a strong focus on these two "Autonomous Communities" as between them they make up a large part of the country and have a lot to offer the traveller to Spain.

tomislav: New walking season in Croatia

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:36:23 GMT

Last days of August summer ends, temperature is not so high, days are shorter but possibilities for different outdoor activities are higher. Lazy days on the beach are changed little bit with walking and trekking trips to the Dubrovnik surrounding area.

This year season, we opened with travelers from Spain, they took 5 day walking trips in Dubrovnik countryside Konavle and island of Mljet. First night they spend in lovely medieval town Cavtat (this small town was ancient Greek settlement of Epidaurus, from which the original setters of Dubrovnik migrated after big earthquake)today Cavtat is biggest town (3000 inhabitants) of picturesque Konavle region.
Konavle is most southern region of Croatia with particular nature beauty and unique contrasts: mountains, hills and valleys, blue see and green forests... ideally place for start exploring Dubrovnik and region.
- first active day we took long walking trip , 15 km from Cavtat to village Radovcici, on our way we stop on the Konavle cliffs where we enjoyed in swimming and blue horizons. Our group spend the night there in village Radovcici, accommodation at families in 500 years old stone house, they tasted domestic food, wine and other beverages. (after all some of our travelers said that best part of trip was early morning waking up in this village with big breakfast and all flavors and colors of picturesque village).

Next day we head to hilly area to visit highest peak in Dubrovnik region; Mount Snjeznica, from top you can enjoy in spectacular views to territory of 3 countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, during nice and clean weather, especially in Winter time when the air is bright you can even sea coastlines of Italy. After 1 hour drive we reached to village Kuna where we started our trekking to mountain. We claim up to the peak after 3 hours, we really enjoyed in it but unfortunately weather was to foggy and we mist spectacular views... maybe next time.

After overnight in small hotel in village Uskopje we continue our trip to Dubrovnik, but this time we left city behind because we proceed to the port of Dubrovnik where we took boat to island Mljet.
Mljet is biggest island in Dubrovnik archipelagoo, one of 8 Croatian national parks, green Island with unspoiled nature, ... our clients impressions were: Mljet is awesome more about this fantastic island in next blogs.

Carlwelsby: Japan Travel Specialist Oxalis Holidays joins adddictedtotravel.com

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:52:48 GMT

As our Travel Guide to Japan continues to expand with a whole host of great places to see in Japan and attractions in Japan we are pleased to welcome aboard Matt and the guys at Oxalis Holidays.

Oxalis are that rare thing – a real expert in Japan (and Armenia as it happens). Whereas many operators use a local agent to book the accommodation, provide transport and book guides Oxalis have eschewed this in favour of setting up their own office locally – in addition to their London hub. Having lived and worked in Japan for many years Matt has all the right connections and the office is staffed with locals meaning nothing is lost in translation.

Oxalis offer a range of small-group cultural trips in Japan and walking tours in Japan. In addition if you are looking for a tailor-made trip to Japan where you use their expertise to come up with an itinerary exactly to your requirements then they can help. We were particularly pleased to have Oxalis join us as they really do specialise in taking people off the beaten track, so you’ll see a whole different side to the country, as well as the better-known “must-sees”.

If you have thought about travelling to Japan to meet the Snow Monkeys this winter, see the famous Spring Blossom or walk the Nakasendo Trail then you could do far worse than entrust your arrangements to Matt and the team at Oxalis.

colinbrichards: Competition update

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:44:21 GMT

Congratulations from the addictedtotravel.com team to cdburness for winning the '9-day trip from Darwin to Alice Springs' competition. I’m sure you will join us in wishing him a fantastic time on the trip and look forward to reading about his adventure in our blog section.

Have a look what he has won, Cloud 9 Australia trip in association with Adventure Tours Australia.

Also keep an eye out for the announcement of the winner of our recent competition, the South Moroccan highlights with Rendez-vous Marocain, see trip. We will be announcing the winner of that trip on Monday 15th, so fingers crossed!

The good news for all others is that we have just launched a new competition to win a trip for two in North Cyprus, in association with expert local operator, Ornek Holidays.

If you would like to enter then simply click on 'win a trip for 2 in North Cyprus' and follow the instructions.

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following this link and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you are not yet a member, it will take less than 2 minutes to register for free and you will then be entered into the draw!

The competition ends on 31st October, so make sure you enter to win!

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team

Stuart: 100 Things To Do Before You Die author dies

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:07:39 GMT

This life is a short journey.

How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all
the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?

These are the poignant words of Dave Freeman, the author of 100 things to do before you die, who died this week after falling and banging his head at home in California.

An inspiration to many, his book included travel experiences ranging from grandma friendly visiting Royal Ascot, to down and dirty experiences including running with the bulls in Pampalona, Spain, nude night surfing in Australia and the loudest yelling competition in North Carolina.

One of Dave Freeman's firm favorites was the annual Las Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain. Here firework-filled papier-mache statues of politicians and celebrities are exploded at the stroke of midnight.

Family say that Dave Freeman was only able to do about half the activities he recommended before he passed away. According to the books co-author, Neil Teplica, Freeman’s mantra was:

You should live every day like it would be your last.

‘There's not many people who do' Mr Teplica said, but his friend 'lived the life he wrote about'.

When did you last do something amazing?
Carpe Diem – seize the day.

SumaqHotel: SUMAQ MACHU PICCHU HOTEL

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:29:53 GMT

FROM TRAVEL AND LEISURE MAGAZINE
NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE ANDES...

Hotel Sumaq, Aguas Calientes

Location

Across the road from the rushing Vilcanota River and the green mountain that hides Peru’s main event, this hotel raises the bar in a frontier town that grew up serving pilgrims who flock to Machu Picchu.

Details

Urban efficiency and modern design aren’t usually associated with a unesco World Heritage site, but Sumaq (Quechua for excellent or beautiful) is pulling off both. Half of the 60 orange-and-white rooms have balconies overlooking the river; the other 30 have big windows facing the mountains. Exploring the ruins opened our eyes to the Incan references throughout the hotel. The Andean cross motif turns up in bathrooms, and on headboards and blankets; and Machu Picchu’s architecture is mirrored in the stacked-block look of the floor tiles and squared-off faucets and dinnerware. Energy conservation is a priority here: turning on lights requires an electronic keycard, and corridor lighting is motion-activated.

Activities

“Lost city” tours set up by the hotel on request—our excellent guide was Lisette Arag´on, daughter of hotel porter Samuel. Avda. Hermanos Ayar; 866/682-0645 or 51-84/21-1059 ; sumaqhotelperu.com; doubles from $410, including breakfast and lunch or dinner.

colinbrichards: A weekend break in Dublin, Ireland

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:42:24 GMT

I have recently returned from a very enjoyable (if not soggy!) weekend in Dublin. Despite the rain, the City offers such a wide range of things to do, to see, places to eat, shop and oh yes..drink!

Staying in the Temple Bar area was a good choice as it is lively and well situated, just a short walk into town. Temple Bar is full of bars, most of which offer live local music throughout the day and well into the early hours - hearty food, guinness and music, what more do you want?

Culture and history? Well, Dublin Castle is close by and well worth a look as it dates back to the 13th century Norman era, with two orignal towers and part of the medieval wall remaining. Included in the castle are the State Apartments and Chapel Royal, and are open to the public.

The River Liffy cuts through the City and provides a great place for walks, with an array of bridges you find yourself zig-zagging along taking in the views.

A 10 minute walk from Temple Bar sees you entering the gates to Trinity College, the oldest University in Ireland dating back to 1592. If you get there and brave the queue, then take a look at the Old Library with its 213ft long main room, it really is very impressive. Walking through the college you pass by wonderful architecture and the sports grounds conjur up a bit of a 'chariots of fire' feeling....or was that just the guinness?

A further 5 minute walk and you come to St Stephens Square, which is a 22 acre Victorian Park right in the heart of the City. It is beautiful (especially on a sunny day apparently) and outside the park, the square is full of fine hotels and restaurants. Perfect place to re-fuel after the mornings walk.

Dublin is quite an expensive City to eat and drink....but with a £30 return flight from Stansted to Dublin, it really is a great place for a short break. Next time I will get out of the city for some of the cycling and hiking there is to offer in the surrounding area.

Carlwelsby: Amazing finds in Turkey

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:22:21 GMT

I’ve always enjoyed Turkey. Ever since arriving on a first visit in the winter of 1987 when Istanbul was covered in a layer of snow I was amazed how many archaeological sites there were just, well, sitting there. At that time I enjoyed minus-zero temperatures and bright blue skies as I wandered an utterly empty Ephesus and enjoyed the isolated backwaters of Dalyan and Kas. Little did we know what Ephesus would look like on a July day or how Dalyan and Kas would evolve into the true adventure centres of the Med!

Those ancient Greek and Lycian sites still attract attention and it seems that there are still treasures to find… According to the BBC, “Parts of a giant, exquisitely carved marble sculpture depicting the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius have been found at an archaeological site in Turkey.
Fragments of the statue were unearthed at the ancient city of Sagalassos.
So far the statue's head, right arm and lower legs have been discovered, high in the mountains of southern Turkey. He reigned from 161AD until his death in 180AD. In addition to his deeds as emperor, Marcus Aurelius is remembered for his writings, and is considered one of the foremost Stoic philosophers.
The partial statue was unearthed in the largest room at Sagalassos's Roman baths.

Early on 20 August, a huge pair of marble lower legs, broken just above the knee, turned up in the debris. They also found a 1.5m-long (5ft-long) right arm and hand holding a globe which was probably once crowned by a gilded bronze "Victory" figure. But it was the giant marble head which identified this statue as the young Marcus Aurelius. The colossal head, which is just under 1m (3ft) in height, is said to bear his characteristic bulging eyes and beard. Prof Waelkens said the pupils were gazing upwards "as if in deep contemplation, perfectly fitting of an emperor who was more of a philosopher than a soldier".

He added that this was one of the finest depictions of the Roman ruler. The emperor wore exquisitely carved army boots decorated with a lion skin, tendrils and Amazon shields. The torso was probably covered in bronze armour filled inside with terracotta or wood. When the niche's vault collapsed in the earthquake, the torso would have exploded.

Our Travel Guide to Turkey covers some of the many places of interest in Turkey.

colinbrichards: Moroccan Competition - closing in 5 days!!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:35:26 GMT

Just a quick reminder that our competition to win a trip for 2 in Southern Morocco, will close in 5 days on the 31st August 2008. Enter competition

The trip covers the ‘Red City’ of Marrakech, the High Atlas village of Imlil and the old coastal fortress town of Essaouira. More details on the Southern Morocco trip

If you are interested in travelling to Morocco, then take a look at the local travel specialist Rendez-vous Marocain, who can arrange a full range of travel within Morocco tailor-made to your requirements.

Good luck with the competition!!

Carlwelsby: New!! Upload your photos and videos here!

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:12:23 GMT

The tech guys here at addictedtotravel.com have been working hard to bring exciting new enhancements to the site and their latest offering from them is the ability for all our Members to create their very own photo albums of your best travel shots and the ability to upload video and movie clips. Not a Member - just hit the Register button top right to join for free.

Uploading a photo and is a doddle to thanks to Dave and Ian’s whizzy new technology. To create albums and upload photos just sign in using your usual username and password, then go to My Profile and My Photos - the rest is easy - just click the appropriate button, fill in the boxes and follow the easy instructions! You can create as many albums and add as many photos to each album as you wish.

Adding videos is easy too – again sign in and go to My Profile then My Videos and choose to either Upload a Video (if it’s one of yours, held on your own PC or a DVD) or Attach a Video (if it’s one you’ve spotted on YouTube, MetaCafe or Vimeo etc. that you want to link to).

To Upload a Video just hit the Upload a Video button, give it a Title, Description and a few tags, then follow the instructions. Bingo!

To Attach a Video is dead easy too - you need to look for the ‘embedded code’ on the external site and copy that into the space we provide. A few clicks and you’re done!

We’ve started you off with a few photos and videos we’ve like but we’d love to see yours. So what are you waiting for – get loading!

Carlwelsby: South India travel specialist joins addictedtotravel.com

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:18:39 GMT

We are today particularly pleased to announce that Kalypso Adventures have joined addictedtotravel.com.

Hand-picking expert organisers of adventure and experiential travel products is what addictedtotravel.com is all about, and no-one epitomises this more than Kalypso. The company is owned by Sam and Thomas, two ex-military men with a passion for the great outdoors and India’s wildlife. Over the last few years Kalypso have made a name for themselves as one of the sub-continents premier outfitters of ecologically aware adventure, wildlife and birding trips, as much a result of their accolade-laden guides as anything.

This company doesn’t stint when it comes to arranging great trips and tours in India, with accommodation ranging from the more luxurious to camps, jungle lodges and home-stays, those amazing guides and taking people to places only a local would know.

Our travel guide to south India will now start to expand further adding further places of interest in Kerala and the south to those such as Kochi, Periyar NP, the Backwaters, Munnar and Kovalam, giving you a taste of the delights the more laid back south has to offer.

Carlwelsby: So you love adventure travel...

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:58:00 GMT

It’s not unnatural for travellers to choose destinations that they’ve heard something about, inspired perhaps by a great travel read or maybe a TV programme they’ve seen. However you’ll probably find the people travelling with our latest Travel Specialist, Travel The Unknown, looking for something a little different.

With an unrivalled knowledge of and enthusiasm for North East India, Travel The Unknown take intrepid clients on trips to areas that have barely been visited, and that warrant little more than a page in a guidebook (literally – my Lonely Planet has just one-and-a-half pages dedicated to the whole state of Arunachal Pradesh!).

By way of example let me ask you if you know what the largest river-island in the world is (answer: Majuli), where you’d be able to see rhinos on elephant-back (Kaziranga National Park), what tribe live in the Ziro Valley (answer the Apatani), or how about, what would you expect to see at Tawang?

Our travel guide to North East India has just been launched and if you feel like you really owe it to yourself to get off the beaten track this autumn why not check out Travel The Unknown’s “Monks Tribes and Rhinos” trip – currently on special offer for £2600 including flights from the UK, also available on a Land Only basis for £1900.

Stuart: Live honeymoon web-chat this evening

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:44:46 GMT

If you are planning your honeymoon, are looking for inspiration, are want to hear about new and exotic or off-beat ideas for where to go, join us on our live web-chat this evening with You and Your Wedding magazine.

I will be online between 4 and 6 pm today to chat about how to plan your dream honeymoon, so please come along to the You and Your Wedding chat room and join in!

Should you not be able to make it, or are reading this too late, don’t worry - addictedtotravel.com is full of great honeymoon ideas.

And if you want to ask the advice of anyone in our active community you can – just add your question to the addictedtotravel.com forums.

See you in the chat room!

Stuart

colinbrichards: Birdfair - The British Birdwatching Fair

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:27:07 GMT

Well I have just spent a very interesting day at Birdfair (The British Birdwatching Fair) in Rutland....and for once the sun was out! The show has a huge range of expert companies exhibiting many things including binoculars, cameras, clothing, books, art etc and of course travel. All of the equipment is available to test and the exhibitors really seem to know their stuff.

There are 7 main marquees housing the exhibitors plus a range of lectures and events.......and of course a great bacon sandwich stand and beer tents.

So if you are a keen birdwatcher or someone who is passionate about nature, then this show is worth a visit. Good value at £10 entrance for adults and free for kids under 16, plus free parking.

The show is open for a further 2 days, Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th August, with gates opening at 9am til 5.30pm (I suggest you leave a little before the end as the traffic coming out was very slow today). It is held in a fantastic area of Rutland Water, Oakham, Rutland, just off the A606. You can then say, you have visited the smallest county in England, plus after a small diversion pick up a fresh pork pie from Melton Mowbray!

I hope you enjoy the show if you go and keep an eye on our site for some exciting new birdwatching trips and tours coming soon.

nightflower: Vietnam - where do you go?

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:40:35 GMT

For several decades, the word Vietnam has been mentioned with a word "War" added up to. But ever since the beginning of the 90s, when the country embarked on a quest for wealth, it opened up and has been viewed and mentioned differently. Vienam is now no longer a war, but beautiful mountains and peaceful green vallies, colorful hill tribes and rich cultures dating back to thousand of years, pristine and remote beaches. This country is still very much remains undiscovered by tourists. Here are some suggestions that you can add up to your itinerary when travelling to the region.
North of Vietnam. This is the cradle of the Vietnamese culture, orgininated the dawn of Vietnamese history. The region has a variety of natural terrain, distinctive local cultures resides in traditional villages, thousand of ancient temples and pagodas aromantic with burning insence…What North of Vietnam is famous for are: Handicraft villages and villages in general, mountain and plain scenery. Thus, your place of visit should be:
1. Halong bay: Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, this unrivalled bay has thousands of green karst formations jutting out of the sea. This is one of a must-to-visit place in North of Vietnam. Best to take a 2days/1night trip, which offers an overnight stay on a wooden boat. If you like to spend more time here, you can combine with a visit to Cat Ba island, a big one with inhabitants on it. This island is home to resorts, quiet beaches and a national park, which is good for hiking.
2. Tam Coc: This is the name of a site where you can enjoy a ride on a little sampan boat (well, made of iron) for 2 hours rowing in the middle of rice paddies (if you come in the rice season). The highlight of the boat ride is the stunning view of the karst formations around. In summer time, Tam Coc should be toured in the morning than in the afternoon, to reduce the heat that you might have when you’re on the boat ride.
3. Handicraft villages and traditional villages. Hanoi is surrounded by many old villages with distinguished characteristics or hav involved in a handicraft for hundreds of years. These are good for people who love to cycle or keen on cutural lives of the local.
4. Sapa: Located 1.600m above sea-level. This is a small city on the mountain offering cool weather and a good center to visit local hill tribes around it. The scenery is totally sublime. The weather is cool most of the time. The place is good for trekking and sight-seeing to the hill tribes. Sapa is a must for mountain lovers. If you do like climbing, you should not miss mount Phansipan - “the roof of Indochina”
5. North East and North West of Vietnam: In general, these places are good for mountain lovers and cultural seekers. Visit some mountain cities, stay overnight in tribal groups, enjoy the sceneries. This is best for those who love mountain motorbiking. A professional tour operator must be required. Since tours like these are different from classical ones.
6. Of course, North of Vietnam has Hanoi as the capital city. This 1000 years old city has a lot to see, especially to learn that it has lots of French buildings remain from the French colonial time.

Center of Vietnam.
This place used to be the meeting point of many cultures, since its sea once was home to some famous ports, where Japanese, Dutch, Chinese…vessels met and exchanged goods or stopped in the middle of their trade routes. This is where the last dynasty in Vietnam built up their royal structures which still remain till today. This is where you can be lazy on the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam (and some are among the World’s top). This is where the Central Highland, with lots of rudimentary tribal groups settle in. There are so much to be addicted to this place.
The places of visit should be:
1. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park: This is an amazing complex of Karst scenery with over 300 caves and grottos, which hold some world cave records. This is where you have the moutain, forest, the longest underground river, fine sand beaches inside the caves, beautiful slalagmites and stalactites, waterfalls and so on. It’s 500 km South of Hanoi and can be accessed by train or car. This site was listed on the World Heritage Sites in 2003. Compare to the other world heritage sites in Vietnam, this is the least touristy.
2. Hue Imperial City: This is heartland of Central Vietnam. Hue was the capital city of Vietnam from 1802-1945. Lots of the royal buildings can now be seen in Hue. The highlights among these are: The Imperial Citadel, the Kings’ tombs – final resting places of the last kings in Vietnam. Hue is a nice and calm city with friendly people. The city is bisected by the famous and scenic Perfume River and a cruise on the River would add up to your trip experience. Hue was the first place in Vietnam to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in 1993.
3. The Old Town of Hoi An: This is the best place in Vietnam in term of a real “Old Town”. Hoi An used to be one of Asia most important trading ports in the period of 15th – 19th century. For that reason, the town’s architecture reflex a combination of local and foreign influence, with century-old houses. This laid-back town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and now attracts quite a number of tourists. The town is considered one of the best in Vietnam in term of tailored-made clothes with cheap price. 20-minute cycling out of the town will bring you to Cua Dai beach, with clear water, fine sand shaded by coconut trees. Once when you’re here, don’t forget the word “My Son Sanctuary”, where a story about the once-mighty empire would be told through the ruins of the ancient temples.
4. Central highlands: This is home to many tribal groups in Vietnam. Where you see elephants walking on the roads and loaded with cargos or tourists. This is also among the least developed places in the country with only 3 main cities bu once when you’re here, you’re be offered a lot of chances to go sightseeing to many scenic places and see many culturally rich people. This place seems to best suite those who loves motorcycles since lots of scenic places are not approachable by local bus. So, let get ride, the place has a lot for you to explore.
5. Nha Trang: This coastal city offers some best beaches in Vietnam. The bay of Nha Trang is one of the World’s most beautiful ones. Recently, money has been poured into this place to build up luxurious resorts that cater to more the need of affluent people. The domestic travellers fancy the beach in the city, so you may consider enjoying your stay in a resort on an island away from the mass. Last but not least, this is the best place in Vietnam to do scuba diving.
6. Da Lat: A city of the same elevation as Sapa, Da Lat was developed by the French under the requirements of building up the city into a summer resort to escape the heat of Sai Gon. Thus, the architecture of the city reflexs the colonial one. Traveling from Sai Gon up north, you should drop by here for a couple of days. The avarage temperature in this city is around 16 -18 all year round. It’s a romantic city with beautiful waterfalls and hilly scenery surrounds. But watch out, because everything is so romantic and poetic, you may regret to have been there alone.
South of Vietnam
Unlike the North and the Center, the South of Vietnam is much younger than its two brothers in term of history. Nevertheless, it boots an unparalled charm compare to other regions. This holds the most fertile land of the country, the biggest river system with distinguished everyday river lives. Moreover, everyone seems to have heard of the Vietnam War as much as they heard of Sai Gon, the biggest city of South Vietnam. Well, having to describe it all in one word, it would be “alluring”.
1. Ho Chi Minh city: The biggest city in South Vietnam, the most populated, the economic muscle of Vietnam. And that’s not everything. The city was the capital of Cocochina, thus it present a fine colonial architecture that you can see in the center of the city. Sai Gon was the brain of the South during the Vietnam War, and, hence, it is the most Americanized one.
2. Cu Chi tunnel system +Cao Dai Temple: This was a famous name during the Vietnam War. It shows up how resistant the local was in the war. Come and witness a system of hundreds kms digging deep in the ground. It’s only 75 km from Sai Gon and this place should not be missed. Watch out before you make your decision of getting though the tunnels, you’re not gonna lose your way but it’s easy for you to get stuck. The trip can be combined with a visit to Cao Dai temple, a colorful one where the local practise their unique cult.
3. The Mekong Delta River. The South of Vietnam is where the Mekong river system flows into the sea. And this makes a special part of Vietnam’s picture. A trip or several days will bring you on a row along the matrix system of canal fensed with fruitful coconut trees, and then be in the middle of the famous floating market where hundreds of vessels heavily loaded with fruits and vegetables meet and exchange. Get yourselves lost in the local orchard where you can be lazy sleeping on the hammock or taste fruits hanging lowly from the trees above.
4. Phu Quoc Island and Con Dao Archipelago: The touristier the country is turning, the more tourists seek privacy from their travel mates, of course, that doesn’t mean the new places are of any less beautiful. Phu Quoc and Con Dao are heavens for that purpose. These are both one hour fly from Sai Gon, they offer ideal sunny quiet beaches, with fine sand, coconut trees. Lots of travellers have highly recommended these places to possess top beaches in the world. Phu Quoc is slightly touristier than Con Dao. [advertising removed]

Stuart: How (not) to cope with Airport Security measures

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:32:33 GMT

The shifting regulations surrounding airport security are becoming increasingly frustrating for international travellers.

Lke many, I have learnt the hard way what you can and cannot get on to today’s flights.

I remember well that soul-destroying moment when my hip-flask of fine malt (reserved for my next overseas "emergency") was poured away before my eyes by one over-zealous Security Guard. It was “for the safety of all the passengers”, of course...

So, I was amused by this recent report of how one Russian woman dealt with the news that she wasn’t allowed to take two bottles of spirits on board her flight home from China:

Quote:

A Russian woman was banned from boarding a plane at Pudong International Airport yesterday because she was drunk after drinking two bottles of Maotai, a famous Chinese spirit.

The unidentified woman drank the wine at a security check point when police officers told her that alcohol was forbidden to take on planes.

As the plane was departing in a few minutes and there was no time for her to consign the articles, she opened the wine and chugged it, Xinmin Evening News reported.

Within a short time, she finished the bottles and although she was unsteady on her feet, she smiled at security officers, the report said.

However, 10 minutes later, the woman returned because the airline refused to let her board the aircraft as she “emitted a strong smell of wine and was not in her right mind”, according to the report.

The woman kept shouting in Russian, "I am not drunk" on her way back.

After she sobered up, she was allowed to take the next flight to her destination, the report said.

With thanks to the Shanghai Daily News.

Carlwelsby: Cooking’s Just The Half Of It!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:01:43 GMT

It’s our pleasure to welcome Flavours of Italy to addictedtotravel.com. Based in Scotland, Lorne and the team at Flavours have developed a range of cooking holidays in Italy that mix stylish accommodation with the tutelage of expert chefs.

With flights included in their trips, their popular packages include cooking holidays in Tuscany, Sicily, Ravenna, Bologna and Puglia. They are able to tailor-make itineraries that include cooking lessons, walking, visits to wineries – even a look at the olive harvest!

These really are ‘small group holidays’ with a maximum of just 8 in a group and what's more there are no single supplements. With this small group size, the relaxed style and their attention to detail from booking through the trip to your arrival home means their trips often book early.

Watch this space as we add details of their trips to the site over coming days!

Stuart: Lonesome George update – eight more eggs found! What happens now to help the survival of the species?

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:01:14 GMT

As we reported a few days ago, Lonesone George – the last member of a virtually extinct species of tortoise – has been sharing his pen in the Galapagos Islands with two closely related females over the last few months.

This week, for the first time in thirty years, five billiard-sized eggs were laid... and now eight more have been found!

But what happens now?
How are local scientists helping to ensure the survival of the species?

According to the Galapagos Conservancy, all eight eggs were in good condition and the Park staff has taken all thirteen eggs and placed them in incubators at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. Eight eggs are set at an incubation temperature of 29.5 °C and five are at 28 °C.

In certain species of reptiles (including Galapagos tortoises), there are no chromosomes which determine gender. Gender is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated. The higher temperatures produce females and the lower temperatures produce males. After many years of experimentation during the 1980s at the Research Station, staff discovered the temperature range at which the eggs would produce males and females. In this particular case, given the number of possibly viable eggs, the decision was made to put more eggs at the higher incubation temperature (female). In a population restoration effort, which this certainly is, it is more important to have more females than males.

There are now a total of 13 eggs in the incubators-5 from the first tortoise and 8 laid by the second. It will be another 120-130 days before the incubation process is completed and before it is known if the eggs are viable.

Galapagos enthusiasts will remember that George, the last remaining Pinta Island tortoise, was brought to the Research Station in 1972 with the hopes that he might breed with tortoises similar to the Pinta subspecies. His two new companions were brought from Volcán Wolf (the northernmost volcano on Isabela Island) because morphologically they were the most similar to Pinta tortoises. We now know through genetic studies that tortoises from Española are genetically closest to the subspecies from Pinta. We also now know that a hybrid tortoise was discovered on Volcán Wolf (Isabela) which shares half of its genetic material with Geochelone nigra abingdoni.

With the two female companions in place in George’s corral, scientists began to work on sexual stimulation, to try to induce George to reproduce. A Swiss volunteer, Sveva Grigioni, worked with him during a four-month period, but there were no advances. Animal nutritionists and veterinarians with expertise in tortoises were consulted. A diet rich in minerals and vitamins, prescribed by a nutritionist from the National Zoo in Washington, DC, helped to improve George’s overall health. But nothing appeared to produce results.

Until, perhaps now.

The Park staff is working directly with geneticists to determine if there is any sufficient material from the broken eggs to determine the genotype of the father (whom everyone certainly hopes is George!) At the same time, the Park is waiting patiently for the first signs of development within the incubated eggs. With both females now engaged in egg laying, we are optimistic that there will be additional good news soon from Puerto Ayora.

With thanks to the Galapagos Conservancy.

Stuart: Lonesome George ends three decades of celibacy

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:19:40 GMT

Great news from our friend's Metropolitan Touring in the Galapagos Islands:

The world’s most famous tortoise, and the living symbol of the Galapagos National Park, has taken an important step into saving it’s species from imminent extinction.

A last member of its kind, a male tortoise was found alone on his home island Pinta in the early seventies. Soon brought to the safety of the Charles Darwin Research Station, and named Jorge, or George in English, by the park wardens that took care of him. The word soon spread that George was a living extinction unless a female was found for him to reproduce. “Lonesome George” fit the tortoise well.

Scientists have searched the Island Pinta, as well as any zoo or private collection worldwide for a partner for George. Hopes have, over the futile years, focused on the last resource to save his species. George should breed with the most similar tortoise species in Galapagos. For this purpose, George has been sharing his pen with two attractive females from Isabela Island’s northernmost volcano Wolf, a race similar to George, both physically and genetically. Strangely, George has shown so far little if any attraction to these females, and hopes to save the species have again dropped systematically.

Until this week: National Park Authorities proudly announced the finding of the first fertile eggs laid in George’s pen. A new hope is standing high to save the rarest tortoise in the world from extinction.

From by Klaus Fielsch - Metropolitan Touring Expedition Manager.

Carlwelsby: Sun, sea and… adventure in North Cyprus!

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:21:51 GMT

North Cyprus has over the last few years developed a bit of a reputation for being the Med’s latest hot spot for those looking for gentle adventure holidays. Blessed with a great climate, mountains over 1000m high, beaches to die for, ancient ruins, bougainvillea-clad villages and the remote and beautiful Karpas Peninsula and you can begin to see why.

Huddled around its harbour, Kyrenia is one of the prettiest spots in the Mediterranean, the little restaurants housed in old Venetian warehouses are now elegant and refined. Prices to North Cyprus remain unbelievably low. Check out our travel guide to North Cyprus to learn more.

We are pleased to welcome Ozbek, Samar and the team at Ornek Holiday’s to the site as travel specialists to North Cyprus. Being the ‘ground handler’ for several of the UK’s best-regarded small group adventure operators Ozbek knows what it is that makes a great trip. Able to tailor-make almost any type of trip Ornek specialise in easy walking tours and centre-based holidays that aim to show visitors the best of this destination. Family adventure holidays which include jeep safaris in search of wild donkeys, gentle walks, visits to local smallholdings and some of the island’s best historical sights are a particular speciality. Ask him if he can persuade his Mum to cook up one of her famous picnic lunches…!

So, if you are looking for a holiday in the sun that won’t break the bank, why not contact Ornek Holidays here.

Carlwelsby: Summer’s here! Time to get active!

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:53:12 GMT

Well, the great British summer is here and what with the already clichéd “credit crunch” upon us there has never been a better time to take a holiday here in the UK.

I’m lucky enough to live in Wales’ Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, undoubtedly one of Britain’s most spectacular areas, with high mountains, rugged coastlines and superb beaches. It’s in this setting that our latest Travel Specialist, Preseli Venture, operates.

Offering surfing, coasteering, cliff jumping, kayaking, hiking and biking they are my local multi-activity specialist, and as someone who lives here I know just what an excellent name they have (their responsible tourism ethics are amongst some of the strongest of any of the excellent specialists on the site).

Take one of their trips and you’ll be able to explore the dramatic coastline of Pembrokeshire in the company of expert instructors and guides who frankly all seem to have more qualifications in adventurous activities than is descent!

If you are looking for a short break or some adventurous activity in a beautiful part of Britain than why not contact them here to see what places they have spare on up-coming trips.

Stuart: Mobile phones on flights

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:36:39 GMT

News this week is that Emirates Airlines have apparently installed technology on one of its aircraft that will enable passengers to make calls and send SMS text messages from their personal mobile phone throughout flights.

Great news for letting people know you’re delayed, or to phone a friend if you can’t decide whether to choose the tasty lamb stew or the chicken and rice pre-packaged meal.

But are we about to enter a phase where our in-flight entertainment becomes listening to annoying ring-tones, our neighbours’ conversations and the occasional shout of “I’m on a plane!” from the row behind??

What do you think?
Let us know in the Mobile Phone Calls on Flights forum!

Carlwelsby: Adventure travel in Croatia

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:18:21 GMT

Having shrugged off the problems of the past Croatia has emerged as one of the hottest new destinations of the Mediterranean - miles of great beaches, green islands, fantastic walking and watersports and culture aplenty.

Our travel guide to Croatia is now live and introduces a few of the great places to see in Croatia - we've plenty more to to bring you so keep popping back to check out what's new. Currently great places to visit in Croatia include the Dalmatian Coast - Korcula, Split and the wonderful island of Hvar, but check our the Istria region too.

We'd also like to extend a warm welcome to Tomi and the team at Viator Travel, a local Croatian travel specialist with a range of both small group and independent holidays in Croatia. All feature a healthy dose of the great outdoors, from walking and trekking to watersports. He is a specialist at arranging family holidays in Croatia and can tailor-make something specific just for you.

Finally we'd love to hear from you if you've been on a trip to Croatia - what were the highlights, where did you stay, how were prices and have you any tips?

greg34: Sitting on the palm lit beach

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:55:46 GMT

Sitting on the palm lit beach of Jomtien with the warn breezes caressing our tired bodies off the Gulf of Siam after an amazing day of activity, a thought came to mind!
How am I going to survive with the ever increasing cost of England when I retire, a spine chilling thought after spending most of my life travelling the world without a care and enjoying what the many varied countries had to offer. Income as a carpenter was never a problem and work was plentiful and well paid, approaching the big 50, it dawned on me that to achieve a viable pension at retirement was simply impossible.
I was in Thailand without a doubt one of the most exciting places I had travelled to in many a year, could I live here? No question about it, who in their right mind would not want to be in this amazing Country – The Kingdom of Thailand. The next question was how? The mind racing a full speed and beyond I said to my wife Nom who is Thai lets buy a Villa here and rent it out, we searched North, South, East and West and finally came back to the place we started Jomtien Beach [advertising removed], why, because as much as we love the 24 hour hustle and bustle of Pattaya with it’s miles of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shopping facilities we needed a place to go “Home” to.

africanick: 27 New World Heritage Sites

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:24:51 GMT

UNESCO’s World Heritage List now numbers a total of 878 sites, 679 cultural and 174 natural sites and 25 mixed in 145 countries.

The following countries have had sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for the first time this year: Papua New Guinea; San Marino and Saudi Arabia, Vanuatu.

The World Heritage Committee, meeting for its 32nd session, finished inscribing new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List on 8 July with the addition of 19 cultural sites and eight natural sites to the List.

New cultural sites inscribed during the 32nd session:
Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia)
Fujian Tulou (China)
Stari Grad Plain (Croatia)
Historic Centre of Camagüey (Cuba)
Fortifications of Vauban (France)
Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (Germany)
Armenian Monastic Ensembles in Iran (Iran)
Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee (Israel)
Mantua and Sabbioneta (Italy)
Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (Kenya)
Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia)
Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús de Nazareno de Atotonilco (Mexico)
Le Morne Cultural Landscape (Mauritius)
Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Papua New Guinea)
San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano (San Marino)
Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih) (Saudi Arabia)
Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area (Slovakia)
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Cultural Landscape (Switzerland and Italy)
Chief Roi Mata's Domain (Vanuatu)

Natural properties inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during the 32nd session:
Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada)
Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China)
Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France)
Surtsey (Iceland)
Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
Monarch Butterfly biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland)
Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

colinbrichards: Qantas Airways plane plunges 20,000 ft

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:31:52 GMT

I'm not normally one for the sensational headlines, but this certainly caught my eye.

This morning a Qantas flight from London to Melbourne, via Hong Kong, had to make an emergency landing in Manila, after a 3 metre hole suddenly appeared in the side of the Boeing 747-400 causing the plane to plummet 20,000ft.

The news report stated that passengers heard a bang and then a rush of air before the plane dropped suddenly.

Eventually the plane landed safely and all of the 346 passengers and 19 crew disembarked without physical injury.

Qantas are now conducting an investigation as to the cause of the hole in the fuselage.

Even though this is a dramatic story, it fills me with confidence of the expertise and skill of todays pilots. Quite amazing!

Stuart: addictedtotravel.com on Talk Sport Radio

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:22:02 GMT

There are two big events on Talk Sport Radio today. The first is an exclusive interview with David Beckham. Later, the addictedtotravel.com team will join the Mike Mendoza Radio Show to talk all things travel.

Talk Sport is the most listened to commercial radio station in the UK and it’s not all about sport – they cover 11 hours of non-sport topics a day. Mike's show is all non-sport coverage and we’re looking forward to an entertaining evening where we Talk Travel.

Tune in to hear addictedtotravel.com on Talk Sport Radio tonight!

Carlwelsby: Hong Kong Travel Guide now live!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:47:16 GMT

Just launched on addictedtotravel.com is our Hong Kong travel guide. This amazing destination is the starting point or ending point for a variety of adventure holidays to China and yet is also a worthwhile destination in its own right.

The travel guide to Hong Kong has a range of suggested places to visit, from the Temple Street night market, Victoria Peak, the Big Buddha on Lantau and the traditional Man Mo Temple.

Have a look here at Hong Kong holidays and you'll find trips that spend some time here, or why not contact China Adventures and ask them to tailor make a Hong Kong trip or longer journey that includes the city on an all encompassing China holiday.

Carlwelsby: Adventure travel in China

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:36:34 GMT

A quick hello to China Adventures, a new travel specialist joining us offering trips right through the Middle Kingdom. Our travel guide to China has been live for a while now with some cracking trips offered by Intrepid - perfect if you are looking for a small-group adventure with a difference, but China Adventure offer some fantastic trips for independent travellers - couples, individuals, small groups of mates - who all want to explore the country by themselves.

William and Helena are the husband and wife team behind China Adventures. They are definitely into adventure travel and have cycled across the US! On these trips you'll be accompanied by one of China Adventures' own highly experienced tour leaders (or opt to reduce costs by taking just local guides in each city) and as these adventure holidays in China are suggested itineraries you can ask China Adventures to adapt them or even tailor make an itinerary just for you!

There are currently 8 trips to China with them and my personal favourites are the Journey Along the Silk Road trip - all the way from Beijing to Kashgar in Xinjiang Province, and the China Family Adventure, which aims to show kids and their Mums and Dads all the great places to visit in China, from the Great Wall to the kung fu monks of Shaolin, Yangshuo and even the pandas of Chengdu! Check out too the Gateway to Tibet tour too - all the way to Lijiang and Zhongdian! Finally their range of cultural tours to China are great too perfect - lots of highlights and all at incredible value for money for a private trip.

Contact William or Helena here and let them bring your China adventure holiday to life!

africanick: Libya now live!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:03:18 GMT

I've been waiting for weeks to find the time to create and publish our country guide to Libya, and it is now finally live - albeit with more places to visit to write-up and review. We're just about to publish over 100 photos highlighting the archaeological and natural attractions the nation offers. My particular favourite is Leptis Magna - although I only spent a day there a few years ago, it could easily have been a week! A vast ancient Roman city with a dramatic location - you really feel like you've stepped into history on a visit to this place....

colinbrichards: Competition Closing - 4 days to go!! (Darwin to Alice Springs)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:43:13 GMT

Just a short reminder that our competition to win a trip in Australia from Darwin to Alice Springs, will close in 4 days on the 30th June 2008. Enter competition

The trip covers some of the most exciting, natural and sometimes remote areas of Australia with Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kakadu National Park being two of the highlights of the trip. See Cloud 9 trip for more details.

As they say, you have to be in it to win it, so enter today to be in with a chance to win this wonderful trip for 2.

africanick: Island Hopping in the Faroe Islands

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:05:19 GMT

Along the shores of peaceful fjords and sounds lie the towns and villages of the Faroes, which sparkle in multi-coloured splendour against the deep green swath of cultivated pastureland surrounding them. Above them rise mountains with green sloping fells bounded by dark stony crags.

A colourful and informative travel guide to the Faroe Islands is now live on addictedtotravel.com. Featuring some 16 places of interest and 10 of the best of Faroe Island attractions, you can now discover what these magical islands in the North Atlantic have to offer.

africanick: Version 2.0 of addictedtotravel.com Live!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:41:41 GMT

After taking onboard all your valuable feedback and following several months of intensive development and redesign we are proud to announce that the much-anticipated second version of addictedtotravel.com went live early this evening.

Thanks to Dave and Ian for all their time spent on creating a fabulous new-look site with much-improved navigation and search functionality, a larger font, bigger images and overall enhanced site structure.

Now keep your eyes peeled during our next phase of development - coming very soon - with exciting new site functionality enhancements for our community of travellers and travel experts.

Happy travels!

Nick

Xplore-Asia: Trekking to Nong Fa Lake Southern Laos

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:11:11 GMT

Nong Fa Lake is said to be a sacred place in Laos in the heart of the National park, a possible explanation is that it was formed by a volcanic eruption many thousands of years ago. Trekking to this lake was definitely an off the beaten track adventure following parts of the Ho Chi Minh trail along valley peaks we reached the lake on the 4th day and after about 90km it was all worth it when we saw the beauty of this lake and enjoyed a nice cool swim in one of the most remote places on earth.

No westerner to my knowledge had ever attempted to trek to the lake before, there is access most of the way by 4-wheel drive but the plan was to trek in and out using different routes and survey the route for possible future tours. Enquiries led us to Attapeu to a local army guide who also spoke the indigenous local language, he was born in a small village about a two day's hike from the lake but his family, have all moved to the town now. After meeting him and discussing the trip we and my fellow two trekkers prepared a checked of gear we would need and started to buy supplies we bought soups, canned fish and rice and of course chocolate and sweets for that much needed energy boast. We had our finally dinner together in the city trying to eat as much as possible to stock up on energy and especially protein that would be needed to get through the next few days.

The following morning we rose bright and early and after checking and splitting our gear and food equally we drove out of Attapeu and headed to the village of Pa-am on part of the Ho Chi Minh trail, a reminder of this trail is the Russian old surface to air missile which still stands in its place. The Vietnamese used to head south with troop and supply reinforcements along several trails during the Vietnam War against the Americans, they crossed into Laos to avoid battles with the American troops as the Americans were not officially allowed to enter Laos, this is the reason why Laos is known as the most bombed country on the planet to date. As American troops could not enter Laos they could bomb it, American pilots were encouraged to empty the rest of their ordinance on Laos on the way back from Vietnam to their bases in Thailand. Old ordinance still litters the trails which were dropped by American B52s to try to hit the Vietnamese soldiers and cut their supply lines.From Pa-am we drove up the mountain as far as our comfortable car could go before checking our gear for the last time and starting our adventure.

The first day entailed trekking up the mountain across rough terrain past small villages and ethnic communities we travelled 20km along the old Lao army training route not realising at the beginning how heavy our backpack would be. They certainly started weighing us down towards the end of the day. Our guide knew the local area and language well however he spoke no English so my Laos skills definitely came in handy.
We arrived at the village of Ban Chilinxay in the evening, after showering in a nearby stream we spent the night at one of the villager's hut s who surprisingly spoke a little English. We bought a chicken from him and he cooked it for us along with some steamed rice and local vegetables and soup trying to regain our energy and relax our legs as much as possible. The second and third day followed a similar pattern up at dawn enjoying some hot chocolate buying fresh eggs and vegetables from the villagers and trekking about 20 - 25 km a day, the evenings were spent with the local guide arranging the home-stay, recuperating and bathing.

The main priority in the evening was boiling enough water for the next day so it was cool enough the following day to fill our plastic bottles. Dinner normally included chicken and steamed rice which was bought from the villagers and a couple of tins of canned fish which was good because it meant less to carry the following day.
The fourth day was the day, we could feel we were getting close we awoke and began our seemingly normal routine of washing in the nearby stream, having breakfast and packing our gear. It was a few kilometres over flat ground to the river where we crossed in a dug out canoe. The canoe was definitely not the most stable of vessels and the water was moving quite fast but it was only about 100m or so to the other side, paddling hard and sitting low in the boat got us across with out too much trouble. From this side of the river we stopped to take in the stunning beauty of the untouched nature around us.From here it was a 15km trek up steep mountain sides to the village of Vangetat this was a hard trek across the tops of the valley but the scenery and views made it well worth while. When arriving in Vangetat at about 2pm I couldn't believe it I had gone through 3 liters' of water already, so I refilled my water bottles, taking boiled water from the kind villagers and we decided to move on as it was 2pm and if we pushed on we could reach Nong Fa Lake in another 2 hours or so.

The last few kilometers to the lake were hard being directly under the blazing sun and it was all uphill to the summit, but spirits were high, knowing we would be there soon.
We arrived, after 4 days of solid trekking we could hardly believe it the first thing to do was have a swim and relax our muscles in the cool water. Spending about an hour at the lake we decided to head back down to Vangetat as we saw a park ranger there who had a 4x4 and this could be our exit plan.It only took us about 45 minutes to get down from the lake with little effort as it was all downhill. Our theory with the ranger paid off and we managed to hitch a ride to Km100 about 10km from the Vietnamese border this was a bumpy ride and not possible without a 4x4. After about 60km or 3 hours we finally saw a sealed road and were happy knowing we were safe and back to civilisation. Unfortunately due to the lack of hotels in this area we slept by the Lao army barracks in a noodle soup shop, it was a great nights sleep though, this is probably due to how tired we were rather than the sleeping conditions.

The following day after a bowl of tasty soup we thanked our hosts, gave them our remaining rice and said goodbye. We now tried to hitch back to Attapeu. It didn't take long after about 20 minutes we managed to hitch a lift with a Vietnamese logging truck back to Attapeu around lunch. All in all it was a wonderful and unforgettable journey.

monkeeee: Uganda

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:25:42 GMT

I'm not to sure how these blogs work to be honest, but I thought I would just give you the low down on my trip to Uganda. I went in July/August 2006 for a month with my school via the company World Challenge Ltd. It was amazing, cost a bomb but was amazing. Think next time I'll do it myself as will be cheaper and won't have all the insurance restictions, I know they were there to protect me but I like to live my life with a little risk. We started of in Kampala, staying at the local Backpackers Hostel, and exploring the area, then moved on to a few different lakes (Muburo and Rezongo). Saw some pretty amazing scenery and lots and lots of animals and locals! Swams of young children, about 90 of them! Luckily we managed to get them settled down into a game of Duck Duck Goose!! and shamefully they managed to out run all of us around the circule! Even the lads who were the fittest were beaten by the young girls! After the lakes, we headed back to Kampala for a couple nights to restock before heading on to Jinja to work at a school for 10 days, helping out in the classrooms, running sports day type activits and building them a chicken shack. When we left we also donated them a goat :)
Onwards to Mbale and Mt Elgon where they climb it. I have to admit I chickened out, but I didn't regret it because whilst I was wondering the streets of Mbale my fellow students were up in the Mountain and it was chucking it down! They had to keep on walking, where as I could duck into the shops :P Once they came back down, we returned to Jinja to do our rest and relax phase, which inculded white water rafting down the River Nile (and this is where the insurance came in - we weren't allowed to do above grade 4 rapids so we had to get out on the grade 5s and walk down the side! No Fair! :( and the leaders got to do it if they wanted to!) After a couple days in Jinja (which inculded shopping for pressies) we headed back to Kampala and then on to the edge of Lake Victoria where we boarded a boat to go to an island. We had our own private beach for the weekend before we had to head home. Was great, amazinf sun sets and sunrises, could just chill out. Then back to the main land and back to Entebbe to catch the plane back to England.

colinbrichards: Harry's Bar - Singapore Airport

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:10:03 GMT

Well, having staggered off the first leg of my flight from Heathrow to Perth Australia, via Singapore, I was greeted by the news that my next flight was to be delayed by 4 hours. I was already slightly weary from the +12 hours of being sandwiched between 2 people in the middle seat, with a reclined seat in my face and my knees prodding the chair in front. Very difficult to watch a movie when the screen is only 6 inches from you and your eyes are drawn to the top of the persons head in front of you.......or is that just me?

Anyhow, things perked up after a brief stroll around Singapore airport, which is just packed full of shops, cafes, chill out areas, massage etc. But what caught my eye was Harrys Bar, a little outside oasis with cooling fans, cold beer and wi-fi access. So here I sit, with a few hours left before my flight, sipping on a cold Tiger beer (10 Singapore dollars for the price checkers), listening to coldplay and it's about 70 degrees at 9pm in the evening. Feel quite chilled now and ready for the next flight!

So this definitely gets added to my 'good bar' list around the world. Anyone else got any favourite bars they wish to recommend or recall?

That's it for now, I will post another blog once I have sampled some of what Perth has to offer, Colin.

africanick: Adventures in Ancient Abyssinia

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:32:05 GMT

With a rich history dating back 3,000 years Ethiopia has the most extensive collection of historic sites south of the Sahara with perhaps as little as 90% of the total yet to be discovered. A mountainous nation with a diverse population exceeding 77 million people, and a land mass as large as France and Spain combined, Ethiopia offers the adventurous traveller a real contast of experiences.

Our country guide to Ethiopia is now live! Over the next couple of days we'll be publishing some fantastic adventure holidays and detailed reviews of all of Ethiopia's major places of interest. Here's a taster for what Ethiopia has to offer:

From the Abyssinian highlands to the deserts of the Afar and the volcanic Danakil Depression - the deepest and hottest place on earth; from the soda lakes of Africa's Great Rift Valley to the source of the Blue Nile; from tropical rain forests and high moorlands to savannah, the geography of Ethiopia is outstanding in comparison to many African nations. With this natural diversity an Ethiopian holiday offers adventure and discovery at every corner.

It is perhaps Ethiopia's Historical Route that provides the main appeal for travellers to this beautiful land. Known for its ancient churches including several rock-hewn World Heritage-listed monuments at Lalibela, ancient temples, palaces and castles at Gondar, tombs of previous Kings and Queens, religious manuscripts and a plethora of archaeological finds, this famous route in northern Ethiopia is simply unrivalled in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Carlwelsby: Syria's Big New Restaurant

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:25:57 GMT

Anyone who has travelled to Syria knows just what a fantastic, highly misunderstood destination it is, with cracking Crusader castles, desert cities and carvanserais and the best souks in the Middle East.

It seems, however, that gourmets now have a reason to travel! I spotted this article on the BBC yesterday about their claim to have the World's Biggest Restaurant! At 6,014-seats the "Damascus Gate" beats its nearest rival in Bangkok by a massive 1000 seats.

Those who want to sample the food at the family owned restaurant should ask their taxi driver for the "Bawabet Dimashq". On entering there are waterfalls, fountains and replicas of Syrian archaeological ruins, with separate sections with Asian (Chinese and Indian) cuisine.

For some there may be one disappointment - as with many Syrian restaurants the venue is dry with no alcohol served.

Has anyone been?

Our travel guide to Syria introduces the country and some of its fantastic attractions.

foren83: How to Visit Mount Etna and Hike in Its Paths

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:21:21 GMT

Mt. Etna is the tallest volcano of Europe. Generally most tourist visit its main craters (south craters) to see the volcanic activity.

This visit could be a bit expensive because to climb over 2.900 meters You'll need a professional guide (and it costs too much circa 140 Euros for a 4 hours excursion).

Here a list of easy to do paths and trips You can do on a budget and visit also the main attractions of the volcano.

Etna Eruption of 2006 - Courtesy of Etna Excursions non-profit association

1° Consider You have 2 options to arrive on the volcano:

From Nicolosi, a village in the southern flank of Etna, and this could be an interesting point for your excursion. From here reach Sapienza Refuge, at 1980 metres. (Good to visit the summit craters)

From Linguaglossa, a village in the northern flank of Etna. From here reach Piano Provenzana, at 1800 metres. (Good to hike in the natural paths)

2° What equipment

- Trekking poles
- Trekking boots
- Sun Glasses
- Whool Cap
- Mountain jackets (It's too cold in Summer months too)
- Topographic and geologic maps (Gps is good too)

3° Suggested Itineraries

Piano Provenzana
The excursion will pass through a variegated landscape immersed in the pine forest including the view of pine trees, brooms, birch trees.

You if search volcanic attractions you can't miss the view of Valle del Bove from the Cirasa mount overlooking an amazing landscape. See also the Ladroni grotto and Sartorius mounts, created by the eruption of 1865.

Southern slope and summit craters
This is the most interesting itinerary thanks to the eruptions of 2001 and 2002 that changed the south Etna features.

Start from Sapienza Refuge. Climb up by cableway and small omnibus until 2900 metres near Philosopher Tower. From here hike for 1/2 hours to arrive to Bocca Nuova (3250 m sl), a crater opened in 1969.

Visit to Grotto of Lamponi
Possible itinerary: Start from Pirao houses, in Randazzo territory. Arrive to lava's cast of 1981. Then go to Saletti refuge for a break. Reach Santa Maria mount, and after hiking for some hours arrive to Piano dammusi to admire to lava' cast of 1614-1624, known as the longer of the Etna's history eruption. Finally here you can visit Grotto of Lamponi.

Chriss_HK: Volunteering in Luang Prabang

Wed, 28 May 2008 04:55:39 GMT

So many travellers want to give something back to the places they visit. A small travel company based in Luang Prabang has started offering travellers the opportunity to participate in "hands-on" work with a variety of different groups of people in the area.

I think it's a great idea as it not only increases travellers' awareness of the way of life of the locals, it also shows local people that travellers really do want to help improve their lives. And, of course, I like the fact that the Luang Prabang Government Orphanage is included as one of the places where people work "hands-on" to help the children. (The orphanage web site is www.lao-kids.org)

Have a look at www.grasshopperadventures.com/tour-KJLV08.php for details and help improve the lives of local Lao people.

marrakchi: ryad dar najat!great accomodations in marrakesh!

Sun, 25 May 2008 11:22:22 GMT

if you'relooking for a romantic get away with great team and fantastic decoration,you found the place!!!!!dar najat is may be the coolest ryad in marrakesh!
wifi&air conditioning&jacuzzi on roof which is definitly the greatest spot in the medina for a drinck with great music!
hightly recommand and i can tell i do know marrakesh as i'm living in the medina since twenty years!
for great fun,reach dar najat,you won't regret!
sincerly yours,"marrakchi"![http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2488785245_a32c6620c1_m.jpg]http://www.dar-najat.com

colinbrichards: Cotlands Orphanage - the work keeps going!

Wed, 21 May 2008 12:02:29 GMT

I am recently back from a great trip in South Africa, having spent 6 days in Durban and a day or so in Jo'burg. Every time I go back, it reminds me of how beautiful the country really is and so diverse in what it has to offer.

But the pleasing finale to my trip was to get back and visit Cotlands once again and to hear about all of the hard work that Jackie and her team continue to do tirelessly. It really gives a sense of warmth to see the efforts that are given to projects like these.

The orphanage itself is just a small element of what Cotlands does on a day to day basis, with much of their work focused on community projects where kids are supported by Cotlands to stay in their home community with their extended families, rather than being taken into the orphanage. In addition to this, many other projects are supported including those focused on nutrition and HIV.

I sat in and watched some of the nursery teaching for a while and it was such a treat to see the energy produced from about 20 kids aged 2-5 years old. Some of them proudly wearing a sticker on their forehead, a prize from the teacher for being good! There are twin boys aged about 3 and a half, one brother had a sticker.......and one didn't...you can imagine the sibling rivalry at lunchtime!

After lunch all the kids hit the playground climbing frames or trampolines, one little boy struggling to hold up his baggy trousers whilst bouncing full on. Apparently they have a mad 20 minutes before their afternoon nap. I tried to help wear out a few of them by throwing them around and hanging them upside down (always good after lunch), but there was only one person that tired.....me of course!

Sadly I finally left, but with good memories of the kids and their smiles. I look forward to going back to South Africa and Cotlands again later this year, but I will keep a regular post going in my blog of any news in the meantime.

If you are interested to find out more about their work then click Cotlands to read more or contact them directly through their web page.

blackzitoun: coolest ryad in marrakesh,dar najat by black zitoun

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:57:51 GMT

Dar Najat is a beautiful cosy riad located in the heart of the medina in Marrakech, just 5 minutes' walk from the famous square, Jema El Fna, which makes it an ideal place to stay! The owner and his team are clearly dedicated to making their guests feel at ease and create an environment full of fun but also very relaxing.

The rooms are clean (I stayed there a few times and have never been disappointed), comfortable and quiet, ideal after a busy day in the souks! Olivier is available most of the day to give you tips and organise a guided tour of Marrakech if you would like one. I also loved the fact that there is an outdoor jacuzzi on the terrace where you can enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice or a mint tea (the berber whisky! Yummmmy!). Breakfast is delicious and served by the smiley and friendly staff who are always there to help and make sure you get the best!

Forgot to mention dinner is also available on request and Souad, the chef, is a gem in terms of cooking! I definitely recommend the riad for any kind of travellers - young, older, married or single you will just have an unforgettable experience at Dar Najat. Thank you again, I'm coming back soon and with friends this time![http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2489581644_d506822957_m.jpg][/http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2488785077_67ca8c5d7a_m.jpg][http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2488784691_55e420cd7c_m.jpg][/http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2488747547_2f89fc2872_m.jpg][http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/2481880573_9223f91868_m.jpg]

blackzitoun: Riad Dar Najat by black zitoun

Sat, 17 May 2008 06:41:05 GMT

Riad Marrakech, Dar Najat.

" The coolest riad in Marrakech..! "
The riad Marrakech Dar Najat is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.
The guest house Marrakech is also very well located in the old center to get the real feel of traditional Morocco..!
Very welcoming riad Marrakech, Dar Najat provided a true sanctuary away from the energetic vibes of Marrakech.

The riad Marrakech is cool and quiet and all the staff is very friendly, it's a relaxing place with a great atmosphere!
The riad Marrakech, Dar Najat is located in the center of the medina of Marrakech within five minutes walk from big square.

The calm and the serenity of riad Marrakech, Dar Najat gives you a sense of peace and tranquility.
After having discovered the multiple visual treasures of the medina of Marrakech through an abundance of colors, craftsmen of any horizon and architectural treasures in improbable lanes, you'll find all the heat of the team of riad Marrakech, Dar Najat.

The guest house Marrakech with Souad, Hind, Kbira, Amine and Olivier will do their Best to make your stay in riad Marrakech a perfect success hospitality, user friendliness and intimacy are the reflection of this riad Marrakech completely rehabilitated with refinement and romantics. Around the terrace of riad Marrakech Dar Najat, you'll spend long moments surrounded by a floor of roses and attentions of every moments without forgetting an eastern gastronomy full of colors and dietetic benefic cooked by Souad and Hind, our very dynamic cooker!

The panoramic sight of all the medina of Marrakech will fill with wonders by one to lay down sun, festival of colors and the living room "Africa" perched on the terrace will be certainly the Best place of in love guess..!
Let's not forget an appreciated collection of music from all horizon..

The heating Jacuzzi on the roof of the riad Marrakech, Dar Najat, will erase the steps and other efforts of the day for the courageous ones!

This riad Marrakech, Dar Najat, is a place of meetings, poetry and in addition with the statements of all, the team of the guest house Marrakech is rather funny..!

The audio visual equipment of the riad Marrakech, Dar Najat, will be precious for travelers who need to be connected!
The environment of the guest house Marrakech is an invitation for travel and pleasure for the eyes..
Riad Marrakech, Dar Najat, not to be missed for unforgettable holidays!

The ryad Dar Najat is an active member of (AMHMS) guest houses association of Marrakech and South
classified by the authorities of Marrakech.

The riad Marrakech Dar Najat is a precious little gem in the middle of the busy Medina of Marrakech; nicely decorated rooms with a lovely roof Garden where you can sit in the evening, relaxing and chatting with the other guests about your experiences of the day.

If you are looking for the hospitality, great food, few house rules and the personal welcome of being in someone’s lovingly restored guest house Marrakech in the old Medina, then this is certainly the place!

Anything that you need is never too much trouble for Oliver and the staff and after some long hours getting lost in the Souks, it is a very welcome oasis to return to riad Marrakech Dar Najat to listen to some great tunes on the roof terrace, drink some wine or mint tea, chat to the owners and other guests and generally chill out.

The decor of the Riad Marrakech, Dar Najat is gorgeous, it having had the careful attention of the French owner who is an interior decorator. He and his Moroccan wife are very welcoming and one feels part of a family. There are beautiful plants that blend with the exquisite tiles of the old building and the beds and seating is very comfy with plenty of spaces to chill out, even a Jacuzzi on the top roof terrace. Breakfast is a sumptuous affair - much more than one usually gets in Africa, the price is fair for the comfort and ambiance and trips can be arranged in the guest house Marrakech, Dar Najat.

Riad Marrakech, Dar Najat Completely rehabilitated after one year and half of work,

The riad Marrakech, Dar Najat offers another glance to you on Marrakech.

Reversible integral
Air-conditioning in all the rooms of riad Marrakech, Dar Najat.
Jacuzzi King Size heating on the terrace of the guest house Marrakech, Dar Najat.
Access car fifteen meters from the riad Marrakech, Dar Najat.
Contiguous protected car park
Audio-video of qualities Work Center
Internet WIFI in all the riad Marrakech, Dar Najat.
ACCOMODATION MARRAKECH, into Dar Najat "The coolest riad in Marrakech"
The gastronomy is also one of the strong points of the riad Marrakech with Souad and Hind, our very dynamic cooker which will prepare succulent dishes of which it has the secrecy, treasures of dietetic benefits faithful to the idea that in the East, the ways of the belly carry out in the middle….!

The riad Marrakech, Dar Najat is at the same time a place favorable with the meeting and with the exchange and the riad Marrakech Dar Najat flatters itself to transform his friends customers into ambassadors of the guest house Marrakech of share the quality of the reception, the services, and this impression quite particular to riad Marrakech, Dar Najat to be transported far from the obsolete considerations of the town life and to be finally in harmony.

Breakfast in riad Marrakech, Dar Najat is a wonderful selection of fresh fruit, fresh bread, croissants, pastries, pancakes and eggs, served with freshly-squeezed orange juice and fantastic coffee.

"The riad Marrakech, Dar Najat has the feel of a close friend who has invited you to stay for the weekend. With dynamite breakfasts, quality service, and in French owner Olivier, one of the friendliest and most helpful hosts you are ever likely to meet. A chilled-out corner of paradise in an exotic and exciting city»

coolest ryad in marrakesh

Carlwelsby: New Holidays in SE Asia and Europe

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:58:22 GMT

Addictedtotravel.com continues to build its portfolio of amazing travel opportunities with a vast range of exciting trips around the world with new additions daily. No matter what type of experience you seek the site has something for you with some of the biggest names in adventure travel, along with other hand-picked experts.

Nowhere illustrates this better than our recent tie up with Intrepid Travel and World Expeditions – two of the world’s best known small-group adventure tour operators. Read all about WE’s Brad Atwals’ description of travel in India here – a passion for the country that rivals my own!

Our India Travel Guide lists several of their exciting holidays in India, with many more to come.

Intrepid’s reputation of giving the traveller a second-to-none travel experience is well-known and can be seen from their selection of tours in our Travel Guide to Thailand. And if you fancy going it alone on a tailor made tour then check out their independent traveller arm, Intrepid Thailand who now showcase 10 holidays to Thailand that you can take as is or adapt to suit your own needs.

Over in the Travel Guide to Italy we are pleased to welcome aboard the Hotel Prategiano and Geofirias, two great local operators that provide hands on expertise in their respective fields.

The Hotel Prategiano has been around for many years supplying what are widely regarded as some of the best horseback holidays in Tuscany. To this they also offer a range of self-guided walking holidays in Tuscany.

Geofirias is a small, family-owned company with a love of culture and fine food, translating into superb cooking holidays in Tuscany. Based in some exceptional properties discerning travellers with a penchant for fine food and culture will be able to choose one of their three superb trips. Watch out as later this week we’ll be featuring some of Geofirias’ self-drive holidays in Tuscany.

Check out these pages and be inspired!

worldexp: India - 30 years of the real thing

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:55:57 GMT

there is simply no other place on earth like india. it gets under your skin - if you let it. travelling there is simply not every ones cup of tea but if you leave your watch at home, don't mind being around many, many other people, are open to change and have a true spirit of adventure it's the perfect destination. you can travel there for a lifetime and you'll never see enough.

to get started many people like to visit rajasthan. 'raja' means king and 'sthan' means land of - this state truly is the land of the kings. from jaisalmer in the west to Agra (just over the border in Uttar Pradesh) you can follow the Mughal legacy across the deserts to discover the most colourful people in a mostly barren environment.

the best way to experience it is as the locals do. riding a camel in the thar desert or experiencing the backroads at handlebar level on a bicycle provides you a way to slow down and take in sights others whizz past. but don't just try the stock standard tours. nowadays every man and his dog is providing an 'adventure' trip. if you really want to get away from the crowds (not easy in india, but by this i mean the travel crowds) then you need to give yourself some extra time and spend a little more so you can take in a true experience.

ever since my dad first took me to stay in our home village as a kid i've seen india as one huge country of interconnected villages. to travel these village roads, rather than the main roads, was always where the action was - it was the real india. when i first experienced our north india adventure i was so impressed to see how these trips offer western travellers the chance to experience the india that i did. the camel trekking will take you to parts of the thar desert where you will see no one and the bike ride will take you along backroads, albeit bumpy roads, where local kids have never seen white people. expect them to stand near your tents as you unpack - its all part of the experience!

world expeditions are true adventure experts. no one can match our itineraries or experience in india. we've 30 years experience - in fact, this year is the 30th birthday of our rajasthan cycle trip - in india. we own our operation there and we have an office in london, throughout australia, auckland and in ottawa and montreal to answer your questins personally. you cannot put a value on this experience and if you appreciate quality you'll appreciate the thought gone into our trips.

travelling responsibly comes naturally to us. our india operations have been run by the same two indian adventure experts for 30 years and they pay our guides and crew an above average wage (that's why they keep working for us!). we use the same camel handlers each season (you'll even visit their village on the camel trek) and with their support we've established community projects for the past couple of years. we use private buses for your safety (we know the quality of the buses used and the drivers) and to avoid the problem of travellers taking up seats locals should be having (not a problem just in india) which subsequently increases costs for locals as the bus companies realise they'll make more from travellers than locals.

enquire about one of our india tours today. we'd be happy to help you choose the right india tour and take the time to advise how your experience can benefit from ours...

happy travels -

brad

Carlwelsby: Burma Disaster

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:51:13 GMT

Long before the cyclone of last week struck Burma was in trouble. Ruled by a military junta for 20 years, with reports of forced labour and human rights abuses and democracy as we know it a far-off dream it has always been a controversial travel destination.

Many tour operators avoid featuring the destination in their brochures for fear of being accused of indirectly assisting the regime; others put forward excellent arguments for including it, claiming with some justification that increasingly money is going directly into the pockets of local people and travellers come back enthused with assisting the Free Burma campaign. Whatever the rights and wrongs it's an incredible destination and one that has much to offer the traveller.

The recent cyclone, it's handling by the regime and ongoing furore over the unwillingness of the junta to grant travel documents to relief workers may be a much-needed catalyst for change, building on the discontent shown by monks in recent months, or it may be that change fails to take place. What is certain is that, for many, the immediate priority is simply surviving.

One way we can all assist is by making a contribution via the Disasters Emergency Comittee - click here to visit their website.

I am sure that I speak for many when I say that our thoughts are with the survivors of the cyclone. Personally, and this is a personal thought, I hope that when this period is over the world takes a good look at itself and asks why no peaceful action is taken to bring about changes in Burma.

Cheers

Carl

greg34: World's Durian Festival 2008

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:56:54 GMT

This was first published at http://www.thailandholidayhomes.co.uk
Dates: 1st May – 30th June 2008
Venue: Mueang District, Chanthaburi
Held at a time of the year when the fruit crops are at their best, visitors can enjoy a great range of succulent fruit that have been grown in Thailand’s eastern provinces which have collectively earned the nickname as the 'fruit bowl of Thailand'.
The annual Chanthaburi Fruit Festival held at the Chanthaburi Sports Stadium offers a fantastic selection of fruits to try with favourites including sweet rambutans, pomelos and the unusual durian fruit. There are prizes for such things as the best fruit display and the best tasting fruit and there is a full entertainment programme on offer too.
Chanthaburi is the durian capital of the world in terms of production, with the largest concentration of durian orchards on the planet — over 137,000 hectares, producing about half of Thailand's entire durian crop.
Each year at harvest time Chanthaburi town has a colorful 10-day fruit fair and celebration at the time of peak fruit harvest season. There are traditional fruit competitions among farmers, arts and crafts displays, entertainers, sporting events, a temporary marketplace of all kinds of things (including of course much fine tropical fruit), and much more, but the highlight - is always the fantastic parade on the opening morning.

Carlwelsby: Welcome to Intrepid!

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:57:47 GMT

Are you searching for that dream-trip around South East Asia where you can join a bunch of like-minded individuals who are up for a laugh and yet see the sites without trampling all over the culture you're there to experience? Looking for a company that understands you need your own space to chill as well as to see the sites? Then check out the trips that Intrepid are offering.

We are proud to have joined forces with Intrepid, one of the world's largest and yet most responsible small-group tour operators. Operating a worldwide program of small-group adventure holidays the emphasis is on showing you the destination as it really is.

Travelling by local transport and staying in a huge variety of different accommodation types has made Intrepid one of the leaders in what they do. Always big on value and responsible travel we will be profiling dozens of their trips all over the world in coming weeks, and we kick off with a couple of classics!

The Reunification Express is an amazing north/south journey through Vietnam - big on highlights, plenty of free time and showing you all the bits in between. You'll make new mates and have fun as you link Hanoi with Saigon.

The Great Indochina Loop is a 29-day extravaganza that takes you from Bangkok and Chiang Mai into Laos (check out amazing Luang Prabang) and Vietnam before heading into Cambodia for a few nights in Siem Reap - home of Angkor Wat. If its an adventure of a lifetime you want, this might just be it!

Keep coming back to the Intrepid pages and check out what they have to offer!

colinbrichards: Competition winner!

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:41:21 GMT

Congratulations from the addictedtotravel.com team to Heatherjeane for winning the 8-day 'Moroccan Sahara Escape' competition. I’m sure you will join us in wishing her a fantastic time on the trip and look forward to reading about her 'Moroccan Sahara Escape' in our blog section.

The good news for all others is that we are currently running another competition, this time to win a fabulous 9-day trip for 2, from Darwin to Alice Springs, in association with expert local operator, Adventure Tours Australia.

If you would like to enter then simply click on 'win a 9-day trip from Darwin to Alice Springs' and follow the instructions.

If you are already a member, then all you need to do is login after following this link and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. If you are not yet a member, it will take less than 2 minutes to register for free and you will then be entered into the draw!

The competition ends on 30 June 2008, so make sure you enter to win!

Good luck from the addictedtotravel.com team

Carlwelsby: Walking holidays in France

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:59:13 GMT

Heading down to France this summer and don't really know what to do? Know you want to see some amazing scenery but don't know whether you fancy rambling or biking, rafting or via ferrata? Then check out the ever-increasing Travel Guide to France. We've just launched the first of our holidays in France starting with 4 trips walking in Provence, with Francetrek. To follow this will be some of Sally Jackson's activities in the southern Alps - Sally runs Undiscovered Alps and has a great range of summer and winter holiday ideas in the Alps.

There's bound to be something here for all as we move forward.

Au revoir!

africanick: Cairo to Cape Self-drive Expedition

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:38:08 GMT

Welcome to addictedtotravel.com to Africa Expedition Support, an innovative overland-focused Travel Expert based in Nairobi. If you have ever fancied driving a 4x4 yourself 'the long way down', and can spare £9,500, then take a look at the fantastic journey of a lifetime they are offering - Aqaba to Cairo to Cape Town, self-drive, but with the support of a back-up team, and traversing 12 countries.

"Covering over 500,000 km in Africa since 1999 we have certainly seen and experienced more than most have in a lifetime. Specializing in Trans Africa expeditions (UK to Cape and Cairo to Cape) gave us a greater understanding of just how big and diverse the African continent truly is. In 2006 we decided it was time to establish our base in East Africa, the hub of safari country. Choosing to stay a small, personalized company means every request is handled by a team of people who know and share a passion for Africa. Africa Expedition Support was born"

africanick: H.E.L.P Travel Association - Senegal

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:21:02 GMT

We are delighted to welcome new travel expert member, H.E.L.P. Travel, to our community. H.E.L.P Travel is a non-profit association whose main goal is to promote tourism-related sustainable activities, aiming to bring solidarity and aid to the populations visited by our itineraries.

"Our trips are the result of a unique blend of discovery, excursions and Community Development Projects: conceived according to the ethic of a profound respect towards the environment and the populations, constantly in deep tune with Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Development norms and guidelines." H.E.L.P Travel operate in the stunning Casamance region of Southern Senegal.

Senegal is one of West Africa's most exciting and varied destinations. Our Senegal travel guide is now fully complete, detailing over 20 Great Places to Visit and over 50 photographs of Senegal.

robiecvf: Visit Peru Tours

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:33:04 GMT

Well I recommend you Peru it is a nice place with great tourism attractions, landscapes, food, historic places like Machu Picchu, other of the most important places to visit are the ruins and ceremonial places like Ollantaytambo, Pisac but the most beautiful place is Machu Picchu, etc. The food in Peru is amazing, one of the most beautiful things during the trip is the people which is very polite and helpful. I would love to recommend this country you can know big part of South America in only one country.

visit the web page is the best.

robiecvf: Visit Peru

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:32:29 GMT

colinbrichards: Faroe Islands - active, adventure and wildlife

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:42:38 GMT

I have just returned from 4 days in the Faroe Islands and I have left with very fond memories of the place and the people.

Coming into land in the Avro RJ100 (seats only 97 people), we broke through the cloud cover to a fantastic opening view of the rugged coastline of Vaga and some of the other Islands. A good landing given the cross winds! After landing, I was off the plane, picked up my luggage and through customs within 10 minutes - don't you love those small airports!

We set off for the drive from Vaga to Torshavn, which took about 45 minutes and passed through some stunning scenery, even despite the somewhat foggy and grey weather. Torshavn is the 'city' with 18,000 of the total 48,000 population of the Islands, but as you can imagine with that size it is relaxed and friendly, with an array of shops, cafes and bars.

I stayed at Hotel Foroyar, which is located high on the hills overlooking the town and the ocean. A good location for a walk into town, although the walk back does get the lungs going!

I managed to visit 4 of the 18 Islands during my brief stay, with the remoteness of Koltur being my favourite, being 2.5 square km's and with only 2 inhabitants - well worth visiting.

The Islands are just wonderful for walking, although you need to be a bit careful due to the very changeable weather patterns. The towns are interesting with some traditional houses with grass roofs, but once you are out of the towns the scenery offered at each step is super, whether it is hills, lakes or ocean. I am not much of an expert on birdlife, but even a novice can enjoy the various birdlife whilst out walking.

After the walk on day 2, I fancied a bit more activity, so quad biking was in order. The trip lasted 3 hours and followed the farmers tracks through the countryside and mountains/hills. Some plunging valleys only a few metres off the track keep your mind focused. We rose to about 600 metres above sea level, then walked up to one of the peaks at about 680 metres to get amazing 360 degree views of the surroundings. A quick change of weather saw us walking back down in horizontal hale stones and then continuing our ride back a little soggy in places - nice!

On returning to town I tucked into a good portion of lamb, potatoes and veg, one of the Faroese specialities......plus a couple of beers, of course! A local pub makes for good entertainment as the locals spring into song without too much encouragement.

I am certainly planning on going back, as would like to visit and spend some time on the other Islands as well as getting out for some ocean adventures and fishing too. Thanks to the Faroese for a great trip!

Stuart: Luxury Cruises in the Amazon

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:32:57 GMT

Once upon a time, the source of the Amazon in deepest Peru was a legendary goal of great explorers, who pitted their wits against unknown perils, hostile tribes, heat, rain and disease, to sail from the Atlantic, though untamed Amazonia, to seek out the true source of what is perhaps the World's greatest river.

Today a visit to the upper reaches of the Amazon remains pioneering, but demands significantly less discomfort.

Aqua Expeditions’ offerings on addictedtotravel.com are perhaps the most enticing offer yet, as they are the first company to offer luxury cruising in Peru’s Northern Amazon. Their brand new boat, MV Aqua,was built specifically to cruise Amazonian waters and follows some of the best traditions of Nature Cruises in the Galapagos Islands,by blending high levels of comfort with outstanding Naturalist Guides, fascinating excursions and a creative itinerary which covers one week, or can be split into two shorter 3 or 4-night itineraries.

Click on the following links to read all about Cruises in the Amazon with Aqua Expeditions:

Aqua Amazon Discovery - 3 Night Amazon Cruise

Aqua Amazon Discovery - 4 Night Amazon Cruise

Aqua Amazon Discovery - 7 Night Amazon Cruise

If you are interested in this trip, it would make the perfect combination with a visit to pther areas of Peru , such as a visit to Machu Picchu, the Nasca Lines, or Lake Titicaca.

africanick: New Cook Islands Travel Guide

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:46:06 GMT

Adventure holidays in the Cook Islands abound. With mountains, beaches and the Pacific Ocean to explore, a multitude of adventure activities can be enjoyed on a Cook Island holiday. Enjoy scuba diving in the Cook Islands, snorkelling, hiking or simply relaxing in a hammock under the shade of a palm tree.

We have just launched our Cook Islands Travel Guide featuring detailed background information and essential travel information on the Cook Islands as well as:

16 Great Places to Visit in the Cook Islands.

6 Local Attractions across the Cook Islands.

We will continue to build on this adding many more exciting holidays, trips, tours, activities and hotels in the coming months. We'll keep you posted.

Nick

Carlwelsby: Travel Guide to amazing Syria now live.

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:46:48 GMT

Put simply, Syria is much misunderstood. In reality, the Syrian people are some of the friendliest, most generous people that you’ll find. They live in a country which overflows with riches of all kinds, from amazing medieval cities complete with bazaars lit by shafts of light, to great fortresses, romantic desert cities, wild mountain areas and wonderful food.

Syria has been launched as ever with a main travel guide to Syria. With such a large country, we’ve created 4 regional travel guides to Syria.

The travel guide to Damascus describes the sights of the capital, with a focus on the main attractions of Damascus such as the Azem Palace, Ummayed Mosque and Hamadiyeh Souk: head to this section too as we eventually discover Bosra and its magnificent theatre.

The travel guide to Palmyra takes us to Zenobia’s romantic desert capital, Palmyra, where you’ll be able to read about the Valley of the Tombs, the Temple of Bel and the artefacts in Palmyra Museum, whilst heading to the coast the travel guide to the Mediterranean Coast will reveal a string of fortresses both Arab and Crusader, such as the unbelievable Krak des Chevalier and Saladin’s Castle, along with historical sites such as Apamea.

Lastly but not least we’ve created the travel guide to Aleppo to showcase some of the wonders of this city of winding backstreets, atmospheric souks and a magnificent Citadel, just some of the sights to see before the traveller heads to the Dead Cities and St Simeon’s Basilica.

Come back to the Syria pages as we’ve just got started in its development – the above are just some of the places to visit in Syria – even more places of interest and attractions together with Travel Experts will be added over the next few days

africanick: Springtime in Marrakech

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:21:37 GMT

I'm just sat in the classic old colonial Cafe de la Poste - one of the original old buildings located on Avenue Mohamed V - outside of Marrakech's famous medina. This is a great spot to spend a productive afternoon working on addictedtotravel. Free hi-speed wifi access, excellent and attentive service, ceiling fans, comfy sofas....

I'm a regular visitor to Marrakech - every 2 or 3 weeks on average - and the city has grown on me to become my favourite city in the world. I keep asking myself why that is - after travelling to many many great cities over the past 20 years? For me, Marrakech is more than just bustle of Djemaa el Fna, the souks, the ancient monuments and palaces... I rarely set foot in the classic attractions nowadays, spending my time instead in various meetings, with architects, builders and banks.

Marrakech is a great 'lifestyle' city and here's why?

- The climate is unbeatable and so close to Europe (just over 3 hours flight time from UK).
- Great mix of people here. Berber, Arabs, French and a growing band of expat Brits.
- Growing choice of cuisine. Thai has taken hold. French a firm favourite. Fusion is a keyword here.
- Plenty of things to do. Atlas mountains only an hour away. Skiing, summer walking, biking, ballooning, helicopter flips, camels and quad-bikes. Sahara a day's drive away and Atlantic coast 3 hours....

April is springtime in Marrakech - and the blossoms are absolutely stunning - every colour imaginable. What a display. Early morning birdsong is a great wake-up call!

Cheers to Marrakech - no wonder it is so popular!

Carlwelsby: France Travel Guide goes live!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:31:34 GMT

Hi all,

The worlds most visited destination, France is nevertheless a country to lose oneself in. From the wonders of Paris in the north to the Cote d'Azur in the south, Brittany, Normandy and the Loire Valley and everything in between, there's just SO much to see! With such a huge destination we’ve launched this great country with our main travel guide to France which we've further broken down into a South France Travel Guide and Western France Travel Guide.

The eastern region encompasses greats such as the Alps – Savoie, Haute Savoie and Haute Alpes, as well as the travellers’ favourite of Provence and many other great places to visit in eastern France. This region provides opportunities to walk classic trails such as the Tour du Mont Blanc , discover Ecrin National Park and the stunning Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys with Undiscovered Alps and walk and cycle through lavender fields before relaxing in local gites and enjoying Provencal food.

The centre/south-west of France leads us from the heights of the Auvergne down to the Dordogne River valley where there are great chateaux and medieval villages to discover on foot and by bike. You can take a boat journey on the Dordogne itself and explore sites such as Rocamadour and Padirac Caves. Head southwest from here to the Pyrenees and you’ll discover a region of Cathar castles, walks and rides that range from easy to challenging and views to die for. These are just some of the great places to visit in the south of France.

Keep visiting these pages to see what’s new as new Places of Interest, Attractions and Travel Experts are added daily.

Enjoy exploring!

Carl

colinbrichards: Faroe Islands - an Island Adventure

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:36:33 GMT

Well I am off to the Faroe Islands tomorrow for 4 days - partly work and partly pleasure. It will be a new destination for me and having seen some of the stunning photos of the Islands I really cant wait. Especially since the trip includes a day on quad bikes up in the high mountains of Vestmanna (I know....I should be walking, but hey the bikes look great fun!).

We are currently developing the Faroe Islands Travel Guide for the site, so I did a bit of surfing on the net and found a couple of interesting facts.

In 2007, the National Geographic Traveller voted the Faroe Islands the number 1 Island community in the world. Situated in the heart of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, Faroe Islands lie northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. The archipelago is composed of 18 islands covering 1399 km2, roughly in the shape of an arrowhead. There are 1100 km (687 miles) of coastline and at no time is one more than 5 km (3 miles) away from the ocean - still a bit far to swim for me though!

The average temperature ranges from 3°C in winter to 11°C in the summer - can they really call that summer? Right, extra sweaters and a hat for me!

I will write a post on my return to let you know my thoughts on the Island Experience, but with the local churches, houses and mountains to view and the birdwatching, angling, sea adventures and walking to do.....I think I'm in for a good time.

Carlwelsby: Southern Tuscany – a Feast for the Eyes

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:06:45 GMT

Hi all,

Well, I’m back at my desk after my trip to Tuscany and the Bay of Naples – oh well…

The last leg of my journey involved another unfeasibly early start at 05:15 for the 05:37 Circumvesuviana to Naples. From there I headed up to Rome and changed to catch a regional train to Chiusi. I arrived and was met by Giuliana of Cicloposse, now the latest addition to the addictedtotravel.com stable of Travel Experts.

Sat in the van reading all about Mr Berlusconi’s latest victory was Giuliana’s husband, Marco. These two were ex-TV executives who were mad about biking and made the move from Milan to Tuscany simply to follow a dream – to provide the best cycling trips in Italy.

The drive to Pienza, their home town, took 40 minutes as we went the scenic way, and I was quite simply blown away by what I saw. This is the rolling landscape that the locals call a green sea – wave after wave of low hills, each one topped by a villa and rows of cypress trees delineating the lanes. Truly beautiful and made me swear to return when I had time to explore at leisure.

We spent some time talking business – Cicloposse were perfect for what we want to do, arranging self-guided bike rides and walks throughout southern Tuscany and into Umbria. Both are Giuliana and Marco are perfectionists with hand produced route notes being produced and the very best bikes (costing an amazing E3000 each) for use by their clients.

We went for lunch in a nearby ristorante and then it was time to catch the train back to Pisa. Marco gave me a lift and in my haste not to miss the train I caught hold of a bike inner tube that was on the back seat when grabbing my fleece. I didn’t realise till he’d gone so that’s something to mail to him.

Check in at Pisa the next morning and an hour and a half later I was in Bristol and the pouring rain.

This has been a really great trip – one of my most rewarding. I’ve met some great people and we should have some superb new trips and activities on offer in Italy soon, so keep an eye on the Travel Guide to each region and the Trips and Tours section for up and coming adventures in Italy.

Cheers

Carl

africanick: Ecotourism Australia Wins Global Award

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:43:09 GMT

Addictedtotravel.com partner, Ecotourism Australia, was awarded the prestigious World Travel and Tourism Council “Tourism for Tomorrow” Award for Conservation at the World Tourism Summit in Dubai early this morning Australian time.

Ecotourism Australia ranked above strong contenders from around the globe to take top place in the Conservation Category awarded to a business, organisation or attraction that has made a significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural heritage.

After receiving the award in Dubai, Ecotourism Australia’s Chief Executive Stephen Pahl said the award was a wonderful recognition of the pioneering work done in Australia by Ecotourism Australia and its members who are committed to a vision of sustainable tourism and a Green travel industry.

“As the world wakes up to climate change, I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of everyone in the Australian ecotourism industry who has worked so hard over the last 17 years to conserve our natural heritage for the enjoyment of today’s visitors and tomorrow’s generations.

“Ecotourism Australia’s Chairman, Mr Alastair McCracken, said the comprehensive ECO Certification program was a world first when it was introduced in 1995 and the Australian ecotourism industry can be proud of the way it embraced this initiative with its many stringently audited criteria to ensure environmental, economic and cultural sustainability.”

“This program is now an inspiration worldwide as governments and tourism operators seek to measure and manage the environmental impact of human activity,” Mr McCracken said.

Continuing to show the foresight that helped it win the Tourism for Tomorrow Award, Ecotourism Australia is nearing completion of an innovative Climate Change module for its certification program. This will also be available as a stand-alone module for the broader Australian tourism industry.

Mr McCracken said that while most ecotourism operators have been passionate forerunners, inspired by the area where they live and work, it is now time to hand the baton to the mainstream tourism industry and ask that everyone assesses the impact of their operations on the natural environment, the climate and local culture.

“The tourism industry will be a big loser from climate change and mainstream tourism operators must play their part in the solution,” Mr McCracken said.

“The winners will be the future visitors to Australia if we can continue to give them a rich and authentic experience of Australia’s magnificent natural heritage.”

The ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ Awards are run by the World Travel & Tourism Council. The 2008 Awards were presented at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Dubai on 21 April.

Ecotourism Australia is the peak national body for the ecotourism industry in Australia. It aims to grow and promote ecotourism and to assist tourism operators to become environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially and culturally responsible.

It is a non-profit organisation with membership that includes tour operators, ecotourism accommodation, tourism planners, protected area managers, academics and students, regional tourism associations and travellers.

Ecotourism Australia’s certification program is a world first. It provides objective monitoring and auditing of organisations’ ecotourism claims and provides travel agents and tourists with an assurance of best practice ecological sustainability, natural area management and quality ecotourism experiences.

Carlwelsby: Sorrento – Sassy and Classy

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:46:44 GMT

Hi all,

Well, with a day or two without internet connection I haven’t been able to blog what I’m up to, but here goes.

After an unfeasibly early start I caught the Italian Eurostar south to Roma Termini and, being a couple of minutes late I had to run for my connection to Napoli, just making it. Euro55 for Florence/Naples – not a bad price and very comfy.

Arriving at Piazza Garibaldi I made the 10 minute walk to the Circumvesviana, a track with several lines to various parts of suburban Naples. It took an hour to reach Sorrento, travelling in the sun, beneath Vesuvius and past grove after grove of orange and lemon trees.

Arriving in Sorrento I walked the short distance to the hotel, making a mental note to try and visit the nearby Correale Museum. The weather was amazing (it’s different today) and I spent a few minutes exploring the centre on foot.

Piazza Tasso harks back to the time when Sorrento was a must-visit stop on the Grand Tour of Europe and has an exclusive feel about it. The renowned Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, the towns best hotel, deserving every one of its 5*s. The views over the Bay of Naples are spectacular!

Meeting’s followed but I did have a chance to wander the older part of town at night and came across a wonderful church open to the elements and with a fantastic example of trompe d’oeil – see photo and had a nice lasagne.

Today has been a work day again, so meetings and work here on the PC, before I head off tomorrow at 05:30 for the journey back to Pisa visa Pienze. I’ve met up with some old friends, made some knew ones (stand by for some great walking, kayaking and rafting itineraries, as well as cultural gems coming onto the site soon!).

Sorrento is not a cheap place – a beer is E5 and a meal even in a small local restaurant will set you back around E22, but you know, it’s worth it. The town is a delight and, as with the hotel, deserves its reputation.

If this has piqued your interest check out the Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius pages here.

Ciao

Carl

Carlwelsby: A day out in Siena

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:39:40 GMT

Hi all,

Today was rainy. And, being forgetful, I’d no umbrella. You don’t expect Tuscany to be rainy but today was and yet couldn’t dampen what was a rewarding day.

I had the pleasure to meet with some people who have a passion for what they do and we discussed a little business before I had to shoot off to Siena, home of the Palio!

The Siena Rapida bus costs just E6.50 each way from Florence, a journey of around 1hr 10 minutes. On the way are tantalising views of the Tuscany of ones minds eye, villages atop hills, vineyards and cypress trees… Alas no time - another visit is a must.

On arrival I spent a couple of hours discussing with Daniela, was treated to an espresso (they have two machines in an office 15’ square and they don’t see that as a problem…) and then was taken for a whistle-stop tour of the city centre.

It was raining. Heavily and the streets were slippery as we made our way to the Piazza del Campo where the horse race known as the Palio takes place. Private residences are rented out and the shops and restaurants that surround the piazza are protected as the horses gallop with their riders around the slippery flagged streets. It sounds like a spectacular but dangerous business.

We walked on to the Duomo, swathed in scaffolding and yet clearly a masterpiece of design. The carving on the façade is wonderful. We also popped into the Santa Maria de la Scala, a one time hospital with several attached chapels. The main place of worship has a beautifully frescoed nave.

The bus beckoned and I headed home to Florence. Tomorrow I head south on the train to Naples, changing in Rome, then take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento and more meetings…

Why not review the Tuscany Travel Guide for more on the region, checking out the Great Places to Visit section.

Stuart: Travelling in Guatemala

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:39:07 GMT

I have just got back from a short trip to Guatemala, where I met up with some excellent local travel specialists who offer a range of exciting trips and tours throughout this fascinating country in the heart of Central America.

While I was there I saw some incredible local markets, filled with life and colour; beautiful landscapes, such as the clear blue Lake Atitlan; mystic Mayan ruins and burning embers from where shamen had performed traditional rituals; I also did a short but unforgettable Pacaya Volcano hike.

You can find out more about many of these places and experiences in the Guatemala Travel Guide, which is now live and I'll also add some blogs about these experiences soon.

Here's a little more about the Guatemala Travel Guide:

• 5 Regions to visit in Guatemala – form the Pacific to the Highlands to the Caribbean.

• 20 Places of Interest in Guatemala – including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, colonial cities, mountains, jungle and Mayan ruins.

• 55 Attractions across Guatemala – including local markets, museums, tiny villages and little-visited secrets.

• We have well over 100 great photos of Guatemala to help set the scene, but please do let us know if you have any better images you’d like to add!

The first of our Travel Experts in Guatemala, ViaVenture, is an excellent tour operator based in Antigua. ViaVenture offer a wide range of outstanding activities in Guatemala, as well as trips and tours throughout Guatemala. Many of these will be added to the website over the coming few weeks.

Please feel free to look through the Guatemala Travel Guide, let me know if you’ve any thoughts – and if you’ve been there, please add your reviews!

Thanks
Stuart

richj75: Trekking in Jebel Saghro, Morocco

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:25:42 GMT

Well it's been just over 2 weeks since I returned from a fantastic week's trekking in the Jebel Saghro region of Morocco. Being back at work really isn't quite the same!

I travelled with Olly and Danny, two guys from this site and we had a great time. Marrakech itself is a vibrant and interesting city, such a contrast between the European restaurants/shops and hotels in the Gueliz area compared to the Medina and Place Jemaa El Fna where you seem to jump back in time.

Anyhow, for someone like me who is into the outdoors it was great to escape to the ‘wilderness’. A good vehicle took us out to the start of our trek and Mohammed our guide (they all seemed to be called Mohammed) was excellent, introducing us to the Berber culture and explaining many things about the villages and markets. Accommodation was fine - nothing fancy, but was as you would expect on a trip like this.

The pinnacle of the trip was just being away from everything and being immersed into a different place and culture – the trekking was great! I will try and add some pics once I get myself sorted. I have posted a couple of reviews of my moroccan trip here and the operator Rendez-vous Marocain here

Well, fond memories but back to work!! Although I am already looking at my next trip of trekking in Australia's outback or the lost City of Petra.

Any potential travel buddies out there for these trips?

Carlwelsby: Live from Florence!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:13:50 GMT

Hi all,

Just thought i’d jot a few notes down from Florence. I’m here meeting possible local Travel Experts, talking to them about what great products they can offer to our travelling community. The welcome has been warm, much like the weather which, whilst showery, is a welcome break from the cold and snow we had last week in the UK.

Most of my time has so far been spent in Florence (with a quick sojourn down to Follinca to meet with a hotelier in the Tuscan mountains) and I’ve met some great people – if learning to cook Toscana-style or quaffing wine in Chianti’s wineries appeals keep a watch over coming weeks...!

I have been blown away by Florence even though I’ve not managed to get to see inside the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace, Accademia, Duomo et al. It’s a town where massive stone palazzos line every street and art drips from every crevice. It’s busy even in April, with everyone enjoying the spring weather.

I was staggered at the Duomo – I just hadn’t expected anything so BIG. It dwarves everything around and sets the tone for this amazing city. My other favourite is the Ponte Vecchio which crosses the Arno as it has done for hundreds of years. The jewellers are still there in abundance, but prices match the shops’ unique location (sorry Louise...).

I’m travelling south to Siena tomorrow (1 hr by bus) and will try and let you have a few impressions before I head south to Sorrento. Attached are a few snaps i've taken so far.

Ciao!

Carlwelsby: Egypt all sold out...

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:30:48 GMT

Hi all,

It seems that Egypt is flavour of the month at the moment. I’ve just been talking with Khaled el Kholy, owner of Solar Empire Travel and our Expert for Nile Valley and Western Desert trips who reports that Egypt was incredibly busy this winter with most hotels over-booked (some by as much as an unbelievable 180%!). Tour Operators try to book spaces in hotels in advance through an allotment system but hotels were unable to offer rooms to all who asked, benefiting the independent traveller such as those using this site who tend to be more flexible and can change their dates and itineraries to suit.

Nonetheless, Khaled has some tips to help ensure that you can get space where and when you need it.

1. Book early – the further ahead you book the more likely you are to get your rooms confirmed on the date you want to travel. Most travel agents and operators tell you this to fill up their tours quickly so they know what they can run, but in today’s climate there are other good reasons.
2. Have a flexible approach to your itinerary – those suggested on our site are just suggestions – Solar Empire can tailor make your Egypt holiday if you wish or if some hotels are full.
3. Have a flexible approach to your dates of travel. It’s a bit chicken-and-egg, but Khaled says, ‘It’s better to get the ground arrangements confirmed before booking flights’.
4. Travel off season if possible. Oct to Mar is the busiest season in Egypt and elsewhere in the region, but shoulder season and summer can be rewarding too. Site are less crowded and prices are lower.

Jordan is experiencing a similar boom, with barely a spare bed available in Petra, so the mantra for Jordan is the same. Any of our Travel Experts will be able to help you tailor make a Jordan holiday.

Solar Empire’s excellent industry relationships have meant that they have been able to fulfil all their requests but Khaled says, ‘We’ve not experienced anything like this for some years now. Hotels are holding back on granting rooms and we are having to work exceptionally hard this year to fulfil requests from our international guests. Inshallah we shall continue to be successful’.

It only makes us wonder what will happen to prices in Egypt as this traditionally excellent value for money destination is likely to see prices increase to depress demand. We’d say - plan a visit soon, before prices rise.

Cheers

Carl

colinbrichards: The future of low carbon energy - The Royal Geographical Society

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:30:38 GMT

I recently attended an event at the Royal Geographical Society in London as part of their '21st Century Challenges' events.

The discussion 'The future of low carbon energy' was chaired by Prof Sir Gordon Conway, with guest speakers Malcolm Wicks MP and Lord Browne. The focus was on how the UK can honour their commitment to the targetted average temperature increase and in doing so, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% (or as much as 80%) by 2050.

A 90 minute event certainly doesn't allow for any full answers to be drawn, however it was a very interesting debate with some probing questions and open answers.

If you are interested in hearing the debate you can follow this link http://www.rgs.org/21cc where you can gain free access to the Audio downloads.

The 21st Century Challenges series was launched by the Royal Geographical Society in 2007 with Bob Geldof and Kofi Annan discussing the major challenges facing Africa (Audio downloads of these speeches are also available on the above link). The RGS are committed to making an active contribution to the major issues facing society and the environment, such as climate change, migration, 'north-south' divide, Africa's future, low carbon energy and world economic development.

I will make a regular post on my blog of any interesting events held at the RGS.

If you are interested in finding out more details about the Royal Geographical Society, established in 1830, or perhaps want to become a member of the largest and most active scholarly geographical society in the world, then follow this link http://www.rgs.org/AboutUs/about+us.htm

Carlwelsby: Amazing Gokyo pics

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:48:25 GMT

Hi all,

I've just been working on 2 x new trips for Nepal with our trekking Travel Expert in Kathmandu, Niraj Shrestha of Himalayan Encounters. I thought i'd share some of his photos in advance of the 2 trips being published (“Gokyo Lakes and Everest Base Camp” and “Ultimate Everest Base Camp Trek”).

The Solu Khumbu region is one of the most dramatic in all of Nepal and as you can
see you’d have to be unlucky not to get some great shots. Has anyone out there been?

Cheers

Carl

David.Havard: Site Maintenance

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:33:01 GMT

Hi Everyone

Please be aware we will be taking the site down this Sunday (13 April) at around 9pm GMT for around 3-4 hours while we upgrade our hard drives. During this time the site will be inaccessible. This upgrade is in preparation for a new version of the site which will bring you, among other things, improved searching, personal photo galleries and videos.

Apologies for the inconvenience.

Thanks
Dave

colinbrichards: A Cooking School holiday in Marrakech, Morocco

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:31:46 GMT

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to join a small group of people and share in a culinary adventure. The 'Cooking School', is a rather formal term for what turned out to be a really relaxed and interesting experience, set in the wonderful surrounds of Dar Liqama.

Food is an integral part of a stay at Dar Liqama, with the Rhode School of Cuisine opening for classes at select times of the year. The classes are taught by excellent local chefs, who help you master such dishes as couscous aux sept legumes, lamb tajine with prunes or perhaps baking some traditional bread - with all ingredients fresh and organically produced. How do you know they are fresh? Because you have the pleasure of visiting the local Berber market to purchase your ingredients or picking them by hand from the Dar Liqama garden. Wonderful!

As for Dar Liqama, the House of Green Mint. This grand maison and its sister villa, Dar Louisa, are located about 10 minutes from the walls of Marrakech and together form one of Marrakech's most luxurious retreats. Each property is exquisitely designed and furnished, each with its own private pool, and a Hammam steam bath, massage and tennis court. Now that is style!

I can't wait to return....or perhaps I will try out the Rhode School of Cuisine in Tuscany....or perhaps Cannes......ahhh decisions decisions!

Keep an eye on the site as Rhode School of Cuisine will be joining addictedtotravel.com as a food and culinary expert in the next few weeks.

strider: Wales cycle tour

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:31:18 GMT

A weeks touring from Beacon, over the Élan Valley to west Wales and down to Saunderfoot and Tenby.
DAY 1 CARDIFF TO BEACON 37 MILES
My word what a day to start, the heavens’ opened up for us, I actually tried to back out of today’s ride, it was wet, cold wet, windy and wet. Before we even loaded up the bikes we where soaked though, and we had a good 45 miles to go! Thankfully the ride to Beacon is quite hilly, nothing to steep, just a nice gradual slop for 25 miles to keep us warm, until we hit the steps, by the lakes where it kicks in. Short steep steps, funny enough, with beautifully views over the reservoirs, up to Story Arms outdoor centre.
We took the old road via Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil past the Price of Wales hospital then joining the main road at the bottom of the climb. At story Arms we have what is normally a really good descent, with great views of the valley down toward Beacon, today it was nasty to say the least. hands where really cold, found it hard to pull the brakes with numb figures, could not sea because of the hail storm, following tail light at 30mph is OK, just knowing that if they stop I wont, and that the cars behind are unlikely to see us.

DAY 2 BRECON TO LLANDRINDOD WELLS VIA BUILTH WELLS
The plan here was to cycle to Builth, and spend the afternoon but as the weather was still taking the p''s we decided to be hard and push on and hopefully then have a full day in llanwrtyd during a circular tour or some mountain biking. This then turned into a really hard long day, as the route was quite hard, there’s some steep hills, but really enjoyable. We took the lanes up and around, but think there’s probe a better route. It was well worth it as we spent a long time up the top of the valleys enjoying the great views, without worrying about the traffic.

DAY 3 LLANDRINDOD WELLS TO ABERSTWYTH VIA DEVELS BRIDGE
Another cold wet day on the bike, it was actually sunny when we eat breakfast in the hostel this morning, and as we stepped outside it rains. Today was a great ride, along the world famous Élan Valley, (see photo. This was a nice gentle breathtaking ride along the flooded valley, with its 4 reservoirs. Because of the rain, the waterfalls where showing off, see its all good, then some hills up and down to the devils bridge for lunch. Amazing bridge made the devil himself no less! It’s actually 3 bridge built on top of each other. 12 further miles took us into Aber via a beautiful descend looking down onto the coast.

DAY 4 ABERSTWTH TO ABERPORTH
Most of today was spent looking for digs, after getting to New Quay and finding the place fully booked, lucky we got there by lunchtime, and we had to keep pedalling onto the next place then on again. This worked out in a way as we come across some really nice places such as langranog and Tresaith, small coastal villages, before hitting the sack in Aberporth.

DAY 5 ABERPORTH TO SAUNDERFOOT

This is quite possibly the hilliest ride I have ever had to do. we cut the corner here and travelled inland for a while, crossing what seemed like valley after valley, we knew it was going to be hard, and we had a time limited to get to Newcastle as Liverpool where playing, but talk about leg burning. Did not help only having rear panniers on as this meant the front wheel kept lifting of the ground and the technetium descend where had work, with the bike unbalanced. We got to the pub soaked and as we ordered the beer the sun comes out. Had some good pub burgers in here next the wood burner-nice. As we get back on the bikes it rains again. Anyway after finally finding somewhere to put our heads down we went around town, looking for food, found some place which look good sat down, and as we are about to order, overhear two table complaining about their dinner, so we move on.
Oh my god what a decision that turned out to be. Went to some place called Below deck I think, for the best damm Lamb shank ever! Top marks and just what the doctor ordered after 5 days in the rain! Looking forward to heading back May bank holiday to visit again.

DAY 6 SAUNDERSFOOT TO TENBY

Had a day off the bike to do the coast walk to tenby which is a couple of hours. Great walk, hard but well worth the trip. Tenby is quite an amazing town, with a great beach and is famous for is multi coloured building, a very poplar holiday resort for the Welsh.

More photos can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4905&l=04456&id=599802129

http://www.cycling.visitwales.com/server.php?show=nav.2265

Carlwelsby: Riots in Tibet

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:11:03 GMT

Hi all,

Breaking BBC news shows that Lhasa is suffering from riots: Click here for BBC news report on Tibet's riots .

It seems that riots broke out after a week of protests by monks on the anniversary of the invasion of Tibet by Chinese forces in 1949. Parts of Lhasa are being affected by fire and it is reported that lay people have also become involved.

The issue of sovereignty of Tibet is multi-facteted, but world opinion is now, as ever, on the side of the Tibetan people who see the Chinese occupation as just that.

See the Wikipedia Tibet pages here for more information on the history of the country.

Carl

CliveVal: Morocco

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:22:22 GMT

We’ve just returned from a superb week in Morocco organised by Rendez-vous Marocain through Addicted to Travel - thanks, Rida.

The riad they suggested - Riad Adika - in Marrakech was fantastic – a walk away from the centre through souks where there were only locals. Rida gave us all the freedom we wanted, while we knew that there was always someone available to help should we need it - we didn’t. We spent 5 nights here and 3 in Essaouira at the Madada, built into the old walls. It’s a wonderful laid-back town on the coast and totally different from the hustle of Marrakech. We wished we were in both places for much longer.

To begin with we managed to get lost every time we ventured anywhere for a walk! Not that this was at all catastrophic and by the end of the holiday we were getting lost deliberately. Amazing. One wanders through narrow, covered alleys lined on both sides with small shops selling just all sorts of things – many of them made on the premises. Other things range from huge metal doors to chameleons and tortoises. There’s no space here to write about the dyers, the metalworkers, carpenters and all the other workers we watched.

We ate a wide variety of food, including the fresh fish stalls in Essaouira and among the many stalls in the main square in Marrakech, set up every evening. We also ate at a small workers’ café wonderful lamb that had been cooking slowly all morning in the fire under a hammam. Surprisingly, the best meal of the trip in our riad in Marrakech. Haggling in Marrakech was great fun - ‘But my children will starve!’ ‘But MY children will starve!!’ etc, etc.

We returned home with our luggage seriously over the limit with all we bought!

We recommend it VERY HIGHLY! But go soon. We were told that tourism is expected to double over the next couple of years and everywhere there is building.

foren83: Here’s a Quick Way to Get a Bicycle Vacation in Italy

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:21:03 GMT

Here you are 3 of unknown European tourist destination good for a bicycle vacation in Italy.

They are placed in the North - Center and South of Italy.

The main location of Amalfi coast are:

Ravello, a musical city that is known everywhere because of the pianist and composer Wagner.

This itinerary that covers the crossing from Gulf of Salerno to the Gulf of Naples. Definitely the right place for nature lovers, as coastal highlights consist basically of deep high cliffs mixed with the cultural background of the region and relaxed lifestyle.

The Ruins of Pompeii.

[For Hikers]

The most famous walk of the Amalfi region keeps being the Walk of the Gods, and it is something you can't avoid doing.

At same time it is possibly one of the most challenging walks you can find over there.

Another path to consider is the Grotta Di smeraldo. It is definitely not as aggressive as the Walk of the Gods, and in this occasion you will enjoy a region covered by vineyards and olive groves.

Lake Iseo:

One of its biggest attractions is Monte Isola, the largest inland lake island in Europe, which is easily reached by ferry and with no cars on the island it is very peaceful, making it ideal for walking or cycling.

There are also the Pyramids of Zone, where the erosion of glacial deposits has left pinnacles of earth up to ten metres high.

On the western lakeshore are the bogns of Castro and Zorzino, sheets of limestone that plunge into the lake.

North of the lake in Val Camino you can see hundreds of prehistoric rock carvings at the National Park of Rock Engravings

Bassano del Grappa:

Bassano sits in a stunning location by the River Brenta with Monte Grappa in the background.

It is about 35 kilometres north east of Vicenza. The town's symbols are said to be the Palladian bridge, white asparagus, ceramics and the Grappa liqueur.

If you like to be slightly off the tourist track and would prefer a more rural setting for short break or as a base for a touring holiday, Bassano is ideal.

The best attractions to visit in Calabria are:

Tropea lies between the gulfs of Sant'Eufemia and Gioa overlooking the sea. You'll love its untamed white sandy beaches, old houses, and ancient churches.

Reggio di Calabria is Calabria's oldest and largest city. It is home to the National Museum of Greater Greece, a very important archeological museum. Look for the two statues of bearded warriors.

The Aspromonte mountain range has a spectacular view. You can find a ski resort at Gambarie east of Reggio di Calabria and an absolutely spectacular sanctuary Madonna di Polsi with an annual fair in late August and early September.

Stilo was founded by the Greeks. In 1940 the area was the site of the Battle of Calabria, one of the biggest naval encounters of World War II.

Carlwelsby: The flight from Delhi that goes nowhere

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:40:21 GMT

Hi

Thanks to Travemole.com for the following:

NEW DELHI - A decommissioned plane parked on a plot of land near New Delhi's domestic airport is allowing Indians to have an experience of flying – even though they stay firmly on the ground.

Retired aircraft engineer Bahadur Chand Gupta bought the old plane from an insurance company in 2003, rebuilt it and it now sits in a Delhi suburb where people pay 150 rupees per "trip" so they can experience what it must be like to fly.

"Most people in India have not seen an aircraft," the plane's owner Bahadur Chand Gupta, a retired aircraft engineer, said.

"I have been flooded with requests. I was the first aircraft engineer in my village. Back in 1980, I was treated as if I were the prime minister by the village folks who all wanted to see a plane."

His company, Aeroplanet, now provides an on-the-ground in-flight experience to those who cannot afford to fly.

His office staff double up as cabin crew, serving snacks and helping customers put on their oxygen masks, while the former engineer tells his audience about air pressure and aircraft speed.

There are six crew members on the plane, which is missing a wing and a chunk of the tail. Mr Gupta plays the role of captain, while his wife serves drinks and trays of airline food to the passengers alongside the other stewardesses.

Mr Gupta's wife, Dr Nirmal Jindal, teaches political science at university in her "other job". She says the experience is also about showing people how flying is done.

"We want to orient them about aviation manners," she told Time magazine. "People have money but they do not know how to behave. We want to acquaint them with the cost of a plane, the safety aspects, how to treat the hostesses."

What a fantastic idea. Millions of Indians will never fly but now they can experience a little of what it's like. Also, zero emissions!

Carlwelsby: Delhi Airport problems

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:35:40 GMT

Hi all,

Just got some info through about Delhi Airport (Indira Gandhi International Airport) which is apparently undergoing a major transformation to make it a world class airport by 2010 when Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games.

The airport was privatized last year and the new operators are working around the clock to upgrade the existing terminals. There is a considerable amount of work going on and unfortunately that is disrupting operations, especially in the international departures terminal. Check-in's are taking longer than normal, as is the time taken to clear immigration and security(always lengthy in my experience). This disruption will last another few months. The moral - allow plenty of time for check in.

Note too when I was there in August last year traffic in the capital was terrible, with a Connaught Place / Delhi Airport run taking 2 hours. This was as a result if works connected with the CG and extension of the 'new' Metro. I wonder if things are still the same- anyone been recently?

Thanks

Carl

wadders: Safest place on a plane

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:44:37 GMT

Statistically, you're most likely to survive a plane crash if you sit in the back.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4219452.html

Makes me glad I can't afford business class now......

colinbrichards: The World's First Solar-Powered Electric Bus Launched In Adelaide

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:27:15 GMT

An interesting article from the South Australian Tourist Board.

Tindo, the Kaurna Aboriginal word for 'sun', is recharged using solar energy generated by a unique solar photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the new Adelaide Central Bus Station. Tindo is part of the Adelaide Connector Bus fleet that transports commuters, throughout the City and North Adelaide, free of charge.

Commenting on the new bus, Neil Saunders, regional marketing manager for the South Australian Tourism Commission said: "This is the start of a new era for environmentally sustainable public transport. Tindo sets a new standard for carbon neutral and sustainable public transport around the world. Using solar power, which South Australia has vast access to, for a commuter transport vehicle which operates without tailpipe emissions is the realisation of an eight-year, million-dollar dream to deliver a pure electric bus for the benefit of Adelaide communities."

Built by New Zealand company Designline International, the Tindo solar electric bus has an operational range of 200 kilometres between charges under typical urban operational conditions. The vehicle is air conditioned with capacity for 42 passengers and carries 11 Swiss-made Zebra sodium/nickel batteries which give it unprecedented energy storage and operational range. The solar PV system on the roof of the new bus station uses solar panels supplied by BP Solar, generating almost 70,000 kilowatt hours of zero carbon emissions electricity each year.

Carlwelsby: Cheap Asia Flights!!!!

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:54:17 GMT

Hi all,

Just saw this:

Singapore-based Tiger Airways, has released more than 20,000 free seats for immediate bookings, for travel between Singapore – Bangkok, Singapore – Padang, Singapore – Phuket and Singapore – Kuala Lumpur. The innovative airline has also launched low fares by releasing more special deals across its route network spanning India, China, South East Asia and Australia.

Free Seats to / from:
Singapore – Bangkok
Singapore – Padang
Singapore – Phuket
Singapore – Kuala Lumpur

One way fares from Sin$19.99 to / from:
Singapore – Chennai
Singapore – Ho Chi Minh City
Singapore – Shenzhen
Singapore – Xiamen

One way fares from Sin$39.99 to / from:
Singapore – Manila (Clark)
Singapore – Haikou
Singapore – Hanoi
Singapore – Macau
Singapore – Darwin

One way fares from Sin$59.99 to / from:
Singapore – Perth

The special fares are available for booking between 25 February and 2 March 2008 for travel between 1 April – 31 May 2008. Fares quoted are for one way travel and exclude all taxes and other fees.

See www.tigerairways.com

colinbrichards: Free Tickets to the Destination Travel Show Birmingham

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:36:48 GMT

Just a final reminder that we will be exhibiting at The Destinations Travel Show being held at the NEC Birmingham from 29th February to 2nd March 2008. If you are attending then please come along and meet the team, as it would be great to meet and chat through your travel plans for 2008.

We have acquired a number of free tickets for the show, so if you would like a free ticket then please send me an email at colin.richards@addictedtotravel.com.

Please state your name and address and I will then arrange to send you the free tickets in the post, as long as you let me know by 11am on Wednesday 27th. Tickets are valid for two people and for any day of the show.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Colin

africanick: Top 10 'Places to Visit' in Africa

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:10:26 GMT

Hi everyone - I just realised it is almost 20 years since I first put a foot on African soil. Despite an unpleasant incident in Ceuta and enduring an Easter Monday evacuation to Gibralter, for some strange reason after that, I just kept on returning. After travelling through 32 diverse nations from north to east and south to west Africa I thought I'd reflect on the places that really stand out in my memory - some of the greatest places that I'd love to return to at some time in the future. I've started with a 'Top 10' but it may well become a 'Top 50' as I keep adding. This is quite personal and each place holds different memories for me, but I've included a snippet of why each one stands out.

1. Marrakech - Really atmospheric city with Atlas mountains close by
2. Bwindi National Park - Tracking mountain gorillas in mist-shrouded forest
3. Zanzibar - Unwinding on exotic Indian Ocean island with Stone Town
4. Leptis Magna - 2 days in remarkable Roman ruins on Libya's northern coast
5. River Nile - 6 months sailing the Egyptian Nile on a traditional felucca
6. Adrar Plateau - Seeing dramatic scenery in little-known region of Mauritania
7. Victoria Falls - Viewing one of the world's greatest waterfalls (several times)
8. Okavango Delta - Flying over swampland wilderness of Botswana with wildlife
9. Santo Antao - Mountainous Cape Verde Island with sensational hiking and views
10. Serengeti National Park - Big game viewing safari in Tanzania's grasslands

Carlwelsby: Gujarat - visit if you can

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:20:09 GMT

Hi all,

I was just trying to hand a framed wall hanging I picked up in Gujarat years ago. It's a piece of what is called Kutch-work, a torana (a decorative cloth that hangs over a door and is supposed to bring good luck). I have another large framed piece too and have no place for it right now, but will (again) one day.

It got me thinking about my travels in that region - it was utterly fascinating. We went to Junagadh and Palitana, Bhuj and Wankaner plus many other places. Palitana has the most amazing Jain temples and if you are in the area they are an absolute must. I didn't rate Diu - supposed to be a good beach hangout but poor in my opinion - mind you this was 20 years ago! The town itself was pleasant with its backstreets and Cathedral.

Junagadh has many places to see including the amazing Mahabat Maqbara mausoleum plus, out of town, Girnar hill with another superb jain temple complex. The Jains really know how to build temples with Mt Abu and Ranakpur in Rajasthan excellent examples.

Not far away is Sasan Gir Forest where the last Asiatic lions can be seen - it was closed at the time of our visit so we missed out - and i've heard mixed reports about it.

Bhuj suffered terribly with the earthquake of January 2001 and was terribly damaged. I wonder if anyone has visited since and can tell us what the city is like now. It was a great base from which to explore the Kutch villages - my favourite part of the entire Gujarat trip.

The food in Gujarat is heavily vegetarian and after so many months in India I was pretty thali-ed out so ended up losing lots of weight - not good. The people though were excellent and one particular journey saw us seated next to some 6 foot hijra (eunuchs) who teased us mercilessly in Gujarati - we couldn't understand a word but the entire bus was falling about laughing at our expense. It was all done in the 'best possible taste' (cue exagerated leg-crossing), so how could we mind.

If anyone else has been through the area be great to hear of your exploits.

Cheers

Carl

vividearth: Map of the world, Circa 1000 BCE

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:05:13 GMT

Wow, just found this map on wikipedia - amazing.

Map of the world, Circa 1000 BCE

Stuart: Cuban leader Fidel Castro to step down as President‏

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:49:15 GMT

In a letter just published by official Communist Party paper, Granma (in the middle of the night in Cuba), the Cuban leader Fidel Castro has announced that he will not return to presidency.

Following almost 50 years at the helm, this is an historic announcement.

The 81-year old Castro, who led Cuban Revolution in 1959, has suffered ill health in recent years and has not been seen in public for the last 18 months. In July 2006 he temporarily handed over power to his brother, Raul, but is said to be involved in all decisions that are made for the country.

In his letter, Castro writes that:

“My desire was always to carry out my duties until my final breath” but that he “will not aspire to or accept the post of president of the Council of State and commander-in-chief” as “it would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion that I am not in a physical condition to offer"

The revolutionary leader goes on to say:

“I do not bid you farewell. My only wish is to fight as a soldier of ideas. I will continue to write under the title 'Reflections of compadre Fidel'. It will be another weapon in the arsenal on which you will be able to count. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I will be careful".

It will be fascinating to see how Cuba reacts as it wakes up this morning to the news, and how the world reacts to the knowledge that a new era is just about to begin for this small but globally significant Caribbean county.

If you have any thoughts or comments, please comment in the forum: The future of Cuba after Fidel Castro.

africanick: Morocco's Best Ever Year!

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:46:37 GMT

Morocco welcomed more tourists in 2007 than at any other time in the last forty years, it has emerged. According to Magharebia.com, official figures indicate that the number of people visiting the country rose by 13 per cent to 7.4 million last year.

"Tourism has become the chief source of investments and job creation in the kingdom, as well as a driving force for sustainable development," the country's tourism and crafts minister, Mohamed Boussaid, told members of the press.

He went on to point out that the industry currently contributes eight per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In a separate announcement, Morocco's prime minister revealed that the government is seeking to boost tourism in rural areas - part of a plan to increase visitor numbers to ten million people by 2010.

Morocco, situated in north Africa, is home to a number of tourist attractions including Volubilis, the site of some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the country.

africanick: Get Active in Slovenia!

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:09:43 GMT

Maya Outdoor Centre - one of the leading specialist activity operators from the Soca Valley in Slovenia has joined addictedtotravel.com. Founded in 1998 by outdoor enthusiast Borut Nikolas, a local guy with big heart and devotion to success, Maya offer a range of multi-active trips in one of Slovenia's most scenic regions. Families might like to consider an active Family Adventure to Slovenia, hikers could choose a Walking Short Break in Slovenia, keen cyclists may be interested in Mountain Biking in Western Slovenia, or those who prefer variety - Explore Slovenia on a Multi-Active holiday. Check out: http://www.addictedtotravel.com/travel-experts/slovenia_maya-outdoor-centre_208-118.aspx

berliegirlie: Istanbul - New Years Break

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:40:41 GMT

Istanbul, Constantinople, once capital of the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires, gateway to Asia, and standing at the mouth of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, has seen more history than most other cities. The name conjures up exotic images of sultans and their harems, and romantic images of the Orient Express. I wasn't sure what to expect, even after seeing tons of photos on the internet and reading the usual travel guides, but it had been on my list of 'cities to see' for some time. It was an easy 3 hour flight to Ataturk from LHR, and a short 20 minute taxi journey to the B&B set in the heart of Sultanahmet, the old town.

Day 1: Our first day was spent with the other tourists (and for the low season there were SO many, I wouldn't want to go in the summer months!) exploring the Sultanahmet area. In the centre of this stands The Blue Mosque (called blue because of the thousands of tiles on the interior) and the Aya Sofia (oldest Orthodox Christian church -10YTL entry fee) facing each other across a small park. Nearby is the Basilica Cistern (10 YTL), an ancient underground reservoir only rediscovered, restored and opened as an attraction relatively recently. Atmospherically lit and with soft music playing, and with a small cafe near the exit, this is an interesting place to while away a hour, and in the hot summer months must be a welcome escape from the heat. Note to caffeine junkies, Starbucks is on the right side of Divan Yolu Caddesi walking away from the Blue Mosque.
In the afternoon we walked down the hill (Istanbul is built on 7 hills) to Eminonu, the bustling waterfront where many ferries arrive and depart to other areas of the city. This turned out to be my favourite area of the city, with stunning views across the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn; simit (bread rings coated with sesame seeds) and roasted chestnut stalls, and the famous fish sandwich sellers.

Day 2: Took a 2 hour tourist ferry up the Bosphorus, past Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy mosque and under the landmark Bosphorus Bridge thats links the two continents, to Rumeli Hisari (fort), and back down the Anatolian side. It was freezing but Turkish tea was available on board to purchase, and the sun was still out. Another fish sandwich gave us the energy for the climb up to Galata Tower, stopping for a huge cake and Turkish tea overlooking the city from the rooftop restaurant of Galata Konak, eight floors of stairs up but well worth it! The queue to the top of the tower was huge even at 4pm, and this was low season, so we left that for another trip! You get a similar view from the Konak anyway and it's much more comfortable. Next, we walked along what is the equivalent of Oxford Street in London (the nicer end) Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue) to Taksim Square. The road is completely pedestrianised except for the ancient tram that runs the length from Tunel to Taksim. Note three Starbucks outlets on Istiklal Cad. A very different city to Sultanahmet!

Day 3: More sightseeing in Sultanahmet; Topkapi Sarayi (palace), home to the Sultans (10 YTL entry and extra each 10YTL for the Harem and Treasury). Mosaics and painted domes and ceilings in abundance. We didn't do the full tour, but you could easily spend all day here More great views over the city and Bosphorus from the gardens. After this tourist overdose we went local and caught the public ferry to Uskudar on the Anatolian side (1.30 YTL), yet another contrasting side to this city. We took a different ferry back to Europe and the area of Kabatas. This is close to the Istanbul Modern but we were out of time and jumped on a tram (one price per journey 1.30YTL) back to Sultanahmet. It was New Year's eve and we were booked into a local restaurant!!

New Year's Eve: 1st Course – a selection of 15 individual dishes with 4 small portions of different fish, decent red wine and raki. 2nd Course- calamari, octopus (limb!), and dolmas; red wine and raki! Main course: choice of sea bass, tuna or anchovy; red wine and raki! Dessert – very sweet but we have no idea what it was, and Turkish tea! Throughout the meal we were serenaded by two gypsy bands, singing obviously well known songs as all the locals in the restaurant joined in, clapping and dancing. Midnight was approaching and the waiters brought round our coats and we were ushered out into the street to join with the local residents, the bands and a belly dancer around a bonfire for the countdown. Champagne and fireworks and a lot more dancing!

New Year's Day (Day 4): Souvenir buying, a last stroll to Eminonu and a simit; and a long look back to a city I know I will have to return to. We saw and did so much in a few days but there is still a lot more left to experience.

A long weekend like ours is just about enough time to get a taste of Istanbul and to fall in love with it, so go and experience it!

Stuart: 24 hours in Madrid

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:28:43 GMT

With EasyJet giving away flights for just £10 (plus carbon-offsetting charge), and a big travel trade show named FITUR going on in Spain’s vibrant capital, how could I not come and spend 24 hours in Madrid?

FITUR is a huge international tourism event which focuses on the Spanish speaking world, so here I met up with lots of familiar faces, many of whom are now or soon to be featured Travel Experts on addictedtotravel.com. I also met several local companies who will also join soon, as we work towards bringing out the new Travel Guide to Spain on the site.

It’s been years since I was last here... and what a city! Let me tell you that 24 hours in Madrid was good – but a weekend in Madrid would be fantastic.

Armed with a map, Madrid is fairly easy to get around. Best is on foot – the centre is pretty compact, but if you are in a hurry or need to cover some distance, the Metro system is both easy and efficient and costs just €1 per journey (€2 if you’re at the airport). The city is home to several excellent museums, art galleries (Picasso’s Guernica is here), monuments and vast city parks well worth exploring, if you have the time. Unfortunately I didn’t, but I still managed to experience the city’s famous vibe...

I arrived late in the evening, but well after ten o’clock on a Tuesday night, as I stepped out of Puerto del Sol Metro Station, it felt like the town was just starting to come alive... couples, groups of friends and local workers making their way home filled the streets and bars cramming the narrow, cobbled pedestrian streets with atmosphere.

Wandering through the impressive Plaza Mayor and along the rambling streets of the Latin Quarter, I stumbled upon a fantastic little Taberna called El Almendro 13, which was packed full of locals socialising, eating and drinking. I decided to join them and enjoyed a fine feed of superb Spanish bar-food, all washed down with a fine glass of manzanilla.

After that, it was back to the hotel ahead of a day of meetings, but as I got back onto the Metro, I decided not to leave it long before I return to Madrid and take the time to do the things I love doing in all the great Spanish cities – wandering between places of interest, grazing on tapas and soaking up the Latin buzz.

Carlwelsby: New ways to fly to Kathmandu

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:14:11 GMT

Hi all,

Great news for those living in the Gulf States and Malaysia. Excellent local carrier Air Arabia have created a new airline with local Nepali carrier Yeti Airlines to create Flyyeti.com, a new low-cost carrier flying Kathmandu to Sharjah in the UAE and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

I flew with Air Arabia last year from Sharjah to Muscat and was impressed by the brand new aircraft, great staff and - best of all - low prices. As you know Sharjah Airport is just a few miles from Dubai (it took me just 25 minutes from my Dubai city centre hotel to the check in desk early in the morning admittedly - dn't try this in rush hour!).

Whilst primarily aimed at the huge ex-pat Asian market in the UAE the new air link also provides a convenient way for ex-pats living and working in the Middle East region to access Kathmandu and KL, and furthermore indicates the resurgence in demand for travel to Nepal now things have quietened down politically.

Thanks

Carl

Carlwelsby: No-Smoking in Thailand

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:58:18 GMT

Hi all,

Yesterday (11 Feb 2008) Thailand's enhanced restricted smoking laws came into effect, adding to those that were effected in 2002. Travelmole reports,

"A total ban on smoking in pubs and clubs throughout the country took effect in Thailand yesterday.

The ban covers all air-conditioned bars, pubs, discos and clubs.

In addition, the owners of outdoor restaurants and markets are required to designate smoking and non-smoking zones.

The Bangkok Post said most bar owners see the law as impinging on people's civil liberties.

The law previously exempted nightclubs and bars from a smoking ban that was introduced in 2002.

The original ban covered indoor public places, including air-conditioned restaurants.

The ban's extension is being hailed by health advocates who say it is another milestone for tobacco control.

"By banning smoking in pubs and nightclubs, Thailand has once again shown its leadership in tobacco control in the international community, following the examples of Ireland, Uruguay, the UK, France and others," said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance.

The health ministry said bar and restaurant owners can relax, at least for now, because authorities won't begin fining the lawbreakers until June.

"Although the ban takes effect on Feb 11, we will focus more on educating people and issuing warnings rather than fining wrongdoers until May 31," Seri Hongyok, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Office, told the Bangkok Post."

With thanks to Travelmole.

maximus: Egypt

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:43:05 GMT

Egypt, beware I come again bearing gifts for the small children, and i believe that we in the western world should give where we can.
What a place to go to!!
this will be my third time and everytime it appears unspoilt from the last time. Temples shout out for you to explore.
People are second to none with their friedlyness.

maximus: Egypt

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:42:56 GMT

colinbrichards: Ryanair website to close for 3 days

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:19:48 GMT

In case anyone is looking to book flights with Ryanair or maybe actually flying with them this month, then you maybe interested to know the website will be offline for bookings and flight changes for 3 days this month.

In accordance with a Travel Weekly article, Ryanair needs to make changes to their site to comply with an Office of Fair Trading instruction to display all prices inclusive of tax and charges. A Ryanair spokesman confirmed: “Our booking site will shut down from February 16 to 11.59pm on February 18. Flight details will remain available, but no one will be able to book or make changes to bookings for three days."

I will keep an eye out for any changes to these dates.
Colin

Carlwelsby: New air route to France

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:06:57 GMT

Hi all,

Just in from Sky South, one of those small airlines that operate from the UK's regional airports.

"We have recently expanded our Normandy services to include Deauville.

We currently operate three services a week, increasing to four in April and five in the summer. Our flights operate from Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport which has excellent rail communications with London.

Please get in touch if you are at all interested in services. Our website at www.skysouth.co.uk will provide you with more information."

Could be useful for those wanting a weekend jaunt in le nord du la France!

Cheers

Carl

Stuart: Eruption of Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:21:26 GMT

Further to my blog post in January, our Travel Experts in Ecuador have let me know that the Tungurahua Volcano in central Ecuador, substantially increased its eruptive activity yesterday.

This has prompted the authorities to declare a Red Alert in the neighboring areas and the immediate evacuation of hundreds of families.

With an altitude of 5 029 above sea level and 135 kilometers south of Quito, the volcano expelled pyroclastic magmatic material and rocks of up to 3 centimeters in diameter on the western flank. Pyroclastic flows have descended along the gorges located in the nor-western and western flanks of the volcano. Due to cloudy weather, direct observation of the volcano has not been possible so the magnitude of the pyroclastic flows cannot be determined at this time, but the flows have reached the Chambo River.

The Geophysics Institute continues to monitor the eruption and will inform about the evolution of the behaviour of the volcano to the authorities so the proper actions can be taken.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice reads:

Since December 2007 there has been increased volcanic activity in Tungurahua, near the resort of Baños. There is a high risk of a volcanic eruption and the Ecuadorian authorities have forbidden all access to the volcano. You should exercise extreme caution if you intend to travel within 10-15 miles of the volcano and, if possible, you should avoid an overnight stay in Baños. You should monitor local media for updates, the National Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute (in Spanish) and see the Natural Disasters (Tungurahua) section of this advice for more details.

In the past, the ash has caused problems with air traffic; but apart of this, it should not affect travellers' overall trips to other parts of Ecuador or the Galapagos.

More information can be found on the Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute website.

You may also wish to read the previous blog on Volcanic activity in Ecuador.

KhiriTravel: Katang Trail to the Sacred Forest and River Ride

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:26:50 GMT

The Dong Phou Viang trekking is part of a program from the Dutch Development Organisation SNV (Stichting Nederlands Vrijwilligers) in Savanakhet Province. The purpose of the program is poverty alleviation and nature conservation through the development of sustainable ecotourism.

SNV has produced a national ecotourism development plan for Lao PDR which should be finished before the year 2010. This strategic plan has been approved by the Lao government. SNV is assisting in the development of ecotourism in several other provinces, amongst others Houaphan, Luang Prabang, Champassak and Luang Namtha.

The Dong Phou Viang NBCA (National Biodiversity Conservation Area) is located in Eastern Savannaket Province, Laos, south of the upgraded highway no.9 that runs from Savannakhet to the Vietnamese border. It's a protected area.

During the Vietnam war the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail ran through this region. At the crossroads at Muang Phin there is a monument commemorating Lao-Vietnamese cooperation during the war. The vegetation of the NBCA is a mixture of various forest types such as dry dipterocarp, dry deciduous and evergreen forest. One major river, the Xe Banghieng, runs through the NBCA. Reportedly there is abundant wildlife in the NBCA although we didn't see any. We saw many birds though especially during our boattrip on the Xe Banghieng on the last day. There are villages in the NBCA, mainly from the Katang, an ethnic minority.

March is not the best time to do a trekking in this area. It was very dry which maybe explains the lack of wildlife encountered during our walk. The nature in the NBCA should be at its best between October and February.

On March 19 we gathered at the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) in Savannakhet and headed east for Seno and then Muang Phin. Participants on the trekking were Mr. Pieter Stoer, SNV senior adviser Pro-poor Sustainable Tourism, Mr. Martin Grijmans SNV non-timber forest product advisor and Mr. Jan Burrows, who is in overseeing the projects in Savannaket and Khammouan.
Accompanying us as well were two guides, two staff of the PTO and two local village guides.

From the crossroads at Muang Phin, where we stopped briefly to watch the monument, we drove about 20 kms into the NBCA. We had lunch by the roadside and started trekking. We walked about 3 hours including stops through green forest and drier patches before reaching the first Katang village where we spend the night.

After dinner we enjoyed a baci ceremony, a typical Lao welcoming ceremony, offered by the villagers and local music and liquor. We spent the night in two different houses.
The following morning we took off at 6 AM to to try to spot the silver langurs, who are living in the sacred forest of the village. The local guide told us the legend that made the villagers consider this forest sacred. They don't hunt in the sacred forest and we were even not allowed to make pictures of the langurs. As we didn't see them that was not causing a problem. We returned to the village for breakfast. At 9 AM we took off for a hot long day of walking. We walked through very dry forest in the morning. Close to a cave we had lunch. In the afternoon it was mainly evergreen forest and later dry forest with beautiful rockformations.

Just as on the first day we didn't meet a living soul during our walk.

Late afternoon we arrived in the second Katang village that was only about a kilometre from the Xe Banghieng River. We drank a few Bia Lao before taking a bath and having dinner. We again spend the night in two different houses.

The last day we had breakfast, walked the short distance to the Xe Banghieng River. After putting on lifejackets we boarded three small local boats for our trip. Waterlevel was low and we had to walk a couple of times to pass rapids while our boatmen dragged the boats over the stones. We observed many different birds during this pleasant boattrip. Around noon we arrived at the place where our car was waiting. We had a very refreshing swim before having lunch. After lunch we drove back to Savannakhet where we arrived at 4 PM.

The Dong Phou Viang trek was a very rewarding and very authentic experience.
We could only imagine how the NBCA looks like during and after the rainy season. It must be very beautiful. Dong Phou Viang is not very mountainous making the walking fairly easy and very pleasant. Some of the forest was fantastic.
The Katang villagers were very hospitable. Many curious and scared children as not many white people have explored this part of Laos. Almost all the food we were served was local, adding a touch of authenticity. No bread and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Three days of sticky rice, fish, dried meat and some vegetables and bananas. We carried all our water. On the second and third days we had boiled water which was not very tasty but the only available.

The boattrip was a very pleasant way to finish the trip.

For anyone really interested in an authentic experience, organised in a very responsible way aiming at limit the impact on the local people as well as benefiting them and to foster nature conservation this trek is highly recommended. Every participant should be prepared and willing to "rough" it, though. Three days of local staple and mainly boiled water is not for everyone. It's really back to nature.