Travel Guides

For many of us, Iceland is still a country surrounded in mystery and viking myths. The wild landscape is what lures most visitors on trips to Iceland but what about the Icelandic cuisine? Icelandic cuisine has changed little since the time of the vikings, and the basic ingredients have remained unchanged: lamb, skyr, potatoes, fish, and plenty of seafood. While the staples have remained the same, Icelandic chefs have added a generous dose of imagination to current Icelandic cuisine, resulting in creative twists but traditional dishes. Read on to learn how to expertly navigate your food palate while checking out Iceland’s food menus. To make sure you make the most of your trip to Iceland, we’ve rounded up a list of the top 12 things to do in Iceland to help you plan your all-important itinerary. If you are short on time to explore destinations outside of Reykjavik, read our top things to do in Reykjavik article as well.

Nestled in the cloud forests of remote northern Peru, the city of Chachapoyas is the gateway to the fascinating but little-known region of the same name. A long way from the established Peruvian tourist trail, this part of the country is home to enigmatic pre-Incan archaeological ruins, towering waterfalls, and rewarding treks in Peru.Little is known of the Chachapoya people who inhabited the area as they had already been subjugated and incorporated into the Incan Empire before the arrival of the Spanish Inquisitors. It is thought that the Chachapoya people had established a distinct culture in the region by around 750-850 BCE, and by the time of the arrival of the Incas around the fifteenth century CE, they had erected monumental architecture to rival that of the Inca themselves. A visit to the Chachapoyas region offers the opportunity to discover a mysteriously lost culture and a very remote region of Peru. While short on real attractions, the Chachapoyas town itself is a pleasant place to be based, boasting the colonial-period architecture and a perfectly square main plaza measuring 100 meters along each side. The town is famous for fruit liqueurs and anybody spending a night or two there may choose to track down some of the bars where they can be sampled. Decent eating and sleeping options are also available.

Visitors to Peru have been venturing further afield than the Sacred Valley to discover the Colca Canyon area. For the truly adventurous, a little further north of Colca Canyon lies the world’s deepest canyon named Cotahuasi Canyon. This great gorge is so immense that it could fit the Grand Canyon in twice. This gives the benefit of intriguing Cotahuasi Canyon Trekking routes which are off-the-beaten track.For those willing to make the trip, what lies in wait is a land of traditional village life, cascading waterfalls, dizzying suspension bridges, rarely seen ruins, mysterious ancient petroglyphs, hot springs and the chance to spot elusive Peruvian wildlife – and you will barely see any other tourists the whole time you are there.

There are several alternative treks to the Inca Trail, some of which have now become famous in their own right. However, for trekkers looking for a varied and challenging trek, the Vilcabamba trek offers an authentic experience of high-altitude trekking.

For those who feel the magnetic pull of the mountains, Peru is an inescapable destination. With an astounding 33 peaks above 6,000 m and many above 5,000 m, the Cordillera Blanca, in particular, carries some of most beautiful and dangerous mountains in Peru. In the nearby Cordillera Huayhuash lies many other majestic but unforgiving mountains; insolently daring the bravest to climb.While the ascent of many of these dangerous mountains can only be considered by experienced mountaineers, for mere mortals it can be a memorable experience just to see them.Here is a brief introduction to 10 of the intriguing mountains in Peru and how to reach them.

The Cordillera Blanca is Peru’s premier hiking, trekking and climbing destination with majestic remote mountains and turquoise transparent lakes. There are many options for trekking the Cordillera Blanca trails. These trails are of varying lengths and suitable for trekkers of all levels – from moderate one-day hikes to gruelling week-long treks.In no particular order, here are five of the best Cordillera Blanca treks: At a glance: Locations of the five best Cordillera Blanca treks

Located in the imposing Cordillera Blanca, Laguna 69 is considered to be one of the exquisite lakes, out of more than 400 lakes in the Huascarán National Park. Reaching Laguna 69 makes for a tough but rewarding one-day hike. Simply given the number 69 at the time of the creation of the park, the name has stuck on. The day hike up to this sublime body of water high in the mountains has become one of the most popular Cordillera Blanca hiking trails.

Oktoberfest. The grandest and most exotic festival in Germany. Oktoberfest. One of the most spirited parties on the planet. A celebration that reminds you of all kinds of superlatives, provided you’re still in your senses after the first couple of hours.Oktoberfest is an annual event that stretches over 16 days and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world. It has often been showcased as a crazy, carefree, over-the-top party and it can definitely offer an experience unlike any other. However, if you’re a newcomer to this gala party, it’s essential to plan ahead and understand what to expect. So, if you are planning a tour to Germany around September or October 2020, this Oktoberfest 2020 guide will help you with all you need to know about the largest festival in the world.

The Villarrica Volcano, at 2,847m is both one of Chile’s most popular volcanoes and one of its most active. Despite the obvious risks this poses, it hasn’t stopped thousands upon thousands of adventurous climbers from reaching its summit on their Chile holiday. One look at the rugged snow-capped peak rising majestically out of the ground is enough invitation for an expedition to an adventure seeker. Surrounded by natural beauty on every side, the Villarrica Volcano is more than just a photographer’s dream; it is an unrivaled grandeur.

Nicknamed “the king of the South”, the Osorno Volcano, is a huge, snow-peaked volcano that overlooks a glorious lake and miles of beautiful forest. And, if you think looking at it is nice, the views from the top are even better.If you’ve always wanted to tick ‘climb a volcano’ off your bucket list then the Osorno Volcano in Puerto Montt of the Lake District, a trip to Chile will complete your mission. But there is more to do at the Osorno volcano than just the climb. Read on to find out all about the exciting opportunities that lie in wait for you at the Osorno Volcano.

Breathtaking ruins, the seductive Mount Kilimanjaro, a fascinating culture and some of the best beaches in Africa, this is what travelers expect while heading for a trip to Tanzania. The country is famous for its captivating culture and excellent hospitality. In fact, the warm attitude of the locals is often one of the best experiences for most travelers visiting the country. And those enchanting beaches along the Indian Ocean coastline aren’t any pushover either. Dotted with ancient Swahili culture and historic villages, each beach has its own story to tell.But that’s not why you go to Tanzania, or Africa for that matter. That’s not African adventures are all about! No sir. No way. You want beaches, go to the Caribbean, or better yet, explore Bora Bora. But when you visit Africa, you do what millions others before you have done and millions after you will do – you fall in love with its safaris. Tanzania is home to the best safaris in Africa, and spending time with those hippos in its muddy waterways or the wildebeests in its plains, leaves you mesmerized with the true beauty of nature. Lazy crocodiles lay hungry eyes on you and the majestic lion tries to get a whiff of its newest prey. Chimpanzees accompany you along your journey to keep you company and the odd elephant wanders around its seasonal migration route without a care in the world. Yes sir, that’s what life is all about. That’s the reason why African tourism flourished. After all, the experience that these safaris have to offer, simply cannot be put down in words. Tourism has continuously been on the rise since the early 2000s. The year 2011 saw as many as 843,000 tourists visiting to Tanzania, and this increased to 1,063,000 by the year 2013. Early 2015 saw a major slump in Tanzanian tourism because of the Ebola scare, but things are again starting to pick up for the country. Much of the tourism in Tanzania is claimed by its rich national parks and incredible safaris with more than 50% of the travelers entering the country choosing the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Conservation Area over everything else. To help you on your way, Bookmundi prepped this Wildlife Safari Guide, a guide that focuses on Tanzania and helps you understand what to expect and how to move forward.

Mount Kilimanjaro located in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa. It is also considered the highest free standing mountain in the world. Mt. Kilimanjaro, a volcanic mountain consists of three volcanic cones, the highest being Kibo at 5,895m, Mawenzi at 5,149m and Shira at 3,962m.Another name for the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak, which is situated on the Kibo’s crater rim, thus Uhuru Peak and Kibo Peak are simultaneously referred to as the highest points. While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanic cones, Kibo is dormant and could erupt again. Mount Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb/trek and therefore trekkers without previous experience and skills can undergo the journey. But, the volcanic mountain should not be underestimated. Mt. Kilimanjaro is regarded as a difficult trek because of the high attitude and the weather contrasts during the trek. Furthermore, trekkers will experience variation in temperature while traversing through 5 different climatic zones: Cultivated Areas (793m – 1,799m) Rainforest (1,829m – 2,744m) Heath and Moorlands (2,805m – 3,993m) Alpine Desert (3,993m – 4,999m) Arctic (4,999m+) 5 different climatic zones, changing weather and high altitude are all factors which challenge your body and mind and test your determination during this adventure, yet all the same variables will provide you with the very rewarding feeling it is reaching atop Mt. Kilimanjaro at 5,895m. Mount Kilimanjaro has several routes up the mountain but the most popular routes are: Machame Route - about 45 % of all climbers Marangu Route - about 35% of all climbers Lemosho Route - about 8% of all climbers Rongai Route - about 7% of all climbers All in all, Kilimanjaro is a trekking adventure of a lifetime and is highly recommended for your Tanzania tour.

Rising majestically above the plains of Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters) can have varying weather conditions. The mountain's proximity to the equator means it experiences dry and wet seasons, rather than extreme seasonal changes.Although you can climb Kilimanjaro year-round, some months are much colder and wetter, creating poor visibility, muddy conditions, and snow at the summit. For this reason, most people find that the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the warm, dry months. However, this means encountering more crowds.If you are considering a trip to Tanzania and wish to try your hand at climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, this guide breaks down the different seasons and highlights that you should consider when planning your trip. Note: The average temperature and rainfall data provided for each month in this article are sourced from the closest city's available data, specifically from the city of Moshi.

“Which is the best route for Kilimanjaro?” is a question we get asked very frequently from people who are planning on climbing Kilimanjaro. While the definition of “best” is very subjective, we will try to summarize each route in this article and give you some key information to help you decide the best Kilimanjaro routes for yourself. The routes are ordered in the order of popularity. The numbers mentioned have been received from trekking operators and are approximate as the official association only keeps data for the Marangu route.Please note that the cost and difficulty are expressed in a range of 1 to 5 and are relative to those of other Kilimanjaro routes. So, even a route with a difficulty of 1 out of 5 is not really easy, but is only easier compared to other routes.

Tanzania boasts a rich tapestry of natural wonders and cultural treasures. From the towering peak that looms over untamed savannah brimming with wildlife, Tanzania invites visitors to its globally acclaimed natural splendor all year round. There is so much more to the ‘Jewel of East Africa’ than meets the eye. Spend a day with the local tribes and pay homage to their rich cultural heritage. Or, step off the beaten path and venture into the enchanting landscapes, ranging from pristine beaches to extensive wilderness.In this guide, we will map out the 8 best things to do in Tanzania, while exploring many of its well-known attractions as well as hidden gems, so you can make the most out of your Tanzania trip.