Travel Guides

Garden Route National Park in South Africa is one of its top destinations as it is different from many popular South African national parks that are known for wildlife safari and game viewing. Consisting of sprawling coastlines, dense forests, scenic vistas, land and marine wildlife viewing, and quaint towns, the Garden Route National Park is a glittering gem in its own right.Besides the spectacular scenes and environs, a Garden Route National Park trip also offers a number of exciting activities. From eco-tours, self-guided treks and hikes, whale-watching tours, to thrills like bungee jumping and rock climbing, the opportunities for lifelong experiences in the national park seem endless. According to the park authorities, all ventures available in the park are reasonable and safe to be done sole, however, if you want to you can also hire a guide for a small fee for any activity. Here is a list of things to do in Garden Route National Park (in no particular order) that we highly recommend on your next South Africa tour. We leave it up to you to decide if you want to conquer them solo or with a guide.

Aptly named ‘The Gateway to Hell,’ the Hekla volcano in the south of Iceland is a deadly force with a shocking history of destruction. This reputation caused people in the middle ages to believe that Hekla or Hecla was the entrance to Hell. That however, hasn’t stopped brave travellers from exploring one of Iceland’s active volcanoes!

One of the most famous hiking trails in Iceland, the Fimmvorduhals hike is a legendary trail that passes between two giant glaciers, the Eyjafjallajökull glacier and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail takes you through almost every landscape Iceland has to offer in just a single day. From the lush terrain of gushing waterfalls in Iceland to out-of-this-world lava fields and finally, passing between the two famous glaciers. The Fimmvörðuháls hike is a challenging as well as rewarding experience. Whether you’re an avid hiker or you’re looking for a challenge whilst you’re visiting, the Fimmvörðuháls hike would be an ideal choice.Highlights Seeing as many as 26 waterfalls along the Skoga river in an 8 km stretch at the beginning of the trail, include the famous Skogafoss waterfall. Traversing one of the youngest landscapes in the world between the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and the Katla volcano. Descend through the Land of the Gods, an amazing and picturesque area in Iceland. Even if you do not have a lot of time to spend in Iceland you can still pursue the Fimmvörðuháls trail as a great day hike option. Lowlight The only proper accommodation is the Fimmvörðuháls Mountain Hut, which is basic and without running water. Hey, some might consider this as the ultimate trekking experience in the wilderness! An overview map of Fimmvorduhals trek

As can be correctly inferred from the name, the Panorama Route in South Africa is an especially picturesque stretch of road located in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. It is one of the best road trips in South Africa. Although most commonly tacked onto the main activity of safaris in Kruger National Park, a self-driving Panorama Route tour, including the immense Blyde River Canyon, can make for a rewarding one-day excursion in its own right. For those with more time, there are enough lesser-visited sites and curious historic towns to make it worthwhile lingering in the area for up to three or four days.

Selected as one of the top 12 whale watching locations in the world by WWF, and with a location easily accessible from Cape Town, Hermanus is a prime destination for those hoping for a close encounter with some of the largest animals on our planet. Hermanus is a small town on the coast of the Western Cape province of South Africa, but during whale season, it becomes the whale-spotting capital of the country. Visitors from all over the world descend to this attractive former fishing village to see the famous Southern right whales that come here every year to mate and calve. For anyone interested in seeing these graceful giants in their natural habitat, whale watching in Hermanus makes for an unmissable trip.

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.