February, 2016 | The Adventure Travel Site

Al-Hoota Cave – Nizwa, Oman – A Mesmeric Creation of Nature

Located in the Al Hamra district, Oman, the Al-Hoota Cave is a natural creation beyond compare. Within the cave all forms of life thrive. In order to ensure that these life forms are protected and not impinged upon, only 500m of the cave is open to tourists. The length of the cave is 4.5km and only 10% is revealed to the public. A forty five minute tour would disclose quite a few secrets of the cave. Be prepared to gaze upon the dangling stalactites and trace unusual shapes that might come alive on your visit. Less than two hours from the cave one would come across the Alila Jabal Akhdar. An ideal resort in Oman from which to set out on your adventures, it enjoys a unique location which affords an incredible view of the Al Hajar Mountains and creates an appetite for exploration, more precisely to the Al-Hoota Cave.

The Al-Hoota Cave was opened to the public in November 2006. However it dates back to approximately two million years ago. A chemical yet ‘magical’ reaction helped form the stalactites. Limestone reacts when dissolved in carbonic acid water, and the results are seen within the cave. When touring the cave, look overhead and what you will find is a galaxy of stalactite formations.

A small northern lake and a central lake also punctuate the tour of the cave. The large amounts of water within the cave create the ideal surroundings for all forms of life. Gliding in the waters of the main lake are blind fish also called “garra barreimiae”. Arthropods, molluscs, bats, water beetles, large spiders and other rare and endemic species have also made the cave their humble home.

The right amount of light shines through the cave providing a unique view. Make sure to book your tour to the cave as only a limited amount of visitors are allowed in each day. It is truly a marvel of nature!

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Dehiwala Zoo- One of the Oldest Zoological Gardens in Asia

The capital city of Colombo is a metropolitan city, and is the economic and business hub of the country. Given this perception, tourists travelling to the country may be reluctant to explore Colombo as they may feel that there is not much to see in the city. This perception is grossly unfounded for Colombo, though being the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, boasts of a location close to the ocean, and hosts a number of attractions that tourists will be thrilled to visit. While those who wish to reside in a resort close to the ocean can do so at the Mount Lavinia Hotel without having to make their way down south, tourists looking for places of interest will find the National Museum, Galle Face Green, Independence Square, the Old Parliament and the Colombo Zoo within remarkably close vicinity to one another.
Those who wish to explore the endemic wildlife of Sri Lanka, and do not have the time to make a visit to one of the National Parks such as Wilpattu or Yala, which are located several hours outside the capital, the Colombo Zoo can provide a glimpse of insight. This Zoo located in Dehiwala is home to over three thousand animals and marine species and is open to the public and tourists.
The National Zoological Gardens were opened in 1936 and is geared towards conservation and research, while enabling and enhancing the knowledge of the public of various animals. While travellers may be surprised to learn that this particular zoo is one of the oldest of its kind in Asia, the Zoo consists of a Butterfly Garden, a Bird Park and a number of species such as jaguars, lions, elephants and bears. The Zoo also has an array of performances such as elephant and sea lion performances in addition to several educational programmes.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Hiking in the Seychelles

Seychelles is renowned for its natural beauty and is a major tourist attraction. Swimming, diving, snorkeling and hiking are very popular leisure activities and the conditions in Seychelles are very conducive to indulge the.
As a holiday destination, Seychelles is par excellence and beach resorts in Seychelles are a plenty, and most like theAVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa come equipped with pristine stretches of beach and access to nearby private
Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the main tourist islands tourist islands and have great walks and hiking trails. The best time for hiking in the Seychelles is June-September.

Mahé has a number of great hiking trails. Anse Major is along the rocky northwestern coastline of Mahé and leads to the beach of the same name. This trail is not too difficult and the beauty of the Anse Major beach makes the hike worthwhile. Cassedent is a trail that leads to a wide granite mountain top with fantastic 360 degree views . This is fairly long and is an ascending/descending trail through screwpines,a palm marsh and endemic trees. The trail ends at a natural waterfall. Dans Gallas is a trail with panoramic views and the top of the trail offers a glorious view covering Beau Vallon Bay ,North Mahé ,the eastern coast down to the airport with the Victoria area right down below.

Glacis Noire is on Praslin Island and this trail leads to a hilltop overlooking the East coast of Praslin Island and also offers a great view La Digue and the surrounding smaller islands. This trail has many plants endemic to the Seychelles including the famed Coco de Mer . Vallée de Mai is one of Seychelles UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is thought to be the original Garden of Eden by some. Approximately, 6000 Coco de Mer trees flourish here.

On the island of La Digue a hike through Bellevue will unravel the beauties of the island and the more energetic hikers should make it up to the tip of Nid Aigle. Another worthwhile area to hike or ramble through is the Union Estate Park.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Alimantha Island

Maldives is sure to be on most people’s travel bucket list. The island’s surrounding waters are one of the main reasons for most of the tourist to make their way down to this paradise island. One of the reasons for many people to visit the island is to stay at an Maldives luxury hotel as the accommodation itself can turn out to be quite an experience. Among the various resorts that have come up here one that has managed to earn a reputation for itself among its guests is, Cocoa Island by COMO, Maldives that offers 33 over water suites.

Alimantha is one of the government-sanctioned lists of dive sites in the Eastern part of Maldives. The surrounding waters of the island are an excellent place to go diving and explore the abundant marine life of Maldives. There are dive centres that organise full day as well as half a day tours into the Ocean. There are also night dives that are organised off the shore of Alimantha, which is a once in a lifetime experience. The reefs around the island are also a spectacular site not to be missed. Alimantha is often listed in the must visit places in Maldives. There are also water activities offered by the sports centre located on the island. Perfect for all those adrenaline junkies.

There are plenty of other places to visit while in the Maldives such as Hukuru Miskiiy which is the Old Friday Mosque located in the capital Male. As well as the national museum that is located in the capital. Apart from that sitting and watching the waters sweep the shore from your recliner itself is a great experience!.

Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Best Mountains to climb in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the technologically advanced countries in the East. However, the country is abundantly blessed with many natural resources as well as places. There is a world of activities away from the capital Kuala Lumpur. Sepang is an exciting place to check out if you are visiting Malaysia. There are plenty of things to do and explore here. Restaurants, cafes, shopping, circuits and if you want to pamper yourself- plenty of luxury Sepang Hotels. Malaysia has an interesting terrain too. Due to this, one of the activities that are becoming popular is mountain climbing. There is the Gunung Nuang in Selangor which is a tough climb but one that is worth. If you are super fit, a day would be sufficient to climb to the top and back, however, some others may take two days. There are campsites and shelters on the way. For those who seek a hint of luxury one of the options among the many available is AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort.

Apart from Gunung Nuang, there are plenty of other mountains around Malaysia to climb offering some of the best treks and views. The tallest mountain in Malaysia is Gunung Kinabalu. Located in Borneo the mountain and the rainforest area surrounding it are declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

Gunung Gagau’s climb is a great adventure as getting to the mountain’s base itself is a two-day journey along a river. One of the areas that cannot be forgotten when considering a good mountain trek is the Cameron Highlands. Gunung Beremdun is located in the highlands and offers cooler climates for climbing than the rest of South East Asia. Another mountain with incredible views is Gunung Jerai also known as “Kedah Peak”. Even though not a tall mountain its location among flat rice paddy fields offers incredible far out views.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Exploring Little Rome of Sri Lanka

Situated just 20 minutes from Sri Lanka’s international airport is the coastal town of Negombo. It is predominantly a catholic area, dotted with many ancient Roman Catholic churches, thus garnering it the title Little Rome of Sri Lanka. The town is well worth exploring for its ancient religious remnants from the Portuguese era as well as religious monuments of modern times. Negombo is also well known for its stretch of easily accessible beach and quite easily has one of the highest concentrations of beach hotels in Sri Lanka. A place to check out if you’re hoping to spend some time in Negombo is Amagi hotels. One of their hotels is situated close to the Negombo lagoon and provides a good base to explore this culturally rich town.

Catholic influence of Negombo dates back to Portuguese colonial era and religious relics of this era are still here to be explored. Among Portuguese era Roman Catholic churches, St. Mary’s Church built in 1874 is situated in the heart of Negombo, is the biggest cathedral in Negombo adorned with ceiling paintings of frescoes, as well as alabaster statues of various saints. It is one of the few larger cathedrals in Sri Lanka. The other famous church in Negombo town is the Grand Street Church, also adorned with ceiling paintings and statues.
Among other places to explore around Negombo is Thalahena ChurchEast of Negombo.This Barbara Church, dedicated to St.Barbara was built in 1889andenshrined here is a statue of Saint Fatima brought by Portuguese to Talahena. This church is believed to have miraculous healing powers. Bolawalana St. Mary’s Church constructed in 1557, featuring Gothic style architecture during Portuguese rule is the oldest church in Negombo area. St. Philip Neri Church, St.Stephen’sChurch and KatuwapitiyaChurchare some of other holy sites and small Christ and Maria images found at street corners, worth visiting while exploring “Little Rome of Sri Lanka”- Negambo.