Month: December 2013

Explore Marine Life in Maldives While Snorkelling

Blessed with abundant marine life and clear blue waters, the Maldives is one of the best destinations in the world for snorkelling. An easy way to experience the joys of this activity is to stay at luxury hotels Maldives that provide snorkelling opportunities. One of the leading Maldives resorts, Kurumba Maldives is worth considering since it features a wealth of water sports including offering snorkelling safaris.

The country is home to a diverse array of fish species and coral varieties that can be found along the ocean floor. Since snorkelling does not require prior experience or elaborate equipment, it is a perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy. As you explore the world beneath the waves, you will come across vibrant underwater landscapes where one has a chance to see such species as angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, unicornfish, barracuda and clownfish. The corals also showcase multicoloured hues and provide the perfect backdrop for your excursions at sea. Depending on where you snorkel you might also come across sharks, octopuses or rays which add to the allure of this adventure.

Thoddoo Excursion

Island hopping is a great way to truly explore and experience the natural beauty and diversity of the Maldives. Make sure to add a visit to the island of Thoddoo which provides a fun day out where one can learn about local culture as well. Look to stay at a Maldives island resort such as Kuramathi Island which provides excursions to Thoddoo and other islands too. It also offers charming Maldives villas that come with modern comforts that help make your stay all the more memorable.

A Thoddoo excursion will take you to this enchanting island, known for its lush greenery. Set amidst a small atoll, the island is known for its agriculture and one can view locals at works in the fields on a visit here. Providing a unique insight into a traditional local way of life, Thoddoo is a great place to explore and one can see farming areas, local schools and produce such as watermelons that grow here in abundance.

Diving at Rasfari Manta Point

While the Maldives has quite a number of great areas for diving, some sites stand out amongst the rest; Rasfari Manta Point is a case in point. If you love to dive or even want to learn, then look to stay at Maldives luxury resorts such as Baros Maldives which has its own dive centre. Featuring Maldives villa accommodation, this luxurious resort provides excursions to a variety of dive sites in the country.

Rasfari Manta Point can be found in the North Male Atoll which offers plenty of underwater adventure. The key highlight of this famous site is the fact that divers have the opportunity of seeing magnificent manta rays gliding through the waters. Make sure to also explore the waters around Rasfari Island which are part of a protected marine area. The depth ranges from 10 to 30 metres and one will find an assorted array of coral here as well. Apart from giving you the chance to see exotic fish, one may also catch glimpses of barracudas, oceanic white-tip sharks and grey reef sharks when diving here, making for a truly remarkable excursion beneath the waves.

Enjoying Thrilling Water Sports in Bali

While Bali is a great place to spend lazy days under the sun, this enchanting island also offers an exciting array of water sports that let you have plenty of fun in the surf. If you are planning to experience some of these thrilling recreational pursuits, look to stay at Bali resorts which also offer water sports. One of the leading Uluwatu hotels, Anantara Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa is one such option and provides an ideal base on the island’s southern coast where you can enjoy surfing.

The waters around Bali provide idyllic settings in which to take part in a number of water sports for young and old alike. Snorkelling is an activity that can be tried out by the entire family and gives you a chance to see colourful corals and marine life. For more in-depth exploration however, one can try scuba diving. Another family friendly water sport is taking rides on banana boats, while adrenaline junkies can always try their hand at parasailing, waterskiing or wake boarding, amidst the glorious coastal sunshine.

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.

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SkyTrek Tandem Hang Gliding & Paragliding, always thrilling

The adventure sports of paragliding and hang gliding are recognized for the thrills and amazing sensations they produce. In the early days of the sport equipment was rather rudimentary, but advances in technology have made it a fun, exhilarating and safe experience. Today gliders can stay aloft for hours if they so choose, soaring across long distances. They may rise thousands of metres into the air on updrafts and even engage in aerobatics.

For those who do not have the skills to undertake solo paragliding and hang gliding flights, an attractive choice would be tandem flying. In this form of the sport a passenger accompanies the pilot, normally an experienced professional, who controls the glider. This enables even someone with no flying ability to enjoy the exhilarating sensations of gliding through the skies.

If you are visiting the picturesque Queenstown area of New Zealand, you may take the opportunity to enjoy tandem gliding with SkyTrek, a professional paragliding and hang gliding specialist which assures thrilling, safe and satisfying flights. All of its pilots are seasoned professionals who have many hours of flying experience.

The Queenstown area is renowned for being one of the most scenic regions of the globe, presenting the flyer with a bird’s eye view of some of the most captivating landscapes imaginable. The region’s craggy mountains, tranquil lakes and balmy climate make it an ideal location to engage in these pursuits.

Queenstown is located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and is framed by the picturesque Southern Alps. Of special interest is the Remarkables mountain range, which is inseparable from the local sights.

Queenstown has established a strong reputation as a significant holiday destination, attracting tourists from across the globe. It is also renowned as a party location, with lively festivities taking place during the party season. Numerous pubs and discos are available for those who would like to party the night away. With so much to do a visit to Queenstown will never be dull.

If you are interested in visiting the locality and are considering Queenstown hotel accommodation an excellent choice would be the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront. This attractive Queenstown resort offers appealing accommodations with attentive service.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Diving in Bodu Hithi Thila

The North Male Atoll of Maldives is home to the Bodu Hithi Thila which is often referred to as Manta Point and is an excellent destination to view manta rays in their natural habitat. The Maldives possesses a wealth of water based activities that one may indulge in out of which diving holds a special place. If its luxury hotels, Maldives has quite a few to choose from. Maldives resorts such as Kurumba Maldives would provide easy access to the thila where one may engage in diving.

The thila which is more than 300 metres in length would pave the way for a riveting and memorable dive where you can be joined by a number of marine species that frequent its waters. If one heads over between the months of December and April, one might come across Manta Rays and even the much larger Eagle Rays. The corals nearby provide a wealth of treasures that would certainly add to the excitement. The three tiny bays that are found in close proximity to the area can also be explored as species such as oriental sweetlips, tunas and fusiliers call these waters home.

Gunung Mat Cincang in Langkawi

Business or leisure travellers based at a 5 star hotel in Langkawi such as The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa are in for a remarkable holiday experience. Take a break from the comforts of your Langkawi beach resort to experience the region’s splendour. During a holiday travel expedition to Langkawi be sure to pay a visit to its best known mountain, Gunung Mat Cincang. Being the second highest mountain in the region, it is known to offer breathtaking vistas of the island. It is here that visitors get to experience one scenic ride up to 709m above sea level, as a cable car takes passengers to the apex of the mountain. It is said that on a clear day one gets to see all the way to Southwest Thailand’s mainland. Just when you thought it cannot get any better, you will find that you can even enjoy a buffet dinner at the restaurant on the top of Gunung Mat Cincang.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Cycling and Mountain Biking in Sri Lanka

Put your pedal to the metal and experience a one-of-a-kind biking experience on your Sri Lanka travel itinerary, where you will cover everything from ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites and lush tropical rain forests to pristine beach, mountains, and lakes on the exciting Sri Lanka tours on offer at local travel pioneer Jetwing Travel. Delve into a tour of cycling and mountain biking that reveals the splendid aspects of a unique culture spanning more than 2,500 years that has played host to a unique way of life on this paradise isle. The cycling tours feature the expertise and professionalism you would expect from cycle tour leaders from across the globe, and no cycling excursion is ever the same, as constant innovation is their game. In the midst of cycling through the wondrous sights of the country, you will also be able to embark on hiking, camping, wildlife safaris, canoeing, and many other excursions that will bring you up close and personal with the various aspects of the Sri Lankan landscape. Choose an excursion that is right for you, with options of discovering the serene hills country, the arid northwestern expanse, or the idyllic beach expanse of the south and eastern seaboards.

Dragon Back Hike-Nature At Its Best

The first impressions most tourists have of Hong Kong is that it’s a cosmopolitan country filled with busy streets, modern infrastructure, sky scrapers and lots of noise. However, visitors to Hong Kong will be pleasantly surprised by the beautiful countryside and luscious landscapes which are just an hour away from the city.

The Dragon’s Back trail is one such destination that is just outside of the city limits and offers a spectacular view of nature. The Dragon’s back is a unique hiking experience not only because of the name it has, but also due to the fact that the location is also extraordinary. In 2004, it was named ‘The Best Urban Hike in Asia’ because of the unique geographical features in the area. The journey begins when you step into a Hong Kong tram. The tram takes you across the Shau Kei Wan wet market, a beautiful bamboo forest and hills covered in rose myrtle and azaleas. When you step down for the hike at Dragon’s back, you will see a rugged path that winds, twists and turns its way around a mountain that is shaped like the back of a dragon.

Although it may look extremely difficult, the Dragon back hike is quite short. While trekking, there are so many spectacular views on display for you. To the east, you will see velvety green islands in the sea close to Hong Kong and the Clear Water Bay Peninsula. Towards the west, there is the Stanley Peninsula and the South China Sea. At the foot of the Dragon Back mountain is a popular surfing beach. The beach is part of the Shek O village where you could rest and dine in one of the many beach restaurants. Towards the end of the hike is a shady tunnel of tropical vegetation that is sure to cool you down in the hot weather.

The trail takes around 2 hours to complete, and there are some inclines which make it a challenging climb but it is not that difficult. There are a lot of stairs which will help you work out the calories you gained while on vacation. The best place to rest and relax is the Big Wave Bay. There are a lot of restaurants on the beach and you can always go for a swim or have a drink there.

When planning a trip to Hong Kong you shouldn’t miss out on the Dragon’s Back hike. The best way to arrange your trip is to stay at a Hong Kong hotel since the Dragon’s back is not too far off from the city. Check out a Wan Chai Hotel Hong Kong for great rooms and service. The Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong is definitely a place that can be recommended for visitors to Hong Kong.

Trekking Khao Ra

If you love adventure, making treks into the wilderness and discovering tropical getaways, then make sure to plan a trek up Khao Ra when next in Koh Phangan. Before embarking on your excursion up the island’s highest peak, look to find accommodation at Koh Phangan hotels or resorts that are ideally located by the sea, letting you fully experience a holiday in the sun, sand and surf. One of the leadingKoh Phangan resorts, Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa is one option worth considering and also has a spa in which to unwind after your mountain hikes.

Situated around 630 metres above sea level, Khao Ra provides a fascinating trek for those looking for some outdoor adventure. One can make the journey alone or hire guides from the nearby Phaeng Waterfall. The trail itself is not that hard to traverse though it can get a bit hard in some points. You will pass scenic jungles as you make your way to the top and the pathway is shaded in most parts as well. On reaching the top, one will be greeted by breathtaking views of the surrounding areas including vistas of Thong Nai Pan and Chaloklum. The trek takes about one and a half to two hours and you can plan to stop by Phaeng Waterfall on your way down and cool off in its natural pool.