Ha Long Bay Cruise in Style

Meaning the “Descending Dragon” in the Sino-Vietnamese dialect, Ha Long Bay is a beautiful destination that’s perfect for cruise and stay holidays. Here is a guide to help you get the best out of your experience here.

Trekking Travel's Asia Cruise in Halong bay.
Trekking Travel’s Asia Cruise in Halong bay  via Wikimedia Commons

Where?

The bay is situated on the North East of the country, about 3-4 hours away from the capital Hanoi. The area designated as a World Natural Heritage Site consists of 434 square kilometers including 775 islets.

Why?

If the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site doesn’t convince you to visit this heavenly getaway, do some research on travel guides like The Luxury Travel Channel and you’ll want to pack your bags right away! One of the most beautiful of luxury holiday destinations in Vietnam and in the world, Ha Long Bay has an impressive collection of sights and things to do. Some of them are the thousands of limestone isles and karsts that you’ll see in various shapes and sizes.

A Cruise To Remember

Cruising in Ha Long Bay in a traditional junk boat is the most popular activity among the majority of the 6 million travellers that visit the bay every year. Do some research on the types of tours before you go as they vary from say trip cruises to 2, 3 or 4-day cruises.

Much more than just “messing about in boats”

There’s more to do that just cruising around in Ha Long Bay. You can go island hopping and discover the beauty of Cat Ba Island and others. Go diving and be blown away by the breathtaking range of underwater wonders that range from colourful coral reefs to kaleidoscopic schools of fish.


Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Bali Safari & Marine Park

Experience the ‘wild side’ of the Island of Gods at the Bali Safari & Marine Park; here you can see animals from all around the world roaming freely in habitats similar to their natural environs. It is the perfect place to enjoy with the whole family and get up close with certain creatures too.

Where can it be found

Launched in 2007, the Bali Safari & Marine Park is located in the island’s Gianyar regency. Spread across a massive 40 hectare property, this popular attraction is open daily from 09:00am to 17:00pm. Be you staying at a budget rest house or boutique hotel Bali has to offer such as Alila Manggis planning a visit here is worth it.

File:Bali Safari & Marine Park.jpg
Walter LimBali Safari & Marine ParkCC BY 2.0

The safari experience

This thrilling guided safari ride takes place on air-conditioned trams that drive through special open spaces. These areas have been carefully made to resemble natural habitats including those of Africa, Indonesia and India.

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Yogwi21Bali Safari Animal 2CC BY-SA 3.0

The Wildlife

There is much to see on a safari ride at the park; on your adventures, you can glimpse everything from majestic Indian white tigers to Himalayan bears as well as African hippos, lions, camels, black bucks, baboons, elephants and a whole lot more!

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Yogwi21Bali Safari Animal 3CC BY-SA 3.0

Highlights at the park

Not to be missed is ‘Ranthambore’ where you can see white tigers amidst a setting of an ancient Rajasthan fort and a special area where elephants are looked after. You also get several animal themed shows and even a chance to take photos with some of the friendly wild inhabitants.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Best Adventure Activities to Try in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is becoming one of the most reputed cities in the world, with some truly unforgettable experiences for adrenaline junkies.

Drive an Exotic Sports Car

You can select from a series of exotic vehicles at the Yas Marina Circuit and receive training by a professional racing driver. The experiences available currently include the Aston Martin GT4, Jaguar F-Type, and the Chevrolet Camaro SS.

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Pi3.124YasMarina1CC BY-SA 3.0

Ride the World’s Fastest Rollercoaster

The Formula Rossa, located at Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World theme park, is the world’s fastest roller-coaster, with a top speed of 240 kph. You also get to visit the world’s first Ferrari-themed amusement park which is an additional experience right there.

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Jazon88Formula Rossa coasterCC BY-SA 3.0

Explore an Island Dedicated to Wildlife Preservation

This is definitely one of the best experiences Abu Dhabi has to offer, and the selection of adventurous experiences is astonishing, ranging from fat-biking to kayaking. You can go all the way and reside at an Abu Dhabi pool villa on the island, at one of the three Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts.

Image Credit: Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts

Desert Safari

A desert safari will always be one of the most popular and sought-after experiences Abu Dhabi has to offer. After tackling the dunes in an 4X4, visitors will be taken to a camp where they can experience quad-biking, camel-riding, belly-dancing and a heap of other sights and activities.

Desert, Desert Safari, Ride, Quads, Trip, Egypt, Dust

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

Pulau Payar Marine park Langkawi

Langkawi, also known as the Jewel of Kedah, is definitely one of the most beautiful tropical landscapes in the world, and consists of 104 islands situated off the North-West of Malaysia.

 

Background to Pulau Payar Marine Park

The park actually consists of four islands, which are Payar, Lembu, Kaca, and Segantang. These islands are renowned for their biodiversity, and were eventually integrated to form a unified marine sanctuary. Payar is the largest of the islands, and contains the Marine Park Centre.

Aquatic Activities

If you’re into snorkelling or scuba diving then there’s no better place in Langkawi to indulge in these activities. The best dive/snorkel site of the park is Coral Garden but unfortunately that area is currently closed to the public in order to preserve the coral.

Hiking Trails

If you do not wish to get yourself wet then the best thing for you to do would be to tackle one of the many hiking trails that are available throughout the park. This is a great way to explore the beautiful sights that the islands have to offer on the surface.

Getting to the Park

The park can easily be accessed by boat or catamaran, so if you’re residing in many of the hotels Langkawi has to offer such as Berjaya Langkawi Resort, you won’t have any trouble getting to the park.

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

Best things to do in Otaru

This scenic town in Asia has many things you can do, to while away your time during a weekend getaway with your loved ones.

Snow Light Path Festival

If you are in town during the month of February, don’t miss out on the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. The city is decorated with lights and tiny snow statues and the festival lasts for 10 whole days. You’d feel like you are inside an old Dickens novel, it’s a must-see.

Otaru Canal Promenade | Image Credit - Markus Leupold-Löwenthal, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons
Otaru Canal Promenade | Image Credit – Markus Leupold-Löwenthal, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons

Visit the Canal

Hotels in the Asia Pacific almost always is close to water bodies, and the Park Hotel Group is no different, with the hotel being within travelling distance to the Otaru Canal. This canal has a rich history and is a part of many monumental times in the past. Take a walk along the path during a quiet evening and sit in one of the restaurants overlooking the canal.

Nikka Whiskey Yoichi Distillery

Known for being one of the best whiskey makers in Japan, they have a distillery in Otaru, and also provide tours inside the building, taking you through the process of whiskey making.

Sakaimachi Street

The central merchant street in Otaru, you can get your shopping done here, and walk to this street for the daily essentials too.

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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