Activities - The Adventure Travel Site

Hiking the Dragon Crest Mountain Trail

Hiking enthusiasts heading to Krabi should not miss exploring the Dragon Crest Mountain Trail which is among the area’s best loved trekking hubs for travellers and locals alike.

Dragon Crest Mountain at a Glance

Known as Khao Ngon Nak in the local tongue, Dragon Crest Mountain is no ordinary hiking hub in Krabi. With a 3.7km long hiking trail that leads to some of the most spectacular viewing points in the area, it is a must explore highlight for all visitors. Accessible free of charge, the mountain is easy to navigate even for the least experienced hikers. The entire hike takes no more than 2 and a half hours or even an hour, depending on one’s own fitness and hiking prowess. The best reward of the hike awaits travellers who reach the top as it is said that all of Krabi lays open before one’s eyes.

Reaching Dragon Crest Mountain

The best way to reach the Dragon Crest Mountain is to hop on a motorbike taxi or a rented motorcycle and drive up to the location. It is important to carry bottles of water and snacks as there are few shops at the base of the mountain. Those based at Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort or any similar hotel in Ao Nang Krabi can get a picnic to go or a hamper full of snacks prepared in advance. The hiking trail also closes to visitors by 5pm so heading there early in the morning is recommended.

The Experience

Well marked with various points designated, the trail is easy to navigate. Hikers will also find picturesque areas and viewpoints on the way to the top so don’t forget to bring a camera.

Bangkok River Tours Set Sail Through the City

Sailing through the Chao Phraya River is one of the best ways to explore Bangkok. River cruises can take you to most attractions across the city.

Life-giving Chao Phraya River

The river snakes through several towns in the country, blessing it with nature’s bounty. When the Chao Phraya River makes its way to Bangkok, it meanders across the city. You can follow its path to experience different sides of the city.

Sailing along the river

There are many options available to sail the Chao Phraya River. But one of the best experiences you can savour is going on a cruise in Bangkok, especially one that offers comfort and indulgence. For example, Manohara Cruise company offers dining journeys. The river swirls through iconic landmarks, markets and urban landscapes.

Clay Gilliland, Bangkok along the Chao Phraya and Wat Arun (14881740197), CC BY-SA 2.0

Where you’ll go

You’ll be able to access a number of key attractions in the city from the river. The Grand Palace is perhaps the most iconic one while Khao San Road is (the party hub in Bangkok) is another favourite with travellers. You can also visit Wat Arun temple and the National Museum of Barges.

Mr.Peerapong Prasutr, Bangkok Royal Barge National Museum 4, CC BY-SA 4.0

Floating markets

Don’t skip out on checking a few floating markets along the river. You’ll find delectable food, local handicrafts and even toys amongst wares of the vendors on their boats.

Roberto Faccenda from Canale CN, Italy, Understanding the “floating market” (15801439261), CC BY-SA 2.0

Explore Many Options at the Phuket Night Markets

While Phuket is renowned for its natural beauty – most notably its famous white sand beaches – there is still more to this Thai island! In fact, one of its most fascinating attractions can be found inland, amidst the bustle of the cities – Phuket’s night markets!

Chillva Market

If you’re looking for the hippest night market in town, the Chillva Market is the place to be. Located by Yaowarat Road, you’ll find everything from snacks to souvenirs and high fashion here. If you do work up a real appetite while here, don’t worry – you won’t have trouble finding a great Thai restaurant in Phuket. For example, Dee Plee Restaurant is less than thirty minutes away!

The Weekend Market

Held – as the name suggests – on the weekend, this is the largest night market you’ll find in Phuket! The stalls are a chaotic yet charming blend of food trucks, pawn shops, curios, and antique vendors and a whole lot more. This market can get quite crowded, but you’re likely to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs or a dish that packs some inimitable flavours if you’re persistent.

Christophe95, Phuket Weekend Market, CC BY-SA 4.0

Indy Night Market

The Indy market is all about supporting small independent traders and giving them a platform to showcase and sell their wares. Compared to some of the larger markets, the Indy Night Market is generally quiet and very rarely attracts large crowds. Still, despite its small size, this market has plenty of unique goods to offer and is well worth a visit.

Walking Street

This perhaps the most scenic night market you’ll find in Phuket – so much so, that it is considered to be a cultural landmark! The Walking Street is lit up in the night by various lights that emit vibrant colours, inducing an ambience that is somewhat magical and mystical. Aside from your usual stalls, you’ll find various street performers and artists here – from mimes to fire-breathers!

Blue Whale Watching Ahungalla

The warm blue waters off the coast of Mirissa, Sri Lanka harbour some of the largest creatures on the planet – gigantic blue whales. If you’re planning a vacation to this tropical paradise, whale watching should definitely be near the top of your to-do list!

Best Time to Visit

From April to November – the time of the North-west monsoons – is the best time to go whale watching in Sri Lanka, as massive herds of blue and humpback whales pass through Sri Lankan waters in search of warm waters to the West and South.

How to Get There

Mirissa is a fishing village well known for its rather large fishing harbour. Still, it isn’t as developed as other beach destinations in the island, meaning it’s best to seek accommodation options in the surrounding areas. For example, there’s plenty of hotels in Ahungalla – which is around a couple of hours’ boat ride away – such as the Heritance Ahungalla.

About Blue Whales

The main characters of your whale watching trip will be majestic blue whales. Growing close to 30 metres in length and weighing over 150 tonnes, these are the largest living animals to have ever existed on the planet – that’s right, they even dwarf the largest dinosaurs! It’s ironic then that these behemoths feed on some of the smallest animals in the ocean – krill and plankton – with their specialised baleen mouth parts.

Whale Watching Practices

Unfortunately, like most large animals today, blue whales are under threat of extinction due to human activity – notably the (now mostly banned) practice of commercial whaling. As such, when whale watching, measures are taken to ensure that we don’t interfere with the whales’ natural behaviour. Notably, fewer passengers are allowed on board whale watching vessels, and these are always closely monitored by the Sri Lankan Coastguard.

Enjoy A Bumpy Yala Safari Ride to Satisfy Your Adventurous Thirst

Sri Lanka is often cited as one of the premier safari locations in Asia. The island has a number of national parks that harbour an array of fascinating wildlife – both big and small. Among these, Yala National Park is perhaps the most popular and with good reason too!

Where is Yala

Yala lies to the southeast of Sri Lanka and is bordered by the Indian Ocean. Specifically, it is around 300km away from Colombo, but the journey is relatively easy due to Sri Lanka’s highly-developed road network. There are several parks adjacent to Yala as well, all of these in tandem create a hotspot for some of the island’s wildest denizens.

Dan arndt, Wetland – Yala NP, CC BY-SA 4.0

When to Go on Safari

Most Yala hotels, such as the Cinnamon Wild Yala, always keep their guests informed that there are two peak times to go on safari – dawn and dusk. The cool air means that animals are more active during these times, so you’re more likely to spot Yala’s fascinating denizens.

Thilinakaluthotage, කැලේ අයුතිකාරයා, CC BY-SA 4.0

Interconnected Ecosystems

Yala National Park is made up of a number of unique ecosystems that all intertwine together. Habitats range from dense scrub forests, open grasslands, dense woods, and placid lagoons. Watering holes, in particular, are fascinating biomes that often attract a litany of different animals.

The Park’s Wildlife

By far, Yala’s most famous attraction is its leopards. In fact, the park has one of the highest densities of wild leopard in the world! Now, as you keep your eyes peeled for this elusive big cat, don’t miss out on all of Yala’s other iconic characters – there are the majestic Asian elephant, the ill-tempered buffalo, and skittish chital to name a few.

© Mahoora Tented Safari Camps (https://www.mahoora.com/) / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Leopard in Yala National Park, CC BY-SA 4.0

Top beaches in Praslin

A luxurious beach getaway is all that you need when boredom or life stress strikes. Either alone by yourself or with your better half, just explore these beaches you find in Praslin and the relaxation you’ll feel is guaranteed.

Anse Lazio

This is popularly known as the best beach in Praslin Island that’s blessed with crystal clear waters and white sands. If your idea is to spend your time swimming and snorkeling, this is, of course, the ideal beach for you.

Cote d’Or

If you are spending your family vacation at a nearby resort such as Berjaya Praslin Resort, travel to this laid-back beach to simply unwind. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets with your family here, and your kids will love it too!

Anse La Blague

Praslin resort facilities will always be special for honeymooners, and so will its beaches. Among them, Anse La Blague is one of the most popular beaches among newly wedded couples, as it’s so secluded and serene.

Anse Madge

If you are looking for a silent and calm beach, Anse Madge is the beach for you. While sipping on a tropical drink, you can just lay back here and relax as much as you want.

Langkawi Bucket List

In a country renowned for its natural beauty and scenic destinations, Langkawi stands out as Malaysia’s premier beach destination. From picturesque views to enthralling escapades, this little slice of paradise has got it all! Now if you ever find yourself vacationing here, these are the four things you want to tick off your bucket list.

Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, Langkawi Malaysia mangrove-Tour-Jetty-01, CC BY-SA 3.0

Island Hopping

Island hopping is one of the most popular activities to do in Langkawi. So much so, that pretty much all major Langkawi resort hotels will include it on their itinerary list – for example, the Berjaya Langkawi Resort. Here you’ll be travelling from one tropical paradise to another, exploring white sand beaches and mystical caves along the way.

Exploring the Mangroves

The area that surrounds the Langkawi beach is full of dense mangrove forests. This is a refuge for a variety of unique plants and animals that aren’t found anywhere else in Malaysia. By hiring a boat and a guide you can go on safari here and experience this fascinating ecosystem first-hand.

Going Snorkelling

It’s no surprise that the azure blue waters that lap away at the Langkawi beaches hide a vast reef of vibrant corals just waiting to be explored. There are even artificial reefs that have formed around old shipwrecks that are now teeming with life. So, grab your gear and go snorkelling if you’re ever here!

Reaching the Highest Peaks

Not every one of Langkawi’s attractions is centred around the Ocean – the Gunung Raya is the region’s highest peak and makes for an excellent hiking trip. The way up to the peak takes you through the dense rainforest that is full of vibrant characters like leaf monkeys and cheery songbirds. If you keep your eyes peeled you might even catch a glimpse of the majestic great hornbill!

The Must Know Ski Guide

Rushing down white peaks with wind billowing past, as your shift your weight from side to side with laser focus is a thrill that is wished by many but known to few, so buckle up for an experience of a lifetime.

Are you ready?

While it may be disheartening to some, it is a taxing sport, so it is worth mentioning that you should focus on some strength building exercises before attempting any major slopes.

Image Credit: Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside

Accept Falling:

Going hand in hand with skiing is falling, so learn to embrace the odd tumble as you fight for balance. If you are at a Whistler hotel the likes of Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside, try some skiig at the wide expanse of snowy mountains here.

Yes, you can get sunburnt in the snow. So be sure to pack in enough sunscreen so that you do not have to spend the rest of the time wincing at every step!

Learn to wear ski boots:

These contraptions are a must when it comes to skiing so it is best to under select the boots that fit you best in order to be able to truly appreciate the experience on the slopes.

Dig into the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya

Once a safe haven for a king with an artistic turn of mind, Sigiriya rock fortress is an intriguing historical site.

Time your climb

You should plan to climb the rock as early as possible to avoid the heat of the day. Book a Sri Lanka resort nearby and make your way to the site early in the morning. For example, from Habarana Village by Cinnamon, you can reach the site under 30 minutes by car.

A little bit of history

King Kashyapa, who loved art and fine living, built his palace complex atop a monolithic rock pillar in the 5th century. He sought to escape potential enemies and live a life of indulgence. Engineering feature of the palace complex is just as fascinating as its art.

Explore the gardens

This amazing structure was once full of beautiful gardens. The water garden on top, in particular, had been laid out with immaculate precision to consist of various ponds and fountains.

Check out the frescoes

Subject to much controversy and dispute amongst archaeologist, Sigiriya frescoes depict exquisite, bare-chested damsels carrying bunches of flowers.

The mirror wall and its poetry

In its heyday, the mirror wall would have been a gleaming surface for poets and visitors to scribble their snippets in admiration of the genius of the rock fortress.

Enthral yourself with an Exciting Trek to Explore the Forbidden Beauties of Udawattakele

Udawattakele is a forest haven found on the outskirts of Kandy and is a refuge for all manner of unique and fascinating wildlife. This wilderness also contains the ruins of a bygone era, making this refuge quite the treat to explore!

Z thomas, Udawattakele kandy 2017-10-20 (5), CC BY-SA 4.0

The Wildlife

Most Kandy hotels found close to Udawattakele – for example, the Cinnamon Citadel Kandy– will make mention of all the wonderful wildlife you’re likely to see when visiting the forest. Some of the notable species found here include the elusive fishing cat – one of only four species of wild cat found in Sri Lanka – and the rowdy toque macaque.

A Bird Lover’s Paradise

Now, when it comes to wildlife, the avifauna is without a doubt Udawattakele’s main attraction. If you’re at all into birdwatching, a trip here is a no-brainer. Many exotic bird varieties are found in this forest haven, including the rare Layard’s parakeet and the nocturnal brown fishing owl.

Ancient Kandyan Ruins

Deep in the forest, you’ll find the remnants of the fallen Kingdom of Kandy – a call-back to the glory days of proud kings and Sri Lankan royalty. Some of the more important ruins include the Royal Pond and Lady Horton’s Road.

Exploring Buddhist Hermitages

Dotted around the forest are a series of ancient caves that were once used by Buddhist monks as a refuge to rest and meditate in. The most notable of these is the Senkada Cave, which is thought to have been used by a lone hermit once – now you’ll find that it has been reclaimed by the forest’s denizens!