Fun Adventure Sports in Phuket

If you are looking for a holiday that’s thrilling and full of adventure, then Phuket has plenty to offer! Here are some of the best activities that you can try.

Kayaking & Stand-up Paddleboarding

An activity that is perfect for exploration, kayaking & stand-up paddleboarding provide a great cardio workout too! In Phuket, real estate, hotel and resort options can be found beside the coast where you can enjoy these family-friendly water sports amidst stunning natural beauty.

Image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay

Scuba Diving

A water sport that takes you to magical underwater worlds, scuba diving in Phuket offers an unforgettable escapade in the Andaman Sea. Be you staying at beachside resorts or residing in private villas such as those at Layan Residences by Anantara, you can easily plan diving excursions; destinations like Phi Phi Island and Anemone Reef are rich in coral and marine life worth witnessing.

Image by Laura B from Pixabay

Bungy Jumping

Bungy jumping is an adventure sport that will give you plenty to scream about! Jungle Bungy Jump close to Patong is where you can try this activity and enjoy the thrill of leaping off a platform 50 metres in the air. Those afraid to do it solo can always choose the tandem bungy jump option.

Ziplining

Here’s your chance to soar through the trees and experience that Tarzan-like feeling! Ziplining in Phuket can be tried by the whole family and lets you speedily zip through lush forests or jungles. Be it at Flying Hanuman or Cable Jungle Adventure, ziplining offers a unique perspective of the island’s natural scenery too.

Image by AaronHM from Pixabay

 

The Best things to do in Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan offers everything from beachside bliss to pulsating parties that make for unforgettable adventures day or night! Here are some of the top things to do on a holiday to this Thai island.

Spend Time at the Beaches

There are some amazing beaches to visit on the island including Haad Rin Beach where the famed Full Moon Parties take place each month. Other well-known coastal hotspots include Tong Nai Pan Noi Beach home to Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, Mae Haad Beach and Leela Beach.

Image Credit: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

Enjoy Water Sports

Those wanting to do more than just laze on the sand in front of their Koh Phangan resort can try a number of water sports; snorkelling is popular as is diving at nearby Sail Rock. Kayaking is a great way to do some exploring, while activities such as wakeboarding and jet skiing offer more speed-induced thrills.

Image Credit: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

Explore Ang Thong Marine National Park

Koh Phangan is an ideal base from which to head off on excursions to the Ang Thong Marine National Park. Made up of 42 islands, this nature reserve offers lots to experience; explore secluded beaches and jungles, snorkel above pristine coral reefs and kayak amidst stunning backdrops of limestone cliffs.

Image Credit: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

Visit the Thong Sala Night Market

A “must visit” for foodies, the daily Thong Sala Night Market is one of the best spots to savour relatively cheap local dishes. Come the weekend, the Thong Sala Saturday Night Market is also worth heading to for not only food but to buy crafts, clothes and more.

Image Credit: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

 

Most thrilling wildlife safaris in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife is renowned globally, therefore it is no surprise that a vast number of visitors make sure they visit at least one of the national parks in this paradise island. Listed below are a few national parks for your itinerary.

Image credit- Pixabay,GregMontani,CC0

Yala National Park
The most famous national park in Sri Lanka, Yala is situated in the south-east region of Sri Lanka and is the second-largest park on the island. Situated roughly 300 kilometres from Colombo, several Sri Lanka holiday packages, such as the ones offered by Tangerine Tours, include this popular wildlife park. You are sure to spot an excellent range of wildlife here in Yala!

Wilpattu National Park
Located 26 kilometres from Puttalam, the park covers 425 square feet of the coastal area. Wilpattu is also one of the oldest and largest national parks in Sri Lanka. You’ll find plenty of dense shrubbery and grasslands covering this park, with its main attractions being endemic sloth bears, leopards, barking deer and elephants.

Wasgamuwa National Park
Providing refuge to countless displaces wild animals, this national park earned its place in 1984. Here is where you’ll spot a large number of elephants if you’re looking to spot them. Bird watchers find this national park rather fascinating as well, as it is considered one of the best bird-areas in Sri Lanka.

Adventurous things to do in Pattaya

If you are after some extreme thrills, then Pattaya in Thailand is the destination for you; from soaring in the sky to being hurled at breathtaking speeds, there’s never a dull moment here!

Skydiving

Enjoy the exhilaration of freefall from 13,000 feet on an unforgettable tandem skydiving experience at Thai Sky Adventures Co., Ltd. within easy reach of Travelodge Pattaya. As you feel the freedom of flight, not to mention speeds of up to 220 kph, you can channel your inner Superman or Supergirl!

Image by szanyierika97 from Pixabay 

Bungy Jumping

Equally exciting is bungy jumping at Xbungy – Pattaya Bungy Jump, one of the best places to visit in Pattaya for extreme sports enthusiasts. Reaching a height of 197 feet, it is the country’s highest bungy jump and provides an unforgettable adrenaline rush. Note: screaming optional during the jump!

Human Slingshot

Another attraction at Pattaya Bungy Jump is the Human Slingshot; you will be strapped to a full-body harness that will be stretched along silicon bungy cords till it reaches the point of launch… think of the Angry Birds concept! Once let go, you will be hurtled at rates of up to 150 kph as you are propelled back and forth at dizzying speeds.

Flyboarding

Moving from land to water, flyboarding gives you a chance to hover up to 15 metres in the air on a special board that is bound to make you feel like Iron Man (R.I.P Tony Stark). Once you get the hang of it, you can do some “tricks” and dive into the ocean and “fly” back up again; suffice to say you’ll love it (3,000)!

 

Tips for first-time visitors to Seychelles

Seychelles is a beach destination that every one of us would love to travel to during our vacations. And if you get the chance to, make sure you take it- but know the basic guidelines first!

image via Max Pixel

Take a smartphone with you

Since most of the houses and shops at Seychelles do not have addresses, finding where you should need to go to can be a little difficult. So, you need Google Maps and to support Maps, you need a smartphone. A local sim card can be bought from shops, and you may arrange a data plan too.
But, since almost all Seychelles beach resort has wireless internet connections, you don’t really have to worry about internet usage when at the resorts.

You don’t need to worry about accommodation

Most of the places you can choose for accommodation are a stone’s throw from the beach and you’ll love it. There are plenty of good hotels and resorts such as Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort at which you can enjoy your vacations to the fullest.

You can always use busses

Taking a Bus will always be the cheapest and easiest method to get around in Seychelles. Yes, the roads can be jammed with traffic sometimes, but using public transportation saves you money – big time.

Know where you can shop at

Make sure you take home something as memories when you go back from Seychelles, ending your beautiful vacation. Victoria’s City Center is one option that you can try out for a perfect shopping experience.

Complete itinerary in Busan for 3 days

ACTIVITIIES TO DO IN BUSAN
Image via Max Pixel

Busan is a nice mix of modernity, nature, temples and great food. For anyone hoping to visit Busan, here’s a guideline to make your holiday easier.

Getting around Busan

Firstly, Busan is pretty easy to get around. You can use T-money or Cashbee contactless payment cards that you can top up for transport. However, you don’t have to possess both, one of either card is good enough for Busan. You can purchase these cards from any convenience store, and you can ask the staff at your base Avani Central Busan Hotel or any of the other hotels in Busan, South Korea where the nearest store is.

Jagalchi Market

You can opt to begin your day at the Jagalchi market, a fish market that is quite easy to get to. You can choose the seafood you want on the ground floor and have them cooked at any of the restaurants upstairs, a rather unique concept.

Gamcheon Cultural Village

A neighborhood of lovely pastel shade houses built on a mountain, it has gained the title of being the Santorini of the East. Step away from the main tourist area for a more authentic and realer version of this village!

Centum City

For some shopping in Busan, make a stop at Centum City – home to the world’s largest shopping complex; Shinsegae Centum City.

 

Cruise Planning tips

A vacation on a cruise is a vacation that’s always well-spent. Many of us are little afraid to arrange a cruise holiday on our own because we think planning is a terrific process. No, it’s not! Just follow these simple steps.

Image credit- MekongKingdoms

Before everything, pick your destination and itinerary

First, plan the destination you are going to explore among the many options you have. If you select a Mekong River cruise for instance, as your next adventure, make sure you plan your itinerary that goes in hand with the cruise.

Then pick a Stateroom or Suite

The next big decision lies with the type of accommodation you need to stay on board. Cruises with agents like Mekong Kingdoms are considerate about the needs and wants of their travelers and help them pick the best for them.

Before you board, reserve the dining options

Before you board, make sure you reserve the entertainment and dining spaces too. If you like some wine or cocktails onboard, make sure you book your beverage package in advance too.

Basic packing tips

This is about planning your travel suitcase, finally. Make sure you have the basics such as sunglasses, medications, swimsuits, and clothing for different types of excursions all packed in your suitcase, together with the other things that you may need.

 

A Hiker’s Guide to Sri Lanka’s Knuckles Mountain Range

The knuckles mountain range lies in central Sri Lanka and is a popular spot for hikers. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the ideal location for those interested in hiking. Here’s more information for you!

Image by: Free-Photos  via pixabay | CC0

Hiking the mountain range

Considered a rather tough hiking trail in the country, it’s best attempted by those who have a history of experience behind them. It’s best if you have a guide when exploring Knuckles Sri Lanka, hotels in the vicinity such as the unique Wild Glamping Knuckles as it’s easy to lose track of where you are!

Mini World’s End

Located south of the mountain range lies ‘Mini World’s End’, as the name suggests, is a 1,192-metre cliff offering the best views of the mountains. The trail begins at the Knuckles Conservation Centre and is roughly 1.5 kilometres in length.

Nitro Caves

Another popular trail is the nature trail leading to the Nitro Caves, a massive cave that hundreds of bats call home. This 11-kilometre trek begins at the Corbett’s Gap and takes roughly five hours to complete.

Tips

Although streams are aplenty, there is a high chance some of them may have dried up. Therefore, it is best to bring enough water bottles and re-fill them at every stream you pass!

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

With diverse birds and animals, Sri Lanka is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. There are several fully-fledged national parks and bird parks scattered around the island as well as sightings for marine life off the coast all year round. 12% of the country is dedicated to wildlife protection; from wet rainforests to arid plains.

Image credit-Pixabay,nuzree,CC0

The Birds
Thanks to a rich tropical climate Sri Lanka there are over 400 species of birds including 200 migratory species and 33 that are endemic to the country. There are plenty of bird watching hotspots dotted across the country as well as national bird parks. It truly is an ornithologist’s dream come true.

The Mammals
One of the most iconic experiences in Sri Lanka is seeing an elephant in the wild. It is a phenomenal experience and one that you should consider. Minneriya is possibly the best place, especially since the elephants gather at the edge of a man-made lake to socialise and swim.
Yala and Wilpattu National Park are great to spot many of the 102 mammals, 90 of which are indigenous to the island distributed across the diverse climate and geography of the island.

The Marine Life
With packages like Tangerine Tours, you can also book a safari into the sea to go whale watching or swimming with a dolphin or simply staking out on a beach to watch a sea turtle wander in to lay her eggs.

Things You Shouldn’t Miss
Make sure you add Minneriya National Park, Horton Plains, Yala National Park, Sinharaja Rainforest and Wilpattu National Park to your itinerary.

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+.

Tips for Women Travelling in Doha

Thanks to Doha’s dynamic and fast-paced development, it has become a cosmopolitan and multicultural and steeped in so much rich Arabic history it is the perfect place to go for a unique holiday that gives you the best of both worlds. If you are a woman visiting alone here are some general tips to make the trip much more enjoyable.

 

Img via Pixabay

1. Best Time to Visit

Go in the winter! Between November to March, the mornings would get as hot as 28 degrees Celsius while at night it tends to get quite cold, almost 12 degrees Celsius.

2. Getting Around

Take an Uber or another type of ride app as that would be the safest option. You can also ask your local resort like Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels By Tivoli if they could provide transport for you. It’s highly recommended that you don’t try to drive as traffic can be pretty bad.

3. Outside the City

As mentioned, Doha is a metropolis, but it is also steeped in a lot of culture, and there is a higher chance that you can go out to explore the desert, take a half-day camel safari or go sandboarding.

4. Eating Well

There is plenty of food for all kinds of budgets, but keep in mind that as a Muslim country there will not be any pork available.

5. Dress Specifics

Tourists in Doha don’t have to adhere to a dress code, but women are expected to dress modestly. If you follow the rule of thumb to keep your shoulders and knees covered, you should be okay. Hotels in Doha, however, will allow you to dress as you please while you are inside.

 

 

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+