Activities - The Adventure Travel Site

Whale Watching in Mirissa

Referred to as the pearl of the Indian Ocean due to its shape, Sri Lanka however a treasure because of the unlimited amount of resources is truly available within it. Showered with endless blessings the island is often referred to as the paradise island. The ocean around the island is a habitat for a wide variety of marine life. Whale watching in Mirissa has become a hot spot among many tourists to catch a glimpse of some of the rarest sites of these breath taking creatures of the ocean.

All around the island one could find number of beaches, however some of the very first resort destinations were born in the South. Since then the region has been famous among tourist. Abandon accommodation options are available here. A popular choice among visitors has been Cantaloupe Levels. Having a total of 9 rooms this boutique hotel offers some of the great panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The location of the hotel is ideal to explore the towns around it such as Unawatuna , Hikkaduwa, Galle and Mirissa among others.

Mirissa in the South of the country is regarded as the paradise for Whale watching in Sri Lanka. The season for Whale watching starts in November and April. Just before and after the season given the seas are calm and warm there still maybe a chance to witness these sea giants put on a show. Some of the species of whales that can be spotted in and around the Oceans of Mirissa is Blue whale, Bryde Whale, Sperm Whales, Fin Whales and sometimes Killer Whales. On these tours one can also spot fish such as Blue Fin Tuna, Flying fish and Sea Turtles.

There are various tour operators offering various packages and there are sometimes hotel operated tours as well. The ideal time to go into the ocean would be the early hours of the morning.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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Echo Beach in Seminyak

Echo Beach is known as one of Bali’s most recently christened surf spots. The name comes from its local name ‘Pantai Batu Mejan’, named after a significant Balinese Hindu sea temple on site. It shares the tranquil rice field-landscaped region of Canggu with other wave-riding landscapes such as Berawa, Seseh and Pererenan. Echo Beach has become quite popular due to its advanced reef breaks, 180-degree seascape & sunsets and array of delicious seafood restaurants placed on a high vantage point from where you can enjoy the beauty of it all. Among the many lodging places available around Echo Beach are some fine Seminyak Bali villas such as Samaja Villas Beachside.

The ever popular black-sand beach is approximately 35km northwest of Kuta and Seminyak, and another few kilometres drive west from the provincial capital of Denpasar. The journey further west would bring you to Canggu’s green expanses of paddies which remain well-kept and tended to by local villagers. Echo Beach is at the end of Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan, the road originally named after its temple, but now carrying more signposts bearing its new nickname. There are plenty of rows of shacks with surfboards for rent, ding repairs, and a motorcycle parking spot for the convenience of tourists.
The paved alley left of the gate is lined up with sunset dining spots starting with Sticky Fingers Osteria Italiana, then Sate Bali, Dian Café, and the Echo Beach House. Most open during the day but quite a few are opened up towards the evening with barbecues and unique boat-shaped buffets at sunset. At the far end of the cafes you are able to see the outline of the centuries-old temple. The temple and the cafes sit on a small cliff overlooking the surf, and the black-sand beach is accessible down a few steps to the right of the gate. A hundred metres along the coastline nestled on the low-lying rocks is Sand Bar, parasols and colourful beanbags await you for great chill-out sessions. Echo Beach is a wonderful locality that serves as one of the island’s best surf spots, and a great place to chill with a laid-back vibe, great views, and delicious seafood.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
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Koh Samui Canopy Adventures

If you’re a certain kind of person that is a thrill-seeker and nature hunter, then the world has a special place that will be a true retreat for you. The kingdom of Thailand contains a bounty of serene sights, ranging from lush rainforests, stunning coral reefs, and glamorous beaches. There is one island in particular that enables tourists to experience her wonders in a manner that is one of a kind. The island in mention is Koh Samui, and her canopy adventure concept involves travelling at break-neck speeds over the rainforests commando-style, through the use of a zip line.
Foreign visitors looking to experience a thrilling vacation in a tropical landscape has many an accommodation option to select from within the island of Koh Samui, since it is a very popular tourist destination with hotel occupancy rates reaching upwards beyond seventy percent during peak seasons. A place that stands above the rest for providing adrenaline fueled activities among five-star service is the Anantara Lawana Samui Resort & Spa, a famous Samui beach resort that attracts thrill-seekers and those who love serenity simultaneously.
Tourists have been flying over the rainforests of Koh Samui since 2009, which was when the Koh Samui Canopy adventures came into existence, providing a zip-line adventure where tourists, strapped to a harness can soar through the forests and catch first hand glimpses of all her wonders. The ride is divided into four sections, with the first section starting off smooth and gentle, with the subsequent ones gradually increasing in intensity. Riders can witness green pastures, tropical foliage, panoramic coastlines and in one instance, a majestic waterfall that leads to a swimming hole where they can cool off after their adventure.
The Koh Samui Canopy adventures can be enjoyed by anyone, with no experience required in order to participate. All one has to do is follow the guide’s instructions and then soar through unspoilt rainforest. So head over to Thailand and experience the ride of your lifetime.

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 travelers.

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Whale and Dolphin Watching, Mirissa

You scan the horizon, stretching into infinity. Morning has broken and the sounds of the sea are all around. The waves lap against the hull as you push deeper into the great azure that is the Indian Ocean. Suddenly up ahead you spot movement. A huge form, primordial like, slowly breaks to the surface as you watch with bated breath. Rising above just long enough for you to witness the sheer majesty and awe-inspiring size is the unforgettable sight of a blue whale, swimming wild and free in its ocean home. Whale watching in Mirissa, Sri Lanka certainly offers an amazing journey of discovery out to sea!

Mirissa can be found along the South Coast of the country and if you are in search of beach hotels in Sri Lanka along this stretch of shoreline, then consider options such as Citrus Waskaduwa. Plan an excursion from here to Mirissa Harbour where whale and dolphin watching trips begin early morning, generally between 6.30 – 7.00 am. The best time to spot whales is from November to April, with December to March being considered the peak period for sightings.

Your voyage out to sea can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours and while there is no guarantee of seeing these magnificent marine mammals, it is an adventure nevertheless. Not as elusive as the whale are the different varieties of dolphins that inhabit these waters. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are the most commonly seen varieties here. However the main draw are the whales be it blue, fin or sperm whales that have been spotted in the seas around Miriisa.

Make sure you bring along some suntan lotion, sun glasses and hats or caps because though it is relatively early morning, it can get quite hot. Also carry a pair of binoculars if you have one and it goes without saying to bring a camera or camcorder with you to capture that special moment when you see your first whale. Also have some sea sickness pills just in case; the constant rocking of the boat may test ‘landlubbers!’

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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Bali Dolphin Tours

Bali in the recent years has blossomed into a tourist paradise, with visitors coming in from all across the globe. The main reasons for them to pick this exotic island are the endless beaches, the crystal clear waters, the food and the entertainment. Many who have visited the island have also highly boasted about the accommodation available here. Starwood Indonesia is one of the highly recommended hotels by past visitors.

Bali travel tips include a varying range of activities, one that has gained a lot of prominence in the recent years has been the Dolphin watching activities around the island. The perfect place to catch a glimpse of the magnificent t creatures would be Lovina Beach. The beach is very popular among tourist as the calm waters are habitat for Dolphins. The tours take place in the early hours of the morning where the visitors are taken into the sea using traditional outrigger boats and are stay until the Dolphins come above waters. The view is priceless as the sun just rises and these beauties come out of the waters to play. The tour organizers allow a good deal of time before they bid good bye to these harmless giants.

The visitors are then taken to Git Git water fall which is in the middle of rain forest and is a great deal of fresh breath to add to the journey. The water is a major tourist attraction in Bali, the water is crystal clean and sometimes there are people playing around the falls.

Another one of the attractions that the tour takes the visitors past is the the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. Located in the highlands beside the lake Beratan, the temple is dedicated to the goddess of people as the lake is the main source of irrigation for the people of this part of the region. This is the final part of the Dolphin Tour.

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 travelers. Google+

Island Hopping Adventures in the Maldives

If you’re wondering what’s better than visiting a tropical island paradise in the Indian Ocean, one can perhaps conclude that the answer to it is visiting an assortment of islands on the Indian Ocean. The place where you can embark on a journey of visiting a number of unique tropical wonderlands in a single day, is the Maldives, where island-hopping adventures, a concept that sounds like the epitome of adventure, is a commonplace occurrence. The nation’s chain of island’s offer visitors the unique experience of travelling from one unique island to another, instantly witnessing the remarkable scope of the tropical realm that is the country of Maldives. The nature of these islands varies from being utilized as industrial locations to resort islands, while the majority of the land-masses are un-inhabited islands that are examples of pristine tropical splendor.

Island hopping adventures are commonly organize by resort islands, whereby guests can embark on unique voyages whose likes cannot be experiences in any other corner of the world. A resort chain in particular one should keep an eye out for are the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, a renowned Sri Lanka hotels brand that is widely recognized in South-East Asia. Throughout the course of your island hopping journey you can learn about the distinct culture of the Maldives, through discussions with the many locals you may encounter or by simply observing the lavish ornaments designed by the sovereign nation’s talented artisans. Certain islands even offer traditional dance and musical routines as welcome to their foreign visitors. Through a visit to an industrial island one can educate themselves in the operations of world-class fishing-companies in their massive fish-processing factories. If one wishes to go snorkeling, there’s a selection of over a thousand coral-islands for you to explore the magic of the sub-marine wonders that lay under the shallow depths of the Maldive seas.

Embark on a one-of-a-kind and discover the true Maldives through an island hopping adventure.

Madu River Mangrives

Located within the Galle district of the Southern province of Sri Lanka, is the beautiful coastal town of Unawatuna, a major tourist attraction notorious for its pristine, unspoiled beaches. Many believe that the paradise mentioned the epic poem Ramayana is actually Unawatuna, due to the almost identical descriptions. For anyone visiting this magnificent locale, there are a wide variety of accommodation options available given its popularity as a tourist hot spot. One of the most elite of such locales is Cantaloupe Levels, a luxurious boutique hotel.

Although the beaches are always the spotlight of Unawatuna, there are many unique and special aspects of the coastal town that are constantly overlooked. The mangroves of Madu River contain a bounty of diverse ecological treasures just waiting to be discovered. The most popular way one can do so is through a Madu River boat ride, where one can completely immerse themselves in the tranquility and suspense of the Madu River. The suspense is due to the Madu River playing refuge to certain species of crocodile amongst its diverse portfolio of fauna. The Madu River is also highly popular by bird-watchers due to the one hundred plus exotic species of feather-bound creatures that inhabit its reaches. In addition to the ecological treasures, the river safari will also bestow upon anyone embarking on it, a first-hand glimpse of the River’s historical significance, where one can explore the dozens of islet that scatter the area. Most of these are home to local communities that have inhabited the land for generations, with most of them carrying out the traditional task of cinnamon peeling. One of the islets, the one known as ‘Koth Duwa’, is the site of an ancient Buddhist temple that dates back to the Ancient kings of Sri Lanka.

So hop aboard a boat and embark on an adventure along the Madu River where nature and history await.

Maduganga River Safari

Madu Ganga, a coastal wetland ecosystem and estuary located at Balapitiya, is a virgin mangrove forest in Sri Lanka. The best way to experience the beauty of this is by boat. This safari takes one through cool and shady mangrove caves, secluded islands, cinnamon plantations, ancient temples and plenty more. This river safari is the one of the best things to do in Bentota while staying at the beautiful Saman Villas hotel.

The river has around 64 islands, and is also a birdwatcher’s paradise and home to exotic bird species. As cruising along the river, one passes through thick mangrove vegetation, monkeys chilling on treetops, and giant water monitors weaving through the waters. Further upstream, kraal-fishing constructions made of bamboo, used for prawn fishing is plentiful. A collection of islets is found in this region, from tiny specks housing deserted shrines, to larger ones home to over 250 families connected to the mainland by a footbridge. One can see these inhabitants engaged in traditional cottage industries like fishing and cinnamon production.

Cruising along, one can visit the cultural landmark the Kothdoowa Raja Viharya. This ancient temple is on a beautiful setting on the river, where one can feed the friendly mountain squirrels that reside on the island, receive blessing from the head priest, take a tour of the temple and discover the 130 year old Bo tree.

The boat ride stops over at a floating fish farm where one have a can an extremely unique pedicure, where, hundreds of red tilapia fish in a small square begin to nibble at the feet when dipped in to the water. This fish nibbling can be quite relaxing.

There is also an island where cinnamon products are made. A small demonstration doneby a local shows how the cinnamon bark is peeled and processed. One can buy fresh cinnamon and cinnamon oil here.

Thus a Maduganga river safari can be an exhilarating experience while visiting Bentota.

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.

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Eco Adventures in Turks and Caicos

A big blue escape into heaven, the Turks and Caicos archipelago holds many wonders for you to explore. The islands are recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots due to the conditions created by the oldest established salt-pan development in the Caribbean. So if you’re heading out to the islands of wonder, eco tours should be at the top of the list of things to do in Turks and Caicos.

While you hop from island to island exploring its rich biodiversity, it’s essential that you are comfortably based, and Parrot Cay by COMO, Turks & Caicos is just the perfect getaway for you as this premier among luxury resorts in the Caribbean arranges eco tours in affiliation with Big Blue Unlimited, the most comprehensive watersports and eco-tour outfit in the islands. With these tours you will get to visit an 18th Century cotton plantation and get to know about the early agricultural history of the islands; the Kew village where you will be treated to an exotic Turks and Caicos lunch, and then travel to the Flamingo Pond Nature Reserve to see the beloved national bird. The tour also includes visits to Middle Caicos that consists of extensive limestone caves, Mudjin Harbour with its beautiful beaches and cliffs; and go shopping for local handicrafts.

Turks and Caicos boast a wide variety of endemic species and others of international importance such as lizards, snakes, insects and plants. It is also recognized as an important breeding ground. But the real adventure and magic lies underneath its crystal, clear waters. Take a dive and explore Columbus Landfall Marine National Park which has a 1,280 acre area that consists of a barrier reef system with coral walls dropping more than 7,000 feet. Other than the colourful corals, schools of vibrant fish of many species and colours are there to delight you.

Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world. Google+

Snorkelling in Mirissa Beach Sri Lanka

Are you looking for the perfect island getaway, a place where turquoise-blue seas lap a shore fringed by tall coconut trees? If your answer is ‘yes’ then Sri Lanka is the place to be! Dubbed the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is truly an island paradise. Home to 1340 kilometres of coastline, Sri Lanka’s breathtaking beaches are a favourite local hangout, and one of the reasons tourists keep coming back!

Some of Sri Lanka’s most famous beaches lie a few kilometres to the south of the country’s commercial capital of Colombo and is a comfortable half day journey away from the bustling Colombo city. The journey to Sri Lanka’s South will take you through quaint coastal towns that is home to many beachside resorts and a hardworking fishing community. Visit the famous Mirissa beach which lies in Sri Lanka’s extreme south and be blown away by its beautiful surroundings overlooked by CASA Colombo Collection Mirissa. As many a Mirissa hotel and restaurant lie away from the beach, the crescent shaped Mirissa beach can be enjoyed in complete privacy. Witness the beautiful sunrise and stroll along the beach to watch fishing boats return to shore while an afternoon can be spent surfing or sipping on refreshing king coconut while reading a book under a shady coconut tree.

Come the Whale Watching season from November-April, Mirissa comes abuzz with excitement as excited locals descend to Mirissa for the many boat rides that take them on whale watching excursions. Here visitors are treated to the sight of Blue whales, Sperm whales and Bottlenose dolphins. However if you want to escape the crowds and discover the Island’s sea life on your own, the shallow, calm waters of the eastern Mirissa beach is ideal for snorkelling. Spend an afternoon snorkelling in the cool waters off Mirissa’s coast and admire abundant sea life including Bluefin tuna and Flying fish among beautiful corals and wandering turtles. It’s this along with breathtaking sunsets and a picture-perfect coastline that make Mirissa a vital part of Sri Lanka’s serendipity story!

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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