Thursday, April 15, 2010

tour to himachal pradesh

For all those who think that trekking is merely a mountain walk than it's time to reframe their thought. In fact, it is an exploration of everything that usually resides within the mountain range. Rather considering it as a journey beyond the limitations of nature's beauty won't be a wrong idea at all. And, especially if you are planning trekking in Himachal that is unique and rendezvous with the cultural diaspora, it is definitely going to be your wonderful trekking experience of a lifetime.

There are four main mountain ranges that run almost parallel to one another in Himachal Pradesh and thus create the most remarkable valleys that are most suitable for trekking. In fact, this place also features numerous passé, which connect the valleys and thus make it a good trekking route. Trekkers can easily cross the one pass or may even proceed further to cross another on the next range. There are around two dozen passes on the Dhauladhar and near about 8 to 10 such passes over the Great Himalayan range to cross over to the Zanskar valley. Himachal is one of the few destinations that can actually offer a virtual bonanza for trekkers.

Opting Himachal trekking tour may take you to a whole new land that has always captured the attention of many mountaineers and explorers for many years. In fact, it will provide you the opportunity to meet the local people in the remote mountain villages whose living standards are very natural and have not changed much for many years.

Trekking in Himachal also holds the promise of a deep and refreshing communion with nature in its varying beauty. In fact, while enjoying your Himachal trekking tour you can have the glimpse of some of the nature's best scenic views. The verdant river valleys surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the fruit-laden orchards and the birdsong in the dense forests may evoke enchantment and delight. In Himachal, you can see the sights of the rocky beauty of the snooty mountains romancing with the gleaming waterfalls. Moreover, you may even experience the thrill of sheer adventure in Himachal as well. The mountain ranges of Himachal also offer the limitless possibilities for river rafting and skiing.

On the face of it, Himachal trekking is definitely going to be a unique experience. Perhaps it is one of its own kinds of trekking destinations in the India that may satisfy your adventurous ambitions and provides inner fulfillment. The influence of Himachal trekking is surely going to be irresistible.

Kenya Adventure Safari

Normally game drives are very interesting in the early morning and late afternoon in most of the national parks and game reserves in Kenya or Tanzania. Maasai Mara game reserve is very famous for wildlife and cultural tours. I am writing about what I saw, never seen before while on safari in Maasai Mara.

I was on a trip as a Spanish-speaking professional guide when we met a very mature leopard hunting a fully grown Impala. A leopard(panthera pardus) is one of the big five found in Mara-Serengeti eco-system. It's a very rare mammal to find in daylight, mostly hunts at night. My clients, a family of five from Barcelona Spain had a very wonderful evening game drive having seen most of the wild animals. However, we were in search of a leopard since we had not seen one during our five night stay in Kenya having visited parks such as Mt. Kenya, Aberdare national park and Lake Nakuru national park.

I first spotted a black rhino(dicerus biconis) hiding in the thick bush between Keekrok lodge and Mara river but beside Sand river.

We did not bother so much with the rhino since we were in search of this rare cat. Under a sausage tree I spotted a leopard struggling to kill an impala. It was really amazing as we concentrated on taking photos. Just next to the kill was a python showing signs to attack the leopard. We really had fun when the leopard saw the python and climbed the tree very fast.

It was time for the python to take advantage of the kill. Slowly, the python swallowed the impala from behind. It took about half an hour to swallow up to the neck leaving impala horns and head exposed.We left at around quarter to seven to Sarova Mara tented camp where we spend the night. We woke up very early the next morning and drove past the balloon safaris picnic site. It took us about fifteen minutes to arrive at the scene. Unbelievable, the leopard was lying very comfortable on the trunk and beside it was a prey hanging. The leopard looked very tired. On looking on the ground we found an open skinned python. We were shocked on realizing that the prey hanging on top of the tree was the same impala the python had swallowed the previous day. Its not common to see such kind of python in an African savanna.

ready to go colco valley in peru

The Colca Valley is located in Arequipa, Peru. Covering many circuits used for trekking that have recently been discovered by tourists, the area has many trails that wind through many colonial villages in the mountains. Lakes and stone formations dot the area that were created by wind, and many animals such as Andean Condors can be seen here. Colca Valley is home to the Collaqua and Cabana tribes which are descendants of the Pucara people and Quechua people. The main attraction in Colca Valley is Mount Hualca, Savancaya and Ampato which are all snow capped volcanoes. The most popular hiking trail is one that links Cabanaconde to Tapay that will take an average of 3 days to complete. Passing towns such as Csnihua and Malata as well as offering many sites of pre-Hispanic ruins.

One of the most scenic areas of Peru, Colca Valley offers narrow gorges, terraced slopes that are said to have been created before the Incas ever settled and remote traditional villages. The Colca River off the Amazon runs through the valley, and remained unexplored until the late 70's. The river has depths of 11,150 feet which is more than double the depth of the Grand Canyon in the United States. Part of the volcanic mountain range, el Canon del Colca is 62 miles long. Cotahuasi is the areas deepest canyon in the northwest area of the Arequipa province. Active volcanoes including Moutn Coropuna at 21,079 feet and Mount Ampato at 20,702 feet offer many icons. Mount Ampato offers the fact that in 1995 a sacrificed maiden named Juanita was discovered frozen in ice. The summits of the valley are growing in popularity when it comes to extreme sports as well as hiking, mountain climbing and river rafting.

There are 14 colonial time villages, some of which are dated to the early sixteenth century. Most can be identified by their finely decorated church. The locals are pre-Inca ethnicities of Collaguas and Cabanas that have been in the region for more than 2000 years. Preserving their ancient customs and traditional garb, the different languages and clothing can help differentiate between the two. Hats worn by Collagua women are straw with different colored ribbons, while Cabanas wear embroidered and sequined hats. The villages in the Colca Valley offer traditional celebrations throughout the year. The Inca terraces seen inside of the Sacred Valley of the Incas were cultivated more than 1000 years ago and the terracing throughout is immaculate.

Many tourists visit the valley due to the adventure sports and the Cruz del Condor lookout point where many of the giant condors of the region can be seen up close. Looking over Colca Canyon and along the river, many of the local flora and fauna can be observed. It is said that the best time to visit is between May and November during the dry season.

a world trip

A 7000-cubic-inch suitcase stuffed, fully loaded, with over sixty pounds of supplies; tent, sleeping bag, stove, frying pan, eight changes of clothes, coffee pot, and God only knows what else. That was how I took my first solo trip abroad. By the time my trip was over six weeks later I had sold, lost, thrown away or cursed carrying three quarters of the stuff I'd packed. So please, learn from my mistake. IF YOU DON'T NEED IT, LEAVE IT. That's the only rule for packing for a trip abroad, which believe it or not can be the most important part of the trip.

If you don't need it, leave it. I can't say it enough.

You can almost always tell the seasoned traveler from the new kid on the block simply by the size of their pack. The pack I use now is a small, 2100-cubic-inch backpack. It works perfect as a carry on everywhere I go. Sometimes, it is a real treat to see the professional traveler, someone who has been on the trail for years. These travelers usually have a bag smaller then a lot of purses, with some extra underwear, a toothbrush and a good book. When you think about it, what more do you really need?

My basic philosophy about what to bring on an around-the-world trip stems for the type of trip I like to take, with a comfort level allowing me to buy almost anything I need on the road. When I'm on the road the last thing I want to do is worry about my stuff. I have been on countless buses where bags are coming off at an interim stop and have watched as travelers dutifully study each bag that comes off to make sure it isn't theirs. I've also been walking with people who won't walk down a very interesting but darkened road because they're carrying an $800.00 camera. I've watched this type of person as they are approached by local towts. They inevitably grab their camera tight, or unconsciously check their money belt.

I make sure I don't have any stuff on me that's worth worrying too much about, and walk with the philosophy that if someone robs me, I simply say OK, here you go, and hand it over. People are people all over the world. A thug in the Third World can read body language just as well, if not better, than a thug in the U.S. I have never been robbed while traveling and I'm truly convinced it's because of my diligence, but even more so due to my maintaining an attitude that if necessary I really don't care if my stuff disappears.

If you can adopt this approach you will walk differently. Your body language will say, "Hey, I'm not worth the hassle, try someone else." Since adopting this approach I find I have a greater opportunity to enjoy the local flavor and spend more time observing and participating and less time worrying about my stuff.

I have often though back to that first trip and wondered what I was thinking. So much gear and so many clothes! I can only guess that I must have been nervous about what lay outside the country, thinking, "They might not have what I NEED." In hindsight I feel pretty silly for thinking that way. Food, clothing and shelter are all you really need. It isn't difficult to understand that these are the same things all people need. You don't need to bring the super economy-size toothpaste. People all over the world brush their teeth. There are also people all over the world who rent places to stay. If it a hot camping spot, you will be able to rent all the gear you need.

People all over the world also eat. These people shop in markets, buy bottled water and dine in restaurants. Most places in the world, people take photos and e-mail friends. There are very few places remaining in the world where people still run around naked. Everywhere else in the world people wear clothes, so you will easily be able to buy a new shirt, or pants, socks or underwear. In addition, people all over the world who wear clothes have facilities, services or soap to clean their clothes.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

beautiful kashmir tour

Visiting Kashmir is tantamount to visiting heaven. It is an extremely beautiful tourist destination where tourists come from across the globe. Jammu and Kashmir, the most enchanting place in India, is affectionately dubbed as the 'Paradise on Earth'. This magical land offers picturesque landscape, dancing flowers in colorful gardens, snow capped mountains, romantic lakes, fabulous rivers, rich cultural heritage, interesting houseboats, delicious fruits and pleasant climate.

The Dal Lake in this state is one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. Highly picturesque, it inspired many a poet. Hemmed in by majestic mountains, the lake is a must see attraction of the state. It is surrounded by refreshing gardens and orchards. Located in its close proximity are some Mughal monuments. The description of the lake is incomplete without mentioning its famous shikaras and houseboats.

When you visit Kashmir plan a stay at a houseboat. It is truly an overwhelming experience. A variety of arresting houseboats are available here, offering best of luxury and comfort. Depending on your taste and budget you can choose. The interiors of the luxurious ones are done to perfection with exquisitely carved furniture, beautiful carpets, stunning chandeliers and enchanting paintings. Sail through the lake and treat your senses with heartwarming views of mother nature. You can also enjoy a Shikara ride on the lake. It is a ferry ride. The view of the floating gardens on the lake is mesmerizing to the hilt.

beautiful kashmir tour

Visiting Kashmir is tantamount to visiting heaven. It is an extremely beautiful tourist destination where tourists come from across the globe. Jammu and Kashmir, the most enchanting place in India, is affectionately dubbed as the 'Paradise on Earth'. This magical land offers picturesque landscape, dancing flowers in colorful gardens, snow capped mountains, romantic lakes, fabulous rivers, rich cultural heritage, interesting houseboats, delicious fruits and pleasant climate.

The Dal Lake in this state is one of the most beautiful lakes of the country. Highly picturesque, it inspired many a poet. Hemmed in by majestic mountains, the lake is a must see attraction of the state. It is surrounded by refreshing gardens and orchards. Located in its close proximity are some Mughal monuments. The description of the lake is incomplete without mentioning its famous shikaras and houseboats.

When you visit Kashmir plan a stay at a houseboat. It is truly an overwhelming experience. A variety of arresting houseboats are available here, offering best of luxury and comfort. Depending on your taste and budget you can choose. The interiors of the luxurious ones are done to perfection with exquisitely carved furniture, beautiful carpets, stunning chandeliers and enchanting paintings. Sail through the lake and treat your senses with heartwarming views of mother nature. You can also enjoy a Shikara ride on the lake. It is a ferry ride. The view of the floating gardens on the lake is mesmerizing to the hilt.

bike riding travel to shimla and kullumanali

Himachal Pradesh, located in the Himalayan region, is one of the most enchanting and enticing states of India. It mesmerizes the world with its copious natural beauty created by beautiful hill stations and towns. There are a number of hill stations in this beautiful Indian state and can be enjoyed on your visit. Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Kinnaur, Kangra Valley, Palampur, Solan, Mandi, etc are picturesque towns and destinations this beautiful Indian state and known for marvelous nature beauty and lots of tourist attractions. Though all tourist destinations and hill towns of this state are beautiful and enjoyable but Shimla Manali tour is a perfect Himachal tour package.

Shimla, former summer capital of India during the British Raj, is now the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most fascinating and deserving tourist destinations in the state. Also it is one of most beautiful and popular hill stations of India appealing vacationers through out the world. It is often referred to as the "Queen of Hill Stations". It is a favored destination of weekend travellers and honeymooning couples. There are lots to do and see in this small but beautiful town. It rightly goes with a Hindi saying "Gagar Mein Sagar" which means "small but containing lots".

Beautified by seven picturesque hills, Shimla is a sure visit destination on your Himachal Pradesh tour. It will never fail to lure honeymooners with its amiable and romantic ambiance with sightseeing of major attractions. Major tourist attractions in and around city are the Mall, the Ridge, Jakhoo Hill & Temple, Summer Hill, Colonial Homes, Christ Church, Prospect Hill, State Museum, Viceroy Lodge, Tara Devi Temple, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, etc are key attractions of Shimla tours and travels. You will love to explore these attractions. This beautiful town is also popular among adventure enthusiasts with ideal destinations for adventure & sport activities. Such destinations are Kurfi, Naldehra, Mashobra, etc. These places are renowned for activities like golf, hiking, trekking, skiing, ice skating, etc.

Likewise Shimla, Manali is too popular among tourists, vacationers, honeymooners, nature lovers, trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. This picturesque hill town is located in Kullu Valley region. Every year a large gathering of tourists and vacationers from all over the world embark on Kullu Manali tours to seek their different delights. Manali, often referred as the Switzerland of India, is very popular among honeymooners and adventure enthusiasts. It is also a very popular India's summer holiday destination. On your Manali tours you will have a wonderful opportunity to see the marvelous view of snow capped mountain peaks of majestic Himalaya from Solang Valley and Rohtang Pass. Hadimba Devi Temple, Vashisth Village & Temples, Hot Water Springs, etc are attraction of this magnetic hill town.

car riding to indian forest

India globally possesses a distinct identity not only because of its culture, history and geography but also because of its rich diversity of natural ecosystems. Indian forests are ancient in nature and composition. The people of India perform large number of ceremonies centred on trees and plant. Even today in many parts of India the sacred grove exist and worshiped. There are variety of forests in India which provide shelter to the wide range of fauna, avi-fauna and insects. The dimension of Indian forests ranges from evergreen tropical rain forests in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, and the north-eastern states, to dry alpine scrub high in the Himalaya to the north. The country has semi evergreen rain forests, deciduous monsoon forests, thorn forests, subtropical pine forests in the lower montane zone and temperate montane forests.

According to the survey of forest department the actual forest cover of India is 19.27% of the geographic area. There are 16 major forest types recognized which are subdivided into 221 minor types. The main part of tropical forests in India are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; the Western Ghats,the greater Assam region in the north East ern part. Little bit of rain forest are also found in the Orissa state also. It should mention here that the semi evergreen rain forest is more extensive than the evergreen formation as evergreen forest tend to degrade into semi evergreen with human interference.

The forest and tropical vegetation of North East India ( Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya as well as the plain regions of Arunachal Pradesh) are evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forests, moist deciduous monsoon forests, riparian forests, swamps and grasslands. Evergreen rain forest are found in Naga Hills, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Manipur where the rain fall exceeds 2300 mm per annum. The huge Dipterocarpus macrocarpus and Shorea assamica occur singly in Assam. The monsoon forests occur mostly in the north east region and West Bengal. Due to the heavy rain fall in these region, the forest is very dense and heavy which provide shelter and food to the animals of all kind.

riding travel to moroco

I have heard great things about Morocco and since I like to travel to different countries I decided to visit this North African country and I was not disappointed.

The country offers great natural scenery such as the Atlas Mountains, green palm oasis, high gorges and of course the Sahara desert. The history of the cities is also incredible from the coastal town of Essaouira to the donkey alley wide streets of Fes.We have book our tour with a company called Your Morocco Tour. They arranged everything from us. They picked us up at the airport in Casablanca, where we stayed our first night. Casablanca is another big city and has not much to see, except the spectacular mosque of Hassan II that is open to non-Muslims.

Next day we travelled to Rabat, Roman ruins of Volubis, visited Meknes and then ended our day in Fes.The old medina in Fes is a place like no other. It is a very old city, where time stopped and nothing has changed since the 12th century, except people now have electricity and satellite dishes. Otherwise, it looks like it did not change since centuries ago. It is a very authentic city that has a many cultural, historical and religious sights.

After Fes we drove a long drive to Merzouga to experience the Sahara desert. I will never forget our night in the desert by Erg Chebbi. The two-hour ride on the camels was not what I expected, but we made it to our camp by the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. The sky was covered by millions of star; our local guides were playing on drums and signing their Berber music by a fire. They also show us how sand bread is made in the fire. It was an amazing night that I will never forget.

Next two days were filled up by breathtaking scenery. We visited the highest palm oasis in Morocco, the Todra Gorge. The night we spent in the Dades gorge lined by steep curved road that winds around red rock. We saw several Kasbah on the route such as the Ait Ben Haddou that was quite impressive too. We cross through the Atlas Mountains that were very high via the Tizi Tichka Pass. The views of the Berber villages were quite unique and surprising how people in this century still live.

Marrakech did not give an impression as being so old as Fes. We have seen many beautiful gardens and other historical sights. The Koutoubia mosque is and its minaret are known from many movies as the sight of Marrakech. I must not forget the crazy square of Djema El Fna that fills by many jugglers, belly dancers, and singers and also stalls of food. It was fun to get lost in the souks in Marrakech.

riding to himachal pradesh

For all those who think that trekking is merely a mountain walk than it's time to reframe their thought. In fact, it is an exploration of everything that usually resides within the mountain range. Rather considering it as a journey beyond the limitations of nature's beauty won't be a wrong idea at all. And, especially if you are planning trekking in Himachal that is unique and rendezvous with the cultural diaspora, it is definitely going to be your wonderful trekking experience of a lifetime.

There are four main mountain ranges that run almost parallel to one another in Himachal Pradesh and thus create the most remarkable valleys that are most suitable for trekking. In fact, this place also features numerous passé, which connect the valleys and thus make it a good trekking route. Trekkers can easily cross the one pass or may even proceed further to cross another on the next range. There are around two dozen passes on the Dhauladhar and near about 8 to 10 such passes over the Great Himalayan range to cross over to the Zanskar valley. Himachal is one of the few destinations that can actually offer a virtual bonanza for trekkers.

Opting Himachal trekking tour may take you to a whole new land that has always captured the attention of many mountaineers and explorers for many years. In fact, it will provide you the opportunity to meet the local people in the remote mountain villages whose living standards are very natural and have not changed much for many years.

Trekking in Himachal also holds the promise of a deep and refreshing communion with nature in its varying beauty. In fact, while enjoying your Himachal trekking tour you can have the glimpse of some of the nature's best scenic views. The verdant river valleys surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the fruit-laden orchards and the birdsong in the dense forests may evoke enchantment and delight. In Himachal, you can see the sights of the rocky beauty of the snooty mountains romancing with the gleaming waterfalls. Moreover, you may even experience the thrill of sheer adventure in Himachal as well. The mountain ranges of Himachal also offer the limitless possibilities for river rafting and skiing.

On the face of it, Himachal trekking is definitely going to be a unique experience. Perhaps it is one of its own kinds of trekking destinations in the India that may satisfy your adventurous ambitions and provides inner fulfillment. The influence of Himachal trekking is surely going to be irresistible.