My top ten of best experiences in Europe

Europe is a continent with many cultures, languages and religions.  It is no wonder you can have so many different experiences.  Here is my top ten of favourite experiences in Europe.

1. great food - the number one reason I love to be in Europe is the food.  Be it a lovely salad in Greece, a good pasta in Italy, a simple leg of lamb in Andalucia or fish in Iceland, no matter where you go, the food always amazes me.  Enjoy it on a terrace, a patio or in a lovely restaurant, perhaps next to a cozy fireplace.
2. a good glass of wine - visit a winery in Tuscany, Rioja or Burgundy, find your favourite wine, and pair it with great food!
3. walk - my favourite way to get around Europe is on foot.  It allows you to stop where you please and literally smell the roses.  Or the aromatic herbs flanking a hillside in Croatia for that matter.  On one morning walk in Spain I walked through seven villages, each of them different and with it's own atmosphere.
4. cycle - another great way to travel Europe is by bike.  You get to cover slightly larger distances and feel the wind in your hair.  It allows you to explore larger areas, like the towns along the Danube, the chateaux of the Loire Valley or the baroque cities of Central Europe.
5. history - Everywhere you go in Europe, history awaits to be uncovered.  My favourite?  Each time I visit Siena in Italy I am blown away by the duomo - a fantastic cathedral in black and white, lined with frescoes and paintings.  
6. engage your spirit - with churches and cathedrals around every corner, it is not hard to find a quiet place to reflect.  Be it a church in eternal Rome, a monastery set deep in the hills of Italy, or walking the Camino de Santiago, take time out from your trip to recharge your spirit.
7. art - it flourishes in Europe.  From paintings to sculptures to funky installations, it is everywhere.  My favourite places include the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Louvre in Paris, France.  But don't forget lesser known places such as Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
8. village life - I love the medieval towns and squares in Europe.  Wander the streets of Tallinn in Estonia, or the hilltop villages of Provence and Umbria.
9. the people - I have chatted with shopkeepers in Switzerland, gardeners in Russia and plenty of "ordinary" folk.  Each of them had lived a lifetime and had so many stories to share.  And I love just sitting down with a pint of beer and watch the people walk by (just as the carillon of the nearby cathedral starts playing a wonderful tune!).
10. markets - part of everyday life, markets are the place to shop.  Engage with the farmers or the artisans while you pick up locally grown fresh fruit, a handmade cheese and a bottle of wine.  Then make a beeline for a shady spot to enjoy a picnic.  Heaven!

What is your own European favourite?  Is there a place on your bucket list?  Email me!

The best time, what to see: adventure cruises in the Galapagos Islands

This post has been moved to our new blog.

Adventure Trips of a Lifetime

Having been blessed to have traveled through nearly 100 countries, you often ask me what the best adventure trip is I have ever done.  So here is a top-ten of trips, in no particular order, I think everyone interested in adventure travel should do in their life:

  

  1.  National Parks ofthe West –the mountains of Yosemite, stunning Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley and the awesome Grand Canyon – this USA South-West trip is a gem.  We have a walkingtrip too.

  

  2.  Essential Peru - the mysterious Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu in its incredible setting, spend the night in an island homestay, and the stunning Colca Canyon.   Want to hike the Inca Trail and upgrade your hotels?  Check out this adventure in comfort: Classic Peru.

  

  3.  Falklands, SouthGeorgia & Antarctica – the best trip, the best ship, the best guides, the best time for the ultimate expedition cruise.  Looking for a shorter trip? - maximize yourtime in Antarctica.

4

  4.  Botswana Explorer – the best safari with the best guides and done in the most intimate way – best of all, no single supplements.  E-mail me for dates and rates.

  5.  Kiboko Safari – showcasing all the best parks in East Africa – ask me how you can get a great deal and still see the famous wildebeest migration.

  6.  Egyptology – as of writing this (SEP2013) not a safe destination, but what would a top-ten list be without it?  On this trip you will be guided by real Egyptologists and stay in 5-star hotels for a great price.  See the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings in style!

  7.  Best of Italy – the classic highlights of Italy in a 2-week trip.  If you want to experience more variety like stunning coastlines and small villages, ItalyUncovered is my best bet.  Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Venice, the Amalfi Coast - they are all waiting for you!

  8.  Ganges, Taj andRaj visits two of my favorite Indian sites – the Taj Mahal and Varanasi - India in a nutshell.  If you want to do all of India in one trip, including Kerala, check out our IndiaExperience.

  9.  Best of Cambodiaand Vietnam - Angkor Wat is a must-see and can do easily be combined with Vietnam.  This trip runs in the opposite direction as well.

  10.Imperial Chinaand Yangtze River Cruise is arguably our best China trip as it covers Beijing, Shanghai, the Terracotta Warriors and so much more.   If you have only two weeks, pick this adventure trip, or this trip with upgraded hotels.

Adventure Travel of course goes beyond these destinations too.  The world is your oyster - email me to arrange your own perfect holiday!

Adventure Travel in Laos

Some of the best travel memories are created spontaneously - like the time I shared an impromptu meal with villagers near Luang Prabang and the school teacher got drunk.

I had been to Kuang Si Falls - a beautiful 3-tier waterfall set in a tropical forest.  Here, water tumbles in narrow streams down limestone cliffs, clad in thick jungle.  You can swim in the turquoise pools, admiring the views from the edge.

On the way back, a small road-side hamlet caught my eye.  I walked over and gestured I was hungry.  In no time I was served a plate of steaming rice and vegetables.  Some of the people sat down with me to a great meal but any communication was limited to hand-signals and smiles.

Then the schoolmaster arrived and sat down to interpret between the villagers and myself.  It was great as I learned a lot about village life. Soon, however, the teacher produced a bottle of laolao, a Laotian rice whiskey.  He offered me some but had the bulk of the bottle to himself.  He was soon having a great time all by himself.

I tried to keep the conversation going but the teacher stopped translating as he got busy singing songs and dancing a Laotian twerk, all the while brandishing his bottle of laolao.

Laos is one of those countries that seem to generate lots of adventurous moments, especially in the south.   Often forgotten by travelers, it is an area of ancient Khmer ruins, beautiful waterfalls and tranquil villages.  I did not have other encounters with headmasters, but I distinctly remember a chicken crapping all over my backpack and seeing a dog getting run over by a bus.

All par for the course of adventure travel in Laos.  And I loved the place.

The highlights of my adventure travels in Laos were:

• Luang Prabang's temples and markets
• Pak Ou Caves
• Kuang Si Falls
• Exploring the countryside around Vang Vieng
• Taking a boat trip on the Mekong near the Cambodian border, checking out villages and dolphins