We are always interested to hear about your travels, whether it’s a return trip to a country you love, great moments captured on camera, or the smaller things that help make an enjoyable trip. The next six pages showcase some of the fantastic travel tales and photographs you’ve shared with us this Spring. From family adventures in the Masai Mara, to exploring Vietnam, to a private tea ceremony in Kyoto; we hope you will enjoy reading them as much as we did.
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Articles in the 'Activities & Adventures' Category
Safari operator, guide, cook, mechanic, raconteur and adventurer Thomas Holden has been smitten by Africa since childhood when his grandfather first ignited his passion for the continent. Thomas now runs a safari company in Tanzania and shares with us his enthusiasm, experiences and top tips for his adopted homeland.
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Towering red sand dunes curve sensuously around the ephemeral Tsauchab River in Southern Namibia, creating a photographer’s paradise and a place of spectacular beauty. Over centuries a path has been carved through the dunes by the seasonal river’s fruitless search for a route to the coast. Unable to bypass the silently shifting hills, the river, when in flow, spreads into pans in an area known as Sossusvlei, the dead end marsh.
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Just one visit and you’ll understand why Vancouver is regularly voted one of the best places in the world to live. Offering the cosmopolitan vibe of a major city, yet compact and simple to navigate, Vancouver also sits in a spectacular natural setting. Snow-capped peaks, pretty beaches and lush rainforest are within easy reach of the historic streets of Gastown, the exotic sights and smells of Chinatown and the laid-back delights of boho Granville Island. Whether you want to learn about First Nations culture and history, go whale watching or sea-kayaking, sit on the beach or simply enjoy some top-class dining, shopping and entertainment, multi-cultural Vancouver has it all.
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Wedged between the arid plateau of Tibet and the hot fertile plains and jungles of India, Nepal offers a plethora of opportunities to travellers despite its small size. The Himalaya Range forms the backbone of Nepal and provides arguably the best mountain scenery in the world. However, there’s far more to Nepal than mountains and the country’s national parks and unique architecture provide a wonderful contrast to the wild landscapes.
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This special feature aims to shine a spotlight on South America as we launch our brand new brochure for the continent.
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The Silk Route has long attracted travellers and adventurers keen to discover this most ancient of trade routes. The accommodation is functional and the roads can be a little bumpy, but you can expect stunning scenery, fascinating history and the joy of discovering some little-visited countries long hidden behind the iron curtain.
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As someone who has been on numerous safaris Alex Matts is always looking for that ideal combination of wildlife, intimate accommodation and remote African bush. Here, she puts together her own perfect safari.
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We asked some of our Australia specialists for their favourite experience of the Territory and this is what they chose.
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Lonely Planet author and sometime Audley Tour Leader Nick Ray looks back on 15 years of travelling in the kingdom of Cambodia.
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With our new Africa and the Indian Ocean brochure now available, our specialists choose some of their favourite experiences from the region.
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We’re always interested to hear about your travels, from the epic trips to Everest, great moments captured on camera to the smaller things that help make a enjoyable trip, such as a great restaurant, good book or a piece of travel advice.
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Having travelled extensively in New Zealand and spent much of my time exploring the country by foot, it is only natural that some of my most memorable moments have been spent touring around one of the country’s most iconic national parks and home to its highest mountain, Mount Cook. Aoraki, or Mount Cook, stands at an impressive 3,754 metres tall and lies in the Southern Alps the mountain range that breaks through the length of the South Island. It is here that many visitors to the country have caught their first glimpse of the dramatic peaks that the South Island has become so renowned for and it is here that I, like so many others, have discovered their love of the mountains and the great outdoors.
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The Himalaya region spans six countries and is the world’s highest mountain range. With so much history, culture and dramatic landscapes to see, we have picked out the highlights of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and northern India. To some, a visit to this area of the world means days of tough trekking, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Take a scenic flight to Everest, embark on a more sedate walking trip through the Tibetan countryside or stay at a tea estate. What’s more, many of these countries can be combined into a single trip, making for the ultimate Himalayan journey.
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Phil Chanel recounts his most recent trek in Peru and draws some very different experiences to his previous walking trips in the country.
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Look deep within the ancient rainforests of Borneo and you will discover a land that time forgot; sheer valleys sheltering tribal peoples living off the land in a way that has altered little in thousands of years. However, the lure of this mighty island is in the sheer diversity and abundance of wildlife it offers; a visitor to Borneo can swim with turtles one day, watch orang-utan swing through the trees the next and follow a herd of elephants tramping through the river the day after.
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As regular Audley travellers will know, at the end of each trip, we call our travellers to make sure you’re safely home and find out how your adventures went. The safari specialists are no different, and we love listening to your stories. For me, safari is fascinating, even at second-hand, and I always like to find out what your highlights were. I’ve heard stories of thrilling chases, of heart wrenching moments when young animals narrowly escaped death, and magical evenings counting shooting stars.
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Terry Sullivan has been leading Audley group tours for over 16 years. An inveterate traveller, his work and personal travels have taken him to a whole host of countries but when ever asked as to which is his favourite, the answer requires no deliberation, it is always Burma. After returning from his final tour for Audley, he explains why by sharing a few passages from his tour diary.
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If you’ve explored a destination on land, why not spend a few days exploring the underwater part of it. It’s a whole new world. If you’re not already qualified, you can choose to do an introductory course, a full PADI training course or, for the more qualified, a day or more diving and discovering some of the underwater world’s most spectacular species. A number of our destination specialists are keen divers, some are qualified instructors, and here they pick out their own favourite dives sites.
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Buenos Aires is often high on the list of the best cities in the world to visit, but to truly appreciate all it has to offer, insider advice from the locals is imperative. We therefore asked one of our top guides, Maria, to share a few of her favourite places to visit, eat, drink and tango!
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When originally tasked with setting up Audley’s Australia programme, the company ethos of authentic, cultural, off-the beaten-track tours and experiences rang loudly in my ears. I’ll admit I was just a little worried.
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When telling people I was about to embark ona self-drive trip around the north of Thailand, I was met with a mixture of interest and concern: “Have you seen how they drive in Bangkok?” But driving in Thailand outside the frenetic capital is a very relaxing experience with quiet, spacious roads and fabulous scenery. Having the independence to stop wherever you like is a great way to interact with the locals and adapt your pace of travel.
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The highlights of a trip to Jordan usually include: the iconic Petra, a pilgrimage to Mount Nebo, the crusader castles of Kerak, the Roman city of Jerash and maybe some time by the shores of the Dead Sea. However, this is not all that Jordan has to offer. Matthew Teller, author of the Rough Guide to Jordan, ventures to the less explored north of the country to walk the Al-Ayoun trail.
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Audley’s specialists pick out some of their favourite music, dance and drama performances from around the world.
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Immerse yourself in rural life on a working farm or ranch. From tea plantations in Africa to the fertile floodplains of Brazil’s greatest wetlands, friendly family-run properties introduce frontier life as it interacts with nature. Our specialists reveal their favourites.
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Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park is Africa at its most adventurous: canoeing on the river, stalking game on foot and hunting for tiger fish. But it’s also family friendly, as Matt Vlemmiks discovers.
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Morocco and Tunisia may be well-known for their bustling and exciting atmospheres, but with so much to see and do, relaxation sometimes gets overlooked. Communal bathing and associated treatments have always occupied a key role in North African society, providing a time and place to gather and discuss all manner of issues. Deals are thrashed out here, friendships strengthened and problems solved. Alongside the mosques, they are amongst the most important buildings in any city. Generally, public ones are a bit earthy for most peoples’ tastes so our specialists have selected some good alternatives.
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New Zealand is often seen as a ‘once in a lifetime’ destination, and perceived as easy to discover without much assistance. Felicity Goldsmith talks to some Audley clients about their personal experiences of the country and finds they gained a lot from our specialist knowledge – and why they are determined to go back.
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Peter Stanley-Jones tries heli-hiking in Canada’s beautiful Columbia mountains.
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Craig Burkinshaw, Audley’s Managing Director, recounts his recent travels to the southernmost parts of South America.
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The march to globalisation of certain sports may seem unstoppable, but more localised pursuits are still extremely popular in certain corners of the globe. Our specialists reveal some of their favourites.
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Marc Dolman reveals how an adventure in the Outback can be both relaxing and exhilarating.
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Our second fundraising trip in support of the Audley Charity Portfolio is a five-day trek through Jordan’s wilderness to Petra.
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Sian Thomas shares her favourite New Zealand walks.
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Our Australia specialists reveal their favourite parts of the “real Australia”.
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Marilyn Tromp treks around the Wild Coast in South Africa.
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Find out what’s involved in learning how to scuba dive. Uncover the treasures within our ocean in some of the best dive sites.
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The most satisfying short treks are unveiled by our specialists.
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Our diving experts uncover their most treasured dive spots.
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Sarah Kane relives the days of historic cattle drives.
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A wealth of underwater experiences for the snorkeller and scuba diver.
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Exploring on foot is no doubt the best way to experience more of a destination.
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A journey through Argentina, South America’s wild west.
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Our specialists’ top ten activities in New Zealand.
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It’s admittedly a long way to go for a weekend, but Carolyn Foreman highly recommends Rio de Janeiro as a short break destination.
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