Great Holiday Ideas for the Summer

Kakadu

Wildlife in Kakadu, Australia

Made famous by “Crocodile Dundee”, Kakadu National Park is one of the best places to visit to see Australia’s varied wildlife. Some of the park's most famous inhabitants are the crocodiles and water buffalo, though kangaroos, wallabies, possums, bats, kookaburras, goannas and other visitor’s favourites are all here if you know where to look for them. There are also exotic birds and large and varied populations of fish, reptiles and insects.

Located at the top end of Australia nearest to the equator, the park supports a range of ecosystems, from the wetlands favoured by buffalos and waterfowl, to the low lying scrub and tall grasses where the kangaroos live and the rocky bushland of the escarpment.

The six to ten foot castle like termite mounds are the park's most interesting insect feature, created by huge termite colonies out of dried grasses. The hot days mean that most animals, including the crocodiles are most active in the evenings and at night.

This is also a place of great traditional significance to the aboriginal population and paintings on the walls of many of the parks caves tell the stories of the people who have been living in this area for thousands of years.

Review by Kat Mackintosh

Photo by chrisbuykx

The Wild Men of Borneo

Wildlife in Sandakan, Malaysia

Personable orang utans live in families and have complicated social interactions which make them inspiring creatures to watch. Though most people are aware of how closely linked they are genetically to humans, there is still surprise at how like us they are in their movements and relationships.

One of the best places to meet an orang utan is at Sepilok Orang utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah. You’re likely to see them in their natural habitat aping around trying to impress visitors and make them laugh or caring for their younger friends like a parent or older sibling. Some of the orang utans at Sepilok are orphans while some have been confiscated off people who had kept them as pets, so they’re being re-trained to survive in the wild - by older, wild orang utans who have been brought in when ill or injured. They’re fed a dull diet to encourage them to forage in the wild, but you're still likely to meet some at the reserves regular feeding times.

Orang utans have been native to the mountainous jungle rainforests of Malaysian Borneo for centuries but the spread of settlements into their mountain terrain, logging, poaching, and their capture to be domesticated has made their lives in the wild more difficult.

Review by Kat Mackintosh

Photo by flickr user barnoid

Ilulissat Icefjord

Frozen Landscapes in Greenland

'Located on the west coast of Greenland, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord (40,240 ha) is the sea mouth of Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the few glaciers through which the Greenland ice cap reaches the sea. Sermeq Kujalleq is one of the fastest (19 m per day) and most active glaciers in the world. It annually calves over 35 km3 of ice, i.e. 10% of the production of all Greenland calf ice and more than any other glacier outside Antarctica. Studied for over 250 years, it has helped to develop our understanding of climate change and icecap glaciology. The combination of a huge ice-sheet and the dramatic sounds of a fast-moving glacial ice-stream calving into a fjord covered by icebergs makes for a dramatic and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.'

Copyright © UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. All rights reserved.

Review by press

Photo by flickr user kaet44

Paddling between the Lofoten Islands

Kayaking in Nord-Norge, Norway

Norway’s remarkable fjords and sharp coast side mountains set the region apart as a paddling destination. The other obvious advantage is the sunlight. At the right time of year the sun hovers on the horizon until the early hours allowing additional time to set up camp and more exploration. The granite shards which are the Lofoten Islands are a good choice for sea kayakers with plenty of small harbour communities to get supplies from, white beaches where you can camp and remote, silent places to get away to. Wildlife lovers will also appreciate the local whale population who in quieter harbours will come up and nudge your boat. If you prefer your adventures to include more than just paddling you can take a day out to climb some of the granite peaks you’ll see lining the shoreline, choose carefully though, some are suitable only for experienced rock climbers, while others fit hikers will find no trouble. The paddling is fairly easy going on relatively calm seas, but the environment can be unforgiving so unsuitable for total novices unless you’re with a guide. The water is kept marginally warmer than you would expect it to be by the Gulf Stream. Bodo, Andenes or Reine are the usual starting points for explorations of the Lofoten Islands, Reine was originally built as a fishing village and is probably the most authentic of the main settlements if you’re interested also in the culture of the place.

Review by Tim Cullen

Photo by flickr user jurek d.

Skyros Retreat

Spiritual Retreats in Sporades Islands, Greece

With one of the finest reputations in Europe for a holistic retreat since its inception at the end of the seventies, Skyros is an experience that can truly change your health and your lifestyle for good. You can stay amid the pine forest down by the sea or up in the pretty cobblestone town. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to relax and unwind whilst eating very healthily, the focus is on unleashing your own true potential in order to gain greater peace and satisfaction. This is achieved through courses of creativity, healing, psychology, spirituality, music and dance, massages, yoga and meditation.

Review by George Monkhouse

Photo by flickr user Archway Andres

Horse riding highlights in Iceland

Riding in Reykjavík, Iceland

Iceland may not spring to the front of your mind when you think about where you should take a riding holiday, but when you think about the things that make other locations stand out as ideal, big scenic spaces, interesting terrain, remoteness, varied views and native breeds of horse, Iceland ticks all the boxes. Glaciers and huge waterfalls on the sides of grey boulder strewn cliffs, grassy valleys and lots of empty space will satisfy the most view hungry and Iceland has its own native bred horses who are used to the cold and slippery conditions, they also have a reputation for being friendly and easy to handle (don’t call them ponies though, people tended to get a bit upset?) and they have their own special gait which suits conditions.

You don’t have to venture too far from civilisation either, you can begin just outside of Reykjavik and lose yourself pretty quickly.

Your main concern may be the weather, but it’s all about picking a good time of year, the photos of people swimming in steaming pools in the sunshine you see in the Iceland tourism adverts should give you confidence that it’s not all snow and ice (though apparently you can ride in the winter if you want.).

If you’re an experienced rider you’ll want to head to the highlands for the most dramatic mountain and glacial scenery and possibly even arrange a trip involving droving wild horses, but if you’re a beginner the flats and the thermal (implying hot springs) area around Thingvellir National Park have lots to look at, including geysers and waterfalls, but the going is easier. One of the highlights of riding in Iceland has to be plonking into a hot spring or (hot tub) at the end of a days ride.

Quite a few companies offer to make all the arrangements for you.

Review by halleyarcher

Photo by flickr user ezioman

Bordeaux

Wine Regions in Aquitaine Southwest, France

Beautiful Saint Emilion is a historic Roman town perched on top of a hill surrounded by rows of grape vines and is the centre of the Bordeaux wine region. Saint Emilion reds (made from Merlot grapes) are known for their enticing depth of colour and flavour. The best Saint Emilion vineyards are on the slopes around the town and properties here are small, with almost a thousand crammed into a very small area of hillside, creating a tiered mosaic of vines. Some of the best producers in Saint Emilion are Cheval Blanc, Angelus, Grand Mayne, La Mondotte, Tertre-Roteboeuf and Valandraud.

The rest of Bordeaux spreads out below you from here, with enough grapes to produce more wine than the whole of Australia. Appellations like Saint Emilion, Medoc and Pomerol have given Bordeaux a reputation as being the worlds largest producer of fine wines, but this region actually produces a much larger variety of wine than many people think. As well as the famous reds, Bordeaux is also the home of Sauternes, the popular dessert wine and some dryer whites made with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes.

The Gironde river slices through Bordeaux and is a division in soil types as well as land. On the left bank near the estuary the Merlot for the Medoc Clarets is grown, then further south the Cabernet Sauvignon vines take over and you get into Pauillac country. On the right bank grow the fleshy Saint Emilion and Pomerol Merlots. There are also pockets of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc grapes grown further inland.

Some of Bordeaux’s most prestigious names are Margaux, Lafite and Petrus, but appointments need to be made with these wineries during busy periods if you want to visit them. There are around 9,000 producers in this region so to avoid being overwhelmed you need to plan time in each preferred sub region and see them almost as individual regions, grouped by location and the patchwork scenery of vines in all directions. This whole area has a wine theme with winery tours and chateau accommodation a speciality.

Review by Kat Mackintosh

Photo by flickr user filtran

Tresco

Islands in United Kingdom

Only a short distance from the mainland of Cornwall, the environment on Tresco is quite different to anywhere else in the UK. The north of the island has rocky granite peaks and heath-like plants, while the south has subtropical plants and even sandy beaches.

One of Tresco's main attractions is the Tresco Abbey Gardens, where 20,000 different types of plants vie for space in the mixed up terrain.

You can only get to the island via helicopter, and once you’re there walking or cycling and the best modes of transport.

Review by Worldreviewer

Photo by flickr user Oli R

Paragliding Interlaken

Flying, Gliding & Ballooning in Switzerland

Europe's Top Tandem paragliding experiences:

Interlaken is not famous by chance. It is blessed with a natural landscape that locals have capitalised on to develop into one of Switzerland's premier tourism destinations. It sits between 2 classic alpine lakes, surrounded by lush green meadows, abounds with typically cute Swiss villages and has a backdrop of the famous snow covered trio – Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. It is also the outdoor sports capital of Switzerland and rightly so. A tandem flight here conducted by one of the many reputable operators will leave no one disappointed.

After a short drive and then stroll to the launch sites a few hundred metres above the Thunersee, one generally wonders what the fuss is about. The briefing explains what you need to do, what to expect, and then after a few brisk steps your pilot has you in the air swooping through the pine forest and out above the valley. The tree lined launch meadow which had kept things slightly hidden now reveals the full majesty of the view as you clear it.

In order to stay up, small bubbles of warm air (thermals) are used by turning circles. Often on humid days with good climb rates you are able to touch the clouds which form above the hill.

The tandem pilots here operate to Swiss watch timing… every hour all day long while the weather is OK. With so many up at once, chances are you will be in a group called a “gaggle” as you fly around just like a flock of birds. A short glide to the “Harter”, a rocky outcrop above town, provides an aerial close up that gives the impression you are a giant looking into Lilliputland as tiny people, cars and trains go about their business beneath.

The landing is commenced by a few obligatory wing overs and maybe a spiral dive. Its done to wash off height and, of course, because its fun – paragliding is the worlds only 3 dimensional fully open roller coaster ride and can pull up to 4G’s at times ! To finish off, a nice easy final approach brings you to land in the middle of town, but don’t sit down on touch down…you need to run a few steps to ensure maximum style points and a “well done - high 5” from your pilot.

Right across the road are a few bars to finish off the experience and watch a few more maybe not so elegant landings.

There are a number of operators in Interlaken who offer flights from a variety of locations in the area including Grindlwald at the foot of the Eiger north face. The most notable in terms of long term local experience are :

www.paragliding/-interlaken.ch

www.skywings.ch

Review by Godfrey Wenness

Photo by

Alpine walking in the Arlberg

Walking in Zürs, Austria

The villages of the Arlberg in Western Austria, particularly the ski resorts of Lech and Oberlech, have been doing alot recently to encourage summer visitors to balance their crowded but short ski seasons. The walking here is superb - and hotels like the Goldener Berg in Oberlech provide top quality service, spas, pools and spectacular scenery at a fraction of the winter rates. You can literally step out of the door here and walk up into the fields and alpine meadows, and take your pick form a short half hour stroll to three hour or full day hikes.

There are regular stops along the well marked paths - benches to get your breath, admire the spectacular scenery, or have a picnic - or small panoramic restaurants. There are also farmhouse kitchens dispensing mountain salamis and cheeses, and a refreshing cider like drink, to hungry and thirsty walkers.

The only difficulty - though also a blessing - is the complications of getting here in the summer - no ski shuttles to ferry you from the airport. Hire a car from Friedrichshafen or Innsbruck for a short stay, though you won't need to step into it again until you leave.

Review by James Dunford Wood

Photo by flickr user maciekSz

Besalu to Olot Walking track

Walking in Catalunya, Spain

I walked in Catalonia earlier in the summer, rechecking and renewing our route there and my passion for Catalonia was well and truly re-ignited.

This walk begins in the beautifully preserved medieval town of Besalu and explores the heart of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, just inland of the Costa Brava and where tourists rarely tread. Those who do are in search of the quiet life (just like me!) and here, amongst the dramatic landscape of ancient (and extinct!) volcanoes and massive cliff faces (some with a 500 metre drop), there’s peace in abundance. The walk ends in Olot.

For me, highlights of this walk include the magnificent walk along cliff tops and through meadows surrounded by the mountains of the Pyrennees, via a robber’s hideout (a natural cleft in the ground), and I most enjoy the warm welcome from local people, eating from tables laden with Catalan delicacies. Walk from Besalu to Sta Pau, to Sant Feliu, to La Salut, to Joanetes to Olot.

Review by Simon Scutt

Photo by flickr user xip

Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

Sacred Places in Northern Territory, Australia

Throughout the ages many cultures have conceived of geographic space and expressed those conceptions in a variety of ways. One expression of these conceptions has been the establishment of sacred geographies. Perhaps the oldest form of sacred geography, and one that has its genesis in mythology, is that of the aborigines of Australia. According to aboriginal legends, in the mythic period of the beginning of the world known as Alcheringa - the Dreamtime - ancestral beings in the form of totemic animals and humans emerged from the interior of the Earth and began to wander over the land. As these Dreamtime ancestors roamed the Earth they created features of the landscape through such everyday actions as birth, play, singing, fishing, hunting, marriage, and death. At the end of the Dreamtime, these features hardened into stone, and the bodies of the ancestors turned into hills, boulders, caves, lakes, and other distinctive landforms. These places, such as Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas Mountains) became sacred sites. The paths the totemic ancestors had trod across the landscape became known as Dreaming Tracks, or Songlines, and they connected the sacred places of power. The mythological wanderings of the ancestors thus gave to the aborigines a sacred geography, a pilgrimage tradition, and a nomadic way of life. For more than forty thousand years - making it the oldest continuing culture in the world - the aborigines followed the Dreaming tracks of their ancestors.

During the course of the yearly cycle various aboriginal tribes would make journeys, called walkabouts, along the songlines of various totemic spirits, returning year after year to the same traditional routes. As people trod these ancient pilgrimage routes they sang songs that told the myths of the Dreamtime and gave travel directions across the vast deserts to other sacred places along the songlines. At the totemic sacred sites, where dwelt the mythical beings of the Dreamtime, the aborigines performed various rituals to invoke the kurunba, or spirit power of the place. This power could be used for the benefit of the tribe, the totemic spirits of the tribe, and the health of the surrounding lands. For the aborigines, walkabouts along the songlines of their sacred geography were a way to support and regenerate the spirits of the living Earth, and also a way to experience a living memory of their ancestral Dreamtime heritage.

Located in the center of Australia, the massive rock formations of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) are the most prominent and well known sacred sites of the Aboriginal people. Rising 346 meters high, with a circumference of 9.4 kilometers and covering an area of 3.33 square kilometers, Uluru is the single largest rock outcropping all of Australia. The beginning of Aboriginal settlement in the Uluṟu region has not been determined, but archaeological findings to the east and west indicate a date more than 10,000 years ago, though some archaeologists estimate that human settlement in the region actually dates from at least 22,000 years ago. ‘Uluru' is simply a place name meaning which is applied to both the rock and the waterhole on top of the rock. The thirty-six rounded rocks of Kata Tjuta (meaning ‘Many Headed Mountain’), are located in the same National Park as Uluru. By Aboriginal tradition only certain elderly males may climb the rock but despite this tradition the Australian government allows tourists to make the climb using a metal chain installed in 1964. The Aboriginal tribes also request that visitors do not photograph certain sections of Uluru, mostly gender-related, for reasons related to traditional beliefs. Ayers Rock was created a national park in 1950 and in 1958 was combined with the Olgas to form the Ayers Rock National Park. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Area for its natural and man-made attributes.

Review by Martin Gray

Photo by Photography: Martin Gray

Alonissos and the Northern Sporades

Islands in Sporades Islands, Greece

Of the 11, densely wooded, mountainous islands that make up the Sporades group only four are inhabited, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos and Skyros. The islands, known for the crystal clear water which separates them, are covered in pine forest and have partly rocky, partly sandy coastlines.

Skopelos is the largest and has a well preserved traditional town, smaller scenic mountain villages, 300 monasteries and whitewashed churches while Skiathos is more for those who enjoy water sports and organised tourist activities. Alonisso has a large area of protected forest and a National Marine Park, set aside to preserve the habitat of the very rare Mediterranean Monk Seal, and is the island best suited for nature lovers.

Review by Worldreviewer

Photo by flickr user atlas922000