Top 10 (+2) adventure destinations for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

With 2009 rapidly coming to an end, it is time to look ahead to 2010 and begin making our travel plans. For adventure travelers, the year ahead is full of possibilities, with amazing destinations just waiting to deliver the trip of a lifetime. Here are ten of the very best places to feed your need for adventure.

10. Antarctica
One of the most coveted destinations on any adventure traveler’s list has always been Antarctica, the coldest, highest, and driest place on the planet. The frozen continent is remote, rugged, and challenging, but there are now multiple ways of getting there, ranging from luxury cruises to “last degree” ski expeditions to the South Pole. You could easily make the argument that Antarctica is the last great frontier, and perhaps the most adventurous destination on Earth, and should be ranked higher on this list. I’d agree with those sentiments, except for one very big consideration, which is the expense of getting there. Unfortunately, it still costs a good deal of money to visit Antarctica, and for now, it is beyond the budget of many of those adventurous enough to want to make the journey.

9. British Columbia, Canada
If you’re the kind of person that enjoys a busy, active vacation than perhaps British Columbia should be your next destination. Located in Western Canada, BC has so many options for outdoor adventures, you may never want to go home. Adrenaline junkies will have opportunities to mountain bike, hike, and climb there way through the Canadian Rockies. And when you grow tired of all the fun on dry land, the Pacific Ocean beacons with some great sailing and sea kayaking options as well. Throw in breathtaking scenery and legendary Canadian hospitality, and you have everything you need for a very adventurous trip. Don’t miss out on a visit to Vancouver while in the area too, and you’ll discover why it is considered to be one of the best cities on the planet.
8. Iceland
Boasting massive glaciers, snow-capped peaks, active volcanoes, and remote fjords, all within a relatively small area, Iceland is a wonderland for adventure travelers. With some of the best hiking and mountain biking in Europe, you can challenge yourself on a trail all day long, then relax in a the country’s famous hot springs at the end of the day. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding are other popular activities for those that enjoy the colder weather. Use Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, as your base of operations, and you’ll find new adventures in the evening as well. The city has a thriving art community and a surprisingly active nightlife, and with the economy still struggling a bit, there has never been a more inexpensive time to go.

7. Madagascar
Located in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Africa, Madagascar has earned a reputation in recent year for being a hot spot for eco-tourists. The island nation has diverse scenery, ranging from mountain highlands, to deserts and dense rainforests, and just about everything in between. Those varied landscapes contain five percent of the world’s plant and animal life, many of which can only be found there. Jungle treks and safaris are popular activities, with lemurs, unique to Madagascar, as the highlight. This exotic location conjures images of remote and wild places, and doesn’t fail to deliver on that promise.

6. New Zealand
New Zealand is another one of those countries that seem to exude adventure at every turn. After all, this is the nation that came up with concept of commercial bungee jumping, and the sport of adventure racing can trace its origins there as well. Multi-sport adventures are the name of the game, with mountain biking, paddling, and trekking options abounding. Mountaineers are lured in with some of the most amazing peaks in the southern hemisphere, and in the winter months, skiing and snowboarding take center stage. Whether you select the North or South Island as your adventure destination, you can’t go wrong, as both have plenty of options to keep you busy for days on end. And when it’s time to go home, you’ll likely be planning a return trip to experience even more of the Kiwi culture and hospitality.

5. Peru
No list of adventure destinations would be complete without at least mentioning Peru and all of the amazing possibilities it has to offer. Whether you’re trekking in the Andes, exploring the Amazon, or visiting Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines, Peru will impress at every turn. There is a reason that this South American country is considered one of the epicenters of adventure travel, and backpackers are still drawn to the place for its unique blend of ancient cultures, natural wonders and modern sensibilities. The classics will never go out of style and Peru remains one of those destinations that every adventurer should visit.

4. Mongolia
Mongolia has been one of the top adventure travel spots for the past few years, and while it has become more accessible, it remains far from commercialized. Located in central Asia, the land locked nation has one of the lowest population densities on the planet, which means that there are a lot of wide open spaces that are miles from any kind of settlement. In the southern part of the country is the great Gobi Desert, which stretches a thousand miles from east to west. In the north, is the remote Altai mountain range that offers unique trekking opportunities through snow capped peaks. Adventurous travelers can follow the path of Ghenghis Kahn, on horseback no less, with the nomadic tribes that still call the Mongol Steppe their home. Of all the locations on this list, this one remains the most wild and untouched by civilization.

3. Botswana
When you think about the classic African travel experience, Kenya and Tanzania are generally the first places that come to mind, but for an equally amazing safari experience, with smaller crowds, and a different atmosphere, consider Botswana. The Okavango Delta has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, and can be explored in the traditional safari vehicle of course, but the more adventurous will prefer to go on foot or by dugout canoe, to gain a very different perspective of life on the African savanna. From there, travel to the Kalahari Desert to meet the fabled Kalahari Bushmen and to track one of the few remaining packs of wild dogs found anywhere on Earth. Africa’s Big Five, consisting of lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo, are well represented here, on a wide open expanse that sees far less traffic than those other safari destinations.

2. Chile
Another nation with wild and varied landscapes, Chile has something for everyone, starting with the Atacama Desert in the north, a place so dry that it hasn’t rained there in recorded history, stretching to the southern end of South America, where Patagonia offers striking vistas that are unmatched any where else on the planet. In between, you’ll find the lake district, mountains, plains, and dense forests too. Adventure travelers will flock to Patagonia, with some of the best backpacking routes in the world, not to mention amazing rock climbing. Chile’s Pacific Coast offers great sea kayaking as well, and don’t forget to drop by Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world, which serves as the gateway to Antarctica for explorers heading to that frozen continent. And when you’ve finished up with the mainland, consider a side trip to Easter Island, which falls under Chile’s domain. The famous stone faces remain as compelling as ever, and are worth the journey to one of the most remote places on the planet.

1. Nepal/Tibet/Bhutan
Okay, so I lied when I said this list would include ten places for adventure travelers, but in my defense, when it came time to select a destination from the Himalaya, it soon became abundantly clear I couldn’t choose just one. The legendary mountain range is amongst the most breathtakingly beautiful places on Earth, offering great trekking opportunities, wild paddling expeditions, and the most challenging climbing trips anywhere. Throw in a healthy dose of unique culture and spiritualism, and you have the makings of a trip that can only be described as “life altering”. If any of that appeals to the adventurer inside of you, then you can’t go wrong with a visit to either Nepal, Tibet, or Bhutan. They each have their own unique appeal, and to visit any of them, you’ll have to go through Kathmandu, a city that is as eclectic and fascinating as the Himalaya themselves.

Travelers to Nepal can choose a myriad of adventure options, including hiking the Annapurna Circuit, making a trek up to Everest Base Camp, located at 17,500 feet, or tackling a mountain such as Island Peak, which stands at 20,305 feet, but remains popular for non-technical mountaineers looking to add a Himalayan summit to their resume. As the birth place of adventure travel, Nepal knows how to cater to the backpackers, vagabonds, and modern day nomads, that pass through its borders.

Tibet offers a similar Himalayan experience, although the wide open spaces of the wind-swept Tibetan Plateau make it unique in its own right. On this side of the mountain, you can actually drive up to Everest Base Camp, and Buddhist monasteries dot the landscape, often in the most unexpected places. Barring any unforeseen unrest in the region, Tibet is also likely to see its border remain open for all of 2010 as well, making it more accessible to adventure travelers than it has been for the past two years.

Bhutan is probably the most mysterious and lesser known of these three destinations. The tiny kingdom has placed limits on the number of visitors from the outside, and the government has taken steps to ensure that the country maintains its traditional culture. Visitors are treated to tours of ancient monasteries and remote villages, while trekking through the eastern end of the Himalaya, getting a glimpse at a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

That’s the list. My suggestions for the very best destinations for adventure travel in the year ahead. With the economy remaining in uncertain territory, many of these destinations will be as affordable as they ever have been. Pick one that appeals to you and go. Have an adventure that will stay with you for a lifetime.

The Accidental Chef Travels: An Introduction

by Kendra Bailey Morris on

This post is the first installment of my culinary travel feature column, “The Accidental Chef Travels”. Come join me to discover all that’s delicious!

I think the best way to introduce myself is to begin with the basics. I grew up in an unusual family — part West Virginia hillbilly (we proudly hail from the mountainous coalfields) and part academic, since despite having a few economic and cultural cards stacked against us, the majority of my relatives as well as myself went on to receive advanced degrees, write books and teach university level courses. Go figure.

Because of this dichotomous existence, I’ve spent much of my life straddling the gray area, somewhere between cheesy grits and Chateaubriand. Yet, despite this oxymoron-esque lifestyle, one thing has remained constant — my love of worldly exploration and an inherent need to taste every last bit of it.

I still believe that the best place on earth is my grandmother’s kitchen in Princeton, West Virginia, where she, well into her upper-nineties, whipped up the best fried pies and coconut cake you’ve ever tasted. Yet, while granny’s comfort food remains unbeatable, I still spend my days infatuated with what the rest of the world has to offer.

Whether I’m noshing fresh-fried conch fritters at a roadside stand in the Turks and Caicos, nibbling blocks of Spam musubi while ogling the fresh Saturday morning produce at the Hilo Farmer’s Market or learning how to make Salade Gascogne (an explosion of poultry consisting of grilled duck breast, foie gras and duck confit) with chef/cookbook author Kate Hill in rural Southwest France, like many of you, I am compelled to taste my way across the globe, and I hope you’ll join me for this exciting and delicious ride.

It’s been said, that there are those of us who travel, and those of us who travel to eat. For gastronomes like myself, planning an entire vacation around what to eat and where is the norm. So for all of you food junkies out there, I plan to highlight an array of culinary activities such as cooking schools, food and wine immersion opportunities, food-focused resorts, cruises, even sustainable farm visits. And you can bet I won’t be leaving out off-the-beaten-track treasures such as backstreet markets, paper plate dives and mobile cart munchies. From truffle hunts to salmon fishing, I hope to bring you the best of what’s tasty and where.

I won’t be leaving out those who travel frequently for business or pleasure either, including folks who seek the very latest in restaurant news and reviews, both on the ground and in the air. For my “Mile High Dining Club” installments, I’ll cover the latest trends in taste, whether you’re kicking back in first-class or clutching your knees in coach.

For those looking to further their culinary travel education, I’ll be adding a “How-To” feature. From how to sniff and sip your way through Napa to avoiding an untimely death when eating Fugu, a Japanese pufferfish, I hope to share with you some great insider tips and tricks.

Bottom line? This column is going to fun, lots of fun, and I can’t wait for you to join me as we explore the many exciting tastes, textures and aromas that our world has to offer.

—Kendra

Adventures in the Amazon: A Night in the Jungle

by Kraig Becker on

It was one of the darkest nights I had ever encountered. Well, at least it was when the lightning wasn’t flashing across the sky, giving me an ever so brief glimpses of the forest that surrounded my tent. Despite the heavy rain, which had been falling for several hours, the night sounds of the jungle continued unabated. It was nearly as noisy as it was during the day, and when you added the thunderstorm to the mix, I couldn’t help but think that people payed a lot of money to the Sharper Image for a machine that replicated these very sounds.

It was my second to last night in the Amazon, and we were camping in the jungle. Earlier in the day we left our river boat, La Turmalina, behind once again and went ashore for another jungle trek that took us even deeper into the forest. Along the way, we passed trees stretching more than 65 feet into the air, with vines running their length and all manner of critters scurrying up their trunks.

We hiked for several miles, while overhead the rolling thunder could be heard drawing nearer. By the time we reached the campsite, the rain had begun to fall, and the night was closing in, but fortunately the dense jungle canopy kept much of the rain from actually hitting the ground. While it sounded like a torrential down pour was going on over head, it felt like a light rainstorm at the forest floor.

%Gallery-63881%The camp itself was nicer than I had expected. The tents were erected on a permanent wooden platform, which kept them off the damp ground, and provided a more comfortable experience. Inside, there were two cots, a small table, and a lantern, with room to stand and easily move about. The side panels were rolled up, allowing for a steady breeze to flow through, and I was surprised to find that it was quite comfortable, even a bit cool inside, despite the humidity that pervaded the entire area.

After getting settled, we all assembled in a screened in mess hall for a traditional dinner from the region consisting of chicken stuffed with rice and wrapped in the leaf of one of the jungle trees, then cooked over an open fire. Following the meal, we were joined by a guest who appeared from the darkness, joining us inside the mess hall. She was a tiny young woman, in her early twentys, and from one of the Quechan Indian villages in the area. Our guide introduced her, and told us that she was a shaman who had been studying her craft for more than five years.

Over the next hour or so, she showed us some of the various medicines that she had created using plants that grew in the jungle. She had begun learning at a young age which herbs, leaves, roots and so on, were useful and where they could be located. She had also learned how to properly harvest them, then mix them together to create her various potions and elixirs. She had several glass jars filled with her creations with her, and passed them around for us to examine. Most shared some common traits in that they were thick, came in various shades of green , that smelled incredibly awful. I’m reasonably certain that her patients got better out of fear of having to continue to take this “medicine”.

The last bottle that she passed around was unlike the others however. It was orange in color and more of a fluid than the others. Our guide informed us that this particular concoction was mainly made from a specific vine found deep in the Amazon, and that was one of the most powerful hallucinogens in the world. At various times in their lives, the shaman, as well as others, would drink the liquid when they were in need of guidance or enlightenment in their lives. It is believed that while under the influence of the hallucinogens, they would have visions that would show them the path they needed to take to get past what ever obstacle was troubling them. The process described to us was not unlike Native Americans going on a vision quest in North America.

Before the night ended, the shaman gave us a traditional blessing, calling on the spirits of the rainforest to protect us and keep us safe, no matter where our travels took us. While we sat, she danced around us, blowing smoke from a handrolled cigarette, and chanting a prayer. One by one, she approached each of us as she moved about the room, extending the blessing to all who were there., When she was finished she collected her things, and disappeared into the darkness, the storm raging around her as she went.

After the shaman departed, we all said our “good nights” and retired to our individual tents. Most of my companions were soon sound asleep, their lights blinking out one by one. But I sat alone staring out into the darkness, listening to the storm and sounds of the jungle itself. It was one of those singular experiences you have when you travel in which you experience something that is both surreal and tangible at the same time. I was in a tent, in the middle of the Amazon, with thunder crashing all around me. The night creatures of the forest continued to make their calls, sheltered from the storm in the branches over head, and as I finaly lay down to sleep, I couldn’t help but think that everything was right with the world.

Next: Ecotourism in the Amazon

Read more Adventures in the Amazon posts HERE.

Adventures in the Amazon: Trekking the Jungle

by Kraig Becker on

Exploring the Amazon by boat is an incredible experience. The river is so vast and powerful that it can boggle the mind. For instance, during the high water season, it can reach 25 miles in width and more than 100 feet in depth. But there are certain aspects of the Amazon that you can only see if you leave the boat behind, and strike out into the jungle, which is as unique as the river it surrounds.

On my third day in the Amazon, we set out in the skiff like we had any other day, but this time the plan was different. Rather than piloting the boat far into the backwaters in search of wildlife and other unusual sights, we were looking for high ground, a place where we could go ashore and explore the Amazon on foot. Our guides knew where a small, permanent village was located not far from where we had set out that morning, and before long we were pulling into the shore, and hopping off the front of the skiff.

Wandering up the muddy banks and into a large clearing, we entered the village where a number of wide eyed children and mangy dogs looked on in curiosity. Scrawny chickens scrambled about as we passed, ducking under the primitive huts that were suspended above the damp ground on stilts. A half-dozen soccer jerseys hung from a laundry line, a testament to the popularity of the “beautiful game” even in this remote place.

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We soon walked through the village and approached a green wall of jungle that had one small opening onto a muddy path that wound off into the forest. A man from the village approached, spoke a few words in Spanish to our guide, and then led us down the path.

Within moments we were surrounded by jungle. The slight breeze that blew while near the river was gone, blocked by the impassable foliage, and the temperature increased noticeably just a few yards in. It had rained that morning, as it did 270 days a year in the Amazon Basin, which meant that the humidity was off the scale, and ground was saturated, turning what little trail we did have into a sea of mud.

The one thing you notice upon entering the jungle is the amount of noise that surrounds you. It isn’t overwhelmingly loud by any means, but there is just so much of it coming at you from all directions. Birds, bugs, monkeys, tree frogs, and more, all compete to be heard, squawking, chirping, and croaking as you pass. Occasionally we’d catch a glimpse of those animals in the branches overhead, but often they remained out of sight thanks to the thick jungle canopy. One thing was clear, the forest was alive all around us, and it was watching us as we were it.

The further we progressed into the jungle the narrower the trail became, and at times we were forced to break out a machete to continue to continue along our way. The fact that our boots were caked in mud didn’t help matters much, and neither did the very thick gaiters that we wore around our ankles. For those who don’t know, gaiters are a piece of gear that you generally slip over your boots on longer treks that help to keep rocks, dirt, and various other things from getting inside your boots and irritating your fee. Most of the time they are fairly light so that you barely even know they are there, but these particular gaiters, provided by the guides, were extremely thick and cumbersome, and it was difficult to not notice them as we hiked. As usual, there was a reason for this however. Typical gaiters would suffice to keep all the usual junk out of our boots, no doubt, but they don’t prevent snake bites the way these thicker versions do. When cutting through the dense jungle, you never know when you might come across one of the many snakes that inhabit the Amazon, some of which are deadly poisonous, and are apt to strike you on your ankles or calves.

Over the course of the next few hours, we wandered about the jungle, coming across wild banana trees, pineapples, papaya and more. We also wandered through a somber graveyard, built on the highest, driest, land the villagers could find, in order to protect those that were buried there. Our path even came across an incredibly dark, deep pond, which I dubbed a “Malaria Pool”, which seemed to have no way of navigating around. Instead, we had to make a perilous crossing on a 30 foot tree that had fallen between the banks. The trunk was thick and solid, but wet from the continuous moisture, and our muddy boots didn’t make the walk any easier. I grasped some low hanging vines to help steady me as I shuffled from one end to the other, and looking down along the way, I peered into the darkest pool of water I had ever seen. I imagined a jungle croc waiting beneath the surface or worse yet a large anaconda. Fortunately, I wouldn’t become acquainted with either that day, as I soon was standing on firm ground and continuing my trek.

Not long after the crossing of the “malaria pool” we found ourselves back at the banks of the river, where our taxi back to La Turmalina awaited. This wouldn’t be the last time we hiked in the jungle, but it left a lasting impression none the less. I couldn’t wait to see what other secrets the jungle had in store for us.

Next: A Night in the Rainforest

Read more Adventures in the Amazon posts HERE.

Adventures in the Amazon: Dolphins at the Confluence

by Kraig Becker on

The Amazon is a river of epic proportions. It stretches 4345 miles in length, making it the second longest in the world behind the Nile, but it is by far the largest in terms of volume, pushing more water than the next ten rivers combined. During the high water season, the Amazon can reach 25 miles in width at certain points, and more than 100 feet in depth as well. The Amazon is formed by the confluence of the Ucayalli and Marañon Rivers, which come together in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest. I traveled to that point, to see the headwaters of the Amazon for myself, and in the process, I had one of the most amazing experiences of the entire trip.

Early one morning, just before dawn, we set out from La Turmalina in one of the skiffs once agian. Our destination was the conflunce and before long we were cutting the engines and drifting in the exact spot where the Ucayalli and Manañon met. All around us the Amazon was being formed, as the two smaller tributaries came together to form the mightiest river on the planet.

The stillness of the morning was broken by a large splash not far from the boat. Another soon followed, and before long we were all watching the surface of the river intently, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was that was causing the splashes. We were rewarded by some spectacular views of the freshwater river dolphins that are known to swim the entire length of the Amazon.

There are two species of dolphins that inhabit the river, a smaller gray variety, not unlike the traditional saltwater dolphins that we all know, and a larger pink dolphin which is unique to the Amazon. Both were on display that morning although the pink variety were a bit more shy, perferring to mostly stay beneath the surface. As is typical with the species, we generally only caught a glimpse of their torso as they would briefly break the surface.

In contrast, the grey, bottlenosed species was down right social. They regularly leapt from the water all around our boat, giving us ample opportunties to watch these beautiful and intelligent creatures. For twenty minutes we sat there, while the dolphins played, and while we had other places to go that morning, none of us was in a hurry to move along.

I can honestly say that watching those dolphins that morning is amongst my favorite travel memories of all time. It was a beautiful setting, with the sun coming up over the rainforest, and the most iconic river in the world flowing around me. It was a real highlight of the trip, and an experience that I can attempt to share with you in the video below. This is footage that I shot, and later edited together, to give everyone an idea of what it was like there that morning. Enjoy.

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Next: Jungle Trekking

Read more Adventures in the Amazon posts HERE.