Just What Is Adventure Travel?

What is Adventure Travel? To some it used to mean travel reserved for thrill seekers -- shooting rapids, canyoning, zip-lining, glacier traversing. But, true adventure travel doesn't just embody the high-thrill mode.



True adventure travel is where your travel becomes an adventure. It is exploring something new. It is going places where the tour bus doesn't run. It is getting in touch with other cultures. To taste adventure, you don't need to hang over the edge of a cliff or rush pell-mell down a scree slope on a mountain bike. Instead, you need to open your eyes to the world around you. Slow down a bit and truly enjoy life and the adventure it brings us when we are receptive.



Look for the little things. The early morning mist over a Tyrolean village as you stroll across a picturesque meadow. The smell of fresh mown hay in the midday sun. The sound of cowbells tinkling on a nearby hillside. It's all an adventure.

An Expo In Seattle

This will only be of interest if you live in Seattle. Unfortunately, that's a bit far away for me. I just found out that they are holding a large adventure travel expo.

I have no idea if it's worthwhile going, but they are listing a number of attractions with some notable speakers and stage shows. Also, it's a great chance to shop the booths and see what's on offer. Lots of tour companies, of course, but also groups like NOLS and some countries' tourist information centers.

At: Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA

Time: Saturday, Sept 13 from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Sunday, Sept 14 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Admission: $12 and kids under 12 are free

Trekking Ireland's Dingle Peninsula With Its Magnificent Views

The spectacular Dingle Peninsula on the West Coast of Ireland, is a beautifully rugged coastline fringing incredibly green pastures that stretch as far as the eye can see. This wild, and often uninhabitable coastline offers complete solitude - with only the occasional small herd of sheep or goats to be seen.

Spectacular views of mist-covered mountains vie with the wild stretches of coastline where deep fissures have been carved by centuries upon centuries of pounding Atlantic Ocean. The Dingle
Peninsula is a great place to spend a week, walking and taking in the Irish air.



This is a stronghold of Irish language and traditions. It is steeped in history and mythology. Nowhere else in Europe will you find a landscape with such a variety of archaeological monuments - including the famed beehive huts. The remoteness and lack of any large-scale agriculture has preserved the Dingle Peninsula's archaeological heritage and provides a fantastic trekking experience.

This Year's Pushkar Camel Fair

The world's largest camel fair takes place every year on the edge of Pushkar Lake in the Rajasthan state of India. It's one of the most colourful fairs, with over 25,000 camels and five days of merry making. You'll see the arid desert landscape brought alive by the colourful veils and skirts of the women and the turbans of the men, as large crowds of devotees flock to the lake during a time when it is believed all the gods visit Pushkar and bless the devout.


Camels are brought from miles around and trading is brisk. The camels are washed and adorned, with some shorn in interesting patterns. Stalls sell finery and jewelry for camels, which may offer you a unique souvenier.

This year, the fair will run from November 10 to 13. This is a great time to experience a true rural bazaar, with stalls of all kind selling a cornucopia of goods and crowds milling about. The sounds of holy scriptures fills the air and camels race.

Get In Shape For Rugged Mountain Trail Hiking

When you head up into the mountains, you may not be doing the kind of climbing that requires ropes and pitons, but there's still a fair amount of scrambling over boulders and humping up steep inclines. And, anytime you change activities (this is a bit different from a flatland hike) your body gets stressed in a new and different way. Climbing up the uneven terrain of a mountain trail will work muscle groups that usually never get exercised.

Doing squats and other lower body strengthening exercises can help strengthen your supportive muscles and tendons that are around your knees and ankles - which will protect you from injury and reduce muscle soreness after a grueling climb. Using a stair climber in your local gym or doing step aerobics is a great way to get your body ready for the kind of hiking moves you'll experience, while yoga and stretching are a great way to limber your body up for a good climb.

Of course, before hitting more challenging mountain trails be sure to invest in good hiking boots. The hiker's most important friend, good boots will protect you from the elements and the rugged terrain that can twist a runner-clad ankle. Be sure to break in new boots before you go for a long hike.

Good Hiking Near Hollywood?

Nobody thinks of LA as a place to hike. After all, this is the city that worships the automobile. But, not far away lies the scenic wilderness of Topanga Canyon. Topanga State Park is one of the largest urban preserves in the world, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and featuring beautiful cliffs hanging over the canyon.

Topanga was named by a local Indian tribe and is believed to mean "A place above", which it certainly is if you feel the need to hike and escape LA. Within minutes you can be in the rolling landscape of the Santa Monica Mountains.

LA is not just a painted freeway!

Is This The Most Dangerous Trail In The World?

The dangerous trail on Mount Huashan in China - known as "Number One Precipitous Mountain Under Heaven" - will leave you with no argument against this bold statement. Although it is classed as hiking, you'll swear you are mountaineering - especially when you end up on a few rough planks over a drop to certain death, with only a chain to hold onto.



In fact, there are some stretches where only some footholds in the rock and a chain or cable keep you from plummeting. It is advisable to bring a climbing harness and strap yourself to the chains. Supposedly, there are about 100 deaths each year on this trail - mainly young daredevils.


The rewards are great though, with fantastic views on top of the exhilarating thrills.