Paris, France - Backpacking Photo of the Week #12
Paris is a beautiful place. The people, the buildings, the food - it's ready made to take your breath away with every vista. As a backpacker, Paris is a fantastic place to visit. You have to throw away the shoestring budget for a short period and just appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Make the most of it, you might not be able to stay for long!
Lares Trek to Machu Picchu, A Photo Diary - Machu Picchu, Peru
Top Backpacking Destinations Ranking: 9/10
Machu Picchu is one of the world's must see icons. It's like no other place on earth and needs to be seen to be believed. Hidden amongst the mountains of eastern Peru it stands tall and mighty, overlooking the rolling mountains for miles around. You can do various treks to get there, i was lucky enough to do the Lares Trek which included stops at some fantastic mountain villages along the way that were full of beautiful people. They say a picture tells a thousand words,so here's a few of them to try and do this magical place some justice:
Discover more fantastic destinations in South America here
Machu Picchu is one of the world's must see icons. It's like no other place on earth and needs to be seen to be believed. Hidden amongst the mountains of eastern Peru it stands tall and mighty, overlooking the rolling mountains for miles around. You can do various treks to get there, i was lucky enough to do the Lares Trek which included stops at some fantastic mountain villages along the way that were full of beautiful people. They say a picture tells a thousand words,so here's a few of them to try and do this magical place some justice:
Discover more fantastic destinations in South America here
Top Backpacking Destinations Top 5 - June 2010
These were the top 5 most read destination posts on Top Backpacking Destinations in June - check them out, you might have missed a beauty!
Brilliant Backpacking, But at What Cost? - London, England
Culture Shock That's Worth It - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Beautiful Backpacking off the Beaten Track - Kazbegi, Georgia
Mazy Marrakech, a Photo Diary - Marrakech, Morocco
Backpacking Quicksand - Antigua, Guatemala
Brilliant Backpacking, But at What Cost? - London, England
Culture Shock That's Worth It - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Beautiful Backpacking off the Beaten Track - Kazbegi, Georgia
Mazy Marrakech, a Photo Diary - Marrakech, Morocco
Backpacking Quicksand - Antigua, Guatemala
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - Backpacking Photo of the Week #11
The Galapagos Islands aren't top of many backpacker's lists, mainly for financial reasons. The main way of exploring them is on week long cruises that visit each island and give you access to all the incredible wildlife that roam there. But this isn't cheap and will likely take up most of a backpackers 6 month budget.
There are, however, cheaper ways to visit. You can fly to the main island yourself and appreciate the wildlife based there (there's plenty!) and take in some of the stunning, pristine beaches. This method doesn't allow you to see everything in wildlife terms but is a worthwhile second for those desperate to visit and see the giant tortoises and some beautiful birds. And the beaches are a worthy support act...
Discover more photos from the road in the Backpacking Photo of the Week series.
There are, however, cheaper ways to visit. You can fly to the main island yourself and appreciate the wildlife based there (there's plenty!) and take in some of the stunning, pristine beaches. This method doesn't allow you to see everything in wildlife terms but is a worthwhile second for those desperate to visit and see the giant tortoises and some beautiful birds. And the beaches are a worthy support act...
Discover more photos from the road in the Backpacking Photo of the Week series.
Dogon – Do it: Dogon County, Mali
It's a place most have probably never heard of and it's a place with an unforgettable name which is fitting as it's a place you'll never forget.
What is it?
Dogon Country - once you make it to Mali, it's all the hype and deservedly so, it's incredible. This is a stretch of villages lining a 150km escarpment in southern Mali and it's something else. It's a must do in Mali, it's a must do in West Africa and what's best is you can do it all by foot.
What can you do?
Stand in awe of the traditional villages built into and along the sides of the mountains, mingle with the locals like nowhere else and step back in time to listen to the sounds of the lively villages from amongst the mud huts scattered across massive cliff faces - it's a feeling like no other in this special part of the world.
What's amazing about Dogon?
It's like that place you imagined existed in your mind but it's like the place you've never actually seen.
The Dogon people have lived in the area for 1200 years, and some of their old villages - mud huts made by hand, are nested under the overhanging cliff face halfway up the rock mountain. What is perhaps even more incredible are the Pygmy villages that remain even higher in the escarpment.
Climb through the cliffs and from the summit overlook the picturesque savannah, towards the villages below to experience the sights - the traditional way of life, the sounds of women and children crushing millet, the chaos of animals roaming the narrow walkways and the feel the life of Dogon.
The mud huts, the smiles and the greetings will welcome you in every village and if you stay longer you'll get the opportunity to sleep on a mud hut rooftop in a small village under the stars which in reality, is one of the coolest things you could ever do. If like us you have all the luck, you'll even be rained on by the survival rains in the middle of the night - adding further more to an unbelievable experience.
Is Dogon country too 'touristy'?
As a backpacker it has many of the things that you'll do anything to avoid like having to take a guide and a tour, but for this part of the world we'll, it's a must. They’ll get you up close and personal and they’ll ensure everything’s above board on the responsibility front.
If you're like us and go in low season, you'll barely see any one else travelling the area - which for us made it a more intimate and memorable experience. You will however battle the temperatures climbing well above 40 degrees every day, so take a towel. Don't worry, when its 40 degrees, in baking sun and you've just hiked 4km across rock and plain there is relief in reaching the next village and knowing the hospitality and water that awaits.
What do we say?
If you're in Africa get there. Leave your big backpack behind, take the essentials, make some new friends to bring along, find a reputable guide and you're set for Dogon country. It's one of the only remaining places in the world that we know of where you can get an insight into traditional lifestyles in Africa and you can also see first hand the challenges and opportunities that tourism brings to these fascinating communities.
Sounds too good to be true? It isn't - check out what we filmed along the way.
This is another guest post from the legends over at Amateurs in Africa - check them out!
What is it?
Dogon Country - once you make it to Mali, it's all the hype and deservedly so, it's incredible. This is a stretch of villages lining a 150km escarpment in southern Mali and it's something else. It's a must do in Mali, it's a must do in West Africa and what's best is you can do it all by foot.
What can you do?
Stand in awe of the traditional villages built into and along the sides of the mountains, mingle with the locals like nowhere else and step back in time to listen to the sounds of the lively villages from amongst the mud huts scattered across massive cliff faces - it's a feeling like no other in this special part of the world.
What's amazing about Dogon?
It's like that place you imagined existed in your mind but it's like the place you've never actually seen.
The Dogon people have lived in the area for 1200 years, and some of their old villages - mud huts made by hand, are nested under the overhanging cliff face halfway up the rock mountain. What is perhaps even more incredible are the Pygmy villages that remain even higher in the escarpment.Climb through the cliffs and from the summit overlook the picturesque savannah, towards the villages below to experience the sights - the traditional way of life, the sounds of women and children crushing millet, the chaos of animals roaming the narrow walkways and the feel the life of Dogon.
The mud huts, the smiles and the greetings will welcome you in every village and if you stay longer you'll get the opportunity to sleep on a mud hut rooftop in a small village under the stars which in reality, is one of the coolest things you could ever do. If like us you have all the luck, you'll even be rained on by the survival rains in the middle of the night - adding further more to an unbelievable experience.
Is Dogon country too 'touristy'?
As a backpacker it has many of the things that you'll do anything to avoid like having to take a guide and a tour, but for this part of the world we'll, it's a must. They’ll get you up close and personal and they’ll ensure everything’s above board on the responsibility front.
If you're like us and go in low season, you'll barely see any one else travelling the area - which for us made it a more intimate and memorable experience. You will however battle the temperatures climbing well above 40 degrees every day, so take a towel. Don't worry, when its 40 degrees, in baking sun and you've just hiked 4km across rock and plain there is relief in reaching the next village and knowing the hospitality and water that awaits.What do we say?
If you're in Africa get there. Leave your big backpack behind, take the essentials, make some new friends to bring along, find a reputable guide and you're set for Dogon country. It's one of the only remaining places in the world that we know of where you can get an insight into traditional lifestyles in Africa and you can also see first hand the challenges and opportunities that tourism brings to these fascinating communities.
Sounds too good to be true? It isn't - check out what we filmed along the way.
This is another guest post from the legends over at Amateurs in Africa - check them out!
Grand Canyon, USA - Backpacking Photo of the Week
The Grand Canyon is pretty high on most backpackers list of must sees and it certainly doesn't disappoint. You could spend days and weeks wandering around the area without getting tired of it and if you're a bit of a flashpacker you might even consider a little helicopter ride over the top!
Peruse some more photos from the Backpacking Photo of the Week series here.
Peruse some more photos from the Backpacking Photo of the Week series here.
White Sands and Giant Snails - Ilha Grande, Brazil
Top Backpacking Destinations Ranking: 8.5/10
I've written a lot about backpacking in paradise islands in recent weeks and this is another one. Ilha Grande is a perfect place to get away from the stresses of the city and top up your tan. It's a few hours south of Rio and after some time living the hectic city life it's a real breath of fresh air.
Ilha Grande is characterised by beautiful white sands, crystal clear water and laid back island life. It's a relatively short bus journey (for South America!) and then a quick boat ride to get there from Rio and once arrived all you have to do is put your feet up, order a caipirinha and soak up the sun. Come nightfall you can entertain yourself with the armies of giant snails and crabs that come out to play under the cover of darkness!
There are various tours you can do during your stay which are all based around visits to other parts of the island in a boat whilst throwing some snorkelling in there for good measure. One of the most popular trips is to Lopes Mendes beach, famous across Brazil and a site to behold. This is the plum spot on the island and if you're feeling energetic (and a bit thrifty) you can hike there in a couple of hours which will likely lead to you discovering hidden beauties along the way.
This is a very special place with simple pleasures and the perfect escape from the busy Brazilian cities. It's no surprise that so many locals choose to spend their holidays here - you should too.
If you've been lucky enough to visit Ilha Grande let me know your experiences in the comments or check out some of the other fantastic places to go backpacking in South America here.
I've written a lot about backpacking in paradise islands in recent weeks and this is another one. Ilha Grande is a perfect place to get away from the stresses of the city and top up your tan. It's a few hours south of Rio and after some time living the hectic city life it's a real breath of fresh air.Ilha Grande is characterised by beautiful white sands, crystal clear water and laid back island life. It's a relatively short bus journey (for South America!) and then a quick boat ride to get there from Rio and once arrived all you have to do is put your feet up, order a caipirinha and soak up the sun. Come nightfall you can entertain yourself with the armies of giant snails and crabs that come out to play under the cover of darkness!
There are various tours you can do during your stay which are all based around visits to other parts of the island in a boat whilst throwing some snorkelling in there for good measure. One of the most popular trips is to Lopes Mendes beach, famous across Brazil and a site to behold. This is the plum spot on the island and if you're feeling energetic (and a bit thrifty) you can hike there in a couple of hours which will likely lead to you discovering hidden beauties along the way.
This is a very special place with simple pleasures and the perfect escape from the busy Brazilian cities. It's no surprise that so many locals choose to spend their holidays here - you should too.
If you've been lucky enough to visit Ilha Grande let me know your experiences in the comments or check out some of the other fantastic places to go backpacking in South America here.
Backpacking Photo of the Week - Huaraz, Peru
Peru offers backpackers stunning views around every corner as you move between different environments from day to day. Take in the sand dunes of Huacachina, the iconic Machu Picchu or the glaciers of Huaraz. This photo was taken in the hills surrounding Huaraz after a day long hike up into the mountains. Ice capped mountains, bright blue water and views for miles around, it doesn't get much better!
Click here to check out more of the beautiful destinations around the world in the Backpacking Photo of the Week series.
Click here to check out more of the beautiful destinations around the world in the Backpacking Photo of the Week series.
Off Piste Backpacking in The Gambia
The Gambia – Yep that’s right it’s actually called that and it’s the only country in the World that we’re aware of that uses ‘The’ to officially introduce itself. Along with this there are two other reasons we immediately loved The Gambia, one – English is the national language and two – they don’t charge Australians anything for a Visa. Heaven.
What else will you love in The Gambia?
It moves to a slow beat and it’s a fairly chilled out scene, most locals will want you to stop for a chat to welcome you. You’ll also get used to the familiar calls of ‘Toubab’ (the local term for white man) from the local kids as you high five them and they hug you back as you roam the streets. It’s famous for its eco-tourism scene and it’s all well organised, it’s easy to get around and it’s refreshingly progressive with loads of worthwhile organisations and programs doing great local work.
After dark it's a place like no other - we learnt a lot on our first night out. Don’t be fooled, you’re not in a retirement village, in fact it’s anything but – the older women you will find in the bars have found their inner youth and that's why they're here. It’s a lesson in the food chain as these predators of the night stalk their younger prey across all parts of the dance floor.
If you hadn’t guessed sex tourism is booming here, predominately with older Brits, surprisingly mostly women but there’s also a few men floating about in search of, well, (for lack of any other non-offensive term) love.
Back to the city and around Banjul, there is an awkward sprawl of 5 or 6 local areas, each with their own scene. As a whole if it's nightclubs you're after you'll find them centered in one spot, known as 'the Strip' - and they pump. The local lads can truly dance so you’re in for a treat, but as we witnessed time after time, if you’re a white guy stay seated - it’s embarrassing for everybody when you dangle your limbs awkwardly around trying to compete. As one of the local ladies said – ‘White guys can’t dance and black guys can’t swim’.
What seals the deal?
The Gambia is supremely cheap if you stick with the locals. The ‘street meat’ here is well above board and on any given night you can find anything from Nigerian cuisine to loaded long baguettes to fruits to the insides of a goat. If you choose the latter, you’ll need to wash that down with one of no doubt Africa’s best beers, Jul Brew and yes, it’s pretty special.
If The Gambia sounds like your sort of place, we’ve given it an in depth review with all the information you’d need to visit it yourself and we've got a video to show you bits and pieces as well.
This is a guest post from the Benny over at Amateurs Africa, the place to go for fantastic insight if your thinking of going out on the road in Africa. You can also check out some other places to go backpacking in Africa here.
What else will you love in The Gambia?It moves to a slow beat and it’s a fairly chilled out scene, most locals will want you to stop for a chat to welcome you. You’ll also get used to the familiar calls of ‘Toubab’ (the local term for white man) from the local kids as you high five them and they hug you back as you roam the streets. It’s famous for its eco-tourism scene and it’s all well organised, it’s easy to get around and it’s refreshingly progressive with loads of worthwhile organisations and programs doing great local work.
After dark it's a place like no other - we learnt a lot on our first night out. Don’t be fooled, you’re not in a retirement village, in fact it’s anything but – the older women you will find in the bars have found their inner youth and that's why they're here. It’s a lesson in the food chain as these predators of the night stalk their younger prey across all parts of the dance floor.
If you hadn’t guessed sex tourism is booming here, predominately with older Brits, surprisingly mostly women but there’s also a few men floating about in search of, well, (for lack of any other non-offensive term) love.
Back to the city and around Banjul, there is an awkward sprawl of 5 or 6 local areas, each with their own scene. As a whole if it's nightclubs you're after you'll find them centered in one spot, known as 'the Strip' - and they pump. The local lads can truly dance so you’re in for a treat, but as we witnessed time after time, if you’re a white guy stay seated - it’s embarrassing for everybody when you dangle your limbs awkwardly around trying to compete. As one of the local ladies said – ‘White guys can’t dance and black guys can’t swim’.
What seals the deal?
The Gambia is supremely cheap if you stick with the locals. The ‘street meat’ here is well above board and on any given night you can find anything from Nigerian cuisine to loaded long baguettes to fruits to the insides of a goat. If you choose the latter, you’ll need to wash that down with one of no doubt Africa’s best beers, Jul Brew and yes, it’s pretty special.
If The Gambia sounds like your sort of place, we’ve given it an in depth review with all the information you’d need to visit it yourself and we've got a video to show you bits and pieces as well.
This is a guest post from the Benny over at Amateurs Africa, the place to go for fantastic insight if your thinking of going out on the road in Africa. You can also check out some other places to go backpacking in Africa here.
Backpacking Around the Volcanic Vistas of Iceland
Eyjafjallajokull may have attracted quite a lot of bad press by travellers, tour operators and travel insurance companies in recent months, but the volcanoes of Iceland are responsible for much more than delays and disruptions. This northern European island country is home to an ancient, unique landscape that boasts incredible geology, hot springs, lava flows, black deserts, ice-caps, glaciers and snow covered mountains. Here’s our guide to the key must-see sites.
Bathing in the Blue Lagoon
An absolute must on any visitor’s Icelandic agenda – the geothermal spa is the most visited attraction in the country. Boasting naturally heated water of 40° and rich in minerals, the area has become a Mecca for health and leisure, with all sorts of bars and lounges, treatment areas and clinics.
Whale watching from Husavik
Husavik is the prime location for whale watching in the whole of Europe and visitors can pick up any number of tours and guides to chug out into Skjalfandi Bay. The waters in this region are home to a wide variety of species, including Minke, Humpbacks and Giant Blue, as well as puffins and dolphins. Most trips last about three hours.
Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfall
Located within the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, the Dettifoss falls are 100m wide with a drop of 44m into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. It's pretty much out in the wild, which means visitors will have to trek to view the incredible thunder of water as it tips over the edge of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River.
Vatnajokull - Europe’s largest ice cap
The best place to view Vatnajokull is within Skaftafell National Park - where visitors can either climb the low hills overlooking the ice or don crampons and strike out onto the cap itself. Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, is also located to the south of Vatnajökull, rising to an impressive 2,109.6 meters.
Strokkur Geyser – hot water springs
Iceland is famous for its hot springs and a visit to the country wouldn’t be complete without an excursion to witness boiling water fire into the sky from the rocky plateau. Strokkur Geyser is the most famous of the island springs, with a 30 meter jet that reliably erupts every 5-10 minutes.
The island of Grimsey - visit the Arctic Circle
Grimsey is the only point in Iceland that is actually within the Arctic Circle – visitors can journey by sea or sky to the island, the origins of which are laced with fable and myth that date back to the days of trolls and giants.
This post was provided by The Post Office
Bathing in the Blue Lagoon
An absolute must on any visitor’s Icelandic agenda – the geothermal spa is the most visited attraction in the country. Boasting naturally heated water of 40° and rich in minerals, the area has become a Mecca for health and leisure, with all sorts of bars and lounges, treatment areas and clinics.
Whale watching from Husavik
Husavik is the prime location for whale watching in the whole of Europe and visitors can pick up any number of tours and guides to chug out into Skjalfandi Bay. The waters in this region are home to a wide variety of species, including Minke, Humpbacks and Giant Blue, as well as puffins and dolphins. Most trips last about three hours.
Dettifoss - Europe’s most powerful waterfallLocated within the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, the Dettifoss falls are 100m wide with a drop of 44m into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. It's pretty much out in the wild, which means visitors will have to trek to view the incredible thunder of water as it tips over the edge of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River.
Vatnajokull - Europe’s largest ice cap
The best place to view Vatnajokull is within Skaftafell National Park - where visitors can either climb the low hills overlooking the ice or don crampons and strike out onto the cap itself. Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, is also located to the south of Vatnajökull, rising to an impressive 2,109.6 meters.
Strokkur Geyser – hot water springs
Iceland is famous for its hot springs and a visit to the country wouldn’t be complete without an excursion to witness boiling water fire into the sky from the rocky plateau. Strokkur Geyser is the most famous of the island springs, with a 30 meter jet that reliably erupts every 5-10 minutes.
The island of Grimsey - visit the Arctic Circle
Grimsey is the only point in Iceland that is actually within the Arctic Circle – visitors can journey by sea or sky to the island, the origins of which are laced with fable and myth that date back to the days of trolls and giants.
This post was provided by The Post Office
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