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7 of the best long-Haul adventure holidays
Long haul adventures remain permanently etched to our memories because we get to enjoy doing something we love for a longer period of time. Here are some destinations that can give you the adrenaline rush. Get ready to take some time off and enjoy-
1. Trans-Siberian trip, Russia
The adventure of the Trans-Siberian train journey lies in endurance. The journey from Moscow to Vladivostok covers 9,258km and is covered in 7 days. There are a couple of shorter trips that go from Moscow to Beijing, but the sheer span of these trips make these mind-boggling. Definitely not for the restless souls, the wanderlust in you will love the geographical transition from deserts to ice and mountains to steppes. En route you will get to view Volga River, Ural Mountain, Baikal Lake and cities like St. Petersburg and Kazan.
2. Wild West, the USA
If you have grown up watching Hollywood’s spaghetti westerns and cowboy classics, this trip is definitely for you. You can cover hiking trails, national parks, Indian reservations as well as the glitzy Las Vegas in around 10 days. There are five important national parks in the USA’s south-west. Besides, there are must-visit destinations like Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Valley of Fire and, of course, the Grand Canyon. Apart from hiking, you can go for horse rides, river rafting and visits to Navajo Indian villages.
3. Bhutan
Bhutan is a considerably a small country, but its rough terrains lead to longer travel time thus making it an interesting long-haul option. Bhutan holiday packages generally drop you at Paro airport and include important locations like Thimphu and Punakha. However, for an adventurous trip to Bhutan, you can enter Bhutan by road via Bagdogra, Gelephu or Guwahati. You can choose to enter through Bagdogra and exit via Guwahati, or vice versa. Gelephu route falls between the two. Apart from the cities, you can cover places like Bumthang, Monger and Trashigang on your trip.
4. Ladakh, India
A trip to Ladakh is certain to leave a memorable imprint on your mind. If you travel by road to Ladakh, the trip itself would be an adventure mainly because of the riding/driving skill and endurance required. En route you can explore Kargil, tread the Khardung-La Pass and visit Hemis National Park, Spituk Gompa, Shanti Stupa etc. Further, you can hike around in Zanskar valley, explore the breath-taking Pangong Tso Lake and feel the chill in the Nubra Valley cold desert.
5. Singapore
As an adventure enthusiast, you can plan to travel to Singapore because it offers plenty of options to get your adrenaline soaring. Particularly if the city is as swanky as Singapore, any type of traveller is bound to be entertained. The Adventure Cove Waterpark in Sentosa Island gives you the snorkelling experience amidst colourful coral reefs. You can quench your need for speed at the Singapore Formula One circuit or try surfing at Wavehouse Sentosa. There’s adventure galore in Singapore with night safaris, river safaris, reverse bungee jumping, indoor skydiving and many more.
6. Peru
Peru is easily the most complete region in the world in terms of biodiversity. You have the Andes mountain range on one side, beaches on the other and dense Amazonian tropical forests in between, with over 21,000 species of flora and fauna. You can hike up to the famous Incan ruins of great Machu Picchu and explore the remains of the Norte Chico civilisation. Peruvian rainforests cover 60% of the country’s landmass, giving you a tough challenge to explore all of it.
7. South Africa
The Dark Continent always weaves a web of intrigue in the minds of anxious travellers. South Africa is an interesting mix of urban development and primitive culture and heritage. In your long haul of South Africa, you can plan to raid cities like Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town etc. in a jiffy and move over to the road less travelled, metaphorically speaking, of course. Embark on safaris where you can greet all the Big Fives of the wild, Lions, African Elephants, Buffalos, Leopards and Rhinos. You can try to scale the iconic Table Mountain and visit its villages to understand the culture of tribes like Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho, to name a few.