How to Prepare for Adventure Travel

Adventure travel is a type of tourism that involves exploring or traveling to remote and exotic regions of the world. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity, as tourists seek different kinds of vacations. Adventure travel includes activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, rafting, zip-lining, paragliding, and rock climbing. One should be well prepared before heading off to go zip lining in Costa Rica or hiking through Nepal. Here are a few ways to get ready for your adventure:

While your packing list for your adventure travel trip may be extensive, there a few things you should NOT bring. A common mistake is bringing new shoes or hiking boots. While this may seem like a good idea, bringing footwear that has not been properly worn in is an invitation for painful blisters and sore feet. Your best bet to either bring a sturdy pair of shoes you already have that appropriate for the terrain, or buy a pair a few months before you go and break them in at home. Jewelry, fancy watches, wedding rings and other valuables are best left at home. A good rule of thumb is to leave at home anything you would be devastated to lose. If you feel naked without your wedding band or favorite necklace, buy a fake to wear during your trip. That way you'll have nothing to regret if it breaks or gets lost or stolen. Also, this is adventure travel. One of your goals is to survive on the basics. Leave your scented lotions and fancy shampoos at home. Pack travel sized bottles of whatever they provide in the travel section of Target. It may seem strange to leave behind all your comforts, but by day 6 you'll be glad you're not lugging around large bottles of hair conditioner.

During adventure travel, you will be on your feet for long periods of time. Depending on your travel plans, you'll be standing, running, walking, or biking for hours. You need to prepare your feet for the adventure. Blisters can slow down even the most physically fit travelers. For your adventure you will need tough feet, excellent footwear, and non-cotton socks. Like I said above, you will want to buy new footwear well in advance of your trip. You may have to go to several stores and try on several pairs before you find the right shoes. You will also want non-cotton socks to wick away sweat. Wet feet soften and blister easily.

If you are heading to remote communities or trekking through the jungle, you may encounter microscopic organisms in your water that will leave you longing for home or a doctor. You will want to bring enough water purification supplies to get you through your trip. Pills and droplets are available at most hiking supply stores. Research all your options and decide what is best for you and your adventure travel plans.

Do You Care About Which Budget Airline You Use or Are They Simply a 'Bus in the Sky?'

It could be argued that we are lucky in the UK due to the proliferation of budget airlines available to whisk us away somewhere warm from a wide variety of regional airports. Despite the highest aviation taxes in the world it is still possible to obtain relatively cheap flights for any type of holiday to destinations as far away as Sharm el Sheikh or Marrakech. This must be a good thing.

The onset and expansion of airlines such as easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair has allowed passengers to be selective about whom they fly with or to simply take the cheapest price. What are your own booking methods? After experiencing budget airlines do you now say for example 'I'll never fly Ryanair' or 'I will only use easyJet' so that you can purchase speedy boarding and be on the plane first?

The industry leader in terms of volume is the irrepressible Michael O'Leary of Ryanair who would argue that his service is simply the same as catching a bus from your home to the nearest town but his service happens to be one that operates in the sky. Do you agree with his philosophy about your holiday starting with an A to B transit in the air or do you wish to return to a romantic notion of air travel where you get a gin and tonic and a bag of peanuts? Would you say that there is scope for an airline which offers a simple price to include air fare, 20kg luggage allowance and complimentary drinks on board at a competitive price to holiday destinations to Spain or Turkey?

When Is the Best Time to Go On Safari Holidays?

The Best Time for Safari Holidays

The best time to go on safari holidays in Africa will depend upon many factors including the country you want to visit and what time in the year you are able to take your trip. It may be that you wish to see a certain species of wildlife or take part in a specific activity in a certain country and there may be a better time of year to do so. Discussing this with your safari tour operator is the best option as they will be able to advise you on the best times for each country. The dry season tends to be the best and most preferred time with safari enthusiasts as animals are in abundance, especially around water holes and lakes because of the lack of water elsewhere. Southern and Eastern Africa both have varying seasons so this means you're bound to find the right safari to suit you at any time on the continent.

The Great Migration

If you want guaranteed sightings of the 'Big Five' as well as seeing huge numbers of animals all in one place, you should choose Kenya during the months of July and October. Between these months, you'll get to see the great wildebeest migration in full swing. The Great Migration as it is otherwise known is one of the most spectacular natural events on earth and safari holidays taken at this time are unforgettable. Millions of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle embark upon an epic journey between the Masai Mara and Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania on the hunt for fresh grazing and water. Closely followed by lions and other such predators, this will be a truly mesmerising experience on safari. Of course, visiting Kenya also means you can take advantage of all of its other game viewing regions including the Samburu, Tsavo, Aberdare and Meru, and you can opt to relax on the Kenyan Coast afterwards.