| There are those who take a year off before | | | | Crossing China and entering Russia |
| venturing into university. And there are | | | | through Mongolia the experience is a journey back |
| others who just need a year away from the | | | | to another place in time, while |
| routines of their lives. For whatever | | | | you take in the romantic Mongolian landscape, |
| reason, there are more and more people digging | | | | followed by quaint old Russian |
| their heels in and just doing it. Its | | | | villages and their spectacular Orthodox churches. A |
| not an easy decision to make and much has to be | | | | trip on the trans-siberian is a |
| thought out. You must consider | | | | peaceful and inspiring adventure.ADVENTURE |
| the security your current job gives you, the flat you | | | | SPORTS TRAVELAnd now, another selection of trips |
| rent, your girlfriend, pets, and | | | | for those who wish to challenge themselves.The |
| so on. But hundreds of thousands will do it this year, | | | | Awesome Foursome in Queenstown, NZIt is known |
| aged from 18 to 80. | | | | as the adventure capital of the world. There is a |
| So after reading pages and pages on travel forums | | | | six-hour available for |
| and blogs, I have put together a | | | | those who seek the challenge themselves to the |
| few stops one must make to be able to return | | | | extreme, known as the Awesome |
| home and proudly say "I did it".SMALL, YET | | | | Four. Beginning with a 71m bungee jump from |
| MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENTSI'll begin with the lighter | | | | Skippers' Canyon Bridge, you go on |
| options. Some will seem too simple on paper to be an | | | | to the Shotover River for a 30-minute ride on the |
| | | | Shotover Jet. The 360-degree |
| lifetime experience, but that's only because you | | | | spins and close shaves with the rocky outcrops of |
| have yet to experience them.Get your photo taken | | | | the canyon walls will get your |
| outside the Taj MahalOften labeled as man's most | | | | blood pumping, it is a guarantee. Next there's a |
| impressive construction, to sit on a stone bench in | | | | helicopter ride that will give you the |
| front of the Taj Mahal is much more impressive than | | | | chance to take in the amazing scenery before |
| any professional photograph | | | | jumping into a white-water raft ride |
| can possibly depict. A photo of you in this that is the | | | | down the Shotover, which boasts some of the |
| trademark site of India is one | | | | most challenging rapids in the world.Scuba diving in |
| photo you must simply take home.Buy some fruit in | | | | Belize's Blue HoleTaking your PADI is one of those |
| BangkokBangkok is chaos, but captures each visitor | | | | "must dos" for those who truly want to experience |
| with the sights, sounds and smells that | | | | the unique sights of our oceans. Still held as a |
| make it one of Asia's most visited destinations. The | | | | well-kept secret, the Barrier Reef, |
| colourful floating markets are | | | | located off Belize, is magnificent and much quieter |
| just one example and as simple as it may sound, to | | | | than other scuba diving spots. It |
| see such dazzling colours will | | | | is also one of the more affordable options for |
| be one of those experiences you will not forget.Get | | | | divers. Its waters are home to an |
| a massage in GoaYou'll find a wide assortment of | | | | incredible and diverse selection of species, making |
| courses being offered in Goa for want-to-be | | | | the Blue Hole the perfect spot |
| masseurs. It is a spiritual place where you will meet | | | | for all divers, beginners and advanced PADI. Another |
| some of the most colourful | | | | plus are the shipwrecks to |
| personalities. Hire a bungalow by the beach and hire | | | | discover - a real adventure for the more |
| a masseur. You will find many | | | | experienced divers.Trekking in Nepal's Annapurna |
| experienced masseurs who will go to your own | | | | RangeIn the the Annapurna Range there are |
| bungalow. You will be massaged and | | | | different treks to choose, from peaceful half- |
| washed from head to toe, and I promise you will | | | | day walks to a 2-week challenging trek. From |
| never feel cleaner. Take your time | | | | Pokhara you will need to take a 1- |
| to shop around. The best way is to ask for | | | | hour bus to reach the trails, with or without a guide. |
| recommendations, and you'll find the | | | | Passes can be purchased in |
| right one.Work in the Big AppleNew York is the top | | | | Pokhara at accessible prices, and the price will vary |
| US destination and consistently makes it into the top | | | | on the duration of the trek you |
| 10 most | | | | choose to take. The Circuit is a trek that takes you |
| popular destinations for young travellers; especially | | | | to and from the base camp in |
| those taking a year off before | | | | Annapurna, and is by far the most populatr, |
| entering university. There are a number of | | | | especially in October/November. From |
| organizations, such as Work Experience | | | | March to April you'll find less trekkers in teh circuit, |
| USA and BUNAC, who help young visitors find | | | | and is a time to take in some of |
| short-term jobs, and allow them the | | | | the local wildlife and flora.If you have time, you |
| unique opportunity to live among the 7.5 million New | | | | should also consider doing some white-water rafting |
| Yorkers that make up this | | | | too. |
| exciting city.Take brunch at the vineyardA | | | | There are a few smooth runs, but Nepal's waters |
| mid-morning meal in the centre of a vineyard will be | | | | are some of the most adventurous |
| the most unforgettable meal | | | | for rafters.Bungee jumping in South AfricaPlunge off |
| in your life. Whether you choose Portugal, Spain, | | | | the world's biggest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge |
| Italy or France, your feast will | | | | on Storms River, |
| include fresh bread with home-made olive spreads or | | | | South Africa. A 180 metre, 7 second long freefall |
| fresh cheeses and of course a | | | | that will get you moving at a speed |
| selection of the vineyard's own collection of wines. It | | | | of over 190kmph - even the rebound is higher than |
| is a sheer luxury to begin your | | | | the Victoria Falls. The feeling, |
| day in the middle of a beautiful vineyard, enveloped | | | | as reported by those who have made it, is one of |
| by the silent, sunny hills on any | | | | never-ending horror, followed by a |
| given morning.HERITAGE TOURS OF THE | | | | sense of greatness that will stay with you |
| WORLDBe inspired to learn and experience different | | | | forever.Climb Sydney Harbour BridgeAustralia's |
| cultures in different waysGo on Peru's Inca TrailIn | | | | Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is one of the most |
| Machu Picchu, there is the 3-day Inca Trail to do. | | | | exciting experiences. It |
| Group tours organized by local | | | | takes 3 hours to scale the bridge, and you will be |
| tour operators begin in the Sacred Valley. It will be 3 | | | | rewarded with stunning views of |
| days of hikes and camping | | | | one of the world's most beautiful cities.Cristina |
| along the more than 30,000 marvellous hectares of | | | | Santos owns The C Channel, a multi-interest website |
| the Sanctuario Historico de | | | | which attracts a |
| Machu Picchu. With the glorious Andes as a | | | | globel audience to its travel, weddings and shopping |
| backdrop, you'll have the unforgettable | | | | sites. For The C Channel |
| chance to discover the ancient city of the Incas, | | | | Travel Portal we |
| whose way of life is still marvelled | | | | are building up profiles for destinations around the |
| at today.Cross Asia on the Trans-Siberia ExpressThe | | | | world, and every day you |
| trans-siberian ensures a cross-cultural experience of | | | | will find new articles, new photos and new |
| epic proportions for 10 | | | | destinations to dig into. |
| days on the most famous railway line on earth. | | | | |