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