auburn | The Adventure Travel Site

Experience Diving in Maldives

Providing unparalleled views of the country’s stunning coral and marine life, diving in Maldives offers unforgettable adventures and is not to be missed when on holiday.

Image credit- Unsplash,
Sebastian Pena Lambarri,CC0

Choosing a Resort

When selecting a suitable resort, ensure that it has a dive school / centre that offers SSI and PADI certified courses for both beginners and pros. Consider properties such as Kandolhu Maldives that also feature half and full-day excursions to dive sites, private diving options and unique experiences like fluorescent night dives too.

House Reef Dives

For those new to diving, a great place to start would be at a house reef, usually found near an island resort and its Maldives villas. Such house reefs can be easily accessed and provide ideal opportunities to encounter diverse marine species from colourful reef fish to hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, manta rays and even various sharks.

Key Dive Sites

There are plenty of dive sites in Maldives especially in destinations such as the North and South Ari Atolls. Notable hotspots include Fishhead and Maaya Thila that are two Protected Marine Areas home to grey reef sharks, Moofushi Manta Point (December to April), the Fesdu Wreck and Hammerhead Shark Point at Rasdhoo Atoll.

When to Dive

You can enjoy diving here year-round; that said, December to May, the dry season, generally has the best weather and visibility. However, you can still enjoy diving in the rainy season (June to November) too and in some locations, the build-up of plankton during this time will attract more whale sharks and manta rays.

Thrilling Dubai Desert Safari Experiences – Fun Adventures Amidst the Dunes

If you are looking to add some excitement to your holiday in Dubai, then don’t miss the chance to enjoy a desert safari; from thrilling activities to cultural insights there’s much to experience.

Planning the Excursion

Several tour operators offer desert safaris, though, for more convenience, properties such as Avani Deira Dubai Hotel will help organise such excursions for guests. You will be taken to a desert that’s within easy reach while depending on the tour, you will have the option of morning, sunset or overnight safaris.

Dune Bashing

Though there’s plenty of things to do in Deira, Dubai desert safaris offer some unique activities such as dune bashing; this action-packed experience involves being expertly driven up and down the dunes amidst the shifting sands at varying speeds in a 4×4 vehicle and will be unlike any ride you’ve taken!

Other Activities

Different desert safaris will also include other activities. Adrenaline junkies can look to try quad biking or exploring the vast sea of sand via a dune buggy. The huge dunes that can be found here are also ideal for sandboarding and sand skiing while not to be missed is the opportunity to go on camel rides too.

Bedouin-Style Camp

The perfect end to a desert adventure would be to have dinner at a Bedouin-style camp which is organised on some tours. You can not only look forward to delectable dinner buffets with Middle Eastern cuisine, but cultural elements too be it shisha smoking, henna painting or witnessing belly dancing.

The Ultimate Ski Guide

Skiing is no easy walk in the park. But for those who with a craving for adventure, mastering this sport shouldn’t be much of a challenge. Here’s what you should know before you try your hand at skiing during your stay at a Whistler hotel.

Learn the Rules

Look out for the figures on trail markers! Particularly in North America, you will find that a green circle marks an easy trail for first-timers whereas a black diamond with an exclamation mark would mark a trail that should only be attempted by highly-skilled skiers.

Know the Basics

A practical skiing lesson might be the best way of familiarizing yourself with skiing basics. Some properties in Canada, for instance, Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside, offers lessons that will help you master the basics.

Test out the Bunny Slope

A bunny hill includes ski lifts – a carpet lift or rope tow would help you discover skiing with its support mechanisms.

Hold Yourself Correctly

Skiing in Whistler|Image by Scott Hughes via Flickr

If you lean too far behind, you’ll note how it becomes increasingly difficult for you when it comes to taking a turn, making you lose control. Keep your knees bent as needed and your hands in front to maintain balance.

Tips for desert driving in Qatar

If you are afraid of saying yes to a desert road trip because of the safety risks, read on. With the right safety tips, your Qatar desert driving will be fun and memorable.

Desert safari in Qatar|Image via Unsplash

Carry more bottles of water- more and more!

Water becomes a life-saving fluid when you are desert driving in Qatar. Carry more and more water cans with you (and energy drinks and fresh juices if possible) to stay hydrated.

Stay filled!

It’ll be a horrible experience if you happen to get stuck in the middle of an endless desert without fuel in your vehicle. Check if you have enough gas before you go, and also have a reserve source of fuel.

Have a list of emergency numbers!

Most 5-star hotels in Doha the likes of Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar by Tivoli advise their guests to keep a list of contacts to call during an emergency. So, make sure you take this list when you come for desert driving too.

Check the tires before you go!

Your car tires should be healthy, and they can’t make any trouble during the ride. So, check the status before you start the engine, and always have a spare tire with you.

Best Places to See When You’re in Oman

Oman is a great country to spend your vacation. Located within a stone’s throw from Saudi Arabia and North of Yemen, it is pretty surprising how Oman is famous for its openness and hospitality – and they don’t even discriminate based on your religious preferences. So why not book an Oman resort today to enjoy the country’s beauty surrounded by its friendly natives!

Muttrah Corniche

A stroll along this long esplanade will bring you the joy of glimpsing Oman’s living history. This scenic waterfront promenade is peppered with cafés and restaurants. One should particularly visit Muttrah Corniche at night when the surrounding fountains are lit up and the atmosphere takes up a romantic glow.

Bimmah Sinkhole

Want a free pedicure? Why not sit on the edge of Bimmah Sinkhole and dip your toes in its beautiful emerald waters. Let those small fish nibble at your toes and scrape off those unsightly skin off your feet! This sinkhole can be found in the Falling Star Park (Hawiyat Najm Park), and it may feel as magical as it sounds.

Birkat Al Mawz

Located within a driving distance from properties such as Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Birkat Al Mawz appears like an abandoned ghost town at first glance. It is nestled at the base of the Al Hajar Mountains, offering a window to observe what life in Oman was like several hundred years ago.

Wadi Shab

Wadi Sahib can be described as a playground gifted to the adventurous travellers by Mother Nature. Hiking, swimming, mountain climbing, and diving again – it has everything a thrill-seeker desires.

Cruise around the Maldives

The Maldivian archipelago is made up of over 1100 islands and just a few of them are inhabited. There is much to explore here. So, if you are a first-timer you might be wondering from where to start. But you could get the most of your trip if you went on a Maldives cruise.

Why cruise in the Maldives

Staying at one of the private islands in Maldives is all well and good. But the thing is you’ll never get to see the rest of the paradise. On a cruise on the other hand this is possible.

Image Credit: Naladhu Private Island Maldives

Themed cruises

All the cruises in the Maldives are themed. If you are looking for diving, snorkelling or island hopping, it is no matter, the Maldives has your cruise ready and waiting to be picked.

Best time to go

The weather is great all year round in the Maldives. But the best time to visit if you are planning on a cruise is between November and April when the weather is dry most of the time.

Boats

So, when it comes to a cruise in the Maldives, you even get to select what type of boat you will be travelling on. The destination offers cruised on dhonis, yachts and luxurious ships. You can either make a stop at hotels like Naladhu Private Island Maldives or even camp out at the beach for the night if you aren’t travelling in a luxury boat.

Whistler Helicopter Ride and Adventures

There is something ethereal about gazing down at the verdant landscapes and misty mountain tops from a helicopter. You can look forward to treating themselves to a visual feast during your stay at a Whistler ski resort the likes of Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre.

Propose on a Glacier

Fly your significant other over to a mystic glacier to show her how much she means to you. Proposing in an out-of-this-world place will add to that ‘love in the air’ ambience, which would surely make her realise how much she loves you, eliciting that much-awaited ‘Yes.’

Snap Iconic Wedding Photos

Rent a helicopter in Whistler and fly over to the glistening glaciers just after your vows to make that special moment more memorable. The helicopter can be your something borrowed!

Capture Insta-worthy Honeymoon Snaps

Apart from the myriad of activities catering for honeymooners in Whistler, helicopter adventure in this village is a must-experience to add that ‘wow’ element to your Instagram photos. Click that iconic photo in front of the helicopter with the glaciers in the backdrop to make your honeymoon memorable.

Relax among the Mountain Vistas

Why force yourself to ski on the slopes when you’ve got access to the best seat in the house to enjoy the impressive mountain views! Pair a helicopter adventure with your trip to Whistler village to create a vacation made in heaven.

Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre

Situated about 23 kilometres from Siem Reap, the Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre is certainly a place that one is bound to enjoy! It is a definite stopover when on your tour to Angkor Wat. Learn a thing or two about the delicate little magical butterflies!

Image credit: Sneha Abhyankar via wikimedia commons

How to get there?

If you are planning on visiting the butterfly farm and are travelling from one of the Angkor Wat hotels, the place is just a 41-minute drive away from properties like FCC Angkor Siem Reap. The drive to the farm is pretty enjoyable. You will pass by little Cambodian villages where the road comes to life with basket weavers and palm sugar vendors selling their items.

Entrance fee

The entrance fee is not much, $5 for adults and $2 for children under the age of 12, children under 3 walk in free. It is best to visit in the morning hours as the butterflies are mostly out during this time. A trip to the farm on a rainy day though will be pointless.

The Banteay Srey Butterfly Farm

Guess you can say that this is where the butterflies come out to play! The guides here are well versed on the subject, however, their English might be a little difficult to understand. This farm actually exports butterfly pupae and hosts butterfly exhibitions in zoos all over the world!

The butterfly cycle

On your tour of the farm, each stage of the butterfly life cycle will be explained to you. The guide will also give you a glimpse of each stage of the cycle. Butterfly eggs, caterpillars and even cocoons have been put into climate-controlled containers. Furthermore, you can learn about the various types of Cambodian butterflies as well.

Pasikudah Excursions and Attractions

Almost all the tourists who have been to Pasikudah Beach will agree with the fact that it is one of the safest beaches in Sri Lanka- located in the Eastern province of the country. The scenic beauty that this beach holds is also priceless.

Pasikudah- in a gist

Pasikuda| Img by: anjana.sudam via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pasikudah is already a tourist destination in the country with many star-rated hotels the likes of The Calm Resort & Spa Pasikuda. Although the beach is 35 km away from the main city Batticaloa, since there are many Pasikuda hotels all the way, holidaying in Pasikudha is now not an issue at all.

Pasikudah Bay

Pasikuadah Bay is so unique and rich in its value that it was once proposed as a Marine Sanctuary as well. There are many scattered coral reefs fringed in the outer bay and it also has many other coral communities as well.

Batticaloa Lagoon

Although the Batticaloa lagoon is about 32km away from Pasikudah, it’s a must-visit before leaving the area, or the country. There are many islands within this bay such as Buffalo Island, Bone Island and Puliyantheevu Island which are connected with long bridges from the lagoon.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is a little distant from Pasikudah, but this experience is very exciting. It’s one of the most interesting wildlife sanctuaries in Sri Lanka and you will be able to see magnificent wild elephants all throughout your safari.

The History of Angkor Wat

The temples were originally constructed in dedication to the god Vishnu and then converted into a Buddhist temple circa the 14th century. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage that a lot of effort is spent on preserving for the future.

The Largest City in the World

Many guests that stay in Angkor Wat hotels and make sure to head over to see the ruins at sunrise. The city of Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer empire and contains hundreds of temples and was home to a population of over one million people.

The Architecture

Angkor Wat is 200 metres wide with a perimeter of about 3 miles. The moat is 4 metres deep and was probably constructed to make sure that the foundations of the temple remain strong.

Vishnu and King

Angkor Wat was built by Suryavarman II; a usurper who came to power after murdering his uncle. He venerated Vishnu and wanted to build the god a temple. Signs of devotion are all over the temple, some of them surviving till today.

Construction Techniques

If you are staying locally at a hotel like FCC Angkor Siem Reap, be sure to visit the temple at sunrise or sunset to get the best photos and really appreciate the construction techniques that were used centuries ago.