Author: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

Any trip to the Middle East brings to mind long journeys through the never ending dunes of sand over the desolate landscape on the back of camels, known as the ship of the desert. Thus, no trip to these desert lands and the Middle East is complete without a camel trek to truly savour an authentic experience of these lands.

A camel trek is an ideal way to obtain a genuine understanding of what those long winding journeys of the ancient Arab travellers were like as they journeyed through the sands during their trips through these vast barren lands. It gives an opportunity for the traveller to explore the vast stretches of sandy wilderness on a personal level, holding on to the hump of the camel as it sways from one side to the other. As you traverse the seemingly never ending dunes at sunset the silence is only disturbed by the footfall of the beast, your voice and the words of your tour guide. 

 

 

You will be mesmerized by the desert vegetation and exotic landscapes as you experience the exhilarating trip across the land. It is both educational and exhilarating and sometimes one has to pinch oneself to realize that it is actually happening and you are travelling through the sands. The trekking goes on for about 6 hours from about 4.30 in the evening till about 9.30 in the night. It not only provides the traveller with a chance to see the  magical land during its breathtaking sunsets but also to watch the night stars and night skies light up the endless stretches of sand.

A trek is sure to bring to mind those legendary tales one has heard of in the 1001 Nights or other well known stories and it is indeed one of the most awe inspiring and magnificent ways to experience the Middle East. Among the numerous Abu Dhabi hotels is Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. It is one of the Abu Dhabi luxury hotels that provides the visitor with a chance to experience all the charming moments that this country has to offer. 

Tipped to be a hotbed of activity for all wild life enthusiasts, the desert nation of Abu Dhabi is a land of pleasant contradictions. Despite its scorching desert weather conditions and landscapes the country is home to a wide variety of wild life species that include Africa’s most fiercest and beloved creatures. With sprawling wild life parks and guided safari tours to boot this one stop wildlife hub is a dream come true for those who fantasize of adventures of a different kind. 

The Al Ain Wild life Park on the other hand houses over 4000 wild animals out of which 180 species are faced with the threat of extinction. Covering an area of 900 hectares the Al Ain Wild life Park is famed for the Mixed African Exhibit where zebras, gazelles, wildebeests, giraffes, rhinoceros and gemsboks roam free in an open enclave of more than 5 hectares. The rare Nubian giraffe is also found at the parkland which is also home to 2500 mammals, 600 reptiles and 1200 stunning birds.

Visitors in search of luxury hotel resorts in the Middle East should look no further than the Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas. Offering guests a wide variety of luxury hotels in prime locations across the region this renowned name in the global hospitality industry takes 5-star accommodation to an entirely new level. 

Everyone at one time or another has dreamt of swinging through the trees with ease and making loud cries a la Tarzan imagining a verdant African landscape with many a dangerous beast creeping below. Well, it may be possible now at Singapore’s Forest Adventure, minus the dangerous beasts!

An aerial rope course six metres above ground, it is built through the trees comprising ladders, swings, nets, trapezes and giant zip lines, the longest of which spans 200 metres, designed to give the maximum thrills and adrenaline pumping action. Those who dare can experience the wind rushing through their hair while whirling through the green forest canopy and be carried over water clinging to the zip line for dear life. 

Take the Grand Course with the thirty four obstacles and have the time of your life swinging through the trees with that exhilarating feeling that only height and speed will give. See the untrammelled views of the waterfront and the greenery around the Bedock Reservoir, an ‘out of this world’ experience for city dwellers. Participants are equipped with harnesses and helmets and are attached to a safety line and instructors are trained to rescue anyone who is stuck in a tree! Adults are said to take about two and a half hours to complete the course. Not everyone is allowed on the course as participants have to be at least 1.4 metres tall, weigh below 130 kg and be over 21 years old. While children as young as five years old can take to the trees on a smaller course with 16 obstacles, their parents are required to guide them from below.

The course has been designed and built by an international expert on tree top courses according to European guidelines. It is tested annually for conformation with safety requirements. Instructors have been trained in customer assistance and rescue. The trees and the surrounding forest landscape are tended by special arborists to ensure optimum tree health thereby ensuring treetop adventures in safety. 

Discover the joys of outdoor activity, the thrill of adventure and being together with friends and family and most of all having a great time outdoors among green and natural surroundings.

Located on a hillock surrounded by lush greenery, yet right in the heart of the city close to business, shopping and entertainment areas, Hotel Fort Canning Singapore provides a refuge away from the city’s hustle and bustle with the convenience of easy access. Offering a selection of elegant, modern and spacious rooms and suites, it is one of the premier hotels in Singapore city centre and provides its guests with services and facilities in a resort like atmosphere with a relaxing ambience that surpass other Singapore boutique hotels.

Trekking enthusiasts will have plenty to keep their hearts a flutter in Koh Samui as elephant trekking is the island’s hot pick adventure excursion.  Visitors can now explore the tropical jungles of the island on the elephant ride of a lifetime. The two hour tour on the gentle giant in an environment littered with exotic flora and fauna and untamed natural elements is not for the faint of heart. The Sky Fox cable ride is also suited for those who wish to experience absolute freedom and experience flight above forest foliage without wings. One can also change one’s perspective by sliding along the platforms upside down on the seven stations on the route that vary in difficulty.  Canopy tours are equally exciting as travellers hop between tree houses on a 300m route above the forest floor. Participants can also get a bird’s eye view of a waterfall at the end of the tour which incidentally takes place in a bar near the magnificent cascade of water.

Kayaking excursions in Angthong Marine Park are another highlight as these fantastic tours provide visitors the opportunity to explore exquisite rock formations, ancient caves and secluded beaches at their own pace. While paddling along the trail kayakers will also come across somersaulting dolphins, mischievous monkeys and other wildlife that call this resplendent marine park home.

Koh Samui’s mountainous terrains are best explored on mountain bikes with challenging geographical obstacles to make for a thrilling ride across ancient temples and other points of interest.  Kite boarding is also a Samui favorite as the windy conditions of the venue are ideal for this sport that combines stunt kite flying practices with windsurfing techniques. Avid deep sea divers can also head down to Koh Tao, Sail Rock and the National Marine Park for scores of diving sites that are ranked among some of the best diving venues in the Gulf of Thailand. 

Travellers in search of a luxury Koh Samui resort will find no finer alternative to the Anantara Lawana Resort & Spa Koh Samui. Ideally located on the beachfront this Chaweng hotel is also within close range of the region’s best restaurants and shopping venues. 

Thrilling rides amidst stirring whirlpools of snow-white rapids with a sun-drenched sky overhead, that’s rafting Kiwi-style! Choose from an exhilarating selection of wet and wild rafting options offered by the various white-water rafting schools across Auckland city and suburbs. Novice individuals, children to professional enthusiasts are all catered to an experience of a lifetime from a float down calm, rippling waters, upgraded to thrilling and powerful rapids that require the concentration and precise manoeuvring. 

Many adventure-centres are available around Auckland, that offer escapades on Kaituna, Wairoa, Lower Mohaka, Rangitaiki, Motu, Upper Mohaka rivers. Copthorne Hotel Auckland Harbour City serves travellers with calming atmosphere and warm hospitality after a fulfilled day of venture, an Auckland hotel with easy access to the business district and shopping streets. This Hotel Auckland CBD not only offers modern conveniences and easy living, but awards guests with sound-proofed windows and spectacular seascape or city views.

For anyone interested in adventure and water sports, rustic lifestyle and exploring the unexplored, and the roads less travelled, Sri Lanka is the place to be. There are numerous adrenaline pumping water sport activities that can be experienced here ranging from surfing to water skiing to more thrilling activities such as white water rafting in the countless white water rafting spots and riding the waves in the inland waterways in this island.

Though there are a vast number of water sports haunts around the island besides the coast, the most popular place for inland water sports activities is Kitulgala just a few hours’ drive from Colombo. Here one can go kayaking, white water rafting, canoeing and generally enjoy the several water sports that one can enjoy in a river. One of the biggest attractions here is the location of the film the Bridge over River Kwai.

Another though not commonly pursued activity is boating down the rivers of Sri Lanka, particularly the Mahaveli River, the longest river in the country literally translated to Great Sandy River. One can be sure to spot the odd crocodile commonly found in these rivers, watch herds of elephants cross the waters in the early hours of the morning depending on the season and of course come across a large variety of trees, birds, other mammals insects and of course reptiles alongside a boat expedition down these many rivers.  However it is best to keep in mind that this is an adventure for the best prepared and experienced.

Boat rides are a very common activity in Sri Lanka and there is indeed much to be explored and experienced during a boat trip alongside the island’s scores of rivers, streams and waterways. For anyone interested in taking part in the several adrenaline pumping water sports such as riding the white waves of the Kitulgala river or taking a longer boat trip along a waterway during their Sri Lanka travels there are numerous Sri Lanka tours that include some of these memorable activities. Jetwing Travels is one local company that offers some of the best tour options for the traveler looking for hours of excitement.

For breath taking speeds and 360o spins on roaring rapids, Shotover River Canyons in Queenstown New Zealand is the place to visit. Offering the thrills of a lifetime since 1970, Shotover Jet presents the ultimate jet boating experience. Speed through dramatically narrow canyons in a ‘Big Red’ jet boat while the expert driver gives you a concise history lesson on the area and on the invention of jet boating in New Zealand. As the only company allowed to operate in the canyon, the award winning Shotover Jet offers ‘The World’s Most Exciting Jet Boat Ride.’ Embrace the Kiwi culture of adventure when you visit Queenstown. Discover the gracious hospitality and inviting guest rooms of Millennium Hotel Queenstown after a long thrilling day on the river. This luxury hotel Queenstown provides breathtaking room views and an array of facilities, making it unparalleled to any other hotel Queenstown has to offer.

The idyllic Maldive Islands provide many delights for the visitor, and one of the most attractive of these is the mesmeric beauty of the magnificent coral reefs found in the local waters. Visitors may choose to snorkel or scuba dive in the ocean waters, where they will be greeted by the vibrantly colourful coral reefs and their denizens, the multitude of exotic fish and other enthralling sea creatures.

Discerning travellers who desire a superior Maldives hotel will be pleased by the Naladhu Maldives, one of the outstanding Maldives island resorts which provides superior accommodations and attentive service.