Five ideas for adventure holidays for your celebration

The next time you plan any kind of celebration, consider doing something adventurous instead of just having another party. Ideas are to go on safari or to take part in some exciting activities, perhaps in another country. Here are five ideas to consider for your next celebration.

Cycling holidays are a good choice if you have a sense of adventure. One of the advantages of this kind of activity is that you can determine the pace at which you travel, so it is suitable for people who are not extremely fit. Even if you travel in a group, you will usually be rated and divided into a slower group or at least compensated for. There are many tour operators in the UK doing this kind of tour, through beautiful areas like Wales and Cornwall. Backup teams travel along with the groups in case there are any repairs to be done. Accommodation is organised in extremely comfortable establishments and the scenery and fresh air are what make it all worth your while.

Going on safari
Another idea is to take part in one of the many safari holidays on offer. Travelling in South Africa in an SUV or other four-wheel drive vehicle gives you an exciting opportunity to spot wildlife such as the Big Five of Africa. These are the lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and Cape buffalo. Along the way, have a look at giraffe, springbuck and other gazelle. The campsites are often luxurious and extremely comfortable. Even the basic ones offer barbeques or "braais" under the stars and the sounds of wild animals in the night. Asian safaris will have you travelling through beautiful green countryside and observing an astounding array of bird and animal species.

Diving adventures
For those people who are water enthusiasts, scuba diving or snorkelling breaks are ideal. Apart from places like Mauritius, the Caribbean and the Maldives, Australia and South Africa both offer stunning opportunities for scuba diving. Snorkelling off the Great Barrier Reef gives you a stunning view of a hugely diverse set of sea creatures. Shark cage diving off the east coast of South Africa is a thrilling experience few others can match. If you time your cage diving towards the end of winter, you might even be lucky enough to spot some whales moving into shallow waters for the calving season near Hermanus, about 120 kilometres from Cape Town.

Take a hike
If you do not mind roughing it and are reasonably fit, you could go hiking, sleeping under the stars or on a deserted beach. You will get to know the people of the area and have a chance to savour the local cuisine. Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and Germany are geared towards hikers. The formerly communist bloc countries in Eastern Europe, such as Rumania and Croatia, are also excellent choices. Australia is a very diverse country that offers plenty of opportunities for hikers to explore.

For a different kind of exciting holiday you could do a volunteer stint, building huts and toilets in remote African locations or volunteering on an organic farm in Portugal. You could travel to India to teach children English in remote rural schools or help to build an oven from clay in a tiny South American village. Apart from the priceless experiences you will have, you will also know that you are helping the poorest of the poor to improve their lives.
Adventure has never been so attainable. Every country in the world has its own excitement on offer. All you need is imagination and a sense of adventure to turn a celebration into a trip of a lifetime.

AUTHOR BIO:
Gilbert Roberts writes regularly on adventure travel for a range of travel websites and blogs. He has been on a variety of adventure holidays and is a keen cyclist, canoeist and hiker. His favourite trips are safari holidays to Africa and Asia.

Five ideas for adventure holidays for your celebration

Posted by Ash K 1 comment

The next time you plan any kind of celebration, consider doing something adventurous instead of just having another party. Ideas are to go on safari or to take part in some exciting activities, perhaps in another country. Here are five ideas to consider for your next celebration.

Cycling holidays are a good choice if you have a sense of adventure. One of the advantages of this kind of activity is that you can determine the pace at which you travel, so it is suitable for people who are not extremely fit. Even if you travel in a group, you will usually be rated and divided into a slower group or at least compensated for. There are many tour operators in the UK doing this kind of tour, through beautiful areas like Wales and Cornwall. Backup teams travel along with the groups in case there are any repairs to be done. Accommodation is organised in extremely comfortable establishments and the scenery and fresh air are what make it all worth your while.

Going on safari
Another idea is to take part in one of the many safari holidays on offer. Travelling in South Africa in an SUV or other four-wheel drive vehicle gives you an exciting opportunity to spot wildlife such as the Big Five of Africa. These are the lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and Cape buffalo. Along the way, have a look at giraffe, springbuck and other gazelle. The campsites are often luxurious and extremely comfortable. Even the basic ones offer barbeques or "braais" under the stars and the sounds of wild animals in the night. Asian safaris will have you travelling through beautiful green countryside and observing an astounding array of bird and animal species.

Diving adventures
For those people who are water enthusiasts, scuba diving or snorkelling breaks are ideal. Apart from places like Mauritius, the Caribbean and the Maldives, Australia and South Africa both offer stunning opportunities for scuba diving. Snorkelling off the Great Barrier Reef gives you a stunning view of a hugely diverse set of sea creatures. Shark cage diving off the east coast of South Africa is a thrilling experience few others can match. If you time your cage diving towards the end of winter, you might even be lucky enough to spot some whales moving into shallow waters for the calving season near Hermanus, about 120 kilometres from Cape Town.

Take a hike
If you do not mind roughing it and are reasonably fit, you could go hiking, sleeping under the stars or on a deserted beach. You will get to know the people of the area and have a chance to savour the local cuisine. Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and Germany are geared towards hikers. The formerly communist bloc countries in Eastern Europe, such as Rumania and Croatia, are also excellent choices. Australia is a very diverse country that offers plenty of opportunities for hikers to explore.

For a different kind of exciting holiday you could do a volunteer stint, building huts and toilets in remote African locations or volunteering on an organic farm in Portugal. You could travel to India to teach children English in remote rural schools or help to build an oven from clay in a tiny South American village. Apart from the priceless experiences you will have, you will also know that you are helping the poorest of the poor to improve their lives.
Adventure has never been so attainable. Every country in the world has its own excitement on offer. All you need is imagination and a sense of adventure to turn a celebration into a trip of a lifetime.

AUTHOR BIO:
Gilbert Roberts writes regularly on adventure travel for a range of travel websites and blogs. He has been on a variety of adventure holidays and is a keen cyclist, canoeist and hiker. His favourite trips are safari holidays to Africa and Asia.

ITunes Festival in London

This September sees the iTunes Festival return to London for 30 nights of free live music, and there’s no better time to see the capital itself.

The iTunes Festival is something of an oddity in the festival calendar. But with 60 acts playing free gigs across 30 nights it’s more than a welcome one. Forget the high prices and muddy fields that are on offer elsewhere, this September London is the only place to be,offering plenty to make your stay for a celebration of all things musical.

The action begins at the start of September when Usher takes to the stage at The Roundhouse in Camden, with a diverse range of artists following him as the festival progresses. Ed Sheeran, deadmau5, David Guetta and Andrea Bocelli are among the acts confirmed so far with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

As for scooping up those tickets, unfortunately it isn’t just a case of turning up at the door. Apple, the event’s sponsors, are giving them away online through a series of competitions whilst also airing the shows on iTunes and Apple TV.

However for those fortunate enough to win, it’s the perfect opportunity to check out the best that London has to offer. Search online for the best London hotel deals and your stay needn’t be that expensive, leaving you with plenty of leftover cash to really treat yourself to a city break.

In keeping with the musical theme, you could head along to the British Music Experience, one of the city’s most anticipated new attractions. For decades the UK has produced some of the world’s most popular musicians – many of them who will be performing at the iTunes festival itself – and this new attraction charts the development of the British music industry from the early days of The Beatles right up to the present era.

After that, why not head over to Abbey Road to recreate that classic Beatles album cover? Yes, it’s silly, but everybody does it so there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Right next door is Abbey Road Studios, a must-see Mecca for any fan of British music.

Then there’s that other great London music scene, centred in the West End theatre heartland. The city is famous around the world for the quality of its shows, and when it comes to big budget productions there are plenty to choose from.

Fans of classic artists may want to hunt around for cheap theatre tickets to We Will Rock You, based on the music of Queen, or for Mamma Mia! which uses the music of Abba. Alternatively, why not celebrate the life of the King of Pop himself, Mr Michael Jackson, by going to see Thriller – Live?

 Other hot shows on the West End this year include a host of favourites, from The Lion King and Shrek to Les Misérables and Stomp. So don’t be shy, be sure to enter the iTunes Festival prize draw and see if London strikes the right note with you.

ITunes Festival in London

Posted by Ash K No comments

This September sees the iTunes Festival return to London for 30 nights of free live music, and there’s no better time to see the capital itself.

The iTunes Festival is something of an oddity in the festival calendar. But with 60 acts playing free gigs across 30 nights it’s more than a welcome one. Forget the high prices and muddy fields that are on offer elsewhere, this September London is the only place to be,offering plenty to make your stay for a celebration of all things musical.

The action begins at the start of September when Usher takes to the stage at The Roundhouse in Camden, with a diverse range of artists following him as the festival progresses. Ed Sheeran, deadmau5, David Guetta and Andrea Bocelli are among the acts confirmed so far with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

As for scooping up those tickets, unfortunately it isn’t just a case of turning up at the door. Apple, the event’s sponsors, are giving them away online through a series of competitions whilst also airing the shows on iTunes and Apple TV.

However for those fortunate enough to win, it’s the perfect opportunity to check out the best that London has to offer. Search online for the best London hotel deals and your stay needn’t be that expensive, leaving you with plenty of leftover cash to really treat yourself to a city break.

In keeping with the musical theme, you could head along to the British Music Experience, one of the city’s most anticipated new attractions. For decades the UK has produced some of the world’s most popular musicians – many of them who will be performing at the iTunes festival itself – and this new attraction charts the development of the British music industry from the early days of The Beatles right up to the present era.

After that, why not head over to Abbey Road to recreate that classic Beatles album cover? Yes, it’s silly, but everybody does it so there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Right next door is Abbey Road Studios, a must-see Mecca for any fan of British music.

Then there’s that other great London music scene, centred in the West End theatre heartland. The city is famous around the world for the quality of its shows, and when it comes to big budget productions there are plenty to choose from.

Fans of classic artists may want to hunt around for cheap theatre tickets to We Will Rock You, based on the music of Queen, or for Mamma Mia! which uses the music of Abba. Alternatively, why not celebrate the life of the King of Pop himself, Mr Michael Jackson, by going to see Thriller – Live?

 Other hot shows on the West End this year include a host of favourites, from The Lion King and Shrek to Les Misérables and Stomp. So don’t be shy, be sure to enter the iTunes Festival prize draw and see if London strikes the right note with you.