For most of us the occasions to travel are far and few. Office schedules, bank balance, and family obligations have been known to come between many travel aspirations. So if an opportunity to pack your bags and board a plane for a faraway land was to come by, The Week wants to make sure you make the most of it. The suggestion is actually a very simple one: instead of just visiting one country, why don’t you visit a couple? This is one of the rules of reasonable travel – if you are visiting a small country, try to visit some of its neighbors.
So we are bringing you some of the popular options across the continents and giving you reasons why you can definitely consider the idea.
Tropical getaway
In case you are somewhat miffed about being born in a landlocked country and you wish to escape, this could be your ticket. Located in southwestern Pacific, here all you will be able to see for miles is the pristine blue of the ocean. The Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are both world-famous diving destinations. What’s more, they have excellent weather conditions most months of the year. The biodiversity beneath is also astounding, with a colorful array of hard and soft corals and teeming fish life. But as if that is not enough, you can also witness a jaw-dropping collection of WWII plane and shipwrecks.
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Travel here might be comparatively more expensive but Papua New Guinea and the Solomons are home to more than 800 distinct languages and lifestyles. Thus it provides fascinating opportunities to be immersed in traditional cultures as well. Further on the coast, hundreds of islands standby waiting to be explored.
Epic history
When you set foot in Turkey, you are following in the wake of some remarkable historical figures. Turkey has hosted A-list history-book figures including Julius Caesar and St Paul. Though the greatest surprise for first-time visitors to Turkey is the sheer diversity found between its beaches and eastern mountains as well as through markets and nightclubs –offering plenty for visitors to savor. Similarly, in Greece it’s easy to understand how so many myths of gods and giants originated in this vast and varied landscape. It has wide open skies and a sea speckled with islands. The endless miles of aquamarine coastline, sun-bleached ancient ruins still make Greece a magnet for outdoor lovers even in their current poor economic crisis.
But if you are questioning if Bulgaria is worth the while, then the answer is yes. From wild, wooded mountain ranges speckled with remote villages and enchanting monasteries to vibrant modern cities and long sandy beaches hugging the Black Sea coast, Bulgaria rewards explorat
Essence of South East Asia
The trip generally begins with Cambodia, the place where one can both ascend to the realm of the gods, Angkor Wat and descend into hell at Tuol Sleng Prison. With a history both inspiring and depressing, Cambodia delivers an intoxicating present. The fabled temples of Angkor, for example remains unrivalled in scale and grandeur in the entire region of South East Asia. Similarly, it would be foolish to underestimate the traveling joys of Vietnam. Here too there are culturally unique, unforgettable experiences everywhere. You can chose to gaze over a surreal seascape of limestone islands, explore the world’s most spectacular cave systems in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park or simply realize gastronomic dreams. Incredibly subtle in its flavors and outstanding in its diversity, Vietnamese cooking has always proven to be a fascinating draw for travelers. So the choice is yours. And to end with, there are the thrills and chills of Thailand. Already a popular tourist destination, we are all well aware of its gleaming temples, gorgeous beaches, and famous bazaars.
The wildlife adventure
Whether you travel in style and luxury or just with your rucksack, the sprawling, wildlife-rich grasslands of Kenya and Tanzania are sights to behold. Kenya is famous for its vast savannahs especially since they are peppered with immense herds of wildlife. On the other hand, when we think of Tanzania, there is Mt. Kilimanjaro and the red-cloaked Maasai warriors. You can wrap up these two destinations in one big adventure. Explore Kenya and Tanzania’s top game reserves with an expert safari guide, relax at comfortable tented camps and lodges located inside parks and reserves, visit an authentic Masai village and local women’s project.
However, it doesn’t have to end there. From hippos to penguins, South Africa befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent. Also let’s not forget the equally extraordinary range of terrain. From the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers to the iconic Table Mountain. If you’re interested in another kind of wildlife though, hit the nightclubs on Cape Town or sample African homebrews. South Africa has it all.
