Rivers Travel

Whenever the idea of going for a holiday comes up, most people imagine taking long walks along the sandy beaches of Hawaii; others want to bask in the hot Mediterranean sun. Some have had such a rough time at work and would just like to have a quiet place to relax. For a change, think about going for a jam-packed holiday to pump up your adrenaline. Consider taking up a Caribbean vacation and engage in a water sport. Belize is a popular tourist destination and Belize kayaking attracts many visitors from around the world.

A destination in Central America that boasts of awesome landscapes of scenic beauty. Emerald forests adorn the horizon, teaming with wildlife of the exotic kind. In addition, Belize has subtropical weather systems that make it the paradise it is. For the water sports tourists, it has endless coastal water, caves in the depths of the sea, and miles of coral reefs. And for the kayaker, in the various districts you will find quaint little towns and villages, that lay unspoilt by modern day technology and lifestyles, with roaring rivers that wind through thick jungle only a stone throw away.

Whether you choose white water paddling or wish to stick to lakes and slow flowing rivers, there are a number of kayaks to choose from. Belize kayaking gives you the options so dealers will have crafts that can withstand rough conditions or lighter versions for easy going.

There are various styles to choose from too. Some are designed to fold away for easy transport. Then there are those that have a cockpit to slip into with a skirt to stop water from flooding in, or others where you sit on top with no cockpit. Depending on what kind of function, control, performance, and durability you require, there is a craft built to your specifications.

Two rivers are popular for Belize kayaking. The Rio Grande and Mohi River. In the Toledo district in the South, other rivers run through the Maya mountains where many hiking tours take place. Here you will find a large community of Maya who are very friendly and ready to interact with you.

If the rivers are not your scene then the sea or lakes will delight you. Belize kayaking is fun when covering short distance races using smaller paddles. They are great for beginners and those who just want some fun. More strength and stamina is required for longer trips involving paddling from one Caye to another. This type of kayaking is for the more experienced and not for the amateur.

It goes without saying, Belize is a place worthy of your consideration when planning your next holiday. Buying or renting kayaks is no problem and you will be talking about your experience of Belize kayaking for years to come. In fact, you may never leave!

Want to find out more about Belize attractions, then visit Jamesina Goulbourne’s site for more highlights on Belize Kayaking.

A team of top explorers, adventurers and award-winning writers put together a list of the greatest travel adventures to get our hearts racing for 2011.

Talking to Adventure Travel Live, travel experts including Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, explorer Benedict Allen and broadcaster Simon Calder share some of the most intense adventures available on the planet which include:

1. Tiger tracking on elephants, Kanha National Park, India
You’ll never get so close to a tiger in the wild.

2. Skiing on Asahidake, Hokkaido, Japan
Asahidake is Hokkaido’s highest mountain and sends out a stream of smoke from its vents. It enjoys eight meters of snow a year, the most consistently excellent in the world.

3. Diving with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos
With basic scuba skills you can safely dive with these fabulous, iconic sharks – in the company of so many of them that you lose count.

4. Encounter with mountain gorillas in Rwanda
Nothing rivals a close-up with our closest relatives. The trek can take five hours. It is at altitude, in a rainforest, with no paths. Worth it – massively and emotionally.

5. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
Popular though this three-day trek is, nothing can prepare you for the awesome first sight of the ‘lost’ city of the Incas as you round the trail on the last day, seeing it perched high above the Urumaba with the mist swirling around it.

6. Larapinta Trail in Australia’s Northern Territory
Classic outback country: dry, dramatic, lots of wildlife … the ‘dry’ component would normally make it unwalkable until the establishment of regular water tanks made it one of Australia’s best hikes.

7. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
The greatest rail adventure of them all. I’d suggest the weekly Moscow-Mongolia-Beijing train. It’s six nights and over 5,000 miles across Siberia, the Gobi Desert, and through the Great Wall for as little as GBP410. You can even start your trip at St. Pancras.

8. Hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti, Tanzania
Even if there are no migrating herds, just to pass over the African savannah in silence is something you will never forget.

9. Hiking the Grand Tsingy Circuit, Madagascar
Tsingy are pinnacles and spikes of limestone creating the world’s most exotic rock garden. Rare succulents shelter in the gullies that visitors cross using boardwalks, ladders, and bridges. An extraordinary experience on an extraordinary island.

10. The wildlife of the Pantanal, Brazil
Check out giant otters, caimans, jaguars, green iguanas, and more.

What do we understand by adventure travel? Years ago, an intrepid traveller, would take many months of preparation, and need as many months again, to embark upon an adventure. They would need a lot of money to arrange all the resources they needed. We imagine them to be hacking their way through a Malaysian jungle with a trail of bearers behind, or pulling their sleighs across frozen Arctic wastes. Perhaps, even, exploring the upper Nile, or crossing a desert by camel.

We have travelled far since those early pioneers paved the way for us. Now you can go on a family adventure as part of your annual holiday. Honeymooners can enjoy the first blooms of married life in a tropical jungle or trekking in Peru. Seasoned travellers may go to remote places by canoe, or hike over a mountain range. Even gap year travellers can make the journey of a lifetime and fall in love with the Brazilian Pantanal, or the Australian Outback. You can travel as part of a group or on your own.

There are some tour operators that specialise in adventure travel. They already have the resources in place in your preferred destination. Experienced group leaders and much local knowledge allow them to offer a high quality service to travellers looking for adventure.

These tours are generally eco-friendly and travellers can interact with local people and put their finger on the pulse of a country or region, to really feel the heartbeat of a place. Adventure travellers are ecologically aware and are looking for something different. The adventure traveller is not just seeking his own gratification, but would want the local people to benefit from his visit. He is a responsible traveller.

Where can you start with adventure travel? You can start in your own country by doing something you have never done before. You can start by doing something adventurous for one day – go up in a balloon, or take a canoe trip down your favourit river. If you want to trek through the foothills of the Himalayas, start with a walking holiday through the local hills or across the moors where you live, and build your confidence and your enthusiasm

Adventure holidays offers something for everybody. A wide range of tours are available to suit various styles, tastes and levels of experience. These tours are for anybody who is looking for something different. Many group tours are only six to twelve people in size, so you can get to know everyone, an adventure tour can offer a good social interaction with like-minded travellers.

When is the best time to go on an adventure holiday? There’s the beauty of adventure travel, you can go anytime of the year. Different continents means there is something to do in any month of the year. When the Northern Hemisphere is having its summer, the Southern Hemisphere is in winter.

The adventure travellers of bygone years still have something to show us. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare. Save your money, read your books, and the old timers did not have the benefit of internet research – get to know something about your destination. Then a good tour operator can help make your dream holiday come true.

Many people prefer their holidays to be relaxing and stress free so choose to holiday in a familiar resort each year. They want to know that the hotel will be what they expect and the weather will be gorgeous. There are many packages available to cover a holiday like this – tried and tested.

But others prefer something different – with the added spice of excitement and adventure. There are adventure holidays like this for families, couples, honeymooners, singles and gap-year travellers. Imaginative Traveller offers something for everybody, even the experienced traveller. You can find out more about adventure travel here.