Posts Tagged ‘spot’

Egypt Vacation Packages Offer Great Variety

September 20th, 2011

There is a lot more to Egypt vacation packages than sand and pyramids. The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in North Africa. It has coastline on two seas, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The Sinai Peninsula offers miles and miles of quiet shoreline. The Gulf of Suez on the western side and the Gulf of Aqba to the east make the country an ideal holiday spot for honeymooners, families and seniors alike.

There is so much to see and do. Make friends with the locals and visit a Bedouin tent. Learn how to make unleavened bread in the morning and the art of weaving rugs on a loom in the afternoon. Dance with the natives late into the evening and peer at the night sky through a telescope with the aid of your very own star guide.

Cruise down the Nile River on a small yacht and laze in the sunshine enjoying delicious food. Talk your captain into letting you take the helm or hop in the water for a quick swim and snorkel. Back on shore, a camel ride is a definite must.

If you can tear yourself away from the seaside, take a tour to the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one of them to remain mostly in one piece. It took twenty years to construct and was completed around the year 2560 BC. It is thought to be the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty. Also in Giza is the Great Sphynx, a statue of a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man. It stands more than 66 feet high, 20 feet wide and nearly 250 feet long.

If ancient wonders are really your thing, save some time for the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The lighthouse was actually built on the island of Pharos in the year 280 BC. It was commissioned by King Ptolemy Soter, who succeeded Alexander the Great, who perished of a fever at the age of 32. Of course, you might also want to set aside some time to visit the Great Sphynx.

You may want to enjoy your regular hobby in a different setting. Egypt offers golf, fishing, horseback riding and many other activities. Choose a themed holiday built around something that interests you. Archaeology, walking, art and even Christmas are possibilities.

A fully inclusive holiday package might include all flights, including internal flights, airport taxes and other associated fees. It will also include your travel insurance, accommodation and possibly some meals. You can arrange to prepay for any tours (Nile cruise, Pyramids, Lighthouse, etc.). Also, if you sort out porterage of luggage at your hotel, this can save you fiddling with foreign currency and trying to figure out how much to tip.

Many inclusive Egypt vacation packages include the services of a company representative to assist with check-in at the airport. It is useful if your tour company has an office nearby your accommodation to provide assistance with any problems that crop up, especially if you are unfamiliar with the local language.

Posted in Vacation Destinations, Vacation Packages

White Water Rafting – An Exciting Vacation Adventure

August 5th, 2011

White water rafting is an adventure that can be loads of fun. But as with any activity involving the raw power of nature, you must be prepared. Don’t worry if you are a beginner. Every expert rafter had a first-time experience.

There are excellent places all over the globe for white water rafting and everyone of them is different. Even the same spot is often a completely different experience depending on the season and the weather. So, before you get in the water, it’s important to know your capabilities and the current conditions.

White water rafting rapids are rated in terms of difficulty:
Class 1 -Beginner
Class 2 -Intermediate
Class 3 -Moderate
Class 4 -Difficult
Class 5 -Advanced

Unless you have a lot experience and know your rafting spot well, it is always a good idea to go out on the rapids with a guide. Many outfitters provide both a guide for steering at the back of the raft as well as a spotter/observer up front.

Some rafting spots have really exceptional waves and you need to navigate them on a raft equipped with a motor. An example would be Arizona’s Colorado River at the Grand Canyon or the Cataract Canyon. Many of these white water rafting spots are Class 5 so you better have a guide. You are not doing the actual paddling but the excitement is still there. It all depends on what you want out of the experience.

There are other sections of the Colorado River, like Westwater Canyon or Cataract Canyon in Utah, that have rapids more suited for the novice. This is also a great way to enjoy that spectacular southwestern desert scenery.

If you want to do the paddling, these are a few examples of some excellent white water rafting spots. The Gauley River in West Virginia…. California’s America River and Kern River…the Arkansas River in Colorado…Idaho’s Lochsa River and Snake River…the Housatonic River in Connecticut.

You can find some more milder Class 3 rapids on the Red Deer River in Alberta. Late May or early June in Canada is when the glaciers are melting and the water is really moving fast. This is the best time to go for the most white water action. Kicking Horse River in Golden British Columbia has some great Class 4 and 5 rapids.

When you investigate and sign up with a white water rafting company, be honest about your experience level. It’s not unusual for the less experienced guides to be assigned to the more experienced rafters. As a beginner or novice level rafter you will want to have the most experienced guide possible.

If white water rafting is your idea of an exciting vacation experience then by all means, go for it. But learn as much as you can about it before you go. Pick your rafting spot and your guide carefully. Learn the safety procedures if you go overboard. Be prepared and then let loose and have fun!

Posted in Adventure Activity