1. See the great migration
2. Track mountain gorillas
3. Amazon rainforest
4. Meet orang-utans
5. Go whale-watching
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Tom Griffiths' top five things to do Tom Griffiths, founder of gapyear.com, writes..."Travelling from the top of Alaska to the bottom of Patagonia seems to me like one of the ultimate journeys... just think of all the things you'd see and people you'd meet along the way. Then there's the heli-bungy: now I've thrown myself off some tall things in my time, but I reckon bungy jumping from a helicopter would be the ultimate thrill. As for Timbuktu, I've wanted to go there ever since I found out that it was a real place, not just a funny word... which was well into my adulthood! Then there are the mysterious Northern Lights and the mad train journey across Siberia. I've got itchy feet just thinking about it..." Want to ask Tom a travel question? Click here >> and ask away. 1. Top to toe road trip: Anchorage to Ushuaia Why concentrate on just North, Central or South America when you can combine these three diverse continents into one amazingly epic road trip? Start things off in Anchorage with the incredible scenery of Alaska and end up in Ushuaia; one of the most remote and spectacular regions of the world. Along the way expect fjords and glaciers, geysers, mud lakes, caribbean waters, vast canyons, buried cities, lush jungle, salt flats, spectacular mountains and so much more. And that's before mentioning the diversity of culture and history that you'll experience along the way. Such a monster road trip can be undertaken independently with a combination of buses, trains, a boat and a whole lot of forward planning. However, there are loads of tour companies that will happily take the headache away by taking you all the way from Anchorage to Ushuaia - some in as little as 29 weeks. Click here >> for more on adventure tours through these regions Click here >> for a company that offers a top-to-toe trip from Anchorage to Ushuaia Click here >> for more information on tours of the Americas Click here >> for more on North America Click here >> for more on Central America Click here >> for more on South America 2. Heli-Bungy: Bavaria, Germany If throwing yourself off a bridge, out of a pod or off a ledge is just a little bit too tame for you, then you need to be introduced to the most extreme member of the bungy family - the heli-bungy. Experience nine seconds of freefall as you bungy from a helicopter at around 400 metres above the Bavarian countryside. After the second bounce, the jumper releases a cord from a pouch warn on their front and then the ground crew then assists them to a safe landing.The heli-bungy is run by Sports Unlimited in cooperation with AJ Hackett, the inventor of the bungy jump. The jump itself costs around £130, but be aware that you will only be able to complete your bungy if the conditions are good and the team decide it is safe. If you've got the bottle, grab a cheap flight across to Bavaria - or ensure that your inter-rail pass includes Zone C (which covers rail travel in Germany). Click here >> for more information on adventure sports Click here >> for more information on Germany Click here >> for inter-rail information - see Europe by train with one rail pass! 3. Timbuktu, Mali Tell your friends that you want to go to Timbuktu and most will smile indulgently and tell you it’s not a real place. This legendary status has made it a popular destination for adventurous travellers, just checking that it really does exist.The city of Timbuktu is found in northern Mali, on the edge of the Sahara desert. Its mysterious, exotic reputation results from its importance as a hugely wealthy trading post in past centuries, and the fact that non-Muslims weren’t allowed in. Nowadays the city is poor and shabby, but its quirky medieval mosques built of mud, its huge collection of ancient Islamic manuscripts and the golden desert that surrounds it make it well worth a visit. Timbuktu has an international airport, but flights aren’t very reliable: some travellers are left stranded for days. The best way to get there is as part of an overland trip. There are plenty of cheap, basic accommodation options and places to eat. Click here >> for overland trips in Africa Click here >> for a live diary from an overland trip which visits Timbuktu Click here >> for more information about Mali 4. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) This flickering curtain of green, red, blue and violet light occurs as a result of solar particles colliding with the gases in the Earth's atmosphere, and it's an eerily beautiful sight. The best places to view the Northern Lights are Northern parts of Alaska, Northern and middle parts of Canada as well as the Northern bits of Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, Finland and Sweden. The most frustrating thing about this phenomenon is that nobody knows for sure when you'll be able to catch it, although chances are best between October and March. Our advice would be to go somewhere far from artificial light, take some (very) warm clothes, and have patience - be sure to book for more than just one night. We assure you, it'll be well worth it. Click here >> for more Denmark information Click here >> for more Finland information Click here >> for more Iceland information Click here >> for more Sweden information Click here >> for inter-rail information - see Europe by train with one rail pass! 5. Trans Siberian Railway: Moscow to China The longest railway in the world. The Trans-Sib is the collective name for the three rail routes that cross-cross Siberia from Moscow. The Trans-Monglolian starts in Moscow and ends in China via Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia. The Trans-Manchurian travels through Siberia to Beijing, while the Trans-Siberian itself ends up in Vladivostok, a city in the far east of Russia. Along the way expect to see onion-domed churches, mud streets and gentle hills in Russia, as well as Lake Baikal; the deepest lake in the world. The scenery across Mongolia and the Gobi desert is nothing short of breathtaking, think nomadic herdsmen, felt tents and camels and you're along the right track. Then, once the train has crossed the Great Wall, it heads south to Beijing; China's mightiest city. An awesome journey and a top way to meet other travellers too. Be warned that popular trains can be sold out well in advance, especially in peak season. You'll also need your passport when you pay, as all tickets are personal with your name and passport number printed on them. This is especially important if you are planning on buying tickets for others. Lots of tour companies include a trip on the Trans Siberian railway into their itinerary too. Click here >> for a tour from Moscow to Beijing Click here >> for more Russia information Click here >> for more China information Click here >> for more on Mongolia information |
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