Category Archives: Adventure

Adventure

Adventure in Mighty Himalayas

Adventure holiday in India is rightly defined by the word ‘assorted’. India is certainly a mix of landscapes and these diverse places give way to various adventure from water sports, trekking, to winter sports and much more, but most famous of all is Himalaya adventure tour, which itself consist of various sports. It takes you to the lofty mountains and glaciers where one can experience one of the most thrilling experiences ever. This 200 km long stretch of mountain ranges is a layered expanse that marks the border of Indian subcontinent with the Plateau of Tibet. The north eastern zone of the ranges, called as the Trans Himalayan zone is made up of Ladakh and Zanskar, and this region lies at the transition point of Tibet and Indian Sub continent. Pir Panjal and Dhuala Dhar ranges towards the south east, bind together in the snow covered mountains of Garhwal Himalaya. At all these mountain ranges, there are myriad opportunities to indulge in various sports and adventures.

Adventure in Himalaya takes one to Dhula Dhar range for Trekking, to Beas Kund, a glacial lake in Himachal for camping, Kinner Kailash circuit, where one can spot the endangered snow leopards, for challenging trekking and camping, Everest Base Camp, where one trek up to the mighty Himalaya’s peak, but certainly not without prior experience. Other sports that one can indulge in this northern part of India are Trekking in Garjwal, Himachal, Sikkim and Kashmir. While trekking at these places, one comes across panoramic sights of the snow covered peaks of Himalaya, and one can experience living in the lap of Nature with all the serenity and tranquility of the surroundings washing away all the cob webs.

For more adventurous souls, there is river rafting on various gushing rivers where one can unravel the sleeping adventurous spirit inside. There are various river rafting opportunities in the Himalayan region like rafting in Zanskar, one of the coldest inhabited places in India. Here tourists raft on the Zanskar Gorge of Indus River. This place has beautiful thousand feet high walls rising from the river bed on both sides of the river. In Himachal, there are Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and Beas rivers, where one can experience white water rafting. In Sikkim, Pir Panjal Range and the Himalayan Mountain range give way to various rivers like Jhelum, Chenab, Indus, etc where there are numerous opportunities to indulge in various water sports.

Except trekking and river Rafting, other adventure opportunities that are available in an adventure tour package in India are mountain climbing, jeep safari in various national parks, mountain biking, angling or fishing, etc. Besides this one can head out on a bike safari tour through the virgin lands of Leh and Ladakh and beautiful and undulating hills of Himachal Pradesh. It is always fun and adventurous to stay in a camp and gaze at the stars at night while you born fire to get a little bit of warmth in the chilly weather that gives way to enchanting sights. So an adventure tour in India gives you an opportunity to choose from a number of activities and adventures amidst nature that nudge your soul tied in the humdrums of life.

Adventure

Wild West Adventures in Brazil’s Pantanal

Combining the region’s rich biodiversity with the “Wild West” culture of the local cowboys, eco-lodges offer one of the best opportunities to get the ultimate Pantanal experience. The Barranco Alto Eco-lodge, a small family-run operation located on the banks of the Rio Negro in the Brazilian state Mato Grosso do Sul is such a lodge. A converted authentic Panteneiro farmhouse and one of the oldest in the region, it was acquired by the lodge’s founder, Jorge Schweizer, for conservation and research purposes. While supporting research into environmental conservation continues to be an important priority at Fazenda Barranco Alto, the lodge offers a truly magical Pantanal experience, as well as the hance to see amazing wildlife. Few eco-lodges have quite the diversity of local fauna that Fazenda Barranco Alto has to offer. And because the lodge is located on a working ranch, you have the rare opportunity to live out your “Wild West” dreams and learn a few tricks from the Pantaniero cowboys.

The lodge and its surrounding farm is about as far away from civilization as you can get. The nearest town is over four hours away, and if you try driving in on your own, you will undoubtedly have a rough ride on bumpy and inhospitable roads. If you prefer not to spend your vacation digging land rovers out of the mud, the option of flying in on a private plane might be preferable. Upon arrival, you will find that the cozy Pantaniero lodge with its friendly staff and comfortable rooms await you. Despite its distance from the world at large, the lodge offers all the modern conveniences you could possibly desire, including air-conditioning, Internet, and a full-service restaurant. Additionally, experienced guides fluent in English, German, French, Spanish, and Portuguese are available to delight you with their knowledge of the area. Best of all, because the Barranco Alto hosts a limited number of guests, you are guaranteed plenty of pampered personal attention.

Thanks to its relative isolation and unique geography, the Fazenda Barranco Alto is home to an amazingly diverse and colorful assortment of wildlife. Visitors here are treated to such wonderful sights as macaws taking flight, filling the skies with their brilliant multicolored plumage, and capybaras strolling cautiously along the river bank of the Rio Negro. Perhaps the lodge’s most famous and beloved animal inhabitants are its giant river otters. This particular otter family has entertained lodge visitors for years and even served as the inspiration for at least one book. Other animal inhabitants include jaguars, maned wolves, howler monkeys, and caimans. And when it comes to birds, the owners have counted at least 394 bird species! The area also supports a large enough hyacinth macaw population (one of the rarest and most prized birds in the Pantanal) which can be spotted regularly.

The lodge offers a myriad of activities, ensuring that you get the most out of your stay. Canoeing, boating, horse-back riding, hiking, birding, fishing, open-vehicle safaris, swimming, star gazing, cattle wrangling, singing around the camp fire, or simply sun bathing on the beach with the local caiman population – all are readily available. All wildlife tours are accompanied by one of the owners, Marina Schweizer or Lucas Leuzinger, both experts on the local wildlife and ecosystem. The lodge’s friendly staff is there to meet your every need, in terms of exploring, scheduling and simply pampering. The varied activities, unique wildlife, and warm ambiance make the Barranco Alto Eco-lodge the ultimate remote “Wild West” and wildlife adventure for the entire family.