By: Steve Clifford and
G Adventures
While most people save up for a week or two of adventure,
some people are lucky enough to head out on a grand adventure around the
world. RTW travel can free you up for a year to explore many places.
Here is a brief Top 5 list of top Round the World experiences from G
Adventures traveller Steve Clifford...
There were many highlights on my 10-month RTW journey but here are five memorable experiences from the Atlantic, England, Jordan, Syria and Nepal that I highly recommend to savour.
#5 Cross an Ocean by Ship — In the past most great adventures
began from the deck of a ship and I was determined, at least once in my
life, to unfasten my seat belt, look beyond my upright seat tray and
cross an ocean at sea level. I was the only passenger aboard a small
container ship sailing from Charleston, SC to Felixstowe, England, an
8-day crossing. In reality life aboard a working ship quickly becomes
routine, especially if you're the only one not working. However the
countless hours spent scanning the empty horizon are quickly forgotten
when you finally glimpse your destination and arrive ashore with a new
sense of scale and connectedness. (While you may not cross the Atlantic
on a Gap Adventures tour, consider a great voyage across the Arctic on
the M/S Expedition!)
#4 Ramble on in North Yorkshire — I've followed many a
footpath over the years but those that crisscross the moors and dales in
God's own country are hard to beat. The breezy North Sea coastal
footpath that winds its way between Staithes and Robin Hood's Bay is a
favourite, as are the green pastures and stunning panoramas that
surround you in Swaledale. Best of all, at the end of any walk, you'll
find a welcoming Yorkshire pub where you can enjoy a pint (or two) of
hand-pulled real ale. Suggested Gap Adventures trip includes Norwegian
Fjords & Polar Bears.
#3 Experience 40 winks in the land of 1001 Nights — Lying roughly between the ancient city of Petra and the Red Sea port of Aqaba
lay Wadi Rum, a vast and windswept lunar-like landscape of biblical
proportions. A lack of roads force Bedouin nomads and adventure
travelers along ancient routes used by Nabataeans and more recently,
Lawrence of Arabia. A visit to Jordan's Wadi Rum is an unforgettable
experience, one you'll ponder long after you call it a day and stretch
out on your camp cot under a blanket of stars. (Recommended tour to
Jordan is Highlights of Jordan).
#2 Clean up your act in a 500 year-old Hammam — Adventure travelers
are down to earth but some are more down to earth than others. All that
time spent at ground level can leave you dirty - but you don't know how
dirty until you've been exfoliated by a 300 lb. Turk with an attitude.
Hit a Turkish Hammam, a traditional public bath for a couple of hours as
it will cost you less than US$10 and includes wet and dry saunas, an
invigorating exfoliation, intense massage and, once pristine, a chance
to kick back and sip tea with businessmen and royalty. (Suggested tour
is Absolute Turkey).
#1 Stand at the foot of the Roof of the World — A trek in
eastern Nepal to the foot of Mt. Everest was the definitive highlight of
my 10-month journey around the world. The thin mountain air and the
dazzling Nepali smiles are as intoxicating as the homemade raksi and
chaang sampled along the way. I can still picture enthusiastic porters
digging into platefuls of their beloved Dal Baht while strains of the
Nepali folk classic, Resham Firiri, reverberated through the Himalayas.
(Consider Gap Adventures tour Everest Adventure).
Are you ready to head out around the world? Contact Travel Debi to start planning your great adventure!
