Travel

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World Wide Wildlife Sightseeing .. Part 1: The Middle East

Posted by Jod on November 30, 2015
Posted in: Middle East, South America, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

worldwildlife

There is something about a wildlife encounter that is truly engaging for travellers, whether its birding out in wetlands, watching bears from a hide, swimming with manatees, feeding baby Pandas, having breakfasts with orang-utans or spotting big game while on safari.

When talking about wildlife touring most people automatically think of Africa – and it is a reasonable jump – but there is all sorts of wildlife sightseeing out there available to the traveller looking to enhance their journey. As you can see from the above map there are locales all round the world that offer fantastic and unique wildlife encounters.

Lets just take a look at one region to start with .. the Middle East, one of the few places people think of travelling for Wildlife Sightseeing. From Persia through to Morocco there are some fantastic Wildlife sightseeing and visitations able to be done in this region and here are a few examples..

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Discover TET – Vietnamese New Year

Posted by Jod on January 18, 2015
Posted in: Special Departures, World Events. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Nguyen Hue Tet Flower Street during a previous Lunar New Year

Nguyen Hue Tet Flower Street during a previous Lunar New Year

While there is still time for the traveller to visit Vietnam for TET in 2015, if you want to experience Vietnamese New Year Celebrations without paying an arm and a leg for flights (let along land accommodation and touring) then now is the time to begin preparing for visiting Vietnam for TET in 2016.

In Vietnam, TET, or Vietnamese New Year, is celebrated in February, and lasts longer than the single night that many countries celebrate “New Years” on, during which time families gather, cities celebrate, floral displays become prominent and the continuance of life is celebrated across the country.

While this isn’t a solid event like the Edinburgh Tattoo or the Dawn Services at Gallipoli where one can travel see a specific timed event and move on, it is an event that can be experience, through encountering the cities and towns at this specific time, and seeing the public celebrations, as well as spending time with local families and seeing what this event means to the Vietnamese. To help the traveller do this we have developed a tour, specifically for this occasion.

Staring from Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam, you will explore its historical attractions and colorful outdoor markets then visit the Cu Chi Tunnels – a famous place in the Vietnam-American – as a way to ambush approaching US troops, move supplies, deliver information and even as living quarters. After an overnight in the Mekong Delta cruising the narrow canals and join in the floating market you will continue your trip to the Central Vietnam Road of Heritages visiting Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient town. In the North Vietnam you will have more chance to learn of the Vietnamese culture at Hanoi before enjoying a marvelous stay overnight on a traditional junk in the Halong Bay. For full details read on …

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The UAE, Beyond Dubai ..

Posted by Jod on July 13, 2014
Posted in: Middle East. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Over the last few decades Dubai has strived to become a city that welcomes tourism. The national carrier (Emirates) continually promotes the destination, and the city has continued to develop sights to encourage tourism – indoor snow fields, giant shopping malls, unique architecture, luxury hotels and more.

It has taken time but Dubai is recognised as an international stopover point, somewhere you can take a break between flying to or from your destination. Today, most people recognise the name of Dubai, few realise that there is anything beyond it. Some might recognise the name of Abu Dhabi, the capital, but the cities of Sharjah, Fujeirah, Ras Al Khaimah, Hatta, Al Ain and the varying oases, mountain ranges, ancient ruins and numerous off-road locations are almost as lost to the world as Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Beyond Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates  lays an incredible destination, filled with ancient sites datingback to the days of the Spice Trade. Nature reserves dedicated to preserving rare species from Kingfishers, to Turtles to the Arabian Oryx. Natural wonders from the mountains and coats of Musandam to the Oases and desert dunes. Then there are the cultural centres, the religious sites and of course the resorts and opportunities that seem to hide around every corner in the UAE.

Still not sure that there is much to see beyond Dubai? We have several itineraries on this site that will show you otherwie, but lets start by showing you an incredible offroad odyssey..
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A Destination, Not So Far Far Away

Posted by Jod on July 5, 2014
Posted in: Middle East. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Like many my age, I grew up watching the original Star Wars trilogy. You know, I don’t think a single set of school holidays ever passed when my parents didn’t put them on to keep us amused for a few afternoons. Now six movies later names like the Jundland Wastes, The Dune Sea, The Lars Homestead, Mos Eisley, Mos Espa and Anchorhead are burnt into the psyche of generations of science fiction fans. Names which conjure up the images of a galaxy far far away.

The truth is that many of the locations used are not really so far far away, at most they are but a few hours, definitely not lightyears! One of the places where these locations abound is Tunisia. Now Tunisia is an incredible destination for any reason. Djerba, Zaghouan, Carthage, Sfax, Sousse .. there is so much to see and do there. But for the true fan a trip across Tunisia is to see the highlights of Tatooine .. the homeworld of Luke Skywalker, a word whose very name is a derivative of Tataouine, a location in Tunisia.

From Lukes search for his missing droids, to podracing canyons, the Lars Farmstead and Old Bens house .. there are a number of sites to visit fo rthe Star Wars Fan

From Lukes search for his missing droids, to podracing canyons, the Lars Farmstead and Old Bens house .. there are a number of sites to visit fo rthe Star Wars Fan

Much of what was seen of Tatooine in both the original movies, and the prequels is still visible in Tunisia, the desert and lack of change in the areas have preserved many locations almost as they were first viewed on the big screen. Others like the Hoted Sidi Driss (the location most associate with the Lars Farmstead) have remained unchanged mostly due to being a tour drawcard.

So if you are a Star Wars fan who loves travel, we have the perfect combination for you!

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ANZAC DAY Commemorate the 100th Anniversary at Gallipoli

Posted by Jod on June 26, 2014
Posted in: Battlefield Tours, Limited offers, Middle East, Special Departures. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment
ANZAC Cove, where the ANZAC Day Dawn Services are held is not the landing point of the ANZAC Forces. The actual landing point was a short way up the Peninsula and was a much steeper point along the cliffside

ANZAC Cove, where the ANZAC Day Dawn Services are held is not the landing point of the ANZAC Forces. The actual landing point was a short way up the Peninsula and was a much steeper point along the cliffside

In 2015 we commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the landing of the ANZAC (the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) forces at Gallipoli, on the 25th April in 1915 during World War 1.  The Campaign at Gallipoli was one the first battlefront and theatre of war that Australians had participated in during World War I, the first conflict we had entered as a united nation.

While Australians as members from individual states, and eventually a united federation, had fought in South Africa during the Boer War, and while as many Australians, and New Zealanders for that matter, died in any number of single battles on the Western Front in a single day as died during the entire Gallipoli Campaign, it was the Gallipoli Campaign that began to solidify the image of what it meant to be an “Australian” both to the Australian people, and to those elsewhere in the world.

Battlefields Of The World have been providing quality battlefield tours for over a decade, have led ADFA Study Tours through France, have organised Veteran Return visits to Vietnam, Singapore and more. We are proud to announce that with their assistance we will have one dedicated departure in 2015 to help people attend the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings. For more information .. read on!

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