Exploration holiday

[ytrebil]

With the talk of various holiday destinations on here, I have just realised that I want to go on an exploration holiday. Maybe checking out some really remote and beautiful places. Somewhere that would involve quite a bit of trekking and possibly some basic climbing. I’d also like to incorporate the heat of the Saharan desert and the cold of snowy mountains. Anywhere someone can recommend? I’m thinking South America or coastal Africa.

[andy400]

Morocco good for desert and mountains.

One of the best 'wild' experiences I've ever had was trekking in the Amazon rainforest.

[ytrebil]

I’ve always been interested in the Rainforests. Are there good places in SA where you can go trekking through the rainforest and also hiking in some mountains where it gets quite cold? I’d rather it was more free to roam rather than a team led expedition if that makes any sense.

[mechsympathy]

ytrebil said:

I’ve always been interested in the Rainforests. Are there good places in SA where you can go trekking through the rainforest and also hiking in some mountains where it gets quite cold? I’d rather it was more free to roam rather than a team led expedition if that makes any sense.

Peru probably the best single country for that and Bolivia is pretty good but less developed on the trekking front.

[Duane Pipe]

Have you definitely ruled out SE Asia? It's fairly easy to beat the crowds in North Thailand/Laos/Cambodia, and dead cheap.

Or Taman Negara in Malaysia is superb. Did a few whole day hikes where we saw no one. Savaged by Leeches tho.

[0836whimper]

That's a broad set of requirements. Depends on what your skills/organisational/hardship/cultural leanings and endurance levels are really. And whether you want to be self supported.

Patagonia, Torres Del Paine and el Chalten, or Tierra del Fuego tick a lot of those boxes, but not all. There is lots of space you can get seriously lost in down there, but also easily organisable 'safe' trekking.

Jordan has nice desert climbing around Wadi Rum.

Otherwise, North America has good geography for proximity of desert and snowy mountains.

The Northern Area of Pakistan has the highest concentration of high mountains in the world, and high altitude deserts (or very dry areas). If you want wilderness, glaciers, ice and snow that or any other central Asian mountain area is probably your best bet, Ladakh, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, Tibet etc ...

There are loads. Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a boom right now apparently, which is either a good or bad thing depending on how adventurous you want really want to be.

[ytrebil]

If I’m going to do it I want it to be pretty damn adventurous to be honest. I haven’t ruled out anywhere. I’d just like to see some breath taking places, some of nature’s wonders and also meet some locals as well as Brits/Yanks/Aussies to have beers with. I like the idea of mixing it up so I am in the pissing rain walking through a tropical forest, to being in the hot, desert sun and also freezing my arse off in the snow.

[skylinecrazy]

http://www.odysseyoverland.co.uk/expeditions.htm

[juice]

Oman

[VxDuncan]

Can seriously recommend Papua (Indonesia, but the western half of the Papua New Guniea landmass). I went there earlier in the year, and spent 8 days treking in the Baliem Valley amoungst the Dani and Lani peoples. Pretty remote (only connected by air), and was only discovered by the outside world during WW2... The people there are being modernised slowly by the missionaires (no comment...), but We still treked for days with hardly any signs of the modern world, save for the odd bit of corrigated iron and packets of fags. Trekking wise we had a local guide and porters (as food had to be carried for a week for a start) which made it a lot easier. You could try on your own, but there are very few maps of the area - it's one of the few places on Earth that shows "no elevation data available for this area" on the maps. Hiking was hot in the equatorial sun at 2100m, trekking ranged from easy to steep muddy slopes that need hands as well as feet. At lot of 6" wide paths used by the locals, rope bridges and logs across rivers (which usually break under your weight!)

Basically I flew via Bali to Jayapura (capital) then took a local flight into Wamena.

Just to give you an idea...


more here (Contains mild tribal nudity):
http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/papua08

[ytrebil]

I like your photos! Interesting place!!!

I’m thinking along Belize, Ecuador/Galapagos Islands at the moment. I have quite a lot of fears I will need to overcome to see these places, especially if I was to go to somewhere like Papua. However, it’s something I need to do.

[neilsie]

ytrebil said:

I’ve always been interested in the Rainforests. Are there good places in SA where you can go trekking through the rainforest and also hiking in some mountains where it gets quite cold? I’d rather it was more free to roam rather than a team led expedition if that makes any sense.

have you considered Borneo? Malaysian side of the island is certainly free to roam around.

[alfaman]

suggestions from places I have been to :

Patagonia : Torres del Paine circuit is superb ( about 1 week - you need to carry full backpack with tent etc.)

borneo : some great jungle trekking and a easyish trek up Kinabalu ( superb views at dawn)

NZ : amazing multi-day treks : avoid the "Great Walks" and go for the harder and arguably more scenic other treks ( fewer tourists )

Nepal ; great scenery but lots of trekkers

Ladakh : also great for trekking and easyish 6000m peaks

Peru : Cordillera blanca has some great scenery and fluted 6000m+ peaks to climb

[ytrebil]

Borneo looks brill!

[alfaman]

ytrebil said:

Borneo looks brill!

I'd recommend visiting the caves at Mulu ( some of the biggest limestone caves in the world - totally amazing ) - then getting a boat upriver and trek into the camp below the pinnacles climb : which is a 4000+ foot steep ascent up through the jungle to the most incredible razor like limestone peaks.

It is sooo hot and humid I drank 4 litres in 4 hours and didnt pee once , you are saturated with sweat after about 3 minutes , no point wearing anything but shorts and trekking boots.

[ytrebil]

Sweet.

I love the idea of travelling up a river with forest either side and an amazing landscape view of mountains in a canoe.

I want to see some really impressive sights and also meet some cool people. I know it sounds stupid, but is alcohol readily available in places like this?

PS Tibet looks breath taking as well! Damn I had thought South America was where I'd be going, but some parts of Asia look really good.

PPS Not Tibet, I mean Nepal.

Edited by ytrebil on Friday 2nd January 13:03

[alfaman]

ytrebil said:

Sweet.

I love the idea of travelling up a river with forest either side and an amazing landscape view of mountains in a canoe.

I want to see some really impressive sights and also meet some cool people. I know it sounds stupid, but is alcohol readily available in places like this?

yes: from memory the camp up river may have beer available , though I'd not recommend gettng bladdered in the jungle heat and humidity. the main base at Mulu certainly does have beer and food: also has a range of backpacker dorm accomoation and (better air conditioned rooms ( recommended )

[ytrebil]

Wow. I wish I was there now.

Is it adviseable to get a bill of health check by a doctor before you go? I don't think I've ever had a health assessment But I think I'm healthy. Obviously being in these remote places without a decent hospital, being healthy is the most important issue.

I would be petrified getting a small plane to these places. Do you need a small internal flight in some 30 year old prop plane?

[Duane Pipe]

ytrebil said:

Wow. I wish I was there now.

Is it adviseable to get a bill of health check by a doctor before you go? I don't think I've ever had a health assessment But I think I'm healthy. Obviously being in these remote places without a decent hospital, being healthy is the most important issue.

I would be petrified getting a small plane to these places. Do you need a small internal flight in some 30 year old prop plane?

You'll need to see the doctor for a few jabs before you head off. And go sooner than you think because if you need rabies jabs you need a bit more time...

[VxDuncan]

Duane Pipe said:

ytrebil said:

Wow. I wish I was there now.

Is it adviseable to get a bill of health check by a doctor before you go? I don't think I've ever had a health assessment But I think I'm healthy. Obviously being in these remote places without a decent hospital, being healthy is the most important issue.

I would be petrified getting a small plane to these places. Do you need a small internal flight in some 30 year old prop plane?

You'll need to see the doctor for a few jabs before you head off. And go sooner than you think because if you need rabies jabs you need a bit more time...

Usually six weeks is sufficient to get the jabs, but sooner rather than later. You'll need the usualy NHS standard boosters so you are upto date, plus they will give you advise on the others (hep B, Jap. E, rabies, yellow fever etc) plus the anti malarials.

If you're fairly fit you're probably okay (ask the travel nurse at your doctors what they think), but a dental check up is always worth it, as is taking a "sterile pack" (clean needles and scapel blades so you don't have to rely on third-world ones) and a spare pair of glasses if you need em. Take a small medical kit as well with rehyrdation sachets, plasters for blisters, antiseptic and anti fungal creams, pain killers etc. Usual stuff really.