January
JANUARY
Queenstown, New Zealand
Why now? Get started on an adventure before the sun’s even risen on the rest of the world.
One of New Zealand’s proud claims is that it’s among the first lands on earth to see the sun rise on the New Year. Get an early adventuring start, then, by beginning the year in the South Island town of Queenstown, where the adrenaline flows as fast as the water in its churning rivers. This self-appointed ‘adventure capital of the world’ has one of the finest settings ever handed a town, hugging the shores of Lake Wakatipu and looking across to the aptly named Remarkables mountain range. Yet it was neither water nor peaks that spawned Queenstown’s reputation for thrills; it was an elastic band. In 1988 the world’s first commercial bungy jump began operating from the Kawarau Suspension Bridge, 23km from Queenstown. For those who fancied it - and there were queues of them - this was the opportunity to plunge 43m towards the Kawarau River without worrying about a landing.
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Gorilla Tracking at Bwindi, Uganda
Why now? It’s the middle of the dry season in Uganda’s rainforested southwest.
It’s estimated that there are only about 650 mountain gorillas remaining in the world, and half of these live in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Seeing them is one of Africa’s magic moments. There are three groups of gorillas habituated to the presence of humans in the so-called Impenetrable Forest, and they move daily. They may be only 15 minutes’ walk from the park entrance, or they may be hours of hard walking away, up hillsides and along slippery paths (wear gloves for grasping branches and nettles). Only 16 tracking permits are issued per day, with each permitted group limited to six people. Most of the permits are snapped up by the big safari companies, so plan ahead. If you’re determined to snaffle your own permit, all bookings must be made through the office of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (www.uwa.or.ug) in Kampala - the authority recommends booking two years in advance! Children under 15 years of age are not permitted, and anyone with a cold or other illness is likewise excluded, because such sicknesses could endanger these rare creatures’ lives. Once you finally join a trekking group, the chances of finding the gorillas are excellent, though the time you actually spend with the gorillas is limited to exactly one hour. An adult male mountain gorilla - a silverback - can grow to more than 160kg, but despite his size he’s usually placid and gentle unless he feels threatened. His reaction to danger - and sometimes strangers - is to scream and charge at the intruder. It’s important not to lose your nerve. Stay still and look away from him. He may come close but there’s little chance he’ll actually hurt you.
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Andaman Coast, Thailand
Why now? Visit the Andaman Coast now when you’ll find an enticing mix of good weather and clear water.
water. Soaring peaks of jagged limestone provide a heady backdrop to the emerald-green waters and white-sand beaches of Thailand’s Andaman Coast. The region is a feast for the eyes, serving overflowing portions of some of Southeast Asia’s most striking scenery, though it’s unlikely that you’ll be content to just look at it. Pinched between Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma), Thailand’s Andaman Coast is not long but there’s something here for every adventuring appetite. For divers, the coast is a watery wonderland, with around 210 hard corals and 108 reef fish recorded here. Glam, glitzy Phuket is indisputably the hub of diving in Thailand and is one of the world’s top dive destinations. It’s also a good place to arrange liveaboard boats to the Surin and Similan Islands to the north. The nine Similan Islands are world-renowned, with their huge and smooth granite formations plunging into the Andaman Sea and forming seamounts, rock reefs and dive-throughs. At the Surin Islands, you’ll find granite islands and coral reefs, and whale sharks and manta rays with which to share the water. What’s good below the water is equally delightful on top. With a sea kayak you have the opportunity to go where other vessels cannot, namely into the semi-submerged caves, or hong, that characterise kayaking on the Andaman coast. A good place to explore hong is in Ao Phang-Nga Marine National Park. For landlubbers, central Krabi is a name synonymous with rock climbing. Blessed with some amazing scenic karst formations along its coast and even in the middle of Krabi River, there are endless climbing opportunities, though the industry and most climbers’ attentions are on the serrated peninsula of Railay, west of Krabi city. The cliff-backed isthmus is one of the world’s leading climbing destinations, providing high-quality limestone with steep, pocketed walls, overhangs and the occasional hanging stalactite. About 700 sport routes have been bolted. Novices usually begin with Muay Thai, a 50m wall with around 20 climbs.
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Kayak Bass Strait, Australia
Why now? Paddle in summer in hope of the smoothest crossing.
Around 15,000 years ago, Australia’s island state of Tasmania was joined to the mainland by a land bridge across the eastern end of what is now stormy, shipwreck-sprinkled Bass Strait. Today, the remains of that bridge form a chain of islands that serve as stepping stones for a small number of sea kayakers willing to brave the Strait’s notorious currents and swells. Most kayakers leave from Wilsons Promontory National Park, the southernmost point of the Australian mainland, and paddle through the Hogan Group to two of the country’s most striking islands: Deal and Flinders. After a final tussle with the tidal races of Banks Strait, the 300km journey ends in Tasmania’s Musselroe Bay. A trip for the experienced paddler only.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Paraglide at Iquique Country, Chile
Why now? Savour summer as you glide along the Chilean coast.
As developers work hard to turn the northern city of Iquique into Chile’s premier beach resort (complete with glitzy casino and beachside boardwalks), you can rise above it all by taking to the sky. Iquique’s unique geography, with its steep coastal escarpment, rising air currents and the soft, extensive dunes of Cerro Dragón, makes it one of South America’s best paragliding destinations. It’s theoretically possible to glide all the way to Tocopilla, 240km to the south, but that’s not for novices. Tandem fl ights are available with a number of operators. www. parapenteiquique.cl (Spanish)
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Whale Watch at Baja California, Mexico
Why now? To enjoy the company of California gray whales.
Even if you don’t like the super-development of Los Cabos at the height of the tourist season, the whales do, so pack everything but your prejudices. From January to March, California gray whales have their own winter vacation from the cold Siberian and Alaskan waters, travelling almost 10,000km to give birth in the warmth of the Sea of Cortez. You’ll easily spot whales from the shores of Los Cabos, or you can journey north to the shallow lagoons of San Ignacio, Ojo de Liebre and Bahía Magdalena, mating and breeding grounds for the gray whale, where hundreds of whales might be seen. You’ll find boats for Ojo de Liebre in the town of Guerrero Negro.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Fly to the South Pole Region, Antarctica
Why now? It’s a short summer at 90˚ south.
Once upon a time you had to be prepared to eat your dogs and bury your companions to set foot on the South Pole. Today you need only endure a bumpy six-hour flight, and you can be making the world’s most southerly snowman. Air journeys to the South Pole begin with a preliminary flight from the Chilean town of Punta Arenas to your Antarctic base camp at Patriot Hills (at 80˚ south). Over the coming week you can explore your icy surrounds as you await conditions that permit flights into the Pole. You’ll refuel halfway before landing beside the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the Pole, where you will pay another price beyond the US$34,000 you have already shelled out - you will probably have a headache from the altitude as you stand atop the 3000m-thick ice. The temperature is also likely to be around -30˚C. www.adventurenetwork.com
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia, China and Mongolia
Why now? See Siberia as it should be seen, beneath snow.
Russia is the world’s largest country, so it’s only fitting it should also have the world’s longest railway. Stretching 9288km from Moscow to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian is a great seam across Russia, and unlike most classic rail journeys it’s not about luxury. Come now, as Russia slips towards winter, and it’s likely your fellow travellers will be Russians and Chinese using the railway as transport not tourism. It’ll be freezing outside, yet the train’s heating system will be creating a micro climate more akin to the Costa del Sol. The true Trans-Siberian Railway doesn’t leave Russia, cutting across Siberia to the Pacific coast, but popular tributary lines have added the possibility of a couple of extra passport stamps. The Trans-Mongolian route breaks away into the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator and on to Beijing. The Trans-Manchurian route journeys through northern China to Beijing - travel now and you’ll pass through the city of Harbin during its annual Ice Lantern Festival, where you’ll find ice sculptures such as the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Whatever route you choose, don’t miss the opportunity to alight in the Siberian city of Irkutsk and head for the shores of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. You might not appreciate its depth at this time of year, since it’ll be frozen over (though a peek into the fishing holes will reveal water of remarkable clarity), but you will be able to trek across the lake’s surface or among the iced-in ships at Port Baikal. Choose from deluxe first-class compartments (two-berth en suite), soft first-class (two berth) or second class (four berth). First class doesn’t necessarily mean luxury but nor does second class mean privation; four-berth compartments are perfectly comfortable.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?