March
MARCH
Raft the Karnali River, Nepal
Why now? It’s high-water time, making the river significantly more challenging.
The Karnali is Nepal’s longest and largest river, and a rafting trip here combines a short trek with some of the prettiest canyons and jungle scenery in Nepal. Most experienced river runners find it one of the best all-round river trips they’ve ever done. In high water, which you’ll find now, the Karnali is a serious commitment, combining huge, though fairly straightforward, rapids with a remote location. The trip starts with a long, but interesting, bus ride to the remote far west of Nepal. From the hill town of Surkhet a lovely two-day trek brings you to Sauli, from where it is a two-hour walk to the Karnali River. Once you start on the Karnali it’s 180km to the next road access at Chisopani, on the northern border of the Royal Bardia National Park. The river section takes about seven days, allowing plenty of time to explore some of the side canyons and waterfalls that feed into the river valley. Well-run trips also include a layover day, where the expedition stays at the same camp site for two nights. The combination of long bus rides and trekking puts some people off, but it’s well worth the extra effort. You can also finish your river run with a visit to the Royal Bardia National Park for an unbeatable combination. Even if you can’t make it to the Karnali River during the high flows (September to March), it’s probably the only Nepali river that offers continually challenging white water at all times of the year.
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Safari at Yala West National Park, Sri Lanka
Why now? Best time of year to see leopards and elephants.
On Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, Yala West (Ruhuna) National Park is around 1270 sq km of scrub, plains, brackish lagoons and rocky outcrops. Lurking within is one of the world’s densest leopard populations - the most reliable time to see the big cats is from February to about June, when water levels in the park are low. For good measure, this is also the time you’re most likely to see elephants in Yala West. Most people use a tour company or safari operator to get into the park, and you won’t have to go far to find somebody willing to take you; the coastal town of Tissamaharama is flush with guides and drivers. There are six bungalows and two camp sites in the park if you want the complete experience; these can be booked through the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Colombo.
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River-tube, Belize
Why now? Tubing is best in the dry season (February to April).
River-tubing - sitting in an inflated inner-tube and floating or paddling along a river - is the latest rage in Belize, blessed as the country is with many fairly gentle and not-too-cold watercourses working their way through gorgeous scenery. You go downstream most of the time and the only technique that needs to be learnt is to avoid getting beached, eddied or snagged on rocks while continuing to face in roughly the right direction! The Mopan River near San Ignacio is a popular tubing river, but the mother of Belizean tubing adventures is the float in and out of a sequence of caves on the Caves Branch River, near the capital Belmopan. People come on day trips from all over Belize for this.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Dog-sled, Greenland
Why now? Sledding high season is March to May.
During the eight or nine months of continuous snow and frozen seas in Arctic and east Greenland, dog sled is the most common method of getting around. For visitors with money to spend, it’s exciting to do a ‘winter’ tour. Popular dog-sledding venues include Ammassalik, Uummannaq, Ilulissat, Sisimiut and Qasigiannguit. Most tours are arranged by the hotels in the respective towns, but you can also make arrangements directly with the drivers. Dog-sled trips range from one-day samplers to two-week expeditions, and some include accommodation in villages or hunting camps along the way. Greenlandic sled dogs bear little resemblance to the drippy-tongued, tail-wagging pooches most visitors probably associate with the breed. Most dogs seem only a generation or two removed from wolves and their reputation for snarling, howling and a generally ill-tempered demeanour should be taken seriously. Trying to pat adult dogs is courting disaster.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
View the Aurora Borealis, Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, USA and Canada
Why now? Viewing of the Northern Lights is best around the spring equinox.
Watch the northern sky turn into a Pollock canvas as the heavenly phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, wafts across the prolonged night sky. The lights form from solar particles thrown out by explosions on the sun; nearing Earth they’re drawn to the magnetic poles, colliding with atmospheric gases to emit photons, or light particles, of myriad shapes and colours. Often, they can look like celestial waterfalls. Viewing of the Northern Lights is best in the so-called auroral zone, which runs close to the Arctic Circle. www.northern-lights.no
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Climb Fansipan, Vietnam
Why now? It’s the driest month around the mountain.
On the infrequent occasions it’s not obscured by cloud, Vietnam’s highest peak (3143m) towers above the northern hill station of Sapa. Technical skills are not required to reach Fansipan’s summit, although a substantial amount of endurance, as well as proper equipment and a guide are required. The terrain is rough and adverse weather is frequent. Despite the short distance (19km) the round-trip hike to the summit will take around three to four days. After the first morning you won’t see any villages; just the forest, striking mountain vistas and perhaps some local wildlife such as monkeys, mountain goats and birds. There are no mountain huts or other facilities along the way, so you’ll need to be self-sufficient.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Why now? In March the sea is warm, turtles are nesting and there’ll be sea-lion pups crawling around the shores.
Like perhaps no other place on earth, the Galápagos Islands guarantee close encounters of the wildlife kind - above and below the sea. This remote, barren archipelago was known to early explorers as Las Islas Encantadas - the Enchanted Isles - and none of its enchantment has been lost down the centuries. Visitors continue to fall under the islands’ spell as they step over dozing sea lions to come face-to-face with abundant and tame birdlife and lumbering giant tortoises. The bird-species tally in the Galápagos stands at about 140, including 28 endemic species. Two seabirds stand out: the graceful waved albatross - the world’s only tropical albatross species - and the flightless cormorant, which lost the power of flight in the absence of land-based predators. The only land mammals that occur naturally on the islands are bats and native rats. Large marine mammals, however, are common and abundant. Sea lions and fur seals thrive in the rich waters of the Humboldt Current and visitors are almost guaranteed close interactions. While cruising between islands keep an eye out for dolphins and whales. Reptiles are the islands’ pin-up inhabitants. The giant tortoise has a lower shell up to 1.5m long, can weight 270kg and plods around the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristóbal. The land iguana has skin as rough as a Florida retiree, but despite its fearsome appearance is a harmless vegetarian. The marine iguana is the world’s only truly marine lizard and lives only in the Galápagos. It’s found on every island and you’ll see many at close range; early morning is the best time to see them on land. The most feasible way to visit the islands is on a boat tour - day trips operate out of the town of Puerto Ayora, but most visitors go on longer tours and sleep aboard overnight. The Galápagos can be inviting at any time of year, but in March you’ll be at the tail end of the warmest (and wettest) season.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Hike the Israel National Trail, Israel
Why now? Hit the desert before summer does.
Somebody you know has beaten you to all the great trekking routes, but surely not the Israel National Trail. Rambling for 900km through Israel’s least-populated and most scenic areas, from Tel Dan in the north to Taba in the south, it’s a remarkably varied and beautiful route. If you want just a taste of it, head to the Eilat Mountains. From the waterfall at Ein Netafim, less than 1km off the main road, you can follow the trail to the spectacular Shehoret Canyon, 15km away. Near the mouth of Shehoret Canyon lie the impressive Amram Pillars, where there’s an official camp site (no water). An excellent six- to seven-hour hike at the southern end of the trail will take you through the spectacular Nakhal Gishron gorge to the Egyptian border.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?