3 activities you should do in your lifetime

3 Activities you should do in your lifetime

Raft the Grand Canyon WHY? To see the great gorge from a completely different and rare angle. Looking down on the squiggle of the Colorado River from a mile upon the rocky rim, it seems impossible that this river could have carved the gargantuan Grand Canyon. Of course, it’s had about two billion years to do so, slowly slicing through the “black red orange purple strata” to create one of the natural wonders of the world.

And this is why seeing the canyon from water level is the best way to appreciate it the experience offers a far more intimate encounter than peering in from the top, as well as a close up of all that glorious geology. The official launch point for a full run is Lees Ferry, at the north-east of Grand Canyon National Park; the end is at Lake Mead, 443km further on. Enroute are side canyons, Puebloan sites, swimming holes and sandy beaches, not to mention plenty of wild water. So, all good–it’s just getting authorization to enter that’s the problem. There’s a ‘weighted lotteryʼ system, with a waiting list of several years, to secure a private rafting permit. Fortunately, commercial tour-op trips which range from one-day to three week floats are available, but even these need booking in advance if you want to guarantee your rendezvous with all this ancient rock.

The best time to raft the Colorado is May to October. Overall, the river is graded a IV (intermediate), with many I-III rapids, plus some Vs. See the Sistine Chapel Massive art, small crowds. Michelangelo could have picked a bigger room! The 40m long by 13m wide box, squished into the Vatican Museum complex is woefully inadequate for the 25,000-odd people who now traipse through here every day. Yes, the iconic ceiling, and particularly the altar wall’s Last Judgement, are probably the most impressive paintings you’ll ever see – but that’s only if you can see them, over the heads of the rest of humanity. Fortunately, there is another way. It’s possible to book private tours of the site, which take small groups (15 people) into Vatican rooms usually off limits, and finish in the Sistine Chapel for an after-hours viewing of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, without all the other people.

Sleep at Everest Basecamp To complete an epic trek, then snooze with the summiteers. The trek to Everest Base Camp – a breathtaking 14-day out-and-back into Sagarmatha NP to the foot of the world’s highest mountain – is a classic. But while the teahouse hospitality and Himalaya views in route are magnificent, most treks are not actually allowed to stay at Everest Base Camp – it requires specific permission. Most hikers visit their 5,340m goal for a ‘been there’ photo op, then descend to nearby Gorak Shep to sleep However, a few special departures do offer the chance to overnight at the iconic camp.

Also, these trips maybe timed to coincide with peak summit attempt season, when groups of climbers are also in residence. It’s a unique opportunity, to both sleep in the shadow of the mighty mountain and to speak to the brave/mad souls making their final preparations; you might even see teams setting off up the notorious KhumbuIce Fall, the start of their push for the top.

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