TNT Destination Features - Issue 11

s n o i t a n i t s e D NEW

ALL ACTION 2012’S BEST NEW ADVENTURES

PLUS

BURMA SECRET SLOVENIA FIJI TANZANIA HIDDEN TALLINN

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> CONTENTS

05 ADVENTURE 2012

Welcome Letter

Our top 10 new destinations for adventure travel this year, from Africa to Iceland

12 TALLINN

16 FIJI

Check out the Estonian capital’s secret collection of warehouse clubs and pop-up galleries in its old fishing district, Kalamaja

These gorgeous islands are wasted on honeymooners. Find out how to have an adrenaline rush on a budget in paradise

20 SLOVENIA

26 TANZANIA

32 BURMA

It might be small, but we discover this country boasts some giant adventures

Say hello to the new king of the continent with safaris, Kili and stunning beaches

Everyone’s talking about it.

We show you why with Burma’s biggest highlights

Welcome to TNT’s Destinations New supplement, bringing you the best of what’s new in travel this year.

We’ve got the lowdown on the hottest destinations for 2012, from the buzz around Burma to Europe’s hidden haven for the outdoors, Slovenia.

Over the next 32 pages, we’ll reveal where you should be booking your tickets before everyone else catches on.

There’s a holiday here for every traveller, whether you want to climb mountains, surf big waves, chill in the snow or find out where the best party is at.

And it all kicks off with our hitlist of the best new adventure travel trips to tick off in 2012. Fancy sandboarding down the world’s biggest dunes or climbing inside a volcano?

It’s all here for the taking.

Happy travelling!

Photos: Getty Cover: slovenia.info

The Destinations team

Editor Carol Driver Acting Travel Editor Laura Chubb Contributing Writers Jahn Vannisselroy, Rebecca Kent, Clare Vooght, Alasdair Morton, Katie Monk, Adam Edwards Head Of Design And Production Jon Cooke Graphic Design Llewellyn Cass Picture Researcher Ruth Board Head Of Digital Marketing & Development Syed Ahmad Social Media Coordinator Dan Thorne Commercial Director David Alstin Sales Managers Jaqui Ward, Matt Syder Sales Executives Tyler Harrison, Eddie Clinton, Donovan Smith, Michael Fair TNT Multimedia Ltd CEO Kevin Ellis Chairman Ken Hurst Publisher TNT Multimedia Limited Distribution Emblem Direct Ltd Printed By Wyndeham Peterborough Limited News AAP SAPA NZPA Pictures Getty Images, TNT Images, Thinkstock TNT Magazine, 16 Brune Street, London, E1 7NJ tntmagazine.com General Enquiries Phone 020 7953 8469 Fax 020 7953 7957 Email enquiries@tntmagazine.com Sales Enquiries Phone 020 7989 0567 Email sales@tntmagazine.com

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ADVENTURE > BEST OF 2012

Adventure travel 2012 From sandboarding the world’s biggest dunes to climbing inside a volcano, here are our top ten new adventure travel destinations for 2012. Buckle up and dive in!

EDITED BY LAURA CHUBB

F

orget climbing to Everest Base Camp or mountain biking down Bolivia’s Death Road. Go adventuring off the beaten track with our list of this year’s new and emerging adventure travel destinations, and you’ll easily be the backpacker with the best story at the bar.

1 Namibia Namibia takes top billing on our list of favourite adventure travel destinations for its awesome adventure capital, Swakopmund. This coastal city in the northwest has always attracted outdoorsy types for its wild surf, but is fast becoming a mecca for more than just riding the waves.

Sandboarding in particular is huge in Namibia right now, thanks to the dazzling dunes of the Namib desert, which are among the biggest sand dunes in the world.

Swakopmund is home to loads of sandboarding outfits, so you won’t have any difficulty finding an opportunity to start sliding. The boards you’ll use are specially adapted snowboards adept at speeding down the sandy surfaces, and you can get up to 50mph. Even better, you can enjoy it as a skilled boarder or a novice – there’s no shame in just lying on your front and pushing off for a fun ride.

Parachute jumps, quad biking and self-drive safaris are also commonplace in Swakopmund, which means you can easily spend a few days here hammering your heart rate (without battering your bank account).

To keep the adrenaline pumping, head for Etosha National Park, where you can get up close with lions. Then head south for Fish River Canyon, one of the world’s largest canyons and the biggest in Africa. This jaw-

dropping natural wonder features a 100-mile-long ravine and can be hiked in the winter season from May to September. There are no facilities for you to sleep in along the three-to-five day hike – after a punishing day under the sun, you sleep under the stars.

Yet another plus-point for Namibia is that it is considered one of Africa’s most stable nations with its multi-party parliamentary democracy. It’s also one of the least densely populated countries in the world, which means there’s plenty of room to make your own adventure. namibiatourism.com.na

2 Iceland Iceland is emerging as Europe’s adventure capital in 2012.

Top of the list for anyone seeking something different is a tour of a volcano. Thrihnukagigur has been dormant for more than 4000 years, and tours inside the belly of this beast will be on offer during the warmer months of the Icelandic summer, with four departures every day between June 15 and July 31.

Keen tourists will able to descend 120 metres using a cable lift, entering the volcano through the four-metreby-four-metre opening in its summit.

If you’re into volcanoes, but don’t necessarily want to enter one, take an off-road jeep tour to the eruption area around Mt Eyjafjallajokull – the very volcano that put Iceland on the map, thanks to all the trouble its ash cloud caused for air travellers. You’ll also be able to walk behind gorgeous waterfall Seljalandsfoss.

If that’s not enough, there’s also hiking up glaciers >> tntmagazine.com/destinations

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Bosnian mountains

Jungle trek, Panama

and even the chance to dive between the continents in the Silfra ravine. Just an hour’s drive from Reykjavik, you can swim between the tectonic plates with crystal-clear views through the 2-4˚C water. visiticeland.com

3 Bosnia & Herzogovina Bosnia has been dubbed ‘the new Croatia’ for its breathtaking scenery, but there’s much more to the destination than views. First, there’s its turbulent history and Sarajevo’s eye-popping clash of European and Middle Eastern cultures. In recent years, off-road driving has become the sport of choice for travellers. Get the wheels of a 4x4 suitably muddy on a dirt road, for a highadrenaline way to navigate the rugged countryside.

Balkan Road Trips visit Bjelasnica and Igman where events for the 1984 Winter Olympics were hosted and war damage has been largely repaired. After a night in a picturesque mountain lodge, you can hit the roads for a high-altitude and high-octane experience behind the wheel. (balkanroadtrip.com) bhtourism.ba/eng

Hit the snow in Helsinki

Trek through Belize’s majestic Maya Mountains and explore restored and unexcavated Mayan ruins and temples across the country. Then delve into Belize’s limestone caves via canoe – or make your caving expedition a little more exciting and go tubing. Opt for an overnight camp in the caves or hike through jungle and explore waterfalls with cavesbranch.com. travelbelize.org

5 Georgia The former Soviet Republic turned democratic state is a melting pot of cultures and history – truly where East meets West – with World Heritage sites and ancient Christian monuments. Most of the country is mountainous, though, so adventure activities generally include going up things, and then coming down them at great speed. Ace! Tours take in the country’s ‘mystic’ past, with trekking in the Svaneti, and visiting Ushguli, Europe’s highest permanently populated town. Mountains over 4000ft above sea level offer vertiginous challenges, with ski touring also an option.

Biking, jeep tours and horse riding are also on offer to help you discover this vast and varied country. visitgeorgia.ge/en/tours

4 Belize To Mayans, who make up much of Belize’s population, 2012 represents the end of the last, 52,000-year-long, cosmic cycle and the start of a new one. So there’s never been a better time to head to the northeastern coast of Central America and immerse yourself in Mayan culture.

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6 Helsinki The Finnish capital and World Design Capital of 2012, Helsinki has a cornucopia to offer for the adventurous. The biggest thrills come out in the colder months – after all, swimming in ice-cold water is a sport here! You can try

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ADVENTURE > BEST OF 2012

Situated in the leafy suburb of Klein Windhoek, Villa Violet offers a sparkling new, fresh and modern accommodation option when visiting the city center. Five ensuite rooms front onto a grassy central area.

Each room has an air-conditioner/heater, flat-screen TV and a safe. Wireless Internet, secure parking and a laundry service are also available to guests. The rooms open out onto a patio with tables and chairs, and a small turquoise-blue pool glistens invitingly at the bottom of the garden.

The B&B is in close proximity to restaurants and shops, and a short drive away from the city center, making it not only an appealing place to stay but a convenient stop when entering or leaving the country.

Dive between continents in Iceland. Top: surf the winter Pacific’s big waves in Baja

• Heidi and Ben, your hosts, will welcome you in Afrikaans, English, French and German.

• We have 11 years of knowledge in the hospitality and tourism industry, ranging over 5 countries.

your hand at igloo building, while snowshoeing takes you off the beaten track, and cross-country skiing is an option for the endurance-hardened. Take a midnight sun walking tour too, for a truly one-off experience. visitfinland.com

7 Ibiza For most people Ibiza is the place to party. It has the biggest clubs, the world’s best DJs, and is an unbridled land of sun, sea and hedonism. But there is much more to this Balearic outpost than just dancing all night to some banging tunes. Biking, hiking and horse riding around the island’s picturesque, unspoilt rural stretches is becoming ever-more popular for those in the know. Temperatures of 18-26˚C over summer also make Ibiza an ideal destination for water sports, with waterskiing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, parasailing and kayaking all on offer. Enjoy the action in peace and quiet while the rest of the island sleeps off its hangover. ibiza.travel/en/deporte

8 Mexico The Baja California Peninsula in northwestern Mexico is said to draw in the biggest waves of the winter Pacific.

Our top tip is former beach-bum-turned-surf-haven Todos Santos. With its surf pros, welcoming locals, and a plethora of surf schools, you can catch a tube on one of the ocean’s finest breaks. Off the board, go kayaking at dawn to get up close to endemic wonders such as Baja

• Villa Violet serves you homemade smoked game meet and marmalades.

Ph:+264(0) 61 256 141 villaviolet@iway.na California sea lions, as well as some truly stunning natural terrain. For a country that stretches 5km above sea level and has over 10,000km of coastline, the diversity of climate, activities and surrounds is a real marvel. visitmexico.com

9 Tunisia Tunisia is shedding its reputation as a lazy sun ‘n’ sea holiday spot and tempting holiday makers with more thrills and spills than they could ever get from merely absorbing UVBs on its golden, Mediterranean-lined sands. Cycling tours are springing up as a special way to get acquainted with its contrasting lands of desert oases, troglodyte villages (such as Matmata, where Star Wars was filmed), lunar landscapes and lush palmeries. And for hanging ten, it’s little known that Tunisia is a viable alternative to the >> pricey and popular Mediterranean breaks, with a tntmagazine.com/destinations

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NEW RECORD BREAKERS These Guinness World Records show just how adventurous some folk can be ...

The longest time spent surfing a wave is three hours, 55 minutes and two seconds by Panamanian Gary Saavedra, who followed a wave-creating boat through the Panama Canal on March 19 2011. Saavedra simultaneously set the record for the longest distance spent surfing a wave, riding it for just over 41 miles.

Mayan ruins

The oldest ever bungee jumper is South African Mohr Keet, who made his leap from Blaukrans Bungee CC, in his home country, on April 10 2010. He was 96 years old.

Bike around Bosnia

wide swell exposure that so far, only a smattering of dudes and dudettes have discovered. Can’t surf? Don’t worry.

Hit virtually any beach and you’ll find loads of operators offering a variety of water sports. Suspend yourself over the soft sandy beaches of Djerba on a parasail, and you’ll see adventure in this slim wedge of North Africa’s vast expanse is truly underrated. cometotunisia.co.uk

10 Panama Panama is as yet unfettered by tourist crowds – they’re all going to neighbouring Costa Rica. But it won’t be long until the world cottons on to its natural gifts. The best way to experience them is by getting adventurous. Try mountain biking in Soberania National Park. Here, you’ll find yourself deep in Central American rainforest on a roller coaster-type trail over mountain tops, and down to valley floors. Like a bit of wet and wild? Canyoning in the Chargres National Park is a thrill, and while you’re there, do a spot of white-water rafting on grade two rapids – just keep an eye out for the monkeys. Finally, wind down the pace for sea kayaking through the San Blas archipelago, as there’s so much tumbling tropical scenery to absorb.

Also known as Guna Yala, it was only connected by bridge to the mainland in 2007, so is teeming with unique flora and fauna. This is one place you get a true feeling that you’re in on a secret that the rest of the travelling world doesn’t know about – but we’d guess not for long. panamaoutdooradventures.com n

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The deadliest mountain to climb is Annapurna I in Nepal. The peak has been climbed by just 130 people – 53 of whom died along the way.

Discover the real hostel experience in Helsinki!

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Which one suits you best?

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Photos: Getty / Ingram Publishing / Niko Smit / Thinkstock / Visit Finland / Paul J. Richards / AFP

Explore Tunisia

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Photos: Getty / Ingram Publishing / Niko Smit / Thinkstock / Visit Finland / Paul J. Richards / AFP

Camping Budget Luxury Group Tours Hiking

Email: Cel: Skype: Fax:

Photographic Train Tour Self Drive Tailor Made LGBT

ctsn@iway.na +264 (0) 81 260 23 40 hannelievanrhyn +264 (0) 88 616 772 Also find us on Facebook

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DJs rip it up at an old KGB prison

Tradition remains

The red roofs of Old Town

A London-bus-turned-eco-cafe

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Kumu Art Museum

Here and above: see artsy Tallinn

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TALLINN > KALAMAJA

Tallinn’s cultural kilometre The Estonian capital’s old fishing district, Kalamaja, is fast becoming the city’s coolest haunt. We explore its edgy galleries, pop-up bars and warehouse parties WORDS CLARE VOOGHT

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FAST FACTS addiction and crime. Veined with sketchy s a destination for a city break, Tallinn WHEN TO GO If you fancy a alleys and dotted with empty buildings, it is becoming more and more popular picturesque, snowy visit head to was a no-go zone. But gone are the days (we’ve all seen the Eastern European stag Tallinn in the winter. But if you’re not a fan of the cold, make sure when Kalamaja was synonymous with an do droves). Ten years ago, the city was you go from June-August, when impoverished Russian population. Now getting less than 3000 visitors annually, but temperatures can reach a rather Tallinn’s burgeoning hipster scenesters in February 2012, 76,300 visitors rocked up pleasant 20˚C. ACCOMMODATION A night at have got their hands on the district, and in Estonia’s capital. The destination has Tallinn Backpackers hostel will set Kalamaja is all about edgy bars, pop-up even become something of a surprise you back a mere £8.57. A double galleries and raves. money-spinner for easyJet. room at the four-star Nordic Hotel Housed in an old heating plant is the People go to Tallinn for the medieval Old costs £108pn.

SEE For more information and Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia Town’s cobbled streets, easy-on-the-eye itineraries, visit the official tourist (EKKM). The gallery, which also has its own architecture and colourful squares, the board at tourism.tallinn.ee/eng bar, was founded by artists in search of galleries (such as Kadriorg Art Museum) and a place to squat and the venue has now the churches (St Olav’s Gothic church and become the city’s first contemporary art museum. tower). As the prevalence of revelling stags suggests, The Patarei Sea Fortress was originally built as an early people do go for the drinking, but it’s not overrun with 19th-century naval base. When the Soviets rolled into rowdy drunk tourists. For those who would rather party Estonia, it became Tallin’s KGB prison. Now, more than 20 with the locals than be stuck in a touristy bar downing years since Estonia regained its independence, a stage is Jagerbombs, Tallinn has a lesser-known nightspot – Kalamaja, aka the “cultural kilometre”.

Hipsterville On the city centre’s fringe, Kalamaja used to be a fishing district but is now a relic of the city’s Soviet past. It is filled with warehouses and old factories – including what used to be one of the USSR’s biggest toy factories, Polymer, which sprung up when workers poured in from Russia after a railway was built linking Tallinn with St Petersburg in 1870.

After Estonia’s independence, the district became an impoverished ghetto, rife with unemployment, drug

GETTING THERE Estonian Air flies twice weekly to Tallinn from London Gatwick with return fares from £95. (estonian-air.com)

TALLINN

ESTONIA

LATVIA

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set up in the yard of the empty jail for Estonian and European DJs to perform on, a beach cafe has been created in the courtyard and sprawling murals – one of a giant crazed green monkey freeing itself from a burning jail, policeman in hand – plaster the old prison walls.

Nearby is Ökosaar, a disused, London double-decker bus that doubles as a cafe preaching eco-values to anyone who will listen.

Ta Tallinn’s hipsters have moved in – now Kalamaja is all about edgy bars, pop-up galleries and ravess A piece of the action Mutant Disco is one of the sweaty electro nights that hops from abandoned warehouses to old workers’ housing blocks around Kalamaja. Most locals stay updated on where the next events are through Facebook. But if your Estonian is a bit rusty, the way to find out what’s going on while in town is to explore in the daytime first – look for posters, chat to people or walk into one of the area’s permanent fixtures, such as F-Hoone, which translates to F-Block. The bare, brick-walled ex-Soviet factory is now an obscenely trendy restaurant and bar, owned by a Tallinn DJ. And if none of those things work, just rock up in Kalamaja on a Saturday night and follow the bass. n

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Sweaty electro at Mutant Disco

BEST OF THE REST The Old Town Tallinn’s most famous asset centres around the picturesque Town Hall Square, filled with pink and pastel buildings and spires. It provides a space for markets, festivals and open-air concerts.

Rotermann Quarter The newly revamped former factory area just outside the Old Town has avant-garde architecture and plenty of modern shops and restaurants.

St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Built during the reign of the Russian tsars in 1900, it’s the most opulent Orthodox church in the city.

St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Photos: TNT Images / Tallinn Tourism Board / Jaan Heinmaa / Mari Kadanik

Street art and, above, Tallinn scenesters

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GIDIC HOSTEL Tallinn • Free Internet • Free wi-fi • Free laundry • Free lockers + padlocks • Free Ironing facilities • Nice kitchen • Great large TV • Nice clean Hostel

We offer a unique experience for guests with our restored 1881 building.

Live in and see Tallinn’s history.

Don’t miss Christmas Markets!

Book online or contact us now: GIDIC Backpackers 31 Tartu Mnt,Talinn, Tallinn, Estonia Tel: +372 6466016

www.gidic.ee

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Scanbalt Experience The expert on budget travel in Scandinavia, The Baltics and Russia

ROUND TRIPS 2012 Photos: TNT Images / Tallinn Tourism Board / Jaan Heinmaa / Mari Kadanik

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There are three departures a week from each city in each direction. There will be stops for sights and activities off the beaten track and great deals for activities in the cities!

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info@scanbaltexperience.com tntmagazine.com/destinations

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Catch legendary waves

Extreme sunset views

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World-class snorkelling Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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FIJI > ADVENTURE

No fear in Fiji There’s so much action on these paradise islands, it’s a shame to waste it on the honeymooners. This year, Fiji proves it’s a top spot for thrillseekers WORDS CAROL DRIVER

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FAST FACTS NEW FOR 2012 ith 333 lush islands, azure waters WHEN TO GO The best time WHAT Explore Fiji’s Blue Lagoon caves and cake-mix-soft, pristine sand, is during the Fijian winter from (made famous in that Brooke Shields Fiji is impossibly beautiful. But, if you think May to October. Avoid the wet movie) and cruise through the this makes it a haven for sickly sweet season from November to April, while temperatures climb to 30˚C backpackers’ mecca that is Yasawa honeymooners alone, think again. Why between December and January.

Islands with Fiji’s newest boutique cruise should they have all the fun?

ACCOMMODATION There are line, the Yasawa Legend. One of the South Underneath its unsullied image of being plenty of options available for backpackers. You can find really Pacific’s most stunning regions, the a part of the world where time stands still, decent dorm rooms close to the Yasawas consist of a chain of 20 ancient where you can stroll forever along its neverbeach for just £2pppn, or expect to volcanic islands. The white beaches and ending beautiful beaches, is a relentless, fork out about £8 for a room with breakfast included. dramatic rock formations are surrounded thundering, all-out adventure destination SEE fijime.com by crystal-clear lagoons, home to worldjust begging to be explored. fiji-backpacking.com class diving and snorkelling where you’re Think dune boarding, zip lining, jet ski bound to see reef sharks and manta rays. safaris, game fishing, splash packer cruising, parasailing, wakeboarding, rainforest treks, mud baths, HOW MUCH? From £32pppn, including meals, for a four- or cave tours, kayaking and white-water rafting down rapids five-night cruise based on two sharing. on the Sigatoka river, just for starters.

SEE legendcruisesfiji.com Although its straight-from-paradise images may make it seem as though Fiji is for those on a five-star budget, there’s WHAT Head to the adventure capital of Fiji – Pacific a great backpacking track, on which you’ll find non-stop Harbour, Navua – for a cruise along the Navua River on beach parties filled with up-for-it travellers. Most people a Jewel of Fiji tour. After drifting past tropical rainforest, start off on the main island of Viti Levu, and head to farms, villages, canyons and rapids, you’ll pay a trip to the picturesque offshore islands. The most popular destination islands’ biggest waterfall, where up to 100 people can swim for travellers is the stunning Yasawa Islands. (once you’ve trekked through the wildness to get >> Just as you’d expect from tropical islands in the heart of the South Pacific, Fiji is one of the best places to surf in the GETTING THERE world, boasting legendary breaks. It’s so good, US Return flights from champion Kelly Slater tips it as “home of my favourite London Heathrow to Nadi, waves and favourite people”. Expect 2ft babies all to Fiji, via Hong Kong and Sydney, start at £1077 with yourself if you get the timing right.

Cathay Pacific.

As for the Fijians, they’re laid back (Fiji-time!) and friendly. (cathaypacific.com) They’ll also introduce you to kava – the murky water which FIJI Nadi will numb your mouth and chill you the hell out. It’s what they call a national contraceptive, as it makes men too SUVA tired for action. Only good if you’re after a quiet night in! tntmagazine.com/destinations

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Adventure paradise

there). For the finale, climb aboard the unsinkable (that’s what they said about the Titanic!) HMS Bilbili, or ‘HMS No Come Back’, for a thrilling ride. Also new for 2012 are Great Adventure Day Tours, which include exhilarating highland 4WD treks and rafting.

HOW MUCH? From £40 for day tours. One to four-day tours also on offer.

SEE discoverfijitours.com OTHER FAVOURITES WHAT Get right to the heart of Fiji, visiting unique, hard-toget-to spots on the main island of Viti Levu on a tour with Feejee Experience. Save your energy on board while someone else does the driving (fast boat, air-conditioned bus, bilibili raft), then book sand boarding, bilibili rafting, sea kayaking, waterfall swimming or rainforest trekking.

HOW MUCH? From £95pp (two-day tour based on two sharing). Tours of up to 21 days available.

SEE feejeeexperience.com WHAT Although there’s nothing new about flinging yourself out of a plane, we have to big this up as being one of the best destinations in the world to do a sky dive. Jump strapped to an instructor from 14,000ft, and glide (honest) through the air, overlooking the creamy and turquoise swirls below which make up Fiji. Even cooler, you can land on the beach outside your resort. Sorted.

HOW MUCH? From £155pp SEE skydivefiji.com n

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Love local life

SPLASHING OUT: THE TUI TAI Steady your sea legs and prepare for a trip to remember. Branded the “world’s sexiest cruise ship”, the Tui Tai is perfect for those who want a holiday where their feet don’t touch the ground. There’s diving, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkelling, yoga, surfing, massages, beach volleyball, swimming, hiking, village visits – and that’s in the first three days.

The boat itself has undergone extensive refurbishment. On the upper decks are plush sunbeds where you can laze around and soak up the rays, and dine on top-class food as you take in smaller islands such as Rabi, Taveuni and Kioa.

HOW MUCH? From £880pp for a five-night cruise based on two sharing, including meals.

SEE tuitai.com

Photos: Getty / Thinkstock / Chris McLennan

Drift in the tropics

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DiscoverMe The Bula Combo Pass Transfers and accommodation from Nadi out to the Yasawa Islands – the perfect way to explore the islands at your own pace

4, 6, 11, 14 & 20 nights passes available

4 nights Fr £295

Ultimate Lei 6 night package to the Yasawas, visiting 3 different islands

Fr £503

Teach Children in Fiji 15 days Based on the Yasawa Islands of Fiji, work with primary school teachers to support the delivery of English and other subjects

Fr £995

Call 0800 8199337 or visit www.statravel.co.uk

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Dive into the action

The castle at Bled

Try canyoning around the Julian Alps

Take to the skies

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Trek through ace scenery

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Slovenia > OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Thrills and spills on the cheap Slovenia’s forested mountains, vast natural canyons and perilous cliff edges make it a pocket-sized adventure playground. Roll up for a holiday with a serious fun factor WORDS REBECCA KENT & KATIE MONK

Y

ou might have to squint at a map to spot Slovenia, but for a little country in central Europe it packs an adrenalinefuelled wallop. There are the Alps running along the north; pristine lakes, karst caves and forests abound in the middle; plus a snippet of Adriatic coastline to the west.

Combined, they make the perfect playground for adventure-seekers. Here’s our guide to the biggest thrills.

Canyoning

FAST FACTS

Trekking

WHEN TO GO Spring in AprilMay for cheaper rates and pretty blooms; May-Sept for hiking; JulyAugust for summer festivals; SeptOct to avoid tourist crowds (and in Oct the foliage turns orange); Nov to enjoy thermal pools in Slovenian spa resorts.

ACCOMMODATION Stay at Hostel Celica, a former prison in the hip Metelkova area of Ljubljana, known for its squat parties and live music. From £15pn (hostelcelica.com).

SEE slovenia.info

You haven’t experienced the best of Slovenian adventure until you’ve hurled yourself down into the natural mountain watercourses in the area around Bled, at the foot of the Julian Alps. It’s a thrilling place to climb, abseil concave cliffs, jump from ledges, and swim through underwater holes. Though the activity is relatively new in Slovenia, tourists are increasingly being drawn to this so-called ‘god’s own waterpark’. Grit your teeth and plunge 12ft into a turquoise pool, then lay back and allow the force of a fast-flowing river to carry you on home to dry land.

Paragliding and skydiving Bled, the backpacking hub, famous for its picture-postcard castle on the lake, is an adrenaline junkie’s dream.

Paragliding, skydiving, white-water rafting ... you name it, you can do it here. It’s also cheap by European standards, and the surroundings are jaw-to-the-floor beautiful.

There are infinite marked trails to explore in Slovenia, ranging from light strolls in the shallow foothills to lung-busting climbs up mountain peaks. Triglav, in the Julian Alps, the country’s highest peak at 2864m, is a popular two-or three-day trip, with an idyllic landscape – think glacial lakes, rushing rivers, hidden gorges, snowcapped mountains and lush valleys.

Alternatively, trek ‘alpine-style’ around Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, Bovec, Kranjska or Gora. Along most walks, you’ll find mountain huts (called koca or dom) in which to sleep or eat. They’re independent, family-run affairs, and are only an hour or so apart. Most have private rooms and dorms to rent (about £15pn), some have showers, and all have cosy kitchens where you can refuel on traditional mountain dishes. >> GETTING THERE Fly direct from London Stansted to Ljubljana from £87 return with Ryanair. (ryanair.com).

AUSTRIA

BLED

SLOVENIA LJUBLJANA

CROATIA

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DESTINATIONS NEW Camp at Lake Bled

Ride the white water

Mountainbiking

Try mountainbiking in subterranean canyons for a stalectite-dodging ride White-water rafting

MUST-DO LJUBLJANA Preserem Square The heart of Slovenia’s beautiful, bijou capital, this is a meeting place for students and local drunks alike.

Triple Bridge A stand out landmark, designed

by Ljubljanica architect Joze Plecniket.

Ljubljana Castle Trudge up a shady path to reach this austere landmark for a view of the city.

Old Town Made up of three squares: Mestni trg, Stari trg and Gornji trg, displaying beautiful baroque architecture. Stari trg is packed with cafes and restaurants.

Flea Market: Stroll through here on a Sunday morning to find treasures from the former Yugoslav Republic. It’s on Cankarjevo Nabrezje.

Crystal-clear waters run off the Julian Alps into the Soca River to make Bled a water-based thrillseeker’s wonderland.

Spring is the best time to tackle its white water delights, as the snow melt swells the river. Alternatively, the hardcore can head to the Sava River in the northwest, for more brutal, but no less stunning, conditions. n » A three-hour canyoning trip with Triglav Adventures costs €55pp (£45). The company hosts lots of other outdoor adventures, too. For more information, see 3glav-adventures.com

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The Triple Bridge

Photos: TNT Images / Slovenia Tourist Board / Arsen Peric / Bobo / Thinkstock / Joggie Botma

A Slovenian mountainbiking adventure can take you from soaring mountain passes to subterranean canyons for hairy stalactite-dodging rides. A popular loop starts in the capital Ljubljana and travels past Lake Bohinj and through Triglav National Park. It also encompasses medieval cities such as Bovec, the natural wonders of the Karst Plateau and the stunning beauty of the Adriatic coast.

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s place in Bela krajina, The Schengenfest music festival take Slovenia, and offers many one of the most beautiful regions in swimming in the clean and possibilities for canoeing, rafting and is also hiking, a wine cellar warm waters of the Kolpa River. There ine and much more! tour, a tourist farm tour, traditional cuis

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tourist attractions and sightseeing trips are charged extra

NS SEE

FOR MORE INFORMATIO

WWW.SCHENGENFEST.SI

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DESTINATIONS NEW

Zanzibar: a stunning getaway on the Indian Ocean

The roof of Africa: climb Kilimanjaro

Sociable: hang with giraffes

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Monkey business: visit the chimps at Mahale

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Tanzania > Africa

Paradise on earth Boasting beautiful beaches, friendly locals, and all the animals you could ever hope to see in one place, here’s why Tanzania should be on your 2012 wishlist WORDS JAHN VANNISSELROY & ADAM EDWARDS

T

anzania is Africa’s hottest destination right now, and not just because of the country’s searing climate. With travellers scared off by the recent violence and terrorism threat in Kenya, Tanzania has emerged as the African destination of choice for those seeking a host of natural wonders, exquisite safari opportunities and a wealth of secret spots. Here, we pick our favourite must-do experiences and throw in a few hidden gems, too.

FAST FACTS WHEN TO GO The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October.

It’s probably best to avoid rainy season during March, April and May. The prime time to see the migration is usually between June and August when the wildebeest prepare to cross the Grumeti River.

CURRENCY Tanzanian Shilling. £1 = TZS2611.

SEE tanzaniatouristboard.com

Must-do: Serengeti National Park A 14,763sqkm slice of paradise with amazing safari opportunities, the national park is large enough that your group may be the only humans you see during your stay.

Top of the list is the annual wildebeest migration in December-July, the biggest of its kind on earth. It features a million wildebeests moving as one through crocodileinfested waters on the ultimate survival-of-the-fittest quest, and culminates in a frenzy of fighting and mating.

The list of animals you can see in the Serengeti reads like a who’s-who of ultimate safari fantasies: lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, impala, gazelles – even the humble aadvark can be found here. The best time to see the creatures is from June-October.

You can view it all by walking or driving around, or take it in by hot air balloon. There’s also the chance to view

Maasai rock paintings and ancient musical rocks. Yes, musical rocks.

Hidden gem: Selous Game Reserve Just 200km west of Dar es Salaam, though, is one of the world’s largest conservation areas, the Selous Game Reserve – a vast, unpopulated wilderness that attracts surprisingly few visitors. The park is home to thousands of elephants, as well as some of the largest concentrations of lions, hippos, buffalo and crocodiles in East Africa – not to mention a quarter of the world’s wild dog population.

Must-do: Mt Kilimanjaro The world’s tallest free-standing mountain has “climb me” written all over it. Standing at more than 19,300ft (5895m), Kili’s snow-capped summit is nearly five times the >> GETTING THERE Fly direct to Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro) from Heathrow, starting at about £490 return with a variety of airlines.

Search skyscanner.net for the best deals.

Kilimanjaro

Zanzibar DODOMA

TANZANIA Dar es Salaam

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Dar es Salaam’s beaches are unspoiled

The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti

height of Ben Nevis and towers forebodingly above the plains. But despite its impressive stature, Africa’s highest peak is considered a relatively easy ascent – most unsuccessful climbers fall foul of altitude sickness rather than the climb itself.

Hidden gem: Uluguru Mountains The Uluguru Mountains near Morogoro are a stunning place to go hiking and climbing – with peaks that rise more than 8600ft (2600m) above sea level. You pass through pristine rainforests, stunning mountain gorges filled with waterfalls, and colonial buildings that are being slowly reclaimed by the jungle.

Must-do: Zanzibar A two-hour ferry ride (or 20-minute flight) from the frenetic African metropolis of Dar es Salaam is another world entirely: white powdery sand, translucent seas, neoncoloured fish – a little slice of Mauritius or the Seychelles at just a fraction of the price. But it’s not all jet skis, scuba diving, cocktails and luxury on this Indian Ocean paradise.

Intrepid travellers can get lost in the winding streets of Stone Town, explore abandoned Arab palaces, and learn about the island’s dark slaving history.

Hidden gem: The beaches of Dar es Salaam These beaches are great to chill out on, and a lot cheaper than Zanzibar. The old colonial neighbourhood of

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Oyster Bay, north of the city centre, is extremely popular, while the beaches to the south of the city are completely unspoiled. Head to Kigamboni or “South Beach” – a fiveminute ferry ride from Dar. It’s a pretty resort where you can relax, hire jet skis, play volleyball or party the night away.

Dar es Salaam’s beaches are great to chill out on, and are a lot cheaper than Zanzibar Dar es Salaam has great bars and clubs, where you can listen to live bongo flava (Africa’s booty-shaking answer to hip-hop and R&B) every day of the week. Seriously, the clubbers here make Rihanna look prudish with their risque take on bump and grind.

Must-do: Ngorongo crater This is one the world’s largest calderas at 610m (2000ft) deep, with its floor covering 100 square miles. The Ngorongo conservation area is considered one of the world’s best places to safari – there’s a high concentration of animals in a small space, the grass is short and there’s little natural cover, making the creatures very easy to spot. Expect to see the black rhino, lions, elephants, leopards, Cape buffalo, and every other creature you would ever want or hope to see while on safari.

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Get amongst it!

With the African specialists Absolute Africa 30 years overlanding in Africa

A whole range of trips incl. game drives in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, gorilla trekking, guided game walks, rhino trekking, evening game drives and so much more.

www.absoluteafrica.com Phone: 0208 742 0226 Email: absaf@absoluteafrica.com

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Topzone Safaris Suite 103, 1st Floor, Shell Capital Building Plot 49 Kampala Rd, P. O. Box 5410 Kampala Uganda Tel.: +256772889442 Mob.:+25670105 8282 Email: info@topzonesafaris.com http://www.topzonesafaris.com

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Photos: TNT Images / Krysten Booth / Dimitry Sukhov / Malden Antov / AFP / Getty / Jupiter Images

Tours for as low as ÂŁ999 into the Pearl of Africa

Tanzania > Africa

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE All things animalistic will feature at the top of your list when visiting Tanzania and there’s plenty of places to see them. You know about the Big Five, so here’s what else you should get excited about during your adventure:

Chilled village life

Hidden gem: Mafia Island Lying off the mouth of the Rufiji River in southern Tanzania, this is one of the least developed parts of an undeveloped country. Reachable by light aircraft in 35 minutes from Zanzibar, the island attracts some tourists, mainly adventure scuba divers, game fishermen, and those wanting the ultimate in relaxation. In 1995, Mafia Island had financial help from the WWF to make a natural marine wildlife centre. Aquatic life is abundant and the coral gardens are pristine due to the WWF’s protection.

Photos: TNT Images / Krysten Booth / Dimitry Sukhov / Malden Antov / AFP / Getty / Jupiter Images

Must-do: Mahale Mountains National Park This 1613sqkm national park, on the Lake Tanganyikan shoreline in western Tanzania, is yet another superb spot.

It’s first and foremost a chimpanzee sanctuary, where you can hang out among its 1700-strong chimp community.

Head here in the drier months of June to October when the undergrowth is less dense and the apes come down near the main lodge area to feed. Other forest primates you’re likely to spot include yellow baboons, red-tailed and blue monkeys, and the red colobus. A more ambitious excursion is the ascent of Nkungwe, a tough but rewarding hike through varied vegetation and stunning scenery. Swimming in the astonishingly clear lakes, among wild fish with the forested peaks of Mahale looming above, is also highly recommended. In between chimp tracking expeditions, Lake Tanganyika beckons for kayaking and hippo- and crocodile-spotting forays. n

Colobus: These monkeys live in territorial groups of nine, based upon a single male with a number of females and their offspring.

There are documented cases of allomothering, where members of the troop other than the infant’s biological mother care for it. They are prey for many forest predators and are threatened by hunting and logging.

African wild dog: These carnivores, who feed on impala, use up to twice as much energy as a working border collie. Once demonised, as a result they’re now endangered, with less than 5000 in existence. However, the species is now being seen for what it is: an amazing hunter with a complex social life.

Hippo: Considered among the most dangerous animals on the planet, hippos in their hundreds inhabit almost every one of Tanzania’s rivers, snorting and huffing as they submerge themselves. Crocodiles lie on any sandy bank they can find, with their mouths open to stay cool. Upon nightfall, the two creatures swap, with hippos grazing on the banks as the crocs slide into the water.

Giraffe: These placid animals are sociable and non-territorial, exisiting in open herds without leaders. Their height and awesome eyesight enables visual contact across several kilometres between herds. Giraffes can go weeks without drinking at dangerous water holes, instead relying on morning dew and the water content of food.

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Browse lively markets

Bagan’s temples are iconic of Burma

Pindaya Caves are packed with gold Buddhas

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BURMA > HIGHLIGHTS

Buzzing Burma Travellers are flooding this secretive Southeast Asian gem, thanks to the end of the tourism boycott. These highlights show why you should jump on the bandwagon WORDS LAURA CHUBB

I

FAST FACTS 1 Bagan t’s hard to think of an instance in which WHEN TO GO The best time to a country has stirred up a buzz equal to The most iconic images of Burma come visit is between November and that whizzing around Burma right now. It is February, when the heat isn’t stifling from Bagan, its thousands of Buddhist and rainfall is low. temples fanning out across lush greenery, the place to see in 2012. Demand is so CURRENCY There are no ATMs in to a backdrop of jagged mountains. This high that tour operators are struggling to Burma, so take plenty of US dollars. ancient settlement was the capital of what cope – for example, in March, Explore was £1 = $1.62 was then the Kingdom of Pagan in the 9th forced to add an incredible 70 extra ACCOMMODATION Try to stay to 13th centuries. More than 10,000 departures to its initial schedule of 12 for at family-run guesthouses, rather than shiny hotels, to make sure Buddhist temples, pagodas and the year. your tourist dollars go back to the monasteries were built across the Bagan But why now? The reason travellers are local community. plains at the city’s height, and it is the throwing themselves headfirst at this timeSEE myanmar-tourism.com remains of these that you can see today. warped Southeast-Asian nation is that the Rest assured: Bagan will bowl you over. tourism boycott encouraged by general secretary of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been lifted.

2 Pindaya Caves Aung San was under house arrest in Burma for These caverns, in a limestone ridge near the town of almost 15 years, a political prisoner of the ruling military Pindaya, are stacked with thousands of images of Buddha, government. Her crime had been to lead the proresplendent in gold. The older statues boast inscriptions that democracy movement in Burma – a movement that has date from the 18th century, and as a whole the caves been violently suppressed. >> However, after being released and winning the vote CHINA GETTING THERE for a seat in parliament, Aung San has called for Return flights from responsible tourism in Burma. This means visiting in a London Heathrow to BAGAN manner that contributes to local communities and small Yangon, via Singapore, businesses, as opposed to government-owned enterprises, start at £625 with Singapore BURMA Airlines (singaporeair.com). and taking steps to maximise a positive impact on the people of Burma through your visit.

Now is undoubtedly the time to visit the country, before the big crowds catch on. Here’s a taste of what this almost-untouched adventure wonderland has to offer.

YANGON

THAILAND

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Leg-rowing on Inle Lake

The decorated Shwedagon Pagoda

amount to a stirring display of Buddhist iconography. A trip here won’t disappoint.

3 Shwedagon Pagoda Most folk swing by the city of Yangon for one sight only – the renowned Shwedagon Pagoda. The holiest Buddhist shrine in Burma, it dominates Yangon’s skyline. No expense was spared on this sacred monument – it is completely gold-plated, and sports a 76-carat, 15g diamond at its top.

4 Inle Lake A gorgeous slice of the Burmese countryside, this placid freshwater lake encircled by mountains is scattered with floating gardens and little villages on stilts. It’s famous not only for being beautiful, but also the distinctive rowing style of the local fishermen, who stand on the stern of their boats on one leg, and wrap their other leg around the oar. As well as being a pristine spot to do a little relaxing, more active types can enjoy canoeing, cycling and walking in the scenic surrounds.

Also known as ‘the road to Mandalay’ thanks to Rudyard Kipling, Burma’s biggest river is ripe for a scenic cruise on an old steamer. Admire the ever-changing scenery from the water, pray for a sight of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, and end the day sleeping on the deck under the stars. It’s just one in a long line of magical experiences offered by Burma. n

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Photos: Getty / Thinkstock

5 Irrawaddy River

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