Best Travelling Camera: Rugged and Regular Options

Tom Sykes    ash, Travel Gear     adventure holidays, Adventure Travel, Nikon D7000, Olympus XZ-1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, Photography, Sony Cyber-shot HX200V, travel photography, Travelling Camera

One important question that travellers ask themselves is, ‘How do I preserve the greatest moments of my trip?’ Your memory won’t do justice to that picture-perfect iceberg, that heart-stopping mountain pass, that impossibly deep pit-cave.

It can be a tough life for an adventure travel camera! Image: Flickr/ BadSwan

So you’ll want the best travelling camera you can get, one that’ll be durable, reliable and technically up to the task. Whether you want to go rugged or take it easy on your travels, it’s vital to find the right kit and bag it up before you set off.

Can’t tell your dSLR from your compact? Your GPS set up from your whitebalance settings? Read on and we’ll help.

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Wandering War Zones: Enlightening or Just Tasteless?

Tom Sykes    trekkingholidays     38th Parallel, Afghanistan, Antietam, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Mogadishu, Nepal, pakistan, Somalia, Syria, trekking holidays, US, Vietnam, Walking Holidays, Wandering War Zones

Some people are so tired of the predictability and ease of traditional travel that they’re turning to, shall we say, more challenging destinations. Some are brave – or foolish – enough to go wandering about in actual, live war zones.

Is this view really for you? Image: Flickr/ The U.S. Army

They risk their lives and petrify their friends and relatives back home. The news is increasingly filling with backpackers who trek with guerrillas in Nepal and pensioners who’d rather fly to Afghanistan than take a cruise in the Caribbean. There’s now even a whole Wikipedia war tourism page and a best-selling guidebook called The World’s Most Dangerous Places.

But is such an approach to travel enlightening because it shows us the harsh realities of the world – realities any sane, rounded person should be aware of? Or is war zone wandering just tasteless and irresponsible? We think it’s time to have that debate.

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Get off my %*&$ing land: Are trekkers a nuisance to landowners?

Tom Sykes    trekkingholidays     National Trust, Trek Holidays, trekking, Walking Holidays

Research suggests that 70% of Britain’s land is owned by an extremely wealthy 1% of the population. This goes some way to explaining why trekkers and hikers have such difficulties exercising their right to roam.

Trekkers keep moaning about the lack of access. Image: Flickr/ Konrad Andrews

But, so the landowners counter, there are over 140,000 miles of Public Right of Way trails that lead to almost every corner of the country, so why do people who go on walking holidays keep moaning about lack of access?

Is this “baron versus vagabond” debate a waste of time or does it cut to the heart of a serious issue confronting modern Britain?

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Eastern Adventures: Learning your Martial Arts in China

Tom Sykes    ash, New Adventure Travel Ideas     china, Learning martial arts in China, Martial Arts, Martial Arts in China, Martial arts school in China, Rising Dragon, Rising Dragon Residential Martial Arts School

Chinese martial arts (kungfu) are over 4,000 years old. Based on the ancient belief systems of one of the world’s great civilisations, their styles and techniques are now embraced all over the world.

Rising Dragon's White Crane Master.

By learning martial arts in China you will be able to improve your physical and mental discipline, as well as your health and spiritual knowledge.

Based amid the jaw-dropping lakes and canyons of China’s Fujian Province, Rising Dragon Residential Martial Arts School is run by certified Kungfu Masters and Shaolin Monks – Jackie Chan himself has performed alongside Rising Dragon students on live TV.

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Multi-Activity Holidays in Croatia: Rivers, Islands and Beaches

Tom Sykes    ash     Croatia, Croatia Holidays, cycling, Dol, Dubrovnik, Kalaberra Cave, Lokrum, Mlijet, Monarch, Mreznica River, Multi-Activity Holidays in Croatia, multi-activity-holidays, Peljesac Peninsular, Pit-caving, Podac, Rafting, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Sipan, Suicide Cliff, trekking, Viganj

When you travel abroad why confine yourself to just one experience or activity? Life’s short and you may as well try and squeeze in as much excitement as you possibly can. For this reason, multi-activity holidays are the way forward.

Croatian rivers offer plenty of adventure. Image: Flickr/ _Leon10_

One favourite destination for such breaks is Croatia, a rousing land of contrasting environments, terrains and sights.

In the past you had to be content with cycling or rafting or sailing or trekking or rock climbing or pit-caving.

Now you can enjoy all these activities at once and often in the same location. Only the intrepid and the fearless should read on!

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Cheap Adventure Holidays: Thrills on a Shoestring

Tom Sykes    ash, New Adventure Travel Ideas     4x4, adventure holidays, Adventure Sports, Arabian dahabiyya, budget adventures, Calais, canoeing, cheap adventure holidays, Kayaking, Kinlochleven, Middle East, namibia, Nepal, north america, Outdoor Holidays, Passion D’Aventure, River Coe, safari, scotland, south africa, Stob Coire nan Lochan, thailand

Most people think that adventure sports are bank-breakingly expensive and cheap adventure holidays just don’t exist. But you don’t have to travel to an exotic location, buy or rent specialist equipment to have the time of your life.

Climb Stob Coire nan Lochan in Scotland. It's free! Image: Flickr/ alpiniste

Operators have got wise to the wider demand for adventure travel and are now offering a huge range of budget adventure holidays. Alternatively, you can make your own money-saving arrangements regarding transport, accommodation, and time of visit and equipment hire.

Below are our top tips for keeping the costs down along with some adrenalin-filled destination ideas.

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Best battery packs: How to get your trekking juice

Tom Sykes    Trekking Gear, trekkingholidays     4-pound Impel, Battery Packs, Brunton Inspire, cameras, camping, Coleman CPX 6, Cooking equipment, Duracell Powersource Mini Mobile, Headlamps, Hiking Trip, Himalayas, Inca Trail, Ipod, Laptop, Mobile Phone, satnavs, Thumper 30AH, Torches, trekking, Voltaic V11

Torches, cameras, headlamps, cooking equipment, satnavs – these are just some of the essential trekker’s tools that require battery packs. And you don’t want one of these vital items to suddenly conk out in the middle of nowhere.

Light from headlamps can only last so long. Image: Flickr/ t3rmin4t0r

Such an eventuality could put you in mortal danger, especially if you’re camping on the edge of a ravine or on a hiking trip deep in the jungle.

That’s why it’s essential to find the very best battery packs available in terms of durability, compatibility, lifespan and portability. This blog shows you how to get your maximum trekking juice by investing in the best on the market.

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