Diving in the Similan Islands: No Pain, No Gain
The diving scene on Thailand’s west coast can be quite intimidating for newbie divers, but experienced ones appreciate the challenging currents and depths in these waters. The Similan Islands are the perfect object lesson in the rewards that come with a little added difficulty. The Similan Islands are made up of nine landmasses and smaller […]
Village Trails: Cycling in Luang Namtha
North Laos’ Luang Namtha lies in a valley covered with rice fields and quiet villages – a bucolic countryside with a remarkable biodiversity conservation area within easy traveling distance. From Luang Namtha’s new town – where you can easily hire a motorbike or a bicycle – it takes only a few minutes to travel to […]
Indonesia: Nature-Based Tourism
1.1. Batur Caldera (Aspiring Geopark) The Batur volcano lies at the heart of the 100-square-kilometer Batur Global Geopark in northeastern Bali: the mountain sports two concentric calderas, with Lake Batur in its midst. The park is more than just its breathtaking scenery: the lake helps irrigate thousands of hectares of rice paddies downstream using the […]
River Down Under
My excitement upon visiting Puerto Princesa came from curiosity at first. I’m from Davao City, which has a lot in common with Puerto Princesa. Apart from both claiming to be the largest city in the country (Davao has a land area of 244,000 hectares, and Puerto Princesa has 253,982 hectares), both are also consistent and […]
The Hidden Wonders of Tubbataha Reef
One of the Philippines’ most precious natural treasures is also one of the most difficult to reach. Set in the middle of the Sulu Sea about 150 kilometres east of Puerto Princesa, the Tubbataha reef is part of a 970.3 square kilometer Marine Protected Area that in turn is part of The Coral Triangle, an […]
Cycling to Samui: Riding Down Thailands Inner Coast
Although there are a glut of trails that run over Koh Samui’s nature friendly southern coastline, this route along the coast of Surat Thani makes for a more varied pedaling experience and makes for a perfect ride to the South and its surrounding islands. Start from the district town of Lang Suan, which sits on […]
‘On the Road to Mandalay’: Soft Adventure in Style
Myanmar currently is one of the most sought after holiday destinations, if not the most. Not only in Asia, world-wide. So much so that the Minister of Hotels and Tourism in a recent interview revealed that the number of international tourists practically doubled between 2012 to 2013, skyrocketing from 1 million to 2 million. Subsequently […]
From Siem Reap to Angkor Wat and Tonle Sap by Bike
The roads leading from Siem Reap to the nearby temples and towns seem tailor-made for bike journeys. Level and mostly shaded by trees, these numerous trails lead you off the tourist-beaten path and into the heart of the real Cambodia: the rice fields, villages, and monasteries where the Khmer people live, work and play. You […]
In Too Deep? Exploring The Caves Of Borneo
When my guide said it was going to be dark once I turned off my headlamp, he really meant it. Even after a few minutes my eyes had not adjusted, because there simply wasn’t any light at all this far into the Racer Cave—one of many caves in Gunung Mulu National Park, this one named […]
Soft Adventure in Vietnam
Vietnam tourism policy is geared towards promoting its abundantly available nature (N) and culture (C) products, next to increasingly more developed and accessible beach (P) facilities. Not counting backpackers who travel the country extensively and have time aplenty, due to the shape of the county and long distances between major tourist attractions, the average overseas […]