Solo Travel

While traveling solo for six months around the world things can sometimes get a little boring. One museum blurs into the next after a while. Solution? Scare yourself silly. Adventure travel is on the rise and I made my way through six continents seeking out the fun. I’m talking real no-theme-park-ride excitement, but also activities that allow you to enjoy the beautiful and diverse environments that surround the action. Here are some of the best.

Serengeti Safari, Tanzania - There is absolutely no better way to get the blood pumping than to tick off a napping lion. My camera’s clicks really got on the nerves of the grumpy King until he finally made a commanding roar and short leap at the Land Rover’s pop-up roof that still has my neck hairs standing at attention. Earlier we saw a Cheetah take down a Gazelle to feed her young so it was definitely a purrfect day. Even if you don’t actually experience the threat of being mauled a Serengeti safari will be one of the greatest thrills of your life. Guaranteed.

Abseiling the mystic limestone formations of Yangshou, China - All along the Li River valley jut the remains of an ancient sea. Jagged and surreal pinnacles dot the landscape like hundred meter high quills off a porcupine. The X-Climber guides know a short cut up one rock that only involved two feet and the occasional hand hold so up I went. Rock climbing requires a bit of skill but falling, I mean abseiling down needs only a stout heart and a strong rope. The key is to just swallow hard and take that first step off. After that the belay tool allows you to descend at whatever pace you are comfortable. Before long you’re bouncing yards at a time. Falling off a cliff was never this fun, unless of course you mastered that whole Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon flying thing.

Scuba diving WWII wrecks in Indonesia - Bali is known for world-class surf spots but there’s another way to get stoked in Indo, get under the waves. Just a across the channel lie the Gili Islands of Lombok. Smaller and less developed these serene isles host some serious adrenaline pumps for the underwater inclined. Blue Marlin Dive Center on Gili Trawangan caters to Tech divers with deep wrecks all over the Bali channel. Sounds great but 200 foot descents leave most of us recreational divers out of the fun. Here’s the fix. After a brief 2 hour Nitrox introduction course a recreational certified diver can descend 145 feet upon a Japanese patrol boat that was sunk in combat during WWII. This carefully planned and guided dive from Blue Marlin lets you experience the thrill of technical diving without serious risk and is an absolute blast. Scorpion fish and neon soft coral cover the 40 foot vessel and the shell hole that sunk her is still quite visible. So even if you can’t go big on a board you can go deep in Indo, very deep.

Motorcrossing the Sacred Valley, Peru - First thing you notice upon arrival in Cuzco is the air, or lack there of it. Once you acclimatize you realize there is a ridiculous amount of activities available. Of course you’re probably in town for the Inca trail trek to Machu Pichu, but Cuzco also offers more adventure based fun than any town this side of Queensland, New Zealand. Rapids, jungles, mountain bikes, horses, you name it they have it. What grabbed my attention was the off road motorcycles for hire. Nearby hill climbs, stream crossings and single track riding fill the adventure need quite nicely. Dirt roads and cow trails litter the nearby valley, letting you motocross your way up and through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It wasn’t just sacred because of the nearby ruins. The natural landscape is just breathtaking. As the shocks absorb the bumps and the tires spit mud in your wake you look up just in time to see a valley golden with the morning sun, and the caboose of a train packed with tourists that paid a mint to experience such grandeur from behind glass windows. Too bad for them.

Skiing the Andes - How do you end an around the world adventure based trip? Would skiing and snowboarding the Andes, on opening day at Portillo Chile after they just received four feet of fresh snow work? Yeah, I thought so too. Portillo Ski Resort has a great backpacker deal that makes it affordable to ski some adrenaline pumping chutes, bowls and massive snowfields amongst stunning Andes scenery. It was the perfect cherry atop a thrilling taste of the world’s best action spots. So keep traveling. It’s never boring if you find the right adventure.

Guest writer Bill Benson chronicled his travels around the world and continues to inspire us with his great adventures!

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As spring break approaches, and you take that much needed sigh of relief, one major question looms: how are you going to spend your time off? Normally, the thought of spring break brings to mind typical destinations—Florida, California, Mexico and a whole slew of others—and usually the thought is to get a big group of friends together to plan a trip full of non-stop partying and fun in the sun. But does it always have to be this way? Of course not. So why not consider flying solo this spring break, and checking out a destination beyond the normal scope of what we think when we think about that magical week off before the onslaught of the rest of the semester? Why not check out Bali.

Just one of 13,000 islands in the Indonesian Archipelago, Bali is by far the country’s number one vacation destination, and rightfully so. At only 90 miles wide, Bali has an incredibly beautiful terrain that varies widely from barren volcanic hillsides, to sprawling, terraced rice fields, to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Without a doubt, this is a visual paradise, but that’s definitely only the beginning of what there is to love about it, and what makes it a great destination if you’re planning on going it alone this spring break.

Apart from the obvious draws of the gorgeous scenery, cheap prices and relaxing atmosphere, the people are a huge piece of what makes this such a great place to visit. The Balinese people are well known for their incredible kindness and hospitality, whether your at a resort or wandering amongst the locals. This means two things. One, Bali is a place where travelers have an almost unparalleled opportunity to get an authentic feel for the local flavor, despite the resorts and huge tourist industry. Two, solo travel is no problem in Bali, no matter what part of the island you’re on.

Realtraveler MickyS experienced this local hospitality firsthand during her trip to Kuta in Bali late last year. Here’s what happened:

“One would imagine that one of the hardest things in a place armed to the teeth with western delights is really tapping into local culture. But in Kuta… this has never been easier. Purists maintain that an overly ‘touristic’ destination will never reveal the countries true cultural colours. But if you really make an effort, the Balinese readily dispense with the typical tourist niceties and welcome you into their extended families.

Such was my experience when I hired a clapped-out Yamaha bike one day and found myself buzzing through traffic in search of petrol.

“Where you going?” came the ubiquitous question, launched at me from the other side of the road, through an army of bikes and taxis.

“Petrol!” I blurted out.

“Follow me.”

Three minutes later, I found myself as the local Shell, surrounded by an enthusiastic team of attendants, unscrewing caps, filing nozzles into tanks and taking monies. Having paid for mine, I offered my guide a 5000 rupea note.

“Absolutely not,” he frowned. “But… I have nothing to do today - would you like me to show you round?”

I smiled my agreement and we were off. Friends are rarely made this easily, but when you have the chance, it’s a risk worth taking.

Over two days, my new friend Ardy - a softly spoken Balinese Muslim living and working in Kuta showed me round all the local spots including two places nearby, Thanah Lot, the fabled temple by the beach, and the sleepy hill station of Ubud with its mystical monkey forest…

On the evening of our second day together, I insisted on giving him a gift, whereupon we went in search of a cheap and functional mobile phone.

That night, with the genuine and unconditional happiness that comes from giving someone a present (not to mention riding around a good portion of southern Bali and soaking up the ambiance!) I felt that I’d truly taken myself out the trap, at least for a little while.” (more…)

I think it’s safe to say that’s one travel experience anyone would love to have as a memory. So whether you’re looking for a relaxing week on the beach, the comforts of an all-inclusive resort, or an adventure to an unfamiliar and exotic place this spring break, Bali has it all. There’s no reason not to check it out. Here are some useful resources to help you plan your trip:

Denpasar Hotels
Kuta Hotels
Jimbaran Hotels

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