Summits for Softies: Add a challenge to your round the world trip

For those of us fortunate enough to embark on a round the world trip, it’s likely to become the single most exciting and intrepid thing we ever do. What better way to embrace this spirit of adventure than to take on new challenges whilst you’re away – pushing yourself to achieve things that you once thought impossible?
It’s hard to think of a greater sense of achievement than reaching the summit of a mountain. That feeling of elation and relief as you look down on the world far below, knowing that you have made it.However, if the idea of mountain climbing conjures up unwelcome images from ‘Touching the Void’, we’ve listed some mountains you can tackle with no climbing experience. You won’t need ropes, ice picks or oxygen tents - just a guide (in some cases), a good level of fitness, a sturdy pair of walking boots and a lot of will power! What’s more, they are all easy to include on a round the world ticket!Whilst these summits can’t really be considered a walk in the park, we’ll begin with the easiest and work our way up. Ready?

The Corcovado: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 710m

You might not know the name but you‘re sure to instantly recognise this iconic landmark. The granite peak of the Corcovado is best known for being home to the statue of Christ The Redeemer that watches over the city of Rio de Janeiro. There is a road and a tourist train to the top, but to get maximum enjoyment from the incredible views over the sprawling city, beaches, ocean and across to Sugarloaf Mountain, you’re best off hiking all the way to the summit and earning the views!Off the beaten track this is not, so don’t expect to have the place to yourself! However, as you mingle with the hordes at the top, at least you can feel smug in the knowledge that you’ve done it the hard way. The best part is that you can get the train or bus back down to Rio, making Corcovado an essential summit for softies.strong>We can also help you organise a tour in Brazil, like the 17 day Brazil and Argentina tour ‘In Search of Iguassu’.

Table Mountain: Cape Town, South Africa – 1,084m

Dominating the Cape Town skyline, the distinctively flat-topped Table Mountain is one of the most recognisable natural landmarks in the world. While it’s certainly an impressive sight to gaze up at from the city, if you want to see how the world looks from the top, it’s only a short hike away.There are an incredible number of different paths to the top (as many as 350!) and some are much easier than others. The path along Pletteklip Gorge, for example, is one of the most direct and straightforward. It should take between 2-3 hours depending on your level of fitness, and your efforts will be more than rewarded once you take in the unforgettable views over Cape Town and out across the ocean from the summit. You can then hop on the cable car to take you back down to Cape Town to have a celebratory beer or two!

Mount Kinabalu: Borneo, Malaysia, 4,095m

The highest peak in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu is located within the beautiful Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site in Borneo. This is the first of our ascents where altitude sickness could be an issue - if you start to feel at all unwell, descend slowly.The climb begins from the park headquarters (1800m), taking you up to Laban Rata (3273m) metres for your overnight stop, before attempting the summit early the next morning. Whilst the trek up to Laban Rata is not technically difficult, the steps carved into the mountainside are steep and so relentless that, unless you’re super fit, you’re likely to feel the effects in your legs for several days after.It takes around 4-6 hours to reach your overnight lodge for the night, where you can relax on the terrace and soak up the panoramic views across Borneo. Be prepared for an early start the next morning for the steep scrabble to the top – high above the clouds, watching the first rays of sun cast a golden glow over the jagged mountain tops, is a worthy reward for making it to the summit. We can help you organise some amazing adventures in Borneo, like the 19 day G Adventures tour, ‘Borneo Encompassed’.

Jebel Toubkal: the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, 4,167m

Dominating the skyline of the exotic city of Marrakech, Jebel Toubkal is the highest mountain in the Atlas range. This challenge actually involves quite some effort just to reach the start of the climb. Your trek starts from the mountain village of Imlil - from there it’s a full day’s hike to the refuge where you overnight, before attempting the summit the next morning.As late in the year as May, you can be trudging through snow before you even reach the refuge; the best time to go is between June and September, otherwise you’re likely to need crampons and the whole thing just gets more technical, which is not what we are looking for here!The Refuge de Toubkal is the only place to stay and, while comfortable enough, sharing a dormitory with a dozen or so snoring strangers is unlikely to be the highlight of your trip. Get a head start by heading off early the next morning – it’s a genuine challenge to get to the top - a long, steep climb of almost 1000 metres.The sense of stillness and isolation that awaits you at the summit, not to mention the stunning vista across the Atlas Mountains and desert beyond, makes all the pain and struggle just melt away. We can find you a trekking trip into the Atlas Mountains as well as other tours in Morocco.

Mt Kilimanjaro: Tanzania (across the border from Kenya), 5,895m

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at almost 6000m - a dormant volcano that towers majestically over the plains of the Serengeti. It’s the highest walkable mountain in the world - and what a walk!It’s a real challenge, with your biggest potential obstacle being altitude sickness; to give yourself the best chance of avoiding this, the key is to take your time and ascend slowly. It takes most people 5-7 days, and there are a number of possible routes, the least difficult of which are the Rongai and Marangu.The sense of achievement on reaching the top, combined with the awe-inspiring vistas across the plains of Africa, make this an extraordinary, once in a lifetime experience. It’s a little disheartening when you realise that after several days climbing, it only takes one day to get back down, but that’s mountain climbing for you! We offer Kilimanjaro treks or combination tours of a Kilimanjaro climb with a Serengeti safari if you're interested in exploring Tanzania or Kenya.

Top tips for clever backpack packing

You've planned your destinations, booked your ticket and quit your job to set off on the adventure of a lifetime. As D-day approaches you start the task of whittling down your earthly belongings to fit into just one bag  - and one light enough for you to haul around over sandy beaches, ropey swing bridges and up hills.
Two words: pack wisely...
You’ve probably never needed to reduce your material possessions down to what you can carry (which can actually be liberating – but you don't want to be on the other side of the world finding you are missing essentials and have stocked up on useless items. So here's a guide to some of the things I have found invaluable over my 3 years of backpacking:

Bag choice

Firstly, unless you’re uniquely visiting big cities or setting sail on a cruise, I would strongly recommend a backpack over a suitcase. You'll need one with comfy straps (as I’m sure you will be lugging your bag around with sun-burnt back and shoulders at some point!). Next, choose one with a few compartments, so you can find your things without having to search through the whole bag. An invaluable feature I have found is having a backpack which fully folds open as opposed to just opening at the top. This lets you fish out the stuff at the bottom with ease and stops you needing to wear the same clothes day after day.
Top packing tip: roll your clothes instead of folding; saves space and easier to see everything.

Gadgets

Filter water bottle: I’ve recently discovered these and I believe every traveller should invest in one. Most countries you will visit will not have the infrastructure to recycle plastic water bottles and you don't want to be adding to a nation’s rubbish problem. These water bottles allow you to fill up from a tap and filter the water so you can drink away. You'll save money in the long run and can feel slightly smug about not getting through multiple plastic bottles a day.
Wind up or head Torch: I'm a fan of my wind up torch as it will never die, but a head torch is super handy for hands-free searching in the dark. If you find yourself in villages where the electricity is not on 24hrs a day – you can do a quick survey of the toilet before committing yourself in the darkness!
Bag lock: handy for an extra bit of security.
Universal adapter: essential for charging your gadgets en route – you can universal travel adaptors that convert every country to every country which save space.

Kindle/tablet vs book: I’ve not yet been converted to the Kindle or the idea of downloading books as I love the actual ‘feel’ of a book. Loads of travellers I meet swear by them because you can download countless good books and you're not limited to your luck in finding a gem of a book in the swap shops. The downside is being limited by battery life, and any gadget is an additional draw for would-be thieves especially, at the beach and on buses.
Underwater camera: these are great as they can survive the knocks and drops of travelling, they cope with sand well, can be dropped in water and they still work. Mine has allowed me to snap away whilst jumping off waterfalls, snorkelling, tubing, caving, sand boarding and skiing - capturing the most active moments of each trip.
Wireless radio iPod tuner/transmitter: an ideal gadget for campervan road trips in Australia, New Zealand and wherever you don't have good radio signal- they cost peanuts and allow you to broadcast your iPod tunes over short wave radio for the car stereo to pick up and play through the speaker system.
SD card reader: another small and ingenious gadgets for you to transfer your photos direct from your camera’s memory card to a computer (and you can get card readers for tablets now too). You can quickly back up your photographic memories and a card reader takes up less space than a big cable.
Travel towel: one to buy before you go. These are highly absorbent, lightweight and very compact. Just don't do like me and leave your in your hostel room in Singapore on your 2nd night of your round the world trip.

Silk sleeping bag liner these can be bought online and I have used mine loads. If you're on a budget you will surely come across many a suspect bed linen. You can lay this on top or get inside to avoid the dodgy stains. Being silk it will keep you cool. Last night I used mine as there were a few cockroaches running around my hut so I cocooned myself in mine to the jealousy of my travel partner

Clothes

As you are only taking a limited wardrobe here's a few things to consider: ditch the high heels, glitzy dresses and countless white clothes. You'll probably find that casual cotton clothes will be the most used. Having met girls on the road who have giant bags full of high heels and numerous pairs of shoes, they have all regretted it. White things will get dusty/sweaty and grubby so to avoid too many laundry runs have some other colours in your bag.
One thing I have fallen victim to, is packing too many items of the same colour (I am currently in Central America and have far too many turquoise green items; two pairs of green shorts, two green tops, green dresses etc so if I wear these items together I look like I am trying to camouflage!) I also have a tendency to pack lots of patterned/coloured clothes which don't go with my other patterned things, so take a bit of time to make sure you have items that go with lots of other clothes in your backpack and to avoid looking like a colour kaleidoscope.
Hiking boots/trainers if you are planning on doing a lot of treks, and are a serious hiker you may well want to take a pair of hiking boots. I personally have done many a hike in jungles with only a shoddy pair of converse. Apart from this a pair of sandals/flip flops will be essential, until you lose them on the beach one evening and you'll have to replace. On my first round the world trip I got through about 25 pairs of flip flops.
Swimwear will become your new best friend; you'll probably find you'll ditch wearing undies in favour of your cozzie. Also take note of where you're going especially when visiting cultures that are more modest in their dress code. You’ll often need to cover head, shoulders and knees when visiting religious temples so pack some clothes for these situations and be sure not to offend. You’ll inevitably buy new clothes on the road, so leave room for clothes and souvenirs!

Other necessary bits and bobs

Toiletries - you won't need as much as you think and shampoo, conditioner, after sun, sunscreen, shower gel, toothpaste can all be bought around the world and often more cheaply than at home. If you have a particular essential item, take it, but you will probably appreciate the ‘less is more’ idea. Tiger balm is a 'cure all' essential so be sure to pick some up in South East Asia if passing through.
Medicines – again, unless you take specific medication, the basics will do as pharmacies can be found the world over. Also the miming of ailments in a far flung pharmacy is part of the experience of travelling and leads to many a funny travel tale!
Games - these are 'non-essential' but in my mind are the things you regret culling from your back pack. Often games will intrigue locals, providing spontaneous moments teaching kids new games, making friends with other travellers and meeting other like-minded people. I always take my fire and practice Poi as I quickly get bored on beaches. Also my snorkel and mask are always with me, so I can check out the fish wherever I am. Other great games include: a deck of cards (ideal for delayed travel situations) travel chess, juggling balls, travel hula hoop, devil sticks, travel staff, Dice for Yahtzee etc.

Remember pack light, leave room for things you pick up along the way and enjoy the freedom of having only a few possessions. We don't need half the material objects we’re led to believe, so enjoy living with your life on your back! Above all don’t forget to take your sense of adventure!

How to make the most of a stopover in Dubai

This was my first visit to Dubai and I stayed for 5 days. When I arrived it was exactly as I expected; luxury everywhere, massive buildings, with the local culture and religion taking a somewhat a back seat.
If you have a short stay planned, here are some of the things I recommend in Dubai besides enjoying the heat, the comfort of your hotel and some pool-side drinks...

View from the 164th floor of the world’s tallest building

Get some perspective. For a great view, head up the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa early in the morning - you don’t need to pre-book your ticket, but it's cheaper if you do. It was really impressive to see the tallest building in the world (at 808m) – even though you can only go up as far as the 164th floor. Inside the lift you can only press two buttons; Floor 1 or Floor 164 nothing in between. At the top you can use a futurist camera to have a perfect view of the city and the views are impressive. Looking down, you'll realise that the other big buildings you thought were tall are actually so much smaller than this one!

Taking the desert by storm on a 4WD adventure

Try a trip out to the desert - like the 4 hour desert safari trip I tried. Our group was about 32 people riding 4x4 vehicles over the sand dunes which is a fun experience. We saw some wild camels and it really felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. The last part of the tour takes you to a place that’s a bit like a circus where you can get Henna tattoos, watch some dancing, visit some small shops or go to the bar. You can also try sand boarding (although the slopes are just 10 meters high!) – but it’s quite fun to try all the same!

From tropical to Arctic inside the Mall of the Emirates

Hit the mall. Dubai has lots of enormous shopping malls – it’s all about the shopping - and Mall of the Emirates is probably the best memory of my trip. I used to be a snowboarder for years and to find a place like this one is just amazing – the mall has an indoors ski slope! In the middle of the slope is a bar which you can reach by taking the chairlift – it’s excellent and it looks like you are in the mountain. The temperature is -3C inside, so the contrast of knowing it’s 41C outside is incredible. They offer everything you need to feel like you are on a real mountain - all riders will enjoy a visit to the Mall of the Emirates!

Where to stay in Dubai

Stay somewhere swanky. I had the opportunity to visit quite a few hotels in this trip:
For families, I definitely recommended Atlantis, the Palm. The prices are not bad and they do a package that includes everything you need. Low season (July & August) prices start from £220 a night for 2 adults and 2 Children (under 16), but the price can hike up to £600 the night at the highest point of the season (November through to April). The bedrooms are really spacious and the resort is really amazing with a big aquarium and massive water park.

For couples or Honeymooners, I would recommend the One & Only Royal Mirage. With its oriental design and dramatic architecture this hotel is a striking presence on the sea front!
For anyone visiting, I would recommend Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Residence, with a great location right on the beach but only a 5 minute walk from the metro station.
Finally I can also recommend Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, from under £100 per night this hotel is great value. Located on Sheikh Zayad Road, it has 3 restaurants and an outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool as well as jacuzzi, steam room and sauna!

Cost of living

It’s quite hard to stay really cheaply in Dubai, so in all honesty it’s not a town for backpackers with a tiny budget. The hotels I saw on this trip were the more luxurious and expensive hotels, but they do often particularly great value for money if you visit out of season.

Cultural sensitivity

Dubai is mostly more about fashion than ‘dress code’. Out of respect for the Islamic culture, ladies need to be aware and dress sensitively (shoulders and knees covered) when outside of the resort, but inside the hotels, everyone is free to dress as they wish. You can’t drink alcohol outside of the hotel/resort (on the street) but you’ll never be outside anyway (it’s too hot!). You’re likely to spend your time indoors, and the bar is the only place you can buy alcohol. Be aware that during the Holy month of Ramadam it is illegal to be seen eating or drinking in public during daylight hours, so you will need to eat in your hotel, or after dark when the restaurants open again.

Top recommendations for Dubai

In terms of recommendations for visitors, it depends on your expectations, but I definitely recommend staying at a hotel with swimming pool. I’d also suggest a visit to The Mall of the Emirates and the Desert Safari trip. I think you need a minimum stay of 3 days to get a good view of Dubai, and you’ll definitely need a lot of water and sun cream!
For travelling around, you can assume that it's far to hot too walk any distance within the city, so always use the taxi for long distances. The prices are really cheap because the petrol is so cheap – it’s about £5 for 15 minutes’ drive. There is also an efficient Metro system.
I think Dubai is a great place to stay, but as it can be quite pricey. If you enjoy fashion, luxury and style it’s the place you’ll need to be. The price for one beer is almost £10 so be aware of how much you spend! The people are really friendly and it certainly has a respectable, cosmopolitan feel, which you’ll enjoy!