A car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation!
© Ilf and Petrov. "Golden calf"
This quote from the famous novel is still very relevant today for traveling in Cyprus. If you are determined to rent a car and drive around Cyprus on your own, then this story is for you.
The first thing you need to understand is that rental companies provide a car for at least 3-4 days (in a row, and not in total for a vacation), so you need to approach the planning of your travel routes around Cyprus responsibly enough so as not to regret later about wasted years of wasted money. .
If you start to think, “Where should we go now?” after the car is already in your hands - consider half a day already lost. The option “to go wherever you look, because Cyprus is a small island, you’ll come across something along the way” should be immediately discarded. It may happen, but you will successfully pass it by.
On the other hand, coming to Cyprus with ready-made routes, on which so much effort has been spent, and not being able to find a suitable car there is also not good. Therefore, we advise you to book a car in advance.
Let's finally move on from lyrics to action. First, we will tell you a few basic rules for creating a route for traveling independently in Cyprus by car.
Having mastered the main postulates, let us now move on to the particulars, which also should not be overlooked.
Summer season
If you are planning to vacation in the summer season, especially in July or August, then you need to consider the following:
- In Cyprus it is very hot in the summer, especially in the daytime, so the best route option would be a trip to the Troodos Mountains, where it is ten degrees cooler.
- If you still want to visit the coastal attractions of Cyprus, for example, such as Kourion or the archaeological park of Paphos, where a fairly long walk in the open air is implied, then plan a visit to this place as early as possible, while the sun is not yet so “vigorous” . Don't forget hats, water and sunscreen. Immediately after such an excursion, plan a visit to the nearest beach.
If you have children with you
There is no danger here. It would just be nice to plan the route in such a way that it would be interesting for them in the end. Of course, a lot depends on the age and temperament of the children. It's up to you to decide who is more suitable. But if the children are small, then there are also certain rules when planning the route.
Plan to visit some children's place at the end of the route. “The last phrase is remembered,” said Stirlitz. So here, the child will enjoy the trip if the last place is interesting for him. Yes, even if it’s a beach, if nothing else comes along the way.
We hope that our above tips will help you, and you will be able to independently create the most suitable routes for yourself.
If you still have doubts?
If you feel that your head is a little spinning from various travel options, then you can turn to us for advice - we have come from and traveled Cyprus far and wide, but always believe that we have not yet discovered much here for ourselves. If you agree, then move on to the next section.
Drawing up a route, whether traveling by car or other transport, is a creative and exciting process. You can take a ready-made plan by reading forums and collecting information from experienced travelers. But it’s much more interesting to collect bits of information in guidebooks yourself, mark all the most interesting places, choose places to stay overnight, and then plot routes. Road atlases, navigators, the Internet and much more come to help tourists. Let's try to figure it out how to plan a travel itinerary, saving time and money. A little advice: we suggest you create a table in Excel indicating all the most important points. This will help you plan your route and structure all the necessary information.
Preparatory stage: collecting information
The most important thing for any independent traveler is knowledge. Agree, no one goes to a new place without knowing anything about it. Therefore, before your trip, read not only guidebooks, but also authoritative forums (For example, the Vinsky forum) and blogs of other travelers. Pay attention to how experienced people completed similar routes, what they succeeded and what they didn’t. Gathering information and planning are no less exciting than the trip itself. Try to find out as much as possible about the country (or countries) you are visiting. What national holidays take place during your visit? Will there be elections or other major events that could interfere with your holiday? What is the weather like in each region? Also, do not forget to read about the traditions of local residents, accepted standards of behavior and safety of tourists.
When collecting information about attractions, immediately write down:
- How to get there? Exact coordinates of the place.
- What time is inspection allowed? Many museums, galleries and other places are only open in the morning, so don't be there in the evening.
- What's the cover charge? This is necessary for budget planning.
- Find out if you can buy tickets in advance online for excursion sites. This will, in many cases, save you time.
When reading about a city, pay attention not only to famous sights, but also to places that are interesting only to you. You shouldn’t plan your route based on other people’s opinions and tastes. Why should you visit all the cathedrals in Paris if you are not at all interested in architecture, but love shopping? You shouldn’t see some attraction just for show if it’s not interesting to you at all. Don’t forget to write down the names of the cafes, restaurants and shops you like (especially if they are recommended by other travelers). The same goes for hotels.
Stopping places
When planning your route, you will have to choose only the most interesting and important places. At first, you will want to visit every city or village and see every temple or museum. Based on the amount of time you have. You shouldn’t try to embrace the immensity; no one needs a trip in which all participants are constantly tired. List all the cities that interest you in the table.
The places you choose to stay depend solely on your preferences and the information you have. Once you have decided on the settlements you want to see, it is time to choose housing. There are many websites where you can choose a place to stay overnight. These include numerous search engines for hotels all over the world, sites with apartment rentals, and communities where you will be offered to stay for free. It's a matter of taste here. But pay attention to small details and read the terms and conditions carefully. For example, in some hotels the reception is only open until 11:00 p.m., and you plan to arrive late at night. If you're traveling during the warmer months, consider camping. It's convenient and very cheap. In Europe, many tourist destinations have long had equipped areas where you can park your car and pitch a tent. Enter all reserved places (it is not necessary to book a campsite) in the table indicating prices.
Here are some camping resources. http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/, http://ru.camping.info/. For the rest of your search for housing, you can use all well-known services, which we wrote about in the section:booking.com, etc.).
Once again, on visas and tickets
There is only one way to save on tickets: buy them in advance. Keep an eye on promotions and sales on airline websites. The earlier you purchase your ticket, the cheaper it will be. If you have a complex route with many transfers, allow enough time between flights so as not to miss your plane. Read more in the section.
Now about visas. If you are traveling to one country, everything is simple: you need to find out whether a visa is required and for how long it is issued. But if you have created a complex itinerary across several countries, you will have to collect a lot of information. What you need to pay attention to:
- If you are flying through a country, find out if you need a transit visa. If such a visa is required and you have a long layover at the airport, do not sit and wait for your plane in the lounge. You have a great opportunity to add another city to your travel map. For example, in Istanbul, where there are many connecting flights, you can take a city tour right at the airport and usefully pass the time.
- Find out the rules for issuing visas and relationships between countries. Can you visit several countries at once? For example, it will be difficult to get from Armenia to Turkey, with an Israeli stamp to Muslim countries, and a visa from Pakistan may become a problem when obtaining a visa to India.
- Make all visa arrangements in advance so that your trip is not disrupted at the last minute.
This is the miracle of Google Map!
Using the Google Maps service, you can plot routes and calculate distances, see what public transport is available. An indispensable thing when traveling! So, in order to understand how to use google maps, go to maps.google.ru and select the “routes” tab. Then we enter the names of all settlements, each time clicking the “Add destination” button. After all the data has been entered, click “Get directions” and you will get a ready-made road with a detailed indication of the entire route, the presence of toll roads and the numbers of all highways.
And the second option. On the map, right-click the mouse to select the location we need, click on the “How to get there from here” menu, then right-click to select the next item and add it to the destination. And so on until we run out of all the places we need. Then we also plot the route. Once the route has been established, search the Internet for information from travelers who have used a similar route. Perhaps you will find disadvantages in it or correct it. Experienced travelers can tell you where the best road is, what public transport to use, whether it’s worth paying for the autobahn (if you are) or whether it’s better to make a short detour, etc.
In addition to Google, you can use other resources that will help you plan a route, calculate the distance between points, and even gas consumption:
All selected cities can be entered into a table. Opposite each city, write down all the interesting places and attractions. This way you can clearly see how much time you need to spend in each city. Enter the distance between stopping points in the table. If you see that the distance is too long, it may be better to make an additional stop.
When reading forums, calculate your travel time. If you are not traveling with your own transport, you will have to make many transfers and use different types of transport. When traveling around Europe, you can easily look up bus and train schedules on the Internet and get an approximate idea of how much time you will spend on the road. When traveling by public transport in Asia, you never know what time you will arrive.
Take your ready-made table, in which you indicate: the names of all cities, attractions and interesting places, distances between settlements, overnight stays, cost of travel and stops. If you have collected enough information on each point, think about whether you can handle all the moves? If the budget is limited, it is better to remove several places; there should always be an amount of money in reserve for force majeure circumstances. The same goes for time. After spending your entire vacation traveling and rushing, you will remember nothing but transport and the road.
- If you take a credit card with you, find out in advance where cards are accepted and where they are not. In which places is it more profitable to pay with it, and in which in cash? Perhaps it would be better to get a new card specifically for the trip? Open a foreign currency account? Take several cards with you in case you lose one.
- For your first independent trip, you should not build too complex routes. Choose 1-2 places and set aside enough time for this.
- Whatever you can do in advance, do it. If you can buy tickets in advance, buy them. Don't count on it being easier or cheaper to buy them locally. It will only waste your time. If you have the opportunity to book accommodation, book it. Why will you waste your precious time? To book accommodation, payment is not always required; choose hotels where you do not need to pay right away. Then you will always have room to maneuver.
- Have a backup plan. How will you go to the desired destination if you cannot find transport on site, the train is canceled or another unforeseen situation occurs? What will you do in the city if the attraction you want is closed? How to get from the station to the hotel at night if there is no taxi at the exit?
- Regardless of your route, be mobile. Traveling is not a clear program; no one obliges you to live according to a schedule. Independent travel is complete freedom, and this is its main advantage! Therefore, be prepared for the fact that you will want to suddenly change all your plans or include new places in your route along the way. It’s good to have a free day or two in reserve in this case (see the previous point about the backup plan).
- The best option for a route through several cities is a circular one. When you arrive in one city and leave it. This is convenient, if only because round-trip tickets are always much cheaper.
And finally. Print out your sign and don’t forget to enter all the coordinates into your navigator. Take a paper map or road atlas with you. Keep all documents electronic and printed. And go on a new exciting journey!
Independent travel: 20 best hiking routes in the world. In 2016, National Geographic asked 20 prominent people, from tourists and CEOs to popular authors, about their favorite hiking trails. And, of course, we supplemented the story with interesting photos! Ready for adventure? Then let's go!
Tour around Mont Blanc (Tour du Mont Blanc), France-Italy-Switzerland
Hiker: Topher Gaylord, ultramarathoner and chairman of Mountain Hardwear.
According to him, a tour around Mont Blanc, the highest point in Western Europe, is one of the most exciting tourist routes in the world. You travel through different countries (France, Italy, Switzerland) and different mountain routes, where you have the opportunity to see the most impressive glaciers in Europe. You can truly enjoy the moment and complete the route in 7-10 days. It doesn’t really matter which path you choose, because in any case it’s an unforgettable journey!
Independent travel, photo: Tour around Mont Blanc, France-Italy-Switzerland
Length: 104 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. The most famous route among the Alps, which bypasses the mountain range at the highest point of the mountain range. Although the 4,810-meter mountain is always in sight, the route itself is constantly changing. It descends into 7 different valleys in three different countries, and rises twice to a height of 2665 meters in France and Switzerland. Sometimes you will come across terrifying mountain paths, but then you can relax in picturesque meadows. The landscape changes in a similar way if you start from the classic start and reach the end point in Chamonix, France.
But that is not all! The connection with civilization is exactly what makes this route special. You don’t need to worry about a tent and food (which is why this route is suitable for children and the elderly). Stop at plenty of villages or lodges along the way and enjoy fondue, wine or local cottage cheese to continue your journey with renewed vigor.
Of course, you can pitch a tent, but there are many other options for overnight stays to suit all tastes. From luxury hotels in the resort town of Courmayeur, Italy, to the simplest shelters. In total the route takes about 10 days, although the route is worth taking at a slower pace, visiting the surrounding area and possibly climbing Mont Blanc.
Best time: Summer, when the huts are open for the night and there is no snow blocking the path.
About Gaylord. To better understand this person, you need to know two things. First, he is the lead executive of Mountain Hardwear, a brand now owned by Columbia Sportswear that makes tents, sleeping bags and other items commonly associated with backpacking. Previously, he led a large company, serving as chairman of VF Corporation, which includes North Face, Jansport, Vans and Reef. But don't think that all Mr. Gaylord does is sit in the office! He is an accomplished skier, climber, windsurfer and ultra-marathoner. He came second during the first Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race in 2003. Since then, Gaylord has taken part in this race eight times. He is also a winner of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, the Miwok 100K Trail Race and the Dick Collins Firetrails 50.
Sierra Nevada Range Route, California
Traveler Andrew Skura is a writer, guide and hiking champion.
According to Andrew, The John Muir Trail is a congested path that often becomes lowland, while the most beautiful sections are represented by hills. The route through the Sierra Nevada ridges was NOT the most beautiful route he had ever taken, but it was certainly not the easiest. However, it's worth it! If he perceives the Rocky Mountains as his home, then the Sierra Nevada is the most majestic mountain in the continental United States.
Independent travel, photo: Sierra Nevada Ridge Route, California Length: 195 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Unlike Andrew's other achievements, the Sierra Nevada route is feasible for most people. However, don't underestimate him. The route is similar to the John Muir Trail, but is higher, unmarked and unkempt. It extends from the south to the north of the California High Sierra, beginning in Sequoia National Park and passing through the John Moore Wildlands and Ansel Adams Wildlands, Inyo National Forest, Devils Postpile National Monument, Yosemite and ending at Hoover Wilderness. You must have the necessary travel skills to complete this route.
Most tourists break this route into several separate trips (although Skura and his partner, ultramarathoner Baz Burrell, completed the route in 8 days and 4 hours), because traveling at an altitude of 2750-3650 m takes a lot of energy.
Best time: summer or early autumn, when the snow has already melted and new snow has not yet fallen.
Oh Andrew. The Skuras are one of the few people in this world who can describe their job as a professional traveler. In 2005, he completed a 7,778-mile sea-to-sea tour that began in Gaspé, Canada, and ended at Cape Alava, Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA. This tour combines the following hiking trails: the International Appalachian Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, the North Country Trail, the Continental divide Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail. In 2007, Adventurer #1 completed the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop, which covers the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail and Arizona Trail. It took Andrew 208 days to complete this journey.
Traveler: Jennifer Far Davis, traveler and writer.
According to Jennifer, she is not yet thinking about a new route, because her six-month-old baby is waiting for her at home. Of all the routes she has already climbed, Ljoigavegur ranks first. This 55km route contains so much stunning scenery that not every 500km tour can boast the same. Starting from Skógar and heading north, you'll be able to see 20 cascading waterfalls in just 7 miles. When you reach the deserted mountain trail that runs between two glaciers (one of them located on top of the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which cut off air traffic between Europe and the United States in 2010), you will find yourself in the Thorsmörk valley, whose name can be translated as “forest” Torah". Tolkien visited this picturesque valley before writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They say that it was these amazing landscapes that he used to describe the nature of Middle-earth.
Independent travel, photo: Ljogavegur / Fimmvjorjuhauls, Iceland Length: 34 miles (50 miles if you include Skógar).
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. This four-day route runs from Landmanaløjgar camp in the North and Tuorsmjörk in the South, with the option of starting or finishing at Skógafoss waterfall. By the way, to admire the beauty of this waterfall, you will have to walk another 15 miles, but it is definitely worth it.
Some tourists prefer a “combined” holiday, encountering wild, unearthly landscapes of volcanic rocks during the day and spending the night in comfortable and warm houses. There are also fumaroles and spectacular copper-colored realite mountain peaks.
Hurry up to book your overnight stay in the above-mentioned houses, because they are sold out very quickly. If you are unlucky, you can put up a tent near the house. Before you head to the starting point, pay attention to the bus schedule, as most of them only run once or twice a day from Skógar to Landmannalaugar.
Best time: Summer. Please remember that the holiday home network operates from late June to early September.
About Far Davis. A champion hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 11:00 and 20 minutes, setting a new record. She also achieved record times on Vermont's Long Trail and Australia's Bibbulmun Track. Among Far's other achievements are the following routes: the Pacific Crest Trail, the Colorado Trail, Corsica's GR20, the Scotland's West Highway Way. The impressions received during numerous travels, outlined in her two books “Becoming Odyssa” and “Called Again”. Now Far has taken a break from traveling to be able to care for her little daughter.
Solo Travel: Te Araroa, New Zealand
Traveler Dan Ransone, film director.
Dan says diversity is To Araroa's greatest asset. New Zealand is renowned for its spectacular and unique views while traveling, and this route covers more than 2,000 miles of coastline, mountain ranges and forests, passing through national parks, rural farms and extinct volcanoes.
Independent travel, photo: Te Araroa, New Zealand Length: 1,894 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Aroroa is translated from the Maori language as “long journey” and this is true. The travel route crosses the entire country, starting from Cape Reinga on the North Island and ending in the town of Bluff on the South Island.
The route is split into 160 different routes and takes approximately 120 days to complete if you follow all official guidelines (although ultra-runner Jez Bragg completed the route in 53 days in 2013). Of course, you can't do without a ferry ride to get from the North Island to the South Island. Each section of the route is a real miracle of nature. Queen Charlotte Sound in the South Island is heaven on earth! The river valleys of Whangani National Park are a long-standing haven of Maori culture. The mysterious forest of Takitimu allows you to feel like you are traveling in the beautiful Middle-earth. Have you dreamed of seeing an active volcano? Tongariro is exactly what you need! And don't forget to visit Auckland! Added to all the above-mentioned natural wonders is a well-organized system of volunteers and workers maintaining the trail along the route. Overall, this is one of the best places on the planet for long journeys on foot.
Best time to visit: October to April.
Oh Ranson. Photographer and filmmaker Dan Ransone traveled extensively through the scenic canyons with explorers such as Rech Rudov and Todd Martin while working on the film Last of the Great Unknown. During filming, he fell to the ground because, as it later turned out, he suffered from a brain tumor. Luckily, Ransone recovered and the film was shown at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. From such an unpleasant moment, Renson’s great love for hiking began. He currently works as a cameraman and editor at Backcountry.
The Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail, from South Sudan to Uganda
Traveler: Julian Monroe Fisher, explorer, filmmaker and anthropologist.
According to him, this route is one item on a person’s list of things that he must certainly have time to do in his life. Back in January-February 2013, he and his friends came to the savannah in Eastern Equatoria of South Sudan. Beginning the journey in July 2013, they began work on marking a new route that would run from Gondokoro (near the city of Juba) into Uganda. The route will follow that of Sir Andrew and Lady Florence Baker. Their 1860s expedition headed to Lake Albert. The route has 14 stops, exactly where the Bakers, under the guise of research purposes, collected information about slavery in order to achieve its abolition.
Independent travel, photo: Independent travel Route length: 360 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. South Sudan emerged in 2011, separating from Sudan through a referendum. Independence did not solve all problems. Although, it is worth considering the long-term consequences of decades of civil war, military atrocities and the resulting bitter struggle between the government and rebel units. All this has made South Sudan one of the most dangerous and poor regions on the planet.
There is hope that the opening of the tourist route will help stabilize the country. When the Baker couple dreamed that their expedition, organized to obtain evidence of the horrors of the slave trade, would help abolish it. Most of the route passes through Uganda, a place that is more or less safe for tourists. Danger is inherent in this path. Sir Samuel himself was kidnapped during one of the expeditions.
To maintain historical accuracy, the route begins from the current capital of South Sudan, the city of Juba, and then repeats Baker's path along the White Nile, to Uganda, and ends exactly where in August Samuel saw the lake, which was later named after Queen Victoria's husband, Albert .
Now Fischer is preparing the grand opening of the route on the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Baker spouses’ expedition.
Best time to visit: winter months.
About Fischer. One of the TED speakers and a member of the famous Explorers Club, Julian Monroe Fisher completed a 345-mile journey that took him through Central America, Mexico City, South America, South Asia, Nepal, India, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Russia. In general, the journey lasted 7 years. He even climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro by a route that is almost never used.
Fisher's expeditions are not only a way to test his capabilities on the next dangerous stretch of territory, because they are an integral and very important part of his research in ethnography and geography.
Traveler Jonathan Waterman, photographer, writer, adventurer, activist.
The arc around the Franconia mountain range is not a technical route (however, it does take into account the many steep slopes where slipping can lead to another world). If you find yourself there at the end or beginning of the year and climb to any peak, then just one look at the miniature flowers and the incredible arrangement of stone blocks (protecting the fragile flowers from the threat of falling under your boots) will give you an unforgettable alpine landscape. “Since I was a child, I have not known a more invigorating and intoxicating experience than this,” says Waterman.
Franconia Ridge Loop, Width, New Hampshire Length: approximately 9 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Yes, indeed, this route is quite popular, but Waterman notes that there is an opportunity to take the route through alpine meadows, which are just a few hours' walk from Fenway Park. But don't let the feeling of being close to civilization fool you! This is a fairly fast route, climbing 3,480 feet approximately every four miles.
The mountain stretch between 5,260-foot Mount Lafayette, the 5,089-foot base of Mount Lincoln and 4,760-foot Little Haystack Mountain forms a 1.7-mile route that can be a pleasant stroll through a sun-drenched alpine meadow, or a nightmare trying to find shelter from the furious winds. and lightning. It all depends on the unpredictable mood of White Mountain.
You can still find pockets of civilization along the route. In this case, it is a network of eight mountain lodges that were built in 1930 by the still active Appalachian Mountain Club. In any case, this route is iconic!
Best time: autumn, when the influx of tourists subsides.
About Waterman. Jonathan began his adventurer career as a ranger in Denali National Park, covering mountaineering and hiking in the park. From there he went in search of great adventures, namely: he kayaked across the Northwest Strait (the story of this journey formed the basis of the book “Arctic Crossing”) and swam along the Colorado River in order to record its condition (the book “Colorado Dry and the Colorado River ").
Hiking route along the Pacific Crest Trail, California, Oregon, Washington
Traveler Scott Yurek, ultramarathoner.
Scott Jurek says the Pacific Crest Trail has been his lifelong dream. The captivating beauty, variety of scenery of the mountain ranges and the length of the route from the south to the north of the country is exactly what attracts Scott. Considering that Jurek always planned to cover many routes around the world, exploring his own country was his first priority.
Pacific Crest Trail, California, Oregon, Washington Length: 2,650 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Together with the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Causeway, the Pacific Crest Trail is a mecca for all US tourists. Each route offers a unique slice of history, beauty and culture, but the Pacific Crest Trail is perhaps the most impressive and breathtaking, as it passes through such epic mountain ranges as the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains.
It is not so easy to overcome the route on the first try. Common sense, careful preparation of the necessary things and equipment (after all, the route contains areas where civilization is extremely rare), weather conditions and good speed are necessary components of success. As a reward, you will get the opportunity to see 7 national parks, forests and completely uninhabited areas. A traveler who dares to follow this path will have to overcome the Mojave Desert, climb a 4,000-mile peak, walk through the meadows of Yosemite, pass between the volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains and Lassen National Park, and finally reach British Columbia.
Best Time: Most travelers begin their journey from the Mexican border in April and finish in October. The main and probably the most important reason for people to choose this time is the hope of beating the periods of snowfall in the Sierra Nevada.
Oh Yureka Scott is not one to give up without a fight! This ultrarunner has won almost every award possible. He also set a US record in distance running. In addition, Jurek is an ardent supporter of the vegan diet and claims that thanks to it he enjoys excellent health and success.
Caribou Tracks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Traveler Terri Tempest Williams, writer, environmentalist.
When asked about his dream route, Terry confidently answers that it is any path along the tracks of reindeer in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Every time she closes her eyes, she imagines herself walking through a herd of wild, untouched terrain.
Independent travel: following the tracks of reindeer, Gates of the Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska (Caribou Tracks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) Length: Deer typically migrate between 120 and 400 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Gates of the Arctic is the northernmost preserve in the United States, occupying 8.4 acres in the Brooks Ridge region, just above the Arctic Circle. There are no official tourist routes there, because the reserve protects animals and their main migration routes, which are very important for the Western Arctic reindeer herd. Despite the fact that the number of animals is growing, the deer herd currently numbers only 325,000 individuals. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not only a picturesque expanse, but also a source of constant controversy. The thing is that this territory is extremely rich in oil and, of course, deer. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a large and dramatic area of mountains, tundra, and coastline with no established trails and few visitors. This is the kingdom of Arctic nature!
The most famous and common species of animal inhabiting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is deer. Two herds live there and across the Canadian border: Grant's caribou (169,000 animals) and the Central Arctic herd (42,000). In the spring, Granta caribou gather together to travel hundreds of miles to reach the coast. Around mid-July, caribou head to the foothills to avoid mosquitoes. In the fall, they gather again as a herd and head towards the Brooks Range in the Yukon Territory. The Central Arctic herd takes a slightly different route.
The conflict over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is over 1.5 million acres of coastal plain nestled among gas and oil fields. Now caribou are the only living creatures that live there.
Best time: Spring and fall when caribou begin to migrate.
About Williams: Terry Tempest Williams is more than just an author. She loves to organize independent travel and an ardent defender of wild areas and the animals and people who inhabit them. In addition, she is a successful writer.
From Dosewallips National Park to Lake Quinault, Olympic Washington National Park (Dosewallips, lake Quinault)
Traveler: Sally Jewell, US Secretary of the Interior and former CEO of REI.
Mrs. Jewell remembers first visiting the area at the age of 12, on a school trip in the company of her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Black. Two years ago, she, her husband and their daughter decided to take this route. The path runs through forests and beautiful alpine meadows. You will definitely come across areas where the slopes are covered with rhododendron (near Hood Canal Ford), as well as snow-covered fields at Anderson Pass. And then you will come to the Enchanted Valley, an area that is home to bears and moose.
Independent travel, photo: From Dosewallips National Park to Lake Quinault, Olympic Washington National Park (Dosewallips, lake Quinault) Length: 34 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to find a place as isolated and wild as the Olympic Peninsula within the continental states. This is where the Pacific Ocean meets North America, and harsh weather conditions make the local forests and icy peaks even more difficult to access. However, self-guided travel on the south side of Olympic National Park is worth a try. Just remember to bring waterproof/breathable clothing and you might be the one to conquer this route!
The Enchanted Valley is a special place for the current US Secretary of the Interior. This valley is distinguished by such unspoiled nature that when you see this price list, you begin to understand the reasons for the founding of the Olympic National Park.
Hard-to-reach parts of the route are often a real challenge for travelers. Therefore, before you set off, take an interest in the condition of the roads you will have to walk on.
Best Time: It rains almost all year in Olympic National Park, but summers there are always magical.
O Jewell: Politician and former CEO of REI, hired in spring 2013. Has extensive experience in the oil and banking industries. Received the National Rachel Carson Society Award. In addition, Jewell is an experienced hiker and mountaineer. In 2011, she climbed Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica.
Traveler Jim Whittaker, mountaineer.
Jim Whittaker says he would recommend this route to everyone. The people there are amazing, the landscapes are unique, and in addition, you can also see Everest or Chomolungma, whose name translates as “Divine Mother.” Just seeing the world's highest peak is an experience in itself that can't be beat. In 1963, the journey was 185 miles. Now you can fly to the city of Lukla, located at an altitude of 2860 m. And significantly shorten your route. It is worth noting that taking off and landing there is not for the faint of heart. How could it be otherwise when the runway is at such an angle? If you manage to get there in May, you will have the opportunity to admire rhododendron and orchids. There are also many guest houses where you can drink beer or something else. In addition, the route is equipped with landfills, which certainly helps to maintain it in good condition. The last time John decided to do the route, he was forced to quit due to an intestinal infection.
Independent travel to Everest base camp, Nepal (Everest base camp track) Length: 40 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. The two-week trip to Everest Base Camp and back is extremely popular. Of course, the route has changed quite a lot since 1963. This is an excellent alternative for those people who, due to physical or financial reasons (a guided climb to Everest will cost 50,000 US dollars), cannot climb Everest. And although most films and books describe the beauty of Everest itself, the road to base camp is no less exciting and colorful.
The route passes through the center of the Khumbu region and Namche Bazar. This is a village at an altitude of 3440 m. It is a place where tourists undergo acclimatization and get acquainted with the local culture. In addition, a stop in Namche Bazaar gives you the opportunity to get back to business, because there are a whole bunch of Internet cafes here. From here the path leads to much smaller settlements such as Pangboche, which is located at an altitude of 3930 m. There you can visit a famous Buddhist monastery before climbing to base camp (5364 m).
Don't be discouraged if the base camp climbers aren't very friendly or talkative. Typically, people preparing for such a test do not want anyone to bother them.
Best time: Spring, from March to May, the main thing is to get there before the start of the monsoon season. The period from September to November is also good, in addition, there are usually fewer tourists at this time.
About Whittaker Jim Whittaker became the first American to summit Everest on May 1, 1963. For this achievement, he and his team received the Hubbard Medal, which is awarded by the National Geographic Society of the United States.
I will not now highlight any service in first place, and this order does not give preference to one or the other. They all have their pros and cons, more or less equally.
Let's start with Agenda.
A Russian travel planning service that recently began to gain momentum and received investments. The design of the service is pleasing to the eye, it is convenient, nothing superfluous. Excellent calendar grid displaying planned flights.
The emphasis of the Agenda is mainly on the purchase and reservation of air tickets, hotels, transport, there is also the possibility of booking trains and buses, but unfortunately mainly only within the Russian Federation. The service is closely connected with Panaramio, which allows you to see photos of interesting places, and Foursqare for selecting attractions in the city where you are going. Compared to other services, there is a big disadvantage to adding interesting places to view, and if you are planning a big trip, you will have to work hard to add them to your calendar. It would be great if there was synchronization with the calendar on your phone or tablet, but I didn’t find one. It’s not clear how the creators missed such a moment in all their travels as the lack of Internet. Since there are no applications for Android or iOS, it is not clear how to use it while traveling. Timeline export to pdf is very poor.
Yes, it is quite possible to buy tickets, book hotels and cars here, and besides, the search is also carried out on low-cost airlines. But even during test trips to book a hotel or car in Asia, he didn’t find anything for me.
In general, there are some shortcomings that I hope will be improved in the future.
Next Mygola
An English-language service, also with a good interface, but less convenient. Compared to the Agenda, the calendar grid is less easily understood, but nevertheless quite convenient and understandable.
This same service is more geared towards sightseeing. A large selection of places with detailed descriptions and a link to the source or website of this place. There is an application, but it is no different from the website. You can look at all the points on the map, but you can’t see each point individually, and this is a minus, since it’s not possible to jump on the link to Google maps and get directions.
A huge advantage of Mygola is the route search and its preliminary assessment. At the very beginning, this really amazed me, because you usually find such information only on some blogs. There are a large number of options for traveling between points, using a variety of transport. From a taxi with its cost, to public transport, for which the cost is also sometimes indicated. It is not clear where this information comes from, but it is quite possible to estimate the cost.
Again, there is no export at all. There is also no synchronization. In conclusion, it can be noted that when planning a trip, the Mygola service can be used to find cheap routes by public transport.
Youroute
Another Russian-language service. The service attracted me with its simplicity. Nothing superfluous, easy interface, everything is simple and clear, come in and plan. Of course, like all of the above, it also has disadvantages. But let's start with the advantages, the first of which is a large database of attractions from all countries and cities of the world. Conveniently add objects to your route. The service is also connected to Panaramio and you can conveniently view photographs of objects. From each point you can go to Google maps, you can get directions, but then there will be a service in which it is a little more convenient to do this.
A route immediately creeps between points; transport can always be changed. You can also easily change the order of sightseeing.
At the end you get this kind of route
As you can see, the route can be saved as a pdf and printed if desired. The stages themselves look rather boring.
I would add flight times, they can, in principle, be written down in notes, but nevertheless they are not displayed in the PDF, and links to a map for each point, preferably on Google. But there is information about these places, in a completely digestible form.
Well, the service is quite excellent, but it lacks something; if it added a little from the first and second, it could turn out to be a better service for travel planning. Of course, the application is still missing. So guys, developers, I hope you will finish this service in the future.
Gogobot
Initially, I learned about it as an application. The first thing that caught my eye was that he posts all your actions on facebook, but this is disabled in the account settings. The service is English-language and has a large database of attractions that you can easily add to your trip. Add in bulk only from the table view; from the map you have to go to the object page. But in the application this does not cause much discomfort. There are selections of restaurants and hotels that can be booked.
There are interest clubs in which thematic places are selected.
The travel plan looks quite simple, like a pdf file, but nevertheless contains all the necessary information about the objects, with links to the page of these places in Gogobot.
Here is a type of PDF file that can be minimally customized
An undoubted advantage is the presence of an application (for iPhone and Android), where you can view your travel plan and use navigation for each object.
Decent service, unfortunately not in the native language. Another app for iPad would be great.
Well in the end
Tripomatic
The web service is not particularly striking in design, but the application is quite good (again, the iPad was bypassed), and with support for the Russian language.
It’s quite convenient to add places to your trip plan; the route and approximate travel time immediately creep in between them, which will give you an understanding of the time spent on travel, but unfortunately not about its cost. He also automatically builds the route of the day in such a way (well, at least he tries) so as not to make detours around the city, but to visit all the places along the way with the least amount of time. You can book a hotel on the website, purchase and viewing takes place on Booking.com. You can add travel by transport, for example between railway stations, unfortunately the time is not displayed, and there is no search for ticket prices either. But that doesn't matter here.
I also liked that after completing the compilation, you receive a schedule for your trip. It shows how many of the main attractions you missed.
Export to PDF is good, with all links to Google maps. By clicking, it immediately plots a route. The line of the day is not very clear, but you can figure it out.
The application is very good. With some nice features. For example, the object page shows the distance to it and a rotating compass that shows the direction of movement. Many attractions also display opening hours and entrance ticket prices. For some reason, the screenshots from iTunes show a translator, but I didn’t see it in the program itself.
In addition, the Tripomatic application has a paid, but very useful for tourist, offline map function. For 129 rubles. you can buy a map of the country, for 449 - Asia and Australia, and for 549 rubles. you can download maps of all countries that are available on Tripomatic (358 places). In general, the application takes place on the traveler’s smartphone.
In conclusion, I will say that there are quite a few services for compiling and planning a trip, in my opinion these are the most prominent. There are still many social travel networks where you can also get a lot of useful information, but they do not have such functions as planning.
