So I’ve always wanted to take a trip to Israel, there is so much history there and so many incredible things to see. I enjoy traveling the world with some adventure and backpacking a new country is high on my list of best ways to travel. It gives you more time to see the country, meet the people and explore new places without the crowds and rush of mass tourism. When looking to travel to Israel, I found a cool place to stay in Jerusalem close to the airport for simplicity sake. There’s nothing worse then getting of the plane from a 12 hour or longer flight and then having to travel hours to get to the nearest bed. Abraham Hostel Jerusalem is a Jerusalem hostel close to the airport and a nice inexpensive hostel to stay at while in Jerusalem. I was surprised by how nice their rooms were, this is not your typical hostel. Check them out the next time your in Jerusalem and give them a shot to give you a nice place to rest your head and enjoy some company when traveling Israel.

Hmong Girl

if paddling isn’t your thing and you want a bit more adventure then how about cycling through Angkor park. I think Vietnam has some of the best adventure travel with luxury that any country can offer.

When you are traveling in Vietnam you will find some of the most friendly people I have ever encountered from the tribes at Ba Be National Park to the Hmong with their amazing markets to the fishermen in the floating villages. I never met someone who wasn’t smiling and friendly. Even when trying to communicate with them they were always patient and helpful. One of the greatest resources Vietnam has is its friendly people.

Pho Bo (Beef Vietnamese Soup)

The food is amazing, and I am not just talking about the luxury meals. I am talking about all of the food from the traditional street food to the luxury meals, it’s all exceptional. I have enjoyed dining at some of the most luxurious restaurants Hanoi has to offer and the one meal I will always remember in Hanoi was actually from a sandwich shop down by Hoan Kiem Lake. It was a simple meal but the care that went into creating this meal was amazing. When traveling in Vietnam take the time to eat the traditional food from the pho to the Co’m tam, you will enjoy the adventure trip even more.

There is only one company I would trust when booking my luxury adventure trip in Vietnam also. Exotic Voyages is the number one company to trust to all your Southeast Asia travel, but even more when trying to find the right mix of Luxury Adventure. They make sure to cover every detail and will gladly go the extra mile to make sure your trip is one you will remember for a life time.

Written by Brad Ruoho

When in a foreign country it is usually pretty easy to spot the experienced traveler from the novice. The novice is usually dragging a giant suitcase or trying to lug a brightly coloured backpack that is even bigger than they are. They are dressed in the latest “must have” adventure gear from the most expensive adventure stores and have “trekking” shoes worth hundreds of dollars. This is not the way to do it for several reasons. The first is comfort. You will usually be doing a lot of walking whenever you go on a vacation and walking with 50 kg of luggage is both tiring and difficult. You will also, most likely, be getting extremely dirty and ruining whatever clothing you take (even if it’s expensive “adventure clothing”) and don’t forget that some of your gear may even be stolen (sometimes by other travelers). If you show up with all the best and most expensive gear you are also a walking target for hustlers and thieves. With all of this in mind here are a few tips:

Luggage – If you are going to be doing anything even remotely physical and walking any further than a few hundred meters, then a backpack is definitely the way to go. But not all packs are created equal! Think small and inconspicuous. Dark colours like brown and black will attract less attention than a bright purple or red pack. Make sure it is the type of pack that has a flap on the top that closes over the pack’s opening to keep out water (the types that zip up WILL get your stuff wet). You will also want to put your clothing in waterproof stuff bags – I use standard plastic shopping bags, but there are tougher ones that you can buy from disposals and camping stores. You also want your pack to be as small as possible. Especially if you are only touring (mountaineers may need something bigger). I use a 30 liter pack but would say 45 liters is an absolute maximum for general purpose use. You will be carrying it around a lot and if you cannot fit something in then you probably don’t really need it.

Clothing – Think light and breathable! Cotton is always good. Three shirts is usually enough because you can wear one, wash one and have a spare. Take ones with collars to keep the sun off your neck if you are going anywhere remotely sunny. For pants, I like cargoes that can zip off the legs and turn into shorts (which can also double as swimming trunks). Dark colours are always going to hide the dirt and grime so that’s also a good idea. Usually, other than underwear and socks, I don’t take much more than this. Remember that if you need something you can always buy it there and usually for a fraction of the price than at home! Don’t forget to take some type of hat as being sunburnt is a real drag when you are traveling.

Shoes – Unless you are doing some serious mountaineering then you probably won’t need those $300 Scarpa trekking boots. In many poorer countries you can buy those $300 Scarpas at the local markets for $10 anyway, because some idiot tourist left them outside his door to dry and an enterprising local stole them to sell at the markets! Think comfort – I usually go for Converse All Stars, but any type of cheap canvas shoe will probably be ok. On a trek across England my Converse shoes allowed my feet to get wet about 10 minutes before my buddy’s feet got wet – he was wearing the $300 Scarpas! Once again, if you need something better, you can probably buy it at your destination for a cheaper price.

Other stuff – There are a few things I will never travel without. Sunscreen is the main one because I REALLY hate getting sunburnt. A small multi-tool is often pretty handy too – don’t get a leatherman because you will lose it or get it stolen. You can often buy multi-tools for $5 anyway that work perfectly well. I also always take a lighter ($1 plastic kind) for anything from lighting people’s cigarettes to sealing the ends of ropes.

The trick to packing for adventure travel is to pack light, inconspicuous and cheap. This avoids you becoming a human pack-mule or a target for thieves and hustlers. You will also find that you will enjoy your traveling more because you won’t be so tired nor worrying about your gear so much.

Planning an Overseas Adventure Trip can be quite an undertaking. We recently got back from Southeast Asia where we went on an incredible Adventure Trip. We traveled through Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam and then headed over to Cambodia around Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat and all the amazing rich culture and history in Cambodia. The trip was incredible, you can learn more by visiting our main blog, iTravel. We used a highly recommended travel company based out of Vietnam called Exotic Voyages. The tour guides were great and spoke english very well. The trip was an overall blast and we’re currently planning to go back next year with Exotic Voyages to plan another Adventure Trip, this time into Laos and we’ll plan on seeing more of Northern Vietnam such as Ba Be, which we didn’t get to see this time, but would really like to plan for the next trip.

Here are 20 tips for planning your next adventure trip:

1. When choosing your adventure destination consider parts of the world that are endangered and unlikely to be around much longer, like the glaciers in the Antarctic  or areas with endangered species. See them while they still exist.
2. Use the Internet to get information from travel guides; chat with travelers who have recently returned from an adventure trip; consult with local authorities; check what travel documents and visas are necessary and book flights and accommodation.
   
3. Plan your route carefully making use of reliable maps. Use terrain maps showing elevation, water crossings, mountains etc. Include in your route where you are going to sleep, plan the distance you want to cover in a day and how long will it take to get from resting point to resting point.
4. Make sure you have money in the local currency as most adventure trips are off the beaten track where Traveler’s Checks or foreign currency will not be accepted. Take some smaller denominations for tips, baksheesh and the occasional bribe!
5. Get your papers in order including: detailed maps, passports, visas, insurance policy, camping or other permits. Carry with you photocopies of your passport and I.D. Don’t forget to take a list of any medical information (allergies, blood type) in case of emergency.
6. Perhaps one of the most important items for survival is water. Plan to take water and to know where to find water sources along your route.
7. Allow for emergency exits, places where you can ditch the trip if something goes wrong. Plan for at least two potential exit points each day where there is access to transport, means of communication or other contact with the world at large.
8. Plan the food for your adventure trip, consider how much you can carry, what food will last longest, will you have access to places to buy food along the way and how will you prepare the food. Choose foods by how easy they will be to carry and prepare.
9. Pack light, although you need to pack for all events-wet and dry weather etc. Keep clothes to a minimum, in most cases you can wash some clothing along the route or live in the same jeans for a week!
10. The necessary equipment for an adventure trip can be expensive but you can buy second hand, rent or borrow all kinds of specialty equipment and climate specific clothing.
11. Always pack emergency items like flares, thermal silver blankets and a first aid kit. Check which emergency drugs might become essential for treating animal and insect bites.
12. Get fit before you go on your adventure trip, there is nothing worse than not being able to keep up or having to miss out on an activity because you are unfit.
13. Take a solar recharger for your mobile phone. These rechargers also work for camera batteries and can be purchased online. If you know there won’t be service for your phone, consider using a satellite phone, they can be a life saver in an emergency.
14. How long you spend on your trip depends on how long you can get away from the “real” world. Calculate the travel time to and from your destination as this takes a chunk out of your trip.
15. Go on an adventure trip with someone you get along with and someone of similar fitness level so you are not kept back by others. Consider hooking up with a club or group of people with similar interests.
16. If it is your first adventure trip then consider going with an organized group with a guide. Independent travelers might also choose to incorporate an organized activity into their adventure trip.
17. Consider taking fast transportation to get you to the focal points of your trip. Spend time on what is really important and not on getting from point A to point B.
18. Integrate adventurous activities into your adventure trip. On a trip into the desert be sure to share a night with Bedouin; in the wilderness include water rafting or in Lapland try ice fishing.
19. On an adventure trip try to disconnect from electronic gadgets as much as possible but have a phone in case of emergencies. Look into using iphone or smartphone applications to help you along the way – maps, GPS etc.
20. Meet the locals learn about their traditions and way of live. Try to book a home-stay to really get a feel of the local culture.

Most importantly live life to the fullest, take calculated risks and be adventurous.