Tips - D.I.N.K Trips - D.I.N.K. TRIPS

Australia - Ningaloo Coast

6/25/2019

...Majestic marine life (whale sharks, humpback whales, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins, turtles), stunning coral, deserted islands, spectacular sunsets...

The Ningaloo Coast is a World Heritage Site on the north west coast of Australia along the East Indian Ocean. The area is well renowned for the reef that fringes the coast for 260 km. It is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef and the only reef positioned so close to land. This makes exploring the coral and associated marine life relatively easy.

One of the main draw cards for visitors to the area, including us, is swimming with whale sharks, which are present from March to August. Snorkelling alongside these massive, graceful giants exceeded our expectations and was a very special and magical experience.

The area does have more on offer than just the whale sharks, including humpback whales migrating along the coast from August to September. Year round you can find manta rays, dugongs, sea snakes, and a plethora of other fish. There are also several deserted islands not too far out with fantastic snorkelling opportunities (Muiron Islands, Outer Islands). The other big highlight of the area is the Cape Range National Park, which has secluded white sand beaches as well as several hiking trails with spectacular views over the range, canyons, and reef.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Itinerary

Swim with the whale sharks (March-August)
Charter a private catamaran (with or without skipper) to visit several deserted islands, snorkel amongst beautiful soft coral, and watch out for amazing marine life (manta rays, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, fish, sea snakes)
Spend at least one full day exploring the beaches and hiking trails in Cape Range National Park.
Base yourself in Exmouth for a range of accommodation options and easy access to Cape Range National Park. Make sure to have at least one dinner at Whalers, which has amazing, fresh seafood. There’s also several pubs and 2 microbreweries (Froth Craft Brewery, Whalebone Brewing Company).

Timing

We planned our visit for June in order to coincide with the whale shark season (March-August), but avoid the crowds traveling around Easter and the July school holidays. The weather in June is also starting to get cooler, which makes hiking possible.

Peru

3/14/2019

…Soaring mountains, ancient Inca ruins, colonial architecture, cute alpacas, expansive Amazon rainforest…

Visiting Machu Picchu in Peru is a bucket list item. And you can’t beat reaching it at sunrise after a multi-day trek along the Inca Trail through the Andes Mountains. Due to the altitude of the hike, it is recommended that you spend at least 3 days in Cusco to acclimitise. Cusco is a wonderful destination in its own right with beautiful sights, great culture, fabulous nearby hikes, and fantastic restaurants. If you time your visit with the Corpus Christi festival, you can also enjoy the festive atmosphere, parades, and outdoor food stalls.

We were also eager to visit the Peruvian Amazon, which makes up ~60% of the country and is the 4th largest rainforest in the world. Tambopata National Reserve on the Tambopata River is relatively close to Cusco and so we couldn’t resist adding it on to our itineary.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Cusco

Stroll around Plaza Las Armas, the central square in the old city, and admire the massive Cathedral, the ornate facade of the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, the colonial arcades, and the gardens/fountains.
Explore the church of Santo Domingo, which is built on the ruins of Coricancha, the most sacred temple in Cusco for the Inca Empire.
Enjoy the view of Jesus Blanco on top of the hill during the day and lit up at night.
Take the bus to Písac to explore the extensive craft markets and hike through the Inihuatana ruins.
Walk to Saqsaywaman, a massive fortified complex on the northern outskirts of the city.
Enjoy a chicha morada (fermented corn drink) at one of the bars with a view of the cathedral.
Time your visit around Corpus Christi in late May or June, depending on the year, to enjoy the festival celebrations, including parades and outdoor food stalls.

Machu Picchu

Arrive at Machu Picchu at sunrise via a 4 day trek along the Inca Trail.
Take a guided tour of this famous archaelogical site to explore the collection of temples, terraced hills and plazas that make up this citadel of the ancient Inca empire.
Hike 260 meters up Huayna Picchu, which is directly behind Machu Picchu, and enjoy the fabulous views.

Tambopata

Experience the amazing biodiversity on guided walks (birds, monkeys, plants) and lookout for caimans on a boat trip around Oxbow lake.
Enjoy the views and birdwatching (macaws, toucans, parrots) from a 30m canopy tower.
Learn more about the research and conservation effort being done at the Tambopata Research Centre.
Stay at the Refugio Amazonas eco-lodge to enjoy the amazing open architecture that allows you to feel conected with the surrounding jungle.

Philippines

3/14/2019

…Limestone karst formations, white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, extensive coral gardens…

We were lucky to have friends who decided to have their wedding on Sangat Island in the Philippines. This was all the excuse we needed to explore the Coron region, which is in the northern part of the Palawan Provence. The islands in the Coron region were beautiful, the diving great, the food delicious, and the people super friendly. Needless to say, we will definitely be coming back to see some of the other 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Manila

Visit one of the casinos and experience people being able to bet “together” in Blackjack (i.e., other people can toss chips onto your betting stack and are able to bet less than the minimum amount)
Sing to your hearts content in a private karaoke room
Shop until you drop in one of the many massive malls

Coron, Palawan

Stay at Sangat Island Dive Resort to the south of the main Coron island in one of the 14 beachside bungalows to enjoy peace & tranquility, a beautiful setting, and fantastic diving
Take a day trip to Kayangan Lake and a few other lagoons to enjoy fantastic scuba diving
Stay at Club Paradise on a small private island to the north of the main Coron island to relax in one of the luxurious bungalows, hike to the top of the hill to see the huge colony of flying foxes (bats), and see amazing coral (and potentially Dugongs)

Myanmar (Burma)

3/14/2019

…Water Festival, Buddhist pagodas, ancient temples, Inle Lake, beaches...

Myanmar (formerly Burma) was on our travel wish list for years and so we were very excited when it finally opened up to foreign visitors in 2012, after 50 years of military domination. We decided to visit over the Easter holidays in 2014 as the dates lined up with Thingyan, the Burmese New Year Festival (also referred to as the Water Festival). Thingyan is a Buddhist festival that is celebrated over a period of 4-5 days before culminating in the new year celebration. The government relaxes restrictions on gatherings and in Yangon crowds are allowed to gather on the Kandawgyi Pat Lann and Kabaraye Roads where temporary water-spraying stations (pandals) are set up. There is live music, dancing, water fights, and lots of laughing.

Myanmar is a Southeast Asian country bordering Thailand, Laos, China, Bangladesh, and India. For our first visit we focused on the main sites (Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake) as well as Ngapali Beach, which was fairly devoid of tourists.

Here are highlights (DINK TRIP Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Yangon

Time your visit to coincide with the Water Festival and enjoy water-spraying stations & water fights with the locals
Visit Shwedagon Pagoda before sunset and watch as it changes during sunset and dusk
Enjoy open air music and dinner at one of the many restaurants at Lake Kandawgyi

Bagan

Visit the main temples in the early morning and at sunset via ox cart
Visit quieter temples via bike
Relax by the hotel pool during the afternoon to avoid the crowds and heat

Inle Lake

Wake up early to see sunrise over the lake
Take a day-long boat trip to sights on the northern part of the lake (Phaung Daw Oo Paya in Tha Ley, Nga Hpe Kyaung in Nga Phe village, and the Floating gardens)
Hike up past Inthein Village to a pagoda on a hill and enjoy the sensational views along the way
Trek to small temples off the beaten path with no tourists
Watch the fascinating rowing technique of the fisherman where they balance on one leg at the edge of their boat with the other leg wrapped around the oar

Ngapali Beach

Enjoy a half-day snorkeling trip to the clear waters around Pearl Island off the south end of the beach
Relax on the undeveloped and uncrowded beaches
Walk down the beach just before sunset and have sundowners at the small island bar that’s just a short wade through the water
Dine on delicious tea leaf salad and local beer (Dagon) beachside

Australia - Tasmania

2/3/2019

…Spectacular scenery, remote hiking, beautiful coastal vistas, delicious food and wines…

Tasmania reminds us of a mini-New Zealand, which makes it another one of our favorite travel destinations. It offers fantastic hiking, amazing scenery, and delicious food and wine.

Here are highlights (DINK TRIP Tips) from our various trips...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Launceston

Enjoy a beautiful hike in Cataract Gorge
Visit amazing wineries in nearby Tamar Valley
Explore a fantastic dining scene focused on local produce

Walls of Jerusalem

Experience an extremely remote area with no road access (i.e., hike-in only) and beautiful alpine lakes, dolerite peaks, and unique alpine vegetation (cushion plants!)

Cradle Mountain

Enjoy fantastic day hikes easily accessible from fabulous cabins with fireplaces near the park
Overland Track - currently scheduled for Jan 2020 - update to come

Freycinet

Hike at the amazingly beautiful Wineglass Bay
Taste at fantastic local wineries
Join an evening penguin tour at the rookery in Bicheno

Three Capes Walk

Trek the amazing 4 day trail and enjoy the fantastic views from newly constructed public huts, or through luxurious private huts managed by Tasmanian Walking Company

Maria Island

Relax on the scenic 40 minute ferry to island from mainland
Rent bikes and cycle around the island taking in the sights (Encampment Cove, Painted Rocks)

Hobart

Dine at fantastic restaurants focused on cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients
Enjoy before- or after-dinner drinks at fantastic bars with an amazing selection of Tasmania wines and spirits

New Caledonia

1/24/2019

...Varied landcapes (white sand beaches, turquoise water, rugged cliffs, lush forests), fantastic snorkelling, sensational sunsets, delicious French food and wine…

New Caledonia quickly moved up our “to do” list after we moved to Australia due to its proximity 750 miles east and relatively short flying time from Sydney (<3 hours). While the main island (Nouméa) has a lot on offer, the more off the beaten path Loyalty Islands appealed to our style of travel. Since moving among the Loyalty Islands involves flying back to the main airport on Nouméa, we decided to focus on just two (Lifou and Ouvéa) for our first trip. We’re looking forward to visiting Maré and Tiga on our next trip.

Here are highlights (DINK Trips Tips)...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Lifou

Rent a car and drive around this relatively big island (1150 km2) to experience its diverse landscapes
Visit Jokin Cliffs and enjoy the amazing views and snorkelling
Swim and snorkel at Peng Beach, then stay for the fabulous sunsets
Experience lovely hikes amongst the forests, caves, cliffs, and beaches

Ouvéa

Relax on the sparkling white sand beaches and swim in the brilliant turquoise lagoon
Take a half day or full day lagoon tour to experience some fantastic snorkeling

Nouméa

Take advantage of the 120 days of wind by partaking in some kitesurfing, or watching the skilled kiters over an ice cold local beer (Mantis)
Climb (or drive) to the Ouen Toro lookout for fantastic sunset views

French Polynesia

1/15/2019

...Crystal clear water, turquoise lagoons backed by deep blue oceans, abundant marine life, majestic volcanic peaks, spectacular sunsets…

French Polynesia will definitely be a repeat destination for us, especially given the vast diversity of islands.

French Polynesia consists of over 100 islands in the South Pacific. The islands stretch over a 2,000km area and are divided into 5 sub-groups (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Gambier, Austral). On our first trip, we focused on a couple of the high islands in the Society Islands archipelago, which are the most well-known and easiest to access. On our next trip we’re thinking of focusing on checking out a couple of the coral atolls in the Tuamatos archipelago.

Here are highlights (DINK Trips Tips)...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Bora Bora

Relax and unwind at one of the luxury resorts in either an overwater bungalow or a beach bungalow with your own private stretch of sand
Enjoy a multitude of activities in the turquoise lagoon while enjoying the view of Mt. Otemanu (SUP, kayak, pirogues (outrigger canoe), traditional Polynesia canoe with sail)
Experience a cultural show and enjoy the impressive dance moves

Huahine

Dive at the Avapeihi Pass to see black-tip reef sharks, rays, a multitude of colorful fish, and beautiful hard coral
Snorkel Le Jardin de Corail and enjoy the adjacent secluded, shady white sand beach
Walk up Matairea Hill to see a fair concentration of marea archaeological site as well as views down the hillside out to the lagoon

Ra’iatea

Paddle out in a kayak to one of the quiet white-sand, palm-shaded motus
Experience majestic waterfalls and take a refreshing dip in the swimming holes on the Les Trois Cascades (Three Waterfalls) hike
Relish the amazing views of the blue lagoon as well as the neighbouring islands of Bora Bora, Taha’a, and Huahine after climbing Mt Tapioi
Dine on amazing French cuisine made with fresh, local produce

Taha’a

Swim off the boat jetty of your guest house and enjoy the beautiful inner coral reef
Snorkel in the crystal clear waters surrounding the many motus to see beautiful coral and marine life
Hike a trail leading into the interior of the island to enjoy the lush vegetation, vibrant flowers, and views of Haamene Bay from Vaitoetoe Ridge
Relax over breathtaking sunsets with views of Bora Bora
Dine on delicious super fresh seafood caught that morning

Egypt

12/20/2018

…Pyramids, temples, monuments, antiquities, markets, diving…

Seeing the pyramids in Egypt is definitely a bucket list item. And they do not disappoint! Their sheer magnitude is awe-inspiring. But the pyramids are just the tip of the iceberg. The magnitude of antiquities to be seen and appreciated is mind boggling. There's also the beauty of the Nile and many parks & gardens to enjoy, fantastic alleys and markets to explore, and amazing mezze and fresh fish to eat. On top of all that, there's also spectacular diving in the crystal clear waters off the Sinai Peninsula.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Cairo

Watch the sunrise over the Giza pyramids and enjoy the changing colours on these monstrous structures
Marvel at the Sphinx with the pyramids in the background
See the first pyramid ever built (2650BC), the Step Pyramid of Zoser, in Saqqara
Visit Dashur to see the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid, which is the oldest true pyramid (smooth-sided, not stepped)
Spend hours in the Egyptian Museum, which is packed with all kind of amazing antiquities
Wander the twisting alleyways and see the splendid mosques in the medieval quarters of Islamic Cairo
Explore the Khan al-Khalili bazaar district and experience Fishawi's Coffeehouse, Midaq Valley, and Sharia al-Muski
Wander around d Al-Azhar Park and enjoy the beautiful Citadel
Enjoy the sunset on an evening Felucca (sailboat) ride on the Nile

Alexandria

Take a day trip to Rosetta to see the cool architecture of the Ottoman houses
Enjoy a motorboat ride to the mouth of Nile
Wander through the local markets
Walk thrugh El Montaza Royal Gardens and see the palace
Enjoy a stroll on the waterfront (corniche) and take in Fort Qaitbey
Feast on a fantastic fresh fish dinner at Kadora
Relax in a popular sheesha bar (El-Tugareya)

Dahab

Climb Mt. Sinai and enjoy the sunrise
Enjoy scuba diving in crystal clear waters
Relax on the beach and watch the camels walk by near the water

Luxor

Explore the west bank monuments of the ancient necropolis of Thebes (The Ramesseum, fallen colossus, Medinat Habu - Ramses III memorial temple, Valley of the Kings - Deir al-Bahri and The Temple of Hatshepsut)
Walk around Luxor Temple in the heart of the modern town at sunrise or sunset
Spend the day exploring Karnak’s sactuaries, kiosks, pylons, obelisks, and monuments, including Great Hypostyle Hall with it’s 134 pillars, all roughly 60 ft high

Laos

12/10/2018

…Karst limestone mountains, waterfalls, rivers, caves, water buffalo…

Laos felt much more relaxed and less touristy than other places we have travelled in SE Asia. As a result, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves even though it didn’t feature any “big ticket” items (e.g. Angkor Wat, white sand beaches, crystal clear waters). We found the people to be genuine, and to our pleasant surprise they mostly ignored tourists. There was no aggressive hawking or bargaining, which made shopping in the markets lovely. There was also beautiful scenery (karst limestone mountains, waterfalls everywhere). Curfew is set by the Government at 10:30pm (I think it’s now midnight) so no crazy bar/club scene and most people go to bed early and wake up early. This was one of our most relaxing holidays with our time spent exploring, reading, and enjoying the local cuisine, including the BeerLao (delicious!) and French food and wine at fantastic prices.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Vientiane

Rent bikes and explore the sights of the capital city (Wat Si Saket, Haw Pha Kaeo, Patuaxi)
Watch the sunset over the water while drinking BeerLao at Bor Pennyang
Explore the street food and handicrafts at the night market along the main road
Enjoy fabulous French food and wine at afordable prices at L’Adresse de Tinay

Luang Prabang

Immerse yourself into the great café culture, awesome restaurants (French and local), night markets, and overall cool vibe
Walk around and see the main sights (Mount Phu Si, Royal Palace, Wat Chom Si)
Appreciate the intricate handiwork in the weaving village across the river (Ban Phanom)
Explore the nearby caves (Pak Ou) and waterfalls (Tat Kuang Si) while taking in the beautiful scenery
Wake up early to see the Buddhist Alms Giving Ceremony

Nong Khiaw (north of Luang Prabang)

Stay at a riverside bungalow and relax on the balcony while enjoying the views
Walk to the nearby caves and take a “torch tour” led by the local kids
Take a boat tour to Muang Ngoi and do the waterfall hike, visit the caves, and explore the village

Tha Khaek (south of Vientiene)

Take a 2-day trek in the National Park to see caves, waterfalls, & the Blue Lagoon and immerse in the local culture with a homestay in a remote village

Zambia - Victoria Falls

12/3/2018

…Majestic waterfalls, luxurious riverside lodges, impressive big game…

Victoria Falls is a bucket list destination that doesn’t disappoint. Luxurious lodges on the Zambezi River provide a wonderful spot to relax/indulge while visiting the awe-inspiring falls and partaking in adventure activities nearby.

Originally described by the Kololo tribe living in the area as “Mosi-oaTunya” (“The Smoke that Thunders”), Victoria Falls is now known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world. At the height of the rainy season more than 500 million cubic meters of water per minute fall over the edge over a width of almost 2km into a gorge over 100m below. Facing the falls is another sheer wall of basalt of the same height with a mist-soaked rain forest on top. A path along the edge of the forest provides amazing views of the falls. Another fabulous way to view the falls is by helicopter.

Here are highlights (DINK Trip Tips) from our trip...for more details or to help plan your own visit, contact us!

Highlights:

Up-close views of Victoria Falls via a helicopter tour
Hanging off the edge of the 108m falls at Devil's Pool
High adrenaline kayaking down the Zambezi River (hippo attacks somewhat frequent) followed by a private picnic on the banks of the Zambezi
Romantic sunset boat rides on the Zambezi River
Open-air luxury lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River with options of staying in rooms incorporated into the trees (Tongabezi) and rustic (Sindabezi Island)