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DINK Trip Tips
​Trip reports and musings on travel

Botswana

12/3/2018

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…Sunrise and sunset safari drives, awe-inspiring big game, amazing sunsets and night skies, luxurious lodges…
African safari is definitely a bucket list item.  And Botswana is one of the top places to see big game.  Historically, Botswana has opted for higher price, lower volume tourism as part of its conservation strategy and to distinguish itself from other safari destinations.  So most of the reserves are private properties with small, luxury lodges. And if you decide to visit more than one reserve, your transportation will likely be small bush planes (some with as few as 4 passengers!) and dirt runways  with the occasional ostrich that needs to be shooed away.

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

Highlights:
  • Okavango Delta
    • Relax and enjoy the silence while your guide navigates you through the channels of the Delta in a Makoro (dugout canoe) to see birds, hippos and crocodiles
    • View the Big 5 and other big game on guided safari drives at sunrise and sunset
    • Maximise your wildlife viewing with a stay at Tubu Tree, which is built into the trees with elevated wooden walkways connecting 8 traditional-style tents on raised platforms with views from private decks over the surrounding floodplains

  • Moremi Game Reserve
    • Enjoy fantastic wildlife viewing (quantity and diversity) on safari drives through wooded, wetland, and grassland habitats
    • Treat yourself to a stay in one of the 8 spacious Meru-style tents with indoor & outdoor showers at Chitabe Camp
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South Africa

12/3/2018

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…World-renowned wineries, spectacular hiking, adventure activities, beautiful coastline...
In 2012 some good friends of ours organised a destination wedding in Franschhoek wine country.  This became the perfect excuse for a holiday in South Africa, followed by a safari in Botswana and Victoria Falls, which are summarised in separate blogs.

Not surprisingly, South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa.  It is an immense country with a long coastline stretching over 2500km. The interior is vast ranging from mountainous regions to plateaus.  We only had the time to visit three areas during our visit, all near the southwest coast, and so a return visit is definitely in our future.  

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

Highlights:
  • Cape Town
    • Amazing food and Michelin-starred restaurants at a reasonable price point
    • Spectacular scenery - Table Mountain (hiking, abseiling)
  • Franschhoek
    • Fantastic wineries, including Dieu Donne with its amazing views across the valley
    • Amazing restaurants, including a 3 Star Michellin-starred restaurant (The Tasting Room)
  • Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area
    • Great hiking amonst rockpools, waterfalls, and rock formations that have been carved by the elements over the years
    • Fantastic accommodation at Rockhaven Farm in a rustic cottage with outdoor firepit and braii (BBQ)

​
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Bhutan

11/28/2018

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…Majestic mountains, moss-covered forests, deep Buddhist traditions, spectacular dance festivals, ubiquitious chillies, unique Gross National Happines philosophy...
Bhutan is one of the most untouched countries we’ve explored and it’s where we had the privelege of celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary.  

In addition to its striking landscapes, it was also a unique destination for us to visit due to the government’s approach to tourism.  As a foreign visitor, you are charged a minimum tariff (US$250/day per person in Nov 2018) that includes accommodation, food, car transport, and an official guide that is organised by a registered Bhutanese tour agency.  This was quite different to our normal approach of developing a budget based on itemised prices for hotels, transport, food, etc. The daily fee limits the numbr of foreign visitors providing travellers with a more peaceful, less crowded, and higher quality experience than in other similar locations.

Located on the eastern edge of the Himalayas between China and India, Bhutan’s mountainous landscape and approach to environmental protection has resulted in 70% of the country remaining forested for future generations.  In turn, this has created a peaceful, non-congested feel to the country.

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

Paro
  • Trek the steep path along a rutted mountain path to Taktshang Goemba (Tiger’s Nest Monastery), which is one of the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries and is awe-inspiring with its precarious looking location up high on the edge of a cliff-face
  • Enjoy peaceful treks to numerous smaller monasteries nestled on the various mountain-sides
  • Check out the amazing marksmanship of the archers at the archery ground
  • Dress up in the traditional outfit (Gho for men, Kira for women) and enjoy a cultural show and dinner at Gangtey Palace hotel, an 1800s palace set on 7 hectares of gardens
  • Treat yourself to a night (or several nights) at the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary where you will enjoy remarkably comfortable rooms, amazing views, exquisite food, advice from a Traditional Medicine Practictioner, and pampering massages and other spa treatments

Thimpu
  • Visit Trashi Chhoe Dzong, a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the west bank of the Wang Chuu, to explore the temple and watch the flag lowering at sunset
  • Join the locals in circumambulating around the whitewashed National Memorial Chorten at sunset
  • Explore the locally made goods at the Handicrafts Market and the food stalls at the Weekend Market
  • Enjoy live music and local beers at Mojo Park

Bumthang
  • Take a tour of Red Panda Brewery to learn more about the brewing process and enjoy the beautiful views from their cafe over a bottle of Red Panda Beer (weiss beer)
  • Enjoy a day hike in the beautiful Tang valley with a visit to Membar Tsho (the burning lake) afterwards
  • Explore the Chokhor Valley to see to Jampey Lhakhang, the temple that was visited by Guru Rinpoche during his visit to Bumthang, Kurjey Lhakhang, a temple complex that surrounds the imprint (jey) of Guru Rinpoche’s body (kur) in a rock, and Konchosum Lhakhang (Temple of Three Jewels)
  • Indulge in a traditional hot stone bath at Rinchenling Lodge
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Costa Rica

11/1/2018

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…Beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, adventure activities, abundant wildlife...
Costa Rica will always hold a special place in our hearts as it is where we had our wedding and honeymoon!  

Costa Rica is a relatively small country in Central America bordered by Nicragua to the north and Panama to the southeast.  It has the Pacific Ocean in the southwest and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast. Since it is located 8-12 degrees north of the equator, it enjoys a tropical climate year round.  It’s seasons can be split into two: dry (Dec-Apr) and wet (May-Nov). In addition to beautiful beaches, rainforests, and volcanoes, it also has a rich variety of plants and animals. 

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

Manuel Antonio
  • Expansive white sand beaches lined with lush forest topped cliffs
  • Adventure activities (zip lining, whitewater rafting)
  • National park - rainforest, hiking, monkeys, sloths
  • Markets by the beach selling a variety of arts and crafts

Montezuma
  • Playa Montezuma (long stretch of white sand beach)
  • Jungle hike to Playa Grande, a surf beach
  • Hike to Montezuma Waterfall with its cascades and natural pools
  • Romelia Wildlife Reserve - turtle sanctuary and hatchery

Monteverde
  • Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve - suspended bridges above the forest canopy, waterfalls, hummingbirds, quetzal birds
  • Selvatura Park - insect exhibit and butterfly garden

Puerto Viejo
  • Bike ride to Manzanillo
  • Turtles
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Portugal

9/24/2018

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…Fairytale villages, medieval castles, riverside cities, fabulous beaches, delectable seafood, powerful fortified wines…
Portugal has everything you need for a satisfying holiday...UNESCO World Heritage Sites, idyllic scenery, friendly people, beautiful & delicious food, and fantastic wines (white, red, and fortified).

We had a lovely week long visit to Portugal.  We flew into Lisbon and then leiusurely drove up to Porto with stops in several fairytale-like villages (Sintra, Obidos) and the University city of Coimbra.  It was awesome to experience both of the two main cities as well as some of the smaller villages and student life. We plan to come back to check out more of the beaches, countryside, and wine regions!        

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

Lisbon
  • Enjoy a self-guided walking tour from Marquês de Pombal Square down to Praça do Comércio (Lisbon’s main square) near the Tagus River
  • Take Tram 28 (quaint yellow tram) to Alfama near the castle.  Walked through the narrow laneways of Alfama with beautiful tiled frescoes
  • Take tram to Belém, eat a Pastéis de Nata (Portuguese egg tart pastry dusted with cinnamon) at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, then walk to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a large cathedral, and Torre de Belém, a castle in water with views of the “25 de Abril” bridge (looks just like the Golden Gate Bridge)
  • Visit the Oceanarium
  • Explore Bairro Alto with its jam-packed streets, tons of bars, and festive atmosphere
  • Enjoy cocktails and snacks at Pavilhão Chinês, a funky bar in an old grocery store with five rooms decorated like a museum with toys from the two world wars
  • Watch a soccer match at the Estádio da Luz

Sintra (30 min west of Lisbon)
  • Enjoy the views of Unesco World Heritage-listed centre Sintra-Vila wih its pastel-hued manors and luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic
  • Walk around Castelo dos Mouros and enjoy fabulous view of Sintra from the upper rampart.  
  • Hike up to Palacio Natcional da Pena and ascend Serra de Sintra’s highest point, the 529m Cruz Alta (High Cross) for amazing views all over Sintra
  • Explore Quinta da Regaleria, a huge mansion with amazing architecture, outdoor gardens, and underground tunnels
  • Stay in a 150 year old mansion turned boutique hotel (Hotel Sintra Jardim) with a lovely terrace overlooking lush gardens and a beautiful pool

Obidos
  • Explore the labyrinth of cobblestoned streets and whitewashed houses decorated with flowers and bright yellow & blue paint
  • Walk on the crenellated wall surrounding the historic centre and enjoy fantastic sunset views

Coimbra
  • Visit the University of Coimbra - Alta and Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on a hill overlooking the city.  Notable sites include the 18th century clock tower in the courtyard, 12th century Cathedral of Santa Cruz, the Joanine Library with its rich baroque decor, the 18th century Botanical Garden, and the University Press.
  • Experience one of the university students' festivals (Latada, a homecoming parade at the start of the academic year, or Queima das Fitas, “the burning of the ribbons” at the end of the 2nd semester)
  • Enjoy a typical Portugese meal of Balcalhaus (fried cod) and chips at an outdoor cafe by the river

Porto
  • Take a self-guided walking tour from Trindade down to river and indulge in a cheese and port tasting at Portologia
  • Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Douro River
  • Walk through the Ribeira area and across Douro River to enjoy views back to Porto and sample ports at Taylor's and Sogevinus
  • Eat an iconic Franceschina, a Portuguese sandwich originally from Porto, made with bread (the thicker the better), wet-cured ham, linguiça (a Portuguese sausage), steak or roast meat, and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce
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Spain

9/21/2018

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…Plentiful UNESCO World Heritage sites, thought-provoking architecture, diverse and beautiful scenery, fabulous wines, delicious cuisine…
We’ve only visited Spain once so far and so have only seen a small portion of this large and diverse country.  Spain is home to the world’s third largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. So, we will definitely be back to see some more of these sites as well as to experience more of the spectacular scenery, amazing wine regions, and delicious cuisine.

Our trip focused on Barcelona, Rioja, and San Sebastian and was mostly about food and wine. Each day we'd carefully plan out our (limited) number of meals and wish we had bigger stomachs!  Food in Spain is amazing, possibly some of the best in the world (second only to Japan in our opinion). Spainards focus on high quality and fresh ingredients, take great pride in their food, and love to eat and drink wine.  In fact, we ended up with ended up with more "food" pictures (85) than "sights" pictures (65)!

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

Barcelona
  • Explore the fantastic architecture/art of Antoni Gaudi, especially Sagrada Familia with all its detail and symbolism
  • Experience the multitude of parks, gardens, and beaches full of locals engaging in all kinds of sports and games
  • Enjoy al fresco dining on an array of fabulous food choices - tapas, paella, "bikinis" -  simple jamon (cured ham) and cheese sandwiches, pan con tomate (bread with garlic/tomato rubbed on it, drizzled in olive oil, chacuteries platters) - paired with excellent (and very affordable) Spainish wine
  • Embrace the afternoon siesta, which is critical for experiencing the evening scene as dinner doesn’t start until 9pm and bars/clubs don’t get going midnight or 1am (and can go until 7am)
  • Head down to Sitges to experience the beautiful coastline and beach
  • Take a day trip to Montblanc to enjoy the countryside and visit Monestir de Poblet, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1151 located at the foot of the Prades Mountains

Rioja
  • Drive around wine country to enjoy the scenery
  • Visit some of the spectaular wineries (Marqués de Riscal, Bodega R Lopez de Heredia) to taste delicious wines and enjoy the great architecture (Ysios winery)
  • Stay at the Frank Gehry designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal in El Ciego

San Sebastian
  • Take a pinxtos (tapas) bar walking tour for dinner (i.e., pick a pinxtos bar, order a glass of wine (Rioja) or txakoli (young white wine), have one or two tapas, then move to the next one and repeat).  Most pinxtos bars had a house specialty or were known for something special...perfect if you love to taste a bunch of stuff. It's like sushi on bread...so many different combinations and so delicious!
  • Stroll around the beautiful coastline and maybe even venture in the surf
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Italy

9/19/2018

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…Numerous world heritage cultural sites, amazing culinary scene, wealth of wine regions, spectacular natural beauty…
Italy home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites in the world.  This alone would be reason enough to visit, but it also has an amazing culinary scene, a plethora of wine regions, and a diversity of natural beauty (7600km of spectacular coastline, crystal clear lakes, lush green mountains).

We’ve been fortunate to have visited twice so far.  Our first visit explored both the big cities of Rome and Florence with their multitude of famous cultural sights and the countryside of Tuscany with its amazing wineries and quaint medieval hilltop villages.  Our second visit took us further north to the high fashion city of Milan and to several of the surrounding lake districts and wineries. We’ll definitely be back to check out another area of the country and some more wineries!

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

Rome
  • Tons of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites:
    • Historic Centre of Rome and the Holy See:  the Vatican and the Basicalla of St. Paul, Colosseum (also one of the New 7 Wonders of the World), the Forum Romanum, Pantheon, Trajan’s Column
    • Tivoli:  Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana
  • Fabulous piazzas with their famous fountains and statues:
    • Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)
    • Campo de’ Fiori
    • Piazza di Trevi and the Trevi Fountain
    • Piazza della Repubblica and the Fountain of the Naiads
    • Piazza Barbarini and the Fontana del Tritone
  • Al fresco dining with delicious pizzas and pastas
  • Gelato!

Florence
  • Amazing renaissance architecture and art in the Historic Centre of Florence (a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site), including the Florence Cathedral (Duomo), Basilica of Santa Croce, the Uffizi, and the Pitti Palace
  • Famous piazzas (Piazza della Signoria with a copy of Michelangelo's David statue and Piazzo del Michelangelo with fantastic views of Florence)
  • Comprehensive gallery of statues in the Loggia dei Lanzi
  • Fantastic views of Florence from Piazzo del Michelangelo

Tuscany
  • Awesome wineries to visit (Banfi) and wines to taste (Brunello di Montalcino)
  • Fantastic villas to rent with a group of friends and self-cater with farm fresh produce and regional wines
  • Spectacular day trips:
    • Neighboring medieval hilltop villages with beautiful panoramas (e.g., Volterra, Montalcino, San Gimignano)
    • The city of Siena with its UNESCO World Heritage Site historic centre, Duomo, Piazza del Campo
    • Island of Elba

Milan
  • Awe-inspiring painting “The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci in the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie (UNESCO World Hertage cultural site)
  • Impressively large and complex Duoma di Milano with its rooftop walkways and amazing views
  • High fashion events and shoots during Vogue Fashion week
  • Lively Navigli canal area with lots of bars/restaurants for "apertivo", pre-dinner drink (usually Prosecco) with snacks
  • Formula1 racing at Monza (if you can time it right)

Mantova (small village ~1.5 hour drive east of Milan)
  • Amazing B&B/villa with art frescoes and chandeliers (Palazzo Arrivabene)
  • Spectacular frescoes at the Palazzo Te
  • Beautiful countryside to ride rented bikes and picnic
  • Delicious regional dishes (e.g., Tortelli de zucca - sweet potato filled raviolis)

Valpolicella (viticultural zone of the province of Verona, east of Lake Garda)
  • Small, friendly wineries where the owners will talk to you about their wines and give you a private barrel tasting
  • Delicious selection of wines - Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico, Amarone della Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella, Valpolicella Ripasso

Lake Iseo
  • Delicious sparkling wine in the traditional menthod in the Franciacorta region
  • Tiny lakeside village of Clusane with lakeside accommodation and a fabulous little restaurant Trattoria del Muliner with awesome regional dishes, such as gnocchi with truffles and a ravioli with lake fish
  • Fantastic hiking on Monte Isola, an island in the middle of the lake, with a lovely hilltop church

Lake Como
  • Quaint city Varenna, across from Bellagio, with a lovely guesthouse (Albergo Milano) with a converted attic providing great views over the lake
  • Fantastic walks in the hills to waterfalls
  • Boats available to rent and explore the beautiful lake and check out enormous celebrity villas

Lake Lugano
  • Short but steep hike up Monte Bre with views over the lake and the town​​

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Turkey

9/12/2018

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…Rooftop bars/restaurants, stark desert moonscapes, ancient ruins, beaches, mezze…
One of our favorite holidays was visiting Turkey.  We met up with some friends in Istanbul and then continued on to explore Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pumakkale, Faralya, and Kas.  It was a great combination of historical sites, beautiful nature, and cosmopolitan nightlife.

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

Istanbul
  • Rooftop bars/restaurants with fabulous views
  • Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, and Sultanahmet Park (garden between them)
  • Grand Bazaar
  • Bosphorus cruise and Golden Horn Ferry
  • Walk across Galata Bridge and get a Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich) with pickle juice
  • People watching on Iskital street
  • Vibrant nightlife - awesome live music

Cappadocia
  • Sunrise hot air balloons
  • Valley hikes amongst the fairy chimneys
  • Wine tasting at Turasan and small wine shops
  • Stay at cave hotels

Ephesus
  • Ancient sites and ruins

Pumukkale
  • Calcium travertines
  • Mineral hot springs above the falls

Faralya
  • Hike Lycian Way down cliff to Butterfly Valley

Kas
  • Swimming platforms
  • Chartered boat rides
  • Sunset views from the amphitheater
  • Fun nightlife with great live music
  • Late night kumpir (stuffed potatoes)
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Chile

9/10/2018

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…Towering volcanoes, beautiful lakes, rejuvenating natural hot springs, expansive and colorful desert, delicious food and wine…
Chile is another one of our favorite travel destinations.  We’ve been twice in the past 4 years and we’re already planning to visit next year to explore another area of this long, narrow country.  

Similar to Japan, it offers great hiking, stunning scenery, natural hotsprings, and excellent food.  Spanning 4,300km north to south, it has a great diversity of scenery from the desert (up north) to vast glaciers (down south).  Our first trip focused on the Sur Chico area, which is famous for its volcanoes and lakes. Our second trip was to the Atacama Desert up north to enjoy it’s mystical rock formations, large geyser field, impressive salt flats, and spectacular stargazing.  

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

Santiago
  • Snacking on a Completo hotdog with a smorgasboard of toppings (chopped tomatoes, avocados, mayonnaise, sauerkraut, a variation of the sauce américaine, Chilean chili, green sauce and cheese)
  • Fine dining (e.g., Astrid y Gastón, Divertimento Chileno, Boragó)

Cajon del Maipo (~2 hours Southeast of Santiago)
  • Hiking up to the lagoon in El Morado National Park with spectacular views of San Francisco glacier
  • Strolling around the lake at Valle del Yeso
  • Enjoying the sound of the rushing river in front of an open fire on the balcony of our bungalow at Haiku Cabanas Panoramicas

Pucón
  • Relaxing at the romantic Hotel Antumalal on the shores of Lake Villarrica
  • Enjoying fantastic views of Volcan Villarica, which was smoldering during our visit
  • Hiking at Laguna Escondido

Parque Nacional Huerquehue
  • 2 days of fabulous hiking, including a hike up Cerro Quinchol for excellent views of Lago Caburgua and the 5 volcanoes and the ‘Sendero Los Lagos’ hike through dense forest to the beautiful Chico, Toro, and Verde lakes.  Lots of Araucaria (Monkey Puzzle) trees and Magellanic woodpeckers
  • Rejeuvanating post-hike soaks in creekside termas (natural hot springs) on the banks of the Rio Liucura at Termas Peumayen

Lago Calafquen
  • Relaxing day at Termas Geometricas, which had 17 hot springs of varying temperatures accessed by an asian-inspired maze of wooden planks over a rushing stream
  • Delightful stay at Ruka Rayon cabin with terrace overlooking the lake

Lago Ranco
  • Beautiful lake with views of the Andes
  • Lovely spa baths at Spa Termas Llifen

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales
  • Explore Saltos de Petrohué, impressive waterfalls formed by an extremely hard layer of lava that has been eroded into small channels by the churning water
  • Hike along the long black sand beach of Lago Todos Los Santos (Emerald Lake) with its deep green, stunningly clear water
  • Charming stay at Petrohué Lodge, which is on the edge of the western shore of Lago Todos Los Santos, in a beautiful room with a lake view and fireplace

Rio Cochamo Valley
  • Beautiful trek to La Junta from Rio Cochamo via a 12 km trail that goes thru the deep Valdivian rainforest and along the Rio Cochamo
  • Peaceful stay in a remote mountain lodge (Campo Aventura Mountain Lodge) accessible by crossing the river via a rudimentary but effective pulley system
  • Fabulous day hikes in La Junta, an impressive valley with massive granite domes jutting from the top of the surrounding mountains and lots of waterfalls

Atacama Desert
  • Leisurely canyon stream hike from Guatin for amazing views and several species of cactus
  • Invigorating hike through a stunning range of scenery along the Route of the Shephards from Rio Grande to Machuca
  • Mesmerising salt formations resembling snow and ice at Kari Gorge in the Cordillera de la Sal
  • Sunrise visit to the Tatio Geysers to witness the gushing water and the clouds of steam
  • Stunning sunset at the Atacama Salt Flats with a spectacular range of changing colors on the Andes Mountains in the background and the flamingos in the lagoon​
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Indonesia

9/6/2018

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…Beautiful beaches, world famous surfing, stylish beach clubs, massive Komodo dragons, fantastic diving, ornate temples, scenic rice paddy fields, lush rainforests, active volcanoes...
We’ve done several holidays to Indonesia to visit our good friends and because there are frequently great fare sales from Australia.  We’ll definitely be back to explore more of its volcanic islands and amazing diving sites.

Indonesia is the largest archipelago nation in the world with over 13,000 islands.  It is also the most widely spread country in Southeast Asia. Even though it has a large population and several densely populated cities, it also has vast areas of wilderness and an impressive level of biodiversity.  In addition to the amazing natural scenery and wildflie, there is a also a rich cultural diversity and many temples and palaces to visit.

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

Bali
  • Seminyak - stylish hotels with great pools & famous beach clubs (Ku De Ta, Potato Head) with awesome “chill” vibes
  • Lake Bratan - beautiful Hindu Balinese temple Pura Ulan Danu Bratan
  • Pemuteran - small village in Northern Bali reached by a beautiful drive through the mountains and home to a turtle conservation project with super cute baby turtles
  • Menjangan Island - some of the best diving we've done...tons of fish and other sea creatures, including sea turtles
  • Ubud - peaceful rice paddy fields
  • Sobek - rafting down scenic class 2-3 rapids with tons of waterfalls
  • Legian - world famous sufing

Komodo
  • Komodo Island - massive Komodo Dragons and nice hiking trails with scenic views
  • Manta Point - amazing diving with huge Manta Rays, great soft/hard coral, tons of fish, turtles, and reef sharks
  • Kanawa Island - tiny island with a beautiful white sand beach, fantastic sunsets,  and several options for accommodation (bungalows, Bale Bale, campsites)

Nusa Lembognan
  • Super laid back atmosphere to relax and recharge
  • Excellent diving in crystal clear waters
  • Spectacular coast paths providing great views back to Bali and spectacular sunsets.
  • Scenic suspension bridge linking to the small neighbouring island of Nusa Ceningan

Lombok
  • Romantic, beachside boutique spa resort Puri Mas with beautiful gardens, fabulous pools, & amazing spa treatments
  • Surf breaks for all levels of surfers with nine major surfing destinations located all around the coast
  • Quiet, motor-free Gili Islands with white sand beaches, coconut trees, and crystal clear waters


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    Authors

    Some summary DINKTrips recommendations and thoughts on past trips.

    Trip Reports

    All
    Antarctica
    Australia - Ningaloo Coast
    Australia - Tasmania
    Australia - The Kimberley
    Bhutan
    Botswana
    Chile
    Cook Islands
    Costa Rica
    Egypt
    Fiji
    French Polynesia
    Galapagos
    Indonesia
    Italy
    Japan
    Laos
    Maldives
    Myanmar (Burma)
    New Caledonia
    New Zealand
    Peru
    Philippines
    Portugal
    Russia - Kamchatka
    South Africa
    Spain
    Thailand
    Turkey
    Zambia - Victoria Falls

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