backpacking Archives – Page 2 of 2

The Perfect Responsible Stellenbosch Wine Tasting Tour

February 16, 2018February 17, 2018
by tvatravel

This company is simply genius and offers exactly what the amateur wine enthusiast needs: a safe way to get from one estate to the other and back home

Stellenbosch is not a huge city, nor are there that many historical or cultural hotspots to visit. So why does this seemingly unimportant city have to be on your South-African to-do list? There is one very convincing answer: wine! The entire countryside around the city is filled with huge vineyards and its corresponding estates. It’s basically like doing a Chateau Wine Tour in France. Only a lot cheaper! Find out how to get around to the estates without having to drive your own car.

Adventures

Explore the Garden Route: Tsitsikamma & Hermanus

February 2, 2018February 2, 2018
by tvatravel

After being mesmerized and meditating about our place in the universe, we all had to pee due to the sound of the falls

We started exploring the garden route from East to West. We made our way from Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey’s Bay to the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park. From there our route took us to the Whale Spotting capital of South Africa. However we did not just admire nature but also got our adrenaline flowing when doing the highest bungee jump in the world. Get inspired to add these amazing destinations to your to-do list in this post!

Adventures

Coffee Bay: Hiking the Wild Coast of South Africa

January 10, 2018January 27, 2018
by tvatravel

During the hike we came to really understand the name Wild Coast. From rolling green hills to rocky and sandy beaches, this place had it all.

During our South African Road Trip from Jo’burg to Cape Town we made our second stop in Coffee Bay. This tiny town of barely 250 inhabitants is the perfect little base to go hike on the South African Wild Coast. This 250 kilometer stretch of coastline is named Wild Coast because the nature along it is exactly that: wild, untouched, green. Coffee bay is almost perfectly in the middle of this coastline stretching between Durban and East-London. It came highly recommend from a friend that had spent more than a week there hiking, relaxing and surfing. Find out how we fitted this piece of paradise into our packed schedule.

Adventures

Road Trip through South Africa

January 4, 2018February 17, 2018
by tvatravel

There is so much to see and do here we could have easily spent the entire two weeks here and never gotten bored. So much culture, history and nature to enjoy around here

In November 2016 me and 3 friends rented car and did a Road Trip through South Africa from Johannesburg all the way to Cape Town. The journey was amazing and we were all fascinated by this beautiful country. In this post I will share our itinerary, travel times and general tips and tricks we learned while driving through this country. You can use this information to plan your own trip. In other post I will share more details about each main destination in our itinerary.

Adventures

Dahab: A Backpacker Paradise

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017
by tvatravel

The beaches were rather empty but the sunset over the Sinai mountains was breathtaking

Dahab has all the goodies Sharm El Sheikh has but without the soaring prices and extravagant luxury. It is town full of budget hotels and cozy restaurants and bars. Most of its sights are under water and it has rightfully grown into a reputable diving hub. Find out what places we discovered and how we spent our last days in Egypt relaxing in a true backpackers paradise.

Adventures

Sharm El Sheikh: A Touch of Luxury

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017
by tvatravel

Sharm El Sheikh is a name most people are familiar with, even if they never actually went to Egypt. This once tiny fishermen village grew into a strategic port for the Egyptian Naval Forces due to it’s location at the entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba. It lies at the tip of the Sinai peninsula and has become a popular tourist destination once the region got more stable. After the revolutions in Egypt tourism declined but the city was one of the first to rebound.

Unfortunately, since then, the city itself was targeted in some terrorist attacks and lately the Sinai region (especially the North) has become unstable again with the presence of ISIS and other extremist organizations. Despite of all this turmoil (and because of it) Sharm-El-Sheikh is a very secure place, unless for the risk of overspending. You can’t get near without passing elaborate military checkpoints, since Egypt simply can’t afford tourist to stay away. Find out why our backpacking trip included this resort destination in this post and how you can add a touch of luxury.

Adventures

Aswan: Life around the Dam

November 27, 2017December 13, 2017
by tvatravel

The tourist information stand was closed and we ended up getting lured into a random hotel waiting for a guide to make us an offer

Everyone has heard of Luxor and it’s temples or of Giza and It’s pyramids. However when people think of Aswan they think of the dam. Although the official name is Nasser Dam, after the President under whose rule the dam was built. Nevertheless people did often hear about Philae Temple. Likewise I think anyone that knows anything about Egypt will confirm they heard about Abu Simbel. To admire those wonderful sights the perfect base camp is Aswan. Trips to these are often part of any group travel that stops in Aswan. However arranging all of it yourself as an independent traveller is not always as easy as stepping on a bus. Find out in this post how we handled it.

Adventures

Luxor: City of Life and Death

November 18, 2017December 10, 2017
by tvatravel

We were accompanied most of the way by a guy, who claimed he only wanted to practice his English, but was firmly directing us to another supposed government shop

Luxor is, together with the Pyramids in Giza, one of the crown jewels of Egyptian tourism. This unfortunately means that just like in Giza, the town is rigged with tourist traps. Without any knowledge about the correct prices and practices, you will get ripped off. Find out how we experienced Luxor and prepare yourself for your own adventure.

Adventures

Siwa: The Oasis Life

November 12, 2017December 10, 2017
by tvatravel

Abdol, driving like a complete demented maniac, took us to the most wonderful spot for sunset

Siwa is the ideal place to escape the touristy Temples and Pyramids all around the Nile Delta and Valley. But getting there is not always easy and neither is finding your way around. The town is nothing like the other cities in Egypt and the people don’t even consider themselves Egyptians. They have a different language and culture, which in many ways was more pleasant for us as independent travellers. In this post you will find what to do how much it will cost you to explore this beautiful oasis.

Read more “Siwa: The Oasis Life” →

Adventures

Alexandria: City of Lost Glory

November 5, 2017December 10, 2017
by tvatravel

Lunch in Greek Club with an amazing view over the harbor and the bay

Alexandria has played a very important role in Egyptian history. Founded by the infamous Alexander the Great and Capital of the last great Dynasty of Pharaoh: the Ptolemies. If that name does not ring a bell, I’m sure you’ve heard of Cleopatra, the last of the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt. This city has had it all over the centuries. It was the center of Mediterranean trade, with its enormous harbor and famous lighthouse of Pharos. It was called center of knowledge due to the vast collection of books and scripture in its gigantic library. However when the Muslims invaded they ignored the capital of Egypt and nestled themselves in Cairo. Since then it has been conquered and reconquered several times, destroying its heritage and pushing it in the background. In two days we explored the remnants of that glorious past and it’s path to renovation.

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