Interesting itineraries for independent travel. Overview of travel planning services
Travel planning just got easier. Earlier, the longer the list of countries in the traveler's plans became, the more boarding passes, hotel booking confirmations, transport tickets appeared, which must be carefully stored. Now, in order not to forget anything and be in time everywhere, you only need a couple of applications in your smartphone and cheap internet in roaming.
The functionality of the applications is simply impressive: from simple reminders and lists, to complex systems for selecting tickets, transfers to the hotel, booking rooms and tables in restaurants with the best terrace. And all this - under the conditions set by the user. All you have to do is enter your payment details and your trip will be scheduled on dates convenient for you and taking into account all your wishes: with working offline maps and purchased tickets for a helicopter over New York, a submarine in the Caribbean or a private wine tasting in Italy.
The 10 most popular apps for planning travel and trips abroad:
Airbnb
This is a rental service that allows you to rent housing directly from the owner, bypassing all kinds of realtors. Before booking, you can contact the owner and clarify all the details, see photos and descriptions of the accommodation, and most importantly, reviews of other guests.
One Two Trip
The application collects the most profitable offer for flights, hotel reservations, shopping railway tickets. There is an interesting bonus system that allows you to save on every trip.
Google Trips
The application will collect everything in your mail e-tickets and bookings related to the trip, and even show any map offline (and calculate travel time, of course). The functionality also includes tips and recommendations for visiting popular places, important information and contacts for possible emergencies in any country.
App in the Air
The application tracks flight information and helps you navigate at any airport. The functionality allows you to create a checklist for each trip right in the application, check in for a flight and find out information about airports of departure and arrival. Separately, maps and maps of the location of airport terminals of the world are submitted, which is just great, especially if there are connecting flights on your trip.
gogobot
With this application, it is convenient to plan trips, draw up routes and schedules for every day, synchronizing information with several gadgets. Gogobot gives you access to other users' reviews of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and activities. And the Tribes feature will help you find people with similar interests and see what places they like.
Tripomatic
The main function of the application is to plan a travel route by days, hours and even minutes. It's simple: we select the dates of the trip, the sights we want to visit, the duration of their inspection, and we get a detailed plan of events for the entire trip. Everything will be taken into account in the plan, even the time required to move between points. Recommendation lists contain great amount the most interesting places around the world, it is possible to download maps offline (cheap internet in roaming will help you use maps without enabling this function). In addition, the application will help you book a car, a hotel room, book excursions and much more.
Musement
The application organizes the trip without leaving you a single free minute. It is easy and simple to buy tickets to the museum, wine tastings and even swimming sessions with dolphins. You will have recommendations from a local expert who will suggest something interesting and help you with your booking. The application has a lot of entertainment options, with easy navigation by category. There is even this: “what to do if it rains?”.
Maps.me
This is a specialized map service with high detail, which does not require an Internet connection (if necessary, cheap Internet in roaming will allow you to download additional packages). Maps of the whole world are available in the application: 345 countries and islands. Cafes, restaurants, museums, hospitals and dozens of other categories - maps.me will help you get directions to them, wherever you are.
stay
The app offers free offline travel guides and detailed maps different cities. Making a route to the place you need in a foreign city has become as easy as shelling pears.
XE Currency
Everyone knows that it is more profitable to make purchases in local currency. The XE Currency app is an online currency converter in your smartphone. No matter what country you are in and what currency you need to pay, you will always know the best rate.
These are not all applications used by travelers around the world. But this list is enough to make your trip comfortable and convenient. Applications have a user-friendly interface, multilingual and easy to work with. Their installation will greatly simplify both the organization and the very stay in another country. But remember, any application consumes traffic, so buy or to be guaranteed to have cheap internet in roaming.
In this article:
Features of organizing travel in Germany
The most important thing to know for a traveler who goes to Germany for the first time is that there no problems with transport. Traveling always involves moving around the country, and in Germany this can be done even by car, even by train (tram, metro), even by bus.
Transport in Germany is very well developed. The country occupies a leading position in the world in terms of railway density.
In other words, you can easily get to any corner of Germany, which is a very important plus. Namely, you can make your route as your soul desires. There are no frames.
In general, the standard travel routes that are presented on the Internet make me sad. Some names make you want to hibernate. I don't mind their existence, but sticking to them strictly is just stupid. Leave at least a small element of adventure in your trip, focus on your desires.
In addition, it is also very important to remember that Germany is a fairly large country. If you can safely go around in 2 weeks, then it is impossible to see all of Germany in a few days. What to do?
Choose those places that are of particular interest to you. But how to do that?
Route planning principles
There are probably many ways to make a route. I will tell you about the technique that we used, I really like it. So.
1. We select several large German cities - these are our reference points. In any, even the most provincial city of Germany, you can find beautiful places, and in big cities they are at every turn.
2. Perhaps you have special places in mind that you really want to visit (for example, we made a detour to Amsterdam) add them here.
3. It is necessary to avoid long journeys (the road is very tiring), so if there is a long distance between cities, you must definitely fill it with something. You can see on the map (about it later), which interesting places eat along the way.
4. I love medium-intensity travel, so we allocate 2 to 3 days for large cities, and up to 1 day for small cities or intermediate stops.
5. It is better if the place of arrival in Germany and departure will be Big City. Upon arrival, do not stay there for a long time, it is better to leave it immediately, but plan to return to this city 2-3 days before departure. So you will save yourself from being late for your return flight and enjoy the city.
6. Try to avoid repetitions and returns, for example, so that the route is cyclic.
Here are some simple tips that will suit most travelers. Let me now tell you how to make sure that you constantly get new experiences during your trip.
How to find points of interest along your route
For starters, you can check out the list of top 100 attractions in Germany.
They are also very helpful in planning a route, reviewing sights and orienting in the area. mobile applications. The best, in my opinion, is the Redigo app.
For iPhone, for Android, for Windows.
They will help you find the nearest places of interest, get directions to them. The maps in this application need to be downloaded in advance, so they can work without the Internet.
By the way, if you don't know how to install mobile applications on your phone, you should definitely take a look, where everything is explained in detail.
Our route
I think it is necessary to tell briefly about our route. So:
1. Frankfurt am Main
2. Cologne
3. Fantasyland - amusement park
4. Krefeld - a small town where my husband worked
5. Amsterdam
6. Dusseldorf
7. Dortmund is a city for lovers of thorough shopping
8. Essen - Met a friend who lives in Germany
9. Frankfurt am Main
The trip was incredibly intense. 2 weeks felt like 2 months! The only negative that I would definitely correct is that we were too long in Frankfurt. We stayed in it for 2 days at the beginning and returned a couple of days before departure. Now I understand that a few days at the end of the trip would be quite enough for us.
Other than that, I'm very satisfied with the trip.
I also want to give this advice: do not rush. Even if you don't have much time, don't gallop across Europe, you'll only get tired. Travel at your own pace, don't try to set a record. Believe me, it is unrealistic to travel all over Germany in a few days, and even in a month. And even if you manage to do it, I have no idea what will be in your head. Relax, enjoy, gain impressions, and you will be happy.
And that's all for today, thank you for your attention and bye!
Solo travel: 20 best hiking trails in the world. In 2016, National Geographic polled 20 prominent people, from tourists and CEOs to popular authors about their favorite hiking trails. And, of course, supplemented the story interesting photos! Ready for an adventure? Then go!
Tour around Mont Blanc (Tour du Mont Blanc), France-Italy-Switzerland
Traveler: Topher Gaylord, ultramarathon runner and chairman of Mountain Hardwear.
According to him, the tour around Mont Blanc, the highest point Western Europe, is one of the most fascinating tourist routes in the world. You travel through different countries (France, Italy, Switzerland) and different mountain routes where you get the opportunity to see the most impressive glaciers in Europe. You can really 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 is an unforgettable journey!
Independent travel, photo: Tour around Mont Blanc (Tour du Mont Blanc), France-Italy-Switzerland
Length: 104 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: features of the route. The most famous route among the Alps, which bypasses the mountain range in highest point mountain range. Although the 4810-meter mountain is always in sight, the route itself is constantly changing. It descends, breaking into 7 different valleys in three different countries ah, 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 the 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 do not need to worry about the tent and food (which is why this route is easy for children and the elderly to overcome). Stop at the villages or lodges that are plentiful throughout the journey, and feast on fondue, wine, or local curds to continue your journey with renewed vigor.
Of course, you can put up a tent, but there are many other options for overnight stays to suit all tastes. From luxurious hotels in the resort town of Courmayeur, Italy, to the simplest shelters. In general, the route takes about 10 days, although the path is worth it to take it slower, visit the surroundings and, possibly, climb Mont Blanc.
Best time: Summer, when the huts are open and the snow is not blocking the way.
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 camping. Prior to that, he ran a large company, serving as chairman of the VF Corporation, which includes North Face, Jansport, Vans and Reef. But do not think that Mr. Gaylord only does what he sits in the office! He is a skilled skier, climber, windsurfer and ultramarathon runner. He came second in the first Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2003. Since then, Gaylord has managed to take part in this race eight times. He is also the winner of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, the Miwok 100K Trail Race and the Dick Collins Firetrails 50.
Sierra High Route, California
Traveler Andrew Skura, writer, guide and champion trekker.
According to Andrew, The John Muir Trail is a crowded tract that often goes into the lowlands, while the most beautiful sections are just the hills. The Sierra Nevada route is NOT the prettiest he's ever done, but certainly not the easiest. However, it's worth it! If the Rocky Mountains are his home, the Sierra Nevada is the most majestic mountain in the continental United States.
Solo travel, photo: Sierra High Route, California Length: 195 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Unlike Andrew's other accomplishments, the Sierra Nevada ridge route is traversable by most people. However, don't underestimate it. The trail is similar to the John Muir Trail, but is higher, unmarked, and unkempt. It extends from south to north of the Californian High Sierra, originating in national park"Sequoia" and running through the wild lands of John Moore and the wild lands of Ansel Adams, national reserve Inyo, Devils Postpile National Monument, Yosemite and ending in 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, ultramarathon runner Baz Barrell, 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 the new one has not yet fallen.
Oh Andrew. Skura is one of the few people in this world who can describe their work as a professional traveler. In 2005, he completed a 7,778-mile sea-to-sea tour that started in Gaspe, Canada and ended at Cape Alava, national park Olympic, Washington, USA. This tour combines the following hiking trails: the International Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail, the Long Trail, the North Country Trail, Continental divide Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail. In 2007, the No. 1 Adventurer completed the 6,875-mile path (the Great Western Loop), which includes 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 that she had to pass already, Ljogavegur takes the first place. This 55 km route contains so many stunning scenery that not every 500 km tour can boast the same. Starting from the settlement of Skogar and heading further north, you will be able to see 20 cascading waterfalls in just 7 miles. When you reach a desert mountain path that passes between two glaciers (one of them is located at the top famous volcano Eyjafjallajökull, which cut off air links between Europe and the United States in 2010), you will find yourself in the Thorsmörk valley, whose name can be translated as "Thor's forest". 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.
Solo travel, photo: Ljoigavegur / Fimmvjorjuhauls, Iceland Length: 34 miles (50 miles if Skogar is included).
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. This four-day itinerary runs from the Landmanaljoigar camp in the North and Tuorsmjork in the South, with the option to start or finish at the Skogafoss waterfall. By the way, to admire the beauty of this waterfall, you have to walk another 15 miles, but it's definitely worth it.
Some tourists prefer a "combined" vacation, meeting wild, unearthly landscapes of volcanic rocks during the day and spending the night in comfortable and warm houses. In addition, there are fumaroles and breathtaking peaks of copper-colored realit mountains.
Hurry up to book a place to spend the night in the aforementioned houses, because they are taken apart very quickly. If you are not lucky, then you can put up a tent near the house. Before you head to the starting point of the route, pay attention to the bus schedule, because most of them travel only once or twice a day from Skogar to Landmannalaugar.
Best time: Summer. Remember that the chain of holiday homes operates from late June to early September.
Oh Far Davis. Hiking champion who completed the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 11:00 and 20 minutes, setting a new record. She also set record times on Vermont's Long Trail and Australian's Bibbulmun Track. Far's other accomplishments include: the Pacific Crest Trail, the Colorado Trail, Corsica's GR20, the Scotland's West Highway Way. The impressions received during her numerous travels, set out in her two books "Becoming Odyssa" and "Called Again". Far has now taken a break from travel to be able to take care of her young daughter.
Solo travel: Te Araroa, New Zealand
Traveler Dan Ranson, film director.
Dan says variety is To Araroa's biggest selling point. New Zealand renowned for its spectacular and unique views while traveling, this route spans over 2,000 miles of coastline, mountain ranges and forests, passing through national parks, rural farms and dormant volcanoes.
Solo travel, photo: Te Araroa, New Zealand Length: 1,894 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. To Aroroa is translated from the language of the Maori tribe as "long way" and it really is. The itinerary of the journey crosses the whole country, starting from Cape Reinga on the North Island and ending in the city of Bluff on south island.
The route is divided into 160 different paths and takes approximately 120 days if all official guidelines are followed (although ultramarathon runner Jez Bragg completed the route in 53 days in 2013). Of course, you can not do without a boat trip on the ferry to get from north island to the South. Each section of the route is a real miracle of nature. Queen Charlotte Bay on the South Island is heaven on earth! The river valleys of the Wangani National Park are a longtime haven of Maori culture. The mysterious forest of Takitimu allows you to feel yourself while traveling in the beautiful Middle-earth. Dreamed of seeing an active volcano? Tongariro is exactly what you need! And don't forget to visit Auckland! Added to all the aforementioned natural wonders is a well-organized system of volunteers and workers tending the trail along the route. In general, 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 Ranson traveled extensively through the scenic canyons with explorers such as the Rude Speech and Tod Martin on Last of the Great Unknown. During filming, he fell to the ground, because, as it turned out later, he suffered from a brain tumor. Luckily, Ranson recovered and the film was screened at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. From such an unpleasant moment began Renson's great love for hiking. He now works as a cameraman and editor for 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 the list of things a person must have time to do in his life. Back in January-February 2013, he and his friends came to the savannah in the Eastern Equatoria of South Sudan. Starting the journey in July 2013, they began work on marking a new route that would run from Gondokoro (near Juba) to Uganda. The route will follow the path of Sir Andrew and Lady Florence Baker. Their expedition of the 1860s was heading for Lake Albert. The route has 14 stops, exactly where the Bakery, 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 civil war, military atrocities and, as a result, a fierce struggle between the government and the rebel units. All this has made South Sudan one of the most dangerous and poorest regions on the planet.
There is hope that the opening of the tourist route will help stabilize the country. When the Bakers dreamed that their expedition, organized to obtain evidence of the horrors of the slave trade, would help to cancel it. Most of the route passes through Uganda, a place that is more or less safe for tourists. There is danger inherent in this path. Sir Samuel himself was kidnapped during one of the expeditions.
To maintain historical accuracy, the route starts 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 Samuel saw the lake in August, which was later named after Queen Victoria's husband, Albert .
Fischer is now preparing the grand opening of the route on the 150th anniversary of the Baker expedition.
Best time to visit: winter months.
About Fischer. One of the TED speakers and a member of the famous Explorers Club organization, Julian Monroe Fisher walked the 345-mile path that passed 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 the summit of Kilimanjaro by a route that is almost never used.
Fisher's expeditions are not only a way to test his abilities 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.
Arc around mountain range Franconia is not a technical route (however, it takes into account the many steep slopes where, if slipped, there is a chance to get into another world). If you find yourself there at the end or at the beginning of the year and climb any peak, then one look at the miniature flowers and the incredible location boulders(protecting fragile flowers from the threat of falling under your boots), will give you an unforgettable alpine landscape. “Since childhood, I have not known a more inspiring and intoxicating experience than this,” says Waterman.
Arc around the Franconia Ridge Loop, Width, New Hepshire Length: approximately 9 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. Yes, indeed, this route is quite popular, but Waterman notes that it is possible to pass the route 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! It's a fairly fast route, going up 3,480 feet about every four miles.
The mountain stretch between the 5,260-foot Mount Lafayette, the 5,089-foot base of Mount Lincoln, and the 4,760-foot Little Haystack Mountain forms a 1.7-mile route that can be a pleasant hike in a sun-drenched alpine meadow, or a real nightmare of finding shelter from the raging wind and lightning. It all depends on the unpredictable mood of White Mountain.
On the route, you can still find pockets of civilization. In this case, it's a chain of eight mountain lodges that were built in the 1930s and still run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. In any case, this route is iconic!
Best time: autumn, when the influx of tourists subsides.
About Waterman. Jonathan began his career as an adventurer as a ranger in the Denali National Park, describing mountaineering and hiking in the park. From there, he set off in search of great adventures, namely: kayaking across the Northwest Strait (the story of this journey formed the basis of the book "Arctic Crossing") and sailed the bed of the Colorado River in order to fix its condition (the book "Colorado Dry and The Colorado River ").
Tourist route along the Pacific spine (Pacific Crest Trail), California, Oregon, Washington
Traveler Scott Yurek, ultramarathon runner.
Scott Yurek says that the route along the Pacific Ridge was his lifelong dream. Captivating beauty, a variety of mountain range scenery, and the length of the path from south to north of the country is exactly what attracts Scott. Given that Jurek had always planned to travel many routes around the world, exploring his own country was his top 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 Trail, the Pacific Ridge hiking trail is a Mecca for all US tourists. Each route is a unique piece of history, beauty and culture, but the Pacific Ridge route is probably the most impressive and breathtaking because it passes through such grandiose mountain ranges as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountains.
Overcoming the route on the first try is not so easy. Common sense, careful preparation of the necessary things and equipment (after all, the route contains such sections where civilization is extremely rare), character with weather conditions and good speed are the necessary ingredients for success. As a reward, you will get the opportunity to see 7 national parks, forests and completely uninhabited areas. The traveler who dares to follow this path will have to overcome the Mojave Desert, climb the 4000-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 start their trip from the Mexican border in April and finish in October. The main and probably the main reason why people choose this particular time is the hope of bypassing the periods of snow in the Sierra Nevada.
Oh Yureka Scott is not one to give up without a fight! This ultramarathoner has won almost every award possible. He also set the US long distance record. In addition, Jurek is an ardent supporter of the vegan diet and claims that thanks to it he has excellent health and success.
Reindeer Tracks, Gates of the Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska (Caribou Tracks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)
Traveler Terry Tempest Williams, writer, environmentalist.
When asked about the dream route, Terry confidently answers that it is any route following the tracks of reindeer in the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Every time she closes her eyes, she imagines walking in a herd through a wild, untouched area.
Solo Travel: Reindeer Tracks, Gates of the Arctic and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska (Caribou Tracks, Gates of the Arctic national park and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) Length: Reindeer typically migrate between 120 and 400 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. The Gates of the Arctic is the northernmost nature reserve in the United States, covering 8.4 acres in the Brooks Spine region, just above the Arctic Circle. There are no official tourist routes there, because the reserve protects the animals and their main migration routes, which are very important for the Western Arctic deer herd. Despite the fact that the number of animals is growing, so far the herd of deer has only 325,000 individuals. The National Arctic Reserve 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 Reserve is a large and impressive area of mountains, tundra, and coastline, with no marked trails and few visitors. This is the realm of arctic nature!
The most famous and widespread species of animals inhabiting the National Arctic Reserve is deer. Two herds live there and along the Canadian border: Grant caribou (169,000 animals) and the Central Arctic herd (42,000). In the spring, grant caribou come together to travel hundreds of miles to reach the coast. Around mid-July, caribou head to the foothills to avoid mosquito infestations. In autumn, they gather again as a whole herd and go towards the Brooks Range in the Yukon Territory. The Central Arctic herd moves along a slightly different route.
The conflict over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is over 1.5 million acres of coastal plain, sprawling among gas and oil fields. Now caribou are the only living creatures that are hosting there.
Best time: Spring and autumn when caribou start migrating.
About Williams: Terry Tempest Williams is more than just an author. She loves to organize solo travel and an ardent protector of wild areas, as well as 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 visiting the area for the first time at the age of 12, during 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're bound to encounter rhododendron slopes (near Hood Canal Ford) and snow-covered fields at Anderson Pass. And then you will enter the Enchanted Valley, an area that is home to bears and moose.
Solo 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 the same isolated and wild place as the Olympic Peninsula within the continental states. This is the place where Pacific Ocean meets with North America, but severe weather make local forests and ice peaks even more difficult to access. However, independent travel around the south side of the Olympic National Park is worth a try. Just don't forget to bring waterproof/breathable clothing with you and you might be the one to conquer this route!
The Enchanted Valley is a special place for the current U.S. Secretary of the Interior. This valley is so untouched by 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 hit the road, take an interest in the condition of the roads on which you will have to go.
Best time: It rains in the Olympic National Park for almost a whole year, but the summer there is always magical.
About Jewell: Politician and former CEO of REI, took office in the spring of 2013 Has a wealth of experience in the oil and banking industries. Received the Rachel Carson National Society Award. In addition, Jewell is an experienced hiker and climber. In 2011, she climbed Vinson Massif, the most high mountain in Antarctica.
Traveler Jim Whittaker, mountaineer.
Jim Whittaker claims that he would recommend this route to everyone without exception. The people there are amazing, the landscapes are unique, and besides, you can still see Everest or Chomolungma, whose name translates as “Divine Mother”. just to see the most high peak of the world is already an unsurpassed experience in itself. In 1963, the length of 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. And how could it be otherwise when the runway is so sloped? If you manage to get there in May, then you will have the opportunity to admire the rhododendron and orchids. There are also many guest houses where you can have a beer or something. In addition, the route is equipped with dumps, which certainly helps to keep it in good condition. The last time John decided to take the route, he was forced to leave due to an intestinal infection.
Independent travel to the base camp of Everest, Nepal (Everest base camp track) Length: 40 miles.
Unique tourist routes and independent travel: route features. The two-week trip to and from Everest Base Camp is extremely popular. Of course, since 1963 the route has changed quite a bit. This is a great alternative for those people who, due to physical or financial (guided climb to Everest will cost 50,000 US dollars) reasons, cannot climb Everest. And although most films and books describe the beauty of Everest itself, the road to the base camp is no less exciting and colorful.
The route passes through the center of the Khumbu region and Namche Bazaar. 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 at 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 the famous Buddhist monastery, before climbing to the base camp (5364 m.).
Do not be discouraged if the climbers from the base camp are not too friendly and talkative. Usually, people preparing for such a test do not want anyone to disturb them.
Best time: Spring, from March to May, the main thing is to be in time before the start of the monsoon season. The period from September to November is also not bad, in addition, there are usually fewer tourists at this time.
About Whittaker Jim Whittaker became the first American to climb Mount Everest on May 1, 1963. For this achievement, he and his team received the Hubbard Medal, which is awarded by the US National Geographic Society.
Developing a travel itinerary is no less exciting than the trip itself. Here, in our deep conviction, it is very important to strike a balance. On the one hand, plan your time in an unfamiliar country with the maximum benefit for yourself. On the other hand, do not “overheat” yourself with information and leave room for your own discoveries.
First, let's define terminology. The travel itinerary in this article implies a basic travel plan - the places we want to visit and the logistics of the trip (i.e. the order of visiting the places and the way to travel), as well as the number of days in each of the places.
Travel route. Stage One: Travel Framework
The frame of the future journey is the first major decisions of the traveler, which determine the further efforts to prepare the trip. First of all, this is the choice of a country (or countries), the choice of a travel format, determining the number of days on a trip and determining the budget. Moreover, all these solutions are closely related.
Choosing a country and travel format
Where to go is a rhetorical question) Your own tastes and preferences, as well as blogs, photos, travel videos and social networks will help you decide on the direction and format of your future trip.
Tastes and preferences largely determine the format of the future trip - some want to spend their next vacation blissfully on the beach, the second rave about wild safaris and conquest mountain peaks, and others just want to put a backpack on their shoulders and spend a couple of weeks - months wandering around the remote corners of the world.
Stage two: route development
So, you have found the time, money, fellow travelers and proceed, in fact, to planning the route. At the output, you should get a list of places in a certain order, as well as a scheduled number of days for each of the places and a route map. The easiest way is not to reinvent the wheel and choose for yourself.
If you don't like it, proceed in the following order.
Travel destinations
First of all, read reviews of regions and destinations in and decide on the destinations you want to visit (fix the desired destinations in a list in random order). Make an online folder on Pinterest along the current route and save all useful links. It's also a good idea to do the first draft of a card (use google maps) and also save it in your bookmarks.
Number of days and overall travel logistics
Learn more about each of the destinations in the created list. What to do and how to get there are the main questions, the answers to which will help you draft your first route draft. At this stage, you may have to give up some directions.
Determine the number of days for each direction. Build the overall logistics of the trip (from where-to-how long-for how much money). At the same time, understanding that it is possible to get from point A to point B by bus in so many hours is absolutely enough to plan a travel route.
Don't waste time and energy on detailed planning of each day and stay in each place. You do not need to search the Internet in search of exact information on which corner the bus you need stops, in which direction you need to turn from the hotel to get to the sights you need and where is the restaurant that someone once liked.
The main thing is to orient yourself with the duration of your stay at the place and find out what is important "not to miss" in a particular place (ours will definitely help you with this). The rest - you will see and learn on the spot. Pick up a map from the hotel with the sights marked on it. Walking on foot, you will find a place where you (and not someone else) have a tasty and pleasant meal. On the spot, you can also always buy a tour, find the right markets, shops, salons, massages, etc., etc.
Housing and budget
The next step is to decide on the format of housing, as well as the budget for each direction from the list.
Choose accommodation focusing not only and not so much on your budget, but on the specifics of the place. Very often, the right accommodation makes staying in one place or another brighter. And also, importantly, it allows you to feel the “right” atmosphere. Conversely, improperly selected housing can easily spoil the impression of the place. Please note that this is not about the price, but about the successful choice of the location of the hotel / guest house and the format of housing in “its” price category.
In each of the places you will find reviews of "where to live", for cities - orientation in the city and overviews of areas, for resort destinations - reviews of beaches, for national parks - reviews of nearby villages and camp sites. Each of the reviews highlights different housing formats. This is done so that readers have the opportunity to decide on their desired format.
— If you want to plan everything first, book later, read the reviews, choose the area/beach/place, follow the relevant links, turn on the price filters and select housing already focussed, without wasting time on “shooting sparrows from a cannon”. Save the housing options you like right away in your online bookmarks, so that when the time comes, you don’t have to waste time searching again.
– If you are used to combining search and booking, bookmark our “Where to live” reviews so that when you are ready to book everything is at hand, and then according to the above scheme. This approach will simplify and speed up the process.
At this point, it's important to get a budget that looks more or less like the final draft. Although it is possible that you still have to adjust the number of days in a particular place, or change the logistics of movement or the directions themselves (depending on financial capabilities and priorities).
Stage three: route finalization
The main work has already been done at the second stage. You have a route, it remains to buy air tickets and then finalize the travel route. After purchasing air tickets, you may have to make final adjustments to your travel itinerary. Often, the scheduled number of days can change by plus or minus 2-3 days, depending on the air tickets).
It remains to finalize the route by date. There are two approaches.
Finalization and booking along the route
The first is the so-called hard finalization. Schedule your itinerary and make all necessary reservations, including local transportation and lodging. First of all, book domestic flights and trains, as you may have to shift the schedule when booking, depending on the availability and cost of tickets.
After that, book all the accommodation along the route, focusing on your indicative budget (see recommendations above). At the exit, you are all set to travel. All vouchers in hand. Minor issues (a la local buses, boats and tours can be easily resolved locally). It remains to go and have fun without thinking about anything and without worrying.
Floating travel itinerary
The second approach is floating finalization. This approach works best. If you are going on a long trip (a month or two), as well as traveling in the off-season. You have on hand the same itinerary, scheduled by date. adjust the schedule if necessary. Book accommodation upon arrival / arrival on known, non-floating dates.
And then you orient yourself on the spot - somewhere you will want to stay longer, somewhere to leave early. Do not bother with a specific choice of accommodation before the trip. Take with you our Where to Live reviews for each destination. Book accommodation at the next point along the route on the spot, when you know the exact date of departure / arrival. Often you will have to book "today for tomorrow", so this approach does not work in high season. Housing will either be “best of the worst” or expensive. In the off-season, on the contrary, you can book excellent accommodation with good discounts.
Please note that you will have to spend time searching and booking accommodation on the spot. And therefore, if you are going on a trip for no more than three weeks, it is better to do a tough finalization of the route.
A well-planned travel itinerary is the foundation of any independent travel! Your expenses, your comfort and your impressions depend on how well you make an independent travel itinerary. It does not matter where you are going - to one country or several at once ... For a European vacation, for Asian exoticism or from the capital to the village to your grandmother ... The main thing is to know where to start and take into account all the important nuances. If you have good route trips- the trip will be successful!
In this article, we will not touch on an autotrip (traveling by car) - this is a big topic for a separate article with its own subtleties and nuances...
So, where to start travel itinerary?
For starters, don't get hung up and don't consider it a law that must be strictly enforced. Nothing good will come of it if you plan your trip too carefully, planning every kilometer and every minute of the trip... Why?
Firstly, you will never be able to follow an overly planned route. It's impossible!
Travel is like marriage. The main misconception is to think that you have everything under control... John Steinbeck
Your route, for sure, will change several times in the process of compiling it, and with a high degree of probability - in the process of traveling. And this is good!
Secondly, You will not get pleasure from such a planned trip. After all, you see, it's not too exciting to have sex strictly on Tuesday at 23:00 and on Saturday at exactly 15:00... In a journey, as in sex, there must be a share of spontaneity, fantasy and impromptu! Only then will you enjoy it.
But, you still have to plan the main stages and take into account important nuances ...
Good travel itinerary. Stages of compilation
Deadlines, estimated dates and budget.
Decide when and for how long you want to go on a trip and how much are you willing to spend on it? And remember - you can travel for almost any money!
Our experience: We spent absolutely identical amounts in ruble equivalent on two completely different trips (including flights, transport, hotels and meals) ... 10 days honeymoon in the Maldives(with one round-trip flight) in 2008 and almost 3 months in Asia with two children via Hong Kong, Philippines (Manila and Mindoro), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi), Thailand (Ao Nang, Krabi) and Istanbul (6 flights, ferry, buses, etc.) in 2014. Both of these trips, and made with a difference of 6 years, cost us about 150 thousand rubles. Accordingly, the first trip cost 15,000 rubles a day for two, the second - almost 10 times cheaper for four!!!
The longer the trip, the cheaper it will cost per day.
Destination.
Decide where you want to go? What are you dreaming about? Travel all over Europe or visit all the sights of Paris? Explore the whole Yugo East Asia or spend a week in Tibet? enjoy the beaches Caribbean or the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia? Whatever your dream is, it's your dream and it can be achieved!
Open the World map and the Internet. At this stage, you will already have a preliminary travel itinerary. You will decide on the country/countries and cities.
Be sure to ask on the Internet about the climate and weather in the region for the selected dates, so as not to fall into the "rainy season" and not to hide in the hotel building from a tropical downpour or hurricane.
Visas.
In most Asian countries, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance - it is issued automatically upon arrival, on average, for a period of two weeks to a month. But in most European countries you will need a "Schengen visa".
In any case, before traveling, be sure to find out the current visa requirements of the countries you are interested in. The most reliable way to do this is on the websites of consulates and official visa centers.
When traveling to Europe, choose the country of the first entry or the longest stay of those countries in which it is easier to apply for and obtain a "Schengen" visa. For example: Finland, Czech Republic, Spain...
How to get there?
There are many ways to travel! By car or hitchhiking, by bus or train, and of course by plane... Plane is the most popular option. And, when searching for air tickets to the destination, the traveler will be very helpful Aviasales- a search aggregator site that will find the cheapest air tickets around the world for you! Moreover, absolutely is free!
Look for tickets in advance. When searching for air tickets, try to change the dates, cities and airports of departure and arrival. Use "Low price calendar" And "Map of low prices". Tickets purchased months in advance, departing mid-week and arriving at a nearby airport, may be many times cheaper!
You can read more about all the nuances of buying tickets in a separate article: How to buy cheap flights?
Sometimes, when visiting several countries, it makes sense to look directly at the websites of low-cost airlines in search of promotions ... There are many low-cost low-cost airlines in Europe and Asia. And a plane ticket to a neighboring country can very often be purchased for literally 10 euros!
When moving around the country or to neighboring countries of the same region, do not forget about other transport besides airplanes ... In Europe, high-speed rail links are very developed (for example, TGV trains). And in Asia, you can get anywhere very cheaply. on buses and ferries.
We traveled wonderfully, quickly and inexpensively from Amsterdam to Paris in Europe. And in Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines) they used ferries and buses more than once - to get from Manila to Mindoro Island, to get from Bangkok to Pattaya or Koh Chang, to get from Langkawi to Thailand to Krabi and Ao Nang. .. But initially getting to the main destination is faster and more convenient all the same by plane ...
At these stages, your travel itinerary will most likely be adjusted. It will be affected by ticket prices, departure dates, and maybe visa requirements.
Our experience: When we were going to Thailand(Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Chang) and picked up Emirates airline tickets with a transfer in Dubai, we learned about an airline service called "Stop in Dubai" (Dubai Stopover). As part of this Emirates service, you can get a UAE short-stay visa, hotel and transfer at a very good discount. Accordingly, we decided to use the service "Stop in Dubai" (Dubai Stopover) and on the way back from Thailand spent one unforgettable day in dubai .
Our experience: When we were planning a trip to Amsterdam and Paris, we found out that it was very cheap to fly to Amsterdam from Helsinki, and it turned out to be much easier to get a Finnish visa than a French one... And flights from Paris to Moscow turned out to be much cheaper not directly, but through Berlin... As a result, we also visited Helsinki and Berlin.
Attractions.
Where do you want to go, where to go and what to see? This is the most interesting and exciting stage of the travel itinerary. When planning, you will already learn a lot about the culture and history of the country, its cuisine, nature, beautiful places and sights... And anticipation, as you know, increases appetite even more...
At this stage, it is very important not only to choose places and attractions, but to find out how they work, how much it costs to visit and how to get to them! Oh, and don't go after all the sights or the most popular... Choose the sights that interest you the most. And when drawing up a route for visiting them, try to mark the sights on the map and move towards them sequentially, and not rush back and forth from one corner of the city or country to another.
Our experience: Three days in Paris during our trip to Europe, we planned as follows: one day for one half of the city, the second day for the other half, and the third for Disneyland in the suburbs of Paris. As a result, we certainly erased our heels, but without hurrying anywhere we saw absolutely everything we wanted, having missed only one single attraction from the planned ones.
When planning your trip, be sure to check holidays in the country of visit. An unexpected event can drastically break all the plans of even an experienced traveler... A major Catholic, Muslim or Buddhist holiday can turn into interesting festive events, as well as a completely "dead" infrastructure with closed shopping centers, shops, banks, exchange offices, restaurants and even pharmacies!
Our experience: Twice, completely unexpectedly for us, we found ourselves in such a situation in Warsaw - on the Catholic holiday of the "Three Kings" and on Easter Eve ... shopping centers, the inability to eat at a restaurant and even exchange money ...
Hotel selection.
Of course, you can stay in another country, not only in a hotel... It can be free couchsurfing, and apartments on airbnb, or renting a house... But the cheapest, most reliable and convenient way, in our opinion, is to book a hotel on search engine sites Hotellook or RoomGuru . Just enter your request in the search form and get the best deals on hotels...
Public transport.
How to move around the city/country/countries? Be sure to search the Internet for information in advance! Otherwise, already being in another country, you will not know anything: neither how to get there, nor where to buy tickets, nor how much they should cost, how to save money...
Now your travel itinerary is already becoming something solid and complete... It's time to move on to the insurance...
Insurance.
Insurance is probably the most inexpensive, but the most significant component of any trip. Some 10 dollars spent on insurance can save you tens of thousands of dollars spent on medical care, save your nerves, time, health and even life!
When searching for any information on the Internet, use only reliable sources. These are the official websites of the ministries of tourism and the websites of the consulates of different countries of the world. These are travel blogs of travelers with reports on real trips, Wikipedia, some forums (for example, Vinsky's forum) or good travel portals. Beware of many forums and some even large portals (not to mention small sites), where the same unreliable and irrelevant copywriting information from authors who have never been anywhere is often reprinted ...
Check out our page with secret information for travelers. There you will find links to the best and useful services for travelers, discounts and great deals...
You can also use our new section Sales where you can find very good deals on flights, hotels and insurance and put them together...
