Though you can't alter the finishing line in the human race you can at least make the journey interesting. Here's a suggested Top-Ten waypoints en route to the entropy of oblivion.
Amazon Rainforest: The 'lungs of the world' haven't been entirely turned into garden furniture so there's still time to experience the Earth's largest rainforest. At the headwaters of the Amazon River, Ecuador's Yasuni National Park is home to uncontacted tribes and an incredible natural biodiversity. Eco lodges provide a base for small-scale natural history tourism, but go now. Big business already has the scent of oil…
Antarctica: The frozen continent marks the frontier of adventure tourism and remains a dangerously inhospitable place for human beings. However, wrapped up in a cosy Russian ice-breaker, travellers traverse the turbulent Southern Ocean to visit the Antarctic Peninsula, treading in the footsteps of pioneering explorers, whilst providing amusing diversions for resident penguins.
European Spring: Exotic tales of far-flung banana pancakes have tended to overshadow the beauty and diversity of continental Europe. Save the airfare and drive to rural Italy for the month of May. Watch delicate blooms of poppies emerge, butterflies take to the morning air and blinking fireflies populate the evening. As cherries ripen and grass browns you may experience a European epiphany.
Island Life: Avoiding washed-up Z-list celebs, yachts from Queensland's Airlie Beach will maroon you on uninhabited Whitsunday Island, site of Australia's most famous white sand beach. There's no water and little food, save bush tucker and fish. If seas stay calm and the skipper liked you, yachts return to pick up castaways after a few days.
Mountain High: Everest exceeds physical and financial endurance for most of us. However, if high places are in your blood achievable summits do exist. 6.476m Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in the Nepali Himalayas. Guided ascents with Sherpa support allow fit hikers experienced with ice-axe and crampons, and carrying a rucksack of willpower, to stand on top of the world - almost.
Northern Lights: Auroral activity follows the sun's 11-year cycle, displays more likely during the current solar maximum. The best views lie beyond the Arctic Circle, on the darkest of winter nights. Specialist trips to Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian Lapland even wake travellers in the middle of the night for the lights, but nothing's guaranteed except temperatures below minus 17 Celsius.
On Safari: After a lifetime of breathy TV wildlife documentaries seeing the reality of The World About Us has earned a Bucket List entry. Driving around in Land Rovers is one way, but guides in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park pioneered walking safaris. Observing lions, elephants and buffaloes whilst on foot is an experience that concentrates the senses like no other.
Outback Australia: The remote Kimberley region of Western Australia is bisected by a six hundred kilometre stock route, the Gibb River Road, running from Derby to Kununurra. The red dirt track connects cattle and sheep stations, aboriginal communities and some of the country's most remarkable canyons and waterholes. A 4x4 is recommended but not always required, though the road is closed during November to May's 'Wet.'
Pyramids: Forget freaky theories suggesting the pyramids were built by aliens to sharpen razor blades. That for almost 4,000 years the Giza tombs existed as the world's tallest manmade structures should be wonder enough. Today, though encroached upon by greater Cairo and the town of Giza, the ancient site's most enduring mystic power is that which drops jaws.
Romance of the Desert: Trekking through the dune seas of Tunisia's Grand Erg Oriental offers a glimpse of life on the ancient tran-Saharan camel caravans. The route from the southern town of Douz to the Roman fort and oasis at Ksar Ghilane takes about five-days and covers 100 kilometres, camping out in the desert, alone save for fellow travellers, guides and grumpy camels.
This article has been produced in association with www.talkholiday.com
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