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Archive for the ‘Middle East’ Category

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8 Turkey ‘Things To Do Before You Die’

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Too much to see and do and only a limited time to do it?

We have the top 8 Turkey activities nailed down for you be it adventure, history or ‘chill out’ based!

RaftingRiver Rafting
Turkey has plenty of rivers perfect for rafting. The top two choices are the beautiful and exciting, but safe and easy, Köprüçay near Antalya, and the wild and dangerous Çoruh near Erzurum (for experienced rafters only).

Spelunking
Turkey is well known for its wondrous and majestic underground paradises. With vast underground lakes, churches and cisterns, stalactites and stalagmites, these caves are an entirely different world just waiting for you to explore!

Diving TurkeyDiving
The Mediterranean Coast of Turkey offers a number of dive destinations abundant with marine life, beautiful reefs, shipwrecks and cave dives for SCUBA divers of all experience levels. Dive amidst schools of Parrotfish, Moray Eels, Octopus or Amberjack and on occasion you may even come across dolphins.

Snow, Ski’s and Spas
Winter vacations in Turkey have become popular and more affordable than the ski centres of central Europe. While there are many ski resorts to choose from in Turkey, Mount Uludag, near Bursa, is arguably the one of the best.

GuletGulet Cruise on the Aegean Sea
Cruise on a Gulet (yacht) along Turkey’s Aegean or Mediterranean shores. These sturdy motor-sailers are built for comfort, not speed, with wide decks and lots of room. The crew cooks your meals with today’s fish caught fresh and infused bay leaves collected from shore.

Windsurfing
Several locations along Turkey’s Aegean coast draws windsurfers (sailboarders) from around the world because of their excellent conditions. Alaçati, at the tip of the Çesme peninsula west of Izmir, is a protected bay with a sandy bottom, very few rocks and combined with reliable, steady wind make this a windsurfing paradise.

pammukalePamukkale Day Tour
Visit the Pamukkale Hierapolis. In Pamukkale you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world, formed by deposits of calcareous salts. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years and it is popularly believed that the waters of Pamukkale are beneficial for the heart, circulation, nerves, kidneys, rheumatic, and paralytic disorders, and that they condition the skin.

Underground CityExplore the underground cities of Cappadocia
There are scores of these underground cities some reaching up to 40 meters in depth. Only a few have been opened for tourists including the caves at Kaymakli, Tatlarin and Derinkuyu. You can spend the day exploring Cappadocia underground where they have discovered sites big enough to fit 50,000 people.

For overland trips in Turkey and budget holidays to Turkey or for more Turkey highlights contact the team at OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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10 Turkish Phrases You Need to Know

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Turkey TravelYou are heading off for your Turkish adventure but before you leave home here are a few language tips that will go a long way in helping you on your holiday.

A few simple survival phrases will help you get the best price for whatever you buy, or get those guys (hounding you to buy that carpet) off your back.

1 – Merhaba (Mer-ha-ba) – Hello

2 – Evet (Eh-vet) – Yes , Hayır (H-eye-uhr) – No

3 – Lütfen (Lewt-fen) – Please

4 – Bira lütfen (Bee-ra Lewt-fen) Beer please

5 – Su (Soo) – Water

6 – Çok ucuz (Chok oo-juz) – Very cheap

7 – Çok pahalı (Chok pa-ha-luh) – Very expensive

8 – Teşekkür ederim (Teh-shek-kewr-eh-deh-reem) – Thank you !

9 – Anlamıyorum (An-la-muh-yo-room) – I don’t understand

10 – Bu kaç Lira ? (Boo-kach-lee-ra) – How much is it ?

For overland tips and trips through Turkey contact the team at OverlandingAfrica.com or write your comments below.

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Top 5 Dive Sites in Aqaba

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Lion Fish Red SeaThe beautiful, warm waters of the Red Sea meet Jordan at the port town of Aqaba with its 26kms of Jordanian coastline.

Tropical reef and fish life are plentiful and glorious and, with an average water temp of 25 degrees, diving in Jordan is definitely one of life’s pleasant experiences.

Don’t dive? Then hire some snorkel kit and check it out from the surface!

Top 5 Dive Sites in Aqaba:

Power Station
An easy boat dive with an average depth of 25m. Popular for Fire and Cabbage coral, Turtle, Octopus, Lion and Scorpian Fish.

Cedar Pride Wreck
Sunk for a dive site in 1985 the Cedar Pride is a great dive and a good example of new soft coral growth. Swim under the wreck at 25m through a gap in the reef table.

Japanese Garden
Excellent snorkel and dive spot ranging from shallow to 40m’s in spots. Check out the Cornets swimming in and around the pinnacles and keep an eye open for some Frogfish and a Eagle Ray who seems to live around there.

Kiwi Reef
An easy but interesting dive loved by photographers. Think small…. as this spot is known for the smaller fish life, Spanish Dancers and a Crocodile Fish or 2.

Gorgone 1 & 2
Gorgone 2 lies just south of Gorgone 1 and both are named for the huge Gorgonian fan corals found there. A shore entry,  easy slope and shallow depth at Gorgone 1 makes for a quiet dive with volumes of colorful hard and soft corals and schooling glass fish. Add Parrot Fish, Lion Fish and interesting pinnacles at Gorgone 2 and altogether you have a great days diving.

For information about diving in the Red Sea and overland trips in Jordan contact OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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Ancient Jerash – Hidden Gem of Jordan

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

OvalPlaza550Gee – those ancient Romans traveled far and wide didn’t they?

Just north of the Jordanian capital of Amman lies the ‘City of 1000 Columns’ – Jerash – one of the most important and best preserved Roman city’s in the world.

Recent archaeological finds show that Jerash was inhabited as far back as the Bronze Age (3200 BC – 1200 BC) but it only became really prosperous around the end of the first century when the Emperor Trajan built miles of roads and encouraged overseas trade. The Persian invasion in AD 614 started off the rapid decline of Jerash, however, the city came back into its own during the Umayyad Period before a massive earthquake destroyed much of it and its surroundings. Continuing the up/down history, the  Crusaders then pulled down a few monuments to build their forts and the famous Temple of Artemis.  Excavation and restoration of Jerash has been ongoing since the 1920s.

Top Spots to See in Jerash….

- the Corinthian columns
- Hadrian’s Arch
- Temple of Zeus
- Temple of Artemis
- the Forum
- the ancient city walls
- Christian church floor mosaics.

So, after you have finished running around the more well known Jordanian sites like Petra and the Dead Sea, take a day or 2 and head up to Jerash. You won’t be disappointed.

For information on Jerash and overland trips in Jordan contact the team at OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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5 Things To Do in Jordan Before You Die

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

petra550You might think that Jordan is just a massive empty desert… Partly correct! However, concealed in that beautiful desert are some of the world’s most amazing sights!

Check out the top 5….

Wadi Rum Desert
Wadi Rum, in the south of Jordan, is a area of huge sandstone and granite mountains and wide sandy valleys. Narrow canyons conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the people of the desert over previous millennia. Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape.

There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum. Visitors should head for the Visitors Centre where, apart from visitors’ facilities, you can hire a 4×4 vehicle, together with driver/guide, and then drive for two or three hours into the Wadi system to explore some of the best known sites. Alternatively you can hire a camel and guide.

Petra
Petra is known as the Rose-Red City (for the colour of the rocks in which Petra is carved), and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Once inside the site, you can hire a donkey, or for the more adventurous, a camel – both come with handlers and take designated routes throughout the site.

Amman
Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city’s modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. Amman is a great base to explore Jordan with the Dead Sea a mere 40 minutes from this bustling capital.

Karak
Karak is a city known for the famous crusader castle Kerak. The castle is one of the three largest castles in the region, the other two being in Syria. An ancient Crusader stronghold, Kerak sits 900m above sea level and lies inside the walls of the old city. The city today is home to around 170,000 people and continues to boast a number of restored 19th century Ottoman buildings, restaurants, places to stay, and the like.

Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea
Without doubt the world’s most amazing place! The Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea end is over 400 metres (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, the Dead Sea is devoid of life due to an extremely high content of salts and minerals which gives its waters the renowned curative powers, therapeutic qualities, and its buoyancy.

Contact OverlandingAfrica.com for all your Middle East overland trip options or leave your comments below!

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Top 5 Travel Tips for Egypt

Monday, July 12th, 2010

feetYou can never be too prepared when you travel to a destination very different from your own!

So, we listed a few points that we think are essential for every traveler that visits Egypt.

Money
Small notes (1, 5, 10) are like gold in Egypt! You pretty much tip everyone who looks at you so you will need a good supply of small notes handy. Make sure that you receive the correct notes when you get change back after buying something. Don’t mistake the 50 piastre note (50 Egyptian cents) for the 50 Pound note if a sly trader hands it to you ‘by mistake’.

Water
Avoid tap water (except in bigger, better hotels) and only drink bottled water. Clean your teeth with bottled or boiled water and avoid unpeeled fruits and vegetables (unless you wash it first). The real tip though for water is to remember to take it with you everywhere.

Dress
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, however they are pretty relaxed and accepting of other cultures and religions. I would not recommend hitting the town in hot pants and a boob tube… longer length shorts and shirts are fine.

Shopping
There are plenty of plastic Tutankhamun’s and stuffed camels to buy in Egypt but there is also some good quality items. The ones to look out for are Papyrus, Alabaster/granite, gold and Egyptian cotton. Bartering is expected.

Photos
No matter where you are, or who they are, do not give your camera to someone else to take a photo for you – it could cost you to get it back. Do not take pictures of military/police/official posts – ever! And do not take a picture of a local person without their permission.

You do not need to take any more precautions in Egypt than you would traveling to most Western countries. It’s a different culture, no question there, but that doesn’t make it wrong – just different.

Open your eyes and open your mind and Egypt will find a place in your heart.

For budget trips in Egypt contact the team at OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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Top 5 Red Sea Dive Spots

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

On the eastern edge of the Sahara lies one of the choicest diving spots in the world. Separated from the rest of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea has been left to develop an exhilarating reef system unparalleled in the region. To top it all off, 30 percent of the marine life here is endemic to the area.

Diving

Check out the top 5 dive spots:
Sharm El Sheikh
The Thistlegorm was a British Merchant Navy ship sunk on 6 October 1941 near Sharm el Sheikh and is now a well known and popular dive site. Combine that with a dive or 2 on the Ras Mohammed reef and you have got some of the best boat diving in Egypt.

Dahab
Numerous options for shore dives combined with warm, clear water make Dahab a popular spot in any dive itinerary. The Blue Hole and the Canyon have to be the top 2 advanced and technical dive sites and The Islands is an awesome dive for all levels of qualification. Boat trips to southern dive sites are becoming more popular.

Sha’ab Abu Nuhâs Reef in the Straits of Gobal
This great reef is also known as the “ships graveyard”. Numerous wrecks are within 40m of the surface and the top 3 have to be the Carnatic, Ghannis D, and Chrisoula K. These wrecks are spectacular and make fantastic material for the underwater photographer. Liveaboards out of Hurghada will get you there.

Hurghada
The Giftun Islands has been a marine reserve for a few years now and this has to be one of the best boat dives in the Hurghada area.  Explore picturesque coral formations sticking out from the main reef wall decorated with soft corals. Good drift diving abounds.

Marsa Alam
A relatively new dive spot, the dives and bays around Marsa Alam are home to excellent corals, large turtles, Guitar sharks and occasionally pods of dolphins. The coral reefs along the Marsa Alam coast are a real treasure trove for any diver. Well worth the extra effort needed to get there.

For information about budget trips to Egypt contact OverlandingAfrica.com or post your comments below.

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Egypt – More Than Mummies and Pyramids

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Step Pyramid DjoserSo you are heading off to Egypt and your itinerary covers all the main highlights this amazing country offers.  Now what?

There is much more to this vibrant place than the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings!

Here are few ideas to keep you occupied:
Beaches
Whether you make your destination the Gulf of Suez, near Cairo, or the more well known Red Sea, you’ll find balmy weather and everything from backpacker hotels to exclusive resorts. Warm, clear water, vibrantly colored fish, diving, snorkeling, wind surfing and relaxing.

Fishing
From Tilapia to big Catfish to Nile perch, you can find the catch of a lifetime in Egypt. Lake Nassar, the largest man-made lake in Egypt, stretches over 300 miles and promises a great catch for even the most inexperienced angler.

Scuba Diving
Diving is a year round sport in Egypt and there are many under water treasures to explore. Beginner or novice divers should stick to Dahab and Sharm el-Sheik where both equipment and instruction can be found.

Desert Safaris
These guided tours will take you to the Egyptian oases and to the great temples of the ancient gods and the tombs of kings. You can see breathtaking vistas and learn more about Egypt than you could ever do from a book, as guides take you through the other less-well-known pyramids and the famous Black Desert.

Golfing
Dream Golf is a course located on the outskirts of Cairo. The 7200 yard course, covered in well-tended grass, is one of the largest in Egypt.

Shopping
Khan e-Khalili bazaar in Cairo is Egypt’s oldest market. Goods from all over the world come to the Khan, and you can find everything in jewelry, leather, pewter, wood and clothing that you can imagine. If you are skilled in haggling, you can come away with terrific bargains!

For trips covering Egypt and the Middle East contact OverlandingAfrica.com or make your comments below.

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