The Top Benefits of Hiking You Should Know

You know hiking is good for your health. But do you know just how good it is? If you are heading out for a hike this Memorial Day weekend, take note of all the good you are doing for your body.

For adults, regular aerobic exercise such as hiking leads to:

• Improved cardio-respiratory fitness (heart, lungs, blood vessels)
• Improved muscular fitness
• Lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
• Lower risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
• Lower risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides
• Lower risk of colon and breast cancer, and possibly lung and endometrial cancer
• Increased bone density or a slower loss of density
• Reduced depression and better quality sleep
• Lower risk of early death (If you are active for 7 hours a week, your risk of dying early is 40% lower than someone active for less than 30 minutes a week.)
• Weight control; hiking burns up 370 calories an hour (154-lb person)

Kids get many of the same benefits, including:

• Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness
• Better bone health
• Less chance of becoming overweight
• Less chance of developing risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
• Possibly reduced risk of depression and feeling less stress, more ready to learn in school
• Sleeping better at night

How Much Time?

How much activity do you need to reap these incredible health benefits? Experts say getting active for  just 150 minutes a week – doing “moderate-intensity” aerobic exercise such as moderate hiking or brisk walking – leads to most of these benefits (reducing risks of colon and breast cancer requires another hour a week). That’s only 2½ hours a week. And you don’t have to do it all at once. Sneaking in a lunchtime hike up the hill near your office counts toward your total, as long as you’re active for at least ten minutes.

If you take part in more vigorous aerobic activities, such as running, dancing, or hiking uphill or with a heavy pack, you need only half that amount of time, or 75 minutes a week, to get health benefits.

Looking forward to an adventurous nature-inspired activity? You may try Rinjani trekking, or even pursue Mount Agung trekking. Feel like diving? You can opt for Manado diving.

5 Tips For An Enjoyable Cruising With Costa Cruise

Have you been on board Costa Cruise? Many people find it so relaxing to get on the ship and embark on a 3-, 4- or 5-day cruising adventure to different Asian destinations. In general, cruising has become a popular way to travel in different parts of the world since it’s now easier to find fantastic cruise deals. More and more people have been lured to go on cruising where they can experience how it feels to sail through the night and to enjoy frolic on land excursions during day time.

Whether you’ve been on a cruise ship once or tenth times, it’s always advantageous to know things that can make the whole cruising experience enjoyable and hassle-free. Here are a few tips to consider when going on board the Costa Cruise.

Check-in Early

With thousands of cruise passengers, you will definitely see long queues during check-ins. Most cruisers are eager to get on the ship, which means that the cruise terminal can become really busy and more stressful during the first few hours of boarding. Hence, it is highly recommended to check-in early to complete all the paperwork such as passport and security checks quickly and to avoid the huge crowd. In case, you need to fill out some forms or need to print some documents, at least, you still have enough time to process them all.

Otherwise, you can do web check-in to save you some time at the boarding counter since they will already have  most of your passport information.

Plan Onboard Activities

Be sure to choose your onboard excursions wisely. You can use Costa Cruise’s daily program sheet to check the list of activities every day from free and fun activities such as learning Michael Jackson’s dance moves to paid activities like fitness classes. If you are interested in culinary arts, there are demonstrations like vegetable carving and Tiramisu making where you can learn some techniques. The program sheet also features discounts for watch, jewellery shopping and spa treatments. If you are looking forward to watching live performances, you can get the synopsis of what’s performing that evening from the sheet. There are lots of things you can do while on board the cruise, so you should plan your daily activities to avoid missing out some of the fun happenings on your tour package.

Schedule Your Meal Time

For breakfast on Costa Cruise, you can choose to have it a la carte wherein dishes will be served to you at the Fantasia restaurant or have it buffet-style at Sinfonia restaurant or Bolero Buffet. If you prefer to have a buffet, you may want to visit the restaurants either early or late (but not too late) to avoid the crowds. Sometimes, guests can be aggressive with line cutting or a little pushing which might ruin your mood.

For a la carte dinner, be sure to decide on your preferred dinner timing. There are two sittings for dinner at Sinfonia and Fantasia restaurants - 5:45 PM and 8:00 PM, and you can only enter the restaurant at the specified sitting time assigned to you. For buffet dinner, there’s no need to worry about sitting timings.

Explore Your Ship

There are plenty of onboard amenities you can take advantage of while you’re out at the sea. So in the first few days of your cruise, take some time to walk around and familiarise yourself with the ship as well as its offerings. Besides you paid for it so it’s just right to enjoy whatever it can offer to you. Aside from the bars and restaurants, you can explore the wellness & sports amenities of Costa Cruises like gym, sauna, Jacuzzis, pools, outdoor jogging track and treatment rooms. In addition, you can check out their disco, shopping centre, casino, library and Squok club.

Find A Favorite Hangout

Each cruise ship is different but all are purposely designed to provide comfortable space for every guest. So find a special place somewhere on the ship where you can truly relax and create great memories, be it on a particular bar, deck chair near the pool or cosy corner in the atrium. You have plenty of choices in Costa Cruise, so you’ll never have a hard time finding that favourite hangout.

3 Fun Things To Do In Italy

In Italy, there is a lot to shop, see and eat. Italy has one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in Europe; the world’s greatest hoard of art treasures; a climate that is on the whole benign; and most important of all for many, a delicious and authentic national cuisine.

To give you the opportunity to immerse yourself into the beauty of this land, we have selected for you the best Italy tour package, which include cost of air flights, most of the meals and sightseeing to the various cities, accompanied by our experienced and accredited guides. 

Our Italy tour package will give you access to the significant and enjoyable landmarks and cities of this most historically rich country. The breathtaking views, adventures on the water, archaeological sites and exquisite cuisine are endless, making sure you see it all in this Italy tour package.

 

What are the 3 fun things to do in Italy?

1. Shopping

In Italy, most of the outlet shopping malls offer a wide range of high end fashion brands. The outlet shopping malls are scattered throughout Italy, many of them on the outskirts of big cities like Florence, Milan and Rome. Many major shopping streets in Rome are lined with outposts of such European and Italian clothing store chains as Zara, Max & Co., Armani Exchange, Benetton, Sermoneta, Pinko and Accessorize. There are a number of popular shopping neighbourhoods in Rome; each has its own flavour and attractions. 

Perhaps the most famous shopping district in Rome is the area surrounding Piazza di Spagna, at the base of the Spanish Steps. Tourists flock here to see the flagship stores of Italian designer lines like Prada, Gucci, Etro, Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Versace, Tod's . . .  the list seems almost endless. You'll also find Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Wolford, Sephora, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany and other big global brands. Want to have some fun doing shopping, this is the place to do it.

2. Sightseeing

When it comes to world-class tourist attractions, Italy is absolutely brimming with riches. Here are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy (not in any particular order):

• Colosseum in Rome
• Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Pompeii
• Venice
• Vatican Museum
• “The Last Supper”
• Roman Forum
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Amalfi Coast
• Tuscan Hills
• Palio in Siena
• Trevi Fountain
• Pantheon in Rome
• Florence Duomo
• Cinque Terre National Park
• Uffizi Gallery in Florence
• Greek temple ruins in Agrigento
• Milan Duomo
• Spanish Steps

3. Food and Wine you must taste in Italy

Italian food culture is probably very different from what you're used to at home. You never leave tongues unsatisfied with your delicious dishes.

• Nero di Seppia (squid Ink pasta) - Linguine al nero di seppia, the pasta that takes out the ugly part of everyone, with our mouths & teeth completely blackened. This pasta is a must-try but can be quite a nuisance when preparing and eating because of the black ink. 
• Tiramisu - Tiramisu comes in all sizes and styles. This espresso-soaked dessert is mostly the traditional alternating layers of cake and cream. 
• Wine Tasting - Our wine tastings take a little break from the bustling sight-seeing in Italy: you will do something enjoyable in a relaxing and friendly environment, in the wine studio dedicated to the wine tasting. . You will learn how to choose better wines when you know a little bit more about them.

The Mountains Are Calling, Where Shall We Go?

TOP 7 CLIMBS OF 2016
 
Planning your adventure trekking calendar for 2016?
 

Photo Credit: Gene Brinas

1.  Mt Pulag, Luzon, Philippines
 
Mt Pulag is the newest addition to the list of Wild Trips trekking destinations, with strong recommendations from our Filipino friends. The views at the top are well-renowned amongst Filipinos, where the clouds are wrapped so densely around the peak that they form the "Sea of Clouds"! As trekkers ascend the mountain, you'd pass by a variety of landscapes and the views are just jaw-dropping.
 
The Ambangeg trail is a 2D1N trek and is achievable with an average fitness. There is a tougher 3D2N trek via the Akkiki-Ambangeg trail that offers better scenery and at the same time is also known as the "killer trail" for an endless 3 hour steep climb up the slope. 
 
After the trek, you may choose to spend the night in Baguio City before taking a 6-hour bus ride back to Manila. It’s a pretty town where the locals from Manila will drive up for a short weekend holiday to enjoy the cool weather and find themselves in nature. 

Height of Summit: 2,922m
Best Season: March – May for dry weather
Avoid: June – October during rainy season
No. of Trekking Days: 3D2N on Akiki route, 2D1N on Ambangeg route
Accommodation: Camping
 

2.  Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka
 
The knuckles mountain range in Sri Lanka is so named because the five main peaks resemble a clenched fist. The region stretches an impressive 155 sq km, and the areas above 1,000m are a Unesco world heritage conservation area. Here you would find a wide variety of rare and endemic flora and fauna and some breathtaking mountain scenery of Sri Lanka.

There are 34 peaks in all, and the highest of them is Gombaniya at 1,906m tall. You’d often find your trekking group alone here with a great extent of untouched natural beauty and wildlife. Sri Lanka is that jewel that the masses has yet to discover…

Height of Summit: 1,906m
Best Season: June - August for driest weather
Avoid: September - November during rainy season
No. of Trekking Days: ½ day to 3 days, depending on route
Accommodation: Camping

3.  Everest, Nepal
 
Watching Everest – the movie, has reignited my desire to take on earth’s highest mountain, and stake my claim on the Everest action, albeit only to the base camp.
 
The peak of Everest stands at 8,848m above sea level, while the Everest Base Camp is 5,364m above sea level. Most trekkers fly in to Lukla (2,880m) from Kathmandu, and begin the 12 day trek from Lukla (including 1 day of acclimatisation).
 
Spend some time in Kathmandu too to enjoy the local culture. Tip: Ask your local guide about where they go in Thamel. That’s when the real Nepalese adventure begins!
 
Height of Summit: 5,364m
Best Season: March – April, September – October
No. of Trekking Days: 12
Accommodation: Teahouse
 

 
4.  Fansipan, Vietnam
 
At 3,143 metres, Mt Fansipan is Indo China’s highest mountain, and is the last major peak on the eastern end of the Himalayan range. We start off at Tram Tom Pass (1,800m) – the highest pass in Vietnam, also known as “Heaven’s Gate” for its incredible views.

Ascend to the peak of Mt Fansipan where you’ll enjoy a bird’s eye view of Sapa against the backdrop of forests, flower blossoms and a majestic landscape of the mountains. You can even see the mountains of Yunan, China from the top!

Sapa is most well-known in Vietnam for its cultural heritage of the minority tribes. You may choose to extend the trek by one day and spend a day exploring the black Hmong village in Sin Chai. You'd pass by beautiful valleys on the way to Sin Chai village.

On the last day, relax in the cool European-looking town of Sapa. Or head straight back to Hanoi after the trek and spend the day exploring the old streets of Hanoi.

Height of Summit: 3,143m
Best Season: April – May
Avoid: June – September during wet season
No. of Trekking Days: 2
Accommodation: Communal huts, if you arrive early at the campsite. If not, tents
 

5.  Mt Kinabalu
 
Natural disasters happen from time to time. What’s most inspiring is the human resilience to rise up and rebuild their lives again after each incident. In 2016, rise and climb Mt Kinabalu again for those who have fallen and celebrate the human tenacity.
Mt Kinabalu is the highlight of Sabah and Malaysia's tallest mountain, towering at 4,095m. To the locals, it is the heart of numerous folklores and fables. It is a 4 to 6 hour ascend to the base camp at Laban Rata (3,272m), where we'll rest for the night. Wake up at 3am the next morning for the summit assault to reach Low's Peak (4,095m) in time for sunrise.
 
After the trek, take an additional day for white water rafting at the Padas River! We reckon it's the best white water rafting in Asia, with white waters that really go up to Grades 3 to 4. The water may rise up to 50cm above the raft! The journey is especially nostalgic, via an old-school train that chucks its way to Padas River. Spend the rest of the time enjoying the cheap and fresh seafood in Kota Kinabalu.


Height of Summit: 4,095m
Best Season: February - April
Avoid: October - January during wet season
No. of Trekking Days: 2
Accommodation: Dorms
 

6.  Mt Rinjani
 
Mt. Rinjani is an active volcano and the second highest volcanic peak in Indonesia, part of the celebrated “Ring of Fire”. Rising to 3,726m (12,224ft), it is also the third-largest volcano in Indonesia.
 
The Rinjani trekking to the Summit is a tough and steep climb. Those who successfully complete the climb are rewarded with the spectacular panoramic views of volcanic landscapes, sulfur lakes and waterfalls.
The 4D3N trek from Senaru to the crater rim, down to the stunning Crater Lake, hot springs and caves before attempting the summit is one of our favourite treks in Southeast Asia as it offers ample time to fully explore the hidden gems of Mt Rinjani.
 
After the trek, it’d be lovely to swim off to the Gili Islands, also nicknamed “Turtle Capital of the World”. There are 25 dives sites around the 3 main islands in the area, with warm waters, clear visibility, and regular sightings of peaceful turtles, making it a wonderful place to chill after a hard trek.
 
Options: Choose between the popular 2D1N trek to the Crater Rim where you'll have amazing views of the Segara Anak Lake, or take the additional challenge to the summit.
 
Height of Summit: 3,726m
Best Season: May - November
Avoid: December - March
No. of Trekking Days: 4D3N for Summit trek, 2D1N for Crater Rim trek
Accommodation: Tents

7.  Mt Agung, Bali, Indonesia
 
Standing at an impressive 3,142m, Mt Agung is Bali’s highest mountain and home to the mother temple of Besakih, highly revered by the Balinese people.
 
Mount Agung trekking is best done as an overnight trek from Besakih Temple. Like other treks in Bali, trekkers aim to reach the summit in time to catch the spectacular sunrise.  This is a physically challenging 6 – 7 hour trek that requires climbing on all-fours during the final ascend to reach the summit at 3,142m.

The views are rewarding! Imagine being on top of the mountain as the sun rises, illuminating most of Bali, and a panoramic view of Mt Abang, the Batur Caldera to the west, and further east, Mt Rinjani in the neighboring Lombok Island as a chilly morning breeze hits your face as it perks you up after the long climb through the night…
 
The best part is that there’s the beach paradise of Bali to chill and party!

Height of Summit: 3,726m
Best Season: April - September
Avoid: January - February
No. of Trekking Days: 1
Accommodation: No overnight stay

5 Things To Do In Bali

What to Do and See in Bali, Indonesia

Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts.  It is highly recommended to visit Bali.

The number of things to do in Bali will amaze new visitors and keep regular travellers coming back for more. Bali is the rare place that is both deeply spiritual and totally fun. Whatever your age or interest, whether you are travelling with your loved ones or alone, you are certain to find mental and physical satisfaction. Even during a short visit, you can let loose, stay fit, and explore the cultural and traditional roots of the island. In fact, with so many affordable options on offer, the only hard work in Bali is deciding what to do next.

Bali’s natural attractions include miles of sandy beaches (many are well-known amongst surfers), picturesque rice terraces, towering active volcanoes over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) high, fast flowing rivers, deep ravines, pristine crater lakes, sacred caves, and lush tropical forests full of exotic wildlife.

The island’s rich cultural heritage is visible everywhere – in over 20,000 temples and palaces, in many colourful festivals and ceremonies (including tooth filings and cremations), in drama, music, and dance.

You can experience Bali on many different excursions and guided tours by coach, private car or “Big Bike”, by boat or even by chartered plane and helicopter: seeing Bali’s beaches and rice terraces, the famous Besakih Temple on the slopes of holy Mount Agung, Lake Batur and its active volcano, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu or you can go on Bali adventure tours which offer many exciting activities for you to explore and experience the exciting moments.

5 Things to do in Bali

1 Canyoning in Aling Gorges

You will marvel at the natural and spectacular beauty of Aling Gorges. 

This trip has lots of jumps, wonderful rappels (the height of which can reach up to 40m), plenty of swimming in natural pools of crystalline water in a wild and unique environment.

2 Mountain & Village Cycling at Mt. Batur

This breathtaking bicycle tour winds down through 26km of lush valleys, through Balinese villages, past century-old temples and rich green rice fields. Expert guides will explain the history of the land, culture, and people along this scenic cycling tour.

3 Raft the Ayung River

Grab your oars and get ready to rage with this exhilarating rafting adventure on the spectacular Ayung River with professionally trained and experienced guides who pilot safety-equipped Avon rafts through the best river runs, dramatic drops and spectacular waterfalls to make your Bali rafting ride a fun and awesome experience.

4 Culinary Bali

Discover the secrets of traditional Balinese food as you join a local guide in a shopping trip to a traditional market.  Experience how the locals shop for ingredients amidst the hustle and bustle of Bali’s market and learn a tip or two on how to select the best Balinese spices. 

5 Sunrise Trekking at Mt. Batur Summit

Mt Batur is an active volcano that draws travellers in with its beauty and promise of an unforgettable sunrise 1717m above sea levels. Be awed by the spectacular scenery and the gentle tremors of Mt Batur’s sacred earth as you are served a tasty breakfast cooked using the steam of the active volcano.

Come and be welcomed to the many attractions and activities that Bali adventure tours can offer for your vacations in Bali.