Other activities in Asia
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Kadlagan Outdoor Shop & Climbing Wall
For gear rental, guides and tips on hiking and climbing, Kadlagan Outdoor Shop & Climbing Wall is the place to go. Shop owner Jojo Villareal is a wealth of information, knows all the local rocks and routes (and won’t recommend those he thinks are overused) and is usually here in the evenings. He can organise guides for hikes up Mt Isarog and occasionally takes groups to the Caramoan Peninsula.
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Himalayan Journeys
- Leh, India
- Activities › Other
In summer, Himalayan Journeys offers daily rafting excursions through splendid canyon scenery from Phey to Nimmu (for beginners, grade I/II, Rs650 to Rs850) and from Chiling to Nimmu (grade II/III, Rs1200 to Rs1400). Prepare to get very wet. By pre-arrangement, more serious multiday rafting trips are possible for experienced rafters on the Indus, climaxing with grade IV sections around Skurbuchan.
reviewed
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Tiger Hill Vineyards Resort & Spa
Chateau Indage, another of Nasik’s wine biggies, has recently joined the tourism race with Tiger Hill Vineyards Resort & Spa. A serene, stylish getaway located 8km south of town, it’s the perfect place to imbibe copious amounts of chardonnay and champagne in the cosy comfort of its snazzy wine bar, and top things off with a relaxing grape seed–oil massage in rustic bamboo huts at the spa.
reviewed
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Tagal Sungai Moroli
Head to Tagal Sungai Moroli in Kampung Luanti for a truly unique massage experience. The term ‘tagal’ means ‘no fishing’ in the local Kadazan-Dusun language, as the fish in the river (a species known locally known as ‘ikan pelian ’) are not to be captured – they are special massage fish. The townsfolk claim that they’ve trained the little swimmers to gently nibble at weary feet.
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Isha Yoga Center
This ashram, in Poondi, 30km west of Coimbatore, is also a yoga retreat and place of pilgrimage. The centrepiece is a multi-religious temple housing the Dhyanalingam, said to be unique in that it embodies all seven chakras of spiritual energy. Visitors are welcome to the temple to meditate, or to take part in one- to two-week Isha yoga courses, for which you should register in advance.
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Ashram
This ashram, in Poondi, 30km west of Coimbatore, is also a yoga retreat and place of pilgrimage. The centrepiece is a multi-religious temple housing the Dhyanalingam, said to be unique in that it embodies all seven chakras of spiritual energy. Visitors are welcome to the temple to meditate, or to take part in one- to two-week Isha yoga courses, for which you should register in advance.
reviewed
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Cable Car
To get to the top of Mt Faber, ride the spectacular cable car from the HarbourFront Centre. Walking is difficult but rewarding, a maze of steep trails taking you through twisted copses of dense, buzzing forest, with strategically positioned seats, pavilions, lookouts and colonial-era black-and-white bungalows along the way. The summit is also part of the Southern Ridges span of parks.
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Indian Tourism Development Corporation
The Indian Tourism Development Corporation runs daily tours to the Ajanta caves and Ellora caves, which includes a guide but no admission fees. The Ellora tour also includes all the other major Aurangabad sites, Daulatabad Fort and Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, which is a lot to swallow in a day. Tours start and end at the MTDC Holiday Resort.
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Peacock Rock
A demanding hike is the six-hour round trip to the summit of the densely forested Peacock Rock (to make it appear more peacock-like, drink a couple of bottles of arrack before viewing…). There is no set trail up the mountain and you’ll need a guide, which can be organised through most guest houses for around Rs 800 to 1000. From the summit you can check the surf at Arugam Bay on a clear day.
reviewed
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Nepal Vipassana Centre
Ten-day retreats are held twice a month (starting on the 1st and 14th of the month) at its centre northeast of Kathmandu, just north of Budhanilkantha, and there are also occasional shorter courses. These are serious meditation courses that involve rising at 4am every morning, not talking or making eye contact with anyone over 10 days, and not eating after midday. The fee is donation only.
reviewed
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Long Phu Tourist
If you’re not part of a tour, head 15km north of Nha Trang on Hwy 1A to Long Phu Tourist, easily spotted by the huge colourful dragons forming the entrance, not far from a pagoda. Boats will ferry you to the island for 65,000d (15 minutes). Other destinations reached from here include Hoa Lan Springs on Hon Heo (50,000d, 45 minutes) and Hon Thi (30,000d, 20 minutes).
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Hin Dat Hot Springs
South of Thong Pha Phum town is Hin Dat Hot Springs. If the effects of the two geothermal pools aren’t enough, there is a massage pavilion nearby. You can soak in the pools or brave the adjacent fast-running stream. The bòr nám rórn (hot springs) are accessible via the Sangkhlaburi–Kanchanaburi bus on Hwy 323 (Km105 marker) and are 1km from the main road.
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Eye on Malaysia, Melaka
This giant gondola-style Ferris wheel spins very slowly for about 20 minutes. At the time of research the Malaysia International Space Adventure interactive museum (which will include a 4D theatre) was under construction at the site, and a sound and light show on a water screen (that will be highlighted by a fireworks show and water-ski performance) was in the planning stages.
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Ishan Spa
For the traveller in need of some spoiling, the six spa suites at Ishan Spa offer some pretty posh pampering – air treatments, body scrubs, herbal baths and the like – in a space that screams traditional setting (dark wood, frangipani and the like), but also boasts all sorts of modern accents. Rates run from around RM100 to RM350, more for multiday treatments.
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V-Track
Raja Shekhar and Ganesh at V-Track can arrange one- to 10-day treks including guide, accommodation and food. Rates are around Rs600 per person per day, and can vary depending on the duration and number of people. Short walks take only a day or two to prepare. For long treks, trips on obscure routes or big groups, it’s best to give a week’s notice.
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Formula One Grand Prix
The Formula One circus roars into town every year at this impressive, state-of-the-art circuit, which is 40 minutes northwest of the city centre. It’s one of the most glamorous events on the Shànghǎi calendar, and tickets, costing Y380 to Y3980, get snapped up quickly. Book ahead through the website, check www.smartshanghai.com or visit a friendly ticket tout.
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Indian Ayurvedic Massage
If Thai massage isn’t your thing, get a different oily rubdown at Indian Ayurvedic Massage, in an unassuming hut 200m off the main road. Customers rave about treatments like shirodhara, where a continual flow of warm herbal oil is poured over your forehead as your head and shoulders are massaged. Treatments cost around RM65 to RM195.
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Absolute Yoga
Sculpt those unsightly bulges with a daily dose of hot yoga at this friendly studio. Need to look better than good? Try the gentle fasting and cleansing program, which does a light house-cleaning. Yoga lovers make this a focus of their vacation and hang out after class at the downstairs café. The one-week introductory promotion costing 1000B is another hook.
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Classic Bike Adventure
Classic Bike Adventure is a long-established company that organises motorbike tours on Enfields through the Himalayas, Nepal, South India and Goa. The 1500km ‘Goa and South India’ tour costs €1350, including accommodation and meals, with full insurance and support. The group also organises other trips around the area; check out its website.
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Ocean Dunes Golf Club
The main attraction of Phan Thiet is the Ocean Dunes Golf Club, a top-notch 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Nick Faldo, near the beachfront at the Novotel. Very reasonably priced golf package tours are available if you book from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – visit the website or contact the resort’s HCMC marketing office.
reviewed
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Landour Language School
Mussoorie is home to many schools and colleges. The Landour Language School is one of India’s leading schools for teaching conversational Hindi at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, group classes are Rs175 per hour, and private tutorials are Rs275 per hour. There’s an enrolment fee of Rs250, and course books are an extra Rs2000.
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Phu Khao Khuay Npa
Covering more than 2000 sq km of mountains and rivers to the east of Vientiane, the underrated Phu Khao Khuay NPA is the most easily accessed protected area in Laos. Treks ranging in duration from a couple of hours to three days have been developed in close consultation with two villages on the edge of the NPA, Ban Na and Ban Hat Khai.
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Baw Nyai
A hot mineral spring can be visited near Muang Kham. Baw Nyai is large and lies 18km east of Muang Kham, 51km from Phonsavan. The spring source is in a heavily wooded area where several bamboo pipes have been rigged so that you can bathe nearby, although the experience is a little disappointing owing to the muddy texture of the water.
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Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre
This friendly place offers guided meditations and talks on Tibetan Buddhism, with free lectures Monday to Friday at 8.30am and 5.30pm and Saturday dharma lectures with teachers from Kopan Monastery (Rs 400 with lunch; register in advance). The centre also offers yoga and reiki classes, a vegetarian restaurant, a library and a film night every Friday.
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Janakanthi Panchakarma Centre
Janakanthi Panchakarma Centre is an ayurvedic resort, 5km from Kollam, popular for its seven- to 21-day treatment packages (seven-day packages including basic accommodation start at around Rs9000). You can also just visit for a rejuvenation massage and herbal steam bath (Rs750). An autorickshaw from Kollam should cost around Rs100.
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