Tepui table-top mountains, Venezuela

There are 115 such tabletop mountains in the Gran Sabana region in the south-east of Venezuela where the highest concentration of tepuis are found. The precipitous mountains tower over the surrounding area by up to 1,000 meters. On top of the mountains grow various types of forests with a wide variety of orchids and bromeliads … Continue reading Tepui table-top mountains, Venezuela

Mt Wilhelm and Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Mount Wilhelm (4,509 metres, 14,793 ft) may be considered the highest mountain in Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand). A Seven Summits list sometimes include Mount Wilhelm. Mount Wilhelm received its name in 1888 when a German newspaper correspondent, Hugo Zöller, climbed the Finisterre Range, south-east of Madang, and named the Bismarck Range after the … Continue reading Mt Wilhelm and Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Timbuktu – old trade and university town in Sahara desert, Mali

Timbuktu was a world centre of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th century. In its Golden Age, the town’s numerous Islamic scholars and extensive trading network made for a important book trade: together with the campuses of the Sankore madrassah, an Islamic university, this established Timbuktu as a scholarly centre in Africa. Timbuktu … Continue reading Timbuktu – old trade and university town in Sahara desert, Mali

Climbing Fansipan – highest peak of Indochina

Last 2 weeks in a small company of friends we traveled across Vietnam. One of the main goals for our expedition was to reach the so-called Roof of Indochina, the highest peak of Vietnam and Indochina – Fansipan. We did not expect the climb to be so heavy. The trail was very steep and mostly … Continue reading Climbing Fansipan – highest peak of Indochina

Old American cars of Cuba (latest travel report)

Last new car in Cuba appeared in 1958. Until 1958 Cuba was tropical casino of U.S. with hotels, restaurants and, of course, top class American cars. Then revolution of Fidel and Che changed everything, Batista left country, relationship with U.S. crashed and Cuba’s car industry got frozen as it was until 1958. Except few donations … Continue reading Old American cars of Cuba (latest travel report)

Pamukkale natural pools and around – travel report

And so 1001 Milez Expedition in Turkey has reached marvelous Pamukkale. From ancient times springs have washed out calcium here. Yes, yes, not salt but calcium. From Roman times this hill was used as SPA and thermal resort. Nowadays its under UNESCO protection. See how it was looking during Roman times – with main street … Continue reading Pamukkale natural pools and around – travel report

Haute Route Pyrenees (HRP) trekking, Spain and France

The Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP) is a long-distance footpath in the Pyrenees. Like the GR 10 and the GR 11, the path travels the length of the Pyrenees from coast to coast. However, where the GR 10 and GR 11 stick mainly to lower routes and mountain passes on the French and Spanish sides of … Continue reading Haute Route Pyrenees (HRP) trekking, Spain and France

for independent traveler