Australia is home to many species of wildlife. From Koalas to Sugar gliders to kangaroos, this article will tell you about some of the more popular creatures that you can spot in Australia. We’ll also discuss where to spot these unique animals. If you’re planning a trip to Australia, don’t forget to pack your camera!

Cane toads

Cane toads are a species that lives in Australia and is considered a feral animal, much like foxes, rabbits, and dogs. As such, they should be treated with caution in the wild. This is mainly because they are not native to the country.

However, there are many ways to help protect the species. One method is to intentionally release cane toads in their native habitat. In the past, the toads were intentionally released in their habitat as a biological control. This is not an ideal solution for conservation of the species.

While cane toads are native to South and Central America, they have spread into Australia as a result of human intervention. These animals are incredibly hardy and are avid predators of insects and small prey. They were introduced to Australia in 1935 to control pest beetles in crops. This was before the widespread use of agricultural chemicals. Today, cane toads are found in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

However, it is important to note that cane toads are highly toxic and can contaminate water. These toads will only release poison if they are threatened or under duress. In Australia, this poison will kill a wide range of animals.

Sugar gliders

Australia is home to a wide variety of animals. There are six families and 26 species of possums. The largest species, the brushtail possum, weighs about 7 grams. Other species include the pygmy possum and the ringtail possum. These mammals are arboreal, and are most common in eucalypt forests. The smallest species, the feathertail glider, is only a few grams in weight. These mammals are known for their nocturnal habits and gliding abilities.

Australia’s unique climate and geography allow for a wide variety of wildlife. The country’s remoteness, surrounded by both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, has helped wildlife evolve without interference from outside forces. Consequently, Australia is home to many endemic species, meaning they can only be found in Australia. Most of Australia’s best-known animals are marsupials, and the continent is home to 70% of the world’s marsupial species.

Insects and reptiles are also common in Australia. You can even see invertebrates in the country, which are animals without backbones.

Koalas

The Australian Koala Foundation is a registered charity in Australia, established in 1986, dedicated to the conservation and effective management of koalas and their habitats. It is the country’s premier non-profit and non-governmental organization that protects and monitors koalas.

Koalas have a strong sense of smell and excellent hearing. They use the scent gland on their chest to mark trees and attract females. They rub their chest up and down the tree trunk, producing an oily musky odor. Koalas also have opposable thumbs.

In addition to habitat loss, koalas are vulnerable to disease. A particularly damaging bacterial infection, Chlamydia, affects many koalas in the South East Queensland region. Chlamydia can cause blindness, infertility, and reproductive tract disease. As a result, koala numbers are on the decline across mainland Australia.

Due to climate change, koalas’ habitats are shrinking. The eucalyptus tree forests they depend on for nutrition and shelter are disappearing. As a result, they are exposed to dog attacks and other predators. This adds to their stress levels, resulting in disease and decreased survival rates.

Emus

Australian wildlife includes a variety of reptiles and mammals. The largest marsupial, the red kangaroo, can grow up to 2 meters tall and weigh up to 10 kilograms. This animal can jump and run at speeds of 60kph, covering nine meters in a single hop. The emu is Australia’s tallest land animal and is the second fastest bird in the world. While the emu is generally harmless, it will attack if provoked. Australia is also home to the venomous red-bellied black snake, which is about 20 cm long with a black body and a red side. These snakes are venomous and can bite you if they are provoked, but attacks are rare.

The cassowary is Australia’s largest bird and weighs up to 76kg. It has a massive casque on top of its head, although scientists aren’t sure how it works. Its large casque is used for courtship, and females lay a clutch of eggs. Males incubate the eggs for 50 days and protect the chicks for a year.

Australia is home to hundreds of species of animals. Almost half of them are unique to Australia. It has more than 300 species of birds and more than 100 species of marsupials. There are also several wildlife parks in Australia where you can see these creatures.

Dingoes

Despite the fact that dingoes are the most widespread large predators in Australia, they are also considered an invasive species. Their presence has prompted governments to create protection measures, such as exclusion fences, in order to prevent them from destroying crops, homes, or livestock. Although they are highly destructive, dingoes also have an important role in the ecosystem. Because they control foxes, they have helped native small wildlife. Unlike foxes, dingoes do not affect native rabbits and cats.

Dingoes are not native to Australia, and their origins remain obscure. The species is believed to be descended from domestic dogs introduced from South East Asia, but it is not clear when and how they arrived. While the exact date and source of the dingo are unknown, mitochondrial DNA analysis has confirmed their presence in Australia.

It was not until the seventeenth century that European settlers first discovered the dingo. Many believed it was just another breed of dog. The first European to note the dingo was Captain William Dampier, who wrote about the dingo in 1699. The dingo population has since grown and now inhabits almost every part of Australia.

Snakes

There are several different types of snakes in Australia. Some are found only in certain parts of the country. Some are more dangerous than others. For example, the coastal taipan is a dangerous snake because its fangs can penetrate thick socks! The venom in this snake is so potent, it can kill an adult human within 45 minutes!

This snake is the world’s most venomous snake. However, it lives in a very remote environment. Another snake that can bite people is the common or eastern brown snake. These snakes typically live in open woodlands in Australia, but they can also be found in suburban and rural areas. These snakes are the most common type of snakes to bite humans and can cause serious injury or even death.

Eastern brown snakes are fast-moving and aggressive. They are responsible for the highest number of snake-related fatalities in Australia. Eastern brown snake venom is the second-most-toxic snake venom in the world. These snakes usually live in populated areas and are often found on farms. Their characteristic behavior is to lift their body off the ground and wind themselves into an ‘S’ shape. The venom in these snakes causes progressive paralysis, and it can take several doses of antivenom to reverse the damage.

Mountain devil

The mountain devil is also known as the Lambertia formosa and is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It was first described by the English botanist James Edward Smith in 1798 and is considered the type species of the Lambertia genus. This endemic lizard has a distinctively long beak that is very useful for hunting birds and insects.

The Mountain Devil is native to the western parts of Australia. It is a perennial plant, growing up to 2 metres tall. Its characteristic red tubular flowers are filled with nectar. The name derives from the shape of the flowers, which resemble devil horns. These plants can be poisonous and should be taken care of.

The Mountain Devil shrub is a medium-sized shrub that grows best in sandstone-based gardens. It can be difficult to grow in clay soils. It has long, dark green leaves and beautiful flowers that bloom in spring and autumn. The flowers are followed by two-horned seed casings.

The Mountain Devil is found in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Its prickly foliage makes it an ideal habitat for small birds.

“The Australian landscape is ancient, unique, harsh, and barren,” says photographer Leah Kennedy. From Perth, she flew over a long chain of rivers and salt lakes from the Wongan Hills region to Lake Moore, about 400 km northeast of Western Australia’s state capital, with one goal: salt. His first series of images, called ‘Salis,’ follows the flight path from the coast to the Australian outback.

West Aussie born and raised photographer

“I am Australian, born and raised in Western Australia. So I have an affinity with this landscape. It is unique, harsh, and barren. From the ground, this feeling is perhaps difficult to photograph and convey. But from the air, the landscape has all these characteristics and more. This project came to me organically: I researched areas to photograph locally using the Google Maps satellite view. When you look at the Western Australian landscape, what jumps out are the ancient river systems that weave through it.”

“This was the beginning of an idea dedicated to exploring the abstraction and duality of the aerial landscape using the theme of salt, which is so prevalent in the Australian landscape, from the coast to the interior. This project has evolved from an initial impulse to an environmental concern. It is a way to distance oneself from the destruction and problems caused by salinisation. But also to highlight the abstract beauty of the landscape.”

“The area photographed for this part of the series is subject to a semi-arid climate where primary salinity is a natural process. Precipitation brings small amounts of salt over several thousand years and can accumulate over time. Secondary salinisation is due to a change in land use. In the case of Western Australia, it results from land clearing at the turn of the century. Ultimately, this increased salinity threatens ecosystems.”

Aerial photos taken from a plane

“These images were taken from a single-engine Cessna 210 aircraft which does not have a wing or retractable wheel support, allowing a wider field of view when shooting. As we were travelling a great distance and fuel management was a concern and the greatest difficulty of the job, the door was not removed, and the flights were carefully planned. However, this aircraft has a window that can be opened, which allowed me to photograph from that gap.”

“It is a process of a joint agreement between the pilot and myself, and I communicate to him the objective I am trying to achieve so that he can position the aircraft accordingly. Then there are the technical aspects of photography, such as shutter speed and aperture, which are important factors in aerial photography. The shutter speed should be high, at least 1/2,000th of a second, to dampen the vibrations of the aircraft.”

More on this photo series

“Once I’m back in front of my computer and looking, selecting, and editing, my artistic vision for this work goes further. I lighten and darken certain areas to draw the eye in, enhancing the colours and textures to bring more life to the image. This is a fun part of the process: I like to improve the files and ultimately get them ready for print.”

“The process of investigating, planning, and executing the first part of this series seemed reminiscent of early explorers, but with much more advanced technology! Finally, it reminded me of the tendency to use Latin names for scientific discoveries.”

“I don’t believe salt was ever ‘mined’ in Australia. It is more of environmental concern because of the land clearing at the turn of the century, which resulted in secondary salinisation. The result is an environment that becomes toxic to native flora and fauna. Salt is grown in Australia, but, as far as I know, this is not the case with the salt I photographed for this series. I plan to take shots of salt farming for later parts of the series.”

“This work is the first part of a project that is not yet complete; I have no clear plan for how many series it will contain, and I have a long list of contact details of potential sites for the next stage. What will come next is still being decided, but it’s exciting and motivating to have this project on the horizon!”

Leah’s work has been featured on a bunch of prominent photography social media accounts such as Swan Media!

Morocco has reopened its borders to foreign travelers and especially to the French on February 7… But under conditions. The country is now classified as “green”: the only vaccination pass is enough for the return.

After two months of complete closure due to the outbreak of Covid-19, Morocco reopened its airspace on February 7, 2022. The resumption of maritime traffic was scheduled for the same date, the director general of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), Adel El Fakir, told Le Figaro. It is finally only partial and does not concern, initially, the tourist transport, remaining limited to business travel, according to a note from the Ministry published in the wake.

Motivated by the will to relaunch the tourist activity damaged by the pandemic, this decision is also based on the improvement of the health situation. On site, the number of infections seems to have slowed down since the week of January 17 to 23, when a peak was reached. More than 23 million Moroccans had received a second dose of vaccine by January 27 and 4.51 million a third injection, making Morocco the African champion of vaccination. Unsurprisingly, the announcement has rekindled the interest of French tourists, as the winter vacations have started in zone B. Morocco, traditional destination “winter sun” has recorded a jump in searches for airline tickets of more than 500% in recent days, according to the specialized search engine Kayak. With an average price that is also soaring, around 214 € for Marrakech, for example…

Arrival in Morocco: what are the entry requirements for EU tourists?

Mandotory vaccination

The kingdom has been classified as “green” (active circulation of the virus in controlled proportions) since mid-February, but only vaccinated European people can go there for tourism reasons. The Moroccan government’s protocol requires all travelers to Morocco to present a vaccination pass before boarding.

48-hour negative test

Before boarding, European travelers must also present the negative results of a PCR test less than 48 hours old (the short time between the sampling and registration).

Passenger health form

Passengers will have to carry a passenger health card, to be downloaded or distributed on planes and ships, “duly completed, including the passenger’s address and two telephone numbers to locate him or her, if necessary, during the 10 days following arrival,” says the Office National des Aéroports (ONDA).

Additional on-site test

Upon arrival on Moroccan territory, rapid antigenic tests will be systematically carried out “at points of entry” as well as random sampling for random PCR tests

At the same time, Moroccan airports, 16 of which are certified “AHA” (Airport Health Accreditation), have put in place specific sanitary measures (physical distancing, thermal cameras, etc.) in order to welcome travelers in optimal security conditions and “all the equipment” and “human, sanitary, security and administrative means necessary for the success of these operations” will be implemented, the statement said. Before the closure of the airspace on November 29, a passenger health form, to be downloaded or distributed in the aircraft, was required upon arrival. For the moment, the protocol does not mention it.

In addition, additional tests may be carried out at the hotel or at the traveler’s place of residence “after 48 hours of their entry into the national territory”. It is not stipulated whether travelers will have to pay for them, nor what the modalities will be.

What happens in case of a positive test upon arrival in Morocco?

There are two scenarios in case of a positive result of the rapid antigenic test: if the traveler is “asymptomatic or presents a benign picture”, treatment is planned “by self-isolation at home or at the hotel” for tourists, “according to the national protocol in force”. The duration of any self-isolation is not specified.

In case of “moderate symptoms”, “treatment in a public or private hospital” is provided. Morocco uses azithromycin to treat moderate cases, with the possibility of using molnupiravir, an antiviral drug for systemic use, since January.

Vaccination pass, hotels, restaurants… Measures in force in Morocco

While the state of health emergency has been extended until February 28, restrictions (curfew, inter-city travel restrictions, etc.) have been lifted in Morocco where most public places have been authorized to reopen, except for discotheques and casinos. Since October 21, the vaccination pass is in theory required to access all public places, administrations, hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops, sports halls or hammams, and to travel between the different regions of the Kingdom. Wearing a mask (simple) is also mandatory throughout the country.

How much does an anti-Covid test cost in Morocco?

The price of the tests is capped in Morocco (about 19 euros for the rapid antigen test, 40 euros for the RT-PCR test and 60 euros for the PCR test and its isothermal variants (rapid tests). Many centers are available and tests can also be performed in hotels or places of residence.

The British executive is to unveil within two weeks its plans to allow people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 abroad to come to the UK without quarantine, like British residents.

The British government said on Friday that it hoped to unveil “within the next two weeks” its plans to allow people fully vaccinated against the coronavirus abroad to come to the UK without quarantine, like British residents.

The executive had announced on Thursday that only British residents who have received two doses of vaccine as part of the immunization campaign in the UK would be exempt, from July 19, from quarantine on their return to England from many countries placed on the “orange” list, including tourist destinations such as France, Spain or Italy.

The announcement had raised questions about a possible relaxation for British expatriates or people living abroad and vaccinated in other countries. “This is something we are working on very actively,” said Transport Minister Grant Shapps on Sky News.

Towards recognition of foreign certificates

“In terms of timing, I think I will be able to say more in the next couple of weeks,” he added.

It is about being able to “recognize applications or certifications from other countries”, which will be “easier for some places like the EU”, which has a digital passport like the United Kingdom, than for the United States, where the certificate systems vary greatly depending on the state, mainly in paper format, he stressed.

One challenge, he said, is also that the level of fully vaccinated people in other countries is generally lower than in the UK. Nearly 65% of adults have received two doses, and 86.6% a first dose in the country, which is facing a new wave of infections due to the Delta variant.

A thousand Italian supporters allowed

Grant Shapps also defended the decision to allow a thousand Italian fans to attend the Euro final between their country and England on Sunday at Wembley stadium in London without prior quarantine.

“They go directly to see the soccer, they leave 12 hours later, they can not travel anywhere else,” he explained.

Many English fans had to give up attending England’s quarter-final against Ukraine in Rome in early July because the Italian authorities did not require them to undergo a strict five-day quarantine on arrival.

The Venetian authorities are considering charging an entrance fee to visit the city. Tourists should pay between 3 and 10 euros per person.

Will we soon have to pay an entrance fee to visit Venice?

According to the Italian daily La Stampa, the Venetian authorities are planning to charge for access to the city of the Doges.

In concrete terms, from the summer of 2022, tourists would have to book a slot in advance, pay the entrance fee and pass through turnstiles located at the main access points of the historic center. It would cost between 3 and 10 euros per person depending on the time of year, says the British newspaper The Times.

However, this tax would only apply to day visitors. Residents and their relatives, children under six and tourists staying in one of the city’s hotels would not have to pay to visit the historic center.

The goal is not to decrease the number of visitors to the city, but to smooth out the sometimes overwhelming influx of mass tourism. “We can’t set a maximum quota of visitors allowed, the law doesn’t allow it.

But thanks to a flexible and dynamic pricing system, we will be able to advise tourists to avoid certain periods, like Carnival or Easter. The amount has been deliberately set low, because money is not the issue,” explains Simone Venturini, councilor in charge of tourism at the municipality of Venice, in an interview with Le Figaro.

30 million visitors

The Italian city, which welcomes 30 million visitors each year, escaped in extremis from being put on the list of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO, which pointed the finger at the evils of mass tourism. The Italian government announced this summer that cruise ships would be banned from the famous canals.

For years, heritage and environmental activists have denounced these gigantic ships that threaten the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem and the foundations of its historic center.

Are you a CBD user and have questions about whether you can travel with CBD flowers, resin or oil? Can you cross borders, take a plane, train or bus with CBD without risking trouble with customs or local police?

Is CBD (also called “cannabidiol”) legal everywhere in the world, is it risky to take it in your suitcase in Europe, America, Asia or Oceania? Here are the answers to your questions on this subject.

Can we travel with CBD?

Travelling with CBD in Europe, Canada or in some states in the USA is not illegal. However, the lack of knowledge about CBD and especially the difficulty for the authorities to distinguish the THC content of the products poses real problems for consumers who wish to travel freely with a quantity of cannabidiol in their luggage.

Traveling with CBD in Europe

European CBD law states that finished CBD products must contain a maximum of 0.2% THC in total to be legal. You can therefore travel freely with your cannabidiol products.

However, it is imperative that you travel with proof that your product contains no more than 0.2% THC. Get a certificate and a sealed product from a vendor to avoid confusion during a police or customs check.

Also, don’t forget that smoking CBD flowers is still illegal, so you should never use the flowers in this way in a public place!

France as an example had to comply with European legislation on CBD as explained in this article!

Traveling with CBD in Canada

As of October 17, 2018, cannabis is legal in Canada, effectively encompassing CBD. Therefore, you have no interest in bringing it from abroad as you will be able to get your supply locally, in a store or via the web.

Travelling with CBD outside of Europe

The origins of a specific product and its THC levels can be difficult to trace, and many states outside Europe are reluctant to legalize CBD for this reason.

In the United States it is even more complicated for travelers to understand because federal law takes precedence over individual state law in the event of an airport checkpoint.

In general, it is advisable not to travel with your product unsealed. Carrying an open bag or vial of CBD makes it impossible to trace the legal origin of the product.

Even when sealed and certified at less than 2% THC, you are taking risks by traveling with CBD all over the world when you are outside Europe and Canada.

To travel with peace of mind with CBD, here is what you need to know:

In Europe and Canada, you will be safe if the product is sealed and accompanied by the original invoice which mentions the amount of THC lower than 2%. However, if you are just stopping over in a country outside of Europe and Canada, you may be out of the law.

You should research in detail the latest laws and regulations regarding CBD and THC in your destination country. In the United States, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, you risk arrest for possession of drugs with CBD (due to lack of traceability and product identification). The safest way to know if a CBD product is legal in the country you are visiting is to ask the question in writing to its embassy. Bring a document proving your rights to prove your good faith in case of trouble.

As a precaution, do not bring CBD products on a plane, even if the THC content is less than 0.2%. It’s best to get your products at your destination (in stores or via the web). This prevents you from a suspicious arrest at customs.

CBD flower is the most “sensitive” when traveling because in case of control it may be confused with marijuana. Cannabis legislation is extremely strict in some countries, so don’t take an unsealed bag of CBD flowers into a state that has a strict jurisdiction on this subject. Read “cannabis while traveling” on this subject.

So beware: In some states where the sale of CBD is perfectly legal, there have been cases of arrests due to unfamiliarity with the product.

The 70-story tower, called Zanzibar Domino, will involve the creation of an artificial island, as well as a marina for yachts and cruise ships.

At the crossroads of Africa, Arabia and India, Marco Polo made it one of his stops. He described it as follows: “A noble and large island, which has well about two thousand miles of turn. The people are all idolaters, have their own language and pay tribute to no one. They are so big that they look like giants”.

Seven centuries later, while the island is often considered an ideal two or 3-day break after a safari in Tanzania, the authorities have just given the green light to the construction of a giant 70-story tower. The “Zanzibar Domino” will house 560 apartments, luxury hotels, a golf course, a wedding chapel, high-end stores …

All this, on an artificial island 15 kilometres from Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tower will also be surrounded by a marina for yachts and cruise ships and will be connected to Zanzibar by a bridge several kilometres long.

An overly ambitious project?

This is an ambitious project that aims to “attract more local and foreign investors to the islands” according to Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, Zanzibar’s Minister of State for Labor, Economy and Investment. And so to compete with the tallest buildings in Africa, namely the Iconic Tower, the emblematic skyscraper of the new administrative capital of

Egypt currently under construction and whose 80 floors should be completed in 2022, or the tallest building on the continent today, the Leonardo, 55 floors, in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg (South Africa). All this is intended to give a boost – or rather a whip – to the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The project has all the makings of an icon for everyone to remember. All it needed was a visionary investor and a suitable site to make it a reality,” describes Jean-Paul Cassia, director of the design firm xCassia, in charge of the “architectural gesture”, who is making his dream come true: “First sketched out in Paris in 2009 after my late father, my two sons and I played a game of dominoes, I had been dreaming of building this project for more than a decade.

A tower that divides between fascination and criticism at a time of global warming and rising waters. And whose total amount of work will amount to more than 3,000 billion Tanzanian shillings (nearly 1.1 billion euros), or more than 60% of the annual budget of the archipelago for 2021-2022. Still.

Are you looking for a hotel smoking in Amsterdam? Our suggestions for places to stay in Amsterdam and smoke in peace.

If you want to smoke cannabis or hashish in Amsterdam, you can do so without using tobacco in coffee shops.

If you want to smoke in your accommodation, this isn’t very easy. Since 2008 it is forbidden to smoke inside rooms in hotels in the Netherlands. As smoking is not allowed in bars, this ban is not always respected in hotels.

Suggestions of places to stay in Amsterdam if you smoke

There are hotels where it is possible to smoke, hotels that close their eyes if you do so discreetly, and finally hostels where it is possible to smoke in the common areas. There are also apartments or apart-hotels where smoking is not prohibited.

Our suggestion of places to smoke quietly :

• Greenhouse effect hotel (Warmoesstraat 55), hotel, café, and bar in the red light district of Amsterdam. Instead of party, understand “noisy.”

• Bob’s Youth Hostel (Burgwallen Nieuwe Zijde) in the Old Town of Amsterdam in the heart of the red-light district, dormitories and common areas where you can smoke.

• Flying Pig Downtown (Nieuwendijk 100). Smoking area in the common area of this youth hostel near Leidseplein near the museum quarter.

• NH Carlton Amsterdam (Vijzelstraat 4), luxury hotel between the old town and the concentric canals with a smoking floor.

• De mallemoolen (De Wallen) Small 1 star hotel in the gay part of the red light district. Rooms are smoking. The hotel is dilapidated.

• Amsterdam Cribs (Oude Hoogstraat 7), Hostel in the Old Town. The place looks good with bongs, pipes, and grinders at disposal.

Some of these places only allow vaporizers!

Dutch people view smoking in a much healthier way than ourself “barbaric” cone and bong hitters from Western Europe or the US.
Vaporizers are getting really trendy, especially portable models/ (as seen here www.cannavapos.com/vaporizador-portatil/) and a lot of hotels, including Youth Hostels, will not allow tobacco or joint smoking in their common areas nor inside the dorms!

Vaporizing tends to create a purer vapor which smells less and is healthier for your lungs.

Accommodation prices

Amsterdam is characterized by a relatively varied and accessible offer for all budgets. You will be able to find rooms in the youth hostel dormitories from 20/30 euros to much more if you want to go for high-end establishments (4 or 5 stars).

Which areas of Amsterdam to choose?

Depending on your interests, you will be able to choose your hotel close to any of the city’s main attractions.

If you are staying near the Central Station or the Dam you will be in the heart of the Old Centre and its historic buildings and the Red Light District where the Old Church (Oude Kerk) is well worth a visit.

If you are looking for the lively nightclubs, cafés, and theaters, we advise you to choose your hotel close to the Rembrandtplein or the Leidseplein where the nightlife will enchant you.

A little further away from the city center, you will also find many hotel offers in the Jordaan district or districts such as Pijp or Plantage.

You will find more information on this city by following this link!

We hope you will make good use of the places listed in this article. Remember to appreciate this city and that there is a vibrant city waiting for you outside of hotels and coffee shops 😉

Discover between Finland and Russia an offbeat version of the safari, push up to Fiji the desire for paradise, celebrate in Louisiana the 300 years of New Orleans… Our selection for the summer season invites to the great escape. New addresses, revisited itineraries, cultural events, to each his alibi.

In Colombia, Medellín

The major Colombian cities are emerging from the darkness into which the cartels had plunged them and are now attracting travelers who are keen on authenticity. This circuit should fill them, setting a course for Medellín, the “city of the Eternal Spring,” for the Flower Festival.

Starting from Bogotá, capital perched at 2640 m above sea level, the itinerary crosses the Nevados National Park planted with wax palm trees and stopped in a 200 ha coffee plantation before reaching Medellín. Three days are planned to soak up this city, which has become an example of dynamism and prosperity in Latin America. We discover the emblematic sites, the streets with walls covered with committed street art. With its concerts and silleteros parade, the Flower Festival, which has been celebrated since 1957, is a high point. The journey ends gently in the charming alleys of old Cartagena.

A safari in Karelia

In Karelia, between Finland and Russia, nature has not been impressed by human borders. She reigns supreme, and that is why she is particularly conducive to this unique trip, a Nordic version of the safari that will take place between the two countries. This small group tour (maximum seven people), guided by a French biologist based in Finland, includes beluga whale watching.

In summer, they gather along the coasts of the White Sea, where it is quite easy to see them, especially as the animal likes to observe the curious bipeds that stand on the shore. The Solovetski archipelago will be the historical stage of this trip: In these islands, an old monastery was transformed into a gulag, before returning to its original vocation after the fall of the USSR. The tour will end on the Finnish side, where a “night on the lookout” is planned to try to see the bear or even the glutton, this discreet animal of the boreal forests.

In Ladakh, the Himalayan escape

Vertiginous panoramas, villages frozen in eternity and perched gompas… To venture into Ladakh is to reconnect with the essence of the journey, the one in which one forgets oneself to find oneself better… Specialist of the destination, Asia proposes a guided itinerary by private vehicle between sky and earth, in the Indus valley to discover its essential monasteries (Thiksey, Hemis, Uletokpo, Lamayuru). A journey punctuated by memorable encounters with a welcoming people proud of its cultural heritage, which the tour operator proposes to enrich with a detour in the Nubra valley, via the highest road in the world.

Glamping enthusiasts will opt for a stay in one of TUTC’s luxury camps, such as Chamba Camp Thiksey, at an altitude of 3500 meters, about 20 minutes from Leh, capital of the ancient kingdom of Ladakh. To note, those who will choose a departure at the end of July will have the chance to attend the sacred dances of the monks on the occasion of the Hemis festival (23 and 24).