The Shaolin temple of China has a lot of interesting things for the traveler

You might have seen the Shaolin Temple in movies, but going there in person will make you feel ecstatic. It will remind you of the various action packed scenes and the death defying stunts performed by Jet Li in the movie. Visiting Shaolin Temple is really a memorable experience as you will witness all the important places which you have watched in the movie in front of yourself. Before beginning the article it is important to mention here that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also known as the Shaolin Monastery.

So if you thought that the Shaolin Temple is only about martial arts, then there are a number of other interesting things like the Mahavira Hall, the Pagoda Forest and the Dharma Cave that lures visitors regularly to this place. Each of the three places has got their charm and holds a special significance. Holidays in China become more exciting by visiting the place. The Mahavira Hall holds a special importance as prayers and important celebrations are held here regularly. 18 Buddhist arhats stand in both the eastern and southern part of the hall in order to offer their prayers to the almighty.

The figure of Kingnaro and Dharma, founders of Shaolin Cudgel Chinese Zen Buddhism respectively is placed behind the three Buddhas. The stone lions, which are 3.33 feet high, are also quite spectacular to watch. Walking through the floors one can find fifty small pits which are said to be the fine prints of Monks who used to teach martial arts here.

The Pagoda Forests can give you an idea initially that it is all about trees, but upon visiting there you might be surprised to see their scarcity. Pagodas refer to the tall brick structures that were built in the Tang Dynasty. There is a total of 228 pagodas in Shaolin Temple. The specialty of all the pagodas is that all of them are different from each other in terms of size. Some of them are polygonal where as some of them are cylindrical in shape.

Dharma Cave has got a mythological importance. Dharma was a Buddhist monk who is said to have introduced Zen Buddhism for the first time. It is said that he meditated in this cave for nine long years before reaching the spiritual stage. The cave is about 23 feet deep and has many inscriptions written on both sides of the cave. The special attraction of the place is the Meditating stone near which Dharma used to sit and meditate. The stone till today rests at the same place.

The tour can be concluded by visiting the Wushu Martial Arts Training Center. This is the place where you can watch students practicing the Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu. The monks have been practicing Kung fu for the last 1500 years. You can see here students performing Tong Zi Gong, a form of martial arts that mainly helps a person to develop inner strength and flexibility. The temple is open every day for the visitors from 08:10 am to 17:30 pm.

By opting for any of the International Tour Packages from Destination Travels you can stay at one of the star hotels of your destination country. The china holiday packages are quite attractive and include a visit to all the important places of the country.

Author : http://www.streetarticles.com/destination-tips/the-shaolin-temple-of-china-has-a-lot-of-interesting-things-for-the-traveler

Enjoy Sea sports at its best on a holiday tour to Egypt

The recent uprising in Egypt might force you to give a second thought on visiting the country but it is the ultimate place to chill out with friends and family. If you are planning to have a beach holiday along with some adrenaline pumping activities then you have just chosen the right place for your outing this time. Only a handful of people know about this exciting side of Egypt and those who know it certainly have a gala time under the sun.

Any thrilling experience is incomplete if you do not indulge doing something unusual. Well, Egypt is a place where you can push yourself to the limit and enjoy some adventurous sea sports and many other water activities. If you are a first timer or have a phobia with water then there is no need to worry as there are a host of other equally exciting activities.

You can try out a number of water sports in Egypt under the guidance of a trained professional so that you do not face any difficulty. Just read in the subsequent paragraph to know more about them

Snorkelling: Egypt has got some of the most extraordinary scuba diving locations where you can practice or enjoy snorkelling and discover the splendid underwater life. Pharaoh Island is one of the hotspots for a lifetime snorkelling experience. You can enquire about the De Monfreid Snorkelling full day trip from the hotel. It is generally organized by the local water sports centre which is located at the Taba Heights. Other places where you can enjoy the sports are at Sharm el Naga, Dahab and Ain Sukhna.

Water Skii: It is really a very enthralling experience to cruise in the sea by water skiing. The most attractive benefit of this sport is that it can be experienced by people of all ages. You must be sure that this sport is present in your all inclusive Egypt Holidays as this is something that tourists should never miss. You can try out some really interesting places like El-Gouna where an artificial lagoon is created especially for water skiing or else can participate in the sking festival that is held every year in Hurghada.

Parasailing: Though this is not a typical water sports but the fun and excitement attached to it is immense. You can try this out at a number of famous locations in Egypt like El-Gouna, Naama Bay and Hurghada.

Reef watching: Taking an underwater tour and that too in a submarine cannot be expressed in words until and unless you experience it yourself. A Sharm Semi-Submarine Tour takes you through a 90 minutes tour under the Red Sea. You will have a nice time watching the fishes move around and passing through the natural habitation of the sea. On the other hand, a Glass Bottom Boat Ride in Hurghada provides panoramic views of the underwater sea.

As mentioned previously, there are some other activities that you can enjoy like windsurfing, Yatching and Beach activities. Some of the famous beaches where you can roam about are the Cleopatra, Agiba, Gharam and the Hurghada Beach.

Get exciting international tour packages with Destination Travels. These packages come with numerous offers and deals that can help you to save your travel expenses and enjoy the luxury Egypt holidays.

Source : http://www.sooperarticles.com/travel-articles/destination-tips-articles/enjoy-sea-sports-its-best-holiday-tour-egypt-1266277.html

Make Your Stay Luxurious While Holidaying in Switzerland

Visiting to Switzerland is an escape to the frozen lands where there is snow every time. The all time cool temperature makes the country one of the most frequently visited country for the tourists from warm countries. Though the temperature throughout the year remains moderate in Switzerland, but it is always better to carry a bag stuffed with woollen clothes so that you do not fall prey to the harsh climatic conditions. With the right kind of preparations, the holiday trip to Switzerland can really be a life time experience.

Major countries of the world are connected to Switzerland through air as many international flights such as Air France, British Airways, Darwin and Lufthansa Airlines directly operate from their respective countries. If you are travelling from India by air then it takes seven hours to reach to Switzerland. Taking other modes of travel takes a lot of time and hence most of the people prefer to travel by air. However, people travelling from Europe can always take a car to reach there.

To spend Luxury Switzerland Holidays you can either stay at the five star hotels or can also stay at the farm houses. The Hotels offer excellent room service with many additional services for which you have to pay. But it is always better to select a particular hotel of your desired choice while selecting the holiday tour package with your travel agent. Farm houses on the other hand are a bit expensive but they are always luxurious to stay. Moreover, you can always do an online research about the kind of hotel that you want to stay and even book it online.

A host of wonderful attractions waits in Switzerland to enthral its tourists with its serene beauty. Places like Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne and Basel are a must visit for the tourists who are visiting there for the first time where as people who are on a second trip to the country can discover the hidden places of the country through a bicycle tour. The four day lake route tour that starts from Lake Geneva and ends in Lake Constance takes provides splendid views of the Bernese Alps and lakes. One also comes across the monastery of Einsiedeln. On the other hand, the three day Alpine pass Tour gives a thrilling experience of the spectacular flora atop the mountains. There are various resorts and hotels where one can halt and take rest.
One can also view the Zinal Glacier which is only a few kilometres away from the Alpine. Remember if you are planning to go for a bike ride tour it is essential that you are physically fit. People having breathing problems and scared of heights should better avoid the tour.

If you are an avid lover of music then you are all set to be audience to the Lucerne Festival where many renowned piano players will hold concerts in the month of November. Currently, the country is celebrating Basler Herbstmesse, a traditional event that is being held since the last 500 years. It is a huge fair that is held for two weeks and ends on the third Sunday of the month.

Leading international tour packages provider Destinations Travel provide Switzerland Holiday packages within the budget range of the traveller.

Source : http://www.sooperarticles.com/travel-articles/destination-tips-articles/make-your-stay-luxurious-while-holidaying-switzerland-1261309.html

Serene and Calm Iceland with its Natural Geothermal Spas

 Iceland is the most amazing zealous Nordic Island country you could imagine! Because it is a sparsely populated country, hence it gives you an area to breathe and relax among the most bizarre tranquil environment. The freshness of its beauty soothes the soul and mind of all those that have experienced this place. You can explore the mountains and beautiful glaciers. The most spell bound Glacier Rivers that flow into the seas just bring the chill down your spine. This is the most sought International Travel destination that you can dream of. You can even find the most fascinating sand plateaus in the interior of this island complimented by the Lava fields.

The important places that you should visit during the vacation is the Blue Lagoon, this geothermal spa is the most famous attraction among the tourists and sees a very high flow of visitors every year. An essential part of your international destination package that you must not miss at all. The warm waters of this lagoon are very rich in Sulphur and Silica which helps to treat the ailments evolved with psoriasis and many other skin diseases. 

An interesting fact about this lagoon is that it is a manmade lagoon but the source of its water is based from a geo thermal power plant, which utilizes the trapped energy firstly for warming the water supply of the area and to generate the electricity, then this water is pumped into the man made lagoon which still contains the warmth and medical properties of the water. Strict measures are taken to control the hygiene of this lagoon as the visitors are advised to shower before and after the visit. The water is changed every second day in addition to the task of hygiene.

To the south of Iceland you can find another major attraction, namely the Golden Circle. This tectonic rift valley at Thingvellir National Park is a major tourist attraction and a mandatory destination while on your International holiday.  You have to visit the majestic Gullfoss waterfall and the enthralling hot springs at Haukadalur. 

The Parish church in Reykjavík, known as the Hallgrímskirkja is the largest church in Iceland. Its architectural beauty is just amazing and keeps you spell bound. This church gets its name from the famous poet of this region. It took 38 years to build this piece of architecture which depicts the visualization of the Baltic Lava Flows. What a manifesto! You can spend hours staring at this glory, which stands tall under the clear skies of Iceland, truly an amazing sight and memory to take back home after your wonderful holidays. 

Switzerland - The best international holiday destination

Switzerland  is a divine country known for amazing landscapes. This part of the world receives a large influx of tourists from all corners of the world. Switzerland is synonymous with flower-covered meadows, bell-ringing cows and sky high snow covered peaks. Swiss chocolate is yet another popular item from this beautiful land. Owing to the abundance of nature, it is the most sought after honeymoon location as well.  Located in the Central Europe, Switzerland is one of the most popular international travel destinations.  It is a peaceful and prosperous country, let’s throw a light upon few exciting highlights from this beautiful nation :

In-line Skating

Apart from regular transportation, Switzerland has in-line skating, which is segregated into three routes, including Rhine route, the Rhone route, and the Mittelland route. Exploring In-line Skating is the best treat for adventure seeking tourists. On sight scenery  is indeed quite enthralling.

 

Grande Dixence Dam

It is a concrete gravity Dam located on Dixence River. This dam is 285 m high and 700 m long. This dam comprises water, which is coming from the glacier when they melt owing to the soaring temperature. The best time to visit this dam is September. This time the dam is at full capacity. 

 Aletsch Glacier

It is the longest Glacier in Europe. Spread in the area of 120 square kilometers, Aletsch Glacier is one of the prominent highlights from the Switzerland.  This glacier and its surrounding valleys are listed as UNESCO World Heritage locations. Only the lower part of the glacier is open for the tourism purpose.

 

Rhine Falls

It is one of the highest visited tourist places of Switzerland. It is the largest plain waterfall of Europe. The Schloss Worth castle is situated in the vicinity of this waterfall, which is yet another popular tourist attraction. This palace is well accessed by a boat trip. The boat ride between Rhine Falls to Schloss Wörth castle, lets  you explore many  spectacular views.

There is no dearth of tourist locations, arrive here at least for once for having unforgettable vacations. There are many tour operators, which offer  International holiday packages  to  explore various destinations scattered worldwide. Destinationtravels.in  is one of the leading tour operators offering world class packages to explore Switzerland. Their packages are quite economical and backed by the extraordinary team of customer care. They leave no stone unturned in making your journey blissful.

How to choose the best exotic location

Selecting the best international location is not at all an easy task, as there are numerous beautiful locations scattered worldwide. Hence, careful planning and a little research are important while choosing the destination. In fact, it is a key ingredient to pick the destination that is of your interest and pocket friendly as well.  However, sometimes traveling to the same destination could be a unique experience alike to an unexplored destination.

Consider the following points while selecting the travel destinations:

Think and decide

Think what your subject of interest is, whether you are looking to explore wildlife excursions or aquamarine thrills or winter sports are on your mind. Choose the destination which is able to cater your interest.

Visa formalities

This is the most important factor. Keep in mind, if you are unable to procure the visa on time then you would not be able to fly. Hence, read all the visa requirements pre-hand and take action accordingly. So there would be no last minute rush.

Budget

Make a rough allocation of budget that you are willing to spend for the holidays. In fact, allot separate budget for shopping, sight-seeing, etc.  Search the destination that is well fitted to your budget.  Keep in mind; you will not enjoy the trip if you are running out of budget.

 

Climate feasibility

Every destination has a specific season which is considered as the favorable time for the tourist activity. Because during this period the weather is quite supportive for exploring the various excursions. However, if you are looking to try some exclusive activity, let’s say winter sport fun then head towards the location during the winter season only.

Language compatibility

Although, English is an international language, but you might face a language barrier at a few locations, especially if you are traveling to Asian or Gulf countries.  Make sure how you are going to handle such situations.

Tour packages

If you can manage to fetch the appropriate tour plan, then blissful journey is assured. These days there are various tour operators who offer various International Holiday Packages. At a glance, they all seem quite captivating, but in-depth analysis is important before nodding your head. Never ever select your travel plan in a jiffy.  Read every single detail carefully.

Destinationtravels.in is the most authentic source of grabbing the best travel deals. They offer a range of exclusive packages pertaining to various international travel packages. They cover almost all the important places of the globe. Let’s take an example, if  you are willing to explore the Australia, then there a vast range of  choice  available. A list of some itineraries includes,  3 Nights Gold Coast trip, 3 Nights Melbourne, 9 Nights Best of Australia, 3 Nights Sydney, and many more.  The aforementioned  are smartly designed travel plans through  which you can taste the splendor of this great nation. Moreover, these plans are quite reasonable in terms of value. Visit the web entity to learn the details of these travel plans.

International Tours - Tips for A Better Visit To International Holiday Destinations

Going for an international tour will give you the opportunity to learn about the culture, cuisine, people, and lifestyle of the people living there. International travel destinations will teach you about the culture, shopping, religious, and adventure specific things about your holiday destination. This can give value to your life as you learn cultural value of other nations.

For many first time visitors, an international tour would mean stress and hassles of arrangements. It certainly requires proper planning and preparations, but at times a traveler can stop and think if he is actually going for a leisure trip or another start to arrangements and planning like the normal, busy and mundane days. But all these scheduling will turn beneficial as the holidays will not be less interesting with some great travel destinations across the world. 

                                        

It is imperative that you do a little research about the travel destination that you are planning to visit during your holidays. It is better to know about the culture, cuisine and lifestyle of the country you are going to visit. It will give you the time to decide if it is certainly the place you would want to visit during your vacations.

Some of the most important things to remember before setting off for international tour is to make a backup plan for travel insurance; get important documents ready like identification card, your passport, and your visa; international roaming facility on your phone; consult your doctor for immunization; and last but not the least have a detailed talk with your travel agent regarding your flight tickets, hotel bookings, tour itinerary, and other deals.

Availability of the technology has made it easy for travelers to browse the videos and pictures of the place well before actually visiting the place. To find about the hotel, you can read the reviews by guests who have stayed at the hotel before. These reviews can be found on popular review websites like Trip Advisor.

With the availability of many good travel companies, it is most likely that you will find that more than half of your arrangement things can be handled by such agencies. A good travel agency will present many options for you to choose your favorite international holiday packages. Remember that a good travel company will not only let you spend your holidays in fun, but will also help you save money and time. 

Luxury Australia Holidays - ‘The land of Kangaroos’ is calling you!

The incredible country of Australia has got something for every traveler visiting its land. Natives are known to be friendly and lovers of sports. With the fact that 80 percent of Australians live within 50 kilometers of the coast, it is quite obvious why the Aussies prefer the beach & laid back lifestyle. Beach cricket, barbeque, and sandy shores go hand in hand in Australia. In fact there are many sports club situated at popular places where people prefer taking part in sports. Although it’s a fact that Australians are much into their sports as they always were.

Australia has got many popular beaches where locals and international tourists flock in large numbers. Other than the beaches there are some awesome places of interests located in Australia. Let’s have a look at these places that will turn your vacation into a perfect set of holidays in Australia:

The Red Centre – This is a trilogy of sites known as Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Kings Canyon. Among these, the Uluru is a spiritual site, Kata Tjuta is a collection of domes, and Kings Canyon offers a peaceful sight.

Great Barrier Reef – This is a sure-shot vacation spot in Australia. It is popular for being the largest coral reef spreading in the world. Here, you can also visit the Whitsundays Islands. You can enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling here along with enjoying world-class cuisines. Do not forget to check out the Great Barrier Reef that offers the sight of some great looking fish species like clown fish, red-throat emperor, snapper, tiger sharks, manta rays, red bass, and angelfishes.

Fraser Island - This is the largest sand island in the world. Check out interesting spots while driving around the sand. Champagne Pool and the Wreck of the Maheno offer a great setting for photography.

Purnululu National Park – This national park offers beautiful surroundings for the visitors. When here, don’t forget to visit Bungle Bungles, the tiger-striped sandstone rocks. If you want to save time, you can take up the helicopter ride to view these rocks from above.

Barossa Valley – This is the famous wine region that produces red wine for brands like Penfolds, Orlando Wines, Wolf Blass and Yalumba. It would just be spectacular to visit these wineries.

Kangaroo Island – This is Australia’s third largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. Witness the wonderful wildlife present here.

Broome – Visit this place for its Cable Beach. Here you can relax and while away your time. You may also try the open air cinema before hitting the bars.

Byron Bay – This beach-side town is used as an escape from the city. The relaxing location is full of artists.

Kakadu National Park - This popular park offers the view of the local Aboriginals, Alligator Rivers, and Twin Falls. During the wet season, you can spot the crocodiles that come out to play in the park.

Great Ocean Road – Take a drive along this road and witness the amazing scenery. You will also be witnessing the famous Twelve Apostles- the different rocks jutting out of the ocean.