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If you see this page featuring the above video, it means that someone from the RootsTraveler community wanted to share this video with you.

This video is only one of “The Unstoppable World Traveler Spirit” serie initiated to inspire people to – at least:

“Once A Year, Once In A Lifetime, Travel Around The World Or Explore The Ends Of The Earth”

Be sure you “share to unstop this video” before you watch it (we appreciate you help spreading the word with this world traveler spirit) and let’s make it even more unstoppable!

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Be sure you comment below after watching! Did it inspire you?

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Follow Ryan Sandes, an amazing athlete, South African Ultra-Runner, as he runs the 84km Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail in the fastest time possible. Enjoy the senic views of this amazing landscape and Ryan’s life perception.

Amazing, beautiful, stunning… ! I don’t have words to describe how much this video inspires me: The music, the landscapes, the message.

The Beauty of the Irrational is a film about adventure travel and life.

Human beings don’t always make rational decisions. But making irrational decisions is precisely what makes us human. These decisions, based on an impulse or a feeling, often lead us to those perfect moments when it feels great to be alive.

Ryan Sandes shares it’s experience of life, choices, how to make the most of it. A trail path is like everyone’s life: Following the path means making the same mistakes as the person in front of you. So take the right options in order to make the best experience and success!

Just enjoy this “perfect moment” and feel alive for your next 5 min!

 What about you? What are your “perfect moments”? When do you feel it? Please share with us in the comment box bellow and don’t forget to rate this video above.

ps: The more I see from South Africa, the more I want to get there!

The post Adventure Travel: Chasing The “Perfect Moment” appeared first on RootsTraveler.

I’m always looking for great outdoors destinations and hiking trips ideas, with stunning landscapes that make a trip of a lifetime. I recently discovered Squamish Mountains, which opened me to a great new world! In this post, I wanted to share informations I’ve found about this epic destination: Welcome to Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.

Choose your own adventure…

Squamish is located halfway between downtown Vancouver and Whistler’s high alpine. People refer Squamish as ”Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.” Sounds pretty good… It is mainly renowned as a world-class location for windsurfing & kiteboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing… But it is also a great playground for hiking and backpacking lovers.

I heard about Squamish the 1st time viewing this beautiful video – When the way out is only going down…

… And enjoy your playground

This place just sounds amazing for those, like me, who love bluffs view points, rugged landscapes and epic views. The ocean meets the mountains in a Sea to Sky country.

The sheer variety of hiking and sightseeing opportunities in the Squamish area is truly staggering to the imagination. No matter where, or what type of hiking experience you seek, the Squamish area can deliver it in awe-inspiring beauty. From gentle strolls along to ocean to riverside explorations, walks in the ancient rain forests to strenuous treks up a mountain – everyone will find a trail to love. The views are simply spectacular, with snow-capped peaks all around, ocean views and of course, there’s always a chance you will catch a glimpse of eagles, falcons, bears, cougars and more of the area’s fascinating wildlife.

Full article and more details for exploring Squamish by foot here (source www.tourismsquamish.com)

[...] having spent only a fews hours here it was obvious to us that the Tourism bigwigs weren’t overselling!

Lucy and Sam, who are taking a year long break discovering Canada, recently went hiking there. They recommend in their blog to climb The Chief, a 700m granit dome with epic view, which appears to be “one of the most popular summit hikes in British Columbia”. Read full article here (source www.lucyandsam.wordpress.com)

Many other trails are just an invitation to explore more of the Squamish: “Wonderland” trail, “Four lakes” trail, “Ocean front interpretive” trail, “Smoke bluffs view points”…

You may want to plan a trip for an upcoming event

If you’re passionate about climbing, you should plan your hiking trip to Squamish in July when they celebrate the annual Squamish Mountain Festival (July 17-21 2013).

A five-day celebration of all things rock, SQUMF unites international with home-grown participants and appreciators of climbing culture. For sticky fingers that can’t get enough of boulders, spires, walls and cracks, this year’s featured events include Instructional climbing clinics, Films, Trail days, Parties, Adventure Photography Clinics.

Full program here

But you can also enjoy many mountain bike races, triathlon, music festivals…to know more follow the facebook page The Spirit Of Squamish here. I Just love their basline “Fueld by Nature”. Who would disagree…?

Squamish seems a great place for many outdoor sports plus hiking. I wonder where in your country would be your Squamish? Let’s share some of your hiking trips ideas…And please don’t forget to vote above and let your comments at the bottom. Thanks for reading!

The post Hiking Trips Idea: Discover Squamish Mountains appeared first on RootsTraveler.

Not long ago, I discovered a sympathic globetrotter and blogger. But digging a bit more, I found a big Internet professional and a man who dared to take “The” decision of his life to overpass depression and start traveling around the world. Let’s talk about Danny Dover decision to focus his life on his adventure bucket list.

I just love this kind of persons who dare to switch life considering this will bring more hapiness and purpose in their life. Each of us have our personal story, but one day, a lot of us face the need / hope to fulfill something more. Let’s see how it happened for Danny Dover.

Danny Dover game’s rules

This guy set his own rules: He wrote down a 150+ “life list” and must achieve all of it before May 25th 2017. 5 more years to go!

A life list is a list of goals you are fully committed to accomplishing before a specific date while you are living. This is different from a bucket list which is a list of things you would like to do before dying. Who wants to wait until they are dying to start living? Not me!

For my list, I have two rules:

1. The entire list must be completed by May 25th, 2017
2. I can not add or remove any item from the list

It is as simple as that!

This can sound simple, but this guy set up high expectations on his list and succeeded in getting momentum around it!  Read more about his life list goals here (source http://www.lifelisted.com). You will see how he moved to Spain, ran a marathon, started a company (www.makingitclick.com), climed Mt Rainier, learnt to fly a plane, visited easter Island, the Giza pyramids and much more…

The Question Is…

Danny Dover gave a lecture on a  TedEx show on december 2012. He came to spread the message that waiting until the end of your life to start your bucket list is waiting too long.

To know what The “question” is and take action, watch this 6 min video:

Join the adventure!

As this guy is full of different skills (Internet marketing was his 1st job, he also is a writter), he’s doing a really great job with his blog, which makes fun, pleasant and interesting to follow his adventures. Lately he started to post on video format, this guy is really cool…Just go and check it out!

One of my favorite post is called “Dear Unhappy Former Self”, a letter to his former mind:

You wake up every morning with a smile and optimism for tomorrow. I wake up every morning with a smile and optimism for today.

I make change happen now.

Enjoy the full article here (source http://www.lifelisted.com)

He achieved 80% of his list at the end of December 2012 which let us think he’s going to make it…but you’ll know it following his Facebook page.

What about you: Danny Dover’s advices

If you’re inspired by seeking new horizons, traveling around the world, create your Life list or become a globetrotter, start reading more advices from Danny Dover:

Here are Danny’s ideas to inspire you into action if you want to follow his lead and some ideas on what you may encounter if you decide to do something similar.

3 Things to get your started

3 Step Process

3 things you may encounter

Check out the full article here (www.fireitupwithcj.com)

Did you ever took a big decision that changed your life? Do you have a bucket list you would like to turn into “life list”? How much would you dare to decide to leave for more traveling around the world? Share your thoughts and feel free to leave a comment bellow !

The post Would You Dare To Jumpstart A New Life Traveling Around The World ? appeared first on RootsTraveler.

Need to escape for a while? Time to explore outdoors now? Spring is the perfect time for getting back on the road and backpacking – Sicily just offers one of the best playground for hiking lovers and “ends of the earth” seekers: This italian island is a special destination where you have a real sense of getting away from it all!

Discover breath-taking landscapes, turquoise sea, tiny villages, antique temples…From mountains to coastline, through vineyards or volcanos, Sicily is a destination that must definitely fit in your bucket list. And here are 5 reasons I love it!

1- Climb the summit of a volcano and look inside smoking craters

Mt Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano…Don’t miss this backpacking adventure. You can find various trails and level difficulties. If you already climbed a volcano, you know how magic this is. These are unique experiences  and unforgettable moments!

Departure is best around 17h to reach the summit [Stromboli] at sunset and see the spectacle of the volcano at night. The climb is steep but the guide sets the pace and goes up slowly, while making small stops and giving explanations about flora

More on hiking the Stromboli here (from www.unspecial.org)

Mount Etna on Sicily’s east coast rises gracefully from a sapphire sea. The peaceful scene contradicts the power of the most active volcano in Europe. [...] We are drawn to climb the mount because it’s there, because the lunar landscape is so foreign to our every day lives, and because it humbles us in our every day existence.

More on hiking Mt Etna here (from www.eviactive.com)

For walking both Etna and Stromboli + visit the aeolian Island, check out macsadventure tour guide.

2- Walk through Sicilian ancestral cultural heritage

 Sicily’s list of invaders features all the usual suspects: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Spaniards and, more surprisingly, the Normans with their delightful Monty Python–style names (King Roger, William the Bad, Walter the Archbishop…).

Read Sicily history with the Lonely Planet here

Many archeoligal sites, medieval towns, modern cities are to be visited. And sometimes even simple ruins will create stunning views with sunlights. Check out this top 12 list of the main places that you shouldn’t miss (from www.bestofsicily.com)

3- Walk the magnificent natural heritage of Sicily

9 nature reserves protect wildlife and offer wonderful landscapes – both historical and natural.

• Alcantara – The Park of the Alcantara River
• Cavagrande – Sicily’s Canyons
• Pantalica – The “holes” of the Hyblaean Mountains
• The Nebrodi Mountains – The Dolomites of the South
• The Madonie Mountains – A park that is relatively unknown but full of treasures
• Mount Etna – The tallest active volcano in Europe
• The Salt Pans – Sicily’s ancient salt reserves
• Vendicari – Sea, beaches, archeology and nature
• Lo Zingaro – The most fascinating nature reserve in north-east Sicily

Lo Zingaro was the 1st protected area and is know as the most stunning reserve with 10 km of coastline trails, turquoise sea and beautiful creeks.

The Zingaro terrestrial reserve is yet tightly linked to the sea which is not only the geographic limit but also the constant setting of the landscape and the necessary complement of the naturalistic aspects. [...] The itineraries suggested are vary and many. Following the system of signs and being careful in reading the map, everyone can choose the most suitable itinerary.

Read more here on the official Zingaro Reserve website (www.riservazingaro.it)

4- Enjoy the mediterranean food voyage and wine heritage of Sicily

Marzipan, wilde asparagus, salami, gelatina, skordalia, … Slow food, local production are big deals and many recipies are a result of a mix between historical cultures. Food is part of the journey!

Check out this great blog (you’ll also find some great recipies):

The food that I’ll be talking about and cooking for the class reflects the ways Sicilian cuisine has been influenced by the dominant cultures of the Mediterranean from ancient times to the modern day, which includes Greek, Roman, Arabic, French and Spanish cultures.

Read more about it here – (www.allthingssicilianandmore.blogspot.fr)

With more vineyards than any of the other Italian regions, Sicily is a wine country by itself. The most famous is the Marsala, but many others are great to taste…

One of Europe’s oldest viticultural regions still offers some pleasant surprises. Sicily’s oenological history is an ancient one, dating from the time when the island was part of Magna Graecia. One usually associates fine wines with western Sicily or the areas near Mount Etna, but many new wineries have sprung up across the island.

 

Read full article here (from www.bestofsicily.com)

5- Appreciate this easygoing destination all year long

Nice people: We might say Sicilians have a strong local culture, but they still remain italians. Great people, nice language, even with a dynamic tourist activity, they still welcome foreigners and keep authentic.

Cool climate: Hot summer, mild winter, Sicily is ideal to hike from April to november. Summer can be very hot (34-38°C). Only the Sirocco, this African wind affects the weather and brings fresh air or precipitation mainly during spring and fall. Anyway, spring sounds to be the best season to enjoy a great hiking trip.

Easy access: Flights, accommodations, currency (euro), banks, local transportation…Sicily is part of Europe and offers all you need.

Have you ever been to Sicily? Where and how was your trip? If not, do you plan to get there? Please, share your thoughts in the comments bellow and don’t forget to vote on top of this post.

The post 5 Great Reasons To Go Backpacking Sicily appeared first on RootsTraveler.

I never traveled or really thought about Indonesia… But this week, I found a video I really enjoyed [see my post on Facebook April 23]. Everything looks inspiring: Scenic landcapes, people with big smiles, fauna, stunning lights…Indonesia has become one of my top travel destination list !

“Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed”.  When we say Indonesia, one shall first think about Bali, but so many other places are worthwile to explore in this area!  I just wanted to share 2 great places that look like a Must destination when backpacking to Java.

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

David O’Connor, one of the RootsTraveler Facebook fan, shared his favorite spot: Mount Bromo, an active volcanic area East of Java, located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. You can hike the Sand Sea desert walking or horse riding ponies, and get on top of the mount Bromo at early morning to witness the natural beauty of a fascinating sunrise.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers a massive area of 800 square kilometres in the centre of East Java. For anyone with an interest in volcanoes, a visit to the park is a must. This is the largest volcanic region in the province. Visit the park and see the plumes of smoke coming from Mt. Semeru, an active volcano which rises 3676 meters above sea level.

Read full article with great tips here (www.indonesia.travel)

If you can plan your trip in November, make sure you go to Bromo during the annual Kasada festival, when the local Tenggerese come to throw offerings of vegetables, chickens and money into the crater of the volcano. Read this testimonial from this great travelers blog aroundthisworld.com:

4:00AM – The jarring alarm wakes us from our slumber. We force ourselves to get dressed and eat breakfast, despite the darkness. Our 4WD tour departs at 4:30am and we’re on our way thought the hazy fog towards the Bromo volcano. Out of sheer luck, we happened to be visiting on the biggest day of the year for the local Tenggerese people, when they come to the volcano to make their yearly sacrifices as part of the festival of Yadnya Kasada.

Read full article here (www.aroundthisworld.com)

For travelers who are seeking hiking adventure, you can climb Mount Semeru, the highest peak in Java (3 days).

This mountain, also known as the Great Mountain, is regarded by Hindus as the most sacred mountain of all. Getting to the peak is a tough three day trek. Mt Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes on Java and regularly explodes. These gases and belching lava make Semeru dangerous, so stay well away from the vent.

More information here (www.indonesia.travel)

Ujung Kulon National Park

This park is a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1991, located in the extreme soutwestern tip of Java, and encompasses the natural reserve of Krakatoa. Imagine deep blue water and fascinating white sand beaches…

Today, Ujung Kulon National Park is a must-see among backpackers and a refuge for dwindling populations of the Javan rhino and tiger. And while a lack of funding preserves the park’s wilderness, the tangled jungles, climactic electrical storms and a lurking fear of the volcano’s wrath keep many locals away from the exquisite scenery.

Read full article here (from www.nationalgeographic.com)

I like the following blog of Kirsten Bos, Start Backpacking.com. She went to Ujung Kulon National Park and gives some feedback:

You can enjoy the rapid rivers, white beaches and relax in the thermal springs. If you’re done of all the animal spotting at land you can snorkel in the blue see along the coast and check out the coral riff below. You can also go deeper into the water and dive. Or just throw out your fishing rod and catch a nice fish.

Because there are no civilians here, nature just goes its way. You’ll see trees like you’ve never seen them before and animals which can’t be found anywhere in the world.

Full testimonial here (from startbackpacking.wordpress.com)

Indonesia and Java have so many national parks / beautiful islands… it is hard to pretend where you should travel to. Anyway, it is definitely another destination I have on my backpacking bucketlist!!

What about you? Have you been to Indonesia? Did you enjoyed? Is it a country you wish/plan to visit one day?

Please vote at the top of this post and then share your own experience in the comments at the bottom!

The post Backpacking Indonesia – Where Would You Go In Java? appeared first on RootsTraveler.

[Please be patient while the video "Speeding Around The World in Under 5 minutes Time Lapse" is uploading and
be sure you don't stop The Unstoppable World Traveler Spirit serie - read below for more info]

If you see this page featuring the above video, it means that someone from the RootsTraveler community wanted to share this video with you.

This video is only one of “The Unstoppable World Traveler Spirit” serie initiated to inspire people to – at least:

“Once A Year, Once In A Lifetime, Travel Around The World Or Explore The Ends Of The Earth”

Be sure you “share to unstop this video” before you watch it (we appreciate you help spreading the word with this world traveler spirit) and let’s make it even more unstoppable!

By the way, if you want to suggest a video for “The Unstoppable World Traveler Spirit” serie, feel free to contact us.

Be sure you comment below after watching! Did it inspire you?

The post [video #1] The Unstoppable World Traveler Spirit appeared first on RootsTraveler.

Being welcomed abroad by a new community or a family and experiencing life from the “inside” is – as far as I am concerned -  the best thing to look for, almost if you’re a solo traveler looking for a deep cultural experience. Have you ever joined a wedding day in a foreign culture? Experienced a homestay in other cities or villages, uproot and taste pure exotism?

I just discovered this great blog: 90 Second Travel.com, from a young Californian solo traveler who left home after studies, for what he thought was holidays. He started backpacking and hiking around Asia, South and Est Africa. He had this good idea to create video vignettes in 90 seconds format, storytelling his backpacking and hiking adventures.

I really enjoyed this video, as he embraced an impromptu homestay in Nepal and where he shares feelings every traveler discover in foreign countries, when going beyond travel guides.

[Enjoy this video, please be patient while uploading - and don't forget to share if you like it!]

What about you? Have you ever experienced homestays abroad? How did you manage etiquette? Did you felt as a voyeur?

Please vote at the top of this post and then share your own experience in the comments at the bottom!

The post Are You A Voyeur When Backpacking Around The World? appeared first on RootsTraveler.

Reaching end of the earth places, hiking wilde earth has always inspired people: Many artists were and are still looking for this Vertigo. John Muir was one of them. If he was still alive, I wonder how the “Father of the National Parks” would have used video for serving his cause?

Maybe the Muir Project was 1st created with the ambition to answer this question? A collective of artists, music composers, photographers, writers, producers…all adventure seekers completed the John Muir Trail in 2011.

At a glance

They made beautiful hiking films that I really wanted to share with you in case you don’t already know them.

Also enjoy these beautiful landscapes and music. Inspiring!

All these exciting movies had an amazing success and inspired other artists who went hiking Yosemite.

You may be one of the millions of people who viewed the beautiful Yosemite HD timelapse filmed by the Project Yosemite, another group of artists.

This year, The Muir Project and Project Yosemite collaborate on a new thrilling movie. They just released the trailer.

I bet this movie is gonna be Hudge ! Just watch the trailer they released in March:

Yosemite HD II Teaser from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

I would have loved to see how a big man like Muir would have communicated with videos and how he would have captured the way he was looking at Nature. But I admit I feel great emotions with these movies, thus these guys are giving me part of the answer…

What about you? Are these videos creating emotions you feel when hiking or exploring wilde earth?

 Please vote at the top of this post and then share your own experience in the comments at the bottom!

The post What If John Muir Had a Go Pro? – Get Inspiration Hiking Wild Earth appeared first on RootsTraveler.

For those traveling around the world, who wish to hike in England, the South West Coast Path is one of the most stunning walking holidays in this country. Covering over 600 miles it can be split into several beautiful sections.

Cornwall has always been a favourite holiday destination and its dramatic coastline, picturesque villages, vibrant culture and sumptuous cuisine. For those visitors who have travelled to the region, the benefits of a Cornish holiday need no explaining, but for international travelers, who have yet to explore outside of London, a visit to Cornwall will give you a very different taste of English life.

Enjoy this great video to have a taste of it:

I have walked frequently on the paths between St Agnes and the JerichoValley and my boots also practically know each and every curve and turns of the foot-path. This is one of my hot favorite walking destinations and the must-picks of vacationers who want to travel around the world with kids for various reasons.

The long stretches of never ending coastal line are feast for the eyes. The gorgeous beach at Penhale with its turquoise blue water with traces of salt sprinkled in the air. The awesome cliffs bordered by golden-yellow colored gorse, heather, pinkish-white colored thrifts. The easy accessibility and convenient links to all near by pubs and restaurants.

Formerly, St. Agnes was a hub for miners and the ruins of its ancient past can still be seen all along the trails. As per today, this little village is still un spoilt by modern humdrum and is still the hot and loved destination as a family trip or for student travel. The warm villagers, fascinating coastline and golden beaches are always attracting people who want to travel around the world in budget. The village is the right place for walkers as it has all the amenities like furnished cottages, best accommodations, superb cuisine where you can relish on mouth-watering dishes.

As you walk on this path towards South, you will come across a steep climb which is just away from the beautiful Trevaunance Cove. If the tide is low, you can see from above the remnants of former harbor walls, which were washed away by storms in 1915-1916. You may get a chance to see one or two seals which may appear during high tide.

As you walk along the coastal path, you can view some stunning sceneries, but do be careful as part of the pathways are just worn out by time and tide. Just sit and relax on the benches on your path and savor the beauty of Bawden Rocks also called Man and His Man.

As you continue walking towards the inland you will come across:
Beacon which 192-metre high-hill.
Can Brea which is six-miles away.
Padstow – where you can trek and see the surpassing natural beauty.

The Beacon is famous for its amazing legend of a giant named Bolster. The legend goes that Bolster could stand with one foot on Beacon and the other on Can Brea. Stroll along the paths of St. Agnes village which is bustling with locals doing business with people traveling around the world. Stop her and visit some amazing craft shops and art galleries or sip a cup of coffee. If this place has mesmerized you, stay overnight at some good Hotel which provides the best accommodation and services.

Walk ahead and you will see:
Stippy-Stappy – Rows of cottages of sea captains
Trevellas Combe
Jericho Cottage – As the history goes this was once upon a time owned by a well-known Cornish artist John Opie.
Blue Hills Tin Streams – Here you can actually see the traditional way of tin melting.
Trevellas beach – Stop and enjoy paddling on the waters.

From Trevellas beach you walk up hill where the ride is tough steeply ride, but do not worry there are benches for visitors who travel around the world with family. Otherwise peaceful, this area comes to life at Easter where all kinds of cars race on this track.

You can complete your walk in two and half hours, but if you really want to enjoy the century old mystifying beauty of Cornwall, you should tread slowly and complete in four hours. Having done this you can at last behold memories of one of your life’s best holidays traveling around the world.

Have you ever hiked South West England? Where was it? Would you recommend it?

Please vote at the top of this post and then share your own experience in the comments at the bottom!

The post England South West Coast Path: Awesome Hiking Route When Traveling Around The World appeared first on RootsTraveler.