If you are looking for a unique experience or a journey down the road less traveled, you will definitely want to take a trip to northern Kenya to visit the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. This is not your traditional African safari; the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy stands alone with its sights and accommodations.

Originally, the conservancy was a cattle ranch until the late 1970s, but when endangerment of the animals became a concern, steps were taken to protect them.  The Black Rhinos are an example of a species that desperately needed the Lewa Conservancy to implement measures to protect them from poaching. Currently, the conservancy raises funds to promote awareness and generally protect the natural resources in Kenya. A large portion of these funds come from tourism, so the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy encourages guests to visit.

A visit to the conservancy will allow you the opportunity to see a diverse mix of wildlife. Along with the black rhinos, the cheetahs and giraffes are also guest favorites. Both day and night game watches are available to visitors. These popular adventures put you in an open four-wheel drive vehicle where knowledgeable guides will point out the flora and fauna of the area. Another experience available to guests is the bush walk, where guests can discover the lush landscape on foot with guides.  This is an up-close and personal encounter with the conservancy which is led by guides.

Along with the adventures of the game watches and bush walk, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy also has modern accommodations to make guests overall stay very pleasant. There are spa treatments, massages, local cuisine and delicious cocktails available to all guests.

As you can see, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is in a class all its own when it comes to an African wildlife adventure. Any trip to the conservancy will be filled with beautiful landscapes, majestic animals and memories that will last a lifetime.

In 1898, European travelers reported seeing an enormous sea snake traveling through the waters of the Ha Long Bay. This legend gave birth to the Western idea of the Asian dragon, in fact, Ha Long Bay is also known as the Bay of the Descending Dragons. There might be myths born in this area, however locals of the Quảng Ninh province view the Ha Long Bay as a center of culture, history and biodiversity. You might not see dragons gliding through the bay, however you will encounter unmatched beauty, endemic species and hundreds of islands.

Ha Long Bay was once famous for limestone islands, limitless caves and beautifully balanced flora and fauna. Yet like most popular destinations, human influence has slowly degraded the area. Because of this, interest in eco-friendly tours has blossomed and many travel agencies have begun to develop ways to reduce human impact on the natural beauty of the Bay. Even if travelers elect to not plan trips with travel agencies who specialize in eco-friendly tours, they are urged to be aware of littering and to respect the natural treasures of the Bay.

Most visitors to the Ha Long Bay travel the 170 kilometers from Hanoi to get to Ha Long Bay. This may sound daunting; however this trip allows visitors to take in beautiful Vietnamese scenery in a leisurely way. It is possible to arrange these tours via individual hotels, but it is less expensive to contact a travel agent while in Hanoi.

The Ha Long Bay is definitely one of Vietnam’s most beautiful destinations and. If you are planning on visiting Vietnam, you won’t want to skip a trip to Ha Long Bay

Tibet is a culturally rich destination that is perfect for anyone looking for more than the usual. To learn a little bit more about Tibet, Destination Specialist Justin Huff answered five common questions travelers have when considering Tibet as a travel destination.

1) What are some exciting places to visit in Tibet?

Most of the exciting places in Tibet are very hard to reach. For instance, Mount Kailash is spectacular for those who choose to journey off the beaten path. Another great place to visit in Tibet is Lhasa, which is the capital. Here you can see the beautiful monasteries and palaces.  I highly recommend visiting Potala Palace. For those that do plan a journey to Tibet, it is essential to allow yourself ample time to see everything it has to offer.

2) When is the best time of year to visit?

Visiting Tibet in the winter months is not ideal. Travelers will enjoy more accommodating weather during May and June. July can become very busy with tourists, but if you don’t mind crowds it is also a good month to visit. I recommend avoiding visiting Tibet in March as there are a lot of demonstrations stemming from when the Dalai Lama was expelled from Tibet.

3) What is Tibet best known for?

Tibet is known as the epitome of adventure travel. Some consider it to be the farthest reaches of the Earth. This destination is perfect for the adventurous travel who wants to feel like they are the farthest away from home that they have ever been.

4) What is the cuisine of Tibet like?

The cuisine in Tibet is very hearty. The most common thing you will find on the menu is yak. Yak burgers, steaks, sandwiches and more are readily available. One very good Tibetan dish is momo. These thick dumplings filled with yak meat are a Tibetan delicacy. If you are not into yak, there are also delicious and spicy soups available.

5) Is there any special wildlife in the area?

Tibet is not widely known for its wildlife. If you travel off of the beaten path a bit, it is possible to catch a glimpse of snow leopards. Overall, people usually come to Tibet for culture and scenery rather than wildlife.

When planning a trip to Costa Rica, it is highly recommended to travel to Guanacaste where you can find Rincon de la Vieja. This volcano is a great place to go with family to enjoy that natural beauty that Costa Rica has to offer as well as engage in some adventurous activities. Whether you want to zip-line through the jungle, hike up the mountain, tour the landscape on horseback or relax under a waterfall, Rincon de la Vieja has it all!

The area surrounding Rincon de La Vieja is the most active geothermal area in the Guanacaste Mountain Range. While this may sound scary, the geothermic activity actually produces very therapeutic mud pools and warm springs. These are a pleasure to experience and mud baths are actually considered a great way to relieve a sore body after a long day of exploring the area.

If you are a horse lover, you are in luck! The region surrounding Rincon de La Vieja is renowned for horses and cattle ranching. A horseback tour up the mountain is an absolute must! Taking in the view of the while on horseback is a very calming and quiet experience. If horseback is a little too slow for your tastes, you can also elect to take an ATV tour through the same routes.

While mud baths and horseback tours are very enjoyable, there are few other activities that get your blood pumping like a zip line canopy tour. Flying through the jungle while attached to an overhead cable not only exhilarating, but also allows you to have spectacular views of some of the most remote areas of the mountain. It’s possible to find zip line canopy tours all over Costa Rica, however some of the best are located at Rincon de la Vieja.

Selecting an agency to plan a luxury tour can be a nerve racking process. There should be a lot of research and comparing when narrowing down your final choices. While many companies can get you to your desired destination, Big Five strives to create an unforgettable travel experience from start to finish. Why should you choose Big Five? Here are 6 reasons!

  1. Pricing – We pride ourselves in providing luxury travel and experiences for affordable prices. Negotiation is an option with Big Five.
  2. White Glove Service – Our travelers’ overall experience is our top priority. Our White Glove Service ensures that our travelers are taken care of from start to finish. Traveling can be unpredictable, so rest assured that we have you covered no matter what situation might arise.
  3. Trained Staff – Our staff is highly trained and friendly. No matter what destination you choose to explore, we have someone who is an expert and is able to answer all of your questions.
  4. Personal Attention – Personal service is very important for us! You will always have an agent available to assist you.
  5. Quick Responses to Questions – If you have questions, we have answers! Our knowledgeable staff can have all of your questions answered thoroughly and quickly.
  6. Customized Travel – Every tour is different and should be treated as such. We pride ourselves on our ability to combine knowledge with creativity in order to create a travel experience that is unique to each traveler.

If you have wanted to plan a trip and are overwhelmed by the choices that come with selecting a travel agency, rest assured that Big Five takes the stress out of planning a luxury tour. Now that you know who you should travel with, where would you like to go?

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