Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Travelationship
By: Heather
We didn’t quite have it in us to put together a comprehensive, full-year review. So, we did the next best thing. We created our Top 10 Adventures List for 2016 on our Instagram page.
If you missed it or wanted a bit more information on each adventure, here are our Favorite Adventures from 2016.
Travelationship’s Favorite Adventures of 2016
10 | The Trains in Sri Lanka
We are fans of most train travel, and the trains in Sri Lanka proved to be some of our favorites. Not all the trains or routes are desirable in Sri Lanka, but the ones traversing the Central and Northern regions are particularly remarkable. The trains are old and rickety (but comfortable) with open doors and windows, which is the best part. Hanging your head or body out the doors and windows is exhilarating, liberating, beautiful, and all part of the fun. Don’t worry; it isn’t a requirement to dangle in the breeze, and the views can be seen from the comfort of your train seat.
9 | Hiking Bac Ha with Za
When you click with someone so perfectly, you know that feeling as if you’d know them forever? Well, that is Za! Everything about our experience hiking with Za in Bac Ha, Vietnam, made and left us feeling like we belonged – like family. Za grew up in Bac Ha, and she comes from a long line of rice farmers. To supplement her income and provide for her family, she started taking visitors on walks throughout the hills of Bac Ha.
During our hike, she gave us information regarding the history of the area and the tribes, taught us about rice farming, introduced us to her family, fed us in her home, presented us with stunning views of the villages from atop the Bac Ha hills and cultivated the love we developed for the country of Vietnam. Our time with Za ranks in the top 10 of all our travel experiences EVER. Our day with her was that special.
If you want to learn more about Za and hike with her, check out her website.
8 | Road Tripping New Zealand
New Zealand ended up being better than we imagined. We knew it would be beautiful and green, but it was even more than that. Since we only had two weeks and decided to stay on the North Island. While we saw a lot, we felt like we missed a lot, too. For such a remote location, the opportunities for outdoor adventures are endless. Our favorite places were Cape Palliser and the Coromandel Peninsula.
Next time we will be heading straight for the South Island!
7 | Temples of Angkor & Koh Ker
We went to see the temples of Angkor and left believing the temples in Koh Ker should also be on everyone’s “must-see” list. We will stress to anyone who hasn’t invested in a registered guide for at least one of your temple tour days. The history and little details the guide provides are worth every cent and more. We spent three days visiting Angkor and one day visiting Koh Ker. We felt our time was well used and didn’t feel like we missed out on too much. So much would have been missed if we had gone for only a day. We highly recommend spending more than one day taking in the history and sites of the temples.
6 | Creating & Sustaining Travelationships with our Friends and Family
One of our absolute favorite things while traveling is meeting people! We have met quite a few of our lifelong friends while we visited countries worldwide. To have the pleasure to plan meetups around the world with our family members and friends we have met throughout our lives is extraordinary. This year we were able to meet up with quite a few peeps, and we were grateful for every one of them. Sadly, plans don’t always pan out, and a few of our travelationships were put aside due to illness, timing, or money, but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep trying.
5 | House, Farm, Guest House Sitting in Central France
Yes, that’s right, we housesit while we travel, and we love it! We use TrustedHousesitters.com to find our sits and have not been disappointed. In 2016 we sat for two farms (1 in Central France and 1 in Southern France) and one cat breeder in Cairns, Australia. We had a blast at all 3, but our Central France opportunity stole our hearts. Our hosts, their animals, and their property location were perfect for us. Plus, we were there during lambing season and got to play with lots of sheep and lambs, a silly dog and cat, and two horses.
Housesitting is a fantastic way to save on expenses while traveling. There are many different sitting sites online. We happen to use TrustedHousesitters.com and would recommend them.
4 | Road Tripping Namibia
We had about two weeks to drive as much of Namibia as we were able. First, I will say we wish we had more time in Namibia! It is unbelievable. The only way to see it is by renting a truck and road-tripping. Technically, it isn’t the only way to see it, but it’s the only way we would recommend seeing it. There are several different ways to road trip Namibia and whatever way you choose, know the drive times take longer than you think. As long as you expect the long drive times, you can plan stops accordingly and keep the journey fun.
The diversity in Namibia is immense – think wild animals in national parks, temperamental coastlines, shipwrecks, abandoned buildings, ghost towns, delicious schnitzel (yes, as in authentic German schnitzel. Namibia was colonized by Germany), sandy deserts, massive rock canyons, ancient stone carvings, hiking and laid back towns throughout.
Namibia should be high on your Must Vist list if you love the outdoors!
3 | Chobe River & Okavango Delta, Botswana
I have a confession to make…I went into Botswana not expecting much. We had been on several safaris in the past, and I assumed the safaris in Botswana would be similar. I was so wrong! Botswana safaris center around water – the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta, and where there is water, there are lots of animals. The Chobe River boat safaris are amazeballs! The sunset tours were particularly incredible. Watching elephants roll in the river is pure joy in your eyes. We didn’t see as many animals on the ground while we were in the Okavango Delta, but when we took a Mack Air GA8 Airvan flight over the delta, it was straight out of a movie. In hindsight, I would recommend the door/windowless helicopter tour over the airplane tour due to hazy windows on the plane vs. no window on the helicopters – Better photos.
2 | Orangutans in Borneo
Orangutans are a critically endangered species and to have seen a few in their natural environment was extraordinary. We took a 2-night riverboat tour in the Tanjung Puting National Park with Orangutan Applause to view these magnificent creatures in their habitat. Before we saw our first orangutan, we visibly noticed the cut-down & burned forests. We learned from our guide that the biggest threat to these animals’ survival is the Palm Oil Industry cutting down the woods where they live. The majority of the world’s population uses at least 1 (but usually many) products containing palm oil daily. If we would all be more conscious of the products we purchase and find alternatives to palm oil use, the orangutans would have an increased survival rate.
To get you started on learning more about decreasing your use of Palm Oil products, check out the articles below:
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Are You Eating Dirty Oil? The Environmental Impacts of the Palm Oil Industry
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5 Simple ways we can all help save orangutans and their homes
1 | Goroka Show in Papua New Guinea
To put the Goroka Show experience into words is problematic because it truly is in a class of its own when it comes to cultural shows. Papua New Guinea is well known for its cultural performances, with the Goroka Show being arguably the best. For three days, over 100 tribes come from all over Papua New Guinea to display and educate the public and other tribes about their tribes and villages. The show is designed for both locals and foreigners in mind, and the spectacle of costumes, dancing, and singing is wonderfully overwhelming and awe-inspiring.
Even months later, we are in wonder over the people we met, what we learned, saw, and heard over those three days in Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
Click our link for more information on traveling to Papua New Guinea to see the Goroka Show.
Now it’s your turn. Did any of your favorite adventures make our list?
Tell us about your favorite adventure from 2016!
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