4 Ways to Prepare For Your First Off-Road Adventure

Off-roading has become one of the most popular ways of travelling in recent years. Especially in countries where you have loads of open spaces and long roads connecting you to everything. It's a chance to really break free from the typical travel lifestyle and explore things outside of the busy cities around you. Some popular off-roading travel destinations include Australia, USA and Europe. Regardless of where you want to explore, it's crucial to be prepared!

Not sure where to start? Don't worry we've got you covered. Below, you'll find a few ways to prepare for your very first off-road adventure:

Plan a Rough Route

The cool thing about road trips and off-roading is that you don't need to be too structured. In fact, some of the best travel experiences are found when you discover unplanned things. So, you don't need to create a very strict schedule or route for this trip. However, it certainly helps if you have a rough idea in your head, just to give you a sense of direction during your journey. 

For example, pick a country or place that you want to travel around, and pinpoint some areas to visit. This should create a very rough plan of action, letting you know where to drive every day. What you do along the way is entirely up to you, and it's okay to get sidetracked! But, this rough route exists to stop you from wasting petrol by driving around aimlessly with no direction whatsoever. 

Make Sure You Have the Right Vehicle for the Job

You've planned a route, but now you have arguably the most important task. Going on a road trip means you need to have a car or vehicle to take you everywhere. While this may seem simple, there are certain vehicles that are more suitable than others. For instance, will you go on an off-road adventure in a Mini Cooper? Unless you want to have an awful experience and wreck your car, the answer is a resounding no. 

In reality, you need a car that can stand up to hours of driving in harsh conditions. You might spend a lot of time off the beaten track, traversing through fields, forests, mountain ranges, and deserts. Therefore, you need a 4x4 vehicle at the very least. Not only that, but you need to equip it with the right wheels and tyres for the job. This will include tyres with enough grip to withstand lots of driving, and wheels that are big enough to handle harsh terrains. Thankfully, you can find wheel and tyre packages that should help you get what you need. Thus, you'll be in a position to drive around without worrying if your car can handle it. 

What Sort of Car Should You Choose?

It honestly depends on what your preferences are. As mentioned, a 4x4 is ideal, but there are many variants of this vehicle. Some solid advice is to maybe get a car that's spacious. Why? Because you can bring lots of things with you - like camping equipment - and it can provide a more comfortable emergency sleeping environment. You never know, you may find yourself tired after a day of driving, with nowhere near to camp. So, you have to pull over and sleep in your car. This is much easier when your car is large enough!

Pack All of the Essentials

You say that camping equipment was mentioned above, and this is one of the many things you should bring on your off-roading adventure. The whole point of this travel journey is that you avoid doing normal touristy things - like staying in hotels. Instead, you may find campsites to stay in, or you'll have to create your own camp off-road. In either case, you will need some basic camping supplies to ensure you're comfortable. This should include:

• A big enough tent

• A portable stove

• A cooler box for food/drink

• Sleeping bags/blankets

• Pillows

• Spare tent spikes in case yours break or go missing

You can probably think of other things you might need while camping, but these are the essentials. Still, your packing won't stop there! You also need to bring other key things for a road trip adventure. Here are a few more suggestions:

• A car emergency repair kit

• At least one spare tyre

• A first aid kit

• Portable chargers (preferably solar-charged ones)

• A map and compass (just in case you lose signal on your phone)

• Emergency flares

• Adequate amounts of clothing (don't forget warm clothing as it can get cold at night)

• A decent supply of water

• Non-perishable food

• Sun protection

Again, your list of supplies can be much longer than this. Already, you can see why you'd need a large vehicle for this trip! One thing that wasn't mentioned in the very first tip is that planning your route lets you stop at towns or cities for supply runs. You'll notice that food and drink are on your supplies list, but they can run out quite quickly. This is why you need to plan to visit some towns to go shopping and top up your food stores - especially water.

Learn How to Put Up a Tent

Lastly, you need to prepare for your trip by learning how to put up a tent and take it down. As mentioned a few times, camping will be your main way of sleeping during this adventure. Ideally, you won't be on your own. Travelling with more than one person is the best way to enjoy an off-road travel adventure! Still, everyone needs to practice how to put up a tent, so you can get it up as soon as possible. This will come in handy when the weather conditions aren't great and you need some cover straight away. It also helps you avoid hours of frustration every night of your trip!

There you have it: four ways you can prepare for your first off-road adventure. It's a brilliant way to travel, but you need to make sure everything is planned out beforehand. Now, all that's left is to go back to the first tip and start planning your route!

Have you ever gone off-roading before? What tips and tricks do you have to add to the list?

And until next time...

Stay Curious!

5 Ways Travel Can Completely Enrich Your Life

Sometimes in life, you simply want a vacation that allows you to relax and recharge the batteries. That is fine. Still, as society has developed, an increasing number of holidaymakers seek trips that will enhance their futures. The great news is that those opportunities are greater than ever.

No two people are the same, but most people share fairly similar aspirations for how to enhance their lives. Here are five ways travel can deliver the answers you crave.

Travel Can Make You Healthier

Once upon a time, vacations were spent eating and drinking yourself into worse health than when you arrived. In today's world, though, getting fitter is a key part of the holiday adventures. Trekking and fitness retreats are great for physical health. However, the best trips focus on mindset shifts that can inspire change that follows you back home. Visit taichiforhealthinstitute.org to learn more about martial arts and meditation. It could spark a lifestyle change that makes you healthier than you ever thought possible.

Travel Can Aid Your Career

For many people, holidays offer a chance to get away from the workplace. Under the right circumstances, though, it can additionally serve as the perfect route to a better career. Extended breaks to a new country can be used to learn a new language. Alternatively, you may wish to use a vacation as your chance to investigate the possibility of relocating for a new career. In this case, you can begin to network and discover the possible opportunities while you're away too. 

Travel Can Change Your Outlook On Life

It's the oldest cliché in the book, but travel truly broadens the mind. Visiting popular places blessed with different cultures, such as Delhi, won't only create magic moments. It encourages you to reevaluate your perception of key aspects of life. Knowledge is power, and the insight allows you to make calculated choices in a wide range of topics. From religious to historical insights, those features are very rewarding in modern society. Embrace it.

Travel Can Inspire Confidence

A lack of self-confidence is one of the most common issues to impact millennials and younger generations. Volunteering schemes allow you to see new parts of the world while embracing the best of group vacations and solo travel. Visit www.oysterworldwide.com to learn more about the plethora of rewards on offer. Meanwhile, you are more likely to lose inhibitions while you're on vacation. This means pushing yourself to take on challenges you'd avoid in normal life. The rewards are huge.

Travel Can Help You Find Love

In truth, you probably don't want to sign up for a vacation that promises to help you find love. Nonetheless, the relaxed vibes can support your bid to find romance. Moreover, you can combine your passion for travel with your hobbies by following your favourite band on tour or the sports team you love. The fact that you will be surrounded by people with at least one joint interest will serve you well. Of course, falling in love isn't the reason for taking a trip. But if it happens, that's truly magical.

What is your reason for travelling? If you haven't travelled much before, what's stopped you? Share your stories in the comments below!

And until next time...

Stay curious!

6 Must See Places in Egypt

Egypt has something to offer everyone. Apart from fascinating, historic treasures that date back to some of the earliest civilizations, it is home to tombs, ancient Pharaohs, pyramids, and temples that will dazzle you. With vast desert tracts, the famous River Nile, and even some incredible scuba diving spots, you will have a lot to see and do during your tour. Egypt is perfect for a variety of activities related to adventure, relaxation and culture. Here are some of our top picks of must-visit locations on your next trip to Egypt.

How to Spend 24 Hours in San Francisco

San Francisco is still one of my favourite cities in the world. No matter how many places I've travelled, there is something about SF that will forever hold my heart. There is so much to do, so much to see. I honestly feel like even if I lived there, I would not be able to take in all the incredible places the city has to offer.

I'm not going to lie, this post is going to cover a lot of touristy areas of San Francisco. If touristy places aren't your jam, make sure to check out some of our other posts on San Francisco. However, if you've never been to San Francisco, and you only have 24 hours to spend, I've come up with a fun itinerary that will allow you to hit some of the most iconic spots of SF. 

The Golden Gate Bridge

It does not matter how many times I've been to San Francisco, I always love catching a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. I highly recommend starting or ending your day here, so you're able to see the sunrise or sunset. If you're an early bird, get up and watch the sunrise over the bridge. You can grab an on the go brekkie and walk across the bridge. If walking really isn't your jam, go down to the beach and get some incredible views of the Golden Gate that most tourists skip out on. 

Treat Your Self at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

Now I may not be the biggest chocolate fan, but I would never skip a trip to Ghirardelli. It's only about an hours walk from the Golden Gate Bridge so you'll definitely have earned some yummy chocolate. The gorgeous brick facade of the buildings sets a beautiful backdrop if you want to snap the perfect Insta photo. Make sure to take one of the chocolate tours, so you're able to try some of the chocolatey goodness. If you want a bit more of a rest, there are a few different restaurants but a lot of outdoor seating. Ghiradelli Marketplace is located relatively close to the water so you could always grab a treat and sit and people watch or continue your San Francisco tour. 

Eat Come Clam Chowder

From Ghiradelli Marketplace, I highly recommend walking through Fisherman's Wharf on your way to Pier 39. Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most iconic spots in San Francisco. You'll find a ton of souvenir shops, tons of fresh fish and crab, and some of the best clam chowder you've ever eaten. Hear me out on this one. So before I learned I was celiac but well aware I was allergic to seafood, I would always indulge in a delicious cup of chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. They are a must-have when in SF! If clam chowder isn't your thing, there are still many places to eat so you'll definitely be able to find something you love. 

See the Sea Lions at Pier 39

After indulging in some more incredible food (this 24 hours may be turning into an eat your way through SF itinerary), make you way down to Pier 39. 

Catch a Ride on the Historic Streetcars 

At this point, you're probably getting a little walked out. So now is the perfect time to hop on the historic SF trolleys and get a better view of the city. If you're lucky enough to snag one of the spots on the outside of the trolley, you'll not only get some incredible views but some stunning photos as well. 

Just make sure you plan your route before you head to your next spot. Not all the trolleys take the same route. And depending on where you're headed, you may have to transfer a couple of times to get to your location. Even if you have nowhere in mind, the trolleys are always a pretty cool experience. 

Roll Down (or Drive) the Crooked Road 

Now, pending you did your research and got on the correct trolley, you can travel to the base of Lombard Street. Lombard Street is one of the most iconic places in SF because it is one of the most crooked streets in the world. 

If you decided to skip the trolley ride, it is an easy walk from Pier 39. It should roughly take you a half an hour to reach the base of Lombard Street. From there, you can decide whether or not you want to hike up to the top of the street and roll your way down. 

Do Some Shopping at Union Square

Before y'all come for me, I know there isn't any real shopping AT Union Square. But getting to Union Square before starting your shopping spree is a bit easier than going to any specific shop. There are a number of shops surrounding Union Square but if you want more of a mall experience, simply walk down towards Market Street and splurge at the Westfield Shopping Centre and the surrounds shops. 

Heading towards Union Square also puts you close to Chinatown and Dragon's Gate. This way, if you're really not much of a shopper, you're still able to take in some of the rich cultural heritage of SF. Chinatown is actually the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. There is so much to do and see so you won't be disappointed stopping here. 

Catch Some Incredible Views at Coit Tower

Another great place to either start or end your San Francisco trip. This tower offers impressive panoramic views of the city. It's a bit pricey to get to the top; however, the views will help you to truly appreciate the beauty of San Francisco. If there is a line to get up to the top of the tower, you'll have plenty of murals to help keep you distracted. 

It is hard to get a true taste of just how incredible San Francisco is in 24-hours, but you can at least try. Have you ever visited San Francisco? If so, share your favourite part in the comments below!

And until next time...

Stay curious!