The Delights of Dalyan: Family Fun in Turkey

Turkey is great as a holiday destination, as it’s very accessible, but there are still parts of the country that are off the beaten tourist path. The area around Dalyan, not far from Dalaman on the Turquoise Coast, is one of those parts. Plan a Turkish family holiday and you’ll have a wonderfully relaxing and unforgettably fun time. Here are five things to do on a holiday in Dalyan:

Get muddy

Mud, mud, glorious mud. There’s nothing quite like it for improving your skin tone and keeping the kids entertained. The area around Dalyan is probably best known for its unique sulphur mud baths. Turks and tourists alike flock to the natural pools to cover themselves in the stuff, and take ridiculous photos, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to wallow in goo.

Go white-water rafting

There’s no family bonding exercise quite as effective as the experience of being utterly terrified together. But don’t worry, in reality, white-water rafting isn’t actually scary when you’re with one of the professional guides that manage the trips in the mountains behind Dalyan. Sign up for an afternoon adventure, and you’re bound to have fun. You might even succeed in exhausting the kids enough that you’ll manage to squeeze in a civilised grown-up evening.

See baby turtles

As if the unspoilt Iztuzu beach wasn’t enough of an attraction by itself, it also plays home to lots of turtles, and even a turtle hospital to look after any poorly ones. If you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time of the year, you’ll get the chance to see the babies on the beach. But in any season, the turtle hospital makes a great visit, with lots of information and enthusiastic staff to teach you and the children all about the life of the native turtles.

Visit 12 islands in a day

This special boat trip leaves from the port of Göcek, just near Dalyan, and fills the day with island hopping. You’ll see all sorts of interesting sights, from caves and coves to mini-islands, and you’ll get plenty of chance to relax, soak up the sun, and appreciate the scenery. Don’t forget your snorkeling gear, as the sea life is well worth investigating. Trips usually include lunch and drinks on the boat, too, so it’s a real stress-free experience.

Explore some ancient history

It’s not only history buffs who will appreciate the magnificence of the ancient ruins of Kaunos. The hill top site is accessed by a short boat trip from Dalyan, and a bit of a climb, but it’s worth it. See the rock tombs, a Byzantine basilica, a Roman bath, and the ruins of a large Roman theatre. Then, on the way back down, stop off at one of the little stands lining the path where locals sell lemon and pomegranate juice for a refreshing break.

This article is brought to you by Monarch who offer flights, package holidays, city breaks and hotels to Europe’s top destinations.

More Turkish tales
A sun-soaked coastal holiday on the Turkish Riviera
Visit the Kozak Mountains on a Day Trip from Dikili Turkey
Sightseeing in luxury in Istanbul

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

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Spending a day with the elephants at Chiang Mai Thailand

In this Guest Post Matthew Barby shares his day with the elephants at the Dante Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, riding the elephants and playing with them in the river as well as enjoying the company of Do-do the baby elephant.

I spent some time, along with my partner, in the wonderful city of Chiang Mai in Thailand. Between us we had a long list of things that we wanted to do and places that we wanted to see, with seeing elephants being the prime focus of our excitement.

We had spent a lot of time researching into the best places to go in order to spend time with elephants as well as finding out information on how the elephants are treated in the camps. We decided to visit the Dante Elephant Camp which was around an hour drive away from our hotel, Lanna Mantra, and cost us 2,500 Baht ($85) per person. This cost included the journey to and from the camp, a really good lunch, water throughout the day and a full day (9am-5pm) with the elephants.

There are a lot of elephant camps across Chiang Mai and Thailand in general that really don’t treat the animals well. They are often trained to perform for the tourists, underfed and the mahouts (the elephant trainers) can be overly aggressive. The Dante Elephant Camp couldn’t be farther from this. They have a small amount of elephants on-site, around 15-20 in total, that have been taken in after the use of elephants for logging was made illegal 25 years ago (quite rightly so!).

It was clear to see that all of the mahouts on the camp had a very close, intimate bond with the elephants and would treat them with the utmost respect and care. What was also clear to see was that the elephants were all in really high spirits and were allowed to freely roam around the camp without the restrictions of chains. This was particularly good to see.

The journey to the elephant camp

We were picked up from our hotel at around 8am by one of the camp mahouts, and our bumpy journey up through the scenic jungle areas of Chiang Mai lasted for around an hour. In retrospect, the car journey to the camp was probably more treacherous than balancing on top of the elephants through the day!

Once we arrived at the camp we were told to put on some pretty jazzy clothes that essentially consisted of a top that looked like an old rug stitched together and some extremely baggy trousers. Needless to say, we looked pretty funky! It turned out to be quite fortunate that we were wearing these clothes instead of our own as the elephants seemed to have an unrelenting urge to squirt muddy water at us through their trunks. A charming welcome, I thought.

The first couple of hours were spent with a couple of the mahouts who educated us in the ways of the elephants, spoke to us a bit about the history of the camp and also told us some short commands that the elephants can understand. This was nice to hear because it really assured us and, not least, made us feel comfortable that the mahouts genuinely cared about the welfare of the animals and didn’t just treat them like a tourist commodity. Having said that, the harsh reality is that if they don’t bring in money from tourism then it’s highly unlikely that they will be able to sustain the camp.

Meeting the elephant family

Laura and I were the only ones on the trip so we literally had a free roam of the place without anyone else – which was awesome. I was given the daunting task of being the first to try and get on top of the big bull (oh, and when I say big I mean 3.5m tall big!). The mahouts were pretty good in showing me how ‘easy’ it is to do so, to avoid the risk of being emasculated, I marched up to the big guy, jumped onto his giant leg and, using his ear as a handle, threw myself over his back.

After some readjusting and a bit of a shaky start, (to say the least) I managed to at least look like I had a clue what I was doing on top of an elephant. At first I was pretty careful where I was putting my hands and how I was sitting, primarily because I didn’t want to hurt the elephant, but once I got into the swing of things I soon realised that my weight was nothing to one of these beasts. Bearing in mind that elephant skin is over 3cm in thickness, you can pretty much grab them anywhere to steady yourself and they will hardly feel it.

After some brief pottering around on the camp, we were ready to go off for a little trek through the forest. Laura was on-board one of the female elephants that was with calf, whilst I was on-board the bull. It was really great going out with the whole elephant family and added to the intimacy of the whole experience. ‘Do-do’ the young calf was like a human toddler; ambling around aimlessly under the close supervision of her mother, she was constantly looking for the next distraction to wander over to. She found particular interest in our shoes at the start of the trip which was really funny – well, it was at least funny for the mahouts as they watched me having to chase after Do-do to get my sodden flip-flop out of her mouth!

Bathing the Elephants in the River

After around 20 minutes of trekking through the forest we stopped by a river so that they elephants could cool off and get a drink. This also gave us the opportunity to grab a bucket and brush in order to give them all a good wash. This was great fun as we got to splash around with the elephants in the water and also get all of the dirt out of their skin.

When we first got to the river, the two adult elephants slowly crept into the water and started to submerge themselves. Once Laura and I had seen that they were in and comfortable we went to get in ourselves. The next thing we know, little Do-do has dived head-first between us and all that could be seen were her four legs up in the air along with her tiny trunk – like I said, just like a little mischievous toddler!

After some splashing around, we let the elephants wander off and share some valuable social time together. It was really amazing to see how maternal the mother is to her calf and you could see that as soon as little Do-do tried to run off and play with some stick that she has just found, Mum was there to reel her in. One thing that I didn’t realise until the mahouts told me was that elephants stay pregnant for around 22 months, so you can see why their bond is so strong.

Once the elephants had taken in some final slurps of water, we got back on top of them and rode them back to the camp, which was about 15 minutes away. By this point I felt a lot more comfortable and was riding my luck using no hands. That is until the big man decided he wanted to tear down a huge branch from the tree above me and nearly threw me down with it!

Final Impressions of the elephant camp

By the time we arrived back at the camp, both myself and Laura couldn’t quite believe what we had been spending our day doing. It really was a fantastic experience that not many people will have the opportunity of ever doing so I couldn’t recommend it more.

The Dante Elephant Camp that we went to actually brought down a photographer along with us through the trip and took some amazing shots along the way. We then had the chance to look through the photos at the end and pay a small price to get them put on a CD at the end. One of the mahouts also took along our camera and took a load of photos as we went, so they didn’t try to force you into buying the photos at all and we came back with hundreds of shots in the end.

All in all, a perfect trip. Although it may seem quite expensive at first, the Dante Elephant Camp prides itself in the correct treatment of its animals and it was clear to both me and Laura that this was definitely the case. My advice would be that if you do decide on going with a different camp, make sure that you do your research. I’ve heard of many people coming back upset about the state of the animals and the way they were treated at certain camps and that will just ruin your whole experience. On top of this, it is great to know that your money is going to a good and moral cause.

If you’ve spent any time at one of the many elephant camps in Thailand then let me know by leaving a message in the comments box below. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the differing experiences that people have had that could also provide good advice to other readers.

Many thanks for this article to Matthew Barby, owner of the Melted Stories travel blog. He’s an avid traveller and loves throwing himself into new experiences. Alongside this he has a passion for music, online marketing and is a complete social media addict. You can follow Matt on Twitter and Google+ to hear all of his latest ramblings.

More tales about elephants

Elephants encounters at Chiang Mai – in Thailand
My daughter’s elephant safari in Chitwan, Nepal
An encounter with the Desert Elephants of Namibia

This guest post is originally published by Heather Cowper at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

 Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

A day out in Barcelona for the family

Barcelona is a fantastic place to go as a couple for a city break but there are also a wide range of great attractions and activities that are fun for the whole family. From theme parks and zoos, to museums and breathtaking sights, you are guaranteed a family holiday to remember in Barcelona.

Tibidabo Mountain – more than just the Amusement Park

Take a train from the city centre and then change to the Tramvia Blau tram to take you halfway up the Tibidabo Mountain. Taking a funicular train from the halfway point to the top, you will find the Tibidabo Amusement Park waiting for you on the summit. Before introducing the family to the rides and mayhem inside the gates, take some time to enjoy the gorgeous views of Barcelona from the top of the mountain. There is also a beautiful church to explore at the summit, which is well worth a peek before the amusement park. Take the Tibidabo Sky Walk, which offers stunning surroundings and views, and was the location Woody Allen chose for filming ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’.

The amusement park itself is over a hundred years old, making it one of the oldest in the world. Aside from the obvious theme park attractions: rides, restaurants, picnic sites, Tibadabo Amusement Park also features the curious Automaton Museum, which contains some fascinating examples of late 19th century and early 20th century automata. The exhibits in the museum are in excellent condition and the collection is widely acknowledged as amongst the finest in the world. You can easily spend a full day at the summit of Tibidabo, however don’t lose track of the park closing time or you could face substantial queues for the return journey downhill, or worse, find yourself stranded at the top of a mountain!

Hands-on science and historical experiences

Barcelona has plenty standard city attractions, such as the aquarium at Port Vell and the nearby IMAX cinema. At the aquarium, children may be able to engage in ‘Sleeping with Sharks’. This is an event where 8-12 year old kids are given the chance to spend the night at the aquarium, following a programme of educational activities. The Cosmocaixa Science Museum features an outstanding recreation of the Amazonian rainforest ecosystem, with piranhas, crocodiles and other animal and plant species. Kids will also go wild for the Museu de la Xocolata (Chocolate Museum), which, alongside learning about chocolate’s cultural and historical impact, features activities and workshops for a more hands-on experience of the sweet stuff!

More out of the ordinary attractions include the fascinating Poble Espanyol, a real village comprising of a range of streets and squares, free of traffic and surrounded by lush greenery. The Poble Espanyol is an open-air museum, with full-scale replicas of 117 buildings from different parts of Spain. The Poble was built on Montjuïc Mountain, for the 1929 International Exhibition. In addition to an engaging experience of authentic Spanish architecture, the Poble Espanyol also comprises over 40 arts and crafts workshops selling one-off signature pieces. The ‘Poble for Kids’ programme organises activities such as performances and interactive workshops for children.

To feast kids’ eyes as much as their minds, take them up to the observation deck of the Mirador-Collserola Tower, 560m above sea level. From there, it is possible to see 70km views of Barcelona. However, you will need to pre-book a taxi to get there. It is worth asking your Barcelona airport transfer taxi driver when you arrive about how much they’d charge to get you to the tower. For a short drive, the views make the experience utterly worthwhile.

Breathtaking views

And, if it’s views you’re after, you could do much worse than visiting the Montjuïc Magic Fountain, at the end of Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, during one of the famous displays. During the spring and summer, displays take place every Thursday to Sunday night, from 9-11:30pm (Fri and Sat 7-9pm in winter). The displays are absolutely spectacular: moving water jets, lit in a shifting spectrum of colour, synchronised with light and music. Sometimes, the displays are accompanied by large firework displays, making the spectacle all the more breathtaking.

These are just a few ideas for the myriad ways you and your family can enjoy Barcelona. There are few cities in the world as vibrant, safe and engaging as Barcelona, where a new adventure is around every corner.

This article is brought to you by Holiday Taxis and Holiday Transfers, offering top quality airport transfer service from thousands of destinations at an affordable price.

Photo credits: Barcelona Tbidabo by Shaun Woods, Barcelona Cosmocaixa Science Museum by Wojtek Gurak, Poble Espanyol de Montjuic by gadgetdan, Collserola Tower by Oh-Barcelona.com, and Barcelona Montjuïc Magic Fountain by Christian Baudet.

For more info on Barcelona

Montjuïc in Barcelona – the hill that has it all
Barcelona: Portal to the Fantasy World of Gaudi

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com - Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

 Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

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