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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Brazil

By on 8. October 2015 in Brazil

Breathtaking Beaches, Splendid Colonial Cities, Unique Wildlife, Rio de Janeiro & … The Greatest Melting Pot!

View of Rio de Janeiro & the Pao de Acucar from Morro de Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

View of Rio de Janeiro & the Pao de Acucar from Morro de Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In 2007, I spent 4 weeks in Brazil and entered the country from Venezuela, discovering Manaus, Recife & Olinda, Fernando de Noronha, Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo. In 2015, I spent 6 weeks there and visited Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto & Tiradentes), Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande, Iguazu (both Brazilian & Argentinian sides), Bonito, the Northern Pantanal (entering from Cuiaba and going to Porto Jofre), Brasilia & last but not least Sao Paulo. Continue Reading →

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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Vietnam

By on 6. April 2015 in Vietnam

An Amazing Experience… If You Go Off The Beaten Track!

Full Moon Festival, Old Town of Hoi An, Vietnam

Full Moon Festival, Old Town of Hoi An

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

We visited Vietnam twice: in 2003, we spent 4 weeks there, discovering the main highlights of a country that was already popular but not overrun: Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay and last but not least SaPa.

In 2015, Gilles spent 5 weeks there alone, and tried to visit, along with the main “highlights”, some lesser known parts of the country: Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Tam Coc, Halong Bay, Hanoi, Sapa & Bac Ha.

Continue Reading →

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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Cambodia

By on 1. January 2015 in Cambodia

There Is Much More Than “Only” Angkor Wat

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

Monks in Front of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Monks in Front of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Our two trips to Cambodia could not have been more different from each other. In July 2008, during our Round The World Trip, we spent two weeks there. We crossed the border from Laos on foot and checked out mainly Phnom Penh and of course Siem Reap, where we spent one week exploring many Angkor Temples. We finally crossed Tonlé Sap to reach Battambang, from where we headed overland to Thailand.

In December 2014, Gilles accompanied his father on his “Bucket List Trip” through Cambodia for three weeks, going On and Off The Beaten Track. We first spent one week in Siem Reap to see the most famous and the more remote temples of Angkor. Then we did a 10 day loop through the Northwest of Cambodia, where we were the only tourists. The common trip ended with several days in Phnom Penh, before Gilles headed alone to Kampot & Kep on the Coast and finally to Vietnam. Continue Reading →

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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Laos

By on 15. December 2014 in Laos

Asia’s Most Relaxed Destination

Hmong New Year's Celebration - Phonsavanh

Hmong New Year’s Celebration – Phonsavanh

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

Our two trips to Laos could not have been more different from each other. In June 2008, during our Round The World Trip, we spent one month in this charming country. We crossed the border from China on foot and started in Luang Nam Tha, where we trekked Luang Nam Tha National Park, then headed for popular Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng & Vientiane. Some of the lesser-known places we visited were Phonsavanh & the Plain of Jars, Kong Lo Cave, Pakse & the Bolaven Plateau and last but not least 4.000 Islands.

In November 2014, Gilles accompanied his father on his “Bucket List Trip” during 10 days in Laos, focusing more on well-trodden paths: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Phonsavanh and finally Luang Prabang.

Continue Reading →

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Travel Guide To Malawi

By on 17. November 2014 in Malawi

A Great Place To Relax On An Overland Trip Through East Africa

Fish Eagle Lodge in Nkhotakota, on the shores of Lake Malawi - Paradise found!

Fish Eagle Lodge in Nkhotakota, on the shores of Lake Malawi – Paradise found!

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In August 2014 we traveled Malawi, named after the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. We crossed the border coming from the south, from Tete in Mozambique. These are the places we visited: Blantyre, Liwonde Natonal Park, Chongoni Rock Painting Area, Lilongwe, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, Livingstonia and last but not least South Viphya Forest Reserve. Continue Reading →

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How About “Real” Travel Guides?

By on 2. October 2014 in Inspiration

The travel guides we use are, surprise, surprise, the Lonely Planet and the very reliable Bradt Guides. For African countries and the Middle East we definitely prefer the latter, since it is much more detailed.

Trip Advisor has become a source as well, even though it revealed quite unreliable. Some evaluations are completely misleading. A few times we ended up in real dumps recommended eloquently by supposed visitors. We are more and more cautious using this platform.

Forums are another important source of information, often more accurate and closer to reality than any travel guide can be. The Lonely Planet ThornTree Forum is probably the most active & reliable exchange of travel experiences.

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Travel Guide To Iran

By on 28. April 2014 in Iran

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Iran – Friendliness, Culture, Modernity: So Far Away From The Clichés!

The Shah Mosque - Maydan-e Imam or Imam Square in Esfahan

The Shah Mosque – Maydan-e Imam or Imam Square in Esfahan

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

We spent two weeks in Iran in April 2014, and covered the cultural heartland of Iran: Shiraz, Isfahan, Na’In, Yazd, Kashan, Qom & last but not least Teheran. Due to the lack of time, we did not travel the north of the country, nor did we go to the deserts. Continue Reading →

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Travel Guide To Ladakh

By on 10. August 2013 in Ladakh

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Ladakh – Many Highlights Without Trekking

Tso Moriri, Ladakh

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

If you are looking for information on trekking Ladakh, stop right here! You won’t find any. The day we arrived we decided against it – too hot, no shade, too expensive… Given these conditions, our already measly motivation made a trek never happen. Continue Reading →

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Travel Guide To South Rajasthan

By on 4. April 2013 in India
Taragarh Fort, Bundi, Rajasthan, India

Taragarh Fort, Bundi, Rajasthan, India

In April 2012 we had our first brush with India, to be precise Eastern Rajasthan. For eleven days we gazed at the most incredible Moghul architecture in Agra and Jaipur. We also threw in a bit of wildlife by visiting Ranthambhore National Park. When we returned in March 2013, we headed for the Southwest of Rajasthan for twelve days, to marvel at these impressive forts & palaces in Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, Bundi, Chittorgarh and last but not least Pushkar & Ajmer. Delhi was our hub during both trips. Continue Reading →

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Travel Guide To Oman

By on 7. January 2013 in Oman

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Oman – 1001 Nights Flair, Ancient Culture, Stunning Landscapes & Such Gentle People!

View of Nizwa Souq from Nizwa Fort

Oman is special. Where else on the Arabic Peninsula has some of the “Sinbad the Sailor” feeling survived? Besides this 1001 Nights flair, we were stunned by lush oases, ancient fortresses, sandy beaches, dramatic mountain scenery, rolling desert dunes, picturesque wadis, deep fjords and overly friendly people. All in one country! Continue Reading →

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