Expeditions. Our programs The most unusual expeditions

Roald Amundsen and the search for the Northwest Passage. Amundsen was born into a family of Norwegian shipowners. Despite his mother's promises to become a doctor, Roald joined the family business after her death. His first expedition was the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899, where he was Adrien de Gerlache's first mate. The first independent expedition led by Amundsen aimed to find the Northwest Passage (presumably connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the north) in 1903. This elusive passage has been the target of many explorers since 1539. It was then that Cortez instructed Francisco Uloa to sail along the Baja Peninsula in California. Amundsen began his journey with six crew members on a 47-ton steel sealhunter ship called Ioa. The journey began in the Baffin Sea, the movement began decisively, but then the team settled down for the winter, disappearing from public view for two whole years. During this time, Roald became friends with the Eskimos, learning a lot from them. The Norwegian learned how to survive in the eternal cold by learning to use sled dogs and wear skins instead of woolen jackets. At this time, Amundsen also managed to make several scientific notes on magnetism. The expedition then headed around the southern coast of Victoria Island and along the northern coast of Canada and Alaska. From the coast of this state, the last stage of the expedition began, 800 kilometers inland to the town of Eagle City, where there was a telegraph. From here Amundsen announced his success to the whole world on December 5, 1905. Having spent the winter there, the traveler arrived in Oslo only in 1906. Amundsen saw the separation of Norway from Sweden, reporting his achievement for all of Norway to the new king, Haakon. But Amundsen did not stop in his desire for new discoveries, becoming the first person to reach the South Pole and one of the first to fly over the North Pole by air.

Hernan Cortez and the fall of the Aztec Empire. Hernán Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellin, in what was then the Kingdom of Castile in Spain. He entered the University of Salamanca when he was fourteen years old, but soon became tired of his studies and returned to Medellin. At this moment, news about the discovery of Columbus came to the country. Cortez quickly assessed the prospects of conquering new lands and in 1504 he left for the New World. The Spaniard planned to become a colonist on the island of Hispaniola (now the island of Haiti). It was there that he registered as a citizen upon arrival. In 1506, Cortés took an active part in the conquest of Haiti and Cuba and was rewarded with real estate and Indian slaves. In 1518 he led an expedition to Mexico. But the Spanish governor, fearing competition from Cortes, canceled the campaign. This did not stop Cortez; he still set off. In February 119, he was accompanied by 11 ships, 500 men, 13 horses and several cannons. Arriving on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cortes burned his ships, thus cutting off his way back. Here the explorer met with Jeronimo de Aguillare, a Spanish priest who survived a shipwreck and was captured by the Mayans. Over time, he became Cortez's translator. In March, Yucatan was declared a Spanish possession, and Hernan himself received 20 young women as tribute from the conquered tribes, one of whom, Malinche, became his mistress and the mother of his child Martin. The woman became not just a concubine, but also a translator and adviser. The Spaniard quickly won over thousands of Indians who were tired of Aztec domination, promising them independence. When Cortés entered the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in November 1519, he was greeted by Emperor Montezuma II. He considered Cortez to be the incarnation and messenger of the god Quetzalcoatl. The abundance of golden gifts and wealth around turned the Spaniard’s head, and the authorities decided to return their obstinate explorer. When Cortez learned that a group of troops was heading towards him from Cuba, he left part of his troops in Tenochtitlan, and he himself went to the Valley of Mexico City. When Cortes returned to the city, a rebellion broke out there. In 1521, the Aztec troops were suppressed, and their entire empire was conquered. Until 1524, Cortes ruled all of Mexico.

Charles Darwin's Voyage on the Beagle. Charles Darwin was born in 1809. Even before attending school, he developed a keen interest in natural history and collecting. While studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Darwin quickly realized that this field was not for him. Instead, he became interested in taxidermy under the tutelage of John Edmonstone, who had accompanied Charles Waterton on his journey through the rainforests of South America. In his second year of study, Darwin joined the Plinian Scientific Society, becoming a member of the group for the study of natural history. There he began to study the classification of plants and animals. Darwin's father, dissatisfied with his son's studies, decided to transfer him to study at Cambridge. An important role was played by a letter from John Henslowe, a friend of Charles and a professor of botany. He proposed Darwin's candidacy as a free naturalist for the captain of the Beagle, Robert Fitzroy. Charles immediately accepted the offer to participate in a two-year expedition to the South American coast. The journey began on December 27, 1831 and lasted almost 5 years. Darwin spent most of his time examining geological specimens and collecting natural history collections. At this time, the ship itself was exploring the coast. The expedition route ran from Portsmouth, England to St. Jago (now Santiago), Darwin visited Cape Verde, Brazil and Patagonia, Chile and the Galapagos Islands. Then there was the south coast of Australia, Cocos Islands, Cape Town and South Africa. During the expedition, Charles did not use any clear instructions. However, in his work he used the works of several famous geologists and naturalists. After all, during his time at the university, Darwin was influenced by Robert Grant, William Paley (The Proof of Christianity), John Henslow, Alexander von Humboldt (Personal Narrative) and John Herschel. During his travels, Darwin became acquainted with thousands of species. When the scientist returned home and tried to catalog his collection, ideas began to form in his head that served as the basis for the fundamental work “On the Origin of Species” and the entire theory of evolution. This work became decisive in the life of the scientist, placing his name in history.

Ferdinand Magellan and the first trip around the world. Magellan was born in 1480 in Sabroso, Portugal. When the boy was only 10 years old, his parents died. Little Fernand became Queen Eleanor's page. Already in his youth, the future navigator visited Egypt, India and Malaysia. But Magellan’s projects did not please the royal family, and in 1517 he, together with the cosmographer Faleiro, offered his services to the Spanish crown. At that time, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the New World between Portugal and Spain. Magellan calculated that the border Moluccas islands belonged to the Spaniards, offering them his services in finding a way to them. The expedition was approved by King Charles V, and on September 20, 1519, Magellan left the country with 5 ships. The crew included 234 men from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and France. Initially, the expedition's route lay in Brazil, and then along the South American coast to San Julian, in Patagonia. They spent the winter there, and there was also an attempted rebellion. Part of the team demanded to return back to Spain. Magellan harshly suppressed the rebellion, executing the leader and shackling his accomplices. In September 1520, the expedition discovered the Strait of Magellan. By that time there were three ships left. The South Sea was called the Pacific Ocean by the navigator because there were no storms on it. After the landing on the island of Guam, a grueling raid to the Philippine Islands followed. Magellan sailed there in the spring of 1521. The Spaniard decided to subordinate the local lands to the crown and got involved in an internecine war between the two local tribes. Ferdinand Magellan himself died during the battles. The survivors were forced to scuttle one ship, and another one turned back. Only the Victoria with 18 survivors under the leadership of Captain Juan Elcano, a former rebel, reached Spain on September 8, 1522. Interestingly, this is not how Magellan’s voyage was planned. In principle, a trip around the world could not have a commercial effect. Only under the threat of attack by the Portuguese did Victoria continue to move west.

Travels of Marco Polo. This researcher is the earliest on our list. But it was he who inspired many of his followers to new geographical discoveries. Marco was born in Venice probably in 1254. Both his father, Niccolo, and uncle Matteo were wealthy merchants who traded with the Middle East. When Marco was born, his father was away; they saw each other only 15 years later. The family reunited for two years, living in Venice, after which the merchants traveled to China in 1271. They were sent there with letters from Pope Gregory X to Kublai Khan, whom the elder Polo had met during a previous expedition. The journey took us through Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, the Pamir Mountains, along the Silk Road through the Gobi Desert and all the way to Beijing. Such a long journey took three whole years! Marco Polo spent the next 15 years of his life as a Chinese government official, serving as both Khan's ambassador and governor of the city of Yangzhou. With the help of Khan and his servants, the merchant learned the Mongolian language. The Italian also conducted several expeditions to areas of China, India and Burma that were hitherto unknown. In 1291, the khan gave one of his princesses in marriage to the Persian Ilkhan, and allowed the Polo family to accompany the delegation. The Italians spent time in Sumatra and Ceylon and returned to Venice through Iran and the Black Sea. The further history of the researcher’s life is little known. He participated in the war with Genoa and was captured in 1298. While in captivity, Polo met the writer Rusticiano, who helped the merchant write down stories about his travels. The published book, known as The Travels of Marco Polo, became one of the most popular in medieval Europe. It should be noted that the Italian’s discoveries would not have been possible without his father and uncle, who had already paved the way to China by establishing contacts with the Great Khan.

Travels of Livingston and Stanley. Dr. David Livingstone was a missionary sent to Africa in 1841. He decided to explore the inner world of the continent when it suddenly turned out that the mission in Kolobeng, where he worked, was closing. It was Livingstone who first discovered Victoria Falls and became one of the first Europeans to make a transcontinental journey through Africa. Then the Englishman’s attention was drawn to the source of the Nile, the mystery of which is already more than three thousand years old. His journey began from Zanzibar along the Ruvuma River to Lake Malawi and then to Ujiji on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. By that time, Livingston was left practically alone, most of his cargo and medicines had been stolen. No wonder David got sick. But he stubbornly moved on, discovering lakes Mveru and Bangweulu. By the end of March 1871, the Englishman reached the Lualaba River, believing that its source was the source of the Nile. But unable to travel further, Livingston returned to Ujiji, where he discovered that all his fresh water supplies had been stolen. Although it was no longer possible to travel further, Livingston’s discoveries became priceless - no one had ever climbed so deep into the heart of Africa. By that time, rumors about the disappearance of Livingston's expedition and his death filled Europe and America. This information attracted the attention of a young American journalist, Henry Morton Stanley. Born in Wales and orphaned as a child, he moved to the New World at the age of eighteen. The young man began working for merchant Henry Stanley, and when he died, he took his name and joined the Confederate army. After the end of the Civil War, Stanley became a journalist, working for the New York Herald newspaper. It was this publication that financed the expedition to find the Livingstone expedition launched in Zanzibar. Stanley followed the path of his predecessor, facing many of the same problems - desertion and tropical diseases. Stanley found Livingstone ailing at Ujiji on October 27, 1871. The Englishman stood among a group of Arab slave traders, and the journalist greeted him with the phrase that later became famous: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Stanley's expedition numbered about 200 experienced porters, most of whom escaped or died along the way. At the same time, Stanley flogged those who refused to go further. But Livingston walked along with freed slaves, twelve sepoys and two faithful servants from previous journeys. It was they who delivered the body of the explorer who died in 1873 to the coast, from where it was delivered to England.

Lewis and Clark.

Expansion to the west. In 1803, America turned its attention to the West, to Louisiana. The American government did not really know what lands had previously been acquired from France. That is why President Thomas Jefferson instructed Congress to allocate $2,500 for the expedition, which was prepared just a few weeks after the deal was completed. The exploration was to be led by Army Captain Merriweather Lewis, who chose William Clark as his partner. In May 1804, 3 sergeants and 22 soldiers, as well as volunteers, translators and slaves - a total of 43 people - set off with them. The expedition began moving up the Missouri River, then wintered with the Mandan Indians. In the spring, the path lay in the upper reaches of the river, then the continental divide was crossed. Lewis and Clark crossed the Rocky Mountains to find the Columbia River. Fort Claptsop was built at its mouth. Walking along the river, the Americans reached the Pacific Ocean. On their way back from the Rocky Mountains, the group split into three parts, reuniting later and returning in triumph to St. Louis. The city greeted them on September 23, 1806 as heroes. The 28-month journey proved that there was an overland transcontinental route. Lewis and Clark brought with them a lot of information, including a map of their route, descriptions of Indian culture, and observations of the environment. On their journey, the brave Americans were not spared the help of the indigenous people. So, a young Indian woman from the Sacagawea Shoshone tribe, who carried her young son on her back for thousands of kilometers, decided to go with them. Her knowledge and relationships with people greatly determined the success of the mission. Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand on July 20, 1919. At the local university he studied mathematics and science. Edmund then took up beekeeping, climbing several peaks in his spare time with his twin brother. At the outbreak of World War II, he decided to join the Air Force, but withdrew his application before it could be considered. But soon, thanks to the call, Hillary nevertheless joined the Air Force as a navigator. In 1951 and 1952, as part of British intelligence officers, he explored the approaches to Everest and Cho Oyu. In 1953, Hillary decided to climb the highest peak in the world. At that time, the road to Everest from Chinese Tibet was closed, and the Nepalese government allowed only one expedition per year. In 1952, the Swiss failed due to bad weather; the next year it was the British's turn. The head of the expedition, Tom Hunt, created two teams for the ascent. Hillary was in the same group with the experienced Norgay Tenzig. In total, the expedition had 362 porters, 20 guides and about 4 tons of cargo. The first attempt to conquer the peak was made by Bourdillon and Evans, but they did not reach the summit due to a breakdown in the oxygen supply system. On May 28, Hillary and Tenzig with three companions began their assault on Everest. The overnight stay took place at an altitude of 8500 meters, from where the brave climbers continued their journey together. On May 29 at 11:30 am local time, the pair reached the top. They stayed there for only 15 minutes. During this time, they took pictures, left a chocolate bar as an offering to the gods, and hoisted a flag. The first person to greet the heroes was George Lowe, Hillary's best friend. He went up to meet the couple with hot soup. For their efforts, Hillary and expedition leader Hunt received knighthoods from the Queen, and Tenzig was awarded a medal. Hunt became a life peer, and Hillary received many awards and lifelong recognition. Hillary's feat would not have been possible without the participation of Norgay Tenzing, a Nepalese Sherpa. He was born in 1914 and had extensive experience in Himalayan expeditions. He has already taken part in 6 previous attempts to conquer Everest. Norgay initially joined the expedition as Sherpa leader, but when he saved Hillary from falling into a crevasse, he was seen as an ideal climbing partner.

Christopher Columbus and the discovery of America. This explorer, one of the most famous in the world, was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. Columbus's father was a weaver, the young man had to continue this business. But in 1472 the family moved to Savona, and Christopher himself began to take part in sea voyages, enlisting in the Portuguese merchant fleet. Perhaps as early as 1474, during correspondence with the astronomer and geographer Toscanelli, Columbus thought about finding a sea route to India through the West. However, for a long time this project was not in demand. Only in 1492, Columbus, with the participation of King Ferdinand II of Spain and Queen Isabella, was able to equip the expedition. On August 3, 1492, three ships left the harbor of Palos - the Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta. They visited the Canary Islands, which belong to Castile, and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for five weeks. And then at 2 o’clock in the morning on October 12, 1492, the sailor Rodrigo de Triana saw land from aboard the Pinta. The found island was named San Salvador, it was one of the Bahamas. Columbus further discovered the islands of Espagliola (Haiti), which was similar to the lands of Castile, and Juan (Cuba). During the expedition, Columbus met the Arawak Indians, whom he initially mistook for poor Chinese. Returning to Spain, he kidnapped about 25 of them, only seven survived. Columbus returned to Palos on March 15, 1493 and was appointed admiral of the Sea-Ocean and governor-general of all already and future lands found. Subsequently, Columbus made three more voyages to the New World, increasingly adding to the map of the modern Caribbean. In his search, Columbus had practically no like-minded people, because his ideas were quite strange for the Western world. Only Columbus’s mistake was that, while looking for Asia, he found a new continent, although he convinced the Spaniards of the opposite. In his assessment of the project, Columbus used the works of Marco Polo, Imago Mundi and Ptolemy’s estimates of the Earth’s circumference.

Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio. At an early age the boy became interested in airplanes. On his sixteenth birthday, Armstrong received a pilot's license, and in the basement of his house he was even able to build a wind tunnel. In it he conducted experiments with airplane models. After attending Purdue University for two years, he was called to active duty, flying 78 combat missions during the Korean War. Upon returning from the war, Armstrong earned a degree in aeronautical engineering. Then there was a position as a test pilot at NASA. In September 1962, Armstrong became America's first civilian astronaut and began his training in Houston, Texas. Neil was a reserve pilot for Gemini 5 and flew into space on Gemini 8 in 1966. Armstrong was noted for being able to troubleshoot the aircraft and regain control of the aircraft, making an emergency landing just 1.1 miles from the intended landing site. The astronaut began to prepare for the flight on Gemini 11, but was selected for the team preparing for the flight to the Moon. In January 1969, it was Neil Armstrong who was chosen as commander of the Apollo 11 mission, which was supposed to deliver earthlings to the satellite. At 9:32 am on July 16, 1969, a crew consisting of Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin took off from the Kennedy Space Center. The successful journey to the moon took four days. The team landed on the Moon on July 20 and was broadcast around the world on radio and television. At 10:56 p.m., Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. His phrase: “That’s one small step for a man, but one giant leap for all mankind” - immediately became famous. Armstrong and Aldrin spent two hours on the lunar surface, collecting soil samples, installing a television camera, a seismograph and a US flag. Such a great achievement by Armstrong and Apollo 11 would not have been possible without the help of a team of hundreds of assistants on Earth at Mission Control. Someone was responsible for the operation of each unit of the vehicle. They were all managed by the Flight Director, Gene Kranz, who also managed Gemini 4 and the odd Apollo mission. It is to Kranz that the crew of Apollo 13 is primarily grateful for their return home.

Our world can be endlessly amazing and beautiful. And in order to be convinced of this, sometimes it is enough to take just one single step. Truly magical and bewitching beauties can be found in almost every corner of our planet. After all, most of them are hidden away from established tourist trails.

In our article today, we decided to present to your attention a selection of the most beautiful and, which for one reason or another usually fall out of sight of modern Belarusian tour operators. Their names are rarely pronounced with aspiration, like, for example, the names of Paris or Barcelona, ​​and the existence of most of them can only be learned by chance, as if there is something reserved and mysterious about these routes. But precisely because of this, such unexplored directions only become more valuable and attractive. After all, such unusual travels and allow us to fully understand how multifaceted and amazing our planet can be.

1. Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)

Salar de Uyuni is a huge prehistoric lake located in the southwestern part of Bolivia. However, this place resembles a real lake (in the traditional sense of the word) only from November to March, when, due to rain, the salt honeycombs are covered with a thin layer of water, constantly glistening in the sun. At such hours, the Salar de Uyuni becomes like a giant mirror, reflecting the endless heavens. And this makes the border between the two worlds almost indistinguishable. Thick Bolivian clouds suddenly appear right under your feet. And the surrounding landscapes lose all connection with reality. That is why Salar de Uyuni is often called a place frozen between heaven and earth. After all, no language in the world has enough words to convey all the enchanting beauty of this place.

In the absence of rain, the salt marsh turns into a huge desert, covered with white salt instead of yellow sand. And in places where drying water still manages to make its way up through a thin salt crust, small cone-shaped volcanoes are formed that look like playing pieces, arranged in the correct order on a huge chessboard.

Another attraction of the salt marsh is the famous steam locomotive cemetery, located in the vicinity of Uyuni. Once upon a time, all the trains assembled here were part of a large project to mine minerals and valuable minerals in the desert. To carry out industrial work, a railway was built from Chile to Bolivia. However, the economic value of the project turned out to be insignificant. And Indian tribes began to often attack the railroad and the trains following it. As a result, already in the fifties of the 20th century, the road was closed, and suddenly the trains, which turned out to be unnecessary, were left to rust in the middle of the desert.

It was only in 2006 that the Bolivian government suddenly remembered the old locomotive cemetery again, deciding to turn it into a kind of open-air museum. Now they're like that unusual travels The famous salt marsh and the old locomotives resting in its vicinity attract thousands of people to Bolivia. I wonder what the Bolivian Indians think about this?

1. Lake Bled (Slovenia)

Despite the fact that Slovenia is located relatively close to our homeland, the resorts of this tiny country remain a real “terra incognita” for Belarusian tourists (especially in comparison with the cities of nearby Croatia, Italy and Montenegro). The magical Lake Bled is no exception, surrounded by the Julian Alps and surrounded by hundreds of legends associated with the ancient history of the local castles. In this place you will not meet the usual crowds of tourists. And the local air, saturated with the magical smell of the mountains, is still filled with a ringing silence. And it is this amazing atmosphere of privacy, coupled with the magical beauty of the local landscapes that makes these lands truly magical and an unusual place to travel.

However, Lake Bled is a place that cannot be called boring. In addition to many first-class hotels, there are dozens of sports centers in these parts, offering tourists a wide range of all kinds of entertainment (from kayaking to hang gliding over the enchanting mountain slopes).

In winter, there are several ski resorts in the vicinity of the lake. In addition, the convenient location of the city of Bled makes it a convenient starting point for subsequent trips around Slovenia. Just a few tens of kilometers from the lake is the capital of the country - Ljubljana, as well as the famous Triglav National Park, the mystical Škocjan Caves and another picturesque reservoir - Lake Bohinj.

1. Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan)

When you talk about Kyrgyzstan, even some fairly experienced travelers begin to wrinkle their noses contemptuously: “What could be interesting in this country?” However, in fact, far and near Kyrgyzstan is a country that can present tourists with many pleasant surprises. What is the majestic and enchanting mountain region of the Tien Shan worth, with its amazing cold beauty of crystal lakes, snow-covered slopes and endless fields overgrown with unusual grass and strange flowers? Everything in this place is imbued with an exciting spirit of adventure and a fabulous atmosphere of romance. It’s not for nothing that the legendary “seven-thousandth” mountain Pobeda Peak was once considered one of the most impenetrable mountains throughout the entire territory of the former Soviet Union.

Besides, unusual journey in the Tien Shan is also a great opportunity to go in pursuit of the fabulous Santa Claus. It would seem, what does he have to do with it? I answer: the whole point is that several years ago, Swedish scientists from the Sveko company, having calculated the speed of rotation of the earth, the distance to the largest cities and comparing other geographical and demographic factors, found out that it was on the territory of Kyrgyzstan that the optimal “take-off and landing” should be located. » base of the legendary fairy-tale character. Otherwise, he simply will not be able to fly around the entire globe in one night.

1. Rhine River Valley (Germany)

The Rhine River Valley is probably one of the most famous and popular routes on our list unusual places to travel. Thousands of European tourists follow it every year. However, despite this, among Belarusians and travelers from other CIS countries, this region of Germany still remains rather little known.

And this fact seems to be a completely blatant misunderstanding. After all, it is here, in the Rhine River valley, that you can feel the spirit of real Germany. In these parts, tiny villages dotted with half-timbered houses are adjacent to proud castles, looking out at the world from the heights of the coastal slopes. High mountains, covered with green forests, give way to picturesque valleys and famous vineyards...

That is why the Rhine River Valley is considered one of the most amazing places in all of Germany. After all, even the most beautiful cities of this country can hardly compare with the quiet charm of the local nature.

1. Cappadocia (Türkiye)

When we talk about trips to, we usually mean a fun and noisy holiday at one of the southern resorts of the Turkish coast. However, far from major tourist centers, this country is transformed in the most amazing way. Proof of this is Turkish Cappadocia, a unique natural region known for its unusual natural landscape and a huge number of cave cells, crypts, monasteries and temples, the history of which dates back to the birth of Christianity.

In addition, it is in this place that the oldest (!) underground cities in the world are located. The most famous among them are the settlements of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, which stretch many kilometers deep into the rock formation. These cave cities were found by archaeologists in the sixties of the last century. And since then, these places have been the object of constant study for dozens of scientists.

Among other things, Turkish Cappadocia is also one of the most popular aeronautics centers in the world.

In short, by going to these places, you guarantee yourself the most unusual journey in life.

1. Troy (Türkiye)

The semi-legendary ancient Greek “polis” is another reason to go to Turkey from now on. For many years in a row, the city of Achilles and other ancient heroes, glorified in legends, was considered only a figment of the imagination of the great Homer. However, about 140 years ago, a self-taught German archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann practically proved that some legends have a very real historical basis. Since then, the legendary Troy, the remains of which are now located in the area of ​​Hisarlik Hill, seven kilometers from the Dardanelles Strait, has become one of the main historical treasures of modern Turkey. And Heinrich Schliemann himself, who, among other things, also found the legendary “Priam’s treasure,” went down in history as one of the world’s most successful adventurers, as well as the founding father of the so-called “field (practical) archaeology.”

1. Kamchatka (Russia)

Wild, majestic, rebellious Kamchatka is the region where the heart of real Russia beats. Here, among sleeping volcanoes, bubbling geysers and crystal lakes, you can feel like a real traveler, finding yourself somewhere at the very edge of the world. This place is home to a mind-boggling number of national parks, biosphere reserves and unique conservation areas, many of which are included in the UNESCO list of natural and cultural heritage. Is this not enough to call Kamchatka one of the most fascinating and unusual places to travel on our entire endless planet?

In addition, Kamchatka is the habitat of many rare animals, including Kamchatka brown bears, which have long become a symbol not only of this peninsula, but of all of Russia as a whole.

In addition to getting to know living and inanimate nature, a trip to Kamchatka can be interesting thanks to its numerous active recreation centers. Alpine skiing (including the extreme Helly-skiing), snowmobiling and dog sledding, swimming in thermal springs, as well as rafting, diving, kayaking and much more - all this makes the Kamchatka Territory a very interesting place to relax. It’s not for nothing that these places are so often called Russian Iceland.

1. Ksamil Beach and Vlora (Albania).

The Albanian seaside is probably one of the most underrated tourist regions in Europe. In these parts, the Adriatic Sea shimmers with turquoise, and the majestic mountains, frozen at the very horizon, remain amazingly beautiful and picturesque. The best examples of this are resorts such as Ksamil Beach and Vlore. The first is a very small but very colorful town, nestled on the southern coast of Albania. The second is a larger city, however, even here, due to the relatively small number of tourists, the beaches remain surprisingly clean and picturesque.

The mild Mediterranean climate, low prices, abundance of fruit, as well as the amazing beauty of the local nature - all this makes the Adriatic coast of Albania a place truly worthy of the attention of tourists.

In addition, Albania is a country with a rich history and culture. Here, on a relatively small piece of land (comparable in size to the Mogilev region), there is a huge number of ancient monasteries, fortress bastions and ancient buildings that this country inherited from the Greek and Roman conquerors.

Mosque in the city of Korça

A striking example of this is the ancient city of Durres, located just two hours drive from Vlora. Over its long history, this region has become a stumbling block for many European nations. Just think about it: over 2,500 years, this town managed to be part of the Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish, Byzantine, Italian, Kerkyra, Corinthian and, of course, the Albanian state.

Wouldn't it be interesting for you to see an ancient city for which so many ancient peoples fought? What is not the route for unusual journey?

1. Patagonia (Argentina)

Patagonia, which also often includes the more famous Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is an absolutely unique place. Wild mountain landscapes, crystal glaciers, picturesque fjords and endless plains of frozen land that have not changed their shape since the birth of the first people - all this natural diversity cannot be compared with anything else. When you get to these regions, it’s as if you find yourself in a parallel reality. Here, right on the beaches, you can find colonies of penguins and elephant seals, and on the slopes of the high Andean mountains you can see thousands of bonfires that local Indian tribes burn at night.

In addition, it is in these parts that the famous Cave of Hands is located, which is already 90 centuries old! Add to this unique nature reserves, national parks and uninhabited islands that still retain their primitive prehistoric charm - and you will understand why these regions can safely be called one of the most amazing and interesting places on our planet.

Yes, of course, to get to Patagonia you will need a lot of effort and financial resources. However, once you are in these parts, you guarantee yourself the most unusual journey In my life. After all, how could it be otherwise if we are talking about the real edge of the Earth!

1. Curonian Spit (Lithuania/Russia)

The Curonian Spit is a thin strip of land stretching for one hundred kilometers along the Lithuanian coast and separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic basin. In fact, this place is a long series of sand dunes and pine forests growing right in the middle of the endless sea. There is no usual bustle here, and the surprisingly clean air is filled with the smells of pine needles, salty waves and amazing crystal silence, which in this place seems almost endless.

In 2000, the Curonian Spit was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. And nine years later, the international Foundation for Environmental Education included the local beaches in the list of the cleanest and most comfortable coastal areas on the planet. Experts from the popular guidebook Lonely Planet also contributed to the popularization of this place, calling the pine forests and sandy beaches of the Curonian Spit one of the most beautiful places in the Baltic states. Since then, thousands of tourists have visited these areas. However, even despite this, the Curonian Spit has not lost even a tiny part of its natural charm.

Despite the fact that the population of the spit is only a few thousand people, these parts have not only their own coastal villages with all the necessary infrastructure, but also their own unique attractions. The mystical Mountain of Witches, dotted with dozens of wooden idols, the unique “Dancing Forest”, the remains of the Kopgalis fortress with the Maritime Museum located here, as well as the Klaipeda Dolphinarium and the museum of fishing boats, located right in the open air. In a word, the Curonian Spit is a place that clearly proves that interesting and unusual places to travel can be found just a few hundred kilometers from your home. After all, every corner of our planet is capable of presenting many pleasant surprises to those travelers who truly know how to appreciate true beauty.

Date of:

February 2019

In the South Pacific Ocean, in perhaps the most secluded place on the globe, New Zealand is located. This is an island state that has no equal on our planet in terms of the number of wonders and mysteries of nature, unique phenomena, endemic plants and animals. An unusual tour of New Zealand will allow you to feel the hot breath of the seething earth, touch the culture of the local Maori tribe, visit the country of Fiordland fjords and, of course, witness an unforgettable spectacle - the dive of whales into the abyss of the sea kingdom...

Date of:

November 2018

This Ethiopia tour is the most intense and comprehensive exotic tour available. The Danakil Basin or Afar Triangle is just the beginning of a stunning route. Volcano Dalol, Acid and lava lakes, Erta Ale volcano, the unfriendly Afar tribe, salt lake Assal and, of course, endless caravans with salt - all this is the pinnacle of a tour to Ethiopia, rightfully called the “cradle of humanity”. You are once again convinced that this is truly a cradle after spending a week studying the real, primitive world of Africa - the OMO River valley. Dorze, Chencha, Mursi, Khamer, Tsamai, Erboro: the life of these tribes from ancient times to the present day has not seen any development.

Date: April 2018

Residents of the largest island off the coast of Africa are sure that there is no better place in the world. Madagascar, in their opinion, is a Garden of Eden that can provide everything you need for life. And these statements are true. The island's flora and fauna have evolved in isolation over millions of years: the fourth largest island on Earth is one of the ten rarest places on the planet. And the crown of our grand exotic tour to Madagascar will be the exploration of the area inhabited by the Zafimaniri people, whose traditional craft is declared by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity...

Date of:

Namibia is diverse like no other country on the African continent. A tour to an unusual place will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with the stunning landscapes of the Sossusvlei plateau and the ominous Skeleton Coast; visit the Bushmen tribe and become immersed in the unique culture of the majestic Himba people; see the world's largest colony of fur seals and the Big Five of Africa; feed directly from the hands of a cheetah and spend the day in a ghost town. Or perhaps, when you go on a breathtaking tour to Namibia, you won’t want to miss the chance to see the ancient desert of the planet Namib from a hot air balloon gondola...

Date of:

January 2018

“Patagonia is a unique region in the very south of South America, unlike anything else in the world and striking with its wild and harsh beauty. During our exotic tour, we will visit not just world-famous geographical sites - we will become part of another world, a world of colossal glaciers and majestic pointed peaks; picturesque waterfalls and crystal clear lakes. A world where colonies of penguins and heat-loving flamingos, multimillion-dollar colonial cities and small reservations of Indian peoples coexist..."

Date: all year round

This route passes through two countries in East Africa - Kenya and Uganda. This is where you can get close to predators during a night safari. See the majestic and impregnable Kilimanjaro. Visit the village of the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe. Dissolve under a fantastically beautiful starry sky. And as a result - to become sick of Africa forever...

Date: August 2018

Iceland is a harsh land of ice and fire. And it was precisely the confrontation between these two natural elements that gave birth to such uplifting beauty. Picturesque fjords and snow-capped mountains, abundant waterfalls and endless lava fields, national parks and geothermal areas, gushing geysers and smoking volcanoes - here in every region of the island you will be accompanied by the delight of discovery and genuine admiration for what you see. Tours to Iceland are included in the 10 most unusual tours in the world, they will give you the opportunity to become both a witness to the rare and unique volcanic activity of the planet, and an active researcher of the life of numerous species of whales - the largest and most majestic representatives of the fauna of this distant land...

Date: November 2016

West Africa cannot boast of an abundance of wildlife. On a tour of unusual places, you will not be able to see a hippopotamus entering the murmuring water at dawn, the silhouettes of giraffes in the shadow of a baobab tree and not hear the bickering of baboons. People go to West Africa to look at the people. Their way of life has not changed for centuries. They don't know what seasons and birthdays are; they perform sacrificial rituals and worship Voodoo. There is something eternal in their way of life that retains its originality. Time has stopped here. This was the Earth long before man ennobled it.

Date: June 2018

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dolomites Tour is a classic alpine route that is one of the most stunning mountain routes of all time. In addition, the Dolomites, whose beauty of peaks and sparkling bright colors of alpine meadows. On an exotic tour you will be captivated - not only by the wild nature, but also, of course, by the charm of tiny settlements and the hospitality of mountain shelters...

Date of: PROGRAM COMPLETED

Full immersion in the Himalayas, crossing the famous Thorong La Pass, visiting the Muktinath Temple, as well as settlements of various communities such as Brahmins, Chhetris, Tibetan Sherpas - all this awaits you on one of the most popular Annapurna Circuit Treks. A tour to an unusual place only became popular in 1980, when travelers were given permission to visit the area. And another important fact is that the trek around Annapurna is one of the so-called “tee-house” treks, that is, tracks that can be overcome without spending the night in tents.

Date of:

March 2018

The history of Australia is full of adventures and mysteries. The unknown land began to excite the minds of Europeans long before its discovery. This is a continent of amazing wildlife, unique nature, gold and hope. An exotic tour of Australia is a tour of endless roads and thousands of miles of ocean beaches, sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh, almost always deserted, filled only with the roar of the ocean. The country of hot stone expanses and the riotous colors of the coral reefs of the Great Barrier, the country of wild mustangs, the last real cowboys and gold miners. It is also a land of unique people, aborigines, who have preserved their culture for more than forty thousand years.

Date of:

December 2017
February 2018
March 2018

Unusual tours of the world - mountainous lands covered with impenetrable jungles were inhabited only by the Incas, who built pyramids of austere beauty; all this can be seen on a tour of Peru and Bolivia. Their ancient art of working fabrics, stone, silver and gold is still amazing. Later, the Spanish conquistadors sailed here on their galleys, bringing with them a thirst for adventure and conquest. All this is most clearly reflected in the character of the modern descendants of the disappeared Indian tribes, who revere national art, adventure and independence...

Date: May 2018
September 2018

This route passes through the mountains and deserts of the United States of America - territories once called the Wild West. On this exotic tour we will travel through the Rocky Mountains and Martian landscapes of Utah, the geyser fields and picturesque landscapes of Yellowstone Park, the canyons of the Colorado River and the rock formations of Arizona, through the dream city of Las Vegas and abandoned mining towns, through Death Valley and the ancestral lands of the Navajo Indians, and finally, through the park of giant sequoias to the very edge of the Pacific Ocean, where only about one hundred and fifty years ago the first American settlers came in pursuit of the American dream.

Date: all year round

Tanzania is not without reason called the best place for safari. After all, it is here that parks, where all kinds of African fauna roam free, occupy a quarter of the country’s territory. A tour to an unusual place is a unique opportunity to see wildlife up close. No cells. Traps. Kapkanov. And completely safe for humans.

Date: all year round

If you are tired of standard tourist packages, and the wind of travel and the spirit of adventurism are calling you to new experiences, then go with us on an unusual tour of the world - to the very heart of Africa. This is where Kilimanjaro is located: a mighty stone giant with a cap of glaciers sparkling in the hot sun. Climbing Kilimanjaro with our travel club is an unforgettable adventure that will allow you to fully appreciate the magnificence of the centuries-old volcano and the unstoppable beauty of African nature.

Date of:

January 2019

We will visit a unique region of South America, unlike anything else in the world and striking in its wild and harsh beauty. During our journey, we will explore more than just world-famous geographical features: we will become part of another world, a world of colossal glaciers and majestic pointed peaks; picturesque waterfalls and crystal clear lakes. A world where colonies of penguins and heat-loving flamingos, multimillion-dollar colonial cities and small reservations of Indian peoples coexist...

Date: March 2018

You all know that every trip we take is an experiment. And you know that we love to experiment. We love to look for new places. Directions. Rich and memorable. You know that a journey without experiment is a dead journey. And our every new journey is a symbiosis of our knowledge and experience and your best human traits - integrity, self-sufficiency and thirst for search. They are the ones who help create non-standard and unusual tours in co-creation with you. And it was your thirst for search that helped create this journey through a vast, distant region that still excites the minds of seekers of the unknown all over the world. Be the creator of your own journey.

Date: July 2018
September 2018 In 1867, US Secretary of State William Seward purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire at a price of 2 cents per acre. And the public nicknamed these remote and completely uninhabited lands “Seward’s folly”... Today, at the mere mention of Alaska, huge brown bears come to mind of every experienced traveler, catching salmon going to spawn; coastlines indented by fjords, where icebergs of impressive size break off from glaciers; Mount McKinley is the highest peak in North America; herds of caribou migrating across the tundra; wide rivers along which you can raft without encountering any signs of civilization for several days in a row, and even, which is difficult to initially believe, entire fields of sand dunes north of the Arctic Circle.

Date: September 2018

Soaring peaks topped with caps of mother-of-pearl glaciers, high-mountain meadows striking with a riot of colors of wild flowers, smooth surfaces of lakes the color of a summer sky - all these images personify the pristine nature of the Rocky Mountains of North America. You will see it exactly as it appeared before the eyes of the first explorers of the western part of modern Canada. And we will try to make you love Canada as much as we do.

Date: April 2018

Friends, we bring to your attention our updated program for New Zealand. This country in itself is a unique phenomenon on our planet. This time we are making, perhaps, the best trip to New Zealand, since ten days of immersion in the autumn nature of the most photogenic South Island await you: the ocean coast, mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and, of course, lakes, lakes and more lakes ! The amazing fauna of the island, we hope, does not need special mention :)

Date: June to November

Almost everyone has heard about the famous Iguazu Falls, but few people know about other amazing places on the South American continent: the authentic north of Argentina and the Brazilian Pantanal nature reserve. But it is the northern Argentine provinces of Salta and Jujuy that, like no other, are rich in Indian culture and are so different from the rest of the continent with their red-brown color of landscapes. And it is the Pantanal that is the largest ecosystem on the entire American continent with the greatest biodiversity and the greatest concentration of flora and fauna. It is extremely easy to spot wildlife here, especially during the dry season when animals concentrate around the waterholes. And it is at this time that hungry jaguars come to the banks of rivers in search of water and food.

Date of:

July 2018

Greenland is a mysterious land that has preserved some of the most breathtaking natural phenomena. Home to some of the world's most incredible icebergs, wildlife and colorful and friendly local villages... However, it remains inaccessible to most travelers. And it is absolutely necessary to visit this unique region at least once in your life! If you ask us which time is best, we will definitely answer: the second half of July. At this time of year, the sun barely touches the horizon, providing an incredible opportunity to photograph throughout the night: just imagine the endless sunset slowly turning into sunrise throughout the polar day!

Date of:

May 2018,
September 2018

White salt marsh foothills, rocky mountains, the Grand Canyon, reddish-red deserts, karst Karsbad caves, Havasu Falls lost in the canyons - you will see all this on our next tour of the southwestern United States. And although most of this territory is occupied by mountains and deserts, among the sandy expanses and bizarre rocks, like amazing oases, there are stunningly beautiful green valleys. Wild nature untouched by civilization, the integrity of which is protected by many national parks, the likes of which cannot be found in the whole world, mountain rivers and lakes - this is exactly what attracts the most sophisticated travelers from all over the world.

Date: May 2018
September 2018

This is one of the most versatile routes in the United States of America. It is here that you will have the opportunity to bask in the tropical sun and conquer snow-capped peaks, watch the change in vegetation from tropical to alpine along just one road, meet endemic animals and admire the most beautiful lakes of the continent. And also - to feel the hot breath of the earth and become direct eyewitnesses of how our planet is changing under the influence of internal processes.

Date: June 2018

If people go to Bali, known to many, for the sea, endless rice terraces and diverse wildlife, then they go to the island of Java for the volcanoes and rich history. After all, in this relatively small area there are more than 120 volcanoes, of which almost 30 are active. And it was Java that was the most important cultural, political, religious and commercial center of medieval Indonesia. The route we will take will pass through the three most famous volcanoes - Merapi, Bromo and Ijen. We are also waiting for such ancient Buddhist temple complexes as Borobodur and Prambanan, created by unknown skilled builders during the heyday of the medieval state of Mataram. And we will end our journey on the islands of Komodo National Park, created to preserve a unique species of lizards - the Komodo dragon.

Date: April 2018

Upper Mustang, or the kingdom of Lo, is one of the most closed and mysterious places on Earth, located between Tibet and the Nepalese provinces of Dolpo and Manang. For many centuries, foreigners were not welcomed here; the kingdom opened to tourists only in the 90s of the last century. The walk to the capital, Lo Manang, takes five days, following the same paths along which trade caravans walked five centuries ago. The main altitudes of the kingdom of 3000-3800 meters above sea level, together with the dry and cold climate, turn a trip to a place where antiquity has not yet been destroyed by globalization into a real adventure.

Date: January 2019

Under the cover of winter night and the shimmering blanket of the northern lights, Iceland is just as beautiful as in the blooming summer months! We suggest you go to this remote island during the quiet season, so that you can admire the beauty of Iceland without numerous groups of tourists and feel all the splendor of this island.

Date: all year round

Have you ever stood face to face with a six-foot male mountain gorilla? Or look into the mouth of a volcano with a boiling lava lake? Perhaps visit the village of the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe? You will discover all this in the 'pearls' of Africa - Kenya and Congo. This is where you can get close to predators during a night safari. See the majestic and impregnable Kilimanjaro. Lose yourself under a fantastically beautiful starry sky... This journey will be one of the most epic adventures you have ever taken part in!

Date: December 01-16, 2018
February 01-16, 2019
June 01-16, 2019

South Africa and Namibia are as diverse as any other country on the African continent. A tour to this unusual place will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with the stunning landscapes of the Sossusvlei plateau and the ominous Skeleton Coast, visit the nomadic Himba tribe and experience their original and majestic culture, see the world's largest colony of fur seals and the Big African Five, feed directly from the hands of a cheetah and spend a day in a ghost town. Blue whales, the ancient desert of the planet Namib and the colorful streets of cosmopolitan cities will also be waiting for you.

Date: January 2019

Thanks to its clean air, unspoilt nature and stunning landscapes, the Lake District of Argentina, as well as the region of the same name in Chile, are often compared to the Swiss Alps. The main wealth of the region is not only the stunningly beautiful national parks, but also thousand-year-old forests, crystal clear lakes, rivers and waterfalls. This is also a region with the famous Caretera Austral road, built inside the Andean mountain range during the time of the notorious Pinochet. And the peculiarity of this road, isolated from the bustle of civilization by fjords, glaciers and dense forests, is that its starting and ending points are not connected to anything - it seems to go from nowhere to nowhere...

Date: February 2019

Many travelers who have once visited Costa Rica call it the most beautiful country in the world. And I must say - not without reason. This country has endless mountain ranges covered with pristine “cloud” and “rain” forests, numerous national parks that have preserved their natural diversity to this day, exotic black sand beaches along which some of the largest populations migrate for several months of the year whales But only by visiting Costa Rica can you see with your own eyes that this is a true paradise, hidden in the narrowest place in Central America.

Date: April 27 - May 15, 2019

Now, finding yourself in the impenetrable jungle of the Amazon in search of a jaguar, or in the magical Mindo Reserve surrounded by inimitable hummingbirds, or perhaps witnessing the marriage ceremony of albatrosses in the Galapagos Islands, you will think that perhaps you have seen too little before and will eventually understand how beautiful and inimitable our planet is, and how hard the creator of all this splendor tried, conceiving every part of it. Fragile. Majestic. And unique.

Epigraph:
Exceeded the speed limit of 60 km/h - 167 times
Exceeded the speed limit of 90 km/h - 339 times

Statistics are a very visual and interesting thing, especially when you yourself become its central object. In the last post about the Crimean expedition, I want to talk about some facts of our trip.

The cars we drove were equipped with the Voyager-2N GLONASS monitoring system from the Ritm company. During the period from April 24 to May 10, everyone could watch our route on the website geo.ritm.ru and more.

So, the general numbers:

We traveled: 5311 km
The journey lasted: 13 days 15 hours 50 minutes
We spent on the move: 3 days 8 hours 50 minutes
In parking lots: 10 days 7 hours
Fuel consumed: 573 liters
Fuel consumption per 100 km was 10.8 liters
Average speed 66 km/h

However, the system allows not only to monitor the movement of our mortal bodies across the peninsula: the website provides a bunch of parameters, including, for example, exceeding the speed limit. The rest of the data and pictures are under the cut...

This is what the entire track of our journey looks like:

2.

4.

The traffic and parking report shows general statistics and information about each section of the route:

5.

4. Crimea. Koktebel and Mecca of balloonists -

5. Air parade rehearsal in Sevastopol -

6. Sudak, Genoese fortress and the New World -

8. Alushta, Gurzuf, Nikitsky Botanical Garden and Massandra -

9. Yalta embankment, Swallow's Nest, Livadia and Vorontsov palaces -

10. Torchlight procession in Kerch -

16. Space, flowers and Kazantip -

17. Donuzlav Bay, Dzhangul Nature Reserve and kiters -

18. From Simferopol to Dzhankoy -

20. New World and the Golitsyn Trail -

23. Lake Tobechek and Kyz-Aul lighthouse -

24. Opuksky reserve and the way home -

= PARTNERS AND SPONSORS OF THE CRIMEA EXPEDITION =

The company "RITM" - development and production of security and fire alarm systems for real estate and monitoring systems for mobile objects. The expedition vehicles will be equipped with a GLONASS/GPS monitoring system produced by the Ritm company, and everyone will be able to monitor our route on geo.ritm.ru http://www.ritm.ru/

The oldest participant in blogging projects and expeditions is cold asphalt for pothole repair. It is used for the construction of highways, sidewalks, park paths, parking areas and local areas. Asphalight is simple, reliable and convenient. http://asphalite.ru/ http://asphalite.livejournal.com/ https://twitter.com/Asphalite

It might be useful to read: How to get on an excursion to Antarctica?; Czech Republic Troy Castle. Troja Castle in Prague. Ancient winery and museum; Böcklin and his “island of the dead” A cultural phenomenon of its time; Air tickets to Crimea Air tickets to Crimea will become cheaper; What you can and cannot take with you; Open left menu Heviz How to get from Budapest to Lake Heviz; Cable car in Nha Trang (Vinpearl) The longest cable car in the world Vietnam; Kamenets-Podolsk fortress - a historical monument of Ukraine Life outside the walls of the Kamenets-Podolsk fortress;