Trekkup Dubai ✔

https://vimeo.com/177526391

Welcome to Houseboat Cruising!

Picture the weekend on a floating house with onboard chef and comfortable chair your window onto lush palms lining the canals and lagoons of Alleppy, paddy fields of bananas, cassava, and yams, church-bells ringing in the distance past small houses and huts of farms and colourful saris walking along the water’s edge. If the pace of Dubai has burned you out, rejuvenate and refresh with some curries and coconuts, ayurvedic massage, and cycle past the palms and plantations of the countryside of Kerala.

Kettuvallam, the Kerala houseboat, was traditionally used as grain barges and eventually as royal living quarters, now converted into thatch-roofed pleasure cruisers to explore the dozens of fresh-water rivers and lakes which spans nearly half the state and irrigates the surrounding rice plantations and paddy-fields. Outfitted with comfortable bedrooms, full staff of cooks, and spacious views from the upper decks, you’ll cruise around the canals at slow pace as local life tends to the plantations and small-scale industries.

A mix of Portuguese, Dutch, and British, the old city of Fort Kochi is packed with 16th century foundations, from the Church of St. Francis to the once-burial site of Vasco da Gama. Now the streets are filled with quaint restored colonial inns, banana-chip bakeries, handmade clothing shops, pre-colonial Chinese fishing nets along the water, and discoveries of restored mansions, laundry-markets, and cool-vibe art cafes, the perfect spot to explore awhile before our flight back to Dubai.

Let’s go!!

Day 0 // Departure to Kochi

Meet in the evening for a night flight to Kochi.

Day 1 // All Aboard for Houseboating

After arrival and immigration clearance, we’ll head right to the riverside and hop on board our houseboat for the weekend! We’ll take a rest and have breakfast on board before we start cruising the backwaters of Kerala. With palms lining the waterways between fields of cassava and banana and church-bells ringing in the distance, we’ll watch life pass by from our lounge-chair on deck, sipping coconuts, and enjoying the nearby Arabian Sea breezes.

Once we’re used to a slower pace, we’ll dock for lunch of traditional Kerala curries before we gear up for a cycle through local villages and farms, stopping by the basilica, wood carving studio, and few other curiosities before a quick tea break and return cycle back to canal side.

After we’re back on board and cruising, this is perfect time to stop by local fish merchant to stock up on your favourites of king prawns and crabs. While the chef is preparing our fresh seafood feast, we’ll watch the sunset beyond the palms and dock for dinner and well-earned rest for the night.

Day 2 // Old Kochi

Wake up on the water for traditional breakfast and cruise the larger canals and lakes with endless houseboats and paddy fields along the way. Your choice if you want more relaxation, either resting on deck or stopping for a massage or ayurvedic treatments, but if want to speed up the pace, consider a speedboat through the narrow canal-sides with your hair blowing in the wind!

We’ll have our last lunch on board before we pack up and head to old Kochi for a taste of Portuguese colonial culture, wander the streets and shops of handmade clothes, banana chip bakeries, and trendy cafes.

Explore Fort Kochi on the waterfront, wander the folk arts of a restored mansion, take a peek at the Chinese fishing nets, or maybe a high-speed tuk-tuk ride around town before we settle into classic inn for dinner and drinks before we head back to the airport for night flight back to Dubai.

Activities: cruising, cycling, sightseeing.

Level of difficulty: easy and relaxing

Duration: Weekend

Accommodation & meals: houseboats - double sharing, meals included.

Cost: 3,780 AED including flight, until NOV 18th.

Excluded:

• restaurant meals,
• visa.

Visas: Most of nationalities can obtain e-visa to India: otherwise you ll need to visit BLS to obtain the same.

Galleries from our previous trips:

https://www.meetup.com/trekkup/photos/26719089/
https://vimeo.com/177526391

See yah in Kerala x

Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 00971 50 4848238 / info@trekkup.com

The birthplace of voodoo and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana have rich and complex histories and fascinating cultural traditions that continue today.

We’ll discover this little known corner of West Africa on an 11-day journey deep into these countries’ northern reaches and along the Gulf of Guinea coast, to the heart of the regions where voodoo is still widely practiced today.

We will wander the fetish markets for relics, sail through stilt villages, and discover the mysteries of ancient practices.

Nigeria’s former capital of Lagos is a sprawling mega-metropolis of an estimated 21 million people, and not only the largest city in Nigeria, but the most populous urban area on the African continent. Spreading inland from the Gulf of Guinea across Lagos Lagoon, the city has it all, from historical sites and beautiful beaches to vibrant culture and nightlife. We’ll discover a thriving art scene and explore the infamous Makoko floating village, an unplanned, impoverished community of stilt homes with the nickname of the 'Venice of Africa'.

In Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, we will get to know the roots of Voodoo beliefs and practices. The country is also famous for its wonderful local craftsmanship and numerous bustling bazaars. We’ll look through the often-surprising assortment of offerings at a fetish market, visit the Python temple, and explore the Slave Route in Ouidah, a place where enslaved peoples were sold and forced to bid farewell to their homeland forever.

With a population of around 20,000, Ganvie is the largest lake village in Africa, standing on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. 500 years later after its founding, the people of Ganvie have developed their own distinctive culture and lifestyle on the lake. Shaky houses, churches, mosques and other structures are built using red ebony wood, which is resistant to rotting and hence ideal for the watery conditions.

Neighboring Togo is a narrow strip of land located to the west of Benin. Another stronghold of Voodoo and animist practices, and a key region of the so-called "Slave Coast" in centuries past, it features picturesque hilltop villages and palm-lined beaches. Togo has suffered under the colonisation of three different nations, resulting in a melting pot of influences that linger to this day.

Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the customs of local communities, from mudbrick castle architecture of the Somba people and traditional ceremonies like the Fire Dance to animist beliefs reflected at shrines and fetish markets. We’ll make our through verdant landscapes and have close encounters with wildlife, visiting the Valley of the Bats and spotting rare butterflies in the green hills.

Ghana, the economic powerhouse of Western Africa, is a place where modernization intertwines with ancient rituals. Home to several very unique traditions, such their elaborately decorated coffins, Ghanians are open and welcoming people, and there will be excellent opportunities here to see the true face of Africa.

From encounters with Voodoo priests and slithering reptiles to immersion in colorful markets and lush jungles, this trip is a deep dive into the culture and landscapes of Benin, Togo and Ghana. Our journey through this little-known region will surely reveal plenty of surprises, leaving you will memories of a lifetime and a few stories to tell!

Take a quick look at what awaits you here: https://vimeo.com/392949560

Let’s go!

Day 1 :: NIG :: Lagos arrival and floating village
Day 2 :: NIG-BEN :: Badagry and border crossing
Day 3 :: BEN :: Amazons, snakes and slave port
Day 4 :: BEN :: Stilt village and ancient palaces
Day 5 :: BEN :: Sacred hills and fetish shrines
Day 6 :: BEN-TOG:: Border crossing, mud castles and Fire Dance
Day 7 :: TOG :: Crafts and Bat Valley
Day 8 :: TOG :: Hills of Kouma Konda to capital Lomé
Day 9 :: TOG-GHA :: Border crossing and Volta Region
Day 10 :: GHA :: Akossombo waterfalls
Day 11 :: GHA :: Accra and fantasy coffins / Departure

Full details available to confirmed RSVPs.

Level of difficulty: Easy
Activities: Sightseeing, walking
Accommodation & meals: Hotels and lodges, double sharing rooms. Meals excluded.

Cost: AED 9,100 excl. flights until NOV 20th. Past this date cost will change.

Flights: approx. 3,400 AED
DAY 1 DXB-LOS Ethiopian
DAY 11 ACC-DXB Emirates

Specifically excluded: Meals, visas.

Visas:

Nigeria: Evisa or pre-arranged at 300-500 USD
Benin: E-visa 60 USD
Togo: E-visa 40 USD
Ghana: Pre-arranged at 260 USD

Yellow Fever Certificate is mandatory for this trip.

See yah in West Africa x

Trekkup Crew

Whatsapp 0504848238 / info@trekkup.com
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup

If you've ever dreamed of discovering the true face of Africa - this trip is for you: surreal landscapes, breathtaking views of mountainous dunes, rich flora and fauna in their habitat, unique cultures. NAMIBIA electrifies visitors and for a reason it is called the most photogenic place on Earth!

It is difficult to describe the color of hot sand warmed from the sun, you just have to see it. The impressive Skeleton Coast, called by the former Portuguese sailors "the gate to hell", located on the Atlantic with shipwrecks on it. It's no secret that the coast is also a favorite seal place that you can often find there.

People living here regardless of whether they represent the tribe of Bushmen Damara, Herero, Bantu, Hottentots or Himba adhere to the principle that the cheapest and easiest way to improve their image is to smile. You'll also find out how much truth is said that we Europeans have watches and Africans have time.

What awaits you here are unforgettable joint evenings with the greatest sunsets, campfires under a canopy of stars, camps set up in the middle of the wildest corners of the world and the company of animals known so far mainly from National Geographic programs. We will experience the rhythm of communing with wildlife and experience the diversity of nature, meet unknown cultures and tribes.

Now you can get on the road with us and set off to the wilderness of some of the most remote places on African continent. Namibia is a real DESERT QUEEN, ruling its kingdom with the wind that carves the dunes, shapes beaches, rocky peaks and river banks.

Let's go!!

Day 1: Windhoek
Arrival, check in to hotel, rest.

Day 2: Palmwag
Today we leave to Palmwag (Damaraland) with beautiful scenery, landscape and mountain roadside pictures. Optional kayaking with seals.

Day 3: Swakopmund
After breakfast, we set off into Skeleton coast, on our way visit Cape Cross. Nearby is the world's largest African seal colony - their population is about 260 thousand individuals. We will have the opportunity to kayak among them to take a close look at these clumsy creatures and involve all our senses with this strange place.

Day 4: Namib desert
Today we set off on our way to the world's oldest desert - Namib. On the way stop at Kuiseb canyon view point, tropic of Capricorn.

Day 5: Sossusvlei
Wake up early morning. We jump into the cars to catch the sunrise in the heart of the tallest dunes of the world, called Dune 45 and head. The most famous sandy colossus is reaching up to 400 mtrs in height. Once we are done with picnic breakfast at the feet of the dune, we will go for a walk through Deadvlei, where the vast expanse of white salt contrasts with the surrounding red dunes and dried tree stumps.

Day 6: Sesriem - Windhoek
It time to hit the road back to Windhoek. Quick look at the city, overnight in hotel.

Day 7: Departure
Last souvenir shopping and heart breaking good bye to Namibia!

Activities:
Trekking, desert drives, sightseeing, encounter of wildlife and indigenous tribes, optional kayaking with seals.

Accommodation & meals: boutique lodges and hotels - double sharing. Meals excluded.

Cost: 6,610 AED excl. flights until NOV 20th.

Specifically excluded: Visa, meals, optional activities.

Recommended flights: Ethiopian via Addis at 3,450 AED.

VISA: Most passports visa free or evisa. Visa support available.

See yah in Namibia x
Trekkup Crew

Whatsapp 00971 50 4848238
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup

Among the most amazing natural wonders of the world, the mountains of the national forest park of Zhangjiajie rank so high that they even inspired famous film director James Cameron. In fact, one of them has even been renamed after one of Cameron's blockbusters: It is now called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. Here, in south central China, we won't need much fantasy, we will find ourselves in a different world all the way through. So welcome to the real Avatar!

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Prominent in the park are the pillar-like formations, often depicted in ancient Chinese paintings, resembling karst terrain but not formed by limestone dissolution. Instead, they've been shaped over time by physical erosion, notably from expanding ice in winter and plant growth.

It might come as a surprise to us UAE residents, but the park is also home to the world's longest and highest pedestrian glass bridge as well as the "hundred dragons sky lift" (Bailong Elevator), the world's tallest outdoor lift.

In Avatar's footsteps, we will have the chance to reconnect with nature's primal energy while hiking in the most awe-inspiring scenery of the Grand Canyon, The Golden Whip Stream and the Ten Mile Gallery. Towering peaks, deep valleys, and mist-shrouded cliffs, will offer a glimpse into the ethereal beauty that has inspired countless artists and poets throughout history.

But what would a trip to fantasy land be without exploring mysterious caves? With a massive size of 48 ha, the Huanglong Cave stretches over some 15 km; the highest of its three waterfalls reaching 50 m. We are not surprised that this place is called "Yellow Dragon's Cave" in Chinese!
If otherworldly impressions are your pair of shoes, here is one for the Avatar mountains floating in the clouds.

Let’s go!

Day 0
Meeting at airport at 22:00 for a flight to Beijing.

Day 1
Arrival to Beijing, immigration clearance. Given the transfer time allows, short visit in Ti’an men square and Forbidden City. Connecting flight to Zhangjiajie, transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 2
Prepare for an exhilarating day exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. We'll begin by ascending via cableway to Huangshizhai, where breathtaking views await. After taking in the panorama, we'll embark on a hike down, immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of the area.

Later, we'll venture into the enchanting surroundings of Golden Whip Stream, where tranquil waters and towering sandstone pillars create a serene atmosphere perfect for exploration.

Day 3
Today we ascend the Bailong Elevator to Yuangjiajie, where we'll be greeted by stunning views of the towering pillar-like rock formations which provided inspiration for the otherworldly scenery in the movie Avatar. From here, we'll embark on a scenic hike down from Tianzi Mountain, where mist-shrouded cliffs and lush valleys awaits. There are dense woods, fragrant flowers and grotesque rocks in this valley, true natural art gallery. Later on, we'll explore the landscapes of the Ten-Mile Gallery with its 200 rocks vividly mimic profiles of human and animals.

Day 4
Lace up your hiking boots for an unforgettable trek through the majestic Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie. We will cross longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge in the world, 430m long, 6m wide, suspended 300m above the valley floor. Built among high mountains and a gorge, it also has a bungee platform in the center.

Further on, we head inside the depths of Huanglong Cave, where stunning rock formations and underground waterfalls awaits for a charming glimpse on the underworlds.

Day 5
Our trip could not be concluded without visiting two iconic landmarks. First, we'll take in the serene beauty of Baofeng Lake, nestled amidst lush forests and towering peaks. Then, we'll ascend the summit of Tianmen Mountain via cable car. It will not be easy to bid farewell to Zhangjiajie as we transfer to the airport for flight to Beijing, overnight in Beijing.

Day 6
Check out early in the morning and transfer to the Great Wall of China. Our trip to Beijing would, of course, not be complete without enjoying the famous Peking Duck for lunch. In the evening, transfer to the airport and fly back home.

Level: Easy, available for everyone.
Activities: trekking, sightseeing.
Accommodation & meals: 4 star hotel - double sharing, meals excluded, except lunch DAY 6.

Cost: 7,770 AED incl. flights until NOV 18th. Past this date cost will change.

NOTE: This trip is only available on our flight plan.

Specifically excluded: Visas, meals, insurance.
Visa: AUS, EU passports visa free, except Czech Republic, Lithuania and Sweden. Other passports - third party visa agency only.

It is sole responsibility of participant to secure entry to country of destination.

See yah in Avatar x

Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050 - 4848238
Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup