Arbo Valley Travel and Tours

When you’re camping, your tent is the most important piece of equipment. Without a tent, you are nothing! You need one that will keep you dry and warm (but not too warm). There are a huge huge range ot there on the market and it can be difficult deciding what to buy but here are a few tips to help you on your way.

There are so many different tents oit there on the market that it may be difficult to know where to start. from a simple one person tent which will fit easily into your rucksack, right up to an eight berth monster, with all mod cons including spa pool and massage table ok, perhaps that’s a bit far but you get the idea!). As with everything camping related, your tent needs to fit the purpose that you’ll be using it for. If you will be carrying the tent in a rucksack, then the weight and dimensions when packed are very important. If you are camping with the family, you may want something with seperate bedroom areas for privasy. All of these details can be found within the information of the packaging or from the shop when you buy your tent.

Tents will be labelled ‘one person’, ‘two person’ etc, but you should always check the actual dimensions as classifications can differ between manufacturers. You should also pay attention to how much space there is in the living area and what the height of the tent is (ie, can you stand up). Below is a summary of the different types of tents you might choose.

Frame Tents: These have the best headroom and are useful for families, and those who plan to cook inside the tent. The disadvantage of frame tents is that they are havy and difficult to carry, so only suitable if you are travelling by car (and have a few people to hep you put it up). Frame tents are becoming less popular in favour of the more fashioable and lightweight Dome Tents.

Ridge Tent: This is a triangular shaped tent, the more tradiditonal one that you are used to seeing. You rarely see this around nowadays, and again have given way to the more modern dome tents.

Dome Tents: A dome shaped tent, very simple to erect and very lightweight. The flexible poles thread through the tent fabric criss corssing in the middle. The poles are normally made of reinforced plastic or a metal alloy. Dome tents can range from a very compact one or two man right up to a family sized tent with room to stand. They are relatively inexpensive and due to the compact size when packed they are very easy to transport. higher dome tents are more vulnerable in high winds than a frame tent so care should be taken in poor weather.

Hoop Tents: These are a cross betwen a ridge and dome tent. They are strong with room inside, they can be multiple hoop, also known as a tunnel tent, or single hoop which is lighter weight and easier to carry. Hoop tents are often favoured by mountain climbers because of their strngth in high winds and extreme conditions.

Geodesic Tents: A geodesic tent is similar to a Dome tent, but with a slightly different structure which gives them greater strength in high winds. Often slightly more expensive than a standard dome tent.

Vis-a-vis: Tents with sleeping areas on either side of the main central area. These are genrally dome style noeadays but you do ocassionally see a ridge style vis-a-vis tent.

Touring Tents: Touring tents can be extended ridge tents or extended dome tents. They normally have a porch area, which is very useful for cooking, (although goking in tents should only be done if it is safe to do so, and you should consult the manufacturr if you aren’t sure). Touring tents often have windows and are the tent of choice for people who spend long periods camping.

Most tents have 2 layers. The first a breathable ‘inner’ providing warmth and keeping the insects off, while the ‘outer’ fysheet or ’skin’ is the waterproof layer that goes on the outside. Having a two layer structure also prevents moisture and condensation building up. These layers can be made from a wide range of materials, the higher end of the price range tends to be the best insulated, most breathable and best quality and would be advised for extreme weather conditions. The higher price ranges will also be home to tents with the best quality seams and zips as these are often the first things to go.

The strength of the poles is an important factor if you want your tent to last. Modern tents are extremely lightweight but you can often tell the difference between poor quality and good quality poles. As a rule, you generally get what you pay for. If you are using your tent to go to a festival and don’t tend to do much else with it, then you can pick up a 2 man tent from about £25. If you are looking for something that you can use a few times of year in all conditinos, then prices can go up to about £500 for the top quality tents.

Whatever your choice, remember to allow anough space for your stuff. A 2 man tent is often big enough for 2 people but if you both have big rucksacks or equipment, you might be better thinking about a larger tent to allow for this

Any experienced sailor will tell you there is a big difference between dreaming of sailing into the sunset and actually doing it.

Choosing the right sailboat for your experience level and intended use is particularly important, and can mean the difference between a dream sailing adventure and a nightmare on the high seas.

Most novice sailors or “armchair sailors” tend to think a bit bigger than is safe or practical.

When it comes to sailboats, size does matter! A smaller boat is more appropriate for day sailing or the occasion overnight trip. They’re easier to handle and they are cheaper to own — just about all boating expenses are tied to the length of the boat. For example, moorage costs are tied to length, many parts and things such as rigging and sails are bigger and more costly for larger boats, and, of course, insurance costs multiply as well.

My advice: start small with a 20-foot sailboat. Get to know the basics of sailing, and make sure your wife or significant other is “onboard” with your plans.

If your dream is to one day cruise off to warmer climates, start with short hops in your local area. Setting off on a long-range sailing adventure requires experience and a lot of planning. Cruising locally in a small boat will familiarize you with the bohemian nature of sailing — minimal luxuries and comforts. If you can handle that, you’ll have a better appreciation of the sailing life as you move up to larger vessels.

When checking out sailboats for sale, you’ll want to understand that the age of the sailboat has little to do with its quality and suitability for your plans. New boats, while bright and shiny with lots of high-tech bells and whistles, can be a curse if you’re in a foreign port where parts are not readily available.

Above all, you need to be honest with yourself in relation to your own personal skills and abilities. If you love DIY (do-it-yourself) projects, you’ll do fine with an older boat in need of work. But if you expect all to be movie-perfect, and all you want to do is sip cocktails while the boat sails itself, you’d be better off on a cruise ship!

The cruising lifestyle can be tremendously gratifying in many ways, but you need to start with the right boat and realistic expectations.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels  

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, a luxury train in India has been introduced in January, 2009 by the Rajasthan Tourism Corporation and Ministry of Indian Railway. After immense popularity and success story of Palace on Wheels, the operator of Palace on Wheels has started this royal train tour. Journey on Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is same like Palace on Wheels train journey and even the destinations of the train are same like Palace on Wheels. Royal rajasthan on Wheels covers a seven days itinerary. 

The destinations covered by this Indian luxury train are the pink city Jaipur, golden city Jaisalmer, Lake City Udaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Bharatpur, and Agra. The destinations of Rajasthan house the forts and palaces of Rajput era. Bharatpur is known for the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary while Sawai Madhopur is famous for the Ranthambore National Park. Touring the destinations, the royal guests of the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels will explore the Amber Fort in Jaipur, Golden Fort in Jaisalmer, City palace in Udaipur, Chittorgarh Fort in Chittorgarh and Taj Mahal in Agra. 

The deluxe coaches of Royal rajasthan on Wheels are adorned with finest Indian rugs and Persian carpets. The coaches are named after the royal residence of Rajasthan such as Hawa Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Surya Mahal, Moti Mahal, Sukh Mahal, Jal Mahal, Padmini Mahal, Kishori Mahal, Phool Mahal, Jogi Mahal, Kumbha Palace, Umaid Palace, and Lalgarh Palace. 

Dining at the restro-lounges of the Royal Rajasthan is sure to a memorable experience in life. A wide assortment of traditional Rajasthani, Indian and continental cuisine is served at the restro-lounges. The restro lounges also serve both Indian and imported drinks. 

Spa centre and the souvenir shop are the other main onboard facilities at this luxury train in India. 

Traveling on this luxury train the tourists explore the forts and monuments of Rajasthan, enjoy cultural programmes at the special venues, experience royal styled dining at the heritage hotels. The most enjoyable will be the camel safari at the sand dunes of Rajasthan. 

If you want to experience a royal tour on a luxury train in India, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels can fulfill your dreams. While embarking on a Royal Rajasthan tour, you experience the elegant lifestyle of the Rajput kings.