Snorkeling

For some adventure travelers nothing screams extreme quite like the idea of climbing Mount Everest. Sought out as the ultimate proof of achievement in mind and body, some people train for months and others for years in preparation just to make the attempt to reach the peak. If you are considering climbing Everest, here are just a few things you should keep in mind while preparing your trip:

If you’re not already in good physical health, start with that: As harsh as this may sound fat people don’t climb Everest. You need to be in peak physical condition for this epic climb. Talk to your doctor about your fitness goal and ask what the best methods for getting you there are. It might even be a good idea to have a physical to assess all your vitals and discuss what you need to do to improve your overall health.

Train and practice: You’ll need to start climbing, get used to climbing and attempt climbing in all types of terrains and conditions, especially icy ones. You need to be comfortable with steep climbs for six to eight hours at a time with about 40 pounds on your back. Your lungs and heart need to be able to handle the changes in oxygen and attitude. Some experienced climbers even suggest taking courses to prepare mentally and physically for the gargantuan task of climbing Mount Everest.

Remember to be patient: When one decides to climb Everest it’s not as simple as booking a flight to Nepal and going the next week or even the next month. You’ll need a climbing permit which takes time to get, a group to go with (and many tours fill up fast), time to train and get climbing experience, and plenty of money for the various expenses (your permit alone can be $4,000 to as much as $70,000!).

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“Darling its better, down where it’s wetter; Take it from me!”

Sebastian, The Little Mermaid

If you have been trying to decide on a great destination for your next scuba diving adventure, you’re in luck! We’ve come up with 5 of the best places in the world to scuba dive. Check them out and let us know what you think of our picks in the comments below:

Hawaii- Maui, the Big Island and Oahu are consistently picked as top destinations for diving because of their amazing visibility. The waters are crystal clear making for spectacular photo opportunities with some of the prettiest tropical fish in the world. These dive destinations are also frequently considered the best for beginners because they offer many shallow areas perfect for training new divers.

Australia- The top reason that people choose to dive here is for The Great Barrier Reef. It doesn’t hurt that there are also more than 1,500 species of fish to encounter here!

The Maldives- With the word dive in the name it has to be awesome right? All kidding aside, the Maldives offers spectacular diving with visibility up to 40 meters in some areas as well as a wide range of gorgeous tropical fish including butterfly, parrot and trigger fish.

The Florida Keys- Key Largo has been dubbed the “Diving Capital of the World”. The draw for divers here is that it hosts the United States’ only living coral barrier reef and is home to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary where you can view the Spiegel Grove shipwreck, a 510-foot former US Navy ship intentionally scuttled in 2002.

Cozumel, Mexico- What brings folks to Cozumel for diving are the warm waters, the unique reefs and the intricate caverns and caves. You’ll need to be experienced for these dives though as many of the best things to see require deeper dives.

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Looking for an adventure that is both challenging and rewarding? Consider hiking the Pitons in St. Lucia.

Check out this testimonial we received from one of our clients who just did this in early January:

The Pitons were ridiculous… you were right for calling us crazy. We made it to the top and back down in a little under 4 hours. Hardest thing I’ve ever done (and I’ve run 2 half marathons), but (our guide) Ernest was waiting for us at the bottom with beers! Glad we did it though! – Valerie and Jeff Collignon

Here’s what you need to know if you want to hike the Pitons:

It’s a good idea to be in good physical shape for this hike. Even frequent hikers have been known to abandon this adventure before reaching the summit.

Bring water and snacks but put them in a backpack. Many hikers have said you’ll need both hands to handle this hike as there will be some climbing involved.

Be prepared for a minimum of two hours up the mountain and two hours back down it. There are places to stop along the way if you need a break.

Dress comfortably and prepare to get dirty. Although it’s mostly hiking, like I mentioned earlier there is some climbing required to get to the top so don’t be surprised if your belly ends up rubbing against the mountain. Be sure to wear tennis shoes too. You won’t make it in flip flops!

The view from the top is your reward and many people say that the view is more than worth it if you can make it all the way up. Be sure to bring your camera if nothing else than to have proof you made it to the top for bragging rights.

Have you ever been hiking or rock climbing? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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