Like many nature lovers, there are many experiences on my travel bucket list that involve animals. In my opinion, these creature-themed excursions should be at the top of any “Try Before I Die†list.
Nature from Afar
Ladakh, in India, is our first stop. With a large snow leopard count (almost 200), this is the best possible place to catch a glimpse of this extremely elusive creature. With only around 5,000 left in the wild, the snow leopard is rare to spot. This makes it even more special if you are lucky enough to get a sighting. Visit Husing in winter, when the leopards are more frequently prowling lower grounds due to the snow, giving you the best possible chance of seeing this secretive beauty in its natural habitat.
A Bit More Up Close
Like the idea of seeing some of the most endangered species on the planet? Then swimming with sea turtles on the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is absolutely perfect for you.
The waters are at some points so shallow that getting up close and personal with the 500 species of fish that live there is easier than ever. A tad smaller than the famed Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo is home to three different types of endangered sea turtles, and offers a more unique experience for the off-the-beaten track holiday-maker.
Got bigger fish to fry? Then head over to Baja California in Mexico. The whales are particularly friendly here and like to interact with humans who sail by them. From December to April, the San Ignacio Lagoon is teeming with grey whales just waiting to play games. As you can imagine these trips are very popular, so if you’re interested then you’ll need to book well in advance.
The Bear Necessities
Have you ever seen a bear with creamy white fur? These ones aren’t polar, they’re Kermode (otherwise known as “spiritâ€) bears, of which there are only about 1,200 in existence in the world! If you want to catch a glimpse of one then British Columbia, Canada, is the place to go.
If you really want to increase your chances of an encounter, find a tour guide who is trained to track them down to accompany you in a floatplane to their known hangout: Klemtu.
Get Covered
Whether you’re going on multiple holidays or just a single trip, travel insurance is the first thing you need to get sorted. There are lots of different options out there to suit your specific needs.
When travelling – particularly when nature is involved – there is a certain degree of unpredictability. But something you can predict is that a good time will be had by all, especially if, for your one, ultimate, single trip, travel insurance has been purchased and secured well beforehand. Putting your own mind at rest whilst away on holiday is absolutely key to getting the most from your trip.
Ethan Bailey is an experienced adventure traveller and insurance expert with the team at Let's Go Insure. Ethan’s passion is to inspire his clients to go just that little bit further, deeper and higher on their travels and his expertise in providing the ideal insurance cover allows them to do just that. If you're looking for the best single trip travel insurance Let's Go works with the most experienced underwriters, intermediaries and insurers to offer a range of competitive insurance without compromising on cover.
This article is copyright free.