July 2019

Visit the National parks in the western United States is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences you can have, thanks to nature's magnificence and the visible effects of time on the earth and rock.

These are 9 of the National parks most impressive Western United States:

1. Bryce Canyon National Park
2. Zion National Park
3. Arches National Park
4. Mesa Verde National Park
5. Monument Valley
6. Antelope Canyon
7. Grand Canyon of the Colorado River
8. Yellowstone National Park
9. Grand Teton National Park

Located in the south of the state of Utah, the Bryce Canyon National Park It is one of those places that makes you keep asking yourself, How is that possible? How could such a place have been formed?

It lies at an altitude of 2700 m and has unique features, including the world’s greatest formation of hoodoos or fairy chimneys.

Ochre, orange, red and white rocks in unusual formations make this one of the most beautiful places in United States.

In 1919 the Zion National Park, located in town of Springdale, became the first national park in the state of Utah. It owes its fame to the unrivalled panoramic views offered by its magical landscape: steep cliffs, sandstone canyons and very high rock formations.

The Zion Canyon is the park’s main attraction and gives it its name. It is a gorge which extends over 24 kilometres, with a average depth of 800 metres, carved out over millennia by the Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado River.

The Arches National Park, located in the state of Utah, protects Amazing landscape including the increased proliferation of arches of the world.

The sandstone formations define not only the landscape but also its plants and animals. Low precipitation and extreme temperature ranges combine to limit life among the rocks to the few species that can adapt to such a harsh environment.

In the Mesa Verde National Park lies in south-western Colorado and preserves the largest and most important archaeological area of Native American culture in the United States.

The Anasazi inhabited this area from AD 500 to AD 1300. They originally lived on top of the plateaus. As their culture developed, they learned to build homes in fortified settlements, which are still preserved in the Mesa Verde National Park.

The Monument Valley is in the reserve of the Navajo Nation, located in southern Utah on the Arizona border. It lies between 1500 and 1800 metres above sea level. The valley is within the Navajo reservation and is famous for its rock formations.

Its distinctive landscape was the setting for numerous films such as: “Back to the Future Part III”, “Easy Rider” or “Forrest Gump”

The Antelope Canyon, located in the municipality of Page, is one of the most photographed canyons in the United States. The narrow walls allow only a little light to enter, giving the reddish sandstone spectacular colours. As with Monument Valley, the canyon lies within a reservation of the Navajo people.

Unlike the Grand Canyon, where you can look out from a viewpoint, Antelope Canyon is hidden beneath the ground, reached in some areas 40 metres deep.

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, declared one of the seven natural wonders of the world and renowned for panoramic views that take the breath away of anyone who visits.

Sculpted by the channel of Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon stretches for 446 kilometres, and its enormous red walls bear witness to the history of the world over the past 2 million years.

In the Yellowstone National Park you can see more than half of the geothermal found on the planet, with around 10,000 different examples. It also has more than 300 geysers, that is, about two thirds of all those on the planet.

In the wonderful Grand Teton National Park, located north-west of the state of Wyoming, you can see the contrast between an immense valley and majestic mountains, with peaks rising almost vertically more than 4000 metres and several Huge lakes in whose waters the mountains and spectacular landscapes.

In Tuareg we are going to United States in a trip 18 days. Travelling through all these spectacular parks. Starting from the Colorado Plateau where we will visit the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Arches, we head north to visit the two most iconic parks in the region: Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

A trip a must for lovers of wide-open spaces.

Do not miss out on a place!

Travel is one of life’s most widely shared pleasures. It feeds our curiosity and lets us switch off from our daily routine, discover other cultures, try different foods and share moments with our loved ones.

"Travels in youth are a form of education and, in old age, they are part of the experience", says philosopher and writer Francis Bacon

1. Communication

When we encounter an unfamiliar place and a new culture, we must adapt how we communicate. A different culture often means a different way of thinking, understanding and expressing things. Usually, when we communicate across cultures, we are unconsciously much more assertive, since we initially assumed that our way of looking at things might not be the right one in that place. That is why approaching people from other cultures is tremendously enriching, as it allows us to develop new communication skills that we can then apply in our daily lives.

2. Relaxation

The impact of travel on our emotional state is immense. Travel lets us switch off from daily routines and set aside most of our usual responsibilities, because when planning a trip, we all give ourselves a “break” that we embrace without guilt. Stress and negative thoughts fade away, and our minds are free to enjoy the here and now, which usually translates into a constant flow of positive thoughts. The level of stress decreases and Increases our emotional well-being.

3. Comfort zone

The so-called “comfort zone” results from a combination of defence mechanisms that try to reduce our daily stress. As a result, we feel comfortable in our everyday lives; we already know what will happen. In everyday life we build a comfort zone where the brain feels at ease and follows familiar patterns. When we decide to travel, we automatically step outside this zone, and may initially feel some stress and anxiety. Over time, however, We will begin to enjoy, feel and experience things we had almost forgotten.. That comfort is broken, but we will soon feel much more capable of face new situations that give us a greater sense of capability and independence.

4. Increased self-esteem

Going to a place where no one knows us helps us build trust, because we develop ways to overcome obstacles and gain a sense of control and autonomy. Many people regain innate abilities they had lost, often related to interpersonal communication.

5. Open-mindedness

A narrow view of the world can make us think our way of seeing things is the only correct one. This lack of understanding often leads to fear and prejudice towards other ways of thinking. Travelling changes our surroundings: everything is unfamiliar, and we become much more open to listening and understanding. That is how we break old patterns and learn to engage with different cultures and become more tolerant.

6. Self-awareness

Leaving everyday thoughts behind creates mental space to recognise, listen to and value our needs. Self-knowledge is the fundamental journey of our lives, and travelling helps us discover our most authentic selves.

Travel helps you grow enormously as a person and discover your fears and what you are capable of in difficult situations. Stay curious: ask, observe, learn and immerse yourself in the unknown. Let travel change your life.

Any time of year is a good time to switch off. In Tuareg we have scheduled departures all year round. Would you like to travel?

SEE OUR UPCOMING SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES

On 23 June 2019, Bali officially became the first Indonesian province to ban all single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene. Confirmation of the island-wide ban came less than a year after a trial was introduced in Denpasar. It is hoped that the legislation will make progress in tackling the growing problem of plastics in Bali and also serve as a model for other provinces of the country to follow.

How can it affect me? trip to Indonesia?

The ban was first announced on 1 January this year, when the mayor of Denpasar announced that all supermarkets, convenience stores and shopping malls Denpasar had banned single-use plastics. Just over six months later, this legislation has been extended to the whole of Bali. The scope of the ban has also been expanded to include all, from retailers to traditional markets in cities, towns and villages.

For now, the entry of plastics to the island is not prohibited, and checks at its borders are not expected, as we saw in the case of the single-use plastic ban in Tanzania. Anyway, from Responsible Tuareg, we strongly urge travellers to avoid bringing these types of plastic into the country unless absolutely essential.

Part of a broader plan

The prohibition is part of the a broader plan. Indonesia aims to reduce ocean plastics by 70% by 2025 through a combination of legislation, individual action and private-sector support. Environmental campaigners, tourists and government officials welcomed the latest news, and applauded Bali’s firm stance against plastic pollution.

The role of tourism

Bali generates approximately 1.6 million tonnes of waste each year, including 303,000 tonnes of plastic. About 33,000 tonnes of it leak into the island’s waterways and end up in the ocean. The tourism is the biggest culprit for plastic accumulation in Bali; visitors to the island have been found to generate more than three times as much waste as Bali’s permanent residents.

It is therefore essential for travellers to bear in mind that, although our stay is for a limited time, how we behave when visiting the country is crucial for the success of the project.

As Bali begins to turn the tide on plastic, It's vital that all visitors do their part. Now that tourists, locals, traders, governors, agents and international organizations are becoming aware of the problem, legislation like this is expected help preserve the beauty of Bali for the enjoyment of all.

#StopPlastic campaign. Responsible Tuareg

In Viajes Tuareg we love the initiative. We recently launched our campaign #StopPlastic to do our bit and to end plastics, and we are delighted that those who have the power to bring about major change share this outlook. Tuareg Responsable is an initiative through which we aim to make the world a better place for everyone.

Our trips in Indonesia:

Indonesia (Borneo, Java, Sulawesi and Bali)

Walking along the country’s most remote trails, we will venture into Toraja country to discover the villages and customs of the local ethnic groups.

A small group trip with a strong focus on wildlife and nature. We start in Borneo, then continue to Java, Sulawesi and finish on the beaches of Bali.