5 of My Most Unforgettable Travel Moments

What do you travel for? Is it for escapism and relaxation, to see new cultures, or to push yourself beyond your comfort zone? I love travelling for all of these reasons, but looking back, the travel moments that stick vividly in my mind are the ones that involve a bit of adrenaline. These are the moments that will remain as vivid memories in my mind forever. In partnership with luxury travel specialists Abercrombie and Kent, I’m sharing 5 of my most unforgettable travel moments, and letting you know how you could win a luxury tailor-made holiday for 2 to Oman.

5 of my Most Unforgettable Travel Moments

1. A Helicopter Ride in Mauritius

In 2016 I returned to Mauritius for the second time, to visit a client I was working for at the time. The highlight of the trip was a helicopter ride with Air Mauritius, which departed from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. We soared over waterfalls, mountains, tea plantations and the Island’s beautiful coastline and coral barrier. The water looked so turquoise and the lush green landscape made it seem like a total paradise. It felt alien to be flying high in such a tiny little helicopter, but I put my trust in the pilot and it paid off! Read my Alternative Guide to Mauritius.

2. Reaching the Top of Table Mountain in South Africa

Cape Town was a place that had been on my bucket list for years, and in 2015 I finally got the opportunity to visit South Africa for the first time. The adventure was based in Cape Town, and we covered all of the highlights including Table Mountain, Boulders Bay, Robben Island, wine tasting in Constantia and the beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton. Our ascent up to the top of Table Mountain took us above the cloud, to 360 degree views of beautiful Cape Town. From the beaches to the mountains, I’ve never visited a city with such spectacular landscapes. Read more about my Table Mountain experience in my Top 10 Things to do in Cape Town.

3. A Hot Air Balloon Safari in Tanzania

Another adrenaline-fuelled memory is my hot air balloon safari in Tanzania. This was also in 2015 as part of a trip to the Four Seasons Serengeti. We had to meet in the hotel lobby at around 4.30am to beat the sunrise, then transit to the launch site of two huge hot air balloons. We climbed into the baskets whilst they were tipped on their side and after some steady blasts of flames and hot air, we slowly began to glide into the sky. We soared low enough to skim the tree tops and high enough to see an entire vista of the Serengeti. I remember seeing monkeys, hippos, antelope and a herd of running wildebeests. Seeing these wild animals from above was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget.

4. Motorcycling along the Hai Van Pass in Vietnam

The Hai Van Pass is one of Vietnam’s most iconic and picturesque roads, so much so it was featured by Jeremy Clarkson and co on an episode of Top Gear. It was my sister who strongly recommended this experience, as she had done it a year or so before. The 20km of winding cliffside roads have tight bends and can feel a little hairy at times, so we decided to book two drivers to take us from Hue to Hoi An on a motorcycle day tour. The drivers were also our guides and stopped off at places of interest along the way including waterfalls and fresh water springs. It was one of the most epic days of travel I’ve ever experienced and was made even more memorable by doing it with Scott. Read my Ultimate 3 Week Vietnam Travel Itinerary.

5. Paragliding in Switzerland

It was less than a year since I plucked up the courage to ski off a mountain with a parachute attached to my back. During my most recent ski trip to Verbier last December, I had the option to try paragliding and its something I really wrestled with in my head in the lead up to the trip. I wanted to do it, but fear held me back from committing. One morning the weather conditions were perfect, and I had one last chance to opt-in. With a heavy bout of nerves, I decided to go for it. I honestly can’t remember feeling fear or adrenaline like this at any other time in my life, followed by total elation when we began to glide above the mountains. Again, I lived to tell the tale and boy am I glad that I pushed myself to do it. I’ve blogged the whole story here.

How to Win a Luxury Holiday to Oman with Abercrombie and Kent

As part of their #TravelMoment campaign, Abercrombie and Kent are giving you the chance to win a 6-night luxury tailor-made holiday for 2 to Oman, with business class flights. To win, all you need to do is share your own #TravelMoment with one photo and 25 words. Simply click here and fill out the competition entry form. The competition closes on 21st December 2018 and the winner will be announced shortly after.

Prize Details

The prize is for 2 people and includes;

• Business class flights from London Heathrow with Oman Air
• Arrival transfer from Muscat Airport to Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel for 2 nights
• Transfers from Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel to Anantara Al Jabal Akhdar Resort for 2 nights
• Transfers from Anantara Al Jabal Akhdar Resort to The Chedi for 2 nights
• All hotels are on a bed-and-breakfast basis
• Transfers back to Muscat Airport for the return flight

What are your most unforgettable travel moments? Let me know in the comment box below. Jess x

This blog post has been created as part of a sponsored collaboration with Abercrombie and Kent. All images and words are my own.