Most Spectacular Canyons in The World

We've all heard of it. We've seen countless pictures. The fame of Grand Canyon is worldwide and its excellence beyond competition. But there are definitely more river-carved miracles scattered all over the world and worth a glance. Have a look at 10 spectacular canyons ready to rival Arizona's greatest wonder.

Antelope Canyon - Navajo Nation, AZ, USA

You'll need to take a guided tour to see this pearl of the American Southwest, but take our word for it - it's worth every dollar paid. Short and relatively narrow, with only soft light getting in and dancing playfully on the walls, the canyon has been shaped by occasional flash floods that leave those graceful curves in the fiery sandstone. Getting to the bottom of Antelope Canyon in truly a trip inside the Earth.






Blyde River Canyon - Mpumalanga, South Africa

It's said to be the world's third largest canyon, and if you gaze at the 20-mile (33 km) gorge from any of the numerous vantage points, it does look huge. And stunningly beautiful. Lush hills, sharp river bends, impressive potholes, and varied wildlife make it by far one of the most impressive experiences to be had in South Africa. Good tourist infrastructure in the region means all those 25 000 hectares of unsurpassed beauty are easily accessible and hiker friendly.







Charyn Canyon - Kazakhstan

Carved by the river Charyn and really as old as the hills, the 50-mile (80 km) canyon in Kazakhstan is a Mecca for adventure lovers. A two-hour drive from Almaty and you're in the enormous realm of splendid hiking, canyoneering and rafting, all encompassed in some of the most intriguing scenery in the region. Its most striking feature is known as Valley of Castles, a mighty collection of odd rock formations that rise along both sides of the dirt road at the bottom of the canyon.







Colca Canyon - Arequipa, Peru

They say it's twice as deep as the Grand Canyon but never receives equally many visitors. And that's what makes it a unique place. Where the Colca river runs between the microscopic mountain villages of Chivay to Cabanaconde in Peru, there's an enormous canyon full of native homesteads, pre-Colombian terraced fields and varied wildlife. Giant Andean Condors soaring gracefully above your head will definitely be the highlight of your trip. Just watch your step - the canyon is 2,5 mile (4100 m) deep.







Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre)- Chihuahua, Mexico

Six distinct canyons carved by six rivers - that's Barranca del Cobre in a nutshell, so you more or less know what to expect. But it really takes a glance down the towering cliffs and a whiff of oak to fully acknowledge the grandeur. It's huge, beautiful and brimming with opportunities for hiking, biking, four-wheel driving and horseback riding. On your way, you'll often see Tarahumara Indians selling their crafts and food. If we were looking for the closest equivalent to the Grand Canyon (in terms of the impressions they make), Mexico's Barranca del Cobre would be a likely choice.







Glen Canyon- Utah/Arizona, USA

Nothing can prepare you for such a dose of staggering beauty. No matter what you've heard of it and how many pictures you've seen, Glen Canyon (and particularly the Horseshoe Bend) will leave you agape at its grandeur. That's just yet another creation of the mighty Colorado river, but there's something about this place that makes it most memorable. Maybe it's about the color of the water or the diversity of activities to be had. Sparkling Lake Powell and the fiercely red Vermillion Cliffs host all sorts of water-based and backcountry recreation. Or maybe it's because you never expect anything more stunning that the Grand Canyon. Well...







Kings Canyon - Northern Territory, Australia

Ancient sandstone walls and giant rocky domes are the main features of Northern Territory's Kings Canyon. Set within Watarrka National Park, 200 miles (323km) southwest of Alice Springs, it can be reached by 4-wheel drive vehicles and then explored on foot through scenic walkways that lead either around the rim or down to the bottom of the canyon. Solitude and wilderness is what you experience here along with some of the most awesome views of outback Australia.







Matka Canyon - Macedonia

Matka is one of the most charming nature spots in Macedonia. A close proximity to Skopje makes it a popular recreation area with several medieval monasteries to explore once you get tired of adventure and thrills. And there's really a lot to give you a tough workout and adrenaline bust. Opportunities for swimming, kayaking, rock climbing and fantastic alpine hiking never fail to satisfy activity seekers, while numerous caves, hidden springs and the mist hovering above the emerald Lake Matka give the place an unearthly touch of mysticism.







Waimea Canyon- Kauai, Hawaii

Of all the things to see in Hawaii, none compare in awe to the multicolored wonder set in Kauai. Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea is 10 miles (16 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and more than 3,500-feet (1066 m) deep. Rivers and floods carved it thousands of years ago, leaving a most fabulous testimony to the creative powers of nature. Numerous trails lead through and above the canyon letting you either take a sweeping view of the gulch or enter the bewitching jungle of red rock and lush vegetation.







Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon - Tibet, China

The extreme conditions of the Yarlung Tsangpo has earned it a moniker as the "Everest of Rivers", and the turn it makes round the highest peak of the east Tibet proves its reputation. So mighty is its power that it managed to carve a 150-mile (240 km) long and 3-mile (5000 m) deep gorge regarded by many as the deepest canyon in the world. Tremendous in size and packed with opportunities for adventure travel, the canyon offers dramatic scenery and abundant flora to underpin your experience. Lonely, quiet and towering over the world with its snow-covered peaks- that's Tibet at its most majestic.







Do you think any of the above can rival this?

Most Unique Travel Destinations in The World

A big part of travel is that feeling you get when experiencing something completely new, something you haven't seen or done before. Many travel destinations offer an amenity or two that other places don't--but there are only a few locations in the world that offer a truly unique experience.

The Azores
Explore the dramatic natural beauty and bounty of crater lakes in this collection of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the North Atlantic. Portuguese by language, it has a culture and cuisine all its own. Feast on the geothermally heated hotpots called cozido das furnas, which consist of mixtures of meats and stews and are a feature of the area near Sao Miguel.

Bhutan
High up in the Himalayan Mountains sits the world's newest democracy, whose 30-year-old king has been instrumental in developing the country's parliament, and injecting a democratic voice into Bhutanese affairs. The term "gross national happiness" was coined by the country's former king, who began the Buddhist country's path to modernization. It now straddles both the old world and the new, and has earned the nickname, "the last Shangri-La." 

 Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay
Vieques, Puerto Rico

Some places offer such unique natural attractions that visiting can make you feel as if you've left earth and are floating among the stars. Mosquito Bay captures and retains large amounts of naturally occurring dinoflagellates that glow when disturbed. Row out to the middle of the bay at night with a tour group, then take a swim in a starfield--an experience to which no photo can do justice.

 The Blue Lagoon
Grindavik, Iceland

Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, recommends the stark beauty of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. "They call it 'The Land of Fire and Ice' for a reason," says Banas. "It's one of those things that you have to do in a lifetime. You're swimming in these silica mud waters, but then it's snowing outside." Stay at the Blue Lagoon Spa, where you can take a geothermal steam bath, or have drinks while you soak in the lagoon.

Cancun Underwater Museum
Cancun, Mexico

The brainchild of the artist Jason de Caires Taylor, the world's largest underwater museum features 400 statues by the artist, in a dizzying array of poses and features. The just-opened sculpture park sits in shallow waters in Cancun, allowing snorkellers, swimmers, and scuba divers alike to witness the sculptures grow seaweed and barnacles, and begin to form a supplementary reef for area fish. 

 Chernobyl, Ukraine

If you're looking to plumb the depths of your ability to tolerate bleak, torturous ruin, then maybe a tour of the 30-km zone of death around the exploded Soviet-era nuclear reactor in Chernobyl is what the doctor ordered. Radiation dosimeters and tours are offered by a few groups already, but the Ukraine has announced that it will be officially opening the area to tourism starting in 2011.

 Ice Hotel
Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Although there are ice hotels in Finland, Québec, Canada, Norway and Romania, the hotel at Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is the oldest and most famous of these frozen inns. Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in a little village in Lapland, this hotel is world famous for its dramatic scenery, and its yearly rebirth, like an icy phoenix.

 Madagascar

Madagascar, sitting approximately 225 miles off the eastern coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean, is so remote, it's been host to many one-of-a-kind evolutionary developments. Ninety percent of its native plant life is found nowhere else in the world. "It still feels like a lost wonderland, with unique and diverse plant and animal life," says Tom Hall, a U.K.-based writer for Lonely Planet.

 The Maldives

A collection of widely dispersed islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is the nation with the lowest high point in the world--a fact that lead to worldwide attention last year when the country's cabinet staged an underwater signing of a document calling for reduced global carbon emissions. It is also stunningly beautiful, and offers some of the most dramatic ocean vistas in the world--made all the more compelling by their threatened status.

Okavango Delta, Botswana
At over 17,000 square kilometers, the Okavango is the world's largest inland delta. "It's Southern Africa's greatest wetland area," says Tom Hall of Lonely Planet. "Visitors canoe through rushes in pre-Dawn mists, then walk to see elephants, lions, leopards and more."

 Palm Islands
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Though impacted by the global credit crunch, Dubai's artificial archipelago of shops, resorts and play areas is still growing, being built on reclaimed land with techniques mastered by the Dutch, who know a thing or two about reclaiming land from the sea. While it's hard to tell when construction will be complete, what is already done is impressive in both scope and economic ambition.

Santorini, Greece

The world's only inhabited volcanic caldera, Santorini is among the most beautiful of Greece's more than 6,000 islands. Sample some of the Mediterranean's best seafood in Perissa Beach, then hop on a scooter and head west to the small town of Oia, to watch the sun set with what seems like half of the rest of the island.

Yakushima, Japan

About 60 kilometers south of the busy Japanese port city of Kagoshima sits an island that is both quintessentially Japanese and like nothing else in the sprawling archipelago. Designated as a World Heritage Site, Yakushima is rich in sub-tropical life, and attracts visitors from all over Japan with its elusive native wildcats and intricately gnarled yakisugi cedar trees.

Luxury and High-Tech Yachts

There has been an incessant increase in the count and fame of large private luxury yachts over the last two decades. This list of top 12 high-tech luxury travel yachts will tell you that these are not just another means of transport over the water but a style statement too. Let’s not waste any more time and take a look at these spectacular beauties.

12. Sea Dream

Charter price: US$ 315000 to US $700000 per week

The splendid 344-foot Sea Dream luxury yacht lets large groups submerge straight into an unforgettable luxury experience. The most striking thing on Sea Dream is its exceptional cuisine.

The list of the lavish on-board amenities include ‘open air’ area with spectacular water views, dining salon, new boardroom area, bar cocktails, library with many games, Asian Spa and Wellness Center, beauty salon, 3 steam showers, 2 treatment rooms, and a sauna, separate guest’s ensuite bathroom, and flat screen TV & DVD & CD players throughout the 195 square foot of living area.

11. Excellence III

Built by: Abeking & Rasmussen

Charter Price: US $365000 to $385000 per week

The luxury motor yacht Excellence III charters both the Mediterranean and Caribbean waterways. The interiors are a perfect intermingling of mahogany, harmonized by myrtle and honey onyx. The yacht accommodates 12 people in its six luxurious guest cabins, of which four are king-size.

Luxury yacht Excellence III offers two Windsurfers, two kayaks, two 800hp Yamaha Wave runner jet skis, various knee boards, water skis, inflatable toys, snorkeling equipment, rendezvous diving and fishing tackle. The innards of the luxury yacht features a LINN music system, a Plasma screen TV in guests and master cabins, the Sky lounge (convertible to full theatre), a gymnasium, and a steam shower. 

10. Atmosphere

Built by: Perini Navi in 2000

Charter Price: US $ 210,000

The 174ft Atmosphere luxury yacht offers exceptionally spacious accommodation for its 14 guests, thanks to the 11.40m beam. The interiors of the yacht have been designed to the best of Perini standards.

The interiors of the super yacht are festooned with russet-toned fabrics with shades of orange and gold, and graceful cherry-wood joinery. Dining room can be changed into a conference room in case of any business meetings. Other facilities include a main saloon, a sauna, separate Turkish bath, satellite TV/DVD/video/stereo throughout the yacht, and Jacuzzi dip pool. 

9. Virginian

Built by: Van Lent in 1990

Charter Price: US$294000 per week

The Virginian luxury yacht is well-known for its fabulous design and outstanding technical specifications. At 203 feet, Virginian offers accommodation for 12 guests in six cabins.

The yacht features an array of lavish facilities such as an on-deck Jacuzzi, a mosaic octopus in the master bathroom, a bar, abundant dining space on the sundeck, and, interestingly, a library with built-in bookcases.

8. Senses

Designed by: Martin Francis

Charter Price: US$ 240000 to US $250000 per week

The inimitable charter yacht enriches you with the four-wheel-drive option as compared to the conventional yachts. If you take a look at the robust exteriors, you can’t even think of the lavish, beautiful interiors with which the ‘Senses’ is festooned with. Designed by Martin Francis, the interiors are decked with wonderful wood with cream soft furnishings.

The Senses is equipped with all the latest luxury amenities such as satellite television, stereo music systems, Jacuzzi pool, gym, and sauna. The motor yacht offers charter accommodation for up to 12 guests. 

7. Leander

Built by: Peene shipyard, Germany in 1994

Charter Price: US$ 490,000 per week

The yacht Leander is one of the largest yachts build over the last decade with all the latest luxury facilities. The 75 meter full displacement yacht offers excellent accommodation spread over 3 deck levels, with utterly private VIP apartments.

The luxury mega yacht touts lavish dining room, observation lounge, panoramic windows, custom pool with Jacuzzi, audio/visual equipment a bar, sauna, barbeque, and a modern gym.

6. Trimaran

Price: $2.4 million

Designed by: Craig Loomes

The most extreme design that you will see in the Yacht industry is apparently designed by Craig Loomes and resembles a futuristic boat for your recreational sea voyages. Although the Trimaran, which looks like something from a Star Trek movie, is not the fastest out there but can surely be taken as one of the world’s most extreme superyacht.

The 148-meter hull boasts of split-level luxury staterooms offering room for up to 28 guests. The top speed for this yacht is 50 knots when all of the 33,000 HP kicks is utilized. At a cruising speed of 40 knots the range is over 3,000 miles. The unique thing about this luxury Trimaran is the long, slim center hull flanked by two narrow side hulls that provide stability.

The luxury amenities available on board are a swimming pool, hot tub, rooms for sunbathing, a grand piano and bar, a helicopter pad, a grand hall and an internal harbor. 

5. Frank Mulder Gigayacht

Designed by: Naval architect Frank Mulder of Mulder Design

The Frank Mulder Gigayacht is claimed by many to be the most expensive item ever sold on eBay for a purchase price of $168,000,000. Now, a Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich owns this beauty. The ultra-luxury yacht boasts of luxurious master suite on deck that features luxury office area, salon, cinema room, fitness room, two person cabin for children, body guards. The stunning yacht also features helicopter garage in the bow with retractable elevator, two fabulous multi-level VIP Suites with panoramic windows, sixteen luxurious oversized guest cabins. 

4. Annaliesse

Charter Price: US $840,000 per week

One of the world’s most impressive yachts, the Annaliesse, which also topped the list of ‘world’s most expensive yachts’ by Forbes, was taken off the charter market in March 2007 and sold to a private owner.

The 280 feet yacht features room for 36 guests in 18 cabins, 1,184 square foot main stateroom offering panoramic views, private deck, his and hers walk-in closets and marble bath with Jacuzzi, full-service spa, bars, salon, a sundeck with Jacuzzi and helipad a library/theater room with a 100-inch screen.

The owner’s stateroom is equipped with a king-size bed, a 42-inch FFFD TV and panoramic windows that can be covered with a remote control. The yacht has a range of 7000 nautical miles with a top speed of 18 knots. The queen of the ocean was up for an asking price of $95.448 million.

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3. Maltese Falcon

Built by: Italian Perini Navi Yachts

Owned by: American Millionaire Tom Perkins

Cruising on the waves is simply different and exotic with the Maltese Falcon. The 87.5 meters luxury sailing yacht is the world’s largest and fastest personal sailboat controlled by its three gigantic 57-meter tall free-standing masts. The credit for its record shattering speeds goes to the DynaRig under its hood.

We can’t ignore the lavish amenities that come on-board with the Maltese Falcon. It comes equipped with all the state-of-art luxury decor and features of a large mega yacht. The stunning yacht, which is a prefect blend of design and technology, is providing ‘Atlantic crossings in ten days’ offer.

The other things on the beautiful beast for the geeks are 4 laser sailing boats, 6 full sets of dive gear, water skis, snorkeling gear, Technogym, audio-visual devices, 50-inch plasma in main salon, SAT TV and DVD throughout the boat. All the four guest suites have 42-inch plasmas while the “Passage Cabin” located at the upper deck has a 32-inch plasma display. For the true audiophiles, Maltese Falcon boasts B & O surround sound all the way through the vessel. VSAT takes care of the wireless internet connectivity.

2. Octopus

Built by: German shipbuilder Lurssen in Bremen

Owned by: Paul Allen, Microsoft’s billionare

The luxury private yacht Octopus cost Paul Allen over $200 million and has a total crew of sixty members. The beauty comes loaded with high-tech features like the ‘marina dock’ for the custom main tender and the mini-sub.

At 414 feet, the Octopus boasts alfresco dining, support for three helicopters on the top deck, and remote control submarine. To keep the beast in excellent working condition, an annual budget of $20 million is needed.

1. Rising Sun

Built by: Lurssen in Bremen, Germany

Owned by: Larry Ellison (Head of Oracle Corp.)

Larry Ellison’s Rising Sun is a simple gigantic at 452 feet & 8-inches. The exteriors of the large luxury yacht are been designed by late Jon Bannenberg and the interior by Laura Seccombe. Larry went for the Rising Sun because some people say that he wanted to own a bigger yacht than Paul Allen’s Octopus.

The long list of luxury things on-board include a colossal swimming pool, all-embracing wine cellar, a cinema, basketball court that also works as a helicopter pad, suites for 16 guests, and space for private submarine. The production cost of the big Rising Sun is said to be US$200+. The privately owned yacht boasts 8 000 square meters of total living space.

Passing reference:

� WallyIsland

Wallypower yachts are well known among luxury circles. The company is also working on a 325-foot yacht with a colossal deck area of 1,000 sq. mtr. to accommodate state-of-art luxurious amenities and facilities including a deep water pool, a heli pad, mini soccer court, tennis court and garden oasis with trees! WallyIsland, as it is aptly called will be customizable, so you can actually design a boat of your own, just like you always wanted!

� Hull 6154

Some unknown Russian tycoon is being rumored to be making the world’s most expensive privately owned yacht. At 438 feet, the so-called Hull 6154 will feature seven decks, 15 state rooms, Jacuzzis, a gym, two helicopter pads and storage space for a submarine and is said to bring back $270 million. The super-sized private yacht is being built by Fincantieri, one of the world’s leading yacht builders at its base in Genoa

� Angelina Jolie and beau Brad Pitt’s $138m yacht

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are being reported to have commissioned a 280-foot-long Italian luxury yacht for $268 million. The yacht will come festooned with a swimming pool, a heliport, and a submarine, and is expected for delivery in 2009. They have ordered the luxury yacht from the luxury shipbuilder Privilege Yard SpA.