It’s December, the air is cool, but I am comfortable in a cozy fleece and I know by mid-day, it will be sunny, in the low 70’s and perfect. The weather here reminds me of dreamy, fall days in a western U.S. mountain town. It’s been like this almost every day since I stepped off the plane in the beautiful city of Paro.

I landed in Paro over a week before and was met by our trip leader Sencho and a driver. We then loaded up the van and enjoyed the beautiful hour and a half drive to the hotel in the capital city of Thimpo. Meeting up that evening with more of the group, smiles and introductions were made and we then headed out to dinner. Right from that first evening, there was this excitement in everyone’s eyes; this sort of, electricity. We all knew we were about to begin the trip of a lifetime.

Bhutan is truly a far, far away land sitting on the flanks of the Himalaya—the most legendary mountains on earth. Its culture is so different that everyone you come in contact with is extraordinarily interested in everything about you, and you with them. As a nationality, the people of Bhutan were the most open, beautiful and welcoming I have ever met. Always smiling and interested to see and meet you. Many times I was invited into people’s homes for no reason other than I happened to be passing by. The people here are warm, seem happy and as a country, it just feels safe. After all, this is the only country on earth that measures gross national happiness.

One of the unexpected bonuses of traveling in Bhutan is that English is taught as a second language from an early age, so most speak it well and the language barrier is very minimal. This comes in handy whether you are haggling on the price of prayer flags or sitting down to hear someone’s life story.

The roads, I would say, are not for the faint of heart. This place is rugged beyond imagination and I found my mind wandering often as to how or why they would ever put a road on the side of this or that mountain. The reality is that they have no other choice. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains.

One of my favorite realizations was recognizing that I was witnessing and experiencing the most intact ecosystem I had ever seen—culturally or environmentally. The Kingdom began opening up very slowly to outsiders in the 1970’s and since then, because of tariffs and restrictions, only a limited amount of people visit every year, further preserving the ancient culture and simpler, older way of life.

We journeyed cross-country, visiting many various cultural sites such as the gravity-defying Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which clings to cliffs 3,000-feet above the Paro Valley. We cruised up over windy, 10,000-foot passes and wandered under hundreds of whipping prayer flags. We stayed in swanky hotels and put our feet up in a luxury safari-style camp. We slept in tents next to the former King of Bhutan’s dzong and partied with monks.

Warming up with a few day floats, we rafted one afternoon on the mellow Pho Chhu and then a couple days on the fun and rowdy Mangde Chhu before starting in on the Drangme Chhu. The Drangme was to be the real business end of our three-week adventure. Our six-day and five-night journey was to be the second-ever decent of the upper section of this rarely-seen river system. Two of our guides from Bhutan were part of the first expedition and they explained that that first trip was at higher water and after a couple days of our own float, said that with the current conditions, this was a completely different river and much, much more difficult. More technical and bigger holes than the first descent, this was the most adventurous river trip I had ever been part of. Running two rafts and three safety kayaks, we scouted, portaged and pin-balled our way down this amazing and rarely-seen gorge. The river eventually drops down into jungle and crosses over into India. Stories were told, new ones created and even a few rapids were named. We heard all sorts of animals and a few were seen. We shared beaches with tigers and leopards. The proof was in finding their tracks on more than one beach. There were monkey sightings and one evening, a wild boar cruised the shore across from our camp. On the final day of our float, some of our crew even spotted a leopard hiding along the bank.

We then floated out of the magical land of Bhutan and into India, taking out in Royal Manas National Park and staying at Bonsbari Lodge. Waking early the next morning, we walked a few steps down the dirt road, back into the park for one last adventure and climbed aboard the backs of Indian elephants for a guided safari. This was something that had always been high on my bucket list, so while we did not see any other big mammals, riding on elephants and spending time around such amazing creatures was enough for me.

There is this feeling in Bhutan that is hard to put a finger on. It is in some ways obvious and at the same time fleeting because there are so few places like it that I have ever had the chance to experience. I was seeing a place that in some ways is still as it was hundreds of years ago, basically unchanged. Although I suspect—fortunately and at the same time unfortunately—headed down a slope towards modernization that is irreversible. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to see it now, rather than in 20 years. This trip is a game changer. Mind expanding and soul filling. I’m sure I will be digesting the experience for many years and really, probably the rest of my life.

Want to see more photos of adventure photographer Justin Bailie’s trip to Bhutan? Click here to view the full album or visit his Website at www.justinbailie.com.

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The post Where to Go Next: Magical Bhutan appeared first on River Currents.

The funny thing is, for most of my life, I would consider myself to be more of a dirtbag-style traveler. Surfing, climbing, fishing or just for the sake of traveling. I like to wander far from the worn path and I am definitely a “journey is the destination” kind of person. I want to hang where the locals do and at this point in my life, I still prefer to sleep on the ground under the stars over staying in a swanky hotel. This last spring though, I found myself shacked up in one of the most luxurious lodges I’ve ever seen.

I had come to Peru on assignment almost a week prior to shoot photos for a lodge-to-lodge trekking trip to Machu Picchu.

Flying into Cusco, I spent my first days exploring the city and the Sacred Valley, visiting markets, ruins, shops, and of course, eating the food. Peru can be a bit overwhelming at times, but in a good way. It is truly a feast for the senses. There is just so much to see, do and experience…the food, the people, the colors. Cusco has this fascinating, in your face collision of ancient culture and new. A respect for what is old and rooted, but with the normal hustle and bustle of a big city.

The night before the first day of our trek I sat down with my fellow lodge travelers and our guide for a pre-trip meeting.  The next morning, we were off on a 1/2-day drive through the country, winding down into valleys and back up into the mountains. We drove through villages, passing farms and ruins and after more than a few sporty turns, we pulled up to the trailhead in the early afternoon. Excited to be out of the van and begin our journey to the first lodge, we followed a mellow trail accompanied by the sounds of a river below. We wandered up through grasslands, visited with friendly horses and passed by short, old growth pines. Hiking along an ancient Inca aqueduct lined with beautiful purple lupine waving in the mild breeze we came upon our first views of Soraypampa Lodge, the first of four inns we would be spending our time in along the Camino Salkantay, the high route to Machu Picchu.

Soraypampa Lodge is impressive. From the trail it sits naturally at the base of a massive cliff in a huge, grassy, green valley filled with wandering horses, cascading waterfalls, and off in the distance, peeking out from swirling clouds, are towering, glacier-covered peaks.

Finally arriving, we were welcomed by the staff with fresh juice and smiles. In fact, waiting for you at the beginning and end of each day, were friendly staff, hot showers, elegant healthy meals, down feather beds and a hot tub. They take this even a step further; in your bed every night, you will find a hot water bottle waiting for you. Why not?

A big hike every day, 20,000-foot glacier-capped peaks, an occasional Andean Condor and ending each day with an amazing meal and a hot shower.  Really, it wasn’t so bad and I endured. I’m open minded and despite my ground-dwelling, dirtbag tendencies, I’m quite adaptable and could get used to an occasional trip like this.

The rest of the trek was filled with more spectacular views, full days of hiking and always ended with another unbelievable lodge set in a completely different environment. We did eventually reach Machu Picchu and it was all it’s made out to be. But I believe spending the time and effort hiking with a diverse group of people to get to the Lost City of the Inca made our visit all the more enriching. In the end, the journey is what made the experience extraordinary.

Want to see more of adventure photographer Justin Bailie’s photos?  Click here to view his full Peru album or visit his Website at www.justinbailie.com.

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The post How To Do Machu Picchu Right appeared first on River Currents.

The Winner:  Olympus Tough TG-1

Definitely the best of the bunch. It is a little bit heavier than the other two. Feels really solid. Has a fast lens at f2.0 and 3 inch OLED screen which was the easiest to read in bright sunlight. Waterproof to 40ft and drop proof to 6.6 feet. It also has an exchangeable lens system, so you can add a fisheye or telephoto. Photos look great and it does well in low light. It also has some fun special effects…if you’re into that kind of thing. For me specifically, the pinhole and miniature effects. Best lasting battery of the bunch. The only negative thing I can say is the video quality did not seem that great. A bit grainy.

Olympus Tough TG-1 Specs:
Price: $400
Image: 3968 x 2976
Sensor: 12MP 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS
Sensor Video: Up to 1920 X 1080 30FPS
Aperture: f/2.0 – f/4.9
Screen: 3.0” OLED display 610K dots

Runner-up:  Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

A close second. Beautiful colors both above and below water. Probably the best image quality of the three. This one is waterproof to 40 feet, and dropproof to 6.6 feet. It has a hard, light aluminum body, a 2.7-inch screen, and well-defined physical control buttons on the back. Its lens is from Leica. There is a 4.6x optical zoom, and it shoots at 12.1 megapixels. This camera did not do as well in low light and ate up battery life way too quickly.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Specs:
Price: $400
Image: 4000×3000
Sensor: 12.1MP 1/2.33-inch CCD
Sensor Video: Up to 1920 X 1080 30FPS
Aperture: f/3.3 – f/5.9
Screen: 2.7” TFT-LCD display 230K dots

Third Place:  Nikon Coolpix AW100

3-inch screen, and like the other two, has GPS. Waterproof to 33 feet, and can take a drop from up to five feet. It has Nikkor glass with a 5x optical zoom. 16 megapixel stills and takes up to 1080p/30fps video. Largest image files of the three. Where this camera stands out is the video. Stereo mic is also on the front of the camera, so the audio is also the best of the lot. Nikon also has a locking metal knob for the battery and SD card, which is more foolproof than the other two. Battery life works great. Unfortunately, the images look a bit more flat and washed out than the other two and it also does not do as well in low light.

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Specs
Price: $350
Image: 4608 x 3456
Sensor: 16MP 1/2.3” CMOS
Sensor Video: Up to 1920 X 1080 30FPS
Aperture: f/3.9 – f/4.8
Screen: 3.0” LCD display 460K dots

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The post Gear Review: Waterpoof Point-and-Shoot Cameras appeared first on River Currents.

I came to floating rivers later in life, but I spent much of my childhood wandering creeks and streams with a fly rod in search of trout, salmon and steelhead. Rivers have always had a power over me.  Be they big and rowdy, or slow and gentle, I’m drawn to them. They all tug at my soul, pulling my imagination around the next bend, wondering …what might be. We need wonder in our lives. We need magical experiences that make us feel more than think. We need to push ourselves out of our comfort zones, out of our day to day repetition to feel alive. River trips do this. Every time. They create memories and stories that never leave you.

Recently, I rafted the Tatshenshini River. This trip begins in the Yukon–yeah, the Yukon–then flows through British Columbia and finishes in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska.  It seemed as though almost every day, I was setting my tent up next to wolf or bear tracks. This place was more wild than any anywhere I had ever experienced. I had never seen a land that was so big and vast. Every day the landscape grew and became more spectacular – just as Mark, our trip leader, said it would. One day we saw wolf pups sprint down a gravel bar, launch into the river right in front of our rafts, swimming, for what they thought was their lives, to get to the other side. We then spent the next 45 minutes stopped, listening to the haunting, beautiful sound of wolves as they howled from the trees, telling their pups it was all going to be okay. And this is all after seeing first, a big black wolf with yellow eyes wander off into the brush at the sight of us, only to be followed seconds later by a massive grizzly bear tearing into the trees, throwing gravel in its wake. I will not forget this experience. Ever. These things do not leave you. It was haunting in the best sense of the word.

And with the river trips I have done, I will remember the people. So many fun, extraordinary people. Guides and guests. Solo travelers and families. Many now that I would call good or even great friends.  So many good stories told while floating down the river or sitting around a warm campfire. What is it about this lifestyle that is so addictive? What is it about river trips that magnetically draw you in, making you wish it would not end?  Is it waking with the sun? Going to bed under the stars? Is it the people? Maybe it’s just the feeling that when in the canyons, life, experienced with deeply felt simplicity and realness, is there, right in front of you.  

What ever your dream may be, quit waiting until next year. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Do it now.  Make your life extraordinary. Make your children’s lives amazing. Create burning memories that never leave. 

See more of Justin Bailie’s incredible photographs from the Tatshenshini River in Alaska.

The post A Life Worth Remembering appeared first on River Currents.

This last spring, I spent over a week creating images for O.A.R.S. on a Galapagos vacation.  Before the trip, when I thought of the Galapagos, I thought of Giant Tortoises, Blue Footed Boobies, Iguanas and volcanoes.

What you don’t hear so much about is the ocean surrounding this amazing archipelago. Yes, we did walk around many of the different islands and see all the famous characters I had heard about, but almost every day we also had the opportunity to pull on a mask, snorkel and some fins and jump off the boat into a whole other world.

Awaiting us was sparkling, clear blue water with herds of fish, birds and mammals of every shape, size and color. Every time you jumped in, you never knew what awaited you below the surface. Penguins. Sea turtles. Marine Iguanas, sea lions…sharks. We got to see white tip sharks on a couple days and a few lucky guests got glimpses of Scalloped Hammerheads, which at certain times of the year, divers will come from around the world to see in large schools.

And sea lions…oh the sea lions! The first day we jumped in, it was like we had a welcoming committee of excited hosts awaiting us. Definitely the most playful animal you will encounter there. I’ve done so many fun things in my life, but swimming with sea lions for the first time is hands down one of the most memorable and extraordinary experiences I’ve ever had. I felt like there was this whole other world that was there all along and I had just found it. When you hear about things in your life that you should do before it’s all over, this is one. You come back to the boat with this look in your eyes of excitement, joy and wonder. Pure fun.

Oh yeah, you’re on a boat! Your home on this trip of a lifetime is a big beautiful, super stable catamaran which has a giant deck up top to watch the waves, whales, islands and stars. You have your own cozy room, bathroom and shower to yourself. A full Ecuadorian crew and chef to tend to all your needs. Fresh squeezed fruit juice waiting for you when you get out of the water and a cold beer in the fridge any time you want.

This trip is amazing. Ready, set…go!

The post Galapagos Vacation: What Nobody Tells You appeared first on River Currents.