At a glance
Looking for adventure and dream destinations? Here are 5 places that won't leave you indifferent.
Adventurer and paraglider Tom de Dorlodot travels the world. Among his destinations, here are 5 places he highly recommends to any adventurer.
I'm often asked: "What are the most beautiful places you've visited?"
It's a really tricky question, because every place is unique, every culture is different and every trip is special. The world has a lot to offer, and there's still an enormous amount of beauty left for me to discover...\
My 5 favourite destinations
Note: Click on the maps to enlarge them
1. Guatemala: Lake Atitlán
I was 18 when I arrived in Guatemala to spend a few months in Antigua learning Spanish. On weekends, I'd hop on chicken buses, old American school buses, and set off to explore the country. Very quickly, I made my way to Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Seeing the 12 volcanoes surrounding it, I immediately thought the spot was ideal for paragliding. The view is sublime and the wind is constant. It's the land of eternal spring… The sun shines almost every day. Since then I've been back three times, and I've even opened up new flying sites there. Over the past few years, a community of pilots has grown up there. For the more adventurous among you, it's now possible to take tandem flights with professionals. I highly recommend it, but don't forget to make sure you feel confident in the people offering it.
You can find my friend Christian Berhens in Panajachel or via his website to book an unforgettable flight: https://realworldparaglidinges.jimdo.com/
(© Photo: J.J. Maroquin)
2. Tanzania: Ol Doinyo Lengai
Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano rises to 2,960 metres in the middle of the plains surrounding the vast Lake Natron. Ol Doinyo Lengai means "the mountain of God" in the Maasai language. It's a sacred place, at the heart of sublime nature, surrounded by some of the most beautiful national parks in the world. The Maasai who live in the area are extremely welcoming and can easily guide you on a climb up the volcano. You need to set off at night, as daytime temperatures easily reach around 40°C. Thankfully, it's cooler at altitude. Five years ago, during our crossing of Africa, we were lucky enough to fly over the volcano by paraglider. My friend Horacio Llorens even had to land at the summit that day, as a storm was rolling in. He slept near the crater, wrapped in his wing to keep warm. You can watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/38089234
As for me, I landed in the middle of the park and walked back to camp in the dark, following a riverbed… There were lion tracks all over the ground… Not always the most reassuring feeling ;)
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(© Photos: John Stapels, Tom de Dorlodot)
3. Pakistan: the village of Hushe
Hushe is a small village perched among the high mountains of the Karakoram, in Pakistan. It's my second home. I've spent five consecutive summers there, and I know almost everyone. People there live simply, off farming and the expeditions organised every year on the region's great mountains. Hushe is a few days' walk from K2 (the second-highest mountain in the world). There's a small guesthouse offering basic comfort, a terrace and a stunning view of Masherbrum. It's the perfect place to disconnect, drink tea and read a good book while staying warm, wrapped up in a down jacket… I've been going there for years to climb mountains and fly paragliders. Conditions are very technical but truly exceptional. I've been lucky enough to reach altitudes of more than 7,000 metres on several occasions…
You can watch the video of my flight this year at 7,458 metres here: https://vimeo.com/197923047
If you go there, ask for Hannif or Little Karim, and they'll take you trekking through the neighbouring valleys they know like the back of their hand. And if you're lucky, you might even spot a snow leopard.
(© Photos: Tom de Dorlodot, Krystle Wright)
4. Zambia: Victoria Falls
I've always been struck by nature's displays of force. The power that waterfalls give off commands respect. The best way to admire them is to gain some altitude. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to fly over Victoria Falls in a paramotor (a paraglider with an engine). We had to avoid flying over the military bases in the area, since at that point the Zambezi River marks the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The roar of the water was so loud that I couldn't even hear my own engine any more. We came back from that flight with our heads full of images… Here are the best shots from that legendary flight: https://vimeo.com/39109915
If you're a thrill-seeker, you can bungee jump off the bridge downstream of the falls… For more information, here's a link: here.
(© Photo: Horacio Llorens)
5. Marquesas Islands: Anaho Bay, Nuku Hiva
There are places where time seems to have stood still. Nuku Hiva island is one of those remote spots, somewhat cut off from the world, deeply authentic. Sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the volcanic island is covered in dense forests with fruit trees, and its coastline teems with fish. You can swim with rays, sharks and even dolphins… Arriving there by sailboat after four days at sea, I felt like I was in the film Jurassic Park. It's really incredibly wild!
Fruit is picked straight off the trees, children play on the beach, and traditional music echoes through the valleys late into the night. No Wi-Fi, no signal, just the calm and the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks.
We made our home for a few weeks in Anaho Bay, where we celebrated New Year's eating lobster. A wonderful memory!
The video from that trip still makes me dream: https://vimeo.com/106906009
(© Photos: Tom de Dorlodot, John Stapels)
Happy travels!
Blue skies and soft landings,
Tom.
Discover Tom's other adventures in the "Travel and adventure" series
