Leg Six
India to Japan
Below you’ll find ways to see the world from a new perspective, from different angles, constituent parts of wider trips. Some historical, some cultural, some in the presence of wildlife, some in the absence of almost everything; some serious and some, purely, for the sake of fun. A list to make you think, to ponder and to dream, where suggestion is merely a starting point and where cognition, conversation and consideration will, no doubt, take you somewhere different; a place where one can feel and feel alive.
A large pinch of salt
Japan
Visit a sumo stable in Tokyo for a glimpse behind the scenes of Japan’s ancient sport of sumo. Spend a morning observing wrestlers train and learning about the customs, rituals and rules of this national sport.
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Chinese walls
China
Take a train to Tianshui to explore the Maiji Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Climb the Maijishan rock face using ladders and platforms to reach more than 220 Buddhist caves, containing more than 7,800 sculptures and frescoes. Discover some of the most iconic Buddhist rock carvings along the Silk Route.
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Ride on the roof
Tajikistan
This experience isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for the ‘one day I’ll be fit enough’ list: high-altitude cycling across the Roof of the World. Ride through Tajikistan’s dramatic Pamirs, with peaks of over 7,000 metres. Traverse valleys, mountain passes and glacial lakes, including one formed by a meteor impact. Explore UNESCO-listed Tajik National Park, home to the longest valley glacier outside of the Polar region.
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Reach for the sky
South Korea
Board Busan’s Sky Capsule from Mipo Station near Haeundae Beach, travelling over two kilometres of elevated rail with stunning coastal and urban views. Disembark at Cheongsapo Station to visit Daritdol Skywalk, a u-shaped, glass-bottomed bridge extending 37.5 metres over the sea.
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Catch Kok Boru
Kyrgyzstan
A country’s national sport gives a window into the collective psyche of its people. So what does Kok Boru say about Kyrgyzstan? Watch as two teams compete on horseback for possession of a decapitated goat, or bag of sand (ulak). Riders must grab the ‘ulak’ from the ground, using a combination of strength, balance and courage and deposit it into tyre goals (kazans). This game will leave you with a sense of wonderment so acute, your jaw will touch the floor.
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Follow like Polo
Uzbekistan
Travel by road or rail to explore the Silk Road cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, each awash with UNESCO World Heritage sites. Follow the greatest land-based trading route in history, stretching from China through Central Asia to Europe and immerse yourself in this timeless cultural crossroads.
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Suspend your disbelief
Pakistan
Hunza Valley, in northern Pakistan, is as wild as it is beautiful. Nestled along the ancient Silk Road and the famous Karakoram Highway, the valley is surrounded by seven sky-scraping 7,000 metre peaks. A network of remarkable suspension bridges connect the valley’s rugged terrain, integral to the region’s infrastructure and cultural heritage, crossing rivers and bringing people together.
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Journey into space
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has been a leader in space exploration since the 1950s, with Baikonur Cosmodrome at its centre. Once a secret missile test site, it became the Soviet space programme HQ and remains the world’s first, largest and most successful space launch facility. Visitors require advance permits for guided tours, some of which include witnessing stages of launch preparations. Baikonur hosts nine launch complexes, 34 engineering facilities and a space museum.
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Join the hunt
Mongolia
Travel to Ulgii in the far west of Mongolia and join the famed, nomadic Kazakh Eagle Hunters for a hunting expedition. Meet their families and birds, and learn about the skills needed to capture, train and use eagles as hunters.
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Tiger trail trekking
Bhutan
Hike to the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), perched dramatically on a cliff’s edge. The challenging four to six hour trek rewards you with breathtaking views over Paro Valley and a chance to visit one of Bhutan’s most sacred sites. A deeper state of Zen will rarely be found.
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On the honey hunt
Nepal
Trek through the Annapurna mountain range during spring or autumn, coinciding with the daring local honey harvest. Witness villagers scale steep cliffs to collect honeycombs from cliffside bee colonies. Base yourself at Landruk Lodge, set at 1,639 metres, for an ideal starting point to explore the region.
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Tuk Tuk to Tea Hills
Sri Lanka
Take a tuk-tuk ride to Lipton’s Seat for sweeping views of Sri Lanka’s tea plantations and mountains. Named after Sir Thomas Lipton, who introduced tea gardens to Ceylon in 1890, this spot offers stunning early morning vistas. Watch the mist settle over the fields, join the tea pluckers at work and enjoy a picnic amidst the picturesque estate.
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Backwater boating
India
Spend a night or two on a private ‘Kettuvallam’, a traditional solar-powered houseboat, gliding along Kerala’s tranquil backwaters. Relax on deck as you pass village life – fishermen balancing on narrow canoes, women weaving, children splashing in the water. Journey through the 90 kilometre Vembanad Lake, abundant in fauna and flora. Fully staffed, with a local captain and cook, sample a menu of fresh fish and local specialties in a peaceful, low-impact travel experience.
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