Issue 123 | Kubu Island

Plus: Journey into Mongolia, Patagonian domed ecocamp and more.

Author

Amanda Zeisset
September 08, 2023

 

ISSUE 123

 

 

 

In partnership with

This week’s issue is sponsored by Faye. Travel insurance with your best interest at heart.

 

 

Happy Friday! This is Adventure Fix, the exploration email for people who know the more places you go, the longer your travel list grows.

Here’s what we've got for you today:

  • Films: Journey into Mongolia

  • Adventure Lodges: The world’s first geodesic dome hotel

  • Expeditions: Ride through Botswana’s salt pans on a quad bike

  • Paddling Trips: SUP through Belize’s Coral Islands

 

 

EXPEDITIONS

Kubu Island quad bike expedition

Photo: Oshana Reservations

Rev your engine and traverse the endless pans on a quad bike to Kubu Island, a.k.a, the Lost Island of the Baobabs.

Lose all sense of time and direction as you cruise along the vast, moon-like terrain of Makgadikgadi Pans. Once a super-lake, its crusty flats are filled with salt, sand, and stones.

This part of Botswana is home to many desert-adapted mammals like meerkats and bat-eared foxes.

Reaching Kubu Island is a highlight of this trip. It’s a dry granite rock island that’s filled with ancient, gnarled baobabs that are larger than buses. Here you’ll find fossil beaches of wave-rounded pebbles, showing evidence of the prehistoric lake’s former water levels.

Sleep out on this crescent-shaped island with nothing more than a bedroll, blanket, and fire for comfort.
 

Explore more:

 

 

TOGETHER WITH FAYE

Travel insurance built to help things go right

If there’s one thing that’s certain about travel it’s that sh*t happens. From lost baggage, and trip cancellations, to ski accidents there are so many unexpected things that can go wrong.

Luckily, Faye provides peace of mind when you are far from home.

What sets Fay apart from typical travel insurance?

Unlike typical travel insurance companies that are notorious for making filing a claim a nightmare, with Faye, you can file a claim in-app and receive reimbursements quickly.

We also love that they have a 24/7 customer support team (of real humans).

So, are you ready to make your next trip less stressful? Answer a few simple questions and Faye will provide you with a custom quote in under a minute.

Get covered in 60 seconds here »

 

 

PADDLING TRIPS

Explore Belize’s Coral Islands on a SUP

Photo: Duarte Dellarole / Island Expeditions

Are you looking for a tropical vacation that’s more exciting than laying around on the beach all day and binging at the mediocre buffet?

Head to Belize’s Southern Barrier Reef to explore the Coral Islands by SUP.

This part of the world is one of the best places to paddleboard. Along this stretch of the reef, there are hundreds of sand keys, miles of mangrove forests teeming with baby sharks and turtles, and colorful coral gardens.

Your days will be spent exploring lesser traveled areas of the reef where you can go for walks on uninhabited islands, snorkel over corals teeming with life, and ride downwinder.

Overnight at small, family-run island lodges where you’ll enjoy incredible sunsets, fresh seafood, a comfy bed, and a glorious shower. Gaze at the stars, and watch out for magical biolumence before dosing off to the sounds of gentle waves clapping against the shore.


Explore more:

 

 

ADVENTURE LODGES

The world’s first geodesic dome hotel

Photo: EcoCamp Patagonia

After a long day of exploring the Patagonia backcountry and soaking in the windswept landscapes of Torres del Paine, come back to the cozy domes for a steaming cup of coffee by the fireplace at EcoCamp Patagonia.

This adventure lodge is located at the base of Chile's famous Torres Del Paine, providing you with an amazing starting point for exploration.

Staying here gives you a chance to see the Torres from many different angles. Enjoy guided treks, horseback rides, and seemingly endless mountain bike trails during the day, and share delicious evening meals with new friends before falling asleep gazing up at the star-filled sky through your dome ceiling.


Explore more:

 

 

TOGETHER WITH ATLAS.CO

Beautiful, custom travel maps – starting at $20

Have a blank wall that needs some sprucing up? And, do you hate those generic mass-produced prints as much as we do?

How about decorating your space with your favorite travel memories?

Atlas.co helps you do just that. They’re the only company that combines modern design with state-of-the-art technology that allows you to create a custom route map to remember and showcase your travels.

Their maps are printed on premium materials, making for a beautiful and professional display of your map.

 

 

FILMS

Journey into Mongolia

Photo: Bryn North

Warning: Watching this video might result in a sudden urge to book a flight to Mongolia.

Journey into Mongolia is a short film that will take you deep into the Altai mountains. This is the land of the nomadic Kazakh people who are known for their hospitality and insane eagle hunting skills.

 

 

 

 

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QUICK FIX

Interview: Mario Rigby - In walking it is solved.

Landscapes: The endless dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses.

Wildlife Experiences: A-Z of going on safari.

Science: How sharks equipped with cameras solved an aquatic mystery.

Photography: Pro camera setting tips they won’t teach in photography school.

 

 

THE COMPASS

Where in the world

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Guess where this pic was snapped!

Stumped? No worries. The answer is at the end of this email.

 

 

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

In this section, we highlight people in the community who have been kind enough to share the newsletter.

Michael Funk created Funk Entertainment, a company that provides guided mountain bike tours in the scenic Michaux State Forest of Pennsylvania. They also offer travel advice and trip booking services for adventures around the world. 

Check out their Instagram @sacredridesmichaux and their website funkentertainment.net.

Want to be featured in this section?

Get 3 friends to sign up for Adventure Fix and we’ll share your blog, YouTube channel, or business here next week.

Your referral count: 0

Or copy and paste this link to others:

https://www.adventurefix.co/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

– Unknown

 

 

 

Founder’s Journal

Location: Cordillera Blanca, Peru

During our three-year cycling journey from California to Patagonia, Amanda and I conquered numerous mountain passes. While some proved to be challenging, others were simply breathtaking. However, undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable experiences was our ascent of Punta Olimpica in the Peruvian Andes.

The pass sits at 16,043 ft (4,890 m) and the road zig-zags through snow-capped peaks giving you breath-taking views at every turn. It took us 2 days to climb the pass (we had to camp halfway) but it was sooo worth it.

The main road now has a tunnel that bypasses the original pass, which is great because all the cars take the tunnel, giving cyclists exclusive access to the old gravel road, which is the section where the picture above was taken. At the top, you can stand at the pass, not more than 6 feet (2 meters) wide, carved by hand through the rocks.

-Antonio

We Would Love To Hear From You!

We enjoy hearing from other adventure travelers like you. We’re not a traditional magazine where you never get to talk to the editor. We’re different.

Tell us about you. Do you have a cool story to share? What’s your next trip? What was your favorite one? We can’t wait to hear about your adventures.

Hit reply and say hi.

We read and reply to every single email.

-Amanda & Antonio  

The team behind Adventure Fix

 

 

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