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Thasos

Thasos, sometimes spelled Thassos (Greek: Θάσος), is a Greek Island tourist destination in the North Aegean Islands group, close to Kavala.

Understand
Thassos is a green island with many picturesque bays and the best sandy beaches, high forested mountains and interesting archaeological sites. It also offers plenty of "beach nightlife". The landscape is similar to that of Chalkidiki. The lively and fully developed south and east sides attract a younger crowd, while older visitors often prefer the much quieter west side between Limenas and Limenaria.

In recent years, Balkan tourism to Thassos has increased considerably and the island is very crowded in July and August. If time permits, it is not advisable to travel during this period. In recent years there has also been an increase in visitors over Christmas and New Year. As the island is very quiet in winter and most restaurants and shops are closed, it is advisable to stay in accommodation in the larger towns such as Thasos Town, Limenaria, Prinos or Theologos.

History
Earliest settlements are known from the Neolithic era. About 1500 BC, Thasos was taken by the Phoenicians, and by their knowledge in metallurgy, they were the first to exploit the mineral resources of the island. The island was then taken over by the Thracians until the Greek Ionian tribe displaced the Thracians in the 7th century BC. Gold and silver mining and trade flourished during this time and brought prosperity to the island. In 492 BC, the Persians conquered the island, which led to an economic decline. In 464 - 404 BC, Thasos was occupied by Athens and served as a colony of wood and metal supplies. 340 BC Philip II, king of the Macedonians, took over Thasos. In the period from 281 - 202 BC, Thasos was independent, until it was connected to the Roman Empire in 196 BC. After the division of the Roman Empire, it belonged to the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) from 330 AD. In 1455 AD, Thasos passed over to the Turks and was freed by Greek troops by 1912 in the Balkan War. In the Second World War, Thasos and larger parts of northern Greece were handed over by the Wehrmacht to Bulgaria, who had to leave these areas with war dead.

Get in

 * Since Thasos does not have its own airport, the connection runs through the airport Kavala (near Chrysoupolis). From there it is 12 km to the ferry at the village Keramoti (ferry time Keramoti-Limenas, 45 min). By taxi the way from the airport to the ferry costs about €20, to Kavala the cost is €40. The bus connection is bad.
 * From Thessaloniki Airport, there is a bus to the KTEL Macedonia bus station (1 hour), which is the bus station for intercity buses. From there, buses go to Kavala (2½ hours) every hour. From Kavala you either take a ferry to Thasos or a bus from the bus station to Keramoti (1 hour) and from there by ferry to Thasos. Alternatively, go by rental car from Thessaloniki Airport to Kavala/Keramoti (2½-3 hr). Some car hire companies from Thasos also have rental cars at the airport. Many cars rented on the mainland are not allowed to go onto the islands.

 * Ferries: There are 2 ferries for vehicles and passengers to Thasos:
 * 1) Kavala-Scala Prinos (1½ hours
 * 2) Keramoti-Thasos Town (Limenas) (45 minutes).

The timetables vary depending on the season. Since the island is close to the mainland, the ferry costs are comparatively low, so that many weekenders and camper vans visit the island. In high season there are sometimes kilometre-long traffic jams at the ferry in Keramoti on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and in Thassos town from Sunday afternoons for those returning. There are far fewer traffic jams to and from Kavala. Do not take the last ferry. There is a risk that you won't make it if the ferry is very busy.

Get around
The island has one main road which circles the perimeter. There is a bus service during summer. Taxis (costs about 1,5€/km) are common and can be called from most restaurants, bars and supermarkets (taxis after midnight need to be booked in advance). Car and bike hire is possible from many of the larger towns and villages. To really see the interesting parts of the island, especially the mountain villages, a car or motorbike is needed. Normal cars are not allowed on dirt roads but some of the nice beaches an attractions can be reached on dirt roads only. Hire a 4WD at least for the days you want to go off-road.

See
Must see for short time visitors:
 * Thasos town
 * Panagia
 * Aliki
 * Giola
 * Theologos and its waterfall
 * Kastro
 * Megalo Kasaviti

Most tourists rent a car at least for one day to explore the island. As there is only one ring road the villages are described starting from Thasos town clockwise. From the main ring road the mountain villages can be reached via side roads or dead-end roads. If you visit the main attractions only a tour takes from 4-6 hr.

Do

Ancient sites tour
It is recommended to visit the ancient sites of the island in 2 tours in Thasos town and 1 in Aliki and Thimonia. The first leads up to the Acropolis of Thasos town and is also recommended for people who are less interested in ruin sites, because of the beautiful landscape and the wonderful vantage points. The second tour stays within the village and is less spectacular.

1) Thasos Town

Tour 1: It starts in the immediate vicinity of the old at the, the economic center of the ancient city, a kind of marketplace with shops, religious and cultural sites. Even if only the foundation walls and a few pillars are present, the agora is the most interesting ancient area in the center. Directly following the agora are the, a stone walled access from the residential quarters to the agora, the , a small 2nd-century theater. and the from early Hellenistic times. From the agora you go northeast passing the, the , the slowly uphill under shady trees towards the headland. There stands the very photogenic on the foundations of a 5th-century basilica. The view from there of the landscape and the sea is breathtaking. Below the chapel you can see the beach bar Karnagio. From here, the trail now leads steeper and much more strenuous uphill to the from the 3rd century with beautiful views of Thasos. Performances take place here during the summer months. Further above is the. In 1204, the Venetians built a castle in the eastern part of the Acropolis out of the ruins of the temples there, whose ruins are hidden between trees and barely visible from the village. If one follows the path one reaches the. Only the foundations of the 5th century BC are left of the temple. Nevertheless, the path is worth it, as the view of Thasos and the surrounding mountains makes up for the effort. A narrow pawn leads east to from the 4th century BC. Again, it is more the view that is worthwhile. From here you go back to the city.

Tour 2: It can be done well in less than 1 hour as you stay within the flat area of Thasos town and is really worthwhile only for people really interested in ancient ruins. It's best to start from the. If you follow the road away from the coast you will reach the. Here too, only the foundations of temples and buildings from the 5th or 6th century BC are preserved. Now follow the signs along the Pier de Vambez road to the past the remains of an Arch of Honor for Emperor Caracalla. The Gate of Zeus is the most elaborate and best preserved gate of the city, but also almost exclusively preserved as foundations. From there one arrives at the interesting remainders of the south wall to the that is quite well preserved. From here it goes back towards the harbour.

2) Aliki

Tour: 3 starts in Aliki. The entrance to the archeologic site is free and you can explore the place walking on market trails. The archeological site of Aliki includes the ancient, the remains of an ancient settlement, a double sanctuary and two paleochristian basilicas. The of which only the ground walls remained is on the opposite site of the taverns. An interesting inscribed sarcophagus is worth to see. Following the path uphill for about 50 m you reach out at the. The remains of the sanctuary consist of two constructions with both ionic and doric architectural elements build during the 6th-5th centuries BC. dedicated to god Apollo as protectors of ships and sailors. At the stairs that are at the facade of the sanctuary, there are inscribed names of many sailors that had arrived at the island in order to ship marble. The sanctuary was abandoned during the early Byzantine era, with Christianity becoming the dominant religion. The two churches were built in the 5th century AD and destroyed by an earthquake. Going from Aliki about 1 km towards Limenaria the is signposted. A field road leads up to the tower that needs good ground clearance if you drive up or walk for 10 min. The ruined Hellenistic tower was probably part of an ancient settlement but no excavations have taken place an the knowledge about this place is very limited. The nice view from the tower is more worth than the ruins itself.

Mining site tours
The mining on Thasos can look back on a highly developed metallurgy that began about three and a half thousand years ago and thus plays a significant role in the Aegean region. Probably in the late Bronze Age, beginning at the latest in the early Iron Age, took place an intensive and until the Byzantine period ongoing ore smelting. The ores mined in tunnels and open-pit mining contributed to the wealth of the island in ancient times and are an important part of the history of the island. Unfortunately, the wealth also aroused greed and so in the history of the island mostly foreign powers exploited the ores. Some former open pit areas are easily accessible and today interesting and photogenic "lost places". Also galleries are accessible, but only with a local guide to recommend and experience walking in caves and only with appropriate equipment.

Beaches
The east and south sides of the island have many picturesque bays and popular sandy beaches, while the west side has more elongated, lonely, rocky beaches, but also beautiful sandy ones. For people who are looking for nudist beaches, Thasos is a good destination too. In the following, only the best known beaches are listed. There are still many bays and beaches to discover.

On a tour around the island with starting point Thasos town you will pass by the following beaches in clockwise order:

Buy
Thasos is known for its tasty dark Pine honey (ca €8/kg), fruits and vegetables in glycose syrup (extremely sweet) and good Zipouro, a pomace brandy at about €8/L.

Eat

There are a lot of restaurants and fast food places around the island. Since the quality varies from season to season, it is impossible to provide reliable recommendations. It is better to ask advice from other tourists there. Places you should go to because of their nice environment are Theologos, Kastro and Megalo Prinos.

Drink
Centres for night life are Limenas, Limenaria and especially Potos where younger people like to meet. Most of the bars and beach bars organize themed nights, beach parties, etc., which are announced on posters in the hotels or in the places. Very popular "Greek Nights" are offered by some big hotels and some restaurants and pubs (check postings).

Sleep

 * Thasos has few bigger hotel complexes but a large number of small hotels, guest houses and private rooms, which are listed in the well known internet hotel search sites and evaluated. The more lively and crowded east side and Potos attract more younger tourists, while older guests often prefer the quieter west side from Limenaria onwards.
 * There are several camping sites: in Scala Prinos, between Prinos and Scala Sotiros (Camping Daedalos), AstroCamping in the mountains, Camping Pefkari, Camping at Golden Beach in Scala Panagia.

The most famous large hotel complexes are:

Connect
Most hotels and restaurants have Wi-fi.

Stay safe

 * There is no danger for tourists, so you can move freely anywhere. Only take care of pickpocketing.
 * Medical Care: There is no hospital in Thasos, but a "Health Center" in Prinos from the patient will be relocated to the Kavala Hospital for more serious illnesses. Medical practices (including dentist, orthopedist, cardiologist and general practitioner) can be found in Limenas and Limenaria.
 * The drinking water quality is controlled, but differs from village to village. It is usually safer to use bottled water for drinking.
 * Snakes: there is a poisonous snake that lives mainly in the mountains, often on stony terrain or in holes in walls, between rocks etc. (horned viper) It is very poisonous! Therefore, you should pay attention to good footwear and clothing, if you want to go off the beaten track and generally be careful with walls in abandoned houses and land.

Go next
An advantage of Thasos is the close distance to the main land what makes day trips easy.
 * Kavala: often visited by ferry boat from Scala Prinos at Saturday morning as a day trip when Kavala's big and colorfull market (bazar) at the promenade is open (07:30-13:00, best visit time before 11:00, as it gets very busy later). The famous archaeological site of Philippi can be reached by bus from Kavala bus terminal Ktel, close to the bazaar. The best way to do this day trip is by taking the first ferry from Scala Prinos to Kavala and back on the afternoon ferry or back by bus to Keramoti and from there on one of the many later ferries. At the Aquadukt in Kavala you can also rent scooters and thus easily reach the sights outside the city center.
 * Nestos-Delta and Nestos-Gorge: natural reserve areas of stunning beauty reachable by bus from Keramoti or but better by car as a day trip,
 * Pangaion Hills: the Pangaio is with almost 2000 m the highest mountain in the Kavala area, with picturesque mountain villages, a multitude of monasteries and impressive vegetation. As a day trip from Thasos a car is necessary to reach the points of interest in a reasonable time.
 * Drama. Provincial town but a good place to start an excursion to the Rhodope Mountains, wild, almost deserted natural landscape on the Bulgarian border.
 * Xanthi: famous for its Old Town with many pubs and restaurants and night life
 * Samothrace-Island: using public transport you go by bus from Kavala Ktel to Alexandroupolis where the ferry to Samothrace starts

title: Thasos


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Thaton

There's more than one place called Thaton or Tha Ton:

Myanmar

 * Thaton (Myanmar) - a town in Southeastern Myanmar

Thailand

 * Thaton (Thailand) - a village in Chiang Mai Province

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Thaton


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Thaton (Thailand)

Thaton (ท่าตอน, also spelled Tha Ton) is a small village in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It is 46 km northeast of Fang.

Understand
Thaton is between Mae Ai and Mae Chan in northern Chiang Mai Province. It is a town on the banks of the Kok River. It has a relaxed atmosphere, and some people hang out for a few days or weeks. There are a small number expats as permanent residents. There are a number of guesthouses along the banks of the river and more in the town. The picturesque views from Thaton hill and the banks of the river, and a small town feel combine to make this a nice place to hang out.

Get in
Thaton is on Rte 1089 between Fang and Mae Chan. The distance to Chiang Mai is about 214 km by road and takes about 4 hours, but with some excellent scenery along the way. Chiang Rai is 108 km away, Fang 25 km, and Mae Ai, 10 km. Thaton is so small it does not appear on many road maps.

You can take the boat from Thaton via Ban Ruam Mit (elephant riding) to Chiang Rai. The very scenic trip on the Kok River takes about 3 hours downstream (from Thaton) or about 4 hours upstream. There is a government boat from Thaton at 12:30 that costs 400 baht each for a minimum of 4 people. In the upriver direction it runs from Chiang Rai's CR pier at 10:30. If the times are inconvenient, you can charter a private boat. The initial asking price is 2500-1700 Baht, but that could probably be bargained lower. To arrange things contact the CR pier boat office (7:00-16:00) in-person or by phone 053 750009.

The bus station is near the bridge. Buses depart from/to Chang Phuak Bus Station in Chiang Mai several times a day with the journey taking 3-4 hours (prices are around 90 baht). The buses are usually easily identifiable with English information on them. Buses to Chiang Rai and Bangkok also run, albeit less frequently, a journey to Chiang Rai takes a couple of hours and to Bangkok about 12 hours (890 km). In May 2012 there was only one bus to Chang Rai that left at 15:00 and you had to change in Mae Chan.

From Thaton you can also go to Mae Salong, and on to the Myanmar border at Mae Sai where you can extend your visa.

Get around
Thaton can easily be explored on foot and bicycle. A songthaew can easily be hired if you need to travel out of the village.

See

Do
Thaton is the launching point for river trips to Chiang Rai, and for hill tribe villages in the surrounding hills. You can make a half-day longtail boat trip to Chiang Rai from here. Within 20 km of Thaton you can visit local villages, inhabited by Pauang, Black Lahu, Akha, and Yunnanes. Treks and raft trips can be arranged through guesthouses and hotels in town.

Buy
On the grounds of Wat Thaton (level 2) there is the occasional open-air market where the hill tribes hawk trinkets and snacks.

Eat
There are many small restaurants serving Thai and some Western food. Also a couple of (Nationalist) Chinese-owned restaurants. A few restaurants along the river serve locally caught fish, both from the river and from local fish farms. Also several street vendors in the late afternoon and early evening hours sell food items often not found in restaurants, such as Rotis and "Thousand year old" eggs.

For packaged foods, there is a 7-11 one block south of the bridge. The local morning market is a prime spot for fresh produce. There is a nice fruit stand located near Sunshine Cafe that sells chilled coconut juice, straight from the coconut.

Drink
There are no bars in Thaton, although most restaurants serve alcohol.

Stay safe
There is a tourist police station near the bridge, although there is no major crime in Thaton.

Be aware of stray dogs, especially if riding a bicycle. If they show aggressive behavior (especially in group) avoid eye contact and move away slowly. In the unlikely event of a bite, get a rabies vaccination as soon as possible at Mae Ai Hospital, which is 9 km south of Thaton in the town of Mae Ai.

Go next

 * Doi Ang Khang - mountain resort
 * Doi Mae Salong - village known for former Kuomintang soldiers and tea cultivation

title: Thaton (Thailand)


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Thatta

The historical town of Sindh, Thatta, just east of Karachi, is of great antiquity. It was the capital of Sindh for many centuries, and has gained national prominence largely as a result of the imposing necropolis of Makli Hill, which provides a unique view of civilization in Sindh from the 14th-18th century, and secondarily, the marvellous 16th-century Shah Jahan Mosque.

Understand
Some believe Thatta is the same port city which was situated once on the Indus River during Indian campaign of Alexander the Great.

About four centuries ago, Thatta was a famous center of learning, arts and commerce and the capital city of three dynasties: Samma (1335 AD-1520 AD), Arghun (1520 AD-1555 AD) and Tarkhan Dynasty (1554 AD - 1591 AD). The city was later ruled by the Mughal emperors of Delhi from 1592 to 1739. Thatta was a prosperous and flourishing city in those days and the city was an important commercial and cultural centre. Thatta's importance started to decline when Sindh was given up to Nader Shah, the ruler of Iran (1736–1747), and after the capital was moved to Hyderabad in 1768, Thatta fell into neglect. But the three dynasties and the Mughals left their mark in the city in the form of unique architecture such as monuments of Makli and Shah Jahan Mosque, which was built during the golden age of the town.

Get in
Thatta lies on the National Highway # N-5, the longest highway in Pakistan, which travel via Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Sukkur, and Hyderabad and continues to Karachi after passing Thatta.

The part of N-5 between Hyderabad and Karachi is not used very much nowadays, since the newer M-9 Super Highway has shortened the distance between two major cities of Sindh. Non-air conditioned buses and minibuses are easily available throughout the day both from the bus stations in nearby major cities of Karachi and Hyderabad and can also be hailed from the highway. A trip may cost Rs 150 and the journey can take less than 2 hours either way. Travel distance is 100 km either from Karachi or Hyderabad.

Get around
Rickshaws are ubiquitous in Thatta. They can be found on the street, around the main bus stop on N-5 and outside the attraction areas. Rickshaws are generally a cheap mode to travel as well the most available mode of transport in town and most preferred too. The town is not large so you should be able to get most places within 30 minutes at the most and Rs 200 should be enough to take you from one place in town to the other.

On the other hand, Thatta is a small town. Most of the restaurants and accommodation are situated on the main bus line on N-5 and distances can be easily covered simply by walking rather than hopping on a rickshaw unless your destination is not near. Some structures of tombs of Makli and remains of old houses are scattered inside the narrow streets of Thatta that are worth exploring on foot. Always ensure you walk on the footpath, or if one isn't available, as far to the side of the road as possible and on the right facing on-coming traffic.

Buy
The Shahi Bazaar of Thatta is a mile long alleyway that houses hundreds of shops selling items including vegetables, clothes, electronics and many other items. The bazaar is the only marketplace of Thatta and can be a good place to hunt down Sindhi handicrafts and souvenirs. The bazaar is known for hand-printed fabrics, glass bangles and Sindhi embroidery work inlaid with tinny mirrors, one of the more world-famous handicrafts of Pakistan. The giant bazaar is considered the oldest and surely gives a good example of a traditional bazaars worth strolling through.

Eat
Many basic restaurants are scattered throughout the small town of Thatta, but most of them are on the National Highway N-5 which travels through town, and all serve Pakistani food though not all are hygienic. However, there are also some restaurants really worth eating at such as Darbar Restaurant. Expect to pay at least Rs 200 for a single dish wherever and whatever you eat. Bikak & Al-Haram Restaurant is another possibility on N-5. Restaurants usually open early in the morning and remain open until late night.

On N-5, you'll see plenty of stalls and shops selling "Rabri" in clay pots. Rabri is a sweet, condensed milk-based dish and is definitely worth trying when you're in town. Rabri of Thatta have their own taste. A normal cup for one person may cost Rs. 100.

Go next

 * Kirthar National Park — this large park offers great natural beauty and a good variety of wildlife
 * Mohenjo-daro — an ancient city not to be missed by history buffs
 * Mothparja

title: Thatta


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The Catlins

The Catlins is a hilly, forested coastal area in the south-eastern corner of the South Island. Its attractions include coastal scenery, marine mammals such as fur seals, sea lions and rare Hector's dolphins, rare yellow-eyed penguins, native forest walks and birdlife, and the Jurassic fossil forest of Curio Bay. Much of the area is protected in the Catlins Conservation Park.

The Catlins are sparsely populated (even by New Zealand standards). The largest town is Owaka, with a population of 400. The North Catlins is the southern corner of Otago, and the South Catlins is the south-eastern corner of Southland.

Get in and around
Self-drive is the main way visitors get around. The main route into and through the Catlins is the Southern Scenic Route from Balclutha on the Otago side and from Invercargill on the Southland side. Petrol is available at Owaka and Papatowai in the North Catlins, and Tokanui and Fortrose in the South Catlins.

The Bottom Bus is the only public transport. It runs from Dunedin through the Catlins to Invercargill (not the other way) on M, Tu, Th, Sa, Su, departing about 8am and arriving about 7PM. It's a hop-on hop-off service, so you can spend nights in the Catlins and catch the bus again another day. It stops at Nugget Point, Surat Bay/Cannibal Bay, Owaka, a forest & waterfall walk, and Curio Bay. Cost is $225 (adult).

Do

 * Catlins River walk. Absolutely beautiful and costs nothing except the fuel to get to Tawanui camping-group from where the five-hour walk starts. You really need a car at the other end (The Wisp) so that you don't have a ten-hour tramp! Swap keys at the half-way point and meet back at Owaka. If you're lucky you might see a mohua (yellowhead), a rare and beautiful little native bird. You will certainly see some tomtits which, clinging to tree-trunks look for all the world like black and white butterflies. The bed of the river in places is sheer rock which gives it a unique look. There are some scary wire bridges but no-one has fallen in off one as far as we know.
 * Catlins River walk. Absolutely beautiful and costs nothing except the fuel to get to Tawanui camping-group from where the five-hour walk starts. You really need a car at the other end (The Wisp) so that you don't have a ten-hour tramp! Swap keys at the half-way point and meet back at Owaka. If you're lucky you might see a mohua (yellowhead), a rare and beautiful little native bird. You will certainly see some tomtits which, clinging to tree-trunks look for all the world like black and white butterflies. The bed of the river in places is sheer rock which gives it a unique look. There are some scary wire bridges but no-one has fallen in off one as far as we know.

Eat
In a sparsely populated rural area, outstanding dining options are few and far between. Two that may stand out from the rest are Niagara Falls and Whistling Frog.

Connect
Cellphone reception has been non-existent in much of the Catlins, but cell towers have been added in a few places in 2013–15.

Go next

 * Invercargill
 * Mataura
 * Milton
 * Stewart Island

title: The Catlins


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The Colony

The Colony, City by the Lake, is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region of Texas, less than 30 miles from Downtown Dallas. Best known for beautiful views of Lake Lewisville, The Colony extends 23 miles along its eastern shoreline, with hundreds of acres of wildlife and a myriad of recreational opportunities including camping, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, picnicking and cycling.

Get in
The Colony can be accessed by Texas State Highway 121 from the south or 380 from the north. It's also located 5 miles from the Dallas North Tollway providing you a quick 25 minute drive to Dallas Love Field Airport. In addition, Texas State Highway 121 takes you right to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in no time. Surrounded by Plano, Frisco, Lewisville, Carrollton, Grapevine and Denton.

Do
The sports, outdoor, and water bound enthusiast can find plenty to do in The Colony. You can take to the water on 23 miles of shoreline, choose from a selection of 23 municipal parks, or visit multiple attractions while enjoying a relaxing and scenic atmosphere in The Colony.

Play golf on two of the "finest" golf courses in Texas or visit Stewart Creek Park and MarineQuest at Hidden Cove for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, or just unwinding in a scenic lake setting. - located in The Colony

title: The Colony


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The Coorong

The Coorong, a national park in South Australia, is where the movie Storm Boy was filmed. Full of native birds and mammals, it extends from the mouth of the Murray River for a hundred miles southeast. It is one of the world's longest beaches, at 198 km long and an important cultural site for the Indigenous Ngarrindjeri people.

Understand
The name is derived from the Ngarrindjeri word "Kurangk" which means "sand dune". This is because there are sand dunes separating the mainland from the Southern Ocean, which can be seen clearly from the park.

Landscape
Most of it is... sand, as the entire park is a beach.

Flora and fauna
The Coorong National Park is one of Australia's most important wetlands and is a RAMSAR designated site. It is most famous for its pelican breeding grounds and has been recognised by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. It has supported the chestnut teal, Australian shelduck, sharp-tailed sandpiper, red-necked stint, banded stilt, red-necked avocet, pied oystercatcher and red-capped plover. Australasian bitterns have been recorded. It has also supported significant numbers of orange-bellied parrots, fairy terns and hooded plovers, although their usage of the site has declined from reduced freshwater inflows.

Get in
Park access by car is from Goolwa or Kingston SE. No other forms of transport.

Get around
The easiest way to cross the Coorong is at 42 Miles Crossing. An unsealed road leads to a small camping ground. From there you can walk along a path to the coast (about 20 minutes) or use the 4WD road.

Do

 * Fishing — The Coorong is renowned for its fishing, from both the shore and boats. However, limits are more stringent than those for the rest of the state. They apply to the size and boat limits of fish caught within the Coorong. Beach fishing at the Murray Mouth, at the Coorong entrance, is also popular, but be aware that the strong current and undertow at the mouth can send the unwary and unlucky into deep trouble in a matter of minutes - in other words, don't swim there.
 * Bush tour — The indigenous Ngarrindjeri people run bush tours for visitors, where you can learn about their origin stories, and how their ancestors have survived on the land for thousands of years.
 * Kayaking - Mid summer is too hot and mid winter too cold and windy. Autumn and spring are best. Commercial tours based in Goolwa have day trips from Hindmarsh island. The Coorong as a rule gets shallower as you head south and is often too shallow for powered boats south of Parnka Point. If you have time a two or three day tour south of Parnka Point is an excellent option. The leached monochromes and weary dunes leave paddlers in no doubt that they are travelling through country unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years.

title: The Coorong


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The Dalles

The Dalles is a city in Oregon situated in the Columbia Gorge about 85 miles east of Portland.

Get in
The Dalles is located at the intersection of Interstate 84 (which follows the Columbia River) and US Route 197 which heads south from the Dalles to meet US Route 97.

Do

 * Windsurfing
 * Fishing
 * Boating
 * Hiking
 * Cliff Jumping
 * Biking
 * Swimming

title: The Dalles


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Farne Islands

The Farne Islands are off the Northumberland coast in England. They are a haven for seabirds and seals.

Understand
The earliest recorded history of the islands was in 651 when they became the home of St Aidan, who was joined by St Cuthbert. In 676 St Cuthbert created what may be the world's first wildlife protection law, protecting the eider ducks. The islands were used as a religious retreat for hermits over the following centuries.

Several lighthouses were built on the islands in the 18th century, including the Longstone Lighthouse on Outer Farne. In 1838 Grace Darling and her father were resident and rescued 9 people from a shipwreck.

Visitor information

 * National Trust page on the islands

Get in
The islands are open to visitors from April to October. There is a National Trust admission charge, which for an adult ranges from £7.70 to £34.80.

By boat from Seahouses

 * Golden Gate from £15.
 * Serenity from £20
 * Diving tours from Glad Tidings.

Get around

 * On foot!
 * Most visitors go to Inner Farne or Staple Island. Inner Farne has boardwalks. Staple Island has bare rocks.

Eat
No food or drink available on the islands. Take a picnic with you.

Go next

 * Most visitors will return to Seahouses.
 * Lindisfarne or Holy Island, a few miles north is accessed by a causeway.

title: Farne Islands


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The Forest Way

The Forest Way is a country park stretching 16 km along an old rail line through East Sussex.

Understand
The 10-mile (16-km) route runs from East Grinstead in West Sussex, through Forest Row just over the border into East Sussex, close to the River Medway in Ashdown Forest towards the Kent village of Groombridge in the east. The path runs along the route of the old East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells railway. It forms part of National Cycle Route 21, linking up via East Grinstead town centre with the Worth Way to the west. The path passes through many villages, such as Hartfield, from which refreshments are provided in a local pub. Forest Row is a village, with shops and services.

A greater deal of detailed information is available in the form of a PDF from East Sussex County Council.

Prepare
Have a well maintained bike and a puncture repair kit etc; since there are limited bike shops and at certain times of the day and at certain bits of the route traffic can be a bit sparse.

Get in

 * By car - On road parking is available on Herontye Estate in East Grinstead, near the start of the Forest Way. Parking is available in Forest Row, Hartfield and semi on-road parking is at Groombridge

 * By train
 * Ashurst Station (on the 'Uckfield Line' from London) is nearby (but is the other side of a hill and not signposted
 * Eridge Station (next one down) is signposted to the path and both Forest Row and Groombridge, this part of the route is on (fairly rural roads)
 * East Grinstead Station, also from London - the path is signposted from East Grinstead and both the station and the town are around 2.5 miles (mostly uphill) from Forest Row.

 * By bus - route 291 passes parallel to the path with routes 270 and Countryliner 261 passing through Forest Row Very few (if any) bikes are allowed on buses, horses (other than soft toys) similarly are excluded

Eat and drink
After all that exercise you'll likely want some food.... Too much alcohol and bikes don't always mix
 * Forest Row Various restaurants and pubs, two supermarkets and a good deal of cafes
 * Hartfield just under half way; plenty of food places, also the home of pooh bear
 * Groombridge
 * Groombridge
 * Groombridge
 * Groombridge

Stay safe
The path is suitable for walkers and horse riders too, but it is recommended that you follow the following points:

 * cyclists should give way to walkers, horses and people with disabilities. Please use a bell but be aware that people may not hear or see you.
 * horse riders – no galloping please.
 * take care crossing nearby roads.
 * keep a reasonable speed, and slow down at junctions and bends.

Go next
The route also links up with the Cuckoo Trail and forms part of the cycle route from London to Paris via Newhaven (National Cycle Path route 21).

title: The Forest Way


text:
The Forks

The Forks is a city in Kennebec and Moose River Valleys.

Understand
The Forks is located in northwestern Maine within the Somerset County. It's actually called The Forks Plantation by the books but, the locals call it simply The Forks. The Forks is an extremely small town which consists of an estimated population of 35 residents as of 2008. It's a very unique place were the Kennebec and Dead Rivers join.

By car
Getting around by car is definitely the way to go. The distance between towns are fairly far and would be a hassle to use other means of transportation. Try to understand that this is Maine and there seasons can be very intense. Try to have a reliable car also; having four wheel drives would be a huge saver. Some of the roads within The Forks and also on the outskirts are often unpaved and can cause damage to certain cars. From Points South: I-95 North to Exit 133 in Fairfield, Maine. Follow Rte 201 North 65 miles to The Forks. Pass through Skowhegan and then Bingham (23 miles to The Forks). In The Forks look for our signs and the bridge crossing the Kennebec. Take right turn before bridge and then enter second driveway on right. Travel time from Boston: 4 .5 hours Travel time from Worcester: 5 hours Travel time from Providence: 6 hours Travel time from Hartford: 6.5 hours Travel time from Portsmouth: 3.75 hours Travel time from New York: 9 hours From Points North: Take I-95 south to Exit 157 in Newport. Take Rt 2 West to Skowhegan. In Skowhegan take Rt 201 North. Pass through Skowhegan and then Bingham (23 miles to The Forks). In The Forks look for our signs and the bridge crossing the Kennebec. Take right turn before bridge and then enter second driveway on right. Travel time from Bar Harbor: 3 hours Travel time from Bangor: 2 hours Travel time from Calais: 4 hours Travel time from Houlton: 3 hours

By foot
The Forks is a very small town so many of the buildings are within walking distance. What is called the center of The Forks is where the Kennebec and dead river meet. In this area of the forks you have a small store and a few houses along the road. Also, you have a white water rafting company called Crap Apple. All of these places are minutes of each other.

Do
Outdoor activities are abundant in this region. You can do many things such as: Hiking, Whitewater rafter, Canoeing and kayaking, Snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, Animal and bird watching, and amongst all of them you get amazing scenery. Listed below are some local Rafting and snowmobiling companies:

title: The Forks


text:
The Golden Triangle (India)

The Golden Triangle in India refers to a tourism itinerary that includes the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur along with detours to the abandoned medieval city of Fatehpur Sikri and the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur.

Understand
This classic journey covers a lot of the grand tales of Indian history, with many major landmarks and sights to behold. A week is a good amount of time to spend travelling the triangle, however many group tours do it in less.

Prepare
Hindi is the most widely and commonly used language here. Most locals can understand English, and getting French, German or even Japanese guides at hotels in this region is not a problem.

Say 'Namaste' or 'Namaskaar' to any person as a greeting.

The rates for all the monuments (entry fee, camera fee, guide fee) are different for Indian and foreign tourists. There are government guides at all major tourist spots. But for tourists, there are wearable audioguides for rent.

Get in
Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur all have International airports, but it is more convenient for most people to start from Delhi. Please refer to those cities' articles for detailed information. Briefly, Delhi is the busiest airport in Asia with dozens of international destinations served. It also has unparalleled domestic connectivity, being a hub for Air India, IndiGo, Spicejet and Vistara's domestic operations. Jaipur has a medium-sized airport with good domestic connections and a handful of international routes to the UAE (various cities), Muscat and Bangkok. Agra has only a small airport served by one airline (IndiGo) which flies to 6 domestic destinations.

To do a private tour of the Golden Triangle, you can rent a car with a driver in Delhi. Depending on the duration of the trip, a car with a driver will set you back about ₹8,000 ($150) to ₹15,000 ($300). Try asking at your hotel. It is also customary to pay for your driver's meals and accommodation - be sure to settle on a price for everything in advance. Otherwise, group tours are sold at many travel agencies or online. Read the reviews before booking!

Delhi
Delhi is the natural starting point for the golden triangle. It is a major transport hub in India and is well-served by air and rail. The country's capital has many attractions and places of historical significance. This includes the well-planned New Delhi, and the older section (Delhi or Old Delhi).

Delhi is synonymous with Mughlai and Frontier Cuisine. The best of Mughlai cuisine can be enjoyed at Karim, (both in Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin) where the recipes, dating from the times of the Mughals have been the closely guarded secrets of generations of chefs.

Agra
Agra is famous for snacks and sweets like Dalmoth and Petha, for which the most recognized area is Kinari Bazar.

Jaipur
Dal bati churma is a popular delicacy usually served with baatis and dal. A variety of rotis are also available: Bajre ki roti, makki ki roti, jau-channa ki roti, besan ki roti, paratha, puri, methi puri, rumali roti, kachori and samosa.

Kalakand (milk cake) is one of the most popular traditional sweets from Rajasthan. Ghewar is another delicious Jaipuri sweet.

Stay safe
While inside the temples, take off your shoes and turn off your phone. Bringing single dollar bills to offer in temples when a "pooja" plate is shown to you is appreciable. Learn the local phrases for addressing people to begin a conversation and people will surely come out of their way to help you.

Tipping is a matter of personal choice and not at all a compulsion; tip only when happy with the services.

Do not accept any type of food from strangers while traveling by trains or buses regardless of how well dressed the person offering you the food may be. Always buy water bottles from a reputable store, many drug stores also sell bottled water. When buying soft drinks, buy cans rather than bottles if possible. Unscrupulous shopkeepers sometimes refill used bottles.

When traveling on trains and buses, do not use expensive electronics such as laptops. It is always prudent to avoid displaying valuable items in public.

title: The Golden Triangle (India)


text:
The Great Himalaya Trail

The Great Himalaya Trail is in Nepal. See Himalayas for general information on the range.

Understand
Great Himalaya Trail is a long distance hiking trail which will one day span the entire Greater Himalaya Range from Namche Bawa in Eastern Tibet to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan at the western end. As of June 2011 it has been completed and fully documented in Nepal and Bhutan.

Nepal
The upper route passes from east to west through established trekking areas of Kanchenjunga to Makalu Barun, Solukhumbu (Everest Region), Rolwaling Himal (Gaurishankar Conservation Area), Helambu, Langtang, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu region, Annapurna, Dolpa, Rara Lake and Humla, and finishing on the border with Tibet at Hilsa.

The trail route was first walked and documented in Autumn 2008 and Spring amd Summer of 2009 by Robin Boustead and his team (Pema Tsiring Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa and Karma Sherpa).

The Government of Nepal is now strongly promoting the trail and its sections as a way of bringing tourism money to remote communities. Tourism is the only industry where the consumers come to the producers and so it is a useful tool in poverty alleviation. To make this work, the Great Himalaya Trail is being promoted as a "responsible tourism" destination, and trekkers are being encouraged to be responsible tourists, but using local guides and porters, and local food and accommodation where possible.

Prepare
Walking the full trail requires excellent logistics and planning. It also requires anywhere between 57 and 160 days to complete depending on route and walking speed. Consequently, most people will walk sections of the trail over different seasons.

Permits
It's safe to say that the trekking permit system in Nepal can be confusing. For the popular treks, usually only a single National Park permit plus a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management Systems) card is necessary.

Restricted Area Permits

 * Baihang Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli: US$90 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$15 per day
 * Darchula Byas VDC: US$90 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$15 per day
 * Dolakha Gauri Shankar and Lamabagar US$10: per 7 days
 * Upper Dolpa: US$500 for the first 10 days and thereafter US$50 per day
 * Lower Dolpa: US$10 per 7 days
 * Gorka - Chhekampar and Chunchet VDC (Sirdibas, Lokpa, Chumling, Chhekampar, Nile, Chhule): From Sep to Nov US$35 for first 8 days, Dec to Aug US$25 for first 8 days
 * Manaslu: From Sep to Nov US$70 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$10 per day, Dec to Aug US$50 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$7 per day
 * Humla (Simikot and Yari), Limi and Muchu VDC and area to Tibet via Tangekhola, Darma VDC: US$50 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$7 per day
 * Manang Nar, Phu and Northern area of Tilche village, Thochhe VDC: From Sep to Nov US$90 per 7 days, Dec to Aug US$75 per 7 days
 * Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and Bhangri: US$90 for the first 7 days and thereafter US$15 per day
 * Upper Mustang: US$500 for the first 10 days and thereafter US$50 per day
 * Rasuwa Thuman and Timure: US$10 per 7 days
 * Makalu region (Kimathanka, Chepuwa, Hatiya and Pawakhola VDC): US$10 per 7 days for the first 4 weeks and thereafter US$20 per 7 days
 * Solukhumbu Everest region (all north-west areas from Thame to Nangpala of Namche VDC): US$10 per 7 days for the first 4 weeks and thereafter US$20 per 7 days
 * Taplejung Kanchenjunga region (Olangchunggola, Lelep, Papung and Yamphudin VDC): US$10 per 7 days

Conservation areas and national parks

 * Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) (Double fee levied if permit issued from field checkpoints) - Foreign Nationals: NRs 2,000, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Nationals: NRs 200
 * Kanchenjunga Conservation Area - Foreign Nationals: NRs 1,000, SAARC Nationals: NRs 200
 * Langtang National Park main trekking routes (Langtang Valley, Helambu, Gosaikunda Lake regions) - Foreign Nationals: NRs 1,000, SAARC Nationals: NRs 100
 * Makalu-Barun National Park - NRs 1,000
 * Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) - Foreign Nationals: NRs 2,000, SAARC Nationals: NRs 200
 * Sagarmatha National Park - NRs 1,000

Sections
The divisions of the sections are based roughly along lines of geography, with many areas being a 'himal'. Unlike many popular long distance trails where the route and points along it can be reached by vehicle, many section require a trek in from road head or airport. Choosing a section trek depends on time available, the season and your ability (fitness, skills on ice and snow and ability at altitude).

Kanchenjunga
Its a 12-day hike in to Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Then it is approximately 20 days to connect with Makalu Base Camp.

Makalu Barun
12 days hike in to Makalu Base Camp. 7 days to cross to Everest region and a further 3 or 4 to the airport at Lukla.

Everest Rolwaling
Flying in from Lukla, approx 25 days to connect to Barabise or The Last Resort on the Kathmandu Lhasa Highway.

Helambu & Langtang
17 days from Barabise to Syabru Besi including the Tilman Pass.

Ganesh Manaslu
Approx. 18-20 days from Syabru, or Arughat (the traditional start for the Manaslu Trek). Approx 25 days to combine with part of Annapurna circuit to Jomsom.

Annapurna, Mustang
Annapurna Circuit trek is around 2 weeks to Jomsom, though roads are shortening the time needed. Mustang trek is usually 10 days (minimum permit length) from Jomsom. The exploratory high route to Mustang via Saribung, Nar and Phu (6,328m) can be done in a 30 day round trip from Kathmandu.

Dolpa
It’s 17-20 days to reach Phoksumdo Lake and Juphal from Jomsom. There is a longer, high route trek from Dolpo to Mugu.

Rara Jumla
From Phoksumdo lake, Rara lake can be reached in about a week via Jumla.

Humla
From Rara, it’s around a week to Simikot and a further week to the border and return. Additionally, the fabulous Limi Valley trek can be completed in about two weeks from Simikot.

Far West
These figures are a rough guide and will vary according to level of acclimatisation, route choices and weather. Additionally travel to and from Kathmandu has not been included and that typically requires a day for destinations close to Kathmandu, to two to three days when flights are involved.

Get in
Fly to Kathmandu International Airport, or travel overland from India or China. Depending on the section you trek, it maybe necessary to arrange permits in Kathmandu. This requires a working day (including Sunday) and arranging through a registered trekking agency or outfitter.

From Kathmandu travel either with internal flight or by road to the start of the trek.

Stay safe
It is never a good idea to walk alone. Nepal is generally thought of as safe for travellers and reports of attacks or robbery are not common, but do happen occasionally. There are annually reports of solo travellers going missing, possibly slipping from the trail or getting lost in remote terrain. These kind of accidents are less likely to happen when travelling in a group.

Do always carry a map, compass, whistle, torch and other safety gear while trekking. Always inform someone about where you are going and when you should be expected to return.

Go next
Depending on where you leave the trail you'll need to walk to the road head or local airport to be transported out.

title: The Great Himalaya Trail


text:
The Hague

The Hague (Dutch: Den Haag or  's-Gravenhage) is a city in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is the seat of the Dutch parliament and government, and the residence of King Willem-Alexander. It is not the capital city, which is Amsterdam. The municipality (which is the city) has more than 548,000 inhabitants (2021), making it the third largest city in the Netherlands.

The Hague lies on the North Sea and is home to Scheveningen, the most popular seaside resort in the Netherlands. Also the smaller resort of Kijkduin is part of the city.

Understand
Internationally, The Hague is often known as the "judicial capital of the world" due to the many international courts that are located in the city. Among these are the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and, since 2004, the International Criminal Court. Beside these institutions, The Hague is home to more than 150 international organizations, and to many EU institutions, multinational companies and embassies. This gave the city a distinct international character — one that is noticeably different from Amsterdam. Rather than having the many foreign tourists and fortune-seekers attracted by Amsterdam's reputation for excitement and liberalism, The Hague generally has more expatriates working and living in the city because of the number of international institutions and companies. Because of this, The Hague has a reputation as a wealthy, conservative and somewhat sedate city.

The Hague has very little of the edginess and excitement of Amsterdam; however, it provides well for its inhabitants in different ways, such as large areas of green space, 11 km of coastline, attractive shopping streets and an extensive multicultural scene. Rather than having canals like other Dutch cities, The Hague has streets and avenues that are just a little bit wider than those in the rest of the country, giving the city a more continental feel. Instead of the typical Dutch renaissance 17th-century step-gabled houses, it has 18th-century mansions in baroque and classicist styles. The city is considered by many as the most stately of the country. Just outside the city centre, posh neighbourhoods effuse a more 19th century look with eclectic and art nouveau architecture.

The farther you get from the sea front and the city centre, however, the more neighbourhoods tend to become less well-off. One dividing line between affluent and sketchier areas is drawn by some at Laan van Meerdervoort, which runs parallel to the seaside. Areas away from the sea tend to have much less in the way of green space. An exception to this is one centrally located park, Zuiderpark, which also used to contain the stadium of the local football team ADO Den Haag. Some of its supporters were known as the most notorious hooligans of the country, perpetuating a stereotype of "lower-class" for the inhabitants of that area.

The Hague offers great architecture, from the picturesque government complex of the Binnenhof, to the grand and stately mansions on Lange Voorhout. Museums like the Mauritshuis rank among the best in the country. For food aficionados, The Hague offers some of the country's best Indonesian cuisine, due to large-scale immigration from this former Dutch colony. The city also offers good opportunities for outings, such as extensive green spaces for walking and bicycling as well as dunes and seaside recreation areas just a few tram stops away from the city centre. The Hague also offers a few attractions especially appealing to children, such as the miniature city of Madurodam and the 360 degree Omniversum cinema.

The city has undergone an extensive amount of development in the form of modern architecture projects. Constructions include the City Hall and Central Library by American architect Richard Meier, De "Snoeptrommel" (known by the locals as Candy-Box) - a round shopping centre next to the old town hall, and a collection of post-modern, brick-clad office towers in between the city hall and the Centraal railway station, which provide new housing for a number of ministries. A major infrastructural development has been the construction of an underground tram tunnel underneath Grote Marktstraat, which is used by regular trams, and a new light-rail system, known as RandstadRail, linking The Hague with the neighbouring cities of Zoetermeer and Rotterdam.

A major redevelopment project is underway in the area around the Centraal railway station. Here, skyscrapers like the 142 m Hoftoren rise up over the city and several other high-rise towers are under construction.

Since 2015, The Hague and its suburbs have been part of the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region.

Tourist information

 * Den Haag Tourist information website

By plane
The Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the closest airport to the city. Metro line E connects Den Haag Centraal station with the Meijersplein, a station close to the airport. The airport terminal is connected with the later one by bus line #33 (which continues further up to the Rotterdam Centraal railway station).

The Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, is a bit farther. However, with several direct trains per hour from the railway stations Hollands Spoor and Centraal, and also with an hourly night train from station Hollands Spoor, it is more frequently used by people travelling to and from The Hague by air.

By train
The Hague has two main train stations, serving domestic and international routes.

Visitors are most likely to use Centraal Station, as it is closer to the centre, tourist attractions and shopping. It also has the best local public transport links via tram and bus, and is also safer at night than Hollands Spoor, which is in a somewhat sketchy area of town. The only reason for using Hollands Spoor is to catch the international trains to Antwerp and Brussels. In addition to southbound trains from Centraal, tram lines 9, 15, 16 and 17 also cover the short distance from Centraal Station to Hollands Spoor. From both stations leave trains that go to and from Schiphol Airport.

If you are coming from Amsterdam, the fastest intercity trains to The Hague depart from the Amsterdam Zuid Station (can be reached by metro from central Amsterdam in 10 minutes) every 30 minutes throughout the day, directly to Den Haag Centraal, and also every 30 minutes throughout the day, directly to Den Haag Hollands Spoor. From Amsterdam Centraal leave Sprinter trains making all local stops along the way, so they take longer; and intercity trains from Amsterdam Centraal travel a slightly longer route via Haarlem and only stop at Hollands Spoor.

By car
The Hague is connected by toll-free motorways to Amsterdam (A4 and A44), Rotterdam (A13) and Utrecht (A12). Access to the centre is through the A12 motorway that penetrates the city centre, like a needle, and ends on a large traffic junction just north of the historic centre. Approaching and leaving the city from any of these motorways can take a long time during the morning and evening rush hours. On hot summer days, hundreds of thousands of people try to reach Scheveningen beach by car, and huge traffic jams of up to 50 km long may occur, causing traffic delays of up to several hours. On such days, consider taking public transportation. The park and ride facility P+R Hoornwijck opened in 2008 on the Laan van Hoornwijck by the Ypenburg interchange. Motorists can easily reach it from the A4 (Exit 9) and A13 (Exit 7). From here, you can take tram 15 to the city centre.

By public transport
The Hague has an efficient and frequent city wide system of light rail (called RandstadRail), trams and buses, running mostly on tracks separated from other traffic, allowing for a fairly speedy ride. HTM runs the public transport system in The Hague and some of the surrounding area. Rotterdam-based RET runs a Randstadrail line (Metro Line E) between The Hague and Rotterdam, through various suburbs, though reaching Rotterdam is often times quicker by taking an Intercity train. Veolia provides regional bus services to the areas surrounding The Hague. EBS operates the suburban bus routes.

Centraal Station has eight platforms for trams, split across a high level inside of the station and a low level (Rijnstraat) to the south side of the station. These are: Furthermore, buses stop above the railway tracks and how to reach them is indicated through signage.
 * A (high level) for to Loosduinen,  to eventcentre De Uithof;
 * B (high level) for to Kraayenstein and  to Leyenburg via Haagse Markt;
 * C (high level) for to Leidschendam via Laan van NOI and  to Leidschendam via Mariahoeve station;
 * D (high level) for and  to Zoetermeer;
 * E (low level) for to Scheveningen via Madurodam and  to Statenkwartier via Buitenhof;
 * F (low level) for to Nootdorp via Buitenhof and Hollands Spoor;
 * G (low level) for to Wateringen via Hollands Spoor and Rijswijk;
 * H (low level) for to Vrederust via Hollands Spoor and  to Wateringen via Hollands Spoor and Moerwijk.

Hollands Spoor has four platforms for trams, located at the front of the station. Buses have a halt at the backside of the station. One more stop (Waldorpstraat/Station HS) is located fairly close to the station, being accessible by exiting out the front of the station and turning left.
 * A for:
 * Line to Tanthof (Delft) via Rijswijk and Delft's stations;
 * Line to Scheveningen Haven via Haagse Markt;
 * Line to Duindorp via Haagse Markt;
 * Line to Wateringen via Moerwijk;
 * B for to Vrederust via Moerwijk and  to Wateringen via Rijswijk;
 * C for:
 * Line to Scheveningen Noord via Vredespaleis and World Forum;
 * Lines and  to Rijswijkseplein;
 * Line to Statenkwartier via CS and Buitenhof;
 * D for to Scheveningen Noord via CS and Madurodam and  to Rijswijkseplein;
 * Waldorpstraat (near Rijswijkseplein) for to Den Haag Centraal via Buitenhof and to Nootdorp via Rijswijk.

Service usually runs from 06:00 until 00:00, although service starts at 07:00 Saturday and 08:00 on Sunday.

On Friday and Saturday nights HTMBuzz operates six night bus services. Tickets for these are more expensive (€5) and only available from the bus driver. All night services meet at Buitenhof in the city centre every hour.

Tickets
If you use public transport, you will need a valid ticket. The strippenkaart is no longer valid. You can travel by OV-chipkaart, which is a public transport smart card. This card can be bought at the HTM offices at Central Station (you find the office upstairs at the bus terminal), Hollands Spoor and in Wagenstraat, among other places.

You can also buy a 2-hour ticket directly from a driver in normal trams and buses when boarding, these tickets are valid on all trams and buses by HTM or HTMBuzz. RandstadRail trams (the blue-white ones) instead have a ticket machine that accepts coins and credit cards. If this ticket machine is broken (more often than not), you have to buy a ticket from the ticket inspector (if there is one).

The fine for not having a valid ticket is €50 plus the cost of a normal ticket. Ticket inspectors board trams and light rail at random, either in uniform or plain clothes.

By car
Car traffic in the inner city is very limited. Many of them are operated by a company called Q-Park.
 * Some centrally located parkings are:
 * Mobypark (a shared parking platform) often offers cheaper prices than public parking garages and they have over 40 parkings available in The Hague. If you are planning to use them you need to book online in advance.
 * More parkings are a little bit further from the main shopping area. They are at (286 cars),  (282 cars) and  (600 cars). The last one is convenient for a visit to the Denneweg area.
 * Mobypark (a shared parking platform) often offers cheaper prices than public parking garages and they have over 40 parkings available in The Hague. If you are planning to use them you need to book online in advance.
 * More parkings are a little bit further from the main shopping area. They are at (286 cars),  (282 cars) and  (600 cars). The last one is convenient for a visit to the Denneweg area.
 * Mobypark (a shared parking platform) often offers cheaper prices than public parking garages and they have over 40 parkings available in The Hague. If you are planning to use them you need to book online in advance.
 * More parkings are a little bit further from the main shopping area. They are at (286 cars),  (282 cars) and  (600 cars). The last one is convenient for a visit to the Denneweg area.

By bike
The Hague has a great network of bike paths. A wide variety of bike rentals are available. In addition, app-based rentals are offered e.g. by HTM Bike, Donkey Republic (The Hague) and OV-fiets (requires a personalised OV-chipkaart).

By foot
The Hague's city centre is fairly compact and you can easily navigate the area on foot. From Centraal Station, it is about a 10 min walk to the Binnenhof and the Hofvijver pond.

Centre
The heart of the city contains most of the historic architecture from the medieval, renaissance, and Baroque periods and is easily accessible on foot. You'll also find lots of outdoor cafes and shopping near the Plein on the Lange Poten or just east of there on the Hofweg.

Statenkwartier Area
The Statenkwartier area, located between the dunes and the centre, has leafy avenues and 19th century housing and is very popular with The Hague's large expatriate community. The area is nice for walking tours of the 19th-century mansions, which showcase architectural diversity in The Hague. All kinds of neo- and modern-styles are represented here, especially Art Nouveau architecture. Good shops, delicatessens and restaurants are to be found on Statenkwartier's main street, Frederik Hendriklaan, or 'Fred'. The area also has a number of tourist attractions, which make it worth a visit, most of them being clustered around the Gemeentemuseum on Stadhouderslaan.

Out of the centre

Do
Since The Hague was founded on a former hunting manor, there are a variety of parks and green spaces that are ideal for exploration. Like the majority of cities in the Netherlands, The Hague is extremely bike friendly and it's easy to get from one place to another on a bicycle if you feel like stepping outside the city centre. Scheveningen (and to a lesser extent Kijkduin) is a busy seaside resort filled with boardwalk cafes and close to the dunes. The prime months to get out and see The Hague on foot or by pedal are in the late spring, summer, and early fall months. The beachfront area can get extremely crowded as vacationers from all over Europe come to visit and bask along the North Sea coastline.

Other attractions

 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at

Events

 * Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.
 * Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.
 * Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.
 * Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.
 * Prinsjesdag. Third Tuesday in September. Prinsjesdag or 'Princes Day' marks the beginning of the new parliamentary year. On this day, large crowds are drawn by the traditional journey that King Willem-Alexander makes from his palace at Noordeinde to the Knight's Hall at the Binnenhof. He makes the trip in the Gouden Koets (Golden Carriage), a gift from the people of Amsterdam to his great-grandmother Wilhelmina from 1903. The carriage is used only for this special occasion. However the Gouden koets undergoes a restoration and is replaced by the Glazen Koets (Glass Carriage) during the years 2016-2019. In the Knight's Hall, the King then performs his duty as the formal head of state by reading out the Troonrede (Throne Speech) to the gathered chambers of the parliament. The throne speech contains a summary of the policies the cabinet is planning to implement over the next year.

Work
Many people move to the Randstad area (including The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam) either for a year out, work (as an Expatriate) or to join partners (who are mostly either Expatriates or Dutch). There are specialist websites for English and non-Dutch speakers looking to work in The Hague (and Randstad area) and a good place to start; Blue Lynx - Employment by Language.

Immigration matters are dealt with by the Immigration Service IND. Registration is done by both police and municipalities. Immigration policy is restrictive and deliberately bureaucratic. That is especially true for non-EU citizens.

European Union citizens do not require a work permit. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are afforded a one year working-holiday visa. In general the employer must apply for work permits. Immigration is easier for "knowledge migrants" earning a gross annual salary of over €45,000 (over €33,000 for those under 30).

Buy

The lively and historical centre of The Hague is perfect for a day of shopping. The shopping area around the Spuistraat and Grote Marktstraat is busy seven days a week. You can find the best shopping in The Hague on the side streets that circle out from the city centre. While lots of them are upscale, you can find a few bargain stores dotted here and there.

Eat
Just as Indian restaurants abound in the UK, the Netherlands has an excellent tradition in Indonesian and colonial Dutch-Indies cuisine. After Indonesia became independent from the Netherlands in 1945, the country received a large number of former colonials from Dutch and mixed descent who had been forced to leave the newly independent colony. The Hague received a relatively large number of these people and is still a centre of the Dutch-Indonesian community.

The town has dubbed the area around Gedempte Gracht, Gedempte Burgwal and Wagenstraat as its local Chinatown, and added street signs in Chinese and all that. The area is not particularly spectacular, but good Chinese food is to be found around here.

Other

Bars and pubs

Coffee shops
As everywhere in the Netherlands, the possession (of small quantities) and use of cannabis (hash and weed) is tolerated in The Hague. Since Amsterdam draws more coffee-shop tourism, prices are lower in The Hague. Some renowned places:

Possessing large quantities of hashish or cannabis is a crime in the Netherlands. Do not take stuff with you when leaving the Netherlands (you can be punished severely in neighbouring countries). It's also unwise to buy for someone else, especially if it's a foreigner as you can be punished in his or her country of origin.

Smoking tobacco is banned inside food and drink establishments — even coffeeshops! That being said, tobacco smoking appears to be tolerated in coffee shops, and their rolled joints are often mixed with tobacco.

Sleep
Despite its size and international prominence, The Hague has few hotels. Most of them are geared towards business guests, although there is a fair selection across price ranges. As the Randstad is very well connected with frequent train services, trams and buses, you may also consider accommodation in the neighbouring cities of Delft, Leiden, Zoetermeer, Rijswijk or even Rotterdam.

Stay safe
You should take normal precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate. Street begging is common around the Hollands Spoor train station and at the Grote Markt. Most of them are homeless and non-aggressive, just give them some money or simple 'no' will be enough. At night, the city centre is quite safe because of the large number of police cameras monitoring this area. Neighbourhoods southwest of the centre are less affluent and may not be as safe. The area between Zuiderpark and Hollands Spoor has a bad reputation due to the increasing number of street gangs. Schilderswijk and Transvaal areas are blocks that should be avoided after dark. If you are unsure, take a taxi to your destination. Taking a tram is also considered safe, as the so-called 'risky lines' in this area now have a security team on board from 20:00 till 01:00.

Go next
Quaint cities like Delft, known for its famous blue pottery, and the university town of Leiden are just 15 minutes by train.

 * Scheveningen - Closest sea resort to the city.
 * Delft - Arguably the country's most picturesque canal-lined town. Home of the famous Delft Blue pottery (or Delftware), and the home of Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer. Trains leave from Centraal Station or Hollands Spoor every 15 min; the trip takes 12 or 8 min respectively. Tram 1 also reaches the Delft city centre.
 * Leiden - This town lays claim to the oldest university in the Netherlands, Leiden University, which was founded in 1575. It is the second largest 17th-century town centre after Amsterdam. Home to many interesting museums. Trains from Centraal Station or Hollands Spoor every 15 minutes, with each trip taking 13 or 10 minutes respectively.
 * Zoetermeer - The place to see modern architecture. Also have de Dorpsstraat, one of the best shopping areas in Holland. Take tram 3 or 4 to Zoetermeer Centrum West from Den Haag Centraal, rides take 20 minutes.
 * Leiden - This town lays claim to the oldest university in the Netherlands, Leiden University, which was founded in 1575. It is the second largest 17th-century town centre after Amsterdam. Home to many interesting museums. Trains from Centraal Station or Hollands Spoor every 15 minutes, with each trip taking 13 or 10 minutes respectively.
 * Zoetermeer - The place to see modern architecture. Also have de Dorpsstraat, one of the best shopping areas in Holland. Take tram 3 or 4 to Zoetermeer Centrum West from Den Haag Centraal, rides take 20 minutes.

title: The Hague


text:
The Hamptons

The Hamptons are a series of small hamlets and incorporated villages which make up the southern fork of the eastern end of Long Island, New York.

Regions
The Hamptons are a series of small communities which all lie in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton. Southampton is the first town in the Hamptons, and is one of five towns which comprise the larger Suffolk County of New York State. East Hampton is the other town which constitutes the Hamptons.

Southampton itself is comprised of a number of villages and hamlets. The areas which are popularly viewed as part of the Hamptons include Southampton Village, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack and Sag Harbor. These towns include areas ranked among the top ten nationally in terms of real estate values. Southampton Village in particular is noted for its luxurious homes in its estate area, the high end retailing establishments in the Village and its cultural offerings (including the Parrish Art Museum and the Southampton Arts Center). Water Mill, the adjacent hamlet, is the future home of the Parrish Art Museum as well as the current home to the Water Mill Center, an artists retreat and exhibition space.

East Hampton has many small villages and hamlets that are settled on the furthest end of the peninsula of Long Island, New York. The hamlets in East Hampton are Wainscot, East Hampton Village, Amangansett and a portion of Sag Harbor Village. East Hampton town has eight state parks as well as many historic locations such as Camp Wyckoff which was used in World War II by the United States Air Force, Army and Navy. Similar to Southampton Village, East Hampton Village is renowned for the large homes in its estate area, luxury boutiques and local museums and galleries.

Understand
The Hamptons is a worldwide-known reference that refers to several villages and hamlets on the east end of Long Island, New York. These villages and hamlets form a popular seaside resort for some of the wealthiest people in America. The Hamptons is known for its high status vacationers, exclusive country clubs and expensive beach houses. Three of The Hamptons zip codes are in the top 10 most expensive zip codes in the United States.

Commercial Plane
MacArthur Airport- approximately 50 miles from East Hampton Kennedy Airport- approximately 80 miles from East Hampton La Guardia- approximately 85 miles from East Hampton

Private Planes/Small Charters
Private Planes or small charters are the most comfortable and quickest way to the Hamptons. The planes can fly directly into East Hamptons. Caution, this way of travel can be very expensive.

By car
The Long Island expressway and Route 27 serve as the main access routes into the Hamptons. Whether travelling by limousine, personal car or rental car, travel time depends on distance and traffic which is very heavy on summer weekends.

Hampton Jitney Bus
The Hampton Jitney bus runs between New York City and all the villages in the Hamptons. The bus makes two airport connection stops. One is in Fresh Meadows, Queens for Kennedy and La Guardia Airports and another is in Islip, Suffolk County for MacArthur Airport. Note, you must make previous reservations for the bus and its connections, so plan ahead.

By train
The Montauk Branch of Long Island Railroad can take you to the Hamptons for no more than $15.00 and makes several stops at the villages throughout the Hamptons.

Get around
Since the Hamptons is a region filled with many little villages, driving is the best way to get around whether it be by limousine, personal car or rental car. Within the villages some locals and tourists enjoy walking or biking around the villages popular town centers.

Go next
New York City serves as the closest major city to the Hamptons.

title: The Hamptons