The Lycian Way: Tips for First-Timers

Traveller Maria Evseeva hiked 540 kilometres along the Lycian Way, a hiking route along the Turkish coast, with a friend over the course of 30 days. In an interview with the publication “Championat,” she offered some advice for those who are planning to go there for the first time.

According to her, one must first and foremost train their heart and breathing: it will be tough in the mountains without good respiratory fitness, and the route is easiest for those who run or do cardio. The second rule is to pack a backpack without any unnecessary items. Evseeva speaks calmly of the dangers on the trail, including for women who hike alone: she met no one among the trekkers who caused any problems, and locals more often than not helped and shared food. “Many campsites are right on the trail, far from villages; it would not occur to anyone to go there on purpose,” she explains.

Death Road: A Bicycle Descent

Until 2006, the old road from La Paz to the Yungas region served as the main highway. In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank named it the world’s most dangerous road due to its narrow sections, poor visibility, and steep cliffs. When a new highway was constructed, the traffic moved there, and the “Death Road” became one of the most famous cycling routes in the world.

The descent starts at La Cumbre pass, at an altitude of about 4,650 metres, and finishes 64 kilometres later in the warm, green Yungas region at 1,200 metres. The route is almost entirely downhill, first on asphalt and then on an old gravel road, and takes about five hours including stops. You do not need the strength of a professional athlete, but you must be a confident rider, able to maintain focus over bumps and on turns above the abyss, and know how to brake on loose gravel. Unlike in the rest of Bolivia, traffic here keeps to the left, and guides will tell you when to stop and let an oncoming car pass.

The best time to go is the dry season from May to October; from November to March the road is more often muddy and slippery, so it is wise to allow for an extra day. A tour from La Paz costs $70–$160 and usually includes transport, a bicycle, a helmet, protective gear, and a guide; a road toll of 50 bolivianos is paid separately in cash. Before choosing a company, you should read recent reviews and ask about the condition of the bicycles, the size of the group, and whether there is a support vehicle that you can transfer to. You will need warm clothes for the high-altitude start, a light waterproof jacket, sunscreen, repellent, and water.

Flights to the Philippines from Russia Resume

The airline IrAero has resumed its direct flights to the Philippines. Its Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft will fly from Irkutsk and Khabarovsk to Kalibo once every ten days until April 2027, with a technical stop in Hefei, China, where a transit visa is not required.

For now, flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg still involve layovers, for example on Emirates, but the Embassy of the Philippines is in negotiations to establish direct flights to Manila and Cebu. Russian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. A New Year’s package tour starts at 235,000 rubles, and a return ticket to Manila or Cebu starts at 116,000 rubles.

Tourists are drawn to the white beaches of Boracay, the famous “Chocolate Hills” and tarsiers of Bohol, the whale sharks off the coast of Oslob, and the limestone cliffs of Palawan. This season’s new attraction is Davao on Mindanao, where visitors can see the rare Philippine eagle.

A Resort in the Mountains of Mesopotamia

A new ski resort is being built on Mount Mereto in Turkey’s Batman province, the highest point in Southeastern Anatolia. Snow covers the slopes there from November until the end of April. This winter, a single run for beginners, about 150 meters long with a 16% gradient, will open at an altitude of 2,350 meters, served by a conveyor lift. A café, a campsite and a motorhome park will be located nearby. A 19-km road with safety barriers has been constructed to reach the resort.

Furkan Başar, head of the Sason district administration, said the resort is intended to attract tourists to the province year-round, adding that the slopes are now a half-hour drive from Sason’s center. The resort is located far from the familiar coasts; visitors must fly to Batman via Istanbul or Ankara, then take a 60-km drive to Sason. For now, it is best suited for families with children and those trying skiing for the first time.