The Death Valley National Park has geological bounties that will make you feel more than alive. The “hottest, driest, and lowest” national park enjoys the juxtaposition of Badwater, the lowest elevation in North America, Eureka Dunes, the highest sand dunes in North America, and snow-capped Telescope Peak.
You can easily call the landscape of the national park dramatic, or an explorer can find it to be the most amazing outdoor playground with volcanic rocks, mountains, deep canyons, the highest sand dunes, and old rivers.
From the humming songs of the sand dunes to the soothing sound of the flowing stream, this place is music to the ears of the visitors.
No wonder that despite its extreme weather conditions, the park had an impressive 1,099,632 visitors in 2023. (Source)
Death Valley Hiking Trails (Easy, Moderate, And Difficult) That Should Be On Your Bucket List
The hiking trails here come with varying difficulty levels. Here, I have discussed some of the most popular and interesting hiking trails with easy, moderate, and strenuous difficulty levels in three different sections.
Best Hiking Trails In Death Valley National Park For Beginners (Easy)
Death Valley is not probably the first place you will think of as someone new to trekking or hiking. However, this national park has some trails suitable for beginners.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite flat sand dunes, with a 2.3-mile distance, are the best creations of sand and wind. The enclosure of mountains works as a barrier to protect the sand from getting blown away.
The sand here creates ripples and dunes, and the area gets its name from mesquite trees found in abundance here. The Timbisha Shoshone tribe here makes flour from the mesquite tree bean pods. This variety of flour is sold in many specialty stores these days.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is also home to nocturnal kangaroo rats and rattlesnakes.
Badwater Salt Flat
A vast salt flat covering around 200 square miles, it is the most surreal place in Death Valley. The lowest elevation point in North America, Badwater Salt Flat, was a large inland Lake Manly in ancient times.
The landscape looks interesting with geometric salt polygons. You can take an easy walk through the stretch and have a look at the imposing Black Mountains and Telescope Peak.
Moderate Death Valley Hiking Trails
Most hiking trails in Death Valley are moderate in their difficulty level. Here, I will give a brief overview of the most talked-about ones in the park.
Darwin Falls Hike
Darwin Falls got its name from Erasmus Darwin French, an army physician. It is one of the very few perennial waterfalls in this national park.
The waterfall runs into a shallow pool with green vegetation around it. So, as you hike through this 2-mile trail, you will find many ferns, trees, aquatic plants, and amphibians.
This hiking trail is around 1 and a half miles long. The trail looks easy. However, you experience difficulty when you try to get back to the Caldera Rim. Further, from the very beginning of this hike, you will experience unevenness in the elevation.
As you take the black trail surrounded by dark hills, don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the green vegetation, which is very rare in the national park. Here, you will also love the view of streaks of dark orange in the formations, along with loose white sand.
You can even hike deep down the crater filled with pyroclastic deposits.
Fall Canyon Death Valley
This 3.5-hour hiking route comes with moderate to strenuous difficulty levels. Occasional flash floods form the narrow gorge and steep sides here.
The cave-like twisted passageways here look most amazing, and a touch of blue on the smooth granite walls adds a mystic charm to the place.
The Badlands, the lowest elevation point in North America, is nature’s display at its best. Hiking to the Badlands includes hiking to Zabriskie Point, the most picturesque location in the park. It is also a favorite sunset and sunrise point, and you will love clicking photographs here.
After watching the Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, you can continue hiking through the Badlands loop, which is made of sediments. Walk for 2.7 miles to reach one of the most important geological terrains of North America. The terrain, with a rugged beauty, used to be part of an ancient lakebed.
Difficult Death Valley Hiking Trails
This national park has many challenging hiking trails, and exploring some of them demands technical skills. Here are the top three most difficult hiking trails to conquer in this park.
Telescope Peak
Telescope Peak, with an elevation gain of 3,000 ft, is a round trip of around 7-8 hours. You can start trekking this route from the “Mahogany Flat Campground at the end of Upper Wildrose.”
This snow-capped mountain is a hikers’ paradise in summer. As you hike through the slopes and the forested areas and reach the peak, you will have the laurel of climbing the highest peak in the national park.
Further, the “ancient bristlecone pines,” wildflowers, and the panoramic vista of the valley from the top will take all your fatigue away.
Panamint Dunes
Hiking to Panamint Dunes will be a delightful experience if you want to explore the remote parts of the park. The most immersive experience you can have here is camping in the soft sand, watching the night sky in its full glory.
The hike (round-trip) will take around 5 hours, and the elevation will go up gradually. The sandy, uneven, and sometimes rocky landscape makes hiking to the top of four different dunes quite difficult.
Little Bridge Canyon
With an elevation gain of 590 m, Little Bridge Canyon is a round-trip hiking route of around 5 hours. The Little Bridge Canyon has a red mouth, and as you reach there, crossing many minor washes, you will be surprised to find a rainbow of colors.
Along with white stretches of Eureka Quartzite, you will also find red and bright yellow veins on the rocks. These colorful veins are formed by deposited iron oxide. Also, you will cherish the view of the sand dunes from Little Bridge Canyon.
Visit Eureka Dunes In Death Valley
Eureka Dunes, the largest dune field in North America, is a must-visit place in Death Valley National Park. It rises more than 680 feet above the neighboring dry lakebed at the western base.
Things To Explore
You can camp at the Eureka Dunes Dry Camp, which is at the base of the sand dunes. This place is great for seeing the sunrise and sunset and experiencing the changing colors of the sand dunes with the rays of the sun.
A hike to Eureka Dunes is arduous due to loose sands frequently stalling your movements. However, once you reach the top, you will see the magnificent Last Chance Mountains with their limestone walls. Also, don’t forget to listen to the songs of the sand dunes. The experience is other-worldly, for sure.
Further, it is hard to believe that a place like Eureka Dunes can have so much life and colors. You will love the Evening Primrose in a pristine white shade. You will also meet shining milkvetch (awaiting designation as an endangered species) and dune grass here.
Stay Safe
Extreme heat is a major concern in Eureka Dunes or throughout the national park. So, choose your gear, sunscreen, hydrating solutions, and other essentials while exploring the Eureka Dunes. Further, October to April is the best time to be at Eureka Dunes as the temperature then remains bearable.
Moreover, Eureka Dunes is considered one of the favorite places for astrophotographers and skywatching enthusiasts. When you are at the Eureka Dunes at night, and you stare at the sky, you will feel like you are sinking in the world of stars and meteor showers.
Final Words
October to April is the best hiking season in the Death Valley National Park. Hiking during summer and spring, especially in the lower elevations of the park, can be very difficult.
Even during the months of winter, the weather conditions here remain dry. So, always carry treated drinking water and hydrating solutions with you while hiking in this national park, the quintessence of desert beauty.
Hiking in the park will allow you to visit the lowest elevation points of North America and the highest dunes. You can also conquer the snow-capped mountain peaks and the most vibrant trails made of colorful volcanic deposits.
So, are you planning to visit this dramatic land anytime soon? Don’t forget to share your ideas with us!
Death Valley National Park FAQs
Which Trail Is The Most Scenic Drive In Death Valley National Park?
Artists Palette is the most scenic drive in Death Valley National Park. As the name suggests, through the 0.5 km trail, you can see rocks showcasing various colors. The splashes of green, pink, yellow, orange, red, and blue colors in these rocks come from iron oxides, chlorite, and other compounds present in the local volcanic deposits.
So, this scenic drive truly tales the “volcanic past” of the park. While exploring this driving route, you can also catch a glimpse of the Black Mountains and serpentine white salt flats.
For the best experience, you can visit the Artists Palette during the Sunset or Sunrise.
What Is Special In Death Valley?
Despite its extreme desert conditions (Death Valley recorded the highest temperature in the world in July 1936, and the temperature was 134 degrees.), Death Valley is a wonderful place to explore from autumn to spring.
Hiking through the vibrant canyons can be the most amazing outdoor pursuit in Death Valley. Hike to Dante’s View in the Black Mountains and enjoy the diverse landscape of Death Valley. Go for a trek along the 1.5-mile trail that follows the Ubehebe Crater rim. Have a look into the abyss, which is 600 feet deep.
Further, you can enjoy the best Sunrise and Sunset moments and a panoramic view of the adjacent area from Zabriskie Point.
You can even take a ride through the lowest elevation in North America, Badwater, with its salt flats and pools.
Moreover, when you are in this national park, you must have an encounter with the Mesquite Flat Dunes wildlife and wildflowers, which are in full bloom in the spring.
Where Is The Most Photographed Place In Death Valley?
Diverse weather conditions and intriguing geology make Death Valley a favorite of photography enthusiasts. You must have seen Zabriskie Point as the background for many posts on socials. This place is named after Christian Zabriskie, a noted figure of the Pacific Coast Borax Company.
Zabriskie Point, close to Furnace Creek, has a vantage point that offers an amazing view of the park and the surrounding area. You will enjoy the view of the badlands with brown and yellow hills. Further, don’t forget to behold the salt flats covering the Death Valley floors.
Zabriskie Point is also a great place to cherish the golden and red hues of the Sunrise and Sunset. When you especially look at the Manly Beacon from Zabriskie Point during the Sunrise or Sunset, you get an unforgettable view. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is another great place to click photographs if you are looking for a classic desert landscape.
Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!
If you are traveling to the Caribbean, then the best place you should check out was the Sandals Curacao resort, which is now finally open and is welcoming tourists and guests.
All sorts of possible amenities and services are available for vacationers to utilize and take advantage of. The resort is like a global Caribbean gem on a beautiful island.
If you are from a European country, then the resort is like a beautiful European city on the beautiful Caribbean Island, the resort has a beautiful old-European city. So if you want to book a room then hurry up, as the resort is getting filled up faster than ever.
Sandals Curacao’s Basic Travel Information
If you are planning to visit Sandals Curacao resort, then here are a few pieces of information about the Sandals royal curacao. These information will be going to help you to know more about the surrounding area.
Where Is Curacao?
The Sandals Curacao is an island in the Caribbean, on the coast of Venezuela. Curacao island is among the “ABC” island, which are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, the island lies in the western Leeward Antilles.
Recently, we were there on vacation doing some much-needed soul searching about a new business I’ve been planning to start. The only obstacle? An offshore merchant account. It was on my vacation that I found the help for starting an offshore merchant account - and for that reason Curacao will always remain special.
Closest Airport
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If you are going to The Sandals Curacao, then the nearest airport that you may reach is about 15 miles away from the resort. A round-trip to the airport is included in your resort booking as well.
Best Time To Visit
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If you are going to visit the island then you should definitely avoid the hurricane season, as hurricanes can be very dangerous and devastating. But other than the hurricane season, the whole year is perfect for you to visit.
Sandals All-Inclusive Resort Amenities
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In the Sandals Royal Curacao resort, there are a lot of room options and other luxury amenities that are available in the resort.
So when you check out their website and click on book now, then you will be able to see all the detailed information about the amenities offered.
If you wanna know a few of the luxury amenities that are offered by the resort then, they are given down below.
Room Options
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In the Sandals Curacao Resort, you will find 24 separate room options, and it has two newer signature suites along with the already three category levels. These three different categories are Butler, Club, and Luxury.
Top Picks For Honeymooners
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If suppose you are celebrating certain special occasions like your anniversary or honeymoon, here at the Sandals Curacao resort, then there are special rooms for you as well. Romantic seaside or poolside bungalows.
We also have, “Love Nest” suites which are one-bedroom, with an all-inclusive luxury butler service.
New Butler Bungalows
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The newer Awa Seaside Butler Bungalow and the Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows are built which provide even more privacy and other luxury amenities.
Like 24-hour room service, a private patio, a sun deck, sun loungers, a personal butler, soaking tubs, and many more.
Top Picks For One-The-Go Travelers
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If you are the type of person who loves to travel around and visit all the hotspots, then there are beautiful beaches, tropical gardens, and pools that you can visit and enjoy your time.
Activities At Sandals Curacao Royals
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So now that you have decided of going to the Sandals Curacao Resorts, then you should know the activities that you can take part in while you are exploring the island.
Here are a few activities that you can explore in the Curacao resort, here are a few of them listed down below.
Get Scuba Certified
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You can easily get to purchase a “PADI eLearning course,” they are available if you want a scuba diving lesson.
Scuba Diving
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Here at the Sandals Curacao resort, you get an all-inclusive scuba diving program, but first, you need a scuba diving certificate for that, which is also available here.
Special Butler Bungalows: Mini Cooper
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If you are looking forward to exploring the beautiful island then we have a car service available, where you can get your own Mini Cooper for 3 ½ hours. The service includes gas, a guide map, and a beautiful picnic basket prepared by the resort.
Sandals Red Lane Spa
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No resort experience is complete without a spa treatment. Here at Sandals Curacao, we have a salt stone massage, couples massage, and many more of you to enjoy.
Wrapping Up!
So now that you have planned to visit the Sandals Curacao resort, then by now, you should check out the official website of the resort.
There you will be able to find out more details of the resort, that is more specific. But if you liked this article, then give us a like and comment down below, that when would you like to visit the sandals Curacao?
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Are you planning on traveling to a foreign country in the next few days, weeks, or months during the pandemic?
Do you know what are some things you should look out for to ensure that your travel is safe and smooth?
Have you tried looking at some of the manuals and suggestions being laid out by governments when it comes to international travel?
The Coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of slowing down or stopping. The past month saw the discovery of a new, more dangerous mutation of the Coronavirus in Britain. The same has now been seen in multiple countries all over the world. making traveling to foreign countries a pain-stricken affair.
Does it look like a snippet from the new stories scaring us during the Covid-19 days? It’s great that we are past that devastating phase. However, with bioterrorism being a major concern in the world, it’s good to remain informed about how we traveled in those days.
Safety precautions always help to avoid the spread of infection and its consequences.
List of 7 Things to Check when traveling during the Pandemic
Make a note of the things to check if you are traveling during the pandemic.
1. International Flight Status
Whether you are flying domestic or international, flight timings, routes and other details are something, which you should be aware of. During the pandemic, the international flight status keeps changing because of multiple reasons.
Flights are getting rescheduled, canceled, or postponed left, right and center. You do not want to be stranded in the airport of some foreign country as you had failed to check on the flight status before you left for the airport. This will hold you in good stead during the travel.
2. Quarantine Rules
Like flights, quarantine rules keep changing at a moment’s notice in many countries and their cities. If you are flying in from countries that are classified as high-risk by the local government, you would need to spend a stipulated period of time in quarantine.
The same can be anywhere from seven to fourteen days. It can also be mandated that you spend the days at a government institutional quarantine center and not at a hotel of your choice. Finding out about the rules can help in clearing confusion and planning your trip better.
3. COVID-19 Negative Test Results
Most countries have set aside rules for international travelers who are flying in. They need to carry COVID-19 Negative Test Results, which should be done no less than 24-48 hours. If your test results are from an earlier period, you will not be allowed to board the flight.
There are many diagnostic centers and labs affiliated by airlines that offer quick one-day results for RT-PCR Tests for COVID-19. This is slightly expensive when you compare the same with normal test results. However, you need to get them before boarding a plane and landing.
4. Safety Protocols at the Hotel or place of stay
Individual institutions too have their own safety protocols in place for travelers coming from outside. In most cases, travelers who are coming from other countries would need to disclose the same. This would be followed by a separate area being earmarked for them.
Most hotels have done away with Room Service and other normal procedures. In fact, the room fridge, might also not have the snacks you need. Timings for using the restaurant and meals would also be done in a staggered fashion to practice social distancing.
5. New COVID-19 Rules Imposed by the City
Most cities around the world have created their own rules and regulations regarding inter-city and intra-city travel. Some cities have placed curfew timings for nights and weekends. Other cities have placed lockdowns on specific zones within the city where cases are rising.
This is why you should be careful of where you are traveling to and the local rules and regulations in the same. However, one more thing, which should be pointed out is that rules and laws regarding mobility change instantly, leaving you with little or no time to adjust.
6. Carrying Protective Gear and SOS Medicines
We all know how the pandemic has necessitated the use of face masks, shields, gloves, sanitizers, and other protective equipment. When you are traveling, you should ensure that you are carrying substantial amounts of the same with you.
Ideally, you do not want to purchase the same in some foreign country. You also need to ensure that you are abiding by all the safety protocols of the place and the pandemic. You can get fined heavily for not following the safety protocols in major countries and cities in the world.
7. Keeping others Informed about your Travel Plans
If you have been paying attention to the article, you would have noticed how we have stressed the fact that quarantine, local movement, and other rules can change in an instant. This is why travel experts suggest that you should always keep others informed about your travel plans.
You might not have cell phone coverage or access to the internet to send a message back home. International travel has become clouded by diplomatic interference given the testing times we are living under. Keeping others in the loop might just come in handy when you are experiencing a problem abroad and are not being able to communicate the same.
The Final Word
Even though we know that international travel is not the safest and wisest thing to do, there might be multiple pressing concerns forcing us to do the same. For some, it would be about going back home to their families. For others, it can be about employment and income opportunities. For a third set, it can be because of medical reasons.
No matter that the reason you have to undertake international travel, it is best that you keep the above seven points in your head. They will ensure that your international travel is as stress-free and easy as possible. If you have any other points you would like to add to the article, mention them in the comments section below.
Also, once again, it is great to get over those nightmares, but we must not be casual about maintaining personal and public hygiene.
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If you are a frequent traveler, you know it can take tedious time to plan and organize travel arrangements and plane tickets. It helps if you have a reliable travel agency to do everything for you, so it becomes easier.
But I am sure you have seen that not all travel agencies are reliable or legit, so how will you know the difference without losing money? It would help if you read a thorough review of any travel agency, that's how.
So today, we are going to talk about whether it is Trip.com legit travel agency or not. Trip.com has been around for a while and still has questionable customer service and inappropriate customer reviews. So is trip.com legit? Or are we just wasting our time and money on it?
About Trip.Com
Trip.com is a Singapore-based one-stop travel company listed by NASDAQ since 2003. It has over 400 million members and about 45,100 employees working in the company.
Trip.com is affiliated with about 1.4 million hotels and operates in approximately 200 countries and other regions. The company was established back in 1999. By now, they have over 2 million routes that connect over 5000 cities all over the world.
The company has a massive network and well-connected 24/7 customer service in more than 20 languages.
Recently, Trip.com, at the global partner summit, invited other travel agencies and industries to come to join them and build a future together. With the football World Cup happening in Qatar, Trip.com is taking advantage of stepping into the booming market as Qatar is becoming a travel hotspot.
Why Is Trip.Com So Cheap?
While booking your tickets, you would prefer somewhere you get the best deals. Although there are several places where you can save your money while traveling, getting the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, and other travel expenses is a good thing.
And that is one of the great things about Trip.com, as they give the best deals on flights and hotels, making them a popular choice for most travelers. But how do they offer such low prices than other companies? Ever thought of that?
Since Trip.com sells to their customers directly, they can avoid other high costs from other agencies.
And another thing that Trip.com does is they give back a part of the commission taken from the hotels and all the airlines to the customers, as low fare costs. So this is how Trip.com stays ahead of its competition.
Is Trip.Com Legit?
If the company's legitimacy is in question, then there is no doubt that Trip.com is a legitimate company operating worldwide. Furthermore, it's been twenty years since the company has been operable, so you can rest assured that they are here to stay and will not disappear one day.
The services offered by Trip.com through their website are safe to use, and you can easily access flights and hotels from the website if you want.
And regarding website safety issues, it is safe and secured using SSL encryption to ensure all your data privacy, like financial and personal information.
Read More: Top Trips For Travelling With A Big Group Of People
Is Trip.Com Reliable?
Relying on a certain travel company can be tough as hundreds of travel companies give great deals. So now the question is the trip com reliable?
The easy answer is yes. The Trip.com Group is a huge multinational Chinese company that is one of the world's leading travel service providers. In addition, the company owns other travel companies, such as CTrip and Skyscanner.
Trip.Com: Customer Reviews
A company that has been around for more than twenty years is sure to have a good reputation and reliability as a travel company. But the real reviews come from the customers who have already used the services of Trip.com.
So here are a few original customer reviews of Trip.com.
1.
This is probably one of the worst companies I've been in contact with. I can't tell for sure whether it's unprofessional staff or deliberate sabotage, but I have not been able to rebook my flight for over 3 months already. I've been writing emails and calling literally every day, and the problem is not solved till now. Maybe this review will help save someone's nerves and, more importantly, money as it didn't save mine.
Martin G.
2.
If something goes wrong with your ticket they are not willing to help at all. My flight was canceled. They offered another flight, but without checking that the flight they gave to me was also canceled. When I found out from the airline and called them for help, they asked me to deal with the airline directly. I asked for a refund, but no answer from them. They don't care about customers at all.
Julian R.
3.
I booked a trip on Trip.com several days ago. When I went to review my flight details in the email confirmation, I realized that the outbound flight was not what I thought I had booked. Fortunately, I added a Cancellation Guarantee Package which was inexpensive. When I contacted customer service about the error, they responded quickly and explained everything in detail and clearly. They are processing a refund, and I can rebook the flight. I used Trip.com for a flight in June and was very satisfied. Great prices, great service. Will use them again for future travel.
Alysa D.
Even though most of the reviews left by the customers are bad and negative, it is important to note that the company's customer service department replied. They tried to respond to almost 94% of the bad reviews and tried to solve their problems.
Not only the bad reviews. Trip.com even replied to the good reviews as well, showing their gratitude. So unlike most travel companies who ignore the negative reviews given by customers, Trip.com not only responds but tries to help them as well.
Read More: Do You Know How To Buy Cheap Air Tickets?
Wrapping Up!
Now that you are well aware of your question, is trip.com legit? You can decide whether you want to rely on Trip.com for your next trip plans.
But it is important to note that you shouldn't get discouraged due to the bad reviews as they are inevitable in every business. Rather it is important to know how the company deals with all those bead reviews and tries to improve itself.
So if you think Trip.com legit is worth taking a chance on, comment below on how you feel.
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