Castles of Loire

The castles of the Loire River Valley in France are fascinating places to visit and explore, and now you can do so using Google Streetview.

Explore the castles using Google Streetview
 

The ExperienceLoire website has a clickable map that gives extensive histories and other information on each chateau:

One of our favorites is Chenonceau:

Everest Base Camp Mountain Trek

End of the trek in Gorak Shep near the Everest Base Camp

This is a rugged and majestic mountain trek in Nepal from Lukla to Gorak Shep near the Everest Base Camp:

 

The following chart provided by Icicles Adventure Treks and Tours shows the altitude changes on this trek.  Mountaineers use this trek to acclimatize themselves to the altitude prior to actual mountain climbing.  That is why it takes eight days to get to Gorakshep and only a few days to get back!

National Geographic provides a detailed topographical map of the entire route:

Here is the Google Map Overview of the trek.  

Click on the little yellow figure who will appear 
in the lower right to see the route:

We begin the trek at the famous 

Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate in Lukla:

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepalese woman to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.

Head over an awesome suspension bridge on the way to Namche Bazaar:

On beyond Namche Bazaar we meet some yaks on their way to Everest:

On beyond the yaks, we continue along the trail high above the river valley, and glimpse a Chhorten (a Buddhist Stupa or Shrine) in the distance...

 On the way you will pass the famous Tengboche Monastery.
The banners you see flying are Prayer Flags.

Tour the Monastery for some amazing sights!

Everest Base Camp, Gorak Shep, and Kala Patthar Aerial Camera Video October 2015 by Rob Dunbar:

The following expedition takes place in the Himalaya Everest mountains, which is recorded from a remote controlled drone quadcopter. These travelers travel to the Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Ice Fall, Cho La Pass, Renjo La Pass, Gokyo, and even capture footage of Kathmandu, Nepal.

DJI Spark drone flying at one of the highest accessible altitudes on Earth - the mighty Himalayas. And more exactly - Sagarmatha National Park, a.k.a. Solu Khumbu, a.k.a. Everest Region.

Mont Saint Michel Island Monastery and Fortifications

Mont Saint Michel is an island monastery and fortification located on the coast of Normandy, France.

  

Map of France showing location of Mont Saint Michel

Beautiful drone footage:

 

There are many Google Walks in and around Mont Saint Michel

Start at the main gate leading from the causeway

Make your way up onto the ramparts for many stunning views of the surrounding sea and countryside.

Tasmanian Treking: Dove Lake Trail in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Some excellent and picturesque trails to trek in Tasmania, including the trail around Dove Lake in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

The Cradle Mountain Park Guide provides an overview of the landscape:

 The Dove Lake Trail features some stunning vistas of Cradle Mountain (left side in the distance):

The trail begins at the Dove Lake Car Park and loops around Dove Lake:

DOVE LAKE TRAILHEAD

Where the trails divide, we take the left hand route towards Glacier Rock:

We soon arrive at a fork in the trail:

There is an excellent side trail down to the shore and onto the magnificent Glacier Rock:
 

For those who want to get out on the water, you can take a boat trip around the lake:

Dove Lake Boat Circuit

On a clear day,  the calm waters of Dove Lake provide some quiet reflections of grandeur...

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Breathtaking starting point on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Trailhead for the Inca Trail To Machu Picchu

A Four Day Hike to Machu Picchu

The Trail Covers Some Demanding Elevations

Starting out and heading over the bridge 
across the Urubamba river.

On my way!  After a steep climb, 
looking back down at the trailhead.

Beaches of Normandy

Walk the beaches of Normandy that were used for the D-Day Landings...

An excellent web page for more information is the...

D-Day Overlord Site 

Normandy Landing Beaches

One of the most unspoiled beaches to walk using Google Streetview is Omaha Beach. 

Here is an overview map of all the trails available at Omaha Beach...

 Start at the magnificent and moving Omaha Memorial and head out onto the beach...

Omaha Beach Memorial Starting Point

Lots more information about Omaha Beach at the D-Day Overlord Website:

D-Day Overlord - Omaha Beach

The other beach where the American troops landed was Utah Beach.  You can start at the Memorial and walk the coastal roads, though the beach has yet to be added to Streetview...

Utah Beach Memorial Starting Point

Lots more information about Utah Beach at the D-Day Overlord Website:

D-Day Overlord - Utah Beach

The next beach is Gold Beach where the British landed. You can walk down to the beach, and along the coastal roads...

Gold Beach Starting Point  

Lots more information about Gold Beach at the D-Day Overlord Website:

D-Day Overlord - Gold Beach7

The next beach along is the famous Juno Beach where the brave Canadian Troops landed...

Juno Beach Monument and Starting Point

Lots more information about Juno Beach at the D-Day Overlord Website:

D-Day Overlord - Juno Beach

The final D-Day beach is the other British landing site:  Sword Beach...

Sword Beach Memorial and Starting Point

Lots more information about Sword Beach at the D-Day Overlord Website:

D-Day Overlord - Sword Beach

At Sword Beach, you can see this Nazi Gun Emplacement that has been converted into a cheerful holiday home, sort of like beating swords into ploughshares...

Whistlers Summit Trail, Jasper National Park

Start of the Streetview Hike up the

The Whistlers Summit Trail

 Jasper National Park

  Streetview starts the trail near Whistler's 

at the bottom left of the map...

 
 

Check out a complete PDF...

Map of Jasper National Park