Vacation tips from Outside Online's Travel Expert

By Amy Marr

Q: I'm interested in hiking in the Taurus Mountains in Turkey. Do you have any suggestions for me?

A: Following the southern border of Anatolia, the Taurus range's unique topography includes oddly-shaped spires, fretted ravines, and caverns. Sherpa Expeditions (011-44-20-8577-2717; sales@sherpa-walking-holidays.co.uk) offers a 15-day guided trip that covers the surreal Cappadocia area as well as the rugged Aladaglar region of the Taurus Mountains. You'll trek into the remote Cimbar valley near Mount Demirkazik and then head to the summit of 12,214-foot Mount Embler. The route continues through pine forests to the village of Barazama, then to Selale, known for its waterfalls, and on to Aciman.

Q: I read that there are ten million puffins in Iceland, and I want to see them--along with whales, fjords, mountains, and glaciers. Where do I start?

A: Got a month to spare? In addition to having huge puffin and sheep populations, Iceland is home to 17 species of whales, five national parks, thousands of miles of hiking trails, and an impressive glacial and volcanic landscape. Up north in Húsavik, you'll find sei and humpback whales. Closer to Reykjavík, you can glimpse minkes and humpbacks; the west coast is one of the best places to view the mighty blue whales. Almost anywhere along the coast you'll see the puffins. Grímsey, an island 35 miles off the mainland, is a great place to view bird colonies, and Látrabjarg hosts the world's largest seabird-nesting cliff. To see the mountains and fjords, head to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Reykjavík. From the outpost of Arnarstapi, you can hike onto the Snaefellsjökull glacier for views of the snowy West Fjord Mountains. Contact the Iceland Tourist Board at 212-885-9700; www.icetourist.is.

Q: I am looking for a windsurfing school, preferably in the Caribbean, that offers more than just a resort course. Any ideas?

A: Vela Windsurf Resorts (800-223-5443; www.velawindsurf.com), with numerous locations throughout the islands, is a top pick. At Vela Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, you can learn everything from beginning techniques to carving-jibes, jumps, and tricks. Other Vela destinations include Aruba, Margarita, Los Roques, and Coche Island, all off the northeast coast of Venezuela. Seven-night packages range from $400 to $1,700 per person, depending on the resort. Two other options: Boardsailing BVI (800-880-7873; www.windsurfing.vi/), with clinics on Trellis Bay and Nanny Cay in the British Virgin Islands, and SailSports Belize (011-501-14-8070; sailsports@btl.net), a small windsurfing and sailing school on Ambergris Caye.

Q: I love mountain biking, the more scenic/dangerous, the better. What do you suggest for riding on the Big Island of Hawaii?

A: The hairiest riding on the Big Island is coming down and around the slopes of Mauna Kea. Kona Coast Cycling Tours (877-592-2453; www.cyclekona.com) and Mauna Kea Mountain Bikes (888-682-8687) offer scenic and dangerous rides; both provide guided group or customized trips. For something a bit calmer, head to the Kohala Mountains, just inland from the Kona Coast. A 3,000-foot, 20-mile descent will take you to Keokea Beach. Be sure to check in with HP Bike Works in Kona (808-326-2453), which will rent you a bike, provide maps, and welcome you on its every-other-Sunday group rides.

Q: I'm hoping to go diving in the Andaman Islands. Can you recommend any operators?

A: The Andamans, a string of 321-plus lush islands (36 of them inhabited) in the Bay of Bengal, are encircled by clear turquoise waters and shallow reefs of blue, lavender, and magenta coral. Port Blair is the point of arrival and main city, and the required tourist permits are issued at the Port Blair Airport. There are two main diving centers: Samudra (011-91-3192-33159 or -32937; manavi_tha@hotmail.com) and Port Blair Underwater (011-91-3192-85389). Both companies are PADI-certified and offer daily and weekly courses for all levels.

A primo base is Wandoor, about 18 miles southwest of Port Blair. From there, you can access the densely forested and coconut palm–rimmed Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park. Forty miles northeast of Port Blair are the Havelock Islands, which teem with dolphins, sea turtles, and 50 types of coral. Farther asea is Barren Island, a hefty 20-hour cruise northeast of Port Blair and home to an active volcano that last erupted six years ago. The lava flow has left behind a mass of black sand atop thick black walls, some as high as 1,500 feet, which provide a striking backdrop to the abundant local tuna and hammerhead sharks. North of Barren Island is the most revered diving spot in the Andaman Sea--an extinct volcano where you can dive through 12-foot-tall barrel sponges alongside tuna up to 15 feet long.

Another option is one of the liveaboard operations based in Phuket, Thailand. Try Burma Liveaboards Expeditions (011-66-76-220958; info@burma-diving.com) or Siam Dive 'n' Sail (011-66-76-330-967; info@siamdivers.com).

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