In this article you find extract from stories and selected photos from exciting journeys during 2006. Our freelance journalists around the world have the ability to tell stories that make it interesting for others to read. Their journeys are about unique adventures, dramatic, explorations, discoveries, breaking of records, ventures and meeting of nice people with different lifestyle and culture than themselves. Here are our highlights from 2006......

Tatar palaces, Turkish fortresses, magic stalactite caves, lush sub-tropical mountains, miles and miles of beaches, mellow coastal climate… Sounds like Russia?

Santa Claus is real, and he is the best traveller in the world! Do you want to know where he is? Based on historical data and more than 50 years of NORAD tracking information, it proves that Santa is alive. NORAD is the bi-national U.S.-Canadian military organization responsible for the aerospace defence of the United States and Canada. Now people around the world can follow Santa`s movements in Christmas. Find out more about it and be convinced!

Bells are ringing for Christmas time. It's time to spread joy and bring smiles to faces ! Christmas is celebrated in most countries in the world. Whether people believe in Santa Claus or not, they continue their traditional Christmas celebration. Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the traditional birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth. Both children and adults enjoy sending post cards, singing songs, dancing around the Christmas trees and giving each other presents. They all wait for the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. He is the world`s best traveller and most popular person!

The amazing unique gifts from WWF are plant a tree, tattoo a Polar Bear, get a turtle rehab, give Panda room to grow, Chilies, Dung and Oil, invest in Gorilla's Paradise, Nature Club for a Child, save a leopard, name and track a turtle. These fun gifts help WWF in their efforts to save the planet! The most suitable Christmas presents?Read more about how it works, and find out how you can buy these gifts.

The Norwegians are still waiting for the snow to fall, especially in Oslo, but anyway the Christmas celebration has started. And of course the Santa Claus has already started to hand out presents. Both in Drøbak and Savalen in Norway, it`s said that the real Santa Claus live. Julenissen, as it`s called in Norway, has achieved international celebrity status. From his home in Drøbak, an idyllic maritime town 30 minutes south of Oslo, he receives visitors from all over the world. Julenissen serves as a symbol of modern Norwegian cultural values, and perhaps this is why he makes such a splendid ambassador for Norway throughout the world.

I was in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, city of 1000-year-old temples adorned with all the erotic positions of the Kama Sutra. The temples were rediscovered by a British explorer in the early 19th century after languishing forgotten in the jungle for centuries, and now tourists flock here.

Giant camels as tall as some modern-day elephants lived in the Syrian desert for around hundred thousand years ago. Archaeologists who found the remains of these camels are wondering where they came from and what caused them to die off. It was first discovered last year, but find of more bones this year in the sands about 150 miles north of the capital Damascus in Syria, confirms the sensationally discovery.

Gorillas are known to be very intelligent, and now its proved again based on a new research. They are the humans` closest relative. Gorillas live in east-central Africa and equatorial west Africa. Based on differences in size, physical features, and location gorillas are classified into three subspecies. In an almost impenetrable forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, gorillas try to make their home far away from humans,and here it has been done some amazing observations ....

As we experienced, Botswana is the country for suspence thrill on safaris. One of the best opportunities for wildlife adventures in this country, is Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. Botswana is located in the southern part in the African continent, and neighboured with Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. In Botswana it`s also possible to experience the unique lifestyle and culture of the Bushmen.

You will see the big five, said the guide. He meant the elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. After I had admired ten thousand of zebras, gnus, and other herds of animals in Serengeti, my pulse started to beat faster; would it be possible to observe an elephant, or maybe two? At that point I took terrible wrong. Soon we drove through herds of these majestic animals.

What is it like to stay in a haunted castle? There are rumours that Finavon castle on the grounds of our self-catering lodging is haunted. Before arriving in Scotland, I read various histories of the castle on paranormal websites describing activities there. The stories did not deter my family and I from our trip. In some ways it added a sense of intrigue and mystery to our travel there.

Tsodilo Hills in Botswana is also known as the “Mountains of the Gods” and the Bushmen`s sacred place. There are over 4500 rock paintings. This makes Tsodilo one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world. It is also the first and only World Heritage Site in Botswana.

Do you want an unique travel adventure? Are you tired of walking in the footprints of other tourists? The world is bigger than you think. So if your want to experience untouched nature, ancient sites, exotic tribes, and wild animals in natural environments, you need to venture little bit further than others. Are you ready to take the next step?

How to choose an adventure travel tour operator? For your adventure tour you can choose between travelling independent or join a guided tour. Are you willing to take the risk to explore the last frontiers on this planet on your own? Or could it be a better and safer way to do it with the right tour operator?