Getting around abroad doesn’t have to be all about cars, trains, buses and bikes.

From cruising Peru’s Lake Titicaca on

a boat made of reeds to flying down the streets of Madeira in a wicker toboggan or taking an odd horse-drawn carriage in
Pakistan, there are so many unusual types of travel to be tried. Here’s ten of the best.

Traghetto, Venice
Along the 3.5km stretch of Venice’s Grand Canal there are just three bridges, so how do you get across? By Traghetto,
of course. The unglamorous sibling of the gondola; these no-frills boats get passengers from one side of the canal to the
other for a meagre fee. You can pick up a Traghetto (meaning ‘ferry’ in Italian) from any of the seven piers along the
canal – just look for the yellow signs pointing you towards the landings. Each boat is rowed by two oarsmen- one at the
bow and one behind the passengers, as in a gondola – if you want to ride like a Venetian, stand for the short journey.

Tangah, Pakistan
Save yourself a few bucks in Pakistan and ride on a Tangah, rather than the more commonly used rickshaws and taxis.
A Tangah is a carriage, sitting atop two large wooden wheels (not exactly designed for comfort, so expect a sore bottom
on a long journey!), pulled by one or two horses. They have a low-glamour, but high fun factor and have become more
widely used in Pakistan for enjoyment, rather than as a functional way of getting around. Just beware that they’re not the
speediest way to travel!

Bamboo train, Cambodia

Those with a strong constitution may want to ride a Cambodian bamboo train – known locally as a nori. Passengers sit
on a makeshift bamboo ‘train’ (basically just a bamboo platform) powered by an electric generator engine, perched just
inches above the railway tracks and travelling at up to 40km/h. The unmaintained railway tracks make for a bumpy ride
and the closest you’ll get to luxury is sitting on a grass mat. But the fares are low and this is a once in a lifetime
experience, as all the locals use them for getting around. Pick up a nori from Battambang station.
Monte toboggan, Madeira

Monte toboggans came to being in the 19th century, as a fast way of getting down the hill from Monte to Funchal. Today,
they’re more a tourist attraction than an everyday mode of transport for the locals. Pick up a toboggan at the bottom of
the stairs leading to the Nossa Senhora do Monte Church. Once you’ve climbed into the wicker sledge, two drivers
dressed in traditional white outfits will steer you down the narrow, winding streets to Funchal at up to 48km/h. It’s an
extraordinary and exhilarating experience.

Jeepney, Philippines
Known as ‘the undisputed king of the road’ in the Philippines, the Jeepney is a mammoth vehicle. When the American
troops pulled out of the Philippines at the end of World War II, surplus jeeps were gifted to the locals and this is how the
original jeepneys came to being. The Filipinos stripped them down, added roofs for shade and used them to re-establish
public transport in the country. Nowadays, brightly decorated jeepneys are a symbol of Philippine culture and the most
popular way of getting around in the country.

Longtail boat, Thailand

 

Longtail boats are an icon of Thailand. Originally they were used in the canals that ran through Bangkok – and although
the canals have now been filled and replaced with roads, the boats are still prolific in the country. As the name suggests,
they are long and slim – the ideal shape for canal cruising – due to the long rod in the back of the boat which holds up
the motor. Locals use these boats like public transport and riding one is an experience you can’t miss on a trip to the
country.

Songthaew, Laos
Also known as a baht bus, this is a pickup truck adapted to transport passengers. Songthaew literally translates as ‘two
rows’, taken from the two benches fitted along the sides of the truck. They run either as a shared taxi service, or in larger
cities bigger trucks are adapted to run a bus-like service. With a typically Asian lax-attitude to safety, you’ll see the rear of
Songthaews packed with passengers and sometimes people travel standing on a platform attached to the rear.

Dog sleds, Alaska

Imagine drifting across a white canvas of snow as a troop of husky dogs pulls your sledge – it’s like something from a
Christmas movie. In reality, dog sledding isn’t quite so graceful, it can be a bumpy ride and will be accompanied by your
dogs’ barks, but nonetheless it’s certainly a unique journey. For most Alaskan locals this isn’t a day-to-day way of getting
around, but for tourists it’s a special way to travel, and something you can’t do in many other parts of the world. The best
time to go sledding in Alaskais January-March, as lack of snow in the summer means you’re likely to be pulled by the
dogs on a wheeled sledge.

Barco de Totora, Peru

Totora is a reed which is grown in Peru, most notably on Lake Titicaca. The Uros are a group of people who live on the
lake on floating islands fashioned from the reed. They also make Barco de Totora from bundles of the dried reeds, and
these boats have become an icon of Peru. If you’re visiting Lake Titicaca, the Barco de Totora is a wonderful, unique
method of getting across the vast and beautiful stretch of water.

DUKW, London
DUKW, widely pronounced ‘duck’, are amphibious trucks that were designed by the American military during World War
II to transport equipment and troops over both land and water. Nowadays, you can take a trip in a DUKW in central
London, on the aptly named Duck Tours. On a tour you’ll drive past famous London landmarks before dramatically
launching into the River Thames to get a view from the water. They’re the only way to experience the sights of central
London by land and river – without leaving the comfort of your seat!

Tags: Africa / North America / South
America / Asia / Europe / England / Peru / USA / Italy / Philippines / Thailand / Cambodia / Laos / Pakistan / Boats
& sailing / Novelty / Transport / Discovery / Everyday Life

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