13 April,2017 09:20 AM IST | | Shraddha Uchil
A Danish tour agent who has travelled the exotic Madagascar and Comoro Islands tells you how you can make it your next escape
Anjouan Island in the Comoros
Towering baobabs, lush rainforests, and weird and wonderful creatures: that's Madagascar for you. Not too far away lie the Comoros Islands, untouched by tourism, and equally appealing. If you've been dreaming of discovering these jewels of the Indian Ocean, attend a fascinating talk by Villads Kok Mortensen, a Danish national who has explored the islands extensively.
Baobab trees in Madagascar
Mortensen is a travel agent who organises motorcycle tours in Asia for Scandinavians. In his down time, he likes to explore off-the-grid destinations like Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. "I first visited Madagascar in 2014, and spent a month there. Last April, I organised a tour to the island for a group of motorcyclists," explains the 34-year-old, adding, "I went to the Comoro Islands in 2015 and travelled through the three main islands."
Villads Kok Mortensen
Although he has given several talks about his escapades in Denmark over the last six years, this is the first time he's doing it in India. At the event, he will share tales from his travels, about the people and their culture and rituals, and the challenges he faced along the way. "These are very remote areas. There is no proper accommodation, and you won't even find a decent cup of coffee," shares Mortensen, who shuttles between his hometown Copenhagen and Mumbai.
He adds, "I like the Comoro Islands because they are completely free of tourists, which is rare these days. Meanwhile, Madagascar is home to many species of flora and fauna that can't be found elsewhere in the world, like lemurs.
You will also find an array of landscapes here, from rainforests and highlands to green fields and deserts."
