MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, Historic Places

Ride & Seek Announces 990-Mile Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” Cycling Tour

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Ride & Seek ‘s nearly 1,000 mile Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” epic cycling adventure includes five capitals and five distinct cultures connected through a historic period that changed the world.

(Provence, France) – Ride & Seek is introducing a new Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” epic cycling adventure that includes five capitals and five distinct cultures connected through a historic period that changed the world. This nearly 1,000-mile bicycle tour begins in Berlin where the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The trip travels from north to south along some of the best cycling routes Europe has to offer, weaving its way south through Western Europe and what was once part of the Soviet Union. It is offered in two stages– Berlin to Prague over eight days and Prague to Budapest over 11 days. The “Iron Curtain” tour is slated for August 18 – September 4, 2019, and starts at $8,318 USD. To view the full tour, visit https://rideandseek.com/tour/iron-curtain-berlin-to-budapest/.

“This exciting new Berlin-to-Budapest tour crosses the divide between communism and democratic capitalism,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “The history on the tour is still palpable and it is unlike our other historic cycling adventures in that the collapse of the Iron Curtain was witnessed real-time by the majority of our guests.”

Guests will cycle past palaces and through Sorbian villages to the Polish border. In the Czech Republic, they will ride through the romantic countryside of the Czech Middle Mountains and follow the banks of the Elbe River. Bohemia provides peaceful cycling interspersed with beautiful castles, medieval and renaissance towns surrounded by monumental walls. Biking close to the Austrian border, riders will pass well-preserved fortifications from the beginning of WWII. In Austria, they’ll cycle along wooded hillsides and through green meadows onto the Danube River and into Vienna on beautifully kept cycle paths.

From one capital to the next, guests will follow the blue waters of the Danube River past the luxurious palaces of the Viennese nobility to Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. The group will continue through Hungary to the baroque city of Györ, and then travel through rolling hills famous for its racehorse studs before returning to the Danube River. The last day will include a ride along one of the most scenic parts of the Danube, where the river enters steep hills, creating stunning meanders into the lively heart of Budapest.

“For those who enjoy beer, this trip will not disappoint,” said Reynolds. “Each of the countries we travel through will tell you their beer is the best in the world, but you will have to make up your own mind.”

Iron Curtain Bike Tour Highlights:

Seeing the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie

Cycling along the rivers and canals that cover much of Eastern Germany

Following the Oder-Neisse River along the Polish border to Görlitz, one of Germany’s most beautiful cities

Rolling through the castle-and-fortress-filled Czech Middle Mountains along the banks of the Elbe River

Exploring Telč, a jewel of the Czech Republic and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Drinking the world’s best beers: German wheat beers, Czech pilsner, Austrian lager and Hungarian ales

Touring Budapest, an architectural and historical treasure trove along the Danube

Sampling Austrian schnitzel, Viennese-style coffee, chocolate Sachertorte cake, Hungarian Goulash, and German bratwurst.

Ride & Seek is a worldwide adventure cycling company offering historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural immersion. Cyclists not only see and ride some of the greatest roads in Europe but also visit some of the most spectacular sites as well. Providing a cultural insight into the areas both historically and gastronomically is central. Historical journeys and cultural adventures are specialties. www.rideandseek.com.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, cycling trips

Grasshopper Adventures Introduces Tour Exploring Thailand by Bike from Bangkok to Phuket

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(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a 10-day tour cycling the Gulf of Thailand, Khao Sok National Park, and the Andaman Coast. Five days are spent riding along the Gulf of Thailand on deserted blacktop and concrete roads through sleepy villages and coconut groves, followed by three days of riding through Khao Sok National Park to the Andaman Coast and down to Phuket.

“This is a cycling holiday in the true sense of the term,” said Grasshopper Adventures President Adam Platt-Hepworth. “We’ll enjoy the satisfaction of riding the majority of the distance from Hua Hin down to Phuket, whilst taking in places that most visitors to Thailand don’t get to see.”

On the gulf side of Thailand, guests will ride on mostly flat terrain and quiet backroads, with the exception of two short highway sections. In the hinterland, there are some more sustained hills, but these are rarely longer than 2 km and nothing that could be described as steep. Guests will share the road with some traffic through Khao Sok National Park due to the absence of backroads and from Khao Lak to Phuket.

Tour Highlights Include:

Visiting the sleepy beach town of Pranburi
Biking through Sam Roi Yod National Park and hiking to Phraya Nakhon Cave
Overnighting at a family-owned lodge on the beach in Chumphon
Cycling through rubber plantations and past limestone cliffs
Soaking in hot springs and indulging in delicious Thai cuisine
Riding over the bridge to Phuket Island and overnighting on the beach

The trip totals 574 km by bike and starts at $2,350 USD. Multiple departure dates are available throughout the year. For more information, visit here or call 844-874-3720.

Grasshopper Adventures is a cycling and active travel specialist, headquartered in Bangkok. They host more than 25,000 travelers of all ages and abilities, on tours ranging from one day to two weeks in Japan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan & Myanmar. https://www.grasshopperadventures.com

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Active Travel, bike trips, China travel, cycling trips

Grasshopper Adventures Unveils Cycling Tour of China’s Yunnan Province

(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures unveiling a new 14-day bike tour exploring the Yunnan Province of China. Intrepid riders will cycle through the ancient towns of the Tea Horse Trail, a network of paths winding through the mountains, from mystical Shangri-La to the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lijiang. The tour covers 510 km by bike, starts at $4,900 USD, and is scheduled for June 10-23, 2019.

“Our guests will ride through one of the highest gorges in the world, carved out over millennia by the Yangtze River and surrounded by the dramatic Jade Dragon and Haba Snow Mountains,” said Grasshopper Adventures President Adam Platt-Hepworth. “Along the way, they’ll visit ancient villages with captivating rituals and traditions seemingly unchanged by the test of time.”

The two-week adventure begins in the foothills bordering Tibet, with the dramatic backdrop of Yunnan Province. This is a land of mysticism, spirituality and jaw-dropping landscapes where ancient cultures meet the modern world. Guests will ride from China’s alpine utopia of Shangri-La through the stunning landscape of Tiger Leaping Gorge, to the ancient Bai Kingdom city of Dali. The majority of the riding is on small roads through villages with minimal traffic.

Tour Highlights:

Visiting the world’s largest prayer wheel and the stunning Songzanlin Monastery

Exploring the mythical utopia of Shangri-La

Riding through Tiger Leaping Gorge

Discovering the ancient Bai Kingdom city of Dali

Exploring the picturesque backstreets of Lijiang

Touring Jian Chuan with its quaint canals and bridge

Cycling to the historic town of Shaxi

For more info, visit https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/en/scheduled-tours/spiritual-shangri -la.html.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, hiking, National Parks

Austin Adventures Expands Grand Canyon Offerings, Special Perks to Honor National Park Service Centennial

*Austin Adventures is inviting guests to “Go Grand” with them, offering perks and special surprises on all of their Grand Canyon tour departures in 2019 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

BILLINGS, MT – After six million years the Grand Canyon and its liquid heartbeat, the Colorado River, have more than a few stories to tell. But it was the National Park Service one century ago that began registering and interpreting these stories for some six million domestic and international visitors annually.

The official Grand Canyon National Park centennial takes place on Feb. 26, 2019. And Austin Adventures, a leading active travel company that frequents the cream of America’s iconic parks of the West, is inviting guests to “Go Grand” with them, offering perks and special surprises on all of their Grand Canyon tour departures in 2019.

To mark and help celebrate the Grand Canyon’s Centennial:

Each trip will feature an educational element – the most exciting and interesting places to explore and it cultural and natural history – introduced by expert guides knowledgeable in the geology of the Grand Canyon. Local walk-on experts will interact with groups as situations allow. Specific attention will be paid to the amazing geography but also to the significant history of the people, including the 21 traditional associated tribes calling the Grand Canyon their home.

Austin Adventures’ logo day packs will be gifted to kids ages 12 and under who are guests on a tour. Each pack is full of Grand Canyon memorabilia, keepsakes and educational material such as a field guide, map and activity book.

Adults will have $100 donated in their name by Austin Adventures to the Grand Canyon Conservancy that is the official, nonprofit partner of the park (https://www.grandcanyon.org/)

Extra educational elements will be woven into a visit to the South Rim in conjunction with Grand Canyon Conservancy.

“There is no question as to why the Grand Canyon is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the natural world. A must-see on everyone’s bucket list, we at Austin Adventures have been sharing the “big ditch” with adventure seekers for over two decades,” adds Dan Austin, company founder and president. “You really need to do more than just view it from an overlook, you must journey inside and experience it to really understand its magnitude and magnificence!”

In 2019 there will be nine departures of Austin Adventures’ Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park Vacation (up from seven in 2018). Of these, seven trip dates are family-focused and two are for adults-only. Six-day family departures are March 17, 24; June 30; July 7, 14, 21, 28. The rates are $2,998 for adults and $2,398 to $2,698 for children in shared accommodations. See https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/arizona-family-grand-canyon/.

Six-day adult-only departures are in the fall when kids are back in school, Sept. 22 and 29. The rate is $2,998 ($580 single supplement). See https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/grand-canyon-vacation-tour/.

And in the spirit of celebration, Austin Adventures is also introducing a new-for-2019 program; Arizona/Utah: Grand Canyon to Bryce & Zion. This expertly crafted 8-day journey wraps together three national parks using Las Vegas as the gateway. Guests journey into the mysterious depths of the Grand Canyon, hike through the stone forest hoodoos and spires of Bryce and navigate the world-renowned Narrows of Zion Park. The per person rate is $3,598 ($680 single supplement). Departures in 2019 are May 5-12, May 15-22 and May 25-June 1. See https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/grand-canyon-bryce-zion-2/

For more information, questions and trip availability, call 1.800.575.1540 or email [email protected]. For a full roster of Austin Adventures’ 2019 trips, cruises and distinctive accommodations on seven continents please visit http://www.austinadventures.com.

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent over 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. They have been acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure Magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Awards along with other national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures has perfected the art of creating itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, incredible guides and exhilarating activities, all while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution, all backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee. Austin Adventures is a Virtuoso Preferred Tour Operator.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, cycling trips

Pedal from Arctic Coast to Panama Canal on TDA Global Cycling’s North American Epic 8,750-Mile Bike Tour

October 13, 2018 MoralCompass

*North American Epic Monument Valley. TDA Global Cycling’s North American Epic tour in 2019 covers 8,750 miles in 5 1/2 months; shorter segments are available (Courtesy TDA Global Cycling )*

TORONTO – Pedal from Canada’s Arctic Coast over the Rocky Mountains and across the Southwest U.S., down the Baja California Peninsula and deep into Mexico, then through six Central American countries to the Panama Canal on a new route for TDA Global Cycling’s North American Epic tour in 2019. Covering 8,750 miles in 5 1/2 months, the North American Epic truly is TDA’s most epic bicycle expedition. The full tour begins July 4 and ends Dec. 15, 2019, starting at $24,900 per person based on double occupancy, with shorter sections available from $1,900 for nine days.

Starting from Tuktoyaktuk on Canada’s Arctic Coast, riders will depart along the first all-season road out of the community, traveling through tundra and historic gold rush towns, down the Alaska Highway and over the famed Icefields Parkway. Across the U.S. border, they’ll climb the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, then continue past Yellowstone to the red rock arches, canyonlands, buttes and mesas of the desert Southwest. After entering Mexico, riders will find sunny seaside towns in Baja California, ferry across the Sea of Cortez and turn inland, then pass highlands and heritage sites from Mexico City to Oaxaca and Chiapas. Finally, riders will take in views of volcanoes and Pacific surf through six Central American countries, before crossing the Panama Canal as they arrive in cosmopolitan Panama City.

Along the way, the North American Epic will also present riders a variety of cultures to experience, from Inuit communities in the Arctic to indigenous hospitality in Chiapas, and the possibility of wildlife to watch, from moose, bison and bears in the Rockies to crocodiles and snakes in the Costa Rican rainforest.

TDA Global Cycling was established in 2002 after company Founder and Director Henry Gold managed a nongovernmental organization in Africa in the 1980s. Gold envisioned providing inexpensive, rugged mountain bikes as a solution to local transportation needs, funding them through a cycling race. In 2003, the first four-month Tour d’Afrique set a Guinness World Record for the fastest human-powered crossing of Africa. At the same time, the TDA Foundation was set up to give back to communities and raise awareness of bicycles as a means of transportation. TDA Global Cycling now offers 16 long-distance cycling expeditions in over 80 countries on six continents, and it has donated more than 2,300 bicycles in Africa and India through the TDA Foundation and local partners. TDA’s tours are staff- and vehicle-supported, and participants cover 60-70 miles a day. Tours range in length from 10 days to multi-month transcontinental expeditions. In 2015, TDA Global Cycling was chosen best adventure travel company in the world by the Independent Travel Awards.

For more information, visit http://tdaglobalcycling.com/ or call 416-364-8255.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, horseback riding adventures, women-only travel

Wild Women Expeditions has Ideas for Mother-Daughter Bonding: Horseback Riding in Iceland, Canoeing in Ontario

April 25, 2018 MoralCompass

*Wild Women Expeditions offers a 7-day Women & Girls Gold Circle Riding Adventure in Iceland.*

CORNER BROOK, NL, CANADA – With Mother’s Day in mind, horses and canoes can help strengthen bonds between mothers and daughters, believes the pioneer of women-only travel.

Wild Women Expeditions’ (https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/) globe-spanning roster of women-only itineraries also beckons adventurous mothers to join their daughters on journeys into the wilderness that can re-cement relationships. One adventure just for moms and girls ages 10 to 16 is on horseback in Iceland. The other for moms and daughters ages 8 to 13 is closer to home in canoes on a lake in Canada.

In Iceland the 7-day Women & Girls Gold Circle Riding Adventure is offered July 19-25, 2018, at $2,295 per person inclusive of five days of horseback riding (horses and appropriate gear included), services of female professional horse guides, six nights mountain hut and guest house accommodation, homemade meals, park and other entry fees and transfer from Reykjavik, the gateway city. Guests should bring some experience riding English-saddle style before mounting their small Icelandic horses for riding lessons and before jaunts of up to six miles a day past the volcanos, geysers, waterfalls, mountains and lakes of southern Iceland. The riding strategy is to trot or tölt whenever the terrain allows since this pace is the perfect balance of speed and rider comfort. (The tölt is an extremely smooth, four beat gait, much like a running walk or rack, and it offers a virtually bounce-free ride at speeds of up to 32 kph.) For trip details see: https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/women-girls-golden-circle-riding-adventure/

A four- day Women and Girls Canoe Trip in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park departs Aug. 2-5, 2018. The per person rate of $795 includes group camping and paddling equipment and gear, all meals, shuttle from lodge to canoe put-in, professional female guides, a night at Northern Edge Algonquin Nature Retreat, sauna and shower at trip’s end. The park, synonymous with backcountry canoe tripping, offers over 2,000km of canoe trails through a 7,630 square kilometer area of wilderness. In addition to 2.5 hours daily of paddling, guests learn such tripping skills as how to pack and set up camp, read maps, tie knots, start a fire, and spot signs of wildlife. This adventure also includes one night at Northern Edge Algonquin, an off-grid ecolodge offering exceptional cuisine and comfy accommodations. For trip details see https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/women-and-girls-algonquin-canoe/

When it comes to older mothers and their grown-up daughters, the benefits of traveling together in the wilderness are often transformational, said Jennifer Haddow, company visionary and owner of the company that pioneered women-only travel.

“At a certain point we daughters may feel we have nothing in common with our parents anymore. Adventure travel is a great way for us to redefine our relationship with our mother,” she said. Wild Women Expeditions empowers daughters to help older mothers get a new and healthier lease on life. To accomplish this Haddow suggested a six-day Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit Retreat in British Columbia’s West Kootenays.

“This retreat is all about savoring the beauty of the land that surrounds us, each other’s company and our own inner wilderness,” Haddow explained. “We offer a space to do that creatively, allowing you to indulge in what it is that you need: restoration, physical activity or stillness, self-expression or exploration, connecting with other spirited women, learning new skills, pursuing an old or new passion.”

Local organic cuisine, kayaking and hiking outings, plus restorative yoga and creative movement sessions are the planned elements of this guided journey to awaken the inner wild woman through sacred ceremony, meditation and nature awareness activities.

This retreat is offered in 2018 as follows: July 3-8, July 27-Aug. 1 and Aug. 29-Sept. 3. The per person rate is $1,695 CAD. See: https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/wild-women-in-the-west-kootneys-retreat/

For details, availability and reservations for any of Wild Women Expeditions’ programs call 1 (888) 993-1222, email [email protected] or visit online at https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/.

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Active Travel, Cultural Travel, heritage travel, hiking, Historic Places, Historic Preservation, international travel, Multisport adventures

Hike, Horseback Ride, Pub & Fiddle Crawl Thru Castles, Celtic Ruins, Manors on Vagabond Irish Adventure

March 9, 2018 MoralCompass

COUNTY WICKLOW, Ireland–Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland’s 12-day “Giant Irish Adventure” circumnavigates the island nation. Beginning in Dublin, guests poke around impregnable fortresses, ring forts, beehive huts, manor houses and castles. The common element to the sites is the stone – indestructible and a metaphor for the Irish spirit

Nature’s stone edifices also play a role in the Giant Irish Adventure that includes Ireland’s highest mountain range called the Macgillycuddy Reeks or black stacks of glacial-carved sandstone; the Cliffs of Moher of shale and limestone overlooking the Atlantic; and the Giant’s Causeway, a natural sculpture playground of basalt columns created by volcanic activities in the Atlantic Ocean a millennia ago.

Per person double rate of €2,769 includes the services of a highly trained professional Vagabond tour guide for 12 full days; 11 nights accommodation (4 nights B&B, 6 nights hotel, 1 night in a castle); 11 full Irish breakfasts; guided walks; entrance to most of the historical and archaeological sites and to some natural sites; demonstrations of local craftsmen at work; and all relevant fees and taxes. See: https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/tour/irish-tours-12-day-giant-irish-adventure/.

This tour caters to active travelers who want time aplenty to explore where they are by foot. Hikes of up to two hours are daily highlights. Some activities such as horseback riding, sea kayaking and surfing and biking in Killarney National Park are optional. The tour is flexible and guests can arrange to opt out of one activity and into another.

Among the historic stone structures guests may visit Dunluce Castle is a cliff-edge ruin from the 13th century, with views over the Irish Sea to Scotland; Stone Ring Fort (1700 BC) constructed by Bronze Age farmers as defenses against cattle thieves with such precision that no mortar was required; Glenveigh Castle and Gardens. a Victorian (1867) edifice in what is now Glenveagh National Park; the original owner drove poor tenants from the land so he could transform it into an aristocrats’ hunting playground; Donegal Castle was built in the 15th century on the site of a one-time Viking fortress; Abbeyglen Castle Hotel where the mountains of Connemara meet the sea was constructed in 1832 (overnight here); Beehive huts (Clochán) date to 5th century monastic settlements (think Luke Skywalker’s retreat in Star Wars); Blarney Castle dates to medieval times; kissing the Blarney Stone is said to bestow the gift of eloquence; Rock of Cashel or St. Patrick’s Rock from the 12th century boasts a Romanesque chapel harboring ancient frescoes.

On the daily walks and hikes, guests explore: Slieve Gullion Mountain, the highest point in Ireland which harbors Neolithic passage tombs; Cliffside Trail including 132 steps to Giants Causeway; Slieve League, the highest sea cliffs in Europe; Croagh Patrick, the famous holy mountain where every step taken means a sin forgiven; Cliffs of Moher, 700-foot sea cliffs; Kilkee Cliff Walk overlooking the Atlantic; Glacial valley of Lough Annascaul.

Throughout the journey, the Vagabond arranges stops at locally owned accommodations, pubs and restaurants Transport is in a 4×4 Land Rover or Mercedes ‘Vagatron’ that allows intimate access beyond where regular tour buses go.
(see https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/tour/irish-tours-12-day-giant-irish-adventure/.)

For details on Vagabond Small-Group Tours of Ireland itineraries, visit https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/, 833-230-0288, or email: [email protected] or [email protected].

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, Multisport adventures, National Parks

Austin Adventures’ New MultiSport Vacation Encompasses 3 Rocky Mountain National Parks

March 9, 2018 MoralCompass

*Austin Adventures has just launched a multisport vacation encompassing Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.*

BILLINGS, MT–Austin Adventures, a specialist in multisport vacations in national parks, has just launched a new way to experience three iconic Rocky Mountain destinations in one immersive journey. Over eight active days this summer, guests will go hiking, rafting and horseback riding through Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks while recharging each night at distinctive lodges.

Austin Adventures’ new-for-2018 Montana & Wyoming Rockies Adventure collects guests in Jackson, WY, where the week-long expedition begins. There’s time to explore this Wild West town before settling into the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa located on seven lush acres adjacent to the National Elk Refuge and just a few blocks from Jackson’s lively town square. Welcome to the heart of the Rockies.

These mountains, constituting the spine of North America, rise thousands of feet out of the prairie, dividing the continent and providing some of the most dramatic and geologically diverse landscapes in the world. Those who have chosen to make their lives here are, among others, the guides, wait staff and innkeepers who interact with guests, sharing their understanding of this landscape while passing on love and lore.

“Our mantra is to engage as many senses as possible on an Austin Adventure,” says Dan Austin, founder and visionary director (https://www.austinadventures.com/).

Guests will…

hike up to seven miles on easy to moderately strenuous terrain, ever alert for grizzly bears, bison, wolves, coyotes, elk, pronghorns – and wildflowers;
horseback ride into the Bridger Teton National Forest, climbing 2,000 vertical feet to overlook Snake River Canyon;
whitewater raft on class II-III rapids through Wyoming’s Snake River Canyon;
glide down zip lines under towering limestone cliffs, and come face-to-face with mountain goats grazing on mountainsides of wildflowers;
swim and soak in an oversized Olympic pool fed by a virtually unlimited supply of 155-degree natural hot spring water;
gaze 1,000 feet down into the V-shaped gorge of the color-splashed walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
learn the geological differences between three magnificently dissimilar national parks all within a geographically small area;
investigate Yellowstone’s four geothermal features: spouting geysers, steaming hot springs, hissing fumaroles and bubbling mud pots.

Excursions from Jackson Hole will first introduce guests to the wonders of the Grand Tetons. Then moving into Yellowstone territory, guests are guided to views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on a backcountry hike that favors moose and elk sightings over the distant din of summer crowds. Arriving at Canyon Lodge there’s the opportunity to step back from technology and embrace lodging in the country’s oldest national park while chatting fireside with new-round friends. Departing the park at the West Gate, a 110-year-old Montana homestead, 320 Guest Ranch, offers cowboy comfort along the Gallatin River that winds through sage and towering pines. The movie A River Runs Through It was filmed nearby.

The scenic drive north to Glacier National Park is interspersed by a stop at the famous pools of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Guests spend a night here before heading to Whitefish, Montana, and two nights at the Grouse Mountain Lodge, one of the region’s finest. A day is spent exploring Glacier Park with a hike along the Highline Trail (also known as the Garden Wall) to Haystack Butte and back. A drive along the famed Going to the Sun Road reveals an alpine environment that wows with its wildflowers, precipitous peaks and an occasional mountain goat or bighorn sheep. A final gondola ride up Whitefish Mountain to soak in the breathtaking views precedes a transfer back to the Kalispell airport for the inevitable return home.

The per person double rate is $3,998 ($80 single supplement). Departures in 2018 are July 15 and July 25. The rate includes accommodations; all meals (except one on-own dinner); fully trained, first-aid-certified professional guides and knowledgeable local partners; all necessary equipment for scheduled activities; vehicle support and land transportation during the trip; Austin Adventures T-shirt, water bottle, luggage tags and luggage service; pre-departure and packing information; and incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, local partner and expert gratuities and national park entrance and permit fees.

For details see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/montana-wyoming-rockies-adventure/. A recent blog about the sights seen on this adventure can be found at https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/best-of-the-west/
Contact Austin Adventures at 800-575-1540, email [email protected] or visit www.austinadventures.com.
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Active Travel, experiential travel, Wellness & Health

Austin Adventures and Life is Good® Team Up to Launch Life is Good Vacations

February 3, 2018 MoralCompass

Austin Adventures, a leader in active multisport adventure vacations for families and adults worldwide, is teaming up with Life is Good, a Boston-based apparel brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism, to launch Life is Good Vacations.

Billings, MT – Austin Adventures, a leader in active multisport adventure vacations for families and adults worldwide, is teaming up with Life is Good, a Boston-based apparel brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism, to launch Life is Good Vacations.

This new trip series will be uniquely designed to align adventure with a journey of self-discovery, allowing guests to connect with others and the outdoors through a refreshed, positive outlook. Life is Good Vacations are available to book now for travel dates starting in June 2018. (For more info Click Here.)

Life is Good has devoted 24 years to celebrating life’s simple pleasures through positive art and messaging. With the launch of Life is Good Vacations, people can now experience those simple joys while in the beauty of an incredible destination of their choice.

“These trips provide an unforgettable combo of pure outdoor fun, deep unplugged connections and true adventure,” says John Jacobs, Life is Good co-founder. “They’re a spectacular way to recharge and get a fresh perspective on the good that’s around us.”

Life is Good Vacations by Austin Adventures will kick off with a trip to Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, complete with biking, hiking, rafting, and horseback riding. Travelers will savor the destination’s local cuisine, explore its hidden gems under the direction of expert guides, and enjoy its natural wonders without the stress of planning.

“The concept of ‘adventure’ is deeply engrained in the ethos of our company. We believe that every destination we visit is equipped with its own unique experience. With this partnership, we now have an incredible opportunity to translate Life is Good’s love for nature into the actual landscapes where active individuals and families want to travel,” says Dan Austin, Austin Adventures founder.

This season, vacations include both family and adult-only trips in groups of 12 or less to:

To learn more and to book, visit lifeisgood.com.

The Life is Good Company is a $100 million apparel brand dedicated to spreading the power of optimism through positive art and messaging. The company donates 10 percent of its net profits to help kids in need through the Life is Good Kids Foundation. To date, the foundation has positively impacted 8,000 childcare providers who care for over 1 million kids every year, many of whom are facing early childhood trauma. Life is Good® is a registered trademark of The Life is Good Company. Visit LifeisGood.com for more details, and follow Life is Good on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Based in Billings, Montana, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, small group, multisport tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. Acknowledged twice by Travel + Leisure magazine with the prestigious World’s Best Award plus many more national media accolades and distinctions. Austin Adventures creates itineraries featuring exceptional regional dining, distinctive accommodations, top guides and exhilarating activities, while keeping all-inclusive rates and services the norm. In addition to scheduled group departures on all seven continents, Austin Adventures has developed a reputation as the leader in customized trip planning and execution. All are backed by the industry’s best money-back satisfaction guarantee.

For more information, trip listings, detailed itineraries and trip availability contact http://www.austinadventures.com, call 800-575-1540 or email [email protected].

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