Mountain Kick, a Kathmandu-based trip operator, is offering a Mount Everest Base Camp Trek at discounted rates for the rest of its 2019 departures and for early bookings for 2020.
Mountain Kick, a Kathmandu-based trip operator, is offering a Mount
Everest Base Camp Trek at
discounted rates for the rest of its 2019 departures and for early bookings for
2020.
Beginning from Lukla, you will walk through all the Sherpa villages on the way
to the Everest and back. Stand on the foot of Mount Everest and gaze at the
majestic giant all you can. The Everest Base Camp is where all mountaineers
begin their summit of the highest peak in the world. But the journey begins
quite before that. You have to walk through gorges, valleys, rivers, forests
and villages to reach the base camp itself. Although you will not attempt to
scale the Everest, you will set foot on it nevertheless. It is not the same but
it comes quite close. Maximum altitude is from 4,600 feet at Kathmandu to
18,519 feet at Kala Patthar.
About Mountain Kick: Mountain Kick is a Kathmandu-based trip operator and
we organize adventure sports, trekking and sightseeing trips all over Nepal. We
believe that a true Himalayan adventure is a blend of endurance in general and
a healthy dose of thrill in particular. We attempt at making your holiday just
that. We are a team of travelling enthusiasts ourselves and after years of
exploring the Himalayas we like to believe that we know our way around the
mountains and can share the “kick” that enthralled us with you. Although
Mountain Kick is just a startup, all of us have done this for long enough to
see what the Himalayas had to offer beyond commercial holiday packages to carve
a niche for ourselves. The Himalayas never fail to inspire.
Duration: 15 days
Rate: $2,250 USD, All inclusive
INCLUDED IN COST
·Receive
you from and drop you to the airport or hotel in our company vehicle.
·Stay at a
three-star hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfast is on us.
·Sightseeing
around Kathmandu in a private vehicle with our guide. All entrance fees will be
paid.
·Stay at
guesthouses during the trek on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfasts, lunches and
dinners will also be taken care of.
·Local
government-licensed guides.
·Porters
(one each for a pair of travellers) and local support staff to help you trek.
·Fees for
Sagarmatha National Park entering permit and Trekkers’ Information Management
System card
·We will
lend you a down jacket and a sleeping bag for throughout the trek.
·Fully
paid round-trip tickets for Kathmandu-Lukla flight and back. Rides in private
vehicles included in the itinerary.
·A duffel
bag, a sun hat and a t-shirt as a souvenir from us.
·A
traditional Nepali feast with cultural shows as a farewell dinner.
·All
tourist fees, government charges and other official expenses throughout the
trip.
One of the best bike tours on the planet is in our own backyard: the annual Parks & Trails NY Cycle the Erie Canal ride, eight-days, 400-miles and 400 years of history, from Buffalo to Albany, a fully supported biking and camping trip (you can even hire Comfy Campers to set up your tent).
The
ride raises money and awareness for advocacy for new trail development and this
year’s ride will highlight new trails that take the riders off the roadway – this
year, cyclists will ride a new stretch west of Lockport in the town of
Pendleton and a gorgeous new trail between Amsterdam and Pattersonville (so you
no longer bike on the highway). Some 550
riders are expected this year, its 21st
annual Cycle the Erie ride, taking place , July 7-14; Parks & Trails NY is
still accepting registrations ($925/adult, 6-17 $545, 5-and under $280,
ptny.org)
The
organization’s key focus now is to build upon the state’s plan for 750-miles of
off-road recreational trails – the 360-mile long Erie Canalway, plus Empire
State Trail, north-south mixed-use, off-road trail system that will fully
connect New York City to Canada.
The
plans are already in place for the Empire State Trail to be completed by the
end of 2020. In 2019, PTNY launched Trails Across New York Campaign, to build
off the momentum of the Empire State Trail’s planned completion in 2020 and
support ways to turn the statewide trail system into a true network, connecting
local trails with the main spine of the Empire State Trail, including Long
Island, “and cementing New York’s position as the nation’s leader in multi-use
trails.”
Legislation
is currently pending in the NYS Assembly (A. 5035B) (S.4416B has already passed
the NYS Senate) would create a statewide multi-use trails plan. This important
bill would direct the state to come up with a blueprint for future trails
development, helping to turn our local trails across the state into a unified network
of trails with major spines and connecting routes, ensuring all parts of the
state have access to quality outdoor active recreation on trails.
The
Senate version has already passed; the Assembly version is in Ways & Means,
which directs the State Parks department to strategize and prioritize filling
in the trail gaps. Though it was considered possible for the Assembly to pass
its version by the June 19th close of session, if it languishes to
the next session, progress will not be lost. Parks & Trails was urging
people to contact their state legislator to ask them to cosponsor the
legislation and to make sure that the legislation is brought up for a vote
before the legislature adjourns for the year.
“Trails
Across New York envisions a future in which all New Yorkers will be located
only minutes from a trail and ideally will be able to access that trail easily
and safely by walking or bicycling. Throughout the state, trails, bicycle
boulevards, and Complete Streets will be acknowledged as essential and
mainstream elements of community infrastructure, much as utility lines and
sidewalks are thought of today.”
PTNY notes that New York State’s trail-rich and
trail-friendly reputation will attract visitors from across the nation and
abroad to experience the historic communities and varied and beautiful
landscapes accessible through the state’s trail network.
Trails
offer a wide range of benefits, including stimulating local economies, PTNY
notes. The Erie Canalway Trail alone has an estimated annual impact of more
than $250 million, and has created close to 3,500 jobs. New York’s outdoor
recreation economy annually generates $41.8 billion in consumer spending and
supports 313,000 jobs.
See
Cycle the Erie series on goingplacesfarandnear.com:
How fitting that during May, National Biking Month, Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy (RTC) has just unveiled its preferred route for its visionary Great
American Rail-Trail™—or the “Great American”— a 3,700-mile biking trail that
would link Washington DC with Washington State.
The proposal underscores the organization’s long-time
commitment to creating an iconic piece of American infrastructure that connects
more than 125 existing trails and fills 90 trail gaps to create the
cross-continental recreational trail.
“Since the 1980s, RTC has understood the potential of a
trail like the Great American Rail-Trail that could connect the nation. That
vision has been a guidepost for the organization for 30 years. Now, we have the
chance to create from that vision a national treasure that unites millions of
people over thousands of miles of trail,” said Ryan Chao, president of RTC.
“This trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide—together—an enduring
gift to the nation that will bring joy for generations to come.”
The preferred route of the nation’s first cross-country
multiuse trail is detailed in a comprehensive report released by RTC today. The
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment Report outlines RTC’s recommendation
for the route, developed in close partnership with states and local trail
planners and managers.
“When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC. “This route achieves those things and more, in large part thanks to the input, support and leadership of state agencies and local partners who have built the existing trails that will make the Great American Rail-Trail possible, and whose ongoing collaboration is vital to its completion.”
The route assessment was developed over 12 months with input
from RTC’s GIS analysis of more than 34,000 miles of multiuse trails; review of
state and local trail plans; and discussions with hundreds of local trail
partners and state agencies representing the trails along the route. The
preferred route aligns with RTC’s and its partners’ criteria that specify the
Great American be one contiguous route that is initially more than 80 percent,
and ultimately entirely, off street and separated from vehicle traffic;
comprises existing trails to the extent possible; is the most direct route
possible between Washington, D.C., and Washington State; is amenable to the state
and local jurisdictions that will host it; and will serve as a catalyst for
local economic development, including providing services for long-distance
trail travelers.
Traveling through 12 states and the District of Columbia,
RTC and its partners have defined the Great American Rail-Trail as more than
3,700 miles, comprising more than 1,900 miles of existing trails—those trails
already developed that will help carry the route across the country—and more
than 1,700 miles of “trail gaps,”—sections of trail in need of development to
fully connect the Great American into one contiguous route.
As the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, the
Great American will connect people of all ages and abilities with America’s
diverse landscapes and communities. Nearly 50 million people living within 50
miles of its route will be able to call this iconic American infrastructure
their own as the trail delivers new access to the outdoors and new
opportunities for physical activity and recreation. Hundreds of communities
along the route will experience new opportunities for business development and
tourism thanks to the Great American Rail-Trail, all while contributing to the
growth of the country’s burgeoning outdoor economy—one of the largest sectors
in the United States.
“We believe the Great American Rail-Trail will be a
transformative project for the nation, as it magnifies on a grand scale the
benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades,” said Chao.
“Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking
and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as
recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be
America’s trail.”
While completion of the Great American Rail-Trail is a
significant undertaking and several decades away, 52% of the path is already
complete and available for public use, with plans for RTC to work in
partnership with states and local jurisdictions and organizations to bring new
segments online year after year.
RTC and its partners view the route assessment as a
blueprint for the trail’s development that is based in the reality of existing
plans and priorities. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial
catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s
national breadth of resources. Through these initiatives, RTC will directly
support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational
resources in specific projects that are critical to catalyzing the completion
of the Great American Rail-Trail. RTC is also enlisting the support of trail
lovers across the country to demonstrate national enthusiasm for the Great
American’s development.
Setting a goal to reach 1 million pledges in support of the cross-country trail, RTC is asking the public to pledge at greatamericanrailtrail.org.
“We know that it will take a significant investment of time,
resources and energy to complete the Great American Rail-Trail—but it will be
worth it. It will take the help of trail lovers and leaders to bring this
vision to life,” said Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy. “Federal,
state, local and private investment will all be needed to complete this
project. To support the ongoing advocacy necessary to secure critical public
resources, we hope everyone will be inspired to proudly pledge to show the
widespread desire that exists for this trail.”
The Great American Rail-Trail is a signature project of RTC
and the most ambitious in its portfolio of TrailNation™ projects—the
organization’s initiative to encourage the rapid replication of regional trail
networks across the country. The Great American was first envisioned at RTC in
the late 1980s, and for decades has been an underpinning of the organization’s
strategy to create a nationwide network of public trails.
Separately, New York State, which already offers a 353-mile
long Erie Canalway from Buffalo to Albany, is in the process of filling the
gaps for a bikeway that will extend the entire north-south expanse, from New
York City to the Canadian border.
To learn more about the Great American Rail-Trail and RTC and to view the preferred route, visit greatamericanrailtrail.org and follow @greatamericanrailtrail on Facebook and Instagram.
It will take public and private support to complete the
Great American Rail-Trail. To learn more about how you can support the project
and RTC’s national leadership to plan, organize and advocate for the trail,
contact Alisa Borland, vice president of development at RTC, at
[email protected] or 202.974.5126.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong— dedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hellas Hiking is offering an eight-day hiking tour of the Greek islands of Andros and Tinos
Trekking Hellas is offering an 8
day/7 night hiking tour to the Andros and Tinos Islands in Greece.
During the tour, guests explore magnificent paths and trails with breathtaking views.
Discover traditional Greek villages, local craftsmen and the unique Cycladic
architecture and history. Enjoy sandy beaches and beautiful
sunsets.
The Cyclades is a group of islands scattered over the deep blue waters of the
Aegean Sea, cooled in the summer by the ‘Meltemi’ wind. One of the most ancient
European civilizations was born and prospered here: the Cycladic
civilization (3000-1000 BC). Although some of the Cycladic Islands are famous
to the tourist crowds and the international jet set, there are a few that are
still left to be discovered, from travelers that are seeking authentic vacation
experiences: Andros and Tinos are among them.
Andros is the most northerly island of the Cyclades and the second
largest after Naxos. Thanks to its water springs it’s irrigated with plentiful
running water and thus verdant with a large numbers of olive trees, pines and
fruit trees. Tinos, just one mile away, famous for its characteristic
dovecotes, is full of picturesque villages and windmills. Tinos is today
exactly what Delos Island was to believers in ancient times. Twice a year, on
March 25th and August 15th, pilgrims inundate the island to visit the famous
church of Virgin Mary (in Greek: Panagia).
The tour is available throughout the
year; the cost is 785€/pp on self guided more.
Rate Includes: 8 days /7 nights accommodation in double rooms in
selected accommodations with breakfast Lunch box on self guided mode during the
hiking days. All ferry tickets from/to Athens and from Andros to Tinos Return
transfers from ports to hotels. All necessary transfers for the hikes Self
Guided Service: welcome briefing, gpx files, maps and booklet, emergency
phone support.
A new cycling tour being offered by Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series highlights two UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera
(Turin, Italy) –
Situated between the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and the forests and
mountains of Basilicata, Puglia offers a landscape of beguiling views,
ancient olive groves, and UNESCO sites. This new cycling tour being offered by
Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series
highlights two of these UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera. The former
is known for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs, whilst the
latter for its cave dwellings built into the calcareous rock. Guests will cycle
the road-less-traveled with average daily rides of 40 km, and spend evenings
dining on gourmet cuisine and fine wines.
“From the Adriatic Sea to the stones of Matera, this Puglia tour explores
the most beautiful riding destinations in Southern Italy,” said Ride &
Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “We will cycle rolling landscapes carpeted
with olive groves, vineyards, whitewashed hill towns, fishing villages, and
thousands of trulli.”
The trip starts in Savelletri with fig trees, blooming cacti, and herb gardens
offering delightful fragrances. Guests will ride through one of the gems of
Puglia: the Valle D’Itria. Its wooded slopes, vineyards, and endless olive
groves are punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli.
“While many regions of Italy boast of having the best food in the world,
Puglia could claim this title due its simple preparations that allow the true
flavors of the food to stand out,” said Beppe Salerno, Co-Founder of
Tourissimo. “But the charm of Puglia is rooted in the people themselves.
Their hospitality is renowned throughout Italy.”
Tour Highlights:
Touring Matera where the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur was filmed
Discovering the white-washed town of Ostuni and the
beaches near the fishing village of Savelletri
Visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello
& Matera
Riding among the orchards and trulli of Valle d’Itria
Attending a demonstration by a master cheese maker
Exploring the Greek Ruins of Egnazia
Lodging in the award-winning Sextantio Hotel
The trip is scheduled
for October 10-17, 2019 and starts at $4,195.
ADLER Thermae Resort & Spa in Bagno Vignoni, Italy, the groundbreaking five-star hotel fed by the Bagno Vignoni’s thermal waters, takes full advantage of its breathtaking location in the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Bagno Vignoni, Italy – It would be easy for a guest at ADLER Thermae Resort & Spa, the groundbreaking five-star hotel fed by the Bagno Vignoni’s thermal waters, to be tempted to check in for several days and never leave the property. After all, the baths, saunas and pools cover 1,000 square feet of the property, and the spa menu has more than 120 treatments, including carefully customized facials performed with signature ADLER products and massages using techniques such as craniosacral and Ayurveda.
But they would be missing out on one of the most distinctive things about the hotel: Its breathtaking location in the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Adler Thermae offers the perfect home base for exploring the area through half-day excursions led by local guides—which still leave plenty of time to luxuriate at the spa.
Guests who want to immerse themselves in eating, drinking, walking and relaxing—activities that have arguably been perfected in Italy—should look at two packages: “Enjoy Tuscany” and “Explore Tuscany.”
Visitors who’ve booked “Enjoy Tuscany” will have the chance to take a morning cooking class taught by a local home cook (or “mamma”) at Tenuta Sanoner, the hotel’s hilltop winery. After working in the kitchen, they’ll savor their creations during lunch on the terrace overlooking the valley. They’ll also experience a tasting in the wine cellar featuring local varietals, cheeses and meats. Not only will they return home relaxed and full of fabulous food, they’ll have new recipes in their cooking repertoire and everlasting memories of Tuscany.
Another highlight of the package is the Adler Luxury Aetos Ritual treatment, which is designed for couples. A detoxifying peel is followed by a soothing massage using grapeseed oil. Next comes a regenerating bath in mix of the hotel’s thermal mineral waters and local red wine, which is rich in antioxidants. To further engage the senses, the treatment concludes with a glass of sparkling Aetos Rosé and a taste of wine-aged pecorino cheese.
“Enjoy Tuscany”
4 to 7 nights; from €1,021.00 per person
Through 10/31/19
Included:
1 cooking class in the enchanting Tenuta Sanoner, followed by lunch
1 ADLER Luxury Aetos ritual for two: a luxurious wine therapy ritual with a cleansing dermatological peel, relaxing massage, a regenerating bath in thermal water and final tasting of Aetos wine and pecorino cheese.
1 Tasting of wine and typical products in the ADLER cellar
The “Explore Tuscany” offer gives guests the chance to be active with local hikes and walks, which are especially pleasant during spring and autumn. Led by local guides, visitors will climb the rolling Tuscan hills and have the chance to see some of the area’s most famous sites, including the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, and the Vitaleta Chapel. Should they prefer to cycle, they’ll have complimentary access to the hotel’s fleet of mountain bikes and electric bikes.
Other excursions might include the classic Renaissance towns of Pienza, with its famous cathedral and Papal residence, and Montepulciano and Montalcino, known for their namesake wines. Finally, gourmands will appreciate the chance to meet some of Tuscany’s renowned artisanal producers, and they’ll be able to taste wine, olive oil, cured meat, saffron, pasta and cheese. Depending on the season, they also will be able to see ingredients like herbs, fruit, vegetables and truffles growing in their natural environment. The perfect partner to a week spent hiking and biking? A €100 spa voucher for each guest, so they can decide which treatment will best soothe their sore muscles.
“Explore Tuscany”
4 to 14 nights; from €854.00 per person (excluding local tastings, which cost approximately €15 to 35 each)
Through 12/20/19
Included:
Up to 5 hiking tours or excursions per week
1 €100 spa voucher per person
Free use of mountain bikes and e-bikes
Adler Thermae Spa and Resort in Tuscany, set between the vineyards of Montepulciano and Montalcino, has redefined the idea of wellness. Its peaceful surroundings in the UNESCO Tuscan site, warm thermal waters and the staff’s fierce dedication have proven to be a magical combination. The spa menu is always improving, capitalizing on the highest quality natural products and state-of-the-art equipment. Treatments address both inner harmony and outer beauty while encouraging deep relaxation. A team of more than 40 staff members and physicians provide individual counseling and treatments for body and soul.
The five-star hotel spa offers not only relaxation and beauty treatments, but also modern western medicine and alternative healing methods. The ADLER MED medical competence center has its own team of doctors from disciplines like general medicine, laboratory medicine, aesthetic medicine, modern Mayr medicine, homeopathy, herbal medicine and nutrition.
The hotel has a total of 90 luxury rooms and suites: The Superior is for two people, while Junior Suites accommodate three to four. The spacious rooms offer a sitting area with tea table, sofa, writing desk and armchair. The decor features rich wood furnishings with warm-toned draperies. Rooms and suites have “Bio air-conditioning” (room temperature and humidity individually adjustable) and private terraces or balconies overlooking the splendid Orcia Valley. The marble bathroom features a separate glass-enclosed shower, toilet and bidet. Hypoallergenic and handicapped-accessible rooms are also available.
Grasshopper Adventures is offering a 14-day cycling tour through Uzbekistan
(Bangkok, Thailand) – On a 14-day Grasshopper Adventures cycling tour through Uzbekistan in the heart of Central Asia, guests will experience mountain gorges, desert oases, ancient fortified cities, bustling bazaars, tented caravans, and the Great Steppe, all while absorbing the rich history that has shaped empires for millennia. The itinerary, offered exclusively by Grasshopper Adventures, includes exploring the ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, and Khiva; cycling the incredible canyons and peaks of the Nuratau Mountains; overnighting in yurt camps along the old Silk Road, and more.
“Uzbekistan will not disappoint the adventurer in you, and nothing compares to taking it in on a two-wheeled odyssey stretching across the country,” said Grasshopper Adventures CEO Adam Platt-Hepworth. “The country is on the cusp of a massive opening and reform period, which makes now the perfect time to go.”
The terrain is mostly a mixture of sealed and unsealed secondary roads through rural villages. When cycling in the remote areas of Steppe and desert guests will be on primary/main roads with very little traffic. There are sections of riding on through mountainous terrain which is moderately technical with short, achievable climbs. During some sections, a 4WD support vehicle will follow the group.
“Uzbekistan’s cultural richness and turbulent history are evident today in its diversity, architecture, and tales of empires long forgotten by the modern world,” said Platt-Hepworth. “Riding your bike through a country with an ancient historical narrative and a mixture of no fewer than six distinct cultures is really an unforgettable experience.”
Tour Highlights:
Climbing the pass over Gaukum Peak before descending through the picturesque Nuratau Mountains
Exploring the ruins of Ayazkala
Overnighting in traditional yurts
Visiting the Memorial Complex of Khoja Bakhouddin Naqshbandii, one of the most important Muslim shrines
Cycling around Bukhara and its many historical monuments
Walking the ancient ruins of Ak Saray Palace
Riding the 95km road to Shakhrisabz
Touring the majestic madrassas, gigantic mosques, an ancient observatory, Siab Bazaar, the Necropolis, and mausoleums of Samarkand
Meeting villagers while cycling the path of the Urganchy River
This summer, spend a night on a glacier with polar bears. Off the Map Travel enables guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier on the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle.
(Svalbard, NORWAY) This summer, the experts at adventure travel company Off the Map Travel invite you to spend a night on a glacier, in a prime viewing area for Norway’s polar bears. On the island of Svalbard, high up in the Arctic Circle, guests will stay at the exclusive Nordenskiold Lodge located at the foot of the blue glacier. There, with almost no sounds to distract, guests will hear the ice creaking and cracking as the glacier moves along its slow journey. Guests will also have the chance to observe the island’s variety of wildlife including its most famous residents, the polar bear. Bookable now, the new “Night on a Glacier” program is offered from May – September 2019). Each itinerary is customized to meet the interests and needs of the participants.
“This is a spectacular opportunity for adventure lovers,” commented Jonny Cooper, adventure travel expert and founder of Off the Map Travel. “Svalbard is one of the world’s best spots for seeing wildlife, with May to September the optimal months as the snow has melted. And at the expedition lodge, you’ll enjoy all manner of amenities and comforts with the chance to see polar bears.”
From Longyearbyen, the arrival point on the island, guests begin their Arctic journey with a summer dogsledding expedition before joining a guide on a Zodiac boat cruise around the coast to search for walrus, whales and polar bears on the way to the Nordenskiold Lodge.
The adventure continues at the lodge with a guided glacier climb to the source, kayaking, and a photo walk among spectacular scenery where a chance for wildlife encounters is possible around every turn. In the evening, guests enjoy camaraderie and meals at the lodge, a traditional sauna experience, and further opportunities for wildlife viewing from the indoor coziness of the lodge.
“Summer on Svalbard offers an Arctic destination where wildlife spotting and mild temperatures ensure its stature as a new luxury adventure holiday destination for 2019,” Cooper adds.
An example of a five-day “Night on a Glacier” itinerary with Off the Map Travel costs from £6599 ($8353 USD per person at the time of this writing), based on double occupancy. Included are all transfers, three nights in Longyearbyen on a B&B basis, two nights at Nordenskiold Lodge exclusively booked on a full board basis, kayaking, Zodiac boat safari, glacier climb, and summer dogsledding. Flights are additional. All itineraries can be customized to add additional days and nights.
This project is supported by Interreg Nord and the Visit Arctic Europe project, developing travel to the Arctic Europe region.
Off the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world. Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’ needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel.
Wild Women Expeditions is hosting multiple departures of two new, distinct itineraries that embrace the blue waters and high-altitude wilderness of Croatia.
CORNER BROOK, NL, Canada– Across the Adriatic Sea from Italy is a sun-splashed shoreline that marks Croatia, sometimes known as Dalmatia. Here in 2019, Wild Women Expeditions will host multiple departures of two new, distinct itineraries that embrace the blue waters and high-altitude wilderness of this secret Riviera.
Kaleidoscopic Croatian Multisport is a 13-day active immersion in nature and culture that promises up to six hours of hiking or four hours each of paddling and cycling most days. Departures in 2019 are May 23, Sept. 1, Sept 22 and Oct.13. The per person (double occupancy) rate of $4,695 includes:
12 nights shared accommodations in locally owned hotels and guesthouses
All breakfasts and lunches and some dinners
Ground transportation from Zagreb to Dubrovnik
Airport transfers on Day 13
All equipment required for activities outlined in the itinerary
All national park or entrance fees required to deliver the activities
English-speaking female lead guide plus support staff
This itinerary begins in Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, before departing for Kopački Rit Nature Park on the Croatian-Serbian border. During a homestay, guests will prepare dinner and perhaps hear stories about the history of what life was like in Tito’s Yugoslavia before the Balkan states erupted into being in the early 1990s.
Croatia’s pride and joy are its national and nature parks. Kopački Rit Nature Park on the Danube floodplain is dubbed the European Amazon for its rich biodiversity and abundance of bird and wildlife. After exploring this wildest side of Croatia, the itinerary weaves through the mountains, tracing vestiges of Celtic and Roman civilizations en route to Dubrovnik. After hiking in Papuk Nature Park, guests will finish the day by arriving in Samobor to enjoy dinner and kremsnite, a puff pastry with custard cream unique to these high altitudes. Guests will further explore the Sambor Highlands before embarking on a hiking tour the following day through Plitvice Lakes National Park, home to over 16 lakes that cascade from one to the next.
Leaving mountains behind, guests arrive in Split, a 1700-year-old city with the palace of a Roman emperor, Diocletian, dating from 4th century AD. Guests roll up their sleeves to play with clay, making souvenirs with natural elements and tools. Swimming, snorkeling and kayaking follow an overnight on Hvar, one of the countless islands in this region. Guests will then sail to Vis, an island that until 25 years ago housed the largest military base in the former Yugoslavia alongside traditional Dalmatian stone villages, many abandoned.
Before touring Dubrovnik comes a day on bicycles past vineyards, farms and dwellings scarred by war from 1991-1995. A local family hosts a dinner with homemade bread and cheeses, local wines and prosek. They’ll probably embroider stories of the war for independence in the conversation, embroidery that replaces the colorful hand-stitched garments once worn here and that underscores the fragile cultures and customs. Dubrovnik residents in the early 1990s survived for six months on just bread and water as houses and shops were shelled inside 14th-century walls. Today’s Dubrovnik is a high-energy destination. For more details on this itinerary please see https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/kaleidoscopic-croatian-multisport/
Kornati Islands Kayak Adventure is a 10-night itinerary offered in 2019 on June 12 and Sept.12 departures. The per person rate is $4,495 USD for:
10-night accommodations in small hotels, fisherman guest houses, self-catering apartment and on sailboats
All meals
Single or double sea kayaks, the use of skirts, paddles PFD’s, paddling jackets, dry bags and all safety gear
The adventure begins in Zadar on the Dalmatian coast between Split (north) and Dubrovnik (south). This ancient center combines 8th-century religious art with Roman artifacts and Sea Organ, an installation that captures the music of the waves.
One of the least accessible places in Croatia is Kornati National Park that exposes a jagged coastline with a rich submarine eco-system, natural beauty and interesting geomorphology. Guests paddle by bottlenose dolphins and slow-but-lovable loggerhead sea turtles through a labyrinth of small islands, reefs and islets that make up 12 percent of all the islands in the Croatian Adriatic. Cliffs drop steeply to the sea that supports families of fisherfolk who offer hospitality over home-made meals. Written documents from the 10th century confirm one island’s fishing tradition of 1000 years.
In the Šibenik archipelago, a sailboat lends support for an open-sea crossing to a community of 249 islands, of which only six are inhabited. An undiscovered jewel on this archipelago is Zlarin, where, since the 14th century, islanders have been diving for colorful sea corals. A sea paddle to Krka National Park reveals a karst phenomenon with seven travertine waterfalls, numerous endemic endangered species, and over 1000 plant and 225 bird species. Speleology lovers are drawn to some 40 grottoes and pits; others to medieval fortresses, harbingers of the bustle of civilization that lies ahead in the farewell city of Split. For details please see https://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/kornati-islands-kayak-adventure/.
Founded in 1991, Wild Women Expeditions is the world’s largest women-only travel company. Its initial focus was on canoeing on remote Ontario waters. Through an unwavering focus on Canada, one of the wildest, most pristine countries in the world, Wild Women Expeditions became experts in a pioneering niche that introduced small groups of women into wilderness settings. The company now hosts guests all over the world, offering more trips and more women-only, backcountry camping, hiking, paddling and horseback adventures than any other women’s travel company in the world.
Igloo Lodge, Greenland (photo: Off the Map Travel)
(Ilulissat, Greenland) – Experience the Arctic like the Inuit people with a stay in a traditional hand-built igloo. Comprising a village known as the Igloo Lodge, five spacious igloos are available for adventurous travelers, each with room to sleep two people.
Launched by Arctic travel specialists Off the Map Travel, the new Igloo Lodge is a first for this winter and an exciting choice for couples and small groups alike.
Travelers don’t have to worry about being cold as each igloo is kitted out with reindeer skins, warm sleeping bags and a petroleum lamp on a night table. On-site is a cozy wooden cabin with bathrooms and a communal meal area. Although outside temperatures can drop well below freezing, the igloos remain around 32ºF, with specialized outdoor bedding and gear providing coziness and comfort.
“The best Arctic adventures are about experiencing authentic moments and creating lifelong memories,” notes Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “As soon as you enter the igloo, you see the craftsmanship that goes into its creation, a skill that’s been passed down through generations. It’s quite special to lie back and sleep there just as the Inuits have done for thousands of years,” he continued.
As an example, a 5-day 4-night Ilulissat Igloo Experience itinerary, offered from the end of January 2019 to the beginning of April, is priced from £999 ($1304) per person including three nights on a B&B basis at Hotel Arctic in a double room, one night in an ice-hewn igloo at Igloo Village, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, two Northern Lights safaris, and transfers. Flights are additional.
This project is supported by Interreg Nord and the Visit Arctic Europe project, developing travel to the Arctic Europe region.
Off the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world. Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’ needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel
