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

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Adventure Travel, experiential travel, Holiday travel

Smart Lemur Highlights 5 Exotic Places to Experience Christmas Holidays

November 14, 2019 MoralCompass

In December, natural phenomena, perfect weather and local Christmas traditions make such exotic locales as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Svalbard, Christmas and Galápagos islands some of the most marvelous destinations for travel.

Smart Lemur, a website specializing in “authentic travel” experiences, is highlighting these five unexpected Christmas destinations, explaining what makes them so special during the holiday season:

Sri Lanka, South Asia

December in Sri Lanka, an island country surrounded by the Indian Ocean, is the most pleasant time – sunny and not overcrowded with tourists. The average daily temperature for this month is 27°C.

Visitors spending Christmas here enjoy the best tea and cinnamon in the world, exchange presents on the sandy beaches, drink from coconuts and watch wild elephants. Seeing these giants from close up in their natural habitat is one of the unique attractions in Sri Lanka.

Those eager to have more traditional holiday activities, are welcome to visit the capital Colombo, offering festive markets, special dinners, live music events and dance performances.

Mauritius, Indian Ocean

Mauritius, also called the pearl of the Indian Ocean, is a tiny island full of lavish nature, ranging from crystal-clear waters and coloured layers of sand to tropical forests and lively underwater world.

During December, air temperature is likely to reach 29°C, and travellers get to enjoy up to nine daily hours of sunshine. Lovely fuss, preparations, and Christmas songs in such weather allow visitors to experience celebrating Christmas in shorts and flip-flops.

Winter season is the time of abundant tropical fruits and splendid flame trees blooming in bright red fiery flowers. Fresh mangoes, pineapples, litchis (Lychee), Longan (Dragon Eye Fruit) and watermelons grow all around the island.

The most prominent attraction in Mauritius is swimming alongside dolphins.

Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard is one of the northernmost settlements in the world, luring travellers who dream of Arctic Christmas.

From mid-November to late January, this Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean enters into a mystical dark season known as Polar Night. During this period, the sun is hidden from the horizon and everything is pitch-dark around the clock.

Furthermore, winter is the time to hunt the Northern Lights. Svalbard is the only permanently inhabited place on Earth where visitors can experience dayside Northern Lights.

Christmas Island, Australia

Christmas Island is in the Indian Ocean, 1,550km north-west from the Australian mainland.

Apart from its obvious affiliation to Christmas after being named so on December 25th in 1643, the island is rich in spectacular nature.

It is the only place on Earth to witness one of the most incredible natural processes – an annual red crab migration. Bright-coloured crabs from all over the island start marching towards the ocean, all at the same time. And it usually occurs in December.

Furthermore, with 40 seabirds per capita, Christmas Island is a regional leader in this metric. Nature lovers can meet endemic species, such as the Christmas Island frigatebird and the elegant white-tailed tropicbird.

Despite the natural wonders and sandy beaches, the destination is still under the radar, receiving just 2000 visitors a year.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuado

The Galápagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago, famous for its diverse wildlife and jaw-dropping scenery.

December is a warm and dry season with air temperature reaching 27°C. Visitors get a chance to see rare animals like marine iguanas, sea turtles, flamingos, Masked Boobies and White-cheeked Pintails, which tend to stay away during other months.

Ecuador’s rich Christmas traditions make tourists feel part of a big family. The locals sing carols and celebrate with delicious meals like roasted turkey.

Smart Lemur is a website created by a group of travel enthusiasts who are passionate about unique and authentic travel experiences. Visit www.smartlemur.com

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Adventure Travel, Around-the-World, experiential travel, Global Scavenger Hunt, Importance of Tourism, international travel, Responsible Travel, Uncategorized

Applications Being Accepted for 16th Annual Global Scavenger Hunt, Around-the-World Mystery Tour, Set for April 17-May 9, 2020

October 23, 2019 MoralCompass

*Racing out of Petra, Jordan, team Lazy Monday, Eric & Kathryn Verwillow of California, who would go on to win second place in the 2019 Global Scavenger Hunt © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

SANTA ROSA, USA –The 16^th annual edition of The Global Scavenger Hunt, known among travel cognoscenti as the world travel championship, is set to take place over 23-days between April 17 and May 9, 2020, is now accepting applications for entry. Eager Indiana Jones-types of adventurers and curious travelers wanting to test their travel IQ against other travelers in an extraordinary around-the-world travel adventure competition that crowns The World’s Greatest Travelers, can apply at GlobalScavengerHunt.com.

“Competitions, trophies and titles provide inspiration,” says Event Director William Chalmers, “We want the best international travelers to participate. The 2020 event will find out if travel writers and bloggers know the world as well as they claim to; whether social media influencers and travel agents can go beyond their staged selfies and glossy brochures; and whether some of the world’s ‘most traveled people’ and Amazing Race wannabe’s actually have any real-world travel skills. Winning our event is the ultimate test and proof.”

The 2020 event will pit savvy international travelers against each other by taking them on A Blind Date with the World, visiting ten secret destinations without any prior preparation, and then have them unravel a constant blitz of highly authentic, participatory and challenging culturally-oriented scavenges along the way, like: meditating with monks, training elephants, taking flamenco lessons, cooking local dishes with local chefs, searching out Lost Cities, cracking sacred temple mysteries, joining in local celebrations, and learning local languages enough to decipher their scavenger hunt clues. Trusting strangers in strange lands will be their focus as they circle the globe for three weeks. The event has touched foot in 85 countries to date.

The title of The World’s Greatest Travelers and free trip around the world to defend their titles in the 2021 event await the travelers worthy enough to win the 16^th edition of the world travel championship.

Event participation is open but limited; the $25,000 per team entry fee includes all international airfare, First Class hotels, 40% of meals, and special event travel gear. All travelers are interviewed for suitability and single travelers are welcome to apply. For additional information please visit GlobalScavengerHunt.com, or contact GreatEscape Adventures Inc., at +1.310.281.7809. (CST#2071053-40)

See Global Scavenger Hunt: In the Scramble to be Crowned ‘World’s Best Travelers’ and more features on the 2019 Global Scavenger Hunt at goingplacesfarandnear.com

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Adventure Travel, Africa, Conservation, Eco-friendly resorts and hotels, ecotourism, Environmental Activism, Responsible Travel, Sustainable Travel, travel philanthropy

African Travel Donates Funds to Help Support Rhino Conservation at Shamwari Game Reserve

September 19, 2019 MoralCompass

Celebrating 26 years of “conserving a vanishing way of life,” Shamwari Game Reserve has worked to rehabilitate and consolidate their 25,000 hectares of land so that the flora and fauna may flourish. African Travel’s $100 per couple donation in their name will go towards the building of the rhino boma at Shamwari. a haven to rehabilitate injured or orphaned rhino until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild.

BOCA RATON, Fla.– As World Rhino Day approaches, African Travel, Inc. encourages travelers to celebrate the species and support the future of these critically endangered animals.

In honor of The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) 100-year anniversary, African Travel, Inc., will donate $100 per couple traveling on the Majestic South Africa itinerary in support of rhino conservation.

This incredible 10-day journey begins in Cape Town, the stunning port city crowned by the natural beauty of Table Mountain. Over four nights, guests will enjoy 5-stary luxury at the Table Bay Hotel on the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and feast on African, Afrikaans and European flavors at the hotel’s Camissa Brasserie. From its culinary scene, to its natural beauty, the best of South Africa’s Mother City is revealed as guests explore the majestic coastline of the Cape Peninsula, the crowd-pleasing penguins of Boulders Beach, or the rich and charming winelands of Franschhoek, the gourmet capital of the Cape.

A different kind of beauty unfolds as guests fly to Port Elizabeth and transfer by road to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. This premier safari lodge encompasses 61,000 acres of vast, ever-changing vegetation and multitudes of different animal and bird species.

Celebrating 26 years of “conserving a vanishing way of life,” Shamwari Game Reserve has worked to rehabilitate and consolidate their 25,000 hectares of land so that the flora and fauna may flourish. The $100 per couple donation in their name will go towards the building of the rhino boma at Shamwari. a haven to rehabilitate injured or orphaned rhino until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. Guest can also visit the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre which helps to rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned or orphaned animals under the care of their professional veterinary team. Once these animals have been nursed back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat.

“We exist because our goal in life is to make travel matter. It’s our responsibility to protect some of the species most at risk from extinction in the places we visit, and we are extremely passionate about rhino conservation” said Sherwin Banda, president, African Travel, Inc. “At Shamwari, this is something our guests will experience first-hand and we’re proud that we’re able to support sustainable tourism through this effort.”

At Shamwari, guests will enjoy twice-daily game drives and nature walks and stay three nights at the cliffside Eagles Crag Lodge, which offers the ultimate in luxury, privacy and spectacular scenery. Priced from $6,195 per person.

For a bird’s eye view of Shamwari and African Travel, Inc.’s partnership and support of them, enjoy this video.

To book African Travel, Inc. at (800) 421-8907, or visit www.africantravelinc.com.

Follow African Travel, Inc. on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and join the conversation using the hashtag #WeKnowAfrica

Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit that works to help ensure the environment and communities we visit remain for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported some 40 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, visit us at TreadRight.org.

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Adventure Travel, Cultural Travel, Off-Beaten-Track Travel, Responsible Travel

USTOA Tour Operators Venture to Lesser-Known Corners of the World in 2020

September 18, 2019 MoralCompass

*USTOA members bring travelers to less-trafficked places in the world, like cruising in Vietnam* © *Laini Miranda/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

NEW YORK –Each September, the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) celebrates Travel Together Month to showcase the unparalleled group travel experiences offered by USTOA tour operators. This year, USTOA is spotlighting new itineraries that lead travelers off-the-beaten path in 2020.

Travelers who explore relatively less-traveled destinations often experience fewer crowds, encounter more opportunities to immerse themselves in the local culture, and discover activities that are distinctly different.

“Traveling to the lesser-known corners of the earth supports the growth of emerging destinations while providing a richer and deeper understanding of local cultures and communities,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of USTOA. “Our tour operator members have been taking travelers to off-the-beaten-path places for decades and have an exciting array of new programs available in 2020 to explore.”

New USTOA tour operator itineraries for 2020 include:

Lithuania & Latvia: the Baltics – Cyclists can spin along the Baltic coast, take a private cruise to the Curonian Spit, and join a Lithuanian barbecue with VBT Bicycling Vacations. Departures are available between May and September 2020, starting at $3,095 per person.

Discover Ethiopia –Perillo’s Learning Journeys takes guests on a city tour of the capital, Addis Ababa, home to museums and open air markets, and on an exploration of Lalibela, a town in the Amhara region known for its distinctive rock-cut churches. Private group departures are available throughout 2020 starting at $3,890 per person.

Wukalina Walk – Travelers can take a guided, four-day adventure in Tasmania with Goway.com through Launceston while listening to the stories of this northeast region. Departures are available on Sundays through March 2020, starting at $1,609 per person.

Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland – Adventurers can visit Norway’s spectacular fjords, discover the Viking heritage in the Faroe Islands, and observe nesting seabirds on Iceland’s Látrabjarg cliffs with Lindblad Expeditions. Departure is June 18, 2020, starting at $17,160 per person.

Vietnam & Cambodia – Holiday Vacations takes travelers through these two neighboring Southeast Asia destinations with time for traditional cooking classes, museum visits, and boat cruises. Departures are available in March 2020, starting at $8,299 per person.

Bolivia & Chile’s Atacama Desert – International Expeditions takes guests through Bolivia’s dramatic landscape and wildlife, and to the turquoise lakes and red plains of the Atacama Desert in Chile. Departure is available May 9, 2020, starting at $10,698 per person.

UNESCO Banff National Park & The Rocky Mountaineer – Travelers can explore the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park, and Lake Louise by boat, rail, and a glass-domed car with Seabourn Cruises. Departures are available on select dates between June and September 2020, starting at $5,399 per person.

Find all the itineraries offered by USTOA tour operators at https://ustoa.com/dream-vacation

Representing nearly $19 billion in revenue, the member companies of U.S. Tour Operators Association provide tours, packages and custom arrangements that allow 9.8 million travelers annually access, insider knowledge, peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across the entire globe. Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program, which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of business. As a voice for the tour operator industry for more than 40 years, USTOA also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel agents.

For more information on USTOA, visit www.ustoa.com, call 212-599-6599, or email [email protected].

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Adventure Travel, Antarctica, Arctic/Antarctic Travel, cruises, expeditionary cruises, Expeditionary Travel

New Booking Incentives on Small Ship Expedition Cruises to Amazon, Galapagos, Antarctica

September 18, 2019 MoralCompass

One of the most biodiverse regions of the world, the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, reveals its bounties from the perspective of the Napo River aboard the 40-guest cruise vessel *M/V Anakonda*, specifically designed to navigate these waters.

TRUCKEE, CA– For expedition cruisers looking for an amazing deal, below is a heady mix of high-end itineraries available through 2019 in three distinct destinations. All offer booking incentives, with some limited offers up to 40 percent off. All are being promoted through the small ship cruise expert Adventure Smith Explorations.

40% Savings on Cruise Departures Exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon

The Ecuadorian Amazon comes to life on four, five and eight-day Anakonda Amazon Cruises from $2,440 per person double (for four days). Specific departures through Dec. 20 come with savings ranging from 10% to 40%. One of the most biodiverse regions of the world, the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin, reveals its bounties from the perspective of the Napo River aboard the 40-guest cruise vessel M/V Anakonda, specifically designed to navigate these waters. Guests visit Amazonian communities where they are invited to see handicraft demonstrations and to sample traditional meals. Here the varied ecosystems showcase such wildlife as pink river dolphins, giant otters and turtles. Hundreds of native birds and primates signal their presence while navigating along the region’s freshwater rivers. In Yasuni National Park guests may swim, kayak and canoe, birdwatch and trek through the rainforest.

The Manatee Amazon Explorer Cruise offers savings up to 40% on cruises departing from Sept 4 through Dec 20, 2019. These are from $1,966 per person double for four days exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. Five and eight-day adventures are also available. Accommodation is aboard the 30-guest M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer.

Free Local Air on Nov-Dec Galapagos Cruises

Sea Star Journey Galapagos Cruises are five and six-day active explorations of the Galapagos aboard the 16-passenger luxury yacht, Sea Star Journey. Select departures in November and December come with complimentary local airfare and savings of up to 10 percent. The per person double rate is from $4,649 for five days. (Five and six-day programs can be combined with other itineraries to create longer cruises of up to 15 days.) Complimentary roundtrip air from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos is available on Nov. 3, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15, 2019 departures. Sea kayaking, snorkeling, trekking and exploring the underwater world in a glass-bottom boat bring to life the wonders of this region.

On select departures of Seaman Journey Galapagos Cruises from October through December 2019, guests can enjoy savings of up to 20% plus a $300 discount on local airfare. Accommodation is aboard M/C Seaman Journey, a recently remodeled 16-passenger catamaran with one of the best sundecks in the Galapagos. Four, five and eight-day cruises are available starting from $2,599 per person double.

Free Round-Trip Airfare Offered on Two Antarctic Itineraries

National Geographic the White Continent is a 14-day cruise from $14,680 aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the 102-guest National Geographic Orion or the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance. Bookings made by December 31, 2019 on this classic itinerary to the Antarctic Peninsula offer complimentary round-trip airfare (when booking on the National Geographic Explorer or Orion), as well as a complimentary bar tab and all ships’ crew gratuities. These ships are virtual floating basecamps during the voyage, offering enough kayaks and Zodiacs to send all guests out exploring at the same time. Huge tabular icebergs, Gentoo penguins, whales and more stamp memories in place forever.

Complimentary round-trip airfare and waived bar tab and crew gratuities are also offered on the National Geographic Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands cruise throughout a 24-day adventure at a per person double rate from $25,220. Guests enjoy distinguished hospitality aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the 102-guest National Geographic Orion or the 126-guest National Geographic Endurance. Opportunities for wildlife viewing are countless. Think a vast colony of king penguins, albatross, king cormorants, nesting rockhopper penguins and Magellanic penguins.

For details on these and all of AdventureSmith Explorations’ small ship cruises, itineraries, availability and for 2019-2020 reservations, call 866-575-2875 toll-free or visit the company website.

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Truckee, CA, near the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. A recognized leader in small ship cruising, in 2012 owner Todd Smith first joined the ranks of Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious world’s Top Travel Specialists list as the leading expert on small ship expeditions, a distinction that is still enjoyed to this day.

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

Ride & Seek Organizes Marco Polo Cycling Expedition

September 18, 2019 MoralCompass

Ride & Seek adventure cycling company has introduced the first two stages of The Marco Polo Expedition, cycling 1900 km from Venice to Athens.

(Provence, France) — Ride & Seek, an adventure cycling company offering itineraries that follow in the footsteps of historical figures, is thrilled to announce its most ambitious project to date: The Marco Polo Expedition. The goal of this newly created tour is to cycle from Venice, Italy to Beijing, China in seven distinct stages. The first two stages are scheduled to run in September 17 – October 14, 2020, leading riders 1,900 km from Venice to Athens, Greece over 26 days.

Guests will bike down the coast from Italy through Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, riding from harbor to harbor. Accommodations range from charming Soviet-style hotels to agriturismos and modern boutique hotels. Fine wine and gourmet food will be featured throughout the trip. This epic excursion ranges from $5,260 USD to $11,248 USD per person.

“Our Epic Adventures are all created with a sense of discovery at their core, and this tour fulfills that in abundance,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “Marco Polo is one of the great travelers in history and in many ways, he embodies the spirit of the tours we run.”

Polo was a Venetian merchant who journeyed across Asia at the height of the Mongol Empire. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, travelling overland along what later became known as the Silk Road. Upon reaching China, Marco Polo entered the court of powerful Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, who dispatched him on trips to help administer the realm. Marco Polo remained abroad for 24 years.

STAGE 1 – Venice to Dubrovnik
Leaving Venice by boat, the first stage of The Marco Polo Expedition embraces the essence of island-hopping, which lies at the heart of this tour. We negotiate our way down the stunning Dalmatian coast via Marco Polo’s alleged birthplace of Korcula and take in such jewels as Hvar and Split on our way to the enchanting city of Dubrovnik. 12-days/11-nights, 738 km, September 17-29 2020

STAGE 2 – Dubrovnik to Athens
Leaving Dubrovnik, riders quickly enter the beguiling country of Montenegro before jumping on to the road-less-traveled through fascinating Albania, a true tour highlight and phenomenal cycling destination. The final week take guests first to Corfu, before heading inland towards Athens. 16-days/15-nights, 1,050 km, September 29 – October 14, 2020

For more information, visit https://www.rideandseek.com/tour/marco-polo/.

Ride & Seek is a worldwide adventure cycling company offering unique historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural immersion. Cyclists can not only 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 visited both historically and gastronomically is central. Historical journeys and cultural adventures are the company’s specialties. https://rideandseek.com

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, international travel, Responsible Travel, Sustainable Travel

Hope Trekking Offers Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal with Flexible Dates

August 11, 2019 MoralCompass

*Hope Trekking offers an Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal with flexible tour dates.*

Hope Trekking is offering an Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal with flexible tour dates.

A trek to Everest Base Camp is the adventure of a lifetime. Follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest and most famous trekkers and climbers. Embark on a mind-blowing trek to base camp of the world’s highest mountain.

When you land in Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest, you’ll be greeted by fresh mountain air, smiling Sherpa faces, and the wonderful absence of sound. For the next 14+ days, you will not encounter even one motorized vehicle! There are no roads to Everest, just gorgeous trails. And this is just the beginning.

You will see countless carved Mani stones and prayer wheels, stunning Buddhist mountain monasteries, breath-taking views of the Himalayas at every turn, and will immerse yourself in the Sherpa culture as you walk through village settlements and over suspension bridges. Each night you will stay in a rustic and charming tea house. Gather around the stove in the main dining room, meet travelers from around the world as you enjoy an authentic and delicious Nepali dinner. Every day of the EBC trek is new discovery for your senses. Hike through Rhododendron forests, over raging rivers, inside gorgeous valleys, and along stunning mountain ridges. You will never regret taking this life-changing adventure!

“At Hope Treks, we believe in doing the right thing and passing on the good karma to you, our client. In addition to funding medical research for the world’s most devastating and terminal childhood disease, we also practice responsible and green tourism through treading very lightly in the mountains and the countryside of Nepal. We make every effort to minimize negative social, economic and environmental impacts on the places we travel. We are committed to paying a living wage to our Nepalese guides and porters who, in the past, have often worked for as little as $10 a day. We ensure that they have proper, safe clothing and gear, as well as insurance.

“Isn’t it time for your ultimate, altruistic adventure?”

Tour Name: Everest Base Camp Trek
Tour Dates: Flexible
Tour Rate: $2200 USD per person
Rate Includes:

Accommodation with breakfast at deluxe hotel in Kathmandu.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day while trekking
Tea House accommodation during the trek.
Experienced, English-speaking guide and porters (1 porter between 2 people). Also included is their food, accommodation, salary, and insurance.
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS Card).
Flight fare from Kathmandu to Lukla/Kathmandu.
Sagarmatha national park permit.
Tour Location (countries, regions, etc): Nepal

Website: www.hopetrekking.com

Company Profile: Hope Treks offers Treks in Nepal, including Everest Base Camp, and profits go to the Hope for Gus Foundation, which funds medical research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, hiking, international travel

Mountain Kick, Kathmandu-Based Operator, Offers Mount Everest Base Camp Trek at Discounted Rate

August 11, 2019 MoralCompass

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.

Website: http://mountainkick.com

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Mekong: https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/en/scheduled-tours/mekong-bike-boat-adventure-new-itinerary.html
India: https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/en/scheduled-tours/india-bike-boat-the-brahmaputra.html
Thailand: https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/en/scheduled-tours/thailand-bike-boat-beach.html

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Adventure Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, international travel

Grasshopper Adventures Introduces New Bike & Boat Adventures in Cambodia/Vietnam, India & Thailand

May 23, 2019 MoralCompass

*Grasshopper Adventures has introduced a new bike/boat trip to Cambodia/Vietnam* © *Laini Miranda/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Grasshopper Adventures, a leader in Asia bike tours, launches three bike & boat adventures for 2019 and 2020 on the Mekong in Cambodia/Vietnam, the Brahmaputra in India and the River Kwai in Thailand.

Grasshopper Adventures is partnering up with colonial and intimate river vessels on Asia’s great rivers. Cycling off-the-beaten-path, cruising along storied rivers, meeting villagers at the river banks and enjoying some scenic pedalling mixed with culture and delicious local food.

With these new itineraries unpacking is only needed once. The ships are under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures and are escorted by a Grasshopper tour leader.

Single travelers are welcome. Grasshopper Adventures is matching guest with another same sex single traveler or guest can decide to pay the single supplement for a private cabin.

“With these new, exciting and unique tours we are able to welcome non-cycling partners or friends and will have special activities planned for them each day while the riders are out on the bikes,” Adam Platt-Hepworth, Grasshopper Adventures’ founder, said. “ It’s like having a portable hotel!”

Mekong Bike & Boat Adventure, from Vietnam to Cambodia, 9 days / 8 nights (from $4,990 per person sharing)
This epic journey on the Mekong starts at colonial Saigon in Vietnam and finishes at breath-taking Angkor in Cambodia’s Siem Reap. The RV Toum Tiou with its shallow draft can reach river arms inaccessible to other cruise lines. Guests will be cycling through Vietnam’s scenic and busy Mekong delta and exploring Cambodia’s remote and rural corners before reaching the bustling capital Phnom Penh with its colonial and Art Deco architecture. The trip ends in Siem Reap with off-the-beaten-track cycling excursions to the Angkorian temples.

6 nights on board RV Toum Tiou
2 nights at Jaya House River Park, Siem Reap

India: Bike & Boat Brahmaputra, 9 days / 8 nights (from $4,900 per person sharing)

The Brahmaputra, one of the world’s most storied rivers, flows through Assam, India’s most north-eastern region. Guests will start exploring charming and colonial Kolkata before flying to Jorhat to embark the elegant Grand Dame of the river, the RV Charaidew. The polished brass engine room, telegraph and enormous ship’s wheel bear witness to her heritage. We cycle on the world’s largest river island, Majuli and explore rural villages which have not often see foreigners. There will be national parks with plenty of wildlife from rhinos, to elephants and birds – with a bit of luck maybe a tiger spotting.

1 night at the Oberoi Grand, Kolkata
7 nights on the RV Charaidew

Thailand Bike, Boat & Beach, 8 days / 7 nights (from $3,950 per person sharing)

Guests will be cruising the scenic River Kwai and immerse into the history of the infamous Death Railway, built during WWII. The colonial RV River Kwai will take passengers on a trip back in time. This tour combines cycling Bangkok by night, with a river cruise and the extension to the paradise in Southern Thailand, Koh Yao. Guests can take part on our included cycling, kayaking or hiking activities down south, or enjoy the stunning beach and island resort.
1 night at the Riva Surya Hotel, Bangkok
3 nights on the RV River Kwai
3 nights at Paradise Koh Yao Resort, Island of Koh Yao

For more information, visit https://www.grasshopperadventures.com

Grasshopper Adventures is approaching its 15-year anniversary. Grasshopper multi day tours across Asia feature great guides and bikes, off-the-beaten-track itineraries, unique escapes and genuine experiences and fine-tuned details. Grasshopper Adventures operates tours in Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Choose from scheduled group departures, bike & boat, private tours, family tours or self-guided trips.

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