Category Archives: Adventure Travel

Spend a Night on a Glacier with Polar Bears in Svalbard, Norway – Off The Map Travel Makes it Possible

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.

(SvalbardNORWAY)   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.

For more information on tailor-made Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email [email protected] or join in the conversation on FacebookTwitterInstagram, YouTube or Pinterest.

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.

 

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Walking the World Offers 11-day Guided Walking Tour of Costa Rica

Walking The World offers an 11-day Costa Rican guided walking tour offering natural beauty, wildlife, friendly people, political stability, erupting volcanoes, beautiful beaches, and mysterious rainforests. Tour dates are February 5-15 and March 5-15, 2019.

It’s hard to imagine that there can be such diversity in landforms and wildlife in such a small country. Proportionately, Costa Rica protects more of its land in parks and reserves than any other country in the world. Costa Rica’s parks shelter some of the planet’s most important examples of biological diversity, including 5 percent of all plant and animal species on Earth.

In addition to the amazing hikes on the walking tour adventure, guests will enjoy white water rafting with experienced local guides on the Rio La Balsa, an amazing unexplored world of tropical wilderness in a deep canyon with waterfalls, exotic animals, and tropical birds. Experience the cloud forests from the unique perspective of a series of zip lines in the forest canopy, including a super fun Tarzan Swing and a Superman zip line high above a hidden valley. Cruise the waterways in Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, considered one of the world’s richest sites for bird watching.  Guests will also see monkeys, sloths, caimans, lizards, and bats.  And afterwards, a local guide will introduce you to a world of mystic tradition and living nature, demonstrated through dance by members of the indigenous people known as Malekus.

Outside the small town of Fortuna, enjoy a walk through one of the latest lava flows from Volcan Arenal.  Also included on the Costa Rica adventure are visits to the Bat Jungle, a frog exhibition, a tour of a coffee farm where you can help pick coffee beans and learn about the process of making brown sugar from sugar cane.

On a visit to the world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest, a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes, you’ll learn about the rainforest ecosystem.  The air here is rich with the sounds of birds and the occasional scurrying of small mammals, all punctuated occasionally by the roar of a howler monkey.  Walk the sky trams, high above the forest floor, where more than 80% of all rainforest species are found.

Spend your last several days at the lodge on the Nicoya Peninsula, relaxing on the beach, river kayaking, and visiting the beautiful waterfall Tobacco. And there is always the awe inspiring experience of  watching sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach.
Space is limited to 14 people.

Since 1987, Walking The World has been designing and leading small group walking tours to more than 30 destinations worldwide.

Tour Dates: February 5-15 and March 5-15, 2019
Price: Rates include a $400/person discount: $2895 USD, Double Occupancy; $3495 USD Single Occupancy
Trip Includes: 11 days/10 nights, ground transportation, most meals, all entrance fees & tours, full-time naturalist guide & escort.

Tour Details: https://www.walkingtheworld.com/destinations/costa-rica

Walking The World: www.walkingtheworld.com
Phone: 970-498-0500
Email: [email protected]

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Gift of Travel: Once-in-a-Lifetime Cruise in French Polynesia Aboard Aranui 5

The Aranui 5, a passenger-freighter vessel, sails among the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

SAN MATEO, CA – This holiday season, surprise your loved one with a once-in-a-lifetime cruise aboard the Aranui 5, a passenger-freighter vessel to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

Atop any adventurer’s wish list, the soft adventure cultural voyage boards in Papeete, Tahiti, for a 13-day complete vacation experience sailing 800 miles north to some of most remote islands in the world including Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago, Bora Bora in the Society Islands, as well as Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata and Ua Huka in the Marquesas Islands.

Passengers are fully immersed in Polynesian heritage with onboard activities and offshore excursions to delight in, such as breathtaking hikes, visits to sacred ritual sites and small museums, encounters with local inhabitants, a visit to French artist Paul Gauguin’s grave, snorkeling in the translucent waters of the atolls, on-island picnics and restaurant lunches featuring local food, a visit to a pearl farm and more.

Featuring a crew primarily of inhabitants from the Marquesas Islands and throughout French Polynesia, and with expert lecturers and guides, Aranui 5 combines  mesmerizing scenery and culturally enriching experiences to create an unforgettable vacation.

With six sailings sold out, travelers can enjoy their holiday gift of an all-inclusive adventure throughout the year on 14 available dates between April and December 2019.

The cruise includes three meals daily with complimentary wine for onboard lunches and dinners, guided excursions as outlined in the itinerary, picnics and meals on shore, cultural activities and Polynesian entertainment. Travelers booking a stay aboard the Aranui 5 can choose from eight different cabin categories.

Prices for a 2019 Aranui 5 vacation start at $2,920 per person and do not include port tax, cruise tax and tourism tax.

For more information or to book an Aranui vacation, visit www.aranui.com, call 800-972-7268 or email [email protected].

 

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Experience the Arctic like the Inuit: in a Traditional, Hand-Built Igloo

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.

For more information on tailor-made Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041; email [email protected] or join in the conversation on FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube or Pinterest

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

 

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Backyard Travel Introduces Family Tour through Vietnam, Cambodia

Backyard Travel has introduced a new family tour through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Bangkok, Thailand – Backyard Travel, the online boutique tour operator specializing in insider tours throughout Asia, today announced a fun family adventure through Vietnam and Cambodia. Heading from the ruins of ancient Angkor to the idyllic beaches of Phu Quoc, this all-ages journey is jam-packed with activities for all ages.

Launching from Siem Reap, Cambodia, the 10-day Ruins, Waterways and Beaches Tour begins with explorations through the Angkor Temple Complex, zipping around the ancient city in a remork and refueling with delicious local cuisine along the way. After an exciting homestay experience in the countryside of Banteay Srei, it’s off to Ho Chi Minh City for a thrilling Vespa tour of the city. From there, it’s on to the fascinating Mekong Delta to explore the waterways and glimpse life along the river, before heading to the tropical paradise of Phu Quoc island for two full days of blissful downtime.

“Traveling with children can be challenging, but our family tours are specially designed to make sure everyone has fun,” says General Manager of Backyard Travel Trystan Trestchenkoff. “Our Travel Specialists have years of experience tailoring family trips, and selecting only the best local experiences in every destination.”

For more information about the Ruins, Waterways and Beaches: A Vietnam and Cambodia Family Tour, contact Pete  [email protected]

 

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

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

(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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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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Global Scavenger Hunt to Award $50,000 Winner-Take-All Prize for 2019

South Africa may be one of the countries visited on the 2019 edition of the Global Scavenger Hunt (© Eric Leiberman/goingplacesfarandnear.com

SANTA ROSA, USA – A $50,000 winner-take-all cash prize awaits the first-place team in the 2019 world travel championship.  The around the world event, known as The Global Scavenger Hunt, is set to take place between April 12 and May 4, 2019, and is now accepting applications for entry.

Imagine Indiana Jones-types, Amazing Race aspirants and some of the world’s most traveled adventurers, all willing to test their travel IQ against other world class international travelers in an around-the-world travel adventure competition that crowns The World’s Greatest Travelers, can apply for the $50,000 winner-take all prize at GlobalScavengerHunt.com.

The 2019 World Travel Championship Fact Sheet: 

What:   The Global Scavenger Hunt is an annual around-the-world travel competition that takes teams on A Blind Date with the World, tasked with a series of daily culturally-oriented micro adventures designed to test their travel IQ’s.

When:   April 2019, 23-days between April 12th and May 4th. Teams will travel from Los Angeles to New York—the long way—around the world.

Who:     Limited to teams of two travelers. The $25,000 per team entry fee includes: all international airfare, First Class hotels, 40+% of meals, and special event gear. Travelers are interviewed for suitability and single travelers are welcome to apply.

Prizes:   A $50,000 winner-take-all cash prize to the winning team along with The World’s Greatest Travelers crown and trophy.

Where:   The circumnavigation of the globe will touch down in 10 secret countries—that may include: Brazil, Peru, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, South Africa and Romania. (It is A Blind Date with the World…and participants won’t become aware of their next destination until 4-hours prior to departure!)

Why:     Aside from the $50,000 in cash, the Trophy and bragging rights; Teams will be travel a million kilometers to help raise funds for charities that provide micro-loans and build co-ed elementary schools in nations like: Kenya, Niger, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and Ecuador.

How:     For additional information visit GlobalScavengerHunt.com to apply or call 310-281-7809.

 

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

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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