Discover Adventure launches thrilling new trekking & cycling trips
Specialist in trekking and cycling challenges worldwide, Discover Adventure, has unveiled its new and exciting brochure for 2015-16, with adrenaline-busting challenges that will test anyone’s limits, from an extreme trek in Ethiopia and an exhilarating Andes to Amazon expedition, to epic new endurance trips and its first foray into Burma.
Along with nine new trekking, cycling and endurance challenges (see below), Discover Adventure also introduces exclusive pioneer trips for those who like the concept of being first and sampling/ providing feedback on new expeditions being developed.
All adventures have been designed to challenge participants but are nevertheless appropriate for beginners who are prepared to train, with Discover Adventure offering full support, training plans and training days for all. And, participants can choose whether or not they wish to raise money for a charity of their choice at the same time, too.
New: Trekking Trips
Trek the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia (Grade 4 – tough/extreme) – from £2,199 pp
With the largest tract of high-altitude land in the whole of the continent, it’s little wonder that the Ethiopian Highlands are often referred to as ‘The Roof of Africa’. Ethiopia has a wealth of superb trekking and rich cultural heritage to explore. Trek through the Simien Mountain National Park – a World Heritage Site – and see the dramatic escarpments and freestanding pinnacles which are characteristic of this mountain range. Encounter galada baboons and the noisy wattled ibis, witness the Jin Bahir Falls and scale Ethiopia’s highest mountain, Ras Dashen (4,620m). Departing 13 March or 9 October 2015, the ten-day trip costs from £2,199 pp (two sharing) and includes eight nights’ accommodation (hotel & camping), flights (London), transfers, most meals, entry fees to sites listed in itinerary and Discover Adventure support team*.
Burma Hilltribe Trek (Grade 1 - moderate) – from £2,299 pp
Packed with cultural discovery and exceptional trekking, this rewarding trip travels through the unspoilt tribal highlands of the Shan hills, beneath the giant golden pagodas in the ancient capital, Yangon, and to the labyrinth of Buddha figures inside the Pindaya Caves, before trekking through dense bamboo forest. Explore misty Inle Lake, and see the flat-bottomed skiffs propelled by a single wooden paddle, and the Intha tribe’s distinctive stilt-house villages and floating gardens, before witnessing Bagan’s 3,000 temples, rising majestically from the scrub forest on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River. Departing 7 March and 31 October 2015, the ten-day trip costs from £2,299 pp (two sharing) and includes seven nights’ accommodation (hotel & camping), flights (London), transfers, most meals, entry fees to sites listed in itinerary and Discover Adventure support team*.
New: Cycling Trips
Foothills of the Himalayas, India (Grade 4 – tough/extreme) – from £2,399 pp
From the most spectacular, serene landscapes to vibrant, bustling villages and towns, this adventurous challenge takes in the very best of the Himalayas. See the famed Golden Temple of Amritsar in Northern India, before heading into the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh. Follow the contours of the western Himalayas, passing through dense forest, tea plantations, farming terraces and remote villages, and see McLeod Ganj, the mountain-top home of the exiled Dalai Lama. Celebrate your achievements with a ride on Shimla’s scenic narrow-gauge railway that winds its way through the mountains. Departing 28 February or 10 October 2015, the 12-day trip costs from £2,399 pp (two sharing) and includes ten nights’ accommodation (hotel & camping), flights (London), transfers, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), most meals, entry fees to sites listed in itinerary and Discover Adventure support team*.
Andes to the Amazon cycle, Peru (Grade 4 – tough/extreme) – from £2,325 pp
The Andes and the Amazon Rainforest are some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in South America. The demanding cycle trip starts in the famed Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, before an acclimatisation ride through the imposing ruins of the Sacred Valley – a great warm-up to the tough mountain pass that awaits. Climb up to the top of Hualla Hualla Pass (4,700m) and enjoy the epic transition from mountains to jungle on a jaw-dropping 3,900m descent from the heights of the Andes into the Amazon Rainforest. Departing 25 April, 5 September or 31 October 2015, the 10-day trip costs from £2,325 pp (two sharing) and includes eight nights’ accommodation (hotel & camping), flights (London), transfers, most meals, camping equipment (except sleeping bag), entry to sites listed in itinerary, bike and Discover Adventure support team*.
Cycle Burma (Grade 2 – moderate/tough) – from £2,399 pp
Concealed from travellers for years, secluded beaches, enchanting fishing villages and colourful cultures lie awaiting discovery. Explore at handlebar level the welcoming land that has long held a fascination to the outside world. Get to know the wonderfully friendly local people during bike rides between the major highlights, from the ancient capital of Mandalay and the enchanting temple-studded plains of Bagan to the lush, jungle-clad hills of the Shan highlands, the hill-tribe villages of the Shan Plateau and Lake Inle, where visits to markets and many celebrations await. Departing 14 March or 7 November 2015, the ten-day trip costs from £2,399 pp (two sharing) and includes eight nights’ accommodation (hotel), flights (London), transfers, most meals, entry to sites listed in itinerary, bike and Discover Adventure support team*.
Venice to Rome cycle, Italy (Grade 3 - tough) – from £949 pp
From the romantic waterways and iconic architecture of Venice, head through small, rustic villages, on to the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria, where you’ll pass terracotta-roofed towns with striking bell towers and Renaissance churches. Ride along the Adriatic coast, then inland on hilly terrain, with long climbs and steep gradients, before a relatively flat run to Rome, where you’ll later be greeted by the ancient capital’s most spectacular sites. Departing 6 May or 30 September 2015, the six-day trip costs from £949 pp (two sharing) and includes five nights’ accommodation (hotel), flights (London), transfers, most meals and Discover Adventure support team*.
New: Endurance Challenges
Multi-Activity one-day challenge, Lake District (Grade 3 - tough) – from £174 pp
Test your skills, stamina and mental strength on this one-day Lake District Enduro challenge, swapping canoe for bike, and bike for hike, until you reach the summit of England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike (978m). Departing 20 June 2015, the two-day trip (one day’s activities) costs from £174 pp (two sharing) and includes one night’s accommodation, most meals, camping equipment (except sleeping bag & mat), bikes and canoes, plus Discover Adventure support team*.
24-hour cycle, London to Paris (Grade 4 – tough/extreme) – from £599 pp
Think you could handle riding non-stop for 24 hours? This test of strength and endurance will see you pedalling for more than 300 miles, until you spy the legendary sight of the Eiffel Tower on the skyline. Departing 26 June 2015, the three-day trip (one full day & night of cycling) costs from £599 pp (two sharing) and includes one night’s accommodation in Paris, ferry or Eurostar, most meals and Discover Adventure support team*.
South Downs 100km trek (Grade 4 - tough) – from £174 pp
This extreme challenge through rolling downs and along cliffs, continues throughout a full day and a night. Trek from the historic market town of Arundel, over the South Downs and along the Seven Sisters to finish at the dizzy heights of Beachy Head. Departing 27 June 2015, the two-day trip costs from £174 pp (two sharing) and includes marshalling stops with water and snacks and Discover Adventure support team*.
New: Become a Pioneer
Be part of the first group to experience a new destination
These special departures allow participants to help shape the trip, sharing valued insights and feedback with the Discover Adventure tour leaders. Trips will of course have been fully reconnoitred, but itineraries often develop further once they are tried and tested by a group. To be a pioneer, grab a place on the first date of any of the new trips and use the Twitter hashtag #DAPioneer to share useful hints, tips and photos.
All Discover Adventure challenges have now been re-graded over five levels of difficulty (previously three levels).
* Discover Adventure support team include experienced leaders, mechanics and a doctor (depending on final group size), along with a local support crew of guides, cooks and drivers.
For further information about Discover Adventure (and 2016 departures and prices), visit discoveradventure.com.