A year of possibilities for adventurous travel
Whether looking for an active adventure holiday, a cultural journey or wildlife trip during 2010, The Adventure Company offers trips to satisfy any traveller keen to do more than just sunbathe.
Those eager for an adventure may not realise that many trips are seasonal, however. Here, The Adventure Company recommends some of its favourite trips for each time of year.
All prices quoted below include flights, accommodation, the services of a local guide, transportation and activities as per the itinerary. Board basis varies, but is a minimum of bed and breakfast. For further details visit adventurecompany.co.uk.
JANUARY
Start the New Year on a high – quite literally – by scaling North Africa’s highest peak, Jebel Toubkal. This winter climb involves ice axes and crampons – trekking experience is essential but no technical climbing experience is necessary. Winter Toubkal begins in Marrakech before transferring to the mountains for two days of orientation and acclimatisation walks. The ultimate aim is to summit Jebel Toubkal at 4,167m.
Winter Toubkal has several departures in January 2010. The eight-day trip starts from £769 per person.
FEBRUARY
Visiting India in February is ideal as it is when the monsoons are over and average daily temperatures are still below 30°C. The 21-day Colours of Rajasthan trip encompasses the highlights of this princely state, packed with palaces, forts and temples. Major sights include the Taj Mahal, Udaipur and Delhi.
Colours of Rajasthan departs from 6th – 26th February 2010, costing from £1,359 per person.
MARCH
Visit Cuba at the start summer and explore this fascinating destination at a time of historic change. Salsa Cubana begins in old Havana with its echoes of Che Guevara, its classic American cars and rhythmic salsa beats. Travelling to Santa Clara, the group will stop at the infamous Bay of Pigs and walk in the Escambray mountains before descending to the colonial streets of Trinidad. Santiago and the beaches of sleepy Baracoa are also on the itinerary.
Salsa Cubana has departures in March 2010 starting from £1,629 per person.
APRIL
Treat the kids to a Easter holiday in Egypt which both eye-opening and physical. Active in the Sinai Teenage Adventure has been specifically designed with older children in mind, mixing exciting adventure activities with healthy doses of Egyptian culture. Snorkelling in the Red Sea and an overnight camel safari into the desert are just some of the experiences. As the group leader relates tales of local folklore, families will help prepare the meal at a traditional Bedouin camp and share a meal with the local Bedouin people.
Active in the Sinai has Easter holiday departures starting from £839 per person.
MAY
May is a good month to take a walking holiday in Cyprus - the wild flowers are in bloom and temperatures are warm without being unbearably hot. Kyrenia Trails is one of the best value trips from The Adventure Collection brochure, indicating its distinctive accommodation and comfortable transportation. The week-long trip includes moderate day walks on scenic mountain tracks, passing historic sites and picturesque countryside.
Kyrenia Trails departs on 29th May 2010, costing from £719 per person.
JUNE
June is a great month if you would like to see the Great Migration on holiday, one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles, which travellers may be lucky enough to experience on The Adventure Company’s Serengeti Explorer. This 10-day trip in Tanzania visits some of Africa’s most famous reserves and National Parks including Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Giraffe, lion, cheetah, rhino, gazelle, leopard, and elephant are just some of the species roaming these lands.
Serengeti Explorer has departures in June 2010 starting from £1,699 per person.
JULY
Head abroad before schools break up and the kids take over in July. The Adventure Company offers a range of multi-activity trips in Europe including Active Dalmatia. This trip is great for adult travellers looking for an active holiday in Europe. Prepare to get wet and wild on this week-long trip – the itinerary features canoeing, kayaking, rafting and canyoning as well as mountain biking. One night on this trip is spent camping on a riverbank with a trout dinner.
Active Dalmatia has departures in July 2010 starting from £999 per person.
AUGUST
With the school holidays in full flow, August gives families the time to travel long-haul for an exciting holiday. Monkeys in the Jungle is one of The Adventure Company’s Hands on Adventures – two days of this trip in exotic Sri Lanka are spent alongside researchers at a primate conservation camp in the ancient ruined city of Polonnaruwa. Families will also enjoy an elephant ride and a climb up Sigiriya’s famous Lion Rock, visit the rock temples of Dambulla, the royal city of Kandy and experience jungle safaris. Towards the end of the trip, families will spend two nights on the beautiful, palm-fringed beach of Tangalle.
Monkeys in the Jungle departs from 12th – 27th August 2010, with prices starting from £1,049 per child and from £1,399 per adult.
SEPTEMBER
Head for Jordan in September, when the days are warm and the nights are cool. Petra & Wadi Rum ticks off sights on many a traveller’s wish-list. Explore the towering sandstone landscapes of Wadi Rum by 4WD, visit Petra over a two-night stay, walk around the Dana Nature Reserve and end the journey at the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea.
Petra & Wadi Rum has departures in September 2010 costing from £1,099 per person.
OCTOBER
October is a prime season for trekking in Nepal. The air is fresh and clear following monsoon season, giving stunning mountain views, and flowers and vegetation are in full bloom. The Adventure Company has nine different itineraries in Nepal running during the month, ranging from the 12-day On the Everest Trail to the 24-day Annapurna Circuit.
Escape the crowds on the Langtang & Lakes trip. This 20-day trip departs from 15th October – 3rd November 2010 with prices starting from £1,449 per person.
NOVEMBER
Gastronomy & Gauchos is a brand new trip for 2010, combining the celebrated wine producing regions of Chile and Argentina with an authentic gaucho experience on a rustic estancia. November marks the start of summer in Argentina, making this a pleasant time of year to visit. Enjoy wine tasting in Chile’s Maipo Valley and Mendoza in Argentina. Whilst on the estancia stay, food will be cooked at traditional asados (barbecues). Travellers will take to horseback and have the option of taking part in various stock-rearing activities on the estancia.
Gastronomy and Gauchos departs from 12th – 24th November 2010, with prices starting from £2,339 per person.
DECEMBER
Have a white Christmas in Europe, where snowball fights and snowman-building is assured. Slovakian Snow Adventure is amongst the best value family trips during the winter. Skiing or snowboarding, snowshoeing and dog-sledding are all included in the price.
Slovakian Snow Adventure has departures in December 2010 starting from £869 per child and from £969 per adult.
BOOKING INFORMATION
To book any of the trips listed above, or to browse further options from The Adventure Company, visit adventurecompany.co.uk.