The Adventure Company: Snow in Slovakia

Our customer blog entry this week, comes from Rebecca Pride who recently travelled to Slovakia on our Tatras Winter Adventure and indulged in some winter fun in the Tatras Mountains. She kindly shares her travel diary with us here:

"Day 1
Much of the day was taken up with travelling to our base for the week, a lovely family run pension in the beautiful village of Zuberec. We were relieved to see plenty of snow on the ground, our week of winter fun had begun!

Day 2
After a good nights sleep and a big breakfast we headed off to the slopes for a day of skiing.



We split into groups based on our skiing ability and headed off. Our morning lesson was a great introduction/refresher for us beginner skiers and by the end of the morning, having conquered the chair lift we all felt ready to go!

After a short lunch of hot soup and hot wine (essential in temperatures of minus 15!) we were ready to face the slopes on our own. After many runs up and down we started to get the hang of it and crashing into Slovakian families was certainly one way to meet the locals!



It was starting to get a bit cold and legs were starting to ache so some of us headed back to the café to warm up (hot wine again). Our guide Lucia suggested walking up to the second chair lift and taking that to the top so we could enjoy the views.

With much relief we changed out of our ski boots, back into regular walking boots and headed off up the mountain. The short walk and cold ride to the top was definitely worth it, the views at the top of the mountain are stunning, and watching snow boarders and skiers hurtling down past amazing scenery certainly made me want to try skiing again.

After meeting up with the rest of the group we headed back to the pension for hot showers and dinner.

Day 3
Today we headed back to the ski centre and had a free morning to brush up on the skills we learnt yesterday. After successfully completing a couple of runs up and down I decided I was brave enough to tackle the next chair lift. This didn’t quite go to plan and ended with me skiing into the car-park – I told myself it was intentional!



After handing back our skis we took a short walk through the snow covered woods to a lovely local restaurant for lunch. Seeing as it was the day of giving things a go I decided to try to Slovakian dish of Halusky, potato and pasta dumplings covered in cheese with bacon – just what I needed!



After lunch we headed off to the thermal pools in Oravice. After relaxing in the first set of pools we decided it would be a good idea to run across the snow and ice to the main thermal pool(!). So off we went as quickly as we could – it was minus 15, we were wet and in swimming costumes – having made it safely into the main pool it was well worth it, we warmed up, rested our weary legs and enjoyed the view of people skiing down the mountain – random!


In the evening we decided to venture out into the village of Zuberec and find somewhere for tea. Earlier in the day Lucia had pointed out her favourite restaurants, so decked in all our winter gear we headed off into the village. We managed to get 2 tables in one of the recommended restaurants and enjoyed an evening of traditional Slovakian food and folk music courtesy of the live folk band.

Day 4
Today was the activity I’d most been looking forward to snow-shoeing, a chance to walk in the beautiful mountains and see nothing (or no-one) other than the amazing scenery. Today we would be joined by a mountain guide Frank who throughout the walk would stop to point out animal tracks or tell us stories of the mountains.

Our target for lunch was to reach a frozen waterfall. It was really spectacular and the photos don’t do it justice. Snowshoeing certainly keeps you warm, but as soon as you stop you get cold very quickly – so we didn’t stay at the waterfall for long.



After lunch we started to head back down but took a slightly different route which firstly took us back up a hill (!) and then down a path that hadn’t been used that day. Descending down through the trees was certainly an experience I’ll remember.



That evening we headed off to a local restaurant that Lucia had booked for us. After another lovely meal of traditional Slovakian food (there is another story about a pork knee which I won’t go into now – but lets say it was a meal none of us will forget in a hurry) we headed off to the local open air museum to learn about traditional Slovakian life.

We were welcomed into the museum by Richard and his family, they live on-site in one of the traditional old wooden houses (with a few modern amenities – they have just had their 3rd child), and enjoyed an evening walking around the village, finished off with a traditional drink, music and dancing and a traditional game.

Day 5
Dog-sledding! This morning after a short lie-in we headed off for a day of dog-sledding. We arrived in the field greeted by excited yelps from 16 energetic dogs. After a quick briefing we took it in turns to have a go in the sleds, the rest of us kept warm next to the fire, with the now customary hot chai and wine!

After we’d all had a go being passengers we were given the chance to be in charge, it’s easy our guide said, “Haw” is left, “Gee” right and straight ahead is straight ahead. So off we went one by one, racing around the field. We took a short break and headed back into the village for lunch. After lunch we were in charge again but this time with no guides – with our lives in each others hands we all had a go!



The evening would prove to be our most eventful as we celebrated the New Year Slovakian style. We were welcome by the pension owner, who had donned traditional clothes for the evening, and after a celebratory local drink we sat down for a brilliant 3-course meal.

Entertained through-out the night by a local folk band and the owner singing, we all joined in dancing and singing until midnight, where with the help of some sparkling wine and fireworks we saw in the start of 2009. All in all it was a night to remember and definitely an alternative New Years Eve!



Day 6
A much appreciated late start to today as we headed off for lunch with a local family. As we feasted on soup, bread and sheep’s cheese, halusky, cakes and plenty of coffee we learnt a bit about Slovakian history from our guide Lucia and Slovakian way of life from our host family.



After lunch it was back to the slopes but this time for something a bit different – bum boarding! The idea was you walk as high as you can face, and then sit on a piece of plastic and throw yourself down the mountain! One by one we came flying down, sometimes successfully staying on the board and other times not, by the end of the afternoon we were covered head to toe in snow, and with bruises to show for our active afternoon.

Day 7
Today was our free day where we had the choice of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skiing or visiting a nearby castle or caves. Earlier in the week we had decided as a group to give cross-country skiing a try – how hard can it be, it’s just walking with skis on…?!

After kitting ourselves out the mini bus dropped us off in a field and off we went, it took a while to get the hang of it but before long we were moving, in a fashion. Lucia was on hand to show us the correct technique and guide us over the hills and through the snow-covered forests.



It was the first day it had been snowing since we got there, so instead of the usual clear blue sky we were faced with a much greyer, overcast sky, but the views of the surrounding mountains and hills were none the less spectacular.

After a lot of falling over we eventually made it to the restaurant for lunch and a welcomed break.

After lunch we set off again but this time downhill – much easier physically other than the small problem of no one being able to stop. So after many multiple pile-ups, and with sides aching from laughter, and arms and legs aching from the exercise we made it back to our pension. We all agreed it had been the best day so far, if for no other reason than laughing all day long at our comedy falls.

That evening we headed out for our final night in Zuberec and last meal together as a group.

We arrived back in the UK to freezing temperatures and snow, which didn’t compare to the beautiful white snow of the Tatras Mountains – a fantastic trip made even better by the brilliant group of people I shared the adventure with. I can’t wait for my next!"

Rebecca went on the Tatras Winter Adventure with The Adventure Company. Find out more here

Have you been to Slovakia? We'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment here or drop us an email at the side of the page or via the Facebook.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Simon Reeve "Explore"s more of the world with BBC2.

If you tuned into BBC2 last weekend you may have seen the handsome Simon Reeve clambering over ice fields and vast plains.

We hope any fan of The Adventure Company didn’t switch channels, because this is the kind of programme we get VERY excited about, and we hope you have too!



In this series of Explore, Simon Reeve whom you may have seen in past travel programmes “Tropic of Capricorn" and "Equator”,focuses on two areas of the world as he travels through parts of the world that tourists don’t normally touch. Click here to find out what to expect

Whilst he travels around, his team of journalists follow, enquiring about current cultural and environmental issues, to really get under the skin of each place that has featured.

The first episode of last week Explore: Patagonia To The Pampas was shown on BBC 2 last week, you can catch-up with what you may have missed here.

This episode shows Reeve and co trek across the foothills of the Andes, through Buenos Aires and into the open plains of the Pampas. His team also helped dive into other cultural affairs by visiting ice fields to discuss climate change, Adil Ray- a shanty town where residents are rising up against property developers, peguin colonies of the south Atlantic and Reeve get involved with the locals at a football match.



If you watched and enjoyed seeing Reeve disappear beneath the tourist trap and into Argentina’s true underbelly, our Patagonia Explorer Tour may be for you. This tour takes you through bustling Buenos Aires, treks across glaciers and through the Peninsula Valdes, which has one of the biggest penguin colonies in the world. Find out more here.

In the second episode to be shown on Sunday 1st February,is called Explore: Africa's Rift Valley as Reeve embarks along the ancient Rift Valley of East Africa. Firstly he touches upon the little known red sea of Djibouti, before moving onto Ethiopia to the wide-open plains of Kenya.



Here they encounter some fascinating wildlife. Simon then travels to a hospital treating hundreds of malnourished children, whilst the other presenters also investigate local conservation projects, including an inspiring project in Nairobi’s slums.



The Adventure Company visits many places throughout Africa and especially Kenya. Find a full list of tours here.

The third episode, which airs on February 8th- Explore: Istanbul to Anatolia focuses on Turkey, and the border, which separates East and West. Reeve describes it as “a country of rich culture and great beauty, but a place of huge contradictions”.



Simon investigates the tension between religions and the right to free speech, whilst the other presenters take part in some Wild Boar hunting. Anicent ruins along the Mediterranean coasts are also visited, where we find out more about the battle local archaeologists have having with tomb robbers.



The Turquoise Family Coast Holiday takes its visitors to ancient tombs, to rural mountain retreats, and for swims in the crystal clear Aegean Waters. Click here to find out more.

The final episode Explore: Manila to Mindanao visits the Philippines, this will be shown on February 15th. Reeve travels here due to the fact this is the only Christian country in Asia. He also tries to look behind the lush jungle and tropical beaches and attempts to look at its heart by investigating its religious and social practices.



He visits giant rice fields to find out more about climate change, and the effect a giant worm has had on the worlds rice stock. This episode also looks at the lives of Sea Gypsies, and the nightlife of Manila.

We hope you enjoy the series, let us know your favourite parts of each episode by leaving a comment, or discussing the series on our facebook page.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show 2009

If you still are unsure as to where your next adventure should take place, make a detour to The Times' Destination show early next month in search of inspiration.



Destinations: The Holiday & Travel show 2009, takes place in two central venues across the country. The first is in London's Earls Court from 5th-8th February 2009, and the second is at Birmingham NEC's from 27th February- 1st March 2009.



Visitors can expect lots of entertainment whilst they are there, and a wealth of exciting information to discover.

The Adventure Company and hundreds of other independent travel companies will be exhibiting, and letting customers in on their latest offers, deals, tours, and ideas.



Key attractions of the show include:

• The Late Night Festival of Travel: One crazy night of global entertainment, longer time to browse the stands and exclusive special offers
• Meet the Expert Theatre: Charlie Boornam, Kate Humble and Simon Calder are just three of the interesting faces who will be making an appearance. With subjects covering travel writing, photography, solo travel and environmental issues, it is worth a visit.
• World Entertainment Stage: Some of the worlds leading dance troupes will be dropping by to shake their tail-feathers and hopefully teach you a few steps in the process.
• Destinations Sensations: A fab interactive area packed with food and drink tastings, alongside other cultural activities.

Still unsure? The Adventure Company love their fans, and to celebrate we are giving away tickets. Grab yourself a pair by visiting here

Please do drop by and see us if you can, it would be lovely to meet some of you! You can find us at:

Stand 47, in the Responsible Travel Area, opposite the Concept Bar and World Music Stage.

Find out more about the show on their website

Let us know how it went if you do go along, by leaving a comment or sending us an email.

Hope to see you there!

Thanks for reading,

The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Packing Tips for Climbers!

Here at The Adventure Company, we know that you adventurous types have probably scoured the net to find out what’s to expect on your trip, and you may have even tried to discover a useful tip or too.

To save your search, below is our list of What To Pack when climbing, some of which were mentioned by our customers on our site recently, we hope they help you pack under a knowledgeable guise…

What to pack:
• Merino wool thermals- Yes, you may look like something out of Steptoe and Son underneath your weighty jackets, but it is worth it. Some of our customers recommended the IceBreaker brand, but for stockists and discounted pennies try ebay, amazon, or the thermal shop.



• Beanie AND cap- Because you don’t want your ears getting cold, but, it will be sunny- especially with the glare from the snow-capped peaks, and nobody wants to look back on photos of themselves in an amazing place with a fabulously burnt forehead. Luckily for gals, the beanie has made a massive comeback in recent times- but make sure you pick a thick woolen, and not a fashionista hat which will not fulfill its role as a heat-saving garment.



• Sunscreen- For those departing soon, this gives you a chance to use up the numerous bottles you bought over the summer and didn’t use because it was a wash out. It may not be warm on your climb, but it’s best to stay away from obtaining a lobster-like glow.



• Ibuprofen- Everyone, including both novice and advanced climbers need to adjust their body after arrival, and each person reaches acclimatization differently.. A recent customer stated: “we went through nearly 100 tablets in 3 weeks because of the altitude headaches- even with proper acclimatization”.

Best therefore to buy in bulk before you leave, and stick to the cheap own brand options in supermarkets, they cost a quarter of the price and work just as well.



• A sleeping bag- You may not have time to have a late-morning snuggle during your trip, but quality of sleep and warmth whilst you are sleeping is of the utmost importance. No one is their best after shivering to sleep the night before. Therefore, our customers have recommended at least a Minus 20 sleeping bag even when staying in the lodges a customer recently added: “Our bedroom at 5000m altitudes was minus 8 degrees at 3pm in the arvo!”



• Chapstick- Dry lips and windburn are a real problem. One of the few key investments in Superdrug before you go; take a half-decent tube with you, and don’t buy anything oil-based, such as Vaseline- in harsh conditions it can dry your lips out even more!



• Extra passport photos- Best to have them on your person should anything happen.



• Anti- sickness and diarrhea tablets-Stay safe, and cover all bases by taking a batch of immodium or something containing Loperadine (Lomotil) just in case. For anti-sickness, use your preferred brand or Metaclopramide. An icky tummy can ruin your day!



• Batteries- Stock up on these, mostly for your camera and any other gadgets that you may be taking away with you. Most of the high altitude lodges don't have power sockets and the ones that do charge $4-$8 per hour to charge items, so if you are one to protest at things like this, save yourself a headache and stock up before.

There is no way you can miss taking millions of photos during your climb- how else will you be able to brag on Facebook?



• Aloe Vera tissues- A luxury purchase when at home, and yes, we are looking at you, man-flu sufferers, but a necessity whilst away. People are prone to contracting an URTI (nasal infection) and the cold makes your nose run something shocking. The tissues on sale are expensive and damn right painful to use after a few days. Be nice to your snout.



• Down Jacket- These need to be good quality. Some of our customers have recommended North Face, so feel free to take a look at their site here. Picking the right fit should be essential, and plan ahead to devote at least one shopping trip to finding the most comfortable one for you.

Choose loft, (the thickness of the jacket) depending on how much of a naturally warm person you are, pick between 500-700, with shivering souls choosing a lining near the higher end of the scale. Some people can naturally maintain a core temperature of 28 degrees, and whilst you can never be too hot, you don’t want to be uncomfortable. Set time aside to find the perfect jacket for you before you leave.



• Sunglasses: Yes, you may end up with some unsightly facial tan lines, but these are a necessary item- if only to protect your peepers from the glare, especially around snow, or trekking through mountains. Make sure you invest in a pair suitable for high-activity.



• Chocolate: An essential purchase. A sugar high is a welcome break and addition to your day, especially during the more grueling sections of your trek. It’s been included on our list because a mars bar costs about $6-$8 once you start getting up a bit higher during climbs (4000m plus).

If you don’t have time, space, or trust that you won’t open your case to find a few Snickers smeared across your long johns, buy it as you climb. According to our customers “Chocolate is dirt cheap in Kathmandu so buy it there”.

If you have any other tips to tell us about, leave a comment here or submit them to our public discussion board on our facebook page.

Why not combine your tips with the highlights of your time away by submitting a post to our guestbook, or even better, submit a blog for us!

Get in touch via the emails at the side of the page and we’ll be in touch soon after- we always like to find out what you’ve been up to!

The Adventure Company offer a wide range of treks, to find out more about those going to Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, and for a full list of climbing tours, visit our website

Thanks for reading!
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Family Trip To South Africa!

Our latest blog comes from Eleanor, who travelled to South Africa to take part in our Rainbow Nation Family Holiday. Below are a few highlights of her trip:

"Our South African holiday has to be our best ever family holiday..

The Soweto tour was a wonderful start. Almost straight away we got invited to join a party. Some of the teenagers were a bit dubious about the food on offer, but we all appreciated the friendly welcome. It was a Sunday and we were all amazed at the number of churches and people dressed in their Sunday best.

Mandela’s and Desmond Tutu’s old houses were a must as was The Hector Peterson Museum. My daughter and I had recently watched a documentary about the schools uprising in 1974 and I was moved to watch her take her 13 year old brother under her wing to explain what had happened there. We were also all invited to meet Queen Elizabeth of Soweto.



The visit to the Shangana village was another special day. The kids were invited to blow the welcome horn and some of them even managed to make a noise!



They then got a chance to join in a dance with some of the local children.



Kruger cannot fail to delight. Our list of animals and birds seen grew to about 30 including all the ones you would expect – elephant, giraffe, monkeys, 57 varieties of antelope! But the special highlight was seeing not one but 2 leopards with cubs.

Our driver Khosa deserves special praise for not only having amazing game spotting skills (something he puts down to the effect on his eyes of the smoke from so many nights round camp fires!), but also for his limitless patience in helping us all to pick out the leopards that were so well camouflaged in the trees.



The bats at a café we stopped at one day were another unexpected treat:



Another real plus was simply life on the road. Not just for the places we saw but travelling itself because this was where the teenagers really started to gel as a group, due to them having to help with the chores – loading the vehicles, cooking and washing up.

I know some children are very outgoing and can make friends almost instantly but my two are quite shy and having to work together as a group really helped to break the ice. So much so, that the seating pattern in the minibus changed after that, with all the youngsters at the back playing games while all the adults got the seats near the front. My children are still in touch with the friends they made on this trip via facebook.



We didn’t make our fortunes gold panning but it was lots of fun.



Swaziland was another big hit with old and young alike. Even I enjoyed the market - and I am well known for hating shopping in all its forms.



After the market we went on to Malolotja – a magical place where the youngsters got to scramble over some amazing boulders as the sun set.



I think we were all a little sad to say goodbye to the wild places and head for the coast but Umhlanga (pronounced Umshlanga) was a good place to chill, enjoy the beach and some more upmarket facilities. The sea was warm enough for some of the group, despite being August and therefore winter.



It was also good to enjoy the freedom to wander without our tour guides and there was still wildlife to be found in the rockpools for those who wanted to.



We had chosen to include the Cape Town extension and were very glad we did as it is such a colourful city in every respect.



We were lucky enough to see Table Mountain without its ‘tablecloth’ of cloud and enjoyed seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach. But the things that really stand out in my mind were the visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent so many years and the District Six Museum.

After such a wonderful trip we can’t wait to do another!"

Eleanor and her family travelled with us on the Rainbow Nation Family Holiday.

Please check the website for the latest pricing, availability and a full itinerary!

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company
"Adventure is our middle name"

The Adventure Company: Follow in the footsteps of Che Guevara

If the iconic poster of Che Guevara once sat, or currently sits upon your wall, you may be just as excited as us, about the release of his biopic that’s just hit our screens.



“Che: The Argentine” is directed by Stephen Soderbergh, and has been split into two films as its so long. This means the first half focuses on his involvement in the Cuban Revolution, and the second follows the events that led to his death in Bolivia.



The first part can be found in our cinemas now, with the second part due to hit our screens on the 20th February.

People with a passion for all things “Che” tend to have a wandering spirit within them too, and this is the reason we’ve mapped out all the important locations within the Che history and the flick, which, if planned wisely can be fitted in during your two-week holiday. So pack your beret and army boots, and get trekking….



Che arrived in Cuba in 1956 and immediately began to make waves. He had previously met Fidel Castro the year after, in ’55 and was immediately sworn into The 26th July movement, which Castro headed. Interestingly due to his medical background he planned to be the doctor for the regime, but soon became their best “guerrilla” fighter and took part in an attempt to overthrow Fulgencio Batista dicatorship.



This year marks 50 years since Fidel Castro was sworn in as the leader of Cuba, so visiting the sights of his first speeches and residences should be an essential part of your trip.



Visit the Sierra Maestra Mountains too, not only for the beautiful landscape but to also see where Guevara and co fled to and regrouped following their bloody attack.



Che hid out here until 1957, so hidden in fact many people assumed he was dead and it wasn’t until a lengthly interview with The New York times that people knew he was still alive and fighting the cause.



Head up to the mountains to find his original command post too. Fans of Guevara should also pay their respects at his tomb in Santa Clara, if only to witness the hoards of teary people who show up everyday. There is also an extensive museum in Santa Clara where you can sneak a peak at his own beret and leather jacket.



Che was drawn to Cuba and its people because of the importance they placed on culture and nature, so make sure you loose yourself by wandering through its tobacco fields, lush forests and decadent beaches.



When spending your cash on souvenirs for your trip home, make sure you look down and notice Che’s face sprawled across the note too!



The Adventure Company- Salsa Cubana Tour visits all places mentioned above. It’s a great adventure to check out Che’s importance and Cuba’s rich cultural history. The trip lasts for 16 days and also stops by the Bay of Pigs and Havana.



For those who are a little younger or new to the “Che” field of appreciation, take a look at The Motorcycles Diaries. The film traces a young Guevara as he explores with a pal throughout Latin America, in particular Lima and the Peruvian Amazon.



After completing his training as a doctor, Che also spent some time along the banks of the Amazon where he helped out and one of the largest Leper Colonies of the world in 1953. He also visits Machu Picchu in the flick and spent time around the remains ancient Inca civilisations and the people who lived there.

Our Lima to La Paz tour is the perfect introduction to the Che legend as it takes you through three important aspects of his life, touching upon the ancient civilisations he visited in his youth, Bolivia the place of his death and a jungle lodge deep in the Amazon, similar to where he hid out in between attacks.



To discover how Che finally transformed himself into a “guerrilla” a key time to focus on is the time he spent in Guatemala City, where he decide to perfect himself whilst attempting to pull his views and beliefs into focus.





It was here also that he adopted the moniker “Che”. An argentine custom of saying “hey” or “pal”, Che would inject this greeting into conversations so much he eventually became stuck with it.

Our Realm of Maya tour travels through Guatemala, Mexico and Hondouras and focuses on the same reason that Che settled there: people. This 16 day trip really shows you the local community, as it leads you through the ruins of Chichen Itza, markets at Chichicastenango and villages which line the banks of Lake Atitlan.



Have you previously followed the footsteps of Che? We’d love to hear from you- an experience in Latin America can be so vast we may just have missed something important out, so feel free to fill us in! Get in touch via the side of the page or by leaving us a comment.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company
“Adventure is our middle name"
www.adventurecompany.co.uk