The Adventure Company Blog

The Adventure Company: Top tips for Travelling in Peru

2009-11-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

Alison Tunnock recently went to Peru with The Adventure Company, and knowing how many people on our community are searching for information and guides for their own trip, has kindly submitted some tips for everyone to benefit from!

Peru Top Tips

PERU TOP TIPS:

1) Exchange most of your Dollars into Sol on arrival. Despite contrary advice, we found that everything was quoted in Sol and the street seller only wanted Sol. You can negotiate an exchange rate, but this would be less favourable. All shops and restaurants quote in Sol only. Water etc en route needs to be paid for in Sol.

2) It can get very very very cold at night, take the warmest sleeping bag you can find, it still won’t be warm enough!

3) Be aware that your holder for the trek cannot weigh more than 7kg. After taking into account your sleeping bag and mat – it doesn’t leave much left for clothes etc. The porters are very strict with this and you will see why when you see the poor chaps carrying them up the mountain. As the days go on and the food and drink gets eaten, you will be allowed to add more to your holders for the porters to carry.

4) The food is actually very good and we found that we didn’t need so many snack bars for the trek. They will give you one or two snack bars/chocolate each day and we found this more than adequate.

5) Wear lots of layers, you will get warm whilst walking. Also take some sort of headscarf for the later days – you really will not fancy washing your hair in the freezing mornings. If not, invest in a cheap bottle of dry shampoo- lots of girl adventurers swear by it!

6) Your mobile phone won’t work for almost the duration of the hike, so prepare anyone who may need to get hold of you.

7) Take spare camera batteries, memory cards etc – you will be trul amazed how many photos you will want to take.

8) The walking poles are useful, especially for going downhill. And we found the less fit members used them for going uphill too.

9) There are toilets on the trek – to varying standards! There will be a toilet at each campsite.

10) Be prepared to have numerous "enthusiastic" encounters street sellers. And also when you go into the shops. It's also polite to tip the children if you have a photo taken with them.

11) The porters work incredibly hard! They carry your stuff, cook, tidy up, serve you. You even get hot water and tea in bed in the mornings! You must give them a big generous tip at the end!!

12) You will get a menu on arrival which you choose from for the trek days. 3 hot meals a day with crisps and snacks waiting for you each day after trekking. We even got a birthday cake made for one of our party and mulled wine!

13) We all got attitude sickness to varying levels but most of us just had a slight headache. It is surprising how it hits you when you first arrive in Cusco, we all thought we were dying! But you do adjust quite quickly. Just don’t think you can run up the stairs to your hotel room. I did and soon regretted it! There was internet connection at the hotel in Cusco.

14) Find places to chill out and chat about your trip with new friends in Lima as its limited on attractions. If not, it could be a big come down after such a great trip.

Overall....
It was an amazing trip and very manageable for all standards of fitness. They have a guide at the front and one at the back so no one gets left behind. We were looked after incredibly well and no one felt scared or threatened at any point. Hilda (our guide) was wonderful and very knowledgeable.

Are you looking for trekking tours to Peru, or simply looking for a holiday in Peru? Why not take a look at trips The Adventure Company offer. Visit their Peru page or visit their website for more information.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Air Cadets swoop in on Morocco!

2009-09-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

This months blog comes from Cardiff Air Cadets who recently took part in our Atlas Trails Teenage Adventure trip in Morocco. Their group leader, Troy Blackenship shares his travel diary with us:

20-27 Aug 2009
"14 staff and 20 cadets from 1344 Cardiff Squadron, Air Training Corps, have just returned from their first overseas adventurous training expedition in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending
about 2,400km (1,500 miles) through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The expedition lasted a week and included a day in Marakkech before being transported to Oukaimeden at 8,600 feet in the Atlas Mountains to begin trekking. They had no experience of
expeditions in Morocco and so this expedition was arranged in conjunction with The Adventure Company who arranged a hotel in Marakkech and gite accommodation in the mountains, qualified Mountain Leaders, chefs, muleteers and mules to transport the food and main luggage on the mountains.

Many cadets were unable to afford the full cost of this expedition, so the squadron applied to 4 charities for additional funding to support the expedition. They all made significant contributions, and they are The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, The Ulysses Trust, The Scarman Scholarship, The Jane Hodge Foundation, and finally a grant from the Air Cadets Region HQ (Wales & West).

Thursday 20 Aug 09 -Arrival
The group experienced very heavy rain on their coach journey to Gatwick but arrived with plenty of time to spare and boarded an Easyjet flight to Marakkech. The plane landed in Marrakech after a 3 3⁄4 hour flight where they met Abdul and Khalid, their 2 Mountain Leaders for the expedition. The temperature was, according to the pilot, a chilly 42
degrees Centigrade.

The team arrived at hotel Ryad Mogador after an interesting drive from the airport. Four lanes of traffic apparently driving in 2 marked lanes, and lots of dirty mopeds weaving around made things hair raising. Horn beeping indicates that an overtaking manoeuvre is about to take place, and the whole scene can only be described as organised chaos. To cross the road you walk out in front of the traffic and hold your hand up. It was very hot for a chilly day.
That evening the group visited a restaurant in the centre of Marrakech for the first taste of Moroccan food.

Friday 21 Aug 09 -Tour of Marrakech
They were taken on a walking tour of Marrakech which is a curious blend of 3rd world
basic living and the modern world. Mules work alongside motor transport and housing or
shops were very basic but have electricity. Most electrical goods and furniture on display were 1970s style. There are very few modern cars and trucks on the roads, most taxis being very old Mercedes and small Peugeot cars.
The guide for the Marakkech tour and Khalid and Abdu are all Berbers, but whilst the guide books imply they are a separate culture these young men were very metropolitan and mixed culture. One of the guides spoke 5 languages. It was extremely hot again, but when it is this warm the daily variation of a few degrees is imperceptible.
They visited a Berber pharmacy in the Souks and after a glass of mint tea were educated on the different herbs oils and creams and their uses. The group then visited the Palais De La Bahia.

After the palace there was time for souvenir shopping before making their way to the main open square in Marakkech, Djemma el-Fna, where there are snake charmers and market traders. The walk back from the square to the hotel was very arduous in the extreme heat.

On arrival at the hotel they had a few hours playing in the hotel swimming pool.
In the evening the group went back to the square, which this time was packed with people, and visited a nearby hotel for dinner. The roof garden of the hotel was covered in large dining marquees. Most people in the group had the same feeling about Marakkech -it felt like they have been there forever, and yet it was only one very long day.

Saturday 22 Aug 09 -Marrakesh to Oukaimeden.
First day in the mountains.
The overriding impression of both Marakkech and the journey to the Atlas Mountains was
one of a lack of architectural style and of poverty. The mountains appeared very slowly through a heat haze. The mountain road as they climbed to Oukaimeden brought
spectacular scenery anda few shops which appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. The
road had shear unprotected edges but the scenery was a great distraction. Berber houses appeared in the hillsides. Most trees disappeared from the mountains at around 2000 metres.

The accommodation at Oukaimeden was dormitory style. At 8633 feet the scenery was
rather like a cowboy western with grassy plains and mountains (usually covered in snow), and the temperature was more like a very hot day in the UK with a gentle breeze. There were mules, small cows and the occasional horse. Homes around the area are mostly hand built with dry rocks (for the Nomads) and rocks with concrete for the others.

In the afternoon the plan was to trek up to the summit of Oukaimeden at just over 9,800
feet, the highest peak in the area. They set off on the climb with the sound of thunder all around. The sun disappeared, and having climbed just over 100 feet had to stop to put on waterproof clothing. By 200 feet the rain was getting very heavy, and the guides wisely decided to abandon the mountain. Near the bottom of the mountain the rain turned to hail stones, vindicating their decision. At this height the hail stones really hurt as they hit your
head.

Not everyone attempted the first climb because the altitude affected some more than
others. Most people felt queasy, some felt sick and others had mild breathlessness, but the vast majority had recovered within hours.

The group finally set out again after an hour and climbed the mountain trail behind our gite. The same pattern began again with waterproofs being put on as it rained at 100 feet, but as the group continued the rain eventually stopped, and they reached the summit after an ascent of approximately 300 feet. The vista was breathtaking. The first mountain had been conquered.

Sunday 23 Aug 09 -In the Mountains, Oukaimeden to Aguersioual
Ten mules arrived the previous evening, and on this bright Sunday morning they were just standing still, untethered, with no thoughts of running away. The first thing you notice about mules is that they do not turn their heads when standing still. They just stare at whatever they have been pointed at. The group discovered later that mules walk faster than people on hills, so the mules would set off an hour or so after the walking party, overtake them, and arrive at the destination an hour or so ahead of them. The altitude was still having an effect on some people so 3 staff and 2 cadets were taken by Land Rover to the next gite. The ride was very rough, and the Land Rover stopped 5 times for the group to get out and help fill in holes in the track to make it passable.

The morning climb up the first mountain to a height of 9000 feet did not take long, and the group stopped at this highest point in the trek for photographs holding the old Ynysybwl Ensign which is being photographed in as many locations as possible around the world by air cadets.

The terrain ranges from cement dust consistency to rocks and everything in between, and a trail is a 12-18 inch wide place where others have gone before –not always a proper footpath. The morning trek was 10km to a Berber village of Asamkru and was extremely difficult, with much of it along the sides of steep gradients or down steep rocky descents.

The only shade to be found was underneath Juniper trees.

Light rain started as the group lunched under the trees, but as the lunch ended the rain became torrential and everyone had to rush to clear up the mats they sat on and put their boots back on. With waterproof clothing on they scrambled back up the village hill to be met by a torrent of muddy water which they had to get across. A Berber family gave them shelter in their barn. Whilst watching the floods develop a young boy was spotted trying to prevent the floodwaters enter his house. A group of cadets and staff and Abdu, one of the guides, went to help him dig a diversionary channel. Five minutes later they returned - mission accomplished.

The rain stopped and the guides arranged for one cadet suffering from dehydration to be carried on a mule to the next village. Sounds easy but imagine being scared of heights and then sit six feet up on a mule which is walking on an 18 inch wide unmade track with a long way to fall if you slip. Every step on the trail is an effort as you look for a secure place to put down each foot. The group had descended about 1000 feet to lunch, and then climbed 800 very difficult feet and finally descended a similar height down to the village of Aguersioual. The total distance travelled today was 19 km.

Life is so simple and basic around these parts of Morocco. The weather had been so variable and the trekking was above the fitness level of the average 50 year old. The trek today took 10 hours, and no- one will forget it. Nor will they forget the shower at the gite –just a bucket with a tap.

After dinner the cooks, muleteers and guides entertained them with Berber music and
dancing, the music being made with metal trays, water carriers, saucepans and spoons. A fantastic cultural experience. The scene was reminiscent of African dancing.

Time in Morocco passes very slowly, approximately half the speed that a person would
guess without a watch. By the end of this evening all cadets were feeling fine and only 2 staff were below par.

Monday 24 Aug 09 -Aguersioual -Imlil -Aremd
This morning one cadet and two staff were not well enough to walk. They were all taken by minibus to the next gite in Aremd. The trails on the 10km walk were wider and more
solidand much easier to walk on, and it took just 4 hours. The temperature was high and at one point the group came across a channel of fast flowing water which they used to cool down by soaking their clothes and immersing their heads.

The scenery is breathtaking and they passed through Imlil which is a very tourist centred village. A little while later they passed another mule and muleteer coming down a trail as they climbed.

The fitness and agility of the native Berber people in the group had to be seen to be
believed. They run on slopes on which others would fall and they have the bounce and
energy of a spring lamb. The group has been supported by the addition of muleteers and
cooks whilst walking, and they would run ahead near the end of the trek in order to be
ready with drinks and food when the group arrives.

Tuesday 25 Aug 09 -Aremd / day Walk to Sidi Chamharouch
This morning as the group set out they were passed by many local women walking up
steep hills back to the village carrying grasses and sacks of feed on their backs and heads for the mules and goats. The men had all gathered at a house to build an extension. The community spirit in this Berber village is everywhere to be seen. It is incredible that despite their basic existence the Berber women and their children are always very well dressed, the women particularly often looking so brightly and smartly dressed that they look as if they are going out to dine, which of course they are not.

The group trekked 1300 feet up an almost continuous climb to Sidi Chamharouch which is
a religious shrine where a holy man died. It is a place used by Muslims in the same way as a pilgrimage to Lourdes. People with health problems visit looking for a faith cure, and we suspect it is mostly used by couples who cannot have children. Some people purchased little mementos. Then it was down to a river for a tented picnic and a swim.

After the 9km trek back to Aremd the group passed a Mosque with the sound of young
children chanting. The guide explained that this was the Koran school where children have to learn the Koran word for word between the ages of 3 and 7, after which they start normal schooling.

Wednesday 26 Aug 09 -Back to Marrakech
The group started with an hour's walk from the Gite down to the village of Imlil where they met the coach to return to Marakkech. Just above the village of Imlil the group saw the beginnings of Western civilised standards with a major road construction project under way with huge lorries delivering hardcore, and one lorry delivering stone which was then carried by mule up an incline to a house being built very much in line with our construction standards.

After a pleasant return journey to Marakkech most people stayed around the hotel in the afternoon to play in the swimming pool and experience a rare event in the Atlas Mountains -a HOT shower.

Thursday 27 Aug 09 –Return home
Today they flew home tired, having completed a difficult but very enjoyable trek in the High Atlas Mountains. The witnessing and, to some extent, experiencing the Berber culture has been an eye opener, making everyone appreciate the standard of living we have in this country, and this was equally as important as the actual trekking.

The heights and distances covered have been phenomenal and quite a strain on the whole
group, but if it was too easy it would not be such a great achievement. I found that by the end of the third day trekking most muscle pains just disappeared. The Berber people are camera shy, hence no pictures of them.

Our appetite has been whetted. We can’t wait for our next adventure.
Steven Abbott MBE
Sqn Ldr RAFVR(T)
OC 1344 Cardiff Sqn, Air Training Corps"

The full picture set in high resolution can be found here

The air cadets went on the Atlas Trails Teenage Adventure trip in Morocco.

Are you interested in trekking in Morocco or are you looking to explore Morocco with friends? The Adventure Company have 16 tours which can suit every traveller, whether that be solo travel, group travellers or couples looking to get away on their own adventure. Visit the Adventure Company websiter to find out more.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Completing Everest Base Camp!

2009-08-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

We've a special treat for you this month as we have not 1, but 2 blogs this month. Reason being, we've had plenty of enquiries recently about Everest Base Camp and we felt travel writer, Rob Lewis really summarised his time there perfectly. That's without mentioning his stunning pictures, of course...

Everest Base Camp Trek
7 -23 March 2009
Rob Lewis

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
The chaotic Kathmandu traffic on the journey from the airport is the first thing to make an impression in Nepal. It’s a constant wonder how the cars, trucks, bikes and pedestrians avoid colliding. I’m convinced there must be some rules in play amongst it all but I can’t figure out what they are!

The Hotel Tibet is our base in Kathmandu, a marvel of Tibetan architecture and design in red and gold. The facilities are clean and comfortable and the staff welcoming. Our Group Leader, Lalit, introduces me to the rest of the group who arrived earlier (my fault for booking so late!) and we enjoy a relaxed briefing from Lalit in the hotel restaurant over a beer or two. The Group of ten (six male, four female) get along well sharing the mutual excitement of the trip ahead. Everyone has their reasons for being here, mine is a fascination with Everest and the epic stories of successful and unsuccessful summit attempts. Base Camp is, however, definitely my limit!

Day 2: Guided Tour of Kathmandu
An early start the next morning sees us boarding a bus for a guided tour of the capital. A friendly Guide is aboard to show us around and he is a wealth of knowledge and information not to mention bad jokes! We visit the enormous Swayambhu stupa and temple complex complete with its resident monkeys and we take lunch overlooking the enormous Boudha Stupa. Our Guide is also keen to enable us to walk at our own pace through the bustling streets with all their sights and smells.

I have some fun taking pictures of the local children who never fail burst into fits of laughter when they see themselves on the camera screen. Following a visit to Patan Durbar Square we end the day on the banks of the Bagmati river to witness the cremations at Pashupatnath which is a sombre but equally fascinating experience.

In the evening I head down to the tourist district of Thamel to stock up for the trek. Thamel is a maze of insanely busy streets crammed full of trekking equipment and tourist shops and places to eat and drink. Its chaos is captivating and I dive right in. I pick up some cheap missing items of gear and plenty of chocolate and biscuits for essential energy!

In the evening we head out to a local restaurant where we sample the delights of live Nepali music and dance (including yeti and yak dancing!) and also try some raksi (a super strong local spirit) which could strip paint I’m sure but that doesn’t stop me trying more than one. The food is great and my vegetarian diet is carefully kept in tact by our watchful Guide, Lalit who directs the waiters as to what should give me from the sharing menu. It’s a great night.

Day 3: Flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding

An early rise the next morning and nothing has prepared me for the flight to Lukla. The plane is a reasonably modern 16 seater but rather ’cosy’ and I find myself looking over the pilot’s shoulder for the flight and, most memorably, for the landing. Perhaps not a seat I would recommend for the nervous flier. Huge cheers and applause erupt upon landing together with a few signs of relief. Great fun though!

Once out of the tiny airport I get a first sight of the Himalayas which tower above all around Lukla and even here the view is breathtaking. Also noticeable is the thinner air after flying up from the Kathmandu valley, a sign of things to come as we all know. We dump our large bags and meet our other assistant guides and porters.

I marvel as the young porters load up, each taking two large bags on his back and roping over his forehead to spread the weight. And off they go, at a pace that will never cease to amaze me for the entire trip. We shall see them again each evening when they kindly deposit our bags in our lodgings (usually right outside our rooms).

And after a cup of tea and a quick equipment check (camera, sun lotion, hat, poles, sunglasses etc. etc.!) we are off. We trek for a few hours, mostly downhill which is a thankfully gentle introduction and take in the relatively lowland scenery of gorges, rivers and green fields of crops.

We arrive at our Phakding lodge which, to our amusement, is still under construction in places and we are the first to use our bare wooden bedrooms out in the back yard which have mostly only been completed that day. The room next to me is still being built and it looks like they had to finish mine in a hurry as, curiously, the ensuite bathroom door lock is on the outside!

Days 4 & 5: Namche Bazaar
The trek takes us up sunlit woodland trails which are steep in places and across long swaying suspension bridges over rushing white water. Those with a fear of heights cross tentatively whilst some others make the most of the experience and walk with an exaggerated bounce to their step which sets the bridge in motion and makes things a little more exciting!

We marvel (as always) as porters march across and up the track carrying simply ridiculous loads. One train of porters we pass carry slabs of wooden beams for building construction which must easily weigh 70kg. The weight is so great they’re unable to raise their heads to look up and we must navigate carefully around them. I wonder what we must look like fitted with all the latest trekking gear when all we carry is a camera and some water.

As we climb up and round a corner we come across our first view of Everest between the trees. It’s a buzz to catch the first glimpse of the reason I’m here albeit a distant one but nonetheless the famous Everest ‘plume’ is visible and we all pause to take in the view and avail ourselves of the satsumas on sale from a local farmer who has obviously spotted a good location for business.

The proceeding steep climb up into Namche is rewarded with the sight of shops stocked full of essential trekker supplies and, after some rest at the lodge, we head out and stock up on warmer clothes and chocolate amongst other things. I rent a 4 season sleeping bag and buy a fleece liner to go inside. One thing I hadn’t expected was just how cold things would be at night even relatively low on the trek. And things only get colder as you get higher. Others rent chunky down jackets which they intend to sleep in. One rule to remember is that you can always take the extra clothes off at night but you can’t put things on that you don’t have! Namche also has places to email, get a massage and play pool. It’s no wonder that this is the first place chosen for us to stay for an extra night to acclimatise.

Namche is located 3,440 meters on crescent shaped mountain slopes and our ‘day off’ the next day is a climb up and out as we trek steeply up to the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor's Centre and then on (and up!) to a hotel suitably named ‘Everest View’ where magnificent views of Everest are available from the outdoor area at the back of the restaurant.

Day 6: Namche to Tengboche
The trek the next day from Namche to Tengboche is made a little easier by the previous days acclimatisation but is still tough going in places. That said, the pace, as ever, is moderate and involves frequent rest stops to allow us to get our breath back. Everyone is still feeling fine which is good news.

The views as we climb get ever more spectacular and I’m starting to really feel like I’m high up. We pass mountain goats and see our first Yak trains as they plod down the trails with incredible surefootedness on even the most rocky sections.

We pin ourselves against the mountain side (as instructed) to allow these huge beasts to pass on the narrow path, the theory being they are much less likely to topple over the edge than we are! I have to actually breathe in a couple of times to prevent a rather large pointed horn snagging on my jacket.

By this stage we are wearing windproof jackets and woolly hats and gloves. Gone are the t-shirts and shorts we wore on the way up to Namche. The wind has picked up notably and occasional strong gusts reduce temperatures instantly. The sun continues to shine down most of the time and sunglasses are still a must.

Our arrival in Tengboche is heralded by the sight of the highest monastery in the world at 3860m. Everest, Kwangde, Nuptse, Lhotse and Kangtega amongst others stand tall above and present a truly magnificent scene. After some negotiation Lalit gains permission for us to be shown round the monastery which was locked for the evening. Inside is a scene of utter peace and tranquillity with beautifully ornate decoration in oranges, golds and reds. Its easy to forget you are in the high Himalayas when wondering around inside.

From the monastery we walk behind and along a path to enjoy yet more jaw dropping views off to the west Also here are a few memorials to fallen climbers which remind us all that despite their beauty these mountains have a darker side. I linger as the others head back to the lodge to take in the sunset over the surrounding peaks and take some snaps. It’s a wonderful feeling of remote wilderness and the silence is almost audible.

Day 7: Tengboche to Dingboche
I awake to a view of sunrise over Everest out of my bedroom window. Not a regular morning by any means! I miss out on an option to head over the monastery at 6am to watch morning puja (prayers) as I choose to grab all the sleep I can and remain in bed. I hear from others in the group who go that only 3 monks show up so perhaps the others made the same decision as me!

After breakfast we trek down dusty paths to a river where we cross and then start up the other side. The landscape is beginning to change now, gone are the woodlands and lush greenery, replaced by browns and greys with dense gorse bushes and rough grasses growing by the side of the trail.

We arrive at Orsa and stop at a remote lodge for lunch, we will actually be staying at this place on the way down although we don’t know it yet. It’s at this point that someone (I think I’m safe to blame Lalit) recommends garlic as a preventative measure against altitude sickness (AMS) and those with a liking order garlic soup and some raw cloves are handed round. What possesses me to eat one is anyone’s guess but the effects are instantly unpleasant. I contemplate, as my eyes water and my breath strips paint, that I would perhaps have preferred a dose of AMS!

We walk for only another half hour or so before arriving at Dingboche at 4262m where we will spend another extra acclimatisation day. It’s at this point, as we approach the lodge, that I start to feel the first effects of the altitude as my head begins to ‘buzz’ and I feel slightly dizzy. Up until now I had found things relatively easy going (I’m a bit of fitness freak back home) but now things start to feel like hard work.

The lodge is very basic (the rule is now clear – the higher you go the more basic things get!) and it seems like we’re in for a cold couple of nights. As always a game or two of Uno is played before a couple of us decide to join another group staying at the lodge for a strange drama school game which I never fully understand followed by Charades where I struggle to play out a mime for ‘Muriel’s Wedding’… Generally it’s hard to fill the time in the evenings and I berate myself for not having brought some travel board games or similar. The rest of the evening is spent huddled around the wood burning stove (which at this height is actually burning yak dung given the lack of trees in the area), keeping ourselves warm and reading by head torch.

Day 8: Dingboche
The next morning I wake feeling pretty awful as a stomach bug has settled in during the night. The acclimatisation walk is therefore a tortuous affair for me and I begin to feel utterly exhausted only a few hundred metres up the steep trail. The altitude only compounds the problem and soon Lalit takes the decision to stop me and escort me back down to the lodge. This is a low point. Not only do I feel terrible but I start to worry that, unless I recover before tomorrow’s departure up to Labouche, it could be the end of my trip.

I sleep for most of the day whilst the others complete their walk and relax. However as the afternoon progresses a few others start to feel unwell. It’s fortunate at least that we sicken on a rest day where we will have the chance to recover before the day’s walking tomorrow. We hope so anyway.

Day 9: Dingboche to Labouche
The next morning most of us are feeling better. Only one member of the team, Matt, is still feeling poorly but he grits his teeth and heads out with the rest of us. We trek up and then along a spectacular valley where I grab some long range shots of the group as they trek along in single file with guides at the front and rear. We zig-zag up the valley floor crossing back and forth over streams and ice encrusted rapids. The view back down to Perriche is breath taking and its hard to keep pace sometimes such is the desire to continually stop and take in the vistas.

After lunch we climb sharply up to a site of memorials for fallen climbers and sherpas. Amongst them I linger at the memorial to Scott Fisher who perished in the 1996 Everest Disaster, the subject of one of my favourite books ‘Into Thin Air’ which I have brought with me to read once again on this trip. The barren landscape and blustery grey skies only add to the sense of sadness at this place.

We arrive early at Labouche (4930m) and after lunch we head up a nearby slope to ascend onto the Khumbu Glacier moraine take in stunning views of the glacier and the wider Everest region. The climb is tough and the wind blasts us with snow but we’re not disappointed by the panorama at the top.

The snow has left a white carpet over the whole area and the night is bitterly cold. This, added to excitement of the next day’s trek to EBC, results in a virtually sleepless night.

Its at this point we lose our first team members as Matt decides to descend in order to fight his stomach bug at a less extreme altitude and Kathy’s headaches and nausea cause her to decide enough is enough. It’s hard not to feel a sense of togetherness on this trip and we’re all gutted for them both.

Day 10: Labouche to Gorak Shep & Everst Base Camp
A 6.30am start is necessary to be sure of getting to EBC and back to Gorak Shep in one day. The walk is now through snow and ice, the landscape dominated by the Khumbu Glacier which appears as a motionless river of ice and rocks (although it is, in actual fact, slowly making its way down the valley). We undulate up and down through the rocks besides the glacier and it’s hard to keep a footing. At one point, a Tibetan Snow Cock perches just a few feet above us and serenades our passing with its distinctive call.

We trek into Gorak Shep (5160m) having made a good pace (Lalit hails it as ‘Nepali Pace’) but I feel I’m now suffering for it. We grab some soup and pasta for what, in my confused state, I think is lunch but as its only 9.30am it’s actually breakfast. As we head out towards EBC my head starts to pound and I try to get as much water on board as possible. The walking continues along the glacier with short sharp climbs and descents as we weave in and out of the rocky moraine.

Finally Base Camp (5346m) comes into view and it’s not long before we’re crossing the glacier itself to reach a vantage point looking down over the tents pitched by the first of the season’s expeditions and toward the notorious Khumbu Icefall. It’s truly a wondrous sight and the fact that there is no actual view of Everest from here seems of no consequence.

This is the culmination of seven days of extremely challenging trekking and a lifetime ambition achieved. Together the group and guides join in celebration and pose for pictures and we try to let the event sink in. After what seems like five minutes but is actually half an hour we depart back towards Gorak Shep, however I feel exhausted and every step is an effort requiring concentration and deep breathing to get oxygen on board in sufficient quantities. At this height the air contains only 50% of the oxygen found at sea level and the walk back to the lodge, some 2 hours or so, will undoubtedly remain the most physically demanding thing I ever do. By the time we get to the lodge I am utterly exhausted.

Day 11: Kala Patar
The optional hike up this 5500m peak is now only open to 6 of us as two more have decided to descend. And to my eternal regret my sleepless night and pounding headache, not to mention the exertion of the day before, cause me to remain in my sleeping bag as the others head out at 5.30am. I do head up at 7.30am and reach about halfway before meeting some of the group on the way down and descending with them having run out of time to go up any further. I have at least managed to take a few pictures which will become my favourite of the entire trip as they almost do justice to the amazing scenery encountered at that height.

Back at breakfast the four who made it to the top describe an effort even more challenging than the day before but equally as rewarding given the views of sunrise over Everest and its surrounding peaks.

After breakfast we begin the descent back down to Orsa which, after a few technical sections back to Labouche, becomes a virtual stroll compared to the journey up as the terrain smoothes out and the air gets richer.

Days 12-15: Orsa to Lukla (via Namche Bazaar & Phakding)
The pace now is hell for leather as, reunited as a full team, we march downwards with our lungs full of oxygen rich air and the sun on our backs. Its quite amazing how places such as Namche feel so comfortable now compared to when ascending when we endured headaches and breathlessness. We meet other groups coming up and worry for those already struggling but say nothing. There really is a lot to be said for the old expression ‘positive mental attitude’ and that’s the only advice I provide. The rewards are worth the effort…and then some.

Walking back into Lukla in the first rain of the trip I experience a mix of feelings. Its good to be down at a relatively low altitude and to get a warm shower and a proper bed but Lukla also signifies the end of the trek and I feel sad that it’s all over.

Nevertheless, with alcohol now back firmly on the agenda after our week long high altitude abstinence its party time in our Lukla lodge and we celebrate our successful trek with a dinner for all the guides and porters followed by a disco where everyone really lets their hair down. It’s a great night and cements what has been a truly fantastic trip to EBC.

We say emotional goodbyes to all our porters and assistant guides as only Lalit will accompany us back to Kathmandu.

Day 16: Lukla to Kathmandu

After another hair-raising flight back to Kathmandu we disembark into the searing heat and smog which I had long since forgotten about whilst up in the mountains. The chaos of the city at first seems too much to bear but soon all seems normal again.

I spend a few hours shopping in Thamel which offers a vast array of souvenir shops and stalls selling everything from Ghurkha knives to pirate DVDs. I can only fit so much into my luggage so I have to show some restraint and resist the continuous attempts by shop owners to lure me into their premises with ‘cheapest North Face’ and ‘real Goretex’.
The rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing at the Hotel Tibet although most of it sheltering from torrential rain and lightning storms.

In the evening Lalit takes us to the famous ‘Rum Doodle’ restaurant in Thamel where masses of cardboard yeti feet signed by hundreds of previous trekkers and mountaineers adorn the walls. If you summit Everest you get free food for life here but I’m happy to pay as the food and drink is fantastic. We all sign our ‘foot’ and add a few of the common phrases from our trip such as “Everyone ready for outside!” and “Jam Jam!”. Our foot takes pride of place above the serving hatch from the kitchen so look out for it if you ever stop by.

Day 17: Kathmandu
A lazy day is spent wondering round Durbar Square and its array of temples and holy shrines. We also head to Freak Street, centre of the 1960’s and 70’s hippy community but now nothing more than a modern commercial area now full of backpacker accommodation and cafes.

The evening is again spent enjoying the Thamel nightlife and culminates in rickshaw race as six of us hire three bicycle rickshaws and willing drivers to race back to the hotel. It’s hard to shout encouragement to your driver when you’re laughing so hard but we do our best and they laugh as much as we do as the three dilapidated machines jostle for first place. All goes well until Matt and Iain decide to jump out of their rickshaw and run along side to speed up their effort only for Iain to fall under the wheels as he tries to get back in. A few cuts and bruises are par for the course we assure him once we have careered to a halt outside the hotel and our drivers are still laughing at him and the rest of us as they cycle off back to Thamel.

Day 18: Departing Kathmandu

It’s the end of the road. It’s a sad day to be leaving Nepal and it’s sad to be saying good bye to the rest of the group. As we depart the hotel is filling up with expeditions going for the summit and after experiencing the trek to Base Camp where these groups will only be starting their challenge I marvel at what it must take to get to the summit of Everest, the 8848m roof of the world…"

Are you interested in completing Everest Base Camp? The Adventure Company offer a range of treks to suit all visitors and fitness levels. Find out more on our website or visit our Nepal page for full itineraries and information.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Mother and daughter trip to Peru!

2009-08-07T07:59:00.000-07:00

This month, our customer blog comes from Barbara Marks and her daughter who travelled to Peru earlier this year:

"My daughter and I have just returned from our Classic Peru adventure and felt compelled to write to a blog to say what a wonderful time we have had. Every time we thought we had reached the pinnacle of a Peruvian experience it seemed there was another around the corner, and we were greatly inspired by the warmth and ingenuity of the Peruvian people we met.

I first heard of The Adventure Company at the 2008 Adventure Travel Show where I met your then consultant Matt Brimble. A lengthy discussion with him suggested that I might not be too aged/decrepit to tackle the Inca trail (!) and convinced me that the way that the Adventure Travel Company organise the trek is superior to that by other companies - this indeed proved to be the case. Having made my booking, we kept in touch and he was able to answer all my subsequent queries.

From the moment we landed at Lima and met our Tour Leader, Marco Ayalalanda, we were impressed with the level of organisation encountered. At our first briefing he provided detailed notes to which we referred throughout the holiday, and subsequently always kept us well-informed of each day’s activities. Despite three national strikes during our time in Peru (which resulted in blocked roads and cancelled trains), Marco made every effort to keep to the planned itinerary and timetable. When this wasn’t possible, the group was so cohesive under his leadership (we even called ourselves Team Marco when tackling the trail), and identified so well with his sense of humour, that it was never a problem. He went to so much trouble to see to our needs as travellers whether financial, cultural or culinary, that we cannot commend him highly enough. He is very proud of his country and its heritage and we learnt a lot through our conversations with him.

In addition, when my daughter Hannah fell ill with altitude sickness, Marco very swiftly called a doctor and looked after her whilst I went condor-watching with the rest of the group and the local guide Nancy. He even made personal transport arrangements for Hannah to join us later in the day, and was subsequently very solicitous about her health and strength. All in all, we thought Marco a brilliant leader, and we hope that other of your clients will be able to benefit from his experience, his caring nature, his sense of fun and his delight in seeking out the best culinary experiences whether in the local market in Arequipa (where he persuaded stallholders to let us taste local produce) or in restaurants. We will all remember his exhortations not to eat the lettuce! Our only disappointment was that he was not allowed (by the company) to accompany us on the trek – Team Marco without Marco lacked something!

Having said that, we would also like to praise the guides who did accompany us on the trek. Ed (Edwin) was good fun and deeply knowledgeable about the trail, its history and flora and fauna. He quickly assessed our level of fitness and set a very appropriate pace, in addition to being a great motivator. Just one of many highlights was having an impromptu astronomy lesson at our second campsite. His assistant Armando was an exceptionally patient back-marker with an equally good sense of humour. I have particular reason to sing their praises having collapsed whilst ascending to Dead Woman’s Pass. They revived me with oxygen and encouraged and supported me to complete the trail, for which I shall be forever grateful.

Our guide Maria for the Lake Titicaca area was also delightful. She conversed easily with the islanders and greatly enhanced our visits with her local knowledge. I would say that our homestay on Amantani Island was a highlight for many of our group. We enjoyed the contact with ‘real’ Peruvians and appreciated the little touches such as fresh flowers in our bedroom and the after dinner party with music and dancing – followed by more star-gazing. My daughter and I are hoping to keep in touch with our host family via Marco and Maria.

My other most memorable experiences were walking through the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu at the end of the trek, thus realising a 40-year old dream, and being on the dunes at Huacachina at sunset – another little extra organised by Marco.

I feel the need to also pass on my most embarrassing moment! An hour or so into the first section of the trail, I was horrified to discover that the sole of my right boot had come adrift from the upper, followed seconds later by the left. They were old boots, but with excellent tread still, and comfortable trusty old friends (up to that point).

One of our group (a postman) produced an elastic band and Armando some sellotape with which he strapped the flapping soles to the uppers. At the first checkpoint I was able to retrieve some duct tape from my rucksack (which was in the bus taking Marco back to Cusco - we had stupidly decided that morning that it wouldn’t be necessary to take it with us on the trek…) and miraculously we managed to buy some super glue in the tiny village shop. When we arrived at the campsite, Armando sat in his tent and glued the boots in the incipient dusk. Fortunately, at the last moment I had thrown my trainers into the porter’s duffel bag, so was able to wear these that evening. The best news was delivered by Ed at supper that night – one of the porters was a cobbler and had promised to try to repair my boots the following day. What were the chances of that? The upshot was that my boots were delivered back to me the next evening, with new toe caps and meticulously stitched together. Instead of ditching them, I wore them for the rest of the trail and have brought them home hoping to wear them for many more years to come!

Having not been on a group holiday before, we were uncertain what to expect, but our experience has been so positive that we will definitely book with your company again when we decide on a similar adventure (though never again at such altitude!) and shall encourage our friends to do likewise.

With many thanks for my best holiday ever,
Barbara"

Here are Barbara's top tips for the Inca Trail:

"My top tips for the Inca trail trek

•Take, or hire, the warmest sleeping bag possible (even with a bag with comfort zone down to -5oC and wearing everything we possessed we still felt very cold)

•Take, or hire, a thermarest mat (for the same reason – although the quality of the mats provided by the porters exceeded expectations)

•Take drybags (I took Exped bags) to prevent clothes getting wet from overnight condensation

•Take walking poles (all except one of our group either took one or hired one – my daughter and I, and both our guides, each had two, which was even better when struggling with altitude)

•Take insect repellent (there were lots of horseflies on day 3) and a ‘Click’ anti-irritant device (obtainable from Itchy Feet – mine was much used by the rest of the group) in case the repellent doesn’t work.

•Take a metal water bottle – if you’re really lucky the porters will fill it with hot water so you can tuck it into your sleeping bag!

•Check that your boots are trail-worthy!

•Take duct tape and/or gaffer tape or even super glue (you never know…)

•Pack trainers in your duffel bag so that your feet can relax when you arrive at camp (you might even want to include a sachet or two of foot soak to add to the hot water the porters bring to your tent)

•Keep your camera battery in your sleeping bag at night to keep it warm

•Take plenty of dollars to tip the porters – they do a fantastic job

•Take a clean change of clothes for the day after you arrive at Machu Picchu (we were holed up at Aguas Calientes for 2 nights due to a strike)

Are you interested in visiting Peru and completing the Inca Trail in 2009 or 2010? The Adventure Company can help. They have nine Peru holidays on offer, many of which include the Inca Trail.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Couple on a Serengeti safari!

2009-07-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

This month our blog comes from Kirsty Allen who enjoyed writing her previous blog so much, she's decided to write another! Kirsty and her boyfriend went on The Adventure Company's Serengeti Explorer tour. She shares the diary she kept whilst in the wild and lets us know how they got on...

"Friday 22nd September
Going on Safari – can’t believe it! Its something we’ve always wanted to do, and really hope to see the big five! Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo. We’ve decided to go with the Adventure Company and go camping – hope everything goes to plan! Catch our train to Euston from Crewe at 2.35pm, and arrive in London at 4.45pm. Catch a train to terminal 3 (Heathrow); check in our bags and away we go! Everywhere we walk we keep spotting ‘The Adventure Company’ Labels on peoples rucksacks! Definitely a good sign! The plane leaves London at 10.30pm, heading for Addis Ababa.

Saturday 23rd September
Land in Addis Ababa at 8.00am. Ethiopia has a nice airport, with loads of different shops and unusual things for sale. Go to gate 5A, to catch our flight to Tanzania. The plane was parked on the runway, so we had to catch a bus over to the plane. On the plane I am sitting next to a guy also on holiday with the ‘Adventure Company’ he is going to climb Mt Kilimanjaro! Aarghh! The plane leaves Addis Ababa at 10.30am; next stop Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania. I can see the vast open spaces from the plane window, and can’t wait to get off the plane, and go outside. After we land we collect our bags and head for the exit. Go out to arrivals and we can see an ‘Adventure Company’ sign, our Driver is there waiting for us, his name is John. He is such a lovely guy so laid back and seems pretty excited that we are here! Meet 3 other people on our trip, a couple and a lady travelling alone. We all seem similar ages and start chatting straight away. John drove us for about an hour to ‘Tropical Trails’ office, a company the ‘Adventure Company’ are using for the trip.

The journey was amazing, everywhere is open land, and people are bustling everywhere, all the towns are really small, and most of the buildings are really run down, but everyone is buzzing! We see some lovely ladies carrying huge baskets on their heads. At ‘Tropical Trails’ we have a lovely cool drink in there, and a brief about the trip. We also paid our local payment. Once leaving there, John drove us the 5minute drive to the Karama Lodge in Arusha. This place is awesome! We are greeted with watermelon drinks and shown to the bar area – the view over to Kilimanjaro is amazing!

The bar is massive, and the lodge is full of wooden huts all staggered up the hillside, everything looks right in its place and we love it here. The views all over are amazing.

Two young girls carried our bags to our hut, whilst we looked around. John arranged to meet us the following morning. We have arranged to meet with the 3 others tonight at 7.30pm in the bar, where we are also supposed to meet 5 others who are also on this trip. Have a gorgeous shower in the room, it is a stone shower, the room feels like its outside – hope we don’t get any uninvited guests! We have a balcony where we can sit outside and relax.

Go down to the bar and meet 2 other guys on our trip, they have just climbed Kilimanjaro and are now on the Safari with us. We all sat and had a drink together, then went down to the restaurant for some food. The food was really nice. Meet up with the final people on our trip, a mother and son, and another guy who is travelling alone, they have also just climbed Kilimanjaro – we feel really lazy now!

Have a good laugh with everyone; they seem a really good group. Allen then suggests another drink in the bar, so that went down well. Request a wake up call for 6.30am, go to bed at 10.30pm. I am so excited about tomorrow, I am not going to sleep a wink!

Sunday 24th September
Wake up at 6.30am – we did have a visitor in the night, a really long lizard – he was weaving himself through the rushes in the roof – I tucked the mosquito net all around my bed just to make sure he didn’t come in for a sleep over! Go down for a lovely breakfast and meet up with everyone. John arrive at 8.00am, we leave at 8.30 in the jeep and go into Arusha.

The group has been split between two jeeps. Firstly we went back to ‘Tropical Trails’ to pick up our Cook, his name was Innocent. Once in Arusha, John took us to change some of our money into shillings, and we then stopped to pick up some water (and beer!). We then travelled for 80Km to pick up some charcoal for Innocent to cook. At this stop, we jumped out to stretch our legs; there was a small café and a few shops swarming with men, women and children all trying to sell us things. I bought two necklaces. Next stop was Twiga Camp site.

We all had to set up our dome tents, very funny! This site had a lovely bar, and kitchen area for Innocent to cook (Inno as he wanted to be called). We sat and had a cool drink, whilst Inno cooked a Spaghetti Bolognaise, with watermelon for after. The food was lovely, and the watermelon was like nothing I had tasted before –it was so juicy! We all sat round a long camp table – everyone is in high spirits! The other driver/guide is called Marrovet. John and Marrovet are always laughing, it’s infectious! Leave the campsite at 2.30pm and go to Lake Manyara visitor centre, and then into the National Park.

It is scorching! We have the roof down on the jeep, and we can all stand up! Feel like real explorers! The open spaces inside the park are absolutely amazing. The amount of animals we saw already was amazing too!

Monkeys, elephants, giraffes, zebra, pelican, storks, impala, and dik diks! It is fantastic! John’s knowledge on these animals is incredible, and he has the eyes of a hawk!

We left the park at 6.30pm and went back to camp. I grab the chance for a shower (cold!), as there will be no chance once we enter the Serengeti. Inno has made us another lovely meal, pumpkin soup, followed by fish, potatoes and vegetables; so far the cook is really very good! Sit and chat around another cool drink, and look at all our photos, a praying mantis comes to join us, he is huge! Go to bed at 11.30pm. Serengeti tomorrow!!!

Monday 25th September
Wake up at 6.00am, it feels hot already. Go for breakfast, sausage, egg and toast, yum – also try some Mango. Get ready to pack up camp, when the elastic snapped on the trailer and hit Inno in the eye! It swelled up really quickly! We are all really worried – my first aid kit comes out to the rescue.

On our way out, John drove Inno and us to the doctors, luckily he will be ok, but has a patch on his eye – bless him. He is still adamant he is coming with us! We then followed the road to meet Marrovet and the others in the next village. We stop to take some photos of Lake Manyara National park from above. By now its about 10am, and really starting to warm up.

Next we drove to the Nnorongogo Crater Conservation Area, it was an amazing site, 16x18Km, created by the collapse of a huge volcano. There is an Alkaline Lake at the bottom which looks like it is steaming, but it is just dust! It is a fantastic sight! Marrovet and John took some group photos of us here!

We then drove to the Oldupai Gorge for lunch at about 1.30pm. This is a vast canyon created by volcanic eruptions and the movement of plates over millions of years. The build up of ash has created many levels of preservation of fossils and animals! Remains have been found dating back almost 2 million years. The most interesting are the remains of a 1.75million year old skeleton, nicknamed the Nutcracker man because of his huge skull and jaws – a set of footprints have also been rescued - is this the missing link?!

Walk around the very interesting museum and eat our lunch lovely; bread and chicken, an apple, little cakes, biscuits and crisps. We left here about 3.00pm; we are finally on our way to the Serengeti. The roads now are really bad and very dusty, and we can see nothing for miles. Just before we enter the Serengeti we stopped just at the entrance and walked a small nature trail up to a viewpoint where we could take photos of the Serengeti National Park. The view was phenomenal.

On entering the park a huge Ostrich in the distance comes out of nowhere and looks like it is running along side us! Then suddenly John stopped the jeep and points out a Cheetah! I can’t believe it, I have goose bumps, and I have no idea how John spotted it! We are really in the wild now, it is absolutely spine tingling.

On our way to camp we saw some hippos, they were huge and a purply colour in the sun, I love them, we also saw some Buffalo, they have a huge presence about them and were incredible to see.

We arrived at Tumbili camp at 6.00pm, its in the middle of nowhere, and isn’t really a proper camp as there are no barriers or fences, between us and the Serengeti – I absolutely love it! The camp is fairly busy so we are not alone, and the small kitchen area is full of cooks – Inno goes quickly to start making our tea.

The Sunset here is the best I have seen, and as it came down to meet the Serengeti plains, I would not of wished to be anywhere else - I can’t describe how wonderful it looked, but it was very special. It started to go dark at 7.00pm, so we all sit round our camp table by lamp light, eating popcorn. For tea Inno made leek and potatoe soup, beef stew with rice, followed by pineapple – all of which was gorgeous! He really is a brilliant cook. John and Marrovet give us a safety brief on tonight – if we have to pee we have to open out tents step 2 steps outside and then go there – absolutely no wandering off. Whilst we are eating our tea we can hear hyenas howling – incredible. Me and Al go to bed at 9.30pm and go through all our photos – we have taken loads. The sounds of the bush are constantly buzzing!

Tuesday 26th September
Wake up at 6.45am, have a lovely breakfast of eggs on toast, then leave Tumbili site at 8.20am and go off on a game Safari! See lots of Impalas and Thompson Gazelles, Warthogs and Tope’s. The baby warthogs are the cutest you’ve ever seen, they run round frantically with their tails in the air!

We saw some beautiful Lions and Lionesses, John called them the honeymooners as the Lion was after the Lioness, then they were lying down together side by side – I think the Lion was spooning her! What wonderful animals. Next we saw a group of Lionesses with their cubs, amazing.

We also saw a Lioness hunting some Impala, it was very exciting to watch and the atmosphere actually felt tense! The highlight of the day was seeing 13 elephants crossing the path in front of us, what a wonderful sight, a proper little family.

See lots of baboons, jackals – very ugly creatures, and a waterbuck.

We went back to camp at 1.30pm to have lunch – chicken, vegetables, potatoes and lots of fresh fruit – lovely. Do some more first aid on Inno’s eye too. Sit and chat in the shade until 3.30pm, as it is too hot to go out in the jeep. At 3.30pm we drove for an hour further into the Serengeti and went to see a Hippo pool, not before passing lots of elephants, giraffes and even another cheetah on the way! At the Hippo pool there were tens of Hippo’s! They are all amazing.

You have to hold your nose whilst you are there – I’m surprised the whole pool isn’t solid the amount of poo they are all doing! It was absolutely brilliant to see so many in one spot. They kept standing up and then sinking back down, and if you were lucky you could see one huge hippo that had a little tiny hippo sitting on her back, and every time she stood up, he was standing there covered in mud! The Hippos shared their home with a couple of huge crocs – amazing.

Head back to camp at 6.00pm, see some hyenas and zebra on the way back, and also another gorgeous sunset.

The scenery and landscape here is second to none, and no picture will ever live up to it.

Get back at 7.00pm, it is pitch black! Inno has made cucumber soup, vegetable stew and spaghetti for tea, with lots of pineapple for afters – lovely. How Inno does it in the dark with one eye, I don’t know! Sit and chat by torchlights to the others in the group, discussing all our future holiday plans – what a brilliant day!

Wednesday 27th September
Wake up at 6.00am, really hot and suffering from sunburn. Have a drink and a biscuit then leave camp at 7.15am to go on an early game drive. It is very quiet at this time, and everyone is out searching for a Leopard.

After lots of driving, John spots one! We see it! He is lovely; he is asleep at the top of a huge tree, (with his mornings Kill) – what a fantastic thing to see!

qGo back to camp at 11.00 for brunch. Inno has made sausages, hash browns, pancakes and beans, and lots of watermelon for afters. We then have to pack up our tents after 2 nights here and leave at 1.00pm. On the way back we went to the Serengeti visitor centre for a look round and an ice cream, we are now back in the Nnorongoro Conservation Area.

We then went to visit a Massai Village – it was fab! An amazing experience and lots of fun. The Massai men and women sing to us to welcome us to their village, we join in on a dance with them – great fun!

One of Massai men gave us a tour and took us into one of their houses; he said he had killed 2 Lions! Wander round the village and visit the kindergarten class – all the kids are very cute, and an older child was leading the class.

Buy a bracelet and a warrior’s ceremonial dance pole, and take lot of photos. Leave the village at 4.00pm and travel to our next campsite – on the way we get a puncture! Arrive at Simba campsite, right on the edge of the Nnorongoro Crater! Wow!

Set up all our tents, and then go for a very cold shower. Sit down for tea in an undercover hut – it is very cold here, actually need to put on our fleeces! Inno made vegetable soup, pasta and meat stew – lovely. Half the group went to bed, and the rest of us stayed up to talk to John about the trip so far. Go to bed at 10.00pm – absolutely freezing!

Thursday 28th September
Wake up at 6.00am, it is very cold! Breakfast is at 6.30am; we have eggs and toast, and lots of cups of tea! Head to Nnorongoro Crater – what a view, its fabulous! John and Marrovet are always telling us things about the animals and landscape – they know everything! John knows lots of facts about the Crater and said he is going to test us today! Eek!

Travelling down into the Crater, you feel like you’re in another world hidden down below, home to all these amazing animals, and see their way of life – herds of Zebra and Wildebeest are moving across the crater, it was fabulous to see, and 4 huge lions were hunting the Zebras and the Wildebeest!

We then went to see a Hippo pool, it was in a gorgeous setting, and they were all lazing around in the sun, including a lovely lion! He was stretched out rolling on his back!

The Crater was full of animals, all going about their daily business, it was beautiful to see. We saw some Hyenas, Ostriches, Warthogs, and elephants, and a pride of Lions. In the distance we even saw 2 Black Rhinos – we felt very privileged to catch a glimpse of them. A Lion came and sat right next to our jeep so we couldn’t drive off – absolutely amazing!

The Crater is a real gem, the rolling green and yellow landscape is spectacular – you could stay here forever. There was a lovely alkaline lake in the centre of the crater, where there were flocks of pink Flamingos – brilliant!

Eventually we have to say goodbye and go back to camp. At 2.00pm we had some lunch – rice and chicken, and then we packed up our tents ready to leave. Drive for about an hour to Karatu campsite, arrive at about 4.00pm. It’s a great campsite, where we had our tents put up for us, whilst we sat and had a drink – it was marvellous. There was a lovely little bar – and they were playing music!

A few of us went for a lovely shower, and chilled out on the grass. A graduation ceremony is happening and there are loads of young peoples singing and dancing. At 8.00pm Inno called us for tea, he had made mashed potatoes and a stew – lovely! We all stayed up until 1.00pm laughing and talking, even Inno came to join us.

Friday 29th September
Wake up at 6.45am, and go for breakfast at 7.30am. Inno has made pancakes! Pack up our tents ready to move on – it has started to rain. Leave Karatu and head for Tarangire. Stop at a market on the way so that Inno can pick up some more food for us.

We stopped at another market that was selling African gifts. We bought a lovely carved wooden fruit bowl, and a wooden chess set – all the pieces carved out perfectly. We also bought a tinga tanga painting for home! Arrive at Tarangire at 12.00 - it’s sweltering! Set up our tents, whilst Inno prepares lunch – tuna salad, vegetable stew and spaghetti – followed by bananas!

Go out on a game drive at 2.30pm – it rain on and off all afternoon, but we still had a great time. The landscape here is a lot greener and absolutely beautiful, I love elephants, and John said this is the place to see them. He was right – I have never seen so many in one place, and they are huge!

I am amazed at the amount of baby elephants as well – especially when they start to run to keep up with the rest of the group – their little ears flapping around and their tiny tooty trunks – adorable! We see so many animals here – Giraffes, Zebra, Wildebeest, Mongoose, and storks, Waterbucks, Eagles, Vultures, Warthogs and Buffalo – it was great!

Go back to camp at 6.00pm – it is still raining. Inno has tea all ready for us when we get back – he has made some traditional African dishes for us to try! Marrovet went to get beer for everyone and some Fanta for the girls – bless him.

It was pitch black by 7.00pm, so after tea, Inno built a campfire for us to sit around! A proper campfire in the middle of nowhere, it is so exciting! All 12 of us sat around laughing g and joking, it is the best night! John and Marrovet are lovely and say that they hope we have really enjoyed the trip as much as they have. Go to bed at 10.30pm, I am so sad its our last night! I can hear Hyenas howling in the distance!

Saturday 30th September
Wake up at 6.00am – have our last breakfast together – it’s a shame we were swarmed by wasps! It rained loads in the night, so everyone is a bit damp, and the tents are soaked.

Before we set off this morning we all got together to say a big thank you to John, Marrovet and Inno, and to give them a tip from all of us, it was lovely. Pack up and leave Tarangire at about 8.30am – it is so sad.

On the way back to Arusha, John stopped at a shop on the roadside in Arusha, where they sell Tanzanite – it is beautiful! We haven’t bought any credit cards with us – probably for the best though! Leave there about 10.30pm and head to a small airport in Arusha. Drop off one of the ladies at the airport, as she is going on the Zanzibar extension. We all hug each other; it is so sad, feel like we are losing good friends, as we all got on so brilliantly. John then took us back to ‘Tropical Trails’, where we had a drink, and a chat, then onward to the Karama Lodge. Give John a huge hug – he has made this trip so brilliant, and is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.

We all sat in the lounge and ordered some sandwiches, soaking up the last of the atmosphere before we leave. A bus came to pick us up at 3.00pm to take us back to Kilimanjaro airport. Our flight back to Addis Ababa is at 6.30pm, sleep for most of it, as we are so shattered! Arrive there at 9.15pm, have a wander round and try to eat some food with the meal vouchers they gave us – not as lovely as Innocents cooking!

Our flight back to London leaves at 2.00am. On the plane we all sleep on and off till we land at 9.40am. Say our goodbyes and head off home. We have swapped email addresses with everyone so we can swap photos and stay in touch. This holiday has been a really gem, and I have really enjoyed myself."

Kirsty and Alan went on The Adventure Company's Serengeti Explorer trip.

For more information about our Serengeti Explorer tour or to find out about the other tours The Adventure Company have departing for Tanzania, please do visit our website.

Have you been on an Adventure Company trip? Or maybe you are waiting to leave, thinking of booking, or simply want to meet other travellers? Why not sign up for our new community area, where you can share tips, upload photos, write blogs and meet other travellers who could be on your trip!

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

The Adventure Company: Into the depths of Africa!

2009-06-05T04:50:00.000-07:00

This week, James Ingham shares his travel diary with us following the time he spent on our Delta to Victoria Falls trip to Botswana

"I was lucky enough to have just done part of the Delta to Victoria trip (trip code BS); spending two days in the Delta and two days in Moremi National Park and there are two over riding & life changing aspects I took out from the experience, which I’d like to share.

One, coming from the UK, being in environment dominated by the animal kingdom truly turned my world upside down. We live in such a populated island, the only wildlife we see on a regular basis are birds – well the last few days certainly turned that on it’s head…everything had a place and purpose, the whole environment was the result of thousands of years evolution; perfectly symbiotic. The Okavango Delta is large enough for natural migration patterns which not many other places can provide nowadays. Secondly, no mobile reception, TV, laptops, news, or worries of work – this is one of the most tranquil and serene holidays I have ever had it really showed me how little we need to live happily.

So, here are the highlights

Day One
We flew into Maun, described by one of the travellers as the frontier town for the Delta, and it certainly had that feel to it; it’s where most people start We explored the High Street and then enjoyed a 45minute evening flight over the Delta, spotting herds of elephants and zebras, but crucially, we got a sense of the scale of the wilderness; it’s a staggering 16000sqkm!

Days Two & Three
After a short drive in the Land Cruiser we entered the Delta’s designated wildlife area, once we passed the massive buffalo fence which splits the wilderness from the grazing land we were instantly hit by wildlife – a great introduction. Within two minutes there were baboons crossing the road, followed 30 seconds later by hippos relaxing in a waterhole. The 45 minute off-road drive continued to the polling station to meet our guides was and in that time we saw ostriches, giraffes, Tsebes and many birds.

Then it was into the Mokorros for a unique bush experience; being punted through the reeds, enjoying the sun and witty rapport. We arrived at our campsite, which some pollers had set up before out arrival. The wild campsites deserve a mention, the pollers put up and took done most parts, but when we were in Moremi we helped the guides, putting up tents and washing up, leaving them to manage the fire and the cooking, but help was always appreciated and every was willing to chip in. The outdoor showers and toilets were are really unique experience – particularly the shower in Moremi - I found myself lathering up looking out over a herd of elephants and a pod of hippos, definitely one of my best showers…

Here in the Delta, the mokorro pollers took us on walking safaris in the early morning and evening, which were very memorable for me – seeing these guides use their tracking knowledge to uncover herds of elephants, zebras, impala and giraffes – the whole experience was so natural it was breathtaking – nothing but bush land between us and the animals just 50 metres away and I, or they, never felt threatened. The most memorable experience here was taking a mokorro trip to see a hippo pool in the early evening – it was fascinating watching their interaction between themselves and us, all against a beautiful tropical sunset.

Days Four & Five
From here we got back in the Land Cruiser and drove up to Moremi with our local Botswanan guide, Pass. Moremi is known for being rich in wildlife – typifying Botswana’s policy of a low volume of visitors but at a higher price and this certainly added to the experience.

It was as game drive should be seen, on most the morning or evening drives we would see just 2- 4 other vehicles in 2-3 hours; a far cry from my initial perception of one leopard lying in the sun and eight trucks around it. For this Botswana is special, you really feel immersed in the wildness. No more so than at night, when you are around the campfire chatting and you hear hippos grunting the background, hyenas calling out and elephants trumpeting. In the reserve you’re not allowed to get out of the truck so our two guides are busy pointing out the game, there were so many amazing birds and animals, but the real highlight was watching a stampede of elephants come across the bush towards our truck. I’ll never forget this, lucky because my images of it were not so great...

This is an abridged summary of my few days in Botswana. I had a great time and I’m happy to talk to anyone about it. It far surpassed my initial expectations and I have come back with better feel for what life is all about. I learnt so much about the animal kingdom, got a real sense of purpose and I can not thank my guides enough- just great, super, amazing, awesome… "

James went on our Delta to Victoria Falls trip, but we also offer five other tours to Botswana. Visit our website to find out more.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Reaching Everest Base Camp!

2009-05-29T04:16:00.000-07:00

On our Facebook recently, we've have lots of enquiries from fans and past customers who are curious as to what its like to reach Everest Base Camp and what they should expect.

We've never been one to leave our customers in the dark, and with the help of Jo Murphy, her extensive travel diary is our blog of the week.

Here's hoping this clears up any queries with you all, but as always ask us by leaving a comment or sending an email if you wish to know anything more!

"Everest Base camp Trek 27th March 2009

Prep
After 6 months of waiting, my dream was about to begin… but first I had to squeeze 19 days worth of clothes into one teeny weeny rucksack…. Ok maybe not teeny weeny, but 15kg is not a lot for a girl!, I find it quite an achievement that I mamnaged to pack just one pair of shoes, - and even those were slippers…. Amazing!

Day 1
After a long day of travelling, scoffing haribo, and getting to know my fellow adventurures, we finally arrive in Kathmandu. Straight away we are hit by the hustle and bustle, a complete culture shock to anybody who has never experienced a completely different way of life. The sheer amount of people in the streets, the smells, the colours. One thing I can clearly remember from out first introduction to Kathmandu, is the local police shutting off a whole street because a cow decided it fancied a nap in the road!

After a “scenic” journey through Kathmandu, we arrived at out hotel, the Tibet hotel, really nice place. We had a bit of an exploration, ventured down to Thamel, saw all the rickshaws, hundreds of shops selling everything you need for the trek, - wished I had listened to previous travellers now! Would have saved a lot of money!

Early evening went back to the hotel, met all the rest of out group, had a meeting, short introduction into what we would be doing, then off for tea! – or as Paul would call it “dinner” , differences between the north/south divide amongst the English crowd quickly became apparent!

After a lovely dinner, myself, Nicky, Hayley and Laura, decided to use our short time in Kathmandu wisely, and explore the place, unfortunately, we stumbled into a Nepalese “dance” bar, were we were treated to an hour of erm… “exotic” and slightly weird dance show! But we wouldn’t have had it any other way, was a fantastic night trying out the famous Everest beer, and getting to know each other!

Day 2: Exploring Kathmandu
So Raj, our guide, had informed us to be up and ready to go at 9am, in order to get around all the places we needed to see. Myself and Hayley, didn’t get off to the best start, as we only woke up at 9.20am, to banging on the door!! Oops!
Nevertheless, we got on our way to our first stop, Swayambunath Stupa, aka – monkey temple. We spent about an hour looking around, visiting prayer wheels, watching the locals praying, and generally just taking in the sights, and you guessed it, watching the Columbus monkeys, roaming freely around the temple.

Second stop was Durbur Square, which immediately you feel like you have walked into China, the buildings and statues stand apart from the surrounding areas. All you can see are brightly dressed local holy men, dressed in orange robes, tip – don’t take their photo without asking, as they tend to chase you for money!

Also look out for the rather “interesting” wood sculptures carved around the rafters of the buildings – lets just say the Nepalese are a bit on the kinky side!

After stopping for lunch, we went to our third and final destination, which to be honest was a bit of a shocker. We went to Pashupatinath, an ancient temple complex resting on the edge of the Baghmati river. The stretch of river is devoted to hindu cremations, and when we arrived, there were several taking place.

We were literlly sitting 50 feet on the other side of the river watching these rituals taking place. I found it a very surreal expericne, several bodies were buring, and one was led on the floor wrapped in orange cloth waiting for the ceremony. I felt slightly strange for witnessing something that I felt should be a private ceremony. Yet this was a hindu ceremony, and it was so interesting to witness it first hand.

Day 3: “Scenic flight to Lukla”
Scenic is word word to describe it alright!, I can also think of several others – nerve racking, gut wrentching, vom inducing, to name but a few, though not to put you off, this is one experience you will take with you for life, flying in an 18 seater toy plane 14,000 feet up over the himilayas is just amazing. Apparently our flight was considered “very successful” why was that Raj? – because we didn’t crash?

After 40 minutes, and a slight scary moment, we finally landed at Lukla airport, I use airport in the loosest term!.

We started our trek…3 hours trekking. Lukla (2840m) - Phakding (2610m)

Immediately, you feel at one with nature, you’ve been dumped in the middle of the mountains, and its just the most amazing feeling of freedom, now you really feel like your trekking to Everest Base Camp.

We arrived at Phakding shortly before 3pm, and settled into our first night experiencing teahouses. It was surprisingly nice. Much better than I was expecting, basically just a shed, - complete with flushing loo! – felt like I'd won the lottery!

First night sampling the local food which we were to be accustomed with for the next 12 nights, first of many many garlic soups for Paul, Fried egg and chips for Laura, Pizza for james, Mo Mo’s for Tanja, and most other people, Veggie fried noodles, veggie friend rice, or veggie noodle soup!

Day 4: 7 hours trekking Phakding (2610m) - Namche Bazar (3430m)

So after a relatively comfy night in Phakding, and my first sampling of lemon and honey tea, (yum yum!!) we set off for the famous namche Bazaar. Over the course of several hours, we were to steadily climb 800 metres. The majority of the trek today was at a slight gradient, or what Raj would refer to as “nepali flat”, that term, we would later discover, was just Raj’s way of getting our lazy backsides up a hill!

After crossing the last of 5 highly suspended bridges over the famous “Milk River”, we started out steep ascent up to Namche. This part of the trek was strenuous. But so scenic, we were walking through beautiful forests and amongst snowcapped mountains, which more than made up for the hard work.

Finally arriving at Namche Bazaar, the clouds had come down and everybody was feeling a little tired. Some had a small kip before tea, others went exploring.

That night a few of our team, Myself. Laura, Louise, Dale, Anne, and Prakash stayed up playing cards games, we had such a laugh, brought it home how little you actually need to keep you happy, just a few cards, and a hot chocolate. Was a great night.

Day 5: Acclimatising Namche (3430m) - Syangboche (3720m) – Namche (3430m)

So after a surprisnlgly good nights sleep, managed to sneak into the hot shower at 6am!, then me and gary went for a walk around namche, One thing that’s great about waking up so early, are the views, after arriving the previous day in cloud, we had no idea of the scene that met us when we woke up. Namche being nestled in a horseshoe, seems protected 360 degrees by the most stunning scenery. Waking up this early you get to see the sunrise which just gives the best start to the day!

Today was our first acclimatiasation day and we were to climb 350 metres up namche Hill, we got to visit the namche museum, and also had our first view of everest. Was an amazing feeling to be stood so far away looking at where we were aiming. This would be the first and last time we would see everest until kala patthar. The mountain looked so beautiful and peaceful, a total contrast to the book several of the team were reading simultaneously – Jon Krakauer’s "Into Thin Air!”. It made me realize just how dangerous something so beautiful can actually be.

From here we continued up to our acclimatization point, after a climb of roughly 90 minutes, we stayed at the top for an hour or so, relaxing, taking in the views and slowly getting panda eyes!

Day 6: 6 hours trekking. Namche Bazar (3430m) - Tengboche (3860m)

Today the trek started off with a small climb, during the course of the day we were to drop 600 metres into the forest, then climb up 1030 metres to Tengboche, again following the milk river. After lunch we had a 3 hour steep climb, this was tough, especially now as the lack of oxygen had started to become apparent. But we were given plenty of rest stops, however those were quickly followed with lots of “jam jams”

For the best part of the day the weather was amazing, though the higher we went and the later in the day, the temparture semmed to drop dramatically. We eventually arrived at tengboche and immediately saw Tengboche monastry. A beautiful colourful building standing onto of the mountain. We had a venure round before tea, which was well deserved after the strenuous climb today, - although sneakily, Gary, Paul, James and David had already filled their tummies at the tengboche bakery!, - without telling any of the girlies! Very naughty!

Day 7: 5 hours trekking. Tengboche (3860m) - Dingboche (4410m)

The day started with an easy descent of 75 metres, - but as we had come to learn, for every down, theres an up, just around the corner, and usually 10 times as big! Today I had started to suffer with the headaches, I felt particualry sick and dizzy, Raj our guide was brilliant, he monitered several of us, as we came down with slight signs of altitude sickness. He gave us advice and kept checking on us. I found it particvualry frustrating, as I had trained for a few months beforehand, and I felt my body was failing me. Today was a struggle.

After lunch, I found the day got quite difficult, I felt really bad, and was unfortunately reduced to tears because of the headaches. After a bit of comfort talk from my fantastic team, I got the strength to carry on. Prakash, another of our guides kept me chatting for the last leg of the trek, which worked wonders in keeping my mind off the pain.

We eventually arrived at Dingboche, nestled in a valley, the accommodation was really comfortable. After a bit of a rest, id begun to feel better and Laura and I went for a wonder.

Day 8: Acclimatizing Dingboche (4410m) - Nangkar Tshang (4840m) - Dingboche (4410m)
So today we had another acclimatization day, It was pretty tough, about 2 hours of steep climbing. The lack of oxygen was certainly taking hold now, and I was struggling to catch my breath. I think most people in the group found it difficult, but nevertheless we made it. We stopped at the top for about 45 minutes and the most amzing time, we were sitting ontop of the clouds,, every so often they would clear briefly for about 20 seconds to reveal the most amazing view, then dissapear again.

Day 9: 5 hours trekking. Route: Dingboche (4410m) - Lobuche (4910m)
Today we set off from Dingboche and walked a “nepali” flat for about 2 hours, the scenery was amazing, the weather blazing hot, everybody seemed in high spirits.

Raj had told us the night before that if the altitude was going to affect us, it would happen after lunch, After a 90 minute trek up a very very steep mountain. When we reached the top, we came to a memorial site for all the mountaineers who have lost their lives on everest. It was such a peaceful place. We stayed here, reading the placques and taking in the views for around half an hour. Raj was right, this was the point when I got the most horrendous headache ive ever experienced. This is the day I finally had to take my diamox.

From here we had a 2 hour flat trek to Lobouche. A few of us were suffering by now with headaches and dizziness, but we still made it. That night, most of us were too tired to stay up and most were in bed by 8pm. We had a big day in the morning, - base camp!.

Day 10 : 8.5 hours trekking. Route: Lobuche (4910) - Base Camp (5365m) - Gorak Shep (5140m)
Today I woke up in a strange mood, very nervous, scared, and very emotional. I couldn’t touch breakfast, similar to a good few others in the group, - except of course Paul and Dave!

We set off at 5am, and had a 3 hour trek to Gorak Shep. The first part of the day was tough, Nicola was really suffering due to the altitude, and several of the group had pulled right back and were taking it slow today. The temperature was freezing. Although spirits were down, after an hour or so when we saw the sun rise over the mountains, we started to come round.

8 am and we had finally reached gorak Shep, Most people byt this point were totally exhausted, but with base camp less than 3 hours away, we all seemed to find a little bit of spare energy to spur on. We forced down a bit of breakfast and carried on.

The trek to base camp was really nice and peaceful, difficult with lots of ups and downs. The group seemed to go quiet, and we all got our heads down, taking in the beautiful scenery and looking out towards the khumba ice fell. The sun was shining and base camp was approaching.

It was approcimately 1.45pm when we reached base camp.

Tired, exhausted, emotional, but successful, a few of us had a cry, we had finally reached our destination, several of us endured a lot of pain and exhaustion, but we got here. I didn’t quite know what to expect, before I came to Nepal, people had told me basecamp was a “dump” and full of litter. But it wasn’t at all. We stayed here for around an hour, taking photos, just spending time alone, taking in the views, watching Dale with his hedgehogs he had carried all the way up, celebrating with a tube of Pringles at 17,600 feet, ( pic 31) and toasting with champagne… ok forget the champagne…more like mineral water, but hey!

We finally left basecamp and headed back to Gorak shep, good timing, as half an hour in, the clouds came down and the snow started falling….

Day 11: 9.5 hours trekking. Gorak Shep (5140m) - Kala Pathar (5550) - Orsho (4130m) (or as I like to call it – hell!)

So today, we had two options, we could attempt kala patthar at 18,192 feet, or we could start our descent down to Orsho. Over night however, the skies above everest had decided to dump a few feet of snow on our doorstep. We were told from the beginning that not all of us would have the strength to attampet kala patthar, as it was a tough 2 hour climb at freezing temperatures, made even worse by the snow. Nevertheless 11 out of our 14 set off at 5am to attempt the mountain. I managed to climb for an hour and a half before finally giving up, I got to see the sunrise over everest, manage one quick photograph looking distionctively in pain, be hand fed a snickers bar by one of our guides. Then, I quickly get off the mountain. In a flood of tears due to pain and dissapointment, I sat having my fingers and toes thawed out in Gorak Shep by 4 sherpas. Ive never felt pain like that in my life!.

It was another hour or so until we discovered who had made Kala Pathar. Paul, David, Gary, James, Dale, Anne, Louise. They came back with a couple of war wounds. Dale had received a massive gash on his leg after falling on a rock, Gary had dislocated his shoulder, and been made to walk half an hour before having it popped back in! but all in all the heroes all made it back in one piece, - their photos looked amazing.

We eventually all caught up with each other in a massive snow storm, followed by blazing sunshine, most of us owe our attractive panda eyes to this day!

Day 12: 6 hours trekking. Orsho (4130m) - Namche Bazar (3430m)
Back down to namche, and all the girls could think about was a hot shower, and the boys a cold beer! Typical! We celebrated later on in the night by visiting the local nightclub with our guides. Was a brilliant night!

Day 13: 3.25 hours trekking. Namche Bazar (3430m) - Phakding (2610m)
In the words of James, this was the day that the “pathetic testosterone driven kids” – aka – boys!!! decided to literally run 700 metres downhill to phakding and try to beat Prakash.

The girls were in stitches watching the boys try and race each other, we held back taking in the scenery for what will probably be the last time for many of us.

When we arrived at Phakding we were greeted by the next group heading up to base camp, it brought back memories from the first night of our trek, we were swapping stories and giving advice.

Meanwhile Nicola and myself were scaring the sherpas by unplaiting my braids id worn for ease for the last 3 weeks. The look on their faces was hilarious as they were watching all my hair end up in a pile on the table. It was soooo nice to finally be able to scratch my head! And feel like a girl! Haha

Day 14: 3 hours trekking. Phakding (2610m) - Lukla (2840m)

The last day of our trek, I think most of our group, except the boys, decided to take this one slowly, it was the last time we would see the mountains so close, the weather was amazing, the views simply stunning and the walk so relaxing. I think all of us at some point got a little emotional that our trek was finally coming to an end.

That night we stayed in Lukla, - what a memorable night!, - we had a meal altogether with our guides and sherpas, then partied sherpa style. Then wondered down to the local bar for cocktail happy hour! I think a few of our group forgot what awaited us the following morning…..yeti airlines! and probably drank a wee too much than they should have…. Brilliant!

Day 15: Lukla (2840m) – Kathmandu

Today was our final day in mountains, it was emotional, we had to say goodbye to our guides, Iswur, Chhewang, Nara and prakash, and our sherpas. Then hopped on yeti airline for our “scenic flight to kathmandu” – I think you already know what comes next so I wont go into detail!

Few hours later and we are back in the smog, a whole day ahead of us to explore the hustle and bustle of Kathamdu. That night Raj took us out to a well known restaurant in Thamel, - Rum Doodles, we had a brilliant meal, and at the end we got given a foot to sign…. this is when team jam jam was born…. Out foot now hangs proudly from the ceiling displaying “team jam jam – the toast of everest base camp” on one side, and something else which I wont tell you on the other! So if you see it in the future take a pic for us so we know its still there!

Day 16 : Kathmandu

Another free day to shop and explore… and sunbath and swim… yep, a few of our group had found a little haven across from our hotel, 7 stories up we were pampering ourselves in the sauna and stemroom of the Radison hotel. Just what the doctor ordered!

Day 17: Homeward Bound
Today was another emotional day, most of the group were traveling back to heathrow together, but we had to say goodbye to Tanya and Gary beforehand which was sad.

My experience…..
Everest Base Camp was something id wanted to do for a long time, but I kept putting it off, until one day about a year ago I just went for it. For 4 months beforehand I'd trained and researched about my trip. The time flew by and before I knew it I was sat on a plane with my fellow adventurers. For me this trip was the start of a new chapter in my life. It truly was a voyage of self discovery, I went through hard times and painful times, days when I was so happy I didn’t want them to end and days when I felt so sick I didn’t want to carry on, above all absoutley fantastic times.

I was so lucky to be with the most amazing group who truly made it for me, as a solo traveller I was worried about the people I would be with, in case I didn’t get on with them, but thankfully, through the wonders of The Adventure Company Facebook several of us had had contact for a good few months, - something which I strongly advise any grioup doing this trek. We already had a bond before we even arrived at Heathrow.

14 people from totally different backgrounds, different ages and different countires, all brought together by one mountain, we all had something in common, this was something that we all felt passionate for. I wil have memories from this trek for the rest of my life, and hopefully friends too. This is just the start of my adventures, and already, myself and Nicky are booked onto another trip with the Adventure Company. If our next trip is only half as good as Everest base camp, then it will be fantastic.

So thankyou to the adventure company, to Raj our guide, all our other guides and sherpas, and our team jam jam, Marjorie Davey, Anne and Dale Foden, Tanja Heijnemans, Paul Hopkins, Laura James, Gary Jordan, Louise Marsden, Clare Morton, Nicola Moss, James Richardson, Hayley Rose and David Vu, for truly the best experience of my life."

We're sure you agree- an absolutely fantastic account of a great trip. Find out more about Everest Base Camp by visiting The Adventure Company website.

Thanks kindly to Jo for taking the time and effort spent in sending us her experience, and thank YOU for reading!

The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Pair in Peru!

2009-05-22T01:58:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what it is like to take on an adventure with your dearly beloved? Kirsty and her partner Allen recently went to Peru and completed The Inca Trail. She's kindly submitted her travel diary for us to browse through:

"Friday 24th August
Check in with Iberia airlines at 5.00am and pop into Wetherspoons for a fry up, something we probably won’t get on the Inca trail. The flight from Heathrow left at 9.00am and we are now on our way to Madrid. Arrive in Madrid at 12.00noon, and then run ‘Home Alone’ style to catch our 12.40 flight to Lima. This flight is for 10 3/4 hours but with thoughts of the Inca Trail in our mind we just doze off for the majority of the flight – I love it when that happens.

Arrive in Lima, collect our luggage and meet our guide Nela – she is lovely, along with a guy who is also booked on this trip with us. Nela drove the 1 hour trip to Miraflores in Lima – I instantly felt excited for the trip ahead as the roads were manic and there were people and cars everywhere – such a buzz, she said 8 million people live in Lima – wow. Arrive at our hotel ‘Leon de Oro’ at 7.30pm. It is a lovely hotel, and our room is massive – it has 2 double beds! We then meet the other guy on our trip and go for a wander round Lima and get some food from a lovely little place called ‘Chefs Café’. The streets are so lively and the atmosphere is great! Go to bed at 10.00pm – absolutely shattered!

Saturday 25th August
Wake up at 6.30am and have a lovely hot shower. Wander down for breakfast and meet the other two people also on the same trip, a father and daughter – already feels like we are making new friends. Nela then came to collect us to take us to Lima airport for our domestic flight to Cusco. The flight left at 10.40, and is 1hr long. The mountain views from the plane are fantastic. Arrive at Cusco airport, some Peruvians are playing music in the entrance – this gave us a great welcome. As soon as you step outside you are surrounded by Mountains, its so refreshing. We are at about 11,000ft, so far I feel great.

We then meet our guide Leo, he’s a lovely guy and makes us all feel at ease. He then drove us the 15min drive to Cusco. The streets of Cusco are even busier than Lima, and the whole place is colourful, and there is such fantastic lively atmosphere. Arrive at our hotel ‘Hotel Suenos del Inka’ It is on a small cobbled street, up some small steps. It is wonderful. The hotel is lovely with wooden carved stairs and stone floors. Check in and have some Cocoa tea – not crazy about that, but give it ago, its meant to be good for altitude. Leo welcomes us to Cusco and gave us a small brief of what will happen today and tomorrow. We have the most amazing view from our room, the window is the full length of the room and you feel like you can see the whole of Cusco lay out before you.

Meet up with everyone and Leo at 2pm, and drive to Sacsayhuaman – believed to be an Inca temple. The site was incredible and the large rocks fit together so perfectly.

The temperature is rising – it is so hot now. Next we visited Qengo, a temple of the Incas, where they made offerings to mother earth, and Tambomachay. This is a natural spring, which the Inca’s built around using magnificent stones.

Next we went to Puka Pukara, believed to be a military base, again wonderful remains of Inca craftsmanship. Leo is so knowledgeable about Cusco and the Inca’s, and so passionate about it.

We then travelled back to Cusco, and visited the Cathedral. It was amazing and huge! The detail and craftsmanship is outstanding and the amount of gold and silver used I have never known before. We then visited a monastery.

Leo showed us some great examples of Inca’s precise geometry used when carving rocks at exact angles. He also showed us some original Inca walls, which were only found after an earthquake, they were perfect, as they had been covered with Lime, hidden by the Spanish. Had such a great day here, Cusco Square is very lively and has a fountain in the middle, with everything situated perfectly around it.

Back at the hotel Leo talked to us about the Inca Trail and gave us our duffel bags, which the porters will carry for us on the trail. In the evening we all met up to go out for something to eat, at a small restaurant called ‘Mythology’.

Sunday 26th August
Wake up with a headache, but slept great, go down for some breakfast – the food was lovely. Meet up with the others – they all look a bit grey, but it doesn’t cloud our excitement. This morning Leo came to brief us some more on the Inca trail, then we organised our duffel bags. We all met up at 9.45 and took a walk to the main square, it is really busy and they are having a parade.

There are processions of Military, schools and bands. They are all playing and marching and singing – it was great, they have such a great spirit and the atmosphere was brilliant.

We all went to shelter from the heat and had a lovely cool drink in a café sitting on a balcony overlooking the square. This morning we all changed some currency and found a little chemist to buy some altitude tablets and re-hydration salts – better to be safe than sorry. We all then went to an Italian ‘Tratoria Adriano’, where we had lunch and had a toast to the Inca Trail – fingers crossed we can all make it. Go back to the hotel, where we check our GPS we are now at 11,300 ft – wow.

At 2pm Leo take us to Cusco market, it was thriving with locals, selling everything and anything – fruit, vegetables, flowers, clothes, spices, bread – you really felt like you’d pinched a bit of local life. Everyone was bustling around it really was lovely.

Leo then took us for a walk of some local sites. We all got into 2 taxis and set off, travelling back past Sacsayhuaman, we visited a shop selling Alpaca clothes and rugs. A lady explained how they are made and the difference between the types of clothes produced. We saw a 100% Alpaca rug that would cost around $1900!! We then walked back to Cusco with great views of the town, and saw some houses built into the mountainside and children running around – what a way of life.

We walked back to the main square, where we paid Leo the local payment and arranged to meet tomorrow morning at the hotel for 6.30am. We all went back to the hotel and weighed our duffel bags. Mine was only 4.6kg, which is great as you are only allowed to take 7kg on the trail.

We all met up in the evening and went to a great place called ‘Macondo’ – a really funky place, all lit up with paintings everywhere and great music. Have such a great laugh, and the food was gorgeous! We went back to the hotel at 9.00pm.

Monday 27th August
Wake up at 5.00am – Yuk! Have a lovely shower then go down for breakfast at 6.00am, can hardly eat as feel quite nervous this morning. Leo came to collect us at 6.30am. Travel to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. There are beautiful terraces and buildings here, what a view. It is a traditional Inca village, and Leo said from afar the village landscape is in the shape of a Llama. There is also a giant Inca head sculpted into the mountainside.

As a group we all walk around, doing some up hill walking makes me feel out of breath, which quite surprised me. Pacing myself on the trail is going to be vital. Leave there and travel for 30mins to Chilca – the start of the Inca trail. Allen gets some supplies…..

Start the trail at 10.30am. The first part of the trek was a very comfortable walk; we walked past forests and through a lot of vegetation. The sun was shining, though there was some cloud cover. We followed the Umbamba River. The paths were quite narrow so we were a bit follow my leader, but it gave us plenty of time to take in our surroundings.

We arrive at the first checkpoint KM 82 Piscacucho at 12.15. We are officially on the trail! The walk had been gentle and the views fantastic, so we were all in high spirits. Leo also points out all kinds of plants and trees. We all eat our lunch at this checkpoint and have our passports stamped, we are at about 9,000ft. We left the checkpoint via a swing bridge, some parts of the trail now were quite tough, but the views made up for it.

We reached the Inca ruins of Qanabamba, a small site of houses and terraces; it is so amazing to see them in the middle of nowhere! We carry on following the Umbamba River.

We see a few houses on the trail where locals are living today and some little goats - they are very inquisitive, standing on top of the rocks sussing us all out. The Umbamba River has cut a mouth in the mountainside and we follow it up and down, some parts are fairly steep.

Leo took us past some amazing Inca ruins Patallaqta, they were built in the side of the mountain in a perfect position for the sun.

Finally we arrived at our first campsite in the Sacred Valley at 3.10pm, everything is set up for us, and the porters bring us each a bowl of hot water at our tents. The campsite is in the middle of the mountains and has a stream running through it.

We all meet in the food tent at 4.30pm for ‘Happy Hour’ as Leo calls it, here we discuss the day, and talk about tomorrow, we all eat bread and jam, crisps and crackers round hot drinks – this is wonderful. We then went for a walk round the site – and found the ‘Poop tent’ – hooray! The camp site was next to a little ‘village’ there were a few houses, a small farm and some children playing with a ball, lots of animals were roaming around, we had a chat to the local children and walked back to the camp site.

Tea was at 6.30pm and we were amazed at what they made. We had spinach soup, followed by chicken and mashed potatoes, with a crème caramel dessert – all very good. After we sat and talked to Leo about tomorrow, Leo said the walk will be a bit tougher and the altitude will start to rise more rapidly. We all went to bed at 8.00pm, it has been a great day and we all feel really positive. The sky is so clear and you can see every star, all you can hear is the running water in the background.

Tuesday 28th August
Wake up at 5.30am, we slept ok, but were a bit cold in the night. It is great to wake up in the Sacred Valley surrounded by mountains. This morning there are ducks, chickens, a dog and a cow in the campsite!! Breakfast is at 6.30am – bacon and vegetables – very nice. Leo introduced all the porters to us this morning, the youngest is 25yrs and the eldest is 58yrs, they are remarkable. One porter is called the ‘rabbit’, and he runs ahead to get a good camp spot for tonight. We start the walk at 7.15am, a moderate 1.5 hr walk to the second checkpoint. The vegetation is really green and colourful and there are little bridges along the trail, small houses and donkeys wandering around carrying loads for their owners.

I got in the way of a running donkey, and went flying! – didn’t get hurt and the group found it very funny, apart from Leo – I was fine though.

Once we reached the second checkpoint we took a break and waited for the porters to pass us, it’s amazing how they carry all our stuff on their backs and head! Leave Wayllabamba checkpoint and walk until 10.45am where we stop for lunch. The walk is getting a steeper climb and we feel a little breathless. The porters were brilliant; they walk faster, carry heavy bags and managed to prepare a lovely lunch just sitting waiting for us to arrive.

Our lunch was pasta, chicken, carrots, broccoli, and beans – all very yummy. We had a cup of tea then left the campsite at 12.20pm.

The walk then started to get quite tough, my legs felt quit heavy and breathing was more difficult. We are now above 11,000ft. Allen my partner is really good at keeping me moving as I keep stopping to catch my breath. The views are amazing; we are climbing through tress up large steps, with a running stream down one side of us. There are lovely trees and flowers everywhere, Leo knew the names of everything, I just wished I’d written them down.

We arrive at camp at 1.40pm; we are now according to our GPS at 12,300ft. The porters are busily setting up camp, so we relax in our tents. Wayllabamba is the last human habitation on the trail. Allen and I decide to take our first altitude tablets, as our heads feel a bit squiffy. At 3.30pm Leo took us for a walk around, we are surrounded by mountains, and some are snow capped.

At 4.30pm we sit down and Leo talk to us about tomorrow, it sounds tough we will be starting at 5.30 and doing about 8 hrs of walking depending on pace. A lady and her son wandered up to camp selling water, this will be the last time we can buy some water until we finish the trail.

We all sat around chatting until tea at 6.00pm. Again the food was lovely and we were astonished at how they can cook this, we had Asparagus Soup, followed by rice, beef and vegetables, then for dessert it was apple with blackcurrant sauce. After tea Leo pointed out some of the star constellations. Go to bed at 7.15pm, it is pitch black and very cold, we got into our sleeping bags with our thermals on, and our hats! – Definitely make sure you buy a 3-season sleeping bag!

Wednesday 29th August
Wake up at 4.30am – it is freezing. Pack up our bags, and have a cup of tea and some bread and jam. The porters brought us some hot water to wash our faces, I’ve never been so happy to see someone at 4.30am! Leave the site at 5.45am, and with our head torches switched on we set off, I feel nervous about today as it will be the toughest day and we reach the highest altitude. We have been lucky so far, apart from a minor headache and some slight dizziness we have all felt really good. We start our ascent up the path to reach Dead Woman’s Pass (Abra Warmiwanuska). The path is made up of large stone steps, but they are relentless, the cloud is quite low, so you can’t see very much, but you can see the top of the pass and realise you are walking up through a valley. You feel an incredibly small dot in comparison to the landscape. The porters practically run past us!

We finally reach Dead Woman’s Pass and according to the GPS we are at 13,886ft, it is 7.00am! This was tough, but feel great and no headaches! Feel a bit of a relief as if this is the highest altitude and I feel pretty well I can stop worrying about the rest of the trail. After a group photos where we all look like white ghosts, we start to descend down a very steep path, the cloud is still low, but you can see bushes and flowers all around us, at 8.15am we stop for breakfast.

We have cereal, eggy bread and porridge – lovely. This place is mossy city and it is raining now, but it doesn’t dampen our spirits and we leave at 9.00am for the second pass - Runkuracay Pass, which is about 13,200ft. This was also a tough, steep descent, the paths are all stones, but you need to tread carefully.

We have seen some lovely Inca ruins this morning. We saw Runkuraqay, a religious Inca building, which Leo said was important because of its shape; it was round stone building, built like the sun.

We also visited Sayaqmarka, an inaccessible Inca town/military base discovered by Hiram Bingham whilst on his trek where he discovered Machu Picchu. The views would have been amazing but the cloud was still very low. After lunch we walked the rest of our walk through Cloud Forest, Peru’s rainforest. The forest was very dense and bursting with flowers, lots of orchids and exotic plants and trees – Leo knew all of their names.

We stopped for dinner at 1.00pm; it is very cloudy and has been raining on/off all morning. For dinner we have chicken curry, rice, and potatoes. We finally reached our camp at 3.00pm at Phuyupatamarka – ‘Town above the clouds’. We got quite wet on this section of the walk as it was raining and the humidity was high.

Have a good chat and laugh about the day then go to bed at 7.45pm. We are so excited about reaching Machu Picchu tomorrow.

Thursday 30th August
Wake up at 5.30am to a cup of tea – and its freezing!!! The cloud is still quite low but we can see the snow-capped mountains. I am feeling so excited. Have pancakes for breakfast, then we all tip the porters, we also gave some of the extra socks and t-shirts we had brought, we said a big thank you and hoped they realised how wonderful they had been, and how they really made the trip a lot easier and comfortable for us. We started walking at 7.00am, still in Cloud Forest, still in the rain, but now we start to go down 2000 Inca steps! Now this does test your walking boots!

Go past the ruins of Phuyupatmarka – amazing stone buildings.

Arrive at Intipata just before lunch, take loads of photos here, the terraces here are amazing, and because the cloud is low – they are quite eerie, and look like they are floating.

At 9.15 we arrive at Winaywayna. The terraces here were the best we have seen, brilliant rows of terraces, stone baths and houses, with lovely water springs, 19 in total. The sun finally came out and the site was amazing.

It is split into an upper and lower part, you felt like this was an Inca resting place before they reached the grandeur of Machu Picchu. Spend some time here and have lunch in the camp building. Again the food was lovely, tomato soup, then pasta, potatoes and tuna.

Leave Winaywayna at 11.15am and start our walk to the Sun gate (Intipunku) it is really hot now, and the cloud is clearing up. The trail is at its loveliest, all the trees and bushes are green, and the flowers are gorgeous, and there are so many different types of Orchids. There are also butterflies everywhere.

Finally reach the Sun gate at 1.00pm, climb the steps on my hands. We are all nervous and excited, it is very emotional. Leo who is already at the top is cheering us on, then…. We see it! I start to cry, I’m so happy that we are here, and every second of it was worth it for one glimpse at Machu Picchu. It is fantastic and everything I thought it would be, it really does look magical perched in between all the mountains like a jewel.

After we have taken the first site of Machu Picchu in we start our descent to the lost city, the view gets more amazing the closer you get.

We went past a sacred rock and burial ground, Leo said that Hiram Bingham found 128bodies here on his first visit. Finally our feet touch down – we are here!

There are a lot of day visitors, but I feel we are more deserving of it as we have spent 4 days getting there, and after seeing all the Inca ruins on the way feel a more personal connection to Machu Picchu. We spend a hour or so walking round some of the main pathways and sites, but Leo plans to bring us back here tomorrow morning very early to appreciate Machu Picchu without the crowds.

We have our passports stamped at the gate, we have officially arrived – I love it! We take the bus down the mountain to the village where we are staying tonight – Aguas Calientes. Arrive at our hotel at 2.30pm and have a lovely shower, and finally relax. Meet Leo at 4.30pm and he take us for a walk around the village. We went to a small information centre, all about Machu Picchu, he is so passionate about it – bless him. We then went to a large market, it was lovely, and we bought lots of little souvenirs and had a good look around.

We then went to an Italian place on the main street, the food was lovely and they had big ovens for cooking. This place is brilliant and the atmosphere is fantastic. After we’d eaten Leo left us to go to bed so we stayed out to explore a bit further. We found a lovely bar called ‘Big Brother’ where there were 2 Peruvian bands playing – we had such a great time in here, we had our first drinks here to celebrate the trail! At 10.00pm the heavens opened as we ran back to the hotel, what a great day, one I will never forget.

Friday 31st August
Wake up at 5.15am, get an early breakfast and catch the 6.00am bus up to Machu Picchu, arrive at 6.45am – it is so quiet as there is hardly anyone up here. Leo gave us a tour around the Lost City, and explained the importance of the sun, moon and constellations to the Inca’s. He is fascinated by Machu Picchu and it rubs off on everyone. It is amazing; no photo I take will ever match how magical it is here.

Leo left us at 9.45am to explore on our own. Here the group split up as some wanted to explore and others wanted to sit quietly and contemplate Machu Picchu. We went to explore, I wanted to see everything! We saw the temple or the Sun and Moon, the temple of the Condor, and the Royal tomb, we walked up and down the terraces and visited the storage houses. The Inca’s also made use of water all over the site by creating springs around it and channelling it all over Machu Picchu.

We found large cut rocks used as compasses and sundials, and large rocks used as looking glasses, which were believed to hold water and show the constellations up above. We found various different fountains across the whole site, and marvelled at the Quarry and the huge rocks that the Incas used to cut/ move, I have no idea how. The work and craftsmanship is tremendous and leaves you just in awe of the whole place.

The temperature is rising, it is so hot here, after 3 hours we decide to go outside and see if we can find anyone else from the group. We meet up with the others, and then catch the bus back down. A small boy chased us down the zigzag path by cutting across the road and then waving at us! At the bottom we then took the 25minute walk back down to the village, visiting the Inca/ Machu Picchu Museum and botanical gardens – very interesting.

We met up with Leo, and then all went for dinner in the square. The food was lovely, Guinea Pig was on the menu, but none of us were brave enough. We all then had another wander round and visited another market, and also had an ice cream. At 4.30pm we met Leo and walked to the train station to catch the 5.00pm Peru Rail backpackers train, for the 3hr 15mins journey back to Cusco.

The train was very slow, but the views were really nice and we saw parts of the trail and KM 82 our first checkpoint. We got off the train one stop before Cusco, as Leo said the journey was 15minutes by Taxi, but another 1hr 15mins by train. We arrived back at the same hotel as before, quickly got changed and then walked to the ‘Fallen Angel’ restaurant, which we had previously booked. We had a table booked for 9.30pm, it was a really trendy place, and the food and atmosphere was great. We had asked Leo, and his wife and daughter to come with us, to show our appreciation for everything he had done for us, we tipped Leo and took lots of group photos, he really made the whole holiday brilliant. We all feel really proud of ourselves, and have some fantastic memories. Have a lovely night out, a great ending to the perfect holiday! We left the ‘Fallen Angel’ at 12.00am, aargh! We are up at 4.30am! Back to the hotel for a good night sleep.

Saturday 1st September
Wake up at 4.30am, have a quick shower, and breakfast. Leo arrived at 5.30am to take us to Cusco airport for our flight back to Lima. One of the guys in our group was staying for the Puno extension, but he came with us to the airport to say goodbye. Arrive at the airport and check in our bags, our flight is at 7.15am. Give everyone a hug, Leo said he is no longer our guide but our friend, that was lovely and nearly bought a tear to my eye. The hour flight from Cusco to Lima was quite sad. Nela came to collect us from the airport and took us back to the same hotel in Lima as before. We left our bags in the hotel and went to get some lunch and have a wander round Lima. Do a bit more shopping and walk down to the sea front. It is quite developed here with lots of shops and cafes. We found a star bucks and went for a hot chocolate. We found some more markets and had a look round. We then went back to the hotel at 4.30pm, and Nela came to collect us at 4.45pm. Give everyone a big hug, and promise to keep in touch. Our 10hr flight to Madrid was good – we are so tired we slept through most of it. Arrive back in the UK and go to Victoria station to catch our bus back home. I feel really sad the holiday is over, but feel I am bringing something special back with me. We have had such a wonderful time, I will never ever forget it"

Kirsty and her partner Allen went on The Inca Trail. If you are considering a trip or tour of Peru, the Adventure Company has many tours which cater for families, groups and couples no matter what your age. Visit their website for more information

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Family Fun in Croatia!

2009-04-29T02:47:00.000-07:00

This weeks blog comes from Dawn Higgins, a mum who took her two daughters Amy and Lauren on our Active Croatia Family Holiday trip.

She gives us an insight into how easy it is to have a great adventure when you are a single parent, and kindly tells us about the fun the trio encountered!

"Saturday
It was here at last. It had seemed such a long way off when I booked it the previous November. It was our first holiday just the 3 of us, I was both nervous and excited.
My 2 girls aged then 8 and 9 couldn’t wait to set off.

We left home mid morning for the 2 ½ hour drive down to Heathrow Airport. We finally arrived at the off site car park after driving past it several times much to the girls amusement. Car checked in, we were on the minibus on the way to the airport. Too early to check in we went to have lunch, then headed back to check in where we met another mum and her daughter, followed by a dad and his son. We all hit it off straight away. Unfortunately the flight was delayed a couple of hours, but we didn’t mind too much, gave us a chance to get to know each other.

Eventually we boarded the plane which touched down en route in Split, here we met most of the remaining group. Not many of us were left on board the plane now, another 30 minutes or so and we arrived at Zagreb. Two guides met us at the airport and we boarded 2 minibuses and headed off to Korana Village, complete with pack up. We arrived there about 2am, both excited and tired.

We were shown to our accommodation, which comprised of traditional Croatian houses. We occupied 3 of the houses in total, 3 families were in ours. They were basic, but comfortable with a double and single bed. I drew the short straw and had to share with my eldest daughter Amy!! She doesn’t know how to lie still.

Sunday

The next morning we had an early start, breakfast at 9am, where we met our guides for the week - Stefan and Martel. We also met up with the last remaining family, who had travelled from America. Our group comprised of 3 dads, 4 mums, 4 girls and 5 boys aged between 8 and 16.

Straight after breakfast, it was time to get ready for our cycle ride. First of all we were kitted out with appropriate size bike and helmets, all of which the guides saw to. The parents plus Stefan, proceeded to climb up the steep hill out of Korana village, whilst the children with Martel headed off in the minibus to meet us further along the way where it was flat and we could all cycle together.

It was a lovely day, not too hot, cycling along the lanes and through the beautiful peaceful countryside. Everyone was left to cycle at their own pace and no pressure was put on anyone to keep up. The minibus was always there just in case enough was enough.

We cycled for quite a while and eventually arrived at a beautiful little spot beside a shallow river, where we stopped to have lunch which had been supplied for us. Lunch eaten, it was time to go off and explore the caves.

We were all given helmets with lamps and it was good fun clambering through the caves into all the nooks and crannies, then the lights were turned off, pitch black! It was very cold in the caves. (take a sweatshirt if you plan to go!) Once back out into the warm sunshine we had free time to explore, most of us sat by the river whilst the kids played.

Time to head off back to the village, most of the kids had had enough cycling and opted to return to the village by minibus, leaving us adults to cycle back. (Be prepared to get saddle sore if you’re not used to cycling). The kids were playing down by the river in big rubber rings by the time we got back, having a great time.

Showered and ready for dinner we sat in the little communal area in front of the houses next to the river, it was so peaceful. We reflected on our first day and got to know each other more over dinner which was cooked by the Croatian family that lived there. Early to bed, ready for tomorrow.

Monday
9am start for breakfast. It was our first day of kayaking. Again we were fully fitted out with life jackets and helmets. Kayaks on the trailer and we were off for our river adventure.

Today we had to provide our own lunch (as we did on four of the days). We stopped en route at a local shop and stocked up with goodies to keep us going for the day. We arrived at our start point about 2 hours later. We had some free time whilst 1 of the minibuses was took to the final destination. It was once again a lovely spot and most of us jumped in and out of the river, swam across it, went to the island in the middle, more jumping in. It was so good to relax and do the things you never have time for at home.

It was time to board the kayaks, we paired up. I was with my youngest daughter, Lauren. Amy teamed up with a girl a few years older than herself. Once taught the basics we were on our way. It took a lot of getting used to, especially when you are sharing a kayak with someone. We hit the banks and several trees numerous times, but it was all part of the fun. We weren’t the only ones, think we were probably the worse to start with though!! Amy and her friend did struggle a little bit, with not being that strong in their own kayak and were towed a few times to keep up with the rest of the group. Again, there was no pressure to keep up at a certain pace. There was always 1 guide at the front whilst the other 1 was at the back.

Heading downstream we went over numerous waterfalls, it was great fun. The guides guiding us down them, arms up and paddles in the air as we went down. Some of the group capsized, but luckily we got away with not doing so.

What a brilliant day it was, great surroundings, great people and lots of splashing about. (You don’t have to be shy about the lack of toilet facilities, going behind the bushes was all part of the experience!!) Back on dry land, we headed back to the village. Quick shower, dinner and it was time to go to bed.

Tuesday

Another early start 8am (we were used to them by now, it made you make the most of every day). Today we were off walking in Plitvice National Park.

The scenery was fantastic, blue lakes, waterfalls, streams, full of fish which the kids loved.

We walked for about 3 miles, interspersed with a trip on a little train and a ride on a ferry across the lake.

Here we stopped for lunch, two places to choose from, most opted for the barbecue chicken, which went down well. It seemed really strange though being with crowds of people after it only being our own little group.

Early afternoon we headed back to the village where we had a few hours to spare. Some of us headed off upstream on the cycles to a lovely little spot with a waterfall, which we proceeded to dive and jump off.

The local Croatians were there swimming and diving in too. Of course you didn’t have to do this, you could stay in the village and just relax, soak up the sun if you wanted to. Back to the village, shower, dinner and early to bed.

Wednesday
Another 8am start and another day of kayaking. Everything loaded up and we were off, we were going to be heading upstream today. The only drawback here, was that you had to drag the kayaks up and over the waterfalls. The guides were brilliant at this.

Today I was with my eldest Amy, and Lauren fell lucky and shared a kayak with Martel, 1 of the guides. We had to wade through some quite deep water at times, and Lauren enjoyed the fact that she was carried by Martel, talk about being pampered, she loved it!

We stopped en route and climbed to the top of the 7 metre cliff, which everyone had been talking about jumping off. It had seemed like a good idea at home, but not in reality. However, there was a 4 metre cliff too, which Lauren and I and most of the others jumped off.

It seemed such a long way down as you plunged into the water, we were probably only under for a couple of seconds, if that. It was a big achievement for myself, as I had been scared of heights for years. It was no problem for the kids though, they have no fear and in just jumped in A couple of the group did jump off the 7 metre cliff, but my fear hadn’t completely gone for that.

Back in the kayaks we headed off downstream, down all the waterfalls we had previously dragged the kayaks up. At the end of the kayaking trip, Lauren had great pleasure in telling me how they hadn’t crashed the kayak once! We got the hang of it eventually. Back on dry land at our start point we headed back to the village.

Quick shower and change, we were off to a local restaurant tonight to have trout. It was lovely, fresh straight out the pond. The kids were a bit squeamish, and had to have the fish heads cut off before they would eat it. There was also a vegetarian dish available too. After a good meal and couple of drinks, we headed back to our beds for the night.

Thursday
8am start.(If you like your lie ins, then this isn’t for you!). Third day of kayaking. Today we were heading off as part of a larger group down a differerent stretch of river. Today I was with one of the girls, whilst my two were both with the guides. It was so much easier to paddle, having someone that little bit older to help to guide the kayak. Lots of splashing about and having fun again, we were starting to get quite good at this.

Stopping en route for lunch, at a lovely spot where you could swim and another cliff to jump off. Not quite so high this time. There was no stopping us today, not saying that the nerves weren’t there a little bit! Again everyone helped and encouraged each without any pressure, you didn’t feel you had to join in, some of the group sat and soaked up the sun. It was very warm today, probably the hottest day of the holiday. Back in the kayaks to our destination and back for dinner and bed.

Friday
8am start again. Today was a free day to do what we liked. We had the option of going white water rafting, which we all decided we wanted to do, rather than relax! However the kids had to be 16 to do it. We were instead, given the option of the kids rafting on a quieter stretch of the river.

They all said yes and 3 of the adults including myself went with them whilst the rest went white water rafting. We headed over the border into Bosnia for this activity. Another guide from the rafting company joined us, as we headed off into 2 rafts - girls versus boys. We won! We headed off downstream for probably a couple of hours, stopped part way for a paddle or swim. Once at our destination we waited for other part of our group to arrive and had lunch by the river. Time to head back into Croatia for our final evening together.

It was time to start packing, shower and dinner. We had a good time chatting about the weeks events, swapping phone numbers and email addresses.

Saturday
It was a very sad day, up for 5am to get to the airport for our morning flight. Quick breakfast and it was time to go. It was our guides last week with the Adventure Company too, so it was goodbyes all round.

Just like to say a big thank you to the Croatians in Korana village for making us feel so welcome and looking after us along with our two guides Stefan and Martel who were absolutely brilliant.

My kids and I will never forget this trip. It was our first holiday together just the 3 of us. Yes it was daunting at first, wondering who else was going to be on the trip, but we needn’t have worried. All the families got on really well. It was absolutely great, the best holiday ever.

So to all you single mums, dads and kids out there, go for it and enjoy!!"

Dawn and her daughters went on our Active Croatia Family Holiday trip.Click on the link to read more about the full itinerary and to find latest pricing and availability. There are four departures during July and August, which fits in perfectly with the school holidays!

Find out more about Croatia Holidays on our website

Find other single mum and dad adventurers on our Facebook page, click on the link on the right hand side of the page!

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Journey through Jordan!

2009-04-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

In March, John Bridges travelled to Jordan with nine others on our Petra & Wadi Rum Trip. He kept an extensive travel diary of his trip, but had kindly submitted some of his excerpts below:

"DAY 1: MANCHESTER, LONDON, AMMAN

I left home at a sensible hour this morning - 08h30 - and headed up the M6 to Manchester Airport in the glorious spring sunshine. It's only a short trip to T3 from the car park and from there, a short trip down to London on one of the smaller planes in the BMI fleet. I guess there were no more than 20 of us on the flight although in such a small plane, that seemed a lot! It was full!

Plenty of time to check-in for the flight to Jordan and someone must have liked me, because I was pulled out of the queue and whisked to the Crown Class desk and checked in ahead of this group. I notice that I'm in Row 9 - I wonder whether I'll get the china crockery!

Some four hours later, we crossed the Israeli coast just north of Tel Aviv and eventually landed in Amman at 23h30. Or was it 00h30? The pilot bade us Good morning but the clocks said 23h30. I'm aware that Summer Time in Jordan starts on the last Thursday in March, so I was convinced it was actually 00h30. However, the clocks in the terminal building didn't agree.

Leaving the plane, I was immediately met by our rep; he would arrange our (free) visa. Two other couples joined us and we five passed through the Crew and Staff only gate and had our passports taken away for stamping. The others retrieved their suitcases (yes - suitcases) very quickly, whilst my rucksack was almost the last bag off the plane.

We went into the cold Amman early morning and boarded our coach to the hotel.

DAY 2: OF CASTLES AND KINGS

Despite being very tired, I found it difficult to sleep in a very cold room (the windows had been left open) with a pillow the size of a small mountain. Nevertheless, I must have slept because the alarm woke me at 07h30 and the pillow was on the floor.

Breakfast was a simple affair with bread, jam, oranges, dates and some funny green stuff. The introductory chat was interesting and before long, it was all over and we had to go and get ourselves ready for the day.

Back downstairs by 09h00, I found myself part of a group of nine comprising three couples (yes - one was genuinely called Sam 'n' Ella) and 3 singles. We were introduced to our guide for the week - Bassam, a Jordanian living in Hungary.

Bassam had an alternative to our itinerary: Today, we would do an extra castle rather than spend some time in Amman and tomorrow we would do one of the castles earmarked for later in the week. This would give one completely free day which would be filled with a visit to Jesus' Baptism site and a hike to some hot water springs. Without question, we all agreed.

Ajlun - Saladin's Fortress
It had been raining during breakfast but now, the sun was shining and we all clambered aboard our bus. As we headed north towards Ajlun, Bassam began to tell us the history of Jordan and the history of the Royal Family.

In the cool morning air, the rocky scrub land gave way to greener hills the farther north we ventured. Up and down hill we went, ever northwards through the biblical hills of Gilead with its olive groves until we arrived in the village of Ajlun. Being a Sunday, the first day of the working week, the village was busy with traders buying and selling beneath the view of the 600 year old minaret.

We headed through the town and up towards the peak of a hill overlooking the village. There, sitting, literally, squarely on the summit, was a ruined castle.

It turns out that this castle is a fine example of Islamic military architecture. It was build in the late 12th century by Saladin and comprised seven towers and a moat some 40' deep. Not bad as it sits astride a hill top. Due to its position overlooking the Jordan valley, the castle was an important link in the chain of castles built to defend against the Crusaders.

We got out of the coach and were put on board a little local bus and taken to the castle doors. There, we were greeted by an elderly gentleman selling fresh coffee. After a refreshingly hot drink in the surprisingly chilly air, we made out way up the ramp and into the castle.

Although I've seen castles all over the UK, this was a new departure. Saladin had been very cunning in designing his arrow slits. Although there was a slot in the wall, it was at waist height inside a large niche. This meant that two or three archers could man each slot rather than just one.

We continued up the main entrance and passed underneath the portcullis. There, our guide led us through a private door and we went to see a part of the castle not open to the public. Stone balls were evident as were beautiful carvings and, as we wound our way around the castle, we got higher and higher until we found ourselves in the sunshine, in the wind and on the roof. Boy was it cold. I'm in the Middle East for heaven's sake - it should not be cold! Mind you, the view across to the Jordan River and Israel was absolutely stunning - the castle was certainly built in an amazing place.

Jerash - A Hidden Gem
At Jerash, Time Team would have a field day and I reckon would not bother looking at anything Roman because we know it's there and probably come away having found the only Neolithic site in the area!

Jerash originally had a population of about 200,000 people and existed solely due to the good agricultural land in the area. Walking around the site, it's very easy to imagine a bustling city, with shops, fountains, people milling and entertainment.

Although there had been a Roman presence for some time, it wasn't until the 1st century AD that the city that's seen today was laid out.

In AD129, Hadrian (him of the Wall) visited and in celebration, a triumphal arch was built. As we entered the site, a Roman soldier stood atop the arch and blew his trumpet announcing the start of the games. We didn't go and see the games, preferring to see the sites instead.

We entered the absolutely spectacular Oval Plaza. This plaza is absolutely huge with a central fountain. 56 Ionic columns surround the plaza yet don't confine it. Making our way to the Temple of Zeus, we were drawn to the sound of bagpipes coming the South Theatre.

There, we found the Massed Bands of the Jordanian Bagpipers entertaining a few spectators, far fewer than the 5000 seating capacity. Standing in the middle of the amphitheatre, it is interesting to whisper to the audience and hear your whisper immediately in yours ears - a testament to the superb acoustics even now, some 2000 years after the theatre was built.

Returning to Amman, we walked into the city to explore the City Mall, grab a bite to eat and settle into the bar for a drink and contemplate another early start.

DAY 3: MORE CASTLES AND KINGS

07h00 came surprisingly early but after taking a shower and dressing, I packed my rucksack and headed down to breakfast.Returning to my room, I packed my washing kit and headed down to reception to checkout.

At 08h15, we climbed into the bus and headed off for the first stop of the day.

Mosaics and Moses
About an hour after leaving Amman, we arrived on a large building site known as Madaba. Making our way along unmade roads, our bus pulled into the car park and we descended into the sun.

Madaba is the most important Christian centre in Jordan and is a shining example of how Christian and Muslim can live together. Historically, this Moabite town was one of those divided amongst the twelve tribes of Israel. It changed hands several times through history until the middle of the 8th century when the town was devastated by an earthquake and abandoned.

In the late 19th century, the town was again becoming settled, at which point, the now famous mosaics were found. One such mosaic is a map of the Holy Land which, when news reached Europe of its discovery in 1897, brought about a keen archaeological presence, continuing today.

Walking through the town, we headed for the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George to view this famous map. Unearthed in 1884, it was actually put together in 560 and depicts 157 Biblical sites in the Middle East, some unknown at the time of rediscovery. The mosaic is some 40' long and 18' wide and built from over two million pieces. Oh, and spectacular!

Returning to the bus, we drove a short distance, up hill, until we came to a spectacular view. This was Mount Nebo. Both the Old Testament and the Koran tell of Moses being commanded to go to Mount Nebo in Moab and to view the land of Canaan, which will be given to the Israelites. However, Moses will not enter the Promised Land but die on Mount Nebo. There's a little museum on the top which, although contains some pottery, is mainly displaying maps from the different ages affecting Mount Nebo.

Climbing the mountain, the view down into the Jordan Valley across to the Dead Sea is breathtaking. With desert all around, a little strip of blue is just visible as is the great rip in the Earth's crust which is the Jordan Valley.

Taking the King's Highway to Karak
Settling back down in our seats, we had a few hours to kill on our journey south. There are several roads heading in our direction, but we had decided to follow a road that has been in continuous use for over 3000 years.

Known as the King's Highway or the Road of the Sultan, the road has been followed by the Israelites en route to the promised land, the traders making their way to and from Petra, pilgrims heading for Moses' memorial on Mount Nebo, Crusaders heading to their castles and Muslims on their pilgrimage to Mecca.

The journey south along the road took us through some unbelievably beautiful desert scenery. Stunning views and twisting roads took us down to the river before ascending back up the other side and on to the top. Barren rocks and sand occasionally interspersed with green oasis where the water flowed close enough to the surface to support plant life.

At 13h30, we eventually pulled into Karak, roughly a third of the way between Amman and Petra. Just before be descended into the city, our driver stopped so that we could take photos of the imposing Crusader castle. Occupying the entire ridge, the city has encroached into the castle but nevertheless, it still dominates the skyline.

First things first - we had lunch, taking salads and meat balls before heading off into the castle. This was very different to that of Ajlun, which was built in the Islamic style. Karak, however, was manned, not only by soldiers, but by their families too. Consequently, it is much bigger than Ajlun.

Karak is an ancient city laying on the caravan route between Egypt and Syria. It is also mentioned several times in the Bible.

Standing on the walls, it is easy to see why this location was chosen as the views over the surrounding countryside meant that no one could approach in secret.

That evening saw us in a deserted village hanging onto the side of the Jordan Valley. There, we had simple accommodation, simple food but good company.

DAY 4: DANA AND PETRA

I awoke before the alarm this morning. Not because I wasn't tired but because I thought I'd overslept! 45 minutes before breakfast and I was wandering around in the early morning sun taking photographs across the valley into Israel.

We packed our bags into the bus but set off on a three hour walk into the Dana Nature Reserve. We walked through the deserted village and headed off through some long neglected gardens and onto the mountain side. Although we saw evidence of porcupines and irises, the only wildlife to speak of came in the form of an eagle soaring overhead.

Somewhat disappointed by the lack of fauna, we arrived back at the bus and settled down for the ride to Petra.

In which nothing prepares you for the sight
As we were driving south, there was some discussion as to the events of the afternoon: several of us wished to take a 2-day pass into Petra and try and see something away from the main tourist route. After much group discussion, it was agreed that we'd all go to Petra this afternoon and climb to the highest point.

Having checked into the hotel, which couldn't be closer to Petra, we dined on barbecued chicken, humus and salad, etc. Then, grabbing the camera and leaving the others to their own devices, I set off down the track leading to the Siq - a half mile narrow gorge leading into the hidden valley.

Running down the side of the Siq is a channel carved into the rock which originally brought water into the city. There were surprises around every corner even when walking down the Siq whether it be the way the sun illuminated a particular rock or a little carving. However, nothing can prepare you for the view at the end - rounding the last corner and there, in front of you, framed by the dark walls of the Siq, the rose-red Treasury building. Undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring views in the world.

Today's visit though, is not about the main buildings of Petra, so, without paying too much attention, I headed down the main street until I came to a flight of steps heading almost vertically up the side of the mountain. It was slow going in the heat, but I pressed on up the step, along narrow cracks in the rock, all the while getting higher and higher.

Near the summit, I passed two obelisks before finally, after a little climb reached the High Place of Sacrifice. Whilst the archaeology on the summit may not be all that visually exciting, the views down to the Royal Tombs are breathtaking. It's worth the climb just for that! Having had a drink of water, I met up with the two Ninas, who had set off before lunch. They were at the summit admiring the view.

Climbing back down to the obelisks, we decided on a circular route back to the Siq and so headed off down a steep set of steps hidden in the rocks. Continuing down the side of the cliff, we descended steep stairs and, suddenly, rounding a corner, were met by a most amazing site -the Garden Tomb, beautifully lit by the afternoon sun. To be honest, it looks more like a temple than a tomb.

From here on, everywhere you looked, there were hidden buildings and amazing rock colourations. You could not take a dozen steps before someone would shout out “Oh wow, look at that!”.

It was even more magical because there was no-one else around - all the crowds had gone back to their coaches, etc., and there were but a few hundred visitors in the entire city.

Continuing down the valley, we entered the Roman Soldier's Tomb and, although there were no obvious internal carvings, it was still an impressive building. The Garden Triclinium across though, was another site all together.

The inside of this building was beautifully carved with pretend pillars and made marvellous use of the incredible colours in the rock.

After a shower, I met the Ninas in the Cave Bar attached to the hotel - built inside a Nabataean tomb - where we revived our thirsts before heading off for a meal in the hotel.

DAY 5: PETRA - THE ROSE RED CITY

I cannot find the words to describe this awe inspiring city; in fact just look at the photos from my day instead!:

DAY 6: FROM THE CROWDS OF PETRA TO THE DESOLATE BEAUTY OF THE DESERT.

Packing and leaving the rucksack at the door, I headed down to breakfast and made a packed lunch from the bread and cheese available!

Ali came to collect us at 09h00 and we began the slow climb up from Petra to the summit of the surrounding hills and the plateau beyond. Upon reaching the summit, Ali stopped the bus to give us one last glimpse of Petra before we headed off along the King's Highway down to Wadi Rum.

The journey across the desert began on the outskirts of Petra with red sandstone rocks and slowly moved to yellow sandstone before finishing up with brown sand. We passed several camels along the route and numerous goat herds; all the while the heat was building up.

Just before midday, we finally pulled off the main road and began the final 8 miles into Wadi Rum. There, we unloaded our bags and went to our tents - our accommodation for the night is a Bedouin camp.

After a cup of sweet tea, we sat down to lunch.

Some of the group opted to take a camel ride and so, some 30 minutes later, a camel train of 5 left the camp with two of us following on foot - the official camp photographer! The little train moved out into the desert and into the heat.

Five camels making it seem easy to walk across the sand - two followers making it seem difficult. After an hour, we returned into camp, dismounted and drank a large quantity of water!

Come 15h00, we boarded our two jeeps and headed off into the desert for a four hour trip. Leaving the Bedouin Camp, we crossed the little railway line and started across the sand.

First stop was a little group of rock carvings depicting ibex drawn by the Hammoudians. Then we came to stop at a wonderfully tall sand dune. Whilst the energetic ones climbed to the top and ran down at high speed the rest of us partook of more sweet tea.

Again, more bumpy travel until we came to a magnificent rock bridge and a camel train. This particular bridge was not too easy to climb, and so we continued another quarter mile to a second bridge. The views across the desert were spectacular and the group decided to climb.

Finally, we stopped once more - to collect fire wood - before eventually stopping in the lee of an enormous rock where our drivers built a fire and we climbed to a platform in order to watch the sun go down.

Although there was some heat haze, the view across the desert to the distant hills, some 20 miles away, was spectacular.

Sadly, there were no clouds in the vicinity and so the sunset was not as spectacular as it could have been. However, to see the setting sun over such a remote part of the earth was awe inspiring,

Finally, after the sun dropped, we too dropped and joined our drivers in taking tea before returning to camp, a meal, some music and a night in a tent.

DAY 7: ACROSS THE DESERT AND FAR AWAY

The night under canvas went very quickly - for me. Others complained at the noise coming from the dogs, the little train, the odd vehicle, snoring, but I heard nothing - apart from the occasional mosquito trying to get a quick bite.

Breakfast was a simple affair - strong coffee, pitta bread dipped in olive oil and herbs and hard boiled eggs. By 07h00, the bus was packed and nine sleepy adventures headed for 5 hours across the Jordanian Desert back towards the north. To pass the time, we managed a group crossword, although next time I recommend that the person with the pen has some numeracy and language skills!

Coming off the Desert Highway, we joined the Dead Sea Highway. It seemed rather odd standing on the top of a cliff next to a sign indicating that you are at Sea Level!

The Dead Sea is also known as the Sea of Lot as, when Lot and his family fled the destruction that would befall the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife turned to view the hand of God and was immediately turned into a pillar of salt.

After some 5 hours of travelling, we arrived at Bethany-Beyond-The-Jordan.

The fascinating history of this area included the place where John the Baptist preached, Jesus was baptised, the first five disciples met and thus, the foundations of early Christianity were laid. Jesus is believed to have come here en route from Galilee and spent three days here before heading into the nearby wilderness for 40 days. John was later arrested and beheaded by Herod nearby.

In keeping with the biblical struggles, the local area is not controlled by the Ministry of Tourism, but by the armed forces as the Jordan River, which is only a few feet wide at this point, is the border between Jordan and the Occupied West Bank.

Entering the site, we first stop at a modern baptism pool where filter water from the Jordan is used in the modern ceremonies. Walking through in the midday sun, we arrive at John the Baptists pool, where he is reputed to have himself been baptised.

Continuing through the wild flowers, we arrive at the baptism site; a pool next to the River Jordan where the remains of three churches have been found.

After filling some bottles with river water, we headed back to our bus and the luxury that would be our final day in Jordan. We were heading for a day of nothing by the Dead Sea.

DAY 8: PLAYING DEAD BY THE DEAD SEA

Today is the penultimate day of the trip. Today is a day of rest. Today, we are playing Dead!

After a very relaxing night's sleep, breakfast came round at 08h00 - in a restaurant. What luxury!

The only thing I have done today is swim in the Dead Sea - enjoy the photos, I'm not writing any more - I'm on holiday!!!!"

John went on our Petra & Wadi Rum trip. Visit our website for more information. The Adventure Company also offer many trips to Jordan.

You can also find a full account of John's stay in Jordan and other travels he has completed on his blog. Check out his amazing photos!

Thanks for reading!
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

2009-04-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

This week, keen adventurer, Kerry Ovenden gives us a sneaky peek at her travel diary whilst on holiday in Finland with her boyfriend.

I went to Finland last February with my boyfriend. Our flights to Finland were a bit chaotic but we made it in the end. We arrived at night so we couldn’t really see anything when we arrived but our guides met us at the airport and took us to the hotel, they were very friendly. Hotel Inarin Kultahovi is situated on the edge of a river, which at this time of year is frozen over and is a very warm and welcoming place to stay. Apparently at this time the lake could hold the weight of a car but I won’t be testing that theory!

The next morning we were so keen to explore that we rushed outside without our thermal suits on! Inari is amazing, everything was covered in glistening snow and the air was really clear. It is a very small village with only a petrol station, two gift shops, a pub, museum and a hotel, so it is very quiet. The pub has a sign outside which tells you the temperature and throughout our stay, it remained about -7 degrees in the day.

On our first day, we went to collect our outdoor equipment and clothing to keep us warm when taking part in the many activities on offer (we had access to the snow shoes, toboggans, and skis etc throughout the week). Our first activity was cross country skiing, our guides gave us tuition at first but then we could have a go by ourselves. In the afternoon we had some free time.

Day two we went out to explore on snow shoes. We saw a lot of wild reindeer and our guides told us all about the wildlife in that area. In the afternoon, we went to visit a local reindeer farm, where we were able to feed the reindeer. We then went to have a drink in a kota which is a traditional Sami wooden house, with a fire in the middle. In the kota, we had a traditional drink called glogi (hot berry juice) in a carved wooden cup. The owners of this farm told us a lot about the area and their ways of life and also explained to us the importance of the reindeer for food, clothing and income, through crafts made from their antlers. At the end of our visit we had a reindeer driving test on a sleigh.

Day three: A visit to the Siida Museum to learn about the local area and the local people and an afternoon snowmobile excursion. We all had chance to drive the snowmobiles across the frozen lakes and on our journey, we saw reindeer and stopped to visit a wilderness church. The ride across the frozen lake was very bumpy due to the ridges in the ice but it was great fun. We also stopped at a kota on an island in the middle of the lake. Inside the fire kept us really warm and our guides had brought sausages, cheese and bread as well as biscuits and glogi, which we cooked on the open fire. We were then shown how local people drill into the ice to catch fish before we drove back over the frozen lakes at sunset.

Each night we sat out by the lake hoping to catch the northern lights, but tonight was the first night we had seen them. They are quite eerie but amazing to watch. Everyone at the hotel had gathered to watch them, it is an unbelievable experience.

Day four: This morning we went tobogganing near our hotel and in the afternoon, we started our trip to the wilderness lodge by snowmobile. On our journey we met a local man who had set nets under the ice to catch fish and he explained to us how he did this; we watched as he pulled his fish out of the water. After sunset we arrived at the wilderness hut on a small island, it was the only building for miles and had no electricity. Here we had a nice dinner to warm us up, with water straight from the lake to drink. That evening, our guide went to the frozen lake to collect water for our sauna; he lit the path ways by candles, and it looked amazing. The only downside to our night in the middle of nowhere was the arctic toilet! Basically a port-a-loo outside, with barely any light! But that was all part of the adventure. In the evening, we sat around the warm fire talking to our guide about the snowmobile competitions that they have on this lake; in the springtime, local people race to see how far they can drive on the ice by snowmobile before falling in!

Day five: We returned to our hotel in the morning. Then we drove to a local husky farm. The afternoon here was amazing; we all went out on our sleighs for an hour and a half with six huskies pulling us along through the woodland. I sat in the sleigh to begin with; wearing reindeer skin to keep me warm and my boyfriend drove the sleigh. The dogs were so excited, they were just dying to run off and they were so friendly too! We stopped half way around the course to take photos and change driver, but the huskies were yelping and barking at us because they wanted to keep going. Now it was my turn to drive the sleigh. This involved putting my whole body weight onto some iron teeth to push them into the ice in order to stop the sleigh, which isn’t easy! When leaning from side to side to turn corners, we had to hold on tight because lots of people from our group went flying off the sleighs, around the bends, but no one got hurt! This was definitely the highlight of our trip. When we got back to the farm, we sat in a kota and had warm berry juice whilst listening to the owner of the farm tell us all about the huskies.

Day six: We spent the morning souvenir shopping before heading to the airport.

Finland has to be one of the best holidays I have been on. The guides were brilliant; they taught us so much about the local area and really looked after us. The activities were amazing and well planned and the food we ate was all local produce, for example: the food on the hotel menu included fish from the lake behind us. This trip combined all of the things I look for in a holiday: adventure, culture, relaxation and wildlife. A once in a lifetime experience!

If, like Kerry, you are keen to explore Finland, The Adventure Company offers two tours to the country, Wilderness Activity Week Teenage Adventure and Winter Wonderland Family Holiday. We also offer other winter adventures that promises fun and excitement, whether you are travelling on your own or with the family. For more details, please visit our website.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Tikkas, Temples and the Taj Mahal: From Delhi to Kathmandu!

2009-04-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

Nicola Mc Farlane, our Product and Commercial Director, took our Delhi to Kathmandu in November 2008. In this week's blog, she shares her experiences with us by giving us excerpts from the travel journal she kept during her time there.

The only way to describe the Delhi to Kathmandu trip is as an action packed journey through India and Nepal and something akin to a 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles', with the odd Ox cart, Elephant, rickshaw, dug out boat and light aircraft thrown in for fun!

Delhi
Having arrived into Delhi airport at 5am we said a quick hello to the rest of the group and headed off for a few hours rest before formal introductions to Abhi our tour leader (and soon to be friend) and other members of the group.
After a quick briefing we headed out on a ½ day tour of Delhi for our first flavour of Indian life, culture and the eagerly awaited curry, none of which disappointed. We visited the Jami Masjid, the principal mosque of Old Delhi, where some of the women in the group had to wear fetching art smocks to hide our arms which usefully doubled up as protection from the flocks of pigeons flying overhead. We headed onto the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi just as the sun was going down and locals began to promenade around the adjoining park, before returning back to the hotel for the first beer of the fortnight.

Agra
Anyone who has ever complained about crossing Waterloo Station at rush hour has clearly not been to an Indian train station at 6am. It was certainly a shock to the system for the 15 of us, half asleep, experiencing for the first time the madness and aromas of crowded Indian streets. Being typically British we stumbled our way through with our bags, apologizing as we went, whilst Abhi artfully managed to lead us to exactly where our carriage would stop and bundled us onto the train when it arrived ahead of the crowds. The train was a pleasant surprise with comfortable seats, where we were served with a basic breakfast and tea and the loos were even quite serviceable!

Arriving into Agra we headed straight to the The Taj Mahal where we met Sunil, our local guide for the day, who enthralled us with many great stories. Having spent time walking through the gardens, marveling at the architecture and taking the inevitable hundreds of photo’s (although we resisted the “Princess Diana seat” picture) we headed for our second curry of the trip which again was fantastic. After lunch we visited the stunning Red Fort which is more a walled palatial city and still home to the Indian military.

Orchha
Our second train station experience was much less hectic but our journey from Agra to Jhansi was equally as pleasurable as the first. After spending our first few days in India in the hustle and bustle of city life, arriving in the countryside at Orchha was such a contrast particularly as we were staying in a tranquil hotel with courtyard gardens and a small pool – perfect for a quick swim before lunch. We worked off our latest curry by walking into the village for a tour of the palaces and temples where it was fantastic to be almost the only tourists wandering freely around these ancient sites. Especially pleasing was the complete lack of the persistent street vendors of Delhi and Agra trying to foist their 'exclusive' wares on us.

We also learnt an important lesson for the rest of our stay that afternoon; don’t get too close to the rear end of a cow or, like one of our group, you may get a nasty and smelly surprise! We ended the day with drinks around an open fire in the hotel gardens with lots of chat and bonding with our fellow travellers

Khajuraho
The next day we set off mid morning (along with our hangovers) to Khajuraho on our first major road journey of the trip. The 4 hours flew by with so many sights to behold as we travelled through the countryside; such as villagers making fire bricks from the dung of their water buffalo stationed in the “front yard”, street markets selling everything from “fresh” fish to truck tyres and the ubiquitous roaming cows. However, these were a mere side-show to the fantastically chaotic Indian traffic fighting to negotiate the potholed tarmac or more often dirt roads. We became fascinated by the hierarchical system in place which denoted who gave way to whom and the level of horn tooting required to alert others of their presence. Pedestrians naturally were at the bottom of the heap, followed by cyclists (even those laden with 10 plastic garden chairs), then tuk-tuks, motorbikes (complete with the usual 3 passengers), cars, vans, hugely overloaded local buses and finally large brightly coloured trucks. But regardless of mode of transport there is always one thing that has priority over all else and that is the Holy Cow! These free roaming beasts must not be harmed and miraculously seem to escape injury even when standing in the middle of the M25 equivalent.

Arriving early afternoon we had time for lunch and a quick swim, before heading into town for the sound and lightshow at the temples and shopping in the market before dinner – another curry of course but no-one had tired of them yet! Our transport of choice that evening was a team of rickshaws who raced us to and from town in wacky races style.

Khajuraho / Varanasi
We awoke to unseasonal wet weather, reminiscent of a typical UK summer of warm drizzle and went off to be awed by the famous erotic temples which had been discovered in the jungle by the British 400 years ago. The mind boggled at some of the scenes depicted in the carvings and some photograph editing will need to be done prior to the holiday slideshow at home!

The plan for the afternoon was to be a quick internal flight to Varanasi, however what we didn’t count on was that Indian air traffic control and autopilot weren’t able to cope with typical foggy Gatwick conditions, and by late afternoon when the fog hadn’t lifted the flight was cancelled.

The challenge then was finding transport to get to Varanasi overland so we could stay on track with the itinerary. This proved difficult and although Abhi found a supplier of cars, he then had to find some drivers!, Eventually a Jeep, a people carrier, a saloon car and an old ambassador car arrived and we set out on what was to be a long, bumpy and uncomfortable night, finally arriving to Varanasi at 0930 the next day in time for a late breakfast.

Varanasi
After a few hours rest we were back on schedule with an afternoon tour. Then what better way to erase the memory of our overnight drive than a hilarious rickshaw ride through the manic streets of Varanasi to see the ritual prayers and sunset ceremony down by the River Ganges? This was awe-inspiring, with hundreds of spectators on the river banks and in small boats launching thousands of small flower/candle boats along the river, (said to release the spirits on dead relatives to the afterlife with a prayer). Abhi came up trumps again by finding us a great vantage point, which also happened to double as a stable for a couple of cows trying to have a snooze.

Once the ceremony was over we wound our way through the old city alleyways past many small shops and food stalls taking in all the smells (good and bad) before emerging on the banks of Mother Ganges and headed for dinner at a terrace restaurant with fantastic views overlooking the city and river.

Varanasi / Into Nepal
An early start this morning before sunrise took us back down to the ghats to board our small row boat for a cruise along the holy river. A flotilla of small boats drifted along full of tourists, passing more small flower boats drifting along in a haze of candle smoke to see the early morning ritual bathing, exercises/yoga and clothes being washed (even the white towels of local hotels were being bashed out on rocks along the river banks, alongside the rubbish).

Drifting back downstream we came to a large cremation site identified by the towers of wood and black smoked buildings. Walking back through the old town we stopped to have a cup of Chai from a street vendor. Initially concerned about the potential consequences, Abhi assured us we`d be fine due to the 10 minutes brewing ritual of boiling pots of water, then milk all done on a small stove fanned by a tiny electric fan and sure enough it tasted great. Walking through the narrow streets we found hidden temples, dodged cows, saw a monkey electrocuted on the tangled overhead electric cables and finally came across a group of locals restraining a thief who had just tried to steal an old ladies gold chain. They kindly paused their street justice beating to let our group pass along the narrow alley, all just a normal day in the streets of Varanasi.

We were then on the road again, northwards to the Nepalese border where first we signed out of India, before crossing the road to the Nepal immigration office, paid the entry fee and headed to our hotel for the night in Lumbini.

Lumbini / Pokhara
We visited the site of the birthplace of Buddha first thing, taking a walk through the colourful prayer flags stretching across the park where many monks were praying, past the eternal flame and around the lake where at first glance we thought we’d seen Buddha himself riding a Harley!

Our next journey was amazing as we flew up to Pokhara in a small 18 seater plane through clear sunny skies which afforded fantastic views over the Annapurna mountain range. Being a private charter the pilots were happy to invite each of us up to the cockpit to take pictures of the full range which was spectacular.

After what had been a busy few days with a lot of travelling we had some down time in Pokhara to relax. Whether that meant a few hours by the pool, a hassle free shopping experience or leisurely lunches by the lake with a cold beer in hand, it was certainly enjoyed by all in the group.

Pokhara
Our first and only lie-in of the trip prepared us for our mid morning canoe ride across Phewa Lake followed by a steep climb up to the World Peace Pagoda overlooking Pokhara. After an hours upward walk we were rewarded with fantastic views of the Annapurna range stretching along the horizon and a cold coke served by the enterprising lady in a shack.

Sunrise at Sarankot / Bandipur Village Stay
With the promise of a fantastic sunrise over the Annapurna we all dutifully rose at 0530 to drive to the hilltop village of Sarankot but our luck hadn’t improved and due to the heavy cloud the sun never appeared! However the full English breakfast served at the Himalayan Encounters office on the way back made up for our disappointment and set us up for the drive to the traditional hillside village of Bandipur.

After a late lunch we took a walk around the village and surrounding countryside accompanied by many of the local children who were just finishing school for the day. We called into the village hospital to see some of the good work being done by volunteers there to improve the conditions and got back just in time for a beer as the sun set behind the hills and dinner was served around the camp fire.

Chitwan National Park
One of the highlights of the trip for many of us was the Elephant back safari through the jungle and grass lands of Chitwan. We climbed onboard early on our second day in the park and headed into the long grasses and across the river in search of Rhino. There was a great variety of bird life to view as we went and we also spotted monkey and deer. Then just as we had given up hope of seeing Rhino a mother and baby appeared through the morning mists in the undergrowth, which made our day.

Continuing the wildlife theme with an afternoon canoe trip on the Rapti River with our expert bird spotting guide, we saw the 'mugger' & 'gharial' crocodiles basking in the afternoon sun on the banks before settling by the river ourselves for sundowners and the sunset.

Bhaktapur
Back on the road for the long drive to the Kathmandu valley we finally arrived in the ancient town of Bhaktapur early evening after being delayed due to traffic congestion. We had a quick dinner followed by a well planned early night because although the hotel has a great location in the centre of town, it does mean a dawn wake up call from the ringing prayer bells accompanied by the local dogs barking choir!

We only had time for a quick tour around Bhaktapur which, as a World Heritage site is recognized by UNESCO for its abundant rich culture, temples and artworks in wood, metal and stone, which we found as we made our way through some of the narrow alleyways and past the potters square where they were still using the traditional methods.

Kathmandu
Finally onto the last stop of the trip, Kathmandu. Eagerly awaited by many, it didn’t disappoint and we first headed to the cremation site and Temple complex of Pashhupatinath on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. After the obligatory stop to photograph a Sadhu we moved onto the Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath and finally a walk through the famous Durbar Square via a labyrinth of crowded streets and the markets of the Thamel area where we all indulged in some retail therapy.

Having come to the end of the trip, there was only one highlight left, a scenic flight to see Mt. Everest. The very early wake up call was certainly worth it as we boarded our small plane just after sunrise to fly along the edge of the Himalaya towards Everest for some spectacular photo opportunities.

The trip had given us all a great insight into the cultures of Indian and Nepalese life and every day had offered a new sight, sound, smell (not always pleasant!) or photo opportunity, leaving a desire to return in the future to experience more.

Whilst most of our group were seasoned `adventure tour` travellers there were a few first time sceptics amongst us who all seemed to be won over by this fantastic experience of sharing so much with a great and varied bunch of people. Under the expert leadership of Abhi we had travelled hundreds of miles across the two countries but never once tired of setting off on a new day of discovery. All in all a fantastic adventure that will be forever remembered and relived during every Indian meal back home!

Nicola went on our Delhi to Kathmandu trip. If you are looking for a trip to India, The Adventure Company offer 13 different tours, which include solo, group or family holidays. For more information, please visit our website.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Top Ten Family Adventure Travel Tips!

2009-03-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

If like most Britons you’re taking just one family holiday this year, the pressure’s on to make it a good one.

It’s hardly surprising in these cash-strapped times that growing numbers of families are opting for an adventure-based holiday to get the most thrills out of their single trip away. Whilst the benefits of an adventure tour are endless, the amount of planning and organising can be daunting for first-timers.

Follow our Top Ten Tips for Family Adventure Travel to make your time away sail smoothly.

1.Book Online
When you have limited time to research your dream trip, surfing the net will save you money as well as the drag of going to travel agents with the kids in tow on a busy Saturday.

Travel companies are targeting busy mums and dads and posting their latest and best deals online first. Since brochures have been printed, pricing may have changed and this could benefit you. An example of this is our Tiger Trails and Taj Mahal trip. Since the brochure was printed, it’s dropped by up to £300 per person. For a family of four to go, the customer would save up to £1,060 at the moment, so get online!

2.Book flights separately
Yes, this can be a hassle but it’s well worth it as you’ll usually get a far better deal and keep the overall cost of the holiday down.

The Adventure Company’s trips are available on a flight inclusive or land-only basis. If you are flying as a family, its normally cheaper to book land-only and fly with budget airlines, which is why we’ve introduced the “Find and Book” system to help you. Our reservations team will advise you of the cheapest flights on offer to get you to your chosen tour destination and make the booking for you. This is particularly useful if you’re flying out of regional airports.

3.Involve the kids in planning
Get the kids excited about the destination before they go! On average, people like to buy three guidebooks if visiting a new destination.

If you have young children, pick one with plenty of pictures, and encourage older children to hit the net and read up on the country by visiting Wikitravel.org. Set a challenge amongst older kids and teens as to who can find the best facts about where you are heading to.

4.Packing wise
Every parent will fret about packing days in advance, and we’re sure you won’t forget the vital items your brood will need. However, our top three, pop-in-your-rucksack-just-in-case items are:

Baby Wipes: No matter how old your kids are, you will need these, especially on an adventure holiday where you are likely to be hot, sticky and sometimes in the middle of nowhere with no amenities.
Small Bottle of Detergent: If a whole family are going away together, you’ve probably insisted everyone packs lightly. They may well have, but it doesn’t stop them or you getting dirty. Small packets of detergent, which can be used in hotel or bathroom sinks, will mean you can keep clothes fresh.
First Aid Kit: Obviously, your guide will be trained and adequately equipped, but making sure you have your own supplies as back up is vital. Alongside this, it’s worth packing any medicines the kids may occasionally have back home such as Piritin and Bendryl.

5.Make the most of the flight
Time spent on the plane can be the most challenging part of your adventure trip! Again, planning in advance is vital. Some airlines have seat plans available on site, as do sites like seatguru.com.

Find out meals in advance too, and if you think the in-flight entertainment won’t be good enough, bring your own.

6.Toys
Choose the toys you plan to bring carefully. Teenagers will probably insist on their ipod, PS3, and mobiles- but only let them bring one gadget – you don’t want them to miss out on key experiences whilst away. For younger kids, forget toys with small parts, as these will get lost. Never forget the favourite teddy.

Also bring a small selection of art supplies – they are going to be seeing some amazing sights and drawings or diaries are a really creative way of documenting their experience. For very young children, buy one or two new toys and give it to them as a treat on the flight – maybe then you’ll get to enjoy some of the on-flight film!

7.Culture Shock
Prepare yourself and the kids for a shock if you are travelling to an unfamiliar place. In poorer destinations, or those which are really “off the beaten track”, the locals may find the kids in your group of amusing interest. Their friendliness, if you’re used to the civil politeness of villages, or downright rudeness of London, could be unsettling.

Find out about the local customs before you go, and explain these to the kids so they understand how to behave.

8. Make yourself at home!
If you’ve decided on an adventure holiday, you probably shouldn’t expect five-star accommodation. But you can expect rooms or tents to be clean, spacious and most importantly, safe. To make putting the kids down at night go a little smoother, make sure you pack favourite blankets or pyjamas.

Turn a foreign room into a fun den, by bringing a favourite book, a wind-up torch, and pack a cheap battery operated nightlight.

9. Stamina
Whilst you shouldn’t expect to be tested to your limit on your trip, families should be healthy enough to complete their holiday without much struggle. If you are concerned about the kids’ level of fitness, we’d recommend taking them on a morning’s walk once every weekend before you go. Buy their backpacks early so they get used to wearing them when completing activities. Then, gradually fill it with things they may need: a change of clothes, a bottle of water, snacks, sunglasses, hat etc so they can get used to the weight.

Alongside this, if you are planning on doing any watersports or rowing whilst away, take a family trip to the nearest lake and rent a boat so smaller kids can get used to being on the water. Another bonus of these tasks is that the family will establish ways of working together and being in the same situations for long periods of time.

10. Set your mind at ease
Most importantly, you want to enjoy this trip too. Take some time out to relax and run through your to-do list before you leave. Make a visit to the doctor and check there are no jabs required and all the kids’ vaccinations are up to date – you don’t want any niggling worries to ruin your trip!

If you are looking for a family adventure holiday, The Adventure Company has plenty of suitable trips available – plus some bargain deals! Choose from fun-packed itineraries in destinations including Thailand, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and India. You can find the full list here

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Wondrous Wildlife in Ecuador and Galapagos!

2009-03-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week, our blog comes from Kerry Ovenden who recently went on our Ecuador and Galapagos trip with her brother:

"I had never thought about travelling to the Galapagos before, I didn’t even know that much about it, however last year when my sister dropped out of a trip booked for her and my brother to go to the Galapagos; I just couldn’t turn down the chance to travel.

We started our journey in august 2008. We had a long flight (13hours) but it all ran ok. When we arrived in Ecuador it was a real culture shock; as we stopped at traffic lights there were women and children leaning in the car windows trying to sell us sweets and food. We were staying in Quito which was a bustling city, but very poor with quite high crime rates however, our guides made sure we knew how to keep safe in the city and we were well looked after.

The town of Quito is squashed in between volcanoes and a valley, which made for an impressive view from our hotel room window; it is also situated at 2500 metres above sea level.

The next day we headed to the Galapagos, everyone was stretching on the plane to see out the windows we were all desperate to get our first view of the islands. As we landed on Baltra we realised that the runway was the length of the island and the airport was a small hut with only two walls and when we had gone through arrivals we had to go around the side of the building to collect our luggage off the floor!

From the airport we travelled by bus across the island and then onto the next island: Santa Cruz by boat with our luggage just lying on the roof of the boat! We took this time to take in the scenery; the islands appeared very barren with cacti everywhere, the air was humid with a sea breeze and the only populated place on the islands is Santa Cruz which is like a small village.

We found our boat at Tortuga bay; as we waited for our water taxi we got our first glimpse of wildlife: Frigate birds, pelicans, sally light foot crabs and marine iguanas. On board we explored our ship, before our first outing back onto Santa Cruz to the highlands to see the giant tortoises and the lava tunnels. That evening we returned to the boat for dinner.

Our cruise of the islands had begun, we visited: Rabida, Barthlome, North Seymour, south plaza, Santa fe, Espanola and Florena. Every island varied in scenery but every single one was amazing.

We saw a lot of animals: each island had sea lions, crabs, land and marine iguanas and lava lizards, however as we visited each island the lizards and iguanas varied in size and colour. The animals aren’t frightened of humans so you can get very close to them.

There is a rule on the islands, that you mustn’t touch any of the animals or take anything off of the islands and each time we returned from an island to the boat our feet were hosed off by the crew.

The group we were travelling with on the boat were all from different countries but due to the size of the boat the group gelled and we all became great friends. The crew on the boat were very friendly, only the guides spoke English but we all tried to communicate.

Every morning we woke and went up on deck to watch the sunrise before breakfast, we knew when our meals were ready because a bell was rung and everyone rushed to our dining area! The food was amazing considering the size of the kitchen.

Each day we would travel to an island, and explore and then snorkel. Under the water you could swim with beautiful fish and sea lions but the highlight for me was seeing my first giant sea turtle.

Sea turtles are huge and so graceful. Snorkelling was such an amazing experience; our group would be swimming in the clear waters and suddenly someone would shout “look” we would all race to them and share the experience of swimming with the sea turtles or a small shark or just a big school of fish.

I think I saw four or five sea turtles throughout the trip. Other highlights were seeing rays, sharks and sea lions swimming alongside our boat and a visit to North Seymour islands allowed us to watch the amazing mating dance of the blue footed boobies.

As we travelled frigate birds followed our boat and rested on the rigging as we lay below sunbathing and hoping that nothing dropped on our heads! At night we enjoyed lying on the sun beds up on deck under the stars and listening to the waves.

After eight days at sea we returned to Santa Cruz to visit the Charles Darwin centre where we met the famous lonesome George.

Flying back to Ecuador, as we sat on the plane we reflected upon the last eight days and a feeling of sadness came over us when we realised that very few people will get the opportunity to visit these amazing islands.

I recommend this amazing adventure to everyone!"

Kerry went on our Ecuador and Galapagos trip. If you are looking for a holiday in Ecuador, or are looking to travel the Galapagos Islands, visit our website for more information.

The Adventure Company: The Real Swiss Family Robinson

2009-03-26T03:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wished you could wake up on a beautiful desert island, and not have to worry about work and doing the school run? Yep, us too!

We all know of one fictional family who actually did it: The Swiss Family Robinson.

So, when we heard about the new series on BBC featuring English families who are actually living on an island paradise to escape the pressures of the Noughties, we were intrigued.

The classic adventure story
To refresh your memory, The Swiss Family Robinson was a novel written in 1812 by a pastor named Johann David Wyss. His intention was to teach his sons the values of family, hard-work and self-reliance.

To do this, he created the story of a family who become shipwrecked in the East Indies as they make their way to Australia.

This enduringly popular children’s book classic has been adapted for the small and silver screen many times.

In 1960, Disney brought the adventure to screen, and followed the family as pirates force their boat into the path of a storm, find their island and begin to build their home. The family consist of Father, Mother, Fritz, Ernst and Francis.

Throughout the film, the elder boys help to construct the home, and the younger becoming the island’s David Attenborough as he tries to identify as many animals as possible. After helping to rescue a damsel in distress, fighting pirates with coconuts, and having races on animals, at the end of the film most of the family choose to stay on the island and live their lives in paradise.

Fast forward to 2009, where the words “recession” and “credit crunch” are constantly muttered, it is no surprise four families have turned to the famous tale and used it as a guide to swapping their humdrum lives in Blighty for an island adventure.

Watch the show

The new BBC series, The Real Swiss Family Robinson, which starts this Friday 26th March, follows four families who, after a tough year during which they have lost their businesses and struggled on tight budgets, have finally decided to jack it all in and to break away in order to rediscover what’s important in life.

Sounds ideal? Well, it’s not easy. The four families are transported for three weeks to far-flung destinations and instructed to fend for themselves. Destinations include Kirbati, Panama, Tanzania and The Cook Islands.

This week’s family, The Dyes are an Essex clan who have recently lost a business which put an end to their luxurious lifestyles. Dad Andy wants to get his family out of the smoke, and into more simple surroundings so they can re-evaluate what’s important in life. His daughters who are used to the best of creature comforts, don’t always agree with his decision...

Each week, the series follows a different family as they arrive in deserted paradise and try to make homes, find food and mingle with locals. Watch the families as they struggle to adapt to simple life in gorgeous surroundings.

Each family also gets their own “Man Friday” in their first week who dishes out a few essential tips and tricks. The second week leaves them totally isolated as they attempt to survive in the wild, and by the third week they have to touch base with locals and cook a big thank-you feast in their newly constructed homes. The programme also follows up with the families back home, to see how they’ve readjusted within society.

Book your own Swiss Family Robinson adventure!

If you and your family are feeling the pinch but need an adventurous break, or a gorgeous castaway destination to explore together, look no further!

Following the series, The Adventure Company’s Turtles, Islands & Mountains Family Holiday visits both Panama and Costa Rica where the kids can snorkel, save turtles, explore National Parks and walk amongst the leafy hills of the Highlands of Boquete.

Combine the Swiss Family adventures with The Jungle Book and visit Tanzania on the Safari & Spice family holiday. On this fabulous 10-day trip, you can scramble over the Uluguru Mountains, set up camp on a beach in a game reserve, and truly experience happy solitude.

Take part in a walking safari from here to see zebras, giraffes and elephants, and the kids also have the chance to visit a local school to meet other kids their own age. Your little adventurers will also get their own Man Friday who will take them on a “Safari Guide Course” and teach them some amazing skills.

If the kids (and you!) are fans of the book, then the best place for your brood is Trinidad, where the story was filmed in the 60’s. The Viva Cuba Family Holiday visits Colonial Trinidad where you can snorkel and explore unspoiled Caribbean beaches, and hike in the mountains where you spend a few days exploring the lush forests.

Find more family adventure holidays on the website.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Exploring The Morrocan Desert!

2009-03-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

This week, our entry comes from Adell Ward, who fancied a holiday in Morocco and plumped for our Desert Adventure tour. She kindly shares excerpts from her travel diary, and let us know how she and the camels got on:

Adell Ward

Day 1:
Flew from heathrow to casablanca and then another short flight to ouarzazate. Early in the morning so straight to bed!

Day 2:
Up early for breakfast then we set off to a local bank to change money and to a shop to buy a picnic lunch. We then set off by minibus through the Draa Valley. Stopped for lunch at a place with a lovely courtyard and lots of moroccan carpets.

We all got our first taste of traditional mint tea. After another drive with a photo stop (Japanese stop as our guide liked to call them) we arrived at our camels. After loading them up with our food and equipment we set off into the desert. The camels took a little adjusting to especially the one that had a large load on and became known as "Wide Boy!"

After a couple of hours we came to our first camp. We camped in a traditional Bedouin tent on mats and in a sleeping bag. After some mint tea we had supper of Moroccan soup, beef tagine and dessert. Our cook was amazing and we always had pleanty of good food to eat!

Day 3:
Woke early to the sound of camels milling around which was strange. After breakfast in the kitchen tent, we watched the camels being loaded and then set off ourselves further into the desert. Some walked and some rode. That was one of the good things about our trip the fact that you could choose how much you walked or rode.

Mid mornings we stopped to rest and let the camels have a bite to eat while our guide "Lahcen" brought around a big bag of mixed nuts, dates and figs for us to eat.

That morning, we travelled through a really big oasis which was really lush with lots of little fields of crops and the sound of donkeys braying in the distance. Lunch once again was fantastic: salad, fruit and bread the presentation of which, was brilliant.

After another afternoon travelling through the desert we arrived at our camp which was set against beautiful sand dunes. Our guide brought the tea to the top of the dune for us and here we stayed to watch the sunset.

Before supper, the camel drivers invited us for traditional song and dance which was amazing. They cooked flatbread to go with supper over the fire. Great food again thanks "Ad"!

It got a bit windy during the night and we woke to the tent sides bellowing out and sand on and in everything and i mean everything! We worked together to get it sorted the best we could before going back to sleep. This actually became one of the groups trip highlights. Well, we wanted a dersert adventure!!

Day 4:
Today we traveled over a dry stoney landscape and stopped in a small village which had a tiny shop where we could by water, oranges etc... and the camels had a rest.

Today we had a siesta after lunch under the palm trees which was lovely. Everyone was getting on so well in the group and we laughed our way through most of the trip.

At camp in the evening we joined the camel drivers again for song and dance. They wanted us to teach them somthing so we decided on the "hokey cokey" it was one of the funniest and bizzare things: doing the hokey cokey in the middle of the Sahara desert!.

Day5:
Our last day with the camels. We trekked as usual and after break I decided to walk the last stretch which turned out to be a lot of sand dunes. They are not the easiest thing to walk on so, I ended up with quite a bit of sand in my boots, but at least I managed to walk off some of the good food.

We arrived at our last campsite which was a fixed campsite, in a Mud hut style. We had showers and toilets, which we were incredibly happy about. A village tour and a museum trip that afternoon before group photos of our camel drivers and guide.

Day 6:
Very early start and a long minibus journey to Marrakesh over the Atlas mountains. Said a final farewell to the camel drivers and set off. Stopped to visit the village of Ait Benhaddou where they made Gladiator. After an amusing river crossing we climbed to the top of the village and got an amazing view! Visited a carpet shop and learned about why and how they are made, then contiued over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, which is the highest point in North Africa.

We got caught in big thunderstorm on the way to Marrakesh and the roads flooded a bit but it all added to our adventure. In the evening we walked to the medina in Marrakesh for some food and then some went for drinks and others went to the hotel.

Day 7:
Today we had a tour of the souks and the palace in Marrakesh which was fascinating. Later we were free to explore and shop.

Brought some pointy yellow slippers, after a lot of haggling! We all had a meal together for the last time. Our guide was fantastic and made the trip exceptional. Nothing was to much trouble and you could ask him anything.

The people were fantastic and I truly had the best time ever, which means I will defiantly be travelling with The Adventure Company again!"

If you are looking for an adventure holiday in Morocco, why not take a look at the Desert Adventure tour that Adell completed. The Adventure Company have 16 different holidays in Morocco for you to choose from, whether you are travelling in a group, solo or as a family.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Born Free Foundation's 25th anniversary!

2009-03-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

If like us, you love the classic film Born Free, and can remember that tear-jerking moment when the lioness Elsa recognises her former owners, you’ll be pleased to know that it's precisely 43 years since its original release.

And more importantly, it's 25 years since Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers started the Born Free Foundation.

So, in order to celebrate this fantastic milestone, we think it's only right to pick out some of the key highlights of the foundation's legacy.

The Film:

Actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna travelled to Kenya to star in “Born Free”, which followed the real life story of George and Joy Adamson and their fight to return Elsa, a lioness back into the wild.

Released in 1966, this seemingly innocent film changed Bill and Virginia’s lives forever. Their close contact with the primates on location made them realise that wild animals belong in the wild, and have the right to be protected.

Watch the original film trailer:

Pole Pole
Soon after the release of the film, which critics raved about and audiences loved, Bill set to work on producing a stack of influential wildlife documentaries and films. One of these called “An Elephant called Slowly” was set in Kenya, and starred the couple. It also featured Pole, a little elephant calf.

Originally, Pole was a gift from the Kenyan government to London Zoo, however Pole was taken from her family in the wild, aged two. After completing the film, Bill and Virginia tried, and failed to stop Pole being returned to captivity. Over 14 years later, in 1982, the couple went to visit her at the zoo, and were extremely upset to find that the elephant seemed depressed, and had no companions as she plodded around her cage.

In a moment of desperation, they called out her original name, and Pole, turned in recognition at the couple, and began bounding over to them to touch their hands. After this, the couple tried to renew the campaign, but tragically Pole died just a year later. Considering elephants can live to at least 60, the couple became convinced that her life was made shorter due to her captivity.

Zoo Check

Determined that Pole would not have died in vain, Bill and Virginia, along with their son, Will Travers, set up Zoo Check in 1984. This charity independently monitored and rallied for the release of animals in captivity.

Zoo Check evolved into the Born Free Foundation, and it is because of Zoo Check there are now no more elephants at London Zoo.

Born Free Foundation

First launched in 1984 (hence the anniversary) and fully recognised in its own right in 1991, the Born Free Foundation undertakes animal welfare, conservation and public awareness campaigns to prevent animal abuse, and to ultimately keep wild animals in their natural habitats.

Over the years, the foundation has launched many influential campaigns and have also fought against ivory trade, “sport” hunting, killing animals for bushmeat and challenging the exploitation and living conditions of animals in zoos and circuses.

Now 25 years on, the Born Free Foundation still cares about saving individual animals, and firmly believes every animal counts. They are now have emergency teams on-hand at all times, which have rescued animals from small cages, and re-housed them in vast sanctuaries all over the world. Whilst there, Born Free also provides these animals with food and care.

GMTV
GMTV has been working with Born Free since 1995 on several of its missions. From saving lion cubs Anthea and Rafi who were once imprisoned on the roof of a bar in Tenerife to rescuing lions in captivity in Bucharest, the programme has continued to give its support.

See these videos for various reports from over the years (tip: you may need a tissue!)

Big Cat Sanctuaries
The Foundation now also has two big cat sanctuaries in South Africa at the Shamwari Game reserve.

Lions and leopards from all over the world have been rescued and placed here. The sanctuaries are also open to the public as education centres for school children, receiving at least 500 visitors per month.

The Adventure Company and Born Free
One of the Born Free Foundation’s most important current causes is sustaining responsible tourism. Therefore, Born Free and The Adventure Company work together to positively influence aspects of travel that may affect local animals and villagers.

The Adventure Company currently donates $5 for every customer who books a trip to Uganda. This money supports the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee project, and Born Free’s Great Apes Survival project.

By including the projects in many of our Ugandan itineraries, they support local tourism, and encourage travellers to help and understand the importance of saving gorillas, chimpanzees and orang-utans worldwide.

They also support Born Free Travellers’ Animal Alert, which encourages holidaymakers to report any signs of animals suffering when they are abroad.

The Adventure Company offers several safari, treks and trails in Uganda, and in many other places throughout East and South Africa. Find out more on the Adventure Company website.

The Adventure Company: Canoeing and Cycling in Croatia!

2009-03-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

This weeks blog comes from Tom Haddow, our Flights Assistant who recently took the plunge and completed our Active Dalmatia tour in August of last year. He has let us sneak a peak at the travel diary he kept whilst he was away..:

"Day 1
After landing in Split airport we were transferred to Trogir, a nearby scenic town, to relax and stretch our legs after the flight. Trogir was very pleasant, we enjoyed a stroll down the river front (lots of very expensive boats!) and then struck off down a back alley finding our selves in a small square surrounded by cafes and ice cream stalls. We then sat down and got to know each other over a beer, or in Croatian, pivo, before being guided back through Trogir to the minibus and continuing on to the hotel.

Day 2
We woke up and proceeded down to the restaurant of the hotel where we were welcomed by a laid out breakfast of bread and spreads, cereal and yoghurt, on top of which we were soon offered our choice of cooked extras and hot drink, almost any request catered for! After breakfast we were transferred up river to start a very enjoyable and gentle introduction to canoeing on the Cetina river. Paddled/floated all the way back down to the hotel which was situated very conveniently on the river bank so on arrival we were able to just deposit our canoes and head to our rooms.

After a lunch of stuffed peppers and meat soup we embarked on a short trek across the river and up to a small chapel atop a hill. Everyone we met was very friendly and our guide Neven seemed to know everyone. Once reaching the chapel we stayed to enjoy the view of Trilj, the town in which we were staying, before heading back down for a dinner of locally produced veal and bed.

Day 3
Today we enjoyed breakfast as before and as we would the rest of the week and then went out back of the hotel and were transferred up a hill behind Trilj to start the mountain biking activity. First thing to explain to anyone considering mountain biking in Croatia, they bizzarely seem to have the brakes the ‘wrong’ way round, after a little getting used to it became second nature and no-one had any problems with this. The route was initially a largely uphill segment before a much appreciated and much longer downhill segment.

When we were most of the way down Neven took us on a detour to a river source which was absolutely stunning, even despite the incredibly cold water most of the group went in for a swim (me fully dressed as I had not brought any swimming gear at all!).

After an hour or so here and feeling utterly refreshed we were guided round another couple of smaller river sources in the area before being treated by a local family to a typical local snack lunch of bread, cheese and cured meat, after which we headed back to the hotel.

Day 4
After a more sedate introduction to canoeing earlier in the week this was due to be a more adventurous version. We were transferred down river and kitted out with wetsuits, life preservers and helmets, before heading out on to the river, after careful instruction from Neven we proceeded down the very rough river over the many rapids. I had obviously picked a good partner as our canoe managed to stay the right way up all the way down, a feat not managed by everyone! At the end of our route down the river we landed on the riverbank and had a light lunch and were driven to the seaside to enjoy a beach for a change of pace.

After getting back from the beach we headed off to the river bank upriver and when it was dark were treated to trout and banana split expertly cooked by Neven over a campfire. After which the more adventurous of us camped out for the night, leaving the rest of the group to return to the hotel for a more comfortable bed.

Day 5
After all the excitement of the white water canoeing we were in for a more relaxing day. We were driven up to the nearby historic town of Sinj, where our other guide Gorjana (harder to pronounce than it looks, by her instruction we all addressed her as Yana) gave us a guided tour which included a look around the local monastery which had a very interesting history and seemed of particular importance in the area before heading to the town museum. The museum was very interesting and gave us a much better insight in to the history of Croatia, specifically the area we were staying in, Dalmatia. One particular nugget of knowledge I committed to memory is how the spotted fur of the Dalmatian breed of dog apparently symbolises the many islands off the coast of Dalmatia!

After our tour of Sinj we were taken back the hotel. The following afternoon Neven took us for another trek around the outer reaches of Trilj, again demonstrating just how much of a local boy he was, hardly passing a single person without a friendly word. Neven at one point on the tour took us to someone’s house where we were ‘treated’ to home-made liquors, very strong, some people seemed to have a slight wobble on the return walk to the hotel…

Day 6
After eating breakfast and setting off at around 1000, we transferred up to the start-point for the white water rafting. The rafting was actually organised and led by a set of specialist instructors who were all very friendly and seemed to have a very strong rapport between them. One leader per boat on which there would be about 7 additional people, slightly rougher rapids than we had experienced on the canoes but we were expertly guided down the river by our rafting leader.

Part the way down we all disembarked and were guided through a cave before rejoining the canoes on the other side.

Day 7
At the normal time of 1000 we met and after we had had breakfast were driven to KRKA National Park. Gorjana took us for a tour round the park and was on hand if anyone had any questions, after the tour we were left to our own devices to explore and enjoy the spectacular views while some of the group went for a swim.

After dinner at the hotel we were surprised by the hotel owners with a cake to celebrate the joint birthdays of one of the group and Neven, one of our guides, after which we went to a local bar for a couple of drinks and an introduction to Croatian card games.

Day 8
Sad farewells and the flight back to the UK.

A big thank-you to all the group, the hotel staff and Gorjana and Neven especially for making this such a fantastic trip. Look forward to hopefully returning to Croatia in the future!"

Tom and his friends went on the Active Dalmatia tour, but The Adventure Company offer six trips to Croatia which cater for families, groups and solo-travellers. Visit The Adventure Company Website to find out more.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company.

The Adventure Company: Watch a Kili Climb Video Diary!

2009-03-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

Our second blog of the week is a little different, as we've recently been in touch with Simon Ingram from Trail Magazine, who completed our Kilimanjaro trek .

He has kindly made a fab video diary, so you can really see what its like to climb kilimanjaro .

Follow Simon during his climb, which is split into 2 parts, both of which, we have embedded for you lucky people below.

In Part One, follow Simon as he prepares for his climb along the Machame Route, and lands in town before he makes he way to Machame Gate to begin his climb.

Expect some amazing views of the mountain, funny anecdotes and rare footage of the guides who accompany his team up Kili, the food you can expect, and how much popcorn is appreciated as altitude increases...

In Part Two, watch Simon as the hardest part of the climb begins. See how he tries to follow the advice of his guides, and battles with altitude sickness and tiredness in order to attempt to reach the summit.

Watch him and his pals solider through as the final part of the descent which begins with a slow midnight climb...does he make it?

We absolutely love these videos, in our opinion, the best video diaries we've seen from the route in a while, so if you've ever climbed Kili, or are thinking of doing so, this really is essential viewing, in order to create all kinds of nostalgia or inspiration.

Simon climbed Kilimanjaro using our Machame Route. Visit our website for the latest deals and offers to Kili.

Adventure Junkies, grab your next fix by visiting www.livefortheoutdoors.com to find out more about Simon's travels and other exciting info.

As always, thanks for reading,

The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Getting Close in Tanzania!

2009-03-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

This blog entry comes from Ellen Sziede our Product Executive, who recently made her way back to Africa and took part in our Serengeti Explorer Trip. Find out how she got on, and what her highlights were:

"Last May my boyfriend and I travelled on the Serengeti Explorer trip. For me, it was a much-anticipated return to Africa, while for Pete it was a rather spontaneous adventure – having not been on a safari or a group trip before, he was up for any new experience. The first highlight came before we’d even landed. It was a clear day, and the flight was not overly full, so when we passed Mount Kilimanjaro, we could actually get to the windows with the best views.

On arrival in Arusha, the group was transferred to the lodge, to freshen up and relax for the afternoon, before embarking on safari the next day. Karama Lodge is not an anonymous city centre hotel but consists of stilted wooden cabins, scattered around a lush green garden, with scenic views of Mount Meru. It was a peaceful place to relax for a bit and get to know the other travellers in the group over dinner.

The next morning we met our safari team: Guides Jacob and John, and the chef Innocence. We teamed up in two safari vehicles and made our way out of Arusha, with stops to change money and buy drinks and snacks for the duration of the trip – opportunities to buy supplies are very limited while on safari in the national parks.

We made it to Mto wa Mbu in time for lunch and set up camp at a lovely, green campsite, complete with swimming pool. In the afternoon, we set off for the first game drive, in Lake Manyara National Park, about 25 minutes drive down the road. We had barely made it through the park gates, when we had our first sighting: a rather vain-looking baboon was posing at the side of the road, as if waiting to have his portrait taken. We obliged.

Much of Lake Manyara National Park is covered by dense bush – which makes it a perfect playground for monkeys and a great hiding place for antelope and elephants.

We stopped at a waterhole just as the afternoon sun was dipping, giving everything a lovely soft glow. It was the perfect setting to stop for a good while and watch hippos wallow in the water and birds take flight.

We had a great introduction to game viewing this afternoon, seeing elephants, impala, baboons, hippos, giraffe, and even some buffalo and lions from a distance. As one of the less famous national parks, Lake Manyara was a wonderful surprise with its varying landscapes of lush thick bush and open, grassy spaces.

The next day we traversed some amazing landscapes, working our way up the side Ngorongoro Crater – the proper visit into the crater would only be in a few days time, but we got a sneak preview as we stopped above the crater – and visiting Olduvai Gorge. We stopped here for lunch and listened to an interesting – and entertaining – talk about the archaeological pursuits of Dr Leakey, before browsing through the attached museum.

In the afternoon we reached the famous Serengeti. It certainly did not wait long to wow us. We were en route to our campsite when we saw two beautiful lionesses crouched in the long grass next to the road. We stopped and watched, cameras at the ready. One lioness raised her head and took in the scent of us.

To our delight, instead of disappearing in the long grass, she prowled closer and closer…

… until she crossed the road right between our two vehicles!

We reached our campsite mid afternoon and set up camp for the next two nights. Facilities were basic, with only two cold water taps available, but our safari team went to great effort to provide the necessary little comforts by setting up basins with warm water next to each tent in the morning, so we could freshen up a bit.

And while warm showers are lovely, we were more than compensated for roughing it a bit by enjoying the sense of adventure that comes with camping in the middle of one of the world’s most exciting places for wildlife watching – hearing the call of a hyena while you lie in bed at night is every bit as amazing as seeing the animals up close during the day!

The next two days were filled with game drives and many wildlife sightings. Amongst others we saw buffalos, elephants, giraffe, warthogs, impala, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, waterbuck, vultures, zebra, wildebeest – and even an elusive cheetah, ducking down in the long grass, but visible with binoculars.

One of my highlights was a regular stampede of zebras and wildebeest at a waterhole. The animals would run towards the water, driven by the urge to drink. In the water, however, lurked a crocodile, and one animal would inevitably give out a warning cry after gulping a few mouthfuls of water.

The entire herd would then turn and gallop away from the threat – only to rush back to it a few moments later – too thirsty to resist. Great clouds of dust were churned up, increasing the eerie atmosphere created by the zebra cries and the seeming chaos of hundreds of animals racing back and forth, torn between thirst and safety.

Another spectacular moment was as we returned to camp from our cheetah sighting. We had stayed a bit longer than we were supposed to – the park management imposes strict rules that groups have to be back in camp by sunset, for safety reasons – but seeing a cheetah is such a rare treat that of course we were not going to rush it! With the light fast fading, we were treated to a truly African sunset, with deep red skies and picture perfect Acacia tree silhouettes.

With the Serengti having lived up to expectations, we travelled onward to the next big name: Ngorongoro crater. En route we stopped for an optional visit at a Masai village. After making a contribution of 50 USD per vehicle, the Masai invited us into their village, where they performed a traditional dance, which the group got to join.

Afterwards the young men who had been voted by the community to act as guides took us on a walk through the village, including the opportunity to crawl into one of their tiny traditional dwellings.

The first surprise of the Ngorongoro crater was just how much of a temperature difference one encounters as you reach its heights! The campsite is perched right at the crater rim, and we had amazing views on arrival, but the price is a somewhat chilly night. You definitely need to come prepared with a warm fleece!

We rose early in the morning to make the most of the time in the crater. Being somewhat unlucky with the weather, it was raining for the first hour or so in the crater, which is a rare occurrence. Once the skies cleared up, had a great time criss-crossing the crater floor, spotting for the famous rhinos. We did get a sighting, although from quite a distance, requiring binoculars. The most exciting moment of the day was certainly when we spotted three lionesses, and following them, they led us straight to their majestic male!

After an exciting morning in the crater, we made our way up its steep slopes again and journeyed to Karatu – a lively little town at the foot of the crater. The campsite here spoiled us with good hot showers, and after setting up our tents to dry out in the warm afternoon sun, some of us went for the 20 minute walk into the town.

Karatu is wonderfully low key – there were two or three souvenir stalls but overall it is just a small market town going about its business, which is exactly what I liked about it. It was great fun taking in the street scenes of rattling buses travelling through and colourful ‘kikois’ (wrap skirts, essentially made of a single length of cloth) being sold. We met a group of curious and charmingly cheeky school children on our way back to the campsite – enjoying a game of Frisbee and some picture posing.

Our final national park stop was Tarangire – famous for its elephants and baobab trees. It certainly delivered on both! Our tent was pitched right underneath a massive baobab:

And on our final game drive we encountered plenty of elephants – getting very close to a beautiful family with their young. A fitting finale for our great wildlife adventure!

The next morning we packed up our tents for the last time and headed back to Arusha. We might not have ticked all the “Big Five” (not having sighted a leopard) but they are not really what a safari should be about anyway. Instead, the trip was full of unexpected and unforgettable moments, and Tanzania really showcased Africa’s beauty.

I got my “Africa fix”, Pete got an introduction to a safari adventure, and we only have to settle the question of “Where to next?”!

Ellen and Pete went on our Serengeti Explorer Trip, but The Adventure Company also offer many more trips to Tanzania . Find our more information on our website

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Tour Guide Entry: Turkey

2009-03-02T04:50:00.000-08:00

This month, our Tour Guide entry comes from Turan Kirac, who is a guide in Turkey on our Trekking in Turkey Tour.

He tells us a little more about his beloved country, explains its rich historic cultural, and what the average traveller can expect on their visit:

“Hi There,

I’m a tour guide in Turkey for Adventure Company and I would like to introduce our Tours, what we see, do and what you should expect from my land.

I would like to start with our traditional hospitality. In our culture, if you knock someone’s door and tell that you are a guest of God, you will be welcomed in the house and will be looked after.

During our treks we will meet families, shepherds and semi-nomads, racing with each other to offer us at least a cup of Tea. During our trek we regularly stop to speak to local shepards, seen here, offering us tea. Note in the background, the only mode of transportation in the area- the donkey. They work hard, but receive fresh food and are well looked after.

We also visit a semi-nomad camp. Very often we are invited by these families for lunch, for a cup of tea or Ayran (Yoghurt Drink). As a foreigner says; Turks change their route just to help you! We love guests.

We have fixed camps on the mountains, remaining for 4 months at least and have the best views from the ridges. Mountains of Turkey are very special because you can still see the wild life and rural culture.

It is not easy to get there, no lifts, no restaurants on the top of peaks, but pure mountains, none-touched, and not many tourists. Sometimes, you can walk for a week and not pass by another tourist group. Because of this, you can feel the wild atmosphere of nature and listen the great silence of mountains. And if you get tired, can ask for a camp taxi, and enjoy escorted horse riding.

Views of Mountains are fantastic, and afternoon naps are my favourite, especially after long hikes! If you are interested in bird watching, Aladaglar Mountain range and Cappadocia will offer you a huge variety of birds. Some of the most frequently observed species are red-backed shrike, dipper, rock nuthatch and Anatolian Nuthatch, alongside many others, including the rare Taurus Partridge..

And we may have the chance to see ibexes, wolves, rabbits, foxes, and if we are really lucky, a Lynx!

During our trips you will visit the extraordinary Cappadocia; an area in the central Anatolia, created by volcanic ash millions of years ago and erosion gave the most outstanding shapes which will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Cappadocia is the land of tales, fairy chimneys, pigeon houses, and rock cut houses everywhere, on the hills and under the ground. Shapes are so many and so different, photos really don’t do them justice.

Nature is so elegant and so sophisticated; and its something you will learn in Cappadocia. Seeing natural phonoemons such as those seen in the pictures, make you hesitant to return to the real world!

One of the best experiences you can get in Cappadocia is a Hot Air Balloon ride among the fairy chimneys and deep valleys.

This will give you a fantastic opportunity to take panoramic pictures. It takes only an hour but you’ll remember forever!

Here are some more photos of what you can expect to see in Cappadocia;

There is, of course the rich historical background of this land. Starting with earliest human (B.C. 18.000 Karain Cave) and the earliest city settlements of the world (Catalhoyuk B.C. 7.500) and one of the first ancient civilisation (Hittites B.C. 2000 – 800) remaining thousands of ancient sites from many different eras including Hitites, Ionians,Trojans, Alexander the Great, Romans and many more.

Every single step in this land we come across a new or unexcaveted ancient site, or a natural beauty.

Turkey has a lot to offer and travelling Turkey once means many more trips to Turkey in the future as you’ll be amazed with the diverse of nature, culture and history.

I hope you enjoy your trips all over the World and in my country. I hope to see you sometime in this mighty land.

Turan KIRAC
Professional Guide
Turkey”

Turan is our guide for the Trekking in Turkey Tour. The Adventure Company offer 5 tours to Turkey . Find out more on our Adventure Company Website.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Exploring Solo in South Africa

2009-03-02T02:01:00.000-08:00

Our blog entry for this week comes from Rachel Wetten, who recently went to South Africa, to have her very own adventure. Here is what she got up to:

"Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm 30 and have just been on the most amazing trip to South Africa. I did the Kruger, Mountains and Cape trip, which was accommodated.

I originally booked the camping version of the same trip, but was upgraded when it failed to go ahead. I was initially disappointed, but decided to approach it with my typical 'What will be, will be' attitude. A wise decision in hindsight!

I have a friend in Johannesburg, so flew out a couple of days early to spend time with her and her family before the trip started. This was the first trip of this kind I have done and although I have travelled alone before, the thought of meeting and spending 2 1/2 weeks with a group of people I didn't know was rather daunting.......... so I took a deep breath and got on with it!!

From Johannesburg we went to Kruger National Park, via Graskop where we had spend our first night.

It was incredible, the enormity of it, the expanse and the wildlife. It was a truely magical experience to turn a corner and have a giraffe or an elephant or a herd of 60+ water buffalo blocking your path and the only thing you can do is stop and wait for them to move!!

The early morning game drive - starting at 5:30 - was just amazing! By 8:30 we had seen four of the 'Big Five' and much more besides. A cheetah sat on a rock, calling to her babies or mate, is a sight I shall never forget. (I think the guides were rather pleased as well!!)

We stopped for brunch and I had to pinch myself that I was really there, in Kruger, helping to make a fabulous and much anticipated meal of bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms....... having just seen what I had seen. I couldn't quite believe it!

From Kruger we spent one night in Swaziland, where the electricity failed - but that is another and very long story that added tremendously to the idea of an 'adventure holiday'! - and then on to Mkuzi Black Rhino Reserve.

We took a trip to a local Zulu homestead which is not put on for tourists, but is where this family live, it is their home. It was a very humbling and moving experience for us all and the atmosphere in the bus on the way back was a little subdued.

The meals cooked for us by our wonderful guides were consistently superb and the 'drunken chicken' that second night in Mkuzi was a sight to behold......!

From there we carried on to the Drackensburg Mountains, which were literally breath taking, and awesome, in the true sense of the word. The walk to 'Jacob's Ladder' and subsequent swim in the naturally formed pools by the waterfalls, was just fantastic and something I shall never forget.

From here we had our longest driving day - ten hours in all - passing through Umtata (Mandela's birthplace) and a vast array of scenery down to Kei Mouth, right on the coast. This was a lovely little town, where we stayed for two nights and got our first taste of a South African pub!

We then travelled inland again, spending one night at Addo Elephant Park and then through Tsitsikamma National Park, (home to the world's highest bungee jump, in which I did not partake!!) and back to the coast at Knysna. This is the most spectacularly beautiful town and location. Evidently the clear blue skies and 30'c heat aided the views; but completely stunning!

Here we had our first night eating out and were taken to a lovely Greek restaurant right on the waterfront. After the meal a few of us carried on into the town and further sampled South African pub life, with live music. A very good night!!

After Knysna, we took the Garden Route, via Cape Agulhas, (the southern most point of the African continent and the geographical point at which the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet - quite spectacular and well worth a visit!) to Hermanus, where we stayed for one night.

The next day we started the final leg of our mammoth 6,500km journey, to Cape Town. We stopped for lunch in Stellenbosch and had the opportunity to sample some locally produced wine. It was the most beautiful place, with stunning architecture and the mountains in the distance. I had to keep taking mental pictures and breathing in the atmosphere, because I knew we only had a matter of days left.

We arrived in Cape Town on Valentines Day and because of this we were 'let loose' for the evening. I spent it in a pub on the Waterfront, eating pizza and watching England lose in a rather spectacular fashion to Wales in the Six Nations!!

The next day we went to Hout Bay and took a boat trip to see the colony of seals who reside there. We then travelled to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope (the most south westerly point on the continent) We had lunch there and then carried on to Boulders Beach and a large group of African Penguins. I have to say this was rather surreal - to see penguins walking on sand and sun bathing!! But quite lovely!

That night we all went together for our last meal of the trip to the Waterfront in Cape Town. This is the most amazing city, with a veneer of the laid back and relaxed South African lifestyle, but bubbling excitedly underneath. And to turn, where ever you are in the city and see Table Mountain............

Monday was our last day and Table Mountain had been closed both previous days, so when the guides came down for breakfast and informed us it was open, most of us were very pleased.

I, for one, was honestly terrified! I hate heights and the thought of going up 3,500m in a cable car left me literally shaking (really, the entire time we were queuing I was outwardly trembling!) but I was determined to do it.How can you be in Cape Town, have the opportunity and not go up Table Mountain?

So thanks to a very kind and considerate tour guide (you know who you are!) I made it to the top of the mountain! It is, apparently, very common for it to be rather windy on top, but someone was smiling down on me that day, because there was not a whisper..... It was simply incredible!! (And no, I did not take all the pictures, my official photographer must take the credit for these!)

So that was South Africa, well a bit of it and through my eyes, but I can't recommend it highly enough. Take a sense of adventure, a laid back attitude, a lot of good humour and enjoy........... "

Rachel went on our Kruger, Mountains and Cape trip , however The Adventure Company also have nine trips to South Africa. You can find out more on our Adventure Company Website.

Have you been to Africa recently? We'd love to hear about your experience! If you are interested in submitting an entry, please leave a comment, or send us an email using the contact box at the side of the page.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Find yourself in Sri Lanka!

2009-02-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

Our next blog entry comes from Kelly Geoghegan who has recently returned from a trip in Sri Lanka, this February. She took part in our Sri Lankan Discovery Tour

She tells what it is they should expect from the island:

"Sri Lanka more then exceeded my expectations in every way. There were so many memorable moments everyday. The friendliness of the locals and the beauty of the places combine to make this a wonderful holiday destination.

Dolphin watching, elephant safari and climbing Adams peak in time for sunrise were definite obvious highlights. However there was something new to see, to learn and to experience everyday, a fantastic itinerary.

Having travelled extensively in Asia I would rate Sri Lanka as the safest and easiest SE Asian country to travel in. I see the current political situation as certainly no reason not to travel. Because of this, the island is certainly suffering from a lack of tourists, most places we went were quiet, and this is the high season.

But, everyone seems genuinely pleased to see you there. You will come away with a lasting impression of the friendliness of the Sri Lankan people.

As it is to be expected, accommodation standard does vary from excellent 5* resort to basic resthouses, but these are the best available in some of the areas you will visit.

My best tip would be to always eat local food, it’s amazing and the western dishes offered are often disappointing.

We used local guides often, for nature walks, village tours and other excursions. We ate in local villagers houses sometimes and tried to shop in local stores.

We travelled in our own private bus, which whilst not being the most environmentally friendly option, was the only way to follow our itinerary. Travelling this way also does get you 'off the beaten track", and this after all, is why we were there! We wanted to see the heart of Sri Lanka, not the outskirts.

Our guide, Ruwan, made every effort to ensure we got the most out of our holiday, stopping whenever he saw extra things we might want to witness.

Especially memorable was a lady at the side of the road who showed us 101 things to do with a coconut! His love for his country was obvious in everything that he did and his local knowledge and explanations made every situation come alive.

In all honesty, I thought my holiday was fantastic. The people, the places and the experiences made this one of the most memorable holidays I have had. The excellent guide, Ruwan, and my fellow travellers helped to make every experience fun.

I think we got a reputation for laughing too much wherever we went! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sri Lanka to anybody. It really is an amazing country and this trip allows you to experience all aspects of the island, its people, its culture and its beauty."

Kelly went on our Sri Lankan Discovery Tour but The Adventure Company also offer 6 tours to the island of Sri Lanka find out more on the Adventure Company Website

Have you been to Sri Lanka? We'd love to hear from you too! Get in touch by leaving a comment or using the contact details at the side of the page.

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Comic Relief Update!

2009-02-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, we excitedly posted news a few months back, after we heard that a gaggle of the UK's finest celebrities would be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief this year. If you didn't read it before, you can find out more by reading our past entry, "Follow in the footsteps of the Comic Relief celebs.

Since then, training has begun and the various celebrities included have dealt with it in very different ways. Chris Moyles has publicly battled in his attempts to shift the pounds, bring in the muscle and thwart his daily take-away dinners. Gary Barlow, finally showing SOME sign of aging, has had his back go into spasm, throwing the whole trip into chaos.

All climbers plan to leave on this Friday (27th March) with their efforts to be shown on Red Nose Day- Friday 13th March- make sure you tune in.

For all the Take That fans out there, here is an interview Barlow gave about the trip:

And just because we don't like to leave our male viewers in the dark, here is a lovely Q&A with Cheryl Cole and Kimberly Walsh:

Book a Kili Trip!
We recommend you head over and sponser the team but why not use this as a chance to really tick off a "must-do" for '09?.

As a goodwill gesture, The Adventure Company have decided to donate £10 to the Comic Relief team and their causes, for every booking made on a Kilimanjaro trip, if booked before the 15th March. To ensure your donation is made, you must also quote "Red nose" at the point of booking.

The donation is available on the following four climbing trips to Kilimanjaro:

Peaks of Tanzania Tour
A great trek for beginner climbers, as the itinerary includes an initial climb to Mount Meru, which helps climbers acclimatise and increases the chance of success of making it to the top of Kili.

Marangu Route:
Commonly thought to be the least strenuous route, it is also the only one offering the relative comfort of huts at night, so if you don’t like the idea of crawling into a tent at the end of a hard day’s hiking, this is a good option.

Rongai Route:
This route offers a different perspective of the mountain as it approaches from the north. Although you can expect a large number of climbers on Kili at any time, Rongai tends to be less frequented as numbers are more strictly regulated on this route and it can only be used for the ascent; you will descend via one of the other routes.

Machame Route:
Arguably the most challenging option, but considered to be the most scenic. The day-walks are longer and steeper than on the other routes, but your extra efforts are rewarded with breathtaking views while traversing the Western Breach.

The Adventure Company are keen to donate to the team, because their good cause touches an area of tourism we are keen to support. We offer many trips to Tanzania , and the Comic Relief celebs are climbing to help raise money to help fight malaria in the country.

If you've got any other madcap ideas on how you are planning to raise money for the big day, or if you have plans to climb, or have climbed Kili, get in touch- we'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading,
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Tour Guide Entry: South Africa

2009-02-16T08:57:00.000-08:00

This month our blog comes from Francois Senekal, a tour guide with The Adventure Company.

He gives us an insight of what he sees on a day to day basis, and even shows us some juicy video content which shows birth, death, and mother nature at its very best....

"Hello there!,

I am a tour leader for The Adventure Company in Southern Africa, and wanted to let you know a little more about what I do, and what you can expect from tour guides when you are here.

I am not able to get online very often, but I am in-between tours this week and thought that I would show you some videos that I have taken on some of the tours that I have led in Southern Africa

The above video was taken in Etosha National Park in northern Namibia. We visited Etosha on the The Cape To Victoria tour. Etosha is the prime game viewing area on Namibia.

Etosha means "Great White Place" and it is dominated by a massive mineral pan which takes up about a quarter of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River, however the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up.

But the perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife. There are numerous species of antelope present in the park, large concentrations of elephant and the ever present, predators.

This video of Springbok giving birth was taken on an early morning game drive. Springbok time their birth to coincide with the start of the rainy season to ensure that there is sufficient grazing to raise their young.

Springbok also have the ability to delay the birth of their lambs so that the conditions are perfect to give the young the best chance of survival. The herd also time the births so that all of the pregnant females calf within a few days of each other.

This is vital because “safety in numbers” is the strategy for survival. By “flooding the market” with young, the idea is that the predation of the young will not have an adverse effect on the population.

The group who witnessed this birth said it was one of the highlights of the tour. It is not often that one gets to see a wild animal giving birth. The females usually head off to a secluded spot.

This video was taken in Savuti in Botswana. The parks of Botswana are a wildlife paradise, and the game viewing in the parks is, in my opinion, the best in Africa.

On a morning game drive we came across 2 lionesses. They were moving with purpose through the bush (most sighting of lions are of them sleeping) so we knew that something interesting was going to happen. All of the lionesses, stopped, crouched and started stalking. We could not see what had taken their interest.

Being on a “hunt” with lions is an amazing experience. The tension and excitement that you can see in the lions is instantly mirrored in your own emotions. The adrenalin starts pumping, vision and hearing become sharper – it feels that you are actually taking part in the hunt!

Out of nowhere this warthog emerged. It saw the lions and started running. It did not have much chance. The lions were on it in a few seconds and it was over. It is amazing how quickly these life and death struggles unfold in the bush.

Soon after the adults had the warthog down, and under control, the cubs appeared. During the excitement of the hunt we had not even noticed the cubs hiding behind a bush. I only managed to get my camera out of my bag after the chase. It’s a pity that I did not catch the whole sequence on film but I was not interested in my camera while the drama was unfolding.

Watching a kill is an emotional experience. Some in the group felt for the warthog, while others were supporting the lions. Either way, this is nature at it’s most raw, and definitely puts things in perspective for us humans in our very safe living environment.

I hope that you enjoy these videos. Working as a guide means that I am exposed to these daily dramas in the bush many times, but it always excites me, and I love showing people the many wonders that are in Southern Africa.

I hope to see you on tour sometime soon, and when I am close to a computer with internet access, I hope to send some more interesting videos.

Francois Senekal
Tour Leader
Southern Africa."

You can come across Springbok on two of The Adventure Company tours to South Africa. The Cape To Victoria tour and the Cape Desert Delta tour include visits to the Victoria Falls, the Namib Desert and lots of exciting wildlife during their 24 day itineraries.

Check out Lions and travel through waterways by riding in mokoros (dugout canoes) on the Delta to Victoria Falls tour.

Follow a similar route and even swing by to see elephants in their natural environment on the Okavango to Victoria Falls tour

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

The Adventure Company: Staff Profile of The Month: Rebecca Pride

2009-02-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

This months Staff Profile comes from Rebecca Pride, who is Direct Marketing Executive here at The Adventure Company. She tells us about her travels, her favourite places, her best tips and other fab experiences:

"I joined The Adventure Company at the beginning of last year and have just come back from my first trip, a brilliant week of winter activities in Slovakia.

I didn’t take the usual break before or after university to go travelling so have tried to squeeze it in during my own holidays. To date my most exciting adventure has been visiting my brother when he lived in Japan, a fascinating country that keeps you on your toes!

Last year was a pretty big year for me as I got married, and my poor work colleagues can vouch for the fact that it kind of took over 2008! I’m looking forward to a much calmer 2009, although we’re in the middle of renovating our house, so not much chance of that!"

What do you love most about your job?
I’m passionate about understanding our customers and then using this knowledge to communicate with them. Every day is different and a challenge. I’m learning something new each day and constantly inspired by the amazing countries we visit.

What is your most memorable travel experience?
When visiting my brother in Japan we were lucky enough to be invited to a family party by one of his Japanese colleagues. It was a party to celebrate the arrival of the fireflies and we marked the occasion with a feast of local delicacies and a traditional tea ceremony.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened on a trip?
On our Slovakia trip we spent the whole week in fits of laughter whether it was from learning to ski, rolling in the snow at the thermal pools, or teaching the local folk band some English songs on New Years Eve.

The funniest moments had to be one of the members of the group being presented with a whole pork knee after misunderstanding the menu, and cross-country skiing, which involved endless comedy falls as we struggled to figure out how to stop!

Where have you been?
Japan, America, Dubai, Tunisia, Turkey, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Slovakia and France.

Where are you going next?
We had quite an extravagant holiday year in 2008 with our honeymoon and our winter trip to Slovakia so this year is going to be a bit more low key and we’re planning a driving trip around France.

Best travel tip:
Try learning a bit of the language before you go so you can practise your skills when you’re away.

What inspires you to travel?
The endless opportunities to try something new. From new activities like rafting or snowshoeing, new foods like raw koi karp or stag goulash, visiting new places and meeting new people.

Would you like to tell us some of your travel tips or experiences? Drop by our Facebook page and speak with our other fans there, if you'd like to submit a blog- we'd love to hear from you too!

Make your next trip something to brag about, find out where to go on The Adventure Company Website

The Adventure Company: Nature’s Great Events on BBC.

2009-02-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

Here at The Adventure Company, we clearly love mother nature, and hold a special place in our hearts for the animal world too. Therefore, we are naturally very excited about the latest show to hit the BBC, because Nature’s Great Events is going to knock the socks off the average nature programme.

Using the most up-to-date technology, the show has captured the earths most dramatic and epic wildlife spectacles, and the animals, which feature in them. Whilst these have been filmed many times before this is the first time that such grand migrations and occurrences have been captured in such detail.

If you have digital, you can also watch the series on BBC HD, and really marvel at the detail. This is because they have used cutting-edge aerial, underwater and ultra slow-motion filming techniques. For geeky fans amongst you, the series also used a rare and unique camera- a FrankenCam, a motion-control macro camera developed by Ammonite Films and capable of shooting extreme close-ups of tiny subjects.

Everyone’s favourite naturalist, David Attenborough also narrates the series. You can watch the first programme this Wednesday (11th February) from 9pm-10pm on BBC One.

Episodes are set in the most glorious of settings including the Okavango Delta in Africa, the Arctic, and the northern Pacific Ocean.

The first episode of the series focuses around springtime in the Arctic where everything begins to melt and thaw. The episode focuses on the challenges polar bears face as their habitat is thrown into disarray, and how others such as the arctic fox, beluga whales and flocks of birds adapt so well to the climate change,

This particular episode was also filmed during the largest “Great Melt” ever recorded, as during the lengthy filming 400,000 square miles of extra ice disappeared. We first see the baby and mum polar bear here as they look for food, and the episode also focuses on the Hudson Bay bears as they fight, out of hunger.

Aerial camera also follow a large group of narwhals as they travel along giant cracks in the ice, a nail biting mission due to the fact that if the ice slides shut, they would suffocate. Beluga whales provide one of the most light-hearted moments of the show as hundreds gather in shallow rivers to rub themselves on smooth pebbles and gently exfoliates away their year old skin.

Other episodes also focus around The Great Salmon Run which follows the 500 million salmon who travel 20,000 miles to return to the exact patch of gravel in the river from which they were born they fight to make it up river along the way, dodging the prey who want them as their next dinner before they finally spawn and die. Revolutionary camera film 100 times faster than normal and slow motion shots show specific hunting techniques the bears use.

The Great Migration follows the huge amounts of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles as they migrate across Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains. Using a gyro-stabilised helicopter mount, the team captures the action as the herds fight the odds and an erupting volcano whose billowing smoke and ash is hot on their trail.

The Great Tide tracks the hundreds of millions of sardines who are on the search of warmer waters in South Africa and the reams of ocean hunters, including dolphins, sharks and whales who are waiting for them.

The Great Flood tracks herds of elephants as they try to find water in the Kalahari Desert, and then have to adapt again as the Okavango Delta floods. Finally The Great Feast focuses on Alaska and British Columbia as the increased sunlight brings a wealth of nature including sea lions and whales. Using advance camera techniques the programme checks the growth of phytoplankton, which are the basis of all life in this vast area.

The Adventure Company also has a few tours, which take you to the same areas, and let you witness these fascinating events yourself.

There are 6 Arctic expedition trips to choose from, alongside our Serengeti Explorer Tour and we also offer 9 Tours To South Africa

Did you encounter any cool wildlife on your latest Adventure Company trip? If so, leave us a comment or let us know!
Thanks for reading
The Adventure Company

The Adventure Company: Bear Tracking in Slovakia!

2009-02-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

For this entry, Linda Harris, European Product Executive here at The Adventure Company tells us about the project she is involved in Slovakia, which is helping to track the infamously reclusive Brown Bear.

Due to its solitary nature, no one really knows the exact habits, or numbers of the species in the world. The purpose of this project is to track the bears, and find out more about them.

You can get involved with this by taking part in our Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip, which is part of the Hands On collection.

Brown Bears
The Brown Bear can be found in Europe, North America and Asia. There is a dense population in the Tatras, but actual numbers are very rough- it is estimated that between 400-1400 live in the forests. The bears are omnivorous, and are very reclusive, but the mothers with their cubs are very tactile.

They often dig dens for winter hibernation, often holing up in a hillside. Females often den whilst pregnant and give birth during the winter, usually it is to a pair of cubs. The bears then nurse from the mother up until spring, and stay by their mothers’ side for around two and a half years.

They are powerful creatures, but much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves and roots. They do also eat rodents and deer in sparse months. They are big, but are very agile, with past speeds being clocked at 48km an hour. They are not as dangerous to humans as myths lead them to be, but we would advise humans to not approach mothers who are with their cubs- they are very protective!

The Project:
The main purpose of this project is to develop and expand a greater awareness in Slovakia’s magnificent wildlife, especially its populations of bears and wolves. Unfortunately, these animals have always been seen as a danger to the community and a top target for sport hunting. We think that if people had a common understanding of the animal, and its behaviour, this wouldn’t be the case. We think they should be regarded as magnificent natural assets and therefore protected and celebrated.

We use collaring to gather the information we need. Recent advances in collaring techniques have vastly improved data collection for all mammals, especially those that may have been untouched before, such as those who live deep in forests.

The GPS collars we use allow animals to be monitored on an hourly basis wherever they roam. It also lets us know when they edge near human populated areas, and provides an extra safety barrier for them.

This equipment also needs less man-power to monitor, and provides higher quality data, leaving our guides more time to help the bears in other ways, such as setting up safe areas and helping any sick bears. It also means research budgets can be switched to helping people become more educated about the species, allowing myths that have been spread about the bear to be demolished.

We work alongside the High Tatras National Park, where we have chosen four bears to collar and will take a comprehensive look at their lives. We first collared the bears in June 2008, and since then have launched the Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip, which allows others to come along and play a vital part in our research. To do this, visitors are encouraged to get stuck in with the research by analysing tracks and printed findings, measuring tree scratching, and even analysing dung!

We also use the project to establish habits between bears and their community, and are in the midst of establishing bear tracks, and key drinking and feeding locations, which we can eventually help to protect.

Every year the number of Brown Bears dwindle because they are shot. Our long-term aim is to set up a sanctuary to prevent this from happening. We would love to have a bear research centre, youth education programmes and a way to observe the beers acting in their own environments.

The Cage
We have also placed a cage within the park that helps us locate bears for collaring. We don’t keep the bears in the cages but we like to monitor the movements of animals around the cage with the door open, until a bear that is big enough stumbles across it. We have installed cameras near to the cage, which means we can monitor the bears closely before collaring them. It also means someone doesn’t have to hide out in the cold and observe them all night!

We put out a combination of apples and corn as bait, and this works well when the juicy berries in the forest aren’t distracting them! We also only capture bears in daylight, and once the animal has been comfortable in the surroundings around the cage. We also work closely with rangers, and always have a vet on hand when collaring.

Miso
To give you an idea of what visitors to the project can expect, here is a little information about one of the “regular” bears in the project, Miso:

Miso is a five year old brown bear, weighing in at 120kg, 70 cm high and 130cm nose to tail. He isn’t the largest bear that we have monitored, but he is our most regular visitor! He was our first bear to be collared, and makes a very interesting subject. Due to our monitoring we feel like we know Miso’c character, and since he is quite young, a great example because he hasn’t yet laid out his own territory yet, he is like an eager puppy!

It means we can see him pushing his levels, and watch eagerly to see how far he will roam to gather food. Because he is so young, we will be interested to see how he grows into being dominant, so we can pinpoint any changes that occur.

Bear Track with The Adventure Company!
Help out with this important project as you explore stunning Slovakia. The Bear Tracking in the Tatras trip allows you to track the bears in a beautiful national park where you are surrounded by mountains.

Stay at remote mountain cottages which are normally only used by rangers, and spot wolves and wildcats alongside bears. You can also explore the quaint Spis towns, some of which are 700 years old. You also get to spend the night in a castle and explore the polish city of Krakow – all in all a fantastic experience!

The Adventure Company: Snow in Slovakia

2009-01-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

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