Summer’s done… bring on the snow

August 26th, 2010

2005.02 Finland_0994OK, so summer’s over and it seems, in the blink of an eye, winter might be just around the corner.  But who’s grumbling? Bring on the snow!

Then again… we may have a winter of cold, damp, windy grey days. And where’s the fun in that?

If you want to be sure of a real winter, then head for Northern Scandinavia and Lapland. In the depths of winter, this area is simply magical with deep snow, cosy cabins, hot saunas and, if you’re lucky, the mysterious and mesmerising Northern Lights dancing overhead.

If you are thinking of escaping on a holiday with a difference this winter whether as a family or just for yourself, then we have a delectable range of winter activity and adventure holidays right across Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. There are also options in Easter Europe and the Alps too, with snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing from luxurious hotels – although you’ll have to forgo your search for the Northern Lights.

Leading Tour Operators:

We deal with many of the leading UK ATOL protected tour operators offering winter activity and northern lights holidays. Holidays from companies such as Activities Abroad, Discover the World, Exodus, Explore, Families Worldwide, Taber Holidays, The Adventure Company, Wildlife & Wilderness and many more can all be booked through us.

And the best part?

We can help you see the wood from the trees (as you go zipping past with your huskies) – by giving you free, impartial advice to help you find the perfect holiday. We add significant value to your holiday experience through the wealth of ours.

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Family Winter Adventure Holidays

We offer a huge selection of family friendly winter holidays to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and they’re perfect if you are looking for an alternative to the usual ski holiday. Here is a selection of just a few:

ICELAND – Seriously Superjeeps

A trip for a family of adventurers – Iceland is a land of volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, geysers waiting for you to explore, may be by optional snowmobile.  Take a wild ride in a ‘Superjeep’ through a landscape of glacial moraine and lakes of ice. Be lucky and eat lobster under the Northern Lights the night before unwinding in the thermal waters of the blue lagoon before returning home.

4 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £747  :: Child from £542  :: Min Age 6  :: Enquire

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SLOVAKIA – Snow Adventure Dog-sledding

You arrive in Krakow, Poland and travel to your Slovakian base in a small mountain village in the Tatras – a region of spectacular scenery. From here you can ski or snowboard; eat with a Slovak family; swim in a thermal pool; have lots of fun whizzing downhill on sledges; enjoy a snowshoe expedition into the stunning Rohace Mountains and learn how to handle your own dog sled.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £869  :: Child from £739  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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BULGARIA – Winter Experience

A week of snow fun and adventure based in the limestone gorges and peaks of the spectacular Rhodope Mountains. The village where you are based has Bulgaria’s longest ski run and an impressive range of downhill and cross-country trails for you try by ski or snowboard. There is a snowshoeing excursion, lunch with a local family, wild animal tracking and a visit to thermal swimming pools. You will also have the chance for optional dog-sledding and snowmobiling. Your trip ends in Sofia with time to sightsee.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £889  :: Child from £799  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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SWEDEN - Icehotel & Abisko

A short break with a very good chance of seeing the Northern Lights combined with a night at the amazing Icehotel. You ascend to the Abisko Mountain Station by chairlift to what is believed to be one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights. Due to its topography the skies are kept clearer by the prevailing winds and the area is not affected by artificial light. The man-made Icehotel has to be experienced to be believed and is a base for many adventurous activities if you wish to try them such as dog-sledding.

3 / 4 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1093  :: Child from £1093  ::  Min Age 12  :: Enquire

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FINLAND - Winter Adventure

Finnish Lapland is a beautiful wilderness waiting to be discovered by you on snowshoes, cross-country skis, reindeer sleigh, husky-drawn sleds and snowmobiles. This very popular family trip will introduce you to popular Nordic activities on the edge of the Oulanka National Park and to the indigenous Sami people. Your accommodation is a superb base in a wilderness location with excellent facilities. Enjoy log fires, saunas and an outdoor hot-tub (if you dare!)

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1399  :: Child from £1149  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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FINLAND - Snowmobiles & Sleds

Your base for this exciting adventure in remote eastern Finland, close to the Russian border, is a characterful hotel with breathtaking lake views. You will be surrounded by frozen lakes and vast forests as you experience the winter activities and learn about the folklore and traditions of this region. Cross-country ski; drive a dogsled through silent woods;  explore on a snowmobile safari and have fun at a mini-Olympic games (have you ever tried snow-golf or ice dancing?). There are optional activities for you to choose in your free time including ice-fishing, ice-skating and ice-sculpting and plenty of fun to be had tobogganing and kick-sledging.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1449  :: Child from £1049  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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FINLAND - Winter Wonderland 2005.02 Finland_0979

Karelia in Finland is a stunning setting for a week’s activities in a landscape of pristine lakes and endless forests and mountains deep in snow. You will learn how to harness and handle a dog sled through the countryside There will be snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to enjoy as well as igloo building, ice fishing and walking. Your traditional log farmhouse is tucked away up winding tracks and is the perfect place for Finnish style relaxation and adventure.

7 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1599  :: Child from £869  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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FINLAND - Lapland Snow Adventure northern lights

Take your family on a trip far into the Arctic Circle and away from the crowds and tourists. On this snow adventure you combine active days in the extreme cold with warm wooden chalets and hearty food. Try new exciting activities like dog-sledding, snowmobiling, tracking reindeer and ice-fishing as well as sledging, ice-skating on a frozen lake and cross country skiing.  All under the shimmering norther lights.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £2369  :: Child from £2269  ::  Min Age 4  :: Enquire

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FINLAND - Santa’s Spectacular

The ultimate Christmas adventure for children. Arriving in Lapland you will be transported to your hotel through a winter wonderland. On arrival you will be kitted out with thermal outer suits and accessories and then you are free to have fun in the snow. On Day 2 you have a reindeer sleigh ride through the woods; a husky sled ride; a traditional arctic circle ceremony and lots of snow and ice fun activities. Finally the childrens’ dreams come true as your family search for Santa by snowmobile-sled and find him in his log cabin. There are optional adventures you can also enjoy such as a snowmobile safari, skiing or more husky and reindeer sledding before returning home late on Day 3.

3 days  ::  Group ::  Adult from £659  :: Child from – POA  ::  Min Age n/a  :: Enquire

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ANDORRA- Winter Activity Week

Based in the Pyrenees, this family winter activity holiday gives you the chance to try both downhill and cross-country skiing. Try Snow-shoeing off the beaten track in peaceful and beautiful snow covered forest and learn how to build an igloo. Maybe you would like to take an optional snowmobile ride through the forest or go ice skating. You will have the chance to learn how to harness a team of dogs and set off with your team and dog sled on a forest trail, with the only sound being that of the runners on the sled sliding through the snow.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1049  :: Child from £1049  ::  Min Age 6  :: Enquire

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AUSTRIA- Winter Austria

A chance to get active in the snow with your family. This holiday will introduce your family to winter activities such as ‘try-it’ skiing, snow tubing, snow shoeing (for older children), horse drawn sleigh ride, snowmobiling and tobogganing. Go on a treasure hunt in a winter wonderland and enjoy hot punch at the end of active, happy days in the mountain air.

8 days  ::  Small group ::  Adult from £1199  :: Child from £1199  ::  Min Age 5  :: Enquire

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Get your dancing shoes on…

July 28th, 2010

No doubt many of you will have seen this before, but for those of you who haven’t – welcome to the world of “Where the hell is Matt?” – the story of how one guy was offered two Round the World trips at the expense of a chewing gum company,  all on the promise of a YouTube video.

30,000,000 views later, it’s still going strong.

The ultimate feel good travel video?

Enjoy…

YouTube Preview Image

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Diary of a travel smitten toddler

July 21st, 2010

Ever wondered what an 18 month old thinks of adventure travel? To find out, read Louie Ferraro’s ‘diary’ of his first big adventure in central Turkey and gain an insight into the mind of a travel smitten toddler…

That's me, looking cool in my Bob t-shirt

That's me, looking cool in my Bob t-shirt

After months of research, Mummy and Daddy had finally decided on Turkey for my first “big adventure”. They seemed a little apprehensive before we set off. People were telling them they were “very brave”, but they relaxed a little when I started making friends at Istanbul airport.

They’d been told that the Turkish people love children so I was going to do my best not to dispel the myth! We were heading for a place called Ankara, but we had an hour between our flights at Istanbul. I think an hour is a long time, but it gave me the chance to gather together four biscuits, a chocolate bar, half an orange and a few sweets from two lovely ladies with scarves on their heads! Maybe this travel malarkey wasn’t going to be too bad after all…

In Ankara, I thought the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations was quite boring, so I went to sleep. Afterwards Mummy and Daddy said it was “fascinating”! The next day we took a big bus to a town called Goreme, in Cappadocia. This place was full of strange landscapes and funny rock formations, with houses and churches cut out of the rock.

“I think my blond curls were quite an attraction – everywhere we went people wanted to kiss me and pinch my cheeks (quite hard sometimes, if I may say so!)”


For the next couple of days Daddy carried me in the backpack through the valleys – we saw lots of weird rocks as well as birds, goats, cows, horses and tractors! There were lots of people gardening in the fields too.

Occassionally I got out and walked...

Occasionally I got out and walked...

At the end of each day we went back to the village and ate at a different restaurant every night. I would have been quite happy to go back to the first restaurant as the waiter gave me his necklace and took me into the kitchen to meet the chef. He made yummy food – grilled meats and some surprisingly nice vegetables. Honey pastries were for pudding. Mmmm!

I think my blond curls were quite an attraction – everywhere we went people wanted to kiss me and pinch my cheeks (quite hard sometimes, if I may say so!)

In one village, after a walk through the Ilhara Valley (it had a nice river and some rock churches which Mummy and Daddy liked, but I thought the burping frogs were best), five women, all with their heads covered by pretty scarves, invited us in to their house for tea! Once inside, and after quite a few minutes of Mummy and Daddy trying to make conversation (quite badly I might add, as their Turkish wasn’t very good), one of the women brought out a huge plate filled with funny flat bread, cheese, olives, some green leafy stuff (yuk) and fresh yoghurt, as well as the obligatory glasses of “çay”. They didn’t have any chairs so we sat on the floor. I did try not to make too much mess… Turkey_0297

From Cappadocia we took another bus to the city of Konya. I fought hard not to fall asleep, but was unsuccessful. Turkey has a very sensible bus system – all the big buses stop at bus stations outside the city, from where we got little buses (which aren’t half as comfortable!) into the city centre. I liked travelling on the big buses as lots of ladies gave me sweets.

Konya is where a man called Mevlana Rumi founded the “Whirling Dervishes”. They pray by twirling round and round and round – I got quite dizzy trying to copy them! We only spent one night there before moving on to the little town of Egirdir, which is next to a big lake and surrounded by mountains. We stayed in some nice people’s house on a sort of island and a lady called Esna cooked us some yummy food. She sang Turkish songs and clapped and she was very impressed with my dancing!

“At first it looked like a big pile of rocks, but Daddy assured me it was an ancient city”.

From Egirdir we caught another big bus TO THE SEA! Yippee! – It was a place called Antalya and there were lots of reddy pink people speaking English – typical, just when I was getting the hang of Turkish! The next day a man drove us to a place called Termessos. At first it looked like a big pile of rocks, but Daddy assured me it was an ancient city. There was a big “theatre” with lovely views of the mountains, and I had great fun climbing on all the boulders.

it was just a big pile of rocks...

ancient city? nah... it's just a big pile of rocks...

It was good that we went early in the morning (I prefer to get up early these days) as by the time we had seen everything there were lots of people walking around.

That evening we went to a restaurant in Antalya and it had a big parrot in a cage! There were lots of old men on the table next to us who were busy drinking little glasses of what looked like water. They were very loud and started singing songs, so I showed them my dancing, and they liked that. I sat on one man’s knee and we all sang songs and clapped. Then they invited Mummy and Daddy over and told them a poem – it was about lovely children, like me!

Our next (and last) stop was a town called Fethiye. Nearby there was a big gorge called “Saklikent”. We, well, Mummy and Daddy actually (I was in the backpack), had to get our feet wet as we walked up the gorge. My Daddy’s quite tall, but in places the water went up above his knees! It was amazing. The rock walls went up and up and up.

that's my daddy!

that's my daddy!

And then we had to fly home – boo!

Mummy and Daddy said Turkey was the best holiday they’d had in years. The people were very friendly, and I got lots of presents. As well as all the free food I was given, I think the final tally included two necklaces, three bracelets, a pen-knife (which Mummy and Daddy have to keep until I’m older) and a dinosaur shaped water pistol!

I wonder if they like children in Senegal?

Acknowledgments: I must admit to having some help writing my diary (only a small bit mind!) from my daddy as, well… I don’t yet know all my letters. Working this computer’s been dead easy though…

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Cost-Benefit analysis in expeditions

July 1st, 2010

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With the recent meteoric rise in the number of adventurous school expeditions across the globe, STC Director Adrian Ferraro looks at the cost benefit analysis of different forms of expedition and how to provide your pupils with a safe, sustainable and life changing travel opportunity at a price that doesn’t cost the earth…

Expedition: the very word conjures up images of exotic cultures, strange foods and stunning landscapes, and for young people they offer a fantastic learning environment that is far removed from everyday life.

Orley Farm School Expedition

Orley Farm Expedition, Mt. Meru

There can be no doubt as to the benefits of travel and adventure.  If there’s a downside, though, most people would usually agree it’s the price tag.  Quality expeditions are potentially expensive, but they don’t need to cost a small fortune. The phrase “cost benefit analysis” isn’t usually associated with activities such as self-development, adventure and expeditions, but perhaps it should be?

So is it possible to reduce costs without reducing the experience, benefits or the safe running of a trip?

Absolutely.

The key is to do two things: 1) use the school’s expertise where possible, and 2) make sure the style of the expedition meets your requirements. This is certainly not rocket science, but the affect on an expedition price can be dramatic.

A month long senior school expedition can vary in price by as much as £800 per person depending on how you approach it. A 16 day expedition in Morocco might cost £1,000 through one provider, or £1,450 with another. Is the 45% higher price tag worth it?

What’s more, with some schools sending away 40 or 50 pupils every year, the potential savings across a school are huge.  And with many pupils using fundraising to obtain a place on these trips, it is important to remember the impact such expeditions have on the school economy and the wider community. Reducing costs while retaining the educational benefits, adventurous nature of a trip and safety, leaves greater fundraising potential for other projects that a school may plan.

Alternatively, and here’s a thought, more young people might actually be able to undertake such experiences and few would argue against that.

Training and Leaders

Unless your expedition requires specialist skills, or you particularly want to outsource the whole package, most schools can provide any necessary pre-trip training for an expedition. Not all school expedition companies are keen on schools using this approach though, but that is hardly a surprise when they can charge £300 – £400 per person to deliver it for you.

If you were a qualified plumber, would you call British Gas to fix your boiler? Probably not. Many schools, but particularly those in the independent sector, are blessed with staff who are suitably qualified to lead adventurous activities around the UK. This expertise along with experience of adventure travel is the major pre-requisite of an expedition leader and can be combined with experienced local guides and a solid safety, back-up and support structure of leading adventure and expedition companies. Some companies insist on supplying their own leaders, at obvious extra cost, others don’t.

If you want to get maximum value for money, make sure you choose an expedition provider that allows you to use the expertise you already have, or makes use of qualified in-country leaders, rather than insists on using UK expedition leaders.

Style of expedition

Whether you are a prep school looking for an introduction to adventure travel or a senior school requiring a long-haul expedition with project work, there are dozens of expedition and adventure companies in the UK offering safe and highly rewarding trips.

Different companies have different approaches, but generally, an expedition is likely to fall into one of two camps: those where pupils have varying levels of input into the planning and execution of a trip, and those where an itinerary is tailor-made for them and arranged in advance.

Unsurprisingly, there is a trade off between the two. Expeditions where pupils have day to day “control” when travelling, such as arranging transport, accommodation and managing budgets, can go a long way to developing self-reliance, confidence and problem solving skills amongst the participants. However there is a price to pay and it is that the quality of the itinerary often suffers. Organising logistics when you arrive in your destination takes time and effort, inevitably leaving less time to spend on travel, project work or adventure.

In contrast, expeditions that are tailor-made but pre-arranged are usually significantly cheaper and enable a group to do, see and experience far more. Some say this approach diminishes the self-development opportunities of a trip, but many argue in return that these occur as a natural outcome of coping with challenge and adventure, rather than as a by-product of a certain approach. After all, both options allow ample opportunity to experience foreign cultures, meet and work with local people, challenge pre-conceptions, be tested physically, emotionally and mentally, and to see some of the world’s most amazing places.

Sustainability

By their very nature, expeditions often involve travel amongst cultures and environments that are extremely fragile, and we should never forget that we travel as guests in someone else’s home. By minimising the impact on your destination, both environmentally and culturally, while at the same time maximizing the positive economic impact of your trip, an expedition can be a force for good. Ensuring your expedition, especially if it includes any project work, is carried out in a responsible and sustainable fashion, should be a key consideration when choosing who to travel with. There area some horrific examples out their of large expedition companies complete disregard for their long term impact on communities.

Those expedition companies that offer a more comprehensive support and quality logistics package in country such as porters, private transport and local guides are also pumping more money into the local economy than those expedition companies that expect a group to survive an a below-poverty line budget whilst organising the expedition logistics.

The Adventure Potential

Expeditions give our young people a unique platform on which to develop into self-confident, cultural and environmentally conscious individuals. There is no one right way in which to organise school expeditions, and it is all too easy to buy into the popular processed package. Think outside the box and you might just find that you have a better experience.

As many expeditions are self funded, we as adults have a duty to ensure that the expedition experience for both student and teacher alike, is one of enjoyment and great adventure, and that it doesn’t cost them the earth.

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Award Winning Operators

June 22nd, 2010

We use Award Winning Travel CompaniesChina

We are your catalyst to finding some of the best travel experiences on the planet. Here, at the STC, we choose the tour operators we work with very carefully, and are immensely proud to work with many of the UK’s finest, multi-award winning travel companies.

As a wholly independent Travel Agency we have an ethos that all travellers should receive a quality travel experience.

We work with over forty of the best adventure, expedition, geography, history and cultural tour related operators around. Each has been chosen for their expertise in a particular region, activity, specialist arena and selection of tour types (including small group, family, single parent and tailor-made, adventure and expedition). This means we can offer you a huge range of options through just one contact.

Amongst the travel companies we deal with are many past and present winners and runners up of prestigious awards including:

  • Top Tour Operator: Wanderlust Travel Awards
  • Best Tour Operator of the Year: Responsible Tourism Awards
  • Best Small Tour Operator: Daily Telegraph Awards
  • Best Small Operator: Guardian Travel Awards
  • Best in a Mountain Environment: Responsible Tourism Awards
  • Most Environmentally Responsible Tour Operator: British Travel Awards
  • Best Tour Operator: Gourmet Traveller
  • Best Tour Guide: Paul Morrison Guide Awards

If that’s not reason enough to plan your next holiday or school trip through us then as a travel agency, arranging your holiday through us adds no extra cost to your travels,  so contact us and let us add value to your experience.

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Visiting Link & Partner Schools

June 17th, 2010

Visits to your Partner SchoolsCIMG0320 cropped and Beyond

We have had some excellent feedback from schools undertaking tours and expeditions arrange in conjunction with visits to their Link Schools. Recently organised adventures include Uganda, Rwanda and Ghana where the experience gained by participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

Extending a visit to a partnership school is an opportunity to become even more immersed in a destinations history, culture, religion, politics, geography, economics, biology and environment. Such trips help to bring practical relevance to global understanding and the school curriculum.

What’s more, as a tourist, important questions become evident with regard to standards of living, conservation, sustainability, fair trade, responsible tourism and the potential value of tourism.

Schools and colleges we have worked with repeatedly reinforce our belief that foreign travel and adventurous expeditions provide perfect learning platforms for young people to gain valuable life skills and to become confident individuals and responsible global citizens.

Learning outcomes are affected by the style of travel. For example, expeditions or more adventurous tours create an environment in which team-working skills, friendships and maturity develop naturally. They offer the chance to experience different cultures, adventure and traditional lifestyles, as well as challenging pre-conceptions and testing participants (including teachers!) physically, emotionally and mentally. Whereas, cultural, curriculum-based and sightseeing tours educate, enlighten and bring life and understanding to diversity, knowledge and theory.

Whatever the purpose of the trip there will be many ways to reach the objective and many factors will affect how best to approach things. Factors to consider include the destination, style of travel, the qualifications and experience of staff, budget, destination climates, learning objectives and the length of time planned away.  No two trips are the same: it is our role to help educational establishments create the one that is right for them.

Contact us and we’ll help you plan a trip to your Link School and beyond.

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29 reasons to sit back and relax

June 15th, 2010

We often get asked why exactly should anyone arrange a trip through us?

Well, whether you are a teacher, parent, group of friends or an individual, we can think of lots of very worthwhile reasons. And we’re not the sort of people to keep good things to ourselves. If you are sitting in front of your computer wondering whether or not to give us a call, hopefully the few we’ve listed here might tip the balance in our favour:

1:    We are independent.
2:    Our service is 100% free.
3:    88% of clients who have travelled with us enquire about another trip.
4:    We have contacts in all sorts of places you wouldn’t believe!
5:    We make it easy to find your ideal travel experience.
6:    You get impartial advice from experienced professionals.
7:    We deliver an outstanding pre-departure service and
8:    A quality travel experience.
9:    We are committed to Responsible Tourism
10: 140 countries, 7 continents, a world of possibilities
11:  Instant access to dozens of award winning tour operators
12:  Help comparing itineraries, destinations, operators and styles of travel
13:  Don’t know where to go? We can help you with that too.
14:  We’re honest. If we don’t think something is a good idea – we’ll tell you.
15:  We can advise you on climate and weather patterns around the world
16:  We’ll pay 50% of the cost to offset your flight emissions if you pay the other 50%
17:  Full financial protection through ATOL protected tour operators.
18:  Our clients get free guides on Responsible Tourism and Planning for a Safer Journey.

Are you a teacher? Then you might also like to know that:

19:  We can reduce your work load
20:  87% of schools who travel with us come back for more
21:  We can tailor-make a trip to your needs
22:  We can cost in as many free places as you need
23:  We can provide risk assessments and safety management tips
24:  We provide detailed quotes with all the information you need to present to Senior Management
25:  We can give launch assemblies and parents presentations and provide full colour trip notes for students and parents
26:  We can provide ethical fund-raising ideas
27:  We won’t bombard you with sales calls.
28:  We will ensure that your tour or expedition is the very best it can possibly be.

The sharp ones amongst you will have noted that there are only 28 reasons listed and the article title says 29…

So what’s the last one? We’re not telling, but we know you’ll find out if you contact us. Give us a call on 01392 660056.

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The Great Himalayan Trail

June 1st, 2010

Take an exclusive trekking holiday on the GREAT HIMALAYA TRAIL with one of the world’s leading adventure travel companies.

The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is the longest and highest alpine walking track in the world winding 4500kms through the tallest mountain ranges and most isolated communities from Tibet to Pakistan. The Nepal section of the GHT offers a kaleidoscope of experiences and one of the operators we work with is offering the first-ever range of commercial treks along the route, commencing in February 2011.

The trail, which can be undertaken in one continuous trek of 151 days, (and a snip at £20,490 per person) will traverse the country from east to west.

Acknowledging that most of us simply don’t have the luxury of this sort of time for our adventures, seven treks have been crafted that interlink to make up the full traverse. Each trek is between 18 and 34 days and led by a renowned leader such as Greg Mortimer, Stephen Venables and Carlos Buhler.

The beauty of each is that they all offer something completely different, but importantly, by joining one of the GHT treks (or the whole thing if you so desire) you will be helping us achieve a vision of sharing the benefit of tourism dollars with isolated communities that currently receive little to no income from this source.

To ensure Responsible Tourism the trek company will employ porters and support staff from these various regions, purchase our food goods from these villages and of course, travellers will delight in the opportunity to purchase traditional handicrafts from these communities. This is sustainable tourism in practice as it addresses wealthy disparity and helps to reduce poverty. This is an opportunity to experience some of the least visited, most exciting hidden corners of Nepal where you will be struck with awe and wonder at the scale and grandeur of the land.

Be part of history in the making.

Contact us for detailed trip notes, prices, departure dates and more information.

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Costa Rica: Biology & Geography

June 1st, 2010

An Adventurous education

Cost Rica is an ideal destination to get hands on with geography and biology, yet it’s also a destination that is ripe for an active adventure. We have recently put together a spell binding trip for school in London wanting just that. It’s a whirlwind 10 day active adventure that shows Costa Rica off to its full potential – not only in terms of its natural wonders, but also for its adventure opportunities.

Our itinerary, put together with one of the world’s leading authorities on adventure travel, sees groups white water rafting through virgin rainforests, zip-lining and walking on rope bridges through the treetop canopies, sea-kayaking amongst mangrove swamps, trekking to hot springs and spectacular waterfalls, as well as visiting butterfly farms, coffee plantations, cloud forest and tropical beaches.

For the biologists, the highlights are sure to be assisting at a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary as well as helping out on a turtle conservation project on the Caribbean coast. This hands-on work assisting marine biologists in their work protecting Leather Back, Hawksbill and Green turtles is sure to set the pulse racing.

For the geographers, well… active volcanoes, rainforests, cloud-forests, coffee plantations, mangrove swamps, waterfalls, hot springs, deltas, the list goes on…

10 day trips including flights start from around £1700 per student depending on the activities included and month of travel.

To tailor a quote and itinerary to your requirements please contact us, or for more information on Costa Rica visit the dedicated page on our website by clicking here.

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Volcano Treks

May 31st, 2010

Volcanoes might not be flavour of the month just now, but there can be no denying that for adventure seekers they represent some of the world’s greatest trekking experiences. From Europe to the furthest reaches of the planet, here is our round up of some of the best volcano treks in the world:

ITALY: Sicilian Volcanoes

Discover Mt Etna and the beautiful volcanic archipelago of Northern Sicily

This week long trip offers the opportunity to explore the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Sicily’s Aeolian Islands and Mt Etna. The seven islands that make up the archipelago are named as UNESCO World heritage sites and you can see why; black sand beaches, thermal springs and stirking active volcanoes. Here we trek on Vulcano, Limpari and Stomboli and take in the culture and beuty of the area. On Sicily mainland we trek on Mount Etna (3350m), the highest active volcano in Europe with its diverse landscape. Lava flows and vast plains of black sand at the summit contrast with the green and fertile lower slopes. This walking holiday to Sicily offers a great mix of interesting walks, optional challenging treks, town visits and great food – all in a week!

Grade: Moderate to Challenging

Price: from £1059 per person including flights

Days: 8

ATOL: 2582

Contact us for detailed itinerary, flight times, maps and more


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