Expedition overview:

Getting to the Nubra Valley is an experience in itself.  The route here from Leh crosses the Khardung La pass which, at 5,596m, is the highest driveable pass in the world. Once in the Nubra Valley, Exeter School will be undertaking a major 10 day trek, with the possibility of summiting a variety of peaks. Either side of the trekking phase the group will be helping to build a greenhouse for a local village as part of the excellent Eco-sphere project. With winter temperatures often dropping to minus 20C, such thermally efficient greenhouses can ensure families are able to grow crops year round in this high altitude desert.  Also on the itinerary is white-water rafting, a visit to the magnificent Taj Mahal and time in bustling New Delhi.

Detailed itinerary:

Please note: this is purely a suggested itinerary and can be tailored to your requirements. If you are interested in arranging an expedition here then contact us to discuss your options.

Days 1-2          

International flight to Delhi, India’s capital. Have a day to recover from your flight in Delhi, India’s noisy, dusty, busy yet fantastically vibrant capital.

Day 3             

Take an early flight to Leh – the capital city of Ladakh. The flight takes us over the Greater Himalaya and makes an exciting landing at one of the highest airports in the world. Leh is at an altitude of nearly 3,350m, and you can expect to feel the effects of the rarefied atmosphere, so everyone is advised to take it easy for the first day or two and drink lots of water.

Days 4-5         Acclimatisation 

Spend two days in Leh (3600M) acclimatising to the altitude. You can wander the narrow streets, visit the cultural centre or head up to the monastery. On day two start to prepare for your project phase.

Days 6-8         Eco-Sphere Project 

During the project you will be helping build and construct an Ecosphere (http://www.spitiecosphere.com) greenhouse just outside of Leh.

During the 3 days before the trek, work will include mixing the mud and water together to make the mortar for the building, laying bricks and using the traditional rammed earth techniques on the mortar bed to build the walls up to waist height. At this point the walls need time to harden while you are trekking before building any higher.

Day 9               Leh to Kyagar

Drive to Nubra valley crossing the Khardungla in our 4 x 4 vehicles, at 18,360ft this is the highest pass in the world that is crossable by vehicles.  We will spend the next 2 nights camping here and visiting a neighbouring school in Sumur.

Day 10             Sumar School

Today we will meet with local school children, share their lessons and take on the challenge of playing games at altitude.

Important Trek Note: The follow trek and summit attempt description is a sample of what is possible in the Nubra Valley.  The exact route taken and summit attempted will depend on the fitness and capability of the group. This will be evaluated by the leadership team on the trek into the region. The Nubra Valley is a tough trekking environment and the group will need to be fit to attempt any trekking here.

Day 11              Hundar to Skarchen.

In the morning we will meet our trek mule team who will carry our heavy loads while we have a day sack with our water, lunch and spare clothes. From Hundar, we take the trail following the river to the bridge after which we climb gently in a narrow and impressive gorge till a long plateau from where we reach the ruins of the Hundar Dok village at 4100m.

The trail gets a bit narrow and steep till Dzongpa and then continues along the side valley which opens out at the highest point between Hundar and Skarchen. We continue to Skarchen approx 3800m at the confluence of 2 streams in the gorge. This walk will take us 6 hours through the gorge on an undulating path. On a clear day 6000m peaks of the Hundar Valley can be seen.

Day 12             

Skarchen to Hundar Dok.

We continue along the gorge passing Wacham, a small settlement of 2 families. We cross the river by bridge and continue gradually up to the beautiful pastures of Dok Yongma, a small village with 5 to 6 households.  We continue on a good village path to Hundar Dok where we camp close to the river.  It's a short day but the afternoon can be spent in the village meeting the local people. 4 ½ hrs.

Day 13            

Sniu Sumdo valley ( 4400m)

Today begins with a lovely walk through the Thanglasgo valley to the junction of the Thanglasgo and Sniu Sumdo valley. We trek into the Sniu Sumdo valley and camp close to the glacial lake.  These are summer pastures of the villagers of Nubra. – 5/ 6hrs

Day 14              Advance camp of Kangsalmathung (5123m).

We trek past Tsochen, a glacial lake and climb gradually to our advance camp of Kangsalmathung.  The horses will leave us at the lake from where we will continue with only the necessary supplies as loads would have to be ferried.  After the lake we walk through moraine and a short tricky section on boulders, passing another small lake before camp.  4 hrs.

Day 15              Rest day.

After the rigour of the trek we can relax today and have a lie in. We will walk up to the base of the glacier to practice walking with our crampons and axes.

Day 16              Kangsalmathung (5700m)

We will leave camp in the dark by 4am after a light breakfast and with packed lunch and snacks. We begin with a climb on moraine for about 2 hours and then reach the glacier. We rope up here into parties of 3 each with a mountain guide. We put on our crampons and climb gradually for about an hour after which the slope is gentler for a while. Finally we climb gradually until the last 80m which gets quite steep.  – 6 hours to the summit of Kangsalmathung (5700m). Descend to camp – another 3 hours.

Day 17              Descend to Sniu Sumdo.

Today we retrace our steps to camp at the lake at Sniu Sumdo.

Day 18    Jhingmoche, 4500m

After breakfast we continue our descent to the junction of the Sniu Sumdo and Thanglasgo valleys.  From here we continue the gradual climb across the pastures, which are carpeted with flowers.  We follow a stream for another 5 – 6 hours to camp near Thanglasgo or a little further to Jhingmoche (4500m).

Day 19              The base of Lasermola at 4800m.

During the summer months, shepherds bring their sheep, yaks, Dzomos for grazing and they live in temporary summer huts here.  There is a tradition that just 2-3 families from the village of Hundar Dok come here every summer with the animals of all the villagers for grazing and whilst here, they make cheese and butter for the villagers.

They stay here until the end of August/September and return to their village for the harvesting season. A very pleasant walk again today, camping in a beautiful spot on the banks of a river at the head of the valley. 5 / 6 hrs

Day 20              Lasermola Pass 5400m/ Phyiang

Leaving the pastures we keep climbing to the snow line and moraine until the top of the Lasermola pass 5400m taking approximately 2 – 3 hours to the top.  At the pass we are rewarded with excellent views of the Karakoram Mountains and Zanskar range of mountains and valleys on both sides. For those who are still not tired they can go on a little further up from the pass for even better views of Stok Kangri.

There will be snow at the pass and we would need to leave camp very early in the morning to make the crossing easier for the animals. From the pass, you descend the Phyiang valley to camp at 4500m above Phyiang village. 7 hours.

Days 21           White water rafting

We meet our vehicles and head back to Ley, taking in a diversion to white-water raft down the Indus from Upshi to Choglamsar – this is close to the Holy Residence.

Days 22-24     Return to Project 

Travel back to the project site and continue with your work. By now the walls will have hardened and you can continue building the greenhouse.

Once the walls are completed they then need to be rendered and left to dry ready for painting. Continue working on the roof, windows and doors of the greenhouse with the aim of completing the greenhouse before you leave the project site.

Days 25-26  Delhi & Agra    

Depart Leh and return to Delhi by internal flight. From here you can visit Agra home to the famous Taj Mahal, and spend your last day in Delhi visiting the sites; Red Fort, Qutb complex, Huyan’s tomb as well as souvenir hunting in the bazaars.

Days 27-28      Head for home

Depart Delhi and arrive back in the UK. Welcome home.

It travels from the skyscrapers of Hong Kong to the imperial palaces of Beijing via the Teracotta warriors and the scenic Li River with its vast paddy fields and beautiful limestone scenery.

For more details on what we can arrange in China and other sample itineraries, then visit our dedicated page on school trips in China: 

Day 1/2: Overnight flight from UK to Hong Kong via Beijing. Arrive evening and transfer to hotel.

Day 3: In Hong Kong: Hong Kong is a lively, sophisticated city and the world’s third largest financial centre. We start with an orientation walk and this stunning city.

Day 4: In Hong Kong ; overnight train to Guili: This morning we explore Hong Kong further. In the late afternoon we transfer by coach and train to the Chinese border. After clearing immigration and customs we walk the short distance to nearby Shenzhen station from where we take an overnight train to Guilin.

Day 5: Boat on Li River to Yangshuo: On arrival in Guilin we head to the Bamboo Reed Dock where we board our boat on the Li River and cruise to Yangshuo. Lunch is taken on board as we pass along the most scenic stretch of the river. We will pass paddy fields, villages and stunning limestone scenery en route. Once in Yangshuo we explore this laid back town – a contrast to the bustle of Hong Kong. This afternoon we take a walk around the surrounding villages to get a flavour of rural life in China.

Day 6:  In Yangshuo; fly Xian: Yangshuo has a lot to offer. Today we will explore the surrounding areas on foot, walking amongst the surrounding karst summits. There will also be time to soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside town. You may want to practice your bartering skills in the local market – here art students from Guilin sell their batiks, silk paintings, Tai Chi, cooking, calligraphy, mahjong, or you may be tempted to buy a ‘Little Red Book’. Later on today we fly to Xian.

Day 7: In Xian. Xian served 11 dynasties and was the very starting point of the Silk Road between Central Asia and Europe. Ancient monuments abound, including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque, a wonderful 15th century working mosque within the old Muslim Hui District. The afternoon we visit the Shaanxi National Museum which takes us through a million years of Chinese history.

Day 8: Visit Terracotta Warriors; Overnight train to Beijing. Today we visit one of the highlights of any visit to China – the magnificent Terracotta Warriors and Horses who guard the Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb. There are literally thousands of life size warriors, dating from 200BC. This dramatic find of the 1970s is considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the century. This afternoon we take an overnight train to Beijing.

Day 9: Arrive in Beijing; city tour. Beijing is China’s capital and its political and cultural centre. During our stay we shall visit the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors and a treasure trove of eastern wares. There is the option to visit the Summer Palace an old and very extensive imperial garden complex with a large boating lake and impressive palace buildings. There is also the possibility of seeing a Beijing opera in the evening, or perhaps an acrobatic performance (optional extra).

Day 10: Visit Great Wall at Mutianyu. Today we drive out to a renovated part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, situated 90km north of the city. It is incredible to think that this wall spans the entire country! Here there is a 2km section to walk along with watchtowers and views of the surrounding countryside.

Day 11: Tour ends Beijing, Fly to UK. We transfer to the airport in time for your flight home, arriving the same day.

The STC is an approved agent of ATOL protected operators. All prices are subject to group size and flight availability at the time of booking. Please contact us for more information, detailed quotes, risk assessments, country and visa information as well as inspiration for your next trip.

Both books combine travel and adventure from an active perspective – either running or cycling – and on an ultra-big scale.

How big?

Well, we’re talking cycling from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina, or running 100 miles for fun, through mountains and deserts, non-stop, with just a pair of sandals strapped to your feet.

Take a Seat, by Dominic Gill

One Man, One Tandem and Twenty Thousand Miles of Possibilities

This is the story of Dom Gill’s adventures on a tandem – cycling from the very north of Alaska all the way to the southern tip of South America, 18,499 miles to be precise. Along the way, Dom picks up around 270 people to help him cycle and sit as the ‘stoker’ on the back seat of his tandem. Some join him for just a day or two, others for a few weeks. It’s a simple concept, and the result is a vivid account of a journey through some of the world’s most colourful countries.

Dom’s easy going style is a pleasure to read and testament to the fact that cycling is an excellent way to travel: slowly - with no barriers to prevent conversation with locals you might meet. This, added with the benefit of being able to strike up relationships with those who spend a while on the back seat, mean Take a Seat is one of the best ‘feel good’ travel books we’ve read in a long time.

 Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall

The Hidden Tribe, the Ultra-Runners, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

This is just the most extraordinary book I've read in a long time. Aside from the fact that it has inspired me to take up 'barefoot' running (an amazing feat, trust me!) it is a great travel book and an absorbing, fact filled read.

I use the phrase ‘travel book’ loosely.  It is not a travel book in the classic sense, but it is very much about journeys, adventure, back-country Mexico and a unique tribal people - the reclusive Tarahumara Tribe in Mexico's spectacular Copper Canyon.

This book is part sports science, part travel, part running, but all about racing. If you think a book about running sounds boring, then this book will dispel the myth. The accounts of ultra-marathons through Death Valley and high Rocky Mountain passes are just extraordinary, made all the more amazing by the super-human running abilities of a few smiling tribal people from Mexico who proceed to leave the world’s ‘best’ long distance runners looking like amateurs.

1. Train. Although being fit isn't necessarily a guarantee you'll cope well with altitude, having an effective cardiovascular system is advantageous. Going out and walking for hours is good idea to get your feet used to the rigours of pounding a trail for hours at a time. However, running or cycling is better preparation. Your heart will go like the clappers at altitude, so you'll benefit best by doing the same during training. Get your heart rate right up, get out of breath, and get sweaty!

2. Acclimatisation. Choose a route that has built in acclimatisation days or rest days. Your body makes a series of adjustments to become better suited to life in thin air. If you climb too high too fast your body will struggle to keep up with the changes in environment and you will suffer. A good way to monitor your aclimatisation is with a SATS machine which measures the level of O2 saturation in your blood. The longer you can spend getting used to altitude the better.

3. Take your time. Slow your pace down. You will climb more efficiently if you can walk at a steady pace for hours, without stopping, rather than racing along as if you're being chased only to stop every five minutes for a rest. It's back to the Tortoise and Hare fable. "Pole Pole" as they say in Tanzania.

4. Climb high, sleep low. A well planned itinerary should involve climbing higher on the mountain than you intend to sleep. By climbing high, you are pushing your body hard and forcing it to adjust to working with very little oxygen, but then by descending, you allow your body to recover and rest effectively, in a less hostile environment. It's an old adage that has shaped the way we climb, yo yo style, for decades.

5. Hydrate. At altitude, there are plenty of things out of your control: loss of appetite, nausea and head aches, for example. Your hydration, however, is well within your control and should be carefully monitored. You should be passing urine the colour of champagne, not apple juice (although if your pee starts to fizz, like champagne, you've got something seriously wrong!) Hydration is particularly important if you are taking diamox ,which works by flushing bicarbonate out of your liver. This means increased urination so it is important to replace lost fluids. A good tip for this, if you struggle to drink alot of water, is to take some squash up with you. You are much more likely to drink if it tastes good, than if it's boring old H2O. This is also a good way of keeping blood sugars up. Sip little and often and resist the temptation to guzzle as your body will not absorb fluids effectively like this. On Kili it is recommend  to take on 4-6 litres a day. This can come in the form of porridge, soup, plenty of fruit and hot drinks; leaving you with less to chug through as you walk.

6. Choose what you eat. "Sneaking" fluids into you by eating foods with with a high water content is a good idea but it is also important to think about what other fuels you are giving your body. Often people start to loose their appetite at altitude, so if you can't manage to eat much, make sure you are, at least, eating the right stuff. Carbs are your friend (forget the Atkins Diet for now). You will be literally burning calories in your sleep at altitude, so slow releasing energy from bread, pasta, rice etc is brilliant. Proteins are also important for growth and repair of weary muscles so keep these up if you can.

7. Sleep when you can. Sleep deprivation can effect everything. I have never seen a client end their trip prematurely when lack of sleep hasn't been a factor. To combat this there are a few things you can do. Go camping during your training to make sure that the first time you camp at altitude isn't also the first time you've slept under canvas. Try and get used to sleeping in a sleeping bag and train yourself to sleep on your back in the weeks approaching your departure. Ear plugs are a great idea. It may be true that, "...in space, no one can hear you scream" but in camp everyone can hear you snore. If you are tired when you first get into camp, sleep. You might find it difficult later so don't pass up the opportunity to grab some shut eye. If you need to pee in the night, just get up and go, don't hold it in hoping to drop off. Finally, if you can't sleep, try not to worry. Do your best to relax and empty your mind, your body and mind will at least be resting and they say eight hours rest is as good as six hours sleep.

8. Diamox. This is often a strangely contentious issue. People have a preconception of Diamox being "cheating", masking symptoms or having side effects worse than altitude sickness. Let me dispel a few myths. Firstly, if you have spent months planning and preparing (and doubtlessly saving) for you expedition, you will want to achieve your goal. Diamox isn't a guarantee of topping out, but it does give you the best chance possible. It isn't a super drug that will make you immune to the rigours of life at altitude, I promise there will still be plenty of challenges to be faced. So please don't view it as "cheating". Secondly, Diamox doesn't treat the symptoms of altitude sickness (such as headaches or nausea), it targets the cause (hypoxia- lack of O2 in the blood) and helps your body acclimatise better. So there is no question of it masking symptoms. Lastly, the side effects are: slight pins and needles in the extremities; and increased urination. Among the list of ailments Diamox can help prevent are: acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude cerebral and pulmonary oedemas (HACE and HAPE). It is of course a personal decision and you should discuss it with your GP before deciding the best course of action. Perhaps take it a day or two before leaving the country to see if you have any reaction to it.

9. Top is half way. Most accidents on mountains happen on the way down. People are physically and emotionally tired and no longer have that drive to reach a target. For many, getting to the top is their target. Ask any guide in the world and they will tell you getting to the bottom is their goal. Getting to the top is optional, getting to the bottom is compulsory. It helps mental preparation if you have clearly in your mind from the beginning that your journey does not stop at the top, you still have to get down. The mind and body have a very close relationship and I have seen time and time again people's body's starting to give up when their mind thinks they have achieved their objective. It still happens to me every time I finish a trip! The right mental attitude is key.

10. PMA. Positive Mental Attitude. Corny as it sounds, a good positive mental approach is one of the most important things to pack in your bag - never leave home without it. Mental toughness is vital to overcome whatever the mountain throws at you. If you can keep laughing in the face of adversity or see liquid sunshine where others see rain, you far less likely to be overwhelmed by all the obstacles in your way. It is also hugely important to team moral. Unless you're on a solo journey, you will need a good team around you. They will keep you going when your head drops and it's your job to pick them up when they are on their chin straps. Attitude is infectious, be aware of what you are spreading!

Huw Miles works as an adventure consultant designing, risk assessing and leading expeditions and events in the great outdoors for corporate groups, charity clients, stag and hens or individuals. For more information – visit his Miles Away website: http://www.milesawayltd.com/

This country has a fabulous array of flora and fauna - including the last wild European Bison, wolf, lynx, bear, elk and more. Over 80% of European birds have been seen within its borders and culturally, it has a rich and diverse history. Then there is the trekking which is as good as anywhere in Europe.

Think you know where we're talking about?

Post your answers as a comment below...

In a new Berghaus film, extreme climber and base jumper Leo Holding and award winning cameraman Al Lee head to the jungles and tepuis of Venezuela. It's only marginally more extreme that a school expedition (well, alright then, a lot) but the mix of challenge and adventure in a stunning location is what school expeditions are all about...

This is the trailer.

The case of XVW and YZA v Gravesend Grammar School for Girls and Adventure Lifesigns, was a result of a tragic rape of three girls aged 15-17 by a manager at the resort site where they were staying in Belize.

In summing up, Mr Justice Mackay concluded:

"I find that the checks made were reasonable and proportionate and that the leaders of this expedition were not given any reason to foresee this terrible event. The defendants did not breach their respective duties of care to these claimants who were the victims of an unscrupulous, determined and skilful attacker. I regret I must therefore dismiss these claims".

A leading school travel and expedition lawyer we recently spoke to, commented this was a re-assuringly sensible conclusion.

Click here for a full write up of the judgement.

It has almost every conceivable holiday experience – from vast tourist resorts (not our cup of tea!!) to classic fly-drive itineraries, adventure opportunities in stunning landscapes, incredible wildlife experiences, bustling cities and quite back waters.

If you are planning to explore the States this summer or autumn, we’ve saved you some work and compiled some choice holidays covering the length and breadth of the country.

If anything below grabs your interest, then let us know and we can send you a much more detailed itinerary. Contact us to book any of these, or talk to us about alternatives. We have access to small group escorted holidays, family adventures, trekking & activity trips and tailor-made self-drives on both classic and less well known routes.

OK, here goes…

San Francisco, Hawaii and Lights of Las Vegas:

• Ref: CNA01
• Number of days: 18
• Type: 3 centre
• Tailor-made options: Yes
• Price: from £2,689 per person based on two sharing.
• Our view: a masterly put together experience of three choice highlights.
• When to go: Year round

This holiday has it all - the bright lights and glitz of Las Vegas, time to relax on the iconic Waikiki Beach and then the beauty and charm of one the US’s most iconic cities, San Francisco. Accommodation is in affordable hotels, but there are some areas where the operator rightly hasn’t compromised…  the hotel in Las Vegas is on a prime spot on 'The Strip', the 5 nights at Wakiki hotel are right on the Beach (with a sea view, else what's the point?) and in San Francisco the hotel is within walking distance of Union Square where many of the tours and cable cars operate from.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

Wild Western Discovery:

• Ref: TAC019
• Number of days: 15
• Type: family small group adventure
• Tailor-made options: no, unless you have your own private group
• Price: from £2,019 per adult, £1,819 per child
• Our view: A fabulous family adventure – active, full of natural wonders, and at harmony with nature. Looking fro quality family time? This is it.
• When to go: June to August

This family adventure offers exploration and discovery for the whole family in the National Parks of America’s Wild West! From Yosemite to Lake Powell and Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon, this is holiday is an active look at the best of the west, with walks, bike rides and awesome nights under canvas. There is nothing like exploring the great outdoors with the family and with your equipment and transportation taken care of, all you need is a sleeping bag and your family so you can enjoy some quality time in the wild together.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

Real American Rockies:

• Ref: CNA012
• Number of days: 16
• Type: self-drive
• Tailor-made options: Yes
• Price: from £1,859 per person
• Our view: A classic look at the amazing mountains, wildlife and culture of the Rockies.
• When to go: May to September

Breathtaking-mountain scenery, magical encounters with the abundant wildlife, truly unique national parks and stunning monuments - the locals say, "This is God's Country, only he left the gate open". This 14 night tour includes the most impressive cities and National Parks in the Rockies – Colorado Springs, Mesa Verde, Moab, Arches National Park, Venal, Dinosaur, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and Rocky Mountain. We would suggest either the only non-stop flight to Denver (with British Airways) or numerous scheduled flights from London and regional airports with same day connections through to Denver. The recommend window for this fly-drive tour is between May 1st - September 30th when the weather in the more elevated regions such as Yellowstone National Park is conducive to touring by car. Outside of these dates there is a risk of snowfall and road closures, which may affect your itinerary.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

 Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain Trails:

• Ref: WEX003
• Number of days: 15 (not including flights)
• Type: Adult small group trekking
• Tailor-made options: no, unless you have your own private group
• Price: from £1990 per adult, not including flights.
• Our view: If you’re looking for a moderate trekking holiday that covers the best national parks in America, this is it. 
• When to go: June to September

This superb hiking adventure brings to life western USA's most famous parks, home to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. During a series of selected hikes, you’ll absorb the geysers, giant waterfalls, prolific wildlife and valleys full of boiling mud pots in Yellowstone, trek and camp in the Grand Canyon amongst the turquoise pools and waterfalls of the spectacular Havasupai Canyon and hike in the dramatic Rocky Mountains. From Aspen and Steamboat Springs undertake some world class day hikes in the high Rockies. Linking the parks and hikes are stunning drives such as the 'Million Dollar Highway', considered to be the most scenic in North America. A visit to Mesa Verde UNESCO World Heritage Site and Monument Valley and our final night in Las Vegas rounds off this exhilarating adventure.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

Wildlife & Wilderness of Alaska:

• Ref: EXO032
• Number of days: 16
• Type: Adult small group trekking
• Tailor-made options: No, unless you have your own private group
• Price: from £3,299 per person
• Our view: The ultimate Alaskan Adventure – float planes, bear viewing, wildlife cruises and wilderness walks.  You can hear the silence from here. 
• When to go: June – August

Alaska is by far the largest state of the USA, and encompasses vast empty tundra plains, mountains, glaciers, rivers and forests. All this combined with its fascinating history and remarkable wildlife makes Alaska an ideal destination for the active traveller. This trip explores the real Alaska - the famous Mt McKinley and Denali National Park, glacier walks, the end-of-the-road (literally!) hamlet of McCarthy deep within Wrangell St. Elias National Park, the beautiful marine life around Prince William Sound and Kenai National Park. There is even a float plane trip included to get you deeper into t he wilderness to go Black and Grizzly bear viewing by boat on the legendary salmon runs.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

New York and The Best Of New England Fly Drive:

• Ref: CNA023
• Number of days: 16
• Type: self-drive
• Tailor-made options: Yes
• Price: from £1,999 per person
• Our view: The name says it all – the best of the Big Apple and the quiet back waters and stunning scenery of New England.
• When to go: Great at any time of year!

What a great trip! The best of New York City and the best of New England combined! The Big Apple is like no other city on earth. Whether it's your first visit or you've been 50 times, there's always new things to see and do. It's the most culturally, economically and geographically diverse city in the United States. If the five boroughs were not located next to one another, they would be five distinct cities with no relationship. Beyond the famous landmarks, you can find foods of all nations, shopping that outclasses any other location and world class performances and theatre.

Next stop Boston, the birthplace of Independence. It's a quite charming town and very different from New York with narrow streets, dense history and quaint neighbourhoods. From there, you'll be driving a classic New England route with time to explore the beautiful coastlines of Maine, Rhode Island and world famous Cape Cod, along with the stunning mountain scenery of New Hampshire and Vermont.

This tour is very much for all seasons, the coastlines of New England are great places to be during the summer, Cape Cod for many years has been a traditional summer retreat. In the fall months of September and October, New England glows with the world famous fall foliage coat of many colours and in winter many areas take on a new appearance blanketed with a magic carpet of white snow.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

Deep South Fly Drive:

• Ref: CNA36
• Number of days: 16
• Type: self-drive
• Tailor-made options: Yes
• Price: from £1,729 per person
• Our view: The perfect way to appreciate the American Deep South - the music the hospitality and the rich history.
• When to go: Year round

This Deep South fly drive really does offer something very unique. Everything about this itinerary oozes exciting experiences, from the strong music theme that runs throughout to the typically southern lodging experiences waiting for you in Jackson, Natchez and Lafayette. The itinerary offers a blend of world-renowned cities such as Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans as well as the charming Mississippi River towns of Natchez and Lafayette in the heart of Cajun Country.

You will travel through the cotton growing fields of the Mississippi Delta, the hotbed for the birth of the Blues music and still brimming with bars playing live Blues each day. Visit the home of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee and don't miss the many fabulous museums in the region telling the story of Blues, Rock n Roll and Country Music. You can also enjoy a Cajun Dinner and dancing evening in Lafayette and sample the unique Zydico music of the south in New Orleans. Head back to Atlanta at the end of your trip for some last minute shopping bargains in the Buckhead region of the city.

Contact us for more details or phone 01392 660056.

For more detailed itineraries and an up to the minute quote on any of the above holidays, CONTACT US to discuss your requirements.

The STC is an approved agent for ATOL protected operators. All prices include flights, unless indicated otherwise. Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking. Please contact us for more information.

On the southern shores of Kenya, there lies just such a place... Sand Island Beach.

If you walked up the beach and back in time, this is what you'd find – Sand Island– pretty much as it was when first discovered by the family that still owns it. A little slice of private paradise set against the backdrop of 200 acres of unspoiled coastal bush. Kenya has plenty of beautiful beaches but few that remain this untouched, this empty, this under-commercialized.

The family are still in residence, a younger, fifth, generation. The seven cottages an extension of their own home so that your hosts, Anthony and Anthea who have spent a lifetime in this part of the world, have time to chat, to guide, to proffer advice, over a cold beer or cup of coffee. Their own children grew up here, they uphold and value the security of the place – a peaceful haven, a bay that offers safe swimming and lots of fabulous snorkeling.

Their efforts to preserve it extend beyond what you can see: the indigenous forest and its small wildlife at the back; the turtles that come to lay their eggs in season in nests that they dig on the beach, the corals that grow by tiny degree beneath the water's surface.

A home from home and by the sea, that's the magic of this place: a happy conspiracy of intimacy and friendliness, sublime geography and everything you need far enough away that you can't hear it but close enough that it's easily accessible. An extraordinary place for a family escape – probably the best beach in East Africa they say? Not half.

www.sandislandbeach.com

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The alure for trekkers and tourists for so many years still remains as strong today as before the troubles: mountains, people and culture. Whatever the reason for your visit to this enchanting country, you are sure to come away with endearing memories of warm welcomes, smiling children and a sense of wonder at the majesty of the Himalaya.

The mountain range dominates life in much of this Kingdom, however, the real beauty of Nepal lies in its sheer diversity. There is a huge range of environments, ecosystems, terrains, religions and cultures. The disparity between the lofty peaks of the Himalaya and the steaming jungle plains of Chitwan National Park is matched only by the contrast and diversity found within the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

Village Life

Whilst a visit to Nepal would not be complete without experiencing the religious cultures and bustle of Kathmandu or the wildlife of its many National Parks, it is the mountains that draw groups here time and again. There is no better way to get a feel for this country than to walk through the valleys and villages of the Himalaya. "Life" is all around you: children playing, men and women working the terraces with buffalo and ox, lively markets and families preparing dinner, all with the magnificent jagged peaks soaring high above.

Trekking in Nepal is not just about scaling high peaks, crossing snow covered passes and traversing remote valleys. There are many options offering easy and short (between three to five day) treks at low altitude. In the Annapurna region, particularly, there is excellent trekking that rise little above 3,000m, so avoiding serious altitude issues. Yet you are not far from the action, either, with stunning views of the 8,000m Annapurna range and the beautiful Machapuchare or "Fishtail" mountain. 

Everest and Annapurna

Aiming a little higher, classic treks such as Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit are certainly popular with the masses, but even with a route as well trodden as Everest Base Camp there are some great variations on the standard route that will take you away from the crowds and over some of the most spectacular passes in the Himalaya.

More remote opportunities abound too, with access to previously restricted areas opening up with increasing frequency. A circumnavigation of Dhaulagiri, the Rolwaling Valley, or the remote region of Nar and Phu all offer genuinely remote trekking amongst fabulous scenery and isolated communities.

Trekking Peaks

For the more upwardly inclined, there are the trekking peaks: challenging, rewarding, and technically within the reach of any fit and determined group with ice-axe and crampon experience. Mera Peak (6460m), Island Peak (6189m) and Chulu West (6250m) are three non-technical trekking peaks offering the opportunity to experience true mountaineering in the Himalaya.

Beyond the hills

In addition to trekking, Nepal has excellent opportunities for white water rafting and mountain biking. Often it is feasible to include both of these activities in an itinerary if required, in addition to trekking. There are also many possibilities for those schools wanting to include a project phase. Many of the options are community based, helping remote villages construct houses, schools or pathways for example.

Central to any exploration of Nepal is the capital city, Kathmandu. This fascinating, noisy city is home to a remarkable history and a rich cultural heritage. Holy men, artists, business men and tourists jostle for position amongst ancient palaces and temples in one of the world's greatest travel destinations. Any itinerary, whether trekking or more culturally focused, should allow at least some time to explore this absorbing city.

11 day introductory adventures including an easy trek start from around £1,600 per student including flights, all ground arrangements and free teacher places. Contact us to discuss itineraries and options and to obtain a quotation.

If you are planning an adventure or expedition far from the madding crowd and want to equip yourself with first aid skills and more to manage your trip safely, then this is the course for you.

Our expedition medicine and travel health guru James Moore will be the tutor on this course, so you can be assured of expert teaching and no doubt a few jokes that come close to the limits of decency…

Dates: 3^rd and 4^th March.

Venue: central Exeter.

Price: £275

For more information and to book, visit: http://wildernessmedicaltraining.co.uk/explorer-series-far-from-help

Answers by comment below please.

Congratulations to Helen Blackburn who correctly answered last months quiz - it was indeed, a Sally Light Foot Crab, found in the Galapagos Islands.

We see some pretty awful itineraries offered to schools for Mongolia, so if you want to make the most from your visit to this fabulous country then get in touch.

Peru's popularity has soared over the past decade and rightly so.

The country has such a wealth and diversity of landscapes, habitats, cultures and wildlife that there is literally something to satisfy every taste and interest.

The vast majority of visitors to Peru confine themselves to the southern part of the country seeing such spectacular sites as Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines and the Colca Canyon. However, for serious trekkers the central and northern regions offer the greatest prize: the highest equatorial mountain range in the world, not to mention the largest concentration of snow capped peaks to be found anywhere in South America.

The main Cordillera Blanca range and its smaller neighbour the Cordillera Huayhuash are amongst the most spectacular. The Huayhuash was home to Joe Simpson's extraordinary escape in "Touching the Void", however, it is the Cordillera Blanca that is home to Huascaran (the highest mountain in Peru at 6798m), Alpamayo (voted the most beautiful mountain in the world) and The Santa Cruz Trail: one of the world's greatest short treks.

The Santa Cruz Trail may "only" consist of 2 valleys separated by one high pass (Punta Union, 4,700m) but the view from the top is amongst the most spectacular in all of South America.

The Santa Cruz valley lies at your feet, nestling amongst a handful of majestic snow-capped peaks rising to over 6,000m. Condors patrol the skies while local shepherds tend their flocks in the high altitude pastures below. The trail can usually be completed by well acclimatised groups in just four days, however with the proliferation of stunning scenery, you may well feel that four days is simply not long enough to fully appreciate this area. If that is the case, then there are a multitude of longer treks that offer equally superb scenery.

Our summer months of June, July and August are the best time to visit Peru, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine the order of the day. However, due to the altitude, night time temperatures can drop significantly. Itineraries can be tailor-made to group requirements and include trekking, sight-seeing, jungle exploration, wildlife watching and project work.

Contact us and let us help you to find the best trek, school expedition company or family adventure for you.

Heavenly half-term adventures are a great opportunity to stretch horizons, and now is a great time to start planning an October half-term school tour or mini expedition.  Climate wise, many destinations are at their best in our autumn: Morocco, Egypt, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Costa Rica, China and others – all are perfect bolt holes for an educated adventure in late October:

Turkey:  10 day trek and project. This trip to Central Turkey (Cappadocia & the Taurus Mountains) takes you to parts of Turkey few people usually explore. The amazing volcanic landscapes of Cappadocia are simply stunning and an amazing place to explore on foot. After a few days here, head off to the Taurus Mountains for a community project amongst the remote villages of this big mountain range. There is excellent trekking here too if you wanted a more mountainous trek than the Cappadocia walks. This 10 day trip includes 3 days up in the mountains on a project. The final details of the project would be decided nearer the time, but previous schools have designed and built play grounds, painted schools and made classroom furniture and planted saplings in national parks to aid re-forestation. Price: approx.: £1300 for 10 day itinerary. 

Morocco: Perfect for short expeditions and geography adventures, Morocco is a world away, yet very close to home. Marrakech is the starting point for most journeys, but the imperial cities of Fez, Meknes and Rabat further north also offer great educational potential. From Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains, the barren Anti-Atlas, the Sahara and the rugged Atlantic coast are all within easy reach. How about spending a day learning about the life of a Berber? Hone your winter mountaineering skills on Mt. Toubkal or explore desert landscapes by bike, on foot or by camel, or a combination of all three! 5 day trips start from around £600. 9 day multi activity expeditions (such as this one) come in under £1000.

Jordan & Israel: Jordan and Israel combined make for a fantastic geography, religious and/or history tour destination, or simply an educational adventure for adventure’s sake. In 10 days you can sleep out under desert stars in Wadi Rum, witness the drama of a chariot race amongst a beautifully preserved Roman city, see the significant sites of Jerusalem & Bethlehem, Mt Nebo and, of course, the incredible Red Rose city of Petra – recently voted as one of the 7 wonders of the world. Then there is walking in the beautiful Dana Nature Reserve, floating in the Dead Sea and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea: 8-10 day trips cost £1200 - £1500 including all food, free teacher places and international flights. Click here for a sample itinerary.

Egypt: Egypt’s Sinai Desert is generally recognised as one of the most beautiful deserts in the world and a great place for an introduction to expeditions. The desert trekking here is very varied and to undertake a continuous journey through the desert whilst camping out under the stars is undoubtedly very special (click here for a case study with Abingdon School).  There is also lots of culture, history and religion here including Mt. Sinai, St Catherine’s Monastery and the traditional Bedouin lifestyles. You can also end the trip with a day or two on the beaches of the Red Sea, perhaps doing some snorkeling?  Don’t feel you have to trek or wild camp though. There are plenty for options for hotel based itineraries too.  Price depends on accommodation options and exact itinerary, but budget in the region of £1000 - £1,400 for an 8 day itinerary all in. See here for a sample trekking tour.

Thailand: Elephants, jungles, bamboo rafting and hill tribe trekking; ancient cities, vibrant religions and bustling night markets: Thailand offers a lot more than just beach holidays and is an ideal destination for short adventures, religious studies trips or geography tours with a difference. In 8-10 days, your students can experience the Thailand many fail to see. This 9 day trip covers the north of Thailand, taking an easy going, but adventurous look at the Hill Tribes, jungles and rivers around Chiang Mai. Elephant rides and overnight trains, as well as canopy zip wires, trekking and homestays make this a highly memorable trip for October half term. Prices start at around £1550 pp including flights and free teacher places, depending on the size of the group.

China: 10 days in China doesn’t allow much time for exploring this vast country, but you can still see many of the main highlights and get a full flavour of the place – provided you go about it in the right way. China is one destination we see schools frequently trying to fit too much into a short period of time, or, just as bad, not going for long enough. Some operators will try and suggest it is worth going to Beijing and perhaps Xian on a 6 or 7 day itinerary. It’s not.  Not only will a significant proportion of your budget be spent on the flights, Beijing is 8 hours ahead of the UK and so there is significant risk of jet lag. With a 6 or 7 day trip you’d barely have time to touch the ground before heading home again.  This 10 day itinerary takes in the highlights of Beijing, the Great Wall, Xian and the Terracotta Warriors and Shanghai and the Garden City of Suzhou. Price is very much dependent on flights at the time of booking, but expect in the region of £1,700 - £2,000 per student.

Nepal: Being more relaxed and less frenetic than its ‘big brother’ India, Nepal is a great introduction to the Indian Sub-continent for schools. It is not really worthwhile to attempt Nepal in less than 10 days, 11 is better, but even in 10 you can undertake a short trek in the foothills of the Himalaya – surrounded by 8,000m peaks. There would also be time for an elephant back safari in Chitwan National Park, a canoe safari looking out for crocs and birdlife, visits to UNESCO world heritage sites, options for white water rafting and you’d still have time for a quick look around the enigmatic capital, Kathmandu. Price wise, 11 days in October starts from £1650 pp including flights and free teacher places (based on a group size of 30 + 3 teachers). Click here for a suggested 11 day school adventure.

India: For a cultural tour that will open your students’ eyes to a completely different world, then India is exceptionally hard to beat. An 11 day school trip here can include many of the highlights of northern India – Delhi, Agra & the Taj Mahal, Ranthambore National Park, Fatehpur Sikri, and the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. Prices start at £1500 -  £1700 per student for this 11 day school tour of India. If you can't make it for 11 days, then we really recommend you stick to 10 as a minimum as it will give you the time and space to make the most from your trip.

Costa Rica: Costa Rica is perfect for an active exploration of everything geography and / or biology related. There is white-water rafting through jungle covered canyons, zip lining through tree canopies, sea-kayaking amongst Mangrove Swamps, turtle conservation work on glorious beaches, as well as lava spewing volcanoes, butterfly farms, jungle camps, hot springs and loads more. This 10 day itinerary is action packed and a fabulous short ‘insight’ into everything Costa Rican.  Price: From £2,000 per student for a 10 day trip, Cheaper options are available without the adventure activities.

For more information on all these destinations and  suggested itineraries, and others besides, plus free, independent advice on which tour operators will suit your requirements, contact us on 01392 660056 or email: schools@thestc.co.uk

If your school is planning an overseas tour or expedition, talk to James about the possibility of in-school vaccinations for your students as well as pre-travel health advice lectures. You can reach him on 01392 430590.

You'll be in very safe hands.

Look out for more competitions coming soon.

Do you want to take your family on a holiday with a difference - the sort of holiday where you share new experiences and make memories to last a lifetime? As an independent travel agency, with many years of experience in the industry, and being parents ourselves, we have the expertise to help you realise your dream. Contact The STC on 01392 660056 for inspiration for you and your family, the best itineraries and access to many award winning UK tour operators.

Here we give an insight into one of the operators we work with as well as details of a great new competition…

Tell Tale Travel are specialists in authentic and soft adventure holidays and take great pride in crafting the perfect itineraries for families with children of all ages (even those hard-to-please-teenagers). Their holidays to Thailand and Sri Lanka pack in many, many more experiences than a mainstream family holiday, with none of the demands or the basic accommodation of adventure travel.

But don't take our word for it - read on to get the real story straight from the elephant's mouth (as it were) as we hear four families' tales of their travels.

The Burton family took their three children aged 8 to 14 to Thailand, exploring Bangkok and the beaches and deserted islands of the Andaman Sea. They had an action-packed itinerary, including activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, nature walks and even some whitewater rafting.

With so much to do, did the family find enough time to kick back on the holiday? "We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of scope for relaxation," Alison Burton said, "We did so much and yet it was as relaxing as a typical beach-based holiday."

In between all that relaxing, what about a favourite activity? "The cycling and longtail boat trips stood out in Bangkok," said Alison, "The kayaking, as well as the one night camping on Bamboo Island were especially fantastic."

One worry that many parents have when holidaying with children is the food - will it be too different to what they're used to? Will they simply refuse to eat it? Alison's worries on this front were unfounded: "The food was amazing. There was always more than enough to eat and consideration was taken not to provide overly spicy food, which meant that the children also had the full Thai food experience throughout the holiday."

While most parents would be fairly confident that their children would enjoy an action-led holiday, some might be concerned that the youngsters might not have enough to interest them on a more nature-oriented trip. It’s not a worry according to Lucy Thomson and her husband who took their three young boys on a wildlife and nature themed holiday in Thailand.

"We had a fantastic time!" said Lucy. "The whole thing worked out really well with a good mix of contrasting activities and FUN! The boys are full of stories about the clay houses and paddy field fishing." And the boys had just one word to say about the elephants they encountered at the sanctuary in Chiang Mai: "WOW!"

Lucy's sons also took a real liking to one of their hosts, Yui. This was no surprise to us as Tell Tale Travel spends a great deal of time finding the right people and know all their hosts, guides and drivers personally.

Bill Bowler, his wife Jeanette and their children found that their hosts, guides and drivers often went that extra mile to make the whole family feel welcome. "We found Parr and Tommy to be very good," she told us. Parr’s talents stretched to the musical too: "He also sang us the elephant song! He was brilliant and just put that extra bit in." Bill and Jeanette's daughter Poppy celebrated her birthday while on holiday and was surprised with a birthday cake arranged by one of the host families.

Remember that a 'family holiday' doesn't just have to mean parents with young children or even teenagers or university-aged children. Family reunions, significant birthdays and important anniversaries are all great excuses to get the family together and enjoying a different holiday, would make for a highly memorable celebration.

Being spread across the globe - South Africa, the UK and New Zealand – the Evans family don't get to meet up often. Fun was had by all when they holidayed together in Thailand, with the youngest in their party being just two years old and the eldest being over 70.

Head of the family, Tony Evans, said of the trip: "I couldn't have asked for more variety and involvement in the Thai culture and tradition." One of his daughters, Bo, echoed Tony's sentiments, "I just can't believe the things we got up to and the experiences we had. Dad was in his element having his family around." Tony and his family are eagerly anticipating their next big get-together.

For authentic and soft adventure holidays to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Brazil, we know we can rely on Tell Tale Travel to deliver the goods time and again. Along with family adventure holidays, they also offer itineraries for couples, groups of friends, and solo travellers (with no single supplements!).

And the best news?

 Enter our competition and you can win a £200 gift voucher for use on any Tell Tale Travel Holiday booked through The STC as well as a wildlife lover’s pack complete with books and DVDs.

To enter, answer the following question and email us before 29 February 2012 at competition@thestc.co.uk

• Which elephant has the smaller ears – Asian or African?

Contact us on 01392 660056 or families@thestc.co.uk for more details. Let our experience guide yours, with holidays that enrich, invigorate, open eyes young and old, stretch horizons and create memories that will be talked about for years to come.

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;        

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,        

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.        

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Dates: 12 - 16 February 2012.

Price: £199 per person, including flights, accommodation, meals, transport and guides.

 This is a great opportunity to experience the magic of Morocco - from the bustling streets of Marrakech, to the stillness and desert stars of the Sahara.  We hope you will join us and see for yourself the huge potential Morocco has for educational tourism. From expeditions, to geography tours - the country is bursting with opportunity.

In conjunction with our friends at The Adventure Company, the planned itinerary is set out below.

Please contact us to register your interest and find out more.

Day 1: Arrive Marrakech

Arrive in Marrakech and transfer to your hotel. Dinner in a Moroccan Restaurant situated close to the main place Djemaa el Fna Overnight: Marrakech, Hôtel Majorelle (D)

Day 2: Aguersioual-Ouarzazate

Leaving Marrakech at around 7.30am, you travel into the Atlas Mountains and spend the morning at the village of Aguersioual. Here you will meet the local Berber people and learn about their traditional life style, including their food, how to cook a tagine, animal husbandry, agriculture and the roles of the men and women in this community. A wonderful insight into a way of life that is hard work, but rewarding. After eating your lunch you will head to the the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2260 metres above sea level) into the barren slopes of shattered rock on the southern side of the pass. Witness how the forces of nature have helped shape these mountains offering an insight into plate tectonics and fold mountain formation. You continue onto Ouarzazate. Driving time approx. 4:30 Overnight:, Ouarzazate, Hôtel Les Jardins De Ouarzazate (BLD)

Day 3: Zagora-Camel Trek

From Ouarzazate you continue in a Southern direction and cross the Tizi n'Tinififft pass which then reveals the mountain chain of the Eastern Anti Atlas. From the pass you can see the first green oasis and en route some interesting stratification and formation by erosion. You travel through the lush Draa Valley – a strip of intense cultivation along the Oued Draa, a river formed from the melt waters of the Atlas Mountains. Then you head out on to the arid plains to an oasis settlement. Encounter nomadic farmers and explore a magical area of some small rolling dunes just outside of Zagora. You wlll meet your camel team and trek to your camp at Tinfou sand dunes. Long trousers to be worn whilst on the camel trek. Approx. 3:30 h of driving.Overnight: Nomad Tents (BLD)

Day 4: Ait Benhaddou-Marrakech

This morning we leave the camp very early as it is a long driving day. Returning back to Marrakech along the Draa valley to Zagora and Ouarzazate, we'll stop en route at Ait Benhaddou for lunch and of course a visit of the Kasbah which is probably the best-preserved fortified kasbah in the country. With its dramatic walls of red earth, slit windows and crumbling towers, it is a magnificent example of a traditional stronghold. Chosen as a location for Hollywood films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel in the Nile and more recently Gladiator, Ait Benhaddou sits upon a lofty pinnacle of rock overlooking a river. After this visit we continue our journey and head up North to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, we cross the High Atlas once more and will reach early evening the red city of Marrakech.Approx. 9 hrs of driving ( 3.5 hrs from Ait Ben Haddou in the afternoon)Dinner will be at a Restaurant close to the Medina.Overnight: Hotel Majorelle, Marrakech (BLD).

Day 5: Marrakech-Fly Home

In the morning you will orientate yourselves with a walking tour of the centre which takes in the main sights and the sprawling souks. Compare the modern western city with its wide boulevards and government buildings with the traditional old city in the walled Medina with its narrow winding streets and souks. Duration approx. 4 hours. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

To get everyone in the festive spirit, this month's Where in the World competition has a prize attached!

Let us know where this scene is and you could be in with a chance to win a case of wine in time for Christmas. One correct entry will be drawn at random from those received. Closing date is midday on 16th December.

To enter, email us at competition @ thestc.co.uk giving your name, address and telephone number. Or leave a comment below, but be sure to include your email address.

p.s. last month's image was the Locatelli Refuge in the Italian Dolomites. 

Here we give you four very different trips that offer a great chance of seeing this amazing spectacle, and, with the winter of 2011/2012 billed as offering the best sightings for many years, now is the time to sort your winter holiday with a difference and fulfil a lifelong ambition. 

If none of the four trips below suit you, then we've got dozens more options to offer through some of the leading escorted tour and tailor-made travel companies in the UK.

Norway: Northern Lights Cruise

Take a magical winter journey into the Arctic Circle from Norway’s Arctic capital of Tromsø.

Cruise the dramatic coastline aboard a Hurtigruten ship as it travels across the top of Norway to the edge of the Russian border. For three nights you will be travelling away from artificial light at the same latitude as Siberia and Alaska with an increased chance of witnessing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

There are many optional excursions to get the most out of this wonderful trip to the remote north. You could travel across the sub-arctic landscape to visit the North Cape. How about a snowmobile trip in of one of Europe’s most exciting natural areas and, if you are lucky, see the Northern lights? Don’t forget to make a toast at the Ice Bar of the Ice Hotel in Kirkenes.

You can also extend your stay and make the most of Tromsø. Set on an island the city is a popular destination for an unusual city break with a bustling city centre and arctic themed experiences.

Prices per person on the standard 6 day package including flights and a night in Tromsø from £1178 1 October – 15 December. From £1161 between 1 January – 31 March 2012. Contact us for more details.

Iceland: Fly/drive in search of the Northern Lights

Take yourself off on a short break to catch the Northern Lights in dramatic Iceland. With the country’s magnificent landscape of fjords, mountains, waterfalls, geysers, lava formations and volcanoes, along with the vibrant and most northerly capital in the world, a fly/drive option to Iceland is the best value and most exciting way to try and see the Northern Lights.

Collect your vehicle and begin your adventure in Reykjavik by enjoying its renowned restaurants, bars and nightlife. After a dip in the Blue Lagoon head away from artificial lighting in your 4WD for your next three nights which will be spent in a charming ranch hotel two hours from Reykjavik. There are uninterrupted views for miles around, and with a 360° vista this a wonderful area to catch displays of the Northern Lights. Team this with a gourmet restaurant and you will return home having had a wonderful adventure a world away from daily life.

Cost per person including flights, accommodation and car hire from £650 per person. Contact us for more details.

Sweden: Adventure in Lapland & a Night on Ice

A seven day adventure deep into Swedish Lapland will take you to a landscape of vast forests, frozen lakes and Northern Lights. From your base you will explore the surrounding wilderness and enjoy a week of activities.

Learn wilderness skills in the snowy Arctic and build yourself an igloo for the night. Learn to dogsled and mush out to a Wilderness overnight camp. The following day return on your dogsled via frozen lakes and pine forests to your base. Snowshoe amid the stunning scenery and take yourself off for an exhilarating snowmobile ride. End your adventure with a final night at the fabulous Ice Hotel.

Cost per person including flights, accommodation and most activities from £2299. Contact us for more details.

Finland: Husky Safari in Finnish Lapland

This is a trip for the adventurous in the wilds of Finnish Lapland.

Get to know your own team of dogs and head out into the wilderness for a 5 night husky safari. The only sound to break the silence will be the paws on the snow and swish of the sledge, as you pass through snowy forests, across fells and over frozen lakes and rivers.

Sleep in wilderness cabins under clear star-filled skies, and if you are lucky the Northern Lights will complete the experience. After a physically demanding day of looking after your dogs and sled, enjoy relaxing in a wood heated sauna before sitting around the fire and sharing stories with your Sami guide.

6/7 day adventure cost per person including flights, accommodation and activities from £1665. Contact us for more details.

The Specialist Travel Consultancy acts as agents for more than 30 specialist UK ATOL protected operators. Contact us for impartial advice, access to the best operators, and help and assistance from an expert team.

Do you want a fun and different teaching aid to create debate within your next class? We have around 100 of our 'destination inspiration' maps to give away FOR FREE. They are ideal for KS3 and beyond and full of interesting facts, quizes and suggestions for inspiring trips around the world.

Be quick!

Click here to view a high resolution image of the map

To order your copy, contact us or send us an email at schools@thestc.co.uk

Post your answers below please.

Congratulations to Jamie Dunbar for correctly guessing September's 'Where in the world?' - The Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia.

There is little here apart from forests, lakes and a few small towns and villages. For company, the farmers have elk, wolf, and lynx; brown bear and beaver; and the rivers are filled with salmon, burbot and trout.

The summers are long and hot - perfect for hiking, canoeing, cycling and camping, and the winters are a picture postcard scene of sparkling snow and the colourful and ever changing Aurora Borealis.  Adrian Ferraro travelled to Finland in the depths of winter and came back inspired...

"It’s only when you spend some time in Finland and, perhaps more importantly, some time with a Finn, that you come to appreciate the importance of the word “sauna”. To a Finn, it’s not just something you “do”, it’s a daily necessity, it’s the time to chat away the days worries; it’s relaxation, it’s energy, it is: life itself.  Without “sauna”… well, that’s just not worth thinking about…

"For safety’s sake and as silly it may sound, I feel obliged to suggest one golden rule: Never take a sauna with a Finn!"

Being blissfully unaware of this, my trip to Finland meant that the days of cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, dog-sledding and snow-mobiling, were followed by an exploration of all things “sauna”: Wood saunas, ice saunas, “smoke” saunas – the list goes on… Now, I’ve had a few saunas in my time, and they’re OK, but I’d never really worked out what all the fuss was about.  After a sauna every night of that week, however, I am truly converted, and I was actually quite proud of my achievements in the heat and humidity stakes! What could be better than drinking cold beer in a beautifully crafted wooden sauna, with 4 ft of crisp white snow outside the door and the stunning Northern Lights overhead…?

For safety’s sake and as silly it may sound, I feel obliged to suggest one golden rule: Never take a sauna with a Finn!  It was only on the last night, when I had to evacuate the sauna at break-neck speed as a wall of searing humidity hit me full on, did I realise that up until now our Finnish guide, Keijo, had merely been playing with us. What we had experienced so far was “saunas for beginners” (swimming trunks included), and Keijo was obviously a man at the top end of “advanced level”. As I escaped into the utter bliss of minus 15^oC plus wind chill on my bare flesh, I could hear the roar of delight as he threw more water on the stones and the humidity soared even higher to yet another level…

At the other end of the temperature scale to a humid 74^oC, is a very dry minus 40^oC. Not an uncommon temperature in Finland in February. Fortunately, we’d arrived during a “warm” spell, so daily temperatures were hovering around the minus 10^oC level.  Personally, I find minus 10^oC a little on the chilly side; but for a husky, it’s a little warm.  Too warm in fact - certainly for pulling a wooden sledge and a 13 stone man (i.e. me!).  The “warm” weather meant that my long anticipated dash through the forest with a team of dogs, was more of a gentle afternoon stroll with frequent pushes on my part to get them up the slightest of inclines. It was fun none the less – the shear excitement of the dogs before they set off is something to behold. Although, as I’m in the business of selling holidays, maybe I should gloss over their excessive flatulence!

Our accommodation for the week was in two different areas.  The first four nights were at the remote farmhouse of “Kiviniemi”. Here, a collection of huts, outhouses and the farmhouse itself were the perfect place from which to explore the surrounding hills and lakes by cross country skis and snow shoes.  Our guide ‘Keijo’ could not have been a better host.  He worked tirelessly to make our stay comfortable, memorable and informative. He was a wealth of information on everything Finnish – from their lands lost during the 2^nd World War, to current farming techniques, the timber industry, animal behaviour and the finest Finnish delicacies (which he produced from the kitchen every night with incredible ease…)

Our second base was the historic farmhouse of ‘Vuonislahti’ on the shores of vast Lake Pielinen. Our bags were transferred by road, while we took to the snow-mobiles and covered some 80km on frozen lakes and narrow forest tracks.  This was definitely the highlight of the week (“Boys and their Toys” what can I say?).  Our 350cc (170bhp) machines certainly could pack a punch, with speeds of up to 50 mph achieved on the wide open lakes. It was a very physical day, so the evening sauna was a welcome way to unwind.  Cooling off in the frozen lake afterwards was optional of course, but I figured it had to be done…

The seven days seemed to go by all too quickly, but I felt I had been thoroughly immersed (quite literally!) into the Finnish winter experience.   All that is left now is to go back and experience the delights of what’s on offer in summer: Another one on the list…"

Adrian Ferraro

Contact us and we can help you find the right tour operator and the right adventure. We deal with many of the UK's best tour operators for winter adventure holidays. Maybe you only have time for a long weekend in Iceland, or you want to take your family on a multi-activity snow adventure to Lapland, or maybe you want to hit the wilderness on a dog-sledding expedition across Scandinavia. Contact us and we'll use our experience and contacts to put together the trip of your dreams!

Venue: Bushell Hall, Birkenhead School.

Date: Thursday 13th October. 7.30pm

Tickets: £8 for adults, £5 for U18 and Senior Citizens, £25 family ticket (2 adults plus up to 4 students) and are available for purchase online at: http://www.birkenheadschool.co.uk/catalog/2

About the evening:

STC Director Adrian Ferraro will describe the trials and tribulations of five weeks in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) as part of a six month Trans-Africa GAP year expedition.

The talk is set against a backdrop of historical expeditions to the region and a country blighted by brutal dictatorships, civil war, the plunder of vast natural resources and deadly viruses.

Tickets are £8 for adults, £5 for U18 and Senior Citizens, £25 family ticket (2 adults plus up to 4 students) and are available for purchase online.

Or call Yvonne on 0151 651 3095; or send a cheque payable to Birkenhead School, enclosing an SAE. Refreshments will be available at the interval. 

Proceeds will go to the School’s 150th Anniversary charity the Rock of Joy Trust.

If you are planning a wilderness trek or expedition or will be working in remote environments, then this really is the course of choice - covering so many aspects from keeping the whole team safe and well, to diagnosing common conditions and coping with serious trauma.

Special thanks to James Moore of WMT who delivered the course with his usual mix of wit, practical examples and the odd gory slide. James’ professionalism, knowledge, and experience in the field comes shining through in his delivery and I’m sure I speak for most on the course when I say the two days really does give you the knowledge to feel confident in a whole host of situations.

Given the fact that my medical kit will now be double the size of what it was before, I doubt I will have any room for clothes when I next go travelling! Perhaps the easier, and without doubt safer, option, would just be to pack James instead! If you need a first class expedition medic then you can contact him at www.travelhealthconsultancy.co.uk

Many teachers and students have taken the time to tell us just how vital their leader was in making their trip such a success. Thank you – it means a lot to us, our operators and your leaders!

Sadly though, forward-thinking expedition companies that promote, train and invest in overseas leaders are being restricted in how they can promote themselves to schools. They cannot, currently, apply for the Learning Outside the Classroom Expedition Badge due to a couple of rules within the Badge’s code of conduct which exclude the use of overseas leaders.

Whilst the Badge is not the only way for schools to find suitable operators, it is being ‘sold’ by the government and Outdoor Education Advisers as the easiest way for schools and teachers to gain access to approved suppliers. As such, schools are less and less likely to look for alternatives outside of the Badge scheme and that means schools are missing out on some fantastic opportunities.

Our regular readers will no doubt be aware of our long term campaign to try and get this changed, and we have previously been asked to speak on the topic by the Young Explorers' Trust.

This summer, we have written to the Quality Badge Development Manager at the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, The Schools Minister, Outdoor Education Advisers and also the Chair of the Expedition Providers Association (EPA) – the awarding body for the LOTC Expedition Badge - to press for a change to the rules. We believe more schools should benefit from the expertise of local leaders.

Our campaign goes beyond just this though, as we think EPA and the LOTC should make more of a commitment to ensuring a responsible approach to tourism.

Employing local expedition leaders is one of the best ways to ensure this. It creates employment and many associated economic benefits. It also raises aspirations and opportunities amongst the host communities by providing obvious career paths within small communities at risk of rural to urban migration. In addition, the training and investment required from UK tour operators further benefits the whole community. This is where tourism is at its most powerful to bring change and is something that the expedition community urgently needs to address.

Then there is the educational potential.

By inhibiting the use of overseas leaders, the LOTC / EPA’s current Code of Conduct is stifling the enormous educational potential offered by an in-country expedition leader. With an experienced local leader at the helm, students have the opportunity to tap into their leader’s enthusiasm and knowledge of the local culture, history, politics, religion, flora, fauna, language, contacts and so forth. The educational outcomes are enormous. Yet in the current Learning Outside the Classroom Badge Scheme, such opportunities are beyond reach.  

When you consider the sheer experience of some local leaders, there could be a safety benefit too.  We recently had a school group climb Mt Kenya. The two chief guides on the trip had, between them, over 30 years guiding experience and had climbed Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro over 700 times.

Local leaders are not always the answer, but to have a system where they are NEVER the answer, is completely non-sensical. There are different educational benefits associated with different expedition approaches, and that includes whether UK or local leaders are used. One is not necessarily better than the other.  They are different, yet equally valid, and schools should be able to choose the educational outcomes they wish to achieve from a trip.

The next few months see some potential re-structuring of health and safety guidance, Badge Scheme governance and EPA policy, so we are looking to forward-thinking companies, organisations and those in decision making positions to do the right thing.

In the meantime, you can be sure we will do everything possible to keep up the pressure so that more schools can access some of the best leaders and expedition companies in the world.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to gain confidence in your ability to provide care in a remote environment to anyone who is injured and ill. The course is not a first aid course, the training goes beyond this, covering injuries, illnesses and the use of prescription medication. Without the need for prior medical knowledge, over an intensive weekend, you will achieve a thorough grounding in how to deal with the most common problems experienced on expeditions.

The ‘Far From Help’ (FFH) 2-day course is run by Wilderness Medical Training™ (WMT) the lead medical training company for explorers.  The instructors are all clinicians with many years’ experience.

The FFH has been attended by more than 1000 teachers, leaders, travellers and explorers. The course offers a good professional development opportunity for teachers wanting to run their own expeditions and adventures.

Places are limited, so book now and we look forward to you joining us at the STC in Exeter on 24 & 25 September 2011.

We're not going to lie - this trip is tough and not for the casual adventurer. It borders on true exploration. However, if you want an trip that delivers extensive jungle exploration, tough trekking, tribal cultures, amazing scenery and perfect Caribbean beaches, then this expedition to Auyantepui and the Shirian Tribal lands in Venezuela is about as good as it gets.

To view a version of this trip that includes a trek on Roraima rather than Auyantepui, click here.

Many thanks to Nick Hewlett, ex Head of Geography at Magdalen College School, for the following testimonial - we think it captures all that a great school expedition should be about:

"The month long trip to Venezuela had all the ingredients to be very special indeed and we were not disappointed. The variety of rainforest trekking, tepui climbing, tribal visits and beach exploration was, in itself, one of the most successful elements of this tailor made itinerary. When this is coupled to the remoteness of the destinations (the tepui was three different plane journeys away) and the adventurous nature of the challenge, it really was a trip of a life time.

Climbing an isolated mountain in complete solitude for 10 days made you feel at one with the 'lost world', whilst joining in with festivities in the Shirian highlands, a tribe rarely visited by outsiders, was something that will, doubtless stay with the boys for the rest of their lives.

Chewing on grasshoppers, flying in cessnas, avoiding tarantulas and coral snakes, gaping at Angel Falls, sleeping in hammocks right on the edge of the explored - I have led countless trips and expeditions but I would rate this as one of the very best. It was adventure tourism at its very best and is to be recommended wholeheartedly."

For the full case study of this trip go to: www.thestc.co.uk/case-studies/magdalen-college-school

If you are after a really great value trip, but with all the adventure, challenge and project possibilities associated with destinations further afield, as well as fantastic R&R opportunities, then you would be hard pushed to do better than Turkey.

Here, Steve Brenchley from Abingdon School, recounts their 25 day expedition across the country this summer:

"On the 12th July, 14 pupils and 2 staff member set off on a 25-day expedition to Turkey, looking forward to a varied and ultimately memorable experience.

On arrival in Istanbul airport, our Dutch guide, Maurits Van Den Bosch Kaag, greeted us with a big smile and we immediately set off into the busy streets of one of Europe’s most populous cities.

The two days we spent in Istanbul was a great way to start the trip, taking in a boat trip on the Bosphorous, the Hagia Sophia Church and the many Bazaars in this old city.

From Istanbul, we took the night train to Ankara and followed the story of Ataturk, visiting the mausoleum and discovering the events behind the formation of the Turkish Republic.

From Ankara we travelled via the underground city of Derinkuyu, to the incredible landscape of Cappadocia. This really felt like a landscape that didn’t belong on this planet and the fairy chimneys not only provided spectacular scenery, but the Troglodyte caves gave the lads endless climbing opportunities.

Our next stop was Marti village, in the foothills of the Aladagar mountain range. This was to be our base for the next seven nights, as the team set about work on the village school. After a productive team meeting that evening, work commenced on the school with a vast amount of energy.

The backdrop of the snow-capped mountains and the cool air, meant work continued at a pace for 5 days straight. The result was a smartly refurbished school, a new football pitch, perfectly manicured grounds, a top of the range toilet block and five benches, reflecting the finest English craftsmanship.

The local teacher was delighted with the outstanding work and our leader for the day presented him with stationary for all the pupils and a number of gifts that the team had brought over.

After completion of the project, the team packed in preparation for a five-day trek in the mountains, culminating in a 3723m summit.

We encountered nomadic families, scree slope descents, and near misses with falling rocks, but everyone completed the ascent on Day 4. The trek culminated in a camp fire and sing along, to which we invited another two groups camping in the local vicinity. Jack Williams led the signing, with Ed McLaughlin and James Crowe providing volume and energy. Our guests greatly enjoyed the evening, until ‘the worm’ dance drove them away…

From the mountains we transferred south to the coast and the real holiday began. We started off with a day rafting in the Koprulu Canyon, before moving down the coast to Kas for some sea kayaking, snorkelling and mountain biking. This was a great way to finish off the trip and provided a number of memorable moments.

The attitude of every member of the team made sure that the whole adventure was such a success and they can all be very proud of what they achieved.

Very many thanks to Nick Stokes, for his organisation of the trip. He put in a great deal of work in getting everything up and running and ensured that every detail of the trip went smoothly.

Thanks also to the staff accompanying the trip, Mr McGill and Dr Meier (Epsom College). They both brought with them a wealth of relevant historical information on the area and a real sense of adventure.

And lastly, thanks to our guide, Maurits Van Den Bosch Kaag. He was incredible in every aspect and made the trip such a great success."

Steve Brenchley

A great many thanks to Steve for allowing us to publish his trip report. He also sent us this related testimonial:

"The trip was a huge success, so very many thanks for all your help in organising such a trip. The lads gained a huge amount from the experience and bizarrely there were very few problems. The Turkish company was very good, in particular our guide, Maurits. I would thoroughly recommend using him again. Every place we visited was a success and indeed, so was every activity.  Our initial concerns over the project were smoothed over as more information was presented.

Turkey is a great destination – the lads thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of the itinerary and Maurits was just incredible. Any trip with him leading will be a success.  The best part about your service is the fact that there is always a member of staff available to talk to, both before and during the trip. Makes it feel very personal."

Due to a shoulder injury, our good friend Nick Parks an IFMGA Mountain Guide, off-piste / back-country ski guide and general mountain / outdoor guru is spending 6 months behind a desk helping us out on a variety of fronts.

In 2000 he founded the mountain guiding company Mountain Tracks (www.mountaintracks.co.uk) and regularly advises on safety for the likes of Bear Grylls and Ray Mears in some of the most remote corners of the planet. 

He has led expeditions all over the world and has just returned from the Dolomites, where he was safety adviser for the filming for a new Berghaus commercial due for release in the autumn.  Keep an eye out for it – with world leaders in base jumping, mountain biking, climbing and skiing, the ad is sure to be nothing short of spectacular.

During the 1990s, Nick was Director of Outdoor Education at Marlborough College, so he knows a touch about educational adventures too.

We’re looking forward to working with him over the coming months.

Where you might find this monastery?

It's remote, it's at high altitude and is a great destination for summer trekking. We're looking for the name of the country and region please! Answers on a postcard, or you could just post a comment below...

Last months Where in the World competition image was from the White Desert in Egypt - a fantastic place for a school desert adventure or geography trip. We can arrange trekking, camel and 4x4 adventures here, as well as litter clean up projects and more. Contact us for more details.

A number of early starters have already returned and the feedback has been first-class, with IB CAS trips to Morocco and Turkey to trek and work on projects, as well as a history and archaeology trip to Egypt.

Check back in a few weeks time for further Case Studies, teacher testimonials and photos.

Main image details: “Boating in the Florida Keys” - Natural tidal channels allow boats to weave between islands and inlets on the Florida Keys. © Jim Crocker

Miami to Buenos Aires:

A fascinating story exists between the bustling ports of Miami and Buenos Aires which explores the changing geography of Central and South America since the arrival of the first conquistadors in the 16th century. Many of the beautiful natural landscapes along the flight path have seen considerable change: from the chain of coral islands that dangle from the southern tip of the USA known as the Florida Keys, to the enormous meanders of the Amazon River and vast agricultural plains of Argentina. However, new tribes and societies are even being discovered today: half way through the flight path is a glimpse of the un-contacted tribe.

Cairo to Doha:

From ancient Arab settlements to the oil fuelled glass and steel skyscrapers of modern Doha, this flight path explores the elaborate relationship of water, oil and trade in the human and physical geography of this region.

Explore the dry river beds of Wadi Rum and the vibrant wildlife of the Persian Gulf to discover how water has helped to shape the landscape and provide habitats for many species, including homo sapiens. Yet the sea also provides a pivotal method of transport to and from the coastal cities of Cairo, Suez and Doha, connecting them to the rest of the world via international shipping routes.

In the 20th century these shipping routes facilitated the distribution of one of the Middle East's most famous exports: crude oil. The revenues generated through the export of crude oil are clearly proven in the striking architecture and rich economies of Doha and Saudi Arabia.

More details at: www.hiddenjourneys.co.uk

First up is this spectacular desert sunset.

Leave a comment below. No prizes to be had here -  sorry folks - just the warm satisfaction if you get it right. Any ideas? We want the name of the country - and for a bonus point, the specific name of the desert.

Look out for the answer in our next email newsletter.

Is it just me or is there a constant stream of children and teenagers doing incredible feats of mountaineering / solo-sailing / one-upmanship and such like these days?

I'm all for adventure and challenging young people (I regularly take my own boys rock climbing and trekking up mountains) but is it 'healthy' for children and teenagers to go after such extreme goals? What do they do afterwards? Is it 'natural' for young people to want to achieve such goals or is it inevitable that some 'pushing' has to go on from, well, you-know-who?

We'd be interested in your points of view. Leave us a comment on the blog below or on our facebook page.

You can also upload photos of recent trips, ask questions or share feedback back of your travel experiences with others in the STC community.

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Conservation in the Galapagos Islands is a big issue, and Galapagos Conservation Trust (a UK Charity) wants everyone to get involved and help protect these amazing birds and their surrounding habitat by donating whatever you can. If you can't spare any cash, then visit the Get Involved section for fun sponsorship ideas and donate the money you raise. 

Controversial?

Let it be clear, I believe in the benefits of learning outside the classroom. I believe in standards and accreditations too. Call it controversial, but I see the Expedition Badge scheme as narrow, restrictive and incapable of offering schools and students the range of expedition and adventure opportunities they should have, and need, access to. It is doing them a massive disservice. 

Safety in numbers: 8848

In the UK we have the BS8848, a British Standard for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions and adventurous activities outside the UK. It is a worldwide renowned safety standard which is recognised as offering the highest possible safety framework for overseas trips. In the case of an incident on an expedition, it is the BS8848, not the Expedition Badge scheme that is used by accident investigators as the benchmark for best practice. Yet the LOTC Expedition Badge scheme makes it impossible for some BS8848 compliant expedition companies to obtain the Badge.

The reason? They do not conform to the Badge's definition of "good practice".

The Badge

The code of conduct behind the Badge is drawn from those of the Expedition Providers Association (EPA), a group of commercial companies who got together in 2003 to discuss "best practice". A group of self-regulating commercial banks should not be able to solely advise the government on economic policy, so why is it any different when it comes to school expeditions?

You might think my grumblings are coming from a commercial point of view. Not so. As an independent niche travel agency specialising in school expeditions, we stand for choice. Matching the right operator to a client's requirements is the very essence of our existence. We act as agents for a number of EPA / LOTC Badge-holding companies, and we could, if we were so inclined, place all our expedition business with them. Good companies as they are, they are not always the best fit to our clients' expedition requirements.

One size does NOT fit all when it comes to school expeditions, yet with the LOTC Expedition Badge schools are being shoe-horned into a very narrow fit of trekking boot.

The problem is that the EPA Code of Conduct severely limits the type of company that can apply for the Badge and not in a positive way. It is restrictive and excluding rather than flexible and enabling like the BS8848. Aspects of it could also be viewed as verging on anti-competitive as no evidence base exists to warrant the restrictions levied or to justify calling such requirements good practice.

So what are the issues? 

Colonial Mentality

There are a number of issues with the scheme in its current form. The most fundamental being the EPA's insistence that expedition companies should exclusively use UK leaders. The EPA's code of conduct stipulates that expedition leaders must be CRB checked and that they must also meet and work in a leadership capacity with students prior to the expedition. These requirements make it impossible to use an overseas leader.

Some may argue this is a safety issue, yet it is not a requirement of the BS8848 and there is no flexibility with in the Badge to compensate for a non-CRB checked leader with additional CRB checked teachers.

Some may argue it is to ensure a quality learning experience. It seems an almost colonial mentality to believe that only UK people have the ability to lead, inspire and manage the safety of our young people abroad. Not only that, but in taking this attitude, students are missing out on one of the most educational opportunities of overseas travel - the knowledge and experience offered by a professional local expedition leader.

In the developing world there are many professional expedition guides. Many have equal or higher standards of qualification and experience in safety management, group dynamics and expedition logistics, than the UK leaders that frequently accompany school groups. Consider also a local guide's far higher level of specific and applicable destination knowledge, his or her language skills and also their relationships with and understanding of local people and cultures.

There is also the cost implication. The extra cost associated with UK leaders accompanying groups means fewer students can afford to sign up to expeditions. If the Badge Scheme were meant to enable more students to undertake such trips, here is another area where it is not fit for purpose.

Responsible Tourism 

The LOTC Expedition Badge's insistence on UK leaders also goes against the very fundamentals of responsible tourism. If qualified leaders exist in the destination we should be investing in them, employing them as leaders and paying them a fair wage. In doing so, we will be putting more money directly into the country our young people are visiting as guests.

Alongside the small number of EPA / LOTC Badge-holding school expedition companies that we deal with, we also work with dozens of UK trekking and expedition companies that have been leading the way in adventure travel for decades. These companies have long understood the need, benefit and duty to invest, train and promote local leaders. And the results are there for all to see. Almost every expedition we've put together for schools has used professional, experienced and utterly fantastic non-UK, English speaking leaders. And the feedback is always the same - it is the leader that made the experience truly special. Yet such forward thinking and responsible operators cannot apply for the Badge.

There are those who might argue that parents and the school expedition 'industry' aren't ready for non-UK leaders. Is this the case or is it easier for a handful of seemingly influential companies to stick with what they know, with what fits their own style of expedition? It also restricts the number of companies that can apply for the Badge.

Distorted approach to risk management

When Lord Young publishes his report into Health and Safety later this month he will lambast the excess paperwork and minute detail currently involved in planning school trips. In the recent publication "Nothing Ventured" by The English Outdoor Council, Tim Gill also wrote about the problem of overbearing safety guidelines: "Indeed too much guidance, at too great a level of detail, can be counterproductive, because it can reinforce a distorted approach to risk management that focuses on technical compliance rather than critical thinking and proactive problem solving".

And that's the issue. Unnecessary detail and guidance means our schools are being actively encouraged to choose from a narrow selection of companies, often resulting in students paying more than is necessary for the expedition experience.

There is no place for cowboy operators, and I'm not asking for safety management to be scrapped. Schools and Local Authorities need a degree of realism about safety, not just with UK based trips but also those going further afield.

I want Local Authorities to be able to recognise "reputable" expedition companies for what they are, rather than how they measure up against the guidelines set down by a few influential yet commercial companies. I want state school students not to be detrimentally affected by paranoid and self-protecting attitudes, and for as many young people as possible to benefit from the intense learning experience of expeditions. Schools should have a choice about how they run their expeditions.

We have the BS8848. Let expedition companies use it and get on with what they do best.

Adrian Ferraro

Director, The Specialist Travel Consultancy

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. 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 "Cay". They didn't have any chairs so we sat on the floor. I did try not to make too much mess...

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 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. 

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...

How to enter:

Use our Destination Inspiration search facility to help you answer the following question:

Which 2 countries do we recommend for a school desert expedition costing less than £1000 and suitable for travel in the month of February?

Email your answers, along with your name, school/college name and phone number to competition@thestc.co.uk

Closing date for the competition is 23:59 on Saturday 16th July 2011.

About the Sinai Desert:

The Sinai Desert, often voted as the most beautiful in the world, is the perfect location for a short school expedition. Stunning scenery, great trekking, biblical history, Bedouin cultures and some of the best sunsets to be found anywhere on earth, make the Sinai a firm favourite with our school clients.

This expedition is just great for schools and a true desert adventure in every sense of the word, so you should be prepared for some basic conditions whilst camping. The experience of sleeping out under the stars in spectacular locations, and the ambience of camp life will more than compensate for the simple, limited facilities.

The feedback from previous schools we've had travel to this region has been nothing short of fantastic, and with flight-inclusive expedition prices starting at around £950 for a group of 16 students and 2 free teachers, it's great value too.

The trip is offered in conjunction with our friends at the adventure tour operator EXPLORE!

Terms and Conditions

• A winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries. The prize on offer is an eight-day Bedouin Trails tour for one person, worth up to £820 (Explore tour ref BT)
• The prize is subject to availability and must be taken on one of the following dates:
  
  Sat 11 Feb - Sat 18 Feb 2012 / Sat 07 Apr - Sat 14 Apr 2012
• Trip inclusions: return flights from London, ground transfers, accommodation, most meals, the services of an experience tour leader, local guides, drivers and other support staff as necessary as detailed in the trip itinerary.
• The prize is not transferable, amendable or redeemable for cash.
• The total prize value includes the basic tour price as published on the Explore website (www.explore.co.uk) at time of booking.
• The prize value will not include costs of visas, optional extras, inoculations or insurance (NB: travel insurance is mandatory on all Explore tours)
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer.
• If the prize tour (meaning the full run of tour departures within the offer period) is cancelled for any reason by Explore, the winner can transfer to a new available tour of a comparative value, but a cash alternative will not be offered.
• If the chosen and booked departure date is cancelled by Explore then the winner can transfer free of charge to a new date. However, if the original booking is cancelled by the winner, any transfer will be solely at Explore's discretion.
• The winner can extend their tour prize or combine it with another tour, when they pay any extra or additional costs.
• Additional travellers can be booked on the trip through The Specialist Travel Consultancy, subject to availability and at the published rate. Explore's standard booking procedures apply.
• Age restrictions apply. The minimum age for this trip is 14. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum age for all tours is 79, unless travelling with a companion under the maximum age.
• Full booking conditions apply and are available on explore.co.uk or in Explore brochures.
• This is a joint promotion between The Specialist Travel Consultancy and Explore. By entering this competition you agree to your contact details being shared with Explore.
• The competition is not open to employees of The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd, their distributors, Explore or their friends or family, or those of any associated companies.

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.

• Volcanoes in Iceland and closure of European Air Space
• Riots in Thailand resulting in foreign office warnings
• BA cabin crew strikes
• Snow closures of UK airports
• 22 ATOL protected operators ceased trading
• Air Passenger Duty increased
• Airbus A380 engine problems

Record year

Amidst all the problems, though, we're delighted to have had our best ever year. Despite the financial woes, there is obvious optimism in the air - our enquiries are up 50% on last year, and in the first 9 months of the current financial year, our sales too are up - by 40%.

We look forward to arranging many more fantastic school expeditions and family holidays and wish all our clients a very happy and slightly less eventful year of travel in 2011!

"Dear Mark, Thanks for your piece in the latest YET news regarding Carbon Offsetting. Some interesting questions are posed. You asked for a few thoughts. I entirely agree with you on your musings that an expedition's educational benefits "ought to yield greater and more lasting impacts on carbon footprints for entire lifetimes". However, is that an excuse not to do all we can right now?

I disagree that youth expeditions should be classed any differently from independent travel or university research trips or other expeditions when considering whether to offset or not. Yes, they are educational, but this is not unique to youth expeditions. ALL independent travel, research expeditions, and adventures are educational, whatever the age of the participant. This is just as much the case with adventure holidays from responsible tour operators too.

On the sentence I highlighted above, the key word is "ought". Whether it does create lasting impact or not depends very much on how the trip is run. The "greenness" of an expedition and the learning outcomes associated with that expedition are not just restricted to the environment, it's also about the cultural and economic issues. An expedition could be completely carbon neutral and environmentally on the button, yet cause far more long term problems in the destination than 12 pupils' newly found environmental awareness will ever "solve" in their life time.

Responsible Tourism

Paying for carbon offsetting does not automatically discourage people to do push other environmental concerns to the back ground. What is needed is a culture within the expedition to enlighten the students on a much wider issue - that of responsible tourism. Not just environmentally responsible tourism, but also ethically and culturally responsible tourism. The two need to go hand in hand. The sad thing is, it is not hard to find some shocking examples of some school expedition companies disregard for responsible tourism. Indeed, some expedition providers seem to think that RT is about having a green office or recycling paper. Many don't even deem it important enough to mention on their website.

Ethical Expeditions

In my view, issues such as fair pay for local staff, employing locally qualified expedition leaders where they are suitable, porter protection, ethically sourced projects and many other issues are far more important to get right than offsetting emissions. Get these right, and the expedition experience WILL create a long lasting understanding of the issues and problems faced by our world. Get them wrong, and the young people will come away from the experience with a completely mis-guided view of what is an acceptable way to travel in the developing world. What a crime and opportunity missed that would be. Youth expeditions are the perfect opportunity to instill in a new generation a responsible approach to travel. In my experience, the expedition community has not given the priority to this that it should have done. The YET expedition environmental awareness publication is excellent in many ways, but even this lacks detailed guidance on Porter Protection issues such as fair pay, insurance, health care, food and shelter. With the sheer number of expeditions departing these days, expedition companies have a responsibility to work with their local operators for the long term and pressure them to look after their employees. The Expedition Providers Association Code of conduct, which as you know is the basis for the LOTC Quality badge, has no minimum specification for Porter Protection, cultural awareness, responsible tourism or anything similar. If this is the "standard" to which expedition companies should aspire, then it leaves a lot to be desired.

If this is the "standard" to which expedition companies should aspire, then it leaves a lot to be desired.

Responsible Tourism should be the basis from which all expeditions are started. VERY few school expeditions are visiting areas that are not already visited in a tourism capacity by adventure travel and trekking companies, and I believe that many in the expedition community could learn a lot from the leading adventure companies in how to travel responsibly. I agree with you that it is a far from straight forward issue, but as indicated above, I believe offsetting is just one part of a much wider issue. Regardless of the pros and cons of offsetting, if the decision is eventually made to do so then companies and schools need to think and research very carefully as to where and with whom they 'spend' their offset donations. There are many companies out there that make a HUGE profit out of carbon offsetting, whilst giving comparatively little into the projects that actually reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere.

In summary, I would say that offsetting is a good thing if gone about in the right way, but only if there is an underlying ethos on an expedition of responsible travel and respect for the destination cultures, people and environment. Responsible Tourism and Carbon offsetting go very well together, but if I had to choose between the two, responsible tourism would win every time, as that IS what installs long lasting legacies. If you want to discuss at all then please feel free to give me a call. Thanks for starting the debate."

Adrian Ferraro Director, The Specialist Travel Consultancy Ltd

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.

The Specialist Travel Consultancy, an independent travel agency based in Exeter, is today sending seven academics and adventurers from around the world on an exclusive expedition to circumnavigate the remote Taklamakan desert in Western China. The team at Specialist Travel Consultancy (the STC) specialise in organising adventurous family holidays and school expeditions across the globe and have spent two years organising this trip to incorporate a wide variety of incredible experiences.

Adrian Ferraro, who set up the STC in 2006, has drawn on his many years of experience in the travel industry to help the group gain access to notoriously difficult to reach areas of the culturally sensitive province of Xinjiang. Expert multilingual guides and three fully equipped Land Cruisers will transport the group over 5,600 km around the world's 15^th largest desert...

The tailor-made expedition includes stunning scenery and many little-visited and out of the way treasures, including ancient cities, caves, crafts and flora on the Northern and Southern Silk Routes. Adrian says "We are delighted to have been asked to organise this trip and really excited to track its progress over the next few weeks. This is certainly one of our more unusual bookings, but what a journey it promises to be? Everyone has their own level of adventure, and the safety of our travellers is paramount whether they are travelling to Europe or the ends of the earth. We have years of experience to ensure that our customers are well prepared for their holidays and expeditions. The group will meet in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang on Friday 3^rd September and will finish the expedition in the same city, no doubt a little dustier than when they departed, on the 28^th September. End Release

The Specialist Travel Consultancy is an independent travel agency that specialise in organising adventurous family holidays and school expeditions across the globe (www.thestc.co.uk).  For further information, please contact Adrian Ferraro of the STC on 01392 660056 or Suzie Creighton of Castlegate Communications on 0772 999 3721.

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 Eastern 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.

Access leading Tour Operators, get free impartial advice:

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. _

Winter Activities & Northern Lights

We offer a huge selection of adult and family friendly winter adventure holidays to Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. They're perfect if you are looking for an alternative to the usual ski holiday, or just a week of fun in the snow. 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

SLOVAKIA - Snow Adventure 

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

 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

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 ::

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

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

FINLAND - Winter Wonderland 

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

FINLAND - Lapland Snow Adventure 

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

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

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 ::

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 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

Contact us for more details on any of the above holidays - and more!

Do you know of a colleague in your school, or perhaps a teacher in another school or college, that is planning a trip abroad? If so, recommend the services of the STC and you could be a case of wine better off for your troubles...

To qualify, simply get your colleague to mention your name when they get in touch to discuss their travel plans. Alternatively, get in touch with us, and we can send them a copy of this newsletter. If the enquiry leads to a booking, then we will send you a case of quality wine, free of charge. Red, white or mixed - the choice is yours.

There is no limit to the number of cases you can qualify for under this scheme, but you may like to consider a luxury hamper of the West Country's finest food as an alternative, just in case you prove to be a particularly successful ambassador for the STC! Wine is best enjoyed with a little nibble of something after all...

We can help arrange travel for a whole host of school and college trips including geography field trips, historical and cultural tours, expeditions and adventurous itineraries. 

We can help find the best destinations for your requirements and advise on the best time of year to travel as well as the most appropriate operators or expedition companies. In short: make the planning of the trip a little easier!

The small print: Our only stipulation is that the booking is for a school or college group (not a personal holiday) and the contact you recommend is not already known to us (i.e. is not on our database and does not already receive a copy of this newsletter).

Predictably, the volcano won, and the industry is now coming to terms with the prospect of a potentially long period of on-going disruption, although volcanic activity does appear to be abating slightly in the last week or so.

But what does it mean for you, as a traveller, and is there anything that you can do to mitigate your exposure to cancellation and financial loss? Are you covered by travel insurance? Does your accommodation or tour provider have to provide you with free accommodation if you are stranded abroad? Does the airline have to repatriate you? Can the Foreign Office help?

Well, not to put too blunt a point on it, it depends! It is a complex scenario, but if you are keen to know where you stand, read on...

Your right to insurance claims, financial protection and assistance from airlines, operators and accommodation providers depends on a two main factors: how you booked your travel arrangements, and your travel insurance policy.

In the event of you being stranded in the UK or abroad then BY FAR the single biggest factor in whether you are able to delay your trip, get a refund, or obtain help and assistance abroad with accommodation, flights and other arrangements is how you booked your travel arrangements.

We have covered similar issues to this in various previous issues of THE NEWS, but the current situation has important differences and this article goes into more detail than just the financial protection side of things.

Tour, expedition and holiday packages:

Under the EU Package Travel Regulations, when a tour operator or travel agent sells a "package" (generally classed as two or more elements of flights, accommodation, car hire and tour services) then the company has a legal obligation to offer either the same trip at a future date, or a full refund if they are unable to provide that package due to a significant change such as a failure of suppliers for instance, or them being unable able to get you there due to flight problems. If you are abroad at the time of disruption then under these regulations your package provider has a duty of care to provide assistance to find additional accommodation.

But it is only assistance. They do not have an obligation to pay for it.

DIY packages:

If your travel arrangements are not booked as part of a package and you have booked each individual element separately, then you have to look at each element individually. Accommodation is easy. If you've booked your own accommodation abroad and are stuck overseas then you are completely on your own and must sort yourself out. If you can't get to your accommodation due to a grounded flight in the UK: tough. Your accommodation has no responsibility to you and they are highly unlikely to give you a refund. The same is very likely to be true if you book with an overseas operator.

Flights and airlines are much more complicated, but thankfully there is some good guidance available. In response to the Ash Cloud disruption the Air Transport Users Council (www.auc.org.uk) has produced a very clear publication on your rights in different situations. A copy is downloadable from their website or by clicking here (http://www.auc.org.uk/docs/306/AUC%20Volcano%20pack.pdf)

Massively simplified, there are a couple of important points.

Firstly, if your flight is from or within an EU country and the airline cannot provide the flight it promised you, they must either offer you a full refund, or an alternative flight at another time. Secondly, if you are stranded abroad and you flew with an airline that is registered in an EU country then, much to Michael O' Leary annoyance, the airline has a legal obligation to look after you until it can get you home. That is the case whether you are stranded in the EU or not as it is not the destination that governs this, it is the nationality and place of registration of the airline.

If you are not travelling with an EU registered airline, then the airline still has an obligation to return you to your point of departure at the earliest possible opportunity, but it is not liable for your expenses in the meantime. If you are abroad and simply must return home sooner than the airline can get you home then you are liable to pay any such costs involved in that journey. In such a situation, the airline has to refund any unused sectors and unused airport tax.

We have long championed the fact that we only book flight inclusive ATOL protected packages. Given the unpredictable nature of the ash crisis, it is doubly important that we continue to do so as you would be covered should you not be able to depart the UK due to air disruption.

Where possible, we also try and book clients on airlines that are based in the EU, as this gives a belt and braces approach, should you be stranded abroad.

Insurance:

The travel insurance industry has yet to decide exactly where it stands on this, so you are not alone if you feel in the dark.

According to Campbell Irvine Ltd, one of the UK's leading specialist travel insurance brokers, the majority of retail travel insurance policies will not cover claims for cancellations or extra expenses incurred overseas as a result of ash cloud disruption. As ever with insurance though, it comes down to the wording, but the majority of policies do not cover it. 

A number of insurers did decide to honour claims after the recent chaos, probably more down to the good PR potential than any obligation to do so. Check the policy wording carefully. Some policies do not cover delays due to adverse weather. Ash, however, is not bad weather. But that didn't stop some insurers saying it was and therefore refusing to pay. A better phrase to look for in a policy is travel 'disruption'.

But most policies cover you for delays though, right? Well yes, but if the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) cancels all flights, your flight has not been delayed, it has been cancelled. Where do you stand? And to make matters worse, the future on ash clouds in the insurance world is far from clear. Insurance is designed to cover the risk of unknown incidents and problems. Ash clouds from Icelandic Volcanoes are no longer unknown events!

The future:

So what does the future hold? Airline testing in ash cloud situations has now been done and the restrictions on flying are easing. Future, long term blanket closures of UK airspace seems unlikely, but small pockets are still likely to occur as we have seen in the last couple of weeks, and these will continue to cause chaos and disruption. In summary:

The best form of peace of mind against ash cloud induced travel disruption is an ATOL protected flight inclusive package that uses an EU based airline.

Book separate flights, transport, tours and accommodation at your peril. If you do, try where possible, to book with an EU airline as this will limit your exposure should you become stranded abroad.Don't rely on travel insurance. Book your travel in the best way instead.

Incidentally, the Foreign Office has a very clear and simple approach to British people going abroad. If you go abroad, it's your responsibility!