Family Adventure Holidays - More Popular Than Ever

These days, it can be difficult to find a holiday that the whole family will enjoy, often our kids have a completely different idea of what fun is compared to their parents and it can be hard to find something that everyone will enjoy.

 It's because of this reason that more and more people are turning to family adventure holidays for a unique holiday experience that the whole family will love. Family adventure holidays are fast becoming the new holiday craze, mainly down to the fact that it's a fantastic way to get outside and get some exercise and spend some time together for a price that won't break the bank.

A family adventure holiday offers up something for everyone, it's actually surprising the variety that these types of holidays can offer up. The reason being is because resorts know that not everyone likes the same sorts of things, so they allow a range of different options to suit every kind of situation, whether you want to allow the kids do their own thing, adventure together or mix it up as the week goes on, you're free to do whatever you choose, plus all activities are adapted to suit all fitness levels.

As well as this, family adventure holidays really allow families to properly bond, different activities along the trip often call for team work and cooperation, and doing different tasks together as a family can often reinforce family ties, bringing you all closer together. Different tasks have different objectives, giving elements of competition too, so upon your return home, you may soon find that the atmosphere in your home will be a lot more peaceful and calm from now on!

Have you ever found booking holidays to go abroad stressful? So do thousands of others each year, going hundreds of miles for a bit of sun but not much to do can be a bit of a let down, which is another advantage that family adventure holidays hold, because you can find them practically anywhere, abroad and in your home country, completely eliminating the stress and worry that comes with scouring the internet and travel agencies to find a holiday you might all like in the sun.

Statistics show that children and adults alike have a lot more fun when on an adventure holiday than they do abroad in the heat, so perhaps switching this year might be a nice change and an opportunity to have some stress-free fun.

Adventure holidays are fast becoming a holiday preference in homes all over the nation, because once you've been once, you'll find yourself going every year as your family holiday fixture. Your children will love it, and you will too, because it's a fantastic way to get some exercise and have fun with it too, we all know how difficult it can be to get children outside and doing activities and as parents we want our kids to be healthy, and with a family adventure holiday they'll get the exercise they need, whilst at the same time, never wanting to leave!

Mark Scriven is a marketing professional and has written many articles on business, travel and the internet. To find out more about family adventure holidays check out Activities Abroad, a leading specialist in activity holidays on land, ice and water.

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Outdoor Adventure Vacations - The Better Choice For Relaxation

Some vacationers seek high-energy forms of entertainment, visiting chic and highly populated locations, looking for thrills that desensitize them, helping them momentarily forget what they left behind as they seek a rejuvenating change.

Have you ever heard a friend tell you that they feel more tired after coming home from their adventurous vacation than when they left? The reason could be that they went on the wrong kind of adventure.

What comes to mind when you hear the term "adventure vacation"? It depends foremost where you live, shaping your perspective. Some people consider places like Las Vegas to be an adventurous vacation, with ample night-life, bar-hopping, casino carousing, and neon flashing lights drowning the natural beauty of the cities gorgeous desert landscape and breathtaking palm trees. No wonder your friend is exhausted from the vacation.

When I think of an "adventure vacation," I envision something that is active, but rejuvenating. With that definition in mind, there are limitless places to vacation and help you return home renewed. This article is intended to be an introduction for a series of future articles that will explore tangible adventurous vacations that bring nature and relaxation back into your trip.

There is nothing like waking up in the morning, breathing in clean, sagebrush-scented air, and looking out your window and finding a slew of nothing but wild landscape scenery. Obviously, I am attached to what is in my own backyard in Idaho, knowing it best.

If you escape the large city to a rustic destination, you will feel transported and your senses will heighten, not because of the noise, but because of the natural stillness nature has to offer as you find you can actually hear songbirds singing and the wind rustling the vegetation around you - regardless of where you travel. Nature's sounds are not interrupted by loud engine's roaring in the foreground, noisy billboards distracting your visual attention, and rancid, asphalt tinged odors indicative of overpopulated areas.

Of course, when escaping to the wilderness, the entertainment's seasonal based costumes consist not of sequins and satin, but of dry suits, ski suits, and hip waders, not to mention various accessories to complete the look, such as fishing poles, rafts, kayaks, rugged boots, and wide brimmed hats.

The scenic backdrop to set the stage is not made of canvas and strobing, multicolored lights, but involves thousands of years of nature's work to create the perfect ambiance. The live musical performances do not come from anything manmade, but sweet, harmonic cadences orchestrated by the native land resonate year round.

Unless you've raised your young ones to enjoy outdoor activities, they may appreciate the theme park adventures more than the naturalistic ones - but, they can always surprise you. If you are a big city dweller and have little to no experience with the skills necessary to enjoy the adventurous activities, there are plenty of tours available to help introduce you.

Most adventure guides relish sharing their knowledge and love for any given activity, and cherish watching others enjoy, if but for a few moments, what they're privy to experiencing their whole lives.

So, if you need to escape from the mundane vacations and need something more rejuvenating, consider outdoor adventure vacations. If you are smart, you will also learn ways to travel the world without breaking the bank; visit my link below to learn more.

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Activities You Can Enjoy On An Outdoor Adventure Vacation

Many people have very specific expectations for their vacations and if you are seeking adventure, you have a number of options. Some people prefer to lounge by a pool all day, but others want to experience thrills and fun during their time away from work and their regular lives.

If you are planning an upcoming vacation and you want it packed with fun activities that are out of the norm for normal, mundane vacations, consider a few of these activities. For starters, any vacation can be spiced up with a boat trip.

You may not need marine communications or marine helmets if you are a novice, but just renting a boat for an afternoon can provide you and your family with hours of fun. If you have never been on a boat before, consider taking a short lesson at the beginning of your vacation you can enjoy the days ahead without the stress or safety risks. Sailing and speed boating classes are held in more locations with large bodies of water.

If you prefer your adventure on dry land, consider some rock climbing. The good thing about rock climbing is that is can be learned and practiced indoors. Consider visiting an indoor rock climbing facility in order to learn the ropes, so when your vacation time rolls around, you can head out into the wilderness and understand exactly how the sport works. If you are new to the sport, bring along someone who is experienced to reduce the risk for injury or mishap.

Those who want to spend time outdoors but are not looking to accomplish any specific goal may just want to plan a camping trip. This gives you a chance to relax in the great outdoors, but it offers the thrill of sleeping under the stars. When nothing is separating you from the deep, dark forest, your nights can feel like quite an adventure. Plan to tell a few ghost stories around the campfire before heading off to bed in order to make it more fun.

During your camping vacation, or even if you are staying home or heading to another destination, you can plan to hike on your vacation. The great thing about hiking is you control all aspects of the trip including distance and time spent engaged in the activity. You can fit a hike into an otherwise busy vacation week and you can plan a hike regardless of your overall vacation destination. Even those headed to a luxury resort near a beach can plan on a hike or two while away.

Finally, consider a trendy outdoor activity that has existed since the dawn of man, but has only recently become a hobby for people. Foraging means searching for food in the wilderness and is popular in the remote areas of the country, as well as in parks right in the heart of many popular cities.

It is surprising how much food grows in the wild and if you wanted to, you could eat for free for weeks, just foraging the land. If you think this might be fun, participate in a guided foraging trip in order to learn what can be safely eaten and what might be poisonous. This sort of activity requires a lot of training and a lot of research, but if you play it smart, it can be a great deal of fun.

Stewart Wrighter recently studied marine communications in conjunction with his work. He reviewed marine helmets as part of a military safety study.

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All Inclusive Family Vacations - Tips for Scoring a Discount on Your Next Trip with the Kids

You may think of tropical getaways as romantic interludes for couples only, but many all inclusive resorts actually cater to families, with special activities that allow children to have a memorable vacation - and that allow parents some special one on one time, as well. Here are some tips to getting a good deal on your next all inclusive family vacation.

Why consider all inclusive?

All inclusive tours can really help you to save money, and they can help busy parents to relax. Most all inclusive resort vacations include beverages, meals, taxes, entertainment, activities, and even gratuities in the price of your accommodations, so you can just relax and enjoy yourself.

Is an all inclusive vacation right for your family?

An all inclusive vacation may mean spending less for your vacation - or it may mean spending more. It all depends on your traveling style. An all inclusive vacation may not be for you if your family enjoys doing a lot of independent adventuring and exploring because you'll be paying for these additional things in addition to your all inclusive rates.

Also, make sure that the activities included at the resort will be of interest to your children. Some children love the resorts "kids' clubs," which often provide great educational and cultural activities for all different age groups (and they give the parents some time alone). But some children may be wary of joining new kids and new caregivers in a new place. You want to make sure to keep everyone's needs in mind when you are planning such a trip.

If your kids are excited to try new adventures in a new place, and you tend to get stressed out every time you need to pay for yet another thing on your vacation, you might particularly appreciate the all inclusive travel experience.

How to find a Discount All inclusive Family Resort 

The Internet provides so much information on different all inclusive resorts, the trick is in narrowing your options and not getting overwhelmed. The best thing to do when you are first starting out is to ask your family and friends about any all inclusive resorts that they have particularly enjoyed.

The experiences at these so-called tropical paradises can vary greatly, and it's difficult to get the information you need from a brochure or a corporate website. Talk to people about recommendations and spend some time combing through travel websites that offer independent ratings and reviews (by travelers) of different resorts.

Especially when you are traveling with kids, it's a good idea to look for a good discount (by traveling during an off peak time, for example) at a quality, well-known resort - rather than securing a cheap regular rate at a place you've never heard of. It's one thing to be stuck somewhere you would rather not be stuck - but when you have young kids with you, you want to keep any ghastly surprises to a minimum.

Once you've narrowed down your options of family friendly resorts to just a few, make sure to read all the fine print. Find out exactly which activities and attractions are paid for at the resort, and which are not. Some packages offer free fares to children; others offer discounts. Sometimes, kids stay and eat for free. Sometimes, you'll find kid clubs are included in the price, but nannies and babysitters are not included. It's important to be very clear with the inclusions and exclusions so you are sure you are comparing resorts fairly.

Research the resorts' websites as well as their write-ups at your favorite travel website. Compare rates and check whether the price listed is for the entire group - or per person. (Sometimes, the rates quoted online for these types of vacations will be listed as per adult, but will also include your children's accommodations).

Traveling often comes with hidden charges, and savvy travelers are aware of them ahead of time. See if you will be paying any additional airport charges, governmental travel fees, security fees, airport fees, shuttle fees, and so on. If you aren't sure what exactly the price includes, pick up the phone and double check before booking.

A little research will really pay off. An all inclusive family vacation is best planned far in advance. Get the brochures. Do an Internet search on the name of the resort that you have chosen before you book. This is a good way to see what other travelers are saying about the resort in independent forums. Look to see which family resorts have earned top marks and awards from the travel industry, as well.

If you use a travel agent, it's still a good idea to get online and see what's out there. Then you can talk to your agent about the different options and the features and activities that you want to make sure your all inclusive vacation includes.

Whether you want to lounge by the pool, or have an all out family adventure, you'll be able to find a resort that will cater to your needs. Then all you need to do is pack your bags and get ready to relax.

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All Inclusive Cheap Vacation Packages Make Sightseeing and Adventures More Affordable

Whether you want to go to the Caribbean islands for fun in the sun, Las Vegas for excitement and entertainment, Cancun for some surfing and adventure, or Disney World for family fun and thrilling rides, you need to check out all inclusive cheap vacation packages in order to get the most out of your trip!

The most basic vacation packages include at least two of the following: hotel accommodation, airfare, car rental or limousine transportation, food, and tickets to events and attractions. An all inclusive package, however, includes most or all of these things! If you don't want the hassles of dealing with the details, then this type of vacation is for you. Everything will be taken care of, and all you have to do is book the package and show your ID and passport whenever prompted.

Sometimes these vacations include bus or train tours as well. If you want to sightsee in Europe, Asia, or the North American coastline, you can choose a package that is designed specifically for sightseeing and touring. This is a great option if your main goal is to see as much as possible during your travels. When searching for this type of deal online, pay close attention to the destination cities and train or bus departure times.

If you're not sure of what you want to do, some of the popular travel websites will give you a variety of options to choose from so that you can customize your own trip. You will be presented with numerous ideas, and you can select the ones that seem most appealing to you. You can also browse through all inclusive cheap vacation packages to get some ideas.

Before you make your selection(s), there are a few things you need to consider. Will you be going by yourself? How many adults and children will be traveling with you? Will there be any senior citizens? Is it going to be a family vacation? Who are you going to be sharing a room with? Are the other adults putting you in complete charge of the planning?

All inclusive cheap vacation packages are easy to plan if you're just going by yourself. However, the trip might be boring if you don't bring some companions along. If you are going to take kids, you need to make sure that the package includes activities that are safe and fun for kids. If senior citizens are going along, you need to make sure that the package doesn't include anything too strenuous. Look over all the options carefully and ask others what they think about various activities.

Learn more about all inclusive cheap vacation packages and the most popular destinations. No matter where in the world you want to go, you will be able to shop, sightsee, and be entertained at an affordable price! Just check out all inclusive cheap vacation packages to find out how cheap and fun traveling can be!

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Nadav Snir operates a website which includes the best travel providers, including coupons and discounts. To get the best rates possible, visit his site: http://Great-Info-Products.com/Travel/index.html. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nadav_Snir

Extreme Adventures vacation in and around Cape Town

Adventure tourism is a type of niche tourism involving exploration to areas, where the traveller should expect the unexpected. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity as tourists seek unusual holidays, different from the typical beach vacation.

On the Mountain 

Abseiling off Cape Town’s magnificent Table Mountain is one of the most exhilarating experiences in the world. To http://www.escape-tours.com [http:// <a target=]">begin your mind-blowing adventure there is a choice of hiking up the mountain on one of its many gorgeous routes or taking the 7 minute trip on the revolving cable car, the panoramic views from the car are some of the best in the world.

Abseiling off the mountain entails stepping off the top at 1000 meters above sea level, and repelling into pure oblivion, while surrounded by awesome views and the wide stretch of the blue Atlantic down below.

If plunging into thin air doesn’t appeal to you why not mountain bike up this magnificent natural wonder. Mountain Biking day trips on Table Mountain have been carefully designed to offer guests of all experience levels a challenging, fun-filled experience. There are two amazing mountain bike trails that will take you on a magnificent tour of the mountain. The trails showcase some of the most breathtaking views of Table Bay, Robben Island, Lions Head and the city bowl.

In the Air

Paragliding from one of Cape Town’s many sites which include Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, and Dassklip Pass, is a thrilling adventure. Paragliding is considered an extreme sport but for those who have no experience, tandem Paragliding is the solution – with an over-sized, specially designed tandem glider and two harnesses, the sport now invites all who wish to explore the skies and soar the mountain tops, but don’t want to learn to paraglide on their own. Being the passenger rather than the one in control you are afforded the fantastic views of the mountains, ocean and earth below you. Once you have paraglided you will want to do it time and time again.

Tandem Skydiving is hailed as the ultimate adrenaline sport! The views from the plane on the 30minute trip up to 9000ft are amazing. Once you hit the 9000ft mark you jump freefalling for the first 5000ft before the parachute is opened. Not only is the jump itself an amazing adrenaline rush, it combines with stunning aerial views of Cape Town, Hout Bay and Cape Point on a 4-5 minute parachute ride back to earth.

In the Sand

Sandboarding is Cape Town’s alternative to the Northern countries snow glazed mountains. Sandboarding is not only for the hardened extremists among us, it is relatively easy to learn which ensures that you’ll be flying down the dunes in no time. A short drive from Cape Town takes you to some of the most spectacular dune environments the cape has to offer.

This addictive adrenaline sport is taking the world by storm and Cape Town is one of the best places to indulge your cravings.

Off-road Quad Biking adventures are the latest of Cape Town’s extreme crazes. This is by far the most exciting thing on 4 wheels. The trails twist and wind through sand and bush, offering climbs, descents, technical sections and flat out straights. Reaching speeds of up to 80 km per hour, find out what your machine's got, or take it easy and enjoy the awesome scenery.

In the Sea

You don’t get more extreme than coming face to face with one of the worlds most feared creatures. Great White Sharks are prolific in the oceans around Cape Town. Dyer Island is possibly the best place in the world to view these magnificent predators. The island is a bird sanctuary and a breeding site for the Jackass penguin. Adjoining it is a second smaller rocky island called Geyser rock, which supports a large seal population. Separating Geyser and Dyer is a channel aptly named "Shark Alley", arguably THE prime spot in the world for encountering the Great White shark.  

Shark cage diving is an extremely popular adventure activity – you leave on a boat which will take you to shark alley, it can then take up to an hour of chumming before the first shark appears. Once the sharks have settled down, the first group of cagers prepare to enter their cage while the rest retreat to the back of the boat or viewing platform to witness the spectacular proceedings, eagerly awaiting their turn in the cage. The bait line is slowly drawn towards the cage. As the bait line approaches so too does the Great White. The cage experience has been described by some as an emotional, heart-stopping and truly thrilling experience.

Cape Town – An Extreme City
Cape Town is and adventure tourist’s paradise. Home to an abundance of extreme activities it is a highly sought after travel destination for those who live for natural highs. The cosmopolitan city is also home to a fantastic array of cultural, natural and historical highlights. From the vibrant restaurants and the African markets to the shark cage diving and paragliding; Cape Town offers something for every kind of tourist.

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South America Tours: Extreme Adventure Vacations

If you're looking for some thrill seeking action, a South America vacation should be at the top of your travel list.

Cheaper than Africa, more exotic than North America, and wilder than Europe, few continents can claim the diversity, accessibility, and abundance of gasp-inducing activities that South America offers. Here are several adventures to check out, if you dare.

Mount Roraima. Ever seen the movie UP? The wonderfully mysterious and majestic place the characters dream about visiting actually exists. It is in Venezuela and is called Mount Roraima. It is a remarkably massive plateau surrounded by 400 foot sheer drop-offs.

Getting there is difficult and should only be attempted by the most adventurous traveler, as it requires a several day trek through misty mountains. And of course, just traveling in Venezuela, regardless of where, can be challenging.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail trek is much more traveled than the trek to Mount Roraima, but that doesn't make it any less amazing. This trek follows the original path used by the Inca civilization to get to Machu Picchu, which back in the 1500s was an isolated retreat for Inca royalty. The high altitude requires at least a day to adjust to in Cuzco before setting off, and trekkers can choose to carry all their own supplies (such as tent, sleeping bag, and equipment) or hire a porter to carry them instead.

Biking in Bolivia. Despite being smack in the middle of the continent, Bolivia tends to be overlooked by travelers and tourists alike. This interesting highland country however has several hidden gems, especially for thrill seekers.

Biking down what was once the World's Most Dangerous Road is of course exciting, but a bit safer today because most car and truck traffic now (thankfully) takes a different route. Visiting the salt flats in Bolivia is another extremely unique experience, although biking across them isn't recommended and would be nearly impossible.

Amazon adventuring. The Amazon covers parts of many countries, but the Amazon River runs primarily though Peru and Brazil. The most adventurous way to visit this region is to travel like the locals on slow moving river boats. An Amazon cruise is the trip a lifetime, but if you're looking for something rougher and more affordable, hop on a local river boat. You can opt for a journey anywhere from 3 to 15 days. Be sure to plan ahead and pack proper supplies, because life on a river boat is pretty basic.

If you're looking for some adventure, check out South America tours and South America vacations that take it to the extreme.

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3 Adventure Vacation Ideas For Couples

Are you dreaming of a romantic getaway full of pampering just for you and your soul mate? It is true that this kind of experiences make relationships even stronger - thanks to the quality time spent together.

Safari, cruises, hot beaches and exotic islands, luxury hotels and spas are all worth trying for a romantic vacation. Here are 3 vacation ideas for couples that will make you want to start packing.

Romantic getaways

When it comes to romance, there are those destinations which have become a classic. It may sound a little strange, but cities are wonderful places for lovers. Paris, also known as "the city of love", is visited by countless romantic couples every year. Other romantic places to visit are Venice, Prague, Lisbon, Rome and Barcelona. Besides kissing under the Eiffel Tower and strolling on charming little old streets, a romantic dinner or picnic on the beach could be a wonderful idea. Some of the most romantic beaches are in Barbados, Hawaii, Bermuda, Bora Bora, Philippines and Bahamas.

Luxury resorts

Lavish resorts are the best option for a weekend break. Choose a four-star or a five-star hotel and let yourself be spoiled. Most hotels in this category have special offers and packages for couples. They sometimes include surprises, such as a champagne or a romantic meal, massage or access to all kinds of activities for two. Trying new spa treatments, being pampered and relaxing a couple of days with your loved one might be exactly what you need.

Adventurous holidays

Among the most original vacation ideas for couples are holiday adventures like African safari, exploring rain forests, themed cruises, yachting and multisport trips. Go wild and visit elephants and giraffes in their natural habitat. Discover places with lush vegetation and animals you have never seen so close. Live among the natives and learn about their culture.

If you love challenges and you are always in search of the ultimate adrenaline rush, you might want to try some sports that make your heart speed up: bungee jumping, surfing, skydiving, rafting, waterskiing or snorkeling. Spending time in entirely new environments and experiencing new sensations, facing situations you have never been through before will make you discover each other even more and will provide you with great memories.

In addition to the fascination of visiting new places and learning new things, going on a holiday with the one you love brings quality time together and will bring your relationship to a new level. Choose from these various vacation ideas for couples and plan a whole new experience for both of you. Enjoying together everything the world has to offer is one of the best things in life.

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What You Should Know About Adventure Vacation Packages

When it comes to Adventure vacation packages, both domestic and abroad, there are so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming. One way to reduce this stress is to figure out what you and or your family want to do.

 For family vacations, it really depends on the ages of your children. For younger kids, there are theme park vacations, beach vacations, sports vacations, and many more.

For older children, there are just as many vacation adventures that will keep them involved. One of theme is the cultural family vacation. This immerses families in the day to day lives of people from other countries, and you may stay with host families, or working farms, or even volunteer packages. Volunteer vacations allow you to help people of other countries with things like building water ways, and other infrastructures. If gives older kids a sense of accomplishment, as well as ideas on what they may want to do when they grown up.

There are also many different adventure vacation packages available. Here in the U.S. there are working ranches that invite guests in to experience what a real working ranch is like. This is a great way for city people to experience the other side of life. Many people today, who live and shop in larger metropolitan areas, buy their groceries, but don't know where milk comes from, or their meat.

What better way to have the experience of a life time than with an adventure vacation? There are African Safaris, trips along the Amazon River, as well as many others. These vacations can be as short as just a few days, or even week long excursions, seeing a variety of different sights at one time. Book these early, space can be very limited.

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Adventure Tour Vacation Packages

What is an adventure vacation? If you want an unique experience for you, someone you love, or even a family vacation, adventures can be an exciting alternative to the same old vacation routine.

You have many different kinds of adventure vacations to choose from. Many know about Dude Ranches and the like, but what an experience is would be to go on a real African Safari? Or how about a vacation to an exotic rain forest in Belize, or even the Amazon Jungle?

This is what adventure vacations are all about. You get to witness first hand the wonders of nature, whether it be a close up,(but not too close,) viewing of lions, or elephants, or monkeys, or even sharks and dolphins, there is a vacation package available in all parts of the world. Maybe you would like to spend a week going down the Colorado river in a raft, or a tour of ancient castles in Romania, or even a trek through Nepal visiting temples.

A couple of things to note when planning one of these vacations is that many are longer than some vacations, and can last up to a week or more. Some of them with tax your strength and endurance, so you have to be really careful about older people, or smaller children who may not be able to handle some of these vacations.

Another thing to note is that many of these trips are expensive, and can be over $1000 per person, depending on type of adventure, and length of stay. However, all meals, lodging, and local guides are included. If you are interested in any of these kinds of adventure vacations, you should plan them well in advance, they all fill up very fast.

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Family Adventure Vacation Ideas

Most families want to spend their vacation relaxing and recouping after a hectic year of work and managing home. However, there are some families that like to spend their time enjoying and indulging into adventure sports to get their adrenaline flowing.

 If you are the kind of person who loves rock climbing, skiing, kayaking or go snowboarding, then read on.

While some people may not be up to adventure vacations, they are definitely a great way to bond with your family and spend some thrilling and enjoyable time together. Of course, it goes without saying that adventure vacations go beyond the usual and traditional vacations that most people have. If you want to experience an adventure vacation, then here are some ideas to get you started:

• Think about going kayaking with your family. This is a sport for people who know how to swim as you may take a lot of spills in the water. However, even if you do not know swimming, you can go kayaking provided you wear your life jacket at all times. Some of the best destinations for kayaking include Vancouver, Maine, and Nicoya Peninsula located in Costa Rica.

• If you do not mind huffing and puffing, then hiking is another outdoor activity that you can try. Walking along nature trails, climbing hills and rocks and resting near spectacular waterfalls has its own charm that is difficult to explain in words. For the best hiking experience, visit High Sierra in California, Lake Tahoe or Yukon Charles Rivers National Preserve situated in Alaska. You can also opt for international destinations like the Swiss Alps or the magnificent Inca trails in the heart of Peru.

• Try camping where you have to catch your own food. Imagine hooking your own fish and then cooking your dinner on a fire along the banks of a river? Sound exciting, doesn't it? Make sure you select the right destination for a camping trip and do not forget to carry emergency supplies. If you are not interested in pitching your own tent, then you can also go for trip in an RV. Some of the best camping spots are Flat Tops located in Colorado, Aloha Lakes in California and Philip Edward Island.

 

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Family Adventure Vacations

Family adventure vacations can be the ideal trip for your family if all members look forward to bonding over a challenge or exploring something new together. There are many tour operators in the United States that put together exciting family adventure vacation packages for thrill-seeking families.

You can choose from a variety of options that you and your family will surely enjoy.
Familiar Possibilities for Family Adventure Vacations

If you and your family love the waters, you can enjoy a family adventure vacation that offers white water rafting, boating, and kayaking. All these activities will not only make you closer to the water but these will sure bring your family closer since everyone participates in and enjoy the activities.

Meanwhile, if you love camping, there are great family adventure vacations that offer this type of program or activity. Staying at a campground is a nice way to meet other families. You will certainly have so much fun in this kind of family vacation since there are lots of activities that are included in the program that will not only bring you and your family closer to nature but also learn basic skills together with other families.

Some Things to Remember

However, if you choose to go for a family adventure vacation, you have to make sure that this suits everyone. For some family members, the idea of vacation is rest and relaxation so the thought of undertaking painstaking activity may not be a good idea. So before engaging in one, you have to make sure that everyone agrees on the idea so that everyone is expected to participate and enjoy and not be left out.

Family adventure vacations are indeed perfect ways of spending quality time and growing closer together with your family. If you look forward to planning one this year, you can start your search for family adventure vacation packages online.

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Tips For Unforgettable Family Adventure Vacations

Most of plan for a trip with our family for fun and enjoyment. Planning for a trip will also help you to get rid of your busy lifestyle and tensions. Therefore, it is quite imperative to plan for a trip, which can give you an unforgettable experience.

However, if you are planning for family adventure vacations, there are few important aspects that you have to keep in your mind. If you do not want to end up in a chaotic travel, it is very important to follow the tips mentioned in this simple travel guide.

This content will provide you some list of guides, which will help you to make your adventure trip enjoyable.

Firstly, ensure that your children also participate in your vacation planning. To speak and be vocal on what kind of trip they would like. This will allow them to be more excited and certainly expected for the day of family trips to come. In doing so, you can also classify their interests, dislikes and likes.

Moreover, this will also help your children to build value of the organization and decision making.
There are also numerous family adventure packages available in the market today, which is also a very good option for family adventure vacations. Search or browse for companies that can offer great deals and good discounts.

Most companies are now having gimmickries different to attract customers. This will also help you find the cheapest offer available in the market today. Some are offering discounts and others are giving freebies away. Choose the best package that will give your family more memorable experience at a good price.

The next guide is to find the perfect itinerary. Of course, you will have your adventure travel with your family. Therefore, the itinerary must adjust and adapt to you and your family's desire and interest. Do not opt for places that will kill your enthusiasm. In addition, you should be more considered a member of the family.

Yes, you are looking for adventure, family adventure. However, it does not always mean that you have to go extreme. If you have already decided your vacation place, now is the time for you to fly. However, check your luggage is a necessity. Make sure you have the right dress as well as gear with you. Do not forget to bring first aid kits and emergency backup copy of each document for your flight when you are planning for family adventure vacations.

Parents know they have to work hard to support their family emotionally and financially. We all know that every parent should make a living to support their families, but parents should consider their family emotional well being. By spending time with your family, you will be able to let them know that they are loved and are an important part of the family. You can buy a successful quality time with your family by going for a family vacation.

When planning the adventure of your life, spend time with your loved ones. There are many adventure places to visit with your family. You can go mountaineering, rafting, horseback riding, swimming or camping. If you can afford to travel to other places, then do it. Go to places of interest to see wonderful places. On the other hand, if you want a more tropical species for your family, try to visit the Caribbean lands. You can also try a number of beautiful islands located in different destinations of the world.

Africa is also one of the best places, which is providing amazing adventure vacations. Once you visit this place with your family, you have an option to walk with the elephants or even visit the inspiring wildlife reserves.

Spending time with loved ones would be the most wonderful gift you can give your family. Real treasure is not in the things we like such as the cell phones or a new car, spending time with your family is the gift of true happiness. If you are looking for more information on family adventure vacations, researching on the internet is the best option for you.

Hello I am Will Skinner. I have been an outdoor enthusiast for most of my life. I have a lot of tips and advice about the back country and backpacking in general. If you wish to learn more about what information about backpacking, camping, food, survival, and much more I can provide to you "for free" just click the link below. Click, Get Your Free Information [http://www.backpackingwilderness.com]

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GAP Adventures Travel

GAP Adventures travel is fun to join because it gives you the opportunity to tour the seven continents, from the glacier-filled Antarctica to the street markets of Katmandu, and indulge yourself with adventurous activities.

GAP Adventures is Canada's largest adventure travel company that offers socially and environmentally sensitive travel. Traveling and discovering the world is easy with the right tools!

GAP Adventures uses different means of transportation on their tour. They carefully choose the transports that will suit the nature of every community. You may take a ride on a vintage train or bus, a rickshaw, in a native canoe, or even on the back of an elephant.

You can be guided on escorted tours to Asia, Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Britain and Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the United States. GAP tours are classified according to the quality of accommodations and amenities. GAP Adventures travel rates are reasonably priced so that they can be afforded by every traveler.

* Budget Travel- tours usually range from $45 to $130 for each person, per day plus the airfare.
* First Class Travel- tours usually range from $80 to $275 for each person, per day plus the airfare.
* Deluxe Travel- tours usually range from $100 to $400 for each person, per day plus the airfare.
* Luxury Travel- tours usually range from $400 to $600 for each person, per day plus the airfare.

The prices above are in a rate of U.S dollars per person that will be based on double occupancy and subject to availability. Prices given for land arrangements are subject to increase without notification.

Once your deposit has been received, the land prices will be guaranteed. GAP Adventures travel airfares included as part of air-inclusive tour rates will be subjected to increase and will be guaranteed only once the full payment is received. Air-inclusive rates comprise air from a major gateway in U.S.; air from other airports in the U.S is available with an additional charge.

With the travel rates, everyone can certainly afford to have an adventure travel. Your tour will certainly provide an independent and interesting experience with the assurance of safety and great adventure. GAP Adventures travel rates are certainly the best deal for great adventure vacation.

Do you wish you could travel the world? Most people have at least considered the mind-boggling possibility and with Canada's GAP Adventure Travel [http://adventuretravelpost.com/gap-adventure-travel/] you could make that dream a reality! Visit the ice caps of the Arctic or see the wildlife of the Amazon. There's something for everyone! For more information on adventure travel, visit my site at http://www.adventuretravelpost.com [http://adventuretravelpost.com/] Get out there... don't just live your life... experience it!

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What Will Adventure Travel Insurance Cover

Taking that adventure vacation has its risks and dangers. The adventure travel insurance help give you that peace of mind.

The adventure travel insurance that you decide on should cover you for the particular sport or activity you will be undertaking. If you have decided to go kayaking or mountain climbing you will need to make sure you adventure travel insurance covers those activities, so you do have the required coverage incase an accident occurs.

You may also add or get options added to your adventure travel insurance to include similar activities.

You've decided to go snowboarding in the United Kingdom and do some skiing as well. You may wish to consider purchasing a adventure travel insurance not only to cover the United Kingdom but also include the Channel Islands and also Northern Ireland and identify whether the policy is annual or whether your requirements for the policy is for less than a year, or just for a specific time frame. In addition there are two levels of adventure travel insurance that you can select from when visiting the United Kingdom. The level selected will depend on your needs as well as budget constraints.

You should also purchase adventure travel insurance when visiting countries in Asia. This is very important and is something that should not be overlooked or avoided. If your trip includes countries such as Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam and activities may include mountain trekking, parachuting or scuba diving, it is in your best interest to purchase an adventure travel insurance policy; otherwise you could be overwhelmed dealing with local Health Authorities.

Even when traveling in the United States, your adventure could take a turn for the worst. Your adventure travel insurance will need to cover you for all the activities that you wish to undertake that involves a high level of risk which wouldn't normally be covered under normal travel insurance. Most of the time the American insurance companies will ask you to list all the activities and sports that you will be undertaking and would like to be covered for by your adventure travel insurance. They will then give you a quote based on that information you supplied them with.

Usually such companies that offer adventure travel insurance will take care of your travel needs wherever you decide to travel too in the world. Adventure travel insurance can include over one hundred different kinds of sports or activities that include, bungee jumping, skiing to backpacking.

It doesn't matter how dangerous or risky the type of activity you have decided to do, a study has shown that insurance companies have had to pay out more for accidents that have occurred in the hotel room that the outdoors. Taking out an adventure travel insurance policy will give you that peace of mind and not forget it is in your best interest.

Before going on that long awaited great outdoor adventure travel travel you need that all important adventure travel insurance.

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Adventure Travel - Forsake the Well-Trodden Path

Adventure travel often conjures up images of mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, scuba diving and four wheel driving. While these are certainly activities associated with adventure travel, adventure travel may involve something as sedate as a wine tasting tour in Bordeaux, France.

Adventure travel is simply to go above and beyond one's normal known area, seeking out experiences which are unfamiliar. The travel destination may be as close as a few kilometers from your home, or it can be thousands of kilometers away in an exotic location in Africa or Asia.

Maybe it has to do with the stressful and fast-paced lives we are leading, that adventure travel has become one of the fasting growing segments of the travel industry. More and more travelers are abandoning the usual beach resorts, and are actively seeking new experiences in their travels. These trips often bring significant personal discovery, development of new skills and knowledge and cross-cultural experiences.

Adventure travel is not for everyone. It is for an individual with the thirst for new experience, one who dares to forsake the well-trodden path. Health and age may restrict the traveler to less-strenuous activities, but that does not stop the traveler from other forms of adventure travel.

It is undeniable that some adventure travel activities carry additional risk. Trekking across the desert is definitely more dangerous than planting yourself under an umbrella at the beach. As in most travel situations, having adequate planning and practicing common sense will go a long way in minimizing risk.

An adventure travel need not be expensive. In most cases, you would not be staying in five star hotels, eating in fancy restaurants and taking limousine rides. Instead, you would probably be staying in guesthouses, eating at local food stalls and taking public transport. These usually more than help to hold the line on the total cost.

If you need more reasons to start your adventure travel, here are some motivating quotations I have collected.

"I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it." - Rosalia de Castro

"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him." - Daniel J. Boorstin

"All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary" - Sally Ride

"It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Take action and start your adventure travel today! Planning an Adventure Travel to Cambodia, Laos, China or other exotic locations?

Visit Adventure Vacation Trip for trip reports and travel tips. Be sure to check out our page on Adventure Travel.

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Adventure Travel Should Be Fun and Safe

It is exciting to watch Indiana Jones running through thick jungles and escaping rolling boulders in the movie but in reality, very few people lived that kind of life or take up such life-threatening vacations.

For most people, adventure travel should be fun and safe. It may involve some degree of hardship and sweating but there should be little or no risk involved. Adventure travel, really, is whatever you want it to be. It might mean travel to a distant and exotic place although it does not have to. It might cost a lot of money or it might be free.

If you travel somewhere, anywhere, and you have an experience that excites you, provides you with an escape from the ordinary, and leaves you feeling happy, then you have had an adventure.
Adventure travel may involves activities such as sky diving, mountain climbing, go white water rapids in a kayak, or photographing polar bears in the Arctic.

These are exciting and adrenaline rushing activities and do provide one with a deep sense of adventure. But adventure travel can also involve a leisurely trip on the Mississippi River in a paddle wheeler, a stroll across the English countryside in search of a certain species of bird. Even a tour of the wineries of southern France or a shell-collecting expedition on an obscure Caribbean beach can be considered as adventure travel.

Here is an interesting example. There was this guy in Taiwan who chose to hitchhike his way around Taiwan for nine days. In fact, he even asked for free food and accommodation from strangers during the trip. And he was very surprised by the friendliness of the people he met. Many strangers actually offer him food, lodging and transportation for free!

Throughout the journey, he did not climbed any big mountain or jump off a plane in the middle of the sky. So is this adventure travel? Absolutely!

Of course, everybody has a different perception of adventure travel. A marine biologist would probably consider diving near a sperm whale as a thrilling adventure. However, to a poker player, playing poker in various casinos in Las Vegas will also provide a high degree of thrill.

Adventure travel does not necessarily mean a trip out of the country or state either. Interesting things to see and do are often within your own back yard, or at least an easy car drive from home, wherever that might be.

Go exploring uncharted area in the nearby mountains or rivers where you lived can be just as exciting too! Look around the place where you lived, be it a small town, the countryside or a big city. They are many unpublicized places where few people know.

 Embarking on a tour to uncover such places is a form of adventure. These places can include small local museums, houses of special interest (the birthplace of a famous person), small sanctuaries for wildlife and flora, restored buildings or even communities dating back to historic times, and so on. In fact, hunting for good food in obscure corners of a big city is very exhilarating, thrilling and fun.

Adventure travel can take you to the other side of the world, to the top of a mountain, or to the wildest places on earth. It might also take you to the inside of a little old library just around the corner that you have walked past a thousand times. Ultimately, it is not where you go but the sense of adventure you feel that counts.

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Advice And Tips For Finding The Best Adventure Travel Destinations

If you are in the mood for something a little more wild and daring, why not consider planning an adventurous vacation? Travel to exotic locations worldwide, and pursue the trip of your dreams.

Take a ride on an elephant in Thailand, or travel on horseback to gorgeous remote mountain destinations. Of course, this type of vacation is not for everyone, so if you're looking for rest and relaxation, adventure travel probably is not for you.

Not to say you will not get any rest on your trip, but the accommodations will be simple and less than you would experience at a five star resort. It is definitely a trade off to experience this type of outdoor recreation, which is usually far removed from popular thoroughfares. Be one with nature and do something different to get away.

Adventure travel is very exciting, and there are risks associated especially when travel to overseas destinations is involved. Travel sites are abundant online which specialize in world class adventure travel experiences at affordable prices.

Adventure seekers can choose from over two thousand vacations including hiking and biking trips, cultural tours, African safaris, Antarctic expedition cruises, Everest base camp treks, a Nile cruise, Mongolian wilderness adventure, or hiking Machu Picchu. The possibilities are endless because there is a huge selection of active and adventurous vacations worldwide.

Comprehensive guides to adventure travel can be found all over the internet, just type in adventure travel guide into a search engine and away you go. These online adventure travel guides are a great resource for adventure travel and outdoor recreation with information on top destinations, national parks, outdoor gear, hiking, and kayaking.

 For family adventures, you just add family to your adventure travel search query and you will find many travel sites featuring dude ranches, whitewater rafting, houseboat rentals, bicycle tours, horse pack trips and trail rides, dog sledding vacations, wildlife viewing tours, and wagon trains, just to name a few popular adventures.
 
Security and safety are a high priority, and associated risks should be considered before booking your vacation. Most adventure travel sites recommend that travelers visit the United States Department of State website at http://www.travel.state.gov for the latest travel advice; be sure to heed any travel warnings that have been issued for various destinations and take care throughout your trip.

Be prepared and get the recommended vaccinations in plenty of time before your trip, and stock up on any medications you may need on your journey. Travel light but don't forget something that can make or break your experience. And last but not least, enjoy your vacation and you'll far exceed your adventure travel expectations.

Rich Wells runs his own online travel business as well as running several shopping based websites. His particular speciality is vacations. Visit his website which is full of Adventure Travel ideas.
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Outdoor Adventure Travel For Anyone

Outdoor adventure travel is catching on in a big way and there is a darn fine reason for it too. There are few trips that can be taken that are better than outdoor adventure travel ones. When you are starting to get into adventure travel you have a multitude of choices to choose from and they are all as great as the next one.

Outdoor adventure travel does not have to mean traveling far away or overseas. You can probably find plenty of outdoor adventure travel right in your own area or at least near to it.

Your budget does not have to put a damper on real good outdoor adventure travel. Just take some time to look around and what surrounds you and you will probably find all kinds of great and exciting things to do.

If you are having trouble finding some good ideas for your outdoor adventure travel consider talking to your local travel bureau. The thing is that we live in our hometowns and cities with no real idea of what is all around us. Since it is home we take it for granted, most of us don't bother to investigate all that there really s to do. So check it out, chances are that you will be pleasantly surprised at all of the great outdoor adventure travel ideas that are out there available to you right now as you read.

You can also check the internet for all kind of great outdoor adventure travel ideas. You can take trips all over the world for your outdoor adventure travel if you have the money. These days you don't even have to have a lot of money, there are hundreds of great travel deals on all year round.

No matter what season it is there is a great outdoor adventure travel idea that you can take advantage for a great price, all you have to do is find it. Start looking into outdoor adventure travel on the internet today and you will find out all kinds of great tips to help you save money while you are out adventuring.

Your outdoor adventure travel can consist of all kinds of different activities. For many people outdoor adventure travel trips for skiing are a great way to get the adrenaline pumping. Skiing is fun and it is great exercise and it is full of fast paced action once you get off of the bunny hill!

If you like to try things a little more daring then you can always go rock climbing or bungee jumping. They too are loads of fun and thrills. Even hiking and camping on some fantastic mountain trails is a great way to experience outdoor adventure travel.

The next time that you are interested in going on a trip or even when you have nothing to do one day, look into outdoor adventure travel and see what all there is in your area and out of your area to take part in.

Adventure Vacations [http://adventurevacationshq.com/] put some excitement into your next travel journey!

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Adventure Travel Vacation

If you are a rookie to the world of adventure travel vacation, then you will need to learn how to plan for adventure travel!

It is very important that you understand the basics of adventure travel before you actually engage in adventure travel vacation. Why?

 Due to the fact that adventure travel sometimes involves risk taking, you should be familiar with how to plan for adventure travel, for your own safety as well as the safety of others.

The following five adventure travel vacation tips will help you to enjoy your trip!

1. You must consider how much physical activity you would like to engage in. Do you want to simply travel the world and see exotic places which entails a relatively low physical impact or do you want to hike climb? The word adventure means something different to everyone, so if you are not truly physically inclined or you would not enjoy yourself engaging in activities that demand a lot of physical exertion, you will want to bear such a fact in mind when you are planning your adventure travel vacation.

2. You will need to decide how much you want to really do while you adventure travel. For instance, do you just want to engage in site seeing one area of one country or do you want to see several countries in several days? Conversely, do you want to simply enjoy the culture of the places you visit or do you want an adventure travel plan that is jam packed with an assortment of activities? Considering what kind of activities you like is imperative to establishing an adventure travel plan that will ensure that you enjoy yourself!

3. Learn to comparatively shop around for great prices on adventure tour plans. You should spend a few days or weeks researching different adventure tour companies and their operators. You'll find the best prices and the best tour operators for you. Remember that price does not necessarily equate to quality and just because you get a discount on an adventure travel vacation tour doesn't mean a lot if the quality of the tour operator is bad.

4. Work within your budget! Don't set your mind on a tour that you know you cannot possibly afford. Rather, determine your budget before hand and stick too it! Besides, you can always plan a more expensive adventure tour when you have the funds to do so.

5. Get a written copy of the tour operator's terms and conditions. In fact, you can probably have each company mail you a copy of their policy. After receiving a copy of each company's policy, review the policies carefully. In doing so, you will be able to find the best deal for you and you will also familiarize yourself with all of the policies. Be sure that you give a close review to the refund policies the company has in the event that you are unhappy with your final selection.


If considering this 5 adventure travel vacation tips will help you to have an amazing experience on your next adventure trip.

- Andy McDowell is the owner of Adventure Travel Vacation [http://www.adventure-travel-tips.com] - the free Resource for Adventure Travel Tips, Ideas and Articles.

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Global Adventure Travel Entrepreneur with a Conscience

Yesterday I had a chance to meet Bruce Poon Tip, owner and CEO of G.A.P Adventures, one of Canada's most successful travel entrepreneurs.

You may wonder, what is he like? Bruce is the owner of Canada's largest adventure travel company, an attractive man of about 37 years of age, dressed in casual attire and not afraid to speak off the cuff.

Certainly a charismatic personality who was able to captivate last night's capacity crowd at the G.A.P. concept store in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.

In 1990 Bruce went on an organized backpacking trip to Thailand where he had a chance to explore the people and the country on $10.00 a day. This experience gave him the idea to create G.A.P Adventures, today Canada's largest adventure travel company that now sells thousands of different trips and annually sends 40,000 passengers on their own small-group adventures.

G.A.P has about 300 employees today, headquartered in Toronto, with operational offices in various countries of Latin America. It's most recent endeavours are the G.A.P concept stores which have recently been opened in high-traffic areas in Toronto and Vancouver, places where travellers can research their adventure trip, get more information about their desired destination and book their once-in-a-lifetime experience supported by good advice with no sales pressure.

For his entrepreneurial savvy Bruce has won numerous awards, besides receiving an award as one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, Bruce has been also been honoured as one of Canada's top 5 entrepreneurs by Canadian Business as well as Canada's 100 leaders of tomorrow.

Profit Magazine named him in their 20th anniversary issue cover story as one of Canada's Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the last 20 years. Bruce also received the Global Traders Leadership award from the government for his ground breaking ideas in exporting services.

Recently Bruce was asked by the World Bank and UNESCO to represent a team to visit the Peoples Republic Of China to lecture on Sustainable Development. In January of 2002 Bruce was the only Canadian operator invited to speak at the United Nations Launch of the Year Of Eco Tourism in New York. Bruce defied the odds once again last year by winning Canada's prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as the National Citation for Entrepreneurship.

G.A.P's additional awards include having two trips chosen among the TOP 25 Adventures in the World by National Geographic Adventure magazine, the Ethics in Action Award, the Global Traders Award and the Clean Air Commute Award for five straight years.

Although a consummate business man, Bruce Poon Tip has a conscience and he has founded his entire entreprise on the concept of sustainability and established travel practices that show consideration of natural surroundings and local cultures. By limiting the travel group size to 12 people, by taking local transportation and staying in small, locally owned hotels and guesthouses, G.A.P travellers are able to minimize their footprint in foreign communities and get maximum exposure to local culture.

Planeterra is a non-profit organization founded by G.A.P to give back. Today Planeterra raises funds for a number of community projects, international charities and an endowment fund to ensure long-term support of community development and conservation projects for years to come.

Some of the community projects that G.A.P sponsors through donations include a community school in Ecuador, a foundation in Honduras to help women start their own businesses, an NGO in Costa Rica for environmental and wildlife conservation projects, a local battery recycling project in Chile, a drop-in center for street children in Cuczo, Peru, and many more.

G.A.P Adventures itself also initiated a Women's Weaving Project in Peru that taught local women ancient weaving techniques as well as natural fabric dye processes. Today all G.A.P travel groups visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru have a chance to see and purchase high quality textiles produced by these weavers, all sold at fair trade prices.

As another example of the innovativeness of his company, Bruce shared with us the story of how he went out to purchase the "Explorer", the world's first purpose-built expedition cruise ship. In March of 2004 Bruce went on an expedition cruise through the Antarctic and fell in love with the experience. He figured he need to buy his own expedition cruise ship and started looking for suitable vessels. In April of 2004 he found the "Explorer", a historic expedition ship with a capacity of 112 passengers and a crew of 60 people.

The ship had been docked in Genoa, Italy, for many months due to the financial problems of its owners. Just another 2 months later, but after many complications, G.A.P took possession of the ship. Only another 4 months later, after extensive restorations, the Explorer went on its inaugural journey and today offers expedition cruises to such unique places as Antarctica, the Amazon, Spitzbergen, and Greenland. (Incidentally, G.A.P. has agreed to sponsor our first Travel Story Contest and the grand prize winner of our contest will win an exciting adventure cruise on the Amazon in the Explorer - all thanks to G.A.P. Adventures.)
 
G.A.P's innovative business ideas don't end here. G.A.P also has a travel TV Show: Great Adventure People TV shows viewers the world - G.A.P Adventures style. The camera accompanies small groups of G.A.P Adventure travellers and follows them on unique G.A.P. adventure trips- cycling through the fascinating country of Vietnam, exploring exotic Morocco, and hiking, biking and rafting through captivating Spain and Italy. New episodes can be seen in Canada on CTV and will soon also be available in Great Britain on the UK Travel Channel.

G.A.P is a unique company, with a unique philosophy and a unique way of operating. I am looking forward to interviewing Bruce personally and to finding out how he is able to combine a successful high-growth adventure travel business with his dedication to social causes and sustainable travel. Stay tuned for some interesting insights into a brilliant entrepreneurial mind....

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.
Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.
"Life is a Journey ­ Explore New Horizons".
The article with photos is published at Travel and Transitions - Interviews

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Adventure Travel Expert

I recently had a chance to talk to Chris Ronneseth of Trek Holidays (see interview preview) who gave me a good overview of adventure travel, an area of travel I definitely would like to explore sooner than later...

1. Tell us how you got into the adventure travel business.

I grew up around travel. My father, Allan Ronneseth founded the company in 1972 and with a passion to see the world in a different way than the norm, we had the opportunity to travel to countries that were considered exotic at that time and to some extent still are today. Venturing out on my own traveling while attending University I became more and more passionate about the world beyond North America.

With a degree in marketing, I ventured off first to New York and later to Toronto working in sales and marketing for technology companies during the tech boom. Having learned the skill of sales in an industry outside of travel but backed with an upbringing rooted in adventure travel, I made the progression to heading up sales in Eastern Canada for the family business where I now provide support to our network of travel agents across Eastern Canada as well as compiling our monthly newsletter on adventure travel trends.

2. What countries have you traveled to?

Africa: Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Egypt, Morocco
Europe: UK, Greenland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria
Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Hong Kong
South Pacific: Australia, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji
Americas: Canadian High Arctic, USA, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands,
Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

3. Please share with us your top three travel memories of all times.

A. Peru -The last descent into Machu Picchu on the famed Inca Trail from the Sun Gate after seeing sunrise over the site, being the first to enter the site at daybreak and having a feeling of peace, harmony and strong magic in the air.

B. Vietnam - Travelling the countryside of Vietnam by motorbike and stumbling upon a hidden and seldom visited Buddhist Monastery resulting in a three-hour visit with a young Buddhist monk learning and understanding each other's ways.

C. Namibia - Skydiving at sunset at Swakopmund on the coast where the Atlantic Ocean meets the blood-red sand dunes for as far as the eye can see. One of the most tranquil moments of my life.

4. What is adventure travel and how has it evolved over the last few decades?

Adventure travel used to mean high adventure back when the company was founded in the seventies, it was time when the 'hippie-trail' was hot and buses used to travel across Asia from London to Kathmandu with itineraries that were largely invented along the way. Today it is about the small group experience and about experiencing a destination rather than simply seeing it. It is about participation and understanding of cultures, history and customs and being able to take that experience away as enrichment to your daily life.

5. Who goes on your adventure travel tours and why? What is the age, gender, nationality and income level of the people that go on your tours?

Adventure travel is largely about the passion to do it. For this reason it crosses boundaries of age, gender and income since the common goal of the travelers is the experience regardless of their life at home. However the largest demographic for us and the most important growth demographic is the baby-boomers who have experienced the traditional beach vacation several times over and now have the time and disposable income to travel to more exotic destinations.

Nationality is generally made up of largely English-speaking nations with the makeup in order of numbers being Brits, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Americans, some mainland Europe, some Latin American countries and the odd Asian traveler.

We offer more than 120 countries worldwide generally just about everywhere. However countries currently deemed to be unsafe for travel (eg. Iraq, Afghanistan) are not included but we expect they will be in the years to come as the situation stabilizes.

7. What type of accommodation is offered?

We offer generally speaking anything from 2 star budget accommodation to 6 star lodge experiences in Africa and everything in between. However what is common to all places we stay is that they must be clean, comfortable, centrally-located and most important have character that is reflective of the destination.

8. How do these tours work for single travellers? Do you provide a travel-mate matching service? What happens if I prefer single accommodation?

Our tours are designed with single travellers in mind. In fact 50% of all our travellers come by themselves. We match people up of the same gender and like age to share and avoid charging them a supplement. If clients prefer their own room, we can do this on approximately 60% of the tours, usually the more upmarket ones, but at a rate that is fair and affordable.

9. What about meals?

Depending on the trip we generally include breakfasts and some dinners but almost never lunch as many people like to be out at midday making their own discoveries. However when trekking or in the countryside or where alternatives do not exist we will always include meals.

10. What are the unique benefits of adventure tours as compared to other types of travel?

A sense of achievement, quality of experience, traveling with a small group of just ten people on average, generally better value than comparable bus tours, camaraderie with individuals that share a passion for this type of travel.

11. What type of activities are offered in your tours?

Sightseeing is a major part of every tour but beyond that we want to include as many cultural experiences as possible such as homestays with local families, village visits, etc. We also have many optional activities available such rafting, sailing, jeep safaris, day treks, etc.

12. Is there such a thing as adventure tours for families?

We now have tours built especially for families to travel with other families where children are age six and up. There is a large demographic of 'late-starter' families who never had children until in their 30s. Many of these people traveled with us in their 20s or backpacked independently and now want to give that experience to their children. They are not interested in introducing them to the 'coca-cola' culture pervasive in today's society. These have been met with great success.

13. Please share with us practical advice for someone who's never tried adventure travel.

Safety is a state of mind. Most people who elect not to travel to exotic destinations do so because of a fear for their safety while in the destination. If you heed the advice of your tour leader and be practical almost any destination in the world can provide a safe, secure and memorable experience. Where we have had problems with safety it has almost always been a disregard for common sense and advice.

Don't be afraid of experiencing other cultures, you will almost always find that your curiosity will be the best guide though it all and that same curiosity will be reciprocated by the people we meet along the way. It is about learning and understanding other people as much as they need to understand us. It really does shrink the world. Our second biggest problem would be dehydration, when traveling to hot, dry countries or where activity is involved such as trekking ensure you drink lots of water!

14. How much time do you travel yourself these days?

Generally 5 or 6 weeks a year. It is imperative to my sales knowledge and experience and I owe it to my customers to be the expert in what we do! All of our employees are given wonderful travel opportunities which goes straight to our company motto: Expert advice from those who have been there!

15. Where are you going next?

I plan this year on escorting a trip back to Egypt in April, to South Africa in May to experience some of our new properties we work with and to hopefully take a side trip to Mozambique. Later in the year I plan to make my way to Turkey and the Patagonian outdoors In Chile & Argentina.
Thanks, Chris, for all your information, and have fun on your trips!

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.
Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.
"Life is a Journey ­ Explore New Horizons".
The interview with photos is published at Travel and Transitions - Interviews

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