Adventure Collection Top Trips for Summer
Summer is traditionally a time to explore the world and refresh the body and soul. The ten member companies of the Adventure Collection offer a spectacular spectrum of summer trips, from cultural sightseeing to wilderness expeditions, in locations that range from close to home to halfway around the globe. I asked each company to highlight one trip they are especially excited about this summer. Here are their choices.
Off the Beaten Path: Oregon Rivers, Caves, and Treehouses
A new trip for OBP in 2010, this is the perfect family adventure as it combines outstanding experiences in amazing natural places with a number of family-friendly activities that get everyone deep into the place. From a Crater Lake cruise to rafting on the Rogue River to caving beneath an ancient forest to lodging in fantastic treehouses, this trip will rate high on the “family fun” scale. With great guides leading the whole group on this immersive journey through cool Oregon towns and extraordinary landscapes, there will surely be something for everyone – from the youngest of explorers all the way to seasoned grandparents looking to get out and about with their families.
Oregon Rivers, Caves, and Treehouses: July 10-16, July 24-30; from $2,695.
O.A.R.S.: Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer
O.A.R.S. is the only outfitter authorized by Grand Teton National Park to operate sea kayaking trips on Jackson Lake and camp on the pristine Grassy Island. With small groups no larger than 12, this is an active multi-sport itinerary that takes you away from the crowds and off the beaten path in two of our country’s most popular national parks. We provide everything you need to sea kayak, raft, hike and sightsee your way to some of the most extraordinary sites in the region. From the geothermal wonders of Old Faithful and the numerous geysers of Yellowstone Lake to the cool, reflective waters and pristine wilderness of Jackson Lake and the Snake River beneath the Tetons, we take care of details so you can enjoy lively days and dreamy nights under star-filled skies. Our passionate, professional guides share with you their intimate knowledge of the ethereal landscape, including its mammals, birds, wildflowers and the volcanic forces that shaped the area.
Yellowstone & Grand Teton Explorer: Weekly five-day or six-day departures from June 15-September 14; from $1,389 adult, $1,261 youth.
NOLS: Orvis Wilderness Fly Fishing
This is the ultimate fly-fishing experience! If you are looking for a course that provides all the skills you need to travel in the mountains, fish the backcountry, and row a drift boat, this is the one for you. You will start in town with a three-day Orvis freshwater fly fishing school. After this, you will head into the Wind River Range for a 20-day backcountry expedition. The Wind River Range is a world destination for fly-fishing. You will learn to fish the high country for Rainbow, Brook and Cutthroat Trout. You may even have the opportunity to catch a Golden Trout. In addition, you will learn how to camp, travel, and lead your peers in a remote wilderness setting. The final five days of this course will be spent learning how to wade-fish and row a drift boat on one of the best trout rivers in the West.
Orvis Wilderness Fly Fishing: June 17-July 16, July 1-30, July 19-August 17; $6,985.
(Note: College credit is available.)
Natural Habitat Adventures: Churchill: An Arctic Summer
Few of nature’s marvels match the intense aliveness of an Arctic summer. In a region frozen, still and dark for much of the year, the Far North awakens with a burst of energy during these long days when the tundra turns green, animals come forth in great flocks and herds, and the sea welcomes thousands of beluga whales back for their summer feasting. With the remote outpost of Churchill as our base on the edge of Hudson Bay, this adventure travel cruise takes us to the heart of the excitement, surrounded by a flurry of natural wonders that only an Arctic summer can provide.
Churchill: An Arctic Summer: July 3-11; July 12-20; July 24-August 1; August 8-14; $3,895 (single supplement: $595).
Micato: South African Sweeping Sojourn
This brilliantly designed 13-day exploration of South Africa, completely new for 2010, offers it all, from the rugged southwestern Cape Coast to the gentle breezes of the vast bushveld to legendary safari game parks. The sojourn starts in Cape Town with five-star accommodations at Mandela Rhodes Palace Hotel and Spa. Guests will discover the colorful threads that make up Cape Town’s rich cultural tapestry, first at Khayelitsha Township, where they will visit (and help out at) Rosie’s Kitchen, which feeds destitute children and elderly of the township. They will also visit the Malay Quarter and sample its world famous, multi-cultural cuisine. In addition to exploring the Cape Peninsula, guests will visit Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, home to some utterly unique and exotic flora and avian life, found nowhere else in the world. Horseback riding through the Mopane forest and an exciting drive through Blyde River Canyon are just a few of the adventures that await guests before they cap off their stay with game-viewing at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.
South African Sweeping Sojourn: Multiple departures throughout the summer; $10,450.
Lindblad Expeditions: Galapagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour and National Geographic Islander
Surely, there are few better ways to use precious vacation time than to explore Galápagos. It’s a beach vacation, a wildlife safari, and a crash course in Darwin all rolled into one. And it’s an incredible amount of fun, thanks to the wonder of the animals and their antics, the spectacular scenery, and the inviting blue of the sea. Swim and snorkel with sea lions, penguins and sea turtles. Experience the freedom of kayaking and hike on islands remarkably unchanged since Darwin’s visit. There’s nothing like Galápagos in the world.
Galapagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour and National Geographic Islander: Multiple departures in June, July, and August; from $4,980.
(Note: Special offer available on select summer departures — one child free, second child 50% off. Conditions apply; call for departures and availability.)
Geographic Expeditions: Festivals of Mongolia: National Naadam Festival and Horse Herders’ Festival
We’ve been under Mongolia’s spell for a long time, dating to the days when it appeared in musty atlases as “Outer Mongolia.” So, it’s with great joy that we introduce people to this magnificent land and two of its most compelling and colorful festivals.
Our July journey is centered around the biggest of Mongolia’s festivals, the boisterous Naadam, which we celebrate in Karakorum, one-time capital of the vast Mongol Empire. On our July-August adventure, we attend The Horse Herders Festival, an extraordinary sporting event that is, in essence, the Mongolian version of a rodeo. During this celebration, local nomads and horsemen are invited to show off their wrangling skills in a series of competitions. Horse racing has always been one of Mongolia’s favorite sports, so any celebration of the Mongolian horse is sure to include a horse race; other events at the festival include demonstrations of horse-wrangling techniques passed down from generation to generation.
On both these journeys, we also explore Mongolia’s cosmopolitan capital, Ulaanbaatar, venture into the heart of the Gobi Desert, look for dinosaur bones, ride the two-humped Bactrian camel, visit the Buddhist monasteries of Gandan and Erdene Zuu, and enjoy an excursion to the sublime Yol Valley of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains (part of the vast Altai Range).
Festivals of Mongolia: National Naadam Festival: July 5-15; from $4495.
Festivals of Mongolia: Horse Herders’ Festival: July 24-August 3; from $4495.
Canadian Mountain Holidays: Family Adventure
We know how most kids feel about hiking (many of us are parents, too), so when crafting our Family Adventure we removed the boring bits to heighten the lasting family memories you’ll take home. Kids will boast to their friends back in school how their sense of adventure was captivated by: awesome helicopter flights; fascinating million-year-old rock formations; high mountain ridges; mysterious ancient forests; brilliant glacial lakes; explosive rock-bound waterfalls; ancient glaciers and rock moraines; rock climbing with world-class mountain guides; intriguing new games, played with kids from around the world; and so much more!
While kids are busy and entertained by our professional guides and our Family Adventure Leaders, adults can choose to participate with the younger set or challenge themselves to a Heli-Hiking day on their own.
Family Adventure:
Bobbie Burns Lodge: July 21-24 and August 11-14; adult $2,490; youth $2,190; child $1,870.
Bugaboo Lodge: July 24-27 and August 14-17; adult $2,490; youth $2,190; child $1,870.
6-Night Lodge to Lodge (Bobbie Burns to Bugaboos): July 21-27 and August 11-17; adult $4,690; youth $4,130; child $3,520.
Bushtracks: Zimbabwe Walking and Canoeing Safari
Our top trip for summer is designed for the active traveler who wants an authentic African safari experience away from crowded game parks and with plentiful wildlife sightings, and is a perfect one to experience with teens or recent graduates. Begin in magnificent Victoria Falls, and visit a local village, or take a river-rafting or kayaking adventure. Then drive into Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve, Hwange National Park, and enjoy walking safaris with Zimbabwe professional guides, as well as day and night game drives. The final stop is the dramatic landscape of Mana Pools and includes a two-day canoeing safari on the mighty Zambezi River. Canoe safaris offer unique, water-level sightings of wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, basking crocs, and big cats. After a day of canoeing, walking and game drives, arrive at fully serviced tented camps and enjoy evening cocktails at sunset, good food and a comfortable night under the stars.
Zimbabwe Walking and Canoeing Safari: This 10-day safari is a custom journey, so the departure date can be set according to the traveler’s schedule preferences and the trip can be arranged to accommodate any size party. It is priced starting at $5,739 per person, double occupancy.
Backroads: Washington State San Juan Islands Biking Trip — Exploring the Islands in the Pacific Northwest
Amid the pristine waterways just northwest of Puget Sound lie Washington’s San Juan Islands. Thick with cedar and fir trees, each island beckons you to explore. With shimmering water views before you, wind your way around hidden coves, where harbors shelter colorful boats. Pedal over rolling hills and through villages, with the snowcapped Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges rising in the distance. Your next island adventure is just a ferry ride away, and evenings are dedicated to relaxing in delightful inns and indulging in fresh seafood.
San Juan Islands Biking Trip — Exploring the Islands in the Pacific Northwest: June 27-July 2, July 11-16, August 8-13, August 22-27, September 5-10; from $2,698 (single supplement: $770).
(Note: Family Multisport Trip also available – for more information, visit Biking, Hiking & Sea Kayaking Washington’s Islands of Adventure.)
