Trips That Do Good
Challenging times prompt a reassessment of travel's role in our lives. For many people, travel presents an irreplaceable opportunity to broaden perspectives and recharge life-batteries. For others, the value of travel lies equally in the connections forged with other peoples and cultures and the ability to discover, nurture and preserve critically important projects and institutions around the globe. The members of the Adventure Collection understand both the life-recharging and the world-nurturing aspects of travel, and seek to incorporate both into their adventures. I asked each member company to spotlight one trip that does good for the world as well as for the traveler. Here are their responses.
Lindblad Expeditions: Antarctica - The White Continent
Lindblad Expeditions, in partnership with National Geographic, has raised nearly $600,000 to support Oceanites, an Antarctic-focused non-profit organization seeking to gather information on penguin populations and the impact of tourism. On each Antarctic voyage, Lindblad's ship, the National Geographic Explorer, carries Oceanites scientists pursuing their research activities as part of the Antarctic Site Inventory. Travelers on the journey may assist in research projects such as penguin-counting, a key indicator to climate change.
With over 40 years experience in the wildest place on earth, Lindblad understands fully the responsibility as well as the potential for life-changing experiences that Antarctica's vast landscape carries. Participants travel with National Geographic experts and the most experienced Ice Team on earth. Under their leadership, travelers step foot on land overflowing with life, kayak around icebergs as penguins swim by, and encounter Antarctica from the safety and comfort of the National Geographic Explorer.
Antarctica - The White Continent: 15 days/12 nights; departures Nov. 4, Dec. 16, and Dec. 27 (2010 departures Jan. 7, 18, and 29); from $10,760. (Special savings: Travelers may receive up to 15 percent off the expedition price on select departure dates. Call 1-800-EXPEDITION for details.)
Micato: Family-to-Family Safari
Micato Safaris' Family-to-Family Safari provides many opportunities for families to immerse their children in experiences that teach them about the importance of conservation, sustainable tourism, and philanthropy. During this 15-day journey through Kenya and Tanzania, children participate in Kids & Safari Director-Only game drives in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Park, where they learn about Africa's flora and wildlife from Micato's highly-trained safari directors. Children are also taught to identify and track animals by their footprints (and in some cases, by their dung) and about the dynamics of the wild and the steps that conservationists are taking (and that they, as tourists, can take) to ensure that wildlife populations flourish. In addition, children on the Family-to-Family Safari will visit a Maasai village, where they can participate in traditional arts such as Maasai-style traditional necklace-making or Swahili mask-making, and they will explore sites sure to make a lifelong impression about the importance of conservation, such as Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is host to over 20,000 species of wildlife.
Finally, children on the Family-to-Family Safari will have an opportunity to participate in Lend a Helping Hand on Safari, a program developed by Micato's non-profit foundation, AmericaShare. During their Lend a Helping Hand on Safari visit, children can interact with Kenyan children who have been taken off the streets of Mukuru slum and placed in reputable boarding schools and orphanages. We match young visitors with African youngsters of similar ages and let them spend time together, sharing a meal, playing a game of soccer, or working on projects. Children learn firsthand that while Kenyan and American children's circumstances may be different, their hopes and dreams are the same. We find that many children who have participated in Lend a Helping Hand on Safari return to the U.S. with a new knowledge of the importance of philanthropy, and that many are inspired to give -- in fact, several of our past young visitors have set up fundraisers, from lemonade stands to piano concerts, so that they can sponsor a Kenyan childs education!
Family-to-Family Safari: 16 days; numerous departures in June, July and August; $11,975 per adult double occupancy, plus internal airfare charge of $1,775; children (12 and under) $8,975, plus internal airfare charge of $1,355.
Geographic Expeditions: To the Center of the Universe -- A Pilgrimage and Service Trip to Mount Kailas with Kabir Heimsath
The center of the cosmos for nearly a billion Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, Tibet's Mount Kailas is perhaps the most revered place on the planet. After a few years' hiatus, we're eagerly returning to Kailas to make the kora, or pilgrimage, around the mountain, and to do some
service work along the way by collecting and hauling out detritus left by pilgrims and other visitors. Our leader, Kabir Heimsath, is an ideal fellow to guide us in the spiritual and service aspects of this visit to the unclimbed, solace-giving mountain. Since receiving an MA in religious studies, with a focus on Tibetan Buddhism, Kabir has lived and worked in India, Nepal, and Tibet and is currently wrapping up his PhD in anthropology from Oxford.
We approach the peak by four-wheel-drive vehicles, driving and camping on the worlds highest plateau, looking south to the Himalaya for rare views of peaks like Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Then, suddenly, in the bright blue distance, rising alone, is the axis mundi, Kang Rimpoche, precious snow mountain, Kailas. We'll camp at 15,000-foot Manasarovar, "The Lake
Created in the Mind of God," where, Hindus believe, consciousness itself erupted into the universe. Well spend a day in service on the lake's eastern shores, then head to nearby Kailas for the beautiful and spiritually penetrating pilgrimage around the mountain in the company of
cheerful pilgrims from all over Central Asia, with more clean-ups at especially impacted sites along the way. After crossing the nearly 19,000-foot Drolma La, apex of the kora, we descend and return to Lake Manasarovar and make the gorgeous drive down through the Himalaya to
Kathmandu.
To the Center of the Universe: July 22 - August 14; from $7,195.
Natural Habitat Adventures: Harp Seal Watch
Each March, 250,000 harp seals migrate from Greenland to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to bear their young on the vast ice floes surrounding the Magdalen Islands. For centuries, baby harp seals have been hunted for their immaculate white pelts. Now, baby harp seals are protected, and small groups of visitors can spend time in their presence. Someday, we hope the same will be true for all harp seals. Natural Habitat Adventures is proud to be the innovator of an Arctic adventure vacation that not only allows wildlife-lovers an incredibly moving experience, but also helps to protect baby harp seals through ecotourism. There's no better way to experience this great migration and see harp seal herds in their natural habitat. Highlights of our adventure include walking on the ice floes among huge harp seal herds in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, seeing white-furred baby harp seals up close (a rare and remarkable wildlife encounter), and discovering the austere winter beauty of the Magdalen Islands, flung far off Quebec's coast.
Harp Seal Watch: March 7 - 14, $5,095. (Harp Seal Watch is a biannual program. Tentative 2011 expedition dates are Feb 26 - Mar 5, Mar 3 - 9 and Mar 7 - 14.)
Bushtracks: Southern Africa by Private Air Safari
This adventure transports children and their families to a place populated by wildlife they've only dreamed of, and face-to-face with the children who call Southern Africa home. In addition to the thrill of game drives and sleeping out under the African starry skies, this Bushtracks program facilitates a Pen Pal program between our young travelers and children of similar ages from the Ebenezer School in Livingstone, Zambia, well in advance of the actual trip. During the trip, the children and their families visit Ebenezer School, where they get better acquainted over a game of soccer and other organized activities. Many pen pals remain in touch after the visit. The school is a part of the Ebenezer Child Care Trust, which provides services to orphan and vulnerable children in Livingstone. The primary school has 350 students affected by HIV/AIDS. Through Generosity in Action, a US-based charitable foundation, a designated fund has been established for the school, and Bushtracks travelers can direct their donations toward improvements in the Ebenezer compound, including a babies home, a security wall, a medical center, school buildings, and administrative offices. Bushtracks travelers have been pleased to have a relationship with the people whose lives their donations have helped.
Bushtracks Family Program formally incorporates the relationship with Ebenezer School into its itinerary. However, a visit to the school is often a part of Bushtracks tailor-made safaris due to the school's proximity to Victoria Falls. Without exception, Bushtracks travelers have seized upon the opportunity to change lives for the better through their gifts to the children, as well as their donations to the school.
Southern Africa by Private Air: A Family Adventure: June 14-June 24 and July 5-July 15; $13,425 per adult double occupancy, $11,425 per child (11 and under). (Travelers can also call 1-800-995-8689 to have a tailor-made Southern Africa safari designed, with dates and number of travelers at your discretion.
Backroads: Peru Hiking
With legendary Machu Picchu as its centerpiece, this Backroads hiking adventure offers an intimate introduction to Peru's bounty of cultural and geographic treasures. Join us to trace the path of an ancient civilization, beginning in Cusco, where Inca-built stone walls attest to its long history. Venture into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where relics and ruins of the distant past still shape the vibrant Andean culture of the present. Visit colorful Quechua markets, marvel at towering glacier-capped peaks and, finally, feel your heart race as you follow a stretch of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, one of the world's most magnificent archaeological wonders.
In Ollantaytambo, a peaceful Incan town in the Sacred Valley, our leaders and guests visit a jardin, or pre-school, with 80 children and six teachers. In addition to interacting with the kids, we provide supplies including paper, maps, puzzles and stoves, which are used to prepare hot breakfasts for the children. Some of our guests have been so touched by the experience that they continue to send supplies and donations to the school upon their return home.
Peru Hiking: 7 days; numerous departures throughout the year; from $4,398.
Off the Beaten Path: The Greater Yellowstone - A Responsible Travel Journey
Beginning with a discussion about your interests for travel to the Rocky Mountain region, your travel planner will craft an itinerary filled with experiences, activities, and unique lodging options that will assure a lifetime of memories, all tailored to meet your interests, timing, and budget. The following sample itinerary illustrates some of the choices that we recommend to our engaged travelers who want to integrate responsibility into their experience in the region.
Where It Goes: This wilderness-and wildlife-focused trip begins in Bozeman, Montana; continues south to ranch land near tiny Cameron; leads you through the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park; and finishes up in Tetons-ringed Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
What You'll Do: Take your pick of more activities than you can handle in three days at the sustainably managed Lodge at Sun Ranch, including horseback riding, bird-watching (look skyward for ferruginous hawks and long-billed curlews, two of 126 species on the property), and rafting or canoeing on nearby rivers. A hybrid car transports you to Yellowstone to explore the park with such expert naturalists as Mike Bryers, whose favorite spots after 27 years on the job are the thermal pools scattered throughout the 3,472 square miles of the park. You'll also have the chance to ride the rapids down the Snake River; hike family-friendly trails in the foothills of Wyoming's Gros Ventre Mountains; trek into Horseshoe Canyon and spend the nightor up the camping ante with a two-night kayaking, rafting, and fly-fishing trip on Jackson Lake. And come equipped for a safari-like trip to view the regions impressive elk, grizzly, and wolf populations.
Where You'll Stay: Options include the eco-sophisticated Lodge at Sun Ranch; one of Yellowstone's historic park lodges; J Bar L Ranch, in the sweeping Centennial Valley; and the LEED-certified Hotel Terra, in Jackson Hole.
The Greater Yellowstone - A Responsible Travel Journey: departures and trip duration by arrangement; from $375 per day.
OARS: Highlands to Islands: The Ultimate Fiji Explorer
Our Highlands-to-Islands getaway takes us to the top of rolling rainforest highlands, down two hidden Fijian rivers with narrow canyon walls and dozens of cascading waterfalls and through azure oceans and kaleidoscopic reefs. Fiji's culture and tradition are also critical components of our Fiji adventure, all topped off with luxurious beachfront accommodations and ultra-friendly Fijian hospitality.
This trip of a lifetime features Class II-III whitewater rafting on the Upper Navua River, as well as inflatable kayaking on the Class II luva River with a visit to the charming riverside village of Nakavika, where friendly locals enthusiastically welcome visitors. Past OARS trips have donated textbooks and children's reading books to this welcoming village and we have the opportunity to get reacquainted with our friends there and to get an update on the progress of their reading program. After our time in Nakavika, the journey continues with sea kayaking on Beqa Lagoon and a thrilling zip line canopy tour of the forest. The conclusion of our adventure takes us to the pristine white sand beaches of Fiji's Yasawa Islands for two days of snorkeling, diving or simply relaxing.
Highlands to Islands: The Ultimate Fiji Explorer: 10 days; departures April 11, October 17, December 5, and December 26; $3,795.
NOLS: Semester in the RockiesOn a NOLS Semester in the Rockies youll backpack in the Wind River Mountains, canoe down the Green River, rock climb at City of Rocks, explore red rock canyon country and become certified in emergency rescue through the Wilderness Medicine Institute. While honing your climbing technique on the granite monoliths at City of Rocks, you'll also have the opportunity to participate in a service project. Whether it's building new trails, maintaining existing paths or tearing down unused fencing, this will be your opportunity to leave a positive mark on the wilderness you'll be exploring for 3 months. And you can even get up to 16 semester units of college credit for your NOLS semester!
Semester in the Rockies: Courses offered in summer, fall and spring; from 68 days; from $10,060.
Canadian Mountain Holidays: Heli-Hiking AdventuresCanadian Mountain Holidays has proudly teamed up with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to promote an understanding of and participation in conservations initiatives. With almost 45 years of experience, CMH understands and appreciates how privileged we are to operate in the remote mountain locations that we call home. Our commitment to the environment is passionate and personal, and our goal is to be North Americas leading sustainable tourism operator. From educating hikers in minimizing their impact on the environment to installing micro hydrogenerators to pumping wastewater through a sand filter to installing $60,000 composting systems, we are intent on upholding our founder Hans Gmoser's legacy of environmentalism.
CMH's Second Nature program has developed a number of trips programmed to deliver all aspects of these values. Our mountain guides are skilled and highly trained naturalists with a passion for sharing the secrets of these remote alpine areas. Some are professional photographers with a passion for human and natural history. Others are self-taught botanists, geologists from another life, and others are simply awe-inspiring story tellers with Mother Nature always playing the lead role. On our journeys travelers explore these unvisited places, accessible only by helicopter, and discover what glaciers are doing at this latitude, the cycles of grizzly bears and wolverines, the impact nature has on alpine flowers, lichens and more. Participants share the wonderment of nature with like-minded travelers looking to expand their knowledge of mountain places where few have ever been.
Canadian Mountain Holidays Heli-Hiking Adventures: 5 nights; numerous departures in July, August and September; from $558 CAD (approx. $465 US) per person per day.
