Top 10 adventure travel destinations for 2010
India
An eternally popular destination and set to grow even more with our exciting new tour combinations with Nepal and Bhutan. So now you can tour Rajasthan then trek in the Himalayas on one trip! Plus tours visiting the little-known states of Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam. Or if summer is the only time to travel how about escaping the monsoon plaguing most of India by heading north to the remote and fascinating mountain kingdom of Ladakh?
Our favourite adventure tour in India – Amongst the Maharajahs
China
The Olympics served to highlight the incredibly varied attractions this vast country has to offer. It is hard to tick them all off on one tour (although we do try!) so people tend to return time and time again whether it is to visit the famed sights of Beijing, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors of Xian and Shanghai, to cruise past the spectacular limestone scenery of the Yangtze and Li Rivers, to head inland to the mountainous areas of Sichuan and Yunnan for spicy food, Giant Pandas and the dramatic scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge or follow in the footsteps of ancient tradesmen along the Silk Road to Kashgar.
Our favourite tour in China – China Encompassed
Morocco
A fabulously attractive short-haul destination offering the traveller easy access, exotic cities, the mesmerising sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, ancient coastal fishing villages and remote Berber villages perched high in the Atlas Mountains. Not forgetting the sheer colour, scents and atmospheric buzz to be found in the meandering alleyways of the city souks and medinas. Great value too!
Our favourite adventure holiday in Morocco – Kasbahs & Coast
Iran
People are consistently intrigued by this often contradictory nation. On the one hand embracing modern technology and tourism, on the other, still living beneath the shadow of the 1979 Revolution, the lengthy Iran/Iraq War and the often controversial modern-day politics. A visit here provides a fascinating insight into Islamic culture and the architecture is simply incredible with breathtaking mosques, stepped hillside villages, cleverly-designed wind towers (badgirs) and impressive structures such as the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence. An extraordinary country, where visitors are welcomed with open arms by friendly people who have redefined the word 'hospitality'.
Our favourite tour in Iran – Ancient Persia in Depth
Mongolia
Travellers often strive to journey further off the beaten track than ever before. Mongolia must surely sum up the ultimate in far-flung, remote destinations, a land of stark and often spectacular beauty - the endless steppes, the sands of the Gobi Desert, the shamanistic rock formations of the Zorgol Hairhan Mountains, the alpine forests of the Khan Khentii Protected Area, the spectacular gorges of the Gurvansaikhan Mountains and the striking Flaming Cliffs. Our journeys here are dominated by encounters with the nomadic descendants of a people whose empire once ruled most of Asia, who still live in the local-style felt tents known as gers.
Our adventure tour in Mongolia – Mongolian Explorer
Cambodia
Cambodia has arisen from the ashes of war with its monumental treasures once again on show to travellers. The incredible temple complex of Angkor Wat has astounded archaeologists since its re-discovery and subsequent recovery from the jungles but it is just one of many glorious monuments this country has to offer. We travel to such fascinating spots as remote Kirirom National Park, the seaside resort of Sihanoukville and of course colonial Phnom Penh with its many emotive vestiges of the war including Tuol Sleng Prison and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. We offer some useful combinations with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam for those looking for the ultimate Indochina experience.
Our holiday in Cambodia – Cambodia in Depth
Ethiopia
An East African country where tourism is still delightfully in its infancy. You don't explore Ethiopia for a relaxing getaway; you venture here to be moved. Our journeys focus on the historically important regions of Gondar and Axum and the incredible rock-hewn churches of Lalibela but we also trek in the phenomenal Simien Mountains, an amazing national park whose unique rock formations and vegetation provide a habitat for the country’s endemic wildlife including gelada baboons and wyala ibexes. The indigenous culture is no better experienced than in the Omo Valley, a virtual living museum whose inhabitants engage in outwardly bizarre rituals and decorations. Awe-inspiring and life changing, this is a country you will never forget.
Our favourite Ethiopia tour – Ethiopian Odyssey
Colombia
Colombia is one of South America's best kept secrets and there has never been a better time than now to enjoy this colourful and vibrant country. On our NEW Colours of Colombia tour we show you the delights of such colonial gems as Villa de Leyva and the ancient walled city of Cartagena. We explore verdant Tayrona National Park, set on the jungle-covered coast ,with its rich and diverse eco-system and soak up the sun on one of the palm-fringed beaches of the Caribbean. Further south lies the unique salt cathedral of Zipaquira and of course the cosmopolitan capital of Bogota with its rich museums, colourful markets and lively nightlife. Get ahead of the crowds and go now!
Our favourite tour of Colombia – Colours of Colombia
Nepal
Firmly back on the map since the Maoist issues have dissipated. What is there left to say about this magnificent Himalayan kingdom?! It has absolutely everything a traveller could be looking for with the world’s highest and most breathtaking mountain scenery, a bustling and exotic capital city, fabulous wildlife encounters in Chitwan National Park and locals with the warmest smiles on earth! We have substantially increased our tours here this year and now include alongside our classic Annapurna and Everest Base Camp treks, remote trekking off the beaten track, mountaineering expeditions and even non-trekking itineraries focusing more on cultural or wildlife interaction. Plus some fabulous combinations with India, Bhutan and Tibet. Head for the heights and see for yourself what all the fuss is about!
Our adventure in Nepal – Annapurna Dhaulagiri
Costa Rica
Latin America in a microcosm. A safe, compact destination offering some of the world’s best wildlife encounters with such dramatic backdrops as live volcanoes, coastal rainforest, mountainous jungle and steamy cloud forest. With glorious Caribbean and Pacific beaches, lush primary forests and fascinating village encounters a visit here shows off the tropics at their best. Perfect for adventurers looking to take the high canopy walkway, the Skywalk, for adrenalin junkies wanting to get up close to the explosive fireworks of the Arenal Volcano, for wildlife lovers looking for daily encounters with such exotic species as the Poisonous Red Frog, Resplendent Quetzal, hummingbird, jaguar, tapir, sloth and manatee and for nature lovers who will be in paradise amidst the 2,500 species of plants including 400 different orchids, delicately gracing the limbs of majestic trees. Great for a quick week away, better for two, it is also the ideal family destination!
Our adventure tour in Costa Rica – Rainforest Adventure
