Types of adventures
If you’re the type of person who is looking for
new and unique experiences to get off the welltrodden tourist trails, align yourself with a company that does just that! Companies such as World
Expeditions offer a range of active adventures
including trekking, cycling, rafting, kayaking and
mountain biking, allowing you to travel under
your own steam. Think about whether you want
to explore a country from a bus window, or on
an active adventure. Although both are fine depending on your interests, the latter is an incredibly rewarding way to explore the hidden gems
of the world!
Expert Guides
Expert guides in the field guides can make your
international experiences so special. Travelling
with a company that uses local guides often
gives you access to their extensive knowledge
covering the long and varied history of the region. They may know the local language, understand the tapestry of cultures that occupy the
land, the best walking trails and most authentic
restaurants to eat at. In a nutshell, local guides
can be the difference between a good and an
excellent adventure.
Companies such as World Expeditions employ local guides on their trip, however also work with
elite adventurers over the world, whether they
be world-class photographers, mountaineers or
authors. These leaders’ passion and experience
can take adventure to new heights as they bring
their experience and talents to the fore on your
trip.
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Target Market
As much as we all feel like we were as fit as we
were when we were in our 20’s, it’s wise to look
into what age group and type of people your
preferred tour operator has on their trips. Are the
tours geared towards older couples, families, or
young people? When you’re on a trip with others for 10-20 days, the people you travel with can
make or break a trip, and booking on a loud
Contiki tour when all you wanted was a peaceful exploration of a country can really be a drag.
Not to worry - there are enough tour companies
out there that there’s sure to be one that suits you
perfectly. Jump on the Facebook page, website
and twitter pages of companies you’re thinking
about to get an idea of the type of person on
their tours.
Group size
Unless you’ve been on a large “group trip” before, your best bet is to look at companies that
have a small group policy. This is because the
small groups allow for flexibility, instill close-knit
friendships amongst travellers and importantly,
ensure minimum impact travel to the areas in
which you visit.
The Right Fit
Once you find a company that you align with
and offers everything you want, ensure the trip
you book on is the right fit. Choose adventures
that match your fitness level, whether it’s an introductory trek or advanced mountaineering
expedition. Carefully look at how active the adventure you are planning on taking is, and ensure
you train so that you are able to meet the requirements of the trip.