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With spring upon us, the urge
to get out and about is heating up. After a winter inside it’s time for active
travelers to get back outside, in touch with nature, and start stretching those
muscles again.
What, you may wonder, does
active adventure have in common with cultural travels? Well, what better way
than walking through the countryside is there to meet local people? How about
exploring Burma from a bike seat? Or getting up close and personal with a
fly-eating trout? These are just a few of the adventures that await the
physically active cultural traveler.
This month’s hosts all offer
a great selection of “people-powered trips.” Whether you desire a slow
ramble along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, or the challenge of hiking Africa’s
majestic Kilimanjaro or even a leisurely skate through the Swiss countryside,
read on for these and many other great active adventures.
This
month's tour hosts review:
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Guerba World Travel Ltd.
Pick of
the Month |
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Location: Africa and the world |
| Specialty:
Rugged overland treks and softer “adventure and discovery”
tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Providing trips, which are socially conscious and dedicated to
the environment, make this a fantastic company to travel with (for more about
that, read our Pick of the Month). A great reason for including Guerba in this
issue is that all its trips are graded 1-6 (1 being easy; 6 being very hard) so
wimps like me know which of the fabulous holidays are beyond my physical
abilities. Adventures include trekking tours in Africa and the Himalayas,
African overland journeys where everybody pitches in for a real people-powered
event, and a wide variety of hotel-based cultural adventures. |
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Article: Kilimanjaro Peaks |
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Andean Treks Inc. |
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Location: So. America |
| Specialty:
Trekking,
hiking and camping |
| Why
We Like Them:
Offering
dozens of itineraries and departures, throughout the Andes
and beyond, Andean Treks allows adventurers and nature
lovers to experience the region up-close. From llama treks
to salt licks, their journeys range from hotel stays in the
major spots to rigorous trekking and camping in the
highlands. Each destination offers it's own activities with
the moderate trips including easy day hikes, horseback rides
and whitewater rafting. |
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Piccolo Tours |
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Location: Italy |
| Specialty:
Customized walking tours
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| Why
We Like Them: Offering personally designed walking tours
throughout Italy, Gillian Arthur
leads you to places that you would not find on your own. From small
off-the-beaten-path inns and trattorias to fabulous landscapes, each trip is
dedicated to creating a memorable experience. Whether you are “Exploring Medieval Hilltowns & Palladian
Villas,” discovering the “Lakes and Mountains of Northern Italy” or
exploring Sicily’s “Land of the Volcanoes,” each trip is a unique
adventure. |
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Article: A
Ramble Along the Amalfi Coast
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Zephyr Adventures |
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Location: Europe, Asia and the US |
| Specialty: Inline Skating, walking,
biking and multisport adventures |
| Why
We Like Them: Being the first company to offer inline skating tours
is certainly a differentiation, and this company’s
dedication to creating a great group adventure while
offering a uniquely independent travel experience is perhaps
its greatest success. In addition to organized tours, Zephyr
Adventures has instructional camps where you can learn to
skate, ski, mountain bike or rock climb. |
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Article: Exploring the Swiss Alps …
on Inline Skates |
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Timberline adventures |
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Location: No. America |
| Specialty: Hiking and Cycling |
| Why
We Like Them: Timberline Adventures focuses solely on the area and
the sports it knows best, hiking and cycling in the western
US and Canada. Most of its trips involve our great national
parks and this year’s adventures feature no less than 26
different parks. Most trips are inn-to inn, so after a long
day’s activity travelers can relax and enjoy great food and
company in the comforts of select local lodges. In
celebration of the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark’s epic
journey, Timberland will offer a 48-day,
3,300-mile bicycle adventure following in the footsteps of the Corps of
Discovery. |
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Active Journeys! |
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Location: Europe, South America and North America |
| Specialty: Hiking, biking, rafting
and kayaking |
| Why
We Like Them: Active Journeys offers a great selection of single
activity and combo trips throughout the world, including a
16-day hike across England. All its small group journeys
allow you the time to enjoy your trip and experience the
places you visit up close. All are paced to suit the
traveler’s mood, with many trips offering the option of
various routes on those days when you desire a bit more of a
challenge. |
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Ciclismo Classico |
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Location: Italy, Europe, USA |
| Specialty:
Biking and walking trips |
| Why
We Like Them: Offering trips
geared for your skill level whether beginner, intermediate or advanced, Ciclismo
Classico trips include other activities to complement the journey, such as
walking, culinary experiences and arts. Special trips geared towards families,
island hopping off the Italian coast, multisport adventures and even a few trips
in New England complete this company’s offerings. |
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