Ellen Barone

Here’s a travel tip for those of you who’d like to pack a little karma on your next adventure…

Let’s say you’ve decided to go trekking in Timbuktu, touring the wine country in South Africa, or celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Great! Now, before you go, leave a little room in your rucksack (or designer suitcase…if that’s more your style) and visit StuffYourRucksack.com. The site lists crucial items (e.g. boy’s clothing for a youth organization in Rawanda) needed by non-profits across the globe. Simply enter your destination in the search engine, then pick up a few things to deliver in person.

“How many times have you been travelling and visited a school or community or local charity that you would love to help? The school needs books, or a map or pencils; an orphanage needs children’s clothes or toys. All things that, if only you’d known, you could’ve stuffed in your rucksack. But once you get home you forget, or you’ve lost the address, or worry that whatever you send will be stolen before it even gets there…” That’s why we’ve set up StuffYourRucksack.com - Kate Humble.
 
Hummm? With the name Humble, it sounds like there’s more than a little karma behind Kate’s passion. Thank you Kate!

 

Fig trees, vineyards and olive groves.  Risotto, gelato and chianti. Is there any better treat for the senses than Italy? Now, cyclists can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy up close, with Ciclismo Classico’s six-day wanderlust “Under the Tuscan Sun.”

This trip takes travelers to many of the sites seen in Diane Lane’s famous film, such as Cortona.  Stroll down Etruscan, medieval and Renaissance villages.  Zigzag through tiny towns on a picturesque road lined with fig trees.  Explore picture-perfect hilltop towns and ancient abbeys. 

Traveling by bike allows travelers the freedom to venture off the beaten path, meeting local people and experiencing local culture, and classic Tuscan fare, including fresh pastas and vegetables.  This Tuscan adventure departs September 7th and October 2nd, rates start at: $2,895, per person.

More on Ciclismo Classico > Click here

Source: Adventure Travel Media Source

Wild Discounts and Extras on Costa Rica and Galapagos Adventures!

Late summer and fall bring great deals and savings at Wildland
Adventures. Mingle with the exotic inhabitants of Darwin’s enchanted
archipelago. Or head to the Costa Rican rainforest where summer lingers
year-round. Choose from these unforgettable vacation options:

• See the Galapagos for $200-$1,000 less!

Commune with exotic and bizarre wildlife on Wildland Adventures’ 11-day
Galapagos Wildlife Odysseys. Also ask about their family departures
with low child rates.

The Diamante - $3345 ($200 discount) August 18-28, 2008 >Click Here

The Samba - $2195 ($1000 discount) August 28-September 3, 2008 >Click Here

• Costa Rica Sports Adventure - Complimentary Wild Turtle Viewing
Book this active, outdoor adventure and receive a complimentary Turtle
Nesting nighttime walk or a Baby Turtle Hatching tour on the August
9-15, September 13-19, October 18-24 or November 22-28 departures. Only
two rooms left on the August departure so hurry! >Click Here

Call 800-345-4453 to Book!

More on Wildland Adventures, >Click Here

Complimentary Hotel Night on All Tibet Adventures!

Book a trip to Tibet with Myths and Mountains and your hotel night in
Chengdu or Beijing is on them! Choose from three extraordinary
itineraries or plan a private custom trip just for you and your family
and friends.

• What: One free hotel room in your gateway city pre or post trip.

• When: Offer good on travel now through September 30, 2008

• Where: Choose from these set trips or plan your own private escape:

Everest Base Camp >Click Here
20 Days / 19 Nights - August 3-22, 2008

A Buddhist Legacy >Click Here
11 Days / 10 Nights - August 31-September 10, 2008

A Cultural Sampler >Click Here
10 Days / 9 Nights - August 9-August 18, 2008

Call 800-670-6984 to Book.

More on Myths and Mountains >Click Here

Travel with Austin-Lehman this Fall and Enjoy Savings on Your Transportation Expenses.

Has the rising cost of fuel, airfare or airline fees impeded yourvacation plans?
Austin Lehman Adventures understands your frustration, which is why theye’re
offering to take a chunk out of your travel costs.

What: Receive a $300 travel credit per person toward the travel expenses you incur to get to your host city

When: Book by 8/01/2008 and travel by 10/12/2008

Where: Choose from -

• Okanagan Valley - Canada’s Wine Country Adventure
  Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 07, 2008 & Sep 14, 2008
  
  Price: $2,998
  
  Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
  
  
• Utah Bryce Zion - Red-Rock Wonders Adventure
  Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 28, 2008, Oct 05, 2008, & Oct 12, 2008
  
  Price: $1,898
  
  Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
  
  
• New Mexico - Poblanos, Peaks & Pueblos Adventure
  Departure Dates for this Promotion: Sep 07, 2008 & Sep 14, 2008
  
  Price: $1,998
  
  Trip Length: 6 days/5 nights
  
  
  How: Call 1-800-575-1540. 
  

More on Austin Lehman Adventures > Click here

Source: TrustedAdventures.com

iExplore announced today their list of Top Ten Summer World Travel Destinations for Cultural Exploration as determined by vacation purchases of its adventure and experiential travelers.

1. The Pyramids, Egypt
The largest man made structures in the world and are one of the most lasting symbols of ancient civilization.

2. Machu Picchu, Peru
Recently named one of the world’s new seven wonders; this remote Inca citadel has perhaps the most dramatic setting of any ruin in the world.

3. Thailand
Thailand is a rush to traveler’s senses: a bustling, exotic, and vivid culture that never ceases to amaze visitors.

4. Madagascar
Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world is a land unlike any other. Madagascar is an enticing destination for those who find its lack of modern conveniences, tourist infrastructure and efficient transport system an interesting proposition rather than a problem.

5. Great Wall, China
The only man made structure that can be seen from space spans more than 4,000 miles across mainland China.

6. Jerusalem, Israel
The old walled city of Jerusalem, a holy site of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is dominated by historic sites such as the Dome of the Rock, Wailing Wall, and church of the Holy Sepulchre.

7. Taj Mahal, India
The world’s most famous testament of love. This white domed mausoleum made of the finest stones in Agra, India is the finest example of Mughal architecture and Muslim art and recognized for its beauty the world over.

8. Tunisia
Tunisia, the smallest country in North Africa, has a lot to offer travelers including Mediterranean beaches, the Sahara desert, to sets from the film Star Wars.

9. Vietnam
Only in Vietnam is the past and the present encapsulated so perfectly.

10. Japan
Ancient temples and futuristic cities; mist-shrouded mountains and lightning-fast bullet trains; kimono-clad geisha and suit-clad businessmen: Japan offers all of this and more.

iExplore offers guided tours to most of the above destinations. Call 1-800-IEXPLORE (1-800-439-7567) for details and pricing.

Founded in 1999, iExplore (http://www.iexplore.com/) is the leading online resource for adventure and experiential travel, serving over 1,300,000 visitors per month at its website.


Source: iExplore, Inc.

Wondering if you should bow or shake hands with your Chinese colleague? Worried that you might have offended your Moroccan hosts by declining that second cup of tea? Want to know the best time to arrive at a Brazilian party?

Log on to CultureCrossing.net; an evolving database of cross-cultural information about every country in the world. This free, user-built reference guide allows people from around the globe to access and share essential tips about how to navigate the world with savvy and sensitivity. An invaluable resource for travelers, businesses, students and anyone living and working in a multicultural community, CultureCrossing.net offers its users an opportunity to:

* Access information for more than 200 countries (with new information added daily)
* Add knowledge to the country guides
* Ask questions and chat directly with other users and experts from around the world
* Explore global resources to facilitate any cross-cultural experience

According to CultureCrossing.net founder Michael Landers, “There are many sites that tell you how to book a trip and what to pack, but very few sites offer crucial information about the intangibles like appropriate greetings, gestures, and taboo behavior- tips that will help you stay out of trouble when crossing cultures. Ours is the only site providing free access to this kind of knowledge for every country in the world.”

The resources available at CultureCrossing.net are free to use, easy to navigate and simply organized by country and divided into three distinct categories of information: the basics, business essentials, and student life. Topics covered include greetings, gestures, taboos, dress, negotiations, meeting etiquette, school rules, gift giving, communication styles, eye contact, and more. Besides being an indispensable reference guide, the site also offers a variety of additional features such as interviews with culturally conscious celebrities, a humorous blog where you can learn from others’ cross-cultural faux pas, tools to help you explore your own “cultural baggage”, and quizzes so you can test your cultural IQ.

WHY WWW.CULTURECROSSING.NET
Culture influences our behavior in countless ways - subconsciously guiding our actions, reactions and interactions. In order to successfully engage with the global community, it’s crucial to understand how culture affects the way we socialize, communicate, and do business. In our increasingly borderless world, cultural ignorance can lead to misunderstandings with far reaching implications. Whether you’re working with a multicultural team, transitioning to a life overseas, preparing to study abroad, or just planning an international trip, CultureCrossing.net will enhance your personal experiences, deepen your cross-cultural understanding, and cultivate peace in our interconnected world.

ABOUT CULTURECROSSING.NET
Created by cross-cultural trainer Michael Landers and multimedia producer Lisa Grossman, CultureCrossing.net is the result of their passion for exploring the world and commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding. The founders also rely on the voluntary support of professionals, students, and community members from around the globe to vet and grow their database of cultural information.

Live for just four months, the site already boasts members from over 75 countries and has recorded over 20,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million hits in July alone. CultureCrossing.net is quickly gaining recognition as the perfect primer for all your international experiences.

Are you seeking the camaraderie of a fitness-oriented and pampering of a women-only vacation?  Check out this new “girlfriends getaway” Cinque Terre walking tour from The Wayfarers. 

 

An energetic walk that covers mule tracks by road, and hills via stone steps, Cinque Terre offers an immersion into the area called by many the most beautiful part of Italy and one that is best visited by foot. Accommodations are in a former 16th-century Franciscan monastery with a state-of-the-art Wellness Spa and in a hotel with its own sandy beach.  Priced at US $3795 per person, based on double occupancy, the seven-day/six-night walk takes place on September 21-27 (women only) and October 5-11 and includes 6-8 miles of walking per day.  A single supplement is priced at $470.   

 
A World Heritage site, Cinque Terre or “Five Lands” sits near Genoa in Liguria, in a corner of Northern Italy originally forged by the Romans as trade routes. Linking five enchanting villages set in the cliffs and harbors of the Italian Riviera, the pathways and rocky terraces of the area offer views of pastel houses that reach from hilltop to the blue Ligurian Sea, terraced vineyards, and olive groves. A food mecca, the region is synonymous with olive oil, basil, pesto and the dessert wine Sciacchetra.  Of particular interest to women, the Walk features a tour of Rapallo’s lace museum; lunch in elegant Portofino; shopping in Sestri Levante, a town known for its fine linens; a crossing of the Riviera di Levante by boat, rail and cable car; and a visit to a mountaintop monastery. Days are punctuated by meals of local delicacies, wines and limoncello between walks covering three to five miles. Dinner is a lavish affair preceded by a cocktail hour designed to further foster conversation and friendship.
 
The Wayfarers, named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, marks its 25th season with 83 diverse Walks through 15 countries.  All Wayfarers Walks are US dollar guaranteed, so travelers can book with no worries about fluctuating exchange rates.  The Wayfarers 2008 schedule includes Walks in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and the United States.
 
About The Wayfarers
Offering an eco-aware “walking” holiday of both culture and fitness, The Wayfarers’ newest Walks/hikes include South Africa, Slovenia, New Zealand and California. A new women’s-focused program with Girlfriend Getaways and Mother/Daughter walks adds shopping, museums, spa treatments, and more.  Other popular walks are the Founders’ Walk on the Isle of Wight, Croatia, Austria, Amalfi Coast, and Czech Republic.  Now in its 25th season and named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, The Wayfarers offer exclusive entrées into homes and gardens otherwise closed to the public, graceful accommodations, outstanding cuisine, and meetings with local residents. Walks range from 5-12 days and are rated easy to challenging, with distances of 4-5 miles, 6-10 miles or 12-15 miles per day.

For information and booking visit  www.thewayfarers.com or call 800- 249-4620.  

 

 

Source: The Wayfarers

THE WAYFARERS’ NEW FALL CINQUE TERRE WALK IS PERFECT FOR A GIRLFRIENDS GETAWAY FOR ALL AGES
Guaranteed in US Dollars
 
Enjoy the camaraderie of a fitness-oriented and pampering vacation with the Wayfarers’ new “girlfriends getaway” Cinque Terre itinerary.  An energetic walk that covers mule tracks by road, and hills via stone steps, Cinque Terre offers an immersion into the area called by many the most beautiful part of Italy and one that is best visited by foot. Accommodations are in a former 16th-century Franciscan monastery with a state-of-the-art Wellness Spa and in a hotel with its own sandy beach. 

A World Heritage site, Cinque Terre or “Five Lands” sits near Genoa in Liguria, in a corner of Northern Italy originally forged by the Romans as trade routes. Linking five enchanting villages set in the cliffs and harbors of the Italian Riviera, the pathways and rocky terraces of the area offer views of pastel houses that reach from hilltop to the blue Ligurian Sea, terraced vineyards, and olive groves. A food mecca, the region is synonymous with olive oil, basil, pesto and the dessert wine Sciacchetra.  Of particular interest to women, the Walk features a tour of Rapallo’s lace museum; lunch in elegant Portofino; shopping in Sestri Levante, a town known for its fine linens; a crossing of the Riviera di Levante by boat, rail and cable car; and a visit to a mountaintop monastery. Days are punctuated by meals of local delicacies, wines and limoncello between walks covering three to five miles. Dinner is a lavish affair preceded by a cocktail hour designed to further foster conversation and friendship.
 
Priced at US $3795 per person, based on double occupancy, the seven-day/six-night walk takes place on September 21-27 (women only) and October 5-11 and includes 6-8 miles of walking per day.  A single supplement is priced at $470.   
 

The Wayfarers, named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, marks its 25th season with 83 diverse Walks through 15 countries.  All Wayfarers Walks are US dollar guaranteed, so travelers can book with no worries about fluctuating exchange rates.  The Wayfarers 2008 schedule includes Walks in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and the United States.
 
About The Wayfarers
Offering an eco-aware “walking” holiday of both culture and fitness, The Wayfarers’ newest Walks/hikes include South Africa, Slovenia, New Zealand and California. A new women’s-focused program with Girlfriend Getaways and Mother/Daughter walks adds shopping, museums, spa treatments, and more.  Other popular walks are the Founders’ Walk on the Isle of Wight, Croatia, Austria, Amalfi Coast, and Czech Republic.  Now in its 25th season and named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, The Wayfarers offer exclusive entrées into homes and gardens otherwise closed to the public, graceful accommodations, outstanding cuisine, and meetings with local residents. Walks range from 5-12 days and are rated easy to challenging, with distances of 4-5 miles, 6-10 miles or 12-15 miles per day.   www.thewayfarers.com, 800- 249-4620.                   

One travel company sticking to its commitment to affordable travel,  Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), set its rates last year and they’’re holding to these in 2008, even though the cost of gas, lodging and meals, among others, has sky-rocketed.

“”This makes traveling with one of our small groups to, for example, British Columbia, a value compared to piecing the same components together by you,”” says Dan Austin, founding partner and Director.

“But there is some fleece, the warm fuzzy kind, involved,” he says. “We’’re giving away fleece vests to folks who book any of our Canadian adventures from now through the end of May. The North End “all climate wear” vest retails for $65.”

““We’’re using this as a booking incentive to remind folks that you need not cross an ocean for a truly exotic vacation with an international feel,”” he says.

Matt Delany, the company’s British Columbia specialist, says that this easy-to-access, culturally and naturally textured region is an emerging destination for ALA who specializes in immersive, multi sport adventures for families and adults.

His favorite highlights on trips in and around the Whistler region include:

• •Hiking through the coastal temperate rainforest into Joffre Lakes to witness the hanging Matier Glacier melting into aquamarine waters of the lake below.
• •Rafting the Elaho River in the Paradise Valley, fed by cascades and waterfalls from four pristine glacial systems.
• •Gazing out from the alpine heights of Whistler to the distant Coastal Range, surrounded by massive ice fields, towering peaks and vibrant wild flowers.

For details please see Whistler – British Columbia Wilderness Adventure and Whistler Family – Mountains, Meadows & Wildlife Adventure .


Another one of ALA’s BC destinations is Vancouver Island. The programs include kayaking, biking, wine-tasting and touring the world-class Butchart Gardens in Victoria. Follow these links to: Vancouver Island – Beaches, Black Bears, & Boreal Forests  and Vancouver Island Family – Northwest Family Adventure.


All of these 6-day / 5-night multi-sport vacations that combine adventure with high-end accommodations are fully guided and nearly all-inclusive. The per person, double occupancy rates, exclusive of air to/from Vancouver (Whistler trips) or Victoria (Vancouver Island trips), start at $1,998 with child and single supplements available.

ALA manages all of the arrangements in its selected destinations. Small groups are held at just 12 guests with a generous 1:6 guide-to-guest ratio. Rates include first-class accommodations, meals, expert guides, all necessary equipment, entry fees, ground transportation and more.

Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) is also the “go-to” company for planning and setting up a private, custom vacation throughout the Americas and Southern Africa.

To get a copy of the 2008 catalog as well as information on ALA’s 40 unique luxury, multisport, adult and family active adventure travel itineraries call toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com. To review current trips, schedules and itineraries you can log onto www.austinlehman.com.

 

Source: Widness & Wiggins PR

Epicurean Travel - Exploring a Destination Through Its Wine and Cuisine

 
Do you eat to live or are you one of us who lives to eat? There’s a lot you can learn about a country and a culture through its food and wine. Be adventurous! Try it all - from snails and candied fungi to jellyfish and grasshoppers. The taste may be as good as the stories you’ll have to tell! Here are some 5-star epicurean adventures to die for:
 

        British Columbia - Okanagan Valley: Canada’s Wine Country

What better way to toast a day of hiking and biking amidst stunning vistas, meandering riverside pathways and hillside vineyards than with a glass of the finest local wine? How about making the toast while soaking in an outdoor hot tub? Austin-Lehman’s Okanagan Wine Country adventure vacation was named one of the “World’s 25 Best New Trips for 2007” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. BC’s Okanagan Valley, aptly dubbed the “Napa of the North,” has yet to be widely discovered. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it’s been called one of the finest grape growing regions in the world - and an ideal setting for an active 6-day wine tasting adventure. Click HERE for more information

 

 

        A Taste of Argentina: The Adventurous Cook’s Tour

Cook and eat your way through Argentina with Myths and Mountains! Discover a world of wines and gourmet food in South America’s hottest destination. Join renowned gastronomist Alejandro Frango for an appetizing round of in-depth culinary workshops in Buenos Aires. There’s also wine-tastings in Mendoza and dinner at one of the top 10 restaurants in the world. It’s a spicy sampling of empenadas and mate teas, parillas and asados, Malbecs and Merlots. Add a dash of hiking and horseback riding in the Andes to whet up an appetite for this tasty adventure! Click HERE for more information.

 

 

        France: La Provence Complete (Cycling Adventure)

Sun-drenched Provence, land of endless pleasures, is the ideal choice for an indulgent epicurean get-away from EURO-Bike & Walking Tours. Enjoy charming market towns, world-renowned cuisine, majestic landscapes, and some of Europe’s most beguiling hotels. Experience the famous wine regions of Cote du Rhone, Gigondas, and Chateauneuf-du-Pape and indulge in a special dessert wine from the village of Beaumes-de-Venise. Bicycle on quiet farm roads surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, stopping at roadside attractions dating back to the Bronze Age. Then relax at exclusive hotels, savoring gourmet meals and outstanding local wines. Click HERE for more information. Ask about the special discounts on fall departures!

 

 

        France: Provence - Pathways of the Impressionists (Walking Adventure)

Walkers on this trip brought to you by The Wayfarers, can step into foodie heaven with a symphony of flavors created by renowned Provencal Chef Edouard Loubet. The landscape that once inspired the impressionists now provides the essential ingredients for one of the top young chefs in Europe. Passionate about using only the freshest seasonal produce, Chef Loubet earned his first Michelin star by the time he was 25. During the trip, you will dine in the eponymous Restaurant Edouard Loubet at La Bastide de Capelongue - and enjoy the best of Provencal cuisine. Chef Loubet makes his own red and white wines which accompany the meal. Click HERE for more information.

        

 

 

 

        Peru: Trekking to Machu Picchu - Lodge to Lodge

Now you can travel like Inca royalty and experience all the rave of Peru’s nuevoAndean cuisine at 12,000’ in the Andes with Wildland Adventures. The new Machu Picchu Mountain Lodges Trek is a 6-day luxury adventure that features a physical, cultural, and spiritual journey traversing ancient footpaths through the high Andes en route to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu. Trekking from lodge to lodge you’ll enjoy the eclectic mix of Spanish, Arabic, African, and Asian influences that give rise to delicious Peruvian gastronomy paired with Peruvian, Chilean and Argentine wines. Click HERE for more information.

 

 

 

        Croatia: Gourmet Delights Sailing the Dalmatian Coast

Explore Croatia’s charming island towns, isolated swimming coves and local vineyards and wineries with ROW Adventures. A seasoned Croatian guide and crew will fully immerse you in the local culture and history. Enjoy world renowned Dalmatian wines and Mediterranean cuisine on a vintage 11-day small yacht tour. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood are paired with local wines for an epicure’s delight.  Click HERE for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Trusted Adventures  www.trustedadventures.com. 

Asia Transpacific Journeys Launches Lifelong Learning Journeys

Luxury Travel to Asia Enhanced by Hands-on Immersion, Educational Focus

Asia Transpacific Journeys announces a new Lifelong Learning Journeys series in which trips feature hands-on immersion in a specific theme through classes, discussion and participation with a guest tour leader who is an expert in the field.

For example, their new 17-day Cultures of Buddhist Asia is a sweeping examination of the three major schools of Buddhism practiced in Japan, Laos and Bhutan respectively. The journey will be led by a Buddhism expert from Naropa University, the premier Buddhist studies university in America. Meetings with monks, scholars and optional guidance in meditation will be featured.

“These journeys delve deep into a specific theme, with the world as your classroom,” says Marilyn Downing Staff, President and founder of Asia Transpacific Journeys, an Asia travel company specializing in the region for 21 years. “They are crafted in the spirit of discovery and appreciation, for the lifelong learner who delights in knowledge, not just for those with a background in the subject.”

Lifelong Learning Journeys feature:

• • A unique theme that acts as a focus for each trip
• • A guest tour leader who is an expert in that field
• • Hands-on immersion through classes, demonstrations, discussion, participation
• • Fellow travelers with a similar passion for subject
• • No need to have a background in the subject to join

The Cultures of Buddhist Asia is a Small Group Trip departing November 15, 2008. The per person, double, rate is $10,395 for land costs that includes upscale accommodations, nearly all meals, transfers, visa fees, tips, entrance fees, emergency and medical evacuation insurance, and a comprehensive pre-departure packet.

About Asia Transpacific Journeys
Asia Transpacific Journeys is an award-winning, Boulder, Colorado-based Asia travel company and Asia tour operator specializing in Custom Journeys and Small Group Trips for Asia vacation travel since 1987. Outstanding service, long-standing connections in Asia and deeply insightful cultural interpretation make them the operator of choice for discerning individuals, their families and friends. Asia Transpacific Journeys is the recipient of three “Top Travel Specialists” awards for 2007 from Condé Nast Traveler magazine.  In November 2007 Asia Transpacific Journeys was also honored as a “World’s Best Tour Operator” by National Geographic Adventure.  For more information, visit http://www.asiatranspacific.com or call 800 642 2742.