Special Interest Travel  Adventure Travel  Hard Adventure  Soft Adventure Guided Adventure Travel  Ecotourism

If your sense of adventure lies somewhere between hiking and the moon, danger and delight, personal achievement and discovery, an adventure of a life time is waiting! Research - Know Your Passions - Know Your Limits - Know Your Soul - Find Your Adventure!

The following are helpful questions to ask yourself:

What do I want to see or explore?
What do I wish to achieve?
How do I want to travel?
How independent do I wish to be? Is a set schedule necessary, or does it impede on my adventure?
What level of luxury do I want?
What physical limitations do I have?
What do I consider to be dangerous?
What type of diet do I wish to maintain?
Can I close the door on my culture in order to accept another?

Special Interest Travel

Special interest travel consists of cultural, nature and adventure travel. It is the fastest growing segment of the travel market. Special interest travel consists of rugged trips to remote destinations. We are more office bound than 10-20 years ago, so there is an urgency to get out. Some travelers look for staying at fine resorts and staying close to the swimming pool or private beach. Many thousands each year are looking for active participation on their holiday. For them, its not just a vacation, it's an adventure.

Adventure Travel

Adventure Travel may be defined as a more leisure activity that takes place in an unusual or exotic wilderness or remote destination. It tends to be associated with high levels of activity by the participants. They expect to experience varying degrees of risk, excitement, tranquillity and to be personally tested. They are explorers of the outer world, especially the unspoiled exotic parts of the planet. They also seek the inner world of personal challenge, self-perception and self-mastery. These adventures involve all skill levels and can be divided into both Hard and Soft Adventure.

Hard Adventure

Hard Adventure requires experience and because it encompasses an element of risk, you must be physically and mentally fit. It includes an intimate experience with the environment and culture of the destination. One should be prepared for all weather conditions, sleeping arrangements and dietary restrictions. Examples include; climbing expeditions, class V+ river rafting, whitewater kayaking, arduous treks, hang gliding, rock climbing, wilderness survival, mountain biking, vision quests, etc.

Soft Adventure

Soft Adventure requires less physical risk, little or no experience and offers more convenience in terms of sleeping arrangements and cuisine. Many activities are similar to those in the hard adventure category, yet they occur at a less physically demanding level. Soft adventure offers a wider range of activities and adventure experiences for the alternative traveler. Examples include; horseback riding, rafting, sea kayaking, snorkeling, bicycle touring, camping, canoeing, cross country/nordic skiing, dog sledding, educational adventures, float trips, fly fishing, indigenous/cultural touring, llama treks, sailing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, spelunking/caving, surfing, teambuilding, walking tours, wilderness lodge, wildlife watching, wind surfing.

Guided Adventure Travel

Guided Adventure Travel trips provide scripted participatory experiences for people who don't have time or experience to discover remote places by trial and error. Tour Operators grade trips upon the criteria of difficulty and luxury. Read the trip itinerary carefully and inquire about details. Example: A local trip leader or native to the area will give the adventure a different flavor than a nonnative. A $25 dollar a night hotel in Katmandu is a far different experience than a $180 room. Find out how your trip fee will be spent to reveal exactly what to expect. Each tour operator will create a very different itinerary than other operators to the same destination.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travel. Ecotourism is nature based and participatory and involves a challenge to the individual in which the individual experiences natural areas and regional cultures, while the main focus is conservation and the interpretation and understanding of the area visited. Ecotourism stresses the total environment while making an economic contribution to the local community. Ecotourism usually involves a small group with a leader who is knowledgeable about the environment and culture. Examples: photographic safaris, bird and wildlife viewing, cultural tours, archaeological digs.