Gap Adventures launches largest global online contest in company history

Toronto – To celebrate 20 innovative years providing life-changing travel experiences across the globe, Gap Adventures is launching the Create Your Own Adventure contest, the largest and most ambitious interactive competition in the company’s history.

The global online contest invites everyone from once-a-year vacationers to seasoned globetrotters to submit an itinerary for the tour of their dreams, virtually anywhere in the world, virtually any way they want. The winning entry – determined through public online polling and input from a panel of world-renowned judges – will be featured in a Gap Adventures brochure in 2011.

“Create Your Own Adventure is the biggest and most exciting contest we’ve ever staged,” said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. “I’m thrilled that in celebration of our 20th anniversary, we’re inviting everyone from aspiring to avid travellers to build their dream itinerary and share it with the rest of the world. One of our company’s core values is to create happiness and community the world over, and I can’t think of a better way of doing that than by unlocking the creativity of so many people.”

That nine-person panel includes Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler, filmmaker and adventurer Celine Cousteau – the granddaughter of iconic explorer Jacques Cousteau – Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, National Geographic Adventure Magazine editor-in-chief John Rasmus, explorer and BBC presenter Benedict Allen, Outside Magazine executive editor Mike Roberts, adventurer Alastair Humphreys, polar explorer and author Tom Avery, and Gap Adventures’ Bruce Poon Tip.

Everyone with a winning tour idea can log on to www.createyourownadventure.com and use the customized itinerary engine to select up to three countries to include as part of their trip, a name and duration for the tour and a selection of highlights and activities. They will then be asked to provide a summary of why they think theirs is an adventure like none other. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2010.

The creator of the winning tour will have the opportunity to experience their adventure along with two lucky friends, and enjoy a host of exciting prizes – provided by Sony Canada, Lonely Planet, Kobo Books, KEEN Inc., Outside Magazine, World Nomads and Universal Music Canada. In addition, five Mystery Tour winners from around the world will be chosen through a draw to join the lucky creator on this inaugural trip. The winners will be announced May 25, 2010.

Discover France Announces New Garmin GPS Units Included On All France Self Guided Tours for 2010

Scottsdale, AZ—Discover France, the leading specialist in cycling and hiking vacations throughout France, offers self-guided trips to France that feature unique itineraries and NEW Garmin GPS personal navigation systems for all tours in 2010. The cycling and hiking routes chosen by Discover France Adventures offer clients the opportunity to explore the culture, architecture, and gastronomy in the region of their choice while the new GPS units will provide additional support throughout the tour so that getting off the route is virtually impossible. This makes the lower priced, high value, self guided formula that much more attractive to savvy travelers.

Self-guided travel is a growing trend due to the flexibility it presents and the extraordinary price that accompanies it. With extras like the Garmin Dakota GPS, self-guided cyclists and hikers visiting France get the perfect combination of support and independence with Discover France, and they won’t have to put forth much effort to have a relaxing and memorable vacation. The Garmin Dakota GPS are small and easy to carry, feature an easy to read screen (even in the sun), background maps, and more.

Most of the Discover France cycling and hiking tours are priced under 1500 Euros, which includes accommodation in top quality hotels, expertly chosen routes, and ample support. Discover France features creative self-guided itineraries that offer the best of each region at the greatest possible value to the traveler. Their website features more than 30 different self guided tour itineraries that last anywhere from four to fourteen days. For more information or to see a complete listing of itineraries, please visit the website www.discoverfrance.com or contact Loren Siekman at (480) 905-1235.