Cruise West Guests Rave About Inaugural World Voyage

Small-ship, authentic exploration, big adventures Seattle, WA – Cruise West, the world’s leading provider of small-ship explorations to the most fascinating destinations on earth, is receiving rave reviews from world voyage guests. “The included Ultimate Explorer Experiences (noteworthy shore excursions) were so incredible that I will remember them forever. So great, that I am rejoining the voyage later this year,” said Susan B. The line created an amazing array of included shore excursions designed to highlight the magic of each destination. Blog Ahoy, Cruise West’s world voyage blog with submissions coming from guests, talks of adventures and memorable experiences. Guest Susan P. remarks on the blog, “One of the greatest blessings about going on an excursion like we are doing with Cruise West is the opportunity to experience a culture, climate, religious beliefs, and terrain that, for most of us, is so different from our own. One of the best ways to appreciate all... Read More →

Mountain Lodges of Peru Join Forces with Rainforest Alliance

Hundreds of Inca trails connect Cusco and Machu Picchu, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and trekkers can now enjoy breathtaking views of glaciated Andean peaks, soaring condors, as well as villages and archeological ruins along the way. Mountain Lodges of Peru has built four small eco-friendly lodges at a day’s walk distance from one another on the Salcantay Trail to Machu Picchu, crossing a 15,000’ pass between the sacred mountains of Humanay and Salcantay. Mountain Lodges of Peru offers an extraordinary six day trek, with first class lodgings, gourmet cuisine, and the services of the best guides in the region. Besides working with local communities to promote sustainable tourism and conservation projects, Mountain Lodges of Peru has joined forces with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure the natural and cultural heritage of the region is preserved for centuries to come. The Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation organization, works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable... Read More →

AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: South West Coast Path, England (Rolf van Dijk)

Walkers on England’s 630-mile South West Coast Path have 19th century coastguards and customs men largely to thank for the stunning cliff- and beach-hugging route that runs from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall to finish at Poole Harbour in Dorset. Coastguard paths in smuggler-infested areas were subsequently linked together and added to create a classic walking experience that encompasses diverse sea and coastal landscapes. Moods vary from crashing Atlantic breakers beneath towering cliffs on the north coast, sub-tropical gardens on the gentler, more sheltered south coast, and a quality of light and shade that has attracted artists for generations. The path passes through two Unesco World Heritage Sites—the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and East Devon and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape—plus five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 17 Heritage Coasts, and a National Park. This is no walk on the beach, however. The down and up climbs to and... Read More →

A Lifetime of Trips

There are a few enduring phrases that have become permanently etched in our collective consciousness when we talk about or plan travel to places remote and often exotic. And the one phrase that must surely be at top of anyone’s list is just five words. But oh my, the power of those words: once-in-a-lifetime-trip. I must confess I have always had a big problem with that phrase. And frankly, I hope you do, too. Why? Because it implies one trip, a singular one-time experience. Now maybe it’s just me being too literal, but I think we should all bid adieu to the word “once”. And change the whole thing to read: one-of-my-lifetime-trips. Ahhh…doesn’t that feel so much better? It’s still just five words. But the ‘s’ tacked onto the word trip is huge. It takes the pressure off; it’s not like you and I have to make the perfect choice and that if we don’t we’ll end up regretting it for the rest of our lives. And even if you somehow... Read More →

Earth Month with Planeterra – A 10% Discount on All Voluntour Travel Booked in April and Gold Sponsorship of 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

TORONTO, April 8, 2010 – Celebrating sustainable communities around the world and travelers’ opportunities to give back globally, Planeterra Foundation (http://www.planeterra.org/), a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel and voluntourism, announced an Earth Month campaign that provides a 10 percent discount on all new bookings for its voluntourism programs made from now through April 30 for travel departing before Dec. 31, 2010. The non-profit also believes in supporting organizations that foster the well being of global tourism. Planeterra was recently announced as the Gold Sponsor for the upcoming 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards to be presented at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Beijing, China May 25-27. In 2009, Planeterra, together with its founding organization, Gap Adventures, were finalists for the coveted award in the category of Global Tourism Business. “We have tremendous respect for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. With... Read More →

Of Guides, Artists & Linchpins

“Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient.” - Seth Godin I just finished reading Seth’s latest book, Linchpin – Are you Indispensable? It’s a challenging and  inspiring call-to-arms for each and every one of us to become a linchpin…”the people that invent, lead, connect others, make things happen, create order from chaos, figure out to do when there’s no rule book, and delight their customers and peers. Linchpins love their work, pour their best selves into it and turn each day into a kind of art.” It was when I read the word last word line paragraph above—art—that I thought of guides…the trip leaders who I’ve traveled with that made my journey one that exceeded my expectations, surprised me, delighted me, changed me. Their joy, passion and enthusiasm were immense…and genuine. The best guides are ones who routinely and seemingly without effort are able to elevate their work into an art form. And it made me realize that given an identical itinerary,... Read More →

Paddling with Southern Right Whales in Argentina

Why this trip: THE best time and place to paddle with southern right whales and their babies: Oct through Nov in Peninsula Valdes in Argentina’s Patagonia. PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA – Sea Kayak Adventures Inc is proud to unveil a new trip – southern right whale watching by sea kayak and skiff in sheltered lagoons on fully catered guided tours each October through November. The tours are suitable for novices in good health “The two lagoons on the Peninsula Valdes are to Antarctica’s southern right whales what the lagoons of Baja are to the California gray whales, providing sheltered calving grounds in warmer waters” states Terry Prichard, founder of Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc, who has been running sea kayak and whale watching tours in Baja since 1993. “The right whales feed in the rich waters of Antarctica the rest of the year, so this is a perfect window of opportunity to view them.” The company’s associate in Argentina has exclusive use to private land access... Read More →