If you’re planning a greener holiday in France, then you might want to explore Alsace in 2010.
The region has an increasing choice of green accommodation from hotels and lodges to farms. For eco-holiday activities, Alsace boasts two nature parks, 21 nature reserves, wildlife parks, 1,300+ kms of marked cycle touring routes and locations ideal for walking, horse riding, canoeing and climbing.
Adventure travel specialist Gap Adventures recently announced it’s introducing 24 hours-a-day service so global travelers can contact the company anytime.
“Our travelers around the globe want to experience our life-changing trips and industry-leading service on their terms,” says Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip.
“They need flexibility to book a trip or get answers from one of our hundreds of CEOs at their convenience, and this new 24/7 service will offer the kind of high-touch attention that adventure-seekers demand.”
Travelers will have access to the tour operator’s Chief Experience Officers (CEOs) any time of day or night. They will assist travelers in choosing the best itinerary to match their interests and experience sustainable, authentic holidays.
For more info, check out Gap Adventures online.
Image courtesy of Gap Adventures
Have you always dreamed of Spain’s Camino de Santiago?
Now, you can cycle the legendary pilgrimage in 2010 with Cycling through the Centuries (CTTC). Based in Portugal, the family-owned, luxury cycling tour specialist strives to maintain eco-friendly and sustainable operations in Spain.
Says the company:
“For a thousand years since the bones of St. James were reputedly discovered in Santiago, common people, bishops, priests, kings, popes and saints have made this famous pilgrimage. Nowadays, the expedition is not as often religiously driven, but a personal journey and test to physical and mental endurance.”
The trip will begin in the Pyrenees above Pamplona then cross northern Spain, visit cathedral cities León and Burgos and make many pilgrim stops. Each day, the tour will end with relaxing in monasteries, ancient pilgrim inns, small hotels and restaurants famous for their regional cuisine.
For more info, check out CTTC online.
Image courtesy of the National Tourist Office of Spain
Are you planning a 2010 trip to Africa?
Then you might be interested in the Gap Adventures Africa Overland program. Recently, the adventure travel company announced it will guarantee all Africa Overland departures through to mid-2010 except for the standalone Kenya and Tanzania Overland trip (DKTO).
The Africa Overland tour network features 40+ itinerary options in nine countries including some 20 new 2010 options. Among these African destinations are small villages in Malawi; isolated beaches on Zanzibar and adventure spots in Victoria Falls and Jinja.
Says Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip:
“These guaranteed departures provide a fantastic opportunity for our passengers to explore more of Africa’s pristine destinations in the sustainable, authentic manner they expect from us. Adventurers can rest assured that their once-in-a-lifetime journeys to embrace Africa’s beautiful and bizarre wildlife and culture will depart as planned.”
For more info, check out Gap Adventures online.
Image courtesy of Gap Adventures
Are you planning a cruise vacation and looking for greener options? Cruise company Ecoventura is a greener cruising leader recognized for its commitment to sustainable tourism in the Galapagos.
In September, the company was named the winner of a Condé Nast Traveler 15th Annual World Savers Award in the category of Cruise Lines. Recently, Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Awards named Ecoventura the winner of the 2009 award for Green Cruising, featured online and in the magazine’s November issue. The annual Global Vision Awards “recognize the latest and best efforts at cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and community building through tourism.”
Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. This Galapagos cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels, 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins, and a 16-passenger dedicated divelive-aboard. Ecoventura says all its vessels have been retrofitted to meet high environmental standards.
Says Santiago Dunn, Ecoventura president:
“It’s gratifying that today’s opinion makers are seeking out companies like ours that understand it takes an unwavering commitment to sustainable change and purpose instead of blind profit..Ironically, booming tourism in the Galapagos has added to the challenges and problems faced by those looking to restore and protect the island’s native species and ecological balance.”
For more information, check out Ecoventura online.
Image courtesy of Ecoventura
Calling itself “the first social marketplace for experiential travel”, ekoVenture recently launched.
The site provides access to 10,000+ travel experiences and day activities from 450+ tour operators in over 160 countries. A community of travelers will also share reviews, blogs, photos, videos and more.
“Experiential travel is the fastest growing segment of travel because consumers are seeking more authentic travel experiences to break the cruise ship and theme park cycles”, says TJ Sassani, ekoVenture’s Founder and CEO.
Travel categories on ekoVenture include sustainable, cultural, adventure, culinary, active sport and voluntourism. Among the trip experiences offered are cycling in the Moroccan desert; sailing the Greek Islands; ‘sip and cycling’ in Napa Valley; hiking the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea and volunteering in east Africa.
