Featured Archives - Page 7 of 8

Explore Asia Tours

February 10, 2015 By Cynthia Holmes

Exotic Asia Tours – experience the multitudes of cultures on this exotic continent.

Bali
Beautiful Bali – Travel to Bali and experience this exotic oasis off the coast of Indonesia. Bali’s Ubud, Mt Batur, Lovina and Bedugul provide the perfect island escape. 9 days from $1015 CAD, on sale now $812 CAD ($652 US). Includes 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, snorkeling, climbing, cycling and other activities, Guesthouse (2 nts), Hotel (6 nts).

Bhutan
Bhutan Adventure – Travel along mystical mountains, visit various dzongs and Buddhist gompas, trek along scenic nature trails, experience the ‘Dragon Kingdom’ with cultural interactions at a local farm, take in stunning Himalayan mountain views. 10 days from $2999 CAD. Includes 2 day trek, 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners. (Allow USD100-150 for drinks not included), hotels/guesthouses (7 nts), camping (1 nt), farmhouse stay (1 nt), private vehicle, walking, tours and activities.

Burma
Classic Burma Adventure – Explore intriguing Yangon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, stroll Mandalay’s temples, float down the Irrawaddy River, experience the ancient ruins of Bagan, relax at Inle Lake. 14 days from $2499 CAD. Includes 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch. (Allow USD250-350 for meals not included), hotels (12 nts), simple guesthouse (1 nt), private bus, public bus, plane, boat, bicycle, walking, tours and activities.

China and Mongolia
Envision ancient times at the Great Wall of China, live like a local in an Inner Mongolian ger, marvel at the Hanging Monastery of Datong, stare down the Terracotta Warriors, learn traditional Chinese painting in Pingyao. 12 days, book by Feb 12, select departures Apr 23 – Jun 12 for 15% off at $1274 CAD ($1022 US). Includes 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner. (Allow USD200-260 for meals not included), train, private van, public bus, walking, guide, basic hotels (7 nts), traditional ger (1 nt, multi-share), sleeper train (3 nts).

Philippines
Trek through remote villages, visit World Heritage rice terraces, explore hidden waterfalls and caves, savour Filipino cuisine. 9 days book by Feb 12 for $1104 CAD ($886 US). Select Departures May 01 – Jun 04. Includes 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner. (Allow USD150-200 for meals not included), Private bus, public bus, guide, hotels (6 nts), homestay (1 nt), overnight bus (1 nt).

Thailand and Laos Adventure
Explore Bangkok’s canals, discover Buddhist temples, float down the mighty Mekong. 14 days, book by Feb 12, for from $1444 CAD ($1159 US). Includes 10 breakfasts, 2 dinners. (Allow USD265-350 for meals not included.), hotels (11 nights), village homestay (1 night), sleeper train (1 night), train, local bus, air-con bus, boat, songthaew, cyclo, plane and activities.

Tibet, China and Nepal
Visit incredible monuments and palaces, explore the bustle of Beijing and hike the Great Wall, ride the rails on the Trans-Tibetan railway, experience monk debates in Sera Monastery, set eyes on Everest Base Camp. 15 days Beijing to Kathmandu, on sale for $2699 CAD ($2166 US) departure April 5. Includes 4 breakfasts. (Allow USD225-325 for meals not included), train, private bus, guide, hotels (11 nts), guesthouse (1 nt, multi-share), sleeper train (2 nts).

Wildlife Donations

December 16, 2014 By Cynthia Holmes

If you are stumped about what to buy for your loved ones, as a holiday gift, look no further; wildlife donations go a long way. Donate, adopt or shop for souvenirs in the online stores supporting endangered species. Elephants are being poached due to the illegal ivory trade, great apes are facing extinction due to palm oil production and illegal trade, whales are being killed illegally by the Japanese Government. You can help in a big way by making a small donation.

Ape Action Africa is committed to ape conservation in Africa – protecting Cameroon’s great apes through direct action, including rescuing orphaned gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys, giving them a safe forest sanctuary home where they can live with their own kind.

Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia – Orangutans are endangered and at risk of extinction due to palm oil production. Habitat destruction mean hundreds of orangutans need to be cared for every year.

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – rescuing orphaned elephants and raising them until they are 9 or 10 years old, teaching them how to survive in the wild.

David Suzuki Foundation – Our mission is to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future. Our vision is that within a generation, Canadians act on the understanding that we are all interconnected and interdependent with nature.

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund – Dedicated to gorilla conservation through daily protection, anti-poaching, research, education and helping communities. Donate, adopt or shop.

Save The Elephants – Our mission: to secure a future for elephants and to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species.

Sea Shepherd – Risking their lives, saving our oceans and the wildlife within. You can donate monthly or shop in their US, Australia or Euro online stores.

Island Holidays

December 5, 2014 By Cynthia Holmes

Island Adventures Island holidays offer much more than palm trees and crystal blue water. Trek to Malaysia’s highest peak in Borneo, cross a glacier in Iceland, discover why everyone loves lemurs in Madagascar, learn the history of Zanzibar or feel the Caribbean rhythms of Jamaica. All tours include accommodations and some or all meals.

Borneo
Best of Borneo – 14 days from $2599 CAD ($2311 USD) Watch the sunrise from the top of Mt Kinabalu, spot wildlife on a jungle walk, explore the Mulu caves, overnight in a traditional village, meet an orangutan face-to-face. Includes 12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners. (Allow USD270-350 for meals not included.), Simple hotels/guesthouses (8 nts), homestay (2 nts), longhouse stay (1 nt), national park lodges/mountain huts (2 nts, multi-share), Private van, boat, walking, public minibus, plane, 4×4 vehicle, activities.

Iceland
Best of Iceland -7 days from $2499 CAD ($2222 USD), Service Level – Standard. Sleep on a sustainable farm in the eastern fjords region, marvel at the largest ice cap in Europe, gape at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon with seals floating on icebergs, photograph black-sand beaches and gushing waterfalls around this island nation. Includes 6 breakfasts, (Allow EUR 250-350 for meals not included.), Standard hotel (5 nights), sustainable farmhouse (1 night). Private minivan/bus, walking, activities.

Indonesia
Best of Java – 9 days Jakarta to Sanu, Save 15% for $1019 CAD ($904 USD) on select departures Feb 17 – May 16. Was $1199 CAD. Explore vibrant Jakarta, take the train through terraced rice fields, visit a Buddhist sanctuary, meet the locals and learn the Javanese way of life. Includes 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch. (Allow USD170-200 for meals not included.) Simple hotels/guesthouses (8 nts), transport and activities.

Jamaica
Jamaica Encompassed – 10 days from $1699 CAD ($1511 USD) on select departures Jan 1 – March 21, Service Level – Standard. Relax on world-class beaches around the island, bargain at the local markets, visit a Rastafarian village, learn to drum and dance with the locals at a Maroon village, experience a different side of this familiar island. Includes 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches. (Please allow USD225-375 for meals not included.), Hotels (9 nts), Private van, walking, and activities.

Madagascar
Highlights of Madagascar – 14 days, from $1999 CAD ($1777 USD) – Service Level – Standard. Search for lemurs and unique wildlife, learn about endemic flora and fauna in world-famous national parks, visit local artisan workshops, lounge on the beautiful beaches, savour dinner with a local family. Includes 1 breakfast, 1 dinner. (Allow USD300 for meals and drinks not included.), Hotels (12 nts), homestay (1 nt, multi-share), Private minibus, plane, walking and activities.

Zanzibar
Essence of Zanzibar – 6 days, from $1100 US, Service Level – Comfort. Stroll through narrow streets of the Old Stone Town, where history appears to have stood still. Delight in stunning sunsets as you relax at a classic Zanzibar beach resort. Included 5 nights hotel/resort, 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners, tours, transport, boat trip.

Walking Tours Around the Globe

November 17, 2014 By Cynthia Holmes

Experience the culture of the country while getting up close and personal to local life on the trails on trekking and walking tours. Walking allows you to see and experience things you would otherwise miss. Following are some walking/trekking tours. Active adventures get you closer to your destination.

China – Walk the Great Wall – $1549 CAD ($1372 US approx), 10 days. Explore Beijing’s Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, trek along the Great Wall, sleep in watchtowers and in rural villages, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony and tai chi lessons (6 days of trekking).

Italy – Walking in Tuscany – $1249 CAD ($1107 US), 7 days. Enjoy day hikes in the stunning countryside, taste local specialties, savour home-cooked meals, relax at the authentic countryside accommodations (4 local hikes).

Iceland – Trekking – From $3049 CAD ($2701 US), 10 days. Explore the ever-changing geographical wonderland of Iceland, trek along the sides of volcanoes and across a frozen glacier, camp behind the mountains amongst a secluded campsite along the Laugavagur Trail, search for thermal springs in Iceland’s fertile landscapes (5 days of trekking).

Nepal Adventure – From $1449 CAD ($1284), 10 days. Explore the sights in old Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, search for tigers in Chitwan National Park, trek the foothills of the Annapurna Range, marvel at the mountain landscapes (3 days of trekking).

Spain – Walk the Camino de Santiago – From $1549 CAD ($1372 US), 8 days. Lugo to Santiago de Compostela. Complete the last 100km of the pilgrim’s trail and complete your “compostela”, walk through small villages and towns, enjoy hearty and well-cooked Spanish food, walk into the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela (5 days of trekking).

Thailand – Northern Thailand Experience – $1299 CAD ($1151 US), 12 days. Explore magnificent temples and palaces, trek through remote hilltribe villages and meet local people, bathe and feed an elephant, sleep on a floating rafthouse, learn about the somber history of Kanchanaburi and the infamous Burma Railway (3 days of trekking).

Chile – Trekking the Full Torres del Paine Circuit – From $3599 CAD ($3189 US), 12 days. Soak up the stunning scenery of Torres del Paine National Park, watch the ice floes of the Grey Glacier, trek through incredibly diverse scenery through the mountains, visit the best of cosmopolitan Santiago (9 days trekking).

Peru – Machu Picchu – various tours 7 days+ (typically 4 days trekking).

For information on these and other tours around the globe, Contact Us or use the form at the side of this page.

Responsible Volunteerism

September 18, 2014 By Cynthia Holmes

How to be a Responsible Volunteer – Responsible volunteerism in East Africa is a great way to create positive impact through your travels. You have the privilege of building lasting relationships within the local community, and being instrumental in the mobilization of community members to be proactive and bring about lasting change. The purpose of Africa volunteer work is to create positive change with members of the local community, not to or for.

You will return home enriched, refreshed, and with a greater sense for global community. Your memories will last a lifetime.

Here are some general guidelines on responsible volunteerism:

Research and respect the local culture and history
Avoid over-consumption and waste
Use local resources sustainably
Focus on the Assets of the local community and its members first, and address Needs second
Encourage and maintain social, economic, cultural, and natural diversity
Empower members of the local community in all aspects of planning and decision-making
Avoid paternalism – listen to and communicate with members of the local community on equal grounds, and focus on sustainable impact that can be continued by community members once you leave.

Responsible volunteer work in Africa and her diverse countries is paramount to creating lasting, positive change in local communities. Get to know the local culture and people, enjoy building relationships, and engage in active learning and work alongside local community members. When it’s time for you to leave, you can be confident knowing your efforts will continue after you’ve left, and you’ll have the memories of a lifetime.

Here are some comments from past volunteers:

My volunteering experience in Uganda was a beautiful gift I will cherish always. I have Cynthia to thank for guiding me on this incredible journey with grace, humour and integrity.
Christie Dart
Calgary, Canada

Volunteering at the orphanage was an amazing, rewarding experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The sisters also helped to make the experience a special one; they were so kind to me and they went out of their way to make me feel at home. I will never forget my experience. I really can’t thank you enough for all your patience, support and help regarding my visit to Uganda. It was such a comfort knowing that if I had an issue I could email or call you and receive a speedy response. You really go above and beyond!
Yvette Andrizzi
Northridge, CA, USA

You cannot believe how happy I am for doing this, though was too short. Everything was as you had described it, even better. I am so sad of leaving and all I can think of is how to apply for a job in Uganda. The staff was very friendly and I think the charity is doing an amazing job there. I can’t wait for going back! I made tons of friends, there were plenty of volunteers there. I wish I had stayed more, but planning to come back soon.
Mirela Iancu
Bucharest, Romania

Beach Holidays

September 8, 2014 By Cynthia Holmes

Relaxing with a good book or frolicking in the waves, who doesn’t love beach holidays? Here are 17 unusual beaches around the world, from black, pink or green sand beaches, to luminescent plankton, to bizarre stone caves and boulders. The photos are quite stunning and may get you inspired.

If you pay attention to the seasonal climate conditions prior to planning a holiday, you will know what to expect. Avoid storm season, for instance, so that your chances of sunshine and calm are better. For example, Caribbean weather can throw a hurricane at you from June to November, with September being the stormiest month. Monsoons occur in Asia over several months, depending on location. Check world weather reports for historical data so that you can be prepared for your beach holiday.