Adventure Travel News

Fresh from the BBC, see how the Scottish Mountain Rescue teams test for avalanche conditions and search for unfortunate victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8629719.stm

We just stumbled across this sweet surfing vid shot on a GoPro HD Hero Camera.

Enjoy.

If you are going hiking or camping and are looking forward to your outdoor adventure, you should ensure that you have prepared properly first.

Here are some basic tips to help you prepare to make sure that you enjoy your time fully:

Footwear – Uncomfortable feet, or blistered feet can ruin your enjoyment of the outdoors. Make sure you have appropriate footwear depending on the activities you will be doing. Remember, be kind to your feet!

Clothes – Similarly, you should have appropriate outdoor clothing to match your footwear. If you are cold and uncomfortable, then you will not enjoy yourself as much. Take spare outdoor clothing with you and also a variation for all weather conditions;

Supplies – Traveling light is always the best option, but you should never sacrifice for items that you need. Take plentiful supplies of food, drink, outdoor clothing and other important items. However, many luxuries can be left behind to lighten the load;

First Aid – Taking a supply of basic first aid items is a must. You never know what might happen on your travels and help could be far away, so basic first aid is highly recommended. Even if this just consists of bandages, plasters and disinfectant, it’s better than nothing;

Navigation – If wandering into the wild, taking a map, compass or a gps device such as a mobile phone can be very useful. Obviously a phone is useful for emergency calls as well and basic map and compass can help you find your way if you get lost.

Follow these simple tips to ensure make the most of your adventure and go hiking with a smile!

Spring is here, and it may be time to get yourself a new jacket to protect yourself the array of elements you could face up on the track. But what is important regarding hiking jackets? How do you distinguish between the good and the bad when choosing this essential hiking accessory?

Here lists a number of tips and things to look for when making that all important decision. It’s important to remember the ideal jacket may or may not include all of the features listed below. It really does depend on what is important to you.

#1 If you are going backpacking, consider the pocket placement on your jacket, and check to see if the backpack straps interfere with pocket access.

#2 Consider the length of your jacket and decide which suits you best. Bare in mind slightly longer jackets that fall to the top of the thighs, as this jacket will keep upper pants and pockets dry should it rain. However, the drawback of this option is your legs are likely to bump into the jacket, which could slow down the pace of your hike.

#3 Gore-tex and other waterproof breathable membranes are unique in that they allow water vapour/sweat to escape whilst simultaneously repelling rain droplets.

#4 Consider a layered jacket. 1) Use the shell by itself when raining. 2) Wear the fleece by itself on cool spring days. Use both layers to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable in cold wet windy weather.

#5 Pit zips are ideal for those days when it is simply too cool to remove a hiking jacket, but at the same time you’re starting to sweat due to exertion. A jacket with this feature provides extra ventilation when you need it most.

#6 Good quality jackets should have double or reinforced stitching particularly for high stress areas, to increase durability. Seams which aren’t reinforced have a tendency to pull apart or rip out much quicker than you’d like.

Jackets of a higher quality come from brands such as The North Face, Craghoppers and Berghaus.

It is definitely worth choosing a jacket of higher quality, to ensure you get the most joy out of your hike.

San Francisco, Calif., and Hoboken, N.J. – April 7, 2010 – Combining customized online trip planning functionality with their trusted travel guidebook content, Frommer’s®, the market leader in travel guides and a branded imprint of Wiley Publishing, Inc., and NileGuide announced a major content and technology-sharing partnership today. With the launch of the new “Itineraries” section on Frommers.com, users can now drag and drop curated Frommer’s content into personalized trip itineraries powered by NileGuide, strengthening Frommer’s position at the forefront of the rapidly evolving landscape of travel publishing.

“We’re excited to partner with NileGuide to enable our users to customize their trips based on their individual travel preferences,” said Craig Schickler, Director of E-Business Development at Wiley. “NileGuide’s dynamic technology coupled with Frommer’s expert travel advice and itineraries makes for a powerful trip-planning tool for travelers globally.”

Initially available for Frommer’s top 25 destinations around the world, Frommer’s Itineraries will make the full breadth of Frommer’s content available to NileGuide’s trip planning functionality, and will also feature the acclaimed Frommer’s “Day-by-Day” guides for each destination. Users can copy any Day-by-Day guide to use as the basis for their trip, or, using NileGuide’s easy list-building functionality, can add points of interest to customize their own itinerary.

Alongside the launch of Frommer’s Itineraries, powered by NileGuide, NileGuide has also integrated Frommer’s content into the NileGuide.com website and user experience. This initiative brings Frommer’s editorial content to the rapidly growing NileGuide audience for the first time.

“Our users are savvy travelers looking to cut through the clutter of travel content to find great recommendations. Giving them access to the world’s most valuable and trusted source of travel information was a no-brainer,” said Josh Steinitz, CEO of NileGuide. “Our work with Frommer’s sets a new standard in travel content delivery, and we’re excited that this partnership will allow even more people to benefit from Frommer’s best-in-class content and NileGuide’s fast and easy planning tools.”

About Frommer’s®
The market leader in travel content, Frommer’s offers content for every type of traveler in all types of media. Frommer’s publishes 350 guides and sells 2.5 million guides annually. Frommers.com is a trusted resource with advice on deals, information on 3,500 destinations, active message boards, and a weekly podcast program. Frommer’s is a registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Frommer’s is a branded imprint of Wiley.

About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 400 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.
Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley’s global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company’s Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

About NileGuide
Through a global network of local experts and content partnerships with many of the world’s most trusted travel publishers, NileGuide provides a one-stop resource that makes the trip planning process fast, fun and personalized, helping travelers make the most of their trips. NileGuide’s website and mobile applications offer access to hundreds of thousands of points of interest around the world, including hotels, activities, restaurants and suggested itineraries. The company’s technology enables travelers to create custom itineraries and easily filter their content to find recommendations based on preferences such as “local recommended,” “off the beaten path,” or “family friendly.” For more information, visit NileGuide’s Press Room.

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Media Contacts:
Kurt Foeller
kfoeller@nileguide.com
415-596-2098

Sarah Gorback
sgorback@wiley.com
201-748-5629

Evaneos.com, a major player in the Tailor-made & Adventure Travel Industry in France, and #1 company in the “direct sale” market announces today the launch of an English version of its website for travellers and adventurers.

So what is Exploraway.com?
Actually, the website offers travellers the possibility of being in direct contact with local travel specialists throughout the world. This “Glocal” concept allows travellers to benefit from the unrivalled understanding and local experience of a local travel advisor at any destination, in order to create the perfect tailor-made experience.

What do we offer?
- Direct contact with one local travel specialist, expert on his destination
- Fully tailor-made trips, down to the very last detail
- Off the beaten tracks travel experiences, 100% personalised
- Price 15 to 20% lower than a traditional travel agency
- Meaningful experience built step by step with your own local advisor

A few examples
- If you want to go exploring the luxuriant jungle of West Papua, why don’t you go with Djoko, our local expert in Indonesia, who has been organizing trips in his country for more than 15 years?
- Maybe you’d like to go hiking in the Altai Mountains with a local expert, why don’t you call Baatra and his native nomad friends?
- Or if you just wish to have a strong cultural experience in remote Tanzania, why don’t you ask Cathy, a senior tour guide and travel consultant in Arusha for more than 10 years?

About the Company
Evaneos.com has been launched in 2008 in France. It offers authentic and tailor-made trips in more than 50 destinations. From building your own raft in the Sweden forest to luxurious honeymoon hideaways in Sri Lanka, Evaneos.com has been offering a very diverse and rich collection of Travel to become the #1 company in the “direct sale” market.

Will two wheel-based madness ever stop? Unlikley.

Chris Akrigg takes us on a tour of Barcelona.

Well, more of a testicle bashing session than tour …

Thanks again Adventure World Magazine (yes, and you to pinkbike.com!), for the post.

Watch it. Learn it. Try it.

See you in hospital.

Thanks to the Adventure Life for posting it first.

It’s well known that Japan is one big snow making machine – skiers and snowboarders flock from all over to experience the powder.

What isn’t so well known is that Japan also dishes up world-class waves. This year, Typhoon Surf Tours are offering adventurous surfers a chance to explore the deep south.

The 10 day guided tours will be held during the typhoon swell months of September and October when the many reef, point, and beach breaks come alive.

“We cater to surfers who want good waves as well as a rich travel experience with plenty of adventure” says Andrew who leads the tours. Novice surfers are also accommodated and can opt for an “Improve Your Surfing Tour” to take their skills to the next level.

So if you feel like getting off the beaten track to surf warm water waves and experience Japan’s culture at a bamboo-shoots level, check out www.typhoonsurftours.com for more info on their 2010 tours.

A 9 day off road driving event covering some of southern Morocco’s most challenging terrain started last week on Wednesday 17th. Drivers have to navigate their way through a challenging course without the use of ultra modern navigation equipment; GPS, mobile phones and even modern maps.

The event is the only all-women off road rally in the world, and this year all 110 teams, from 14 countries, passed the vehicle inspections at the ceremonial race start in Sete, France.

The event legs combine strategic driving skill with a keen ability in navigation. Race participants range from celebrities to Olympic athletes taking on another challenge. The event is expected to finish on Saturday the 27th March.

For more information and to track their progress, go to www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com.