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www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
WHY TRAVEL WITH US Adventure travel trips specifically geared for working professionals from the same city. Odyssey Treks provides authentic cultural trips involving travel to remote, exotic areas with elements of physical participation and exploration of a new experience with optional volunteering opportunities. The great thing is everyone on the trip will be from the same city where you can share, relive, and get together back home after the trip. What we want to create with this company is a community for you in your city where you can meet new friends, create meaningful relationships and have life time memories of unforgettable trips and journeys. We’ve met some truly remarkable people, shared some amazing experiences and have had some fantastic relationships through all our years of travel. The problem is all those people are scattered throughout the world. There’s amazing people, incredible friendships and wonderful relationships ready to be made right in your own city. Why not connect with them through travel and develop something meaningful and lasting. All of our tours will incorporate our trip essence. This trip essence includes adventure, culture and volunteering opportunities. As well we promise to follow our guiding principles and core values on all of our trips.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES QUALITY Our accommodations, local guides, pre-departure service and suppliers are constantly monitored and consistently evaluated to ensure we uphold the standard of excellence. We will always ask for traveler suggestions, requirements and any safety concerns you may have for all our trips to make this the most memorable experience possible. FLEXIBILITY All of our tours offer optional activities throughout with plenty of free time to do your own thing. Of course we want you to do as many activities as possible with the group but we also understand that having time on your own is important as well. Our small groups can venture beyond the well-worn tourist paths and experience a destination’s less publicized but equally rewarding attractions. Our itineraries are creative and responsive and make the perfect one or two week vacation so you can take full of advantage. SMALL GROUPS Limiting our groups to no more than 16 participants plus one Odyssey Treks Tour Leader means we can maximize cultural immersion while minimizing environmental disruption. As food always plays an important role in the local cultural experience, we make a www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
point of avoiding large hotel buffets in favour of smaller, local restaurants for all meals besides breakfast.
VALUE Since we design, develop and work with local partners in each country no one is more familiar with the intricacies of our product than ourselves. When you book with us, you take advantage of this first-hand knowledge and an extensive network of worldwide contacts; you’ll be in good hands with Odyssey Treks.
What Odyssey Treks does is make everything easy for you from the moment you land in the country to the time you get back on that plane to go home. There’s no need to do hours and hours of planning. Let us take out all the stresses of traveling so you can enjoy your time away. Remember it’s a vacation for you. We’re going to make sure you have a fantastic time! If something were to go wrong going we will be there to help you, support you and make sure whatever challenges there are you won’t be alone. We’ve found our travel experiences sometimes things can go wrong unfortunately- that’s the nature of traveling in foreign countries.
Our CORE VALUES Develop Friendships and Community Create Happiness Responsibility Provide Opportunities Explore and Challenge We hope you choose to travel with a purpose and to travel with us! Here’s a quote from the Dalai Lama- his words I truly believe in. “We’ve lost something along the way. Our society focuses on material things and for some reason people measure others by what they have instead who they are. I wish everyone happiness and finding it can be difficult. The happiest people I’ve met are those in villages that have nothing. It’s remarkable seeing these happy kids. For them they have family, friends and an imagination.” Ryan- Owner Odyssey Treks www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
TOUR ITINERARY Day 1- Quito Visit Colonial Quito (World Heritage Site) then later take a cable car/teleferico up to 4100 m. and walk around Pichincha Volcano for approx. 2 hours. Later descend by cable car and drive to your hotel
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Overnight in Hotel *** Hotel Vieja Cuba or Stubel Suites & CafĂŠ Services: private transport, English speaking licensed guide Meals: breakfast, dinner www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
Day 2- Fly to Galapagos Early wake up and private transfer to the national airport (aprox 1 hour) Flight to Galapagos/San Cristobal Island. Upon arrival at Galapagos, our English speaking guide will meet you at the airport. Your luggage will be transported by car, we walk to your hotel In the afternoon visit the Interpretation Center + Los Tijeretas Overnight in Hotel Casa Blanca or alternative Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast
Day 3- Snorkeling and Biking
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We will set off to Kicker Rock. This is a very good place for snorkeling. Hereafter we continue to Playa Grande to enjoy the white sand beach and a little relaxation. A picnic will be provided and www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
in the afternoon you bike to La LoberĂŹa, a nice beach where you will see sea lions, birds and marine iguanas. Return bike ride to Puerto Baquerizo. Overnight in Hotel Casa Blanca or alternative . Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast, picnic Day 4- Santa Cruz and Charles Darwin Research Station Early wake up and short transfer to the port At 7am will take the public fast boat to the Island of Santa Cruz. Boat ride will take approx 2.5 hours. Upon arrival our driver will wait for you at the port and will bring you to your hotel. After checking in at the hotel we will visit the Charles Darwin research station. After lunch hike to Tortuga Bay and enjoy the long white sand beach then later walk back into town. Overnight in Hotel Mainao or alternative Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast
Day 5- Island Hop
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www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
Today is a shared visit to one of the un-inhibited islands- the Island of Bartolommeo, North Seymour or Islands Plazas. Many animals can be seen and they’ll be great opportunities for snorkeling. In the afternoon return to your hotel for a little leisure and relaxation. Overnight in Hotel Mainao or alternative Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast, lunch Day 6- Sea Kayaking After breakfast you kayak in the harbor and surrounding waters for approx. 2 hours. After returning to the port for lunch we will then take a public fast boat to the next Island named Isabela. After arriving we will transfer to the hotel where you will have the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight in Hotel The Wooden House or alternative Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide for kayaking Meals: breakfast
Day 7- Sierra Negra Crater and Hiking Volcano Today you will visit the second biggest crater in the world, the Sierra Negra . We travel by car for approx. 40 min and from here you hike to Volcano Chico for approximately 6 hours. In the afternoon return to town and some time to swim and enjoy the sunset. Overnight in Hotel The Wooden House or similar Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast, packed lunch
Day 8- Wall of Tears and Los Tintoreras Today you will visit the Wall of Tears. The wall was constructed by a penal colony who’s prisoners who were forced to build the wall, stone by stone, in isolation from 1949 – 1959. From here there’s a lovely walk back to town and later in the afternoon you will participate in a tour to Los Tintoreras. Los Tintoreras has a small bay with calm turquoise waters, where you can see turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, rays, etc. This bay is connected to a crystal clear crack that is shallow and when the tide is low, the input is closed. In this crack you can see how sharks swim along with other small fish and sea lions. It is a good place to snorkel. Hereafter return to your hotel www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
Overnight in Hotel The Wooden House or similar Services: private transport, English speaking Naturalist guide Meals: breakfast Day 9- Free time and Island of Santa Cruz Relax in the morning, time for some sunbathing, swimming, or maybe rent a bike. In the afternoon we will take the public fast boat to the Island of Santa Cruz. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. This evening will enjoy a group dinner. Overnight in Hotel Mainao or alternative Services: private transport, public fast boat to Isla Santa Cruz Meals: breakfast, dinner Day 10- Fly to Quito A private transfer from your hotel to the Airport Baltra. Flight to Quito. At Quito airport transfer to your hotel (aprox 1 – 1.5 hours, depending on traffic) Hotel Vieja Cuba or Stubel Suites Services: private transport by Spanish speaking driver and airport assistance Meals: breakfast
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www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
Day 11- Volunteering Volunteering day.1. Visit the animal rescue center outside Quito. Today you can help in this center by: walking with the animals (mostly dogs), bathing and cleaning. In the afternoon return to Quito. Or 2. Visit the Parque Condor Center a rehabilitation Center for birds of prey and Condors. Cleaning the gardens will be a day task. In the afternoon return to Quito (2 hour drive) . Overnight in your hotel in Quito Services: private transport and English speaking guide Meals: breakfast, lunch Day 12- Rafting and Hot Springs Early departure and today there is a full day rafting (or introduction course for Kayaking) In the afternoon drive to Papallacta at 3400m and overnight at Lodge. Relax at the hot springs Services: private transport, English speaking licensed guide Meals: breakfast - lunch Day 13- End of Tour Relax morning or early morning transfer to the international airport International flight Services: private transport, English speaking licensed guide Meals: breakfast
www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
TRIP ROUTE MAP
PRICING $3599USD WITH MY OWN ROOM ADD $999USD 2014 DEPARTURE CITIES AND DATES Please check our website for the latest dates and departure cities PHYSICAL CONDITIONING RATING: 3 out of 5 THIS TOUR IS FOR EVERYONE. Cultural Rating: 2 out of 5 www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
Accommodations 3 star comfort hotels Meals Included All daily buffet breakfasts at hotels are included. 2 Dinners Meal Budget: Allow USD25-75 per day for meals and drinks (including bottled water) not included.
What’s Included Private transfer and transport, Public fast boat transfers between the Islands English speaking naturalist guide Lodging in smaller good middle class hotels Excursions on tour- biking, snorkeling in Galapagos and rafting etc. Meals on itinerary Entrance Fee to Galapagos Islands Migration Card Galapagos Domestic flight Quito – Galapagos – Quito Volunteering day
www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com
What’s Not Included International flights, airport/departure taxes, visas, pre or post tour accommodation, optional tours sightseeing or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, tips and items of a personal nature, laundry and any alcohol purchased or consumed. Some places that we visit charge additional fees if you are entering with a camera or camcorder - your city guide will advise on these and they can be paid for locally. Any travel vaccinations that are required. Travel Medical Insurance (this is mandatory and must be shown to our tour leader before trip begins) If you need travel insurance please go to our website and get a free quote
www.odysseytreks.com Phone: 1-855-888-8735 Email: info@odysseytreks.com