Outpost Global Travel Guide 2014 Preview

ADVENTURE

97 2014 ANNUAL GLOBAL TRAVEL GUIDE

NUNAVUT From Baffin Island to Icebergs to Polar Bears, Canada’s biggest region is alive with adventure

Rule of the Jungle

Twitch, Don’t Tweet

OUTPOSTMAGAZINE.COM

95 TRIPS To Knock Your Travel

Socks Off! Madagascar

Ecuador

Croatia Zimbabwe

Vietnam

ITALY

97

ANNUAL

TRAVEL GUIDE

ANN 14

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IN THIS ISSUE

Downloadable Deals

Around the World in 80 Hours

More under-reported, quirky-human, natural-world stories: when one letter makes a very big difference, lizards that go bump in the night, geckos with a fan base, and more table talk about roadkill food fare

Knowledge 13 InLocal the Saudi Souk

The downside of haggling in the market with your mother

Why Tweet or Twerk When You Can Twitch?

By Simon Vaughan

Our special ornithological correspondent on the surprises that can happen when wildlife watching in the jungle

22 MEC’s The Traveller’s Edge From Fleece to Kevlar to GPS— 10 innovations that have made adventure better

Buzz 136 Backpacker News from Hostelling International

ISSUE

97

2014

GLOBAL TRAVEL

GUIDE

Produced and Written by Simon Vaughan From half days to half years, nothing rewards, refreshes or rejuvenates like travel. So whether you climb, mountain bike or tundra trek, whitewater paddle or calmly canoe, like high hills or dense jungle forest, snaking rivers or open ocean, love cities and art and culture— here is Outpost’s annual roundup of way-cool adventures, eye-popping options and bonechilling thrills for the new travel year

Europe rope South outh America Central entral America and the Caribbean North rth America Africa frica and India Asia, sia, Oceania & Beyond Lights, ights, Camera, Travel! 10 tours for the Super Fan Outpost utpost Travel Center Trips on Offer

ADVENTURE NUNAVUT!

Canada’s newest and largest territory—which represents a fifth of its entire land mass—is defined by endless tundra, majestic mountains, wide open ocean and big sky horizon. rom trekking to camping to climbing, Baffin sland to ankin nlet, Cambridge Bay to the Coppermine iver, polar bear to bowhead spotting, unavut is adventure central!

HI's Fave Fives for 2014—from five great hostels to five great places to sip wine or beer, a things-to-consider list for the new hostelling year

Traveller 142 Outpost Connecting you to your next adventure

OUTPOST PRESENTS

Where the River Runs Through It Story by Paul Auerbach, Photos by Colin O’Connor This past summer, in Quebec’s Kuururjuaq National Park, a group of Outpost adventurers set out to explore the wilds of the mighty Koroc River, from mountain top to river bed to vast Arctic tundra

Jordan Manley

WINtheAdventure of a Lifetime to

Thailand Enter for a Chance to WIN www.outpostmagazine.com

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80

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By Simon Vaughan

Wednesday, October 2, 1872, English gentleman Phileas Fogg and his French valet, Jean Passepartout, stepped out of London’s Reform Club and headed east. Their challenge was to travel the world in 80 days. If they succeeded, the members of the club would reward Fogg with £20,000—about £1.5 million in today’s money—which suggests that his fellow Reformists either had no confidence in his ability to succeed, or had more money than sense.

With the exception of hot air balloons, which had a tendency to occasionally go sideways once airborne, flying was not an option 142 years ago. Thus, the two gents began a circumnavigation dependent entirely on trains and ships…with a few colourful conveyances along the way.

Today, Fogg would text Passepartout, his personal global travel guide, and instruct him to go online and book the fastest route. With money of little consequence, Passepartout would whisk Fogg to Heathrow by helicopter, and thence eastwards. Within hours, the peregrinating pair would be stretching their legs in a sumptuous first-class lounge, supping on gourmet food and perhaps picking up duty-free goodies. Airborne once more, their next stop would likely be North America, and then a subarctic hop back to England. Taking into consideration London traffic, airport security and minimum check-in times, they would possibly arrive back at their club within 80 hours...though there’s a chance their luggage would still take 80 days!

When Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days was first published in 1873, such perambulations were nothing short of gobsmackingly fast—but today, when astronauts orbit the Earth every 90 minutes, we sometimes lose sight of the fact, as we concentrate merely on haste, that we can actually venture around the world in 80 ways.

Fogg would undoubtedly approve—but then, as Verne describes, Fogg’s odyssey was still most certainly as much about the journey as it was the destination.

On

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KNOWLEDGE

The Art of the Barter

Story and Photos by

Daniel Wickie

Saudi Souk in the

GETTYIMAGES.COM /JAVARMAN3

B

argaining. Haggling. Horse trading. Whatever you want to call it, it’s an art form. It is not always a simple matter of you say 15, I say five, and we agree to settle on 10. There are hundreds of strategies to adopt, all of them equally appropriate or not, depending on the situation. What you should always, always do, though, is tell your mother your strategy before you implement it. Especially when she is standing next to you within earshot of the merchant.

I was visiting my parents, who were living in Saudi Arabia. We were in a shop in Deira, which is an old section of Riyadh, and a collection of alleys and lanes and souks (or marketplaces) with you-name-it on sale, not far from Justice Square—called Chop-Chop Square by expats—where public executions are still carried out by sword on Fridays. We were buying various knick-knacks and souvenirs and artworks. My friend Jane was toying with a metal lamp studded with semi-precious stones. I was idly looking at a bunch of colourful evil-eye charms. My mother was admiring some silver spoons decorated with camels.

The merchant was named Nassim. I had said hello in Arabic, which, along with “thank you,” “God willing” and “which way to Riyadh,” pretty much exhausts my supply of that language. His English, of course, was excellent, and we had engaged in the general light banter, enquiries as to the health of various family members and multiple offers of tea one undergoes in any transaction east of Athens. We had assembled our collection of Neat Middle Eastern Stuff For Folks Back Home, Nassim had totalled it up, and the time had come to pay the piper. www.outpostmagazine.com

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KNOWLEDGE

Evil-eye charms watch over bartering tourists in the souk

The lanes of Deira have a bewildering array of goods on offer

Jane and my mother didn’t feel they could haggle well. My father has been living here for 10 years and knows how to bargain, but he had wandered down some alley to get a coffee, which left yours truly to the task. No worries. I’m no pro, but I had been here and done this and got the T-shirt, thank you. I stepped up to the plate, cooler than a cucumber.

“Nassim, siddiqi, I understand this price is before the special discount, yes?”

“Oh, no, Mr. Daniel. You see, I have already discounted off each item, as I showed you on the calculator.”

The total was 550 riyals (about $150 CDN). I wanted to pay 400 or 450 riyals, but would have paid 500, looking for at least a token deal.

“But my friend, it is truly unfortunate that I only have 400 riyals,” I said, with feigned regret.

Nassim nodded at the response he was expecting. Then my mother spoke up.

“You only have 400 riyals? I have money.”

I looked at her. I looked at Jane. I looked at Nassim, standing right there, the shadow of a smile starting to form under his neatly trimmed mustache. I couldn’t say anything, but started thinking frantically.

“Umm…well, I don’t think we should spend all of our money in one shop. We should save some for other stuff in other… shops,” I ended lamely.

“What other shops? We’re not going to any other shops.”

I nodded. I looked at Jane with scarcely concealed incredulity. Nassim’s smile was positively radiant, his mustache arcing skyward, although he was probably kicking himself for not asking 1,000!

“Oh, we’re not going to other shops?

In the street, Saudi men stroll in a group

Umm…OK, then.”

It’s like when an animal smells fear.

No way was Nassim coming down. If anything, he was going to suddenly slap his forehead, remember it was Sunday, and you know, Canadians don’t get the special price on Sundays.

Last shot: “OK, how much was this, 90 riyals?” I held up the silver and pink garnet lamp. “I don’t think we need this.”

I put it aside, thinking that brought the total down to 460, and he’d just say take it all for 500.

Mom: “But isn’t the lamp the one thing you really wanted? Here, I’ll buy it.”

Done. I reluctantly pulled out my wallet and stared at my mother with a bemused look, kind of like that mixture of loyalty and confused curiosity your dog gives you when he’s trying to say, Yes I love you, I just don’t understand.

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F n t t y T t in w s g t

Lamp clusters in the souk

.GETTYIMAGES.COM /ROSAFREI

Evening in Justice Square remains thankfully quiet

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KNOWLEDGE

Simon Vaughan

GETTYIMAGES.COM /BERETA

Story and Photos by

When is the Way to Go Our special correspondent goes trekking through the dry tropical forest and gets less but more than he bargained for

M

arco led us quietly through the dry tropical forest of Costa Rica’s Santa Rosa National Park. The world around us was a palette of every shade of sepia known to humanity, as if Van Gogh had stocked up when his local paint shop had a sale on mustard. Moving stealthily was easier said than done on a sprawling carpet of brittle leaves, but we gamely continued, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of Central America’s exotic wildlife.

,

the pid eal ith

Marco hissed for us to stop. We froze in our tracks, longing for something devastatingly deadly like a fer-de-lance, or even a particularly bloodthirsty and really vicious butterfly, but instead Marco pointed at a sharp tree branch directly ahead.

“Look,” he said, his eyes as wide as the jaws of the hungry jaguar I was hoping to see. This had to be good to get a local pro like Marco so excited, yet all I could see was the tree. Perhaps it was an ocelot, the jaguar’s smaller cousin and my second priority, assuming a

chupacabra was out of the question.

“There,” he added, clearly unimpressed by my powers of observation.

“It’s the common potoo.”

All I could think of was the maniacal alien from the Flintstones cartoons—but even if it was Fred and Wilma themselves, I was still seeing nothing.

Marco quietly slid in beside me and directed my eyes to a tree. And then, like one of those 3D prints that you have to cross your eyes and press your nose to before slowly moving backwards, the common potoo came into sight.

It was a yellow and brown bird, sitting atop a yellow and brown branch in the middle of a yellow and brown tree in a forest of yellow and brown. How could I possibly have missed him? His angular head, hooked beak and inert body provided perfect camouflage and made me feel somewhat better that it had taken so long to spot, even after Marco had practically handed him to me on a platter.

“They are so rare,” Marco gushed, a smile beaming from ear to ear. “I’ve never seen one before. You are very, very lucky.”

Arctic gull

Red-billed hornbill

Red-lored parrot

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Crowned crane

Secretary bird

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We stood and watched the evidently not-so-common potoo for several minutes with a growing sense of excitement, thanks to Marco’s infectious enthusiasm.

Birds hadn’t been top of my wants list, and we hadn’t seen a (not really) maneating jaguar or deadly snake, but we had come away with something few visitors to the jungles of Costa Rica ever actually see. We couldn’t wait to tell friends and family of our good fortune, although the likelihood of any of them knowing that the common potoo wasn’t a small alien was pretty remote.

When I was six years old, I used all of my pocket money to join a birdwatching club. I received a membership packet, which included a booklet with illustrations of most of the birds that could commonly be seen in my area and a blank form on which I could write them down when spotted. I never became a confirmed twitcher as birdwatchers are sometimes known), and don’t recall ever writing a single sparrow, pigeon or dodo on my form; but our feathered friends have always tickled my fancy, and, perhaps more importantly, I keep an open mind to the little things around me whenever I travel.

If I had spent a ton of money to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing Bengal tigers in the wilds of India, and after a few days of cool early morning game drives and sizzling afternoon jaunts saw nothing more exotic than a dung beetle, you could excuse me for going home disappointed.

(Before going on I should add that I happen to love watching dung beetles, and have spent many a happy moment as they roll their poopy balls of fun around—but it’s not quite the same as seeing a real, larger-than-life endangered jungle cat.)

When you go to Africa you want to see lions or elephants; in Australia it’s kangaroos and koalas; in the Galapagos it’s tortoises and whales; and in the U.S. it’s Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa. No matter how hard you try to get excited by a grub or blow fly, maggot or gnat, it s really difficult to do the happy dance if you ve missed the A-list animals. But if you take a keen interest in what’s around you, listen to your guide or do your homework beforehand, you may end up getting an even greater thrill from something other than the marquee creature.

I can honestly say that spying a serval in Tanzania or a family of wild dogs in GLOBAL TRAVEL GUIDE2014

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Gull in Neko Harbour, Antarctica

No matter how hard you try to get excited by a grub or blow-fly, maggot or gnat, it’s really difficult to do the happy dance if you’ve missed the A-list animals

The elusive serval, Serengeti, Tanzania

www.outpostmagazine.com

04/12/2013 6:05:50 PM

Adventure

NUNAVUT Shaped by generations of an Arctic-dwelling people, land of tundra and mountain and river, rich with art and an ancient culture, home to the planet's most amazing polar wildlife, Nunavut is adventure-central

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OpXpeditions Nunavut

W

e are not the first adventurers to cross Hudson Strait, not by a long shot. As brilliant blue as any tropical sea but arguably a smidge cooler, this stretch of Arctic water was navigated by ancient mariners and the great polar explorers as far back as the 16th century. Many of those latter souls had their quest for the Northwest Passage blocked by ice—luckily for Team Outpost, we are aboard a First Air flight, well above the fearless sea.

From our winged crow’s nest, though, we can survey the source of their famed consternation: some of the ice is wide and flat; some are bergs, tall and white and monolithic. But all are providing a spectacular contrast to the

i h a o e a fin land on ir t Air

OUTPOST/DANIEL PUIATTI

al it nternational Air ort na t h

OUTPOST/DANIEL PUIATTI

expansive azure water that so defines the Canadian Arctic.

We are Team Outpost, and we’re up here to see all that, and more. A hand-picked crew of thrillseekers and expeditioners, assembled in three teams, will spend the next few weeks criss-crossing Nunavut, Canada’s most northerly territory, in search of ad-

COVER PHOTO AND THIS SPREAD: OUTPOST/WILL ALLEN

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One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things Henry Miller

C E N T RAL AM E RIC A

CRUISE/BOAT

SO UT H AM E RIC A

CULTURE/URBAN EXPERIENCE CYCLING TREKKING PADDLING/KAYAKING OVERLAND/ROAD TRIP/VEHICLE TRANSPORT WILDERNESS/OUTDOORS/WILDLIFE WATER SPORTS WINTER SPORTS

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Produced and Written by

Simon Vaughan

GO FORTH AND PROSPER RUSSIA

M ID D L E E AST

ASIA

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ourney, jaunt, trip, trek, roam, ramble, wend, wind or wander. No matter what word you use, nothing rewards, refreshes and rejuvenates quite like travel. From half days to half years, we’ve taken the high road and the low road to search the world for the premier peregrinations of 2014.

Whether you mountain bike or tundra trek, climb, cook or photograph, whitewater paddle or watch from the deck, like high hills or dense jungle forest, long snaking rivers or wide open oceans, strolling through cities or seaside villages, love art and culture and history (and beer and yoga), here is Outpost’s roundup of way-cool adventures, bone-chilling thrills and life-changing experiences for the upcoming travel year. Go forth and prosper.

EUROPE SOUTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN NORTH AMERICA AFRICA AND INDIA ASIA, OCEANIA & BEYOND LIGHTS, CAMERA, TRAVEL—10 TOURS FOR THE SUPER FAN Prices in Canadian dollars unless specified, and do not include airfare or taxes, unless indicated. All prices and departure dates are subject to change—check with individual tour operator for final details on all trips listed.

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TOFINO EXPEDITIONS INC.

TOFINO EXPEDITIONS INC.

E U RO PE

ITALY

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KAYAKING ITALY, THE VENICE LAGUNA Built upon 118 islands and with a history ine tricably linked with the sea, it is only fitting to discover Venice by water. This unique odyssey explores the city of Marco Polo, Casanova and Canaletto, mostly by kayak and well away from the crowds. eaving around the aguna, along the city s labyrinthine canals and through its many islands, you will learn to paddle a gondola on the eneto, enjoy a private glassblowing lesson on Murano, and savour the finest of enetian cuisine.

TOFINO EXPEDITIONS

tofino. o

800.677.0877 ength eparts 8 days/ June-Sept.

Accommodation Hotels Price $4,495 US ifficulty Moderate

SPAIN

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/TUPATU76

CAMINO SANTIAGO HIKE FOR WOMEN For a thousand years, pilgrims have hiked the amino de antiago de ompostela as a penance or in tribute to St. James the Apostle. While many who hike the trail today are still pilgrims, others are simply seeking an escape from the demands of the modern world. Some trek for the wonderful scenery, uaint villages and great cuisine along route; others for the camaraderie of fellow trekkers from around the world—still others for the trail’s history, or to simply find themselves.

ADVENTURE WOMEN

adventure o en. o

406.587.3883 ength eparts 9 days/Sept.

Accommodation Hotels Price $3,895 US ifficulty Moderate to Strenuous

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GREECE & TURKEY

ATHENS TO ISTANBUL This journey travels back in time to an age when ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western Civilization. From the Acropolis to the Blue Mosque, explore the legendary sights of Athens, Delphi and Thessaloniki by day—by night, dine alfresco beneath clear black skies.

Relax on sun-soaked Aegean beaches, before crossing into Turkey and visiting Gallipoli and classic Istanbul, then toasting your journey with a glass of Raki.

INTREPID TRAVEL

GETTY IMAGES/PURESTOCK

HOLLAND

THE NETHERLANDS: FLOWER TOUR Digital cameras have opened up the world of photography to everyone—yet we can all do with some instruction from the pros, and great subject matter to help with our work. Accompanied by two professionals, this tour takes in Holland’s legendary colourful flower fields—by air, bike and on foot—and includes visits to the Alkmaar cheese market and Keukenhoff Gardens, as well as a tour of Amsterdam’s canals. Plus you’ll have a session with models in traditional Dutch attire.

PHOTO QUEST ADVENTURES

intrepidtravel.com

photoquestadventures.com

855.299.1211 Length/Departs: 15 days/Apr.-Sept.

Accommodation: Hotels Price: $2,695 ifficulty Easy

877.772.2755 Length/Departs: 8 days/Apr. Accommodation: Hotels Price: $5,200 US ifficulty Moderate

www.outpostmagazine.com

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SO U TH A ME RI C A

BOLIVIA

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EXPLORING BOLIVIA Like little Ecuador, Bolivia has one of the highest degrees of biodiversity on the planet, and this nine-day tour explores some of its most spectacular regions. eading first to the olivian Altiplano, you will explore Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially-navigable lake in the world. Meet the family who built famed explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s rafts, and have your luggage transferred by llama.

Visit ancient temples and pre-Inca ruins, hike volcanoes and salt flats, and discover local markets and labyrinthine colonial streets.

PETER ROBERTSON

CRILLON TOURS

ANDEAN TREKS

andeantreks.com

800.683.8148 Length/Departs: 8 days/May-Dec. Accommodation Hotels Price: $1,870 US ifficulty Easy

CRILLON TOURS MELISSA MARINI

COLOMBIA

ADVENTURE LIFE

COLOMBIA HIKING Become a coffee connoisseur in one of the caffeine capitals of the world. This trip begins in what is known as Colombia’s Coffee Triangle, where you will visit a coffee hacienda, tour the plantation and learn about the coffee production process right up to a gourmet tasting. Trek in the Otun Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, with its amazing birdlife, and discover the colonial town of Tamesis, with its stunning architecture and breathtaking mountain scapes. End your Colombian odyssey in the country’s capital of Medellin.

ADVENTURE LIFE

adventure-life.com

800.344.6118 Length/Departs: 6 days/daily Accommodation Hotels Price: $1,995 ifficulty Easy

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ECUADOR

VOLCANO AND JUNGLE ADVENTURE

From Andean volcano to Amazon rainforest, this epic tour of geographically diverse Ecuador sees it all! You’ll start with a trek up the 19,347-foot volcano of Cotopaxi, continue on foot to the snowline for the best views in the country, then cycle down the mountain to 10,000 feet. You’ll discover Banos, Ecuador’s adventure capital, and try canyoning, cycling, rafting, horseback riding—even salsa dancing.

Later, you’ll explore the Amazon by day and at night, and visit with local indigenous families.

ACTIVE ADVENTURES

activeadventures.com

ALL PHOTOS: ACTIVE ADVENTURES/TAPIR

800.661.9073 Length/Departs: 7 days/year-round Accommodation: Hotels, lodges Price: $2,099 ifficulty Moderate to Strenuous

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NICARAGUA TOURISM/ R P WASHBURNE

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/MARIA FERNANDA HUBEAUT

& TH E C A RI B B E AN

CE NTR AL AME R ICA

NICARAGUA

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NICARAGUA ADVENTURE TOUR Designed for families and active travellers, this exploration of Nicaragua has something for adventure seekers, culture vultures and wildlife lovers all! You will cycle from the city of León to the Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve, and kayak among mangrove lagoons and the islets of Lake Nicaragua’s Granada. You will trek to the summit of the Cerro Negro Volcano, sandboard back down its black slopes, zipline through the forests of Mombacho Volcano, and hike Masaya Volcano National Park—all before coming to chill on a cool Pacific beach.

WILDLAND ADVENTURES

wildland.com

800.345.4453 Length/Departs: 9 days/year-round Accommodation: Hotels and lodges Price: From $3,195 US ifficulty Easy to moderate

MEXICO

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/ GERARDO_BORBOLLA

WEEK OF RIVERS For whitewater lovers, this action-packed winter week on some of Mexico’s best rivers is a dream vacation. hether by raft, kayak, inflatable kayak or canoe, you will paddle Class III to IV whitewater through towering canyon walls and lush tropical greenery. Explore the Antigua and Actopan rivers, as well as the mighty Barranca Grande, all with professional guides. And try creeking on the Tomato River or ziplining through the forest—all while staying in a classic Spanish hacienda.

ESPRIT WHITEWATER

whitewater.ca

800.596.7238 Length/Departs: 8 days/daily Accommodation: Hacienda Price: $1,895 US ifficulty Moderate

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NICARAGUA TOURISM/ERREZETA

NICARAGUA TOURISM/ISTOCKPHOTO/ALAN A. TOBEY NICARAGUA TOURISM/ERREZETA

LA

NICARAGUA

REVOLUTIONARY NICARAGUA Not so long ago, Nicaragua made international headlines for the most of unfortunate reasons. This tour looks back at the country’s recent history, when violence and civil war wracked the small nation. From an honest and balanced perspective learn first hand about that past—from the Somoza Regime, Sandinista Uprising and Contra Rebellion that predated the present peace and stability of this young democracy.

Meet with former guerrillas, and visit key sites that helped mould the country into its current shape.

ADVENTURE LIFE

adventure-life.com

800.344.6118 Length/Departs: 8 days/daily Accommodation: Dormitory Price: $1,895 US ifficulty Easy www.outpostmagazine.com

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NICARAGUA TOURISM BOARD

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ROBERT TAYLOR

N OR TH A M ERI CA

MIDNIGHT SUN TRAVEL

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

HAIDA GWAII MINI SAFARI Haida Gwaii—formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands—is an archipelago of more than 150 islands off British Columbia’s coast. Rich with wildlife, spectacular scenery and an ancient indigenous culture, this mini-safari explores one of the world’s most unique ecosystems by land and by water. Mingle with the Gwaii community, learn their history and experience their traditions, while keeping watch for orcas, dolphins, whales, bald eagles and maybe even a legendary Spirit Bear.

MIDNIGHT SUN TRAVEL

midnightsuntravel.com

800.255.5057 Length/Departs: 6 days/June–Sept.

Accommodation: Hotels, inns, cabins Price: $2,995 ifficulty Easy

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

PO’ BOYS & NAUGHTY GIRLS IN N’AWLINS Accompanied by writer Lisa Pasold, private guides and local literary figures, this tour of the famed Big Easy focuses on the culturally and historically rich city from the perspective of some of the many authors who ve been shaped or influenced by it over time. From Tennessee Williams and Kate Chopin to Ernest Gaines and Julie Smith, you’ll take in the usual sights, sounds and Cajun tastes of New Orleans through the writer’s eyes for a unique glimpse of a unique city.

CLASSICAL PURSUITS

KATHERINE JOHNSON

BRITISH COLUMBIA

SPIRIT BEARS AND HUMPBACK WHALES OF B.C. The white or cream-coloured Spirit Bear that inhabits the islands and mainland of coastal ritish olumbia is the official animal of the province and sacred to the Tsimshian people.

Living on board a comfortable 68-foot ketch, this trip explores the region while you search for the great Spirit Bear (or Kermode) and other wildlife, including humpback whales and orcas, wolves, black and grizzly bears, as well as visit local First Nations communities.

NATURAL WORLD SAFARIS

classicalpursuits.com

naturalworldsafaris.com

877.633.2555 Length/Departs: 8 days/Oct. Accommodation: Hotel Price: $3,295 US ifficulty Easy

866.357.6569 Length/Departs: 9 days/Aug.-Sept.

Accommodation: 68-ft ketch Price: £4,745 ifficulty Easy to moderate

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ROBERT TAYLOR

MANITOBA

BIRDS, BEARS AND BELUGAS

Swimming with beluga whales and walking with polar bears—just another summer’s day at Seal River Heritage Lodge in Manitoba! Located 60 kilometres north of Churchill and accessible only by air, the comfortable lodge sits on the shores of Hudson Bay and offers visitors oncein-a-lifetime opportunities to view polar bears on foot, snorkel with dozens of belugas and spot abundant birdlife, all while accompanied by expert guides.

CHURCHILL WILD

churchillwild.com

866.846.9453 Length/Departs: 8 days/July-Aug. Accommodation: Lodge Price: $8,795 ifficulty Easy

DUDLEY CHIGNALL

NOVA SCOTIA & MASSACHUSETTS

EASTERN SEABOARD AND CAPE COD etween ova cotia and Massachusetts lies some of North America’s most historic and spectacular coastline. This day trip e plores the coast s natural treasures with canoeing and hiking in ejimkujik and Acadia ational Parks, whale watching in the ay of Fundy and a boat trip to Martha s ineyard—all with time to taste the history, culture and even fresh lobster of alifa , unenberg, antucket and oston along the way.

EXPLORE WORLDWIDE

exploreworldwide.ca

888.216.3401 Length/Departs: 14 days/Aug., Sept., Oct Accommodation: Hotels Price: $3,370 ifficulty Easy to Moderate www.outpostmagazine.com

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AFRIC A a nd INDIA

ZAMBIA

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PHOTOGRAPHERS SAFARI Committed photographers, whether seasoned professional or eager amateur, have special requirements when on safari—this trip has been developed with them in mind. Led by experienced guides, you tour some of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich areas of southern Zambia. Based in remote permanent camps and accompanied by photography experts, with access to superb accessories (photographic hides, bean bags, dustcovers), it will be impossible not to return home with award-worthy images.

AFRICAN SAFARI COMPANY

africansafarico.com

800.414.3090 Length/Departs: 10 days/May-Oct. Accommodation: Permanent camp Price: $6,500 US ifficulty Easy to moderate

ALL PHOTOS: SHENTON SAFARIS

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/ NEIL BURTON

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ZAMBIA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA

VICTORIA FALLS TO CAPE TOWN MOUNTAIN BIKE EPIC The best adventure in Africa is found between Victoria Falls and Cape Town, and this trip connects the two by mountain bike and support vehicle.

After exploring the Falls, head for the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert, and cycle across the mesmeri ing flatness of the Makgadikgadi Saltpans.

You continue to Moremi, visit with the Bushmen and explore the dunes, vast deserts and unique culture of Namibia. See Fish River Canyon and Cederberg Mountains, before arriving in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa.

KE ADVENTURE TRAVEL

keadventure.com

888.630.4415 Length/Departs: 21 days/May & Sept.

Accommodation: Guesthouses/camping Price: $3,785 ifficulty Strenuous www.outpostmagazine.com

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CHINA, UZBEKISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN

THE SILK ROAD (BEIJING TO TASHKENT)

ASI A, OC EANIA

& BE Y ON D

INDONESIA

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KOMODO KAYAKER “There be dragons,” ancient maps would proclaim—and this tour follows in their wake to the home of these fearsome beasts. Camping on uninhabited islands by night and snorkelling over magnificent coral reefs by day, this is the only kayaking tour of Komodo National Park. Visit local villages, hike to remote caves and spy flying foxes, manta rays, turtles and deer before getting up close and personal with the mighty Komodo dragon—all under the expert leadership of guides and park rangers.

PIONEER EXPEDTIONS

pioneerexpeditions.com

The Silk Road was a series of trade routes that stretched 4,000 miles from China to the Mediterranean and beyond, carrying silk and other items, as well as transporting pilgrims, monks and travellers. This extraordinary 24-day odyssey follows part of that historic route, from China to Uzbekistan via the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan. You will visit the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Warriors, see grand Islamic-Asian architecture, deserts and oases. You will explore busy Central Asian markets and camp in iconic nomadic yurts, all before ending in the bustling Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

EXPLORE WORLDWIDE

exploreworldwide.ca 888.216.3401 Length/Departs: 24 days/May, Sept.

Accommodation: Hotels, yurts, train and more Price: $4,070 Difficulty: Moderate

011.44.845.004.7801 Length/Departs: 10 days/Mar.-Dec. Accommodation: Hotels, camping Price: $9,695 ifficulty Strenuous

ALL PHOTOS: EXPLORE

BHUTAN

ALL PHOTOS: PIONEER EXPEDITIONS

THE SNOWMAN TREK This epic Himalayan trek—which covers more than 270 kilometres and includes 11 high passes and a camp at 5,050 metres—is considered the toughest and one of the best commercial hikes in the world due to its difficult terrain, high altitude and distance. Starting in Paro Valley in western Bhutan, the route follows the BhutanTibet border to Sephu Village in central Bhutan, visiting remote communities, Buddhist temples and yak herders’ settlements along the way. An expensive trip, yes—but a once-in-a-lifer for those so inclined.

ALL PHOTOS: ALPINE ASCENTS

ALPINE ASCENTS

alpineascents.com

206.378.1927 Length/Departs: 30 days/Aug. Accommodation: Lodges, camping Price: $13,000 US ifficulty Strenuous

06/12/2013 8:00:23 PM

BORNEO, MALAYSIA

BORNEO, SABAH ADVENTURE From the summit of Southeast Asia’s highest peak to tropical rainforest and pristine beach, this tour veers off-the-beaten path so you can experience Sabah in all its glory. Start with a two-day hike to the summit of the 13,435-foot Mount Kinabalu and view a spectacular sunrise over a stunning countryside. Travel up the Kinabatangan River in search of Borneo’s eclectic wildlife and enjoy the orangutans at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre.

Tour the moving Sandakan POW Memorial Park, lose your heart to baby turtles on Seligan Island—also known as Turtle Island—and dine on superb Malaysian cuisine throughout.

G ADVENTURES

gadventures.com

888.800.4100 Length/Departs: 10 days/Jan.-Dec. Accommodation: Hotels, lodges and huts Price: $1,999 ifficulty Moderate to strenuous

SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA, AN ANCIENT PARADISE The train trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka— the tiny island-country in the Indian Ocean—is regarded as one of the great railway journeys in the world, as it winds its way past tumbling waterfalls and ancient terraced tea plantations. Yet this short ride is only a portion of this 13-day tour of tropical Sri Lanka, where you’ll visit ancient temples and an elephant orphanage, the bustling capital of Colombo and botanical gardens. You’ll also go in search of birds, elephant and leopards in Yala National Park, and venture out whale-watching in Galle.

ALL PHOTOS: ALPINE ASCENTS

CIVILIZED ADVENTURES

civilizedadv.com

800.688.1804 Length/Departs: 13 days/Jan. Accommodation: Hotels, manor house, chalets, safari camp Price: $6,199 ifficulty Easy to Moderate www.outpostmagazine.com

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GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO/ KJORGEN

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RIVERRUNS WHERE THE

THROUGH IT

In the northernmost region of Quebec, where the Inuit have lived for centuries, the Nunavik tundra and Koroc River and Torngat Mountains converge on a corner of the planet where the Arc tic light shines. Join Team Outpost for an exclusive expedition as we explore a land where time st ands still

Will Allen wrestles the Koroc River to a draw

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T

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L E V A R T e r u t n e v d a e f i l o t ought

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