African Safari Company
February 11, 2010
Founded in 1998, the African Safari Company specializes in photo safaris to all of Africa’s top wildlife destinations, and is recommended by National Geographic. Custom itineraries are tailored to your specific requirements and designed by the owner/operator, Mike Nesbitt. A native of South Africa, Mike has been involved in the travel industry for over 30 years and revisits destinations in southern, and east Africa every year.
Our partners in host countries are carefully chosen for their expertise, excellent guides, competitive pricing and are generally the oldest and biggest outfitters in the country, with many years of experience in handling North American clients.
Phone messages and emails are replied to promptly, 7 days a week. No automated phone system or waiting on hold, you get to talk to an expert right away.
Destinations
● Botswana
● Kenya
● Namibia
● Rwanda
● South Africa
● Tanzania
● Uganda
● Zambia
And tours to Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique and the islands of the Indian Ocean.
Licensed and bonded in the State of Washington.
Asyanut Tours & Travel
February 1, 2010
Organization Mission/Purpose
Asyanut Tours & Travel is dedicated to giving our customers the very best service. We assist them in finding the most economical price, the right safari destination and the easiest flight schedule with the shortest travel time. We provide a welcome service and airport transfers; arrange the hotel accommodation and car rental services.
What separates Asyanut from the others is simply our personal customer service. It is this aspect as well as the variety of services offered and the love to help travelers that gives Asyanut its winning edge. We provide our clients with up-to-date information and affordable alternatives for exciting tour destinations.
Products and/or Services
- Gorilla tracking
- Safaris
- Bird watching expeditions
- Fishing trips
- Chimp tracking
- White water rafting
- Mountain climbing
- Bungee jumping
- Cruises
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel, Guesthouse and Lodge bookings
- Car hire/rentals (saloons, 4×4 and minibuses)
- Dubai visas
Primary Markets
- Individual, family and group travel packages
- Missionary and student tickets
- Student packages
Areas of Operation
We specialize in tailor-made treks and safaris to all Ugandan destinations with extensions to other East African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Rwanda.
We have a special interest in connecting with the adventure travel community. And, our primary interest in connecting is to establish partnerships/alliances, to network and to develop our marketing strategy.
Wilderness Safaris
January 15, 2010
Wilderness Safaris is first and foremost a conservation company. The reason we exist is to protect pristine wilderness areas and the flora and fauna – or biodiversity – that they support. We believe that in protecting these areas, and including the local communities in this process, we will make a difference to Africa and ultimately the world. In this way, we believe, the world’s wilderness areas will save humankind.
It is our firm belief that the future of conservation in Africa depends on the attitude of the communities living next to wild areas. The twin benefits to these communities of tourism ventures and employment create a true appreciation for the value of the land and its wildlife. In this way we are in the business of building sustainable conservation economies.
The private concessions that we manage offer some of Africa’s most impressive and untouched wildlife experiences. We are privileged to operate on nearly 6.5 million acres of southern Africa’s best wildlife and wilderness reserves. The idea of space to breathe – the wilderness experience – becomes clear when we consider that Wilderness provides almost 9,800 acres of private land per bed – or 18,500 acres per room. This privacy and space is what makes our operation unique and special.
The natural environment in which we work is most important. Our full-time environmentalists ensure that our camps are as eco-friendly as possible. Solar heating and power, limited burning of fossil fuels and utilizing battery-operated lighting systems are just some of the features we employ.
We also believe that it is our responsibility to employ from, train and help uplift the communities in the areas where we are represented. We want to ensure the prospering of these rich cultures, the wildlife that surrounds them and the wild places they occupy.
Our greatest delight is to share these wild places with our guests in a responsible manner. Such magnificent remote areas provide a means, for both our guests and ourselves, of reconnecting with our natural spirit – something often neglected and forgotten in the modern, fast-paced world in which we live.
To create a journey, we host, entertain and educate our guests, both on safaris and at our camps, striving to give them holistic experiences that will produce new (or reaffirmed) conservationists, and create guests for life. At the end of this journey, we hope that they will be new ambassadors for Wilderness Safaris and the continent, taking Africa’s messages of hope and conservation around the globe.
Recognizing that conservation is as much about people as about the environment, we have pursued important goals through our Children in the Wilderness program, as well as through the Wilderness Safaris Wildlife Trust, which have helped change the face of nature-based tourism in southern Africa.
Children in the Wilderness is a non-profit organisation that aims to restore a sense of hope, ambition and the possibility of a bright and productive future to southern African youth. This is achieved by hosting disadvantaged children for a week at a time in a safe and natural environment where nature becomes the teacher and healer.
Wilderness Safaris Wildlife Trust supports a wide variety of projects in southern Africa, within the categories of wildlife management, research and education. These projects address the needs of existing wildlife populations, seek solutions to save endangered species and provide education and training for local people and their communities.
Lark Tours
December 15, 2009
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A., Lark Tours is a full-service tour operator that focuses exclusively on offering private luxury vacations and safaris in Africa. Founded in 2005, Lark Tours was developed based on the knowledge that in order to truly experience Africa on an intimate level, private journeys are an absolute must. Since then, we have been bringing fresh energy to the world of travel with our innovative approach, and in the process, we have redefined what it means to have an unforgettable vacation experience in Africa.
While most companies offer a number of set itineraries with scheduled departure dates, thus forcing guests to fit within their framework, we do just the opposite. Whether we are working with a couple, a family, a group of friends, an organization, or a travel professional in need of an itinerary for his or her clients, our goal is to fit within the framework of our guests. We do so by creating and operating private vacation itineraries that are personalized and tailor-made to perfectly fit the interests, preferences, and schedule of each individual group.
The real beauty of private travel is having flexibility during vacation. Because each group has its own expert guides with private vehicles, guests are free to make changes on a whim. When there are moments so captivating that guests simply want to linger and soak in the experience, then they have the freedom to do so. There is no bus to catch, no rigid schedule to follow, and no large group with competing demands. This is a private vacation with private guides who are there each step of the way to ensure our guests have the perfect experience.
Private luxury travel is also about receiving the best service available, which includes incredible attention to detail, help with every facet of planning, and unsurpassed expertise. We deliver all this and more. Our staff and guides are some of the best in the industry and we all follow one simple rule: our guests are the most important priority. We will do absolutely whatever it takes to ensure that they have the easiest, most satisfying vacation experience to date.
At Lark Tours our vacations are luxurious, our experiences are rare and exclusive, and our focus is fun, relaxation, and immersion in Africa.
Whether you are an individual, a group, or a travel professional in search of the perfect vacation in Africa, contact us today:
Primary Contact: Basil Camu
Email: info@larktours.com
Phone: +1-919-521-5538
Website: www.larktours.com
Wanderlust and Lipstick
December 2, 2009
Your Destination for Women’s Travel
Based in Seattle, WA, Wanderlust and Lipstick offers women opportunities to experience unique and exotic destinations in small groups with like-minded gals. Founded by guidebook author and women’s travel expert, Beth Whitman, tours include both cultural activities and soft adventures.
Beth often writes about and promotes solo travel, but she recognized that women want to experience destinations with friends, family or in a group, allowing them to leave the details to an expert and to connect with others. As such, Wanderlust and Lipstick tours have grown organically through her community of women travelers.
Culturally Active
Each trip is designed so that participants can get to know the culture through activities with the local population. These include short-term volunteer opportunities, day hikes through ethnic minority villages and special topic-focused programs such as cooking classes, photography workshops, talks by experts on Buddhism and private musical performances.
Our Guides and Operators
Wanderlust and Lipstick guides are enthusiastic about the destinations they cover and are eager to share details about the location. In-country tour operators are employed to ensure the highest amount of local knowledge and smoothest possible journey. English-speaking guides accompany the group in order to answer specific questions about the region and sights.
Tours are personally designed for the female traveler by Whitman and blend both comfort and adventure.
Bhutan
The only way to visit the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is by employing a local guide and driver. Working with well-trained, experienced, English-speaking guides, Wanderlust and Lipstick offers a variety of small group and customized tours that include festivals, cultural programs, religious ceremonies and light hiking. Specialty tours include Buddhism-focused trips, photography workshops and previously unavailable trekking adventures that include 5+ days of hiking through the Himalayas in Eastern Bhutan.
India
The subcontinent poses special challenges to women travelers. By traveling in an organized group, much of the stress is reduced in this country of a billion plus inhabitants. On these exclusive tours, participants enjoy unique activities such as private musical performances, camel safari rides, desert tent camping, boat tours along the Ganges, visits to tea plantations and yoga classes.
Vietnam & Cambodia
Vietnam is the jewel of Southeast Asia and Cambodia is quickly becoming an emerging destination. Wanderlust and Lipstick tours to these two countries are designed to immerse travelers in this magical world. Participants experience the wonderful food and amazing sights while getting to know these exceptionally kind and good-natured people. Tours include cooking classes, light trekking through small villages, boat tours of the Mekong Delta and a special trip to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Primary Market
We specialize in the women’s travel market and have participants of all types; mother/daughters, friends, widows, singles and married women whose husbands would rather stay home J. Pack your sense of adventure, sense of humor and an open mind because the world is waiting!
On occasion, Wanderlust and Lipstick offers co-ed journeys to Bhutan.
Personalized Journeys
With intimate knowledge of the destinations offered, the Wanderlust and Lipstick staff can help individuals, groups and families create an itinerary most suited to their schedule and interests.
Call of the Wild
December 2, 2009
Today, Call of the Wild is the longest-running women’s adventure travel company in the world. Our women-only trips range from active vacations with soft beds, hot showers and great food to challenging or beginner backpacking in the wilderness. Our trips are all fully guided, suited for women of all ages, and group size is limited to 9-12, keeping the trip warm and personal. With Call of the Wild, you can summit the highest peak in the lower 48 US States (Mt Whitney), discover Yosemite National Park, learn to snowshoe or explore another continent.
What makes us different:
31+ years of Trusted Experience, Delicious Food, New Experiences, and Meeting New Friends is why greater than 50% of our clients return for another adventure.
Experience – There is no substitute for experience. With 31+ years and hundreds of wilderness trips, Call of the Wild can give you a memorable adventure – fun, camaraderie, and self-discovery. In keeping with Call of the Wild’s original purpose, we focus on offering specialized trips to unique places, bringing proven leadership and logistical know-how with trip itineraries catering specifically to the needs and goals of women.
We pride ourselves on our enviable safety record – all of Call of the Wild’s guides are women experienced in leading women’s trips, each has extensive wilderness and safety training. They know the tips and tricks to make you feel at home and safe in the wilderness.
Food – Our food has made us famous. We put a lot of care into our homemade meals from fresh local ingredients and feel they add to the pleasure and enjoyment of a trip. Our customers have overwhelmingly agreed, finding that a hike through a beautiful stretch of wilderness, followed by a gourmet meal with good companionship, is a recipe for success. Our food is so good, a cookbook as been published about it. Find out about founder Carole Latimer’s, Wilderness Cuisine.
Don’t just take our word about how good our recipes are. Try for yourself: Herbed Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pesto, Chicken Piccata, and Anasazi Stew.
Personal Touch – Call of the Wild is a locally owned company that has been providing fond memories and creating long lasting friendships for decades. Many clients continue to travel with us based on the connections they have made on past trips – and they often make plans to travel w/ their new friends on coming Call of the Wild adventures.
Call of the Wild’s guides are interesting people with whom you’ll enjoy spending time. Among our distinguished group of guides are a pilot, a former paramedic, the owner of a wild mustang, a mother with grown children, several writers, a painter, and two exercise physiologists. They have in common a love of the wilderness, and an enjoyment of people’s company.
Along with introducing women to the outdoors, Call of the Wild has also pioneered the idea of camping with challenge and comfort. Many clients like being outdoors, but they want simple comforts like solar showers and good food. At Call of the Wild, we recognize these needs and set up our trips to provide them.
Who our clients are:
One size doesn’t fit all. Our clients, from beginners to the most experienced, range from busy career-oriented folks – who desperately need a get-away, to full-time parents – who feel their husbands/spouses should have the opportunity to take charge of the kids for a week. Others are ready to make a change in their lives, and find that completing a wilderness trip gives them a clear head and added confidence.
The common element is that our clients come seeking the renewal in body and spirit that a wilderness adventure can bring – they want to get away from it all, let their hair down, and have a good time.
What does it take to be a Call of the Wild client? Bring along your spirit of adventure, a willingness to recognize the needs of the group, and your sense of humor! Our clients come on our trips to travel, camp or backpack in a safe, supportive atmosphere – From beginners to the most experienced.
Need a Custom or Exclusive Itinerary?
We are happy to tailor itineraries to suit the needs of your clients. While we focus on women, our private departures can be co-ed, families, university groups – you name it! We can build itineraries and departures to meet the goals of your group and guarantee we will exceed your expectations.
African Queen Tour Operations
December 2, 2009
Ethiopia is such a huge and happy surprise for the adventure traveler. African Queen Tour Operations exists to proudly share with you the country that we love.
African Queen Tours is a joint Canadian/Ethiopian venture. It all started in 1999, when Canadian Maureen visited the country to take part in a travel documentary. Mageru was her guide –and wouldn’t you know it, they fell into that age-old pattern – Boy meets Girl in jungle; Boy and Girl fall in love; Boy and Girl start an adventure tour company.
Not quite Tarzan and Jane. But Maureen and Mageru offer you a great combination. Mageru is a native Ethiopian (and now a proud Canadian) with over 17 years experience in guiding through the wilds of tribal country. Maureen is an experienced solo traveler who understands the Western travelers’ expectations. Our individual guides are experts in trekking, bird watching, cultural tribes and history.
Together we know how to take care of you and we will give you the adventure you desire.
All our guides have passed a Red Cross First Aid course. They have years of experience in navigating the challenging Ethiopian roads as well as off-road travel. Our cooks can whip up tasty, nutritious meals while camping and our camp supplies are new, comfortable and in excellent condition. We do supply portable sanitary facilities and shower tents.
Enough about us. What about Ethiopia?
Ethiopia has been described as “a land forgotten by time”; it is one of only two African nations that have never been colonized (although the Italians did hang out there during a 5 year occupation in the Second World War and left a legacy of exquisite pastry recipes). The geographical remoteness and isolation allowed it to maintain its culture in a very pure fashion.
Ethiopia is steeped in mystery – folklore, fact and religion are intermingled together. Did the Queen of Sheba start the dynasty with King Solomon? Is the Ark of the Covenant hidden in Axum? Historians aren’t sure. But Ethiopians know. How did the amazing monolith and semi-monolith Lalibela churches get built underground in the 12th century? Today’s engineers cannot explain. But until someone comes up with a definitive answer, Ethiopians know that “the angels helped.”
Ethiopians also know that a country can be almost equally composed of Christian and Muslim groups and both groups get along very well. And that is not folklore, but fact.
How do you like your adventure?
Hard? Try trekking by foot or mule through the rugged Northern Simien Mountains, or the gentler alpine Southern Bale Mountains.
Medium hard? We will go to visit the tribal people of the South – the Mursi, Surma, Karo, Konso, Hamer folks. Basic, down to earth camping and decidedly extra-ordinary cultural experiences.
Something a little softer? Including a hotel bed? We will lead you through the Historical Route of the North, to visit castles, churches, waterfalls, lakes, monasteries, and stelae.
African Queen Tours offers you small, personal tours to suit your budget, interests and time. Our standard tours can be customized.
We would be pleased to hear from you about co-operative ventures.
Karibuni Safaris Ltd
November 23, 2009
For the Adventure of a lifetime!!
ABOUT KARIBUNI
Karibuni Safaris Ltd incorporated in 2008, is a premier inbound tour operator specialized in adventure travel. The company was initiated by adventure enthusiasts who wanted to share their passion with like minded people. We offer the ultimate adventure in Uganda that combine wild life, paddling on the River Nile and hiking, abseiling or rock climbing on Mt Elgon.
Our trips are carefully designed to offer safe transport, comfortable lodging and culinary delights with expert guides for each of the activities. We handle all the trip details from the time you arrive until you depart and everything else in-between. Our excursions take you from the arid semi desert, through the savannah, lash tropical forests, impenetrable rain forests, montane bamboo forests and moorland on the mountain peaks.
Our terrific packages cater for individuals, families and small groups 3-12 people. Our flexible itineraries are customized to meet your time, pace and budget. We offer wellness retreats so you can relax and recuperate on the sunny beaches of Sese Islands or chill out at Sipi Falls, Lake Bunyonyi or Kilembe Mines.
We provide affordable, comfortable and personalized service to small groups. We are positioned as a premier tour operator promoting self propelled adventures in Uganda. Our Mission is to market adventures on the Mt Elgon theme and make the local communities benefit from the National Park through tourism revenue and hence conserving it for posterity.
ACTIVITIES
Karibuni activities are hosted on the River Nile, Mt Elgon and National Parks of Uganda. The itineraries depend on the combination of activities preferred on the trip. We balance popular wildlife safaris with alternative pursuits like adventure and cultural experiences.
Hiking-Mt Elgon is a hiker’s paradise with 3 day time trails around Kapkwai Forest Exploration Center. A five day hike up to the summit Wagagai, you can hike Sasa trail in Budadiri and ascend steeply or choose to rise gradually from Sipi, Piswa or Suam trails; the hike is not technical. Experienced climbers can tryout a 7-8 day trek to the summit of Mt Rwenzori gives the most technically challenging mountain in Africa.
White Water Rafting- we provided this trip through our partners Adrift Africa who will treat you the ultimate adrenaline rush. There are excursions for beginners and family trips for the risk averse. Kayaking, other paddling activities, boat cruises and sports fishing options are available.
Gorillas in the Mist- We offer Mountain Gorilla trekking Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park, trekking gorillas takes 3-6 hours strenuous hike in tough terrain, one must be physically fit however coming face to face with this majestic animal is truly amazing. “No one who looks into a gorilla’s eyes –intelligent, gentle, vulnerable- can remain unchanged” George Schaller
Mountain Biking- The activity is undertaken in Mbale, Jinja and Fort Portal, the trips are designed to bring you in contact with the communities and get a peek view of the cultures.
Abseiling- This activity is currently available next to Sipi Falls on Mt Elgon, there 4 levels from 20 meters to 100 meters adjacent to the falls. There is training for beginners and challenging descents for the experienced. Mt Elgon has several unexplored sites for the adventurous trail blazers.
Fly Fishing- Rainbow Trout was introduced recently on River Sipi, fly fishing is available on a catch and release, fly fishing gear for hire is available. Training for beginners can be arranged.
Rock climbing- Mt Elgon has several ridges and cliffs good for rock climbing most of which are yet to be tackled, activity is currently restricted around Sipi Area. The more adventurous are welcome to explore and open up new tracks.
Bird watching-Uganda is at a junction of migratory routes and 1046 different species of birds have been recorded. In Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 species, in a concentrated area. Uganda is one of the few places you can find the endangered shoe bill.
Pokot/Gisu/Ganda Culture- Our cultural experiences introduces you to several cultures. The Pokot are nomadic pastoralists, The Gisu famed for the circumcision ceremony that initiates one into manhood and The Ganda stepped in tradition with a Kingdom over 5 centuries old.
Other Services- reservations, mobile tents, camping accessories, wildlife safaris, mountaineering, film co-ordination, bungee jumping, horseback tours, and research tours. We offer unique camping safaris and operate a fleet of 4WD all terrain vehicles.
ETHICS
We promote environmental protection, embrace pro-poor tourism and operate fair traded safaris going an extra mile to support to local communities in areas we visit. We believe that local people are key stakeholders in our endeavors; and they too should benefit from tourism.
We take you “off the beaten track” to secluded places giving you an exclusive view of the wild beauty and immersing you in authentic cultural practices. Our unique safari packages are designed to have a low impact on the environment while our experienced team pampers you with unrivaled service.
WE NEED PARTNERS
Karibuni Safaris is actively seeking outbound tour operators, travel agents and partners interested in working with us put Mt Elgon on the tourist’s radar. Mt Elgon unspoilt by mass tourism; an adventurous paradise waiting to be discovered, however, the environment is in danger as the local communities encroach on the National Parks resources caused by lack of an alternative source of income.
We look forward to working with other ATTA members, promote responsible tourism and share best practices in adventure travel. We need partners to supply us visitors to Mt Elgon, in order to change the community’s attitude towards conservation through earning from tourism.
CONTACTS
Physical Address: Ggaba Road, Plot 1001, Susie House, Room 21
Postal Address: P.O.Box 10897, Kampala, Uganda
Telephone: +256312110627, +256454473020
Mobile: +256772504597, +256751707287
E-mail: info@karibusafari.co.ug
Iceland Encounter
October 12, 2009
SMALL GROUPS, BIG ADVENTURES
Iceland Encounter offers unique, active adventure tours that take you through some of the most spectacular parts of Iceland, one of the largest remaining wilderness areas of Europe. Our itineraries cover dramatic highland areas, scenic beaches and everything in between. Activities include hiking, horseback-riding, sailing, kayaking, caving and glacier-walking. We offer both private and scheduled tours for groups of 2 to 12 persons.
WE UNDERSTAND THE NORTH AMERICAN TRAVELER
Iceland Encounter was founded by husband-and-wife team Erling Aspelund and Kristin Bjornsdottir, both native Icelanders. After completing their graduate studies in New York, they settled in Seattle in the early nineties to work in the computer software industry—Kristin at Microsoft and Erling at Bill Gates’ Corbis Corporation. When their twins reached school-age, Erling and Kristin returned to Iceland in 2007 to start their own adventure travel company, Iceland Encounter. As owners, they are intimately involved in day-to-day operations, guiding tours and focusing on customer service. You´ll get their personal attention right from the start.
ICELAND MADE EASY
Our carefully designed tours offer quality accommodations, safe transportation, gourmet dining and expert local guides. We handle all the details of your trip from the time you land until the time you take off again.
Iceland is less than a 5 hour flight from the US East Coast and 7 hours from Seattle. National carrier Icelandair currently serves 7 cities in North America and 14 in Europe. The airline offers free stopovers in Iceland for up to 7 days on their routes between North America and Europe, creating interesting options for travelers who may want to include a stop in Iceland within a longer trip across the Atlantic.
ACTIVITIES
Iceland Encounter offers private and scheduled trips throughout all of Iceland. No two trips are alike, but all are designed around one or more of the following activities.
Glacier Adventures
It’s easy to get close to a glacier in Iceland. Ice-walking, ice-climbing, snowmobiling, and sailing on glacier lagoons are exciting and unique activities, which can be accomplished on day tours from Reykjavik or on longer trips in the countryside.
Spas and Swimming
Icelanders have one of the longest life expectancies in the world. We think it has a lot to do with our clean air, pure drinking water, and daily dose of cod-liver-oil. Icelanders also frequent geothermally heated swimming pools and spas of which there are plenty around the island. We can plan a trip for you that includes visits to the Blue Lagoon, to geothermally heated outdoor swimming pools with saunas and steam baths, and if you like, dips in secluded natural hot-springs in the wilderness.
Hiking
Iceland is a hiker’s paradise. The scenery is like nowhere else on earth and the trails are never crowded. We organize a variety of single- and multi-day hikes in various parts of the country. For longer hikes, you stay in cozy mountain huts along the way. One of our most popular hiking routes is called Laugavegur. This is a four-day hike that takes you into a landscape of colorful rhyolite mountains, hot springs, neon green moss, enormous ice caps, raging glacier rivers, pristine mountain lakes, and fertile green valleys.
Kayaking and River-Rafting
Iceland’s numerous fjords offer a variety of kayaking opportunities. White river rafting is also popular on many of Iceland’s glacial rivers.
Salmon and Trout Fishing
Iceland has more than one hundred salmon rivers. About twenty of them are in the first-class bracket, ranking with the finest in the world. We work with local angling clubs to organize fishing trips that often include other activities as well.
Bird Watching
You can’t help but being a bird watcher in Iceland. The island lies at a major junction of migratory routes, and hosts close to 300 species. The birding season starts in March and the best bird watching months are May and June. About 6 million puffins come to Iceland in the summer. Lake Myvatn has more species of ducks than anywhere else in the world. Other birds popular with bird watchers include divers, eagles, Ptarmigan, Gyr Falcon, Common Eiders, Arctic Terns, Arctic Skua, and numerous seabirds, waders and passerines.
Photography
Most photographers who visit Iceland are impressed by the rapid changes in the scenery, intense colors, crystal clear air, and the dramatic interplay of light and shadows. The relatively short distances between areas of interest make it easy to experience a lot of variety within a matter of days. We love to plan photography tours for both professional and amateur photographers.
Culinary Tours
Plan your trip around gourmet food experiences. Iceland offers great produce and numerous excellent restaurants. In February, during the Food and Fun Festival in Reykjavik, renowned chefs from around the world come to Reykjavik to try their hand at cooking with Icelandic produce. Want to cook with Icelandic master chefs? Private cooking classes can be arranged in a renowned restaurant in Reykjavik specializing in French-Icelandic fusion cuisine.
Viking Heritage
Iceland was settled by Norwegian Vikings in the 9th century and our culture reflects our Viking heritage. If you or your children are interested in Vikings, Iceland has a lot to offer. Visit various museums and hear stories of the Icelandic Vikings. Dine in Viking-themed restaurants and explore the regions where the most famous Vikings lived. Combine with nature explorations and horseback-riding on the unique Icelandic horse, which was brought to Iceland by Vikings over one-thousand years ago, and has remained genetically unchanged since then.
Golfing
There are about 60 golf courses in Iceland; many of them are 18-hole courses. The long summer nights are popular with golfers. Every summer at the end of June, golfers visit from all over the world to take part in the unique midnight sun golfing tournament called The Arctic Open Golf Championship.
Icelandic Design
The innovative Icelandic design scene is young, fresh, and progressive. Explore art galleries and museums in Reykjavik and visit shops selling Icelandic clothing, accessories and home ware. Visitors are entitled to a 15 percent tax refund. The currently low exchange rate of the Icelandic króna makes shopping in Iceland more affordable than ever.
Study Tours on Renewable Energy
Iceland’s use of renewable energy sources is the highest of any country. Over the last few decades a vast knowledge has built-up in the use of geothermal and hydropower resources as well as in the production of green energy from waste or biomass. We´re interested in developing tours for students, teachers, scientists and anyone else interested in this important field.
Study Tours on Geology
Iceland is a geologically young country and a great place to study the forces of nature. There is easy access to numerous geological phenomena including glaciers, hot springs, waterfalls and volcanoes. Iceland sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is being stretched by the movements of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, with more than 35 active volcanoes and eruptions occurring on average every 4-5 years.
WE´RE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS
Iceland Encounter is actively looking for outbound tour operators, travel agencies and other partners interested in working with us on product development and sales. Call us at (+354) 857-8804 or e-mail at contact@encounter.is.
Splash White Water Rafting
September 29, 2009
Splash White Water Rafting is aiming to introduce more people to the joys of running the world’s rivers than any other operator. We work from our home base of Scotland where we have two rafting companies and other associated adventure companies and also from a base in Marrakech, Morocco. We also run rafting trips in 9 other countries.
We aim to grow by a combination of strong organic growth supplemented by the purchase of rafting operators in strategic global locations and by networking with quality rafting and adventure travel operators around the world.
Talking to travellers and adventure seekers has taught us that for many the thought of doing a several week adventure holiday in a far off country is a daunting thought and hence many do not commit to taking action. Therefore we have designed our business to introduce clients to adventure and travel by providing the majority with day trips and short breaks. The confidence they gain on these trips encourages them to be more adventurous and we take them to the next level by short break adventures in Europe or North Africa. Finally we have a small amount of people who want to experience that which only a long river journey can deliver and we take these people to the mighty white water rivers of the World in Asia, Africa and North America.
We have the ambitious target of taking 75000 clients per year on our adventure rafting trips by 2015.
Our primary product is White Water Rafting and that is what we are known for and what the majority of our clients come to experience. We operate on five rivers around Scotland from grade 2 to 5 providing clients with half day and full day rafting trips. Unlike other countries rafting in Scotland is a 12 month activity with some of the best water being available in the winter.
We are well known in Scotland and the UK and we feature regularly on various TV programs and in the national press.
We are also based in Morocco and offer rafting on several challenging rivers for around six months of the year. In combination with other operators we also offer our clients rafting in Zambia, Nepal, USA, Ethiopia, Australia, India, Turkey and Chile.
Although like many operators our business is seasonal we a rapidly making progress into having rafting operations in countries around the World that will enable us to keep many more of our excellent guides on year round contracts. We take the view that the company is only as good as its guides and hence we want to be able to ensure or guides develop in a range of environments around the World. We currently employee guides from over 10 different countries and this ensures we have a truly international flavour to the company. We have a strong emphasis on being professional and working but also on playing hard and ensuring everyone in the company has fun coming to work. This ensures that our clients also are looked after in a professional manner and also have a lot of fun during their time with us.
We also provide our clients with a range of other adventure sport products including Canyoning. We provide this adrenalin pumping experience in Scotland for 8 months of the year and in Morocco all year round.
We are also the only company in Europe to provide our clients with the unique river journey that is River Bugging. Many of our multi-activity breaks also include days of Kayaking and Duckie canoes as well as paintball, mountain biking and abseiling.
Our core market at present is the UK but due to our Morocco base we have a very fast growing sector from mainland Europe with France, Spain and Italy all providing good growth. We deal with a small amount of clients each year from North America and this is region we are interested in partnering or acquiring an existing rafting operator.
Our clients are really anyone and everyone. We deal with individuals, corporate companies, government departments, as well as schools and youth groups, charities and the military. We try to ensure the adventure is available for everyone so we often run rafting trips for disabled groups and special needs groups.
We have grown every year mainly by recommendation from our clients many of whom we see several times. Without them we know we could not live this life so we do everything in our power to ensure that their experience from first point of contact until departure is a professional and fun experience that has thrilled and exited them as well as hopefully educating.
We believe strongly that networking with industry companies in various locations around the world is the way to learn and ensure best practise is observed. The internet has enabled much closer collaboration and that is a great thing. The opportunities that niche companies can gain by working together are available and will continue to develop at rapid speed over the next few years.
We look forward to networking and meeting members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association and helping to develop our industry in a responsible and sustainable manner.
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