Adventure Travel Pioneer Richard Bangs Films “Quest for the Viking Spirit” Using the Most Authentic of Transports – A Hurtigruten Cruise Ship
New York, NY, May 2009 — For anyone who has ever thought of exploring Norway and its multitudes of grand fjords, quaint villages and historic sites – Richard Bangs’ recently released documentary, “Adventures with Purpose: Quest for the Viking Spirit,” offers a wonderful peek at the country’s incredible diversity, stunning scenery and historic culture. In a near perfect distillation of Norway’s Viking heritage, Richard Bangs, renowned as the father of modern adventure travel, delves deeply into the country’s historic roots, while choosing one of the most authentic of Norwegian modes of travel – aboard a ship. And not just any ship — but the vessels that have served the many towns and villages along Norway’s west coast for more than 100 years – a Hurtigruten ship. Bangs sets out to discover how Norway transitioned from a history that included terrifying raids and a somewhat violent predilection into its modern reputation as a progressive nation standing for peace and conflict resolution. He and his production team visited cities and villages steeped in history, including Alta, Bergen, Fram, Kirkenes, Tromso and Trondheim, showcasing Norway in all its beauty while following the paths taken by centuries of Norwegians.
Bangs’ journey begins in Oslo, where the story of Viking history begins and where many Hurtigruten guests start their journeys. One of the highlights of his visit to the city is the Fram Museum, celebrating the most famous of polar vessels, the Fram, built in 1892 , and used by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen on a three-year expedition around Greenland and by Roald Amundsen on his South Pole Expedition in 1909-11.
The documentary then depicts the path of the sea-loving Vikings, sailing through the Lofoten Islands, first populated 6,000 years ago by inhabitants surviving on fishing and hunting. Stunning footage shows off the ancient sights of several cities: in Trondheim, the Nidaros Cathedral, whose high alter stands on the spot where it is believed St. Olav lay secretly buried for a year following the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030; in Bergen, the city’s old harbor front, known as Bryggen, which was once dominated by the Hanseatic League and served as a major trade center; and Alta, with its World Heritage site rock carvings dating back from 4200 BC to 500 BC. Other highlights on Bangs’ journey include visits to Lofotr, where he sails aboard a Viking long ship replica; Kirkenes, situated on Norway’s Barents Sea in close proximity to the Russian border; Tromso, boasting the world’s most northerly university; Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord; and Flam, an arm of the fjord surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and yawning valleys.
Hurtigruten offers similar journeys of exploration – in much more comfortable vessels than those used by the Vikings. Seven-day northbound journeys, six-day southbound sailings or 12-day roundtrip voyages are offered daily, year round at cruise-only fares starting at $705 to $2,014 per person, double. Travelers can combine their cruises with land stays by opting for Independent and Escorted Vacation packages, ranging from 11 to 18 days, adding such cities as Oslo, St. Petersburg and Copenhagen. These packages are priced from $2,795 to $14,269 and include air, hotels, meals, etc.
Host and co-executive producer Richard Bangs has spent 30 years as an explorer and communicator, and has led first descents on 35 of the world’s rivers, including the Yangtze in China and the Zambezi in Southern Africa. “Adventures with a Purpose – Quest for the Viking Spirit,” began airing in early May and is slated to continue to be shown by PBS stations, PBS-HD and Create Network in the top 50 major TV markets including NY, Boston, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, DC, Dallas and San Francisco, as well as hundreds of medium and smaller markets. Viewers should check their local listings. It can also be ordered from Small World Productions at www.AdventuresWithPurupse.TV or by calling (800) 866-7425. DVDs included the one-hour documentary and more than two hours of value-added footage. Cost is $24.95 plus shipping.
Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising, sailing to the most remote of destinations including Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen. For more information about the cruises, pre- and post-cruise explorations and optional excursions, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Hurtigruten Inc., (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390; for brochures (800) 582-0835, 24 hours a day; www.hurtigruten.us.
BootsnAll to syndicate adventure travel deals content from Travari.com
LOUISVILLE, CO; (April 27, 2009) – Travari.com announces a content syndication partnership with travel portal BootsnAll. Travari’s adventure travel deals content will begin appearing on the BootsnAll website in June 2009.
“This truly represents a win-win partnership as it leverages Travari’s growing network of adventure travel providers and BootsnAll’s position as a leading travel portal,” commented Travari founder Tyson Titensor. “This partnership will really extend the reach of our deals content and help us drive more bookings for our adventure travel partners.”
A growing network of adventure travel providers are currently using the Travari website to market special promotions and last minute inventory. Now any adventure travel deal listed on Travari.com will also appear on BootsnAll.com. This benefits BootsnAll’s readers by giving them access to exclusive adventure travel deals. Travari’s adventure travel partners should see a significant traffic boost by having their deals content appear in front of BootsnAll’s 500,000+ monthly visitors.
According to Titensor, this partnership will likely create the largest adventure travel deals network on the internet (in terms of impressions.) “There really isn’t anyone else aggregating adventure deals content on a large scale. Not only does Travari aggregate a significant amount of adventure deals content we’re now serving it up to hundreds of thousands of travelers on multiple sites.”
ABOUT TRAVARI.COM
Travari.com is a leading publisher of adventure travel deals. Through a growing network of adventure travel partners Travari has access to the best deals on adventure travel packages from around the world. Travari’s adventure deals content appears on the Travari website and will soon be syndicated to other leading travel portals. For more information contact Travari at 435.881.3922 or visit their website http://www.Travari.com.
Four Thumbs Up for the IMAX Film “Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk” Hosted by O.A.R.S. And Teva
ATTA Member O.A.R.S., and its founder and president George Wendt — recipient of an ATTA Lifetime Achievement Award – earns positive publicity coverage for their support of the 3-D IMAX film, “Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk”
JUST RELEASED! Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk
ATTA Member O.A.R.S. provided production support for this IMAX film just released on March 14: Set against the immense backdrop of the majestic Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Adventure will take IMAX Theatre audiences on an exhilarating river-rafting adventure down the Colorado River in the company of a team of explorers who are committed to bringing awareness to global water issues. One of the world’s mightiest rivers, the Colorado no longer reaches the sea. Every drop of river water is allocated to agriculture and populations along the way, many of whom don’t even realize their connection to the river. No water remains for the river’s end — the Colorado Delta — once a thriving estuary that supported the most diverse biosphere in North America. How do we balance our needs with nature’s? How do we provide enough freshwater for everyone who needs it, not only along the Colorado River, but everywhere on our planet? As the expedition journeys down river…
Travel Ecuador Unveils Exclusive Birding Program for Vast Emerging Market
…Travel Ecuador partnered with renowned bird expert and artist Paul Greenfield to design an exclusive new itinerary.
~ Travel Ecuador
Travel Sites Choose Adventure Central to Tap Into The $165 Billion Adventure and Experiential Travel Market
Adventure Central…announced today the addition of John Diorio as Vice President of Distribution and Supplier Partnerships.
~ Adventure Central
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Wander the World with Trusted Adventures’ New Wild Pair
Writers Judith Fein and Ellen Barone bring their zest for travel to the Web
~ Trusted Adventures
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