We have launched our new brochure for 2010/2011 this week with 30 exciting challenges taking place throughout the world for you to choose from. 

The trips, many of which are unique to us, take place in remote regions of 19 countries, well off the tourist routes and are completely contrasting either on foot, on bike, by boat or horseback. All are designed for people of everyday backgrounds and average fitness levels to take part and raise money for a charity of their choice whilst completing a personal challenge.

New for 2010

You can:-

• Trek from coast to coast and through the Rainforests of Costa Rica

• Cycle across South Island, New Zealand and experience the famed unspoilt natural scenery

• Trek on horseback through the magnificence of the Khangai Mountains in Mongolia

• Experience altitude as you summit Mount Kenya, a try-out for Kilimanjaro perhaps

• Trek in the Cederberg Wilderness in South Africa and end at the stunning Table Mountain

Closer to home, an 8 day trekking experience in the Mont Blanc Region taking in 3 countries is on offer and in the UK, a spectacular weekend walk along the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

How it works

Participants who choose the fundraising payment option, pledge to raise the minimum fundraising target for their charity and pay a Registration Fee, which guarantees a place on the trip. The charity will then pay cost of the trip whilst still retaining at least 60% of the minimum fundraising target.  No other challenge operator uses such a high cost:income ratio.  It is fair to say that charities receive more money if you come with us.

Our self payment option means individuals fund their own tour costs and donate 100% of their fundraising – whatever amount – to the chosen charity.

If you are feeling it’s time to do something different; something worthwhile, you won’t go far wrong taking a look around the website to see what we have on offer.

Our commitment towards Responsible Tourism has been officially recognised.  Our trade association AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators has given us a 4 star award for the work we do supporting communities we travel to, the responsible methods used to conduct our tours and the environmental practices of the business more generally.

We operates a ‘Leave no Trace’ tourism policy and take the time to brief all participants on what this means and how to travel responsibly.  Carbon offsetting of flight emissions is encouraged via the Climate Care website and participants can now reduce the impact of their trip in a more practical way by volunteering with BTCV.  We have recently teamed up with BTCV, the largest international environmental volunteering charity to offer a practical alternative to offsetting carbon emissions.  Participants can volunteer for a day to construct footpaths, carry out dry stone walling, create wildlife habitats or plant trees in their local communities after completing a challenge.  BTCV believes getting people interested in the environment through volunteering, and then encouraging longer term adoption of pro-environmental behaviours such as saving resources, consuming less and travelling wisely, has potential to make a greater impact in addressing climate change than offsetting.

“Long before the phrase ‘responsible tourism’ was coined we were organising and running all of our trips with a conscientious mind on minimising the negative impact we have on the places we visit” says Jonathan Bryan, Managing Director.  “The value of tourism to the local economy of the countries to which we travel should not be underestimated.  Our style of travel, often to remote parts of the world, generates employment and incomes in rural communities which often have no source of revenue other than subsistence farming. Without the employment we offer to porters and local guides these communities might find it difficult to sustain their way of life”.

We are involved in several worthwhile community projects on a long-term basis in Peru, Tanzania and Nepal and participants can stay on after they have completed their challenge to help out at schools, orphanages and children’s homes in a very hands on way.

The AITO Responsible Tourism Star System has a maximum of 5 Stars; the new alliance with BTCV should mean that we will achieve the highest award in the coming 12 months.

We’ve seen a marked increase in the number of individuals throwing caution to the wind and booking their overseas challenge despite it all!  It seems more and more people are turning negative situations, like redundancy, into a positive and using their new found freedom of non-employment into a positive – at least for a short while.  What better way to decide on a new direction in life than taking yourself away from the day to day existence.

For anyone wishing to take time out, we have many charity treks and cycle rides to choose from departing this autumn including:

Cycle adventures in the Trans High Atlas Mountain Cycle, Morocco; along the Garden Route in our South Cape Cycle or following the waterways of the Mekong Delta in Cambodia.

Or if Shanks’ Pony is preferred over pedal power then trekking in the Masai Mara or the desert of the northern Sahara are on offer and even trekking at lower altitudes through the spectacular landscapes of the Himalayan Annapurnas in Nepal.

The Challenges last from 9 to 11 days; all are graded as ‘Moderate’, so requiring a good level of fitness over stamina.

“People constantly remark that our trips changed their life and they feel very privileged to have experienced the culture of the people they meet and by dint of travelling end up giving something back to the country they visit”.  Says Kathryn.

“We guarantee inspiring landscapes, excitement, adventure and freedom, not to mention a huge sense of satisfaction and pride felt from raising money for a good cause”.

We have focused this summer on Challenges close to home.  Throughout the season you can choose to experience the British countryside close up, particularly close up if you choose one of the trips with camping as the ‘accommodation’! On selected dates children 14+, who are accompanied by a parent/guardian, are welcomed too.

“Not everyone feels climbing Kilimanjaro or trekking the Great Wall of China is for them” says Kathryn Furnell, Marketing Manager for Discover Adventure, ‘so we’ve built on our well established challenges to come up with some new alternatives that give fundraisers the option to do something over a shorter time scale and explore parts of the UK that they’ve never seen before, and raise some money for a deserving charity”.

“The trips could not be more eco-friendly, we walk, cycle or sail to reach our destinations, ticking all the right boxes as more and more of us wish to take steps to reduce our impact on the environment”. 

The Choices

Ridgeway Trek to Avebury:  26 – 28 June 2009.  (Teenagers Welcome).

Starting at Uffington Castle Nr. Wantage, Berkshire you trek 13 miles through a beautiful stretch of southern chalk down and rolling hills to the campsite for the night at Ogbourne St George, near the Wiltshire Market Town of Marlborough.  In the morning we set off for a shorter trek but with some stiff climbs as we head via Barbury Castle Hill Fort towards the prehistoric stone circle of Avebury.

Hadrian’s Wall Weekend Trek: 5 – 7 June  and 7 – 9 August.  (Teenagers Welcome).

Starting at Lanercost Priory, we trek for 25 miles alongside the only remaining sections of the wall, there are many ancient monuments along the way not to mention the famous Sycamore Gap, (or Robin Hood’s Tree as it is sometimes referred).  We end our weekend trek at Broccolitia Roman Fort.

Sailing Challenge from Poole to the Channel Islands: 13 – 16 May, 15 – 18 July and 9 – 12 September

Take on the elements and experience the thrill of sailing a wonderfully classic 46ft yawl racing boat.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve never sailed before, you’ll be joining a professional skipper and first mate.  You and your fellow challengers will sail from Poole to the Channel Islands.  She’s a fast yacht but needs working by her crew and that’s where you come in.  You’ll be sailing day and night, racking up approximately 230 nautical miles.

Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle Challenge: 5 – 17 May and 1 – 13 September

This is the classic challenge that many cyclist dream of, riding the furthest possible distance within the UK.   In 12 days the distance covered is 1,000 miles.  Discover Adventure take care of everything all you have to worry about is turning the pedals.

Climb Snowdon Weekend: 11 – 12 July and 5 – 6 September

Spend a weekend trekking in Snowdonia National Park with us, we stay in a local hostel so no tents this time (!) and trek on day 1 to Glyderau and on Sunday to the summit of Snowdon itself (1085m), you’ll be with an experienced Discover Adventure leader helping you along the way.  Many people use this event as a training weekend prior to tackling their main challenge which could be trekking to Everest Base Camp or the Pyrenees.

So if it is inspiring countryside, excitement, adventure and freedom you want to experience, not to mention a huge sense of satisfaction and pride, all for a low carbon footprint – come on one of our adventures and leave the Costa Del Sol to do another year!

Something new from Discover Adventure for 2009 are our range of challenges suitable for family groups to take part in. These physical Challenges take place in all corners of the world as well as in the UK, all have been carefully selected and designed to be suitably demanding but achievable for teenagers (14+ years of age) to complete. 

Families can choose to support any charity – a national organisation or their local hospice or appeal – by taking part in events ranging from trekking The Great Wall of China to cycling from London to Paris.  Some events are rather closer to home than you might expect; very popular are the weekend treks along parts of Hadrian’s Wall and walking the Ridgeway to Avebury in Wiltshire.

The benefits to the child and the family are many and varied.  Kids develop new personal and social skills for life.  Completing the challenge itself will aid self confidence and create a sense of responsibility, as well as the educational benefits that experiencing travel and new cultures bring.  The completion of the challenge and the fundraising activity will of course add interest to any university application or newly drafted CV. 

‘There aren’t many home comforts on our Treks - children that love the outdoors will be in their element learning good camping practices and staying under canvas in places far different to the back garden!’ says Jo Bradshaw, Leader and Charity Co-ordinator. ‘For any parent or guardian they are sure to gain from an experience overwhelmingly different to any other family activity holiday’.

If you feel the time is right to get the whole family involved in volunteering and doing something worthwhile for a charity close to your heart we will happily talk you through the options and explain how you can get involved.

Click here to read more about the Family Challenges and details of departure dates and prices...

If you are looking to do something different on your bike this year or next, why not sign up and take part in a one of our Charity Bike Rides, you’ll take part in a trip of a lifetime that you will not forget in a hurry.  You’ll meet fellow cyclists that become friends for life and you’ll return home with the greatest feeling of achievement you have ever known.  The added bonus is knowing that your efforts will raise funds for whichever good cause you choose.  And you can raise as little or as much as you like.

We’ve got a range of cycle challenges to choose from including ‘The Classics’ - Land’s End to John O’Groats, and London to Paris - along with a couple of new ones – Legends of the Alps and Paris to Geneva. The trips are graded from Moderate to Extreme, all require training to succeed. 

Land’s End to John O’Groats is a 12 day trip and takes place at the beginning of May and September each year, you can expect to average 85 miles per day, with the toughest day close to the start as you climb across Dartmoor.

London to Paris is 4 days in the saddle.  We can offer 2 departure dates during the summer.  You’ll average around 70 miles per day, the most strenuous day on this side of the Channel.

Our Legends of the Alps tour is the most challenging.  It’s relatively short, 5 days, but it is demanding and graded ‘Extreme’.  Over 6,000m in height will be accumulated in 3 of the days; each day includes two Tour de France mountain climbs.  The trip is run in June and September.

Paris to Geneva is graded moderate however on the last day of cycling you tackle the Col de la Faucille as you head into Switzerland.  Again trips depart in June and September.

Those with an eye for detail will see that we have made it possible for 3 cycling challenges to become one!  You can begin in London on 17th June at the start of London to Paris, the second leg of the challenge is the Paris to Geneva ride and you finally arrive in Bourg d’Oisans in France, after completion of the Legends of the Alps challenge on 1st July!!  Obviously not for the faint hearted. 

Check out the Challenge pages for all the details or visit our insightful Photo Gallery, where the pictures speak a thousand words of course! 

And challenge yourself…

We are urging everyone to aim high with New Year’s Resolutions this year and do something that will make a real difference to themselves and others.

Many high profile celebrities including Fern Britton and Chris Moyles are taking part in fundraising challenges - it does highlight the fact that anyone can do these things once you’ve set your mind to it.

We also offer Volunteer Challenges where you can stay on in the country after you’ve completed your challenge and help out in an established community project, further heightening that sense of personal achievement.

We know many of our participants want to give something back in a very practical way so we’ve designed several new Volunteer Challenges. On special departure dates we can extend stays in countries so that people can take part in hands-on community work after completing their Trek or Cycle Challenge’.

One such Volunteer Challenge in Tanazania supports an orphanage near Moshi at the base of Kilimanjaro.  The project not only provides a home for children, many orphaned or abandoned because of parental AIDS, but an educational and medical centre as well.  You can carry out whatever practical work is needed at the time of the visit as well as caring for the children.

 

If you are ready to push your own boundaries and challenge yourself why not call us today and talk through the many trips that are available, we can give you all the low down you need, many DA staff have taken part or are group leaders, so we can tell you what it’s really like!       

The Moshi Orphanage Volunteer Challenge takes place after the Masai Volcano Trek, a 10 day trek through the Rift Valley.  Departs 6 August 2009.  For full details click here >>>

A Win, Win Situation even in the Credit Crunch

We have seen a significant increase in recent weeks of individuals signing up on our fundraising challenge events who are seeing it as high time to do something different and worthwhile with their time off from work.  Becoming increasingly deflated with news of the credit crunch, people are turning to challenge events for inspiration and expressing a wish to put their annual leave to a much better use.

Our physically-demanding Challenges take place in all corners of the world as well as in the UK, and are designed for people of everyday backgrounds and fitness levels to take part and raise money for any charity of their choice. At the same time they will gain from an experience overwhelmingly different to a sightseeing-type tour; for many it can trigger a complete change in their lives.

Trip participants can choose to support any charity – a national organisation or their local hospice or appeal – by events ranging from trekking up Kilimanjaro to cycling from Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu in Peru. 30 different challenge ideas are featured in our brochure, covering a wide range of activities, destinations and durations.  Some events are rather closer to home than you might expect; very popular is the 5-day classic London to Paris Cycle Challenge.

Although treks feature widely you need not rely on covering the ground on foot; challenges can take place on two wheels (pedal power), on horse back, on the water and even dog-sledding and other Arctic-based activities.

Jo Bradshaw, who manages Discover Adventure’s Open Challenges as well as leading several of the trips each year, is not surprised that in the current economic climate people are searching for something more rewarding to do with their time – particularly if others are going to benefit. She states, “If you feel the time is right to push some personal boundaries, face fears, celebrate a milestone or create a turning point in your life, what better way than giving yourself an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, and doing it for a charity. It certainly is a Win, Win Situation.”