Posted By: kathryn on 13/01/2011
We are excited to announce our new Charity Etape Cycle Challenge, which offers any cyclist the chance to ride a stage of the Tour de France. Whether beginners or seasoned cyclists, riders can take part and raise money for their chosen charity to secure their place, or simply pay their own costs.
Discover Adventure’s 2011 Charity Etape will take place in September (1st – 4th), just a few weeks after the pros have completed the race; the stage chosen is a demanding, 208km-long route through the mountainous terrain of the volcanic Massif Central region.
Riders will be almost continually climbing and descending from the start at Issoire, near Clermont-Ferrand in central France, to the hilltop town of Saint-Flour. The mountains may not reach the heights of the Alps or Pyrenees, but the climbs are very taxing, with gradients of over 8%.
To make the challenge more achievable for cyclists of all experience levels, the Charity Etape route is split into two days.
Click here for all the details
http://www.discoveradventure.com/challenge.aspx?t=205
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Posted By: hannah on 15/12/2010
We still have availability on some exciting treks next spring. Sign up now and give yourself some post-Christmas purpose!
Sahara Desert Trek, 4 – 13 March 2011
One of our favourite challenges – incredible trekking, awe-inspiring scenery and camels – what more could you wish for in a week?
Great Wall of China Trek, 7 – 17 April 2011
If you’ve always wanted to see China’s Great Wall – without the crowds – this is your chance! Fantastic scenery, traditional Chinese villages and varied trekking to boot.
Trek to Ancient Petra, 9 – 17 April 2011
New for this year: trek through spectacular and varied desert and mountain scenery to the unforgettable ruins of the ancient city of Petra.
Classic Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu, 30 April – 9 May 2011
Your chance to trek the legendary Inca Trail to the famous viewpoint over Machu Picchu – and some wonderful, diverse mountain trekking en route!
There are also still places on our spring Training Weekends:
Snowdon Training Weekend, 12-13 March
Cycle Training Weekend, 16 – 17 April
These are both perfect timing for training for a summer or autumn main challenge event. Boost your confidence and improve fitness – they also work well as stand-alone challenges.
This is about as ‘last-minute’ as we get here at Discover Adventure!
We always suggest you book more than 3 months before departure so we can include you in group arrangements.
You can book online, or call us on 01722 71844 or email info@discoveradventure.com
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Posted By: hannah on 06/09/2010
Our latest brochure is now available, offering over 30 challenges in amazing parts of the world. All of our latest challenges have been designed to give participants an unforgettable experience and achievement whilst pushing the limits for a good cause.
NEW trips include: Trek to Ancient Petra - trek through beautiful desert and mountains to the ancient rock city
Mount Kilimanjaro Trek (Rongai Route) - we now offer two different routes up the highest mountain in Africa: take your pick!
Trek to Angkor Wat - trek through friendly Cambodian villages to the must-see sight of South East Asia
Kalimantan Jungle Trek - if you want to get truly off the beaten track, this is the one for you!
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - this popular classic trek to the Sun Gate overlooking Machu Picchu is now available as an Open Challenge
Geneva to Nice Cycle - challenging ride through the Alps and Provence to the sunny Mediterranean coast
Ben Nevis Weekend - demanding trek to the UK's highest point
Plus: NEW Cycle Training Weekend and a wide choice of one-day Trekathons!
You can download our new brochure from this website, or just ask us to send you a copy in the post.
01722 718444 info@discoveradventure.com
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Posted By: hannah on 11/05/2010
This month we have launched a brand new series of one day challenges, taking place in five stunning locations around the country.
At 26 miles, they each form an enormous challenge for walkers. You can walk, jog or run the route and we also offer a half-distance finishing point. There will be full support throughout the challenges with DA marshals and water stops along the route and pre-event transfers to the start points.
The Events:
South Downs Trekathon, East Sussex - 7 May 2011
Hadrian's Wall Trekathon, Northumberland - 25 June 2011
Avebury to Stonehenge, Wiltshire - 2 July 2011
Cheddar to Glastonbury, Somerset - 30 July 2011
Spire2Spire Trekathon, Hants/Wilts 3 Sept 2011
For more information click here > >
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Posted By: hannah on 28/04/2010
High praise has been flooding in from trekkers who had just completed a Great Wall of China Trek for their charities when the volcanic eruption in Iceland created a long delay for their return home. Discover Adventure paid for the extra accommodation in Beijing and never stopped attempts to secure the earliest-possible seats on flights.
Since our customers returned, we’ve been inundated with calls and emails thanking us for the way the situation was handled from the UK and by our team of leaders who accompanied the group. In turn, we’d like to thank the group for dealing with such a difficult situation with patience and good grace.
Some of our Feedback:
“Thanks for all the updates to let us know how [our fundraisers] were doing, that was sooo helpful. They spoke very highly about how they were looked after. We really appreciate all your help. We are also very grateful to Discover Adventure for covering the costs of the accommodation whilst people were stranded abroad, I think that is a wonderful gesture. Go team and well handled!” Dorothy House Hospice Care
“Before I signed up for the trip, one of [my charity’s] fund-raising co-ordinators said that … Discover Adventure was among the best. Looking back on my experience of the past few days, I can whole-heartedly endorse that statement.
Anyone can be a tour leader when the trip goes smoothly: however, when unexpected events take place and the schedule goes as badly awry as ours did because of factors out of our control, it takes a great deal of skill, of effort and of professionalism to encourage, to lead and to ensure that everyone gets home safely. Our Discover Adventure team showed such skills in the face of considerable adversity and a rapidly changing and confusing situation.
I would also like to formally thank Discover Adventure for underwriting the cost of the extra nights' accommodation that the group needed in Beijing: this was an unexpected cost to the company, and it would have been all-too-easy to pass it on to the group participants. The fact that the company shouldered this cost itself is a clear example of going the extra mile in providing for participant needs at a difficult time.
Altogether, the last 15 days have, for me, been an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I would be grateful if you would formally pass on my thanks to the management of Discover Adventure: good job well done!” Tony, China trekker
“The trek itself was amazing, but the support of the team during the delayed departures from Beijing was outstanding. The twice-daily briefings helped to keep morale high, even if there was no positive news, as did the quiz and bingo nights! I know I am not alone in being very grateful to the crew for all that they did for us, as well as to DA for providing our accommodation throughout. I look forward to my next adventure with you!” Jacky, China trekker
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Posted By: hannah on 10/03/2010
Places now available this May
Due to unforeseen cancellations, we now have a few places available on our Land’s End to John O’ Groats Cycle Challenge.
Dates: 4 - 16 May 2010
This is a cyclist’s dream, the classic challenge. If you’ve always wanted to do it and never made the leap, here’s your chance!
Or you may have been inspired recently by the efforts of David Walliams and his celebrity team who cycled from John O’Groats to Land’s End as a non-stop 4-day relay to raise money for Sport Relief. If they can do it, you can too!
Taking part in our trip means you cycle the full distance, but unlike the celebrities we do stop to sleep each night! We take 12 days to cycle approx 1000 miles, passing through some beautiful areas of the UK as we go. We provide all support, food and accommodation – all you need to do is pedal!
This is a very popular challenge and always books up months in advance! It’s very unusual to have places at this late stage, so grab the opportunity to cycle the length of Britain … and give yourself the most incredible sense of achievement in the process.
As always on our Open Challenges, you can pay your own costs and enjoy your personal challenge without having to reach a specified fundraising target.
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Posted By: hannah on 09/02/2010
We would like to reassure you that Discover Adventure Peru Treks later this year are highly unlikely to be affected in any way by the recent bad weather conditions in Peru.
Heavy rains since 22 January have caused landslides and flooding throughout the Sacred Valley around Cuzco, including Aguas Calientes, the village beneath Machu Picchu. Many roads are currently closed, as is the rail link to Machu Picchu which was badly damaged. At this stage the authorities are estimating that it could take up to 2 months to fully repair the damage.
Our first trip of the season departs in May and both Discover Adventure and our ground agents in Cuzco, with whom we are in regular contact, are confident that everything affecting our itinerary will be cleared and repaired in good time.
PeruRail is prioritising the repair of a length of track from Aguas Calientes towards Ollantaytambo, which would allow passengers to transfer to small buses for their onward journey to Cuzco, via Ollantaytambo. This is very similar to the way Discover Adventure trips work currently, so will cause minimal change if still in operation by May.
This area of Peru often sees landslides around this time of the year (the peak of the rainy season, which lasts from November to April) and the Inca Trail area itself is always closed throughout February for annual maintenance.
Tourists and trekkers are vital to Peru’s economy and there is no doubt that the authorities are doing their utmost to repair the damage before the start of the main trekking season. Relief efforts are continuing and clean-up and repair operations are already well underway.
We have very close links with several community projects in Peru and many of our trekkers bring clothing or other items to give to the local people. We will be working with our ground operators to see what worthwhile help we can give this year, and it may be that we can direct our help towards those most affected by the landslides. We’ll update everyone booked on our trips nearer the time.
For further detail about our spectacular trek through remote mountain villages in the Peruvian Andes, culminating in a visit to Machu Picchu, click here > >
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Posted By: sam on 28/01/2010
Join us for an 80-mile cycle weekend around the chalk downs of South Wiltshire, perfect for boosting your confidence or re-focusing your training programme!
Designed for those who have booked on a main challenge and want to gauge their fitness, we will offer riding technique tips and some basic bike maintenance skills over the 2 days, as well testing you on plenty of different gradients.
If you think South Wiltshire is flat, you will think differently by the end of your weekend with us!
The price is £149, discounted to £129 if you have already booked your challenge, or book it at the same time you sign up to your main challenge.
Dates: 17 - 18 April and 17 – 18 July 2010
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Posted By: sam on 07/01/2010
Due to popular demand both of our Land's End to John O'Groats challenges in May and August 2010 are now full.
However, we have now successfully confirmed a new date: 28 September - 10 October 2010. Book now >>
We are operating a waiting list for both May and August departures if you can only do these dates.
To secure your place on the waiting list or find out more about the new departure just email us at info@discoveradventure.com; alternatively contact Mark Henson on 01722 718444.
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Posted By: hannah on 04/01/2010
Over the past 5 years Discover Adventure has operated trekking and cycling challenges promoted by Skyline Events. Charities and participants had peace of mind that – irrespective of signing up directly through us or through Skyline - the quality of the trip and the challenge experience would be the same.
As of 2010, we are no longer running Skyline challenges. It’s especially important that customers who have completed previous challenges are aware of this change as every operator has its own way of running trips.
Discover Adventure was founded in 1994 and has been one of the main providers of challenges for charities on a worldwide basis ever since. Over this period we have gained invaluable experience, and our in-depth knowledge and expertise has gained us industry-wide respect and a huge proportion of repeat customers. We also offer the best deal financially, with a cost to income ratio of 40:60 on all Open Challenges. That means your charity retains more of your fundraising than through trips run by other operators.
If you have any queries about this please contact us on info@discoveradventure.com
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