The State of Travel in 2010: Tom Hale, Backroads

What’s the state of the travel world as we enter 2010? I posed four questions to each of the leaders of the Adventure Collection companies to get their assessments of the travel industry as we start the new year. In the days to come, I’ll be posting their responses, beginning with these remarks from Tom Hale, founder and president of Backroads.

1. Surveying the travel industry today, how would you compare where we are in Jan. 2010 to where we were in Jan. 2009?

Seeing as how the world looked pretty grim a year ago, the difference in how the travel industry looks now is night and day better. Backroads is up 20 percent and climbing year over year. We expect to be up at least 25 percent over 2009. Virtually every one of our segments is up, with Europe leading the pack. Our Premiere hotels segment is looking especially positive as are Private/Custom trips. All in all, it feels very good to be out from under the global economic meltdown cloud.

2. Where do you think the industry is headed this year?

Up!

3. What do you think will be the emerging dominant trends in travel and particularly adventure travel this year?

I think people will get back to traveling further from home. While I don’t expect an immediate return to 2008 levels, I think there is a certain amount of pent-up demand that will help all trends. People want rich experiences versus more “stuff,” so all Adventure Collection companies are well positioned. We are all about rich experiences.

4. What for you are the principal inspirations/reasons for people to travel in 2010?

To connect with people — one’s own family/loved ones. Meet new people in fascinating circumstances. Explore new cultures. Do so in a healthy and invigorating manner. Regenerate oneself and return with a renewed sense of appreciation for all we have. Take a break from the mundane. Treat oneself to seeing the world in style. Bike and hike and do really great and exciting things that help connect one with nature. Have a little fun.

Ten Extraordinary Adventures for 2010

Want to start the new year off with a bang? Why not book the adventure of a lifetime? Here are ten tempting adventures that are virtually guaranteed to make 2010 unforgettable!

Backroads: Provence Walking — From Les Baux to the Luberon

Journey with Backroads through a landscape captured on canvas by Cézanne, Picasso and van Gogh, where leisurely strolls through timeless villages and rugged countryside await. Walk along the herb-scented trails of the Alpilles to the hilltop towns of the Lubéron, relishing dramatic vistas and enjoying intimate glimpses into the daily lives of the Provençal people. Savor Michelin-starred cuisine, and learn the ins and outs of French cooking during a class with a local chef! And all the while, you’re treated to gracious hospitality in exquisite accommodations – the perfect way to experience the charms of this distinctive region warmed by the Mediterranean sun.

Provence Walking — From Les Baux to the Luberon: May 10-15; June 21-26;  September 13-18;  September 27-October 2; $4,298.

Bushtracks: Family Adventure Vacation and Safari in Kruger and Victoria Falls

Take your family on an adventure vacation of a lifetime by private air! Explore Southern Africa on safari with all members of your family on an itinerary that promotes fun and education at the same time. Watch your children’s excitement as they encounter the “Big Five”: lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Experience some of the best national parks and reserves in Southern Africa. These include Mala Mala Game Reserve located in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park and Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana.

This great family vacation safari includes wonderful opportunities to interact with local school children in Zambia and make lasting friendships. Adults and children alike can brave the adrenaline-filled activities at Victoria Falls. Uncover the rich wildlife in Botswana’s world famous Okavango Delta. Our specialist tour guides travel with you throughout this luxury safari which will leave everyone in awe.

Family Adventure Vacation and Safari in Kruger and Victoria Falls: June 13-23; July 22-August 1; $12,495.

Canadian Mountain Holidays: Heli-Hiking in the Bugaboos

This short escape is a three-day heli-hiking adventure at the Bugaboo Lodge in the majestic Columbia Mountains of British Columbia. Three days of heli-hiking allow you to taste the wonders of mountain wilderness. The helicopter allows us to explore a variety of sights in a short time. We’ll show you ancient glaciers, alpine meadows, mountain ridge walks and lush forested valleys – on any other hiking or walking trip you’d see only one type of mountain terrain. Our three-day adventures are suitable for all guests — Families, Couples, Friends, Solo Travellers, Mountaineers, Hikers, Trekkers, Walkers and Amblers — and is the perfect introduction to CMH.

Let us warn you, however — this experience will leave you wanting more! Our three-day heli-adventure begins with transportation from Banff, Alberta, to the CMH helipad, followed by an exhilarating flight into the lodge. Two and a half days of guided hiking, walking and/or trekking follows with guests divided into groups based on ability and interest. Add in gourmet cuisine, luxury lodges and a relaxed, casual atmosphere and you have CMH heli-hiking in a nutshell.

Heli-Hiking in the Bugaboos: Numerous departures in July, August and September; $2,490.

Geographic Expeditions: The Last Days of the Incas with Kim MacQuarrie

Our world-class Peru expert Clark Kotula is spellbound by the sudden demise of the Incan empire at the hands of the motley bunch of Spanish ruffians we call Conquistadors. And so is his good friend Kim MacQuarrie, author of _The Last Days of the Incas_, an account of the historic cataclysm the Washington Post called “a welcome addition to the literature. . . lively and dramatic,” and Booklist praised as “definitive.” Clark and Kim agree that there is no place they’d rather be than “traipsing around Peru’s orchid-rich, mist-shrouded Vilcabamba Range, where the mysterious Incan empire seemed to have vanished into eternity, but luckily left behind a wealth of ruins to tug at our heartstrings and minds.”

Our minds and hearts will be well tugged on this unique, magnificently orchestrated trip led by Kim himself. We begin with a look at Lima, then fly north to the Pacific coast ruins of Chiclayo, where Pizarro and his gang first landed and began to realize that they just might have found a gold-rich civilization (emphasis on the gold). Then up to Cajamarca in the Andean foothills, where Pizarro overcame an Incan army of 80,000 men with his band of 168 soldiers, 27 horses, and 1 cannon. Wandering these history-drenched precincts with the amiable and erudite Kim MacQuarrie will be a deeply illuminating treat.

The second chapter of The Last Days tour takes us to what the Incas called Qosqo, the navel of the world. First to Cusco itself, then down to the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba, and over to incomparable Machu Picchu, and on to the remote village of Huancacalle, where we’ll stay in a hostel operated by the Cobos family, well known to the archaeologists, explorers, and anthropologists who are about the only outsiders to make their way up here. Now for a rare and beautiful mule-supported trek in the Vilcabamba’s orchid-scented cloud forests, visiting ruins on the way to Espíritu Pampa, where the Incan royal family spent their last days in hiding from the Spanish. Coming out of the mountains, we return to Cusco’s cosmopolitan whirl before heading back to Lima and home.

The Last Days of the Incas with Kim MacQuarrie: May 1-20, Sept. 1-20; from $8900.

Lindblad Expeditions: Baja California: Among the Great Whales

Each winter gray whales migrate south from their arctic feeding grounds to breed and rear their young in Baja California’s and Mexico’s sheltered lagoons, making it one of North America’s premier whale watching sites. During our Baja Mexico cruise in the breeding lagoons of Bahia Magdalena, we venture among them in Zodiac landing craft. This gives us a water-level perspective for whale watching that is a rare privilege in the natural world. And it positions us perfectly for the increasingly common friendly encounters with these mammals that we’ve shared with our guests.

Our Baja Mexico cruise expedition also offers naturalist-guided walks on uninhabited desert islands, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking in the Sea of Cortez. The itinerary remains flexible to make the most of whale watching and wildlife sightings. Whales, dolphins, sea lions, birds such as blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, huge cardon cacti, mangroves and sand dunes are among the wonders you’ll experience.

Baja California: Among the Great Whales: Multiple departures in January, February and March; from $4850.

Micato Safaris: The Hemingway Wing Safari

Big game, unabashed luxury and the enthralling vistas of Africa are sure to dazzle even the most avid traveler on the Hemingway Wing Safari. This 14-day adventure takes the road less traveled, journeying to the remote and dramatic Samburu region. You’ll also visit the legendary game parks of Kenya and Tanzania, including the fabled Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the Maasai Mara.  Spend your days in pursuit of elephant, lion, giraffe, leopard and cheetah.  At night, relax in cozy comfort at two luxurious tented camps. Micato’s Hemingway Wing Safari is consistently voted “the perfect classic African safari” by our travelers.

The Hemingway Wing Safari: Departures weekly; from $7975.

Natural Habitat Adventures: Classic Polar Bear Expedition

Our “flagship” polar bear expedition features polar bear watching in the polar bear capital of the world! See the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears, just outside Churchill, Manitoba. Experience the frozen wilderness on Hudson Bay from the comfort of warm tundra vehicles. Discover the challenges and joys of life in the far north in the outpost town of Churchill. Alternately regal and whimsical and always awe-inspiring, polar bears in the wild offer a natural encounter charged with drama and magic. Yet a warming climate and melting ice sheet are affecting Arctic ecosystems, threatening the future of all polar bears. Natural Habitat Adventures is responding with measures like our carbon offset program, and we have faith that humanity will rally to protect the frozen home of these engaging beasts. There’s no better time than now to see these kings of the north in their natural habitat.
 
Classic Polar Bear Expedition: Six-day and seven-day trips; multiple departures in Oct. and Nov; from $4,595.

NOLS: Patagonia Backpacking & Fly Fishing

For the backcountry fly fishing expedition of a lifetime, come to NOLS Patagonia. You will find the fabled wild brown and rainbow trout of Patagonia’s Aisen region swimming in the pristine rivers and freestone streams that rush through these beautiful valleys. The fundamental travel and expedition skills that are the hallmark of a NOLS experience are coupled with a tailored fly fishing progression based on students’ individual knowledge and experience. Whether you are picking up a fly rod for the first time or have been fishing for years, this is the course for you. NOLS provides a remote, self-sufficient, educational expedition in what is quickly becoming one of the hottest fly fishing destinations on the planet.

Patagonia Backpacking & Fly Fishing: March 6-19; $3375.

OARS: Main Salmon River Rafting on the River of No Return

For next year, O.A.R.S. went back to the drawing board to save you more than $300 per person on our most popular Idaho rafting trip. Featuring miles upon miles of protected wilderness where little has changed since first appearing on the U.S. map, the Main Salmon offers a rich river experience including free-flowing Class III whitewater that’s great for any age and experience level. The adventure includes big sandy beaches perfect for camping and playing, beautiful mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and a natural hot spring. On the Main, we run the full gamut of O.A.R.S.’ river vessels so you can experience them all! Riding in an oar boat one day and a wooden dory the next, then challenging the whitewater hands-on in a paddle raft or inflatable kayak, ensures a diverse and exciting river adventure for each member of your party. Dubbed the “River of No Return” by early prospectors, the Salmon is in fact a river you’ll want to return to again and again.

Main Salmon River Rafting on the River of No Return: 6 days, 5 nights; multiple departures in June, July, August and September; from $1588 adult, $1435 youth.

Off the Beaten Path: Inside Guatemala — Semana Santa, Nature, and Mayan Spirit

This insider’s journey connects you with the spirit of the people, art of the culture, and nature of the place. Learn about Guatemala’s famous textiles and folk art from local artisans, many of whom are Mayan. The Mayan culture is alive and well here, and you’ll explore the ancient foundations of this influential civilization at the fabulous sites of Yaxha and Tikal.

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Antigua is another real highlight of the journey. It’s very special to be in Antigua for the Easter celebration of Semana Santa, when men and women carry enormous religious floats through narrow streets, over elaborate carpets of flowers, pine needles, and brightly dyed sawdust.

From the colorful markets and colonial ruins to the slopes of Pacaya volcano, “Inside Guatemala” offers a very personal view of a fascinating country. Highlights include: Antigua — nestled in a mountain valley with three volcanoes on the horizon, idyllic Antigua features Spanish colonial architecture and manicured parks; Semana Santa — Antigua is famous for its celebration of Easter Holy Week, and the entire city participates in the dramatic and colorful event; Mayan ceremony — within the Iximche ruin is an extremely important site where a local shaman will perform a ceremony in a Mayan language; Pacaya Volcano — drive most of the way up the volcano then scramble the last mile or so to peer into the active crater and take in the unforgettable views of the valley and three other volcanoes.

Inside Guatemala: Semana Santa, nature, and Mayan spirit: March 27-April 3; from $3,095.

Seven Great Gift Books

‘Tis the season to be giving. And what could be a better gift for an adventure-loving friend than a beautiful photography book that brings the world into their living room? Here are seven sumptuous celebrations in image and in word that will nurture their wanderlust – until they can hit the road again.

Travels to the Edge: A Photo Odyssey, by Art Wolfe

Art Wolfe’s stunning new photography book presents a world-roaming collection of profoundly inspiring images of fragile planetary treasures: wild places, wildlife and tribal peoples.

Travels to the Edge: A Photo Odyssey; text and photographs by Art Wolfe; The Mountaineers Books; softcover, 158 pages; $24.95.

Bhutan: The Land of Serenity, by Matthieu Ricard

Matthieu Ricard’s extraordinary new photography and text book presents a profoundly transporting portrait of the land, culture, and people of this Himalayan kingdom.

Bhutan: The Land of Serenity; text and photographs by Matthieu Ricard; Thames & Hudson; hardcover, 232 pages; $45.

Endangered Liaisons, by Don Shay

Don Shay presents an extraordinarily impassioned and eloquent evocation of riches revealed and lessons learned in two decades of African adventures.

Endangered Liaisons; text and photography by Don Shay; Alarus Press; hardcover, 320 pages; $60.

Galapagos: The Islands that Changed the World, by Paul D. Stewart

Celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth with this stunning book, a penetrating portrait in word and image of the “enchanted islands” where the biologist’s earthshaking revelations first took root.

Galapagos: The Islands that Changed the World, by Paul D. Stewart; published by Yale University Press; softcover; 240 pages; $29.95.

Tibet: An Inner Journey, by Matthieu Ricard

Informed with an urgent energy, Matthieu Ricard’s new book is as beautiful, haunting, and inspiring as the land and people it celebrates.

Tibet: An Inner Journey; text and photography by Matthieu Ricard; published by Thames & Hudson; hardcover; 232 pages; $45.

Living Africa, by Steve Bloom

This compelling combination of photographs and essays illuminates the familiar from an unfamiliar perspective.

Living Africa; photographs and essays by Steve Bloom; published by Thames & Hudson; hardcover; 336 pages; $75.

Machu Picchu, text and photographs by Barry Brukoff, poems by Pablo Neruda, prologue by Isabel Allende

This collaborative creation by three extraordinary artists transports readers into the living heart and soul of the sacred Inca ruins.

Machu Picchu; text and photographs by Barry Brukoff, poems by Pablo Neruda, prologue by Isabel Allende; published by Bulfinch Press, a division of Time Warner Book Group; copyright 2000 by Barry Brukoff; hardcover, 128 pages; $40.

Honoring National Geographic Adventure

Last week National Geographic announced that it was ceasing the publication of National Geographic Adventure magazine with the current issue.

The society released the following statement: National Geographic is transitioning its Adventure brand from traditional print to a multi-platform model that will include newsstand editions, books, e-magazines, mobile applications and a robust Web site. National Geographic will also continue to honor the world’s great explorers and adventurers with the National Geographic Adventure Awards. “We’re tremendously proud of what John Rasmus and his team have accomplished over the last 10 years,” NG Publishing President John Q. Griffin said in making the announcement. “They have consistently delivered award-winning editorial to an enthusiastic audience of readers and advertisers. But given the current advertising environment and the opportunities we see in emerging digital platforms, we think the time is right to transition the Adventure brand.” Griffin shared the news at a staff meeting in New York today. A total of 17 staffers in New York and Washington are affected.

For many years, National Geographic Adventure has published some of the freshest, most mind- and world-expanding writing anywhere. John Rasmus and the staff he assembled performed an amazing balancing act of creating very-high-level literary journalism that could appeal to a wide audience. In honor of his extraordinary work, I wanted to reprint here an interview I did with him last year. It’s a bittersweet testament to an amazing editor and the great publication he created.

DG: What initially drew you to the job of editing an adventure publication?

JR: I was a young city magazine editor back in the late ’70s, enamored of the New Journalism and magazines like Rolling Stone and New York, but I loved the kinds of adventure and environmental stories that writers like Tim Cahill, Ed Abbey, and Randy Wayne White were doing.  They would put themselves in amazing situations — exploring for lost cities in the Andes, marooning themselves on desert islands, things like that — and then write incredible narratives that were full of humor and heart and great storytelling. And their stories always had an underlying conscience and soul.  To me, Cahill felt like an older brother who would take you along with him and show you the ropes…but also screwed up a fair amount.  As a writer he was heroic but very approachable. These were modern voices creating a new kind of adventure genre.  
 
When did you join National Geographic Adventure, and what were your goals when you took over as editor in chief?

I came on to launch the magazine in 1999. I wanted to bring that kind of modern spirit and approachability to a National Geographic publication, but also adhere to the unrivaled standards and values of the Society. And, of course, to be connected to all the great work that was and is being done there. National Geographic has always been about groundbreaking exploration and deep research, and of course great photography, but its storytelling hadn’t changed over the years.  Today writers are expected to have a voice and personality and point of view. National Geographic has done a great job of reinventing itself over the last few years. They are still THE magazine of record in our world, but they are also more relevant than ever.  We have more freedom to be quirky and focused and personal.

How has the world of adventure changed in the years you’ve been at the magazine, and how has the role of adventure in people’s lives changed?

I think the whole notion of “armchair adventure” — the idea of reading about places you will never get to visit — has gone by the boards, or at least changed very dramatically. People are much more willing and able to go out and explore the world for themselves. You can go virtually anywhere in the world, and there are fantastic guides and infrastructure to help you do it. Twenty-five years ago, if you wanted to explore the Antarctic peninsula by sea kayak, you literally had to mount an expedition yourself.  Now you can sign up and do it with an outfitter in Berkeley.
 
How has the magazine changed in those years?

In the ten years Adventure has been around, I think we have completed the transition, as one futurist put it, from the “age of exploration” to the “age of conservation”.  Ten years or so ago, back in the days just prior to “Into Thin Air,” a lot of the focus of adventure was about personal accomplishment — can I get to the top of Everest, and back down, alive?  I think Jon Krakauer’s book put that egocentric attitude in its proper, somewhat empty, perspective. And the world has changed.  All our stories now have a conservation and sustainability angle, without exception.  They are still great stories, and they are not overwhelmed by finger-wagging and gloom and doom, but you will not finish a story in Adventure, whether it’s about Easter Island or the rhinos of Namibia, without knowing the issues and what’s at stake.  

What do you see as the principal challenges of adventure travel now?

Until recently I’ve been a bit sanguine that as places like Easter Island and Angkor Wat become heavily touristed, new frontiers open up elsewhere.  But realistcally, places like that are an incredibly scarce resource. And  we’re about to see a tidal wave of global tourism, as hundreds of millions of middle-class Asians really get out and explore the world — as they have every right and reason to do.  And, to coin a phrase, globalization is sweeping the planet, and everywhere you turn the last wild places are being logged, farmed, and developed. People have been saying this forever, and will likely keep saying it forever, but from the point of view of the individual, you should really see the wildest parts of the world now, not later.  

And what are the principal challenges of creating the magazine — and content shoot-offs such as its web site — in 2008?

Adventure is a high quality, expensive magazine to produce, and getting to the places we need to go to write and photograph our stories will always be an expensive proposition.  We need a fairly big audience and substantial revenues to do that, and for many magazines these days, ad revenue has been migrating to the web.  We’re lucky to be getting our share of that.  And also very fortunate that we have a format and content and relationship with our readers that works best in print.  I’m sorry, but there’s nothing like sitting down with a magazine you love and experiencing that world in words and beautiful pictures on nice paper.  We love the web and are doing some great things on it, such as our Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth database, that are unbelievably well suited to the web.  You click on your destinations, activities, price points, and things like “spirit of adventure”, and our tool comes back with the best companies for you, as rated by our editors. It’s deep and current and fair and very valuable to the users and the companies themselves, and something you could never do economically in print.
 
As an editor, what are you proudest of?

I honestly think we’ve discovered a few writers who might not have broken through otherwise, and put them together with topics that might not have been covered, and they’ve come up with unique, compelling, memorable pieces that millions of readers have enjoyed and been inspired by. We kind of operate out on the fringes of mainstream media, which at times can be a bit frustrating; I don’t think you’ve seen the name “Obama” more than a couple of times in our pages, if that.  On the other hand, we are not dealing with commodity news, sports, or business news that will be covered anyway, one way or another, by somebody — and covered very well.  Adventure can really be a content creator in the full sense of the word. It sounds a little crazy to say this, but in some small way the world would be a slightly different, less rich place if we weren’t around, and hadn’t inspired and changed people along the way.
 
Where do you see the magazine going; how will it change and adapt in the next few years?

We’ll continue to try to focus on doing the right things in print, and the right things on the web.  That’s always going to be a work in progress. But now that we’ve been around for a while and established our content niche and our business, I think we can take a few more risks, think a little bigger, and expand the definition of what adventure is for people.  A great adventure changes you, teaches you about yourself and the world. How you’ll handle challenges, adversity, new situations.  There’s no doubt about it.  My daughter, a suburban New York 15-year old, just got back from two weeks backpacking and climbing in the Rockies. One night her group got up at midnight to climb a 14,000 footer.  Several of the kids turned back with injuries or altitude-related things, but she did great and made it to the top. She tested herself, and was proud of herself and amazed at the world out there, in a way she couldn’t have done otherwise. Of course, there are a lot of enriching experiences in life beyond having great adventures, but having them is one of the great things in life, for sure.

How about yourself as an adventurer: How have your activities and goals changed in the past decade?

I’ve stuck a bit closer to home, I guess, as my life has changed.  And when I get to visit new adventure destinations it tends to be connected to work. But I really enjoy the little things that are still adventurous in their way.  When I go out in the mornings for a bike ride on the North County Trail near my home here in Westchester County, NY, there’s something thrilling about it every day.

Which of your own trips has had the biggest influence on your life, and how and why?

That’s a hard one, but a trip to Bhutan in 1987 might be it.  Bhutan is a small, spectacular, isolated, beautiful but poor Himalayan country, and when I was there it was just starting to enter the modern world.  There were monks and old ornate monasteries everywhere, and wild-looking tribal people, and fantastic, elaborate archery contests.  And the mountains were virtually empty and unspoiled, and the trekking was phenomenal.  But what gave it extra resonance and perspective for me was traveling through Calcutta to get there. Calcutta was seething with people and motion and a kind of desperate energy that came from its poverty. I found it really compelling.  Calcutta and Bhutan were two sides of the coin of human survival and determination, and I’ll never forget it.
 
What’s the juice for you, now, of editing National Geographic Adventure?

The thing about adventure, small a, is that it’s a powerful and surprising factor in people’s lives. By definition, an adventure is something new, challenging, and surprising, and sometimes it’s life and death. Surviving a shipwreck, like Robinson Crusoe, is an adventure — but so is surviving cancer. You learn things about yourself and other people and life itself when you’re having a real adventure — lessons that you don’t learn otherwise. And what people learn about themselves — how to focus, the importance of relationships in a crisis — is absolutely applicable in other situations.  I love it when I see my young editors realize, hey, the stories we’re telling here are metaphors for life — this is a great canvas we’re working on.
 
What would you like your legacy to be?

Personally, temperamentally, I’m not the most naturally adventurous person out there.  Editors by definition are always tinkering, reconsidering, second-guessing everything in front of them.  That’s our job. So I’m a coach, not an athlete. I’d like to be known as the guy who pulled all these great stories and story-tellers together and helped them see the bigger, richer picture in what they were doing and writing about, and helped them share those things with lots and lots of readers.  And I’d hope that all of us would come away a little better for it. 

Adventure Collection’s Hot Trips for 2010

With global economic recovery slowly but surely underway, feedback from Adventure Collection member companiess shows that more and more travelers are requesting catalogs and itineraries and perusing trip web pages. To further whet this wanderlust, I asked AC members to recommend one particularly hot trip for 2010 – a journey that especially impassions them. Here are their recommendations. May they impassion you too!

Natural Habitat Adventures: Ultimate Churchill

This polar bear expedition offers a total immersion into the world of the polar bear and the Canadian Far North. Our warm, self-contained tundra vehicles take us into the icy wild to view polar bears as they hunt, play and interact, entertaining us just feet away from our windows. But our adventure doesn’t end there: We’ll also helicopter to the bears’ denning area where we can climb inside an unoccupied den, experience the northern boreal wilderness by dog sled, and visit with authentic Inuit storytellers. When night falls, we’ll watch for the swirling colors of the aurora borealis, as vivid here as any place on earth. “Ultimate Churchill” is the ultimate north.

Ultimate Churchill: 7 days, 6 nights; multiple departures in Oct. and Nov.; $6,295 per person, double occupancy

Off the Beaten Path: Inside Guatemala — Semana Santa, nature, and Mayan spirit

This insider’s journey connects you with the spirit of the people, art of the culture, and nature of the place. Learn about Guatemala’s famous textiles and folk art from local artisans, many of whom are Mayan. The Mayan culture is alive and well here, and you’ll explore the ancient foundations of this influential civilization at the fabulous sites of Yaxha and Tikal.

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Antigua is another real highlight of the journey. It’s very special to be in Antigua for the Easter celebration of Semana Santa, when men and women carry enormous religious floats through narrow streets, over elaborate carpets of flowers, pine needles, and brightly dyed sawdust.

From the colorful markets and colonial ruins to the slopes of Pacaya volcano, “Inside Guatemala” offers a very personal view of a fascinating country. Highlights include: Antigua — nestled in a mountain valley with three volcanoes on the horizon, idyllic Antigua features Spanish colonial architecture and manicured parks; Semana Santa — Antigua is famous for its celebration of Easter Holy Week, and the entire city participates in the dramatic and colorful event; Mayan ceremony — within the Iximche ruin is an extremely important site where a local shaman will perform a ceremony in a Mayan language; Pacaya Volcano — drive most of the way up the volcano then scramble the last mile or so to peer into the active crater and take in the unforgettable views of the valley and three other volcanoes.

Inside Guatemala: Semana Santa, nature, and Mayan spirit: March 27-April 3; from $3,095 to $3,395

Lindblad Expeditions: Viking Saga — Norway, Scotland, the Faroes & Iceland

Let the daring saga of the Vikings inspire you to go and see something rare: a bit of unchanged past. Aboard National Geographic Explorer, you’ll retrace the route of the Vikings across the North Atlantic — sailing from Bergen, Norway, to Scotland’s northern isles and the remote Faroe Islands — to accomplish a near circumnavigation of Iceland. Taking a zigzagging route, we’ll discover striking juxtapositions: Stone Age sites at Orkney; the stunning glaciers and lava fields of Iceland; the crisp maritime architecture of Bergen, a World Heritage site; the rugged terrain and turf-roofed houses of the Faroes; the horizontal expanse of the sea as we voyage; and the vertical pour of Godafoss, the “waterfall of the gods.”

Come have an adventure of your own – in the company of the finest explorers from Lindblad and National Geographic. Join renowned modern-day explorers Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell (May 11 voyage) or renowned Broadcaster Dan Rather (May 24 voyage) on a voyage into Viking history.

Viking Saga: Norway, Scotland, the Faroes & Iceland: 15 days/13 nights; departures May 11 and 24; from $9,990

Note: Book by Dec. 30 to receive free airfare and $1,000 off the cabin fare on select departure dates and cabin categories. Contact Lindblad Expeditions for full details.

Micato Safaris: A Culinary Tour of South Africa

Guests will join world-renowned Chef “Afro-Gastronaut” Bruce Robertson, former executive head chef at Cape Town’s Cape Grace Hotel and the proprietor of Cape Town’s The Showroom Café for an insiders’ tour of South Africa. Enjoy a lavish welcome dinner at The Showroom Café; a tour of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve followed by a seaside picnic of fresh seafood “potjie”; an opportunity to make your own Malay spice blend with Cape Malay cuisine authority Cass Abrahams; a visit to the South African Mushroom Academy; a tour of golf great Ernie Els’ trophy room and private wine cellar; dinner at the legendary Gramadoelas Restaurant, Johannesburg; and four days of game-viewing at Thornybush Game Reserve.

A Culinary Tour of South Africa: 10 days; this is a custom trip—contact Micato for more details; $17,500

Backroads: Spain Biking

On Backroads’ new Spain Biking trip, travelers journey from the vibrant city of Barcelona to the Pyrénées and on to Costa Brava. Exploring the heart of Catalonia with Backroads, you’ll see why the Catalans are so proud of their land, identity, language, culture, and gastronomy. Culturally diverse, geographically varied, and awash in centuries-old customs, the Catalonia region is made for exploration by bike. From Barcelona, we’ll discover medieval French and Spanish border towns hugging the majestic Pyrénées; journey through the peculiar landscape that inspired some of Salvador Dali’s first paintings; wind through the countryside, swapping rugged alpine terrain for the lush misty coastline; and finally, luxuriate in the transparent blue waters, untamed vegetation and secluded bays of Costa Brava, which more than lives up to its nickname, “the Wild Coast.”

Spain Biking: July 11-16, July 18-23, Oct. 10-15; from $3,998

Canadian Mountain Holidays: Heli-Skiing at Monashees Lodge

Do you like trying new powder skis? Would you like a free pair of skis just for providing your advice? Then join K2 Skis and CMH this winter to help test and design the 2011 K2 backcountry ski line. CMH Heli-Skiing and K2 Skis is offering the ultimate back-country trip for ski-gear junkies at Monashees Lodge. The mature and naturally well-spaced forests lining the Monashee range are responsible for its reputation among CMH guests as a tree skiers’ paradise. Along with some of the best tree skiing on earth, the Monashees is also admired for its long, consistently steep-pitched runs.

Heli-Skiing at Monashees Lodge: March 13-20; $10,770

Bushtracks: 10 Day Southern Africa Wing Safari

Unsurpassed in scope, diversity, wildlife viewing and culture, this private air safari encompasses some of Africa’s finest reserves and World Heritage sites. Each day you are in the bush, you will experience up-close game-viewing and a variety of activities in small groups led by naturalist guides. Delight as you see elephants, lions, buffaloes, zebras, exotic birdlife, bushbucks and monkeys. Visit a warm African village and school and study thousand-year-old architectural ruins at Mashatu. Conclude your daily adventures in beautifully appointed safari camps.

Highlights include: The insights of Russell Gammon, an experienced Southern African guide and noted historian, and your Natural History Tours expedition leader on this journey; game drives on foot and in open four-wheel-drive vehicles in some of Africa’s finest reserves and World Heritage sites; cultural interactions and a walking tour in Victoria Falls; and the comfort and convenience of private chartered aircraft throughout your safari adventure.

10 Day Southern Africa Wing Safari: departure Aug. 30; $9,995

OARS: Main Salmon River Rafting on the River of No Return

This year, O.A.R.S. went back to the drawing board to save you more than $300 per person on our most popular Idaho rafting trip. Featuring miles upon miles of protected wilderness where little has changed since first appearing on the U.S. map, the Main Salmon offers a rich river experience including free-flowing Class III whitewater that’s great for any age and experience level. The adventure includes big sandy beaches perfect for camping and playing, beautiful mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and a natural hot spring. On the Main, we run the full gamut of O.A.R.S.’ river vessels so you can experience them all! Riding in an oar boat one day and a wooden dory the next, then challenging the whitewater hands-on in a paddle raft or inflatable kayak, ensures a diverse and exciting river adventure for each member of your party. Dubbed the “River of No Return” by early prospectors, the Salmon is in fact a river you’ll want to return to again and again.

Main Salmon River Rafting on the River of No Return: 6 days, 5 nights; multiple departures in June, July, August and September; from $1588 adult, $1435 youth

Geographic Expeditions: The Last Days of the Incas with Kim MacQuarrie

Our world-class Peru expert Clark Kotula is spellbound by the sudden demise of the Incan empire at the hands of the motley bunch of Spanish ruffians we call Conquistadors. And so is his good friend Kim MacQuarrie, author of The Last Days of the Incas, an account of the historic cataclysm the Washington Post called “a welcome addition to the literature. . . lively and dramatic,” and Booklist praised as “definitive.” Clark and Kim agree that there is no place they’d rather be than “traipsing around Peru’s orchid-rich, mist-shrouded Vilcabamba Range, where the mysterious Incan empire seemed to have vanished into eternity, but luckily left behind a wealth of ruins to tug at our heartstrings and minds.”

Our minds and hearts will be well tugged on this unique, magnificently orchestrated trip led by Kim himself. We begin with a look at Lima, then fly north to the Pacific coast ruins of Chiclayo, where Pizarro and his gang first landed and began to realize that they just might have found a gold-rich civilization (emphasis on the gold). Then up to Cajamarca in the Andean foothills, where Pizarro overcame an Incan army of 80,000 men with his band of 168 soldiers, 27 horses, and 1 cannon. Wandering these history-drenched precincts with the amiable and erudite Kim MacQuarrie will be a deeply illuminating treat.

The second chapter of The Last Days tour takes us to what the Incas called Qosqo, the navel of the world. First to Cusco itself, then down to the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba, and over to incomparable Machu Picchu, and on to the remote village of Huancacalle, where we’ll stay in a hostel operated by the Cobos family, well known to the archaeologists, explorers, and anthropologists who are about the only outsiders to make their way up here. Now for a rare and beautiful mule-supported trek in the Vilcabamba’s orchid-scented cloud forests, visiting ruins on the way to Espíritu Pampa, where the Incan royal family spent their last days in hiding from the Spanish. Coming out of the mountains, we return to Cusco’s cosmopolitan whirl before heading back to Lima and home.

The Last Days of the Incas with Kim MacQuarrie: May 1-20, Sept. 1-20; from $8900

NOLS: All-Girls Adventure in Idaho

For the first time ever, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is offering an all-girls adventure course! The Idaho backpacking adventure for 14- and 15-year-olds is a great opportunity for leaders to develop their sense of independence, responsibility, achievement, and adventure. They will spend 14 days in the mountains near the Teton Range learning backpacking, cooking, camping, and navigation skills. In addition to becoming competent backcountry travelers students will learn the world-famous NOLS leadership curriculum. Now, with limitless frontiers for women in every field, politics, sciences, business, the ability to lead can take a girl to the top of her profession!

All-Girls Adventure in Idaho: July 15-July 28; $2,975

Cheetah Chase Captures Adventure Collection Photo Contest

The second winner of the Adventure Collection’s Adventures of a Lifetime photo competition has been selected! Kathleen Rice’s photo of a cheetah chasing a Thomson’s gazelle in Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve was chosen from among more than 100 entries as our August winner. Rice’s grand prize is a trip for two to view polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba with Natural Habitat Adventures. After her photo was chosen, I spoke with Rice about her prize-winning shot and her travel adventures.

A native of upstate New York who has lived in Staten Island for 20 years. Kathleen Rice started her career as a professor of psychology and is now a clinical researcher in the area of sleep disorders. When not traveling, she likes to spend time on photography, hiking, and bird-watching. “Since my dream of retirement is running a small eco-lodge somewhere in Central America,” she adds, “I’m also studying Spanish!”

Can you describe the situation – location, month, time of day, and kind of camera – of your spectacular photo?

The cheetah photo was taken in July 2007 in the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. It was about 7 am and we were leaving for the airstrip. Our guide spotted the cheetah sitting fairly close to the road looking intently at a nearby single Thomson’s gazelle. We sat watching, wondering why the cheetah didn’t make a move and amazed that the gazelle was so nonchalant, as only about 50 feet separated them. All the while, I was thinking that when the action finally did unfold I would have to get the shot, and I was praying that I could track a racing cheetah. When the cheetah finally sprang, I fired off about 5 shots in a few seconds. To my great relief, I had gotten some good photos! (Incidentally, the gazelle escaped.)

The camera I used was a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, with a Canon L IS 100-400 mm zoom lens.

What was your goal in taking this shot?

Coming across that cheetah was such an unexpected, serendipitous situation that my only goal at the time was to take a decent photo. I didn’t think that I would ever have the opportunity to get a good wildlife action shot — and so close to the action! — and I was just hoping that everything I knew as an amateur photographer would come together in a nice photograph.

Do you always take photos when you travel?

I’ve only been seriously interested in photography for about 5 years. So although I’ve always taken photos when I’ve traveled, I’ve only made a concerted effort to improve my knowledge of photography and my skills in the last few years.

What are some other destinations that you have found especially good for photography?

Well, my interest is primarily in wildlife photography, so anywhere there are opportunities for observing wildlife appeals to me. So far, the best destinations I’ve experienced have been in Africa, for the sheer abundance of wildlife and the ability to see so much of it up-close.

Was this your first trip to Africa?

This was my second trip to Africa; on my first trip I traveled to Botswana for about 2 weeks followed by a couple of days at Victoria Falls.

How long were you there on this trip and where did you visit?

On this trip I spent 8 days in Kenya and 4 days in Rwanda.

What have you especially liked or found especially moving about Africa?

On my first night in the Okavango delta in Botswana, a lion walked through camp while we watched from around the campfire. That experience sold me on traveling to Africa. I have just found the colors, the light, and the sounds of the bush to be extraordinary. Nothing can beat falling asleep to the roar of lions! Traveling in Rwanda was a real eye-opener. The main purpose of going there was to see the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The experience of being within several feet of a mountain gorilla family is impossible to adequately describe. But I was also stunned by the spectacular beauty of the country and the resilience of the people. I would have liked to spend more time there.

What other adventurous trips have you taken?

In addition to Africa, I’ve travelled quite a lot in Central and South America (Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, Panama, Galapagos, Brazil, Peru, Patagonia). I’ve also traveled in mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Your prize is a polar bear-viewing expedition in Canada. What is it that especially excites and attracts you about this destination and trip?

I’m really excited about the polar bear trip because it’s been on my wish-list! I’ve never been on any Arctic trips and the polar bear expedition is really the pinnacle of Arctic wildlife experiences. I can’t imagine another trip where the opportunities for photography could be better.

What other places are on your must-visit list?

The question might be “What other places are NOT on your must-visit list?” If I had to give a dream destination, it would be Gabon, since the national parks are supposed to be wonderful and the country is still relatively undiscovered as an ecotourism destination (and I’d love to come back with photos of the “surfing” hippos). I’m also dying to visit Borneo and Papua New Guinea. Of, course, Antarctica is a top choice, both for the wildlife and to see the glaciers before they disappear.

What’s the pleasure and purpose of adventure travel for you?

Experiencing new things and meeting very different people brings me a lot of happiness. There is just so much to see in the world — fascinating cultures, beautiful landscapes, and amazing animals. And I really have found that traveling is a journey of self-discovery.

John Rasmus: Adventures in Storytelling

 A conversation with the Editor in Chief of National Geographic Adventure magazine

 

 

DG: What initially drew you to the job of editing an adventure publication?

JR: I was a young city magazine editor back in the late ’70s, enamored of the New Journalism and magazines like Rolling Stone and New York, but I loved the kinds of adventure and environmental stories that writers like Tim Cahill, Ed Abbey, and Randy Wayne White were doing.  They would put themselves in amazing situations — exploring for lost cities in the Andes, marooning themselves on desert islands, things like that — and then write incredible narratives that were full of humor and heart and great storytelling. And their stories always had an underlying conscience and soul.  To me, Cahill felt like an older brother who would take you along with him and show you the ropes…but also screwed up a fair amount.  As a writer he was heroic but very approachable. These were modern voices creating a new kind of adventure genre.  
 
When did you join National Geographic Adventure, and what were your goals when you took over as editor in chief?

I came on to launch the magazine in 1999. I wanted to bring that kind of modern spirit and approachability to a National Geographic publication, but also adhere to the unrivaled standards and values of the Society. And, of course, to be connected to all the great work that was and is being done there. National Geographic has always been about groundbreaking exploration and deep research, and of course great photography, but its storytelling hadn’t changed over the years.  Today writers are expected to have a voice and personality and point of view. National Geographic has done a great job of reinventing itself over the last few years. They are still THE magazine of record in our world, but they are also more relevant than ever. We have more freedom to be quirky and focused and personal.

How has the world of adventure changed in the years you’ve been at the magazine, and how has the role of adventure in people’s lives changed?

I think the whole notion of “armchair adventure” — the idea of reading about places you will never get to visit — has gone by the boards, or at least changed very dramatically. People are much more willing and able to go out and explore the world for themselves. You can go virtually anywhere in the world, and there are fantastic guides and infrastructure to help you do it. Twenty-five years ago, if you wanted to explore the Antarctic peninsula by sea kayak, you literally had to mount an expedition yourself.  Now you can sign up and do it with an outfitter in Berkeley.
 
How has the magazine changed in those years?

In the ten years Adventure has been around, I think we have completed the transition, as one futurist put it, from the “age of exploration” to the “age of conservation”.  Ten years or so ago, back in the days just prior to “Into Thin Air,” a lot of the focus of adventure was about personal accomplishment — can I get to the top of Everest, and back down, alive?  I think Jon Krakauer’s book put that egocentric attitude in its proper, somewhat empty, perspective. And the world has changed.  All our stories now have a conservation and sustainability angle, without exception.  They are still great stories, and they are not overwhelmed by finger-wagging and gloom and doom, but you will not finish a story in Adventure, whether it’s about Easter Island or the rhinos of Namibia, without knowing the issues and what’s at stake.  

What do you see as the principal challenges of adventure travel now?

Until recently I’ve been a bit sanguine that as places like Easter Island and Angkor Wat become heavily touristed, new frontiers open up elsewhere.  But realistcally, places like that are an incredibly scarce resource. And  we’re about to see a tidal wave of global tourism, as hundreds of millions of middle-class Asians really get out and explore the world — as they have every right and reason to do.  And, to coin a phrase, globalization is sweeping the planet, and everywhere you turn the last wild places are being logged, farmed, and developed. People have been saying this forever, and will likely keep saying it forever, but from the point of view of the individual, you should really see the wildest parts of the world now, not later.  

And what are the principal challenges of creating the magazine — and content shoot-offs such as its web site — in 2008?

Adventure is a high quality, expensive magazine to produce, and getting to the places we need to go to write and photograph our stories will always be an expensive proposition.  We need a fairly big audience and substantial revenues to do that, and for many magazines these days, ad revenue has been migrating to the web.  We’re lucky to be getting our share of that.  And also very fortunate that we have a format and content and relationship with our readers that works best in print.  I’m sorry, but there’s nothing like sitting down with a magazine you love and experiencing that world in words and beautiful pictures on nice paper.  We love the web and are doing some great things on it, such as our Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth database, that are unbelievably well suited to the web.  You click on your destinations, activities, price points, and things like “spirit of adventure”, and our tool comes back with the best companies for you, as rated by our editors. It’s deep and current and fair and very valuable to the users and the companies themselves, and something you could never do economically in print.
 
As an editor, what are you proudest of?

I honestly think we’ve discovered a few writers who might not have broken through otherwise, and put them together with topics that might not have been covered, and they’ve come up with unique, compelling, memorable pieces that millions of readers have enjoyed and been inspired by. We kind of operate out on the fringes of mainstream media, which at times can be a bit frustrating; I don’t think you’ve seen the name “Obama” more than a couple of times in our pages, if that.  On the other hand, we are not dealing with commodity news, sports, or business news that will be covered anyway, one way or another, by somebody — and covered very well.  Adventure can really be a content creator in the full sense of the word. It sounds a little crazy to say this, but in some small way the world would be a slightly different, less rich place if we weren’t around, and hadn’t inspired and changed people along the way.
 
Where do you see the magazine going; how will it change and adapt in the next few years?

We’ll continue to try to focus on doing the right things in print, and the right things on the web.  That’s always going to be a work in progress. But now that we’ve been around for a while and established our content niche and our business, I think we can take a few more risks, think a little bigger, and expand the definition of what adventure is for people.  A great adventure changes you, teaches you about yourself and the world. How you’ll handle challenges, adversity, new situations.  There’s no doubt about it.  My daughter, a suburban New York 15-year old, just got back from two weeks backpacking and climbing in the Rockies. One night her group got up at midnight to climb a 14,000 footer.  Several of the kids turned back with injuries or altitude-related things, but she did great and made it to the top. She tested herself, and was proud of herself and amazed at the world out there, in a way she couldn’t have done otherwise. Of course, there are a lot of enriching experiences in life beyond having great adventures, but having them is one of the great things in life, for sure.

How about yourself as an adventurer: How have your activities and goals changed in the past decade?

I’ve stuck a bit closer to home, I guess, as my life has changed.  And when I get to visit new adventure destinations it tends to be connected to work. But I really enjoy the little things that are still adventurous in their way.  When I go out in the mornings for a bike ride on the North County Trail near my home here in Westchester County, NY, there’s something thrilling about it every day.

Which of your own trips has had the biggest influence on your life, and how and why?

That’s a hard one, but a trip to Bhutan in 1987 might be it.  Bhutan is a small, spectacular, isolated, beautiful but poor Himalayan country, and when I was there it was just starting to enter the modern world.  There were monks and old ornate monasteries everywhere, and wild-looking tribal people, and fantastic, elaborate archery contests.  And the mountains were virtually empty and unspoiled, and the trekking was phenomenal.  But what gave it extra resonance and perspective for me was traveling through Calcutta to get there. Calcutta was seething with people and motion and a kind of desperate energy that came from its poverty. I found it really compelling.  Calcutta and Bhutan were two sides of the coin of human survival and determination, and I’ll never forget it.
 
What’s the juice for you, now, of editing National Geographic Adventure?

The thing about adventure, small a, is that it’s a powerful and surprising factor in people’s lives. By definition, an adventure is something new, challenging, and surprising, and sometimes it’s life and death. Surviving a shipwreck, like Robinson Crusoe, is an adventure — but so is surviving cancer. You learn things about yourself and other people and life itself when you’re having a real adventure — lessons that you don’t learn otherwise. And what people learn about themselves — how to focus, the importance of relationships in a crisis — is absolutely applicable in other situations.  I love it when I see my young editors realize, hey, the stories we’re telling here are metaphors for life — this is a great canvas we’re working on.
 
What would you like your legacy to be?

Personally, temperamentally, I’m not the most naturally adventurous person out there.  Editors by definition are always tinkering, reconsidering, second-guessing everything in front of them.  That’s our job. So I’m a coach, not an athlete. I’d like to be known as the guy who pulled all these great stories and story-tellers together and helped them see the bigger, richer picture in what they were doing and writing about, and helped them share those things with lots and lots of readers.  And I’d hope that all of us would come away a little better for it.

An Intimate and Expansive Appreciation of Bhutan

Matthieu Ricard’s extraordinary new photography and text book, Bhutan: The Land of Serenity, presents a profoundly transporting portrait of the land, culture, and people of this Himalayan kingdom.

Bhutan has exerted a spell on me over the past three years. Though I’d been aware of the country for almost two decades, somehow recently the place had taken on a special magnetism, through tales of its pristine landscapes and culture, its exuberant religious celebrations, its atmosphere of spirituality and tranquility and of course, its much-admired attention to Gross National Happiness. Fanciful as it may sound, I had the feeling that it was almost mystically calling me, that something important was awaiting me there. But I didn’t fully comprehend the character – and allure — of the place until I came upon Matthieu Ricard’s extraordinary new photography-and-text book, Bhutan: The Land of Serenity.

Ricard is a wonderful guide to Bhutan. A Buddhist monk as well as a photographer, author and translator, he has lived in the Himalayan region for over 40 years. Nearly thirty years ago, he went to Bhutan to study with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a highly revered Tibetan Buddhist master. Ricard spent eight years in Bhutan with this master, and he has continued to return to Bhutan throughout his life. As a Buddhist monk, he has not only been able to intimately observe private religious ceremonies, the life of a great Buddhist master, and exceptional works of art, he has also been privileged to participate in the daily lives of local villagers. These experiences lend his images of and observations about the Bhutanese land, culture and people a unique intimacy, authority and insight.

The book that has resulted from all these years of experience is a sumptuous triumph. The text, written in French by Ricard and translated by Ruth Sharman, provides a highly personal introduction to eight facets of Bhutan: an historical overview of the country’s evolution from a loose collection of principalities to a unified monarchy and, most recently, to democracy; a description of Paro Taksang, the iconic “tiger’s lair” monastery that clings magically to a forbidding cliffside and embodies the country’s robust Buddhism; a moving portrait of the late spiritual master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche; informed analyses of the country’s sacred and secular architecture, the thriving sacred arts of painting, sculpture, music, handicrafts and textile arts, and the movements and meanings of the dancing monk ceremonies; and two concluding chapters elucidating the Great Accomplishment Ceremony, which lasts for eight days and seven nights, and the offering of light at its conclusion.

Ricard’s prose descriptions are precise and moving, full of empathetic knowledge and wisdom, and would alone make a splendid book. But the truly transporting gifts of this volume are the more than 190 photographs that gloriously illustrate the places, principles and practices portrayed in the text. Ricard’s photographs are technically astonishing, but even more powerful is the profound emotive energy and spiritual intensity that suffuses them. Grounded in his own deeply rooted insights into Bhutanese custom and belief, his images are penetrating portals into the heart and soul of the place; many seem like miniature visual treatises on the essence of Bhutan. Looking at these photos, I felt immersed in this special, almost otherwordly place, as if the land had magically sprung to life all around me.

Ricard’s deep love for and appreciation of Bhutan shine through every single page of this transcendent book. Reading it enacted a journey I will never forget – and bestowed the inspiration to make the actual journey to this simple, liberating, and enlightening land.

[ Bhutan: The Land of Serenity; text and photographs by Matthieu Ricard; Thames & Hudson; hardcover, 232 pages; $45. The author’s share of the proceeds from the book are entirely donated to humanitarian projects in Tibet, Nepal, India and Bhutan.]

If this book inspires you to undertake your own journey to Bhutan, use the Adventure Collection’s TripFinder tool to view the member companies’ range of Bhutanese adventures.

Living Africa

Africa is a favorite subject for coffee table tomes, but I have rarely come across as compelling a package of photographs and essays as Living Africa, a new book by Steve Bloom.

In more than 200 photographs, South African-born Bloom showcases a mind-expanding spectrum of African landscape, wildlife, and humanity. He has a gift for making us re-see the familiar from an unfamiliar perspective—a hippo attacking a wildebeest, lions fighting, a man feeding a hyena.

His portraits—from bright-painted Wodaabe tribesmen in Niger to head-lamped Mozambican miners to lip-plated Suri women in Ethiopia—are especially stunning.

Beyond their art and eloquence, Bloom’s essays and images are graced with extraordinary passion and compassion. They brought me back to previous African adventures—and inspired the desire to explore the continent even more.

[Living Africa; photographs and essays by Steve Bloom; published by Thames & Hudson; hardcover; 336 pages; $75.]  

If you’re inspired to explore the African continent, consider one of these Adventure Collection member trips: 

Backroads: South Africa Family Multisport

Bushtracks Expeditions: Botswana, Zambia & South Africa

Geographic Expeditions: Wilds of Botswana   

Lindblad Expeditions: An Epic Voyage to the Indian Ocean

Micato Safaris: The Heart of Kenya and Tanzania

Natural Habitat Adventures: The Best of Namibia Safari

October Grand Canyon Rafting with OARS

OARS has just sent word about some great last-minute opportunities in the Grand Canyon. If you’re hankering for a last-minute getaway to one of the planet’s most spectacular places, read on!

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So, we mentioned that it might happen from time to time, but now it’s really here…Due to a couple of last-minute cancellations, we just had some space open up in the Grand Canyon this fall. If your schedule is flexible, we would be happy to have you join us – very spontaneously – on the trip of a lifetime.

Limited space is available on the following departures:

Rafts:
7-day upper canyon or a 16-day full canyon raft trip beginning October 14th
11-day lower canyon trip beginning October 19th

Dories:
12-day lower canyon trip beginning October 24th

Call Grand Canyon Adventure Consultant, Joy Parades at 1-800-346-6277 ext. 717 to reserve your trip today!