Adventure Pioneers - Shortlisted Entries
YOU + UP TO 3 FRIENDS + THE WORLD + EXODUS = Adventure Pioneers
Vote for your favourite trip out of the following created by Exodus customers to win our Adventure Pioneers competition and get made into a real trip! The three trips with the highest votes will enter a shortlist from which Exodus will pick a winner. Voting closes 9am on 3 June 2011.
Quick links to shortlisted trips:
The Land of the surfing hippo ¦ Highlights of the Philippines ¦ Hiking among the Puffins, Volcanoes and Icebergs ¦ Papua New Guinea's Island Explorer ¦ Adventuristan
Trip Name: The Land of the surfing hippo
Where: Gabon
Duration: 16 days
Gabon is the only place on the planet where it has been documented that animals including hippos and crocodiles go into the sea and surf for pleasure.Extra
Information:
Day 1: Fly and overnight Libreville.
Day 2: Fly to Iguela, gateway to Loango National Park. Overnight at Ye Tsanou lodge. Evening wildlife watching pirogue trip.
Day 3: Loango National Park - Akaka camp
Motorised pirogue to the basic jungle based Akaka camp, sitting on the river. Evening pirogue trip to see wildlife.
Day 4: Loango National Park - Ye Tsanou camp
Early morning jungle walk before returning to Ye Tsanou camp.
Day 5: Loango National Park - Whale / turtle watching
Depending on the season, go out whale watching while they breach and call. Or walk along the beaches looking for the turtles.
Day 6: Loango National Park - Evengue Camp & Gorilla Island
Motorised pirogue to Evengue camp & Gorilla Island. Visit to St. Anne’s Church.
Day 7: Loango National Park – Ye Tsanou Camp
Return to Ye Tsanou camp, last opportunity of wildlife watching.
Day 8: Return to Libreville and train onto Lope National Park, overnight in Lope Hotel
Day 9: Early morning 4WD to Mikongo camp. Evening walk to visit the lowland gorillas.
Day 10: Early morning walk to look for mandrills. Travel onto Ololo river camp, explore the many walks around the area. Overnight Ololo camp
Day 11: Return to Lope and train onto Ivindo National Park.
Day 12: Motorised pirogue to Mingouli and Koungou Falls.
Day 13: Travel to Langoue Bai, chance to see forest elephants and other animals congregate at points where the minerals leech out of the ground in forest openings.
Day 14: Train to Libreville.
Day 15: Fly to London.
Please note this is an example of an itinerary, but Exodus may amend it before publication, based on local conditions and recommendations.
Trip Name: Highlights of the Philippines
Where: The Philippines
Duration: 16 days
Highlight 1: UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Banaue ('Eighth Wonder of the World')
Highlight 2: The spectacular mountain scenery and towns of the Cordillero Central
Highlight 3: The stunning beaches of the paradise island of Borocay
Extra Information:
The Philippines is one of those countries that everybody has heard of, but very few people know much about. This is now starting to change as a small number of tour companies are beginning to advertise trips to this amazing country. My perfect Philippines adventure would be as follows:
Day 1: Depart London.
Day 2: Arrive in Manila, the Philippines’ vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city.
Day 3: Travel north to the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Banaue, often termed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’.
Day 4: Full day exploring the rice terraces of Banaue and Batad.
Day 5: Travel to Sagada. Visit the famous Echo Valley Hanging Coffins.
Day 6: Travel through spectacular mountain scenery of the Cordillero Central to Baguio City. Half day city tour including a visit to the regional market.
Day 7: Travel to Manila. Fly to Palawan Island.
Day 8: Island hopping boat trip in Honda Bay with snorkelling, beaches, wildlife spotting and picnic lunch. Travel to Sabang.
Day 9: Visit UNESCO-listed Subterranean River National Park, including boat trip through the caves and optional wildlife hike. Free afternoon at beach with optional mangrove boat trip.
Day 10: Travel to Bohol.
Day 11: Optional dawn whale and dolphin watching trip or snorkelling at Hinagdanan Cave. Tour of Bohol’s highlights including the Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Sanctuary and a boat trip on the jungle-lined Loboc River, ending with a swim at Tontonan waterfall.Day 12: Travel to the paradise island of Borocay. Free afternoon. Days 13 and 14: Free days to relax on the stunning beaches of Borocay. Optional sightseeing and watersports.
Day 15: Early flight to Manila. City tour including the Spanish Walled City, Fort Santiago, San Agustin church, Chinatown and Rizal Park.
Day 16: Return London.
Please note this is an example of an itinerary, but Exodus may amend it before publication, based on local conditions and recommendations.
Trip Name: Hiking among the Puffins, Volcanoes and Icebergs
Where: Iceland and Greenland
Duration: 16 days
Highlight 1: Vieing puffins up close on the cliffs of Heimaey.
Highlight 2: Hiking in the spectacular coloured landscapes near Landmannalaugar.
Highlight 3: Helicopter over the spectacular mountains and icebergs of south-eastern Greenland.Extra
Information:
The trip starts arriving in Rekjavik, the quaint capital city of Iceland, with an optional visit to the geothermal spa at the Blue Lagoon, exploring the Pearl or visiting the town’s beautiful churches and sculptures. The following morning there’s a short flight to the beautiful Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands, off the southern coast, where we spend a day and a half hiking around the island – along the cliff edges to see puffins nesting in the rocks, gannets diving into the sea or climbing the red volcano and new lava fields formed by an eruption in 1973, which nearly destroyed the town. Then it’s back to Rekjavik before setting off on a magnificent 5-day hike from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork. The trail takes you from hut to hut along stunning and varied landscapes –multi-coloured Rhyolitic mountains and volcanoes, sulphurous fumaroles, beautiful lakes, ice-cold rivers, black sandy lava fields, ice caves and deep canyons. With a great feeling of achievement it’s then back to Rekjavik before crossing to Kulusuk on Greenland’s south-eastern coast. A couple of nights are spent exploring this tiny settlement. The bays are dotted with floating icebergs, and huge billion-year-old granite mountains are reflected in the mirror-like waters. The next stop is off on a spectacular helicopter-ride to the bigger settlement of Tasiilaq, the largest in the area. Four nights are spent here in a hotel perched on top of a hill above the colourful Inuit town. There are a few small peaks to climb for the energetic, or visits to the Valley of Flowers, longer day hikes up to some lakes, and various boat-trips among the huge icebergs or to derelict settlements. The helicopter then takes you back to Kulusuk to get the plane back to Rekjavik, where the final night is spent, before returning home.
Please note this is an example of an itinerary, but Exodus may amend it before publication, based on local conditions and recommendations.
Trip Name: Papua New Guinea's Island Explorer
Where: Papua New Guinea
Duration: 14 Days
Highlight 1: The famous Papua New Guinea Birds of Paradise
Highlight 2: Cultural visits to native Tribes
Highlight 3: The Beauty of Walindi Plantation
Extra Information:
Day 1: Fly London to Singapore, there may be a possible overnight stay due to flight departures.
Day 2: Fly Singapore to Port Moresby. You will then arrive at your Hotel for a two night stay.
Day 3: In the morning you will depart to the Varirata National Park, approximately a 35 – 40 minute drive away. You will spend the morning looking for the famous Papua New Guinea birds of Paradise including the famous bower bird.
Day 4-5: An early departure to Mount Hagen in the centre of the county. At Mount Hagen you will take in the spectacular views of the island, and explore the mountain that was once a volcano, staying in a lodge for two nights. You will have plenty of time to venture into the landscape searching for more birds of paradise, visiting local tribes learning more about the culture and history of the Island.
Day 6: Fly back to Port Moresby where you will visit local tribes in the area.
Day 7: A drive of two hours to visit part of the famous Kokoda Track. A popular hiker’s trail of around 60 miles in length, the trail is famous for its World War II connection with the Japanese and Australians. Depart back to Port Moresby in the afternoon.Day 8-11: Fly East from Port Moresby to Walindi Plantation on New Britain Island. At Walindi you will stay in local accommodation for four nights. At Walindi you can either relax on the beach or join in with activities such as sea kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving.
Day 12: Fly to Port Moresby where you will have your last day on the Island at leisure.
Day 13: Leave Port Moresby in the Morning to Singapore, change at Singapore to depart for London.
Day 14: Arrive in London.
Please note this is an example of an itinerary, but Exodus may amend it before publication, based on local conditions and recommendations.
Trip Name: Adventuristan
Where: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Duration: 16 days
Highlight 1: Explore the bazaars and site of Bukhara central Asia's holiest city
Highlight 2: Spend a night in a Yurt camp
Highlight 3: Visit the important pilgrimage sites in Turkistan
Extra Information:
Day 1: Fly from London to Ashgabat.
Day 2: City tour of Ashgabat and travel to Merv.
Day 3: Explore the ruins of Merv (UNESCO world heritage site).
Day 4: Travel to Bukhara central Asia's holiest city.
Day 5: City tour and free time to explore the bazaars and sites. Overnight stay in a Yurt Camp and optional camel trek.
Day 6: Travel on to Samarkand.
Day 7: City tour and free time to explore.
Day 8: Travel to Tashkent.
Day 9: City tour and free time.
Day 10: Travel to Shymkent.
Day 11: Visit to Turkistan and the Aksu-Zhabagyly Nature Reserve.
Day 12: Travel to Tashkent and fly to Urgench.
Day 13: Visit Kiva and Konye Urgench.Day 14: Travel through the Karakum Desert stopping at the Darvaza Gas craters.
Day 15: Travel back to Ashgabat.
Day 16: Return to London.
Please note this is an example of an itinerary, but Exodus may amend it before publication, based on local conditions and recommendations.
Terms and Conditions: Only votes made before 9am on Friday 3rd June 2011 will be counted.
