Long Haul Destinations
China
Itineraries to this destination include visits to the Great Wall and a cultural
phase taking in the palaces and temples which are in abundance all over
the country. Teams travel by train and plane across China where they can
trek up to mountain temples or along ridges to villages. Project work could
take place with an orphanage or remote school and may involve painting classrooms,
teaching the children and playing games with them. In the past few years,
itineraries have also included time in Tibet, however the current climate
does not permit this. The following report is from a previous expedition
and therefore includes Tibet.
Click here to
download an expedition report
Borneo
Teams visiting Borneo have had a fascinating time exploring jungles, staying in rural communities and enjoying the challenge of mountain ridge trekking. Although there are many options to chose from, teams tend to follow itineraries starting in Kota Kinabalu up in the north of Borneo, from where it's easy to travel out to our community partners for the community project. In the past, teams have worked with different orphanages, helping with the children, doing work in the buildings and also in the gardens. The trek phase can be split into two, with the contrast of the Crocker Range Trail and the challenge of the Trusmadi mountain trek giving teams a real taste of jungle and ridge trekking. Then it's time to go off to the Conservation project. This can be either working in national parks on trail systems, or working with wildlife - details of these will be firmed up nearer the time of departure. Then it's time to go off to explore the local culture - either visiting islands, temples, markets or the Orang Utan sanctuary at Sepilok!
Click here to read a report from a previous trip to Borneo!
India
Teams going to India have had a wonderful time in this fascinating and very
colourful country. Most teams land in Delhi and head up to Manali for their
trek and project phase. There are numerous hill villages and remote communities,
who are very grateful for the team’s visits, and projects in the past
have included sports activities and teaching in schools and some basic construction
work. Teams then head off into the hills and mountains for treks, which
can last from 5 to 9 days. Local guides, porters and cooks accompany them
and although occasional monsoon rains hit them, teams get a huge buzz from
completing these tough treks. Then the groups head off back down south to
visit the temples, markets and forts of Agra and Jaipur. The Taj Mahal visit
is an enduring favourite addition to all itineraries!
Click here to download
an expedition report
Ecuador
Teams in previous years have travelled to Ecuador taking in ascents of Pasachoa,
Iliniza Norte and Ruminahui on their main trekking phases. Project work
has included re-painting an entire school and teaching the children, as
well as creating sports days for them. Teams then spent their R&R phases
white-water rafting, whale-watching and spotting Blue-footed Boobies on
the Isla de la Plata, visiting the Equator and shopping at the famous Otovalo
market.
Click here to download
an expedition report
For project expeditions, we are linking up with VentureCo Worldwide who have been working with the only coastal national park in Ecuador - Parque Nacional Machalilla. Work includes upgrading their trails, making bilingual signs, working with local communities and renovating areas of the local nursery day-centre. Teams can also visit the nearby coastal wildlife sanctuary and take boat trips out to Isla de la Plata. We also have teams who are working with a project in Quito which sees the teams working alongside a local farming initative, helping local people build greenhouses. The projects last for around 8 days, although this can be extended according to the team's wishes.
Peru
This is a wonderful country for teams to visit – the trekking phases
can take place anywhere from the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in the
north of the country to trekking near to Machu Picchu near Cusco in the
south. Project work is usually within rural communities, either teaching
at schools or helping villagers with basic construction work such as building
animal pens. R&R sees teams visiting some of the thousands of old Inca
sites around the country and teams also invariably plan visits to the Amazon
jungle to fish for piranha!
Click here to download
an expedition report
For project expedition teams, we are again linking up with VentureCo Worldwide and their conservation project near Cusco. Working alongside a biodiversity organisations, teams will be working on the Polylepis tree regeneration project. Much of the High Andes was covered with these trees, but they are now an endangered species. The organisation is hoping that more eco-tourism will come to the area, thus helping local communities. Teams will be planting saplings, doing some wildlife surveys, making records for the organisation and also working alongside local communities doing work in schools. Teams can also elect to work with the VentureCo project based in the Cordillera Huayhuash, near Huaraz. This project works alongside local people and mountain guides helping to construct trek facilities and camping areas to support a recently discovered Inca Trail.
Mexico
Mexico is a fascinating country to travel to. Landing in Mexico City, teams will have a chance to explore the many museums and architectural wonders of this huge city before travelling off to Puebla to get ready for the trek phase. From Puebla, teams move to Oaxaca to join their trekking guides for the multi-day trek through mountain communities. Always a popular trek, you will walk with local guides from one community to the next, through forested scenery and stunning mountain viewpoints. Each community works together to maintain trails for walkers, and the reception you will get from each community as you arrive at your log cabins each night will be overwhelming! After the challenge of the trek phase, the team will probably go on to the project phase, in a village in Vera Cruz. The community here is working to create eco-tourism projects in their area so previous groups have helped with basic construction work, done some painting and designed signs. They lived amongst the community and learned so much about their lives, food and music! Finally it's off to explore some of Mexico's famous culture, so there will be the chance to explore Chichen Itza and some of the other ancient ruins on the way out to the coast. Some teams spend time on islands at the end of expedition, and some head to Cancun to explore the markets and various nightlife before heading back to the UK!
Click here to read a previous expedition report from Mexico.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the world's most biodiverse countries, and they are rightly proud of the very special flora and fauna which lives there. San Jose is the capital, and is the major transport hub and the team will see it a few times on their travels around the country. Trek phases take place within national parks, walking for days through the jungle, usually to or from the coast so you will get a real variety of terrain from beautiful beaches, to dense wildlife abundant jungle. There are also several volcanoes to visit, some of which you can walk up! Project phases in the past have either taken place in Nicaragua, or out on Costa Rica's coastline where teams have spent time helping with turtle research. Nicaraguan projects have taken place with a small community helping them start some recycling initatives and educational work for their children. The cultural phase offers a huge array of activities from volcano viewing, to bathing in hot springs, taking in a jungle canopy walkway, white water rafting and chilling out on the beach!
Click here to download an expedition report from a previous trip.
Kenya
Teams going to Kenya will be take in some project work either with a rural
school, or with a conservation project on the coast before going trekking
on Mount Kenya – a considerable challenge! There will then be the
opportunity to go on a safari phase in Tsavo National Park or the Serengeti
and then on to a beach phase at Mombasa.
Click here to download
an expedition report
Ghana
Ghana offers a really different view of Africa compared to that traditionally associated with destinations such as Kenya. Ghana is a very green and lush country, with an absolutely stunning coastline and a huge amount of interesting colonnial history. Teams will start their expedition in Accra, and may decide to go straight off to their project further down the coast. Working alongisde a long-term project teams will be helping with some basic health work and education initiatives in a small community. You will get to know the people very well as they are very keen to share in their culture, music and off course the inevitable football games! Teams can spend time after the project exploring the coast, perhaps visiting Cape Coast and it's huge fort, which contains a fascinating history of the slave trade - there are many such forts dotted along the coast. Teams can also visit the canopy walkway and go out with a guide to learn about the jungle and all it's medicinal plants. Then there will be time to explore the huge market in Accra, as well as get some African drumming lessons or chilling out on the white sandy beaches.
Click here to read a report from an expedition in 2005.
China/Mongolia
Teams going to Mongolia are guaranteed a cultural experience like nothing
else. Teams can start their journey in Beijing, China and after a visit
to the Great Wall and other sites, they can then join the Trans-Siberian
Railway for the two-day journey up to Ulaan Bataar. Project work will take
place with a local youth organisation helping with young people in their
summer camps and doing some teaching and sports. Then teams could set off
in a truck across this incredible country taking in the grassy plains and
even the Gobi Desert. Trekking takes place in any of the mountainous regions
such as those around Tserseleg or the mountains up near Lake Khovsgul and
you would walk with local guides and horses. R&R is spent taking in
the many fantastic sights and monasteries there, or horse-trekking and staying
with local families in their Gers.
Click here
to download an expedition report
Starting in the summer of 2007, teams have been working alongside UST in Skaftafell National Park and also on some if Iceland's most popular trekking trails. Teams are working alongside rangers and Icelandic young people on a range of conservation tasks including hiking trail maintenance, bridge repairs and drainage systems. Trail work includes taking photographs and providing surveys to assess the damage that's being done by walkers, and using GPS systems to map where repair work is most needed. The parks and trails that teams are working on are spectacular, with views of ice-caps, huge glaciers, rolling valleys and inspiring landscapes. It is a spectacular place for teams to work and camp for the time they're there.
The UST volunteer programme was established in 2003 to assist with the practical management of Iceland's national parks and other nature protection areas. Programmes include all types of practical conservation work but also heritage work, research initiatives and wilderness management. To find out more, visit UST's website on www.ust.is.
Cambodia
Teams going to Cambodia will have a wonderful cultural experience in this
fascinating country. Steeped in history, especially the recent wars, teams
can spend time amongst local communities helping them with projects such
as playground building and teaching. The schools there have very few facilities
and many don’t even have buildings. Teams in the past have worked
alongside communities to design and build playgrounds and give local people
the skills to then go on and build more around the area. Teams can also
then trek in the lowlands of Bokor National Park and also visit the incredibly
temple site of Angkor Wat.
Click here to download
an expedition report
Project teams can spend longer on the playground and teaching projects (8 to 10 days) or can link up with the VentureCo project at Siem Reap. This project works with community health organisations doing surveys and interviews to assess the health of people living on the shores of Tonle Sap. Teams will also help to build new stilt homes for the local people alongside the “Life and Hope Association” which is run by Buddhist monks.
