Exploring G Adventures’ Travel Styles

14352528_852878798182995_449780685454995360_oI promised in my last post that I would explore G Adventures’ Travel Styles, and as I said, this company has a tour for everyone……..nine styles promise that if you are a traveller, no matter your age there is something for you! If there is somewhere you have in mind to visit, send me an email or call me at 226-927-4061. Here are 4 of their featured travel styles…….

YOLO- Got fun if you want it – For 18-35 yrs old 

Youth is a limited-time offer. Squeeze more out of yours with Yolo – fast-paced and affordable adventures designed for young travellers. Explore the world by day, stay up all night, and do it all again tomorrow someplace new with friends you’ll want to hang on to forever. You’ve got the rest of your life to take it slow. Live fast now.

Instant posse

When you go with a group, someone’s always got your back and is up for whatever you want to do. Plus, your CEO does all the dirty work so you don’t have to.

Low money, no problems

Light on frills and heavy on experiences, Yolo tours let you spend your money on what you really want. Splurge when you want to, save when you don’t.

No loners allowed

Yolo tours move fast and cover a lot of ground, so come armed with a bottomless thirst for life, an open mind, an iron stomach, and a good pair of dancing shoes.

Local Living Tours – Be where you belong

Always dreamed of getting deep inside one of the world’s greatest and most out-there destinations? You can now. Local Living tours send you undercover in some of the world’s most interesting places to discover life as it’s lived every day. Unpack once at a central home base – a Tuscan farmhouse, an Icelandic home, a rustic lodge in the Amazon jungle – and discover how the locals live with the help of a connected CEO who knows the area best.

Everywhere is local – It’s not a hotel. It’s home.

You won’t stray too far from your lodgings on a Local Living trip, and once you’ve seen ’em, you won’t want to. Each trip is based out of a charming and unique residence steeped in local character. Unpack once, meet your host, and start getting the lay of the land.

Your trip, your way

Itineraries are as loose-fit and flexible as you are. Pursue the whim of the moment and really dig into the elements of your destination that drew you to it in the first place. We give you the setting, somewhere to stay, and all the options you want, you fill in the rest.

Don’t just visit. Inhabit.

Dine al fresco in San Gimignano on pasta you help make; hike the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast; learn how to hunt with a blowgun in the Amazon; or live like a nomad on the remote Mongolian steppe. You’re a local now. Live accordingly.

Classic Tours- Go everywhere. Meet everyone. Do everything.

Looking for that sweet spot between independent backpacking and organized group tours? Congratulations; you found it. Classic tours combine the support and security of group travel, unbeatable variety, and the flexibility to go off-script when fate says, “Hey, let’s do this.”

Small-group travel done differently (and right)

Make your trip your own

Our CEOs can adjust the itinerary on-the-fly to pursue those you-really-had-to-be-there moments. No departure is alike, and that’s just how we like it.

Strangers today, friends tomorrow

Small-group travel has benefits going solo doesn’t: camaraderie, insider access, logistical support, and an instant posse of travelling companions.

Unbeatable variety

Every tour delivers an unbeatable mix of highlights, uncommon experiences, cultural contact, and active experiences. Come with an open mind. We’ll fill it up.

National Geographic Journeys: ADVENTURE, ENHANCED

National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures are a collection of unique tours designed to take you deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. They offer more inclusions, greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and the freedom to roam, all within the structure and security of travelling in a small group.

EXPLORE MORE – FEEL THE FREEDOM

We include plenty of free time for you to do anything you wish on your adventure. Before departing, you’ll receive articles and tips from National Geographic to help you make the most out of your travels.

LEARN ALL YOU CAN

Each tour includes opportunities to learn about our world through unique interactive experiences with local experts like historians, marine biologists, photographers, Buddhist monks, chefs, and others.

CHANGE THE WORLD

Travel with National Geographic Journeys and you help fund G Adventures’ community development initiatives worldwide, in addition to supporting the National Geographic Society’s non-profit work in conservation, exploration, research, and education.

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Discovering Southeast Asia

Many of you enjoyed my recent trip Discovering Southeast Asia with G Adventures by following me on Facebook and checking out my pictures on a daily basis…..what a great trip!  And more than that, what a great tour company to travel with for this trip…….

Vietnam has always been on my “bucket list” -and when I finally decided to go- the hard decisions started- with which tour company should I travel? And what itinerary should I choose?

Discover Southeast Asia

Discover Southeast Asia Itinerary

Because I enjoy small group adventure travel, I chose G Adventures with one of their Upgraded Trips- Adventure by day but Comfort at night……and then put the trip out there to all my friends……and yes- the timing was right and so I was able to share this wonderful experience with a friend. Together we decided on the itinerary- and rather than simply concentrating on Vietnam, we chose an overview type of trip- a few days in the major cities of 4 countries. The trip was called Discover Southeast Asia and was a National Geographic Journeys trip…….

And what an overview it was……rather than skimming the surface I truly felt we were able to “get under the skin” of each country we visited, thanks to the CEO (Chief Experience Officer) who travelled with us. He smoothed our way, recommended restaurants as well as activities, and ensured the participation of many local guides who provided us with the cultural and historical backgrounds along the way. Thank you Thou Sao!  You were one of two of the best guides I have ever had!

What We Saw Along The Way

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At the Grand Palace in Bangkok

For example, in Bangkok we saw the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha, went for a boat ride along the klong canals. In Chiang Mai, we partook in a cooking class and came away with a recipe book we can all use, visited markets, and listened to the monks chanting at sunset. Cycling through the countryside was unforgettable.

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At the Kuang Si Falls

In Luang Prabang (Laos) we rose at dawn to offer alms to the monks, went swimming at the fabulous Kuang Si Falls, and toured a Wat with a former Buddhist monk.

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At Halong Bay

In Vietnam, we enjoyed kayaking and swimming in Halong Bay, touring the Old Quarter of Hanoi, and exploring Saigon’s past and present…….

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Anghor Wat at Sunrise

In Cambodia, we were able to see close up and personal the sobering and devastating effects of the civil war of the 1960’s and 1970’s. This was off-set however by the continuing recovery and forgiveness present in today’s Cambodia- demonstrated when we were able to enjoy a home cooked meal in the home of one of the local guides with his family. The exploration of Siem Reap and the fabulous Angkor Wat as well as other local sights made Cambodia unforgettable for me.

This quick description is just an overview of our trip; truly it hardly does it justice as I have included only a few of our activities…..and yes- we did have time to relax- many of our afternoons were spend by the swimming pools at our 4* and 5* hotels.

Giving Back

One thing I really like about G Adventures’ style of travel is that it allowed us to give back to the local economy in so many ways- by supporting local businesses (accommodations, restaurants, guides, local transportation and activities) along with visiting their Planeterra Foundation projects. Truly we felt we were contributing to their communities, and I felt in Laos and Cambodia in particular that this really mattered.

Overlooking Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

Overlooking Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

Finally, at the end of our trip, we added on a few days in Hong Kong for rest and relaxation…….a wonderful way to wind down in so many ways and begin to slowly re-adjust to Western culture.

If travelling with G Adventures appeals to you, stay tuned to the next blog post where I will explore the types of adventures they offer- something for everyone!

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