Zambia Volunteer and Safari (DZPT)
For travellers eager to give a little something back to the world that’s given them so much, Zambia needs you! This adventurous trip across three countries combines an authentic safari odyssey through national parks in search of the Big Five with time spent working on volunteer projects that benefit the people and animals of the region. Walk with rhinos and gain personal insight into the culture of the Shangaan people one day, participate in the Livingstone community volunteer program the next. Karma—it’s the ultimate travel rewards program.
Highlights: Volunteering at a Livingstone community project, Spotting the Big Five in Kruger National Park, gazing out across Victoria Falls, walking in search of rhinos and searching for wildlife from a 4x4 in Matobo National Park, witnessing Shangaan traditions, discovering the less-visited Zimbabwe.
Yolo Java to Bali (AEKS)
Home to 136 million people, the Indonesian island of Java is the most densely populated region on Earth. But while the teeming rivers of humanity that flow through Jakarta’s streets at rush hour can feel overpowering, there’s still a surprising amount of room to stretch out and explore. Travelling with other young travellers eager to experience this unique place, you’ll make your way from big cities to the calming beaches of Bali, soaking up culture and excitement along the way. And as your expert CEOs will be only too happy to show you, there’s plenty more to taste here than just stellar coffee.
Highlights: Discovering Javanese culture, exploring thriving cities, trekking in the shadow of Mt Bromo, snapping photos of beautiful rice terraces, sipping coffee at plantations, relaxing on sandy beaches.
Vietnam on a Shoestring (AVRV)
From chaotic Ho Chi Minh City to charming Hoi An, the imperial capital of Hue, vibrant Hanoi and the stunning natural beauty of Halong Bay, this trip has something for everyone. Journey up the coast in this jam-packed introduction to the country's highlights and nightlife with other travellers your own age—so you can be sure to get down with others that’ll keep up. Our CEOs will take you to the highlights on a shoestring and then let you loose so you can do what you really want.
Highlights: Exploring the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City, relaxing on golden beaches, shopping in quaint Hoi An, discovering Hue's citadels and pagodas, floating through magical Halong Bay, discovering the vibrant streets of Hanoi.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Uncover India—Delhi to Goa (AHUH)
For travellers on a budget who are after an experience full of the very best India has to offer, this tour showcases man made wonders and natural marvels without missing its most famous cities and sights. From the shining marble of the Taj Mahal and the sparkling shores of Goa to Rajasthan’s colourful forts and temples, connect with the culture and spirit of this incredible land. Our expert CEOs will take the hassle out of planning but leave you free to choose sites that really shine—so you can encounter India.
Highlights: Enjoying a fast-paced adventure, exploring the national and financial capitals of Delhi and Mumbai, experiencing the Taj Mahal at sunrise, uncovering bustling cities, capturing colourful Rajasthan in your viewfinder, relaxing on quiet beaches in Goa.
Turkey On A Budget (ETTO)
White cliff waterfalls and the glimmering Blue Mosque—experience the best of Turkey's historical highlights and natural wonders in one incredible tour. Begin your trip roaming the palaces of Istanbul before journeying into the bizarre underground cities and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Stick to public bus and budget accommodation, which not only keeps costs down but gives you a chance to really meet the locals. From the ancient Roman streets of Ephesus to bustling bazaars, follow your curiosity and spend 15 days discovering the culture and natural beauty of this fascinating region.
Highlights: Discovering historic cities and extraordinary scenery, chilling out in local villages, relaxing on an overnight boat trip, exploring the bustling streets of Istanbul
Southern Africa Encompassed (DAJJ)
When it comes to raw, in-your-face wildness, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe are incredible—from the vantage of our 16-seat minibus they are even more spectacular. Witness traditional dancing, explore the Okavango Delta with game walks and bush camping, track rhinos on foot in Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park and capture the Big Five (with your camera, of course) in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. All the while, camping keeps you close to the incomparable scenery. This quick tour isn't simply a taste of Africa; it's a full-course meal—with seconds.
Highlights: Spotting the Big Five in Kruger National Park, gazing out across Victoria Falls, tracking rhinos on foot in Matobo National Park, feeling the pulse of a continent at a dancing demonstration, discovering the less-visited Zimbabwe, exploring the Okavango Delta the traditional way on a mokoro canoe excursion, feeling the pulse of four diverse countries.
Quito to Lima Adventure (SEQM)
Discover the best of Ecuador and Peru as you explore the Andes, Amazon and Pacific coast on this 15-day adventure from Lima to Quito. Explore pre-Inca ruins, walk the colonial streets and get an introduction to the Amazon and its people with time in a jungle community. Tear it up on mountain bikes, raft wild rivers, catch big waves and get your adrenaline pumping on exciting optional excursions. You’ll have plenty of free time to explore these remarkable countries on your own and create the ultimate adventure.
Highlights: Mingling with Amazon locals during a homestay, getting active in Baños, exploring towering volcanoes and colonial cities, chilling out on the beach or surfing in Mancora and Huanchaco.
Peru on a Shoestring (SPPS)
Climb the legendary Inca Trail to the cloud forest citadel of Machu Picchu, dine the traditional way at a ceremonial Pachamanca feast or take an optional flight over the Nazca Lines—the adventure is yours to choose! With the services of a CEO and your accommodation and transport taken care of, this trip offers great value as it introduces the region’s main sights, providing plenty of flexibility so you can experience an adventure you'll never forget. Take a trip that's packed with just the essentials—15 days of maximum Peru at minimum cost. This is everything you imagined Peru would be—and more!
Highlights: Conquering the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, feeling like a local at an Andean homestay, spotting soaring condors at Colca Canyon, taking the chance to witness the Nazca Lines
Panama Experience (CRSP)
From San José, hit the beach and mountain retreats on your way to the locks of the world-famous Panama Canal at the centre of the Americas. Visit gorgeous islands and chill to reggae beats on Caribbean beaches. Search for the quetzal bird in cloud forests and shake your tailfeather in the clubs of Panama City. With your hotel and transport arranged by our CEOs, you can concentrate on choosing your own adventure.
Highlights: Listening to the reggae rhythms wafting through the Caribbean air, staring out at the crystal blue ocean, walking through lush greenery of the highlands, kicking back in a hammock on the Pacific, opportunity to watch ships pass through the Panama Canal.
Outback to the Top End - Adelaide to Darwin (OAAD)
You can’t get Down Under through a bus window. If you’re going to get off the tourist track, you’ll have to shake things up a bit—that’s why we’ve turned to trains, 4x4s, and buses for this itinerary. Starting in charming Adelaide, cut through the outback and explore the mysteries of Uluru. Follow your curiosity down the deserted tracks that make Australia so remote and spend 14 days discovering the natural beauty of one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations.
Highlights: Bedding down at a traditional sheep station and outside under the outback sky, learning about dreamtime stories from the Aborigines, experiencing a night underground in Coober Pedy, catching the magnificent colours of Uluru, hiking the Red Centre, riding the route of Afghan cameleers on the Ghan Train, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kakadu National Park
New Zealand—South Island Encompassed (ONSE)
Looking to tackle a bundle of different environments all in one go? New Zealand’s South Island has what you need and then some. Action is the common thread throughout this trip that incorporates hiking, kayaking, biking, glacier treks and even bungee jumping across a variety of landscapes, including rainforests, glaciers and some of the most gorgeous coastline you’ll ever see. This trip is exciting even when you’re not moving; accommodations include an authentic bush camp and a wilderness lodge deep in the rainforest itself. Unique? You bet.
Highlights: Explore the trails of Abel Tasman National Park by foot, hike the Franz Josef Glacier Valley, get an adrenaline rush in Queenstown, weave through the remote fiords of the Doubtful Sound by sea kayak, bike while stopping to taste local wine.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 3
National Parks of the Canadian Rockies Westbound (NCRU)
The Rockies are a great reason to explore the Canadian West, but why stop there? We asked that question, then answered it with this trip—a sprawling, nature-rich mini-epic that melds some of Canada’s best national parks with time off the mist-shrouded shores of Vancouver Island. Loaded with diverse experiences—whale-watching, glacier hikes, hot springs and much, much more—and bookend nights in Calgary and Vancouver, you’ll stuff a lifetime’s worth of adventure into the space of a mere two weeks.
Highlights: Watching surfers in Tofino, creating a postcard-perfect photo in Jasper, sipping lattes with the pretty people in Vancouver, feeling humble while gazing up at the mighty Rockies, getting a bird's-eye view of Banff from a gondola, sharing lunch with the goats at Coombs market.
National Parks of the Canadian Rockies Eastbound (NCUR)
Vancouver’s North Coast Mountains are just the appetizer for this journey from the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies. Beginning in beautiful Vancouver, travellers will hit the ocean in search of whales before heading east into the enveloping mountain wilderness of Banff and Jasper National Parks, where sulphur springs, canoeing expeditions and glaciers older than time abound. And since we camp out most nights, you’re guaranteed maximum natural contact at a minimal price. The Great Outdoors—now all yours.
Highlights: Watching surfers in Tofino, creating a postcard-perfect photo in Jasper, sipping lattes and people watching in Vancouver, feeling humble while gazing up at the mighty Rockies, getting a bird's-eye view of Banff from a gondola, sharing lunch with the goats at Coombs market.
Most of the Coast—Sydney to Cairns (OASC)
The route up Australia’s East Coast has earned its rep as one of the seemingly endless supply of must-do experiences in the country. The classic Sydney-to-Cairns route introduces you to both sides of modern Australia—the bright lights of the big city and the raw beauty of the outback. You’ll get to try your hand at dozens of atypical activities—everything from sheep-shearing and wine-tasting to yachting and snorkelling. And when you travel in small groups like we do, you really get out there into the wild to meet the locals and experience the land like they do. That amazing new frontier you’ve been looking for? Here it is.
Highlights: Tasting wine in the Hunter Valley, Sleeping under the stars and at a sheep station, Learning to surf in famous Byron Bay, Island-hopping through the Whitsundays, Cooling off in remote swimming holes, Snorkelling the world's largest reef.
Mexico Ancient Civilizations (MMC)
From the hustle of modern Mexico City, which preserves its magic from centuries gone by, to the ruins at Chichén Itzá, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this adventure takes in the cultural and historical highlights. It’s perfect for travellers on a tight budget looking to see as much as possible of this diverse region.
Highlights: Visiting Mayan ruins, dancing the night away in Mexican bars and clubs, bargaining for beautiful textiles and handmade goods at colourful markets, savouring the tasty Mexican food and drink, chilling on the white sand beaches of the Mayan Riviera.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Melbourne to the Red Centre (OAMR)
If you really want to get Down Under and experience Australia’s highlights without feeling rushed, you’ll have to get off the big coaches. Explore Melbourne before hitting the Great Ocean Road and cutting through the outback to the Red Centre. Here you’ll experience the mysteries of Uluru and gain insight into Aboriginal culture. When it comes time to bed down, shake things up with a variety of unique accommodation—from safari tents to underground hostels and even a traditional sheep station.
Highlights: Marvelling at the 12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, bedding down at a traditional sheep station, learning about dreamtime stories from the Aborigines, catching the magnificent colours of Uluru at sunset, exploring the Red Centre with a local guide
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 3
Marrakech Express (EEME)
There’s so much to see in Europe; don’t settle for a cramped bus tour. Head south for an adventure as unique as you are. Beginning in London—traveller central—you’ll cross the channel for some French culture before hitting Spain for Moorish history, architecture in Barcelona and a tapas culture that will set you up for the endless nightlife. Best of all, this trip doesn’t fade out—you’ll finish up in Morocco with its mosques, medinas and kasbahs. It’s a European tour with a southern kiss of the exotic.
Highlights: Meeting the ghost of Moorish Spain at the Alhambra, sampling small plates on a tapas bar crawl, dining on a picnic lunch at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, exploring the medinas and kasbahs of Morocco, dodging snake charmers, keeping it real with a small group of like-minded travellers.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 2
La Paz to Buenos Aires Adventure (SBLB)
Breathe in the Incan spirit of La Paz and the tango palaces of Buenos Aires on this 2-week adventure. Connecting the Andes to the Atlantic, you'll journey across the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Desert and the Uyuni Salt Flats, feel like a sophisticate as you sip wine in Buenos Aires and pull back the curtain on the centre of the continent. Best of all, you'll do it in the company of other fun, young travellers. Don't choose between inspiring wilderness and urban sophistication—do it all.
Highlights: Discovering colonial cities and historic cultures, crossing the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert altiplano on a 4x4 excursion, witnessing the stunning scenery and unique cultures of northern Argentina, doing it all with other fun young travellers.
Laos & Thailand on a Shoestring (AVRL)
Wander the tranquil monasteries of Luang Prabang and experience the French colonial influence while sipping coffee at a café. Take 12 days to uncover this laid-back corner of South East Asia. While you're free to choose your own adventure, your accommodation and transportation are included and our expert CEOs will help you make the most of your time. Take a slow boat down the Mekong or admire the limestone karsts surrounding Vang Vieng from your pushbike.
Highlights: Exploring vibrant Hanoi, revelling in the shadows of limestone karsts, discovering the serenity of Luang Prabang, floating on the mighty Mekong, experiencing the beauty of scenic northern Thailand, enjoying the bustle of Bangkok.
- Trip Style:
- Yolo
- Trip Type:
- Small Group
- Service Level:
- Basic
- Physical Grading:
- 2
Kenya & Uganda Gorilla Adventure (DKKU)
Meet mountain gorillas and the other amazing wildlife on this 2-week overland adventure. Spot wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park and join experienced trackers while travelling deep into the Ugandan forests for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spot endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Our overland trucks are an adventurous and inexpensive way to see the highlights while wilderness camping will keep you in the thick of the action. Experience a world apart as you encounter the colourful cultures and wild landscapes of Kenya and Uganda.
Highlights: Seeing a mountain gorilla up close and personal, searching for the elusive wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park, photographing diverse wildlife, rafting down the White Nile River.
