Traveling w/ Craghoppers Clothing UK

December 7, 2009

This past May, the gang over at Craghoppers Clothing UK contacted us, interested in an adventure tour of Florida. This wasn’t just any adventure tour though. This was a tour to test out and show off their forthcoming Spring/Summer 2010 clothing line.

As Florida’s ONLY small group adventure tour company, we were ready to guide the group – which consisted of a few marketing managers, two models, and a professional adventure photographer named Corey Rich – to many of south Florida’s most picturesque landscapes and adventurous destinations.

Picking the group up from Miami International Airport, we spent the first evening taking in the nightlife of Miami’s South Beach. The next morning, we were off to Big Cypress National Preserve, with visits to a Native American community and an airboat tour on the outskirts of Everglades National Park. From there, we made our way 37 miles deep into the Everglades – canoeing amongst the Florida Alligator and mountain biking some of the many trails throughout the park. We enjoyed our evenings under the stars, camping and cooking in remote wilderness campsites.

On Day Three, we hopped on the Overseas Highway en route to the Florida Keys.  In between enjoying Mallory Square’s Sunset Celebration, the Craghoppers Crew hit it hard; kayaking, bone-fishing, biking, deep-sea fishing, and taking a helicopter ride over the Caribbean blue waters.

Miccosukee Boardwalk Jumping Everglades Airboat Ride Canoeing Campfire Bone Fishing Biking Seven Mile Bridge Kayaking Horseback Riding

The group that I spent over six days with represented the Craghoppers company very well. Their products actually walk the walk. They are not made in a boardroom by number crunchers. The clothing line really does inspire travel, exploration, and adventure.

And the photographer, Corey Rich, put on a workshop – making professional adventure photography appear like anyone can do it, to only learn that he is just that good (and that my camera’s automatic settings will never capture a photo with quite the depth he absorbs through his lens).

The catalog should be released soon. Check out Craghoppers website to see what our tour looked like (and purchase some great clothing) by clicking here. Want to see the cover of the catalog, visit Corey’s blog HERE.

After this tour, we at Florida Adventure Treks, thought of a first-of-its-kind event – an in-depth photography workshop over the course of a seven (7) day adventure tour. Combine the best of travel with the skills of a professional adventure photographer to teach you hands-on photography in some of Florida’s most stunning settings. Our Photography Workshop is still under development…. stay tuned!

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Activities, Adventure Photography Workshop, Adventure Tour, Adventure Tours, Charter Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Florida Adventures, Florida Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Travel Holiday for Singles

November 23, 2009

Craghopper - Southernmost PointTo travel alone or not to travel at all? Travel!

While traveling alone can be daunting and lonely at times, exploring a new place opens up many opportunities to meet new people and reinvent yourself. There are plenty of resources available to the single or solo traveler

  1. Traveling Alone – Hostels are great places to meet other like-minded solo travelers. A hostel is similar to a hotel stay, except lodging is usually dorm room style or shared space, with a kitchen to prepare and cook meals. The price for a hostel is generally less expensive than a hotel. Visit Hostelling International and Hostels.com for more information about locations throughout the world.
  2. Couch Surfing – For an even more intimate experience into the places you will visit, consider meeting locals by sleep on their couches! As crazy as the concept sounds – e-mailing a complete stranger so that you can sleep on their couch for a night or two for free (or for very little money) – it is popular all over the world. Visit CouchSurfing online at http://www.couchsurfing.org/
  3. Small Group Travel – Perhaps the best of both worlds – you meet other single travelers and get local experience at the same time – small group travel connects like-minded travelers with a tour guide’s local knowledge of the history, culture, and places you will be visiting. With a small group tour, people from all over the world travel together. It is much different than a big bus trip. With a small group tour, you travel with 12-20 other people along with a tour leader that is part of the group (not just a driver). The tour operator will make most of your arrangements for you, from transportation, lodging, and optional activities.

Our tour company, Florida Adventure Treks, caters to single travelers that want to experience Florida like a local. We are Florida’s ONLY small group tour company. To learn more about single and solo travel to Florida, visit us at www.FloridaAdventureTreks.com.

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Tour, Adventure Tours, Budget Tours, Camping Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Florida Travel, Singles Travel, Small Group Tours | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Benefits of Small Group Travel

November 20, 2009

Craghopper - Southernmost PointWhen visiting a new place in the world, we cannot think of a better way to explore that place than with a small group of like-minded travelers. Small group tours offer all the benefits of an all-inclusive vacation with the intimate feel of really experiencing a a culture – its history, geography, food, and music. A small group tour is perfect for single travelers and couples or families alike. Many small group tour operators attract travelers from all over the world – so in addition to visiting a new place, you get to  meet great people from other countries (as opposed to people from your own country).

The following is just a short list of the benefits to small group travel:

  1. You don’t feel like a “tourist” in a big bus full of other passengers with hip packs and cameras blaring.
  2. Your tour operator takes care of the logistics – transportation, lodging, schedule, activities.
  3. There is flexibility. In a small group, you can change the itinerary at a moment’s notice so if there is a street festival or cultural event taking place, you can stop for a few hours.
  4. Small groups can take advantage of group rates, so your vacation ends up costing less than traveling on your own.
  5. You meet like-minded travelers, and make friends that last a lifetime (and a place to stay during your next vacation!)
  6. Small group tour operators can take you “off the beaten path”. Unlike the big bus tour, your tour guide can bring you to local restaurants and other destinations that can’t normally handle larger groups.
  7. For camping tours, your tour company provides camping equipment and cooking supplies for your use.
  8. The small group tour operator knows local outfitters. This will ensure that all of the optional activities you participate in will be high quality and will offer you an in-depth experience.

For all the benefits of small group travel, there are important questions you should ask your tour operator before booking your holiday vacation.St. Augustine Sunrise

Do you have a minimum passenger requirement? Many tour companies will not run a tour unless they have a certain number of bookings. In part, a tour with just 2-3 people wouldn’t be much fun for you. You should know whether they have already met that requirement and, if not, how much notice will they provide you that a tour is being cancelled.

Are your tour guides from the place we are planning to visit? If you are visiting China, your tour guide should be from China! If Kenya, it would be great to have a tour leader that grew up in Kenya. Locals have more knowledge about an area, can tell stories about growing up there, and can alter the itinerary to your wants.

Where do we stay during our vacation? Sometimes, small group tours are synonymous with budget tours. But a budget tour shouldn’t mean you stay 15 miles away from a city just to cut costs. Your small tour should put you in the center of the action. If your tour visits Miami South Beach, you should stay within walking distance of Ocean Drive and the Art-Deco district. Where you stay is just as important as the places you will visit.

What is included in the tour price? Be careful when booking your tour. A tour operator might suggest that lodging is included in the price, but that you will have to pay a local supplement for a few nights in a hotel room. Or a gas tax to be paid upon arrival. This could easily increase the cost of your tour by $100. You should also see what activities are included in the price – a tour operator that charges $750 per person but doesn’t include any activities is not as good as a tour company that charges $795 per person and includes over $150 in activities.

Is the staff helpful? If you have a question about your tour, call up the tour operator. They should be helpful in answering all of your questions.

With this information, you should be well on your way to booking a small group tour in your desired destination! Have fun…

By Florida Adventure Treks | Posted in Adventure Tours, Budget Tours, Camping Tours, Florida Adventure Treks, Off The Beaten Path, Small Group Tours | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)