ADVENTURE TRAVEL TIPS
TIP 1: Understand what adventure travel really is
Adventure travel is an active, unique exploration of an exotic or remote destination with a small group of like-minded people, guided by full-time professional leaders. The typical object of your exploration is a beautiful landscape, unusual wildlife, or an intriguing foreign culture-often all three. You'll probably travel by foot, safari jeep, or dugout canoe and over rough roads or trails in all kinds of weather. Exceptional physical fitness usually isn't necessary; you can enjoy some adventure trips at a fitness level only a notch or two above that of a couch potato. But you'll almost certainly get sweaty, dusty, and tired at times, and you won't be eating much beef bourguignon.
TIP 2: First pick a destination.
The vast number of adventure trips to choose from can be a bit bewildering. To narrow down the choices to a manageable number, decide early what part of the world you want to visit. If you're new at adventure travel and not quite sure where you want to go, pick a trip that has a track record of broad appeal over the years. Instead of, say, hang gliding with cannibals in Irian Jaya, stick to the classics: a safari in East Africa, a trek in the Himalayas, or a visit to the Amazonian rain forest.
TIP 3: Decide how much physical challenge you want.
There's an adventure trip for virtually every level of physical fitness, Study the trip ratings carefully; different companies use different rating criteria, based on physical activity, altitude, and terrain.
Certain activities may be rated differently. For example, river-rafting trips are rated not by their physical demands (you just hang on) but by the difficulty of the most severe rapid. Class II and III rapids shouldn't scare anybody, but Class IV demand great confidence in your guides. Class V commercial trips are rare and require extensive rafting experience.
Sea-kayaking trips in protected waters are physically easy but usually include camping, and they are generally rated moderate. Backpacking trips are more demanding than treks because you'll be carrying a heavy pack. Mountaineering trips, involving of ropes, ice axes, and high altitudes, call for the highest fitness level of all.
TIP 4: Shop around.
Call several adventure-travel companies and request detailed daily itineraries for trips that interest you. For similar trips by different companies, compare trip routing and accommodations. Be sure to ask about potential extra costs like internal airfares, national-park fees, ore pre- and post-trip hotels and meals. Is there a surcharge for small groups? For travelers without tent-mates? Is discounted airfare available? This information will give you a feel for the level of service each company provides.
TIP 5: Compare cancellation policies.
Because of the more complicated logistics of planning adventure trips, deposit/cancellation policies are sometimes stringent. Is the Initial deposit refundable? Are interim payments required? (On most Overseas Adventure Travel trips, the deposit is fully refundable up to 61 days before departure,. and there are no interim payments). When is full payment required? What refunds, if any, apply if you cancel after that?
TIP 6: Talk to people who've already taken the trip.
Ask each company for a list of previous customers on the trip you're looking at. The long-distance phone bills will pay for themselves many times over in unbiased word-of-mouth information.
TIP 7: Check out the trip leader.
The most important single factor on adventure journeys is the trip leader, who simultaneously fills the role of guide, interpreter, teacher, mother hen, drill sergeant, and group psychologist also should speak both English and the local language well.
TIP 8: Ask about responsible travel practices.
We're hearing more and more about the effects of tourism on the environment and traditional culture. Many outfitters talk about "eco-tourism." Ask what it means on the trip you're considering. Will you get information on local customs and locally appropriate dress? On an ocean trip, is refuse dumped overboard or carried back to port? On a camping trip, how do the staff handle trash and garbage? On a mountain trek, are the porters provided with warm clothing? Let companies know that these concerns are important to you.