Adventure/mini expedition companies?
Discussion
I'm considering going on an adventure style trip (eg. trekking in patagonia) and am looking for company recommendations. I would like small groups of young(ish!) people. I do not want to be on any trip with 18yr olds wanting to drink all day/night, that is not what i'm looking for!
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
I'd recommend Explore. I've trekked with them twice (although not in South America).
Not only was the experience superb, I hear from other trekkers that Explore guides have to meet higher standards than other companies in terms of trekking / mountain experience, first aid and language skills.
Not only was the experience superb, I hear from other trekkers that Explore guides have to meet higher standards than other companies in terms of trekking / mountain experience, first aid and language skills.
I've travelled with Imaginative traveller twice (brilliant first time, crap the second, though this was an extreme "pioneer" trip), Travel Indochina (brilliant but older groups), Dragoman (overland, younger people) and kumuka (again overland, slightly better than drago).
When you choose a company, you choose the people on the trip with you, which is probably as important as the company itself. Personally I'd avoid Explore! as the people I've met who'd travelled with them, and the two groups I've bumped into have been older clients - 50'ish on average. Nothing wrong with that, and I usually get on with the older people as well if not better than the young ones, but you could end up with a group of retired teachers. At the opposite end you do get the overland companies who tend to be younger groups.
Basically the cheaper the trip, and the more basic the accommodation the younger the group. Seriously, I'd try not to give anything away about who you are, call them and ask who they consider to be their average traveller. For many of the companies they will say "mid-late twenties single Aussie female", which suits me fine! From talking to other people I'd consider Imaginative Traveller (my issues aside), the adventure company, on the go and that type of level.
I wouldn't overland again having done two trips. The constant setting up/packing down camp, cooking, washing up, drinking, partying and long travel days really wears you down. Everybody gets grumpy two weeks in and there are rows and bust ups. I've only lost my temper twice in the last 20 years - both times on overland trips. A group that's split into fragments isn't much fun.
When you choose a company, you choose the people on the trip with you, which is probably as important as the company itself. Personally I'd avoid Explore! as the people I've met who'd travelled with them, and the two groups I've bumped into have been older clients - 50'ish on average. Nothing wrong with that, and I usually get on with the older people as well if not better than the young ones, but you could end up with a group of retired teachers. At the opposite end you do get the overland companies who tend to be younger groups.
Basically the cheaper the trip, and the more basic the accommodation the younger the group. Seriously, I'd try not to give anything away about who you are, call them and ask who they consider to be their average traveller. For many of the companies they will say "mid-late twenties single Aussie female", which suits me fine! From talking to other people I'd consider Imaginative Traveller (my issues aside), the adventure company, on the go and that type of level.
I wouldn't overland again having done two trips. The constant setting up/packing down camp, cooking, washing up, drinking, partying and long travel days really wears you down. Everybody gets grumpy two weeks in and there are rows and bust ups. I've only lost my temper twice in the last 20 years - both times on overland trips. A group that's split into fragments isn't much fun.
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