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Many seasoned travelers or backpackers don’t like the idea of taking an organized tour. They’ll grab their lonely planet bible, book their flight and see where the wind blows when they arrive. Stay in guesthouses, hostels and talk to as many people about their experiences or perhaps latch on to another individual and travel with them for a bit. For many the unknowing really drives them, gets them excited and makes for a real adventure. This is what they believe traveling should be all about. For others that can be petrifying not knowing where they’re staying, what to do, how to get there, and the loneliness of traveling alone. This is where organized tour groups and companies can be very helpful and useful.

Most of us have been on some sort of organized tour when traveling. If you’ve ever taken a cruise, booked an all inclusive or even see some of the greatest natural wonders of the world you’ve end up on some sort of organized tour. Organized tours are an essential part of the travel industry. For the working professional that is very busy; trying to plan for a trip overseas can be overwhelming and time consuming. If you’re a student, retired or on a gap year taking some time off you’re probably not on a timeline and don’t have to make deadlines in order to return home in a week or two. Unfortunately most of us don’t have that luxury. We can’t afford to miss a bus or train. Traveling can be stressful and this is where a tour company get really be beneficial and helpful.

So how do you choose the right adventure travel company? What should you be looking for? One of the questions you need to ask yourself is what do you want to get out of your trip? What are you looking? Do you want me new people? Make friends that are relatively close in age and mindset as you? Do you want to go off the beaten path? Truly experience a new culture? What adventure activities do you want to do? What type of meals do you want? Street food, local restaurants or do you prefer being safe and eating at your hotel? There are so many questions you need to figure out when booking a tour. Here are 5 things you really need to look into when booking with an adventure tour company.

1) Ethics and Values- Find out a little more about the company and where it stands on sustainable travel as well its reputation. You’d be surprised that many of the big companies don’t have the best reputation and most of your money goes to a large corporation and not the local communities you visit. Find out if the company uses local guides and suppliers. You need to know where the money is going. Do they belong to an association like ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association) which provides guidelines and values based on tourism ethics, protection of children, maximizing benefits to: the environment, cultural heritage, sustainable management, and economic benefits to the local community all while minimizing negative impacts.

2) It’s more about who your with then where you go- Many of the best memories and trips you’ll ever take are all based on the people you met, the friendships you developed and the moments you shared with them. Find out what target market the company focuses on. The last thing you want to do is end up on a tour with a bunch of noisy, immature, drunk twenty year olds when you’re in your mid to late forties. Or just the opposite where you’re in your early thirties looking to be more active and adventurous and end up on a tour with a bunch of senior citizens that don’t have the energy to see and do what you’d hoped or expected from the tour.

3) What is included with that? Finding the best deal isn’t your best bet. Many advertised prices hide a lot of extra costs that you will need to pay for in the long run. A big thing in the industry use to be a local payment once arriving. Many companies have gotten away from this but there are still companies charging a local payment on arrival. Is there a single supplement that is automatically charged when you book alone? or are you able to share a room with someone? Look at the itinerary carefully and see what activities you’ll be doing and the transportation needed throughout. You’ll quickly discover that many companies haven’t included any of your activities. As well you’ll need to pay for all those internal flights that you must take as part of the trip. You’ll also discover that many tours start in one city and end in a completely different one or end up in in a different country altogether. Booking a one way ticket is much more expensive then a return ticket (you forgot about that didn’t you). Airport pickup for many companies isn’t included and they’ll charge extra for that. The worst thing is flying into a foreign country late at night with no one their to greet you. The other thing you’ll find is that a taxi company or guy saying he can take you wherever at the airport charges double even after haggling with them for 20 minutes when you’re super tired from your long flight. As well taxi drivers get paid a commission from many hotels or guesthouses to bring you their even when you already have something booked. That low cost tour will never be low cost if you’re paying for every little thing while you’re there.

4) So what’s your travel style? There’s nothing better than a good nights sleep both home and away when you have such a busy schedule. Are you looking to stay in a hostel or perhaps rough it and really get off the beaten path and save some cash. Are you looking for middle of the road accommodations or something a little more upscale. Having a nice place to come home to every night after a busy hectic, active and culturally filled day can be very rewarding. If you’ve ever traveled to India then you’ll know what I’m talking about. Keeping up with good solid meals throughout your day is also very important. Are you looking to simply eat and stay at a global hotel chain where there’s no local culture or anything special to it? Do you want to stay at a locally owned and operated place that may be very unique to the region or culture? Do you want to eat local meals at restaurant where you can sit down with the locals or simply eat street food and people watch? You also need to know how many meals are included with your tour. You’d be surprised that only breakfast at the hotel is included.

5) Compare apples to apples not oranges There are so many different adventure travel companies out there and there are so many types of trips. There’s the big companies that focus on the mass population (soft adventure) and smaller niche ones (hard adventure). Don’t compare a soft adventure tour to a hard adventure trip. There’s a big difference. Going on a 10 day biking tour is much different then having a few bike trips within a tour. Most “hard adventure” travel involves more risk and better conditioning. As well having the proper gear prior or renting that gear can be much more expensive hence the difference in price tags. Many of those on a hard adventure tour already have considerable experience in that sport or activity. A “soft adventure” is for everyone and many have never tried that activity or sport and are not in peak physical conditioning. What will a typical day on the tour be like? How many miles are we biking, hiking, paddling? etc. Are all those activities included in the initial upfront cost. Don’t compare trips in Argentina based on one is 18 days and the other is 15 days. One is a small group tour while the other is a large bus tour, one is a hop on hop off, one uses public transport while the other uses private transportation. For tours that look similar take a careful look at the types of transportation you’ll be taking. If you’re getting a sleeper seat, a first class seat or simply a seat on that train will make a big difference in the pocketbook as well comfort wise on a 12 hour journey.

Determine what type of trip is best for you. If you have a two week vacation from work it doesn’t make any sense booking a 8 day trip or a 20 day trip to Asia. One is either too long or the other is too short with those long flights and extra time you need. For most working professionals they need a 10-14 day trip not including days for flights. Do you want to volunteer on your trip? do you want to do cultural activities? what type of adventure activities do you want to partake in? Check out Odyssey Treks it’s geared towards working professionals with most tours being 13 days. Each tour consists of numerous adventure activities, cultural activities and volunteering. As well their travel concept is all about creating long lasting friendships from your own city. Each person you’ll meet on the tour will be from the same city as you. This allows you to develop incredible friendships and relationships.

Last but not least don’t always take the travel agents word for it. The biggest reason why people come back from a trip unhappy is because they got sold a trip that wasn’t for them. Most of the larger travel agencies have agreements in place with several of the top adventure travel operators to push their trips above any other option. Don’t be pushed into a one of these without doing your own homework.

Good luck in your search and choosing an adventure travel tour. It is the first step in discovering new cultures, experiencing amazing foods, meeting incredible people, seeing all the worlds natural and man made wonders, checking off items of your bucket list. But more importantly learning more about yourself, meeting new friends and discovering an incredible world that will bring you memories that will last a lifetime.

Of all the places I’ve travelled to not one can compare or be as shocking as India. I’ve spent several years living and backpacking SE Asia where you see something unique or unusual on a regular basis. Heck I’d even say most of Asia does things ass backwards where you question why they’re doing things this way. Growing up in North America you’re use to rules and laws that are generally followed to keep things from being chaotic. In Asia for some reason chaos is the norm and somehow it seems to work. Each Asian country has its own unique culture, traditions as well incredible local cuisine. However India is not like any other country in this world.

With more then 1.2 billion people living in a relatively small mass of land compared to countries like Canada, Russia and even the United States. Personal space is something you’ll learn quickly doesn’t exist here.

When someone asks me what India was like I simply tell them that all five of your senses will be awaken and will be on overdrive the entire time you’re there. The moment you step off the plane it hits you….your sense of smell…smack it hits you.

Now don’t get me wrong it’s not that bad and to be honest you do get use to it. Also you get to smell some of the best food in the world bar none! Indian cuisine is absolutely fantastic! Traditional dishes vary regionally across the country with the different growing regions of local spices, vegetables, herbs and fruits. As well the food is heavily influenced by culture and traditions. In the south you’ll see mostly vegetarian dishes. You won’t see any beef on any menu’s throughout the country because the cow is very sacred. In the north most eat with different breads like naan, chapati, roti or papadums as part of the meal and use the bread as a utensil. See no one uses forks, knives or spoons in India. In the south they simply use they’re hands. Now this is a sight in the south and it was funny because I’m also left handed. Eating with your hands is normal when you’re having a slice of pizza or burger but not rice, curries and sauces. So it’s kinda weird the first time you eat with your hands especially when it’s your left hand. So seeing everyone in the restaurant staring at me with complete and utter shock while I ate my meal was…well let’s just say it was interesting and it certainly stirred up lots of chatter and laughing. I won’t elaborate on this too much but all Indians eat with their right hand and for good reason…here’s your hint..there’s no toilet paper. Obviously rice is a staple along with lentils such as dal. Spices such as turmeric, cardamon, cumin, clove, and coriander can be found in most dishes. So if you thought the food smelled good then wait until you taste your first sabji (curry), lassi, or masala tea. Some of the more popular Indian dishes you must try while in India include palaak paneer, rogan josh, biryani, masala dosa, vindaloo and momo’s. The best way to try as many dishes is to order a thali on the menu which gives you a variety of dishes. Indian food has to be one of the best tasting cuisines in the world. The nice thing is it varies from region to region to give you a little variety because it will be difficult to find any North American favourites.

The other sense that awakens immediately stepping out of the airport is your sense of sound. I promise you you’ve never heard so much horn honking in your life. Once you get into your first cab you’ll soon realize why and discover that it’s total chaos! Now you just hope you’ve picked the right driver because you’ve put your life into his hands.

The sights of India are incredible. Nowhere in the world can you see such diverse landscapes, incredible historical sights and such amazing rituals. From the Taj Mahal to the Ganges in Varanasi to the epic tea fields in Darjeeling, the Himalayan Mountains, deserts of Rajasthan, the beaches in Goa and the incredible river systems of the Kerala backwaters. India has it all and it’s truly one of kind. The colours of India are spectacular. From the women wearing beautiful sarees, to the gulaal on the streets, costumes and clothing that people wear for all the remarkable festivals that take place throughout the country.

As mentioned earlier with the amount of people living here and the chaotic traffic it does make it difficult to get around the country. Unless you’re flying everywhere which is impossible for some destinations within the country you’ll have to take a private taxi, bus or train. To me there is nothing more Indian then riding the rails. India has one of the largest railway networks in the world. It has 25 million commuters taking trains each day across the country. With different class levels it allows for an authentic experience while still having a pleasant and exciting time. I’m not sure you can truly say you’ve experienced India until you’ve done at least one 10 hour plus overnighter on a train. To see all of India and to get around you’d need at least 3-6 months depending on how long you stay in each spot. That being said Odyssey Treks has put together an incredible 13 day adventure tour which encompasses the best of India from whitewater rafting in the North in Rishikesh. To a camel safari in the deserts of Rajasthan and all the cultural gems of the Golden Triangle including the Taj Mahal. You’ll relax and be pampered as you float through the canal systems of the Kerala backwaters on a houseboat and even have a few days on the beach. You’ll enjoy a village stay, volunteering with street children and orphans,to learning how to cook Indian dishes, sightseeing all the Unesco World Heritage Sites, exploring the tea fields in Munnar and plenty of adventure activities along the way. www.odysseytreks.com/india

The Indian tourism board has coined the phrase “Incredible India” as their slogan and it truly is. India is simply amazing and it’s truly one of a kind. If you’re looking for an adventure trip then the best place to start is in India. I guarantee you’ll see things you’ve never seen before! From cows crossing eight lane highways to strolling into restaurants while your eating. To seeing shocking rituals and incredible devotion to their religious beliefs as you learn about their many gods. To the sounds of chaos that awaits you on the bustling streets and local markets. Each day is an adventure on its own while traveling by taxi or train or doing just about anything. Some people will leave India hating it but most if you allow it will see the beauty within it. Discover something about themselves or appreciate what they have back home. Learn about a culture and country that is completely different from the rest of the world. No matter what kind of experience you have in India everyone will say they’ve never felt, smelled, heard, tasted, or seen anything like it before! This is the one country that helps you realize you have five senses, enhances them, and allows you to discover why each of them are so important.

For many going on an African Safari is a once in a lifetime opportunity as well a bucket list thing to do. This past year I got to experience that in several different parks in Tanzania. Each National Park has it’s subtle differences from more lush jungles, to dry plains, to very wet fertile green pastures, and lakes. However most animals can be seen in all the parks.

The Serengeti has the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world. This is the reason for it being one of the top ten natural travel wonders of the world. The land mainly consists of grasslands, swamps and a few woodlands with the odd acacia tree scattered here and there.

The other draw in the region is Ngorongoro Crater. A Unesco World Heritage site and known for being the largest and longest inactive volcanic caldera. The flora and fauna that have since grown here provide the perfect environment for most animals to live and thrive. The crater itself is two thousand feet deep and is five thousand eight hundred feet above sea level. Making it a such a breathtaking place even without the animals. Then when you take into account all the animals within the crater makes this place a must see!

The other park I’m going to touch on is Lake Manyara National park. Its very lush and has more of a jungle feel making it more difficult to spot animals because of all the places they can hide. However for me it had more of an authentic safari feel and I liked the idea of trying to see and catch a glimpse of animals in trees either hiding to attack their prey or hide from them.

The main attraction of any safari is being able to spot the Big 5 (lion, buffalo, rhino, leopard, and the elephant) Jumping in the 4×4 jeep and cruising through Lake Manyara national park for the first time was exciting and thrilling.

My first animal encounter was seeing a baboon walk by me and stare me down which to be honest was quite intense and very unique. Before you know it we were surrounded by all whole troop of them. Some were extremely curious while others just lounged around. The weirdest part about being on a safari is just how close you come to the animals. These aren’t animals in a zoo with cages around them or distinct areas that won’t allow for such close proximity. Plus animals in a zoo are fed on a regular basis unlike the ones in front of us.

Look! Under the trees we spot our first Big 5 animal…Simba…king of the jungle. For the most part throughout your safari you’ll see lots of lions doing a whole lotta nothing. These animals are on the hunt at night or early mornings and the rest of the day they’re lounging around sleeping. When we came upon our first pride of lions chilling under a tree our jeep and driver decided to stop no joke a few feet away….you could almost touch them. The only thing running through my mind was when do you think this pride of lions in front of us has last ate? I kept thinking why aren’t they attacking us? The funny thing I wasn’t the only one thinking this. I quickly asked Matt beside me what’s stopping these huge magnificent animals from jumping in this jeep with us and having their way with all of us….his response was shit I was thinking the same thing! It blows your mind just how close you are to them.

Seeing my first giraffe was awesome…I think I like them the most. So elegant yet strange and awkward looking. The colours, spots, the funny head, long neck, even stranger frame and long tiny legs makes the giraffe so unique and special. There are no other animals like it.

The other big draw and exciting thing about a Safari is the accommodations. You can find basic accommodations like simple tents and guesthouses to luxury lodges and tented camps. The other incredible thing is just where these digs are located. So when we went from Lake Manyara to the Serengeti we where all very excited about our tented camp but also because of the legendary migration and the opportunity to spot the Big 5. On the way to our camp we got lucky and spotted one of the Big 5 and usually one of the more difficult ones to find. We spotted a leopard in the tree. After taking hundreds of pictures and as dusk quickly approached we were told by our driver that we needed to be in our camp by 6pm because of National Park regulations. The funniest and craziest thing was that we were only seconds away from our camp. As we took off to our camp and pulled around several trees we had arrived seconds later. I could still see and hear the leopard! We had two Maasai Warriors guarding our camp throughout the evening and they always escorted us to our sleeping quarters. However that still didn’t give me the biggest reassurance the first night. Hearing all the animals throughout the night was incredible. Getting up early the next morning and enjoying a coffee outside my tent I again realized why I was a little bit nervous. A gazelle flew by my tent and I swear I could feel the wind blow as it whizzed by. Again my thoughts going through my head were “what is stopping animals from coming into this camp and deciding this is the perfect meal for the day” Have I watched too many movies…..one in particular comes to mind “The Lion and the Darkness”! If a gazelle could whip through our camp why not a cheetah or lion? By the second night I’d come to relax and realize that we really weren’t food for these animals but it’s still very much on your mind and just so odd to think. Being able to place yourself right in the middle of these animals natural environment was absolutely awesome!

Odyssey Treks Serengeti Safari tour takes you to the best parks and has some incredible accommodations. It really does provide a little bit of everything. From a luxury lodge in Lake Manyara to an incredible tented camp in the heart of the Seregenti.

Tented Camp in the Serengeti

Then off to a rustic guesthouse in Ngorongoro Crater where you think you’ve just stepped into the movie Jumanji. When you check in they make it very clear not to leave the property after dusk and to try and stay in your rooms at night. We saw first hand when a herd of massive Buffalo walked by our room…incredible!

The other thing you need to consider when choosing a safari is how long to go for? The one difficult thing I found was sitting in a vehicle all day and not getting any exercise…but hey I’m a activity nut! I love being active and for me this was one of the big drawbacks…even after just climbing Kilimanjaro I still felt I needed a little exercise. As well once you’ve seen all the animals unless your seeing an elusive hunt you slowly become immune to the uniqueness and all the animals. I did a five day safari and I found that was too long. With Odyssey Treks 13 Day Serengeti Safari to the Exotic Spice Island of Zanzibar it offers a 4 day safari which I think is the perfect amount of days where you’ll get to experience the different parks and still have plenty of time to see the Big 5.

The last thing I want to touch on is seeing the elusive hunt, chase and kill sequence. We were lucky to witness leopards hunting gazelles and the ultimate Big 5 showdown….a pride of lions taking on a buffalo.

Now the build up for this kill was pretty amazing. The patience of this pride and the tactical way they went about killing the buffalo was truly amazing. However for many in our jeep and I’m sure others that were watching from the other jeeps. The true reality of what you were witnessing became evident. Charles Darwin’s philosophy of survival of the fittest and the whole King of the Jungle food chain was on display. This kill may have been easier to witness had the Buffalo not put up such a fight. Hearing the poor helpless shrieking animal was extremely difficult to witness. The buffalo was being eaten alive. So for many this is something you might not want to witness or will have to be able to deal with while on safari. Again you are not at the zoo.

With everything a safari provides from beautiful landscapes, epic sunsets, nature and animals in their natural environment to the incredible accommodations you will want to make sure this is on your bucket list of must do’s! An African safari and beach getaway provides the perfect holiday for any individual.

We all know that New York City has been dubbed the city that never sleeps. However there is one city in the world that really deserves this title. For anyone that has ever step foot and spend a few nights in Bangkok Thailand they would probably not disagree with that statement. There’s a reason why the movie Hangover 2 took place in Bangkok. The city has a little bit of everything to tempt you into having late nights or all day sightseeing experiences.

With over 10 million people living in this city and Bangkok being the most popular destination city visited by tourist around the world. This city has chaotic, hectic and bustling written all over it. However it also has tranquility, beauty, culture and traditions that sparkle through. It’s hard to describe this city in comparison to other cities around the world. I’ve had the luxury of doing lots of traveling and have seen and spent many nights in other large cities around the world like New York, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Mumbai to name a few. This city takes on a whole different level of intensity, energy and craziness. This is a city that you need to make sure you have your wits. Like all cities around the world there are areas, places and situations that you need to make sure you don’t put yourself in. Bangkok is no different in that if you’re looking for trouble it will find you but it seems to find you much easier here. I’m sure it has lots to do with the Thai buckets that seem to be so easily consumed.

Let’s start with all the wonderful activities that are possible in Bangkok during the days. There are many ways of getting around in the city which are much more scenic and encouraged then taking any type of cab or tuk tuk. During the day and especially at rush hour this city has chronic and crippling traffic! One of the best ways to get around is by water taxi(buses) which serve commuters every day. Most times this is a great picture opportunity with monks in their orange clothed robes but also because of all the sights, sounds and things going on at each stop along the way. Another way of getting around the city is by the skytrain which flies by you overhead.

Temples should be on your list of must see and do’s. Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is a spectacular monument that soars 70 meters high and is probably the most recognized and photographed temple in Bangkok. Wat Pho is the reclining Buddha temple that many people go and see. Others include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Golden Buddha and the Grand Palace. A newer attraction is Escape Hunt a theme park set 100 years ago in central Bangkok. Hitting up the local markets in Chinatown as well the floating market will keep you entertained the entire day. Another place to stroll around and do some shopping during the day is Khao San Road. This place is also the hot spot at night for dinner, drinks and a little partying. Street food and vendors line the streets where you can get a fantastic meal including a beer for under $5 dollars. Street performers, live music and a whole lotta people watching makes this a lively fun place to be. The nightlife in Bangkok is epic. From Khao San Road to Patpong where you can see live sex shows, lady boys and lots of others crazy things. Patpong is the red light district area which is also the heart of the Bangkok sex industry. I do recommend checking this place out just for the shear shock value and laughter! It can be lots of fun. If partying isn’t your thing then you might want to check out a few live shows, theatre of perhaps a Thai boxing (Muay Thai) match. This great combat fighting style martial art involves lots of skill and is a very entertaining sport to watch especially here in Bangkok with the locals.

Bangkok is truly a city that never sleeps. Before you know it the sun is rising and the day is about to get busy and bustling once again. This city runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I will always recommend people spend a day or two in this city but like another city that never sleeps…Las Vegas…this is not a city you want to spend too many days in! Bangkok for many years has been voted the “World’s Best City” by Travel and Leisure and for good reason. However a few days is all you need or want. Get yourself to the countryside, up north to the mountains, jungles, local hill tribes or down south to the pristine beaches and warm blue turquoise waters. So many wonderful things await you here in Thailand and Bangkok is one of them for its complete craziness!

Alberta has seen so much rain this past month that it has caused the worst flooding the province has ever seen. It has devastated cities, towns, communities, neighbourhoods and families. I’ve been on of the hundreds of thousands who have been evacuated from their homes during this past week. I live in the Mission area in Calgary which is one of the hardest hit areas. The area still has no power and my building has been completely flooded. It could take weeks or perhaps months before we might be let back into our units.

I truly believe that there is always a positive or “silver lining” behind anything tragic or devastating. When I went down to my neighbourhood to volunteer and saw the amount of people helping out and giving of their time it was truly remarkable. I only saw a few neighbours I recognized; most were from other parts of the city there to help and do anything they could to give back as they knew they happen to be one of the lucky ones that weren’t affected.

The amount of people there helping clean up the devastation was fantastic. I’ve never seen so much community support especially in such a large city. There is well over a million people that live and call Calgary home. Local companies making donation both with money and supplies. Rona had donated shovels and pails to help with the cleanup. Seeing little kids and their moms offering homemade ham and turkey sandwiches to everyone there was very touching. The amount of community food and people bringing food to each of the affected neighbourhoods was overwhelming. Volunteering in Calgary has had such a profound impact and most Calgarians are so giving of their time and money.

Volunteering was open to anyone and all you had to do was come down to any of the affected areas and say I’m here to help! Which in many cases when it comes to volunteering there’s always way to much red tape to follow preventing more volunteers from helping. To me if anyone is wanting and looking to help they should make it as easy as possible to volunteer which in Calgary they did! I’ve never been so moved and felt such a sense of community and family from living in such a urban metropolis before. I had complete strangers offering their homes if I needed a place. They amount of support and people asking and willing to do whatever to make sure you were okay was heartwarming. In a time where loss and devastation has affected many here in Calgary including myself and I will remember the sense of community, the volunteers and all the help and support the city of Calgary and its residents have given me and others in the same situation. I’m very proud to call Calgary home .