Searching for the lost Franklin Expedition - and you can join

The Franklin Expedition departed England in 1845 in search of the fables NW Passage.  It disappeared into the ice, never to be seen again.

In the decade following the disappearance there were a series of expeditions searching for the ships.  Some relics of the expedition were found, including the graves of three crewmen. In 1854 relics of and stories about the Franklin party were acquired from the Inuit and in 1859 a note left on King William Island with details about the expedition's fate was discovered.

Searches continued through much of the 19th century, but the ships were never found.

This year the search starts again and you can be part of it.

From 26 August 2014 to 09 September, 2014 you can travel alongside our team of world-renowned scientists, historians, and researchers.  You will be part of a journey that could change Arctic history and the Canadian story of exploration as we know it.

Aside from the important search planned for the expedition, this voyage will also provide great
opportunities to experience the Canadian Arctic. While the work of the search survey will keep in the
Victoria Strait, we will endeavour to explore the ice edge as well as neighbouring shorelines in a quest to view some of the magnificent wildlife of the Arctic. We are likely to see polar bears, ringed and harp seals and may be fortunate enough to view muskox and caribou.

Feedback from Africa

One of the things we excel at here at Adventure Center is planning personalized trips for people.  Be it a honeymoon, a group of friends travelling together, or a celebratory trip.

Or, a grand tour of Africa, after a bout with cancer.

I have two clients doing such a trip right now and they had such a fabulous time, they felt inspired to send me a message from their hotel room...

 "We wanted to thank you for everything you did to make the African portion of our "f--k cancer trip" so amazing. We are currently sitting at Ghost Mountain Inn and cannot believe the luxury of our room - it is bigger than our Toronto home was! 

We also greatly enjoyed our three nights at Falaza (what a lovely property!) and our time in the Drakensberg was also fabulous. The room at Cathedral Peak was a bit of heaven on cool "winter" nights. 

Thanks again for everything, M & R"

Feedback from South Africa
Feedback from Galapagos
Feedback from Asia & New Zealand
Serengeti & Zanzibar feedback

Customer Feedback winter 2014

Why we do not ride elephants

We are happy to share with you we will no longer offer elephant rides to travellers.

Seeing wild animals on holiday should be a once in a lifetime experience. But the demand for elephant rides, lion and tiger selfies and more is forcing iconic wild animals into a lifetime of misery. Sadly it is these iconic animals that often suffer the most at the hands of a cruel and relentless industry.

More than 2,000 elephants are trapped at cruel tourist attractions where they are undergoing great physical and mental trauma to be forced into interacting with people.  Watch this animation and learn about their lives as entertainers.

Our decision is based on an extensive research project by experts from Canadian animal charity WSPA to assess the welfare of captive elephants (and other wildlife) at entertainment venues in Asia and Africa.

Asian elephants are highly endangered and tourism demand has led to the establishment of venues where elephants are forced to do unnatural performances. The demand from travellers is adding to the number of endangered elephants being poached from the wild.

In both Asia and Africa animals are taken from their mothers, their spirit is broken, and they endure cruel and stressful ‘training’ to make them tolerate being ridden.

Clearly this is not something anyone will want to be involved in.

With your help we can stop these cruel practices.

Elephants are best seen in the wild, like here in Periyar, India

Best trips in Europe

Europe is a continent that continues to fascinate me.  Having written about the Top Experiences in Europe in a previous post, here is my selection of the best trips in Europe.

Iceland 
Dubbed the "Land of Ice and Fire",  Iceland is a country of glaciers, volcanoes and rugged beauty.  The contrast between the lush coast and the stark volcanic deserts of the interior is astounding.  See all of the sights on our 15-day Grand Tour of Iceland.  If you would rather spend less time and see the highlights, check out the 8-day Discover Iceland.  And for those who love being active, the Iceland Walking Explorer is a fabulous trip.

Scandinavia & the Arctic
Norway is a country of stunning fjords, well worth exploring on foot on our Walking the Fjords.  For those wanting to see the glorious countryside as well as some of the cultural highlights of Scandinavia, our 2-week Scandinavia Explorer is a great trip.  And if you really want to get off the beaten track, and experience the High Arctic and its wildlife, Spitsbergen is the place to go.

Russia & the Baltics
Russia is an enormous country, but if you only have one week, you can do worse than exploring the highlights on our Russia Highlights tour.  But if you can find an extra week on your busy agenda, consider doing the extended Russia Experience trip.  In the Baltics, where the three capitals each are so different, don't forget to also include the countryside for its beauty and its history.  The best trip through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is Discover the Baltics.  And if you'd rather be active, the countries are great cycling territory: Cycle the Baltics.

Greece and Turkey
Steeped in classical history, Greece and Turkey may be sworn enemies, they also share a lot of heritage.  See the best of Turkey on our Treasures of Turkey trip and all of Greece on our Complete Greece tour.  For a combination of both the Greek Islands and the highlights of Turkey, check out Classical Turkey and the Greek Islands.  If you'd rather be active, consider Walking the Greek Islands or the Lycian Activity Week.

Croatia
With its varied history, pretty towns and beautiful coastline, Croatia keeps drawing many visitors.  See Dubrovnik and the coastal towns or cycle the Dalmatian Coast.   If hiking is your thing, Croatia has plenty to offer.  With Venice having dominated the Adriatic region for centuries, our Jewels of the Adriatic make for a fantastic choice.

Italy
Birthplace of the Renaissance, land of glorious food and home to the Eternal City.  What can be said about Italy that has not been said already.  Check out my post on the Best trips in Italy. 

France
Many years ago I lost my heart in France.  I love the food, I love the people, and heck, I even love trying out my two words of French.  Cycle the Chateaux of the Loire Valley, discover the delights of Provence, Hike the Highlights of Mont Blanc, taste truffles in the Dordogne, or simply see the Best of France.  Not one for group tours?  France is probably the country where we have the most self-guided trips.  Just e-mail me!

Spain & Portugal
From the splendours of Andalucia, to the spiritual path of the Camino, Spain is a land of contrasts.  See the best of Spain and Portugal, walk the forgotten villages of the Sierra Nevada or enjoy the great wines of Rioja while cycling this undiscovered region.  The Atlantic Islands of Madeira and the Azores draw walkers from all over the world to discover volcanic landscapes and lush coastal scenery.

Best trips in Italy

Having written about the Highlights of Italy in an earlier post, here is my selection of the best trips in Italy.  For more great trips in Europe, check out the post Best trip in Europe.

Spirit of Amalfi - walking trip
On this enchanting walking adventure, we go beyond the crowds to experience the hidden treasures and authentic culture of this Italian paradise.  Highlights include a hike along the stunning Sentiero degli Dei (Footpath of the Gods), the mysterious Valley of the Mills and the spectacular village of Positano.  Included is a visit to Pompeii and a day trip to the Isle of Capri.  We are also based for four magnificent days in a wonderful hotel right on the waterfront in the village that lends its name to this glorious coast – Amalfi.

Colours of Tuscany - walking trip
The deep green of cypresses in rows. The glowing ruby of a waiting glass of Sangiovese. The burnt orange of terracotta rooves, mottled brown village piazza and the gold of endless fields. These are the colours of Tuscany you’ve dreamed of, and the colours we’ll show you.
Mouth watering feasts, undulating landscapes, rustic villas and a network of scenic trails – Tuscany is the walking adventure you’ve been dreaming of.


Secrets of Italy - sightseeing trip
The best of Northern Italy in one great 10-day tour.  Experience Venice from the water, walk the Cinque Terre, see the leaning tower, live the Renaissance in Florence, discover hilltop towns in Umbria and end this fabulous trip in Eternal Rome.

Highlights of Italy - sightseeing trip
Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples need no introduction as historically fascinating and architecturally impressive cities. Still, it isn't all about romantic canals, legendary monuments or religious heritage, as the best of Italy is in the family atmosphere of a traditional agriturismo where we enjoy some renowned warm hospitality. Travelling by train through Italy's beautiful landscapes makes for an unforgettable experience as we can absorb the incredible views of Lake Como, the Apennine Mountains and the stunning Mediterranean coastline. Optional visits to Capri and Pompeii should not be missed but the included visits to Verona, Pisa and Lucca add to a truly memorable holiday.


Classic Dolomites - hiking trip
The week is based at Hotel Adler, a lovely 4-star hotel with wellbeing centre and indoor swimming pool in the small village of Villabassa. Nestled close to the Austrian border and sandwiched between the spectacular, jagged limestone peaks of the Dolomites, our base offers an excellent choice of wonderful routes with the opportunity to relax in comfort at the end of a day's walking.

Cycle Cilento & the Amalfi Coast - cycling trip
The Cilento National Park is largely undisturbed by the 21st Century and we cycle through quaint fishing villages where the traditional way of life is still very evident. Cycling is a great way to navigate this peaceful place and our route take us through the Greco-Roman city of Paestum, with its three major Doric style temples, before heading to the lovely town of Minori on the Amalfi Coast. In order to appreciate the area, we spend two days here, visiting beautiful towns such as Positano and of course Amalfi itself. All that cycling will help build your appetite for the fine food that the area is famous for.

Treasures of Sicily - sightseeing trip
Sicily has to be one of the most fascinating islands in Europe. It has an incredibly diverse history, thanks to the different marks left by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish civilizations. On this comprehensive tour, we explore the island through its picturesque villages, well-preserved archaeological sites and splendid scenery. Of course no trip to Sicily is complete without trying the local delicacies and we have plenty of opportunities to sample its mouth-watering cuisine and world-renowned wines.

Highlights of Italy

This post has been moved to our new blog.

Customer Feedback Winter 2014

In a previous post I wrote about what makes a good travel agent.  I am blessed to have a loyal following of clients. Here is some of the feedback I received in January and February of 2014.

"I have been booking trips with Tom since 1998.  He is always very helpful in identifying options and has excellent information to help with making decisions." - Chris, Toronto, ON

"You should do whatever it takes to keep Tom in your employ." - Allan, Waverley, NS


"I did 17 long journeys with other operators..... and never did I receive such good service from the sales person.  No service matched the service you gave me.  From now on, you will be my first contact. " - Dominique, Toronto, ON

""You are just great, Tom!!!   I will be going over all you sent……….and looking at your suggested books.  Hope we can work with you again in the future!"  - Anonymous from feedback survey

"I just completely adore your fantastic customer service! thank you so much!" - Bryan - Toronto, ON


Tom is outstanding and ensures we have the best possible experience. We have worked with him to book a number of trips, and I have referred friends and colleagues who have been equally pleased.  Judy & Jocelyn, Toronto, ON

"I haven't done many group trips, so I didn't know what to expect from the agent. I was very pleased with the service I got from Tom. He's an experienced traveller, so he understood the questions I asked and addressed them to my satisfaction. Also, because he's a traveller, he was enthusiastic about the trip I'm taking." - Ron, Bracebridge, ON


It was a joy to work with a skilled, knowledgeable and responsive travel professional like Tom who provides not just the standard services but also tailored the add-on services to the individual customer's needs (e.g. reading recommendations, packing list etc.) - Celia, Toronto, ON

Tom answered my questions before I knew I had them as questions. Before I had the benefit of connecting with Tom, I had booked a trip with another company. When Tom learned I was on the other trip, he sent me tips and resources that he thought would be helpful to me.  Something the tour provider I booked with, didn't do. He clearly loves travel, and he w ants others to have the travel experiences that will make them love travel as well. - Barry, Calgary, AB

"Tom is great and very helpful.  I will always make my travel arrangements with him." - Sarala, Montreal, PQ

"Your service was excellent. Thank you. I will continue to recommend you your travel agency."
- Anonymous from feedback survey

"He is the best" - Ghislain, Orleans, ON


"Tom was great as a travel agent, very helpful and understanding.  His advice has been excellent." - Kim, Hamilton, ON

"Tom has always been a great help in planning many of our trips, and his help is much appreciated." - Michael, St Basile le Grand PQ

Tom on one of his recent trips in Italy.