G Adventures, the world’s leading small-group adventure travel company, announces the release of its 2016-17 ‘Active’ tours brochure and the addition of four new, active itineraries. New experiences in Bhutan, China, Japan and Chile offer hiking, cycling, kayaking, surfing and snorkeling, and will give active-minded ‘fitcationers’ even more choice and challenge. An expanded offering in Peru will also enable hikers to choose the relatively undiscovered Lares Trek as their preferred route to Machu Picchu.
The new trip options are among G Adventures’ 59 different Active tours to more than 30 countries, which range from six to 21 days in length. They are detailed in the operator’s new Active brochure -- available for free to travelers and agents via mail or internet-- with a digital version that has a virtual flip-through feature that allows for trip browsing.Each Active style trip includes a mix of different activities and physical grading levels, ranging from average to demanding. The experiences often include hosted camping experiences, to give physically minded travelers the chance to unplug and live a bit closer to nature.
The new trips for 2016 are:
Bhutan Trekking: the Druk Path – Trek sacred mountain passes of the celebrated Druk Path among the Himalayas, ascend to the profound Taktshang Monastary (Tiger's Nest), and explore the unique beauty of the city of Paro in Bhutan. 11 days from $3299./pp.
Cycle China: Hong Kong to Beijing - Enjoy cycling through the backroads and countryside of China for five days stopping to marvel at scenery that has captured the minds of poets and painters for centuries on this active trip. This varied active trip will also have you hiking along the hills and terraces of China’s rural regions and still experiencing the iconic Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the sprawling Forbidden City. 12 days from $2499./pp.
Japan Hike, Bike & Kayak - This active trip through Japan will have you hiking along the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route to visit spectacular temples, cycling across islands as you follow the Shimanami Kaido, and kayaking around the famed floating torii gate in the Bay of Miyajima. 13 days from $4499./pp.
Patagonia Multisport: Santiago to Puerto Natales - This varied active trip will have you hiking, rafting, and cycling your way all over Patagonia. Discovering the unforgettable landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park as the backdrop to your activities. 10 days from $2799./pp.
Peru is consistently a top destination for G Adventures’ American travelers, eager to visit Machu Picchu by way of the Inca Trail. Its popularity is leading to an increase in demand for the lesser-traveled but equally inspiring Lares Trek, which is fast becoming a favored alternate. This trek has fewer ascents and descents but sits at a higher altitude. To support this rise in demand, G Adventures is now offering a three-day Lares Trek on all of its tours in and around Cusco.
“The Lares Trek takes our travelers off the beaten path and closer to the indigenous Quechua people, offering insights into rural Andean life in these beautiful mountain communities,” explained Rudy Coronel, one of G Adventures’ ‘Chief Experience Officer’ guides from Peru. “It begins in Ollantaytambo and winds through the Lares valley, eventually rising higher than the Inca Trail. Its highest point reaches a challenging 15,583 feet. It’s an amazing experience to summit it.”
To support the operator’s commitment to spreading wealth and opportunity, G Adventures travelers on the Lares Trek also visit a number of "G Adventures for Good" community development projects along the way and make use of a Lares Valley campsite established by the operator’s non-profit foundation, Planeterra. The Quechua-managed site features composting toilets, solar showers, and a solid-waste management system, which is the first of its kind in Peru.
For more information about the Lares Trek experience, details can be found on an FAQ page on the G Adventures website, or simply by calling: 1-800-676-6230