Globetrotting - Venture Magazine Issue #1 Pages 30-31

New Kumuka Tours

Each year we like to venture a little further, extending new horizons. Here's some of our new travel ideas...

Action Sri Lanka
This active journey through Sri Lanka spends 9 days getting well off the beaten track on a multi-adventure trip that cycles and hikes through the pristine countryside, sees dawn break from the holy Adam’s Peak and canoes along the Black River as it flows towards the Indian Ocean. At the end of the tour there is time to relax on the unpolluted beaches of Bentota, with the chance to perfect your relaxation by attending a meditation session in a monastery.

What’s Included:

• 2 nights hotel accommodation, 2 nights camping, 4 nights guest house
• 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 8 dinners
• All activities and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Escorted tour: English-speaking driver and/or local guide. Support crew whilst hiking, canoeing and cycling
• GRADE: Moderate, with hill climbing, cycling and canoeing involved. Maximum group size 16
• From £415

Action Vietnam
You don’t have to be an adrenalin junkie to enjoy this 11-day multi-adventure trip as it cycles, hikes and kayaks through the diverse countryside of Vietnam, exploring undiscovered coves and bays, traditional customs and rural landscapes. Starting and finishing in Hanoi, you will travel on foot, bike and junk to get well off the beaten track. You'll discover Vietnam's traditional way of life, as yet unaffected by mass tourism. Create your own pace and make your own discoveries!

What’s Included:

• 4 nights hotel, 4 nights village houses, 2 nights traditional junk
• 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
• All activities and entrance fees per itinerary
• Escorted by tour leader and/or local guide
• All biking arrangements: bikes, support crew and support vehicles
• 2 nights on a traditional junk on Halong Bay, Hill tribe trek
• GRADE: Moderate – trekking and cycling involved. Maximum group size 14
• From £600

Lost Kingdom
The ‘Land of the peaceful thunder dragon’, Bhutan lies amidst the highest mountains on earth, an ancient mountain kingdom only now opening its doors to a limited number of travellers each year. A complex orthodox culture remains perfectly preserved here, adding a spiritual dimension to a Himalayan land of grandeur and peacefulness. This journey explores monasteries and ancient fortresses ("dzongs"). We visit traditional Bhutanese houses and take time to wander through local markets. The travelling offers spectacular drives through the beautiful Himalayan mountains.

What’s Included:

• 8 nights hotel (A Class)
• 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners
• All activities and entrance fees per itinerary
• Escorted by local Bhutanese guide
• Private vehicle transport
• GRADE: Easy, suitable for anyone with an average level of fitness and mobility. Maximum group size 12
• From £1090

Highlights of India
Pack India’s major highlights into just 9 days in this exhilarating tour that uses road, rail and boat transport. Drive from Delhi to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, rich with the forts and temples of Rajasthan. Explore the atmospherically abandoned ancient capital of Fatehpur Sikri and drive on to Agra for a chance to see the Taj Mahal at dawn. An overnight train reaches the holy city of Varanasi, with plenty of time to explore before an early-morning boat trip on the Ganges. Return to Delhi, where the old and new cities represent two very different faces of India.

What’s Included:

• 6 nights hotel – 2 nights sleeper train
• 8 breakfasts
• All activities and entrance fees per itinerary
• Escorted tour. English-speaking driver and/or local guides
• Transport by private vehicle, train and boat.
• GRADE: Easy. Suitable for anyone with an average level of fitness and mobility. Maximum group size 16
• From £440

Q&A Your questions answered:

Q I've always wanted to go to South America, but I can't speak Spanish. Will this inhibit me?
Most of our tour leaders are bilingual and we also use local guides on some trips, so the tour will not be affected in any way. You will find that you will pick up some Spanish on your trip anyway, but we recommend you give some thought to spending some time at a Spanish school prior to the start of your expedition.
We organise language courses in Quito, Buenos Aires and Antigua, where you stay with a local family for a week or more. It's amazing how quickly you can pick up the language through intense immersion!

Q I'm sceptical of charges quoted for tours. What are the "hidden" extras in your pricing?
Kumuka has always operated with a high degree of transparency with its pricing, including all costs (except international flights) in its fee. So, your tour cost includes (depending on the area you visit and the type of tour you're on) most excursions, entrance fees, transport, accommodation, your crew and guides. Some tours attract an additional "local payment" which is managed by the tour leader. This is used to cover on the ground payments, for things like camp sites, hotels, some national park entrance fees and most meals. We quote this payment up front so you know how to budget from the outset.
We recommend passengers budget for between US$15-30 per day for personal expenses such as souvenirs, alcohol, evenings out, etc.

Q My travelling partner travelled a lot before being rendered disabled in an accident. Can he be accommodated on a Kumuka tour?
We offer an excellent 8-day trip to South Africa (South Africa Enabled), which starts and ends in Johannesburg. The itinerary's highlights are the panoramic Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park. The specialist overland truck used has been fitted with a hydraulic ramp to enable easy access for wheelchair users. All the tented camps and cabin accommodation used cater for wheelchair access.

The anatomy of a truck
Since our first journey in East Africa in 1983 (pictured inset), Kumuka's famous blue trucks have become synonymous with adventure travel. We currently have 25 in service in Africa, The Middle East and South America. Given that they are home to up to 24 passengers for as long as three months, it is important they are durable, reliable and comfortable.
Not surprisingly, they are remarkably sophisticated, and constantly evolving. Even our first overland journeys were amongst the most comfortable available, with specially-trained cooks and a range of unexpected comforts. Our overland vehicles have come a long way since then, with twin axles, a soft-top roof to facilitate game viewing and plenty of storage. They are constructed to our specificifications, are well-serviced and carry a comprehensive range of spare parts. Your crew consists of a tour leader and a driver (some tours also have a cook).

A chat with… Lee Nicholson
Tour Leader, Mexico & Central America

• Interests?
...er, travel! People, photography, jungle wildlife, music with soul.
• Earliest travel memory?
Being chased by pet ducks in Laos.
• Most recent trip?
We drove from Cancun, Mexico, to Minnesota, USA, via the Grand Canyon. For natural wonders and diverse landscapes, the USA has it all.
• Next trip?
I really want to go to Antarctica, the last untouched paradise on earth.
• Favourite place?
Central America, because people really know how to live. My favourite city is Antigua, Guatemala.
• Most surprising destination?
Ecuador. No one talks about this country, but wow, it’s amazing! It has very lush rainforest, lots of eco-tourism, and water-based adventures. The whitewater rafting is phenomenal.
• Most underrated place?
The British Isles. It’s a beautiful place with an incredible history. Have you ever been to Cornwall, Devon, Wales or the Lake District? You’ve got to go and check them out!
• Best hotel?
I have to list two. El Pequeno Paraiso in Rio Verde, Ecuador, and El Retiro in Lanquin, Guatemala. These are great places run by people who understand travellers’ needs.
• Most memorable meal?
It’s either Jolly Rogers BBQ Jerk Chicken on the island of Caye Caulker in Belize or marmite on toast topped with poached eggs and a dash of olive oil.
• Favourite national cuisine?
Mexican Pozole. A national dish that, for me, sums up the unique flavours and taste of Mexico. And yes, it’s very spicy!
• First thing you do when you arrive in a new town?
Like a kid in a toy shop, I can’t help but check it out as quickly as possible, then join the locals for a cold beer.

LEE'S TOP TIPS

FOR TRAVELLERS TO CENTRAL AMERICA

1. Travel light. It is always hot here, so bring as little as possible.
2. Try to learn some Spanish while you are here, or before you arrive. It really makes a difference when you can interact with the locals.
3. Leave your western ways behind. Learn to be patient. Relax and respect the laid-back lifestyle.

FOR TRAVELLING ANYWHERE

1. Email yourself a scanned copy of your passport.
2. Respect the local culture. Remember you are visiting somebody else’s country.
3. Guide books can be useful but always tend to be out of date. Get the latest gossip from the internet or from other travellers.
4. Always carry some US dollars in cash in case of emergencies.