Spirit of Adventure

Lou Day, our Trek Sales Manager recently trekked the Larapinta Trail and shares her adventure.

Situated in the heart of Central Australia, the Larapinta Trail extends over 223 kilometres along the backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges. It begins at the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station and follows a route through many sheltered gorges, climbing steeply over rugged ranges. Lou Day is no stranger to some of the most amazing treks in the world but her expectations were exceeded by the Larapinta.

“It is the dramatic landscapes and the vastness for as far as the eye can see which really impresses. There are some stunning vistas and it would seem impossible to take a bad photograph given the Northern Australian light and the breathtaking scenery.” - Lou Day, Peregrine Trek Sales Manager.

There are clear water holes, steep canyons of red rock to shade the trail and amazing views to admire the vast Northern Territory. Camping out under a sea of stars is a memorable highlight and at the end of the trail the climb to the top of Mt Sonder rewards trekkers with the sunrise and the magnificent 360° vistas. If all of this is not enough Lou says the food is awesome!

Here are some practical tips from Lou:

• Pretty rough and sometimes sharp terrain so it is a good idea to wear hard ridge sole shoes and make sure you have worn them in!
• Rather steep in places so it is important to have a good level of fitness. We grade it as a moderate trek.
• It may be hot in the day so you will need a good sunhat but in the evening it can get really cold so you will also need a good fleece.
• Flies can be an issue so be prepared. The tour leader presents a full briefing before you leave Alice Springs so there is an opportunity to buy anything you may have forgotten.

Peter Lemon, whose passion for Africa and amazing photography is legendary at Peregrine, recently travelled to a very different part of the world for a close encounter with the animal kingdom.

I’ve heard it called the Serengeti of the South, which, quite frankly, is ridiculous, because you won’t see a trace of a zebra or a wildebeest on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. (And it’s much too cold for crocodiles!)

Yet perhaps there is some analogy, because South Georgia, lying deep in the Southern Ocean, and known for its towering mountains and great glaciers, does offer an experience, an explosion, of wildlife in numbers to equal anything seen on the rolling plains of Africa.

In the southern summer months, the sight (and sounds) of brightly coloured king penguins in their hundreds-of-thousands in vast rookeries ashore, tending their strangely dowdy young, provides one of the great wildlife viewing (and hearing) experiences on the face of the planet.

And when you add in the beaches and waters nearby, full of adult kings, and a sea of sub-Antarctic fur seals - adults and sometimes feisty pups - the whole encounter can leave the visitor speechless and humbled. Utterly.

I first visited South Georgia in February 2000 – landing at Possession Bay just over 225 years after a decidedly unimpressed Captain James Cook sailed into that bay and claimed it for Britain. He, however, did not have the benefit of being based on a highly comfortable, ice-rated, nice-and-warm, electronically equipped state-of-the-art expedition ship to return to after going ashore (with a seemingly endless supply of extraordinarily good and varied breakfasts, lunches and dinners added in for good measure.)

I visited South Georgia for the second time in January 2010. Nothing has changed or diminished in relation to its incredible drawing power, its remoteness, its wildness and its wonderful wildlife. If you are prepared to put up with a slightly longer sea voyage to get there, and possible vagaries of the weather, seeing this place has to be on a wildlife lover’s list of 100 Things to Do and See before You Die.

Indeed, the next time I am privileged to see the plains of Tanzania, or the Masai Mara in Kenya, dotted thick with the zebras and wildebeest of the Great Migration, I wonder if I might just be inclined to think of it all as… the South Georgia of the North!

In partnership with Zegrahm Expeditions, Peregrine is excited to offer three unique voyages onboard the Clipper Odyssey in 2010 – Hidden Gems of the Pacific, Papua New Guinea to Bali and Northern Ring of Fire.

Join us as we explore the exciting Pribilof, Aleutian, and Kuril Islands while traversing the Pacific Ocean’s Northern Ring of Fire from Alaska to Russia and Japan. This is a landscape of soaring snow-covered volcanoes rising from the sea, some belching forth plumes of steam, in this most-active geothermal area.

Steller’s sea eagles, one of the world’s largest birds of prey, soar along the coastlines and rocky ledges. Hundreds of sea otters and pods of orca and Minke whales cruise the sea while Steller’s sea lions and northern fur seals crowd the shorelines. Basalt stacks rise from the ocean, tailor-made resting and nesting spots for unimaginable numbers of seabirds – northern fulmars, puffins, guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, and flocks of more than 1,000 whiskered auklets. Whether you choose The Bering Sea & Aleutians or Kamchatka & Kuril Islands, or both, we’ll cruise through pristine environments that call to nature lovers, history buffs, photographers and the intrepid explorer within.

On the Papua New Guinea to Bali voyage, witness a collage of fascinating cultures, luxuriant landscapes, iridescent undersea gardens, flora, fauna, and marine life that simply baffle the imagination with their intense diversity.

More water than land defines this region, making exploration by sea the ultimate way to savour its sublime beauty.

We set sail from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and cruise to Thursday Island, then travel to the remote Asmat region of West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya). Here, deep in the tangles of mangrove jungle, in villages of stilt houses, live a fascinating tribal people. Few travel experiences surpass the arrival of Asmat warriors – painted and feathered, whooping and hollering – paddling toward us in their intricately carved canoes. During our expedition we stop in the idyllic Flores and Spice Islands, snorkelling and diving in waters that shelter and nourish a kaleidoscopic array of coral and fish. On Rinca Island, we come face to face with the giant monitor lizard, the Komodo dragon, whole on Flores we witness traditional ikat weaving in its time-honoured, step-by-step process.

We have added three new itineraries onboard the Akademik Shokalskiy to our Arctic voyage program – the West Greenland Explorer, Ultimate Thule Expedition and East Greenland Explore.

With a maximum of just 47 guests aboard the nimble, ice-strengthened Akademik Shokalskiy we’ll visit islands governed by three different countries: Norway, Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland.  We’ll sail magnificent fjords, visit colourful Inuit communities of Greenland, revel in the history, and hopefully encounter polar bears and walrus in their natural habitat.  A kayaking option is also offered for those who desire a view much closer to the pristine waters. Dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape, you can drift in awe and silence.

Immerse yourself in history and culture along the coast of Western Greenland.  At volcanic Disko Island, tall basalt walls enclose magnificent valleys full of colourful flowers, and coastal hiking routes offer fantastic views of the sea. The Akademik Shokalskiy will sail along the edge of Eqip Sermia Glacier, one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world.

In East Greenland, one of the most isolated regions in the world, see lush tundra that supports herds of musk oxen. Frequent shore landings offer excellent hiking and photographic opportunities in this stunning region.

On the Ultimate Thule Expedition, get ready for an in-depth exploration of Greenland’s west coast, reaching as far north as Qaanaaq – Greenland’s northern-most municipality. Naturalists will introduce you to the unique flora and fauna of the region, while local villagers will provide a glimpse into contemporary Greenlandic culture.

Athene and Robert Baugh from Perth recently joined Peregrine for the 10-day Galapagos in Depth voyage.

From the time we landed at Baltra airport until our departure nine days later, we were constantly delighted by the magnificent wildlife, the friendly people and the contrasting colours and textures of the landscape. On arrival, we were driven through the moonscape of the old American WWII airbase to the turquoise Itabaca Channel for a ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island. We immediately came face-to-face with our first Darwinian marvel – gigantic Galapagos tortoises, freely roaming through the lush guava and banana plantations of the highlands.

That first encounter was the start of an ongoing daily display of amazing creatures; sea lions, iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, tortoises, turtles and a hugely satisfying list of unique and colourful birds. Adding to the experience were the constantly changing colours of the beaches; black, red, brown and white, the hauntingly stark and alien lava beds, incense bushes and cactus. Every day and every island had its uniqueness.

We imagined these islands were only about the wildlife, however one of the highlights of the trip was our visit to Floreana Island where William (Billy), our Peregrine local leader, regaled us with tales of bizarre settlers who abandoned European society in search of a tropical
utopia, as we sat in eerie silence within a dark lava tunnel cave just above Post Office Bay. Another highlight, this time of the natural variety, was our relaxing, meandering boat trip to the mangrove lined lagoon of Black Turtle Cove where we floated above sea-turtles and white tipped sharks.

Days were patterned by a relaxing yet exciting routine, with most cruising between islands undertaken at night. Each morning we awoke to discover the ever-changing scenery from our cabin windows. The sights, like Kicker Rock, were spectacular and so varied, with at least two daily landing spots providing an abundance of unique wildlife among which we wandered freely. And all the while, Billy provided insightful explanations. Our biggest problem was deciding how many photos of each creature we really needed!

Our trip to the Galapagos was more spectacular than we had anticipated after years of watching documentaries. Our holiday was a mixture of both relaxation and excitement, and we hope to repeat it in the future.

For a shorter Galapagos voyage try the 7-day Galapagos Explorer or Galapagos Encounter. You can also combine a Galapagos voyage with a tour in Ecuador or Peru like the 16-day Ecuador & the Enchanted Isles or the 17-day Classic Peru & Galapagos. For a full list of our Galapagos voyages, click here.

The world definitely seems to be getting smaller! With faster planes and more direct routes it is now possible to enjoy a day trip to Paris, a long weekend in New York and a short break in Kenya. Just think, by the time it would normally take you to get up, get ready for work and commute to the office, you could be sunning yourself on a Mediterranean beach or wandering the classical ruins of ancient empires a million miles away from grey British skies and de-icing the windscreen. Take a look at some of our winter destination suggestions – you’ll be surprised how quickly you can reach some of them!

In 2-3hrs you could be in Morocco!
Culture, history, coastline, desert and mountains abound in this eternally popular destination.  Our 16-day Highlights of Morocco tour encompasses all of these elements – from Casablanca through the Imperial Cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fez and Marrakech as well as the Todra and Dades Gorges, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains and the coastal town of Essaouira.

In 3-4 hours you could be in Turkey!
From the chaotic delights of Istanbul to the ancient Roman streets of Ephesus, the eerie landscapes of Cappadocia to the dazzling beaches of the Turquoise Coast, and the emotive battlefields of Gallipoli to the spectacular limestone formations at Pamukkale, this country has long been a favourite with both culture and beach-lovers alike. Our 15-day Treasures of Turkey tour shows you all this and more. With several departures a month, there is no excuse not to discover this colourful country. And being outside the Euro-zone, it still offers remarkably good value!

In 4-5 hours you could be in Egypt or Libya.
So much history – from the Pyramids and museums of Cairo, to cruising the Nile between Aswan and Luxor, and discovering the great temple site of Abu Simbel.  Not forgetting the beach resorts on the Red Sea. Try our 12-day Nile and Red Sea Explorer – possibly the perfect holiday for those looking to see the sights as well as relax at the beach!

The up-and-coming destination for 2010, Libya – now at peace with the west, offers some of the most incredibly well-preserved Roman sites in the world at Leptis Magna and Sabratha.  Another no-to-be-missed sight are the stunning geological formations of the Acacus Mountains, home to some amazing ancient rock art, deep in the heart of the Sahara Desert.  Our 12-day Libya Explorer gives you a glimpse of this fascinating country – discover the sites and kasbahs while they are still tourist-free!

In 5-6 hours you could be in Jordan, Israel, Syria or Lebanon.
Our 12-day Jordan and Israel Explorer offers a fabulous combination of the Jordanian delights of Wadi Rum, Petra, Aqaba, Jerash and Shobak Castle and the highlights of the Israeli biblical sites including the Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem, Masada, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and, of course, Jerusalem.

Crusader fortresses rise from Phoenician foundations, Roman buildings emerge from Greek ruins and Byzantine churches became Ottoman mosques. Our 11-day Syria and Lebanon Discovery is one of our most popular trips visiting Damascus, Aleppo, the desert capital at Palmyra, the ancient site at Apamea, the massive acropolis at Baalbek, Krak des Chevaliers, the Crusader ports of Tartus, Byblos and Sidon and the lively city of Beirut.

Further afield (but still under 9 hours away) there are such exotic places as Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso – which we visit on our 26-day West African Expedition; Addis Ababa where you can discover the well-kept secrets of Ethiopia on our 14-day Ethiopian Explorer; Delhi – as a gateway to India and the Himalayas; and Nairobi – for that longed for safari in Kenya or climb up Kilimanjaro out of peak season.

And don’t forget that although South Africa is a 12 hour flight away, it fits neatly with an outbound and return overnight schedule. With only an hour’s time difference there is no jet-lag either! The possibilities are endless!

We have picked the three lucky winners of our ‘Travel wish-list for 2010’ competition. First is Maggie Barker with the below entry:

“Off to the Galapagos I wish to go,
To see George, volcanoes and iguana.
This year was the year we were to visit
But the trip was cancelled due to illness.
When I was 10 the dream was born.
Now 60 its time to realise this ambition.“

Proof that one should never give up on one’s dream! Maggie will receive a fantastic Peregrine hamper which includes a £100 Peregrine Travel Voucher – to be used towards any of our adventures, a bottle of Moet Champagne and a Rough Guide of her choice - my guess would be the Rough Guide to Ecuador including the Galapagos!

Why travel to the Galapagos with Peregrine Adventures?

All our tours to the Galapagos are on board our private boat the M.Y. San Jose which offers 8 spacious double cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities (hot and cold water), a comfortable dining-room and lounge area plus a sun-deck where you can relax and view the wildlife. Groups are limited to 16 people giving you better access to your guide and increasing the amount of time that can be spent exploring the islands. The M.Y. San Jose’s small size is ideal for cruising the Galapagos as it offers a more intimate experience and individual level of service, the food is generally much better than on larger ships, it is able to dock much closer to the islands, easing access, and there are no queues at landings or mealtimes. It is staffed by eight experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic crew and an English-speaking naturalist who is certified by the Galapagos National Park and has gone through an extensive training programme.

All trips include a night before and after the cruise in Quito on the Ecuadorian mainland – day tours or longer extensions to Cotopaxi Volcano, Otavalo market, the Amazon jungle and the Equatorial Monument are available and highly recommended.

Here are some suggestions for Maggie for her trip:

10-day Galapagos in Depth – This is the ultimate Galapagos exploration and our most popular voyage! A 10-day programme on board our vessel the M.Y. San Jose, visiting both North and South islands designed to offer you the best opportunities to experience the magnificent flora and fauna that make the Galapagos unique.

7-day Galapagos Encounter – for those with limited time this combines a 3 night Galapagos cruise with an overnight stay on the islands at Puerto Ayora giving a unique insight into island life.

16-day Ecuador & the Enchanted Isles – this trip provides a fantastic Ecuador experience. You will cruise the waters of the Galapagos Islands National Park for 8 days onboard the M.Y. San Jose before returning to Quito you explore the city’s colonial heart. Travel onto our jungle lodge deep in the amazing Amazon jungle then onto the mountain village of Banos, famous for its amazing setting and excellent outdoor activities. You will then hike to the famous Cotopaxi Volcano lookout for fantastic views across the Andes as an explosive finale to an incredible trip!

31-day Lima to La Paz & Galapagos – this trip combines an epic Lima to La Paz journey with a comprehensive Galapagos cruise. In Peru we visit Nazca, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Cusco the Sacred Valley and enjoy the amazing 4-day trek to Machu Picchu. From Lake Titicaca we cross to Bolivia and travel to the steep cobblestone streets of La Paz before flying onto Ecuador and the Galapagos to visit both North and South islands on board the M.Y. San Jose.

15-day Galapagos with Cusco & the Sacred Valley – this adventure includes a 5 day Galapagos experience as well as the highlights of Peru visiting Lima, the Andean city of Cusco, the picturesque Sacred Valley and a trip by train to the ‘Lost City of Machu Picchu’, perched high atop a mountain overlooking the Urubamba River.

See all Galapagos tours

The other two winners are:

L Woodward – “2010 is the year my travel dreams come true. I’m starting with a volunteer project in Costa Rica in September and using that as a springboard to disappear on a (currently unplanned) worldwide adventure for the next two years. Yes, I am more petrified than excited right now!”

Try our top Costa Rica tour – Rainforest Adventure

All Costa Rica tours

J Sinclair – “Having been allocated 5 weeks travel time I am aiming for a ‘fast paced, get as much as you can’ travel experience, with the intention of rocketing across the Siberian wilderness, through the savannahs of Mongolia, dropping into China and then moving onto India. The pace will be wild, experiences extravagant - hopefully an emotional rollercoaster of an adventure”

Try our top Mongolia tour – Mongolian Altai Trek

All Mongolia tours

Try our top China tour – Yangtze & Beyond

All China tours

Try our top India tour – Amongst the Maharajahs

All India tours

Have an unforgettable experience, all for a great cause! Would you like to tour a country you’ve always dreamed of, knowing your visit has directly contributed to a worthwhile cause? Peregrine Charity Challenge Adventures are designed to do just this. Here are just two examples:

• The Larapinta and Uluru Trek supporting Australia’s CEO Challenge against domestic violence leaves for the Northern Territory on 19 August 2010. Click here for a detailed itinerary.
• The Great Wall of China Challenge supporting Diabetes Australia leaves for Beijing on 16 October 2010. Click here for a detailed itinerary.

Email our Charity Challenge Adventures team to ask questions or register your interest in a trip.

How do the Charity Challenge Adventures work?

1. Choose an adventure and charity to support. Click here to browse.
2. Sign up and pay your registration fee.
3. Receive your Registration Kit full of inspiring fundraising ideas in the post.
4. Plan and fundraise your minimum amount.
5. Once done – you’ve raised a significant amount of money to assist your chosen charity in their endeavours.
6. Your international airfare, accommodation and local travel have all been covered by your fundraising efforts.
7. Go on an adventure of a lifetime with a group of people passionate about helping the same cause!

Recently returned passengers on Peregrine’s 24-night Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica voyage were treated to several ’special guests’ – Graham Robertson from the Australian Antarctic Division, a world leading expert on the albatross; Peter Eastway, a professional photographer and one of two Australian grand masters of photography; Brett Jarrett, a professional artist and Neil Roberts whom some of you will know from the art he generously donated to albatross conservation. Thanks to our onboard guest, a number of works were auctioned off or sold to raise money for our Save the Albatross fund. The result was outstanding! From this one voyage Peregrine will be donating $15,000. Thank you to everyone who donated and purchased works for this worthy cause!

With particular focus on the artist and photographer, and with great weather and plentiful wildlife, inspiration for the budding artist was to be found everywhere. To encourage the artist and photographer in everyone, presenters shared their knowledge and skills on capturing the beauty of Antarctica on canvas or film.

The voyage was a great success and there were several firsts for Peregrine; Steeple Jason – a small island to the North of West Falkland which is home to about 160,000 breeding pairs of black-browed albatross, and King Haakon Bay – where Shackleton landed in the James Caird before crossing South Georgia to Stromness Bay, to name just two.

Mike Wood from the Peregrine Travel Centre in Perth has just returned from the recently-opened area of Nar and Phu in the Himalaya.

Our 26-day Nar, Phu & Tilicho Lake trek started out on the legendary Annapurna Circuit, where we spent the first four nights in tea house accommodation. We then branched off into a barely noticeable side valley, and in an instant, all other trekkers disappeared, we were on our own.

The trail into the valley was through a sheer sided gorge, with a path carved into the walls high above the river below. It was easy to see how this place remained unvisited! In fact, the upper parts of the valley had actually been settled from Tibet, and it was only in the last 30 years that the Nepali Government became aware of villagers in the valley.

As we passed through green spruce forests we gradually emerged into a more Tibetan landscape, almost lunar at higher altitudes.

We trekked through long-abandoned settlements with ancient carvings, decaying chortens and collapsed houses. There were some signs that people were returning, with one village starting to build a lodge in the hope that the newly opened route will see trekkers staying overnight like they do in the Annapurnas.

Phugoan is an ancient Fort Town, perched on to the top of a hill for defence. We camped in the fields next to the town and explored the fort and surrounding area. The Gompa (monastery) was particularly impressive, although only a small number of monks now live there. The nearby village of Naar seemed wealthier and had large numbers of yaks grazing in the fields. They also had a small water powered generator that allowed them to have light at night and which powered other amenities including a satellite phone.

From here we crossed the infamous Kangla Pass (5300m), which like many Himalayan passes, tempts trekkers with numerous false summits, until finally, around mid-morning, we crested the summit and began the descent down through the scree to the Marsyandi Valley.

If you are interested in following in Mike’s footsteps, the next departures of the trek are on 4 April 2010, 10 October 2010 and 3 April 2011.