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Website: http://www.wildland.com/
About Wildland Adventures
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. They are actively at its helm and continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. Wild Style is homegrown to help break down barriers and boundaries that separate people from people, from the environment and from other living things. Wild Style builds lasting intercultural, interpersonal and environmental bonds to enhance instead of exploit by impressing with each step along a journey sincerity, compassion and understanding. The results are lasting bonds -- intercultural, interpersonal and environmental -- wherever Wildland Adventures travels as well as their family-like community of enlightened, passionate travelers who have experienced how to focus on what matters most. Intrinsic to Wildland Adventures are strong personal connections with guests, especially the relationships Kurt, Anne and the Program directors have with alumni.
"We value experiencing daily life wherever you are… It may be alongside migrant farm workers harvesting potatoes and singing songs. The guides love dong it; clients realize it's totally spontaneous." ~Kurt Kutay, Founder
The design of each itinerary necessitates deep destination knowledge along with the connections and the savvy to locate and involve the correct experts and personnel, whether they be specialized guides, academics, lecturers or other specialized experts. Today the company offers more than 150 unique itineraries in 37 countries. Destinations include, among many others, Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia, the Galapagos, Belize, Africa, Turkey, SE Asia and the Indian sub-continent.
"We have developed such close working relationships with the people we collaborate with in each of our destinations. Local families who have come to know us will open their homes to receive our guests for lunch." ~Kurt Kutay, Founder
Why Travelers Choose Wildland Adventures
For nearly three decades, they have been leading the way in adventure travel and ecotourism, not just to new destinations, but pioneering new approaches to travel that guarantee your experience with Wildland Adventures will be qualitatively superior.
The Personal Difference
They are personally involved in the design of your trip in coordination with local field staff. When you call their USA staff you will be speaking with another traveler with firsthand experience in your destination who will help you choose the right trip and craft an itinerary that meets your personal interests and style.
Friends In Faraway Places
Cross-cultural interaction is not only having respect for local customs, but is genuine, honest, personal interaction stimulated by sensitive introductions from respectful guides who introduce you to their home like a friend and treat you as a personal traveling companion.
Comfort and Safety
Prepare for total immersion, secure in your health and safety. Relax and enjoy the experiences of native cultures and pristine wilderness environments confident of exceptional accommodations, transportation, hygiene and security, and the support of professional in-country outfitters.
Bask In Native Hospitality
Wildland Adventures seeks out small, boutique hotels and lodges and even home stays where native culture is strong and travelers can enjoy regional cuisine and experience traditional lifestyle. Designed in indigenous style that fit into their environs naturally, chosen accommodations deliver charm, amenities and native warmth.
Local Escorts To Exploration
The direct involvement of professional indigenous guides in organizing and leading each Wildland Adventure assures guests will have an exceptionally informative, well-executed, and authentic experience.
Like-minded Travelers
By creating more personal, in-depth and meaningful life enhancing travel experiences the company consistently attracts active and inquisitive travelers of all ages who discover that Wildland Adventures are not the stereotypical group experience. Participants on their very small group trips are frequently experienced world travelers who request Wildland's services for efficiency, economy, reliability, security and superior leadership.
Wildland Adventures are physical, intellectual and spiritual adventures--more a state of mind than a risky or arduous challenge. The real adventure is new insights, the awe found in nature, encounters with new cultures, and the excitement of personal discovery.
Guests rest easy with an established record of professionalism and safety. Prestigious travel writers, guidebooks and travel industry media, recognize Wildland Adventures as a leading ecotourism company. The company was a founding member of The International Ecotourism Society, the Galapagos Tour Operators Association, and the Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition, and retains corporate membership in other professional tourism associations and the Better Business Bureau.
Most all departures are guaranteed for two or more participants. Tiered group pricing makes this possible. Group size usually does not exceed 12 people.
Custom Fit for Your Style of Travel
An adventure vacation with Wildland Adventures will be a world of difference because they design specialized itineraries that match guests with their personal interests and style of travel. Wildland's specialty travel programs include multi-generational Family Travel, Honeymoon and Romantic Adventures, cutting edge Exploratory Trips, expedition Small Ship Cruises, Custom and Private travel, and Specialized Group travel planning services for museums, clubs and nonprofits.
"A Program Director who is also a seasoned destination expert, is THE primary point of contact with every guest from start to finish." ~Kurt Kutay, Founder
2013 Bedouin Trek to Petra named a "Tour of a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler
2012 Wildland Adventures was ranked by Fodor's as one of the World's Best Tour Specialists
2011 Tigers and Travels in India adventure named a "Tour of a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler
Travelers Conservation Trust
Wildland Adventures was founded on the principle that culturally and environmentally responsible travel can be a powerful force for change. Tourism should contribute to conservation and benefit local communities. The Travelers Conservation Trust (TCT) was founded in 1986 by Kurt Kutay as a non-profit, affiliate program of Wildland Adventures to foster means by which travelers can support local conservation initiatives and small-scale community development projects. By forming and strengthening links between environmentally conscientious travelers and host-country grassroots conservation groups, natural areas and cultural heritage can be preserved. This link between adventure travel, conservation and sustainable development enhances a vacation experience by creating more meaningful and authentic cultural encounters through learning, sharing and giving something back. See: http://www.wildland.com/about/giving-back
The International Ecotourism Society (founding Board 1991)
International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (founding Board of Directors in 2000, and President of the Board 2010-2014)
Adventure Travel Trade Association (Advisory Board since 2005)
Founding Member: Trusted Adventures, Adventure Vacations from the Experts (Business and marketing alliance of 8 affiliated companies)
Co-founder of TAP– Travelers Against Plastic.
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President
Anne Kutay, Vice-President
Rachael Garrett, VP of Operations
Tim Hocking, VP of Communications
Jonathan Burnham, Marketing Director / 206.365.0686 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For photos, interviews, press trips and more information:
Widness & Wiggins PR
Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
How a Canoe Trip 30 Years Ago Transformed Anne & Kurt Kutay, Founders of Wildland Adventures
Released on Thursday, 04 May 2017 07:57
In 1987, Anne and I, founders of Wildland Adventures, birthed a new travel concept we call The Wild Style. We wanted to travel deeper, not further; to experience a world that craves our understanding and compassion rather than our judgment; to visit communities that seek to welcome us rather than entertain us. Starting out, we questioned if we could build a successful business around accomplishing these goals, but over 30 years we achieved a delicate balance of introducing guests to remote destinations while preserving the culture they've come to experience. The Wild Style requires more effort to deliver. Our field research to make inroads into local communities and find guides who delight in our quest for life-changing travel takes time but results in big rewards for the guest.
Our impetus? While motoring up the Amazon River in a dugout canoe 30 years ago, we came upon the Yagua, an indigenous people of Colombia and northeastern Peru. From afar we witnessed the commotion as they ran into their huts in jeans and t-shirts and emerged half-naked in grass skirts with blowguns in hand to greet us. In that instant, while leading our first group tour we decided:
At Wildland Adventures, authenticity will be our highest priority;
that we will approach our world and the people and cultures we share it with
embraced in an ethic of honesty and sincerity.
When we approached the Yagua in gratitude with respect, what otherwise might have been a one-sided tourist parade was a heartfelt cultural connection. This was not a group of individuals living in the past, but rather an indigenous community transitioning into the modern world. We laughed together while learning how to use a blow gun and the façade between us faded as we began asking deeper questions about them as individuals. How did they live today? Provide for their families in the jungle? They were excited to share their traditions, customs and present-day lifestyle with a group of eco-tourists genuinely interested in learning more.
Later, as our canoe drifted back downriver to our reality, we were returning home with a new-found understanding of the hardships faced by indigenous peoples. We began to understand their challenges in overcoming inequities and prejudices, as well as their struggle to reclaim the basic human rights necessary to participate in modern life while preserving their own cultural heritage. Our interaction on that sand bar in the middle of the Amazon River was their opportunity to earn income and share their culture with the outside world.
Today we continue to seek out rural communities where we can bring the benefits of ecotourism to help support local people while promoting the conservation of wildlands.
Over the course of our 30-year journey, we have held firm to a truth that travel is one of the most important paths to a growing global community which sustains – rather than degrades – life on earth. Thanks to our travelers, we're expanding our global family. We do this not between nations but through conscientious individuals and communities who care about Mother Earth, economic inequities and social injustices.
Our Wild Style of travel opens the possibilities of exploring, as author Joe Robinson describes, "…the vast incognita territory within each of us." When you travel in gratitude with an intention to experience the world in sincerity and good faith, every adventure becomes your own personal journey to discover something in yourself.
Our purpose is to return home from a trip not only knowing the world, but our place in it. After 30 years of travel with friends and family, our children now show us by example that to be transformed by travel is to transform the world. They remind us that our adventures down an open road help us shed our baggage, summoning us to cultivate love and renewed purpose.
Thank you for your support over these past 30 years. Please check your inbox in the coming months for how we plan to celebrate moving forward into the future.
Kurt and Anne Kutay
http://www.wildland.com/
Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:
Wildland Adventures Kicks Off Its 30th Anniversary of Going Wild Around the World with Multimedia Presentations by Expert Guest Speakers
Released on Friday, 06 January 2017 08:53
SEATTLE, WA, Jan. 6, 2017- Wildland Adventures kicks off its 30th anniversary in 2017 with a January series of travel seminars featuring guest speakers who are all top guides and conservationists in their native countries of Zimbabwe, India and Brazil. The seminars are on three consecutive Saturdays at The Savvy Traveler in Edmonds. The dates are Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. on Zimbabwe, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. on India and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. on Brazil.
"We are very excited to kick off our 2017 season and the start of our 30th anniversary 'Going Wild' around the world by inviting our community to presentations by some of our most enthusiastic and engaging guides, all of whom are nationally recognized in their native countries for innovative ecotours that take our travelers to remote habitats they have helped to protect," says Wildland Adventures President Kurt Kutay. "We'll show short videos of Mark leading us on foot in tracking elephant in the bush, searching for the Bengal tiger (and finding them) from Amit's jungle lodges and swimming with Douglas in the "meeting of the waters" where two rivers form to create the mighty Amazon River."
All events are held at The Savvy Traveler store, 112 5th Ave S in downtown Edmonds, WA 98020, telephone (425) 744-6076. Call or register here: http://www.savvytraveleredmonds.com/Imports/Registration.asp?Id=717&TIME=10:00%A0AM
Safaris in Zimbabwe / Saturday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m. - Guest Speaker: Mark "Butch" Butcher, Safari Guide and Conservationist
Fourth generation African and native Zimbabwean,Mark "Butch" Butcher holds the 2014 Guardian and Observer ethical travel award. He is an ecotourism pioneer, professional safari guide and leading conservationist who hosts Wildland travelers at camps and lodges on the Zambezi River and in Hwange National Park. Wildland Adventures Directors Kurt and Anne Kutay and other local travelers recently returned from Zimbabwe will introduce Mark and relay their own adventures on safari. Mark will share some of his life's stories: from working as a game ranger fighting rhino poachers in the late 80's to his latest roles leading safaris and saving elephants by employing ex-poachers as an incentive to protect wildlife through ecotourism. The presentation features amazing lodges and tented camps, the Elephant Express safari train, and incredible wildlife encounters including a video of Mark tracking elephants up close on foot with Kurt and Anne.
Inspiring India! / Saturday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. - Guest Speaker: Amit Sankahla, Guide and Tiger Specialist
Amit Sankahla is Wildland Adventures' foremost Indian guide and one of India's leading tiger conservationists. This evening of stories and multimedia unveils the spectacular labyrinth of sights, sounds and mysteries of the sub-continent. Amit will share his kaleidoscope of award-winning images and videos revealing treasures to be discovered traveling among rural communities and into the wild places throughout his native India. Together with Wildland Directors Kurt and Anne Kutay guests will track the elusive Bengal tiger and Snow leopard, visit traditional markets and festivals including ancient Sufi and gypsy dance performances among many other surprises Wildland Adventures arranges for travelers to India's premier tiger parks, hidden villages, the historic cities, majestic forts and opulent palaces of Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal, the spiritual city of Varanasi and the soaring temples, tropical Malabar backwaters, and plantations of the Spice Hills in the south. India remains the 'great frontier' for adventure travelers. Following in the path of his grandfather who was recognized by Indira Gandhi as "The Tiger Man of India", Amit operates two lodges and a luxury camp in the heart of tiger reserves, and through his collaboration with many others, he is credited with contributing to the success of the recent increase in population of tigers.
Discovery and Adventure in Brazil / Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. - Guest Speaker: Douglas Simoes, Ecotourism Guide and Conservationist
Wildland Adventures' Brazil guide, Douglas Simoes, explores how to create a comprehensive and seamless introductory itinerary that links the best of Brazil's nature and culture. Guests will explore deep into the Pantanal wetlands epicenter for jaguar spotting and into the vast wilderness of the Amazon, home of some of the world's most biologically diverse habitats for primates, caiman, capybara, 700 bird species, ocelots, pink dolphins and more! Walking on remote jungle trails, canoeing on rainforest lakes and rivers and mingling with monkeys in observation towers in the canopy of the rainforest are part of the fun. Foodies and culture buffs will love the international fusion of African, Amerindian and European cultures through architecture, food, music and dance on the beautiful coast of Salvador de Bahia. Inland lies the remote region of Chapada Diamantina where active travelers find endless trekking, swimming and photographic opportunities in a beautiful landscape of tabletop mountains, canyons, valleys, caves, electric blue pools and thundering waterfalls, including small villages to experience rural life with locals. All routes in Brazil lead to Rio with visits to the famous Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer Statue atop Corcovado Mountain and the sun-soaked beach of Copacabana. It's a short hop down the Green Coast to Paraty, the picturesque colonial UNESCO World Heritage Site town and jumping off point for hiking and kayaking in Brazil's rainforest fjord - Mamangua. Guests can begin or end a Brazil adventure in magnificent Iguassu Falls draped in rainbows and glittering mist.
For more information on these and all of Wildland Adventures' worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.
Going Wild Now for 30 Years, Wildland Adventures Tailors New 2017 Trips to Families, Women, Writers, Trekkers and More
Released on Thursday, 15 December 2016 11:04
SEATTLE, WA, Dec. 15, 2016 – Going wild around the world is the mantra for adventure travel pioneer Wildland Adventures that is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017.
"For 2017 we've added 16 new and/or extensively revised itineraries to enhance our portfolio of small group adventures. All our Wildland Adventures promise to cultivate connections and possibly transform yourself and your view of the world. We have added trips that target active women and epicureans, families, emerging writers and adventurous trekkers," said Kurt Kutay, founder and owner of Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/).
2017 New Trips for Families
In Africa: Botswana Family Safari- 8 days, from $5,195 for family of four. Families are whisked to a private safari camp in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Wildland's Young Explorers program led by professional safari guides teaches the whole family the art of bush craft: spotting wildlife, learning animal behavior tracking game on foot. Guests visit local communities to experience daily life, and, among other activities, make jewelry, weave baskets, shoot with slingshots, fish and cook over an open fire. Every day kids "read the morning newspaper" which means looking over tracks in the sand for nighttime visitors.
In Latin America: Guatemala Family Adventure- 9 days, from $3,695 adults, $2,895 teens, $2,695 child. Wildland families discover everyday subsistence life of indigenous Mayans on small farms and marketplaces around Lake Atitlan. They hike in the Pacaya Volcano, explore the UNESCO World Heritage colonial city of Antigua, and the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in the remote jungles and wildlife reserve of Tikal National Park. An expert bilingual guide leads guests who bike, hike, kayak, explore ruins and connect with Mayans in their homes, villages and fields.
In Europe: Croatia Active Family Adventure- 9 days, from $4,095 adult/$3,295 under 18.Croatia is accessible and offers great value for the travel dollar. This active itinerary traverses the Julian Alps through forests, following waterfalls and rivers flowing to ancient ports along the Adriatic coast. Families hike, cycle, raft and kayak in national parks, through rural villages and among Roman ruins and ancient fortifications. In local homes and restaurants guests experience traditionally prepared pastas, stews and Adriatic seafood. This adventure begins in the capital city of Zagreb and concludes in Dubrovnik.
2017 New Trips for Womenand Epicureans
In Cuba: Havana and Heartland of Cuba- 7-day women's departure March 10-16, 2017, from $3,995. A Cuban professional female guide introduces travelers to the lives of Cuban women from their role in the Revolution to the formation of modern-day Cuba. Guests visit with extraordinary women as part of a people-to-people program. Get ready to laugh, dance, learn and be deeply touched by the women of Cuba a la Wild Style! Cuba is also among the safest countries in the world for female travelers.
In Latin America: Women's Active Wine Adventure in Chile & Argentina- April 1-10, 2017, from $4,995.Adventurous women will explore vineyards and valleys of Chile and Argentina on horseback and bicycle, and walk through culturally vibrant back streets of Santiago, Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. Lively female guides introduce South America's epicurean highlights while the group sips perfectly blended Malbecs, experiments with unique ingredients at a regional cooking class and meets vendors at local markets.
In Europe: Women's Southern Italy Epicurean Adventure- May 22-31, 2017, from $6,695.This active exploration of Puglia blends sunshine, charming landscapes, delectable cuisine and wines with active women's zest for the good life. Puglia's rustic charm is reflected in the locals' welcoming personalities and communal dining, simple and flavorful local fare that has stood the test of time and a rich cultural history reflecting, among others, Byzantium and the Normans. Menhirs (pre-history stones), cave churches and medieval castles keep it wild along with hiking, shopping, wine tasting, cycling and preparing classic dishes with master chefs. Antonello Losito, since 2007 one of Pugli's premier guides, shares his passion for the food, landscape, and culture of Southern Italy with guests.
2017 New Trip for Writers
In Asia: Vietnam: Travel Writing with Dave Fox- Mar.6-17, 2017, from $3,775. Guests who want to delve deep into Vietnamese culture and advance their travel writing prowess are invited to explore Vietnam with best-selling author and award-winning travel writer Dave Fox. In a collaborative small group, budding travel writers practice mindfulness and how to see anew employing a heightened sense of awareness using all their senses traveling south to north by boat, bike and foot among the clamor of cities and the peaceful rice paddies and villages. The trip culminates with a two-night cruise through Halong Bay as participants develop new sources of self-expression and personal story-telling that chronicles a sense of place and people, grabbing the imaginations and capturing the hearts of their readers. Dave has been a Public Radio news anchor, a tour guide and an international cruise ship lecturer.
New for 2017 - Transformational Adventures
In Latin America: Patagonia: A Journey of Discovery- 7 days, from $3,100 is one of Wildland's first in a series of new Transformational Travel experiences. Embark on a guided journey of personal exploration and discovery through one of the most spectacular and inspirational places in the world. Head deep into Torres del Paine National Park for three days of extensive hiking into the Paine Massif. Along the way, Michael Bennett, Ed.D. of Muddy Shoe Adventures, facilitates small group sharing using the power of nature and adventure to foster a deeper sense of discovery of the on this journey of personal exploration. Michael will use the trip's many adventures as catalysts for casual yet inspirational discussions for participants to reflect, share and learn from what they are experiencing with the goal of integrating it into one's day-to-day life.
In Asia: Thailand: Discovering the Land of Smiles - 9 Days from $2,450. Thailand is one of the most diverse, exotic, and exhilarating countries on earth. A trip there among chaotic cities, vibrant markets, temples steeped in spiritual richness, and verdant tropical nature full of wildlife, guarantee that you'll be enlivened and enriched and an opportunity to see yourself anew. Along the way, Michael Bennett, Ed.D., of Muddy Shoe Adventures, facilitates sharing among travelers of each day's adventures as inspiration in a collaborative and supportive small group recognizing each traveler's present rite of passage, and for some to develop a personal action plan for kick-starting the next chapter of their lives.
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Wildland Adventures' New Nicaragua Itinerary 'From Highlands to Islands' Features Granada and Off the Tourist Radar Caribbean Islands
Released on Thursday, 29 September 2016 09:48
SEATTLE, WA, Sept. 29, 2016 – Adventure travel pioneer Wildland Adventures showcases up and coming Nicaragua along with a slice of the Caribbean little known to most travelers in its new 9-day/8-night Colonial Granada, Highlands and Island Adventure.
Wildland's Central America immersion for the active and curious traveler includes the Corn Islands (70 km off Nicaragua's eastern Caribbean coast), a sun-swept destination well known in the past to pirates and buccaneers but off today's tourist map. A secluded white-sand beach adventure is the trip finale after…
Bicycling through the oldest city in the Western hemisphere, Granada,
Zip lining in the cloud forest highlands of the Mombacho Volcano,
Hiking in Masaya Volcano National Park and
Kayaking among the 365 islets on Lake Nicaragua
In addition to securing off-the-beaten-track experiences, a defining element of all Wildland Adventures is flexibility. For example, when guests arrive on Big Corn Island, they can choose to be hosted at Arenas Beach Hotel or move on to Yemaya, considered one of the most beautiful island luxury lodges in the world on the more secluded Little Corn Island, a perfect romantic hideaway. Throughout the trip guests stay active, but here they can choose just to lie in a hammock – or snorkel or swim.
The itinerary rates are also flexible depending on the number of people in a party. Departures may be arranged for a minimum of just two people starting at $1,995 per person double occupancy for a group of six or more. Children ages 6-11 receive a 20 percent discount. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/central-america/nicaragua/colonial-nicaragua-highland-and-island-adventure/overview.aspx
After arriving at Managua International Airport the adventure begins in the colonial city of Granada (Est. 1524). History that reverberates down cobblestone streets and in colorful markets resonates with the mysteries of pre-Columbian embellishments. One day focuses on rural Nicaragua, with opportunities to visit artisan workshops in Masaya, the country's most popular handcraft market. This day also introduces ceramic artists in San Juan de Orienteand Nicaragua's geologically eruptive nature with a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park and the stunning and active Santiago crater. Views of Mombacho Volcano, a sleeping giant rising to 4,626 feet, are omnipresent in Granada, which only adds to the excitement of a zip line tour along the flanks of the volcano, soaring through a verdant cloud forest rich in hanging moss and epiphytic plants. A cooking lesson in a local kitchen is followed by a visit to a Choco Museum that exhibits the country's pride, chocolate. The importance of chocolate moves to front and center in a chocolate workshop where guests learn how to roast, winnow, grind, mix, conch, refine and mold their own morsel of chocolate.
In the mountain zone of Matagalpa resides an eco lodge icon in Nicaragua, Aguas del Arenal Lodge. Here guests stay for two nights while exploring the birdlife (Nicaragua has over 700 bird species) and La Bonanza, a coffee plantation harvesting this export in a sustainable manner. Then it's time to return to Granada for an overnight before a short flight to Big Corn Island for a deep breath on the Caribbean beach – sans tourist attractions.
Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) also offers two other unique itineraries in Nicaragua that focus on the mainland's culture and beach activities along the Pacific coast.Nicaragua Adventure Touris a 9-day program for families and active travelers that includes hiking, biking and kayaking, touring rural villages and understanding the volatile life of volcanoes. The per person rate is from $3,795. Nicaragua Family Vacation is an active 9-day exploration that brings young and old alike into contact with the friendliness of locals and the fun of zip lining, kayaking and hiking. The per person rate is from $3,495.
For Central American travelers with a passion for snorkeling, Wildland Adventures suggests any of its four holidays, including one for families, exploring Belize. Here the focus is on the barrier reef, Mayan ruins, sailing excursions, rainforest hikes and even treehouse accommodations. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System offers snorkeling and scuba diving amongst the magic world of corals; its expanse is second only to Australia's famed Great Barrier Reef.
Three of Wildland Adventures' opportunities for adventure travel in Costa Rica are designed with families in mind. Other itineraries feature river rafting and immersion into the country's complex and diverse eco systems where birds, monkeys and other wildlife thrive.
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The 'Wild Style' is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best 'Do-it-all' Outfitter on Earth and Fodor's as one of the World's Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 45 countries.
Cuba's Reins on Visitors Loosen: Wildland Adventures' New 11- and 7-Day Itineraries Embrace Outlying Regions and Person-to-Person Encounters
SEATTLE, WA, August 3, 2016 – Americans since 2011 have been permitted to visit Cuba under the US government's highly regulated People-to-People program. Ever since the first tour groups arrived on the shores of the Caribbean's largest island, restrictions have tended to keep American visitors under tight rein.
However, as attitudes at home toward the embargo continue to soften and Cuba itself feels more comfortable in its role of host to curious Americans, the reins are loosening. Adventure travel pioneer, Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/), is now delighted to fold Cuba into the company's 30-year anniversary portfolio while making the most of new-found opportunities to explore beyond the bounds of the island's iconic highlights such as Havana.
"We've done the research to really explore Cuba and to feature more outlying communities and natural reserves that only recently began receiving Americans. Our two brand-new itineraries support fledgling community-based ecotourism initiatives with opportunities for more intimate and authentic cultural exchanges for our travelers," said Kurt Kutay, Wildland Adventure's CEO and President.
An 11-day Captivating Cuba Coast to Coast tour ventures into regions not noticeably impacted by tourism. Company founders Kurt and Anne Kutay will accompany the first departure set for Nov. 27, 2016. The per person, double, rate is from $5,950. This itinerary offers scheduled departures into May 2018. The trip begins with flights from Miami to Havana and returns to Miami from Santiago de Cuba, the musical epicenter of the island. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/caribbean/cuba/captivating-cuba-coast-to-coast/overview.aspx
Havana and the Heartland of Cuba is a seven-day itinerary focusing on lesser known and impressively distinctive UNESCO-designated small towns and nature reserves. This trip begins and ends in Havana with roundtrip flights from Miami. Departures are scheduled from early May 2017 through December 2018. The per person rate, double, is from $3,995. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/caribbean/cuba/havana-and-the-heartland-of-cuba/overview.aspx
International air is not included in these rates (currently set at $550 RT subject to change).
So Why Cuba Now? Kutay offers these insights for prospective travelers:
- Visitors to Cuba who engage in People-to-People tours now enjoy greater opportunities to plan more diverse itineraries fostering individual one-on-one interactions with Cubans from all walks of life.
Heretofore Americans traveling legally on People-to-People tours in Cuba were strictly limited to a narrow range of people they could meet, where they could go and what they could do. Now, as a result of enhanced tourism infrastructure throughout much of Cuba, more interactive exchanges are sprouting up in diverse regions and communities. For example, there are more private B&B accommodations especially in the time-honored enclaves of eastern Cuba. This means that visitors can engage in thriving grass-roots community endeavors. Artists and academics, farmers and fishermen, musicians and dance troupes are all eager to share their stories.
- New, individual, People-to-People visas open doors for visitors to participate in expanded custom, private (guided) small group travel.
As of March 2016 tour licenses have expanded making it easier for companies to offer custom-designeditineraries. As Cuba embraces tourism, more and better infrastructure and specialized tourism services cater to small group travel. Custom trips must still comply with People-to-People requirements including 5-6 hours of planned and guided activities. But with Wildland's network of guides throughout Cuba, there are new-found opportunities that can be adapted to individual interests of travelers.
- Wildland Adventures is now able to bring its authentic and intimate style of travel to Cuba thanks to the improved infrastructure of small, distinctive accommodations including historic boutique hotels and private casas particulares minimizing time in larger hotels.
There has been an incredible growth in the private sector catering to tourists, especially with private restaurants (paladars) and private bed and breakfasts (casas particulares). Casas particulares should not be considered traditional homestays because they operate as businesses. These accommodations have been modified allowing for more guest privacy (including private bath). However, the guest experience is not unlike a homestay for the genuine interaction one enjoys sitting around the breakfast table with enterprising Cubans who have turned their homes into lodgings not just for the money but also because they love the connection it brings with inquisitive Americans.
- The remote Cuban countryside and small rural towns are beginning to receive guests who seek the less developed and more traditional side of Cuba beyond the popular tourist enclaves of Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad.
Although Wildland does visit some popular not-to-miss sites in and around Havana such as Hemingway's farm and Fusterlandia, they have gone to great lengths to escape motor coach tour groups and cruise ships in busy cities and harbors. Guests are free to explore outlying nature reserves and rural communities that have only recently begun to receive guests. However, the mission is still to provide authentic cultural exchanges.
- More of Cuba's national parks and nature reserves are opening up for hiking, bird and wildlife viewing, along with greater opportunities for active adventures.
Ecotourism, on the rise in Cuba, encourages guides and local outfitters to engage in new ways with visitors. Wildland has developed a cadre of local naturalists and adventure guides who are ambassadors into Cuba's 263 protected areas (covering 22% of its land base, including six UNESCO biosphere reserves). There is more territory now available to explore while viewing Cuba's endemic and endangered wildlife species. Future plans to include more national parks with active adventures such as zip lining, kayaking, snorkeling and diving, horseback riding and cycling are in the works.
- Soon to come will be regular commercial flights providing reliable service and a greater range of flight schedules and same-day connections from major US cities.
Several airlines are preparing to offer direct commercial flights from major US cities to Havana and Santiago de Cuba. The process of traveling through Miami to board charter flights is somewhat inconvenient and costly, typically requiring overnight hotel accommodations in Miami both coming and going. As the embargo loosens and commercial carriers take off in this market, more frequent service is anticipated with direct flights from major US cities and more competitive fares.
For more information on the new Cuba programs as well as all of Wildland Adventures' worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.
Olympic Games Make Brazil More Affordable for Travelers: Wildland Adventures Shares Three Reasons to Plan Brazil Adventure Now
Released on Thursday, 16 June 2016 06:27
SEATTLE, WA, June 16, 2016 – Brazil has recently emerged on the world adventure travel radar as travelers have discovered all that it has to offer: a wide range of unique cultural experiences, captivating adventures and a paradise for wildlife seekers. And with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games quickly approaching, Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) offers three ways active travelers can capitalize on the opportunities created by the international sporting event.
1. It just adds up: Brazil has temporarily lifted the mandatory $250 visa for US citizens this summer (through Sept.18), and, on top of that, the US Dollar is the strongest it's ever been to the Brazilian Real. Add that to that the fact that roundtrip flights from the US to many of the most sought-after adventure destinations in Brazil are as low as $450 in July and August (including theAmazon and Pantanal), travelers can expect significant savings. Many of the popular adventure resorts still have availability for July and August.
2. Can you taste it? There is an emerging mouth-watering culinary scene in Brazil thanks to its being one of the word's cultural melting pots. From churrascaria to feijoada, Brazil's distinct tastes and flavors entice and satisfy even the most discerning gourmands.
Brazil's history and culinary stage are inarguably intertwined. Sugar and coffee are vitally important crops while also being labor intensive, which fueled the African slave trade to Brazil and in turn, African culinary traditions as well. Brazil's national dish, feijoada, is thought to be an African take on a traditional Portuguese dish. Another beloved Brazilian dish, acaraje, originally from Nigeria, has become a staple of Bahian street food and the use of dende (African palm oil) is one of the principal ingredients in moqueca, an otherworldly classic Bahian stew.
After the abolition of slavery, immigrants from Italy and Japan joined the Brazilian labor market and added their own influences to the melting pot of the Brazilian culinary scene. Pizza in Brazil can easily rival that of Naples and New York and is practically its own food group. Unique ingredient additions find their way into the pizza ovens of Brazil's urban centers that include everything from soft catupiry or local minas cheese, cinnamon, bananas and even guava.
3. Where to go: With thehuge crowds expected in Rio this summer, now is the perfect time to venture off the beaten path and explore the wilds of Brazil. Brazil offers many rare opportunities such as scouting for jaguars in the expansive wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal or swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon. Active visitors can snorkel in crystal clear rivers and explore ancient caves in Bonito, or trek through mysterious valleys, past table top mountains and waterfalls in Salvador's Chapada Diamantia. One can cruise on a private schooner past pirate coves on the Costa Verde in Paraty or gaze dumbstruck at Brazil's Iguassu Falls. Wildland Adventures has even pioneered a new activity where travelers are able to swim at the "Meeting of the Waters", a natural phenomenon where the Negro River (originating in Colombia) meets the Solimões River (originating in Peru) to form the Amazon River.
Wildland Adventures has recently expanded their trips to Brazil by venturing to new areas offering several unique explorations of 9 to 14 days.
- Ultimate Jaguar and Wildlife Adventure is 14 days and explores Brazil's two largest and most famous regions of biodiversity: the Pantanal and the Amazon.
- The 12-day Best of Brazil: Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, and Iguassu Falls itinerary explores the tropical rainforest of the Amazon and Iguassu Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls.
- On the 13-day Brazil Family Adventure kids and parents kayak, snorkel, spot jaguars, hike, play in the surf and learn to cook while exploring Bonito, the Pantanal, Paraty and Rio de Janeiro.
- Guests trek through the mysterious valleys, past tabletop mountains and waterfalls in Chapada Diamantia National Park on Wildland's 14-day Brazil Trekking Adventure.
- Into the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil (Costa Verde) focuses on the biodiversity of the Atlantic Rainforest. In the 9-day itinerary, guests will kayak along secluded beaches, search for wildlife and hidden waterfalls in mangrove forests and explore the colonial city of Paraty.
Brazil and Zika: Is it safe to travel to affected regions? Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends special precautions only for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant: Pregnant women in any trimester or women trying to become pregnant should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first. Wildland Adventures urges all passengers to travel sensibly, and to take preventive measures against mosquito bites. Any passenger who is pregnant or think they may become pregnant during or prior to their trip should contact their doctor and potentially reconsider their trip in accordance with CDC/WHO advice.
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The 'Wild Style' is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best 'Do-it-all' Outfitter on Earth andFodor's as one of the World's Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 45 countries.
Wildland Adventures Leads Quest to Summit of Washington's Mt. Rainier this Summer In Charity Climb for Four Nepal Schools
Released on Monday, 23 May 2016 10:12
SEATTLE, May 23, 2016– On July 28-30, 2016, a team from Wildland Adventures will embark on a charity climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier to assist four schools in Nepal that have been devastated by recent earthquakes.
The team's goal is to raise $5,000 to provide solar panels and lights to four primary schools and panels with the capacity to power up to four desktop computers in addition to lighting at a secondary school, all in rural Nepal.
The group of eight climbers seek pledges to support this campaign as they make a determined effort to reach the summit of the highest mountain in Washington State. With an elevation of 14,416 feet, Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states.
A fundraising page at YouCaring.com (https://www.youcaring.com/ClimbForNepal) supports this mission.
"I'm proud of our ambitious climbing team for embarking on this adventure to raise desperately needed money for our brothers and sisters struggling to recover from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. It's that spirit and commitment to making the world a better place that fuels all of our adventures," says Kurt Kutay, founder and owner of Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/).
Kelsey Wenger, a Wildland tour leader and travel advisor, and other staff, clients and friends will deliver the solar panels to the schools in November 2016 during Wildland Adventures' Himalayan Odyssey: Bhutan to Everest. In part to commemorate Wildland Adventures' 30th anniversary this year, Wenger designed this 15-day journey from Bhutan to Nepal to include a six-day trek in the shadow of Mount Everest. The adventure culminates in a spectacular aerial viewing of the world's highest mountain by helicopter.
The community sites for assistance were selected by Wildland's Nepal ambassador Jwalant Gurung, who began the tradition of climbing with a purpose in 2006 by founding Seattle-based 3 Summits for Nepal, afamily of climbers dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged children of Nepal. He personally selected the schools that were most in need of support. They includethree schools in Taplejung District built after the Sikkim earthquake of 2011 (magnitude 6.9) which affected the entire Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The fourth is in Singla Village near the epicenter of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, where every single home was destroyed. A Kathmandu native and resident, Gurung holds an MBA from the University of Washington.
"In these villages, my goal is to not only build schools but to also build an Early Childhood Development Center to encourage and foster alternative learning at a very early age in the villages. In the villages of Nepal - and even the cities - learning by rote is the norm. I want to incorporate song, dance, art and play into learning," says Gurung. "If Wildland can raise more than $5,000, 3 Summits for Nepal will use additional funds to help rebuild homes. To date our Nepal team has rebuilt 15 homes and we hope to rebuild at least ten more this year at a cost of $45,000."
To donate please go to: https://www.youcaring.com/ClimbForNepal.
For more information on all of Wildland Adventures' worldwide programs, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The 'Wild Style' is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. By fostering genuine connections to create personalized experiences their travelers, Wildland fosters a growing and vibrant community of enlightened and compassionate travelers. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best 'Do-it-all' Outfitter on EarthandFodor's as one of the World's Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 42 countries.
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Wildland Adventures Says Now's the Time to Visit Myanmar: Offers Three New Tours for 2016
Released on Monday, 11 April 2016 09:38
Adventures Exemplify Myanmar's Path Between the Ancient and the Modern Including One Expressly Designed for Families
SEATTLE, WA, April 11, 2016– Myanmar today is a most curious place. Driving through the countryside visitors see farmers working their water buffalo in fields nestled beneath hills covered in pagodas and experience first-hand day in and day out the effects of Buddhism that permeate this long hidden culture.
This mystery realm known as Myanmar (Burma) is a must-visit-now destination, says Kurt Kutay, founder and owner of Wildland Adventures. He gives three reasons. First, decades of self-imposed isolationism stalled globalization, thus preserving here a throwback Asia. Second, Myanmar has transformed itself to a democratically elected and installed government and now welcomes the outside world. Third, Myanmar is one of the safest countries in the world to travel to now and exemplifies a peaceful and friendly population.
Known for blazing new trails in adventure travel, Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) again distinguishes itself with three new itineraries that explore Myanmar in 2016. In keeping with a 30-year custom of exploring worlds afar in style, these tours delve deeper into daily life and sacred sites than simply posing at a monument. In line with Wildland's founding ethos three decades ago, the company supports community based projects across the country that are run by locals from among its 135 eclectic ethnic groups creating intimate interactions for their travelers with the Burmese people.
"While visiting iconic sites we take roads less traveled to meet local people, hear their personal stories, and see how we can help them improve their lives after the military junta. For example, we bike between the colonial-era hill town of Kalaw and Inle Lake. We experience the drama that is Bagan on foot and from the air," Kutay explains. "Whether chatting with a local Shan farmer in Northern Shan state, or with villagers in the countryside in Yandabo on the banks of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady), or with an Intha woman showing how to make traditional foods in her house on stilts on the lake, it's always about making a connection and understanding Myanmar by getting to know its people."
Kutay promises that his guests will be stunned by the time capsule they explore as they stroll through Shan and Kayin villages, bike around Mandalay, tour a pottery-makers' village, awaken to the sounds and scents of local markets coming to life, bathe elephants in the river, gaze in awe at the fabled temple field of Bagan, and circumnavigate on foot the 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon) with Buddhist pilgrims.
Following are sketches of Wildland's three new trips to Myanmar…
Mystical Myanmar is a 13-day journey from $4,415 per person, double, that discovers Myanmar's mystical depths revealed in timeless rural life where few travelers venture. On this easy active adventure guests walk amongst hill tribe villages, kayak on Inle Lake, cycle down rural roads, trek through the jungle to an elephant conservation sanctuary and venture into the mountainous states of Mon and Kayin to overnight in Hpa An village. Combining the iconic sites with the unknown, guests explore the vast complex of temples at Bagan and visit three of Myanmar's most sacred sites: Golden Rock Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda and Mahamuni.
Myanmar: Highlights of a Golden Land is a 15-day journey from $4,650 per person, double. Unique to this tour, at the conclusion of an active pursuit of Myanmar's cultural classics, guests unwind for a day and overnight at Ngapali Beach, a resort situated in a fishing village on the Bay of Bengal. Here guests will be loathe to leave a country that has imbedded memories of a hot air balloon adventure over the Bagan temples, bicycle rides through small villages, riding the rails across the countryside and boating along waterways, sipping tea with the Palaung on tea plantations in Shan State, and marveling at the white and gold of temples shimmering in the dusky light.
Myanmar Family Adventure is a 10-day journey from $3,440 per person, double. Picture the kids bathing elephants, on bicycle rides, soaring in a hot air balloon adventure, taking a jeep safari to discover hidden temples straight out of Indiana Jones, walking through dense jungles to tribal villages and always meeting families and hearing their stories.
In addition to helping support local guides and community-based tourism services like boutique hoteliers and local restaurant entrepreneurs who interface with Wildland's guests, the company contributes to building much-needed water wells in the dry zone. Through the generous contributions from previous travelers, three wells (and counting) have already been built in these remote villages just since the start of 2015. See: http://www.wildland.com/destinations/asia/myanmar-(-burma-)/givingback.aspx
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The 'Wild Style' is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. By fostering genuine connections to create personalized experiences their travelers, Wildland fosters a growing and vibrant community of enlightened and compassionate travelers. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best'Do-it-all' OutfitteronEarth andFodor's as one of the World'sBestTourSpecialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on 6 continents in 38 countries.
Founders of Wildland Adventures Lead New Culinary and Wine Adventure In Northern Spain to Celebrate Company's 30th Anniversary
Released on Monday, 25 January 2016 10:04
New Culinary & Wine Travel Series Launched To Explore Food Culture and Traditions Worldwide
SEATTLE, Jan. 25, 2016– What do many people do on an anniversary?
They treat themselves to a gala dinner.
This is Kurt and Anne Kutay's way of celebrating the 30th anniversary of their company, Wildland Adventures. On a May 21, 2016 departure, they will host Walks, Wine and Culinary Adventures in Northern Spain, experiencing with guests the full terroir of Basque and Castile culture from food and wines, to Guernica and the Guggenheim. This special tour also launches the company's new "Travel Style" of offerings dubbed Culinary and Wine Adventures.
"There's no better way to celebrate 30 years of 'Going Wild' around the world than sitting down to the table with guests on a Wildland Adventure, to be served by local specialty chefs while toasting with glasses full of regional wines poured by local winemakers," says Kurt Kutay.
Joining them on the May departure will be wine experts David and Ruth Arista of Arista Wine Cellars and Xabi Extxarri, a Spanish guide whose passion for culture, literature and the arts emanate from his Basque homeland.
The Spain immersion covers 13 days and begins and ends in Bilbao (think Frank Gehry's Guggenheim). The per person double rate is from $7,995. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/mediterranean/spain/Northern-Spain/overview.aspx
Over a nine-course, wine-paired welcome dinner at the Guggenheim Museum, guests experience haute Basque cuisine for an unparalleled dining experience. East of Bilbao lies the town of Guernica, the traditional heart of the Vizcayan Basque culture. Guernica resident, writer and historian, Edorta Jimenez, walks with guests into this region's history, revealing the bombing of Guernica by the Luftwaffe in April 1937 that woke the world up to the perils of war that so devastated the community. In 1937 Pablo Picasso painted Guernica, a powerful political statement depicting the tragedies of war.
From Bilbao, a private guided tour introduces the caves of Sierra de Atapuerca containing a rich fossil record of the earliest humans in Western Europe, and the worlds' largest collection of Hominids, the direct ancestors of Neanderthal man. This day continues on foot to the small, ornate city of Burgos made famous by its extraordinary Gothic cathedral looming over the skyline of Spain's culinary capital.
Guests travel among the remote mountains and along the coastline of Basque and historic Castile, hiking through the vines of the region, as well as along the Camino de Santiago, through National parks and castle-fringed farmlands. Dining includes haute restaurants and local wine bars where Spanish pintxos (snacks) are served. Private tastings in the vineyards and bodegas of Spain's top winemakers, conversations with farmers, cheese makers, authors and celebrity chefs, as well as the best sommelier of La Rioja, are woven into this tapestry. In San Sebastian, where Michelin stars fall from the sky, guests learn the art and preparation of pintxos at Ni Neu Restaurant.
Other new additions to Wildland's Culinary and Wine Adventure category include Argentina, South Africa and Turkey.
In Argentina, Wine, Cultures & Canyonlands: Mendoza and the Northwest is a 14-day immersion in culture, history and nature, all with a gastronomic embrace. The per person double rate is from $5,800. The trip begins in Mendoza and ends in Tucuman.
Turquoise Coast Odyssey is a 13-day journey through Turkey from $4,895 per person double on which guests sample a new dish every day, from the street foods of Istanbul, to a cooking lesson at a women's coop restaurant in Cappadocia, to family recipes prepared on board a gulet cruising along the Mediterranean coast.
A trip that was launched in 2015, Cape Town to Kruger Safari is a wines and wildlife safari in South Africa featuring wines grown from vines on Earth's oldest soils and wildlife encounters in prime game habitats. Guests enjoy an eight-course, wine-paired African surprise dinner in the Cape winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschoek before going on safari in Greater Kruger National Park and after exploring Cape Town and Robben Island, the political prison of Nelson Mandela. This is an eight-day program from $3,950 per person double.
Nature Puts on the Show – Wildland Adventures Provides the Adventure On March 2016 Spice Islands Total Solar Eclipse
Plus a Deal -$1,000 Off Per Person on 12-day Sailing Expedition March 7-18, 2016
SEATTLE, Dec. 17, 2015– On March 9, 2016, there will be a once-in-a-lifetime event that intrepid travelers will not want to miss. Tracking directly over the Equator above Indonesia's remote Maluku island group, a handful of guests aboard a classic two-masted sailing schooner will witness a total solar eclipse surrounded by a jungle landscape of uninhabited islands and towering volcanoes.
Well-known for such unique and inspiring expeditions, Seattle-based Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) has sweetened the offer by knocking $1,000 off the 12-day Spice Islands Solar Eclipse Sailing Adventure package that runs March 7-18, 2016. This brings the per person double rate to $5,495 for the privilege of witnessing one of nature's grandest shows in a setting that defies description.
Accommodations for the luxury cruise are aboard the 24-passenger phinisi Ombak Putih, a traditional two-masted Indonesian schooner. Guided day excursions and evening lectures by escort and guest lecturer Jeffrey Mellefont, research associate of the Australian National Maritime Museum, enhance the on-board experience of the rich natural history, cultures and customs in the archipelago.
Flying out of Bali and embarking in Ternate, the ship sails across the equator encountering diverse cultures and pristine island habitats while re-discovering the dramatic history of this fascinating maritime world sought after by fortune hunters and adventurers for its exotic cloves, nutmeg and mace. Hidden for centuries by the same remoteness that keeps these islands unspoiled today, the ship anchors in turquoise-colored coves so that guests may visit isolated villages and spice plantations, ancient forts and trading posts, and snorkel over stunning coral reefs. The loveliest and most remote of the islands is kept till last. This is the glorious Banda group that guests visit before disembarking on historic Ambon.
Snorkels, kayaks and paddleboards are kept on board so that guests may enjoy activities in the warm water when they are not on walking and birding tours, enjoying a community beach dinner and touring farms, a clove plantation and a distillery producing 'kayu putih' oil. This is a universal panacea extracted from Melaleuca tree leaves that no Indonesian household is without. It is used as a topical for aches and pains, an inhalant for colds and a remedy for stomach unrest.
On the island of Ternate guests visit the old house of Alfred Russel Wallace, the British naturalist and explorer who spent many years based here exploring the archipelago and independently conceiving the theory of evolution through natural selection when Darwin was in the Galapagos. Here, too, is 'Afu', the oldest clove tree in the world, representing a fascinating history of intrigue, greed and hope.
On Wednesday, March 9, the ship anchors at 0.4˚N, 127.4˚E, just 24 nautical miles north of the Equator and centered directly beneath the track of the umbra, or moon's shadow, to experience the sun's 100 percent occultation for the longest possible time. The partial eclipse commences at 08:35 am local time (23:35:45 UTC + 9), with total eclipse starting at 9.51 am. Maximum eclipse is at 9:52:38, and on Ombak Putih the total eclipse lasts for three minutes and 16 seconds. This is followed by a crossing-the-line ceremony transiting across the equator.
In the Banda archipelago guests will stroll through a nutmeg grove where the shapely nutmeg fruit-bearing trees grow in the shelter of towering, gigantic 'kenari' or native almond trees. Visitors when leaving Banda are typically escorted by a ceremonial canoe called a 'kora-kora' propelled by banks of warrior-oarsmen, an apropos departure from paradise.
For complete details and itinerary please see: http://www.wildland.com/files/brochure/trips/Indonesian%20Adventure%20Cruise%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse%20FINAL.pdf
About Jeffrey Mellefont
Jeffrey Mellefont, research associate of the Australian National Maritime Museum, is a former blue-water mariner and navigator; a writer, photographer and editor who has made a lifetime study of the fascinating maritime world of Indonesia. Along with regular host and guide, Frans Huneker, special guest and fluent Indonesian speaker, Jeffrey Mellefont will guide the group ashore. At the end of each day, in the comfort of the Ombak Putih, Jeffrey will reveal more of this amazing maritime realm.
About The Ombak Putih
The Ombak Putih is a mix of traditional and modern design. Her hull and rigging are traditional, while the deck house and interior were custom designed to adapt to Western tastes of space, privacy and comfort. While Indonesian traditional sailing vessels are customarily referred to as Bugi Schooners, strictly speaking she is rigged as a Ketch, the foremast being higher than the aft mast. Of the 12 cabins, four have double beds, four are configured as twin-bunks and four as triple, with a double and an extra singe bed. All cabins are air-conditioned (individually controlled) and have private bathrooms with warm and cold water.


The planters of the RONDOMATIC series not only provide you with elegant, slim planters, but also with true care professionals. The ingenious irrigation system is combined with the water drain, ensuring the perfect climate inside your plant trough while also fully preventing waterlogging. When using the RONDOMATIC outside, simply remove the rubber plug from the plant insert and drill a hole into the outer bottom of the planter. This protects also the noble outer pot from waterlogging and eliminates the risk of frost damage.


Adjective (Latin), thin, fine, slender (Stearn 1973).
Type locality: Adriatic (Hoek 1963: 94). Type: Calm water. L 937/254/115 (Hoek 1963: 94).
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