Rensina Van Den Heuvel organises tours in Morocco, Queensland and Mongolia – here she writes about a day in Marrakech

Mohammed came to pick me up in the Touristique van at 10.30am on the dot and the music that was wafting loudly from his stereo was very calming. The type of music which can make you relax and feel at ease. Thank goodness for that because Mohammed has a lead foot and he drove the three Germans and I, at breakneck speed, through thick traffic into the Souk in the centre of Marrakech. Read more

A guest post by Sarah Fox   Growing up in South Africa, Uganda was one country I had always been eager to explore and getting the chance to do was a dream come true. Read more

A Guest Post by Denise Bevan

After living in Antigua for a year I decided it was time to learn to sail!  Antigua really is the Mecca of sailing in the Caribbean, so this was the place to do it I thought.  After making some enquiries, I decided to make a booking with Miramar Sailing – a company based in Jolly Harbour where I live.

Being a complete beginner, I was advised to book the RYA Competent Crew Course; there was also the opportunity to book this for a “Ladies only week”.  Sounded like lots of fun I thought.  As the date was getting nearer I had a couple of apprehensions: maybe I will get seasick, maybe I would miss technology (especially Facebook and email!) and how am I going to remember all the knots (making knots was never my strong point back in the girl guides!).

Packing was supposed to be very light – another difficult task for me but I managed, in fact it’s quite liberating not packing makeup, high heels and carrying a selection of dresses and handbags – all of which are really not required whilst sailing on a yacht for a week (unless you are featuring in a Duran Duran video!)

My course started on 8^th April, I was ready to go! Read more

Guest Post by Katie Hunt of Earthwatch

The first question we get asked by people is: What the heck does Earthwatch actually do?

I start off with: “well, we organize these scientific expeditions all over the world, but for people who aren’t scientists . . . it’s like they’re on vacation, but they go to do research on the environment and culture and other stuff . . . it’s really great!”

This summary would always lead to more questions than answers. The people who go on Earthwatch trips aren’t scientists? Then why are they doing research? Who wants to go on a vacation like that?

Now I’ve just returned from my first Earthwatch expedition, and I know exactly who wants to go:  people who are curious about the world and hungry to learn more about it. Read more

What a fabulous idea – to develop a cycle route from London to Paris. 

The route is signposted and you cross the Channel via  the Transmanche Newhaven-Dieppe service, landing in Normandy.  WEBSITE

On the British side

The Avenue Verte London < > Paris makes use of the existing National Cycle Network of cycle routes, leading you south out of London, over the North Downs and through Sussex to the South Downs.

On the French side

The Avenue Verte London < > Paris, you make your way to the French capital via well-signposted small roads and greenways taking you across the following French départements, or counties: Eure, Oise, Val-d’Oise, Yvelines, Hauts-de-Seine and Seine-Saint-Denis.

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Bev is the Founder of Las Olas Surf Safaris for Women.  For over 16 years she has had the great job of teaching women to surf in Mexico.  Here is her latest Newsletter

Greetings from Las Olas Mexico,

This week, I’m experiencing the very best part of my job – I’m on the beach at Las Olas watching future surfer girls catch wave after wave.

I still remember my first waves. In fact, the year I learned to surf changed my life. That simple step onto a surfboard encouraged me to take a leap of faith- to change my career and launch Las Olas Surf Safaris for Women.

At dinner, I heard stories of how gliding across the wave turned fear into joy (truly hilarious conversation over chili rellenos, by the way). The Las Olas alum across the table shared that she finally left a stressful career and is now happy doing things she loves. In some way, surfing gave her clarity.

Clarity? Sure, if viewed correctly, surfing gives focus. In the end, it’s really three parts – first there’s paddling, then taking the wave, and finally, standing up. The reward is profound.

I know that many of us have been paddling hard in our lives for too long. Standing up to take the first wave seems daunting, so it’s easy to come up with reasons why it won’t happen. But it can, and it may be the best decision ever.

So now is the time. Take your wave. MORE

Dianne Sharma-Winter is a New Zealand whose passion is India, and she spends much of her time there.  She lives there, organises tours, gives advice, promotes fair trade and Ethical Travel along the way – here she writes about what all that means…. Read more

 

Huffington Post reports:

 

It’s the world’s highest glass ceiling. Of the 3,755 climbers who have scaled Mount Everest, more than half are Nepalese but only 21 of those locals are women.

Aiming to change the all-male image of mountaineering in their country, a group of Nepalese women have embarked on a mission to shatter that barrier by climbing the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents.

The women, aged between 21 and 32, have already climbed Everest in Asia, Kosciuszko in Australia and Elbrus in Europe. They are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to mark International Women’s Day this week.

“The main goal of our mission is to encourage women in education, empowerment and environment,” Shailee Basnet, the 29-year-old team leader, said before leaving for Africa.  Read More

Julie Paterson lives and travels all over the world and has a passion for Northern Africa – she presently lives in Egypt. Julie organises trips for women in the area and around the world through her company Venus Adventures 

The motto for Venus Adventures ?  “Life is uncertain – eat cake!”

Pull up a seat, I’d like to have a chat with you about risk, travel and common sense

Yesterday I was sitting with my Dutch friend Jose commiserating the lack of tourists in the Sinai, Egypt. We both live here at the moment, in this sleepy, peaceful Red Sea beachside town, inhabited by ex-pats and the local Bedouin tribe. Since the revolution in Egypt, ongoing unrest and some kidnappings in the past couple of years here in the Sinai desert, tourists have been warned to stay away. Even though you couldn’t be in a safer place. We need to get this in perspective. Read more

Captain Christy runs small sailing trips in Greece and Turkey and writes:

Thanks to the mass media, Greece and our sailing tourism is so down, you find the media discouraging people to come to Greece when most the tourists are needed. Nothing has changed here – (sun, sea and Greek ruins change little) and without the crowds, it is even better! 

I am running my trips as always.

Economic and environmental disasters can have a huge impact on small ecnomonies that rely on tourists to sustain themselves.  It is important that we keep supporting such places.

What about getting a group of 5-6 and joining Christy in a sailing adventure?

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