Despite its size, Ecuador is probably the world’s most bio-diverse country, crammed with an astounding variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. Within a short time, a traveller can experience dramatic changes in scenery, temperature and altitude. Our Flightie Lindsay Slawuta geared up for an epic 8 day journey to the centre of the Earth with G Adventures and shares her experience with us:

A group of us had participated in an 8-Day G Adventures tour of Ecuador which highlighted Quito, a home-stay in the Amazon Rainforest near Tena, Banos, and Cuenca. The tour is normally 14 days in length, but ours was a whirlwind of fantastic sampling. The journey began with a trip to the equator, (which coincidently translates from Spanish to ‘Ecuador’) and it was there we were shown proof that water does in fact drain in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere (compared to the Northern).

On our way to Tena for our home-stay, we stopped in the Andes in the middle of a fabulous cloud forest to enjoy some hot springs. It was relaxing to soak in the hot water surrounded by lush, tropical jungle, spotted here and there by vibrantly coloured flowers with low lying clouds that played peek-a-boo in the tree tops.

We were greeted traditionally with heavy rain upon our arrival to the Amazon Rainforest where we spent 2 days living with a local family.
We ate traditional national dishes that the family had been cooking for many generations, and hiked into the Rainforest to learn how the tribes used the land for their every need.  This is where we were able to climb trees, eat live ants that tasted like lemon, and swing on vines like Tarzan.

On another hike, we charged on upstream along a creek; we climbed over rocks and boulders, clung to moss covered ledges, and used ropes to pull ourselves up 80 degree slopes and scale waterfalls. The reward for the physical feit was the small pool at the base of the largest waterfall where we all piled in and let the cold waterfall run over us. We left the Amazon by white water rafting which was a great and solid class 3 river, and a lot of fun. Warning: wear lots of sunscreen and apply even when it’s overcast!

The city of Banos offered a plethora of choice for extreme and mellow ecotourism; ziplining, canyoning, horseback riding, cable car & hiking to waterfalls, bungy jumping & canyon swinging, dirt biking, quad biking in the jungle, and that’s just to name a few.

From the majestic mountains to the active volcanoes, the icy glaciers to the raging rivers, Ecuador is chalk full of great ecological activities that will appease all nature lovers. It is an amazing experience and a great country to visit for eco-tourists and nature enthusiasts; I would go back in a heartbeat.

Lindsay Slawutais an International Travel Consultant at our Edmonton City Centre location in Edmonton, Alberta and can be reached by e-mail or calling
1-866-249-0715.

Ecuador is located on the Flight Centre map.

Experience Italy’s ‘La Dolce Vita’ with the Fabulous Fiona Forbes of Urban Rush

When one thinks of Italy, several obvious things come to mind: food, wine, art, and history among them. Italy is about all those things but not in the way many of us outside of the country can truly appreciate on a daily basis.

When it comes to eating, you don’t rush through a three course meal in an hour and a half. You sit, you savour and you experience it with all of your senses—let’s just say if your meal is over in three hours, you’re eating way too fast! You don’t just drink a bottle of wine. You smell it, sip it and enjoy every glass as it evolves right in front of you. Even if you’re not a wine connoisseur, the “house” wines will impress at just dollars a bottle. You don’t just view the art and historical buildings, you immerse yourself in their beauty and lose yourself in time. This is the Italian way; this is ‘La Dolce Vita’ (the sweet life).

Don’t miss your opportunity to experience it for yourself August 18-29^th. Flight Centre has put together an incredible once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy hosted by the incomparable Fiona Forbes of Urban Rush. Who better to guide you than someone who’s passionate, personable and personifies living life right. For 12 days you’ll Eat, Drink & Indulge all the very best Italy has to offer…what are you waiting for?

For more information, contact Sandra Adams by E-mail or calling (778) 370-0423

Flight Centre’s Vicky Young recently travelled to Australia to take in an Aussie rodeo.  Her Topdeck tour took her to meet the cowboys in Rockhampton and she shares with us her highlights:

Now I’m from Calgary,  famous for the greatest outdoor show on earth; The Calgary Stampede. So, when I found out I was going to be hitting up the rodeo in Rockhampton, Australia, I was a little bit skeptical.

Topdeck’s Reef Suntanner 11-day tour includes a one night stop in Australia’s beef capital. 

As you drive down the Bruce highway, you start to see beautiful pastures and a ridiculous amount of cows including Brahma, Hereford, etc. Our driver Leigh explained their differences and all about Australia’s cattle industry. Then all about the rodeo and the bull riding we would be seeing that night. I was really impressed with his explanations, as I am well versed in rodeo from growing up in a cow town.

After we checked into our accommodations, we headed off to the Great Western. This is a facility that has everything you could ever want; a hotel, a bar, a poker room and an impressive arena for the rodeo. On this particular night, there was a reunion of all the top bull riders and they sure did put on a show. It was so cool that we could stand almost right on top of the chutes to watch all the action taking place and to perhaps check out the cowboys! The cutest ones being the 5-year olds, dressed up in their chaps and cowboy hats.

What a great inroad to Australian culture, so different from the bright lights of the city, beautiful beaches and Aboriginal history. Thank you, Topdeck for the awesome experience!!

Looking for more information on travelling to Australia? Vicky Young is a Team Leader at our 17th Avenue location in Calgary Alberta and can be reached by e-mail or calling 1-866-772-2011.

India is a feast for the senses; where colour is vivid and the air is heavy with the scent of jasmine. Our Flightie Mark Phan recently visited this beautiful country on a G Adventures Golden Triangle Tour and shares with us what to eat, even if you’re not a fan of spicy food:

There may be some of you, like myself, who never desired to go to India due to certain misconceptions. Recently I had a chance to go with a group of Flighties on a G Adventures trip and although I was hesitant at first, I’m really glad I did it. I had the time of my life and wanted to clear up a few misconceptions that might prevent you from exploring and experiencing one of the most beautiful and wonderful countries in the world.

When researching India, I came across a few things that was deterring me:

1) Its dirty and dangerous.

2) All Indians are vegetarians, and all Indian food is hot and spicy.

1) I’m not going to lie, India was dirty, but this is expected in most developing countries. It could of done with a few more garbage bins but it wasn’t that bad. As for dangerous, I didn’t see any signs of danger. You just need to be vigilant and use your common sense like in any country around the world, even Canada. Besides all this, India does have vast beauty and treasures. We all know about the Taj Mahal, but the beauty truly is indescribable. There are many other wonders that would be a shame to miss out on.

2) As for the food aspect, I don’t eat spicy food and I don’t like to eat vegetables. So as you can see, this worried me the most and I almost turned down the trip. I even went as far as to bring instant noodles as a back-up. Fortunately, my very helpful guide Abhi Chhetri from G Adventures was able to find me numerous dishes not only that I could eat, but was delicious and opened my eyes to a whole new world of cuisine that I never would have experienced!

We dined in numerous restaurants and tried both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine. By far the best dish I had was the Navratan (Nine Gems) Korma. Which was a blend of nine vegetables, nuts, fruits, paneer in a creamy sauce and white gravy. This had no spice at all and was nice and creamy. Perfectly accompanied by white rice and naan (plain, cheese or garlic).

Other great dishes I had included, Butter Chicken (can be made mild), Chicken Saagwala (spinach dish), Dosa (Indian Pancake), and Gobhi Aloo (sauteed potatoes with vegetables). There are so many dishes to name but my advice is just be open and be willing to try new things. If it is too spicy, you can always add Raita (Indian yogurt) to cool it down. There are many side dishes that help too like Naan, Roti and rice. For desserts and drinks, there is plenty of options. The Mango Lassi’s (other flavours available) are a tasty drink. For dessert, Gulab Jamun are like a deep fried sugar ball of dough which is really sweet but delicious.

Besides Indian cuisine, they actually do have other foods when travelling through the Golden Triangle. For example, there is McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Dominoes Pizza and most places do Chinese and American based foods like sandwiches and fries. Although their menus are different, they do have cheeseburgers or Big Macs, (mainly made from chicken). No matter what your requirements or how picky you are (like me), there is bound to be a dish for you. You never know, you may just become an avid fan of Indian food!

To sum things up, be open and try new things. Worse case scenario – it will cost you on average about $2 to $5 CAD for a main meal. So even if you can’t eat it, it doesn’t cost too much. It will be a shame to miss out on such an amazing country because of the fear of food. You will not regret it and you too will have the time of your life!

Mark Phan is an International Travel Consultant located at our Commercial Drive location in Vancouver, BC and can by reached by E-mail or calling 1-866-210-9709.

Delhi, India is highlighted on the Flight Centre Map.

Flight Centre’s Raymond Caines recently went on a California Discovery tour with Intrepid Travel, that included a memorable stop in Death Valley. He shares his experience of how a place he never would have never thought to visit, ended up being the highlight of his trip!

What can I blog about that hasn’t been blogged about a million times already? After taking the California Discovery tour with Intrepid Travel, the obvious answer that came to my mind was our stop in Death Valley. A place I would have never even thought to visit, but turned out to be the highlight of my tour!

First off, this particular Intrepid Tour brought me through California, Nevada, and Arizona, with stops in Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, and finally San Francisco. When I say Death Valley was a highlight of the trip, it wasn’t the only amazing National Park we visited; rather it was just so different than anywhere I had experienced before (and I’ve been to Egypt and other parts of the Mojave Desert before) that it set itself apart from all the rest.

For one, there was such a range of landscape at Death Valley. When we first drove to the Welcome Centre, we passed massive cliffs on either side, with desert all around and multiple signs warning to watch out for Flash Floods. It was very odd seeing nothing but desert sand and cacti, with signs everywhere telling you to watch for flooding. When we arrived at the Welcome Centre, we sat down for a picnic lunch right next to the Furnace Creek Golf Course, one of America’s toughest courses, partly do to with its altitude above sea level. I’ve never seen so many water sprinkler’s in one spot, it was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 38 Celsius). From there we headed to “Badwater Basin”, a massive Salt Flat about 300 feet below sea level. It was pretty neat to be 300 feet below sea level and see nothing but the salt that would be in the water, if water could actually last there for more then a few minutes; it was  afterall over 110 Fahrenheit in Badwater Basin!

We also had the pleasure of meeting Park Ranger Jay Snow. He came over to us after seeing our Intrepid Van, commenting on how much he loved Intrepid, which is always nice to hear when you’re on a tour! He gave us a very interesting and animated discussion of his favorite place in the world; Death Valley! He had interesting things to say, and was absolutely hilarious. A popular quote of his we repeated a lot on the tour was “I open my front door, NATIONAL PARK, WOO!, I open my back door NATIONAL PARK, WOO!”. He ended up being such a positive influence that me and 1 other person on the tour ended up becoming Junior Park Ranger’s (which is meant for kids, but I consider myself an almost 30 year old kid). It turns out that people love him enough that there is even a Facebook page dedicated to him!

To sum it up, the whole tour was amazing! We made some great stops with highlights like taking a Helicopter over the Grand Canyon, a Catamaran ride in San Francisco, and more. The ultimate highlight for me however, was going somewhere different. I love bragging to my friends that I’m a Junior Park Ranger for Death Valley! Thanks to our Guide Kelly Kissling and Intrepid tours for a great trip!

Death Valley is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

For more information on travelling to Death Valley, why not contact: Raymond Caines, a travel consultant with Flight Centre based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia who can be reached at 1-877-461-4212.

Despite its small size, New Zealand is crammed with natural beauty and has an incredible amount to offer; the only complaint travellers have is that they wish they had more time to spend there! With a tremendously friendly, honest and helpful population, our flightie Lili Gosselin quickly discovered what makes this country so incredible and why she can’t wait to go back:

Greetings! Kia Ora! I have just returned from my travels to New Zealand with Contiki and I can’t stop beaming from the incredible experience I had. I’m already planning my next trip back!

There are plenty of reasons to take the venture overseas to this stunning country; the picturesque scenery, the beauty of the Maori culture, the dynamic variation of culinary delights, and of course the adrenaline pumping thrills! What hit me most was the laid back, welcoming smiles and attitudes of the people who live there.

I was immediately struck by the hospitality of Kiwis (as New Zealanders are referred as) once I arrived into the Christchurch airport. The Contiki representatives were so excited to have us, and were completely accommodating. Murray (our tour operator) was as cheerful, welcoming and upbeat as they come. We arrived bright and early at 9:00 am Christchurch time (which was 1 am my time!) so needless to say we were all pretty exhausted.

After our free day in Christchurch and encountering many colourful people in pubs and shops we headed back to our hotel.  The Bealey hotel hosted our stay in Christchurch and is owned by a retired All Blacks rugby player. As the All Blacks are practically royalty in New Zealand, we were quite delighted and had the pleasure of his presence for dinner. That evening we enjoyed an over extended welcome from our hosts followed by a scrumptious dinner filled with beer and local cuisine.  Our hosts took the time to get to know us, and as we slowly cleared out of the restaurant to retire for the evening, they switched tables taking the time to speak to as many of us as possible. Pictures were shared of families and loved ones, jokes were exchanged, and laughter was abundant. I found this to be the trend in all my encounters with Kiwi’s; they generally care about others.

One of the benefits of being a traveller here for 8 days, was waking up at the crack of dawn to seize the day and make the most of our time. Boarding the coach at 7:00 am wasn’t so bad when we were greeted by our animated driver Kevin. His high spirited perception of life complimented the whole New Zealand experience. Being in the presence of two local New Zealanders, combined with the breath taking scenery on our drive to Queenstown, made 9 hours just fly by. Stopping along the way for a few photo opportunities and making time for a meat pie or ice cream, was a bonus as well!

Everywhere we went, every excursion we did, and every person we had the pleasure of encountering, welcomed us with grins from ear to ear and were so excited to share their beautiful country with us.

Throughout the tour, day by day Kevin and Murray were joking around and filling our brains with knowledge of their country.  They positive spin on life in general inspired me. Murrays referral to rain as “liquid sunshine”; another perfect example of the upbeat attitude that all Kiwis I encountered have. They are proud of their heritage and extremely patriotic (as they should be!)

To sum up my 8 day adventure, being a kiwi consists of a genuine smile, an appreciation for nature, a lust for adventure, and a positive outlook on life. Being surrounded by the captivating laid back way of life and good natured spirit, had me bringing uplifting energies back home to Canada.

No matter what type of traveller you are , I guarantee that you will find comfort in the jovial spirit both islands have to offer :) I know I did !

Looking for more information on travelling to New Zealand? Contact Lili Gosselin, a Team Leader with Flight Centre based in St. Albert, Alberta who can be reached at 1 866 725 5397. Book select Contiki tours to New Zealand with Flight Centre by September 30th, 2011 and receive up to $200* off per person.

Joseph Arsenault recently went to France to explore the beautiful city of Nice with Trafalgar Tours and shares with us the amazing sights, sounds, and tantalizing dishes he experienced while there. This one will definitely make your mouth water for some french cuisine:

I just completed a breathtaking tour of France with Trafalgar Tours.  France is always spectacular, but a few of the little extras our tour provided really added a certain je ne sais quoi.

One dinner stands out in particular in my mind.  On our first night in Nice on the hilly Mediterranean coast, our tour had scheduled a “Be My Guest” dinner.  These are special “event” meals included in nearly all Trafalgar tours that are hosted by a local restaurateur and combine a great local meal with a more personal and cultural aspect – always a trip highlight, and ours was no exception.

Our spacious tour coach brought us to Nice’s Haute Corniche, the scenic, winding road that traces the crest of the hills behind the city.

We arrived at our destination, a racehorse farm-turned restaurant run by the same family for five generations.  As the owner told us the place’s history (and introduced us to the cat!) we were served a welcome cocktail of Champagne with creme de cassis and the local tapenade on the terrace.  The pace was leisurely, allowing us to fully take in the panorama of the medieval hilltop village of Eze in the distance beneath us.  Spectacular!

When we headed in for dinner, it was worth tearing ourselves away from the view!  After the appetizer they brought in succulent roast leg of lamb. They brought out the meat in a bed of rosemary and other local herbs, which they then lit on fire to our surprise.  I love some theatrics with my meal!  Once the little fragrant fires burned out, they carved and served, and it was every bit as juicy and flavourful as you can imagine.

All in all, a perfect evening – and one that I don’t think I could easily have arranged myself.  Thanks Trafalgar!

Joseph Arsenault is a Travel Manager with our Corporate Traveller division based in Toronto and can be reached by e-mail or calling 1 866 928 0619.

The most attractive of American cities and regularly voted the best city in the USA, San Francisco is adored because of its colorful history, dramatic setting and its laissez-faire atmosphere. But aside from all this, it’s place I have wanted to visit since the days of Full House. Judge me all you want, but it’s been my dream to have a picnic in the park overlooking the Painted Ladies and the San Francisco city scape. Needless to say, I am pleased to check that one off my list now!

After exploring the city and spending some quality time at the Golden Gate Bridge, it was time to head over to the Ferry Building Marketplace for my Urban Adventure. I was pleased to learn that Intrepid Travel offers three different Urban Adventures in San Francisco, and after much deliberation, I opted for the Embarcadero, Ferry Building and Fortunes Tour (let’s be honest, anything involving food always wins in my world).

We met up with our tour group outside of the Ferry Building which is where it all began. It was really interesting to learn about the history of San Francisco. Shortly after the Spanish settlers arrived, the discovery of gold soon followed and San Fran was the place the be. At one point, they had 170 ferries arriving every DAY! Eventually this number dropped through the years and in 2003 they completely refurbished what was a broken down building to attract vendors to start using it as a Farmers Market.

And Farmers Market it was! My eyes lit up the moment we arrived. I was in HEAVEN. We did so many tastings with different vendors but what I loved most about it was exclusivity of it all. Our tour was able to get special one-on-one time with vendors who put aside goodie bags just for us!

We tasted the most delicious chocolate from Recchuiti, sampled all types of olive oils from Storehouse, experienced the biggest mushrooms I’ve ever seen from Far West Fungi, and sampled cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery.

After filling our bellies with yummy treats, we headed out to the financial district for a walking tour. Being a photo nerd, I really enjoyed getting a chance to see all the amazing architecture San Francisco has to offer. When it comes to urban spaces, they know what’s up.

We ended our tour at Yerba Beuna Gardens. I was delighted to discover a lovely tea lounge which overlooks a beautiful park. We ended our tour here at this very interesting art piece which upon first glance looks like a permanent structure. However, if you find the right seat directly across from it- the man on the globe slowly sits down as you sit down in your chair.

If you’re ever in San Francisco be sure to sign up for this Urban Adventure! It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon and learn something new about this amazing city.

Looking to plan your next adventure to San Francisco? Get in touch with one of our agents at 1-866-502-4605 who would be happy to help you out. From airfares to car rentals and tours, we’re always here to assist you.

Most people have the dream to visit Egypt at some point in their life and for Sarah LaFontaine this was no different. Not only did she fulfill a personal goal, but she shares with us how the people she met and the places she travelled to, all contributed to her life-changing trip through Egypt with On the Go Tours:

I have just returned from the most amazing trip of my life. I sat in the Vancouver airport not sure how this trip would change me. Egypt has always fascinated me. From the time I was a kid, I would dream of what it would be like to stand in front of a pyramid but I never thought I would get there.

Backtrack to Christmas 2009: My mom gets a box of photo albums from my uncle. In these albums are photos over 60 years old, dating back to World War 2. My Grandad was 18 years old, and enlisted in the British Army, and stationed in Cairo. Here are all these cracked, black & whites of a young man standing in front of the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and with a camel. I knew that my Grandad was in the war, but I had no idea he had been to Egypt! It was then that I knew I needed to do this trip. My Grandad had been so important to me as a kid, and knowing he had been there, it quickly became a personal goal, and one that I would quickly achieve.

Flash forward and there I was sitting in the airport waiting for that flight. I won’t bore you with details about the flight, because it’s not always about how you get there, it’s that you get there, and step foot in a new country. We were greeted at the airport by our local guide Shady, who was there to transport us to our hotel the Oasis. Seeing the hotel in the daylight was beautiful. Palm trees every where, immaculate gardens, and the feeling of the sun shining on me.

The next day our guide Sam took us out to Saqqara where we saw the Step Pyramid. We walked around the complex looking out across the haze to the Bent Pyramid and beyond. Going with a group tour like On-The-Go made me feel so prepared for the characters you meet along the way. You will get asked to ride a camel, but don’t do it unless your guide says to. You will get asked to take a photo, or have your photo taken, but again don’t do it unless you have change to give them. If you ever go to Egypt, understand that so much of the country is poor and the main way that they make a living is through tourists. We went on to the Giza Pyramids, and rode a camel to the Sphinx. I can’t tell you how crazy it feels to stand in front of these huge structures, look at how huge each block is, and wonder how normal people like you and I, put them together piece by piece. There is a magic to Egypt that can’t be described, but knowing that my Grandad stepped foot in the same places was something I can take with me my entire life.

We took an overnight train to Luxor and thank goodness for 1^st class sleeper cabins! If you have the opportunity to upgrade, do it.  It’s a fairly long trip, but if you have the comfort of a bed, it is so much better than trying to sleep in a chair.

When we finally arrived into Luxor, we were put up in an amazing hotel, right on the Nile. The Nile Palace was so comfortable, and the pool was incredible in that 42 degree heat! We got plenty of free time to enjoy the sun, but there was enough to do that we were never bored. While in Luxor, I had the opportunity to take a hot air balloon during a sunrise over the Nile and the Valley of the Kings, dance with locals after a safe landing, take a felucca down the Nile to Luxor Temple, visit King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, purchase custom jewellery from a wonderful jeweller, and decline many marriage proposals.

A long bus trip will take you from Luxor to Dahab, where you get to spend a number of glorious days on the Red Sea. One word: Incredible! This small coastal town looks across the Red Sea at the mountains of Saudi Arabia. Here, you have the joy of eating at so many delicious restaurants that are lined up along the waters edge. The people are so welcoming and friendly, and you will find most of the cuisine is Bedouin inspired. For Vegetarians like me, food in Egypt is wonderful, and you will never find it hard to eat. I don’t recommend eating too many fresh fruits and vegetables unless you can rinse them with bottled water, but anything cooked is wonderful. If you love seafood, you will love Egypt. Everything is fresh, and made to order.

In Dahab, some of the highlights were snorkelling the Blue Hole (wow!), having dinner in a Bedouin Village and dancing with a Bedouin, climbing Mt. Sinai and watching the sun rise from the top, and the day we chartered a boat. Explaining this all in words, does not even close begin to describe the actual experience. It is different for everyone, whether or not it is spiritual.

To be honest, a huge part of the trip was about who I got to spend it with. I made friends from places all over the world. These people all changed my life, and we got to share a life-changing trip together. I learned new music, new phrases (Mahabesh el gibna), new things about what I can actually achieve (8km of uphill and stairs, and then 8km back down in one trip), and so much more.

If you want to change your life, enhance your life, or just have the experience of a lifetime, Egypt is where you get to see that begin.

Sarah Lafontaine is an International Travel Consultant at our Mayfair location in Victoria, BC and can be reached by e-mail or calling 1-866-295-4417.

As an independent traveller who had her opinions about tours, Stephanie McCann recently experienced New Zealand with tour company Topdeck. Not only did the trip open up her eyes to this type of experience, but it was the perfect playground for a photographer like herself to capture some amazing shots and experience some breathtaking scenery:

I have just returned from my first escorted tour and was lucky enough to join Topdeck in a tour of the North Island in New Zealand! With a group of 33 we filled our coach and hit the road with our amazing tour leader Danni and fearless bus driver Luke. I’m so glad I was able to experience the North Island with Topdeck; their newly revised itinerary had some amazing highlights and exclusives that made the trip unique and unforgettable. Here are some of the highlights:

Coromandel

Coromandel is a newly added stop on Topdeck’s New Zealand Route, and is a lovely town where the locals themselves getaway.  Known for its lush rain forests and long golden beaches, Coromandel is a melting pot of natural beauty.

We had the opportunity to go out on a retired mussel barge and explore the bay and the mussel farms The views as the sun set were stunning; the gulls swooping in to feast on fresh mussels and red snapper.  We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Pepper Tree in Coromandel Town, (you have to eat here if you’re ever in town, the lamb was delicious).

A five minute drive from our accommodation is the Driving Creek Railway. This is New Zealand’s only narrow gauge mountain railway.

This scenic track zig-zags its way up the mountain, through the forest, traveling through tunnels and across bridges, arriving at the aptly named Eyefull Tower at the summit; offering stunning panoramic views of the gulf.  Throughout the journey you can spot pottery works nestled into the woods created by owner, Barry Brickell. The whole ride takes about an hour start to finish.

On our way out of town we made a stop at the Hot Water Beach, a geo thermally active beach

This beautiful expanse of sea and sand breathes relaxation.  In one section of the beach a handful of people gather with their shovels and dig holes that release the geo thermally heated water to the surface, perfect for resting tired muscles. To cool off take a quick jump in the refreshing ocean and you could hop back and forth all day.

Marae Stay

We spent our second night in Rotorua on a traditional Maori Marae on Lake Rotoiti. A Marae is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes. This slice of culture was so real and I have never experienced anything like it. I felt honoured to be a part of it. The Marae was a living, breathing, working Marae, so we were ceremoniously welcomed on to the land.

After Danni briefs us on the welcoming process and teaches us a children’s Maori song in record time, the women lead the group in a slow precession through the gate toward the meeting house. We stop at the entrance and allow the spirits we carry with us to remain outside, we will be protected by the spirits of the Marae.

We remove our shoes and walk into the Marae, filling the benches back to front so the men are now in front of the women.  We are greeted by the people of the Marae, they sing their song and we sing ours in response. We’ve been accepted! Each of us preforms the hongi with the people of the Marae. This is a traditional Maori greeting where two people touch foreheads and noses sharing knowledge and breath of life.  After the ceremony, the welcoming is all finalized by eating in the dining hall as a family. We are no longer visitors; we are part of the land, and we will always be welcome at this Marae.

We slept on mats on the floor of the meeting house, protected by the spirits. Traditional carvings of the gods and ancestors surround us, and beautiful Maori patterns cover the walls and ceiling. This place is so peaceful and even though I shared the room with 32 other people, I think it was the best sleep of the trip.

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is New Zealand’s oldest National Park and it is recognized by UNESCO as a cultural and natural world heritage site. The park is most famously known for Mt. Ngauruhoe (the more common name is Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings).

The highlight of my trip was the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike. 17km up an active volcano 1900m above sea level? Yeah I can do that… Tongariro had been cursed with rain and snow the few weeks prior to our arrival making the Alpine Crossing extremely dangerous to hike, however we lucked out when we woke up the morning of the hike to clear skies as far as you can see.

At 6:30am I open my curtains to reveal the sun rising over Mount Doom in the distance, I get chills thinking I’m going to be up there today.

I pack a lunch, lots of snacks and as much water as my roommate and I can carry. The Skotel Alpine Resort was gracious enough to loan us gloves, hats, coats, slush pants and really whatever else we needed in case the weather turned bad.  We wolfed down lunch, and head out to our shuttle. Of the 33 people on the tour, only one third of us brave the looming hike.

We arrive at the Mangatepopo Car Park where we will embark on our journey, there is an info hut and 2 toilets, there will only be 2 more sets of toilets on the whole 17km hike, the terrain is vast and there is no cover, (tip: use them!)

The hike begins at a very steady gradient, the landscape is barren, the shrubs and grasses are short and brown, It’s no wonder this was chosen as Mordor; it has a slightly eerie feel to it. Mt Ngauruhoe looms to our right, as we’re entering winter in New Zealand, so the top of the Volcano is adorned with a touch of snow. The path we’re on follows a small creek, and we reach Soda Springs (about a third of the hike) with relative ease.

Ahead I can see our path winding along the slope of Tongariro. The impending hike worries me, but the serene beauty captivates me.  Our shuttle driver told us we’d know when we reached the half way mark because we’ll be huffing and puffing as we’ll have just completed the Devils staircase. From afar, the stairs look manageable, but they really do earn their name.  The stairs were endless, and when you thought you’d completed them a two minute walk uphill revealed more and more and more. We stopped many times to catch our breaths and regained what little energy we had left. Our leader, Danni, urged us on like sheep. We continued to enjoy clear skies, but in the distance we could see an ominous patch of fog and clouds, so we quickened our pace to beat whatever may come with the clouds. We reach the South Crater where you can choose to summit Tongariro or Ngauruhoe, but we were all content with the mapped hike.

The South Crater was a welcome break to the staircase that we had just completed, it was about two kilometers of flat surface, offering incredible views of Mount Doom. We caught our last glimpses of the volcano as it was swallowed by fog.

The crater’s edge turns upward and we face the final ascent to the Red Crater. The volcano’s red gravel is loose and mixed with ice; it slips under our feet as we pass. The fog engulfs us, the clouds bring a bitter cold and a wind that gusts so quickly it feels as though I might blow away.

In minutes the weather changes again and although its still cool the clouds clear and we’re at the peak, the Red Crater. The view is awe inspiring, the rock that forms the crater is so red its unreal, snow caresses the groves and the peaks.

A little further and we are standing above the Emerald Lakes, the water rich in minerals takes on an unearthly turquoise colour. The view in all directions is the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever laid eyes on. All the effort it took to get up here was worth it, I would do it over and over to be part of the landscape again.  This is half way, we sit by the lakes and have our lunches, and then we begin out descent.

On the way down I can see the hut in the distance, bits of the path wind back and forth in front of it, it looks deceivingly close.  As we descend the plants get a little taller, a little thicker. We reach the Ketetahi hut and welcome a place to rest our feet, only about six kilometers remain. A few kilometers from the end it begins to rain just as we enter the shelter of the rainforest. We’re surrounded by tall ferns and the air feels so refreshing to breathe, I didn’t realize the affect the altitude had until I’d come down.

Although I’d just endured the most amazing terrain and witnessed the most stunning landscapes, I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw the car park peek through the trees with our little shuttle waiting.

This trip opened my eyes to escorted touring, I had considered myself an independent traveller, and I had my opinions on tours, but after this experience I realize how incredibly worthwhile it is. I’m already planning my next tour with Topdeck!

Want more information on New Zealand or the Topdeck experience? Stephanie McCann is an International Travel Consultant at our Mic Mac Mall location in Darmouth, Nova Scota and can be reached by E-mail or calling 1-877-461-4212