Profits from the trekking company were first put into community work with additional donations from trekkers, mountaineers and mountain-based trusts. Doug took on many more projects (40), established the Registered Charity Community Action Nepal, re-named STC as Community Action Treks Ltd, (CAT) to more formally establish CAT (its Trekkers’ Code offers really important info and advice)as the trading arm of Community Action Nepal (CAN) – www.canepal.org.uk. Its work at Walung has covered all areas of its work including health, education, community development and heritage. CAN:

• built the Health Post, the Gompa and installed pipes (three kilometres) for clean water.
• financed and oversaw the building of the large Gompa and its on-going maintenance.
• runs adult education classes in the Gompa and supports the Mother’s Group.
• funds two nurses, a helper, provides the medicines, instruments/equipment and first aid training.
• supported the community to develop a telephone service based in the Health Post which is now generating a steady income to help sustain CAN village infrastructure.

Footwear – a crucial factor in making the most of your trip. Lightweight, sturdy boots, or shoes, should be worn for some time before you leave to ensure the fit and comfort offered suits you – blisters and sore feet will ruin your trek. A pair of sandals or trainers for evening wear will give your feet – and footwear! – more of a chance to recover. Comfy socks that wick sweat away from your feet and ensure extra padding in key areas are a sound investment; 3 or 4 pairs is a good idea. Keep a pair to wear whilst you sleep.

Clothing – from hot days to chilly nights, you need a range of items that will cope with the variations, be comfortable to wear and durable. Flexible base layer tops that that be worn on their own or as part of a layering system are at the heart of your trekking wardrobe. A  mid, insulating layer, possibly windproof, will help to keep you warm and, if really cold conditions are expected, can be supplemented with more layers as appropriate. It’s a bonus if your clothing can be washed easily and dried quickly. Even more so if it wicks sweat away from your skin to avoid chafing and maintains comfort by avoiding clammy wet clothing next to your skin. Don’t forget gloves and a hat as cold fingers, ears and head can end up with you feeling pretty miserable. A down jacket offers a great deal of comfort when you’re relaxing in the evening and a boost to morale on chilly mornings.

Sleeping – don’t skimp or take a chance on your sleeping bag being warm enough. Night after night of being too cold to sleep properly will take the pleasure out of any trip so err on the side of caution. A sleeping mat will insulate you from the cold ground as well as being more comfortable to lie on than a tent groundsheet. A sleeping bag liner helps to protect your bag from sweat, grime and accidents and is far easier to wash and dry than the bag itself.

Carrying – a duffle bag or large travel pack is the easiest way to transport most of your kit whilst a 30 litre capacity rucksack should cope easily with the water, gear and spare clothing you’ll need to carry yourself each day.

Photo credit: www.southasiatreks.com

]]> http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/kit-advice-for-successful-treks/feed/ 0 http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/ten-top-tips-for-responsible-travel/ http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/ten-top-tips-for-responsible-travel/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 10:11:53 +0000 admin http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/?p=364 With the freedom to travel comes a responsibility to the people we visit whether trekking in the world’s mountain ranges or travelling through Asia on a gap year. ‘Community Tourism’ is about tourism that benefits local people. It aims to include and benefit local communities, particularly indigenous peoples and villagers in the rural South (i.e. ‘developing world’). For instance, villagers might host tourists in their village, managing the scheme communally and sharing the profits. There are many types of community tourism project, including many in which the ‘community’ works with a commercial tour operator, but all community tourism projects should give local people a fair share of the benefits/profits and a say in deciding how incoming tourism is managed.

Tours featured in the Ethical Travel Guide – www.tourismconcern.org.uk- open up a world of adventure and opportunity. Visit the Amazon… trek through the Andes or the Sinai… experience the magic of the central Australian desert. Good community-based tours take you beyond mainstream tourism. You’ll meet people from different countries and learn far more about them and their culture than on conventional tours. You’ll feel better knowing that your visit is genuinely helping your hosts. And if you want to simply lie on a beach…. well, there are tours that feature some of the best beaches on the planet.

According to Tourism Concern, community tourism should:

1. Be run with the involvement and consent of local communities; local people should participate in planning and managing the tour.
2. Give a fair share of profits back to the local community; ideally, this will include community projects (health, schools, etc).
3. Involve communities rather than individuals; working with individuals can disrupt social structures.
4. Be environmentally sustainable; local people must be involved if conservation projects are to succeed
5. Respect traditional culture and social structures.
6. Have mechanisms to help communities cope with the impact of western tourists.
7. Keep groups small to minimise cultural and environmental impact.
8. Brief tourists before the trip on appropriate behaviour.
9. Not make local people perform inappropriate ceremonies, etc.
10. Leave communities alone if they don’t want tourism; people should have the right to say ‘no’ to tourism.

]]> http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/ten-top-tips-for-responsible-travel/feed/ 0 http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/essential-kit-for-jungle-treks/ http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/2012/05/essential-kit-for-jungle-treks/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 10:39:57 +0000 admin http://www.adventuretravelkit.co.uk/blog/?p=348 Trekking in the jungle brings its own challenges. Ensure that you step up to the mark by taking the correct kit:

1. Lightweight long sleeve tops and trekking trousers in neutral colours to avoid insect bites
2. Wear sturdy footwear that you a comfortable walking in
3. A sun hat with a wide brim and sunglasses
4. Use a good backpack with a waterproof cover
5. Wearing a poncho when it rains allows good air circulation and can also protect your pack
6. A waterproof  head torch for nighttime and dense forest cover
7. Extra drinking water and a water treatment kit
8. Snacks for lifting energy and morale
9. A simple first aid kit that will allow you to treat cuts and scrape promptly, avoiding infection
10. Plenty of sun screen in a high UV factor and preferably waterproof

Photo Courtesey of borneo-ecotrekking.com

1. You are most at risk from mosquito bites as the sun goes down so take extra care at dusk
2. As mosquitoes are attracted to bright clothing, wear neutral colours when trekking
3. Although difficult in the heat, try not to expose skin – wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts
4. Carry a lightweight mosquito net with hanging options and use it
5. Sweet-smelling soap and shampoo will attract mosquitoes so avoid using them
6. DEET is the most effective way to prevent mosquito bites so keep clothing and exposed skin ‘topped up’; pay close attention to the manufacturer’s advice

1. Don’t trek on your own in remote areas
2. Let somebody know where you’re going and how long to plan to take on the trek
3. Wear sturdy footwear and watch your step!
4. Keep on trails as it’s so easy to lose your bearings
5. Check the weather forecast (ask locals) and avoid the monsoon season
6. Don’t waste early mornings with a lie-in; get up and improve your chances of spotting wildlife.
7. Although South East Asia has quite a variety of poisonous snakes, most travelers rarely see one on the trail. Snakes are not normally active through the day but take care where you put your feet and hands or sit down.
8. Leeches can exploit the tiniest gaps in your defences to get inside shoes and clothing; spraying DEET on clothes and ankles should help deter them. If you spot one feeding on you, don’t pinch it off but flick it off sharply with a knife blade.
9. As ticks carry disease, it’s important to check yourself regularly, particularly after walking through long grass; always check yourself thoroughly after walking through tall grass. If you find one, remove it slowly by gripping the head with tweezers.
10. Stay cool and drink a lot of clean water – little and often is the key; Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are problems that quickly can turn serious.

Report co-author and Executive Director of Ethical Traveler Jeff Greenwald said, “We sincerely hope that travelers will take this list into account while planning their  travels. By visiting the places honored here, we can enjoy amazing journeys and cross-cultural encounters while showing our respect for countries that care about human rights and the environment.” Some choices, as in past years, are controversial. “No country, anywhere, is perfect,” notes report co-author Natalie Lefevre. “This report showcases the most ethical developing countries, based on dozens of sources and extensive research. But no place gets perfect marks in all aspects.”

Ethical Traveler is a California-based non-profit project of the Earth Island Institute. The group is dedicated to educating travellers about the social and environmental impact of their decisions, showing how travel can be a potent form of diplomacy and giving travellers a forum ‘through which their united voices can serve the world community’.

The seeds for Ethical Traveler were planted in 1996, when author and journalist Jeff Greenwald – Ethical Traveler’s founder – wrote a piece for the Washington Post supporting the boycott of tourism to Burma. In the essay, he called upon the community of travellers to “vote with their wings,” and use their combined power to chastise the military government that had imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi. In August 2002, at a reading promoting his anthology Scratching the Surface, Greenwald was asked about Burma. A lively discussion ensued and the idea of a travellers’ alliance to address such global issues was greeted with great enthusiasm.

Heat cramps – recognised by the sufferer complaining of severe cramps in the legs and abdomen. As they’re caused by losing too much water and salts by sweating, drink plenty of water and/or rehydration solution and rest in shade.

Heat exhaustion – excessive sweating, dilated pupils, dizziness, blurred vision, symptoms of shock such as cold, clammy skin, shallow breathing, vomiting and even unconsciousness are the symptoms. Treatment is to rest the patient in a cool place with feet elevated and loosening clothing. Unless vomiting, give plenty of water and rehydration solution. However, if the patient is unconscious, place him or her in the recovery position and seek medical help urgently.

Heat stroke – otherwise known as sunstroke, this potentially life-threatening condition occurs when the body’s temperature rises far above normal. Unlike heat exhaustion, the skin is extremely hot and flushed but can be dry or sweaty. Other possible symptoms are noisy breathing, rapid and weakening pulse, restlessness, headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, convulsions and unconsciousness. Clearly serious, summon medical help and try to cool the patient by removing outer clothing, covering him or her with wet sheets and sponging down with cool water, especially around neck, armpits and groin.

Get organised

With the vast range of options available, it’s easy to accumulate loads of information very quickly. To avoid a jumble of brochures, magazines, print outs and scraps of paper thrown in a box, start a simple filing system. By country, company or trip – you’re the boss

WWW is a seductive resource

Browsing your way through dozens of intriguing websites can easily eat up hours and end up in frustration when you’re trying to recall where you read about a trip later on. Setting up folders before you start bookmarking sites gives you a head start on keeping track of your research.

Beyond the Internet
Books and magazines offer wide perspectives on the character of countries and adventures. Libraries are useful resources but use a notebook to record leads and ideas.

Where and when
If you have an idea of where you want to go, how and when, then you’ll have a clear focus. On the other hand, if there are loads of ideas floating around, early research could focus on the best times to visit specific countries, when to avoid them and how much time you would need. Often, such early planning rules out some dreams saving time and frustration.

Making a shortlist
Once you’ve sorted where, when and how, you can start picking through operators to whittle down the options. This is when your organisation will pay dividends, especially when cross-referencing opportunities. Check out your shortlist on travel forums.

Narrowing options
With only a handful to pursue now, you can start working through them. Keep track of all your interactions and how you felt about them. If one is casual in dealing with your enquiry, might that attitude extend to managing your holiday? It’s surprising how soon clear leaders can emerge.

Don’t be shy
Ask questions. Basics include:

• How long have you been running and who owns the business?
• Do the owners work in the company day-to-day?
• Do you run your own trips directly or use local operators? Who are they?
• What about deposits and cancellations?
• I have to book time off work far ahead. What if not enough people sign up for my trip?
• What is your advice on travel insurance? Any specific aspects to consider?
• Your groups are small but how are they usually made up?
• Tell me more about how fit I need to be and what happens if I can’t keep up with the group?
• What is your policy on responsible/sustainable travel?

Get specific

• How long has this tour been running?
• What is included?
• What is not included?
• Where do you start the trip? How do we get there? What happens if I’m delayed?
• Can you tell me about where we stay and facilities on the trip?
• Can you cope with my dietary needs?
• Who will the guides be and do they speak English?
• Why should I book a holiday with you?

Compare and reflect
Weigh up your options, feedback and experience on your journey so far. Rather than being a chore the whole scheming stage should be part of the fun. Sort out any lingering reservations with your favourite option.

Push the button!

Whether online, on the phone or in writing, get that trip booked and start pulling your kit together!

Photo credit: South Asia Trekking

1. Trudging around a town or city with a huge pack on your back can soon become a pain so check out the possibility of leaving your luggage, locked, at a bus or railway station in the centre. Barging around bashing people with your backpack is no way to engage with locals so consider a tough cable and combination lock to secure your bag when you have to leave it unattended for a short while – shopping, loo breaks, and so on – or on the roof of a bus.
2. Of course, the answer is to be ruthless about what you take on trek, resisting the urge to buy a huge pack and then filling it. There’s no need to pack loads of clothes, for instance, as modern fabrics are light, easy care, quick drying and comfortable in a wide range of conditions. As the idea of travel is to enjoy the trip, a little thought and planning can reduce pack size and weight dramatically. Do you really need loads of camera gear, a laptop or e-reader? In reality, they’re all barriers to enjoying the experience.
3. A lightweight, medium-sized plastic box with a lid is not an obvious thing to pack but is really handy for packing easily crushed items, including food, and has loads of other uses – wash bowl or waterproof container, for instance.
4. A water purifying device or, at least, tablets can help avoid a trip turning into a nightmare of diarrhoea and sickness and avoid the need to take risks with drinking water.
5. Inflatable travel pillows aren’t just for plane seats. They take little space and can transform opportunities for a nap.
6. Leave white clothing behind unless its quick drying so can be washed overnight.  Anything that could be interpreted as a military uniform is a no-no in many parts of the world, so be careful with khaki and olive green clothing.
7. Photocopy all your documents, including passport and medical insurance, and stash them in your pack. There’s no harm in having another set hidden in the clothes you wear, separate to the original items, along with emergency cash.
8. Packing a snack in your pack can be a morale-booster in lean times. Pick something that isn’t irresistible or it’s not likely to be there when you need it!
9. It pays to carry safe water with you whenever you can – it’ll never be wasted and saves being forced to take chances.
10. Several sheets of toilet paper tucked away in a plastic bag can save embarrassment or worse when ‘caught short’.