Adventure Travel: 2007
Hiking in the Swiss Alps, skiing in the Dolomites, hut-to-hut backpacking, cycling in the Netherlands and more. There are lots of fun active adventures to enjoy Europe. What are your favorites? Share your tips and advice here.
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Biking in Switzerland
We just got back from a cross country bike tour in Switzerland with a company called Bike Switzerland (www.bikeswitzerland.com) and I couldn't believe how cheap it was. We saw a lot of Brits and French and found out that the Swiss franc has lost value agains the Euro too and so Switzerland has suddenly become a cheap place to vacation.
John
Iowa City, Iowa USA Sat 11/10/2007
Work4Travel Froniter Club????
Has anyone heard of the "travel and work" company known as Work4Travel Frontier Club? They have a great website, and if you pay $35 for a 2-year membership, they hook you up with amazing places and opportunties all around the world! Most of which pay you, and will cover airline fares, etc. These include conservation jobs, cruise ships, ski resorts, working at Oktoberfest in Munich, you name it. HOWEVER, I paid my $35 and havent gotten any membership number, access to the member site like it promises, or anything.
Is anyone else in this club or know how I can directly get ahold of this organization??
Amy
Monroe, WA USA Wed 10/17/2007
Exploring unmapped caves in the Vezere Valley Dordogne
I spent 3 wonderful nights at B&B Ferme de Tayac, which I saw recommended on this site. I must say it is the nicest, most friendly B&B I have stayed at.
While i was there I booked a tour with "Walking Dordogne" I can honestly say it was the best 40 Euro ever spent. We explored at least 20 unmapped caves, numerous shelters, rock dwellings remains of an underground river, and a cavern that was absolutely amazing with stunning rock formations. The guide de Paulus is a real character, and really knows how to make sure you have a great time, he is funny, very patient, and knows what he is doing, and speaks English.
If you are planning on visiting the Dordogne, I highly recommend staying at B&B Ferme de Tayac in Les Eyzies, and doing a trip with de Paulus.
Walking Dordogne. www.walkingdordogne.com
Gavin Hopkins
West Palm Beach, FL USA Mon 08/06/2007
Black Forest Hike
An outdoor adventure I'd like to post here is the one I took last September in the Black Forest where I hiked an 80 mile portion of the Ostweg. I made my way by train to the small walled town of Villingen and started my hike northward. That evening storm clouds formed and just before it started to rain I luckily found an elevated hunters stand with a canopy. There I spent the night dry and snug above the forest floor and enjoyed a good meal, wine and music on my walkman. Early that morning I headed out and soon came across a castle ruin then continued on through forest, farms, and small villages until I arrived in the town of Alpirsbach and checked in the hostel there. The next day was another wonderful day of hiking to the town of Freundenstadt where I spent the night at the hostel there. After the next days hike I spent the night on a comfy spot overlooking the very medieval looking town of Berneck. The next day I ended my trek in the town of Calw where I met the train that took my exhausted 55 year old body to a castle turned hostel in the town of Pforzheim. In general the Ostweg is a trail I highly recommend. It is well marked and maintained and the scenery is everchanging from forest to farm and villages with lots of interesting sights such as castle ruins and panoramic views. It is easy enough for the beginner hiker and challenging enough for the experienced. So Happy trails to you.
Kurt
Sheffield Lake, Ohio USA Sun 03/04/2007
Canal Boat Trip
My wife and I, along with two other couples, rented a canal boat on the Llangollen canal for a week last summer. We had a great time putting along the canal, traveling from town to town. It was a nice relaxing vacation in the slow lane. The boats are fairly easy to operate and have showers, a kitchen and dinette area, as well as seperate berthing areas. It is crowded in a narrow boat but you really don't spend that much time inside the boat on a summer vacation. Boats range in size to sleep from 2 to 8 people. www.canaljunction.com has lots of info for this type of travel in Great Britain.
Seattle, WA USA Fri 02/09/2007
Barge/Boat Rental
My husband and I spent a week on a canal in England on a canal boat from the Black Prince company. They have several locations. All equipment was top knotch and the people very helpful. The canal boats can carry small or large parties. We went in May. It was a good time to go weather-wise and crowd-wise.
Ann
Exton, PA USA Mon 01/29/2007
barges
I haven't been "bareboat" barging, but we went on a bike and barge tour last summer in Holland. We had a wonderful time. There were 16 on the boat, with a guide, a mate/cook, and the captain. The same barge can be chartered for a group. The food was very good. The guide was a bit ditzy. The captain/owner was delightful. And our fellow travelers (mostly Europeans) were a lot of fun.
The rooms on the boat are tiny. The boat we went on, the Elodie, is "comfort class" which means every cabin has an itty bitty bath with shower, and no one has to sleep on bunks. It would be a delightful extended family trip, I think. The tour was reasonably priced, and we had a good enough time that we're going back this summer.
Kris
IL USA Sun 01/28/2007
Barges
Has anyone gone "bareboat" barging(is that a real verb) in any of the European countries? If you have, we would appreciate any tips you might have. We are planning a family holiday, with members ranging in age from 20 to 80
Jaye
Victoria, B.C. Canada Wed 01/24/2007
Hiking in Switzerland
Just got back from a guided hiking trip in Switzerland. After doing that, I realize that anyone can do it without paying someone to guide them.
The trail system in Switzerland is so easy to use.
we hiked out of Kandersteg. There is a tourist office on the main street, and most of the hotels offer a map for the hiking trails.
We walked from the hotel each day, starting our hike from a different end of town for different views of the valley.
Simply following the yellow signs (that show the direction and length of the hike) and the red/white strips painted on the rocks along the way...anyone can do day hikes.
I"ll go back on my own next time - I'll save some money and I wont' have to wait for a group!
Ellen
USA Sat 01/13/2007