KE Adventure Travel gives expert opinion on where adventure travellers will be heading in 2018.

1. Bhutan – for entry-level trekking on the Royal Orchid Trail to 'The Last Shangri-la'

Why? Bhutan is a traditional Himalayan kingdom where a traditional Buddhist culture is carefully welcoming limited numbers of travellers. KE Adventure Travel now offers the most comprehensive range of treks in this mysterious and magical country – from the one of the hardest treks in the world, The Snowman Trek, to some newly introduced easier treks for 2018, one of which follows the beautiful Royal Orchid trail in the rarely visited Eastern realm of an already isolated realm. The area is known as 'The last Shangri-la' on account of its isolation and sheer beauty. In this region, live the rare and beautiful black-necked cranes.

Tour: Black Necked Cranes & Royal Orchid Trek 15 days

• Enjoy a flight across Bhutan along the chain of the Himalaya
• Visit the Tiger's Nest, the beautiful Tang Valley and the monasteries of Bumthang
• The Phobjika Valley, winter home of the rare Black Necked Crane
• Camp in comfort and experience 'the last Shangri-la' on an easy paced 5 day trek

Price: £3295 land only, £4,405 incl flights,
Includes: An experienced English-speaking local guide plus support crew, Bhutan flights and transfers, Bhutan visa fee, all accommodation, all meals and full service camping on trek
Weblink https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/black-neck-cranes-and-the-royal-orchid-trek 

2. Mighty Cotopaxi, newly re-opened for 2018 – stand on the furthest point from the centre of the Earth in Ecuador

Why? Having been closed since August 2015, on 20 October 2017, the Ministry for Tourism in Ecuador announced that the summit of Cotopaxi (5,897m), one of the world's highest active volcanoes and Ecuador's second highest volcano, is declared safe and open for climbing.

Tour: Ecuador's Triple Crown 17 days

• Climb Chimborazo (6310m) and stand on the furthest point from the centre of the Earth!
• Summit Cotopaxi (5897m) and Cayambe (5790m), Ecuador's second and third highest peaks
• Acclimatise on Imbabura (4616m) and Yanaurco (4535m), plus skills training on Cayambe
• Unique 4-day acclimatisation trek through the Cotacachi-Cayapas bio-reserve

Price: £2525 land only, £3,405 incl flights
Includes: Qualified mountain guides 1:2 guide to client ratio. Local leader throughout, all accommodation in simple guesthouses, homestays and mountain huts, full trek service when camping.
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/ecuador-climbing-chimborazo-cotopaxi

3. The Stans - the adventure place to be in 2018

Why? Tajikistan is famous for its rugged snow-capped mountains rising up to 5000m, in a country where over 90% of the land is a breath-taking, high-altitude landscape. In a land of extreme seasons, scattered villages in their mountain strongholds have remained isolated, but their warm welcome offers travellers a rare glimpse of unchanged traditional Tajik life. In contrast, Uzbekistan sits proudly on the magical Silk Road and its highlight is undoubtedly Samarkand, one of the wonders of the world with its mosaic-clad and turquoise-tiled monuments. Expect to see more KE Adventure Travel trips in the area soon for 2018.

Tour: The Ultimate Fann Mountains Trek 17 days

• Pristine campsites alongside azure Fann Mountains lakes, where Tajik shepherd graze their flocks
• Samarkand`s magnificent Registan Square, a Wonder of the World
• Pioneering itinerary for experienced trekkers including the dramatic Mazalat Pass (4133m)
• All meals included in the price of the trip

Price: £2195 land only, £2295 incl flights,
Includes: Qualified mountain guides 1:2 guide to client ratio. Local leader throughout, 9 nights guesthouse, 1 night homestay, 3 nights camping, 3 night mountain hut, full trek service when camping.
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/tajikistan-uzbekistan-trekking-fann-mountains-samarkand

4. Greenland – has never been more accessible for 2018

Why? With the rise of cheap flights to Reykjavik, some say Iceland is a little crowded (although it's easy to avoid the crowds who stick to the Golden Circle 'honey-pots'). What's exciting about the UK cheap flights, however, is that they've suddenly made Greenland so much more accessible and the ice-filled fjords of this spectacular continent are attracting UK visitors who want some truly unique trekking. The Inuit settlements are full of colourful houses, friendly people, vocal husky dogs and smiling children and it's very special to experience these traditional hunting and fishing villages. Trekking is simply superb and we believe it's some of the world's most dramatic peak and glacier landscapes.  The ascent of Kuummiut Mountain (1000m) with views of the Greenland icecap, is surely a lifetime highlight.

Tour:  Icefjords and Remote Villages of East Greenland, 12 days

• Trekking beside ice-filled fjords and on rocky peaks
• Some of the world's most dramatic peak and glacier landscapes
• Visit remote and colourful villages of Inuit fishermen and hunters
• Two nights in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik
• Exciting boat transfers amongst the icebergs
• Fully accommodated, using hostels, village houses and a mountain hut

Price: £3395 land only
Includes: Return flights from Reykjavik to Kulusuk, boat transfers, all accommodation in hotels, simple guesthouses and hostels, English-speaking professional leader throughout, all meals in Greenland, B&B in Reykjavik.
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/greenland-trekking-iceland-kulusuk-Tasiilaq

5. Families – increasing numbers heading long-haul

Why? We've seen a huge growth in adventurous families travelling further afield and significant requests from parents to take their children to Nepal, many of whom first travelled with KE to Nepal themselves. We've developed two new holidays to meet this demand:

A. Beyond the Annapurnas – Family Nepal Trek NEW for ages 10+ - includes a stunning 6 day trek to Mohare Danda (3,300m) staying in traditional mountain lodges, plus Nepalese cooking sessions, mask-making and a cycling trip in Pokhara.

Prices:  Land only - Child £995, Adult £1525. With flights – Child £1645, Adult £2375
Includes: Guide throughout, 12 nights hotel, all meals, internal flights, mask-making in Katmandu
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/annapurnas-family-nepal-trek

B. The Family Nepal Adventure holiday NEW for ages 6+ which mixes easy and fun activities and culture around Katmandu, Pokhara and tiger watching in Chitwan National Park 

Prices:  Land only - child £995, adult £1395. With flights – child £1795, adult £2345
Includes: Guide throughout, 12 nights hotel, all meals, all internal flights, boat across Phewa Lake, overnight rafting adventure, Chitwan National park jungle walk and canoe, Nepalese cooking lesson
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/family-nepal-adventure-holiday

Also seeing increasing sales of up to 127% for 2018 as families head further afield to seek exotic and genuine experiences for their families are Costa Rica Family Holiday Adventure,  Sri Lanka Family Island Explorer and our NEW Jordan Family Adventure Holiday

6. Sri Lanka – will welcome a record number of adventurers for 2018

Why? Sri Lanka has been left off itineraries due years of uncertainty but it burst back on the scene in 2017 and next year is set beat traveller numbers again. A small gem of an island, it hosts an abundance of absolutely everything – ancient Buddhist ruins, rain-forested peaks, spectacular colonial trains, vibrant green tea plantations, a cuisine bursting with flavour, many, many elephants, and the charming former capital Kandy home of the wonderfully named Temple of the Tooth. KE's Sri Lanka easier walking trip takes in all the classic sights but also has a 2-day trek of the spectacular Knuckles Mountain Range, and a climb to the summit of the scared Adam's Peak (2243m) to catch the sunrise.

Tour: Sri Lanka Tracks and Trails, 14 days

• Visits to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, the natural rock fortress of Sigiriya, the cave temples of Dambulla and the former capital of Kandy, home to the 'Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic' 
• Watch the sunrise from the summit of Adam`s Peak
• Trek to World's End and through The Knuckles Mountains
• Wildlife spotting in Sri Lanka's world famous national parks
• Relax on palm-fringed, paradise beaches

Price: From £1695 land only, from £2400 flights included
Includes: English-speaking professional leader throughout, all accommodation in hotels and simple chalets & guesthouses in the mountains, all breakfasts and all dinners except one, guided sightseeing and all entrance fees, a full service when trekking
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/sri-lanka-walking-tour-knuckles-sigirya

7. Ethiopia – the UNESCO world-heritage mountains of the Simien reopens

Another destination making a come-back for 2018, following a year's political instability in the Simien Mountain region.

Alison Bembridge, KE Adventure's African Product Manager thinks next year is the time to go. “Trails have been closed for a while to many foreign tourists, giving them time to be restored and they're still quiet which should mean even more wildlife sightings. It's an unforgettable experience to see the strikingly-maned Gelada baboons come down to the mountain meadows.” 

With a dramatic landscape rivalling the Grand Canyon, astonishing views stretching northwards to Eritrea from the summit of Ras Deshen (4260m). The trip also includes 2 days in Lalibela with its collection of ancient Christian churches carved out of solid rock.

Tour: Ethiopian Simien Mountains Trek & Lalibela, 13 days

• Trek to the summit of Ras Dashen (4620m), Ethiopia's highest peak
• Includes visits to Gondar's castles & the UNESCO rock hewn churches of Lalibela
• Extraordinary wildlife, up close, including Ethiopia's Gelada Baboons
• Fantastic value holiday with all meals included

Price: From £1995 land only, from £2565 flights included
Includes: English-speaking professional local leader throughout, internal flights, all accommodation in hotels, all meals, a full service when trekking including food and all equipment
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/ethiopia-trekking-simien-mountains-lalibela

8. Nepal – KE's Number 1 destination for trekking travellers again

Why? Last, but certainly not the least, is Nepal. The UK's leading Himalayan expert, KE Adventure Travel, has seen an unprecedented rise of bookings for 2018 from people who are keen to trek safely again in Nepal's Himalaya. KE Adventure Travels offers every level of trek, from entry-level trekking such as Annapurna & Bandipur Luxury Lodge Trek, to classic trips harder trips such as Everest Basecamp Trekto tough challenges like the Dhaulagiri Circuit via the French Pass. The Nepalese are buoyant and resilient and extremely pleased to see trekkers back in their mountains. Travellers in 2018 can be sure of an incredibly warm welcome everywhere from Kathmandu to the remotest mountain village.

KE Adventure Travel will run over 30 different trekking and mountaineering trips to Nepal in 2018. We've picked a new favourite to highlight – The Ganesh Himal Panorama Trek – from which our Nepal Product Manager of 33 years, Kit Wilkinson has just returned yesterday.

In his words:

“Stunning mix of scenery and a delightful reaction from everyone we met. We saw 6 other trekkers in 12 days! From the high point of the trip at the Sing La you can see half of the Nepal Himalaya. That's 4 distinct mountain massifs; Annapurnas, Manaslu group, Ganesh peaks and the Langtang. This is a truly special trekking experience”

Tour: The Ganesh Himal Panorama Trek, 15 days

Close to Kathmandu and yet rarely visited by Western trekkers, the Ganesh Himal is a region of timeless valleys, quiet trails, sleepy traditional villages, luxuriant forest and carefully tended terraced farmland. Named after the elephant god of Hindu mythology, the Ganesh is crowned on its northern edge by four 7000 metre summits, including Ganesh I (7406m). 

• Classic trekking and camping in style on Nepal's Great Himalaya Trail 
• The Pansang La and the beautiful ridge of the Tiru Danda
• Views of the Annapurnas, Manaslu and the Ganesh and Langtang peaks
• A great value holiday with no internal flights - perfect for a first Nepal trek

Price: From £1295 land only, from £2045 flights included
Includes: English-speaking professional local leader throughout, all accommodation in hotels, all meals, a full service when trekking including food and all equipment
Weblink: https://www.keadventure.com/holidays/Nepal-trekking-Ganesh-Himal-Great-Himalaya-Trail

- ENDS –

KE Adventure Travel offer over 350 holidays worldwide which include summiting Mount Toubkal in Morocco to trekking to Everest basecamp. Established in 1984, KE Adventure Travel is an IATA Accredited agent, a member of ABTA (W4341), AITO (5075) and holds ATOL license (2808).

Please contact Emily Stiles emily@keadventure.com or Alex Greenwood alex@keadventure.com for any further information or images.