13 Mar 2014
Steppes Travel is looking for intrepid travellers with a sense of adventure and a love of the unexpected to road test a selection of pioneering group tours. Join members of the Steppes team to explore far-flung places together, from living the traditional life with indigenous tribes to exploring the vast wilderness that few have experienced before.
Roll up your sleeves and be prepared to take the rough with the smooth as things will likely go awry at some point: Journey times may take longer than expected and accommodation may not live up to the beautiful pictures on the website. There will undoubtedly be hiccups and glitches along the way but these will make for an even more rewarding and pioneering adventure.
GABON: Mouakalaba Doudou & South Loango
24-31May 2014
After years of inaccessibility, this recce trip is a rare opportunity to explore the wilds of Mbani, an area of Moukalaba Doudou National Park, where few tourists have ever set foot. After a challenging journey by car, boat and then foot, the group will reach the remote and basic fly camp at Mbani, home to World Wildlife Fund and Japanese and French NGOs. Here researchers are working on an habituation program for the large population of lowland gorillas, and Steppes will attempt to meet with them to get an insight into their work.
The second part of this trip will explore Gabon’s coastal park, South Loango, with the beach and rainforest around Ndogo Lagoon, whilst looking at the diverse habitat around Setta-Cama by boat and on foot, home to numerous primates and birds.
18 May – 4 June 2014 (dependent on Tije Festival dates)
Led by Himalayan expert Mick Chapman, and accompanied by a team of sherpas, this is a spectacular journey through The Kingdom of Mustang – a barren landscape on the border of Tibet, renowned for its spiritual heritage and traditions.
For many years the area remained closed to foreign visitors, but thankfully the Nepalese Government now allows a limited number of tourists to see and trek through this remarkable lunar landscape, a spectacle that dramatically contrasts with the lush fertile hills and valleys to the south of the Himalayan chain.
Trek through the shadows of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna along the Kali Ghandaki River, through Mustang’s white-washed mountain villages with their Buddhist shrines and temples to the fabled walled city of Lo Manthang. Here the group will immerse itself in three days of the Tije Festival, a vibrant Buddhist celebration with traditional dancing and singing.
TAJIKISTAN: Travel through dramatic scenery and mountain villages whilst staying with the locals
29 June – 10 July 2014
Beginning to reappear on the global map after some torrid internal struggles, it is unsurprising that little has changed for generations in this forgotten corner of the world, home to a rich tapestry of different cultures and spectacular landscape. This trip offers travellers the chance to really get under the skin of this incredibly beautiful and hospitable country, to explore mountain villages and experience the true nomadic life of the Tajiks by living with a family in a traditional yurt.
Heading south from the capital, Dashanbe, the adventure will shadow the Panj river, running parallel to and overlooking the Afghan border.
MONGOLIA: Meet Kazakh and Uriankhai hunters in wild and vast expanses
2 – 8 November 2014
The Kazakh hunters, dressed in traditional dark coats and scarlet hats have roamed the valleys and mountains of western Mongolia for two centuries, hunting on horseback with trained golden eagles. It is a tradition that is passed on through generations, hunting a variety of animals – including rabbits, marmots, foxes and even wolves - for their fur, an integral part of traditional Kazakh clothing.
As well as riding with the Kazakh, there will also be the opportunity to meet the Uriankhai, once a formidable feature of the Mongol army. This minority tribe of Mongolians is renowned for their archery skills and excellent horsemanship.
22 November – 4 December 2014
With over 10,000 kms2 of mangrove forest, the Sundarbans is a magnet for birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians and home to the Bengal Tiger, Oriental Small-clawed Otter and the Ganges River Dolphin. The group will boat along its narrow creaks and walk under its thick forest canopy in the hope of spotting one of these endangered animals.
There is also the chance to gain an insight into a fast disappearing world, meeting with Chakma, Marma or Tipera people in the hillside villages of Bandarban. On the border with Myanmar and India, this area is known as the Darjeeling of Bangladesh and with restricted access this is a rare opportunity to glimpse tribal life in Bangladesh.
For more details on Steppes Travel’s Pioneering Trips please look at: http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/holidaytypes/pioneering+trips/
For further press information please contact:
Frangelica Flook frangelica.flook@cedartreepr.com
Henrietta Quicke henrietta.quicke@cedartreepr.com
T: 020 7978 4534, M: 07747 606 898
Note to Editors:
Steppes Travel: Specialist tour operator Steppes Travel designs innovative tailor-made itineraries for ‘off the beaten track’ trips. With over two decades’ experience in the industry, Steppes Travel fields a team of creative, knowledgeable and responsible experts committed to providing ethical, pioneering journeys all over the world.
Steppes Discovery: Exceptional wildlife holidays focusing on conservation with sustainable and responsible travel at the forefront of their mind. By joining forces with local research projects on an Indian tiger safari or whilst gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, or supporting carefully chosen wildlife charities in the Galapagos Islands, Steppes Discovery is able to give privileged insight into the natural world while supporting conservation and local communities worldwide.
The Traveller: Recognised as one of the UK's leading specialists in cultural tours and historical and archaeological small group holidays, The Traveller prides itself on offering a diverse range of small group tours led by renowned experts, and their pioneering reputation.
