Think Bigg

In October, Brian and I are taking off for a 4-day desert camel trek in Morocco with my favorite adventure travel specialist, Mountain Travel Sobek. This two-week vacation won’t be quite as selfless as the prior trip to India, I’m afraid, but it turns out I can’t blame that on the tour company!

Mountain Travel Sobek has just published two new tours — both led by one of the original company founders — for folks who want to combine their adventure vacation with a unique opportunity to do some good.

The first is an exciting trip through Egypt:

It’s a fascinating journey exploring the Nile through the lens of Sobek (yes, our Sobek!), the crocodile god that influenced so much of dynastic Egypt, and of the crocodile itself, which through poaching, pollution, and the blockage from the Aswan Dam has disappeared from the Egyptian Nile. Traveling to temples and active dig sites not included on any other itineraries, you’ll witness the art and architecture influenced by the great god Sobek, as well as many other great icons of Egypt. And, you’ll “make a difference” by taking one of the many live poached crocodiles at Aswan and releasing it back into the waters of the Nile, where through efforts like this it might one day thrive and reclaim its place as “Lord of the Nile.”

The second trip is through the north and south islands of New Zealand:

If you’re the kind of person who likes to get the most out of your vacation, you’ll love this trip! The itinerary is very similar to the one Mountain Travel Sobek co-founder Richard Bangs designed for the PBS series Adventures with Purpose, and it’s an action-packed discovery of both the South and North Islands of New Zealand. Go canyoneering in the spectacular canyons of the Matukituki Valley; try your hand at ice climbing at the Fox Glacier; swim with dolphins; sea kayak on a vast crater lake (with volcanoes looming on the horizon); and ever so much more, including meeting a Maori elder who will share his people’s perspective on history and natural geography. And, you’ll make a difference, by spending time on volunteer community projects that benefit New Zealand’s people and their stunning environment. More than just a vacation, this is an adventure with purpose.

I traveled with a MT Sobek group a few years ago on a sea kayaking expedition in Baja California and had an amazing time. The guides were fabulous and the other people on the tour were interesting and friendly. If we weren’t already on our way to North Africa, I just might be convinced to change my plans!

Why not check out the tours and clear your calendars!

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