Lucy Hencher, UK

Hi! Having an amazing time here not been to Halong Bay yet we are going there in a week or so. Back to Hanoi this afternoon from Ninh Binh – love Hanoi although yes you’re right it is very crazy!! Seen some beautiful sites and done some amazing things Lucy

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The Kiwi experience is by far the most popular hop on hop off backpacker bus pass operating in New Zealand, they were the original company that developed this concept, and still today they’ve managed to inject the right amount of fun and adventure into their trips. But with so many different passes on offer, it can be quite difficult to decide what you want to do and where you want to go. All of these passes integrate well with our adrenaline tour and Queenstown adrenaline overload and we can also include accommodation packs in your bookings as well taking all the hassle out of backpacking in New Zealand.

Find out more about the Kiwi experience and how much the Kiwi experience passes cost and take a look at the maps in the gallery below if you click on an image it will open in a big window.

Don’t forget to check out the New Zealand adrenaline tour, (and also on the Queenstown adrenaline overload) so if you want to do more you can choose another pack to complement your trip and you can see more details on the Adrenaline Pack  xtreme version and overload version here.

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Charlie Flint about the Xtreme Thailand Experience:

I would definitely recommend it, it’s fantastic! You are ALWAYS with other people, and the staff on the week are so helpful and help make sure the weeks are exactly how you want them to be. Also when you get there, there are things to do that I didn’t know I could! It’s so much fun and they take you to some truly amazing places, with monkeys and elephants and stuff I’d really recommend it.

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During the 56 day Ultimate Africa Overland Tour, you have the option to see the mountain gorillas, in  the beautiful mountains of Uganda or Rwanda.

The Gorillas are highly  endangered – there are approximately only 650 left worldwide – and they are incredibly difficult to get to; making seeing the mountain gorillas a real once in a lifetime opportunity. Observing these endangered animals in their natural environment is humbling and extremely rewarding as they’ll enlighten you to how simply life could be.

After Chimpanzees, mountain gorillas are the most closely related to human beings of all mammals; our DNA is a 99% match. They are an endangered species, despite intense conservation efforts and community development which aims to protect them. If these efforts are lost, in just a few generations, mountain gorillas will be extinct or will only be able to be seen in zoo’s and sanctuaries. By visiting the gorillas we’re aiding the communities which surround them and showing them that protecting the gorillas will benefit them financially.

As permits allowing you to visit the gorillas are limited, we may either take you to visit the gorillas through the Uganda or Rwanda side. We prefer to take guests through the Uganda side and will do our utmost best to ensure a pass into the national park to see the mountain gorillas. The money that is spent on the permits needed to see the gorillas goes towards protecting them.

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Hi Everyone,

We often get questions from people who travel alone for the first time, and this is 70% of our customers. I just received a question from Rosie who wants to know how many others are booked on the Ultimate Australia programme.

Answer:  Most people travel on their own, not many make such a big travel for a long time with their friends, simply because not everyone has the opportunity to do so. And the best travels I have done, I did on my own, and everyone who travelled will tell you this. You can hang out with whomever you want, and it is so easy making friends.

We do not have somebody booked on exact the same in January. We have some people at the surf camp, where you will make your stop too! And people on the sailing course in the Whitsundays and so on.

But you will not be alone!! This trip contains all the best of Australia. And on arrival you will have 4 day in down town Sydney in a great hostel. Here you meet others who will also have booked the 4 days and join you on the activities. Then on the Monday you join the surf trip with at least 15 others, I done the trip and it is amazing, and you will notice you will become close friends with some.

Then after 5 days you will end in Byron Bay where the whole group gets dropped off and you can book yourself in to the Nomads hostel which is great, we gladly help you with this. From here on people do whatever they feel like. Some get on the bus and move to other places the next day. Some will stay in Byron Bay for a few days.

Everyone is free and has their own schedule. For the activities included you get vouchers. On the bus on your way and on the activities you meet new people, most likely you stick for a part of your trip with new made friends. So you see. The first 8 nights are ´group travel´ after that you can have your own schedule. Which will give you a great sense of freedom!

I know it can look daunting, but it is absolutely not!! AFTER A FEW DAYS YOU REALIZE THIS IS THE WAY TO TRAVEL.

Depending on how much time you have and if you also want to work, we have 2 really cool short courses after which you can ear some nice money. The cool thing about these courses is that you get a really different life style for a while and you will be training with others.

The two courses I have in mind are these:

Learn to work in the Australian Outback

Sailing course Withsundays Australia

And if you wish to work we can include a pack to help you set up tax file numbers etc. Might be handy.

Please do not worry about meeting others too much, you will!

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Quito is the capital of Ecuador and a world heritage site. It is a stunningly beautiful place with a rich colonial architectural heritage and deep running Indian culture pulsating through the veins of the city.

Most visitors concentrate their time in Old Town, UNESCO  heritage site. Here you’ll find the city laid out according to Spanish planning requirements, with the central plaza as the heart of the community. The plaza is bordered by the Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral and religious buildings, and the Palacio Presidencial. The Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in South America, and has been repaired and remodelled countless times due to earthquake damage. Heroes of the Independence are honoured and several presidents are buried here.

One of the best views of Quito is from El Panecillo hill, but go with a group if you are going to make the climb. Better yet, take a taxi. Stay on the paved areas around the statues of la Virgen de Quito and go in daylight.

New Town is the financial and business part of town, with modern buildings, shops, hotels and restaurants. There are also many museums and things to do and see in New Town. A don’t miss is the Casa de Cultura Ecuatoriana which houses several museums, including the Museo del Banco Central, with wonderful archaeological displays. The Inca gold sun mask is only one of the treasures on display. There are also musical instruments, traditional dress and art. For more art, visit Museo Guayasamín, the home of Indian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín.

In New Town, Parque El Ejído is a popular gathering place. For a safe view of many of the wildlife species found in the country, take a look at the Vivarium for snakes, turtles, lizards, iguanas and other species.

Quito is included on many of our Ecuador Trips, including the ultimate Ecuador, and Ecuador Adrenaline Overload programmes.

On the Ecuador Trip, Participants will experience four destinations, two in the highlands: Quito, the capital city of Ecuador and the beautiful city of Cuenca, both Cultural Heritage Sites; and two in the coastal region: the picturesque beach town of Montanita and the beach city of Manta. Spending one week on each location to experience different activities and varied adventure opportunities while continuing their studies with the same quality standards and academic follow up.

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The Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world, and it is simply beautiful. Stretching from north of Brisbane to the top of Australia, you will most likely encounter it from Cairns on the Carins Adrenaline Overload or Ultimate Australia Trip.

When you head out on a day trip to see it for your self on the passions of paradise catamaran. Expect a lot of fun as the group sails through pristine waters, passing Whales in season, and stopping off at some of the most beautiful locations on the reef.

We take you to beautiful beaches and provide all the snorkle equioment you need to see the amazing underwater scenes the barrier reef is famous for.

The trip is fully guided and crew will make sure you have a great time with the reef doing the rest!

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Alice 19, UK
Hi Debby!

The trip was absolutely incredible! On the first day, I was met at the airport by a and taken to the first hostel. I really enjoyed my stay here as it had a really relaxed vibe and was full of other young travelers. The staff were very welcoming and took us not only on some great day tours but joined us on some great nights out too. The activities themselves were varied and well chosen. I especially loved going shark cage diving, which really was a once in a lifetime experience! As well as all the options listed on the Xtreme Gap itinerary, the hostel itself offered a variety of extra activities such as guided tours into the township.

On the fifth day, I was picked up by the tour guide and group to begin our route to Addo. This is where the fun really began. We were a group of 8, all likeminded travelers from all over the world. It didn’t take long for us to all become good friends. The days were packed full of activities, my favorites being the elephant sanctuary, playing with four little cheetah cubs and going on the most incredible safari! At each hostel we met loads of other people who were traveling round South Africa. We spend the evenings sat round the fire …or the bar!
Overall, I found South Africa a beautiful and welcoming country. I had an amazing trip, met some amazing people and had some experiences that I will never forget. I wish I could do it all over again tomorrow!

I found the pre departure pack really helpful. Would be good however just to include that it is not until day 5 that you meet your travelling group to go on the garden route. I was a bit worried when nobody at the hostel was on the same tour as me, then so relived to find a bus load of people on the 5th day!

Thank you for a brilliant trip!!

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Matthias Jong

I’m still remembering my excitement and trembling knees when the airplane took off to China. No idea what was waiting for me. An indeed, I had no idea!!! It was incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everybody should do.

Everything was perfect: the other internationals, the people on the ground guiding me, the trips we made, the adventures, and even the local people where amazing. I would recommend everybody this unforgettable experience. The only risk you take is the risk of not wanting to go back to your home country!

After 4 weeks I was one of the first that needed to go home but I could have stayed there easily a year. Unfortunately staying was no option because University started again. I spend there only 4 weeks but my time there was amazing: I  went to do rafting, bike tours, travelled some days to see the Terra Cotta army, practiced TaiChi, learned some Chinese words.
Moreover, one of the most important aspects was that the people from the organisation tried to do everything they could for fulfilling your wishes. It is a great organization, with the best people, and I can only say one thing: THANKS FOR THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE !!!

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On the Vietnam Experience you will visit Halong Bay. Halong Bay is an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and for good reason.

It is absolutely stunning!

Halong Bay is a body of water of approximately 1,500 square kilometres in North Vietnam with a 120 kilometer coastline, in the Gulf of Tonkin near the border with China, and 170 kilometers east of Hanoi. Ha Long Bay – means “Bay of the Descending Dragon” in the Vietnamese language. The bay consists of a dense cluster of 3000 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean.
While exploring the bay, you feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. There is Man’s Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing. There are also the islands of the Sail, and many more. They have named 989 Islands.

Feedback of a traveller visiting Halong Bay

Today was one of the best days so far on my trip for pure holiday indulgence. We got a bus from Hanoi the 4 hours to Halong Bay warf. The journey was not bad, the first part Tho (the guide) told us lots of interesting history and then we stopped off at a craft shop where a nice lady gave me a chop stick holder with a dragon fly on! The rest of the way most of us dozed and we arrived to the throng of tourists very quickly.
Our boat was lovely. It had 3 levels, below deck were the sleeping cabins, which were really clean and had a fully functioning bathroom! The main deck had a great dining area and bar and then the top was the sun deck – bliss! Arrival drink finished we set off and left the rest of the boats and the newly developed Halong city in the distance.

Now, think a bit like in James Bond’s Goldfinger, and you’ll get the idea of the many “monolithic limestone islands” we were sailing by. Lunch was served pretty much as soon as we set off. It was delicious! After that we went up on the sun deck and chilled out, seeing some local fishing boats and homes floating on the water.

We stopped off to visit a huge cave called Hang Sung Sot, which had loads of stalactites and stalagmites inside, some of which Tho tried to tell us where shaped like various animals. Another one was rather weird shaped and lit up in pink – apparently it was a cannon!!
Back on the boat we did a bit of a circle because some of the group where doing kayaking and one was broken but that was fine. I was happy reading my book on the sun deck.
Another really great day on the Vietnam Experience!…..

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