The post Accomodation Portugal Surf Camp appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>For those lucky peeps who have taking the not so expensive easy jet flight to Portugal, to hit Xtreme Gaps Portugal Surf Camp, then the following surf house awaits you! (Unless you have gone with the adventurous camping option that is)…
The post Accomodation Portugal Surf Camp appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Free Travel Guides! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Want exclusive access to tonnes of free travel guides written and edited by Xtreme Gappers on plenty of different destinations? Then like our fan page and you are good to go. We take a lot of pride in discovering, reviewing and writing about some of the most exciting travel activities out there, in our travel guide section you can find all the details.
We are constantly publishing new guides so you can subscribe to the library to get notifications of when new ones are released, might give you something to look forward to when you are back off your travels!
If you would like us to write a guide on one of our destinations or activity then let us know through the face book comments system below.
[fblikelocker]
We have guides on traveling to Oz, Guides on Kilimanjaro, Guides on staying safe and how to best prepare for your travels. This is not the kind of watered down crap you find in the lonely planet.
We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed writing them. Oh you will need flash to view the guides too. Sorry Ipad people.
[/fblikelocker]
The post Free Travel Guides! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post New Xtreme Gap Brochure for 2013 appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Pretty exciting news! The new Xtreme Gap Year brochure is ready! If you have not already requested it click the image below.
The last year has been pretty busy for the Xtreme Gap team researching even more incredible places to go and finding even more special activities for you to do.
Really exciting experiences that you just can´t do at home. Travel that is not only benefits you personally but gives you something seriously cool to write home about.
The brochure is interactive, giving you links to videos, galleries and reviews so you can get inspired about ways to escape the doom and gloom of the News and dreary weather at home. There is another way people (and it starts by clicking the brochure link below).
Have a happy and adrenaline fuelled adventure!
The post New Xtreme Gap Brochure for 2013 appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Planning a round the world trip – getting started appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>So you are planning on setting off on a round the world adventure? Good for you!
I love travel and all the exciting things that go with it, and have assisted many people in planning the ultimate round the world trip-
By way of introduction, my name is Oliver Bray and I am one of the founders of Xtreme Gap Year, I take a very hands on approach with our customers and their travel plans (if needed!)
I have been on a lot trips in the past (68 countries and counting so far!) and pretty much been to every continent (well not the 2 poles) with work and for pleasure, so I do have some experience in round the world trips, and all that goes along with it.
Many people really don´t know where to start when it comes to planning a huge trip, understandably so, as there is so much to see and do, so I have created a series of newsletters that can help give you some guidance when it come to planning your round the world trip.
If you are planning on that once in a life time exodus, then check out our round the world section. Customisable itineraries taylor made for you, vetted and researched by us. Sign up on this form and we will send you information on planning your trip Including:
|
Firstly some things to think about! Planning a trip is a pretty exciting experience, all the place you can go and all the cool things you can see. The people you will meet on the way from all over the world, and the totally amazing adventures out there that await you, but like many you may be wondering where to start.
Most people have an idea of roughly where they want to go before they set off, knowing certainly helps because it enables you to research flights a lot easier, and once you have a route in mind you can get to the really fun stuff. However if you don´t know, start with an Atlas or Google Earth (there is a google earth plugin on the home page of our site – check out the big map). Think about places you have seen on the TV that are of interest and ask your mates where they would recommend!
Your personal budget will make a difference as to where you can go, Africa and Asia is a lot cheaper than Australia and New Zealand, but they all are a very different travel experience. So think about what you want to get out of the trip!
If you want more of a cultural experience head to Africa, Asia or South America, if however you want more of a party and action sports scene, check out Australia and New Zealand and the USA. Just remember the golden rule! Don´t be too greedy! You might have limited time away and spreading yourself too thin can lead to too much travel – sometimes it is best to enjoy somewhere for a while!
Sometimes you can combine both quite easily, like Asia and Australia and New Zealand, other time you will find it is a lot more expensive to add on certain continents to a round the world itinerary. In my experience South America always adds on a significant amount to flight prices so consider where you would really like to go carefully and weigh up the pro´s and Cons. Don´t get me wrong South America is a truly amazing place, but probably worth exploring on its own trip, rather than bolting it onto a round the world trip for instance, especially if you have limited time or funds.
Here is a check list, write it down on a piece of paper, buy a little notebook to scribble down your ideas and do your budgeting, or if you are really nerdy sign up to google documents and start planning your trip saving your stuff online (handy to access anywhere on your travels).
Firstly When can you go? So you may just want to drop it all and head off tomorrow, great if you can, but if you are unsure it helps to set a date! Plan you departure on the flight prices and weather (seasons) at your intended destinations. The most popular time to set of on a round the world trip from the UK is After January 21st. Why? The weather is miserable in the UK and the flight prices have decreased after the Christmas holidays.
Remember if you are heading to the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, and if you are heading somewhere Equatorial, to watch out for Monsoon seasons.
Secondly how much realistically can you save? Money is the life blood of travel, the more you have the more you can do, so work out what you can save, and cut costs like there is no tomorrow. £10 goes a long way in Asia! Once you work out how much you can save this gives you an idea of your total budget and what will be realistic. Remember you will always spend more that you think, so double your estimate. May seem like a lot, but it is pretty realistic.
So there you go, and action plan to get you started, with plenty to think about. If you want lots of further tips and hints sign up to this newsletter it contains lots of advice on finding good flights and travel insurance then its on to the fun stuff, some kick ass ideas for your trip…on that note be sure to join our facebook group for access to photo galleries, videos and ideas for travel options!
The post Planning a round the world trip – getting started appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Best Beaches in Europe? appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Portugal has some of the best beaches in Europe. With out a doubt in our minds. How can we be so sure? Because Xtreme Gap Director Oliver Bray personally drove 5000 miles though out Europe in “Rusty” a 23 year old bedford camper van in search of the perfect beach.
The trip took him to the bottom of Turkey, all through the Greek Islands, Spain, Italy, the South of France… The conclusion, nothing came close to the Algarve and Carapatera, the location of Xtreme Gaps Portugal Surf Camp.
Thats a long way to drive to do the research, but hey someone had to do it, and now you know how we can be so certain that the location of our surf camp is absolutely perfect!
There are other reasons why Portugal is a great location, especially when it comes to surfing.
The Atlantic provides ample swell and great surf conditions all year round, the water temperature in the summer is perfect, and in the winter, nothing a good wet suit can´t deal with.
The instructors in Portugal live to surf, they love the lifestyle ans are local legends. Mix in the beaches, the general laid back atmosphere and the beautiful national park surroundings and you have a great formula for the perfect break.
Getting there is easy from Faro and the cost of the programme is one of the best value trips we offer – from £265 for a week!
Check out Skyscanner.net for flights to Faro.
The post Best Beaches in Europe? appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Gap Year Surfing Portugal appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Xtreme Gap focuses on Sports and Adventure Travel. Weather our programmes are in Europe or in Africa and whether it is for 1 day or 12 weeks, all have a lot to offer. Next to wild life, diving and over landing trips we have now also a lot of gap year surfing programmes.
We have a lot of request in for gap year surfing programmes, so we have explored some nice places for you. But if you do not want to fly all the out to Australia or South Africa, we found the perfect spot for you. Just 2 to 4 hours from any destination in Europe you can fly to Faro in Portugal and you don´t even have to cross a time zone!
The surf camp is in Carrapateira, is close to Sagres in the Algarve, Portugal. Here you find the most western point of Europe. In Carrapateira and surroundings there are many un-spoilt secluded beaches that are great to learn or improve your surf.
The surf camp in Portugal is on the beach and they have their own camp side just 1 km away from the beach
During the Portugal gap year surfing programme you not only learn to surf you most likely will make friends for life, eat delicious (fish) barbeques and explore the many beaches in the area. Portugal also has great wines and Sagres beer, and most important of all a great social life.
All surfing camps on the gap year surfing programmes list of Xtreme Gap are open to all levels and all nationalities. So over your big breakfast I the morning you will be chatting to some girl or boy living on the other side of the world, and this could become a friend for life! Ho amazing is that. Also, do not be afraid of travelling alone, most of our customers do and with all our programmes people make friends easily.
The owners of Xtreme Gap know what it feels like to ride your first wave, we know how cool and proud it makes you feel, so if you have any questions, please contact us.
The post Gap Year Surfing Portugal appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>The post Xtreme Gap Goes surfing in Portugal appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>Two of the Xtreme Gap members had to go to Portugal to explore the beaches and check on our partner surf school in Carrapateira. I was one of the lucky explorers and since we are Xtreme we went by motorbike from Malaga in Spain to Carrapateira in Portugal. This is just above Sagres where you find the most western point of Europe.
I knew it was going to be a great trip. I had been to Portugal before…But is was much better than I expected!
It was just June but the weather was hot and the beaches not crowded at all! The surf school we work with is located on an amazing beach, just 1 km out of town and we have a great camp site where you can stay. The camping is within 1 km but there is transport included too. After a day of surfing you can catch a ride back and join one of the delicious BBQ’s with the other surfers. Not bad!
Check here the Surfing Portugal video.
I had surfed before. Once I took lessons in Australia in Noosa and once I tried to stand on my board in Morocco. Both times with little success. So I was determined to ride a wave this time.
We started at 10 and after a good warming up, very good briefing of a guy with the cutest accent, I was ready to go. And guess what…within 15 minutes I was surfing!!!
What was also great is that we had a break after 1,5 hours and we could chill at the beach club and on the beach, have a pick nick and rest up before the afternoon session begun.
This was different. There was suddenly more current and the waves where higher. This was a challenge. My colleague did very well. I was only dreaming of my well deserved Portuguese wine and grilled fish… But I did not give up.
After this afternoon training session we could stay out and practice some more, and we did. When I finally had a glass of wine I felt tipsy straight away. Surfing is fun, challenging and a great work out!
Debby
Read all about our new programme online: Learn to surf in Portugal
The post Xtreme Gap Goes surfing in Portugal appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Blog.
]]>
