The post The South East Asia Explorer, 10 reasons to join! appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Travel Blog.
]]>Pioneering into the remote Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodian landscape is a daily occurrence with us. Some of the villages you will visit are so off the beaten track they aren’t even on the map! We also ensure you tick everything off your Southeast Asia “must-do” list – those great destinations we all know and love.
One of the best things about travelling on the South East Asia Explorer is our local guides and western tour leaders. They amplify your Southeast Asia experience with invaluable knowledge, support and local insight… plus they can book accommodation, activities and connections on your behalf. You won’t get this on public transport!
It might be a cliché, but you will meet like-minded travellers and you will make life-long friendships. We attract adventurous people, with a common attitude of exploration, open-mindedness and trailblazing.
Our responsible tourism mission is “To make sure our customers and crew leave the maximum positive impact on local communities, and the minimum negative impact on the environment.” We operate a sustainable travel network, with heavy involvement in local initiatives and support small communities.
So yeah, you were out late bowling in Luang Prabang (I did it :)) and didn’t wake up early enough to see the monks at sunrise. Don’t sweat it, stay and soak up the city for a few more days, then hop back on the next bus! All our passes include our “recommended days” which includes some time for hopping off along the route. (after booking there will be time tables available to see what days we depart from each location.)
Relax in the knowledge that our experienced crew have done the hard work for you. We have worked out the best routes, times to depart and must-do inclusions. Need help with something? Our Tour Leaders are there for guidance and support. Lastly, we use our own mini-coaches for the bus travel, which means not only we can go where we want, we can ensure safety, reliability and a high quality, comfortable service.
Get stuck into sticky rice at the local markets, experience village life firsthand on our homestay accommodation, and visit more temples than you can say “Wat’s that?” at (“wat” means temple), with great insight into the Buddhist way of life.
The “road trip” experience includes plenty of time for activities en-route, whether it is a swim in a giant waterfall, tubing in Vang Vieng, or simply having a Beerlao with the locals. Got sudden photographic inspiration? Your driver will be happy to stop for you where possible – our small group size enables us to do and see more.
We’re not just a bus network – our travel passes also include train, boat and tuk tuk transport… there’s even the opportunity to take a ride on an elephant! With us, you get the full Southeast Asia experience.
Yes, we love to get off the beaten track, but we also include those must-do experiences on any travellers’ bucket list. Create unforgettable memories – marvel at the striking White Temple in Northern Thailand, journey through Kong Lor’s 7 km cave by long boat to discover a beautiful valley when you emerge on the other side, travel inside an old American bomb shell (“bomb boat”) near Tha Bak, sample crab on the island of Koy Tunsay, and explore the World’s largest cave networks in Vietnam.
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]]>My name is Lisa and I’m a 25 year old German chef. After a few years working in a Michelin-starred restaurant, I quit my job and came to Australia to try something totally different.
For a start, I thought it would be amazing to book a 3 week sailing-adventure, where I’m able to help the crew, so I booked the learn to earn programme.
My course started with a 6 day sailing course on where we learned how to use all the sailing equipment, reading the wind, and how to sail a boat. Having had previous sailing experience, the most challenging for me was the foreign language and the different words for all the sailing communication.
After the first 6 days of my basic-course, we got a roster for the next two weeks. I was scheduled to help on 4 different charter boats of different sizes. It was the first time that I could wear my uniforms and I was really excited.
My first charter I joined the crew of 3. We had 23 passengers today, and for my first trip I tried to follow the crew and wanted to help as much as I could. But I quickly realised that the course a few days ago was just about 40% teaching the skills you
need for being a deckhand or host. There is much more you need to know, than just steering a boat in low winds. As crew you are in charge of the safety of all passengers, have to make sure that you are able to use the sailing gear the right way and be able to react professionally and quickly in dangerous situations.
On the other hand you’ ve got the most exciting part. You have to be a tourguide, entertainer, and encyclopedia for all your passengers questions. You’re part of the
crew, so you have to ensure that your passengers get the best trip, enjoying themselves and have the most fun in the world…:)
I also joined the crew on H3 other boats, where I learned not only sail handling, like hoisting the sails, steering the boat, dropping the anchor, assisted the snorkelwatch etc., I also cooked, washed dishes, and cleaned the boat after the trips.
I was not expecting that it would be so much fun! I enjoyed the 3 weeks so much. Sailing, Whitsundays, Whitehaven Beach, new friends, parties…
I applied for a job straight away and got employed just 2 weeks later as permanent host. After 3 weeks on a boat, you can’t expect to be a professional or to start as a deckhand on a maxi yacht straight away, because most of the skills of sailing develop slowly from trip to trip. I wanted to stay for a month, but ended up leaving after 6 months with tears in my eyes…these experience gave me so much confidence, happiness, freedom and friendship.
It was the best job I could do in my working holiday year and the best experience I ever imagined. While some backpackers were picking fruit, I was working in paradise!
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]]>Xtreme Gap Year Review from Claudia
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]]>The post Working Holiday in Australia appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Travel Blog.
]]>Well my best advise is start with the Sydney Connexion. It includes a lot from airport transfer to the first 7 nights, from help with your CV and search on job boards to nights out and exploring Sydney. never alone, always in a group and most of the time with only solo travellers (probably just like you!).
Australia is the place to work and travel!
You speak the language already, so that makes it a lot easier to find a job already. (try that in Thailand :)) and you can obtain a working holiday visa before you leave. This in combination with a programme like the Sydney ConneXion (see here the film) will make it very doable.
Its quite easy to get hold of a working holiday visa: (costs about 360 AUD)
Link: Working Holiday Visa 417 Information
This visa is for people aged between 18-30, who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. Once granted, your working holiday visa is valid for entry to Australia for 1 year and allows you to stay for a year once you arrive in Australia. You may work for each employer a maximum of six months, at the end of one year, you may be eligible to apply for a second working holiday visa.
What is the best time to go to Australia?
When Spring starts, so in September! Its great to escape the winter but if you join us in Australia a little earlier you will be there before most other travellers, and you might have saved up a fair bit when hot summer weather arrives in December and you can get your bum on the beach, or travel like Lisa did: Lisa´s trip. As next to working there are of course the must sees and do´s like the skydive, surf lessons, Ayers rock, adrenaline activities in cairns, diving the great barrier reef you name it!
What to do after the first 7 nights..
There are a few different options.
1. Get on the oz Experience Bus: Oz Experience & Greyhound Passes – Hop On Hop Off and work along the way in fruit picking jobs. Lots do this and you often do this for a few weeks, the good thing is there are often no costs as you stay at the farm, and you will meet many other backpackers doing the same. However its hard work ad you will meet some lovely spiders :)). You can work in bars, kitchens, hostels, cleaning. take all you can, its an experience.
2. Join a course with 90% guaranteed a job at the end. Learn to Earn In The Australian Outback or Whitsundays Sailing Course Australia. You still have to do your utter best, work hard, proof you are worth the job, but if you do that and you get the job you can earn up to 500 AUD a week!
3. Stay in Sydney and with our help we make your CV the best it can be, you will have access to job boards and most will look for a flat to share. Which is truly not difficult to do as there are lots of your travellers coming and going and have temp work in Sydney before they move on again. You can always stay a few more nights in a hostel, but in the end a shared flat will be cheaper.
Australia is not Cheap.
Especially if you have just been to Thailand or Indonesia on your way to Australia you probably have to watch your money a bit more. So also going out will be more expensive. This is also why this first week is such good value! you can compare the prices with the prices in Scandinavian countries, or actually with prices in the uk and Netherlands.
How much you need in Australia?
For accommodation in hostels you pay from about £10 in Cairns to £20 in Sydney. Take an average of £15. There are often special deal on at hostels regarding meals and nights out. Plus to keep it low cost most travellers eat at the hostel using the shared kitchen 8also a great way to meet others!) You can eat noodles, pasta or tuna salad, that you can fix your self super cheap, or you can go out for backpacker meals around £5-7
For travelling around the flexible hop on hop off bus passes are the easiest and cheapest if you are doing it alone. talk to us about the options, but most do Sydney to Cairns.
Activities are expensive, but of course great to do and why would you miss out that skydive, or diving on the great barrier reef. This is why the Ultimate Australia is so super popular. Link: Ultimate Australia
With accommodation, meals, transport and some base activities (skydive, diving, sight seeing, bar crawls ;)) included you will spend about £60 a day.
So what jobs are available?
As people come and go on a working holiday visa, there are always job openings. You could find work as a bar tender, a waiter in a restaurant, or a cook, in a hostel, at reception of hotels, be a tour guide. Its all about that job to make some extra money, its temporary so probably not a career move . Take what you can get and who knows.
Have your CV and your smile ready, wok hard and be friendly. You´ll do fine!
Still unsure if its for you?
Well its your choice. But if its something you always wanted to do, if you want to travel Australia but need some extra cash to do so, go for it. If you keep doubting you will never do it…
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]]>Koh Yao Noi is an island which can be reached in 1 hour and a half time from the camp. It is actually nicer than the famous Koh Phi Phi. It’s part of Pha Nga province and from 3 KM away from Koh Yao Noi are the little group of islands like Koh Hong, Koh La Ding, Koh Kai which can be reached via long tail boat for 400-500 Baht per person and that’s inclusive of a full day trip to the little islands. That is in GBP about £10. so well worth it!
You can take a Taxi to the pier in Phuket: Bang Rong Pier, there’s two options to reach Koh Yao Noi,
Koh Yao Noi has a lot of bungalows and also one 6 star hotel there is quite a bit of choice. our rep in Thailand can tell you all about it if you like top learn more. For about 15 GBP a night you have a small bungalow, for 25 with see view.
The island is very small and has a little town market area. It also has waterfalls and lots of rice fields. Stunning! I recon for an overnight stay, transfers and food you will spend about £50 /60 pp.
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]]>My journey with Xtreme Gap Year for me, is just the beginning this has been truly life changing.
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]]>The post Last Minute Africa Overland trip appeared first on Xtreme Gap Year Travel Blog.
]]>See below the detailed itinerary! Contact us with any questions you have
At Xtreme we offer amazing travel adventures. And this is one of them 21 days full adventure in Eastern Africa. Does this trip not suit you, or are you looking for more options check out all our Africa trip here.
Detailed itinerary (21 days)
Leaving behind the natural wonder of Victoria Falls we begin our expedition. After Livingstone we journey towards the bustling Zambian capital of Lusaka. You will notice the vegetation becoming sub-tropical and the roads a little rougher.
Today is a long drive through lush country, crossing rivers en-route to Petauke, the gateway to the South Luangwa NP. Zambia is truly African and an adjustment from the more Western ways of Southern Africa.
Early in the morning we drive from Petauke to the border of the South Luangwa National Park where we will spend the next two nights right on the banks of the Luangwa River. You can often see hippos and other animals from the camp bar. This afternoon we enjoy a sunset game drive in the South Luangwa NP.
In the morning you will have the opportunity to take an optional game drive through the South Luangwa National Park, which is known for its high concentration of leopards and hippos. After lunch we visit the community run tribal textile project and a local village.
Today we depart the South Luangwa National Park and head towards the bustling city of Lilongwe. En route, we will stop at a local market to experience the culture and way of live of the Malawian people.
Today we journey from Lilongwe to Ngala Beach which lies on the shore of Lake Malawi and is a town of considerable historical note. We will stay here for the next two nights and you will have time to explore this area and participate in the numerous optional activities on offer here.
For much of the 19th century, it was the busiest slave-trading centre on Lake Malawi and by the 1850s, Nkhotakota had become the main terminus from which as many as 20,000 slaves were shipped annually across the lake from present-day Malawi to the Indian Ocean port of Kilwa Kivinje (Tanzania). Today you will have the opportunity to experience the Slave Trade & Historical tour, gaining insight where Arab Traders organized the slave trade to Zanzibar. The tour includes the trees where Livingstone negotiated with the slave traders, the Church built by the first missionaries and the pool in the hills where enemies of the Arabs magically escaped.
Leaving Ngala Beach, we journey north to the Karonga region and our accommodation stop for the night is situated on the shores of Lake Malawi. Here you will have the afternoon free to participate in the various optional activities on offer.
Today we leave Malawi and enter Tanzania. We ascend out of the Great Rift Valley through some spectacular mountain passes, passing vast tea plantations in the highlands before arriving at our camp outside Iringa. This evening our dinner is a traditional Kihehe dinner in a Kihehe hut (local tribe) or dinner in the famous Mud Ruins restaurant.
We leave Iringa today and head north to the Mikumi National Park. Mikumi is home to lion, zebra, wildebeest, impala, buffalo and elephant. Here we have the opportunity to enjoy an optional afternoon game drive through the park.
Our journey today brings us out of the cool highland region to the humid Indian Ocean coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Meaning ‘house of peace’ in Arabic, Dar es Salaam is the economic and trade capital of Tanzania, but inland Dodoma remains the official capital city.
A local ferry will take us from Dar es Salaam (where we leave the truck) to Zanzibar. We take a transfer to the northern part of the island where we will spend our time relaxing on the beach.
Enjoy your time on Zanzibar by relaxing at the beach or exploring, snorkeling, scuba diving or taking a sunset boat cruise through the waters. Today is for relaxing.
On the 3rd day, we head south to Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, where we will spend the night. Here we have time to explore the historical and unique architecture. There are also spice and seafood markets to be explored.
Today we leave Zanzibar early and catch a ferry back to Dar es Salaam and return to our truck. It is a fairly short drive to reach our next destination, Bagamoyo, who’s name goes back to the days of slavery and means “lay down your heart”. We settle into our overnight spot which is situated on the beach. Here you will have the afternoon free to step into the inviting Indican Ocean or laze on the beach and enjoy the timeless views across the ocean. The town of Bagamoyo is a short walk away and you can explore this vibrant town on foot.
The city of Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro and The Arusha National Park. The following day we will prepare for our journey into the Serengeti.
The following days are set aside for the 3-night optional camping excursion into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. This area has one of the most densely inhabited large animal populations in Africa. The Serengeti excursion is in open topped 4×4 safari vehicles in order to tackle the challenging side roads in the parks. We leave our accommodation in the morning and drive to the Serengeti. On arrival we will start with our first game drive.
We spend the entire day game driving through the Serengeti. Our route is depending on the movement of the game and sightings.
Today we explore more of the Serengeti and make our way to the famous Ngorongoro Crater. We drive down to the bottom of the Crater, where we try and see as many animals as possible.
Today the group meets up again and we have the chance to exchange stories of the various adventures that we participated in over the past few days. In the afternoon we visit the local Masai Mara Museum.
After crossing the border into Kenya we continue to travel towards Nairobi. Founded by the British in 1899 as a simple rail depot, the town quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa and eventually the capital of Kenya in 1963. Usually we enjoy a group meal out at one of Nairobi’s excellent restaurants. Your tour ends upon arrival in Nairobi.
We standard include the Activity Package, these are the hightlights:
Want to join. Contact us!
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