Job Opening: EcoTourism Consultant in Honduras

CARANA, an economic development firm for USAID, is looking for an Ecotourism Consultant for their PROPARQUE project in Honduras: CARANA Corporation (www.carana.com), a leading international economic development consulting firm for USAID, designs and directs innovative economic growth strategies to help countries and businesses compete globally, reducing poverty and raising living standards around the world. For 25 years, we have specialized in private sector and market-led solutions to development challenges in more than 80 countries, packaging our expertise with on-the-ground resources for continuing, cost-effective results. CARANA seeks consultants for an upcoming USAID funded project in Honduras titled PROPARQUE.  This project to ...

Travelling with a Heart to the Hill Tribe Villages of Northern Thailand

This article was first published by our friends at thetravelword, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their blog. By Mika Santos Every year, eager travellers set off to experience the legendary Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia, for contrary to its notoriety, the region is not one in which visitors run any great risks. A journey along this leg of the famous ‘Indochina Loop’ is virtually guaranteed to provide a ...

Balloons and Boulders: Adrenaline Rushes in Vang Vieng, Laos

This article was first published by our friends at thetravelword, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their blog. By Miranda Siu Vang Vieng has gained a reputation as the adventure sports capital of Laos. There is no end in sight to its high-intensity fun and games, including 10-metre jumps from swings into the Nam Song River, cycling, kayaking, rafting and much more. My two greatest experiences here have been hot-air ...

Top Five Travel Picks for Adrenaline Rushes

This article was first published by our friends at thetravelword, who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article on their blog. Some adventure travellers like to distinguish between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ experiences. Hard adventure tours are a little more extreme and often involve a heightened sense of risk and danger, with adrenaline as a necessary and obviously exciting part of the ride. Travellers beware ...

January, 2011 Photo Contest

This month's photo was taken by Antonio de Rosal, a Xola consultant & associate with the Adventure Travel Trade Association currently working in Mexico City. Can you identify the canyon pictured here? Hint: it’s located in a state known for its coffee beans with rich chocolate tones, deep jungles, and Mayan ruins. Be the first to send an e-mail to editor@travelofftheradar.com with the correct answer and we will send you some fantastic Eagle Creek gear. Last Month Congratulations to Ayako Ezaki of Portland, Oregon, for correctly identifying the mystery ingredient ...

Egypt: Pyramids Plus Sandboarding & Kitesurfing

Let the affable guys at Wild Guanabana lead you on a 14-day tour of Egypt, where they showcase their favorite of Egypt’s hidden corners. Omar and Adel have created an adventure itinerary that goes on and off the beaten track (we know you can’t go to Egypt and not see Luxor) taking you from sandboarding soaring dunes to kitesurfing the Med to the sparkling oasis in the middle of deserts. Depart from Cairo and head immediately north to the Mediterranean coast, to a solemn WWII historical site.  From there visit Siwan Berber tribes and roam Pharaonic ...

Egypt: Pyramids Plus Sandboarding & Kitesurfing

Let the affable guys at Wild Guanabana lead you on a 14-day tour of Egypt, where they showcase their favorite of Egypt’s hidden corners. Omar and Adel have created an adventure itinerary that goes on and off the beaten track (we know you can’t go to Egypt and not see Luxor) taking you from sandboarding soaring dunes to kitesurfing the Med to the sparkling oasis in the middle of deserts. Depart from Cairo and head immediately north to the Mediterranean coast, to a solemn WWII historical site.  From ...

Volunteer Tourism in Egypt

I recently traveled to Egypt with Dr. Kristin Lamoureux of The George Washington University to examine the potential for volunteer tourism in Cairo and Aswan and offer strategic recommendations for its development.  Our trip was sponsored by the Cultural Programs office of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.  We participated in a series of volunteer tourism workshops, consultations and media outreach events acrross the country from November 2-4, 2010.  The goal of the program was to energize people in government, the non-profit and private sector about how they might directly implement the concept of volunteer tourism in Egypt. The benefits to a ...