Adventure World

G.A.P Adventures

Since 1990, G.A.P Adventures have specialised in unique, small group outdoor adventure travel. They strive to show you the real world by taking you off the beaten track to the heart of the destination, and to meet the locals who call it home.

Their group sizes are low, between 12 - 18 travellers on a trip but the average is 10 with the exception of Expeditions and Overland truck trips.

Styles of Travel

Active - This has to beat the treadmill at the gym! Our range of Active trips adds the thrill of a physical challenge to your holiday. So if you like nothing more than hitting the trail at sunrise, peddling along mountain passes or kayaking along fast flowing rivers, then Active adventures are just what you’re looking for. Be warned - you’ll work up a sweat, but you will have access to sights and experiences other travellers would consider privileged to see!
 
Classic - The Classic G.A.P Adventures trip is all about immersing yourself in the local culture and truly experiencing a destination. Whether that’s through interacting with the communities you visit, seeing amazing and unique wildlife up close, or just getting out there and taking in the great outdoors.
 
Expedition - Taking you to the Polar extremes aboard the newly retrofitted M/S Expedition, our expeditions will take you to places you never dreamed possible. From the great white wilderness of Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, and many points in between, these adventures deliver the very best in wildlife and nature, along with awe inspiring scenery.
 
Family - Looking for something a little more exciting than your average family holiday? For a truly unique family vacation, our Family adventures take the spirit of our Classic trips, and make them accessible to all (minimum age is 5) for a fun-filled and educational holiday. With safe, private transport, nice hotels and included local payments, these trips were designed for family convenience. From the unique wildlife of the Galapagos to the hill tribe villages of Thailand, there’s literally a world of family adventure waiting for you!
 
Independent - This trip style is for those who don’t want to follow a fixed itinerary. It gives you the freedom to arrange your holiday how you want. Choose from city breaks to mini adventures, to complete two week touring options, with comfort levels to suit all tastes.
 
Limited Edition - Many of our adventures are special – and these are even more so. From photography trips to visiting some of the world’s great festivals, these adventures are limited – so hurry! Be sure to check our website or visit your travel agent for the latest Limited Editions trips, as we’ll be introducing more through the course of the year.
 
Overland - Get back to some old-school adventure travel and hit the open road in one of our all purpose overland trucks. Our trips provide the best of both worlds. Stay in hotels and enjoy the cities and towns, while roughing it on the road in an overland truck. Expect a real hands-on experience as you set up camp, help out at meal times and team up with your fellow travellers as you cross rivers, plains, plateaus and mountain passes. You could be sleeping out in the open wilderness, or within earshot of a lion’s roar and elephants trumpeting, and waking every morning to a new adventure.
 
Volunteer - Volunteer adventures have been designed as a way to give even more back to the communities and regions we visit. G.A.P Adventures travellers can make a direct and very real difference to their quality of life for local communities. The benefits to you are even greater cultural immersion, more time in the community and the ability to take a hands-on approach to bringing about positive changes.

Trip Grading

To help you choose the trip that’s right for you, we’ve broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you’re travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

Basic - this is grassroots travel at its most interesting...
Dive headfirst into culture and amazing experiences at a budget price. We’ve included just the basics so you have total freedom and flexibility to explore on your own. Experience life like a local by staying in remote or rustic guesthouses. Expect your multi-shared room or campsite to be simple and clean, with the occasional cold shower and sporadic electricity. Travel around on anything that moves, be it bus, train, camel, rickshaw or good old foot power.

Standard - authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home...
Step out of the normal tourist mind-set and truly experience the world. Most nights will have you staying in a simple yet clean twin-share hotel or lodge rooms with private facilities, complete with running water and electricity. Occasionally you may have a multi-share night at rustic local guesthouses, with communal bathrooms and the sporadic cold shower. Transportation will be a combination of public transport, private buses and some private vehicles.

Comfort - for those who like to travel in comfort...
Feed your curiosity for culture and authentic experience while still maintaining the comforts you are used to at home. Relax, your arrival transfer is always included. Expect air conditioned rooms, complete with en suite bathrooms, television, phone services, cafe/bar and internet. 24 hr electricity and hot water are the norm and continental breakfast is always included. For the most part, you will be travelling around in air-conditioned fixed route tourist buses, private touring vehicles or planes.

Superior - all the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon...
Experiencing the world doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. It’s your holiday and you deserve the best in life. Jetset around the country by plane, comfortable trains and private air-conditioned buses and touring vehicles. Expect unique, upscale, stylish accommodation with amenities such as a pool, mini bar and restaurant, amongst other things. The food will be exquisite and most meal are included.

How do they get around?

Public and private transport, ranging from brand-new, first class coaches to local school buses, trains, bicycles, dugout canoes, ferries, and some internal flights.

G.A.P Leaders

Most G.A.P Adventures group trips are accompanied by one group leader, a G.A.P Adventures representative or an expedition team. On overland trucks there is a guide and a driver/cook.

Where do they stay?

A mixture of small hotels, home stays, lodges and camping is usually used. No single supplements are charges as single travellers are matched up with another same-gender traveller. (See individual trip styles for details).

What about food?

Some meals are included, which allows plenty of opportunities to sample the local cuisine, when in remote regions, on an expedition cruise or on safari most meals are included.

What does the price include?

• Transport on tour, all accommodation, meals as specified, most sightseeing arrangements, the services of an G.A.P tour leader, with local guides and porters where applicable.
• A separate local payment is payable on many tours and is given to the tour leader at the start of the tour. It goes towards services that are paid on the ground and help reduce the overal price of the tour.

Who is the G.A.P. Adventures traveller?

• Mostly those in their twenties to forties - some older. Physical fitness is important on most G.A.P Adventures, allowing you to enjoy participating in the tour's itinerary.
• Families with children aged between 5 - 17 years of age.