Comments on: Travel Fair

By: Juha Ylitalo

Juha Ylitalo — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:51:22 +0000

I’ve only been in one, which was Azores. Photo album is available at http://www.ylitalot.net/photos/public/Azores/
This trip was targeted for hiking. We had Heidi Arponen as our guide, who is sea biologist (at the time she was writing her PhD).
At the sametime with us Kon-Tiki had another group in there, which was targeted for those, whose primary interest was nature. They were guided by Seppo Vuokko.
If you want to check hiking oriented trips, remember to check Kaukoretket as well. They should compete pretty nicely with Aventura. My trips with Kaukoretket has been documented into http://www.ylitalot.net/photos/public/Kaukoretket.html

By: lavonardo

lavonardo — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:42:03 +0000

The guide-thing is indeed a big bonus - at least my plan would be to see and understand as much as possible of the target ecosystem(s), not hop around from location to location (which seems to be the deal with a good chunk of Aventura’s selection).
Going solo is obviously an option - but out in the boonies, especially in an unfamiliar territory, I’m kind of partial that someone else takes responsibility in being the final arbitrator what to do.
And besides, it’s all vacation, and I tend to stop worrying about money as soon I shut the door home and move to the airport. Obviously, if the margin is spectacularly and visibly large, things can be different.
Which trip(s) organized by Kon-Tiki have you taken?

By: Juha Ylitalo

Juha Ylitalo — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:39:57 +0000

I guess best part on the Kontiki is that their guides have academic background as biologist, etc., so they probably know plants, fishes, local ecosystem etc. better than average guide, who has built his/her career on guiding tourists sunny beaches.
On the other hand, if you go with them to Azores for example, they have bought all the services regarding flights, transportation between airport and hotel, etc. from Hispania. I haven’t check what is the price difference on going to Azores with Hispania and Kontiki, but I have no doubt on which one is cheaper.
P.S. Of course, if one is going alone on a trip, then its worth considering how difficult/expensive it would be to get to all hiking trails, etc. on your own vs. buying trip, where all that is included in a price.