Archive for the ‘Comic relief desert trek’ Category
As a company we place a lot of emphasis on the safety of our treks, and are not prepared to compromise on the safety of our clients in order to keep our prices in line with other operators who do not offer a product of a similar quality.
We have spent the last 5 years working with our Tanzanian local agent and our medics to bring our Kilimanjaro ascent profile as close to that recommended by the British Mountaineering Council as possible, without making the trip prohibitively expensive. We added an extra 2 days to the itinerary to allow more time for trekkers to acclimatise, and have found that this has greatly increased our summit success rate. We have also changed our staffing ratio from 1 ATD staff member for every 15 participants, to 1 ATD staff member for every 10 participants. We have also worked to become members of the IMEC Partnership for Responsible Travel by meeting the porter protection guidelines set by the Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project.
Across the Divide does not claim to be the cheapest operator of Kilimanjaro treks, but we do pride ourselves on being one of the safest operators on the mountain. If you are looking at other suppliers who offer a cheaper Kilimanjaro trek than we do. I would ask that you consider the following points before making a decision as to which operator to use:
- We take 7 days to summit which is 1 day more than our competitors. This makes us more expensive than those who offer a shorter itinerary; however the additional day allows participants more time to acclimatise and therefore dramatically increases their chances of summiting.
- We ascend the mountain using the Rongai Route on the north-eastern side of the mountain which, unlike some of the other routes, retains a true sense of wilderness. The Rongai Route benefits from fewer trekkers (usually one-tenth of those on the Marangu – or “Coca-Cola” - trail, which is the route that Classic Tours take) and is generally considered to be one of the easiest of the quality routes on the mountain. We believe that by taking 7 days to climb the mountain via the Rongai Route, we offer the best chance of summiting and are confident that this is the best choice for those looking for a quality Kilimanjaro experience with the least chance of difficulties.
- We have a ratio of 1 member of ATD staff per 10 participants. Any staff we send on Kilimanjaro treks have prior altitude experience. This helps to dramatically reduce the risk of serious injury or death due to altitude related illnesses. We also carry a fully-equipped high altitude medical kit inc. oxygen and a Gamov bag, which allows for the immediate treatment of life-threatening cerebral and pulmonary oedema, reducing the risk of death. I would clarify the situation with regards to other suppliers participant-to-staff ratio and their use of “volunteer doctors”.
- We have a 100% safety record on the mountain, even with some incidences of serious illness, including one participant who had a suspected heart attack at 5,600 metres. Our doctors have saved the lives of people trekking with other operators that did not have the same high level of support. We believe we offer the highest level of medical support should you fall ill on the trek.
- Our summit success rate for 2011 is 93%, with 97.5% of trekkers reaching Gilman’s Point (on the rim of the volcano). 2 of our trips this year have had a 100% summit success rate: the average for Kilimanjaro is just 42%. We believe that the quality of our staff and the time we have built into the itinerary for acclimatisation contribute to our high success rate.
- We care about porter protection and we ensure that local staff are paid a fair wage. We are proud to be a member of the International Mountain Explorers Connection’s Partnership for Responsible Travel Program which recognizes those tour operators committed to fair treatment of Kilimanjaro porters. I note that not all operators are not a member of the porter protection / responsible travel programme.
- We use a local agent with 30 years’ experience.
- Our groups fly into Kilimanjaro Airport, saving 7 hours of overland transfers. This means that participants have more chance to recover from their longhaul flight before starting the trek, leading to a better chance of summiting.
We strongly believe that budget is not necessarily best when it comes to climbing Kilimanjaro. Whilst we could reduce our costs by losing the acclimatisation days, reducing our staffing levels, using a local agent who does not meet porter protection guidelines, and so on, we will not compromise on the safety of our trekkers, and feel that we offer a quality, ethical trek at a reasonable cost.
Book your trip of a lifetime to Kilimanjaro with Across the Divide
March 5th, 2012 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments | 
We know that price is almost everything in this day and age and we understand that, but we are not budging on our values. We have very high safety standards which means that we are not always the cheapest option, but we are one of the safest. We endeavour to have a UK medic on every trip, and provide up to date medical equipment and the latest in technologies out in the field. We never compromise on our safety standards and we hope you’ll take this into account when choosing your overseas or UK challenge operator.
We recently asked a few key clients why they booked with us and these were some of their responses…..
- You are very trustworthy
- We know how much you value safety on the treks and appreciate the importance you place on this (i.e. a doctor on all treks, taking an extra day to ensure everyone gets to the Kili summit etc)
- You help us to create the itineraries that we want and that sell so well to our corporate supporters.
- Your in-country partners are usually fantastic
- You send great teams of Expedition Leaders, Guides and Doctors on our Challenges – who pretty much always get excellent feedback from participants.
- Your office staff are very responsive – I feel we have an excellent relationship and that you always get back to us promptly and add value wherever you can.
- All of you are very friendly, approachable and experienced.
- You really look after our participants well
- You are a small but committed team and we really appreciate that and the fact that we know you all – we know who to speak to about which element of the trek and appreciate getting the same familiar (expert!) voice
- The knowledge that we have a fully qualified doctor who is trained to deal with emergencies in extreme environments is a huge comfort when taking 40 supporters of the charity abroad.
- The ATD trip leaders really take all the stress and pressure off the charity staff members. They run the projects extremely efficiently and are excellent at dealing with all situations whether it is an emergency or dealing with difficult participants. The support provided at the information evening is also hugely appreciated and really helps to reassure any nervous or high maintenance participants.
So if you are speaking to your current overseas challenge supplier make sure you check about UK staffing ratios, if they supply a medical kit and what’s in it, and if a UK Doctor is on the trip. These are key values which we know our clients appreciate over cost.
August 16th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, cancer run, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity run, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, fundraising marathon, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Our trekker of the month is Katie Bizzey, who has now completed two treks with Across the Divide plus taken part in four Just Walks. We asked Katie some questions about her treks, motivation plus much more.
1. What made you want to do a charity challenge
My daughter Laura has Muscular Dystrophy. With no treatment or cure for the disease, as a parent I feel hugely helpless that there was nothing I could do to help my child. When I saw a charity trek challenge advertised by our disease-supporting charity, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, I decided that this would be something positive for me to do in the face of this terrible disease Laura lives with. I have always enjoyed a ‘good walk’ and have tramped in NZ, gone ‘off road’ walking in India and so on, but never walked to any level of challenge in a group.
2. Why did you choose Morroco
Morrocco was a coincidence! I chose to trek in aid of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and that was their trek location! Luckily for me, it is, in my opinion, a good ‘starter trek’.
3. Why did you choose ATD
ATD is Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s chosen adventure challenge company so they weren’t MY choice, but an excellent choice made by MDC and I would never even look at a competitors website: if ATD cant take me to a specific location, I will stay home!!
(more…)
July 26th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Endurance, Just Events, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
Fancy setting yourself a challenge this year? Take part in UNICEF’s trek for the Children of Namibia, which takes place in the stunning landscape of the Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world; in southern Africa.
What is more, taking part in this trek is a unique opportunity for you to get to know more about UNICEF first hand. The visit to one of the UNICEF projects is a chance to see how much difference your support makes to the children of Namibia and just one of the many highlights of the trip.
For more information, please visit their website: http://www.unicef.org.uk/Fundraise/Get-active/Trekking/Namibia-trek/
Alternatively, contact them on 0844 801 2414 or email challenge@unicef.org.uk
Date – 30 August – 9 September 2011
June 6th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
I have now managed to clock up a total of 140km. The last 50km really put the shoe to the test on the dusty high trails of the Annapurna region in Nepal, from Birethanti through Gorepani, Tatopani and on to Beni. The trails were steep ascents and descents on rocky, uneven steps, hot and dusty 4×4 tracks and local mountain trails. This is definitely the type of terrain that the shoe excels in. They felt remarkably stable, and had excellent grip. They were cool in the heat, and the sole is looking surprisingly new without any detectable wear and tear. The shoe let in a lot of dirt, but nothing big enough to cause rubbing or blisters. So far I am impressed and thinking of the next place to put them through their paces.
Steve Clark
http://www.ukgear.com
April 5th, 2011 | adventure race, Adventure Racing, Adventure Travel, cancer run, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity dog sledding, Charity Events, charity run, charity trek, Comic Relief, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Dog Sled, Dog sledding, Endurance, Everest Base Camp, fund raising ideas, fundraising, fundraising marathon, Himalayas, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, Marathon, Namib, Namibia, Nepal, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Runner, Running, Social Enterprise, South Downs Way, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity, ultra marathon, wilderness running | No Comments |
We are delighted to announce the launch of our 2012 Overseas Just Events. We think we offer an exciting range of events from a London to Paris bike ride to a trek and rafting trip in Costa Rica or a charity desert trek in Sahara. We hope there’s something here for you.
March 28th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, cancer run, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, charity dog sledding, Charity Events, charity run, charity trek, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, CSR Projects, desert trek, Dog Sled, Dog sledding, Endurance, fund raising ideas, fundraising, fundraising marathon, Just Events, Just for Fun, kilimanjaro, Marathon, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, wilderness running | No Comments |
It’s been wonderful following the celebs trekking in Kenya for Comic Relief on their Red Nose Desert Trek . The desert trek was hot and gruelling and I bet a few of you fancy it? Well funnily enough we have our very own charity desert trek – in Morocco. Our Sahara Desert Trek allows you to discover a landscape of awe-inspiring beauty, from the great sand dunes to the arid, boulder strewn plains.
Our desert trek route has been designed to show as much of the varied landscape of the Sahara as possible. It takes us well away from the establised travel routes and along a trade route that is still used by the nomadic Berber and Toureg tribesmen, whom we hope to encounter during our journey.
The Sahara is the world’s second largest desert (second to Antarctica), over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 miles²), located in northern Africa and is 2.5 million years old. Its name, Sahara, is an English pronunciation of the word for desert in Arabic.
So why not join us in 2012 and raise funds for your charity of choice on our Charity Desert Trek.
March 15th, 2011 | Adventure Travel, Challenge, Charity Challenge, Charity Challenges, Charity Events, Comic relief desert trek, Comic relief Kilimanjaro trek, Corporate, Corporate Event Solutions, Corporate Experience, corporate experiences, Corporate in the community, Corporate Social Responsibilty, CSR, desert trek, fund raising ideas, fundraising, Just Events, Just for Fun, open event, Raise funds for the charity of your choice, Social Enterprise, Team, Team Building, teambuilding, Trek, trek for charity | No Comments |
