Latest news with #BrucePoonTip
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Travel Weekly
G Adventures will once again offer Arctic cruises
Tour operator G Adventures in 2026 will operate Arctic itineraries for the first time since 2019. "This is huge news for us," said G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. "Our travelers and agent partners have been asking when we will return to the Arctic and I'm delighted to say the time is now." The tour operator is offering four Arctic itineraries with 10 departure dates. As previously reported, G Adventures is chartering the 128-passenger Ocean Adventurer through SunStone. It is a polar ship that Quark Expeditions had chartered previously. G Adventures is renaming the ship Expedition in tribute to the "little red ship" that will no longer sail for G Adventures. The replacement vessel is a more fuel-efficient ship. The Expedition will sail in Antarctica starting this October, then journey north next spring. Arctic itineraries will include Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland. Five additional trips through Scotland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Labrador will be announced in the coming weeks, G Adventures said. In the Arctic, onboard experts will include a marine biologist, ornithologist, geologist and historian. G Adventures says the expedition ship will be a "floating classroom," providing immersive and educational experiences for passengers. If weather allows, the tour operator hopes to offer daily excursions. The cruises are available to book now, with detailed itineraries to be released in the coming weeks. The Realm of the Polar Bear itinerary will travel through Norway's Svalbard archipelago across eight days, where travelers will explore fjords and have the chance to observe polar bears from afar. Travelers on the Arctic Highlights Southbound itinerary will visit Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, the Greenland Sea and the Northeast Greenland National Park across 15 days. Highlights include visiting the Ittoqqortoormiit settlement to learn how this remote community lives.
The Age
15-05-2025
- The Age
Getting older, but still a backpacker at heart? This is the holiday for you
It's an auspicious start. After the customary meet and greet in the bar of our elegant four-star hotel in Istanbul, tour leader Orcun Korkmaz leads us to the rooftop terrace of an upmarket restaurant with one of the best views in the city. I find myself spinning like a whirling dervish, mesmerised by a sweeping vista of the Bosphorus Strait and the floodlit facades of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Dinner is an indulgent spread of traditional Turkish fare – kebabs, mezze and fresh seafood – that's punctuated by the call to prayer, a haunting back and forth between the nearby mosques. It's one of the most atmospheric dinners I've had in years – the kind of experience you'd expect on an exclusive itinerary with a luxury operator. Yet, I'm on a tour with a company that made its name by offering budget trips to cash-strapped backpackers. Started in 1990 by Canadian Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures is the world's largest small group adventure tour company with trips in more than 100 countries. In 2023, it realised that the travellers who'd booked tours 30 years ago were now looking for an elevated experience. They still craved active trips with like-minded people, but they wanted nicer accommodation, more cultural immersion and less 10-hour bus transfers. Enter Geluxe, a new tour style that purports to tick all these boxes while still giving back to local communities. This two-week itinerary is the concatenation of two shorter Geluxe trips: a seven-day jaunt from Istanbul to Sirince via Cappadocia and Ephesus, then an eight-day journey from Sirince to Gocek via Bodrum and Dalyan. It's an ambitious itinerary that promises big-city buzz, desert escapades, historic ruins and seaside frolics. Having been on several regular G Adventures tours, I'm curious whether the world's best-known budget tour operator can up its game for its increasingly discerning client base. Mosques, mountains and Roman ruins Our one full day in Istanbul is an action-packed romp through the city's old town, a bewildering maze of snaking alleyways choked with people and seemingly suicidal scooters. We tick off many of the city's big-ticket attractions, including the arresting six-minareted Blue Mosque, the subterranean Basilica Cistern (a spectacular Roman reservoir that's now an immersive art installation) and the 4000-plus stores within the cavernous Grand Bazaar. Korkmaz shows us lesser-known gems too, such as the intricate Iznik tiling in the diminutive Rustem Pasha Mosque and a network of elevated 17th-century passages lined with workshops known as a 'han'. Along the way, we sample a variety of authentic street food, including doner kebabs, pistachio-studded Turkish delight and a popular tahini-filled pastry. In an atmospheric shisha cafe, we enjoy Turkish tea with cheese-filled bagels and learn the art of tasseography, where your fortune is told using the coffee grounds left after a syrupy slug of Turkish coffee. From Istanbul, we fly, rather than drive, to Cappadocia and are plunged into its dramatic desert medley of soaring escarpments and basalt hoodoos. Cappadocia is the location of our OMG Stay (an especially memorable hotel) and OMG Day (a choice between two immersive experiences) – two features on every Geluxe tour. Exedra Hotel certainly ticks the OMG box – the palatial property has been carved out of the volcanic terrain, creating an intriguing labyrinth of subterranean rooms linked by terraces and courtyards. The OMG Day options are a guided hike or e-bike tour in the Meskendir Valley, a buckling lunar landscape of striking rock formations called fairy chimneys. Both activities turn out to be more intrepid than most of us are anticipating. Cycling on narrow sandy tracks while dodging horse riders and high-speed ATVs certainly elicits plenty of OMGs, plus several much stronger expletives. Cappadocia's distinctive topography gets all the glory, but the region also has several impressive historic sites. Goreme Open Air Museum is a complex of UNESCO-listed medieval cave churches carved by Byzantine monks. Hidden among a scrum of towering outcrops, many still contain colourful frescoes of prophets and saints. Even more astounding is Kaymakli Underground City, a vast underground network of chambers that once housed 3500 people. First constructed by the Phrygians in the 8th-century BC, it was expanded by Christians seeking shelter during the 400-year-long Arab-Byzantine wars. After descending into the bowels of the eight-level complex via narrow staircases and cramped tunnels, we discover an incredible warren of storerooms, living quarters and churches. Perched on an imposing 60-metre-high rocky outcrop, Uchisar Castle provides a refreshingly lofty contrast. The 200-step climb leaves us gasping but watching the desert landscape burnished in golden hues by the setting sun is a worthy reward. Of course, these are just warm-up acts for the tour's headline performer: Ephesus. Highlights include the Library of Celsus, a soaring marble facade decorated with statues of the four virtues; the Corinthian-style Temple of Hadrian with its impressive self-supporting main arch and the yawning Great Theatre, which could hold 25,000 people. Community interaction is a G Adventures staple, and we enjoy two delightful food-themed encounters – a fun gozleme cooking class with two sisters at a rustic village restaurant and dinner at a family home in the tiny Cappadocian hamlet of Zelve (population 45). After a delicious meal of lentil soup, stuffed eggplants and rice-filled sarma, host Mehmet brings out a five-litre flagon of homemade red wine. The rest is a bit of a blur. Hikes, tombs and the Turquoise Coast Of the 11 guests that started in Istanbul, only six of us are doing the full two-week trip, so we say farewell to the rest on the transition day, which is spent at Nisanyan Hotel, a delightful collection of villas nestled in the forested hills above the village of Sirince near Ephesus. We soon learn that it's practically impossible to go anywhere in Turkey without tripping over a ruin. We literally stumble across one during a coastal hike near the town of Ahmetbeyli, and then there are guided visits to the ancient Greek cities of Priene and Miletus, Bodrum Castle, the Temple of Apollo at Didyma and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. While each site is notable in its own right, it's hard for anything to compete with Ephesus, and after several long, hot days of ruin scrambling, we're all a bit templed out. Fortunately, Dalyan provides the perfect antidote. A lively town strung along the banks of the Dalyan River, it's known for its natural mud baths, Lycian rock tombs and sandy Aegean beach. During a relaxing river cruise, we experience all three, starting by slathering ourselves in mineral-rich mud (as Cleopatra did, allegedly), before soaking in a sulphur-infused thermal pool. After a lunch of grilled trout and a rosé in a riverside restaurant, we glide past dramatic escarpments studded with intricately carved 4th-century-BC Lycian tombs. Last stop is Iztuzu Beach, a popular swimming spot that's also an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles. This trip's OMG Stay is the boutique Hotel Arp Dalyan. Its riverfront restaurant provides a captivating view of the tombs, particularly at night when they're illuminated by floodlights. The following day we hike part of the Lycian Way, a 760-kilometre-long trail that skirts the mountainous coastline between Fethiye and Antalya. There's a pitstop at the ruined ancient Lycian city of Pinara, followed by another home-cooked feast – this time a table-crowding platter of soups, dolma and tender baked chicken at the home of Mr and Mrs Hussain in the village of Minare. This is the inaugural departure of this Geluxe tour, so, inevitably, there are teething problems, specifically a long airport transit, one unremarkable hotel and some minor logistical gremlins. But overall, it's still a significant upgrade from a regular G Adventures departure, with characterful accommodation, more inclusions and a good balance of active and cultural experiences. Loading Like all the best trips, it finishes on a high – a private boat trip along Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a superyacht-dotted succession of tranquil bays lapped by teal water. It's a gruelling day of swims and strolls fuelled by barbecued sea bass, fresh salads and a secret chimichurri sauce made by the captain 'with love'. If this is the Geluxe life, sign me up. The details
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Getting older, but still a backpacker at heart? This is the holiday for you
It's an auspicious start. After the customary meet and greet in the bar of our elegant four-star hotel in Istanbul, tour leader Orcun Korkmaz leads us to the rooftop terrace of an upmarket restaurant with one of the best views in the city. I find myself spinning like a whirling dervish, mesmerised by a sweeping vista of the Bosphorus Strait and the floodlit facades of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Dinner is an indulgent spread of traditional Turkish fare – kebabs, mezze and fresh seafood – that's punctuated by the call to prayer, a haunting back and forth between the nearby mosques. It's one of the most atmospheric dinners I've had in years – the kind of experience you'd expect on an exclusive itinerary with a luxury operator. Yet, I'm on a tour with a company that made its name by offering budget trips to cash-strapped backpackers. Started in 1990 by Canadian Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures is the world's largest small group adventure tour company with trips in more than 100 countries. In 2023, it realised that the travellers who'd booked tours 30 years ago were now looking for an elevated experience. They still craved active trips with like-minded people, but they wanted nicer accommodation, more cultural immersion and less 10-hour bus transfers. Enter Geluxe, a new tour style that purports to tick all these boxes while still giving back to local communities. This two-week itinerary is the concatenation of two shorter Geluxe trips: a seven-day jaunt from Istanbul to Sirince via Cappadocia and Ephesus, then an eight-day journey from Sirince to Gocek via Bodrum and Dalyan. It's an ambitious itinerary that promises big-city buzz, desert escapades, historic ruins and seaside frolics. Having been on several regular G Adventures tours, I'm curious whether the world's best-known budget tour operator can up its game for its increasingly discerning client base. Mosques, mountains and Roman ruins Our one full day in Istanbul is an action-packed romp through the city's old town, a bewildering maze of snaking alleyways choked with people and seemingly suicidal scooters. We tick off many of the city's big-ticket attractions, including the arresting six-minareted Blue Mosque, the subterranean Basilica Cistern (a spectacular Roman reservoir that's now an immersive art installation) and the 4000-plus stores within the cavernous Grand Bazaar. Korkmaz shows us lesser-known gems too, such as the intricate Iznik tiling in the diminutive Rustem Pasha Mosque and a network of elevated 17th-century passages lined with workshops known as a 'han'. Along the way, we sample a variety of authentic street food, including doner kebabs, pistachio-studded Turkish delight and a popular tahini-filled pastry. In an atmospheric shisha cafe, we enjoy Turkish tea with cheese-filled bagels and learn the art of tasseography, where your fortune is told using the coffee grounds left after a syrupy slug of Turkish coffee. From Istanbul, we fly, rather than drive, to Cappadocia and are plunged into its dramatic desert medley of soaring escarpments and basalt hoodoos. Cappadocia is the location of our OMG Stay (an especially memorable hotel) and OMG Day (a choice between two immersive experiences) – two features on every Geluxe tour. Exedra Hotel certainly ticks the OMG box – the palatial property has been carved out of the volcanic terrain, creating an intriguing labyrinth of subterranean rooms linked by terraces and courtyards. The OMG Day options are a guided hike or e-bike tour in the Meskendir Valley, a buckling lunar landscape of striking rock formations called fairy chimneys. Both activities turn out to be more intrepid than most of us are anticipating. Cycling on narrow sandy tracks while dodging horse riders and high-speed ATVs certainly elicits plenty of OMGs, plus several much stronger expletives. Cappadocia's distinctive topography gets all the glory, but the region also has several impressive historic sites. Goreme Open Air Museum is a complex of UNESCO-listed medieval cave churches carved by Byzantine monks. Hidden among a scrum of towering outcrops, many still contain colourful frescoes of prophets and saints. Even more astounding is Kaymakli Underground City, a vast underground network of chambers that once housed 3500 people. First constructed by the Phrygians in the 8th-century BC, it was expanded by Christians seeking shelter during the 400-year-long Arab-Byzantine wars. After descending into the bowels of the eight-level complex via narrow staircases and cramped tunnels, we discover an incredible warren of storerooms, living quarters and churches. Perched on an imposing 60-metre-high rocky outcrop, Uchisar Castle provides a refreshingly lofty contrast. The 200-step climb leaves us gasping but watching the desert landscape burnished in golden hues by the setting sun is a worthy reward. Of course, these are just warm-up acts for the tour's headline performer: Ephesus. Highlights include the Library of Celsus, a soaring marble facade decorated with statues of the four virtues; the Corinthian-style Temple of Hadrian with its impressive self-supporting main arch and the yawning Great Theatre, which could hold 25,000 people. Community interaction is a G Adventures staple, and we enjoy two delightful food-themed encounters – a fun gozleme cooking class with two sisters at a rustic village restaurant and dinner at a family home in the tiny Cappadocian hamlet of Zelve (population 45). After a delicious meal of lentil soup, stuffed eggplants and rice-filled sarma, host Mehmet brings out a five-litre flagon of homemade red wine. The rest is a bit of a blur. Hikes, tombs and the Turquoise Coast Of the 11 guests that started in Istanbul, only six of us are doing the full two-week trip, so we say farewell to the rest on the transition day, which is spent at Nisanyan Hotel, a delightful collection of villas nestled in the forested hills above the village of Sirince near Ephesus. We soon learn that it's practically impossible to go anywhere in Turkey without tripping over a ruin. We literally stumble across one during a coastal hike near the town of Ahmetbeyli, and then there are guided visits to the ancient Greek cities of Priene and Miletus, Bodrum Castle, the Temple of Apollo at Didyma and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. While each site is notable in its own right, it's hard for anything to compete with Ephesus, and after several long, hot days of ruin scrambling, we're all a bit templed out. Fortunately, Dalyan provides the perfect antidote. A lively town strung along the banks of the Dalyan River, it's known for its natural mud baths, Lycian rock tombs and sandy Aegean beach. During a relaxing river cruise, we experience all three, starting by slathering ourselves in mineral-rich mud (as Cleopatra did, allegedly), before soaking in a sulphur-infused thermal pool. After a lunch of grilled trout and a rosé in a riverside restaurant, we glide past dramatic escarpments studded with intricately carved 4th-century-BC Lycian tombs. Last stop is Iztuzu Beach, a popular swimming spot that's also an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles. This trip's OMG Stay is the boutique Hotel Arp Dalyan. Its riverfront restaurant provides a captivating view of the tombs, particularly at night when they're illuminated by floodlights. The following day we hike part of the Lycian Way, a 760-kilometre-long trail that skirts the mountainous coastline between Fethiye and Antalya. There's a pitstop at the ruined ancient Lycian city of Pinara, followed by another home-cooked feast – this time a table-crowding platter of soups, dolma and tender baked chicken at the home of Mr and Mrs Hussain in the village of Minare. This is the inaugural departure of this Geluxe tour, so, inevitably, there are teething problems, specifically a long airport transit, one unremarkable hotel and some minor logistical gremlins. But overall, it's still a significant upgrade from a regular G Adventures departure, with characterful accommodation, more inclusions and a good balance of active and cultural experiences. Loading Like all the best trips, it finishes on a high – a private boat trip along Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a superyacht-dotted succession of tranquil bays lapped by teal water. It's a gruelling day of swims and strolls fuelled by barbecued sea bass, fresh salads and a secret chimichurri sauce made by the captain 'with love'. If this is the Geluxe life, sign me up. The details
Travel Daily News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
G Adventures introduces Ocean Adventurer, a new expedition ship
G Adventures launches new, eco-efficient expedition ship for Antarctica, enhancing guest experience while cutting per-person carbon footprint by up to 30%. G Adventures enters a bold new chapter of polar exploration, with the introduction of a new expedition vessel for the upcoming Antarctica season. The ship will replace G Adventures' 'Expedition', and will offer 128 travellers an enhanced onboard experience while preserving the adventurous spirit and warm, community-driven atmosphere that have defined G Adventures' polar journeys for over 15 years. The new vessel, currently named Ocean Adventurer, has been chartered through Danish maritime company SunStone, and will take on the Expedition name in tribute to G Adventures' much-loved 'little red ship'. It will embark on its first G Adventures departure to Antarctica in October 2025. Having undergone major renovations- including brand-new engines- the more streamlined vessel is significantly more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. This played a critical role in G Adventures' decision to change ship operations as the small-group operator strives to reduce its environmental footprint across all operations. G Adventures founder, Bruce Poon Tip says the new ship marks an exciting step for G Adventures' polar program, securing the future of its small-ship expeditions and allowing room for expansion. 'The Expedition has operated over 270 departures, taking over 30,000 travellers to some of the most remote regions of the world, and holds a very dear place in our hearts at G Adventures. And, while we all wanted to continue to operate our little red ship, it became apparent that doing so would not be good for the environment, or the business. As a company, we are always looking for ways to evolve, improve and lead from the front, so when the opportunity for this new ship presented itself, we knew we had to take it. The new ship marks an exciting leap forward – one that will allow us to continue delivering life-changing expeditions for our travellers, aboard a more comfortable and efficient vessel, while making big advancements in our climate goals as well. Our initial calculations estimate that the overall carbon footprint per person per day will drop by up to 30% as we transition to the new ship. It will also give us the opportunity to evaluate our wider polar program and opportunities for expansion – so watch this space!' 'Having just returned from Antarctica myself, where I spent time with our customers, it's clear that people book with G Adventures because they are seeking a real expedition, not a cruise. I really believe that we have created something special aboard the Expedition: a family which every guest becomes part of, alongside some of the most knowledgeable expedition leaders in the industry. As we set sail on this new adventure, we are committed to continuing the Expedition's legacy and tradition by retaining that 'special sauce' that makes each and every expedition departure with G Adventures so unique,' he continues. The new 102 metre long ship features a restaurant and bar, a large 170sqm presentation lounge, a library, fitness area, observation and sun deck and outdoor jacuzzis. The 70 cabins on board will provide G Adventures' most modern and stylish accommodation options to date, with each featuring either an ocean-facing porthole or window and ensuite bathrooms. Suites will include a double bed and larger sea-view windows, allowing travellers to observe the breathtaking sights and wildlife of the seventh continent from their room. Multishare twin and triple cabins provide travellers with a sociable option, that allows them to enjoy an expedition adventure of a lifetime. While travellers on larger ships have their excursion time restricted, passengers with G Adventures will continue to enjoy the benefits of small-ship exploration, with 11 zodiacs hosting two daily excursions and all travellers having the opportunity to leave the ship at each stop. In addition, with at least 14 expedition experts on board, specialising in everything from marine biology to ornithology, the passenger to expert ratio of 10:1 means travellers are able to spend time and connect with some of the region's leading experts on board. Daily lectures will continue to take place, as will the popular kayaking and camping excursions in Antarctica, which see travellers paddle past icebergs and sleep under the stars on the ice. The new ship is built with an Ice Class 1A for reinforced safety and maneuverability, as well as a refurbished propulsion system and updated stabilisers (Sperry Gyrofin), offering a smoother ride and helping to reduce motion sickness during rough crossings. 'Demand for our polar offering continues to be incredibly strong, as travellers are drawn to our small-ship offering and a more immersive, expedition-style adventure in this truly unique part of the world. The Expedition has allowed us to deliver once-in-a-lifetime trips, at a great price, and we are excited to continue offering incredible experiences and value to our travellers as we enter this next chapter of our polar offering,' says Ben Perlo, chief executive officer at G Adventures. The new Expedition ship will operate five Antarctica itineraries, including: Antarctica Classic – 11 days Spirit of Shackleton – 21 days Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica – 22 days
Travel Weekly
08-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
G Adventures replaces polar expedition ship
Tour operator G Adventures is swapping out its Expedition polar vessel for a newly chartered ship, which the tour operator will begin sailing in October. The ship is more fuel-efficient than G Adventures' current one, which is a key reason the company said it opted for a change. "While we all wanted to continue to operate our little red ship, it became apparent that doing so would not be good for the environment or the business," said Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures founder. "As a company, we are always looking for ways to evolve, improve and lead from the front, so when the opportunity for this new ship presented itself, we knew we had to take it." Replacing Expedition will reduce the carbon footprint of each person onboard by up to 30%, Poon Tip said, based on an estimate from initial calculations. The ship, the Ocean Adventurer, has been chartered from SunStone, said G Adventures. Quark Expeditions chartered the ship for many years. G Adventures will give it the Expedition name in tribute to its previous "little red ship." The first sailings will be to Antarctica. The ship has 70 cabins and can accommodate 128 guests. It includes a restaurant, bar, presentation lounge, library, fitness area, outdoor hot tubs and an observation and sundeck. The cabins are G Adventures' "most modern and stylish accommodation options to date," the company said. Each cabin has either a porthole facing the ocean or a window, and guests can choose from suites with a double bed as well as twin and triple cabins.
