Pioneer Holidays
If you are looking for a more adventurous holiday, well off the tourist track, but not necessarily high grade walking, a Pioneer holiday may be for you. These holidays are usually longer holidays and often (but not always!) long haul, exploring lesser-known destinations. Local conditions and facilities may be basic; events may require modifications to itineraries at short notice and there may be more travelling, possibly on poor roads - but the experience is well worth it!
Our Pioneer Holidays
The Moorish TrailA chance to walk Spain in the footsteps of generations past. Follow the trail the 8th century Moors crossed from Africa to the Iberian Peninsula by train and foot. Travelling from Marrakech to Madrid we follow the tradition and influence of the Moors from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech to the beautiful hill top town of Ronda, and then on to the modern city of Madrid.
£1,399
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Exploring Western MoroccoThis walking holiday in Morocco starts with a full day’s sightseeing in the fascinating walled city of Marrakech with its beckoning backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains...
£999
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The Atlas FoothillsThis Moroccan hiking holiday is more testing than the rest. Invigorating and bracing in equal measure with the added attraction of some of the best views in the whole country.
£699
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South to the SaharaOur two week Southern Morocco adventure holiday trek takes you over the High Atlas mountains and through the southern oases to the edge of the ever changing Sahara sands
£1,045
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Arctic Birding AdventureThis holiday combines the wonders of the Siberian forest with the outstanding beauty of the Arctic tundra.
£3,399
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The Route of the Orient ExpressWith a great sense of excitement and adventure, this fascinating rail and hiking journey follows the route of the Orient Express from St Pancras, London to Istanbul, Turkey.
£2,065
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Exploring PolandExplore Warsaw, the capital, Krakow one of the finest cities in Europe, Zakopane at the foot of the Tatra Mountains and Czestochowa one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe.
£1,699
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Glorious GeorgiaPerched amongst the towering Caucasus Mountains in the region know as Eurasia, where east meets west, Georgia is truly a wonder to explore. Thought to be one of the most ancient countries in the world, there are parts of Georgia where time appears to have stood still.
£1,645
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Kaçkar AdventureIn between the summits and the coast are some of the most awe-inspiring mountain landscapes you are ever likely to see. With the unimaginable sights and sounds the Turkish Himalaya has to offer, you cannot fail to be swept away by this of the beaten track holiday.
£1,959
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The Cedars of LebanonThey say "that small is beautiful" and Lebanon certainly fits this description! It is one of the world’s smallest countries, at just 140 miles long, yet within its borders you’ll find incredibly diverse geographical regions
£2,155
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Oman AdventureThe Arabian peninsula evokes images of desert landscapes, majestic forts and palaces, bustling market places, and ancient cultures & traditions. Oman is home to one of the most mountainous regions of Arabia
£2,229
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Jewels of JordanEnjoy the spectacular landscapes of a forgotten country on our guided hiking and sightseeing holiday to Jordan, a land of many surprises and home to the most spectacular sights including majestic Petra.
£1,989
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The Langtang TrekLangtang National Park to the north of Kathmandu is the least known and trekked of the major parks in Nepal. It offers a very different experience from the Annapurna and Everest regions. The walking possibilities are endless and the views in every direction stunning.
£2,199
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In Search of the Silk RoadThe great courts of Tamarlane, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great, agents of the British Raj and Russian Tsar - these are all part of the rich history of Central Asia. In the centre of the area Uzbekistan has some of the finest architecture that the wealth taxed from the merchants on the Silk Road could afford. Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are classical beautiful cities.
£1,915
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Journey to the ‘The Land of Snows’Take in some of the best known sights of China and the wonders of Tibet. Enjoy hugely diverse cultures and landscapes, one of the most spectacular train rides in the world, visit one of the world’s most isolated countries and one of its most populous too!
£3,279
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Amazing ArmeniaThis is a holiday walking through stunning mountain ranges, deep gorges, open pasture, across clear mountain streams, orchards of mulberry, walnut and almond trees with views across lakes and valleys.
£2,275
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Sichuan Province – the Kingdom of the Giant PandaSichuan Province is one of the largest provinces in China and considered to be one of the country’s birthplaces, with evidence of human existence dating back two million years! This area has a varied and extensive history with much to offer. An area of outstanding beauty with amazingly varied landscapes around every corner and will not disappoint.
£3,474
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Beautiful New York StateThis new holiday takes in the Canadian region of Ontario before continuing by rail across the border into the beautiful New York State region for some fantastic walking and sightseeing.
£2,399
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Ecuador & the Galápagos IslandsThe combination of Ecuador’s dramatic history and scenic variety make it a colourful, exhilarating place to explore. A journey to the Avenue of the Volcanoes combined with a three-day cruise around and a two-night stay on the Galápagos Islands, our holiday offers the best of this diverse country.
£3,669
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Natural Costa RicaSpanning its Caribbean and Pacific coasts, the mountains of Costa Rica divide the country into a variety of distinct climatic zones with a sheer scenic beauty that makes walking Costa Rica particularly enjoyable.
£2,464
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Chilean Birding Adventure One look at Chile on the map will suggest hugely diverse geography and climate. The country will not disappoint and it is this diversity that makes for a hugely rewarding birding holiday!
£4,795
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Six Faces of PeruPeru walking holidays offer unsurpassed natural attractions from soaring Andean peaks to the huge depth of the Colca Canyon to the steamy Amazon jungle
£3,185
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Incan PathwaysPeru caters for every holiday taste: the walker, the naturalist, the historian, the mystic. This walking holiday really does have it all.
£POA
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The Lost World of the IncasBeautiful Peru trekking holiday in the Andes, away from the tourist track, exploring valleys and peaks, remote native villages and the lost city of Machu Picchu.
£3,169
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Walking in Colourful CubaWalking in the fascinating landscapes of Cuba discovering its rich colonial history, dating from the landing of Columbus. Trinidad and Havana are World Heritage Sites.
£1,899
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A Journey through MexicoMexico; a country with perhaps the finest Hispanic heritage in all the Americas and many of the world’s greatest natural, cultural, scenic and historic wonders.
£2,515
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In PatagoniaPatagonia has inspired western travellers from the time they became aware of the vast tracts of wilderness to the south of the Spanish possessions. It is a land of unimaginable vastness, strikingly beautiful in places, barren and inhospitable in others. We explore on both the Argentine and Chilean sides.
£3,349
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Walking in ColombiaColombia is the up and coming Latin American destination. Straddling the isthmus between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, it has unrivalled beaches, mountains, colonial cities and a fraction of the tourists one might find elsewhere. We aim to show the highlights of the huge and diverse country.
£3,259
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A Journey in the Land of SmilesSightseeing and walking through exotic Thailand, an enchanting Buddhist Kingdom where the past and present mingle in perfect harmony.
£2,515
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Exploring IndochinaIndochina contains some of the most remote and beautiful scenery in Southern Asia. This Eastern journey promises to be the holiday of a lifetime
£2,675
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Bhutan, Darjeeling & SikkimOn a map Bhutan, Darjeeling and Sikkim look as if they are squeezed between India and China. This walking holiday introduces a magnificent high mountain region
£3,099
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Spices, Plantations & Hill StationsSouthern India offers a whole new experience to visitors familiar with the landlocked mountains and sun baked plains of the north. The monsoons keep the land lush and fertile and it has an almost tropical feel with verdant coconut groves, thousands of miles of coastline, green plains and undulating hills.
£2,445
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A Journey Through CeylonAlthough largely a sightseeing holiday, we’ve included some good walking through magnificent countryside. The name Ceylon, still widely used, was introduced in 1815 when the island came under British Colonial rule and the economy blossomed with extensive tea and rubber plantations being developed.
£2,049
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A Himalayan OdysseyThe hill state of Himachal Pradesh, sandwiched between Punjab and Tibet, encompasses the verdant Himalayan foothills, where we’ll find orchards and subtropical forests, to deep gorges, pretty villages, roaring rivers and pine forests of the mountains.
£2,589
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Vietnam AdventureOur journey through beautiful Vietnam, a country of stunning landscapes, includes cities, mountains, deltas, magnificent beaches and four stunning World Heritage Sites.
£2,415
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Eastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is uniquely unspoilt. This amazing region is full of traditional African villages and experiences for you to explore. Join us as we travel from the mountains of the Great Karoo through rolling hills to the idyllic beaches of the Transkei’s Wild Coast, exploring all the area has to offer on the way.
£2,839
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An African JourneyTake a walking holiday in Southern Africa and explore the entire region. We take you on tour of the spectacular scenery and changing cultures of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia including Victoria Falls, Game Viewing, and Table Mountain.
£5,199
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From the Serengeti to ZanzibarThe Serengeti is probably the most famous national park on earth, but it is not the only jewel in Tanzania’s crown. Our journey starts at the base of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. From here we head east to the Usambara Mountains for walks between villages and to viewpoints over spectacular scenery
£2,899
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A walking holiday in NamibiaWide horizons, breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife await. From Windhoek airport into town is a beautiful introduction to the vast empty landscapes of Namibia.
£3,059
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Magical KenyaCome with us on a fascinating exploration of Magical Kenya, walking the terrain to experience the very essence of all African adventures. A country that is rich with wildlife, full of tribal culture and dominated by dramatic landscapes, full of life.
£3,779
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EthiopiaThis new tour follows the ’Historical Circuit’ which is just packed with cultural and scenic treasures in what must be among the most beautiful countries on Earth; Ethiopia
£2,699
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Undiscovered Cape VerdeThe Cape Verde islands offer a unique blend of African with Portuguese history. Volcanic in origin, the islands astound by their diversity.
£1,825
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Munro Starter PackMake a start on the biggest challenge British hill walking has to offer; this is far and way the toughest programme in our UK programme. We’ve a target of 23 peaks over 3,000ft across wild and rocky Scottish highland landscapes, the rewards in terms of views and acheivement will be immense!
£739
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Wainwrights Coast to CoastA hike across the Lake District from St Bees on the coast to Kirkby Stephen on Cumbria's eastern border covering the western part of Wainwrights famous Cost to Coast walk in seven walking days with you bags carried for you - it's just you, your daypack and the trail...
£799
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Pacific Latin AmericaThis is really a cruise to inspire the traveller in search of the exotic. We fly into Montego Bay in Jamaica and out of Santiago de Chile 3 weeks later. In between the two we visit colonial cities, pick our way through the ruins of ancient civilizations, see rain forests, volcanoes, national parks and so much more.
£POA
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