Christmas Will Be Extra Sweet For Person Who Wins Wildland Adventures’ 12-Day Tanzania Safari Giveaway for Two

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Released on Tuesday, 05 December 2017 11:51

SEATTLE, WA, Dec. 5, 2017 – As safari specialists in the Serengeti region, Wildland Adventures has shared its love of the people, wildlife and landscape of Tanzania. To bring in the new year the company is announcing new enhancements to its safaris plus a trip giveaway for two. 

“What better way to celebrate 25 years of Wildland Adventures’ African safaris than to offer an online giveaway with a grand prize, a 12-Day Serengeti Wilderness Safari for two!” says Kurt Kutay, Wildland Co-Founder and President. The giveaway, wildtripgiveaway.com, runs Dec. 4 through Dec. 24, 2017. In addition to the safari valued at nearly $12,000 for two, the winner and companion also receive three sets of clothing from Toad&Co, two Adventure Camera Kits from Mountainsmith and two Grayl Water Purifier Bottles. International air is the responsibility of the winner and not included.

The runner-up prize is one Adventure Pack from Mountainsmith, one piece of Debug Clothing with Insect Shield Technology from Toad&Co and one Grayl Water Purifier Bottle. Plus, one daily winner will receive a Grayl Water Purifier Bottle.

New for this year on its Serengeti Family Safari are visits to a Wa Irakw tribal family in the Karatu area enroute to the Ngorongoro Crater and coffee-growing areas. The Wa Irakw are genetically linked to Afro-Asiatic tribes who migrated south from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers over 500 years ago, stopping enroute in Ethiopia and Somalia. Children and adults alike will learn how to make a traditional Wa Irakw hand drum, engage in Swahili language lessons and try out their haggling and business skills in a local market.

Also new are expanded family accommodations (two with interconnecting rooms) at the southern Serengeti’s Lake Masek Tented Camp. This camp is ideally located for viewing the Great Migration from December through March when the wildebeests are calving. Guests will also appreciate the new vehicle upgrades with the addition to the fleet of five new Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, camera-charging plugs and a fridge for cold drinks.

For every night on a Wildland itinerary, a donation per guest goes to the Emusoi Project in Arusha which educates indigenous women and girls who lack the support or funding on their own. Guests have the option to visit the project during their stay and see firsthand the difference this program makes. Also the new Mara River Tented Lodge (12 spacious ensuite tents, 4 family tents, swimming pool, solar power and Wifi) will open in May 2018 in North Serengeti National Park. Ideally situated in the Kogatende (with airstrip) near the Mara River, guests can observe northbound herds crossing the river as well as the proliferation of African wildlife throughout the area.

The per person double rate for a 12-day Serengeti Wilderness Safari is $5,685. Experiences include game drives in Tarangire National Park, visits to markets and a beading co-op, hunting or foraging with Hadzabe Bushmen, hiking with Maasai in the highlands at Ngorongoro Crater, and four nights safari in Serengeti National Park.

The per person double adult rate for a 10-day Serengeti Family Safari starts at $4,550. There are discounts offered for children under 14 years of age.

Both programs include guided tours and excursions, English-speaking naturalist guides, airport-hotel transfers, local air transportation (family program only), accommodation (hotel, tented camps, local farmhouse), safari transport on specially outfitted 4 WD safari vehicle, three meals daily, bottled water and beverages, park entrance and camping fees, Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre-departure services.

For details on Wildland’s special 30th Anniversary Season worldwide, please see https://ww2.wildland.com/30th-anniversary.

For more information on Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call 1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

About Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1987. As active managing directors, they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel.

# # #

Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:       https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:        https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus:  https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wildland Adventures’ New Zimbabwe Conservation Safari Showcases How Tourism Can Assist Environment

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Released on Wednesday, 16 August 2017 08:13

SEATTLE, WA, Aug. 16, 2017 – People travel thousands of miles to Zimbabwe to immerse themselves in a symbiosis of nature co-mingling with village life, hopeful always of extracting meaning beyond what they see in stock photos.

For 30 years Wildland Adventures’ (http://www.wildland.com/) raison d’etre has helped travelers reach beyond the clichés of destinations they visit. The company’s new Zimbabwe Conservation Safari is a hands-on journey through the heart of Africa’s wildlands with a modern-day conservation hero. Over nine days guests interact with villagers and elephants in ways that bring sustenance to community and wildlife alike. They begin to understand the issues behind and the possibilities of safeguarding wildlife to secure better lives for local people.

This safari, among others, turns over to a Zimbabwean foundation that conducts community work in Zimbabwe a $700 tax deductible contribution included in each guest fee. Participants engage with villagers and school children while pounding a nail here, reading a story there and perhaps kicking around a soccer ball. Visitors roll up their sleeves to provide water for elephants to drink. The trip is led by fourth generation Zimbabwean, Mark "Butch" Butcher, who is a modern-day hero of African conservation.

Mark, who won the 2014 Guardian and Observer ethical travel award, is an ecotourism pioneer, professional safari guide and leading conservationist in his native country. He receives Wildland travelers at his lodges in Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River and in Hwange National Park where he shares stories about working as a game ranger fighting rhino poachers in the late 1980s. Today, he leads safaris and saves elephants by employing ex-poachers as his staff and they in turn protect wildlife for tourism that now pays their salary.

The program begins at a pioneering community-based tourism accommodation, Gorges Lodge, overlooking Batoka Gorge at Victoria Falls. Next guests board a 24-seat private rail car, the Elephant Express, that traverses an historic colonial-era railway line along Hwange National Park. On the vast game plains of Ngamo guests are accommodated in the luxurious Camelthorn Lodge for four nights going on safari each day and immersed in the daily life of a Zimbabwean village. Here they assist in wildlife monitoring, releasing animals from snares and assisting anti-poaching activities.  A day trip to Mfagazaan Pan introduces Hwange’s famous elephant herd sustained in the dry season on a pumped water program started in the 1930s.

While enjoying two nights in a luxurious tented camp on the Zambezi River guests go out on patrol with park rangers, a dedicated anti-poaching team who routinely patrol along the shoreline of Zambezi National Park.

Kurt Kutay, founder of Wildland Adventures, reflected that not long ago, indigenous rural communities received very little direct benefit from Zimbabwe’s safari tourism business.

“For the rural villager living next to a national park, wildlife was by no means an attraction. Elephants ate their crops and lions killed their livestock. The animals were problematic and not something local people wanted to protect. Tourists who came to see the game typically passed by villages in safari vehicles and spent their money elsewhere. We’re proud to say that visitor by visitor we are helping to change this,” Kutay Said.

The per person double rate of the safari is from $5,575 (single supplement $1,057) that includes the $700 tax deductible contribution to the Imvelo GTrust/D3 Foundation that supports local social service projects in Zimbabwe; all guided tours and excursions; National Park entrance fee; English-speaking naturalist guides;  airport-hotel transfers, land transportation; accommodation for eight nights; meals, soft drinks, beer, wine and local spirits; laundry service; Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre departure services.The June 13 - 21, 2018 departure can accommodate up to 14 guests (minimum age 12). See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/africa/zimbabwe/zimbabwe-conservation-safari/overview.aspx#/overview

For details on Wildland’s special 30th Anniversary Season worldwide, please see https://ww2.wildland.com/30th-anniversary

For more information on Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1987. As active managing directors, they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel.

# # #

Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wildland Adventures Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Opportunity to Win Trip for Two To Thailand and Cambodia

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Released on Thursday, 13 July 2017 11:10

SEATTLE, WA, July 13, 2017 – How does a travel company in business for 30 consecutive years celebrate its success?

This was a no-brainer for Kurt and Anne Kutay, who founded Wildland Adventures in 1987. Of course, they would celebrate their loyal clients as well as those who long to travel with them. In recognition of their contribution, the company will offer a series of trip giveaways, the first being a trip for two to Thailand and Cambodia. The online contest begins July 13 and concludes at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 3, 2017.

Interested travelers may enter the Wildland Adventures Thailand & Cambodia Trip Giveaway by visiting the company website at http://wildtripgiveaway.com/ and completing and submitting the online entry form. Additional entries can be earned by referring friends or by visiting a number of social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram as explained on the contest page.

“Thanks to our intrepid travelers, we continue to expand our global community. What better way to express our gratitude and celebrate 30 years of ‘Going Wild’ than to give away a trip to Thailand & Cambodia, welcoming two lucky winners into our family of adventure travelers,” Kurt and Anne Kutay, Directors.

Joining this birthday bash are two highly respected travel partners. The winning duo will be outfitted with a load of travel gear from Eagle Creek and prAna. Included from Eagle Creek are two Expanse Carry-Ons and two Expanse Flatbed 29” luggage pieces. prAna will donate four items of prAna travel clothing to each person.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), of which Wildland Adventures is a charter member, is also helping promote this festivity through their consumer website www.adventure.travel. Adventure.Travel showcases the best adventure companies and stories inspiring travelers to explore the world in a passionate and responsible way.

The Trip Giveaway winner and guest will have time to build their excitement over the Thailand & Cambodia Trip where travel may be scheduled from Aug, 30, 2017 to May 31, 2018. Upon arrival in Bangkok (flights not included), a Wildland Adventures guide will meet them at the airport and help settle them in to the first of several boutique hotels they’ll enjoy enroute.

The sights of old and new Bangkok reveal themselves while bicycling through the city and then cruising by boat the Chao Phraya River, virtually the city’s lifeline. After absorbing Bangkok’s cultural treasures comes a visit by car and long tail boat to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya dating to the 15th century. Moving from ancient history to tropical jungle reveals one of Asia’s largest intact monsoon forests, home to several hundred wild elephants, as well as tiger, leopard, Asiatic black bear, sambar deer, gibbon, macaque, and several species of hornbill.

Although the pleasures of Thailand are far from exhausted, this tour next brings guests to theThai-Cambodian border and on to Siem Reap’sAngkor Archeological Park, visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking and one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, if not in the world. Stretching over some 400 square kilometers, the park contains the magnificent remains (think Angkor Wat) of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. In the course of a bike ride along the Siem Reap River are children waving in small villages where cyclists see palm wine and sugar production, basket weaving and rice farming before transferring to the airport for the flight home.

The Kutays three decades ago birthed a new travel concept they call The Wild Style. This means consciously choosing to travel deeper, not farther; to experience a world that craves our understanding and compassion rather than our judgement; to visit communities that seek to welcome us rather than entertain us.

“Today we feel at home in the pivotal global movement to build inter-personal, inter-cultural and environmental bonds among the people and the places we travel,” said Kurt Kutay. “Over the course of our 30-year journey, we have held firm to a truth that travel may be the most important path to a growing global community which sustains – rather than degrades -- life on earth. We do this not between nations but through conscientious individuals and communities who care about Mother Earth, economic inequities and social injustices.”

For additional details on Wildland’s 30^th Anniversary please see https://ww2.wildland.com/30th-anniversary

For more information on these and all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1987. As active managing directors, they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel.

# # #

Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How a Canoe Trip 30 Years Ago Transformed Anne & Kurt Kutay, Founders of Wildland Adventures

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Released on Thursday, 04 May 2017 07:57

Dear Friends,

In 1987, Anne and I, founders of Wildland Adventures, birthed a new travel concept we call The Wild Style.  We wanted to travel deeper, not further; to experience a world that craves our understanding and compassion rather than our judgment; to visit communities that seek to welcome us rather than entertain us. Starting out, we questioned if we could build a successful business around accomplishing these goals, but over 30 years we achieved a delicate balance of introducing guests to remote destinations while preserving the culture they’ve come to experience. The Wild Style requires more effort to deliver. Our field research to make inroads into local communities and find guides who delight in our quest for life-changing travel takes time but results in big rewards for the guest.

Our impetus? While motoring up the Amazon River in a dugout canoe 30 years ago, we came upon the Yagua, an indigenous people of Colombia and northeastern Peru. From afar we witnessed the commotion as they ran into their huts in jeans and t-shirts and emerged half-naked in grass skirts with blowguns in hand to greet us. In that instant, while leading our first group tour we decided:

At Wildland Adventures, authenticity will be our highest priority;

that we will approach our world and the people and cultures we share it with

embraced in an ethic of honesty and sincerity.

When we approached the Yagua in gratitude with respect, what otherwise might have been a one-sided tourist parade was a heartfelt cultural connection. This was not a group of individuals living in the past, but rather an indigenous community transitioning into the modern world. We laughed together while learning how to use a blow gun and the façade between us faded as we began asking deeper questions about them as individuals. How did they live today? Provide for their families in the jungle?  They were excited to share their traditions, customs and present-day lifestyle with a group of eco-tourists genuinely interested in learning more. 

Later, as our canoe drifted back downriver to our reality, we were returning home with a new-found understanding of the hardships faced by indigenous peoples. We began to understand their challenges in overcoming inequities and prejudices, as well as their struggle to reclaim the basic human rights necessary to participate in modern life while preserving their own cultural heritage. Our interaction on that sand bar in the middle of the Amazon River was their opportunity to earn income and share their culture with the outside world.

Today we continue to seek out rural communities where we can bring the benefits of ecotourism to help support local people while promoting the conservation of wildlands.

Over the course of our 30-year journey, we have held firm to a truth that travel is one of the most important paths to a growing global community which sustains – rather than degrades – life on earth. Thanks to our travelers, we’re expanding our global family. We do this not between nations but through conscientious individuals and communities who care about Mother Earth, economic inequities and social injustices.

Our Wild Style of travel opens the possibilities of exploring, as author Joe Robinson describes, “…the vast incognita territory within each of us.”  When you travel in gratitude with an intention to experience the world in sincerity and good faith, every adventure becomes your own personal journey to discover something in yourself.

Our purpose is to return home from a trip not only knowing the world, but our place in it.  After 30 years of travel with friends and family, our children now show us by example that to be transformed by travel is to transform the world. They remind us that our adventures down an open road help us shed our baggage, summoning us to cultivate love and renewed purpose.

Thank you for your support over these past 30 years. Please check your inbox in the coming months for how we plan to celebrate moving forward into the future.

With kindest regards,

Kurt and Anne Kutay

Wildland Adventures

http://www.wildland.com/

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

800.345.4453 

Contact Widness & Wiggins PR for photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wildland Adventures Kicks Off Its 30th Anniversary of Going Wild Around the World with Multimedia Presentations by Expert Guest Speakers

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Released on Friday, 06 January 2017 08:53

SEATTLE, WA, Jan. 6, 2017- Wildland Adventures kicks off its 30^th anniversary in 2017 with a January series of travel seminars featuring guest speakers who are all top guides and conservationists in their native countries of Zimbabwe, India and Brazil. The seminars are on three consecutive Saturdays at The Savvy Traveler in Edmonds. The dates are Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. on Zimbabwe, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. on India and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. on Brazil.

“We are very excited to kick off our 2017 season and the start of our 30^th anniversary ‘Going Wild’ around the world by inviting our community to presentations by some of our most enthusiastic and engaging guides, all of whom are nationally recognized in their native countries for innovative ecotours that take our travelers to remote habitats they have helped to protect,” says Wildland Adventures President Kurt Kutay. “We’ll show short videos of Mark leading us on foot in tracking elephant in the bush, searching for the Bengal tiger (and finding them) from Amit’s jungle lodges and swimming with Douglas in the “meeting of the waters” where two rivers form to create the mighty Amazon River.”  

All events are held at The Savvy Traveler store, 112 5^th Ave S in downtown Edmonds, WA 98020, telephone (425) 744-6076. Call or register here: http://www.savvytraveleredmonds.com/Imports/Registration.asp?Id=717&TIME=10:00%A0AM

Safaris in Zimbabwe / Saturday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m. - Guest Speaker: Mark “Butch” Butcher, Safari Guide and Conservationist

Fourth generation African and native Zimbabwean,Mark "Butch" Butcher holds the 2014 Guardian and Observer ethical travel award. He is an ecotourism pioneer, professional safari guide and leading conservationist who hosts Wildland travelers at camps and lodges on the Zambezi River and in Hwange National Park. Wildland Adventures Directors Kurt and Anne Kutay and other local travelers recently returned from Zimbabwe will introduce Mark and relay their own adventures on safari. Mark will share some of his life's stories: from working as a game ranger fighting rhino poachers in the late 80's to his latest roles leading safaris and saving elephants by employing ex-poachers as an incentive to protect wildlife through ecotourism. The presentation features amazing lodges and tented camps, the Elephant Express safari train, and incredible wildlife encounters including a video of Mark tracking elephants up close on foot with Kurt and Anne.

Inspiring India! / Saturday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. - Guest Speaker: Amit Sankahla, Guide and Tiger Specialist

Amit Sankahla is Wildland Adventures’ foremost Indian guide and one of India’s leading tiger conservationists. This evening of stories and multimedia unveils the spectacular labyrinth of sights, sounds and mysteries of the sub-continent. Amit will share his kaleidoscope of award-winning images and videos revealing treasures to be discovered traveling among rural communities and into the wild places throughout his native India. Together with Wildland Directors Kurt and Anne Kutay guests will track the elusive Bengal tiger and Snow leopard, visit traditional markets and festivals including ancient Sufi and gypsy dance performances among many other surprises Wildland Adventures arranges for travelers to India’s premier tiger parks, hidden villages, the historic cities, majestic forts and opulent palaces of Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal, the spiritual city of Varanasi and the soaring temples, tropical Malabar backwaters, and plantations of the Spice Hills in the south. India remains the 'great frontier' for adventure travelers. Following in the path of his grandfather who was recognized by Indira Gandhi as "The Tiger Man of India", Amit operates two lodges and a luxury camp in the heart of tiger reserves, and through his collaboration with many others, he is credited with contributing to the success of the recent increase in population of tigers.

Discovery and Adventure in Brazil / Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. - Guest Speaker: Douglas Simoes, Ecotourism Guide and Conservationist

Wildland Adventures' Brazil guide, Douglas Simoes, explores how to create a comprehensive and seamless introductory itinerary that links the best of Brazil’s nature and culture. Guests will explore deep into the Pantanal wetlands epicenter for jaguar spotting and into the vast wilderness of the Amazon, home of some of the world’s most biologically diverse habitats for primates, caiman, capybara, 700 bird species, ocelots, pink dolphins and more! Walking on remote jungle trails, canoeing on rainforest lakes and rivers and mingling with monkeys in observation towers in the canopy of the rainforest are part of the fun. Foodies and culture buffs will love the international fusion of African, Amerindian and European cultures through architecture, food, music and dance on the beautiful coast of Salvador de Bahia. Inland lies the remote region of Chapada Diamantina where active travelers find endless trekking, swimming and photographic opportunities in a beautiful landscape of tabletop mountains, canyons, valleys, caves, electric blue pools and thundering waterfalls, including small villages to experience rural life with locals. All routes in Brazil lead to Rio with visits to the famous Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer Statue atop Corcovado Mountain and the sun-soaked beach of Copacabana. It's a short hop down the Green Coast to Paraty, the picturesque colonial UNESCO World Heritage Site town and jumping off point for hiking and kayaking in Brazil's rainforest fjord - Mamangua. Guests can begin or end a Brazil adventure in magnificent Iguassu Falls draped in rainbows and glittering mist.

For more information on these and all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors, they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel.

# # #

Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Going Wild Now for 30 Years, Wildland Adventures Tailors New 2017 Trips to Families, Women, Writers, Trekkers and More

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Released on Thursday, 15 December 2016 11:04

SEATTLE, WA, Dec. 15, 2016 – Going wild around the world is the mantra for adventure travel pioneer Wildland Adventures that is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017.

“For 2017 we’ve added 16 new and/or extensively revised itineraries to enhance our portfolio of small group adventures. All our Wildland Adventures promise to cultivate connections and possibly transform yourself and your view of the world. We have added trips that target active women and epicureans, families, emerging writers and adventurous trekkers,” said Kurt Kutay, founder and owner of Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/).

2017 New Trips for Families

In Africa: Botswana Family Safari- 8 days, from $5,195 for family of four.  Families are whisked to a private safari camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Wildland’s Young Explorers program led by professional safari guides teaches the whole family the art of bush craft: spotting wildlife, learning animal behavior tracking game on foot. Guests visit local communities to experience daily life, and, among other activities, make jewelry, weave baskets, shoot with slingshots, fish and cook over an open fire. Every day kids “read the morning newspaper” which means looking over tracks in the sand for nighttime visitors.

In Latin America: Guatemala Family Adventure- 9 days, from $3,695 adults, $2,895 teens, $2,695 child. Wildland families discover everyday subsistence life of indigenous Mayans on small farms and marketplaces around Lake Atitlan. They hike in the Pacaya Volcano, explore the UNESCO World Heritage colonial city of Antigua, and the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in the remote jungles and wildlife reserve of Tikal National Park. An expert bilingual guide leads guests who bike, hike, kayak, explore ruins and connect with Mayans in their homes, villages and fields.

In Europe: Croatia Active Family Adventure- 9 days, from $4,095 adult/$3,295 under 18.Croatia is accessible and offers great value for the travel dollar. This active itinerary traverses the Julian Alps through forests, following waterfalls and rivers flowing to ancient ports along the Adriatic coast. Families hike, cycle, raft and kayak in national parks, through rural villages and among Roman ruins and ancient fortifications. In local homes and restaurants guests experience traditionally prepared pastas, stews and Adriatic seafood. This adventure begins in the capital city of Zagreb and concludes in Dubrovnik.

2017 New Trips for Womenand Epicureans

In Cuba: Havana and Heartland of Cuba- 7-day women’s departure March 10-16, 2017, from $3,995. A Cuban professional female guide introduces travelers to the lives of Cuban women from their role in the Revolution to the formation of modern-day Cuba. Guests visit with extraordinary women as part of a people-to-people program. Get ready to laugh, dance, learn and be deeply touched by the women of Cuba a la Wild Style! Cuba is also among the safest countries in the world for female travelers.

In Latin America: Women’s Active Wine Adventure in Chile & Argentina- April 1-10, 2017, from $4,995.Adventurous women will explore vineyards and valleys of Chile and Argentina on horseback and bicycle, and walk through culturally vibrant back streets of Santiago, Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. Lively female guides introduce South America’s epicurean highlights while the group sips perfectly blended Malbecs, experiments with unique ingredients at a regional cooking class and meets vendors at local markets.

In Europe: Women’s Southern Italy Epicurean Adventure- May 22-31, 2017, from $6,695.This active exploration of Puglia blends sunshine, charming landscapes, delectable cuisine and wines with active women’s zest for the good life. Puglia’s rustic charm is reflected in the locals’ welcoming personalities and communal dining, simple and flavorful local fare that has stood the test of time and a rich cultural history reflecting, among others, Byzantium and the Normans.  Menhirs (pre-history stones), cave churches and medieval castles keep it wild along with hiking, shopping, wine tasting, cycling and preparing classic dishes with master chefs. Antonello Losito, since 2007 one of Pugli's premier guides, shares his passion for the food, landscape, and culture of Southern Italy with guests.

2017 New Trip for Writers

In Asia: Vietnam: Travel Writing with Dave Fox- Mar.6-17, 2017, from $3,775. Guests who want to delve deep into Vietnamese culture and advance their travel writing prowess are invited to explore Vietnam with best-selling author and award-winning travel writer Dave Fox. In a collaborative small group, budding travel writers practice mindfulness and how to see anew employing a heightened sense of awareness using all their senses traveling south to north by boat, bike and foot among the clamor of cities and the peaceful rice paddies and villages. The trip culminates with a two-night cruise through Halong Bay as participants develop new sources of self-expression and personal story-telling that chronicles a sense of place and people, grabbing the imaginations and capturing the hearts of their readers. Dave has been a Public Radio news anchor, a tour guide and an international cruise ship lecturer.

New for 2017 - Transformational Adventures

In Latin America: Patagonia: A Journey of Discovery- 7 days, from $3,100 is one of Wildland’s first in a series of new Transformational Travel experiences. Embark on a guided journey of personal exploration and discovery through one of the most spectacular and inspirational places in the world. Head deep into Torres del Paine National Park for three days of extensive hiking into the Paine Massif. Along the way, Michael Bennett, Ed.D. of Muddy Shoe Adventures, facilitates small group sharing using the power of nature and adventure to foster a deeper sense of discovery of the on this journey of personal exploration. Michael will use the trip's many adventures as catalysts for casual yet inspirational discussions for participants to reflect, share and learn from what they are experiencing with the goal of integrating it into one’s day-to-day life.

In Asia: Thailand: Discovering the Land of Smiles - 9 Days from $2,450. Thailand is one of the most diverse, exotic, and exhilarating countries on earth. A trip there among chaotic cities, vibrant markets, temples steeped in spiritual richness, and verdant tropical nature full of wildlife, guarantee that you’ll be enlivened and enriched and an opportunity to see yourself anew. Along the way, Michael Bennett, Ed.D., of Muddy Shoe Adventures, facilitates sharing among travelers of each day’s adventures as inspiration in a collaborative and supportive small group recognizing each traveler’s present rite of passage, and for some to develop a personal action plan for kick-starting the next chapter of their lives.

For more information on these and all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors, they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel.

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Wildland Adventures’ New Nicaragua Itinerary ‘From Highlands to Islands’ Features Granada and Off the Tourist Radar Caribbean Islands

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Released on Thursday, 29 September 2016 09:48

SEATTLE, WA, Sept. 29, 2016 – Adventure travel pioneer Wildland Adventures showcases up and coming Nicaragua along with a slice of the Caribbean little known to most travelers in its new 9-day/8-night Colonial Granada, Highlands and Island Adventure.

Wildland’s Central America immersion for the active and curious traveler includes the Corn Islands (70 km off Nicaragua’s eastern Caribbean coast), a sun-swept destination well known in the past to pirates and buccaneers but off today’s tourist map. A secluded white-sand beach adventure is the trip finale after…

• Bicycling through the oldest city in the Western hemisphere, Granada,
• Zip lining in the cloud forest highlands of the Mombacho Volcano,
• Hiking in Masaya Volcano National Park and
• Kayaking among the 365 islets on Lake Nicaragua

In addition to securing off-the-beaten-track experiences, a defining element of all Wildland Adventures is flexibility. For example, when guests arrive on Big Corn Island, they can choose to be hosted at Arenas Beach Hotel or move on to Yemaya, considered one of the most beautiful island luxury lodges in the world on the more secluded Little Corn Island, a perfect romantic hideaway. Throughout the trip guests stay active, but here they can choose just to lie in a hammock – or snorkel or swim.

The itinerary rates are also flexible depending on the number of people in a party. Departures may be arranged for a minimum of just two people starting at $1,995 per person double occupancy for a group of six or more. Children ages 6-11 receive a 20 percent discount. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/central-america/nicaragua/colonial-nicaragua-highland-and-island-adventure/overview.aspx

After arriving at Managua International Airport the adventure begins in the colonial city of Granada (Est. 1524). History that reverberates down cobblestone streets and in colorful markets resonates with the mysteries of pre-Columbian embellishments. One day focuses on rural Nicaragua, with opportunities to visit artisan workshops in Masaya, the country’s most popular handcraft market. This day also introduces ceramic artists in San Juan de Orienteand Nicaragua’s geologically eruptive nature with a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park and the stunning and active Santiago crater. Views of Mombacho Volcano, a sleeping giant rising to 4,626 feet, are omnipresent in Granada, which only adds to the excitement of a zip line tour along the flanks of the volcano, soaring through a verdant cloud forest rich in hanging moss and epiphytic plants. A cooking lesson in a local kitchen is followed by a visit to a Choco Museum that exhibits the country’s pride, chocolate. The importance of chocolate moves to front and center in a chocolate workshop where guests learn how to roast, winnow, grind, mix, conch, refine and mold their own morsel of chocolate.

In the mountain zone of Matagalpa resides an eco lodge icon in Nicaragua, Aguas del Arenal Lodge. Here guests stay for two nights while exploring the birdlife (Nicaragua has over 700 bird species) and La Bonanza, a coffee plantation harvesting this export in a sustainable manner. Then it’s time to return to Granada for an overnight before a short flight to Big Corn Island for a deep breath on the Caribbean beach – sans tourist attractions.

Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) also offers two other unique itineraries in Nicaragua that focus on the mainland’s culture and beach activities along the Pacific coast.Nicaragua Adventure Touris a 9-day program for families and active travelers that includes hiking, biking and kayaking, touring rural villages and understanding the volatile life of volcanoes. The per person rate is from $3,795. Nicaragua Family Vacation is an active 9-day exploration that brings young and old alike into contact with the friendliness of locals and the fun of zip lining, kayaking and hiking. The per person rate is from $3,495.

For Central American travelers with a passion for snorkeling, Wildland Adventures suggests any of its four holidays, including one for families, exploring Belize. Here the focus is on the barrier reef, Mayan ruins, sailing excursions, rainforest hikes and even treehouse accommodations. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System offers snorkeling and scuba diving amongst the magic world of corals; its expanse is second only to Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef.

Three of Wildland Adventures’ opportunities for adventure travel in Costa Rica are designed with families in mind. Other itineraries feature river rafting and immersion into the country’s complex and diverse eco systems where birds, monkeys and other wildlife thrive.

For more information on these and all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Do-it-all’ Outfitter on Earth and Fodor’s as one of the World’s Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 45 countries.

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Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802.234.6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cuba’s Reins on Visitors Loosen: Wildland Adventures’ New 11- and 7-Day Itineraries Embrace Outlying Regions and Person-to-Person Encounters

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Released on Wednesday, 03 August 2016 08:43

SEATTLE, WA, August 3, 2016 – Americans since 2011 have been permitted to visit Cuba under the US government’s highly regulated People-to-People program. Ever since the first tour groups arrived on the shores of the Caribbean’s largest island, restrictions have tended to keep American visitors under tight rein.

However, as attitudes at home toward the embargo continue to soften and Cuba itself feels more comfortable in its role of host to curious Americans, the reins are loosening. Adventure travel pioneer, Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/), is now delighted to fold Cuba into the company’s 30-year anniversary portfolio while making the most of new-found opportunities to explore beyond the bounds of the island’s iconic highlights such as Havana.

“We've done the research to really explore Cuba and to feature more outlying communities and natural reserves that only recently began receiving Americans. Our two brand-new itineraries support fledgling community-based ecotourism initiatives with opportunities for more intimate and authentic cultural exchanges for our travelers,” said Kurt Kutay, Wildland Adventure’s CEO and President.

An 11-day Captivating Cuba Coast to Coast tour ventures into regions not noticeably impacted by tourism. Company founders Kurt and Anne Kutay will accompany the first departure set for Nov. 27, 2016. The per person, double, rate is from $5,950. This itinerary offers scheduled departures into May 2018. The trip begins with flights from Miami to Havana and returns to Miami from Santiago de Cuba, the musical epicenter of the island. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/caribbean/cuba/captivating-cuba-coast-to-coast/overview.aspx

Havana and the Heartland of Cuba is a seven-day itinerary focusing on lesser known and impressively distinctive UNESCO-designated small towns and nature reserves. This trip begins and ends in Havana with roundtrip flights from Miami. Departures are scheduled from early May 2017 through December 2018. The per person rate, double, is from $3,995. See: http://www.wildland.com/trips/caribbean/cuba/havana-and-the-heartland-of-cuba/overview.aspx

International air is not included in these rates (currently set at $550 RT subject to change).

So Why Cuba Now? Kutay offers these insights for prospective travelers:

- Visitors to Cuba who engage in People-to-People tours now enjoy greater opportunities to plan more diverse itineraries fostering individual one-on-one interactions with Cubans from all walks of life.

Heretofore Americans traveling legally on People-to-People tours in Cuba were strictly limited to a narrow range of people they could meet, where they could go and what they could do. Now, as a result of enhanced tourism infrastructure throughout much of Cuba, more interactive exchanges are sprouting up in diverse regions and communities. For example, there are more private B&B accommodations especially in the time-honored enclaves of eastern Cuba. This means that visitors can engage in thriving grass-roots community endeavors. Artists and academics, farmers and fishermen, musicians and dance troupes are all eager to share their stories.

- New, individual, People-to-People visas open doors for visitors to participate in expanded custom, private (guided) small group travel.

As of March 2016 tour licenses have expanded making it easier for companies to offer custom-designeditineraries. As Cuba embraces tourism, more and better infrastructure and specialized tourism services cater to small group travel. Custom trips must still comply with People-to-People requirements including 5-6 hours of planned and guided activities. But with Wildland’s network of guides throughout Cuba, there are new-found opportunities that can be adapted to individual interests of travelers. 

- Wildland Adventures is now able to bring its authentic and intimate style of travel to Cuba thanks to the improved infrastructure of small, distinctive accommodations including historic boutique hotels and private casas particulares minimizing time in larger hotels.

There has been an incredible growth in the private sector catering to tourists, especially with private restaurants (paladars) and private bed and breakfasts (casas particulares). Casas particulares should not be considered traditional homestays because they operate as businesses. These accommodations have been modified allowing for more guest privacy (including private bath). However, the guest experience is not unlike a homestay for the genuine interaction one enjoys sitting around the breakfast table with enterprising Cubans who have turned their homes into lodgings not just for the money but also because they love the connection it brings with inquisitive Americans.  

- The remote Cuban countryside and small rural towns are beginning to receive guests who seek the less developed and more traditional side of Cuba beyond the popular tourist enclaves of Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad.

Although Wildland does visit some popular not-to-miss sites in and around Havana such as Hemingway’s farm and Fusterlandia, they have gone to great lengths to escape motor coach tour groups and cruise ships in busy cities and harbors. Guests are free to explore outlying nature reserves and rural communities that have only recently begun to receive guests. However, the mission is still to provide authentic cultural exchanges.

- More of Cuba’s national parks and nature reserves are opening up for hiking, bird and wildlife viewing, along with greater opportunities for active adventures.

Ecotourism, on the rise in Cuba, encourages guides and local outfitters to engage in new ways with visitors. Wildland has developed a cadre of local naturalists and adventure guides who are ambassadors into Cuba’s 263 protected areas (covering 22% of its land base, including six UNESCO biosphere reserves). There is more territory now available to explore while viewing Cuba’s endemic and endangered wildlife species. Future plans to include more national parks with active adventures such as zip lining, kayaking, snorkeling and diving, horseback riding and cycling are in the works.

- Soon to come will be regular commercial flights providing reliable service and a greater range of flight schedules and same-day connections from major US cities.

Several airlines are preparing to offer direct commercial flights from major US cities to Havana and Santiago de Cuba. The process of traveling through Miami to board charter flights is somewhat inconvenient and costly, typically requiring overnight hotel accommodations in Miami both coming and going. As the embargo loosens and commercial carriers take off in this market, more frequent service is anticipated with direct flights from major US cities and more competitive fares.

For more information on the new Cuba programs as well as all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide offerings, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Do-it-all’ Outfitter on Earth and Fodor’s as one of the World’s Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 45 countries.

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Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Olympic Games Make Brazil More Affordable for Travelers: Wildland Adventures Shares Three Reasons to Plan Brazil Adventure Now

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Released on Thursday, 16 June 2016 06:27

SEATTLE, WA, June 16, 2016 – Brazil has recently emerged on the world adventure travel radar as travelers have discovered all that it has to offer: a wide range of unique cultural experiences, captivating adventures and a paradise for wildlife seekers. And with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games quickly approaching, Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/) offers three ways active travelers can capitalize on the opportunities created by the international sporting event.

1. It just adds up: Brazil has temporarily lifted the mandatory $250 visa for US citizens this summer (through Sept.18), and, on top of that, the US Dollar is the strongest it’s ever been to the Brazilian Real. Add that to that the fact that roundtrip flights from the US to many of the most sought-after adventure destinations in Brazil are as low as $450 in July and August (including theAmazon and Pantanal), travelers can expect significant savings. Many of the popular adventure resorts still have availability for July and August.

2. Can you taste it? There is an emerging mouth-watering culinary scene in Brazil thanks to its being one of the word’s cultural melting pots. From churrascaria to feijoada, Brazil’s distinct tastes and flavors entice and satisfy even the most discerning gourmands.

Brazil's history and culinary stage are inarguably intertwined. Sugar and coffee are vitally important crops while also being labor intensive, which fueled the African slave trade to Brazil and in turn, African culinary traditions as well. Brazil’s national dish, feijoada, is thought to be an African take on a traditional Portuguese dish. Another beloved Brazilian dish, acaraje, originally from Nigeria, has become a staple of Bahian street food and the use of dende (African palm oil) is one of the principal ingredients in moqueca, an otherworldly classic Bahian stew.

After the abolition of slavery, immigrants from Italy and Japan joined the Brazilian labor market and added their own influences to the melting pot of the Brazilian culinary scene. Pizza in Brazil can easily rival that of Naples and New York and is practically its own food group.  Unique ingredient additions find their way into the pizza ovens of Brazil's urban centers that include everything from soft catupiry or local minas cheese, cinnamon, bananas and even guava. 

3. Where to go: With thehuge crowds expected in Rio this summer, now is the perfect time to venture off the beaten path and explore the wilds of Brazil. Brazil offers many rare opportunities such as scouting for jaguars in the expansive wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal or swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon.  Active visitors can snorkel in crystal clear rivers and explore ancient caves in Bonito, or trek through mysterious valleys, past table top mountains and waterfalls in Salvador’s Chapada Diamantia. One can cruise on a private schooner past pirate coves on the Costa Verde in Paraty or gaze dumbstruck at Brazil’s Iguassu Falls. Wildland Adventures has even pioneered a new activity where travelers are able to swim at the “Meeting of the Waters”, a natural phenomenon where the Negro River (originating in Colombia) meets the Solimões River (originating in Peru) to form the Amazon River.

Wildland Adventures has recently expanded their trips to Brazil by venturing to new areas offering several unique explorations of 9 to 14 days. 

- Ultimate Jaguar and Wildlife Adventure is 14 days and explores Brazil's two largest and most famous regions of biodiversity: the Pantanal and the Amazon.

- The 12-day Best of Brazil: Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, and Iguassu Falls itinerary explores the tropical rainforest of the Amazon and Iguassu Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls.

- On the 13-day Brazil Family Adventure kids and parents kayak, snorkel, spot jaguars, hike, play in the surf and learn to cook while exploring Bonito, the Pantanal, Paraty and Rio de Janeiro.

- Guests trek through the mysterious valleys, past tabletop mountains and waterfalls in Chapada Diamantia National Park on Wildland’s 14-day Brazil Trekking Adventure.

- Into the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil (Costa Verde) focuses on the biodiversity of the Atlantic Rainforest. In the 9-day itinerary, guests will kayak along secluded beaches, search for wildlife and hidden waterfalls in mangrove forests and explore the colonial city of Paraty.

Brazil and Zika: Is it safe to travel to affected regions? Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends special precautions only for pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant: Pregnant women in any trimester or women trying to become pregnant should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first. Wildland Adventures urges all passengers to travel sensibly, and to take preventive measures against mosquito bites. Any passenger who is pregnant or think they may become pregnant during or prior to their trip should contact their doctor and potentially reconsider their trip in accordance with CDC/WHO advice.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Do-it-all’ Outfitter on Earth andFodor’s as one of the World’s Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 45 countries.

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Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Contact Widness & Wiggins PRfor photos, interviews and more information:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720.301.3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wildland Adventures Leads Quest to Summit of Washington’s Mt. Rainier this Summer In Charity Climb for Four Nepal Schools

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Released on Monday, 23 May 2016 10:12

SEATTLE, May 23, 2016– On July 28-30, 2016, a team from Wildland Adventures will embark on a charity climb to the summit of Mt. Rainier to assist four schools in Nepal that have been devastated by recent earthquakes.

The team’s goal is to raise $5,000 to provide solar panels and lights to four primary schools and panels with the capacity to power up to four desktop computers in addition to lighting at a secondary school, all in rural Nepal.

The group of eight climbers seek pledges to support this campaign as they make a determined effort to reach the summit of the highest mountain in Washington State. With an elevation of 14,416 feet, Mount Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states.

A fundraising page at YouCaring.com (https://www.youcaring.com/ClimbForNepal) supports this mission.

"I'm proud of our ambitious climbing team for embarking on this adventure to raise desperately needed money for our brothers and sisters struggling to recover from the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. It's that spirit and commitment to making the world a better place that fuels all of our adventures," says Kurt Kutay, founder and owner of Wildland Adventures (http://www.wildland.com/).

Kelsey Wenger, a Wildland tour leader and travel advisor, and other staff, clients and friends will deliver the solar panels to the schools in November 2016 during Wildland Adventures’ Himalayan Odyssey: Bhutan to Everest. In part to commemorate Wildland Adventures’ 30th anniversary this year, Wenger designed this 15-day journey from Bhutan to Nepal to include a six-day trek in the shadow of Mount Everest. The adventure culminates in a spectacular aerial viewing of the world’s highest mountain by helicopter.

The community sites for assistance were selected by Wildland’s Nepal ambassador Jwalant Gurung, who began the tradition of climbing with a purpose in 2006 by founding Seattle-based 3 Summits for Nepal, afamily of climbers dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged children of Nepal. He personally selected the schools that were most in need of support. They includethree schools in Taplejung District built after the Sikkim earthquake of 2011 (magnitude 6.9) which affected the entire Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The fourth is in Singla Village near the epicenter of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, where every single home was destroyed. A Kathmandu native and resident, Gurung holds an MBA from the University of Washington.

“In these villages, my goal is to not only build schools but to also build an Early Childhood Development Center to encourage and foster alternative learning at a very early age in the villages. In the villages of Nepal - and even the cities - learning by rote is the norm. I want to incorporate song, dance, art and play into learning,” says Gurung. “If Wildland can raise more than $5,000, 3 Summits for Nepal will use additional funds to help rebuild homes. To date our Nepal team has rebuilt 15 homes and we hope to rebuild at least ten more this year at a cost of $45,000.”

To donate please go to: https://www.youcaring.com/ClimbForNepal.

For more information on all of Wildland Adventures’ worldwide programs, availability and reservations call1-800-345-4453 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Visit http://www.wildland.com/.

Wildland Adventures

Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established Wildland Adventures in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. By fostering genuine connections to create personalized experiences their travelers, Wildland fosters a growing and vibrant community of enlightened and compassionate travelers. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Do-it-all’ Outfitter on EarthandFodor’s as one of the World’s Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 unique itineraries on seven continents in 42 countries.

# # #

Follow Wildland Adventures

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/wildlandadventures

Twitter:           https://twitter.com/WildTravel

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures

Media Contact for photos, interviews and more information:

Widness & Wiggins PR

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.