Flying to India - Kingfisher Airlines

We can add another airline to the list of companies eager to take student groups abroad. Kingfisher Airlines is one of the major carriers to India - a country experiencing large growth in tourism, and a prime destination for student volunteer trips.

Joe Garcia, a rep for the airline in San Francisco (one of my favourite American cities by the way) sent me this:

Kingfisher Airlines is the number one and preferred carrier in India. We are the only Five Star Airline in India and have the largest India route network offering competitive fares to all our guests. Educational groups looking for an airline carrier that will provide them with seamless connections and quality travel services throughout India, need to only consider Kingfisher Airlines.

Kingfisher Airlines
Location: India (and worldwide)
tel: 415-692-1490 Ext 109 (San Francisco office)
www.flykingfisher.com

Sustainable Tourism in Bhutan - Bridge to Bhutan

USA? Been there. Europe? Seen it. Japan? Hai! New Zealand? Yes to that one too. Bhutan? Uh... no. But after checking out this website - www.bridgetobhutan.bt - I think I'll be adding it to my list of countries to visit. Wow.

Sandwiched by India and China and ringed with the Himalayas, Bhutan is called "Druk Yul" by the Bhutanese which means "Land of the Thunder Dragon". That's 100% awesome. This from Wikipedia on Bhutan:

Bhutan used to be one of the most isolated nations in the world, but developments including direct international flights, the Internet, mobile phone networks, and cable television have increasingly modernized the urban areas of the country. Bhutan has balanced modernization with its ancient culture and traditions under the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Rampant destruction of the environment has been avoided. The government takes great measures to preserve the nation's traditional culture, identity and the environment. In 2006, Business Week magazine rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, citing a global survey conducted by the University of Leicester in 2006 called the "World Map of Happiness".

Who wouldn't want to visit a country that measures Gross National Happiness?

Bridge to Bhutan is a member of several sustainable and ecotourism associations and can handle student groups looking for unique adventure in a country most no nothing about! Fin Novu from Bridge to Bhutan sent me this to pass along to my readers:

Bridge to Bhutan is a pioneer in promoting sustainable tourism in Bhutan. The Founders, shared professional background and combined passion in, the environment, the youth and all things sustainable, led to the founding of Bridge To Bhutan. One specialty of ours is student travel. All trips to Bhutan are all-inclusive and guided trip. We want to be the bridge in connecting people, nature, and spirits. We are enthusiastic and excited to be able to share our country and allow young folks to see the world from a whole new perspective. Re-discover yourself!

Bridge to Bhutan
Location: Thimphu, Bhutan
Tel: 9752331766
www.bridgetobhutan.bt

Culinary Travel

The area known as "culinary travel" is growing in popularity. Combining travel with lessons in cooking local dishes is a great way to gain a better understanding of the culture. I think food is just as important to a culture as rituals, customs, and religion - and in some ways more so, since it is often woven into all three. When traveling with students on an educational tour overseas, one of the primary objectives is (or should be) gaining a better understanding of the culture. When I lived in Japan, a large part of my "initiation" into the Japanese community was eating all the things Japanese people think westerners don't eat. Raw cod testes, raw angler fish liver, fermented soy beans, raw horse, raw sea urchin... the nightmares, the nightmares...

I love food. I even love Japanese food now (the more straight forward sushi, seafood, and noodle dishes though) but I'm not going to lie to you - I am more of a fan of eating than cooking. I suppose I just have not discovered the joy of cooking - the kind you see on the cooking TV shows and in the magazine ads from the 50s with smiling housewives holding out a steaming pan of meatloaf.

Personally I blame my kitchen (its small and far from ideal from a functional standpoint), but maybe I just have not been taught how to cook food I love. I love Polish food. I'm from a Ukranian background and although Poles and Ukes have not seen eye-to-eye on things in the past, their cuisine is quite similar. Perogies, borsht, keilbossa, cabbage rolls...yum!

There is a whole word of culinary travel, but you might want to consider starting your research here with Poland Culinary Vacations. How was that for a segway? Sarna Rose, company president, writes:

"Our vacations offer culturally rich, casually elegant, and truly unique Polish experience. We offer hands-on and demonstration-style cooking lessons. Itineraries include trips to local markets, farms, festivals, and visits with Polish bakers, farmers, and shop owners. In between, view art, architecture, and even sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List with a local, English-speaking guide. Our trips are different in that that we combine sightseeing adventures with hands-on, demonstration-style cooking classes taught by local village women in their private homes. We spend the majority of the vacation in the beautiful Polish countryside for an in-depth regional experience."

Poland Culinary Vacations Inc.

Location: Bozeman MT, USA

Tel: (406) 579-6435

www.polandculinaryvacations.com

Traveling Indochina

Here's another idea for a trip "off the beaten educational tour path": Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam). I've not been to any country in Southeast Asia... yet! However, many of my friends have been and they tell me it is an incredible destination. Vietnam ranks as many of their favourite places they've ever visited with amazing historical, cultural and adventure experiences.

For any travel outside your own country, I always recommend working with an expert or specialist. With the internet acting as a great leveler, there are many home-based travel agencies and companies that boast they can "do it all". Me, I'd go with an expert who has chosen a particular region or specialty type of travel (like educational tours for students).

Here's a company called Travel Indochina, based in California that (surprise surprise) focuses on one region and tours for small groups (15 or less). Perfect for a small group of students and a teacher chaperone or two!

David Rothschild from Travel Indochina writes:

Travel Indochina has been operating tours in Asia since 1993. Our idea is simple – we want our travelers to have a total experience of Asia – the cuisine, the natural beauty, the history, culture and people. Our philosophy is that travel should be an exchange of knowledge and culture.

We have a total of six offices across our 7 destinations, more than any other operator in the region giving our travelers a greater sense of safety and security
We are an Asia specialist operator and do not water down our enthusiasm or knowledge by juggling a worldwide program.

Our tours include Expert Western leaders & local tour guides guaranteeing that our travelers experience the best of both worlds.

We have agenuine commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism exhibited by our support for projects throughout the region including our Footprints of Indochina volunteerism journey

Travel Indochina

Location: El Segundo, CA

Tel: (310) 414-2205

www.travelindochina.com

Student Tours to Belize

Travel to Central America can be fascinating and rewarding. When most people think of traveling to Central America, Costa Rica might spring to mind, but it is certainly not the only place in the region for travel, though it may be the most popular with tourists. Much can be learned and experienced, and money can be saved by looking to the countries that have not yet realized the full value of tourism or have been "discovered" by most travel agents and travelers. Belize is one such country. With travel to Belize being somewhat "off the beaten tourist path" it's wise to consult with experts for where to go and what to do. Recently the Belize government has made tourism an economic priority second only to agriculture. Belize considers itself part of both Central America and the Carribean, with a great deal of biological diversity, safe waters, ecotourism, and Mayan ruins!

Katie Valk from Belize Trips claims: "We are Belize-based travel specialists for natural history, Mayan sites, caves with artifacts, flora/fauna, cultures, marine and reef biology, botanic gardens, butterfly farms, rainforest medicine and more."

Belize Trips

Location: Belize City, Belize

tel: 561 210 7015

www.belize-trips.com