National Geographic Traveler Rates Viva Venezuela Top 50 Tour of a Lifetime!

With all the cruddy news surrounding flight cancellations as a result of our least favourite volcano, National Geographic Traveler's announcement of their Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime couldn't have come at a better time. :)

BikeHike Adventures News

Each year, the Editorial Team at National Geographic Traveler magazine scours the globe "for the most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours" says Senior Editor Norie Quintos. "The outfitters we selected have responded to travelers looking for more meaning and context." BikeHike Adventures' 9-day Viva Venezuela tour has been selected by the team as one of the Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime for 2010. The complete Top 50 list can be found in the May / June 2010 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine on newsstands now, or online at http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/.

Venezuela - Viva Venezuela (9 days)
Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Rafting and Horseback Riding
2010 Trip Departure Dates: May 15 - May 23, Jun 19 - Jun 27, Jul 17 - Jul 25, Aug 28 - Sep 5, Sep 25 - Oct 3, Nov 13 - Nov 21, Dec 11 - Dec 19

Trip Highlights:

• Mountain biking across the dramatic backdrop of the Andean Mountains
• Wildlife viewing at Los Llanos Wildlife Reserve - scarlett ibis, giant capybaras and crocodiles
• Hiking to the San Jose de Mucuños Ruins along a network of back-country roads
• Blasting through class III rapids on the Acequia River

Detailed Itinerary: http://www.bikehike.com/venezuela/venezuela_trip01.html

- Anny Chih

120 years of National Geographic Magazine at your Fingertips

I have a problem. I like to collect things, especially books and magazines. I find it really hard to borrow books from the library. One of my favourite past times is browsing through used book stores and leaving with full hands. I am running out of room in my house. Bookshelves are overflowing with books and magazines and look like they are about to topple over. A good chunk of the reading literature that is overflowing my bookshelves is 10 years worth of National Geographic Magazine. They are about to make my life easier.

On November 1, National Geographic is issuing a six-disc DVD set featuring every page of every issue from 1888 to 2008. The cost is a mere $60 US. I can't wait. The problem is I'll purchase the DVD set to view past issues I don't own, but that won't stop me from getting the new issues in print and still collecting them on my bookshelves.

One of the cool things is that all the ads that have been in the magazine over the years will also be in the DVD set. It will be interesting to look at ads from 100 years ago, to see what was being advertised, what products still exist, etc. The collection will also include over 300 maps, thousands of photos (digitally reproduced in high resolution), 8400 articles, and trivia games. All of this can be found using a comprehensive search function that allows you to search by subject, destination, month, year, etc. Okay, enough of the advertising...just buy it, it's a great investment that will allow you to further your quest for knowledge.

You can learn more at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/completeng/.

Happy reading,
Meghan