Press Kit

Named One of the BEST Adventure Travel Companies On Earth in 2008 and 2009 By National Geographic ADVENTURE Magazine

BikeHike Adventures was named one the BEST Adventure Travel Companies On the Earth in 2009 for the second year in a row by National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine. This is the second year, that National Geographic Adventure Magazine conducted a large-scale rating of adventure tour operators. With assistance from the Adventure Council, Adventures in Travel Expo, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and other travel and tourism organizations, they reached out to hundreds of tour companies around the world. Candidates were asked to complete a comprehensive 28-question survey and were scored from 1 to 100 in each of the following categories:

Education: The extent to which clients learn about destinations (geology, culture, history, etc.) from guides, locals, and pre- and post-trip information.
Sustainability: The emphasis outfitters place on practices that help protect the planet's cultural and natural heritage while also benefiting local communities.
Quality of Service: How well outfitters take care of clients, from providing up-to-date gear and high-comfort accommodations to developing solid emergency plans.
Spirit of Adventure: The degree to which trips involve outdoor physical activity and introduce clients to innovative experiences in classic and emerging areas.
References: Customer reviews of a company's education, sustainability, service, and adventure (multiple clients were interviewed for each outfitter).

Each company's overall score represents the average of these five scores.

A team of adventure editors, travel writers and experts vetted those with overall scores of 80 and above and from this pool of candidates chose the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth,” 50 of which were profiled in the January 2009 issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Trish Sare, BikeHike Founder / Director, filled out rigorous questionnaires and was interviewed at great length. The judges also contacted previous BikeHike clients to hear their views on BikeHike's performance. The process took more than six months.

“We are very proud to be recognized for the second year in a row, taking the #4 position, with our overall score improving from last year, under each category surveyed,” said Trish Sare, BikeHike director.

Thank you National Geographic!

Worldwide Multi-Sport Adventure

BikeHike Adventures specializes in multi-sport adventure tours worldwide. High adventure activities await in countries throughout North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. From custom trips, volunteer multi-sport adventures, family vacations, honeymoons, and corporate team-building trips, BikeHike Adventures can design tailor-made vacations that cater to thrill-seekers young and old.

Founder / Director Trish Sare strives to bring together like-minded travellers and offer opportunities to hone new skills and experience different cultures and customs through interaction with local peoples.

The Adventure Begins Here...

Each multi-day high adventure trip is carefully designed to capture the very best that a particular destination has to offer. Hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, canopy touring, caving, and canyoneering are just a few of the activities that guests will experience on each trip. Guests travel at a comfortable pace, stay in charming family-run hotels or spectacular campsites on remote tropical islands or high altitude plateaus surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Trips are graded according to their level of difficulty (easy, moderate, or challenging.) Guided five to 14-day trips across the globe are offered year-round and custom trips can be arranged. Guest capacity is 12.

No Partner? No Problem

Many intrepid travelers—both men and women—join as singles. Singles aren’t penalized for traveling solo. They are paired with another traveler of the same sex and if BikeHike is unable to match them with a roommate, guests get their own room at no additional charge.

Expanding Horizons Through Family Travel

Adventure travel is the ideal medium to educate children about the diversity of the world we live in. BikeHike Adventures caters to families and can customize trips designed specifically around each member’s needs.

Families looking to meet with other like-minded groups can travel together during spring break and summer or Christmas vacation. BikeHike Adventures offers a slew of adventure trip itineraries with fixed departure dates in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Vietnam, with many more destinations to come.

Volunteer Adventures

For those adventurers looking to explore a foreign country, but also help the local people they meet along the way, volunteer multi-sport adventure trips are offered throughout the year. These are all-encompassing opportunities to satisfy adventure cravings and participate in cross-cultural community service.

In Ecuador, bike and hike through mist-covered trails in the Mindo Couldforest, raft down rapids on the Rio Blanco, and help maintain trails, harvest clams with the local women, or spend time with children doing crafts and telling stories.

Conservation and Contribution: Sustainable Tourism

BikeHike operates under the banner of sustainable tourism: tourism that benefits the local communities and travelers without compromising the enjoyment of future generations. BikeHike only works with local operators, ensuring that most of the profits assist local communities. Here are the guidelines by which they operate:

Adventures do not exceed 12 passengers
Respect local cultures by operating sensitive adventures that view local communities as partners
Strive to reduce environmental footprint by working with quality suppliers who care about the impact of their operations
Contribute to the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the areas visited

For more information on sustainable tourism, click here.

BikeHike Background

BikeHike was founded in 1994 by well-traveled adventurer Trish Sare. After setting off on a five year journey around the world, marrying a man she met on her travels, and returning to Canada to study tourism, Trish founded BikeHike Adventures. Her international travel experience has given her a strong bond with the developing world and the desire to learn about other cultures by living with the people. She wants to share these experiences with others by giving them the opportunity to explore and become a part of an extended global family.

Click on the links below for more information or to view detailed itineraries of each trip.

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