Fact File:
Duration: 21 days
Price: TBC

Dine under the desert stars, and wander the markets of Marrakech.

Follow the age-old trade routes to ancient cities and cross the timeless Sahara desert – now that’s a real adventure! With 21 days away, plenty of miles to cover and remote destinations where road quality can leave a little to be desired, this is ideal for adventure bike riders and experienced owners with touring motorcycles.

Our adventure starts when we ride off the ferry in Santander to begin two days of riding through the heartland of Spain. After taking in the splendid cities of Salamanca and Seville, we then cross the Straits of Gibraltar and continue on to our first night on African soil at Tetouan in Morocco.Further exploration of Morocco will take us to the Cascades D’Ouzoud, Morocco’s most majestic waterfalls, where we’ll spend the night in a riad.

No trip to Morocco would be complete without experiencing the thriving markets of Marrakech. The beating heart of Morocco, known as the Red City, never sleeps. When the sun sets, the bustle of the bazaars transforms into a huge open-air collection of restaurants and food stalls. The exotic scents and aromas and bright lights last long into the night…

Then we head further south than BMW Tours has ever been before, along the serpentine mountain roads to Tafroute in the Amlen Valley then onto some of Morocco’s most spectacular roads through the High Atlas Mountains, including the 2,092m high Tizi n Test and 2,260m Tizi n Tichka passes. This road is the millennia-old trading caravan route from Marrakech to the Sahara and our destination is the stepped city-fortress of Ait Benhaddou. This ancient, sprawling town has been the backdrop for countless Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

We’ll spend a day sweeping through the hairpin bends of the Dades and Todra Gorges on the way to the Sahara where we’ll overnight stay in Merzouga.There we’ll enjoy an unforgettable traditional Moroccan evening feast among the sand dunes, far from the bright lights of modern life.

Heading north, we reach the Imperial City of Fes, where we suggest you enjoy the traditional local favourite mint tea in a medieval labyrinth of charming, winding streets, before heading back to the Spanish Enclave of Ceuta, and the relaxed ride home via the delights of Spain.

Itinerary
Spain – Ifrane – Cascades D’Ouzoud – Marrakech – Essaouira – Tafroute – Ouirgane – Ait Benhaddou – Dades & Todra Gorges – Merzouga – Fes – Spain

Highlights

Ride the Middle Atlas Mountains – Morocco’s most majestic waterfall – Experience Marrakech – UNESCO-listed Medieval cities to explore

For more information please follow the link below to BMW.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 26 days
Price: TBC

Visit the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and some of them most influential old cities on the planet.

This year will mark BMW Tours’ first ever visit to Turkey and Greece. You’ll start with an exhilarating week of riding, socializing and sightseeing through Eastern Europe, culminating with a final night on European soil is in the pleasant town of Alexandroupoli.

Then it’s on to your destination for the next two days and nights: Istanbul, the Gateway to the East. You’ll have a full day off to explore this enchanting city, wandering among the towering Ottoman palaces and browsing the beguiling bazaars and boutiques. The sunset call to prayer from pencil-slim minarets brings welcome serenity, as the streets clear and the blazing heat of the day subsides, providing an ideal opportunity to walk among the city’s great many architectural highlights.

While Istanbul is unequivocally one of the most magical cities of the world, it’s but the start of our adventure. Ahead of you, you have an amazing journey through some of the ancient world’s most famous locations, including the UNESCO cities of Safranbolu and Amasya. Our next port of call is Cappadoci and its spectacular “fairy chimneys” and underground dwellings. We’ll be staying in the famous cave hotel for two nights.

Then it’s back on the bikes and on to Konya. This city is also home to one of Islam’s greatest mystical movements – the Sufi sect of ‘Whirling Dervishes’, who are famous for their hypnotic, twirling dancing.

Your travels will take us to Ephesus – once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis. While little of the temple remains, Ephesus is littered with wonders of architecture and history including the Library of Celsus and the huge cliff-side amphitheatre.

From the grandeur of Ephesus, you will travel to the wonderful oasis of calm that is Assos. Here, ancient ruins and village life intermingle, while the fishing port below welcomes weary travellers.

You then make your way to once-mighty walled city of Troy. Whether you know of it from Homer’s Iliad, or Brad Pitt’s movie, the whole world remembers the cautionary tale of hubris that is the Greeks and the Trojan Horse. The past decade has seen huge improvements and restoration to the archaeological sites of Troy, and we’ll have ample time to explore.

Your next big destination is Gallipoli. The peninsula is now a national park and home to a number of monuments. Gallipoli also marks the start of our journey home, via the Meteora monasteries in the clouds, Igoumenitsa and the mountains roads through Greece, before the final run back through Italy, Switzerland and France.

Itinerary

France – Austria – Slovenia – Croatia – Serbia – Bulgaria – Greece – Turkey – Greece – Italy – Switzerland – France.
Highlights

The best of Eastern Europe – Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace in Istanbul – The ancient site of Troy – The Whirling Dervishes of Konya – Cappadpcia – Meteora Monastries – Gallipoli Peninsula

For more information, please follow the link below to BMW.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 8 days
Price: £1,499 GBP

 
Day 1
Fly to Reykjavik
Your transfer will be waiting for you at the airport. The route leads from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík for check-in at your accommodation.This evening you will be free to explore the city. The group leader will recommend and organise an optional group meal.
Day 2
Reykjavik Sightseeing
Reykjavík is a modern city with a variety of restaurants, museums, galleries and theatres. As the world’s most northerly capital it is home to more than one third of Iceland’s population. This morning you take a guided city sightseeing tour covering the city from one end to the other. You will see the old town centre and other sites including Höfði house which was the site of the 1986 Iceland Summit, Árbæjarsafn outdoor folk museum, Hallgrímskirkja Church (whose steeple is a Reykjavík landmark) and Perlan. This afternoon and evening you will be free to explore.
Day 3
Akureyri and Lake Mývatn
This morning we will take the short flight to Akureyri where you will be met by our local guide.
On the way to the hotel, you will have a guided tour that will introduce you to the North of Iceland, only a few kilometres from the Arctic Circle. On the way you will stop at the beautiful waterfall Goðafoss, a wonderland for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers. Lake Mývatn is surrounded by lava fields, volcanoes and mountains, with weird volcanic formations in Dimmuborgir (Dark Citadels), pseudocraters and underground caves with geothermal water (Grjótagjá). After lunch at your hotel at Lake Mývatn you will visit Hverarönd mud pools with its steam jets and boiling sulphur pits, Dimmuborgir lava field. Finishing back at your hotel which will be your base for the next 4 days. The hotel is in a remote region far away from street lights making it ideal for watching the skies for aurora.
Day 4
Activities and Aurora
You are free to enjoy a range of optional activities available in the area or simply enjoy this beautiful region.
There are a number of walks that can be made from the hotel around the southern shores of the lake on which you can take in the pseudocraters and volcanic cones in the area. There are some interesting birds to see in the region including the Barrow’s Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck which are present around the lake all year. Dinner will be available at the hotel at an additional cost, after which Dr John Mason will host a number of lectures and discussions related to the Aurora discussing both the science and mythology attached to them. He will also be keeping an eye on the sky and if the Northern Lights appear will ensure we all head out to view their beauty. For those who want to finish the evening with some relaxation there is an outdoor hot tub from which you can also view the night sky.

Day 5
Husavik and nature baths
You will be taken on a tour that introduces you to the locals. You look at hydro-electric power station, see time past at the old turf farm and folk museum at Grenjadarstadur. The drive to Husavik, a small fishing village, and have a visit at the Whale Museum. The tour gives you a great view on the Icelandic way of life, past and present. On the return you will stop off at the Mývatn nature bath for a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 meters. Containing a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal microorganisms, the waters are beneficial to skin and spirit alike.

Day 6
Activities and Aurora
You are free to enjoy a range of optional activities available in the area or simply enjoy this beautiful region.
There are a number of walks that can be made from the hotel around the southern shores of the lake on which you can take in the pseudocraters and volcanic cones in the area. There are some interesting birds to see in the region including the Barrow’s Goldeneye and Harlequin Duck which are present around the lake all year. Dinner will be available at the hotel at an additional cost, after which Dr John Mason will host a number of lectures and discussions related to the Aurora discussing both the science and mythology attached to them. He will also be keeping an eye on the sky and if the Northern Lights appear will ensure we all head out to view their beauty. For those who want to finish the evening with some relaxation there is an outdoor hot tub from which you can also view the night sky.

Day 7
Transfer to Reykjavik
This morning we transfer back to Akureyri where the local guide will take you on a short city tour before taking you to the airport for your flight to Reykjavík where you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 8
Fly home
For land only passengers your tour will end at the hotel. If you have booked a flight inclusive tour, you will be transferred to Keflavík International Airport in time for your return flight

For more information follow the link below to the Adventure Company.

http://youtu.be/JYqTTI2rE1Y

Help restore the vital links of ecosystems damaged by acid rain.

In the gently sloping Jizera Mountains, you’ll collect water samples and take temperature, pH, conductivity, and oxygen readings from more than 30 streams and reservoirs. You’ll also help catch and examine reintroduced fish and sample other aquatic organisms. Hiking through beech and spruce forests, you’ll evaluate tree vitality, collect soil and vegetation samples, and study erosion and plant succession. After a day in the field, you’ll be trained to test samples and record data in the lab.

In your recreational time, you can hike or bike in the beautiful Jizera Mountains, or visit nearby castles, museums, botanical gardens, glass factories, cafes and restaurants.

Meals and Accommodations
You’ll stay in a cozy mountain pension, a 200-year old farmhouse made of stone and wood, in historic Bedrichov village. The pension has double rooms, television, hot showers, sauna, an internet connection, and simple laundry facilities. You’ll also use the pension as your field lab and briefing center, and will take continental breakfasts there. You’ll take packed lunches into the field and, after a full day in the field and lab, stroll to a neighboring restaurant for substantial, three-course traditional Czech dinners with sweet and savory dumplings, soups, vegetables, and potatoes.
About the Research Area

The Jizera Mountains region is situated in the humid temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. This area is on an upper plain at an elevation of 800 meters, with gentle slopes and almost complete (83 percent) forest coverage. Although forest stands of common beech and silver fir still dominated the region at the beginning of the 18th century, Norway spruce became a prevailing species during the 19th century. In the second half of the last century, spruce forests came to comprise about 90% of the whole forest cover in the Jizera Mountains.

The upper plain of the Jizera Mountains is popular for hiking. It is easy to reach the highest tops, which are Smrk (1,124 meters) and Jizera (1,122 meters). The gentle slopes are also convenient for cross-country skiing during the winter. At the end of the 19th century, the first touring club in Liberec initiated trail-blazing and lookout towers in this region.

For more information please follow the link below to Earthwatch.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 13 days
Price: £2,300 GBP minimum contribution

Experience the rich traditions of the Samburu people of Kenya as you join them and other teens to protect biodiversity by tracking the endangered Grevy’s zebras and helping discover ways to manage their interaction with humans.

Grevy’s Zebras
The Samburu region is among the last strongholds for endangered Grevy’s zebras. From 4×4 vehicles, you’ll count and photograph these beautiful animals to help monitor the population. You’ll help find better ways to manage the zebras’ competition with humans and protect the 2,000 of them in the region.

You’ll try to discover important facts about the groups the zebras live in and the areas they occupy and move through. You’ll record GPS locations, activities, and other details of livestock, people, and wildlife you observe to complete your surveys.

The data you collect will help researchers produce GIS maps of the zebras’ range in relation to predators, nearby humans, and available habitat. This information will be shared with groups like the African Wildlife Foundation and with the Samburu communities to improve efforts already underway to save the zebras.

You may also visit local homes to experience life in a Samburu manyatta (homestead or ranch), visit a local school, and will have the opportunity to go to the nearby Samburu National Reserve, staying overnight at the Samburu Serena Lodge.

Earthwatch Team Facilitator
An Earthwatch Teen Team Facilitator will join your team to provide additional guidance, supervision, and activity organization for the expedition. Your facilitator will be there to help from the time you step off the plane for the team rendezvous to the end of the expedition. He or she will encourage team spirit by planning events such as team building exercises, presentations, and recreational and cultural activities. If you have any questions or problems during your expedition, such as issues with another student volunteer, homesickness, or an emergency back at home, you should feel comfortable talking to your facilitator. You should also follow the advice and expectations set by your facilitator regarding safety and personal conduct. All Teen Team Facilitators have experience teaching and leading groups of teenagers and are familiar with the team dynamics necessary to make each expedition a success. Remember, your facilitator is there for you!

Meals and Accommodations
You’ll stay in shared basic rooms in the scenic foothills of the Mathews Range. The accommodations have electricity, hot showers, flush toilets, laboratories, work spaces, common areas both outside and inside for hanging out, reading books, and playing games, and a kitchen. An experienced cook will prepare meals choosing from a largely Western menu. At the Samburu Field Center, you’ll experience authentic Kenyan cultures, getting to know those working to make a difference for their communities and the environment.

About the Research Area
The vast savannahs of Kenya abound with wildlife. The traditionally nomadic Samburu people have coexisted with the rich biodiversity here for hundreds of years, but growing human populations and changing lifestyles now put both human and wildlife communities at risk.

The Samburu Field Center is in the midst of one of the highest concentrations of unique threatened savannah species in Kenya. There are semi-arid savannah mosaics of grasslands and scrublands, forests, the Ewaso Nyiro river watershed that drains from Mt. Kenya, and many elephant migration corridors.

Wamba is communally owned and the nomadic Samburu people live and tend their livestock in close proximity to it and to wild animal populations, including Grevy’s zebras, elephants, antelopes, gerenuks, cheetahs, lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, birds, and many invertebrates. There are no fences to keep wildlife out of livestock grazing areas, and human-wildlife conflicts over water and food present many challenges.

While it’s one of the larger population centers in the Samburu District, Wamba is a rural town with almost no tourism, although many visit the nearby nature reserves. Many people in and around Wamba live the traditional lifestyle of the Samburu people. While here, you’ll get to know some of the community members who are crucial partners in Earthwatch’s efforts, and will learn about Samburu culture, which shares a language and many practices with the Maasai.

For more information please follow the link below to Earthwatch.

 
 
Fact File:
Duration: 12 days
Price: £2,300 GBP minimum contribution

Help improve the odds for brown hyaenas and other fascinating wildlife in spectacular Pilanesberg National Park.

Your team will explore protected and unprotected lands in search of wildlife, particularly brown hyaenas and other scavengers, species that are critically important to any ecosystem. Depending on the research site, you’ll conduct wildlife surveys on foot for from vehicles, looking not only for the hyaenas, vultures, and insects themselves but also for their tracks, droppings, feeding sites, dens, nests, and other signs. You’ll help capture and tag individual vultures, monitor their colonies and help assess their habitat. You’ll help trap and identify different species of the industrious dung beetle, some of the region’s most beautiful insects, ranging in color from the metallic iridescence that’s earned some of them the name “scarab beetles” to patterns that help them blend into their surroundings to inky black. You’ll also conduct predator population counts at night, playing tape recordings of their prey to attract lions and leopards as you conduct spotlight transects. (Many past volunteers report that this activity is one of the most thrilling field research experiences they’ve had.)

Much of the work will take place within Pilanesberg National Park, which offers dramatic scenery in the remains of an extinct volcano. During your expedition you may also see zebras, impalas, white rhinos, elephants, wildebeest, lions, and leopards. In your recreational time, you may enjoy game drives, sundown drinks on the kopje (rock outcrop), and local cultural events such as drumming sessions.

Earthwatch Team Facilitator
An Earthwatch Teen Team Facilitator will join your team to provide additional guidance, supervision, and activity organization for the expedition. Your facilitator will be there to help from the time you step off the plane for the team rendezvous to the end of the expedition. He or she will encourage team spirit by planning events such as team building exercises, presentations, and recreational and cultural activities. If you have any questions or problems during your expedition, such as issues with another student volunteer, homesickness, or an emergency back at home, you should feel comfortable talking to your facilitator. You should also follow the advice and expectations set by your facilitator regarding safety and personal conduct. All Teen Team Facilitators have experience teaching and leading groups of teenagers and are familiar with the team dynamics necessary to make each expedition a success. Remember, your facilitator is there for you!

Meals and Accommodations
You will be based at a field camp in the heart of Mankwe Wildlife Reserve, a classic bushveld landscape just east of the Pilanesberg massif. The reserve is home to white rhinos and a range of other endangered wildlife. You’ll sleep in either a small field station or a walk-in safari tent, each with its own shower and flush toilet. The camp has solar-powered lights and wood-heated water. Team members will share meals in a group dining area, with a local chef preparing international and local cuisine, including poitjiekos (game stew) and braai (barbeque).

About the Research Area
The project’s three study sites are all located within 30 miles of the Pilanesberg massif, northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. The landscape is part of the Southern African Bushveld, a classic African savanna of mixed grasses spotted with trees. This savannah area covers the southeast corner of Botswana, southern Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.

Pilanesberg National Park was created in 1979 in the remains of an extinct volcano, providing a dramatically scenic park. The area covers approximately 50,000 hectares and is surrounded by an electric fence that prevents large mammals from entering or leaving the park. Here you will find mixed acacia trees and broad-leaved bushveld, ranging from thickets to open grassland patches. There is a large dam in the center of the park and several smaller permanent water areas scattered about.

Since the park’s creation over 6,000 individual animals have been reintroduced into the area. This includes all species that were thought to exist here before European settlers arrived, with the exception of the spotted hyaena. Many large herbivores are seen regularly, including zebras, impalas, white rhinos, elephants and wildebeests. The park’s reintroduced predators include about 40 lions, 20 cheetahs, and a pack of wild dogs. Populations of leopards and brown hyaenas were already present when the park fence was constructed and both populations are now thriving.

For more information follow the link below to Earthwatch.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 14 days
Price: £1,800 GBP minimum contribution

Be among the first in two millennia to see new evidence of Rome’s presence as you excavate this promising site.

The Celts called the area Dumnonia, and you’ll help discover how the Romans interacted with the Dumnonian people and what life was like in ancient Britain’s southwest.

The discovery of this Romano-British settlement is of tremendous importance. The settlement is the largest discovered in the county to date and detected structures hint at native roundhouses, enclosures, a Roman road and other structures. At present, there is nothing comparable to the site in Devon, or even the western peninsula, and research will significantly contribute to our understanding of life in the Romano-British world on the edges of the Roman Empire. This is your opportunity to be one of the first to conduct fieldwork here, helping further understand the nature, date, and extent of the site.

Join us in excavating and recording finds, which may include pottery, coins, tools, and other Romano-British objects. Help us clean archaeological features; and assist in making section drawings and plans, taking accurate photographic records and detailed field notes. You’ll also assist with post-excavation analysis.

The data you collect during the excavation will be analysed by Exeter University, and the results published in peer-reviewed journals, shared with local communities, and seen by visitors through presentations, exhibitions and other activities.

Meals and Accommodations
Volunteers will stay at Exeter University’s Streatham Campus, which overlooks Exeter and the surrounding countryside. The University campus is famous for its beautiful and peaceful parkland, lakes, woodland and landscaped gardens which contain numerous rare species and trees. The city is a short walk, but there are also buses from the campus. There is a shop and a bar on campus.

Single or double rooms are available with a wash basin, and full internet access. Bathroom facilities are shared. Linen and towels, and tea and coffee making facilities will all be provided.

Breakfast and evening meals will be served buffet-style at the University Halls of Residence and prepared by in-house chefs at Exeter University. Breakfast will consist of a traditional cooked English breakfast or fruits, croissants, cereals, with fruit juices, and tea or coffee. A packed lunch will be provided for daytime onsite, and will include freshly prepared sandwiches, fruit, carrot or fruit cake, crisps and mineral water or fruit juice.

About the Research Area

Devon is a beautiful, largely rural, county steeped in history. It has two stunning coastlines, long associated with legends of pirates, smuggling and shipwrecks; and two vast areas of wild moorland which are national parks: Dartmoor National Park, and Exmoor National Park. Both national parks are extremely rich in prehistoric heritage – Dartmoor is famous for its unique Bronze Age landscape, and it has numerous standing circles and standing stone rows.

Exeter, the Roman and cathedral capital of Devon, is a small but busy and thriving city with many attractions to offer. There are plenty of shops and cafes to explore. Tourist attractions include Exeter’s unique medieval underground passages, the medieval cathedral and the historic quayside. The town also has a busy nightlife; there is the opportunity to visit cinemas, theatres and restaurants.

Devon’s extensive moorland and coastland offers many outdoor sports and activity opportunities. There are numerous walking routes and bridleways in both national parks, and the South West coast path meanders along the beautiful coastline of Devon and Cornwall.

Devon is located in the far south west peninsula of Britain and it is one of the sunniest and warmest areas of the country, enjoying a temperate maritime climate. Summer months are generally warm and sunny, but rain showerscan be expected from time to time. In August, the maximum temperatures are around 21C or (70 F), dropping to around 12C or (53F) at night. Volunteers will need to bring waterproof clothing, in addition to sun lotion, a hat andother appropriate clothing to shelter from the sun. The county is largely rural; farming, fishing and tourism being the main areas of economy.

For more information visit Earthwatch at the link below.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 10 days
Price: £1,800 GBP minimum contribution

At least fifteen species of dolphins and whales are present in the Red Sea, but a lack of data hampers efforts at protection.

In some of the Egyptian Red Sea’s most pristine areas, you’ll be among the first using boat-based survey to help marine mammals.

The Red Sea is one of the richest marine wildlife environments in the world. Yet despite millions of visitors to the region every year, little is known about the ecology of its marine life – in particular the whales and dolphins inhabiting its waters. How many other species are present? Which habitats do they prefer? And most importantly, are they threatened by human activities? We need to answer these questions to help select appropriate management measures to preserve these wild populations and their habitats for the future generations.

On board HEPCA’s vessel, you’ll search for dolphins, track them, listen to them, closely observe their behaviour and collect essential data. You’ll carry out visual surveys looking for cetaceans and other animals, such as sea turtles, birds, jellyfish and flying fish. You’ll also learn how to record physiographic information such as wind strength and direction, wave height, and characteristics of shoreline and reefs, essential to understanding the habitat preferences of cetaceans. Through the use of a towed hydrophone you’ll listen to dolphins and use dedicated software to “see” their vocalizations. While anchored in small remote reefs you’ll snorkel to collect data about the reef and the fascinating marine life surrounding it.

This is your opportunity to learn about the sea, its marine wildlife and biological mechanisms while experiencing one of the world’s most unique and colourful underwater environments.

Meals and Accommodations
For the ten days spent at sea, you’ll live on board a 36 metre-long safari boat. The vessel is equipped with ten en-suite cabins, each with two single beds, a wardrobe, bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Air-conditioning is available in the sleeping area.

The spacious saloon offers a comfortable lounging/dining space and is ideal to congregate, present lectures, watch movies and organize discussions and quiz games. Outdoors, there is an open semi-shadowed area (the sun deck) where volunteers can relax after day-work. Upstairs (the sky deck) there is a main observation platform, also offering a comfortable area for resting or simply enjoying the sun.

Meals are prepared by the crew and served in the large saloon. Water and soft drinks are included. (Fresh water from taps is not drinkable.) Breakfast is likely to include, bread, eggs, ham, baked beans, cheese, yoghurt, jam, butter, juices, tea, coffee and milk. Lunch and dinner may typically be rice or pasta, two different cooked vegetable dishes, fresh salad, one meat/fish hot dish, and fruits. Due to the remote location of the study area where only few shops are present, food choice availability may be limited and, unfortunately, veganism and severe food-intolerances cannot be accommodated.

About the Research Area
The Red Sea contains some of the world’s most important coastal and marine environments and resources. The great variety of reef types shows a structural complexity unmatched on Earth. The diversity of coral species is greater than anywhere else in the Indian Ocean and the number of endemic animals and plants is extremely high. More than 1,100 species of fish have been recorded, with about 10% of these being endemic. This rich diversity is in part due to 2000km of coral reefs, and other particular habitats, such as mangrove forests, seagrass beds, salt marshes and salt pans, distributed throughout the region. These unique habitats support a wide range of marine life, including sea birds, sea turtles, dugongs, dolphins, sharks, rays, and hundreds of thousands of invertebrate species. Plunging into the Red Sea’s natural beauty is sure to provide you with an unforgettable experience.

The richness of the sea contrasts with the extreme aridness of the coastal landscape. The Red Sea is surrounded by desert or semi-desert area with no major freshwater inflow. Air temperatures range from 39 to 42°C in the summer and from 6 to 13°C in the winter. Average water surface temperature shows a minor variation, ranging from 27 to 31°C in summer with a minimum of 20°C in the winter. The region is sparsely populated, and no more than five million people are estimated to live along the coast. The major industries in the region are linked to oil exploration, extraction, processing and transport. Fisheries and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

For more information check out Earthwatch at the link below.

http://youtu.be/gWYD8Zc6rHI

 
Fact File:
Duration: 12 days
Price: £2,500 GBP minimum contribution

The bamboo-chewing giant panda is one of the most iconic endangered animals in the world.

In the Sichuan province of China, you’ll work up close with pandas cared for in captivity, and help them adapt to life in the wild, so that they may breed, and live longer and healthier lives.

This exciting project takes place over two Nature Reserves. At the Ya’an Bifengxia panda base, you’ll monitor mother pandas and newborn cubs – and may even observe the birthing process for a cub, depending on what time of year you join us. You’ll prepare and deliver bamboo to the captive pandas, and help keep their living area clean. As an Earthwatch team member, you’ll be granted special access to the breeding area and nursery of the panda base, which remain closed to the general public throughout the year. Volunteers on our July and August teams will join us in the midst of birthing and breeding season, allowing them the chance to observe some rare moments that could make their experience truly elite.

At the Wolong panda wilderness training base, you’ll monitor ‘trainees,’ record their behavior to assist with their wilderness training and evaluate how prepared they are to survive in the wild. You may even have the opportunity to put on a panda suit and deliver bamboo to these charismatic bears.

You’ll also survey and monitor wild panda populations in the Wolong Reserve, where you’ll also spend a night camping.

On your last night at the Wolong Reserve, Tibetan and Qiang communities will present an evening fire party with a barbecue and traditional dancing.

Collectively, your responsibilities will work towards the long-term goal of ‘reinforcing’ small and isolated populations of wild panda in the region, through the strategic release of captive pandas. Your experience will last a lifetime, and it could help the giant panda population longer than that!

Meals and Accommodations
Volunteers will be accommodated at three different sites: At the Wolong Reserve, you’ll stay in a hostel, and spend one night camping during terrestrial transect surveys. When working at the Ya’an Bifengxia Reserve, you’ll stay in a nearby hotel. The hostel and hotel both have electricity, refrigeration, and internet access.

You can expect to eat wonderful Chinese food – either Chinese cuisine, or local Sichuan cuisine famous for its spicy flavor. Breakfast may include fruit, biscuits, cereal, hot and dry noodles with sesame-paste sauce, bean-paste omelettes, steamed dumplings, and steamed buns. Lunch may consist of steamed buns, steamed dumplings, rice, noodles, various Chinese dishes, sandwiches, water, fruit and biscuits. Dinner may include fish and meat dishes, vegetables, rice, or other typical Chinese food. Snacks will also be provided, and vegetarian food can be prepared.

During terrestrial transect survey or patrols, all meals and fruit snacks will be prepared in the field.

About the Research Area
Wolong Nature Reserve is about 80 miles northwest of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and accommodates about 770 square miles – similar to the size of Yosemite National Park.

The landscape is predominantly mountainous. Wolong has 100 peaks over 16,400 feet and has numerous steep and narrow valleys with rushing streams. Situated in a transitional zone between Qinghai-Tibet Plateaus to the west and the great Sichuan basin to the east, Wolong’s unique geography has endowed the reserve with great biological diversities. In addition to being home to 150 wild giant pandas (about 10% of the world’s total population), Wolong houses red pandas, golden monkeys, snow leopards, more than 100 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, and an abundance of amphibious animals and reptiles.

Due to tremendous variations in elevation, more than 4,000 species of plants have been documented in the Wolong region, including many ancient and rare trees, and more than 200 kinds of medical plants. Thanks to the combination of vertical topography and mild climate, Wolong has unique broad leaf forest. Although many of Wolong’s trees are deciduous species, they actually keep their leaves throughout the year, helping the Wolong valley surrounding Panda Mountain maintain a beautiful, green landscape throughout the winter season. From spring to summer, and to fall, Wolong’s forests have an attractive mix of blossoms and tree leaves of various colors. The landscape of rock walls covered with varied vegetation, steep mountains, river valleys, and high country grassland provides an ideal setting for an abundance of outdoor activities such as hiking, birding, climbing, bouldering, white-water rafting, mountain biking and horse riding.

The reserve is part of Aba, an autonomous Tibetan and Qiang region within Sichuan Province. The Qiang people are the main ethnic group living in the Reserve. They are famous for their embroidered cloth belts and crafts, dancing and singing. The reserve is sparsely populated with about 4,500 locals engaged in conservation or as bamboo farmers, plus upwards of 500 China Conservation and Research Center for The Giant Panda personnel.

The second project site, Ya’an Bifengxia panda base is a famous tourist area of stunning wild beauty in Sichuan Province, China. It is about 11 miles from Yaan City, and 93 miles north of Chengdu. This gorge is made up of two alleys in a “V” shape, which measure about 4 and 5 miles respectively. With an elevation ranging from about 2,300 to 6,500 feet, the gorge is famous for its lush vegetation, and waterfalls. There are about 328 species of wild plants here, belonging to 221 genera and 100 families. Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base is situated at an elevation of 3,600 to 3,950 feet.

For more information please follow the link below to Earthwatch.

 
Fact File:
Duration: 14 days
Price: £1,800 GBP minimum contribution

Here’s your opportunity to do something about the worst oil spill in US history. Common loons embody the essence of wilderness, and as they arrive from far northern lakes you’ll help uncover how they’re faring in these troubled waters.

You’ll help monitor Common Loons on the Louisiana coast to help assess the health of the population. How have they fared since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 that released over 205 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico? The Common Loon is a seabird that commonly breeds in Canada, (where it is an unofficial national bird, appearing on the one dollar coin,) and parts of the northern and midwestern US. At least several hundred of these loons spend their winters (up to six months) in the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll help scientists to see if there are any signs of immune system suppression, hormonal imbalance, and red blood cell damage, for example – all of which can compromise the ability of the loon to survive.

Some days you’ll assist in capturing loons in the late evening from a boat in “shifts” of about one to one and a half hours, providing assistance in holding captured birds or recording data during observations. Capturing a loon – an apex predator that typifies wilderness – can be an exciting, memorable moment. You’ll go out in boats during the day to conduct behavioral studies, and use radio telemetry to locate signals from loons with transmitters. Using a GPS unit and a compass, you’ll become familiar with triangulation to pinpoint the location of individual birds with transmitters. You may also help take measurements of water clarity and depth. Back in the lab, you’ll enter banding and behavioral data, and you may also participate in bird surveys on various public beaches.

Meals and Accommodations
The field house is fully furnished, with both heat and air conditioning available. It has a small kitchen, four bathrooms, and two living rooms.One living area has a big screen television with cable, while the second is a quiet area for reading and relaxation. There is a shower in each bathroom, bathtubs in two bathrooms, and hot water is readily available. The bedrooms offer both bunk and double occupancy options, and towels, pillows and linens are provided. Internet and cell phone reception are both available at the house. (Verizon and AT&T providers receive the best signal.)

Volunteers will help with shopping, preparing meals and cleaning up. The kitchen is stocked with basic pantry items and includes a stove, oven, microwave and grill. There is a small grocery store within a mile of the field cabin, and a larger grocery store is available within a 40 minute drive. There are local restaurants; however they generally do not accommodate special diets. Volunteers should expect traditional southern fare, which often includes fried food. Other typical southern dishes include red beans and rice, sausage, and shrimp.

About the Research Area
The study site is sub-tropical, located along the Louisiana delta in the far south, an area notable for its “southern hospitality.” The delta was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the effect can be described as a recovering “post-Katrina” landscape. Some debris from the 2005 hurricane is still visible, with many locals existing in trailers and modular homes provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is also the epicenter of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that’s necessitated the need for this project.

Temperatures typically range from the low 60s to high 70 degrees Fahrenheit between November and April. It’s generally mild, however you should be prepared for sun, wind, rain and fog!

The delta provides the opportunity to see unique plant and animal species up-close, including armadillos and alligators, as well as coastal birds like brown and white pelicans, terns and clapper rails. You may also see shorebird species, such as piper plovers and the American oystercatcher. Waterbirds are abundant, including the Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Tricolored Heron, and Black-bellied Whistling Duck. The dominant tree in the area is cypress. (Mosquitos and wasps are uncommon in the winter months, although fire ants can be found in the lawn around the field station.)

The levee system around the small town of Port Sulphur provides easy access to those wishing to birdwatch or take walks along the coast. Fort Jackson, a nearby civil war monument, holds an annual orange festival in December. Locally, there are several public areas that allow both citrus and pecan-picking.

An hour’s drive away from the delta study site is New Orleans, the iconic city known for Cajun and Creole food, jazz and zydeco music. In April, Mardi Gras takes place in New Orleans’ historic downtown area. You could take tours of plantations, creole cottages, colonial townhouses and Greek Rival mansions, take a trip to the French Quarter for food and shopping, or visit numerous museums celebrating the rich bayou history of the area.

For more information follow the link below to Earthwatch.