A world of adventure

Late last year Graeme Edwards decided he couldn't face the coming round of Christmas parties. The operations manager and programme director of Classic Hits 97FM needed to get away. But where? Qantas had been running a promotion for triple airpoints for trips to South America. He had never been there before, so he fired up the internet and started researching.

It wasn't long before he stumbled on www.gap.ca and the world of adventure travel.

After some thorough online research, Edwards was on his way - kitted out with all manner of medical supplies to ward off altitude sickness and other nasties, plus hiking gear to cope with the rigours of the Andes. There was just one glitch - his luggage didn't make it to Buenos Aires. But he borrowed a few things and bought what he needed - including some excellent Bolivian underpants - along the way.

Edwards had the trip of a lifetime. He had two adventures - one "in the the footsteps of the Incas on the trail to Machu Picchu" - which took in the ruins of Tiahuanaco - and the other into the heart of the Amazon.

Despite the Third World status of most of the places he visited, Edwards says internet access - in cybercafes - was never far away. It came in handy, not just for keeping in touch with the office, but for emailing back inspirations for promotions that came to him high in the Andes. It was surprising to find Coke machines - albeit unplugged - at this altitude. And so was watching TV - powered by solar panel - in a mud hut on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Edwards is now hooked on adventure travel - he has recently taken a tour in Vietnam and is looking for "something interesting" in Morocco or Egypt.

He doesn't book online himself, but takes all the information he has gleaned to his travel agent to make the final arrangements.

He says the key is to match your fitness level with the type of trip on offer, and to make abundant use of the online references, including sending email questions and concerns to those who have done the trip before.

Some adventure travel starting points:

Lonely Planet

Where in the world

iExplore

Wilderness Travel

Equitour Riding Tours

Backroads

Adventure Travel

Great Outdoors

Adventure seek

GAP Adventures