REI Adventures Introduces New Active Trips To Unforgettable Places

Explore storybook scenes in England and Scotland, play in Belize and Baja's crystal blue waters,

 and go deeper in national parks

- For nearly 30 years, REI Adventures has brought guests

 to unforgettable places to enjoy activities they love with like-minded travelers. Today, the leading 

active travel company announces new itineraries.

"Our new trips feature the rich history and traditions of Europe, clear blue waters of Latin America, and

 desert wonderland known as Joshua Tree National Park," says Cynthia Dunbar, general manager of REI

 Adventures. "Time and time again, our guests share how their travel changed their perspective of the world

 and that fellow guests are now lifelong friends. Key to their experience was our local guides' attention to

 every detail and unexpected highlights from adventures that go off the beaten path."

Europe – Four new trips, including:

England Coast to Coast Hiking: REI's nine-day hike traces highlights of the famous 192-mile route by

 focusing on the most stunning landscapes, storybook castles, and quaint villages that boast local

 teahouses and lively pubs. With prevailing winds at their back, hikers journey west to east, starting 

in England's romantic Lake District. The group heads into James Herriot country to explore the rolling

 hills of the Yorkshire Dales before crossing the purple heather-strewn moors of the North York Moors

 National Park to reach the wild North Sea.

Scotland Family Adventure: An activity-filled trip takes families on an eight-day journey through the

 Scottish Highlands where they learn about the country's history, while enjoying hiking, biking, 

kayaking, geocaching and trekking with reindeer. Families also ride on the Jacobite Steam Train,

 learn the art of archery and explore a medieval castle on the shores of the mythical Loch Ness monster.

Latin America – Six new itineraries, including:

Baja California Hiking and Kayaking: This multisport trip ventures between the Pacific Ocean and

 Sea of Cortez, and it's no wonder why the region is called an "island in the sky." After hiking the

 peninsula and summiting the highest peak in the Sierra de la Laguna range, guests kayak in clear

 blue waters along picturesque beaches and abundant marine life, and snorkel with sea lions. A

 seven-day family itinerary is also available.

Belize Lighthouse Reef and Mayan Adventure: Over nine days, guests experience all that Belize has

 to offer: hundreds of bird and fish species, tropical plants and cultures living in harmony. Travelers 

first visit the Barrier Reef, the longest unbroken reef in the western hemisphere. They then snorkel 

and kayak around Half Moon Caye and Blue Hole Natural Monument, one of the world's top scuba

 diving and snorkeling sites. After four days on the reef, the group heads inland to hike and bike the 

mountainous terrain with Mayan archaeological sites, rocky plateaus, creeks, waterfalls and more.

United States and British Columbia – 11 new trips, including:

Backpacking Joshua Tree National Park: This expedition-style 

trip covers more than 25 miles in four days. The group starts with a gentle hike in Hidden Valley, 

followed by the Maze Trail where guests navigate through mini slot canyons and boulder formations

 that are secluded from crowds. Highlights also include seasonal pools at Willow Hole that attract

 bighorn sheep and many types of birds, and a scramble up Key's Mountain for an incredible view.

Late this year, REI will introduce another series of national park trips to expand its camp assortment.

 As the "Official Outdoor Retailer" for the National Park Centennial celebration, REI is donating 10 

percent of the retail price for each national park trip to the National Park Foundation through 2016. 

About REI Adventures Award-winning REI Adventures has been a global leader in worldwide guided active adventure

 programs since 1987. The company offers unique itineraries focused on sustainable, human-powered

 outdoor adventure including: hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing and more. Guests will experience 

iconic destinations as guides take them off the "beaten path," and provide opportunities to explore a

 destination, get to know the local people, their culture, the flora and fauna and discover things they 

would not be able to duplicate on their own or with another travel company. REI members receive a

 special discount price on most trips. For more information, full itineraries and trip reviews provided by guests, visit http://www.rei.com/adventures.

About REIREI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation's largest consumer co-op,

 REI is a growing community of 5.5 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, 

inspiring expert classes and trips and outstanding customer service. REI has 140 stores in 33 states.

 If you can't visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI.com/outlet or the free REI shopping app. REI

 isn't just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active 

adventure travel that runs 150 custom-designed itineraries on every continent. REI's Outdoor School is

 run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner- to advanced-level courses about

 a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests

 millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to–and steward–the

 outdoor places that inspire us.

10 Of The World’s Best Natural Wonders … That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Dropping in … a climber descends into an ice cave, Mendenhall, Alaska. Photograph: John Hyde/Design Pics/Corbis

From Europe’s deepest river canyon and caves that glow to a rainbow river and hills that look like chocolate, our picks prove that nature always does it better

Mendenhall ice caves, Alaska, US

Imagine standing in a natural glassy dome illuminated by eerie blue light … A visit to Mendenhall ice caves is a rare chance to step into the heart of a glacier. The 12-mile-long stretch of ice (it is getting shorter every day, because of global warming) near Juneau in south-east Alaska, is surrounded by pristine countryside that includes hiking trails through a landscape populated by bears, porcupines and eagles. Glacier treks (eight-hour trip $230), explore the caverns and crevasses of the ancient ice feature.
• fs.usda.gov

Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

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 Photograph: Michael Runkel/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis

Like something out of Super Mario Land, the Chocolate Hills are a bizarre geological formation. The perfect, grass-covered, mole-hill-like mounds are scattered through a large forest; there are estimated to be up to 1,776 in the 50 sq km area. The oddity picked up the name because during the dry season the grass turns brown, and some have compared the hills to Hershey Kisses. They are on Bohol Island and visitors can take tour of the hills from the small town of Carmen.
• itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

Helmcken Falls, British Columbia, Canada

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 Photograph: Michael Wheatley/All Canada Photos/Corbis

Wells Gray provincial park is a stunning area of natural beauty with several breathtaking waterfalls within its pine forested wilderness. Helmcken Falls is perhaps the most spectacular: one of the reasons the park was created was to protect this natural wonder. The 141m waterfall (the fourth-highest in Canada) tumbles off a cliff edge into a vast stone bowl surrounded by pine trees. An ice-cone that forms at its base in winter can reach up to 50m. There are more than a dozen campsites to pitch up at, as well as cosy B&Bs such as Clearwater Springs Ranch, a good choice for anyone who likes home comforts while exploring the wilds.
• wellsgray.ca

Tara canyon, near Žabljak, Montenegro

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 Photograph: Alamy

With a maximum depth of 1,300m, Europe’s deepest river canyon is a vertigo-inducing sight. To get an idea of how impressive that is, the US’s Grand Canyon has an average depth of 1,600m, so it’s really not far off. The 82km-long canyon runs through Durmitor national park, with the Tara river rushing through its bottom. The best way to explore the canyon is by boat; the last stretch of the river has over 20 rapids that can be tackled on a white-water rafting tour.
• visit-montenegro.com

Benagil beach sea cave, Portugal

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 Photograph: Alamy

There’s an otherworldly feel to this unusual rock formation in the Algarve, which sweeps overhead to create a series of natural stone arches. The cave is one of several cut into the cliffs near the fishing village of Benagil, and visitors can take boat trips to them and other, isolated beaches along the Lagoa coast. The Benagil cave is 150m from the village’s main beach, but can only be reached by the water. If the sea is calm, it is possible to swim there. Another option is apaddleboard adventure through them, a great way to navigate the tranquil environment at a slower pace.

Caño Cristales, Serranía de la Macarena, Colombia

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 Photograph: Tom Till/Alamy

It only takes one look at the Caño Cristales to see how it earned its name – the liquid rainbow. For a few weeks every year, between September and November, the conditions cause the river to explode in colour, when the sunlight triggers a plant that lines the riverbed – the the Macarenia clavigera – to turn bright red. The streaks of crimson mix with dashes of yellow, brown shades of sand and water that shimmers in blue and green, creating a technicolour mix unlike any other. The river is near La Macarena in Meta province, deep in the Colombian grasslands. Once an area associated with cocaine production, it has only recently become a safe tourist destination, and several companies offer tours from Bogotá.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves, North Island, New Zealand

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 Photograph: Alamy

Lining the ceiling like fluorescent space stickers found in a kid’s bedroom, the glowworms of Waitomo’s caves were discovered over 120 years ago and create a magical spectacle. In 1887, local Maori chief Tane Tinorau and British surveyor Fred Mace floated into the cave on a raft, and eventually found an accessible land entry point, which is still used by visitors today. The cave has been a tourist attraction since 1889, when Tinorau and his wife would give guided tours for a small fee. Even today their descendants work as staff at the caves. A walk through the limestone caverns concludes with a bug-illuminated boat ride.
• Admission adult £23, child £10, family £56, open daily 9am-5.30pm (5pm season), waitomo.com

Jellyfish Lake, Palau, south Pacific

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 Photograph: Alamy

If they were poisonous, this lake would be a lot less fun. Fortunately, the two species of jellyfish in this unusual environment are harmless to humans (technically they do have sting cells, but it’s unlikely you’d notice them). The marine lake is the only one open to tourists in Palau and is on Eil Malk, part of the wild Rock Islands. Millions of jellyfish drift from one end of the lake to the other each day to feed. The lake is reached by a 45-minute boat ride from Koror; the creatures float in the water like luminous lanterns and are best viewed by snorkelling among them.
• visit-palau.com

Ik-Kil cenote, Yucatán, Mexico

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 Photograph: Alamy

Cenote comes from a Mayan word meaning “well” and is used to describe naturally formed pits or sinkholes, usually caused after the collapse of a cave. The Ik Kil cenote is a magnificent one – considered to be sacred and found en route to the ancient city of Chichen Itza. A 26m-high circular rock shaft surrounds a turquoise pool of water, with jungle vines draped over the edge. About 40m deep, the pool is perfect for diving, and ledges have been carved into the limestone rock for this purpose. Ik Kil has been a venue for the Red Bull cliff diving world series – with some of the world’s best divers hurling themselves into its depths.

Saltstraumen, Nordland, Norway

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 Photograph: Ashok Rodrigues/Getty Images

Saltstraumen is not a good place to visit if you’re prone to seasickness – this we know from personal experience. Every day, at a narrow strait near the town of Bodø, the strongest tidal current in the world gathers its strength, creating a frothing mess of choppy white water full of whirlpools up to 10m in diameter. Caused by 400m cubic metres of water rushing through the 150m-wide sound when the tide changes, the Saltstraumen is a pretty dangerous water feature. Powerful RIB boats take visitors through the sound, and when they cut the engine it feels as if the boat is being pulled down by the whirlpools.
• visitbodo.com

Contributed byWill Coldwell, www.theguardian.com