switzerland

switzerland

The diversity of the landlocked, mountainous country is the essence of Switzerland and gives the country its unique identity. Still, it is best known for its financial institutions, fine cheeses and chocolate, watch making industry, for its scenery and an excellent network of public transportation.
Capital City:
Berne
Major Cities: Baden, Basel, Bellinzona, Bern, Biel, Brig, Chur, Fribourg, Genève, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lausanne, Locarno, Lugano, Luzern, Martigny, Montreux-Vevey, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Sierre, Sion, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thun, Winterthur, Zug, Zürich
Bordering Countries:
Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein
Inhabitants:7'261'200
Languages:
German, French, Italian, Romansch
Climate: Because of its central position, the weather is influenced by the four main European air currents - from the Atlantic, the eastern continent, the northern subpolar region and the Mediterranen south. The climate is temperate on the Central Plateau, otherwise it differs considerably from region to region.
Landforms:
Alps and Pre-Alps cover 60%, Central Plateau 30% and Jura 10% of the country.
Land Area:
41,284 km2

Albinen next to Leukerbad Homepage

Switch off and relaxSituated on the sunny side of the Rhone valley Albinen is one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the Valais. Just 6 km away are the renowned thermal springs in Leukerbad. Come and enjoy the peace and quiet of our village, along with the fresh mountain air, lots of sunshine and a fantastic view. It is easy to relax and recover in our village, away from everyday stress. Not only is it suitable for tranquil holidays but also is conveniently situated for an active family vacation.
Albinen in summerFor an unforgettable mountain excursion an extensive and well-developed system of walking paths opens from spring to autumn. In the unspoiled natural surroundings you can roam through colourful meadows, shady larch forests, idyllic hamlets and view superb alpine landscapes, with a little luck, marmots or chamois can be observed. Mountain bikers can live out their dreams by finding very well prepared routes. With its central position in the Valais, Albinen is open to multiple holiday possibilities for visitors. Famous places such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee and Rilke - The burial ground in Raron are attainable within a one-hour drive.
Albinen in winterIn a deep snow covered winter landscape Albinen looks particularly attractive. Revitalize yourself by walking around the village and nearby alpine surroundings. Skiers and snowboarders are transported free of charge to the ski lift at Torrentbahnen only 14 minutes away. If you prefer to take your car, free parking is available. The skiing area Torrent at 2800 meters has snow guaranteed during the winter season. The ski runs are suitable for beginners as well as advanced skiers. A visit to the thermal springs after skiing assures the ultimate after-ski relaxation. A combined ski and thermal springs pass can be bought, enabling both activities to be available at a reduced price.Facts:
Only 6 km from thermal springs resort Leukerbad
Regular bus service
50 km of ski run and cross-country skiing (1540 m - 2800 m), 11 skilift facilities (including Leukerbad)
Free ski bus
50 km marked walking paths
30 km marked mountain bike routes
The Albinen ladders: In old times this was the shortest way to Leukerbad. This includes 8 ladders of 100 m height. Today a footpath has been integrated but only recommended for those who do not suffer from fear of heights or dizzy turns.
Guided village tours - from June to October
Museum in the old mill.

Anzère is part of the central Valais community of Ayent at the foot of the Wildhorn massif. It nestles amidst larch and pine forests and enjoys an almost Mediterranean micro-climate. Anzère is still a young resort: before 1960 it was simply a collection of five small chalets. Thanks to its favoured location, Anzère quickly grew to become a modern but compact holiday village. The surrounding countryside is dotted with alpine huts, usually built in stone or timber toasted a rich brown by the sun. Because the Ayent-Anzère occupies such a sunny location and has one of the driest climates in Switzerland, farmers in the region have constructed a network of suonen, the irrigation channels ('Bisses’ in French) so typical of the Valais. Three main suonen, 70 km in length, traverse the community. The first suonen date from the middle of the 15th century, and there is an interesting little suonen museum in Anzère.
SummerThe gentle slopes and babbling waters have made the suonen popular as walking trails, including the three-hour tour from Anzère to the reservoir at Tseuzier (and beyond via the Rawil Pass to Lenk in the Bernese Oberland). There are mountain trails up to the Wildhorn Glacier at 3247 m, and a total of 166 km of marked footpaths in the region. Anzère in summer is ideal for mountain bikes (5 routes, 80 km). It also offers climbing, riding, fishing, a hang-gliding school, mountain huts, tennis courts, a heated open-air and indoor pool, mini-golf, beach volleyball and a giant children’s playground. Close by are wine cellars, golf courses, thermal baths and an observatory.
WinterThe ski region stretches from altitudes of 1500 m to 2500 m.There are 12 lift facilities and a wide range of courses and trails for downhill and cross-country skiers, snowboarders and winter hikers. Toboggan enthusiasts will find a super toboggan run, and there are plenty of opportunities for winter hikers and snowshoe walkers. Every week mulled wine is ladled out of a huge cauldron, providing a chance to make new friends.
Highlights
Tseuzier Reservoir: a beautiful lake in a partially wooded basin, accessible from Ayent along a narrow road or from Anzère along a suonen trail with views into the Liène Valley.
Sitten (Sion): the capital of the canton with its historic townscape is a popular destination for shopping, culture and gastronomy. It is also the centre of Valais wine-growing with plenty of wine cellars.
Siders (Sierre): this nearby town has the most hours of sunshine in Switzerland and is a favourite destination with its lovely old town and museums.
Lac Souterrain de St-Léonard: the biggest underground karst lake in Europe (300 metres long), accessible to boats.
Grande Dixence Reservoir: at an altitude of 285 metres, this is the highest reservoir in the world, situated in the Hérémence Valley (viewings inside from mid June to end September).
The primeval forest of Derborence: a nature conservation area of mighty larch and pine trees in a rocky valley basin at the southern foot of the Diablerets Massif.
Top Events
Course de Côte Ayent-Anzère: mountain motor racing on the slopes of Anzère, a national competition with entrants from abroad (July).
Tour des Alpages in Anzère: 17 km of mountain paths for hikers and runners followed by a folk festival with tastings etc. (July)
Wine festival (Vinifête) in Anzère: wine-tasting organised by the winegrowers of Ayent (August).
Alpine marathon: 42-kilometre-marathon from Anzère via Crans-Montana to Leukerbad; the gradients are gentle so this event has become a people’s run (August).

Get in

Arrivals are by plane or occasionally by boat (typically cruise ships through Auckland).

By plane

There are international airports at Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. The main gateways are Auckland and Christchurch, with Auckland servicing more than 20 destinations and a dozen airlines, and direct connections from Christchurch to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore, and Tokyo. All the smaller international airports service flights to Australia or the Pacific Islands only and are limited to B737 or similar size aircraft.
Due to its large third world expatriate population and Polynesian and Melanesian communities, New Zealand has more extensive direct flight options to South Pacific nations such as Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands than most other countries except big brother Australia.
Aerolineas Argentina now provides a biweekly service direct to Buenos Aires from Auckland.

Visas and documentation

All visitors who are not citizens of New Zealand need a passport to enter. Australian passport holders may enter New Zealand without a visa and stay as long as they wish without restrictions (including on employment). British passport holders can be granted a visa-free Visitor's Permit for up to six months on arrival. Citizens of a large number of other countries can be granted a visa-free visitor's entry for up to three months on arrival, check the list of Visa Free Countries. All these waivers, including the one for Australians, can be refused. In particular, potential visitors with criminal records or who have been refused entry to or deported from any country should check with New Zealand immigration about whether they need to apply for a visa.
Visitors from countries not in the visa-free list or those wishing to stay longer than the maximum visa-free period for their nationality, will need to apply for an appropriate visa. Check the Immigration New Zealand web page for details.

Quarantine

Because the economy is based on agriculture, importing even small quantities of most food, as well as unprocessed animal or plant materials is tightly controlled. These restrictions are designed to limit the spread of animal and plant diseases and pests. New Zealand has some very strong biosecurity laws, which are taken seriously by enforcement officials and as a game sport at border control. In addition, importation or possession of most recreational drugs, including cannabis, is illegal.
At ports of entry, both the Agriculture and Customs Services will inspect passenger baggage and confiscate and fine heavily for any prohibited items (like the New Zealand grown apple you were finishing off from on the plane). Items that must be declared include: any kind of food; any plant material; any animals, animal material or biological specimens; dirty or soiled sports gear, footwear, and used camping gear and anything that may have been in contact with soil, been used on a farm or has been used with animals. If travelling with golf clubs and shoes, make sure you clean them before your trip. It is also a good idea to remove spikes from your golf shoes.
Commercially-packaged food is usually allowed through Customs. If you are unsure it is best to declare any questionable items as the immigration officers will be able to tell you if it needs to be cleaned or disposed of before entry. Instant fines of many hundreds of dollars can be issued at the pleasure of border control staff if prohibited items are not declared. Some items may be taken for sterilisation or fumigation before being released to you.
If not declared or the quarantine section of the arrival card is not correctly completed, an instant fine of at least $200 may be freely applied. More serious breaches may result in a fine (up to $100,000) or a prison term (up to five years). Either declare items as required or dump them in the amnesty bins before you reach customs.

New Zealand

New Zealand [1] is a temperate to sub-tropical island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.
A former British colony, the majority of the population is of European descent, with a sizeable indigenous Maori minority and smaller minorities of various Polynesian and other groups.
A modern but sparsely populated country, it boasts natural beauty and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities

Islands

New Zealand consists of the two main North and South islands and a number of smaller ones:

North Island – Warm, with scenery ranging from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland and forests to active volcanic peaks.

South Island – Spectacular mountains and fjords, large beech forests, beautiful beaches.

Stewart Island – heavily forested, a wilderness paradise for trampers with wonderful bird song. Only place to a see a sun-bathing (feathered) kiwi on Masons Beach!

Chatham Islands

Sub-Antarctic Islands – Very difficult to get to unless you're on a scientific expedition or deep sea fishing vessel

Cities

New Zealand follows general Commonwealth useage in only describing conurbations that are the seat of a bishop as "cities".
It's the country that's magnificent in New Zealand and we only list nine of the most prominent settlements. Here they are from north to south:
North Island:

Auckland — "The City of Sails." The largest and most populated conurbation, with over a million in the metropolitan area, making it the largest in Polynesia by far.

Tauranga - Known for its great weather, sun and beach Tauranga is a great holiday spot.

Rotorua — Famous for Maori culture, geysers, hot pools and that funny (Sulphur Dioxide) rotten egg smell.

Wellington — the national capital — Parliament and the Beehive and the wonderful, free Te Papa museum. "The Windy City".

South Island:

Nelson — Safe and friendly, with New Zealand's highest sunshine hours. Nelson is the geographic centre of the country and surrounded by THREE stunning national parks, vineyards and orchards

Christchurch — The Garden City and the Air Gateway to Antarctica.

Queenstown — Adrenalin and adventure capital of the world… skydive, bungee-jump, jet-boat, thrill yourself to your hearts content.

Dunedin — the Edinburgh of the South. Proud of its Scots heritage, chocolate factory, Southern Albatross colony and its wonderful tramping tracks within a short drive from the CDB.

Invercargill — the southernmost city and one of the very few places to see a living Tuatara.

Other destinations

Havelock North, a great base for exploring the Hawkes Bay wineries. and home to Te Mata peak.

Hokianga - wild, beautiful, bi-cultural

Elsthorpe - in Hawkes Bay is a beautiful country settlement

Feilding - voted New Zealand's most beautiful town 12 times in a row

Opiki - potato capital of New Zealand

Blenheim - Grape vines to the horizon with sauvignon blanc to die for

Kaikoura - great for whale watching.

The Southern Alps stretch the length of the South Island.

Aoraki/Mount Cook — New Zealand's highest mountain.

Omarama — World famous gliding destination. Scenic alpine glider flights and pilot training
Milford Sound and Fiordland.

Understand

New Zealand was named god's own country and 'paradise of the pacific' as far back as the early 1800s and travellers generally agree it deserves that description.
A common mistake is to allow insufficient time for a visit. (Since it's a long and expensive way to go for most people, many folks end up spending all their time in Australia and then wishing that they had spent an equal or longer time in this very variegated archipelago).
Relax and allow at least three or four weeks for each island!
Lonely Planet named New Zealand the world's top travel destination for the second year running (2003/2004), and it was voted best long-haul travel destination in the 2004 Guardian and Observer’s People’s Choice award. It has won the award in three out of the past four years. At the 2005 Condé Nast Traveller Awards, readers voted New Zealand as the best holiday destination in the world. New Zealand is also known by the Maori name of Aotearoa, which is usually translated as "(Land of the) long white cloud".

Geography

New Zealand consists of two main islands and many smaller ones in the South Pacific Ocean approximately 2000 km southeast of Australia. With a population of four million in a country about the size of the United Kingdom, many areas are sparsely settled.
Auckland, the largest city (about 1.25 million), is the largest city in Polynesia.

Settlement and history

New Zealand was the last significant land mass to be inhabited by humans, both in terms of indigenous settlement and European domination. This, combined with geological youth and geographical isolation, has led to the development of a young, vigorous nation with a well-travelled, well-educated expatriate population of 1,000,000. (1 in 4 born New Zealanders and 1 in 3 between ages 22 and 48 have left their place of Birth for more favorable locations). It also has some spectacular scenery, flora and fauna.
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about 800 AD. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, in 1642, was the first European to see New Zealand, and his mapped coastline appeared on Dutch maps as "Nieuw Zeeland" from as early as 1645. British naval Captain James Cook rediscovered, circumnavigated and mapped the islands in 1769. A few people (mostly sealers, whalers, traders and missionaries) settled during the next 80 years and the islands were administered by the British colony in New South Wales.
In 1840, with the assistance of missionaries, the Maori agreed to accept British sovereignty over the islands through the Treaty of Waitangi. More intensive settlement began that same year. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872, coupled with political maneuvering and the spread of European diseases, broke Maori resistance to land settlement, but left lasting grievances. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances, and this is a complicated process. In 2005, the Maori Party was formed, in part in response to the Government's law on the Foreshore and Seabed but also to promote an independent Maori perspective at a political level.

The British colony of New Zealand became a dominion in 1907. It was offered complete independence under the 1931 Statute of Westminster, although it did not adopt this until 1947. However the Constitution of Australia permits New Zealand to join as another Australian state. New Zealand supported the United Kingdom militarily in the Boer War of 1899–1902, as well as both World Wars. It also participated in wars in Malaya, Korea and Viet Nam under various military alliances, most notably the ANZUS treaty with Australia and the United States.
New Zealand's elite has strongly opposed the testing and use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear armed warship visits meant that the Parliament enacted anti-nuclear legislation in the mid-1980s. This led to the abandonment of New Zealand's commitment to the ANZUS defence alliance. The New Zealand military continues be limited in capacity to take roles in UN- peacekeeping operations worldwide as often as its budget can bear.

Time Zones

New Zealand Standard Time is 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). New Zealand utilises daylight saving in summer. From 30 September 2007, daylight saving hours will be changed to extend the period to 27 weeks. It commences at 2am on the last Sunday in September (clocks go forward an hour) and ends at 2am on the first Sunday in April (clocks go back an hour) of the following year. During daylight savings time New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of GMT. The Chatham Islands have their own time zone, 45 minutes ahead of the rest of New Zealand.

Sports

The "national sports" in New Zealand are rugby union and netball in winter, and cricket in summer. The Super 14 season runs from February to May, and the National Provincial Championship runs later in the year. The national team, the All Blacks, generally play matches at home during June through to September, mainly in the Tri Nations.

Climate

New Zealand has a temperate climate in the south island and sub-tropical climate in the North Island and the nature of the terrain, the prevailing winds and the length of the country lead to sharp regional contrasts. Temperatures sometimes exceed 30°C and fall below 0°C only in the elevated inland regions. Generally speaking, rainfall and humidity is higher in the west than the east of the country due to the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges and the prevailing westerly/north westerly winds.
Part situated in the "Roaring Forties", unsheltered areas of the country can get a bit breezy, especially in the centre, through Cook Strait and around Wellington. The winds seem to be stronger around the equinoxes. In the winter, southerly gales

Tourism in Australia

Value to the Economy

Tourism in Australia is a large sector of the economy. In 2003/04, the tourism industry represented 3.9% of Australia's GDP at a value of approximately A$32 billion to the national economy.[1] It should be noted that tourism's share of GDP has been slightly decreasing over recent years.
In 2004-05, international visitors consumed AUD$18.3 billion worth of goods and services produced by the Australian economy. This represented 11.1% of total exports of goods and services. [2]
Australia was also the received the 10th biggest revenue from being a tourist destination in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Trends

At least until September 2001, tourism and particularly international tourism had grown rapidly for the past two decades. [citation needed]
During 2001–2002 and 2002–2003, external events such as the September 11, 2001 attacks and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) scare caused changes to the level of international visitors to Australia.

Visas
All visitors to Australia, apart from New Zealanders, require advance permission to enter the country. For most countries, a full visa is required, but holders of certain passports from some OECD and some East Asian countries are able to apply for the simpler Electronic Travel Authority which enables one to apply and be granted a visa.

Marketing
Australia's international tourism campaigns have largely centred around the image of Australia as a wild, expansive, almost uninhabited continent, with all manner of exotic scenery and wildlife, endless beaches, large coastal cities and friendly, relaxed locals. A famous advertising campaign of the 1980s featuring Paul Hogan offering American tourists the chance to "throw another shrimp on the barbie" serves as an example of this marketing approach. (Ironically, this statement is a misquote; Hogan's actual line was "I'll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you.") [citation needed]
The marketing focus has changed over the years, for example with specific advertisements created for individual countries. A 2006 Tourism campaign using Australian colloquialisms was typified with the slogan: "So where the bloody hell are you?"

Popular destinations

International tourists
Tourism Australia lists the following as the most visited regions in Australia:
Sydney, includes sights such as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach.
Melbourne
Brisbane
Far North Queensland including Cairns, known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest
Gold Coast, famous for its beaches and theme parks
Perth, Western Australia
Adelaide
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Uluru (Ayers Rock) and surroundings such as Kata Tjuta
Whitsundays, Queensland
Top Ten Visited Regions in Australia

Domestic tourists
This list varies for domestic tourists and focuses on destinations relatively near capital cities. A notable omission is Far North Queensland mainly due to its distance from capital cities.
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Gold Coast
northern coastal New South Wales including Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay
Perth
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
South Coast, New South Wales including Nowra and Batemans Bay
South Western Western Australia including Bunbury and Busselton.
Hunter region, New South Wales including Newcastle, Port Stephens
Top 10 Domestic Regions

Popular activities
Tourism Australia reported the following as the most popular activities for overseas tourists:
Dining or eating out at a cafe
Shopping
Beach
Markets
National parks
Pubs, Clubs and Discos
Zoos, Wildlife parks and Aquariums
Botanical Gardens and Public Parks
Charter boats, ferries, cruises
Historical sites, Heritage
Top 10 Activities
This list varies for domestic tourists:
Dining
Visiting friends or relatives
Shopping
General sightseeing
Pubs, Clubs and Discos
Beach
Picnics and Barbecues
Bushwalking
National parks
Fishing
Top Activities for Domestic Tourists

Types of tourists

International tourists
The top 10 countries for short term visits to Australia:
New Zealand
Japan
United Kingdom
United States
China
South Korea
Singapore
Malaysia
Hong Kong
Germany
Source: ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures August 2006
Whilst the above list may include personal and business visits, a considerable proportion of these visitors would engage in tourist activities. 52% of visitors to Australia in 2005/06 visited for a holiday.
Tourists from countries such as United States and Japan benefited from the weakness of the Australian dollar against their own currencies over much of the 1980s and 1990s, making Australian holidays quite cheap. [citation needed] Japanese tourists make up a distinctive part of the Australian tourism market, usually taking short package tours which concentrate heavily on the iconic sights (typically Sydney, Uluru, Gold Coast and Cairns), and viewing Australian native animals (particularly the koala).

Backpackers
Another major source of tourists to Australia include backpackers, mostly young people from Western European countries (particularly the United Kingdom) and Canada. Spending more time in Australia, these travellers tend to explore considerably more of the country. Many backpackers participate in working holidays enabling them to stay longer in the country. Working holiday visas for Australia are available for those aged 18 to 30 for most Western European citizens, and also citizens of Canada and some developed East Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea. [5]

Domestic tourism
Australians are big domestic travellers as well, with a profusion of seaside resort towns in every state (many located on or near good surfing beaches), mountain retreats, plentiful national parks, rivers, fishing locations, wine growing regions, as well as domestic visitation of the major tourist spots. [citation needed]
Domestic tourism peaks during the Australian school holidays.

Major events
Major events attracts large number of tourists.

Sporting
The 2003 Rugby World Cup attracted 65,000 international visitors to Australia. [6]. The 2000 Sydney Olympics resulted in significant inbound and domestic tourism to Sydney. During the games, Sydney hosted 362,000 domestic and 110,000 international visitors. In addition, up to 4 billion people watched the games worldwide.

Choosing a volunteer vacation

People choose to take a volunteer vacation for a variety of reasons, and often more than one applies. First and foremost is a desire to help —be it children, the elderly, the handicapped, animals, or the natural environment. Some people have a specific cause in mind; say, protecting endangered gorillas or preserving the coral reefs off the coast of Australia, and they target organizations that offer such opportunities. Other people have a more general idea of what they want to do; for example, help alleviate hunger or teach children to read. Along with an altruistic reason for volunteering there are often others, such as a desire to see exotic or unusual places, an opportunity to experience new challenges, a chance to practice a foreign language, having an experience that will enhance their resume and/or job opportunities, and the fact that such trips usually provide a substantial tax deduction.
When choosing a volunteer vacation opportunity, prospective travelers should consider several questions.
Where to go? Volunteer vacation opportunities are available in every corner of the world, from the United States to Australia, China, Iceland, and the Amazon.
How much does it cost? The program fees participants pay to take part in volunteer vacations typically (but not always) include room and board, project fees, travel medical insurance, and travel within the country in which the volunteer activity occurs. The fees usually do not include transportation to the country. Potential volunteers should check with the sponsoring organization to determine which costs are included in the program fee, and to learn how much of the fee is tax deductible.
How challenging is it? Some volunteer vacations require a certain level of physical strength and stamina, especially those that involve working outdoors. Potential volunteers should always clearly understand the physical expectations and requirements and be sure they are medically capable of meeting them.
What are the accommodations? Lodging options vary widely and may involve pitching a tent, living in unheated huts, staying with native families, sharing a dormitory-type residence, or checking into a comfortable hotel. Questions about food, water, linens, availability of power (including computer and cell phone access), medical care, and local transportation should be addressed during the evaluation process.
How long? Most volunteer vacations last from one to four weeks; some can extend on for months. The vast variety of volunteer vacation opportunities usually means people can find more than one vacation that fits their needs.
Any special skills needed? People who have special skills—teachers, nurses, veterinarians, biologists, accountants, lawyers, photographers, farmers—are always welcome and in fact urgently needed in some locations. Most volunteer opportunities, however, only ask that people have a desire to help and a willingness to learn and follow directions.
Is language a barrier? Since so many volunteer vacations are in remote, foreign locations, knowledge of another language in addition to English can be helpful and in some cases, strongly recommended. However, most potential volunteers do not need to know a second language.
What about free time? The amount of time volunteers have to spend sightseeing or doing other activities away from their volunteer tasks varies with each assignment, as do the types of activities that are available. This information is usually provided by the sponsoring organization, and it can be helpful to talk or correspond with other people who have volunteered in the location previously.
Who can participate? Volunteer vacations are available for singles, couples, students, families, and older adults. The age limitation is typically 16 to 18 years of age; a parent or guardian usually must accompany any person younger than 16. Volunteer vacations geared for families with younger children have their own special regulations.
Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations and companies offer volunteer vacations. Some organizations sponsor opportunities that focus on a specific issue, such as saving sea turtles or building homes for the needy, while others offer a broad spectrum of projects that center on areas such as education, poverty, public health, endangered species, and habitat preservation. While some organizations have projects in only a few countries, others offer options in dozens of locations on nearly every continent.
People interested in learning more about volunteer vacations in general or selecting one in particular can begin by exploring volunteer vacation directories or targeting organizations that offer specific opportunities.
Volunteer vacation directories
People who are uncertain about the type of volunteer vacation they want to take may find it best to start by checking a directory of opportunities by category. Charity Guide is a nonprofit that provides information on volunteer vacations in several different categories: environmental protection,[2] children’s issues [3], animal welfare [4], and health and safety [5]. Travel with a Challenge [6] provides a directory that caters to mature volunteers (age 45 years and older). Transitions Abroad [7] is a portal for volunteer vacations involving social issues around the globe.

Organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations
Potential volunteers can also scour the opportunities offered by organizations that sponsor volunteer vacations. Airline Ambassadors International [8] distributes medical and other aid to children, families, and underprivileged communities around the world. Global Service Corp. [9] focuses its efforts in two countries, Tanzania and Thailand, and offers projects that last from two weeks up to six months. People interested in environmental and animal issues can choose from more than 130 projects in 47 countries offered by the nonprofit group Earthwatch [10]. Cross Cultural Solutions [11] has projects lasting from one to twelve weeks located in eleven countries. One-week opportunities are the mainstay of Globe Aware [12], which sponsors projects in nine countries. Community development, conservation, and teaching are just a few of the types of projects offered by i-to-i [13] in more than two dozen countries. One unique type of organization is [14], a Non-Profit Franchise run and paid for entirely by volunteers.
People who don’t find what they’re looking for with a sponsoring organization or who have a pet cause or favorite charity can contact the particular group or charity on their own and ask about volunteer vacation opportunities.

Volunteer vacation

Volunteer vacations are an opportunity for people to make a positive difference in the lives of others or to help improve or contribute to society, culture, or the environment while on vacation. It is also a chance for people of nearly any age to immerse themselves in foreign or challenging circumstances, experience a different culture first-hand, and learn more about the world they live in.
According to the Travel Industry Association of America [1] , more than 55 million Americans have participated in a volunteer vacation, and about 100 million more are considering taking one. Volunteer vacations attract people from all walks of life and all age groups—students on break or who take a year off between high school and college, singles, couples, families with young children, and older adults. Despite obvious differences among these people, they typically share a desire to “do something good” while also experiencing new places and challenges in locales they might not otherwise visit.

Extreme tourism

Extreme tourism or shock tourism is a type of niche tourism involving travel to dangerous places (mountains, jungles, deserts, caves, etc.) or participation in dangerous events. Extreme tourism overlaps with extreme sport. The two share the main attraction, "adrenaline rush" caused by an element of risk, and differing mostly in the degree of engagement and professionalism.
Extreme tourism is a growing business in the countries of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, etc.) and in South American countries like Peru, Chile and Argentina. The mountainous and rugged terrain of Northern Pakistan has also developed into a popular extreme tourism location.
While traditional tourism requires significant investments in hotels, roads, etc., extreme tourism requires much less to jump-start a business. In addition to traditional travel-based tourism destinations, various exotic attractions are suggested, such as flyovers in MiGs at 2.5 Mach, ice diving in the White Sea, or travelling across the Chernobyl zone.

Pilgrimage

In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.
Buddhism offers four sites of pilgrimage: the Buddha's birthplace at Kapilavastu, the site where he attained Enlightenment Bodh Gaya, where he first preached at Benares, and where he achieved Parinirvana at Kusinagara.
In the kingdoms of Israel and Judah the visitation of certain ancient cult-centers was repressed in the 7th century BC, when the worship was restricted to Jahweh at the temple in Jerusalem. In Syria, the shrine of Astarte at the headwater spring of the river Adonis survived until it was destroyed by order of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.

In mainland Greece, a stream of individuals made their way to Delphi or the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, and once every four years, at the period of the Olympic games, the temple of Zeus at Olympia formed the goal of swarms of pilgrims from every part of the Hellenic world. When Alexander the Great reached Egypt, he put his whole vast enterprise on hold, while he made his way with a small band deep into the Libyan desert, to consult the oracle of Ammun. During the imperium of his Ptolemaic heirs, the shrine of Isis at Philae received many votive inscriptions from Greeks on behalf of their kindred far away at home.
Although a pilgrimage is normally viewed in the context of religion, the personality cults cultivated by communist leaders ironically gave birth to pilgrimages of their own. Prior to the demise of the USSR in 1991, a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow can be said to have had all the characteristics exhibiting a pilgrimage — for Communists. This type of pilgrimage to a personality cult is still evident today on people who pay visits of homage to Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung, and Ho Chi Minh.

Types of tourism

Adventure tourism:

Adventure tourism is a type of niche tourism involving exploration or travel to remote areas, where the traveler should expect the unexpected. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity as tourists seek unusual holidays, different from the typical beach vacation.
Adventure tourism typically involves traveling into remote, inaccessible and possibly hostile areas. It may include the performance of acts that require significant effort and grit and may also involve some degree of risk.
According to the (U.S.-based) global Adventure Travel Trade Association, "adventure travel" may be any tourist activity including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction, and engagement with nature.
Mountaineering expeditions, trekking, bungee jumping, rafting and rock climbing are frequently cited as an examples of adventure tourism.

Hiking

Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. It usually takes place on trails in rural or wilderness areas.
The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are differences in usage. In some places, off-trail hiking is called 'cross-country hiking', 'bushwhacking', or 'bush-bashing'. In the United Kingdom, hiking is a slightly old-fashioned word, with a flavor more of heartiness and exercise than of enjoying the outdoors; the activity described here would be called 'hillwalking' or simply 'walking'. Australians use the term 'bushwalking' for both on- and off-trail hiking. New Zealanders use 'tramping' (particularly for overnight and longer trips), 'walking' or 'bushwalking'. Hiking in the mountainous regions of India and Nepal is sometimes called 'trekking'. Overnight hiking is called 'backpacking' in some parts of the world. Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end is referred to as 'thru-hiking' in some places.

Comparison with other forms of touring

Hiking is one of the fundamental outdoor activities on which many others are based. Many beautiful places can only be reached overland by hiking, and enthusiasts regard hiking as the best way to see nature. It is seen as better than a tour in a vehicle of any kind (or on an animal; see horseback riding) because the hiker's senses are not intruded upon by distractions such as windows, engine noise, airborne dust and fellow passengers. Hiking over long distances or over difficult terrain does require some degree of physical ability and knowledge.

Ecological impact of hiking

Hikers often seek beautiful environments in which to hike. Ironically, these environments are often fragile: hikers may accidentally destroy the environment that they enjoy. The action of an individual may not strongly affect the environment. However, the mass effect of a large number of hikers can degrade the environment. For example, gathering wood in an alpine area to start a fire may be harmless once (except for wildfire risk). Years of gathering wood, however, can strip an alpine area of valuable nutrients.
Generally, protected areas such as parks have regulations in place to protect the environment. If hikers follow such regulations, their impact can be minimized. Such regulations include forbidding wood fires, restricting camping to established camp sites, disposing or packing out fecal matter, imposing a quota on the number of hikers per day.
Many hikers espouse the philosophy of Leave No Trace: hiking in a way such that future hikers cannot detect the presence of previous hikers. Practitioners of this philosophy obey its strictures, even in the absence of area regulations.

Human waste is often a major source of environmental impact from hiking. These wastes can contaminate the watershed and make other hikers ill. Bacterial contamination can be avoided by digging catholes 10 to 25 cm deep (4 to 10 inches, depending on local soil composition) and covering after use. If these catholes are dug at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails, the risk of contamination is minimized. Many hikers warn other hikers about the location of their catholes by marking them with sticks stuck into the ground.
Sometimes, hikers enjoy viewing rare or endangered species. However, some species (such as martens or bighorn sheep) are very sensitive to the presence of humans, especially around mating season. Hikers should learn the habits and habitats of the endangered species, in order to avoid adverse impact.
There is one situation where an individual hiker can make a large impact on an ecosystem: inadvertently starting a wildfire. For example, in 2005, a Czech backpacker burned 7% of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile by knocking over an illegal gas portable stove. Obeying area regulations and setting up cooking devices on bare ground will reduce the risk of wildfire

Etiquette of hiking

Because hiking is a recreational experience, hikers expect it to be pleasant. Sometimes hikers can interfere with each others' enjoyment, or that of other users of the land, but they can minimize this interference by following good etiquette. For example:
When two groups of hikers meet on a steep trail, there may be contention for use of the trail. To avoid conflict, a custom has developed in some areas whereby the group moving uphill has the right-of-way. In other situations, the larger of the two groups will usually yield to the smaller.
Being forced to hike much faster or slower than one's natural pace can be annoying, and difficult to maintain consistently. More seriously, walking unnaturally fast dramatically increases fatigue and exhaustion, and may cause injury. If a group splits between fast and slow hikers, the slow hikers may be left behind or become lost. A common custom is to encourage the slowest hiker to hike in the lead and have everyone match that speed. Another custom is to have an experienced hiker sweep up the rear, to ensure that everyone in the group is safe and nobody straggles.
Hikers often enjoy the silence and solitude of their surroundings. Loud sounds, such as shouting or loud conversation, disrupt this enjoyment. Some hikers purposely avoid loud sounds, out of deference to other hikers. Staying quiet will also increase the likelihood of encountering wildlife. (This is a hazard if dangerous animals are present; see "Personal safety hazards".)
Hikers sometimes trespass onto private property from public land or rights of way (easements). Such trespass can alienate the property owners and (in countries where rights of way are not protected by law) close down hiking rights-of-way. To maximize hiking opportunities for everyone, most hikers will either stay on public land and easements, or solicit permission from property owners. Staying on well-marked trails avoids the possibility of trespass.
Tree branches or other vegetation often hang low across trails. A passing hiker may cause a tree branch to snap back in the face of a hiker behind. While it is courteous to warn following hikers if a branch is likely to snap back, it is every hiker's responsibility to allow enough space between himself and the hiker ahead to avoid the hazard.
When two groups of hikers meet, it is considered a common courtesy to exchange greetings (either verbal or physical (e.g. smiles and friendly nods)). To pass another group without such acknowledgement is seen as rude.

World Tourism Organization

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is a United Nations agency dealing with questions relating to tourism. It compiles the World Tourism Rankings. The World Tourism Organization is undoubtedly the most significant global body concerned with the collection and collation of statistical information on international tourism. This organization represents public sector tourism bodies from most countries in the world and the publication of its data makes possible comparisons of the flow and growth of tourism on a global scale.

History

As of 2005, its membership included 145 countries, seven territories and some 350 affiliate members, representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. The frequent confusion between the two WTOs – World Tourism Organization and the Geneva-based World Trade Organization – officially ended on 1 December 2005, when the General Assembly approved to add the letters UN (for United Nations) to the start of abbreviation of the leading international tourism body in English and in Russian [1]. UNWTO abbreviation remains OMT in French and Spanish. UNWTO General Assembly concluded its work at its 16th session in Dakar, Senegal, on 2 December 2005.



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