Vibrant TV Delivers Compelling Content for Adventure Travelers

Good, quality travel content with a focus on adventure is not always easy to come by. Most broadcast networks and cable channels eschew the adventure scene in favor of programming that is more marketable to the mainstream audience. But Internet television start-up Vibrant TV offers some high quality shows from international markets, with some wonderful options for more adventurous travelers.

Vibrant TV launched late last year with the concept of collecting television programming from a variety of English-speaking countries from around the world The company has collected a numerous shows in the reality, lifestyle, travel and scripted drama categories from such places as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K. The network then provides those shows to viewers through an online subscription service, as well as in partnership deals with the likes of Hulu and Roku. Vibrant’s catalog of shows is a genuine mix of eclectic and creative offerings with a decidedly international flair.

As someone who is always on the lookout for interesting travel programming, I found the show Intrepid Journeys to be especially entertaining and informative. Originally produced in New Zealand, the show sends local celebrities off on fascinating excursions to countries that are often completely off their radar and out of their comfort zone.

For instance, one episode sent footballer Jeff Wilson to Eastern Europe, where he spent time traveling through Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, countries he had almost no prior knowledge about. Another episode follows news broadcaster Paul Holmes as he explore the fascinating culture and history of Yemen, a place that few westerners are bold enough to experience on their own.

One of the things I truly love about Intrepid Journeys is that the show follows a similar philosophy that I take in regards to getting readers excited about their own adventures. Often times I receive an email from someone asking advice on how they can get started with an adventure of their own. Usually that simply involves giving them a nudge out the door, and once they realize what is possible, they are soon on their way to exploring the world around us. This show holds that same sensibility, giving each of its celebrity hosts – and by proxy the viewers – the nudge they need to add more adventure into their lives too.

There is a host of other interesting programming on Vibrant TV that might catch your eye too, depending on your interests. For instance, I found Entrada to be another interesting travel program that takes viewers on a culturally focused, culinary journey around Latin America to such countries as Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Chile. The host visits some amazing destinations along the way, giving us intriguing looks at small villages, historic landmarks, and swanky hotels, and other points of interest. If you’re planning a trip to Central or South America, there are a lot of great tips to be found on the show.

Similarly, Avventura takes viewers on a journey with host David Rocco as he enjoys the food, wine, and other delicacies in a variety of beautiful locations across Italy. While not entirely adventure focused, the show has a knack for inspiring wanderlust none the less.

This is just a taste of what Vibrant TV has to offer. Other shows include numerous reality shows covering a number of genres, as well as, creative comedies and dramas too. Moving forward, the network promises to continue to add more content to meet viewers needs.

Currently Vibrant is offering some great deals for new subscribers. If you sign up now, you can get two weeks of service for free with any reoccurring monthly subscription. Viewers can also elect to purchase a 6-month subscription for $24.95, which provides them with one month for free. Find out more by clicking here.  

Video: Go Cuba!

With the recent thawing of relations between the United States and Cuba there is a lot of excitement from U.S. travelers to get the opportunity to visit the Caribbean nation at long last. This video provides a great idea of what they can expect when they get there. It is a land of natural wonders, with friendly people with a zest for life. It is also a country that has been left behind due to oppressive restrictions that have been placed on it for more than 50 years. If things continue to improve between the two countries, that will soon change however, and we could witness a real renaissance for Cuba. If you didn't want to go before, after watching this short clip, you'll probably want to visit the country for yourself.

GO Cuba from Joshua Morin on Vimeo.

Video: Across Asia on a Motorbike

This video will either quench your wanderlust or feed it. It comes our way from filmmaker/traveler Joshua Rapperport who traveled 4800 km (2980 miles) across Asia on a motorcycle. Along the way he shot some scenes from the road, and compiled them into this beautiful five-minute video. The landscapes he saw were definitely stunning, with narrow roads taking him into increasingly remote areas. It looks like it was an amazing journey, and thanks to this video clip, we get to come along for the ride.

Asia and a Motorbike from Joshua Rapperport on Vimeo.

Kickstarter Project: The Long Way to Everest

I generally get several emails a day from someone asking me to help promote their crowdfunding project. Most of them are of little interest to me, or those who read this blog. Some are simply asking others to help fund their travels, which I find somewhat distasteful. But occasionally I get an email about a project that I do find incredibly interesting and worth mentioning, which why I will post about some crowdfunding efforts from time to time. Take for example a new project from a budding filmmaker named Daniel Foutz who has come up with a unique idea for a documentary film that I think many would enjoy seeing.

Daniel calls his project The Long Way to Everest, and he has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his idea. You see, as a child Daniel read books about Everest, and the mountain became a place that he fell in love with even though he had never seen it in person. That is something a lot of us can probably relate to. He often organized climbs with his friends back in his home country of the Philippines, and while they didn't come close to comparing to climbing the Himalaya, it spurred on a young man's imagination for adventure.

Now, Daniel would like to make the trek to Everest Base Camp himself so he can visit the place that he has read so much about. But unlike most trekkers who make that journey, he wants to skip the flight to Lukla and trek from a village called Jiri instead. You see, Jiri is the place where Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay – along with the rest of their climbing team – began the trek to Everest on the historic expedition that ultimately produced the first ascent of the mountain. The hike from Jiri adds quite a few kilometers and days to the journey, which Daniel believes will take about three weeks to complete.


Prior to the construction of the airport in Lukla, Jiri and other villages along the original route received an influx of visitors that brought money to the local economy there. But now, those villages are all but ignored. Daniel says that in 2011 more than 37,000 people visited the Everest region. Only about 400 of those passed along the route that begins in Jiri. The idea behind The Long Way to Everest project is to follow the old route to the mountain and explore how the villages along that section of the trek are faring these days.

While the focus of the trek is to make a documentary film about the original trekking route and the villages that are found along the route that Hillary and Norgay used, there is another intriguing element to the project as well. Daniel also intends to carry a geocache time capsule with him to Base Camp which will contain historical information about the mountain, mementos from the trek, and letters from supporters of his efforts. He intends to lock that cache when he hides it, but provide clues to the combination to that lock which will be scattered along the trekking route. The coordinates will be shared for geocachers to find later, and whoever collects the clues gets to unlock the capsule and discover what is inside.

Not only do I think this sounds like a very interest project, I also applaud Daniel for not asking for others to completely fund it for him. He has set a very modest goal for his Kickstarter campaign of just $500 CAD, which is roughly $400 US at the moment. He has nearly reached halfway to his goal with more than 20 days to go, so hopefully he'll be able to get the funding he needs to get his project off the ground.

As someone who has made the trek to Everest Base Camp himself, and had some first hand experience in the villages that fall along the route, I think a documentary of this type would be very interesting. Hopefully we'll all get a chance to see it in the future.

Video: The Landscapes of Iceland

If you're looking for inspiration to travel at the moment, than look no further than this video. It features some amazingly beautiful shots from Iceland, a country that is blessed with a riches of natural resources. I have yet to visit Iceland myself, but every time I see clip like this one I become more determined to go at some point. With scenery like this, who wouldn't want to have the country on their bucket list?

Iceland from Andrzej Fryda Studio F4 on Vimeo.

Video: A Long Hike Through Western Mongolia

In terms of remote and untamed places, they don't come any more wild than parts of Mongolia. In this video we get a good look of the landscapes there as we follow a solitary hiker on his walk across the western region of the Central Asian country. It is a remarkable place for an adventure, and a truly amazing destination.

Moving On - A Hike in Western Mongolia from Just Greg on Vimeo.

Video: Two Weeks in Iceland Captured in Timelapse

Captivating and mesmerizing would be two words I'd use to describe this video. It was shot over a two week period in Iceland, with the filmmaker capturing some amazing imagery from the beautiful landscapes there. The timelapse scenes allow we the viewers to watch as the land and sky shift in amazing ways, both subtly and dramatically.

Two Weeks in Iceland / Timelapse from Casey Kiernan on Vimeo.

A Visit to the Red Centre of Australia

One of the most interesting and adventure-packed places I've ever visited is the famous Red Centre of Australia. Perhaps best known for being the home of Ayer's Rock – aka Uluru – the Red Centre is a fascinating mix of culture, history, and exploration. This is the true Outback, rugged, untamed, and with miles upon miles of open space. It is a place that every traveler should see, with landscapes that are humbling and awe inspiring at the same time.

Recently, my friend Richard Bangs visited the Red Centre and shared his experiences in a wonderful article published at the Huffington Post. Richard went to this remote region of Australia to take in all of the amazing sites for himself, and to go on a few adventures along the way as well. His travels took him on a camel trek into the Outback, hiking along some of the local trails, and into Alice Springs, the main outpost in this very wild part of the world.

Of course, many people come to the Red Centre simply to visit Uluru and climb to its summit. When the lands surrounding that iconic rock were returned to the Anangu Aboriginal tribe back in 1985, it was a stipulation in that they continue to allow visitors to climb to the top. But for the Anangu, Uluru is scared ground, and while they don't prohibit anyone from climbing it, they do go to great lengths to discourage it. On his visit, Richard – who has just returned from a climb up Cotopaxi in Ecuador – decided to respect the wishes of the Aboriginal and stay off the Rock.

In his article, and the video below, he shares a wealth of things to do while you are there that don't involve climbing Uluru. Trust me, there are plenty of other activities to keep you occupied. For instance, I'd recommend hiking the Larapinta Trail, a 223 km (138.5 mile) long path that passes through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the region. While you're there, also take a dip in the Finke River, widely considered the oldest in the world at 350-400 million years. Spend a few nights camping under the stars as well, as you'll rarely find a better night sky than in the Outback.

Video: The Amazing Wildlife of Africa

One of the reasons I love Africa so much is the amazing array of wildlife found there. That continent has a staggering number of large creatures, and some of the largest concentrations of mammals found anywhere on the planet. This two-and-a-half-minute video captures some fantastic shots of those creatures, with the stunning landscapes they call home as a backdrop. If you haven't been to Africa before, this video will give him a tiny peek at what makes it such a special place.

Africa from Andrew_Cut on Vimeo.

The Matt Prior Adventure Academy Website is Live!

A few weeks back I first told you about the Matt Prior Adventure Academy, which looks to give would-be adventures a nudge out the door by providing them with the skills they need to explore the world around them with confidence. At the time, the concept was still in its planning stages as it prepared for its launch in 2015. Now, the official website for the Adventure Academy is up and running, and ready to start taking applications.

Visitors to the newly launched site will find much more information about the Academy, as well as its founder  – Matt Prior. Matt brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, which he has earned on his own adventures which have seen him visit more than 85 countries across the globe, often blending unique methods of travel with cultural and historical immersion. He plans to pass that knowledge on to participants in his "courses" which will teach vital skills to travelers, while visiting remote destinations around the globe.

The first of those courses will be offered starting in May, with others to follow in June, August, September, and October of this year. Each of them will take place in Indonesia where participants will spend a week exploring the landscape by motor bike, while also gaining the skills and confidence they need to launch their own adventurous travels in the future. The cost of the Academy courses are £999 (or roughly $1500) which covers internal flights, motorbike and helmet rental, all fuel, entry permits and fees to national parks, guide fees, food and drinks. Additionally, 5% of all profits will be donated to the NSPCC, an organization dedicated to ending child abuse.

The video below will provide you with more insights into the Adventure Academy, including some testimonials from those who have traveled with Matt, and a glimpse at the landscapes that the courses will be visiting. To find out more visit MPAdventureAcademy.com. If you're interested in applying to join one of the trips, the application form can be found here.

As I've said before, I think the idea behind the Adventure Academy is a brilliant one, and anything that helps encourage people to put a little more adventure into their lives is wonderful.

New Website Gives Travelers Ability to Make Travel Plans in Entirely New Way

If you're making travel plans for 2015, you owe it to yourself to drop by Amadeus.net, a new website designed to give travelers all the tools they need to find flights, and more efficiently plan their escapes for the months ahead. The website not only locates the best airfare deals possible, it even indicates the optimal days to travel to your destination, allowing flexible travelers to save more money if their schedule permits.

The site uses a clever interface that allows visitors to use natural language to search for the destinations that they want to visit, as well as indicating their date of travel, how long they'll be gone, and which airline class they want to fly in. From there, Amadeus takes over, locating the best possible options for the time you want to fly, and suggesting alternate dates when pricing may be better.

But searching for the best flights is just the tip of the iceberg for what Amadeus.net is capable of. After creating an account, you can plan out your itineraries, save them to your profile and share them publicly, or with friends and families. Built-in tags allow others to quickly and easily see what you have planned, and elect to add the same trip to their profiles as well. And if you're looking for a bit of inspiration, there are numerous trip plans created and shared by other Amadeus users as well.

The website is geographically aware, and upon visiting it immediately knew where I was at, and made all suggestions for flights based out of my home airport. Additionally, when I viewed the plans made by other users, it shifted the schedules accordingly for my location as well. When creating your profile, you can also designate your home location and preferred airport too.

The Amadeus.net designers have also built a suite of very useful tools for travelers too. For instance, a world clock will tell you the time in any major city across the globe, while currency converters will give you an idea of exchange rates at your destination as well. You'll also find handy airport guides, subway maps, international dialing codes, and even weather forecasts.

The hope is that Amadeus can become your one-stop shop for planning all of your travel needs. The site is still in beta however, so a lot of data is still being filled in. There are also plans to eventually add hotels in the future as well, making it possible to book your flights and accommodations all in one place.

The video below will give you an idea of how it all works, and the benefits of using the site. Then head on over and start plotting your next adventure today.

Video: Adventures in Enthralling India

Shot over a five-week period in India, this video takes us on an adventure that spans the entire country, from the Andaman Islands to the Himalaya. It features beautiful imager of a country that has a dizzying array of landscapes, and a culture that is rich with history and tradition. If you watch closely, you may just see the exact point when the filmmaker destroyed his Canon 600D camera by dropping it into the Indian Ocean. Ouch!

Adventures in INDIA - Sand To Stone from Basti Hansen on Vimeo.

Video: Drones in the Mountains of Brazil

The combination of a GoPro camera and an aerial drone have given amateur filmmakers a set of tools that simply haven't been available in the past. As a result, we're now seeing some amazing videos that simply weren't possible a few years ago. Case in point, this clip that was shot in the Sierra Fina region of Brazil, where a series of mountains rise above 2500 meters (8202 ft). The landscapes are captured in a truly beautiful fashion thanks to the use of drone. This looks like a beautiful place to visit, and we get a wonderful three-minute tour of the place that is simply tantalizing.

DRONE DA MONTANHA - Alto Capim Amarelo - Brasil from DRONE DA MONTANHA on Vimeo.

Video: Nomadic Asia

If you're starting to look for inspiration for travel destinations for 2015, perhaps this video will put some adventurous ideas into your head. It follows a group of travelers as they head into a remote region of Mongolia and the Altai Mountains, where they encounter nomadic herders and trading Eagle hunters. The landscapes are breathtaking and the setting is fantastic. Just the kind of destination  we all hope to find in our travels.

Nomadic Asia from Sibweek on Vimeo.

Video: Introducing the Matt Prior Adventure Academy

Have you always wanted to go on a grand adventure, but just didn't know where to start? Do you have an epic journey in mind that you would like to embark on, but keep finding excuses to put it off? Than perhaps you'll be interested to learn about a new program designed to give you the skills necessary to start your project, while on an adventure of a lifetime.

That is exactly the premise behind the Matt Prior Adventure Academy, an innovative new approach to adventure travel that will allow participants to not only visit a fantastic destination, but earn valuable skills that will allow them to travel more confidently on their own in the future. The Adventure Academy will begin offering "courses" in 2015, giving would-be adventurers an opportunity to get out their front door, and start pursuing their passions more fully.

The Academy is the brainchild of Matt Prior, an adventure from the U.K. who has circumnavigated the globe in a London taxi, rode a motorbike through Patagonia, taken a Rickshaw from the southern tip of India all the way to the Himalaya in Nepal, and taken a road trip from London to Mongolia and back. In short, he doesn't lack for experience in the adventure travel realm, and now he wants to share that knowledge and experience with you.

Personally, I think the idea behind the Adventure Academy is a good one. I know plenty of people who say they would like to live a more adventurous life, but they have a hard time just getting out their front door. This program is designed to take away the excuses, and give participants the valuable skills necessary to show them that they can do amazing things if they just set their mind to it.

The video below will give you more of an idea of what Matt has in mind. It is endorsed by none other than Sir Ranulph Fiennes as well, so you know he is on to something. Find out more at the Adventure Academy Facebook page, follow the Academy on Twitter, and sign-up here for more details. A full-blown website will go online in January.

Video: The North Face Cab Takes Passengers on Epic Adventures

Recently, The North Face took a specially built cab around New York City, picking up passengers and then inviting them to go on an epic adventure. Some of those passengers couldn't take advantage of the opportunity, as they had to go to work, meet friends, or catch a flight. But others were able to be spontaneous and to see where that very special cab would take them. The result was some amazing journeys to places that these people never intended to visit, with those lucky people rediscovering their sense of adventure along the way.

The video below is the result of this unique campaign. You can see for yourself not only what the North Face cab looks like, but where it took those bold enough to say agree to an adventure. It looks like they each had a fantastic time, and I love the thought behind this clip.

Would you have been able to say "yes?"

Best Hike Treks The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia

If you're looking for a spectacular destination for an adventure in 2015, than perhaps the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia will make a suitable location. My friend Rick McCharles, the editor of BestHike.com, just returned from that amazing setting, and as usual he has all kinds of great tips and photos to share with readers.

Rick launched his journey in Gondar, a small town that is one of the best places to find guides, supplies, and information prior to setting out into the Simien Mountains. A typical trek through the region – which is both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site – takes roughly four days to complete. Along the way, travelers pass through the spectacular Ethiopian highlands, visiting local villages, and encountering amazing wildlife as they go.

For those unfamiliar with the Simiens, they are a chain of mountains that stretch across northern Ethiopia. Rugged and remote, the region features rocky plateaus separated by deep gorges and valleys, and towering peaks. The highest mountains in the Simien Range climb above 4400 meters (14,435 ft), making a dramatic and breathtaking backdrop to the walk.

You can read Rick's account of all four days of his journey – starting with Day 1 – by clicking here. Each of his daily reports include very helpful information for anyone who would like to do this trek themselves, as well as an array of great photographs that he shot along the trek. He offers valuable tips that will make anyone's journey to the Simiens an easier one, and helpful advice on how to make such a journey possible. His Simien Trek information page is especially helpful in this regard, and should serve as a great resource for anyone thinking of visiting this part of the world.

One of the parts of the trek that Rick enjoyed the most was spotting wildlife along the trail. He especially enjoyed seeing and interacting with the baboons that were plentiful in the highlands. Seeing those primates in their natural environment was a real treat, and true highlight of the experience for sure.

This isn't the fist time I've had a friend recommend the Simien Mountains as a great trekking destination. I understand that it a truly spectacular part of the world, and that the people there are incredibly friendly and accommodating too. As you start looking ahead for new adventures in 2015, perhaps you'll keep this trek in mind as well. It looks like it was an amazing experience.

Video: Reconsider South Africa

South Africa is one of my favorite places that I've ever visited. It has just about everything a traveler could ask for, including very metropolitan cities that offer plenty of great places to eat, a jumping nightlife, and an amazing cultural and art scene. But of course, the country has a wild side too, with great hiking, surfing, scuba diving, and safari destinations that are unmatched. The fantastic video below shares just some of those experiences with us, giving viewers a glimpse of what the country has to offer. You'll have to watch all the way to the end to get the full payoff from the clip, but lets just say it'll give you a new perspective on everything that South Africa has to offer.

And when you're done watching the video, head over to the Discover South Africa website to learn more about the country, and the amazing experiences that can be had there. For instance, did you know that the Eastern Cape is a pristine part of the world that remains largely untouched by man? It is the perfect destination to go in search of the legendary "Big 5" – which consists of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. The wildlife there is some of the most spectacular on the planet, and it is a place that will, without a doubt, leave a lasting impression on all who visit.

If you're considering going to South Africa in the near future, now is a great time to go. As winter arrives here in the Northern Hemisphere, in the southern part of the world summer is in full bloom.

Video: Where in the World Are You? - Quest #89

Looking to test your geographical skills and travel knowledge today? If so, we have another edition of the Where in the World Are You? series from Richard Bangs. This time out, Richard takes us to some very iconic places, in a part of the world that is known for being remote and wild. Can you guess where he is at based on the clues that he provides? The landscapes in particular should be a dead giveaway for this location.

Video: Return of the Yak - Driving in the Mongol Rally!

The Mongol Rally is a crazy adventure that sends teams of drivers on a trans-continental road trip of epic proportions. Beginning in London, and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the race covers more than 10,000 miles (16,000 km), with participants driving insanely small, and under-powered vehicles, across Europe and Asia. The Rally has long been a bucket-list item for adventure travelers looking to experience a truly unique experience on the road.

If you've ever wondered what it is like to take part in this race, then the video below will be of particular interest. It is an hour-long documentary filmed by a team that drove in Mongol Rally, and it will give you an idea of just how truly wild, dramatic, and fun the event can be. Grab a cold drink, a tasty snack, and sit back and enjoy.