Maori New Zealand ride

Adventure Quickies: Red Bull X-Alps Results, 2000km New Zealand Cycling Expedition, and More

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By: Kraig Becker
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Each week there are far too many adventure stories, travel deals, and gear news items to possibly share in my regular posts. In an effort to share a few of the things that have slipped through the cracks, I usually try to post a round-up of some things we may have missed over the past few days. These are our Adventure Quickies from this past week, with the results of the Red Bull X-Alps, a new long-distance cycling tour in New Zealand, and much, much more.

  • Maurer Wins Red Bull X-Alps for Sixth Time: This past week, one of the more unique adventure races in the world came to a conclusion in Monaco, where Christen Maurer won his sixth straight Red Bull X-Alps. This even challenges competitors to trail run and paraglide their way across Europe, combining two very unique skills to create a one-of-a-kind race that is definitely fun to follow. Find out more here.
  • 2000 KM New Zealand Cycling Adventure Unveiled: If you love to travel through amazing countries by bike, then Ride & Seek has just the tour for you. This week, the company unveiled its Māori New Zealand Adventure which sends riders off on a 2000+ km (1242 mile) excursion from Aukland to Queenstown. The inaugural run of this amazing bike trip is set to take place starting in February of 2020 and will take 25 days to complete.
  • Great Victorian Ride Welcomes 5000 Cyclists: Speaking of amazing bike tours, the Great Victorian Ride in Australia is gearing up for another go later this year. The ten-day long bike tour covers more than 600 km (372 miles) and is a rolling festival that passes through amazing scenery while en route. Each year, 5000 cyclists join in on the fun and 2019 looks like it could be the best event yet. Find out why in this awesome intro video.
  • Poseidon Expeditions Announce 2021 Solar Eclipse Cruises: A major solar eclipse is set to take place across the Southern Hemisphere on December 4, 2021. Naturally, people are already planning for where they should be to see it in all of its glory. To that end. Poseidon Expeditions has announced a special solar eclipse cruise to the Southern Ocean for travelers who want to witness this amazing phenomenon in Antarctica. The cruise itself is 23 days in length, with the eclipse taking place on day 14. Call for a price quote!
  • KLM Brings Travel Guide to Amazon Alexa: Do you own an Amazon Alexa speaker? Looking for more reasons to talk to the titular virtual assistant? You’re in luck, because this week, Dutch airline KLM added a series of travel guides to the Alexa ecosystem. She can now provide suggestions for destinations based on flight duration, budget, travel dates, and other information.
  • BLM Releases Climbing Maps for Public Lands: Earlier this week, in celebration of Get Outdoors Month, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management released a series of maps that offer information on where to climb on BLM land. The maps are designed to help raise awareness of recreational opportunities on public lands that happen to be managed by the BLM. There is a surprising amount of information that can be found in these maps, which you can check out here.
  • Quark Still Has 2019 Arctic Itineraries on a Steep Discount: Last week I mentioned that Quark Expeditions was offering as much as 50% off it’s 2019 Arctic tours. Those discounts continue this week with trips still reduced between 30-50%. If you still have some vacation time to burn this year, and have always wanted to visit the Arctic, this is a great opportunity that is hard to pass up.
  • 686 is Giving Away a $1000 Shopping Spree: Want a little extra cash to spend on some new gear? 686 is looking to give away a $1000 shopping spree and all you have to do is provide your thoughts and opinions. All you have to do is fill out this survey, which takes about four minutes to complete, and you’ll be entered to win.
  • Get a Private After-Hours Tour of King Tut’s Tomb: We see a lot of interesting travel opportunities come through our inbox, with some creative companies offering unique experiences for sure. But Tauck has one of the more unusual ones in its Jordan & Egypt itinerary that gives travelers the chance to get a private tour of King Tut’s tomb after the Valley of the Kings and Queens has closed for the day. This opportunity is part of two new tours that the company is launching in 2020, that include a host of great options for adventurous –– and well heeled –– travelers.

That’s all for this week. More Adventure Quickies coming next Friday. Have a great weekend!

Kraig Becker
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