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I run an adventure travel company. Here's what you should do instead of Everest
I run an adventure travel company. Here's what you should do instead of Everest
Adam Sebba, ContributorMay 30, 2019, 01:35 IST
Courtesy of Cookson Adventures
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Adam Sebba is the CEO of Cookson Adventures, an ultra-luxury experiential travel company.
He says that rather than wait in dangerous lines to summit Mount Everest, travelers interested in an exclusive adventures have many other, better options.
For instance, north of Bogota, Colombia, in a remote part of the Santander province, lies the 400-foot deep Hoyo el Aire sinkhole, a natural marvel that only 80 or so people have climbed down.
Guests can also visit Bhutan, a remote kingdom nestled in the Himalayas, and embark on an epic 8-hour hike to Laya, Bhutan's highest settlement that's known as "the hidden land."
The prospect of standing atop the world on Mount Everest has become such a popular option for the everyday adventurer that the nature of the endeavor is no longer as exclusive as it once was. The internet has been flooded with images this week of climbers queuing from the famous Hillary Step up to the peak. If the prospect of spending any time at all in the so-called "death zone" wasn't bad enough, the problem of heavy traffic atop Everest is becoming so dangerous, with numbers so badly policed, that deaths have risen to double figures so far this season. Experienced mountaineers have described "traffic jams," as anyone with the necessary funds bids to conquer the world's highest peak.
When asked why climbing Mount Everest was such an aspirational achievement, mountaineering legend George Mallory famously responded, "Because it's there." But does standing at 8,848m still have the appeal it once did, when so many others are doing it? Is it worth the risk?
Wanted: A life-changing expedition
I'm the CEO of Cookson Adventures, where we specialize in ultra-luxury experiences that push the boundaries of travel. Adventure is in our nature, stemming from our founder, who trekked to the southern pole of inaccessibility (the farthest point on the Antarctic continent, in any direction, from the surrounding seas). A dangerous endeavor? Of course, but not on the scale of the perils experienced by those on Everest.
The exploration of nature and the untapped Earth is at the heart of everything we do, but safety is important too. It goes without saying that when the world's most successful people are embarking on expeditions that could change their lives and make history, they want to return from them. They want to remember them. They want to tell their friends about them.
So here are five destinations that are far more exclusive than Everest, which we guarantee you'll be telling your friends about.
Antarctica is fast becoming a popular destination as a new breed of long range, explorer yacht provides the means of navigating the choppy waters of the Southern Ocean. And far from being a desolate, white wilderness, the scope for activities on the ice is incredible. Our guests have been able to take in some of the world's most stunning wildlife, taking to the waters in a private submersible. For the active, there's hiking and skiing on fresh mountain tracks, ice climbing and mountaineering with expert guides. We even arranged for guests to spend an unforgettable night camping on the ice.
2. Colombia
North of Bogota, in a remote part of the Santander province, lies the 400-foot deep Hoyo el Aire sinkhole, a natural marvel that only 80 or so people – according to locals – have climbed down. (Over 5,000 people have now climbed Everest.) The spectacular crater has its fair share of 'character' too, boasting a fine collection of skulls of those unfortunate enough to have been pushed to their death over the precipice by Spanish conquistadors. Our guests also rode with local Llaneros cowboys and took part in the region's traditions, including herding and corralling cattle.
3. Baffin Island
We have launched one of the world's most dramatic skiing camps. Based amongst the fjords of Baffin Island, Canada's largest island, it offers easy access to undiscovered skiable wildernesses in the Arctic Cordillera mountain range. The camp, a private collection of luxurious Pacific dome tents, is located near the small Inuit community of Clyde River, meaning clients of Cookson can explore the uncharted slopes of this dramatic landscape via helicopter by day and experience the rich culture of the native Inuit people in their downtime. If it's a 'world first' experience you're looking for, we can guarantee uncharted slopes, immersion into local culture and a real chance to test physical limits, all packed together.
4. Bhutan
Although not quite the altitude of Everest, far more serene and remote is the spiritual kingdom of Bhutan. We'll arrange for guests to embark on an epic eight-hour hike to Laya, Bhutan's highest settlement, where you'll be hosted by the Layap. These indigenous people refer to their homeland as Be-yul - 'the hidden land', which says it all. Experience a local welcome ceremony, dine at a farmhouse, retire to a luxury camp that has been set up for you and take a spectacular helicopter flight back down the valley the next morning.
5. Kamchatka
Lying to the far east of Russia, is the largely undiscovered Kamchatka Peninsula, a mesmerizing landscape with the largest concentration of volcanoes in the world. In a land that retains a prehistoric beauty, with rushing rivers and spurting geysers, Cookson Adventures can help guests feel the timeless power of nature. An experience that takes in both land and sea activities can include heli-touring and skiing from your yacht base, sea kayaking, surfing, kite-surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, ice-fishing, horseback riding and wildlife sightings of brown bears, lynx, elk, reindeers, sea otters and more.
Adam Sebba is the CEO of Cookson Adventures, which crafts travel experiences that mix adventure and luxury for its global client base.
