Talk time: 2pm, Saturday, March 9, 2013
Talk title: Essential guide to Everest Base Camp
Speaker’s name: James Ingham
Company name: Intrepid
Website: www.intrepidtravel.com
Why do you love to travel?
Travelling is a fantastic way to take a break from the routine of everyday life. You meet new people, experience different cultures, try new things and come home feeling revitalised.
Who would be your ideal travel partner and why?
Prince Harry – I think he’d be a lot of fun.
What was your favourite destination last year and why?
I really loved Croatia. The beaches and the countryside were stunning, the people were super-friendly and relaxed, and Dubrovnik really surpassed my already-high expectations.
Describe the most unusual situation you’ve found yourself in while travelling.
While in Bali, I found myself drinking in an unknown bar in the middle of the rainforest with members of the Yakuza [Japanese mafia]. I don’t think I should reveal anything more about that one!
Name two up-and-coming destinations for 2013.
The destination everyone’s talking about is Burma. Intrepid resumed its tours there in 2012 and our programme for the whole year sold out before the first trip even departed. We now have three departures a week and can hardly keep up with demand. Sri Lanka is something of a sleeping giant which is growing in popularity every year. It has ancient temples, rainforests, white beaches, a plethora of wildlife, and a way of life relatively unchanged outside of the hectic cities, plus it’s not overrun by western brands. Think India with a little more space and a little less chaos.
If you could return to any country you’ve been to, where would it be and why?
Botswana – venturing into the Okavango completely flipped my mind. Polling through the waterways in a dugout canoe and seeing hippos upstream, camping wild in the bush and hearing the sounds of African wildlife all around us, enjoying bucket showers with elephants and giraffes sauntering past… it was an amazing antidote to modern life.
What’s the one thing you can’t travel without and why?
I like to have a guide book for the outbound flight, so that I know a little about my destination before I arrive.
Give us an overview of what you’ll be discussing at the TNT Travel Show
I trekked to Everest Base Camp last year, so I‘ll be sharing some tales of that experience, giving tips on when to go and how to prepare, and hopefully conveying how amazing it feels to be standing at the foot of Everest.
Who will find your talk relevant?
It’s for anyone who is looking for a big challenge in 2013 and wants to have some interesting stories to tell their mates when they return home. Everest Base Camp is not just for experienced climbers, it is achievable for anyone who is reasonable fit and has a dose of determination.
