Travel with Shoestring holidays

If you want a bit more from your holiday than the usual package trip, Kate Riordan will show you how

Journey through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

If you thought a long-haul adventure in one of the world’s most intriguing places was out of reach because you’re tied to a nine-to-five job, think again – going off the beaten track is no longer the preserve of the student gap year. ‘Go Further’ is the mission statement of Shoestring, the travel company that believes you deserve more for your precious annual leave and hard-earned wages, whether it’s dancing in Costa Rica or going on safari with the tigers of northern India.

At Shoestring they do things differently. Which is probably why they’re now the UK’s leading adventure travel company. Their trips, spanning four continents and nearly 30 countries, bridge the gap for those who want the experience of independent travelling, without the luxury of time.

Faced with booking flights, hotels, day trips and other adventures before they even pack, frustrated globetrotters often give in and book an identikit package holiday. But if you think lounging by a pool surrounded by 300 other Brits isn’t exactly getting away from it all – let alone making the most of your time off, that’s where Shoestring comes in.

They will take you to the heart of a country’s culture, in a sensitive and unpatronising way, and with the minimum environmental footprint. And their guides know the destinations inside-out, which means eating at the locals’ favourite restaurants and finding the best beaches for snorkelling.

Adventure in Kenya

Flexibility
The flexibility of Shoestring is key. If you want to book a trip to the Australian outback with just one other person, that’s fine – tours only need a minimum of two people to run. This is possible because the small, progressive company is backed by the financial clout and experience of the Kuoni Group, and so are not dependent on getting large booking numbers. Of course, they are also happy to cater for larger groups, so if you and 19 mates want to swim off the coral reefs of Malaysia, you can do that too. On your own? No problem – you’ll find plenty of like-minded people on trips like these, although equally, you’ll be able to enjoy your own company too.

Your itinerary is just as flexible; you choose your own flight dates and can tack on extra days of free time at the beginning or end of your trip.

Choice
The range of tours available is huge, but to narrow down the choices trips are split into five categories, rated according to how demanding they are. A-rated trips are the least taxing – not that this means they’re dull: one option is a journey through the lush island of Sri Lanka. At the other extreme, thrill-seekers can opt for the physically and mentally challenging category D and E trips, perhaps exploring Peru’s lost Inca cities and vertiginous plateaus. Each trip has a selection of activities you can try, from elephant rides to hot-air balloon flights, all of which are represented by an easy-to-spot ‘fun icon’ on their website and in their brochure.

Ride camels in Egypt

Shoestring help those without bags of time to organise the trip of a lifetime, but they don’t ignore the needs of the cash-poor: a two-week tour of southern India, taking in the magic of Madurai’s little-known Meenakshi temple and the huge swathes of the Indian countryside so often neglected by travel companies, costs just £299 per person (excluding flights).

Adventure
Shoestring’s holidays are for people who’d rather trek to a monastery perched high up in the Himalayas than buy another pair of shoes, or wander the boulevards of Ho Chi Minh City instead of buying a designer watch. You work hard all year, counting down the days until your next holiday – let Shoestring take that spirit of wanderlust and make it into a memorable reality.

Party in Brazil

Party nights
La Galleria
Thur-Sat FREE
Adventure travel company Shoestring are bringing the capital’s stressed-out, rain-sodden young professionals a flavour of the world out there waiting to be explored. And it’s all free – from the entrance (just turn up, no ticket required), to the drinks, to the chance to win one of three fantastic trips.

The three-night event transforms the Royal Opera Arcade into three themed areas. The main room is a jungle, complete with leaves on the floor and a steam machine to re-create the subtropical paradises you could be visiting. DJs including XFM’s Cheeky Pete and Steve Smart and Justin Wilkes from Kiss, are on the decks until midnight.

The Asian City room is a minimalist lounge redolent of the sleek, chic bars of Tokyo. In the Moroccan room, the wintry grey of London is replaced by a Bedouin-style tent, sand on the floor and cushions for reclining on with a drink – and anyone else you might meet. All that’s missing are the stars above.

If all this exoticism starts to get to you, there are reps on hand to talk through the holiday options (although you can’t put down a deposit on the night). You can also grab a brochure and talk to reps before the party, from 2 to 5pm.

La Galleria, Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, SW1Y 4UY (info 020 3024 4000/www.shoestring.co.uk) Piccadilly Circus tube. Thur Feb 7-Sat Feb 9; 6.30pm-12midnight.

For more information on Shoestring holidays and events call 020 3024 4000 or visit www.shoestring.co.uk.

Plus, enter our competition to win a two-week holiday in Thailand care of Shoestring.