Give the Gift of Sight in India

My next adventure advice chronicles again horses - although I promise it will not be a recurring theme! Relief Riders International (RRI) is a humanitarian-based, adventure travel company that organizes horseback journeys through breathtaking areas in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. While frolicking through the desert a la Viggo Mortenson or Omar Sharif, you will also be giving out medical supplies in impoverished Indian villages.

Their free programs for the Indian people include: Give a Goat, Give the Gift of Sight (free cataract surgery), Free Dental Surgery and Pediatric and Educational camps. A maximum of twelve riders will journey through the desert for 15 days alongside the caravan and Jeeps, staying in mostly tents, with hotels and a haveli, a traditional Indian villa, thrown in. above, photo from post surgery
If you are not John Wayne in the saddle, never fear! They welcome novice riders, and because Relief Riders travel with so many supplies, the pace will be gentle by the caravan for you. If you are not going anywhere near a horse (thank you very much, crazy girl), then perhaps their new sister organization, Relief Workers International, will be the one for you. Their main focus is on the Gift of Sight program. The major difference? No horses. Instead, you will travel via bus and caravan.

In every program, all meals (sans alcohol), lodging, in-country travel, tours and airport transfer is provided. The only thing not included is your own transport to India..however, it still means the tab for this trip can run $5600-$6300 depending on whether you are a rider or a worker. However, it sounds like an experience that is worth every penny once you save up for it - and the 15 days/16 nights fits neatly into a corporate vacation slot, so happy traveling!

Both humanitarian-adventure combo companies have been featured in a multitude of magazines, including National Geographic, Forbes, Outside and Oprah. Read an article about them here.

Ride into Patagonia

I want this to be my next big trip - months, if possible! Estancia Ranquilco is a family owned cattle ranch in Patagonia. Nestled into the foothills of the Andes, it is over 100,000 acres of mountains, plains, fens and glens for cattle and people to roam. Did I mention you are in the heart of PATAGONIA, SOUTH AMERICA? This is a once in a lifetime trip, and I haven't even described the best parts.

Need to get away from the world? Say no more. Estancia Ranquilco is a five hour horse trek from the Internet. This also means that in order to get to the ranch, you need to take a five hour horse trek there (or you can spend the day hiking in), a perfect way to see your first glimpses of the Andes. Once you are at the ranch, you can get a Wellness Consultation, fly fish til your hands are raw, spend all day soaking up books in the library and naturally, go on a horse packing trip for a week if you so choose. (The picture to the left is of their library). They try to grow most of their own food, so almost everything you eat will be absolutely delicious!

Now to the most important part -- how do you stay? If you are looking for a short vacation, prices start at $175 a night and go up based on which rooms you have. They will rearrange week long mountain, fly fishing or horse packing trips for you starting $1600 for the week and up..and if you are looking to relax and have someone do the work for you, this might be perfect.

If, like me, you are a college graduate hoping to see the world and short on cash, there are two other options. You can be a part of their "Long Term Stay" program, which is a much cheaper $95 a night inclusive all meals, or $40 if you cook for yourself. Horse fees are separate, and there is a $150 charge for collecting you by horse (that one seems worth it, to me). 3 weeks minimum.

Or..you could go the volunteer route. Fees to stay are at $750 month #1, going only up to $1500 for a 3 month stay (preferred). There are 3 types of volunteers - Regular, Mounted and Immersion, although mounted and immersion volunteers require riding experience. This sounds like the most cost-effective way to see the ranch and really get into the local community. It probably requires the most courage too, but you can do it! Just think about seeing this moonrise every evening..