Community projects

King’s School Worcester Nepal Trust, the formal charity which was founded out of the Himalayan Club, supports a number of projects in Nepal:

Saptagandaki School – we have had a long association with Saptagandaki School and support the education of eleven children of primary age from socially and financially deprived families.

Teacher Training Project - this is a new venture, largely inspired by the wonderful work being done by the Himalayan Trust UK with their teacher training project in the Lelep and Gunsa area of eastern Nepal.

In addition to these projects in Nepal, which are on-going from year to year, we also have one-off projects in all of our destinations. Hence in Peru we funded and provided the workforce for the creation of a classroom out of a derelict building. In India we have set up educational funds for nomadic children to attend school, funded repair work following a natural disaster and a lot more. In Tanzania we purchased, with support from the Junior School to King’s, a smallholding for the Amani Children’s Home, allowing them to grow some of their food needs, thus saving money. This project has been given continuing support to purchase new seeds and tools each year.

In Indonesia in 2013 we are building toilets for a village community on Komodo Island.

Student trips

Student Trips Overseas

Annual expeditions to a variety of destinations. In the early days all expeditions went to the Himalaya in the spring, but with changes to the education calendar, trips have latterly been during the summer, when parts of the Himalaya are monsoon affected and not suitable to visit.

All expeditions have a community project, which can last anything from two days to a week according to the nature of the work, the needs of the community and the amount of flexibility within the itinerary.

Before any expedition takes place there is a training programme, which gives group members skills in the outdoors, navigation and camp craft, develops the team and gives each member leadership opportunity and skills. The team members are also given fundraising challenges, which contribute either to the expedition funds or to the community project.

Past trips:

Future trips:

2013 Indonesia (summer)

For details of any of these trips please CONTACT US.

Young and Visually Impaired

Share the Vision – These are joint expeditions with New College, Worcester, the college for blind and visually-impaired young people. They tend to be shorter in duration, up to a maximum of two weeks, and involve a short trek in mountainous terrain along with a more tactile activity i.e. in Morocco riding camels, in Nepal riding and bathing elephants.

Each NCW student is paired with a King’s student so that they enjoy the experience together, with the guides giving voice to what they see around them.

The training for these expeditions focuses largely on the guides understanding the needs of their partners and coping with the responsibility of their roll, as well as the blind and visually-impaired coping with the physical challenge. There is also an emphasis on the social development of the group.

Previous trips:

Future trips:

Iceland 2013 (summer)

To discuss trips for young people with special needs please get in touch.

Welcome to Adventure Guide

Fulfil your dreams on a ‘journey of a lifetime’.

How do you fancy trekking in the Himalaya, climbing Kilimanjaro, exploring the islands of Indonesia, scaling the heights of the Andes, or experiencing one of the fabulous long distance trails the UK has to offer?

For 20 years I have been expertly organising trips across the world for groups and individuals alike, trekking in mountainous regions of the world, fundraising for charities, and supporting community projects.

Each trip is unique and tailor-made for you, so while you may be following in the footsteps of others, your trip will be sufficiently different for it to be special for all involved. While expeditions are not necessarily charitably motivated, it is always good to give something back to the communities we encounter; not always monetary but sometimes just a matter of giving a little time and, perhaps, energy.

Over the years my journeys have opened my eyes, have changed my life and inspired me. I hope you find the pages of this website will inspire you and give you the impetus to….

GET INVOLVED !

Trips

My trips fall into 2 main categories:

1. Students:

Student overseas expeditions, consisting of an extended trek, up to a maximum of 6000m, lasting up to 18 days, community project and a cultural experience
Expeditions for young people with special needs, most commonly visual impairment. The visually-impaired student is partnered by a sighted guide. Treks last up to 6 days, reaching a maximum height of 3500m. A tactile element, involving animals i.e. elephants in Nepal, camels in Morocco, is generally included.

2. Groups and Individuals

Adult overseas expeditions, consisting of an extended trek, up to a maximum of 6500m, lasting up to 21 days, a cultural experience and the opportunity to contribute financially to a community project.
UK based expeditions, which follow long distance trails. These usually last up to 9 days and have the additional attraction of raising money for charity.

A training programme designed to help with team building, fitness and general preparation precedes all trips and expeditions.

My aim is to give everybody a lifetime experience and for the maximum number, within a group, to achieve the targets for their expedition. I have twenty years’ experience of leading expeditions. Over 700 people, young and not so young, have travelled with me on 30 expeditions.

In the UK I have a number of long distance trails to my credit including Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, the alternative Coast to Coast (Lindisfarne – Ravenglass), The Lakeland Round, Holyhead – St David’s, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, John O’Groats – Lands End (as a relay) and most recently The Wye Valley trail.

Every trip requires a basic level of fitness, which can be achieved through regular hill-walking or gym work. Group training walks build friendships as well as fitness. So come on, get involved, and have some fun!

For more information please contact John Walton