If TV’s Ben Fogle gets his way, Virgin Holidays travellers are in for some spectacular adventures.
For the travel-mad writer and broadcaster – who has jumped out of planes, climbed mountains and dived with crocodiles – wants to take us all out of our comfort zone.
He says: “We presume adventure means leaping off mountains and bungee jumping and that it has to be high adrenaline. But in my world, adventure means doing something out of the norm, taking yourself out of your normal comfort zone. To get below the surface of a country you need to meet local people, get off the beaten track.
“For me, because of some of the journeys I’ve done, independent travel can seem quite easy. But, having worked with Virgin Holidays there’s a whole load of people out there who want to be adventurous, but they don’t want to take that leap. That’s where Worldwide Journeys comes into its own. It’s a bit of hand-holding working with local guides who really know their environment and the people.
“Guides who can go into a bar and introduce you to locals –that is the best way to get to know a country, speaking to them, going to local schools, playing football with them. You come home knowing you have experienced a country not only geographically, but culturally and socially as well.”
Ben, 40 – who is advising and raising awareness of holidays and tours offered by Virgin Holidays Worldwide Journeys and Bales Worldwide – told YourHols how travel changed his life. He says: “It changed me as a person and made me a better one. I have built up a wealth of experiences around the world.”
It’s hard to believe but Ben, nicknamed Foggs at school, used to be a shy boy, lacking confidence.
“My eyes were opened to travel when I was 18 and went to Bolivia. I’d just finished my A-levels, after never being any good at school and failing most exams. Bolivia was where I had that WOW moment – the exciting noises, colour, smells – and knew travel was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
“I didn’t care how I was going to do it, whether it was as an ambassador, working for a tour operator or being a travel writer.”
Asked which country he’d most like to re-visit? Bolivia to go to La Paz and down the Amazon Basin.
Which countries has he never been to and are top of his list? China, southern India, Vietnam and Cambodia.
No doubt he’ll be taking a few Virgin Holidays customers with him!
Ben with YourHols Trisha
