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After 10 years of traveling as a hobby (obsession), Kristyn Durie, now 27, quit gainful employment to open a cultural and wilderness adventure travel company.  To kick-off her new venture, in two weeks she will embark on a four month journey through the former Soviet Union, Mongolia and China. She plans to make her way from Vilnius' cobbled Old Town to the communist meccas of Moscow and Beijing.  She will explore the natural wonders of Lahemma National Park in Estonia, Lake Baikal in Siberia, and Kamchatka in the Russian Far East. On two twelve-day legs of the journey she will travel with her American clients.  Then she's off on her own adventure to scout out everything from the hippest nightclubs to the best budget B&Bs to the hidden trails that lead to panoramas worth flying half way around the world to see.  In short, she's going to find all the places the locals never disclose to traditional tourists. And there are many. Additional Resources Unique Lifestyles  More Adventure Articles  Forgotten Destinations Contact Kristyn Durie

I was 18 when I caught the travel bug.  It happened in Russia, January 1992.  Sure I was homesick for the duration of my trip, hated the food and couldn't string three Russian words together coherently, but after it was over and the plane was headed for home I knew that I would return. The next summer I studied in Europe.  I fell in love with the history and culture ... and of course the pastries ... and was transformed into one of those junior-year-abroad students who are embarrassed by the American tourists.  You know the type.  Returning from nine months in Paris, they say things "and remember that loud American couple

Since college, I have gotten my superiority complex under control, but my desire to be abroad has grown stronger by the year.  I have traveled to Europe as often as my wallet would permit, spent three months before grad school in Russia, and enjoyed several trips to South America once I entered the business world.

Then in 1999, I took a trip that brought my love of travel to a new level and in some ways changed my life.

In August of that year, my boyfriend, Alexei, invited me to the stay with his family in the Siberian village where he was raised.  I had always wanted to explore the hinterlands of Russia but knew that without the help of trusted local contacts it would be very difficult.  So, naturally, I jumped at the chance to travel with a native.  Getting there by train, plane and automobile took two full days.  When we arrived in his village, located practically on the Artic Circle, I was nervous. The area was run-down,

and I was worried that food would be scarce.  Most of all I did not want to embarrass Alexei or his family by witnessing their struggle.

My fears were unfounded.  Once I was shown to my room and given "tea" (tea, vodka, beer, sausage, bread, butter, cheese, fruit, chocolates) I was immediately at ease.

Each day of my stay Alexei, his family and I explored the village and surrounding mountains on foot and by motorcycle.  The weather was ideal, and the fall colors rivaled any that I have seen in the U.S.  I picked berries, helped prepare traditional foods, and learned through conversation and song about the Russian soul.   In short, I was immersed.  My body and my mind were active each day, but it was not stressful activity.  I was just a Russian girl, with a Russian family ... if only for a week.

That feeling of becoming a new person, of putting myself into an extraordinary position and seeing what I could do, stayed with me.  It may sound corny but I wanted to share it with others and knew that I couldn't do that from my office cube.  So I quit my job, founded a travel company and began planning immersion adventures for others that want to experience what I have.

I found from the outset that labeling the trips as adventures puts some people off.  One of my clients wanted to travel to the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East and experience the nature and culture of that area, but was afraid that he didn't have the physical endurance to be an "adventurer."  Just the fact that he wanted to explore and really learn about a new place qualified him for the title.  The level of hiking, biking, and paddling difficulty can always be adjusted, but the desire to challenge your limits is a prerequisite for any adventure.

Let's de-mystify adventure travel and look at the realities:

This is a vacation.   Adventures can be physically challenging but each tour is not meant to be an episode of Survivor.  This is your vacation so pick the destination that interests you and decide the amount of activity and exposure to culture that you are seeking.  A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Moscow to Beijing for example can be an opportunity to relax, challenge a Russian to a chess match, read a good book or just take in the remarkable views of Russia, Mongolia and China.   If you want more of a physical challenge, hop off the train at Lake Baikal in Russia and fish the deepest lake in the world.  Or grab your pack when the train pulls into the station at Mongolia's capital Ullaan Battar and ride bare back into the sunset with your nomadic host.  The choice is yours, so talk to your tour operator and learn what options exist before committing.
 

One day is all it takes.  Your adventure does not need to be a trip around the world or an expedition to Antarctica.  Add a day long escape to the countryside the next time you are in one of Europe's great cities.  My favorite memories of Italy are of a guided bike tour through the Tuscan countryside.  We visited an ancient monastery, dined with a family at their small restaurant, and learned about the area's rich history.  In about eight hours, I saw a side of Florence impossible to appreciate from within, and we burned enough calories to have a second helping of gnocchi at dinner. Eat like a king.  Speaking of food, tour operators know that biking, kayaking, and communicating with locals make travelers hungry. To provide stamina for each day's activity, local specialties ... which accommodate Western tastes ... are generously served up. I first learned about the essential relationship between good food and adventuring after a morning of hiking in southern Brazil.  Around noon our guide pointed to three huge boulders in

the center of a stream and told us to rest there.  He then produced chicken, pork, palm hearts (a local favorite), oranges and bottled water.  I knew that lunch was included but that was an unexpected feast.  Tip: Be sure to ask about the food before you sign up for the trip to make sure that you and your outfitter are on the same page.

Sleep like a baby.  While tents may still be the accommodations of choice in the wild, many outfitters, particularly those in Asia and Africa, have fashioned tent-style rooms and bungalows that boast 4-5 star quality.  If you are staying in a city or good-sized village you should have a wide variety of B&B and hotel choices.  My advice: Spend time ... if not a night ... with a local family who  

is approved by your tour operator.  My night bedding down in a Mongolian ger (circular, domed tent) gave me an essential and surprisingly comfortable glimpse at the traditional life of nomads. I didn't start off as an adventurer.  Sure, I traveled, but after each trip I was still the same person ... give or take a few pounds.  My Siberian immersion was different.  It changed me.  I found within me strength, curiosity and the spirit of adventure.  I believe that we all have this spirit and need only to challenge ourselves to find it.