Ecuador

Vibrant indigenous cultures, dramatic volcanic landscapes, dense rainforest teeming with wildlife and excellently preserved colonial architecture: all crammed into the smallest country nestled in the rugged Andes. The beautiful colonial capital, Quito, provides an excellent base for mountain-biking, rafting, volcano trekking and excursions into the cloudforest, as well as being a great location for learning some Spanish.
The VentureCo Trust supports the following projects in Ecuador:
Agrupar and Con Quito Project
ECOAN Polylepis Project
Machalilla Project

Peru

The lost city of Machu Picchu is undoubtedly Peru's most famous landmark, but the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, the mysterious Nazca Lines, the lush Amazonian rainforest and arguably the best mountain trekking in the world are all "must sees" that make Peru a fantastic location for adventurous travel.

In Peru the VentureCo Trust supports the "Great Inca Road Project".

Chile

A long narrow strip running along the continent's west coast, Chile is crammed with beautiful landscapes. Traverse glaciers in Torres del Paine National Park Patagonia, trek past lakes, rivers, volcanoes, forests and waterfalls in the picturesque Chilean Lake District, sea kayak off the coast and explore the Atacama desert in the north.

Bolivia

A country where the Andean mountains run headlong into the Amazon jungle. This land-locked country is home to the highest navigable lake anywhere on earth; Titicaca, home to the Aymare Indians. Add to that an impressive cultural wealth, the vast Uyuni salt flats, the highest capital city in South America and some serious mountain treks, and you have an excellent destination for a group expedition.

Galapagos Islands

Welcome to the world's most mind-blowing wildlife and natural history lesson. The Galapagos Archipelago is unique: only here can you swim with sea lions, sunbathe with penguins, scuba-dive with hammer-head sharks, come face to face with iguanas and watch a giant tortoise lumber through your campsite.

VentureCo works with the Charles Darwin Foundation on the Galapagos Project.

Belize

A laid back, English-speaking, country that has more in common with its Caribbean neighbours than the fiery volatility of Central America. It's coastline offers excellent scuba-diving and snorkelling, while its deep jungles and forests hide some remarkable Mayan ruins.

The VentureCo Trust supports 2 projects in Belize:
Manatee Rehabilitation Project
Balam Na project

Honduras

The original Banana Republic and a great place to get "off the beaten track". The lush, rugged scenery inland contains its fair share of Mayan settlements, while the Mosquito Coast boasts excellent diving.

Guatemala

Everything Central American, condensed into a single country. Guatemala has it all: Mayan pyramids at Tikal, dense forests and dramatic mountains, active volcanoes, a tumultuous history and an almost exclusively Indian population. Guatemala City is also an excellent location for learning Spanish.

Mexico

A country of opposites: desert landscapes and snow-capped volcanoes, modern cities and ancient Mayan ruins, glitzy resorts and beautiful deserted beaches, industrial centres and world class fauna and flora. Explore the Sumidero Canyon, feel the Spanish influence in San Cristobal and learn Spanish in Oaxaca.

Costa Rica

A world away from the volatile nature of much of the region, Costa Rica's is a tranquil oasis boasting an exceptional coastline for diving, surfing and sea kayaking, and a progressive attitude towards ecotourism. Its promotion of conservation means an exploration of its rainforests will reveal an environment bursting with wildlife, from jungle cats, to monkeys, crocodiles, sloths, poisonous frogs, lizards and a vast array of birds, butterflies and insects.

Tanzania

Tanzania is all about the great outdoors; from the challenge of summitting Kilimanjaro, to the blue sea and white sand of Zanzibar, and wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater. Come face-to-face with the Big 5 on safari, climb to the roof of Africa, walk with the Maasai, learn Swahili and scuba dive off Zanbzibar.

The VentureCo Trust supports 2 projects in Tanzania:
African Blackwood Conservation Project
Hisani Project

Kenya

Sometimes called the "cradle of humanity" Kenya is the Africa we've all dreamt of: millions of wildebeast migrating across the arid plains of the Maasai Mara, , flamingo-filled soda lakes, white sandy beaches bordering the Indian Ocean, Swahili villages and mangrove swamps, and the rugged lofty Mt Kenya.

Uganda

Now safe, stable and welcoming travellers with open arms, the "Pearl of Africa" is quickly gaining a deserved reputation for its friendly people, amazing natural scenery, world-class white-water rafting, high mountain ranges and excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, including over half the world's remaining mountain gorillas in the spectacular Kibale Forest National Park.

The VentureCo Trust supports to Jinja Chimpanzee Project in Uganda.

Morocco

Safe, affordable and just a short hop from Europe, but a different world entirely. Morocco is the perfect gateway to Africa: the vast sand seas of the Sahara, snow-capped peaks of the Atlas mountains, bustling souqs in Marrakech, Casablanca and a host of other remarkable cities, a rich mixture of different cultures, peoples, histories and languages. All these characteristics make Morocco a land to which one trip is never enough.

Cambodia

After decades of conflict Cambodia is quickly becoming a firm favourite among travellers to South-East Asia and it's easy to see why. Cambodia is positively bursting with opportunities for the adventurous traveller: ancient ruins including Angkor Wat, bustling cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, deserted beaches and uninhabited islands on the south coast, the harrowing Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge, Mekong River trips and remote hill-tribe villages.

In Cambodia the VentureCo Trust works with Buddhist monks on the Siem Reap Project.

China

The highest population of any country, 3000 years of recorded history and just about every natural habitat you can imagine; no trip to China will ever be long enough. Obvious highlights include the urban phenomenon that is Beijing, trekking along the Great Wall of China, exploring Tiger Leaping Gorge, visiting the ever-vigilant Terracotta Warriors at X'ian, coming face-to-face with Giant Pandas and taking a boat trip down the Yangtze past the massive Three Gorges dam.

Vietnam

It is Vietnam's natural beauty that is most striking,: the lush delta of the Mekong and Red rivers, the patchwork of fertile green paddy fields, the deserted beaches along the coast and majestic mountains inland. The effects and remains of the Vietnam War are evident all over the country, but look beyond the VietCong tunnels and downed helicopters, and there is a country of friendly people, remote hill-tribes, 11th century Hindu ruins and historic old towns such as Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

Laos

Isolated for much of its history, Laos offers travellers a true insight into the traditional Southeast Asian way of life; the old-fashioned rural ways of the Lao people have yet to be affected by mainstream tourism. Those that do come to Laos are rewarded by sights including the charming old city of Luang Prabang and its nearby caves, treks through the hill-tribe villages nestled in the rugged Annamite mountains, the elephants and French colonial trappings of Vientianne and its opportunities for water sports and mountain biking, lush jungle and the mysterious Plain of Jars.

Nepal

In the shadow of the Himalaya is a kingdom of colourful people, ancient temples, extraordinary history, jaw-dropping scenery and the finest trekking on earth. An expedition to Nepal is sure to be a fascinating and action-packed adventure: explore the ancient temples of Kathmandu, brave a tiger-safari on elephant-back in Royal Chitwan National Park, visit the birthplace of the Buddha, meet the diverse indigenous groups that live on the Terai plains, survive a day of white-water rafting and take on the ultimate challenge; trekking to Everest Base Camp.

India

A remarkable land of contradictions that never ceases to surprise, frustrate and amaze in equal measure. The range of sights and activities on offer is overwhelming: a visit to the Taj Mahal, camel trekking in Rajasthan, experience a tiger safari on elephant back in Bandhavgargh National Park, sail down the Ganges as the sun sets, sample the hectic charm of Delhi and Calcutta, jostle to see the ghats that line the Ganges in the sacred city of Varanasi, enjoy pristine trekking in Ladakh.