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Nothing
beats a free lunch - except perhaps 180 free lunches.
Throw in a sunset, an enchanting location and someone
else to do the washing up and you would be right to feel
that you are indeed a lucky so and so.
 Even
better is that this can all come guilt free: there will
be more than enough moments where you are in the thick
of the action, taking charge and doing all the hard stuff
while everyone else sleeps or relaxes. For this is the
life of an adventure tour leader.
Adventure
tour or overland companies, large and small, rumble around
countries and across continents carrying a cargo of thrill
seeking passengers.
Depending
on the set up each tour will consist of a driver and a
tour leader. Sometimes the two roles are combined, sometimes
there is an assistant or trainee to help out.
Tour
Leader / Guide
Tour companies generally prefer their tour leaders to
be at least 23 years of age, sometimes older. Applicants
should be well travelled already, preferably to some of
the destinations where your potential employers conduct
their business.
Additional
qualities sought include a second language, usually French
or Spanish, leadership, communication and organisational
skills.
Kumuka
Expeditions, for example, ask applications to consider
the following points and if any are of concern to give
careful consideration before applying:
• Dealing with problems
• Accountability for company funds
• Keeping detailed trip notes and expense accounts
• Looking after customers from different backgrounds
• Being on call 24 hours a day
Driver
/ Mechanic
Exodus are typical in their requirements for overland
expedition leaders: "We need young (25+) people to
lead and drive our Overland Expeditions in Asia and the
Americas. You
must be bright, enthusiastic, like people of all kinds
and have an immaculate driving record. A PCV licence is
required though it can be obtained during training. Some
mechanical knowledge is preferred."
Both
tour leaders and drivers should be able and willing to
commit to working overseas for from six months to two
years.
Further
Information
Companies
worth approaching include:
Explore
Worldwide
Employers
of over 150 leaders, Explore Worldwide is the leading
adventure tour operator in Europe, with a wide variety
of tours, treks, safaris and expeditions in over 100 countries
throughout the world. Applicants
must be well travelled, active and resourceful UK residents
aged 24+.
www.explore.co.uk
Exodus
Running holidays for 30 years, Exodus offer a wide choice
of adventurous and active holidays to all seven continents.
They recruit Overland Expedition Leaders, willing to commit
to the job for a minimum of two years, to drive overland
expeditions in Asia and the Americas.
www.exodus.co.uk
Overland
Club
The Overland Club specialise in Trans Africa expeditions
and employ Overland Leaders, aged 25+, with mechanical
knowledge and good people skills.
www.overlandclub.com
Kumuka
Expeditions
Kumuka operate overland, coach and public transport tours
around the world employing well travelled Tour Leaders
and Overland Drivers.
www.kumuka.com
Gecko
Travel
Specialise in tours to Thailand and Southeast Asia. Tour
Leaders should have some experience of leading tours or
working in tourism and a reasonable knowledge of at least
two of the countries in the region.
www.geckotravel.com
AmeriCan
Adventures
AmeriCan Adventures offers small group adventure tours
for a younger international crowd who want to experience
North America.
www.americanadventures.com
Intrepid Travel
The Australian tour operator Intrepid Travel look for
well travelled, fun, talented, passionate people to lead
trips in Asia, Europe or the Middle East.
www.intrepidtravel.com
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