What we’re about
This is an adventure travel group for men and women who have been there, done that, but their lust has still not been satiated and they want more. You have probably already been to see the Midnight Sun, swam with the dolphins in California , done the tour around Cambodia or Lebanon, climbed Kilimanjaro, been to the Everest base camp or even done the Machu Picchu and are now wondering what next?
Ekzoitika is Esperanto for exotic, the main objective of this group is to seek out unique travel experiences, far from the madding crowds, in places that are not on the popular tourist circuit.
There will be one or two featured trips ever year for small groups of 6-8 people, in far flung places, in relatively unexplored areas. The trips may be hiking, four-wheel driving, motorcycle trips, trains, ships or any other mode of transport. The only thing common about these places would be that there will not be hordes of tour companies taking bus load of people to these areas every week.
Eight of us have just returned from a trip to the flooded forest in the Brazilian Amazon, 420 miles from Manaus, spending most of our times in canoes going deep into the jungle.
Other trips that are on the cards include:
• The unexplored Himalayas: Walking to the source of the Ganges
• To the top of the world : From Kathmandu to Lhasa by Road
• The explosive experience : Exploring the Volcanoes of Java
• The Simple Life : Papua New Guinea
• Meeting our Ancestors : See the Gorillas before they disappear
• The Silk Road : Through the Heart of Asia to Mongolia
• The untamed world : To the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert
• To the end of the World : A is for Antarctica
These trips will be mostly self-guided tours, with a lot of prior, pre-planning. We will use local tour companies and tour guides where appropriate but will avoid the more commercial ones like Exodus or similar, with the objective of making these a little easier on the pocket.
Over the next 4-5 years we hope to cover many of the ones listed above. People interested would need to commit to the trips 6-12 months in advance.
In addition to the featured trips, the group will provide a forum to exchange information, find travel partners and for people to share experiences. Members of the group will be encouraged to set-up their own meet-ups, which may include talks, exhibitions, book launches, or social evenings all broadly related to the groups travel objectives. Members interested in organising their own trips will also be welcome to do that, provided they are consistent with the objectives and guidelines of the group.
While anyone is welcome to join the group, featured trips will be designed for active people who can handle a little rough travel in the wilderness, the target age group is 30 to 55, younger or older people who are comfortable with people in this age group will also be welcome.
The trips will be mid-budget range and the not the rock bottom, low budget, sleeping in park bench type. Accommodation will vary from basic hotels or even camping with a day of two of luxury thrown into the mix. It will depend on the nature of the trip.
Please note, this group is not associated with any tours or travel company. It is a social, community group set-up to bring together like minded people to plan trips together.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- NORTHERN LIGHTS, SWEDISH LAPLANDNeeds location
Do you dream of seeing the northern lights? Join Backabush to hunt for the aurora borealis in Arctic Sweden!
Cost - £599. Nights - 4. Accommodation - comfortable en-suite twin share rooms.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT: https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/306414605
- CAPE VERDE, VOLCANO HIKING AND ISLAND HOPPING (MARCH 14 - 22)Praia, Praia£899.00
Join us on an Epic Adventure to the stunning island paradise of Cape Verde!
Please see the main Meetup page for this trip here where you can see who else is joining the trip.
Nights - 8. Group size - 14. Cost - £899. (Single supplement £170).
Let’s explore the raw natural beauty of Cape Verde’s volcanic landscapes, lush valleys, and dramatic coastlines while immersing ourselves in the rich culture of these unique islands.
We will meet in Cape Verde's capital Praia, on the island of Santiago. From here we take a short 30 min flight to the neighbouring island of Fogo where the real adventure starts.
After a hike to view the crater of the recent 2014 eruption, prepare for an exhilarating hike to the summit of the iconic Pico do Fogo volcano (2829m), where we will be rewarded with awe-inspiring panoramic views of the crater and surrounding landscape.
Descending into the fertile valley below the next day, rugged trails take us to charming villages, covered in volcanic soil, producing rich coffee and exotic fruits.
From Fogo we fly via Praia to the vibrant island of São Vicente, with its captivating colonial charm, bustling markets, and dynamic music scene.
After a night in the capital of Mindelo, we take a short 1 hour ferry ride to the beautiful neighbouring island of Santo Antão for three days of spectacular hiking. This island's dramatic terrain is a hiker's dream, with winding mountain trails, green valleys, terraced fields, and cliffs that drop steeply into the sea.
After three nights on Santo Antão we will take the ferry back to São Vicente where the trip ends.
ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation on this trip will be in twin share rooms in a mix of hotels, guesthouses and one night in a hostel. Limited single supplement places are available.
ITINERARY:
Sat 14/03 - Arrive in Praia, Santiago. Hotel in Praia.
Sun 15/03 - Early morning flight to São Filipe, Fogo island. Afternoon hike to visit the crater formed by the 2014 eruption on the flanks of the volcanic cone of Pico do Fogo (5km, 330m ascent/descent). Guesthouse in Chã Das Caldeiras.
Mon 16/03 - After a very early morning start we hike the iconic Pico do Fogo volcano (9km, 1100m ascent/descent). Guesthouse in Chã Das Caldeiras.
Tue 17/03 - Hike through Chã das Caldeiras National Park down to the seaside village of Mosteiros, transfer to São Filipe with a swimming stop in Salinas on the way (time permitting) (9km, 150m ascent/1300m descent). Hotel in São Filipe.
Wed 18/03 - Fly to São Vicente island via Praia. This day will vary depending on the flight time (schedule tbc). Transfer to our accommodation in Mindelo. Hostel in Mindelo.
Thu 19/03 - Early morning ferry to Santo Antão, transfer to the Cova crater from where we hike down to the beautiful Paul Valley (15km, 100m ascent, 1200m descent). Hotel in Ponta do Sol.
Fri 20/03 - Spectacular coastal hike from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha (15km, 550m ascent/descent). Hotel in Ponta do Sol.
Sat 21/03 - Hike in the stunning Ribeira da Torre /Ribeira Grande (10km, 800m ascent/descent). Hotel in Ponta do Sol.
Sun 22/03 - Late morning ferry back to Mindelo in São Vicente. Trip finishes here.
Please note this itinerary is subject to change based on weather and other factors.
ACCOMMODATION:
Accommodation on this trip will be in twin share rooms in a mix of hotels, guesthouses and one night in a hostel. Limited single supplement places are available for £170.
DIFFICULTY:
Hikes on this trip will be moderate to challenging with significant elevation to be tackled on some days and this trip is therefore suitable for fit and experienced hikers with a head for heights. You should be comfortable walking on rough, rocky and uneven terrain. You will need the fitness to cover around 12 km with up to 1100m of ascent and up to 1300m descent in a day.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 8 nights accommodation in twin share rooms
- 6 breakfasts, 2 dinners
- 1 experienced local, English speaking hiking guide during our 6 hiking days (with a second guide for our Pico de Fogo climb)
- 1 Epic Adventure Club trip leader
- Airport transfers to/from our internal flights
- All transfers on our hiking days
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Any other meals not specified
- Single supplement (£170, enquire about availability)
- International flights (see below)
- Internal flights and ferries (see below)
- Airport transfers for arrival and departure flights (it will be easy and affordable to take a taxi to/from our accommodation and we will help to coordinate taxi sharing for those arriving on the same flights)
- 1 night accommodation on 22 March (we can recommend affordable accommodation in Mindelo and for those wanting to extend their stay it is possible to take an internal flight to another island that day).
FLIGHTS:
The most convenient way to fly to Cape Verde for this trip is with TAP Air Portugal via Lisbon, making a multi-city booking from London to Praia (via Lisbon) and back from São Vicente to London (via Lisbon). There are options from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
I will share a document with detailed information about flight options with those interested in joining the trip.
We highly recommend flying either a day early to arrive the day before the trip starts (I can help with booking rooms for an extra night at our accommodation in Praia) OR staying overnight near Lisbon airport on Friday 13 March and taking the 09:00 flight from Lisbon arriving in Praia at 12:25. This will allow some time to explore Praia and possibly more of the island of Santiago on Saturday 14 March.
The organiser will arrive a day early and together with anyone that is there we can explore the city of Praia and the nearby Cidade Velha (old historic town) on Saturday 14 March (we can share any transport costs). We can also enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant in Praia with live music in the evening with anyone arriving in time.
The trip finishes on Sunday 22 March when we get back by ferry to Mindelo, São Vicente after which you can either take an internal flight to another island (from 4PM onwards), or book a night's accommodation in Mindelo (we can help), to take the 13:30 flight to London via Lisbon the next day on Monday 23 March.
Please refer to the document with flight details for more information (or request this to be sent to you).
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THIS TRIP:
Internal flights:
It is each person's responsibility to get between the different islands and to book their own internal flight tickets with Cape Verde Airlines (from Praia to São Filipe on 15/03 and from São Filipe to São Vicente on 18/03).
Schedules for internal flights will be released in the next few months and we will send out a notification as soon as these flights can be booked. It is very important that you book these flights as soon as they are available as it is your own responsibility to get to the next island. Current prices for these flights are around £140 total for both flights.
Please note that internal flight schedules can change with short notice which can result in changes to the itinerary or to the order in which activities are undertaken.
Internal ferries:
It is each person's responsibility to book their own ferry tickets between São Vicente and Santo Antão. We will advise when tickets for our dates go on sale and how to book. Current prices for these tickets are around £15 return.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
The trip cost is £899. To confirm your place either full payment or a £299 deposit is required. If paying a deposit, the remainder is to be paid as follows:
£300 by 31/07/25
£300 by 31/10/25Please send all payments through online banking, using CAPE VERDE 1 as the payment reference. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space. The account details are:
Account Name: EPIC ADVENTURE CLUB LTD
Sort Code: 08-92-50
Account Number: 63235003Please email ingridhansen1@gmail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks! :)
- APRIL 2 - 7 - (EASTER HOLIDAY) - CAPPADOCIA, Turkey's Fairy-tale ValleysNeeds location
Backabush is heading back to Turkiye for the Easter holidays on another exciting trip exploring the enchanting landscape of Cappadocia.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT: https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/307284654/
