About the Travel Club

We exist to provide members with the opportunity to join a small group of like-minded travellers to enjoy a tramping based holiday overseas, while also supporting Federated Mountain Clubs. Everyone wins!

While focusing on tramping, there are normally walking and sightseeing opportunities included as we travel through an area. Parties are small,  usually 8 – 12, with a group leader from New Zealand in most cases. Trip costs are modest, yet we manage to provide an income to FMC for every trip that operates. Where possible, we use backpackers’  hostels and cabins (and tents!),  and land transport is mostly rental minibuses or local buses and trains.

These are participatory trips where members share the duties of group catering and driving. and otherwise working together under the direction of the leader. This proves very satisfying and must be working well, as we get some people who join us year after year.

Depending on the destination, we may price trips ex NZ or from the start city overseas. We can arrange flights to or from these points and can assist with any pre or post trip arrangements you might like to add on – a one stop shop!  Travel insurance and personal expenses, maybe a few meals – these are often the only extra expenses you will incur. Otherwise our holidays are very inclusive.

If you see one that looks interesting, contact John Dobbs right away, as some  fill very rapidly. Join one of our excellent trips. It’s a win-win situation! Please enquire early, even while a trip is being ‘assembled’,  to make sure of your place.

P.S. John is always keen to hear from anyone suitably able and willing to lead a group and to work with him on an irresistible itinerary somewhere! If this is you, contact him now.

Click here to ask a question about any trip or to contact John directly at travelclub@fmc.org.nz

Sub Antarctic Islands & Antarctica

Readers will have heard of Rodney Russ and Heritage Expeditions, based in Christchurch. They have been providing brilliant natural history expedition cruises to our Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica for 12 years, and won many awards along the way. A recent association with Wild Earth Travel has expanded the range of superb specialist nature watch cruises around the world to unusual and remote places. They are recognized worldwide and offer truly unique, amazing adventures.

The Travel Club has a new link to these companies, which we are very excited to promote. If their trips appeal and you book either through FMC Travel Club or by mentioning your link to FMC if going direct, then FMC will receive a payment in recognition. A wonderful new way to extend real value to FMC! To learn more about the amazing adventures available, contact John Dobbs, or visit the respective websites. Thank you for considering these incredible adventure cruises and supporting FMC in the process.

Exciting trips ahead in 2013

NEPAL (departs March)
The Himalaya, world’s highest mountain range, provides some of the finest tramping opportunities anywhere. This exciting and challenging trip reaches Everest Base Camp, affording awesome views of Everest and its companions. Then cross the Cho La Pass to see the Gokyo Lakes. We use local guides and porters to help us travel safely and enrich our experience and understanding. Staying at local lodges adds to our local contact. Timing provides a spring experience so the rhododendron forests will be coming into colour. There will be unsurpassed views and conditions should be clear. In Kathmandu immerse in Nepali culture and enjoy the medieval architecture and World Heritage sites. At the end of the trek there is the chance of an interesting addition. A visit to Chitwan National Park close to the Indian border; a wonderful place to observe wildlife, experience elephant safaris and jungle walks.

Dossier available here

PERU / BOLIVIA (departs May)
The 2012 programme is combined into 5 weeks with less high altitude & camping. All the great things that make a tramping adventure here so fantastic remain : Nazca Lines, Cusco, Inca Trail, homestay on Titicaca, La Paz & Choro Trek, Amazon, Andes, Uyuni salt plains, Pisco Sours! Eileen Cameron leads you through her favourite continent.

Dossier available here

Europe Programme :

These 3 destinations  link into each other for those with the time!

UK MEGA (departs June)
Linkable modules – so easy!
Module 1 – England & North Wales : Coast to Coast Walk , Hadrian’s Wall, Snowdonia & more.
Module 2 – Scotland : The West Highland Way, 3 islands, Ben Nevis, look for Nessie & ride a steam train.
Module 3 – Ireland : Anti-clockwise circuit from Belfast to Dublin. Mountain, hill & coastal tramps feature while exploring this ancient & picturesque landscape & enjoying Irish hospitality.

Dossier available here

ICELAND (departs July)
Andy Dennis leads another super adventure to the enigmatic land of fire & ice. Varied tramping & touring. Tick Iceland off your bucket list in 2013!  Andy’s trips are very popular. Optionally add Greenland too………Contact us now.

Dossier available here

JOURNEY TO KILIMANJARO (departs September)
We spend  longer acclimatizing, ensuring a high success rate at summiting this iconic African peak. Really good infrastructure & support. Ideally, add Mt Kenya as a prequel &  a safari or relaxing on Zanzibar to follow. Contact us  to see how it all works. A brilliant trip!

Dossier available here

New England / Canadian Maritimes (Sept/Oct)

Most trips are priced beginning at the starting place, not from NZ, meaning flexibility to design a unique  holiday using our trips as modules. All need a minimum number of participants & a commitment to join, or they don’t run. So register as soon as practicable. We can organize your flights & travel insurance too.

All trips provide income to FMC, once they reach minimum numbers. If you want to support FMC while enjoying an overseas tramping focused trip with fellow Kiwi trampers, make your first choice the FMC Travel Club.

Dossier available here

Middle East 2014 trips

We are offering 3 exciting options to the Middle East for early 2014!

John Dobbs is overseas for 10 weeks & not back in the office until early July. Trip dossiers will therefore not be available until the 2nd half of 2013. However, meantime, you can complete preliminary registration for any option & send these thru to John without sending a deposit. If you have any burning questions about the planned itineraries etc while John is overseas, please contact the overall trip leader Phillip Donnell pjdonnell@orcon.net.nz

Preliminary Registration Form for Middle East Odyssey hiking tour 2014
Preliminary Registration Form for Combo – Middle East Odyssey + shorter Bible Lands Pilgrimage 2014
Preliminary Registration Form for Bible Lands Pilgrimage tour 2014

Past Trips

The dossiers for previous trips (from 2009) are available on the FMC Travel Club Archive site.