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| FAQ's |
Everything You Need to Know |
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Below are some commonly asked questions about our trips. If you have others, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you select the wildlife & wild places adventure that's right for you. If your question is not answered below, or if you still have more questions after reviewing our FAQ's, please contact us with any additional questions you may have about traveling with WWF.
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| The Program |
WWF-Canada Travel Program |
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Why did WWF-Canada start a Travel Program?
To provide a range of travel options to our donors and others interested in a travel experience that brings them closer to nature and the work that WWF-Canada does. The ultimate goal, as with everything that the WWF does, is saving species, protecting habitat, and maintaining communities.
When did WWF-Canada start the Travel Program?
WWF-Canada has been partnering sporadically with different travel providers for many years, but decided to launch a more structured and formal travel program in 2006 with a view to running the first trips under this new program in 2007.
Is it open to people outside of Canada?
These trips are open to anyone from anywhere - all that we require is an open mind and a curious spirit. We are happy to share Canada's rich natural diversity with both Canadians and foreigners, and we look forward to sharing other international Global Ecoregions with anyone who cares to join us.
What kind of success has WWF-Canada had with the Travel Program?
Our trip season will begin in earnest next April, however our trip to the St. Lawrence River in August was an overwhelming success. We had a group of deeply interested and well informed travellers whose poignant enthusiasm for the region and the program itself was inspiring. Perfect weather and incredible whale sightings that included a pod of frolicing Beluga, several pods of Fin and Minkes as well as many playful dolphins and seals coming to check us out made this whale-watching trip truly extraordinary.
Why did WWF-Canada select Horizon & Co. as a travel partner?
WWF-Canada initiated a competitive bid process in the fall of 2005 by sending out an RFP to the Canadian travel community. While we were very pleased with the quality and competitiveness of all of the submissions, in the end we decided to partner with Horizon because they clearly possessed the breadth of offerings, depth of expertise and creative sensibility necessary to meet our objectives.
How have the destinations been selected?
Virtually all of our Wildlife & Wild Places trips include a Global 200 ecoregion, the most valuable and sometimes vulnerable ecoregions in the world which best represent the breadth of biodiversity and ecological processes. This is where the WWF conservation work is concentrated, and these are the areas of the world that we want to share with our travellers.
Are there any other locations planned?
We will be continuing to expand our range of offerings to showcase other Global 200 ecoregions and in response to the interests and desires of our donor base. If you have any specific suggestions for future trips, please email Jen Deacon at Horizon & Co (jdeacon@horizon-co.com). |
| The Trips |
How Does The Trip Experience Work? |
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What is the educational component in these trips?
Travellers receive a comprehensive pre-trip information, including packing advice, health information, suggested readings and materials about WWF's conservation work. Every trip will be accompanied by a WWF expert, as well as various local naturalist and guides, who will share their extensive knowledge and expertise throughout the journey. Whether it is during a post-prandial slide show on the mating habits of monarch butterflies or during an extemporaneous lecture in the middle of a boreal rainforest, the opportunities for personal enrichment and hands-on learning are endless.
What level of fitness is required for these trips?
To get the most out of these trips, we recommend that you be energetic and in reasonably good health, with a spirit of adventure and flexibility. That being said, our programs seldom require greater physical exertion than a long nature walk. While some trips are more demanding than others (please review the Details section of the trip itinerary for trip-specific information), you can always opt out of a particular excursion should its pace not suit you.
What can I expect to see on these trips?
The wild places will always be where we expect them, but the wildlife may prove a little more elusive. As with any wildlife-focused trip, nothing is guaranteed, but everything possible is done to ensure that you are in the right place at the right time to maximize your chance of seeing wildlife. We select the best times of the year for wildlife viewing and carefully plan our itineraries to offer prime wildlife-watching opportunities, and we keep the amount of time travelling from place to place to a minimum.
Will any WWF-Canada staff be present on the trips?
Each group has an experienced naturalist guide, selected for their expertise and enthusiasm. On most trips, a WWF staff member also accompanies you throughout. Local guides, guest speakers, and other experts complement the staff and enhance your experience.
What are you doing to reduce your environmental footprint?
Integrity and responsibility are two of the core values that lie at the heart of Horizon & Co. From the very start in 1963, Horizon has been committed to offering culturally-rich, low-impact, high-end tours that benefit traveller and host alike. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while at the same time minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts. For more information on Horizon & Co's low impact approach to travel, please visit the Responsible Tourism section of their site at: Responsible Travel |
| The Travellers |
Who Takes These Trips |
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What is the traveller profile for these trips (family, couples, singles)?
These trips are designed for men, women and families, travelling independently or together, who are looking to combine upscale travel with wildlife & wilderness experiences. We expect the traveller profiles to reflect the diversity of the WWF donor base - men, women and children from around the world who care about the world in which they live.
Do you accept solo travellers?
Solo travellers are some of our favourite people, and while the travel industry in general often seems to penalize them for travelling solo, we will do everything possible to accommodate and include you with minimal penalty. Solo travellers wishing to occupy a private room must pay the single supplement (essentially the surcharge hotels charge us for single occupancy). Solo travellers wishing to share a twin room with another solo traveller (and thereby avoid the single supplement) should make this wish known at the time of booking and we will do everything possible to find a matching pair.
Is there a minimum age to be on one of these trips?
WWF-Canada trips are designed to attract travellers of all ages, from young adults to active seniors. Although most of our longer trips are designed principally for adults, some of our shorter programs are suitable for children over the age of 14. We are also planning on offering specific family-oriented trips starting in 2007/2008.
How many persons can travel per trip? What is the minimum/ maximum capacity on these trips?
We travel in small groups (a maximum of 24, with an average group size of 15 and a minimum group size of 8) that are less intrusive and offer more opportunity for genuine local interaction. We believe that tourism should be about interacting with other cultures, not exploiting them, and we structure our trips accordingly. We try to stay in small, locally-owned properties rather than big foreign-owned hotels, we try to use real people and local characters as guides rather than state-imposed and trained functionaries, we seek out spontaneous and authentic experiences rather than the contrived Potemkin villages of conventional tourism, and we try to travel like locals (on camels, in boats, by rickshaw) rather than foreigners insulated from their surroundings.
I am not a WWF-Canada donor; can I still travel on these trips?
Yes - being a WWF-Canada donor is not a pre-requisite to taking one of these trips. In any event, even if you weren't a donor before your first trip, you will be afterwards, since we add a $250 conservation fee over and above the trip price.
Can a company or group book an entire trip?
Yes you can, although we recommend that you contact Horizon directly to discuss whether another date may be more convenient and appropriate for your group. Horizon has an extensive private trip program for both corporations and private groups, and they would be happy to build a unique departure to suite your specific needs and interests. |
| The Terms |
What Does the Fine Print Say? |
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How can I make a booking for a trip?
You can book a trip at any time by calling Horizon & Co at 1-800-387-2977, faxing us at 416-585-9614, emailing us at admin@horizon-co.com or booking on our website at www.horizon-co.com. We also accept reservations through travel agents. We accept credit cards or cheques for the initial deposit, and the balance can be paid by cheque, credit card, money order, or any other method that suits your convenience. Deposits must be received within 7 days of the booking in order to protect your reservation. Early reservations are recommended, since our group size is limited and some trips sell out far in advance. Note that certain other non-refundable items may require full payment at the time of reservation.
What happens if a trip gets cancelled?
We regret that occasionally it is necessary to cancel a trip, and Horizon reserves the right to cancel any trip at any time for any reason if there are too few participants or if the quality of the trip or the safety of the travellers is judged to be compromised. In such circumstances, refund of all payments received by Horizon shall constitute full settlement. Horizon is not responsible for any additional loss incurred on travel arrangements or air tickets due to a trip cancellation.
What are the terms and conditions?
The terms and conditions governing your booking are the standard terms and conditions of Horizon & Co, which can be found on their website under Fine Print (FinePrint)
What do the trip charges include?
Please see the Details section of the specific trip to determine the exact inclusions on the specific itinerary. In general, all Horizon trips include all accommodations, most meals, all transfers, local guides, Horizon guides, WWF Experts, on trips events and pre-departure materials.
What do the trip charges not include?
In general, these trips do not include: air transportation to and from the trip (except as part of an air package); individual airport transfers on arrival and departure flights (although these may be requested at an extra cost), airport taxes; passport and visa expenses; laundry, wines, liquor, and all items of a personal nature; expenses of guides, buses or cars for sightseeing not included in the itinerary; excessive baggage charges; health, accident, baggage, and trip cancellation insurance; gratuity for any personal services; and other items not mentioned as being included.
What should I bring on the trip?
Our extensive pre-trip information has all of the information that you need to help prepare for your journey, from a recommended packing list to some suggested reading materials. You will receive your pre-trip package at the time of final payment, or around 90 days prior to the trip departure (note that the time may be closer to the departure date in some cases, especially for the weekend trips).
Why does WWF Canada add a conservation fee on to the trip costs?
WWF-Canada is committed to providing an exclusive travel experience in the company of WWF staff members. A small conservation fee will be added to your trip price to cover associated costs and also to help with WWF-Canada's conservation efforts in the region and around the world. The conservation fee charge is $75 pp for weekend trips and $250 pp for excursion trips.
What is the conservation fee and is it mandatory?
The conservation fee is mandatory. It is $75 pp for weekend trips and $250 pp for excursion trips. We feel that it is reasonable to ask our travellers to make a contribution to the WWF for the privilege of enjoying the company of WWF's world class experts as well as special access to places and people that other tours simply can't offer. These trips give you superb quality, unique experiences, congenial fellow travellers, and extraordinary memories - if that's not worth $250 to support the work of the WWF-Canada, then we don't know what is.
Is the conservation fee tax-receiptable?
The conservation fee is not tax-receiptable. However, if you choose to make a voluntary donation to support WWF-Canada, a tax receipt will be issued to you for that amount. Sadly, the trip price itself is not deductible. |
| More Info |
Contact Horizon & Co |
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I need more information on Horizon & Co.
Horizon & Co is one of Canada’s leading boutique travel companies. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups. Horizon's offices are open from 9:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT - the same as Toronto or New York). You can visit their website anytime at www.horizon-co-com or drop them an email at admin@horizon-co.com. If you prefer to speak with a live person, you can call them toll free within North America at: 1-800-387-2977 or at at: 1-416-585-9911 if you live in Toronto.
I need more information on WWF-Canada.
WWF-Canada is part of WWF International, the world’s largest independent conservation organization. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Founded in 1961, this global network now works in more than 100 countries. All WWF offices are united by the common goal to: conserve the world’s biological diversity, ensure the use of renewable resources is sustainable; and promote the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. For questions or concerns related to membership or donations, please email gifts@wwfcanada.org. For questions or concerns related to WWF's conservation programs and all other enquiries, please email ca-panda@wwfcanada.org. You can also call us anytime at : 1-800-26-PANDA / 416-489-8800, fax us at: 416-489-8055 or visit our website at: www.wwf.ca
I need more information on the trips planned for this year.
If you would like more information about these trips, please contact Jen Deacon, Horizon's Trip Planner at 1-800-387-2977 or email jdeacon@horizon-co.com. If you are a WWF-Canada supporter, please do identify yourself as one. Visit www.horizon-co.com for more details.
© 1986 Panda symbol WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as World Wildlife Fund)
® "WWF" is a WWF Registered Trademark | |
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