Adventure Travel - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
And finally, if you’re listening right now, chances are you’ve found some great off-the-beaten path locations and met some great tour operators in your travels. I’d love to hear about them as well, so please let me know what ideas you have for the show by reaching out directly at jason@bigworldmadesmall.com.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://bigworldmadesmall.com
Adventure Travel - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Claire Copeman - Adventure Tours UK
Area/Topic
United Kingdom, Career, Sustainable Tourism, B Corp, Human Connection
Claire Copeman
Co-founder
Adventure Tours UK
Born in the UK, Claire grew up in the rolling countryside of north west England, always outdoors and usually riding horses. After studying Equine Science at university, she set off backpacking around South East Asia and fell in love with travel - real travel. The kind of travel that gets you under the skin of a place, hanging out with the locals and learning as much about yourself as the place you’re in.
Returning to the UK she left the outdoors to pursue a corporate career in marketing. Realising how much she missed the outdoors and riding during this time, this is when Claire discovered a love for mountain biking in the hills of North Wales and how she met her husband.
England is Claire’s place of birth, Wales is her home and Scotland is her favourite escape, from the mountains of the Highlands to the beaches of the Outer Hebrides and everywhere in between. Always looking for adventure and new challenges, Claire has taken part in many long distance events around the UK, including Oxfam’s TrailWalker 100km charity hike in the South Downs, mountain biking across England on the famous Coast to Coast route, and a multi-activity race across across Scotland from Nairn to Glencoe.
Today she lives in the beautiful Welsh hills. Claire has left the corporate world behind, setting up Adventure Tours UK to pursue her love of welcoming like-minded people from around the world to explore the incredible wild spaces of the UK. In line with her own values, Adventure Tours UK has been committed to responsible travel from the outset, becoming the first UK inbound operator to carbon label their tours way back in 2020, and now proud to be a B Corp certified business.
https://adventuretoursuk.com/
Summary
Claire Copeman, co-founder of Adventure Tours UK, shares her journey into adventure tourism and highlights the beauty of Wales as a travel destination. She discusses the misconception about the weather in Wales and emphasizes the stunning landscapes and outdoor activities that make it a great place to visit. Claire also talks about the challenges of promoting Wales as a tourist destination and the need for more exposure and marketing. She shares her passion for creating tailor-made trips and the joy of connecting with people through shared experiences. Adventure Tours UK is a B Corp certified tour operator that focuses on providing genuine and authentic outdoor experiences in the UK. They are committed to working for the benefit of people and the planet, as well as profit. They prioritize connection and believe that shared experiences and connections with others are what make trips memorable. Adventure Tours UK offers a range of activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and trail running, and they cater to both individual travelers and group tours. They also work with trade clients as a destination management company. Their goal is to put the UK on the global adventure travel map.
Takeaways
- Wales is a beautiful travel destination with stunning landscapes and a wide range of outdoor activities.
- The weather in Wales is often misunderstood, but it offers pleasant and enjoyable conditions for outdoor adventures.
- Promoting Wales as a tourist destination is challenging due to limited funding and the dominance of London and other popular locations in the UK.
- Tailor-made trips provide a personalized and unique travel experience, allowing travelers to explore Wales at their o
Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers at bigworldmadesmall.com.
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