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City/State: Worldwide |
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Country: GUATEMALA, HUNGARY, INDIA, JORDAN, KAZAKHSTAN, LEBANON, MEXICO, MONGOLIA, NAMIBIA
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| Explore Worldwide |
55 Victoria Road
Hants
UNITED KINGDOM
GU14 7 PA
Phone: 01252 391114
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Program description: |
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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. All the holidays are for small groups (average 12-16 people) and are led by our own expert Tour Leaders. EXPLORE has been operating this type of tour since 1981 and the wealth of experience and expertise gained over this period is unrivalled in the industry. One of the greatest strengths of the company is the level of repeat bookings - many clients having done 10 or more tours - with a few having done more than 30 different tours!
What is a Tour Leader?
Leading adventure tours for EXPLORE is so much more than being a guide or a ?courier". Though there may be local guides on some tours, our leaders usually work solo and this means taking full responsibility for the well-being of our paying clients from when they arrive in country right through to the end of their tour. This involves an almost inexhaustible range of tasks from providing information on the countries visited, looking after clients' health and personal problems, arranging a variety of activities - sometimes including transport, accommodation and camp meals - and working with local crew. It's not just about ensuring that the logistics of the tour work smoothly, but also that clients fly home feeling that they have had an enlightening experience, having learnt more about a particular destination than they would on a ?normal" package tour. It is the Tour Leader that really makes that difference.
Recruitment
We usually recruit in early spring and occasionally late summer to cover both summer and winter seasons although please feel free to apply at any time of year and, with your permission, we'll hold your application on file for up to a year. The number of tours operating is reasonably well distributed throughout the year - and unlike many other tour operators we can usually offer as much work to Tour Leaders as they want.
Key Requirements
We are looking for active, resourceful, well-travelled people.
They must have demonstrable leadership and organisational skills and a genuine interest in people and the service industry. They must be willing to work overseas for periods of up to 6 months on an independent contract basis. If your availability is limited, for example you are a student or have other commitments that will keep you at home for lengthy periods this can be very difficult to work around and so we may be unable to offer you work. Languages (especially French, Spanish, German or Italian) and mountain leadership qualifications are preferred but certainly not essential.
Pay and Benefits
Although the reason for applying for this job should not primarily be the money, it is true to say that we are one of the best payers in the adventure travel industry. Whilst on tour, leaders tend to spend very little and can quite easily save everything that they earn during a series of tours. Explore covers costs such as travel from home to the office and on to the countries in which our leaders work, an allowance whilst on familiarisation ("recce"), insurance and all visas and vaccinations required. Meals and accommodation are provided as they are included for the group which is usually bed and breakfast. Full training, including gaining a first aid qualification, is provided by the company, plus all accommodation and most of the food during this period. Full payment details will be discussed at the interview.
Training
We offer the most comprehensive training programme available in the adventure travel industry, plus free first aid training. All successful applicants (those that are accepted after interview) are asked to join us in Aldershot for a week long in-depth training course covering all aspects of the job. This training is run by a team of experienced Managers who have themselves led tours for the company for many years. On completion of the in-house training, all new Tour Leaders travel on an overseas training tour with an experienced leader to experience what it's really like to be 'on the road'!
First Aid Qualification
It's a requirement that all Tour Leaders hold a current, recognised first aid qualification whilst leading for the company. As part of the in-house training we now run a 2-day Rescue & Emergency Care (REC) course which covers all the necessary standard first aid training as well as subjects specific to tour leading such as altitude sickness, dealing with emergencies in remote areas and camp health and hygiene. This course is provided free of charge and gives trainees a recognised REC qualification, which lasts for 3 years.
Life on the Road
The life of an EXPLORE Tour Leader is one of excitement, variety, and hard work (we never hide this fact!). Tour Leaders live overseas for the duration of their fixed term contracts, which are on average 3 or 4 months long (but which may be anything from 2 weeks to 6 months). It can be tough at times as you are effectively on the go for the whole duration of the contract. Along with looking after the group, there are lots of logistics to sort out, a budget to manage and paperwork to complete each day. However, the responsibility this carries and the buzz of being in exotic locations, being continually on the move and meeting and working with lots of new people is what attracts most people to the job.
...those who succeed will find that working for market leader in adventure travel has many plus points...
Exciting and satisfying
Being paid to travel
Great deal of autonomy
Opportunity to meet interesting people from all walks of life
Opportunity to get to know local people very well
Paid well and easy to save money
Full training given - best available in the UK
First aid qualification gained during training
Good for developing organisational, interpersonal and leadership skills
Never a dull moment!
Always a challenge!
What kind of trips could I lead?
Explore operate tours in over 100 countries worldwide so the possibilities are endless! Normally our Tour Leaders start out in Europe or countries such as Morocco, Turkey or Egypt. Please note that in certain countries, such as Australasia, Nepal and much of South East Asia, we only use local Tour Leaders. We also operate shorter tours (adventurebreaks), cycling and family tours.
The majority of our trips involve a variety of activities and use a range of different transport and accommodation styles, from comfortable hotels to wild camping. Some have a more specific focus, for example, on wildlife or trekking and on all we hope to get closer to the local people and show our clients the real country.
Naturally, we want to try to match the interests, aptitudes and experience of our leaders to the tours they lead. However, we cannot always offer our leaders work exactly where they want.
If your only motivation is to travel, this may not be the job for you, but if you relish the challenge it presents and love working with people, whether working in France, Egypt, Chile or China it can be one of the most instantly fulfilling occupations imaginable - it really is a case of "you get out of it what you put in".
Does it cost me anything?
No. However, as a sign of intent we ask that all successful applicants pay a £250 deposit before joining our training programme, to cover some of the in-house and overseas training costs. This is automatically refunded once the trainee completes his/her first 26 weeks of tours. Payment can be made by either credit card or with a cheque.
Although life as a Tour Leader is very rewarding, if you are worried about any of the following, think carefully before applying...
ª Long periods spent overseas
ª Having to deal with problems and crises on behalf of company and clients
ª Being responsible for company funds
ª Writing reports and keeping expense accounts
ª On occasions dealing with difficult clients
ª Being on call 24 hours a day
ª Putting clients before yourself - this is a service industry!
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Group
No. in group: 12-24
Living arrangements on the program: Varies
How long does the program last?: Various Durations
What are the dates of this program: You can apply at any time. The first selection days are usually in January / February and continue until April. If successful you will be required to undertake tour leader training - in-house in Farnborough and on tour in Europe. After this you will be given your first tour series contract.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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There is a deposit of £250 to be paid as a mark of your good faith after selection and before training as mentioned above.
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Salary/pay/benefits description: |
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Contract rates are calculated on the basis of £28 per day to start.
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No other listings have been found |
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