2. Canyon Calling Adventures for WomenEighteen Years of Expert Trips
The idea of taking women on adventure trips was conceived on a jeep tour in Sedona, Arizona in 1996. Occasionally, the group was all women. The women, strangers to each other just two hours previously, bonded easily and often had lunch together afterwards. It was noticed that quiet women, who would unlikely have said much in a co-ed group, had plenty to share. Co-ed groups politely listened to information about Native Americans but the all-women groups showed a keen interest, asked questions, and really understood the native connection to the land. Something extraordinary happened when women traveled together. Thus, Canyon Calling Tours was founded! After eighteen years in Sedona with Canyon Calling, the founder decided it was time to make a life change and after a long search, a very capable and established adventurer, Janet Scalzo, met the stringent requirements to acquire the company.
3. New Ownership and a Bright Road Ahead
Janet Scalzo recently moved to Sedona, Arizona and has worked closely with the company’s founder, Cheryl Fleet, over the course of a year, joining the tours, meeting the guests, and learning the ropes for a successful transition of Canyon Calling Adventures for Women. Janet brings the experience of over twenty years in the travel industry, along with years of international travel and marketing operations with her. Most importantly, she brings her innate sense of curiosity, true love of sustainable adventure tourism, passion for hospitality, and need to connect with the local culture. Janet attended the College of St. Catherine in Minnesota, where she lived for most of her life. Janet was employed at Carlson Companies for over twenty years in a number of progressively responsible positions including Head of Operations in Amsterdam, Netherlands for a travel loyalty program. Janet’s daughter, Lauren, is also in Sedona, and her Minnesota family visits often!
4. Same Exceptional Quality, Fresh New Ideas
The adventure destinations have been a mixture of customer ideas, research and our own personal favorites. These popular destinations are being reviewed and refreshed, and new and exciting adventures are being introduced for 2015.
Canyon Calling will bring in ‘softer’ adventure trips, perhaps some with more emphasis on food and wine, maybe a mineral spa or two, but above all Canyon Calling will continue to ensure a superb adventure vacation for our guests.
5. Cultural Exchange and the Promotion of Global Citizenship
Immersive travel is a major component of all Canyon Calling trips. Guests can expect itineraries to include such aspects as homestays in which guests prepare meals with the hosts, delivering school supplies and small toys to local school children and exchanging native dance and song.
6. Multi-Activity Itineraries
Canyon Calling offers unique itineraries that are especially scenic and offer an array of fun ways to explore the outdoors. Incorporating various activities on each trip, guests may experience a mixture of canoeing, hiking, walking a glacier, kayaking on a scenic river, soaking in hot pools and white water rafting. These are not hiking trips with a white water rafting day included nor are they sea-kayaking trips with “photography” listed as an activity. Each trip is a true multi-activity vacation!
7. All-Inclusive Pricing
Rest assured there are no hidden fees on Canyon Calling trips. The last thing anyone on a guided trip wants to think about is paying for something extra. Canyon Calling trips include all meals, accommodations, land and sea transport, all activities, guide services and tipping, and all entrance fees to museums, attractions and national parks.
8. One Fitness Rating
All Canyon Calling adventures are designed for moderately-fit women. In general, if you are reasonably active in your life then you’ll do just fine on the trips. Our guides choose a hiking pace that is comfortable for all and take the time to soak in the views, smell the flowers and photograph the wildlife. Canyon Calling chooses kayaking trips where the wind is usually at guests’ backs on the way home; selects rafting trips where the rapids are rated 3’s on average, 5’s are out of the question; and on horseback rides guests always go slowlydownhill. And, no activity is mandatory -after all, it’s yourvacation!
9. Photos
Guides take photos throughout the tour and provide a link to access photos so that after each trip you can choose the digital prints you want from your tour. On vacation, you’re usually busy photographing the scenery. Canyon Calling guides make sure that you have photos of you and your companions in all the best places and ideal opportunities. Canyon Calling also has a Tour Book and invites you to record your thoughts in this book at the end of the trip. Afterwards, the best photos of the trip are placed alongside your comments. These books are pored over by first time and repeat customers alike and are enjoyed by all.
10. The Benefits of Women-Only Trips
Canyon Calling Adventures provides women with a safe and comfortable atmosphere in which to challenge themselves, explore new parts of the world and build lifelong friendships. Guests can expect to depart Canyon Calling tours with a newfound respect for a previously unfamiliar culture and a sense of accomplishment of overcoming physical obstacles. Canyon Calling guests gain confidence in the inherently nurturing environment of other women. Wonderful friendships form and the memories made endure for years!
11. A High Customer Return Rate
Canyon Calling boasts an impressive return rate of guests who have experienced one of their adventures. The passion for adventure travel is ignited, or rediscovered, while experiencing their first trip with Canyon Calling, or their seventh! These adventure tours are not outsourced. We design a personal experience and connection with the destination and the local people, and so importantly, with the guests and their guides.
12. Dedication to Sustainability
In the field, Canyon Calling practices and promotes Leave No Trace principles.
In the office, training and certification of Sustainable Travel International methodologies are underway.
13. Media Contacts
Julie Peirano
Adventure Media
jpeirano@adventuremedianews.com
973.714.5632
Janet Scalzo
Canyon Calling
trips@canyoncalling.com
928.284.8654
