Cheapflights.ca Wants You to Ditch the Car and See the World in New Ways

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2014) -  With World Carfree Day just around the corner on September 22, the experts at Cheapflights.ca, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, have gone in search of less traditional options for exploring some of the world's best travel destinations. The team has pinned down the Top 10 Quirky Tours that Will Make You Ditch the Car and see the world in new ways. Whether you become one with nature as snow crackles under your feet, splash around on a paddleboard, or pedal your way through a cityscape, these tours are fun alternatives to seeing the world whiz by through a car window.

Here are five tours from our list that bring out the adventure seeker in you:

• Snowshoeing, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Here's a tour that will have you trekking your way across fresh drifts of fluffy white snow through frosty weather as thoughts of the steaming hot chocolate fondue that await keep you toasty and warm. Fun and easy to pick up, snowshoeing has become quite a trend as far as winter outdoor activities go. No one knows exactly where and when the snowshoe came into existence, but it's thought to date back more than 4,000 years to Central Asia. The shoes' use was widespread throughout the indigenous North American population. Snowshoe design has come a long way from the large wooden-framed latticework of the past (think tennis racquet) to the lightweight synthetic shoes we see today. The crew at Mt Seymour's Snowshoe Centre has six guided tours including one for small children, a fitness fanatic power hike and a slightly more leisurely Saturday-night tour that finishes with a feast of chocolate fondue in a hand-carved snow lounge. Private tours and independent snowshoeing are also available.
  
  
• Kayak, London, England - Winding its way through the heart of London, the River Thames is an iconic part of the city's identity and the perfect place from which to see the city. The team at Kayaking London will have you paddling past centuries of history including famous sites like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge from the comfort of a double kayak. The boats are extremely stable and no experience is required to take part. You'll learn all about London, its history and landmarks, plus your guide will snap the all-important photographs as you go.
  
  
• Swamp Boat, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States - For a first-hand look at the bayou, try a cruise through the Louisiana swamps with Spanish moss hanging all around and alligators gliding just below the water's surface. Using small, 22- and 10-seat boats, the team at Cajun Encounters gets you right up close to the plants and wildlife that call Honey Island Swamp home. You're in good hands with expert local guides who know all the gators by name, and are able to coax the creatures out of the water with mini hotdogs and marshmallows (yes, marshmallows). Highlights of the tour include raccoons, owls, wild boars, snakes, turtles, bald eagles, an authentic Cajun village, black bears and, of course, alligators!
  
  
• Paddle Board, Byron Bay, Australia - You've probably seen them popping up at beaches across the world this summer. Originating in Hawaii, the stand up paddle board is the latest trendy water sport suitable for all ages and abilities. Throw on your bathing suit and follow your guide from Byron Bay Stand Up Paddle through the Byron Marine Park. Spot native birds, fish and baby stingray, and enjoy the lush native bush. Tours include an introduction to paddle boarding, refreshments and photos.
  
  
• Beer Bike, Amsterdam, Netherlands - A people-powered bar that doubles as a guided tour of Amsterdam complete with drinks -- certainly a unique way to travel! One for adults only, the wonderfully fun Damtours Beerbike will have you peddling your very own moving bar across this notorious party city while your guide makes sure you don't miss the history, culture and sights along the way. The bikes can take up to 17 drinkers and can be booked as a group or you can ride with other travellers. Pour yourself a pint, cheer with a few bottles of prosecco or bring your own beverages on board.
  

Want more car-free options? Here are the five additional tours that round out our list: Vespa, Rome Italy; Public Transport, San Francisco, United States; Super Trike, Napier, New Zealand; Bicycle, Berlin, Germany and Running, Cape Town, South Africa. To see the details on these and read the full Top 10 Quirky Tours that Will Make You Ditch the Car, visit: www.cheapflights.ca/news/top-10-quirky-tours-will-make-ditch-car

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Momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 17.5 million visitors a month -- plus 7 million travel newsletter subscribers -- via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.ca) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.

Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006. 

The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto, with a consumer base across more than 25 core international markets but users all over the world.

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