Follow the Dakar Rally 2010

Sept. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- In association with Global Encounters, Explore Beyond has released the details of its Follow the Dakar Expedition, a 4 Wheel Drive Expedition based on the 32nd edition of the Dakar.

The Follow the Dakar Expedition will follow the 32nd edition of Dakar off-road car/motorbike event which takes place in Argentina and Chile, January 2010. Participants will witness this prestigious off-road motor and car event from up close and be able to join the adventure in a 4WD jeep. The program consists of a mixture of off-road driving and explorations of some of the geographic highlights both countries have to offer, making the way from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and back to the Pacific.

The Follow the Dakar Expedition ( http://www.explorebeyond.travel/atacama-expeditions/follow-the-dakar-expedition ) extends for 19 days/18nights.  The route begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moves into the off-road, arid mountain regions of Cafayate in the northern part of the country.  From there, the expedition makes its way through one of the driest desert of the world, the San Pedro de Atacama and then on to the coastal Chilean city of Valparaiso.  While in Chile, the caravan of off-road vehicles moves towards Mendoza and past the Aconcagua Mountain, the highest mountain in South America, before ultimately returning back to Buenos Aires.

The expedition will feature up to Ten (10) 4-wheel-drive jeeps (20 participants max.), 2 accompanying cars, 3 team members, and a cameraman.

Tim Coronel, a top Dutch racer and a participant in the Dakar Argentina & Chile 2007 and 2009, who will drive in the 2010 Dakar remarked that,

“If I wasn`t participating in the event myself I would love to witness the Dakar from up close and personal with the Explore Beyond ex¬pedition. The Follow the Dakar is a perfect blend of off-road driving and explorations of some of the most in¬credible highlights of South America.”

The Dakar adventure began in 1977 as a motor expedition route, starting in Europe, continuing to Algiers before eventually finishing at Dakar. The 2009 Dakar moved to South America with the conviction of meeting an enthusiastic public. Studies show that the Dakar maintains strong support of the public and of both host countries. Enrique Meyer, State Secretary for Tourism in Argentina judged that “the Dakar was the most important action for tourist promotion in the history of Argentina”.

Explore Beyond ( http://www.explorebeyond.travel ) is a part of the Global Encounters ( http://www.globalencounters.com ) network--a multi-cultural group of seasoned travel experts, united under the banner of bridging cultures and opening minds by making the entirety of Latin America Travel information accessible worldwide.  Long established in Latin America and motivated by a knowledge and passion for travel, Global Encounters supplies the global travel market a single solution through all of Latin America.

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Explore Beyond creates a truly unique South America adventure in cooperation with the best and most knowledgeable tour operators, expedition leaders, guides, combined with small-group exclusivity and innovative expeditions.