Steppes Travel Festival 2017

Beyond STEPPES TRAVEL FESTIVAL

SAT 30TH SEPT | SUN 1ST OCT 2017

Image © Mandy Barker

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY | LONDON

“276 pieces of marine plastic debris recovered from the stomach of an Albatross chick”

2017 BEYOND SPEAKER LINE UP INCLUDES:

Dr Sylvia Earle

Steve Backshall

Frank Gardner

Simon Reeve

‘THE WORLD’S GREATEST LIVING EXPLORER’

OCEANOGRAPHER, EXPLORER & AUTHOR

TV PRESENTER & CONSERVATIONIST

JOURNALIST, AUTHOR & BBC SECURITY CORRESPONDENT

AUTHOR AND TV PRESENTER

STEPPES TRAVEL FESTIVAL

SAT 30TH SEPTEMBER - SUN 1ST OCTOBER 2017

“ Ellie Simmonds

Doug Allan

Chris Packham

Benedict Allen

Hanli Prinsloo

FIVE-TIME PARALYMPIC CHAMPION SWIMMER & FREEDIVER

WILDLIFE CAMERAMAN & PHOTOGRAPHER

TV PRESENTER, CONSERVATIONIST & PHOTOGRAPHER

EXPLORER, WRITER AND FILMMAKER

FREEDIVER & OCEAN CONSERVATIONIST

BRINGING TOGETHER THE ADVENTURERS, THE EXPLORERS, THE CONSERVATIONISTS AND DESTINATION EXPERTS, THE CREATIVES AND THE ORGANISATIONS THAT SHARE A PASSION FOR TRAVEL AND THE ISSUES THAT SURROUND IT.

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F

or the team at Steppes Travel, one of the joys of travel is understanding, appreciating and embracing the variety of our world. It is a beautiful world but one that is increasingly fragile.

We would argue that fragile is not a strong enough word to describe the terrible state that the world is in.

Robert Swan

George Bullard

Sarah Outen

Edurne Pasaban

Jo Ruxton

POLAR EXPLORER & ENVIRONMENTALIST

EXPLORER & ENDURANCE ATHLETE

ADVENTURER & AUTHOR

FIRST WOMAN TO SUMMIT ALL 14 x 8,000 PEAKS

FILM PRODUCER & FOUNDER PLASTIC OCEANS

Robin HanburyTenison EXPLORER

Rob Caskie

Dr Amy Dickman

Mark Brownlow

Dr Jenny Balfour-Paul

OUTSTANDING RACONTEUR

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST & CONSERVATIONIST

WILDLIFE FILM PRODUCER & SERIES PRODUCER BLUE PLANET 2

WRITER, ARTIST, LECTURER & RESEARCHER ON INDIGO

Notwithstanding that why do we remain optimistic?

Fergus Beeley

Mark Hiley

Our key reason - because of the inspiration we derive from the people that we meet in the world of travel. There are so many that are trying to change our views and habits and a number of these inspirational people will be speaking in Beyond 2017.

Finally, because we trust in the power of the individual. The consequences of our small choices matter....

They do make a difference.

Rebecca Lowe

WILDLIFE FILM PRODUCER FILM PRODUCER & HUMAN RIGHTS JOURNALIST & DIRECTOR FOUNDER OF NATIONAL & SOLO CYCLIST FROM PARK RESCUE LONDON TO IRAN

Quinn Meyer

Peter Harrigan

FOUNDER OF MANU CREES

AUTHOR, DIRECTOR OF MEDINA PUBLISHING & EXPERT ON SAUDI ARABIA

INTRODUCING BEYOND 2017

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Beyond

T

ime and tide wait for no man - take action and help us preserve our planet for future generations.

Steppes Travel are launching a worldwide campaign #REFUSETOUSE at our Steppes Beyond Festival 2017.

Our aim is to have a positive impact on the world.

We will achieve this by reduction of single use plastic, using alternatives to plastic and recycling.

• In October we launch our first Plastic Free Month in our office. Continuing this at regular intervals until our office is plastic free • Use a reusuable, refillable water bottles across our office and worldwide suppliers • Better Bag Challenge - stop using disposable plastic bags • Signing a petition across our network to bring back plastic deposit return schemes (recently supported by Coca-Cola)

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You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN

The Steppes Beyond Festival 2017 will be a showcase for a variety of #REFUSETOUSE activities. These include recycled plastic artwork, ‘fight against plastic’ photo exhibition, partnerships with conservation and environmental charities and our headline speakers demonstrating their own determination to help save our planet.

Steppes believe strongly that travel does make a difference. Sir David Attenborough once said: “People will only protect what they care about, and they will only care about what they have experienced.”

Any profit from Beyond proceeds will be donated to our #REFUSETOUSE charity partners.

Our ethos at Steppes Travel is simple to Preserve, to Conserve and to Educate.

Over £1,2 million has been donated by Steppes since its inception in 1989 to a variety of environmental, conservation and humanitarian projects across the globe. We continue to push boundaries every year.

#REFUSETOUSE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

WILL YOU JOIN US?

WHAT CAN YOU DO? #REFUSETOUSE single use plastic

MORE THAN 8 MILLION TONNES OF PLASTIC ARE DUMPED IN OUR OCEANS EVERY YEAR PREDICTIONS ARE THAT IF NOTHING CHANGES BY 2025 THERE WILL BE 1

TONNE OF PLASTIC FOR EVERY 3 TONNES OF FISH IN THE OCEAN WE ARE PRODUCING NEARLY 300

MILLION

TONNES OF PLASTIC EVERY YEAR, HALF OF WHICH IS FOR SINGLE USE ANNUALLY APPROXIMATELY 500 BILLION PLASTIC BAGS ARE USED WORLDWIDE. MORE THAN ONE MILLION BAGS ARE USED EVERY MINUTE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE PRODUCED MORE PLASTIC THAN DURING THE WHOLE OF THE LAST CENTURY

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You might not care, even if you do know, but can’t care if you don’t know

AS A COMPANY: • Remove all single use plastic water bottles from your office and stores • Encourage the use of refillable, reusable bottles • Offer free access to drinking fountains to staff, clients and visitors

AS AN INDIVIDUAL: #REFUSETOUSE: • Bottled water, use a refillable bottle and fill up at fountains, restaurants etc • Unnecessary plastic packaging on your groceries • Plastic straws and other disposable plastics and instead carry reusable utensils • Cling film to cover your food • Disposable lighters, use matches instead

recycle

Where plastic is necessary, ensure you – avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both have low recycling rates.

Spread the word. Talk to your friends and family about how you have committed to using less plastic and why.

AS A SCHOOL: • Ensure plastic and recycling awareness is part of your child’s curriculum • Pledge to go plastic free at your schools – eliminate single use plastic bottles, unnecessary plastic covering on sandwiches and plastic straws • Host a screening of the film A Plastic Ocean, inviting students and parents

IN CONJUNCTION WITH:

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DR SYLVIA EARLE

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN - JOIN US AT STEPPES BEYOND

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Plastic: The Facts

weekend, taking in the talks, exhibitions, film screenings and book signings

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2016 HIGHLIGHTS SPEAKER EVENTS 16 high profile speakers

CONSERVATION PANEL Tackling key issues

SEMINAR/WORKSHOPS With leading specialists in their field

CHARITY PARTNERS 13 charity partners including Tusk & DWCT

PHOTOGRAPHY Workshops by well-known photographers

BOOK SIGNINGS Feauring world-class authors and publishers

TRAVEL CLINICS With Steppes Travel experts

LIVE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION By distinguished sculptor Hamish Mackie

ART EXHIBITION

By David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

DIVERSE RANGE OF EXHIBITORS Clothing, optiks, books to name but a few

FILM SCREENINGS Inspirational travel documentaries & films

BEYOND 2016

Over a 1200 guests “attended the inaugural

Andrew Terry Thank you very much for the opportunity to take part and for Durrell to be a focal charity. It was a fantastic event.

Dan Bucknell It was a real pleasure, and I greatly enjoyed the panel discussion.

Edurne Pasaban

Belmond (sponsor)

I have to congratulate you because I think that the Festival was a very successful event. Your company and your team is a success model.

Congratulations on a fantastic event over the weekend., What a great line up you had, I was very impressed as were those that attended - I overheard a number of very complimentary discussions. I hope that you will be able to do the same next year and I would be interested in participating again.

Metropolitan Touring (sponsor) We absolutely loved the Festival! Congratulations!

Senderos (sponsor) Belated congrats on what was clearly a very successful event at the RGS last weekend! Was a fantastic achievement for your first such show to get such an impressive turnout and so many A-list presenters - well done to all involved at Steppes!

Sanctuary Retreats (sponsor) Beyond - an amazing event, congratulations.

Wild Studio (exhibitor)

Hanli Prinsloo

I hope you are all on the road to recovery after an incredible weekend - it was exceptionally successful. Getting the Wild Studio brand out there - the weekend was ideal for that.

I just love all of you guys, you really have done well in collecting a quality group of people!

Thank you for your ongoing support of I AM WATER and your trust in us.

Hamish Mackie What a fantastic weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it and loved meeting lots of like-minded people.

Look forward to many more adventures together!

Rob Caskie I have no doubt that it is an industry “first”, and will only grow in leaps and bounds. Being a tiny part of your inaugural event was a special privilege. Ran’s talk was brilliant.

Monty Halls Well, it was my great pleasure! A terrific event, which I’m absolutely sure will go from strength to strength. This will become THE adventure event in years to come.

Hugh Thomson As a veteran of many past festivals, both here and abroad, I’m in a good position to recognise the ones that work. All in all, a great success.

Benedict Allen I really enjoyed my time – there was a great buzz around the RGS. Hope to see you – or your wonderful tribe in Cirencester – before too long.

Jonathan Scott It was indeed a huge privilege to share a stage with so many extraordinary people - not least to listen to Ran Fiennes wind up the Event in such a humorous and rousing fashion!!

But it was also very evident what a great group of people you have assembled at Steppes. You could feel the commitment and ethos of the company very much to the fore.

Kenton Cool I LOVE these sorts of event, they are always far more rewarding for me as a speaker.

BEYOND 2016

Feedback 2016

A SPECIALIST TOUR OPERATOR WHO DESIGNS INNOVATIVE TAILOR-MADE AND EXPERT LED GROUP ITINERARIES.

”

SOPHY ROBERTS DEPARTURES , FINANCIAL TIMES,

WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE ECONOMIST

With nearly three decades experience in the industry, we field a team of creative, knowledgeable and responsible experts committed to providing ethical, innovative and pioneering journeys all over the world.

Our list of current experts leading tours include: evolutionairy biologist Professor Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker, Dr Rebecca Goldstein, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Michael Portillo, wildlife film makers & photographers Sue Flood & Doug Allan, TV presenter Saba Douglas-Hamilton & Chris Packham, freediver Hanli Prinsloo and explorer Monty Halls, to name a few.

RICHARD DAWKINS

MICHAEL PORTILLO

ABOUT STEPPES TRAVEL

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A company that for 25 years has made an art of navigating lesser known territories, from the Sepik to Samarkand

Image © Mandy Barker

“276 pieces of marine plastic debris recovered from the stomach of this Albatross chick”

#REFUSE TOUSE CAMPAIGN

#REFUSETOUSE