A labour of love of over 30 years, Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort is the creation of three generations of the Jampol Family. Sylvia Jampol along with her son Glenn and his wife Teri started the dream in 1985. More than three decades later, Teri and Glenn live next door to the hotel in the organic coffee plantation which allows them to oversee the guests’ every need. Their two daughters Lily and Olivia, grew up on the grounds of Finca Rosa Blanca along with countless dogs, cats, horses, friends and family.
Glenn Jampol is an artist, and his artwork is on display at the hotel and restaurant. Mr. Jampol is also one of the pioneer advocates of the global ecotourism movement. He is one of the founding member of the outfit Global Ecotourism Network (GEN), and is considered to be one of the fathers of sustainability of Costa Rica, owing to his work in the country as president of CANAECO, a nonprofit organization with the aim of stimulating the country’s tourist activities in a responsible manner.
The Finca Rosa Blanca embodies the spirit of sustainability. No chemicals or fertilisers are used in the coffee plantation, all waste is recycled. Over the last 25 years, the outfit has planted more than 7,000 native trees and is carbon neutral. We highly recommend this wonderful resort and meeting the wonderful owners.
On it’s 40th anniversary Ibex Expeditions invites you to its Limited Edition Anniversary Journeys
In 1979, in a small room in the Manor hotel, New Delhi, four friends manifested their dream of a pioneering adventure travel company by establishing Ibex Expeditions. Mountaineer, Explorer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Mandip Singh Soin was one of them.
Four decades later, this has been a journey of innovation, enterprise, accolades, creativity and today, the company is owned and managed by Mandip and his wife Anita, an artist and poet who brings her own creativity to designing journeys with unusual themes.
Guests are welcomed into a world of heightened wonder, style, adventure, luxury that only a truly epic journey can evoke.
On this milestone of our 40th anniversary, we invite you to book a special small group journey led and hosted by the owner family in a series of holidays in India and Sri Lanka with travel experiences exclusive to our guests, privileged access to extraordinary places and inspirational people and meaningful connections along the way.
Ladakh – The stairway to heaven – September 2019
Following a theme of a Responsible Eco adventure walking in the footsteps of the snow leopard, this photo adventure journey in Ladakh is led by writer, photographer and Ibex Director, Himraj Soin. You will discuss Buddhist traditions and visit local communities, learn about renewable energy projects with conservationists, visit organizations promoting sustainable development and walk along hillsides dotted with chortens and monasteries with exquisite Himalayan vistas.
Madhya Pradesh – Walking safari – Satpura under Canvas – November 2019
Mandip and Anita lead a special journey to the heart of India recreating the old explorer world of a walking safari in the footsteps of Captain James Forsyth, an explorer who served in the Indian Army in the late 19th century in the forests of Satpura in the state of Madhya Pradesh. We will stay in deluxe camps (glamping) and old-world charming lodges and immerse ourselves in art, beauty, forests, wildlife and recipes from the Nawab family kitchens. Satpura Under Canvas is a unique mobile camping and gentle walking experience through the Satpura Tiger Reserve. We also visit Bhopal, Mandu, Maheshwar where you will enjoy a royal retreat and the luxury Relaix & Chateau Ahilya Fort, the private palace of the erstwhile Holkar dynasty.
Himali Soin will be leading the journey in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – The Isle of Paradise – November 2019
Arthur C Clarke, British science fiction writer, futurist and inventor is our inspiration and we capture his spirit in a journey across Sri Lanka led by artist, poet and Ibex Director, Himali Singh Soin. We will stay at Colombo Swimming Club where Clarke spent his days, visit Anuradhapura Sci Fi monuments, Una Watuna, a coastal town where Clarke lived, and star gaze in a remote location, all the while reading Rendezvous with Rama.
Rajasthan – The Land of many Colors – March 2020
Himraj Soin will be leading journeys in Ladakh and Rajasthan
We welcome Spring and the festival of color, Holi with a journey of color and vibrance across the landscape of Rajasthan through boutique heritage hosted stays from the cities of pink, blue and gold to the Thar desert visiting ancient step wells and communities on village safaris and staying in Relaix & Chateau heritage homes with Mewar heritage architecture. Led once again by Himraj, National Geographic trip leader.
Costa Rica – a private journey for the Ibex Explorers Fellowship members
Led by Mandip and Anita, we will traverse the ideal destination of Costa Rica, a country that stands apart from its neighbors as a rich bio diverse country with farm to table restaurants and sustainable tourism. The journey will have rain forest hikes and high-altitude trails, rushing white-water rapids and kayaking into canals.
Mandip and Anita will be leading journeys in Madhya Pradesh and Costa Rica
It is rare that Mandip and Anita themselves lead an Ibex Expeditions journey. Their young adult children are both trip leaders with National Geographic and come with their own expertise of photography, writing and poetry.
For many travellers who ride the Trans-Siberian Railway (spanning eight time zones, goes from Russia to the far east via China and Mongolia, at 9,289km, it is the third longest continuous service railway in the world), visiting the Old Believers and listening to them sing is one of the top features of their journey.
The Old Believers are Eastern Orthodox Christians who maintain the practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church that existed prior to the reforms of Partriach Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. They resisted his liturgical and doctrinal reforms. Exiled for holding on to their religious beliefs, some were sent to #LakeBaikal in Siberia. Their isolation allowed them to preserve their culture, their language and clothes and most important, their music.
In #Tarbagatay, Siberia is where most of the Old Believers live. The village is reminiscent of a 17th century space, with colourful houses and vibrant dress codes. The women sing haunting songs, helping visitors understand their lives and struggles.
Perhaps the highest concentration of older established Old Believer communities, with foundations dating back hundreds of years, can be found concentrated in Eastern Siberia, specifically the Transbaikal region in desolate areas of Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai
Today Siberia’s Old Believers number more than 200,000. In villages around #UlanUde, their #polyphonic singing, culture and way of life have been added to the #UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for protection and preservation.