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The post SEO for Travel Bloggers: Tips for Ranking First on Google appeared first on Live Adventure Travel.
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When I first started my travel blog I had no idea how to develop a readership. And quite frankly, I was under the impression that all I needed to do is write the blog post. Then, somehow, people would magically find it and start reading. And, boy was I wrong. Fast forward two years, I started to understand the power of SEO. This new found knowledge gave me the opportunity to write fully optimised blog posts that ranked on the first page of google. As my SEO efforts began to kick in, I started to jump out of bed every morning to see my stats booming. That is why I want to write this post, a beginners guide to SEO for Travel Bloggers.
Now, before we begin, let’s have a quick look at SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. It is essentially a formula, or a strategy that allows you to speak googles language. And ultimately, optimise your posts to rank on the first page of Google. Bringing you thousands of readers each week.
When I first started to think about my travel blog SEO I thought it would be possible to find all the information I needed free online. And while was possible to an extent, I found that each answer lead to more questions.
I figured all my time spent looking up free guides could be better used if I invested in the tools needed to fast track my knowledge of SEO. There a two major purchases I made that quite literally changed the travel blogging game for me.
The first being SEO the Easy Way by Make Traffic Happen (which is unfortunately no longer being sold but I just want to say a big thank you the Gemma and Laura for years of help). And Keysearch, my favourite affordable SEO research tool.
Now, don’t worry, for those of you not yet ready to make a purchase, I do reference some free tools that you can use throughout the post.
In the first half of this SEO travel blog guide I am going to discuss the top things you should do before you even begin to write.
Get 20% off KEYSEARCH by using the code KSDISC at checkout

Before thinking about SEO you must first choose a topic to write about.
Perhaps you have just returned from a trip across Europe.
You have 101 possible blog post idea’s. And have no idea where to start.
Believe me, I know just how you feel you. I have been in that situation before.
The important thing is to pick one topic and see it through.

Before diving into writing a detailed blog post it is important to determined the correct SEO research tool for you.
Now, while there are some free trail options such as Uber Suggest or Keyword Surfer.
These tools only offer limited searches with their free option, making it difficult to determined the best key word for your blog post.
Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in order to the right search terms. It is important to invest in a Keyword Research Tool.
I recommend Keysearch as it is an affordable, user friendly and reliable way to rank on Google search.
Get 20% off KEYSEARCH by using the code KSDISC at checkout

Finding the perfect search term for your blog post is a lot harder than it sounds.
There are a few aspects you first need to consider:
Let’s take a trip to Spain as an example. It can be tempting to write a post targeting the search term ‘Top Things to do in Spain’.
While this is a highly searched topic, it is also insanely difficult to rank for. Due to the high competition.
It’s important to narrow down your search topic. Think of other search terms that those planning a trip to Spain may look for.
Instead consider writing an Itinerary post or a post for a specific time frame. These terms will be a lot easier to rank for, yet still have a good search volume.

It is important to note, when writing an optimised blog post you can try to rank for more than one search term.
Yes, you will have to determine the main keyword you wish to rank for. This term will be present in your title, first paragraph and meta data.
However, it is important to also make a note of other keywords you wish to appear in search for.
These should be scattered throughout you blog posts in the paragraphs and H2/H3 headings.
A great way of organising these keywords is by using Keysearch lists features.
This tool allows you to determine the monthly search for each term and the competition score. Allowing you to prioritise the keywords with the least competition yet high search volume.
I like to include 10 – 15 keyword variations throughout my blog post, depending on the word count of each piece.
Get 20% off KEYSEARCH by using the code KSDISC at checkout

Understanding the importance of On Page SEO can be a difficult task. Especially when you are new to it.
Here are some on page SEO elements you need to consider when writing you blog posts.

Another essential step for creating a google search optimised blog post is downloading an SEO plugin.
I highly recommend Yoast, this plugin will walk you through step by step how to optimise your blog post for SEO.
The aim of each post is to receive the green light from Yoast. However, I must admit, at times I will not always follow the guidelines recommended by Yoast. As the plugin still favours keyword stuffing. And this is against google guidelines. In other words, if you Keyword is ‘Things to do in Spain’ you should not have that escat phrase appear 11 times throughout the blog post. Instead include different variations of that keyword.
Yoast will highlight elements such as Internal Links, Meta description, Alt attributes, SEO Title, Outbound Links, Text Length ect…

Before writing an SEO optimised blog post it is important to first check out the competition.
This is not to copy what others in your niche are doing, but to simply evaluate if you can write a better more in-depth guide.
Your aim is to always write what is best for your readers. If you readers are asking a question it is your goal to answer it.
Now, it is of course possible to check on the competing URLS by simply searching your search term on google. However, this kind search gives you extremely limited data.
In keysearch, I like to search my desired keyword and see who else is ranking for it. From there, we can determine a few things:
This data gives us a much clearer indignation if we can outrank this URL in Google Search.

I also like to use Keysearch Content Assistant tool to analysis the average word count of ranking posts for a my desired keyword.
The Content Assistant tool also show us what other keywords are used in a blog post of this topic along with some suggested words to include in our own article.
There is a text box included in this feature which allows you to analysis your post compared to competing URLS. A screenshot of this feature can be seen down below.
Get 20% off KEYSEARCH by using the code KSDISC at checkout

Ok, so we have discussed the top things to do to improve search rankings before you even begin to write your blog post. Now it is time to find out how you can improve your SEO travel blog after the post is complete.

It is important to ensure you have both Google Analytics and Search Console set up for your site.
Google Analytics gives you an in-depth in-site into your blogs traffic source and demographics.
Search Console is used to resolve issues such as server errors, site speed, hacking and malware.
It is also a great place to determine what keywords a certain blog post is ranking for.
Once I complete a new post or make changes to an old one, I submit the URL to search console to have Google recrawl my site for updates.

It is important to note that it can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months for a blog post to rank on Google.
In fact, I have had posts rank on the first page a whole year after I wrote them.
Although it is tempting, try not to edit a new blog post until at least 6 months after you have wrote it. You need to give google time to analyse the post.
Track your blog post performance. Now, this is much easier to do with a tool like Keysearch as they have a rank track tool that monitors your posts position on google.
However, it is possible to track you post position for free by using incognito mode on google. Manually find you posts position and keep track of it on a google spreadsheet. However, This can be time consuming to do for each post.
Below is a screenshot of the Keysearch Rank Tracking Tool, it highlight the keyword, the position on google and the search volume. It also displays if the keywords position has moved up or down that day.
Get 20% off KEYSEARCH by using the code KSDISC at checkout

It is important to have a strong voice when writing a travel blog.
Having the ability to draw the reader in, to provoke emotion and tell a compelling story is a great way to cheap returning viewers.
If you feel you need to improve in this area, I highly suggest signing up to Skillshares free trail.
I use Skillshare to learn about a range of different topics from SEO, Video Editing, Photography and Writing.

Finding a layout that works for both you and your readers is supper important.
You wouldn’t think this is something that has much impact on SEO but it is one of the essential aspects.
If your site is user friendly and layout well, your readers are likely to stick around for longer.
Long time spent on page is a good signal for google. This is turn could lead to your post being pushed further up the search results.

Another great way to increase SEO efforts and double time spent on the page is combining the use of video content and written content.
This is something I have been experimenting with recently. I have noticed blog posts with related youtube videos tend to rank higher in search results.
It also increases the readers time spent on page which in turn encourages Google to push the blog post higher on the search page.
PS: If you have an interest in video travel content I would love for you to subscribe to My Youtube Channel.
If you have an interest in growing a youtube audience I highly recommend checking out Lost Creator Academy. The course teaches you everything you need to know to become a full time content creator. You can check out my detailed review here.

Another vital part of SEO is building backlinks.
This is a way of telling Google your website is a valued source of information and increases you authority on a topic.
There are a few way to build backlinks:

The final point on our SEO for travel bloggers guide is all about Speed and Saftey.
It is important too have a fast and reliable website.
This in turn, reduces bounce rate, increases time spent on page and encourages reoccurring visitors.
My favourite site for improve speed is gtmetrix.com.
It is also a great idea to purchase a HTTPS domain. This reasures users that your site is safe to browse.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope this post helps you when writing SEO Keyword for your travel blog.
PS: I hope you liked the little Graphics, I’m a visual learner so I thought this was nice way to add colour and visual memory to the post.
The post SEO for Travel Bloggers: Tips for Ranking First on Google appeared first on Live Adventure Travel.
]]>The post Lost Creator Academy Review (Updated Oct 2023: Is it REALLY worth the money? appeared first on Live Adventure Travel.
]]>So, you’ve watched the videos, you have read all the reviews and you have *almost* clicked the daunting ‘ENROLL NOW’ button but… something has you scared. And honestly, I don’t blame you. In fact, I was in your position 2 years ago. And frankly, 800 quid is A LOT of money to spend, especially when you are just starting out in the world of content creation. That is why, I have decided to write this Lost Creator Academy Review, to help YOU decide if joining Lost Creator Academy is the right fit for you. My Lost Creator Academy Review will cover all there is to know about the program, how it has helped me and how it can help you.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out the Lost Creator Academy 1 Hour FREE training as it gives you an idea of the learning style and the type of training you will receive once inside the academy.

If you have been sitting on the fence for quite some time now, and just need someone to give you that final push, then let me do the honour. Is Lost Creator Academy Worth it? Absolutely!
In my opinion, Lost Creator Academy has everything you need to turn dreaming about quitting your 9 to 5 into a reality. Christian provides his students with the fundamentals to turn content creation into a full-time career. So, if you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication to make that happen, then Lost Creator Academy is the right investment for you.
However, I will say, if you already have strong skills in Photography, Videography and Editing. I would keep reading as the academy covers these topics in great detail. So, you may already have over 50% of the training offered in the course. But… don’t worry, I will cover everything offered in great detail to make the decision easier for you.
If the button above made you a little nervous and you are still uncertain about whether to take the plunge, then keep on reading. In this LCA review, I will cover everything you need to know before fully committing to Lost Creator Academy. We will discuss what you will learn, Who should invest in LCA and my own personal experience.
At the end of this guide, I highlight some of my achievements since joining the Academy from growing my social following to over 78 thousand followers, to working as a content creator and brand collaborations. However, I did want to say if you have personal questions before joining the course feel free to reach out to me via Instagram. I’d be happy to answer all your questions.
I am going to break this review into clear and concise sections to make it easy to navigate through. Feel free to jump around each category, depending on your needs.
Is Lost Creators Academy Worth it? (the short answer)
Lost Creator Academy Discounts/Black Friday Sale
Lost Creator Academy Module Reviews
There are a few points throughout the year when Lost Creator Academy is offered at a discounted rate. At the time of writing, it is possible for those who take part in the 1-hour free training to receive a 10% discount.
Each year Christian also holds a massive Black Friday Sale. Usually, he will hold competitions the week before Black Friday where content creators can win access to the course for free. The Black Friday sale is normally announced a week beforehand. I will update this post when the 2022 LCA Black Friday sale goes live. In the meantime, keep an eye on the LCA website for updates.

If you have clicked on this article, I already presume you are familiar with Lost Creators Academy but just in case, here is a brief description. Lost Creator Academy, otherwise known as LCA is an online training platform for aspiring content creators created by Lost LeBlanc. Inside the Academy, there are over 110 videos and counting, which adds up to 60 plus hours worth of training. The academy teaches students everything they need to know about the world of content creation. Students are introduced to in-depth ways to advance their photography, videography and editing skills. The training also provides students with a way to enter and excel at the business side of content creation.
Christian Le Blanc is one of the world’s leading travel filmmakers who has spent the past 5 years earning an income online through content creation. He is an insanely talented photographer, videographer and storyteller, who knows the ins and outs of the industry. Since leaving his 9 to 5 job, Christian has turned content creation into a 7 figure business and is now passing on his knowledge to his students.
The great thing about Lost Creator Academy is it is so diverse. Meaning it is suitable for beginners and intermediate-level content creators. It is perfect for those who are looking to turn their dream job of content creation into a reality, by eventually quitting their 9 to 5 and working remotely around the world.
One thing I will say about LCA is it is not a get-rich-quick kinda deal. Christian provides his students with the fundamentals, it is then up to you to choose how to use them.
If you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication it takes to become a full-time content creator, then I highly recommend you invest in Lost Creator Academy to help you achieve your goal.

Once you purchase LCA you are granted lifetime access to all of the course contents & the Facebook group. This includes over 170 creator tutorials equalling 70+ hours of lessons.
The course consists of 9 modules in total:
In the drop-down menu down below I have included each topic taught and my own personal review of each.
| Module | Topics Covered | My Experience/Review |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome – Let’s Get Started | This is an introduction section with two lessons teaching students how to navigate the academy! | Helpful for those first joining and looking for a quick tutorial. |
| Creative Basics | This module covers the fundamentals of photography. Perfect for those picking up a camera for the first time. Topics include: Intro to Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro & FCPX – Manual Camera Lessons – Storytelling – Level Up Your Visuals – Lighting – File Management Tutorial – Studio Lessons (Lighting, Video, Audio) – DSLR VS Mirrorless Cameras – Tell Stories that captivate – Turning Horizontal Videos into Vertical | This module is perfect for those who are entering the world of content creation for the first time. When I first joined LCA in April 2020 the only piece of tech I owned was my mobile phone and a GoPro. This module helped me master my skills in photography, videography and manual camera settings. |
| Creative Videography | The videography module really has it all. Topics include confidence in front of the camera – Do’s & Don’t of Vlogging – Final Cut Bootcamp – Premiere Pro Bootcamp – Editing on a slow computer – Colour Grade Like a Pro – Audio Production – editing a travel video from start to finish – How to film & edit a cinematic video – Sound Design – Timelapse Module – How I edit my best video yet ‘Sleep Can Wait’ – Sarakiniko Video and Photoshoot (behind the scenes) | When I first joined LCA I had very basic videography skills. My biggest take-home from this module was how to tell a compelling story. I used Christians teaching to develop a ‘hook’ for my content. It gave my followers a reason to keep coming back for more. I am currently working on advancing my videography skills and am getting better with each practice. |
| Module 3: Master Your Videography | This Module helps students advance their photography skills by teaching them to become skilled photographers both behind the lens and in the editing room. Topics include: Behind the scenes of Portrait Shooting in Tokyo – Shoot for Instagram without a photographer – Lightroom Bootcamp – Sky Replacement – How to shoot, land & Edit a hotel collab – Make Better Thumbnails – My worse & best thumbnails – Why my video went viral – Editing my ‘How to travel Bali Thumbnail – Underwater Suite Post on Instagram (behind the scenes – I edit your photos in lightroom – Mastering the pet shoot (behind the scenes) – How to shoot thumbnails – | This module is a very edit heavy module. It is an important one for those looking to level up their photo editing skills. I for one found it very useful in taking my photoshop and lightroom skills to the next level. It is also helpful for learning clever youtube thumbnail designs. |
| Creative: Reviewing YOUR Content | In this module, both Christian and his assistant Robbie take some time to review the content of students in LCA. Students have the option to submit their pieces of work through trends in the Facebook group. | This module is definitely interesting as it allows us to have an inside look at how a professional would approach a piece of content edited by beginners to intimidate creators. They give a lot of advice on how to improve the piece. |
| Business Monetization | Module 4 is probably the most interesting, and potentially the most valuable. In this module, students are given insider knowledge on how the business side of content creation works. Topics include: Time Management 101 – How to make money with no following – Build a brand that will last – My revenue streams – Get your first client – My first brand deal – how to do brand deals that don’t hurt your brand – Email Templates – How to price yourself – Contracts 101 – How to negotiate – Art of Collaboration – The monetization opportunity most creators miss (email funnel) – Getting collaborations without a huge following – How much should you charge for freelance work – 10 tips for creating a catchy brand name – Should you hire a virtual assistant – How having a Niche pays – How to become a freelancer. | It may sound a little strange, but I skipped straight to module four when I first joined LCA. I know I said I didn’t have much experience in photography or videography, however, I was not new to the world of content creation. I have been running my blog for three years previous and I was ready to bring it to the next level. The business module opened my eyes to possible opportunities and gave me the confidence I needed to start reaching for them. In my experience, a lot of the information in the business module is hard to find elsewhere on the internet. At least, not for free. |
| Business: Social Growth | In the fifth module, Christian teaches you how to grow your brand online. Topics Include: How to grow on Instagram – The Instagram Algorithm – How to grow on Youtube – SEO for Youtube – How to be a creator while working full time – How to promote and launch a video – 45 days of posting daily on Instagram | This module is definitely beneficial for those looking to grow their social following. It gives in-depth guides on both Instagram & Youtube. I found the information in this section of the course quite valuable. Especially the cause studies such as 45 days of posting on Instagram. |
| Sell Your Own Product | If you are looking to sell your own product, course or ebook this is a good module to take Topics include: Introduction to selling your own product – Deciding your product – getting the website ready – getting your website built – creating Shopify store – opening a square space website – how to market and sell your product – opening convertkit account – opening Mailchimp account – building your email list – creating an email broadcast – creating email sequence – Facebook community groups – possible product ideas – setting up thinkific – opening a teachable account | I found this module particularly beneficial when starting my own print store. This is perfect for anyone looking to monetise your talents by a physical or digital product |
| Creator Coaches | Christian has invited some guest lecturers to educate LCA members on certain topics that Christian doesn’t consider himself an expert in. Giving students an insight into the world of content creation from a different perspective. Topics & Coaches include Sydney Symons (Working with models, shooting with brands) – Malthe Zemakoff – (Landscape photography – 7-part series) – Jakob Burkhardt (E-Commerce Studio Photography & Styling your lighting) – Paris Verra (how to change the colour of your clothing & Get the perfect photo). – Lexie Limitless (How to script a vlog & how to plan a trip for content). Brett Coti (When should you hire & attract brand deals that pay more) | This module is quite refreshing to watch as it gives a perspective of the content creator world through the eyes of other creators. It is almost like getting a sneak peek into someone else’s course. It gives LCA an extra edge compared to other online creator courses as it offers more than Christians Skill Set |
Christian goes above and beyond to ensure that each student gets their money’s worth once they or take the leap and purchase Lost Creators Academy. Not only does he offer 70 plus hours of virtual training, but he also provides students with the extras down below.
Possibly one of the most valuable elements of Lost Creator Academy is the email templates provided by Christian. These give you the correct wording to use when approaching hotels, brands and tourism boards for collaboration. It helps both those with a large to the medium following to those with zero following. Below is an example of some of the template topics.

By far one of the most amazing things about Lost Creator Academy is the community of like-minded people you get to meet along the way.
When I first purchased the academy I never could have dreamed of meeting such a lovely group of friends both from my home country in Ireland and from around the globe.
We all work together to grow, learn and chase our passion. Whether that is in person, on social media or through the LCA facebook group.
If you are looking to make friends with like-minded creators then LCA is the perfect community for you. I have made a list down below of some of the community benefits.
It is amazing to have a group of like-minded individuals to chat with and discuss plans and ambitions. The community is only getting stronger and it would be great to see you become a part of it.

Investing in LCA is possibly one of the best decisions I have ever made. And that is a very big statement to make.
I first purchased the program back when it had maybe 300 members, if even. I was so scared. I feared it wouldn’t be worth the large price tag. There were basically no reviews at the time. And everything the academy offered seemed too good to be true.
I must give it to Christian, he has remained extremely involved in every aspect of the Academy, even nearly two years after the initial launch date. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how involved he is.
It feels weird typing this but Lost Creator Academy has quite literally changed my life. I went from being someone who ran a marginally successful travel blog as a side hustle, to a confident content creator who is now working full-time to achieve my goals.
I get asked quite often on Instagram ‘Is LCA worth the money?’. My answer is always. Yes! If you are willing to put in hours of hard work and dedication to make your dreams a reality then LCA is the stepping stone you need.
I have had a few people challenge that answer with ‘but can’t I find all the information for free on the internet?’. And to some extent, they could be right. I could have ‘just googled’ many of the topics discussed in LCA BUT…. google doesn’t give me access to a highly dedicated mentor, an amazing community and insider knowledge.
I reckon by joining LCA, I have sped up the time it would have taken to reach my current skillset by about 4 years. I now have access to everything I need to become a professional photographer, videographer and storyteller and it is located all in one place. The more time I put in, the better I become.
Lost Creator Academy has given me the confidence I needed to just go for it! I now have the determination to chase my dreams and make them a reality! And for that, I want to say a big thank you to Christian and my fellow LCA students.
If this is something you are looking for then I’d highly recommend enrolling in Lost Creator Academy.
Joining LCA has quite literally changed my life, I went from dreaming about turning content creation into my full-time job to it actually becoming my job. I have learned so many valuable things from the academy, but for me, the biggest take home was a confidence boost. I learned how to present myself in front of a camera, to not fear the opinions of others and to just have fun doing what I love. Down below I have highlighted some of my biggest achievements since joining LCA. And yes, not all of it is down to the contents of the course, I put in A LOT of hard work to get to where I am, however, LCA gave me the fundamentals I need to take my dreams to the next level. And that is something I will forever be grateful for. If you want to ask me any questions before joining LCA my Instagram DM’s are always open.

Since joining Lost Creator Academy I have been lucky to work with some of my DREAM brands including Airlines, Tourism Boards and Clothing Stores.
These collaborations have been on both a paid and unpaid basis, I have since learned to value my skills and will rarely work with a brand without my hard work being paid for.
To the left is an example of some of the brands I have worked with in the past. You can check out my portfolio page for an example of some of the work I have done for the collaborations.
If you are hoping to level up your collaboration game I’d highly recommend you join LCA today. I promise you will not regret it.

A few months after joining Lost Creator Academy I noticed my Instagram following began to increase. My photography skills improved at a rapid rate and people started to notice.
I then decided to niche down and focus on Ireland travel. I worked hard at creating my own style of content and invested a lot of time into Instagram reels. That’s when my growth began to skyrocket and I started to gain a much larger following. In December my account grew from 1,500 followers to 10k in just 6 weeks. Safe to say I was on cloud 9.
There were two main reasons for such quick growth, the first being the skills I learned from LCA and the second being endless hours of hard work (I released a new reel every day for a whole month).
My Instagram account is continuing to grow (now sitting at 19K followers), however, at a slower rate due to it not being my main focus at the moment. The higher volume of followers has allowed me to land dream collaborations like working with tourism boards.

I spent the first half of 2020 pulling my hair out because no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t get my Tiktok account to ‘take off’.
However, I never gave up, and with the help of fellow LCA members, I discovered my own style and what worked for my account.
Tiktok is still a relatively new platform meaning there are still so many opportunities for people to grow at quite a rapid rate.
It’s a platform I am excited to see where it takes me and short-form content is quite fun to create.
If you are looking to up your videography and editing skills to grow on platforms such as Tiktok, then I think Lost Creator Academy is the perfect place to start.
Why not sign up for the FREE training to see if it is right for you?

Youtube is a platform I only started taking seriously recently (October 2022). I have had my channel since 2017, and started to upload vlogs here and there from Jan 21, however, I never really gave it much time and attention it needed.
Now, it is by far my favourite platform, I got monitiztised this year and I can finally see a little bit of income coming through which makes uploading that little bit more exciting.
I find the community on youtube is much nicer, I can be myself and having to worry about things fitting into the ‘Instagram’ or ‘Tiktok’ aesthetic.
My channel has grown from 200 subs to 2.4K in 2 years without consistently uploading, however, I have now given myself the challenge to take it to the next level.
Again, LCA has given me the fundamentals for good storytelling, editing and Youtube techniques.

One of the highlights of my content creation journey to date is the first time someone purchased one of my photography prints.
I was in pure disbelief that another person liked my work so much that they were willing to pay for it.
Before joining LCA I had ZERO knowledge of how to take a photo in manual mode never mind edit one.
If fact, before the academy all my photos were edited with WAAAAAYYYY too much saturation. Since I have learned how to present my photos in a nice way and make a little income on the side 
My print store was the first way I used the skills learned in LCA to make money. It was a very happy moment for me.
Yes, in my opinion, Lost Creator Academy is the perfect course for anyone looking to step up their game in the world of content creation. I do personally believe that the academy is best for beginners and intermediate content creators. As those with strong videography/photography may already have over 50% of the skills offered. So, what are you waiting for, it is time to join Lost Creator Academy now!
The post Lost Creator Academy Review (Updated Oct 2023: Is it REALLY worth the money? appeared first on Live Adventure Travel.
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