Santa Monica, California, USA -- "It is like Survivor, The Amazing Race, and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction," is how one previous competitor, Marvin Schmidt of Canada, explained his participation in the 1st annual global competition that combined the style of the 19th Century Grand Tours with the jet-setter reality of 21st Century travel.

GreatEscape2002, the 2nd Annual Global Scavenger Hunt is collecting applications from worthy travelers the world over who are seeking the coveted crown of "The World's Greatest Travelers," $100,000 in prizes and long to participate in this truly international cultural-oriented travel adventure competition.

For three incredible, thrill-packed weeks beginning October 18th, 25 two-person teams made up of travel savvy Indiana Jones & Janes-types will race around-the-world like 1930's, anthropologist-adventurers hot on the path of the Holy Grail. Contestants will be limited to the use of public transportation and ride elephants to sacred temples, jostle atop camels around the Pyramids, haggle in floating markets, locate ancient sacred sites and take part in bizarre local cultural festivals.

"GreatEscape2002 is all about having our travelers trust strangers in strange lands," says William D. Chalmers, the events organizer, "Some have called our annual event the 'Olympics of Travel', some refer to it as 'A Blind Date with the World' because our travelers won't have any foreknowledge as to where they're going until they're onboard a 747 bound for parts unknown, some have even called it a 'Magical Mystery Tour'. I liked that one."

"The Global Scavenger Hunt has certainly captured the attention of some of the world's best travelers and that's what we are creating‹a truly international travel adventure competition." And Chalmers, as the winner of a previous around-the-world race and a travel book author should know, organizing this annual travel competition has become a dream come true. "I would love to participate, but setting up this annual event is equally challenging. We're attracting world-class contestants." National Geographic Adventure magazine recently knighted Chalmers the "world's greatest traveler." (April 2002)

Teams competing in the annual travel adventure competition will also be doing it for a good cause by logging over one million miles collectively to help raise funds towards a $1 million goal for lauded organizations like: Nobel Peace Prize winning Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, CARE, Special Olympics and the World Monuments Fund.

Sure it took Magellan over three years to do it and Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg character 80-days to it. Amelia Earhart would have made it in about 45 days. It will take those in GreatEscape2002 just 23 days to do it. It takes Skylab just 38 minutes to do it. The "it" they share, is circumnavigating the globe!

Couch potatoes need not apply. This real world travel adventure competition is only for the hardiest and most travel savvy Type-A globetrotters. GreatEscape2002: The Global Scavenger Hunt is for those who crave authentic adventure, genuine exotic travel, real competition and world-class fun.

Outside Magazine calls The Global Scavenger Hunt "...one of the most amazing trips in the world!" NPR's "Savvy Traveler" host Dianna Nyad, believes that GreatEscape2002 "...is just such a great idea!" And nationally syndicated Pierre Wolf of "Pack Your Bags," agrees saying that the competition is "The most remarkable travel adventure I've ever heard of...truly, a one of a kind global event. This is what travel should be all about!"

Truly the "Olympics of travel adventure," Teams will earn points by completing a series of cultural-oriented scavenges in each of the 10 exotic international destinations. A true cultural immersion, the event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race to test the wildly diverse Teams ability to combat not only jetlag, but language difficulties, Team dynamics, cultural differences, inevitable logistical snafus and the ever present heat of competition.

Participants of the first event enjoyed the thrill of the competition, the mystery aspect, the cultural immersion, the food and the hotels. Here's what a few competitors said of their experience competing in The Global Scavenger Hunt travel adventure:

Carol Branson of Indianapolis: "...the awesome quantity of art ­ in churches, temples & museums...and the smiles of the peoples."

Victoria Rivers of Vancouver: "Šthe concept of not knowing my destinations was a wonderful experience, and finding random items in markets all over the world was one of my favorite parts of the scavenger hunt. My charade skills have been fine-tuned!"

Joan Havard of Austin: "...the thrill of the hunt was exciting...I'm not ready for it to end!"

Michael Hickmon of California: "Riding an elephant and climbing to the center of the pyramid were my favorite experiences...the scavenges where we learned about cultural differences were the most interesting. I now know that I can go anywhere..."

Willi Massinger of Key West: "The ease of air travel was great...the hospitality events were simply super!

David Matichuk of Edmonton: "It was exactly how I thought The Global Scavenger Hunt would be...global, challenging and adventurous. A great competition."

Travelers and adventurers participating in GreatEscape2002 will be limited to using public transportation only while solving clues in-country. "Public transportation makes a foreign environment seem, well, more foreign!" continues Chalmers, "The Teams will get more than some snapshots, a sunburn and souvenirs, they'll replenish their memory banks with exciting and exotic experiences. I suspect, like the Eco-Challenge for physically fit marathon trekkers, that GreatEscape2002 will be the ultimate cocktail hour competition among travelers. More than just a travel and competition however, Teams will be helping to raise a million dollar goal for some wonderful humanitarian organizations."

To participate, Teams will be interviewed for their suitability and are required to raise or pay a minimum of $7,900 per person to the GreatEscape Foundation, with portions being tax-deductible (includes all international airfare, First Class hotels, special events and some meals). Interested travelers should contact 310.281.7809 or visit the world famous commercial-free travel website at www.GreatEscape2002.com.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Gear Editor