INCLINE VILLAGE, Nevada - The most rewarding aspect of travel is the opportunity to meet and understand the people and to know that one has gone inside another country, rather than having just passed through it. Myths and Mountains has successfully pursued just that goal for nearly 25 years. Two very different trips provide great examples of this cultural immersion through living with and learning from the local people.

Shamans of Ecuador is an award-winning ten-day sojourn that begins in Quito before traveling by canoe to the jungle home of the Amazonian Quichua natives. Here guests hike into the rainforest, stay in simple huts and spend three days living with local families to share their lives and to learn how they use the hundreds of native plants as medicines. The local shaman explains his medicinal garden and one evening hosts a spiritual healing session. The trip then returns to the Andes to the home of the Otavalo Indians, where guests spend two days at a small, boutique hacienda and learn about the contrasts between the plants, rites and beliefs of the mountain shamans and those of the jungle. The trip is $3895 per person and has scheduled spring and summer departures.

China: Festivals and Textiles of the Miao and Dong travels off the traditional Chinese tourist path to combine the unique textile and needlework artistry of the Miao and Dong women in China’s least visited province with the magnificent pageantry of the Sister’s Meal Festival in April or the Lusheng Festival in November. The trip begins in Guiyang before heading to the villages to see and learn how the clothes, embroidery and jewelry are made and to try out the local sewing techniques. Along the way travelers experience village life among the local people and enjoy the delicious cuisine. Both of the Miao festivals involve the courtship rituals of the teenagers, so the girls and boys don their finest decorative jewelry and colorful costumes. Guests see the adolescent shyness fade into smiles as the young people dance, show off and socialize with each other. The farewell dinner is a delicious vegetarian banquet prepared by the monks from the Hong Fu Temple in Guiyang. This ten-day trip starts at $2675 per person.

Myths and Mountains offers more than 100 itineraries, carefully designed to delve beneath the surface of places visited, allowing guests to become enriched by truly experiencing the people and culture of the destinations. They offer scheduled departures, but are particularly known for customizing itineraries to match each traveler’s tastes and interests. The company is also a member of Trusted Adventures, a consortium of award-winning companies matching active travelers with over 350 unique trips walking, rafting, cycling and trekking in over 85 destinations worldwide. Contact them at 800-670-MYTHS (6984) or http://www.mythsandmountains.com.

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Media Contact: Allie Almario, 800-670-6984; allie@mythsandmountains.com