THE TIMELINE | 33 WIKINGER – A BRIEF SUMMARY 1969 ”Renta Gruppenreisen-Service GmbH“ was founded. This was later renamed ”Wikinger Reisen GmbH“. 1970 – 1979 Discover the world, far off the beaten track – that is the Wikinger motto. The following year, the group trips were sup- plemented with offers for individual travellers. By 1997, Wikinger Reisen was already providing extensive information about all its available trips on its website wikinger.de. 1999 saw more than 20,000 active travellers with the Hagen-based operator for the first time ever. The programme included 127 trips across five continents. 2000 – 2009 Since 2000, customers have been able to book their Wikinger trip directly through the company’s website. In 2003, 27,000 guests travelled with the Hagen-based company, which had firmly established itself as the biggest provider of hiking holidays. In 2006, a separate trekking catalogue of- fering trips all over the world for the athletic hiker was published for the first time. 2007 saw the opening of the first Wikinger hiking hotel in the verdant north of Tenerife: the 4-star hotel ”Luz del Mar“. In 2009, the founder of Wikinger Reisen, Hans-Georg Kraus received the German Federal Cross of Merit for his social commit- ment. The first ”Iceland-Highland-Expedition“ with Land Rovers and tents took place in 1972. Other Land Rover trips in small groups to Canada, Kenya and Tanzania were to follow. 1980 – 1989 The hiking programme was expanded and now included several islands. At first, La Gomera was added, others were to follow soon such as all Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Madeira. 1990 – 1999 By 1994 (the year of the company’s 25th anniversary), the company was offering 214 trips across five continents. In 1996, a separate cycling holiday catalogue was published for the first time. Image © Dominik Ketz Norway, Briksdalsbreen