Guyana's hinterland region is set to make further strides with the introduction of a daily service between the city and Lethem in the south of the country.

Equipped with fifteen all-terrain, four wheel drive vehicles, the Georgetown/Lethem Transportation Association is seeking to offer a customer oriented service filled with lively adventure.

The service, formed by eight Guyanese who previously operated on the trail individually, is expected to lessen travel hassles to the hinterland.

Chatting with Stabroek News last week, three members of the association, its President, Peter Campayne, Secretary, David Foo and executive member, Chris King stated that it is their intention to offer a safe daily service by experienced operators knowledgeable about the terrain.

As highlighted by Foo, the association has a special interest in affording tourists both from here and overseas opportunities to visit the majestic interior with its varied flora and fauna complimented by its picturesque natural habitat.

All vehicles, the trio acknowledged, were specially equipped allowing them to be submerged in water up to their bonnets apart from having winches in the event of having to be pulled through rough patches along the trail.

This apart, certified mechanics undertake frequent checks and servicing to ensure reliability of the vehicles to allow almost trouble free passage during the approximately 14-hour journey.

The route followed during the trip allows passengers to take in stunning views of Iwokrama along with the rapids at Kurupukari.

After leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, travellers will experience a smooth ride along the paved Soesdyke/Linden Highway into the mining town of Linden. From there onwards, the laterite road winds its way through heavily forested areas passing the Demerara Timbers concession at Mabura Hill.

Once leaving this area there is no sign of life until one arrives at Iwokrama and goes on to Kurupukari and then Annai.

Following brief stops at each of these destinations including the Rock View Resort at Annai, to allow for stretching of the legs and any other activity, it is then on to the vast savannah region dotted with mountain ranges and ranches before arriving at Lethem.

Other features of the service include the preparation of passenger manifests on which vital information including name, sex, age, address and other pertinent information is recorded for the information of police authorities at Mabura and Lethem and the company's personnel records.

The company plans to register with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) with a view to operating tours to the interior.

The association has offices at 149 Church and Light streets in the city and next to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Administrative office on the Lethem main road. The Georgetown office can be reached at 225-2004 and the one in Lethem at 772-2101.

The association is also serviced by bilingual personnel and can also facilitate passengers' travel to cross-border destinations.