2019–2020 TRAVEL BROCHURE TRAVEL
EXPEDITIONS TRAVEL BROCHURE 2019–2020 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS
| 2019–2020 |
NORTH AMERICA EURASIA
11 Alaska: Denali to Kenai Fjords 42 Trans-Siberian Rail Expedition 12 Glacier National Park 44 Georgia and Armenia: Crossroads of Continents 13 Canadian Rockies by Rail and Trail 14 Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone EUROPE 15 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks 46 Norway’s Trains and Fjords 16 Arches, Canyonlands, 47 Iceland: Volcanoes, Glaciers, and Whales and Mesa Verde National Parks 48 Ireland: Tales and Treasures 17 Grand Canyon, Bryce, of the Emerald Isle and Zion National Parks 49 Italy: Renaissance Cities and Tuscan Life 18 Belize and Tikal Private Expedition 50 Swiss Trains and the Italian Lake District 52 Southern Spain and Morocco SOUTH AMERICA 54 Human Origins: Southwest France 19 Peru: Machu Picchu Inn to Inn Trek and Northern Spain 20 Peru Private Expedition 55 Greece: Wonders of an Ancient Empire 21 Colombia Private Expedition 56 Greek Isles Private Expedition 22 Ecuador Private Expedition 23 Argentina and Chile: Hiking, Kayaking, ASIA and Rafting the Lake District 57 Japan Private Expedition 24 Exploring Patagonia 58 Inside Japan 26 Patagonia Private Expedition 60 China: Imperial Treasures and Natural Wonders AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC 62 China Private Expedition
27 Australia Private Expedition 63 Tibet and Nepal: Expedition to the Highest Himalaya 64 Bhutan: Kingdom in the Clouds AFRICA 66 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: 28 The Great Apes of Uganda and Rwanda Treasures of Indochina 29 Tanzania Private Expedition 30 On Safari: Tanzania’s Great Migration RESOURCES AND MORE
32 Kenya: Up Close with Elephants, 3 Discover the Rhinos, and Big Cats National Geographic Difference 34 Southern Africa Safari by Private Air 8 All the Ways to Travel with National Geographic 36 Madagascar Wildlife Expedition 68 Terms and Conditions 37 Madagascar Private Expedition 70 Expedition Calendar 38 Morocco: Legendary Cities and the Sahara 39 Morocco Private Expedition
MIDDLE EAST 40 The Holy Land: Past, Present, and Future
2 For more than 130 years, we’ve sent our explorers across continents and into remote cultures, down to the oceans’ depths, and up the highest mountains, in an effort to better understand the world and our relationship to it. National Geographic Expeditions grew from this legacy as a way to invite others to explore—to encounter the wonders of the world up-close and in-depth, and to be transformed by the experience.
Through National Geographic Expeditions, you gain access to people and places. You’re enriched by the knowledge of our experts and guides, and by the local experts you meet along the way. And you give back. When you travel with us, you support the work of our explorers.
That is the National Geographic difference.
TRAVELWITHNATGEO.CO.UK | 0800 221 8257 3 National Geographic photographer Thomas Peschak frames a selfie with fish in the waters of Baja.
4 0800 221 8257 | TRAVELWITHNATGEO.CO.UK | KNOWLEDGE |
EXPLORE WITH OUR EXPERTS
You deepen your understanding of the world when you travel with us. From the scientists, photographers, and explorers who lead our trips to the local guides and experts we meet in the field, you'll be surrounded by people who are steeped in knowledge and insights about the places we visit.
STEVE BOYES Steve Boyes is a conservationist, biologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer. He’s travelled across Africa, studying wildlife rehabilitation and biodiver- sity, and will lead the Southern Africa by Private Air expedition on May 28 2019.
CARROLL DUNHAM
Medical Anthropologist and filmmaker, Carroll Dunham has worked on over a dozen films for National Geographic. Carroll has become an expert in the Himalayas, having lived there for 25 years, and will lead the March 11 2019 departure of Bhutan: Kingdom in the Clouds.
LALY LICHTENFELD Laly Lichtenfeld is a conservationist and National Geographic Explorer who works with National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative to preserve Tanzania’s lions, leopards and cheetahs. Laly will join the August 5 and September 2 departures of On Safari: Tanzania’s Great Migration.
5 | GIVE BACK |
TRAVEL AND SUPPORT EXPLORATION
When you travel with us, you help further the work of our scientists, explorers, and educators around the world. Every year, we distribute a portion of our proceeds to the National Geographic Society, creating more opportunities to work toward a planet in balance. To learn more, visit natgeo.com/giveback.
In Iceland, National Geographic grantees are examining how expanding meltwater lakes are impacting the rate of glacial retreat.
The Society is funding a geological survey of Egypt's Theban Mountains that will inform the archaeological preservation of ancient tombs and temples.
National Geographic photographer and grantee Ami Vitale is documenting the efforts of Kenya’s tribal communities to conserve resident megafauna, including the black rhinoceros.
6 0800 221 8257 | TRAVELWITHNATGEO.CO.UK Elephants crossing the Savanna at sunset in Kenya.
| ACCESS |
CLOSER THAN YOU'VE EVER IMAGINED
We open doors around the globe, so that you can go behind the scenes to get a close-up view of the world's treasures and the work National Geographic is doing to help protect them.
On our new expedition to Georgia and Armenia, examine early Homo erectus skulls alongside a National Geographic researcher who excavated them (see page 44).
Visit a wildlife rescue centre in Vietnam's Cuc Phuong National Park, home to a National Geographic–supported project that is tackling the illegal pangolin trade (see page 66).
Meet experts at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Rariseke Research Centre and track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, where NG grantee Dian Fossey conducted research on gorillas for 18 years (see page 28).
TRAVELWITHNATGEO.CO.UK | 0800 221 8257 7 Land Small Ship Train Private Jet Private
TOURS WITH AN EXPERT ACTIVE
ImmerseLand youselfSmall Ship in fascinatingTrain destinations PrivateFamily Jet throughPrivatePhoto ExploreActive by foot,Journeys by kayak,River orCruise even by Student dogsled on an ac- enriching experiences, whether you’re exploring an tive expedition. Led by dynamic adventure guides, these archaeological site or a national park. Led by a National trips combine spectacular places, physical Geographic expert, these trips celebrate the history, challenge, and cultural interaction. culture,Family and naturalPhoto heritageActive of a destinationJourneys River Cruise Student Light Light/Moderate. Moderate Moderate/Strenuous Strenuous Maximum
Light or Moderate Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuous(Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only)Strenuous Maximum
Light or Moderate (Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only)
Land Small Ship Train Private Jet Private
PHOTOGRAPHY PRIVATE
Family ImprovePhoto yourActive photographyLand JourneysSmall skills Ship withRiver the CruiseTrain guidance Student Private of Jet TravelPrivate independently—on unique itineraries curated by a National Geographic photographer - whether you're National Geographic with travelling companions of your travelling through Japan or framing wildlife in Tanzania. choice. Explore with private guides and stay in top accommodation. Family Photo Active Journeys River Cruise Student Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuous Strenuous Maximum
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Light or Moderate (Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only) Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuous Strenuous Maximum
Light or Moderate (Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only) Land Small Ship Train Private Jet Private
Family Photo Active Journeys River Cruise Student LandLand SmallSmall Ship Ship TrainTrain Private Private Jet Jet PrivatePrivate
FamilyFamily PhotoPhoto ActiveActive JourneysJourneys RiverRiver Cruise Cruise Student Student Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuous Strenuous Maximum
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ACTIVITY LEVELS LightLight or or Moderate Moderate (Lindblad(Lindblad(Lindblad and andand Scenic ScenicScenic Expeditions ExpeditionsExpeditions Only) Only)Only) LIGHT Travellers should be in good health and comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time. Daily activities may include city walking tours, visits to sites, game drives on bumpy roads, or easy hikes.
LIGHT/MODERATE Travellers should be in good health and comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time. Daily TRAIN activities may include city walking tours, visits to sites, game drives, or easy hikes, with options for more Land Small Ship StepTrain back in Private time Jet on a rail journey, experiencing fabled Private physical activities such as hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, landscapes from the intimate perspective of a classic train. and biking. Note: All cruises are rated Light or With a National Geographic expert on board, the places Moderate; travellers can choose between light or you pass through take on a whole new depth and meaning. moderate activities according to their capabilities. Family Photo Active Journeys River Cruise Student MODERATE Travellers should be physically fit and prepared for multiple hours of activity (e.g. hiking, kayaking, biking) each day.
Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuous Strenuous Maximum MODERATE/STRENUOUS Travellers should be physically fit and prepared for multiple hours of activity (e.g. hiking, kayaking, biking) each day. Certain days may have more challenging Light or Moderate physical activity, such as ascents/descents on steep (Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only) mountainous terrain.
STRENUOUS Designed for experienced active travellers in excellent Land Small Ship Train Private Jet Private physical condition, these itineraries may include full-day hikes (sometimes at high altitude) or full-day kayaking excursions. Trails often include steep ascents/descents JOURNEYS on mountainous terrain, with some exposed sections.
Family Photo Active JourneysNational GeographicRiver Cruise Journeys, Student in partnership with MAXIMUM G Adventures, blends hands-on exploration, meaning- The ultimate challenge for serious hikers who are very fit and have experience hiking or trekking at high ful encounters with people and cultures, and more free elevations. These itineraries include numerous time and choices - with the structure and security of challenging, full-day hikes. Light Light/Moderate Moderate Moderate/Strenuoustravelling inStrenuous a small group. Max Youimum can find these tours in our dedicated Journeys brochure. 9
Light or Moderate (Lindblad and Scenic Expeditions Only) A ranger at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya shares a special moment with a black rhinoceros.
10 ALASKA: DENALI TO KENAI FJORDS 8 DAYS FROM £5,270
• Take in Alaska's epic wilderness through the glass-domed cars of the Denali Star train.
• Explore Denali’s backcountry from our adventure lodge deep in the heart of the park. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Spot marine life and tidewater glaciers on a cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park.
DAYS 3–5 I DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE/ANCHORAGE Spend two full days exploring Denali's mag- A National Geographic expert and expedition leader will accompany you nificent interior by foot or mountain bike from on this trip. Naturalist and environ- Denali Backcountry Lodge, one of National mental scientist Carl Tobin will join Geographic's Top 10 Adventure Lodges of the all the June departures, as well as the World. Continue to Anchorage for an evening August 14, 2019 departure. at leisure. Denali Backcountry Lodge; Hotel Captain Cook | Meals: Days 3–4: B/L/D Daily; INFORMATION Day 5: B/L 2019 Dates: June 5–12 | June 12–19 | June 19–26 July 17–24 | Aug. 14–21 | Aug. 28–Sept. 4 | Sept. 4–11 DAY 6 I SEWARD HIGHWAY/KENAI PENINSULA Travel the stunningly scenic Seward Highway These departures are specifically designed for families. on one of National Geographic’s Drives of a Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Kids ages 7–17 receive a £150 discount on family Lifetime. Ride the tram to the top of Mount departures. Single supplement is from £935. Airfare is not Alyeska, and get up close to Alaska’s wild included in the price. residents at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre. Seward Windsong Lodge | Meals: B/L/D DAYS 1–2 I FAIRBANKS, ALASKA/DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE DAYS 7–8 I KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK/ANCHORAGE Hear Iditarod tales from trail veteran Mary Cruise the coast of Kenai Fjords National Park, Shields—the first woman to complete the race— spotting all manner of marine life, including and interact with sled dogs at her cabin outside orcas, humpbacks, sea otters, and harbour Fairbanks. Ride the Denali Star, taking in the seals; and see an advancing tidewater glacier scenery from the train’s upper deck. Later, drive calve chunks of ice into the water. Hike to the to our lodge deep in the heart of Denali, spotting terminus of Exit Glacier. Seward Windsong moose, caribou, grizzly bears, and more along Lodge | Meals: Day 7: B/L/D; Day 8: B our route. Springhill Suites Fairbanks; Denali Backcountry Lodge | Meals: Day 1: D; Day 2: B/L/D
Above: A bull moose makes its way across a colourful patch of tundra in Denali.
11 GLACIER NATIONAL PARK 7 DAYS FROM £3,875
• Join a naturalist to search for bears, moose, and bighorn sheep in Glacier National Park.
• Ascend the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road and go rafting on the Flathead River. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Spend a day amid the stunning mountains of Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park.
take to the waters of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River on a float trip. Lake McDonald A National Geographic expert and Lodge | Meals: B/L/D Daily expedition leader will accompany this trip. Geologist, naturalist, and DAYS 4 –5 I GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD/ avid birder Kitty Coley will join the MANY GLACIER VALLEY August 17, 2019 departure. Journey along the Going-to-the-Sun Road— a 50-mile engineering marvel that crosses the Continental Divide. We'll stop for some truly INFORMATION breathtaking hikes before arriving in Many 2019 Dates: July 6–12 | Aug. 3–9 | Aug. 17–23 Glacier Valley, home to abundant wildlife and Sept. 1–7 | Sept. 7–13 some of the park’s last visible glaciers. Cruise Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to across Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes aboard change. Single supplement is from £975. Airfare is not included in the price. a classic wooden boat. Then delve deeper into the valley, choosing between a short hike or a more strenuous trek to a glacier. Many Glacier Hotel | Meals B/L/D Daily
DAY 6 I WATERTON LAKES DAY 1 I KALISPELL, MONTANA/WHITEFISH NATIONAL PARK, CANADA Arrive in Kalispell and transfer to our hotel in Set out on a daylong excursion to Canada's Whitefish. Grouse Mountain Lodge Waterton Lakes National Park, which, together with Glacier, became the world's first DAYS 2–3 I BIG MOUNTAIN/LAKE MCDONALD international peace park in 1932. Explore the Ride to the scenic summit of Big Mountain, area on foot and by boat, and enjoy a classic and set off on a hike overlooking Flathead “high tea” at the legendary Prince of Wales Hotel. Valley. Then explore the west side of Glacier Many Glacier Hotel National Park from our base at a historic lodge. Experience Lake McDonald Valley while hiking DAY 7 I KALISPELL one of the many trails to Avalanche Lake. Later, After breakfast, depart for home. Meals: B Above: A historic red bus winds along the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road.
12 CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL AND TRAIL 8 DAYS FROM £8,370
• Take in views of Canada's Rockies from the glass-domed Rocky Mountaineer train.
•Trek atop the powerful Athabasca Glacier with an expert guide. Train Light • Settle into iconic hotels, including the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Yellowhead Pass. Our train voyage culminates as we glide by Mount Robson, the tallest summit A National Geographic expert and in the Canadian Rockies. Hotel 540 or Sandman expedition leader will accompany Signature Kamloops Hotel; Fairmont Jasper Park this trip. Geologist and naturalist Lodge | Meals: Day 2: B/L; Day 3: B/L/D Kirt Kempter will join the September 23, 2019 departure. DAYS 4 –5 I JASPER NATIONAL PARK Discover the pristine beauty and iconic creatures INFORMATION of Jasper National Park. Cruise across Maligne INFORMATION Lake, and soar into the mountains via the Jasper 2019 Dates: July 8–15 | Aug. 12–19 | Sept. 2–9 SkyTram for stunning views of glacier-sculpted Sept. 23–30 valleys splashed with turquoise lakes. Fairmont Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Jasper Park Lodge | Meals: Day 4: B/L; Day 5: B/L/D change. Single supplement is from £2,570. Airfare is not included in the price. DAY 6 I ICEFIELDS PARKWAY Travel along the scenic Icefields Parkway toward Banff National Park, stopping en route for a trekking excursion atop Athabasca Glacier. DAY 1 I VANCOUVER, CANADA Later, settle into our historic lake-front hotel. Walk Stanley Park’s famous seawall for incredible Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise | Meals: B/L views of the Vancouver skyline. Wedgewood DAYS 7–8 I BANFF NATIONAL PARK/ Hotel and Spa | Meals: D YOHO NATIONAL PARK/CALGARY Hike through spectacular Banff National Park DAYS 2–3 I ROCKY MOUNTAINEER to discover the mirror-like waters of Moraine Climb aboard the celebrated Rocky Mountaineer Lake. Enjoy a picnic lunch, then view the Spiral train and take in jaw-dropping views of the Tunnels of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Browse Canadian Rockies from luxurious glass-domed the Yoho National Park Visitor Centre and its coaches. Ride past dramatic gorges and impressive fossil exhibits. Fairmont Chateau waterfalls, and cross the Continental Divide at Lake Louise | Meals: Day 7: B/L/D; Day 8: B Above: The Rocky Mountaineer, as captured by National Geographic photographer Susan Seubert while on assignment.
13 WINTER WILDLIFE IN YELLOWSTONE 6 DAYS FROM £3,640
• Explore Yellowstone by heated snow coach, and see Old Faithful without the crowds.
• Meet a wildlife cinematographer and hear about his career shooting for National Geographic. Expert Led Light • Search for bison and elusive wolves while on safari in the sweeping Lamar Valley.
and use a spotting scope to search for these elusive creatures. Later, a renowned wildlife A National Geographic expert and cinematographer joins us (his schedule permit- expedition leader will accompany ting) to share his experiences shooting for National this trip. Author and biologist Jeremy Geographic. Best Western Plus by Mammoth Schmidt will join the December 24 Hot Springs | Meals: Days 2–5; B/L/D Daily and 30, 2019 departures.
DAYS 3–4 I GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE/OLD FAITHFUL INFORMATION Walk to the rim of the Grand Canyon of the 2019 Dates: Dec. 22–27 | Dec. 24–29 Yellowstone to see its thundering waterfall and Dec. 27, 2019–Jan. 1, 2020 | Dec. 30, 2019–Jan. 4, 2020 the ice arch that forms from the spray. Continue 2020 Dates: Jan. 5–10 | Jan. 12–17 | Jan. 25–30 to Old Faithful to explore a dramatic landscape Feb. 16–21 | Feb. 22–27 of erupting geysers, frozen waterfalls, and These departures are photography expeditions, led gem-coloured mineral pools. Keep an eye out by a National Geographic photographer and limited to 16 travellers. Cost: from £4,030 per person, double occupancy, for wildlife—bison, encrusted in ice, often stand and subject to change among the pools for warmth. After dark, step out- Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to side to admire the incredible canopy of stars in change. Single supplement is from £700. Airfare is not included in the price. DAY 1 I BOZEMAN, MONTANA/GARDINER one of the world's best constellation-viewing Travel to our hotel just outside Yellowstone spots. Old Faithful Snow Lodge National Park. Best Western Plus by Mammoth DAY 5 I YELLOWSTONE/BIG SKY, MONTANA Hot Springs | Meals: D After visiting the whimsical Fountain Paint DAY 2 I MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Pot, travel to Big Sky, Montana and settle into WYOMING/LAMAR VALLEY a comfortable log cabin lodge. Celebrate our At Mammoth Hot Springs, stroll colourful adventure at a farewell dinner. Rainbow Ranch mineral-spring terraces outlined in snow. Then Lodge or Lone Mountain Ranch head to the Lamar Valley, where grey wolves were first reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995, DAY 6 I BOZEMAN Return to Bozeman for your flight home. Meals: B Above: A herd of bison forage for grasses and sedges beneath the snow.
14 YELLOWSTONE AND 8 DAYS FROM £3,875 GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS
• Join a National Geographic expert to seek out grizzlies, bison, and wolves in the Lamar Valley.
• Meet a renowned wildlife photographer at his home studio. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Raft the scenic Snake River beneath towering Teton Peaks.
DAY 3 I LAMAR VALLEY Rise early for a safari in the Lamar Valley and A National Geographic expert and search for bison, bears, elk, and the elusive grey expedition leader will accompany wolf—reintroduced here in 1995. Meet with a this trip. Geologist Kirt Kempter renowned wildlife photographer, and enjoy will join the May 18 and June 1, 2019 hikes and more wildlife sightings this afternoon. departures. Best Western by Mammoth Hot Springs
INFORMATION DAYS 4–5 I GRAND CANYON OF THE INFORMATION YELLOWSTONE/UPPER GEYSER BASIN 2019 Dates: May 18–25 | June 1–8 | June 22–29 At the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, take July 6–13 | July 27–Aug. 3 | July 20–27 a short walk to view towering waterfalls set Aug. 24–31 | Sept. 4–11 | Sept. 26–Oct. 3 against a dazzling red and gold palette. Con- tinue to the Upper Geyser Basin and witness These departures are specifically designed for families. the clockwork eruption of Old Faithful. Then Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Kids ages 7–17 receive a £150 discount on family explore this stunning geothermal landscape departures. Single supplement is from £1,285. Airfare is with our expert. Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful not included in the price. Snow Lodge DAYS 1–2 I BOZEMAN, MONTANA/ MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WYOMING DAYS 6 –8 I GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK/JACKSON Arrive in Bozeman. The next morning, take Journey south to the saw-toothed Teton a scenic drive to Mammoth Hot Springs, just Range. Visit the historic Murie Ranch, and en- inside Yellowstone National Park. Stroll along joy a float trip on the Snake River. Explore the travertine terraces sculpted by the hot springs National Museum of Wildlife Art or downtown before a welcome dinner. Hilton Garden Inn Jackson. Ride a tram to the top of Rendezvous Bozeman; Best Western by Mammoth Hot Peak before transferring to the airport for your Springs | Meals: Day 2–5: B/L/D Daily flight home. Jackson Lake Lodge | Meals: Day 6: B/L; Day 7: B/L/D; Day 8: B
Above: A traveller captures a picture-perfect reflection of the Tetons.
15 ARCHES, CANYONLANDS, 7 DAYS FROM £3,485 AND MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARKS
• Hike and picnic among the intriguing landscapes of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
• Arrive at your riverside lodge by raft after a float down the Colorado River. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Take a 4x4 tour of Monument Valley with Navajo guides.
Park, a promontory high above a gooseneck in the Colorado River. Red Cliffs Lodge | Meals: A National Geographic expert and B/L/D Daily expedition leader will accompany this trip. Geologist, naturalist, and DAYS 4 –5 I CANYONLANDS NATIONAL avid birder Kitty Coley will join the PARK/MONUMENT VALLEY October 20, 2019 departure. Visit Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument, and hike among sandstone spires in the Needles District of Canyonlands. Enjoy a picnic, then INFORMATION retreat for the night to the historic town of Bluff. 2019 Dates: Apr. 21–27 | May 5–11 | May 12–18 The next day, get immersed in one of the most Oct. 6–12 | Oct. 13–19 | Oct. 20–26 iconic landscapes of the American West— Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Monument Valley. Join native guides on a jeep change. Single supplement is from £740. Airfare is not included in the price. tour of the valley, hear the Navajo perspective on the area’s history, and enjoy a traditional Navajo lunch. Desert Rose Inn | Meals B/L/D Daily
DAYS 6 –7 I MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO/DURANGO DAY 1 I GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO Set off on a breathtaking drive through Canyons Arrive in Grand Junction and transfer to your of the Ancients National Monument, and arrive hotel. DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mesa Verde National Park—a complex network of DAYS 2–3 I MOAB, UTAH Ancestral Puebloan dwellings. Discover the Take the scenic route to Moab on a rafting remarkable culture that built these villages and trip along the Colorado River into Utah's imposing cliff dwellings, then continue to the canyon country, and arrive at our riverside historic railroad town of Durango. Transfer to lodge. Rise early the following morning and the airport for your flight home. explore Arches National Park on a series of Strater Hotel | Meals: Day 6: B/L/D; Day 7: B short hikes. Visit Dead Horse Point State
Above: A traveller pauses to survey the sun as it creeps above Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park.
16 GRAND CANYON, BRYCE, 8 DAYS FROM £3,720 AND ZION NATIONAL PARKS
• Hear an expert describe the geological events that shaped America’s canyonlands.
• Delve into Zion's magnificent sandstone slot canyons and Bryce Canyon’s maze of red spires. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Stay in historic national park lodges, and learn about area's wildlife from rangers.
multi-hued chasm carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Choose from a variety A National Geographic expert and of hikes and learn about the park’s unique expedition leader will accompany ecosystems. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim this trip. Author and biologist Jeremy Schmidt will join the June 15, DAYS 4 –5 I ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH 2019 departure. Journey along the spectacular Mount Carmel Scenic Byway to Zion National Park. Hear from INFORMATION our expert about the geological events that INFORMATION shaped the pink-toned Grand Staircase. Spend 2019 Dates: May 25–June 1 | June 15–22 the next day exploring Zion, a wonderland of June 29–July 6 | July 13–20 | July 27–Aug. 3 sandstone slot canyons, hanging gardens, and Aug. 24–31 | Sept. 7–14 | Sept. 21–28 | Oct. 5–12 cascading waterfalls. Flanigan's Inn These departures are specifically designed for families. Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAYS 6 –7 I BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK change. Kids ages 7–17 receive a £150 discount on family Travel to Bryce Canyon and take in breathtak- departures. Single supplement is from £990. Airfare is not ing views from Fairyland Canyon. Join a park included in the price. ranger for a telescope viewing of the starlit DAYS 1–2 I ST. GEORGE, UTAH/ sky. Discover Bryce's Canyon's famous hoodoos, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA whimsical rock formations that have been From St. George, venture into canyon country, eroded into surreal spires. Bryce Canyon Lodge stopping at Pipe Springs National Monument. or Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel Settle into our historic lodge overlooking the DAY 8 I ZION NATIONAL PARK/ Grand Canyon. Best Western Plus Abbey Inn; ST. GEORGE Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim | Meals: Day 1: Wind through Red Canyon and continue to D; Days 2–7: B/L/D Daily Kolob Canyons—Zion National Park’s hidden gem—before returning to St. George. Meals: B DAY 3 I GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM Explore the canyon’s rim, peering into the
Above: Bizarre rock formations pierce the horizon in Bryce Canyon National Park.
17 BELIZE AND TIKAL PRIVATE EXPEDITION 9 DAYS FROM £3,645 based on 6 people travelling together
• Visit a family in a Kek’chi Maya village, and help prepare traditional dishes before sitting down to lunch with your hosts. • Enjoy a private tour of the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal. Private Light/Moderate • Snorkel among myriad marine life on the world’s second largest coral reef system.
park rangers at the Port of Honduras Marine EXPEDITION TEAM Reserve. Visit a family in a Kek’chi Maya village, Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on and help prepare traditional dishes before your trip, and you will meet other local experts as sitting down to lunch with your hosts. described in the itinerary. Copal Tree Lodge | Meals: Days 2–3: B/L Daily NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE DAYS 4 –5 I BELIZE CITY/CAYO DISTRICT/ TIKAL, GUATEMALA Fly back to Belize City and visit the Belize Zoo—an animal rehabilitation sanctuary— before continuing to the Cayo District. Cross the border into Guatemala for a private tour of the ancient Maya ruins at Tikal. Chaa Creek | Meals: B/L Daily
DAYS 6 –9 I CAYO DISTRICT, BELIZE/ Copal Tree Lodge AMBERGRIS CAYE INFORMATION Visit the Barton Creek Cave and canoe through the passageways of this Maya underworld. Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered DAYS 1–3 I BELIZE CITY/ Then fly to stunning Ambergris Caye, border- year-round, except in September and October, so you PUNTA GORDA, BELIZE may request any dates that are convenient for you. ing the Belize Barrier Reef. Swim and snorkel Travel to Copal Tree Lodge—a National Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to among sharks, stingrays, and coral gardens at Geographic Unique Lodge of the World nestled availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray request. Airfare is not included in the price. in the lush coastal jungles of southern Belize. Alley, and opt to dive into the sapphire depths Upon arrival, National Geographic guests are of Belize’s Great Blue Hole if you wish. Fly home invited to participate in an exclusive chocolate- via Belize City. Victoria House Resort & Spa making class and a coffee tasting. During Meals: Day 6: B/L; Days 7–9: B Daily your stay, snorkel pristine cayes, seek out the endangered West Indian manatee, and meet
Above: A snorkeller follows close on the fins of a sea turtle.
18 PERU: MACHU PICCHU INN TO INN TREK 10 DAYS FROM £5,270
• Hike the Cordillera de Vilcabamba from one beautiful lodge to the next.
• Spend a day discovering Machu Picchu, and opt to climb the iconic Huayna Picchu peak. Active Strenuous • Enjoy an evening with National Geographic grantee Peter Frost or one of his colleagues.
optional half-day hike to a glacial lake. EXPEDITION TEAM Salkantay Lodge | Meals: Days 2–8: B/L/D Daily One or two top adventure guides, often accompanied by local guides, will lead this trip. DAYS 4 – 6 I HUAYRAQMACHAY/ COLLPAPAMPA/LUCMABAMBA NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE Begin our four-day trek to Machu Picchu. Climb to the highest point of our trip before continuing to Wayra Lodge. The next day, de- scend into the Collpapampa Valley, and enjoy a traditional pachamanca barbecue dinner. Hike downhill through a valley, then make the short climb to Lucma Lodge. Wayra Lodge; Collpa Lodge; Lucma Lodge
DAYS 7–8 I AGUAS CALIENTES/MACHU PICCHU Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Copal Tree Lodge Follow the trail uphill to the ruins of Llactapata, INFORMATION INFORMATION then board the train to Aguas Calientes. Settle into our hotel, a National Geographic Unique 2019 Dates: Apr. 7–16 | May 5–14 | May 19–28 Lodge of the World. Spend the following day June 16–25 | July 3–12 | July 21–30 | Aug. 4–13 DAY 1 I CUSCO, PERU exploring Machu Picchu with our guides. Aug. 17–26 | Sept. 8–17 | Sept. 29–Oct. 8 | Oct. 6–15 Take a guided walk through Cusco, then gather Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel 2020 Dates: Apr. 5–14 | Apr. 9–28 for a talk with either National Geographic Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to grantee Peter Frost or another prominent an- DAYS 9–10 I CUSCO thropologist. Palacio del Inka Hotel | Meals: D change. Single rooms are not available upon request; all Return to Cusco, stopping along the way at travellers will be paired with a same-gender roommate a weaving cooperative founded by National when possible. Otherwise, a single supplement from DAYS 2–3 I SORAYPAMPA £1,940 will be charged. Airfare is not included in the price. Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez. Drive to our first lodge, stopping en route to Enjoy a farewell dinner before departing the visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi. Continue to next day. Palacio del Inka Hotel | Meals: Day 9: Marcoccasa and set out on an optional hike B/L/D; Day 10: B along the Camino Real. The next day, go on an
Above: The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was excavated in 1912 with support from National Geographic.
19 PERU PRIVATE EXPEDITION 9 DAYS FROM £3,795 based on 6 people travelling together
• Stay in three spectacular National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World.
• Unlock the secrets of Machu Picchu while exploring with a private guide. Private Light/Moderate • Attend a private demonstration of traditional Andean wool-dying and weaving.
from your base at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, EXPEDITION TEAM a National Geographic Unique Lodge perched Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on dramatically among emerald slopes. Get your trip, and you will meet other local experts as immersed in traditional Andean culture as you described in the itinerary. stroll Pisac’s famous market, learn about llamas NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES in Awanacancha, visit the mountain village of Patacancha, and attend a private demonstration of traditional Andean wool-dying and weaving —practices recently revived in the region by National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez. See ancient Inca agriculture systems at Chinchero and Moray, visit the mountainside salt mines of Maras, and explore Ollantaytambo. Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba | Meals: B/L Daily
DAYS 6 –9 I MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO/LIMA This trip includes stays at three National Geographic Take the scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, Unique Lodges of the World: Inkaterra La Casona, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba (pictured above), and Inkaterra Machu or disembark early for a guided trek on the Picchu Pueblo Hotel. DAYS 1–2 I CUSCO, PERU Inca Trail. Settle into Inkaterra Machu Picchu INFORMATION Fly to Cusco and settle into Inkaterra La Casona— Pueblo Hotel, a National Geographic Unique Lodge nestled within its own private rain forest Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered a member of the National Geographic Unique year-round, so you may request any dates that are Lodges of the World collection—and enjoy an reserve. Take a guided nature walk through the convenient to you. exclusive architectural tour of this 16th-century property’s lush grounds, and visit the on-site Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to manor, once home to Simón Bolívar. The next spectacled bear rehabilitation program. Tour availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. Airfare is not included in the cost. day, take a private tour of Cusco. Machu Picchu at sunrise with a private guide. Inkaterra La Casona | Meals: Day 2: B Enjoy a free night in Cusco before flying home via Lima. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel; DAYS 3–5 I SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCA Inkaterra La Casona | Meals: Days 6–7: B/D Daily; Spend three days exploring the Sacred Valley Days 8–9: B Daily
Above: Women in traditional dress stroll through Cusco.
20 COLOMBIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 10 DAYS FROM £4,340 based on 6 people travelling together
• Explore Medellín’s revitalised Comuna 13 neighbourhood with a local artist.
• Observe armadillos, sloths and anteaters at a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Private Light/Moderate • Discover Afro-Colombian culture at the first settlement for liberated slaves in the Americas.
EXPEDITION TEAM at a farm outside Armenia, where some of the EXPEDITION TEAM world’s best java is produced. Hike through Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on an emerald valley in La Carbonera and enjoy your trip, and you will meet other local experts as a picnic beneath swaying Quindío wax palms. described in the itinerary. Hotel Estrella del Monte | Meals: Day 3: B/D; NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES Day 4: B/L/D INFORMATION Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered DAYS 5– 6 I ALTO DE SAN MIGUEL/MEDELLÍN year-round, so you may request any dates that are Venture into the cloud forests of Alto de San convenient for you. Miguel with a private guide, and visit the AIUNAU Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to wildlife rehabilitation centre to observe rescued availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. Airfare is not included in the price. armadillos, sloths, and anteaters. Join a local artist to discover Medellín’s once-notorious Comuna 13 neighbourhood, now transformed into a vibrant creative enclave. Patio del Mundo Meals: Day 5: B/L/D; Day 6: B/L
DAYS 7–10 I CARTAGENA/ PALENQUE DE SAN BASILIO INFORMATION DAYS 1–2 I BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA On a private tour of enchanting Cartagena, On a private tour of Bogotá, visit the traditional see sites that inspired Colombian author Plaza de Paloquemao market and ride a gondola and Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. to the summit of Cerro de Monserrate. Bask Venture to Palenque de San Basilio, believed in the glow of pre-Columbian artifacts at the to be the first settlement for liberated slaves Gold Museum, go behind the scenes at Teatro in the Americas. Sail to idyllic Isla Majagua and Colón, and peruse the Botero Museum. Sofitel explore by canoe, foot, or bike; then step to Bogotá Victoria Regia | Meals: Day 2: B/L/D the rhythm of vallenato music during a private DAYS 3–4 I COFFEE TRIANGLE dance lesson. Casa San Agustín | Meals: Day 7: Learn about the coffee production process B/D; Day 8: B/L
Above: A woman sells fruit outside Cartagena’s Torre del Reloj.
21 ECUADOR PRIVATE EXPEDITION 11 DAYS FROM £6,435 based on 4+ people travelling together
• Sail between the isles of the Galápagos by yacht, enjoying up-close encounters with wildlife. •Ride an aerial bike through the treetops of the Chocó rain forest. • As a National Geographic guest, you're exclusively invited to a private ceviche-making Private Light/Moderate class with a lodge chef.
seek out blue-footed boobies and frigate birds EXPEDITION TEAM on North Seymour Island, spot Sally Lightfoot Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on crabs and land iguanas on Isla Plaza Sur, snorkel your trip, and you will meet other local experts as with sea lions and penguins, and much more. described in the itinerary. Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel; Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel | Meals: Days 2–5: B/L/D Daily NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES
DAYS 6 –7 I QUITO Take a private tour of Quito’s old town, which earned the city distinction as the first UNESCO- designated world capital. Discover grand colonial buildings and plazas, and step through the doors of some of Quito’s most beautiful churches. Casa Gangotena | Meals: Day 6: B; Day 7: B/L
DAYS 8–11 I MASHPI RESERVE Visit the archaeological site of Tulipe en route This trip includes stays at two National Geographic Unique to Mashpi Lodge, a National Geographic Lodges: Mashpi Lodge (pictured above) and Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel. DAYS 1–5 I QUITO, ECUADOR/GALÁPAGOS Unique Lodge of the World set in a cloud INFORMATION From Quito, travel to the Galápagos Islands forest reserve. Set out on interpretive day and and settle into Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, nighttime walks through the forest, seeking Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the out howler monkeys, kaleidoscopic birds, year-round, so you may request any dates that are convenient for you. World tucked into one of Isla Santa Cruz’s neon frogs, and more. Join a biologist at the Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to secluded bays. As a National Geographic Life Centre—the lodge’s research station—for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Visit the availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon guest, you’re exclusively invited to a private request. Airfare is not included in the price. ceviche-making class with a lodge chef. Enjoy Equatorial Monument on your return trip to three days to explore the wild wonders of this the Quito airport. Mashpi Lodge | Meals: Days famed archipelago with lodge naturalists. Sail 8–10: B/L/D Daily; Day 11: B aboard an intimate yacht, disembarking to
Above: A pair of sea lions frolick in the waters off the Galápagos Islands.
22 ARGENTINA AND CHILE: HIKING, KAYAKING, 12 DAYS FROM £5,385 AND RAFTING THE LAKE DISTRICT
• Trek the pristine countryside surrounding Bariloche in Nahuel Huapi National Park.
•Raft the rapids of the mighty Futaleufú River, and kayak Reloncavi Fjord. Active Moderate/Strenuous • Hike Chaitén Volcano in Pumalín National Park, part of Chile's "Ruta de los Parques".
EXPEDITION TEAM and a tango lesson. Estancia Peuma Hue | Meals: EXPEDITION TEAM Day 1: D; Day 2: B/L/D; Day 3: B/L; Day 4: B/L/D One or two top adventure guides, often accompanied by local guides, will lead this trip. DAYS 5–7 I PUERTO VARAS, CHILE/ VICENTE PÉREZ ROSALES NATIONAL PARK INFORMATION NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES Make the Andean Lakes Crossing, sailing on 2019 Dates: Nov. 15–26 | Dec. 3–14 catamarans from Argentina to Chile through 2020 Dates: Jan. 20–31 | Feb. 17–28 | Mar. 3–14 a network of jewel-coloured lakes. Hike the Desolation Pass route in Vicente Pérez Rosales Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,555. Airfare is not National Park, and navigate Reloncaví Fjord included in the price. Prices based on 2019 departures. by kayak, keeping an eye out for sea lions and Austral dolphins. Hotel AWA | Meals: B/L/D Daily
DAYS 8–12 I PUMALÍN NATIONAL PARK/ YELCHO GLACIER/FUTALEUFÚ RIVER/ ESQUEL, ARGENTINA Trek to the top of Chaitén Volcano in rugged Pumalín National Park, then venture to the massive Yelcho Hanging Glacier in Corcovado DAYS 1–4 I SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE, INFORMATION National Park. Spend two days rafting the ARGENTINA/NAHUEL HUAPI NATIONAL Futaleufú River—one of the finest white-water PARK destinations in the world—riding the rapids Discover the quaint town of Bariloche, and hike below lush mountains, cliffs, and waterfalls. in Nahuel Huapi National Park, enjoying views Or choose to hike in the scenic Azul River Valley. of sparkling lakes and snowcapped volcanic Cap off your adventure with a farewell dinner peaks. Tackle the popular Refugio Frey trail, paired with fine Chilean wines. kayak the azure waters of Gutiérrez Lake, and Yelcho en la Patagonia; Uman Lodge | Meals: go horseback riding around our estancia. Delve Days 8–9: B/L/D Daily ; Day 10: B/L; Day 11: B/L/D; into local culture with an Argentinian barbecue Day 12: B
Above: Travellers take in a spectacular view while exploring the Argentine Lake District.
23 EXPLORING PATAGONIA 12 DAYS FROM £10,075
• Explore Patagonia’s incredible wonders by land and sea.
• Settle into Tierra Patagonia, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Take a walk across Magdalena Island, home to more than 100,000 Magellanic penguins.
DAY 2 I BUENOS AIRES DAYS 5– 6 I MAGDALENA CHANNEL/ Spend the day discovering this cosmopolitan AGOSTINI SOUND capital, known as the Paris of South America. As we navigate the Magdalena Channel, spot On a city tour, see the Recoleta Cemetery, final penguins, dolphins, albatrosses, and other resting place for Eva “Evita” Perón and other seabirds. After entering the Pia Fjord, board notable Argentinians. Continue to the historic Zodiacs and head out on a shore excursion on presidential palace, La Casa Rosada, and the Pia Glacier. Continue along the Beagle Channel cathedral in Plaza de Mayo. After lunch, ex- to the Garibaldi Glacier. Embark on a challeng- plore the cobblestoned lanes of San Telmo and ing hike through the Magellanic forest if you the colourful artists’ quarter of La Boca. Sofitel choose. The next day, cruise majestic Agostini Buenos Aires Recoleta | Meals: B/L Sound, and disembark for a closer look at Águila Glacier. During an easy walk, take in spectacular DAY 3 I USHUAIA/TIERRA DEL FUEGO views of the brilliant blue-and-white ice set off NATIONAL PARK by black mountains, and learn about the geo- Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the logical forces that shaped this dramatic land. world, and visit Tierra del Fuego National Park. M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis Embark our ship and sail toward the famed Meals: B/L/D Daily Beagle Channel. M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. DAY 7 I MAGDALENA ISLAND/ DAY 1 I BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA Ventus Australis | Meals: B/L/D PUNTA ARENAS Arrive this morning in the Argentine capital of DAY 4 I CAPE HORN, CHILE/WULAIA BAY Take a morning walk on Magdalena Island, home Buenos Aires. Transfer to our hotel in the heart Weather permitting, take Zodiacs to Cape Horn to a colony of more than 100,000 Magellanic of the stylish Recoleta neighbourhood and for panoramic views from the southernmost penguins. Disembark in Punta Arenas and con- explore the nearby galleries, museums, and tip of South America. Later, explore Wulaia Bay, tinue across the southern Pampas, looking for cafés at your leisure. Enjoy a tango performance, where Charles Darwin landed during his voyage herds of guanacos as well as rheas, grey foxes, followed by a welcome dinner. on the H.M.S. Beagle. Choose one of two walks and black-necked swans. Settle into our spec- Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta | Meals: D to experience the spectacular beauty of the sur- tacular hotel—Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, a rounding Magellanic forest. M.V. Stella Australis member of the National Geographic Unique or M.V. Ventus Australis | Meals: B/L/D Lodges of the World collection. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa | Meals: B/L/D Clockwise from above: A photographer captures the scenery surrounding the famed Paine massif; Magellanic penguins nesting in Patagonia; travellers survey a massive glacier in Patagonia; tango dancers strike a pose in Buenos Aires's La Boca neighbourhood. 24 • Explore Patagonia’s incredible wonders by land and sea. • Settle into Tierra Patagonia, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World. • Take a walk across Magdalena Island, home to more than 100,000 Magellanic penguins.
DAYS 8–10 I TORRES DEL PAINE the impressive collection at Santiago’s Chilean NATIONAL PARK Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, and enjoy a During the next three days, tailor your explo- farewell celebration at a Chilean winery. This A National Geographic expert and ration to your interests, choosing from among evening, transfer to the airport for your flight expedition leader will accompany a variety of hiking and horseback-riding excur- this trip. Naturalist Eduardo Shaw has home. Meals: B/L lived with his family in Patagonia for sions in the park. Discover Lago de Grey and more than 20 years. He will join the OPTIONAL EXTENSION its incredibly blue sculpted ice; hike through November 10, 2019, and both January beech forests along the shore of Laguna Azul; Add a five-day post-trip extension to Easter 2020 departures. and marvel at rock paintings left by the indig- Island from £3,795 per person, double occu- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE enous Aonikenk people, some of the earliest pancy. Or extend your trip to Chile’s Atacama inhabitants of the region. Photograph wildlife Desert with a stay at Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, near the northern limits of the park; or relax at another member of the National Geographic the hotel, taking advantage of its wonderful Unique Lodges of the World collection. amenities. Enjoy evening lectures, and cap off your stay with a festive barbecue in the com- pany of local gauchos, getting a glimpse into traditional Patagonian cowboy culture. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa | Meals: B/L/D Daily Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa
DAY 11 I PUNTA ARENAS/SANTIAGO INFORMATION Today, drive to the Punta Arenas airport for THE M.V. VENTUS AUSTRALIS AND M.V. STELLA AUSTRALIS 2019 Dates: Mar. 3–14 | Nov. 10–21 | Nov. 22–Dec. 3 the flight to Santiago. Arrive this evening and Dec. 28, 2019–Jan. 8, 2020 check in to our hotel. The M.V. Ventus Australis (built in 2017) and M.V. Stella 2020 Dates: Jan. 13–24 | Jan. 25–Feb. 5 | Feb. 6–17 The Singular Santiago | Meals: B/L Australis (built in 2010) are sister ships designed specif- Feb. 22–Mar. 4 | Mar. 5–16 ically to cruise the spectacular Patagonian waterways. Each ship has a hundred outside-facing cabins that Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAY 12 I SANTIAGO feature a large window, an en suite bathroom, a satellite change. Single-cabin pricing is from £2,600. Airfare is not included in the price. Prices based on Category A Cabin Spend a full day exploring Santiago. On a phone, and individual temperature controls. Cabins are available on three levels: Category A on the second level, for March 2019 departure. walking tour of the city centre, see the elegant Category AA on the third level, and Category AAA on Plaza de Armas, the Palacio de la Moneda, and the fourth level. Facilities include an open deck, three lounges, a library, a game room, and a single-seating the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. View dining room. All cabins in our allotment are the same size.
25 PATAGONIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 10 DAYS FROM £6,530 based on 6 people travelling together
• Join a private guide for a hike beneath Argentina’s iconic Fitz Roy massif. • Witness the powerful calving of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Private Light/Moderate • National Geographic guests will be treated to an exclusive architecture tour of the award-winning Tierra Patagonia property.
Monte Fitz Roy, and the perfect spot for your YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM picnic lunch. Hosteria Senderos | Meals: B/L Daily Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on your trip, and you will meet other local experts as DAYS 4 –5 I PERITO MORENO GLACIER described in the itinerary. Set out from El Calafate to discover the magnif- icent natural displays of the advancing Perito NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE Moreno Glacier. View the glacier’s rugged, calving face from nearby walkways, and then join a boat cruise on the surrounding waters for a different perspective. Hotel Posada Los Alamos | Meals: B/L Daily
DAYS 6–10 I TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE Drive to Torres del Paine National Park, where you’ll settle into Tierra Patagonia, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World perched Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa at the edge of Lake Sarmiento. National Geographic guests will be treated to an exclu- INFORMATION DAY 1 I BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA sive architecture tour of this award-winning Enjoy a day at leisure in Buenos Aires’ stylish Dates: This is a private expedition offered from property. Spend three full days exploring the October through March, so you may request any dates Recoleta district, or take an optional private wilds of Torres del Paine by foot, horseback, that are convenient for you. city tour. Mio Buenos Aires or 4x4 vehicle. Encounter sapphire lakes and Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to rushing waterfalls, rugged peaks and karst cor- availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon re- DAYS 2–3 I LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK quest. Airfare is not included in the price. Prices based on Journey to El Chaltén, gateway to Los Glaciares nices. Ride horseback alongside local gauchos departures up to March 2019. National Park. Join a private guide for a trek across sweeping glacial valleys, or visit a working beneath the dramatic ice-clad spires of the estancia, or ranch. Transfer to Punta Arenas for Fitz Roy massif. Your destination is Laguna de your flight home. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa los Tres, a turquoise lake framed by the iconic Meals: Days 6–9: B/L/D Daily; Day 10: B
Above: A guest takes in the view of the Torres del Paine peaks from the pool at Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa.
26 AUSTRALIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 13 DAYS FROM £12,170 based on 4+ people travelling together
• Stay in three spectacular National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World.
•Watch the sunrise over Uluru, and examine its ancient rock paintings with a guide. Private Light/Moderate • Sip cocktails alongside grazing kangaroos and wallabies on Kangaroo Island.
YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM paddleboard. National Geographic travellers EXPEDITION TEAM are invited to embark on a private sunset cruise. Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on Lizard Island Resort | Meals: Day 3: B/D; Days 4–5: your trip, and you will meet other local experts as B/L/D Daily described in the itinerary.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE DAYS 6 –8 I CAIRNS/ULURU NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGES Travel via Cairns to Longitude 131°, a National Geographic Unique Lodge with views of sacred Uluru. In Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, examine Uluru’s ancient rock paintings, and walk between the rock domes of Walpa Gorge. National Geographic guests enjoy an exclusive introduc- tion to outback cuisine in the lodge kitchen. Shangri-La Hotel Sydney; The Marina, Cairns; Longitude 131° Meals: Day 6: B; Days 7–8: B/L/D Daily
DAYS 9–13 I KANGAROO ISLAND/SYDNEY This trip includes stays at three National Geographic Unique Lodges: Southern Ocean Lodge (pictured above), Spend three nights at the elegant Southern Lizard Island Resort, and Longitude 131°. INFORMATION Ocean Lodge, a National Geographic Unique DAYS 1–2 I SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA INFORMATION Tour the Sydney Opera House with a private Lodge perched atop coastal cliffs. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the property, as well Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered guide, and join a cruise across Sydney Harbour. year-round, so you may request any dates that are as a five-course "taste of Kangroo Island" dining Shangri-La Hotel Sydney | Meals: Day 2: B/L convenient for you. experience. Join lodge naturalists to walk coast- Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAYS 3–5 I LIZARD ISLAND al trails, observe sea lions, and discover unique availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon geology; and sip sundowners alongside grazing request. Airfare is not included in the price. Prices based Settle into Lizard Island Resort, a National on Jan to Sep departures. Geographic Unique Lodge of the World bordering kangaroos and wallabies. Fly home via Sydney. the Great Barrier Reef. Delve into the reef’s bril- Southern Ocean Lodge; Shangri-La Hotel Sydney liant underwater world, exploring by snorkel, Meals: Day 9: B/D; Days 10–11: B/L/D Daily; Days catamaran, motorised dinghy, and stand-up 12–13: B Daily
Above: Travellers sit down to dinner with a view of Uluru at Longitude 131°—a National Geographic Unique Lodge.
27 THE GREAT APES 11 DAYS FROM £10,950 OF UGANDA AND RWANDA
• Go on treks in search of chimpanzees, gorillas, and golden monkeys.
• Visit a chimpanzee sanctuary established in association with the Jane Goodall Institute. Expert Led Moderate • Meet with scientists at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Centre.
Geographic grantee Emily Otali and search for chimpanzees; black-and-white colobus, red- A National Geographic expert and tailed, and blue monkeys; and the rare l’Hoest’s expedition leader will accompany monkey. Explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. this trip. Wildlife biologist, author, Continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and educator Lucy Spelman will join and go on safari to look for elephants, lions, the December 29, 2019 departure. and Ugandan kobs before an afternoon wildlife cruise. Kyaninga Lodge; Kyambura Gorge Lodge INFORMATION DAYS 7–8 I BWINDI IMPENETRABLE 2019 Dates: June 25–July 5 | July 16–26 | Aug. 20–30 NATIONAL PARK Sept. 3–13 | Dec. 29, 2019–Jan. 8, 2020 Journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject home to roughly half the world’s remaining moun- to change. Single supplement is from £2,715. All primate-tracking permits are included. Airfare is not tain gorillas. Head into the forest to see these included in the price. gentle giants, observing one of the planet’s most endangered creatures up close. Bwindi Lodge
DAYS 9–11 I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, DAYS 1–2 I ENTEBBE, UGANDA/ RWANDA/KIGALI NGAMBA ISLAND Meet experts at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Visit the Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Ngamba Karisoke Research Centre to learn about ongoing Island, established in association with the Jane conservation efforts. Track mountain gorillas Goodall Institute. Later, explore the Uganda in Volcanoes National Park, where National Wildlife Education Centre. Lake Victoria Serena Geographic grantee Dian Fossey conducted Resort | Meals: Days 2–8: B/L/D Daily research on gorillas for 18 years. Spend a morning searching for endangered golden monkeys DAYS 3–5 I KIBALE NATIONAL PARK/ with National Geographic grantee Deogratias QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK Tuyisingize. Virunga Lodge | Meals: Day 9–10: In Kibale National Park, meet with National B/L/D Daily; Day 11: B/L
Above: These endangered moutain gorillas are two of the roughly one thousand that remain in the wilds of Central Africa.
28 TANZANIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 9 DAYS FROM £ 7,110 based on 4+ people travelling together
• Encounter a profusion of wildlife while on safari in three conservation areas.
• Visit the Noloholo Environmental Centre, directed by a National Geographic Explorer.* Private Light • Picnic on the floor of the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater.
your eyes out for prowling cheetahs and EXPEDITION TEAM leopards. Arusha Coffee Lodge; Oliver’s Camp Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on Meals: Days 2–3: B/L/D Daily your trip, and you will meet other local experts as described in the itinerary. DAYS 4 –5 I NGORONGORO CRATER Enjoy a picnic breakfast on the floor of World INFORMATION Heritage–listed Ngorongoro Crater, the largest Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered non-flooded caldera in the world. Embark on a year-round except in April and May, so you may safari through this green-walled wildlife paradise, request any dates that are convenient for you. home to some 25,000 animals. Ngorongoro Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Serena Safari Lodge | Meals: B/L/D Daily availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. Airfare is not included in the price. Prices based on departures up to March 2019. DAYS 6 –9 I SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK/ ARUSHA *The visit to the Noloholo Environmental Centre is Fly to the vast plains of the Serengeti and offered from June to September. Travellers in other check into your tented suite. Spend the next months will travel directly to Tarangire National Park and enjoy an additional game drive. three days exploring Serengeti National Park on game drives, and search for crocodiles and hippos on the banks of the Mara River. Or see DAYS 1–3 I ARUSHA, TANZANIA/ TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK the majesty of the savanna from the sky on an Arrive in Arusha and travel to Tarangire National optional hot-air balloon ride. Return to Arusha Park. If your trip is between June and September, to catch your flight home. stop at the Noloholo Environmental Centre*, Sayari Camp; Rivertrees Country Inn | Meals: headed by National Geographic Explorer Laly Days 6–8: B/L/D Daily; Day 9: B/L Lichtenfeld and run in partnership with the local Maasai people. Then settle into your camp in the heart of Tarangire National Park. Encounter herds of elephants, zebras, giraffes, and wildebeests on game drives—and keep
Above: An elephant takes the beaten path in Tarangire National Park.
29 ON SAFARI: 9 DAYS FROM £ 7,480 TANZANIA'S GREAT MIGRATION
• Meet Louise Leakey or Fidelis Masao for a tour of the fossil-rich Olduvai Gorge.
• A wildlife biologist accompanies each trip to interpret the flora and fauna we encounter. Expert Led Light • Learn firsthand about Maasai culture during a private visit.
DAY 3 I LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK the lodge. Tonight, National Geographic On a morning game drive, observe the wildlife Explorer-at-Large Louise Leakey or Dr. Fidelis that congregates on the shores of Lake Manyara. Masao, co-director of the Olduvai Landscape Enjoy a guided walk around the lodge’s grounds Paleoarchaeology Project, joins us for dinner and gardens before hiking to a nearby coffee and a discussion about the groundbreaking plantation. paleontological finds in the region. Plantation Lodge | Meals: B/L/D Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 4 I NGORONGORO CRATER DAY 6 I OLDUVAI GORGE/SERENGETI After breakfast, travel to the Ngorongoro NATIONAL PARK Highlands, where we will meet with Maasai Drive to the Olduvai Gorge, where, on a community members. Far from the tourist National Geographic–sponsored expedition in circuit, enjoy a rare opportunity to view 1960, Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo traditional singing and dancing, witness an habilis—one of the earliest members of the hu- initiation ritual, and learn about this fascinating man genus. This morning, Louise (the Leakeys’ culture from the village chief and his wives. granddaughter) or Dr. Masao will discuss the After lunch, descend 2,000 feet to the floor of family’s legacy and ongoing work at Olduvai the Ngorongoro Crater, where volcanic slopes Gorge. Then take a private tour of the site, or accompany Dr. Masao on a walk through the DAY 1 I ARUSHA, TANZANIA shelter more than 25,000 animals. Observe Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and the interactions between predator and prey; area where much of his life’s research has been transfer to our hotel. Rivertrees Country Inn spot colourful birdlife, from superb starlings conducted. This afternoon, drive to our lodge to crowned cranes; and track elephants, rare in the southern Serengeti, looking for lions, DAY 2 I LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK black rhinos, cheetahs, and more. giraffes, and leopards along the way. Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famous Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge | Meals: B/L/D Serengeti Sopa Lodge | Meals: B/L/D for its elephants, hippos, giraffes, flamingos, and tree-climbing lions. Set out on our first DAY 5 I NGORONGORO CRATER DAYS 7–8 I SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK safari to discover East Africa’s legendary wild- Return to the crater floor for breakfast and Rise early for an optional hot-air balloon safari life amid the stunning Rift Valley landscape. a morning safari. Enjoy an afternoon to relax or a morning game drive before flying to the Plantation Lodge | Meals: B/L/D and watch the sun set over the crater from northern Serengeti. With luck, we will witness
Clockwise from above: Travellers on safari marvel at a cheetah family at rest; wildebeests cross Tanzanian grasslands on their annual migration; a Maasai warrior springs into the air during a traditional dance; a suite at Sayari Camp. 30 the dramatic river crossings of the wildebeest migration. Great herds of wildebeests and MIGRATION SEASONS IN THE SERENGETI A National Geographic expert and zebras eye predators warily as crocodile snouts expedition leader will accompany break the surface of the Mara River. Take in the this trip. Conservationist and National region’s spectacular array of wildlife on morn- Geographic Explorer Laly Lichtenfeld ing and afternoon game drives. On our last will join the August 5 and September 2, evening, gather for a candlelit farewell dinner 2019 departures. in the bush. Sayari Camp | Meals: B/L/D Daily INFORMATION 2019 Dates: Mar. 4–12* | July 8–16 | July 22–30 DAY 9 I SERENGETI/ARUSHA Aug. 5–13 | Aug. 12–20 | Sept. 2–10 | Sept. 8–16 After a final early-morning safari, fly back to Oct. 7–15 | Dec. 9–17* | Dec. 30, 2019–Jan. 7, 2020* Arusha. Relax at our hotel before connecting 2020 Dates: Jan. 19–27* | Feb. 16–24* with your flight home. *These departures follow a modified itinerary. See box Rivertrees Country Inn | Meals: B/L at left. In order to provide travellers with the best opportunity to witness the wildebeest migration, OPTIONAL EXTENSION These departures are photography expeditions, led the Serengeti portion of the itinerary differs by by a National Geographic photographer, and limited to season. The itinerary shown describes the July Add a six-day post-trip extension to track 16 travellers. Cost: from £7,865 per person, double through October departures, when the occupancy, and subject to change. gorillas in Rwanda from £6,590 per person, wildebeests are in the northern Serengeti. double occupancy; or a four-day post-trip safa- Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to ri in Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park from £3,720 On the December through March departures, change. Single supplement is from £2,095. Airfare is not when the migration moves south, we’ll set out for included in the price. Prices based on December 2019 per person, double occupancy. the southeastern border of the Serengeti on Day departures. 7. For the evenings of Days 6, 7, and 8, we’ll stay at Lake Masek Tented Camp. Here, we will go on morning and afternoon game drives and take an off-track safari in the Ndutu area. See our website for details.
31 KENYA: UP CLOSE WITH 10 DAYS FROM £9,550 ELEPHANTS, RHINOS, AND BIG CATS
• Set out on safari in three wildlife conservancies known for high concentrations of megafauna.
•Meet National Geographic grantees working to protect Kenyan wildlife. Expert Led Light • Interact with orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi.
out on an afternoon safari, on the lookout for track these and countless other creatures. cheetahs, lions, zebras, and other creatures Lewa Safari Camp | Meals: B/L/D scattered across the endless savanna. Tortilis Camp | Meals: B/L/D DAY 5 I LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY If you wish, rise at daybreak for a birding walk, DAY 3 I AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK spotting avian species flitting and fluttering Go on safari in Amboseli and learn about amid the grasses. Or see Lewa from a different elephant behaviour while seeking out resident perspective on a thrilling bushwalk. Tread in herds. Spend an afternoon at the Amboseli the tracks of lions, rhinos, and leopards; spot Elephant Research Project, home to the lon- tiny members of the ecosystem; and learn to gest-running study of wild elephants in the identify local flora. Later, meet with members world. Its director, Cynthia Moss, has received of Lewa’s award-winning security team, whose support from the National Geographic Society effective patrolling of the reserve has ensured for her work. Meet with project researchers that not a single rhino has been poached in the to hear about their time in the field observing past three years (to date). If you wish, join the herd dynamics and collecting biological samples. team and their highly effective tracking dogs Tortilis Camp | Meals: B/L/D on a simulated patrol of the conservancy. Lewa Safari Camp | Meals: B/L/D DAY 1 I NAIROBI, KENYA DAY 4 I LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY Fly to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, 62,000 acres DAY 6 I LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY Arrive in Nairobi and enjoy the rest of the day After breakfast, choose an excursion: venture at leisure. Tamarind Tree Hotel of golden savanna dotted on the northern flanks of Mount Kenya. Considered a model into the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve and traverse hanging bridges in the canopy for DAY 2 I AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK in the conservation field, this healthy habitat a chance to spot black-and-white colobus Fly to Amboseli National Park, one of the best is home to a number of rare species, including monkeys; then take a refreshing swim beneath a places in Africa to spot elephants. Enjoy a the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, and African waterfall. Or delve into Samburu culture during safari en route to our sustainable safari lodge, wild dogs. Lewa and the neighbouring Borana a village visit, and see how traditional dwellings set within view of Mount Kilimanjaro—the Conservancy also harbour roughly 15 percent are constructed. This evening, enjoy another world’s highest freestanding peak. After lunch of Kenya’s entire rhino population. Settle into safari, followed by a festive dinner in the bush. and time to settle into your spacious tent, set your tented camp; then set out on safari to Lewa Safari Camp | Meals: B/L/D Clockwise from above: A pair of black rhinos roam the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy; a traveller frames a magnificent African elephant; a lion family relaxes in the Maasai Mara; a tented room at Lewa Safari Camp. 32 DAY 7 I LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY/ DAY 9 I MAASAI MARA MAASAI MARA This morning we meet with researchers from Take a final safari in Lewa en route to the A National Geographic expert and the Anne K. Taylor Fund, an organisation that expedition leader will accompany airstrip, then fly to the legendary Maasai Mara works with local Maasai communities to con- this trip. Naturalist, photographer, National Reserve. Settle into our stunning safari serve area wildlife by reducing human-animal and National Geographic Explorer camp, located on the edge of the Soit Ololol conflict with support from National Geographic's Washington Wachira will join the July Escarpment in a private concession that shares Big Cats Initiative. Learn about ongoing proj- 7, September 16, and October 15, 2019 departures. an unfenced border with Maasai Mara—but is ects, like the effort to fortify bomas to prevent free of the reserve’s crowds. After lunch, get an predators from attacking livestock, resulting in INFORMATION intimate look at the area’s legendary land- revenge poaching. Later, set off on one last 2019 Dates: July 7–16 | Sept. 16–25 | Oct. 15–24 scapes on an open-vehicle wildlife drive. safari, then toast our adventure during a andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp farewell dinner under a starlit sky. Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Meals: B/L/D andBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp change. Single supplement from £3,025. Airfare is not included in the price. Meals: B/L/D DAY 8 I MASAI MARA Please note: We are currently monitoring travel alerts for Nairobi, Kenya. We expect to operate this trip as At first light, head out on safari to track the DAY 10 I NAIROBI planned, but will continue to closely monitor events in animals that traversed the area during the Return to Nairobi to hear how National the region and will alter the itinerary if necessary. night. View plains game such as Thomson's and Geographic grantee Washington Wachira Grant's gazelles, topi and eland antelopes—as trains emerging conservationists through his well as their stealthy predators—at one of their Youth Conservation Awareness Programme. most active times of the day. This area is reput- Visit the Giraffe Centre, where the endangered ed to have one of the highest concentrations Rothschild’s giraffe is bred in captivity before of predators in all of Africa. Glimpse large pods being released into the wild. Continue to the of hippos submerged up to their nostrils in the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, featured in the Mara River and crocodiles sunbathing on the September 2011 issue of National Geographic shore. Then set out on an evening safari along magazine. The organisation is the world’s most the shores of the Mara River. successful rescue and rehabilitation program andBeyondKichwa Tembo Tented Camp for orphaned elephants. Enjoy the opportunity Meals: B/L/D to shadow the centre's caretakers and get up close to the elephants during their afternoon feeding. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Meals: B/L 33 SOUTHERN AFRICA SAFARI 10 DAYS FROM £14,495 BY PRIVATE AIR
• Enjoy safaris far from the crowds, soaring between game reserves in our own charter aircraft.
• Visit the Motloutse Ruins to examine ancient artifacts with an archaeologist. Expert Led Light • Settle into Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.
DAY 2 I SABI SABI GAME RESERVE DAYS 6 –7 I MOREMI GAME RESERVE, Set off on an early-morning safari in open OKAVANGO DELTA vehicles, and observe wildlife at one of its most Soar over the magnificent wetlands of the active times with naturalist guides. Enjoy time Okavango Delta to a tented camp in Moremi to relax and take advantage of the camp’s ame- Game Reserve. Explore this untamed habitat nities before lunch. During our late afternoon by open safari vehicle, and take a trip to game drive, stop for sundowners in the bush. Gadikwe Island by flat-bottom boat to see Continue exploring as night falls, searching hippos and breeding colonies of herons, for nocturnal predators on the prowl. Gath- egrets, pelicans, storks, and cormorants. er for dinner around a large campfire in a Xakanaxa Camp | Meals: B/L/D Daily reed-enclosed boma. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge Meals: B/L/D DAYS 8–9 I CHOBE NATIONAL PARK/ VICTORIA FALLS AND LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA DAYS 3–5 I MASHATU GAME RESERVE, Board our aircraft for a flight to Chobe National BOTSWANA Park, known for its many elephant families. Fly directly to Mashatu Game Reserve, an enor- On a wildlife river cruise, watch for elephants mous private reserve located in the remote frolicking at the water’s edge and using their eastern corner of Botswana that comprises a trunks like snorkels as they swim. Then fly along the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers to DAY 1 I JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA/ diverse wilderness of savanna, riverine forests, Livingstone, and check in to the luxurious SABI SABI GAME RESERVE marshlands, open plains, and sandstone out- Arrive in Johannesburg and board our aircraft crops. Apart from morning and evening game Royal Livingstone Hotel, just steps from Victoria for a scenic flight to Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, a drives accompanied by expert guides, choose Falls. Visit a local village or the Livingstone private reserve in greater Kruger National Park. two of the following activities: a bush walk, a Museum, or head into the Maramba market. The Lowveld region is full of big game, includ- visit to a photography hide to capture Take a canoe safari, or experience the falls ing lions, leopards, and white rhinos. Settle into close-ups of wildlife, or a mountain bike ride from a thrilling perspective on an optional our luxury safari lodge, a National Geographic along elephant trails. Visit the Motloutse Ruins, flight-seeing excursion. Later, explore the falls Unique Lodge of the World, and take your first a significant archaeological site, in the company with a local guide, venturing into the mists game drive before meeting for a welcome of South African archaeologist Grant Hall. along suspended walkways. On our final dinner. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge | Meals: D Mashatu Lodge | Meals: B/L/D Daily
Clockwise from above: A leopard and her cub remain vigilant at rest; a safari vehicle clears the road at an elephant crossing; a hippo shows its formidable teeth; light shows abound at Victoria Falls. 34 evening, enjoy a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River, followed by an al fresco farewell THE ULTIMATE SAFARI EXPERIENCE A National Geographic expert and dinner at our hotel. expedition leader will accompany Royal Livingstone Hotel | Meals: Day 8: B/L; this trip. Conservationist and National Day 9: B/D Geographic Fellow Steve Boyes will join the May 28, 2019 departure. DAY 10 I JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Fly to Johannesburg and connect with your return flight home. Meals: B NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE
OPTIONAL EXTENSION Add a four-day pre- or post-trip extension in Cape Town from £2,715 per person, double occupancy.
On board our private DC-3, enjoy first- class service as we’re whisked from one Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge game reserve to the next. We fly at low altitude, allowing for rare aerial views of INFORMATION spectacular landscapes and wildlife. On several days, you can tailor the trip to 2019 Dates: May 28–June 6 | July 22–31 Aug. 23–Sept. 1 | Sept. 7–16 | Dec. 27, 2019–Jan. 5, 2020 your interests and choose from a variety of activities—including walking safaris, Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £2,910. All flights within excursions by boat or mountain bike, Africa are included in the expedition cost. Transportation and a wildlife photo shoot with a profes- within Africa is by DC-3 (minimum of 16 guests). Airfare to/ sional photographer (select departures). from Johannesburg is not included in the expedition cost.
35 MADAGASCAR WILDLIFE EXPEDITION 13 DAYS FROM £5,675
• Encounter Madagascar’s fascinating endemic species with a wildlife biologist.
• Visit the field station of primatologist and National Geographic grantee Patricia Wright. Expert Led Moderate/Strenuous • Explore Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, site of National Geographic–funded lemur research.
DAYS 4 –7 I ANALAMAZAOTRA RESERVE/ RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK Rise early to track the indri lemur through A National Geographic expert and expedition leader will accompany this Analamazaotra Reserve. Venture into the thick trip. Biologist, author, and National forests of Ranomafana National Park, where Geographic Explorer Mireya Mayor National Geographic grantee and primatologist will join the August 5, 2019 departure. Patricia Wright discovered the golden bamboo lemur. Visit the Centre ValBio and hear from staff about Patricia's latest research. Plumeria INFORMATION Hotel; Hotel Thermal Ranomafana 2019 Dates: July 1–13 | Aug. 5–17 | Sept. 2–14 Sept. 16–28 | Oct. 7–19 DAYS 8–9 I ISALO NATIONAL PARK Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Head across the savanna toward Isalo National change. Single supplement is from £1,555. Airfare is not Park, stopping en route at paper-making and included in the price. weaving workshops. Discover the dramatic sandstone canyons and gem-coloured pools of Isalo and encounter endemic species, such as the Benson’s rock thrush. Isalo Rock Lodge DAYS 1–3 I ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR/ ANDASIBE-MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK DAYS 10–13 I TSIMANAMPETSOTSA NATIONAL PARK/ANTANANARIVO Hike amid the lush lianas and fragrant orchids Set out from our oceanfront lodge to explore of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, on the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, where lookout for some of the reserve’s 14 lemur National Geographic has funded research on species. Observe lemurs rescued from the pet lemurs. Wander among Dr. Seuss–like baobab trade, and seek out colourful chameleons and trees and spot some of the park’s 100-plus bird frogs on a guided night stroll. Le Louvre Hôtel species. In Antananarivo, visit the Royal Hill of & Spa; Vakona Forest Lodge | Meals: Days 2–9: Ambohimanga before flying home. Anakao B/L/D Daily Ocean Lodge and Spa; Relais des Plateaux Meals: Days 10–12: B/L/D Daily; Day 13: B Above: The curious gaze of a ring-tailed lemur in Madagascar
36 MADAGASCAR PRIVATE EXPEDITION 12 DAYS FROM £4,780 based on 4+ people travelling together
• As a National Geographic guest, receive an exclusive invitation to meet the chief and community members of a nearby village. Private Light/Moderate • Discover otherworldly tsingy landscapes on a private excursion to Ankarana Special Reserve. • Delve into Malagasy culture on private tours of traditional farms and French colonial cities.
DAYS 4 – 6 I ANTSARAVIBE EXPEDITION TEAM In Ankarana Special Reserve, discover an oth- Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on erworldly landscape of limestone karst spikes your trip, and you will meet other local experts as called tsingy, and seek out 11 lemur species. described in the itinerary. Over the next two days, walk through sacred Mandresy Cave, tackle a challenging trek NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE among the tsingy, or take a guided bike ride to nearby villages. Iharana Bush Camp INFORMATION DAYS 7–10 I NOSY KOMBA Arrive at Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge on Nosy Komba (Lemur Island). Set out from your thatched oceanfront bungalow to explore the tropical treasures of the Nosy Be archipelago. Snorkel waters harbouring humpbacks and dolphins, hike coastal rain forests, and relax Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge on Nosy Komba’s golden sands. As a National DAYS 1–3 I ANTANANARIVO, Geographic guest, you’ll receive an exclusive INFORMATION MADAGASCAR/ANTSIRANANA invitation to spend time with the chief and Dates: This is a private expedition offered from April to Enjoy an evening at leisure in Antananarivo, community members of a nearby village. early December, so you may request any dates that are then fly to Antsiranana on the northern coast Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge convenient for you. and take a private tour of the town’s colonial Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to avail- centre. Delve into Madagascar’s mind-blowing DAYS 11–12 I ANTANANARIVO/DEPART ability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. biodiversity while hiking with a private guide Return to Antananarivo for a private tour of Airfare is not included in the price. in Amber Mountain National Park, home to the city, including the 15th-century Royal Hill of leaping lemurs and camouflaged chameleons. Ambohimanga. Palissandre Hôtel & Spa; Relais Relais des Plateaux; The Litchi Tree des Plateaux | Meals: Day 11: B/L/D; Day 12: B/L Meals: Days 2–10: B/L/D Daily
Above: A chameleon sports a rainbow of colours.
37 MOROCCO: 12 DAYS FROM £6,200 LEGENDARY CITIES AND THE SAHARA
• Ride a camel across Saharan dunes at sunset, and overnight in a comfortable tented camp.
• Delve into Berber culture at Kasbah du Toubkal, a National Geographic Unique Lodge. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Enjoy dinner and a Sufi musical performance at a traditional Moroccan home.
DAYS 4 – 6 I HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS/ AÏT BEN HADDOU Experience Berber hospitality at Kasbah du A National Geographic expert and expedition leader will accompany this Toubkal, a National Geographic Unique Lodge trip. Archaeologist Chloé Capel will perched in the High Atlas Mountains. Go hiking join the October 5, 2019 departure. amid the surrounding peaks, sip mint tea in a family home, and soak in the lodge’s tradition- al hammam. Later, tour the ancient fortified NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE village of Aït Benhaddou. Kasbah du Toubkal; Ksar Ighnda | Meals: B/L/D Daily
DAYS 7–8 I DADES GORGE/SAHARA DESERT Set out on the fabled Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, passing spectacular rock formations, oases, and rose plantations, and stopping at small villages. Walk the dramatic Dades Gorge, and ride Kasbah du Toubkal camelback into the Sahara to watch the sun set, INFORMATION then settle into our comfortable tented camp. Xaluca Dades; Bivouac Tented Berber Camp 2019 Dates: Mar. 16–27 | Mar. 30–Apr. 10 DAYS 1–3 I CASABLANCA, MOROCCO/ Apr. 13–24 | May 11–22 | Sept. 28–Oct. 9 Meals: B/L/D Daily MARRAKECH Oct. 5–16 | Oct. 12–23 | Oct. 23–Nov. 6 Stroll elegant Casablanca before heading to 2020 Date: Mar. 14–25 Marrakech, Morocco’s “pearl of the south”. DAYS 9–12 I FEZ/VOLUBILIS AND MEKNÈS Explore the city’s splendid mosques, palaces, Discover the magnificent imperial city of Fez, and These departures are designated as photography take an optional excursion to the Roman ruins expeditions, led by a National Geographic photographer, and gardens, and delve into the labyrinthine and are limited to 16 travellers. Cost: from £6,590 per medina. Kenzi Tower Hotel; Es Saadi Marrakech of Volubilis, and to Morocco’s 17th-century person, double occupancy, and subject to change. capital, Meknès. Enjoy a special farewell dinner Resort | Meals: Day 1: L/D; Day 2: B/L/D; Day 3: B/L Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to at a traditional Moroccan home, accompanied change. Single supplement is from £1,670. Airfare is not by Sufi musical entertainment. included in the price. Riad Maison Bleue and Spa | Meals: Day 9: B/L/D; Day 10: B/L; Day 11: B/D; Day 12: B Above: The adobe village of Aït Ben Haddou glows during the golden hour.
38 MOROCCO PRIVATE EXPEDITION 9 DAYS FROM £3,565 based on 6 people travelling together
• Visit six UNESCO World Heritage sites with a private guide.
• Sip traditional mint tea in the home of a Berber family. Private Light/Moderate • Stay in the Kasbah du Toubkal, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.
front Kasbah of Ouadaya and the Mausoleum EXPEDITION TEAM of Mohamed V. Villa Mandarine | Meals: B/L Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on your trip, and you will meet other local experts as DAYS 4 –5 I HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS described in the itinerary. Journey into the High Atlas Mountains to Kasbah du Toubkal—a National Geographic NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE Unique Lodge of the World built from the ruins NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE of a medieval kasbah—and set out on a range of hikes and donkey rides. National Geographic guests are exclusively invited on a village walk with a local staff member, followed by a tradi- tional mint tea in his or her home. Kasbah du Toubkal | Meals: B/L/D Daily
DAY 6 I AÏT BEN HADDOU Discover the opulent interiors or Kasbah INFORMATION Telouet, a deserted fortification on an age-old caravan route. Wander the enchanting adobe Kasbah du Toubkal DAYS 1–2 I CASABLANCA, MOROCCO/FEZ village of Aït Ben Haddou at your own pace. INFORMATION From Casablanca, travel to Fez and discover Riad Ksar Ighnda | Meals: B/L/D Dates: This is a private expedition offered from the charms of old and new Fez on a full-day city DAYS 7–9 I MARRAKECH January through June and from September through tour with a private guide. Riad Maison Bleue December, so you may request any dates that are In legendary Marrakech, listen to storytellers, Meals: Day 2: B/D convenient for you. warm up to fire-eaters, and delight in the beguiling music of snake charmers in Djemaa Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAY 3 I MEKNÈS/VOLUBILIS/RABAT availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon Join your private guide to explore two UNESCO el Fna, the city’s main square. See the high- request. Airfare is not included in the price. World Heritage sites: medieval Meknès and the lights of the city on a full-day tour. Roman ruins of Volubilis. In Rabat, see the ocean- La Villa des Orangers Hôtel | Meals: Day 7: B/L; Days 8–9: B
Above: A traveller pauses under the elaborate arch of an old madrasa in Marrakech.
39 THE HOLY LAND: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE 11 DAYS FROM £5,425
• Hear a unique dual narrative from our Israeli and Palestinian guides.
• Meet Israeli and Palestinian politicans for an insider’s view of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Expert Led Light • Explore ancient Caesarea Maritima with National Geographic Explorer Beverly Goodman.
join a local pastor at the Church of the Holy DAY 5 I BETHLEHEM AND THE WEST BANK Sepulchre, home to the tomb of Jesus, according Travel to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc to to tradition. Ascend the Mount of Olives, and hear the viewpoints of Israeli settlers. Continue take in a panoramic view of the domes, spires, to Bethlehem and visit Manger Square; then, and golden stones of Jerusalem’s old city. at the Church of the Nativity, descend into the American Colony Hotel | Meals: B/L/D cave revered by many as the birthplace of Jesus. Walk through a nearby Palestinian DAY 3 I JERUSALEM refugee camp, and learn how murals and Venture into the ruins of the City of David and graffiti have been used to depict the refugees’ speak with its Israeli administrators, then meet struggles. Stop at Herodion, a volcano-shaped residents of the nearby Palestinian neighbour- hill and fortress built by Herod the Great. Over hood who oppose the excavations. Get an dinner, take in a musical performance by a insider’s perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian group of Israeli and Palestinian musicians. conflict from an Israeli politician, and travel to American Colony Hotel | Meals: B/L/D Ramallah for the rare opportunity of hearing from a high-ranking Palestinian Authority official. DAY 6 I JERUSALEM/JERICHO/DEAD SEA American Colony Hotel | Meals: B/L Meet with an environmentalist from Friends of the Earth Middle East, whose efforts to foster DAY 4 I JERUSALEM DAY 1 I TEL AVIV, ISRAEL/JERUSALEM Arab-Jewish cooperation through environmental Trace the turbulent history of the birth of the Arrive in Tel Aviv and transfer to Jerusalem. stewardship were featured in the special April state of Israel. Meet with a Holocaust survivor at Relax at the hotel before our reception and 2010 “Water” issue of National Geographic the moving Holocaust memorial of Yad Vashem, welcome dinner tonight. magazine. View the Dead Sea Scrolls at the then travel to Ein Kerem, where Christian tra- American Colony Hotel | Meals: D Israel Museum, and then drive down through dition says John the Baptist was born. Hear our the Judean Desert to Jericho to visit the Israeli and Palestinian guides tell their divergent DAY 2 I JERUSALEM archaeological site of Tel Jericho. Settle into narratives of the village’s role in Israel’s 1948 War Begin the day on the Temple Mount, capped our hotel, located in the Ein Gedi kibbutz on of Independence. Tonight, gather for a discus- by the shining cupola of the Dome of the Rock. the shores of the Dead Sea, and learn about the sion with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists Speak with an imam from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, kibbutz movement. Enjoy time on your own to from the Bereaved Families Forum. American then meet a rabbi at the Western Wall. Later, Colony Hotel | Meals: B/D Clockwise from above: The imposing facade of the Tower of David in Jerusalem; a woman effortlessly floats in the hypersaline waters of the Dead Sea; the iconic Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Hasidic Jewish men gather in prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 40 float in the Dead Sea, stroll the hotel’s botani- churches in the Middle East. On an excursion to cal garden, or enjoy an optional spa treatment. the mountaintop village of Beit Jann, discover A National Geographic expert and Ein Gedi Hotel | Meals: B/L/D the secretive traditions of the Druze people, expedition leader will accompany this and enjoy lunch with a Druze family in their trip. Educator and National Geographic DAY 7 I JORDAN RIVER VALLEY/TIBERIAS home. Travel toward the Mediterranean coast Explorer Aziz Abu Sarah will join the Soar up the flank of Masada in a gondola and and explore picturesque Jaffa, a strategic December 28, 2019 departure. explore King Herod’s 2,000-year-old moun- port town dating back to the Bronze Age. Get taintop refuge. Follow the Jordan Valley north acquainted with the bustling city of Tel Aviv in Author Yuval Ben-Ami writes for the to the Roman city of Bet She’an to see its the evening. Hebrew edition of National Geographic remarkably preserved amphitheater, baths, Dan Tel Aviv Hotel | Meals: B/L magazine and has published two travel and column-lined streets. Along the way, stop books about Israel. Yuval will join the remaining departures. to dip your feet in the Jordan River, where DAYS 10–11 I CAESAREA MARITIMA/ Christian pilgrims come to be baptised. TEL AVIV The Scots Hotel | Meals: B/L/D Follow the coast north to Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s harbour city, and visit the ruins with INFORMATION geo-archaeologist and National Geographic DAY 8 I GALILEE 2019 Dates: Mar. 16–26 | Apr. 6–16 | Sept. 14–24 Visit Caesarea Philippi, a center of worship Emerging Explorer Beverly Goodman. Transfer Oct. 26–Nov. 5 | Nov. 9–19 | Nov. 23–Dec. 3 from the Hellenic age to the early Christian to the airport the next morning for your flight Dec. 28, 2019–Jan. 7, 2020 era. Follow a scenic trail to the Banias waterfall, home. 2020 Date: Mar. 14–24 Dan Tel Aviv Hotel | Meals: Day 10: B/D; Day 11: B or enjoy a short hike through Tel Dan National Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Park. Take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee change. Single supplement is from £1,860. Airfare is not from Tiberias to Capernaum, where Jesus and OPTIONAL EXTENSION included in the price. many Apostles lived and preached. Add a four-day extension to Petra, Jordan from The Scots Hotel | Meals: B/L/D £2,055 per person, double occupancy.
DAY 9 I NAZARETH/JAFFA/TEL AVIV Hear the perspective of an Israeli Arab Chris- tian on the way to Nazareth, and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of the largest
41 TRANS-SIBERIAN RAIL EXPEDITION 16 DAYS FROM £16,280
• Journey across Russia on one of the world’s most legendary railways.
• Sip tea at a family home in the village of Listvyanka, perched along the shores of Lake Baikal. Train Light • Learn about the history of Russian space exploration during a talk by a cosmonaut.
Lady Grieving Orthodox Church. See the Pacific Mongolian horseback riding, and visit a tradi- Navy War Memorial and the steamboat Krasny tional ger (felt tent). This evening, enjoy dinner Vympel, take in views of the city and its bay and a performance of Mongolian throat sing- from the Eagle’s Nest observation platform, and ing and traditional dance before we reboard stroll the historic Vladivostok Naval Cemetery. our train and continue on our way back into This evening, climb aboard our luxury train and Russia. Meals: B/L/D set off on our journey across Russia. Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express through DAY 7 I ULAN-UDE, RUSSIA Day 13 | Meals: B/L/D The train rolls through the valley of the Selenge River, which flows into Lake Baikal. DAY 3 I KHABAROVSK Stop in Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Explore the lively squares of Khabarovsk and Republic and once a major trading post between visit the Natural History Museum by the Amur China and Irkutsk. Pay a visit to a village of Old River. Learn about the flora and fauna of the Believers, a group descended from 17th-century region, and see artifacts from the indigenous religious exiles whose fascinating culture has tribes of the Goldi and the Gilyak. Meals: B/L/D changed little over the centuries. Watch a performance of their unique choral music. DAYS 4 –5 I ON TRAIN/SIBERIA Meals: B/L/D As the train slips past rolling hills and Siberian DAY 1 I VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA DAY 8 I LAKE BAIKAL Arrive in Vladivostok and check in to our hotel. villages of log houses, relax with a book, attend a talk by our expert, or simply watch the Arrive at beautiful Lake Baikal, called the Meet fellow travellers at a welcome dinner this sacred sea by locals and named a World evening. Lotte Hotel Vladivostok | Meals: D remote and ever-changing countryside pass by. On our second day on board, we enter the Heritage site by UNESCO. The lake basin holds about 20 percent of the world’s unfrozen fresh DAY 2 I VLADIVOSTOK sweeping Mongolian steppe. Meals: B/L/D water. A sacred site for Buryat shamans, Lake As a strategic naval outpost, Vladivostok was Baikal’s Shaman Rock is steeped in legend. Our closed to most of the world from World War II DAY 6 I ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA train route hugs the rocky shores and passes until the end of the Cold War. Get acquainted Depart Mongolia’s capital city this morning for through 33 tunnels. Take in spectacular views with this modern city on a tour that includes nearby Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Enjoy the from the train, and stop for a barbecue lunch the brightly painted railway station and Our alpine scenery, watch a demonstration of on the shore. In the afternoon, explore the Clockwise from above: The Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral act as colourful bookends to Moscow's Red Square; the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express skirts a lake shoreline; young Mongolians don traditional 13th-century garb in Ulaanbaatar; the sun casts reflections onto the glassy surface of Lake Baikal. 42 village of Listvyanka and join a family for tea in DAY 13 I KAZAN their home. Meals: B/L/D Today, explore Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, A National Geographic expert and perched on the banks of the Volga River. Tour expedition leader will accompany DAY 9 I IRKUTSK the city’s Kremlin, the turquoise-topped Qol this trip. Historian George Munro has Spend today in Irkutsk. In the early 19th Sharif Mosque, and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. lived and studied in the former Soviet century, many Russian artists, officers, and Pay a visit to the Kazan Conservatory and enjoy Union and travels to Russia regularly nobles were exiled here for their involvement a concert performed by its students. Then set to pursue his research. He will join the August 31, 2019 departure. in the Decembrist revolt. Visit the city’s historic off on a private cruise around the walls of the sights, and wander through a delightful col- city’s kremlin before returning to our train to INFORMATION lection of classic Russian and Siberian cottages depart on the final leg of our journey. 2019 Dates: Aug. 4–19 | Aug. 31–Sept. 15 at the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Stop Meals: B/L/D Price is per person, double occupancy, varies by category, for a private bell-ringing performance, and and is subject to change. Single supplement is from then enjoy a private concert and champagne DAYS 14–16 I MOSCOW £6,590. Airfare is not included in the price. Price based on 'Silver Class'. reception at the Decembrist House Museum. Disembark in Moscow and take a guided stroll Meals: B/L/D through Red Square at night. The following OPTIONAL EXTENSION morning, explore the legendary Kremlin. Visit Add a three-day post-trip extension to DAYS 10–11 I ON TRAIN/NOVOSIBIRSK St. Basil’s Cathedral, and view court regalia St. Petersburg from £2,325 per person, double Enjoy a day to relax on board, taking in stunning from the Romanov dynasty at the Armory occupancy. scenery as the vast Siberian taiga unfurls. The Museum. After lunch, head to the Monument following day, stop in Novosibirsk, Siberia’s larg- to the Conquerors of Space, which sweeps est city, to see the opera house and Lenin Square. some 360 feet into the sky. Delve into the Meals: B/L/D history of space exploration at the recently updated Memorial Museum of Astronautics, DAY 12 I YEKATERINBURG and enjoy a specially arranged talk by a Russian Arrive in Yekaterinburg, where Russia’s last tsar, cosmonaut. After breakfast the following day, Nicholas II, and his family were executed by transfer to the airport for your flight home. the Bolsheviks in 1918. Visit the Romanovs’ ex- Ararat Hyatt Park Moscow | Meals: Days 14–15: ecution site—now a church dedicated to their B/L/D Daily, Day 16: B memory—and view the city’s ornately decorat- ed wooden houses. Meals: B/L/D
43 GEORGIA AND ARMENIA: 11 DAYS FROM £4,650 CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS
• Examine early Homo erectus skulls with a National Geographic grantee.
• Step into the spectacular rock-hewn cave monastery at Vardzia. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Learn about Georgia’s ancient wine-making methods from a local vintner.
to victims of the Armenian Genocide at the of Chachkari, where the imprints of Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. centuries-old wine presses can still be seen in Grand Hotel Yerevan | Meals: Day 2: B/L/D the chalky cliffs. Enjoy a meal at the farmhouse of a local chef, and wander through the megalithic, DAY 3 I KHOR VIRAP lichen-covered ruins of Saro village. Visit a darbazi, Venture south to the verdant pastures of the a subterranean home typical of the region. Ararat Valley, arriving at Khor Virap—an early Vardzia Resort | Meals: Day 4: B/L/D; Day 5: B/L Christian monastery dedicated to Armenia’s patron, Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Visit DAY 6 I BORJOMI the dungeon where the pious Gregory was Stop at the Silk Road city of Akhaltsikhe en held prisoner for 13 years by Armenian King route to Borjomi. Tour the fairy-tale-like old Tiridates III until, as the legend goes, Gregory town with a local historian, then enjoy a wine cured the pagan king of illness and converted tasting and talk with a vintner about ancient him to Christianity. Tiridates then imposed the natural wine-making methods. In Borjomi, a religion on his people, and Armenia became beautiful resort town nestled into the folds of the world’s first Christian nation. Back in the the lush Borjomi Gorge, taste Georgian mineral city, enjoy a performance by the Nubar Folk waters and learn about the unique qualities Ensemble and spend some time with the of this sought-after tonic, one of the country’s DAYS 1–2 I YEREVAN, ARMENIA traditional song and dance troupe. major exports. Take a walking tour of Yerevan, Armenia’s Grand Hotel Yerevan | Meals: B/L Hotel Borjomi Likani | Meals: B/L/D capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the word. Wind your way DAYS 4 –5 I VARDZIA, GEORGIA DAY 7 I BORJOMI/STEP’ANTSMINDA through the charming old town; admire the Drive towards Georgia, stopping in the town Explore the tranquil gardens of the regal monumental architecture of Republic Square; of Gyumri for a lunch of freshly caught fish and Romanov Palace, a summer retreat for Russian and climb up the Cascade, a grand stairway Armenian flatbread called lavash. Explore the royalty; and visit the Borjomi Mineral Water adorned by manicured gardens. Visit a wind Vardzia cave monastery, a dramatic rock-cut Park, where mineral springs were discovered instrument studio and hear demonstrations of fortress built in the 12th century as a strong- over one thousand years ago. Head towards traditional instruments, then pay your respects hold against the Mongols. Join a local historian Step’antsminda (formerly known as Kazbegi) in for a tour of the ancient wine-producing village the Greater Caucasus Mountains, stopping at
Clockwise from above: The monastery of Khor Virap, framed by biblical Mount Ararat; exploring the mountain roads in the highlands of Armenia; two travellers wander the cobbled streets of Old Tbilisi; the remarkable Vardzia cave monastery. 44 a contemporary arts centre to have lunch with the art nouveau Sololaki district with a local local artists. Continue along the spectacular architect, and enjoy dinner at the charming A National Geographic expert and Georgian Military Highway, a centuries-old Cafe Littera at the Writers’ House of Georgia, expedition leader will accompany road that winds through mountainous land- an early 20th-century mansion turned cultural this trip. Archaeologist and editor scapes dotted with feudal fortresses and the centre. Kristin Romey will join the September occasional herd of sheep. Tbilisi Marriott Hotel | Meals: B/L/D 13, 2019 departure. Rooms Hotel Kazbegi | Meals: B/L/D DAYS 10–11 I DMANISI/TBILISI DAY 8 I STEP’ANTSMINDA Join an expert archaeologist at the site of INFORMATION From the stunning valley town of Step’antsminda, Dmanisi, where the 1.8-million-year-old 2019 Dates: Sept. 13–23 | Oct. 18–28 set out to explore the environs of Gergeti Homo erectus skulls on display at the Georgian 2020 Dates: May 15–25 | June 5–15
Glacier. Drive to Gergeti village and ride a 4x4 National Museum were unearthed. Back in Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to vehicle to the 14th-century Holy Trinity Church, Tbilisi, explore its enchanting old town, a change. Single supplement is from £935. Airfare is not or hike up to the mountain-framed church with labyrinth of narrow streets housing Arabic and included in the price. a guide. Visit a local family in the tiny village European influenced buildings. Round off the of Tsdo and learn to cook up khinkali, a savory trip with a special farewell dinner: a six-course dumpling filled with meat and spices. Later, Georgian feast with regional wine pairings, head to Sno Valley to meet an artisan carpenter accompanied by a story-telling tamada, or at his studio. toastmaster, and folk performances. Rooms Hotel Kazbegi | Meals: B/L/D Tbilisi Marriott Hotel | Meals: Day 10: B/L/D; Day 11: B DAY 9 I TBILISI Travel south to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. At the Georgian National Museum, marvel at some of the earliest known hominin remains found outside of Africa and meet a member of the team who discovered them, led by museum director and National Geographic grantee David Lordkipanidze. Take a walking tour of
45 NORWAY'S TRAINS AND FJORDS 11 DAYS FROM £ 7,945
• Experience the Flåm Railway, one of Europe's most scenic train journeys.
• Discover the spectacular west Norwegian fjords. Train Light/Moderate • Hear about Thor Heyerdahl's seafaring expeditions from a family connection.
DAYS 3–6 I WESTERN FJORDS Travel aboard the world-famous Flåm Railway, A National Geographic expert and descending a steep valley through 20 tun- expedition leader will accompany this nels to the fjord village of Flåm. Gaze out at trip. Geographer, geologist, and Aurlandsfjorden from a viewing platform that conservationist David Scott Silverberg floats 2,000 feet above the fjord. Visit the will join the June 26 and July 24, 2019 picturesque village of Undredal, and cruise departures. spectacular Aurlandsfjorden, Nærøyfjorden, and Geirangerfjorden. Enjoy a special visit to INFORMATION the Norwegian Fjord Centre before it opens to 2019 Dates: June 12–22 | June 26–July 6 the public. Fretheim Hotel; Hotel Union | Meals: July 24–Aug. 3 | Aug. 7–17 Day 3: B/L/D; Day 4; B/L; Days 5–6: B/L/D Daily Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,550. Airfare is not DAYS 7–8 I TRONDHEIM included in the price. Transfer to Åndalsnes and ride on the scenic Rauma Railway. Cross the historic Kylling Bridge and marvel at the 3,300-foot Trollveggen, Europe's tallest vertical rock face. Enjoy lunch in Bakklan- DAYS 1–2 I OSLO, NORWAY det, a colourful neighbourhood of traditional Explore Oslo’s highlights, including the wooden houses. Britannia Hotel | Meals: Day 7: Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Vigeland Park, and the B/L; Day 8: B/L/D Viking Ship Museum. At the Kon-Tiki Museum, meet with a family member or biographer of DAYS 9–11 I BERGEN Thor Heyerdahl and learn about the family's Discover Bergen’s maritime history at Bryggen, the seafaring adventures, chronicled in the pages old wharf. Visit the former home of celebrated of National Geographic magazine. Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, and step into Grand Hotel Oslo | Meals: Day 1: D; Day 2: B/L Fantoft Stave Church. Hotel Havnekontoret Meals: Day 9: B/L; Day 10: B/L/D; Day 11: B
Above: The Flåm Railway passes through the verdant Norwegian countryside.
46 ICELAND: 10 DAYS FROM £8,725 VOLCANOES, GLACIERS, AND WHALES
• Venture into the ice tunnels of Langjökull glacier with an expert guide. • Meet with a marine biologist and National Geographic grantee at a research center in Húsavik. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Stay at the Nordic chic Hotel Húsafell, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World where local art, cuisine, and Nordic design converge.
Unique Lodge where local art, cuisine, and Nordic design converge. Venture into the ice A National Geographic expert and tunnels of Langjökull—Iceland’s second largest expedition leader will accompany this glacier—and explore the mythical Snæfellsnes trip. Geographer, author, and National Peninsula. Hotel Húsafell | Meals: B/L/D Daily Geographic Explorer M Jackson will join the July 26 and September 7, 2019 DAY 5 I SIGLUFJÖRÐUR departures. Journey to Iceland’s northern reaches, stopping NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE INFORMATION to descend into the vast Viðgelmir lava cave. Learn about traditional farm life at the Skagafjörður Heritage Museum, housed within authentic turf homes. Siglo Hotel | Meals: B/L/D
DAYS 6 –7 I HRÍSEY/MÝVATN Go birdwatching on the isle of Hrísey, then continue to majestic Goðafoss waterfall. In Mývatn, visit a geothermal power plant and encounter the powerful cascade of Dettifoss. Hotel Laxá | Meals: B/L/D Daily DAYS 1–2 I REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND/ Hotel Húsafell GOLDEN CIRCLE DAYS 8–10 I MÝVATN/AKUREYRI/REYKJAVÍK Explore downtown Reykjavík. Set out on a trip INFORMATION Soak in hot springs, then wander through the around the legendary Golden Circle to visit the 2019 Dates: June 14–23 | July 5–14 | July 26–Aug. 4 geothermal terrain of Námaskarð and the lava world’s oldest democratic parliament, the geo- Aug. 23–Sept. 1 | Sept. 7–16 towers of Dimmuborgir. Travel to Húsavik, thermal hotbed at Geysir, and the magnificent Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Iceland’s “whale capital”, to meet with Charla change. Single supplement is from £2,330. Airfare is not Gullfoss waterfall. Canopy by Hilton Reykjavík Basran, a marine biologist and National included in the price. City Centre | Meals: Day 1: D; Day 2: B/L Geographic grantee. Set out on a thrilling DAYS 3–4 I LANGJÖKULL/SNÆFELLSNES whale-watching cruise. Take a dip in the mineral- Settle into Hotel Húsafell, a National Geographic rich Blue Lagoon before flying home. Hotel Kea Meals: Day 8: B/D; Day 9: B/L/D; Day 10: B/L Above: Stykkishólmur’s coloyrful houses brighten the coastline of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
47 IRELAND: TALES AND TREASURES 10 DAYS FROM £5,660 OF THE EMERALD ISLE
• Stay at regal Ashford Castle, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World and take an exclusive tour of the property with the on-site historian. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Visit ancient holy wells with a medieval historian. • Learn about conservation efforts at the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.
DAYS 4 –5 I ROCK OF CASHEL/BLARNEY/ DINGLE PENINSULA Visit the Rock of Cashel and kiss the stone at A National Geographic expert and expedition leader will accompany Blarney Castle. Learn from a local medievalist this trip. Archaeologist and National about a National Geographic–sponsored proj- Geographic grantee Killian Driscoll ect to preserve Ireland’s holy wells. Killarney will join the August 30, 2019 departure. Park Hotel | Meals: Day 4: B/L/D; Day 5: B/ L
DAY 6 I CLIFFS OF MOHER/ NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE BURREN NATIONAL PARK See the Cliffs of Moher and drive through Burren National Park. Hear about the conserva- tion efforts that earned the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark a National Geographic World Legacy Award. Gregan’s Castle Hotel | Meals: B/D
DAYS 7–8 I THE BURREN/GALWAY/ CONNEMARA/COUNTY MAYO Explore vibrant Galway, and get a feel for tradi- DAY 1 I DUBLIN, IRELAND tional farm life in Connemara. Later, settle into Ashford Castle Explore Dublin’s historic quarter, and join an medieval Ashford Castle, a National Geographic archaeology expert at the National Museum of Unique Lodge– and take an exclusive tour of INFORMATION Ireland to examine prehistoric jewelry, weapons, the property with the on-site historian. 2019 Dates: June 21–30 | Aug. 30–Sept. 8 and “bog bodies”. The Dylan Hotel | Meals: D Ashford Castle | Meals: Day 7: B/D; Day 8: B/L/D Sept. 27–Oct.6 I Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAYS 2–3 I KILKENNY DAYS 9–10 COUNTY MAYO/DUBLIN change. Single supplement is from £2,020. Airfare is not Enjoy a guided tour of medieval Kilkenny, with Explore the gorgeous grounds of Ashford before included in the price. stops at the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle and returning to Dublin for a private whiskey tast- the National Craft Gallery. Sip on a pint at a local ing and farewell dinner. Depart the next day. brewery. Pembroke Kilkenny | Meals: B/L Daily The Dylan Hotel | Meals: Day 9: B/D; Day 10: B
Above: The spectacular Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction.
48 ITALY: 10 DAYS FROM £5,425 RENAISSANCE CITIES AND TUSCAN LIFE
• Tour the Uffizi Gallery with an art historian, and examine Roman ruins with an archaeologist.
•Enjoy a private, after-hours visit to the stunning St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Stay at an enchanting 13th-century castello in the Tuscan countryside.
the home of a Florentine family. The following day, discover medieval Lucca and climb Pisa’s A National Geographic expert and leaning tower; or join an art historian for a expedition leader will accompany special visit to Florence’s Uffizi Gallery. this trip. Archaeologist Janet Duncan Gallery Hotel Art | Meals: Day 3: B/L/D; Day 4: B Jones will join the May 24, 2019 departure. DAYS 5– 6 I TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE Settle into the enchanting 13th-century castello of the Guicciardini family—our home for two INFORMATION nights. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at the 2019 Dates: Apr. 12–21 | May 24–June 2 renowned Badia a Coltibuono estate. Castello di June 14–23 | Sept. 6–15 | Sept. 27–Oct. 6 | Oct. 18–27 Gargonza | Meals: Day 5: B/L/D; Day 6: B/D These departures are photography expeditions, led by a National Geographic photographer, and limited to 16 DAYS 7–10 I SIENNA/ROME travellers. Cost: from £6,200per person, double occupan- Discover timeless Siena before travelling south cy, and subject to change. to Rome. Explore the ruins of the Colosseum, Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to and the Roman Forum. Join archaeologist change. Single supplement is from £1,515. Airfare is not included in the price. Valerie Higgins—recently featured in the DAYS 1–2 I VENICE, ITALY National Geographic documentary series The Transfer by motorboat to our hotel overlook- Story of God—for a special visit to the Chiesa ing Venice’s famous Grand Canal. Tour the di San Lorenzo in Miranda. Peruse the Vatican’s “floating city”, stroll the Piazza San Marco, and famed museums and visit St. Peter's Square. cross the iconic Rialto Bridge. Enjoy a private, Rose Garden Palace | Meals: Day 7: B/L/D; after-hours visit to the stunning St. Mark's Day 8: B/L; Day 9: B/D; Day 10: B Basilica.Venezia Palazzo Barocci | Meals: OPTIONAL EXTENSION Day 1: D; Day 2: B/D Add a four-day extension to the stunning DAYS 3–4 I FLORENCE/LUCCA AND PISA Amalfi Coast from £2,555 per person, double Explore Florence on a private tour, and dine in occupancy.
Above: Traffic on Venice’s Grand Canal subsides at sunset.
49 SWISS TRAINS 10 DAYS FROM £6,200 AND THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT
• Journey along three of Switzerland’s most iconic railways.
• Hear from an Alpine historian about the conquering of the Matterhorn. Train Light/Moderate • Take a cooking lesson with an Italian chef on the shores of Lake Como.
side of a glacier. Return to Zermatt by gondola, glacier-glazed peaks on our way to the Upper or opt to hike back into town. Engadin Valley. Disembark in St. Moritz and Hotel National Zermatt or Hotel Schweitzerhof settle into our hotel for the evening. Meals: B Crystal Hotel St. Moritz | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 3 I ZERMATT/GORNER GLACIER DAY 5 I ST. MORITZ Climb aboard the Gornergrat Bahn cogwheel This morning, take a funicular to the top of railway—the highest open-air train in Europe— Muottas Muragl to admire breathtaking views and ascend to a summit far above Zermatt to of the valley below. After lunch on your own, experience one of the best viewpoints in the venture outside the city to Atelier Segantini, Alps. Admire a gorgeous vista that includes a museum dedicated to Alpine artist Giovanni Mount Rosa, the Matterhorn, and the Gorner Segantini. Meet with a member of the Glacier. Hike down past Alpine lakes to Segantini family for a tour of the artist’s former Riffelberg, where we will catch the train back home and workshop. Back in St. Moritz, visit a to Zermatt. Pay a visit to the Matterhorn local patisserie to sample delectable Museum, where a local mountaineer and chocolates during a private tasting. Alpine historian will recount stories of early Crystal Hotel St. Moritz | Meals: B attempts to conquer the Matterhorn, as well as I DAY 1 I ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND/ZERMATT other climbing adventures. DAY 6 BERNINA PASS/POSCHIAVO Arrive in Zürich this morning and board a train Hotel National Zermatt or Hotel Schweitzerhof Today, ride the legendary Bernina Express, the to the charming Alpine village of Zermatt. Meals: B/D highest mountain railway in the Alps, into the Check in to our hotel and gather for a welcome heart of Italian-speaking Switzerland. Take in dinner tonight. DAY 4 I GLACIER EXPRESS/ST. MORITZ extraordinary views of the Morteratsch Glacier Hotel National Zermatt | Meals: D Take your first-class seat on the world-famous from the train’s panoramic windows as we Glacier Express and set off on a breathtaking climb to the highest point at Ospizio Bernina, DAY 2 I ZERMATT/ZMUTT VALLEY journey across three high-mountain passes, 7,578 feet above sea level. Descend to the town Start the day with a guided walk through Zer- over 291 bridges, and through 91 tunnels. of Poschiavo, where we meet a local guide for a matt. This afternoon, ride gondolas to Glacier Enjoy the elegant atmosphere of the train as tour of its charming historic centre. Return to Paradise for a fascinating walk through the in- we soak up magnificent vistas of skyscraping,
Clockwise from above: The Glacier Express rounds the curve of the Landwasser Viaduct, some 200 feet above the valley floor; pastel-hued villages and fishing skiffs line the shores of Lake Como; Swiss cows rest in an alpine meadow; a traveller captures the passing scenery. 50 St. Moritz via the Bernina Express late this after- DAY 9 I LAKE COMO noon. Crystal Hotel St. Moritz | Meals: B/D Soak in the beauty of Lake Como’s lakeside A National Geographic expert and towns. Visit Villa del Balbianello, first founded expedition leader will accompany DAY 7 I ST. MORITZ/CERNOBBIO in the 13th century as a Cistercian monastery this trip. Writer and broadcaster A spectacular drive through Alpine valleys and later owned by Italian explorer Guido Tim Jepson will join the July 7 and 21, brings us into the Italian Lake District. The Monzino. Continue to the delightful town 2019 departures. countryside is dotted with villas in hues of of Bellagio and explore at leisure. Discover terra-cotta, pink, ochre, and gold—strewn with Como's historic center, its sunny piazzas, and tropical vegetation and lush gardens. Our the Como Cathedral on a private tour. Later, INFORMATION destination is the lovely village of Cernobbio, relax on the hotel’s terrace, taking in the view 2019 Dates: June 9–18 | June 16–25 | June 23–July 2 perched on the western shore of the vast and before we gather to celebrate our journey with July 7–16 | July 21–30 | Aug. 4–13 | Aug. 18–27 beautiful Lake Como. Settle into a historic a farewell dinner in the home of a local family. Sept. 8–17 19th-century villa overlooking the lake. Villa Flori | Meals: B/D Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Villa Flori | Meals: B/L change. Single supplement is from £1,470. Airfare is not included in the price. DAY 10 I MILAN DAY 8 I LAKE COMO After breakfast, transfer to the Milan airport Spend the day exploring the treasures of Lake for your flight home. Como. Board a private ferry for a picturesque Meals: B ride across the lake to Varenna. Behold a pan- orama of colourful waterside villages and elegant estates, fringed by palms and pines and backed by soaring mountains. Learn secrets of Italian cooking during a demonstra- tion by a local chef, followed by a lunch washed down with local wine. Villa Flori | Meals: B/L
51 SOUTHERN SPAIN AND MOROCCO 14 DAYS FROM £ 7,520
• Explore eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Alhambra and medieval Toledo.
• Visit a private art restoration studio in Seville, and attend a Sufi musical performance in Fez. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Delve into Moroccan cuisine during a hands-on cooking class.
the city’s cobbled medieval quarter, scattered village crowned by a Moorish watchtower. with churches, synagogues, and crumbling Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza | Meals: B/L mosques. See the soaring Gothic cathedral, and visit the Church of Santo Tomé, which DAYS 6 –7 I SEVILLE houses El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Discover Seville, one of Spain’s most beautiful Orgaz, one of the artist’s most celebrated works. cities. Visit the exquisite Real Alcázar de Sevilla, Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques | Meals: Day 1: a Mudéjar palace and World Heritage site, and D; Day 2: B/L stroll through its fragrant gardens. See the tomb of Christopher Columbus at the Seville DAYS 3–4 I CÓRDOBA/GRANADA Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the Head south to Andalusia, stopping en route in world. Enjoy an exclusive candle-lit tour of the quaint Córdoba, capital of Muslim Spain until Hospital de la Caridad church, and venture into 1236. Visit the mesmerizing Mezquita, a the crypt. Learn about the techniques used to Catholic cathedral built within a former Moorish repair paintings, sculptures, and other age-old mosque, and wander the evocative old Jewish art objects at the studio of two of Seville’s most quarter. Continue to Granada and immerse respected art restorers; after observing the yourself in the extraordinary Alhambra palace, masters at work, try your hand at restoring a a marvel of intricate stuccowork, archways, piece. Later, experience the passionate flamenco DAYS 1–2 I MADRID, SPAIN/TOLEDO and flower-filled courtyards, representing the art form with gypsy musicians and dancers in Take a walking tour of Madrid’s elegant squares zenith of Moorish architecture in Spain. This an intimate setting. and leafy boulevards. Visit the grand Royal evening, take a walk through the charming Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza Palace and stroll through the 17th-century Plaza Moorish quarter, the Albayzín. Meals: Day 6: B/L/D; Day 7: B/D Mayor, a baroque square lined with arcades and Hotel Alhambra Palace | Meals: B/L/D Daily cafés. Admire the works of Velázquez, El Greco, DAYS 8–10 I TANGIER, MOROCCO/ CHEFCHAOUENE and Goya at the world-renowned Museo del DAY 5 I RONDA/ZAHARA DE LA SIERRA Board a ferry to Tangier, our gateway to Prado, and soak up the lively atmosphere of the Drive into the mountains to picturesque Ronda, Morocco. Explore the vibrant medina, the Austrias neighbourhood. The next day, drive to set high above a dramatic gorge, and see Mendoubia Gardens, and the historic Jewish Toledo, a former Spanish capital situated on the Spain’s oldest bullring. Time permitting, take quarter, and observe the contrasting architec- banks of the Tagus River. Step back in time in a detour to Zahara de la Sierra, a whitewashed
Clockwise from above: A woman passes the ornate brass doors of the Royal Palace in Fez; the 16th-century Alcázar fortress dominates the skyline of Toledo; a traveller strolls under the striking double arches of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba; an alleyway in Chefchaouene, painted top to bottom in bright blue. 52 tural styles that reflect the many powers that the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa, an Islamic have occupied the city over time. Continue to seminary known for its intricately carved stucco A National Geographic expert and Chefchaouene, nestled amid the Rif Mountains. walls, arches, and cornices. See the mosaic-covered expedition leader will accompany this Visit the remains of the original 15th-century Nejjarine fountain and the ornate Bab Boujloud trip. Geographer Alexander Murphy will fortress, or kasbah, and meander the streets of gate. Soak up the atmosphere of the bustling join the September 22, 2019 departure. the old town, where the buildings are paint- souk, where merchants sell everything from ed in striking shades of blue. Learn secrets of spices to leather goods and musical instru- Moroccan cuisine during a hands-on cooking ments. Later, enjoy a traditional dinner and Sufi class, followed by an all-female Andalusian musical musical performance at a family home. INFORMATION performance and an opportunity to meet with Riad Maison Bleue or Hotel Sahrai | Meals: B/L/D 2019 Dates: Apr. 7–20 | Sept. 22–Oct. 5 | Oct. 20–Nov. 2 the band members. Daily Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to Grand Hotel Villa de France; Lina Ryad & Spa change. Single supplement is from £1,540. Airfare is not included in the price. Meals: Day 8: B/L/D; Day 9: B/D; Day 10: B/L/D DAYS 13–14 I RABAT/CASABLANCA Explore Rabat, Morocco’s attractive capital, DAYS 11–12 I MEKNÈS AND VOLUBILIS/FEZ with visits to the walled medina and the Journey to Fez, stopping at two World Heritage 12th-century Hassan Tower. Continue south sites: Meknès and Volubilis. In the walled city to Casablanca, and step into the magnificent of Meknès, Morocco’s 17th-century capital, ex- Hassan II Mosque, overlooking the Atlantic plore the Jewish quarter, the photogenic Bab Ocean. Celebrate our journey with a farewell Mansour gate, and vestiges of the royal palace. dinner. Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche | Meals: At the third-century Roman ruins of Volubilis, Day 13: B/D; Day 14: B encounter remnants of ancient arches, baths, and a basilica, and unravel a history that spans from the Phoenicians to the Berbers. Spend a day exploring imperial Fez, beginning in Fez el Jdid, the “new city”, dating back more than 700 years. Then venture into the labyrinthine alley- ways of Fez el Bali, the old walled city. Discover
53 HUMAN ORIGINS: SOUTHWEST FRANCE 10 DAYS FROM £5,425 AND NORTHERN SPAIN
• Explore Atapuerca, where Europe’s oldest known hominin fossils were unearthed.• Join National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa for a hands-on
• Enjoy a specially arranged visit to the International Centre for Cave Art. demonstration of traditional PeruvianExpert Led weaving techniques.Light/Moderate • Discover Castel-Merle's prehistoric stone shelters with an archaeologist. • Spend a day exploring the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu.
Peña Cave. Spend a night in beautiful San Sebastián. Parador de Gil Blas; Silken Amara A National Geographic expert and Plaza | Meals: Days 2–3: B/L/D Daily; Day 4: B expedition leader will accompany this trip. Anthropologist and archae- DAYS 5– 6 I SAINT ÉMILION/VÉZÈRE VALLEY ologist Ana Pinto will join the June 5, Tour Saint-Émilion, then continue to the Dordogne September 11, and October 2, 2019 region and join Christine Desdemaines-Hugon— departures. an expert on Paleolithic art—to tour the National Museum of Prehistory. Later, exam- INFORMATION ine the sculpted frieze at Cap Blanc and the 2019 Dates: June 5–14 | Sept. 11–20 polychrome paintings of Font-de-Gaume. Oct. 2–11 | Oct. 9–18
Hostellerie La Roseraie | Meals: B/D Daily Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £995. Airfare is not DAYS 7– 8 I PECH MERLE/LASCAUX IV/ included in the price. CASTEL-MERLE Venture into Pech Merle, a cave system filled with prehistoric art and artifacts. Enjoy a spe- cially arranged visit to Lascaux IV, the world’s most complete recreation of the original Lascaux DAY 1 I MADRID, SPAIN Caves. Join archaeologist Isabelle Castanet at Arrive in Madrid and take a walking tour of the Castel-Merle, a complex of prehistoric stone city. Gran Melia Fenix Hotel | Meals: D shelters, then gather for a “prehistoric” meal. DAYS 2–4 I CANTABRIA CAVES/ Hostellerie La Roseraie | Meals: Day 7: B/D; SAN SEBASTIAN Day 8: B/L/D In the Cantabria region, examine the Atapuerca archaeological site. Then encounter some of DAYS 9–10 I VÉZÈRE VALLEY/BORDEAUX the oldest artistic representations in human Explore Rouffignac Cave, known as the “cave of history at Puente Viesgo. Explore Las Monedas a hundred mammoths”. Continue to Bordeaux Cave, the Altamira Museum, and Hornos de la for a city tour. Hotel de Normandie | Meals: Day 9: B/L/D; Day 10: B Above: Visitors get an up-close view of the breathtaking images found at the Cave of Altamira.
54 GREECE: 11 DAYS FROM £5,190 WONDERS OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE
• Join National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa for a hands-on • This expedition was inspired by the National Geographic television series The Greeks.
demonstration of traditional Peruvian weaving techniques. • Discuss Greece’s contemporary political and economic landscape with a local expert. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Spend a day exploring the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu. • Enjoy dinner at a family home on Aegina island.
DAYS 4 –5 I MYCENAE/OLYMPIA At the fortified city of Mycenae, encounter an A National Geographic expert and ancient grave circle, the royal palace, and the expedition leader will accompany Tomb of Agamemnon. Later, enjoy an olive oil this trip. Archaeologist and National tasting and a visit to the theater of Epidaurus. Geographic Explorer William Saturno Discover picturesque mountain villages on our will join the September 25 and way to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic October 16, 2019 departures. Games. Amalia Hotel Nauplia; Olympion Asty Hotel | Meals: B/L/D Daily INFORMATION 2019 Dates: May 1–11 | June 5–15 | Sept. 11–21 DAYS 6 –7 I DELPHI Sept. 25–Oct. 5 | Oct. 16–26 Explore Delphi's awe-inspiring ruins; then Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to enjoy a weaving demonstration and visit the change. Single supplement is from £1,005. Airfare is not included in the price. 11th-century monastery of Hosios Loukas. Amalia Hotel Delphi | Meals: B/L/D Daily
DAYS 8–9 I METEORA/ATHENS Discover the extraordinary monasteries of DAYS 1–3 I ATHENS, GREECE/NÁFPLIO Meteora, built atop sandstone megaliths. Arrive in Athens and explore the city’s trea- Return to Athens and meet with a local expert sures, including the Acropolis; the ancient to discuss the political and economic landscape Agora; and the National Archeological Museum, of contemporary Greece. Dellas Boutique Hotel; home to countless treasures. Then travel south Electra Palace Athens | Meals: Day 8: B/D; Day 9: B/L to see the Temple of Apollo and the Forum. DAYS 10–11 I AEGINA/ATHENS Continue to charming Náfplio. Electra Palace Take a ferry to Aegina island. Return to Athens, Hotel; Amalia Hotel Nauplia | Meals: Day 1: D; where we’ll enjoy dinner in a local family home, Day 2: B/L; Day 3: B/L/D and depart the next day. Electra Palace Athens Meals: Day 10: B/L/D; Day 11: B
Above: Perched atop sandstone pinnacles, the monasteries of Meteora rise with the surrounding mountain peaks.
55 GREEK ISLES PRIVATE EXPEDITION 9 DAYS FROM £5,245 based on 6 people travelling together
• Explore Athenian ruins and the Minoan Palace of Knossos with private guides.
• Set sail on the Aegean and see Santorini’s famous sunset from the water. Private Light/Moderate • Stay at Kapari Natural Resort, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.
DAYS 3–5 I CRETE YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM Alongside a private guide, visit the Palace of Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on Knossos, the ancient capital of Minoan Crete; your trip, and you will meet other local experts as and peruse the Minoan art on display at described in the itinerary. Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum. Sail in a traditional fishing vessel to the isle of Spinalonga, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE once a stronghold of the Venetians, and later the Ottomans. Prepare Cretan specialties during an optional cooking class in a local village. St. Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas Meals: B Daily
DAYS 6 –9 I SANTORINI Settle into Kapari Natural Resort—part of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection—where beautiful white-washed cave rooms offer unobstructed views of Kapari Natural Resort Santorini’s indigo caldera. Trace the ridgeline DAYS 1–2 I ATHENS, GREECE of the island on a guided tour from the south- INFORMATION Take a private tour of timeless Athens, and see ern to the northern tip of the crescent. Join Dates: This is a private expedition, so you may some of the 4,000 ancient works on display a sailing excursion on the Aegean, stopping request any dates that are convenient for you. in the Acropolis Museum. Join your private to snorkel and swim in inviting waters. Kapari This expedition is offered May through October. guide for a scenic drive along the coast to Natural Resort | Meals: Day 6: B; Day 7: B/L; Day Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to avail- Cape Sóunion, where the Temple of Poseidon 8: B/D; Day 9: B ability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. Airfare is not included in the price. presides over the sparkling Aegean Sea. Electra Palace Athens | Meals: Day 2: B
Above: Fishing boats anchor off the southern coast of Crete.
56 JAPAN PRIVATE EXPEDITION 10 DAYS FROM £5,425 based on 6 people travelling together
• Bike around old Kyoto, and take part in an exclusive Japanese tea ceremony.
• Learn to roll sushi like a master chef at a Tokyo fish market. Private Light/Moderate • Take in majestic Mount-Fuji on a private tour of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
DAYS 4 –5 I TOKYO/FUJI-HAKONE-IZU YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM NATIONAL PARK Pick out fresh tuna and wasabi and learn to roll Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on your trip, and you will meet other local experts as sushi like a master chef at a Tokyo fish market. described in the itinerary. Settle into a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan, in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park; and INFORMATION set out with a private guide to explore this Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered sprawling natural wonderland, home to majes- year-round, so you may request any dates that are tic Mount Fuji. Cap off your experience at the convenient for you. Hakone Open-Air Museum and its impressive Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon modern sculpture garden. Aura Tachibana request. Airfare is not included in the price. Meals: Day 4: B/L/D; Day 5: B/D
DAYS 6 –8 I KYOTO/NARA Hop on a bullet train for the ride to Kyoto, and discover this former imperial capital by bicycle. Participate in an exclusive Japanese tea ceremony at Korin-in temple and learn about INFORMATION DAYS 1–3 I TOKYO, JAPAN/ its connection to Zen Buddhism. Join a private NIKKO NATIONAL PARK guide on an all-day exploration of ancient Join your guide for a private tour of old Tokyo’s Nara, which reigned as Japan’s capital in the narrow lanes and traditional houses, and eighth century. Hotel Granvia Kyoto | Meals: discover Nikko National Park in the sacred hills Days 6–8: B; Day 7: B/L north of Tokyo. You’ll also have the opportunity to wield a samurai sword during a private DAYS 9–10 I OSAKA lesson with the Japanese fight performer who Eat your way through Osaka on a guided gas- choreographed Uma Thurman in Quentin tronomy tour, tasting regional specialties such as Tarantino’s Kill Bill (additional cost). takoyaki, or octopus snack, and okonomiyaki— Park Hotel Tokyo | Meals: Days 2–3: B savory pancakes. Swissotel Nankai Osaka Meals: B Daily Above: Cherry blossoms frame snowcapped Mount Fuji.
57 INSIDE JAPAN 11 DAYS FROM £ 7,595
• Explore the timeless Iya Valley, dotted with thatched cottages, shrines, and vine bridges.
• By special permission, visit the moss-draped temple of Saihoji. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Stay at the futuristic Benesse House on Noashima, Japan’s island of art.
or “golden pavilion”. Enjoy a specially arranged school of painting. Settle into our simple lodg- visit to Saihoji, also known as Kokedera or the ings and enjoy a traditional Buddhist vegetari- “moss temple”, for the more than 120 species of an dinner. Eko-In Monastery | Meals: B/L/D moss that carpet its beautiful gardens. At to- night’s welcome dinner, meet a former geisha DAY 5 I MOUNT KOYA/IYA VALLEY to learn about the geisha lifestyle, and enjoy a After attending an optional morning prayer short performance. ceremony, descend to the shores of the Inland Kyoto Hotel Okura | Meals: B/L/D Sea and take the ferry across to Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s main islands. In Tokushima, see DAY 3 I KYOTO costumes and floats from the city’s 400-year-old Wander through Arashiyama’s atmospheric dance festival at the Awa Odori Kaikan museum. bamboo grove. Continue to Nijo Castle, built Our home for the next two nights in the Iya Val- in 1603 and designated a national treasure. ley is a ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn, where Explore the castle’s Ninomaru Palace, known inviting, on-site hot spring baths offer a chance for its beautiful wall paintings and its “nightin- to relax and rejuvenate. gale” floors, designed to squeak when stepped Hotel Hikyonoyu | Meals: B/L/D upon to warn of intruders. This afternoon, visit an artisanal ceramics workshop. DAY 6 I IYA VALLEY DAY 1 I OSAKA, JAPAN/KYOTO Kyoto Hotel Okura | Meals: B/L Travel along the steep slopes of the Iya ravine Arrive in Osaka at any time. Transfer to Kyoto to a 300-year-old thatched farmhouse, home and check in to our hotel. Kyoto Hotel Okura DAY 4 I MOUNT KOYA to the Chiiori Trust, a unique project that seeks Travel to Mount Koya, headquarters of the to preserve age-old rural traditions in the val- DAY 2 I KYOTO Shingon Buddhist sect. Meet a temple priest ley. Continue to the Okuiya Niju Kazurabashi, Kyoto served as an imperial capital for more and wander through the evocative Okuno-in twin suspension bridges made of intertwined than a thousand years, and many of the wood- cemetery, where the tombs of more than vines, and hear the legends of their creation. en temples and gardens from that era have 200,000 samurai warriors and other dignitaries Witness timeless scenes of village life in Ochiai, been collectively designated a World Heritage fill a grove of ancient cedar trees. Venture into a community of traditional dwellings, some of site by UNESCO. Stroll through the elegant Zen Kongobuji, the chief temple of the Mount Koya which date from the Edo period (circa 1600– rock garden at Ryoanji and the iconic Kinkakuji, Monastery, and see work by artists of the Kano 1870). Hotel Hikyonoyu | Meals: B/L/D
Clockwise from above: The Zen temple of Kinkakuji is also known as the "golden pavilion"; the wooden gateway to the Itsukushima Shrine seemingly floats over the water; a modern-day geisha breaks for a snack; the rustle and creak of the Arashiyama's bamboo grove is designated an official Japanese soundscape. 58 DAY 7 I IYA VALLEY/NAOSHIMA Memorial Museum, which documents the Travel north to Zentsuji, revered as the birth- atomic explosion that ravaged the city. Go on A National Geographic expert and place of the Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi and an optional guided visit to Shukkei-en garden, expedition leader will accompany this one of the important stops along Shikoku’s or explore this thriving modern metropolis—a trip. Travel writer and editor-at-large 750-mile and 88-temple pilgrimage route. In testament to Japanese resilience—on your own. for National Geographic Traveller Takamatsu, stroll through the tranquil gardens Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima or Sheraton magazine Don George will join the of 17th-century Ritsurin Park. A ferry then Grand Hotel | Meals: B/L September 19, 2019 departure. brings us to the small island of Naoshima, which has recently emerged as a mecca of DAY 10 I MIYAJIMA INFORMATION Set off by ferry for a full-day excursion on contemporary art and architecture. Get a new 2019 Dates: Mar. 14–24 | Mar. 28–Apr. 7 | May 8–18 perspective on nature through inventive art Itsukushima Island, popularly called Miyajima. Sept. 19–29 | Oct. 3–13 | Oct. 31–Nov. 10 installations at the Benesse House Museum Venture into the 12th-century Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, a World Heritage site built over These departures are photography expeditions, led this afternoon, and stay in the adjacent hotel, by a National Geographic photographer, and limited to 16 designed by acclaimed architect Tadao Ando. the water, where a vermilion torii (wooden travellers. Cost: from £8,370 per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Benesse House | Meals: B/L/D gateway) appears to float at high tide. Partic- ipate in a traditional tea ceremony, then take Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,550. Airfare is not DAY 8 I NAOSHIMA advantage of free time to go on a hike, visit included in the price. Wander past the works of Claude Monet and temples, and stroll through the picturesque town. James Turrell at the innovative Chichu Art Gather for a farewell dinner back in Hiroshima Museum, built underground but designed to this evening. Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima or capture natural light and shadow. Also visit Sheraton Grand Hotel | Meals: B/D homes that are part of the Art House Project, which has transformed some of the island’s DAY 11 I HIROSHIMA/OSAKA older structures into imaginative works of art. Take the high-speed train back to Osaka and Benesse House | Meals: B/L/D transfer to the airport for your flight home. Meals: B/L DAY 9 I NAOSHIMA/HIROSHIMA Take the ferry back to Honshu and take the OPTIONAL EXTENSION high-speed train to Hiroshima. Pay a visit to Add a four-day extension to Tokyo from £2,710 Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and the Peace per person, double occupancy.
59 CHINA: IMPERIAL TREASURES 16 DAYS FROM £6,635 AND NATURAL WONDERS
• Meet National Geographic grantees working on conservation and environmental projects.
• Help feed and care for giant pandas at a conservation centre in Chengdu. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Get an insider’s look at recent finds at the terra-cotta warrior site in Xi’an.
rickshaw tour. Delve into imperial Beijing at the a bike atop the massive city wall. During free Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage time, browse the maze of markets and sites site surrounded by gardens, and try tai chi in the Muslim Quarter. Sofitel Xi’an on Renmin with a master practitioner. Meet with National Square | Meals: Day 4: B/L/D; Day 5: B/L Geographic grantee Boju Zhang from Friends of Nature, China's oldest environmental organi- DAY 6 I YICHANG/YANGTZE RIVER sation, to hear about his latest conservation Fly to Yichang, and set out on an afternoon city efforts in the capital city. Tonight, feast on tour before boarding a luxurious riverboat for Peking duck with your fellow travellers. a four-night voyage on the Yangtze through The St. Regis Beijing | Meals: B/L/D the breathtaking Three Gorges region. Yangzi Explorer | Meals: B/L/D DAY 3 I GREAT WALL/BEIJING Step back in time at the less visited Jinshanling DAYS 7–9 I YANGTZE RIVER section of the Great Wall, which retains the On daily excursions, visit the world's largest fortification’s original character. engineering project at the Three Gorges The St. Regis Beijing | Meals: B/L Dam; venture into narrow tributaries by local sampan boat, taking in gorgeous scenery; and DAYS 4 –5 I XI’AN visit Fuling and the 816 Underground Project, DAY 1 I BEIJING, CHINA Ride first-class on the high-speed train to Xi’an, the world's largest artificial military cave. Back Arrive in Beijing and transfer to our hotel in the once the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and on the ship, learn about traditional healing and heart of the capital. Meet your fellow travellers the capital of China. On a special behind-the- local crafts, enjoy morning tai chi, and gaze at at a welcome reception this evening. scenes visit to the Institute of Archaeology— the dramatic gorges. The St. Regis Beijing normally closed to the public—learn about the Yangzi Explorer | Meals: B/L/D Daily recent excavations and see artifacts up close. DAY 2 I BEIJING After breakfast the next day, view the legend- DAYS 10–11 I CHONGQING/CHENGDU Stroll the vast and historic Tiananmen Square, ary terra-cotta army, composed of thousands Disembark this morning in Chongqing and and then navigate the 900 or so buildings and of soldiers, chariots, and horses that were travel to Chengdu. Along the way, visit the temples of the Forbidden City before heading buried around 210 B.C. at the tomb of China’s Dazu Grottoes, a World Heritage site where to a traditional hutong neighbourhood for a first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Later, walk or ride centuries-old rock carvings depict Buddhist,
Clockwise from above: Against a misty backdrop of karst mountains, a farmer in Guilin directs his livestock; a traveller passes through the gates to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing; a giant panda clings to a tree at the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base; life-size terra-cotta warriors on display at a museum near Xi'an. 60 Confucian, and Taoist themes as well as scenes photographer Jing Li, a National Geographic of ordinary life during the Tang Dynasty. Enjoy grantee working to conserve critically endan- A National Geographic expert and dinner in Chengdu tonight, savouring a hot gered birds in the greater Shanghai area. Then expedition leader will accompany pot—a Sichuan favorite. Spend the next day at zoom up to the observation deck of China’s this trip. Professor of Chinese cultural the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base, overseen by tallest building, Shanghai Tower, for a pan- history Elvira Masson will join the the China Conservation and Research Centre oramic view of the skyline. This evening, stroll May 14 and October 1, 2019 departures. for the Giant Panda. We’ll have the chance to neon-lit Nanjing Road and the historic Bund prepare meals and feed the pandas, help clean waterfront. Meander among the pavilions, the enclosures, and hear about conservation ponds, and zigzag bridges of Yu Garden— ABOUT THE YANGZI EXPLORER efforts. Return to Chengdu for dinner. Shanghai’s celebrated classical Chinese garden, The Yangzi Explorer, our home for the three-day The St. Regis Chengdu | Meals: B/L/D Daily dating back to 1559. Peruse an intriguing range Yangtze voyage, is one of the few five-star ships of antiques and goods at the Old Bazaar. on the Yangtze. The ship has a capacity of 124 pas- DAYS 12–13 I GUILIN AND YANGSHUO Tonight, toast your Chinese adventure at a sengers and features spacious cabins with private Fly to Guilin and descend into the Reed Flute bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors local restaurant. The following day, transfer to that open to private balconies. There are a limited Cave, a subterranean spectacle of stalactites the airport for your return flight. number of suites available on a first-come, first- and stone pillars. Admire the stunning karst Fairmont Peace Hotel | Meals: Day 14: B/L; Day served basis. Amenities include a panoramic-view landscape on a hike through the countryside. 15: B/L/D; Day 16: B restaurant, a bar, a theatre, two lounges, a library, a The following day, embark on a cruise down fitness centre, a business centre with Internet access, the Li River. Glide beneath limestone pinna- a clinic, a sundeck, a salon, and a spa. cles and terraced rice fields that have inspired Chinese artists for generations, and stop to INFORMATION browse at a local market. Return to Guilin for an 2019 Dates: Apr. 2–17 | Apr. 23–May 8 | May 14–29 evening on your own. Shangri-La Hotel Guilin Sept. 3–18 | Sept. 24–Oct. 9 | Oct. 1–16 | Oct. 29–Nov. 13 Meals: Day 12: B/L/D; Day 13: B/L Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,685. Airfare is not DAYS 14–16 I SHANGHAI included in the price. Fly to bustling Shanghai and settle into our hotel. Meet with conservationist and wildlife
61 CHINA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 10 DAYS FROM £3,460 based on 6 people travelling together
• Climb the watchtowers on a less visited section of the Great Wall.
• Observe giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Private Light • Learn traditional Chinese cooking, tai chi, and calligraphy from local masters.
DAYS 4 –5 I BEIJING/XI’AN YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM Greet the day with a private tai chi lesson at Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on the Temple of Heaven. In Xi’an, encounter the your trip, and you will meet other local experts as legendary terra-cotta warriors; then wander described in the itinerary. among calligraphy-etched tablets in the Forest of Steles and practice this ancient art form with INFORMATION a calligraphy expert. Prepare Chinese dump- Dates: This is a private expedition that is offered lings in the home of a local family. year round, so you may request any dates that are Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square | Meals: Days 4–5: convenient for you. B/D Daily Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to availability. Single-traveller prices are available upon request. Airfare is not included in the price. Prices based DAYS 6 –7 I XI’AN/CHENGDU on departures up to March 2019. Survey Xi’an from atop its ancient walls, then ride the high-speed train to Chengdu. Meet the city’s most famous residents: the giant pandas that roam the bamboo-covered grounds of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Learn the age-old game of mah-jongg in lush DAYS 1–3 I BEIJING, CHINA Wangjianglou Park. The St. Regis Chengdu Explore the cultural heart of Beijing on a Meals: Day 6: B/D; Day 7: B private tour of the old city. Visit a family in a traditional hutong neighbourhood, and try DAYS 8–10 I SHANGHAI kite-making alongside a local artisan. Conquer Delve into Shanghai on private tours of its the legendary Great Wall as you trek across the vibrant neighbourhoods and intriguing muse- less visited Mutianyu section. Enjoy an evening ums. Ride the exhilarating Maglev (magnetic of acrobatics and kung fu at the Red Theatre. levitation) train to the airport on your final day. The St. Regis Beijing | Meals: Day 2: B/L/D; The Peninsula Shanghai | Meals: Day 8: B; Day 3: B/L Day 9: B/L; Day 10: B
Above: The millennia-old Great Wall was built to protect the Chinese empire against invaders from the north.
62 TIBET AND NEPAL: EXPEDITION 15 DAYS FROM £7,685 TO THE HIGHEST HIMALAYA
• Venture to North Face Base Camp on the seldom visited Tibetan side of Mount Everest.
• Participate in a private butter lamp ceremony at sky-high Rongbuk Monastery. Expert Led Moderate • Enjoy a private Tibetan dance performance with views of Lhasa’s Potala Palace.
YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM Dalai Lama’s summer palace, renowned for its beautiful gardens. Shangri-La Lhasa | Meals: Days A National Geographic expert and 2–11: B/L/D Daily expedition leader will accompany this trip. Mountaineer Peter Hillary DAYS 6 –8 I GYANGZÊ/SHIGATSE will join the April, September, and INFORMATION Drive to Gyangzê. Explore the complex of mon- October departures. asteries at Pelkor Chode, then visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. Hike Himalayan INFORMATION hills to the remote Ngor Monastery, or discover 2019 Dates: Apr. 20–May 4 | Sept. 28–Oct. 12 the city of Shigatse. Gyangzê Hotel; Tashi Choe Ta Oct. 15–29 | Nov. 3–17
This departure is a photography expedition, led by DAYS 9–11 I XÊGAR/GYIRONG a National Geographic photographer, and limited to 16 Set out from Xêgar to see Rongbuk, the highest travellers. Prices on request. monastery in the world; then continue to the Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,540. Airfare is not North Face Base Camp, offering breathtaking included in the price. views of Mount Everest on a clear day. Spend a night in the border town of Gyirong. Qomolangma Hotel; Phuntsok Rabsel Guest House DAY 1 I BEIJING, CHINA OPTIONAL EXTENSION Enjoy a day at leisure in Beijing. The Four Seasons Beijing DAYS 12–15 I KATHMANDU, NEPAL Add a five-day pre- or post-trip extension to Tour Durbar Square; the royal palace of Hanuman Angkor Wat in Cambodia from £2,480 per DAYS 2–5 I LHASA, TIBET Dhoka; and Swayambhunath, a 2,500-year-old person, double occupancy. Fly to Lhasa and step into some of Tibet’s most shrine representing a fascinating mixture of important monasteries and temples, includ- Hindu and Buddhist piety. Marvel at architec- ing Drepung, Sera, Nechung, and Jokhang. ture adorned with intricately carved wooden Explore the grandest of Potala Palace’s myriad windows and latticework—the craftsmanship of rooms, and wander Barkhor, Lhasa’s old market. Nepal’s ethnic Newari people. Hotel Yak & Yeti Venture outside the city to Norbulingka, the Meals: Days 12–14: B/L/D Daily; Day 15: B
Above: Perched on a hilltop in the Lhasa Valley, the immense Potala Palace dates to the 17th century.
63 BHUTAN: KINGDOM IN THE CLOUDS 11 DAYS FROM £6,125
• Stay at Zhiwa Ling Heritage, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.
• Hike to Bhutan's iconic pilgrimage site, the Tiger's Nest Temple. Expert Led Moderate • Experience a traditional festival, and visit a family farmhouse.
Lodges of the World collection—before a to pine forest, and then to an alpine zone that welcome dinner. is home to several species of rhododendron, Zhiwa Ling Heritage | Meals: B/L/D dwarf bamboo, and Grey Langur monkeys. Dewachen Lodge | Meals: B/L/D DAY 3 I PUNAKHA After a special Buddhist blessing ceremony, DAY 6 I PHOBJIKHA journey to Punakha, the ancient capital of Against a backdrop of forest-clad mountains, Bhutan. This afternoon, visit Chimi Lhakhang, Gangtey Goemba temple complex rises dra- a small but famous temple in the centre of the matically from a cluster of hilltop cottages. One golden Punakha Valley. Settle into our hotel of the oldest Nyingma monasteries in Bhutan, and enjoy dinner together. Gangtey Goemba has recently been renovated, RKPO Green Resort | Meals: B/L/D
DAY 4 I PUNAKHA After an invigorating hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, a spectacularly situated temple, be rewarded for your efforts with in- credible views of the valley below. Then visit the DAY 1 I BANGKOK, THAILAND Punakha Dzong, an impressive fortress guarding Arrive in Bangkok this evening and check in to the southern end of the valley at the confluence our hotel. Novotel Suvarnabhumi Hotel of the Pho (male) and Mo (female) Rivers. RKPO Green Resort | Meals: B/L/D DAY 2 I PARO, BHUTAN Fly to Bhutan's Paro Valley (7,300 feet), and visit DAY 5 I PHOBJIKHA Ta Dzong, a 17th-century fortress overlooking Travel to the beautiful alpine valley of Phobjikha the Paro Valley. Explore our stunning hotel—a (10,000 feet), the largest wintering site for the member of the National Geographic Unique endangered black-necked crane. Along the way, the environment changes from semi-tropical Prayer flags make for a colourful crossing of the Paro River.
Clockwise from above: The magnificent Taktsang Lhakhang, or Tiger's Nest Temple, sits high above the lush Paro Valley; a young Buddhist monk peeks through an ornate gateway; prayer flags inscribed with sacred symbols and mantras are ubiquitous in Bhutan; traditional masked dancers perform outside Zhiwa Ling Heritage—a National Geographic Unique Lodge. 64 allowing us to examine the fine workmanship Nest Temple (9,300 feet). Visible from afar, this of Bhutan’s best woodcarvers, sculptors, stunning monastery clings to a vertical granite A National Geographic expert and and painters. Then set off on a half-day hike, cliff 2,000 feet above the valley floor. This expedition leader will accompany stopping to visit a village family along the way. evening, celebrate your Bhutanese adventure this trip. Anthropologist, author, and Dewachen Lodge | Meals: B/L/D at a festive farewell dinner. filmmaker Carroll Dunham will join Zhiwa Ling Heritage | Meals: B/L/D the March 11, 2019 departure. DAY 7 I THIMPHU Travel to Thimphu (7,900 feet), the capital of DAYS 10–11 I PARO/BANGKOK, Bhutan. Cross the Dochu La pass (10,000 feet) THAILAND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC UNIQUE LODGE en route and gaze at a 200-mile panorama of Fly to Bangkok and check in to our hotel. The Himalayan peaks (weather permitting). Tonight, following morning, transfer to the airport for get a behind-the-scenes perspective on con- your return flight home. temporary Bhutan during a lively Bhutanese Novotel Suvarnabhumi Hotel | Meals: B Daily banquet with members of the government, local dignitaries, and respected professionals. OPTIONAL EXTENSION Taj Tashi Hotel | Meals: B/L/D Add a four-day pre- or post-trip extension to Angkor Wat in Cambodia for £2,090 per person, Zhiwa Ling Heritage DAY 8 I THIMPHU/PARO double occupancy. INFORMATION Spend the morning exploring the country’s more modern side in Thimphu. Visit the 2019 Dates: Mar. 11–21 | Oct. 1–11 | Oct. 18–28 National Textile Museum, where Bhutan’s finest Nov. 6-16 weavings and brocades are on display. Return This departure is a photography expedition, led by to Paro in the afternoon and settle back in at a National Geographic photographer, and limited to 16 travellers. Cost: from £6,510 per person, double occupancy, Zhiwa Ling. Zhiwa Ling Heritage | Meals: B/L/D and subject to change. Price is per person, double occupancy, and subject to DAY 9 I PARO change. Single supplement is from £1,395. Airfare is not Our journey in the kingdom culminates with included in the price. a hike to the most famous pilgrimage site in Bhutan: Taktsang Lhakhang, or the Tiger’s
65 VIETNAM, LAOS, AND CAMBODIA: 15 DAYS FROM £5,830 TREASURES OF INDOCHINA
• Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour at the Angkor Conservation Center.
• Have lunch with two former Viet Cong soldiers at their home. Expert Led Light/Moderate • Encounter some of the region’s most endangered species, and hear from conservationists.
Cong during the Vietnam War, and spend time with two Viet Cong veterans in their home. Hôtel Des Art Saigon | Meals: Day 2: B/L/D: Day 3: B/L
DAYS 4 –5 I HANOI Stroll Hanoi’s tree-lined boulevards, past serene lakes and charming pagodas. Stop at Ho Chi Minh’s imposing mausoleum and take a walk around Ngoc Son Temple, set in the middle of an emerald-green lake. Soak up the lively old quarter, where the sizzle of roadside woks mingles with the beeping of motorbikes, Ninh Binh is often called "Ha Long Bay on land". and duck past a moving train on the unusual “train street”. Visit the colonial-era prison Reserve by bamboo boat, searching for the known by American POWs as the Hanoi Hilton. endangered Delacour’s langur. Venture to Cuc See Vietnam’s first university, St. Joseph’s Phuong National Park, Vietnam’s oldest and Cathedral, and the sprawling Imperial Citadel— largest natural reserve, and join the director a UNESCO World Heritage Site. of the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre for DAYS 1–3 I HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi | Meals: Day 4: a behind-the-scenes tour. Then visit Save Viet- Explore Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) B/D; Day 5: B/L nam’s Wildlife rescue centre to learn about a on a guided tour. Visit the War Remnants project spearheaded by National Geographic Museum and the stately Reunification Palace; DAYS 6 –7 I NINH BINH grantee Nguyen Van Thai aimed at reducing admire the French colonial architecture of the Venture south from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, a rustic the demand for pangolins, the world’s most Central Post Office and City Hall; and delve into region in the Red River Delta nicknamed “Ha trafficked animal. Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh | bustling Ben Thanh market, one of the oldest Long Bay on land”. Here we’ll be joined by Meals: B/L/D Daily and largest markets in the country. Descend National Geographic grantee Le Khac Quyet, a into the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a network of leading Vietnamese wildlife biologist and avid DAY 8 I HA LONG BAY underground passageways used by the Viet photographer who will share updates on his Head north to Ha Long Bay and explore latest research. Explore the Van Long Nature this mystical World Heritage site on a
Clockwise from above: Traditional wooden junks float beneath the towering karst peaks of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay; Wat Xieng Thong, or Temple of the Golden City, is one of the most important monasteries in Luang Prabang; a woman contemplates a temple in Angkor; pangolins are the world's most trafficked animal. 66 traditional-style wooden junk. Cruise serene, DAYS 12–15 I SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA/ turquoise waters scattered with tiny forested ANGKOR Delve into the magnificent World Heritage site A National Geographic expert and islands and fantastic karst formations, and go expedition leader will accompany off the beaten path at secluded Lan Ha Bay. of Angkor with an archaeologist guide. Built in this trip. Art Historian Paula Swart will Discover the magical Toi and Sang caves by the first half of the 12th century in the depths join the October 19 and December 28, canoe, and rise early for a relaxing tai chi of the Cambodian jungle, the mysterious capi- 2019 departures. session on deck. Azalea | Meals: B/L/D tal of the Khmer Empire is replete with massive towers, carved murals, and enchanting crum- INFORMATION DAYS 9–11 I LUANG PRABANG, LAOS bling courtyards. Wander the Bayon temple Experience Luang Prabang, nestled amid and the Terrace of the Elephants, and explore 2019 Dates: Oct. 19–Nov. 2 | Dec. 28, 2019–Jan. 11, 2020 jungle-shrouded hills at the confluence of the haunting Ta Prohm, tangled in thick banyan 2020 Dates: Jan. 18–Feb. 1 | Feb. 22–Mar. 7 Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers. Visit the area’s roots. Tour the Angkor Conservation Center with Price is per person, double occupancy, and is subject to change. Single supplement is from £1,010. Airfare is not most revered Buddhist temple and see the the centre’s director and, by special access, included in the price. golden Prabang Buddha statue after which the view thousands of priceless statues. Watch town is said to be named. Immerse yourself in the sunset at the mesmerizing Angkor Wat the uniquely Laotian baci ceremony, where temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. cotton cords are tied around the participants’ Visit Banteay Srei, an exquisite 10th-century wrists to wish them good fortune, health, and Hindu temple north of Angkor Wat, and stop at prosperity. At dawn, witness the tradition of Tak the Golden Silk Pheach Preservation Centre, a Bat, the daily almsgiving to Buddhist monks. Cambodian NGO working to preserve ancient Venture into rural Laos to visit the mountain Khmer silk production techniques. Drift down villages of the Hmong and Khmu ethnic groups, in a wooden boat to the great Tonle Sap lake, and hike to the ethereal Kuang Si Waterfall. and discover a boisterous floating city com- See endangered Asiatic black bears at the Tat plete with markets, schools, and even karaoke Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, and speak with a bars. Gather for our farewell reception, and conservationist about National Geographic take in a traditional Cambodian dance and funded research assessing the threats they face. music performance over dinner. The Luang Say Residence | Meals: Days 9–10: Jaya House River Park | Meals: Day 12: B/D; B/L/D; Day 11: B/L Days 13–14: B/L/D Daily; Day 15: B/L
67 TERMS & CONDITIONS The applicable Terms and Conditions may vary based upon the specific Expedition selected by the participant. A copy of the final Terms and Conditions applicable to each participant will be sent in pre-Expedition communications. All sets of Terms and Conditions for each Expedition type can be found at https://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/. All tours in this brochure will be booked by Fred.\ Holidays, a trading name of Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd. (ATOL 0944). Terms and Conditions Fred.\ Holidays, a trading name of Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd
All prices featured within this brochure are guide prices only ternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you and are based on low season departure dates at selected 2* to the unlikely reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel on holiday. 5* hotels. Prices include flights and/or rail unless otherwise Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you indicated, are per person based on two people sharing a room the ATOL scheme. purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs, unless otherwise indicated, and are subject to availability and You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you and covers all travel, cancellation, medical and repatriation change. assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have liabilities for the holiday. We reserve the right to request full These Booking Conditions, together with any other written or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of details of your insurance policy however please note that we do information we bring to your attention before confirming your the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or not check insurance policies for suitability. You are responsible booking, form the basis of your contract with Fred.\ Holidays a your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that for indemnifying us in full in the event that we incur any losses trading name of Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd whose address is Olym- any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that or expenses arising out of your failure to take out adequate pus House, 2 Olympus Close, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 5LN. In these other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL insurance cover. Booking Conditions, references to “we” and “us” mean Fred.\ scheme. When you buy a package holiday that does not include We strongly recommend you take out suitable insurance to Holidays, and “you” and “your” include the lead-named person a flight, protection is provided by way of a bond held by ABTA cover you for possible eventualities that would require you to on the confirmation invoice and all persons on whose behalf a - The Travel Association 30 Park Street London SE1 9EQ www. cancel your holiday. Holiday insurance premiums not paid to us booking is made. Please read them carefully as they set out our abta.co.uk. are not refundable in the event of cancellation. respective rights and obligations. PRICING You can cancel your booking without paying cancellation These Booking Conditions apply generally whether you have We reserve the right to amend the price of unsold holidays at charges if the performance of your package, or the carriage booked one of our Packages (Inclusive Price Combinations) or any time and correct errors in the prices of confirmed holidays of passengers to your destination, is significantly affected by our single component items, e.g. within 7 days of the booking. unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. In such circum- accommodation or transport only. Please note however that The price of your holiday is subject to change after you have stances, we will arrange for your booking to be terminated and where you have purchased a single component, there is a differ- booked only in certain circumstances. for you to receive a full refund. We will observe advice provided ent condition as to liability. These include changes in the price of the carriage of passengers by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Please see ‘Our Responsibilities’ clause below. resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sourc- CHANGES BY YOU By making a booking, the lead named person on the booking es, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to agrees on behalf of all persons detailed on the booking that: tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation change any part of your booking you must inform us in writing. a) He/she has read these terms and conditions and has the fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates, any or all of which Whilst we will do our utmost to assist, we cannot guarantee that authority to and agrees to be bound by them; may mean a variation in the price of your holiday after you have we will be able to meet your requested change. All changes will b) He/she consents to our use of information in accordance with booked. However, there will be no change within 20 days of be subject to any applicable rate changes or extra costs incurred, our Privacy Policy; your departure. as well as any costs we incur in making this alteration and any c) He/she is over 18 years of age and resident in the United We will absorb, and you will not be charged for, any increase costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers. Kingdom equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer BOOKING AND PAYING FOR YOUR ARRANGEMENTS excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges to the departure date that changes are made and you should A booking is made with Fred.\ Holidays when a) you tell us and/or additional services or travel arrangements. You will be contact us as soon as possible. Please note that certain travel that you would like to accept our written or verbal quotation charged for the amount over and above that. If this means that arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has and b) you pay us a deposit of £150 per person unless advised you have to pay an increase of more than 8% of the price of been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation differently at the time of booking. For cruise holidays including your travel arrangements (excluding any amendment charges charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. Where we expeditions and airline bookings you will be advised of the and/ or additional services or travel arrangements), you will are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the deposit amount at the time of booking. When we issue you have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you and with a confirmation invoice, a binding contract will come into are able to offer one (we will refund any price difference if the a cancellation fee may be payable. Please note also that it is im- existence. Upon receipt, if you believe that any details on the alternative is of a lower value), or cancelling and receiving a portant at the time of booking to advise the names of travellers confirmation or any other documents are wrong you must full refund of all monies paid to us, except for any amendment that match the name given on their passport. Failure to do so advise us immediately as changes may not be possible later. charges. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must will usually result in a name change charge by the airline. The balance of the cost of your arrangements (including any ap- exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date CHANGES OR CANCELLATION BY US plicable surcharge) is due 10 weeks prior to scheduled departure printed on your final invoice, and we will provide a refund of As we plan your holiday arrangements many months in ad- but on some products we require payment 90 days prior. If we any insurance premiums paid to us if you can show that you are vance, we may occasionally have to make changes to or cancel do not receive this balance in full and on time, we reserve the unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should the price of your your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time. If right to treat your booking as cancelled by you in which case the holiday go down due to the cost changes mentioned above, then we make a significant change to your holiday, we will inform cancellation charges set out below will become payable. any refund due will be paid to you. We will deduct from this you or your travel agent as soon as reasonably possible if there refund our administrative expenses incurred. Please note that is time before your departure. You will have the choice of either YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency We provide full financial protection for our package holidays. accepting the change of arrangements, accepting an offer of and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us If you buy a single travel service then this might not apply. For travel due to contractual and other protection in place. flight-based holidays this is through our Air Travel Organiser’s if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative When you buy a flight-based holiday, all monies you pay to the is of a lower value), or cancellingyour holiday and receiving a full Licence number (0944), issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, travel agent are held by him on behalf and for the benefit of the Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR, UK, telephone refund of all monies paid. Except where the significant change Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times. This is subject to is due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (where 0333 103 6350, email [email protected]. When you buy an the agent’s obligation to pay it to us for so long as we do not fail. ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances means a situation If we fail, any money held at that time by the agent, or subse- beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially quently accepted from you by him, is and continues to be held protected, where you can get information on what this means been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken), on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel if you choose to cancel we will also pay compensation. These for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We will provide Trust without any obligation to pay that money to us. When you you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a options do not apply for insignificant changes. Examples of buy a holiday not including a flight, all monies you pay to the insignificant changes include alteration of your outward/ return suitable alternative). In some cases, where we aren’t able to do travel agent are held by him on our behalf at all times. so for the unlikely reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL travel by less than 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a TRAVEL INSURANCE accommodation to another of the same or higher standard, and suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a booking if you do not changes of carriers. Please note that carriers such as airlines that in those circumstances, the alternative ATOL holder will have personal travel insurance. We will treat any cancellation used in the brochure may be subject to change. Alteration of the perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money for this reason as a cancellation by you and the cancellation holiday may be made of necessity or because it appears to us or outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that charges will be payable as set out below. any other party acting as operator responsible for the holiday or alternative ATOL holder. part of the holiday desirable for the safety, comfort or enjoyment 90 Days or more Loss of deposit & non-refundable items of passengers or the operational efficiency of the holiday. Where However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be 89 – 57 days 60% possible and appropriate, we will make reasonable efforts toen- possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case 56 – 43 days 75% sure that any changes are as limited as practical. Such alteration you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or will not amount to significant alteration of the holiday contract. your credit card issuer where applicable). 42 – 15 days 85% We will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 10 weeks If we are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable al- 14 – 00 days 100% © 2019 National Geographic Partners, LLC NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS and the Yellow Border Design are trademarks of the National Geographic Society, used under license.
68 before your departure date (90 days for a cruise holiday), except and care if they comply with any local regulations tour and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of for reasons of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances that apply, or, if there are no applicable local regulations, if the excursion or or failure by you to pay the final balance. We may cancel your they are reasonable when compared to the local standards in tour or for anything that happens during the course of its provi- holiday before this date if, for example, the minimum number practice. sion by the operator. of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, Passport, Visa and Immigration Requirements and Health reached. If your holiday is cancelled, you can either have a shall be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your Formalities refund of all monies paid or accept an offer of alternative travel travel arrangements. Our liability will also be limited in accor- It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, arrangements of comparable standard from us if available (we dance with and/or in an identical manner to: health and immigration requirements applicable to your will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower (a) the contractual terms of the companies that provide the itinerary. You must check requirements for your own specific value). In some cases, except where the cancellation is due to travel services that make up your package. These terms are circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/ or Consulates unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we will pay incorporated into this booking; and and your own doctor as applicable. Most countries now require compensation as detailed below but this does not exclude you (b) any relevant international convention, for example the passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. from claiming more if you are entitled to do so. Warsaw/Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the If your passport is in its final year, you should check with the Period before departure in which Amount you will receive Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne/Cotif Embassy of the country you are visiting. For further information we notify you from us Convention in respect of travel by rail, the Paris Convention in please contact the Passport Office on 0870 5210410 or visit 43 – 90 days £20 per person respect of the provision of accommodation, and the Strasbourg www. passport.gov.uk. Special conditions apply for travel to the Convention (CNLI) in respect of travel on inland waterways, USA and all passengers must have individual machine readable 27– 42 days £30 per person which limit the amount of and conditions under which com- passports. Please check www.usembassy.org. uk. For European 15 – 26 days £40 per person pensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers holidays you should obtain a completed and iss ed form EHIC 00 – 14 days £50 per person and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded prior to departure. Up to date travel advice can be obtained from as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visit www.fco. gov.uk. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because without notice the holiday arrangements of any customer whose or any conventions. We limit the amount of compensation we you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration behaviour is such that it is in our opinion likely to cause distress, may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause for requirements. damage, danger, or annoyance to our customers, our/supplier loss of and/ or damage to any luggage or personal possessions DELAYS AND OTHER TRAVEL INFORMATION employees, or to any third party, or to property. If you are pre- and money to a maximum amount of £25 per person in total vented from travelling because, in our or our suppliers’ opinion, In some destinations, a compulsory city tax may be applicable because you are assumed to have adequate insurance in place to and will be charged to you locally. you appear to be unfit to travel or likely to cause discomfort cover any losses of this kind. or disturbance to others, our responsibility for your holiday We regret we are unable to offer you any assistance should a de- You can ask for copies of the travel service contractual terms, or ceases and we shall be under no obligation to pay any refund, lay disrupt your itinerary. Any airline or other transport provider the international conventions from our offices. Under EU law compensation or costs to you. Please note that we have no concerned may however provide refreshments and/or appropri- (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances control over the behaviour of other persons staying at or visiting ate accommodation. We cannot accept liability for any delay that to refunds and/ or compensation from your airline in cases of your holiday accommodation and we are not responsible for any is due to re- scheduling times by the airline or airline authorities denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details withdrawal or impairment of facilities or other loss or damage or caused by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. The will be publicised at EU airports and available from airlines. caused by them. Under no circumstances are you entitled to latest flight timings will be shown on your tickets, which will be However, reimbursement in such cases will not automatically share or sub-let your accommodation with anyone other than dispatched to you approximately two weeks before departure. entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right those individuals shown on your booking. You should check your tickets very carefully immediately upon to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in these receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. If flight times OUR RESPONSIBILITIES booking conditions. If any payments to you are due from us, change after tickets have been dispatched, we will contact you We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y0128. We are any payment made to you by the airline or any other service as soon as we can to let you know. Your rights under EU law are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s provider will be deducted. included under “Our Responsibilities”. Code of Conduct. We can also offer If it is impossible to ensure your return as scheduled due to JURISDICTION you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we will bear When you make a booking you guarantee that you have the this contract, which is approved by the Chartered Trading Stan- the cost of necessary accommodation, if possible of equivalent authority to accept and do accept on behalf of your party the dards Institute. If we cannot resolve your complaint, go to www. category, for a maximum of three nights. The limit does not terms of these booking conditions. A contract will exist as soon abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information apply to persons with reduced mobility and any person accom- as we issue our confirmation invoice. This contract is made on on the Code and panying them, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, the terms of these booking conditions, which are governed by ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www. or persons in need of specific medical assistance, provided that English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. You abta.com. You can also access the European you notified us of these needs at least 48 hours before the start may however, choose the law and jurisdiction of Scotland or Commission Online Dispute (ODR) Resolution platform at of your holiday. Northern Ireland if you wish to do so. http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. This ODR platform is a COMPLAINTS DATA PROTECTION means of notifying us of your complaint; it will not determine If a problem occurs whilst you are on holiday, you must inform Personal details will be held and processed by us to enable fulfil- how your complaint should be resolved. the relevant supplier immediately so that the matter can be put ment of the holiday contract. You hereby agree to this informa- 1) Single Components right. If the supplier cannot resolve the problem to your satisfac- tion being passed to any third parties in order for the supply of If you have purchased a ‘single component’ i.e. accommodation tion at the time, you must also contact us immediately by tele- the holiday. Personal details supplied to us may also be used for or transportation only, then your booking is not a package as phoning our offices on 00 44 808 231 3744 so that we are given marketing purposes but only with your clear, active consent. We defined by the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements the opportunity to help. In the event that a complaint cannot be will not disclose personal details to third parties for marketing Regulations, but we have a duty to select the accommodation/ resolved at the time, you must write to us within 28 days of re- purposes without express permission. Our Privacy Notice can be transport providers with reasonable skill and care. We have no turn to the UK quoting the original booking reference and giving viewed at www.fredholidays. co.uk/privacy. (updated Nov 2018) liability to you for the actual provision of the accommodation/ all relevant information. PLEASE NOTE: If you fail to follow the www.fredholidays.co.uk/terms transport, except in cases where it is proved that we have requirement to report your complaint whilst on holiday, we will breached that duty and damage to you has been caused. There- have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify fore, providing we have selected the provider with reasonable it and this may affect your rights under this booking. care and skill, we will have no liability to you for anything that SPECIAL REQUESTS happens at the accommodation or during the transportation or Any special requests must be advised to us at the time of any acts or omissions of the provider or others. booking. You should then confirm your requests in writing. 2) Package Holidays Whilst every effort will be made by us to try and arrange your Subject to these booking conditions, your holiday arrangements reasonable special requests, we cannot guarantee that they will be made or performed using reasonable skill and care. We will be fulfilled. Failure to meet any special request will not be will be responsible if our employees, servants or agents fail to a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been make or perform your holiday arrangements using reasonable specifically confirmed. skill and care as long as they were acting within the course of DISABILITIES AND MEDICAL PROBLEMS their employment or carrying out work that we had asked them to do. We are not a specialist disabled holiday company, but we will do our utmost to cater for any special requirements you may have. We will not be responsible or pay compensation for any injury, If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any disability which may affect your stay, please provide us with full description, which results from: the act(s) and/or omission(s) details by writing or emailing us, before we confirm your book- of you or another member of your party; the act(s) and/or ing so that we can advise as to the suitability of your chosen omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision arrangements if possible. of the services contracted for and which were unforeseeable or PHOTO CREDITS: EXCURSIONS unavoidable; or unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, KEY: T=TOP, C=CENTER, B=BOTTOM, L=LEFT, R=RIGHT which means a situation beyond our control, the consequences Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package Jacqueline Barney (65BL); Molly Danner (43TL); Tim Greenleaf measures had been taken. The services and facilities included in holiday provided by us. For any excursion or other tour that you (8BL); Jonathan Irish (25TR, 31TR); Scott Kish (31TL); Susan your holiday will be deemed to be provided with reasonable skill book, your contract will be with the operator of the excursion or Seubert (13))
69 EXPEDITIONS CALENDAR
2020 2019 DEPARTURE DATES DEPARTURE DATES
MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. PAGE TYPE TRIP # OF DAYS NORTH AMERICA ALASKA: DENALI TO KENAI FJORDS 11 TE 8 5, 12 28 4
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK 12 TE 7 6 3, 17 1, 7
CANADIAN ROCKIES BY RAIL AND TRAIL 13 TE 8 8 12 2, 23
WINTER WILDLIFE IN YELLOWSTONE 14 TE 6 24, 30 5 16
YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS 15 TE 8 18 1 27 24 4, 26
ARCHES, CANYONLANDS, AND MESA VERDE 16 TE 7 21 5, 12 6, 13, 20
GRAND CANYON, BRYCE, AND ZION NATIONAL PARKS 17 TE 8 25 15 24 7, 21 5
SOUTH AMERICA
PERU: MACHU PICCHU INN TO INN TREK* 18 A 10 7 5, 19 16 3, 21 4, 17 8, 29 6
ARGENTINA AND CHILE: HIKING, KAYAKING, 23 A 12 15 3 20 17 3 AND RAFTING THE LAKE DISTRICT NEW
EXPLORING PATAGONIA 24 TE 12 3 10, 22 28 13, 25 6, 22 5
AFRICA
THE GREAT APES OF UGANDA AND RWANDA 28 TE 11 25 16 20 3 29
ON SAFARI: TANZANIA'S GREAT MIGRATION 30 TE 9 8, 22 5 2 7 9, 30 19 16
KENYA: UP CLOSE WITH ELEPHANTS, RHINOS, AND BIG CATS 32 TE 10 7 16 15
SOUTHERN AFRICA SAFARI BY PRIVATE AIR 34 TE 10 28 22 23 7 27
MADAGASCAR WILDLIFE EXPEDITION 36 TE 13 1 5 2, 16 7
MOROCCO: LEGENDARY CITIES AND THE SAHARA 38 TE 12 16 13 5, 23 14
MIDDLE EAST
THE HOLY LAND: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE* 40 TE 11 16 6 14 26 9, 23 28 14
EURASIA
TRANS-SIBERIAN RAIL EXPEDITION 42 T 16 4, 31
GEORGIA & ARMENIA: CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS NEW 44 TE 11 13 18
EUROPE
NORWAY'S TRAINS AND FJORDS 46 T 11 12, 26 24 7
ICELAND: VOLCANOES, GLACIERS, AND WHALES 47 TE 10 14 5, 26 23 7
IRELAND: TALES AND TREASURES OF THE EMERALD ISLE 48 TE 10 21 30 27
SWISS TRAINS AND THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT 50 T 10 9, 16, 23 7, 21 4, 18 8
ITALY: RENAISSANCE CITIES AND TUSCAN LIFE 49 TE 10 24 14 27 18
HUMAN ORIGINS: SOUTHWEST FRANCE AND NORTHERN SPAIN 54 TE 10 5 11 2, 9
SOUTHERN SPAIN AND MOROCCO 52 TE 14 7 22 20
GREECE: WONDERS OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE 55 TE 11 1 5 11, 25 16
70 2020 2019 DEPARTURE DATES DEPARTURE DATES
MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. PAGE TYPE TRIP # OF DAYS ASIA
INSIDE JAPAN 58 TE 11 14 8 19 3
CHINA: IMPERIAL TREASURES AND NATURAL WONDERS 60 TE 16 2, 23 14 3, 24 1, 29
TIBET AND NEPAL: EXPEDITION TO THE HIGHEST HIMALAYA 63 TE 15 20 28 15
BHUTAN: KINGDOM IN THE CLOUDS 64 TE 11 11 1 6
VIETNAM, LAOS, AND CAMBODIA: 66 TE 15 19 28 18 22 TREASURES OF INDOCHINA* NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE PHOTO EXPEDITION 14 PH 6 22, 27 12,25 22
TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARI 30 PH 9 4 12 8
MOROCCO PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION 38 PH 12 30 11 28 12
ITALY PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION 49 PH 10 12 6
INSIDE JAPAN PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION 58 PH 11 28 31
TIBET AND NEPAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION 63 PH 15 3
BHUTAN PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION 64 PH 11 18 FAMILY EXPEDITIONS
ALASKA: DENALI TO KENAI FJORDS FAMILY EXPEDITION 11 F 8 19 17 14
YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS 22 6,20 FAMILY EXPEDITION 15 F 8
GRAND CANYON, BRYCE, AND ZION NATIONAL PARKS 29 13,27 FAMILY EXPEDITION 17 F 8
PRIVATE EXPEDITIONS
BELIZE AND TIKAL PRIVATE EXPEDITION 19 PR 9
PERU PRIVATE EXPEDITION 20 PR 9
ECUADOR PRIVATE EXPEDITION 21 PR 11
COLOMBIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION NEW 22 PR 10
PATAGONIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 26 PR 10 Visit our website or call 0800 221 8257 to request your preferred travel dates.
AUSTRALIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 27 PR 13
TANZANIA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 29 PR 9
MADAGASCAR PRIVATE EXPEDITION 37 PR 12
MOROCCO PRIVATE EXPEDITION 39 PR 9
GREEK ISLES PRIVATE EXPEDITION 56 PR 9
JAPAN PRIVATE EXPEDITION 57 PR 10
CHINA PRIVATE EXPEDITION 62 PR 10
A = ACTIVE | F= FAMILY EXPEDITION | TE = TOURS WITH AN EXPERT | PH = PHOTO | PR = PRIVATE EXPEDITION | T = TRAIN
*Departure dates beyond March 2020 are listed on the itinerary pages for these trips. †While these itineraries do not have designated family departures, there are activities for children ages 7–17 on all departures.
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01234 326758 [email protected] www.cruiseselect.co.uk
See page 3 for more information.
Booked by Fred.Holidays, a trading name of Fred.Olsen Travel Ltd. ATOL 0944
GEORGIA AND ARMENIA: CROSSROADS OF CONTINENTS PAGE 44
KENYA UP CLOSE: WITH ELEPHANTS, RHINOS AND BIG CATS PAGE 32
VIETNAM, LAOS, AND CAMBODIA: ARGENTINA & CHILE: HIKING, KAYAKING AND TREASURES OF INDOCHINA RAFTING THE LAKE DISTRICT 72 0800 221 8257 | TRAVELWITHNATGEO.CO.UK PAGE 66 PAGE 23