Spring 2018 Newsletter Hornbill Festival, Kohima, Nagaland India

Last October Caucasus Horizons explored Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. In November our scouting trip through India’s North East encouraged us to revisit the highlights of this scenic, tribally rich and less-seen region of India. And in January Myanmar Horizons visited Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan with week-long cruises on the Irawaddy River and through the Mergui Archipelago. As you read this, our Central America Horizons group of eight is on the road somewhere between Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala or Belize...

Visiting Horizons Dammam 1 night 19 days departing 8 February 2019 Al Hofuf 1 night Jabal Qarah caves Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, 2 nights keen on moving the nation’s economy Dariyyah away from a dependence on oil, is the Masmak fort driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s new- Buraydah 1 night found commitment to its tourism and Ushaiger leisure industry. The prince is supported Hail 1 night by members of the , Qishla and Oraif forts including Prince Sultan bin Salman, head Jubbah rock carvings of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Al Nafud desert National Heritage (SCTH). Sakaka 2 nights Rajajil standing stones The growing emphasis on tourism Qasr Zaabal and Domat al Jandal happens at a time when Saudi Arabia Al Ula 2 nights is changing. February 2018 marked the Madain Saleh, Elephant Rock one-year anniversary of the conservative Lion tombs, Hejaz railway Far Horizons first visited Saudi Arabia in country allowing female-only gyms. Jeddah 1 night 2005. Since then several tours have been Taif 1 night offered - with mixed success. In all cases Since June 2018 women have been Al Bahah 1 night the difficulty has been in obtaining a visa to permitted to drive cars, female gyms Zee Ain enter this reclusive Islamic nation. have opened, and the government has Abha 2 nights announced plans to end a 35-year ban Al Sawda Usually we try to give as much advance notice on cinemas. Bin Hemsan as possible but for this particular destination Jazan 1 night it’s more a matter of ‘strike while the iron is From Dammam we journey around the Farasan Island hot’ (and before it cools down again!)… fringes of the Al Nafud desert to the 1 night petroglyphs of Jubbah, the ‘standing Jeddah Earlier this year a new visa scheme was stones’ of Rajajil, fortress of Qasr Zaabal, introduced that provides a streamlined and the remarkable stone tombs of the process to obtain tourist visas for foreigners ancient Nabataeans at Madain Saleh. travelling in designated groups. We then travel south along the Red Sea coast to the stone villages of Al Bahah and finish with a boat cruise to Farasan Island.

Limited vacancies remain on this tour and visa processing will take longer than usual, so act now to avoid disappointment.

From $23,655 pp [share twin] ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth. For further details request our descriptive brochure.

Descriptive tour brochures, Newsletters, and important information can be found on our website. See https://farhorizons.com.au/ Visiting Morocco to Gibraltar Casablanca 2 nights 16+ days departing 3 May 2019 Marrakesh 4 nights Atlas Mountains are often struck by the odd Asni, Imlil sensation of having not quite Ait Benhaddou reached Africa. In the north, Essaouira its lush highland valleys, Ouarzazate 1 night and evocative old cities Road of a Thousand reinforce this impression. Roses Valley Yet, as one moves south El Kelaa M’Gouna and east, into and over Tinghir the starkly beautiful ranges Tinejdad of the Atlases, Morocco’s Merzouga 1 night Mediterranean character Erfoud melts away like a mirage. Fes 2 nights The Sahara stretches out Meknes Morocco is in many ways a country apart. to the horizon, and forbidding kasbahs Volubilis It nestles on the northwestern tip of Africa, overlook the landscape. Chefchaouen 1 night separated from the rest of the continent by the Tetouan Highlights include exploring the gardens, Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. Its Tangier 2 nights souks and history of Marrakesh, the history, climate and geography are more closely Tangier to Algeciras Ferry ‘pearl of the south’; the Roman ruins of related to the Mediterranean than to the rest of Gibraltar 2 nights Essaouira and Volubilis; Berber villages Africa, and for this reason visitors to Morocco in the high Atlas and Saharan hinterland; wishing to join the Deacocks on our the Moorish legacy of various impressive journey from Casablanca to Gibraltar. We souks (markets), kasbahs (forts) and are happy to assist with flights and any mosques; and the enduring history of a extension arrangements desired from region controlled for centuries variously Gibraltar (from 19th May) on request. by the Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, Spanish and French until independence. From $11,020 per person [share twin] ex Casablanca to Gibraltar Initially planned as a family holiday, we (excluding airfare, lunches & dinners). have received numerous expressions Further details available on request. of interest from friends and past clients Kamchatka to Alaska 37 days departing 18 August 2019

Someone once said they could see Russia Visiting from their kitchen... South Korea Seoul 1 night From Vladivostok we fly to Petropavlovsk Russian Far East on the remote Kamchatka Peninsula and Vladivostok 2 nights stay five nights at the comfortable Belkamtur Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky 5 nights Hotel, from where we undertake excursions Valley of the Geysers helitours to a community of indigenous Itelman natives, Uzon Caldera, Itelman camp take two full day helicopter tours to the Valley Alaska USA of the Geysers, Uzon Cladera and Kurilskoye From Denali we take the Alaska Railroad Anchorage 2 nights Lake to enjoy the scenic beauty of this less to Anchorage and fly to Juneau to board Knik Glacier 1 night visited region of the Russian Far East American Constellation for a 15-day cruise through the Inside Passage to Seattle. Glenallen We then fly from Petropavlovsk to Anchorage, Fairbanks 2 nights travel by road to Knik and Fairbanks, by The three elements of this tour (Kamchatka, Barrow (Utqiagvik) light aircraft north of the Arctic Circle to Alaska tour and Alaska cruise) can be Deadhorse 1 night Utqiaġvik (commonly known as Barrow) booked separately if desired - we already Brooks Mountain Range and Deadhorse, drive south via Coldfoot to have several passengers booked. Cabins Coldfoot Fairbanks and visit Denali National Park. sell quickly and can only be secured on Fairbanks 1 night payment of a deposit. Denali NP 2 nights Alaska Railroad From $61,925 per person [share Anchorage 1 night twin] ex Sydney for the complete Inside Passage Cruise 14 nights 37-day Kamchatka to Alaska tour/ Juneau, Skagway, Haines, cruise. Shorter options including the Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, Kamchatka and Alaska tour only from Petersburg, Wrangell, $36,865, Alaska tour and cruise only Ketchikan, Inside Passage, from $48,999, or Alaska cruise only Misty Fjords, Friday Harbour, from $28,760. For further details request Anacortes, Seattle our descriptive brochure.

Page 3 Temples, Tribes and Tigers of Eastern India Visiting Delhi 2 nights 24 days departing 25 September 2019 Bhubaneshwar 2 nights Mukteswar The Bastar were the earliest people to work Khandagiri with metal and have expertise in making Udaigiri caves beautiful figurines of tribal Gods, votive Pipli animals, oil lamps, carts and animals. Konark Sun temple They are also known for their arts & crafts Puri 1 night and colorful festivals, with the ten-day Raghurajpur Jagadalpur Dussehra festival being the Olasingh weaving village most important. Chilka Lake Gobalpur 1 night We journey from the temples of Tatoo-faced Kondh tribal village Bhubaneswar and Konark through the Baliguda 1 night state of Odisha to Chattisgarh and its many Dongaria Kondh tribal village tribal villages and markets, spending two Chandoori Sai 4 nights full days at the colorful Dussehra festival. Each year the festival of Dussehra celebrates Bondh tribal village Kunduli tribal village the Hindu god Rama’s victory over the demon We then take several jeep safaris in Kanha Laxmipur tribal village king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. National Park in search of Royal Bengal Kotpad Tiger before returning to Delhi. Primarily a Hindu festival, in the tribal regions Jagadalpur 4 nights of Chattisgarh in Eastern India however, Bison Horn tribal village the various tribes of the Bastar people Tokapal tribal market celebrate Dussehra in memory of their Jagadalpur Dussehra festival goddess ‘Danteshwari Mai’ Kanker 2 nights The Bastar include Gond, Bhatra, Muria, Muria tribal village Abhuj Maria, Bison Horn Maria, Halbaa and Kanha National Park 3 nights Dhurvaa tribes and sub-tribes. Each tribe has Jabalpur developed its own dialect and differs from each Delhi 2 nights other in their costume, eating habits, customs, traditions and even worship different forms From $19,850 per person [share of their Gods and Goddesses. Many tribals twin] ex Sydney. For further details still live in deep forests and avoid mixing with request our descriptive brochure. outsiders to protect their own unique culture.

Visiting North East India Horizons Kolkata 1 night 26 days departing 15 November 2019 Gauhati (Assam) 2 nights Shillong (Meghalaya) 2 nights Tezpur (Assam) 1 night Dirang (Arunachal Pradesh) 2 nights Thembang fortified village Sela Pass (4170m) Tawang 2 nights Bomdila 1 night Itanagar 1 night Ziro 2 nights Majuli Island (Assam) 2 nights Sivsagar Jorhat 1 night Kohima (Nagaland) 3 nights Hornbill Festival Kaziranga National Park 2 nights Less travelled, still developing and requiring Our journey starts in Gauhati (Assam) and in Gauhati 1 night special permits, Indias remote north east is rich neighboring Meghalaya visits Mawlynnong, Kolkata 1 night in tribal culture and of historical significance “Asia’s Cleanest Village” (2003) and a rare due to its proximity to the Chinese, Bhutanese. ‘living root’ bridge, then we criss-cross Myanmar and Bangladesh borders. the mighty Brahmaputra River as we visit the 2nd largest Buddhist monastery in the Our November 2017 scouting trip through North world at Tawang; scenically beautiful and East India has encouraged us to offer this culturally significant Ziro Valley; Majuli exciting journey to four of the seven states of Island - the worlds largest river island; this less-visited region (the states of Manipur, spend two days at the annual Hornbill Tripura and Mizoram do offer some attractions, Festival near Kohima; take several safaris but the journey is more arduous and the through Kaziranga National Park rich in accommodation of a generally lower standard). Indian One-Horned rhinoceros; and enjoy From $18,810 per person [share twin] numerous encounters with indigenous tribal ex Sydney. For further details request groups living in traditional villages and still our descriptive brochure. practicing their ancient beliefs.

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Ethiopia is home to some of Africa’s Ethiopia Horizons most dramatic scenery and a healthy 26 days departing 27 December 2019 mix of wildlife. During our tour we go in search of Gelada baboons in the Semien Throughout its long and often bloody history Mountains; Walia ibex and Ethiopian Visiting Ethiopia’s feuding fiefdoms have risen, wolf in the Bale Mountains; elephant at Addis Ababa 2 nights flourished and fallen, leaving remnants of Babile; lion, crocodile and a variety of rare, Bahir Dar 2 nights their glory still able to be admired today. endangered and endemic wildlife. Blue Nile Falls In Harar we have the opportunity to hand- Lake Tana cruise Ethiopia is home to nine UNESCO World feed wild hyena under the watchful eye Heritage Sites - eight of them cultural, Semien Mountains N.P. 2 nights of the ‘Hyena man’, following a tradition denoting the vast number of historic Gondar 2 nights handed down through the generations. treasures that can be seen. We visit five Debre Tabor, Awramba World Heritage Sites including the castles Our visit coincides with the Ethiopian Lalibela 3 nights of Gondar; the Semien Mountains; the Yimrehane Kristos Orthodox Christmas celebrations at rock-hewn churches of Lalibela; the Lalibela and the Timket (Epiphany) Christmas celebrations mysterious ‘stelae field’ of Aksum; and the Festival in Addis Ababa. Axum 1 night ancient walled-city of Harar. 2 nights Hawzen In addition to extensive visits of the famed Yeha, Adigrat rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, we Tigray, Mekele also explore the less visited but just as Addis Ababa 1 night impressive churches of Tigray Harar 1 night Babille Elephant Sanctuary Dire Dawa 1 night Addis-Djibouti Rail Musuem Bishoufti crater lakes Lake Langano 1 night ale Mountains N.P. 3 nights Awassa 1 night From $26,560 per person [share twin] Addis Ababa 1 night ex Sydney or Melbourne. For further Timket Festival details request our descriptive brochure.

Please call or write for a brochure or to register your interest in a future tour, a particular destination, or to organise a private group or individual travel program.

Saudi Arabia Horizons Kamchatka to Alaska Saudi Arabia Horizons Kamchatka to Alaska 19 days departing 8 Feb 2019 37 days departing 18 Aug 2019 Limited vacancies Some vacancies 37 day escorted tour departing 18 August 2019 19 day escorted tour departing 8 February 2019

Temples, Tribes and Morocco to Gibraltar Tigers of Eastern India Temples, Tribes & Tigers Morocco to Gibraltar of Eastern India 17+ days departing 3 May 2019 24 days departing 25 Sep 2019 Some vacancies 24 day escorted tour departing 25 September 2019 Bookings open 17+ day escorted tour departing 3 May 2019

North East India Horizons Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd (Incorporating Hornbill Festival) PO Box 555, Cammeray North East India Horizons New South Wales 2062 26 days departing 15 Nov 2019 Tel : (02) 9955 0444 Email : [email protected] Bookings open 26 day escorted tour departing 15 November 2019 Website : farhorizons.com.au

Ethiopia Horizons Ethiopia Horizons 26 days departing 27 Dec 2019 Bookings open 26 day escorted tour departing 27 December 2019

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