CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE

July 18 - 31, 2021 | 14 Days | Aboard Le Bougainville

UKRAINE Expedition Highlights Odessa • Choose from several tours highlighting ’s wealth of historic sites and ROMANIA Histria architectural treasures. Constanta DANUBE RIVER DELTA Sochi • Visit the Kizilirmak Delta Bird Sanctuary

Varna BLACK SEA to see an array of waterfowl, herons, BULGARIA raptors, and songbirds. GEORGIA • Explore the grand city of Odessa, with Bartin Batumi BOSPORUS splendid examples of elegant 18th- and Istanbul Safranbolu Samsun Trabzon 19th-century architecture, including a Sumela tour of the magnificent Opera House.

TURKEY • Cruise through the winding canals of the Danube River Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, where Dalmatian Pelican is possible.

• Wander through a wealth of well- preserved in Safranbolu.

• Itinerary...... page 2 > • Flight Information ...... page 3 > • Ship, Deck Plan & Rates ...... page 4 > • Featured Leaders...... page 5 > SAFRANBOLU MARKET © Allan Langdale

© Allan Langdale • Know Before You Go...... page 5 > BLUE SUMELA MONASTERY © Allan Langdale © Allan Langdale

Thursday, July 22 Itinerary SAMSUN / AMASYA From the port of Samsun, drive inland to Amasya, former capital of the kingdom of Pontus during the third century Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be BC. Or, visit the Kizilirmak Delta Bird Sanctuary and observe ongoing enhancements to this itinerary. a wonderful assortment of birds that include Ferruginous Duck, White Stork, Pygmy Cormorant, Long-legged Buzzard, Western Yellow Wagtail, and much more. Sunday, July 18, 2021 DEPART USA Board your overnight flight to Istanbul. Friday, July 23 TRABZON / SUMELA Ancient Greeks settled in Trabzon along a branch of the Silk Monday, July 19 Road from Asia. A highlight of our visit is a morning drive in ISTANBUL, the countryside to see the 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the Pera Palace Hotel. Enjoy an Sumela Monastery, perched dramatically on a cliff face in afternoon at leisure before our welcome dinner and briefing. the monastic tradition of Greek Orthodox architecture. Meet with a local expert who will share details on the extensive project to restore the magnificent interior frescoes to their Tuesday, July 20 ISTANBUL / EMBARK LE BOUGAINVILLE former glory. Then take a stroll through this stunning alpine After breakfast, several guided tours will be available, offering setting that is also a national park. This afternoon, explore the a more in-depth exploration of the city. Or, choose a morning 13th-century Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine church with exquisite at leisure with lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, board Le frescoes, and spend some free time wandering through Bougainville and cruise toward the Black Sea up the scenic Trabzon. Bosporus, a strait which runs through the center of Istanbul.

Saturday, July 24 Wednesday, July 21 BATUMI, GEORGIA BARTIN / SAFRANBOLU Today the ship docks in the charming port of Batumi. Visit From the port at Bartin, travel inland to Safranbolu, a World the colorful farmers market and take a relaxing walk through Heritage Site. Once an important center of saffron production the lovely Botanical Gardens. After lunch on board, take a and stopover for Silk Road caravans, Safranbolu boasts a short drive to the ruins of ancient Gonio Fortress, which dates wealth of well-preserved Ottoman architecture. A walking tour back to the first century AD. Return to Batumi for a dinner of visits the marketplace as well as a mosque, traditional house, regional delicacies and Georgian wines at a local restaurant, and Turkish that date back to the 16th century. accompanied by a fantastic folk performance of traditional Enjoy lunch in a converted Ottoman , with free music and energetic dances. time to explore on your own before returning to the ship in Bartin.

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS | CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE BLACK SEA < 2 > ODESSA DALMATIAN PELICANS © Allan Langdale

Sunday, July 25 fascinating seaside ruins, tour the new museum, and spot birds SOCHI, RUSSIA in this wetland environment. Next we explore Constanta where This Russian mineral-spring resort community with a sub- we tour the archaeological museum and view one of the largest tropical climate is sometimes called the Russian Riviera. This Roman mosaic floors in Europe. In the late afternoon, enjoy morning, explore the town with a special visit to Stalin’s dacha, wine tasting and a cultural performance on board. well-hidden among trees on the outskirts of town.

Friday, July 30 Monday, July 26 VARNA, BULGARIA AT SEA The modern port city of Varna was once the Greek colony Attend lectures, enjoy the passing scenery, and watch for birds known as Odessos. We disembark in the morning and visit during a relaxing day at sea. Yelkouan Shearwater is likely. Varna’s archaeological museum that chronologically traces the progress of human society in the region over the course of millennia, and includes the oldest worked gold in the world. Tuesday, July 27 We also explore the extensive remains of the 2nd-century ODESSA, UKRAINE Roman thermae, or public baths, which make up the largest Odessa’s European-Russian heritage is evident as we ascend the Roman ruins in Bulgaria. Or take a tour of the Balchik Potemkin Steps to explore cobblestone streets lined with shady Botanical Gardens and Aladzha Rock Monastery. Reboard the plane trees. Explore the compact central district’s spectacular ship for lunch as we sail toward Turkey. architecture, including monuments, statuary, parks, and ornate 19th-century gems such as the Opera House and Gagarin’s Palace. We also visit one of the country’s oldest archaeological museums, housing an extensive collection of Ukrainian artifacts Thursday, July 31 ISTANBUL, TURKEY / DISEMBARK / USA ranging from the Paleolithic age to the medieval period. Enjoy Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for free time this afternoon to stroll the graceful boulevards, with the homeward flights. option to dine ashore on your own. Flight Information Wednesday, July 28 DANUBE RIVER DELTA, ROMANIA You will need to purchase air fare from your home city/Istanbul and The Danube is Europe’s second longest river as well as a Istanbul/home city. Please call 800-328-VENT (8368) or 512-328- World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Take a walking 5221 to learn more about air arrangements. tour of the small port of Tulcea and visit the Danube Canal Museum and Danube Ecologic Museum. Then, board a local GEORGIAN DANCERS boat to explore this wetland habitat looking for over 200 species of birds, including Pygmy Cormorants, Purple Herons, White-tailed Eagles, and Dalmatian Pelicans.

Thursday, July 29 HISTRIA / CONSTANTA Histria was Romania’s earliest-founded city and flourished as an extraordinary trading center, later to be abandoned and swallowed by alluvial deposits and sand. The site has been under excavation since its rediscovery in 1914. We walk through Moore© Michael P.

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS | CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE BLACK SEA < 3 > Le Bougainville Deck Plan

The brand-new, state of the art, Le DECK 7 Bougainville was completed 2019. She SPA features innovative and environment-

friendly equipment, elegantly designed SALON GYM

suites, and lounge areas that open onto DECK 6 the outside. All suites feature ocean views

PANORAMIC and private balconies, while public spaces LOUNGE include an underwater lounge, as well as a

pool, outside bar and dining area, theater, DECK 5 single-seating dining room, panoramic

lounge, sun deck, salon, and a spa and BRIDGE fitness room. Le Bougainville carries a fleet WC of Zodiacs for accessing remote shores. DECK 4

RESTAURANT

DECK 3

GRILL SHOP

POO MAIN LOUNGE RECEPTION THEATER

DOCTOR

WC

CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 4

CATEGORY 5 CATEGORY 6 SUITE OWNERS SUITE

Rates

From $12,990 per person, double occupancy; From $17,990 per person, solo occupancy

For complete pricing, call VENT at 800-328-8368 or 512-328-5221.

INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Daily activity options including Zodiac cruises, nature walks, • Airfare from your home city/Istanbul and Istanbul/home city and cultural tours • Excess baggage charges • All gratuities • Airport arrival and departure taxes • All accommodations • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures • World-class lecture and expedition team • Passport and/or visa fees • All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner • Travel insurance • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, • All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges (other than listed at left), and other incidentals • Arrival and departure transfers on group dates • Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges • Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear • Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance

A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure.

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS | CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE BLACK SEA < 4 > Featured Leaders Our leaders have visited this area numerous times and will provide valuable insight and commentary on the history, culture, and wildlife of this intriguing region. Fascinating lectures, photo presentations, daily recaps, and informal discussions will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the wonders you will see. Leaders from additional fields of study will join the leaders featured below.

RICK WRIGHT (VENT LEADER) - A RICH PAGEN – Rich’s career native of southeast Nebraska, Rick in conservation biology has studied French, German, philosophy, ranged from teaching science to and life sciences at the University environmental monitoring. After of Nebraska, where he worked in field biology projects in North and the bird collections of the State South America, Rich was drawn back Museum and served as teaching to the sea where he taught marine assistant to Paul Johnsgard. After science and island ecology on a detour to Harvard Law School, California’s Catalina Island. He has Rick took the M.A. and Ph.D. in also conducted shipboard surveys for German at Princeton University. His years as an academic marine mammals and seabirds, as well as tagging studies of included appointments as assistant professor of German sea turtles and pelagic sharks. at the University of Illinois, reader/scholar at Princeton JIM WILSON – Jim hails from University’s Index of Christian Art, and associate professor of the city of Cobh, County Cork, medieval studies at Fordham University. Among his scholarly Ireland and is a highly respected publications are two books on the Latin and German animal ornithologist and ecologist with more literature of the late Middle Ages. He is also the author of the than 35 years of birding experience American Birding Association’s field guides to birds of New in the Antarctic, Ireland, Europe, and Jersey and of Arizona, and of the Peterson Reference Guide Africa. He is a full-time freelance to North American Sparrows. A prolific contributor to the wildlife filmmaker, broadcaster, and birding literature and a sought-after lecturer, Rick lives with the author of three books—two on his wife, Alison Beringer, and their chocolate lab, Gellert, in Irish birds and one on the whales Bloomfield, New Jersey. and dolphins found in the waters surrounding Ireland.

Know Before You Go For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You must be able to walk distances of one to three miles, unaided, over sometimes uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones, and climb stone steps that at times may not have handrails. Opportunities will also be available for optional hikes requiring more exertion.

DANUBE DELTA

(800) 328-8368 | (512) 328-5221 | FAX (512) 328-2919 2525 Wallingwood Drive | #1003 | Austin, TX 78746 www.ventbird.com | [email protected]

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