$2,775 PP, not including airfare. Add $475 to cost if individual wants own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all dinners but one.
Travent International offers eight-day tours of the beautiful Dordogne Valley in central France from May through October.
You visit an area famous for its prehistoric caves, castles and breathtaking scenery in the Vezere River Valley.
Your home for the first three nights is the ornate Chateau Puy Robert. Your next two days include a visit to the famous Lascaux caves, a scenic ride past the 16th-century Chateau de Losse, visits to surrounding villages and Font-de-Gaume, a cave famous for its prehistoric paintings of bison and reindeer.
Your journey then continues to the Hotel de la Madeleine in the heart of the 16th-century, cobblestoned town of Sarlat. The next day you cycle to view one of the settings of the Hundred Years War between France and England.
The next two nights are spent at the Chateau de La Treyne, dramatically perched on a cliff overlooking the Dordogne River. Your final evening is spent at the Chateau de Roumegouse and includes an exquisite farewell dinner in its elegant dining room.
Travent is offering nine separate trips to the Dordogne Valley between late May and early October.
Average distances are 10 to 30 miles per day, longer options are available. Terrain is moderately hilly.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,625 PP, not including airfare. Individuals pay $425 extra for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycles, helmets and all dinners but two.
Travent International is offering six eight-day bicycle tours through two of France's most famous wine regions from June to September. Bicycle through beautiful vineyards separated by stone walls and enjoy this region that has successfully merged a love of food and good wine.
The tour begins with a two-day ride through the charming countryside surrounding Gevrey-Chambertin and Nuits-St.-Georges. For two nights, you are a guest at the Chateau de Gilly, formerly a hunting lodge of Cistercian monks. Dinner is served in the chateau's 15th-century wine cellar.
The southward route winds through the Beaune region and includes a two-night stay at the four-star Le Cep.
Next, you stay at the Hotel Le Rempart in an ancient religious community on the banks of the Saone River.
Departing Tournus, you ride along rolling vineyards which produce the famous Pouilly Fuisse. A longer ride, which includes a trip to the ancient monastery of Cluny, is also available.
The last day of cycling takes you through the Beaujolais vineyards for a grand finale banquet to conclude the journey.
Moderate with rolling hills covering 20 to 40 miles per day. Longer routes also available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,750 per person, not including airfare. Add $175 to price if individuals want a room of their own. Price includes lodging, all dinners, bikes and helmets.
Travent International offers a savory five-day trip through the serene Burgundy region between May and August. The trek offers a wonderful view of the lush countryside while sampling the superb Burgundian wine and cuisine.
The first two nights are spent in the Hostellerie des Clos in the town of Chablis, the white wine capital of upper Burgundy. You cycle through the Serein and Yonne valleys and visit the 15th-century clock towers of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Auxerre. You visit charming 15th-century houses in small wine-growing villages along the way.
The final two days are spent at L'Esperance, outside Vezelay. L'Esperance is one of two restaurants in the Burgundy region to receive three stars from Michelin and you can sample its world-famous specialties for two nights.
Your tour also journeys through the Morvan Regional Nature Park, featuring 400,000 acres of forests, rivers and medieval villages.
Tour covers 15 to 40 miles a day over easy to moderate terrain with rolling hills. Longer options available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,775 per person, not including airfare. Individuals requiring a room of their own pay $375 more. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but two dinners.
Travent International offers this seven-day journey through the sun-drenched Provence region of southern France from May to October.
The tour begins with a two-night stay in the Hostellerie du Moulin de la Roque, a renovated 17th-century mill with a pool and tennis courts. On the third day, you pedal through the vineyards of Gigondas, a region famous for its ruby-red wine, and then through Beaumes-de-Venise, an area famous for dessert wines.
After a visit to the ruins of an ancient papal chateau in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, you arrive at the rustic but elegant Le Vieux Castillon for a two-night stay. The next day, you journey to the awe-inspiring Le Pont du Gard aqueduct, built by Roman engineers in 19 B.C. Later in the day you may visit the medieval walled villages of Tarascon and Beaucaire.
Next, you stay three nights in the Domaine de Valmouriane, a 15th-century restored farmhouse with a pool and tennis court.
During your stay, you can visit the charming town of St. Remy, shop in the boutiques and idle in the outdoor cafes.
Covers 15 to 35 miles per day over flat terrain. Longer distances are available.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,775 PP, not including airfare. Individuals pay $250 more for a room of their own. Price includes lodging, all but one dinner, bicycle and helmet.
This summer,Travent International is offering several five-day trips through the Rhone Valley, a region famous for its lovely villages and medieval ruins. The tour begins with a two-night stay in Gordes, from where cyclists can visit the magnificent hillside villages of Menerbes and Bonnieux.
Another stop will be the red town of Roussillon, whose walls and streets were carved from nearby rose-colored quarries. You visit the medieval ruins of the summer palace of the Pope and view distinctive vineyards.
Two nights are spent at the spectacular hillside retreat, Hostellerie de Crillon-le-Brave, graced by terraced gardens, swimming pool, vaulted dining room and elegant decor. From there, you visit the 16th-century monastery of Le Barroux. Also within easy pedaling distance are the picturesque artists' colony in Seguret and the vineyards of Gigondas. The routes are gently rolling and follow quiet farm roads.
Those who desire a physical challenge can pedal up Mont Ventoux which presents an uphill 13.5-mile pedal.
Tour covers 15 to 40 miles per day over moderately hilly terrain.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,975 PP, not including airfare. Individuals pay $275 more for a room of their own. Price includes lodging, bike, helmet and all but two dinners.
Travent International has designed a six-day bicycle tour for those who want to explore every nook and cranny of the beautiful Provence region around St. Remy and Les Baux in southern France.
With St. Remy as your base, you embark on a private tour of the Roman ruins of Glanum and Les Antiques and cycle to many of the region's cultural highlights. The Chateau de Barbentane, Abbaye de Frigolet and the Frederic Mistral Museum are all within reach.
The energetic may take a day-trip to the artists' colony of Gordes and visit nearby small villages.
The landscape of Provence offers olive groves, fruit orchards and dozens of vineyards.
From St. Remy, you cycle to the medieval fortress of Les Baux for your final two nights of exploring the region that Vincent Van Gogh made famous.
Easy to moderate terrain with gentle slopes and a few hills. Covers 15 to 40 miles a day.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,975 PP, not including airfare. Singles pay $375 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, all dinners, helmet and bike.
Travent International is offering summertime tours of the lush, green Loire Valley, also known as "Chateau Country."
This spectacular region of France offers orchards, forests, fields of sunflowers and level terrain that makes it an ideal tour for novice cyclers.
The vacation starts with a warm-up ride followed by a two-night stay at the beautiful Chateau de Noizay hotel.
The next day, you take a guided tour of the Chateau d' Amboise and the famous Chateau de Chenonceaux that straddles the Cher River.
Next, you stay at the fortified Chateau de Chissay, built in the 12th century and expanded in the 16th century. The following two nights are spent at the magnificent Chateau d'Artigny, once the home of perfume magnate Francois Coty.
From this final base, you travel to castles and gardens of Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, and the ornate Chateau de Usse, the inspiration for the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty."
Easy terrain with few small hills. Covering 15 to 45 miles per day. Longer distances available.
$295 PP/DO includes most meals, lodging. Does not include bike or helmets.
Nantahala Outdoor Center's tour of Kentucky explores the verdant rolling hills of Kentucky's bluegrass region for two days and nights. This area is home to famous thoroughbred horse farms, bluegrass music and a wide variety of crafts and folk arts.
The tour visits a historic Shaker village and pre-Civil War bourbon distillery. Your home base is a charming inn near Lexington.
Groups are kept to six to 12 people and are accompanied by a support van.
These tours are scheduled in April and October.
Terrain is hilly and covers 35 to 50 miles a day.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,975 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $325 extra for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but two dinners.
Travent International offers a six-day tour of the magnificent Alsatian region of France in the lush Rhine Valley where good food and wine go hand-in-hand. German influences are highly visible in the region, with flowers cascading from window boxes and stork nests perched atop gabled houses.
Alsatian chefs and vintners mix the best of French and German cultures to produce some of the country's finest cuisine.
Your tour begins with a two-night stay at the Hotel a la Cour d'Alsace in Obernai, once the 17th-century home of a wine merchant. The restored hotel offers you a pampered glimpse of the region.
During the next few days, you cycle through storybook villages and explore vineyards. You can meander along quiet paths or climb the magnificent castle at Haut-Koenigsbourg. Options include private wine tasting sessions and a ride across the Maginot line for a beer in Germany.
Your final day of biking takes you into Colmar, home of the famous Unterlinden Museum, and through the quiet vineyards of the majestic Chateau d'Isenbourg.
Terrain is moderately hilly, covering 15 to 45 miles per day. Longer distances available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,450 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $275 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all dinners but two.
Travent International offers an eight-day tour of beautiful and fun-loving Bavaria. This German state is considered one of the most hospitable in Europe. You have the opportunity to discover the region by pedaling over well-maintained bicycle paths through beautiful forests.
Your journey begins in Munich, where you stay in the Lindner Parkhotel in Oberstaufen and enjoy its spa and fitness facilities. Your two-day stay provides time to enjoy the region and an opportunity to cycle through the Austrian town of Bregenz. Dinner is served each night in the hotel's fine dining room.
Your third day takes you to the Muller hotel in the town of Hohenschwangau.
The next day, you visit the castles of the infamous King Ludwig, fascinating for their architecture, scenery and history.
The ride to your last hotel, the Alpenhof in Murnau, takes you by the famous Baroque church "Wieskirche." During your next two days, you visit museums, a horse farm and the beer brewery at the Ettal Monastery. You dine all three evenings in the lovely Alpenhof, which features the region's culinary specialties.
Terrain is easy with a few hills. Average distances are 15 to 40 miles per day, with longer distances available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,875 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $500 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all dinners but two.
Travent International offers an eight-day cycling rendezvous in Venice through a region of medieval towns and picturesque vineyards. You begin your tour in Venice at the luxurious Villa Corner hotel. The Palladian-style structure was built around 1500 and presides over a park surrounded by vineyards. You take short warm-up rides through the Veneto countryside followed by a swim in the hotel's pool.
Your next two nights are spent at the exquisite Villa Cipriani, nestled in the village of Asolo, home of one of the most outstanding restaurants in Italy.
This sleepy village, the inspiration for Robert Browning's final volume of poems, "Asolando," was famous for its art and literature during the Renaissance.
From Asolo, you cycle south and spend two nights at the Grand Hotel Orologio. You can take the waters at its spa, enjoy a massage or stroll through shops.
You also visit the Soave vineyards and the river Adige en route to your hotel in the heart of Verona where you spend the final two nights.
Here you explore the fabulous Roman ruins and visit the boutiques of some of Italy's most famous fashion designers.
Terrain is easy to moderate with a few mild hills. Average distance is 20 to 40 miles per day.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,175 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $275 extra for room of their own. Cost includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but two dinners
Travent International offers a six-day tour of the Tuscany region of Italy. You begin the tour in the medieval town of Siena, the ancient arch-rival of Florence. You spend two nights enjoying the elegant architecture and viewing the golden hills around the town.
The cultural legacy of the Renaissance is evident on every cobblestone street corner and bustling piazza. Cycling around Siena, you begin to appreciate the robust spirit and soul of Tuscany with its deep forests, terraced vineyards and olive groves.
The next morning, you follow Roman roadways on your way to the restored Locanda dell'Amorosa Hotel. The village surrounding the hotel has remained unchanged for centuries, and the hotel's fine dining room gives you a chance to sample the region's food and superb wines.
The next day is spent in Umbria, known for its peaceful inhabitants. Perugia, the region's capital, is within easy cycling distance, as is Assisi. You can view Giotto's famous frescoes of St. Francis and enjoy magnificent views of the valley.
Your hotel, Le Tre Vaselle in Torgiano, is a member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux Association and has one of the best restaurants in central Italy.
Terrain is hilly and covers 15 to 45 miles a day. Longer distances are available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,575 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $400 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but one dinner.
Travent International's eight-day tour of the Netherlands leads you along peaceful canals, ancient dikes, national parks, scenic bicycle paths and quaint villages.
You begin this tour with dinner in Bergen at the Parkhotel, a cozy four-star hotel situated in an artists' community. The next morning you ride to the ancient fishing village of Hoorn and board a traditional Dutch clipper ship. This sailing adventure takes you across the Markermer and into the freshwater lakes of the Ijsselmeer area. You disembark in Hindelopen, and then stay at the five-star Familiehotel near Groningen.
The next two days offers cycling excursions to the island of Schiermonnikoog, or you can stay at the hotel and enjoy its many amenities. Windsurfing and horseback riding are also available nearby.
For the next two nights, you stay at the country estate, Landgoed Lauswolt in Beetsterzwaag. The hotel offers spa facilities and a nine-hole golf course.
Your last two nights are spent in the luxurious Hotel de Keizerskroon in Apeldoorn. By bicycle, you explore the Veluwe National Park and visit the hunting lodge of William the Conqueror and the Royal Palace Het Loo. Your tour concludes with a final banquet.
Terrain is easy with rolling hills. Average distances 20 to 45 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,750 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $450 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but two dinners.
Travent International offers an eight-day cycling tour of Celtic country in southwest Ireland. Your route takes you through hedge-lined country lanes, past lush green farmlands and past ancient stone walls. You also explore magnificent castles and ruins.
The first two nights are spent at the charming Benner's Hotel in the town of Dingle. From there you explore fine shops and restaurants and can walk in the hills or along the seashore.
One of the most impressive rides of all of Travent's tours is the route from the Dingle Peninsula to Killarney. Your two evenings in Killarney, a town known for its pottery and weaving, will be spent at the Killarney Park Hotel, which has its own pool and gym facilities.
Next, you journey to Kenmare along the famous Ring of Kerry and along the banks of the Kenmare River. One of Ireland's finest hotels, the Park Hotel Kenmare, will be your base for three glorious days of cycling and elegant accommodations.
Terrain is moderate with rolling hills. Average distances are 15 to 40 miles per day, with longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$835 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners. Bike rental is $98.
Shenandoah, an Indian word that means "daughter of the stars," is a 200-mile valley that provides a wonderful setting for a bike ride in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling offers a tour that suits the more experienced bicycler. The trip begins in the small town of Stanley at the Jordan Hollow Farm Inn, a 200-year-old restored horse farm near the Shenandoah National Park.
You enjoy two days of cycling on roads bordered by picturesque farmlands and tree-lined streams as you travel north toward Middletown where you stay at the Wayside Inn.
Apple orchards, vineyards, plantation homes and old grist mills are explored during your journey.
Cycling along streams and through Fort Valley, you stay at The Inn at Narrow Passage for two nights. This log inn has been the stopover for travelers since the 1740s. Stonewall Jackson made it his headquarters during the Civil War.
During your stay, you can go hiking or horseback riding.
Terrain is rolling hills with two gap crossings. Average distance is 35 to 50 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy of A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
Courtesy of A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
$1,617 includes accomodations and 23 meals. Individuals add $269 for room of their own (excluding days 2 and 3). Price does not include airfare.
A.A.T. King's offers a nine-day exploration of Australia's Northern Territory by four-wheel-drive safari vehicle or coach. The excursion begins with a tour of the town of Darwin on Australia's north coast. After an overnight stay at the Atrium Hotel, you travel by coach, stopping at a unique crocodile farm and at Fogg Dam, a breeding ground for thousands of wetland birds. In late afternoon, you reach Wildman Lagoon, a magnificent billabong, or bog, that covers almost four miles and is home to abundant marine and animal life.
Two nights are spent in Wildman Lagoon Lodge near Kakadu National Park. Buffalo, dingo and kangaroo roam nearby and the wetlands surrounding the park teem with magpie geese and many species of wading birds.
The following day, you travel to Kakadu's Visitor Center and on to Obiri Rock to view a gallery of Aboriginal rock paintings. The tour stops for the evening a few miles down the road in the town of Cooinda, where you spend the next two nights.
From the Cooinda Hotel, you journey back into Kakadu to visit the Nourlangie Rock Aboriginal art site and the Anbangbang Rock Shelter. The views from the park's Mirray Lookout are spectacular.
Day Six begins with an early morning boat cruise on Yellow Waters Billabong and an array of birds and crocodiles are frequently spotted. Lunch takes place at the delightful Waterfall Creek, after which you continue to the town of Katherine where you stay in the Frontier Motor Inn.
The next morning, you return to the water cruising through 198-foot- high gorges on your way to Edith Falls, a picturesque series of cascades. After stopping at the Douglas Hot Springs and the Adelaide River War Cemetary, you arrive in Batchelor where you spend the night at the Rum Jungle Inn.
The following day provides opportunities for swimming, birdwatching and nature study when you visit the Table Top Range, with its beautiful rock pools and waterfalls, and Wangi, Tolmer and Florence falls. The tour then circles back to Darwin where you spend your final evening.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,275 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $200 more for room of their own. Price includes lodging, all but one dinner, bicycle and helmet.
Travent International offers a breathtaking, seven-day bicycle tour through southern Denmark and its islands.
The tour begins with two nights in Ribe, Denmark's oldest town, where you stay in The Hotel Dagmar, built in 1581. After a fine dinner, you join the night watchman as he makes his rounds.
The next morning, you head off to the island of Fano for easy cycling, peaceful scenery and quiet walks on the beach.
On day three, you may take a guided tour of Ribe, or ride through fishing and farming villages on streets lined with thatched-roof houses. For dinner, you can choose from a variety of restaurants.
Your journey continues through the Jutland Peninsula, and you spend one night in the Sonder Hostrup Kro. En route to the island of Funen, you pass Grasten castle, the Queen of Denmark's summer residence, and the ancient fishing village of Falsled. In Falsled, you spend three nights at the Falsled Kro, where the staff and accommodations are among the best in the country.
Your last two days are spent either sailing, horseback riding or cycling to the castles of Egeskov Slot and Valdemars Slot.
Terrain is easy with a few small hills. Average distances are 15 to 40 miles per day, with longer routes available.
Take one lesson, 50 percent off on second one; rent one day, 50 percent off on second day; or 15 percent off.
Courtesy Windrigger Maui Ltd.
Courtesy Windrigger Maui Ltd.
Minimum height to participate is 50 inches and minimum weight is 70 pounds.
A two-hour lesson costs $60, and equipment rental ranges from $15 per hour to $275 for a week. The cost of complete vacation packages varies according to desired length of stay and accommodations.
Windrigger Maui operates year-round in a region that is considered a "windsurfing capital of the world." Windrigger, and its Mistral High Wind Center, offer travel packages that include airfare, car rental, windsurfing equipment, private or group lessons and accommodations ranging from economy to exclusive.
Windrigger Maui's Mistral High Wind Center uses a proven curriculum to teach all skill levels of windsurfers, from beginners in flat water to experts interested in the more challenging wave sailing. The Basic Certification Course, an intensive class for beginners, includes four hours of instruction and all-day usage of equipment. The course is designed to have you sailing in one day.
Courses for intermediates to experts teach waterstarts, long and short board jibing and tacking, use of harness and footstraps, rigging and equipment selection.
With a wide range of equipment available, Windrigger Maui aims to ensure that you have the perfect board and rig suited to your abilities and to the sailing conditions.
All levels are available depending on windsurfing location and conditions.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,775 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all but two dinners.
From Lucerne to Geneva, you feast your senses on scenic Switzerland in this eight-day tour of the Swiss Alps.
You can easily navigate the Alps with the help of ferries, cable cars and trains on the more challenging sections of the route. You begin at the Montreux Palace on the shores of Lake Geneva.
On Monday, you visit Chillon Castle, immortalized in Byron's epic poem. You continue along bicycle paths, passing waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. A cog-wheel train takes you to the village of Zermatt for two nights in the Alex Schlosshotel Tenne. Zermatt offers hiking, glacier skiing, shopping and a view of the majestic Matterhorn.
You travel next to Interlaken by alpine train or scenic downhill cycling. You stay at the exclusive Grandhotel Giessbach, situated at the foot of waterfalls and overlooking Lake Brienz. Your two-day stay gives you plenty of time to enjoy the area.
Your final two nights are spent cycling the shores of Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug while you stay at the five-star Park Hotel Vitznau near Lucerne. Surrounded by the Rigi forests, this hotel has a pool, tennis courts and waterskiing.
The farewell feast on the shores of Lake Lucerne provides an elegant conclusion to your Swiss holiday.
Easy terrain due to the use of ferries and trains. Average distance covered, 20 to 40 miles per day. Longer options available.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$1,775 PP/DO, not including airfare. Individuals pay $275 for a room of their own. Price includes lodging, bicycle, helmet and all dinners but one.
Travent International offers a leisurely, five-day bicycle and walking tour around lakes in the Alps. Fruit orchards and Swiss chalets present a scenic backdrop to your tour.
The journey begins at the five-star Park Hotel Vitznau where your warm-up ride takes you along the shores of Lake Lucerne. The next day you have the option of a ride on a cog-wheel railway to 5,900 feet atop the Rigi-Kulm.
Covered bridges and swans set the stage in the Old Town of Lucerne, one of Switzerland's most picturesque villages. The town offers museums, shopping and a network of paths, roads and ferries.
From Lake Lucerne you cycle to Interlaken, where you spend your next two nights, in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. You are pampered by the outstanding service and luxury of the Grand Hotel Victoria-Jungfrau. With the help of the cog-wheel railway and cable cars, you make your way next to Grindelwald and Wengen.
An easy ride through Lauterbrunnen Valley offers a variety of tours and views. You ride by the 1,000-foot Staubbach Waterfall and can tour the Trummelback Falls. A picnic under the Jungfrau is many people's idea of heaven on earth.
Terrain easy to moderate with rolling hills. Route covers 15 to 40 miles a day, with longer options available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$885 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners. Bike rental is $98.
Examine the heart of Virginia as you cycle through the state's wine-making region on this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour.
The tour begins at the Hidden Inn in Orange, and meanders along country lanes, farms and vineyards in the Monticello-Montpelier estates area. Your stops will include Burnley, with its cathedral-ceiling wine-tasting room and its 30-foot balcony overlooking the heart of Virginia.
This vacation could also be called The Presidents' Tour as you will be visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, James Madison's Montpelier and James Monroe's Highland House.
Elegant inns offer southern hospitality, charm and delicious food. You can sit back on the porch at Hidden Inn, resting up before you cycle to Charlottesville. The inn at 200 South Street is filled with English and Belgian antiques and is within walking distance of the town's historic district and the University of Virginia.
Your final destination is the Clifton Inn, which specializes in Belgian waffles and helping its guests relax by its pond or pool. Other than the sound of farm animals or a passing horse, the sounds of civilization are left far behind.
A special version of this tour for people age 55 or older is available starting on May 16.
Gently rolling terrain. Average distance is 25 to 50 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$695 PP/DO, not including airfare. Children enjoy 25 percent discount if they stay in adult's room. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners but one. Bike rental is $98.
Families, senior citizens and beginning bicyclists delight in this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour of historic tidewater Virginia. In addition to cycling, you have plenty of opportunity to explore historic Colonial Williamsburg and the Busch Gardens Theme Park.
You begin your journey in an 18th-century tavern for dinner, while musicians entertain you. On the first day of cycling, you slip into Revolutionary-era Virginia as you follow the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown where American independence was won.
The next day, you take a ferry across the James River to visit Chippokes Plantation and Bacon's Castle, both built in the 1600s. After a picnic lunch, you journey to Smithfield, the small town made famous for its hams where you spend next two nights perched above the water.
You take tree-shaded back roads in your exploration of peanut, corn and soybean fields. The flat terrain and lack of traffic allows for a peaceful ride.
You get a glimpse of Jamestown Island as you return by ferry to Jamestown. Adults and children alike enjoy this ride through American history.
A tour just for families is available June 27 and a tour for singles is available April 11.
Flat to gently rolling terrain. Average distance covered is 20 to 45 miles per day.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,475 per person, not including airfare. Individuals pay $275 extra for room of their own. Price includes lodging, all dinners but two and use of day pack.
Walking in the shadow of the majestic Matterhorn may sound strenuous, but Travent International's luxurious walking tour from Zermatt to Interlaken, Switzerland, stays on easy walking paths through spectacular countryside.
The seven-day tour begins in Zermatt, where you stay in the four-star Alex Schlosshotel Tenne, with its wonderful restaurant and a jacuzzi in every room. Zermatt is your base for the next three nights as you explore the region.
You walk on paved paths to Gornergrat where you can view the Matterhorn, Mount Rosa and their glaciers. By cable car, you ascend the Klein Matterhorn where lush Alpine meadows give way to the Pennine Alps. Glacier skiing in this area is available year-round. You can also take a spin around the Matterhorn in a helicopter.
Next you travel by rail to Interlaken for three nights in the Grand Hotel Victoria Jungfrau, one of the most exquisite hotels in Europe. From here, you embark on some of the most famous walks in Europe. You view the Aletsch Glacier and the Jura and Vosges mountain ranges. You hike along well-marked paths through fruit orchards with the massive Eiger in the background.
If you desire a gentle stroll, a challenging hike or something in between, Travent International's Matterhorn to Jungfrau walking tour is a fine choice.
Easy to moderate terrain through mountain meadows and some short hills. Average five to 10 miles per day.
Courtesy Travent International.
Courtesy Travent International.
$2,375 per person, not including airfare. Individuals pay $350 more for their own room. Price includes lodging, all dinners but two and use of day packs.
The Burgundy region of France provides the scenic backdrop to Travent International's seven-day walking tour. You walk through a lush mosaic of vineyards, view exquisite chateaux and enjoy historic central France.
After arriving in Dijon, you spend the first night at the four-star Chateau de Gilly before journeying to the Clos de Vougeot to glimpse ancient wine-making methods. You travel north through the towns of Chambolle Musigny and Gevrey Chambertin.
On day three, you descend the famous "Route de Vin" from Gily-les-Citeaux toward Beaune. You visit Nuits St. Georges for a private tour of the famous Grand Cru vineyards, and visit other private wine caves, directed by your own guide.
After lunch, you continue through Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe Corton. Your hotel for the next two evenings is Hotel Le Cep in Beaune.
On the fifth day, you walk to St. Romain, a Roman encampment and site of a 13th-century castle. From there, you travel to Meursault and stay at the Hotel les Charmes.
On day six, you view a feudal castle in the town of Rochepot, a perfect conclusion to your walking tour of this wine region.
Terrain is easy to moderate along vineyard roads and hill paths. Average daily distance is 5 to 10 miles a day. Longer options are available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$885 PP/DO, not including transportation to Ottawa. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all but two dinners. Bike rental is $98.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling features a five-day bicycle tour through the Ottawa and Rideau River regions of Canada that includes a full day of white-water rafting.
You spend five nights in the refurbished Lord Elgin Hotel, which is a short walk to the Rideau Canal, the Parliament building and several national museums in Ottawa.
One day, you cycle along the Ottawa River, past the Rideau waterfalls and near an experimental farm. You also cycle into French-speaking Quebec and through Gatineau Park. Another tour takes you to serene Pink's Lake and then to the home of McKenzie King, former prime minister of Canada.
During this tour, you hear a complete history of the Rideau Canal system and visit the quaint village of Manotick.
Your white-water rafting adventure takes you down the Ottawa River, one of the finest rafting rivers in North America. If you prefer not to raft, you can go shopping, visit Ottawa's museums or go cycling.
This tour is suitable for both beginners and advanced cyclists. The combination of miles of bike paths along the water and Ottawa's active night life is a wonderful introduction to Canada.
Two versions of this tour exclusively for singles are available July 18 and Sept. 5.
Terrain is flat with hills on one day. Average distances are 20 to 35 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$995 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Excludes airfare. Bike rental is $98.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling offers a five-day bicycle tour of Canada's ocean playground, which includes a whale watching expedition.
Nova Scotia offers the cyclist breathtaking vistas including ocean cliffs, sweeping views of the Bay of Fundy and challenging tours along the Evangeline Trail, named for the heroine in Longfellow's famous poem.
You spend two nights in Annapolis Royal, the oldest English settlement in Canada, founded in 1605. Here you wander through the beautiful Historic Gardens and explore unique shops.
You cycle along quiet coastal roads, alongside apple orchards and travel through quaint fishing villages. A series of ferry rides take you to the Brier Island Ocean Study Center, from where you join a whale watching cruise.
Terrain is rolling hills. You will cover 25 to 45 miles per day.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$1,085 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $110.
Long ago, the Micmac word for Prince Edward Island was "Abegweit," meaning land cradled by waves, and that is what you see on this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour in Canada.
You begin your tour in Charlottetown, Canada's smallest provincial capital. Here you attend a performance of "Anne of Green Gables" at the local arts center.
Leaving the city, you quickly find yourself surrounded by gentle, rolling potato fields and forests. After an evening at the beautiful Brudenell Resort, you cycle on to the Inn at Bay Fortune, famous for its extraordinary cuisine and fireplaces in nearly every room.
On day five, you travel to Stanhope by the Sea. There are more than 200 species of birds in the region and miles of walking trails and white sand beaches.
During your stay in Stanhope, you venture to Cavendish where Lucy Maud Montgomery lived and created "Anne of Green Gables."
On Friday, you return to Charlottetown where you sample fruit preserves at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Co.
A singles-only version of this tour departs Aug. 7.
Terrain is flat and gently rolling hills. Average distance cover is 25 to 45 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$885 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
The rocky coast of Maine offers an idyllic setting for VCC Four Seasons Cycling's Down East tour. This tour takes you along Penobscot Bay in one of the unspoiled coastal regions of the Pine Tree State.
The tour begins in the stately town of Castine, home of the Maine Maritime Academy. During the 1700s and 1800s, Castine was the second wealthiest town in the United States. Along this tour you pass by rugged fishing villages and teeming wildlife sanctuaries.
You spend two nights at Breezemere Farm Inn, a small saltwater farm situated in a picturesque little cove. Enjoy a cool sea breeze and walk along the inn's walking trails. This town served as the setting for the children's book, "Blueberries for Sal."
You have the option of taking a boat ride out on the bay where you may see seals, fishermen pulling up lobster traps and a variety of aquatic birds.
At Blue Hill Farm, innkeepers Marcia and Jim Schatz gladly give directions to the walking trail which ascends Blue Hill and offers a panoramic view of Penobscot Bay and its islands. Blue Hill is a charming artists colony offering a wide array of shops.
The cuisine at all the inns on this tour is exceptional and you are treated to a lobster bake.
Terrain includes rolling hills and covers 20 to 30 miles per day. Longer options available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$795 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners but one. Bike rental is $80.
Acadia National Park, often called the "crown jewel" of the national park system, is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the Northeast and you see most of it during this four-day bicycle tour.
The VCC Four Seasons Cycling sponsored excursion begins in scenic Bar Harbor, the summer playground of America's aristocracy. You spend two nights at The Town Guest House where you are pampered with period furniture, marble sinks, fireplaces and distinctly decorated rooms. Many fine shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
You spend your time on both land and water in the coming days. You board a windjammer to tour the coast from sea and you cycle along spectacular Ocean Drive, with its startling views of cliffs, ocean and quiet coves. You take a break at Jordan Pond before continuing your ride along carriage paths created by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Next, you move on to explore the sleepy side of Mount Desert Island while staying in the Maison Suisse Inn, a former 19th-century summer cottage in Northeast Harbor.
During the day, you may take a boat ride to Great Cranberry Island, cycle the bike paths or hike on the park trails.
A singles-only tour is available June 6.
Terrain is over rolling hills and covers 25 to 35 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$755 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling's tour of Vermont allows you ample time to explore the state's verdant landscape.
Your vacation begins at the Timberholm Inn, tucked away on a quiet hillside. Following quiet roads, lined with wildflowers, you visit the villages of Craftsbury Common, Burke Hollow, Johnson, Coventry and Greensboro.
You search for covered bridges in Montgomery, Stowe and Waterville. As you cycle from one country inn to the next, you have a chance to swim in glacial lakes and can visit the Cabot Cheese Factory.
Each day affords ample time to enjoy swimming and picnicking on village greens. At Jay Peak, you can embark on a thrilling ride down the mountain on an Alpine slide or ride an aerial tram to the top of the mountain.
Among the inns you stay in are the Black Lantern, Old Cutter and Craftsbury.
This has been one of Four Seasons's favorite tours for 11 years.
Hilly terrain. You will cover 40 to 65 miles per day.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$795 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners but one. Bike rental is $98.
The VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour of Vermont's Champlain Valley begins at The Waybury Inn, the inn used as the setting for the Bob Newhart Show.
Fragrant apple orchards and a patchwork of farmland fields provide the backdrop for your tours through Addison County. You pass the Pulpmill Covered Bridge, the last two-laned covered bridge in the United States, and visit the Morgan family's horse farm.
You spend two nights at the elegant Swift House Inn in Middlebury, visit the town's craft center and taste ice cream at Calvi's marble top soda fountain.
Along the birch-lined shores of Lake Dunmore, you visit Robert Frost terrain. He spent the last 23 summers of his life here in this unspoiled landscape.
You may take a cable-drawn ferry across Lake Champlain for a visit to Fort Ticonderoga. In 1775, under the leadership of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, the fort was captured from the British.
Your final two nights are spent at the Brandon Inn, which has an award-winning dining room.
Terrain is gently rolling hills. You will cover 20 to 40 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$795 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners. Bike rental is $98.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling's North Country tour takes you through this beautiful region known for its lakes, quaint villages and Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory.
Your tour begins at the Craftsbury Inn, which has hosted VCC tours for more than a decade. Your cycling takes you past glacial lakes and dramatic waterfalls. Easy pedaling takes you to Stowe, a favorite New England tourist destination.
You spend two nights at the cozy Timberholm Inn, giving you plenty of time to hike to Moss Glen Falls or cycle to Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory for a tasty tour. You picnic beside the Fisher Covered Bridge and pass through the picture-postcard villages of Greensboro, Craftsbury Common and Glover. You also ride along Bailey Hazen Military Road, built under George Washington's supervision in 1776.
You spend two nights at the charming Highland Lodge, overlooking Caspian Lake, before cycling to the Bread and Puppet Theater Museum. Another tour highlight is simply wandering through the crafts stores in Greensboro and East Craftsbury.
Terrain is hilly, average distance is 25 to 40 miles a day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
$1,983 per person, excludes airfare. Price includes 38 meals and all camping equipment except sleeping bags which may be purchased from AAT King's for $47.
AAT King's tours offers this 15-day motor excursion into Australia's northeast corner, exploring miles of coastline over rough roads and through tropical rainforest. The tour is guided by a professional safari leader, familiar with the spectacular Australian countryside and its people, animals and birds. The Australian night sky contains more stars than you can count.
King's rugged four-wheel-drive expedition vehicle allows access to remote wilderness areas and comes fully equipped for the journey, carrying tents and camping gear on its roof. Most meals are prepared by the camp cook and are complemented by table wine in the evening.
The tour beginsin the town of Cairns, from where you depart on a three-day venture into the peninsula wilderness, stopping for a climb of the Tablelands, and visits to Split Rock, the bush town of Laura and the old mining settlement of Coen. Camp will be made near rivers and creeks, and time will be set aside for relaxing, swimming and sunbathing.
On Day Six you will take to the water, exploring the islands of Torres Strait and Thursday Island by boat.
After returning to the mainland, the tour winds its way from Cape York, at the very tip of the Australian continent, through tropical rainforest to Somerset to view the remains of the region's first British settlement.
The following days will be spent visiting Twin Falls, the mine at Weipa and Cooktown, home of a museum containing relics from Captain James Cook's voyage in 1770 and the town's gold rush heritage.
The journey continues down the peninsula's eastern coastline skirting the huge boulders of Black Mountain, and across the Bloomfield River where there is the option of a second cruise. The tour's last leg takes you through the Daintree Rainforest and on to Cape Tribulation National Park before returning to Cairns and completing the loop.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to see if a tour is suitable for children.
Arughat route is $1,550 per person, $1,400 if more than 10 participate, for 16-day trek.
Singla route is $1,950 per person for 24 days, $1,775 if more than 10 participate.
Rupina La route is $2,450 per person for 30 days, $2,200 if more than 10 participate.
Individuals pay $150 to $200 for own lodging. Airfare not included.
Although tucked between heavily-trekked Kathmandu and Pokhara, the Gorkha area is one of the best places to experience traditional Nepali culture.
Above the Clouds Trekking offers three treks through Gorkha and each offers close-up views of Annapurna, Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal mountain peaks, secluded villages and abundant plantlife, including the 60-foot high rhododendron trees for which Nepal is famous.
All treks start in Gorkha, home of a magnificent palace perched precariously atop a rocky outcropping and framed by Annapurna. All routes take you through Barpak, a sturdy Gurung village set in a steep hillside in the shadow of Baudha Himal. Treks last from 16 to 30 days, with nine to 23 days spent hiking.
The three tours feature the Arughat route, the Singla route and the Rupina La route.
The Arughat route is the shortest and easiest of the Gorkha tours and is ideal for those who have only two weeks to trek. It takes you through remote villages and along low elevation ridge tops that have moderate temperatures in winter, when mountain views are clearest.
The Singla route, though more strenuous than the Arughat, offers the best of Nepal: close-up views of dramatic mountain peaks, pristine Himalayan wilderness and encounters with untouched and isolated villages in the Himalayas. It is a true classic tour, with four passes over 10,000 feet, each with a more spectacular view than the other.
Finally, the Rupina La route, the most difficult of the three, is the ultimate trekking challenge. It offers everything that the Singla does, with one extra thrown in -- the forbidding pass called Rupina La (15,450 feet). The pass is not technical, but a strong background in wilderness trekking is required.
Arughat route, light trekking, open to anyone in good health.
Singla route, moderate to difficult trekking, must be in good condition.
Rupina La route, difficult trekking, covering long distances and high passes. Strong mountain background necessary.
Courtesy A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
Courtesy A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
$2,027 PP. Includes all meals but one, and all camping gear except sleeping bags. Airfare not included.
AAT King's Kimberley/Bungle Bungle Tour contains some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia. The 16-day, four-wheel-drive camping tour takes you through remote sections of the Outback by the Bungle Bungle Mountains. Your journey leads you into deep gorges and chasms, past peaceful waterholes and along Indian Ocean beaches.
The overland trek is led by a professional safari leader who is expert in the area's wildlife and natural phenomena. The tour also includes three cruises on the Fitzroy River, Lake Argyle and through magnificent Katherine Gorge.
Your accommodations, tents and sleeping bags and all that is needed for bush camping, travel above you on the Unimog touring vehicle's roofrack. The Mercedes vehicle comes completely outfitted for four-wheel-drive camping and can ford rivers and travel to remote areas of the Outback. All meals but one will be prepared by the cook.
You venture into the bush on day one, trekking through the Tanami Desert for a tour of the Granites, Balgo Hills and Rabbit Flat.
From Rabbit Flat, you journey to Wolfe Meteorite Crater, the second-largest in the world, and on through Ruby Plains.
The going gets slow as you hit the rocky tracks leading into the Bungle Bungle wilderness where you spend two nights alongside magnificent rock formations, dome shaped mountains and deep gorges.
The tour then doubles back to Halls Creek and heads to the Aboriginal township of Fitzroy where you cruise the placid waters of the Fitzroy River through Geikie Gorge. Ancient coral reefs form the walls of the gorge and crocodiles sun nearby.
You return to civilization for a stopover in the town of Broome, a cosmopolitan seaport on the Indian Ocean, known for its pearl factory and beautiful Cable Beach.
Down the road you cross the King Leopold Range and travel into the Adcock and Galvins Gorges where swimming in the deep, tropical rain-fed pools is excellent.
Your second cruise takes you over Lake Argyle, which is home to crocodiles, rock wallabies, catfish and many avian species.
From Lake Argyle, you journey to Katherine Gorge National Park before heading to Wangi Falls in Litchfield Park and completing the trek in Darwin.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$885 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling offers a five-day tour of the Connecticut and Ammanoosuc River Valleys straddling Vermont and New Hampshire. The tour begins with two nights in the Sugar Hill Inn, just outside Franconia, N. H. You cycle along bike paths and back roads experiencing the wonders of Franconia Notch State Park.
You can walk the Flume, ride the Tramway at Cannon Mountain or discover peaceful Lonesome Lake.
In Lower Waterford, Vermont, you are pampered for two nights in the famous Rabbit Hill Inn. You travel along quiet country roads, past dairy farms, forests and covered bridges alongside river banks. You pass through Peacham, one of Vermont's most picturesque villages.
The final night is spent in Adair's exquisite inn, nestled on 200 acres of manicured lawns and home to a swimming pool and tennis courts.
A singles version of this tour is available in September.
Gently rolling terrain. Average distances 15 to 45 miles per day.
Courtesy A.A.T. King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
Six-day excursion is $725 per person; nine-day is $1,065. Fare includes camping equipment (except sleeping bag), fees and all meals.
AAT King's offers this comprehensive adventure through central Australia by four-wheel-drive vehicle. The tour, available for either six or nine days, loops for miles past spectacular gorges, canyons and mountain ranges, through the Simpson Desert and on to the famed Ayers Rock.
Accommodations will be rustic -- camping in the bush -- with gear supplied by the fully equipped expedition vehicle. A cook and professional safari leader lead the tour, pointing out the area's flora and fauna. There are plenty of opportunities for bushwalking and nature study for those interested.
The journey begins in the afternoon of your arrival at Alice Springs, where you visit the local sites: the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill.
Six-day touring passengers join the tour for a day of spectacular scenery in "Gorge Country" in the Western MacDonnell Ranges before setting up camp at Redbank Gorge.
The journey continues into Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park, an area home to many unique plants from another age that have somehow managed to survive in an arid environment. Afternoon walks will explore the Amphitheatre and see the incongruous Cycad and Livistonae palms.
The next day you visit Ipolera, home to a small Aboriginal community of Aranda people nestled in the scenic Krichauff Range. Camp is made in Kings Station from where you can explore the Lost City and Garden of Eden. This is one of the most fascinating regions in Australia's Northern Territory.
Yulara is your base camp for the following two nights, providing an opportunity to visit Ayers Rock, which figures prominently in Aboriginal mythology, and the Olgas, rocky domes that dominate the western skyline.
Six-day passengers will head back to Alice Springs from Yulara, while those on the 9-day expedition continue on to remote regions, including Chambers Pillar, a sandstone landmark which makes for dramatic photographs and sunrises.
The tour ventures next into dune country on the fringe of the Simpson Desert and follows the old Ghan Railway track to the final overnight camp on the banks of the Ross River.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$755 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
This bicycle vacation provides a challenging tour of southeastern Vermont's idyllic villages.
The tour begins at the Three Mountain Inn in Jamaica, just minutes from the Jamaica State Park. Your cycling leads you through the hamlet of Newfane, where the poet of "American Childhood," Eugene Fields, was raised. You may hike to Hamilton Falls or relax by the pool at the inn.
You cycle along the shores of small lakes and can visit country stores and the Weston Priory, a small community of Benedictine monks known for their warm-hearted music.
In Plymouth, you visit the Calvin Coolidge Homestead and sample cheese made by the Coolidge family's Plymouth Cheese Company.
Next, you visit stately Woodstock, shop and tour the Billings Farm Museum, where exhibits aptly illustrate the rigors of farmlife in the 1800s.
Your final two evenings are spent at the Okemo Lantern Lodge, where you savor homemade food served by candlelight.
This tour is designed for the cyclist who wants to experience cycling some challenging hills while absorbing the culture of the region.
Terrain is moderate with some challenging climbs. Average distance is 30 to 60 miles per day with longer options available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$499 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $80.
Short on time and money? VCC Four Seasons Cycling offers a four-day, Vermont value tour for $499.
You stay at such inns as the Silas Griffith Inn or Arlington's Hill Farm Inn. Each night you enjoy home-cooked meals and delightfully-decorated guest rooms. You bicycle through picturesque villages and valleys, and stop at pristine mountain streams.
The Green and Taconic Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop as you cycle through south central Vermont. You visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, travel through Dorset and Manchester, and tour Hildene, a magnificent 24-room Georgian Revival manor built in 1904 for Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Lincoln.
A singles version of this tour is available in July.
Gently rolling hills. Average distances 25 to 45 miles per day. Longer options available.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to see if a tour is suitable for children.
Land cost is $2,550 per person (6-9 members) and $2,250 per person (10-15 members) with a $225 supplement for those who want a single room.
This 30-day trek features 23 days of strenuous hiking. You see the popular Khumbu area around Mt. Everest without the crowds and spend a full week on a remote trail that is almost devoid of other hikers. This is the route used by the famous British explorer, H. W. Tilman, on the first-ever Everest trek in 1950.
You begin with a spectacular flight to Tumlingtar. During the flight, you see eight of the 10 tallest peaks in the world, with close-up views of Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. The first week of your trek is rugged, remote and dramatic. You hike from the hot, subtropical Arun River Valley (2,900 feet) up over the Salpa Pass (10,990 feet) in just a few days. On your way to Sherpa country, you have superb views of Makalu, Kangchenjunga and Everest's rarely-seen East Face.
After a week of passing through remote villages that have changed little over the centuries, you climb the "highway" that carries over 20,000 trekkers every year to the base camps of Everest. En route, you spend several days acclimatizing to the elevation in the legendary Namche Bazaar and Thyangboche Monastery. Your final days' ascent to the base camp is spectacular and you are engulfed in a world of towering peaks and clear air. You fly out from Lukla.
Some treks are scheduled for fall, when these special places are uncrowded. On the April departure, you are treated to spectacular rhododendron forests in full bloom.
Difficult trekking, covering long distances and crossing high passes. A strong background in mountain trekking is necessary, and a doctor's certificate may be required.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$875 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, all but one dinner and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
Visit western Massachusetts, the region that inspired Emily Dickinson, Norman Rockwell, Henry James, Edith Wharton and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Traveling through the gently rolling Berkshires by bicycle gives you an appreciation of this beautiful area.
Your first two nights are spent at the Williamsville Inn, furnished with antiques and home to a wonderful restaurant. Your bike routes take you to some of the famous Berkshire cottages and to the charming village of Stockbridge.
You have an opportunity to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum and shop in the Buggy Whip Factory, which has 50 antique dealers under one roof.
In Lenox, you spend two nights at the beautiful Rookwood Inn and bicycle along Hancock Shaker Village with its round, stone barn and reconstructed village.
The final evening is spent at the Old Inn on the Green in New Marlborough.
A special version of this tour for those 55 and older is scheduled for June.
Another version, for budding photographers, is scheduled for October and costs an additional $125.
Terrain is rolling hills. Average distance is 15 to 30 miles per day. Longer options available.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to determine whether a trip is appropriate for your child.
Trip cost from Kathmandu is $2,250, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permits, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and all meals except two dinners and three lunches in Kathmandu.
The Gokyo-to-Everest trek lasts 23 days and features 15 days of moderate trekking at high elevation. Because the trail to Everest's base camp has become crowded, Above the Clouds chose an alternative route that would also offer spectacular views of the world's tallest peak. This route to Milk Lake and Gokyo Ri surpasses the traditional route in beauty.
As you follow the Dudh Kosi River toward its source, you feel drawn toward the majestic Cho Oyu (26, 750 feet), always before you as you walk. Leaving the inhabited world behind, you pass through yak herder's pastures until, at last, you reach your high camp on the shores of Dudh Pokhari (Milk Lake).
From there, you hike to Gokyo Ri (17,990 feet), the highest point on the trek and return to camp in time for dinner. The view of Everest from Gokyo Ri is considered even better than from Kala Pattar, because more of the mountain is visible. You return to Lukla for your flight to Kathmandu, taking with you one of the most impressive sights on the planet -- Mt. Everest.
Must be in good condition. Lots of up-and-down hiking at high elevations.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$975 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners but one. Bike rental is $98.
Off the coast of Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard is a unique island which provides a rich landscape for cyclers embarking on this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour.
The tour begins at the Lambert's Cove Country Inn in West Tisbury. Originally built as a working farm, the inn's a diverse menu has attracted visitors for years.
Easy pedaling takes you through pine forests, beside rolling sand dunes and from the working fishing village of Menemsha to the spectacular cliffs of Gay Head.
You spend two nights in Edgartown, a beautiful harbor town, in The Point Way Inn. You spend your second day in Chappaquidick cycling along flat stretches of beach to the "gingerbread cottages" of Oak Bluffs. Here you may want to try for the brass ring on the oldest carousal in the country.
On your third day, you leave the van behind and chart a course for Nantucket, a nearby island. In the heart of historic Nantucket, you stay at the Union Street Inn, stroll through the narrow streets and view sea captain homes. A relaxing ride explores quiet moors, cranberry bogs, dunes and beaches.
Terrain is flat to gently rolling. Average distance is 15 to 35 miles per day.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Check with Above the Clouds staff to see if a certain tour is appropriate for your child.
Land cost is $2,100 per person (6-9 members), and $1,900 per person (10-15 members). Single accommodations cost an additional $175.
The Mountains and Monasteries Trek, 23 days long with 16 days of easy trekking, combines hiking the tallest mountains on earth with cultural journeys to Buddhist monasteries and Nepali markets. You begin with a flight to Phaplu in the heart of the Solu district, lower and more densely populated than its neighboring Sherpa region. Monasteries are everywhere and you visit several on your circular route.
After a visit to Chialsa, home to many Tibetan refugees, you visit your first monastery, Chiwong Gompa. Perched high above the Solu Valley, this building is rarely visited by trekkers and offers superb views of the Himalaya. You continue north to the village of Taksindu, which is home to many Above the Clouds guides, a famous cheese factory and a monastery.
Your next monastery, Thupten Choling, was made famous by the insightful book, "Rhythms of a Himalayan Village." After visiting the tour's last monastery at Junbesi, you make the long climb up the hill known as Pike (13,336 feet) for an unforgettable look at Everest and the other giants of the eastern Himalaya. Your exit route takes you out over Lamjura Pass (11,582 feet), from where you may take the short hike up the hill to the north snowcapped peaks. From Jiri, your waiting bus drives you back to Kathmandu.
Moderate trekking, with lots of up-and-down hiking at elevations to 15,000+ feet. Must be in good condition.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$855 per person. Price lodging, includes dinners and three lunches. Bike rentals are $98. Airfare not included.
With VCC Four Seasons Cycling, you'll tour the rural life of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where more than 16,000 Amish and Mennonites live.
You begin your tour in historic Ephrata, home of the Doneckers community. At the Guesthouse at Doneckers, each room has been named for a locally prominent person or place. You can relax in the atmosphere of country elegance and enjoy folk art treasures and stenciled walls.
You will spend three night in Ephrata exploring the surrounding area. You'll visit the 18th-century Ephrata Cloister, home of one of America's earliest communal societies. You'll visit the Artworks at Doneckers before moving west to spend two nights at the award-winning Cameron Estate Inn.
During the week you will sight-see and visit places like the Toy Railroad Museum, the Sturgis Pretzel factory, the Wilbur Chocolate factory and Bubes Brewery.
A special photography version of this tour is available June 13 for an additional $125.
Terrain is gently rolling hills. Average distance is 25 to 45 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to see if a tour is suitable for your child.
Land cost is $1,425 per person. Includes hotel in Kathmandu, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff (guides, sherpas, cooks, porters) and all meals except dinner prior to the trek.
This new trip is an opportunity for people with limited hiking experience and time to get a sampling of the isolated regions of Nepal. It includes eight days of hiking, with seven days of very easy trekking. You hike along a ridge with minimal elevation gain and no serious uphill stretches. The last four days of the trek are all downhill!
You rarely encounter other hikers and you enjoy views of four of the world's five tallest mountains, including Everest.
After a noon flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, where a vehicle transports you to Basantpur (7,000 feet). The following day, you trek along the ridge, passing remote hamlets during the first two days. You continue along the ridge into the wilderness, seeing only yak herders' camps. You descend from the ridge into picturesque villages, and finally to Chainpur, the prettiest town in Nepal.
Besides its beautifully-decorated houses and clean flagstone streets, Chainpur has one of the most bustling weekly markets in Nepal. You spend a full day at the market, free to bargain for any of the bronzeware and household goods that strike your fancy. You finish the trek with a quick descent to the airstrip at Tumlingtar, from where you fly back to Kathmandu.
Light trekking, generally below 10,000 feet and open to anyone in good health.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Trip cost from Kathmandu is $2,900, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff and all meals except three dinners and four lunches in Kathmandu (approximately $3-5 each).
On this challenging 32-day trip, you spend 24 days trekking at elevations of 16,000 feet and above in some of the most beautiful scenery Nepal has to offer.
After a spectacular flight from Kathmandu along the eastern Himalaya to Taplejung, in the shadow of Kanchenjunga, you begin with a challenging first day out.
You ascend 4,000 feet to the summit of the sacred peak, Patibhara (12,450 feet). You trek along the ridge to its sister peak, Megnug (12,805 feet) and enjoy dramatic views of Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga, a peak along Nepal's border with Sikkim.
You follow the Simbua river toward its source at Ramche (14,200 feet), near Kanchenjunga's south base. You cross the Mirgin and Tamo passes as you circle around toward the north base camp near Lhonak (15,500 feet). You explore the area above Lhonak for a full day before the long trek toward Basantpur.
Although the opportunity to trek through high-altitude wilderness is an important element of this tour, you'll also enjoy special cultural encounters. You visit villages that have only recently seen foreigners.
This trek is a great choice if you have already been to one of the more heavily-visited Himalayan base camps, or if you prefer uncrowded trails and untouched culture.
Difficult trekking, covering long distances and crossing high passes. A strong background in the mountains is necessary and a doctor's certificate may be required.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to see if a tour is suitable for children.
Trip cost from Kathmandu is $2,200, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff (guides, sherpas, cooks, porters), and all meals except three dinners and four lunches in Kathmandu.
East Nepal is fast becoming the country's most popular new area for trekking. Heavily affected by summer monsoons, it is the greenest and lushest corner of Nepal, and the most developed agriculturally. Because it is home to many ex-Gurkha soldiers, whose pensions dwarf local salaries, this region is moving quickly toward modernization.
Several recently-completed highways and the official opening of this part of the country for trekking have already begun to change the face of this beautiful area of Nepal.
East Nepal is home to four of the world's five tallest peaks: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu. This trek provides stunning views of these peaks, and many smaller -- but no less spectacular -- mountains. You visit villages inhabited by people of Tibetan origin, by Limbu and Rai tribes and by Aryan Hindus. And you rub elbows with all these various groups at unique weekly markets or "haat bazaar."
You begin with an hour-long flight to Tumlingtar during which you cross the Guari Shanker, Everest and Makalu mountains. A short trek takes you to the bronze-casting center of Chainpur, whose Friday haat bazaar is one of the most colorful in all Nepal. Villagers from as much as a day's walk away come dressed in their finest clothes, ready to barter, bargain and socialize. You climb Nundhaki Pass (10,500 feet) and follow the ridge past yak herders' huts up to your high camp at Goru Dzure (11,500 feet). You visit a Buddhist monastery near Taplejung and trek back out on a ridge trail to the roadhead at Basantpur.
Moderate trekking, with lots of up and down hiking at elevations to 15,000 feet. Must be in good condition.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds staff to determine whether a particular trip is suitable to your child.
Trip cost from Kathmandu is $2,750, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff (guides, sherpas, cooks, porters) and all meals except three dinners and four lunches in Kathmandu.
This 30-day trip with 23 days of moderate trekking in a very remote region of East Nepal is a classic and one of the most popular in this region.
All but eight of your 22 days on trek are spent on a ridge trail that offers easy hiking and panoramic views of four of the world's highest peaks -- Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu.
This area was officially opened to trekking in the spring of 1988, and, as a result, you will meet few other trekkers on some parts of this route. Most of the villages rarely see outsiders and offer a window to the traditions of medieval Nepal. You encounter villagers who are Hindus, tribal peoples and Tibetan Buddhists.
You begin with a flight to Tumlingtar on the banks of the Arun River. A day's trek takes you to Chainpur, just in time for the colorful weekly market. Two days later, you climb onto the ridge and begin the gradual ascent across Milke Danda to Jaljale Himal. On the Milke Danda, you'll meet several families of yak herders and enter some of the most pristine wilderness to be found in the Himalaya. You ascend Jaljale Himal itself amid a dense rhododendron forest and, once above treeline, hillsides covered with the aromatic sunpati, the primary ingredient in incense.
With its highest point just over 16,000 feet, Jaljale is the lowest peak in the Himalaya. It is a long, spiny mountain, stretching north-south for more than 25 miles and offering superb views of Kanchenjunga to the east and Everest, Lhotse and Makalu to the west. From your camp site at Sabha Pokhari, a lake sacred to pilgrims, you will also have the option to perform a non-technical climb, minus ropes and crampons, of Jaljale (14,500 feet).
Your return to civilization is at the remote town of Topke Gola (13,000 feet), on the banks of the upper Mewa (Papaya) River. As you descend the river, the world becomes greener, warmer and gentler.
Shops selling tea and tongba, a fermented millet drink, offer additional opportunities to rub elbows with local people, some of whom turn out to be former Gurkha soldiers, fluent in English. You complete your trek at Basantpur and drive to Biratnagar and then Kathmandu. In spring, trekkers are further rewarded by one of the finest displays of rhododendron in Nepal.
Moderate trekking, with lots of up-and-down hiking at elevations to 15,000 feet. Must be in good condition.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Trip cost from Kathmandu is $1,900 adult and $1,100 for those 8-15 years old and $950 for 2 to 7 year-olds. $600 for children less than 2 years old, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff (guides, sherpas, cooks, porters) and all meals except three dinners and four lunches in Kathmandu.
In Nepal, life revolves around the family. Families take precedence over the individual or larger social units. The family could be called the overriding reality of Nepal and one of the keys to understanding the heart and mind of the Nepali people.
When you travel as a family group, you receive a warmer welcome and you have greater opportunities to interact with the Nepali villagers you meet along the way.
Your route is a shorter version of the North of Gorkha/Arughat trek. Because this route has seen very few trekkers, you get an authentic look at life in Nepal as it has been for centuries. Porters will be responsible for carrying the children who are too young or too tired to walk. Special diets will be provided for children throughout the trip.
Easy to moderate trekking, but porters will be responsible for carrying children who are too young or too tired to walk. Special diets will be provided for children throughout the trip.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
$699 per person for a quadruple waterfront suite ($489 for non-sailor) to $849 per person for a double waterfront suite ($599 for non-sailor). Includes all meals at Punta Chivato, ground transportation, instruction, clinics, and unlimited use of windsurfing equipment, bikes and kayaks. Non-sailor package includes everything except windsurfing and instruction.
Rugged beauty and pristine waters await the windsurfers who choose Baja as their destinations. Sailing conditions in Punta Chivato are ideal for either the novice or advanced sailor.
The south beach provides a flat-water area for beginners and intermediates to practice windsurfing basics, waterstarts and jibing while experts find a challenge in the large swells and surf at the north beach. Winds are generally in the 15-35 knot range.
Your journey to this remote locale begins with a flight to Loreto on the Sea of Cortez where you will spend the first night. The next day, a two-and-a-half hour drive north along the east coast of Baja affords unforgettable views of mountains and sea. The last leg of the trip is a 12-mile dirt road leading past a spectacular cacti forest to your home for the week: the Hotel Punta Chivato overlooking the Bay of Conception, where life is informal and the pace relaxed.
Reservations are limited to 20 sailors per week, maximizing individual attention. Daily clinics and instruction are included. At the launch area next to the hotel, a well-stocked supply of high performance equipment is rigged and ready to sail.
Water temperatures vary from a low of 62-65 F in December to a high of 70 F in February.
Whether sailing or not, everyone can find something to enjoy, from mountain biking to sea kayaking to hunting for seashells, along miles of deserted shore.
On your last day at Punta Chivato, you will leave by 4 p.m. to spend the final night of the trip in Loreto.
Conditions are suitable for beginning, intermediate and advanced sailors.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Check with Above the Clouds staff to see if a particular program is appropriate to your child.
Land cost is $2,050 for 6-9 members and $1,800 for 10-15 members, with an additional $175 fee for individual travelers who would like single accomodations.
On this 23-day trek, you explore a relatively unknown area north of the Kathmandu Valley. This area offers access to interior Himalayan valleys as well as superb close-up views of rugged mountain peaks. The dense forests of this area are home to abundant wildlife and to Nepal's famous rhododendron trees, which bloom riotously each spring.
Starting at Sundarijal on the perimeter of the Valley, you trek north through isolated Sherpa settlements to a string of lakes at Gosainkund (14,150 feet). An important pilgrimage site each summer, these holy lakes are the source of the Trisuli River. You'll see superb views of Langtang Lirung (23,765 feet) from a vantage point above the lakes.
You descend the steep back side of this huge rock citadel and enter the narrow Langtang Valley. There you'll find a spectacular canyon known as Lang Sisa, where you camp for several days and explore the nearby glaciers. A climb of Yala Peak (16,353 feet) is optional.
Moderate trekking, with lots of up and down hiking at elevations to 15,000 feet. Must be in good condition.
Photo by Dana Jinkins. Courtesy Concept Publishing.
Photo by Dana Jinkins. Courtesy Concept Publishing.
Courtesy Concept Publishing.
Photo by Dana Jinkins. Courtesy Concept Publishing.
Courtesy Concept Publishing.
$1,500 per person, excluding airfare and beverages. Price includes all meals, lodging, support vans, guide services, and water sports equipment except diving gear.
Caribbean Adventures offers several hiking holidays in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. Most set aside time for the beach, snorkeling and water sports as well as hiking programs. Some hikes are more strenuous than others, but you are free to hike only a portion of the trail, or skip the day's hike altogether.
This eight-day hiking tour of St. Vincent and Bequia takes you through one of the oldest continuous botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere. You hike through a tropical rainforest, over the 4,000-foot La Soufriere volcano, to Trinity Falls and the Falls of Baleine. Each hike is led by two knowledgeable guides, one from the U.S. and one from the area.
In St. Vincent, you stay at the Cobblestone Inn in Kingstown, a restored Georgian stone building once used as a sugar warehouse, with exposed cobblestone walkways and arches; and Petit Byahaut, a unique new resort accessible only by boat where accommodations are tents built on wooden platforms, fully enclosed with screened windows and solar showers.
Using these two locations as bases, you hike into rain and evergreen forests that are home to beautiful hardwood trees, ferns, the St. Vincent parrot, black hawk, cocoa thrush, crested hummingbird and green heron.
The trail up La Soufriere winds through bamboo forests which meld into the rainforest at 1,600 feet. The views of ocean and hillside farmland from La Soufriere are rarely seen by tourists. Even fewer tourists (or Vincentians) have been to the recently-discovered Trinity Falls. On the hike to the falls you encounter therapeutic hot springs, a steep natural wooden stairway and dense vegetation.
The Falls of Baleine are one of St. Vincent's most beautiful natural wonders, as they cascade down more than 70 feet over lava rocks and tropical foliage into a large pool by the sea.
The boat trip which takes you to Bequia, a small island in the Grenadines, lasts about 90 minutes and allows you to see fishing vessels, sailboats and possibly humpback whales.
On Bequia, you stay at Spring on Bequia, a coconut plantation amidst the ruins of an old sugar mill. Accommodations are modern and you enjoy unique rooms, a large swimming pool, tennis courts and a short walk to the beach.
Hikes about Bequia cross plantations and climb up Mt. Pleasant with beautiful views of the harbor and the island's windward side. Afternoon picnics are often held beneath sea grapes, and allow time to try body surfing.
Snorkeling, diving and other watersports are superb and readily available on both islands.
Hikes vary in degree of difficulty and all are optional. Most are easy to moderate lasting three to five hours.
Courtesy Concepts Publishing.
Courtesy Concepts Publishing.
Courtesy Concepts Publishing.
Courtesy Concepts Publishing.
$1,500 per person, excludes airfare and beverages. Price includes all meals, lodging, van support, guide services and water sports equipment (except diving).
Dominica has four peaks over 3,600 feet, a number of parks and preserves, botanic gardens, freshwater lakes, waterfalls and miles of coastline which make it a prime destination for hikers who appreciate scenery as much as altitude.
Caribbean Adventures offers an eight-day trek exploring the island's natural beauty with opportunities to sample local water sports, embark on a whale watch and visit Carib Indians.
Accommodations are provided by Floral Gardens, a unique guest house situated alongside a river at the border of a tropical rainforest preserve; Layou River Hotel, on the banks of the Layou River in a rainforest with hotsprings and coral reef nearby; and Fort Young, a modern hotel on the shores of the Caribbean.
Hikes are all optional, though obviously the main attraction. Some may be more difficult and you have the option of hiking only a portion of the route, or you may choose to sunbathe or dive nearby. Group size is limited to 10.
The possibilities for hiking each day are numerous. Two knowledgeable guides will accompany each hike, one from the U.S. and one from the area. They choose the itinerary the night before to accommodate your preferences and weather conditions. One key attraction is Trafalgar Falls, on the west side of Morne Micotrin, which has three spectacular waterfalls that cascade into pools several hundred feet below. Hot water falls alongside cold falls in one cascade, making it possible to have a hot mineral water massage followed by a dip in clear cold water below.
On your way to Middleham Falls, one of Dominica's highest waterfalls, you'll pass through lush, virgin rainforest housing orchids, gommier and chataignier trees. The trail skirts Tou Santi, a collapsed lava tube that emits hot air and is home to several species of bats.
Another favorite hike is to the Carib Indian Reserve, a tour which meanders back and forth along the coast taking you through thick banana and grapefruit groves. Stopping for a visit with the Carib Indians is a unique experience and provides an opportunity to browse through their craft shops. The hike ends with a descent into Dragon's Lair, where the surf explodes through a small crevice 40 feet into the air.
Other interesting destinations include Boiling Lake, which resembles a mammoth cauldron of steaming gray-blue water, and Morne Diablotin, the island's highest peak (4,478 feet). This area is the last refuge of the rare imperial and Sisserou parrots who could well be your companions.
A whale watch aboard a comfortable 41-foot boat offers snorkeling opportunities with the whales.
Hikes vary in degree of difficulty, but most are easy to moderate and last three to five hours.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$875 per person. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98. Airfare not included.
Cycle through colonial towns, swim at secluded beaches and explore the Chesapeake Bay during this five-day VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour.
You begin the tour at the Great Oak Manor, an elegant mansion on the bay at the mouth of Fairlee Creek. You roll along the coast to Betterton Beach and on to Chesapeake City. This quaint city along the CandD canal was a center of commercial activity during the 1800s. The Inn on the Canal and The Blue Max will be your homes for the next two evenings as you discover the roads and waterways of the area.
Heading south, you travel to Chestertown, your final destination. This colonial port along the Chester River is filled with masterpieces of Georgian architecture.
You spend your final night at the intimate Imperial Hotel, which has many amenities including towel warming racks and exquisite dining.
Flat to gently rolling terrain. Average daily distances 25 to 50 miles. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$875 per person. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rental is $98. Airfare not included.
With no hills and miles of quiet roads skirting Chesapeake Bay, this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour is ideal for beginning cyclers. You begin your week in Royal Oak, at the newly-restored Pasadena Inn. You cycle on lightly-traveled inland roads to the villages of Wye and Tunis Mills, home of the largest white oak tree east of the Mississippi.
The second day of cycling leads you to Cambridge, where you can take a walking tour of historic High Street or bike in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Your home for the evening is the Glasgow Inn.
Next, you cycle through the watermen's community of Tilghman Island, where you will see the sailboats that fishermen use while dredging oysters. You visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the Hoopers Strait lighthouse.
The Tred Avon Ferry carries you into Oxford, which has served as a port since 1694. There you will spend two nights at the Robert Morris Inn, named after the financier of the American Revolution.
Next, you will join A.J. and Bob Lippson, authors of "Life in the Chesapeake Bay," for a bay nature cruise. Relax and enjoy the quiet waters as you cruise by coves and lush marshes.
Flat terrain. Average daily distance is 15 to 30 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$975 per person. Price includes lodging, three lunches and all dinners but one. Bike rental is $110. Airfare not included.
You explore Cape Hatteras, the Outer Banks and Albermarle Sound's unspoiled beaches and elegant inns during this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour of North Carolina's coast.
During your five-day cycle, you journey through the vast Croatan National Forest, discover quaint villages and view the elegant Tryon Palace, home of North Carolina's colonial governor. You begin the tour in Belhaven at the River Forest Manor, a spectacular antebellum mansion. On Sunday, you cycle to New Bern's Harmony House, one of 180 registered historic buildings in this quaint village.
In Beaufort, you can visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum and Old Beaufort By the Sea, a restored historic district. From the Cedars Inn, you toast the sunset over Carrot Island and watch wild ponies graze on the shore.
You cycle through the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge en route to the ferry which will take you to visit several islands. You stay at the Berkley Center Inn on Ocracoke Island for two days and visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Flat terrain, with average daily distances from 30 to 45 miles.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$1,445 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes lodging, all dinners, bike rental but no lunches. Individuals pay $295 more for their own rooms.
VCC Four Seasons Cycling's tour of the Pacific Northwest explores Washington's Puget Sound area. You leave from downtown Seattle in the early afternoon, traveling north by van to Mukilteo where you hop on your bike and board the ferry for the crossing to Whidbey Island.
You will arrive in Langley, a charming seaside town, with enough time to explore the shops and Seawall Park. You stay at the Inn at Langley for the next two nights, relaxing in the Jacuzzi in your room and sampling the region's fine cuisine.
During your days on Whidbey Island, you go beachcombing, tour the Whidbey winery and cycle for miles.
Next, you'll ride to Keystone and board the ferry to Port Townsend, where you spend two nights.
From Townsend, you'll visit many of the forts designed to protect Puget Sound and travel on the Hood Canal's floating bridge. You will also stop at the Thomas Kemper Brewery, one of the Northwest's many excellent micro-breweries.
Your final night is spent at The Manor Farm, a working farm that is famous for its gourmet cuisine.
Your last day begins with a ride along Bainbridge Island and a tour of the Bloedel Reserve, famous for its formal European and Asian gardens overlooking Puget Sound.
Terrain has gently rolling hills. Average daily distances 25 to 35 miles.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$995 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, all but one dinner and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
Lovers of the antebellum South can wander back in history on this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour of southern Mississippi.
You begin your tour in the small river town of Natchez, which overlooks the Mississippi River and is home to more than a dozen antebellum mansions. You spend two nights at Dunleith, one of the largest former plantation homes in Natchez. There you sip wine on the jasmine-scented veranda overlooking 40 acres of green pastures and bayous. Horse-drawn carriages escort you to dinner as you relax and enjoy the sunset.
The Natchez Trace Parkway, once traveled only by animals, Indians and pioneers, leads you to Port Gibson, a city proclaimed by Grant to be too beautiful to burn.
You will stay two nights at the Oak Square.
In Vicksburg, southern belles greet you and you can roam the grounds of Cedar Grove with a mint julep. You can also visit the Vicksburg Military Park, the site of a crucial Civil War siege.
You leave Vicksburg on the Waves of Glory, a 40-foot hydrofoil which carries you along the waterway that inspired writers like Mark Twain.
Flat to gently rolling terrain. Average daily distance covered is 20 to 45 miles. Longer options available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$975 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, dinners and three lunches. Bike rentals are $110 each.
Spend six days cycling through the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region in this VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour.
Your adventure begins with a two-night stay at The Gratz Park Inn, one of Lexington's historic landmark buildings. Situated in the heart of thoroughbred country, your rides take you to Keeneland Race Course, host of the Blue Grass Stakes, the major preparatory race before the Kentucky Derby.
You can watch trainers put their horses through their paces during early morning workouts. You can also take time out to explore the International Museum on the Horse and the Parade of Breeds.
Your travel next takes you to the town of Berea, crafts capital of Kentucky, where the bluegrass meets the mountains. Your home for two days is Berea College's historic Boone Tavern Hotel. You will spend days biking into the Daniel Boone National Forest. You will also venture to historic Harrodsburg, Kentucky's oldest town, for the final two days of your adventure.
You will have a chance to visit The Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, with thirty 19th-century buildings and demonstrations ranging from the use of herbs to quilting. You will stay at the Beaumont Inn, which has a pool and tennis courts.
Rolling terrain. Average distances are 25 to 45 miles per day. Longer routes available.
Courtesy VCC Four Seasons Cycling.
$1,055 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging, all dinners but one and three lunches. Bike rental is $98.
One of the best places to cycle in winter is the Sunshine State of Florida. This five-day VCC Four Seasons Cycling tour begins just north of Orlando at the beautifully restored Lakeside Inn overlooking Lake Dora, which has some resident alligators to look out for.
You will spend the next two nights at the four-star Mission Inn, which offers the amenities of a small resort. Nearby you can canoe down the crystal clear Juniper River.
Your cycling takes you past miles and miles of horse farms near Ocala where colts and fillies frolic.
Gently rolling terrain. Average distances 20 to 45 miles per day.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Consult with Above the Clouds to see if a tour is suitable for children.
Trip cost is $2,600, including hotel in Kathmandu before and after the trek, permit, domestic transfers, complete trekking service and staff (guides, sherpas, cooks, porters) and all meals except three dinners and four lunches in Kathmandu.
You start this unique tour at Gorkha, the original seat of the current Nepali dynasty. The restored palace, temples, bazaar and views of the Himalayas make this area a highlight of the trek.
You travel west over Liutel Pass into the Marsyangdi River valley. This route, besides being uncrowded, gives you a chance to hear the Gaines, Nepali folk musicians.
You next join the main trek route and head north, passing from lush sub-tropical forest to the desert valley of Manang in just a few days. Crossing Thorong La (17,771 feet), you descend to the shrines at Muktinath, sacred to Hindu and Buddhist alike. Soon you reach the great gorge carved by the Kali Gandaki River and settled by the trader/innkeeper tribe known as the Thakali. Together with Tibetan donkey caravans, you follow the river through one of the world's deepest gorges. To the west is Dhaulagiri (26,810 feet), and to the east Annapurna (26,545 feet).
From the hot springs at Tato Pani, you leave the river trail and ascend to Ghorapani, where one of the most memorable of Himalayan vistas awaits. A full day in a dense rhododendron jungle brings you to the lovely Gurung village in Ghandrung. The trail ends on the shores of Phewa Lake in Pokhara.
Moderate trekking, with lots of up-and-down climbing at elevations to 15,000 feet. You must be in good condition.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Land cost is $2,600. Individual travelers pay $350 extra for single accommodations.
According to Above the Clouds Trekking organizers, this trip is designed to give non-trekkers close-ups views of mountains, friendly people and exotic wildlife in Nepal. This trip includes an optional two-day trek along a very easy trail, with a camp by a monastery.
The trip begins with a day of sightseeing in Kathmandu, you next fly to Pokhara, coming face to face with the Himalaya en route. Pokhara is nestled in a lush, green valley at the foot of Annapurna and your hotel sits on Phewa Lake, with fish-tailed Machhapuchare reflected in the lake.
After a stop in Gorkha, where you make a comfortable camp by an impressive palace, you drive to Chitwan Jungle Lodge on the Indian border. The terrain and culture of this area are completely different from that of the rest of Nepal. Seated atop elephants, you go in search of the Indian one-horned rhino, gharial crocodile, wild boar, abundant birdlife and the elusive Bengal tiger.
From Dhulikhel, just east of the Kathmandu Valley and renowned for its mountain views, you can take an optional two-day trek or, if you opt not to trek, you have an opportunity to visit villages near Dhulikhel. Everyone spends the final days exploring the Kathmandu Valley, one of the culturally and architecturally richest in Asia.
This is a non-trekking trip, with an optional two-day trek, with four hours of easy walking.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
$499 PP/DO, not including airfare. Price includes breakfasts and unlimited use of equipment. Cost for a non-sailing companion is $249.
With its tropical climate, strong winds and friendly people, Costa Rica attracts adventurous boardsailors from all over the world. On freshwater Lake Arenal in the northwestern region of Costa Rica, winds average 25 knots and often exceed 40 knots, creating conditions to challenge the advanced sailor.
Excursions Extraordinaires' sailing site is situated in the northwest region of Lake Arenal, a man-made, 26-mile long lake surrounded by the Cordillera Tilaran mountain range. From the lake, you can see the 4,900-foot active Arenal Volcano. Water temperature is about 70 degrees.
At Tico Wind, the Bic Costa Rica Center, you will find new, high performance gear suited for the strong wind conditions, rigged and ready to sail. Accommodations are clean, pleasant and simple. You can choose from two- or three-bedroom lakeside cabins with kitchens or rooms in a picturesque lodge overlooking the sailing site.
Tour cost includes seven nights lodging, breakfasts and unlimited use of windsurfing equipment.
Excursions Extraordinaires will help you arrange air travel, car rental, hotel reservations in San Jose, raft trips, sea kayak excursions and mountain bike tours. You may even decide to stay in Costa Rica an extra week to take in more of its natural beauty.
Winds averaging 25 knots and often exceeding 40 knots make this destination suitable only for intermediate to advanced sailors.
For five-day tours, price is $725 per person. Includes most meals and lodging. Weekend getaways cost $285, also includes meals and lodging.
Nantahala Outdoor Center's Carolina Cycle Tours visits the beautiful Blue Ridge region of North Carolina in weekend getaways and on five-day tours.
Enjoy the challenge of mountain biking as you explore the beautiful and rural regions of central North Carolina. If the uphill climbs are too much for you, let Nantahala's van do the work and simply enjoy downhill cruising.
You can choose either five-day tours or weekend getaways. Five-day tours are available in September and June. Weekend getaways are scheduled from April through September.
Hilly terrain with daily mileage between 20 to 40. Van is available.
$785 per person for five days. Price includes lodging, most meals and bike helmet.
You can tour the relaxed beauty of the Old South while cycling the historic Natchez Trace Parkway in this five-day tour sponsored by Nantahala Outdoor Center.
During this tour, you will take time to explore the Trace's rich history, from Archaic and Woodlands Indian mounds to Mississippi boatmen-era taverns. You also visit beautiful antebellum mansions.
You stay in Mississippi's finest bed and breakfast inns.
$450 PP, not including airfare; includes lodging, most meals and helmet. Does not include bike.
Explore the region around the wild and scenic Chattooga River on this three day-tour sponsored by Nantahala Outdoor Center.
For two days, you tour the gentle valleys of this part of the southern Appalachians, then cap the weekend with a full day of rafting down the Chattooga River. Relaxed cycling plus thrilling whitewater rafting equals an unforgettable weekend.
$890 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging and most meals. Bike rental is extra.
Shake off the winter blahs with Nantahala's cycling adventure in north Florida. You will roll past citrus groves and picturesque horse farms and take time to visit the Cross Creek home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the author of "The Yearling," during this six-day tour.
You will also take a leisurely canoe trip down the crystal clear Juniper Run.
This tour promises a ride far from the busier tourist areas of the Sunshine State.
Terrain is flat. Mileage ranges from 20 to 50 per day.
$1,575 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging and most meals.
Tour the countryside of southern England during this Nantahala tour. There is no better way to experience the history and charm of England than by pedaling through its countryside.
Journey into the Cotswolds and on into Shakespeare country. You will explore castles, cathedrals, villages and the famous megaliths of Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain. You also have the opportunity to catch a performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
$1,575 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging and most meals. Extra charge for bike rental.
Cycle through the heart of Scotland in this Nantahala Outdoor Center 10-day tour.
You will explore the heart of Scotland, the Central Highlands, which was once a separate kingdom. At one time, this region was torn by battling clans and is now home to numerous ancient stone fortresses.
You cycle along a network of single-lane dirt roads that wind through open pasture land and moors. You may have to stop to allow sheep to pass as you explore the back roads by mountain bike.
$430 per person, not including airfare. Price includes lodging and most meals. Bike rental is extra.
Nantahala Outdoor Center has designed a leisurely, three-day tour for senior citizens.
For three days you will explore the scenic countryside around Micanopy from Paynes Prairie to the Ocala horse country. Your visit can also include a visit to Cross Creek, the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of "The Yearling."
A beautifully-restored 1875 mansion provides luxurious lodging for all three nights of the tour.
Daily mileage ranges from 10 to 30 miles.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
Cost of vacation package varies depending on length of stay, and lodging selected.
Corpus Christi, the windiest coastal city in the southern United States, offers sailing venues to suit all skill levels. Bird Island provides the flat water conditions necessary for beginners and intermediates to learn and improve their skills. The15- to 30-knot winds in Corpus Christi Bay, which have little shore break and one- to three-foot chop, provide challenging conditions for intermediate to advanced sailors. Experts can find wave sailing on South Padre Island.
Vacation packages are available March through May, the best sailing months, when water temperatures range from 70 degrees in March to 80 degrees in late May. Your complete vacation package, which can be arranged for any length of stay, includes lodging, equipment, and rental of car and rack.
Excursions Extraordinaire's windsurfing operation is on warm, beautiful North Beach. Your host sailing center, Southern Winds, will provide the latest in windsurfing equipment.
Once there, you may want to enjoy a sunset cruise on Southern Wind's 37-foot sailboat, ride a bike along Corpus Christi's historic waterfront or visit area art galleries, art museums and famous seafood restaurants.
Sailors of all skill levels can find conditions suited to their abilities.
$800 per person. Price includes lodging and most meals. Bike rental is extra. Airfare not included.
You can explore salt marshes and inland roads shadowed by a canopy of oaks in this new five-day cycling tour sponsored by Nantahala Outdoor Center.
This tour includes an exploration of the coastal region from Charleston south to Beaufort. Your day-long stay in the historic town of Beaufort offers plenty of time at the beach. Learn what Gullah is, sample famous shrimp dishes and enjoy the gentle breezes while resting on the porch of your bed and breakfast.
Average daily distances are 40 to 45 miles.
Mention this CD-ROM and receive a 10 percent discount.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
$900 per person, not including airfare. Price includes kayak, freshly-cooked gourmet meals made with local fruit, vegetables and fish, safety gear and transportation from the office in Hanalei.
Explore the Na Pali coast of Maui during a guided, six-day sea kayak and hiking expedition with Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
According to tour sponsors, this is as close as you will get to the Garden of Eden. The first two days are spent in Kalalau Valley, where you hike, swim in secret pools and forage for wild passion fruit, guavas and bananas.
Beyond this valley, you paddle past the arches of Honopu and into the deceptively azure waters of a volcanic sea cave. Pulling ashore, you can explore the old fishing village of Nualolo Kai with its rock walls, fresh water well and ancient heiau.
Go snorkeling, and you will see waters teeming with dazzling reef fish and green sea turtles. With luck, you can catch a glimpse of Harvey the white-tipped shark.
The remainder of your days will be spent on the shell-strewn beach of Milolii, tanning, bird- watching and frolicking beneath your private waterfall.
Polihale State Park, where the mountains reach the sand dunes, is our final destination. There a van awaits, ready to whisk you back to Hanalei and civilization.
Kayak Kauai also offers a one-day tour off Na Pali Coast State Park and can arrange for custom tours.
You should be at home in the water, in good shape and not prone to seasickness. A leisurely paddle of 4 to 6 miles a day is average and can be accomplished by the novice paddler.
Mention this CD-ROM and receive a 10 percent discount.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
$750 per person, not including airfare. Includes kayaks, meals, support vehicles and tents.
Kayak Kauai Outfitters has a great antidote for a winter of discontent. Enjoy four days of paddling in the azure waters off the south shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. You will paddle from Lihue to the bay of the historic town of Waimea. This will be followed by a day of hiking to a waterfall in the green highlands of Kokee State Park.
This is a true vacation for the ardent traveler who likes to paddle with whale and dolphin, snorkel clear waters and hike along a canyon trail.
The menu includes a bountiful supply of island fruits, fish and vegetables. A support vehicle allows you to travel light. Each day you meet a van that carries the food and all the communal and personal gear.
This can be a workout. Participants should be in good shape, at home in the water, like to camp and hike, and not prone to seasickness.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Trip cost from Paro, Bhutan, is $3,600, including all meals and accommodations, services of guides, cooks and porters, domestic transportation and permits.
This trip departs in fall and spring to coincide with the famous dance pageants of Bumthang and Shemgang in Bhutan. Because you travel through relatively low elevations, you will be in constant contact with local villagers and monasteries along the route.
You begin in Paro and hike up to the Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery. This monastery, which hovers on a ledge 2,000 feet above the valley floor. According to legend, Bhutan's patron saint is said to have flown there on the back of a tiger for meditation.
From Gantey Gompa monastery you ascend through the Gangtey Valley. You travel through forests of conifers, juniper, daphne bamboo and rhododendron, many hung with Spanish moss.
The trek takes you through three passes and then down through small hamlets. You then drive to either Bumthang (spring) or Shemgang (fall) to see one of the colorful dance/drama festivals for which Bhutan is famous.
Moderate trekking. Lower elevations. Must be in good condition.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
$899 per person includes six nights lodging, launch site, breakfast, lunch, equipment, daily clinics and instruction. Dinners at the guest house cost an extra $12 each.
Custom vacation packages start at $499 and include six nights in a studio condo in the town of Kihei, rental car, rack, exchangeable board and complete rig, and Maui sailing information packet.
There's a saying in Hawaii, "Maui no ka oi," meaning "Maui is the best," and the windsurfing is no exception. Maui offers consistent trade winds, warm waters and spectacular views.
Excursions Extraordinaires operates its north shore guest house during April, May and August when trade winds blow 20 knots or more, 90 percent of the time. At the private, uncrowded launch site between the popular sailing areas of Spreckelsville and Kanaha, you have access to the latest windsurfing equipment.
The variety of conditions on Maui's north shore offers something for everyone. The side-onshore wind and offshore reef combine to create a protected sailing environment, with minimal shore-break. For those seeking the excitement of waves, the reef break is only 300 yards offshore.
Daily clinics and personalized instruction are included in the package, and six nights of lodging, breakfasts and lunches and unlimited use of windsurfing equipment.
If you cannot make the north shore guest house dates, Excursions Extraordinaires will put together a custom Maui vacation package at any time.
The variety of sailing conditions allows sailors of all levels to learn new skills.
Mention this CD-ROM and receive a 10 percent discount.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
Courtesy Kayak Kauai Outfitters.
$900 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes tents, backpacks, food and other gear.
Although Kayak Kauai Outfitters specialize in paddling, they have put together a totally terrestrial backpack trek for landlubbers in beautiful Na Pali Coast State Park on the northern coast of Kauai, Hawaii.
Enjoy six days of unfettered tramping as you explore a tropical collage of warm beaches and waterfalls in a magnificent setting. But be prepared, this is considered one of the roughest but most spectacular trails in Hawaii.
"We have spent all our lives between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and have perfected the art of surviving in style," say tour organizers.
Kayak Kauai provides all the communal gear, as well as tents and backpacks. The menu is varied to please most palates with fish, fruits and local foods.
This tour is offered on the third week of each month, Sunday through Friday.
This tour can be a workout. Hikers should be in good shape for this rough trail.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Check with Above the Clouds to decide if a particular trip is appropriate for your child.
Trip cost from Paro, Bhutan is $4,200, including all meals and accommodations, service of guides, cooks and porters, domestic transportation and permits.
On this trekking trip into Himalayan wilderness, you experience the annual Thimphu Tsechu, a festival featuring magnificent Bhutanese dance pageants. You meet in Delhi and fly to Paro, Bhutan. From there, you travel to Wangdiphodrang, a community tucked in an idyllic valley, and then to Thimphu where the elaborate festivals take place.
At the conclusion of the festivities, you drive north of Thimphu to begin the trek to Chomolhari (24,000 feet), Bhutan's sacred peak and the heart of the Himalaya. You start at Dodina (8,800 feet) and climb through dense forests to Shodu. Clearing the tree line, you cross two passes, including the Yali La (16,016 feet) to the base camp at the foot of Chomolhari. There you have a full day there to rest. You'll also have the option to explore the glacial deposits at the foot of Jichu Drake. Blue sheep are commonly seen in these valleys.
The trek ends in Paro, but not before you have a chance to visit the Tiger's Nest monastery, perched on a cliff overlooking the valley.
High altitude trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Contact Above the Clouds Trekking for details.
$1,800 PP/DO, individuals pay $200 for own room. Price includes camping equipment, except sleeping bag, permits, porters, ground transportation, meals and guides.
This trek to Pakistan takes you through an abundance of greenery and villages in the famous Hunza Valley, with snow-capped peaks constantly in the background.
Beginning at Naltar, you travel through dense forest to Naltar Lake. You cross meadows dotted with herders' huts and begin your ascent. You cross several glaciers to Daintar Pass (15,500 feet). On your descent, you travel through remote, adobe villages. The trek ends with a bath at a hot springs.
In Karimabad, you spend a full day exploring the villages of the main Hunza Valley. Here you see Mir of Hunza's palace and a stunning views of Rakaposhi.
$285 for weekend, $415 for three days and $665 for five days. Price includes meals, lodging and equipment.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center offers a kayaking course just for women, taught by instructors Mary Hayes, a national wild water kayaking champion, and Kathy Bolyn, winner of freestyle kayak rodeos around the country.
Also teaching the course is Sue Magness, one of the developers of the "C to C" rolling technique.
The instructors create a memorable class atmosphere of trust, technical excellence and fun.
The classes begin with time on flat water, for beginners, and move up to rougher waters as you fine-tune your paddling skills.
The teachers will use one of several available rivers, depending on seasonal water levels and interests of the group. Among the choices are the Chattooga, Nantahala, French Broad, Little Tennessee, Oconaluftee and Tuckaseigee.
Instruction programs range in length from a weekend to five days.
Instruction programs available for all, from beginner to advanced.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$1,850 PP/DO (6-9 members) or $1,650 (10-15 members), with $175 extra for individual accommodations.
Price includes lodging, meals on trek, some dinners in cities, guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan.
South India is known to some as the connoisseur's India. On this tour, you explore the lush, green land of temperate weather and abundant wildlife and experience firsthand the charm of the region.
You begin in Cochin, a port city of canals and lagoons built by the Portuguese and settled by the Dutch. After driving through Kerala, you begin your trek at Cheruturuthy and travel through the dense forest that covers the Nilgiri Hills or "Blue Mountains." Watch for elephant, panther, barking deer, sloth bear and the Black Nilgiri Monkey.
You spend evenings camped on the forest floor, surrounded by all the sounds of the jungle. You emerge from the forest to wander over the Nilgiri Plateau, covered with heathland, grassland and tea and coffee estates.
After a day in quaint Ooty, you travel to Nagarhole National Park, home to Bengal tiger, leopard and the macaque monkey. After visits to Mysore, Bangalore and the Ranganathittoo Bird Sanctuary, you fly to Bombay and home.
Light trekking is done generally below 10,000 feet. Open to anyone in good health.
Courtesy Excursions Extraordinaires.
Cost of vacation package depends on length of stay.
The Columbia River Gorge, with its legendary high winds and gorgeous views, is a summer mecca for many devoted boardsailors. When the prevailing winds blow from the west and meet the river current flowing from the east, the resulting swells can challenge even the best sailors. Winds often exceed 25 knots.
Gorge sailing is not for experts only. Beginners and intermediates will find many locations with flat water, light wind and protected bays.
At the Rhonda Smith Windsurfing Center, guests of Excursions Extraordinaires enjoy a private launch site with expert instruction and equipment rigged and ready to sail.
Accommodations are at the Hood River Inn, where beginners sail in a protected bay just outside their rooms. More advanced sailors find a variety of sailing sites within a short distance from the inn.
Any non-sailing hours can be spent whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking and climbing.
Excursions Extraordinaires arranges complete vacation packages for any length of stay, including lodging, equipment, instruction and car rental.
Beginners, intermediates and advanced sailors will find conditions suited to their skills.
$180 per person for two days and $270 for three-day programs. Price includes instruction, equipment, transportation to and from sites and hot tub fees.
For those on a tight budget, the Nantahala Outdoor Center's Instruction Program offers a kayaking course for the frugal floater.
This program provides careful, in-depth instruction with low student-to-teacher ratios, while allowing students to arrange for their own food and lodging.
You will find uncrowded rivers and hot tubs in which to soak at the end of the day.
If you are interested in improving your paddling skills in a beautiful and little-known corner of the Appalachians, all at the lowest price possible, this is the course for you.
Weekend or three-day courses are available.
Courtesy of Concepts Publishing.
Courtesy of Concepts Publishing.
Photo by Dana Jinkins. Courtesy of Concepts Publishing.
Parents are advised to use their discretion.
$1,500 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes meals, lodging, support vans, guide services and water sports equipment, except scuba gear.
Caribbean Adventures offers a variety of hiking opportunities on this 8-day tour of the island of Grenada. Mellow and difficult hikes are available, and can be combined with diving, sunbathing and watersports to satisfy each individual's tastes. Hiking, though the highlight of the trip, is always optional.
Accommodations are provided by the Coyaba Beach resort on beautiful Brande Anse Beach and Morne Fendue Plantation House, which is furnished with antiques and sits amidst beautiful gardens. During your stay, you have the opportunity to sample local West Indian cuisine.
Each excursion is led by two guides, one from the U.S. and the other from the island, who develop the itinerary each night taking into consideration the number of participants and weather conditions.
Hiking trails are beautiful and plentiful. The hike to Belvedere plantation takes you across the middle of the island, over hills and into valleys of banana, nutmeg and other tropical vegetation. You pass by small villages seemingly untouched by time and tourism.
The trek into Seven Sisters Falls begins at Grand Etang National Forest where you journey, led by a machete-wielding guide, through dense rain forest. Overhead and around, you see a tropical wonderland of exotic flora including orchids, heliconias, ferns, mahogany, and giant gommeir trees. You stop for a picnic and swimming in the bottom of the seven falls, where it is possible to dive from one pool into the next.
Another favorite is the hike to Concord Falls, a triple-stage waterfall deep in the island's central mountains. The falls are reached by one of two paths: the first takes you through lush vegetation, through nutmeg and cocoa groves, to the falls; the other ascends Mt. Qua Qua before reaching the 40-foot cascade. A variety of bird life (particularly the green-throated carib and yellow-belled cuckoo) may be visible, as well as monkeys.
Other hikes take you to the Plaisance Estate, where you see fantastic views and watch farmers tending their plots; to St. Georges, the picturesque capital, where pastel houses are nestled into a hill overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bay backed by lush green mountains; and to the La Sagess Naure Center, a mangrove estuary and salt pond, home to a variety of flora and fauna.
Treks pass through rugged and often dense terrain. Hikes are always optional, or individuals can hike only a portion of the trail.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
From $2,095 to $2,295 per person, $300 more for single accommodations.
Price includes lodging, meals on trek, all breakfasts and some dinners in cities, guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan only.
This trip takes you along the spine of Thailand, from north to south.
You begin in Bangkok where you see Thailand's most impressive temples and architecture. You travel around town by boat, along the Chao Phraya River and the many adjacent canals. You stop at the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
North at Chiang Mai, you visit local markets and rural temples, one of which is perched on a mountaintop overlooking the city.
At Chiang Rai, you begin a four-day, easy trek through mountain jungle. You travel on foot, elephant and bamboo raft. You walk only two to four hours daily and use the rest of the time to explore. You sleep in the homes of local tribal villagers -- the Lahu, Lisu, and Karen -- who live in this remote land.
Next, you fly to Phuket where you stay at Phang Nga Bay Resort.
For four days you swim, snorkel and go boating and take a day hike to Phanom Bencha National Park, which you can reach only by crossing a high jungle pass. This bowl-like park is a retreat for monks. From Phuket, you fly home.
$415 per person, excluding airfare, for three-day courses and $535 for four-day courses. Price includes meals, lodging and river equipment.
Youngsters ages 10 to 15 can join Nantahala Outdoor Center's kayak instruction program this year.
Nantahala has designed a special course for youths. They will learn the skills and techniques involved in whitewater paddling, enabling them to channel their high energy into a productive activity while enjoying a supportive atmosphere of camaraderie and fun.
Classes are divided for youths 13 to 15 and children 10 to 12.
Courses are designed for beginner and intermediate paddlers.
Courtesy Zimbabwe Tourist Office.
Courtesy ZimbabweTourist Office.
Courtesy Zimbabwe Tourist Office.
Courtesy Zimbabwe Tourist Office.
Consult Above the Clouds regarding suitability of trip for your child.
From $3,800 per person, with $140 more for single accommodations.
Price includes lodging, meals on trek, breakfasts and some dinners in cities, services of guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, entrance fees, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan only.
On this safari, you follow the tracks of big game animals, including the endangered black rhino, and get close to some of the most powerful animals on earth.
You are accompanied by experienced and knowledeable armed guides, who allow you to find and view these animals safely.
Zimbabwe's Chizarira National Park, home to Africa's big game, is a stronghold of the endangered black rhino. This park is situated on a plateau above the Zambezi River and is comprised of 700 square miles of remote wildlife areas. It is covered with rolling bushveld and woodland, broken here and there by deep, river-cut gorges.
Your exact itinerary varies by trip, depending on the experiences of previous groups and the locations of game and water. You cover as many as 10 miles a day and carry 25- to 35-pound backpacks. The staff will do the camp chores. The maximum group size is six.
Eight days of moderate trekking with lots of up-and-down at elevations up to 15,000 feet.
$535 per person for four-day courses. The price includes meals, lodging and river equipment.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center is offering a wonderful way for parents and children to learn paddling skills that will last a lifetime.
Learning to canoe together is fun, and is a good starting point for new adventures, including camping, fishing and long journeys of discovery.
There is no minimum age for children, but participating youths must weigh at least 60 pounds in order to fit into a personal flotation device.
Courses begin on flat water and include time in the classroom as well as on the water. Participants move on to more challenging waters as their skill levels improve.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Cost from Antananarivo ranges from $3,330 to $3,850, including accommodations, meals, trek services, guides, entrance fees to national parks and domestic transfers.
This Above the Clouds trip takes you to Madagascar, one of the largest and most ecologically interesting islands in the world.
From the capital city of Antananarivo, you hike for two days through the rain forest and lemur reserve at Perinet. You get an extensive look at the lemur, which resembles a monkey, and its habitat.
At Sambava, you begin a week-long trek around the Marojezy mountains. These mountains contain some of the finest rain forest on the island. Local guides escort you through the heart of the rain forest. You stay with villagers along the route and experience their traditional culture.
As a local villager said, "There's a lot of you folks coming through here these days. Just last year there were two Frenchmen!"
The track is long and difficult, but the beauty of the land and culture is ample reward.
At the northern tip of the island you explore Montagne d'Ambre (4,836 feet), a remote, green park, full of trees, orchids, birds, Sanford lemurs and crowned lemurs.
You also visit Nosy Komba, a reserve for the black lemurs. Your journey ends with swimming and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.
The trekking is moderately difficult.
Courtesy Zimbabwe Tourist Office.
Courtesy Zimbabwe Tourist Office.
$2,450 per person, $240 more for single accommodations.
Price includes lodging, meals on trek, breakfasts and some dinners in cities, services of guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, entrance fees, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan only.
Botswana is considered one of the most exciting safari destinations in Africa. Diverse and remote, it makes an attractive alternative to more conventional East African destinations.
You visit the wildlife areas of Chobe and Moremi and make camp in elephant country. In the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, your route varies depending on game movements.
You stop at the Okavango Delta, one of the great inland deltas of Africa. It contains 6,000 square miles of verdant, palm-fringed islands woven with clearwater channels and lagoons. The birdlife is spectacular. You see rare animals like the hippo, red lechwe and sitatunga. You camp on islands and view game from slender, dug-out canoes called mokoro. You fish and swim in safe pools and explore the larger islands.
From Harare, Zimbabwe, you fly to Victoria Falls, a waterfall both higher and wider than Niagara. You have a day to explore Victoria Falls.
You will be expected to participate on this camping safari and help with camp chores.
Non-trekking, day hikes and camping are options.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$2,950 to $3,200 per person, depending on group size, with $100 more for single accommodations.
Price includes lodging, meals on trek, breakfasts and some dinners in cities, services of guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, entrance fees, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan only.
During your two weeks in Kenya, you climb two dramatic peaks, Mt. Kenya and Olelokwe. You track animals on foot, by boat and in vehicles in the Samburu, Hell's Gates and Masai Mara national parks.
After a warm-up hike in the Ngong Hills outside Nairobi, you spend four days circumnavigating and climbing Mt. Kenya (17,058 feet), the second highest peak in Africa. You may also climb Point Lenana at 16,355 feet.
You track animals in the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Game Reserves, which are watering grounds for elephant, lion and giraffe. You climb Mount Olelokwe, which rises dramatically from the dry plains. You spend a night on the mountain under the stars.
Later during the tour, you travel to a comfortable campground on an island in Lake Baringo to observe crocodiles, hippos and birdlife.
At the Hell's Gates Gorge in the Great Rift Valley, you watch herds of zebra, kongoni and giraffe grazing on the plains. The gorge is named after the towering cliffs that rise above a bubbling sulfur spring. You climb cliff faces which are home to eagles and vultures.
You spend four days in the Masai Mara, a park with one of the world's greatest concentrations of wildlife. Each morning, you hike along the Olololo Ridge and each afternoon you track animals by vehicle which are too dangerous to approach on foot.
Trip includes a challenging climb to 16,355 feet.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$510 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes meals and support van. Bike and camping gear rental is extra.
Discover the "Maze District," the labyrinth of red rock canyons and towering spires situated west of the Colorado River in this Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike guided tour of the Canyonlands National Park.
The Maze is one of the least traveled regions of this national park, adding to the mystical quality of the area, which abounds in Anasazi Indian ruins and relics. You ride on your mountain bike over trails blasted out decades ago by miners.
The four-day tour starts with a day of riding along a vast mesa to the Maze Overlook. The second day features a magical hike through the heart of the Maze, which can be reached only on foot. There you will see fantastic rock formations, including the Harvest Scene, a stirring petroglyph panel left by the Anasazi.
Camp one night at the Doll's House, a garden of red rock spires overlooking the Needles District of the Canyonlands.
On the last two days of riding, you cycle through the slickrock of Teapot Canyon. This trail captures the beautiful simplicity of the land and sky.
A support van accompanies this tour. Tour sizes are limited to 13.
This tour is designed for intermediate and better riders or hearty beginners interested in a challenge.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$1,830 to $1,975 per person, $100 more for single accommodations. Price includes lodging, meals on trek, breakfasts and some dinners in cities, services of guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, entrance fees, communal camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan only.
If observing animals by vehicle is a great experience, searching for them on foot is even better.
On this Above the Clouds Trekking tour, you hike through game areas. For safety's sake, you ride safari vehicles to watch the "big" cats and other dangerous animals.
You spend the first four days in the Ngong Hills within sight of Nairobi and the Great Rift Valley. You see buffalo, bushbuck, reedbuck, colobus, eland and impala on your daily three- to six-hour hikes.
From these green hills, you travel to the dry and rugged Great Rift Valley where you see giraffe, Thompson's and Grant's gazelle and other animals. You hike from one water source to another, along Masai cattle trails, wild game paths and on old colonial dirt tracks.
You also spend time at Lake Naivasha, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in Africa. From here, you drive to a private camp in the Masai Mara and hike out in search of animals along the Olololo Ridge. From the ridge, you have a clear view of the reserve below and across the Olurukoti plain.
You also visit a Masai manyatta (village settlements) and see their traditional culture.
There is an optional five-day safari extension and Kilimanjaro climb available with this itinerary. Inquire for details.
Trip includes seven days hiking on easy trails of 3-6 hours daily.
Courtesy Irish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$1,700 to $1,850 per person, depending on group size with $225 more for individual accommodations.
Price includes all lodging, most meals, all breakfasts and some dinners in cities and services of guides.
On this trip, you have a chance to explore the beautiful countryside of Connemara and Ireland's western islands on a series of day hikes from bed and breakfast establishments.
From Shannon airport, you drive via the Cliffs of Moher to Galway, which rests at the head of lovely Galway Bay. You have a day to explore the town and then you begin your exploration of Connemara at Clifden. On day hikes, you climb the summits of the Twelve Bens, Garraun and the Mweelrea Mountains.
After brief visits to the seaside towns of Westport and Clare Island, you take a ferry to the Aran Islands in the mouth of Galway Bay. These islands are home to hardy fishermen who still speak Gaelic and preserve the traditions of Ireland. The trip concludes with a drive across Ireland to Dublin, where you'll have a day to explore this wonderful city.
Day hikes only.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
$1,725 U.S./$1,995 Canadian per person for eight-day trip, $1,815 U.S./$2,125 Canadian for nine-day trip and $1,875 U.S./$2,195 Canadian for 10 days. Price includes meals, use of all boat facilities and flight from Sandspit on Moresby Island to Island Roamer. Transportation to Sandspit is not included.
The Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia, also known as the "Canadian Galapagos," offer an outstanding natural history experience.
Exploring these islands from the 68-foot ketch Island Roamer, you see an amazing diversity of wildlife in an area that is home to towering forests, hot springs and thousands of birds, including puffins, bald eagles, auklets and peregrine falcons. The waters off British Columbia teem with whales, porpoise and Steller sea lions who give birth in rookeries along this rocky coastline.
The native heritage of these islands is also a major focus of your trip. You visit native villages and discover one of the best standing totem poles in the world.
The tour also includes a spectacular airplane ride over the 130 islands of this archipelago.
Island Roamer, crewed by a skipper, cook and naturalist, sails around these islands for eight-, nine- or 10-day trips in May, June, August and September. Each day is filled with a variety of experiences, including excursions aboard two large inflatables, guided walks and discussions with the naturalist. Moments of self-discovery are possible as you explore a beautiful creek, paddle a kayak or quietly draw.
Island Roamer emphasizes comfort, privacy and camaraderie, featuring eight private cabins (double occupancy), lounge with library, and well-equipped galley.
People of any age and physical condition are eligible. No experience in natural history or sailing is necessary.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$1,895 to $2,085 depending on group size, with $250 more for individual accommodations.
Price includes all lodging, meals, breakfasts and some dinners in cities.
This trip takes you to two remote Greek islands, Symi and Samos.
After an overnight flight to Athens, you explore that ancient city and view the Acropolis before flying to Rhodes, a Greek island off the coast of Turkey. From Rhodes, you travel by ferry to the tiny island of Symi, where you spend five days and enjoy the island's Easter festivities.
Easter in the Greek islands is a public and festive celebration, with processions, midnight services and roast lamb dinners on the beach. On Symi, you may take daily walking trips or swim or snorkel in the Mediterranean. Symi is dotted with churches and monasteries and bright, whitewashed houses along narrow, winding alleys.
Next, you are off to Samos, via Rhodes and Athens. The island's rugged mountains, lush countryside, olive groves and villages offer constant and ever-changing views of the sea and the Turkish coast. You make a day trip to Kusadasi, Turkey, and view the nearby ruins of Ephesus. You fly back to Athens to return home.
Day hikes only.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$825 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes food, rafting and support van. Does not include bicycle or camping gear.
This Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike five-day tour combines the best of mountain biking and rafting in an exploration of the heart of Canyonlands National Park. A van provides support and transports all your camping gear and supplies.
On the first two days, you ride decades-old trails into the heart of the Maze District, to the Lands of the Standing Rocks. Here, along sandy beaches tucked away among 2,000-foot towering red rock cliffs, the mighty Colorado River begins its turbulent descent through Cataract Canyon.
The Big Drops and Satan's Gut in Cataract boast some of the biggest and most challenging rapids in the United States.
The adventure includes a ride through the red rock gardens of the Doll's House. On the third day, you hike down to spend two days rafting on the river. The Colorado River rapids flow into the legendary Lake Powell, ending the tour at Hite Marina.
You may choose to start and finish your tour with a flight between Moab and Hite Marina, flying over the country where you traveled by bike and boat.
This is a good tour for intermediate and better riders or beginners interested in a challenge.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Trip cost from Geneva is $1,425 and includes group transfers to and from Chamonix, lodging, most meals, group cable car, bus, train transfers and guides.
On this Above the Clouds Trekking tour, you follow one of the world's classic hikes, circumnavigating the tallest peak in central Europe, Mont Blanc. You begin in Geneva, drive to Chamonix, France, and travel by cable car from Les Houches at 3,257 feet to Bellevue at 5,884 feet. From there, your journey is all on foot.
You circle the mountain in a counterclockwise direction, crossing glaciers and passes. You cross into Italy and then Switzerland on the way back to Chamonix, France. Most of the time, you are hiking at between 4,000- to 7,000-foot elevations though your highest point is at Grand Col Ferret on the Swiss-Italian border at 8,321feet. The best view is from Lac Blanc on the last day of the trek.
You spend the night in Alpine chalets where you meet other trekkers from around Europe. The cuisine is said to be world-class by chalet standards. Because you don't need to carry sleeping gear, your day packs are reasonably light.
Moderate hiking with light backpacks.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$480 for the four-day tour and $575 for five-day tours. Price excludes airfare, but includes food and support services. Bike rental and camping equipment are extra.
This unique tour of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is offered for four or five days.
The North Rim is bounded by the Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest, a lush, gently rolling forest of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and aspen.
The terrain is ideal for mountain biking enthusiasts of all skill levels. Your route takes you from the Arizona Trail, a 50-mile single track winding through dense forests, to secluded fire roads tucked among sage and juniper. The rolling terrain offers effortless riding through uncommon scenery.
Kaibab has conducted this tour for several years, and it's become a favorite. Although elevations may exceed 6,000 feet, it is excellent for beginning riders and summer touring.
Ideal for beginning riders and summer touring. Elevations exceed 6,000 feet.
$75 per person discount if you mention Adventures.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
$1,975 per driver; $1,375 per passenger. Includes lodging, most meals, and use of insured BMW R 80 RT motorcycle. Individuals pay $185 for rooms of their own. Bike upgrades are available for $95-$195.
Like the knights and kings of old, you ride your mount (a BMW motorcycle) through the wine regions in the heart of Europe during this Bosenberg 10-day Castles and Grapes tour. Beginning and ending in Frankfort, the journey takes you past 100 castles in three countries, each with a distinct culture. You can visit dungeons, moats and historic towns and explore wine cellars. Quaint inns and hotels will provide accommodations, and the local cuisine is not to be missed.
A bilingual tour guide and a luggage van accompany the trip, leaving your mind free to concentrate on the road ahead. The standard bike is a BMW R 80 RT, but there are 40 other models available if you want an upgrade.
The Rhine Valley, with its quaint villages and vineyards, welcomes you just ten minutes out of your base in Bad Kreuznach. You cross the Rhine by ferry and visit the Lorelei, listening closely for the voice that once lured sailors to their deaths.
In Koblenz you can visit the Deutsches Eck and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial; down the road you enter the Moselle River Valley where you stop for the night in the town of Cochem. A day will be left free for the exploration and enjoyment of Cochem, the crown jewel in the valley.
Nearby, the ambitious can take a ride around the 24-kilometer Nuerburgring, the most difficult racetrack in Europe. Others might want to visit the adjoining museum and castle or see the Remagen bridge.
Further along in the Moselle Valley, you enter the 2,000-year-old city of Trier, with its Roman coliseum and baths. The volcanically formed Eifel hills beckon to explorers from a distance.
The curvy, narrow, tree-lined country roads of Luxembourg take you to the town of Vianden, dominated by the largest castle complex in the country, which is open to the public. A day is left open for sightseeing in Vianden.
From Vianden you travel through the Luxembourger Swiss Alps and the serene farm villages of the Ardennes highlands. You may want to stop in the European Community city of Luxembourg before you start your journey into France.
As in the two previous countries, a day will be free to wander in Itterswiller, a colorful Alsatian town with beautifully restored wood-timbered homes nestled among the vineyards. The picturesque towns along the Alsatian wine road provide for plenty of wine-tasting stops as you head north from Itterswiller and return to Germany.
You will be given a briefing as to driving regulations and safety tips.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$1,099 per person for seven-day tour, $825 for five-day tour. Price excludes airfare, bike rental and camping equipment but does include meals and support van.
Kaibab joins forces with Sheri Griffith River Expeditions for two combination tours of mountain biking and river rafting. Offered in both five- and seven-day packages, the tours combine several days of mountain biking on the Trail of the Ancients with a few days rafting down the Colorado River.
The Trail of the Ancients traverses a wonderland of desert vistas and breathtaking sunsets. Anasazi Indian ruins adorn the landscape, tucked away in the desert cliffs for the observant traveler.
The rafting portion of the tour passes through Cataract Canyon, and ends at Hite Marina at Lake Powell, where you shuttle to the biking trailhead in the Abajos.
Courtesy Margo Greep.
Courtesy Margo Greep.
Land cost ranges form $1,950 to $2,150 with $350 more for individual accommodations. Price includes all lodging, meals on trek, all breakfasts and some dinners in cities.
On this Above the Clouds Trekking tour, you explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica on foot. Your first stop is Braulio Carillo National Park, where you explore the crater atop the 8,800-foot Poas Volcano. You trek past emerald lagoons, strawberry farms and coffee plantations and thoroughly criss-cross this beautiful, unspoiled preserve.
On board the famous Jungle Train, you travel through the rugged cliffs, mountains and dense rain forest on your way to Turrialba, "City of the Clouds."
PicturesqueTurrialba is the base from which you explore most of Costa Rica. On the first day, you hike through the hills to Juan Vinas, a town built for workers at the local coffee plantation. The second day you raft down the Rio Reventazon, which offers a mix of whitewater and calm stretches, and observe the country's plant and animal life.
From Limon on the Caribbean coast, you ferry to Tortuguero National Park and explore this special preserve for two days. This region is known for the giant sea turtles that arrive each summer to lay their eggs.
You also spend a day each at the Monteverde Cloud Forest and on a secluded beach on the Pacific Coast.
Non-trekking, day hikes and camping are possible or optional.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$480 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes meals and support van. Bike and camping equipment is extra.
This four-day Kaibab Mountain tour of the Bears Ear region of the Abajo Mountains and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is perfect for those who are new to mountain biking.
Starting in the fresh, forested mesas and meadows of the Abajos, you will ramble down broad overlooks, offering a sneak preview of the Canyonlands destination.
You will continue to descend for four days down historic mining roads before dropping into the painted rocks, cedars and Anasazi ruins found in the Needles.
Designed for beginning mountain bikers.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$440 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes food and support vehicle. Bike and camping gear are extra.
Venture into the heart of Canyonlands National Park in this classic four-day desert tour sponsored by Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
The White Rim Trail is a renowned favorite among mountain bike enthusiasts. You will enjoy superb riding, hiking and swimming. On Kaibab's guided tour, you can explore this mystical land in perfect freedom.
The trail offers a slickrock playground, winding 1,000 feet above the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers. The famous Island in the Sky district of the national park dominates the landscape, towering a thousand feet above the White Rim Trail.
No matter if you are gazing across the Canyonlands from Murphy's Hogback, flying along a sandstone road bordered by blooming cactus and yucca, or stopping for a splash in the Green River, each day offers a spectacular insight into this desert region.
A special version of this tour just for women is available in September.
The tour is well suited to beginners.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
$330 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes meals and support vehicle. Bike and camping equipment extra.
The La Sal Mountains are a sanctuary for many who seek solitude. The range rises 12,000 feet above the southern Utah desert and offers a wonderful ride for mountain bikers who embark on this three-day Kaibab Mountain tour.
This tour, available during June, July and August, offers a panoramic view of the Colorado Rockies to the east and Canyonlands National Park to the west.
You begin with a shuttle up to the treeline, passing from sage to aspen groves and meadows. The first two days of the ride are spent along winding roads. You may see herds of elk and deer during the day and enjoy campfires and starlit skies at night.
On the third day, you descend 4,000 feet through a dramatic transition from Alpine to desert climates and into Fisher Canyon for a splashing finale through Onion Creek.
The tour is well suited for intermediate riders.
Suited for intermediate riders.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Courtesy Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours.
Cost averages about $110 per day, excluding airfare. Price includes food and support van.
Kaibab Mountain/Desert Bike Tours offers a unique five-day tour following Kokopelli's Trail, named for the mystical flute player who graces petroglyphs across the West. The petroglyphs mark the ancient migration route of the Anasazi.
The five-day tour travels from Loma, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, along a breathtaking route of varying terrain, ranging from slickrock to rough singletrack to cruising roads in the La Sal Mountains.
The challenging trail is highlighted with fantastic views along every stretch as you wander through canyon country and the quiet desert.
The tour is best suited for intermediate and experienced riders and is available on demand.
Designed for intermediate and experienced riders.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
$2,395 U.S./$2,830 Canadian PP, includes all meals and use of all facilities on board. Airfare not included.
Spend 11 days this summer sailing in world-famous southeast Alaska, known as "The Panhandle," where glaciers fall into the sea, bears feed on spawning salmon and snow-capped peaks rise majestically above the fjords.
A highlight of your trip aboard the 68-foot ketch Island Roamer are the days spent in Frederick Sound where up to 100 humpback whales gather each summer. You may see the amazing spectacle of a whale "breaching" or hurling itself out of the water.
During trips ashore, you visit abandoned native Indian village sites, explore moss-covered, ancient forests and discover a wonderful variety of birdlife.
Island Roamer and its skipper, cook and naturalist crew, emphasizes comfort, privacy and camaraderie. There are eight private cabins (double occupancy), a lounge with a well-stocked library and a fully-equipped galley.
You are invited to get involved in sailing through coastal waters, learn about navigation and seamanship or just relax with your camera or a book from the library.
People of any age and physical condition can participate. No experience in natural history or sailing is necessary.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Check with Above the Clouds to see if a particular trip is appropriate for your child.
$2,475 to $2,750, depending on group size, with $225 more for individual accommodations and Argentina airfare of $349. Price includes all lodging, meals on trek, all breakfasts, some dinners in cities and guides.
Few places in the world compare with Patagonia for remote mountain grandeur and wild pristine beauty. In this region in southern Argentina, you see glacial lakes, with names as appropriate as Electric Lake, as well as unusual wildlife, like the guanacos and the Andean condor.
After a night in Buenos Aires, you fly to Calafate via Rio Gallegos. From there, you drive to the Fitzroy National Park and begin your eight-day trek into the heart of this mountain wilderness. Your first camp is on the shores of Lake Capri in the shadow of the Fitzroy Massif mountain range. You circle around the mountain to the Electric Lake campsite, which is a base camp for expeditions attempting the North Face. You also camp on Lake Torre to get a close-up view of Cerro Torre (10,280 feet), a mountain famous for its ice mushroom summit.
Back in Calafate, you visit the Moreno Glacier, which is still growing. You make a last stop at Ushaia in Tierra del Fuego and hike to a lookout point at Pampa Alta, high above the Ushaia Bay and Beagle Channel. After you return to Buenos Aires, you have a day to visit a wildlife reservation area.
Light trekking, generally below 10,000 feet and open to anyone in good health.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Trip cost is approximately $4,200. Price includes all lodging, meals on trek, all breakfasts and some dinners in cities, services of guides, cooks, porters and drivers, all transfers and ground transportation, permits, entrance fees and communal camping equipment.
In the far northwest corner of Argentina, the Andean Puna mountain region is one of the most remote and unspoiled areas of South America. Its lakes are dotted with flamingos. Not far from the Bolivian border, here you can encounter the descendants of the Incas.
You begin at Jujuy, set at the foot of the great Andean range. Then you drive across the Puna, Andean plains and highlands above 11,000 feet. At Lake Pozuelos, you will see three different kinds of flamingos: the Chilean, Andean and Puna.
From Iruya (12,000 feet) in the north of the province, you undertake a week-long trek through villages isolated from the outside world. Their remoteness and the harsh climate have shielded their cultural traditions from change. You will see the spirit of the native people in their colorful dress, artwork, handicrafts and expressive music.
On this trip, you can observe wildlife like llamas and their wild cousin the vicuna, chinchillas and abundant birdlife, including the Andean condor. You also visit the ruins of ancient Inca temples and fortifications.
Seven days of easy to moderate trekking.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
$1,345 U.S./$1,575 Canadian in August and $1,275 U.S./$1,490 Canadian in September. Covers all meals and use of all facilities on board. Airfare not included.
The 68-foot sailing vessel Island Roamer takes you to the northern end of Vancouver Island, one of the best regions in the world to observe Orcinus orca, better known as the killer whale.
With help from ship researchers and the crew naturalist, you learn about whale behavior, listen to the sounds of the orca on the ship's underwater microphone and learn to identify individual animals.
Other wildlife abounds: Dall's porpoises, minke whales, harbor seals, river otters and a wide variety of birds, from bald eagles to tiny phalaropes, thrive in this region.
On shore, you visit an abandoned native Indian village to see totem poles and tour the modern village of Alert Bay where an outstanding collection of masks and artifacts provides insights into native life and customs.
Aboard Island Roamer, you may choose to learn about navigation and seamanship, or just relax with a book from the well-stocked library. The vessel is large enough for comfort and privacy, and small enough to create a good rapport among passengers and crew.
People of any age and physical condition can participate. No experience in natural history or sailing is necessary.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$1,350 per person, excluding airfare to Hawaii. Price includes lodging, all breakfasts and some dinners in cities.
On this trip, you hike into hidden Hawaii, along forgotten mountain trails and secluded beaches. You a glimpse Hawaiian traditions and villages little affected by the modern world.
In Kauai, your starting point, you divide your time between mountain trails and clear ocean waters. You hike to the summit of Mt. Nonou, to the rim of Waimea Canyon and along the Na Pali Coast trail. Along the way, you see dramatic views of the 2,500-foot cliffs that plunge to the ocean below. At Ke'e Beach, you go snorkeling and discover a dramatic and colorful undersea world.
On Molokai, the wildest and least known of the Hawaiian islands, you experience lush, tropical forests, cool mountain pools and the world's tallest sea cliffs. Molokai, the "Friendly Isle," is the birthplace of the hula.
Back on the island of Hawaii, you explore Volcanoes National Park, Kamuela and the crater floor of Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. Hawaii contains 11 of the world's 13 climate types and is a kaleidoscope of ecosystems.
Throughout the trip you stay in local bed and breakfast hotels.
Day hikes only.
$75 per person discount if you mention Adventures.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
$2,775 per driver, $1,975 per passenger excludes airfare. Price includes lodging, most meals and use of insured BMW R 80 RT motorcycle. Individuals add $235 for room of their own on June tour.
Bozenberg's two-week motorcycle tour takes you over 1,750 miles and through five countries in the massive eastern Alps. The ascending and descending roads wind through spectacular scenery. Enchanted villages and Alpine castles, green pastures and snowcapped peaks are around almost every curve.
A bilingual guide accompanies the tour, and a luggage van provides support. A tour overview and safety show will aquaint you with the customs and regulations of the road. The standard bikes are BMW R 80 RT's, but if you prefer another model there are 40 available for an additional fee.
Hotels and inns along the way will provide accommodations, and there will be ample opportunities to sample local cuisine.
The first few days on the road, en route to Switzerland, take you through the meadows and valleys of the Black Forest. The land of William Tell gives way into Interlaken, where you will have a day free to take in the sights. An incredible view of the Aletsch, the largest glacier in Europe, awaits those inclined to take the European mountain railway through Mt. Eiger to the Jungfraujoch.
A full week of peaks and valleys challenge you as you ride through the Grison and Engadin Alpine regions of Switzerland, the Dolomites of Italy, and Karwendel and Hohe Tauern areas of Austria. You'll travel over more than 40 passes, along little-used country roads and enjoy fairy-tale stays in medieval towns.
There will be days allotted for self-guided exploration in Villanders, Italy, and Oberammergau, and Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
Tour highlights include King Ludwig's 19th-century castles, the scenic landscapes of the Romantic Road, and the Olympic village of Innsbruck, Austria, with its Rhone glacier. You can walk on cobblestone streets in Rothenberg, Germany, one of the most well-preserved, fully-walled towns in Europe, or visit the wine villages of the Neckar river valley before sweeping round the winding curves on your way back to Frankfurt.
Instruction is given in rules of the road and safety.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
$825 U.S./$975 Canadian, includes all meals and use of all facilities on board. Airfare not included.
Enjoy warm weather and the friendly atmosphere of the San Juan and Gulf Islands off the coasts of Washington state and British Columbia during a fall cruise aboard the 68-foot ketch Island Roamer.
These sheltered waters harbor a rich variety of marine mammals, such as orcas, minke whales, porpoises, seals and sea lions. This is an excellent time of year to see the birds migrating along the Pacific flyway.
Active participants will enjoy the frequent excursions ashore to hike, explore tidal pools and visit picturesque coastal villages.
Aboard Island Roamer, the crew of skipper, cook and naturalist share their knowledge of the region gained from years spent exploring the coast and training in a variety of fields. They try to make your trip interesting, educational and fun.
You may learn to sail through coastal waters and pick up navigation and seaman skills, or you can relax with a book from the ship's library, or paddle a kayak in sheltered bays.
People of any age and physician condition can participate. No experience in natural history or sailing is necessary.
Courtesy Echo: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy Echo: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy Echo: The Wilderness Company.
$1,050 per person, excluding aifare. Children age 7-17 pay $925. Price includes all meals, boats and rafting equipment. Transportation from Boise is additional.
The Middle Fork River in Idaho is the classic of mountain whitewater rivers. ECHO's six-day river trek begins nearly 6,000 feet above sea level in the Salmon Mountains of central Idaho.
The river begins as a small, swift stream, cavorting down a steep rocky bed cut through dense spruce forest. This stream quickly grows into a river as hundreds of tributaries feed it and the canyon widens.
The spruce is soon replaced by sagebrush, ponderosa pine and mountain mahogany. The last two days of your journey provide a dramatic climax as the river plunges through the sheer rock walls of Impassable Canyon and you confront Rubber, Weber, Cliffside, Redside and Devil's Tooth rapids.
But the river's magic comes from much more than rapids, says ECHO tour organizers. Its water is as clear as gin and the canyons serve up a constantly changing panoply as stunning as they are varied.
The campsites are beautiful and spacious, fishing is excellent for Dolly Varden, cutthroat and rainbow trout. The lower canyon is populated with bighorn sheep. You stop frequently to soak in natural hot springs, visit pictographs left by the Sheepeater Indians, hike up side streams and stand under waterfalls.
Guides do most of the paddling, unless guests wish to.
Courtesy Bluewater Adventures.
$1,090 U.S./$1,295 Canadian per person, including all meals and use of all facilities on board. Airfare not included.
Explore a maze of islands and spectacular fjords in some of the least-traveled waters in the Pacific Northwest on an eight-day cruise aboard the 68-foot sailing vessel Island Roamer.
Walk deserted beaches, observe bears, whales and dolphins and visit isolated coastal villages and native rock art sites. Your experience will be enhanced by the presence of an on-board naturalist.
You can also take time to learn navigation and seamanship skills, paddle a kayak in sheltered waters, photograph wildlife or just relax with a good book.
With eight private cabins (double occupancy), spacious lounge and large covered cockpit above deck, the Island Roamer is big enough for comfort and privacy, but small enough to create good rapport among passengers and crew.
The yacht can also be chartered for specialized programs, travel to a new area or used just to enjoy the camaraderie of family and friends.
People of any age or physician condition can participate. No experience in natural history or sailing is necessary.
$75 per person discount if you mention Adventures.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
$2,635 for drivers, $1,835 for passengers. Fee includes lodging, most meals and use of an insured motorcycle.
Germany's recent reunification opens up new opportunities for travel and Bosenberg's 14-day cycle samples the best of the former East and West. Meadows and farmlands, forest and hills, all wearing the colors of summer are complemented by works of careful German craftsmenship -- castles, half-timbered medieval villages and ornate baroque churches along your 1,500 mile journey.
Each tour is led by a bilingual guide and supported by van. The typical bike is a BMW R 80 RT, and there are other models available for an additional fee. An opening slide show will review the region's motoring customs and provide safety tips.
Accommodations, cuisine and hospitality will be provided by hotels and inns, many of them of them in 17th and 18th-century buildings, and there will be wines to be tasted as you motor by vineyards.
The excursion begins when you cross the Rhine River by ferry and ride through the Spessart hills. You can see the former border and climb a guard tower. The first night on the road will be spent in Muennerstadt.
Down the road a few miles in Bad Kosen you have a free day to explore the town.
After venturing through Leipzig, where the Monday demonstrations began in 1989, you'll head into the capital city of Berlin where you spend two days. In Berlin, you can leave your bike behind and explore the city by subway and on foot, visiting the Kurfurstendamm shopping and entertainment district and the Kaiser Wilhelm church memorial ruin. Stroll along the Unter den Linden Avenue or take a boat ride on the Spree River. Visit the "House at Check-Point Charlie" which documents the 30 years of the Berlin Wall. Nightlife, in the cafes, clubs and pubs, is a highlight of the city.
On leaving Berlin, you head to Dresden, praised as the "Florence of the North" because of the Zwinger Palace and Semper Opera House. From Dresden, you'll ride along the Romantic Road to a fairy-tale stay in medieval Rothenburg, the most well-preserved 13th-century fully-walled town in Europe. Its streets and ramparts are cobbled, and the Old Town Hall affords spectacular views.
The tour heads back towards Frankfurt via Heidelberg, "The Student Prince," university town. Quaint villages and vineyards line the roads of the Neckar and Nahe river valleys as you begin your homeward journey.
Instruction in rules of the road, as well as safety tips, is provided.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$695 per person, excluding airfare. Youths 17 years old and younger pay $925 for the six-day tour. Price includes all meals and rafting equipment. The four-day trek with one night in a lodge costs $710, or $595 for youths. The four-day, lodge trip for 10 or more cost costs $885 per person, $795 for youths.
The Main Salmon River is known as the "River of No Return" and its massive canyons and rapids are what make its reputation.
ECHO explores the Main Salmon River, which has carved out the second-deepest canyon in North America and drains over 14,000 square miles. The Salmon is the centerpiece of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, the largest wilderness region outside Alaska. This canyon land is also home to black bear, deer, elk, moose and cougar.
In addition to its raging rapids, the river has quiet curves, where countless, chilly sidestreams flow through forested glens before tumbling into the river.
Some come to the Main Salmon for the adventure of big water, others come for the awesome display of wilderness. Others come because the Salmon is a great river to try a paddle raft or inflatable kayak.
ECHO offers a variety of ways to enjoy the river. In addition to their regular six-day trips, they have a 4 1/2-day trip, which spends the fourth night at a riverside guest ranch and flies out of the canyon the next morning.
For groups of 10 or more, they have 4 1/2-day lodge trips, where you stay in rustic lodges and ranches each night and fly out the fifth morning.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$1,745 per person, $1,515 for youths for 12 day tour, airfare excluded. Adults pay $1,655 for 10-day trip and youths pay $1,425. Price includes all meals and rafting equipment. Transportation to ECHO not covered.
ECHO: The Wilderness Company decided not to force its customers to make the hard choice between rafting either the Main Salmon or the Middle Fork rivers. Instead, ECHO offers a combination package that allows you to enjoy the unique character of each river on a 10 or 12-day combination tour.
The Middle Fork is a tributary to the Main Salmon. It is a smaller river, beginning at a higher elevation. It has crystal clear water, excellent fishing and challenging rapids that include narrow chutes, piercing rocks and tight channels.
The Main Salmon is much bigger in every sense, with larger canyons and beaches. Its rapids are big drops with waves, but they require less precision paddling. Fishing is not as good, but the whitewater is more constant throughout the season. Its warmer waters makes it more inviting for swimming than the Middle Forks.
Serious river runners should raft both rivers and ECHO gives you that opportunity. On its combination tours, you run the Middle Fork first, spend a night at a riverside lodge, and then continue down the Main Salmon.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy Mongolian Mission to the United Nations.
Courtesy Mongolian Mission to the United Nations.
Courtesy Mongolian Mission to the United Nations.
Courtesy Boojum Expeditions.
$3,650 to $3,850 per person, depending on group size. Price does not include plane fare to China. Price includes all meals, hotels, camping accommodations, guides and transportation within China, including bus, planes and horses.
This riding trip takes place at 8,000 feet in the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China's northwest corner near outer Mongolia. The people are predominantly Turkish-speaking Muslim Uygur people and nomadic Kazakh herdsmen. You will be a "privileged" guest and visit people in their homes, yurts and pastureland.
Before traveling to the Altai mountain region, you visit Beijing, the Great Wall of China and the town of Urumchi. In Altay, you meet your local Kazakh guides and horses and ride into the mountains that form a border between China, Siberia and Mongolia.
Kazakh herdsmen provide the horses and the Bactrian camels that carry your packs. The herdsmen also work as your guides. They are devout Muslims and herd sheep in the dramatic foothills of the Altai, using their camels for pack animals when they move seasonally from pasture to pasture. You see their yurts, traditional round, felt tents, dotting the valleys in this pine-covered area that resembles the Rockies.
After the eight-day trek, you fly to Chengdu, then Hong Kong and home.
Previous riding experience and an interview with staff at Boojum Expeditions are required. You must be able to ride six to eight hours a day. Maximum group size is 12.
You must have previous riding experience and be able to ride 6-8 hours a day. You travel 10-25 miles a day.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$625/$535 per person, excluding airfare, for adults/youths 17 years old or younger. Price includes all meals and rafting equipment. Four-day tours cost $545/$475 and three-day tours cost $425/$375.
The Rogue River inspires intense loyalty among those who journey down it, no matter if you are the guide or guest of ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Year after year, many guests return to its rapids, its canyons and the warm days that conclude with shooting star displays at night.
River-rafters say the Rogue is like an old friend, challenging at times but forgiving too. Its warm waters are fun for swimming, or for trying out one of ECHO's inflatable canoes.
Places like the narrow, rocky gorge of Mule Creek Canyon and Blossom Bar, where even the best guides are put to the test, and the peaceful camps at Brushy Bar and Kelsey Creek, are some of the reasons why the Rogue will live on in your memory long after you have rafted its waters.
ECHO offers three and five-day tours in which to capture the essence of the Rogue River.
Guides paddle boats unless guests choose to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$398/$370 for adults/children for the three-day tour. Price includes all meals and river equipment. The two-day trek, from April to Sept., costs $310/$290 and the minimum age is 12. The one-day trip from March to May is $150 for adults and children. The minimum age for the one-day trip is 15.
When river guides gather, the talk turns to the best rivers and mightiest rapids, and the Tuolumne has generated some of the best whitewater tales in North America.
This ECHO river tour explores the world-class rapids of the Tuolumne. But even this river's lesser rapids would be major challenges on most rivers.
The Tuolumne skirts a bountiful wilderness area. Many of ECHO's customers come to the Tuolumne for the whitewater and then return to explore the isolated beauty of its caverns and rugged landscape.
Because of the challenges of this trip, the minimum age for participants in the two-day trip scheduled from April through September is 12. You must be at least 15 to participate in the one-day trips from March through May.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$565 for adults, excluding airfare, and $495 for children. Price includes food and rafting equipment.
ECHO's rafting and kayak trips for youths are very popular year after year.
Children are fascinated with the many things to do on a river trip and this trip down the Rogue River in Oregon gives them ample opportunities to learn about the river, its surrounding wildlife and have fun in the outdoors.
Hollis MacLean returns for her third year as the "fun director" of this tour. She will combine her love for the outdoors with her love for children by organizing exciting and educational group activities.
Most important of all, there is a great deal of fun as children learn to paddle inflatable kayaks, learn to skip rocks, sing songs and gaze at the stars.
The trip is open to adults and their children.
$75 per person discount if you mention Adventures.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
Courtesy Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions.
$2,895 per driver and $2,095 per passenger. Price includes lodging, most meals and use of insured motorcycle.
The mountainous Alpine region is one of the most exciting places in Europe to ride a motorcycle. Nearly 1,500 miles long, Bosenberg's 14-day tour winds its way through glens and forests of Germany, France and Switzerland. The western Alps are less developed than their eastern counterparts making for a rugged and open tour combining European hospitality and French cuisine with areas of remarkable natural beauty.
The tour is led by a bilingual guide and accompanied by a support van that transports your luggage so you may concentrate on the ride and its sights. Itineraries are developed daily to allow for personal preferences.
The standard issue bike is a BMW R 80 RT, but 40 other models are available if you wish to pay extra. A pre-tour slide show acquaints you with the rules and regulations of European roads and offers you safety tips.
Accommodations are provided by inns and hotels along the route and days are left open for exploring the sights of Combloux and Guillestre, France, Interlaken, Switzerland and Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
The tour departs from Bad Kreuznach heading to the ominously-named crossroads town of Frankenstein in the Palatinate forest. Soon you enter France and join the Route du Vin on your way to a colorful Alsatian wine village.
The journey takes you next into the Gorges du Pichoux and Jura regions of Switzerland and through your first mountain passes. A visit will be made to Gruyeres to sample some of the town's world famous cheese, and time is taken to visit the water fortress of Chillon where Lord Byron's "Prisoner of Chillon" was incarcerated. You'll also see Mt. Blanc, Europe's highest peak.
You cross over a number of Alpine passes on your way through the region including the Col de La Colombiere, Col des Aravis and Gorges De'l Arondine. No matter which direction you ride, Alpine vistas, sheep-dotted green pastures, villages of flowered chalets and rushing rivers can be seen.
Travel the "Route of the Grand Alps" and "Olympic Valley" into Albertville, the site of the 1992 winter Olympics. In nearby Guillestre, the suns shines 300 days a year. You ride through the best French Alpine passes, the same route that Hannibal scaled with his elephants 25 centuries ago.
From France you return to Switzerland where there will be an opportunity to take the highest European mountain railway through Mt. Eiger to the Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Oberland area to view the largest glacier in Europe, the Aletsch. A stop is made in the famed town of Lucerne with its "Wooden Chapel" bridge and historical Altstadt.
Swiss passes, such as the Susten, Nufenen and Gotthard, with their sweeping curves, afford unforgettable views.
You return to Germany in its southwest corner and ride the "Black Forest High Road" with its hills and curves, open meadows and green valleys back towards the Neckar valley and the "Student Prince" university town of Heidelberg. From there you are off to Bad Kreuznach for a free day before you depart from the Frankfurt airport.
Instruction will be given in local traffic laws.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$845 per adult/$715 for youths, excludes airfare. Price includes all food and river equipment.
Nothing sounds better after a rugged day of whitewater than the sound of a guitar and sweet voice singing under the stars. ECHO continues to sponsor its popular bluegrass and folk music river tours.
In August, The Dusty Chaps, a bluegrass band out of Santa Barbara, will entertain participants during a whitewater rafting tour of the Main Salmon River. The Chaps offer an exciting blend of bluegrass, swing, jazz, country, rock and reggae.
Meanwhile, you will see breathtaking scenery and ride the rapids during this beautiful journey down the "River of No Return."
Rex Foster, a contemporary Texas folk musician, brings his unique style of music and storytelling to Idaho during a trip in August down the Main Salmon River.
Described as a rough cross between James Taylor and Jerry Jeff Walker, Rex makes clever and ample use of every style and genre he's been exposed to.
Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, join ECHO again for the magic of music in the wilderness. Laurie was voted Female Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Her singing, song writing, fiddle and guitar playing combined with Tom's great singing and mandolin picking are a special treat on any river. The date and river for this tour has not yet been announced; call ECHO for details.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
July 19-24 food fest costs $845/$715 for adults/youths. The July 14-16 food fest costs $419/$398. The Aug. 17-20 wine and whitewater trip costs $575 for adults only.
Officials at ECHO: The Wilderness Company think all of their trips feature good food, but on two special whitewater rafting trips this summer, they are offering the best they can.
During two tours in July, ECHO is offering gastronomical gourmet extravaganzas. The tours are scheduled for July 19-24 on the rugged Main Salmon River in Idaho, and a trip down the Tuolumne River in California July 14-16 is also available. Call ECHO for menus and details.
From August 17-20, ECHO offers a wine and whitewater tour on the Rogue River in Oregon.
Dennis Bowker, innovative vintner from Sonoma County, California, returns for his sixth year with ECHO to share his extensive knowledge and great wines.
Taste the blend of fine wine, hearty food and the beauty of the Rogue River.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
$419/$398 for adults/children. Price excludes airfare, but includes all meals and rafting equipment.
Shoot the rapids by raft and capture them on camera during this ECHO photography workshop river tour.
Howard Weamer has been teaching photo workshops in Yosemite National Park for the Yosemite Association for 13 years. His spectacular photographs have been published in calendars, magazines and books.
This trip down the wild Tuolumne River focuses on shooting action whitewater as well as the rocks, plant and animals life in the beautiful canyon of the Tuolumne River.
Guides do the paddling unless guests wish to.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
Courtesy ECHO: The Wilderness Company.
The Rogue River trip from June 23-26 is $545/$475 for adults/youths. The Main Salmon River tour from July 29-Aug. 3 is $825/$695. Price excludes airfare and includes all meals and rafting equipment.
Learn about the natural and geologic history of the canyons that you raft through during two natural history whitewater tours sponsored by ECHO.
In July, biologist and environmental consultant Vince Semonsen joins ECHO once again to share his knowledge of the natural history of the Salmon River Canyon during this five-day tour of the Main Salmon River.
Semonsen's knowledge of the Salmon evolves from his many years of guiding there. His expertise, combined with his easygoing nature, make this a great river trip where guests can learn as much or as little as they wish while rafting down the rugged river.
In June, Ian Madin, earthquake geologist for the state of Oregon, will contribute his wealth of information on the geology of the Rogue River region in southwestern Oregon. The canyon of the Rogue exposes some of the most interesting geology in the Northwest. You will see dramatic evidence of tectonic plate collisions, giant floods and landslides.
Madin was a guide with ECHO for many years and his informal approach to geology will delight those new to the subject as well as learned veterans.
Guides paddle unless guests wish to.
Courtesy Dirigo Cruises.
Courtesy Dirigo Cruises.
$375 to $845 PP, including all meals. Airfare not included.
The 95-foot Schooner Harvey Gamage, built in 1973 in the style of a traditional packet schooner of the 1860s, sails off the East Coast in summer and West Indies in winter. It also hosts educational cruises and workshops.
Each week during winter, the Harvey Gamage offers trips originating in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and sailing to St. John, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Norman Island.
You find an exciting history and atmosphere and some of the finest beaches in the world on these islands. Each day there is opportunity to go ashore, sightsee, swim, explore and meet islanders.
No experience is needed. Landlubbers and "old salts" are equally welcome. You are free to lend a hand and learn the arts of a sailor or lounge on deck, soak up the endless sun and watch the magnificent scenery.
Summer departures are from Boston, Mass., Mystic, Conn. and Annapolis, Md. In addition to regular cruises, there are special study trips, whale watching and positioning trips to each new sailing area.
In spring and fall , you can take part in special voyages to learn ocean navigation.
Dirigo Cruises also books trips on other schooners in New England, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
You can choose whether or not to participate in sailing the vessel.
Courtesy Boojum Expeditions.
Costs range from $3650 to $3850 depending on group size. Does not include plane fare to China. Price includes meals, hotels, camping accommodations, guides and all transportation within China. Maximum group size is 12.
Boojum Expeditions pioneered the first Western horseback trek in China in 1985. Since then, their horsepack expeditions have expanded into eastern Tibet and Manchuria. This trek takes you through eastern Tibet on the border of China's Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu provinces. At 12,000 feet, you ride through the high grasslands of mountains that are home to nomadic yak herders and scattered Buddhist monasteries.
Known for their horsemanship and ferocity in battle, the Tibetan herdsmen formed the military escort for the Dalai Lama when he escaped from Lhasa and Chinese troops.
You begin your journey in Beijing, where you tour the city and see the Great Wall of China. After flying to Chengdu, you drive north to Lixian in the foothills of the Min Mountains until you arrive in the Aba grasslands, where your horseback trek begins.
During the riding portion of the trip, you use vehicle support as well as pack horses. Tibetan herdsmen, the descendants of fierce Khampa warriors, are your packers and guides. Some nights you camp far from roads and vehicle support.
After returning to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, you have a full day to explore this city before flying to Hong Kong and then home.
You must have previous riding experience and be able to ride 6-8 hours a day. You travel 10-25 miles a day.
Courtesy Sailboard Vacations.
Courtesy Sailboard Vacations.
Courtesy Sailboard Vacations.
Rates range from $399 to $999 PP/DO for seven nights and include lodging, unlimited use of windsurfing equipment and continental breakfast. An individual pays $200 extra for a single room. Airfare is not included.
Windsurf Village, operated by Sailboard Vacations in Aruba, has everything you need for a windsurfing holiday. There is oceanfront lodging adjacent to the renowned Fisherman's Huts sailing grounds, a complete instruction program and a rental shop stocked with more than 150 sails and 150 custom and production boards.
Aruba, situated just 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela and 12 degrees north of the equator, is famous for its sunny, dry weather, aquamarine waters and soft, sandy beaches. Average year-round wind speeds are 20 knots, often increasing to 25-35 knots during spring and summer.
At the Fisherman's Huts sailing area, lessons are taught in warm, waist-deep waters. Whether you're an anxious novice or a bona fide shredder, the school can help you improve your skills dramatically. You'll learn beachstarts, waterstarts, jibes, chop-hopping and more from skilled and friendly full-time instructors.
At the end of the day, you can relax in the outdoor Jacuzzi or sit on an oceanfront veranda and compare notes with fellow windsurfing enthusiasts. You stay in modern, air-conditioned units with kitchenettes. Some feature courtyards, private decks and shared barbecues.
Remember to leave time for other activities the island offers such as scuba diving, snorkeling, waterskiing, catamaran sailing and horseback riding.
Instruction is available to all, from beginning to expert sailors.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Trip cost is approximately $2,995, including everything but items of a personal nature, gratuities to the boat crew and air fares.
From San Diego, you cruise down the west coast of Baja California to the magical Sea of Cortez. On the west coast, you watch gray whales and their calves surface next to your skiff. You travel farther south to where the swells of the temperate Pacific meet the calm, tropical waters of the Sea of Cortez.
Humpbacks frolic during mating season and game fish like marlin and dorado abound. You also see blue whales, Bryde's whales and numerous dolphins. You cruise the route of the gray whale and stop to see elephant seals as they sun on small islands. Often, the blue whale, the largest animal in the world, crosses your path. You may see as many as 10 species of whales on this trip.
In the Sea of Cortez, you explore remote islands as well as the peninsula itself and observe the vast variety of plants and birds. Underwater, you see a beautiful array of exotic fish. At night, you may see porpoises forming luminescent halos when they dive in the bow wave of the boat.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Courtesy Biological Journeys.
Trip cost is approximately $4,195-$4,595, depending on tour, including everything except personal items, gratuities to the boat crews and air fares.
Known as the birthplace of evolutionary theory, the enchanted islands of the Galapagos are among the wonders of the natural world.
Unique animals and plants flourish on these rocky islands that support a wonderland of volcanic activity. You see fanciful creatures including frigatebirds (whose throats blow up into bright red balloons), the woodpecker finch (which ferrets out grubs with a stick), forgotten reptiles from an era that predates mammals, giant tortoises that reach 600 pounds and marine iguanas grazing on seaweed. Most of these animals have no fear of humans.
Biological Journeys offers a Two-Week Discovery Tour of the Galapagos and a Galapagos Sperm Whale Special. The sperm whale special offers the excitement of the regular itineary plus the rare opportunity to spend time with magnificent sperm whales. You cruise the west side of Isla Isabela in an area marine biologists claim is the best place in the world to see sperm whales.
Courtesy Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School.
$975 includes tuition, helmet, driving suit and use of a vehicle.
Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School's two-day program is designed for the ultimate driving enthusiast and teaches the skills required to handle today's high-performance vehicles.
The school provides day-long instruction and can arrange your accomodations.
Taught at the Pocono International Raceway, the course teaches you the principles of advanced driving, how to develop foresight and anticipation, and proper cornering and braking techniques to prevent skids and slides.
The course is taught by professional instructors using Volvo instructional vehicles and their own patented Slidecars. After learning in a Volvo, you'll have the opportunity to practice your new skills in your own car.
For any auto enthusiast who can drive a car with a manual transmission.
Courtesy Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School.
Courtesy Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School.
$2,250 includes tuition, driving suit and helmet.
This three-day program is the foundation of Bertil Roos Grand Prix Racing School's reputation. Whether you want to pursue racing as a career or try driving on the edge while in total control, this course is for you. Experience the thrill of mastering a Scandia Formula 2000 race car. No previous racing experience is required to enter this program.
Professional instructors lead you through the fundamentals of race car driving, including race rules, braking, shifting, cornering and tactics to make high-speed driving safer. Days will run generally from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with classes spent in classrooms and on the Pocono International Raceway. Initial training begins in a dual seat car with an instructor, after which you are on your own.
Upon completion of the course, you are eligible for an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) license and may receive credit towards a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) license. You are also eligible to take the two-day Advanced Grand Prix Racing Course.
All that is needed is the ability to drive a manual shift car.
Courtesy Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School.
$3,500 includes tuition, helmet, driving suit and use of a race car.
Bertil Roos' Grand Prix Race Week combines the three-day Grand Prix Racing Course and the two-day Advanced Grand Prix Competition Course. If you have ever wanted to drive a Formula 2000 race car, this is your opportunity.
Days generally run from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the school can arrange accommodations.
Instruction takes place at the Poconos International Raceway and covers all aspects of racing including shifting, braking, cornering, visualization techniques and tactics that make driving faster seem slower and safer. Days are spent both in class and on the track. Professional instructors ride with you initially, before letting you go out on your own.
Upon completion of the course you are eligible for an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) license, gain credit toward a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) license and can enter the Roos Formula 2000 Racing series as a driver.
Takes anyone who can drive a manual transmission from street to competition level.
Courtesy Bertil Roos Grand Prix Driving School.
$1495 includes tuition, helmet, driving suit and use of race car.
This course is designed for drivers who have taken Bertil Roos Grand Prix Racing School's three-day Grand Prix Racing Course. For two days, professional instructors will introduce you to a new challenge in racing -- competition. The first course covered driving fundamentals; this one adds other cars to the classroom as the next step to wheel-to-wheel racing.
You learn to improve your lap times and perfect late braking and early accelerating while you compete against instructors. Driving in traffic, passing and drafting are also taught.
The program culminates in an actual race against your fellow students. Following a qualifying session, you compete in two eight-lap races which conclude with trophies and champagne as prizes.
Days last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the school can arrange for accommodations.
Pre-requisite is Roos' three-day Grand Prix Racing course.
Courtesy Journeys into American Indian Territory.
Photo by John Fine. Courtesy Journeys into American Indian Territory.
Photo by John Fine. Courtesy Journeys into American Indian Territory.
$795 PP includes ground transportation, lodging, fees to events, instruction, breakfasts and dinners. Airfare and lunches are not included. Stops will be made during the day where participants can buy inexpensive lunches.
Journeys into American Indian Territory immerses you in the daily lives and traditions of Native American Indian cultures in Oklahoma. Known as Indian Territory before statehood, Oklahoma is home to 252,000 Native Americans who belong to some 67 tribes.
Each journey is a one-of-a-kind experience, limited to 20 participants. As you share in the daily lives of Comanche, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Arapaho and other tribes, you attend special events and learn about customs and beliefs. You gain new insights into this region's past and present.
Your trip starts at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City where you are met by anthropologist Robert Vetter, Journeys founder and director. The first day, you travel to base camp for orientation and an introduction to tepee life.
A tepee, your lodging for the week, sleeps about 10 people comfortably. In addition to being a very efficient shelter, the teepee is a sacred space. You learn its meaning and significance, and how to respect it.
Eight separate journeys, each eight days, are offered between April and October. Each focuses on a particular aspect of Native American culture, such as social relations, history, cultural survival, crafts, spirituality or music and dance.
You visit the homes of Native American families and artists, meet tribal officials, learn traditional dances, visit sacred sites, tour museums and galleries and attend ceremonial events. Transportation between sites is by van.
During some tours, you remain at one encampment all week, in others there are two encampments, and in one, three separate encampments are used. Meals are a tasty combination of traditional and modern cooking and there is always plenty to eat.
College credit is offered for taking this program.
While no experience is necessary, a participant must be willing to camp out and share a "tribal" lifestyle.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,475 U.S./$2,995 Canadian. Individuals pay $255/$315 for room of their own. Price excludes airfare but includes bike rental, support van, lodging and all dinners but two.
When the barbed wire separating Austria and Hungary was cut away in 1989, the old Hapsburg empire that dominated this region of Europe for nearly 800 years was reunited.
On this Butterfield and Robinson bicycle tour, you will cycle the Austro-Hungarian border and examine the cultural changes that have occurred since the fall of communism. You will ride by the Imperial Hapsburg palaces that dot the countryside along the Danube, and view the art and jewels that are displayed in these two countries.
You begin this tour in Vienna at the Burg Lockenhaus, a 13th-century fortress-museum high atop a hill. You go on a short warm-up ride by the highest mountain in Burgenland, then gather for a lively dinner.
You spend the next two days in Nagycenk, Hungary, riding the Croatian plain past horse farms and fields. On day three, Peter Jakob takes you through the Esterhazy Palace at Fertod for a glimpse of imperial splendor.
On day four, after a stay at the Hotel Burgenland, you bike to Sopron and enjoy a traditional lunch at a wine house. On days five and six, you stay at The Parkhotel in Baden, Austria, and tour the Haydnsaal, where Joseph Hayden was the court composer for 30 years. You may cycle to Weiner Wald or choose to relax in town.
On days seven and eight, you stay at the Hotel Richard Lowenherz, a beautiful 11th-century convent on the Danube, and bike to a tour of the Heiligen Kreuz Monastery, then through marvelous Krems to Durnstein. On your final day, you bike to the 11th-century Benedictine Monastery at Melk, then relax on the Danube ferry before your banquet dinner.
25 to 35 miles per day with only gentle hills.
Courtesy Journeys into American Indian Territory.
$895 PP includes ground transportation, lodging, fees to events, breakfasts and dinners. Airfare, optional horseback ride and lunches are not included. Stops will be made during the day where participants can buy inexpensive lunches.
A new addition to Journeys Into American Indian Territory, the Arizona Program focuses on the history and contemporary life of southern Arizona's native peoples, amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of the Southwest.
These eight-day trips include visits to several reservations in southern Arizona, meetings with tribal members and an optional horseback ride through the desert. The tribes you meet include the Pima, Maricopa and Yavpai-Apache. You also visit ruins and excavations of the ancient Hohokam inhabitants of the area.
Upon arrival at Phoenix Airport you travel to Fort McDowell Indian Reservation. Your home for the week is a cluster of traditional dwellings: two tepees, a Navajo hogan and an Apache wickiup.
You visit the Hoo-hoogam Ki Museum on the Salt River Reservation, depicting the cultural lifeways of the Pima and Maricopa tribes, and the acclaimed Heard Museum with extensive collections of art by these southwestern cultures.
On a trip to the Gila River Reservation south of Phoenix, you meet with Joseph Enos, Tohono O'Odham tribal member who takes you through Heritage Park and teaches you about the structures left by several tribes.
Traveling to the Ak Chin Reservation, you meet with Community Archive Director Charles Carlisle to learn about social organization and the recent history of the Maricopa community.
On a day trip to central Arizona, you meet a Yavapai-Apache historian who will be your guide as you explore a 12th-century Sinagua cliff dwelling called Montezuma's Castle and visit the sacred sites in Sedona.
Attendance at special Native American events will be included in the tour if they coincide with the trip dates.
While no experience is necessary, participants must be willing to camp out and share "tribal" lifestyle.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,545 U.S./$3,095 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $225/$275 more for room of their own. Price includes bike rental, lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
Butterfield and Robinson offers a pastoral tour of the English countryside, past grazing cows, verdant meadows and lovely old manor homes set deep in the woods. The villages are small, but bustle with activity as you cycle through this rural countryside.
This region of Great Britain has been ignored by the tourist crowds. But you can experience this countryside while pausing in pubs for ale or cider or stopping in Wells to listen to the world-famous choir at Evensong.
You start this tour at The Swan Hotel at Bradford-on-Avon, a 14th-century town house on the banks of the Avon. After a bus ride from Bath, you start with a warm-up ride on the scenic canal town path past Cheverton Pump Station and Dunds Aqueduct then return to the Bullpit Bar.
On days two and three, you stay at The Crown in Wells, and cycle to Farleigh Castle, built in 1377. You return for dinner and Evensong at Wells Cathedral. In the morning, you accompany the town crier, then cycle to Glastonburg, said to be the resting place of the Holy Grail and the remains of the legendary King Arthur.
On days four and five, you stay at The Oak House and The Lamb Inn, and ride to lunch at Ashton Windmill, built in 1760. Then you journey to King John's Hunting Lodge. You can hike through stalactites of Cheddar Gorge and climb the 322 steps of Jacob's Ladder.
On days six and seven, you stay at The Red Lion in Somerton. After a ride through the moors, you tour the Peat Moors Museum with archaeologist Margaret Cox. On your final day, you take a cycling tour to Montacute House, built in 1601, and Byrmpton D'Evercy House, built in 1434, before returning to The Red Lion for a final banquet.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,365 U.S./$2,885 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $195/$240 for room of their own. Price includes bikes, support vans and all but two dinners.
To bicycle through Alsace is to embrace the beauty of forested hills, bountiful flower gardens and good food and wine. This Butterfield and Robinson cycling tour explores this region of France that is strongly influenced by its German neighbor.
This year, Butterfield and Robinson staff have redesigned their Alsace tour, which begins and ends in Strasbourg, to include stops at a variety of new casual hotels with great young chefs who incorporate the essence of this region in their cuisine.
The tour begins at the Chateau de Barembach in Schirmeck with a warm-up ride to the ruins of a medieval chateau by the Romaine River. Later, you have will have an elegant dinner among the flowers at Barembach.
On days two and three, you stay at Le Moulin, a quaint Alsatian riverside inn. During outings in this area, you will learn the secrets of marquetry, a form of wooden sculpture unique to this region. You also tour Obernai, a medieval village that boasts a 16th-century town hall.
On days four and five, you stay at La Couronne in Riquewihr. After biking through flowered villages all day, you can tour medieval Riquewihr on foot. Next day, you visit the 350 year-old Hugel winery, where you might get a personal history lesson from Etienne Hugel himself. You may dine afterward on freshly-caught trout in La Truite.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Hostellerie St. Barnabe, a simple auberge with an excellent kitchen. You tour the tiny wine villages in the area and bicycle to the Rhine. The next day, you can cycle to the forested Vosges mountains before you see a cooking demonstration and are served a winestube feast.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling terrain.
Courtesy Borealis Nordic.
Courtesy Borealis Nordic.
Courtesy Borealis Nordic.
Prices for yurts are $25 PP per night; Ober Place is $15 PP per night.
Borealis Nordic offers a unique way to spend the winter exploring the Maine wilderness. You stay in Mongolian-style yurts, a dome-shaped structure that was originally built with skins and felt by Asian nomads. From your base camp, you cross-country ski on the 25-mile network of groomed trails or explore the backcountry in this 10,000 acre preserve. Snowshoers also find this a great retreat.
Trails range from beginner to expert.
The yurts are rustic but hospitable and come complete with a woodstove, kitchen utensils and sleeping platforms for two to eight people. You can stay here as long as you like. Groups of more than eight can stay nearby in the Ober Place, an old farm cabin that accommodates up to 15 people.
Homemade hot soups, stews and bread are readily available at the North Woods Arts Center on the preserve. This is a post and beam structure with great views and a constant fire to warm weary skiers.
Borealis Nordic prides itself on its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful scenery. Children and friendly dogs are welcome, making for a fun and natural family adventure.
Trails range from beginner to expert.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,645 U.S./$1,995 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $195/$240 extra for room of their own. Price includes bike, support van and all dinners but two.
Butterfield and Robinson wants you to imagine for a moment what it would be like to bike slowly to a farmers' market and fill your bag with a picnic to enjoy later in the vineyards that surround the town of Beaune.
You can experience those moments during BandR's Beaune and Burgundy tour. Within a day's ride are all the great Burgundy wine-makers, Meursault, Montrachet, Pommard and Gevrey-Chambertin. Each night you will return to Beaune to tour the town and enjoy its art, historic sites and fine restaurants.
Day one begins at Le Cep in Beaune, where you will stay for the next four nights. Le Cep has a 16th-century courtyard, sculpted arcades and vaulted dining room. After a buffet lunch, you bicycle through vineyards for a chat about soil and planting techniques with Pascal Marchand, a local winemaker.
On day two, you ride past rows of vines to Meursault for a tasting, then return to Beaune for an afternoon walking tour with art historian Athlyn Fitz-James. Late in the day, you indulge yourself with sweets at Madame Bouche's patisserie.
On day three, you meet Athlyn again to tour the Hospices de Beaune, a 15th-century pilgrims' hospital whose multicolored roof is often used as a symbol of Burgundy. Afterwards, you take a cycling loop through a land of sunflowers and farming hamlets and stop along the banks of the river Saone.
On day four, you ride through the famous Cote de Nuits, stopping for a private tour of the Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin and for an optional visit to the medieval Clos de Vougeot before returning to a closing banquet in the 14 th-century wine cellar of the Bichot family.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,790 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $255/$315 extra for room of their own. Price includes bikes, support van and all dinners but one.
Butterfield and Robinson lets you explore the Brittany coast of France during this seaside tour.
You will see a wide assortment of seabirds, pink and gray cliffs, half-timbered farmhouses and ancient walled fishing towns.
You begin your tour with two nights at Le Barbu in Pointe de L'Arcouest, an 18th-century Breton manor overlooking the ocean. You and your bikes ferry out to Brehat island for a short warm-up ride and a crepes-tasting session. Next morning, you visit the 13th-century Abbey de Beauport and then on to taste fresh seafood in a tiny fishing village.
On days three and four, you stay at the Domaine du Val in Planguenoual, waking up early to catch a boat, then bike and picnic along the white sand beaches of the Atlantic. After the day's biking is completed, you gather for an oyster-tasting treat.
On days five and six, you stay in the Hotel d'Avaugour, and bike by the 18th-century Chateau de Montchoix to medieval Dinan, one of the most attractive walled cities in France. You cruise the Rance river by boat before returning for dinner.
On your last day, you stay in Hotel La Mere Poulard, a fine inn built into the walls of Mont-St.-Michel. The energetic can ride to St. Malo, then meet the crew for a mussel tasting that afternoon.
25 to 35 miles a day on gently rolling terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,645 U.S./$3,225 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $355/$435 extra for own room. Price includes bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
Burgundy is one of the world's finest wine regions and this Butterfield and Robinson tour allows you to explore it at a relaxed pace. You will bicycle through the cobblestoned streets of tidy towns and enjoy picnics of hearty Burgundian cheese, bread and wine.
The first day is spent at a restored 16th-century guest house in Arnay-le-Duc. There you will venture out for a short warm-up ride through lush meadows. You still stop at a local farm to taste some fine Epoisses cheese. Chef Armand Poinsot, who grows all his own ingredients, gives you a short culinary demonstration and then serves dinner in the winter garden.
On days two and three, spent in Le Montrachet in Puligny-Montrachet, you will visit the 15th-century Chateau la Rochepot and then gather in the kitchen as chef Michel Bezoy demonstrates how to cook a favorite local recipe. The next day, you cycle through Mercurey, Santenay and the rolling vineyards. That evening, you meet Olivier Leflaive, one of the legends in modern Burgundy wine making, at his home for a private tasting and
dinner in his garden.
On days four and five, you stay in Le Cep in the heart of Beaune. Art historian Athlyn Fitz-James leads a walking tour of Beaune, which includes the 16th-century Flemish tapestries at the Cathedral de Notre Dame and the Hospices de Beaune, with its colorful tile roof. The riding in the surrounding vineyards is spectacular.
During days six and seven, you stay in the Chateau de Gilly, a 17th-century chateau. You stop for private tastings of cremant and cassis, ride through some of the world's best-known vineyards and tour the Clos de Vougeot, founded by monks in the 11th century.
At the Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin, Madame Masson gives you a private tour and tasting before the final banquet at Gilly.
25 to 35 miles over gently rolling hills.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,985 U.S./$3,645 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $345/$420 extra for own room. Price includes all meals and wine, bicycles and support van.
Touring the heart of the Burgundy region by bike and barge offers the best of everything, according to Butterfield and Robinson organizers. Each morning, as you awake on the barge that sails gently down the Canal de Bourgogne, you choose between cycling or a day of boating.
The biking varies each day, depending on your location along the canal. With your BandR guide and barge crew, each day you can map out the best cycling routes on highlighted regional maps. You can cycle 20 or 50 miles a day, or maybe just bike for five miles and connect back with the barge.
If you feel like sightseeing, but not biking, you can tour the countryside from BandR's minibus. Your canal route passes some of the most productive farmland in France.
The Canal de Bourgogne was completed in 1833, when the first barge finally floated down from Paris to Dijon. Traffic on the canal waned for many years, and recently it has been used primarily by pleasure barges.
The BandR barge, La Litote, will pass by the cathedral at Vezelay, Roman ruins at Alesia, the walled medieval city of Semur-en-Auxois and the wine-growing center of Chablis. You are free to tour or taste wines as much as you like.
The barge staterooms, though small, are comfortable and decorated in a nautical style. The barge is 125 feet long and has a bar, dining room, lounge, decks and ample reading room.
All meals are served on the barge and each night you will sample fine Burgundian wines.
You can cycle as much as you like.
Courtesy of Oregon Tourism Division.
Deluxe three-day tours are $245 PP; co-op tours are $215 PP. All include meals. Deluxe four-day trips are $300, co-op tours are $275. Five-day tours are $475 for deluxe and $445 for co-op.
Wallowa Alpine Huts, situated in the Eagle Cap wilderness area of the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon, provide rustic accommodations to skiiers interested in backcountry touring in high country. The area receives consistently fine snowfall, making for great skiing far from crowds and chairlifts.
Skiing begins almost immediately, as you make the seven-mile trip to your hut. The huts are heated tents, as in the European style, and offer an alternative to the heavy backpacks usually associated with backcountry touring. The camps are equipped with food, fuel, wood stoves, a kitchen, bunks and bedding, and a sauna to relax weary muscles.
Tours are perfect for intermediate cross-country skiiers and veterans interested in exploring new terrain. Knowledgeable guides oversee your adventure offering instruction in telemarking, a technique helpful when skiing at 8,000 to10,000 feet, and an avalanche clinic covering use of a radio device.
Tours range from extended weekend trips to five days. They come in deluxe and co-op varieties, depending on whether you want to help bring in gear. All tours promise spectacular scenery, delicious cuisine and interesting conversation.
Though children may participate, these tours are for intermediate skiiers and telemarkers.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,790 U.S./$2,185 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $135/$165 more for own room. Price includes bike, meals and support van.
The rich and famous of France still gather in the Loire Valley, filled with dazzling chateaux that are reminders of the kings and queens who played here in the 17th century.
This Butterfield and Robinson tour takes you from the waterfront glamour of Chenonceau to the formidable Langeais estates. You will see the aftermath of jealous rivalries between royal families as you cycle through flowing meadows of long grass and wildflowers.
The Loire and the Cher rivers cut through this landscape, and you will cross them often as you discover great picnic spots. This short, five-day cycling trip is designed to show you the best for those with limited time.
On days one and two, following your arrival in Tours, you stay in Chateau de la Menaudiere in Montrichard. You warm up with a short ride to the Abbaye at Pontlevoy. After that, you enjoy a wine tasting of Guy Daveaux wines before dinner. Next day, you visit the chateau of Chaumont and the giant stone fortress of Amboise, along with a stop at Leonardo Da Vinci's house. Optional rides include the Chateau Cheverny and the enormous chateau at Chambord.
On days three and four, you stay in Domaine de la Tortiniere in Montbazon, a beautiful chateau. You explore the river area and the next day you travel to the elegant chateau at Azay-le-Rideau. Then you ride along the Loire to the Gardens of Love at Villandry. Then you cycle to the Sleeping Beauty chateau of Usse and the magnificent chateau in the town of Chinon.
25 to 35 miles per day over flat terrain.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the trip. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $4,795 (full 29 days), $3,195 (Upper Omo, 15 days), to $3,795 (Lower Omo, 21 days). Trip prices include accommodations, tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field, meals (except for a few in major cities), airport transfers, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trip takes you down the Omo River in Ethiopia, through 300 miles of forested gorges and crisp rapids. You encounter exotic tribal people, including the Bodi, Mursi, Bacha and Nilotic tribes, and see extraordinary wildlife, from antelope to zebra.
The Upper Omo features spectacular canyon scenery, rapids, hot springs and abundant wildlife. The Lower Omo is calmer, with beautiful views of distant peaks.
In 1993, this trip commemorates the 20th anniversary of the first Sobek trip, which traveled down the Omo in 1973. As the story goes, in order to appease the river gods and deliver the group safely from crocodiles, Richard Bangs and friends named the trip the "Sobek Expedition" after the ancient Egyptian crocodile god.
The gods tested them halfway through the trip when a crocodile charged the raft, filling its jaws with the hypalon tube and releasing it only after guides applied several stiff whacks to its head with a bailing bucket.
This trip lasts either 29 days (full trip), 15 days (Upper Omo only) or 21 days (Lower Omo only).
Class III rapids, moderate waves and narrower channels due to rocks and gravel bars.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,555 U.S./$3,115 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $195/$240 more for own room. Price includes bike, support van, lodging and all dinners but one.
The Gorges du Tarn, a deep spectacular valley, was carved by the roaring Tarn River as its waters began the journey from the mountains of Midi to the sea. Butterfield and Robinson's bike tour takes you on a challenging journey of the Tarn Valley and its gorges.
The natural splendor, the 12th-century cathedral in Conques and the rugged landscape transport you through history and time.
After arriving in Monpelier, you stay in the Chateau de la Caze in La Malene, overlooking the Tarn River, for two days. After a warm-up ride to the Pointe Sublime for a great view of the Gorges du Tarn, you next ride along the Gorges to the medieval St. Enemie, and then on to Causse Mejean.
On day three, you stay in Chateau de Creissels in Millau. You start the day with an optional rafting excursion on the Tarn, featuring a safe, whitewater ride to a bucolic riverside picnic spot.
On day four, you stay in a simple inn and explore the market in Millau. You can also climb the fields for a good view of Montjaux.
On day five, you stay in a 16th-century chateau in Rodez. Through the Ochure valleys and emerald meadows you will tour the region and visit the 15th-century cathedral of Notre Dame.
On days six and seven, you stay in a beautiful 17th-century house, the Hotel Ste. Foy, in Conques. Aftering biking some of France's rustic countryside, you visit the soaring Cathedral de Ste.-Foy in Conques, once a pilgrim stop en route to Santiago de Compostela. A local art historian will speak on paintings that are found in the cathedral.
The tour concludes in the town of Brive.
30 to 45 miles per day across rolling terrain. You will encounter some fairly challenging hills.
Courtesy Baja Surf Club.
Courtesy Baja Surf Club.
Courtesy Baja Surf Club.
Rates range from $735 PP/DO for a standard beachfront room to $1,225 PP/DO for a two-bedroom condominium. All meals, unlimited use of windsurfing equipment, daily clinics, special events and use of other sports equipment included.
For those who bring their own equipment, the rate is $525 to $1,015 PP/DO and includes all of the above except windsurfing equipment.
Non-sailor or beginner rate is $448 to $945 PP/DO including all meals, alternate activities and optional beginner instruction program.
Airfare not included.
The Baja Surf Club invites you to spend a week windsurfing on the sunny southeastern cape of Baja from November through February. You stay in air-conditioned beachfront accommodations at the Hotel Palmas de Cortez, the largest resort facility in Los Barriles.
Vacation packages include all meals, the latest equipment pre-rigged at a private launch site and daily instruction.
Also included are sea kayaking, mountain biking, volleyball, hiking, tennis and racquetball activities as well as parties, bonfires and other events. Horseback riding, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and waterskiing can also be arranged on any non-wind days at an additional cost.
Your skill level should be intermediate to advanced, and you should be ready to learn to waterstart. Winds usually are 18 to 30 knots and side-onshore so you are blown back toward shore.
Both personalized instruction and group clinics are offered. Water temperature is 70 to 80 F.
Special discounts are offered for those who bring their own equipment, for non-sailors, beginners and groups of 10+. Children under 10 pay just $12.50 a day for room and meals. Child care can be arranged.
Meals, served family-style, feature Mexican and American dishes with lots of fresh seafood.
Expected skill level is intermediate to advanced, ready to learn to waterstart. However, a beginner instruction program is also offered.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the trip. Check with Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $3,490 plus $350 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This walking safari takes you into the heart of the African bush.
In Kenya's Northern Frontier District, you hike bushlands filled with game. You view desert wildlife in the Samburu Game Reserve and the adjoining Shaba Reserve. Here you have your first encounters with some of Africa's tribal peoples, the Samburu. They are called the "butterflies of the desert," because they wander with their herds of cattle and camels across the northern landscape.
Next you travel to pristine mountain forests where you hike among ancient cycad and podocarpus trees at Kitich Game Reserve. You head south to the Great Rift Valley, where you visit Lakes Baringo and Nakuru and camp at Hell's Gate Gorge. There, you hike among the strange volcanic rock formations and herds of wild game.
In the scenic Loita Hills, a rarely traveled region on the Tanzania border, you experience the highlight of the trip -- a three-day trek with the Masai, Africa's most famous tribe. You travel with them, visit their manyattas and witness their festivals.
In addition to your hiking adventure, you spend three days viewing teeming animal herds and prides of lions from a vehicle in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Easy road travel, moderate hiking.
Courtesy Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.
Courtesy Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.
Courtesy Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.
$9 per day for adults, $2 per child. Inn prices vary.
The cross-country skiing on the trails of the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation is world class. The Foundation is consistently listed among the best in the nation and its network of trails is reportedly one of the largest and most diversified in the Northeast.
With all but two of the town's 14 inns near the trails, you don't have to go far for warmth and hospitality. The innkeepers' and foundation operators' intent was to avoid the condos and kitsch that most ski areas attract and preserve the small town, colonial atmosphere of Jackson.
With the inns skirting your route, you can step out your back door for a ski and stop at one for lunch and another for dinner.
There are nearly 100 miles of trails, about half of them groomed, providing opportunities for all skill levels. You can ski inn to inn, tour the backcountry, or telemark in the White Mountain National Forest's majestic Presidential Range. You can ski through covered bridges or along scenic Wildcat River.
Tips on technique, both classical and skating styles, are offered by foundation operators on Saturdays in January and February.
Though the area is becoming renowned, the trail network is so extensive that it remains uncrowded.
The trail network is extensive and varies from beginner to expert.
Courtesy Mountain Top Inn.
$238 PP, per weekend, without meals, $290 PP, per weekend with meals. Trail fees are included.
Mountain Top Inn offers spectacular cross-country skiing in Vermont's Green Mountains. The inn is consistently on "best of" lists for Nordic skiing in the east. Whether you prefer rapid descents or gliding on gentle slopes, you'll find a trail that is to your liking on Mountain Top's 68 miles of trails.
There are views aplenty from the mountain top, which sits at an elevation of 2,174 feet. Enjoy the pristine beauty of thousands of acres from this elevation, lake and mountain vistas abound, and wildlife is prevalent in the area. Explore old logging trails in the backcountry or ski the impeccably groomed trails near the inn.
Warming huts are provided at a few locations to take the chill off. They even have snow-making capabilities for those years that nature forgets.
Your exploration is self-guided, and accommodations are arranged by the inn.
Trails vary depending upon terrain.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on tour. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,890 plus $360 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trek you climb Mt. Kenya, one of Africa's most beautiful peaks, and travel on the remote bush trails in Samburu, Shaba and Tsavo park reserves. This is a true wilderness adventure for intrepid travelers.
On Mt. Kenya, you make a complete traverse of the mountain, exploring forest, moorland and Alpine zones. You hike in the Samburu and Shaba National Reserves in the north and Tsavo National Park in eastern Kenya, which is a rugged, roadless region rarely visited by tourists.
You track wildlife through the riverside bush and desert habitats that skirt the Tsavo and Galana Rivers. You visit Kenya's special black rhino sanctuary where you see every kind of African wildlife, from lion, leopard and cheetah to hippos and crocodiles. The birdlife along the Tsavo is among the most impressive in the country. This is also great elephant country and Kenya's herds are beginning to make a comeback.
In Tsavo, you walk with national park rangers and get a full interpretation of the natural history as well the controversy over elephant conservation.
Moderate to strenuous hiking at high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Mr. Bill's Boardsailing Adventures.
Courtesy Mr. Bill's Boardsailing Adventures.
Rate is $485 PP/DO ($385 off season from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 and March 15-31), includes breakfasts and unlimited use of windsurfing equipment and other sporting equipment. Non-sailor rate is $210 PP/DO. Airfare is not included.
Mr. Bill's Boardsailing Adventures in Baja caters to sailors looking for a worry-free holiday at affordable prices, complete with a large selection of the latest windsurfing equipment.
Sails are rigged and ready to go so changing equipment as conditions dictate is easy. Experienced guides are there to help you get the most out of your vacation.
These tours are designed for sailors who can handle short boards in winds over 15 knots.
The package includes unlimited use of windsurfing equipment, sea kayaks, mountain bikes, snorkeling equipment, fishing gear and sailboats. Miles of sandy beaches and crystal blue waters are available for exploration.
Accommodations are at the beachfront Mr. Bill's Villa where all rooms have ocean views. A full kitchen is available for your use, and restaurants and grocery stores are within walking distance.
You are sure to find much to enjoy in this remote, alluring land with its warm, hospitable climate and people.
Tours are designed for intermediate to advanced sailors who sail short boards in 15-plus knots of wind.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,785 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycles, support van and all but two dinners.
Butterfield and Robinson is offering a unique tour that explores river castles, 17,000 year-old cave paintings, the famous black truffle and a 20th-century goose farm in a rural area of the Bordeaux region.
You begin this tour in Bordeaux and are transported by bus to the Manoire de Bellerive in Le Buisson. After a short warm-up ride to the 12th-century Abbaye de Cadouin, you dine at Chez Georgette on foie gras, confit de canard and a sturdy red wine.
On days two and three, you stay at Les Glycines in Les Eyzies de Tayac, and bike alongside the Dordogne River. You stop to visit local basketmakers, metalworkers, potters and glassblowers. On day four, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, a local expert on Cro-Magnon art, takes you through the 17,000 year-old cave art at Font de Gaume, the bas-relief work at Cap Blanc and the Museum of Prehistory.
Christine, the only English-speaking guide allowed in the caves, provides her services exclusively to BandR.
On day four, you stay in the Hotel de la Madeleine in Sarlat. After cycling past the castles of Veynac and Castelnaud, strongholds during the Hundred Years' War, you take a moonlight walking tour of Sarlat's medieval architecture.
On day five, you room in the Chateau de la Treyne in Lacave, an amazing 16th-century chateau on 300 acres of parkland overlooking the Dordogne. You bike through forest and farmland in nearby towns. Dinner in the Louis XIII drawing room is exquisite.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Chateau de Roumegouse in Gramat. After a goat cheese tasting visit to an area farm, you stop at the Ecclesiastical City in Rocamadour, the fourth major pilgrimage site in Europe.
On your last day, you see the underground landscape at the Gouffre de Padirac and ride through more pastures before returning to the chateau for a farewell banquet.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling hills.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
$375 and up covers helicopter transportation per day. $220 per night for yurt.
With the mobility afforded by a helicopter, Sun Valley Heli-Skiing offers numerous and varied world-class skiing opportunities in the mountain ranges that surround Bald Mountain in northern Idaho. On any given day, you and your guides can choose from 26 locations scattered over 750 square miles in an area of unspoiled beauty. The pilots respond to weather and snow conditions by flying to where the skiing best suits your ability.
Typically, you're treated to five runs of an average vertical drop of 2,000 feet. Preference is given to snow quality over the length of the vertical drop. Each run is led by a licensed and highly-trained guide who shows you routes that get your adrenalin pumping without compromising safety.
The area offers everything from deep powder to flawless corn. And with the number of peaks in this area, the spectacular scenery never ends.
If your day is for any reason cut short, you are only charged for the number of runs your group skis. If you are interested in skiing for more than one day, Sun Valley offers accommodations in a Mongolian-style yurt.
The degree of difficulty depends upon the ability of the skier. Tours can be customized.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,885 U.S./$3,520 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/395 for own room. Price includes lodging, all dinners but one, bicycle and support van.
The kings and queens of France made this region of fragrant flowers, slow rivers and splendid valleys their home. Butterfield and Robinson takes you on a tour of the Loire Valley and its numerous chateaux, splendid gardens and exquisite architecture during an eight-day journey.
After arriving in Tours, you spend your first two days in Luynes in the Domaine de Beauvois, a magnificent manor house with a 15th-century tower. You take a warm-up ride to the ruins of a Roman aqueduct then return to Beauvois for wine tasting with your host, Jean-Claude Taupin. The next morning you ride across the Loire River for a visit to Langeais, Loui XI's medieval stronghold.
On day three, you stay in Azay-le-Rideau. After a tour of the gardens of Villandry, you ride into the Indre River valley to the 16th-century Azay-le-Rideau chateau, a building described by Balzac as a "diamond cut into facets."
On days four and five, you stay in Chateau des Reaux in Bourgueil, a relaxed, family-run chateau surrounded by a moat. You ride through the Chinon Forest to Usse, the model for the castle in Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." On day five, you ride through medieval Chinon to a cheese tasting at a goat farm.
On days six and seven, you stay in Le Prieure in Chenehuttes-les-Tuffeaux. You take a morning tour of Abbey de Fonevraud, then cycle to Saumur for wine tasting in the caves at Bouvet Ladubay. You spend a leisurely last day by the banks of the Loire, visiting the Abbaye de Ste. Maure and the Chateau de Boumois.
About 25 to 35 miles per day over flat terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,885 U.S./$3,520 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $475/$580 for room of their own. Price includes bicycle, support van and all dinners but one.
The Normandy coast of France is rich with history and this Butterfield and Robinson bicycle tour explores the history, cuisine and natural beauty of the region.
This is the area where the Vikings landed, where William the Conquerer set sail for England and where Winston Churchill set foot in 1944. This is a spectacular region whose light has drawn painters for decades.
You spend your first two days in Le Petit Coq Aux Champs in Pont Audemer. Your stay begins with a warm-up ride to a tasting of Norman cheeses, such as Camembert, Pont L'Eveque and Livarot. The next day, you stop at the 11th-century Abbaye de Bec Hellouin where monks explain the abbey's impressive history.
On days three and four, you stay at the Hostellerie Lechat in Honfleur. The ride from Petit Coq swings through an area known as the Norman Venice for its canals. Then you are off to Honfleur, once the haunt of many Impressionist painters.
On day five you are in Benouville at the Manoir d'Hastings et la Pommeraie. You take a wonderful ride through Deauville, the resort for wealthy Parisians, and on to Benouville, the first town liberated on D-Day.
Days six and seven are spent in La Cheneviere in Port-en-Bessin. You will visit the 700 year-old chateau of Comte and Comtesse D'Ouilliamson, who guide you through their home and their magnificent art collection. Later, you take a private tour of the museum at Pegasus Bridge and ride to beaches where German anti-aircraft batteries still stand.
On day seven, you ride along the coast and stop at the Omaha Beach American War Cemetery, and then cycle to Bayeux for a visit to the world-famous 227-foot by 20-inch tapestry. This tapestry was completed in 1077 and describes the story of William's conquest of England.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling hills.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
$110 + for one-lifted guided tour. Yurt is $220 and up per night.
Sun Valley Heli-Ski offers telemark skiers and ski mountaineers one-lift, guided tours to the mountain tops that surround Bald Mountain in northern Idaho. The helicopter allows skiers a great deal of freedom because they can choose from a wide variety of runs based on weather and snow conditions.
The skiing is world-class in both powder and corn snow granules, and the mountain scenery in this rugged region is spectacular. Your guides will lead you through beautiful and unspoiled territory.
Safety is a priority, and before you board the helicopter you will be briefed on the use of an avalanche beacon, as well as backcountry skiing and helicopter safety procedures.
For those interested, a Mongolian-style yurt is available for the night if you need more time to explore the area.
Terrain is chosen to suit your ski ability.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,675 U.S./$2,045 Canadian, per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $115/$140 for own room. Price includes bicycle, support van, lodging and all but one meal.
Butterfield and Robinson has designed a special, five-day tour that takes you through olive groves, Roman ruins and miles of vineyards in the southern region of France.
You begin your tour at Le Beffroi in Vaison-la-Romaine France, after your bus transfer from Avignon. You take a warm-up ride along the Ouveze River, ending with a guided tour of the Roman ruins of Vaison.
On your second day, you bike through olive groves at the base of Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range, finishing the day with a wine tasting of Gigondas wines.
Days three and four are based in Le Manoire de la Roseraie in Grignan, a beautiful Provencal mansion at the foot of the town's massive chateau.
You ride through vineyards and bright yellow flowers to the town of Souze-la-Rousse, where you visit the University of Wine now situated in its medieval chateau.
On your last day, you ride to the olive mill in Nyons for a private tour and tasting before visiting the town's regional market. The market is renowned for its bountiful products, including fruits, wine, lavender and truffles. On your last night, you return to Grignan for a final banquet.
25 to 35 miles per day over gently rolling hills.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,785 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
The light of Provence drew Vincent Van Gogh to this southern region of France to paint, and it also attracts many bicyclists each year who thrive in its warm beauty.
Butterfield and Robinson has designed an eight-day tour that takes you through olive groves, lavender fields and vineyards. You will pass hilltop towns and valley fortresses which were once the strongholds of Roman armies, who erected the Pont du Gard aqueduct here in the first century B.C.
Your first two days are spent in Le Castellas in Collias. After you arrive, you take a short, warm-up ride to the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct straddling the Gard River.
You enjoy a traditional Provencal buffet dinner. On day two, you ride to medieval Uzes to enjoy the market and a walking tour of the town.
Days three and four are spent in Chateau des Alpilles, a beautiful 16th-century chateau, in St.-Remy-de-Provence. On the narrow roads to St. Remy, you visit the Chateau Barbentane and have lunch in the old fortified town. The next day you travel to medieval Les Baux-de-Provence to view the mammoth Cathedral des Images and then return to St. Remy for a Van Gogh walking tour.
Day five is spent in Althen-des-Paluds. After a morning tour of Roman ruins at Glanum outside St. Remy, you may ride to the Fontaine de Vaucluse where Petrarch penned his famous verses.
Days six and seven are spent in the Hostellerie de Crillon-le-Brave. You view the vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, stopping for a sample along the way. You can bike a few extra miles to see Orange's Roman theater. Your final day is spent in Vaison-la-Romaine, a medieval gem on a hillside. Then you will gather for a cooking demonstration at Crillon-le-Brave before your final banquet.
25 to 35 miles per day with gently rolling terrain.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
Photo by Ellen Allison. Courtesy Sun Valley Heli-Ski Guides.
$320 per day includes heli-lift, instruction and two or three runs.
Sun Valley Heli-Ski offers this tour to downhill skiiers who would like to try heli-skiing but are new to the sport. This is a low-stress introduction to help you get your ski legs away from crowded resorts and chairlifts.
The terrain is easy, chosen by experienced guides with an emphasis on instruction and support. New wider skis make powder skiing easier than you might imagine.
With four substantial mountain ranges, the area is surrounded by unspoiled vistas. There is a wide variety of slopes available and Sun Valley specializes in custom-tailoring your adventure.
The tour consists of two to three runs per day. For those who need more time to explore, there is the option of staying in a Mongolian-style yurt in the heart of big mountain country.
If you are interested in learning to cut powder, this is the tour for you.
This is for any downhill skier interested in a low stress, supportive course.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on trip. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,490 plus $380 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This is a camping safari that puts you in the middle of it all. You experience the grandeur and thrill of Africa's grasslands, including herds of antelope, a charging lioness, night skies dripping with stars, gourmet meals beside the campfire and the lullaby of an African night.
You will be immersed in African experiences. You view wildlife in the Aberdare, Samburu and Masai Mara parks. While taking easy foot safaris in the Shaba Reserve in Kenya's northern desert country, you'll get a new perspective on the wild. See the incredible Hell's Gate Gorge, an national park in the Great Rift Valley undiscovered by tourists.
Easy road travel and hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the trip and the child. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,990 plus $660 park fees and $290 charter air transportation. Trip price includes accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Travel to the wildlife paradise of East Africa and experience Africa at a leisurely pace. During this tour, you see a remarkable variety of birds and mammals in the diverse landscapes of the region.
You travel to both Kenya and Tanzania in this all-encompassing safari. In Kenya, you admire the mountain forests of Aberdare National Park, the northern desert at Samburu and the Rift Valley's Lake Naivasha. You camp on the wild savannas of the Masai Mara, Kenya's famous park.
In Tanzania, you travel to Lake Manyara National Park where the lions climb into the trees. There you'll have a chance to traverse the famous Serengeti plains. You also visit the Ngoronoro Crater and Tarangire.
This tour is touted by Mountain Travel-Sobek as its most comprehensive East African wildlife safari. You spend a few nights in traditional, scenic game lodges, but you also have a chance to experience special private campsites, where you are pampered by the talented staff. On safari you travel in rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Moderate road travel, camping/lodges.
Courtesy Jensen's PICK and SHOVEL Ranch.
Courtesy Jensen's PICK and SHOVEL Ranch.
$75 per person per day, includes equipment. $135 per couple per day and $25 per child 12 or older (with parent).
Jensen's Pick and Shovel Ranch offers day-long and weekend prospecting trips in central California's "Gold Country." The tour base is in Angels Camp, situated southeast of Sacramento, from where you venture into the high country where the terrain is beautiful and you are surrounded by history. Tour operators promise gold on every trip.
Guides with years of experience in the recovery of gold lead you into their mining claims. Having lived as prospectors most of their lives, they have many helpful tips as well as colorful stories to tell.
They teach you to understand where gold is located and why it is found there. You also learn prospecting techniques such as how to pan, sluice, use crevicing tools and, if you acquire a permit, to dredge. All equipment is provided.
Day trips last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and you are welcome to camp overnight on the ranch free of charge, giving you the chance to get a good rest after a day of adventure and fun.
For the more adventurous, there are claims in remote areas which are only accessible by helicopter or river rafting. Two- or three-day trips include camping on these claims.
As for the gold you find, anything under an ounce is yours to keep. Everything heavier than that is split between you and your guides.
Courtesy Washington State Tourism Division.
Deluxe tour is $899 PP/DO including car rental, unlimited use of windsurfing equipment, breakfasts, lunches, guide service, mountain bikes and four special activities.
Economy Tour I is $575 PP/DO and includes unlimited use of windsurfing equipment and guide service.
Economy Tour II is $499 and includes car rental and use of one board and two sails for a week.
Experienced, friendly guides at Mr. Bill's Boardsailing Adventures deliver you to the best sailing sites in the Gorge and make sure you are set up on just the right equipment. Known for its consistent winds, the Gorge has a diversity of sailing conditions - protected coves with flat water, or big winds and big swells.
Mr. Bill's tours are designed for those who sail short boards in 15-plus knots of wind.
Three types of tours are available May through September, from economy to deluxe, allowing you to choose the accommodations and activities that suit your needs and budget. You stay in scenic Hood River, Oregon, where you're close to shops, restaurants and top sailing spots.
The deluxe tour gives you a choice of staying at the beautifully restored Hood River Hotel, a bed and breakfast, or a full condominium. Included are breakfast and lunch, car rental, unlimited use of windsurfing equipment, guide service, mountain bikes and choice of four special activities such as a river boat dinner cruise, tour on the Hood River Railroad, horseback riding at Fir Mountain Ranch and rafting on the White Salmon River.
The economy tours give you a choice of condominium (studio with kitchen) or bed and breakfast. You can choose a tour with unlimited use of windsurfing equipment and seven-day guide service, or a do-it-yourself economy tour with car rental and use of one board and two sails.
Tours are designed for intermediate to advanced sailors who sail short boards in 15-plus knots of wind.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the trip and the child. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,590 plus $410 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trek, you walk in the steps of the Masai. You trek through the heart of Masai country from Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Natron and through Tanzania's "Avenue of the Volcanoes." Known as the Crater Highlands, the landscape is jagged with volcanoes rising up between the Great Rift Valley and the Serengeti Plains.
These verdant mountains provide pasture for the cattle of the Masai. Wildlife thrives on the misty grasslands and mountain forests of this region. Your four-day trek crosses the Empakai volcano, a sister to the famous Ngorongoro crater, remote and unfrequented by tourists. From this ethereal landscape, you can see the beautiful expanse of the Great Rift Valley.
While trekking, you have a rare opportunity to visit the Masai people and witness their traditions firsthand. You walk through their homeland, visit their manyattas and encounter ochre-painted tribesmen tending their herds.
The trek begins with a warm-up hike in the crater of Mt. Meru in Arusha National Park. You track lions in the Soit Orgoss Kopje wilderness area, which borders Serengeti National Park, and visit either the Serengeti or Tanagire National Parks depending on game-viewing conditions.
Moderate walking, camping/lodges.
Courtesy AAT King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
Courtesy AAT King's / Australia Pacific Tours.
$1,962 U.S./$2,102 Canadian, per person, pays for all meals, sightseeing, admission costs, and all camping gear except sleeping bags. Does not include airfare.
AAT King's 15-day tour of Australia's Northern Territory offers a complete adventure package, taking you along coastline, past mountains and gorges, over rivers, through forest and into the desert of six national parks.
You travel by fully-equipped safari vehicle and camp in the bush of the famed Outback. King's provides all camping gear, except sleepings bags, which is stored overhead on the vehicle's roof rack. A cook accompanies the tour, providing excellent meals and wine in the evening.
The tour is led by a professional safari guide who knows the area's people, wildlife and geography.
The journey begins in the cosmopolitan city of Darwin on Australia's north coast. From Darwin, you venture into Kakadu National Park, a wildlife haven. A highlight of the area is the gallery of Aboriginal paintings at Obirir Rock. Camp is set up for the evening at East Alligator River.
The next destination is the spectacular Arnhemland Escarpment country, so rugged and remote that land access is available only from June to November. Travel is by small four-wheel-drive vehicles over harsh terrain leading to the serenity of Jim Jim and Twin Falls.
Your first boat cruise is a few miles down the road at Katherine Gorge, a beautiful waterway tumbling over high gorges. You spend the night at Mataranka Thermal Springs, where the swimming is good.
From the springs, you head south towards Australia's Red Centre where you stay in the goldmining community of Tennant Creek.
You will run through most of your film passing through "Gorge Country" in the Western McDonnell Ranges where you visit Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Gorge, Serpentine Gorge and Ormistron Gorge.
The trip through Palm Valley and into Kings Canyon brings you back into very remote regions. From the base camp at Yulara, you explore the Lost City and the Garden of Eden before heading to Ayers Rock, significant in the mythology of the Aborigine, and the massive rocky domes of the Olgas.
The next day, you follow the lonely tracks to the distinctive sandstone landmark of Chambers Pillar. Sunrise at this unique formation is unforgettable.
Your last day in the bush will be spent at Ross River on the fringe of the Simpson Desert before heading to Alice Springs, your final destination.
The vehicle does most of the work.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends upon the age and experience of your child.
For the Marangu Route, costs range from $2,990 plus $300 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Mt. Kilimanjaro rises from the arid grasslands, white with its eternal crown of snow. Mountain Travel-Sobek offers two climb routes to Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak. Both tours last 16 days, with 7 days of strenuous hiking. Both start with a warm-up hike on Mt. Meru, a volcanic crater.
One trek follows the popular Marangu route along which you stay in mountain huts. Your tour begins with a three-day safari to Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater to observe the full range of African wildlife.
Along this route, Mountain Travel-Sobek claims an unparalleled success rate in helping climbers reach Kilimanjaro's peak. They provide a trip leader, not just local guides, and allow extra days for hiking and acclimitization. You'll also learn the natural history and culture of the great mountain.
The other trek follows the more remote and scenic Machame Route which skirts the glaciers on the mountain's southern side. It is the more challenging route and provides constant views of Kili's glaciers.
You begin the trek in a rainforest at 6,400 feet and climb through magnificent Alpine scenery to the "roof of Africa" which the native Chagga tribesmen call "Home of God." You make a total altitude gain of 13,000 feet on the way to Uhuru Peak, whose summit is 19,340 feet! Your descent follows the traditional Marangu route. At night you camp in the wilds instead of staying in huts. Although you'll need stamina and an intrepid spirit for this trip, your reward is a chance to stand on the roof of Africa.
Both routes include 7 days of strenuous hiking and high elevations, although the Machame Route is the more difficult of the two.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,890 U.S./$3,525 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 for own room. Price incluces bicycle, support van and all dinners but one.
Experienced bicyclers who want a challenging tour of central France will like this Butterfield and Robinson tour that begins in Beaune and finishes in Avignon.
The longer, daily biking sessions on this trip are tougher, but they deliver a keen sense of accomplishment. This year's Tour de France route takes you from the great wines and food of Burgundy to the sunny brilliance of Provence. The roads are quiet and uncongested. This is a serious weekend cyclist's dream vacation.
You spend your first two days in Le Cep hotel in Beaune, built in the 16th century. You'll go for a warm-up ride through Burgundy's vineyards and enjoy a traditional feast in a 14th-century wine cellar. You meet art historian Athlyn Fitz-James for a tour of town, including the 15th-century Hospices de Beaune.
On day three, you stay in Ige in Chateau d'Ige and ride through miles of vineyards in the Meursault and Montrachet regions, finishing at the 11th-century Abbaye de St. Philibert in Tournus.
On day four, you stay in the Hostellerie de Beau Rivage in Condrieu and bicycle around Lyon on the way to the Rhone River and vineyards of Condrieu. On day six, you stay in Soyons as you enter Provence, following the river through the famous vineyards of Hermitage and the northern Cote du Rhone.
On days seven and eight, you stay in Crillon Le Brave, and stop in Orange for a tour of the Roman amphitheater. The final day, you ride the rolling hills at the base of Mt. Ventoux.
45 to 75 miles per day, with flat and rolling terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,475 U.S./$2,995 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Price includes bicycles, support van and all dinners but two.
Beer abounds, the cycling is great and the hearty Bavarian food fills you as you travel through the Bavarian Alps on this Butterfield and Robinson tour.
You spend your first two days in Herrsching am Ammersee at the Hotel Puishof, a 17th-century inn. After you arrive from Munich, you take a short, flat ride around the Ammersee lake. The next day, you ride through tidy pastures to the monastery at Andechs, where you walk with one of the monks as your guide. You also sample their cheese and schnapps.
Day three finds you in the Alpenhof Murnau mountain inn in Murnau. After passing a lake, you stop for a big farm lunch with local friends. The biking, through rolling farmland, is "incredible," say tour guides.
Days four and five are spent in Hotel Muller in Hohenschwangau. Cycling along the King's Way, you stop at two of Mad King Ludwig's castles, Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Later, you relax at a traditional Bavarian dance after dinner. After touring fairy-tale Neuschwanstein on day five, you explore the charming town of Fussen.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Alois Lang in Oberammergau. A short ride through a portion of Austria lands you at Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play that is performed every 10 years as an ongoing thanks for the town's being spared from the Plague.
Your final day is spent in Linderhof, the Mad King's most extravagant undertaking.
25 to 35 miles per day, with gently rolling hills.
Courtesy The Vessels of Windjammer Wharf.
Courtesy The Vessels of Windjammer Wharf.
$610 PP week of June 7, $640 weeks of June 14 and 21 and month of September, $675 June 28 through end of August. Price includes all room and board costs from point of departure.
Shorter cruises are available in late May and early October.
Captains Ken and Ellen Barnes welcome you aboard their classic schooner Stephen Taber for a week's excursion away from the bustle of modern life.
Return to an earlier century as you cruise the Maine coast in the oldest documented sailing vessel in continuous service in the United States. Launched in 1871, the Stephen Taber was present for the original dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor in 1886.
You board the vessel after 4 p.m. Sunday at Windjammer Wharf in the busy coastal town of Rockland. Departure is Monday morning after a breakfast of blueberry pancakes and Maine maple syrup.
In the tradition of Maine coasting schooners, the Taber determines her course according to the winds and tide. While The Vessels of Windjammer Wharf's vessel has no set itinerary, you will stop at many lovely fishing villages and island coves.
You'll see lobstermen hauling and setting traps, seals sunning themselves on rocks and gulls coasting in the lee of the sails. Every evening is spent in a small harbor which you will have time to explore.
Life on board the 22-passenger Taber is relaxed and unstructured. For those who want to help sail, crew members are eager to teach you about sail handling, steering a course and navigating.
Sumptuous meals are prepared on a vintage woodstove. The highlight of each trip is the all-you-can-eat lobster bake cooked over a driftwood fire on a secluded island.
You may choose whether or not to participate in sailing the vessel. Ship is not wheelchair accessible.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,765 U.S./$3,375 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $225/$275 for own room. Price includes bicycle, support van, lodging and all dinners but two.
Cycle through the land of myth, magic and storytellers in this Butterfield and Robinson tour of southern Ireland. Feast on fresh fish and oysters, ride along a spectacular coastline and enjoy a perfectly-drawn pint of Guinness.
Following your arrival in Galway, you spend your first two days in Ballinalacken Castle, a simple, but comfortable castle with large peat fires and an attached pub. You venture out for a warm-up ride along a pretty loop to the Cliffs of Moher. The next day, you take a seaside ride through coastal towns and along the Burren past important prehistoric monuments.
On days three and four, you stay in the Brennans Yard Hotel, also in Galway, and take a short ride to the ferry to the Aran Islands, where you visit Dun Aenghus, one of the great Iron Age cliff forts. You can even go shark fishing if you like.
The following day you have a private tour of old Galway, then spend the afternoon trying some deep-sea angling, riding in the countryside or relaxing in town. After dinner, you can explore some of Galway's famous "singing pubs."
On days five, six and seven, you stay in Ballynahinch Castle at the foot of the Connemara Mountains. Along the coast, you explore the mystical boglands near Screebe to Connemara. The next day, you loop down to Poundstone Bay to visit Malachy Kearns, an artisan who handcrafts the Irish drum known as the Bodhran. Your last day can be spent hunting, fishing or riding north into James Joyce country.
30 to 45 miles per day, there may be some challenging hills.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,890 U.S./$3,525 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 more for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
This challenging tour of the Tuscany and Umbria region of Italy covers 45 to 75 miles per day over tough and hilly terrain. This Butterfield and Robinson tour is for experienced cyclists who want to see the Renaissance town of Tuscany and explore the rustic countryside of Umbria.
After arriving in Florence, you are transferred to the 12th-century Castello di Spaltenna castle in the vineyards of the Chianti region. You warm up with a ride to the ancient abbey at Coltibuono, founded the 10th century, and then return to your hotel in Gaiole for two nights.
On day three, you travel to the Hotel Jolly in Siena and enjoy a long ride through the vineyards of Chianti Classico, stopping for tastings along the way. You also tour Siena with a private guide and ride to view the Castello di Briolio.
On day four you stay in the Villa San Michele in Cortona and you continue your exploration of vineyards and sampling of excellent Vino Nobile.
On day five, you stay in the 16th-century Le Tre Vaselle in Torgiano. You cycle through hill towns to medieval Assisi, home of the 13th-century Basilica of San Francesco, and you may visit the wine museum in Torgiano.
On days six and seven, you stay at the art deco Hotel Gattapone in Spoleto. Your riding routes include the village of Deruta, famous for its ceramics, and the beautiful town of Trevi. The next day, you tour medieval Spoleto, bike to Montelucco and feast at Sabatini's.
45 to 75 miles per day over hilly terrain.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,990 plus $150 park fees.Trip prices include all accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This river expedition takes you to Tanzania's legendary Selous Game Reserve, a vast, undisturbed wilderness that is Africa's largest wildlife haven. You float down the Rufiji River, which meanders through the center of the reserve.
For six days, you glide quietly past herds of hippos and crocodiles basking on sand banks. You see elephant, buffalo and antelope as they come to the river to drink among the doun and borassus palms that line the banks.
You camp in hippo-grazed grassy banks, shaded by acacia and baobab trees and you have plenty of time to explore the hinterlands on foot safaris.
Although everyone paddles, this is not a trip for whitewater enthusiasts. There is a stretch of fast water through the 300-foot cliff of Stiegler's Gorge, but this is a quiet river safari into worlds inaccessible by motor vehicle. This is the Africa Livingstone saw -- wild, raw, beautiful and free from the imprint of the modern world.
Float trip includes one day Class III rapids (moderate waves and narrow channels) and easy to moderate walking, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,650. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
The Zambezi River is a thrilling whitewater adventure. It thunders and plummets through the narrow black basalt gorges that separate Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is a mighty corridor of rushing, boiling whitewater.
You start below Victoria Falls and travel to remote stretches downriver. Daily, you encounter challenging rapids and surging froths of whitewater, as well as smooth stretches of river.
When you pull over onto sandy shores to camp, you get to relax, stretch, swim and hike. At calm stretches between the chutes, you can observe wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles and antelope, and examine the stone-age carvings often found on canyon walls.
The Zambezi's classic rapids include exciting cauldrons of whitewater, with names like "Ghostrider," "Morning Shower" and "Moemba Falls." For a portion of the trip, you float through a part of the Zambezi canyon known as Bakota gorge, where beautiful forested ravines contrast with waterfalls, where tributaries feed the river.
This trip combines exciting whitewater adventure with remote African wilderness exploration.
Class IV and V rapids (difficult rapids, with narrow channels obstructed by rocks and narrow drops, with the possibility of overturned boats).
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,850. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
In the undisturbed wilderness of Zimbabwe, you explore game-filled parks on foot, with the added protection of expert armed guides. You learn to follow spoor and gain the skills needed to track game in the bush.
Zimbabwe is known for its wildlife management programs and its controversial use of the wilderness for economic benefit. You explore these issues with your safari guides.
After visiting Victoria Falls, the mile-wide falls that cascade into the Zambezi River, you travel to Hwange National Park, which is home to Africa's greatest variety of animals. Here, you see at least three kinds of antelope -- the sable, roan and kudu -- as well as the black and white rhino.
You travel to the untouched wilderness of Chizarira where you follow buffalo, elephant and lion in the forests of the Zambezi Escarpment.
You continue your foot safari on the shores of Lake Kariba at Matusadona National Park, the primary sanctuary of the rare black rhino.
You also have a chance to paddle your canoe down the Zambezi River, watching for hippo and giant crocodiles en route to the Lower Zambezi and Mana Pools National Park. Daily foot safaris give you exciting, close-up views of wildlife.
Easy to moderate road travel and hiking, camping.
Courtesy Bill and Nowdla Keefe's Bimini Undersea Adventures.
Price varies dramatically, depending on package. Packages include double occupancy rooms and airfare from Miami. Choose from 3-14 days. Three-day price ranges from $263-$371, four-day from $338-498, five-day from $414-$627 and six-day from $494-$760. Eight-day from $720-$1,093, 10-day from $774-$1,254, 13-day from $973-$1,614 and 14-day from $1,040-$1,734. Diving gear rental is extra.
Bill and Nowdla Keefe's Bimini Undersea Adventures offers a unique adventure on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. Unlike other tours, it is entirely self-guided, even the hotel choice is yours. Undersea Adventures oversees your accommodations, places a variety of land and watersport equipment at your disposal, provides all the diving gear you need and transportation to the island's many dive spots.
Lodging varies from basic dormitory-style accommodations to the luxurious Bimini Big Game Club, which has pools, restaurants, tennis courts and a marina.
Divers generally do a two-tank dive in the morning and a one-tank dive in the afternoon, though the schedule is flexible to suit arriving and departing divers. Nondivers are welcome on the boat rides and may go snorkeling during dive periods.
Night dives are scheduled for Wednesdays and Saturdays, and offer an opportunity to view the nocturnal lives of undersea creatures. Enjoy the ride back as you sip on an island libation.
The Keefe's can also provide instruction for those wishing to learn to dive.
Most of the activities are not very difficult, though you must be certified or take instruction to dive.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,785 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $275/$335 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
Bicycling along this pancake flat region of Italy is an ideal way to explore this land of ancient castles, Renaissance artwork and famous cheeses and food. This Butterfield and Robinson tour of uncrowded, rural Italy is ideal for the beginner bicyclist.
On day one, you stay in Due Foscari, a mock Gothic inn, in the town of Busseto. After a bus transfer from Bologna, you take a warm-up ride to an 11th-century abbey, then journey on to the Verdiana Museum, which honors Italian composer Verdi.
On days two and three, you stay in Grand Hotel et de Milan in Salsomaggiore Terme. Verdi is everywhere here. After a morning stop at the Villa Verdi, you bike to Roncole Verdi, his birthplace. You will gather for a chat about the spa life which you sample for two days. The next morning, you ride for a private tour of the Castle Arquato, built in 566.
Day four is spent in Locanda del Lupo, an 18th-century palace with fireplaces and canopied beds, in the town of Soragna. You take a flat country ride past the castles of Noceto and Fontanellato, then to the town's castle with Prince Meli Lupi, whose ancestors once owned the entire town.
Days five and six are spent in Parma in the Park Hotel Stendhal. You get up with the farmers and visit a Parmesan cheese-making factory before breakfast. Then, you have plenty of time for a ride to Parma, where you walk the town with a local guide. The next day, you tour the wooden Farnese theater and then cycle to a tasting of Lamoretti wine.
On day seven, you stay in the superb Albergo delle Notaire hotel in Reggio nell'Emilia. You ride through the rural countryside to Montecchio Rugolo for a private castle tour and then take a walking tour through the town of Reggio.
25 to 35 miles a day, or less, over flat terrain.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,825 U.S./$3,445 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $350/$425 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all but two dinners.
This Butterfield and Robinson tour of Tuscany explores the rustic elegance, glowing colors and challenging hills of north central Italy.
You begin the tour in Florence, with a private bus ride to Castello de Spaltenna, an ancient 14th-century monastery in Gaiole. You take a warm-up ride through the Chianti region, followed by a Tuscan dinner. The second day, you bike the rolling roads to Poggio Palo and lunch with old BandR friends. You continue to a guided visit at the famous hilltop Castello di Brolio.
Days three and four are spent in Hotel L'Antico Puzzo in San Gimignano. As you ride in this region, you will see the town's giant towers in the distance. You will stop for a wine tasting and tour of San Gimignano. On day four, the energetic can ride up to Volterra, with its Roman amphitheater and Etruscan Museum. The rest can ride through the vineyards to ancient Cestaldo and Ulignano.
Days five and six are spent at the Hotel Jolly in Siena. You cycle through Monteriggioni, a magical medieval town where Dante is said to have descended into hell. In Siena, you will taste some of the region's best wines at Le Bollecine. You wake up to a private tour of Siena, then gather to listen to art historian Gordon Moran discuss local frescos.
On day seven, you travel to Locanda dell'Amorosa in Sinalunga. You will ride by hilltop farmhouses and cypress-lined paths, stopping at Monte Oliveto Maggiore Monastery. That night, you will dine at one of the finest restaurants in Italy.
30 to 45 miles per day with some challenging hills.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,490. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This foot safari traverses the Luangwa Valley where trekking in game country began. The bending lakes and lagoons formed by the ebb and flow of the Luangwa River are ideal for observing wildlife in southern Africa.
You hike from one bush camp to another, spending your days in the wilderness far from any sign of vehicles or civilization.
On the next part of your journey, you travel by canoe along the Zambezi River. You glide past hippos and crocodiles, witnessing the river's power and its importance to local people. They rely on the river for subsistence fishing and for water, which they tote to their thatched, mud homes and gardens. You see them living as they have for many years.
Your journey ends with a visit to Victoria Falls where you spend one day whitewater rafting on the great Zambezi River, possibly the most thrilling rafting river in the world.
Moderate hiking and canoeing at low elevation, camping/lodges.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,885 U.S./$3,520 Canadian, per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $350/$425 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
This challenging tour of the rustic and medieval Umbria region explores an area that has remained almost unchanged since the early 1900s.
On day one of this Butterfield and Robinson tour, you travel to Torgiano and stay in Le Tre Vaselle, a 16th-century home. You take a warm-up ride through the countryside and enjoy a pre-dinner tour and tasting at the Lungarotti wine museum. On day two, you bike on the flatlands to Assisi for a visit to the astonishing monastery with local expert Eduardo D'Amico.
On days three and four, you stay in the Hotel Gattapone in Spoleto. You bicycle past the vineyard-filled hilltop of Montefalco and the white-washed village of Trevi, nestled in an olive grove.
The following day, you tour Spoleto, ride out to Montelucco and sample four types of cheeses before you dine at Sabatini's.
On day five in Todi, you stay in the Hotel Bramante, and bicycle over fields and through olive groves to a lunch stop in Acquasparta, then pass three walls -- the Etruscan, Roman and medieval -- before entering the town of Todi.
Days six and seven are spent at the Hotel la Badia hilltop abbey in Orvieto. You will take a spectacular ride through this area, finishing with a tour of the town. On your last day, you ride the quiet backroads to Civita, perched on an outcrop of tuffa rock. You will enjoy stunning views of Lake Bolsena and Orvieto.
30 to 45 miles per day with some challenging hills.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the child and the trip. Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,540. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
"From the towering sand dunes of the Namib Desert to the eerie desolation of the Skeleton Coast and the teeming savannas of Etosha National Park . . . the natural attractions of Namibia never cease to amaze," says Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Join this wilderness safari and discover one of the Africa's strangest and least known countries, boasting some of the most fascinating terrain and varied wildlife reserves, including the Etosha National Park.
Moderate road travel, optional moderate hiking at low elevations, camping/lodges.
Photo by Rafel Al Ma'ary. Courtesy Camel Dive Club.
Photo by Rafel Al Ma'ary. Courtesy Camel Dive Club.
Courtesy Camel Dive Club.
Price varies depending upon duration of stay. Call for price information.
Camel Dive Club's diving safaris take you to distant Red Sea locations that cannot be reached in a single day's sail. You live aboard Camel Dive Club's vessel, the Tamara I, for several days while you search out crystal-clear waters and diving adventure.
The tours are designed for small groups of four to six divers and allow for much flexibility in your itinerary. Your tour can be scheduled to last a week or longer.
Tamara I is a spacious, comfortable motor yacht built entirely of wood. She comes equipped with a crew whose expertise includes diving and creating an enjoyable atmosphere during each cruise. There are six air-conditioned double cabins and three bathrooms aboard.
The diving is spectacular in the Red Sea, the only enclosed coral sea in the world. In its clear water, you will find drop offs of up to 990 feet, colors found nowhere else in the world, sharks, manta rays, Napoleon wrasse, turtles and hundreds of species of tropical fish.
Divers should be certified and in good physical shape.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,885 U.S./$3,520 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 more for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
The roads of the province of Veneto are small, paved and remarkably free of tourist traffic. Butterfield and Robinson explores this tranquil region's valleys, vineyards and castles during this eight-day tour.
The tour begins in Villa Corner, a huge Palladian-style villa with a statue-lined pool in the town of Cavasagra. After you arrive via Verona, you take a warm-up ride on tiny backroads to Castelminio, Levada and other quiet villages.
Days two and three are spent at the Hotel Ragno d'Oro in Conegliano. You bike to the 16th-century Villa Emo for a private tour and then explore the colorful medieval Conegliano. On day three, you visit Fregona's Renaissance villa, then continue to 18th-century Villa Lippomano.
Days four and five are spent in the Hotel Abbazia in Follina. Your private guide leads you on a walking tour of Conegliano, and then you coast downhill through tiny medieval towns. The next day you taste Prosecco and gather for a banquet that evening in the castle of Cisan di Valmarino, operated by Salasian monks.
On days six and seven, you stay in the renowned Villa Cipriani in Asolo. You view the fabulous frescoes and grounds of Villa Maser, then take an architectural walking tour of medieval Asolo.
Your last day of biking takes you to the Palladian bridge in Bassano before a special wine tasting, followed by your final dinner.
25 to 35 miles per day, including some rolling terrain.
Courtesy The Vessels of Windjammer Wharf.
Courtesy The Vessels of Windjammer Wharf.
There is no minimum age if a single party charters the full ship.
$600 PP/DO for first cruise of the year, $900 in June, $965 in July and August. Prices include all meals.
$1,650 PP/DO for special golf cruises in September.
Three-day cruises available throughout the summer and during fall foliage season in October.
Carrying just 12 passengers on week-long cruises, the classic wooden vessel Pauline explores coastal harbors and islands from Portland to Bar Harbor, Maine.
After four decades plying Maine's waters as a hardworking sardine carrier, the Pauline was completely refitted into a sleek, comfortable passenger vessel. Her elegant atmosphere captures a style reminiscent of the golden age of yachting, yet life on board is casual and relaxed.
The captain keeps a flexible itinerary designed to give you a one-of-a-kind experience, depending on your individual interests. You may have an opportunity to see some special events first-hand, such as Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor.
Bring your binoculars -- you may see dolphins, seals, cormorants, terns, puffins and perhaps even a whale.
Cruising for no more than half-day gives you plenty of time to go ashore where you can take walks along the beach, tour historic villages, visit museums and browse through shops crammed with antiques and crafts.
Gourmet fare includes candlelit dinners featuring fresh local seafood, afternoon tea with irresistible scones and pastries served on deck and the weekly lobsterbake ashore.
The Pauline also schedules cruises focusing on hobbies, such as golf, and can be chartered for special trips.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,700 plus $160 park fees. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
You find the complete panoply of African wildlife from elephants and antelope to lions and zebras in the wilderness regions of Botswana. This tour takes you on a classic wildlife excursion through the lush wetlands in the Okavango Delta to the forests of the Moremi Game Reserve.
You visit Chobe National Park with its huge herds of elephants (some of the continent's largest) and camp at a private site adjoining the Moremi Reserve. With the area to yourself, you walk in beautiful golden forests and search for predators with an armed guide. You take exciting night drives to look for nocturnal animals.
Then you move to the heart of the Okavango Delta, where you explore its waterways in "makoros" (small dugout canoes) and camp on secluded islands.
Moderate road travel, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $3,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On the southern tip of the African continent, you can experience the legendary beauty of this landscape. It combines tropical bushlands, majestic mountain ranges and inspiring seascapes.
You travel from the shimmering golden forests of Kruger Park's lowveld wildlife refuge to the glittering beaches around Cape Town, South Africa.
On this adventure you see the wilderness vistas from the towering escarpments of the Drakensberg mountains in Swaziland and explore Natal's undeveloped Indian Ocean coast.
Your exploration of this African country combines travel into the African wilds with sophisticated investigations into the history and current lifestyles of its many cultures, including traditional Zulu tribes in the hinterland of Natal.
On the Cape you stay in quaint 17th-century farmhouses and sample the wines of South Africa's famous wine region. You also climb Table Mountain and explore Cape Town, called "the tavern of the seas."
Moderate road travel and walking, camping, lodging.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends both child and tour. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,990, with an optional 8-day Sinai extension for an additional $1,190. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this tour, you delve into the mysteries of the ancient world with an expert Egyptologist and visit the monuments of the pharoahs.
You visit the famous sites: the pyramids at Giza, the painted tombs of Luxor's Valley of the Kings, the vast temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak and the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo on the banks of the Nile.
You also take an overland journey through the Nile Valley to view contemporary Egyptian life. You visit the pyramids of the lush Fayum Oasis, the Middle Kingdom rock tombs at Beni Hassan and Tel el-Armana, the capital of the pharoah Akhenaten and his queen Nefertiti.
You travel by "felucca" (a native sailing vessel) down the Nile, from one Nubian village to the next, viewing the splendors of the Temple of Isis and the colossal statues of mighty Ramesses II at Abu Simbel. You visit them at dawn, when the light is exquisite and there are few tourists.
There is an optional Sinai desert hiking extension to this tour that lasts eight days. Contact Mountain Travel Sobek for details.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,725 U.S./$3,325 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $355/$435 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all but one dinner.
At Easter, every village in Spain has a festival, every church parades its saint and almost every citizen celebrates in some way. This Butterfield and Robinson tour explores southern Spain during this sometimes raucous time in April.
Days one and two are spent in Hotel Plateria in Ecija. You take a warm-up ride along eucalyptus-lined roads following the Rio Genil. You will take a morning tour of Roman ruins and see the Easter procession in Ecija. In the afternoon, you cycle through rolling olive groves and wheat fields.
On Days three and four, you stay at the Hospederia de San Francisco in Palma del Rio. You ride through seemingly endless cotton fields and orange orchards towards the Sierra Morena. You visit the local Flamenco club after dinner. The next day, you see a riding demonstration at the Cortija "Morena" horse ranch. Back at the hotel, chef Inaki Martinez Gonzalez shows you his recipe for gazpacho.
On days five and six, you stay in a hotel with a courtyard fountain in Carmona. You ride through farmland along the Gualalquivis River to the fortified hilltop town of Carmona. The next day, you travel down to the white-washed villages of Marchena and El Arahal. Back in Carmona, you take a tour of the Roman Necropolis.
On your last day, you stay in the Hotel Oromana in Alcal de Guadaira. Leaving the processions behind, you ride through olive groves before a final fiesta.
25 to 35 miles per day, with some gentle hills.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek about a trip's suitability for your child.
From $2,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
The Arabs called the Sahara an "ocean without water." This mammoth desert hosts a myriad of landscapes. There are rock-ribbed plateaus, sandstone canyons, huge cathedrals of volcanic rock and beach-like golden dunes filled with oleander, tamarisk, acacia-thorn trees, date palm and wildflowers.
You explore this unique environment by camel caravan. Your four-day "meharee" or camel safari, takes you through the famous Hoggar Mountains, a volcanic range of black basalt peaks. Wandering in caravan across the desert, either walking or riding the camels, you stop often to view granite domes, basalt gorges, volcanic spires and erosion-carved "oueds" or river beds. You are accompanied by Touareg guides, the legendary blue-robed "nobles of the desert."
Your odyssey continues on a four-wheel-drive vehicle through the Hoggar and south to the Tassili Range, a rocky plateau with fantastic rock sculptures and cave paintings.
Combine the grand solitude of the Sahara with nights under a brilliant, starry sky for the adventure of a lifetime.
Depends on the trip and the abilities of your child. Consult with Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
A classic Mountain Travel-Sobek trek, this is "the most comprehensive exploration of the Khumbu (the Everest region) available," say tour organizers. This rugged adventure takes you on an exploration of Sherpa villages at the foot of Everest. You roam the remote Gokyo Valley, with its turquoise lakes and sensational views, to see the high peaks of Everest, Lhose, Makalu and Cho Oyu.
You hike across the snow-covered South Cho La Pass, an adventurous approach to the Everest Base Camp. You next embark on a steep, challenging but non-technical climb over rock, snow and perhaps ice to Dzonghla, a high pasture beneath Cholatse. The tour also includes hikes to Kala Patar; up into the Chhukhung Valley (15,500 feet); and to the Thyangboche Monastery.
You have time to experience Sherpa culture while on trek, stopping in tea houses, seeing fluttering prayer flags and admiring the carved mani stones that decorate the trails.
This is a strenuous, 30-day trek with 21 days of difficult hiking at high elevations.
21 days strenuous hiking, high elevation and camping.
Photo by Rafel Al Ma'ary. Courtesy Camel Dive Club.
Photo by Rafel Al Ma'ary. Courtesy Camel Dive Club.
Price varies depending upon length of stay. Call for price information.
Camel Dive Club offers you a combination of scuba diving and desert driving on this tour. You camp near the best diving areas, which contain brilliant coral reefs and teem with exotic marine life, on a 110-kilometer coastline along the western edge of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
The Red Sea, the only enclosed coral sea in the world, offers some of the most spectacular diving in the world. The clarity of the water affords visibility of more than 100 feet. Its cliffs and walls, with drop offs of 990 feet, are home to a diverse population of marine life including sharks, rays, Napoleon Wrasse, turtles and hundreds of species of tropical fish.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles allow access to the 20 exquisite dive sights along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba -- from Shark Bay to Stringray Alley.
To guarantee a personalized tour, Camel Dive limits the size of the tour to just a few divers, all of whom must be experienced. Participation is required in each facet of daily camping activities, making for a fulfilling tour.
The duration of the safari is flexible.
Camel Dive Club also offers multi-day, four-wheel-drive safaris where experienced guides introduce you to graceful Bedouins and show you green oases and colorful canyons.
This tour is for PADI advanced divers or those who have two stars CMAS.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
The Everest Adventure trip offers special versions of this tour just for families.
For the Everest Escapade, from $2,290.
For the Everest Adventure, from $1,990; $1,290 for children 5-16. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this Everest Escapade trek, you experience the unparalleled mountain scenery and indigenous cultures of Nepal's Khumba region. For mountain lovers, it is a visual feast, with panoramas of Everest (29,028 feet), Kangtega (22,340 feet), Thamserku (22,208 feet) and the obelisk of Ama Dablam (22,494 feet).
You see villages and Buddhist monasteries perched on mountainsides and watch life there continue as it has for centuries. The unique flora and fauna of Nepal include the impeyan pheasant, the splendidly-colored national bird of Nepal, and several species of rhododendron.
You meet the Sherpa people, whose overwhelming friendliness and cheerful good nature captivate adventurers to this region.
After a trek up the Khumbu Valley along the Dudh Kosi River, you visit a Sherpa market town, the Namche Bazaar, at 11,300 feet.
You explore nearby villages and monasteries and continue through rhododenron groves to the Thyangboche monastery, where you can see the summit of Everest glowing in the distance.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers another trek to this area, the Everest Adventure. You trek in the stunning Khumba region and stay in comfortable mountain lodges each night. The trek is similar to the Everest Escapade, but is an alternative to Mountain Travel-Sobek's tented treks. There are special departures of these tours designated as just for families.
Moderate hiking, medium elevation. 18 day tours, with 9 days on trek.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,695 U.S./$3,290 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $285/$350 more for own room. Price includes lodging, bike, support van and all but two dinners.
Butterfield and Robinson knows that the best time to visit the La Rioja region of Spain is during the fall harvest. Grapes, peppers, potatoes and asparagus are being harvested and there are plenty of good feelings in the air. The land is fertile and the people are as rich as kings in their love of life during September and October.
Days one and two find you at the Parador de Olite "Principe de Viana," a 15th-century palace in Olite. You take a warm-up ride to sample Navarra rose at the local co-op. Next morning, you cycle through almond orchards and terraced olive groves to the fortified town of Ujue for a lunch of migas and lamb chops over sarmiento.
On day three, you explore the area's vast open spaces and you ride to the Rio Ebro and the old Roman town of Calahorra for the night.
Days four and five are spent in Hotel Los Bracos Sol in the heart of Logrono. You ride along fertile farmlands, enjoy paella for lunch and explore the wine-making town of Fuenmayor. From Logrono, you ride to Clavijo where Ramiro I defeated the Moors in 844, supposedly with the help of Santiago who descended from the clouds to kill 60,000 Moors himself.
On days six and seven, you stay in Hotel Los Agustinos, a 14th-century convent, in Haro. You enjoy a beautiful ride through the rolling vineyards of Rioja Alta, to fortified Laguardia where you stop for a tour. You journey on to Haro, the wine-making capital of La Rioja.
On your final day, after tasting the region's finest wine, you bike the path of the 12th-century pilgrims to the cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
25 to 35 miles per day with gentle hills.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,590 for Khumba to Kala Patar trip.
From $2,990 for the Khumba and Mt. Mera Expedition.
Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trek gives you the classic challenge of climbing a Himalayan peak. You experience the color and charm of the Khumba region of Nepal and its Sherpa villages and travel to Mt. Mera, a snow peak southeast of Everest.
This is a wonderful introduction to high-altitude mountaineering with spectacular views of the Himalaya. You attempt a non-technical ascent of Mt. Mera (21,247 feet) after a warm up trek to the Khumbu. From here, you can see Everest at 29,028 feet, Kanchenjunga (28,208 feet), Lhotse (27,923 feet) and Makalu (27,825 feet); four of the highest peaks in the world.
The two-day climb requires the use of an ice axe and crampons and is physically demanding but can be accomplished by strong hikers with good stamina and some basic mountaineering experience.
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers a trek along the direct route to Kala Patar, a stunning rocky outcrop at 18,192 feet, where you have close-up views of Everest, known in Tibetan as Chomolungma, "Mother Goddess of the Snows." This trek takes you to the foot of Everest and gives you the thrill of gazing at the world's highest peak.
16-21 days strenuous hiking/basic mountaineering.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This tour is touted by Moutain Travel-Sobek as one of the world's classic treks. You enjoy scenic and ethnic diversity, a hearty physical challenge and an authentic Nepal experience.
After a day of sightseeing in Kathmandu, you drive to Dumre and begin your trek. As you ascend the mountains, you see the true grandeur of the high Himalaya. As you climb the forests high above the Marsyandi Gorge, you encounter Tibetan settlements.
While walking along the ancient Tibetan-Nepali trade routes, you encounter Tamang and Gurung people, Manangi Buddhists and Hindus.
Halfway through the trek, you cross a Himalayan pass, the Thorong La, at 17,771 feet. At Muktinath, a holy pilgrimage site, you have a day of rest.
You walk through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world's deepest, and hike through pine forests and the semi-arid vegetation of the lower canyon walls and rocky cliffs. Then you make your ascent to the second pass, climbing first through terraced farm land and then rhododendron and oak forests. At the end of your trek, you spend a day of rest in Kathmandu and fly home.
24 days strenuous hiking, high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek to determine the suitability of a certain trip for your child.
From $1,890. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trip takes you through Nepal from top to bottom, from the busy marketplace in Kathmandu to the jungles of Chitwan National Park. After the first days of sightseeing in Kathmandu, you travel to Pokhara and either trek around the Begnas Lake or through the villages of Suikhet, Dhumpus and Naudanda. On your way to your trek site, you have the option of taking a scenic overflight of Everest.
Next, you drive to the Chitwan National Park where you see the sights on foot and from elephant-back or a dugout canoe. You are accompanied by a naturalist guide. You may see monkeys, deer and the ever-elusive tiger.
You have a final day to catch a last glimpse of the wonders of Kathmandu before flying home.
3 days easy trekking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Check with Mountain Travel-Sobek to determine whether a certain trip is suitable for this trip.
For 23-day Annapurna Sanctuary trek, from $2,390. For 16-day Nepal Panorama Trek, from $1,690. Trip prices include lodging; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Of its Annapurna Sanctuary tour, Mountain Travel-Sobek writes, "Uncover a world of savage beauty on this trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary, an incredible glacier-covered amphitheater in the heart of the high Himalaya.
"You'll spend two days within the boundaries of the Sanctuary, surrounded by the highest peaks of the western Annapurna Himal, including Annapurna South (23,814 feet), Annapurna I (26,545 feet) and III (24,787 feet), Gangapurna (24,458 feet), Fang (25,089 feet) and the spire of Machapuchare (22,958 feet). You'll admire glaciers tumbling down from the walls above and explore the area--including an optional walk to Annapurna South Base Camp at 13,300 feet below the towering, near-vertical south face of Annapurna."
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers another tour to this region, the Nepal Panorama Trek, a short trek ideal for people with limited vacation time. The tour lasts 16 days, with an eight-day strenuous trek through the Annapurna foothills. You get an intimate look at Nepali village life as you pass the farms and fields of the Magar and Gurung people. Superb mountain scenery surrounds you throughout the tour.
For Annapurna Sanctuary, 14 days moderate to strenuous hiking, medium elevation, camping.
For Nepal Panorama Trek, 8 days moderate to strenuous hiking, medium elevation, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $3,690. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Northwest Nepal's mountainous Dolpo region is the remote and beautiful home of the snow leopard and one of the last enclaves of traditional Buddhist culture in the Himalaya.
Isolated by high passes from the rest of Nepal, it is closer culturally to Tibet, which forms its border to the north.
In Dolpo, the Rongpa peoples farm the valley and the Drokpas people are nomadic yak herders. The peoples of the Dolpo region trade with Tibet and their animals spend winter grazing in the northern plateaus. There are villagers there who practice the Bon religion, a pre-Buddhist animistic faith now closely woven with Buddhism.
The route to Dolpo is determined by snow and weather conditions. You begin the trek from Jumla, the largest hill town in western Nepal. If conditions allow, you take a shorter route that crosses several high passes. This route gives you more time to explore the Tarap Valley and the area around Phoksumdo Lake. The alternate route is longer and traverses river valleys.
21 days strenuous hiking at high elevation.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,355 U.S./$2,875 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $255/$315 for own room. Price includes lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
Butterfield and Robinson's walking tour of the Burgundy region explores the vineyards of this famous wine-making region at a leisuely pace.
Walking is a wonderful way to experience the countryside. As you saunter across Burgundy, you are constantly surprised by the beauty of a mosaic of oak woods, a field of vibrant poppies or the ruins of an ancient abbey. On this tour you walk about eight to 10 miles per day, taking you about three to five hours. Those who wish to walk less are free to do so.
The first two days are spent at the Hostellerie du Vieux Moulin, an ancient mill with a Michelin two-star restaurant, in Bouilland. After a private bus transfer from Dijon, you take a warm-up walk to the ancient abbey of Ste-Marguerite for a talk on the area's history. The next day, you walk through a dense forest on the Montagne de Beaune to the small village of Bruant for a picnic and tour of a pottery workshop.
Days three and four are spent at Le Cep in Beaune. You wander through the vineyards of the Haute Cote to Savigny and then down into the walled city of Beaune. Pre-dinner chocolate tasting is held at the famous Bouche's led by Madame Bouche herself.
The next day, you embark on a walking tour of town and visit the colorful Hospices, the famous medieval hospital and setting of a renowned wine auction with art historian Athlyn Fitz-James. Wine tasting before dinner is conducted by Terry Price of Bouchard Aine et Fils.
On days five and six, you stay at Le Montrachet in Puligny-Montrachet. You walk through famous vineyards of Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Montrachet. You walk along narrow paths through the green and purple vines. You participate in a wine-tasting treat with expert Olivier Leflaive before dinner.
The next day, you walk through the golden vines to St. Aubin and the Chateau de la Rochepot for a tour. You return to your inn for another wine tasting and farewell dinner.
You cover 8-10 miles per day, but can structure your own routes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $3,180 plus a special permit fee. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trek takes you through the Mustang region of Nepal, culturally closer to its northern neighbor, Tibet. Long isolated from the outside world, the Mustang region was once an autonomous kingdom. Its indigenous cultures have been unaffected by western influences. It remains a mystical land of desolate plateaus and ancient Buddhist monasteries.
Mustang served as a base for the Tibetan resistance to the Chinese and under pressure from Beijing, the government of Nepal closed off the region in the 1950s.
Now the region has been finally opened to Westerners. You will be among the first to travel to this region. This is a true pioneering adventure for the experienced trekker. You will need a good deal of stamina to complete the 26-day tour, 17 days of which you spend on difficult treks as you explore this remote area.
17 days strenuous trekking of an exploratory nature, medium elevation, camping.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,695 U.S./$3,290 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 more for own room. Price covers lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
The farming villages and medieval towns in the Dordogne Valley in southern France are linked by forest paths carved by centuries of use. Butterfield and Robinson takes you on a tour of these paths, following the Vezere and Dordogne rivers and ascending into the hills where you stop to sample cheeses, wine and foie gras.
The tour begins with two nights at the Chateau de Puy Robert, a small elegant chateau in Montignac. You take a warm-up walk to Lascaux II, an incredible reproduction of the real Cro-Magnon, art-covered cave at Lascaux.
The next day you walk across the river and along forest paths to a cheese-tasting event and a visit to a local walnut oil mill.
Days three and four are spent in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac. You walk the banks of the Vezere river until lunch, then you board canoes and float with the current into Les Eyzies. The next day, local expert Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, guides you through the Museum of Prehistory and the 14,000 year-old art at the Grotte de Saint Cirq.
Day five is spent at Hotel de L'Abbaye in St. Cyprien. With Christine, you view the 17,000-year-old cave painting at Font du Gaume and the bas-relief work at Cap Blanc. You conclude the day by walking along the shady forest paths to St. Cyprien.
Day six is spent at La Madeleine in Sarlat-la-Caneda. Along the Dordogne, you stop to visit the castles of Beynac and Castelnaud before dinner. In Sarlat, you may take a moonlit walking tour of the town.
Day seven is spent at the 16th-century Chateau de la Treyne in Souillac, wandering around its magnificent grounds.
Average 8-10 miles per day, but you may design your route.
Courtesy Man Friday Diving.
Photo by Peter Hauerbach. Courtesy Man Friday Diving.
Photo by Peter Hauerbach. Courtesy Man Friday Diving.
$375 covers rental of equipment, tuition and boat dives.
Tobago, the sister island of Trinidad, is an untouched pearl of a tropical island that is an unforgettable place to dive. Man Friday Diving, whose name came from the rumor that Daniel Defoe used Tobago as a model for his novel "Robinson Crusoe," offers a five-day open water diving tour.
Tobago is a divers paradise and an ideal learning site for divers because its waters have seen little human contact compared to other areas in the Caribbean. Its healthy, untouched coral reefs are home to a diverse population -- shrimps, brain coral, sponges, elkhorn coral and fireworms. Your companions are multitudes of fish, nurse sharks and tarpon.
Man Friday teach small groups of divers, assuring comfort and personal attention, in an atmosphere of friendliness and professionalism. Safety is paramount.
The highlight of the trip is undoubtedly your four to five boat dives, guided, in the open water from, Man Friday's custom built, 28-foot vessel.
Accommodations are available at many area hotels at a variety of prices.
Average fitness is necessary for diving. A medical examination may be necessary.
Courtesy Great Lakes Tall Ship Adventures.
Courtesy Great Lakes Tall Ship Adventures.
Courtesy Great Lakes Tall Ship Adventures.
Special three-day family sails are offered in June.
$799 PP/DO July and August, except North Channel Discovery Tour, which is $899 PP. $725 PP/DO in September. All meals are included except one dinner during a stopover.
Three-day sails are $299 PP/DO through June 26, ($99 for children on special family sails), and Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, $399 PP/DO June 28 to Sept.11, $349 PP/DO through Sept. 25. All meals included from breakfast first day to breakfast on morning of last day.
You can enjoy the pleasure and thrills of exploring America's great inland lakes aboard the tall ship Manitou on six-day cruises in July, August and September. The Manitou's home of Northport has a rich sailing history and is one of Michigan's finest small harbors.
Wind and weather conditions determine your itinerary, which may include legendary Mackinac Island and a host of beautiful islands, wilderness areas, bays, anchorages and coastal villages.
A special excursion in August sails to the extraordinary region known as the North Channel, a vast, remote area north of Lake Huron.
Three-day cruises are offered mid-June through early October and special family sails are available in June.
One of the largest sailing ships on the Great Lakes, the Manitou is 114 feet in length and accommodates 24 passengers in 12 double cabins.
Similar in design to vessels that sailed 100 years ago, the Manitou was constructed with modern materials with traveler comfort in mind.
Bountiful menus feature local specialties and fresh produce to satisfy the heartiest seagoing appetites.
Sailboards, sea kayaks and the ship's rowing dinghy are available for exploration when the ship is at anchor. Hiking and beachcombing are also available.
While under way, you are free to leave the sailing to the crew or lend a hand and learn the arts of the sailor.
You may choose whether or not to participate in sailing the vessel.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,655 U.S./$3,240 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 more for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle and all dinners but two.
This corner of France, with its carefully-tended trails and fields of lavender, is a walker's dream. Butterfield and Robinson has designed a tour so you can savor this region's produce, wines and beauty.
You will walk through forests, fields and small villages. Every street market offers a provencal feast of herbs, vegetables, fruit and wines from the Cotes du Rhone.
After your arrival in Avignon, days one and two are spent in La Bastide de Gordes, a medieval hilltown hotel. You warm up with an easy walk to Les Bories, a stone village built in the 14th century. The next morning, you follow the lavender fields to the 11th-century Cistercian Abbey de Senanque.
On day three, you stay in the Hostellerie le Roy du Soleil in Menerbes. You shop at the Gordes market and walk along the base of the Grand Luberon mountain, passing by chateau ruins in Oppede.
Days four through six are spent in Le Relais du Procureur in Lacoste. The Marquis de Sade once owned the chateau that stands in ruins in Lacoste, one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. During these days, you walk on cobblestone alleys and through cedar forests. You saunter to Bonnieux where you find one of the liveliest and most colorful markets in Provence. Van Gogh spent time in this area and BandR offers participants an optional watercolor lesson.
On day seven, you stay in Hotel le Phebus in Joucas. You walk to a ceramic maker's workshop in Goult, then walk through farmland and forests to Joucas. This little town with its forests is a perfect setting for your final banquet.
On day eight, you leave Joucas and travel to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the site of one of Provence's largest markets, before departing for Avignon and your return home.
You walk eight to 10 miles each day.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,475 U.S./$2,995 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $195/$240 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but one.
While hiking the Pyrenees, you find the European countryside spread out before you like a colorful carpet. This Butterfield and Robinson tour leads you up sprawling hills, through pine-scented forests and into attractive Basque villages.
After arriving in Bayonne, you begin your tour in Sare, at the Hotel Arraya for days one and two. You travel to a traditional Basque house for a guided tour and welcome drink. The next day, you walk to the Basque church in Ascain or visit the grottos in Sare, then gather for a tasting of local cheese and Irouleguy wine before dinner.
Days three and four are spent at the Hotel Ithurria, a 17th-century Basque townhouse with an excellent restaurant, in Ainhoa. You walk along the Spanish border and see a game of Basque handball. You join the chef for a lesson in making gateau Basque. This delicious dessert fortifies you for the next day's walk into Spain, where you sample eau de vie and watch a performance of Basque dancing before dinner.
Days five and six are spent at Hotel de Pyrenees in St. Jean-Pied-de-Port. After a sheep cheese and foie gras tasting at a local farm, you walk through Esplette, home of the Esplette red pepper. On your final day on the trail, you walk through the high pass to St. Etienne de Baigorry, then tour the pilgrimage cathedral in St. Jean before your farewell banquet dinner.
Walks are 8-10 miles per day.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,495 U.S./$3,045 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $195/$240 for own room. Price includes bicycle, support van, lodging and all dinners but two.
Standing on a hillside in Italy's Dolomite mountains, you can see Austria to the north, the Venetian plain to the south, and fields of edelweiss, crocuses, anemones and Turk's Cap lilies at your feet.
This Butterfield and Robinson tour of the Dolomites takes you through fairy-tale villages, tranquil valleys and up the hillsides of these spectacular mountains.
Days one and two are spent at the La Perla family hotel in Corvara. You will take a warm-up hike past Pisciadu waterfalls and through meadows to the church in Colfosco. The following morning, you take a short bus ride to the Passo Gardena, then walk through a valley. After an optional cooking class, you enjoy a rousing dinner with your host.
On days three and four, you stay in Rosa Alpina, a lovely riverside inn, in San Cassiano. You will ride a gondola up to Piz La Villa and then enjoy a wonderful outdoor lunch. The next day, you hike up Santa Croce, but there are optional walks through the valley below. Your fondue dinner that night is spiced with folk dancing and music.
Day five is spent in Refugio Fanes, a high mountain chalet. You take a tour of the Picolo Museo Ladin with a local historian, then you travel up on a gondola for a hike to Rifugio Fanes for your night of rustic, peaceful bliss.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Hotel de la Poste in Cortina. You taste some of the local wines at the Enoteca. After a private tour of Cortina, you ride the gondola to a chalet at Faloria, one of the highest points in the area, then slowly make your way back down to Cortina for your farewell banquet and return home.
You will hike eight to 10 miles per day.
Courtesy River Runners Ltd.
Courtesy River Runners Ltd.
Cost varies according to number of days and route. $139-$169 per adult for two-day trips; $159 for children under 12. $209-$269 per adult for three-day trips or $159 for children under 12. Includes all meals and equipment, except tents and sleeping bags.
River Runners, Colorado's largest rafting company, specializes in day trips, but the Salida-based company also offers two multi-day excursions for those who find that a one-day trip just isn't enough.
The Arkansas River is one of the most popular rafting rivers in the United States and is unique in many ways. It originates high in the Colorado Rockies, driving down a 14,000-foot peak before knifing through a number of spectacular canyons.
Your journey begins at Fisherman's Bridge Campground where you'll head out onto the mighty Arkansas by way of Brown's Canyon. Some of the Arkansas' most thrilling rapids, including Pinball, Big Drop, Zoom Flume, Staircase and Raft Ripper, promise to fill your day with excitement.
Camp will be made beneath a canopy of stars on the river's banks. After a day of shooting the rapids, you have time to hike, swim, fish or swap river stories around the campfire. Your guide will don a new hat, that of camp cook, and prepare a feast of high country cooking.
The following days are spent back out on the water on a variety of routes, depending on your preference.
Degree of difficulty varies depending on route, but there is a trip for every ability.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
Volunteers pay their own travel costs and a fee which covers housing and food throughout the week.
For one week in July, volunteers can build houses for those without shelter alongside former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Roslyn.
Habitat for Humanity is seeking 700 volunteers to complete 12 homes and frame six more in Winnipeg and complete 10 homes in Waterloo. This massive construction project is the focus of the 1993 Jimmy Carter Work Project. This is the first time the annual project will be held outside the U.S.
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry that builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of volunteers. Volunteer labor and donations of money and materials allow Habitat to sell houses at no profit to families who work alongside the volunteers. Habitat is now working in more than 900 cities in 38 countries around the world.
Volunteers pay their own transportation costs as well as a fee which covers their lodging and food during the Work Project Week.
Habitat is a people-oriented organization that cares for all participants, including homeowners, volunteers and donors. Every effort is made to ensure a positive and fulfilling partnership with you as you help serve others through Habitat.
Volunteers need enough stamina to do physical labor outdoors for one week.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,655 U.S./$3,240 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $275/$335 for own room. Price includes lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
You will enjoy the beauty of the northern Italian lakes region and peek into the fabulous lifestyles of Europe's elite in this Butterfield and Robinson walking tour.
After arriving in Lugano, you stay two nights in the Hotel Belmonte. You embark on a leisurely warm-up walk to the quaint lakeside town of Gandria, returning either on foot or by boat past the Villa Favorita. Next day, you take a cable car ride to the top of Monte Bre, then walk down to Lugano in time for a late afternoon walking tour of the town.
Days three and four are spent in Lanzo d'Intelvi. You ride a cable car to the top of Monte Generoso, then walk from above the tree line down to Lanzo for a cappuccino. The next day, you walk to the top of Monte Sighignola for a picnic with a panoramic view.
Days five through seven are spent at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio. You will walk through the hills above Lake Como, down to the Villa Carlotta, then explore Bellagio in the afternoon. You will also go to Bellano and Varenna to see the beautiful gardens of the villas Cipressi and Monastero. You will travel to tiny Isola Comacina for your final dinner.
You will walk 8 to 10 miles per day.
Courtesy Baja Off Road Tours.
Courtesy Baja Off Road Tours.
Tours start at $1,200 for three and a half-day tours (discounts are available for groups with more than eight participants). Price includes meals, lodging, guide services, van support, motorcycle and transportation to and from San Diego airport from Baja. Excludes airfare and riding gear.
Baja Off Road Tours' trips through the Baja Peninsula have received raves from such illustrious motor-sport names as Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan, two-time Speedway World Champion and U.S. National Champion Bruce Penhall and 250cc World Motocross Champion Danny Laporte. The course winds through pine forests, over shimmering dry lake beds, through sleepy Mexican villages and along the coast covering much of the terrain traveled during the annual Baja 1000 race.
Tours can range from three days to one week, but can be customized if you are interested in a more extensive ride. The bikes are Baja-prepped Honda XR 250s and 600s, and typical daily mileage is 150 to 200 miles. You will be accompanied by a guide and support truck. You stay in fine hotels in the resort towns along the route.
Most of the rides begin in the coastal town of Ensenada on the Pacific and push eastward into the historically-rich Baja peninsula. You will stop at several places to sightsee, including the town of San Felipe on the Gulf Coast, which is known for its shrimp and cold beer. Your waterfront hotel has great Mexican cuisine and a pool.
Your stop at Mike's Sky Rancho, a remote and rustic hacienda, could include rubbing elbows with a celebrity or two, as the bar is the most popular one in off-road history. Likewise, the Baja sky reveals more stars than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere.
Host Chris Haines, a former Team Honda motocross mechanic and Baja 1000 winner, knows the area and is willing to work with those wishing to hit high speeds, while sweep rider Don Leib makes sure the slower members of your party don't get lost.
Tours are designed for people with off-road motorcycle experience.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,725 U.S./$3,325 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $350/$425 for own room. Price includes lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
Walk along paths worn by centuries of use, even older than the roads that wind through the hills of Tuscany.
You arrive in Florence and are transported to Gaiole in Chianti for a three-night stay in the elegant Castella di Spaltenna, a 12th-century hilltop castle. You take a warm-up walk to the medieval hilltown of Barbischio. The following day, you walk to the 12th-century Badia a Coltibuono to taste wine, honey and olive oil. Lunch and a cooking demonstration are held at a BandR friend's farm. You finish your stay in Gaiole with a guided walk to the Badiacca at Montemuro, followed by a tour and wine tasting in Volpaia and a visit to the fortified town of Vertine.
Days four and five are spent at the Hotel Jolly in Siena. You walk to the castle at Brolio for a tour and wine tasting, then continue to Siena, a masterpiece of Renaissance art and architecture. Next morning, you take a walking tour of town. You conclude the day with an evening wine-tasting session in a cantina.
On days six and seven, you stay in the 15th-century town house L'Antico Pozzo in San Gimignano. The truly energetic can visit towering Monterrigioni where Dante descended into hell. Another alternative is a walk to the Colle di Val d'Elsa. You will tour this medieval town and inspect its church and frescoes with a local guide. On your last day of walking, you follow trails in nearby vineyards before your pre-dinner Vernaccia wine tasting.
You will hike eight to 10 miles per day.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,245 U.S./$2,740 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $175/$215 for own room. Price includes lodging, support van and all dinners but two.
Explore the French-speaking valley region of Switzerland on this Butterfield and Robinson walking tour of the Swiss Alps. Breathe clean mountain air and feel the blissful isolation of this valley, which didn't get its first road until 1960.
On days one and two, you stay at the Hotel Alpina, a traditional Swiss chalet, in Grimentz. You ride up the mountain on a gondola and enjoy a lunch of rustic soup before walking through the meadows of Orzival. That evening you enjoy a great meal and wine-tasting session. The next day, you hike up to the Moiry Glacier.
On days three and four, you stay in Hotel Besso in Zinal. You partake of freshly-baked bread and then hike through fields to enjoy a picnic. Pre-dinner hanggliding demonstrations and lessons are available in a tandem hangglider.
The next day, you view the five peaks in the valley over 12,000 feet before your evening cocktails in a 350 year-old chalet.
On day five, you stay in Hotel Weishorn, a simple hotel in an extraordinary setting. With the help of a bus ride, you journey above the tree line to your rustic hotel. You enjoy a traditional dinner of raclette with dance, music and a spectacular sunset.
On days six and seven, you stay in the Hotel Bella-Tolla in St. Luc. You travel to Chalet Blanc for a cheese tasting, then travel down into the fairy-tale village of St. Luc. The next day, you go above the tree line to Chandolin for a view of the backside of the Matterhorn.
Before dinner, you can try your hand at the local game of Cherlott, played with a one-legged milking stool.
You will hike about 8-10 miles per day.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,790 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $255/$315 for own room. Price includes lodging, support van, bicycle and all dinners but one.
Butterfield and Robinson helps you and your family explore the Brittany coast of France during this seaside tour.
You will see a wide assortment of seabirds, pink and gray cliffs, half-timbered farmhouses and ancient walled fishing towns.
You begin your tour with two nights at Le Barbu in Pointe de L'Arcouest, an 18th-century Breton manor overlooking the ocean. You and your bikes ferry out to Brehat island for a short warm-up ride and a crepes-tasting session. Next morning, you visit the 13th-century Abbey de Beauport and then on to taste fresh seafood in a tiny fishing village.
On days three and four, you stay at the Domaine du Val in Planguenoual, waking up early to catch a boat, then bike and picnic along the white sand beaches of the Atlantic. After the day's biking is completed, you gather for an oyster-tasting treat.
On days five and six, you stay in the Hotel d'Avaugour, and bike by the 18th-century Chateau de Montchoix to medieval Dinan, one of the most attractive walled cities in France. You cruise the Rance river by boat before returning for dinner.
On your last day, you stay in Hotel La Mere Poulard, a fine inn built into the walls of Mont-St.-Michel. The energetic can ride to St. Malo, then meet the crew for mussel tasting that afternoon.
25 to 35 miles a day on gently rolling hills.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,585 U.S./$1,935 Canadian per peson, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $235/$285 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycles, ground transportation and support van.
Butterfield and Robinson's six-day tour of British Columbia's Gulf Islands takes bikers over lightly traveled roads, along the coastline and through forests and farmland where you find birds, sea lions, marine life and five species of salmon.
The natural beauty of this region has been protected by conscientious naturalists, artisans and retirees who guard against over-development.
On the first day, a ferry takes you from Victoria to Mayne Island for lunch at the local pub. You take a shorefront warm-up ride followed by cocktails and dinner at the Oceanwood Country Inn.
The next two days you spend biking on Galiano Island and one day three you can pedal, hike, horseback ride or sea kayak. The Woodstone Country Inn, where you stay, boasts wonderful island views.
Another ferry ride on day four takes you to Otter Bay on north Pender Island where you bike south to Bedwell Harbour. After a night's rest in private suites, you travel by charter boat to Saturna Island for a 19-mile ride, lunch and return trip to Bedwell Harbour. A charter flight over the islands en route to Victoria completes your tour on the sixth day.
Hilly terrain with daily distances of 20-40 miles.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,785 U.S./$3,395 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycles, support van and all dinners but two.
Butterfield and Robinson is offering a unique family tour that explores river castles, 17,000-year-old cave paintings, the famous black truffle and a 20th-century goose farm in a rural area of the Bordeaux region.
You begin this tour in Bordeaux and are transported by bus to the Manoire de Bellerive in Le Buisson. After a short warm-up ride to the 12th-century Abbaye de Cadouin, you dine at Chez Georgette on foie gras, confit de canard and a sturdy red wine.
On days two and three, you stay at Les Glycines in Les Eyzies de Tayac, and bike alongside the Dordogne River. You stop to visit local basketmakers, metalworkers, potters and glassblowers. On day four, Christine Desdemaines-Hugon, a local expert on Cro-Magnon art, takes you through the 17,000 year-old cave art at Font de Gaume, the bas-relief work at Cap Blanc and the Museum of Prehistory.
Christine, the only English-speaking guide allowed in the caves, provides her services exclusively to BandR.
On day four, you stay in the Hotel de la Madeleine in Sarlat. After cycling past the castles of Veynac and Castelnaud, strongholds during the Hundred Years' War, you take a moonlight walking tour of Sarlat's medieval architecture.
On day five, you room in the Chateau de la Treyne in Lacave, an amazing 16th-century chateau on 300 acres of parkland overlooking the Dordogne. You bike through forest and farmland in nearby towns. Dinner in the Louis XIII drawing room is exquisite.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Chateau de Roumegouse in Gramat. After a goat cheese tasting visit to an area farm, you stop at the Ecclesiastical City in Rocamadour, the fourth major pilgrimage site in Europe.
On your last day, you see the underground landscape at the Gouffre de Padirac and ride through more pastures before returning to the chateau for a farewell banquet.
25 to 35 miles per day with rolling hills.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,475 U.S./$2,995 Canadian per person, not including airfare. Individuals pay $175/$215 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycle, support van and all dinners but two.
Beer abounds, the cycling is great and the hearty Bavarian food fills you as you and your family travel through the Bavarian Alps on this Butterfield and Robinson tour.
You spend your first two days in Herrsching am Ammersee at the Hotel Puishof, a 17th-century inn. After you arrive from Munich, you take a short, flat ride around the Ammersee lake. The next day, you ride through tidy pastures to the monastery at Andechs, where you walk with one of the monks as your guide. You also sample their cheese and schnapps.
Day three finds you in the Alpenhof Murnau mountain inn in Murnau. After passing a lake, you stop for a big farm lunch with local friends. The biking, through rolling farmland, is "incredible," say tour guides.
Days four and five are spent in Hotel Muller in Hohenschwangau. Cycling along the King's Way, you stop at two of Mad King Ludwig's castles, Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Later, you relax at a traditional Bavarian dance after dinner. After touring fairy-tale Neuschwanstein on day five, you explore the charming town of Fussen.
On days six and seven, you stay at the Alois Lang in Oberammergau. A short ride through a portion of Austria lands you at Oberammergau, home of the Passion Play that is performed every 10 years as an ongoing thanks for the town's being spared from the Plague.
Your final day is spent in Linderhof, the Mad King's most extravagant undertaking.
25 to 35 miles per day over rolling hills.
Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Call for times and prices.
Challenge Unlimited offers this four-day mountain bike tour of four of Colorado's mountain passes and takes you through spectacular mountain scenery and ghost towns. Led by Michael Merrifield, author of "Colorado Gonzo Guides: A Mountain Biker's Guide to Colorado's Best Single Track Trails," the tour offers a unique look at a fascinating period in the history of the United States, when miners flocked to the area in droves in a frenzied search for gold.
You depart Lake City on your way to Silverton by way of Cinnamon Pass. The day's ride passes beautiful Lake San Cristobal and tours alonside the Gunnison River through abandoned ghost towns before stopping for the evening at the Teller House in Silverton, a historic, restored boarding house.
A hearty breakfast of homemade pastries, pancakes and eggs, omelettes and more made in the French bakery below the Teller House greets you when you rise, providing fuel enought to conquer Ophir Pass.
The ride from Silverton takes you through more ghost towns, surrounded by magnificent scenery. Stop at the bank where Butch Cassidy made his first "withdrawal." Lunch might include the "carbos" you need at Baked In Telluride.
Your next day's ride takes you to Ouray over Imogen Pass. En route, you visit fascinating Tom By Mine, where miners lived and worked a century ago. See why Ouray is called the "Switzerland of America," and relax tired muscles at the Ouray Hot Springs pool.
The final ride of this tour takes you back to Lake City over Engineer Pass. The sights are plentiful as you pass Box Canyon Falls, Uncompahgre River, down Henson Creek and by numerous old gold mines.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity.
You pay your own way. Work camps provide housing and food for a fee.
Habitat for Humanity offices in all 50 states are looking for volunteers to spend weekends or longer building homes to help eradicate homelessness and poverty. Habitat has built more than 18,000 homes worldwide since 1976.
From Baldwin County, Alabama, to Anchorage, Alaska, hundreds of Habitat organizers are soliciting building materials and volunteers to construct low-cost housing.
Habitat works with families who need homes to build simple, decent shelter, which is then sold to them at no profit through no-interest loans. Funds, building materials and labor are donated by individuals, churches, corporations and other organizations.
Many local Habitat affiliates across the nation schedule work camps for groups and individuals during busy building times. Affiliates also sponsor seven-day work camps as part of special Habitat events and celebrations.
A work camp can be a time of real growth, service and fellowship during which you gain hands-on experience alongside skilled and unskilled volunteer builders.
Minimum age for participation varies, but is set by many Habitat offices at age 16.
If you are willing to serve three months or longer, some Habitat affiliates offer a small stipend. Individuals with skills in construction, administration, development and community relations are needed by all affiliates.
Contact your local affiliate or regional center to find out more about their volunteer opportunities. You can call Habitat's Help Line at 912-928-9571 to find the affiliate nearest you.
Habitat can use many skills.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Pre-set itineraries: $1,995 for St. Petersburg only, $2,495 for St. Petersburg-Moscow, $2,595 for trans-Siberian odyssey including round-trip airfare from New York, all travel within the Commonwealth and Baltics, accommodations, guide, meals and entrance fees.
Customized itineraries are priced individually and can start as little as $7.50 per day for a long-term apartment rental.
Experience the real meaning of travel by living with families in their own homes during your visit to the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union) and the Baltic States. The dramatic changes now taking place in this region provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness and be part of history in the making.
You live with an English-speaking family in your own private, comfortable room. Your host will be on vacation from work during your stay and will act as your guide, taking you to see fabulous palaces, museums, theaters and marketplaces, and to other places you want to visit. You also will have the freedom to look around by yourself.
You meet your host's family and friends and have the chance to share ideas and experiences and converse about politics, history, economics and life in their country.
Home and Host International will create an itinerary just for you, customized to your special interests, or you can choose an all-inclusive pre-set itinerary.
Pre-set itineraries are available for a week in St. Petersburg in June, two weeks in St. Petersburg and Moscow in June, August and September, and a two-week journey in July on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Irkutsk.
With a customized tour, you can visit any city any time, with a bilingual host or alone. Your stay can be a fully-guided home stay or can include economical bed and breakfast accommodations or long-term apartment rental. You can request a classic sightseeing tour, a trans-Siberian odyssey to the Far East with home-stay stops, or focus on your special interests such as sailing, rafting, climbing, skiing or learning a language.
Home and Host International also has programs in Mongolia, China, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other areas.
Activities may be as easy or as difficult as the traveler requires.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
You pay your own way. Habitat charges a small fee for your meals and lodging.
Habitat for Humanity International offers the ultimate adventure travel -- helping to eliminate poverty and homelessness worldwide by buildings homes during a volunteer vacation.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity works in many Caribbean and Central and South American countries alongside local residents to build safe and decent housing.
Habitat's goal is for all countries to become self-sufficient. Its Global Village work camps give you a chance to participate in a project abroad and work side-by-side with local people and other volunteers building homes during a one- to three-week period.
Groups of 10 to 20 people, age 18 or older, raise money to cover the cost of building one house in their host country. Work camp volunteers pay their travel expenses to the country and share building a home with new-found friends. Habitat may charge a small fee, which covers the cost of your food and housing, during the week. The local Habitat project is responsible for preparing you to work on each project and serving as your cultural guide.
Currently, Habitat works in 38 countries and has built 18,000 homes to date.
For more information about South American Habitat projects, call 912-924-6935.
Global Village Work Camps are operating in Haiti, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Volunteers should be at least 18 and in good health.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek to determine whether this trip is suitable for your child.
From $2,690. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Trek to the western region of Nepal and journey into the most remote wilderness area of the country. Once there, you glimpse cultures and scenery much different from the rest of this mysterious country.
Lake Rara, ringed with pine, spruce and juniper forests and snow-capped Himalayan peaks, is the "jewel" of Lake Rara National Park. home to many treks and the goal of your expedition. The route to the lake passes through thick forests that are now rare in Nepal.
This is a rugged country and is truly off the beaten path, which makes it a perfect trip for those seeking unusual and challenging experiences.
This 21-day trip includes 10 days of moderate hiking at medium elevation and camping. You also have two days to explore exotic Kathmandu.
Ten days of moderate hiking, medium elevation and camping.
Courtesy Colorado Tourism Board.
Courtesy Colorado Tourism Board.
$315 PP includes all accommodations, food, guides, maps, van support and snack food. Excludes dinners and lunch on Sunday.
Challenge Unlimited's weekend tour acquaints you with the Southwest by way of bicycle. You experience the slopes of ponderosa, aspen and fir first-hand rather than through a car window. The tour is led by Dr. Jon Young of the U.S. Forest Service who has lived in this part of the country his entire life and is an expert in its culture.
Your first stop is for lunch at Emma's in San Luis, where you're treated to green chile, prepared by Emma herself. After lunch, you head to Taos for an afternoon of exploring. The evening will be spent at a local bed and breakfast.
Saturday you head for Sante Fe on the High Road through villages founded by early Spanish settlers and clergy including Nambe, Cundiyo and Truchas, the filming location of the Milagro Beanfield War.
The day's final destination is the famous village of Chimayo, noted for its chapel, the Santuario de Chimayo, built in 1817. Called the only miraculous shrine in the U.S., this chapel is believed to hold curative powers. Night will be spent in the Hacienda de Chimayo, a beautiful bed and breakfast across from the church.
On Sunday, you reach Sante Fe where you have time to shop before the van departs for Colorado Springs.
The terrain is moderately difficult.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,190. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
In Tibet, Dhaulagiri means "the rock that stands alone," and it is indeed an impressive mountain peak. You circle Dhaulagiri in 24 days of hiking, reaching valleys little-known to locals, let alone foreigners!
From Nepal's verdant middle hills, home of the Gurung and Magar peoples, you ascend along the Myangdi River through its ever-narrowing valley. Reaching terrain at 12,000 feet elevation, you find the upper Mayangdi Glacier surrounded dramatically on all sides -- on the east, Dhaulagiri I (26,810 feet), on the west more of Dhaulagiri's six ice-clad summits, and to the north, Tukche (22,836 feet).
Crossing 17,000-foot French Col (named by Maurice Herzog's famous French expedition of 1950), you drop into Hidden Valley, home to Nepal's famed blue sheep and a rare miniature rhododendron. Descending via Dhampus Pass, you are treated to views that reveal the massive scale of the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest canyon in the world. The Kali Gandaki's valley floor lies at 2,500 feet, with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I rising over 25,000 feet on either side, their summits only 20 miles apart.
24 days strenuous hiking at high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
You pay your own transportation and room and board. Habitat charges a small fee for your room and board abroad.
Habitat for Humanity International offers you the ultimate adventure travel experience -- helping to eliminate poverty and homelessness worldwide by building homes during a volunteer vacation.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity works in many African countries alongside local residents to build homes for the poor and homeless.
Habitat's goal is to help all countries become self-sufficient. Its Global Village work camps give you a chance to share in the life of a building project abroad while working side-by-side with local people and other volunteers during a one- to three-week period.
Groups of 10 to 20 people, age 18 years or older, raise money to cover the cost of building one house in their host country. Work camp volunteers pay their travel expenses to the country and share building a home with new-found friends. Habitat may charge a small fee, which covers the cost of your food and housing during the week. The local Habitat project is responsible for preparing you to work on the project and serves as your cultural guide.
Habitat works in 38 countries worldwide and has built 18,000 homes to date. It is currently working on building projects in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire and Zambia.
To make reservations or for more information, call 912-924-6935.
You should be in reasonably good health.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details. Depends on child's abilities.
From $2,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trek, your destination is Sikkim, an Indian province and a mountainous land rich with cultures and trekking trails. Nestled between Nepal and Bhutan, Sikkim offers many peaks rising above 20,000 feet, including Kanchenjunga, which at 28,208 feet is the third highest mountain in the world.
"The Five Treasures of the Great Snows" flank Kanchenjunga: Jannu at 25,294 feet; Tent Peak at 24,089 feet; Siniolchu at 22,610 feet, and Kangbachan at 25,925 feet. This superb panorama of the Eastern Himalaya is the scenic focus of your 12-day trek.
From Sikkim's capital, Gangtok, you begin your trek near the monastery at Pemyangtse, one of 60 active monasteries in Sikkim.
You trek through moss-laden pine, magnolia and rhododendron forests and then head up into high mountain country. You pass Alpine lakes and glaciers and enjoy classic views of the Himalaya.
Before the trek, you visit Darjeeling (7,500 feet), once the queen of British colonial hill stations with narrow streets and a mixture of Tibetan, Lepcha and Nepali inhabitants.
In early morning, you may travel to Darjeeling's Tiger Hill and enjoy the sunrise reflected on the snows of Kanchenjunga, 50 miles away.
12 days moderate to strenuous hiking at high elevation.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
You pay your own way and for a fee Habitat provides your food and lodging in the foreign country.
Habitat for Humanity International offers you the ultimate adventure travel experience -- helping to eliminate poverty and homelessness by building homes during a volunteer vacation.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity works in many Asian countries alongside local residents to build homes for the poor and homeless.
Habitat's goal is for all countries to become self-sufficient. Its Global Village work camps are a chance to share in the life of a building project abroad and work side-by-side with local people and other volunteers during a one- to three-week period.
Groups of 10 to 20 people, age 18 and older, raise money to cover the cost of building one house in their host country. Work camp volunteers pay their travel expenses to the country and share building a home with new-found friends. Habitat may charge a small fee, which covers the cost of your food and housing during the week. The local Habitat project is responsible for preparing you to work on the project and serving as your cultural guide.
Habitat works in 38 countries worldwide and has built 18,000 homes. It is currently working on building projects in Fiji, Indonesia, India, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Pakistan.
To make reservations or get more information, call 912-924-6935.
You should be in good health.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
$390 includes all transportation, breakfasts and lunches, lodging, van support, and refreshments. Does not include dinners or airfare to the site.
There are few things as spectacular as the changing of the aspens in Colorado. Challenge Unlimited's four-day tour cycles past stands of aspens and winds through beautiful mountain country from Aspen to Buena Vista.
The excursion begins with a drive to the top of Independence Pass where you start a descent into Aspen. The night will be spent in Red Stone Inn where you can let sore muscles relax in a hot tub and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Day two finds you on your way up McClure Pass, one of the most scenic in Colorado. You are surrounded by large golden aspens and clear skies as you cycle up to 9,000 feet. The descent makes it worthwhile as you coast down to Kebler Pass and finally stop for lunch.
The evening is spent at Irwin Lodge, nestled in the mountains. Because the lodge generates its own electricity, you probably will want to be in bed before 12 p.m., when the lights go out.
You can rise early for a short hike behind the lodge to catch a breathtaking sunrise over the Rocky Mountains. Shortly thereafter, you ride downhill to Ohio Creek Pass where you eat lunch beside a beaver pond in the middle of a large aspen grove. The afternoon's ride takes you to Altmont, a small community 10 miles outside Gunnison.
Brunch is served alongside the Gunnison River the following morning. Back on your bike, you head to Taylor Reservoir, overlooking the back side of the Collegiate Peaks. A bus takes you to the top of Cottonwood Pass for the 18-mile ride to Buena Vista.
The van will deliver you to Colorado Springs.
There is a day of strenuous riding, the other days are moderate to easy.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
$125 PP/DO, add $89 per day for a single room, for a deluxe home stay including accommodations, meals with the family, private bath, entrance fees and public transportation within the host city.
Lower rates are available for bed and breakfast accommodations and long-term visits.
Experience the true meaning of travel by living with families in their own homes in Costa Rica.
Home and Host International, through its subsidiary Costa Rica Home and Host, will match you with a local family with whom you spend a week or more.
You live with an English-speaking family in your own private room. Your host will arrange to be off work during your stay and act as your tour guide. Your visit may include touring San Jose, driving to the coast, whitewater rafting, birdwatching or other activities tailored to your special interests.
You meet your host's family and friends and have the chance to share ideas and experiences and converse about politics, history, economics and life in their country.
Your customized tour may include economical bed and breakfast accommodations or long-term apartment rental.
Home and Host International also has programs in Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Commonwealth of Independent States, Baltic States, Mongolia, China and other areas.
Activities may be as easy or as difficult as the traveler requires.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek to see whether this trip is appropriate for your child.
From $2,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Bhutan is one of the most striking destinations in the Himalaya. This country long-isolated from the outside world adheres to traditional ways and carefully guards its culture against potential changes. It only allows a few trekking groups into the country each year.
On this trek, you travel between the two main towns of Paro and Thimphu. You wander through pine forests and yak herders' settlements. You have views of Bhutan's "divine" mountain, the Chomolhari (24,000 feet). You cross two passes and descend into a dramatic gorge with high rock walls and rushing river rapids.
You have ample time to explore Bhutan's culture and witness a private performance of the ancient masked dances.
Eight days of moderate to strenuous hiking and camping.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Cost depends on group sizes but is generally about $2,200 per person. Price includes lodging, meals, luggage handling and sightseeing. Excludes airfare which ranges from $1600-$1800 from the U.S.
Challenge Unlimited offers a great introduction to Asia and the fascinating Himalayan kingdom of Nepal during this month-long excursion. You explore Bangkok, Kathmandu, Pokhara, mountainside villages, Chitwan National Park and Hong Kong.
You arrive in Bangkok where you spend almost two days visiting its temples, fascinating markets and many canals. Your first journey takes you to Nepal's second largest city, Pokhara.
From Pokhara you venture into the foothills of the Annapurnas, trekking up and down steeply terraced hillsides dotted with fields and farmers. The views of massive Machapuchare, Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas will probably remain etched in your mind for your lifetime.
Days later, when you return to Pokhara, you meet your rafting crew and take a leisurely three-day raft ride down to the Chitwan National Park. As a game preserve, the park is noted for having the largest herd of one-horned rhino in the world. Your three days in the park will be spent viewing leopards and tigers from the top of an elephant, exploring the rivers for birdlife and crocodiles in dug-out canoes and assisting with the bathing of an elephant in the river.
After returning to Kathmandu, you depart for Hong Kong, a city that combines modern beauty with the charm of traditional China.
Most hiking is between 5,000-9,000-feet, and you cover about 6-10 miles a day.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,290. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
The Bhutanese are a self-sufficient and religious people whose art and architecture embody their national culture. In Bhutan, song and dance are a way of life and you will explore the cultural baclbpme of this country during this special tour.
Bhutan's landscape consists of gentle hills and winding country roads, juniper forests and whitewashed farmhouses amid fields of barley and buckwheat. The massive, ancient "dzongs," or monastery-fortresses, dot nearly every major valley.
You don't need to trek to appreciate this beautiful land. Your cultural odyssey takes you to the Shangri-La setting of the Paro Valley with a hike up to the Taktsang Monastery. You also visti the remote Wangdi Valley, site of spectactular Punakha Dzong, the winter home of Bhutan's head lama.
The departures are timed to coincide with the dramatic events of the annual religious rites, the Tsechu Festivals. These are colorful celebrations that feature dance-dramas performed by costumed monks. These festivals commemorate the events in the life of Padmasambhava, the 8th-century mystic who introduced Buddhism in its Tantric form to Bhutan and Tibet.
Non-trekking, easy road travel.
Courtesy Habitat for Humanity International.
You pay your own transportation costs. For a fee, Habitat provides your room and board.
Habitat for Humanity International offers you the ultimate adventure travel experience -- helping to eliminate poverty and homelessness worldwide by building homes during a volunteer vacation.
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity works in many countries alongside local residents to build decent and safe homes for the poor and homeless.
Habitat's goal is for all countries to become self-sufficient. Its Global Village work camps are a chance to share in the life of a building project abroad and work side-by-side with local people and other volunteers during a one- to three-week period.
Groups of 10 to 20 people, age 18 and older, raise money to cover the cost of building one house in their host country. Work camp volunteers pay their travel expenses to the country and share building a home with new-found friends. Habitat may charge a small fee, which covers the cost of your food and housing during the week. The local Habitat project is responsible for preparing you to work on the project and serving as a cultural guide.
Habitat works in 38 countries worldwide and has built 18,000 homes to date. It currently works on building projects in Armenia, Poland, Hungary and other European countries.
To make reservations or for more information call 912-924-6935.
You should be in good health.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,793 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Ho Chi Minh City. Price includes bicycle, all meals, lodging, support van, guide and ground transportation.
Last season, Worldwide Adventures pioneered the first bicycle ride through Vietnam and it turned out to be one of its most popular tours.
Although the Vietnamese were curious as to why Worldwide had chosen to explore their country by bicycle, they were very hospitable. Tour organizers said it was like the early days of touring China.
You fly into Ho Chi Minh City and travel to Dalat, where you prepare for the biking ahead. By day, you cycle through villages and rice paddies, stopping sometimes at wayside tea stalls to taste the flavor of the countryside. This bicycle tour also includes a support van in the event that the tour falls behind schedule as riders pause to explore the countryside.
Nights will be spent in old palace hotels or in comfortable tourist lodges where the cuisine will more than satisfy the lover of Vietnamese food.
After nine days on the road, you cycle over the Hai Van pass and freewheel down to the ancient capital of Hue. From there, you board the overnight train to Hanoi and visit the museums and markets before celebrating the conclusion of your trip with a final feast.
Trip is challenging at times, but support van is available.
Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
$1,434 per person inlcudes bed and breakfast, van support and transfer to and from the airport. Not included are airfare, lunch, dinners and bike rental.
The Irish countryside has always been a favorite of cyclists because of its gently rolling terrain, verdant natural beauty and charming villages. Challenge Unlimited's 13-day tour combines eight days of biking with five days of relaxing, shopping, "pubbing" and sightseeing.
Accommodations are provided by country inns and bed and breakfasts along the route as you explore the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. Since the biking is easy to moderate, you have enough energy to enjoy singing at the pubs in the evening.
Killarney has long been the inspiration of poets and painters and you learn why as you visit its famous lakes and historical sights, such as St. Mary's Cathedral, Franciscan Friary, Deenack Lodge, Ross Castle and Muckross Abbey.
You spend five days riding west from Killarney around the Ring of Kerry, stopping for the night in a bed and breakfast where Maureen O'Hara spent her summers and exploring the countryside where "Ryan's Daughter" was filmed. Everywhere you go, the rugged beauty of the region will charm you.
Once around the Ring of Kerry, you head north to the quaint village of Dingle where you spend three days. Many of Dingle's 53 pubs appear unchanged from a century ago and they deliver some of the best traditional Irish music in the land.
Day rides from Dingle take you west through quiet hamlets, past ancient ruins and to beautiful beaches. One of the many attractions of the Dingle Peninsula is Fungi, a large dolphin who loves everyone and likes to play with tourists in the water.
On your final evening, you are transported to the time of King Arthur with a visit to a castle and a medieval feast complete with maidens, friars, peasants and a king.
You ride 8 of the 13 days; there are only a few days with mileage exceeding 25.
On bareboat charters of two six-day weeks, the 13th day is free. From June 13 to Aug. 28, a 10 percent discount is offered on each additional week after the first two weeks of a bareboat charter.
Courtesy North Sailing Charters.
Courtesy North Sailing Charters.
Skippered cruises are $392 per day for the 30-foot yacht or $585 per day for the 36-foot yacht plus $25 per person per day. Food is included.
Six-day bareboat charters are $1,300 on the 30-foot yacht or $1,850 on the 36-foot yacht from June 13 to August 28. During the off season, from May 16-June 12 and Aug. 29-Sept. 18, rates drop to $1,100 and $1,600.
Sail the fjords of southeast Alaska on a 30-foot or 36-foot sailing yacht and enjoy the icy beauty of glaciers and snowcapped mountains.
Fish for salmon and halibut and photograph whales, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, brown bear and mountain goats in the incomparable light of long northern summer days.
North Sailing Charters, based in Juneau, Alaska, offers a variety of skippered charters for beginners or more experienced sailors. You participate in all aspects of sailing under the expert guidance of owner-operators Delbert and Wayne Carnes who have a combined experience of more than 56 years of boating in Alaska..
Sailors with the necessary experience may charter the vessel on their own with no crew.
A week's cruise can take you to Tracy Arm-Ford's Terror Wilderness area, managed by the U.S. Forest Service to maintain its spectacular beauty and scenic grandeur. The Tracy Arm fjord narrows to less than a mile along most of its 25-mile length, banked by sheer cliffs reaching 2,000 feet or more.
Many other exciting destinations are possible in a one-week or two-week cruise. Day and weekend trips also are available.
You may also take courses in basic sailing, basic coastal cruising and bareboat chartering, taught by certified American Sailing Association instructors.
On skippered charters, passengers partcipate in sailing under guidance.
Bareboat charters are available only to experienced sailors.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
This is a strenous trek. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details on suitabiltity of your child.
From $2,490. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trek, you cross the mountains and valleys of the Indian Himalaya. Few places on earth compare with this region for diversity of landscape and culture. From the verdant valleys and dense coniferous forests to the desert-like Ladakh, known as "Little Tibet" -- this is an exotic land of beauty and adventure.
You begin trekking in the foothills of the Kishtwar Himalaya. In this land of Moslem culture and Gujar nomad camps, you follow the Warwan River through the valley.
After you reach the head of the valley, you cross the Great Himalayan Range into the watershed of the Indus River and enter the Suru Valley. This semi-arid canyon is cradled between the snowy flanks of the Himalaya and the parched rock of the Zanskar Range to the north. Its inhabitants are the Baltis, ethnically Tibetan but long ago converted to Islam.
You continue up the Suru Valley with views of the massive Nun Kun (23,410 feet). You enter a land of dry, windswept mountains and temples on the outskirts of Zanskar.
You cross the Zanskar Range via the Kanji La Pass (17,240 feet) and descend past the medieval village of Kanji. The inhabitants of this cliffside settlement dress in thick red robes, goatskin shawls and winged stovepipe hats.
On the last days of trekking, you pass the multi-colored cliffs of Kang Nalla and the ancient Lamayuru Montastery. You drive to Leh, capital of Ladakh and have a day to visit the monasteries of the Indus Valley before returning to Delhi and home.
21 days of moderate to strenuous hiking, high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,645 U.S./$1,995 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $215/$265 for own room. Price includes lodging, bicycles, ground transportation, support van and all dinners but two. On family tours, children younger than 18 receive a 10 percent discount.
Butterfield and Robinson's bike tour of Nova Scotia takes you back to an era of rural tranquility. Orchards, woodlots and sleepy villages on the Bay of Fundy calm your spirit while scallops, lobsters, clams and oysters feed your body during this seven-day adventure.
Your tour begins with a quick warm-up ride along the southern shore to Lunenburg Harbour. Dinner and lodging are at the Boscawen, a historic, harbor property. The second day you bike to Feltzen South and then hop on a boat to Bill Flowers' private island for a picnic lunch.
The third day begins with a tour of the fisheries museum followed by an afternoon ride to Annapolis Royal. Two lovely VIctorian inns open their doors to you here. Day four's ride along Victoria Beach is punctuated by stops at historic gardens, museums and forts.
A ride to Margaretsville for views of the Bay of Fundy is the plan for the fifth day, with an optional trip to Wolfville for the energetic.
On day six, you ride to Grand Pr
National Historic Site, a memorial to the Acadians expelled from Canada in the 18th century. These last two evenings are held in Victorian Inns with Jacuzzis to soothe your aching muscles. On the seventh day, a private bus reuturns you to Halifax.
Easy to moderately challenging on lightly travelled roads, 30 miles per day, extra riding available for the more energetic.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
This is a moderate trek. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details on suitabiltity of your child.
From $1,590. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trek, you wander leisurely along the edge of the Indus River Valley in Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet." You explore Buddhist monasteries (gompas) and small villages as well as the way stations of the old Asian "silk route."
You also discover the incredible fortress-like monasteries of Phyang, Likir, Rizong and other communities. You learn how religion is a part of everyday life in this region. This trip is a wonderful introduction to the thriving Buddhist culture of Ladakh.
This tour lasts 19 days with 8 days of moderate trekking at medium elevation.
Eight days of moderate trekking at medium elevation, camping.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tini Campbell. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
$2,300 per person, including all accommodations, meals, guide services, permits and fees, Lukla flights, land transportation and sightseeing. Excludes airfare.
Don't let the daunting title of this 24-day expedition intimidate you. While never ascending the mountain, you skirt its slopes and enjoy beautiful vistas and visits to quiet Sherpa villages and sacred Buddhist monasteries. The scenery is spectacular and you gain insight into this mystical and unique region of the world.
Accommodations range from first class hotels in the city to camping in the mountains.
Your first days are spent in Nepal's largest city, Kathmandu, where you explore some of the area's highlights including the Bodnath, Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath temples, the Tibetan refugee camp, Patan and Bhaktapur.
You fly from Kathmandu to the tiny airstrip at Lukla (9,000 feet), in an awe-inspiring flight passes over some of the largest peaks in the world. From Lukla, you begin your trek into the heart of the Himalya. You hike into Phakding and camp.
The trail between Phakding and the Sherpa village of Namche threads through beautiful pine forests with plenty of majestic views of Everest (29,028 feet), Nuptse (26,000 feet) and Lhotse (27,663 feet).
You spend a few days in Namche to become acclimated to the high elevation and take side trips into the hills. Making your way to Tengboche, you walk along a very pleasant trail under the soaring peaks of Tamserki, Kwangde, Kangtega and Ama Dablam, all at elevations in excess of 21,000 feet. You stop for lunch at Phunki where there are a series of water-driven prayer wheels. In the afternoon, you climb steadily for about two hours to a tranquil Buddhist monastery where the views are magnificent. Your serene surroundings include monks at prayer, yaks on the hillside and the mammoth mountains.
You continue to gain elevation as you move up the Imja Khola Valley to Pangvoche where you visit a monastery and look at a Yeti scalp. In the afternoon, you continue on to the summer village of Dingboche. The scenery continues to amaze.
Once you reach Dingboche, you tour the base of the Khumbu glacier and have a light lunch (15,180 feet). In the afternoon you climb part of the glacier where the views are stunning. Camp will be made at the foot of Dobuje ice fall.
The next few days are spent at Everest's base camp with an optional climb of Kala Patar. Being at the base camp of the world's highest mountain is a thrill you will probably always remember.
Some consider the Gokyo Valley to be the highlight of this trip. You pass through summer yak pastures on your way to the Gokyo Lakes. From a small peak above the valley, you see the vast Ngozumpa Glacier and nearby Gyachung Kang, Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Makalu peaks. This is one of the finest mountain panoramas in Nepal.
Terrain is moderate to strenuous and requires participants to be in very good physical shape.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,390 PP. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
In Rajasthan, you experience the India of your dreams, full of reminders of this country's wonderful, turbulent past.
You begin with a visit to Jaipur and its famous amber palace. There you attend the colorful Nagaur Camel Fair, an annual festival for desert tribes who come from all over Rajasthan to buy and sell livestock, swap stories and compete in camel races.
After two days of reveling in this lively market, you visit the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary and set off on a four-day camel safari in the Great Indian Desert. You ride or walk, if you prefer, from one village to another, camping en route and enjoying the desert landscape. You meet pastoral people who ride camels with colorful tasseled saddles.
Your adventure ends with a visit to Jaisalmer, an ancient trading center carved entirely from amber-colored stone. You also visit Jodhpur, where you stay in the Maharajah's famous palace, built in 1920's Art Deco style.
Easy to moderate walking, camping/hotels.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on the trip and your child. Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,690. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This adventure explores the "Shangri-La" valleys of Pakistan's mountainous northwest frontier. This is the region Rudyard Kipling made famous, a land of unbeatable mountain scenery and exotic tribal people.
You begin the tour with a short trek to the former principality of Swat, a flower-filled valley surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Hindu Kush and Swat Kohistan ranges.
You trek through Swat's birch forests and high meadows and finally reach the great northern valley of Chitral by hiking over the Kachi Khani Pass (15,600 feet). There you delight in views of the entire valley and the peaks of the Hindu Kush.
After the trek you drive over Shandur Pass (12,200 feet) along an ancient trade route between Chitral and Gilgit, where the sport of polo originated and is still played.
You continue to legendary Hunza, which explorer Eric Shipton described as the "ultimate manifestation of mountain grandeur." Here you taste the famous apricots and view 25,500-foot Rakaposhi.
After two days in the area, you travel to the Khunjerap Pass on the border of China and return to Gilgit, Islamabad and home.
Six days moderate to strenuous hiking at high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Very strenuous hike. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $3,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trek takes you to the Karakorum mountain range in Pakistan, where the conjunction of the Godwin-Austin and Baltoro Glaciers has created six peaks over 26,000 feet, including K2 (28,741 feet), the second highest mountain peak on earth.
You trek to this extraordinary place of the juncture of ice, rock and sky. By the time you reach Paiju Camp at 11,000 feet, you begin to feel the spirit of creation as the ice melts and the glaciers creak while rearranging its icy rivers.
You reach Concordia (14,500 feet) on the ninth day of hiking and your reward is one of the most spectacular mountain views in the world. You are surrounded by K2, the Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV and Mitre Peak.
During the next three days, you explore surrounding areas, hike up to the K2 Base Camp and have a chance to relax and enjoy the tremendous scenery. You hike back out by the same route.
20 days of moderate to strenuous hiking at high elevation, camping.
Photo by Mike Cofman. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Mike Cofman. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Mike Cofman. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
$3,630 includes accommodations, most meals, all transportation and transfers. Does not include taxes, tips and airfare which is generally around $1,850-$2,000 from the U.S.
It's been said that if you can walk you can make it up Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,380 feet), one of the world's highest peaks and the largest mountain on the African continent. Challenge Unlimited offers a 23-day expedition to Kenya to ascend the famous "Kili," combined with a safari through the Masai Mara and Samburu game parks, and a few days of watersports along the east African coast.
Accomodations along the way are provided by first class hotels where available. You also stay in wildlife lodges and climbing huts while on safari and on the mountain.
You begin your journey in Nairobi heading south to Tanzania where you arrive at the National Marangu Gate at 6,000 feet elevation. You walk three to four hours through rain forest to Mandar Hut at 9,000 feet where you camp for the evening. For the remainder of the week, you ascend Kilimanjaro, traveling over alpine meadow, glades and forest until you break the treeline. The ascent takes you through five different eco zones. The panoramic views from the summit are breathtaking as you gaze at the beautiful African landscape.
Upon your descent, you return to Nairobi before heading to Masai Mara where you spend two days viewing the wildlife of the area, including lions, zebra, antelope, rhino, elephants, cape buffalos and giraffes.
On Day 13, you move on to Mara Sarova Lodge for more game viewing before journeying to Lake Nakuru via Lake Naivash and Lake Bogoria. Boat rides will reveal incredible bird life - 3 million flamingos call this area home - and hippo herds and crocodiles.
The remaining days on safari will be spent at Naro Maro River, the base camp for Mt. Kenya, from where you explore Mau Mau Caves and Samburu Game reserve. Highlights include traveling on an ark to watch animals at a salt lick and watering hole at night.
Your final days in Africa will be spent at Melindi, a seaside resort where you can relax, snorkel, windsurf, fish, shop and sunbathe before departing for home.
The hike is moderate to strenuous.
Courtesy Great Lakes Tall Ship Adventures.
$299 per adult and $99 per child, includes all meals from breakfast on the first day to breakfast on the morning of the last day.
You can enjoy the pleasure and thrills of exploring one of America's great inland lakes aboard the tall ship Manitou on a three-day family cruise in June. Your trip begins at the Manitou's home of Northport, which has a rich sailing history and is one of Michigan's finest small harbors.
Wind and weather conditions determine your itinerary, which may include stops at beautiful islands, bays, anchorages and coastal villages.
One of the largest sailing ships on the Great Lakes, the Manitou is 114 feet in length and accommodates 24 passengers in 12 double cabins.
Similar in design to vessels that sailed 100 years ago, the Manitou was constructed with modern materials with traveler comfort in mind.
Bountiful menus feature local specialties and fresh produce to satisfy the heartiest seagoing appetites.
Sailboards, sea kayaks and the ship's rowing dinghy are available for exploration when the ship is at anchor. Hiking and beachcombing are also available.
While under way, you are free to leave the sailing to the crew or lend a hand and learn the arts of the sailor.
You may choose whether or not to participate in sailing the vessel.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $4,990 for 34 days. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This journey takes you on the overland passage from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. Your comprehensive trip includes a 12-day trek into the mountain valleys that surround the eastern flanks of Mt. Everest and Makalu.
After you acclimatize to the heady 12,000-foot altitude in Lhasa, you gear up for the overland part of the trip. You drive to Kharta, a hamlet on the Arun River where you begin trekking towards the great East Face of Everest. You traverse the forests of the Kharta and Kama valleys and continue up to the glacial valleys beneath Everest.
Your highest camp is at 17,500 feet at the site of the American East Face expedition base camp on the Kangshung Glacier. From there, you get a close look at the world's highest peak while you explore the icy wilds above the camp.
After the trek, you drive to Rongbuk Monastery and spend a day exploring its ruins before you continue over the border to Kathmandu, which has long been a melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
34 days rugged road travel, 12 days strenuous hiking, high elevation, camping.
Photo by Tim Davis. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
Photo by Tim Davis. Courtesy Challenge Unlimited.
$1,395, includes all accommodations, breakfasts and lunches, guides, bike rentals, rafting equipment, horses and transportation. Does not include airfare or tips.
Challenge Unlimited offers a nine-day combination tour of "the garden spot of the Americas." You explore mountains, rain forests, active volcanoes, rivers, canyons, and boiling mud pools by foot, pedal and raft.
You begin your excursion with a rafting run down one of the more scenic and exciting rivers in Costa Rica, the Reventazon. It begins at a lake 3,300 feet above sea level before plunging down to the Caribbean lowlands.The river is a haven for rafters and kayakers who appreciate its challenging rapids.
The night is spent in Turrialba, a small town perched on the Cordillera Central, 650 meters above sea level. The town was once on a busy thoroughfare linking San Jose to Limon, but a new highway has bypassed the town, making it a quiet and pleasant place for your base.
The Turrialba Volcano is nearly 11,000 feet high and still active. The last eruption was in 1866. Although today the volcano lies still, it is likely that someday the tranquil farmlands around will again be disturbed by erupting earth.
You climb up the volcano through a rain forest covered with mosses, shelter ferns, bromeliads and stands of bamboo. The summit has three craters and the middle one, which is the largest, is the only one which still shows signs of life. Steam and sulphur bubble from the hole.
The next day, you experience your second rafting excursion on the Pacuare River. This is a world-class whitewater experience, plunging down a Caribbean slope through a series of spectacular canyons cutting through a rain forest. You pause between rapids to observe the spectacular verdant walls towering above.
The biking part of the journey takes you to the La Selva Biological Station, used by scientists and researchers to investigate the ecological processes of the rain forest. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded at La Salva as well as 100 species of mammals and thousands of plants and insects. You explore the national park surrounding the area by foot, taking care to avoid poisonous snakes, sharp plants and biting insects.
Back on bike, you ride to Arenal Volcano, which matches everyone's image of the typical volcano. It has been producing huge ash columns, massive explosions and growing red lava flows almost daily since 1968 and it is a most spectacular sight at night.
You next cycle to the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano (6,253 feet), surrounded by several other volcanic peaks of which the Santa Maria Volcano is the highest. This volcano is currently active but is a gentle, bubbly giant, posing no danger. There are fumaroles, boiling mud pools, steam vents and sulphurous streams to explore.
Thirty-two rivers and streams have their sources in the region around the volcano. Elevations range from less than 1,980 feet to 6,322 feet, resulting in four ecological zones, much plant life and more than 300 species of birds. Mammals are also abundant. Deer, armadillos, skunks, squirrels and three species of monkey are frequently seen here. Jaguar, puma, ocelot and margay also range through the forests but glimpses of them are rare.
On your last day, you exchange your bike for a horse and ride to the volcano's crater and the nearby mud boils for a cleansing mud bath.
The physical aspects of this trip are moderately difficult.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,550 U.S./$1,895 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $245/$295 for own room. Price includes lodging, all meals, bicycles, ground transportation and support vans.
When Quebec's eastern towns are dressed in the red, gold, and orange of autumn is when this Butterfield and Robinson bicycle tour hits the road.
Well-maintained rural roads, little traffic and quiet towns Vermont's make this an ideal route and time of year to see Quebec.
From Montreal, you travel to North Hatley, arriving in time for a warm-up ride and cider at a local pub. The Auberge Hatley, your inn for the first two nights, overlooks Lake Massawippi. Day two leads you across covered bridges and past colorful barns, with lunch at a local farm.
Exhilarating biking is part of day three as you head to Ayer's Cliff and a night at Ripplecove Inn on the south shore of Lake Massawippi. The fourth day takes you south to the Vermont border and lunch on a private island, home to nearly 3,000 pheasants.
You're off to Lake Mephremagog on day five, with lunch and a visit in the Victorian town of Georgeville. You ride back to North Hatley for a farewell dinner and a stay in Hovey Manor, a replica of Mount Vernon. On day six, you return to Montreal on a private bus.
Moderately challenging on a mix of paved and unpaved roads, light to no traffic, and rolling terrain. 20-30 miles daily with extra riding if desired.
A 30 percent discount is offered May 16-June 24 and August 27 through September.
Courtesy Bay Breeze Yacht Charters.
Bareboat charters range from $1,265 to $3,326 per week depending on size.
Licensed captains are available at $125 per day plus food.
Thirty percent discount offered during off-season.
Bay Breeze Yacht Charters has a fleet of sailboats ranging in size from 27 to 46 feet for charter on the Great Lakes. Boats are carefully selected for performance, comfort and ease of handling.
A diversity of cruising grounds awaits you, from charming coastal villages to the beautiful shorelines of Beaver Island and surrounding islands. On longer trips, you may set sail for Mackinac Island with its turn-of-the-century charm or continue on to Lake Huron to explore the North Channel.
You have the option of hiring a skipper or sailing on your own if you have appropriate experience.
Bay Breeze also offers courses for those who are new to chartering. Classes are certified by the American Sailing Association and include a two-day, basic sailing course, a three-day coastal cruising course and a two-day bareboat charter qualification course.
A three-hour pre-charter course covering docking, sail handling and maneuvering under power is available in May and June.
Sailing yachts may be rented for a day, weekend or week. Power boats also are available.
On skippered charters, passengers participate in sailing under guidance.
Bareboat charters are available only to experienced sailors.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,685 U.S./$2,055 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $295/$360 for own room. Price includes lodging, all meals except one dinner and two lunches, bicycles, ground transportation and support van.
This is an easy-going exploration of the authentic Old South for a spring or fall cycling vacation.
You visit ante-bellum plantation homes, Civil War landmarks and some special Mississippians. A warm-up ride through old Natchez opens this tour. The second day takes you to three classic ante-bellum homes while both nights are spent at the Monmouth Plantation, a National Historic Landmark and one of the best-kept inns in the South.
Days three and four include a ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway, lunch at Rosswood Plantation and cycling on the backroads of Claiborne County. The Oak Square and Gibson's Landing are your inns for these nights ,with a full-course Cajun dinner to liven up the fourth evening.
During the fifth and sixth days, you take leisurely rides through cotton fields and tour the Vicksburg Military Park with a local historian. An afternoon cruise on Old Muddy rounds out the tour.
Your last two evenings are spent at Cedar Grove, a 1940s Greek Revival mansion, before a bus returns you to Jackson.
This is one of Butterfield and Robinson's easier bike trips. All paved roads, light traffic with extra riding available if desired.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,291 PP/DO beginning in Hong Kong. Price incluces bike, all meals, lodging, ground transportation, guides and support van.
Worldwide Adventures's China bicycle tour gives you a perfect combination of physical activity, comfortable accommodations and an opportunity to experience the "real" China during 13 days of cycling and nine days of sightseeing.
During the tour, you leave the highways behind and explore a side of China experienced by only a few, fortunate tourists. You jostle for room with lumbering buffalo, peasants in cane hats and hundreds of local cyclists.
From Hong Kong, you travel by steamer up the Pearl River into China. Your cycle journey begins in Guangzhou, where you depart for an exploration of Guangdong Province, stopping at small villages. You view beautiful, rural fields, meet area residents and visit schools, factories, temples and markets. You stay in comfortable hotels and eat the same country-style meals as your Chinese hosts.
The cycling pace is relaxed, with time to browse through villages, stopping when you like. A minibus accompanies you, carrying your supplies and providing an alternative means of transport for those who tire of cycling.
From southern China you travel to Beijing by train, enjoying another perspective of the ever-changing countryside. You visit the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.
The cycling is not too demanding, though you should be in good shape.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$2,191 PP/DO starting in Delhi. Price includes ground transportation, lodging and meals.
Worldwide Adventures offers a wonderful combination tour of India that includes a four-day camel ride, four days of cycling and a trip to the Taj Mahal.
There are few finer ways of discovering northern India than by cycling and camel riding, according to tour organizers. Your camel ride through Rajasthan's Great Thar Desert takes you past isolated villages and ancient forts that reveal the essence of desert life.
This is combined with time to savor the sights and sounds of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipure.
Cycling the country roads to Agra and the incomparable Taj Mahal adds a new dimension to your India experience. If you haven't cycled since your childhood, don't worry. The roads are flat, the days are not too strenuous and a bus is provided for those times when you are pedaled out.
The tour convenes in Delhi and you take the overnight train to Bikaner. On day three, you begin the camel ride. On day 10, you commence your bicycle ride which ends day 14.
Pace is leisurely. Support van provides help when you tire.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,071 PP/DO beginning in Delhi. Price includes lodging, food and ground transportation.
Worldwide Adventures offers three types of trekking -- hiking, camel riding and bicycling -- during this 26-day exploration of northern India.
You ride camels through Rajasthan's Great Thar Desert, which takes you past isolated villages and ancient forts that reveal the essence of desert life. You cycle through colorful towns and villages during this delightful journey.
You begin the tour in Delhi, where you board a train to the holy city of Varanasi. Here the sadhus and sages wander beside the sacred waters of the Ganges.
It is only a day's train journey to the hill station of Darjeeling, West Bengal, where you spend time exploring the bazaar and visiting the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute before commencing your trek. Views of Kanchenjunga provide a stunning backdrop as you ascend trails through rhododendron forests and across ridges on this delightful four-day trek.
You should be reasonably fit and able to cycle.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
$70-120 PP per day in Nepal. $110-150 PP per day in Tibet and Pakistan.
Mountain biking is the newest form of adventure travel in Nepal, although Above the Clouds Trekking has organized mountain biking trips there since 1985. Above the Clouds is currently the exclusive North American agent for Hiamalyan Mountain Bikes of Kathmandu.
There are three separate bike programs in Nepal, which vary in length and difficulty. The mountain biking season lasts from about November to April. If you are interested in summer cycling, Above the Clouds offers alternate programs in Pakistan and Tibet which avoid Nepal's summer monsoon season.
Above the Clouds also offers custom tours to meet your specific needs and abilities. Ask for Above the Clouds' mountain biking brochure.
Above the Clouds also does extension tours in Nepal, which include whitewater rafting, a safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park, short treks in the Kathmandu Valley and visits to the Taj Mahal.
Average daily distance 40 miles over fairly rugged terrain. Customized itineraries available.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$1,366-$1,466 including airfare from the U.S. Price includes lodging, continental breakfast and dinner each day of your stay and tips. Lift tickets, equipment rental, lessons and lunches not included.
Euro Ski Safaris offers a nine-day tour of Switzerland's many peaks during the Thanksgiving holidays.
The area around Zermatt has all the old-world European charm you could want, with horse-drawn sleighs whisking you through quaint streets beneath the looming Matterhorn.
Skiers of all abilities can hit the slopes for six days. Attack the pristine powder on Gornergrat . . . or Sunnegga . . . or the Matterhorn. A day is reserved for skiing the backside of the bowl into Cervinia, Italy. This is a fast-paced, three-hour run considered by all to be a "friendly challenge." If you are a beginner, you can learn the ropes on the gentler slopes nearby.
Turkey dinner on Thanksgiving is included.
Much of the skiing, including the trip to Italy, is for experienced skiers, however there are slopes for beginners nearby.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,885 U.S./$2,293 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $395/$480 for own room. Price includes lodging, all meals but two dinners and one lunch, 21-speed mountain bikes, ground transportation and van support.
Both the history and the biking in New Mexico are rich and diverse in the regions where the Pueblo Indians, Spanish, Mexicans and the Americans have left their marks.
Here, you travel on mountain backroads and flat, paved desert roads. You ride through pristine forests and along the ridgelands of the Sange de Cristo mountains.
A private bus takes you from Albuquerque to Taos, so you arrive with time for a ride through town to visit the Kit Carson Museum, the Mastrinez Hacienda and the galleries of the central plaza. This night and the next will be spent in the Mabel Dodge Luhan House, home of such notables as D.H. Lawrence, Georgia O'Keefe and John Collier.
Day two is a mountain day, with a 4,000-foot descent into Taos along the backroads of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Day three offers a challenging ride along the Taos High Road, winding through mesa lands and forest en route to Chimayo. History beckons at Truchas, a former Spanish outpost. You must stop and view the San Jose Church, one of New Mexico's most beautiful.
Day four takes you to Santa Cruz Lake and on to Cordova, an hispanic town noted for its wood carvers. Hacienda Rancho de Chimayo and Casa Escondida make you feel at home these evenings.
You head across the Nambe Indian Reserve on the fifth day, stopping at galleries on the reserve. Then you travel to Santa Fe for an evening at the Inn of tha Anasazi, one of Santa Fe's finest.
On day six, you choose between cycling to the Pecos Wilderness Reserve or shopping at the stores and galleries of Santa Fe. That evening, you reunite for a final New Mexican dinner. A private bus returns you to Albuquerque the next morning.
One of B and R's more challenging bike trips offering miles of unpaved mountain roads, trails and paved secondary highways. Daily distances of 15 miles for mountain biking and 40-60 miles on paved roads. Altitudes from 6,000 feet to an optional 12,000 feet.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,951 from Delhi, this includes the Delhi-Kathmandu flight. Price includes accommodations, gear, tents, pack animals, all meals outside major cities, group leader and support vehicle.
For 15 years, this outstanding 34-day combination trek into India and Nepal has been Worldwide's most popular trek in the Indian subcontinent. You take a camel ride through the Rajasthan desert, cycle from Jaipur to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal, trek amid the Annapurnas of Nepal, raft the Trisuli River and conclude with a wildlife safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
Combine these activities with enough time to explore the intriguing bazaars of Delhi and Kathmandu and you have one of the most action-packed tours around.
Your adventure begins in Delhi with a trip on the overnight train to Bikaner, from where you start your camel ride. Your caravan moves slowly across the dunes as you savor the mood of the desert. You pass deserted forts and remote villages on your journey to Jaisalmer, a walled city of carpet bazaars and intricate alleys. From here, you continue to Jodhpur and the "Pink City" of Jaipur.
Cycling the country roads is the best way to discover the pulse of India. You pass villages at dawn as the mist rises over mustard fields while villagers make their way toward the local market. Your route leads you to Agra and the Taj Mahal for a fitting finale to your experience of India.
From Delhi, you fly to Kathmandu and prepare for the trek. You walk through the Annapurna foothills and enjoy an ideal introduction to the delights of Himalayan hiking.
Then you swap your boots for paddles as you challenge the exciting rapids of the Trisuli River.
Your adventure concludes with a visit to the Royal Chitwan National Park. There you travel perched on elephants in search of other wildlife before returning to the markets and temples of Kathmandu.
The cycling portions are demanding, but the roads are flat and the trekking pace relaxed.
Courtesy Tall Ship Adventures, Inc.
Three-day cruises are $450 to $600 PP/DO, four-day cruises $585 to $800 PP/DO and seven-day cruises $995 to $1,395 PP/DO. Included are all meals, use of deckpads, small sailboats, windsurfing and snorkeling equipment. Airfare and ground transportation are not included.
Sail into the past in modern-day comfort aboard the tall ship Sir Francis Drake. Built in 1917, this historic 165-foot schooner has been restored to provide accommodations for up to 34 passengers in double or single air-conditioned cabins.
Cruises of three, four or seven days take you into several ports in the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands where you may explore beaches by day and popular island spots by night.
Leave St. Thomas in the U. S. Virgin Islands on Mondays and call on such idyllic spots as Christmas Cove, Magens Bay and the beautiful unspoiled bays of St. John National Park. Thursday departures for the four-day cruise stop at picturesque places along Sir Francis Drake Channel.
From June 19 to Nov. 1, 1993, seven-day cruises depart on alternate Saturdays from St. Thomas and St. Maarten, the Dutch side of the St. Maarten/St. Martin island. Passengers who take a combined two-week cruise receive 10 percent off the regular fare.
Some five-day cruises also are offered.
Passengeres must be able to negotiate stairs. You may participate in sailing.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$2,741 PP/DO when you join the tour in Madras. Price includes gear, tents, support vehicle, meals outside major cities, lodging and ground transport.
Worldwide Adventures offers a 22-day trip through southern India that includes 10 days of cycling, two days of wildlife watching and a two-day barge journey.
Led by Worldwide guides, this carefully-researched itinerary through south India includes a visit to the Nagarhole National Park and a week of exploring the delights of the Malabar coast.
While the cycling is demanding, the roads are flat and there is a support van to carry you if you are pedaled out. The pace is fairly relaxed and there are plenty of village rest stops along the way.
You should be in good condition, as the bicycle tour is demanding.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$1,169-$1,299, including airfare from the U.S. Price includes taxes, transfers, continetal breakfast and supper each day and gratuities. Excludes lift tickets, ski rental and lunches.
Chamonix is universally known as "King of the Alps." It was the site of the very first Winter Olympics in 1924, for the Olympic organizing committee could think of no place more perfect. With more than 100 miles of runs, you won't have time to groove any slope more than once. Chamonix is so popular, its 195 lifts move more than 60,000 skiers every hour.
Euro Ski Safaris's holiday week, nine-day tour takes you to all the ski areas in the valley including Les Houches, Les Grands-Montet, Aiguille du Midi and the two longest ski runs in all of Europe -- the Haute Route and La Vallee Blanche. You take to La Vallee Blanche in a group, for moral support, to ski a run that extends 14 miles and takes a full day.
Even if the skiing were ignored, this would be a great trip for the scenery alone, with the Alps towering above. This tour is scheduled for the week between Christmas and New Years.
The terrain is challenging.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$2,592 PP/DO from Lima. Price includes flight from Lima to Cuzco, tents, porters, meals outside large cities, all lodging and guides.
The beauty and rich cultural history of the Andes will thrill you during this 23-day Worldwide Adventures tour.
You begin the journey with a flight to Cuzco, Peru, in the Andes. Here you encounter a blend of Spanish and Inca cultures, colorful Quechua Indian markets, Inca temples and Spanish cathedrals and taverns.
From Cuzco, you drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to commence a nine-day moderately-paced trek. You follow jungle trails to the mountainous heights of Cordillera Vilcabamba and set up camp beneath the awesome flanks of Mount Salcantay (21,126 feet). Here you savor the splendor of the Andes before joining the former Inca Trail to Machu Picchu -- a fitting way to retrace the footsteps of the Incas.
One of the world's classic rail journeys takes you to Puno beside Lake Titicaca. Your shoreline exploration brings you into contact with small groups of Uros Indians who live on the floating reed islands.
You drive around the lake to the Bolivian capital of La Paz, alive with Spanish colonial architecture and colorful markets.
From La Paz, you fly to Buenos Aires, with a day free for an optional excursion to the wonders of Iguassu Falls.
Pace is moderate but altitude makes this trek challenging.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Check with Travel-Sobek for tour's suitability.
From $2,990 for 17 days. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This trek flies you over the Himalayan mountains, the "roof of the world," to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, where you begin your overland 4X4 vehicle trek to Nepal.
In Lhasa, you watch devout pilgrims practice their Buddhist religion, praying and circling the holy shrines. You set off on your overland adventure and cross the Tibetan Plateau on some of the highest, wildest roads in the world.
You motor over passes up to 17,300 feet above sea level and visit remote Tibetan towns like Shigatse, at 12,500 feet, which is Tibet's second largest city. The 15th-century Tahilungpo Monastery is a bastion of tradition, with hundreds of monks chanting to the music of drums and three-foot-long trumpets.
You also visit the settlement of Shegar at 14,500 feet on the "hill of shining crystal" and its ruined fortress/monastery, Shegar Dzong. You also see the Samye monastery, situated at the foot of Hepor, one of Tibet's four holy mountains.
At the end of your journey in Kathmandu, you have time to visit the pagodas, shrines and colorful bazaars of this surprising city.
17 days moderate to strenuous road travel, day hikes.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$1,599-$1,759 including airfare from U.S. Price includes lodging, breakfasts, dinners and tips. Excludes lunches, lift tickets and ski rentals.
Euro Ski Safari offers a unique, nine-day tour of French ski resorts that hosted three Winter Olympics -- Albertville, Chamonix and Grenoble.
You begin your pursuit of Olympic dreams in Chamrousse, near Grenoble, on the slopes of Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes. While cruising down the slopes, keep a look out for "The Great One," Jean-Claude Killy, former gold medalist who still regularly skis here.
After Chamrousse, it is on to Albertville and Meribel, host of the 1992 Olympics. Two days here give you ample opportunity to challenge La Face de Bellevard, site of the men's downhill events.
Your final destination is the "King of the Alps," Chamonix, one of the most revered of all European ski resorts. Whether skiing the gentle slopes of Le Tour, the hair-raising runs of Les Grands-Montets or the 14-mile run down La Vallee Blanche, Chamonix offers something for you.
Nights will be split among the resorts, you will spend three in Chamonix.
The slopes are challenging.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$1,399-$1,599 per person, including airfare from the U.S. Price includes lodging, breakfast and dinner, tips and ground transportation. Excludes lift tickets, lunches and ski rental.
Euro Ski Safari offers this nine-day tour of the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, the same slopes run by uber-skier James Bond in the movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
Ski from Schilthorn to Murren, the same route navigated by 007. From Murren you can ski to Lauterbrunnen, jump a lift to the Eigergletscher, ski the Kleine Scheidegg then take the lift to Oberjoch. You've just covered more territory than Hannibal and his elelphants.
The cog train lift from Lauterbrunnen to the Kleine Scheidegg snakes along the face of a sheer cliff, past waterfalls adorned with icicles, and allows time for you to take in the scenic splendor of the massive Swiss Alps.
The Grindelwald hotel offers elegance and ambience with its geniune Gemutlichkeit (sorry, Fahrvergnugen not included).
The slopes are challenging.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc..
$1,095 PP/DO beginning in Quito. Price includes ground transportation, flight from Quito to Coca, food and lodging.
Worldwide Adventures is sponsoring a five-day tour of the Amazon jungle in Ecuador.
After landing in Quito, you take a 45-minute flight to Coca in the interior of the Amazon rain forest. From Coca, you travel by motorized canoe on the Napo River, eventually reaching La Selva Jungle Lodge, a cluster of comfortable, palm-thatched cabanas nestled deep in the rain forest.
La Selva, situated in a bucolic setting on a forested knoll overlooking Heron Lake, is known for its excellent French cuisine and its friendly staff. It serves as your base for the next few days as you explore the forest. You visit Garzacocha Lake, home to the indigenous tribe of people who live in this area, and view the Mandicocha Lake, an area filled with wildlife. You also paddle canoes at Lak Mandicocha for a gentle ride down the Madiyac stream.
No matter where you go, the richness of the upper Amazon rain forest quickly becomes evident. During canoe trips and walks, you listen to the sound of monkeys in the canopy and look for tropical flowers, butterflies and amphibians. You also observe the incredible variety of exotic birds found in this splendid forest.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $4,990. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This journey to Mt. Kailas is for the truly adventurous. Mt. Kailas, Tibet, is a mountain sacred to both Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists. Kailas is the source of four great rivers, the Indus, the Brahmaputra, the Sutlej and the Karnali.
It is the ultimate pilgrimage site for devoutees who believe that by circling the mountain on foot, they will be cleansed of earthly sins. Hindus also take a ritual bath in the glacial waters of Lake Manasarovar below the mountain.
Your journey begins with a rough 4X4 vehicle trek on some of the world's most remote roads that wind along the northern flank of the Great Himalaya Range. After you reach Mt. Kailas, you make a three-day, 32-mile walk around the mountain on an ancient pilgrimage route.
En route, you cross a mountain pass at 18,000 feet above sea level and stay in local guest houses where you'll meet nomads and pilgrims from as far away as India.
32 days rugged road travel, 3 days moderate hiking, high elevation, camping/guesthouses.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$1,218-$1358 PP, including airfare from the U.S. Price includes lodging, breakfasts and dinners, tips and transportation. Excludes lunches, lift tickets and ski rental.
Euro Ski Safaris offers an opportunity to chase powder in France, Italy and Switzerland in this nine-day ski odyssey. The tour lifts drop you onto some of the finest slopes in Europe: Megeve and Chamonix, France; Verbier, Switerland, and Courmayeur and La Thuile, Italy.
During each of the six-days spent in boots and bindings, local guides will escort you and tend to your "every wish." As with all of Euro Ski's tours, transportation is provided between each city on the itinerary.
After first-day warm-ups at Le Brevent and a night of relaxing preparation, you challenge the slopes of Megev and Courmayeur, surrounded by jagged peaks, wooden chalets, local pasta and fiery Groll, before heading to a final-day climax on the steep Tortin run at Verbier.
The slopes are challenging.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,292 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Buenos Aires. Price includes trek equipment, tent, porters, meals, lodging and ground transportation.
The rugged trails of Patagonia provide some of the finest hiking in South America. Worldwide Adventures's 21-day trek gives you an opportunity to explore the region.
The tour combines a series of treks in the spectacular Paine and Glacier national parks with time to appreciate the highlights of Buenos Aires and the beauty of the Iguazu Falls.
From Rio Gallegos, you drive to the Paine National Park and trek to the granite pinnacles of the Towers of Paine (10,058 feet.) Your trek passes through a wonderland of lakes, forest and huge glaciers that flow from the impressive granite peaks as you continue through Argentina's Glacier National Park.
See the unique rock spires of Fitzroy (11,137 feet) that rise from the glacier floor as well as the jagged peaks of Cerro Torre (10,322 feet). On returning to Buenos Aires, you have time to take in the cosmopolitan culture of this vibrant city before completing your adventure with a two-day visit to Iguazu Falls, one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls.
The trekking is moderately difficult.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Depends on child and trip. Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,995. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this trip you retrace the Silk Road trade routes in the footsteps of Marco Polo. Your journey begins in Beijing and takes you across China to visit some of the many famous sites along the way.
You visit Xian, the ancient capital city and the starting point for the great trade caravans. Next, you travel to Dunhuang, the site of the vast "Caves of a Thousand Buddhas." You see the city of Turpan, a sleepy Silk Road oasis in the Taklamakan desert. Finally, you reach Kashgar, the last station on the Silk Road in China and the home of a colorful Sunday bazaar.
Next, you cross the windswept Central Asian steppes and head over the Khunjerap Pass (16,000 feet) into Pakistan. You descend into Hunza, a mountain region famous for fragrant apricot orchards, the longevity of its people and the height of its mountain peaks. Your journey ends with a two-day drive to Islamabad along the Karakorum Highway, which skirts the dramatic Indus River gorge.
24 days of rugged road travel, optional walking.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$6,993 PP/DO from Buenos Aires. Price includes airfare to Ushuaia, cruise, lodging and food.
Last year, Worldwide Adventures organized its first tour to the Antarctic and it was an unqualified success. On the heels of its success, Worldwide is now offering an Antarctic Peninsula Voyage to view this spectacular land.
You fly out of Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Antarctica, where you begin your 14-day voyage. This will be a voyage of adventure and discovery -- not a luxury cruise.
Three days are scheduled to cross the Drake Passage. As you head south, numerous sea birds, including the albatross, trail the ship. You should also keep a lookout for whales. Your sighting of the first iceberg is a sure sign you are reaching the Antarctic Peninsula.
Regular lectures will give you an informed appreciation of the early exploration of Antarctica, its geology, weather and plant and animal life.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
Courtesy Euro Ski Safaris.
$2,066-$2,316 PP, including airfare from the U.S. Price includes lodging, most meals, lift tickets, use of touring skis and transportation.
Don't let the name of this tour fool you. You'll find no haute couture along the magnificent miles between Mont-Blanc and the Matterhorn on this nine-day Euro Ski Safari trek, only "high" trails and lots of challenging cross-country skiing.
You ski for six-days as you traverse spectacular Alpine territory. The other three days will be spent on the slopes or in the hotel at Chamonix. Lift tickets for skiing the hundred miles of trails at Chamonix, the "King of the Alps," are provided.
After a one-day warm-up you follow the compass east for more than four days of cold sweat, short breath and muscle burn. The Haute Route covers 41 miles as the crow flies. You telemark up and down, in and around the peaks and valleys between the Chamonix and the massive Matterhorn.
English-speaking guides lead the journey. En route, you spend five nights in mountaintop huts surrounded by some of the most awesome scenery nature provides.
The Haute Route's rugged terrain is very challenging.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,590. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this tour, you hike hut-to-hut in Japan's North Alps, a spectacular region of snowcapped peaks, volcanoes and forested hillsides.
Experience these mountains' Alpine flavor as you hike verdant hilllsides and climb some of the local peaks. On some trips you walk up mountains while other optional treks require the use of crampons and an ice axe if there is snow.
You spend the night in traditional mountain huts along the way, which provide comfortable lodging, futon beds, thick layers of warm quilts and delicious meals.
You also visit Japan's famous Fuji Five Lakes region where you have the option of climbing Mt. Fuji, which has long been celebrated in Japanese culture. Your trip ends with ample time to visit the ancient town of Kyoto and visit its fine temples, shrines, palaces and gardens.
Five days moderate hiking (optional strenuous hiking).
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
15-day tour is $1,993 PP/DO beginning in Nairobi. The eight-day tour is $1,393 PP/DO. Price includes tents, meals, accommodations, safari vehicles and guides.
Explore the wildlife of Kenya during either a eight- or 15-day wildlife safari.
During the 15-day tour, you begin the expedition in Nairobi before heading south towards Kilimanjaro. Your first stop is the Amboseli National Park with spectacular Kilimanjaro towering above you. You experience a landscape that is home to some of Africa's most beautiful birds and large mammals, including the increasingly rare rhinoceros.
From here, you head north through picturesque countryside towards Mount Kenya and your next destination, Samburu. The Samburu National Reserve is considered one of the most scenic areas in Africa. It follows the Ewaso Nyiro river, and it is along this stretch that you will be able to see more animal species and a magnificent array of birdlife. From Samburu, you move on to Rift Valley to visit three of Africa's most beautiful lakes, Nakuru, Baringo and Naivasha, which are also home to hundreds of birds.
Finally, you visit Kenya's most famous game reserve, the Masai Mara, highly regarded for its abundance of large cats. During the 15-day tour, you spend 13 days exploring and viewing the wildlife.
During the eight-day trip, you spend six days viewing the beauty and splendor of the Masai Mara and serene region of the Rift Valley.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $ 2,585. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
On this lovely sojourn through the Japanese countryside, you get a great introduction to this country's culture and lifestyle. You stay in a combination of "ryokan" (country inns), "onsen" (hot springs resorts) and small temples. As you wander the side streets, you discover the unique blend of ancient East and modern West that symbolize Japan.
After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, you visit peaceful shrines in Nikko. You explore the Fuji Five Lakes region where you can take a tram partway up Mt. Fuji. You also visit Chubu Sangaku National Park in Japan's North Alps.
Next on the intinerary is the rural town of Takayama with its authentic, traditional atmosphere. You explore temples and markets there before travelling to Kyoto, a city full of traditional Japanese pleasures, where you end your journey.
Easy day hikes.
Courtesy Anacortes Yacht Charters.
Weekly sailing charters range from $525 off-season (before May 29 and after Oct. 1) for a yacht sleeping four to five persons to $1,840 for a yacht sleeping 10 persons. Comparable mid-season rates (May 29-June 25 and Sept. 18-Oct. 1) are $615 to $2,145 and prime season rates (June 26-Sept. 12) are $700 to $2,450. Food is not included. Skipper fee is $150 per day for a cruise-and-learn vacation.
Three-day rates are available during off season. Power boat charters also are available.
Anacortes Yacht Charters is situated at the gateway to the beautiful San Juan and Gulf Islands area, off Washington state and British Columbia, and offers a large selection of sailing and power yachts to cruise these pristine waters.
Explore the rocky inlets and quiet coves of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington or sail north to the Gulf Islands off British Columbia and experience the magnificent solitude of Desolation Sound, relax in steamy hot springs and see killer whales, eagles and plunging waterfalls.
Anacortes Yacht Charters will direct you to the best destinations and send you off in a meticulously prepared yacht.
Boats are chartered by the week in peak season, June 26-September 12, but may be chartered for as little as three days during other times of the year.
You can choose a special training cruise, a skippered charter or a challenging bareboat cruise.
The two-and-a-half day "Introduction to Cruising" group training program is designed to teach you the basics required for future bareboat chartering. In the Cruise and Learn program, lasting from one day to a full week, a professionally trained skipper teaches you the skills needed to be your own skipper.
On skippered charters, passengers participate in sailing under guidance.
Bareboat charters are available only to experienced sailors.
Cruises can be as active or relaxing as desired.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek as to this trip's appropriateness for your child.
From $2,590. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek, safari and river arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
This Mountain Travel-Sobek tour takes you to ancient temples, exotic hill villages and lovely beaches in Thailand.
In the northern highlands, you explore the city of Chiang Mai, where you stay with Buddhist monks at a 9th-century Royal Wat (temple).
In the ethnic hilltribe villages of the Nan province, near the border with Laos, you witness the fascinating customs and traditions, including spirit worship (animism), superstitions and day-to-day lives, of these mountain people.
The high point of the trip is a two-day elephant safari. You lumber over mountain ranges and deciduous and bamboo forests on the backs of elephants (walking is optional). You travel to the Nan River and then enjoy a ride upstream on a "long-tail" boat. You cap off the adventure with a sojourn at an island resort in the Adaman Sea, where you swim, snorkel and relax on palm-fringed beaches.
Two days elephant safari, two days easy to moderate hiking, hotels/village accomodations.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,493 PP/DO, not including airfare to Nairobi. Price includes camping equipment, food, accommodations, ground transportation and guide.
Worldwide Adventures Inc. combines the splendor of the Serengeti National Park with the magnificence of the Ngorongoro Crater, (considered by some as the original Garden of Eden) during this six-day Tanzania Adventure.
Your trip begins in Nairobi, Kenya, from where you drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This area is described as one of the most beautiful small game parks in Africa, and it is an ideal location to watch elephants from close quarters.
You move on to Ngorongoro where you will view the crater from your camp. Later, you will have a chance to descend to the crater floor and explore the wildlife below.
On your way back to Nairobi, you visit Mto wa Mbu village.
Courtesy Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing.
Price varies depending on time of year, length of stay and number of heli-lifts per day. Three-day packages range from $1,570-$2,170. Five days are $2,370-$3,370 and seven-days are $2,900-$4,670.
Mike Wiegele Heli-Ski offers a number of heli-ski packages to skiers, snowboarders, mono-skiers and telemarkers in the Cariboo and Monashee Ranges of British Columbia.
Due to the number of slopes and availability of several helicopters, your runs can be designed to suit your individual ability. You feel the adrenalin rush of skiing through virgin powder while surrounded by spectacular vistas.
Wiegele recommends heli-skiers be able to ski most slopes at groomed resorts and be in good physical shape. Skiing in the area is best in December and January because colder temperatures make lighter snow. During this time of year, most skiing is done in the protected powder under the trees. In February and March, Wiegele combines tree and glacier skiing, which makes for longer vertical runs.
Wiegele has opted for a more personal approach this year, reducing the number of guests to ten and adding a third guide to provide more individual attention.
Packages range from three to seven days and include accommodations in log chalets with full kitchens and living areas with stone fireplaces. You can choose either unlimited helicopter lifts or a set number.
The three-day package includes 42,000 vertical feet of helicopter lift. Five-day packages include 70,000 vertical feet of helicopter lift and the week-long stay includes 100,000 feet of lift.
Heli-skiing is challenging and requires you to be able to ski most slopes at groomed resorts and be in good physical shape.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $4,590. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, you visit two culturally-rich and extraordinarily beautiful countries.
In Vietnam, you see the fertile rice terraces and quaint villages of the countryside as well as the French colonial architecture, wide boulevards and cafes of the cities.
You begin your travels in Hanoi, a thousand-year old city full of art, architecture, museums and shops. You also visit the cities of Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). You see sad war remnants as well as the modern culture of the Vietnamese people.
You cross the border into Cambodia and tour the ancient Khmer temples, including Angkor Wat, nestled deep in the rainforests of the northern jungles. Ankor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, was built at the beginning of the 12th century. It took 25,000 laborers more than 37 years to complete.
20 days, moderate road travel.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,390. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This journey on the Chatkal River of Central Asia combines challenging whitewater rafting with beautiful scenery and interesting cultural encounters.
The Chatkal flows through the Tien Shan mountains, a rocky range of snow-covered peaks with sparse vegetation and steep canyons. They are known as the "heavenly mountains" and border the great Kisil-Kum desert to the north and the rich abundant lands of the Central Asian oasis to the south.
In the Tien Shan mountains, several nature reserves, including the Chatkal Biosphere Reserve, provide refuge to 1,100 flowering plants, 109 bird and 31 mammal species.
This region is inhabited by Muslim peoples of Turko-Mongol extraction. On breaks from river rafting, you visit their isolated villages. You gain a new view of the Asian Republics during this tour of a formerly hidden corner of the world.
You also spend a day in Moscow at the beginning of your journey.
Class IV, V rapids. Difficult rapids, with narrow channels obstructed by rocks, steep and narrow drops with the possibility of capsizing. Many safety measures are employed.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
$1,295, includes all meals, lodging and transportation. Price does not include airfare to Mexico.
The Brancas del Cobre and the Sierra Tarahumara, the canyons and mountains of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, dip deeper than the Grand Canyon and are surrounded by some of the wildest, most rugged and interesting terrain in North America.
Its native people, the Tarahumara, still embrace their traditions as civilization encroaches upon them. Laughing Heart Adventures offers a 13-day trek through their lands to experience their culture before it is swallowed by the tide of development.
The tour embarks by train from Los Mochis, Mexico, climbing to 8,000 feet, crossing 36 major bridges, passing through 87 tunnels and many different ecosystems on its way to the Sierra Madre Mountains.
You don your backpack in Batopilos, nestled in some of North America's deepest canyons, and enjoy the hospitality of the tranquil natives and their colonial silver mining village. The area exudes history and a romantic ambiance. You visit a mysterious mission, a very beautiful structure created by some unkown architect.
You begin trekking on the Batopilas River in Copper Canyon National Park, following the El Camino Real and native footpaths 30 miles over the tall ridge that separates two of the areas deepest canyons. Surefooted burros carry much of your gear.
Your trek takes you through semi-tropical paradise up into the high country and back down to the land of papayas, oranges and emerald-green rivers.
After a night in a hotel, complete with a hot shower, you travel by truck and climb out of the Urique Canyon on a road with spectacular views. You then reboard the train and spend the afternoon traversing Yosemite-like scenery.
Your remaining days will be spent exploring the beaches on the Sea of Cortez.
This is a strenuous trip for active people in good health.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,490. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Fan Mountains are often called "The Pearl of the Pamirs" and occupy a small region of formerly Soviet Central Asia. This beautiful area is filled with turquoise lakes that form oases in the barren, snowcapped peaks.
You begin your journey in Moscow and fly to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. In the mountains near the Karakol River, you enter a world of mystical adventure and begin your eight-day trek to Samarkand, one of the world's oldest cities and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
Donkeys carry your gear as you hike over stark, 11,000-foot passes and journey through spectacular gorges populated by semi-nomadic peoples whose culture dates back to the ninth century.
Seven days of strenuous hiking, camping.
Courtesy Intourist.
Courtesy Intourist.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,290. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Lake Baikal is called the "glorious sea," famous not only for its dimensions -- more than 400 miles long and more than a mile deep in places -- but for its wildlife. There are 1,800 species of animals and plants there, 75 percent of which are found nowhere else in the world. Two of these unusual species are the steppe eagle and the only freshwater seal in the world, the nerpa.
You trek along the wild north shore of Lake Baikal, which was settled only in the last 20 years with the development of the Baikal-Amur Railroad. It is a frontier region, more wilderness than civilization, dominated by mountains, rivers and the Siberian taiga -- an endless wilderness of forest.
Siberia is changing under pressure from oil exploration, mining and logging. The southern end of Lake Baikal is already polluted. This journey gives you a chance to see the remaining wild sections of the lake and the surrounding mountains.
Before the trek you explore the Barguzin Nature Preserve, which contains many of the taiga's flora and fauna as well as the region's hot springs.
Six days of strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Weekend courses are about $96 PP and five-day courses about $179 PP.
The Breakaway Survival School takes you into the wilds of southern Wales and teaches you survival skills with an emphasis on teamwork.
Courses are held in the Brecon Beacons, a region of mountains and hills known for its tangled valleys, waterfalls and natural caverns.
You learn to depend on your own skills and resources away from the trappings of society. You become intensely aware of your surroundings because your survival depends on it.
Instructors teach you how to survive on plant life, trap, prepare and cook small game and fish, make a shelter and navigate over difficult terrain.
An introductory course lasting from Friday evening to Sunday noon, includes lectures, walks using a map and compass, identifying edible plants and fungi, survival medicine, lighting a fire, skinning, food preparation, shelter construction and mountain navigation.
Participants range from students to surgeons, from engineers to housewives.
You also may choose a five-day basic course, from Friday afternoon to Wednesday noon, covering the same introductory subjects, but allowing more time to develop skills and fine-tune survival techniques.
An advanced course, taught in a weekend or five days, is an opportunity to build on basic skills, leading to more advanced survival techniques.
Survival programs cater to all fitness levels.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
$2,095 includes meals, lodging and transportation. Price does not include airfare.
This 21-day excursion takes you from the Barrancas del Cobre and the Sierra Tarahumara, mountains and canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon to the Baja Peninsula to search for gray whales, exotic plant life and sand dunes. The trip passes through a number of ecosystems, from high country to semi-tropical rivers, to coastal estuaries.
Your journey begins in Los Mochis, Mexico, where you board a train that climbs to 8,000 feet, crossing 36 major bridges on your way to the Sierra Madre mountains. You stop and prepare your packs in Creel, at 7,800 feet, before venturing to Tararecua Canyon, a major side canyon of the Copper Canyon where you spend four days.
Highlights of the area include Recohuata Hot Spring, which issues out of the canyon wall 50 feet above the Rio San Ignacio, rock spires and old growth pine and cedar forest. The river has abundant swimming holes which help cool you off on warm days.
Your hike out takes you back to Creel for hot showers, ice cream and clean sheets.
You pack into Cusarare Falls, a 100-foot cascade, before heading to meet your Tarahumara guide and his load-lightening burros. They escort you along the canyon's rim and into the semi-tropics of the Urique River valley. You camp two days here before returning to Los Mochis where you spend the evening.
From Los Mochis, you head by ferry across the Sea of Cortez to La Paz on the Baja Peninsula, where you stop to resupply. You drive 150 miles to the shore of Magdalena the next morning. Your route takes you through Baja's arid countryside which is rich with diverse and exotic plant life.
The whale watching excursion takes you to the narrow, north end of Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast. You explore the quiet lagoons, mangrove inlets, extensive dunes and shell middens in sea kayaks and Laughing Heart's unique canoe-catamaran paddling system. Two canoes are connected providing the stability of an outrigger and comfortably seat four and transport gear. While two people paddle, the others can rest, relax and search the waters for signs of whales, dolphins and other wildlife.
Daily destinations depend upon winds, tides and group interest, but you generally camp on the sand dunes that separate the mighty Pacific from the bay.
The hiking is strenuous and requires good health and physical condition.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,190. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Indonesian islands of Java, Lombok and Bali are lands of cascading waterfalls, mossy temples, sweet hibiscus and exotic mystique. These islands are known for their stunning scenery and their extraordinary cultures, exemplified in batik, wood sculpture, shadow-puppet shows, "gamelan" music and courtly dances.
On this trip, you take an insider's tour of the art and culture of this region. You attend private dance performances and shadow-puppet plays and vist some of Indonesia's foremost dance masters, batik makers and wood carvers in their homes.
You also take more active trips into the countryside. Each day you have a choice of hiking, biking and rafting as well as "quieter" alternatives, like "gamelan" music lessons.
You begin in Java, where you explore the vast 8th-century Buddhist temples at Borobudur and ascend the Mt. Merapi and Bromo volcanoes.
Next, you fly to the island of Lombok, where you spend two relaxing days enjoying the ambience of this unspoiled island paradise.
In Bali, you visit the sacred temple of Besakih and raft down the Ayung River near the artists' community of Ubud. You float past rice paddies and through narrow gorges. You also drive to the summit of Mt. Batur (5,600 feet) to view Bali's stunning volcanic landscape. You descend by bicycle past villages and rice terraces.
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers extension tours in Indonesia. They offer trekking in Irian Jaya, a visit to the jungle-dwelling Asmat peoples and an adventure in the Sulawesi highlands with moderate hiking and rafting (Class III). Details are available from Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Easy travel, day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,190. Trip prices include accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip, you discover the diversity of exotic cultures in the Indonesian archipelago.
You begin your journey in Irian Jaya, the Indonesian half of New Guinea, where you trek into the "Stone Age" in the remote Baliem Valley.
In this area, the Dani tribe continues to practice ancient customs. Tilling the land and hunting in the forests, they were unknown to the western world until just before World War II. During this trek, you stay in tents near their villages and have a chance to mingle with them.
On the island of Sulawesi, you visit Torajaland, a mountainous region of marvelous scenic beauty. The Toraja people practice ancestor worship and maintain an elaborate cult of the dead. You visit the fantastic cliffside graves where effigies of the deceased watch over the valleys. You may even get to attend one of their joyous funeral celebrations.
Your journey ends on Bali, one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Balinese culture thrives on the rituals and arts of the people. You visit fabulous beaches, smoking volcanoes and exotic temples while staying at Ubud, the island's cultural and artistic capital.
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers extension tours in Indonesia. These include trekking in Irian Jaya, a visit to the jungle-dwelling Asmat peoples and an adventure in the Sulawesi highlands with moderate hiking and rafting (Class III). Details are available from Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Four days moderate to strenuous hiking, lodging at campsites and hotels.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Cost is about $96 per person for two days.
The Breakaway Survival School teaches groups how to conduct mountain rescues in the region of southern Wales called the Brecon Beacons. This region is known for its natural beauty, tangled valleys, waterfalls and natural caverns.
You learn mountain rescue techniques, mountain navigation, first aid and stretcher carrying among other skills.
Instructors also teach you basic survival skills such as gathering and preparing food, building shelters and making fires.
Courses run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
Also offered by the Breakaway Survival School are two-day and five-day basic and advanced survival courses and two-day, team-building courses.
Participants range from students to surgeons, from engineers to housewives.
Program caters to all fitness levels.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
$625 includes meals and ground transportation. Excludes airfare.
Mexico's Baja Peninsula offers the adventure traveler a unique combination of sand and sea. Several mountain peaks at 5,000 feet or more slope down to the water making for beautiful viewing and varied and interesting terrain.
Laughing Heart Adventures sponsors week-long whale watching excursions in February and March. Evenings are spent camping on the dunes that separate the Pacific from Magdalena Bay, and days are spent searching the seas for whales.
You explore the quiet lagoons, mangrove inlets, extensive dunes and shell middens in sea kayaks and Laughing Heart's own canoe-outrigger paddling system. Two canoes are connected, but with four feet between them, providing maximum stability and comfort for four people and their gear. Two paddle while the others rest, relax and scan surface for whales, dolphins and other wildlife.
Daily destinations depends upon winds, tides and group interest. You remain in some camps for more than one day if you are near whale cruising routes. The canoes carry enough equipment for you to create your own Crusoe-style beach camps in the most secluded, picturesque places.
No experience is necessary.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,475. Trip prices include accomodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Borneo has always been an island of mystery and myth, protected by its mantle of rain forest and the fearsome reputation of its head-hunting tribes.
This adventure takes you to the third largest island in the world, where you hike rain forest trails in search of jungle wildlife and explore incredible subterranean caverns 30 miles long. You take longboats up jungle rivers and meet the indigenous people.
You hike up Mt. Kinabalu (13,455 feet), a magnificent granite peak that soars above the surrounding jungle. From there you enjoy one of the most striking vistas in Southeast Asia.
Mountain Travel-Sobek officials also offer extension tours in Indonesia. They offer trekking in Irian Jaya, a visit to the jungle-dwelling Asmat peoples and an adventure in the Sulawesi highlands that includes moderate hiking and rafting (Class III). Details are available from Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Moderate day hikes, two days optional strenuous hiking, lodges/village accomodations.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Consult Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,100. Trip price includes accomodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
In Papua New Guinea, you encounter some of the most unusual cultures in the world.
On this entrancing island, you meet the people of the Iatmul tribe who live along the Sepik River, the natural highway into the remote interior of Papua New Guinea. This tribe is famous for their exquisitely carved masks and beautiful spirit houses, which are the center of their ancestor worship. The Iatmul use the same techniques in fashioning their handicraft that they have used for hundreds of years.
Next, you explore the verdant Southern Highlands on a three-day trek, walking from village to village through the country of the colorful Huli "wigmen." They were named for their fabulous ceremonial wigs, constructed from bird feathers, pigs' tusks and flowers. Their traditional way of life is highly influenced by their beliefs in ancestral spirits and sorcery.
You may also be guests at the impromptu "sing-sing" celebrations during which Huli warriors dress in full tribal regalia.
The finale of your trip is a scenic rafting trip down the Tagari River, a Class III river in the Tari basin.
Three days of easy to moderate hiking, five days' river journey with one day of rafting (Class III rapids) with moderate waves and rather narrow channels.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Courtesy Breakaway Survival School.
Cost is about $96 per person.
The Breakaway Survival School offers courses designed to help managers "survive better in business by surviving in the wild."
Courses are held in the Brecon Beacons in southern Wales, a region of mountains and hills known for their natural beauty and home to tangled valleys, waterfalls and caverns.
The goals are to reduce stress, develop resourcefulness and self-reliance, encourage teamwork and enhance leadership qualities.
You learn basic survival skills, such as how to exist on plant life, trap, prepare and cook small game and fish, make a shelter and navigate difficult terrain.
You are put into a realistic survival situation in which you must stop worrying about the routine stress of the everyday world and learn to adapt quickly to your environment. Teamwork and initiative really count.
Courses are offered from Friday evening to Sunday noon.
Also offered by the Breakaway Survival School are two-day and five-day basic and advanced survival courses and mountain rescue courses. Participants in these programs range from students to surgeons, from engineers to housewives.
Program caters to all levels of fitness.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$993 for food, gear and lodging during the seven-day cruise. Excludes airfare to Queensland.
Worldwide Adventures offers a seven-day sail around the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia.
Sailing these islands is a unique experience aboard the Coral Trekker, a square rigger with bright, coral-colored sails billowing in the sunlight. The friendly crew tends to your needs and invites you to help sail the vessel. But you are also free to just relax on her wide decks.
When the Coral Trekker drops anchor, there is time for windsurfing, snorkeling, sunbathing and walks on secluded beaches. At night, you enjoy barbecues and beach parties before settling down on board or camping on shore in two-person tents.
For those qualified to dive, there is a compressor on board and tanks and complete diving gear available for hire. Beginner's dive packages are also available.
Included in this seven-day sail is instruction on windsurfing and snorkeling, fishing gear, experienced captain and crew, sleeping bags, tent, air mattresses and food.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,850. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
New Zealand's South Island is the perfect setting for adventurous hiking with its snow-capped mountains, plunging glaciers, lush rain forests and pristine fjords.
In Westland National Park, you explore the Franz Josef Glacier Valley and Lake Matheson. You next hike through the temperate rain forest to Fox Glacier, where you hike along its ice caves, crevasses and pressure ridges.
After this leg, you set off on a three-day trek across the backbone of the Southern Alps on the Kepler Track. You hike about six hours a day, with plenty of time to enjoy this pristine wilderness. You spend the night in well-stocked mountain huts along the route. You also visit Mt. Cook National Park, a majestic wilderness of soaring peaks, grinding glaciers, icefalls and wildflower meadows.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers New Zealand extension tours that include hiking hut-to-hut along the Milford Track (from $750 for six-day trips) and hiking along the Routeburn Track in the Southern Alps (from $450 for a three-day trip).
Day hikes, three days moderate to strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,893 per person, beginning in Darwin, Australia. Price includes ground transportation, meals and camping equipment.
This Worldwide Adventure tour spends nine days exploring the natural wonders of the Kakadu National Park region by foot, four-wheel drive vehicle and canoe.
From its spectacular sandstone escarpments, impressive waterfalls and lush forests to the incredible variety of bird and wildlife, you will savor this journey through Crocodile Dundee Country.
One-third of the birdlife in Australia resides in Kakadu, and the rich cultural heritage, evident in the native "Dreamtime" rock art, combine to make this a special tour of Australia. There are idyllic water holes for a mid-day dip and perfect campsites. A canoe journey down the Daly River and a visit to Lichfield National Park is an ideal way to complete the journey.
The trip cost includes canoeing, camping, safety equipment, guide, transfers, all meals, a scenic flight and a cruise on the Yellow River.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,390. Trip prices include accommodations; tents and all trek arrangements in the field; meals (except for a few in major cities); airport transfers; leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs; baggage porterage; group equipment; entry fees, permits, prep materials and reading lists.
Although the two islands of New Zealand are only a ferry-ride apart, each has special characteristics and unique worlds to discover. On the North Island, you hike near the steaming lakes and soaring geysers of the volcanic highlands near Rotorua. You spend a full day hiking in Tongariro, a national park whose wonders rival Yosemite.
Then you are off to the fabled South Island. You ferry across the Cook Strait to begin the second part of your tour. On day hikes, you explore the rugged peaks, rivers and faultlines of Nelson Lakes National Park as well as the Alpine environments of the Fox Glacier and Mt. Cook. You complete your journey with visits to Cape Foulwind, Paporoa National Park, Pancake Rocks, Queenstown and other highlights.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers New Zealand extension tours that include hiking hut-to-hut along the Milford Track (from $750 for six-day trips) and hiking along the Routeburn Track in the Southern Alps (from $450 for a three-day trip).
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Iceland Tourist Board.
Courtesy Iceland Tourist Board.
$1,493 per person, excluding airfare, starting in Reykjavik. Price includes meals, mountain huts, hostel accommodations and guides. Excludes meals in Reykjavik.
Worldwide Adventures's 15-day exploration of Iceland is designed for the experienced walker and lover of wilderness. You backpack through one of the most spectacular and varied regions in the world.
Iceland is a country where you must be part of an organized expedition if you want to sample remote regions. This trek covers an enormous variety of terrain, much found nowhere else in the world.
Iceland abounds in natural phenomena, bare rock desert, ice caps, fine waterfalls, natural hot springs in which to bathe, soaring mountains and vast expanses of tundra. All of which can be viewed during this trek.
The view from Torfajokull itself covers the whole of the south and central interior of Iceland.
At the conclusion of the tour, you have a free day to explore Reykjavik.
This trek is strenuous and covers an enormous variety of terrain in remote regions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
$694 PP for five-day trip, $642 per person for four days, $542 PP for three days including guides, meals from lunch on the first day through lunch the last day, and charter flight back to Moab.
Adventurers will find a thrilling ride on the awesome rapids of Cataract Canyon, where the mighty Colorado River cuts through Canyonlands National Park. In May and June, the canyon is home to some of the country's most challenging whitewater.
The trip begins moderately, giving you time to hike, take pictures or just gaze at the stark beauty of 300 million year-old rock history, including natural sandstone monuments and the cliff dwellings and petroglyphs of the ancient Anasazi Indians.
The river challenge begins mid-trip, where the Green River converges with the Colorado, doubling its size and force. You encounter Mile Long Rapid, a series of big waves and pounding whitewater. Then comes a run of rapids named the Big Drops, home of Little Niagara and Satan's Gut, which leave a lasting impression on both passenger and guide.
The river flows peacefully into Lake Powell, which has beautiful side canyons to explore. Then climb aboard your charter aircraft for the return flight to Moab and a bird's-eye view of this magnificent canyon country.
Choose the motorized rafts for three- and four-day river trips or the smaller oar rafts for five-day trips. Paddleboats are available on certain trips by advance reservation only.
Two of the Cataract Canyon trips, one in July and another in August, focus specifically on the archaeology, history and geology of the area. Included on these trips will be discussions of the river's eco-systems and current environmental issues. A geologist, a natural historian and an archeology/history buff will help you learn about the Colorado Plateau.
Difficulty level varies according to time of year and weather conditions. Contact tour operator for more information.
Courtesy British Tourist Authority.
Courtesy British Tourist Authority.
$1,293 PP/DO beginning in Inverness, Scotland. Price includes five days of guide services, ground transportation and all lodging.
This eight-day Worldwide Adventures tour explores the rugged highlands of Scotland's west coast with a series of day walks out of Ullapool, a fishing town on the shores of Loch Broom.
From Ullapool, renowned for its highland hospitality, Worldwide's local guides introduce you to the remote glens, inland lochs and isolated beaches of Scotland. Around you, you may see the golden eagle, red deer and numerous sea birds as you wander the windswept moors and isolated cliff tops.
Your trip is flexible, with excursions that ensure the best use of the long summer days. At night, you return to your comfortable hotel, with time to share a dram or two and fully savor the romance and beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,693 per person, beginning in Warsaw. Price includes all accommodations and ground transportation, all meals when in the mountains and breakfasts in Prague and Cracow.
Worldwide Adventures is offering a 15-day hike through the Tatras Mountains, the natural border between Poland and the Czech and Slovak republics. This range provides challenging trekking while permitting you a glimpse of living European history.
The trip starts in the city of Krakow, Poland, with a visit to the ancient castle on Wawel Hill. You travel to Zakopane where you trek over high passes, through forests and past mountain lakes.
The second part of your trek takes you into the Slovak Republic where, if political conditions permit, you embark on a challenging ascent of Gerlach (8,700 feet), the highest peak in the Carpathians. At the end of your mountain walk, you visit Prague, described by many as the most beautiful city in Europe.
While walking and hiking, you stay in comfortable mountain lodges. Your baggage is carried for you, so that all you need to carry is your day pack.
The hiking is moderate to strenuous.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$3,993 per person, beginning in Calcutta. Price includes meals, camping equipment, ground transportation, flight to Kathmandu and guides.
Worldwide Adventures's 22-day "Magic Kingdom" trekking tour introduces you to Sikkim in India and Bhutan, and concludes with a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal, to give you a complete panorama of the Eastern Himalaya.
After a day in Darjeeling, India, you drive across the foothills and past tea plantations to Sikkim, a protectorate of India, and its ancient capital city of Yaksum. Here you begin your 10-day trek, passing through magnificent rhododendron forests on your ascent to the high Alpine pastures from where you can truly appreciate the giant Kanchenjunga (28,336 feet), the world's third highest peak. Kanchenjunga, which means "five treasures of the great snows," straddles the border of Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet.
During this trek, you will be among the privileged few who experience the unspoiled beauty of the forests that lead to the base of this sacred peak.
You drive to Gangtok and visit Deer Park and the nearby Rumtek monastery before heading to the Bhutan border at Phuntsoling.
Few visitors travel in Bhutan. From the "Dzongs" in Thimpu, to the Tiger's Nest monastery in the Paro Valley, this kingdom continues a proud, cultural history. Your experienced guides lead you across the high ridges that separate the Thimpu and Paro valleys. You camp in the vicinity of yak herders and in view of the sacred peak of Chomolohari (24,136 feet) on the border near Tibet.
You complete this trek in Paro, from where you fly to Nepal and see the markets and temples of Kathmandu.
The trek is moderately strenuous.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$5,493 per person, beginning in Kathmandu. Airfare is extra. Price includes camping equipment, meals and guides.
Trek to the "hidden face" of Mt. Everest in this challenging 27-day trip to Tibet.
This Worldwide Adventure tour begins in Kathmandu, Nepal. You drive to the Chinese border town of Zhangmu before negotiating the road up through the deep gorges of the Sun Kosi to the village of Nyalam. Here you trek the Alpine terrain of the Tshongde Valley to glimpse Shishapangma (26,551 feet) and the north face of the Jugal Himalaya.
After three days acclimatizing, you return to Nyalam and drive to the windswept heights of the Tibetan Plateau.
Passing the village of Old Tingri, you get your first view of Everest before heading south to the roadhead at Kharta village.
Few groups have had the privilege of trekking the Kharta Valley, a remote valley "discovered" by the British in the 1920s. You pass glacial lakes, flowered pastures and cross the Shao La (16,401 feet) to the snout of the Kangshung glacier. Here the huge dimensions of the "hidden" east face of Everest (29,198 feet) are fully appreciated.
From Kharta, you return to the north face of Everest, before continuing on to the ancient towns of Xigatse and Gyantse. Finally, you drive to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, a city that has captured the imagination of travelers and explorers for centuries.
Its mystery will capture your imagination as you explore the imposing Potala Palace, home of the exiled Dalai Lama, and the famous Jokhang Temple, which attracts hundreds of devout Buddhist pilgrims from all corners of Tibet each year.
The trekking is moderate to strenuous.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,793 per person, from Geneva. Airfare is extra. Price includes ground transportation, all accommodations, meals, support vehicle and guide.
This Tour du Mont Blanc follows the premier mountain trekking route to the highest peak in Europe. This outstanding route provides plenty of breathtaking mountain views. At one point, you trek through three separate countries in four days.
You hike on well defined trails and cross high Alpine passes including the highest, Col Des Fours (8,910 feet) before descending to quiet, flowering meadows and aromatic pine forests.
The panorama is constantly changing, with views of tumbling glaciers, vast snowfields and steep valleys. The bustling small towns of Chamonix, Courmayeur and Champex provide a busy contrast to the serenity of the mountains.
The trek takes advantage of the excellent accommodations available in the Alps. You will stay in twin and dormitory rooms in hostels and mountain huts, rather than camp.
What could be better than enjoy a few comforts while completing this classic trek in the Alps?
The 13 days of trekking are moderately difficult.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,493 PP/DO, beginning in Bucharest. Excludes airfare to Bucharest. Price includes accommodations, guide and support vehicle and all meals except three.
The mountains of Transylvania are characterized by limestone peaks, large tracts of untouched forest and villages that have changed little over the centuries. Worldwide Adventures' 15-day tour explores this little-traveled region of central Europe.
You begin in Bucharest and travel to an ancient monastery in the mountains where you sample your first taste of Romanian hospitality. You begin your trek in the Bucegi mountains, a natural reserve with a profusion of birdlife and wild flowers.
It is also one of the few remaining habitats of the European Brown Bear.
In the middle of the trek you visit Bran and what is called "Dracula's Castle," before walking on to the Piatra Craiului range. This limestone range provides one of the most spectacular ridge walks in Europe, affording panoramic views of the Transylvanian countryside.
This is a fully-supported trek with accompanying van. You stay in comfortable but remote chalets.
11 of the 15 days will be spent hiking.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
$694 per adult and $474 per child age 5-16 for five days, $596 per adult and $397 per child for four days. Price includes guides, meals from lunch the first day through lunch the last day, and charter flight to departure site.
Whether you are 5 years old or 75, you will enjoy rafting through the canyons of the Green River. This trip combines the enjoyment of scenery with the rushing world of whitewater.
You begin your trip with a scenic plane ride above the river canyon, giving you an overview of what lies ahead.
During each day of your tour, the rapids increase in size and excitement. They are full of big rolling waves, not technically difficult, but exciting and fun.
More than 50 rapids are interspersed with calm stretches of river, giving you time to take pictures, swim alongside the raft or study the stark canyon walls towering above you.
Native American Indians inhabited these canyons long ago and have left their stories etched in the rocks and early settlers homesteaded in the grassy river bottoms. Time is set aside to explore these sites.
Campsites are situated on beautiful sandy beaches with places to hike, swim or just relax.
Four- and five-day trips are offered in May, June and July and five-day trips are available in August. Choose in advance whether you want a paddleboat or an oarboat.
Trip is designed for ages five and older. Difficulty level varies according to time of year and weather conditions. Contact tour operator for more information.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,793 per person, from Kathmandu, not including airfare. Price includes camping equipment, meals, ground transportation and guides.
Enjoy a short, but action-packed trip through Nepal that features a four-day introductory trek, two days of rafting and a two-day wildlife safari, giving you an unforgettable taste of the Kathmandu Valley.
You begin this 15-day tour with a four-day trek through the Annapurna foothills. Your days on the trail begin with tea, followed by a bowl of hot water for washing. You pack your sleeping gear and enjoy a hearty breakfast. The morning trek lasts three to four hours, with time to explore villages and enjoy the scenery before stopping for lunch.
Lunch usually consists of salad, a rice dish, cold meat, fresh fruit and local breads. You then hike a couple hours to the evening camp, and have the rest of the time to relax, play, read or write in your diary. Dinner is served in the mess tent as you recall the day's adventures.
The following two days are spent on the Trisuli River, where Worldwide's experienced guides introduce you to the delights of whitewater rafting.
Next, you travel to the Royal Chitwan National Park where you ride elephants through the high grass and watch the abundant wildlife. You spend the last two days exploring Kathmandu.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Cost of previous trips has been $1,390. Call for current price. Includes equipment, meals, guides. Airfare not included.
Sheri Griffith Expeditions' nine-day Costa Rica rafting trip runs three rivers that are among the best in Central America.
In this country of remarkable geographic diversity, you see everything from lowland tropical rainforests to high altitude cloud forests, from black volcanic sand and coral beaches to mountains rising to 12,000 feet.
Rafting through rain forests, you see wildlife ranging from toucans to monkeys.
Also included are sightseeing in the capital of San Jose and in rural communities and four nights in hotels.
Trip conditions vary according to time of year and weather conditions. Contact tour operator for more information.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,693 per person, excluding airfare, beginning in Kathmandu. Price includes camping equipment, lodging, guides and food.
Worldwide Adventures offers an easy, introductory trek through the Annapurna range.
With the mighty Annapurnas in the background, you follow trails through villages that retain a timeless character and charm. The pace is relaxed, with time to stop and sample the traditional hospitality. Your tour lasts for 15 days, with nine days spent trekking.
From your camps, you have clear views of the Himalayas and the well-defined fluted peak of Machapuchare.
The fabulous mountains, villages and your friendly Nepali crew make this a memorable first-time trek. You also have the flexibility of spending two days browsing around Kathmandu.
The trip is designed for a novice trekker.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Cost of previous trips has been $1,950 PP. Call for current price. Includes equipment, meals, guides. Airfare not included.
Rafting, trekking and riding atop elephants are some of the diverse modes of transportation employed in this fascinating two-week tour of Nepal with Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
You raft on the Seti River, which flows out of the Himalaya and rapidly descends through a series of spectacular gorges into the heart of the Tarai. The rapids are class III-IV which means "fun and wet."
Trekking takes you into the Himalaya, the highest mountains in the world, where you can experience firsthand some of the unique cultures of this country as you pass huts, temples and monasteries, observing rituals and customs.
Your next adventure is in the Royal Chitwan Jungle National Park. After arriving by oxcart, you ride atop elephants to glimpse rhino, sloth bear, jackal and tiger.
The trip begins and ends in Kathmandu.
Difficulty level varies according to time of year and weather conditions. Contact tour operator for more information.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$2,593 per person, excluding airfare to Kathmandu. Price includes camping equipment, guides, porters, meals, lodging and ground transportation.
Worldwide Adventures' popular introductory tour to whitewater, wildlife and vistas of Mt. Everest offers everything you want to see during your first trip to Nepal.
You trek slowly through the Sherpa homeland and savor your first views of Everest from the famous monastery of Thyangboche. To complete this panorama, the peaks of nearby mountains rise immediately above your camp.
You walk to the famous village of Namche Bazaar and sample the delights of Sherpa hospitality. If you haven't tried square dancing the Sherpa style, you haven't lived, say tour organizers.
From the Everest region, you head for the rapids of the Trisuli River for two exciting days of rafting as your experienced guide introduces you to the joys of whitewater.
Finally, you ride on elephants in the Royal Chitwan National Park, pursuing the tracks of rhino, leopard and the Royal Bengal tiger to cap off this adventure.
You walk five to six hours a day at moderate altitudes.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
$270 includes meals, camping gear and fees, instruction and ground transportation. Excludes airfare.
The osprey, coyote, raven, deer and bear of the canyons and redwood forests of northern California will be your companions on this three-day canoeing excursion sponsored by Laughing Heart Adventures.
You canoe down the wild and scenic Eel River through rolling countryside, desolate canyons and serene wilderness areas where the roads are few. Camp will be made on the large sandy beaches which snake alongside the Eel. The water is generally warm enough to swim in, even in spring.
Beginners and experienced paddlers will learn something new as they navigate the challenging, but easily manageable river through complex geological formations.
Laughing Heart also offers a week-long version of this trip for more advanced paddlers.
The river is challenging but manageable, even for novice paddlers.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$2,593 per person, excluding airfare to Kathmandu. Price includes camping equipment, guides, ground transportation, meals and all lodging.
The trek around Annapurna, one of the finest in the Himalaya, combines diversity of countryside, the exhilaration of crossing high mountain passes and the unsurpassed views of the mountains. This 29-day tour includes 23 days of moderate to strenuous trekking.
From Begnas Lake, you ascend the wooded ridges that lead to the Marsyandi Valley and the arid, spectacular borderlands of Tibet. The wild country north of the Annapurna Range provides a stark contrast with the lush forests of the mountains.
You acclimatize at the trading village of Manang before crossing the Thorong La. As you reach the pass, line after line of snow ridges stretch before you.
From here, you descend to Muktinath and its sacred Buddhist and Hindu shrines. Farther south, the contrasts of the Nepali countryside become more evident as windswept passes give way to forests and banana groves.
(A 22-day version of this trip with a 16-day moderate trek is also available for $2,193 per person.)
The trekking ranges from moderate to strenuous.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
Courtesy Laughing Heart Adventures.
$180-$395 depending upon length of trip, includes all meals, boating gear, group camping gear, instruction and camping fees. Excludes airfare, sleeping bags and tents (rental is available).
The warm and clear waters of the Trinity River provides some of the best canoeing in California. Far from cities and crowds, the Trinity offers isolation, outstanding scenery and varied wildlife.
Because of dam regulations, there is always good boating here even during the driest months of the year. Much of the water comes from the Trinity Alps, so named because the rugged landscape, etched out of the earth by glaciers, resembles the serrated peaks of Switzerland. The Trinity Alps comprise the second largest block of wilderness in the state.
Laughing Heart Adventures offers guided two- to five-day trips on the Trinity for all skill levels. Both day- and self-contained camping styles are available.
Routes vary according to your experience, but you generally travel through three gorges, each of them beautifully forested and home to osprey, heron, eagle, bear, deer, mountain lion, otter, beaver, fox, turtle, ducks and geese. The emphasis is on a comfortable, shared adventure rather than on just logging miles.
Your guides all have the technical, medical skills and humor necessary to lead outdoor expeditions. A camp cook also accompanies each tour providing you with wholesome, delicious food and deserts.
Laughing Heart sponsors a three-day trip down the Trinity exclusively for women in early September.
Difficulty varies depending upon which trip is chosen.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Call for exact price information. $3,493 is the average cost of 34-day treks, excluding airfare to Kathmandu.
Worldwide Adventures offers an assortment of strenuous, high-altitude treks around Everest. These are designed for hikers prepared for a challenging, 10-hour a day ascent and technical climbing with the help of climbing equipment.
The 29-day Classic Everest trek takes you to the foot of Mt. Everest, up through monasteries and toward Kala Patar, a rocky outcrop immediately opposite Everest.
A 22-day hike around Gokyo Lakes explores the hidden valleys of the Khumbu region.
The 34-day Everest Arun Vally tour explores the remote regions of Dudh Khosi Valley.
A 34-day trip takes you to Gokyo Lakes and through several challenging circuits, which require technical climbing, before you reach Lobuche and traverse the south ridge.
Another 34-day trip takes you into the recently-opened Dolpo region, a wild and windswept region where the snow leopard is rumored to roam. During this trek you travel to Shey National Park and the fabled Phuksumdo Lake.
These ascents are very challenging and require physical fitness and outdoor experience.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
$694 per adult and $474 per child age 5 to 16. Includes meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, charter flight from Moab to departure point and guides.
Share something special with your family on five-day guided rafting trips in June, July and August on the Green River in Utah.
This trip combines the rushing world of whitewater with the relaxing enjoyment of scenery. You hike, play water games, camp on sandy beaches, explore canyons and examine the ancient Indian writings on their walls.
Experienced guides take the children on structured outings, designed to be educational as well as fun. Parents can join in the excursions or take time for themselves.
Each day, the more than 50 rapids increase in size and excitement. They are full of big rolling waves, not technically difficult, but exciting and fun.
Meals are prepared by camp staff and are balanced for adult and child appetites. After dinner there is always dessert, then the final treat, building a campfire for roasting marshmallows.
You have a choice of paddleboats or oarboats.
Trip is specially designed for families and children.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,495 per person, excluding airfare to Churchill. Price includes lodging, ground transportation and some meals.
Churchill in northern Manitoba is known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," and you have a chance to see why during this Worldwide Adventures tour.
Nowhere else is there such a concentration of bears as in this region. In October, polar bears begin to travel north along the Hudson Bay coast where they wait, in large numbers, for the bay to freeze.
This tour provides you one of the world's greatest viewing opportunities. You can spend the whole day observing and photographing these magnificent animals from the safety of a specially designed "tundra" vehicle.
Your leader, Bonnie Chartier, a well-known Churchill resident, is an excellent naturalist and was the first to conduct tours of this kind.
Her experience and vast knowledge of the area's natural history enable you to get close to the bears without disturbing or disrupting their natural behavior.
You can also expect to see other Arctic animals, including the snowy owl, Arctic fox, willow ptarmigan and collared lemming, during this six-day tour.
The size of the tour is limited to 18.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Price begins at $3,500 per person. Excludes airfare to Nome. Price includes meals, lodging and ground transportation.
Take a unique voyage into "Beringia," the expanse of Siberia and Alaska that was connected during the Ice Age, during this Worldwide Adventures Alaska to Siberia tour.
You explore the Bering Strait, which serves as an international crossroads for wildlife and indigenous people.
Departing Nome, you sail along the Siberian coast aboard the World Discoverer to the multicultural towns and villages of the Russian Far East before heading northward through the Bering Strait and across the Arctic Circle.
Cruising through the Arctic ice flows in the Chukchi Sea toward Wrangel Island, you make expedition stops in search of polar bear and the snow geese that migrate to remote Wrangel Island each summer to nest.
Returning south, you explore the Inuit-populated coastline of northwestern Alaska, visting traditional Kotzebue and its surrounding tundra filled with wildflowers.
You travel in comfort on the 138-passenger World Discoverer, specially constructed for Arctic explorations with a double-hulled bottom and a fleet of zodiak landing craft for spontaneous exploration.
This 11-day tour is scheduled for July.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
Courtesy Sheri Griffith Expeditions.
$872 PP, includes meals from lunch the first day through lunch the last day, charter flight back to Moab and guides.
Take a different kind of rafting trip on the Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park. Take a break from pitching your own tent, sleeping on hard ground and carrying your own baggage and enjoy a life of pampered luxury.
Hike, fish and relax on the beach. Dine with a tablecloth, wineglasses and candles by the riverside. Watch the sun set as your waiter prepares a flaming dessert.
The food is truly gourmet, the camp luxurious, the setting relaxed and the scenery unsurpassed.
Natural monuments and spires of sandstone and the cliff dwellings left by Anasazi Indians form part of the rock history of this enchanting land.
The awesome rapids of Cataract Canyon provide a thrilling ride. There's Mile Long Rapid, a series of big waves and pounding whitewater. Then comes a run of rapids named the Big Drops, home of Little Niagara and Satan's Gut, which leave a lasting impression on both passenger and guide.
The river flows into Lake Powell with beautiful side canyons to explore. Then climb aboard your charter aircraft for the return flight to Moab and a bird's-eye view of this magnificent canyon country.
Difficulty level varies according to time of year and weather conditions. Contact tour operator for more information.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,990. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
This trip takes you on a quest for the hidden treasures of Hawaii. You snorkel off the "Big Island" of Hawaii in Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve. You sail by catamaran along the Kona Coast to a secluded cove and snorkel a little more.
You hike the trembling slopes of Kilauea to explore Volcanoes National Park.
On the island of Kauai, you hike the Na Pali Coast and climb among the rainbow cliffs of Waimea Canyon, Hawaii's Grand Canyon.
Next, you head to Maui and hike in the caldron of the Haleakala Volcano. You explore the bamboo forests, waterfalls and beaches of Hana. There, you find the full spectrum of the islands' wondrous beauty. It is a fitting finale for your Hawaiian travels.
Moderate day hikes, camping/cabins.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,895 plus $400 for charter flights. (Trip prices include accommodation, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
Costa Rica is famous for its exceptional birdlife and unmatched plantlife and this tour will take you on an adventurous natural history exploration of this island. You examine Costa Rica's unique habitats -- virgin rain forests, misty cloud forests, fertile green valleys, volcanic peaks and miles of beautiful beaches.
In the delicate ecosystems of the marshy seaside woods of Tortuguero National Park are the spawning grounds for many varieties of sea turtles. You explore quiet Venice-like waterways that penetrate the forest. You observe aquatic wildlife like the manatee and jungle animals like the howler monkey.
In Cano Island Biological Reserve, once a pirate's hideaway, and in Corcovado National Park, you see some of the last rain forests in Central America. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in the Highlands of Costa Rica, you look for the rare and beautiful quetzal, a bird sacred to the Mayas and Monteverde's most famous resident.
Foggy mists nurture 2,000 species of plants, including wild orchids, mosses, ferns and bromeliads in Costa Rica.
Your trip ends with a visit to Poas Volcano and its bubbling geysers and fumaroles.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers a day of Class III whitewater rafting on the Reventazon River (from $75, departure from San Jose).
Easy to moderate nature hikes, simple jungle lodges.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,995. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
This trip takes you on a tour of the delicate ecosystems of Central American rain forests and analyzes how governments can protect them against human expansion.
Panama contains diverse landscapes, including rain forests and high-altitude cloud forests. Panama's jungles are home to 800 species of birds, 1,500 species of trees and more than 2,000 plant types. There are more plant and wildlife species here than are found in the United States, Europe and Canada combined.
You spend part of your visit reviewing the research and conservation efforts of ANCON, a local non-profit environmental organization supported by the Nature Conservancy of the United States and the renowned Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), which are all working to save this environment. You will visit research sites, a marine biological lab and a nature reserve on Barro Colorado Island.
You explore Soberania National Park, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal, Baru Volcano and much more.
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,990. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
This exciting adventure explores all of Belize's charms.
You start with an exploration of the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, impressive ceremonial centers containing mysterious temples, ball courts and numerous plazas. You travel on to a jungle lodge on the banks of the Macal River.
There you swim in cool rock pools and look for wildlife and birds. You hike to a campsite deep within the jungle on the Upper Macal River. You hike for a full day through the rain forest looking for tapir, jaguar and ocelot. Birdwatchers can spot the keel-billed toucan, Montezuma oropendola, crested guan and the endangered scarlet macaw.
Next, you board rafts for an easy ride downstream where you meet vehicles and continue to the coast. Your base is Tobacco Caye, a small island in Belize's famous Barrier Reef, inhabited by fishermen and boasting a distinctive Caribbean lifestyle.
There you sea kayak and explore neighboring islands and snorkel at Glover's Atoll, one of the world's top dive sites. Total laziness is also permitted at Tobacco Caye.
Easy jungle hiking, rafting on easy to moderate rapids, sea kayaking, camping/lodges.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,995. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
On this fantastic journey, you explore Guatemala and its Maya and Indian cultural heritage, which is still very evident on this tropical landscape.
You start your visit in the Peten region, settled by the Maya thousands of years ago. There they built their great ceremonial centers, some still unexplored, before abandoning them altogether.
You explore recently-discovered Maya ruins, including Aguateca, before traveling to the soaring stone ruins of Tikal.
You also journey to the ancient colonial capital of Antigua, which is surrounded by high volcanoes. You visit Lake Atitlan and the Zuiche Indian mountain village of Chichicastenango, a great market center for the Indians of the western highlands.
Easy to moderate road travel, easy day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,050. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Many famous mountaineers started their careers on the snowy peaks of Mexico's giant volcanoes. On this trip, you climb three of them -- Orizaba (18,851 feet), Popocatepetl (17,887 feet) and Ixtaccihuatl (17,343 feet). These are the third-, fifth- and seventh-highest mountains in North America.
The mountains, rising from Mexico's plains, are spectacular, snowcapped volcanoes that provide a startling contrast to the surrounding countryside.
In this region, you still see women weaving serapes from colored wool, farmers reaping crops with hand scythes and woodcutters hauling firewood to their villages on burros.
This trip gives you a chance to hone your mountaineering skills and even set new personal altitude records. All you need is desire and stamina, basic mountaineering experience (the use of ice ax and crampons) and you can start your mountain climbing career.
Basic mountaineering, stamina, experience with ice ax and crampons, high elevation.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,850. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
This river journey takes you into the pre-Columbian past of Central America. You travel down the Usumacinta River for 10 days, skirting the borders of Mexico and Guatemala, while howler monkeys roar and scarlet macaws fly overhead.
Usumacinta is the "river of the sacred monkey" and as you float downstream through narrow canyons and swirling currents, you watch the ruins of Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras rise from the rain forests that line the river.
This trip offers you a thorough education in Mayan history and culture and rain forest ecology.
Leisurely rafting (Class II rapids).
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,390. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
The Bio-Bio River is South America's most celebrated whitewater run, set in the foothills of the Andean volcanoes. The still-steaming peak of Volcan Callaqui dominates the skyline and the Bio-Bio literally explodes with spectacular rapids.
At first, the land is gentle and the river ripples through soft, rolling countryside with snow-crested volcanoes in the distance.
The panorama changes abruptly as metamorphic and granitic gorges squeeze in and pinch the river channel, creating challenging and complex Class IV and V rapids. You encounter more than 100 fast and furious rapids with names like "Lost Yak," "Milky Way," "One-Eyed Jack" and "Lava South."
In quiet moments off the river, you soak in hot springs, fish for trout, hike to an Alpine lake or hike towards the snowy summit of Volcan Callaqui. You can splash in a score of tributary waterfalls, stretch out on soft beaches and marvel at the strange night sky of the southern hemisphere.
Class IV/V rapids (difficult, with narrow channels and steep and narrow drops), day hikes, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,650 for standard route to $2,925 for Polish Route. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek, safari and river arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
The Aconcagua Expedition takes you to the summit of the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and the highest outside Asia. Rising 22,834 feet, Aconcagua is visible from the Pacific on a clear day and was first climbed by Mathias Zurbriggen in 1897.
There are three routes up Aconcagua. During this tour, you take the standard route. While technically quite easy, this is a formidable ascent due to cold weather and high altitudes. There is also always the threat of sudden, furious storms on this fickle mountain.
Weather permitting, you can ascend by a second approach known as the Polish route, but only during some parts of the season. This route has a traverse of 19,000 feet joining the standard route for the summit attempt.
The Polish route is more challenging than the standard route and four miles longer. The Polish route also passes through a prettier valley and you may have to make some river crossings.
This is an extremely strenuous and demanding trip and the summit requires 12 to 14 hours of vigorous climbing at extremely high altitudes. This mountain makes its own weather and caution and sound judgment are needed for a successful ascent.
Intermediate mountaineering, high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,395. (Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.)
The Towers of Paine in the wilderness of southern Chile were created by receding glaciers, which moulded a wall of peaks that protrude nearly 6,000 to 8,000 vertical feet from the surrounding grasslands.
Your 10-day trek takes you around these granite towers so you can revel at the spectacular views of these giant peaks, the highest of which is Paine Grande at 10,600 feet.
You also walk along the enormous Grey Glacier that flows down from the Patagonian ice cap. You see special Patagonian wildlife such as guanacos (an animal related to a camel but without a hump), parrots, upland geese, ducks, black-necked swans, pink flamingos, eagles and Andean condors.
Pack horses carry your gear most of the way, except for a three-day leg of the journey which is so rough that the horses cannot get through. During that time, you have to carry your tents, sleeping bags and food.
Ten days strenuous hiking with backpacking portion, camping/lodges.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,295. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip, you discover the rugged beauty of Patagonia's pristine wilderness. You hike and camp at the southernmost tip of South America, where the dramatic landscape of pink and white granite towers rises out of the golden Argentinian and Chilean pampas. There are beech forests and deep jewel-like fjords on your route.
In Paine National Park in Chile, you venture among the needle-like Towers of Paine (10,000 feet). You encounter a rich variety of wildlife, including foxes, pumas, condors, guanacos (cousins of the llama) and more than 100 species of birds.
You next travel to Argentina's Glacier National Park where you observe more of Patagonia's granite pinnacles like Fitzroy (11,073 feet) and Cerro Torre (10,263 feet). Horses carry your gear and you are free to carry only a day pack.
Six days moderate to strenuous hiking, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,395. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This overland trip gives you a comprehensive look at Patagonia. You observe penguins at a renowned penguin colony on Argentina's windswept Peninsula Valdez and then you travel to the lush archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. Here, you see majestic fjords carved into the Beagle Channel.
You move on to the Glacier National Parks, where you spend three days exploring each one.
In Chile's scenic lake district, you spend a day at Chiloe Island, famous for its wooden churches, mythology and fine seafood. You also hike the lower slopes of Volcan Osorno.
You travel through Patagonia on rough roads. Your accommodations will be in small hotels and inns.
Easy to moderate road travel, day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $4,995 plus $800 charter flights. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Falkland Islands, situated 400 miles off the coast of South America, offer a unique adventure for wildlife enthusiasts. There are numerous species of mammals, including sea lions, elephant seals, fur seals and sea birds like petrels, albatross, shearwaters, prions, skuas and, of course, penguins here.
The wildlife is naturally tame and it is possible to walk within a few feet of the nesting colonies of penguins or cormorants without disturbing them.
You can explore this wealth of marine and mammal life on excursions by vehicle and on foot in the splendid Falkland landscape of rolling moorlands and dramatic cliffs.
After your visit to the Falklands, you travel to Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. You take day hikes from a rustic lodge in the park and discover jewel-colored lakes, huge granite towers and icy glaciers.
You can also visit some of Patagonia's small fishing and mining towns as well as the capital city of Santiago.
Easy to moderate road travel, day hikes, no camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,195. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This trek in the Andean highlands takes you to remote valleys where you see little-visited villages, colorful indigenous cultures and remnants of ancient civilizations.
You begin with a short, strenuous trek in the Condoriri section of Bolivia's beautiful Cordillera Real. This mountain range is named for its "princely" summits. You visit Lake Titicaca and the impressive pre-Inca ruins of Tiahuanaco. You visit the vine-strewn buildings of Machu Picchu, the "lost city" of the Incas.
You witness both modern-day cultures and the civilizations that preceded them.
You depart from La Paz, Bolivia, and fly home from Lima, Peru.
Three days strenuous trekking at high elevation, easy to moderate road travel, camping/hotels.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,095. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this tour, you experience the cultural and scenic diversity of Peru. You begin this fast-paced trip with an informative explanation of the Amazon ecosystem. You put your knowledge to use during excursions on foot and by dugout canoe.
You fly to Cuzco (11,200 feet), the Inca capital in the cool Andean highlands, where you acclimatize by taking a two-day rafting trip down the Urubamba River through the "Sacred Valley of the Incas," which is a green mountain valley dotted with ruins and villages.
Next you trade your rafts for hiking boots and head out on a four-day trek to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail, an ancient ridgetop route once used for Inca pilgrimages. You visit four major Inca ruins en route. On your last day of trekking, you walk through the portals of the "gate of the sun" itself, Machu Picchu.
You stay overnight in Machu Picchu and spend time wandering the ruins and climbing Huayna Picchu, the peak above the ruins, before returning by train to Cuzco.
Four days moderate hiking, camping/lodges.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,495, including flights within Venezuela. Trip price also includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The mysterious table mountains, or "tepuis," made of pink and green rock, soar above the plateau of the Guayana Shield in remote southeastern Venezuela. More than 100 of them are scattered over 200,000 square miles. All of them have been visited but less than half have been explored extensively.
Your adventure explores a microcosm of this remarkable landscape. You begin with a trip up Mt. Auyantepui (9,688 feet). Its summit is graced by Angel Falls, which cascade 3,212 feet to the jungle below and are the highest falls in the world. You trek across savanna, through virgin jungle, up sheer-sided mountain walls and finally along eerie summits. There, rock formations and native plants create a bizarre tableau.
After the trek, you continue to Kamarata, where you take authentic Indian dugout canoes downstream to the base of Angel Falls. You pass densely-jungled river banks dotted with occasional Indian settlements. You see otters, monkeys and macaws, toucans and parrots.
At the base of the falls, you hike to see it up close and to swim in the pool at its base.
Seven days of moderate to strenuous hiking, camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,495. Trip price also includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this journey, you see the best of Brazil by boat.
You begin at the old rubber capital of Manaus in the heart of the Amazon jungle. You travel by riverboat along the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon. As you navigate this huge tropical river, you stop to explore the swamp system by canoe and trek into the surrounding jungle. You visit local people and learn about the environment from your expert guides.
You pass the famous "Meeting of the Waters" where the Rio Negro's dark waters meet the muddy Rio Solimoes to form the giant Amazon River.
From there, you travel to the Pantanal in the state of Mato Grosso, a vast land of forests, meadows and savannahs. The Pantanal (from a word meaning flooded plain or swampland) is the greatest existing natural wetland system in the world.
An ecological preserve, it is among the most important wildlife habitats in South America. The broad, open spaces of the Pantanal make it easy to spot wildlife. This trip is timed to coincide with the dry season, when lakes are formed by receding waters, and provide easy access to wildlife as they congregate at these pools.
Birdwatching is probably the greatest delight in the Pantanal. There are over 600 species of birds to observe and photograph.
Next, you travel to the spectacular Iguacu Falls and spend two full days in Rio de Janeiro where you visit rain forests by day and dance the "Carioca" by night.
Easy day hikes and river journey.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $2,295. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Brazil's Atlantic Coastal Rain Forest is considered the number two priority for environmental conservation.
Once, it was one of the planet's richest and most extensive eco-systems, but today only 5 percent of the original area remains. It contains a vast diversity of endangered species.
You will take day hikes and excursions by boat into the richness of this rain forest. You visit Superagui National Park and Guaraquecaba Paranagua Bay. There, you find 300 islands covered by rain forest, marsh lands and shoals, which shelter plants and animals that are extinct elsewhere.
Your guides are expert biologists and ecologists and you will learn about these delicate eco-systems and how to preserve them.
Your extraordinary journey ends at the famous Igaucu Falls. You hike to view a wide variety of wildlife harbored under dense jungle.
Easy to moderate day hikes and boat excursions.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,840. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This mountaineering adventure takes you to the Andes in Ecuador, which form two separate ranges, the Eastern and Western Cordillera. A central valley runs between these ranges for 200 miles and it is dotted with more than 30 volcanoes.
On this journey, you climb two of these volcanoes: the majestic Cotopaxi (19,347 feet), the world's highest active volcano, and Chimborazo (20,561 feet), the highest mountain measured from the center of the earth if you take into account the bulge of the equator.
You acclimatize to the region by climbing Volcan Tungurahua (16,470 feet).
While not technically difficult, these climbs are very physically demanding due to high elevation and snow conditions. Ample time is allowed for inclement weather and acclimatization. Basic mountaineering experience is required.
Eight days of intermediate mountaineering at high elevation.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,995. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Ecuador may be small geographically, but it encompasses an incredible range of climatic and vegetation zones as well as Indian cultures and natural beauty.
You spend a day in ancient Quito, the picturesque highland capital at 9,000 feet, before you begin to explore the mountains on a five-day trek. You see views of the Andes' snow white peaks with condors circling in the sky. You meet the local Indian peoples and visit isolated villages and bright local markets.
Next, you continue to yet another world, the Amazon rain forest. You spend four days exploring this region by canoe on jungle rivers and on foot through forest paths. Your base is a charming and comfortable lodge located on a beautiful jungle lagoon.
You end your adventure with a two-day rafting trip down the Toachi River. As you race down Class III and IV rapids, you marvel at Andean valleys carpeted with rain forest.
You visit the Colorado Indians, who decorate their bodies with the red dye of the "achiote" seed.
Five days strenuous trekking, nature hikes, two days whitewater rafting, Class III and IV rapids, moderate to difficult, with narrow channels and some steep drops.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,895. Trip price also includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This adventure takes you to the Galapagos Islands, the region filled with the geological and ecological wonders that inspired young Charles Darwin to formulate his theory of evolution 150 years ago.
Today in the Galapagos, the animals still have no fear of man. You wander among the wild creatures of these islands as though you were part of their natural environment. You see nesting birds up close and sea lions cavorting in the waves as you snorkel nearby.
Creation seems to be in progress on these volcanic islands, where you see lava flows created within the last century and a volcano's still-steaming fumarole.
On this trip, you have plenty of time to swim, snorkel and relax in the equatorial sun.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers special "deluxe departures" of this tour; contact them for details.
They also have extension tours to Quito and the Highlands (from $525 for five days), an Amazon Rain Forest tour by canoe and on foot (from $625 for five days) and a Quito to Cuenca Rail Adventure, a spectacular scenic train ride (from $725 for five days).
Easy boat travel, day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $4,750. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. You travel aboard a Finnish-built research vessel and explore this remote land with the same sense of adventure that early explorers experienced when they first sailed to the "last continent."
Although the interior of Antarctica is barren, its shores and waters teem with animals. The icy landscape reflects the colors of sea and sky. The vast silence is broken by the groaning of the glaciers and the calls of thousands of birds.
Each departure is limited to 38 passengers, so you can explore this delicate environment without harming it. On the open decks of the ship and on land, you enjoy close-ups of the wildlife population as well as the dramatic glaciers and mountains.
The long days of the austral summer allow plenty of time to birdwatch, view wildlife and hike. Inflatable landing craft take you anywhere along the peninsula. You make your excursions accompanied by naturalist-guides and you survey huge rookeries of nesting chinstrap, gentoo and Adelie penguins. Your excursions are enhanced by evening lectures. You have the flexibility to extend your trips to shore or scramble up small peaks and promontories.
You can be among the fortunate few to visit Antarctica this season.
Easy boat travel and day hikes.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Courtesy Danish Tourist Board.
Approximately $19,900. Trip price includes accommodations, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this fantastic Arctic trip, you will be one of the first-ever expeditions to circumnavigate Greenland, the world's largest island. Covered with ice and snow, Greenland's mammoth ice cap is 10,000 feet thick. Its mountains are unsurpassed for scenic beauty. In some cases, they rise right up from the fjords that line the coast.
Aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, you sail around Greenland in 25 days. You enjoy spectacular Arctic scenery and wildlife that includes polar bears, walrus, seals and numerous seabirds. You visit the Eskimo villages that skirt the coastline.
Because there are no trains and few roads, all sightseeing inland is done by helicopter. You take flights over Greenland's coast to the ice cap and watch your icebreaker smash its way through the pack ice. You travel around northeastern and northern Greenland and rendezvous with a larger icebreaker -- one of the world's largest -- which will escort you through the thickest pack ice.
Other highlights include viewing the spectacular fjords and glaciers of the East Greenland coast, Cape Morris Jessup, which is the northernmost point of Greenland, Lincoln Sea, Nares Strait, Cape Alexander, Upernavik, and Jakobshaven.
Easy boat travel.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $19,000. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, porters, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Although the quest for the North Pole began with the ancient Greeks, who speculated about the midnight sun in the Far North, the search began in earnest in the 19th century.
Now, 90 years after man first braved the elements and reached the Pole, you can make the journey in relative comfort aboard the Russian icebreaker Yamal.
Your journey takes a new route to the North Pole along the Northeast Passage, which is the Arctic route that traverses the Pole from Murmansk, a Russian city on the Barents Sea near the northernmost tip of Norway, to Anchorage, Alaska.
Along the route, you stop to visit many of the islands of the Arctic Ocean, including Wrangel Island, which has one of the world's largest concentration of polar bears. You head north and plunge further into the Arctic pack ice. You celebrate your arrival at the North Pole in style!
You have daily opportunities to stop and explore the surrounding ice. There will also be an extensive lecture program and regular helicopter sightseeing flights.
Easy boat travel.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,775. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This tour takes you to Asturias, a rarely-visited province of Spain, on the northern coast.
It is an area of beautiful scenery, limestone peaks, deep pine and oak forests, fishing villages and lush meadows full of wildflowers.
You hike among the limestone spires of the Picos de Europa, an impressive mountain range that juts up just 20 miles from the Atlantic coast. One pinnacle, the Naranjo de Bulnes (8,255 feet), is a favorite climb of Spanish mountaineers.
You pass through villages along the rugged trails of the Picos. This region is bound by tradition and many old local occupations still thrive here, among them raising livestock and making "cabrales," goat cheese.
Midway through the journey, you spend a day exploring the seacoast and its fortified villages and hidden beaches.
Most nights you stay in "refugios," dorm-style accommodations in the mountains. The warm Spanish hospitality and great regional cuisine will delight you.
Ten days moderate to strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,190. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Pyrenees mountains form a towering crown on the Spanish-French border and are a magnet for hikers and adventurers. The landscape is filled with turquoise lakes, wildflowers and spectacular mountain cirques (steep-walled mountain basins).
You begin in Spain at the hot springs above the ski town of Panticosa and cross the border into France, trekking through deep valleys, skirting icy glaciers and waterfalls. Here you may make an optional climb of Petit Vignemale.
You hike through the Breche de Roland (9,253 feet), an old smugglers pass and where the medieval hero of the "Song of Roland" was reportedly ambushed.
Returning to Spain, you descend into the beautiful Ordesa Valley. You visit Benasque and then hike to the summit of Aneto (11,168 feet), the highest peak of the Pyrenees.
Finally in Montserrat, you hike in a mystical landscape of towering pillars and smooth pinnacles. Your journey ends in Barcelona with its engaging architecture and wide boulevards.
Seven days strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $3,190. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trek, you travel across the wonderful landscape of southern Spain.
Explore the mountains and villages on day hikes and discover the contrast between the rugged terrain and the beautiful medieval towns with their cathedrals and fortresses.
You travel through La Mancha, the country of "Don Quixote," and see the high tableland of umber coloring and infinite horizons. You then enter Andalusian with its "white villages" upon rocky hilltops. You also explore Antequera, Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera and Granada.
You hike in Grazalema National Park and the Sierra de Cazorla.
Your adventure ends in Seville, where you see the influence of Moorish architecture.
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,090. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This inn-to-inn adventure is an ideal way to explore the charming scenery and culture of Switzerland. You travel from the dazzling mountains of the Bernese Oberland to romantic Lago Maggiore in sunny Ticino.
You begin in the small village of Lenk in the German-speaking Bernese Oberland and set off for Kandersteg, a charming village with old stone farmhouses and a 16th-century church. You cross two dramatic passes, the Ammerten and the Chindbette, with their amazing mountain views. You see snowcapped Wildstrubel (10,641 feet) with its glacier plateau.
In Kandersteg, you take the train through the Lotschberg Tunnel and hike on a forest trail above the Rhone Valley into Valais Canton, where French is spoken. Here, residents produce excellent wine grapes.
You have a day to explore the Alpine environs of Saas Fee, after which you travel up the Rhone Valley to hike on a path straddling the Swiss/Italian border. You cross Cristallina Pass and walk down to Ticino, where language and cuisine are Italian. You relax in the city of Locarno on Lago Maggiore before returning home via Zurich.
For experienced hikers. Eight days strenuous hiking. Baggage is transported separately so you carry only a day pack.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,795. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
If you thrive on personal challenges, Mountain Travel-Sobek says you'll love this trek on the "Haute Route," a demanding high-level traverse that crosses the Alps between the famous mountain towns of Chamonix, France and Zermatt, Switzerland.
Ten of the twelve highest peaks in Europe are along this route, including the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.
You start in the Chamonix Valley and cross into Switzerland over the French side of the Mont Blanc massif via Col de Balme. You hike along some rarely visited parts of the Swiss Valais, crossing eight Alpine passes and viewing charming villages where the style of farming has not changed in centuries.
Most of the trails are relatively untrodden and lined with wildflowers. This trip is slightly more strenuous than other inn-to-inn trips Mountain Travel-Sobek offers; there is no support vehicle to carry your baggage, so you will carry a pack with your personal gear and some food.
Ten days strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,890. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Although politically Swiss, Ticino is Italian in character and is the most southern of Switzerland's cantons (or "states"). Its pastel-colored villas perch on verdant hillsides and its landscape blooms with tropical plants.
Ticino's rugged backcountry is perfect for exploring. Its slate-roofed villages are nestled in verdant valleys beneath 6,000-foot high mountains and glaciers. You hike from village to village through forests of chestnut and deep valleys. The stone houses in Ticino are built with local granite.
Along the way, you sample great local cuisine and fine wines. You finish your adventure in Ticino at the resort town of Locarno, where beautiful mountains ring the sparkling waters of Lago Maggiore.
Seven days easy to moderate hiking.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
From $1,790. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This hike to the heart of Switzerland is perfect for families. You wander the shores of Lake Lucerne, a mountain lake surrounded by snowcapped peaks and green forests, where tiny villages dot the shores.
In the town of Rutli on Lake Lucerne, in 1291 the three Swiss states of Schwyz, Unterwalden and Uri signed the perpetual pact of mutual assistance which founded the Swiss confederation.
On your adventure, you hike past chalets where flowers spill profusely from window boxes and through ancient towns of historical significance. You travel up mountains such as Rigi (5,900 feet) where cattle graze in its lush pastures and Pilatus (7,000 feet) with its spectacular views of central Switzerland.
You visit historic Altdorf, home of the legend of Wilhelm Tell, and the famous resort town of Lucerne, situated at the foot of mountain slopes and noted for its famous 14th- and 15th-century covered wooden bridges.
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,390. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This Alpine trek takes you through the pastoral backcountry and high mountains of Switzerland, from the Appenzell to the Bernese Oberland where you see the famous peaks of the Jungfrau (13,642 feet), the Monch (12,980 feet) and the formidable Eiger (13,025 feet).
Each day, you encounter spectacular mountain scenery and increasingly challenging terrain as you cross the high passes of central Switzerland into the Bernese Oberland in the heart of the Alps.
You begin at Appenzell, where distinctive folk cultures have been preserved and you finish your trek high in the Grindelwald, a mountain village dominated by the Jungfrau and the sheer black wall of the Eiger.
This is a wonderfully scenic backcountry hike with its constantly changing panorama of rugged mountian splendor, fertile valleys and deep blue lakes. The pace of the journey allows you time to explore the towns of Appenzell, Schwyz, Lucerne and Grindelwald.
Nine days strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,990 for14-day inn-to-inn version. From $1,790 for the 13-day camping version. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The spectacular Mont Blanc circuit, the "tour du Mont Blanc," is one of the world's classic hikes. From the peaks of Mont Blanc (at 15,771 feet, the highest peak in western Europe), seven valleys extend into France, Italy and Switzerland, each with a unique culture, architecture and landscape.
Each day, you hike to the ridges and descend to the valley below, circling Mont Blanc along trails that pass in and out of these three countries. You have ample time to enjoy their delights amid the breathtaking Alpine scenery. You will see enormous plunging glaciers, green mountain meadows and views of towering peaks like the Aiguille du Midi, Les Grandes Jorasses and Mont Dolent.
At night, you stay in an assortment of small hotels, chalets and mountain lodges, "refuges" in French. There, you meet other hikers and climbers from all over the world.
There is also a camping version of the Mont Blanc circuit, but on both trips you have a support vehicle that carries the baggage, so you are free to hike with only a daypack. The camping version is offered July and August, when the mountain refuges are likely to be overcrowded.
Breakfasts are in camp, lunches are picnic-style on the trail or occasionally in refuges and dinners are in small restaurants with good food and local color.
11 days strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,190. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Dolomites of Italy are among the most striking mountains in Europe. They are tinted in weathered shades of rose, yellow and grey and their slopes rise in steep spires. Their steep rock walls have attracted rock climbers since the early part of the century, but the landscape around the Dolomites makes them a thrill for mountain hikers as well.
On this tour, you spend 11 days hiking beneath the rock walls and spires of the Dolomites with an occasional trip into the valleys below. Your path is a rough circuit above the famed resort of Cortina. Along the way, you see the astounding pillars of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, possibly the best-known landmark in the Dolomites.
The trip is best suited to experienced mountain hikers who enjoy long days on the trail and challenging hiking. There are a few places where you must follow a "via ferrata," an exposed route aided by iron ladders.
You spend the nights in comfortable mountian refuges that supply hearty meals. The hike has no vehicle support, so you will need to carry light packs with personal gear.
Includes 11 days strenuous hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,800 plus $1,000 bushplane flights (Kongakut) and $700 bushplane flights (Sheenjek). Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for those who love wilderness. America's largest nature preserve, its vast expanse of tundra above the Arctic Circle is virtually unexplored.
You travel on the Sheenjek and Kongakut Rivers and explore this wilderness in paddle rafts captained by experienced Alaskan guides. You float downriver toward hillocks ideal for hiking. You spend about half your time on the river and half exploring the terrain.
In June, the trip takes place on the Kongakut River just as the growth cycle of summer begins its brief and furious race to reproduce. Plants have only a few weeks to produce flowers and seeds; birds must nest and raise their young before the sun fades; caribou must return to their summer ranges while the land is still fertile so they can safely give birth.
In August, you travel on the Sheenjek River and enjoy crisp fall weather and brilliant foliage. The tundra and cottonwood groves are ablaze in spectacular red and yellow and a wealth of tiny, delicious berries replace earlier flowers.
On both trips, you may see mountain sheep, wolves, grizzly bears, other land animals and birdlife. The brief arctic summer makes your trip a rare adventure.
Easy day hikes, easy to moderate rapids (Class II) and camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,995. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This 12-day rafting adventure begins in the Yukon and races along the coast of southeast Alaska. Midway through the trip, you return to Turnback Canyon, a virtually impassable gorge that you bypass with a helicopter portage.
Day hikes take you close to mountain goat, moose, red fox and other wildlife. Nights beneath the northern lights bring the heavens close to you.
The Alsek River is perhaps the most spectacular wild river in the world. Most of it is situated within Kluane National Park Reserve, one of Canada's greatest northern national parks. You see stupendous wildlife as well as surging glaciers.
From $2,190. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
When you wander the hillsides of Tuscany, you feel as though you have stepped into a Renaissance painting. The castles, monasteries and villages resonate with the beauty and history of this age of rebirth. You see evidence of Etruscan and Roman civilizations as well as those of later periods.
You hike through the rolling hills of olive groves, vineyards and ancient oak forests. You discover Roman ruins in quiet valleys and taste wine from centuries-old vineyards, including the superb Chianti Classico.
You absorb the atmosphere of Tuscany's old villages and citadels. You ramble in the countryside and visit the town of San Gimignano and the cities of Siena and Florence, where a wealth of art and culture still sings of the Renaissance.
During this tour, you also visit Pisa where you see its famous leaning tower.
Seven days of moderate hiking.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,690. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Hike the Italian Alps and see some of the most famous mountains in Europe. Mont Blanc (15,771 feet), which shows its most spectacular face on the Italian side, and the two great Pennine peaks, the Matterhorn (14,782 feet) and Monte Rosa (15,203 feet), preside over this region.
This strenuous hiking trip is designed for experienced hikers who enjoy glacier travel. It begins with one of the most inspiring hikes in the world, the traverse along the Glacier Gigante to the Col du Midi, where you view Mont Blanc's nearly Himalayan grandeur.
You take high Alpine routes on the Monte Rosa peak, which dwarfs its neighbor the Matterhorn. You also explore the natural beauty of Gran Paradiso National Park, an Alpine preserve for ibex and chamois.
On this trip, you stay in comfortable mountain inns or "refuges." Experience with crampons and ice ax is required. This is a very strenuous hiking trip.
Seven days strenuous hiking over glaciers. Experience with crampons and an ice ax is required.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,690. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Provence was once a province of the ancient Roman Empire and today it abounds in Roman ruins, small hilltop villages and lively country markets. Provence is also famous for its mild Mediterranean climate, local wines, delicious cuisine, a handsome, rugged landscape and unspoiled countryside.
During this tour, you hike for nine days through Provence, following the Verdon River through its famous gorge, the magnificent Grand Canyon du Verdon.
The Verdon, a tributary of the Durance, has formed splendid gorges in the limestone plateau, but the most spectacular is the13-mile section called the Grand Canyon.
Beginning in the ancient town of Riez, you hike from village to village along forested ridges, high pastures and ancient Roman paths. You have plenty of time to explore quaint villages and enjoy the local color. Your journey ends in Nice, a city that skirts the Cote d'Azur.
This is an active trip for good hikers. Some of the trails are fairly steep and there are metal ladders to climb in some of the gorges, but there's no technical rock climbing.
Nine days of moderate to strenuous hiking.
Courtesy British Tourist Authority.
From $1,990. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This tour takes you to the Lake District, Yorkshire and Wales, where you wander the ancient towns and countryside. The historical and literary legacies of these regions have left their mark on modern England.
You stroll the narrow streets of York, famous during Roman, Viking and medieval times, and hike across the Yorkshire Moors, home of the Bronte sisters. You also spend a day in the Yorkshire Dales (James Herriot country), where you hike along a scenic section of the Pennine Way.
You hike a stretch of the formidable Hadrian's Wall, the northern tier of the Roman Empire. You next head for the Lake District, renowned for its lakes and mountains, that inspired Coleridge and Wordsworth. There, you can climb England's highest mountain, Scafell (3,210 feet) before traveling to Wales to ascend its highest peak, Mount Snowdon (3,560 feet).
Back in England, you explore the romantic Cotswold Hills, with their honey-colored stone villages. You also visit the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Welsh castles of Harlech, Caernarvon and Conwy.
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
From $1,990. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trek, you ramble through Cornwall and the West Country and discover that walking is the best way to appreciate this beautiful corner of England.
You explore the lonely moors and wooded ravines on day hikes through the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks. You hike the jagged headlands of the scenic coastline and visit classic Cornish villages like Polperro and Polruan.
You also tour the wildlife preserve at Lizard Peninsula, the southernmost point of the mainland of Britain.
In addition to your day hikes, you visit historic Plymouth, the cathedral at Salisbury, Tintagel Castle (from the legend of King Arthur), as well as Stonehenge and the abbey ruins of the Isle of Avalon, where the Holy Grail is said to be buried. You end the trip with a visit to the Georgian city of Bath.
Easy to moderate day hikes.
Courtesy Berlitz International Inc.
A French language program is offered for students as young as 15.
Varies by country. Prices including room and board start at $1,150 for a two-week program, excluding airfare to the country.
The Berlitz Study Abroad program, offered in 11 countries, adds a new dimension to language study to make it easier and more exciting to learn a new language.
Learning a new vocabulary extends beyond the Berlitz classroom to include firsthand experiences and the opportunity to practice it in shops, restaurants and offices. As your fluency and confidence increase, you discover that your second language is becoming second nature.
You meet new people and enjoy the sights and cultural activities of your host country.
In most locations you have the option of living with a host family, gaining unique insights into your surroundings.
Berlitz offers courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced students in private or group settings. Curriculum focus can be general, business-oriented or with an emphasis on university preparation. Youth programs also are available.
Most courses begin every month so you can choose your starting date and whether to take a short or long term program, from one to six weeks.
You can study in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia or Spain.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,190. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip, you hike, bike and raft through Norway, Europe's northern wilderness. See fjords cut into the rugged coastline and the Jotunheimen mountains tower in the background.
You explore the land of the Vikings, using a full array of adventure skills. You hike the glacial valleys, bicycle the rolling plateaus and raft the rivers. You cruise by steamship along the fjords, take an astoundingly scenic train ride and walk on a glacier.
From Bergen, you travel by train to Norway's highest railway station at Hardanger Plateau. You explore the high-country glaciers and lakes and then bike down to the pastoral Flam Valley, which is the gateway to the majestic fjordlands of the west coast. Then, you survey the fjords from the deck of a steamer.
During the next three days, you travel deep into the heart of Jotunheimen, or "giant country," home to mythical titans and craggy peaks. You take day hikes and climb some of the highest peaks in Norway, the Galdhopiggen and Glittertind, both over 8,100 feet.
Then you're off down the Sjua River, which has moderately difficult Class III rapids and a spectacular forest setting.
The trip ends in Oslo, Norway's capital, where fjord and forest meet.
Strenuous day hikes, moderate biking, rafting in Class III rapids (moderate waves and narrow channels).
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,695. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Turkey's Coruh River is a whitewater challenge without equal. The scenery is full of surprises and cultural richness and the waters provide challenging Class IV and V rapids for an exciting river trip.
Your trip begins in historic Ankara, Turkey's capital, and continues to Erzurum in the heart of the old Seljuk Empire. On the river, the rapids are large and steady and provide all the thrill you need.
You float beneath thousand-year-old castles and spend a day with the rug-weavers of Isper. You have two layover days to hike into the surrounding mountains. The river trip ends at Artvin.
After visiting the town, you drive back to Erzurum along the peaks and valleys of the Allehuekbar Mountains.
Class IV/V rapids (difficult with narrow channels, obstructed by rocks, steep and narrow drops, possibility of overturning the boat), camping.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,690. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This adventure takes you into undiscovered Russia in the central Caucasus, a huge mountain range whose scenery is as beautiful as the Alps.
You find deep forests of poplar and beech and Alpine meadows carpeted with wildflowers. There are many glaciated peaks, including Europe's highest, Mt. Elbrus (18,481 feet).
Your 10-day trek takes you across the heart of the Caucasus, where you cross glacier passes and explore Alpine valleys with spectacular views of jagged, icy 15,000-foot peaks.
En route to the trekking area, you meet the hospitable Caucasian people and discover culture, food, music and a lifestyle rarely seen by Western eyes.
You visit Moscow before the trek and see its major cultural sites like the Kremlin and Red Square.
Ten days strenuous hiking, camping.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
Courtesy CEDOK Czechoslovak Travel Bureau.
From $1,750. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip to Eastern Europe, you hike in the high Tatras and discover the nature preserves and national parks of Poland and the Czech Republic.
You also have a chance to experience the culture of cities like Krakow, Warsaw and the small villages that dot the countryside.
On this adventure, you travel to remote parks and villages where you see some of the most interesting nature preserves in Europe. You hike the Tatras Mountains, a beautiful range that straddles the Polish/Czech border. You visit Poland's Bialowieza National Park, renowned for its variety of plant and animal life. This region is one of the greatest lowland forests in Europe.
You also explore the Czech Republic's Paradis National Park, where you'll see gorges, caves and waterfalls. You see Poland's Pieneiny National Park and take a one-day rafting trip down the Dunajec River. Accompanied by your Czech and Polish guides, you learn about the natural diversity of Eastern Europe.
Easy to strenuous day hikes and one day of rafting.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,850. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip, you have the opportunity to climb Europe's highest mountain, Mt. Elbrus (18,481 feet). Situated in the heart of the Russian Caucasus, the mountain is one of the famous "Seven Summits" -- the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
Your base camp is a cluster of hotels in the Baksan Valley at the foot of Elbrus, where hundreds of mountaineers from Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Europe congregate during the summer months. You spend two days there preparing for the climb.
You begin the climb with a ski lift ride to 11,400 feet and then a two-hour hike to Priutt Hut at 13,800 feet. After two days to acclimatize, you attempt the summit in Alpine style by rising at 3 a.m., hiking to the summit and returning to the hut 10 to 12 hours later.
The climb requires experience in using crampons and an ice ax, but the route you follow is not technically difficult. If you choose not to climb to the summit, you can return to the base camp and do other hikes or climbs in the mountains surrounding the Baksan Valley.
At the beginning of your tour, you spend a day visiting the monuments of Moscow.
Basic mountaineering, non-technical, medium elevation.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,640. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
The Tatshenshini River cuts through the wilderness of southern Alaska and western Canada and penetrates grizzly and black bear habitat and bald eagle and osprey country.
Many consider this river filled with salmon and leaping trout to be one of the world's most beautiful. This river trip takes you into the heart of Alaska's coastal zone, traversing the St. Elias Range on a 100-mile pilgrimage from the Yukon to the Pacific.
You take every opportunity to hike into the mountainous countryside, up side creeks and glacial valleys to view spectacular vistas of grand Alaska.
On the last two days, you float among the icebergs created by the calving glaciers that spill into Alsek Bay.
Easy rafting (Class II rapids) and day hikes, camping.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Varies by country. Prices including room and board start at $1,150 for a two-week program.
Learn to speak Spanish in Chile, Mexico or Spain with the Berlitz Study Abroad program.
Immersing yourself in the life and culture of your host country adds a new dimension to language study and makes it easier and more exciting to learn a new language than ever before.
Learning your new vocabulary extends beyond the classroom to include firsthand experiences - the opportunity to practice it in shops, restaurants and on the street.
In most locations you have the option of living with a host family, gaining unique insights into your new surroundings.
In Chile, the study program is in Santiago, the country's capital and business center, surrounded by lakes and volcanoes. On weekends, discover the unexplored Andean snowfields by helicopter.
Guadalajara, site of the Berlitz program in Mexico, is the country's second-largest city and offers abundant opportunities for sightseeing and recreational activities during your free time.
You also may choose to study in the energetic city of Madrid, Spain, or in the sunny vacation paradise of Palma de Majorca in the Balearic Islands off the Spanish coast.
Berlitz offers private or group lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
Most courses begin every month, so you can choose your starting date and whether to take a short or long term program. Minimum enrollment is one week.
Other countries with Berlitz Study Abroad programs are Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
Courtesy Pro Dive Cairns.
Courtesy Pro Dive Cairns.
Roughly $242 includes all lodging, meals, diving equipment and advanced diving course. Airfare to Australia is extra.
Experience the thrill of diving the Great Barrier Reef during this three-day live aboard excursion for certified divers. Innumerable species call the world's greatest reef home including hard and soft turtles, giant clams, sea turtles, stingrays, sharks of all types and a huge variety of fish.
One of Pro Dive's two vessels takes you to outer reefs rarely visited by other dive boats, giving you the opportunity to dive in spectacular, uncrowded areas.
Pro Dive's schedule allows for a total of 11 dives, including two night dives when conditions permit, and unlimited snorkeling. Guided dives are also available.
As an added benefit, an advanced diving course is available during your stay free of charge.
You must be a certified open water diver.
Courtesy Berlitz International Inc.
Courtesy Berlitz International Inc.
Children as young as 15 can study French in a special youth program in Belgium.
Varies by country. Prices including room and board start at $1,150 for a two-week program.
Learn to speak French or German in a Berlitz Study Abroad program in any one of five European countries or in Canada.
Immerse yourself in the life and culture of your host country, adding a new dimension to your language study and making it easier and more exciting than ever before to learn a new language.
Learning your new vocabulary extends beyond the classroom to include firsthand experiences - the opportunity to practice it in shops, restaurants and on the street.
In most locations you have the option of living with a host family.
For your study of French, you may choose Lausanne, Switzerland, a lively city which is home to the International Olympic Committee, wonderful Paris, one of the world's most romantic cities, or the cosmopolitan city of Brussels. For study in a more rural setting choose Mouscron, Belgium, a quaint town near the French border.
Old Quebec City and the modern metropolis of Montreal in Canada also have French study programs.
Your study of German may take you to bustling Munich, the recently unified city of Berlin, the old university town of Heidelberg, Germany, or charming Vienna in Austria.
Berlitz offers private or group lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
Most courses begin every month so you can choose your starting date and whether to take a short or long term program. Minimum enrollment is one week.
Other countries with Berlitz Study Abroad programs are Chile, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia and Spain.
Courtesy Pro Dive Cairns.
Courtesy Pro Dive Cairns.
Courtesy Pro Dive Cairns.
About $266 includes accommodations, meals, instruction, equipment and transfers. Airfare to Australia is excluded.
Pro Dive Cairns offers all who are curious about scuba diving the opportunity to learn in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, one of the world's greatest dive locales. Home to thousands of species of underwater life including colorful corals, sea turtles, giant clams, stingrays and fish, the reef is an outstanding introduction to a new world.
The program begins in the classroom and pool where for two days you learn the fundamentals of diving in the morning and put theory into practice in the afternoon. Instruction lasts a full day with an hour for lunch.
On day three, you board one of Pro Dive's vessels and search out pristine dive sites on the outer reef. Using the boat as your base, you complete nine dives; four dives qualify you for your "C-card," and five recreational dives to explore the wonders below. Weather permitting, there will even be an optional night dive.
The course requires a diving medical examination which you can arrange before you leave or schedule through Pro Dive for $20.
This trip is not difficult but requires the ability to swim and pass a diving medical exam.
Courtesy Berlitz International Inc.
Starts at $1,520 for a two-week program, including tuition and materials. Room, board and airfare not included.
Learn Russian the Berlitz way, by immersing yourself in the language, culture and history of Russia in its capital city, Moscow.
Learning your new language extends beyond the classroom to include firsthand experiences - the opportunity to practice it in shops, restaurants and on the street as you sightsee.
Begin your tour at the Kremlin, the city's historical center and home to 60 acres of art and architecture.
Try out your language skills as you visit Gorky Park, shop and attend performances of the Bolshoi Ballet, the Symphony or the Moscow Circus.
The Berlitz Study Program in Russia offers private lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
Most courses begin every month so you can choose your starting date and whether to take a short or long term program. Minimum enrollment is one week.
Other countries with Berlitz Study Abroad programs are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico and Spain.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
Varies depending upon length of stay and time of year. Seven days in winter is $775 and $675 in summer. Each additional night is $110 winter, $98 summer. Prices are slightly higher for beachfront bungalows. Price includes accommodations, meals, dive transportation, tanks and weights and watersports equipment.
Resembling a South Seas plantation more than a hotel, Anthony's Key Resort offers seven-day dive packages at its unique bungalow complex in the Bay Islands of Honduras.
Diving in this area is remarkable. The reefs are part of a Marine Conservation Sanctuary and are protected, allowing undersea life to thrive. Virtually every species of tropical fish and coral in the Caribbean can be found here.
In addition to the outstanding diving, it is unique accommodations that make Anthony's distinct. The 50 individual wooden bungalows are virtually built into the jungled hillside or nestled alongside the lagoon. Each one is fully screened on three sides with louvered windows from floor to ceilings and fans to keep things cool. All have hot water, shower, electricity and either a porch or sundeck.
There are three single tank boat dives daily and two single tank boat dives per week, as well as night and shore diving. Snorkelers are welcome to go along on the boat when space allows. All levels of instruction are available.
Another unique feature about this complex is their Dolphin Encounter program which offers the ability to interact with dolphins in their natural habitat. Under the guidance of the staff of the Institute of Marine Sciences, situated next to Anthony's, you can swim, play and snorkel with these magnificent animals.
Also included in the package are the use of canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, windsurfing equipment and Sunfish. Horseback riding and hiking are other popular options nearby.
You must be certified in order to dive.
Courtesy Belgian Tourist Board.
Courtesy Berlitz International Inc.
Call for prices.
Designed for young people ages 15 to 25, the Berlitz Study Abroad Youth Program is offered in Belgium for two- to six-week periods, year-round.
This program provides a perfect oportunity to combine learning French with the pleasures of a vacation in another country and the chance to make new friends of different nationalities.
Classes are limited to eight students. The program is intensive, with four-and-a-half hours of instruction five days a week. Lunch with the instructor allows you to practice your French in a social situation.
Twice a week, you enjoy a special program designed to familiarize you with the social and cultural aspects of life in Belgium, including visits to the theater, a lace museum and a brewery.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
Courtesy Anthony's Key Resort.
$550 per child, per week includes accommodations, all meals and Dolphin Camp activities and materials.
Anthony's Key Resort co-sponsors a week-long program for children ages 8 to 14, with its neighbor, the Institute for Marine Studies, on the beautiful island of Roatan off Honduras.
Your child will learn about and interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins several times during the week. Oceanside discussions and short classroom sessions introduce your child to the ocean habitat and the environment.
Accommodations are provided by the resort in their unique jungle bungalows. Each of the 50 wooden structures is fully screened on three sides with louvered windows from floor to ceiling and ceiling fans. All have hot water, electricity and either a porch or sundeck.
The are few places more well suited for marine education. Situated near the second-largest barrier reef in the world, the area has pristine swimming, snorkeling and diving facilities. Because it is part of a marine conservation sanctuary, it teems with undersea life. Snorkeling trips and other outdoor activities give your child an understanding and appreciation of the ocean environment.
All children must be accompanied to the island by an adult, and parents are welcome to take part in some of the dolphin activities during the week.
The camp is fun and designed to be comfortable for children.
Courtesy Oz Productions, Inc.
Courtesy Oz Productions, Inc.
Courtesy Dive Makai Charters.
Photo by Bill Koontz. Courtesy Dive Makai Charters.
Courtesy Dive Makai Charters.
Courtesy Dive Makai Charters.
$75-94 per day, includes charter and two dives.
Dive Makai Charters specializes in day-long guided diving excursions off the Kona coast of Hawaii, with an emphasis on teaching you what to look for in the underwater environment.
Dive Makai has been rated Kona's best dive charter four times by "Undercurrent," a publication for adventure divers.
While Kona Coast's coral is not as colorful as in other areas, it still has much to offer. This region is home to turtles, manta rays, sharks and many species of fish. Whales and dolphins are usually spotted during dives.
Each dive begins with a personalized discussion of what to look for and a lesson on hand signs and underwater photography. You then go down for two dives at two sites off the beautiful Kona coast. The dives are leisurely ones that take time to observe all that there is to see in the underwater world.
Divers must be certified.
10 percent discount on 14-day packages.
Courtesy Windsurf Kiwi.
Courtesy Windsurf Kiwi.
Courtesy Windsurf Kiwi.
$549 PP/DO for self-guided tours. Includes car, camping equipment and one slalom board with rig, $689 PP/DO for two-berth camper van and one slalom board with rig, $829 PP/DO for car, motel and one slalom board with rig. Add $299 to each package for extra board and rig.
Guided tours are $1,249 PP/DO for transportation, guide, two meals per day, motel and windsurfing equipment or $899 PP/DO for non-windsurfer.
Scenic beauty and exciting windsurfing go hand in hand on the coast of New Zealand and Windsurf Kiwi in Auckland offers 14-day self-guided or guided tours. November to April, when temperatures are warm and winds are strong, are the best months to visit.
If you choose the self-guided tour, Windsurf Kiwi takes you directly to their rental center upon your arrival at Auckland International Airport. You find a car or van waiting, loaded with the equipment of your choice.
You receive a guidebook and information about the best windsurfing locations.
Self-guided tours give you the option of renting a car and camping equipment, a two-berth camper van or car and motel room. Each package includes one slalom board, fully rigged, which two people can share. A second board is provided at additional cost.
Guided tours offer a complete package of a mini-coach for six to eight passengers, a guide, windsurfing equipment, meals and motel. A special rate is available for non-sailors.
The 14-day tours can be extended at a daily rate. Custom packages also are available.
Don't forget to leave time for some of the many other activities available such as mountain biking, surfing, swimming and trout fishing.
All skill levels are welcome, from novices to experts.
Courtesy Aquatic Encounters.
Courtesy Aquatic Encounters.
Courtesy Aquatic Encounters.
Courtesy Aquatic Encounters.
Courtesy Aquatic Encounters.
$2,700 includes accommodations, all meals aboard Reina Silvia, use of tanks and weights and all transfers. Excludes airfare, national park fees, meals other than noted and gratuities.
Diving off the Galapagos Islands is a unique adventure because of the extraordinary variety of marine life in this region 600 miles west of Ecuador. You can dive with schools of dolphins numbering 500 or more or find yourself surrounded by sea lion pups. Eagle-rays in large schools swim about in soldier-like formation. Penguins dart gracefully underwater or waddle on the rocky shores. The reclusive moray eels leave their holes and swim freely about. Hammerhead sharks are frequently seen in large schools adding high voltage excitement to your dives.
Charles Darwin visited the area to study his theory of evolution because the marine and wildlife life are so voluminous. The archipelago has been declared a national park in a preservation effort, making it possible for you to experience the islands that are relatively unchanged since Darwin's visit a century ago.
The majority of islands are uninhabited, making Aquatic Encounters' 11-day diving cruises to the area near perfect for those who enjoy exciting diving, natural history and wildlife away from crowds.
You are treated to first-class accommodations aboard the 90-foot luxury ship Reina Silvia, fully outfitted for 16 divers. All cabins are furnished with their own bathroom and shower. The ship has a swimming/diving platform aft, and an extension bow pulpit for whale and dolphin watching. The crew of nine includes two naturalist divemasters who discuss marine life topside and escort you below.
The islands are interesting to explore by foot as well, as they are home to a vast array of wildlife and spectacular landscapes, much which is unique to the Galapagos. On frequent shore excursions, you view and photograph this laboratory of evolution, where the avian "residents" have no fear of humans. You see some of the rarest species on earth: blue-footed-boobies, flightless cormorants, flamingos, land and marine iguanas, huge Galapagos Tortoises and sea lions by the hundreds.
Prior to boarding and after your return, you spend four nights in Quito, the Ecuadorian capital, where there are great shopping, dining and nightlife opportunities.
Divers must be certified.
Photo by Stephen Frink. Courtesy Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO).
Photo by Stephen Frink. Courtesy Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO).
$535-569 PP/DO includes six to 10 dives, use of tank and weights and breakfast daily.
Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO), the Bahama's largest and most comprehensive dive operation, offers a pair of dive packages that allow you to swim and play with dolphins in the open ocean. UNEXSO's dive boats cruise to areas the sea mammals frequent, and you are soon petting and hand-feeding them.
Whether you opt for the five- or eight-day stay, you are treated to a dolphin dive and several other dives, to explore the diverse ecosystem beneath the sea off the Bahamas.
UNEXSO is committed to educating divers and the public about the needs to conserve fragile marine resources, and you learn a great deal as you navigate the mysterious undersea world.
Accommodations are provided by a nearby hotel which combines European and Bahamian hospitality and is within walking distance to UNEXSO.
You must be a certified diver.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$892 U.S./$1,042 Canadian, per person, beginning in Bangkok. Price includes accommodations, some meals and ground transportation.
This Worldwide Adventure trip takes you on a journey of southern Thailand's rain forests, beaches and islands during a 15-day tour.
After arriving in Bangkok, you take an evening sleeper train to the rain forests and palm-fringed beaches of the south. Days three through six are spent at Khao Sok National Park. Here you find some of the best remaining rain forest in Thailand and superb walking trails and rivers.
You stay in tree houses, perched high in the canopy of trees and embark on an overnight walk that leads you to the shores of a lake, framed by spectacular mountains.
You stay one night on a floating rest house.
If you take this tour between May and October, you spend days seven to nine in Koh Phangan, to capitalize on the good weather. The beaches here are unspoiled and the pace is relaxed. You take a day boat trip around this island, stopping at quiet coves and beaches.
Days 10 to 12 are spent at Koh Tao, a stunning island with crystal clear water, white sand and good snorkeling. You do little here but relax and enjoy near bliss. On day 13, you return to Bangkok.
From November to April, this tour spends day seven in a Muslim fishing village, built on stilts above the water. Days eight to 10 are spent on an island safari exploring the uninhabited islands and coral coves of the Andaman sea. You camp under the stars for two nights and can swim, snorkel, fish and relax.
Days 11 to 13 are spent at a beach hideaway. You stay in bungalows on glorious beaches that are far away from the crowds of tourists. For the more energetic, there are some excellent walks and day trips. On day 13, you leave the beaches behind and take a train to Bangkok.
You are free to spend day 14 shopping and exploring in Bangkok.
The trip is relatively easy.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$382 per person, beginning in Bangkok. Price includes some meals, ground transportation and lodging.
This Worldwide Adventure lets you live like a happy, marooned castaway on a remote island off the coast of Thailand for eight days. And at $382, its a steal!
Worldwide won't even tell you where the island is, tour organizers want to keep it as isolated and remote as they found it. You fly into Bangkok and travel to an island with beautiful beaches and few people. You have little to do on this island other than walk, relax, lie on the beach, swim and meet the local village people.
Maybe, you will be able to rouse yourself for snorkeling or a fishing trip.
The maximum group size of this tour is 12.
The tour is as relaxing or as difficult as you would like to make it.
Photo by Stephen Frink. Courtesy Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO).
Photo by Stephen Frink. Courtesy Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO).
$355-$679 PP/DO for 5- to 8-day stay, includes all dives, tanks and weights.
Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO) has one of the most unique and thrilling adventures available -- a diving excursion to Shark Junction in the Grand Bahamas. This is an adrenaline-pumping activity, on par with stepping into a cage of lions or standing beside a snake charmer. You are within touching distance of sharks as they are fed by experienced divers wearing chain gloves. This excursion has been described as a contact sport because sharks glide past from all directions and bump divers as they jostle for position.
UNEXSO has five- and eight-day dive packages which include a shark dive and at least one dive per day during your stay. The clear green waters of the Bahamas offer world-class diving as they teem with coral and thousands of species of fish and underwater fauna.
But it is the shark encounter that defines this adventure package. Before heading to the junction, named for the channels that naturally route traffic through the area, you sign a waiver absolving UNEXSO of any liability. The waiver is a formality as 5,000 divers have experienced the heartpounding rush of the feed since the program began four years ago without one guest injury.
Once submerged, you, the feeders and safety divers, wait patiently on the bottom for the curious beasts to emerge. Each session generally attracts six to 12 sharks, but there have been cases when 15 would feed. Most of the sharks are Carribean reef sharks and are anywhere from three to eight feet long.
The dive is conducted on a sand reef about 48 feet below the surface. The sharks are hand-fed one at a time in an orderly fashion. If any appear to get impatient and rambunctious, the food is put away until they calm down. The feeding lasts about a half an hour, because divers deplete their air reserves more rapidly due to the intense environment.
Safety divers monitor air time, and use prods if necessary to keep the sharks away from divers, making this a safe, though pulse-racing experience.
Accommodations are provided by a local hotel on a white sand beach within walking distance from the UNEXSO complex.
This is a relatively safe but thrilling dive and is not for those prone to nervousness. You must be a certified diver.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
$1,050 PP/DO, with a $50 discount if you are a former ranch guest, 25 percent discount for children under 16, $20 per day for children under 4. Single accommodations available for additional $20 per day.
Included are lodging, meals, wine with dinner, riding every day except Sunday, videotaped lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Not included are pack trips and transportation to the ranch.
The Bitterroot Ranch is the only ranch in a remote valley bordering the Shoshone National Forest and the Wind River Indian Reservation, all part of a vast, wild ecosystem that includes Yellowstone National Park.
When you leave the ranch, you are immediately in wild country as you ride through extremely varied terrain. You may see deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, bear, coyotes and beavers. Sagebrush plains, grassy meadows and rocky gorges give way to forested mountains and Alpine clearings.
Guests normally ride for two to three hours a day, Monday through Friday, with an all-day picnic ride on Saturday.
Pack trips also are offered, featuring spectacular campsites. Tents and mattresses are carried for you and a cook and wrangler provide excellent service.
There is a jumping course for advanced riders and both western and English tack are available. Because the ranch keeps 100 horses, a mount can be provided for all skills. Instruction is available.
The ranch, accommodating up to 28 guests in 11 cabins, has a character more like a family farm than a commercial guest ranch. There is a friendly, informal atmosphere that affords guests a maximum of freedom. Your hosts are owner/operators Bayard and Mel Fox, both keen riders and fly fishermen.
Intermediate to advanced.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$942 U.S./$1,092 Canadian per person, excluding airfare to Bangkok. Price includes accommodations, ground transportation, some meals and guides.
Worldwide Adventures' Intrepid tour of northern Thailand takes you to simple villages, pristine beaches, beautiful ruins, the homes of hill tribes as well as rafting down rivers during this 16-day tour.
This is Worldwide Adventures's most popular tour on their "Intrepid" itinerary. After arriving in Bangkok, you board a long-tail boat to explore the canals of Bangkok before you journey to Kanchanaburi and visit the infamous "Bridge over the River Kwai."
You picnic and swim at Erawan National Park's superb waterfalls.
Days four and five are spent on a rafthouse, cruising along the River Kwai. You explore caves and temples and at the end of the day the skipper organizes a party. You continue on your raft the next morning, while continuing to swim, enjoy the scenery and even attempt waterskiing. In the evening, you board a comfortable sleeper train to Chiang Mai.
Days six and seven are spent exploring Chiang Mai, where you can dine at local food stands and haggle for handicrafts. You also spend a day visiting the hilltop temple of Doi Suthep, the hill tribe research center and various villages, which each specialize in a particular craft.
On day eight, you visit a typical Thai farming village and home to Ut, your trekking leader. You meet local people and dine on a traditional Khantok dinner. Staying at Ut's gives you a glimpse of the real Thailand, something few westerners see.
Days nine through 12 are spent on a hill trek passing through several villages, each with a distinct race and culture. You walk for three to four hours each day at a leisurely pace, carrying a day pack. On one particularly hilly section of the trek, you ride elephants. The trek concludes in the famous Golden Triangle region, the junction point of Thailand, Burma and Laos.
Day 15 is spent exploring Bangkok before departing for home on day 16.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$952 U.S./$1,092 Canadian per person, excluding airfare to Singapore. Price includes lodging, some meals and ground transportation.
This Worldwide Adventures "Intrepid" tour is a fantastic, 15-day journey through three Southeast Asian countries. From the ever-developing Singapore, through the jungles and towns of Malaysia and on to the quiet beaches of southern Thailand, you will see and experience the architecture, culture and ecology that makes this region unique.
After your arrival in Singapore, you spend two days in Malacca, a former Portugese colonial town. This community's history comes alive as your walk around the old port area.
Next, you make a three-hour river boat journey through beautiful rain forests to Taman Negara. You see monkeys, exotic birds and other wildlife along the river bank. You spend a day walking jungle trails and you can spend the night in a "game hide" from where you can watch deer, tapir, wild boar and other wildlife. During one of these two days, you venture further into the park by long boat and experience the thrill of shooting rapids.
On day seven, you travel to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. You see the impressive Colonial, Indian and Asian influences intertwine here.
Days eight and nine are spent in Penang, where the Chinese atmosphere still dominates. You can hire a bicycle rickshaw to meander through the streets of temples and colorful bazaars.
Days 10 to 12 are spent in Koh Phangan in Thailand. You take the overnight ferry to this island and enjoy remote beaches and much relaxation time.
You have two more days to explore Bangkok before you return home.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$862 U.S./$992 Canadian per person, not including airfare to Indonesia. Price includes lodging, some meals and ground transportation.
This Worldwide Adentures "Intrepid" tour delves into the landscape and ecosystem of the Indonesian archipelago, made up of 13,000 islands and hundreds of dormant volcanoes.
Your 16-day overland journey takes you through rice paddies, up volcanoes and through a coastal nature reserve.
You begin your journey in Bali, spending two days at Ubud where you can catch an early swim on the legendary Kuta Beach. Ubud's scenery is superb, there are often interesting festivals going on and the food is fantastic.
Day four is spent in Tirtagangga, traveling toward the east coast where you find a rajah's water palace, surrounded by moats and swimming pools.
Days five and six are spent on Lovina Beach in Bali. You travel to the brooding volcano of Mt. Agung and have a full day to spend on Bali's unspoiled north coast. You go dolphin watching as the sun rises, and then decide whether to snorkel, sun or visit the nearby hot springs.
Day seven is spent in Mt. Bromo, a long but interesting day's travel, crossing to Java and up to the rim of Mt. Bromo.
Days eight through 10 are spent in Yogyakarta, where you can rise early to cross the "sea of sand" and climb the cone of Mt. Bromo for an unforgettable sunrise. The extraordinary 8th-century Buddhist complex of Borobudur is just outside town.
On day 14, you travel to the university city of Bandung and on day 15 you head to Jakarta for a day before heading home.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$1,282 U.S./$1,472 Canadian per person, excluding airfare to Borneo. Price includes lodging, transportation, some meals and guides.
This 15-day tour explores Borneo as it existed before the Dutch and British colonial powers touched the island.
You meet Iban and possibly Penan tribespeople and stay in their longhouses. You explore Mulu National Park, which has some of the biggest cave systems in the world, magnificent rivers and rain forests. You even trek to the Pinnacles on this Intrepid tour, something few in the world can claim.
During this tour, you spend considerable time away from towns. Sometimes you cook for yourselves and accommodations can be very basic.
The intinerary also requires considerable physical effort due to the trekking involved and the remote countryside.
You arrive in Miri in Borneo and spent the next six days exploring the Gunung Mulu National Park. You travel on express and long boats to explore what is considered by many to be the best national park in Asia. After a night in a lodge, you begin the arduous ascent to The Pinncales. Along the way, you spend two nights in primitive lodging, but you will cherish the view from these mountaintops for years.
On your return, you explore Clearwater Cave which contains Asia's longest underground river. The next day you visit Deer Cave, home to millions of bats.
On day eight, you journey to Sibu during a long day on bad roads and in an uncomfortable bus, but that is the nature of the tour.
Days nine through 12 are spent journeying by express boats to Sarakei and then to Borneo's interior to meet the wonderful Iban people, who rarely entertain western visitors.
A single longhouse can be home to 30 or more families. Not that long ago, the Iban were headhunters, killing their victims with blowpipes. Some of the longhouses still have the skulls on display. You may see displays of traditional dancing, hunting or craftwork.
Days 13 to 14 are spent in a beach hideaway. On day 15, you depart Kuching for home.
The trekking is arduous and the conditions primitive.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,145 PP/DO including all meals and transportation to and from Riverton. For single accommodations, add $125.
Ride the Outlaw Trail through pristine mountains in north central Wyoming.
This ride is steeped in the history and folklore of the Old West and centers around the Hole-in-the Wall country used by Butch Casssidy and the Sundance Kid as a hideout for their Wild Bunch.
It is a part of America that time forgot. You meet local ranchers whose parents and grandparents rubbed shoulders with Butch Cassidy and his crowd. The memory of those not-so-distant days lingers vividly here.
Trails made by Indians, trappers, prospectors and outlaws can still be traced through the sagebrush, red rock canyons and forests.
After spending the first night in a motel in Riverton in central Wyoming, riders and guide head north to Buffalo Creek Canyon, your campsite for two nights. You spend two days riding through the foothills and Big Horn Mountains.
The next three days are spent riding near the 50-mile "red wall," a natural barrier that has provided refuge for as many as 500 outlaws during the early 1900s.
At the end of the trail, vans transport you back to your motel.
Courtesy Sno-World Snow Tours.
Courtesy Sno-World Snow Tours.
Courtesy Sno-World Snow Tours.
Rates vary depending upon length of stay, from $789 to $1,139. Price includes lodging, all meals, snowmobile rental, use of ski equipment, sleigh ride and transfers to Jackson Hole.
Yellowstone is one of the most talked about and popular national parks in the U.S. The area's spectacular geysers, hot springs, lakes, tall peaks and waterfalls are all reasons why it became the world's first national park in 1872. Sno-World Snow Tours, situated 40 miles away from the park at Togwotee Mountain, offers five- and eight-day snowmobile tours of the park and the wilderness area that surrounds it.
You stay in Togwotee Mountain Lodge, a comfortable facility with modern amenities and magnificent views in 2 million acres of winter wonderland. Your tour includes free use of cross country ski equipment, a sauna, and a sleigh ride at the National Elk Refuge. which is home to nearly 10,000 elk.
Sledding in the land of the Tetons is quite something. In addition to a two-day stay in Yellowstone, you spend time in the snow in such places as Squaw Basin, South Fork, Brooks Lake, Line Shack and running on the Continental Divide Trail. Rides usually begin at 9 a.m. and return to the lodge by 5 p.m., giving you a full day on the trails. Mileage varies from day to day and is usually between 60 and 125 miles.
Along the way, you see moose, elk, deer, buffalo, pine marten, bobcats and weasels who inhabit the snow-draped woods.
Nearby, explore Jackson Hole or enjoy a tram ride to the top of the Tetons.
This tour is available for seniors during January, February and March.
Instruction is available for novice snowmobilers.
Courtesy Thai Cooking School.
Courtesy Thai Cooking School.
Courtesy Thai Cooking School.
Classes are $440 for five mornings or $100 per class. A stay at The Oriental is $2,330 for single occupancy.
Despite its hefty price tag, a five-day cooking class at The Thai Cooking School at The Oriental, voted the "best hotel in the world" for 10 consecutive years, offers a quick trip to culinary heaven.
The cooking school provides a unique opportunity to visit Thailand, heighten your appreciation for the cuisine of Siam, and enjoy the hospitality of a world famous hotel that has hosted heads of states, world notables and a variety of entertainment stars.
The school is organized by some of the country's most knowledgeable chefs and lecturers. Conducted in English, each class is limited to 20 people to ensure personal interaction.
No matter whether you are an expert or novice cook, you will acquire new skills and insight into the fascinating traditions and culture of Thailand. At the same time, you will enjoy some of the finest dining and luxurious accommodations in Asia.
A five-day course at The Thai Cooking School offers morning classes, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each weekday. The first class gives you a basic introduction to Thai cooking and explores ingredients and spices. During the day you experiment with Khong Waang (snacks and hors d'oeuves) and yaam and pla (herbed and spiced salads.)
On day two, you try your hand at soups and fruit and vegetable carvings. You also see demonstrations of Thai flower arranging and ice carving.
On day three, you work on curries, condiments and side dishes. On day four you move into stir-frying and grilling. On day five, you dabble at desserts and explore menu preparation and selection.
Fees for the classes are $440 for the five days or separate classes can be taken at a cost of $100 each.
A five-night stay at The Oriental of Bangkok currently costs $2,330 for single occupancy and $1,965 per person, double occupancy.
Courtesy A Party to Intrigue.
$75 to $200 per person depending upon length of event. Standard are three hours to two days.
If you are looking for a different tour, one that requires problem solving, clue examination and finding a murderer, A Party to Intrigue's mystery tours are for you.
The business produces "murders" at hotels, corporate events, reunions and restaurants for customers to solve. On the trail of the crime, staged by professional actors, you will dine on gourmet meals at the Wine Train Express or at the Flamingo Resort Hotel in Santa Rosa.
The mystery "tours" can be customized to last from one to two days or longer. Most events take place in the San Francisco area, but they can be produced and customized for any location.
"We write and produce customized events for groups throughout the world and for individuals in the San Francisco area," said Party to Intrigue owner Jim Skiba. The tours have taken place on boats and islands and in mansions and trains in the past.
Courtesy Himachal Helicopter Skiing.
Courtesy Himachal Helicopter Skiing.
Photo by James Kay. Courtesy Himachal Helicopter Skiing.
Photo by Chris Noble. Courtesy Himachal Helicopter Skiing.
Photo by James Kay. Courtesy Himachal Helicopter Skiing.
$4985 excluding airfare. Inlcudes unlimited vertical skiing, six days of guide service, use of an avalanche transceiver, all meals in Manali, breakfasts in New Delhi and ground transportation.
Legend has it that the beautiful forests of the Kulu valley are the birthplace of Shiva, Lakshmi and Durgha, among the most powerful of the ancient Hindu gods. Since 1989, the small town of Manali, nestled in this peaceful cradle of the Himalayas, has also been home to Himachal Helicopter Skiing and some of the most outstanding heli-skiing in the world.
Himachal offers seven- and eight-day heli-ski "odysseys" in this "Valley of the Gods." With 600 square miles to choose from, and the variety of scenery the location provides, you can ski several inclines and snow types both with and against the sun. Manali is known for having one of the deepest snowpacks in the Himalayas and due to the climate, much of the snow is dry making for great powder.
The area is surrounded by 20,000-foot peaks and beautiful cedar forests. Under ideal conditions, you can ski to the valley floor but most skiing takes place on long, rolling ridgelines through cottonwood and rhododendron glades, down steep cirque bowls or on magnificent glaciers. Average vertical runs are 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
Each run is led by a professional guide with years of experience in skiing and mountaineering and a knowledge of the best slopes available.
In Manali, you stay in unique mountain lodges only steps from the heli-pad. All rooms are individually heated, have private baths and other modern amenitities. After a long, tiring day on the slopes, you can relax at the hands of an excellent local masseur courtesy of Himachal.
Good physical condition and prior heli-ski experience recommended.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,095 PP/DO including meals and transportation to and from Riverton. For single accommodations, add $125.
It's been 125 years since the last rider of the Pony Express thundered across the mountains and plains, but in this lonely country you can still recapture the feeling of those exciting times.
Traces remain of the old Oregon Trail that cut through this region.
Pony Express riders raced the 1,900 miles from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, in only eight days.
During six days, you cover a scenic section of the trail south of the Wind River Indian Reservation in western Wyoming.
Wild horses are common and antelope abundant. There are rivers, deserts, sagebrush plains, wooded hills and in the distance, snowcapped mountains.
Camp is set up for you each night by truck so you are not burdened by pack animals and you can have good long trots and canters. The ride is usually split into two groups so more experienced riders can take a longer route to the next camp and go at a faster pace. About six hours of riding per day is the average.
The ride ends in historic South Pass City, just east of the Continental Divide.
Suitable for strong intermediate riders.
Courtesy Bonaventura Balloon Company.
One night at bed and breakfast with balloon flight, champagne and brunch is $199 per person, with picnic lunch and gourmet dinner on a river cruise is $299 per person. A two-night stay and fly package at the Rancho Caymus Inn is $445 for two.
What could be more romantic than a hot air balloon ride from your inn to a winery and then back in time for Sunday brunch? Joyce Bowen, owner of the Bonaventura Balloon Company, can't think of anything better.
The Bonaventura company offers two- and three-day balloon and bed and breakfast packages that allow you to explore the Napa Valley countryside by air and on foot. Many of the flights launch from certain, select vineyards and wineries in the St. Helena/Rutherford area where the scenery and wines are superb. Though distance and altitude may vary according to weather, the flights usually last about an hour or longer.
One Bonaventura Stay and Fly package offers several balloon flights and one- to two-night stays at the Rancho Caymus Inn, which has 26 suites with fireplaces, mini-bars and great breakfasts.
"Ballooning is like meditation," says Joyce, "I want my guests to feel the uplifting magic of floating over this majestic valley, to enjoy fully its tranquil, dreamlike panoramas both in space and in time." During each flight, a support vehicle tracks you.
Bonaventura offers several packaged balloon tours, but all include sampling a fine local champagne to commemorate the first balloon flight in Paris in 1780, when the Montgolfier brothers transported a duck, sheep and rooster by fueling a balloon with burning straw.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,095 PP/DO including meals and transportation from meeting place in Riverton, Wyoming, to the trailhead and back. For single accommodations add $125.
The focal point of this riding tour is the thriving wild horse herd which roams the federal lands around the Green Mountains, the Red Desert and the Great Divide Basin in southwestern Wyoming.
Enjoy miles of canters on sturdy animals while participating in a team effort to search out and observe the wild herd, descended from horses that crossed the ocean on Spanish ships.
You traverse high and lonesome country where the protected mustangs live wild and free, sharing this uninhabited land with antelope, deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep.
A capable crew will move camp when necessary while you continue your quest on horseback.
Courtesy Contemporary Tours.
$2,989 per person, includes lodging, ground transportation and some meals.
Follow Sherlock Holmes from Baker Street to Dartmoor, visit the eerie graveyard on the Yorkshire coast where Count Dracula took his first bite and cross the moors to the hotel where Agatha Christie was found after her disappearance on Contemporary Tours' mystery tour of England.
Tour operators Arthur Liebman, author and expert of mystery, detective and gothic fiction, and his wife Joyce Ann Liebman, an accomplished concert pianist, merged their talents to produce a 14-day tour that entertains and educates mystery lovers.
On day one, you visit royal, government and historic places in London, as well as inspecting 221 Baker Street and the Sherlock Holmes Pub.
The next day, you continue to Rochester and view Charles Dickens's residence while trying to solve the murder of Edwin Drood.
You visit the homes or old stomping grounds of Henry James, Chaucer and Jack the Ripper. You see Windsor Castle, Salisbury Cathedral and catch the Agatha Christie exhibit in the Torquay Museum. On the return from Torquay, drive through Dartmoor where the hound of the Baskervilles once hunted.
During the remainder of the tour you visit the Cotswolds, the Regency world of Jane Austen, Stratford-on-Avon, famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and pay a sentimental visit to the green where Lord Peter Wimsey proposed to Harriet Vane.
Your accommodations will be in first-class hotels, accompanied by ample entertainment and information from your hosts.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$600 PP for St. Lawrence ride and $792 PP for Appalachian Mountain ride. Prices for both trips include all meals, riding and accommodations.
Your exploration of the St. Lawrence River plain begins on a Sunday when you meet your guide in Trois-Rivieres, situated midway between Quebec and Montreal.
During the next five days, you discover the unique flavor and color of the province of Quebec as you visit an Indian reserve and flour mill, ride through maple and pine forests, explore sand dunes at the bottom of the ancient sea of Champlain and ride along the banks of the St. Lawrence and Gentilly rivers.
In the evenings, enjoy excellent food and music provided by your host at the Ferme Du Joual Vair (old French for farm of the white horse with black spots). Your lodging is in a bunkhouse at the farm or in a cozy, rustic cabin deep in the woods.
A full day's ride on Friday is followed by a farewell dinner and return to Montreal by bus.
A second Quebec riding trip takes you from Montreal into the Appalachian Mountains for five days while you explore wild country, enjoy mountaintop views, ride through maple forests, visit picturesque villages and travel trails created by woodcutters 200 years ago.
In the evenings, enjoy typical Quebecois meals and music. Your lodgings will be in different places along the route.
On Friday, an all-day ride is followed by a farewell dinner and return to Montreal by bus.
Both trips are offered in August and September, and the St. Lawrence trip is offered in early October as well.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,200 PP/DO including horses, meals, lodging and transfers. For single accommodations pay $100 extra. Airfare is not included.
Equitour offers eight-day horseback trips in Monument Valley, one of the most dramatically beautiful places in the world with canyons, shifting sand dunes and freestanding red sandstone mesas rising from the desert floor.
As befits a ride through ancient tribal lands, the trip is steeped in Navajo culture. You see centuries-old ruins and petroglyphs and frequently come in contact with modern Navajos.
The terrain varies, but often is wide open, allowing for some good canters. Five to six hours riding per day is expected and the pace is moderate. There is a comfortable base camp with showers from which rides radiate each day in different directions.
You visit some of the famous natural arches in Little Monument Valley, picnic near Hunt's Mesa and see the Rooster, a spectacular formation. On the western edge of Monument Valley, you see Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs and lunch near one of the few wells within many miles.
Near the end of the week, you ride to Mitchell Mesa from where you can see the entire region, including each spot you have just visited. The final day's ride takes you past John Ford's point, so-called because he filmed part of the classic movie "Stagecoach" here.
The trip begins and ends in Gallup, New Mexico. Included in the trip price is ground transportation to and from Guy Cly's near Monument Valley where the horses are kept. On the drives, you stop at Hubbell Trading Post which has been in continuous operation since the 1870's and Goulding Trading Post .
Equitour also offers trips into some of Arizona's mountains, including the Superstition Mountains in the south central part of the state.
Courtesy Int. Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine.
$3,000 to $3,400 PP/DO, includes most meals and accommodations.
Bologna is considered by many to be the most important food city in Italy and this International Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine teaches you the basics of great Italian cooking. You will make delectable antipasto, salad, soups, risotto, crepes and a wide variety of pastas and sauces during this seven-day program.
Four participation cooking classes feature Italian ingredients, techniques and great specialties. You will also dine in excellent restaurants and embark on a winery tour to truly taste the best of Italy.
You stay at the charming Hotel Roma and dine your first night at Ristorante Alla Grada. The next day begins with a pasta chef demonstrating plain and stuffed pastas. You will also make vegetable antipasto, several pasta sauces, a chicken main course and desserts.
On day three, after a morning shopping expedition to the outdoor market of Bologna, you learn to make ragu Bolognese, new risotto with shrimp, vegetables and sauces, duck and pastry. You also get a primer on Italy's olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
On day four, you watch medal-winning cheese master Benjamino Cotozzi make Parmigiano-Reggiano. You drive through scenic wine country and tour vineyards and a wine museum. You dine on a country lunch and catch many sites in this region.
On day five, after a free morning, you learn more dishes, including how to make three types of light gnocchi with sauces. For dinner, you make savory crepes layered with prosciutto and porcini and taste more excellent wines.
On day six, your cooking lessons conclude with a sensational class at Ristorante La Frasca. You will see and learn the dishes that make this restaurant famous.
Courtesy Int. Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine.
$3,400 PP/DO includes accommodations and most meals, but excludes transportation.
Learn to cook Italy's famous black and white truffles, pasta meat and great desserts during the October Truffle Festival in Bologna.
On day one of the International Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine's seven-day cooking tour, you check into the Hotel Roma and enjoy a walking tour of the city followed by a wonderful dinner at Ristorante Alla Grada.
The next morning, you shop at the outdoor market and learn to make pasta by hand in the afternoon. You learn how to concoct sauces and fazzoletti layered with vegetables. You are also taught the fine art of cooking with Italy's olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
On day two, after a free morning you have an afternoon of sampling truffles and truffle products with a discussion on selecting truffles and their storage and uses. Later, you enjoy a fine dinner where good food and wine are savored.
On day three, you journey to Lombardy and Piedmont to visit award-winning wineries. You spend the night in Piedmont and have a free evening to roam.
On day four, after a guided tour of Alba's ancient Roman sites, you attend an exclusive pastry demonstration at Pasticceria Sacco to learn Alba's favorite chocolate truffles and hazelnut torta recipes. Next, you drive to La Morra and visit more wineries. That evening, you dine at the renown Ristorante La Contea in Neive on a multi-course meal of truffles and Bruno Giaciosa's wines.
On day five, you go on your own exclusive truffle hunt with a local expert. Next you travel to the village estate of Italy's last king in Serralunga d'Alba. You attend another wine tasting and enjoy a lunch in the estate. You again watch as superb signature dishes, some incorporating black truffles, are prepared before you.
On day six, you visit the famed white truffle market. You may wander through the outdoor markets or shop at local stories. You leave later in the day for Milan, where you have the evening free.
Courtesy Villa Table.
Courtesy Villa Table.
Courtesy Villa Table.
Courtesy Villa Table.
$3,900 PP/DO or $4,500 single occupancy. Price includes meals and accommodations, but excludes airfare.
For a few weeks each year, Lorenza de' Medici, the author of 20 cookbooks, opens her 11th-century villa in Tuscany to 14 students who want to learn about Italian cooking from a master.
During her one-week course, entitled The Villa Table, she lives and works with the small group, sharing age-old cooking secrets and hospitality. Her cuisine is uncomplicated but refined. Large kitchen gardens provide the salad greens, vegetables and herbs that are essential to the Tuscan table.
You learn about the wines, olive oils and dishes that evolved from this rich culinary region. Her recent recipes include a sweet and savory rigatoni pie, lemon risotto, onions stuffed with amaretti cookies, herb veal cutlets, bread salad and a chocolate tart with grapes. You also learn to bake a variety of Italian breads.
Her villa is one of the most prestigious and splendid wine estates in Italy. It sits high upon a hill in Tuscany in the heart of the Chianti Classico wine zone. It is here that the celebrated wines, olive oil, vinegar and honey that bear the Badia a Coltibuono label are produced.
Mornings begin with a three-hour cooking class. The menu prepared during class is served for that day's lunch.
In the afternoon there are excursions to the surrounding area. Evening dinners are held in nearby private villas, castles and beautiful homes which are opened exclusively for Lorenza's guests.
Courtesy Villa Mozart Cooking Classes.
Courtesy Villa Mozart Cooking Classes.
Courtesy Villa Mozart Cooking Classes.
$2,600 PP/DO or $2,900 single occupancy. Includes all but one dinner and accommodations. Airfare not included.
In a quiet residential area of Merano is a small hotel known as Villa Mozart, which offers an extraordinary week-long program of cooking courses.
Open to eight to 10 per class, the villa provides exquisite accommodations and morning or afternoon classes in fine cuisine, wines and table decoration.
The menus that are prepared during the lessons are served for that day's lunch or dinner. Students learn to prepare a full range of culinary specialties from the historic region of Tyrol as well as the personal creations of the chef, including hors d'hoeuvres, pastries and elegant meals.
Afternoon excursions include visiting gastronomy shops, fruit and vegetable markets and wineries.
The beautiful hotel was built in 1907, and every detail is in black and white Secessionist Jugend-style. The villa is a monument to this style's most famous advocate, Josef Hoffmann, co-founder of the legendary Wiener Werkstatte design studio. Accommodations include rooms with private baths, phones, televisions, indoor swimming pool, sauna, solarium and covered parking places.
In your free time, you can hike in the countryside and visit the region's lovely castles and cities.
Courtesy La Varenne.
Courtesy La Varenne.
Courtesy La Varenne.
$3,295 PP/DO, single occupancy is $400 more. Price includes meals, wines, all excursions and accommodations for six nights. Excludes airfare to Paris.
In 1651, Francois Pierre de la Varenne wrote the first modern French cookbook. Today, his name symbolizes the finest of French cuisine and professional training. Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne at the Chateau du Fey offers a week-long gastronomic course that allows you time to explore the Burgundy countryside and embark on a balloon ride.
During the programs, which begin on Sundays, you attend four practical classes where a master chef demonstrates, there are three wine tastings and visits to a cheese producer and artisan baker. You also visit a Chablis vineyard and enjoy grand meals at two of the finest restaurants in France -- the three-star Esperance in Vezelay and the Cote St. Jacques in Joigny.
Back home at Le Fey, cooking classes include typical Burgundian dishes like jambon persille, feuillete d'escargots a l'anis and the chateau's special gateau au chocolat Ninon de L'Enclos.
Four wines are served during the week and the program is personally hosted by Anne Willan and her husband, Mark Cherniavsky.
Courtesy Venetian Cooking in a Venetian Palace.
Courtesy Venetian Cooking in a Venetian Palace.
Courtesy Venetian Cooking in a Venetian Palace.
$3,500 PP/DO, $250 more for single occupancy. Prices increase $200 during June and September. Includes accommodations, all but one dinner and several side tours. Excludes airfare to Venice.
Chef Fulvia Sesani has chosen some of the most prestigious accommodations in Venice for the guests/students at her Venetian cooking school. You stay in the Hotel Cipriani at Palazzo Vendramin on Giudecca island while learning from a woman who has written numerous books on cooking.
Set in lush gardens, this hotel castle has a superb swimming pool and accommodations. But you learn cooking in the kitchen of Fulvia Sesani's home. In her kitchen, she gives advice, makes suggestions and tries out numerous delicacies while you watch.
Fulvia explains how lifestyles and social context have determined the evolution of traditional recipes in Italy and other countries and what causes certain forgotten dishes to enjoy occasional revivals.
For this reason, she is considered a "gastronomic engineer" who creates "edible works of art." Using vegetables, she fashions Christmas trees, Santas and nativity figures.
She teaches her personal techniques as well as traditional Venetian recipes.
In addition to learning culinary secrets, you have plenty of opportunity to explore the city of Venice and visit some of Fulvia's friends in their homes.
Photo John Running. Courtesy ArtTrek Art School and Gallery.
Photo John Running. Courtesy ArtTrek Art School and Gallery.
Price varies, $60 for two days to $995 for six days. Call for details.
ArtTrek Art School and Gallery, founded by two artists, offers you a chance to express yourself artistically in sacred landscapes that have inspired people for centuries.
ArtTrek offers a supportive environment for artistic growth and exploration to beginner artists and professionals alike. You travel along the Colorado River to an Arizona cave or mesa to gaze at the artwork created centuries ago by Native Americans. You photograph figures in the landscape, draw the canyons or paint the peaks during week-long sessions.
"We plan excursions and teach art with the sensibility that it is good to learn and a joy to grow," explained Ann Marie Stillion, a teacher and artist. "We enjoy getting dirty and figuring out arcane problems like how to transport a drawing board to the top of a red rock butte."
The workshops are five days in Sedona, Arizona and six days along the Colorado River. During the Colorado River workshop, you can spend a day running the gentle rapids below Diamond Creek.
Central to ArtTrek's philosophy is the belief that spending time in nature enhances artistic awareness and growth.
Courtesy Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier.
Courtesy Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier.
Courtesy Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier.
Prices range from about $1,100 per week, excluding room, board or airfare.
If you are searching for the creme de la creme of French cooking schools, the Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier is among the best.
Situated in the Hotel Ritz Paris, where the finest cooks and pastry chefs, wine stewards and maitres d'hotel have catered to a celebrated clientele, this cooking school provides lessons to a wide variety of culinary students.
While French is the first language in the classroom, skilled translators ensure easy communication between French teachers and English-speaking students. French chefs instruct selected food lovers and professionals in kitchens outfitted with the best professional equipment, from copper pots to convection ovens.
But the classroom at the Ecole is much more than a teaching kitchen. This is the Ritz, with its two-star rating from Michelin and a 200,000-bottle wine cellar.
During demonstration classes at the ecole, which last only one day, chefs teach the techniques of French cooking, while always offering a tasting at the end.
In practical classes, which can continue for more than one day, students try out the techniques learned in the demonstration classes. This time, students sit down to a meal of the dishes prepared while pastry students take their confections home. In theory classes, the school staff and international food and wine authorities speak on subjects ranging from French wine and cheese to table service.
The classes are tailored to food lovers and professional chefs who want to hone their skills. The Ritz-Escoffier offers diploma courses, ranging from one to six weeks, for those wanting to perfect their bread- or pastry-making skills.
The school also offers a variety of special courses, from summer entertaining to wine and cheese certificate courses.
Whether you are interested in French cuisine or patisserie, you are sure to find a course at the Ecole Ritz-Escoffier that will make you a more confident and knowledgeable cook.
Courtesy Worldwide Adventures Inc.
$985 PP for one week, $1,795 for two weeks, excluding airfare. Includes expenses of the yacht, crew charges, linens and use of windsurfer, snorkeling and fishing gear.
Worldwide Adventures offers a unique way to enjoy Greece's southern islands in their one- and two-week skippered boating tours. Combining excursions to mainland attractions with sailing the azure seas to remote island coves gives you a memorable Greek experience.
The trips are guaranteed to be varied with 2,000 islands, peaceful bays and hundreds of fishing hamlets as destinations to choose from.
You can sail for the modern islands of Rhodes and Mykonos or visit quiet isles known for sacred sites such as Delos and Patmos. Spending a day or two on each island allows time for sampling local culture and exploring the ancient sites.
On shore, you visit isolated beaches, dance all night at open air discos or enjoy quiet moments appreciating the surrounding beauty. You can be as active or passive as you like, participating in vessel chores or just reading, snorkeling and relaxing.
Evening meals are eaten ashore in local taverns.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
$1,090 per person, includes accommodations, meals, museum and monument fees and tour guide. Airfare is additional.
Bicycle Africa is sponsoring two-week bicycling tours of Tunisia that explore remote regions of this rich country to learn about the day-to-day life of its residents.
You meet rural villagers, skilled craftspeople, educators and officials and learn about the changing role of women in this African country. You can explore archeological sites dating back to the second century B.C. and enjoy the country's beauty. Rural Tunisia has been virtually undiscovered by most Westerners.
The primary mode of transportation will be a mountain bike, interspersed with train travel. The cycling difficulty is moderate, covering about 40 miles per day on paved roads. You will cover about 380 miles during the two-week tour.
Tour organizers say most cyclers can do this tour. Accommodations are in comfortable hotels. All participants receive comprehensive information about setting up your bike, packing, training and other information for tour preparation.
The tour is limited to 10 people.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
$1,190 per person, includes accommodations and meals. Airfare and bicycle not included.
Bicycle Africa is sponsoring a two-week tour of west Africa to explore historical sites and rural cultures of Senegal, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia and view the birdlife of this region.
David Mozer, an African studies specialist and pioneer of bicycling in Africa, leads this tour, designed for people who want to learn more about Africa as well as see beautiful sights. The cycling varies, but is generally easy to moderate in pace on paved roads, with numerous optional trips available for those with extra energy.
Accommodations are a mix from Western-style hotels to rustic traditional village housing.
You will see wildlife, shop in local markets and explore pristine beaches in these countries that supply rubber, coffee, cocoa, coconut, pineapples, palm oil, gold and diamonds.
You have an opportunity to meet and share ideas with traditional villagers, urbanites, university students and government officials.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
$1,290 per person, excluding airfare. Price includes guide, rustic accommodations and meals.
Bicycle Africa's two-week tour of the Sahel explores the broad savannah that runs along the southern edge of the Sahara. This region bisects the Niger River, known as the Strong Brown God, which is Africa's third longest river and source of life in central west Africa.
Since the time of the Mali and Songhai empires, the Sahel has been the crossroads of west African trade.
On a market day, it is not unusual to meet people from Senegal to Cameroon or from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bight of Benin.
You share the road with camels, donkeys, sheep and horses as you cycle through the region. Tour routes vary, but will likely cover Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
You will visit Timbuktu and journey on a riverboat.
You will cycle abut 310 miles.
Photo by Dennis Coello. Courtesy Backroads.
$1,195 includes all lodging and meals, lessons, van support, trail fees and gratuities.
The snow falls early and stays late in the gentle hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, making for a long ski season. Country lanes, bucolic villages, quaint inns and quiet trails add up to a classic New England ski adventure in this six-day Backroads tour.
You meet in Burlington at midday before shuttling to Craftsbury Common, a colonial village of white picket fences that graces the top of a hill, and stay at the elegant Inn on the Common.
After settling in the gracious surroundings, you are fitted for ski gear and take a quick spin around the common. Upon your return to the inn, you are treated to a welcoming cocktail party and a five-course dinner.
The next morning, you take lessons at the Craftsbury Nordic Ski Center before taking to the extensive trail system. During the next two days, you can opt for a variety of settings for your ski adventures -- from quiet forested lakes to open fields -- all the while soaking in the beauty of the countryside.
An evening sleigh ride serves as the grand finale to your stay at the Inn on the Common.
The next morning, after a final run around the common, you head for Stowe where you can spend the remainder of the day browsing through the ski town's bustling boutiques or go for a quiet ski on the vast acreage of your host, the Edson Hill Manor. The Georgian colonial-style inn has gabled roofs, a log-brick facade and a kitchen that serves up excellent gourmet meals.
You can spend your days on miles of groomed trails in Stowe or head to the downhill slopes. The Edson Hill trails connect with the rest of the Stowe system, providing lengthy and varied forays into the woods and fields.
Your final dinner will be complemented by a selection from the inn's fine wine center. After one last morning ski beneath the snow dusted pines, you return to Burlington and the trip home.
Instruction is available for novice skiers.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
$1,490 per person, includes accommodations and some meals. Excludes airfare and bicycle.
Bicycle Africa is sponsoring a unique tour of Zimbabwe. Your tour traverses the Mashonaland and Manicaland provinces to Inyanga National Park, the Sabi River and the low veld.
A special feature of this tour is the opportunity to meet people active in the issues of the day, including teachers, women's rights leaders, rural health care advocates and environmentalists.
You also visit the fascinating Inyanga National Park, the Great Zimbabwe ruins, local schools and view the San (Bushman) painted caves.
The tour is led by David Mozer, an African studies specialist.
You will also visit Victoria Falls, canoe and go on steam trains and a whitewater rafting trip.
You will spend nearly two weeks on bike, cycling about 240 miles on mostly paved roads.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
Courtesy Bicycle Africa.
$1,290 per person, excluding airfare.
Bicycle Africa, a unique program that helps you discover a fascinating and diverse continent, will explore Kenya or Uganda this year during a 14-day tour.
This is a self-contained bicycle tour that allows you to experience the customs, attitudes and living standards of each region you bicycle through in Africa. Tour leader is David Mozer, an African specialist.
You meet a variety of people along the way and visit rural villages and wander through national parks. You will see a wide array of wildlife as you visit these parks and a variety of cultures as you cycle from village to village.
You cycle about 300 miles during this tour, primarily over paved roads.
Courtesy Backroads.
$1,195 includes all meals and lodging. Ground transportation is $60.
In northern Califronia, west of the Nevada border, the Sierra Nevadas loom over serene snow-blanketed valleys and provide some of the finest cross-country ski terrain in the country.
Backroads offers a five-day tour, where you stay in beautiful inns and sample a variety of trails at some of California's finest ski resorts.
You meet in San Francisco and head west to the 200 miles of groomed trails at Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort. Spread over 9,172 acres, Royal Gorge is one of the largest Nordic ski areas in the word.
While using the trails you stay at Rainbow Lodge, a 1920s mountain hotel nestled by a bend in the Yuba River. It has comfortable rooms, a historic bar and European cafe with Swiss and Italian specialties.
At Summit Station in the heart of Royal Gorge, you can take a ski lesson before beginning your exploration of Tahoe National Forest. For two days, you ski wherever you fancy over long flat stretches, over gently rolling paths or down challenging inclines. Everywhere you go there will be spectacular views of Sierra peaks and ridges. Alongside the trail are warming huts for hot drinks and trailside snacks.
After departing Royal Gorge, you shuttle to historic Truckee, a former gunfighter town where cowboys and dance hall girls kicked up their heels along the boardwalk. You lodge for the night in the rustic Truckee Hotel, which has catered to mountain travelers since 1873.
Nearby, at Tahoe Donner Cross-Country Ski Resort, the pine and aspen forest is inviting. Beginning and intermediate skiers can take refuge in Euer Valley, home of broad, flat meadows. At the end of the day, you transfer to the Resort at Squaw Creek, a luxurious sanctuary with majestic views at the base of one of the world's most reknown ski mountains.
During your stay, you can try downhill skiing at Squaw Valley or ski along the north shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe at Tahoe Nordic.
Your ski experience in the Sierra's climaxes on the gentle trail of the Squaw Creek Cross-Country Center where you ski one last time before departing for San Francisco.
Sample beginner or intermediate trails.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$1,495 per person for 14-day course, $1,695 per person for 22-day course. Price covers instruction, meals and accommodations, but excludes airfare.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound School offers 14- and a 22-day Alpine mountaineering courses for those age 16 and older.
These mountaineering courses offer a variety of experiences as diverse terrain requires an assortment of physical and mental responses. Outward Bound offers this course on two of the West's finest ranges, the North Cascades in Washington and the High Sierra in California. Acquiring skills in mountaineering, rock climbing and backcountry travel are major elements here. From spontaneous lessons on marmot habitat to hours on the trail, days are typically long, demanding and busy. Students should expect a course that is mentally and physically intense and rigorous.
As part of a team, students come to appreciate the importance of support and shared enthusiasm. This expedition requires teamwork, sacrifice, leadership and compassion. The connection between effort and accomplishment is made remarkably clear. It is a chemistry that works, as parents and students have testified.
These courses cover training, an Alpine expedition and a student final expedition. During finals, students are split into smaller groups. Leadership is transferred from instructors to students as each group is assigned a route appropriate to its capabilities and aspirations. The final trek involves three to four days of backcountry travel.
Outward Bound's 14-day course does not include the final expedition, but students will learn the same types of skills as those on the longer program.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
21-day course is $2,195 and 14-day course is $1,675 per person, excluding airfare to Oregon.
Experience the essence of Oregon's wild spaces, its rivers and mountains during Outward Bound's whitewater rafting and mountaineering expedition on the Deschutes River and in the Oregon Cascades.
This course, open to anyone age 16 and older, lets you pursue two very different skills. You begin this 14- or 21-day program on the Deschutes River, where you travel more than 75 miles during the first leg of the journey. The Deschutes is a fun and exciting river, with plenty of whitewater. You learn much about the river, camping in arid environments and finessing a paddle raft through boiling rapids.
The Deschutes valley offers fine rock climbing and hikers may discover petroglyphs or the remnants of a pioneer ranch.
Next, you trade river equipment for backpacks and ice axes as you journey to the Oregon Cascades at the head of the Deschutes. Most of the peaks are heavily glaciated, offering routes of varying difficulty. You learn the essential skills of the mountaineer, navigation, campcraft, traveling in roped teams and how to use an ice ax. Solo and student final expeditions, during which leadership skills are tested, are also included.
Courtesy Backroads.
$1,195 includes meals and lodging. Van transfer is $60. Airfare is not included.
Canada's Rocky Mountains cradle quiet, snow-blanketed valleys, glistening stands of fir trees, frozen lakes and ponds between their lofty peaks. Backroads offers a six-day cross-country ski tour through Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho National Parks in the heart of this natural grandeur.
You meet in Calgary before transfering to the cozy Baker Creek Chalet near Lake Louise. You get acquainted beside the log cabin's fireplaces with wine and hors d'oeuvres before dining at Baker Creek Bistro.
Your first full day of skiing kicks off with a lesson on the lake's flat terrain. You skirt the lake's shore past a frozen waterfall that seems suspended in time. The trail leads through the forest and keen eyes will find the trails of moose, snowshoe hare and lynx. The day concludes with a sleigh ride round the lakeshore.
The following day you transfer to the Post Hotel, a member of the exclusive Relais and Chateaux collection. Relax after a day's ski in the Jacuzzi or take a swim in the indoor swimming pool while enjoying mountain views.
The next morning finds you on the Pipestone Loop, a sunny benchland that rolls through woods and clearings. In the afternoon, you can try snowshoeing to the Lake Agnes Teahouse. You can also see what it is like to hurtle along behind a team of yipping dogs or even learn to mush yourself.
After a hearty breakfast, you shuttle to Yoho National Park for skiing behind Mount Field. The area affords views of the Canadian Pacific Railroad's Spiral Tunnel, Cataract Brook and Lake O'Hara. The tranquil Emerald Lake Lodge is a welcome haven after a long day's ski with its antique-filled rooms, massive stone fireplaces and delicious cuisine.
From the lodge you can ski beneath the towering pines of Emerald Lake or try the Natural Bridge Loop trail along the Kicking Horse River with views of Mount Vaux. A farewell cocktail hour offers time to relax sore muscles in an enormous outdoor hot tub.
The skiing can be as easy or challenging as you wish.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$1,395 per person, excluding airfare. Includes accommodations, ground transportation and food.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound's canoeing and Alpine mountaineering program in the North Cascades gives students a taste of the best Washington has to offer during this 12-day expedition.
Students, age 16 and older, canoe on Ross Lake, a finger of water piercing the Pasayten and Pickett Wildernesses, stretching north into Canada. It is a vast mountain lake nearly 30 miles long. The water is deep, green and mesmerizing.
Glaciated peaks rise from the lake and cascading waterfalls tumble down the mountainsides. Students will canoe for four to five days and spend seven to eight days mountaineering. Instructors teach basic canoe skills and safety before boats are launched.
On the water, there is time to sharpen paddling skills. Students will be able to maneuver canoes and embark on adventures of their own by the end of the class.
The mountaineering leg of the program is fast-paced, and includes some rock climbing, rappeling and ascent of one of the nearby peaks. Heavy packs and significant elevation gain make this a challenging yet rewarding experience. Participants work as part of a team with a strong commitment to common goals.
The curriculum also includes campcraft, backpacking, backcountry navigation, ecology and natural history.
Courtesy Backroads.
Courtesy Backroads.
$1,195 includes lodging and meals. Excludes transportation to the site.
California's Marin coast offers a wide array of walking environments. Meander through meadows of wildflowers, through groves of ancient redwoods, over windswept headlands and along sandy beaches in this six-day Backroads walking tour.
Beginning in San Francisco, the tour ventures by car to Point Reyes Seashore Lodge, a welcoming facility with soothing whirlpools and fireplaces on the fringe of the 65,000-acre Point Reyes National Seashore.
On your first day's walk, you follow the Bear Valley Trail through the woods to Arch Rock on Drake's Bay. You traverse the cliffs of the Coast Trail before heading back through the wild, oat-filled meadows and dense conifer groves of the Sky Trail.
Those inclined can climb 1,407-foot Mt. Wittenberg, while others explore the Morgan Horse Ranch, the Miwok Indian Village or Earthquake Trail, which follows the San Andreas Fault.
The next day, you hike across tranquil meadows and under bay tree canopies along the fault. Look for the treetop nests of blue herons and great egrets along the shores of Bolinas Lagoon. You venture onto another section of the Coastal Trail and trade vistas of ocean and coastline for stands of oak and fir and clusters of iris.
You stop for the evening at the Casa del Mar, a Meditteranean-style inn perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific. After a dinner of fresh seafood or pasta at a quaint village restaurant, you might want to take an evening stroll on Stinson's Beach.
The goal of the next day is the Mountain Home Inn, achieved by hiking up the Steep Ravine Trail through a narrow canyon lined with colossal redwoods and mantles of fern. The inn offers a treehouse vantage point of Mount Tamalpais (2,571 feet).
The Muir Woods, a 485-acre of redwoods, gives way to seashore and your home for the evening, Pelican Inn, a bed-and-breakfast with pub reminiscent of 16th-century England.
Your final day's hike takes you through the windy Marin headlands to Tennessee Valley and signs of civilization.
The terrain is not difficult with only a few short, steep sections.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$2,095 per person, excludes airfare but includes accommodations, food and instruction.
Northern Washington is known for its rugged mountains and rocky coastline and this Outward Bound course explores the skills required to live in this northwest region.
The first 12 days of this 27-day program are spent exploring the San Juan archipelago, situated in the northwest corner of the state. Sail theory, navigation, and safety are covered thoroughly, with strong emphasis on the region's natural history. Unstable weather and living at sea can be taxing and arduous. Maneuvering, rigging and piloting demand teamwork and cooperation. The close quarters of the pulling boats necessitate that issues and conflict be dealt with openly. All this prepares the crew for the mountain expedition.
During this segment, instructors cover a wide ranging curriculum including rock climbing, rappeling, alpine climbing and backcountry travel. Instructors capitalize on the sense of teamwork developed during the sailing phase as students move quickly through huge stands of fir and into the rugged boulders.
As students ascend above the timberline, a new world opens up. Several summit climbs and high traverses make this an exciting and demanding final two weeks.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
22-day course is $1,795 and 14-day course $1,495 per person, including food, lodging and instruction but excluding airfare.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound's Venture Mountaineering course is designed to meet the needs of younger students. The course includes a training expedition, a mountain climb and then a final expedition and solo climb.
The degree of supervision provided students in this Venture program varies with the level of skills acquired and judgment shown during the course. There is a 22-day program and 14-day program, which is an abbreviated version.
Three instructors supervise nine students and a resupply may be added to keep pack weights more manageable for smaller students. Rock climbing, mountaineering, wilderness skills, first aid and service are all features of the courses. Instructors work closely with students to translate their learning on the mountains to everyday life. Group meetings and student interviews are all part of the course.
The value of teamwork is compelling and required in this wilderness setting. Definitions of friendship take on new meanings, with fun and laughter being important elements.
Instructors serve as mentors and leaders, but students still solve problems and open and honestly deal with issues.
These students need to be prepared to work hard and with enthusiasm to meet the many challenges commonplace on a wilderness expedition.
In return, students find increased self confidence, leadership potential and appreciation of the natural world.
The course is held in July and August in the North Cascades of Washington and from June through September in the High Sierras of California.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,825 and $360 for charter flights for the Glacier Bay tour. From $1,050 plus $300 for bushplane flights for the Icy Bay tour. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
On this trip, you see two of the greatest attractions in Alaska -- Glacier Bay National Park and Admiralty Island. You kayak in the open waters of the bay alongside whales, seals and seabirds. You travel in two-person Klepper kayaks, which allow you easy access to remote caves and giant glacier faces.
You spend four days there before taking a floatplane for a scenic ride over the Inside Passage to Admiralty Island, south of Juneau.
There is only one settlement in this million-acre wilderness monument, the Tlingit Indian village of Angoon. From there, you canoe through a wilderness of ancient forests. The brown bear and bald eagles always outnumber the people here.
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers tours to Icy Bay, which was created during this century by retreating glaciers that still form the bay's head, just west of Mount St. Elias.
After getting comfortable with your sea kayak, you spend five days exploring the wilderness. You also take extensive day hikes into this wild frontier, home to bears, beavers, mountain goats, moose, wolves and thousands of birds including aleutian terns and parasitic jaegers.
At night you camp on isolated shores. The remoteness of this region makes this a challenging but rewarding tour.
Moderate sea kayaking, canoeing and camping. The Icy bay tour is more difficult with moderate to strenuous kayaking and hiking.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Designed for youths age 14-16.
$1,775 for 14-day program and $2,295 for 21 days. Price includes accommodations, instructors and food.
Outward Bound merges its mountaineering and rafting programs to give youths a chance to explore their personal capabilities during this 21- or 14-day program in Oregon.
Young people find whitewater rafting and climbing exciting, rewarding and fun. The course activities are geared to younger students, between the ages of 14 and 16.
Three instructors work with each group to ensure students receive ample personal attention and supervision. Specially selected for their ability to work with young people, instructors help students translate course lessons into insights they can use when they return home.
Group meetings and student interviews are all part of the course and help students discover the value of setting and meeting their goals.
The value of teamwork and cooperation is compelling and obvious in a wilderness setting. Friendships and personal responsibility take on new meaning.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,850 plus $300 bushplane flights. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
This wilderness safari takes you to Alaska's Kenai River and Denali National Park where you see rare birds on Alaska's emerald shore, catch red salmon along the Kenai River, sail among the orcas of the Kenai fjords and track bull caribou for the photo of a lifetime.
You start off with an easy one-day river trip on the scenic Kenai River, floating through the heart of this National Wildlife Refuge. For the next two days, you hike the trails of nearby Chugach National Forest and the Kenai Mountains. Afterwards, you travel to the Kenai Fjords where you observe imposing glaciers, sea mammals and the pelagic birdlife of the Gulf of Alaska.
Your safari concludes at Denali National Park, crowned by the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet. On daily hikes, you see caribou, grizzly, Dall sheep, moose and other wildlife of this mountain domain.
You spend nights in comfortable cabins and travel by van, river raft, yacht and on foot, as you experience the full range of Alaska's natural beauty.
Moderate day hikes, one day rafting.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$1,495 PP, excluding airfare to Washington. Includes instruction, accommodations and meals.
Twenty-five years ago, when Outward Bound began its program to teach respect for self, others and the environment, its first courses were taught at sea. That tradition continues with Pacific Crest's seamanship course for youths age 16 and older. The course blends seamanship, history of the Northwest and marine ecology.
The program utilizes three longboats, equipped with sails and oars. These training boats are close to the water and extremely seaworthy and safe. Students row and sail by day and camp ashore at night.
The boats permit students to learn quickly the essentials of seamanship, sail theory, navigation and piloting. Each crew achieves its own level of mastery, depending on members' teamwork, fitness and motivation. Matching the crew's ability to the prevailing conditions develops judgment and decision making.
Maritime history, songs and stories are also a part of this program. Journals from early explorers are used to gain metaphorical understanding of the students' own voyage.
During the 12-day program, you explore some of the more remote forested islands in the San Juan archipelago. Day hikes allow students to experience the diverse animal and plantlife in this area.
Courtesy Backroads.
$1,195 includes all accommodations, meals and park fees. Excludes transportation to Washington.
Washington state's Olympic Peninsula is a pristine wilderness region of snowcapped peaks, lush rain forest and unspoiled coastline along Puget Sound. Backroads offers a six-day exploration of the region's swift streams, quiet lakes and windswept beaches.
You rendezvous in Seattle before ferrying to Port Townsend, a quaint seaport that juts into Puget Sound. Your afternoon arrival allows time to stroll about town, past Victorian homes and bustling shops.
You stop for the evening at the Victorian Starrett House Inn on a bluff overlooking the sound. You dine on fresh seafood or other delights before ascending a spiral staircase to your antique-filled room.
The following morning, you shuttle up the mile-high Hurricane Ridge on Olympic National Park's eastern edge. A short trail takes you to the summit with majestic views of Mt. Olympus (7,976 feet) and the neighboring Bailey Range, the tallest peaks in the Olympics. Your descent passes through forests of Douglas fir and western red cedar, home to deer and mountain goats.
The next two evenings are spent at Lake Crescent Lodge, situated on the fringe of the park and surrounded by giant fir and hemlock trees. Overlooking the lake, the charming turn-of-the-century lodge's lobby is welcoming with its massive stone fireplace.
While staying beside the lake, you have the option of hiking a nature trail to Marymere Falls, following a longer couse along Barnes Creek and the Aurora Trail network through thick virgin forests and ferns, or ascending the western ridge of Mount Storm King.
The following day, you hike into a rain forest which houses 275-foot talll Douglas fir and Sitka spruce, a dense undergrowth of ferns and moss, and the the Hoh River. You follow the river, its waters milky with glacial silt, to the base of Mt. Olympus. The day's end finds you at Kalaloch Lodge, a quiet retreat on the coast of the Pacific with a strong Native American heritage.
Time is allotted the next morning for a leisurely stroll along the sandy beach before transfering to Quinalt, where you spend the evening at Lake Quinalt Lodge. The lodge overlooks a mountain lake on the edge of the Olympic Rain Forest.
Your final morning can include a stroll through the rain forest to inspect some of the most stunning old-growth Douglas firs in the Pacific Northwest, a boat ride on Lake Quinalt, or a hike along Falls Creek through primeval forest bordered by a steep canyon.
The terrain is not very difficult with only a few short steep sections.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$995 per person, not including airfare. Includes food, guides and accommodations.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound has developed a program just for women who want to explore the backcountry. Women develop strong bonds and a sense of fellowship during this program.
The course provides a supportive and special environment in which to meet the many challenges of a demanding wilderness outing.
There are group meetings that provide time for reflection and appreciation of the natural setting. Instructors assess the students' capabilities and set the pace accordingly. The courses are, however, challenging. Off trail hiking, rock climbing and rappeling, an overnight solo and peak ascents are standard course activities.
Former students have commented that the instructors listened and were flexible, but challenged the students beyond their prior limitations.
The courses are conducted in the desert of Joshua Tree National Monument and the High Sierra.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$995 for eight-day course, $1,495 for 14 days and $1,695 for 22 days. Includes instruction, accommodation and meals. Excludes airfare.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound offers courses for adults, age 21 and older. The courses are designed to enhance respect for yourself, others and the environment while encouraging you to develop your leadership and teamwork capabilities.
Mountaineering courses are conducted during the summer in the High Sierras of California and the North Cascades of Washington. While the courses are fast-paced and intense, participants say they feel energized and renewed at the finale. The inherent simplicity of a wilderness sojourn is frequently a welcome break from the complexity of urban life.
During this course, you embark on mountaineering, rock climbing and backcountry travel. As part of a team, you appreciate the importance of support and shared enthusiasm. In the natural world, the connection between effort and accomplishment is made remarkably clear.
The course is available in eight-, 14- or 22-day programs.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $2,800. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Beautiful Mt. McKinley, the highest peak on the North American continent, soars a dazzling 17,000 feet above the surrounding plains. It deserves the name "Denali," or "the Great One." It was first climbed in 1913, but there were few ascents after that until the 1950s.
The West Buttress route, first climbed in 1951, has become the standard approach to the summit. Most trips take this route.
Mountain Travel-Sobek also offers one departure using the less-traveled West Rib route, which is a steeper, more direct route for highly skilled mountaineers. Both routes begin at a base camp on the Kahiltna Glacier at 7,000 feet. This is the starting point for most McKinley ascents.
The climb is physically demanding and requires a range of mountaineering skills. While it is technically only moderately difficult, weather and altitude make this climb a true challenge.
Difficult expedition, high elevation, camping.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$995 per person, includes instruction, food and accommodations. Does not include airfare.
This eight-day Outward Bound course helps its adult participants develop respect for themselves, others and the environment in a spectacular setting in the North Cascades in Washington.
While this fast-paced course follows an accelerated curriculum, students say they feel energized and renewed at its conclusion.
The canoeing and backpacking course takes place in and around Ross Lake, a 30-mile long lake that stretches from Washington's North Cascades into Canada. Creeks run down from melting snow in the mountain peaks and create serene coves fed by waterfalls.
Basic canoe skills are taught before the boats are launched for the four-day canoeing segment. Once on water, more advanced paddling skills are taught.
Four days are spent backpacking in the wilderness. This portion of the program does not include mountaineering or climbing.
While Outward Bound's canoeing and backpacking courses are not as physically demanding as other offerings, the mileage covered wearing a pack and paddling long distances make these challenging.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$1,595 for 22-day course, $1,195 for 14 days and $795 for eight days. Includes instruction, food and accommodations. Excludes airfare.
Pacific Crest Outward Bound offers a desert exploration course that yields a special kind of wilderness experience.
The course, designed for adults age 18 and older, helps students learn to respect themselves, others and the environment as they embark on a challenging hiking and climbing expedition in one of California's most beautiful parks.
The diversity and uniqueness of Joshua Tree gives you a varied experience. Hike through the changing landscape, climb the steep rock formations and explore many of the incredible rock caverns.
Teamwork and cooperation are critical during this trek, which is offered in eight-, 14- and 22-day versions.
You learn to appreciate the subtlety of the desert and the simplicity of the backcountry life. The course begins with a thorough curriculum covering the basics of climbing and safety. Climbs are selected according to students' aspirations and skills. Between climbs, you backpack through the starkly beautiful desert.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,875. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Take a short cut to mountain peaks, Alpine lakes and wilderness trails -- use a helicopter for a dramatic lift up.
This heli-hiking trip is an outgrowth of the "heli-skiing" trips pioneered in these same mountains, the Selkirk Range of the Canadian Rockies.
From Golden, British Columbia, you fly to a remote mountain lodge on Fantasy Ridge in the Esplanade Range of the Selkirks. This is one of three rustic lodges where you stay during this hiking journey.
During the next few days, you alternate between hiking in the vicinity of the lodges and taking the five-mile treks to the next accommodation. On layover days, you hike the nearby summits of Cupola Mountain (8,678 feet) and Wakabi Peak (8,565 feet), where you explore mountain meadows or relax around the Alpine lakes and in the comfort of your lodge.
At the end of the week, you fly out of the Selkirks and spend a day on a ranch near Golden for horseback rides and a ranch-style farewell.
Five days moderate hiking.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
Courtesy Pacific Crest Outward Bound School.
$5,595 per person, includes ground transportation, meals, equipment and instruction.
This spectacular 78-day course in Mexico and California teaches you leadership, wilderness survival and first aid. But the goal of Outward Bound's odyssey is about more than simply acquiring an assortment of outdoor skills.
This course offers the time and terrain for real personal discovery. Challenges vary with each leg of the journey, highlighting new and different personal strengths. Successfully coping with adversity enhances confidence, resourcefulness and judgment.
The course begins with a two-week exploration of Joshua Tree and forms the foundation of the course. Cooperation and teamwork are instilled. Leadership is explored in the context of consensus-building and shared decision-making. A sensitivity to environmental considerations is imparted. Basic backcountry skills become second nature.
You next head south to Baja, Mexico, for a three-week sea kayaking expedition on the Pacific side. New skills are taught and others reinforced. The course covers safety training, paddling strokes and coastal campcraft.
You then return to Joshua Tree for a 10-day rock climbing section. By staying in one of the area's campgrounds, you maximize your time on the crags. Students receive a Wilderness First Responder Certificate, as a result of the safety training they receive.
The course culminates in a three-week expedition in the High Sierra and may include ski mountaineering if conditions permit.
A number of Alpine ascents and training in avalanche forecasting will be included.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Contact Mountain Travel-Sobek for details.
For "Anasazi Discovery," from $1,190. For "Native Cultures," from $1,690. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers two trips that explore the Native American cultures and the natural beauty of Utah.
The first tour, an eight-day Anasazi Discovery, takes you into the heart of Slickrock Country in southern Utah, where you take day hikes into the canyons and raft for four days down the San Juan River.
You explore native cultures and archaeology in Mesa Verde National Park where the Anasazi or "Ancient Ones" lived from approximately 600 to 1300. They left behind elaborate dwellings and distinctive rock art still visible today.
You also visit Ute Mountain Tribal Park, then you float 50 miles through desert canyons on the San Juan River, with day hikes into the timeless landscapes of the Southwest.
The second, the Native Cultures trip, gives you insight into both the modern and ancient people of the Southwest. You visit the Hopi, Navajo and Ute communities of the Colorado Plateau. Accompanied by local experts and Native American guides, you learn the myths and history of their cultures. You visit the studios of working artisans at the Hopi Mesas and Navajo Mountain, as well as trading posts where Native Americans sell their wares.
You explore the tower ruins of Ute Mountain Tribal Park and the red rock ruins of Canyon de Chelly as well as the stark landscapes of the Hopi and Navajo country. You travel as a small group, the maximum size is 12, and stay in lodges, small motels and boarding school dorms.
Easy day hikes and four days rafting on easy rapids on the "Anasazi Discovery" tour.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,450. Trip price includes accommodations, all trek arrangements, all meals except for a few in major cities, airport transfers, ground transportation, leadership, guides, camp and cook staffs, baggage porterage, group equipment, entry fees, permits, all prep materials and reading lists. Each trip varies slightly.
During this tour, you explore the legendary landscape of the American Southwest. You meet in Moab, Utah, the "adventure capital of the Southwest" with easy access to the Four Corners of Old West fame, the lost cities of the Anasazi and current Native American trading posts.
You spend the first three days mountain biking through aspen and ponderosa pine forests on Elk Ridge (8,000-9,000 feet elevation). You have views down into the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area and the rock formations of Canyonlands National Park.
Next, you spend five days rafting on the Colorado River through the Canyonlands, a fine introduction to long-distance rafting trips.
You experience the Colorado's famous whitewater in Cataract Canyon. You see spectacular scenery, eat impressive on-river cuisine and see the pictographs left by ancient Native Americans.
This river trip will open your eyes to the beauty of the Southwest.
Moderate mountain biking, rafting on moderately difficult rapids (Class III), optional day hikes, camping.
Courtesy Aspen Expeditions and Paragliding.
Courtesy Aspen Expeditions and Paragliding.
Courtesy Aspen Expeditions and Paragliding.
Courtesy Aspen Expeditions and Paragliding.
$125 for a daily tandem flight, includes T-shirt and photographs. The four-day course is $375. Class size is limited to 3-8 students.
Aspen Expeditions and Paragliding is offering a four-day paragliding course to enable you to fly along the Rocky Mountains in Colorado with the help of a sail that fits in a backpack.
No prior experience is necessary to take this course, offered by two certified instructors and tandem-rated pilots. All technical equipment is supplied by Aspen Paragliding and is included in the course fee.
Day one begins with intensive ground handling and preflight instruction. You have required reading and video work before you embark on your first flight.
The second day features a series of short flights, practicing actual launches and landings under the supervision of two instructors, one situated at the launch site and the other at the landing site.
Day two concludes with the students' flying skills advancing to controlled wide turns, spot landings and deployment of the sailing canopy.
On day three, you practice the tasks of paragliding until you can consistently perform them with confidence. Video and slide presentations are added, and you have more advanced, required reading.
Upon completion of the course on day four, you are eligible to fly from Walsh's Run on Aspen Mountain (2,800 feet) once you obtain clearance from the local paragliding club, which operates at the site.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2125 U.S./$2595 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $350/$425 for own room. Price includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation and support van.
Taking advantage of the golden colors, the crisp fall air and the lack of summer crowds, Butterfield and Robinson offers a seven-day hiking tour in the Canadian Rockies. The trip is planned as a lodge-to-lodge walk, with van rides available when you need them.
You are driven from Calgary to Lake Louise for lunch on the first day, and embark on a warm-up hike to Chateau Lake Louise. The Chateau offers easy access to trails and wonderful views of the lake from all rooms. On day two, you hike some of these trails with stops for snacks and lunch at a tea house.
Day three offers a choice of trails to Moraine Lake Lodge, either a challenging 12-mile trek over Sentinel Pass for the energetic, or a more relaxed trip through Paradise Valley. Moraine Lake Lodge provides individual cabins, each with a fireplace and views of the lake.
Two of the Rockies' best known naturalists join you for a tour through the fossil beds of the Burgess Shale on day five, and for a hike around Emerald Lake on day six. You stay those nights in the private cabins of Emerald Lake Lodge, enjoying the view and the hot tub. A private bus returns you to Calgary on the last morning.
Participants need to be in reasonably good condition, able to hike 3-5 hours a day, with additional hiking available. Average altitude is 6,700 feet.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
$500 per child, includes meals, lodging and instruction. Airfare not included.
David Goodsell's West Coast Wizards Magic Camp offers a week-long magic course to youths ages 9-17.
This Guided Discoveries program takes place at the Desert Sun Science Center in Idyllwild, California. Children have the opportunity to learn magic tricks as well as the fundamentals of showmanship from professional magicians.
Each child receives $50 worth of supplies as part of his or her instruction. They enjoy a different magic show each night performed by professional guest magicians.
In addition to learning about magic, children enjoy the mountain campus which offers hiking, swimming and stargazing with the help of camp telescopes.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
$1,949 per person, minimum two people. $325 for each extra day. Price includes lodging, meals and transportation from Kenai.
Air Adventures offers a six-day guided king salmon fishing package in the Kenai Peninsula, situated 60 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Once you arrive at the Kenai Airport, you will be given a brief tour of the town before being taken to your lodging and settled in. After your welcome dinner, you can explore Kenai on your own.
On day two, you depart on Air Adentures's seaplane, which can accommodate from two to 12 people. After a scenic flight along the Alaska Range, you arrive at a remote lodge. Here, expert guides take you out to the salt and fresh waters of Cook Inlet in search of the mighty king salmon. Enjoy your evening meals in a truly peaceful atmosphere.
On days three and four, you continue fishing for salmon. On the afternoon of day four, you return to Kenai.
On day five, at the crack of dawn, you have a full day of guided salmon fishing on the famous Kenai River. Some of these fish have weighed in at 97 pounds. In the evening, you celebrate with a farewell dinner.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Courtesy Home and Host International.
Customized itineraries are priced individually and can start at as little as $7.50 for a long-term apartment rental.
Experience the real meaning of travel by living with families in their own homes in China and Mongolia.
You live with an English-speaking family in your own private, comfortable room. Your host will be your guide and take you to see famous sights, but you also will have the freedom to look around by yourself.
You meet your host's family and friends and have the chance to share ideas and experiences and converse about politics, history, economics and life in their country.
Home and Host International will create an itinerary just for you, customized to your special interests. You can visit any city any time, with a bilingual host or independently. It can be a fully guided home stay or can include economical bed and breakfast accommodations or long-term apartment rental. You can request a classic sightseeing tour or a focus on your special interest such as outdoor adventures or learning a language.
Home and Host International also has programs in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Baltic States, Czech Republic, Costa Rica. Guatemala and other areas.
Activities may be as easy or as difficult as the traveler requires.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1780 U.S./$2170 Canadian per person, not including airfare. Individuals pay $395/$480 for own room. Price includes all meals, lodging, ground transportation and support van.
Muir Woods National Monument, Mt. Tamalpais State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore make up one of the most beautiful park systems on the west coast.
Redwoods, yellow lupine, blue iris, shorebirds and tule elk herds liven your time here. For seven days in the spring or the fall, you can hike this region local naturalists leading you on a Butterfield and Robinson tour.
A private bus takes you to Mt. Tamalpais State Park on the first day for brunch at a restaurant overlooking San Francisco Bay. Then you hike to The Mountain Home Inn perched above the bay and the surrounding parklands. On the second day, you travel beneath the redwoods of Muir Woods National Monument with a leading naturalist and then head to Muir Beach and the Green Gulch Zen Center.
Audubon Canyon Ranch is on the third day's agenda, as is a hike along the coastal bluffs to Olema.
Point Reyes Seashore Lodge is your home the third and fourth nights, offering fireplaces and whirlpool baths. Author and veteran hiker Phil Arnot joins you on the fourth day to highlight some of Point Reyes's special places.
Day five finds you climbing 1,400 foot Mt. Whittenberg for views of West Marin and the Pacific headlands. Phil Arnot rejoins you on the sixth day for a trip to Tomales Point, where you see the tule elk herd and taste Tomales Bay's oysters. Manka's Inverness Inn, a turn-of-the-century hunting lodge, is your home for these two nights. A private bus returns you to Sausalito the seventh morning.
Participants will hike 3-5 hours per day over approximately 7-10 miles at altitudes of 1,500 feet. Extra hiking is available for those who wish.
Courtesy Backroads.
Courtesy Backroads.
$1,295 includes all meals and lodging, and park fees. Excludes airfare to Banff.
Backroads offers a six-day walking tour of Banff and Yoho National Parks, the two parks skirting the Great Divide in the pristine Canadian Rockies. The tour winds through the massive peaks and past azure lakes that dominate the region.
The journey begins after breakfast in Banff, Alberta, from where you head to the Emerald Lake trailhead leading into Yoho. Awe sets in shortly thereafter as you view Takakkaw Falls, a 1,200-foot cascade of icy glacier runoff. A trail leads you upward through pine forests to Yoho Pass.
Sore muscles find relief in the enormous outdoor hot tub of your first inn, the turn-of-the-century Emerald Lake Lodge. The lodge's cozy cabins have individual fireplaces and fine views of the lake.
Following breakfast the next morning, a naturalist introduces you to the wonders of the Burgess Shale fossils on Mount Stephens. Those inclined can tackle Emerald Peak (8,342 feet) for breathtaking views, others may want to canoe or hike through the unspoiled forest that surrounds Emerald Lake.
A short shuttle ride transfers you to Lake Louise where you walk up a gradual incline to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse for lunch. You spend the evening at the Post Hotel, a European-style inn with beautiful pine furnishings, Jacuzzis and a swimming pool with sweeping mountain views.
The next day finds you sailing on Lake Louise or hiking the River Loop Tail along the glacier-fed Bow River.
Your final days in the Rockies are spent climbing through fragrant pine forests to the Valley of Ten Peaks where spectacular views await, and visiting Babel Creek and Consolation Lakes from your base at the Moraine Lake Lodge.
Mostly moderate ascents and descents.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
$895 per person, includes seaplane transportation and camping gear. Each extra day is $49.
On this five-day unguided tour, Air Adventures flies you to a remote fishing camp in southeast Alaska where you can fish and observe nature in the wild.
You are met at the Kenai Airport and are taken to Air Adventures's seaplane base after a short tour of the town. You are then issued a fishing license and given instruction on the boat and camping equipment. After the briefing, you are transported to a remote campsite by seaplane.
This is a low-cost way to experience the beauty and solitude of Alaska. You are taken to one of the many remote lake and river systems that feed into Cook Inlet. Fishing the lakes by boat or wading the stream, you find rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and salmon. You spend your nights camping in a tent with a clean sleeping bag and cot. You prepare your meals on a portable camp stove.
On the afternoon of your last day, you are picked up for the return flight to Kenai. You have time to wash clothes and take a hot shower before your return home.
You are responsible for warm clothes, rain gear, camera, food, fishing tackle and personal items.
The minimum number of participants in this tour is two.
Courtesy Above the Clouds Trekking.
Check with Above the Clouds to see if this difficult trek is appropriate for your child.
$2,600 per person, with $200 more for those desiring single accommodation. Price includes lodging, meals on trek and some dinners in cities, guides, cooks, porters and drivers, ground transportation, permits, some camping equipment and domestic flights in Nepal and Pakistan.
Join this Above the Clouds trek, and you will be one of the first western hikers to enter Shimsal Valley, which only recently opened to tour groups. After your arrival in Islamabad, you travel to Gilgit and begin your trip by four-wheel drive through the beautiful Hunza Valley.
From the narrow and rugged Shimshal Gorge, you ascend toward the source of the Shimshal River in the high Karakorum. You trek for several days across scree (rocky, debris-laden) slopes and glaciers. Soon you see the almost miraculous sight of a Shimshal village, an oasis in the wild and barren landscape.
The resilient villagers of this area are farmers and herders and manage to sustain themselves quite well in this rugged mountain landscape.
From the village you trek higher, meeting Shimshali herders grazing their sheep below the tall summits. You cross the Chapchingol Pass, which at 16,900 feet is the highest point on your itinerary.
Your vehicle meets you at the raodhead and drive over the Khunjerab Pass and Karakorum Highway to Karimabad. After a visit to the Mir of Hunza's palace, you drive to Gilgit and fly home after your 24-day trek.
Strenuous trekking, covering long distances and crossing high passes. A strong background in mountain trekking is necessary and a doctor's certificate may be required.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
$2,249 per person, includes meals, lodging and transportation to fishing sites. Price does not include airfare to Alaska.
You can try your hand at fishing for silver salmon, halibut and trout at two remote lodges during this special seven-day guided fishing expedition out of Kenai, Alaska.
The morning after you arrive in Kenai, you are issued a fishing license and equipment and transported by plane to a remote lodge. You spend three days and two nights at the lodge, situated on the west side of Cook Inlet beach. Here, you have access to both fresh and salt water bodies. During the month of August, the fighting silver and chum salmon are plentiful along with the massive halibut.
On the afternoon of day four, you are transferred to a second remote fishing lodge by plane. After dinner that evening, you may want to try a few hours of silver salmon fishing. During the day, you enjoy guided fishing for salmon and trout.
Meals are pleasant in this comfortable, rustic log lodge. The main lodge has toilets and showers, and you sleep in small cabins.
You return to Kenai on day six, just in time for a farewell dinner. You fly home on day seven.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
Courtesy Air Adventures.
$3,325 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Kenai. Price includes all transportation in Alaska, accommodations, meals and car rental.
Air Alaska is offering a deluxe, eight-day wilderness tour that explores the landscape of Alaska and observes the wildlife of this splendid region.
The day after your arrival in Kenai, you are transported by seaplane to a remote lodge. During the flight along Cook Inlet, you see volcanoes, mountains, glaciers and much wildlife.
After settling in at the lodge, your guide leads you in search of wildlife and scenery. Some of the attractions in the area are salmon spawning streams where bears feed, a huge bird sanctuary and a magnificent fossil bed. You see all this on short hikes or boat rides from your lodge.
On day four, you return to Kenai and are issued a rental car, which you drive to Homer for dinner and the night's lodging. After breakfast the next morning, you board a 53-foot vessel to experience the beauty of coastal Alaska.
You see a wide variety of mammals and sea birds, and stop along the way to fish for the massive Pacific halibut and other deep water fish. At night, you anchor in a remote, pristine wilderness bay. All meals are served on board and usually include fresh seafood. You return to Homer on the night of day six.
On day seven, you head to North Kenai for a wilderness flightseeing trip. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on a unspoiled lake and hike around the region. You return to Kenai that night for a farewell dinner and flight home on day eight.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$2,380 U.S./$2,890 Canadian, per person, excluding airfare. Price covers meals on and off the river, lodging in Whitehorse hotels and two-person tents. Single accommodations are available in both hotels and tents. Private chartered air transportation returns you to Whitehorse.
Raft, hike and camp alongside the Tatshenshini River while massive glaciers and the 15,000-foot peaks of the St. Elias Mountains tower above you. This Pacific coast region of rainforests, delicate wildflowers, grizzlies and golden eagles provide a diverse palette for your adventure here.
Your trip begins in Whitehorse, the capital of Canada's Yukon territory. Your first evening is spent getting acquainted and checking the packing list. The next morning, you put in your raft at the headwaters of the Tatshenshini. You follow this river for 10 days through the Yukon, the northwest British Columbia and Alaska. Layover days at the Walker and Alsek Glaciers give you some recovery time and chances to explore these ancient ice fields.
You use state-of-the-art Solar Lexatron self-bailing rafts and are led by four Butterfield and Robinson guides who are fully qualified and certified in river travel. Some exciting rapids break up an otherwise smooth river ride, and the Tatshenshini watershed provides ideal hiking.
Your nights out are in the best tents available, with extra-thick inflatable sleeping mats, and a portable shower and toilet. No special skills are required for this trip, just a sense of adventure!
Need to be in reasonably good condition. No need for strenuous physical exertion. Spend 3-5 hours daily on river; hiking amounts are flexible.
Courtesy Travel Montana.
Courtesy Travel Montana.
$1,092 for inn trip, $598 for camping tour, includes all meals, accommodations, and park fees. Excludes transportation to Montana.
Backroads offers a six-day tour of the rugged peaks, chiseled valleys, Alpine meadows, and placid lakes of the more than 1 million acres of Glacier National Park in Montana's northwest corner.
With 730 miles of trails, this area is a hiker's paradise. The trip comes in two varieties, you can either sleep in the comfort of an inn or camp in the wild.
Both tours follow roughly the same itinerary, beginning in the town of West Glacier on the park's fringe. Preparing for the days ahead, you take a warm-up hike near the shores of Lake McDonald.
The next day, your walk parallels the lake's north shore following a level trail through dense forest. Once past Fish Creek, you are swallowed by groves of Douglas fir, western red cedar and western hemlock before the trail emerges from the forest to views of Snyder Ridge and its neighboring peaks. Heading back into the woods, you search for some of the park's 18 species of orchids in the lush ferns.
The following morning, you ascend Logan Pass by car (6,680 feet) on the world-famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, which winds upward through forests to the Continental Divide. You explore trails off the pass, after learning about the park's history and natural phenomena at the Logan Pass Visitor Center.
The most challenging hike of the tour is embarked upon from the visitor center as you take to the Highline Trail through the glades and meadows. At last you reach Glacier Park, a broad, rocky saddle-shaped formation favored by bighorn sheep, mountain goats and grizzly bears.
Your next day's destination is Grinnell Glacier, the largest of the park's 50 glaciers. You climb over glacial crevices through a lodgepole pine forest along the shore of Swiftcurrent Lake, to the wildflower-strewn meadows of Lake Josephine.
Your last pair of days are spent exploring Upper Two Medicine Lake, where you might see bears feeding, and cascading Twin Falls.
The terrain is often steep but there are few hikes where you gain more than 2,500 feet of elevation. You drive to higher elevations.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$1,775 U.S./$2,165 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Individuals pay $325/$395 for own room. Price includes all meals, lodging in excellent small inns, kayaks and chartered support boat.
This is a trip designed for those with little or no kayaking experience. The sea kayak is one of the safest, most maneuverable and fun water craft around. Uninhabited islands provide numerous explorations while oceanside inns keep you comfortable at night.
Private bus and ferry take you to Pender Island in time for lunch and an introduction to sea kayaking on the first day. On the second day, you motor to and around Portland Island aboard the vssel the White Cloud, on the lookout for harbor seals and river otters. Nights are spent at Bedwell Harbour Resort Hotel.
Mayne Island is your base on days three and four, with lodging at Oceanwood Country Inn. You head to Cabbage Island to explore some great beaches and gather oysters, mussels and clams. On the next day, you kayak to Provost Island and enjoy a shore lunch. You can make the return trip by kayak or White Cloud.
A trip to Salt Spring Island on the fifth day takes you to bird sanctuaries and tidal pools. Your last night is at the Hastings House. A charter flight takes you back to Victoria.
Instruction provided. Expect to paddle 3-5 hours a day, with extra paddling available if desired.
Pat Song photo. Courtesy Spirit Walker Expeditions Inc.
Lula Frederick photo. Courtesy Spirit Walker Expeditions Inc.
Courtesy Spirit Walker Expeditions Inc.
Two-night tour is $618 per person and five-night tour is $1,196. Price includes guides, kayaks, tents, sleeping bags, rain gear and meals.
Spirit Walker Expedition leaders believe paddling quietly in protected bays and inlets is the perfect way to really experience the spectacular beauty of coastal Alaska.
The silent approach of a kayak does not disturb the seals, sea lions, river otters and especially the whales that this Spirit Walker expedition seeks out.
During the tour, there is so much wildlife that you gain an understanding and appreciation of the personality and spirit of each animal species. The journey also gives you insight and understanding into the extensive animal-based folklore of Alaska.
The basic whales expedition is a five-day tour that begins in Gustavus. You stay two nights in a secluded bay with great stream fishing for Dolly Varden char and salmon. There is also an excellent opportunity for hiking and beachcombing along the sandy shore and meadows.
The following two nights are spent in a camp near Whale Point. Here you paddle near marine mammals and watch and listen to passing whales.
You also have the option of spending just two nights at Whale Point or spending as many as six nights.
Lola Frederick photo. Courtesy Spirit Walker Expeditions Inc.
Linda Brockett photo. Courtesy Spirit Walker Expeditions Inc.
$1,970 per person. Price includes kayak, flight to the islands, meals, camping equipment and kayaks. Excludes airfare to Alaska.
This week-long Spirit Walker Expedition takes you to some of the most remote islands in North America, and provides a wonderful seascape for sea kayaking.
First, you take a 45-minute seaplane flight over Icy Strait and mountainous Chichagof Island to the Pacific Coast, where there are hundreds of tiny islands with miniature passages just made for kayaking.
Because the area is so remote, you will only see a fishing vessel or two during your entire seven day adventure. A maze of narrow, shallow passages among hundreds of islands offer a continual change of scenery and kayaking conditions.
As you round each bend, you see a new sheltered bay, ocean swell or stream brimming with spawning salmon, or even an abandoned gold mine.
Your experience is enhanced by walks along streams, fishing, watching sea otters, bald eagles, grizzly bears and other wildlife. You hike into pine forests and camp on white shell beaches where you listen to the surf until it is time to catch the seaplane back to Gustavus and home.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$3,270 U.S./$3,990 Canadian per person, excluding airfare. Airfare from Montreal to Resolute Bay is also not included. Lodging and all meals are provided and include a wide selection of fresh foods and a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Butterfield and Robinson's newly-constructed Arctic Watch camp on Somerset Island, in Canada's Arctic region, is the base for this exciting five-day adventure.
Beluga whales number in the thousands, birds flock to bear their young and Arctic wildflowers bloom in profusion.
Day hikes from the camp take you to the shallow waters of Cunninghoam Inlet where the belugas bond with their young and scrub themselves on low-lying rocks. Polar bears, musk oxen and Arctic fox are sometimes spotted.
You will have a chance to explore Beechey Island for remnants and artifacts left by the Franklin Expedition. The bird colonies of Prince Leopold Island are also just a short flight from camp.
No special skills or need for strenuous physical exertion, but adverse weather can be taxing. You can hike for up to three hours per day.
Courtesy Anderson Western Colorado Camps Ltd.
Courtesy Anderson Western Colorado Camps Ltd.
Courtesy Anderson Western Colorado Camps Ltd.
Courtesy Anderson Western Colorado Camps Ltd.
Prices range from $485 for a 10-day pioneer camp to $2,190 for the five-week camp.
Since 1962, Anderson Western Colorado Camps Ltd. has operated a summer camp for boys and girls. During camp sessions, which range from 10 days to five weeks, youths learn archery, backpacking, barrel racing, campcraft, cave exploration, conservation, mountain bike riding, rappeling, mountain climbing, rafting, swimming, kayaking and riflery.
There are four separate camps, the Coloado River Ranch for boys, the Hill Top Ranch for girls, Wilderness Pioneer Camp for boys and girls and the High Country Riding Camp. Each program is situated on a separate section of the same mountain property in the high, clear air of the Colorado Rockies.
Each camper chooses his or her activities each day.
Anderson has followed the same philosophy for 30 years, to provide a full and meaningful camp experience for each youngster. The camp provides an opportunity for growth and fun in a safe, organized and beautiful outdoor environment. The facility is accredited by the American Camping Association and Western Association of Independent Camps.
The two-, four- and five-week sessions are scheduled from mid-June through mid-August.
Courtesy Utah Travel Council.
$995 for inn tour, $545 for camping trip, includes all meals, lodging and park fees.
The Grand Staircase, one of the world's geological wonders, ascends in a series of broad cliffs and plateaus from the Grand Canyon's north rim. At its head, the coppery Bryce Canyon cradles a spectacular natural amphitheater carved by 60 million years of erosion. The white cliffs of Zion National Park loom 7,000 feet above the canyons. Backroads offers a six-day tour of this awe-inspiring areas by foot.
There is the option of staying in inns or camping on the tour, although they share the same itinerary.
You rendezvous in St. George, Utah and shuttle to Zion National Park along a route lined with dramatic rock formations. You stop briefly at the park's visitor center before heading out along Watchman Trail to the 4,000-foot Towers of the Virgin.
The next morning, you take the Emerald Pools Trail after a hearty breakfast. You cross the North Fork of the Virgin River and explore a side canyon shaded by junipers, firs and cottonwoods and home to four pools that reflect the canyon's walls. After a picnic lunch, you set off through pinyon-juniper woodland on the Sand Bench Trail in search of lower cliffs that can be examined from a natural bench 600 feet above the canyon floor.
The following day, you hike the beautiful Gateway to the Narrows trail rimmed with rock alcoves, hanging gardens and the Mystery Falls. Before departing Zion, you might want to listen to a ranger's presentation on the wonders of the canyonlands or stroll beneath the canopy of stars.
A spectacle of soaring stone spires greets you upon your entrance to Bryce National Park. You stop at the Visitors Center, to learn about the area's sites, before heading out to explore. You descend into spectacular Bryce Canyon via the Queens Garden Trail. All around are unique rock sculptures, pillars, minarets and hoodoos.
On the Navajo Loop, you can examine the layered rock strata and twisted trees that grow out of the ancient landscape.
On your second day in the park, you hike the famous Under-the-Rim Trail that shares the stunning views, but not the crowds, of the ridge. In Swamp Canyon, you see a diversity of vegetation unequaled in the park from elderberry and Nutka rose to Oregon grape, manzanita, mountain mahogany and wax current. Above your head, a pair of 8,300 foot buttes pierce the sky.
On your final morning, you walk a stretch of the Rim Trail for a final visual feast of the canyon and mesas, or you may want to take a mule ride before departing for St. George.
Mostly moderate ascents and descents with some steep sections.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
Courtesy Butterfield and Robinson.
$4,100 U.S./$4,980 Canadian per person, excluding airfare to Resolute Bay. Price includes lodging and all meals, which contain fresh foods and choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Lodging in Arctic Bay is at the hamlet's 8-room inn with shared bath.
Butterfield and Robinson's camp overlooking Cunningham Inlet on the north shore of Somerset Island is the base for this Arctic adventure. You'll observe the peculiar habits of a rich and varied wildlife as they perform their summer mating and birthing rituals.
You travel by private aircraft to the hamlet of Arctic Bay, where you join residents for dinners featuring "country" foods such as Arctic char and caribou.
If conditions allow, you travel by boat to local fishing grounds where you may see seals, whales and the legendary narwhal. Your days at the base camp include short trips to watch whales, birds and other wildlife.
Participants need to be in reasonably good physical condition. No need for strenuous exertion but adverse weather may be taxing. You may hike for up to 3-4 hours, weather permitting.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
From $1,450 for Mt. McKinley Seminar. From $990 for Mt. Shasta Seminar. Trip prices include instruction, accommodations, most meals, group equipment and permits.
If you want to climb a big mountain but lack the skills, Mountain Travel-Sobek can help. It offers two mountaineering seminars, one on Mt. McKinley and the other on Mt. Shasta.
The Mt. McKinley Climbing Seminar teaches you climbing techniques in a spectacular mountain setting, surrounded by the big peaks of the Alaska Range including McKinley (20,320 feet), Foraker (17,402 feet) and Hunter (14,573 feet).
You learn rope handling, glissading (sliding down a snow-covered slope without the use of skis), snow climbing techniques and technical rock and ice climbing. After the initial instruction, you attempt ascents of local peaks (but not Mt. Shasta). This seminar is suitable for strong backpackers who want to learn a full range of mountaineering techniques. The 14-day seminar is scheduled for June and costs about $1,450.
The Mt. Shasta Climbing Seminar is geared for climbers who want to learn the moutaineering skills needed to tackle such "classic" climbs as Mt. Elbrus and Mont Blanc.
You learn basic and intermediate mountaineering techniques including proper use of ice axe and crampons, roped glacier travel, crevasse rescue, avalanche safety and route finding. Whether you attempt a summit will be determined by the guides. The seven-day seminar is offered in May, June, July, August and September and costs about $990. The August and September dates include a Glacier Seminar.
These seminars are designed for strong hikers/backpackers and climbing enthusiasts.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
$2,495 per person excluding airfare. Price includes ground transportation, camping equipment and guides.
Kamchatka is the largest peninsula on earth and is the pride of the Russian Far East. About the size of California, this exquisite region of towering, smoldering volcanoes and diverse wildlife juts down into the northwest Pacific from Siberia between the Bering Sea and Japan.
The region is sparsely populated by Eskimo and Aleut-related people and was not known to Europeans until the 18th century.
For nearly five decades, Kamchatka was off-limits to Westerners owing to its then top-secret military facilities. Now the barriers are down and it is possible to explore this wild and beautiful land.
The Kamchatka Adventure Expedition, coordinated with a Russian tour company, offers heli-camping trips to the peninsula. The clear mountain air and incredible beauty make you feel invigorated and removed from the western world. During the two-week tour, your base camps are near Karymskii, Khodutka, Ksudach, Gorelii and other active volcanoes.
You are treated to guided hikes to some of the most secret and exciting locales in the region. However, tour organizers urge you not to tease the bears.
Tour groups are limited to six to 10 visitors, with four to eight camp staff.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
$2,995 per person, not including airfare to Russia. Price includes meals, lodging, guides and ground transportation.
East-West Discovery is offering a special birdwatching tour of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Dr. Yuri Gerasimov, a renowned Russian ornithologist, worked with East-West so the company could offer this 14-day guided tour of the best birdwatching areas in the Kamchatka. You visit Pushchino, Dolinovka and Milkovo in the Kamchatka River Valley, Shipunskii Cape and the upper Kimitina River.
The tour is led by Reginald David, president of the Hawaiian Audubon Society and will be staffed by English-speaking ornithologists, including Dr. Gerasimov.
This adventure includes a scenic helicopter ride and hiking and heli-camping for four days in some of the most incredible terrain in the world.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is the largest in the world and has only recently opened up to Western visitors. It is home to smoldering volcanoes, bear and a plentiful supply of bird and animal life.
All backcountry exploration of the wilderness requires helicopter rides because of the scarcity of roads.
Courtesy British Tourist Authority.
$1,795 includes lodging, meals and transfers.
The verdant hills and vales of the Cotswolds are thick with hedges and hamlets, pastures and winding roads. Backroads sponsors a six-day walking tour of the region, treading footpaths that were once walked by Romans and Celts.
The tour begins at the Lords of the Manor Inn, a gracious Elizabethan estate dating from the 17th century. A warm-up stroll in the afternoon of your arrival takes you through the unspoiled village of Upper Slaughter.
The following morning, you take to the paths, discovering a network of wooden stiles and "kissing gates" which are no hindrance to humans but obstruct the passage of the sheep who dot the hillsides. After wandering the countryside, you head to Bourton-on-the-Water, often referred to as "Little Venice of the Cotswolds" for its waterways and stone bridges. Lunch is served picnic-style beside a creek in a stand of willows.
In the afternoon you can explore the shops of Stow-on-the-Wold, a town bustling with antique shops and markets.
The next day's journey takes you to the "salt ways" trampled in the days when salt was a rare commodity. In Donnington, home to a brewery that has been in operation since 1865, you can sample the local brew at the Fox Inn.
You stay the night in Moreton-in-Marsh at the Manor House, a hotel dating back to 1545, replete with a secret passage, priest's hiding hole and a resident ghost. You won't be expected to fetch water as there are modern amenities.
In your final days, you visit the Broadway Tower, a 65-foot structure that affords views of 12 counties. You also stop at a row of weavers cottages, the gardens of Kiftsgate Court and Hidcourt and the Batsford Arboretum.
The terrain is gently rolling.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Call East-West for cost.
East-West Discovery is offering a new, geology/volcanology tour of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East.
The Kamchatka, which only recently opened to Western visitors, is home to 29 active and 300 extinct volcanoes and hundreds of hot springs. Its circle of active, glowing volcanoes is known as the "Ring of Fire."
The tour is geared to the unique geology of this region and its incredible scenery. In conjunction with Russian scientists from the Kamchatka Institute of Volcanology, this tour is led by Dr. Dorothy Stout of the Cypress College Geology Department and/or Dr. Richard Hazlett of the Pomona College Department of Geosciences.
The exact itinerary of the tour remains flexible, so you can see the most active volcanic sites at the time of your visit. But you can expect to see about two dozen volcanoes, including Bakening, Avachinskii, Opala, Bezymyanii, Ksudach, Karymskii and Maly Semyachik.
Lectures will be given by local Russian geologists. Special opportunities for aerial photography are also available.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Courtesy Mountain Travel-Sobek.
Price listed by tour.
This series of tours gives you the opportunity to be among the few who have climbed the highest peak on each of the world's seven continents.
Mountain Travel-Sobek offers tour expeditions to climb all of the Seven Summits: Aconcagua (Argentina), Mt. Elbrus (Russia), Kilimanjaro (Kenya), Mt. McKinley (Alaska), Carstensz Pyramid (Irian Jaya, Indonesia), Vinson Massif (Antarctica) and Mt. Everest (Nepal). They will help you arrange complete long-range schedules for accomplishing your goals.
Within their regular schedule, they offer climbing expeditions to Aconcagua, Elbrus, and Mt. McKinley. They also offer warm-up expeditions to the volcanoes of Mexico, mountains of Ecuador, and the Khumba and Mt. Mera, the highest non-technical, trekking peak in Nepal.
They will also take you to the more elusive mountains.
They offer expeditions to the Vinson Massif (16,860 feet) in Antarctica, from November to January, from $22,500. They can take you to the Carstensz Pyramid (16,500 feet), the remote Seventh Summit located on Irian Jaya in Indonesia. This is a technical rock-climbing trek offered every other year the next scheduled departure is 1994 and costs approximately $7,000.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
Courtesy Swiss National Tourist Office.
$1,988 includes all meals, lodging, fees and transfers.
Many consider Switzerland the best place for walking in the world. Throughout the country, there are well-marked trails that give way to astonishing vistas. The efficient Swiss have planned their trail network precisely, linking hard-to-reach stretches with cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts. Boats are readily available to ferry you across waterways.
Backroads offers a six-day walking tour of this country. You meet in Kandersteg, a village on the edge of the Bernese Oberland. For a warm-up walk, you take a lift up to a high mountain valley, where a rustic restaurant is ready to refresh. You stop for the evening at the Hotel Schweizerhof, storybook chalet with overflowing flowerboxes.
The next day, you take a chairlift to 1,500 feet above the village for a hike to Oeschinensee, a beautiful lake cradled in glaciers. A more lengthy option leads to the hut at Blumlisalp (9,362 feet) where there are beautiful views of steep, glaciers that loom over lush meadows.
A relaxing train ride takes you to the bustling mountain village of Grindelwald. You hike or take a cable car to Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the huge Eiger. A cogwheel railway trip to the Jungfraujoch, at 11,333 feet, is another option before making your way down to the valley floor.
The auto-free village of Murren, with an incredible panorama of the mammoth triad -- the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau -- each exceeding 13,000 feet, is your home for the next two nights. You stay at the Palace Murren, where every room has at least one mountain view.
The next days options include a rest day in Murren or a meal atop the Schilthorn (9,768 feet) in a revolving restaurant. Those inclined can hike to the Rotstock mountain hut and on to Sefinenfurke Pass, returning through the charming village of Gimmelwald.
Your final days will be spent descending from your mountainside retreat and transferring by train to Grindelwold for shopping and mingling with mountain climbers. A cable car takes you to another mountain valley for a hike to Axalp before descending to the shore of Lake Brienz.
Once a favorite of aristocratic Britons, the romantic Grand Hotel Giessbach welcomes you for your last evening. Enjoy breakfast on the hotel terrace before taking a short walk to thundering Giessbach Falls. You transfer to Interlaken by steamer in the afternoon.
Moderate ascents and descents, with a few steep sections.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,580 per person including all meals and transfers after arrival in Fort Bragg.
This spectacular eight-day ride offered by Equitour weaves through magnificent redwood forests and along vast stretches of empty beaches.
While Equitour officials have always prided themselves on the quality of all their horses, the horses used on this ride are exceptional. They come from a stable that breeds Arabs and Russian Orlovs and specializes in dressage and endurance riding.
The ride takes place in Mendocino County, a three-hour drive north of San Franciso. Your first night is spent at Cleone Lodge in Fort Bragg. You are introduced to the horses at nearby Richochet Ridge Ranch and enjoy a ride on the beach, Mexican-style dinner and an optional dip in the hot tub.
On the second day, you ride through Jackson State Forest, along the headwaters of the Noyo River under towering redwoods. Lunch is a picnic in the forest, followed by a long afternoon ride along the old Sherwood Stagecoach Trail. You spend the night at Cleone Lodge.
On the next day, you explore ridge tops, forests and a forgotten soda spring and arrive at the historic Mendocino Hotel, your home for two nights. On day four, you explore Mendocino, touring museums and galleries, soaking in a hot tub or walking on driftwood-strewn beaches.
During the last three days, you enjoy rides along the bluffs of Ten Mile Beach and through the redwood forest, invigorating gallops and perhaps a canter in the ocean while whales and seals cavort just off shore. Lodging is at the DeHaven Valley Farm, where a hot tub is available.
This same region can be explored during a five-day trip, which excludes the visits to Mendocino and Jackson State Forest.
Suitable for intermediates to advanced intermediates.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,195 PP/DO or $1,255 for single occupancy, including lodging, all meals except Tuesday dinner in May and June, horse, tack, guide and luggage transfers. Prices during prime fall foliage season change to $1,410 PP/DO or $1,605 single occupancy.
On this Equitour ride, you explore forests of beech, oak, birch and maple in rural Vermont and visit villages established two centuries ago. Your guide, Paul Kendall, has played a significant role in preserving this corner of southern Vermont and will help you appreciate its history and beauty.
The rides he leads traverse the forests by woodland paths, taking you from inn to inn as our ancestors once traveled long ago. The distance between inns varies depending on weather conditions, but is generally between 20 and 25 miles over sometimes rough terrain. Rides are five to six hours a day at a moderate pace.
You spend the first night at the Kedron Valley Inn in South Woodstock, then ride through the beautiful countryside to Echo Lake Inn, a classic, pre-colonial inn overlooking the lake.
The next day, you travel past centuries-old stone fences and a ski area to the Inn at Long Last in the village of Chester. The following day's ride takes you along country roads and up steep wooded trails to the 18th-century Inn at Weathersfield.
Tranquil farmlands, country roads and stone fences can be seen along the return ride to the Kedron Valley Inn.
Suitable for strong intermediates.
Photo courtesy Margo Greep.
Photo courtesy Margo Greep.
$1,795 includes meals, lodging and transfers. Excludes airfare.
Backroads offers a five-day tour of the wine-producing Chianti region in the heart of Tuscany. You traverse rippling hills, pass vineyards and sheep herds and witness age-old Tuscan traditions.
The tour convenes in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, before transferring to Castellina and the Hotel Villa Casalecchi. Set in a quiet stand of old oaks, the hotel's Old World charm is complemented by modern amenities. Your first afternoon is spent wandering through the garden cornucopias and visiting an Etruscan tomb before feasting on the area's traditional cuisine.
The following morning, you head out of town following the ruts of cart tracks. The landscape remains pastoral, dotted with herders and their sheep. You amble through small villages before spreading an extravagant picnic lunch on the grounds of the Church of San Giusto, a 12th-Century Romanesque structure with a marble facade.
In the afternoon, you make your way to the village of Radda, sitting atop a ridge overlooking the verdant valley of the Pesa and Arbia rivers. You stop for the evening at the Relais Vignale Fattoria, a beautiful hillside estate with a working vineyard. The evening may be spent exploring the medieval town or watching a soccer game on television with the spirited patrons at a local bar.
You make your way through family-run vineyards towards Vista Renni and Badia a Colitbuono, a ridge-side hamlet, where you tour the ancient abbey. Castello di Spaltenna will serve as your base for the next two evenings, while you walk through the village of Gaiole and to the hill castle towns of Ama, Poggio San Polo and Lecchi. The area's history is evident as you explore fortified castles, monasteries and ruined towers.
Your final days are spent touring the castle town of Barbischio and viewing the peaceful panorama of the Chianti region before returning to Florence.
The terrain is gentle and rolling, well marked and with few elevation gains of more than 500 feet.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
Prices PP/DO are $1,235 for Donegal from the Saddle, $1,300 for Donegal by the Sea and $1,020 for Images of Ireland. Prices include accommodations, meals, horses and guide.
County Donegal's wild coastline, wide beaches, picturesque hamlets and fields of purple heather are the venues for three eight-day horseback tours sponsored by Equitour and organized by Terry Fergus-Browne at the Stracomer Riding Center.
The Donegal from the Saddle tour is for the intermediate rider who can post and canter without difficulty while the Donegal by the Sea tour is for more advanced riders who wish to go at a faster pace. The Images of Ireland tour traverses some of the most attractive country on the island while offering riders the advantage of relaxing in one comfortable hotel for the entire week at a more reasonable cost.
Daily rides in the Donegal by the Sea tour are six hours at a fast or moderate pace. The other tours average four to six hours a day at a moderate pace.
At Stracomer, the groups are kept small and the emphasis in on individual attention. The level of instruction available in the stationary program is outstanding and this is an excellent place to improve one's skills while having an enjoyable holiday.
Images of Ireland is offered in April, May, June and September. The other tours are offered March to September.
Difficulty level is intermediate to advanced.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,240 PP/DO June and September, $1,310 PP/DO July and August. Price includes lodging, meals, horses and tack, guide, luggage transfer and ground transportation. Airfare is not included.
These seven-day excursions sponsored by Equitour take you through the wild beauty of Ireland's West Country, past mountains, lakes, rivers and the sea. Along the tour, you pass small thatched cottages and villages built around a stately manor or an old castle now in ruins. The only traffic you'll see are donkeys carrying peat-laden baskets or harnessed to carts.
On the last day of the journey, the coast is reached and on a green meadow near the shore a course of fences is arranged for those who care to try jumping. Later, both horse and rider can look foward to a splash in the Atlantic.
The Connemara Trail and Coast Trail tours operate on alternate weeks from Willie Leahy's Aille Cross Equitation Centre near Galway, and the choice between the two is difficult enough that some people stay for two weeks to do them both.
Suitable for intermediate to strong intermediate riders.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$4,995 PP includes all meals, accommodations and transportation within the country. Price does not include international air travel.
This three-week trip down a section of the Yangtze River will take you into an area that no Westerners were allowed to visit until 1986. Dramatic river and mountain landscapes, roaring tributaries and steep rapids combine to make this one of Steve Currey Expeditions' most exciting river trips.
You begin with a flight from San Francisco to Beijing, followed by a visit to the 300-year-old Ming Tomb of the Emperor Wan Li, a drive to the Great Wall of China and an exploration of Beijing.
After a flight to Lanzhou, professional drivers take you towards the Tibetan plateau to your launching point on the Yangtze near the frontier city of Yushu. You'll see Tibetan herdsmen with their yaks and yurts, small villages, grassy plains, mountains and rivers.
The next five days are spent on the Yangtze where you view an ever-changing scene of rugged cliffs, windswept dunes and beaches, Tibetan cliff carvings, colorful prayer flags, and ancient stone towns and monasteries tucked into rolling green hills. Suddenly leaving civilization behind, you sweep down narrow gorges of rock, pine and rapids.
Nights will find you camped out on a beach, beneath the mountains, or perhaps near a remote village.
You journey next from Dege to Chengdu by four-wheel drive past mountains and villages and through canyons. From Chengdu you fly to Lhasa where you visit the city's old quarter, the Jokhang monastery and Potala Palace. Then it's back to Beijing with time to explore before heading to San Francisco via Hong Kong.
A lengthy trip far from population centers involving some whitewater rafting and higher elevations.
Courtesy Aloha Festivals.
Courtesy Aloha Festivals.
$1,195 includes all meals, accommodations and transfers. Excludes airfare.
Backroads offers a six-day, inn-based walking tour of the island of Hawaii, the legendary home of Pele, the Polynesian goddess of volcanoes. With isolated black-sand beaches, cascading waterfalls, verdant highlands and majestic, powerful volcanoes, the island has much to offer the curious walker.
You meet at the Royal Wakioloan, a luxurious hotel on the sunny Kohala Coast, before departing for a warm-up walk along the white sands of Anaehoomala Bay.
Your first day of striding begins as you head north through rolling hills and green pastures to the isolated Waipio Valley, a population center in Hawaii's ancient history. The Waipio-Waimanu Trail leads you through the lush jungle and groves of aromatic fruit trees at the base of the Kohala Mountains.
The next day you drive south to Pu'uhonua-o-Honaunau National Park, often called the City of Refuge, as it once served as a sanctuary for defeated warriors and outcasts. The ruins of several ancient temples beckon to be explored before you break for lunch beneath the palms.
That afternoon, you arrive at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you follow a trail through a forest of ferns to Thurston Lava Tube, a prehistoric tunnel of cooled lava.
Your home for the next three nights is Volcano House, a historic hotel perched on the edge of the active Kilauea Crater. The fire in its 19th-century fireplace is never allowed to go out, for legend has it that Pele's wrath will be provoked if the fire dies.
Your final days will be spent hiking the park's Crater Rim Trail, an 11-mile loop around the Kilauea summit with extraordinary views of the volcano. You also walk through dense fern tree forest along the edge of the Kau desert. The multi-sensational experience at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is a unique treat as you smell sulphur, view bubbling pools of molten rock and hear steam issuing through rock fissures.
A highlight of your last full day at the crater is hiking the Kilauea Iki Trail through a fern grove to the crater floor and then across a deep pool of lava, still alive beneath its thick crust.
Mostly moderate ascents and descents and level beach walking. Elevation gain of 500-1,500 feet on individual walks.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
For older children only.
From $6,567 PP/DO, $786 more for single accommodations. Price includes transfers from Munich to place of departure, all meals and lodging, English speaking coachman/guide.
On this trek across the Alps, you follow the Italian journey of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous German author and poet who made the trip in two years at the end of the 18th century. You make the journey in only 16 days, but in true comfort and style.
You travel in a comfortable 19th-century mail coach with four or five horses. You travel through the lovely mountains of Bavaria and Tyrol; through Mittenwald, which Goethe described as a "living picture"; over the Brenner Pass and then through the orchards and vineyards of Bozen/Bolzano.
After staying in a hostel where Goethe slept, you sweep down the southern slopes in your coach to the health resort town of Torbole. Goethe stayed here long enough to write his play "Iphiginie."
Evenings, you are treated to local entertainment. Along the way, you visit many of the sights that influenced Goethe's work.
German kings and emperors have traveled the Brenner Pass more than 60 times in the course of history, often for an emperor's coronation in Rome. For thousands of years, this 4,600-foot pass has paved the way for military campaigns, many famous travelers and for empresses and queens to meet their betrothed. Now you have the incredible opportunity to travel this route as they did by coach and four horses.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
Courtesy Leisure Resource.
For older children only
From $997 for the five-day tours and from $1,651 for the eight-day tours. Trip price includes transfers from Munich to the place of departure and return to Munich, all meals and lodging and English-speaking coachman/guide.
On this carriage tour, Coaching in Bavaria takes you on the path of the famous King Ludwig II of Bavaria. You travel from Feldafing on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria to Hohenschwangau with its famous fairy-tale castles.
With the Alps before you, you travel through Bavaria's dark forests, fields, meadows, lakes and woodland ponds.
Your first stop is at Habach, you spend the night in the Alte Post Inn, run by the same family for 500 years. You roll through the quaint villages of Uffing and Bayersoien, where you have time to stroll past the lovely houses with their cheerfully-decorated window boxes and swim in a nearby lake.
After passing through the lumber villages of Altenau and Unternogg, you leave the historical state of Bavaria and follow the King's Road connecting the fairy-tale castles of Linderhof and Neuschwanstein. King Ludwig II himself enjoyed racing along this route with a four-in-hand team, especially at night, with outriders carrying flaming torches to light the way.
You stop for a picnic at Pfaffenwinkel with its lovely rococco church. You spend the last night in Hohenschwangau. You have time to visit the famous castles the next morning before returning to Munich.
Coaching in Bavaria also offers eight-day tours along this route. You follow the course to Hohenschwangau described above but you return to Feldafing by another exciting route.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,220 PP/DO including lodging, meals, horse, tack, guide, local transportation as needed. Airfare and optional hunting fees are extra.
The Aille Cross-country Trail ride sponsored by Equitour provides cross-country riding and jumping in County Galway's beautiful hunt country at a pace that can be varied to suit all abilities.
You experience firsthand the Ireland of poetry and song as you travel cross-country from farm to farm, stopping now and then for rest and refreshment at a local pub or farmhouse. At each farm, there are opportunities to jump a variety of natural and man-made obstacles.
The trail's varied terrain includes the Sileve Aughty Mountains, forests, hills and fields set off by stone walls and small country roads. You ride through regions rich in folklore, legend and archaeological treasures such as stone monuments left by the Druids of Celtic times.
The horses, from Willie Leahy's Aille Cross Equitation Center in Loughrea, are all excellent hunters experienced in following hounds with the Galway Blazers. During hunting season (mid-October to mid-March), you may hunt once or twice during the week if you wish.
Lodging is in a local hunting hotel and dinners are in the area's best restaurants.
Suitable for intermediate to strong intermediate riders.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$2,300 PP, includes meals, accommodations and transportation within the country. International airfare not included.
In their most popular whitewater rafting expedition in the Western Hemisphere, Steve Currey Expeditions takes you through the Bio-Bio River's non-stop rapids, past smoking snow-topped volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and good fishing. Self-bailing rafts and SCE's 14 years of experience with a perfect safety record prompt them to offer this 12-day trip to people with no rafting experience.
From Miami you fly to Santiago where you explore the city and spend a night in the old- world style Carrera Hotel. The next day includes a visit to the Artisans Village in the foothills of the Andes where native crafts from lapus-lazuli jewelry and angora sweaters to wood carvings and leather goods may be bought. An overnight train ride in sleeper cars takes you to Victoria, where you board a minibus for your trip into the stunning southern Andes and your launching point.
During the next seven days on the river, you run rapids, including Class V rapids, float by numerous waterfalls, circle an 8,000-foot glacier-covered volcano, hike to a Mapuche Indian village, bathe in hot springs, watch for the Andean condor and camp on beautiful beaches.
Emerging from the last canyon, you drive to Los Angeles for dinner in a fine restaurant and a night in a hotel. The following morning you board a train for the trip back to Santiago, passing through the central Chilean farming valley. Some free time in Santiago is yours before a night flight to Miami.
A long trip, involving whitewater rafting, high elevations, 8 nights of camping.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
From $910-$1,120 PP/DO depending on season. During parts of the year, a five-day program is available for $885 PP/DO.
Spend a week on an Irish estate surrounding the picturebook Castle Leslie where you can meet riders from all over the world, enjoy a variety of riding experiences and improve your skills.
You stay in a Gothic-style hunting lodge with a fireplace that riders gather around in the evenings to have a drink and swap stories.
Each rider can find a horse to suit his or her desires. You can choose riding on a quiet woodland trail or galloping on a magnificent Irish hunter over an impressive array of jumps. There are 25 miles of varied cross-country courses with prepared fences and natural obstacles.
Castle Leslie is a wonderful place to build riding skills at varying levels. The jumps can always be avoided and there are easy jumps for beginners and children. The horses are said to carry you over fences like "flying armchairs" and make the difficult jumps appear easy.
Ireland's mild climate allows for riding year round.
Suitable for strong intermediates.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$2,300 PP. Price includes meals, accommodations and transportation within the country. International airfare is not included.
The Futaleufu River in northern Patagonia is the most difficult trip Steve Currey Expeditions offers. The river is big and powerful with many steep technical Class V rapids. The canyon is inaccessible in some places due to either vertical walls or impenetrable jungle foliage.
Some rapids are over a mile long and at least one will be portaged (passengers carry only their personal gear).
In addition to rapids, the Futaleufu River also has gorgeous azure water flowing through a spectacular jungle canyon.
An evening flight takes you from Miami to Santiago where you board a connecting flight to Puerto Montt and Futaleufu. The next seven days you paddle alongside the oarsmen in specially designed oar-paddle self-bailing boats. In between rapids, you float, fish and admire the mountains and jungle.
You fly to Puerto Montt and spend a night there before flying to Santiago for your return trip to Miami.
Powerful river with many steep technical Class V rapids, high elevation.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
$2,375 includes meals and lodging, but excludes airfare. Bike rental is $149.
Coastal roads wind along fjord-like estuaries dotted with quaint fishing villages, along the border between Spain and Portugal. Only a few miles inland, medieval towns are surrounded by emerald fields and ancient stone walls as they perch on hillsides. Backroads offers a nine-day biking tour on the gently rolling hills of the area, during which you stay in inns and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Iberian Peninsula.
You rendezvous in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, home of a towering cathedral that once served as a beacon to pilgrims from all over Europe. You shuttle to the fishing village of Cambados where you check into the Parador del Albarino de Cambados, a restored manor house on a palm-lined promenade.
The remainder of the day can be spent biking into the surrounding countryside and past the vineyards along the Umia River, or exploring the town of Cambados.
Your first full day of biking takes you from the waterfront overland, past villages and vineyards to the coastal town of Sanxenxo. You spend the evening at the Parador de Pontevedra, a beautiful hotel in the most historic quadrant of this traditional town.
The following few days in Spain are spent cruising along the coast, perhaps stopping for a swim, and heading inland to Moana where you catch a ferry to the cosmopolitan port town of Vigo. Continuing south, you stop for the evening in Bayona, the historic fishing port that was the first stop of the Pinta on its return in 1493.
You ferry across the Rio Minho to Portugal and the tiny town of Vila Nova de Cerveira, where you stay in the Pousada Dom Diniz, a stone building built by a king in the 14th century. The view from the glass-enclosed dining room takes you back several centuries.
From Vila Nova de Cerveira, you cycle through the walled hill towns that populate the Minho wine region and stop in the Lima River Valley.
Your base for the next two days is Paco de Calheiros, a grand manor house that has been in the same family's hands since 1336. Its thick stone walls house an elegantly restored interior. Spectacular views from the green garden reveal the verdant landscape and distant villages.
Days here might be spent resting or riding to Ponte de Lima for an exploration of the outdoor market.
You leave the Lima valley, and pedal coastward through small villages that seem to have ignored the centuries. A challenging climb, or tram ride, takes you to your final stay, the hilltop Hotel Santa Luzia that affords breathtaking sunsets from its verandas.
Your final full day of riding takes you over the rolling hills to Barcelos, an artists colony, before you shuttle to O'Porto for the flight home.
This trip is for energetic and fit beginners and intermediate to advanced riders. The terrain is mostly rolling and you cover an average of about 40 miles a day.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$2,800 PP. Price includes meals, lodging and transportation within the country. International airfare is not included.
With its dramatic landscapes of sculptured stone and ice, Torres del Paine National Park in southwestern Patagonia is one of the few places where one can see such a wide range of spectacular scenery in a relatively small area. This 14-day trip takes you into the wilderness sanctuary on boat, horseback and foot.
Using water as the primary means of transportation, you float among icebergs, view rare wildlife, drift beneath vertical granite cliffs - some as high as two miles - and witness the calving of icebergs.
You stay in hotels and hostels in various locations and have time to explore and shop in Santiago and Calafate.
SCE rates this as a trip of moderate difficulty, with some longer day hikes and whitewater rafting, although no rafting experience is necessary. High elevation.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$960 per person.
From glaciers to lava fields with natural hot water pools, experience a true adventure as you trek across southern Iceland on horseback. This six-day Equitour journey is a challenging trip with primitive accommodations.
The sturdy Icelandic ponies that you ride have been bred over the centuries to carry people for long distances. They have a smooth gait that enables them to cover the miles comfortably and swiftly even where there is no path. You can cover 20 to 25 miles a day without strain even if you are unaccustomed to riding such distances.
The trip starts in Hella, reached by bus from Reykjavik. From there, a jeep takes you to the farm Austvadsholt to start the tour. A four to five hour ride through farmland and lava fields takes you to the farm Leirubakki. On day two, you cross a desert of ashes and lava fields, close to the volcano Hekla that last erupted in 1991. The night is spent in a mountain hut in Landmannahellir.
On day three, you ride alongside a magnificent lake to Landmannalaugar, tucked in a grand setting of craters, glaciers and mountains, where you bathe in a natural hot water pool and stay in a mountain hut.
The next day, you return to Landmannahellir by a different route, traversing old craters and galloping across unusual landscape. Days five and six are devoted to further exploration of the Hekla area, coming as close as possible to recent lava flows. You return to Hella and meet the bus for Reykjavik.
Suitable for intermediates to strong intermediates.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$900 PP/DO (additional $120 for single occupancy) including room, board, tuition, horse, and use of facilities.
Improve your riding skills at the Yorkshire Riding Center in one of the most beautiful regions of England, the Yorkshire Dales, on this Equitour-sponsored trip.
Headed by British Olympic Team members Jane and Christopher Bartle, the school offers instruction to novice up to advanced students. Students may take a general course or concentrate in dressage, jumping, or combined training. The program consist of two hours of riding instruction in the morning, plus lectures and a practicum in stable management. Additional riding lessons are available at a modest extra cost.
Facilities include two indoor arenas and outdoor jumping and cross-country courses.
In addition to offering holidays for enthusiastic amatueurs, the center is a training yard for advanced dressage and event horses, which gives you an opportunity to watch and learn from experts.
Intermediate to advanced.
Courtesy China National Tourist Office.
Courtesy China National Tourist Office.
$2,750 includes lodging and meals, guide and support van. Excludes airfare to Hong Kong.
Bicycles are the favored means of transportation of many of the Chinese, and you will come to understand why during this 15-day Backroads mountain biking tour. Pedaling past the flooded rice paddies, thick stands of sugarcane and innumerable fish farms on the dirt roads that separate Guangzhou from Guilin, you will gain insight into the people and traditions of the beautiful Chinese countryside.
You begin the tour in the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong, where you have a morning free for shopping and sightseeing before boarding a train for Guangzhou. In Guangzhou, you settle at the White Swan, a modern hotel, and can spend the afternoon exploring the town and its exotic Qing Ping Market.
The next day, you pedal to Foshan, an ancient handicraft center, where you visit a silk factory before beginning your ride westward along the aptly named West River. Sprawling banana plants and wide expanses of rice line your route to Zhaoqing and the Song Tao Hotel.
During your layover day, you can explore the town's pagodas, walk the Seven Star crags, or cruise and peruse Mount Dinghu Nature Reserve, with its lush tropical forests, waterfalls and ancient Ming temples.
Your next day finds you leaving the cities behind as you head into the countryside of Guangdon Province. You spend the night in the town of Deging at the Hua Qiao Mansion before penetrating deeper into China through verdant valleys. In the afternoon, you bike to Little Guilin to see its limestone features and rock caves before stopping for a night at the Little Guilin Hotel.
There is time to explore the local market in Fengkai, where you will spend the following evening.
Your final days will be spent in Wuzhou, at the confluence of the Guijian and Xijiang rivers, and in the delightful towns of Yuangshou and Quing Ping. All the while you will be passing through stunning and mountainous terrain that evokes the essence of China.
The terrain is rolling with many short hills. Half of the roads are unpaved, and daily mileage ranges from 14-76.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,200 PP/DO including lodging, meals, horses, tack, guide.
This Equitour ride through the Dartmoor region of England offers a fine opportunity to see the beautiful countryside and get a glimpse of history brought alive by knowlegeable guides. Mist can come down suddenly on the moors and only experienced riders should undertake this trip.
You ride through wild and open country and visit historic sites such as the Mayflower Steps at Plymouth where the Pilgrims embarked for America.
The ride is based at the attractive East Burne Farm, parts of which date back to medieval times, and you stay in comfortable inns as you progress through the countryside.
Transportation between East Burne Farm and London's Heathrow airport is included in the trip cost.
Only experienced riders should undertake this trip.
Photo courtesy Margo Greep.
Photo courtesy Margo Greep.
$1,398 excludes airfare. Includes all accommodations and meals, park fees and transfers. Bike rental is $160.
Costa Rica's unique position -- between two continents and two oceans -- provides a wide variety of ecosystems and natural attractions. Almost 30 percent of the country is preserved as a natural park or reserve. Backroads offers a nine-day exploration of the beautiful Costa Rican landscape by mountain bike, sea kayak and foot.
You begin the tour in the capital city of San Jose, where you meet the rest of the group before shuttling to the north central part of the country. Arenal, one of the world's most active volcanoes, looms ominously above the countryside.
You check into Arenal Lodge, perched on a hillside with superb views of both the volcano and the lake below that shares its name. The afternoon and evening can be spent hiking or biking along the lakeside.
Your first full day of biking begins on the mostly dirt roads which roll upland through the attractive terrain where many of the country's finest horse are trained. Arriving at the Monteverde Lodge, your home for two evenings, you can relax sore muscles in a Jacuzzi or head off in search of the area's many bird species.
A guided nature walk of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve along the Continental Divide occupies your next day. In the lush greenery of the reserve, you see hundreds of species of exotic birds, butterflies, mammals and plants.
The next day's ride takes you donwhill toward the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific, where you ferry and bike to the market town of Nicoya, where you check into the Hotel Curime.
Pedaling south, you ride dirt roads to the coastal village of Samara where you stay in private beachfront bungalows. You can swap bike for board and hit the waves, swim or snorkel.
Continuing along the coast, often surrounded by jungle, you ride a challenging route to Tango Mar Beach Resort. This area is so peaceful that turtles often come ashore near the resorts grounds. You can kayak, snorkel or swim in the natural mineral water pool.
An island in the Gulf of Nicoya provides a Crusoe-like escape, and you spend the following day swimming, hiking, snorkeling and picnicking. Arriving on the gulf's opposite shore, you transfer to Manuel Antonio and the Villas Nicholas where you spend the next two evenings.
There are options aplenty on your layover day. You can paddle sea kayaks to the Dumas Island estuary in search of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, or bike up into the hills for panoramic views of the Pacific. Another option is to hike into the fascinating Manuel Antonio National Park, home to playful monkeys, large iguanas and boa constrictors. The park's 1,700 acres shelters prehistoric Native American sites, secluded lagoons, a mangrove swamp and beaches.
This tour is for energetic and fit beginners and more advanced cyclists. Gently rolling to hilly terrain. Daily mileage ranges from 17-53 miles.
Courtesy Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures.
Courtesy Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures.
Courtesy Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures.
Courtesy Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures.
"Follow the Beargrease" tour costs $450 for five days; "Brimson Cabins in the Superior National Forest" costs $275 for three days and "Boundary Waters Wilderness Adventure" costs $325 for five days. Prices are per person and include meals and lodging.
Located 50 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota, in the Superior National Forest, Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures teaches women the basics of dog sledding -- harnesses, gang lines, sleds, the care of your huskies and how to drive your own team.
The Superior National Forest provides miles of trails for dog sledding, skiing and snowshoeing. The camp setting is comfortable but rustic -- log cabins, a sauna, wood heat, solar power, a hand pump for well water and an outhouse.
Kathleen Anderson, the owner/operator of Wintermoon, has mushed for nine years and directed the Beargrease Sleddog Race in 1987.
You choose from three mushing programs in January, February and March. The first is the five-day "Follow the Beargrease" tour. Observe the drama of the 500-mile dogsled race from trail vantage points, check-in areas and by dog team.
The next tour takes you to the Brimson Cabins in the Superior National Forest for three days of running sled dogs during the day and enjoying cozy wood heat and a Finnish sauna in the evenings.
On the third tour, the "Boundary Waters Wilderness Adventure," you travel by dogsled and skis across lakes and over portages to a winter camp in the quiet wilderness.
No experience is necessary. Wintermoon's goal is for women to have fun while learning this unique and challenging sport.
No experience necessary but you should be in good condition.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,545 PP/DO including lodging, meals, horse and tack, ground transportion and luggage transfers, but excluding airfare.
During this Equitour trip, you ride more than 125 miles on horseback through Wales, a country rich in natural beauty, from the English border to the Irish Sea.
You are met on Saturday at London's Heathrow airport and driven to Cwmfforest Farm in eastern Wales. Sunday, you take a warm-up ride to get acquainted with your mount.
Riding close to the English border on Monday, you cross the heather-clad Black Mountains and follow moorland trails back to Cwmfforest for a chance to change horses, enjoy more farmhouse comforts and some Bavarian cooking.
Heading out across Wales on Tuesday through increasingly remote terrain, you canter and gallop across moors to Builth Wells where you stay in a 17th-century farmhouse.
The pace slows down for the next two days. You spend a night in Rhayader, a small market town in the geographical center of Wales, and a night in Plynlimon. You cross a mountain range on Friday for a final gallop to the sea. After a drive back across Wales, the final night is spent in Cwmfforest.
Suitable for strong intermediates.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$2,120 PP/DO including lodging, all meals, horses, tack, guide, ground transportation and luggage transfer, but excluding airfare.
Equitour takes you to the Loire Valley, where French kings and artistocrats built their magnificent castles and raced their horses after wild stags with hounds baying in hot pursuit. As you gallop along the same paths, you can imagine the echoes of their hunting horns reverberating among the dark oaks where deer and wild boar still abound.
Meeting your host at the train station in Orleans, you are taken to the nearby stable at Lamotte Beuvron in the heart of the Sologne.
You spend a week traversing this land of rivers and forests, staying in different hotels along the way. The food and wine are justly famous and you have have every opportunity to sample them with appetites made keener by a day in the saddle.
There are opportunities to visit the glorious chateaux, including the 440-room Chambord where you ride through a forest once reserved as the private hunting preserve of kings. You also visit Cheverny, where you view sumptuous rooms and see a pack of 70 hounds.
You visit the 15th-century castle at Fougeres sur Bievre and canter through nurseries and asparagus fields to the abbey of Pontlevoy. There also is a visit to the chateau at Chenonceau, one of the world's architectural gems.
The ride ends at Veretz, and after spending a night in Amboise you are driven to the train station in Tours.
Suitable for strong intermediates.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
$1,595 per person, excludes airfare to Vladivostok. Includes camping equipment, food, guide and accommodations.
Primorye is a unique and unspoiled region of Siberia with rivers and wilderness almost untouched by man. East-West Discovery is offering a 14-day tour down the Armu River, situated deep in the tundra between Vladivostok and Khabarovsk.
This tour, one of the first of its kind in a region that has previously been off-limits to Westerners, explores the Siberian wilderness. To reach the Armu, you will be traveling about four to six hours in a helicopter.
You examine local plant and wildlife and in the evening you relax around the fire and enjoy local delicacies and freshly-caught fish. Later, while the stars shine, you might hear the distant roar of a hunting Siberian tiger.
The route you follow on the Armu River is an enjoyable, peaceful one. There are a few challenging areas that are certain to raise your heartbeat and wet your hair, but the trip is geared to people whose primary interest is viewing a spectacular and unspoiled wilderness.
The celebrated film, "Dersu Uzala" was made in the Armu River basin.
You travel in Russian Katamapah boats, which are the favorites of local explorers. They are made from inflatable pontoons lashed together and are extremely safe and stable.
You will have plenty of time to explore the surroundings and photograph the stunning nature around you.
The tour is led by Michael Kreppner, one of the most experienced and capable river guides on the East Coast of the U.S.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $2,490 for the 3-day Western and Central Tour; $3,650 for the 4-day Northern and Eastern Tour and $5,700 for the 7-day Grand Tour of Scotland. Prices are per person and all-inclusive from Edinburgh.
Luxury train tours aboard The Royal Scotsman take you through the rugged Scottish Highlands in the style of the Golden Age of Rail. You travel along little-used railway lines through the mountains and glens of Scotland, some of the world's most enchanting scenery.
Each tour accommodates a maximum of 32 guests, with visits to private houses, castles and local places of interest and an accompanying guide throughout. You can converse with well-traveled companions or relax in the Day Cars or your own spacious cabin. You enjoy gourmet meals and the Old-World ambience of vintage railway coaches.
You can choose from a three-day Western and Central Tour or a four-day Northern and Eastern Tour, or combine the two for a Grand Tour of Scotland. The exact itinerary varies to take best advantage of the seasons and for operational reasons, so your tour may not exactly match those described here.
On the Western and Central Tour, you travel from Edinburgh via Loch Lomond to visit Achnacarry, home of Sir Donald and Lady Cameron. You pass through Ben Nevis to Fort William where the Day Cars are switched to steam locomotive for a day's adventure across viaducts to the fishing harbor at Mallaig. At Inverawe Smokehouse, you sample the delicacies offered by your hosts, Robert and Rosie Campbell-Preston.
You also visit Strachur House, home of author and secret agent Sir Fitzroy Maclean and Lady Maclean, noted culinary expert. After lunch on board, you arrive at Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland, for a visit to St John's Church before returning to Edinburgh.
On the Northern and Eastern Tour, you travel from Edinburgh to Perth, where you join the train to travel north and spend a night at the restored station at Boat of Garten. You tour Highland Wildlife Park and visit Eilean Donan Castle at Kyle of Lochalsh. A short ferry ride takes you to the Isle of Skye.
You visit Inverness for shopping and leave the train awhile to travel through the battlefield of Culloden to visit Brodie Castle. Rejoining the Royal Scotsman, you travel to Strathisla Distillery for a special tasting.
On the final day, you travel south to visit Glamis Castle, home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. You enjoy afternoon tea on board and return to Edinburgh.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
$6,140 PP/DO. Rates are all-inclusive from London. Airfare not included.
During your Christmas holiday, experience royal treatment on this luxury train tour with Abercrombie and Kent International. You enjoy the magic of Christmas in England, a time of carols, mistletoe, log fires and traditional festivities.
You travel on The Royal Scotsman from London to Banbury where you visit Rest Hill House, the epitome of an English country gentleman's home. After tea you rejoin the train and travel to Stratford-on-Avon, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, to attend the theater.
After breakfast on the 22nd you travel to Stoke-on-Trent to see the famous Spode Pottery. You visit ruins of the Norman Castle at Ludlow after lunch and enjoy afternoon tea at the 17th-century Feathers Inn. Your train stops for the night at Hereford alongside the noted cider presses.
On the 23rd you travel to Bath to visit the Roman Baths and other attractions of this well-known resort town. The train stops for the night in the quiet English village of Cranmore.
On Christmas Eve, you rumble east to Newbury for a private morning visit to Highclere Castle, home of the Earl of Carnarvon, racing manager to Her Majesty The Queen. In the afternoon you see the enchanting Chawton House, near Alton, home of the 19th-century novelist Jane Austen.
Your train stops for the night on the Mid-Hampshire Railway, known as the "Watercress Line." A carol service and drinks at Avington Park are followed by a formal dinner aboard.
Christmas Day, you may attend a morning service in Winchester Cathedral. There, too, you can see the 12th-century Winchester Bible illuminated in gold and lapis lazuli. Traditional Christmas luncheon is served aboard the train.
On Boxing Day (December 26) a steam locomotive hauls the train along the picturesque Mid-Hampshire Railway. You visit Oakley Farmhouse at Mottisfont, joining in the festivities of a typical English country house. After a traditional Boxing Day buffet, you are taken to London, where your tour ends.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$3,700 PP/DO, including horses, lodging, internal transfers and most meals, but excluding meals in Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur and airfare. An individual can pay an extra $600 for a single room, but this does not include a single tent while camping. Price structure varies if you choose one leg of the November 1993 trip.
Few tourists see India as you will on Equitour's fabulous 19-day horseback journey through the Rajasthan region of this fascinating land. After meeting your group in Delhi, you take a six-hour bus trip south to Dundlod where you begin your horseback trek.
The local villagers in many of the remote places you visit have seldom, if ever, seen Westerners and these contacts are the most intriguing feature of the ride. You also have time to visit and shop in the cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur.
You are met each day by grooms who take care of the horses, and a kitchen staff who provide a hot lunch except on the day you traverse Kumbal Garh Sanctuary, when lunch will be carried. The fortress of Kumbal Garh is situated high atop a hill, overlooking a wildlife sanctuary inhabited by leopard, sloth, bear, sambhar deer, four-horned antelope and wild boar. The path you take is an ancient camel and horse road closed to vehicles.
You ride 11 of the 19 days, four to six hours a day at a moderate pace, often on Marwaris, a breed of horses which in earlier times were superb war horses, greatly prized by their owners.
On several evenings, there will be entertainment by local dancers and musicians. There are three or four nights of camping on the ride and two days of camping at Pushkar in two-person, three-room tents. Most nights are spent in beautiful old palaces or castles which have been converted into hotels with modern comforts.
The trip in November 1993 included the Pushkar Camel Fair, one of the most colorful events in India. For centuries, desert tribes have met at a full moon to trade camels, cattle and horses and to enjoy races, bazaars and other festivities. On this trip, you have the option of going on half the journey, from Delhi to Pushkar, or from Jaipur to Delhi, including Pushkar.
Suitable for strong intermediates.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $6,140, PP all-inclusive from London to Edinburgh. Airfare not included.
New Year is the traditional time for celebration in Scotland. On this special "Hogmanay" Tour you visit private Scottish homes and welcome the New Year aboard The Royal Scotsman with special entertainment.
On Dec. 27, you depart from London and enjoy luncheon while traveling through St. Albans to Nottingham, where the train is pulled by steam locomotive along the Midland Railway to Butterley.
The next morning you take a spectacular trip along the Settle-to-Carlisle line. At Penrith in the Lake District, you visit Dalemai, home of the Hasell-McCosh family for 300 years. You then travel by train along Hadrian's Wall and stop for the night near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The train arrives at Edinburgh with time for morning shopping.
You travel on the beautiful West Highland Line to Taynuilt for a visit to Inverawe Smokehouse, where you sample smoked salmon, trout and other delicacies offered by your hosts, Robert and Rosie Campbell-Preston. You stop for the night at the old Victorian station in Taynuilt, on the shores of Loch Etive.
On Dec. 30, you visit Strachur House, home of author and secret agent Sir Fitzroy Maclean and Lady Maclean, noted culinary expert, then head northeast to Stirling, with its magnificent Royal Castle.
New Year's Eve you visit Glamis Castle, the historic home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorn and a Royal residence since 1372. It is reputedly the setting of Shakespeare's Macbeth and is the childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. You may participate in clay-pigeon shooting on the castle grounds.
You enjoy a late dinner and entertainment aboard The Royal Scotsman to welcome in the New Year. On New Year's Day, you have a late-morning brunch before returning to Edinburgh.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $2,460 for the 6-day tour to $4,700 for the 13-day tour PP. Additional fees for own rooms range from $300 for the 6-day tour to $940 for the 13-day tour. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, Bell Boy and Guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
The six-, nine- or 13-day tours of the Great Britain Express are designed to show you the very best British countryside from the gentle hills and valleys of the beautiful Cotswolds to the glorious English Lake District and from Salisbury Plain to the Highlands of Scotland.
You enjoy the countryside in the speed and comfort only trains can offer. You spend at least two nights at each hotel and the tour includes a "Traveling Bell Boy" who handles your luggage during the entire trip.
You see the magnificent garden of Inverewe, the spa towns of Bath and Cheltenham, the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds and the great Scottish capital of Edinburgh. You visit Stonehenge, Blenheim Palace and Shakespeare's birthplace and you journey on the famous Hebridean train, cruise on Loch Ness and cross by ferry to the Isle of Skye.
Other splendid features include tea at a private house in Wiltshire, a reading of Wordsworth's poetry before dinner in the Lake District and private dining at the stately home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery outside Edinburgh.
If you cannot spare the time to take the whole tour, you can leave the train in Edinburgh and be escorted back to London, stopping to visit medieval York on the way.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Costs range from $7,795 for the 15-day itinerary to $9,695 for the 20-day itinerary. Individual rooms cost $1,205 to $1,975 more. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
The Great Europe Express is the ultimate tour of Europe. Reminiscent of the grand tours undertaken by 19th-century aristocrats, it is a journey through four lovely countries where you can stimulate your mind, refresh the body and gladden the soul.
The highlights of this tour include the vineyards of Burgundy, where you taste fine wines with the Comtess de Liosy and stay in a 14th-century chateau hotel and the magnificence of the lakes and mountains of Switzerland. You also enjoy the musical heritage of Salzburg and the art of Florence, the canals and palaces of Venice and the glamour of Monte Carlo and the French Riviera.
This classic trip is effortless and relaxing by rail in reserved First Class seats and with the help of a traveling Bell Boy who handles all your luggage. You are accompanied by an experienced and knowledgeable guide and tour groups are limited to no more than 20.
Accommodations are provided at some of the most illustrious hotels in Europe, including the Hotel George V and the Hotel Chateau de Gilly in France and the Hotel Schloss Fuschl in Austria. You dine a la carte at their fine restaurants.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Prices range from $2,780 for 7 days to $6,160 for 16 days, with $290 to $1,445 more for own room. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
France is one of the most historic, interesting and beautiful countries in Europe and the traveler who sets out in search of its treasures reaps rich rewards.
It is, however, one of Europe's largest countries and to explore it all by road -- from the Loire Valley to Burgundy to Bordeaux -- would be a daunting prospect.
Fortunately, France has one fo the finest rail networks in Europe and so The Great France Express is not only able to show you almost all of the principle places of interest but does so in a shorter time than would be possible by any other means and in a more comfortable and effortless manner.
You can enjoy the full tour, which includes stops at Paris, Dijon, Avignon, Monte Carlo, Nice, Arles, Nimes, Carcassonne, Cahor, Racamadour, Bordeaux, Tours and Blois in the Loire Valley.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $4,290 for the 9-day trip to $6,990 for the 16-day trip. Individual rooms cost $720 to $1160 more, depending on length of tour. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
Few countries in Europe can match the treasures of Italy. On this luxury rail tour, you journey through the land of the Caesars, the Popes and the artists of the Renaissance.
After leaving Milan, you spend three nights in incomparable Venice, then four nights in glorious Tuscany, staying in Florence and Siena and exploring Pisa and San Gimignano, too. Visit Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis and stay overnight in nearby Perugia. You then travel by rail to Rome.
Those with limited time can leave the tour here, but if you continue with the tour, you will spend two nights beside the Mediterranean Sea to Sorrento and explore the Amalfi Coast before returning to Rome.
With so much to see, it is vital to achieve the right balance between sightseeing and relaxation on any Italian journey. On this journey, leisure is assured. You travel by comfortable rail car and spend two nights or more at all but one of the scheduled hotels. In your free time, you can take additional expeditions with the guide or wander on your own, relaxing with a book or beside a shaded terrace.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $4,495 for 10-day tour to $5,295 for 14-day tour, with additional fees ranging from $360-$490 for individual accommodations. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
The majesty of Switzerland's mountains and the beauty of its lakes are unmatched in Europe and abroad. On The Great Switzerland Express, you see the best of both. Each day reveals a panorama to delight the eye.
Switzerland offers more than magnificent scenery. There are more than a thousand years of history, vividely illustrated at Chillon Castle and in the old quarters of Geneva, Bern and Lucerne.
The combination of rail and road travel is delightful in a country where railways are run with the utmost precision. They also allow you to access areas of the country impossible to reach by other means, especially along the spectacular routes of the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express. You also visit the little mountain village of Zermatt where few cars are permitted.
You visit Zurich, Liechtenstein, St. Moritz with its famous "champagne air," Lake Como and Lugano with its panoramic views, Zermatt, Montreux, Geneva and Lucerne.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $5,725 for the 13-day trip to $6,490 for the 17-day trip, with $620-$895 more for individual rooms. Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
The three kingdoms of Scandinavia offer the visitor a veritable smorgasbord of delights. This region has the friendliest of people, world-famous craftsmanship and some of Europe's most sophisticated communities.
Scandinavia also offers the beauties of Stockholm, the fairy-tale atmosphere of Denmark and the passion of the Viking past.
If your imagination is fired by thoughts of Norwegian fjords and mountains, you won't be disappointed on this trip. Scandinavia is justly famous for its scenery.
The Great Scandinavian Express takes you to three beautiful fjords. You travel through dramatic mountain scenery by boat, train and motorcoach. You can even walk on a glacier!
You visit the sights of Denmark's lovely capital, Copenhagen -- the Amalienborg Palace, the Rosenborg Palace, the Nyhavn district and the famous statue of the little mermaid.
In Toftaholm, Sweden, you stay in Herrgardshotel, a 600-year-old, family-run hotel in a gloriously peaceful setting beside a lake. You visit a glass factory and the capital city of Stockholm.
You fly to Norway and stay at the Hotel Alexandra on the banks of a graceful fjord. On the journey by train from Flam to Bergen, one of the most spectacular of train rides, you climb nearly 3,000 feet in only 12 miles.
Distances are great in Scandinavia, but in the comfort of your rail car, all you need to do is relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Prices range from $3,180 to $5,950, PP. You pay $465 to $1,175 more for individual rooms.Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations. Airfare not included.
The extraordinary beauty of the Austrian countryside, with its forested mountains and glistening lakes, is world-renowned. The once-mighty Austrian Empire has left the country with a legacy of great Baroque cities such as Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, and the Imperial Capital of Vienna.
You spend two nights in Innsbruck with a side trip to Bavaria to visit Oberammergau and mad King Ludwig's castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. You relax among glorious mountains at the renowned Castle Hotel Pichlarn. Next, you travel to beautiful Salzburg for two nights, before moving on to spend a night beside the Danube River in the picturesque village of Durnstein.
Then you choose whether to stay independently in Vienna or to continue on to the beautiful Baroque city of Prague in the Czech Republic and Budapest, Hungary, once the jewels of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Your journey ends at the luxurious Hotel Bristol in Vienna. This sensational tour visits five beautiful countries in the heart of Europe on comfortable and relaxing First Class Rail.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $2,780 for the 7-day tour to $8,270 for the 21-day tour, excluding airfare. You pay $485 to $2,135 more for own room.
Trip prices include hotel accommodations, some meals, first-class rail travel, sightseeing, bell boy and guide services and porterage at hotels and stations.
Airfare not included.
The lovely countries of Spain and Portugal have a history and culture as rich and fascinating as any in Europe. They are full of delights for the sophisticated traveler. The Great Spain and Portugal Express shows you these treasures in comfort and style.
You stay at the most renowned and luxurious hotels and enjoy a la carte dining as well as the traveling bell boy service and an excellent guide.
Some longer journeys in Spain utilize the comfortable TALGO trains and may travel on the new high-speed train from Madrid to Cordoba. Where there are no suitable trains, you travel by top-quality motorcoach.
The itinerary of The Great Spain and Portugal Express includes the finest sights in southern Spain and Portugal. Although most people take the full tour, you can visit northwest Spain only and follow the pilgrimage route to the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. Or you could join the tour in Madrid for the journey south to enchanting Andalusia before traveling on to Portugal.
In this magic land of sunshine and song, you see the very best of Mediterranean culture on the civilized Great Spain and Portugal Express.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Prices range from $1,730 to $3,000 depending on type of accommodations chosen (standard, deluxe or suite),
length of trip and time of year.
Trip prices include accommodations on board 'Al Andalus Expreso', entrance fees for sightseeing, meals, sightseeing excursions, private guide and round-trip train transfer between Madrid and Seville and all applicable taxes.
Verdant and sun-speckled Andalusia is one of the most beautiful and unique regions of Spain. After supporting seven centuries of Moorish occupation, it is famous today for its architecture, flamenco dance and tapas bars. It remains a visual showcase of mountain peaks, blooming orchards and filigreed church architecture.
The Andalusian Journey visits the high points of Andalusian Spain. After a short trip from Madrid on the AVE or 'alta velocidad Espanol' (a 150-mile-an-hour express train), you board 'Al Andalus' in the ancient city of Seville.
The next stops are Cordoba and Granada, two of Moorish Spain's great cities, followed by Malaga on the Costa del Sol and Ronda, one of the oldest towns in Spain. After a tour of Jerez, you return to Madrid via Seville.
Visit the Cathedral, the Alcazar Fortress and Maria Luisa Park, one of the loveliest in all of Spain. See the Geralife Gardens, once the summer palace of the Moorish Nasrid kings in Granada. Witness the scene of the last great Moorish uprising against Ferdinand and Isabella in the town of Ronda.
After visiting the fishing village of Puerto de Santa Maria, you travel to Jerez, Anglicized to "sherry." You visit the sherry cellars and the Royal Spanish Riding School before boarding 'Al Andalus' and returning to Madrid.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Prices range from $1,670 to $2,120, depending on type of accommodations chosen, (standard, deluxe or suite), with $330-$660 more for individual rooms. Trip cost includes accommodations aboard 'Al Andalus Expreso,' entrance fees for sightseeing, meals, sightseeing tours with guide and hostess, all applicable taxes.
Spain is famous for wine and this tour lets you sample the best of the wine country on cellar tours and tastings.
Beginning in Bacelona, the great city of Spain's eastern coast and home to many a sophisticated palate, you board 'Al Andalus Expreso' to ride west to the small town of Villafranca del Penedes, home of the excellent Penedes wine.
You then travel on to Haro, where each year thousands of gallons of Rioja squirt into the mouths of connoisseurs from the hide canteens known as 'botas.'
Two destinations in the Basque district are next: San Sebastian, "a metropolis built for the enjoyment of the eye and spirit," and Pamplona, known for its running of the bulls on the Feast of San Fermin (the July 8 departure of this itinerary visits Pamplona during this great spectacle).
At every stop on this four-day tour, a wine-tasting at a local cellar is planned: an excellent way to savor the great wines of Spain in an atmosphere of vintage style and service.
Courtesy Acadia National Park.
Courtesy Acadia National Park.
$195 includes meals and tentsite. You provide your own transportation to Acadia. You also must be a member of the Sierra Club, which costs $35 for individuals or $43 for couples.
Acadia, often called "the jewel in the crown" of the national park system, combines pounding surf, mountains, lakes, beaches and miles of trails for a beautiful vacation experience. While the goal of the Sierra Club's week-long excursion to Acadia is to maintain trails by clearing brush and blowdowns from the paths, there is ample opportunity to enjoy the area.
The park's extensive and rugged trail network weaves along beaches, bluffs and bare-topped mountains. There are also 57 miles of carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in the early 1900s.
Last year, Sierra's service trip to Acadia worked on particular sections of the roads, removing fallen trees, trimming overgrown vegetation and cleaning debris out of culverts to prevent erosion. This year's excursion will be similar, although due to the amount accomplished last year, the Park Service might give Sierra a more extensive itinerary.
During your free time there is much to do -- hiking, mountain biking and exploring quaint fishing villages by foot. Ferries provide transportation to more remote islands for those interested. Swimming is obviously another favorite pastime, although the Maine waters are notorius for driving those with thin skin and little blubber to shore. Lakes provide a refreshing dip after a hard day's work.
Sierra Club provides meals and a place to plant your tent. You are responsible for bag, tent and personal items.
The trip is moderately difficult. To qualify you must have camping, biking and hiking experience and be in good shape.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Costs range from $1,670-$2,120 depending on choice of accommodations, with individual rooms costing $330-$660 more.
Trip costs inlclue all accommodations on 'Al Andalus Expreso,' all entrance fees for sightseeing included in the tour, all meals, any special AandK tours with guide and hostess and all applicable taxes.
On a starry night in 813 A.D., legend says, a hermit was led by an unearthly light to a field just outside the present town of Santiago de Compostela.
The sarcophagus unearthed at that spot was said to contain the remains of St. James, and that saint almost instantly became a powerful rallying point for the beleaguered Christian army in its battle against the conquering Moors.
Santiago de Compostela quickly became one of Europe's most popular pilgrimage sites, and an individual who sported a cockle shell pinned to his cloak or affixed to a staff proclaimed his status as a pilgrim of St. James.
The Way of St. James tour begins and ends in Barcelona and, in addition to the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, you visit Pamplona and Burgos, once an important rest station on the medieval pilgrims' route.
Courtesy Spanish Tourist Office.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Spanish Tourist Office.
Prices from $1,670-$2,120, with $330-$660 more for individual rooms. Trip costs include accommodations, meals, taxes and sightseeing entrance fees. Airfare not included.
This itinerary explores Spanish Castile, an austere and windswept region that takes its name from the long line of 12th-century castles that once stretched across it.
Known for clear skies, infinite vistas and warrior spirit, Castile is also closely associated with some of Europe's most famous names. In addition to providing the setting for Cervantes' Don Quixote, you will find that Hannibal the Conquerer, El Cid, St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and El Greco have all lived, worked, meditated and fought on Castile's flat plateau.
The world heritage journey begins in Madrid, where passengers board "Al Andalus" at Chamartin Station. The train travels northwest to the historic Monastery of El Escorial and continues west to the walled city of Avila and to Salamanca, showpiece of the Spanish Renaissance.
From this point, Al Andalus swings back toward the center of Spain, with stops at Segovia, important since Roman times, and Toledo, forever linked with the painter El Greco. Madrid is your final destination and point of disembarcation.
Courtesy Spanish Tourist Office.
Courtesy Spanish Tourist Office.
From $ 1,560-$2000, depending on type of accommodations chosen. Single rooms cost $330-$660 more. Trip prices include lodging on train, meals, taxes, sightseeing entrance fees and guide services.
Spring in Seville is a special time. First there is Easter: a time of Holy Week festivals, glittering processions and soaring springtime spirits.
Then Seville begins to prepare for the annual April Fair, the feria de Abril, which combines flamenco, prancing steeds, fireworks, bullfights and all-night dances. Choose the April 7 departure to experience Holy Week in Seville; departures on the 18th and 22nd visit the city at the height of the April Fair.
The itinerary also stops at Cordoba for a more sedate taste of the historic past. On the first night, you have dinner and entertainment on board "Al Andalus Expreso." Although you enjoy sightseeing tours of cities and ruins in the morning, your days are free to enjoy the festivities.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
$1,445 per person. Includes transportation from Vladivostok, camping equipment, meals and accommodations.
Embark on a challenging whitewater rafting tour on the Kema River in the remote Primorye region of Siberia on this East-West Discovery tour.
While this tour of one of Russia's wildest and most pristine rivers is designed for fun, you will have plenty of time to explore your surroundings, the thick Siberian "taiga" forests and observe the wildlife, which include Siberian tigers, deer, elk, bear and a variety of birds.
You will ride in inflatable whitewater rafts, guided by Russians who are all experienced rafters and who have traveled some of the most exciting and demanding legs of this river.
Your Russian guides will show you their favorite spots for fishing. And after a long day on the river, you are treated to hearty Russian dishes and of course, a generous serving of caviar and Russian vodka.
Tour organizers suggest you have rafting experience. You will have time for exploration, photography and hiking.
To reach the river, you may have to travel several hours by helicopter. The journey begins and concludes in Vladivostok where you will have time for sightseeing and shopping.
Prior rafting experience recommended.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Spanish Tourist Office.
From $1,670-$2,120, with an additional fee of $330-$660 depending on the type of accommodations chosen.
Trip prices include accommodations, meals, taxes, sightseeing and guide services.
Spain has a charming custom on New Year's Eve -- as the local cathedral's bell tolls out the twelve strokes of midnight, Spaniards try to swallow one grape for each stroke of the bell, believing that each represents a wish to be granted in the New Year.
As a traveler on this special 'Al Andalus' train expedition, you make your wishes during a very romantic New Year's Eve dinner on board the lovely railway cars of "Al Andalus Expreso."
After traveling from Madrid to Seville, you tour the city and have the afternoon free, returning in the evening for an exciting flamenco performance.
You enjoy breakfast en route to Cordoba, where you tour the Mosque, the Alcazar Fortress and the Jewish Quarter that morning before returning to the train for the New Year's gala dinner, which makes the most of Al Andalus charm.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
Courtesy Abercrombie and Kent International.
From $920-$2,210, PP for overnight travel and from $430-$860 for day-time travel, depending on route and type of accommodations chosen. Surcharges are added for single cabins and double cabins for single occupancy. Trip prices include train accommodations and meals.
The Orient-Express has graced the railways of Europe since 1883. No mere train, this was a grand hotel on wheels. Outrageous luxury played host to a clientele that read like a Who's Who of Modern History, from Edward and Mrs. Simpson to Mata Hari.
World War II dealt a mortal blow to the express and it was finally laid to rest in 1977. Thankfully, its rest was short. Almost immediately, the present owners scoured the marshalling yards and sidings of Europe for original Orient-Express carriages from the most opulent period of the train, between the two world wars. These carriages have been faithfully restored to revive the legend of the Orient-Express.
A ticket buys today's traveler a return to this bygone era.
You are greeted by name and have your luggage stowed safely on the magnificent blue and gold carriages. Once on board, the brass fittings and intricate marquetry cannot fail to fascinate.
Your cabin, complete with original patterned upholstery, displays craftsmanship and attention to detail which make it a wonderful private day room. Afternoon drifts effortlessly into evening, and no sooner have you dressed for dinner than the strains of the baby grand lure you to the bar car for cocktails. Dinner is served with aplomb.
The art of the craftsmen who designed these luxury cars is matched by the skill of the French chefs.
A final cognac in the bar marks the end of a remarkable day on an unforgettable journey.
Courtesy East-West Discovery.
$2,895 per person includes most meals, accommodations, ground transportation and guides. Airfare to Russia not included.
For the second year, East-West Discovery is offering a guided birdwatching tour of Primorye in Siberia.
The superb combination of land, sea and migratory birds makes this area a birding enthusiast's paradise. Close to Vladivostok, Primorye was almost impossible for Westerners to visit during the Cold War due to its strategic military location in Russia's Far East.
Now, you are led by Reginald David, president of the Hawaii Audubon Society, to some of the best sites in northeast Asia for bird viewing.
With the cooperation of Dr. Yuri Shibnev and Anatoly Petrov, this tour takes you by land, air and sea to the Kedrovaya Pad Reserve, Ricord Island in the Sea of Japan, Lake Khanka Nature Reserve and the Bikin River delta.
More than 150 bird species, including Swinhoe's stormy petrel, Blakiston's fish owl and various storks and cranes, live here.
Courtesy Sierra Madre Express of Tucson.
Courtesy Sierra Madre Express of Tucson.
Courtesy Sierra Madre Express of Tucson.
Courtesy Sierra Madre Express of Tucson.
$2,190 PP/DO. Fares include all meals, hotels, baggage handling, gratuities, transfers, tours and taxes. Transportation to and from Mexico is not included.
The Sierra Madre Express rail journey to Copper Canyon is an adventure into one of the most remote and scenic regions of Mexico, parts of which were not explored until 1986. You travel to an area that is accessible only by rail.
The journey begins in Nogales, Sonora. You board the train and travel through the Sonoran Desert, where giant saguaros, organ pipe cactus, mesquite trees and the creosote bush dot the land. You climb to high elevations through tunnels and across bridges and see tropical vegetation and woodlands of oak, hackberry and mountain mahogany and pine. You cross deep chasms and granite peaks and see vestiges of once-active volcanoes.
You see black hawks float in the sky, while green parrots thrive in the tropical canyon bottoms. In the rainy season of June through September, waterfalls cascade from the canyons.
The train races through 87 tunnels and crosses 35 bridges along the route toward the land of the Tarahumara Indians, famous for their physical strength and endurance as long-distance runners.
Be ready for spectacular vistas and a glimpse of the incredible local cultures of the Copper Canyon. Sierra Madre Express also offers a special Copper Canyon New Year's tour. Contact Sierra Madre Express for details.
You travel at 8,000 feet elevation. Hiking optional.
Courtesy Corolla Flight.
Courtesy Corolla Flight.
Courtesy Corolla Flight.
$75 for a single flight to $160 for a three-flight lesson.
If you want to experience the thrill of a single hanggliding flight or learn to be an accomplished pilot during your summer vacation, Corolla Flight in Kitty Hawk offers the best in tandem hanggliding in an oceanfront setting.
America's top tandem pilot, Greg DeWolf, using state-of-the-art equipment, pilots you to altitudes of 1,500 to 2,500 feet, giving you ample time to sightsee and soar before floating to a feather-light landing on the soft sand of Currituck Beach.
DeWolf pioneered tandem instruction in 1980 and has developed the techniques to provide you a smooth takeoff and landing. He is a master-rated pilot and certified instructor and completed the first transamerican hanggling flight.
Tandem instruction allows you to learn the intricacies of flight at your own rate. DeWolf is alongside you in the glider and demonstrates correct technique before giving you command of the glider in accordance with your skills.
All flights are guaranteed to ascend 1,500 feet above sea level, or you get another flight free.
According to DeWolf, the worst injury his company has incurred in 4,000 flights was a bit lip.
Photo by Larry Belcher. Courtesy West Virginia Division of Tourism and Parks.
$230 includes tent site and food. You are reponsible for your own transportation. You must be a member of the Sierra Club, which costs $35 for individuals and $43 for families.
In Ice Mountain Preserve in West Virginia's Hampshire County, winter ice persists year-round and the constant supply of cold air creates grottoes that are home to some of the most unique plantlife in the U.S.
Plants and wildflowers such as the twinflower and the Arctic rose, which are usually found only in the Arctic and at high elevations, grow in these grottoes. Protected by the Nature Conservancy since 1990, the area has never been open to the public.
On this six-day Sierra Club excursion, you build a trail that will open this special area to the public. Native Americans once camped here near the summer icicles and Civil War soldiers used the place for refrigeration.
Hawks nest in the sandstone cliffs of the mountain. You hike to the these cliffs that offer superb views to the west and north.
The project involves clearing brush, leveling soil, moving rocks and marking the trail. Contrary to this region's reputation, the work will be hot and heavy.
During your stay, there will be ample opportunity to hike the 235 acres, watch birds and swim.
Food, cooking equipment, cooking water treatment, first-aid kit and tent site will be provided by Sierra Club. You are responsible for your own personal gear, tent and sleeping bag.
The work is somewhat strenuous and temperatures are hot.
Courtesy Equitour.
Courtesy Equitour.
Appropriate ability is needed.
$1,785 PP/DO for Danube and Rakoczi rides, $1,895 PP/DO for Tokai ride, including meals, accommodations, transfers and riding, but excluding airfare.
Those who appreciate good horses will enjoy exploring Hungary on horseback in one of three treks sponsored by Equitour.
Hungarian equestrian traditions are not only ancient, but still flourish today and breed some of the finest horses in the world. Riding here is like visiting Europe a century ago, before paved roads, traffic and modern cities existed. Hungary is still a land of picturesque villages. One can tie one's horse outside a pub while having a drink and mixing with the local farmers.
"My soul is liberated like an eagle's, I see all the limitlessness of the world," wrote the Hungarian poet Potofi of his feelings as he gazed across the landscape. This is a region of vast, sandy plains that urge you to ride at a thundering gallop. There are also mountains, great forests and the mighty Danube.
Hungary has many riding choices, but everywhere you find good food and wine and warm hospitality. The pace is often flat out and the horses are usually spirited, so only advanced riders should attempt this tour.
You can choose the eight-day Matra-Danube ride offered in May, August, September and October and explore the foothills of the Matra mountains and the country along the Danube with its fairy-tale castles. The nine-day Rakoczi Ride offered in May, June and September explores the mountainous northern region near the border of the Slovak Republic, while the eight-day Tokai-Hortobagy Puszta Ride, offered in April, May, June, September and October, takes place in the Tokai region, famous for its wine and flourishing vineyards, and the great sandy plains of the Hortobagy Puszta.
The meeting point for each trip is Budapest.
Courtesy Bombard Balloon Adventures.
Courtesy Bombard Balloon Adventures.
Courtesy Bombard Balloon Adventures.
Courtesy Bombard Balloon Adventures.
For a six-day winter tour in Switzerland, $4,990 /DO. Price includes lodging, meals and wine, balloon rides, sightseeing and land travel.
Enjoy one of life's most beautiful experiences, floating by balloon across some of the most spectacular mountain ranges, valleys and hills in the world while enjoying a sumptuous luncheon, on a tour with Bombard Balloon.
Bombard Balloon annually offers a variety of tours in Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria and Turkey.
In winter, Bombard's balloon tours take place near Gstaad, Switzerland. You fly daily over majestic peaks and through snow-covered Alpine valleys. Mountainside homeonwers smile and wave as you float past at window level.
Tour packages include stays in first-class hotels and luxury dining in a variety of excellent restaurants.
During Bombard's six-day tour in Switzerland, you embark on four days of long-distance flying. Flights continue for up to 4.5 hours. Take-off is about 10:30 a.m. with an elegant picnic luncheon served aloft while floating over Swiss mountains and valleys.
Courtesy Athabasca Cultural Journeys.
Courtesy Athabasca Cultural Journeys.
Courtesy Athabasca Cultural Journeys.
$1,650 per person, includes airfare, lodging, camping equipment and food.
Athabasca Cultural Journeys offers visitors an extraordinary wilderness and cultural adventure in the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge. Groups of six stay with, and are guided by, Athabascan Indians from the village of Huslia.
The journey begins on a riverboat to a wilderness camp on the Koyukuk River. Native American families are your hosts and mentors, while others help with food preparation and chores. Natives traveling along the river stop by the camp for tea or coffee and a visit.
In the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge, moose, caribou, bear, wolf and otter abound. During the summer, this refuge is home to thousands of nesting migratory waterfowl and birds of prey, including eagles and hawks. You have to tolerate the infamous Alaska mosquitoes during your visit, however, your tent is bug-proof and Athabasca offers head nets.
You can observe wildlife, hike, embark on boat trips, take pictures, fish, bird watch and visit archaeological sites. You also have opportunities to learn native crafts during your leisurely stay. You dine on a variety of native meals and snacks, including moose, caribou, bear, beaver and fish.
The difficulty level is flexible.
Photo by Tom Hale. Courtesy Backroads.
$1,695 includes lodging, meals, support van and fees. Excludes airfare to Bali and bike rental ($160).
The pace of life in Bali is calm yet vibrant. The land is seductive with its ancient Hindu temples, exotic music and dance and natural beauty. Backroads offers an 11-day inn-based exploration of this small island by mountain bike.
You begin the tour at the Intan Bali Village, one of the island's finest hotels. After checking in there is time to swim, lounge on the beach or relax by the pool.
Your first day's ride heads inland discovering the "real" Bali by visiting remote villages. You bike north past the moated Pura Taman Ayun temple and ascend the heights of Mount Catur to gem-like Lake Bratan. The evening is spent at the Bedugul Hotel, situated at the edge of a volcanic crater. Dancing is a favorite pastime.
With clapping and hooting monkeys goading you on, you ride up over a pass for an invigorating descent to the town of Singaraja. You stop for the evening at the Aditya Bungalows along the black sands of Lovina Beach.
The next day's biking covers flat terrain, paralleling the coast past tranquil fishing villages and beautiful beaches. Gunung Agung (10,368 feet) looms in the distance. At day's end you rest at Paradise Palm Beach Bungalows, your home for the night. The bungalows offer spectacular snorkeling in the clear waters just offshore. The shipwreck S.S. Liberty sits entombed in coral and surrounded by colorful fishies a short swim away.
Your ride to Balina Beach, where you spend three nights, takes you past the famous royal water palace in Tirtagangga and the intricate rice paddy terraces.
From your base at Balina Beach, you can sunbathe, swim and dive or visit the ancient village of Tenganan, renowned for its weavings. A ride to Besakih provides an opportunity to visit Bali's "mother temple."
Your final days of riding will take you to Ubud the island's cultural heart. Museums, galleries, and crafts shops display the works of the town's noted artists. You spend two nights in Ubud surrounded by brilliant emerald rice paddies.
The day before you depart, you enjoy a ride by raft down the Ayung River, zigzagging through a canopy of lush greenery and a maze of waterfalls.
The trip is designed for energetic and fit beginners and more advanced bikers. Terrain is mostly rolling hills and you cover anyqhere from 13-61 miles a day.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Six-day trip option 1: round trip from Marble Canyon, $1,099 PP. Six-day option 2: round trip from Las Vegas, $1,199 per person. Eight-day trip: round trip from Las Vegas, $1,495. Price includes meals and accommodations but does not include transportation to starting points.
Here's your chance to experience the Grand Canyon from the bottom, something completely different than viewing it from above. Steve Currey Expeditions offers six- and eight-day motorized expeditions and 12-day oar-powered expeditions.
A sample eight-day itinerary has you driving to Lee's Ferry to launch the boat on Day 1, rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon on Days 2 through 7 and taking the boat out at Pierce Ferry, Lake Mead on Day 8.
The options for this trip include a choice of round trip packages from Marble Canyon or Las Vegas.
Trips include some Class IV and V stretches of river.
Photo by Jim Harrison. Courtesy Elderhostel.
An accompanying spouse or companion of an age-eligible participant must be at least 50.
Typical charge for standard six-night program is $285 in the United States and $320 in Canada including registration, accommodations, meals, classes and some extracurricular activities. Programs in Alaska and Hawaii charge slightly more.
Travel to the program is not included.
Older adults can expand their personal horizons by participating in the numerous educational programs offered by Elderhostel in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
At an Elderhostel program, participants experience a taste of campus life, taking up to three non-credit courses in the liberal arts and sciences (with no homework or exams), living in a dormitory or other modest lodging, eating in the cafeteria and enjoying a variety of extracurricular activities, field trips and cultural events.
Participating institutions include colleges and universities, conference centers, youth hostels, YWCAs and YMCAs, state and national parks and museums.
These low-cost academic programs last a week and provide a unique opportunity to combine study with the adventure of exploring new places in a friendly and supportive environment. You share your Elderhostel experience with 20 to 40 classsmates who are interesting and from all walks of life.
Courses range from a study of dixieland jazz at the University of South Alabama in Mobile to a briefing by Mayo Clinic experts on medical advances at Rochester Community College in Minnesota. You can study marine natural history at Skagit Valley College in the San Juan Islands, Washington, or T'ai Chi at Concordia University in Montreal.
A limited number of scholarships are available for programs within the U.S.
Each state has an Elderhostel office, but registration is handled through the main office in Boston. Write to Elderhostel's Boston office to request a course catalog. You can register by mail or phone.
Elderhostel, a non-profit organization, also runs programs in 45 countries overseas. In 1992, approximately a quarter of a million people participated in programs at more than 1,800 institutions in North America and abroad.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$989 per adult, $695 per youth under 16. Price includes meals, accommodations and some ground transportation. It does not include the first night at Mountain Village Lodge and transportation to or from Stanley.
Described as a "classic whitewater adventure," this five-day Steve Currey Expeditions trip begins in the Sawtooth Mountains where the waterway plunges through narrow chutes and channels.
As tributaries join it, the stream becomes a rushing river with such major rapids as Velvet Falls, Powerhouse, Pistol Creek, Marble Creek, Haystack, Rubber and Tappan Falls. Dense forest greenery gives way to sheer granite cliffs and striking scenery.
The Middle Fork provides natural access to the wild and scenic Idaho Primitive Area where fishing, exploring, relaxing or swimming in the many hot springs are good diversions.
Average difficulty for SCE, with a fair amount of whitewater.
Photo by Jim Harrison. Courtesy Elderhostel.
A spouse or companion who is at least 50 may accompany an eligible participant.
Costs vary from country to country. Some examples: $2,600 per person all-inclusive cost of three-week program at three universities in Scotland, Wales and England, departing/returning New York City. $3,600 for three-week program at three universities in Brazil, departing/returning Los Angeles. $1,710 two-week program in Costa Rica, departing/returning Miami. $4,580 three weeks at three sites in Australia and New Zealand, departing/returning Los Angeles.
Older adults can expand their awareness by participating in one of the many educational programs available in 45 countries overseas offered by Elderhostel.
Classroom studies are complemented by course-related field trips and excursions, providing hostelers the opportunity to learn about and experience the culture and traditions of the country they visit.
Programs are generally two to four weeks long, with participants spending each week at a different site. Housing may be in college and university dormitories or modest hotels. Program costs generally include round-trip international airfare as well as travel costs within the host countries.
Choices include an adventure study program in the Amazon jungle, archaeological seminars in Israel, a discovery trip of Denmark's Faroe Islands, a course with Sotheby experts in London and a study of Spanish language and Hispanic culture in Mexico.
A home stay program is offered in several countries in cooperation with World Learning, formerly known as Experiment in International Living. Most of the programs combine a one-week home stay with two weeks of formal courses and related field trips.
Each state has an Elderhostel office, but registration is handled through the main office in Boston. Write to Elderhostel's Boston office to request a course catalog. You can register by mail or phone.
Elderhostel, a non-profit organization, also runs programs in all 50 states and every Canadian province. In 1992, approximately a quarter of a million people participated in programs at over 1,800 institutions in North America and abroad.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$875 PP, includes meals, accommodations, some ground transportation. Airfare to and from Salmon, Idaho, is not included.
Over 70 percent of this five-day Selway trip is churning whitewater bordered by rugged mountain forests of cedar and pine. Steve Currey Expeditions recommends this trip for the veteran runner seeking maximum whitewater excitement.
The Selway River traverses the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, home to moose, elk, deer, golden eagles and a variety of other wildlife. The trip is for those who enjoy roughing it.
Challenging and technical rapids for veteran whitewater rafters seeking maximum excitement.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$824 per adult, $525 per youth under 16. Price includes meals, accommodations, transportation between Boise International Airport and launching and take-out points. It does not include final overnight in McCall, Idaho, and airfare to and from Boise.
Commonly known as "The River of No Return," the Main Salmon River flows through one of America's last wilderness areas and promises raging rapids, deep pools, soft sandy beaches and majestic mountain scenery.
Every day holds whitewater excitement as well as time for forays into the historical and natural wonders of the area including Barth Hot Springs, Painter Mine and Jim Moore's Ghost Town. Wildlife abounds, including black bear, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and a variety of birds.
In camp you have ample time for good fishing, hiking, swimming or relaxing. Steve Currey Expeditions describes this as the ultimate wilderness vacation.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
Courtesy Steve Currey Expeditions, Inc.
$1,475 PP. Price includes meals, accommodations and transportation between Honolulu and Majuro. It does not include airfare to Honolulu.
You meet your Steve Currey Expeditions group at Honolulu International Airport for an early morning, five-hour flight to Majuro in the North Pacific Ocean, where you transfer to a 20-minute charter flight to the Arno Atoll. You spend the rest of the day exploring Enrik Island and neighboring islands by motor boat or sea kayak.
The next six days are up to you. Choose from sea kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, lobster hunts and seashell collecting. Enjoy warm sunny beaches, colorful reefs, and delicious seafood.
Return to Honolulu the eighth morning and then home.
There are several choices of activity, allowing for a range of abilities and energy levels.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,200 U.S./ $2,595 Canadian per person. Price includes all meals and group camping equipment, watercraft, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip's rendezvous.
This is Black Feather's most popular canoe trip and it begins at the northern boundary of the Nahanni National Park, renowned for its beauty and history. You travel past the spectacular Virginia Falls, the Tufa Mounds, Pulpit Rock and Hell's Gate. Breathtaking canyons and exhilarating hot springs add to the natural variety you see along your journey.
The paddling skills required are not difficult, the pace is relaxed and the summer weather is typically warm and dry.
Hiking, fishing, floating and resting along the way make this an appealing trip.
Black Feather took its name from historic folklore. When voyageurs returned from a canoe and trekking journeys beyond the Arctive divide, they was awarded a black feather to proudly wear in their hats.
You should be comfortable in a canoe (intermediate level) and prepared to share the tasks of group living.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,930 U.S./$3,450 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, all meals, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels and restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous site.
The Nahanni Whitewater Option begins at the Moose Ponds, approximately 100 miles north of the Nahanni National Park boundary. Over the course of the first 100 miles, known as the Rock Gardens, the river drops over 2,000 feet in continuous Class II and III whitewater rapids.
Runnable rapids, beautiful scenery and exciting opportunities for hiking and photography make this a memorable trip.
You paddle in top quality, whitewater expedition canoes, outfitted with splash covers. You should be comfortable with all whitewater maneuvers and safety. This three-week trip includes Black Feather's two week Nahanni "Classic" Canoe Trip.
Black Feather took its name from historic folklore. When voyageurs returned from a canoe and trekking journeys beyond the Arctive divide, they was awarded a black feather to proudly wear in their hats.
Whitewater experience necessary, long trip, isolated area.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,850 U.S./$3,350 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Nahanni River valley is well known for its hiking trails that lead to such beautiful vistas as Sunblood Mountain, Pulpit Rock, Virginia Falls, Dry Canyon and Prairie Creek.
This trip combines two weeks of intermediate level canoeing through the canyons of the Nahanni River with a week of day hikes and a four-day trekking expedition.
You begin at Island Lake, about 50 miles north of the Nahanni National Park boundary where you spend a day hiking the mountainous area around Island Lake and relaxing in Moore's Hotsprings. The next four days are for trekking to the magnificent Glacier Lake.
The Ragged Range Mountains form the Cirque of the Unclimbables around the western shore of Glacier Lake and provide one of North America's most beautiful mountain meadow campsites.
The two weeks of canoeing follow the Nahanni "Classic" Canoe Trip through Nahanni National Park where warm weather and a relaxed pace make this an enjoyable trip.
Intermediate canoeing skills, endurance for a four-day trek, remote location and some high altitudes.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
8 day trip: $1,7500 U.S./$2,075 Canadian, per person.
10 day trip: $2,035 U.S./$2,395 Canadian, per person.
12 day trip: $2,100 U.S./$2,475 Canadian, per person.
Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous site.
Designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the wild and spectacular Nahanni River has natural features that make its beauty legendary.
For decades, it has attracted prospectors and pioneers.
Your eight-, 10- or 12-day Nahanni River raft trip encompasses all of the famous scenic wonders of the river, such as Virginia Falls, Five Mile Canyon, Hell's Gate, the Pulpit and hot springs. The rafts are safe, stable, oar-rafts each 16 to 18 feet long.
Each raft has a guide and four to five participants. No rafting experience is necessary to enjoy leisurely drifting through canyons and watching Dall's sheep graze on the cliff's edge.
Dine and camp at the river's edge, hike, snap pictures and relax.
No rafting experience necessary, endurance for long trip to remote location recommended.
Courtesy Black Feater.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,375 U.S./$2,795 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Located in the Mackenzie Mountains in the Arctic region of Canada, the Mountain River offers an unbroken roller coaster paddling trek of stunning beauty.
Class II whitewater, hikes and explorations of untrodden canyons are all part of this two-week canoe trip. The Mackenzie Mountains are the largest mountain wilderness in North America -- tens of thousands of miles of with no human habitation and plenty of opportunities to see mountain goats, Dall's sheep, moose and caribou.
The canoeing is intermediate level. You should be comfortable with all whitewater maneuvers and safety.
Whitewater canoeing experience needed, remote location and high altitudes.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Raft: $2,035 U.S./$2,395 Canadian per person.
Canoe: $2,550 U.S./$2,995 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
There are few places on earth where an easily-navigable river traverses such spectacular mountain ranges as in the Tatshenshini region.
The Tatshenshini River starts in the Yukon, flows into British Columbia and then through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
Massive glaciers calve icebergs right into the river, grizzlies, black bears, mountain goats and moose roam the mountainside and bald eagles feed in the salmon-rich river. The river is large and varied, with tight corners, rock gardens, irregular waves and whirlpools and boils.
You can travel by raft or canoe. Either way, your trip is packed with 11 days of adventure. The rafts are safe, stable oar-rafts 16 to 18 feet long, each with a guide and four or five participants. These are perfect vessels for those who want to explore and enjoy the river without whitewater canoeing skills.
Canoeists should be strong whitewater paddlers, comfortable with all swiftwater maneuvers and rescues. You will use 17 foot whitewater expedition canoes, outfitted with extra flotation and raft support.
Raft: endurance for 11-day wilderness camping and rafting experience and high altitiudes needed.
Canoe: same plus strong skills in whitewater maneuvers and rescues required.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$3,025 U.S./$3,550 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Hood River, located far north of the treeline in the central Arctic, is the jewel of the Barrenlands, combining fabulous wildlife, great whitewater and the stark beauty of the Arctic.
You may see the migration of the Barrenlands caribou as you thread your way through miles of challenging whitewater. You camp on tundra and sandbeaches and dine on Arctic char and grayling. You spend time at Wilberforce Falls, one of the Barrenlands most spectacular sights.
This two-week trip includes Class 1, II and III rapids and requires whitewater experience.
Black Feather took its name from historic folklore. When voyageurs returned from a canoe and trekking journeys beyond the Arctic divide, they was awarded a black feather to proudly wear in their hats.
Whitewater canoeing experience required for Class 3 rapids, endurance for long trip, high altitudes also recommended.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
7-Day: $700 U.S./$825 Canadian per person.
4-Day: $530 U.S./$625 Canadian per person. Price includes all equipment, food, instructors, charter transportation and/or shuttles into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurants (unless indicated) or transportation to trip rendezvous.
From its source at Lac Dumoine, the Dumoine River drops 500 feet in the form of chutes, falls, swifts and lots of runnable class 2 and 3 whitewater.
Beautiful campsites, spectacular scenery, a flexible pace, whitewater instruction and practice, scouting rapids, and time for photography combine to create what Black and Feather call their Dumoine Seven-Day Holiday.
Fly into Lac Dumoine the first day, meet your tripmates, set up camp and then warm up on the water with some whitewater instruction at a nearby rapid. From there, you continue downstream for six days of incredible whitewater and rugged Canadian wilderness. Time for fishing, sunbathing, swimming and photos is also provided. This is an excellent opportunity for the less experienced paddler to try the Dumoine.
A four-day, extra-long weekend is also available for those who want to enjoy the Dumoine at a slightly quicker pace.
Some experience with canoe required, readiness to take on whitewater, endurance for seven-day wilderness camping and canoeing also recommended.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$1,150 U.S./$1,350 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group equipment and food. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals (unless indicated) or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Mistassibi is a beautiful wild river flowing into Lac St. Jean in the province of Quebec.
You fly into the remote headwater's lake to begin your trip. After a warm-up paddle to brush up on whitewater maneuvers and safety, hang on to your hat because the Mistassibi has lots of action. Miles of runnable Class II, III and even Class IV rapids challenge you.
The scenery will captivate you with rugged cliffs and gentle valleys that are home to moose, deer, black bear and loons, hawks and herons. If you're a whitewater enthusiast, this is for you.
Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids, long trip and remote location.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$785 U.S./$925 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales, freight and baggage charges for group food and equipment. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals (unless indicated) or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Ashuapmushuan is one of the classic whitewater rivers of Quebec. Also known as the Chamouchouane, the "Cham" find its source in the Ashuapmushuan Reserve in the Canadian Shield country north of Lac St.Jean, Quebec.
This is an old Hudson Bay Company canoe route that flows through superb wilderness.
Most of the river has Class I and II rapids. On the riverbanks, glimpses of moose, black bear, heron and loon are common. The Cham and its watershed are currently threatened by a Hydro Quebec project, which would build two huge dams and resevoirs.
Class I and II rapids and wilderness camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,950 U.S./$3,475 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation to and from trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels or restaurant meals, personal transportation to trip rendezvous.
This two-week adventure starts in the town of Nuuk, Greenland's capital, a fascinating blend of Danish and Greenland Inuit culture. From there, you kayak through protected fjords towards the inland ice cap.
You see abandoned Eskimo villages and ancient Nordic ruins. Reindeer, the rare blue fox and Arctic hare add excitement to your countryside hikes as does tundra wildflowers and meadows.
Using both solo and tandem kayaks, you retrace traditional native hunting and fishing routes through fjords and past icebergs to the open sea.
Stamina and skill for two weeks of kayaking and camping in far north needed.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$3,275 U.S./$3,850 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels or restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Where the Arctic Circle intersects with the east coast of Greenland there are tiny clusters of small, traditional Greenlandic villages. Surviving by fishing and hunting, the East Greenlanders are also known for their beautiful carvings.
During this tour, you paddle through the Ammasslik fjords, surrounded by icebergs of all shapes and sizes. You camp in protected valleys and hike through snow-capped mountains and hills. You visit settlements where a traditional way of life still exists and where the delicate skin kayak is still used.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the icepack and weather conditions, your route will be flexible but there will be time to explore this seldom-seen side of Greenland. This is an 18-day trip.
Eighteen days of rugged camping and sea kayaking with uncertain weather conditions.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$4,099 U.S./$4,850 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft and group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
This Arctic sea kayaking expedition takes place in northeastern Ellesmere around the fjordlands of Kane Basin. The paddling window is brief and the constantly changing conditions, beautiful campsites and abundant wildlife make this a memorable two-week adventure.
PrehistoricThule and Dorset sites are well-preserved and allow you to contemplate the experiences of past inhabitants.
The freshness, clarify and raw beauty of the area will etch itself in your memory forever.
The trip is run in cooperation with Ecosummer International.
Long trip, uncertain weather, wilderness kayaking and camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$845 U.S./$995 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Along Quebec's North Shore of the St. Lawrence are the Mingan Islands. Waves, winds and tides have carved these islands into magnificent natural statues and beautiful sheltered beaches.
You spend seven days in July exploring this archipelago with time to climb ashore and photograph the scenery and wildlife. Puffins, seals, porpoises and minke whales inhabit the area. Fresh seafood will supplement your gourmet meals.
Average difficulty for Black Feather trips, wilderness camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$650 U.S./$765 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Imagine being followed by a pod of white Beluga whales as you kayak through a protected saltwater fjord that reaches into central Quebec. It could happen to you on this Black Feather tour.
You have time to explore the tidal shelves, the cliffs, shoreline and the small village of Tadoussac. The blend of sea mammals, inter-tidal life and natural history makes this a trip for the inquisitive naturalist, photographer and beginner kayaker.
Protected kayaking location, six days of camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$500 U.S./$595 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
This is a week-long trip for novice sea kayakers who want to develop skills and learn the intricacies of coastal navigation.
The Georgian Bay Archipelago is a group of rocky islands that were once part of the historic fur trade route. Granite and quartz, clear water and spectacular sunsets, gulls and herons are all your companions during this tour.
Along your route, you stay in ideal campsites that provide spectacular sunsets as you relax after a day's paddle through crystal-clear waters. This tour takes you through untouched corners of Georgian Bay, with only wildlife as your companions.
Black Feather rates this a level 1 - no kayaking experience is required. You should be ready for an active week of camping, exploring and easy kayaking.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$1,100 U.S./$1,295 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous site.
The rugged north shore of Lake Superior is perfect sea kayak country. It is a deserted and remote coastline, dotted with granite outcroppings, small shoals, islands and sand beaches tucked into protected coves.
For two weeks, you paddle along this wilderness coastline looking for ancient "Pit Villages" and Indian paintings etched on cliff walls.
Evening campsites on sand beaches or cobblestone shorelines allow you to relax and absorb the solitude of this lake.
Two week wilderness camping, intermediate level kayaking skills.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$1,999 U.S./$2,375 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
This two-week adventure follows the east coast of Moresby Island in the Pacific Northwest deep into the wilderness at the southern end of the archipelago.
You visit the Haida village of Tanu and the village of Ninstints with its impressive totems. Other tour highlights include Hotsprings Island, tufted and horned puffins and sea lions.
This trip promises a great variety of kayaking conditions. Evening campfires on secluded beaches, beds of deep moss and days full of the unexpected make this a fun trip.
This tour is operated in cooperation with Ecosummer International.
Intermediate kayaking skills, two week wilderness camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,230 U.S./$2,625 Canadian per person. Price includes group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous site in Ottawa, Ontario.
Auyuittuq is the Inuit word for "Land that Never Melts" and Baffin Island's Auyuittuq National Park is dominated by the Penny Glacier, a true polar ice cap.
Baffin Island straddles the Arctic Circle 1500 miles north of Montreal. Glacial offshoots have carved steep-walled valleys, including the mile deep Pangnittung Pass.
You begin this 17-day trek at the Pass where Inuit outfitters transport you to the trailhead of the Pass at Mount Overlord. You hike up the Weasel River where the walking is easy and the mountains rise over 5,500 feet straight up beside you. Summit Lake provides a view of Pangnirtung Pass and Glacier Lake is the focus of some exploration of this Alpine environment.
This is a magnificent spot is fed by three massive glaciers and has Mt. Asgard in the background.
From here, you turn back to Overlord with your Inuit guides. There is ample time for side trips and photographs. Crossing some icy boulder streams requires fitness and readiness on your part.
Relatively strenuous, long trek, wilderness camping, high altitudes.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,375 U.S./$2,795 Canadian per person. Price includes group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
This two-week trek gives you the chance to hike the Auyuittuq National Park from its northernmost trailhead at North Pangnirtung Fjord to its southernmost terminus at Mount Overlord.
You start in the Inuit community of Broughton Island where you'll meet an Inuit outfitter for a komatiq (sled) trip across the winter sea ice to the beginning of the hike. You follow the Owl River Valley through great wilderness, gradually climbing 16,500 feet meters to the top of Pangnirtung Pass with its terrific view of Glacier Lake. You spend some time here enjoying and exploring the Arctic Alpine setting before heading south down the main hiking trail of Auyuittuq National Park.
Five thousand-foot granite cliffs, sheer mountains, cascading waterfalls and myriads of Arctic wildflowers brighten your descent. Another Inuit outfitter will return you to the hamlet of Pangnirtung.
Some strenuous hiking, high altitudes, wilderness camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,800 U.S./$3,295 Canadian per person. Price includes group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
If you are looking for an adventurous hike in the most remote region of Arctic Baffin Island, this trek is for you.
Delivered by chartered plane to a broad valley just west of Tundra Lake, you spend your first week ascending this valley. You trek over talus, hummocks and moraines, wade across an occasional creek, traverse icy bridges and negotiate the crevasses of glaciers.
Each evening, you relax at a panoramic campsite, wolf down a hearty meal and sleep on what feels like the roof of the world.
When you reach the Owl Valley and Pangnirtung Pass, you head towards the Asgard monolith and Glacier Lake, eventually reaching the southern end of Summit Lake and the main hiking trail of the National Park. This is an isolated, rugged and beautiful hike.
Strenuous hiking, high altitudes, Arctic climate, remote area.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$1,499 U.S./$1,775 Canadian per person. Price includes group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Located in the foothills of the Yukon's 19,800-foot high St. Elias Range, Kluane National Park offers Arctic, Alpine and glacial environments.
You hike over rolling tundra and high mountain passes, along turbulent river gorges and along the toe of the 17-mile wide Donjek Glacier. Vivid wildflowers, sweet berries, Dall's sheep, woodland caribou and grizzly bears are among the wildlife found here.
An airdrop of supplies part way through the expedition lightens the carrying load of this 11-day trip. The trek is run in cooperation with Ecosummer International.
High altitudes and strenuous hiking, long trek in remote areas.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$1,875 U.S./$2,200 Canadian per person. Price includes group equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The abandoned 'Canol Road' winds its way for hundreds of miles through the Northwest Territories' mountains. Abandoned camps, trucks, pipe sections and pumphouses remind visitors of the hectic 35-month period during World War II when the mammoth CANOL Oil Pipeline Project was conceived, operated and abandoned. This historical route is now called the Canol Heritage Trail.
You start at MacMillan Pass, situated at the juncture of the Continental Divide and the boundaries of Yukon and the Northwest Territories. A leisurely cycle on your mountain bike takes you to Oldsquaw Naturalist Lodge, your base for the next few days. Day biking trips take you into the surrounding territory where you and your naturalist guide will begin to identify the abundant wildlife.
Next, you ride to the Ingta River and on to Caribou Pass where you set up another base camp. This is not a strenuous biking trip, because most of the biking consists of day trips and a support van totes your gear. There is plenty of time for hikes to nearby peaks and ridges.
High altitudes, active though not strenuous mountain biking.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$4,099 U.S./$4,850 Canadian per person. Price includes group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to the trip rendezvous.
Trek the rugged terrain of Ellesmere National Park, the world's most northerly wilderness reserve. The first leg of your two-week trip takes you northward around the Ad Astra Ice Cap past the Air Force Glacier and into the Ekblaw Lake basin. Great glaciers pour into the lake straight off the ice cap.
You slip through a narrow notch between the Charybdis and Scylla glaciers, then circle back to Tanquary beneath the ice streams on the southern flank of the Viking Ice Cap. Barren ice contrasts sharply with colorful meadows that are home to muskox herds and Arctic hare. The midnight sun lights your journey in the 'High Arctic."
This tour is run in cooperation with Ecosummer International.
Some high altitudes, remote northerly location, long relatively strenuous trek.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Dumoine Canoe School:
$285 U.S./$335 Canadian per person.
Discover Whitewater:
$190 U.S./$220 Canadian per person for 2 days.
$250 U.S./$295 Canadain per person for 3 days.
Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of base camp. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Dumoine Canoe School - DesJoachims, Quebec
Quebec's Dumoine River is the ideal location for learning and improving whitewater maneuvers and safety. You begin on flatwater, reviewing paddling strokes and their applications to whitewater. Then you move to a Class I rapid for various whitewater maneuvers, river reading and whitewater safety.
On the second day, you practice on more difficult Class II and III rapids. On day three, you paddle to the Ottawa River and head down-river to test yourself at Examination Rapids. By the end of the weekend, you earn your Moving Water Level 1 certificate and are ready to enjoy river canoeing.
Discovery Workshops are also offered for novices.
Discover Whitewater in Palmer Rapids, Ontario
These weekends give the novice whitewater paddler a chance to learn the basics of whitewater paddling on the river.
You spend two days at the site, learning safety first, then river reading, whitewater paddle strokes and maneuvers. Small groups allow ample practice and individual coaching.
Day and Evening Courses - Contact Black Feather for locations and other details.
Fundamental strokes, skills and safety techniques are covered on flatwater. Courses are held through the spring and summer. Lakewater canoe trips in Algonquin and Haliburton are also offered.
Novice and whitewater instruction offered, two to three days of camp life.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$200 U.S./$235 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportation into and out of trip locale. It does not include personal clothing and gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
Located in Georgian Bay, Black Feather's coastal kayaking clinic provides an on-the-water introduction to kayaking strokes and maneuvers, as well as safety procedures and rescue techniques.
You also learn kayak touring techniques while exploring the clear water and sheltered shorelines of Georgian Bay.
Black Feather offers weekend Discovery Workshops and day and evening courses for novices. All kayaking and camping equipment is provided.
No kayaking skills required, three days of camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
$2,550 U.S./$2,995 Canadian per person. Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, charter transportation into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Firth begins in the Davidson Mountains in northern Yukon and flows past limestone peaks, through steep, narrow canyons and into the coastal plain of the Beaufort Sea.
Hiking opportunities abound in this region. Downstream, the Firth's valley narrows and rapids from Class II to IV are highlighted by rock gardens, ledges and tight corners. The river slows as it nears the coast and you'll finish the trip by paddling out to Hershel Island, home to unique plant and bird life.
Porcupine caribou, wolves, grizzlies, golden eagles, gyrfalcon, muskoxen, beluga and blowhead whales are some of the wildlife you may see.
This is a canoe trip with raft support. There will be one raft and guide, with room for four rafters who do not need to be experienced in whitewater. There is room for seven canoists with one canoeing guide. The canoe paddlers should be confident, whitewater paddlers prepared for Class III and IV rapids.
This is one of Black Feater's Alumni Adventures, designed for either previous expedition participants or those with apporval of the guide or the director.
Canoists need whitewater experience, rafters do not. Remote location, long wilderness camping.
Courtesy Black Feather.
Lynx Lake to Hanbury River Junction or Hanbury to Beverly Lake, $2,800 U.S./$3,195 Canadian per person.
The complete Thelon River: $3,395 U.S./$3,995 Canadian per person.
Price includes watercraft, group camping equipment, meals, chartered transportion into and out of trip locales. It does not include personal clothing or gear, hotels, restaurant meals or transportation to trip rendezvous.
The Thelon River offers a rich opportunity to travel through classic barrenlands where the wildlife is the real attraction.
Muskox graze at the river's edge and fox, Arctic wolves and grizzlies can be spotted and peregrine falcons and rough-legged hawks nest in the cliffs.
The full route begins at Lynx Lake and winds east and north to the junction of the Hanbury River, then on through the Thelon Game Sanctuary to Beverly Lake.
The first stretch to Hanbury Junction has numerous runnable rapids, from Class I to III, and a few short portages around falls and chutes. The second portion from Hanbury to Beverly Lake consists of easy swifts, Class I and occasionally Class II rapids. Intermediate paddling skills and familiarity with basic whitewater maneuvers are needed.
There are three trip options:
a) Lynx Lake to Hanbury Junction
b) Hanbury Junction to Beverly Lake
c) The Complete Thelon River (Lynx Lake to Beverly Lake)
Intermediate canoeing skills, long trip in remote wilderness.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
$3140 per person. Individuals pay $620 for own room. Price includesdeluxe or first-class hotel accomodations, all meals in China (Western breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner), all internal air and surface transportation and baggage handling, special performances or cultural entertainment, English-speaking guides.It does not include meals outside China, tips, passport fees, personal expenses, insurance, local airport departure taxes, or international air fares.
Spend 17 days in China, visiting major cities and enjoying a cruise on the Yangtse River. Arrive in Beijing your first day. On days two and three, you visit the Great Wall at Badaling and visit one of the tombs of the thirteen Ming Dynasty emperors. You also see the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, pandas at the Capital Zoo and Tiananmen Square.
You next fly to Xi'an and visit its famous archeological attractions. The Tang Dynasty Song and Dance entertain you on the fifth evening. The next day, you fly to Chendu, capital of Sichuan Province, followed by a trainride through the countryside to explore Dazu's Buddhist grotto carvings.
On day eight, you drive to Chongqing for sightseeing, then spend the next three days cruising on the Yangtse. Wuhan and Shanghai are next, with trips to the Bund, Jade Buddha Garden, Yu Garden and crafts exhibitions and a performance of the Shanghai Acrobats.
Hangzhou, China's honeymoon city, is your next stop where you see China's largest silk processing factory. You head on to Guilin for sights and shops, then fly to Hong Kong before returning to the U.S.
All accomodations are in major hotels or guesthouses and unplanned days here and there allow for some rest and individual sightseeing.
Walking, no special skills, endurance for 17 days of travel.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
$2,875 per person. Individuals pay $590 more for own room. Price includes deluxe or first-class hotel accomodations, all meals in China (Western breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner), all internal air and ground transportation, special performances or cultural entertainment and English-speaking guides. It does not include meals outside China, passport fees, personal expenses, tips, insurance, local airport departure taxes or international airfare.
This 18-day tour takes you across northern China, from east to west. You fly into Beijing and take a train to the seaside resort town of Beidaihe. A short bus trip transports you to Shanhaiguan where the Great Wall meets the ocean, then you return to Beidaihe and Beijing for a Peking Duck Dinner.
Lanzhou is your next destination, where the silk route begins at the Yellow River. The provincial museum has relics and artworks and the Flying Horse of Gansu is a feature of local excavations. From Lanzhou, you head to Jiayuguan where you visit Wei Dynasty Tombs and the Jiayu Fort at the end of the Great Wall, just before it goes into the desert.
You next drive over the desert of Singing Sands past remnants of Han Dynasty watchtowers. At Dunhuang, you visist the Mogao Caves containing Buddhist carvings and murals that span more than 1000 years. An overnight train takes you to the city of Turpan, 500 feet below sea level. This Moslem city features desert ruins, mosques, Buddhist caves and Tang Dynasty tombs.
Sunday market in Kashgar is next, then a flight to Urumqi and its nearby mountain meadows. You embark on a cruise of the Li River and return home via to Hong Kong.
Walking and riding tours, general sightseeing for 18 days.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
$2,185 per person. Individuals pay $335 for own room. Price includes deluxe or first-class hotel accomodations, all meals in China (western breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner), internal air and ground transportation, special performances or cultural entertainment and English-speaking guides.
Hong Kong serves as your starting and ending point but Chengdu is your entry to Tibet. Chengdu hosts the poet DuFu's Cottage and various temples.
An early flight the next day takes you to Tsedang in the Shannan area. After an afternoon's adjustment to the altitude, you spend time at a 6th-century castle, the oldest known dwelling in Tibet and one of the oldest active monasteries in the world.
The next day, you drive across the Tsango River to Lhasa where you'll see the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, several monasteries, the Norbulingka Palace and the active craft bazaar. From Lhasa you'll fly back to Chengdu, then on to Hong Kong.
Walking and riding tours, general sightseeing for 9 days.
Courtesy Chinasmith, Inc.
$1,650 per person. Individuals pay $285 more for own room. Price includes deluxe or first-class hotel accomodations, all meals in China (western breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner), internal air and ground transportation, special performances or cultural entertainment and English-speaking guides.It does not include meals outside of China, passport fees, personal expenses, tips or gratuities, insurance, local airport departure taxes or international airfare.
Your 10-day tour in Mongolia includes a visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a restored section of Beijing with scenic views and few tourists.
You also visit the Palace Museum, Lama Temple and Liulichang, the "street of antiquities." Overnight train takes you to Ulan Bator, the land of Genghis Khan. Local tours there include Gandan Monastery, Winter Palace Museum of Bogd-Khaan and the Central State Museum's Dinosaur collection.
You fly to Khujirt to visit Mongolian pony breeding families and see Erdene Zuu Monastery. A day in the Gobi Desert promises visits to the Valley of Eagles to a camel breeding family.
Finally, you return to Beijing via Ulan Bator.
Walking tours, general sightseeing for 10 days.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, given changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, ground transportation, guides and group camping equipment.
Explore the blue lagoons and quiet bays of the Kuril Islands by sailboat and kayak on this REI adventure.
The Kurils link the Kamchatka Peninsula with Japan, forming one section of the great Pacific "Ring of Fire." The islands are dotted with active volcanoes, craters, hot springs and other geothermal features.
You will fly to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin Island and ferry out to Urup Island. You have 10 days to explore Urup, Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan islands, paddling sections of coastline and venturing inland. Crossings between islands are by sailboat.
Currently pawns in a diplomatic stalemate between Russia and Japan, the Kurils present a challenge to all who love wild places.
Sea kayaking skills needed, 16 days of camping in remote area.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, given changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, ground transportation, guides and group camping equipment.
This rewarding 27-day journey features hard riding and breathtaking mountain scenery as you follow the historic Silk Road . You begin in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, one of the world's oldest cities, hosting fabulous architecture and a colorful bazaar.
You ride south, covering about 43 miles per day, through the same wild mountain valleys that Genghis Kahn invaded nearly 900 years ago. Your route on unpaved mountain roads winds from 5,000 feet to cross scenic 13,000-foot passes.
Along the way, you enjoy the hospitalitiy of Kirghiz herders and after you cross into China, the Uygar people. You arrive in Kashgar in time for the Sunday bazaar, when thousands come to sell everything from apples to camels.
Continuing south on the Karakorum Highway, you ride through spectacular canyons with views of Himalayan peaks. You fly home from Islamabad, Pakistan.
REI describes this trip as very strenuous, due to the high altitudes, rugged terrain and daily distance of 43 miles.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, given changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, ground transportation, guides and group camping equipment.
Join REI for their exploratory trek into the Altai mountain range. Your adventure begins with five spectacular days of trekking through Siberia's Altai, a remote mountain region filled with pristine lakes, rivers and glaciers. Bear, lynx, goats, sable and snow leopards roam its forests.
At Tyungur Pass, you cross into Mongolia where much of the population still leads a nomadic life. Camp with the hospitable Mongolian people in their ghers (tent camps).
Your trek ends at Ulegey, on the shore of Lake Achit-Nur. From there, you fly to Ulan Bator, Mongolia's capital, then take a scenic train ride to Irkutsk, Russia. You spend a day on the shores of Lake Baikal, one of the world's largest and deepest lakes, before flying home.
Eighteen days of rugged mountain hiking, remote location.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, given rapidly changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, ground transportation, guides and group camping equipment.
A landlocked Siberian sea, Lake Baikal holds about one-fifth of the world's fresh water and is home to more than 1,000 unique species of plants, fish and animals.
On this mountain bike adventure, you ride a now-abandoned stretch of the original Trans-Siberian Railroad. Starting in Irkutsk, you pass by traditional wooden Siberian houses with elaborately painted and carved shutters. You follow the lakeshore for four days, then head to the taiga. Rolling hills and forests bring to mind a Tolstoy novel, while friendly local people invite you into their homes for fresh milk.
You travel to and from Irkutsk either through Moscow or Khabarovsk. Options are available to travel part of the way on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
Some strenuous mountain biking, high altitudes, remote location.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides, group camping equipment and ground transportation.
Known as the "Riviera of the East," the Crimean Black Sea coast offers good roads and gorgeous scenery for this 14-day bike tour.
Starting at Simferopol, you pedal through the scenic countryside of the grape country. Cycling is interspersed with excursions through medieval cave cities and fortresses that reflect the Crimea's rich and turbulent history. You also stop at lavish palaces and botanical gardens and enjoy frequent dips in the Black Sea.
REI's trips coincide with times of the year when the crowds have subsided and the weather is temperate. A support van carries gear and weary cyclists. Daily distances range from 10 to 35 miles of hilly cycling.
Some strenuous biking, camping for 14 days.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides, group camping equipment and ground transportation.
REI's 14-day trek takes you off the beaten path into the Turkestan Range, the jewel of the Pamir Alai Mountains.
You fly into the village of Isfana in Kyrgyzstan and then drive to the Aksu Valley (9,000 feet). The trek includes two mountain passes, the highest at 14,000 feet, and valleys carpeted with forget-me-nots. Glacial cirques and granite faces remind travelers of Patagonia.
In Uryam and Ashat valleys, you enjoy the hospitality of Kirghiz herders who serve you homemade yogurt and fresh-baked bread.
You also spend two nights in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, visiting mosques and the open-air bazaar.
Some strenuous hiking, high altitudes, rugged camping and remote location.
Courtesy Chinasmith Inc.
Please call Chinasmith Inc. for prices.
You combine ancient and modern history during this thought-provoking tour of Vietnam. Begin in Hong Kong with a two-hour flight to Hanoi where you visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, Revolutionary Museum, One Pillar Pagoda and Coloa Citadel. On a day trip, you travel into the mountains to the Muong Village of Hoa Binh City.
Next, you fly to Danang, a cradle of Vietnamese culture, to see historic monuments, revolutionary relics and the picturesque Five Mountains. Take a morning bus to Hue, noted for its outstanding architectural beauty.
Tour the Perfume (Huong) River by boat and visit the Linh-Mu Pagoda and Tu Duc and Khai Dinh temples before returning to Danang for more fascinating sites, including the Museum of Cham Art.
Two days in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) are next where you'll see the Reunification Hall, War Museum and the former Presidential Palace. Visit the Cu Chi underground tunnels, a resistance stronghold during the war, and Chinatown. Fly to Bangkok for a return flight to the U.S. or take Chinasmith's Thai extension.
Walking, bus and boat tours, hotel accomodations.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes camp meals, guides, ground transportation and group camping equipment.
More than 200 volcanoes dot Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, 29 of them are active.
Climb the highest, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, which towers over this startlingly beautiful region at 15,584 feet.
Next on this REI Adventures itinerary, you go to the Koryakskaya and Avacha volcanoes and climb to the rim of the bubbling craters that last erupted in January 1991.
Bears and hot springs are part of this 16-day adventure.
Strenuous climbing, high altitudes, rugged and remote location.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes camp meals, guides, ground transportation and group camping equipment.
Twelve days of moderate hiking and rafting take you into the heart of the Kamchatka Peninsula. Here, in the Kronotsky Nature Preserve, you explore the magical Valley of the Geysers, the last major undeveloped geyser basin in the world.
Twenty-two geysers and dozens of "pulsating geysers," steam vents and boiling mud cauldrons await you, without roads or other tourists to distract you.
Closed to foreigners for 50 years, the Valley of the Geysers promises adventure for those who love to experience our planet at its wildest.
Birds, many unique to Kamchatka, and occasional brown bears are your company during this exploration.
Moderate backpacking and rafting, rugged and remote wilderness camping.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes camp meals, guides, ground transportation and group camping equipment.
This unique trip combines climbs of Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Ararat with a history-rich journey through the coastal towns of Georgia and Turkey. Both the mountains and the astonishing variety of people and experiences you encounter make this a memorable trip.
Begin with a climb of Mt. Elbrus at 18,481 feet, then hike across Becho Pass, through legendary Svanetia to Sukhumi for sun and relaxation on the Black Sea.
Travel south to Turkey for a starkly beautiful landscape in contrast to the Alpine lushness of the Caucasus.
Dogubayazit, at the base of Mt. Ararat, is a town known for its rugs and silver jewelry. Ararat, an easy walk after Mt. Elbrus, and a tour of Lake Van conclude this trip.
Strenuous climbing, high altitudes, rugged and sometimes remote camping.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Please call REI Adventures for prices, due to changing economies. Price includes meals, guides, ground transportation and accommodations
Enjoy excellent cycling conditions, beautiful scenery and the rich culture of three former Soviet-blok countries during this 12-day tour.
Starting in Warsaw, cycle through scenic countryside, old European towns, villages and gypsy camps. Attend village festivals complete with traditional dancing and singing.
Visits to castles, the Dobsina Ice Caves and a sample of Czech beer add flavor to the trip.
Daily cycling distances average 30 miles. Nights are spent in hotels and inns.
Cycle 30 miles per day, stay in hotels and inns.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $895 per person. Nonmembers: $945 per person. Individuals pay $175 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
How do nine days of self-paced walking in England's Lake District sound? Green meadows, rolling hills, serene lakes and working villages create a satisfying combination of town and country.
Wordsworth, Tenneyson and Shelley all found inspiration here and you will, too.
Starting in Windermere, you choose your route each day and hike to the next town or village. Daily distances range from six to 12 miles, with plenty of interesting stops along the way. Accommodations are in bed and breakfast inns, small guest houses or farms.
This is an ideal trip for families, couples or solo travelers.
Average daily walking distance is 9 miles, nights in inns.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,195 for 11-14 participants, $1,395 for 6-10 participants. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $350 for own room. Price includes meals, guides, ground transportation and accommodations.
The Chamonix Valley in southeastern France provides some of the most spectacular Alpine scenery and mountain biking in Europe. During this nine-day trip, you explore this area, plus the colorful towns of nearby Italy and Switzerland for a pleasing combination of culture and scenery.
From your base in Chamonix, you enjoy rolling descents into wide-open meadows and single-track rides along ridges featuring views of Mont Blanc towering at 15,771 feet. You also take the Roche Brune - a scenic cable car ride - for a lunch in a rustic mountain hut. An old cog railway takes you and your bikes over a hair-raising mountain pass to the Swiss town of Martigny.
You are supported by support wagons and sleep in hotels, with one night spent in a rustic hut high in the Alps.
Moderate biking, high altitudes.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,275 for 10-15 people; $1,350 for 5-9 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $350 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
If you want to experience the grandeur of the Alps at a not-too-strenuous pace, this adventure to Austria's Tyrol region is for you. Your destination is the Stubai Alps, an area south of Innsbruck with 30 peaks towering above 10,000 feet and a wealth of interesting history and culture.
During this eight-day trip, you take easy to moderate day hikes through mountain forests and lush pastures, with side trips to local villages. Special sites include the vintage 1465 pilgrimage church of Maria Waldrast, the smithy museum in Fulpmes and the city of Innsbruck.
Accommodations are in the hotels of Neustif, with one night spent at the Tran-Senn hut. The relaxed nature of this trip makes it ideal for seniors, families and anyone seeking an easy to moderate adventure.
Easy to moderate day hikes, nights spend in hotels.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,295 per person for 9-12 people; $1,395 per person for 6-8 people. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
The Alpine Pass Route is a 200-mile footpath from Liechtenstein to Lake Geneva in Switzerland that offers a rewarding adventure to the energetic hiker.
This 15-day trip features some of the most picturesque mountain scenery in Switzerland.
You take 12 days to cross the route's 14 Alpine passes, the highest of which is 9,180 feet. Highlights include viewing the North Face of the Eiger and Grindewald, the "village of glaciers." The wooded hillsides, unspoiled farming villages, blue lakes and colorful chalets of the valleys balance the jagged peaks and passes.
The hike is vehicle-supported, but steep trails make it physically demanding. Most nights are in official campsites; you camp in the wild for two nights.
Strenuous hike at high altitudes, wilderness camping for long trip.
Courtesy Danes Shotover Rafts.
Courtesy Danes Shotover Rafts.
$89 a day for Shotover Rapids, $130 a day for combination helicopter and rafting ride.
Many expert rafters say the Shotover River in New Zealand is one of the most action-packed whitewater adventures in this country. Access is through the world-famous Skippers Canyon.
After your safety talk at the launching site, you head down the deceptively tranquil upper waters towards the major rapids nicknamed Mother, Fin, Toilet and Jaws by local rafters.
Moving at a fast pace, you head towards the darkness of the 500-foot tunnel then shoot out over the final Class IV Cascade rapids.
In winter, you can reach the launching point only by helicopter.
A family trip down the more serene Lower Shotover River is also available on demand.
Courtesy Danes Shotover Rafts.
$450 PP, excludes airfare to Queenstown. Includes rafting equipment, tents and meals.
The Landsborough River runs through some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. Beginning in Mount Cook National Park, you drift past imposing glaciers, massive 10,000-foot high mountains and miles of pristine forest, shooting some of the most challenging rapids in the country.
Danes Shotover Rafts offers two-day tours of this region. This weekend escape begins Friday when participants meet in Queenstown. Early Saturday morning, you travel by van to Makarora, then continue to the confluence of the Haast and Landsborough rivers to meet the helicopter.
You fly upstream to begin the rafting trip. After a safety discussion, you venture through one of this country's best-kept secrets. After two hours, you have lunch and it's back on the river and into the entrance of the gorge. Around the corner lurk rapids like The Squeeze, Hellfire, Surprise Corner and Bill the Maori.
You pitch your tent at Harpers Flats and explore the area. After a gourmet dinner, you spend the night around a roaring fire.
The next day, you can head downstream on either an inflatable kayak or raft. You conclude the trip at Clark's Bluff, load the gear in the van and return to Queenstown.
You should be physically fit.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,090 per person, not including airfare. Price includes land transportation, lodging, guides and meals.
On this InnerAsia tour, you begin with a day's ramble in Hong Kong before flying to Chengdu and on to Lhasa, crossing what have been called an "ocean of whitecaps," the snowy peaks of the Himalaya.
You spend four days in the Holy City of Lhasa, visiting the Potala Palace, joining pilgrims at the Jokhang Temple and bargaining in the Barkhor, the city's old quarter.
The Kathmandu Road slips over 15,700-foot Kahama La and whirls past turquoise lakes and ice peaks to Shigatse's grand and gilded Tashilumpo Monastery.
After a night near the fantastic ruins of the Crystal Monastery at Shekar, you cross the Tingri Plain. You usually have a picnic at 16,500 feet on Lalung La. Then you begin a drop from the austere Tibetan Plateau to verdant Nepal.
After a night in Zhangmu, you stroll across Friendship Bridge into Nepal and drive to Kathmandu, past terraced fields and amiable villages.
Rigorous touring with a possible half-day moderate trek if road is washed out.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$5,490 per person, excluding airfare to Hong Kong. Includes all lodging, meals, guides and ground transportation.
"The Kangshung was a valley like no other," wrote Ned Gillette and Jan Reynolds in "Everest Grand Circle." "It was a vast, untraveled country, wild and untamed, with no trace of other Western visitors ... certainly one of the most magnificent, unspoiled valleys in all the Himalaya."
InnerAsia's 30-day trip to the mammoth East, also known as the Kangshung Face of Everest, meets in Hong Kong and then begins in Lhasa, the holy city of Tibet . You visit the Potala Palace in Lhasa and after a night near the fantastic ruins of the Crystal Monastery at Shekar you meet Nepali Sherpas.
According to InnerAsia, there is only one other American company offering a Kangshung trek, and only InnerAsia employs fully-equipped Sherpas to transport the amenities of Nepali-style trekking to Tibet.
From Shekar, you drive south to Kharta and begin trekking in Alpine desert. Crossing a 16,000-foot pass, you suddenly find yourself in a subtropical forest, gazing up at the ice citadels of Makalu and Chomolonzo.
About four days later, you enter the Kangshung Valley and the embrace of Everest. You spend a couple days relaxing in the mountain beauty of Pethang Ringmo, where you can picnic or hike on area trails.
Next, you make a loop back to Kharta, crossing the 17,000-foot Langma La, and here you can gaze at four of the five highest mountains in the world, Everest, Makalu, Lhotse and immense Kangchenjunga in the east.
Back in the warm, dry rainshadow of Tibet, you drive to a glorious camp on the Tingri Plain, over the Himalaya to Kathmandu.
Rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
Price to be announced. Includes lodging, meals, ground transportation and guide. Excludes airfare to Delhi.
For nearly 1 billion Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, Mount Kailas in Tibet is perhaps the most revered place on earth.
Writer Edwin Bernbaum wrote, "Kailas opens the mind to the cosmos around it, evoking a sense of infinite space ... The mere sight of the peak has a powerful effect, bringing tears to the eyes of many who behold it."
This InnerAsia journey begins in Delhi. You drive northeast toward Pithoragarh, near the great border peaks of Nanda Devi and Trisul. Then you begin a historic week-long trek through the magnificent landscapes of the Kumauan-Garhwal Himalaya, in the company of pilgrims from all over the region.
You cross into Tibet, long off-limits to Westerners, and descend to Burang, a Tibetan town teeming with commerce from India and nearby Nepal. You next travel by four-wheel drive to Darchen at Kailas' base.
Now you begin a three-day circumambulation of the peak, and experience the awe in which this region is held.
Before heading back to India, you spend two nights at Kailas' companion, mystic Manasarovar, the Lake Created in the Mind of God, on which some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were scattered in August 1948.
Rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,690 PP/DO, includes meals, lodging, guides and ground transportation. Excludes airfare to Hong Kong.
On this tour, you may fall in love with Tibet and want to return again and again to this magical land to hike under the eternal blue sky.
Although distances in Tibet are long and the landscapes are often gloriously barren, InnerAsia has designed a trek with a moderate pace suitable for almost everyone. Less ambitious than other treks, it offers easy walking and excellent scenery.
After a few days in Lhasa, you board four-wheel drive vehicles for a drive to Nam Tso, which at 15,000 feet, is one of the world's highest lakes.
You travel onto the Tibetan plateau, along the magnificent Nyanchen Thangla range. You camp at the great lake and visit Bird Island before driving to Damshung, where you begin your hike to Reting, one of old Tibet's pivotal monasteries, now being slowly rebuilt.
The trek takes you over moderate (for Tibet) passes, through rolling mountains, lush valleys and some rarely-viewed villages. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sparkling hospitality and proud curiosity of the Tibetan people.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,890 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Beijing. Includes meals, lodging, ground transportation and guide services.
InnerAsia's trip across the Khunjerab Pass from Chinese Turkestan to Hunza is brimming with varied topographies and great stories. The trek branches south from the crossroads oasis of Kashgar, following the Silk Road's centuries-old path to the Indian subcontinent.
You gather in Beijing before flying to the mysterious legion of terra-cotta warriors in Xian, the traditional starting place of the Silk Road.
Next you fly to Jade Gate, the last segment of the Great Wall, and Dunhuang's Caves of the Thousand Buddhas.
You take an overnight train from the caves to the genial oasis of Turfan. Then through a gap in the Tien Shan Mountains, you travel to Urumchi, the most landlocked place on earth. The next morning, you picnic at Heavenly Lake, set magnificently beneath 18,000-foot Bogda Ola.
After an immersion in Kashgar's staggering Sunday bazaar, you traverse the breath-taking Karakoram Highway, across the Sino-Pakistani border at the 16,000-foot Khunjerab Pass to Hunza. From Hunza, you drive down the fabled Hunza Gorge to a night at Gilgit, before you fly to Islamabad and home.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,550 PP/DO, includes transportation from Beijing, meals, accommodations and guide services. Excludes airfare to Beijing and from Moscow.
This tour is the flagship of InnerAsia's Silk Road treks. Anchored in Beijing at the start and Moscow at its conclusion, it traverses the heart of Asia, following one of the Silk Road's major branches, skirting deserts, slipping over mountains and crossing exotic borders, including the rarely-visited Sino-Kyrgyz border at the 12,000-foot Turugart Pass.
The roster of cities and sights visited is bracingly exotic: Kashgar, Samarkand, Bukhara, Dunhuang's Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, Heavenly Lake, the Jade Gate, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
This 24-day tour involves rigorous touring, but will provide you an unforgettable trip through Asia.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,690 PP/DO, not including airfare to Hong Kong. Includes lodging, meals, guide services and ground transportation.
Born in Tibet's southeastern province of Kham, Tenzin Choegyal joined the sangha, or monastic community, early in life. Following the Chinese invasion, he fled to India where he, like many exiled monks, entered the secular life.
Today, this urbane, kindly and cross-culturally sophisticated man takes you into the beautiful mountains, villages and monasteries of his youth to give you an intimate and informed look at Tibetan culture, past and present.
This trip offers an even more precious gift, the chance to participate in the rebuilding of the Tibetan culture. During your stay at Tenzin's monastery, Darje, you have a special audience with the high lama, an old friend of Tenzin's. On this occasion, you present him with a portion of the trip's proceeds as a contribution towards the reconstruction of Darje, devastated during China's Cultural Revolution.
You reach Kham by a hairpin road out of Chengdu in China's Four Rivers (Sichuan) province. After a week in Tenzin's homelands, you return to Chengdu for the flight to Lhasa, and then complete an epic overland trip to Kathmandu.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Hong Kong. Includes meals, lodging, biking equipment, support vehicles and ground transportation.
InnerAsia's mountain bike tour from the "Country of the Gods" (Lhasa) to the Wood Temple (Kathmandu) is the pinnacle of any biker's career.
Biking enables you to grab onto the heart-challenging Tibetan countryside and the heart-lifting Nepali hills in a way not available to the passengers whizzing by in buses and four-wheel drive vehicles.
The tour follows a classic route with the addition of a detour by vehicle, which even the die-hard bikers will be thankful for, over the fantastic Pang La. By vehicle, you travel to the fabled Rongbuk Monastery at the foot of Everest's north face.
This is an eminently, if not easily doable trip. As a number of hardy bikers will attest, support and equipment will be first-rate. Altitudes will range from nearly 13,000 feet (topping out at two 17,000-foot passes) with a corresponding variance in temperatures.
After a stay in Kathmandu, you fly to Bangkok, Thailand and then home.
The biking is rigorous.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,990 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Islamabad or from Beijing. Price includes ground transportation, guides, lodging and meals.
This trip begins in Islamabad, Pakistan, and explores the heavenly valleys linking Chinese Turkestan with Pakistan.
After two full days in Islamabad, you journey north to Gilgit for one night, spend two nights in Karimabad, then travel down the fabled Hunza Gorge to Hunza.
You next cross the breathtaking Karakoram Highway, crossing the Chinese-Pakistani border at the 16,000-foot high Khunjerab Pass.
You next explore Chinese Turkestan, first visiting the Tadjik town of Tashkurgan and then travel on to Kashgar, with its staggering bazaars. Next you fly to Urumchi and picnic at Heavenly Lake, set magnificently beneath 18,000-foot Bogda Ola.
You fly to Beijing, where you have two days to explore before heading home.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Beijing. Includes meals, lodging, guide services and ground transportation.
The Dzungaria region that InnerAsia explores on this expedition is called the "pivot of Asia." It is tucked in the northwest region skirting Mongolia, China's Xinjiang province and Russia.
For such a pivotal place, it is appealingly unknown. Now part of China's New Frontier Province, this area is high steppe land, separated from the rest of Xinjiang by the Tien Shan mountains.
After flying into Beijing, you travel on the overnight train to Ulan Bator in Outer Mongolia. After sightseeing, you set out for Ulan Gob in Mongolia's far west.
Next, one of the most unusual border crossings takes you into the former nation of Tannu Tuva, a favorite of collectors of the unique.
You spend four days exploring Tuva, now part of Russia, before heading north to Abakan and your flight to the Father of Apples, Kazakhstan's Alma Ata.
You cross into Dzungaria through the broad Ili Valley, which splits the Altai from the Pamir mountains, and spend two nights in Yining before flying to Urumchi, then back to Beijing and home.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,490 PP/DO excludes airfare to Beijing. Includes ground transportation, meals, lodging and guides.
Remote, odd, lonely Mongolia has a subtle allure for travelers. A lush, green terrain carpets its steppes and everywhere there resonate the hoofbeats of Genghis Khan's Golden Horde, history's most pitiless and successful conquerors.
On this InnerAsia tour, you take a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railroad from Beijing to Ulan Bator, the fascinating capital of the Mongolian People's Republic and home to the world's finest collection of Buddhist art.
You stay in two tent camps, one in the Gobi Desert, the other near Kara Korum, Genghis Khan's capital, once the most important place in the world.
You return to Ulan Bator and board the overnight train for Irkutsk and Siberia's Baikal, the world's deepest lake. It contains 20 percent of the world's fresh water and in places it is transparent to 132 feet.
But it is Baikal's immense beauty that made it the "majestic ocean and holy Baikal" to the Siberians.
From Irkutsk, you fly to Blagoveshchensk in the Russia's Far East, crossing the Amur River into Black Dragon River Province (Manchuria) and return to Beijing via Heihe and Harbin.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,395 PP/DO for May departure and $3,495 for October trek. Includes food, lodging, transportation from Bangkok and guide services.
InnerAsia's Brent Olson, its resident Bhutan expert, designed this tour to give you an unhurried stroll through Bhutan so you can soak up its exquisite spiritual and geographic landscape.
Only recently has Bhutan opened itself to Western visitors (fewer than 2,500 Westerners were granted entry last year) and it steadfastly holds onto its traditions and quietude.
During this tour, you begin in Paro's farmhouse-dotted valley, an almost shocking contrast with the places you passed through to get here. Here you see the green and blue beauty of the countryside, the charming people, the air of acceptance and reverence that molds each structure and each movement.
You travel in modern vehicles, and your lodging is neat, clean and rustic.
Bhutan's national highway takes you east to Tongsa and Bumthang for day hikes in the idyllic Choekor Valley. The tour's easternmost point is the village of Mongar, from which you drive north to Lhuntshi, reached by only a small fraction of the few Westerners who visit this kingdom each year.
You return to Paro, via Ura and the fascinating Gangteng Gompa, for the highpoint of any visit to Bhutan, a walk up to the Tiger's Nest, wonderful Taktsang monastery, clinging to a rocky outcropping.
InnerAsia's fall and spring tours will feature one of Bhutan's unforgettable festivals.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO for May departure and $4,090 for October departure. Price excludes airfare to Kathmandu and from Bangkok. Includes food, lodging, ground transportation and guide service.
Great mystics and explorers would have loved to visit the remote, and previously off-limits kingdoms of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
This InnerAsia expedition begins in Kathmandu in Nepal. You visit the capital's Hindu and Buddhist temples, roam its twisty lanes and joke and bargain with local craftspeople.
From there, you take one of the world's most astonishing mountain flights to the Tibetan Plateau. A short drive takes you to the ancient city of Tsedong, where you spend two nights exploring the Valley of the Kings and Samye, Tibet's first monastery. Then you are off to Lhasa.
Lhasa's Potala Palace is a lyrical monument to the Buddhism that enriches every moment of Tibetan life. You wander its splendor-packed chambers, exchanging greetings with pilgrims and monks tending yak butter lamps. You visit the Jokhang Temple, Tibet's spiritual center, and stroll in the city's old quarter, the Barkhor.
You return to Kathmandu and take another breathtaking flight, past Everest, Kanchenjunga and Chomolhari, from the world's only Hindu kingdom to Bhutan, its only Buddhist one.
While Kathmandu surges with people and commerce, Bhutan is quieter, contemplative and far less visited.
You return to home through Bangkok, Thailand.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,300 PP/DO in spring and $2,400 PP/DO in fall. Price excludes airfare to Bangkok. Includes meals, lodging, ground transportation and guide services.
Bhutan's festivals are exuberant expressions of its Buddhist culture. To attend one of them is to experience Bhutan's joyous essence, according to InnerAsia tour leaders.
This 11-day tour is offered during the spring and fall to visit the largest celebrations.
In the spring version of this tour, you attend the grand Paro Tshechu and in the fall you experience the Wangdiphodrang.
You join hundreds of villagers in their finest handwoven costumes as they enjoy a rollicking carnival and watch mystical, sometimes comical masked dances. On the last morning, the culmination of the religious and cultural year, you witness a rare display of stunning thangka (an appliqued silk hanging) which is four stories tall.
Both trips visit the important villages and historic sites of western Bhutan such as Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. You travel by car or mini-van and have the chance to make some fine day hikes to nearby villages and temples, including a visit to the Taktsang Temple, the Tiger's Nest.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$5,390 PP/DO, not including airfare to Bangkok. Includes transportation, meals, lodging and guide.
This is one of the rarest and greatest of Himalayan adventures offered by InnerAsia. Fewer than 100 Westerners have hiked the thread of trail beneath icy summits to Lunana, an entrancing and remote district in northern Bhutan.
This tour is designed for the fit, intrepid traveler and plenty of rich rewards await those who make the journey.
After flying from Bangkok, you enjoy two days in Paro, which includes a hike up to Padmasambhava's airy Taktsang Temple. You then walk westward, toward Chomolhari, Bhutan's sacred mountain. The trail skirts the Tibetan border and heads north past fields, forests and hot springs, to the village of Laya. Crossing over wild, high terrain, you pass into the Lunana Valley.
Along the way, you ramble through secluded villages, enjoying Bhutanese hospitality and Tibetan tea, keeping an eye out for blue sheep luxuriating in carpets of wildflowers.
After a day of rest in Thanza, (13,300 feet) you turn south and tackle a series of high passes, camping in the crystal air at more than 16,000 feet altitude. Then, you make a gradual descent through autumn foliage to the trek's conclusion at Nikke Chu. You drive to Tongsa, Thimphu and Paro, sampling Bhutan's rich Buddhist culture along the way.
The tour includes rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,095 PP/DO in May and $3,195 in October.
Bhutan's Bumthang Valley is extraordinarily beautiful. Its four high valleys are covered in forests that embrace small monasteries, chortens, traditional stone houses and markets.
Elevations on this InnerAsia trek stay below 10,000 feet, and each day's walk is short and unhurried.
After two days in Paro, Bhutan's capital, you drive to Thimphu's crafts center and then over the splendid Dochu La to Tongsa and Jakar, at the southern end of Bumthang.
This is Bhutan's most sacred valley, hallowed by the visits of Padmasambhava (the great Buddhist master, called Guru Rinpoche or the Precious Teacher) made 1,200 years ago.
The week-long trek takes you through forests and farmlands, over trout streams to remote villages that have not been touched in the past two centuries. Few treks offer such a deep look into Bhutan's delicate and charming daily life.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,795 PP/DO, not including airfare to Bangkok. Includes meals, food, lodging, equipment and guide service.
Shey Gompa, called the Crystal Monastery, lies at the heart of the Dolpo, an enclave of traditional culture and quietude in northwest Nepal.
InnerAsia tours have explored the lower reaches of this region that only recently opened up to Western visitors. Now, the Nepali government has granted InnerAsia permission to continue the trek into Inner Dolpo, to the monastery that figured prominently in Peter Matthiessen's "The Snow Leopard."
"The wistful ring of the wind bell in the light wind is the first sound that is heard here at Shey Gompa," Matthiessen wrote. "There is so much that enchants me in this spare, silent place that I move softly so as not to break a spell."
You begin trekking in Pokhara and hike north into the mammoth gorge of the Kali Gandaki. You are lavished with views of the Annapurnas, Machapuchare and Dhaulagiri. Cutting west and then north, you walk toward Phoksumdo Lake.
This is remote country, even for Nepal. The terrain varies as you walk close to the Himalayan rainshadow. After entering Shey Gompa, you spend a day at the Crystal Monastery. You cross the Saldang La and head down the Poyun Khola to the Bon monastery at Tarap, through crystalline landscapes to the village of Tarakot. From here, you fly to Kathmandu and then home.
Rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,695 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Bangkok. Includes meals, lodging, guide services and ground transportation.
On this "classic" Nepali trek, you explore the highlights of the Annapurna, Nepal's jewel, showing its brilliant facets of culture, religion, varied terrain and beautiful mountains.
The tour begins near Pokhara, in an area well off the normal trekking route. After a few days of hiking, you join the main trail up the Marsyangdi Gorge, through palms and bamboo, halcyon villages and ever-shifting mountain extravaganzas.
About halfway through the trail, you make an early morning push over the Thorong La and descend to holy Muktinath.
From Pokhara, you look up at the Annapurnas from the subtropics. From Muktinath and Jomsom, you view them from the stark Tibetan Plateau.
Now, you head south for the last half of the dramatic circle. You leave the Himalayan rainshadow and enter the rhododendron, azalea and bamboo forests of the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the earth's deepest wrinkle.
You ease back into civilization at Ghorapani and Ghandrung and fly back to Kathmandu after a lakeside night in Pokhara.
Rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$1,890 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Bangkok. Price includes meals, lodging, guides and transportation.
InnerAsia takes you to the villages of Everest during this 18-day tour of the lowlands of that magic mountain.
Everest may be the goal of trekkers in the Khumbu, but their fondest memories are often of the friendly Sherpas, the legendary mountain guides.
Peter Matthiessen has written of the generous guides who "comport themselves with the wise calm of monks."
During the 10 days of trekking, you explore the Sherpa homeland under the benign gaze of Chomolungma, Goddess Mother of the World, following old trails as you amble through villages in search of a stunning view.
Your Sherpa team meets you at Lukla and you're off to Manche Bazaar, where you spend a day acclimating at leisure. Your route takes you to Thame, near the 19,000-foot Nangpa La, which leads into Tibet, to Khumjung, home of many of your Sherpas, and to the otherwordly Thyangboche Monastery.
You return to Lukla, and fly back for two days in Kathmandu.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,590 PP/DO excludes airfare to Kathmandu. Includes transportation, guide, meals and lodging.
This InnerAsia tour explores the various faces of Buddhism. It begins in Kathmandu, Nepal, which is one of the most vibrant centers of Vajrayana, or Tibetan Buddhism.
This form of Buddhism came to Tibet via India. There has always been a fascinating mingling of Hinduism and Buddhism, and nowhere is that more evident than in Nepal.
The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa takes you over the Himalaya to Tibet. Despite this country's troubles at the hands of the Chinese, you see strong evidence of Tibet's almost unimaginable devotion as you visit the astounding Potala Palace, the Jokhang and the huge old monasteries in the Lhasa Valley.
You also drive out of the valley into the countryside, making the stupendous drive over the Khampa La to Shigatse and Gyantse, one of the most "Tibetan" towns in Tibet.
After returning to Kathmandu, you fly to Delhi, India, and Gaggal and drive to the Himalayan hill station of Kharamsala, now the home in exile of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, where you see much evidence of the vibrant, successful Tibetan diaspora.
On your return to Delhi, you visit Tashijong and a number of fine monasteries near Taragarh.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,425 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Bangkok. Includes transportation, meals, lodging and guides.
This lively and varied trip is one of InnerAsia's favorites for those who want an easy tour of the kingdom of Nepal.
You begin with two days of a leisurely exploration of Kathmandu Valley's many lanes, flamboyant bazaars and its medley of naturally beautiful sites. On one of these mornings, you take a mountain flight to Pokhara and the foothills of the sublime Annapurnas for the four-day Royal Trek, created by InnerAsia's Nepali associates for the Prince of Wales.
Never exceeding 6,000 feet, you stay well off the main trekking routes, passing through villages and terraced fields.
Back in Pokhara's Fish Tail Lodge, you drive to the celebrated Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge. Staff naturalists take you on elephant safaris in search of tigers, rare Indian rhinos and gharial crocodiles.
You return to Kathmandu for more sightseeing, shopping and wandering before returning home through Bangkok.
Easy tour and trek.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,550 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Bangkok. Price includes meals, lodging, guides and transportation.
Perhaps no place in the Himalaya has been so hidden and so eagerly sought as Mustang.
This kingdom within a kingdom was nominally integrated into the Kingdom of Nepal in the early 1950s, but its remoteness and its unique history have kept it largely autonomous.
This year, for the first time, InnerAsia is able to offer treks into this culturally intact and austerely beautiful region.
This feudal Buddhist kingdom juts into the stark Tibetan Plateau north of Annapurna. After arriving in Kathmandu, you fly to Jomsom. A few days trek to the north is Mustang, where you spend two days in careful cross-cultural examination.
You can choose a 23- or 17-day version of this tour. The 17-day trek takes you back to Jomsom and by air down to the lowlands. For those who want a longer and more dramatic return, InnerAsia offers a wonderful eight-day trek down the Kali Gandaki Gorge (the earth's deepest.)
This takes you along the culturally rich final section of the Annapurna circuit, from the dry Tibetan uplands down to the lush subtropical forests of Nepal.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,390 PP/DO excludes airfare to Kathmandu. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and transportation from Kathmandu.
InnerAsia searched out and designed the finest approach to the world's apex, Mt. Everest, passing through the untrammeled Gokyo Valley, a festival of glaciers, turquoise lakes and savage mountain scenery.
After a day in Kathmandu, you fly to Lukla. Your Sherpa team meets you and everyone sets off for Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa country's capital village. From Khumjung and Khunde, you head north for Gokyo and climb 17,900-foot Gokyo Ri for views of Everest.
Crossing the Cho La -- Pass of the Wolf -- you enter snow leopard and yeti country. From the high yak pasture at Lobuje, you hike to 18,000-foot Kala Pattar and one of the most enthralling panoramas in the Himalaya.
You return via Thyangboche Monastery. The view from the famous area makes many travelers gasp in wonder. You fly to Kathmandu and then home.
Rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Bangkok. Includes transportation, meals, guide services and lodging.
The China-Burma border, linked by the Burma Road and little else, is one of the world's most untamed regions. This 22-day InnerAsia expedition explores this region, inhabitated by various tribes and graced by a breathtaking landscape.
The 500-mile Burma Road, parts swallowed by jungle, is still the sole overland route from the heartland of Burma into China.
The lengendary wartime road of confrontation stirs the same thrill as it did in 1940 when Nicol Smith demanded, "Who says I can't go on the Burma Road?"
This two-nation trip goes first to Burma (now named Myanmar). You visit Rangoon, the temples of Pagan, Mandalay, Maymyo and the Pindaya Caves.
Though the Burma Road in Burma is absolutely off-limits to Westerners, InnerAsia is working on special permission to take a train north towards the road's southern terminus at Lashio to see the lengendary Gokteik Viaduct.
You fly from Rangoon to Kunming, City of Eternal Spring. It was here in China that the road ended and its laboriously-hauled goods were delivered into the hands of the Nationalist Chinese during World War II.
After a day in the capital of South of the Clouds Province (Yunnan), you set out westward, following the old road course to Dali's 19 peaks and 18 streams. From Dali, you travel deep into the border country, one of China's most ethnically mixed and most remote regions. You next travel to Baoshan and down to the Burmese border at Ruili and Wangding.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 excludes airfare to Bangkok. Includes meals, lodging, transportation and guide services.
There is something thrilling and feral about cities reclaimed by thick jungles and forcibly liberated from their urban restraints.
This InnerAsia expedition explores the lost kingdom of Arakan, a remote city far away from the more popular temple of Angkor Wat. InnerAsia is one of the few companies to obtain a permit to visit this site. Arakan claims a 4,600-year history and was ruled by a lineal succession of 227 princes.
After a day in Rangoon, and a ferry ride to the port of Syriam, you head to Pegu for an optional hike to the Kyaik-tiyo pagoda, perched atop a teetering golden boulder.
You reach Sittwe, the Arakanese capital, by air, then boat upriver to explore the Buddhas and slowly crumbling treasures of one of Asia's most spectacular royal cities.
You conclude the jungle exploration at the magnificent white Sandoway Beach, relaxing in the Bay of Bengal after a trip brimming with wonder.
Rigorous touring with optional hiking and camping.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,190 PP/DO excluding airfare to Bangkok. Price includes meals, lodging, transportation and guide services.
Thanks to "Road to Mandalay" by Rudyard Kipling, Mandalay is forever part of Western culture. Called the Golden City, Mandalay was Burma's last royal capital and the center of much political intrigue and making of history.
You begin this InnerAsia Road to Mandalay tour in Rangoon, the modern capital now called Yangon. Perched on the huge delta of the Irrawaddy River, Rangoon is an unusual Southeast Asian city. It is quiet, caught between colonial and socialist slumber and the rampant energies of its neighbors. It is a fascinating city. You roam through its temples and streets and visit the superb Shwezigon Pagoda said to be 2,500 years old.
Near the capital is the languid seaport of Pegu, now called Bago. Pegu's reclining Buddha is the area's archetypal jungle-shrouded masterpiece. On the Pagan's plains are 5,000 temples glinting in the tropical sunlight. In the afternoon, you wind your way up Pagan's Mount Popa, traditional home of the Burmese spirit gods.
In the hills above Mandalay is Maymyo, a picturesque old British hill station, complete with Tudor houses set on leafy lanes.
After two nights in the Golden City, you make your way back to Rangoon via the floating gardens of Inle Lake in the Shan Hills and the thousand Buddhas of the Pindaya Caves.
Requires moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO, not including airfare to Bangkok. Price includes meals, lodging, transportation and guide services.
This eye-opening trip reminds visitors that Vietnam and Cambodia are complex, engaging, beautiful and deeply rewarding places to visit. They are places "of realities that extend far beyond war," said InnerAsia tour leader Barbara Cohen.
After an overnight stay in Bangkok, you fly to Hanoi, with its museums and tree-lined boulevards. You then fly over the Gulf of Tonkin to Danang and head north by car, along lovely mountain roads to Hue, the imperial and cultural capital of Vietnam, situated beside Perfume River.
Returning to Danang, you drive along the South China Sea to a restful inn at the white beaches of Nha Trang, and a special dinner at the summer house of Bao Dai, Vietnam's last emperor.
The next day, you reach Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). After visits to the Mekong River Delta and Tay Ninh, center of the fantastic Cao Dai religion, you fly to United Nations-thronged Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A short flight up country takes you to Angkor Wat, the epitome of a lost city reclaimed by jungle.
"It calls you silently, irresistibly, day and night," wrote Crosbie Garstin in "The Dragon and the Lotus."
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$5,300 PP/DO, not including airfare to Bangkok. Includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
It has been decades since a trip to the royal cities of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) was possible.
Now, InnerAsia offers a tour to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, Mandalay, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hue, Luang Prabang, imperial capitals, jungle-swallowed cities and plains studded with temples gleaming in the warm and rich Southeast Asian air.
Rudyard Kipling wrote of a golden pagoda near Rangoon, "a golden mystery ... a beautiful winking wonder that blazed in the sun."
Rose Macaulay wrote of Angkor Thom that "it is fantastic, ambushed with ghosts; the erroneous opinions of archaeologists twitter among them like rats."
Luang Prabang, Norman Lewis wrote, "was a tiny Manhattan, but a Manhattan with holy men in yellow in its avenues, and garlanded pedicabs and doves in its sky."
During this tour, you can sample all of these royal cities and sites. You visit old relics and cities and sail to the Imperial tombs north of Hue.
Contact InnerAsia for a more complete itinerary.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,590 PP/DO, not including airfare to Bangkok. Includes other travel, meals, lodging and guide services.
Despite colonialism, communism and war, the Vietnamese have held tenaciously to their culture and arts. This InnerAsia expedition explores the culture and festivals of Vietnam.
In remote areas of the countryside, old festivals were defiantly celebrated and old arts practiced despite government edicts forbidding them.
In the cities, things were more circumspect, but Vietnamese pride and sense of self never faded.
Now that peace and reform are coming to this country, it is experiencing a renaissance of old ways and its festivals are being celebrated with new vigor.
InnerAsia was still putting the finishing touches on this tour early in the year. But it planned travel to capture the spring festivals in Indochina. It expected to visit the Festival of Clear Brightness (Thanh Ming, in homage to the dead), the Hung Kings Festival and the King Dinh Temple Festival, commemorating Vietnam's 10th-century reunification.
Few, if any Westerners, have seen these festivals since the French left Vietnam.
You visit Hanoi, the center of Vietnamese cultural life, and the old imperial capital of Hue.
You make an excursion into the ancient port town of Hoi An, where fine wooden buildings recall the city's trading heritage. You also visit Dong Ho, near Hanoi, famous for its wood block artists.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
Price to be announced.
Rarely have Westerners ventured into the friendly and mysterious hills of Vietnam's northern borderlands. This InnerAsia tour explores the mountainous and strikingly beautiful region.
The Pamir Knot mountain range that begins in China and northern Pakistan spills into the northern crown of Vietnam. The mountain chain peters out south of the Red River Valley and may be the world's longest geographic feature.
The mountains this tour explores have as many names as the ethnic groups that reside in northern Vietnam, including the Muong, Hmong and Thai who are a joy to visit.
You walk in hills that reach a 5,000-foot elevation just south of Vietnam's highpoint, Fan-si-Pan (10,311 feet) by which the range is known.
You walk past emerald rice paddies, riotous growths of bamboo, friendly farming communities and still forests. You stay in village longhouses or tents and your gear will be carried by porters or trucked ahead.
In addition to viewing northern Vietnam, you visit Vietnam's Cuc Phuong National Park, the country's most important and interesting nature preserve.
Moderate trekking is involved.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
To be announced. Contact InnerAsia.
InnerAsia Expeditions is offering a brand-new tour exploring the Ho Chi Minh trail.
During the war with the United States, supplies were carried by hand or by camouflaged vehicle along this trail that weaves through Vietnam and Laos. The supplies fed and armed the communist Vietcong fighting in what was then called South Vietnam.
Contact InnerAsia for more information about this tour.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,190 PP/DO excluding airfare to Delhi. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
This unique trip explores some of India and Nepal's most compelling sights and monuments with game viewing at what is perhaps India's finest wildlife park.
From Delhi, you take the express train to Jaipur, the Pink City that "bustling, monkey-filled, oleander pink, toy town capital of Rajasthan," in the words of Louise Nicholson.
Next, you go to Agra and view the spectacular Taj Mahal. From Agra, you visit the exquisite 10th-century Chandella temples at Khajuraho (where Victorian visitors commented that the erotic carvings were "a little warmer than necessary.")
You go to a tented camp at Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp, where daytime tiger sightings from elephant back are more common than at other game preserves in India and Nepal.
After several days of game viewing, you fly to Varanasi, India's most important pilgrimage site. You catch a flight to Kathmandu and explore that city. You return to the royal capital after a spectacular sidetrip to Pokhara, at the foot of the sublime Annapurna Range.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,090 PP/DO excluding airfare to Delhi. Price includes other transportation, lodging, meals and guide services.
This InnerAsia trans-Himalayan trek offers you a feast of scenic and ethnic diversity. This is a rare Himalayan trek, including rugged, high-altitude crossings from South to Central Asia, through the rarely-visited ancient kingdom of Zanskar.
You begin the tour in Delhi, then fly to Himachal Pradesh. After driving to Manali and reaching the roadhead at Darcha, you begin a 22-day trek into the wildly desolate Zanskar Range. The landscape resembles Tibet, with vast highlands punctuated by even higher passes. Buddhists temples perch on crags. There are small green valleys, cheery herders and prayer flags rippling silently in the wind.
From the top of Kangmaru, you look north into the valley of the Upper Indus, the heart of Ladakh.
Near Leh, Ladakh's capital, you stay at the Ladakh Sarai, a restored Silk Road traders camp where you settle into private yurt tents with nearby private baths.
You return to Delhi and fly home.
The tour involves vigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,450 PP/DO excluding airfare to Islamabad. Price includes meals, lodging, guides and other transportation.
This exploration of the valley kingdoms of the north gives you a comprehensive look at the old kingdoms of the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush in remote Pakistan.
You begin the tour in Islamabad before flying to Skardu, Baltistan's old capital, for a few days of sightseeing. You next drive to Gilgit, covering one of the most dramatic stretches of road in the Karakoram range.
You travel to the Hunza Gorge to Karimabad, capital of the Hunza region. Sir Claremont Skrine wrote of this region, its "villages imbedded in foliage, neat terraced fields overhung by glaciers and icy needle-peaks, orchards perched on dizzy cliff tops and romantic castles built on crags."
In Karimabad, you stay in bungalows on the palace grounds of InnerAsia's friend Ghazanfar Ali, the Mir of Hunza. You wander to old Altit and Balti forts and drive through the dazzling scenery of Hunza's old river kingdom of Nagar.
You next return to the Hunza Gorge, into the Hindu Kush's Kingdom of Swat. You visit nearby Kalash Valleys and the dizzyingly remote Kafiristan, which Rudyard Kipling wrote about in "The Man Who Would Be King."
You conclude this trip by visiting the bazaars of the North West Frontier Province city of Peshawar. You also visit the Khyber Pass and see the fascinating gun-making village of Darra before returning to Islamabad and home.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,590 PP/DO excluding airfare to Islamabad. Includes additional transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
When trekkers and climbers get together and stories begin to flow, the Karakoram's Snow Lake region always surfaces as a favorite place.
The first Westerner to see Snow Lake was Sir Martin Conway, author of "The Alps from End to End." From atop the 16,900-foot Hispar Pass, he looked down at Snow Lake, a snow basin of near ice cap proportions, walled by needle peaks and white mountain islands.
It was a view, he wrote, "beyond all comparison the finest it has ever been my lot to behold, nor do I believe the world can hold a finer."
The mysterious snow field is the crux of one of the most amazing treks in the world. From Snow Lake radiate some of the earth's largest nonpolar glaciers, including the two you follow, the Biafo on the way up and the Hispar on the way down to the Hunza region. The immensely wild, elegant and almost untrekked route takes you through the very heart of the Karakoram.
You begin the tour by flying to Skardu and from there you are driven to Askole, the last gasp of civilization in the Karakoram.
The expertly-led and well-supported trek takes you east toward K2, then up the fabulous Biafo to Snow Lake, over Hispar La and down to Hunza.
Involves rigorous trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,690 PP/DO excluding airfare to Islamabad. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
Like the Grand Canyon and the Taj Mahal, the Khyber Pass exceeds the high expectations levied by legend.
A 30-mile roadway slashed through dry and jagged rock, the pass buzzes with drama.
"Ground into its dust," wrote historian James Spain, "is Persian gold, Greek iron, Tatar leather, Mogul gems, Afghan silver and British steel."
The Khyber's history hasn't slowed any, as evidenced by Afghanistan's recent liberation from yet another invader.
The pass lies in Pakistan's Tribal Areas, which begin not far from the North West Frontier capital of Peshawar. This is Pathan country and no traveler comes through here without an almost dazed respect for those iron-hearted people. You cross into Afghanistan at the western end of the pass and continue to Kabul, and after a day there, deep into the Hindu Kush at Bamiyan.
Next, you head north over Shiber and Salan passes, pausing overnight at Pul-i-Khumri, driving through riveting, uncompromising mountain and desert scenery up to Mazar-e Sharif.
Thirty-five miles from here is the bridge across the Amu Darya that the last Russian troops crossed into what was then Soviet Uzbekistan and safety.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,990 PP/DO not including airfare to Karachi or departure from Tehran. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
This one-of-a-kind tour explores the Persia of Pakistan and Iran.
You begin in the teeming and fascinating city of Karachi and then head north through Sind, along the Indus to Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Mohenjodaro.
Next you go into Baluchistan, across the Kachhi Desert to Quetta, a major garrison city during the Raj. You skirt the Afghan border, head west and enter Iran at Mirjoveh. You skirt the southern reaches of the fierce Dasht-e-Lut to the snowy Zagros Mountains, which you follow up to Isfahan.
Shiraz and Isfahan promise to engross you.
Of Isfahan, Robert Byron wrote, "It has become indelible, has insinuated its image into that gallery of places which everyone privately treasures."
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,750 PP/DO excluding airfare to Moscow or from St. Petersburg. Price includes other transportation, lodging, meals and guide services.
The Fan Mountains are the western whorl of Central Asia's great explosion of mountain peaks and ranges called the Pamir Knot. Almost entirely unknown in the West, they parallel the Silk Road as it works its way out of Kashgar and the Pamirs into the desert oases of Samarkand and Bukhara.
These grand mountains have snow-streaked peaks in the 15,000- to 17,000-foot range. They are host to cobalt lakes, flower-carpeted meadows and semi-nomadic folk bursting with hospitality and pride.
After sightseeing in Moscow, you fly to Samarkand with its boundlessly rich architecture and history. Lord Curzon called Samarkand's Registan "the noblest public square in the world."
You drive into the mountains, traveling east up the Zeravshan River Valley, through Penjikent, a fabled Silk Road gate, and out of Uzbekistan into Tajikistan.
For the next week, you roam these remote mountains, hobnobbing with Tajiks, Uzbeks and a bewildering mix of Turkish people.
After crossing 12,500-foot Dukdon Pass, you descend to Dushanbe, the new capital of Tajikistan. From here, you fly to St. Petersburg and home.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,290 PP/DO excluding airfare to Moscow and from St. Petersburg. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging, animals and guide services.
After a day of sightseeing in Moscow, you enter the old Soviet Union's mountain preserve called the Aksu-Dzhabagly for a horseback tour.
The 290-square-mile preserve lies in Kazakhstan in the Western Heavenly Mountains, north of the historically crucial Fergana Valley. (The Chinese emperor Wu-ti, the most spectacular horse rustler in history, nearly bankrupted China trying to steal the nimble horses of Fergana.)
For a leisurely week, you roam the mountains on sturdy ponies. The reserve's wildlife and plantlife are brilliantly assorted and the scenery varies from meadows to glaciers, juniper forests to open timberline expanses.
One of the trip's highlights will be a visit to the annual Kazakh horse festival, where you witness the archetypal Central Asian game, here called kokpar, in which a madly galloping horseman clutching a headless goat tries to deposit the carcass in a goal despite the efforts of 50 other horsemen to stop him.
You journey concludes in St. Petersburg.
Moderate riding.
Courtesy Japan Tourism Board.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,425 PP/DO excluding airfare to Tokyo. Price includes other transportation, food, lodging and guide services.
"The wise and virtuous inevitably enter the mountains," wrote the Zen master Dogen. "And when sages and wise men live in the mountains ... trees and rocks flourish and abound, and the birds and beasts take on a supernatural excellence."
This elegant trip takes you into unusually close contact with the sacred mountains and priests and practitioners whose lives revolve around them. After a day in Tokyo, you set out for Nikko, a national park set beneath Mount Nantaisan. Nikko's 17th-century Toshogu shrine, built by the third Tokugawa Shogun, is a world masterpiece.
Next, you go to sacred Fuji-san, where you spend two nights hiking near Lake Tamanako.
In the coming days, you walk on Mounts Futara, Omine and Hiei (whose summit monastery is the nexus of the Tendai school of Zen.)
You visit remote, temple-covered Kunisaki Peninsula and spend nights in the Monjusen-ji and Bujoji temples, combining heady intellectual stimulation with deep immersion into the delicate beauty of Japan's sacred mountains.
Moderate touring and hiking.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $745 per person.
Nonmembers : $795 per person. Individuals pay $50 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
This six-day sea kayaking adventure off Washington's San Juan Islands is enjoyable for all levels of kayakers, but it is especially suited for anyone who wants to learn the sport.
The area's cool, clear waters are dotted with numerous islands, rocky bays and diverse inter-tidal zones.
The islands are home to a great variety of marine life, letting you glimpse orca whales, Dall porpoises, harbor seals and river otter. Bird life includes one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the nation, plus 290 other species of birds. Hiking, sunbathing, sunrise or nighttime paddles are also part of the fun.
Contact REI Adventures for information about their new, far more strenuous kayaking tour of the San Juan Islands.
Moderate physical activity, no prior kayaking experience required, camping for six days.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Drawing by Ellen Tibbetts.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo by Dugald Bremner.
From $900 PP/DO for five-day trips to $2,700 for 19-day trips. Airfare not included. Children receive 15 percent discount during summer months.
The dory is a descendant of the original Portuguese fishing boat -- a flat bottomed, splay-sided rowboat with high upturned ends. This rigid boat gives you "the subtle feel of the currents and a frisky ride in riffles that the inflatables wallow over," according to Dories tour operators.
The Colorado Plateau is at the center of the high desert country. For nearly 300 miles, the Colorado River cuts a chasm a mile deep through a rainbow of ancient rock.
Dories offers its Grand Canyon trips in six segments at two different speeds from April to October .
-- The Lees Ferry to Bright Angel Creek segment is an excellent introduction to the Canyon. The rapids progress from small to extra large and cliffs and rock layers provide spectacular views. You pass through Marble Canyon, which offers striking and vibrantly colored cliffs. At the end of a week of floating, hiking and camping, you arrive at Bright Angel Creek -- the deepest part of the whole canyon.
-- Bright Angel Creek to Whitmore Wash takes you into the largest rapids. Then, you have a week of visiting beautiful sidestreams and falls and running the notorious XL rapid, Lava Falls.
-- Whitmore Wash to Pearce Ferry is a good trial expedition for those not sure they're ready for the whole trip. You cross the shattered Hurricane fault zone before heading west into lower Grand Canyon. Rapids are small to medium with a few large ones, depending on water levels.
Other segments are: Lees Ferry to Whitmore Wash, Bright Angel Creek to Whitmore Wash and Whitmore Wash to Pearce Ferry.
You should be reasonably healthy as trips require a certain amount of exertion. In the course of a trip, rapids range from simple to extremely challenging. You don't need to know how to swim as life jackets are provided.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $995 plus $300 for bush plane. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $55 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
Southeast Alaska's isolated Icy Bay presents a dramatic meeting of mountains and sea in an area few people travel. As part of an active glacial wilderness, Icy Bay is one of the world's finest sea kayaking locations.
On this adventure, you paddle and hike through a remote land that is home to wolves, mountain goats, seals and thousands of birds. You see Malaspina Glacier, which is bigger than Rhode Island, and clings to the side of Mount St. Elias, which towers at 18,008 feet.
Overnight camps and day hikes take place along the shoreline. Because of the isolation and unpredictable weather, REI rates this trip as strenuous, even though it is not too physically demanding.
Remote location and unpredictable weather, moderate to strenuous hiking and kayaking.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,295 per person for 13-14 people; $1,495 for 6-12 people. Nonmembers add $100. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
Explore Alaska up close on mountain bikes. This tour takes you to the base of the Alaska Range and alongside glaciers and gorges of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
You start your adventure by cycling along the unpaved Denali Highway across 135 miles of open tundra and in sight of Mt. McKinley (20,320 feet) and other peaks of the Alaska Range. Side roads into the Alaskan bush offer additional challenges.
Next, you head to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, which boasts the highest concentration of peaks over 14,500 feet on the continent. You ride into Cooper River gorge, pedal alongside the Kennicott Glacier, explore mountain roads and pedal to a remote cabin at the base of Mt. Blackburn.
A flexible schedule and support vans make this an ideal trip for cyclists of all abilities.
Lengthy trip, wilderness camping in remote areas, moderate amount of cycling.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Michael K. Nichols.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Bill Bruchak.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories.
$400 for a three-day trip, to $1,500 for a 12-day trip. Prices are per person and exclude airfare. Children receive 15 percent discount during the summer months.
The dory is a descendant of the original Portuguese fishing boat -- a flat bottomed, splay-sided rowboat with high upturned ends. Dories tour operators like this vessel because the rigid boat gives you "the subtle feel of the currents and a frisky ride in riffles that the inflatables wallow over."
Dories offers trips on the Salmon and Snake rivers. The Salmon River winds its way across Idaho, cutting a series of great canyons through the Idaho wilderness. More than 400 miles downstream, it empties into the Snake River in lower Hells Canyon.
The Salmon is the largest undammed river in the West.
The Salmon trip begins at Corn Creek from where the river flows westward. You float along crystal clear mountain streams, hike to high mountain meadows exploding with wildflowers and continue to an abandoned trading post. Observe moose feeding on lush grasses and bighorn sheep that sometimes walk through camp on their way to the river for a drink. After seven days (five days on June's high flows), the main Salmon trip ends at Riggins.
The Hells Canyon trip takes six days. The towering walls of Hells Canyon are not as sheer as those of the Grand Canyon, but they are much higher. Vigorous rapids, sparkling side streams, sand beaches, great swimming, fishing and hiking are all part of this tour.
You should be reasonably healthy as trips require a certain amount of exertion. In the course of a trip, rapids range from simple to extremely challenging. You don't need to know how to swim as life jackets are provided.
Courtesy Japan National Tourist Organization.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,125 PP/DO excluding airfare to Tokyo. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
Floating above Japan's manicured farms and massive cities is the dazzling wilderness of the Kita, also known as the Japanese Alps. This InnerAsia tour features a lovely, five-day ramble in these moderately elevated mountains.
Walking through graceful forests, carrying only daypacks, you stay overnight in a series of elegantly-provisioned huts, sharing delightful meals with your Japanese fellow hikers, "a boundlessly and contagiously enthusiastic lot," according to one roamer of these mountains.
You can make an optional ascent of Mount Hotaka for views of Mount Fuji and later you visit Takayama, a village celebrated for its old-fashioned sake making, pottery and delicate woodcarving.
Taking the famous bullet train to Kyoto, you settled into an exquisite ryokan with two tranquil inner gardens.
Optional day hikes include a trip to Nara and walk in Kyoto's bamboo forests.
Easy hiking with optional mountain ascents.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $645 for 9-15 people; $695 per person for 6-8 people. Nonmembers add $50. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
This seven-day, off-road ride takes you deep into the Monongahela National Forest, with scenery ranging from primordial forests to panoramic vistas.
Starting in Slatyfork, your route winds its way to the Canaan Valley, covering 25 to 30 miles a day on old logging roads, rail trails and single-track. Along the way, you can cool off in fresh mountain streams or soak in a hot tub at night.
REI's expert guides can help you improve your cycling techniques and fill you in on the fascinating tales of this history-rich area.
Accommodations are in rustic cabins, historic inns and bed-and-breakfast inns. Home-cooked gourmet meals and support vans make the trip a pleasure.
Moderate mountain cycling, accommodations in cabins and inns, support vans carry gear.
Courtesy Japan National Tourist Organization.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,285 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Tokyo. Includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
This marvelously varied InnerAsia tour explores the Japan of the old wood-block prints, including green plains dotted with farmhouses and rice fields, misty mountain valleys and craggy coastlines.
You see the artistry of Japan's rural carpenters whose response to a complex landscape of mountains, sea and plain continues to inspire artists and architects today.
You begin in Tokyo, then set out for the Japan Sea, staying in village guest houses. You meet architects, craftspeople and scholars devoted to the preservation of traditional Japan.
You then take the ferry to Sado Island, a center of dance, crafts and taiko drumming. You wander in the island's Nichiren temple, stay with a celebrated puppeteer and visit the 400-year-old Hojo family home, a national treasure.
You end the trip in Kyoto, which continues to be the repository of Japan's ancient tradition, religion and high-flown patriotism, according to travel writer Jan Morris.
You stay in a 200-year-old guest house in Kyoto and explore the ancient capital's imperial villas, temples and exquisite Zen gardens.
Easy touring.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $595 per person for 8-12 people; $795 per person for 5-7 people. Nonmembers add $50 per person. Individuals pay $50 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
The White Rim Trail in Utah's Canyonlands National Park is a classic all-terrain ride through stunning scenery.
Starting at Neck Ranger Station at 6,000 feet, you cycle down the Shafer Trail to White Rim Trail (4,000 feet). Named for its distinctive sandstone, the White Rim Plateau affords beautiful views of the Colorado River and Island in the Sky region.
Paced at 10 to 25 miles a day, with support vans carrying gear, this is an ideal trip for both beginner and veteran cyclists. The spectacular scenery will please all and numerous photo stops alllow you to record this satisfying adventure.
Some strenuous cycling and high altitudes, 10-25 miles per day.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $625 per person for 8-10 people; $725 per person for 6-7 people. Nonmembers add $50 per person. Individuals pay $30 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
What better place to learn backpacking skills than in the Olympic Mountains of northwest Washington? This week-long trip takes you through a diverse environment ranging from temperate rain forest to open Alpine terrain.
You hike up to eight miles per day, with one layover day for relaxing around the camp, swimming or hiking at a nearby peak.
REI's guides discuss skills such as minimum impact camping, outdoor cooking (not the freeze-dried variety!), navigation and safety procedures. Group participation and teamwork are stressed.
Bring your camera to capture some remarkable waterfalls, lakes, mountain peaks and snowfields.
Planned for beginning backpackers in good physical condition, six days of camping, hiking up to eight miles per day.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Dugald Bremner.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Warren Case.
$786 PP/DO, excludes airfare. Children receive 15 percent discount during the summer.
The dory is a descendant of the original Portuguese fishing rowboat -- a flat bottomed, splay-sided rowboat with high upturned ends. A rigid boat gives you "the subtle feel of the currents and a frisky ride in riffles that the inflatable (vessels) wallow over."
One of the many trips offered by Dories tour operators is a six-day trip on the Owyhee River. The environs of the Owyhee have been compared to Bryce Canyon, but the Owyhee has a whitewater riverway that you can travel in a boat. Colors alternate from the whites, yellows, browns and reds of the John Day Formation to glistening black bluffs of basalt with pure springs and waterfalls.
Erosive forces have brought agates and other gemstones down to the beaches, creating a rock-hound's paradise. Wildlife is bountiful and rapids are plentiful.
Owyhee is an old pronunciation of Hawaii. In the early 1800s, a group of Hawaiian fur trappers, "Owyhees," perished under mysterious circumstances and this river was named for them.
You should be reasonably healthy as trips require a certain amount of exertion. In the course of a trip rapids range from simple to extremely challenging. You don't need to know how to swim as life jackets are provided.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $2,700 per person for 6-9 people. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
For this strenuous and serious attempt of the summit of North America's highest peak, REI Adventures has teamed up with the expert guides of Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.
The challenges of Alaska's Mt. McKinley are more related to glacier travel, weather and high altitude than to technical expertise. While the Alpine scenery is spectacular, the combined effect of cold, wind and altitude makes this one of the most hostile climates on earth.
You ascend via the West Buttress, the most popular route. You must be familiar with various snow and ice techniques. You undertake a steady, gradual ascent, with special emphasis on proper acclimitization of all expedition members and keeping a proper mental attitude.
Thr trip begins in Anchorage and lasts approximately 23 days.
Extremely stenuous climb, hostile climate, very high altitudes. Familiarity with various snow and ice techniques is required.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,685 per person.
Nonmembers : $1,785 per person. Individuals pay $240 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
Enjoy the wondrous scenery of the Himalaya in the ancient Kingdom of Gorkha, a fascinating area that few Westerners visit.
Pair that excursion with a visit to the lowlands of Royal Chitwan National Park to track and photograph big game. What a trip!
You begin your 17-day trip with two days of sightseeing in Kathmandu, then head west to the Himalayan foothills and the land of the Gurungs where the renowned Gurkha regiments of the British army originated.
Trek through deep river valleys and over hills forested with rhododendron trees up to 45 feet high. All the while you enjoy superb views of the world's highest peaks.
Royal Chitwan offers dramaically different scenery. Guided by a local naturalist, you ride elephants and walk through a jungle that is home to rhinos, deer, wild boars, sloth bears, tigers and the rare Garial crocodile.
Moderate physical exercise, 17 days in semi-remote areas.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,995 per person for 11-16 people; $2,245 per person for 6-10 people. Nonmembers add $100 per person. Individuals pay $390 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
Explore the Chinese countryside the same way the Chinese do -- on bicycles. This popular trip combines the scenery of Guilin with plenty of one-to-one exchanges with ordinary Chinese people.
You cycle through scenic countryside between Guandong Province and the Guangxi Autonomous Region, an agricultural area in southern China. Your destination is the world-famous landscape of Guilin, whose limestone towers create one of the most exquisite areas in all of China.
REI has chosen a new route for 1993, taking you through areas seldom visited by Westerners. Traveling by bike allows you to meet the friendly Chinese people on farms, in small villages and in rural markets.
Ride at your own pace. A support van totes your gear and gives you a rest if you want one.
Moderate physical exertion, 17 days of cycling with support van. Semi-remote location.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,830 per person.
Nonmembers : $1,930 per person. Individuals pay $220 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
This very spectacular 20-day trip takes you to the mountains and monasteries of the Mt. Everest region.
Starting in Lukla (9,200 feet), you trek through beautiful rhododendron forests to Namche Bazaar, a colorful Sherpa village where yak herdsmen, Tibetan traders, Rai and Mugar porters, Sherpas and Sherpani bargain and mingle at Saturday's market. You might be invited to stay in a Sherpa home.
Other highlights include visits to the Thyangboche and Thame monasteries and a sunrise walk up to 15,500 feet to view the Himalayan range.
In spring, the blooming rhododendron forests are unforgettable. In fall, trips may include a visit to the Mani-Rhimdu festival at Thyangboche monastery.
Moderate hiking, high altitudes, remote location, long trip.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Dugald Bremner.
Courtesy Northwest Dories, Grand Canyon Dories. Photo Rudi Petschek.
$619 per person, airfare excluded. Children receive 15 percent discount during summer months.
The dory is a descendant of the original Portuguese fishing dory -- a flat bottomed, splay-sided rowboat with high upturned ends.
One of the many trips offered by Northwest Dories is a five-day trip on the Grande Ronde in northeast Oregon. You launch through a wild, wooded gorge where the Wallowa meets the Minam. The Wallowa quickly flows into the Grande Ronde. You are now far off the beaten path amidst the Blue and Wallowa mountains.
You cross into Washington, pass the tiny town of Troy, then drift back into the wilderness.
It's extremely fast water all the way.
You should be reasonably healthy as trips require a certain amount of exertion. In the course of a trip, rapids range from simple to extremely challenging. You don't need to know how to swim as life jackets are provided.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,900 per person for 10-15 people; $2,160 per person for 5-9 people. Nonmembers add $100 per person. Individuals pay $240 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
From the highest mountains in the world to flat plains, Nepal offers a network of roads perfect for mountain biking. Then, you spend three days on a jungle safari in the Royal Chitwan National Park for an exciting contrast.
You begin by cycling on the backroads of Kathmandu Valley where you see Buddhist and Hindu temples and village farm life. The Daman Pass provides thrilling views of eight of the world's 13 highest peaks.
From here, you descend 7,500 feet to ride the flat plains of the Terai and through one of Asia's richest wildlife areas. The Chitwan National Park is home to Bengal tigers, sloth bears, rhinos and more than 300 species of birds. Travel is by jeep, elephant and river dory. Upon reaching the town of Pokhara, cycling is mixed with day hikes into the mountains.
A support vehicle carries your gear and provides an optional rest when you need it.
Mountain cycling for 20 days, high altitudes, remote areas.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,360 per person.
Nonmembers add $75 per person. Individuals pay $260 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
This nine-day adventure in southern Thailand's limestone karst islands lets you kayak among "hongs" and bays just recently discovered in 1990.
Karsts are vertical cylinders hundreds of feet high and covered with dense vegetation. Hongs are rooms within the karst formations that are only accessible through tidal sea caves. More than 25 plant species have recently been discovered growing here.
No experience with kayaks is necessary, just enthusiasm and respect for a natural phenomenon millions of years-old.
You camp on islands, swim and enjoy wonderful Thai food. Bring your camera.
Moderate physical activity, semi-remote location, nine days of camping.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,390 PP/DO excluding airfare to Istanbul. Includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
This tour gives you Turkey at its most unexpected, with sparkling evergreen forests, snow-streaked mountains, meadows carpeted with wildflowers and villagers dancing to the music of bagpipes.
After a day in Istanbul, you fly to Cappadocia, with its surreal fairy chimneys, cave churches and underground cities. From Ankara, you drive north to Erzurum where you begin a six-day trek through the Kackar Mountains, known in the West as the Pontic Alps, a rarely-visited range that emanates out of the Caucasus in nearby Georgia.
You hike in comfort, packhorses carry your gear and affable crews set up tents and prepare meals.
The green terraces of the Kackar's lower slopes are reminiscent of Nepal, and the lakes, forests and jagged peaks of the higher elevations recall Switzerland.
You visit with villagers, explore ruins of churches and forts and listen to the campfire songs of the nomads in the evening.
The trek ends with a soak in the hot springs at Ayder. Then you drive to the Black Sea and Trabzon and journey to Istanbul by air, with one last night in that magical city.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $2,355 per person.
Nonmembers : $2,455 per person. Individuals pay $220 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, camp meals, guides and ground transportation.
REI's mountain biking adventure takes you to Ladakh, a mystical land of holy rivers, towering peaks and picturesque monasteries in India. You arrive just in time to watch a nearby colorful Tibetan Buddhist festival.
You begin with a dazzling one-hour flight from New Delhi, over the Himalayan range to the ancient market city of Leh (at 12,000 feet), a virtual living museum of the timeless Silk Road.
Your mountain biking is Sherpa supported. Because of the elevation, you ride no more than 25 miles per day. On one unforgetable ride, you descend 3,500 feet through a surreal, moon-like landscape. Other highlights include visits to Ladakh's fascinating monasteries.
The 23-day trip is strenuous and at high elevation.
High altitudes, strenuous biking, remote camping.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,490 PP/DO, not including airfare to Istanbul. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation, yacht and guide services.
The best way to experience Turkey's idyllic southern shore -- the Turquoise Coast of the Mediterranean -- is by sailing on a traditional Turkish gulet, moving with the sea and orange-scented winds.
During this InnerAsia tour, you can drop into forested beaches and calm lagoons,and roam through seaside villages and evocative ruins.
From Istanbul, you fly to the lovely port of Antalya, where your boat, the Nurten, is waiting. You spend 12 days on board, 10 of them sailing along the coast, making day trips to archeological sites, hiking to the fabled Chimaera and through pine forests to Termessos.
The pace is soothing, offering time to swim, snorkel, windsurf and barbecue on soft beaches. You spend the velvety nights aboard the yacht.
Along the way, you explore sublime Oludeniz's hidden, forested lagoon, and drive through fragrant forests and fertile valleys to the ruins of Xanthos. You also visit the partly-submerged tombs at Kekova.
Easy touring, sailing and optional hiking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$5,150 PP/DO, not including airfare to Moscow or from Istanbul. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
InnerAsia's second Silk Road tour focuses on the middle region of this famous road, concluding in the ancient capital of Byzantium.
This ancient empire was so in love with silk that it spent centuries trying to break China's fanatically-guarded secret of sericulture - cultivating silkworks to make silk.
After an overnight stay in Moscow, you fly south to Turkmenistan and the 2,000-year-old city of Merv. This was the 12th-century capital of the first of the great Turkish dynasties, the Seljuks.
Following a stay in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan's capital, you cross into Iran and drive toward the Caspian Sea, tracing the Silk Route as it traveled to Byzantium and Rome. You spend two nights in Teheran, then head west to Tabriz and make a side trip to Ardabil on the Caspian Sea.
Entering Turkey, you drive to Dogubeyazit across the great Anatolian Plain in the shadow of Mount Ararat.
You visit Lake Van and the exquisite Ishak Pasha Saray, and make your way via Diyarbakir, Mount Nemrut and Adana to Istanbul and home.
Rigorous touring.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
$2095 PP/DO, not including airfare. Includes accommodations, permits, guides, and meals.
If you are in search of more animals and fewer tourists, this is the trip for you. On this Kenyan safari, you view a great variety of animals, environments and cultural experiences. You can, hike, camp in rustic and comfortable "tented" accommodations. You are accompanied by skilled guides, cooks and camp staff.
Although walking is not permitted in some of the parks and reserves, in others you explore on foot and walk among the animals, meet the locals and enjoy very interesting campsites. You visit Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Loita Plains, Mt. Kenya, Samburu/Buffalo Springs Reserves and Nairobi Park.
Trips are limited to eight to 10 participants.
Trip extensions are available on the Kenyan coast that include diving at Malindi and sailing in a dhow (an Arab sailing vessel with a triangular sail) around the islands near Lamu.
$2,660 PP/DO, not including airfare to Lugano. Price includes other transportation, food, lodging and guide services.
During this rare InnerAsia hiking expedition, you enjoy a heady dose of the Italian lakes' serenity before you hike into Switzerland's glacier-rimmed Engadine Valley.
You begin this tour in Lugano, Switzerland, and take a fine walk in the forests and villages above the blue shores of the Lago di Lugano. Here you enjoy the first of many hearty country lunches.
A private boat takes you east into Italy for the walk to Lake Como's Menaggio, stopping at an excellent village trattoria along the way. After boat tours and strolls around and about Como, you take a train north to Chiavenna, the ancient key to commerce with northern Europe.
The next day, you hike beside the glacier-fed Mera River to the mountain town of Crana, accessible only on foot.
The hike from Chiavenna to the Engadine valley region is one of Europe's classic hikes. You walk from the high Alpine town of Soglio up the Bregalia Valley to the foot of Maloja Pass.
You continue into Engadine (by bus or foot, depending on your mood) for a couple days of rambling and hiking, including a visit to St. Moritz.
Moderate hiking and touring.
Courtesy Norwegian Tourist Board.
Courtesy Norwegian Tourist Board.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,975 PP/DO excluding airfare to Oslo. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
This InnerAsia tour was crafted to get you off the rutted tourist tracks in Norway and into a culture and country that deserves careful investigation.
InnerAsia returns to Europe every year looking for places that have not yet been discovered. In Norway, you find an amazing mix of wildness and well-ordered civilization. The Norwegians are a magnificent people, and they have created a society in which you feel free and easeful.
Karl Baedecker praised them for their "sincerity, honesty and freedom from conventional cant."
Your itinerary takes you into close and meaningful contact with fishermen, farmers and villagers on Norway's back roads and little-visited islands.
You will hike and bicycle in various areas, and walk through glacier-covered areas. You will stay in wonderful country inns, enjoying the long days of the northern summer.
Norway's deep and dramatic fjords and jewel-like lakes are matchless on earth.
Moderate touring with hiking and biking.
Courtesy Journeys International, Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International, Inc.
$1095 PP/DO excluding airfare. Price includes accommodations, permits, guides and meals.
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, a mountain whose classic beauty and physical challenge could make this trip the experience of a lifetime. Although this climb can be attempted by anyone in reasonably good physical condition, not everyone reaches the 19,200-foot summit.
You spend five days sleeping in mountain huts, and ascend the summit on the fourth day. After a good meal, briefing and a night's rest in Marangu Hotel, you begin your climb with guide, porters and full provisions.
You also have the option of ascending the less-traveled route by way of the Shira Plateau. This option can be organized for parties of four or more.
Neither route to the peak of Kilimanjaro requires technical climbing. The best seasons for Kilimanjaro climbs are July-October and January-March, but trips are available year-round.
Extensions are also available to Zanzibar, a charming island in the Indian Ocean off the Tanzanian coast, where you enjoy an exotic and idyllic interlude from your continental travels.
Strenuous hiking, high altitude, steep slopes, camping.
Courtesy French Government Tourist Office.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,950 PP/DO excluding airfare to France. Price includes food, lodging, ground transportation and guide services.
There is a primitive quality to the Pyrenees, a mysteriousness even the Alps can't match, say InnerAsia Expeditions tour organizers.
The Pyrenees were the shelter of covens of witches who were said to control the fates of the Spaniards and French in the hills below them.
On this extraordinary hut-to-hut hike, you get into the very heart of the mountain chain, make an ascent of its second-highest peak (Pic Posets at 10,969 feet) and enjoy easygoing contact with uncynical mountain villagers.
You begin walking south of the train station of Saint Lary Soulan. For the next 11 days, you average five to seven hiking hours a day at altitudes in the 5,000- to 9,000-foot range. The huts are well stocked and cheery and the food along the way is very filling.
The landscape is surprisingly vast, punctuated by some wonderful lakes and sharp peaks. You hike in France's Pyrenees National Park and the Neouvielle Massif, a nature reserve, and in Spain's High Aragon.
Moderate touring and hiking.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy Tourist Office of Spain.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,990 PP/DO excluding airfare to Madrid. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
During this tour of the old kingdom of the Moors, you spend eight days in once-Moorish Andalusia in Spain.
You visit Granada and Cordoba's Great Mosque and you spend wonderful days hiking in the wooded hills and valleys of the Alpujarras.
Next, you ferry across the straits of Gibralter to Tangier in Morocco. This is the community Truman Capote called his beloved "ragamuffin city." You take a leisurely tour south, spending nights and ambling your days away in Chaouen, Fez, Meknes and the proverbial suks, madressah, mosques and mountain views of Marrakech.
Next you drive up to the Atlas mountain village of Imlil -- near 13,600-foot-high Toubkal -- for a day hike in the piercingly clear air of North Africa's fabled heights.
Moderate touring and hiking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,990 PP/DO excluding airfare to Great Britain. Includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
The Border Country of Northumbria, which this InnerAsia tour explores, is England's least populated region. It is so hidden and so wild the Scots tried and failed for 1,500 years to seize it.
"Heatherland and bentland, land of singing waters ... the land of my delight," wrote poet Wilfrid Wilson Gibson.
This region is breathtakingly beautiful and is an ideal place for rambles that most visitors to England's countryside vow to take.
After a night in London, you take the train north to Newcastle and drive by minibus to the 11th-century Alnwick Castle, perhaps stopping for a pint at the famous Dirty Bottles Pub.
You continue to a fetching white-washed inn at the North Sea village of Alnmouth.
Your hikes from Alnmouth take you along the coast to Dunstanburgh Castle, the great bird sanctuary of the Farne Islands, the cliff-top town of Bamburgh, to Holy Island and the Cheviot Hills.
From a base in Rothbury, in the Simonside Hills, you walk along Hadrian's Wall, then on to Alston for more hiking.
Easy touring and hiking.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,495 per person for 10-14 people; $1,595 per person for 8-9 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $195 for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the unique wonders of the world. On this 13-day trip, REI takes you to some of the finest diving and kayaking spots, then inland to explore the jungles of Eungella.
Base camp for diving is a spacious 65-foot motor/sailing ketch that takes you each day to a different underwater community on the reef. Experienced snorkelers and certified scuba divers can head down on their own, while novices may want to take an optional introductory dive course. The more adventurous can explore underwater canyons and deeper water patrolled by giant groupers, rays and huge shoals of fish. At night, you anchor in quiet lagoons.
Next, you head to the Eungella rain forest, a tropical paradise of orchids, waterfalls, dense ferns and jungle trees. On relaxing daily walks, you may see many species of unique tropical birds and marsupials. You also take a side trip to Finch Hatton Gorge, with its mountain-fed waterfalls and natural swimming pools.
Accommodations are at the renowned Eungella Chalet. Trips begin with some sightseeing and a day of kayaking in the Whitsunday region resort town of Airlie Beach.
Beginners and experienced divers and snorkelers welcome, easy hiking, nights spent aboard ketch or at chalet.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
$2,400 PP/DO excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Although Bolivia is one of the least visited Andean countries in South America, its Cordillera Real mountain range offers superb Alpine climbing at moderate to high altitudes.
The main climbing objectives of this trip are the Little Alpamayo, Huayana Potosi and Illimani peaks.
You fly to the city of La Paz and visit Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Then you attempt your first two mountaineering objectives. Little Alpamayo's summit pyramid provides steep and exposed climbing on slopes up to 50 degrees. It is one of the world's classic Alpine climbs. You also climb Huayana Potosi, where the climbing is more moderate and provides good opportunity to acclimatize.
You have a rest in La Paz before setting out for Illimani. You set up camp on the mountain before attempting the exposed summit ridge, which offers some of the finest views in the Andes.
This trip provides an opportunity to make three major ascents in one trip. The Bolivian weather is usually good. You will be free from the rigours of more complicated expeditions and the crowds associated with more popular mountain areas.
Mountaineering experience necessary.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $1,545 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
You fly from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody and continue by private bus to your base in the Baksan valley. For a week, you trek around the main Caucasus range through the Mestia and Betcho passes. These glaciated passes offer superb Alpine scenery.
After a day of rest in the valley, you take a cable car up to the snow line and walk to the Pruit 11 refuge, a large Alpine hut that serves as your base for the next few days as you climb Mt. Elbrus.
Although the climb is technically simple, requiring no more than snow plodding, it is a long way up and the effects of altitude make it hard work.
You return to Mineralnye Vody and fly to St. Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You have two full days to explore the city and visit sights such as the Hermitage museum and the palaces of Pushkin and Petrodvorets.
Trekking in the Caucasus is certainly more demanding than most Nepali treks. The route over the Betcho and Mestia passes involves some very rough walking and roped glacier travel. The ascent of Elbrus, while not requiring any particular technical skills, is long and arduous. It requires fitness and stamina to make it to the summit.
Mountaineering experience is required.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,590 PP/DO excluding airfare to Vienna and from St. Petersburg. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
John Updike has written that in America and Asia, "...time passes. In Europe, history occurs."
You visit the headwaters of one of history's greatest tidal waves that is taking place right now in Europe. You look at high tide marks, ancient glories, recent pains and current rebirths.
First you visit Vienna, a city that Alan Whicker wrote, "knows that an illusion which makes you happy is better than a reality which makes you sad."
After visiting a private castle on the Danube, you cross into Hungary where you learn that, "to be a Hungarian is a permanent joy."
You amble about in some of the newly-free country's past glories, including Budapest.
Then, you visit Prague in the newly-formed Czech Republic, and a few magnificent castles. Next you fly to Poland, the proud standard bearer of freedom.
You next visit St. Petersburg. Pushkin wrote of this "young, resplendent, gracious city, sprung out of the dark mire."
George Kennan wrote, "This is one of the most poignant communities of the world ... I know that in this city (has) been deposited a portion of my own capacity to feel and love."
Moderate touring.
Courtesy Greek National Tourist Organization.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,990 PP/DO excluding airfare to Istanbul. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
InnerAsia's third version of its Silk Road tour explores the route from Turkey to Albania.
Your starting point is the Second Rome, also known as Constantinople or Istanbul. You drive south, skirting the Sea of Marmara to Green Bursa, the magnificent first capital of the Ottomans and the center of old Turkey's silk industry.
About 530, two Nestorian monks smuggled some silkworms out of China and broke the age-old Chinese monopoly on sericulture. You cross the Dardanelles to Troy. Crossing into Greece, you pass slowly through the hills of Macedonia, visiting Thessaloniki, Vergina and Pella, birthplace of Alexander, whose imprint is visible all along the Silk Road as far as western China.
On Day 11, you enter Albania, until just recently one of the most closed nations on earth. You spend two days exploring this country.
Returning to Greece, you take a ferry to the delightful island of Corfu, then to Bari, Italy where you have four to five days exploring the lovely towns of Assisi, Perugia and Spoleto.
And as all roads do, this route ends in Rome.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$2,350 PP/DO excluding airfare to Santiago and from Buenos Aires. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
Many consider the Towers of Paine the most stupendous parcel in South America's 4.5 billion acres of terrain, and so do InnerAsia tour organizers.
But if the towers have a rival, it's the towering vertiginous pillars of the Fitzroy range and the unbelievable spectacle of Cerro Torre, arguably one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.
You begin this tour in Santiago, Chile, then fly to Punta Arenas. A beautiful drive through Patagonia takes you into Paine National Park for four days of hiking and viewing spectacular scenery.
Skirting the Cordillera Darwin, you head north to Argentina's Los Glacieres National Park and Fitzroy.
You have four days to explore the meadows and forest beneath these colossal rock and ice pillars, including a close look at the Torre, the monstrously vertical pinnacle capped by an overhanging mushroom of ice.
You spend one night at Rio Gallegos before flying to Buenos Aires and home.
Moderate trekking.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$3,195 PP/DO excluding airfare to and from Santiago and Buenos Aires. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
The heart of InnerAsia's Patagonia trip is Estancia Cristina, the famous old wilderness ranch found by Patagonian sage Yvon Chouinard. Set against the glaciated mountains of remotest Patagonia, Estancia is isolated and unreachable by road.
Cristina overflows with wildlife, including black neck cranes, Magellanic woodpeckers, condors, nonchalant flamingos and the occasional puma. The Cristina Valley is a glorious place to wander, fish, ride horses and revel in views of the massive peaks guarding the Patagonian Ice Cap.
This tour combines a stay at Cristina with visits to the spectacular mountain clusters of Fitzroy and Cerro Torre in Argentina's Los Glacieres National Park and Chile's Towers of Paine.
You begin in Buenos Aires, fly to Patagonia and spend a night at a resort in Calafate. The next morning, you board a boat to Estancia Cristina. A few days later, you travel to Fitzroy for sensational hiking, then by road into Chile and the Paine National Park.
You hike to Lago Gray and Lago Azul for views of the famous huge towers.
Easy touring with optional hiking.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,725 per person for 8-10 people; $1,925 per person for 6-7 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $195 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island, situated just off the southern coast and home to a wide array of wildlife. Your 16-day trip includes mountain biking, canoeing, swimming and close-up views of sea lions, kangaroos, koalas, pelicans and platypus in their natural environment.
Your trip starts in Adelaide, the "City of Festivals." A short ferry ride takes you to Kangaroo Island for mountain biking past numerous beaches, caves and "Remarkable Rocks," huge, unusually sculpted granite towers.
Another highlight is visiting with some local farmers, who share their colorful stories of life "in the bush."
Accommodations are in farms, cottages and hotels.
Moderate cycling for 16 days.
Courtesy Intourist.
Courtesy Intourist.
From $5,395 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
The great snow mountain of Muztagh Ata (24,758 feet), which rises above the Takla Makan desert, is a much sought-after summit among mountaineers. Although very high, it is a straightforward climb and has even been descended on skis!
You fly to Moscow and spend a day in the city before continuing on to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. A two-day bus trip takes you over the Torugart Pass to Kashgar. There, you enjoy the pleasures of the busy and colorful bazaar before continuing on to Karakol Lake.
The base camp is a day's walk from the roadhead. Camels carry your equipment. Once the advance base camp is established, you climb the glacier to the summit.
You will make at least two more camps before pushing on to the summit. Snow conditions and personal preference determine the mode of ascent, either on skis or on foot.
The length of time spent near the base camps allows you to acclimatize thoroughly and to attempt the summit on more than one occasion.
You return by the same route and again have the opportunity to enjoy the contrasting cultures of Kashgar and Moscow.
Mountaineering experience is required.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$1,990 PP/DO excluding airfare to and from Quito. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
The Galapagos need little introduction.
Darwin started the chorus of praise, enchantment and amazement 132 years ago and the music hasn't slowed.
The charm of The Bewitched Islands has three major sources. Your naturalist-guided tour is carefully crafted to immerse you in all three.
First, the Galapagos are incredibly rich in wildlife, including giant tortoises, equatorial penguins, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas. You can see many of these creatures as you snorkel from your yacht.
Second, the islands are starkly and thought-provokingly beautiful. By cruising gently to and between them, you will have a chance to savor them in the prismatic light of the Pacific.
And lastly, the Galapagos have been carefully protected from human predation, so they breathe free and easy, as do their visitors.
Easy touring.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$4,100 PP/DO excluding airfare to and from Buenos Aires. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
During this extraordinary tour, you fly into Buenos Aires, fly to Ushuaia and sail from Tierra del Fuego on a small research vessel completely refitted for expeditionary voyages.
Heading south into the Drake Passage, you encounter icebergs, pack ice and their accompanying wildlife including crabeaters, weddel and leopard seals and pods of killer whales.
You weave in and out of famous ice and sea mountain passages and islands such as Paradise Bay, Anvers Island, King George Island, which drips with glaciers calving from its ice cap, and Port Lockroy, situated under 5,000-foot Mount Williams.
You see Deception Island, which has been described as "one of the most remarkable crater islands in the world," complete with steaming fumaroles and sulphur springs.
You spend as much time as possible on shore at these and lesser-known spots.
Moderate touring.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $3,625 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Set in a remote region of the South Pamirs in Tajikistan close to the border with Afghanistan, Pik Karl Marx has not been visited by a British or American climbing party before 1993.
The first mountaineering expedition to this region was in 1946. Since then, the area has been very popular with Russian climbers.
Your expedition begins in Moscow, where you spend a day enjoying the sights and sounds of this lively city.
From Moscow, you take a flight to Osh and proceed by helicopter to the frontier town of Khorog in Tajikistan, which houses the administrative headquarters of this region. Another helicopter flight takes you to the base camp.
The next two weeks are set aside for your ascent of the mountain. You acclimatize on Pik Moscovskaya Pravda (20,000 feet) before climbing Karl Marx by its normal route, which has an Alpine grade of about AD-D.
If your summit attempt is successful (in 1993), yours will be the first British/US ascent.
Mountaineering experience is required.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Courtesy InnerAsia Expeditions.
Consult with InnerAsia staff.
$12,975 PP/DO excluding airfare to South Africa or Austalia. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging and guide services.
This unique InnerAsia tour explores the coast of Antarctica from the Russian icebreaker Khlebnikov.
The vessel is a powerful but very well appointed ship. It is the only commercial vessel to freely roam the islands and coastline of Antarctica's "Far Side." It visits remote islands like Kerguelen and Heard, slipping through the pack ice of great ice shelfs like the Amery and Ross.
No other cruise ship can enter this pack ice, giving you unparalleled opportunities to see the continent in all its harrowing majesty.
InnerAsia offers three voyages aboard the Khlebnikov. The first journeys out of Cape Town, South Africa and visits wildlife-rich Crozat, Kerguelen and Heard islands before entering continental waters.
The second voyage leaves from Perth, Australia, with a yet undefined route.
The third route takes the Khlebnikov to the nexus of Antarctic history, Terra Nova Bay and McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea.
More information is available. Contact InnerAsia.
Expeditionary voyage.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,150 per person for 8-12 people; $1,285 per person for 4-7 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $50 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
The Na Pali coast of Hawaii's Kauai Island offers superb sea kayaking. It is rugged, beautiful and navigable only in the summer months by kayak.
On this trip, you spend seven days exploring sea caves, paddling under waterfalls and hiking to inland valleys with remote swimming holes. There is plenty of time to sun, surf, snorkel or beachcomb. Scenery and wildlife are spectacular.
Nights are spent camping on the beach, enjoying the area's famous sunsets and night stars.
Moderate physical activity, camping in remote area.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $3,465 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
After an early morning flight from Moscow to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, you take a long helicopter ride to your base camp on the Moskvina glacier. At 13,800 feet, you have a chance to catch your breath and acclimatize.
You begin with a warm-up climb on the Peak of the Four, an attractive snow mountain about 19,800-feet elevation and technically uncomplicated. You return to the base camp and prepare to climb Korzhenevsky. Ideally, you climb it Alpine-style without returning to base.
Camp 1 at 14,000 feet is located on the glacier and is about a four-hour walk.
Between Camps 1 and 2, you find easy snow slopes and, in normal conditions, there is no need to use ropes.
Climbing to camp 3 is more technical. Along some steeper sections, fixed rope is necessary . Camp 2 is situated under a rock overhang and from there, a long traverse section needs to be fixed with ropes. You then ascend a 90-foot vertical rock face using jumars (or clasps) followed by an easy climb to Camp 3.
The climb-to-the-summit day is an eight-hour round trip along a beautiful, undulating snow ridge. Views across the valley to Pik Kommunizma are superb.
Overall, the route can be graded Alpine AD, and is a good first 23,000-foot climb for anyone with the necessary Alpine climbing experience.
Mountaineering experience required.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,995 per person for 7-10 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $425 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
Enjoy the unspoiled beauty of New Zealand's South Island on bike. Lightly traveled roads, varied scenery and friendly people make this 16-day trip a real treat.
You begin in Christchurch, the "garden city," riding past picturesque farmland to challenging Arthur's Pass.
Westland Park , known for its glaciers, is next on your itinerary. Then, you are off to Otago, whose stark, dry landscape contrasts sharply with the lush coastal scenery.
You stop for a day in the resort town of Queenstown, then head to Mt. Cook at 12,349 feet where you hike the lower slopes. Then you are back on your bike heading to Lake Tekapo, Burke's Pass and back to Christchurch.
Daily rides range from 30 to 70 miles, with a support van to carry gear.
Strenuous biking, some high altitudes, long trip.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $2,495 per person for 8-15 people; $2,595 per person for 6-7 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $120 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
Argentina's Cerro Aconcagua, at 23,085 feet, is the highest peak in the Western hemisphere, towering over Mt. McKinley by about 2,000 feet.
REI offers a summit attempt on two separate routes.
For those with little mountaineering experience, the easiest way to the top is the Vacas Valley route. Those with snow/glacier climbing experience who prefer a more technical route can take the Polish Glacier approach.
Both expeditions use the less-traveled and more pristine Vacas and Relinchos valleys to gain access to the upper mountain. The itinerary is flexible to ensure that everyone acclimatizes properly and attempts the summit safely.
Very strenuous, prior mountaineering experience needed, hostile climate.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
$1,600 PP/DO includes lodging, guide services and ground transportation but excludes meals and airfare to Cancun.
Take a 16-day tour to learn about the greatest prehistoric civilization in the Americas, sponsored by Maya Seminars.
Starting in Cancun, you circle the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting the Maya sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Kabah and the beautiful Palenque.
Next, you cross into the country of Belize where you tour the site of Xunantunich, overlooking the Belize and Guatemala border.
From Belize, you enter Guatemala and explore Tikal, the jewel of the Maya crown. This fabulous Maya center, now a 400-square mile national park, sits in the middle of a vast rain forest.
Here, pyramids 20 stories tall rise high above the lush tropical jungle teeming with parrots and monkeys.
You spend three days here, climbing pyramids, exploring palace complexes and walking through the jungle before returning to Mexico to spend your last few days on the pure white beaches of the Mexican Caribbean.
During the tour, the trip leader will discuss various aspects of Maya culture including its society, history, architecture, religion and science.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $875 per person for 11-13 people; $935 per person for 8-10 people. Nonmembers add $50. Individuals pay $50 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
Explore Baja California's two diverse environments, the Sea of Cortez and the Sonoran Desert. This week-long, leisurely adventure promises warm sun and time to relax.
You begin kayaking, snorkeling and swimming in the waters around Loreto, an area noted for its sea stacks and beautiful sandy beaches.
Dolphins, California sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and colorful tropical fish keep you company. Next, you are off on easy day hikes into the secluded Sonoran Desert, home to an assortment of flora and fauna.
No sea kayaking experience is necessary. Wetsuits are advised for extended snorkeling. You have two nights in hotels and four nights camping.
Leisurely, but active; four nights of camping.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,895 per person for 8-15 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $150 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
This 15-day adventure combines some of the best the Amazon River has to offer. You start in Manaus, an interesting port town reminiscent of the opulent rubber boom days.
You journey upriver, venturing deep into the jungle by canoe, spending the night at remote campsites. Along the way, you visit with local people, view some of the thousands of species of wildlife that live here and trek through the rain forest with a naturalist guide.
You spend two unforgetable nights at the Ariau Jungle Tower, a comfortable lodge built on a platform overlooking the jungle canopy.
You conclude your trip with an Amazon riverboat cruise, sleeping on hammocks hung on deck.
Easy hiking and canoeing, long trip, semi-remote area.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
Courtesy Maya Seminars.
$1,300 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Tikal. Includes lodging, all other transportation and guide services.
Maya Seminars introduces you to the wonderful world and history of Guatemala during this tour.
You explore rain forests, towering volcanoes and experience the friendliness of its people and the dazzling colors of their textiles.
The tour begins with a flight to the famous Maya city of Tikal deep in the heart of the rain forest jungle of Guatemala. Here, massive pyramids rise high above a vast jungle teeming with parrots, toucans, monkeys and hundreds of other species of birds and animals.
You spend two and a-half days exploring the wonders of this 400-square-mile national park.
From Tikal, you fly south to the other Guatemala, the highlands.
Your first stop in the highlands is the picturesque colonial capital of Antigua. Here, cobblestone streets, 17th-century churches and Spanish haciendas make old world Spain come alive.
Next, you go to Chichicastenango for its world-famous artisans' market. Indians travel from miles around to sell their colorful hand-woven goods at this weekly gathering.
Your journey concludes at spectacular Lake Atitlan. This mile-high lake, surrounded by three massive volcanoes, has been an artist's delight for years. During your stay, you take a boat across the lake to one of the many Indian towns that dot the shore.
A special version of this tour, that focuses completely on visiting and shopping in the marketplaces of Guatemala, is available for $1,300 PP/DO from Nov. 21-29.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $1,495 per person for 8-12 people; $1,595 per person for 5-7 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $150 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation.
Bicycle through the Masai Mara Game Reserve and see Africa's exciting wildlife close up. Your cycling will range from 15 to 30 miles a day through the Masai valley, home to zebras, giraffes, elands, baboons and more.
On the way, visit Masai and colonial towns. At Lake Bogoria, view boiling water pools and geysers, as well as flamingos and the rare kudu. Lake Naivasha hosts wading hippos and abundant wildlife.
The 17-day trip begins in Nairobi. Bikes are not included, but you can transport your own.
Call REI for details. Mountain bikes are recommended, but touring bikes work, too.
Seventeen days of biking, semi-remote location.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
Courtesy REI Adventures.
REI members: $2,595 per person for 8-12 people; $2,695 per person for 5-7 people. Nonmembers add $100. Individuals pay $200 more for own room. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and ground transportation. Park fees of $175 to be paid in Africa.
In just 17 days, you climb Kilimanjaro, tour two of the finest game parks in Africa and visit the famous Olduvai Gorge archeological site.
Your first five days are spent climbing and exploring Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet), a long, strenuous and rewarding challenge for even the fittest of trekkers.
From there, you visit the Serengeti National Park and for three days enjoy game drives through the finest natural animal sanctuary in Africa.
You also visit the Ngorongoro Crater, said to be the home of the largest concentration of wildlife in the world. Along the way, you stop for a picnic at the intriguing Olduvai Gorge excavation site.
Very strenuous mountain climb, high altitude.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $3,145 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Pik Lenin is one of the easiest 23,000-foot peaks in the world. In strict technical terms, the normal, Razdelny route is no more difficult than the Gouter or Grands Mulets routes on Mont Blanc or the Muir route on Mount Rainier.
However, on Pik Lenin, unpredictable weather and a longer route make this a more serious climb than it appears.
This is not a trekking peak. You need to be a strong mountaineer to attmempt the summit.
You fly from Moscow in the early hours of the morning to the heart of Central Asia for breakfast in Osh, Tajikistan.
Then, you load your equipment onto a private bus for the eight-hour drive to a meadow below Achik Tash. There you spend the day acclimatizing and resting. A short helicopter flight takes you to the advance base on the Lenin glacier.
You can see the route in its entirety from the advance base. You will have to make two further camps before attempting the summit. Although there are occasional crevasses that change from year to year, there are no other technical difficulties.
The long distances between camps make this a difficult trek. But as with any mountaineering objective, the rewards of reaching the summit and seeing the whole of the Pamirs stretching out to Kongu and Muztagh Ata in China, make the effort truly worthwhile.
Strong mountaineering skills required.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
$1,685 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Santiago. Includes meals, camping equipment, lodging, guides and other transportation.
The legendary Bio-Bio River in south central Chile is known as one of the best whitewater rafting rivers in the world. In addition to whitewater action, the Bio-Bio offers you a feast of spectacular scenery for which the fertile Andean foothills are famous, including virgin forests, snow-capped volcanoes, natural hot springs, waterfalls, lagoons and deep gorges.
This Altue Expediciones tour immerses you in the natural beauty of this region. You also have the opportunity to meet the friendly "Pehuenches and Huasos" local Indian people and cowboys.
After arriving in Santiago, you take an overnight train to Victoria, experiencing well-kept 1930s sleeping coaches.
Next, you drive to Lonquimay in the Andes. You see snow-capped Tolguaca, Llaima and Lonquimay volcanoes, protected Araucarian pine forests and cascading waterfalls. You camp near Lonquimay on the banks of the Bio-Bio.
For the next six days, you raft down the Bio-Bio, crashing through its Class V rapids, such as Lava South, Milky Way and One-eyed Jack. You camp every night near the river.
On Day nine, you transfer to Temuco for a day of sightseeing and shopping in the colorful market of the Mapuche Indians. You return to Santiago on the night train.
After a day in Santiago, you return home.
For experienced rafters.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
$1,300 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Puerto Montt. Includes lodging, most meals, camping equipment and other transportation.
This brand new Altue Expediciones tour takes you to the spectacular Carretera Austral region, considered Chile's "New Frontier."
This region, inaccessible before the mid-1980s, has opened its arms by way of the new "Austral" highway that allows you to explore the natural beauty of this region. This route takes you all the way south to Cochrane Lake.
There are numerous lakes, mountains, glaciers, thermal baths and national parks where you can trek, ride horseback and fish.
You also hike to volcanoes and onto glaciers. Along the way you enjoy the diverse wildlife and plantlife.
You fly into Puerto Montt-Chaiten, and then you journey through the region, viewing glaciers of Volcan Michimahuida, visit a natural spring, hike around lakes, camp throughout the region and ride on horses through various hill regions.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
Courtesy Altue Expediciones.
$1,984 to $1,724 PP/DO depending on number in your party. Price does not include airfare to Chile but includes meals, camping equipment, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
On this Altue Expediciones tour, you climb the Ojos del Salado volcano, the second-highest mountain in America (Aconcagua is the highest) and the highest active volcano in the world at 21,932 feet.
The mountain is situated in the northern Andes on the border of Chile and Argentina, east of the puna on the Andean crest. You will visit the impressive Atacama Desert and hike along the endless white and blue Salt Flat of Maricunga.
This is not a technically difficult climb, but it requires a good acclimatization program and can be physically demanding.
At times, conditions can require the use of crampons and ropes.
You fly into Santiago and drive through the Copiapo valley. You explore the valley of Caballo Merto and the Santa Rosa lagoon, home to many flamingoes.
In the days that follow, you climb mountains, enjoy bathing in hot springs at night and on Day 11 you attempt the summit of Ojos del Salado. You return to Santiago and home on Day 14.
Photo by Andy Broom. Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Photo by Andy Broom. Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Photo by Andy Broom. Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $2,025 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Known by early travelers as the Celestial Mountains, the Tien Shan skirt the ancient Silk Route from China to Europe, straddling the border between China and Kyrgyzstan. Out There Trekking's 1992 trek to this region was highly successful, with some of the group climbing above 18,000 feet on Khan Tengri.
From Moscow, you fly to Bishkeke in Kyrgyzstan and continue by plane to Karakol. After a short drive, you reach Dzhergalan where the trek begins.
Following a good path, you trek through open, grassy hills for several days, with occasional glimpses of the high mountains. Crossing a high pass takes you to the Inilchek valley and the delightful campsite of Chontash at the snout of the Inilchek glacier.
Because the first part of the glacier is very laborious, you helicopter up to the campsite known as Green Meadow. From there, you visit the famous Marbacher Lake and , looking along the glacier, you get your first sight of the tremendous wall of the snow and ice of Tien Shan.
For two days, you trek up the moraine-covered glacier to the Pik Pobeda base camp, where the high mountains surround you and you can look across to the spectacular pyramid of Khan Tengri.
You have several days at base camp to allow for furtherexploration towards the peaks which form the Chinese border. Stronger members of the group can climb to 19,800 feet on Khan Tengri.
A trekking tour, but mountaineering experience is strongly recommended.
Courtesy Old Moe Guide Service.
$275 per boat per day.
Customized wade trips are $140 per day per person.
From its source high in Wyoming's Wind River Range, the Green River runs south into the beautiful Flaming Gorge Dam. The river flows crystal clear and is renowned for its abundance of rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout.
Old Moe Guide Service, which operates under a special use permit issued by the Ashley National Forest, helps you fish and enjoy this world-class river. These guided fishing/float trips extend from one to four days.
You experience not only the excitement of some of the best trout fishing in the world, but incredible scenic beauty, great dutch oven cooking and plenty of wildlife to watch.
Old Moe Guide Service offers fly-fishing float trips beginning just below the Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah, and continuing down river to the Colorado state line through Brown's Park.
These trips are perfect for both novice and skilled fly fishermen as well as for light tackle spin fishing.
Live bait is not allowed in these waters, and Old Moe Guide Service encourages catch and release.
Courtesy Dinosaur River Expeditions.
Courtesy Dinosaur River Expeditions.
Courtesy Dinosaur River Expeditions.
$395 for three days, $495 for four days and $595 for five days. Prices include food, camping equipment and rafts.
The Yampa is the last undammed major tributary of the Colorado River system and rafting this river is an experience that you'll remember for a lifetime.
This river runs through the Dinosaur National Monument, created in 1915 to protect the world's largest dinosaur bone quarry. These caverns, made of sandstone and limestone, provide impressive scenery along the river gorges.
Most of the Yampa comes from spring snowmelt and it is best run during May and June when the river is highest. The Yampa joins the Green River at Echo Park, where Indians of the Fremont culture lived more than 1,000 years ago.
Your trip down the Yampa is 71 miles long, and it offers some great whitewater from rapids named Teepee and Little Joe to Big Joe, a surging Class IV rapids.
The Yampa is sometimes swift, and sometimes meandering. You will see eagles nests, large sandy beaches, towering sandstone walls and the biggest pond of watercress you've ever seen.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $1835 PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
This trip to the Mt. Everest base camp is one of the most popular in Nepal. The spectacular scenery and the hospitality extended by the Sherpa people combine to make it a truly memorable experience. This is the best time of year to see this busy region without the crowds.
To give you as much time as possible in the mountains, you fly into and out of the Lukla airstrip. From the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar, you head west to the seldom-visited village of Thame.
You continue to Khumjung, where you get your first views of the "Everest Wall," including Everest itself, Lhotse and Nuptse. On your first excursion, you travel to the Gokyo valley and ascend Gokyo Peak (18,093 feet).
You retrace your steps for a day and turn eastwards to cross the Cho La pass (18,000 feet) which offers a breathtaking view. This pass provides a direct approach to the Khumbu glacier at Dugla.
From there, you are not far from Everest. You make a high camp at Lobuch and Gaborak Shep and have the opportunity to visit the Everest base camp and climb Kala Patar.
There, you have classic views of the world's highest mountains.
You descend to Pheriche and have a day in the tranquil Imja valley before heading back to Namche and flying to Lukla.
This is a Christmas treat you will never forget.
Mountaineering experience is required.
Courtesy Dinosaur River Expeditions.
Courtesy Dinosaur River Expeditions.
$250 for two days, $395 for three days and $495 for four days. Price includes rafting, meals, camping equipment and guide service.
Paddling the Green River through Lodore Canyon in 1869, Major John Wesley Powell compared the experience to "riding a fleet horse over the outstretched prairie."
At the time, the river was undammed and Powell's first ride through a major canyon provided him and his crew with rapids and hardships that are today only a memory.
Today, when you raft the Green River with Dinosaur River Expeditions, you do not find the hardships encountered by Powell's men.
But even though the rapids named Disaster Falls and Hell's Half Mile may not be as large as they once were, they still provide a pucker factor that can vary from three to 10.
With lower water, the rapids become more technical and intense maneuvering is required.
Lodore Canyon is perhaps the most scenic of all the Utah river canyons. Towering pre-cambrian sandstone and limestone cliffs dominate the first section of Lodore, slowly widening to broad meadows and side canyons offering moderate hikes to waterfalls, Indian petroglyphs and pictographs.
Courtesy Chateau de Saussignac Cooking School.
Courtesy Chateau de Saussignac Cooking School.
Courtesy Chateau de Saussignac Cooking School.
Courtesy Chateau de Saussignac Cooking School.
$2,220 to $2,490 PP/DO includes meals, lodging and instruction. Excludes airfare to France.
Built in 1610, the massive Chateau de Saussignac today dispenses hospitality, food, lodging and various culinary arts to its visitors.
The chateau is a private home, owned by Joan and Fred Montanye, which accepts a small number of guests. You find a library, grandiose chateau and beautiful rooms here about 50 miles east of Bordeaux.
The chateau serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wine is included with meals as well as an aperitif before dinner and a digestive afterwards. A picnic lunch is packed for guests who wish to leave after breakfast.
It is famous for its French cooking lessons, which are given in English. You discuss and drink French wines, visit local vineyards and markets. The lessons are delivered in a large kitchen which has ample work space for everyone. You cook two or three meals each day, spending about five hours a day in lessons.
You also will picnic, visit local artists and a Cro-Magnon cave and dine in local restaurants, some Michelin starred.
The minimum stay is one week.
Non-cooking guests may read, study French, relax or pursue other hobbies in the area.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$895 for adults and $795 for children. Includes food, wine, rafting and camping equipment.
The Main Salmon River flows, swirls and thunders from springs and snowbanks in the Sawtooth Range to the vast rugged Idaho Primitive Area. It crashes through rugged canyons with 6,000-foot high granite walls.
It's enough to stir up your appetite and this James Henry River Journeys tour will satisfy it with exquisite wine and gourmet California cuisine.
You paddle the magnificent Salmon by day and whet your appetite for scrumptious meals prepared by chef Bob Miller.
Enjoy fine wines supplied by master winemaker Joel Peterson, of Ravenswood Winery.
Joe was chosen as one of the world's 15 outstanding vintners by "The Wine Advocate," and is one of the primary subjects of David Darlington's book, "Angels' Visits: An Inquiry Into the Mystery of Zinfandel."
You enjoy fine camaraderie, excellent food and skillful paddling during this six-day river journey.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$825 for adults, $695 for children. Excludes transportation to the river, includes meals, camping equipment, guides and wine.
Raft the Salmon River and improve your wine tasting sensibilities during this unusual wine tasting ride.
Michael and Kathryn Havens, the leaders of this trip, turned their passion for fine French wines into a thriving Napa Valley wine business.
Since 1984, Havens Winery has been delighting winebibbers with highly-acclaimed wines, including Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays and Merlots.
Havens' Merlots display a berry, mocha, chocolatey, herbal bouquet as well as the lush, velvety-textured flavors that make Merlot such a universal favorite.
Their Sauvignon Blancs have an exotic, tropical quality and the Chardonnays are classically earthy, yet soft and full in the California style.
This tour teaches, lets you taste and delivers wonderful rafting rides.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$875 for adults and $695 for children. Price includes food, camping and rafting equipment and guide services. Excludes transportation to Idaho.
On this sojourn on the Salmon River, drummers and percussionists Jackeline Rago and Keith Terry will present a "hands on" workshop in drumming, percussion and body music.
Body music is the music/dance created by the sounds the body can produce through clapping, slapping, stepping and vocalizing.
It was probably the first music ever made. Combining body music with participant-provided stick drums, hand drums or percussion instruments (shakers, rattles and bells) this workshop will explore traditional and contemporary rhythms with the accompanying sounds of the river and the light of the campfire.
Jackeline is well known for her expertise in Afro-Venezuelan percussion and the stringed instruments, cuatro and mandolin.
She appears regularly with a number of groups including Altazor, Grupo Campana and Mango Jam.
Keith is an internationally-acclaimed artist who has collaborated and performed with Bobby McFerrin, Robin Williams, Geoff Hoyle, Charles "Honi" Coles and the Pickle Family Circus.
In addition to making music, you enjoy a magnificent ride down the Salmon River.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$825 for adults and $660 for children. Excludes airfare to Idaho. Includes meals, entertainment, local transportation and rafting and camping equipment.
Swing dance under the stars and sing along with country western and folk classics after a hard day of rafting on the Salmon River in Idaho.
Musician Grady Keystone, who is one of the tour leaders on this James Henry River Journey, has created his own special brand of environmental and bluegrass music.
He is joined by guest performer Dennis Parker, an extraordinary singer, guitarist and humorist who has won flatpicking events around the state of California, including the Calico and Fiddletown contests.
The duo regularly performs together and has produced two albums, "Night Hawk" and "Human/Nature."
Join this popular trip for great music and fine rafting.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$825 for adults and $660 for children. Price excludes airfare to Idaho, but includes rafting and camping equipment, meals and instruction.
From earth history to Native American Indian pictographs, the canyon of the Salmon River in Idaho offer a vast and ideal outdoor classroom.
Join engaging and imaginative naturalist Bill Randolph on a fascinating journey of discovery. You gaze at stars, track animals, hunt rocks, watch birds, learn native uses of plants and interpret petroglyphs.
Bill Randolph is currently the director of education at the Bay Area Discovery Museum where he leads natural history trips and classes for adults, children and families.
He has conducted natural history outings in California, Alaska, Baja and Patagonia for the past eight years.
These trips are designed for inquisitive travelers who want to gain an understanding of the flora, fauna and ecology of a rich river canyon.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $2315 (in April/May) and from $2475 (in Dec/Nov), PP/DO, excludes airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Mt. Mera is the highest trekking peak in Nepal and a deservedly popular one. The views from the summit are absolutely staggering, featuring no fewer than six, 26,000-foot peaks.
The mountain's easy ascent makes it an ideal objective for a fit trekker who wants to conquer "something big."
One of the most attractive elements of this trek is the chance to visit the uninhabited valleys of Hinku and Hongu, where you experience a sense of solitude rarely found so close to the Everest region.
You begin with a mountain flight to Lukla, from where you cross the Zatrawa La (15,180 feet) to reach Hinku Valley. Heading northwards, you trek up to the Mera La (17,870 feet) and establish a high camp on Mera itself.
The climb is straightforward snow plodding, although ropes will be used where there are a number of crevasses.
You descend to the Hongu Valley and head northwards, directly towards Lhotse's huge south face. A crossing of the Mingbo La returns you to the Khumbu (the Everest region) and you finish your trek in the Sherpa capital Namche Bazaar before flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla.
Despite being more than 21,000 feet in height, the route requires no more than the ability to walk with ice ax and crampons. Even if you don't want to ascend to Mera's peak, you can still enjoy this outstanding trek through some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Nepal.
Participants must be strong trekkers with some mountaineering experience.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
Courtesy Out There Trekking.
From $3,275 PP/DO, not including airfare and insurance. Price includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America. Although you follow the normal route, which has no technical difficulties, you climb more than 9,000 vertical feet on the trek from the base camp to the summit.
Because it is so close to the Pacific Ocean, the mountain experiences weather extremes and very cold temperatures. Nevertheless, Aconcagua offers a good challenge to the experienced mountain walker and your chances of reaching the summit are relatively good.
First, you fly to Buenos Aires and then on to Mendoza in the Andean foothills. Mendoza is Argentina's main wine-making area. You will have ample opportunity to sample the local produce before beginning your ascent.
After continuing by road to Puente del Inca, you spend two days walking to the base camp at Plaza de Mulas. You ascend the mountain in true expedition style, making three camps before attempting the summit.
Participants must be strong trekkers and have some mountaineering experience.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
$900 to $1,000 per person. Price includes ground and motorboat transportation, guides, meals and accommodations.
Explore sea caves and grottoes, snorkel in world-class reefs, sleep under the stars and discover the untouched natural beauty of south Thailand's Marine National Parks.
Canoeing through Phang Nga Bay's calm waters is easy and relaxed in the safe and stable"Sea Explorer" inflatable canoes especially designed for these trips.This week-long trip gives you a chance to learn sea canoeing and enjoy authentic rural island culture.
You visit several islands, paddling into caves, hongs, lagoons, beaches and mangrove swamps. The birdlife and plantlife are rich and stunning. One island is home to the lead guide who gives you an insider's tour. You have a combination of camping and bungalow stays, with delicious Thai food provided.
Contact Diethelm Travel for more information about their three-, two- and one-day sea canoe trips.
Seven days of moderate physical activity, five nights of camping. No prior experience necessary.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
Courtesy Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris.
From $1,795 PP/DO from Anchorage, Alaska, for the 6-day Katmai Brown Bear Tours. Trip prices include lodging, meals, ground transportation during tour, specified air transportation and guide services and instruction. Other tour costs range from $1,395 for a 7-day Chilkat Bald Eagle Tour to $16,950 for a trip by ice-breaker across the North Pole.
Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris lead you to spectacular destinations around the world. You have a chance to photograph unique wildlife with the help of some of America's premier outdoor photographers and naturalists. You work and learn with them in locations that offer many exciting challenges.
Their tours include travels to Alaska, Colorado, Arizona and every continent, including Antarctica.
Visit Alaska's Pribilof Islands to photograph seabirds and fur seals. Photograph bald eagles at Chilkat River, Alaska, where they congregate in the thousands in October, November and December. Photograph traders at the Pushkar Camel Fair or the Monarch butterfly in its Mexican wintering region. Photograph changing cultures on a trip across the Chinese, Mongolian and Russian landscapes by private train.
One of their most exciting tours is an excursion to photograph Alaska brown bears in Katmai National Park, one of North America's great wildlife-viewing areas and the most accessible location for photographing the Alaska brown bear.
During July, a massive sockeye salmon run in the river attracts bears from the surrounding countryside. They come to feed on fish returning to spawn after spending three years in the North Pacific. The bears increase their body weight tremendously in preparation for the winter and are so intent on fishing that they let you photograph them in a variety of habitats--from a beautiful waterfall where they catch jumping salmon to a sandy lake-front beach or grassy river bank.
Cabin accommodations at the Brooks Lodge offer bear photography opportunities literally outside your cabin door. There is a pleasant lodge and dining room for relaxing after a successful day in the field.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Prices vary from $560 to $292 per person depending on the season and whether you choose a double or single room. Contact Diethelm Travel for details. Price includes accommodations, meals, skipper and crew, ground transportation and snorkeling and windsurfing equipment.
Imagine yourself on a tropical island cruise, discovering the coastline of Phunket and its necklace of islands, surrounded by tourqoise waters filled with sea coral and brightly colored fish.
The Suwan Macha, a sailing boat that combines Western comfort with Oriental charm, is your home for this four-day trip.
You sail from Phunket to Phang-Nga Bay, then visit Sea Gypsy Village, enjoy a guided tour of a mangrove river delta by long-tail boat and journey through the Phang-Nga Bay rock formations.
The next day you set sail for Phi-Phi Island. Snorkel, swim, windsurf, sunbathe and sightsee each day. On your way back to Phunket, you enjoy exploring the Viking Cave.
Short and leisurely trip with options for greater physical activity.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
Courtesy Diethelm Travel.
$945 per person. Individuals pay $125 for own room. Price includes accommodations, meals, guides, air and ground transportation within Laos, service charges and taxes, visa fee.
Tour two of Laos's most interesting areas. The tiny capital city of Vientiane lies on the banks of the mighty Mekong River and offers stunning Buddhist temples, whimsical French and Eastern architecture and the peace and slowness of bygone days.
Luang Prabang is a totally unspoilt area of great historical and topographical attraction, with temples, palaces, markets, caves and waterfalls. Your six-day tour includes visits to these as well as to some traditional ethnic villages.
Diethelm Travel also offers a three-day tour in the Vientiane area and four- and five-day tours to Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Walking and driving tours, hotel accomodations.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $2, 495 for 10-day tent and cabin safari; from $2,595 for 10-day cabin safari; $2,995 for 12-day tent and cabin safari. Trip cost includes pick-up at Kenai airport, all subsequent transportation including return to Anchorage by rail, most meals, lodging and full guide service during your stay. Liquor and gratuities to staff are not included.
The Alaska Wildland Safari gives you the best Alaska has to offer. You can choose from 10- or 12-day safaris. You enjoy hiking, rafting, fishing, photographic safaris and even panning for gold in river beds.
You have a full-day boat tour in the Kenai Fjords National Park. You see glittering glaciers, sea otters, puffins, seals, sea lions and even whales. Take a hiking adventure in search of wildlife in the beautiful Denali National Park and see caribou, grizzlies, Dall sheep, moose and, weather permitting, the inspiring peak of Mt. McKinley.
You have the choice of staying in comfortable cabins or in a combination of cabins and tents for a larger slice of rustic life.
The main difference between the safaris is length of stay. The twelve-day safari gives you two extra days in Denali National Park.
Many of your meals are served out-of-doors. The camp chores are performed by the guides and trip assistants. All of the tours travel in a small group of 18 people or less. These trips are an ideal first-time backcountry experience for families, couples and outdoor enthusiasts.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $2,895, plus Kenai Borough tax. Trip price includes pick-up at Kenai airport, all subsequent transportation (incl. return to Anchorage by rail), most meals, lodging and full guide service during your stay. Liquor and gratuities to staff are not included.
Combining natural history activities and guided fishing, this trip includes two full days of guided fishing on Alaska's famous Kenai Peninsula.
On the Kenai Peninsula, you choose whether to fish the Upper or Lower Kenai River, depending on the season, your interests and where the fishing activity is best. At least one species of salmon is found on the Kenai Peninsula throughout the summer. You can fish for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden anytime after June 15.
The true fishing enthusiast can elect to participate in a third day of fishing instead of taking the boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park.
In addition, you can spend one of your fishing days on a fly-out to a select mountain lake (from $200/day).
For those who would rather not fish, there are endless trails and streams in the adjacent Chugach National Forest where you find photographic opportunities and mountain vistas galore. Please indicate your desire at the time of booking so that you can adequately plan each week's program.
Alaska Wildland Adventure's Fishing and Natural History Safari provides comfort and personalized service. Most meals are served indoors in a log cabin lodge. These fishing trips offer small guest-to-guide ratios. You return to Anchorage via the Alaska Railroad.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $2,095 plus Kenai Borough tax. Trip price includes all costs from pickup in Kenai to return to Anchorage. Liquor and gratuities to staff are not included.
The Seven-Day Safari is an action-packed introduction to Alaska's scenic beauty, that presents you with the jewels of Alaska -- the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Denali National Park.
You see an abundance of wildlife, including bald eagles, moose, brown bears, caribou, Dall sheep, salmon and stunning birdlife.
Each day is filled with adventure and each night is filled with comfort as you rest in comfortable cabins and bask in hot showers.
Raft the Kenai River. Hike on the beautiful trails of Chugach National Forest surrounded by the towering Kenai Mountains. Photograph wildlife and picnic in the heart of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Return to Anchorage on your last day on the Alaska Railroad.
This tour is less strenuous than others offered by Alaska Wildland Adventures. The hiking excursions are shorter and most meals are served indoors.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $2,250, plus Kenai Borough tax. Trip cost includes all accommodations, first and last night in a fine Anchorage hotel, all meals, all activities as described in itinerary and full trip escort service. Liquor and gratuities to staff are not included.
The Senior Safari is an adventure tour for the retired traveler who desires extraordinary but comfortable travel.
This trip features in-depth exploration of Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Denali National Park.
In Denali, you venture through the heart of the wilderness area to the Kantishna region. During your three days amidst the amazing wildlife and spectacular mountain scenery, you have a chance to get out and wander over the tundra.
You take a float trip on the Kenai River and a yacht tour of Kenai Fjords National Park. There you have the opportunity to photograph glaciers, sea otters, puffins, seals, sea lions and whales. You visit a glacier and wander through the historic bush town of Talkeetna. You can pan for gold in Denali Park. (There is an optional flightseeing tour of Mt. McKinley and the surrounding glacial canyons.)
You journey back to Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $1,795, depending on time of year. Trip price includes all costs to and from Anchorage, all guide services, complimentary beer and wine with meals.
Alaska Wildland Adventures encourages you to think of their tour vessel, "Discovery," as a floating lodge.
You travel, dine and relax in comfort. Enjoy dramatic wilderness views in every direction and plenty of cozy shelter to shield you from Alaska's sometimes harsh elements. You get hot showers, great food (often featuring seafood harvested during the trip) and classic service.
On the first day out, you see nesting kittiwakes, shorebirds, gulls, terns, oyster catchers, sea otters and seals. You learn about the astounding geological features and visit Alaska's own seacoast Yosemite with towering granite domes, hanging glaciers, and lush rain forest vegetation. At night, you anchor in a hidden cove.
Next, you set course for Icy Bay and dine while watching for whales, harbor seals and sea otters. In early evening, you anchor and fishermen can try their luck at catching one of Alaska's famous halibut.
You visit a puffin rookery and collect oysters for the evening's hors d'oeuvre at a small oyster marine farm site. You anchor for the night near Cascade Falls.
You see the geological wonders of Esther Passage and Port Wells as well as Harriman Fjord. You lunch in front of Surprise Glacier, where you might see a glacier "calve," or split off from the main ice mass.
The grand finale of your trip is Blackstone Bay, where you see hanging glaciers, waterfalls, tidewater glaciers, mysterious forests.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $695 (for a two-day package) to $1,895 (for a five-day package, that includes halibut charter). Trip cost includes pick-up at Kenai, and return transport to Anchorage or Kenai, depending upon package; gear and equipment; food, lodging all terminal tackle, and guide services during stay. Fishing license, fish processing and packing, liquor and gratuities not included.
This unique fishing lodge is perched on the banks of the scenic Upper Kenai River. You have all the features of the expensive fly-out lodges, except the high cost. You can enjoy all kinds of Alaskan fishing activity, beautiful riverside cabin accommodations, excellent food, plus the spectacular scenery of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.
From May to July, you venture to the Lower Kenai and fish for the world's largest king salmon, and during August and September you try for the angler's favorite, the silver salmon.
You can also take a halibut charter off the spectacular coast near Seward, Alaska. For even more fishing excitement, you can add the optional fly-out to fish for Arctic grayling and mountain rainbow trout in the surrounding Kenai Mountains.
Your specific itinerary can be arranged with Alaska Wildland Adventures, but any trip will include eight hours of guided drift boat fishing per day, up to three full days of fishing on the Lower Kenai, excellent fishing on the Upper Kenai for rainbow trout, red salmon, Dolly Varden and silver salmon (depending on time of year), a 3-to-1 guest to guide ratio and the care and freezing of your catch.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $2,250 for adults and $1,950 for children, plus Kenai borough tax. There is a discount of $350 PP when 3-5 people room together.
Trip cost includes all accommodations, first and last night in a fine Anchorage hotel, all meals, all activities as described in itinerary and full trip escort service.
Each summer, Alaska Wildland Adventures offers a special family safari. The trip is designed for families with younger children (ages 6-11) and is intended for active parents who want to experience virtually every moment of their vacation with their children.
Trip organizers make every effort to match families who have children of similar ages.
Beginning in Kenai and ending in Anchorage, participants enjoy the most beautiful of Alaska's wilderness regions, from the majestic tidewater glaciers of the Kenia Fjords National Park to the upland tundra and stunning mountain vistas of Denali National Park.
Experienced naturalist guides lead the way, providing information about local ecology, wildlife and conservation ethics.
Detailed itineraries and a complete planning packet are available from Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $1,995. Trip cost includes all accommodations, first and last night in a fine Anchorage hotel, all meals, all activities as described in itinerary and full trip escort service. Liquor and gratuities to staff are not included. Cross-country ski equipment can be rented for approximately $10/day.
Alaska's winter is a magical world. Dress adequately and you can enjoy all that Arctic winters have to offer. Although temperatures reach exteremes and snow is ever-present, it is the Far North's climate that makes it so unusual.
Although Alaskan winters are cold with long, dark nights, you see stark mountains in a blanket of snow, dazzling displays of northern lights, and morning and evening twilight that projects orange, purple and pink illumination upon the landscape and exotic ice and snow formations along the river, sea and forest.
You cross-country ski, snowshoe, dog sled, take evening walks and raft (weather permitting).
Winter is an excellent time to learn about the natural history of Alaska. You spend four days at the Riverside Camp on the Kenai River, where several hundred bald eagles congregate each winter.
The Alaska Winter Safari coincides with two of Alaska's winter festivals, the Fur Rendezvous (Fur Rondy) and the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. You can experience one of these exciting events on your Alaskan Safari.
Each participant receives a "Winter Comfort Kit" to use during the trip. The kit includes insulated boots, expedition long underwear, a winter parka, gaiters and insulated overpants. A complete list of necessary clothing will be provided in the trip packet.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $4,990, with a fee for single accommodations of $550.
Trip prices PP/DO include accommodations; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
East Africa offers one of the greatest displays of wildlife on earth, set dramatically in vast savanna, volcanic craters and snowcapped mountains.
On this classic safari, you are led by wildlife experts and study and photograph wildlife in the finest parks of Kenya and Tanzania. In Rwanda, you search for the rare mountain gorilla.
Wildlife is best observed at dawn and in late afternoon, when wildebeest, antelope and zebra can be seen in large numbers and predators are most active. You observe big game animals from safari vehicles. You can birdwatch in camp as well as on game drives and you may see large animals near camp as well.
Safari highlights include camping in Ngongoro Crater and the Serengeti; exploring the rain forest for the mountain gorilla, observing birdlife on Rift Valley Lakes and visiting sites of early humans and a variety of tribal cultures.
In Virunga Volcanoes National Park, you search for the fascinating mountain gorilla, rarest of all primates. Fewer than 500 remain, the majority of them in this park. The gorillas are usually seen in extended family groups of 10 or more. Adults grow to be six feet tall and weigh more than 400 pounds. In this area, you may also see the elusive golden monkey.
From $3,690, with an additional charge of $400 for single accommodations. Trip prices PP/DO include accommodations; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
On this wildlife odyssey through the African bush, you experience the greatest big game environment in the world in the finest parks of Kenya and Tanzania. You see the Samburu region in Kenya's arid north, spectacular bird displays in the Rift Valley lakes and the vast herds of the Masai Mara.
You then proceed to Tanzania's Serengeti to view fossil digs at Olduvai Gorge and the wildlife riches of Ngorongoro Crater.
You see animals as they migrate across the Serengeti, which coveres more than 5,700 square miles and stretches into Kenya's Masai Mara.
The Serengeti is the site of one of the largest animal migrations in the world. More than 2 million wildebeest, as well as other animals and their predators, make their annual migration each year across the plain.
The tour itinerary varies with the season, taking full advantage of the cyclical game migrations, and maximizing opportunities to see rare animals such as the cheetah, leopard and rhino. Although you stay in private deluxe tent camps during most of your trip, you spend a night in a lodge every three days.
Short day hikes (1-4 miles), boat trips.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$2,195 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Haines, Alaska. Price includes camping equipment, rafting equipment, guide and ground transportation.
It's one thing to raft a river, another to see it through the eyes of an expert naturalist.
Join Ronn Storro Patterson as he leads you on a stimulating James Henry River Journey of the Tatshenshini-Alsek River.
He gives you a richly-woven interpretation of the web of life in this incredible river valley.
You hike up rugged side canyons and ramble over old glacial moraines to discuss plant succession and wildflower pollination. Walk on living glaciers and gain insight into these rivers of ice.
As you float downstream, you observe bald eagles, black and grizzly bears, mountain goats and other smaller mammals and shorebirds.
A renowned naturalist with 23 years of experience leading natural history trips, Ronn has a deep love of nature, is a committed conservationist, researcher and educator. He enjoys sharing his diverse knowledge with others.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,690, with a $300 fee for single accommodations. Trip extension to Mt. Kilimanjaro costs $900. Trip prices PP/DO include accommodations; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The spectacular wilderness areas of northern Tanzania, which cover vast grasslands, dramatic craters, cliffs, valleys and lakes, are home to the largest herds of land animals remaining on earth.
In an annual wildlife phenomenon, hordes of wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate across great distances, followed by a host of predators.
You search for cheetah, lion, leopard, hyena, gazelle and giraffe in the Serengeti, visit Olduvai Gorge and camp amidst one of the richest concentrations of wildlife in the world in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Optional five-day walking tours to the summit of Africa's highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, are available.
Daily hikes of 6-12 miles over rugged terrain, some high altitude (10,000 to 16,000 feet).
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$2,195 PP/DO, excludes airfare to Alaska. Price includes camping equipment, rafting, instruction and other transportation.
Sharing Alaska's ultimate river experience with two of this state's most highly regarded anthropologists makes this James Henry River Journey a wilderness literature forum.
Nora Marks Dauenhauer is a native speaker of Tlingit and a published poet with a degree in anthropology. Her husband, Richard, is a former poet laureate of Alaska with a Ph.D. in comparative literature.
Together, they have collected and translated Tlingit oral history for the past 20 years. Their highly-acclaimed books of Tlingit oral narratives and oratory, "Haa Shuka, Our Ancestors," and "Haa Tuwunaagu Yis, for Healing Our Spirit," are the foundation for readings and discussion around the campfire.
On this journey, you will retrieve your "native ground," recover your intimacy with the natural world and get in touch with the "practice of the wild."
Courtesy Camp Surf - The Gorge.
Photo by Brian W. Robb. Courtesy Camp Surf - The Gorge.
$995 to $1,195 PP/DO including transportation to and from Portland airport, meals, accommodations, shuttle vans, instruction and equipment. Shorter and longer stays, and a non-sailor package are available.
Enjoy a luxury camp experience and windsurf in the Columbia River Gorge -- even if you have never been on a sailboard before.
Camp Surf - The Gorge, based in Hood River, Oregon, customizes their eight-day program to meet individual needs and preferences. You can improve your skills in one of the most popular windsurfing destinations while reveling in the beauty of the rugged landscape.
Accommodations are at the deluxe, riverfront Inn at Hood River Village Resort. You feast on sumptuous buffet breakfasts, picnic lunches, barbecues, banquets and fine dinners in local restaurants.
Although winds can reach 40 knots in the Gorge, there are plenty of areas in this 60-mile corridor perfect for any windsurfing ability level.
Professional coaches are at your service all day for instruction, guiding, organizing activities, answering questions and making sure you have a terrific time. Class sizes are kept small - no more than five per coach - to maximize safety and learning .
On a typical day, a shuttle van transports you to your day's recreational site, whether it's rafting, horseback riding, skiing, tennis or another activity. You return to the hotel at noon to pick up lunch and prepare for an afternoon on the river.
Camp Surf keeps a generous stock of current windsurfing equipment, wetsuits, harnesses, helmets, PFDs, tennis racquets, golf clubs, mountain bikes, skis and snowboards.
All levels of ability welcome.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,690, PP/DO with an additional fee of $300 for single accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction, and leadership.
Virtually a continent unto itself, the island of Madagascar offers an incredible diversity of unique fauna and flora that evolved in isolation over millions of years. Madagascar provides many attractions to the naturalist, similar to Australia and the Galapagos.
All of the mammals found on Madagascar are endemic, including 20 species of the endangered lemur. Of the island's 235 reptile species, including some startling chameleons, only 10 are found elsewhere. Half the bird species are found nowhere else. Madagascar has more than 10,000 endemic plant varieties, unique butterflies, sea shells, and much more.
Madagascar is seldom visited by outsiders, and you'll have an intriguing encounter with a society shaped by Indonesian, African, Indian Ocean and French influences. Ancestor worship forms the basis of Malagasy culture, and ritual observances are still an important part of rural life.
You also spend two days in Nosy Be, the "Perfumed Isle," known for ylang ylang blossoms used to make perfume. You snorkel, admire the birdlife including reef herons, egrets, green sunbird and crested drongo and take an excursion to Nosy Komba where the black lemur (Macaco) is held sacred.
Moderate day hikes, 2-8 miles (below 10,000 feet) elevation.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$1,950 to $2,195 PP/DO, excluding airfare to Haines, Alaska. Price includes camping and rafting equipment and guide services.
The Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers are considered North America's most spectacular whitewater rivers. Bisecting one of the most pristine wilderness areas left in the world, these rivers defy the human imagination by cutting through the world's largest non-polar icefields, the seemingly impassable Alsek, St. Elias and Fairweather ranges.
These rivers travel through glistening waterfalls, bounding tributaries and towering, three-mile-high peaks. Eagles soar overhead while moose, wolf, mink, beaver, grizzly and black bears roam the forested banks.
The Tatshenshini rises in the Yukon Territory of Canada, sweeps through British Columbia and merges with its larger sister stream, the Alsek. It cross the U.S. border into Alaska and flows through Glacier Bay National Park.
James Henry River Journeys offers 12- and 13-day trips, with six to seven days dedicated to river journeys and three to four days set aside for hiking.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$1,920 PP/DO plus $675 for charter flight from Fairbanks to Bettles. Price includes camping and canoe equipment and guide.
The Noatak is the most pristine of Arctic rivers. It flows through the central Brooks Range to Kotzebue Sound.
Along this river in the summertime, days are long, sunsets are endless and the night skies are ablaze with stars.
The tundra is a visual tapestry of autumnal splendor. You can see migrating caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, moose, wolf, fox, peregrine falcon and Arctic loon.
You use canoes for this journey, but no prior canoe experience is necessary.
The trip focuses on the upper Noatak. You take frequent layover days for hiking, photography and observing the wildlife.
After the layover days, you paddle downstream following a serene, meandering course, interspersed with dancing rapids through purple-hued mountains and limitless space.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
Courtesy James Henry River Journeys.
$1,895 PP/DO plus additional $1,000 for charter flight from Fairbanks to wildlife refuge. Includes guide, rafting and some camping equipment.
The Kongakut is one of the fabled rivers of the North Slope.
Running due north out of the Romanzoff Mountains, this glacial spirited beauty cuts through the heart of Alaska's Serengeti. This region is a wildlife refuge of the first magnitude. Remote from human influence, this 19 million-acre preserve is host every summer to the calving and migration of 175,000 caribou.
This trip provides a remarkable opportunity to witness the caribou migration. The flexible daily itinerary enables you to paddle rafts and then hike and photograph to your heart's content under the midnight sun.
June is the best time to visit this wildlife refuge, as spring is bursting out on the tundra. The wildlife present a stirring roll call, including grizzly, wolverine, gyrfalcon, snowy owl, tundra swan, musk-ox, Arctic fox and caribou.
Courtesy Japan National Tourist Organization.
Courtesy Japan National Tourist Organization.
Courtesy Japan National Tourist Organization.
$3,125 PP/DO includes land cost, lodging and some meals. Add $1,128 for airfare from West Coast to Osaka.
From the magical, forested trails of the Kita Alps to the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto, Japan offers a rare cultural and natural history experience.
On this Wilderness Journeys trip, you hike from lodge to lodge in the northern Alps with majestic views of Japan's major peaks.
You stay in ryokans (guest houses) with futons, sweet-smelling tatami mats, traditional hot baths, tea service, delectable Japanese cuisine and warm hospitality.
Spring trips coincide with blooming Alpine flowers, fall departures follow the rich palette of autumnal hues.
You also visit Tokyo, Fuji, Takayama and Kyoto.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,190, with $200 more for single rooms. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction, and leadership.
This trip is especially recommended for the first-time visitor to Nepal who wishes to experience its rich variety within a limited time frame. This tour offers a comfortable trekking challenge.
This ancient land offers a kaleidoscope of natural and cultural wonders, from the highest mountains on earth to a living museum of Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
After exploring medieval Kathmandu, you trek Himalayan footpaths, meeting colorful Chhetri, Brahmin, Magar and Gurung peoples beneath majestic Annapurna (26,545 feet) and Machhapuchhare (22,958 feet). You search for rhino and tiger from elephant back in Royal Chitwan National Park.
Moderate hikes of 2-8 miles a day below 10,000 feet in altitude.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $4,990, plus an additional fee of $500 for individual accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The ancient kingdoms of Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan are among the most dramatic areas in the world, with medieval civilizations and traditional monasteries set amidst the highest mountains on earth.
Each of the kingdoms has closed itself to outsiders for centuries, taking on a shroud of mystery and isolation that has only recently been lifted. This non-trekking trip gives you time to appreciate the richness and varied scenic beauty of each country.
Nepal still preserves ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions that have vanished India and Tibet. Intriguing temples and shrines date as far back as the 12th century.
You visit Tibet's monasteries on an overland trip to its capital, Lhasa, "Dwelling Place of the Gods." You then fly to Bhutan, Dragon Kingdom and perhaps the legendary Shangri La, a haven for Buddhist traditions that are disappearing elsewhere. You visit the dzongs, or fortress monasteries, and experience a carefully preserved ancient culture.
Non-trekking trip.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
$2,595 Canadian, excludes airfare to Fort Simpson. Includes guides, boating equipment, meals and lodging.
Long before the advent of the term "adventure travel," the Nahanni River earned an international reputation as a land of mystery, myth, romance and grandeur.
The Nahanni River has Virginia Falls, twice the height of Niagara Falls. It flows over regions so remote that some of the mountains have not even been named and it has natural hot springs.
Recently, the land has been cleared of prospectors and the United Nations has designated Nahanni National Park a World Heritage Site.
Nahanni River Adventures takes you on a two-week trip of the national park, starting at Rabbitkettle Lake. You view Rabbitkettle Hot Springs, Virginia Falls, Painted Canyon, The Gate, Pulpit Rock, Deadmen Valley and Kraus' Hot Springs.
Paddling skills are an advantage, but not a priority on this trip. Physical fitness and comfort on the water are important.
This region of the world never sees total darkness between mid-May and late July.
This is a spectacular trip through a region so pristine that you can drink the river water.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,290, with an additional fee for single accommodations of $300.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction, and leadership.
The tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan lies nestled in the heart of the Himalaya. Bordered by Tibet on the north and India on the south, Bhutan is secluded from its neighbors on three sides by some of the highest mountains in the world.
Only in the past few years has this small mountain country emerged from self-imposed isolation to invite visitors to learn about its traditions, history, culture and scenic wonder.
The Bhutan Discovery trip begins with a visit to the idyllic valley town of Paro, followed by a leisurely four-day journey on foot or horseback (optional) to the capital of Thimphu.
Planned with ample time for photography and nature study, this special expedition explores the magnificent scenery of the Himalaya as well as the ancient dzongs, fortress-monasteries that have preserved Buddhist traditions through the centuries.
Daily hikes of 6-12 miles per day over rugged terrain, some high altitude (10,000-16,000 feet).
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
$2,495 (Canadian) for 12 days and $2,395 for 10 days. Excludes airfare to Fort Simpson. Includes meals, lodging, guides and river equipment.
The spectacular Nahanni River flows through the Mackenzie Mountains on the Yukon and Northwest Territories border past natural hot springs, hills of soft calcium and the deepest canyons in Canada.
Nahanni River Adventures offers a 12-day trip on this magical river on large and stable 27-foot canoes. This journey will explore the region that is so unique the United Nations designated it a World Heritage Site.
The Voyageur North Canoes allow you to move through the water more efficiently, and you will be in the same boat as the guide. Everyone contributes to paddling, but the pressure to keep up is not as great as in the 17-foot canoes.
If paddling is a concern to you, it may be wise to select the raft float trip, where paddling is not as critical.
A shorter, 10-day version of this Voyageur canoe trek is also offered. That version begins at Virginia Falls (twice the height of Niagara Falls) and includes all the scenery and attractions of the Canyons, Deadmen Valley and Kraus' Hot Springs.
The 10-day version is available in June, July and August.
The 12-day journey is available only July 26-Aug. 7.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
Courtesy Nahanni River Adventures.
$2,475 (Canadian) per person for 12-day trip, $2,395 (C) for 10-day trip and $2,075 (C) for eight-day trip. Excludes airfare to Fort Simpson and includes lodging, meals, guide services and raft.
For those who are dubious about paddling, but want to journey down the magnificent Nahanni River in Canada, this 12-day rafting journey is for you.
This river journey in the breathtaking region of Nahanni National Park, designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, begins at Virginia Falls, which are twice the height of Niagara Falls.
This trip includes stops at the Canyons, Kraus' Hot Springs, Deadmen Valley and other scenic stops.
The guide is prepared to do the work with his oars, but everyone is welcome to swing a paddle. However, the schedule is designed to accommodate longer days of floating on the river.
This is a wonderful river journey. Between mid-May and July, this region never sees total darkness. The area is so remote that many of the mountains have not yet been named.
Nahanni River Adventures offers 12-, 10- and eight-day versions of this rafting trip.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,490, with an additional fee of $200 for individual accommodations.Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The Indian subcontinent is home to tiger, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, water buffalo and a variety of deer. Its list of large mammals ranks second only to Africa. Similarly, the 1,200 species of resident and migratory birds found here represent approximately one-seventh of the world's total.
The finest game parks in India are the highlights of this intensive nature study trip: Ranthambore, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and Kanha National Parks.
These parks are home to more than 20 species of large mammals including the elusive Bengal tiger. You also visit the pink city of Jaipur, the old city and fortresses of Delhi and the magnificent Taj Mahal of Agra.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,990, with $150 additional charge for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
On this Japanese odyssey, you investigate the cultural and natural heritage of this island nation where religion, art and tradition merge with contemporary life.
A young land of volcanoes, rugged mountains and hot springs, Japan is home to a people who have a deep appreciation for harmony, beauty and nature, which pervades all aspects of life.
Visit a Kabuki theatre in Tokyo. Travel to historic Kamakura, Japan's medieval capital that is famous for its statue of the Great Buddha. You visit the Hida Folklore Museum and an outdoor restoration of thatched-roofed farmhouses. You travel to Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps, an area of torrential streams, dense forests and mountains.
Visits also include the Koya-san monastery and Kyoto, with an optional extension to the Noto Peninsula.
You stay primarily in inns (ryokan) and guest homes (minshuku), eat Japanese food and travel by public bus and train. You walk in the Alps, visit shrines, see Buddhist monastery life and meet Japanese people from a variety of backgrounds and professions.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,690, plus $500 fee for individual accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Australia, the earth's largest island and smallest continent, was severed from other land masses more than 60 million years ago. It offers a storehouse of geographic surprises and a living natural history museum.
It has the world's oldet mountains, rivers and trees, 120 different marsupials, 600 native orchids, 720 species of birds -- of which 329 are found nowhere else -- and 600 varieties of eucalyptus.
You discover the Outback and Red Centre, subtropical rain forests in Lamington National Park, the Great Barrier Reef and the wonderland of wildflowers in the Grampians (a sandstone range of mountains), as you observe cockatoos, kookaburras, rosellas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, wombats, emus and koalas.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $4,590, PP/DO with a $600 fee for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The great islands of New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania each have their own distinct plants, animals, history and people and seem to be worlds unto themselves.
On this exploration of wonders Down Under, you travel to the Australian Outback and Red Centre, subtropical forests in Lamington National Park, the Great Barrier Reef and the beautiful forests of Tasmania.
In the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Claire National Park, you see a wilderness of rugged moors and mountains. You walk through Antarctic beech, pencil pine and boronia forests looking for birdlife, tiger cats, wallabies and the red-eyed Tasmanian devil.
In New Zealand, you travel to the wildlife preserves of Stewart and Ulva Islands, majestic fjords of Milford Sound and glacier-clad peaks of Mt. Cook National Park.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,990, PP/DO with an additional fee of $450 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
New Zealand is a land of astonishing variety and natural beauty. Majestic fjords, Alpine peaks and massive glaciers contrast with rich farmland and thermal geysers. Isolated from other land masses for millions of years, the island is home to many unique species of flora and fauna.
Although much of your trip is dedicated to seeing New Zealand's lush wilderness, you have a chance to explore native history and culture at the Maori Arts and Crafts Exhibit in Rotorua and enjoy a Maori concert.
You visit the thermal area of Rotorua, then trek the fern forests of Urewera National Park, home of the ancient Maori. In spectacular Mt. Cook National Park, you walk among glacial moraines (accumulations of earth and stones deposited by glaciers). You hike through the mountains of Fjordland National Park, where you see two flightless birds (the blue-green takahe and the kakapo), a native parrot and kiwis, the crested penguin and fur seals.
You walk along 33 miles of the dramatic Milford Sound on "the most beautiful trek in the world," the Milford Track.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,290 PP/DO, with an additional fee of $300 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction, and leadership.
A land of exotic tribal societies, colorful wildlife and beautiful scenery, Papua New Guinea offers the adventurous traveler one of the last untamed places on earth.
On this comprehensive cultural and wildlife expedition, you focus on the Sepik River and the Highlands.
One of the most important tribal art areas in the world, the Sepik is famous for distinctive carvings and the architecture of the "haus tambarans" or spirit house.
The Highlands are renowned for colorful tribes and exotic dress as well as birds of paradise and thousands of orchid species. You join in village life, observing sing-sings and tribal celebrations while searching for some of the world's most colorful birds.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $1,990 PP/DO, with an additional fee of $200 for single accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction, and leadership.
Few archaeological monuments are as puzzling as those of Easter Island. An intriguing open-air museum, Easter Island is the legacy of a sophisticated culture which produced spectacular religious architecture, gigantic sculptures, roads, towers, great stone quarries and petroglyphs.
Easter Island, 2,350 miles west of the Chilean coastline, has been called Te Pito O Te Huenua, the navel of the world. Easter Islanders resemble Tahitians and may have come from the Marquesas in French Polynesia. During this tour, you take daily outings to the major excavations and points of interest.
The most mysterious site is the quarry at Rano Raraku, where work on more than 200 statues, illustrating every step of the carving process, was abandoned quite suddenly. The partially completed sculptures remain in place in volcanic bedrock.
With local anthropologists, you investigate an ancient society famous for engineering accomplishments and a complex social structure that produced the unique, mysterious giant staues called Moais. From your in-depth exploration, you attempt to answer archaeological and social questions that remain unsolved.
You enjoy the daily lifestyle of a Polynesian culture. You also spend two days exploring the city of Santiago, Chile, and the surrounding countryside of farms, fruit orchards, ranches and vineyards.
Courtesy Above and Beyond Paragliding.
Courtesy Above and Beyond Paragliding.
$75 for one-day lesson, $200 for three lessons and $500 for full certification course.
Above and Beyond Paragliding Center, the first paragliding school in the U.S., provides experienced and certified instructors to help you fly and glide in the Utah skies.
Established in 1987 at the Point of the Mountain near Salt Lake City, Above and Beyond has taught paragliding and parascending (towing) in Europe, Australia, Africa and the U.S.
The school reported a 100 percent accident-free record. The instructors, certified by the American Paragliding Association (APA), teach beginning lessons in the smooth morning air. Instructors recommend students wear protective clothing such as ankle-supporting boots, jeans and gloves.
The complete course, leading to APA Class I certification, takes five to seven days, depending on individual ability. Above and Beyond also offers a one-day introductory course and a three-lesson weekend course.
More advanced pilots can attend thermal flying and ridge soaring clinics.
Also available are towing clinics and a mountain guide service to some of the most spectacular flying sites in the world.
Courtesy Above and Beyond Paragliding.
Courtesy Above and Beyond Paragliding.
Call for cost information, estimated at about $100 a day.
Above and Beyond Paragliding, which has offered paragliding instruction in the U.S., Australia, Africa and Europe for more than 12 years, offers three- to 10-day tours in Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho or Wyoming.
Above and Beyond, the first paragliding school in the U.S., can customize tours to take advantage of mountain altitudes, excellent winds and startling scenery. It offers a mountain guide service to the most spectacular flying sites in the U.S. -- or around the world.
For more information, contact the center, situated in South Jordan near Salt Lake City.
Prices are about $100 per day, excluding airfare to the site.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,690, PP/DO with an additional fee of $200 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Ecuador is one of the most beautiful and geographically diverse countries in South America. Straddling the Equator, it hosts lush tropical rain forest, tributaries of the Amazon, snow-covered volcanoes and the incredible Galapagos Islands.
Ecuador is home to 2,000 plant varieties and 1,500 bird species including trogons, cotingas, toucans, flamingos and spoonbills. The country also boasts the world's highest active volcano, the 19,347-foot-high Mt. Cotopaxi. The remote Galapagos Archipelago is one of the world's most incredible wildlife preserves.
You fly to historic Quito, with its beautiful cathedrals and a colonial quarter of cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and painted balconies. You travel to the Otavalo region known for its fine weavings and artisans. You see the Avenue of the Volcanoes in Cotopaxi National Park.
In the Galapagos, you visit Turtle Cove, a maze of inlets and mangrove thickets, that provides a resting place for marine trutles, rays and small sharks. You see fur seal grottos and snorkel off Bartolome Island. On Floreana Island, you see more than 50 volcanic cones, a rich green highland vegetation zone and the famous Post Office Bay, with the famous mail drop established in 1793 by British whalers.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,290, PP/DO with an additional fee of $150 for individual accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Against a stark volcanic landscape and isolated by the vast Pacific, millions of sea birds, land and marine iguanas, fur seals, sea lions and the endangered Galapagos tortoise make their home, largely unaffected by and unafraid of humans, on the Galapagos Islands.
Well-known for their part in Darwin's formulation of the theory of evolution, the Galapagos provide unlimited possibilities for exploration and discovery.
This comprehensive two-week cruise aboard a comfortable motor yacht explores the most important islands. A Nature Expeditions International biologist and a Galapagos naturalist provide interpretation during the day and informal lectures in the evening. Your small group size allows you to visit sites closed to larger groups. You enjoy hiking, observing and photographing wildlife, snorkeling and swimming.
Courtesy Arizona Soaring Inc.
Courtesy Arizona Soaring Inc.
Courtesy Arizona Soaring Inc.
$950 PP/DO for 10 flights, ground school, book and four nights in Estrella's bunkhouse. Excludes airfare to Phoenix.
For centuries, humans have been mystified by the mystery of flight. Now, you can soar like a hawk.
Arizona Soaring Inc. offers year-round gliding instruction in a flat area 25 miles southwest of Phoenix.
This is virgin desert, just two miles from the Estrella Mountains that rise 3,000 feet above the desert floor. The proximity to mountains, and a small rise just west of the hills, increase one's soaring power 25 percent over a flat desert location.
At Estrella Sailport, Arizona Soaring offers a large fleet of sailplanes with which to teach you to glide and 20 years of experience. All instruction is offered on Grob 103 Acros. A course including 10 flights, ground school, a book and four nights in Estrella's Sailport is available for $950.
The cost of the bunkhouse is $10 per person or $30 per family per night.
You begin with basic maneuvers and move on to more complex moves.
Reliable weather extends from April to September. During this time, you can be assured of flying at least five hours each day.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,790 PP/DO with an extra fee of $250 for individual accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The earth's largest river originates in the high Andes of Peru and eventually drains into a vast green rain forest the size of the United States.
This great river system is home to 1,800 bird species, 2,000 varieties of fish and 200 land mammals, each uniquely adapted for survival in a complex and fascinating tropical ecosystem.
You enjoy a broad overview of the Amazon Basin from its mouth near Belem to tributaries in Peru, a four-day cruise on a vintage Amazon river boat and four nights at rustic jungle lodges. This extraordinary adventure provides special opportunities for the wildlife enthusiast and photographer.
Courtesy George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler.
Courtesy George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler.
$235 to $250 per day for two people. Includes lunches, guides and instruction. Accommodations are available nearby.
Each summer, George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler offers a number of fly-fishing schools on the spring creeks and the Yellowstone River.
George Anderson and his staff conduct these intensive schools designed to help all fly-fishermen, from beginner to expert.
Near its fly-fishing shop, Yellowstone Angler offers a big lawn with casting pools for practice. There also is a new classroom. Advanced classes are available as well as casting instruction.
The famous Livingston spring creeks and Yellowstone River are used for the fishing portion of the classes.
The fishing for wild trout is outstanding in these waters, due to prolific insect hatches throughout the season.
These streams are not affected by runoff and remain low and clear year-round.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,290 PP/DO with an additional fee of $250 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Within Peru's borders lie coastal desert, the world's most extensive rain forest and the Andes, the world's longest continuous mountain range.
Scattered throughout these rugged landscapes are remnants of several highly-developed ancient civilizations.
You fly over the mysterious Nazca lines, explore Ballestas Islands and Paracas Bay wildlife reserves, and tour the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa. In Cuzco, archaeological capital of South America, you wander narrow streets between Spanish buildings on Inca foundations.
You explore the incomparable Lost City of Machu Picchu, perched on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River gorge. Finally, you fly to the heart of Peru's Amazon to investigate an incredible diversity of fauna and flora.
Courtesy George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler.
Courtesy George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler.
Courtesy George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler.
$235 to $250 per day for two people. Includes lunch and guide services. Accommodations are available nearby.
You can take guided fly-fishing trips in the trout-rich rivers of Montana and Yellowstone National Park with George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler team.
The organization, which has a shop in Livingston, has fine guides and offers float and wading trips for one to three people. The guides can teach casting and fishing techniques and show you some exciting fishing and an enjoyable day on a beautiful stream.
You float the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson, Missouri and Bighorn rivers.
The guides take you wading in the spring creeks, the Boulder and other nearby streams, including Yellowstone Park waters. They provide good lunches and beverages while you fish for the big one.
On the spring creeks, there are large, wild trout. The Missouri offers big brown trout that can weigh in at more than five pounds. The Yellowstone Park waters offer large cutthroat trout and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids. The Bighorn is also rich with brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroats.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,490, plus an additonal fee for individual accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Costa Rica's great natural diversity and its superb national park system provide an oustanding introduction to tropical ecology. Rain forest, cloud forest, active volcanoes, coastal marshes, grasslands and beaches are home to an almost overwhelming diversity of animal and plant species.
Lushly-forested mountains and volcanoes, swept by moist Caribbean trade winds, form the backbone of Costa Rica. On their slopes, you find tropical rain forest and, higher up, the beautiful cloud forest of ferns, bamboo, great oaks and mosses, bromeliads and orchids. Birdlife is abundant and includes trogons, curassows, toucans, hummingbirds and the resplendent quetzal, held by many to be the most beautiful bird of all.
On two coasts, the Caribbean and the Pacific, you explore deciduous dry forest, grasslands, beaches, natural canals and swamp forest, in the preserves of Tortuguero (famous as a breeding ground for giant marine turtles) and Corcovado. With the guidance of an expert naturalist, you have ample opportunity to photograph plants and wildlife.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,490 PP/DO, with an additional fee of $300 for single accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
There are few places in the world where the distant past is so well revealed and preserved as in Mexico. The ancient cultures of the Aztecs, Mixtecs, Olmecs, Toltecs and Mayans provide a fascinating subject as you explore the ancient ruins around Mexico City, Oazaca and the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mexico City's renowned National Museum of Anthropology gives an ideal introduction to Mesoamerican cultures. You also visit Teotihuacan, Tula and Tepotzotlan.
In Oaxaca, you explore ancient ruins and visit colorful markets and villages. In the Yucatan, you investigate Palenque, Uxmal, Chichen Itza and Tulum, all magnificent Mayan legacies.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,490 PP/DO with an additional fee of $200 for double occupancy.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
This 16-day cultural study expedition focuses on ancient and contemporary Guatemala, emphasizing Mayan archaeology, art, history, textiles, crafts and contemporary Indian life.
Among the many highlights are visits to the Mayan ruins of Tikal and El Ceibal, the charming colonial city of Antigua, and leisurely exploration of rural villages, markets and craft centers surrounding Quezaltenango and Lake Atitlan.
Of special interest are opportunities to communicate with the rural Guatemalan people through contacts arranged by expert leaders and local colleagues.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
From $960 PP/DO for four nights and three days of fishing to $1,745 PP/DO for seven nights and six days. Includes guides, lodging and all meals. Excludes airfare to Andros Island.
Andros Island Bonefish Club offers you an almost unlimited opportunity to hunt and cast for bonefish in the clear Caribbean off the Bahamas' largest island.
You enjoy a full day of fishing from early morning until late afternoon, interrupted only by a brief picnic at sea when you consume the super sandwich you made that morning at the buffet sandwich bar.
Guides are experienced in spotting wary bonefish from their lofty poling platforms. The fish average about five pounds, but it's not unusual to encounter some up to 10 pounds.
The guides tell you the direction and distance of bonefish from the skiff and help you in lure selection. The idea of this tour is to provide you with a successful and memorable bonefishing experience.
In addition to guides, the club offers you lodging, breakfast and dinner, including such Bahamian delights as lobster, cracked conch and conch fritters.
On the west side of Andros Island, it is possible to fish for tarpon weighing up to 80 pounds.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
Courtesy World Wide Sportsman.
$1,995 PP/DO for seven days. Includes transportation from San Jose, meals, lodging, fishing guide and equipment. Excludes airfare to San Jose.
Casa Mar, perched on the northeast coast of Costa Rica in a remote rain forest setting, has become synonymous with great tarpon and snook fishing.
From January through May, thousands of tarpon are found in the rivers and lagoons and from September to October they congregate in vast numbers just outside the river mouths in the Caribbean.
Most guided fishing is done in sheltered rivers and lagoons. Tarpon average 75 pounds at Casa Mar.
Snook also appear here, invading the Rio Colorado and surrounding waters in January. The snook average about five pounds and a few are in the 20-pound class.
Anglers can also try their luck with smaller species such as machaca, guapote, roncador and mojarra.
You fish in 17-foot, wide-beamed boats with casting decks, powered with motors.
When you're not fishing, you stay in a luxury jungle camp's main lodge or in six duplex cabins. There is a well-equipped tackle shop at one end of the lodge and dinner tables are at the other.
The food is home-cooked and you'll have all you can eat. There is also home-grown fruit, including pineapple and bananas.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,560 PP/DO with an additional fee of $80 for single accommodations.
The Sea of Cortez provides a kaleidoscopic array of rare desert plants, tropical birds, land iguanas and bountiful marine life.
Separated from the continental mainland for millions of years, the islands of the Sea of Cortez have developed distinct personalities that provide a fascinating natural history laboratory.
Blue-footed boobies, giant barrel cactus, California sea lions, garden eels and resident finback whales are but a few of the fascinating life forms found here.
From your comfortable motor yacht Baja Explorador, you have abundant opportunities to study, photograph, hike, snorkel and relax among these intriguing islands.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $1,890 PP/DO, with an additional fee of $250 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
This unusual exploration of Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique and Dominica discovers a variety of natural environments, with emphasis on birds, plants and native cultures. You snorkel among coral reefs, walk in dense rain forest, search for tropical birds and hike up island volcanoes.
Wild and scenic Dominica is especially noted for its forests, wildlife and Carib Indians.
The isolation of these islands has allowed each to develop distinct plants and animals found nowhere else. Trinidad alone has 400 bird species, 108 mammals, 55 reptiles and 617 kinds of butterflies. You will marvel at the scarlet ibis, Tobago's blue-crowned motmot and the "mountain chicken" of Dominica.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $3,490 PP/DO, with an additional charge of $400 for single accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Lofty mounatins, mammoth glaciers, millions of salmon and enormous bears -- Alaska can only be described in superlatives.
Here is the highest peak in North America, (Mt. Denali at 20,230 feet, also known as Mt. McKinley), and more than 3 million lakes and 100 million acres of forest. Wolves, moose, grizzlies, mountain goats, Dall sheep, whales, birds and wildflowers are among Alaska's many attractions.
This trip is designed especially for the first-time visitor who wishes to enjoy the variety of wildlife and magnificent scenery that Alaska has to offer. Glacier Bay, Katmai and Denali National Parks are among the most beautiful areas in the world and provide some of the richest wildlfe habitats.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
$1,560 PP/DO for economy, $1,635 for first class and $1,890 for luxury. Prices include accommodations, transportation in Vietnam, most meals and guide services. Individuals pay $140 to $525 more for own room.
A 10-day tour of Vietnam from Absolute Asia showcases the country from two vantage points -- on foot through the central Highlands and afloat on the South China Sea aboard a replica of a 19th-century sailing junk.
The itinerary begins in Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon. There is ample opportunity to sample Vietnam's spiritual and cultural history with visits to the Emperor's Palace, Glac Laun and other important pagodas and monuments in the city. A tour of the tunnels of Chu Chi, remnants of the U.S.-Vietnam war, is also scheduled.
Travelers spend the next three days exploring the scenic mountain region of the central Highlands, surrounding the old city of Dalat.
The high peaks and jungles are home to a variety of wildlife including elephants, tigers, wild boars and tropical birds. The area is also known for its ethnic hill tribes. Accommodations are in rustic wood huts.
You journey next to the idyllic fishing village of Nha Trang where you board the Song Saigon for two nights, exploring the clear waters, coral reefs, secluded beaches and remote villages off Vietnam's unspoiled coast.
You return to Ho Chi Minh City for an additional night before departure.
Travelers can book the treks or sailing safari separately.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
From $2,290 PP/DO, with an additional fee of $350 for individual accommodations.
Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
Isolated in the mid-Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands present a living museum of geology ad island biology. Honey creepers, silverswords, lapalapa trees and 6-foot violets are but a few of the astonishing life forms that have evolved over millions of years.
Spectacular effects of volcanism have molded a fascinating story of natural history for thoses visitors who wish to discover the real Hawaii, away from resorts and development.
On Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, you study marine life, native plants, birds and active volcaoes. Humpback whales are a special focus in their Hawaiian calving habitat from December to April.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Absolute Asia offers several versions of this tour, ranging from 14 to 34 days. Price varies from economy to deluxe. The 21-day tour costs $5,615 for economy, $5,890 for first class and $6,335 for luxury. Price includes transportation from Bangkok, meals, lodging, guide and transportation on the tour.
Indochina, made up of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, is by far the most fascinating and unique travel destination to open up to Western travelers in recent years.
Isolated from the rest of the world for decades, you now have the opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring Hindu/Buddhist shrine at Angkor Wat in the jungle of northern Cambodia, ride an elephant along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos and stroll along the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City.
During this 21-day tour, you first visit Hanoi, the capital of modern Vietnam. It is a pleasant, slow-paced city with a rich history. You visit the 11th-century Temple of Literature and the One Pillar Pagoda. You view the Opera House and Army Museum and stop at Hanoi's beautiful lakes, spacious parks, small cafes and shaded boulevards.
Next, you visit Hue, the former imperial capital on the banks of the Perfume River. You visit the ruins of the former Imperial Palace and take an excursion into the lush countryside for visits to the Royal Tombs.
In Danang, the Museum of Cham Sculpture has one of the finest collections of statuary documenting the Hindu influence upon the Cham people.
Next, you go to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and explore the Mekong Delta region.
In Cambodia, you visit Phnom Penh with its Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace and the Central and Russian Markets.
In Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, you view the famous temples built between the 7th and 11th centuries during the height of the Khmer civilization. Unquestionably one of the wonders of the ancient world, there are more than 100 temples at Angkor Wat.
Your journey next takes you to Laos and its capital, Vientiane, on the banks of the Mekong River. It is brimming with ancient temples, beautiful gardens and fascinating museums.
North of Vientiane, you see the Royal Palace and the Pak Ou Caves with a thousand Buddhas. You can take an optional excursion to the Plain of Jars nearby.
You next visit a remote region, Pakse, the Tad Lo Waterfalls near the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail and Khong Island where you can see freshwater dolphins.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
Courtesy Nature Expeditions International.
$2,290 PP/DO with an additional fee of $380 for individual accommodations. Trip prices include lodging; most meals; all land and sea transportation; transfer to and from group flights; all sightseeing; tips for baggage handling, hotel and restaurant service; local guides; instruction and leadership.
The spectacular landscapes of the American Southwest contain some of the world's greatest archaeological centers. Towering buttes, deep canyons, high plateaus, and rugged ochre-colored rock form a magnifcent backdrop to the beautiful ancient dwellings of Native American cultures.
The Spanish explorer Coronado never found the fabled gold of the Seven Cities of Cibolla, but you will study treasures just as great in the civilizations of the Anasazi, Hopi, Navajo and Pueblo.
During this tour, you study their histories, ways of life, religion, agriculture, architecture, handicrafts and natural environments.
You also see how American Indians are faring and preserving their culture today.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
$3,225 PP/DO excluding airfare to Indonesia. Pay $825 more for own room. Price includes accommodations, guides, other transportation and most meals.
Indonesia is 13,677 islands. On one, you see ancient tombs and man-made caves hung with effigies, carved into the face of sheer mountain cliffs.
On another, you view temples that were hundreds of years old before Notre Dame was even thought of. You will remember this Absolute Asia tour of Indonesia for a lifetime.
This 20-day tour begins in Denpasar, the capital of lovely Bali where you spend four days observing local craftspeople, visiting a sacred spring and the thousand-year-old temple at Tampaksiring. You see the still-active volcano Mt. Batur and view the famous Elephant Cave.
Next, you journey to Yogyakarta, Java's leading cultural center, where you spend three days. You see the Sultan's palace, museums, the world's most ornate Buddhist temple and view priceless jewelry and antique collections in Solo.
On Day 9, you take a brief flight to Balikpapan on Kalimantan where you board a houseboat for a cruise to Dayak Land.
You eventually arrive at Muara Muntai and travel upriver by canoe, passing fishing villages along the way. You arrive at Tamjung Isuy, home of the colorful Benuaq Dayaks.
On this journey, you visit several islands and see the culture and daily lives of many tribal people. You spend two nights in Rantepao, where you spend the days observing the fascinating life of village people.
You journey to the Northern Territory and visit the oldest village in the area. You also visit the Royal Temple when you return to Bali and visit a temple in Sangeh, which is inhabited by a tribe of monkeys.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
Courtesy Absolute Asia.
$2,225 PP/DO for economy class, $2,450 for first class and $2,850 for luxury class. Price includes transportation from Bangkok, meals, lodging and guide services.
Thailand is different from all its neighbors in Southeast Asia. It has never been colonized and retains a traditional Buddhist culture under a constitutional monarchy. According to Absolute Asia tour organizers, it is like no place else on earth.
During this 16-day exploration of Thailand, conducted in an air-conditioned van, you explore the cities, but also venture off the beaten track to visit a remote hill town in the north.
Your first full day in Bangkok includes a longtail boat ride down the River of the Kings to visit Bangkok Noi and the Royal Barge Museum. You visit the Temple of Dawn and then view the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Your stay includes a visit to the Vimanmek Teakwood Palace, and you have time to wander through Bangkok on your own.
You visit Phitsanulok and Sukhothai, stopping at the National Museum. From Si Satchanalai, you drive to a village known for its larger-than-life wood carvings of elephants and water buffalo. You stop in Chiang Mai, following the path of ancient monks to Wat Phra That atop Doi Suthep. You arrive just as the sun is burning the mist off the hills, and have plenty of time to shop and wander through this town.
On Day 7, you fly to Mae Hong Son and visit the lake and several temples. The next day, you travel on foot and by elephant through some of the most unspoiled rain forest in Southeast Asia. After a picnic lunch, you return by raft down the Pai River to Mae Hong Son.
Next, you visit the Tham Pla Cave and hike to the Cave Lodge, then spend the night in the "Pai in the Sky" bungalows.
After visiting local monasteries, you visit the hot springs at Pha Bong and spend a night in the Mae Kok River Lodge.
On Day 11, you visit several hill tribes in remote areas northeast of Tatorn and have a picnic lunch on the Mae Kok River. You board a longtail boat for a journey downriver to Chiang Rai.
You spend a full day touring the Golden Triangle and then visit Hmong villages. You spend your last days in Thailand in Chiang Khong and Bangkok.
Absolute Asia offers a wide variety of tours of Thailand, varying in length and region of the country. Call for more information.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Lili Winslow. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,190 per person plus $256 for flight to Bagdogra. Price includes meals, other transportation, accommodations and guide services. Excludes airfare to Delhi.
This Overseas Adventure Travel tour explores the remote Kingdom of Sikkim in northern India, which borders Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
The challenging 18-day trek offers you a close-up view of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world at 28,185 feet. You explore the mountain wilderness of this Buddhist kingdom where few Westerners have been.
As you trek ever upward through forest and small villages, you experience a culture that has changed very little over the centuries.
You also take in some of the most extraordinary mountain vistas in the entire Himalaya range.
An added highlight is a visit to the old British hill station of Darjeeling, which straddles a ridge surrounded by tea plantations at 7,000 feet.
You fly to Delhi, and your group leader meets your connecting flight to Bagdogra in West Bengal. From here you drive into Sikkim. You spend two nights in Gangtok, Sikkim's capital, and visit Rumtek Gompa, the largest and most powerful Buddhist monastery in the region.
On Day 5, you begin your trek on foot from Yuksom, Sikkim's old capital. For the next nine nights, you camp with full services in roomy U.S.-made tents.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on "no trace" camping techniques during its treks. Tour leaders have also financially supported schools and conservation projects in the areas they explore and were founding members of Himalayan Guides for Responsible Tourism.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Gina Halpern. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,990 PP, plus $166 for internal flight from Kathmandu. Price includes accommodations, meals, guides and other transportation. Excludes airfare to Kathmandu.
Is it possible to experience the majesty of Mt. Everest and learn about the fascinating culture of the Sherpas in just two weeks?
Overseas Adventure Travel says yes. This popular trip introduces you to the magical Khumbu region of Nepal and to the Sherpas who call it home.
The warmth and friendliness of these resilient people have always been among the most enchanting aspects of OAT's many Himalayan adventures.
Though you stay at moderate elevations, you enjoy extraordinary close-up views of the looming Himalaya, including Everest, Ama Dablan, Lhotse and Cho Oyu. Throughout your adventure, you have an intimate look at the culture of the Sherpas, who retain their ancient Buddhist traditions despite the intrusions of modern life.
At each village camp, you have the option of sleeping in a tent or in the home of one of OAT's Sherpa friends.
You spend two days exploring Kathmandu and then fly to Lukla to meet your Sherpa guides. You trek to Namche Bazaar and explore the isolated community of Thami at 12,400 feet. You next hike to Tengboche and explore the beautifully rebuilt Tengboche Monastery, destroyed by fire in 1989.
You spend the last two days in Lukla or Kathmandu, depending on weather and flights.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping techniques. Tour leaders have financially supported schools and conservation projects in the areas they explore and they were founding members of Himalayan Guides for Responsible Tourism.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Jim Traverso. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Cynthia Gould. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,190 PP includes transportation, meals, accommodations and guide services. Excludes airfare to Nepal.
This Overseas Adventure Travel tour is a perfect introduction to the many delights of Nepal. You enjoy a remarkable variety of great adventures in just two weeks away from home. Experience three of the finest pursuits available in Nepal: classic mountain trekking, whitewater rafting and game viewing in the jungle.
You trek along an ancient trade route rich in Nepali culture, passing through villages virtually untouched by modern tourism.
A wet and wild rafting trip takes you down the churning whitewater of the Trisuli River. You then retreat to the comfort of a luxury bush camp in the heart of the Royal Chitwan National Park, home of the elusive Bengal tiger and more than 800 species of birds.
Explore this magnificent park on foot, by dugout canoe and, best of all, search out families of rhinoceros astride an Indian elephant.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Trip organizers have financially supported schools and conservation projects in the areas they explore and they were founding members of Himalayan Guides for Responsible Tourism.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,175 PP, plus $125 for return flight to Kathmandu. Price includes, accommodations, meals, guide services and other transportation. Excludes airfare to Kathmandu.
Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) loves to introduce people to the joys of trekking in the Himalaya. You hike along ancient mountain paths past terraced rice paddies, gazing up at the highest mountains in the world.
Here, you also meet some of the most congenial people in Asia.
Trekking is an experience that changes you forever -- and OAT wants to make it accessible to everyone.
This moderate-altitude trek, exclusive to OAT, offers a full-service Himalayan adventure at an exceptional value. An OAT group leader is with you from beginning to end. You explore a region of central Nepal overlooked by other visitors, where the hospitality at local villages is warm and the views of the snow-capped peaks are inspiring.
The trip begins and concludes in Kathmandu, giving you plenty of time to explore this mysterious city.
You see Dhauligiri, the Annapurna range, Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal as you cross the Bijuli Danda ridge and trek to the Gorkha Palace.
At the end of each day, you enjoy delicious meals prepared by your Sherpa guides and camp beneath the sparkling Himalayan stars.
Your trip concludes at Pokhara with the classic panorama of the Annapurna range reflected in Phewa Tal Lake.
This trip has an affordable price, but OAT hasn't compromised its standards of quality, safety and leadership.
A special version of this tour just for singles departs Dec. 18.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Trip organizers have financially supported schools and conservation projects in the areas they explore and they were founding members of Himalayan Guides for Responsible Tourism.
Photo by Lili Winslow. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Lili Winslow. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,750 PP plus $225 for internal flight. Price includes meals, accommodations, transportation and guide services. Excludes airfare to Nepal.
Overseas Adventure Travel waited a decade for the government of Nepal to open the fabled trekking route around Manaslu. In November 1991, nine intrepid OAT field testers, a senior group leader and the best Sherpa guides constituted the first organized American trekking group allowed around this extraordinary circuit.
It was worth the wait, as you shall see.
This adventure takes you to one of the least-traveled places on earth. You begin among the lovely Hindu villages of the Buri Gandaki River Valley and penetrate the spine of the Himalaya through a deep rock gorge that predates the towering peaks.
You emerge in the high Buddhist country known as Nupri. Trekking along yak traders' routes to within sight of Tibet, you cross the glaciated Larkya La at 17,100 feet.
On the descent, through a kaleidoscope of climates, you see magnificent mountain views including Himalchuli and, of course, the stunning massif of Manaslu, its highest peak reaching 26,752 feet.
One member of OAT's field testing group captured the feeling of this region : "This is what the Annapurna circuit must have been like in the 1950s."
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Trip organizers have financially supported schools and conservation projects in the areas they explore and they were founding members of Himalayan Guides for Responsible Tourism.
Early and Late Season Specials--save up to $100.00.
Seniors--$50.00 off with proof of membership in Senior organization.
Early Season Booking -- Book by February 1st and save $50.00.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
Courtesy Alaska Wildland Adventures.
From $799 to $1,249, PP/DO. Trip prices include round trip airfare from Anchorage, airport transfers at destination, naturalist guide, sightseeing and shared accommodations. Meals and gratuities are not included. Single accommodations are not available.
This trip offers quality wildlife experiences and a window through which you can observe native life on one of the most remote islands in the world.
St. Paul, one of the Pribilof Islands, is known throughout the world for its bird rookeries. Each year, thousands of birds come to the islands to nest. Other wildlife make their home on or near the island. There is a resident herd of reindeer, as well as Arctic blue fox and more than 600,000 fur seals.
On a visit to St. Paul, you have rare opportunities to watch and photograph puffins, red-legged and thick-billed murres, parakeet, least and crested auklets, fulmars and thousands of northern fur seals, harbor seals and sea lions. Whales migrate in the surrounding waters. Bird watchers come from all over the world to see and photograph some of the 210 species that have been sighted here.
St. Paul is also known for its rich cultural heritage. The native Aleut community is the largest in the world. Most of your guides are local residents who can provide you with naturalist , cultural and historical information.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Richard Estes. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,890 PP plus $410 for internal flight. Includes meals, other transportation, guide services and accommodations. Excludes airfare to Tanzania.
Many consider the perfect African safari to feature spectacular game viewing each day, followed by a hot shower, excellent food and a real bed each night.
Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) has designed a tour to accommodate all those wishes for comfort.
Each day is filled with unsurpassed wildlife, and each evening you enjoy outstanding service from the OAT staff at deluxe tented camps interspersed with overnights at beautiful game park lodges.
According to OAT tour organizers, Tanzania is truly otherworldly. Here, you can travel for days viewing endless plains covered with all the wildlife you can imagine. This is a true Garden of Eden, known only to a privileged few.
You visit extraordinary game parks, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Parks. You walk through seldom-seen areas of Tanzania and meet the Masai people as you visit their remote villages.
You won't miss any photo opportunity from OAT's specially-designed safari vehicles, and you won't miss a single sighting with the experienced eyes of your expert guides.
You fly in and out of Arusha for this 16-day tour.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by David Stitt. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Richard Estes. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,690 PP, and $1,890 PP during June and July. Price includes accommodations, meals, ground transportation, camping equipment and guides. Excludes airfare to Arusha, Tanzania.
Introducing people to Tanzania has been a goal of Overseas Adventure Travel for years, and they now have a way to make it more affordable.
This popular safari introduces you to the magnificent wildlife of Tanzania's classic game parks, including Lake Manyara, Tarangire, magical Ngorongoro Crater and world-famous Serengeti.
Visit the villages of the proud cattle-herding Masai while exploring remote areas of Africa known only to a privileged few.
This is the Africa of legend and film, where elephants stomp through thorny bush country and prides of lions laze in the sun.
There are endless opportunities for game viewing and photography and you enjoy direct contact with the environment in OAT's comfortable tented camps.
You spend two days in the 2,000-foot deep Ngorongoro Crater, two days in the Serengeti National Park and two days in Masailand and Soguna.
You also spend two days in Olduvai Gorge and at Lake Manyara National Park, known for its prolific birdlife and large groups of hippos.
Your last two days are spent in Tarangire National Park, the third-largest in Tanzania, before you return to Arusha and home.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by David Stitt. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Rick Thomson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,450 PP plus $435 in park fees. Includes ground transportation, meals, accommodations and guide services. Excludes airfare to Rwanda.
Of all the experiences you can have in Africa, one stands out as the most moving for Overseas Adventure Travel tour organizers -- quietly observing mountain gorillas playing, feeding and grooming each other.
This very personal experience is just one highlight on this mountain gorilla and Serengeti safari.
On this superlative wildlife expedition, you enter one of the last wild preserves of the reclusive gorillas of Rwanda for an extraordinary encounter with these rare primates.
You view gorillas and have a classic wildlife safari and a mini-overland expedition through remote, rarely-visited villages of East Africa.
You camp and view game in the best parks in Tanzania, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire, watching the vast herds roam wild across sun-drenched savannas.
This combination tour of rural Africa, Tanzania's wildlife and the gorillas, set amidst spectacular scenery, should not be missed.
You fly into Kigali, Rwanda, and spend two days in its Parc des Volcans. Most of the estimated 300 remaining mountain gorillas live in the forested volcanic slopes of the park. The gorillas are accustomed to humans so you can quietly approach to within 10 feet and sit near the family group.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Gary Balfour. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Judi Wineland. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$5,320 PP plus $435 park fees, excludes airfare to Tanzania. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
This ultimate safari transports you by road and on air to see the spectacular wildlife of southeastern Africa.
The tour is led by Dr. Richard Estes, an expert on the behavior of African mammals. He has written two books, "The Behavior Guide to African Mammals," and "The Safari Companion," a unique behavioral guide to African mammalian behavior.
Dr. Estes has led OAT trips since 1982 and this tour takes full advantage of his knowledge and experience. He explains what is behind the wildebeest migration, the reason for a serval cat's behavior or the mating habits of the lordly lion -- shedding light on an amazing diversity of behavior you probably never thought about before.
You see animal behavior first on a week-long safari in Tanzania's Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Next, you board a small aircraft for a bird's-eye view of the extraordinary wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration, when millions of the animals thunder across the African plains.
Finally, Dr. Estes takes you deep into the forested Virunga Mountains of Rwanda for a close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Judi Wineland. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Don Normark. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,690 PP plus $560 park fees, excludes airfare to Arusha, Tanzania. Includes other transportation, meals, accommodations and guide services.
One of the most extraordinary friends Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) has in Africa is Jane Goodall, whose studies of chimpanzees have won wide acclaim.
Taking advantage of Jane's insight and enthusiastic support, OAT has developed the most extensive East African safari available, combining rare encounters with Africa's most fascinating primates, visits to Tanzania's most spectacular game reserves and overland travel to Lake Tanganyika, Burundi, Rwanda and other parts of rural East Africa.
You can be among the fortunate few to observe chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, where Jane has spent years in research. You also visit the chimp's larger cousin, the majestic mountain gorilla in its natural habitat in the forested Virunga mountains of Rwanda.
Imagine watching these peaceful creatures going about their daily lives, just a few feet away from you.
You spend seven days on safari in Tanzania's best game parks, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire where the wildlife is unsurpassed in numbers and splendor.
You also travel overland to observe rural African life in remote villages.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by David Breashears. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Richard Estes. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,150 PP, plus $400 in park fees, excludes airfare to Dar es Salaam. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
This unusual two-week adventure takes you away from the crowds and introduces you to Tanzania's most remarkable, and least accessible, wildlife parks.
Ruaha National Park and Selous Wildlife Reserve are virtually undiscovered by outsiders, yet they contain an incredible variety of rare game, including the great kudu, sable antelope and large elephant populations.
Selous is Africa's largest preserve, with more big game than anywhere else on earth.
The animals here are unaccustomed to human intrusion and the air is charged with a very special frontier energy.
Both Ruaha and Selous are almost entirely undeveloped, offering you an unforgettable look at an Africa that is, as yet, untamed.
You explore the woodland terrain of these extraordinary "last frontiers" by vehicle, on foot and by boat on the might Rufiji River.
Exceptional game viewing is around every corner. Cap off your adventure with a three-day visit to magnificent Ngorongoro Crater.
For those seeking a fresh perspective on the wilds of Tanzania, in a land of rugged beauty, this is the ideal tour.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by David French. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by David French. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,640 PP plus $140 park fees, excludes airfare to Lusaka, Zambia. Includes other transportation, meals, accommodations and guide services.
Overseas Adventure Travel works hard to bring people closer to the wild beauty of Africa.
On this new adventure from OAT, you experience the majesty of Zambia on foot. This two-week adventure removes the barriers between you and the wildlife of Zambia's extraordinary parks.
In Lower Zambezi National Park, you canoe the Zambezi River where human visitors are rare, but hundreds of hippos, elephant and lions drink daily from this river.
You also set out for a night game run (in a four-wheel-drive vehicle) in search of the elusive leopard and other unusual nocturnal creatures.
On foot, you explore beautiful South Luangwa National Park, enjoy unforgettable close encounters with the park's 50 species of game, including crocodile, wildebeest and giraffe, and more than 400 species of birds.
Venturing deeper into even more remote wilderness to Kuyenda Bush Camp, you stay in this exclusive camp restricted to only seven people per night. Your adventure also includes a visit to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the opportunity to raft down the exciting Zambezi River.
Throughout this adventure, you stay in authentic wilderness camps, complete with thatched roofs and rooms decorated in African decor.
Since 1981, Overseas Adventure has prided itself on its "no trace" camping and touring techniques. Tour leaders are wildlife experts and know how to get you close to animals without harassing them. They have also financially supported the conservation education programs of the African Wildlife Federation.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Suzanne Russell. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,590 PP, excludes airfare to Morocco. Price includes meals, lodging, other transportation and guide services.
Hidden in the vast Sahara Desert are tiny oases where time seems frozen in an earlier age.
Your tour leader in Marrakesh, Mark Gordon, has sought them out to share them with you during this Morocco Sahara Odyssey.
On this unique desert adventure, you drive across Morocco's snowcapped mountains to the Sahara, sharing unforgettable cultural encounters with the Berber and Tuareg peoples. You also explore the exquisite, ancient imperial cities of Morocco, including Meknes, sparkling Rabat on the Atlantic coast, teeming Fez and mysterious Marrakesh.
The terrain varies from rich, irrigated agricultural land to pine and cedar forests, and from towering sinuous dunes in the Sahara to the rugged Middle and High Atlas Mountains.
This adventure combines camping in the Sahara under star-studded skies with a variety of hotels for a vivid and varied encounter with colorful Morocco.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Enver Lucas. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Enver Lucas. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Enver Lucas. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,990 PP plus $186 internal airfare. Price excludes airfare to Istanbul but includes meals, accommodations, guide services and other transportation.
Discovering the hidden gems of Turkey is the passion of Overseas Adventure Travel tour guide Enver Lucas, OAT's man in Istanbul.
He shares his secrets of this extraordinary country with you during this tour. Traveling with a small group of adventurers, you explore Turkey as few visitors do. The highlight of this adventure is an idyllic, eight-day cruise along Turkey's Aegean coast aboard a traditional sailing gulet, with lots of time to explore deserted islets and ancient ruins and snorkel in jade-green waters.
Trek through the tufa hills of Cappadocia where people live in "fairy chimneys" carved out of huge, eroded limestone spires.
Meet artisans in Avanos and discover hidden streets, markets and cafes in Istanbul.
Immerse yourself in the daily lives of several families in the rugged Taurus Mountains.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Alden. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,490 PP plus $374 for internal airfare, excludes airfare to Quito. Price includes meals, cruise, accommodations, guide services and other transportation.
For sheer natural beauty and diversity, there are few places that rival Ecuador.
This physically active adventure takes you from the rain forest of the Amazon basin to the high Andes and then on to the fascinating ecosystem of the Galapagos archipelago, situated 600 miles off Ecuador's coast.
You explore the lush tributaries of the Amazon, traveling by dugout canoe through the Cuyabeno Reserve with its howler monkeys and colorful macaws.
Next, you trek up to 15,000 feet on Mount Chimborazo, the highest peak in Ecuador.
Along the way, you enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes. You visit the colonial city of Quito and the bustling, colorful Otavalo Market. You board OAT's 12-passenger motorized yacht for a week-long cruise off the Galapagos Islands.
As you swim, snorkel and hike these volcanic isles, you savor close encounters with iguanas, sea lions, penguins, albatross and more of the world's rarest and most fascinating creatures.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Frances Worthy. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Ken Laffal. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Ken Laffal. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,290 PP, excludes airfare to Quito. Includes meals, lodging, guide services and other transportation.
Although many people would love to explore South America, they don't have much time to get away.
This Overseas Adventure Travel tour is the perfect answer. You discover Ecuador's magnificent northern highlands during this week-long, active exploration.
On this tour, you escape the beaten path by hiking and immersing yourself in the fascinating cultural traditions and breathtaking natural beauty of the region.
You bicycle through small villages where weavers and artisans ply their crafts. On this tour, you travel countryside rarely visited by tourists, past lush green farms and soaring volcanoes.
Along the way, you meet friendly and industrious inhabitants of the Otavalo Valley and visit the famous Otavalo market, with its incredible variety of traditional crafts. At the end of each active day, you stay in a delightful rural inn or hacienda.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,590 per person excludes airfare to Quito. Price includes meals, accommodations, guide services and other transportation.
The Amazon rain forest is more than one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in the world. It is also the focus of a critical conservation debate.
While crowds have descended on Brazil's rain forests, Overseas Adventure has found a quiet corner of southeastern Ecuador that is largely undiscovered by outsiders.
This innovative and affordable adventure allows you to explore the upper reaches of the Amazon watershed from the snows of the Andean summits to the tropical rain forest.
You trek to a crater at 13,775 feet on the El Altar vocano where walls of rock and glacial ice tower 3,000 feet above you.
Next, you fly to a remote rain forest lodge, where expert Shuar guides reveal the wonders of this endangered habitat as you walk the trails that lead to sacred waterfalls and hot springs deep in the dense forest.
During this 12-day tour, you canoe, swim and shower under waterfalls, bathe in thermal springs and meet the Shuar people, struggling to retain their unique Amazon culture.
Photo by Ken Laffal. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Elizabeth Dyer. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,990 PP plus $201 for internal flight. Price excludes airfare to La Paz, Bolivia, but includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
Overseas Adventure Travel has developed a trip that highlights the remarkable diversity of Bolivia and Peru.
On this adventure, you gain a comprehensive view of the four faces of the land of the Incas, including Lake Titicaca, the highlands of Cuzco and La Paz, the Amazon and the Pacific coast.
You are immersed in a rich cultural tradition with roots in the Inca and ancient pre-Inca civilizations. You explore Inca and colonial architecture of Cuzco and experience the energy, natural beauty and wildlife of the lush Amazon rain forest.
You spend a night as guests of the Quechua people of Taquile Island on cobalt-blue Lake Titicaca in the Altiplano and ponder the mysterious Nazca Lines and desert of the Pacific coast.
A two-day visit to Machu Picchu provides plenty of time for you to puzzle over the extraordinary "Lost City of the Incas." Enjoy an unforgettable natural and cultural experience on one of OAT's most diverse trips.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$775 to $1,025 PP/DO including all meals. $600 per person for six-person bachelor/ette cabins. Child under 12 sharing cabin with two adults charged 50 percent of adult fare. Excludes airfare, but special discounts available.
The Fantome, flagship of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises's fleet, combines the romance and traditions of the past with modern comforts.
Sailing in the Bahamas in the summer, Fantome alternates weekly from the Bahama Bank Islands and the Out Islands, where you can enjoy infinite stretches of beach, magnificent coral reefs and picturesque straw markets.
Winters find the Fantome based in Antigua, alternating weekly from the North and South Leeward Island where you will find European charm and customs combined with lush tropical vistas. Ports of call may include St. Kitts, St. Barts, Saint Maarten, Montserrat, Gaudeloupe in the French West Indies, Isle des Saintes and Dominica.
Built in 1927 for the Duke of Westminster, the 282-foot Fantome is among the world's largest four-masted stay-sail schooners.
During your six-day cruise, you enjoy a casual lifestyle, sumptuous meals and see parts of the Caribbean overlooked by large cruise ships. You can take a turn at the helm, hoist a sail and attend informal sailing classes, or just relax and bask in the sun.
Requires ability to climb in and out of launches and up and down stairs while at sea.
Courtesy Sun Wind BIC Center.
Courtesy Sun Wind BIC Center.
Courtesy Sun Wind BIC Center.
Packages are available including windsurfing equipment, accommodations and transportation. Costs vary depending on time of year and length of stay.
Sun Wind BIC Center is located at the center of Golden Beach, Paros Island's largest and most beautiful beach. Well-known for the strong seasonal breezes called "meltemi" that blow 80 percent of the time, Paros attracts windsurfers from all over the world.
The breezes are made even stronger by a wind channel created between Paros and its neighboring island of Naxos.
All skill levels of windsurfers can sail here. Waters tend to be flat inside the protected bay at Golden Beach, while outside the bay are waves. In September and October, the rarer sirocco wind often prevails, generating bigger waves.
Paros, the island in the middle of the Cyclades group, is noted for its well-preserved traditional character, including white cuboid houses with painted doorways. It is also known for its crystal-clear Aegean waters, friendly locals, excellent food and spirited nightlife.
The season goes from mid-April to mid-October. Sun Wind's seasonal address is Fisilani, Marpissa, Paros 84400, Greece, tel: 30-284-41789.
Windsurfers of all skill levels can sail here. Difficulty depends on individual's experience and prevailing wind conditions.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Sue Massey. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Jayne Lipman. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by D. Levinson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Jayne Lipman. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,990 PP plus $178 for internal airfare. Price excludes airfare to Lima, but includes other transportation, guide services, food and lodging.
No one has more experience planning trips in the Peruvian Andes than Overseas Adventure's operations staff in Cuzco. They consistently design adventures in off-the-beaten-track places.
During this two-week trip, you trek for one week on a challenging route into the heart of the towering Vilcabamba range in the Andes. You are accompanied by an expert leader who provides insights into this fascinating culture.
You also have among the best-trained camp staff in the Andes, cooks who create incredible feasts and you have pack animals that carry your gear.
Avoiding the popular Inca Trail, you trek in the shadow of 20,600-foot Mt. Salcantay to the foot of its glacier. Next, you descend 8,000 feet into a lush jungle valley filled with flowers, including the exotic orchid.
You reach Machu Picchu, the fabled Lost City of the Incas, dramatically perched on a mountaintop. You also explore the colonial city of Cuzco and raft the whitewater of the Vilcanota River in the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas.
You can add an optional one-week extension to visit Bolivia and Lake Titicaca.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Elizabeth Dyer. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Elizabeth Dyer. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$3,150 PP plus $270 for internal airfare. Excludes airfare to Santiago, but includes other transportation, meals, accommodations and guide services.
In Patagonia, the elements of sky, sea, mountain and glacier come together in a spectacular display of natural beauty.
Here, steep glaciers plunge into the sea, condors soar above granite peaks and the shore is cut by immense fjords.
Guided by Overseas Adventure Travel staff, you explore the Patagonian wilderness on foot, by raft, boat and overland vehicle.
Hike below towering granite spires in Paine Towers National Park. Raft down isolated rivers to the Pacific Ocean, enjoying magnificent views of mountains and immense glaciers.
You camp in delightful beech forests and flower-filled meadows, then cruise the superb fjords between the steep rock walls of Last Hope Sound.
Throughout the trip, you find diverse marine wildlife, from guanacos to penguins, and from sea lions to killer whales. This is an adventure as rare and beautiful as Patagonia itself.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by G. Ziegler. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by G. Ziegler. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by G. Ziegler. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,690 PP, excludes airfare to El Paso, Texas. Includes meals, camping equipment, guides, accommodations and other transportation.
This Overseas Adventure Travel tour takes you on an 11-day exploration of Mexico's most oustanding geologic wonder -- the Baranca del Cobre or Copper Canyon.
Rivaling the Grand Canyon in size and grandeur, Copper Canyon is still extremely pristine. On this adventure, you journey into the heart of the Sierra Madre by scenic train, then trek to the canyon floor on foot.
Along the way, you encounter the Tarahumara Indians, who live in small villages nestled in the canyon walls, much as their ancestors did centuries ago.
Your adventure takes you from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, with plenty of time to take in the majestic scenery, explore the canyon's cliffs and gorges and visit Indian villages.
Transport yourself to another place and time .... without leaving North America.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Rick Thomson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Nancy Allen. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,890 for adults and $1,390 for children, with additional $300 park fees. Price excludes airfare to Arusha, Tanzania, but includes other transportation, guides, food and lodging.
When Overseas Adventure Travel founder Judi Wineland started a family of her own, she wanted to share the wonders of Africa with her two daughters.
Seeking the advice of teachers, doctors, parents and travel experts, she designed the ultimate African adventure for children and their parents.
The Serengeti Family Safari offers your family a safe, fascinating and fun learning experience.
Explore Africa's most spectacular game reserves on safari, observing storybook animals in their natural habitat -- right in front of you. You will be amazed by the sumptuous meals cooked outdoors by experienced chefs, and enjoy sleeping comfortably in tents under the brilliant African sky.
Meet the proud Masai people as you visit their villages in the Soguna region, and visit children at school in a rural town. Each day is an unforgettable shared event you and your children will treasure forever.
Children can reinforce what they see by sketching animal pictures, marking their own animal checklist and reading background material provided in their own personal logbook.
Why take kids to the zoo when you can experience Africa together?
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Linda Cousens. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Linda Cousens. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$1,790 for adults and $1,390 for children. Price does not include airfare to San Jose, but includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
Escape with your children to a lush, tropical paradise to enjoy a fun, educational and enriching experience in one of the most beautiful tropical destinations in the Americas.
Despite its small area, Costa Rica has an incredibly diverse collection of ecosystems, from powdery sand beaches and volcano-studded highlands to lush rain forests.
Share this magnificent Pacific paradise with your children, from Poas Volcano to La Providencia Ecological Reserve and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Watch the wonder on your children's faces as they observe myriad species of colorful birds, butterflies and sea creatures while hiking on a volcano or floating down a river.
See them build cultural and ecological bridges as they plant trees with local children.
This active family trip, with participation in ecological projects, is an enriching adventure you and your children will cherish long after your tans have faded.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Lawrence Krasnow. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Linda Cousens. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$2,390 plus $374 internal airfare for adults and $1,590 plus additional $192 airfare for children. Excludes airfare to Quito. Includes meals, accommodations, guides and other transportation.
If the Galapagos Islands are fascinating for adults, they are positively spellbinding for children. With this special adventure, you and your family are introduced to Darwin's "natural laboratory of evolution."
This two-week Overseas Adventure tour is designed to provide you and your children a safe, fascinating and fun learning experience in the world's most extraordinary ecosystems. Imagine your children's wonder as they observe iguanas and boobies at close range or swim alongside sea lion pups and penguins.
You spend one week cruising through a Galapagos archipelago on a comfortable yacht complete with cooks and a naturalist guide.
On the mainland, you can take a two-day trek on Mount Chimborazo for a real challenge and a spectacular view of the Ecuadoran Andes.
You also experience the traditional cultures of Ecuador through visits to Quito, rural villages, markets, a school and homes.
You can also stand right at the equator. This adventure is an unforgettable, shared experience for all.
Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Judith Wilson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Judith Wilson. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$950 for adults and $750 for children. Excludes airfare to Calgary, Alberta. Price includes accommodations, meals, guide services and other transportation.
In just seven days, you and your family can share this active and educational adventure in the spectacular mountains, meadows and glaciers of British Columbia in Canada.
Your base of operations is Goat Mountain Lodge, a rustic log chalet that serves delicious family-style, home-cooked meals.
Accompanied by expert naturalist guides, you hike to Mummery Glacier, ride trails on horseback, take a thrilling helicopter flight into the mountains and raft down the Kicking Horse River.
With breathtaking scenery, glimpses of elk, deer and mountain goats and the comforts of the lodge each night, this is a perfect way to experience the mountains with your family.
The trip begins in Calgary and you are transported by bus to Goat Mountain Lodge. During your stay, you and your children are taken on a helicopter ride across the valley and into nearby ranges.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Glen Oliver. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
$3,795 PP/DO, including lodging, meals and transportation from/to Winnipeg.
Hudson Bay, a vast inland sea in northeast Canada, covers 300,000 square miles and for thousands of years has provided the means of survival for people in this region.
The Hudson Bay program offered by Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures offers you access to the many animals in this Arctic region and the chance to experience a northern summer way of life.
Beginning in Churchill, you observe hundreds of beluga or "white" whales from a boat, then head to the tundra aboard vehicles where you find a myriad of shorebirds, waterfowl and birds of prey, as well as Arctic fox and an occasional polar bear.
You journey north of the Arctic Circle for a brief stay in Repulse Bay, then visit Coral Harbour, the gateway to Southampton Island and a living reminder of the Inuit lifestyle.
Next, you travel to Coats Island and Native Point where you can see harp, ringed and bearded seals, various whales, a colony of walrus that numbers in the thousands, and herds of caribou.
The tour includes a stay in an Inuit tented camp.
Photo by Richard Estes. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Carole Angermeir. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Jennifer Ratcliff. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$4,490 PP excludes airfare to Arusha. Includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
The Masai people in Tanzania are struggling to sustain one of the last cultures, unspoiled by Western civilization, on earth.
Join this fascinating Overseas Adventure Travel tour to the heart of Masailand, where you will have a rare opportunity to live in the world of the Masai women.
To bridge the barrier between the Masai and you, an educated Tanzanian interpreter, involved with women's issues, will help you to share thoughts, impressions and concerns.
You can choose to work with the Masai women as they cook ugali (the Tanzanian equivalent of rice), milk cows, or bead skirts.
You can stay with them in their homes or sleep under the vast African skies at OAT's luxury campsites. The depth of the experience is up to you.
In addition to staying with Masai women, you will have five days to view Tanzania's incredible wildlife, spending two days in Tarangire National Park and two days in magical Ngorongoro Crater.
Photo by Lili Winslow. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
Photo by Gina Halpern. Courtesy Overseas Adventure Travel.
$4,490 PP excluding airfare to Kathmandu. Price includes meals, accommodations, guide services and other transportation.
Accompany Overseas Adventure Travel to the Himalayan mountains and visit with Hindu and Buddhist women in Nepal and Tibet.
The religious diversity provides a rare opportunity to see a marked contrast in women's lifestyles within a small geographic area.
Your journey begins in the windswept, high plateau of Tibet. While the Buddhist women here hold strong positions in society, they struggle against both Chinese suppression and one of the harshest environments on earth.
Your adventure culminates in Nepal, a land of contrasts, from the busy streets of Kathmandu where delicate Hindu women cloaked in colorful saris balance brass urns on their heads, to the fertile mountain valleys where rugged barefooted Sherpa Buddhists haul 50-pound loads on their backs.
After visiting both Hindu and Buddhist women in Kathmandu, you trek into the Mt. Everest region to mountain villages where Buddhist women work the fields, gather wood, wash, cook and raise large families.
Each night, you can either stay in a woman's home, or in a local hotel.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Ten-day river trip is $1,400, including airfare from Miami. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and camping equipment.
Combining ideal weather, beautiful beaches, Class V whitewater and spectacular scenery, the Bio-Bio River trip in central Chile ranks as one of the premier expeditions in the world.
Rising in the Andes Mountains near the Argentine border, the Bio-Bio offers deep, waterfall-laced gorges, an active, smoking, glacier-covered volcano, and one of the few remaining Mapuche Indian settlements along its shores.
These trips are accompanied by a professional videographer who povides a complementary video of your expedition.
An optional paddleboat is available for qualified people.
You fly from Miami to Santiago for a day of exploration. You visit the Artisan's Village in the foothills of the Andes and board a sleeping train for an overnight trip to Victoria.
You camp and raft for six days on the Bio-Bio, bathing in hot springs, hiking to a beautiful Alpine lake and viewing the magnificent Andean condor.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
$2,100 PP/DO excludes airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and riding equipment.
With a dramatic landscape of sculpted stone and ice, Torres del Paine (Towers of Paine) National Park in southwestern Patagonia is a masterwork of nature's artistry.
There are few places on earth where one can see so much spectacular scenery in such a relatively small area.
Using rafts and horses as your primary means of transportation, this unique Earth River Expedition explores rarely-seen areas in this magnificent wilderness sanctuary.
For nine days, you float among icebergs, view rare wildlife, drift beneath vertical granite cliffs and witness the calving of icebergs from ancient glaciers.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Open to families with older children.
From $1,585, per person, includes guides, permits obtained after arrival, land accommodations, most food outside major cities and all surface transportation associated with the planned itinerary.
On this tour, you learn the skills necessary to approach a mountain gorilla. You find that encountering mountain gorillas in Rwanda forests is an incomparable experience. Your guides are skilled outdoorsmen who are aware of the thrill of seeing gorillas close-up and yet understand the importance of protecting the animals and their habitat.
You make two separate dayhikes into areas where a group of gorillas is known to exist. You are virtually assured of making contact with gorillas during at least one of your full-day safaris into their jungle habitat.
To minimize the disturbance to the animals and for their protection, visits are limited to less than two hours per group. In spite of these limitations, virtually all visitors return from this trip with spectacular memories of gorilla encounters and praise for their Rwandan guides.
Your accommodations are tourist class hotels in Gisenyi or Ruhengeri near the gorillas. Meals and transfers are included. Hiking to reach the gorillas may be difficult and rain is possible on any trip.
Difficult hiking.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
$1,900 PP/DO excluding airfare to Santiago. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and river equipment.
Alternating between granite cliffs, lush jungle, snowcapped peaks and towering spires, Chile's Futaleufu River pours dramatically through one of the most spectacular and difficult commercially-run river canyons in the world.
Inaccessible in places due either to vertical walls or the impenetrable nature of the jungle foliage, the river boasts one Class IV and V rapid after another.
The rare calm stretches afford a chance to enjoy the Futaleufu's gorgeous azure water and the canyon's breathtaking northern Patagonia scenery.
You fly from Miami to Santiago and after a day spent exploring Santiago you fly to Puerto Montt and then the small fishing village of Chaiten. Then for a week, you explore the Futaleufu Canyon.
In order to ensure maneuverability in the long demanding stretches of whitewater, passengers are expected to paddle along with the oarsmen in specially designed self-bailing rafts.
The Futaleufu also boasts some of the best trout fishing in the world.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Mexico Secretary of Tourism.
$1,300 PP/DO includes land costs from Mexico City, meals, accommodations and guide services.
The Usumacinta River in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas flows through a jungle paradise that is home to jaaguars, howler monkeys and brightly-colored toucans, macaws and parrots.
As unique as the natural river environment is, the highlights of this expedition are the 1,500-year-old Maya ruins with their ancient hieroglyphics and murals, set in the dense jungle along the river's shores.
You fly to Mexico City for a night and then take a bus to Lancanja, whose inhabitants are the direct descendants of the Mayans.
The next day you make a five-mile hike through the jungle to the Mayan ruins of Bonampak (790 A.D.)
Then for five days, you raft and camp along the Usumacinta River, watching the unique wildlife and exotic birds.
You return to Mexico City and home.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy China National Tourism Board.
Courtesy China National Tourism Board.
$4,400 PP/DO includes meals, accommodations, ground and river transportation and guide services. Excludes airfare to Beijing.
The River of Golden Sand is what the Upper Yangtze is called by the Tibetans. This river passes through terrain as unique as the people who inhabit it. Their faces reflect the region's harsh seasons.
Rarely does an area combine the artistry of nature and man in such close harmony. During this Earth River Expedition, you will view towering white mountains, vast sand beaches and dunes and ancient stone towns and monasteries that blend into a brilliant kaleidoscope of water, sand, rock and snow.
Fewer than 50 Westerners have made this 180-mile river journey from Yushu to Dega.
Because most of the Tibetan villages along the way have never been visited by Westerners, Earth River tour leaders and participants use great discretion in leaving only minimal influence and, aside from trading a few small things, taking only memories.
You fly into Beijing and spend several days exploring the region. You drive to the Tibetan plateau to the frontier city of Yushu. Here you visit the Dunka Monastery, one of the few remaining active Buddhist temples in Tibet.
You spend six days on the Yangtze River and then journey overland to Chengdu. You spend two days exploring Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, before returning to Beijing.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Good for families with older children.
From $3,200 land cost, per person, includes cost of all guides, accommodations, permits obtained after arrival, most food outside of major cities and all surface transportation associated with the planned itinerary.
The Malagasy Republic, or Madagascar, is remote, exotic and richer in indigenous flora and fauna than any country in the world. Here you find the world's largest and smallest chameleons, rare palms, black parrots and a variety of lemurs.
Although many of the unique species in Madagascar are threatened with destruction, you can still encounter these appealing animals in natural settings.
During this in-depth trip, you travel to remote areas of the island by air, rail, boat, foot, and vehicle. Although the exact itinerary varies by season, you explore Montagne D'Amber National Park, Perinet, Toulear, Berenty, Isalo National Park, Bezaha Mahafaly, Ranomafana and the zoma (the weekly market).
In order to see the many lemur and bird species, you travel to many of Madagascar's ecosystems. Although this is not a trek, there may be extended hiking excursions during which you spend the night in the field.
Groups are limited to 10 participants. Air reservations to Madagascar should be made well in advance of travel.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
$1,225 DO/PP, excludes airfare to Sept-Isle. Price includes other transportation, meals, lodging, rafts and guide services.
Nearly 500 miles north of metropolitan New York lies a vast wilderness the size of Alaska.
Beginning in Newfoundland's Labrador Plateau in eastern Quebec, the Magpie River flows through hundreds of miles of lake-dotted, virgin forests of pine and moss.
The Magpie hurtles down steep granite gorges and off spectacular falls before emptying into the St. Lawrence River.
The only access to this seldom-seen corner of North American wilderness is by float plane. Using self-bailing paddleboats, you run Class IV rapids, explore remote glacial-gouged lakes and gorges, watch for moose, bear and osprey and bask in the canyon's extraordinary solitude.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
Courtesy Earth River Expeditions.
$1,300 PP/DO covers your land cost, meals, accommodations, rafting and guide services.
The James Bay region of northern Quebec is a magnificent wilderness under seige from hydro-electric development.
As guests of the Whapmagoostui Band of the Cree Indian nation, members of this Earth River Expedition tour run one of their beautiful, threatened rivers, sleep in tepees under the magical pulsing light of the aurora borealis, share Native American customs and learn firsthand of their struggle for survival.
Beluga whales, caribou, wolf and rare freshwater seal all inhabit this area.
During this educational tour, you fly from Montreal to Whapmagoostui and spend the night with Cree families.
After a flight on a float plane, you spend the next four days rafting past rugged canyons, waterfalls and lakes to the launching point on the Great Whale River.
Here, you can drink directly from the river.
For the next five days, in the company of Cree guides, you run Grand Canyon-sized rapids. Nights will be spent in Cree camps with tepees where you will feast on fresh trout and Cree foods.
After the rafting segment, you will meet with the chief of Great Whale and learn about the hydro project that threatens the delicate state of this world.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Cost averages $250 per day per person, depending on the kinds of activities pursued and the number of transfers between islands.
The Seychelles Islands hold a special fascination for many. No islands are more remote and exotic. Famous for spectacular diving, excellent food and rare, endemic species, the Seychelles are an ideal destination.
You can visit several of the islands of the Seychelles chain, including Praslin, La Digue and Mahe during this tour. You shuttle between islands by boat or aircraft.
You can tailor your trip to focus on natural history, hiking, snorkeling, sailing, diving or fishing. The ocean is an essential element of your trip. The Seychelles are a year-round delight, although the weather in summer is the driest.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $2,595 for the Namibia Explorer and from $1,995 for the Namibia Luxury Safari PP/DO.
Costs includes accommodations, permits, staff, equipment and meals. Airfare not included.
Namibia surprises you. Although it is vast, sparsely inhabited, dry and silent, it is rich in unique animals and incredibly scenic. The country is served by a good transportation system and is essentially ignored by most North American tourists in Africa.
In Namibia, you enjoy personally-guided explorations to the country's most interesting areas. You hike the Namib Dunes of Sossuvlei and experience the dramatic terrain of the Skeleton Coast. You sample the unique Herero culture and fly over the huge flamingo and seal colonies near Swakopmund.
Search for large mammals in Etosha National Park and complete your journey in the newly-established game sanctuaries of the Caprivi Strip near the Okavango and Linyanti Rivers. You trip ends at Victoria Falls.
The 21-day Namibia Explorer is Journey's premier Namibia trip. You travel from Windhoek by mini-van and explore the best of Namibia on foot. You overnight in tented camps or stay in chalets or guest houses. You spend three days at Etosha, one day at Chobe in Botswana and two days at Victoria Falls. You have opportunities to see desert elephants, mountain zebra and many other species.
Journeys also offers a 12-day Namibia Luxury Safari, which reduces travel time with charter flighs and offers upgraded accommodations throughout the tour. You spend two days each at Linyanti Delta in the Caprivi, Etosha National Park and Damaraland.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,795 PP/DO. Trip cost includes accommodations, permits, staff services, equipment and meals. Airfare not included.
In Malawi, hiking is the best way to explore. Here, you find good nature viewing, especially in Liwonde National Park and at beautiful Lake Malawi, the third-largest lake in Africa that extends almost the length of the country.
You snorkel in the warm and crystal clear fresh water that teems with colorful tropical fish. You enjoy the friendliness of local people and find a good standard of accommodations throughout the trip. You can choose between camping and lodge-based trips.
This Malawi Explorer safari takes you game-viewing either overland or on flying safaris. The trip begins and ends in Liwonde. Special four-wheel drive vehicles take you through the Mulanje Mountains, Shire River and Liwonde National Parks before a four-day exploration along the shores of Lake Malawi.
Next, you head up into the highlands for three nights in evergreen forests at Chilinda Camp on the Nyika Plateau. The trip ends at Lilongwe. Flying safaris are custom-arranged and do not include camping.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,395 per person for the Southern Kingdoms Odyssey.
The extension to Kruger National Park costs from $125 per day.
Trip cost includes accommodations, permits, staff services, equipment and some meals. Airfare not included.
Located in some of the most scenic and rugged lands in southern Africa, the tribal kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho impress the few travelers who visit them.
They offer comfortable accommodations in a scenic, natural setting. You arrive by road or by air from Johannesburg. You find friendly people, an enthusiasm for life and an interesting culture.
This new trip offers small groups of travelers the chance to explore out-of-the-way places in Swaziland and Lesotho. Add it as a seven-day extension to any southern Africa trip Journeys offers.
You experience tribal cultures, explore natural environments and enlist local experts as guides on the trip. You hike during the day in local sanctuaries, visit numerous villages, try pony-trekking, and have extensive cross-cultural contact with native people. Game viewing safaris are included.
A popular extension for this trip is a visit to Kruger National Park, one of the most famous in Africa. It is a vast, carefully-managed area on the eastern border of the Republic of South Africa that attracts thousands of people each year from around the world. Famous for lions, elephants and its strict rules for game viewing, Kruger Park is the Taj Mahal of southern Africa.
You can fly from Johannesburg to an airstrip within Kruger Park and proceed to a comfortable tented camp, which is your base for morning and evening safaris in the park. Stays in private game lodges are also available. Trips are available year round.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$775 to $1,025 PP/DO including all meals. $600 per person for six-person bachelor/ette cabins. Child under 12 sharing cabin with two adults charged 50 percent of adult fare. Excludes airfare, but special discounts available.
The 208-foot Flying Cloud blends the comforts of today with the charms of yesteryear. It sails around the British Virgin Islands as a member of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises fleet.
This historic windjammer, built in 1935 for the French Navy, sails every Monday from Roadtown, Tortola, alternating itineraries between Drake's Passage and the Treasure Isles.
During a six-day cruise, you explore these islands which retain delightful British customs and contain some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Swimming and snorkeling are the order of the day in this former playground of famous pirates.
Hallmarks of these cruises are an informal lifestyle, sumptuous meals and the chance to explore parts of the Caribbean overlooked by large cruise ships.
You can take a turn at the helm, hoist a sail, attend sailing classes and learn to navigate by the stars, or just relax on deck and bask in the sun. Pressure is non-existent and time is measured only by the sunrise and sunset.
Requires abiltity to climb in and out of launches and up and down stairs while at sea.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$1,450 to 1,750 PP/DO includes all meals. Child under 12 sharing cabin with two adults are charged 50 percent of adult fare. Excludes airfare, but special discounts available.
The Mandalay, the queen of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises's fleet, offers the ultimate in comfort in the tradition of the great sailing yachts of old.
This 236-foot vessel sails from Grenada to Antigua the first Monday of the month, and from Antigua to Grenada on the third Monday, cruising for 13 days through the Windward and Leeward Islands.
Mandalay visits a selection of these islands: Palm Island, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Bequia, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Isles des Saintes, Carriacou, Montserrat and Nevis.
Built in 1923 as a luxurious private yacht , this ship was used for training Merchant Marine cadets during World War II, then, starting in 1953, enjoyed her greatest fame as a scientific vessel for Columbia University. During the course of worldwide explorations, evidence was gathered which confirmed the theory of the continental drift.
Two years of extensive renovation in the 1980s restored the ship to its classic elegance.
On your cruise, you enjoy an informal lifestyle and sumptuous meals and see parts of the Caribbean overlooked by large cruise ships. You can take a turn at the helm, hoist a sail and attend sailing classes, or just relax and bask in the sun.
Requires ability to climb in and out of launches and up and down stairs while at sea.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $2275-2470, PP/DO, depending on season. Trip cost includes accommodations, permits, staff, equipment and some meals.
Journeys International offers two tours to exciting Turkey -- the Turquoise Coast Odyssey and the Mt. Kackar Cultural Trek.
On these tours, you follow the trail of four great civilizations: the Hittites (about 1500 B.C.), the Greek and Roman Empires, the Byzantine Christians, and the Seljuk and Ottoman Turkish Empires.
Delight in the clear seas and sunny beaches, ancient ruins among isolated villages and magnificent scenery. Your Turkish guides share their culture with you through folk music, exotic foods and traditional customs.
On the Turquoise Coast Odyssey, you cruise the Mediterranean coast of Turkey from Marmaris to Antalya. On shore excursions, you hike up into the Lycian Mountains, visit whitewashed villages and ancient Byzantine churches, Crusader castles and Ottoman mosques, palaces and harem quarters.
You sail aboard traditional Turkish "gulets," hand-built, wooden sail and motor boats with ample deck space and plenty of delectable Turkish cuisine. The cruise concludes with a visit to the underground city of Cappadoccia.
On the 18-day Mt. Kackar Cultural Trek, you hike through high evergreen forest,alpine meadows, beneath snowcapped peaks and through Yayla hamlets where you can witness the customs of traditional Turkish life. Enjoy local food and festivals and spend several days in Cappadoccia.
Easy to moderate hiking.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$775 to $950 PP/DO including all meals. $600 per person for six-person bachelor/ette cabins. Child under 12 sharing cabin with two adults charged 50 percent of adult fare. Price excludes airfare, but special discounts available.
Explore a necklace of emerald isles aboard the classic, 248-foot schooner Polynesia, a member of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises fleet since 1975.
From its homeport in Saint Maarten, Polynesia alternates weekly between the Leeward and Windward Islands. Ports visited may include St. Barts, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, Statia, Prickley Pear, Anguilla and Montserrat.
Explore waterfalls, rain forests, volcanoes and white, pink and black sand beaches. Discover the culture and history of the West Indies and enjoy fine dining with a European flair.
Built in 1938 and christened Argus, this ship was one of the last of the great Portuguese Grand Banks fleet. She was featured in Allen Villers' book, "The Quest of the Schooner Argus."
After extensive renovations as a passenger yacht, Polynesia now combines comfort, romance and grace.
During your six-day cruise, you enjoy an informal lifestyle and the opportunity to participate in sailing, or to just relax on deck while the professional crew does the work.
Requires ability to climb in and out of launches and up and down stairs while at sea.
Courtesy Windjammer Barefoot Cruises.
Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
$775 to $850 PP/DO including all meals. Child under 12 sharing cabin with two adults charged 50 percent of adult fare. Excludes airfare, but special discounts available.
Explore the Grenadines, a yachtman's paradise, aboard the classic 197-foot schooner Yankee Clipper, which joined the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises fleet in 1965.
Built in 1927 by a German industrialist, this vessel was confiscated during World War II as a war prize, then was acquired by the Vanderbilt family. At one time this vessel was considered one of the fastest tall ships on the west coast.
In 1987, the vessel was completely restored to its former majesty and beauty.
From its homeport in Grenada, Yankee Clipper visits a selection of these islands during a six-day cruise: Tobago Cays, Bequia, Mayreau, Palm Island, Union Island, Young Island, Canouan, and Carriacou.
Visit unique hideaways where balmy trade winds caress unspoiled beaches. Enjoy sumptuous feasts with an island flair and relax in the informal tradition of a "barefoot" cruise. If you choose, you can take a turn at the helm, hoist a sail and learn to navigate by the stars.
Requires ability to climb in and out of launches and up and down stairs while at sea.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,095 PP/DO includes meals, accommodations, transportation in China and guide services. International travel is about $1,095.
Do Dragon Boat races and bamboo music excite you? Join this cultural adventure into the colorful festivals of the Miao and other minority ethnic peoples of Guizhou Province in China.
After a short visit in bustling Guangzhou, you fly to Guizhou's provincial capital of Guiyang, then escape to the ethnic minority villages of the Kaili area. Here, the native Miao and other cultures remain unchanged from ancient times.
The Mizo and Dong people love to celebrate their festivals and have a long tradition of special rituals. You will observe three special Mizo ceremonies. The April travelers will see the Sister's Rice Festival in Xijiang, the July group will see the Dragon Boat Festival and the September group will see the Eating New Rice Festival.
You also see the mysterious drum towers and graceful covered bridges of the Dong people.
Your journey culminates with a visit to Guilin and a cruise down the Li River through the fantastic Karst formations before departing for two days in Hong Kong.
Courtesy Cowboy Tours.
Courtesy Cowboy Tours.
Courtesy Cowboy Tours.
Courtesy Cowboy Tours.
Children must have riding experience.
From $1,275, PP/DO. Trip costs include meals, accommodations, land transportation from Salt Lake City and equipment and cowboy guide.
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be a cowboy in Wyoming? This tour offers you a chance to do what cowboys do on their day off. You ride a horse leisurely through beautiful high mountain country far from any motor vehicles.
You camp around a blazing campfire at night, eating delicious meals and swapping stories about your adventures. An authentic Wyoming cowboy is your guide.You have plenty of time to explore, fish or just plain relax.
Spend a day floating down the Green River on a raft. Experience the unbelievable panorama of the high desert scenery. Explore historic Fort Bridger on the Oregon Trail, where Jim Bridger's original trading post has been reconstructed and daily life is re-enacted.
Follow the Old Mormon Trail back to Salt Lake City and return to civilization.
Riding experience necessary.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,690 PP/DO includes meals, accommodations, ground transportation, guide services and other fees. Airfare from West Coast is $1,095.
This is a rare opportunity to participate in an exotic festival and explore the ethnic enclaves of rural China.
The April tour group will see the spectacular three-day Water Splashing Festival of the Dai people in the lush tropical paradise of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province.
Yunnan is home to 24 of China's 55 diverse ethnic peoples. Watch the Dragon Boat Races on the Mekong River, join in the festivities and dine in the home of a Dai family. This region is famous for its unusual tropical plants, jungles and wild elephants.
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, is called "the city of the eternal spring," for its year-round mild climate. The old section still retains the flavor of old China rarely seen elsewhere today.
Dali, situated 250 miles from Kunming on the Burma Road, was the center of the ancient Nanzhou Kingdom. Wander through the Bai minority people's villages, fields and local markets. The striking Bai architecture blends dramatic roof lines, local marble and exquisitely-carved wood doors.
You also visit the region of the Naxi people. Naxi women traditionally manage the business and are heads of the family, while the men are the musicians and love to maintain the charming gardens that are in the courtyard of every home.
You have the privilege to view two of China's most unusual ethnic cultures, the Moso, who retain a matrilineal culture at pristine Lugu Lake, and the Nosuo Yi, which was a slave society until 30 years ago.
The July tour group will see the engrossing Yi Torch festival, complete with festive dances, bullfights and a special courtship ritual.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,195 per person. Trip price includes accommodations, permits, staff services, equipment and most meals. Discounts are available for kids under 12 on most family trips.
Most kids really like trekking and in Nepal, the spectacular views of the high Himalaya won't disappoint.
This family trek features short days of hiking, great views, extra amenities at the campsites and a range of foods that will appeal to all ages. You have extra time at each campsite and at lunch stops for cross-cultural involvement with local peole, who are delighted to see children.
If your children (under 60 pounds) get tired, porters can carry them in specially-designed baskets. Journeys staff tries to include the youngsters of one or more of its Nepali staff to make this an even more memorable experience. This could be the most satisfying family adventure you have ever taken.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,086 PP/DO plus $1,040 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, camping equipment and guide services.
Be among the first Westerners to experience the joyous Tibetan Shua Ba Zi Festival. This new trip combines in-depth Tibetan cultural experiences with pristine natural scenery.
You gain insight into Tibetan daily life by exploring their towns, villages and monasteries, as well as participating in this fascinating and fun-filled festival. Take a short journey on foot or horseback through the wilderness to see a spectacular glacier.
Eastern Sichuan is a doorway to Tibet, but at a lower elevation, making it an ideal place to meet the warm and open Tibetans.
For three days, you hike or ride horses through the lush, dense forest of Hailuogou National Park and the Nature Preserve to see the magnificent Hailuogou Glacier, 3,600 feet wide and 3,500 feet high.
Enjoy the festival's horsemanship games, mystical music and chanting of the lamas.
Mesmerizing masked dancers leap about as the festival culminates in the Jumping Ghost Dance.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,065 PP/DO plus $1,600 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, guide services and other transportation.
Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 13,000 incredibly fertile volcanic islands that make up part of the "Ring of Fire." This exciting new cultural trip takes you to a few of the most interesting islands to experience a wide variety of tribal cultures and customs, vegetation, landscape and natural wonders.
You see the colored lakes of Keli Mutu, ancient megaliths and stone totem figures and the nine-foot-long monitor lizards known as Komodo Dragons, similar to those that existed millions of years ago near the end of the age of dinosaurs.
Sulawesi is home to plant and animal life found nowhere else on earth, as well as the Torajan people, known for their ornate dwellings, elaborate funeral rites and hanging graves. The homes have sweeping bamboo roofs that resemble a ship's prow and are built entirely without nails.
Flores is another island that offers magnificent volcanoes, deep ravines and high mountain lakes. The tribal people on Flores, and Sumba, have rich and diverse music, dance and handicraft traditions and produce some of the most exquisite handwoven ikat fabric of Indonesia.
These areas are among the last strongholds of animist religions and megalithic cultures.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,695 per person. Trip price includes accommodations, staff services, permits, most meals and equipment. Airfare not included.
Each spring, Buddhists of Nepal celebrate the full moon that marks the birthday of the Buddha with a period of planting and of great rejoicing.
This trek takes you to a Buddhist monastery at Sirendanda where you join local people in celebration of the holiday and in planting trees in local deforested areas. You camp there for four days.
You then follow a route through the Kathmandu Valley on a relatively easy, eight-day trek along the ridgetops east of Annapurna. Some reach altitudes of up to 10,000 feet in the rhododendron forests of Baudha Himalaya. Every campsite has a panoramic view of Annapurna or other major Himals. You seldom encounter other trekkers.
You raft for two days through the deep gorge of the Trisuli River to Chitwan National Park. From a comfortable lodge you travel by elephant to see and photograph many species of big game including rhinoceros, bear, tiger and other big cats.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,690 PP/DO plus $1,654 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
Textiles expert Barbara Chover leads this Asian Pacific Adventures tour showcasing the arts and tapestries woven into the daily life of the islands of West Sumatra and Bali.
The group is limited to six so you can visit artists, woodcarvers, weavers and basket makers, providing an insight into the private lives and religious ceremonies of these craftspeople.
You visit many of the museums and temples on the exotic islands of Bali and partake in prayer at Besakih, the Mother Temple, with a Balinese friend whose offerings will allow the group to enter inner courtyards usually reserved just for the Balinese.
Trip highlights include visits to weaving factories, optional snorkeling in the seaside village of Balina Bay and Tenganan, the ancient walled village where many musical instrument makers reside and unique double-ikat gerinsings are woven.
You stay at a lovely home in Ubud, a mountain village famous for its artists, and enjoy several dance, music and puppet performances.
You also visit Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, and Bukittinggi, famous for its gold and silver filagree, songket weaving and the most superb architecture in Indonesia.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Appropriate for older children only.
From $1,995. Trip price includes accommodations, most meals, permits, staff services, equipment. Airfare not included.
Trek to the spiritual centers of Sherpa Buddhism in the Himalaya. On this active trip for mind and body, you visit monasteries perched high on ridgetops in sacred forests.
Physically, you trek between monasteries with the full support of guides, cooks, porters and woolly yaks. Intellectually, you learn about and experience Buddhism as a way of life, culture and belief for the remarkable Sherpa people.
Spiritually, you are invited to join in rituals, meditations and chanting at the monasteries and as part of the daily practice of the monk who accompanies your group.
Your Sherpa guide, a devout Buddhist, acts as a translator for conversations you have with monks and abbotts at the dozen monasteries you visit.
This special trip is invaluable in gaining a personal sense of how Tibetan Buddhism is actually practiced. The trek includes some of the most beautiful scenery in the Himalaya.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,473 PP/DO plus $1,355 airfare. Price includes bicycle, meals, accommodations and guide services.
Spectacular scenery and fascinating ethnic minority people are the focus of Asian Pacific Adventures' popular bike tour.
At Guiland, cruise down the Li River through the legendary karst mountain landscape. Karst means an irregular limestone region of sinkholes, underground streams and caverns.
You spend the night in the small town of Yangshuo and cycle in the surrounding farmlands through fairy-tale scenery.
Yunnan Province is a fascinating place to visit and boasts 24 of China's 55 ethnic minorities as well as beautiful countryside. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is called the city of eternal spring for its mild climate.
The old section still retains the flavor of old China rarely experienced elsewhere today. Dali, 250 miles from Kunming and perched at the base of the Changshan Mountains, will be your base. You cycle through country villages, fields and colorful local ethnic markets.
Lijiang is nestled in a lush valley flanked by dramatic Jade Dragon Snow Mountains north of Dali.
You meet fascinating people, including monks at Jade Peak Temple and an English-speaking herbalist who has led a remarkable life.
Lijiang's native Naxi culture is traditionally matrilineal, meaning that women are the heads of the family. You will also meet the Sani people and see one of their performances of traditional music and dance.
You can cycle to the Stone Forest, an amazing karst limestone geological formation that appears to be a forest of stone.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,690 PP/DO plus $1,670 airfare. Price includes bicycle, guide services, accommodations, food and other transportation.
This biking trip begins and ends in Beijing, with cycling excursions to the Great Wall, Forbidden City and to other examples of China's rich Han cultural heritage.
Ride part of the inner Asian caravan route known as the Winding Road. Relive the adventures of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, encountering nomadic herdsmen and ancient Tibetan temples. Cycle through the rippling silver-green grasses dotted with herds of camel and sheep.
Pass beyond the Great Wall, built to keep out the Mongolian "Barbarians," into the expansive Mongolian steppes to experience local nomadic culture.
Cycle from village to village through the rolling grasslands. Ride from cultivated areas near mountains to the borders of the Gobi Desert. You are greeted each evening with traditional milk tea and local delicacies.
Mutton feasts and Mongolian Hot Pot will satisfy your hunger and native-brewed spirits will help you snuggle into cozy quilts in mud brick buildings or bamboo and felt yurts at night.
Explore the famous Yungang Caves in Datong, where enormous Buddhist carvings date from the 5th century.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,995 per person. Trip cost includes permits, accommodations, staff services, equipment and most meals. Airfare not included.
Join Joan Weber for a trek to the Khumbu area of Nepal and meet and interact with the women of Nepal.
On this tour, you join a small group of women for a special experience in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley and Khumbu Himal. Learn about the lives of Nepali Hindu and Buddhist women on an active 19-day trek. You visit villages, homes, schools and markets.
You learn enough of the language for conversation. You trek, Himalayan-style, among Sherpa communities in the Everest region. This flexible itinerary encourages spontaneity, cross-cultural interaction and pursuit of special group interests.
You see the wonders of Kathmandu, the Sherpa community at Namche Bazaar, the monasteries of Thangboche, and you have a chance to climb to a monastery above Thame, from where it is possible to see Tibet.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,744 PP/DO plus $1,355 airfare. Includes bike, accommodations, meals and guide services.
On this unique 14-day bicycling tour, you see some of the most popular destinations in China.
You spend eight days cycling. During that time, you travel to the Great Wall and the Dowager Empress' Summer Palace as well as through rural farmlands and the spectacular landscape of Guilin and Yangshuo.
Visit the famous life-size Terra Cotta Warriors at Xian, an ancient walled city and a major trade link to the West. Its provincial museum boasts one of the richest collections of ancient artifacts in China.
Take a boat down the Li River in Guilin, through the mist-shrouded mountains and pastoral landscapes that have long inspired Chinese painters.
The cruise takes you to Yangshuo, a country town where you stay two nights. You cycle through the phenomenal landscape of steep round towers of limestone rising from a jade-colored plain. Catch the mystical light that dramatically changes these hills at dawn and again in the evening.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,153 PP/DO plus $1,125 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services. Bicycle is $100 extra or bring your own bike.
This bicycle tour of north Thailand begins in the ancient walled city of Chiang Mai, the center of commerce in northern Thailand for more than 700 years. The region is known for its fine teakcraft and beautiful Thai silk.
Chiang Mai and the surrounding area contain some of the most unique Buddhist temples in the north. You can ride through the Phrae and Nan provinces, home to the only remaining nomadic people in Thailand, the Mrabri.
The Thais call them "Spirits of the Golden Leaves," because they move when their leaf huts turn gold.
You travel to the Old Kingdom through rural landscapes dotted with rice, tobacco and banana plantations. Visit the ruins of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai, the most important cities of King Ramkhamhpenos Dynasty in the 5th century. Visit a small farming village to enjoy the flavor of rural Thai life. Explore the area by bike, then hike the tallest mountain.
You will visit Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and relax in the splendor of the rain forest, with its cool and refreshing climate.
You conclude your visit with a culinary trek through Bangkok.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,295-1,495 PP/DO. Trip prices include permits, accommodations, most meals, equipment and staff services from Kathmandu. Airfare to Kathmandu not included.
See the major monasteries in Lhasa as well as other cultural sites in Tibet, a spectacular destination any time of year.
On this trip, you depart Kathmandu for Lhasa by air and spend four to 11 days exploring the major cultural and scenic sites of southern Tibet. With a private guide and vehicle, you explore the Sera, Drepung, Jhokhang, Samye, Tsetang, Kumbum, Rongbuk and Tashilungpo monasteries, depending on your preference, time and political conditions.
You have a choice of three standards of hotel accommodations in Lhasa and you can choose to return to Kathmandu by air or road via Shangmu.
In Tibet, always be prepared for rough roads and primitive conditions, regardless of the cost or standard of the trip.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,870 PP/DO plus $1,575 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services. Bike is $100 extra.
Bike the dramatic valleys and ridges of the Garhwal Himalaya in India. Bordered by Ladakh, Tibet and Nepal, this sacred area has been visited by few foreigners. Meet fascinating Sadhus, Hindu holy men, on their religious pilgrimages to sacred sites.
Enjoy tasty, nutritious, home-cooked Indian vegetarian meals prepared by Asian Pacific Adventures staff, that are a fitting finale to each day of biking.
This unforgettable experience begins in Delhi, a city of contrasts including old forts, mosques and bazaars, and the new and elegant broad avenues and stately homes.
Garhwal, the land of the gods, is steeped in legend. This is a place for spiritual fulfillment where mountain scenery unfolds in all its splendor.
From the popular hill town of Mussoorie, you cycle along a ridge with a breathtaking view of the Greater Himalaya range to Dhanolti.
You pass through enchanting villages to Guptkashi, a quaint town mentioned in the Indian epic, "Mahabharata."
From the high grasslands of Chopta in the Kedarnath Musk Deer Santuary, a short hike takes you to Tungnath, the highest Himalayan temple.
Along the source of the Ganges River, you head down through protected jungle to Richikesh and Hardwar, renowned centers of Hindu spiritualism.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,595 for the Ladakh Cultural Odyssey to $2,595 for the Zanskar Trek, PP/DO. Trip prices include permits, accommodations, most meals, staff services, equipment. Airfare not included.
Present-day Ladakh, while still politically part of India, is very much like ancient Tibet. Religious practices, monuments, villages and most importantly traditional culture remain intact.
It is a land of dramatic extremes, spectacular landscapes and exceptionally friendly people. Journeys International offers four different trips to Ladakh -- the Ladakh Cultural Trek, the Zanskar Trek, the Northern Ladakh Trek, and the Ladakh Cultural Odyssey.
On the 24-day Ladakh cultural trek, you travel through spectacular high altitude desert among snowcapped peaks and over an ever-changing, colorful landscape. You visit mountain villages, ascend high passes and view ancient ruins, Tibetan Plateau ecosystems and spectacular Buddhist monasteries. You also trek for 11 days in the beautiful Markha Valley, Taj Mahal and the city of Delhi.
The 31-day Zanskar Trek takes you to Kulu and to the Himalaya of Manali. A full team of Ladakhi guides and horsemen accompany you through the ancient Kingdom of Zanskar, where wolves and snow leopards are still common. This is a challenging trek over high mountain passes (some over 15,000 feet).
On the Northern Ladakh Trek, you spend 19 days on a shorter version of the Cultural Trek described above. You explore the traditions of village life and monastic communities. You participate in midsummer celebrations and rituals.
The Ladakh Cultural Odyssey takes you to see the spectacular beauty of the Tibetan Plateau. You hike among ancient Buddhist ruins and are welcomed into the homes of local villagers. You enjoy leisurely trekking and camping, you visit monasteries and explore village life in Temisgam and Hemishakpatchan.
Difficulty level varies by trip. Zanskar Trek is difficult,
the Ladakh Cultural Trek is intermediate, and the Northern Ladakh Trek and Ladakh Cultural Odyssey are moderate.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$2,852 PP/DO plus $1,655 airfare. Price includes accommodations, other transportation, meals and guide. Bicycle is $150 more or bring your own bike.
Trains, planes and bicycles will take you on a journey through regions of Vietnam rarely seen by Western visitors.
This mountain bike tour of Vietnam begins in Ho Chi Minh City where you bike along the waterfront and through wide boulevards of Old Saigon. Cycle to Cu Chi to see the amazing tunnel complex built during the French and American wars or to Tay Ninh to see the Caudai Great Temple, one of the most striking strucutres in all of Asia and seat of an unusual religion that exists only in Vietnam.
Visit Vung Tau for a day of cycling on the peninsula and tour the coastline of the South China Sea. In Nha Trang, cycle to the Po Nagar Cham towers, vestiges of an ancient culture that flourished between the 2nd and 14th centuries.
Take a sleeper train to Da Nang where you cycle around the city, docks and waterfront. Climb Marble Mountain, layered with caves and Buddhist temples. Cycle to Hoi An, a 16th-century town preserved just as the early European traders found it.
After you fly to Hanoi, you bike through the peaceful streets and around the lovely lakes, savoring the contrast between the vibrant, hectic south and more traditional Hanoi.
Courtesy Slattery's Travel Agency.
Depending on time of year, 200 to 500 British pounds (about $322 to $805 in April 1993) per caravan, including cooking equipment and bedding. Supplementary horse feed, overnight parking and insurance are extra. Airfare is not included.
Rates are less for additional weeks.
Slattery's Travel of Tralee in County Kerry will rent you a colorful, barrel-shaped "gypsy" wagon and horse for a week's exploration of southwestern coastal Ireland.
During this unique adventure, you are responsible for the handling and care of your horse.
Upon arrival, you are introduced to your horse, shown how to harness and unharness him, and given other instructions on his care. You also will receive tips on driving the covered wagon, called a caravan.
Slattery's Travel provides you with maps of scenic routes and directions to overnight stopping places and locations of local farmers who will let the horse graze in well-fenced fields.
Company staff are on call should any difficulties arise.
The slow tempo of this mode of travel gives you time to unwind, leave behind the tumult of the cities and enjoy the sights and sounds of the summer countryside.
Minimum rental is normally a week, but weekend rentals are available during non-peak times (before late June and after late August).
You are responsible for harnessing, handling and caring for the horse.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,131 PP/DO plus $1,219 airfare from West Coast and $206 from Hong Kong to Beijing. Bike, meals, accommodations and guide services are included.
After touring Beijing and its highlights, you fly to Xian, an ancient walled city that was once the capital of China. After viewing the famous Terra Cotta Warriors of the Emperor Qin, you fly to Nanjing where you cycle through the farmlands and villages of the Yangtze River Valley.
Along the way, you visit historic sites, schools, gardens, factories and the local people. You see artisans spinning silk thread, weaving exotic fabric and creating amazing double-sided silk embroidery.
Next, you cruise the Grand Canal by boat to Suzhou, considered the Venice of China.
From Suzhou, you travel by train to bustling and cosmopolitan Shanghai, a mixture of old and new, Asian and European. A return flight takes you to Hong Kong, where you have two days to hunt for bargains.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,795 PP/DO. Trip price includes accommodations, permits, staff services, equipment and some meals.
Travel into this long-isolated area of the Himalaya for an experience of exceptional cultural and natural historic richness. This is a cultural crossroads for Tibetans, Bhutanese, Nepali, Lepchas and all the cultures of northern India. In addition, the mountain scenery and trekking rival other regions in the Himalaya.
Best of all, few tourists visit this remote region.
See Buddhist monasteries, spectacular views of Kanchenjunga and the dramatic mix of cultures in this fantastic land. You visit the historic Raj hill station of Darjeeling and Gangtok, but the real experience is trekking in the foothills of Kanchenjunga, past monasteries, remote villages, high pastures, lakes and forests.
You work your way up to 15,000 feet before winding your way back to less heavenly heights and return to roads and the 20th century. Return flight is from Bagdogra with optional Taj Mahal extension.
Difficult trekking at high elevation.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
Courtesy Asian Pacific Adventures.
$3,455 PP/DO plus $1,682 airfare. Price includes meals, accommodations, other transportation and guide services.
Travel on the colorful and historic Silk Road trade route from Pakistan to China on this Asian Pacific Adventures tour. Explore the ruins of ancient civilizations and travel around snowcapped mountains and the starkly beautiful deserts of Central Asia.
The tour follows the Silk Road, the channel that has linked East and West since 206 B.C. You travel in vehicles and planes and visit with local ethnic groups in each region, including the Kazak and Tadjik people.
After visiting the magnificent Shalimar Palace at Lahore, you fly to Peshawar to explore exotic bazaars. You then travel over the trade route from Pakistan to China, exploring ancient ruins and oasis towns. The Karakoram Highway takes you through the exquisite high mountain scenery of northern Pakistan, Swat Valley and Hunza, a mountain province once thought to be Shangri-La.
In Xianjiang Province, you visit the famous Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar where local people congregate to barter for everything from yaks to silk.
You visit the oasis town of Turfan, known for its sweet grapes. An overnight train takes you to Dunhuang to see the oldest Buddhist cave paintings in China.
You conclude your trip at the Yellow River in Lanzhou China and visit the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,500-$1,925 PP/DO. Trip prices include permits, accommodations, staff services, equipment and most meals. Airfare not included.
Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is the most exotic, exclusive and expensive country to visit in the Himalaya.
Here the Himalayan forests are pure and uncut. Villages are farther apart. You feel the pride local people have in their culture and their country.
You feel an identity and sympathy with their determination to preserve the quality of their traditional lives and their environment, despite modern pressures.
Offered each spring and fall, the Bhutan Cultural Treks begin with a flight to Paro, the only airstrip in Bhutan. You enjoy an orientation to Bhutan, a visit to Taktsang Monastery, the National Museum and Drukgyel Dzong. After two nights lodging in local hotels, you and your trekking staff embark on your completely outfitted trek. You attend at least one festival during your stay.
It is also possible to visit Bhutan for short stays on an independent basis. You can travel to Paro via Kathmandu, Bangkok or Delhi. These packages place you in the finest available hotels and provide you with a private guide, all surface transportation and full board accommodations. Although these private tours do not include trekking, it can be offered privately on a longer trip.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
$1,199 for seven days to $1,999 for 14 days. Price covers lodging, meals, kayak equipment and transportation from Sandspit, B.C.
The Queen Charlotte Islands are an archipelago made up of two large islands and numerous small ones situated 100 miles off the northwest coast of British Columbia.
Moresby, the southern island, is rugged and pristine. Its remote southern half is called Gwaii Haanas -- Place of Wonder -- by the Haida and was selected as a National Park Reserve in 1988.
These islands offer perfect conditions for sea kayaking and the abundant fresh water and open forests offer great camping. Traveling to this magical area with Ecosummer guides provides a rich educational experience and an incredible sea kayak adventure.
The area is a showcase of biology with tens of thousands of resident seabirds and their predators -- the falcon and eagles.
Huge towering Sitka spruce and red cedar forests stand carpeted in lush moss, while in contrast the miniature bonsai forests and easily accessible Alpine slopes await hikers.
The islands also harbor archaeological sites of the highly developed Haida culture with their superbly carved totem poles.
Ecosummer offers three tours of this archipelago:
-- Two weeks in Gwaii Haanas, leaving and returning on Saturdays during June, July and August. This tour traverses the entire length of the National Park Reserve from the Haida village site of Tanu to the site of Ninstints on Anthony Island. This site has a large stand of totem poles. The cost is $1,999 from Sandspit, British Columbia.
-- A seven-day kayak tour from Hot Springs to the San Cristovals, including visits to luxuriant Hotsprings Island, the magnificent forests of Windy Bay, the Haidu village of Tanu and numerous picturesque inlets and peaks.
This tour covers the northern half of the Gwaii Haanas itinerary focusing on the Juan Perez Sound. Departure dates are June 26, July 3, and Aug. 7 and 14. The cost is $1,199 from Sandspit, B.C.
-- A seven-day kayaking tour of the waters off Ninstints. This focuses on the more remote region of the park, little-changed since Chief Ninstints plied these waters in his great canoes 100 years ago. You travel south to Anthony Island, the historic home of this great Eagle clan chief.
These waters are rich with sea life and are designed for the adventurer.
This tour departs from June to early September and costs $1,199 from Sandspit.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $75 per day for the Tropical Island Interlude to $795 for the 7-day Ancient Cultures Odyssey. Trip prices include permits, accommodations, most meals, equipment, guide and staff services. Airfare not included.
Thailand beckons you to spend a tropical interlude here between your Himalayan trip and your return home, or to devote an entire vacation to exploring the isolated southern beaches in Thailand and meeting the friendly hill tribes of its northern region.
Great hotels, reliable transportation, excellent food, hospitable people and delightful scenery are always close by. You can arrange individual Thailand extensions or embark on trips ranging from two to 20 days.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
$849 for seven-day kayak tour and $1,099 for the Morgaler cruise. Price includes accommodations, some meals, guide services and kayaks.
The best place in the world to see wild orca whales, sometimes called killer whales, is in the northern Johnstone Strait, a narrow body of water separating mainland British Columbia from Vancouver Island.
The orca come here to feed on salmon, socialize, rest and rub on pebble beaches. This is a spectacular setting of islands, steep fjords and temperate rain forest.
Ecosummer Expeditions offers a seven-day orca watching tour from June through September. You kayak in a two-person craft designed for kayakers of all skill levels.
You share these fresh marine waters with the sleek black orca. You listen to their powerful breathing and use identification books to familiarize yourself with the pods and their individual members.
You also listen to their complex language as it is broadcast by underwater hydrophones. This tour, which costs $849, is limited to 10 members.
Ecosummer also offers a six-day orca search tour aboard the "Morgaler" 57-foot cutter. There are eight berths, two heads and plenty of capacity for fuel and water.
Ecosummer offers three departures in July to search for orca. Ecosummer's expedition leader will be your skipper. Custom charters are also available.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Costs range from $1,295 for the 8-day Burma Odyssey to $2,195 for the 15-day version. Private trips cost $140/day and are available anytime. Trip prices include lodging, meals, staff, permits, equipment.
From the ancient ruins of Pagan to the extraordinary market of Mandalay to the floating farms of Inle Lake, Burma fascinates you at every turn. Few tourists have visited Burma since disturbances in 1987, but this exciting country is changing.
These trips are personally guided by local staff and consist exclusively of Journeys clients. Although you must stay in approved regions, the Burmese you meet are positive, upbeat, resourceful and eager to meet and talk with you as a window to the wider world.
Fly to Rangoon and meet your Burmese guides for an eight- to 15-day visit to one of the least-developed and most traditional countries in Southeast Asia. You travel by car, mini-van, train and boat to visit Rangoon, Pagan, Mt. Popa and Mandalay for an expertly-led exploration of Burmese culture, religion, history and contemporary society.
On 15-day visits you linger longer in the awesome ruins of Pagan and probably include the unique Inle Lake, the flower capital of Maymyo and the mountain resort of Kalaw. Your accommodations are government hotels and newly-opened private guest houses. Food is simple, but adequate. You can photograph the local people and the colorful markets. You may also visit festivals and holiday celebrations.
Allow 60 days advance notice for reservations.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Price includes transportation from Resolute, meals, guide services and accommodations.
In Greenland's remote northwestern region, you find the most northerly culture in the world, called the Thule or Polar Inuit. They are the purest vestige of the last wave of ancient polar people who migrated across the Arctic from Siberia.
These people are geographically isolated from the rest of Greenland by hundreds of miles of icecap and were only discovered in 1818 by Captain John Ross.
The Thule people are masters of dogsled travel as well as expert hunters. They travel by kayak in summer. Snowmobiles are forbidden and the use of motor boats is strictly limited.
Ecosummer offers a 15-day sea kayaking tour around Ellesmere Island. The paddling window here is brief, and the constantly changing ice conditions, 24 hours of sunshine and spectacular campsites create the basis for a memorable sea kayaking adventure.
Aside from its human history and rich natural history, the raw beauty of the environment vividly etches itself on your memory. Your tour begins and ends with a three-hour twin otter flight out of Resolute. Tour cost is $4,099 from Resolute.
Ecosummer is also offering, beginning in August, a sea kayak adventure to the picturesque fjords of northwest Greenland in the Thule District, where the Inuit make their homes today.
This is an exceptional cultural opportunity to travel with the masters of the Arctic kayak. You may see the residents conduct a traditional narwhal hunt with harpoon and kayak.
Your memories of kayaking will never be the same after this tour, which costs $4,299 from Resolute.
Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
Photo by Ed Glaser. Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
Photo by Doug Lee. Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
Photo by Ed Glaser. Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
Photo by Nina Kennedy. Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
Photo by Ed Glaser. Courtesy Maine Windjammer Association.
$295 to $695 PP including all meals. Airfare not included.
Each summer, the 13 classic vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association ply the coastal waters of Maine, one of the best and most beautiful sailing areas in the world.
The ships are based in Rockland, Rockport and Camden. Sailing grounds range from Boothbay Harbor to Acadia National Park and each night is spent anchored in a different harbor.
You enjoy spectacular scenery, visit deserted islands and quaint villages and see a variety of wildlife including eagles, dolphins, seals and sometimes whales.
You savor delicious meals with lots of fresh seafood and homemade breads and desserts. All six-day cruises and most three-day cruises feature an island lobsterbake.
You may participate in all aspects of windjamming if you choose, including hoisting sails, taking a turn at the wheel, navigating, or even helping out in the galley.
Shipboard life is relaxed and informal. Accommodations are simple, consisting of single, double, triple and quad cabins, all with fresh linens and plenty of warm blankets.
Vessels range from 64 to 132 feet on deck and carry between 20 and 44 passengers. Six of the vessels were recently designated National Historic Landmarks.
To plan your memorable vacation on a Maine windjammer, call the association's toll-free number and request information on any of the following vessels: American Eagle, Angelique, Grace Bailey, Heritage, Isaac H. Evans, J. and E. Riggin, Lewis R. French, Mary Day, Mercantile, Nathaniel Bowditch, Roseway, Timberwind and Victory Chimes.
Passengers may choose whether or not to participate in sailing the vessel.
Courtesy Callaway Gardens.
Courtesy Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
Courtesy Callaway Gardens.
Daily admission $7 adults, $1 children 6-11 years old and younger children enter free. (Prices slightly higher for special events and beach area admission.) Lodging is available.
The largest glass-enclosed butterfly conservatory in North America is at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is one of the world's foremost conservatories.
This conservatory houses more than 1,000 free-flying butterflies, as well as lush tropical foliage and a 12-foot waterfall. You walk among plants and butterflies native to countries in Central and South America, Malaysia and Taiwan.
Callaway Gardens, a 2,500-acre, year-round horticultural display garden, also features one of the most advanced garden/greenhouse complexes in the world, a model vegetable garden, walking trails and roadways showcasing the world's largest display of hollies and a seven-mile bicycle trail weaving through woodlands and interpretive areas.
Callaway Gardens is also home to a 65-acre lake offering swimming, fishing, children's activities and waterskiing shows and lessons.
You can fish in nearby 175-acre Mountain Creek Lake, one of the finest fishing lakes in the area, where you find fully-outfitted boats and guides to show you the best spots.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
Varies depending upon accommodations and means of transportation to the lodge. Three days via SnowVan is $225 PP/DO, or $478 PP/DO by helicopter for stays in private cabins. Yurts are $165 for 3 days PP/DO by SnowVan or $460 PP/DO by helicopter.
North Rim Nordic Center at Kaibab Lodge sits at 9,000 feet elevation in the heart of the North Kaibab National Forest.
Isolated and secluded from civilization by deep snows, the center offers a vast and varied 372-mile trail system that is double-tracked for traditional skiing with a lane groomed for skating. An additional 186 miles of trails are marked for backcountry skiing and there is virtually no limit to unmarked backcountry exploration.
The lodge, inaccessible except by way of a specially-designed SnowVan or helicopter, offers weekend adventures Fridays through Mondays from mid-December to the beginning of April. Instructors offer guided tours as well as pointers in techniques such as skating and telemarking.
Skiers can choose between private lodge cabins or a group yurt that sleeps eight comfortably, depending upon how rustic a retreat you are looking for. Regardless of which you choose, lessons, guided tours, use of a hot tub and game room, and an all-you-can-eat continental breakfast are included.
As for the skiing, the Grand Canyon's North Rim takes you far away from the popular tourist areas of the South Rim into vast forests of pine, fir and aspen. The lodge is on the Kaibab Plateau (kaibab is the Paiute Indian word meaning "mountain lying down"), which rolls gently making for great skiing for all abilities. Abrupt drops at De Motte Park, Tater Canyon and Dog Canyon challenge the more experienced and adventurous skiers. The mile-deep Grand Canyon offers spectacular panoramic vistas.
North Kaibab National Forest is also a national game preserve, and you share the trail with deer and several species of birds including the grey-headed and Oregon junco, mountain chickadee, plain titmouse and white-breasted and pygmy nuthatches.
Trails accommodate all levels of skier.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
$12,999 for three weeks to $7,999 for 11 days. Includes guides, equipment, meals and charter flight to Greenland.
In 1992, Ecosummer Expeditions made a dog sled journey with the Thule people to Ellesmere Island, the most northerly community in Canada.
They traveled over the polar icecap in Greenland to the Kane Basin and across the ice bridge north of the North Water polynia and down the spectacular east coast of Ellesmere. All participants considered it a journey of a lifetime.
Ecosummer is planning another three-week expedition to Grise Fjord this year. Along the way, you will stop at the historic sites of many early explorers, like the deserted settlement of Etah.
All participants will be outfitted in polar clothing and the ratio is one participant per sled and hunter. All trips, which are scheduled from March through May and cost $12,999, include charter flights between Canada and Greenland.
Ecosummer is also offering an 11-day dog sledding journey, easier than the three-week venture and scheduled for the warmer month of May.
You will accompany Thule hunters through the fjords to native settlements, historic spots and possibly the flow edge.
This tour is more relaxed and you will meet many local hunters and their families.
You won't forget the warmth and kindness of these polar people and the absolute pristine beauty of their homeland. This tour costs $7,999 and is limited to 10.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
$4,349 PP/DO from Resolute. Includes charter flight, accommodations, guides and meals.
The plants and wildlife of the polar region have adapted to a frigid climate that is far too cold for most of the world's inhabitants. You can examine their unique adaptations and survival habits during several Ecosummer Expeditions tours.
A 13-day High Arctic Islands venture provides many opportunities to view, photograph or sketch wildlife, including shaggy muskox, walrus or birds. There are two camps you can travel to during these tours.
One is at Truelove Lowlands on north Devon Island in the Northwest Territories. This camp is perched on a lush peninsula near Grise Fjord, Canada's most northerly Inuit settlement.
This lowland is an oasis supporting a large muskoxen population and has a myriad of small lakes that are ideal for nesting birds. The camp has an unforgettable sauna and offers you a glimpse at this fragile and pristine environment.
The other camp is on Ellesmere Island, the northernmost region of Canada. It is in the base of a lush lowland delta, surrounded by colorful hillsides and icecaps.
You see a proliferation of plants and animals, including Arctic terns, red throated loons, eider ducks and snow geese.
This is also a wonderful place to photograph walrus herds on the sea ice. You will also see picturesque Thule and cultures.
You can explore the region on foot or on kayak with knowledgeable guides.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
$1,849 PP/DO from Whitehorse, Yukon. Includes meals, accommodations, equipment and guide services.
This Ecosummer expedition is an opportunity to experience the exceptional beauty of Kluane National Park, site of Canada's highest peaks and largest icefields outside the polar regions.
This trip combines exploration on foot and by raft from a series of camps on the dry lee side of the St. Elias Range.
The landscape is an amazing combination of huge valley glaciers, towering peaks and dry Alpine tundra interspersed with patches of spruce and poplar forest.
The mountain meadows are rich in Dall sheep and frequented by their major predator, the wolf, as well as grizzly bears.
You take a charter flight to the base of Donjek Glacier. You spend the first half of the trip between two camps. Towering ice cliffs periodically calve icy pinnacles into the Donjek River, creating huge waves and sending colorful icebergs down its murky, glacier-fed water.
After hiking down the valley, you pick up your rafts and float downriver for two days.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Courtesy Ecosummer Expeditions.
Varies with tour. Price includes charter flight, meals, accommodations and guide services.
North of the 60 degree latitude line in Canada is one vast wilderness. Canada's northern national parks have been created to protect the most spectacular areas and important wildlife habitat.
Ecosummer Expeditions offers several hiking tours to explore this outstanding region of North America.
-- The Kluane Park Hike in southwest Yukon, offered in seven- and 12-day versions, takes you through the foothills of Canada's loftiest peaks. The route takes you through a spectacular blend of Arctic, glacial and Alpine environments. You hike over rolling tundra, through high mountain passes and beside turbulent river gorges along the toe of the seven-mile-wide Donjek Glacier.
Dall sheep, woodland caribou and grizzly bear are some of the larger species that inhabit this area. An airdrop of supplies midway through the trek lightens your load. This trek is offered from June through August for $1,499 per person from Whitehorse, Yukon.
-- Ecosummer is also offering a trek through the Yukon's Arctic slope, a region of rolling tundra amidst steep mountains. Opportunities for hiking are superb and include easily attainable ridges.
The picturesque parkland landscape is further enhanced as you see the colorful Arctic and Alpine flowers. You may see bear, caribou and eagles during this nine-day tour, offered in June, at a cost of $2,339 from Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
-- A 14-day trek on Baffin Island takes you near fjords, ragged peaks and polar icecaps.
You visit the Inuit village of Pangnirtung where guides transport you by freighter canoe to the trail head. You travel up the Weasel River where you are flanked by valleys shooting down 4,500 feet. You trek up to Summit Lake and proceed on to the Turner Glacier. You return to redezvous with Inuit guides.
This is available in July at a cost of $2,230 per person from Ottawa, Ontario.
-- Ecosummer also offers a Tanquary Exploration on Ellesmere Island, the northernmost island in Canada. You take a charter flight from Resolute Bay and hike on Muskox Way, a route used by the ancient Inuits as well as early explorers like Peary and Cook.
You travel in this land of the midnight sun and gain a keen appreciation of this area known as the High Arctic. The 14-day trek departs in July and costs $4,099 from Resolute Bay in the Northwest Territories.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
Courtesy North Rim Nordic Center/Canyoneers, Inc.
From $495-$2,650 depending upon duration of tour. Includes all ground and river transportation (except for 2-day tours), meals, bedding, guides, and park fees.
Major John Wesley Powell, an American geologist and explorer who was the first Westerner to travel through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River, called the canyon "the library of the gods," a place to read the language of the universe.
Canyoneers Inc. offers two- to 14-day excursions on the river's mighty rapids through the virtually unchanged territory that the major once explored.
The rapids of the Colorado are some of the world's most challenging, and Canyoneers has devised a unique pontoon craft that carries you comfortably over the river's relentless twisting and pounding waves. The vessels, propelled either manually or by motor, can also easily transport all the gear necessary for a week or more on the river.
Whether you are interested in geology, archaeology or simply adventure, Canyoneers trips oblige. The multi-colored stratified walls of the Grand Canyon and rocks that are 2 billion years old, half as old as the earth itself, rise a mile high on all sides providing spectacular viewing opportunities. When you are not rafting, guides lead hikes near waterfalls and Native American ruins of the side canyons, offering insight into the area's history, archaeology, geology and folklore.
The trips of a week or longer travel a 280-mile route, the only variables are the speed of the transport and the amount of time spent relaxing, hiking and swimming in the waterfalls. The shorter trips offer an abbreviated excursion and require hiking nine miles out of the canyon at journey's end. Accommodations on all trips include camping alongside the river on clean sandy beaches and sleeping under the stars. You enjoy culinary delights prepared by experienced camp cooks.
The Colorado River offers some of the most challenging whitewater in the world.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$795 for eight-day course to $2,195 for 29-day program. Price includes transportation from pick-up points, food, equipment and instruction.
Paddle by day and camp beside the lake under the brilliant stars at night deep in the Northwoods. This Voyageur Outward Bound course canoe expedition is a journey of skill, determination, individual versatility and group effort.
Paddling partners work together to navigate around islands and through hidden narrows. Communication and shared goals are necessary as you coordinate bow and stern paddling strokes. You must portage the canoe between lakes, which requires perseverance and cooperation. Each group member plays a vital role.
Along the way unanticipated events provide great learning opportunities. During this program, you also go rock climbing and rappel down a mountainside.
These Outward Bound courses are designed to teach youths leadership and respect for others, themselves and the environment. The goal is to instill in each participant the joy of learning and a desire to return to humanity the best he or she has to give.
Students learn by doing under the guidance of experienced professionals.
Courtesy Shantar Russian Adventures.
Courtesy Shantar Russian Adventures.
Courtesy Shantar Russian Adventures.
Rates range from $2,217 PP for a seven-day tour for group of 12 to $4,200 PP for a 14-day tour for group of 8 or less. Airfare to Russia not included.
Shantar Russian Adventures will custom-design an outdoor adventure tour for you or a group in Russia's Far East.
The Far East has vast regions of undisturbed natural beauty that have only recently opened up to Westerners and you can be among the first to explore this enchanted wilderness and meet its friendly, proud and generous inhabitants.
Fishing in the numerous rivers is world-class, with several species of char and salmon, as well as lanook and the prized Taimen, which can grow to 100 pounds. You stay in cabin camps or tent camps and may also take rafting trips.
Wilderness tours depart from Niklayevsk, a port city of 40,000 on the Sea of Okhotsk at the mouth of the Amur River. Here you can shop, attend special events and visit museums.
Helicopter excursions are offered to the uninhabited islands of the Shantar Archipelago with their coastlines of sheer cliffs and sandy beaches. Because of their distinctive environment and animal life, including 200 species of birds, Shantar brown bear, sable, ermine and red fox, they have received special protective status from the Russian government.
Rafting trips also are available on a variety of wild and scenic rivers.
Your guides, hosts and interpreters will be Russian citizens associated with Shantar Russian Adventures, a joint venture between Alaskan and Russian corporations.
Level varies from moderate to intermediate depending on activities chosen.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$795 for eight-day program and $1,395 for 15 days. Price includes meals, equipment, accommodations and instruction.
Paddle by day and camp beside the lake under the brilliant stars at night deep in the Northwoods. This Voyageur Outward Bound course canoe expedition is a journey of skill, determination, individual versatility and group effort.
Paddling partners work together to navigate around islands and through hidden narrows. Communication and shared goals are necessary as you coordinate bow and stern paddling strokes. You must portage the canoe between lakes, which requires perseverance and cooperation. Each group member plays a vital role.
Along the way unanticipated events provide great learning opportunities. During this program, you also go rock climbing and rappel down a mountainside.
These Outward Bound courses are designed to teach women leadership and respect for others, themselves and the environment. The goal is to instill in each participant the joy of learning and a desire to return to humanity the best she has to give.
This course is a demanding expedition in an environment that challenges all equally.
You learn by doing under the guidance of experienced professionals.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$795 for seven-day program and $1,195 for 14 days. Price includes accommodations, equipment, guide services and meals.
Paddle the whitewaters and towering canyons of the Rio Grande, and when you complete this course, you will be proficient in river rescue, whitewater paddling and expedition management.
River paddling requires you to work with the energy of the current, and develop rhythm and timing that transforms the canoe into a powerful tool. Initial instruction takes place in gentle currents. You learn to assess rapids and rocks and design a route you and your companions should take.
Running rapids develops on-the-spot judgment, fast reaction time and concise communication as paddling partners work the fast-moving current. If a canoe capsizes, team members and instructors activate a pre-arranged safety system to help paddlers and rescue floating gear. This is an exciting exercise in teamwork and cooperation.
You also spend a day rock climbing and rappelling at Black Rock Canyon.
This tour is available for youths, just for women and families.
The program just for women is scheduled for March and October.
The family program is scheduled for Dec. 27 and the course for youths age 16 and older is scheduled at all other times.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$795 for seven-day course and $1,195 for 14 days. Price includes meals, instructors, equipment and accommodations.
Explore the Chihuahuan Desert, cross mountainous terrain and backpack the vast Mesa de Anguila at altitudes of 2,000 to 8,000 feet during this Outward Bound program.
Your group will hike across the desert terrain and on dusty trails, discovering immense, shaded canyons. You learn desert travel skills, from water management to environmental preservation to the finer points of foot placement and balance on rough terrain.
The desert encourages teamwork as your group becomes adept at travel in this exotic, challenging environment.
You also spend a day rock climbing and rappelling the face of Black Rock Canyon on the Rio Grande.
This program is designed for youths, but there is a version for adults age 30 and older in February and October.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$1,095 for eight days, $1,495 for 15 days and $1,795 for 22 days. Price includes meals, accommodations, instructors, and equipment.
The Beartooth and Pioneer ranges of the Rockies are majestic ranges that have been traditional Native American hunting grounds for centuries and were the setting for such legendary expeditions as the epic journey of Lewis and Clarke.
In the tradition of these explorers, Outward Bound groups will stage a high mountain expedition here. You work together to traverse lowland sage-covered foothills, follow glacier-fed streams and ascend lush mountain valleys to Alpine plateaus.
These mountain meadows are some of the highest and wildest expanses in North America.
Mountain backpacking cultivates respect for an environment that is both majestic and fragile. Rugged terrain demands concentration on footing as you balance and shift your weight while carrying a pack. An unpredictable climate requires flexible planning as you adapt route plans to conditions ranging from bright sunshine to rain or snow.
This is one of Outward Bound's most challenging courses, requiring constant physical effort at high altitudes. Along the way you face unexpected obstacles both mental and physical. You learn when to carry on with determination and when to ask for help.
The eight-day mountain backpack expedition just for women is scheduled from Aug. 1-8 and the course just for men is scheduled from Aug. 1-8.
The course for adults age 30 and older begins Aug. 29.
The course for youths, age 16 and older is scheduled for June, July and August.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
Courtesy Voyageur Outward Bound.
$450 for four-day course, $795 for eight days, $1,195 for 15 and $1,495 for 22 days. Price includes meals, equipment, accommodations and instruction.
This Outward Bound trek is an intense expedition in a challenging environment -- skiing and steering a team of three to six dogs over the snow-bound lakes, rivers and trails of a Minnesota Northwoods winter.
This dogsled and ski journey requires perseverance, flexible management and a focus on winter living skills. You learn to work as a team, taking turns to mush, scout and ski.
You begin with a thorough training in winter skills, skiing, dog sledding and ice rescue techniques. You develop or polish the graceful kick and glide of a cross-country skier, and adapt that style to maneuver on rough trails with a backpack.
You also learn to manage the dogs, guiding them and caring for them. Mushing involves steering and controlling speed while riding the sled or running alongside it.
Navigation becomes the main focus, with experienced instructors ensuring safe passage.
You scout the shore for wood and camp in a sheltered bay. Living is simple and focused on necessities. You chop ice for water, make shelter and a fire. As night falls, you enjoy hot, high energy meals and share memories of the challenging day.
The two dogsled tours just for women are scheduled for late February.
Courtesy Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing Ltd.
Courtesy Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing Ltd.
Courtesy Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing Ltd.
Courtesy Selkirk Tangiers Helicopter Skiing Ltd.
$1,700-$3,584 Canadian dollars depending upon time of year for three to seven days. It costs about $500 PP/DO (Canadian) per day.
Selkirk Tangiers operates out of Revelstoke, B.C., an Alpine town offering access to 200 major runs over 1,200 miles of beautiful mountainous terrain. Three-, five-, six- and seven-day packages are available with a predetermined number of runs measured in vertical feet.
With the freedom afforded by a helicopter, skiers can virtually design their own trip based on personal preference, safety and weather conditions.
You are transported to the top of a high peak (most are between 2,600 and 7,200 vertical feet) in a jet-powered Bell Helicopter and are escorted on each of your runs by trained guides.
All types of of snow conditions and exposures can be run under the right conditions. You can cut corn in an open bowl or knife through deep powder under tree cover or on a icy glacier.
When the weather is bad, you stick to the trees for shelter. If flying is not possible, you can ski the nearby downhill slopes, cross-country ski in the backcountry, snowmobile or enjoy various indoor pursuits.
Accommodations are generally arranged with the Best Western in Revelstoke, adjacent to Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Park.
Skiers should be fit and at an advanced intermediate level or higher.
Courtesy The Nature Place.
Courtesy The Nature Place.
$90 per person per day double occupancy, $130 single occupancy, includes all meals and use of all facilities. Children 5-15, $50 per day, under 4, free.
Weekly programs are offered. Call for price information.
At The Nature Place in Florissant, Colorado, you are surrounded by 6,000 acres of beautiful mountainous land in the Colorado Rockies, west of Pikes Peak.
Designated by the National Park Service as a National Environmental Study Area, The Nature Place is part of the Colorado Outdoor Education Center. At this mountain retreat, you can gain a greater understanding of the world around you and sense the wonder of nature.
Special weeks throughout the year are planned for families, couples and individuals, focusing on outdoor recreation, wildflower excursions and geological explorations, or you can explore on your own and pursue special interests.
Staff members have backgrounds in biology, geology,history and art, plus experience in exploring and teaching in the outdoors.
You and your family can enjoy wildflower hikes, birdwatching walks and photo expeditions. You can visit a copper mine, venture to the Fossil Beds National Monument, float on an innertube down the South Platte River and camp out under the stars.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
$1,395 per person includes guides, meals and accommodations. Excludes airfare to Tucson.
Tucked away in its remote regions, Arizona has a wealth of beautiful hiking trails and Walking the World, a tour company that caters to people age 50 and older, plans to explore them.
During this 10-day tour, you explore the world-famous Desert Museum near Tucson, walk among cacti as tall as telephone poles in the Saguaro National Monument, explore a variety of canyons and mountains and sample the area's renowned Mexican cuisine. You also tour one of the world's largest copper mines.
Included in this trek will be visits to the historically famous areas of Bisbee and Tombstone, Ramsey Canyon with its golden eagles and 13 species of hummingbirds, Cohise's mountain stronghold and the Chiracahua National Monument.
Enjoy the dry, warm days of spring in the Sonoran Desert.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
$995 PP, includes guides, meals, accommodations and camping equipment. Excludes airfare to Grand Junction, Colo.
Wedged in southeastern Utah, the Arches and Canyonlands national parks contain some of America's wildest and most remote canyon areas, arches and natural bridges.
For the archaeologically inclined, ancient Anasazi dwellings, artifacts and drawings are plentiful. Walking the World's explorations take you into side canyons that were some of the last places to be explored in the United States.
In Arches National Park, you take day hikes to the Delicate Arch and along the park's desert Primitive Trail. Your remaining days will be spent hiking the canyons, stream beds and sandstone ridges in Canyonlands National Park.
A special addition to this trip will be a one-day raft trip down the Colorado River, a thrilling journey through towering red sandstone walls.
Days are usually sunny and warm with cool, clear nights. You hike out of a base camp in both parks.
These tours are specially designed for adults age 50 and older.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
$1,995 for both tours, excluding airfare to Ireland.
Explore Ireland's history, celebrations, traditions, culture, medieval castles, abbey ruins and friendly pubs during this 12-day walking tour for adults age 50 and older.
The focus of the Counties Clare and Kerry walking tour is southwest Ireland, home of Shannon, the Cliffs of Moher, the famous Burren of County Clare, the Irish fishing town of Dingle and Killarney National Park.
Your daily walks with daypacks take you into close contact with the real Ireland and her people. This is not a traditional sightseeing tour. You meet people, sing with them, laugh with them, share meals and ask them to join your walks.
Nights are spent in friendly bed and breakfast inns. You eat lunches and dinners in local pubs. This tour is available from Sept. 16-27 and costs $1,995 from Shannon.
-- Another walking tour of Ireland explores the Galway, Connemara and Aran Islands region. You spend three days in the charming fishing village of Doolin in County Clare and spend an evening with the famous tin whistle player Micho Russel. You head north along the coast to Galway and spend a night on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands.
Connemara has long been considered one of the finest areas for walking in Ireland. This 12-day tour begins June 17 and costs $1,995 from Shannon.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
Courtesy Walking the World.
$1,095 PP includes guide services, meals, equipment and accommodations. Excludes airfare to Denver.
Do you want to hike in solitude, feel the pulse of the primeval forest, wake to a mountain sunrise and feast on fresh sourdough biscuits and black coffee, but hate to carry a heavy pack around?
This llama trek, designed for adults age 50 and older, is for you.
The San Juan Mountains are one of the most rugged and inspiring ranges in the U.S. and they are only a one-day drive from Denver.
For six days, beginning slowly so you can adjust to the 9,000- to 12,000-foot altitude, you explore the east side of the San Juans. You will learn from one of the nation's top outdoorpeople, Ernie Wilkinson. He will share his knowledge of mountains, fishing, shelter building and wildlife.
You will have time to photograph flowers, hike the ridge tops and even attempt a summit. The llamas will shoulder most of your gear and let you trek to places you might not have with a heavier backpack.
Moderate to strenuous hiking, high altitudes, tent camping.
Courtesy Adventures on Skis.
Cost varies from $1,146 to $1,790 PP/DO including airfare, depending on accommodations.
Adventures on Skis offers a six-day ski tour in Megeve, France, a quaint town with 123 well-groomed slopes. Megeve has managed to maintain its charm amidst encroaching development and offers boutiques and cafes for shopping and sampling the famous French cuisine after a day of skiing.
With four peaks and more than 200 miles of trails, Megeve offers something for all ski levels, from World Cup downhill runs and moguls to terrain more suited for cruising. The highest peak is 7,640 feet and the longest vertical drop is about half that. Cross-country skiing on more than 45 miles of trails, trekking and skating are also available for the moments when you aren't sailing downhill.
Adventures on Skis has relationships with six of the area inns and hotels, all perched at 3,575 feet amidst spectacular Alpine scenery. They provide a wide array of accommodation opportunities from deluxe to comfortable.
The four peaks offer all levels of difficulty.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$1,300 includes airfare from Los Angeles to La Paz, accommodations, meals, beverages and guide services.
Baja Expeditions offers several distinct trips into the Sea of Cortez, tucked between the Baja California peninsula and mainland Mexico.
This is a beautiful region of Mexico. When John Steinbeck visited here in 1940, he wrote, "Let us go into the Sea of Cortez, realizing that we become forever a part of it."
Baja Expeditions offers a nine-day sea kayaking tour around Espiritu Santo Island, situated near the southern tip of the peninsula.
Your kayak is lightly loaded with only your hat, sunscreen, water bottle and camera.
All the camping gear, food and fresh water are carried by motor-powered skiffs that keep their distance so as not to disturb your paddling, but are quickly available if needed.
Your bilingual guides take care of cooking and camp maintenance as well as leading nature walks, snorkeling expeditions and beach volleyball tourneys. Afternoons are free to hike, snorkel, swim, paddle, birdwatch or snooze.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$1,400 PP, includes airfare from Los Angeles to La Paz. Price includes meals, beverages, accommodations and land transportation.
Hardy fishermen once roamed the Sea of Cortez, following the fish and camping each night at their nearest landfall. You capture the romance of their nomadic life at sea on Baja Expeditions's wilderness sailing adventure.
You sail on a sleek and sturdy 22-foot Drascombe longboat, with twin masts, simple gaff-rigging and positive flotation.
Each boat carries a sailmaster and up to four passengers along with your food and camping gear. You follow a downwind course from Loreto to La Paz along Baja's pristine coast.
Along the way, you visit offshore islands, small ranches and fishing villages.
Each evening, you camp in isolated coves and have time to swim, snorkel or hike.
All hands take turns at the tiller and camp chores.
Courtesy Hobie Cat Adventures.
Courtesy Hobie Cat Adventures.
Courtesy Hobie Cat Adventures.
Courtesy Hobie Cat Adventures.
France, $480 PP; Turkey, $720 PP; Martinique, $740 PP, including food; Thailand, $850 PP, including food.
Hobie Cat Adventures offers sailing tours of some of the world's most beautiful sailing waters on small catamarans.
These tours involve a flotilla of five or six 16- or 18-foot Hobie Cats, a popular brand of catamaran known for their speed and ease of handling. They are usually sailed by two people.
One trip starts in La Rochelle on the west coast of France and takes you on a five-day exploration of coastal waters, beaches and three of the islands: Re, Aix and Oleron. This trip is offered from April to October.
You can join a flotilla in southwestern Turkey, sailing from Marmaris to the Gulf of Fethiye. This exotic six-day trip is offered from April to October.
Trips are offered in Thailand, where you sail in exceptional seas with more than 350 islands. The route takes you from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands. This tour, offered year-round, includes eight days of sailing and sightseeing and additional time may be spent exploring Thailand.
A six-day trip is offered on the coast of Martinique in the Caribbean during the winter, spring and summer.
In many locations, you have the chance to camp on isolated beaches where you can enjoy campfires and barbecues.
Sailing experience is required.
Courtesy Adventures on Skis.
Cost varies from $4,751-$2,049, airfare included, depending upon accommodations.
Adventures on Skis offers a six-day package tour of the world's largest integrated ski lift network -- 461 lifts in the Dolomites of Italy. A ski bus transports you (for free) between more than a dozen peaks allowing you to sample 700 miles of trails in this Italian ski mecca. You can ski a different peak and stop for lunch in a new village every day.
Accommodations are provided in Val Gardenia, a quaint alpine village, or Cortina D'Ampezzo, a cosmopolitan and exclusive resort. A Dolomiti ski pass affords access to every peak and valley. A number of inn and hotel options are available in each location.
The ski options are innumerable in the region. With over 460 lifts, you can avoid the crowds and find comfortable slopes for your ability. You can ski the famous "Sella Ronda," an 18-mile tour around the Sella Mountains, completely linked by lifts and well-marked trails or tour cross-country in any number of valleys and foothills.
With over 700 miles of trails, there are slopes to suit all abilities.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$2,295 for the 10-day journey aboard the Don Jose, includes airfare from Los Angeles, meals, accommodations and guide services. The eight-day cruises cost $2,175 and are available in April, November and December.
A 10-day live-aboard cruise covers the Sea of Cortez and touches down at many sites that John Steinbeck described in his book "The Log of the Sea of Cortez."
His journey's journal recalls the whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds, chuckwallas (fish-eating bats) and sea turtles that he viewed on his voyage.
This cruise stops at nesting sites for terns, gulls, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies.
The geologic history of Baja is written along its coast in dramatic, lava-capped cliffs of pink ash and on cinder cone islands like Isla Coronado.
Baja Expeditions also offers two eight-day natural history and wildlife cruises aboard the Don Jose and the Copper Sky in the southern Sea of Cortez. The maneuverability of these vessels and your height above the water gives you an excellent view of blue and finback whales.
In the afternoon, skiffs take you ashore so you can explore the coastal regions.
Expert naturalists lead hikes and informal discussions so you can understand the sea lion rookeries and isolated regions and towns you see.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$1,350 PP for each trip. Price includes airfare from Los Angeles, accommodations, meals and guide services.
The small size and easy handling of sea kayaks give you a wonderful freedom in Magdalena Bay. You can quietly float on mangrove-lined channels to watch birds or slide your boat onto the beach and roam the dunes to view blooming desert plants.
The whale watching on this trip is done primarily from skiffs, to comply with government guidelines. Nevertheless, from both kayaks and skiffs you can readily observe, often at close range, the behavior of these magnificent animals.
The motorized skiffs carry your gear and all the ingredients of "catered camping."
Your travel schedule is relaxed so you can paddle at a leisurely pace, beachcomb, birdwatch and watch whales from your skiff.
-- Baja Expeditions also offers a five-day trip to San Ignacio Lagoon. You stay in a comfortable camp and spend three full days on the lagoon watching whales. Your crew takes care of the camp chores so you are free to watch whales and enjoy yourself.
You sleep in tents, on comfortable two-person cots. Bathing is done in a large domed tent with plenty of hot water. There are departures every five days, from January through March.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $2.495 for 16 days PP/DO. Trip price includes accommodations, meals, staff, permits and equipment, excludes airfare.
Large areas of Papua New Guinea are completely cloaked in dense, impenetrable tropical rain forest. Many of this country's islands are uninhabited. There are more than 700 languages spoken by the highly-isolated tribespeople on the 600 tropical islands that make up this country.
Situated north of Australia and a few degress south of the Equator, Papua New Guinea's islands are spread over 1,000 miles. Eighty percent of the land mass of Papua New Guinea, however, is part of the huge island of New Guinea, which also includes Irian Jaya, the Indonesian territory.
On this Sepik Highlands odyssey, you explore remote northern highlands, the Sepik River and the coast of Papua New Guinea. You visit with local tribespeople and stay in their homes, but you also enjoy the comforts of well-placed lodges that facilitate nature observation.
Explore the Sepik River, stop in isolated villages and take wilderness hikes. Incomparable photographic opportunities and spectacular birdwatching await you. Experienced leaders make this an incredible journey back into time.
Courtesy Adventures on Skis.
Cost varies from $1,041-$2,269 depending upon accommodations and time of year. Includes airfare.
Adventures on Skis offers ski packages that explore the downhill slopes of four of Austria's premier resort towns in the Arlberg Region -- St. Anton, Zurs, Stuben and Lech. Between the four, you can ski more than 140 miles of slopes on peaks in excess of 9,000 feet. Whether picking up technique tips at St. Anton, the largest ski school in the world, or enjoying steep tree-free descents in Lech, the Arlberg area offers superb skiing to skiers of all skill levels.
Accommodations range in scope from comfortable to posh, and each community has its own flavor. There are numerous facilities to choose from at each resort except Stuben, a quiet complex nestled into the foot of Arlberg Pass. Lech is an old medieval village that has retained its charm; Zurs is modern and cosmopolitan; and St. Anton is a traditional ski village that has kept pace with the times.
Though varying in height and number of lifts, each resort has its own character. St. Anton offers the longest run -- six miles -- and the largest vertical drop at 4,900 feet. Lech and Zurs are devoid of any trees. Nine-thousand-foot peaks surround each resort and 66 miles of cross-country ski trails slither between the connecting valleys.
After or during a day on the slopes, you can dine at sunny outdoor cafes, dance in late night discos, enjoy Tyrolean hospitality or ride through the countryside in a horse-drawn sleigh.
Numerous trails accommodate all ski levels.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$1,695 PP, includes airfare from Los Angeles, accommodations, meals and support equipment.
Baja Expeditions offers two live-aboard cruises for those interested in exploring the abundant sea life beneath the surface of the Sea of Cortez.
This rich, underwater world is in sharp contrast to the barren desert landscape of the Baja Peninsula. Sometimes described as the world's largest fish trap, the Sea of Cortez is home to more than 300 species of reef fishes. Its islands, sea canyons and wrecks provide an exciting range of dive opportunities.
During this tour, you travel in early morning or late afternoon. Once at your destination, you dive from the boat or venture out with the skiff to reach interesting areas nearby.
On the live-aboard trips, you can expect four dives daily, modern equipment, superb food and a divemaster.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,680 PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, meals, permits, staff services and equipment. Airfare not included.
Between two continents and two seas, Costa Rice is a biogeographical land bridge containing an astonishing diversity and abundance of plants and animals.
Caribbean and Pacific beaches border a land filled with whitewater rivers and waterfalls, tropical rain forests, active volcanoes, mountain cloud forests and coral reefs. Rare and exotic wildlife abound, protected in a world-renowned system of national parks and reserves.
"Ticos" are known for their warm hospitality and commitment to conservation, democracy and peace. A year-round spring-like climate attracts travelers any month.
Costa Rica is ideal for family travel. Your specially chosen naturalist guide will show you an astonishing diversity of tropical flora and fauna and plan activities oriented for parents and kids.
On this family excursion to Costa Rica, you visit Poas Volcano, Selva Verde (Green Forest), Manuela Antontio National Park, Carara Biological Reserve and special cross-cultural activities.
The carefully planned itinerary assures an easy pace, excellent sanitary conditions and comfortable accommodations with swimming pools and tasty meals. Child discounts are available.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$2,795 PP includes airfare from Los Angeles, meals, other transportation and accommodations.
About 250 miles south of the tip of Baja California, the volcanic islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago rise from the Pacific floor. These remote islands are untouched by humans. Both island wildlife and sealife show little fear of humans, much like on the Galapagos Islands.
Isla San Benedictor and Socorro Island are a paradise for the adventurous diver. The warm water and excellent visibility are perfect for viewing the abundant and fearless sealife.
These isolated islands attract many large pelagic species and you can see large sharks, giant mantas and huge schools of jacks, tuna and wahoo.
The trip begins in La Paz, where passengers board the Copper Sky for the crossing to Socorro. You have six days of diving and exploring the islands.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
Courtesy Baja Expeditions.
$1,300 PP, excludes airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica. Includes meals, accommodations, guide services and equipment.
Costa Rica, the jewel of Central American destinations, offers superb scenery, fantastic wildlife, exotic jungles and wonderful sea kayaking.
Working with Rios Tropicales, Costa Rica's premier paddling outfitter, Baja Expeditions has pioneered sea kayaking in Costa Rica. You explore some of this country's best beaches. The local knowledge of Rios Tropicales's guides creates an excellent adventure.
The trip itinerary focuses on the Guanacaste Peninsula and the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific coast. For avid naturalists, the combination of sea kayaking and camping is ideal.
Local guides share their knowledge of the flora and fauna. Howler monkeys, iguanas, coatamundos, kinkajous and a variety of tropical birds are what you can expect to find along this paddling route.
Prior kayaking experience is recommended.
Courtesy Solo Sports.
Courtesy Solo Sports.
$1,000 PP/DO including round-trip transportation from California to Baja, food, sporting gear and camping equipment.
Solo Sports really gets you away from it all.
You board a four-wheel-drive mini-bus in Los Angeles or San Diego for a drive to remote stretches of Baja California in Mexico where consistent side-offshore winds, combined with endless point-break waves, make for an unforgettable windsurfing experience.
This is a trip geared to wave-sailing fanatics.
There are no stores, restaurants or nightclubs to distract you. Your week is filled with sailing, surfing, mountain biking, fishing, volleyball, horseshoes, snorkeling or just relaxing.
At base camp, where the desert meets the sea, you are surrounded by the unbelievable beauty of the Baja desert, the Pacific Ocean, towering cactus and tabletop mountains.
You stay in roomy two-person tents. Meals are a feast of fresh fish, lobster and abalone as well as American favorites and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to satisfy even the heartiest appetites.
Tours are limited to 10 guests to ensure a quality trip.
Must be able to waterstart and be comfortable sailing in small surf.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc..
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Depends on the length of stay and the itinerary planned. Contact Journeys International for complete details.
A safari in Kenya, Tanzania or Botswana is the ideal trip for a family. Journeys International can offer families of three to five persons their own vehicle and driver-guide for an independent camping or lodge-based safari.
You can explore the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park and the Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Nairobi National Park or Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park.
Kids receive special pre-departure kits, with information and itineraries just for them. Recommmended minimum age for private trips is 5, though parents may discuss their own situations with Journeys staff. On group departures, the minimum age is 12.
Children are not permitted on trips to Rwanda and some lodges have minimum ages of 10 years.
Courtesy Adventures on Skis.
Cost ranges from $940 to $1,408, depending upon time of year and choice of hotel. Includes airfare.
The "Sound of Music" city is a winter paradise offering hundreds of miles of slopes and much apres-ski activity. Adventures on Skis offers a six-day ski safari in Salzburg, allowing you to sample several of the seven resorts, all within an hour's drive of each other.
You can choose to stay in any of six hotels, each with its own special allure. Ski runs are varied and allow for much customizing -- from the easy to intermediate trails at Badgastein, Altenmark and Saalback, to the expert slopes at Zell am See and Filzmoos. Between the seven, there are more than 200 lifts so you can often avoid the crowds associated with downhill skiing.
With its romantic narrow lanes, beautiful squares, cosmopolitan night life, shopping and 800-year-old rock fortress atop a hill of rock, there is much to see and do in Salzburg when you're resting your ski legs. The spirit of Mozart, a native son, permeates throughout the city and excellent concerts, theater and galleries make this an epicenter of European culture.
All skill levels are accommodated by the seven peaks.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $1,195 PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, equipment, staff services and permits.
Less well-known than Costa Rica, Honduras offers a similar natural environments, an equally friendly culture and fewer foreign visitors.
Noted especially for coral reefs and rich rain forests, Honduras offers you a glimpse of traditional Indian society as well as the chance to visit some of the best reefs in the Caribbean.
On the Marine Mammal Odyssey, you stay at the Institute for Marine Sciences in Roatan and explore the marine and terrestrial ecology of coastal Honduras as well as learn about the local people of the area.
This unique trip includes a chance to swim with dolphins at Bailey's Key, an area with a large enclosed lagoon where dolphin research is underway.
The Institute for Marine Sciences is engaged in long-term studies of marine mammal populations as well as conducting conservation education programs in local communities. IMS also maintains a marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center and conducts ongoing academic courses which may be available for credit. This is an ideal family trip for a different style of Caribbean vacation.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
For Maya Odyssey, from $1,785, PP/DO and for Copper Canyon Trek, from $1,555, PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, staff services, equipment and permits.
Mexico offers adventure close to home!
From the northern Sierra Madre to the Yucatan Peninsula, you discover the extraordinary cultural and natural diversity of historic Mexico.
Many of the finest natural areas are located near archaeological sites offering day hikes with exceptional birdwatching and wildlfie observation opportunities. Along the way, you meet many Mexicans of diverse ethnic origins.
On the Maya Odyssey, you explore the world of the Maya, beginning in the Chiapas highlands and traversing the Yucatan Peninsula. You visit Maya communities, wildlife reserves, well-known archaeologiclal sites and hidden ruins buried in jungles.
Swim in underground cenotes (deep sinkholes in limestone with pools at the bottom, found especially in Yucatan). Cavort on Caribbean beaches and snorkel over coral reefs.
Journeys International also offers a Copper Canyon Trek, which takes you to isolated mountains, gorges, rivers, saw-toothed ridges and along steep, breathtaking trails. You enjoy hot springs, cowboys, Tarahumara Indians, rustic lodges, clear air, waterfalls, Spanish missions, uncharted archaeological sites and a spectacular train traverse through the Copper Canyon.
Photo by Lou Lainey, courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Photo by Paul Mozell, courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Hikes average about $210 for two days. Includes shelter, hearty meals and guides.
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is a marriage of recreation and conservation. Its members believe active conservation begins with an appreciation fostered by enjoyable outdoor activities.
It offers guided hikes, workshops and other recreational ventures in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, Echo Lake Camp at Acadia National Park in Maine and the Catskills of New York.
In the White Mountains, AMC-sponsored hikes range from one to eight nights and follow a pre-planned itinerary through the AMC's Hut System.
Transportation from the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to and from the trailhead is included.
Experienced AMC guides lead the way and advise on safety concerns and equipment. There are three skill levels, challenging, moderate and easier. However, the White Mountains are rugged terrain and even easier trails include rough, rocky sections.
The average easy trail consists of three to five miles of hiking to Carter Notch, Zealand Notch or Lonesome Lake Hut.
Moderate hikes require you to maintain an active pace over four to seven miles of steep grades above the treeline.
A challenging hike should be attempted only by experienced hikers who regularly engage in strenuous exercise.
In addition to a wide array of guided hikes (for more information contact the AMC at 603-466-2727) the AMC offers vacation packages, where you can hike from hut to hut in the White Mountains. Packages are available in June, September and October.
AMC also offers guided winter trips for those wishing to travel on snowshoes, skis or by dogsled.
Courtesy Adventures on Skis.
$999-$2,221 PP/DO including airfare depending on accommodations and time of year.
Adventures on Skis sponsors a six-day package tour of mile-high Zermatt, Switzerland, an idyllic village at the base of the Matterhorn. Skiing is varied in scope due to its sheltered southern exposure and generous snowfall. A 150-mile network of trails rises over 12,000 feet.
Beginners can take to the three main ski areas with comfort, while the more advanced downhillers can challenge the world-renowned Tiefbach, Aeroloroi or Mamet, or ski over the Theodulpass to Cervinia, Italy, for lunch.
The new Klein Matterhorn lift, the highest aerial cablecar in the Alps, ascends to 12,533 feet and opens up new glacier ski runs, giviing Zermatt one of the longest ski seasons in Europe.
Skiers can choose from any of 11 hotels, each of which has its own personality.
There are trails for all levels of ability.
Courtesy Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris.
Courtesy Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris.
Courtesy Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris.
Courtesy Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris.
Courtesy Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris.
$140 to $250 PP per day. Skippered charter includes berth, licensed skipper, meals, bedding, nature tours, sailing instruction, use of kayak and kayaking instruction. On bareboat charter, guests provide own food and bedding.
Surrounded by snow-clad peaks and glaciers that descend to sea level, Prince William Sound remains one of the world's prime coastal wilderness cruising areas.
Here, you enjoy the adventure of Alaskan Wilderness Sailing Safaris' naturalist-guided sailing and sea kayaking vacations.
Watch sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters and thrill to the sight of the Sound's humpback, killer and minke whales. During walks with naturalists, you explore rich intertidal zones and Chugach National Forest's unique ecosystem.
Trips include a visit to Columbia Glacier and to other glaciers if time and weather permit.
You may also take solitary walks or paddle along the shore in stable sea kayaks to watch wildlife or explore shallow nooks.
Skippered sailboats are available and those with experience can sail on their own. Sailboats range from 30 to 44 feet.
Your hosts, Drs. Jim and Nancy Lethcoe, have sailed Alaskan waters for 22 years and are the authors of "Cruising Guide to Prince William Sound" and books on the Sound's environment.
On skippered charters, passengers may participate in sailing under guidance, while bareboat charters are available only to experienced sailors.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
All Panama trips suitable for children except the Darien Balboa Trek.
From $1,680 for the Golden Isthmus Odyssey, Kuna Cultural Odyssey and Panama Cultural Odyssey, PP/DO. From $2,295 for the Darien Balboa Trek. Trip prices include accommodations, permits, most meals, staff services and equipment.
Panama has more species of birds, more accessible natural rain forest, more indigenous cultures, more varied climates and more islands than any other Central American nation.
You can walk from the Atlantic to the Pacific in a week. With the help and the knowledge of your guides, and the vehicles and equipment provided, you experience the ecosystem of this southern environment.
Panama is enticing, natural, uncrowded, friendly and destined to provide you with an excellent nature and cultural experience.
On the Kuna Cultural Odyssey, enjoy an intimate exploration focusing on the unique culture and rain forest environment of the indigenous Kuna Indians. This combines expert cultural and natural history interpretation in some of the most spectaular natural areas of Panama.
Journeys also offers a Panama Family Odyssey, during which you and your family interact with indigenous cultures and explore reef and island environments, now being examined by the Smithsonian Research Operations.
The Golden Isthmus Odyssey, another Panama tour offered by Journeys, takes you to the Chiriqui Province Cloud Forest where you explore splendid rain forest environments. The night forest throbs with the sounds of insects, owls, nightjars and amphibians. Experience the abundance of life in a tropical rain forest.
The most challenging trek Journeys offers in the Americas is the Darien Balboa Trek. You trek the unexplored Darien Rain Forest, the only section of Central America not crossed by the Pan American Highway. You spend 12 days in the jungle, meet numerous Indian tribes and wade through many gold-bearing shallow streams. On this jungle adventure, you explore some of the world's most remote rain forests.
Kuna Cultural Odyssey, Panama Family Odyssey, Golden Isthmus Odyssey are all rated easy trips. The Darien Balboa Trek is a difficult-to-very-difficult trek.
Courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Prices vary, and include meals and camp facilities. Call the AMC for more information.
Let the spectacular White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Catskills of New York and the rural regions of Maine be your classroom as you learn to identify lichens, hunt for wild mushrooms and wildflowers, learn to identify trees, photograph or sketch nature or learn to concoct gourmet meals outdoors.
The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) offers a wide variety of one- to three-day workshops to heighten your appreciation of nature.
You stay in AMC huts or tent sites while you attend classes, which generally cost from $50 to $300.
AMC, in combination with the University of New Hampshire's Department of Natural Resources, is also offering seminars on environmental science and conservation.
Instruction takes place in the field, with an emphasis on firsthand observation and problem-solving. Among the programs are aquatic ecology, geology of the White Mountains and ecology of the forested landscape.
The Appalachian Mountain Club is a marriage of recreation and conservation. Its members believe active conservation begins with an appreciation fostered by enjoyable outdoor activities.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.
$170 per person includes accommodations, snowmobile and guide services.
Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours offers a two-day exploration of southern Alberta by snowmobile. Some of the best winter riding available is in the Crowsnest Pass region.
The friendly town of Blairmore serves as a base camp and allows access to countless forested trails and open spaces in the surrounding area.
Excellent powder conditions allow you to go anywhere that suits your whims. Experienced riders escort you through spectacular terrain under the brilliant sun during the long winter days of Alberta.
The terrain and riding difficulty are varied.
Courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Courtesy Appalachian Mountain Club.
Prices ranges from $495 for 10 days to $250 for six days. Price includes guides, meals and camping facilities.
Come explore the wilds of New Hampshire and Maine with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).
Join AMC as you hike through the forests, explore mountain peaks, paddle along the wild shores of a northern lake, learn to rappel down rock faces and work to maintain mountain trails.
Each of the six Teen Adventure programs sponsored by AMC offers a rewarding summer experience.
You will learn more about yourself and the environment, face new challenges and make new friends.
The trips are six- and 10-day co-ed adventures led by a team of AMC guides. The courses include programs on backpacking, canoeing, trail work and rock climbing.
For more information, contact AMC Teen Wilderness Adventures, AMC, P.O. Box 298, Gorham, N.H. 03581. Or call 603-466-2727 or fax 603-466-2827.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.
Courtesy Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.
$170-$1099 PP depending upon length of tour. Includes all accommodations and ground transport.
Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours offers four- and six-day snowmobile excursions into the heart of Yellowstone National Park. Hundreds of miles of marked and groomed snowmobile tours criss-cross through the park and oblige every style of riding available.
The beautiful sites and plentiful wildlife of Yellowstone make for great viewing as you cruise across miles of lakes, rolling hills and highlands.
Accommodations are provided nearby allowing for quick access to the park and many miles on the trail. Rentals include premium late model Polaris and Arctic Cat snowmobiles preset to ride in Alpine conditions.
Varied terrain accommodates all skill levels.
Courtesy Bike Vermont Inc..
Courtesy Bike Vermont Inc..
Courtesy Bike Vermont Inc..
Weekend tours are about $280 and five-day midweek tours are $695. Price includes breakfasts, dinners, helmet, guide services and support van. Bike rentals are $35 to $80.
Bike Vermont is one of the oldest bicycle touring companies in the U.S. and the only one to operate exclusively in Vermont and the Connecticut River Valley. During these inn-to-inn tours, you explore the nooks and crannies of this region.
The tours are designed for all skill levels of cyclers. They are flexible and include easy to moderate riding for the beginner and longer, alternate routes for the energetic biker.
You can set your own pace, stop when you wish, eat lunch when you like or just relax beside a river.
Your groups are small, never more than 20, and come from as far away as Japan. Most of the riders are between 30 and 50 years old.
Tour leaders take care of you, and Bike Vermont vans carry your luggage and any purchases you may make along the way. You can also hitch a ride on the van if you become tired.
The inns you cycle to and from are chosen carefully for their friendliness, warmth and comfort. The tour prices include lodging, dinners, breakfasts, maps, support van and bike helmet.
Bike Vermont tours range from weekend tours to five-day midweek treks. You can combine the tours for week-long ventures.
Distances generally range from about 15 to 30 miles a day. Routes are designed with the built-in flexibility of additional mileage for experienced cyclists.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $2,095-2,350 PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, staff services, permits and equipment.
In Venezuela, you visit tropical rain forests, cloud forests, Caribbean islands, vast savannas and the unique tableland ecosystems of the tepuis, featuring Angel Falls, the highest in the world.
Expect to see an abundance of exotic wildlfie including howler monkeys, caimans, capybaras, sloth, anteaters and some of the1,296 species of birds.
You explore some of the most interesting habitats of Venezuela from the Hacienda Tropicale, a mansion converted into a base for ecotourism in the area. Your hosts introduce you to local cultures, traditions and history as well as coastal, mountain and rain forest reserves and sanctuaries.
On the Venezuelan Wildlands Odyssey, another Venezuelan trip offered by Journeys International, you travel the wilderness to learn about native cultures and exotic wildlife. You ascend to 15,800 feet in the Andes and trek to a small Andean village for an overnight. You observe wildlife in the savannas and marshes of the "llanos"(open grassy plains), hike with Indian guides to waterfalls in the lush Kavak Canyon, and snorkel on isolated Caribbean cayes and coral reefs.
Courtesy Iceland Tourist Board.
Courtesy Iceland Tourist Board.
$1,525 PP/DO includes airfare, all lodging and meals, snowmobile rental, all gas and oil and all in-country transportation.
Decker's Snow-Venture Tours offers this unique week-long exploration of the land of "Fire and Ice" four times annually. Miles of scenic and awesome terrain, from snow-covered lava fields to lunar looking landscapes, provide the backdrop for some of the world's best snowmobiling.
The tour begins with a short sightseeing jaunt around the capital city of Reykjavik followed by a wine and cheese party and briefing of the days ahead. Shopping for woolens, swimming in one of the city's thermal pools or visiting any of a number of sites are available in your layover. Perhaps you would like to be the first on your block with a Reykjavik Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt.
The next day finds you on your way to the base camp and getting acquainted with your sled. The days on the island's ice are unparalleled. Riding on a glacier is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience -- it is unlikely that you have or will ever again encounter snow with the texture and evenness of glacier snow. The snow-draped landscape is hauntingly beautiful and stretches endlessly to the horizon, showing a range of colors from white and blue to black.
An extended option of this trip includes a short sight-seeing circuit of one of the following cities: London, Luxembourg or Copenhagen.
Easy to operate modern vehicles make this an easy way to explore.
Courtesy Decker's Sno-Venture Tours.
Courtesy Decker's Sno-Venture Tours.
Three-day tours are $340 and include lodging, meals, guides and support vehicle. Rental sleds are $325.
Decker's Sno-Venture Tours, one of the premier North American snowmobile tour operators, offers three- and six-day excursions into the wilderness of the Midwest each January and February. You travel to some of the most rugged, remote and beautiful areas of the country where wildlife and astounding vistas are around each bend of the trail.
Tours explore the forests, vales and waterways both great and small of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The shores of Lake Superior and Superior National Forest provide the backdrop for your journey through the remote areas of northern Minnesota. You ride along the lake's north shore before heading inland into moose country towards the famed Iron Range region. The trails are wide, groomed and uncrowded. Stops are made nightly for stays in comfortable inns and hotels.
Your ride through Wisconsin takes you to beautiful Chequamegon National Forest and along the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior. You also visit Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Island group. Another tour takes you to Eagle River and Bruce Crossing, Wisconsin before heading into Michigan. You sled to Bond Falls, a series of small falls dropping 800 feet into a crystal clear river, through pine forest and onto Brockway Mountain. Accommodations are deluxe and a bathing suit is requisite.
The tour of Michigan covers similar terrain -- Brockway Mountain and Mount Bohemia -- but is combined with gambling at a casino in Baraga. You stay in fine hotels and inns along the way.
$1,350 includes camping and boats. Airfare not included.
The Rio Usumacinta offers spectacular scenery and the chance to explore the famous Mayan ruins of Yaxchilan and Piedras Negra.
On this Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure tour, you slip along the Usumacinta's Class I and II water in a raft or inflatble kayak and have ample opportunity for birdwatching and looking for howler monkeys in the jungle.
A day in San Jose Canyon provides a sample of good whitewater. You also visit Palenque, Bonampak and La Venta park.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
Courtesy Journeys International Inc.
From $2,495 PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, permits, staff services and equipment. Airfare not included.
On this trek, you explore the vast territory of Argentina. Stretching from the tropical rain forests of Iguassu Falls to the Antarctic environment of Tierra del Fuego, much of Argentina is high Andean mountains, vast rolling pampas and wind-swept Patagonian plains. This is the land of the gaucho, the South American cowboy.
You thoroughly explore the best national parks and hike on remote trails to sites known only by your native Argentine guides. You observe and photograph unusual wildlife, spectacular mountains and massive glaciers.
In the wildlands of Patagonia, you visit the coast of the Peninsula Valdes, habitat of the Southern sea lion, South American ostrich, giant elephant seal and hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins.
Hike through Glacier National Park and see the impressive Moreno Glacier.
Cross the Andes to Chile and trek into Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the world. You hike to the edge of the Patagonian Ice Cap. Finally, you drive to Punta Arenas and navigate the Straits of Magellan to visit Los Cisnes National Park to see penguin, dolphin, albatross, petrels, flamingos and black-necked swans.
Trips begin and end in Buenos Aires. While in the outback of Argentina, expect rough roads and unpredictable weather.
$1,500 per person including camping and boats. Does not include airfare.
The tiny kingdom of Nepal is a magical place, offering the greatest geographic diversity of any comparable area in the world. The distance from the windswept heights of Everest to the tropical jungle is only 90 miles.
The Sun Kosi river, which you can paddle with Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel, originates in Tibet and runs eastward in Nepal through the great valley between the Mahabharat Lekh Mountains and the Himalaya, forming the watershed for much of eastern Nepal.
This trip is offered in October, when the days are sunny and the water is warm and guaranteed to be high. Advanced kayak or rafting options are available.
For small groups of eight to 12, Nantahala offers a month-long trip including trekking in the Annapurna Sanctuary, a nine-day river trip and several days in the lowland jungle of the Royal Chitwan National Park. Call to arrange a charter trip.
Courtesy Decker's Sno-Venture Tours.
$625 includes all ground transportation, meals (except lunch and dinner in West Yellowstone), lodging, guiding and park fees. Excludes rental of sled at $375.
Decker's Snow-Venture Tours sponsors five-day trips through Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding area in February and March.
The three days of exploration outside the park include rides into the beautiful Rocky Mountain area of the Targhee National Forest. From a comfortable base camp in Island Park, Idaho, you head to the top of some of the area's famous elevations including Lion's Head and Two Top.
The two days spent inside West Yellowstone include rides to thermal geysers, past roadside wildlife and to other scenic points. Accommodations will be provided by the Brandin' Iron Motel, and time will be allotted for visiting shops and restaurants.
The tour price covers all meals on the trail and in Island Park. The only meals not covered are those in West Yellowstone, where you can spend a night on the town.
$1,200 per person for beginner and intermediate trips, including boats and camping or other accommodations. (There is no camping on the beginner trip.) $1,170 per person for advanced trip, including boats and camping. Airfare excluded.
Raft, kayak or canoe some of the best whitewater in this tropical paddler's paradise with Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel. In Costa Rica, each bend of the river may bring excitement: a waterfall cascading down a lush jungle wall, iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks or the best surfing wave you've ever played.
Nantahala offers trips for beginning, intermediate and advanced kayakers.
An eight-day beginner/intermediate trip offered in October takes you on beautiful easy rivers. For those interested in improving skills, there will be time for on-river instruction, as well as for birdwatching and playing in the surf. (Rafts are not an option on this trip.)
On the 10-day intermediate whitewater trip, offered in November and December, you test your skills on Class II and III sections of the Reventazon, Sarapiqui and General. The itinerary includes two nights at a private biologial reserve where you can hike and birdwatch.
On the 10-day advanced whitewater trip, offered in September and October, you run some of Costa Rica's best: the Reventzon, Pacuare and General. Kayakers and canoeists alike will be challenged. Rafters need only the spirit of adventure to enjoy this paradise.
Three trips are offered for different skill levels.
$1,475 per person including lodging and boats. Airfare not included.
The rugged Alps are the source of an incredible variety of whitewater as you will find if you take this trip with Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel. When the snow melts, France's winter wonderland becomes a European mecca for paddling.
You meet in Grenoble before embarking on a week of great whitewater ranging from small creeks to high-volume rivers. The cuisine is superb and this is truly a trip to savor.
An advanced itinerary is offered in June, an intermediate trip in July.
Intermediate and advanced trips are offered.
Courtesy Decker's Sno-Venture Tours.
Depends upon destination, number of days and accommodations. Call for pricing information.
Because no tour operator can possibly predict where everyone wants to go, Decker's Snow-Venture Tours allows you to custom design trips to the western U.S., Canadian provinces and several Scandinavian countries.
Decker's believes all great snowmobile excursions include prime accommodations, responsible and knowledgeable guides and a love for adventurous sledding. The organization now has access to these ingredients in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Oregon, South Dakota and Alaska in the U.S., the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Quebec, Northwest Territories and New Foundland, and the snowy countries of Iceland, Finland and Sweden.
Tell Decker's what you desire your vacation to be, where you'd like to go, the dates, how many days you'd like to ride and whatever else you like included. They will arrange it.
Modern, comfortable machines make the trip easy.
Courtesy Bloomington Bicycle Club.
Courtesy Bloomington Bicycle Club.
Courtesy Bloomington Bicycle Club.
Courtesy Bloomington Bicycle Club.
$170 for adults and $85 for children, includes 12 meals, T-shirt and camping site. You provide lunches, camping equipment, bike and helmet.
The Bloomington Bicycle Club in collaboration with the Indiana Division of State Parks and Department of Natural Resources each year sponsors a week-long bicycle and camping tour through southwest Indiana.
Tour organizers lay out the route, arrange for camping and make sure food is available. However, they don't warn you what is over the next hill. This is an adventure of discovery as you combat the elements, locate necessary sustenance and push yourself to the limit to ride those few extra miles for showers and meals.
You cover about 65 miles per day and the terrain ranges from flat to hilly with a few challenging monster hills en route. The club provides camping areas in state parks, amenities, six breakfasts and six dinners, baggage transport, van support, bicycle repair, T-shirt, marked route and maps.
$1,025 PP including camping or other accommodations. Excludes airfare and boats. Rental or transporation of boats is available.
Between the snowcapped volcano Orizaba and the beaches of Veracruz, Mexico, whitewater and excitement are plentiful. On this Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel tour, you warm up with a day on the Rio Filo, a Class II-III run.
You spend the next several days on the challenging Rio Antigua, where rapids range from Class II to III and vary from long continous stretches to steep technical drops. You can run the river in either a raft or kayak.
Your itinerary includes visits to several Huastec and Totonac ruins and time for sightseeing in Veracruz and Xalapa.
For a finale, you run the Actopan, whose put-in features three waterfalls plunging into a crystal blue pool. Lined with overhanging sugacane, this creek is great fun.
Courtesy Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort.
Courtesy Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort.
Courtesy Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort.
Prices vary depending on length of stay, time of week and time of year at Wilderness Lodge and include all meals and trail fees. (For example $265 per adult for a two-day weekend stay during peak season-$395 for a week during the low season.) Rainbow Lodge rooms range from $59-$110 PP per night.
Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort sits nestled in the Sierra Mountains near Lake Tahoe, California. More than 9,172 acres of skiing terrain, blanketed by 600 inches of snow annually, is covered by 81 trails.
Three lifts take you to higher elevations when you are tired or want to practice your downhill techniques. Ten warming huts and four trailside cafes provide shelter and warmth when you desire a rest.
Snow Country Magazine has ranked Royal Gorge as " the number one cross country ski resort in all of North America." Once you begin to explore, it becomes clear why. Hundreds of dramatic Sierra peaks, forests and ridges provide the scenic backdrop, and because of the extensive trail network, you can search out wildlife in remote areas or enjoy group activities and instruction.
You design your own tours and accommodations are provided by Wilderness and Rainbow Lodges, a pair of fine retreats that are unobtrusively situated along the trail. Modern amenities such as Jacuzzis and authentic French cuisine await you after a long day of touring.
A network of 81 trails accommodates all levels of ability.
Courtesy Biking Expedition.
Courtesy Biking Expedition.
Cost ranges from $1,200 for 14-day tours to $2,400 plus $390 airfare for 21-day tours in Colorado. Price includes food, lodging, guides, equipment, group activities, bicycle and transportation during the trip. Excludes airfare to Henniker, N.H.
The Biking Expedition offers 18 road touring and mountain biking trips in the U.S. and Canada for youths ages 13 through 21. Each tour is grouped by school grade level.
About eight to 12 students per group, guided by two to three adult leaders, ride for two to three weeks through the Rocky Mountains, New England, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. The goal is to create a group experience where students explore the world of self-motivated travel in a supportive atmosphere.
The majority of participants are active, but new to extended bike touring. Most want a new and exciting experience where they visit wonderful places, have lots of fun and develop lasting friendships.
The Biking Expedition seeks students who are mature, responsible and willing to work together to create a fun-loving group environment.
Two treks provide van support, but most are self-supporting, which means students carry their clothing and equipment on their bicycles.
Students stay in campsites and hostels as they journey through Cape Cod, northern New England, coastal Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Canadian Rockies, Alaska and California.
In addition to bicycling, the youths visit various attractions, hike, fish or go on rafting journeys.
$1,050 including camping and boats. Airfare is not included.
Alaska is a magnet for anyone drawn to the world's wild places. Whether you are an intermediate or advanced kayaker, you can challenge your river skills on some of Alaska's finest whitewater with Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel.
Paddle through 900-foot canyons with sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Journey on remote stretches of river surrounded by spruce trees and glacier-capped mountains as you explore the vastness of central Alaska.
An advanced kayak and rafting trip is offered in July and in intermediate kayak itinerary is offered in August.
Trips offered for intermediate and advanced skill levels.
$1,100 PP including camping and boats. Airfare not included.
In addition to learning the basics of sea kayaking, you will see California gray whales at eye level while paddling the calm waters of Madgdalena Bay on this trip with Nantahala Outdoor Center Adventure Travel.
The quiet channels that you explore off the bay are home to a great variety of migratory birds, and in the splendor of a Baja sunset, you can sit quietly and wait for coyotes to stir.
Courtesy Cross Country Tours.
Courtesy Cross Country Tours.
Courtesy Cross Country Tours.
Courtesy Cross Country Tours.
From $250 PP per day, excludes airfare. Includes lodging, transportation and morning and evening meals.
New Zealand's Cross Country Tours leads excursions into King Country on North Island, a territory once forbidden to Europeans. The traditions and strong community values of the aboriginal Maoris still permeates this beautiful backcountry.
The tour is led by a Maori elder whose local knowledge guarantees you a never-to-be-forgotten experience and provides rare insight into Maori culture. Most of the tour is conducted in four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Highlights include a visit to Otorohanga's popular Kiwi House and the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where you drift silently down an underground stream into a caves whose ceiling is dotted by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms.
Marokopa Falls are among the prettiest in the country and the Managapohue Natural Stone Bridge is one of nature's jewels.
The tour takes you along the rugged west coast from Kawhia, where the Tainui Migration canoe landed 600 years ago, an area still steeped in Maori history. From there you drive towards Taharoa to see the ironsand being loaded onto ships for export to Japan. Further down the coast you will visit Maracopa, Waikawau Beach and its unusual tunnel, built so that stock could be driven along the beach because the inland route was too treacherous.
Your last stops along the coast are the villgaes of Awakino and Mokau, where there is a new Maori meeting house widely acclaimed for its 15 superb carved paintings. In the Mokau cemetery, the anchor stone of the Tainui canoe sits over the grave of paramount Chief Kingi Te Wetere.
The return journey takes you overland to Piopio and Te Kuiti the seat of King Country.
Expedition vehicles do the work.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
Varies with tour.
Hostels are comfortable, environmentally sensitive places for budget-minded travelers of all ages to lodge for the night. They are friendly places filled with people who are also looking for adventure, excitement and an opportunity to discover the world.
There are dorm-style rooms for girls and boys, and many hostels have private rooms for families, couples and groups. You provide your own linens or sleeping bag.
The American Youth Hostel program has been providing educational and recreational travel experiences for youths and adults for more than 50 years. You can travel with a group of your contemporaries (each tour is rated by age) and hike, walk, raft, bicycle or sightsee in various regions of the U.S. Each tour is also skill rated, so there are tours for all levels of fitness.
There are cycling tours exploring Cape Cod, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Oregon and California. There are also hiking tours, where you are transported by van to beautiful trails in the Rocky Mountains, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska and Oregon.
Tour prices include lodging, camping equipment when needed, group-prepared meals and guides. They do not include a Hostel membership, personal gear, bicycle, spending money or transportation to and from the tour's starting point.
Costs range from $670 for a 13-day hostel and camping cycling tour of Cape Cod to $1,250 for a 38-day cycling tour from Seattle to San Francisco.
There are American Youth Hostels in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. For more information call the main office.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
$900 for the 23-day Bay of Fundy Loop and $750 for the 15-day cycling trek from Quebec to Montreal. Price includes lodging, plus camping equipment, group-prepared meals, ground transportation and guide.
Hostels are comfortable, environmentally sensitive places for budget-minded travelers of all ages to lodge for the night. They are friendly places filled with people who are looking for adventure, excitement and an opportunity to discover Canada.
There are dorm-style rooms for girls and boys, and many hostels have private rooms for families, couples and groups. You provide your own linens or sleeping bag.
The American Youth Hostel program has been providing educational and recreational travel experiences for youths and adults for more than 50 years. You can travel with a group of your contemporaries (each tour is rated by age) and hike, walk, raft, bicycle or sightsee in various regions of Canada. Each tour is also skill rated, so you can find a tour for your fitness level.
Tour prices include lodging, camping equipment when needed, group-prepared meals and guide costs. They do not include a Hostel membership ($10 youth, $25 adult), personal gear, bicycle, spending money or transportation to and from the tour's starting point.
The cycling tours in Canada explore the Bay of Fundy Loop in Nova Scotia and ride from Montreal to Quebec City. The Canadian hiking tour, supported by a van, explores Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks in Alberta.
For more information about hostel tours in Canada, call 202-783-6161.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult.
From $935 for 10-day tour; from $1,665 for 20-day tour, PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, guide services, most meals and equipment. Airfare not included.
The mountains and desert of Jordan radiate a wild and desolate beauty all their own. It is these sun-baked wadis (dry riverbeds) and giant granite crags that T.E. Lawrence describes in his "Seven Pillars of Wisdom." You visit the desert castles, explore the rock-hewn city of Petra and ride camels in Wadi Rum.
Starting in Amman, Jordan's capital, you drive north to explore the Greco-Roman acropolis of Pella and the ruins of Umm Qais (ancient Gadara), which commands a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee. You also see the famous Roman town of Jerash before heading to the desert castle of Azraq, once used by Lawrence as his strategic headquarters. Close by are two small but lovely desert castles built by the pleasure-seeking Omayyad Caliphs of Damascus.
Next you travel to the land of the Moabites. As you drive south to Mt. Nebo, you can view the Promised Land as seen by Moses. Then you descend into the gigantic ravine of Wadi Mujib before climbing to the rocky pinnacle of El Karak. From the Crusader Castle, you see formidable views of the sweeping ochre landscapes that were so familiar to Ruth the Moabite.
At last you arrive in Petra, the forgotten city found by the explorer Burckhart in 1812. Walking or riding between the sheer cliffs to the entrance gorge is like approaching some long lost Shangri-la. The "Rose Red" city itself is carved straight from a mountain of multicolored sandstone and is one of the world's most amazing archeological wonders. Its rock-cut treasury once stored Sheba's gifts to Solomon.
You trek deep into the desert by camel, riding beneath the awesome cliffs of Wadi Rum. This is real Lawrence of Arabia country, an awesome place of shimmering sands described in his Revolt in the Desert. You spend two nights here in a Bedu encampment, under a desert sky crowded with stars. All around you stretch the solitary vertical cliffs of the wadi, burned crimson in the evening sunlight.
Courtesy Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels.
Costs range from $475 for seven days of lodging, meals and guides in France, to $800 for a 13-day trip through Israel. Airfare to these countries is extra.
Hostels are comfortable, environmentally sensitive places for budget-minded travelers of all ages to lodge for the night. They are friendly places filled with people who are looking for adventure, excitement and an opportunity to discover new countries.
They offer dorm-style rooms for girls and boys, and many hostels have private rooms for families, couples and groups. You provide your own linens or sleeping bag.
The International Youth Hostel Federation programs also provide educational and recreational travel experiences for youths and adults. You can travel with a group of your contemporaries (each tour is rated by age) and hike, walk, raft, bicycle or sightsee in Europe and Israel. Each tour is also skill rated, so there are tours for all levels of fitness.
Tour prices include lodging, camping equipment when needed, group-prepared meals and guides. They do not include a Hostel membership ($10 youth, $25 adult), personal gear, bicycle, spending money or transportation to and from the tour's starting point.
The federation offers a historic train tour of Ireland for $800 (excluding airfare to Ireland), a two-week bicycle trek through the Loire Valley in France for $850, and additional cycling tours in Scotland, Switzerland, Germany and England.
It also offers backpacking and hiking tours in Israel, Switzerland, Scotland, England and France.
For more information about hostel tours and for a list of tours, call 202-783-6161.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
$2,750 per passenger and $3,600 per rider includes use of motorcycle, all lodging, all breakfasts and all but two dinners. Excludes airfare.
The uncrowded roads, scenic hills, vales and ocean vistas of New Zealand provide a dramatic backdrop for this 22-day motorcycle tour sponsored by Beach's Adventures.
You travel over much of North and South islands and stay in hotels. For four nights, you have the special treat of spending the night at farms and sheep stations in the bucolic countryside.
The itinerary stretches from Milford Sound on the South Island all the way to North Island to the quaint sportfishing mecca, Russell. An experienced guide accompanies the tour and provides insight into the area and its people, and a luggage van transports all the luggage leaving you free to roam the roads at will.
Motorcycles are included in the tour price but you may rent an automobile if you prefer. A budget version of this tour is available and substitutes farm and camp cabin stays for hotels.
The riding is not difficult provided you know how to operate a motorcycle.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Children should be accompanied by parent or responsible adult.
From $2,195-$2,255, PP/DO depending on season. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, guide services and equipment. Airfare not included.
Every so often you come upon place so extraordinary, so separate from the rest of the world that it seems unreal. Yemen is such a place. It affords an opportunity to mingle with a colorful people whose medieval way of life has hardly changed, where a less hurried, more graceful rhythm beguiles the spirit.
You begin with a look at the fascinating old city of Sana'a. Then you drive to Wadi Dhar, where the spectacularly sited Imam's Palace dominates the skyline. A serpentine route from Amran leads to the mountaintop town of Hajjah (at 5500 feet), an excellent base for local walks. You also stay in Kawkaban and visit the remarkable hilltop town of Thulla before driving east to ancient Marib, Queen Sheba's legendary home. Discovered in 1843, the scattered remains here can be traced back to a great dam constructed many centuries ago.
From Marib, your all-terrain vehicle crosses the forbidding sands of the 'Empty Quarter,' to Hadhramaut Valley, the largest wadi in the Arabian Peninsula. Here are the three fabled oases towns of Sayun, Tarim and Shibam. Built in times of intertribal rivalry, Shibam is crammed inside defensive walls -- its narrow houses have grown upwards rather than outwards to six or seven stories of sun-backed mud bricks -- the world's first skyscrapers! Women envelop themselves in bright blue clothes and keep black veils over their eyes. You head southwest of the ancient seaports of Al Mukalla, Bir Ali and Aden.
A full day is spent en route amidst the mesmerizingly-beautiful terraced landscape of Taiz (4,600 feet) , from where you plan a side-trip to Jibla and Ibb. Then, continuing to the old coffee port of Mokka, you overnight in the fishing village of Al-Khawkha on the palm-fringed Red Sea coast.
Finally, you climb high up into the wild interior, to the strategically located village of Manakha (7,000 feet elevation). During you explorations, you experience the traditional lifestyle of the Yemeni mountain people.
Courtesy Alaska Passages Adventure Cruises.
Courtesy Alaska Passages Adventure Cruises.
Courtesy Alaska Passages Adventure Cruises.
Courtesy Alaska Passages Adventure Cruises.
$225 to $300 per person per day, excludes airfare to Alaska.
Alaska Passages Adventure Cruises invites you to cruise through southeast Alaska's spectacular Inside Passage on the Heron, a safe and well-equipped 65-foot motor yacht.
Discover islands covered with ancient forests and beaches without a human footprint.
See porpoises playing in the bow wake, eagles soaring and whales diving in the food-rich waters.
Beachcombing, fishing, photography and kayaking are just some of the ways to enjoy the relaxed pace of cruising in this scenic region. Outboard-powered shore boats are available for fishing and exploring and you can visit isolated streams or wilderness lakes for freshwater fishing.
Enjoy gourmet meals, a comfortable main salon and covered top deck where you can dine in the long glow of an Alaskan summer twilight.
Trips for up to six people are designed with an itinerary to match passenger interests. Departures are generally from Petersburg in the heart of southeast Alaska.
Your hosts, Scott and Julie Hursey, draw from their combined 30 years of fishing and chartering experience to expertly guide you through these waters.
Activities range from easy to intermediate depending on the interests of the passengers.
Courtesy Volunteers for Peace.
Courtesy Volunteers for Peace.
$125 covers your room and board for two to three weeks. Transportation to the work camp site is extra.
Volunteers for Peace sponsors international work camp programs that are an inexpensive ($125 for two- to three-week programs including meals and accommodations) and meaningful way to travel, live and work in a foreign country.
These short-term Peace Corps-like endeavors are positive ways to respond to the challenges of the '90s in Canada and the U.S. You have fun-filled adventures while you work on projects with people from around the world.
Through hands-on work and group living, you create a more positive vision for the world and the future.
Work camps are sponsored by an organization in a host country, but coordinated by people in a local community. Work camps originated 70 years ago, and are sanctioned by the United Nations to work on community development and international education.
Usually, about 10 to 20 people from four or more countries arrive on a given day in a host community. Living arrangements are cooperative and everyone shares day-to-day responsibilities such as food preparation, work projects and recreation.
This summer, you can build trails in Maine or Alaska, provide staff support for the longest wheelchair race in the U.S., build a boardwalk at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maine, do inner-city work in Cambridge, Mass., or construct a bunkhouse in West Virginia.
The work can involve construction, building and environmental restoration.
There are more than 800 work camps around the world each year. A directory, listing the programs, is available from Volunteers for Peace for a $10 fee. Call 802-259-2922.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
Courtesy Beach's Motorcycle Adventures.
$2,400 per passenger/$3,100 per rider for 16-day tour. $3,100 per passenger/$4,200 per rider for 22-day tour. Includes lodging, all morning and evening meals (except two dinners), use of BMW, support van and guide. Excludes airfare.
Constant scenery changes, fantastic winding roads, and unique and diverse hospitality make the Alps a motorcycle mecca. Beach's sponsors 16- and 21-day tours that visit six countries that share the massive Alps.
A member of the Beach family personally guides each tour, and there are opportunities to branch off and explore the elevated pastures and storybook towns on your own.
The 16-day tour allows for a great deal of flexibility in the itinerary -- you may choose to amble through the bucolic countryside, race through passes or spend the day in the sun enjoying the ring of cowbells echoing in the hills.
Accommodations are provided by hotels, and a luggage van transports all your baggage leaving you free to concentrate on the ride ahead.
The riding is not difficult for those who know how to operate a motorcyce.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
From $1,135, PP/DO for 15 days from Istanbul, includes accommodations, night train, some meals, equipment and guide services. Airfare not included.
After a few days of hiking and warming-up in the fantastically-eroded moonscape of Cappadocia, you embark on a challenging and adventurous trek through the Taurus Mountains to the beautiful Mediterranean coast.
You start off with two days of sightseeing in Istanbul and Ankara, including a stop at Ataturk's Mausoluem, and then spend a few more days in Cappadocia exploring the surreal landforms of the Goreme Valley. You follow ancient pathways and visit the strange rock-cut churches and monasteries carved from the soft volcanic tuff (volcanic ash fused into rock by heat).
You swim and fish in crystal clear streams and enjoy the colorful blaze of wild summer flowers and shrubs. You spend the night in rock-cut churches and natural caves.
Starting from Cukurbag, you begin your Trans-Taurus Trek. You walk to the remote Cimbar and Yediboller valleys to catch the incredible sight of Mt. Deminkazik and Mt. Embler (11,900 feet, an optional easy climb). As you walk, you meet friendly nomads with their animals and black goat hair tents.
From Sogukpinar (Cold Springs -- 5,900 feet) you head down through the wooded slopes, stopping enroute at a primitive mountain village to observe a traditional way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries. You camp by waterfalls (3,100 feet) beside the Barazama River and rest and swim at this lovely site.
You wind your way through verdant pine forests to Aciman where you are greeted by one of the most spectacular sights imaginable: a full panorama of the Taurus Mountains. Finally, you walk to the village of Ortaca, from where you truck along a very rough road to Karsnati and down to Mersin. There is time for a dip in the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
Moderate to strenuous walking; bring a warm sleeping bag, foam mat, rucksack and walking boots.
Courtesy Volunteers for Peace.
Courtesy Volunteers for Peace.
$125 covers meals and lodging for two weeks. You are responsible for transportation to the work camp. Camps in the former Soviet Union can cost $350 to $700 for two weeks.
Volunteers for Peace sponsors international work camp programs that are an inexpensive ($125 for two- to three-week programs including meals and accommodations) and meaningful way to travel, live and work in a foreign country.
These short-term Peace Corps-like endeavors are positive ways to respond to the challenges of the '90s in Russia, Europe, South America and other places around the world. You have fun-filled adventures while you work on projects with people from around the world.
Through hands-on work and group living, you create a more positive vision for the world and the future.
Work camps are sponsored by an organization in a host country, but coordinated by people in a local community. Work camps originated 70 years ago in Europe, and are sanctioned by the United Nations to work on community development and international education.
Usually, about 10 to 20 people from four or more countries arrive on a given day in a host community. Living arrangements are cooperative and everyone shares day-to-day responsibilities such as food preparation, work projects and recreation.
This summer, you can build schools in Belgium, clean an ancient castle in the Czech Republic, restore a building in Aabenraa, Russia, create a new community using recycled material in Denmark, rebuild footpaths in a mountain village in France and help excavate underground rooms in a Spanish castle.
The work can involve construction, building and environmental restoration.
There are more than 800 work camps around the world each year. A directory, listing the various camps, is available from Volunteers for Peace for a $10 fee. Call 802-259-2922.
Courtesy Volunteers for Peace.
$125 for room and meals for two to three weeks, excludes airfare to work camp.
Volunteers for Peace sponsors international work camp programs that are an inexpensive ($125 for two- to three-week programs including meals and accommodations) and meaningful way to travel, live and work in a foreign country.
These short-term Peace Corps-like endeavors are positive ways to respond to the challenges of the '90s in Russia, Europe, South America and other places around the world. You have fun-filled adventures while you work on projects with people from around the world.
Through hands-on work and group living, you create a more positive vision for the world and the future.
Work camps are sponsored by an organization in a host country, but coordinated by people in a local community. Work camps originated 70 years ago in Europe, and are sanctioned by the United Nations to work on community development and international education.
Usually, about 10 to 20 people from four or more countries arrive on a given day in a host community. Living arrangements are cooperative and everyone shares day-to-day responsibilities such as food preparation, work projects and recreation.
This summer, you can make paths and clean the environment in Turkey, rebuild historical sites in Tunisia, build a drug dispensary in Tunisia or build schools in Ghana.
The work can involve construction, building and environmental restoration.
There are more than 800 work camps around the world each year. A directory, listing the various camps, is available from Volunteers for Peace for a $10 fee. Call 802-259-2922.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,125, PP/DO, from Budapest. Trip prices include accommodations in hotels and BandB's, most meals, guide and equipment.
Delve into the rural culture and scenery of northeastern Hungary. You explore the national parks, discover Central Europe's largest and most scenic cavern system and enjoy village life and medieval castles. You also sample the wine of the Tokaj region--Hungary's "Wine of Kings."
You spend the first two nights in a tiny village close to Budapest, relishing the poetic atmosphere of the Hungarian capital, medieval Sventendre and the river Danube. Then you drive thorugh the lush Puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain, which covers more than half the country. You reach the sunny slopes where the famous Tokaj grapes are grown and admire the traditional wooden churches and the folk art of the Upper Tisza Valley.
Hungary's northern uplands are famous for castles. You spend a couple of days at Hortobagy, where you combine walking with sightseeing, and take a boat trip to Bodrog Castle. Two more days are spent in and around Josvafo exploring the countryside and convoluted galleries and winding canyons of the Aggtelek cave system, an underground wilderness of magical beauty. You explore the forested Bukk National Park on foot, and visit the medieval fortress of Eger, nestled on the great flanks fo the Bukk and Matra mountains. The trip seems to call for a glass of local Bull's Blood, a potent throat-rasping red wine.
You traverse the volcanic Matra range by road and on foot, climb to the top of Kekes Peak, at 3,330 feet elevation the highest point in Hungary. After visitng the small village of Holloko with its colorful ethnic houses, you make for the ruins of Salgo Castle to enjoy marvelous views of the Carpathians. You visit an open-air geological museum and examine Paloc folk art in Balassagyarmat. Your trip ends with a stunning panorama of the graceful curve of the Danube from the heights of Visegrad Castle.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
$1,395 PP/DO including meals, staterooms, use of some diving equipment (tanks, backpack, weightbelt), windsurfer, Sunfish sailboat, transportation to shore for sightseeing. Not included are airfare, transfers to boat, snorkeling gear and diving gear not mentioned above.
Coral Bay Cruises offers two fascinating opportunities to observe the underwater world of the Bahamas.
In spring and early summer, the Coral Star departs weekly from Freeport, Grand Bahama, to cruise the White Sand Shoals of the Little Bahama Bank in the northern Bahamas, where you can interact with spotted dolphins living in the wild.
You swim and snorkel among the animals and, if qualified, you can scuba dive.
As these animals spiral and spin around you, swimming in formation, you hear and feel their echolocation. You are sure to come away overwhelmed by this adventure, an experience that will remain with you forever.
Even non-swimmers can enjoy these cruises by observing dolphins from the comfort of the Coral Star, the watersports platform or a 22-foot launch.
From July through December, the Coral Star departs weekly from Georgetown on Great Exuma to create an unforgettable live-aboard diving experience for underwater enthusiasts. Diving in waters with 200-foot visibility near Conception Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador, you see huge beds of sponges, rays, large pelagics and countless tropicals.
Non-divers can enjoy snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, beachcombing and exploring the islands.
You must be certified to scubadive. If you are not a diver, you can sign up for an introductory course, or engage in snorkeling and a variety of other activities.
Courtesy Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
$1,695 per adult; $1,090 per child. Includes transportation, guide and entrance fees.
Mosaic Tours, in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), offers a 12-day tour of some of the major sites in Israel.
In keeping with SPNI philosophy, these tours are guided and especially designed for people searching for the unsual. All are conducted in English and are conducted by guides who are knowlegeable and have a genuine concern for both people and the environment.
Travel to and from destinations is in a comfortable van and most accommodations are provided by hotels.
You begin your excursion in the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, where you spend several nights and visit local sites.
From Tel Aviv, you head to Be'er Sheva where you tour an alpaca farm and other areas of interest. before embarking on a day-long vehicle journey to Machtesh Ramon.
Your first week in Israel is capped by a camel trek into the Judean Desert with an overnight stay in a Bedouin tent.
On the following day, you climb the infamous Masada via the "Snake Path" and descend by cable car before heading to your next stop the Dead Sea.
Your final four days are spent in the holy city of Jerusalem visiting unique historic sites.
Courtesy Adventure Bound River Expeditions
Courtesy Adventure Bound River Expeditions
Courtesy Adventure Bound River Expeditions
Range from $85 for one day to $550 for five days. Includes meals and guide services. Excludes airfare to the river and tent.
Adventure Bound's river expeditions take you rafting on five of Colorado and Utah's furious, boiling and spectacular rivers near Steamboat Springs and Grand Junction.
This outfitter, based in Grand Junction, offers inflatable kayaks, rafts and large pontoon boats for you to journey down rivers by mesas, steep canyon walls and fantastic scenery.
The Adventure Bound crew is competent in the specialized skills of river running as well as knowledgeable in the interpretive aspects of the Colorado Plateau. You can immerse yourself in the rich history, distinctive wildlife and incredible geology of the region. The Adventure Bound crew unpacks your gear, helps set up camp and prepares hearty and delicious meals.
You can either help paddle or allow the guides to do the work.
Adventure Bound offers the following rafting journeys:
-- Lodore, on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. This trip provides spectacular views of 1,400-foot-high sandstone walls, mountain bighorn sheep graze nearby and you raft over challenging rapids.
-- The Desolation trip on the Green River through Desolation and Grey canyons in eastern Utah is one of the finest trips in a wilderness area. You see pristine beaches, cottonwood glens and Anasazi ruins.
-- The Yampa and Green Rivers offer the last of the wild river rides in this region. You see the headwaters of the Colorado river system and ride the crest.
-- Westwater, on the Colorado River, takes you through Ruby, Horsethief and Westwater canyons. As you float down the river, you see some of the oldest exposed rock in Utah.
-- Cataract takes you down the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park. This is one of America's most rugged and beautiful canyons.
These trips range from one to five days and costs range from $85 for a one-day trip to $505 for a five-day trip.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $935-995, PP/DO depending on the season. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, guide services and equipment.
The Tatras still support an uncommon abundance of wildlife including deer, chamois, lynx, marmot and even bear. Tremendous rivers plunge down from jagged peaks, forming vast underground caverns and glacial lakes.
You begin your tour in historic Prague, the Czech capital, including the major sights of the Old Town and Hradcany, the Castle of the Bohemian Kings. Twelve centuries have created a city of Old World charm and beauty, famed for its labyrinth of friendly streets. The first stage of your tour takes you to Brno, a rich storehouse of medieval architecture. You wander through the old quarter, and perhaps enjoy a wine evening (extra) at a local nightspot. Next day, you board the train and head eastwards to the Low Tatras. Set in an enchanting pine-clad valley, your two-day sojourn at Jasna offers many excellent opportunities for walking, rest and relaxation in a true mountain environment.
Trails are well-marked and sign-posted. You drive through beautiful scenery, climbing up to your mountain base near Smokovec village (about 3,300 feet). An area of rugged cliffs, giant peaks, emerald lakes and silent valleys, you spend the next three days walking and exploring local trails.
On your longest walk, you catch the cable car to Hrebienok and start walking to Sliezsky Dom. Continuing on foot, you reach the mountains village of Tatransk Polianka. Here you catch a train back to your hotel. Several shorter walks can be attempted, and your final day here includes a visit to the Carthusina Monastery at Cerveny Klastor and a gentle raft trip down the Dunajec River -- a haven for keen botanists. Your tour ends with a day in Prague and there is an optional excursion to the Gothic castle of Konopiste.
Easy alternative routes are available.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $895-$925, PP/DO depending on time of travel.
Trip prices include accommodations, land transport, guides, most meals and equipment. You will have to carry a day pack.
Lodging in simple Alpine huts and chalets, you hike a network of rugged trails through the magnificent Balkan, Pirin and Rila mountains. Day walking on this two-week adventure is combined with a unique opportunity to experience rural life in a small Balkan village.
You depart Sophia and drive deep into the mid-Balkan mountain range. You stay in private houses in the small village of Cherni Osam. You are privileged to be some of the first foreign visitors to stay here. You meet locals and see some old rural crafts and explore the extraordinary nature reserve nearby on foot. Its densely forested ecosystem is a unique refuge for diverse flora and fauna, including wild goats, eagles, otters and bears.
After sightseeing in the old town of Plovdiv, you drive to the Pirin Mountains, the wildest in Bulgaria. You enjoy an exhilarating day-hike along mountian trails from Bexbog (7,400 feet), passing through a spectacularly scenic landscape of glacial lakes. Mountainous hills surround the beautifully preserved village of Melnik (just 400 inhabitants!), where no doubt you will sample the full-bodied wines and join in some local folk-dancing. From there, you can explore on foot the strangely-eroded sandstone cliffs and the monastery of Rozhen.
Then you travel to the craggy granite and marble summits of the Rila Mountains and the summits of Musala (9,597 feet , the highest peak in Bulgaria) and Maljovitsa (8,957 feet). Both can be tackled, though walkers should be prepared for some steep trails. A day trek from the remote chalet at Maljovitsa leads you high above the treeline, then drops in a long series of breathtaking descents to Rila Monastery. Set in a thickly wooded valley, Rila monastery is a masterpiece of Bulgarian architecture. Your final day is spent in the green and pleasant suburb of Vitosha in Sophia: you can hike up to Vitosha Peak (7,500 feet ) or visit the capital's sights.
Courtesy Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
$1,690 PP/DO includes transfers, guiding and entrance fees.
Mosaic Tours and Travel offers 12-day excursions to Israel for older adults in conjunction with the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel (SPNI). SPNI's focuses on unique and interesting guided excursions about the country rather than travel to major cities and sites.
You begin the tour in the city of Dan Caesara where you spend five days exploring nature reserves, parks, Mt. Carmel, Crusader forts, villages and museums. You then transfer to Nazareth via comfortable coach before stopping for visits to Safed, Kabalah, and Rosh Pina.
The following day, you attend a lecture at a kibbutz and birdwatch in the Galilee. You tour the Golan Heights, Hamat Gader hot springs and Jordan Valley en route to a four-day stay in Jerusalem.
Your time in the holy city will be spent with organized tours and at your leisure. You can explore many of the sites described in the Bible including: the City of David, Warren's Shaft, the Broad Wall, Israelite Tower, Herodian Quarter, Burnt House and Western Wall Tunnels.
Courtesy North Country Rivers.
Courtesy North Country Rivers.
Courtesy North Country Rivers.
Courtesy North Country Rivers.
Courtesy North Country Rivers.
Two-day rafting and accommodation packages start at $90 for tent camps to $148 for a stay in a mountain lodge.
North Country Rivers offers the finest personalized whitewater rafting trips on the West Branch of the Penobscot, Dead and Kennebec rivers in north central Maine.
North Country uses the best whitewater rafting techniques and equipment available to provide safe recreational use of Maine's finest wilderness rivers. All of North Country's rafting guides are licensed.
From May to October, North Country offers one- and two-day raft and camping packages. On these tours, you encounter Class IV rapids, especially in May when the snowmelt produces giant rapids.
Depending on the river, children as young as 10 can participate. Trips on the more turbulent rivers, including the Penobscot, have a minimum age of 16.
Two-day tours are available on the Penobscot River and along the Dead River, which offers 15 miles of continuous whitewater.
North Country's camp and raft packages start at $90 per person for two days of rafting and camping, which includes river lunch. If you wish to stay in an area motel, the per person cost for two nights lodging, two breakfasts and rafting begins at $104.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,065, PP/DO, from Bucharest. Trip prices include lodging, most meals, equipment and staff services.
This trip opens up an enchanting new scenic area for exploration. You see great monasteries, palaces and medieval castles in all their ancient splendor, and walk mountain trails in the beautiful wooded Carpathians. You explore the huge Danube delta, one of the world's greatest wildlife sanctuaries.
Your first day is spent sightseeing in and around Bucharest. You drive up to Sinaia, idyllically set among the grandiose peaks of the Carpathians. Here, you visit the old monastery, and ride a cable car to the top of Bucegi (8,200 feet). You see the spooky turreted towers of Castle Dracula perched above a rocky outcropping. From the small Alpine town of Victoria, you undertake a two-day hike in the Fagaras area, the best way to experience the verdant forests and crystalline beauty of the mountains. The immense roofs of Sibiu's old gabled houses (dubbed the "Red Town") face the snowcapped peaks of Transylvania. Leaving Sibiu's feudal dwellings behind you, you head to the forbidding ramparts and needle-sharp spires of Soghisoara.
During the next two days, you explore the delta's lush aquatic gardens and patchwork of silvery waterways, by boat and on foot, discovering beautiful reedy lakes that glitter like polished mirrors in the sunlight. The area is most famous for its wildlife -- boars, wolves and wildcats -- and especially birds including pelicans, eagles, falcons, egrets, herons and cormorants.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
Courtesy Coral Bay Cruises.
$1,395 PP/DO includes meals and staterooms. Not included are airfare, transfers to boat and snorkeling gear.
In the late winter and early spring, Coral Bay Cruises offers trips to the Silverbank to observe one of nature's mightiest creatures, the humpback whale.
Thousands of these gentle leviathans congregate between the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk in the British Virgin Islands, an area considered the primary mating and calving ground for the North Atlantic humpback whale.
From dawn to dusk, there are hundreds of humpbacks in sight. Large groups of males aggressively compete for receptive females. The result is a ceaseless line of challengers, almost constantly breaching, ramming, lob tailing or fin slapping, creating one of nature's most incredible arenas of raw power and grace.
Coral Bay Cruises offers weekly departures from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic or from Grand Turk to watch, study, swim or snorkel with the whales.
Non-swimmers can enjoy watching the whales from the comfort of the Coral Star or from a 22-foot launch.
The Coral Star's mahogany and teak interior with picture windows, entertainment center and library provides a homey atmosphere in which to dine, read and relax.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,645-$1,715 PP/DO for Iceland trip and $1,075 PP/DO for Greenland extension. Trip prices include most meals, accommodations, equipment and land cost from Rekjavik.
Geologically, Iceland is unique. It is a place of spectacular scenery with volcanic fires suddenly unleashed from beneath great glaciers, where the earth's crust is still a blistering commotion of boiling mud pools, steaming geysers and gushing lava. Throughout your visit, you stay at friendly guest houses and on farms.
Your first full day is spent in the wildly beautiful Skaftafell region. This is great walking country. You can follow marked paths to Svartifoss (Black ) Waterfall, which cascades over pillars. Alternatively, you have the opportunity to join a thrilling glacier trip (optional) by boat and snowmobile, and enjoy the spectacle of huge chunks of ice crashing into the water.
You then you drive to the tiny settlement of Egilsstadir and over to the Lake Myvatn area. You spend a day here exploring the lake and its surrounding, a veritable paradise for birdwatchers. Rare birds, normally too shy to be seen, preen themselves right in front of your camera. The astounding geology of this region is like an open book on earth history.
At Godafoss and Gullfoss are two of Iceland's most famous waterfalls. Majestic Gullfoss, the "Golden Waterfall," plunges over rocks into a 165-foot-deep gorge. You stop to see the Great Geyser, the world's largest. Its eruptions are somewhat unpredictable, but nearby others spout at regular five- to 10-minute intervals. Finally, from Reyjkavik, you can arrange, if you wish, a side trip to the remote Westman Archipelago which abounds with seabirds like guillemot, puffin, gannet and fulmar.
Flying to Kulusuk in Greenland, you transfer by boat or helicopter to Angmagssalik, an Eskimo settlement. Various local trips and excursions are available by boat and on foot, including trips to the Polar pack-ice and small fishing communities.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
$899 PP/DO, includes meals, accommodations, guide services, support van and land transportation from St. George.
Backcountry Biking and Hiking, the company that specializes in western North America, offers this six-day cycling tour through Bryce and Zion national parks. Bryce is a labyrinth of pink sandstone spires lining the slopes of an 8,500-foot plateau.
Zion is a maze of sheer canyon walls, hanging valleys and other geologic features. You meet in St. George and visit Canyon State Park, an ancient cindercone and gleaming sand dune.
You journey to Bryce Canyon and hike among its fascinating rock formations. You head to King Canyon and cycle around Zion Park. All the time, you stay in wonderful inns and enjoy delicious meals.
You average 35 to 55 miles per day. This trip is geared to the energetic beginner or advanced intermediate.
You cycle 35-55 miles per day.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
$1,680 PP/DO includes transfers, lodging, morning and evening meals and all fees and activities. $300 more for individual accommodations.
Mosaic Tours and Travel sponsors a two-week, action-packed adventure in Israel in conjunction with the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel. The guided tour combines sightseeing and nature hikes with a variety of adventure-oriented activities.
The tour is for fairly fit hikers and includes a hike in the mysterious Wadi Qelt in the Judean Desert, rappelling in ancient Jewish caves, floating in the Dead Sea and hiking up the breathaking Masada.
You continue to Galillee and the Golan Heights and hike the cliffs and gorges of the north through lush vegetation and waterfalls.
You spend three days along the Mediterranean in Caesara and Tel Aviv, sailing, windsurfing and snorkeling in an ancient harbor.
Traveling by camel, you safari into the Negev desert along old caravan routes through granite gardens while enjoying a unique perspective of desert ecology and its people.
The Red Sea and Eliat provide the dramatic backdrop for a day or two of diving and swimming in the only enclosed coral sea in the world.
You cap of the tour with a tour through Jerusalem, the holiest city in the world, discovering an ancient past and modern beauty.
Hiking is considered intermediate and covers 6-9 hours per day with some climbing and rappeling.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
$919 PP/DO includes meals, accommodations, guide services and van support. Does not include airfare to Montana.
Backcountry Biking and Hiking offers two tours in the strikingly scenic Beartooth Mountains of Montana, a 5 1/2-day hike and a six-day biking tour. Both trips offer wonderful accommodations, scenic routes and delicious meals.
-- The hike begins in Billings. You are transported to the mountain range, which sports two waterfalls and spectacular peaks rising 3,000 feet above. You stay at the Rock Creek Resort for three nights.
You hike to the scenic Timberline Lake, from where you can see Run Glacier rumbling down the north face of Silver Run Peak. You climb the Beartooth North Slope and to a variety of mountain lakes. You stay in Cooke City and spend your last evening in Yellowstone National Park. During this trip, you have the option of moderate hikes, 6-10 miles, or more challenging hikes at 8-12 miles.
-- The six-day bike tour allows you to explore the miles of secluded roads in this 900,000-acre wilderness. You view the mountains and take fantastic rides into neighboring Yellowstone National Park and the 11,000-foot Aabsaroka Mountains.
You average 25 to 55 miles per day. This is geared to the intermediate biker.
Hikes are moderate to more challenging. You average 25 to 55 miles per day on the bike.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,435-1,495 PP/DO from Moscow. Trip prices include most meals, accommodations, guide services and any equipment.
The twin capitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) and the nearby cities of the "Golden Ring" embody all the great traditions of Old Muskovy. On this tour, you trace Russia's cultural history from its first emergence in the architecture of Vladimir and Suzdal.
Moscow is the pivotal center of Russia. You wander through the cavernous red-walled fortress of the Kremlin with its three cathedrals, smaller churches and the ornate Great Kremlin Palace. Outside, is the vast architectural space of the Red Square, with the multi-coloured onion-domes of St. Basil's, where Ivan the Terrible once worshipped.
From Moscow, you travel by road through the seven cities known as the Zolotoy Koltso or "Golden Ring." Each one of these ancient towns is hauntingly beautiful.
Marvel at the golden domes and great bell-tower of Zagorsk, silhouetted defiantly against the blue sky. Discover Rostov (first chronicled in 862 A.D.) and the fortress-like cathedral of Pereslavl-Zalessky. Visit Kostroma and the medieval Suzdal to explore its Kremlin and blue-domed Nativity Cathedral (13th century). See the Golden Gates of Vladimir on your way back to Moscow.
Everyone who has seen Eisenstein's film Alexander Nevsky remembers Novgorod and the 1000-year-old spiked domes of Santa Sofia Cathedral.
In St. Petersburg, the 18th-century capital founded by Peter the Great, you explore one of Euope's most magnificent classical cities. Admire the elegant buildings along Nevsky Prospect. Visit the Hermitage Museum one of the greatest art collections in Europe, if not the world.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
Courtesy Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel.
$640 includes instruction, lodging, meals, equipment, safety facilities and insurance.
Mosaic Tours and Travels is the U.S. sponsor for this survival seminar hosted by the Israel Survival Center and the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel. You spend six days in the Negev Desert learning to deal with the pressure of life-and-death situations in a spectacular arid setting.
The seminar enhances the physical and emotional abilities of the participants and is led by a professional staff and conducted in small groups. Safety is paramount. About 40 percent of the seminar is spent in active training in the desert.
Literature concerning the region, special requirements and technical information will be provided to you. Tuition includes instruction, room, board, equipment, safety facilities including a medic, communications gear, rescue vehicle and insurance.
The tour includes three to six hours of hiking on moderate routes, and some climbing.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
$899 PP/DO for both tours. Includes meals, lodging, guide services, support van and ground transportation. Excludes airfare to Montana.
Lace up your hiking boots or strap on your biking helmet to explore Yellowstone National Park on these two distinct Backcountry Biking and Hiking tours.
Abundant thermal features and sweeping glacial terrain provide clues to this region's tumultuous geologic past.
You ride the trails of stagecoaches, pedal over little-traveled bike paths to underveloped geyser basins and view antelope, elk, moose, bison and a variety of birds. This is topped off with fine lodging and dining.
-- The six-day bike trip allows you ample time to explore the park, and go horseback riding or soak in a natural spring-fed pool. You see thundering waterfalls, high mountain scenery and view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
You also pedal past Old Faithful, with its bubbling mud and spend the final night in the stately Old Faithful Inn.
-- The 5 1/2-day hike explores the haunts of wildlife and takes in many scenic vistas. Coyotes, antelope and elk are commonly spotted. You visit geysers, Yellowstone Lake and view the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
Hikers can opt for moderate to challenging treks.
Bikers average 25 to 45 miles per day.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,625 for 15-day combination of Tassili Rock Art and Tuareg Camel Trek. These two trips can be taken separately, costing from $800-$880 for eight days.
Trip prices include accommodations, equipment, most meals and guides.
Adventure Center offers the Tassili Rock Art trip and the Tuareg Camel Trek either as separate eight-day tours or as a combined 15-day tour.
The great sandstone massif in the Central Sahara, known as Tassili N'Ajjer, is the "domain of the fantastic." Erosion has sculpted massive stone pillars, incredibly deep and dizzy ravines, and great arches of rock as big as cathedrals.
On this Tassili rock art trip, you start deep in the Central Sahara, at the tiny and beautiful "palmeraie" oasis of Djanet. Here, you meet your Tuareg guide-drivers and board expedition vehicles.
See the rockscape citadel of Alidemma, circled by dunes, and pass through an ocean of sand to In Afelahlah, where you bivouac among very old tamarisks. Encounter the endless sea of gigantic dunes of Erg Admer and admire the celebrated Tegharghart engravings before returning to Djanet.
You also visit the strange landforms of Tassili, which exhibit an abundance of beautiful prehistoric rock art. You hike in the early morning to the top of the plateau (five hours) and on cliff faces and in rock shelters, Stone Age painters have left a visual legacy of the animals they hunted--antelope, elephant, leopard, ostrich, giraffe and many others. This art tells us that when the climate rapidly changed, vegetation, animals and humans all disappeared from this area, the only evidence of their existence is recorded in this vivid art.
On the Tuareg Camel Trek, moving slowly and silently and accompanied by your Tuareg guides, you travel by camel and on foot through the worlds' greatest desert. Your five-day trek with camels has all the atmosphere of a "meharee," or camel caravan, traversing the infinite landscape.
You penetrate deep into the Central Sahara from the tiny oasis of Djaenet. You join your camels and your Tuareg guide at the Ihadaj oasis. The tall, blue-robed Tuaregs, the nobles of the desert, whose ancestors have roamed the desert for centuries, provide a living link to the ancient Sahara.
Their knowledge guides you across the arid wadis of Tekkat N' Tenere. You bivouac in the erosion-carved shelter of In Aramas, where an uncanny silence envelops you. You explore the bizarre natural labyrinth enclosed in the cliff.
After the camel trek, you hike up the short, precipitous escarpment of Tassili N'Ajjer and devote a whole day to the art of Jabbaren, where hundreds of rock paintings record a time when the desert truly bloomed.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,585-$1,635, depending on date of departure. Trip prices, PP/DO, include accommodations, equipment, most meals and guides. Airfare not included.
This camping safari is an adventure for people who relish wild and little-visited places. Few tourists are seen on your route and you often have the whole spectacle of wildlife to yourself.
You visit three great wildlife parks -- Kabalega where you see the famous Murchison Falls plunge through a narrow gorge, Ruwenzori where you see all manner of African wildlife, and Virunga, your base camp for observing the great silver-backed gorillas at close range. You also encounter the pygmies of the Ituri Forest at Ntandi.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
Courtesy Backcountry Biking and Hiking.
$998, includes meals, accommodations, guide services and transportation from Jackson. Airfare is not included.
The inspiring beauty of the Teton Range grabs your attention and never lets go. You watch in awe as the changing sunlights paints the peaks with different colors every hour. During these two separate Grand Teton tours, you explore the best and most scenic regions in this remarkable area.
-- On your 5 1/2-day Teton hike, you stay in the Jackson Lake Lodge, Swiss-style Alpenhof Hotel and the Wort Hotel, all four-diamond facilities. You explore Death Canyon and take a refreshing swim in Phelps Lake. You can choose between hiking trails and can opt for horseback riding in the evening.
You look for moose and other wildlife as you hike around magnificent Grand Teton National Park.
-- During your five-day biking tour, you explore Teton Valley and Buffalo River Valley.
You cycle along the northern stretches of the park and explore miles of nature trails. You can raft the Snake River or boat or canoe on Jackson Lake.
Choose between easy, moderate and challenging hikes.
Bicyclists average 20 to 40 miles per day.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventure.
Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
$1,695 to $2,995, depending on type of program and number of trips to the seals. Includes lodging, transportation from/to Halifax and some meals.
Each March, 250,000 harp seals enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence to bear their young on the vast floating ice fields. Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventure flies you by helicopter to the ice floes where you land and can actually embrace the new-born pups.
Not only is this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a thrill that many claim has changed their lives, but your participation also will help protect one of the world's most endearing animals.
The pups, known as whitecoats, shed their snowy white fur and turn grey within three weeks. It is during this time that they were once prey to hunters. In 1987, the Canadian government banned the commercial hunting of whitecoats and today the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is working toward creating a tourist industry to help boost the local economy and ensure that there is never a need to reinstate the hunt.
You meet your Natural Habitat guides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and travel to the Magdalen Islands. From there, a helicopter takes you to the ice fields.
A number of choices are offered on these tours. You can choose from one to four trips to visit seals, including trips to view hooded seals. You also can choose special photo tours, and optional tour extensions to see bald eagles and moose in Nova Scotia.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,825-$1,885, PP/DO depending on date of departure. Includes accommodations, most meals, camping equipment, guide services from Djanet.
The Great Sahara remains one of the few completely untainted places left on earth. Using four-wheel drive vehicles, you explore its magnificent landscapes. Meet your Tuareg desert-guides in the tiny oasis of Djanet and drive to Essendilene canyon in the Tassili Mountains.
Discover a rock garden of desert roses before descending to the Afara plain with its giant stone sentinels. You traverse rugged trerrain to reach the tamarisk-scented oases of Telouet and Ideles.
Climb nearly 9,000 feet through the heart of the Hoggar massif and bivouac at Assekrem. Visit the famous hermitage of Father Charles de Foucauld.
Spectacularly sculpted from Africa's oldest rocks, the mountains are washed over with subtle colors, especially at dawn and dusk. You visit Tamanrasset, the one-time center of the ancient Tuareg Empire, before returning to the silence of the desert.
Pass the sandstone citadel of In Akecheker and the curious landforms of Tagrera as you head east. Finally, observe the furtive play of light and shadow on the great dunes of Erg Killian and Admer on your way back to Djanet.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $485-525, PP/DO, depending on season.Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, equipment, and guides.
Spend 12 days walking through the wilderness of Alpine Morocco. Stay with the hardy and hospitable Berber people and attempt an ascent of Toubkal peak, the highest point in North Africa. Mules carry your food and equipment .
You spend your first day in the marvelous old city of Marrakech, once a meeting place for mountain Berbers and desert people from the south. Its celebrated main square -- Djemma al Fna -- is a scene straight out of the Arabian Nights -- crowded with story-tellers, letter-writers, musicians, jugglers and water-sellers.
Then you drive into the Atlas Mountains to the small hamlet of Imlil. From there, you walk along a mule track to the Berber village of Aremd (6,400 feet) and spend a night there.
While you acclimatize with a series of short treks, you find yourself moving slower than usual but relishing the high mountain scenery more than ever.
You hike to Sidi Chamharouch, the shrine of a local holy man, and reach the lonely waters of Lac d'Infi. From Neltner (10,250 feet) you make an attempt to the summit of Mt. Toubkal (13,660 feet), North Africa's highest peak. The views are simply stunning. The Mt. Toubkal climb is optional. You may take an alternative easier route around the peak.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $500-595, PP/DO, depending on season. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, equipment and guides.
Few roads cross the massive Atlas Mountains barrier which stretches to the Sahara Desert. Tiny villages dot the southern Anti-Atlas valleys and cling precariously to the rocky flanks, inhabited by the hardy, hospitable Berber people. You stay with them and enjoy the mountains, desert and coast of this milder region of Morocco.
Spend your first day in Marrakech. Drive over the Tizi n'Test pass (6,956 feet) to the small kasbah town of Taroudant, famous for its fortified walls and traditional crafts. Continue to the mountain village of Tafraout and trek on foot amidst beautiful and dramatic rock formations.
Your are hosted by the friendly Berbers in their villages in high Alpine valleys. You observe their everyday life at close quarters and probably will be invited to drink mint tea and share some of their traditional ways.
Berber valleys remain completely unspoiled with crisp mountain air during the winter months. Take warm clothes and raingear for this trek. You spend the last night of your trek back at your hotel in Tafraout. You spend a day on the coast of at Essauouira , a former hide-out for pirates and now a bustling fishing port. Your journey ends in Marrakech.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $585 PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, guides and equipment.
Traveling at a leisurely pace, you take every opportunity to explore the local scene of Morocco.
Your two-week trip visits the ancient "Royal Cities" of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakesh. You see the towering Saharan Sand-Sea of Merzouga and discover the wild Todra Gorges on foot. You enjoy eating couscous and drinking mint tea with locals, socializing and soaking up the sun.
Photo by Daniel J. Cox. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Robert Winslow. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
$1,745 to $2,595 depending on options chosen. Includes transportation from/to Winnipeg , meals and lodging.
The mighty polar bear is considered by many to be the most intriguing and awe-inspiring of all animals.
You can "mingle" with these great carnivores from the safety and comfort of all-terrain vehicles on tours offered by Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
These tours take place in the "polar bear capital of the world," the small grain port of Churchill on the west coast of central Canada's Hudson Bay.
Every fall, the tundra surrounding Churchill becomes a stopover for more than 1,000 migrating bears. At one time, the unavoidable confrontation between man and bear almost always resulted in the destruction of the animal.
Now, with increased visitor interest and a new conservation awareness, the people of Churchill are committed to helping these animals migrate safely through their town.
The trip includes transportation from Winnipeg, Canada. Your tour can include two to five day-trips in a tundra vehicle, an evening trip, a photo tour and visits to a science center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $500-$595, PP/DO for 15-day Jebel Sahro Trek and from $385-$400, PP/DO for 8-day Jebel Siroua Trek. Trip prices include guide services, accommodations, most meals and equipment.
Adventure Center offers two treks in the Atlas Mountains, the Jebel Sahro, a winter walk in the Atlas Mountains, and the Jebel Siroua Trek, a spring walk.
On the Jebel Sahro Trek, you explore the Jebel Sahro, an area of varied beauty inhabited by tribes who have little contact with the outside world. This is good trekking territory after the high mountain passes of the Northern Alps close in autumn.
You drive from Marrakech to the tiny hamlet of Ait Youl, the starting point of your 10-day trek. You walk through valleys studded with almond groves and traverse ridges and passes, catching glimpses of other-worldly landscapes. Marvel at the rock formation of the Tete de Chameaux (the Camel's Head) and the twin spires of Bab n'Ali. Finally, you reach the central massif, where you explore the fissures and clefts of the Tassigdelt Tamajgalt plateau with its chimney-like rock pinnacles. At sunset, the mesas of Tizi n'Taggourt seem almost supernatural.
Your route takes you through several small villages, often capped by a simple minaret or a ruined kasbah. Because few outsiders ever come here, the Berber people are keen to make your acquaintance. You may share a drink of sweet mint tea as a friendly gesture. You pass caves and shelters used by nomadic tribes like the High Atlas nomads and those of Jebel Sahro. It is common to see them on the move with their black felt tents.
On the spring walk to Jebel Siroua, you leave the old walled city of Taroudant and drive to Taliouine, once an important staging post on the old trans-Saharan trade routes. At the village of Akhfame, you join the trail and walk into the foothills of the Siroua range of the Atlas Mountains, dotted with small villages and almond blossoms in springtime. You climb to a pasture on the high plateau where nomads graze their summer flocks. The northern flank of this plateau is dominated by the isolated peak of Jebel Siroua (10,844 feet).
You wind your way down through narrow, twisting gorges and past rock towers that testify to the volcanic activity that once characterized this region. After more encounters with small villages, you head back to Taroudant.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$2,600 PP includes charter flights from Iqulit to Cascade Falls and Lake Harbor to Iqulit, boat ride, meals, accomodations and guides.
West of Greenland in the Canadian Arctic, Baffin Island is home to the warm and friendly Inuits. As your guides on this seven-day trip, they share their ties to this vast wilderness with you as well as set up camp, cook favorite local meals and transport luggage in large cargo canoes.
You meet in Ottawa, then fly to Iqaluit for a charter flight to Cascade Falls at the north end of Katannililk Park in the Soper River Valley. The Soper Valley is home to caribou, Arctic fox, nesting peregrine falcons, bright yellow Arctic poppies, Lapland rosebay and heather.
You stay in three different campsites during the week, from which you select easy, moderate or challenging guided walks following caribou trails. Wide river views and panoramic mountain views are yours to choose from. You spend the last night in the hamlet of Lake Harbor, home to the Inuit guides, where you enjoy a celebration dinner at an Inuit home and meet several of the elders and the community's renowned stone carvers.
Your last adventure is a short boat ride into the bay to investigate and step onto the huge icebergs in the bay. Then, you return to Ottawa the way you came.
Choices of hikes 5-15 miles/day, canoe supported, wilderness camping.
Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
$3,795 PP/DO, includes lodging, meals and transportation from/to Anchorage.
Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures takes you to spectacular regions of Alaska, home to a profusion of wildlife rarely seen in the continental U.S. Tours include transportation from Anchorage on the southern coast of Alaska.
Programs include a stay at Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park where you spend time on protective platforms, just a few feet away from brown bears fishing for salmon. You see whales, propoises and sea lions, which abound in the waters of Kenai Fjords.
You also see the world's largest concentration of bald eagles as they soar overhead.
You spend two nights in the heart of Denali National Park at the North Face Lodge, one of the few accommodations with a view of Mt. McKinley. There, you have unsurpassed opportunites to view wildlife in this unique wilderness area.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
$749 PP/DO includes meals, trip on the Manitou, accommodations and guides. Excludes bicycle rental.
Experience the mystique and romance of a tall ship aboard the Schooner Manitou and cycle around beautiful Leelanau Peninsula in northwestern Michigan.
You trip begins in the lovely Leland Lodge and for the next two days you bike through picturesque orchards on uncrowded roads that lead to the charming coastal villages of Northport and Suttons Bay.
You ride along secluded, sugar sand beaches and swim in the dazzling turquoise-blue waters of Lake Leelanau.
On Wednesday, you board the vessel, settle in your stateroom and enjoy a sail on Lake Michigan. You journey around islands and you can either help the crew sail the vessel or relax on deck. Weather permitting, you are free to take hikes on islands or use kayaks and sailboards to enjoy the coastal waters.
The Manitou is one of the largest sailing vessels on the Great Lakes, featuring 12 double cabins, each with sturdy built-in bunks. The ship specializes in homecooked, family meals.
Suited to all skill levels with optional, longer routes.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
$625 PP/DO includes all meals except two lunches, accommodations, guide and support van.
Lush countryside, fragrant orchards, well-manicured farms and placid lakes characterize this five-day Michigan Bicycle Tour.
You cycle over fairly hilly terrain during the first, second and fifth days, while encountering level to gently rolling landscape the other days.
You visit numerous craft shops where you can purchase locally-made pottery, porcelain, batiks, weavings, block print artwork, pen and ink drawings, sculptures and maple syrup candies.
Each place of lodging, with the exception of Crystal Mountain, has a clear blue lake for afternoon swimming and isolated beaches for sunbathing.
Your stay at the renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts allows you the opportunity to watch daily rehearsals and attend a nightly concert, play or dance production.
You spend the first three nights at Watervale and Chimney Corners. The tour ends in luxury at Crystal Mountain Resort where each room has its own Jacuzzi.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$1,350 PP includes ground transportation, accomodations, meals and guides.
This seven-day trip begins in the Wind River Mountains where the road ends and the trail begins in the beautiful Popo Agie Wilderness Area. The first evening you stay at the comfortable Allen's Diamond Four Ranch at 9,200 feet, enjoying a Western-style cookout and rustic cabins.
The following morning you head out for five days of wilderness walking and camping, under the competent lead of a local naturalist. Cowboys handle pack horses so you can travel lightly.
Your three campsites boast dramatic settings -- Smith Creek Meadows, High Meadows Lake and Sanford Park. From these points, you walk through pristine wilderness to clear Alpine lakes and waterfalls. Keep your eyes open for elk, deer, moose and big horn sheep. And remember your fishing rod and bathing suit for a relaxing break here and there.
On the last day, you amble back to Diamond Four Ranch and from there drive into Riverton for a night in a hotel and a farewell dinner.
High elevations, 4-9 miles/day with longer options, wilderness camping.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
$675 PP/DO during June and September and $725 PP/DO for July and August. Price includes meals, except one lunch, accommodations, guide and support van.
Travel scenic country roads to the heart of northern Michigan's famous cherry region on this favorite tour.
Fragrant blossoms permeate the hillsides in spring before the colorful red fruit fills the trees in summer. During autumn, the hardwood forests dazzle the landscape with patches of brilliant gold and red.
Among the places you visit are Fishtown, Tamarack Craftsman Gallery, Woodland Herb Farm, Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Platte River Fish Hatchery. You also visit two vineyards.
You cycle through colorful villages and encounter challenging hills and miles of shoreline along three of Michigan's finest inland lakes.
A challenging seven-mile loop through Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive offers spectacular panoramic views of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Lake and Lake Michigan.
You spend two nights in Sugar Loaf and one night each at Chimney Corners, Maple Lane Resort and Crystal Mountain Resort. The almost car-free roads make this a most enjoyable week of bicycle touring.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Steven W. Kress. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
Photo by Steve Morello. Courtesy Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventures.
$2,495 includes lodging, meals and transportation from/to Boston.
Although New England wildlife has suffered exploitation and loss of habitat over the centuries, this region still possesses remote areas that are still home to whales, moose, seals and other wildlife.
Much of Natural Habitat Wildlife Adventure's New England program takes place on the water where you can see a spectacular concentration of humpback whales leap from the ocean and flip their unique flukes just feet from the boat.
Traveling north along Maine's rocky coast, you take day trips on small boats, ferries and a sailing schooner to islands where you can view puffins, razorbills, terns, seals and other marine mammals.
Then, you head inland to Baxter State Park to track moose, which grow up to 10 feet tall and weigh 1,500 pounds. You also can see loons and other birdlife, including red-tailed hawks and bald eagles.
The trip begins and ends in Boston and includes stays in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $1,385, PP/DO. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, guides and equipment. Airfare to Bamako not included.
Mali, once West Africa's greatest merchant empire, conjures up an image of adventure, of tiny villages and encounters with tribal peoples.
You ride a native pirogue (a thatch-roofes motorized canoe) on the Niger River and make a four-day foot safari into wild Dogon country during this tour.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
Courtesy Michigan Bicycle Touring Inc.
$779 PP/DO in June and September and $829 in August.
Luxury lodging, combined with some of northern Michigan's most scenic countryside, marks this as Michigan Bicycling's most deluxe tour.
Starting from the picturesque village of Charlevoix on Lake Michigan, you ride along the southern shores of Lake Charlevoix, traverse hilly countryside to Walloon Lake, and arrive in the charming town of Petoskey on Little Traverse Bay.
You stay at Stafford's Perry Hotel, located within a mile of area shops, museums and galleries. The next day you cycle on peaceful roads that wind northward through a mix of sparsely populated farmland and forests.
Upon arrival in Mackinaw City, you take an afternoon ferry to Mackinac Island where you spend two unforgettable nights. You stay in the Hotel Iroquois where every room overlooks the Straits of Mackinac. You can spend a day exploring the island by bike, horse and buggy or on foot. Automobiles are forbidden here.
You also visit the historic forts and the Grand Hotel.
Daily mileage ranges from 35 to 53 miles.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$1,275 PP, individuals pay $250 for own room. Price includes ground transportation, guides, accomodations and all meals except one lunch.
The town crier of St. Martin and his wife, in full period costume, welcome you to New Brunswick's Fundy Tidal Coast. Whale- and puffin-watching expeditions, tidal pool explorations, a ferry ride to the unspoiled island of Grand Manan, sandy beaches and lighthouses. How can you resist this tour?
Your seven-day trip begins on the trails of Fundy National Park. Three days on Grand Manan Island give you a chance to enjoy abundant wildflowers and more than 240 species of birds. James Audubon sketched here prolifically.
In June and July, you venture by boat to Machias Seal Island to watch brightly colored puffins. In August and September, you embark on an afternoon whale-watching trip. The Bay of Fundy boast over 20 species of whales, six of which are commonly sighted.
Nights are spent in country inns, all with private baths.
Easy to moderate hiking, 4-10 miles/day with longer options, country inns, low elevation.
Courtesy Canoe Country Escapes.
Courtesy Canoe Country Escapes.
Prices range from $795 to $895 for the seven-night tours. Price includes pickup from Duluth airport, meals, lodging, equipment and guide services.
Canoe Country Escapes offers a variety of canoe tours that allow you to paddle from lodge-to-lodge in the wilderness area of northern Minnesota. You travel light as all your equipment is portaged in advance. Some nights are spent in pre-set campsites.
The packer/cook welcomes you with dinner cooking over the open fire. Your tents are set up and your sleeping bags rolled out. You can choose the historic border route used by the French-Canadian voyageurs. Your accommodations improve each night, or you can take the Pincushion Mountain route that includes deluxe accommodations from the beginning.
The tours include airport pick-ups in Duluth and start off with a big dinner at the Gunflint Lodge where you meet your guide. You also have a canoe instruction and practice session before setting off on your trip.
-- The historic border route features a seven-night tour that costs $895 PP/DO. After a night in the Gunflint Lodge, you paddle down the gentle Granite River, one of the prettiest waterways in the Boundary Waters.
Camp out, then paddle to Dorothy Powell's Chippewa Inn, a rustic Canadian fishing lodge with great meals and an outhouse out back. Next you head out for a two-day wilderness paddle back to the Gunflint Lodge by a different route. Your last two nights are spent in the lodge's deluxe lakeside cabins, each with fireplace, living room and sauna.
-- Canoe Country Escapes also offers Wildlife Adventure tours, including seven-night tours that vary slightly from the historic border route. A van takes you to your launching site to begin a traverse across small lakes and portages through areas with a high concentration of moose. These tours are limited in size to permit you to see as much wildlife as possible. Prices range from $795 to $895.
Canoe Country also offers a family, six-night tour that costs $560 for adults and $395 for children 12 and younger. The family tours are scheduled for July and August. Call for more information.
There is also a special, great escape tour that continues for 11 days through the Boundary Waters from Aug. 1-12.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$969 PP, individuals pay $180 for own room. Price includes ground transportation, accomodations, guides and all meals except one dinner and one lunch.
Harbor seals, eiders, cormorants and guillemots welcome you to the coast of Maine. On this six-day adventure, you walk the oceanside trails on Schoodic Peninsula, visiting a reversing falls and heading to Acadia National Park, home to 300 species of birds and a colorful variety of sea and land life.
Here you may choose to stroll the carriage paths encircling Eagle Lake, watch the seals and osprey at Indian Point, explore tidal pools teeming with life at Otter Point or hike up scenic Cadillac Mountain.
You also visit the colonial seaport villages of Blue Hill and Castine, whose architecture, customs and museums convey their rich history. Country inns offer you the finest Down East hospitality and cuisine.
Easy to moderate hiking, 4-9 miles/day with longer options, country inns.
Courtesy Canoe Country Escapes.
$895 PP/DO for seven nights, includes guide services, pickup from Duluth airport, meals, accommodations and canoes.
Canoe Country Escapes offers a variety of canoe tours specially designed for active seniors that allow them to paddle from lodge-to-lodge or to pre-set campsites in the wilderness area of northern Minnesota. You travel light since all your equipment is portaged in advance.
The packer and cook welcome you with dinner cooking over the open fire. Your tents are set up and your sleeping bags rolled out. You can choose the historic border route used by the French-Canadian voyageurs. Your accommodations improve each night, or you can take a route that includes deluxe accommodations from the beginning.
The tours include airport pickups in Duluth and start off with a big dinner at the Gunflint Lodge where you meet your guide and spend time in a practice session before setting off on your trip.
-- The Lodge-to-Lodge route features a seven-night tour that costs $895 PP/DO. After a night in the Gunflint Lodge, you paddle down the gentle Granite River, one of the prettiest waterways in the Boundary Waters.
Camp out, then paddle to Dorothy Powell's Chippewa Inn, a rustic Canadian fishing lodge with great meals and an outhouse out back. Next you head out for a two-day wilderness paddle back to the Gunflint Lodge by a different route. Your last two nights are spent in the lodge's deluxe lakeside cabins, each with fireplace, living room and sauna.
The active seniors tour departs Aug. 27.
-- Canoe Country Escapes also offers Wildlife Adventure tours, including seven-night tours that vary slightly from the historic border route. A van ride takes you to your launching site to begin a traverse across small lakes and portages through a region with a high concentration of moose. These tours are limited in size to permit you to see as much wildlife as possible. Prices range from $795 to $895.
The tours are scheduled for Aug. 15-22 and July 25-Aug. 1.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$759 PP, individuals pay $145 for own room. Price includes ground transportation, accomodations, meals and guides.
On this five-day trip, enjoy superb walking through the the tranquil valleys, woodlands and rolling farmland of central Vermont.
You begin in Bolton Valley in the Green Mountian National Forest where unlimited paths lead you over rambling brooks, by cascading waterfalls and through peaceful woods. Following 200-year-old farming roads lined with stone walls and sugar maples, you walk through the Ricker Basin, on the lookout for an occasional moose.
You visit the stately villages of Middlebury and Ripton, where Robert Frost spent his last 23 summers. The Robert Frost Interpretive Trail offers a combination early-morning bird walk and poetry reading. You follow Long Trail to pristine Lake Pleiad, then stroll along the National Turnpike, where beavers are hard at work.
Two country inns offer you the best of New England hospitality.
Easy to moderate hiking, 4-9 miles/day with longer options, country inns.
Courtesy Wells Backcountry Chalets.
Courtesy Wells Backcountry Chalets.
Courtesy Wells Backcountry Chalets.
Courtesy Wells Backcountry Chalets.
$680 to $800 PP, includes some meals, guide services and some equipment.
Wells Gray Park covers 1 million acres of wilderness in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia. This pristine region is renowned for lush flower meadows, its Alpine landscape and pristine lakes and streams.
Wells Backcountry Chalets offers a compehensive hut system that allows you to hike, ski and canoe from hut-to-hut in this beautiful landscape.
You can go hiking through the mountains, fish in the stream, cross-country ski or simply relax in this wonderful natural world. The two chalets and log cabin can accommodate up to 12 people. It takes about a day to ski from one chalet to the next.
You provide your own food and design your routes.
Wells Backcountry provides three- and six-day guided canoe trips, which include top-notch equipment, qualified guides and great meals. Wells Backcountry also offers certified canoeing and kayaking courses.
A six-day wilderness canoe tour costs about $680 (Canadian). Wells Backcountry provides all the equipment except sleeping bags.
Backcountry also offers a wilderness hike. Food, accommodations and guide costs $720 (Canadian) for an eight-day stay.
Other activities that are available nearby include rafting on the Clearwater River, horseback riding and fishing.
Hiking is best from June through October, skiing is available from January through April and canoeing tours are available from June to September.
Courtesy Country Walkers, Inc.
$1,495 PP, individuals pay $295 for own room. Price includes ground transportation, accomodations, guides and all meals except one dinner.
The 1,400 square miles of the Olympic Peninsula span a full range of natural wonders including lush rain forests, dune-covered beaches, canyons, glacier-clad mountains, hot springs and cool mountain lakes.
For this seven-day trip, you meet in Seattle and travel by van to the Lake Quinault area. You follow mossy trails through ancient forests, home to Roosevelt elk, to Lake Crescent where you stop to stroll along the beach and explore tidal pools and sea stacks. Offshore, you may see the resident pod of gray whales or seals sunning on rocks.
You hike along the shores of Lake Crescent and drive to Hurricane Ridge to gaze across to the Olympic Mountains. On your last two days, you visit the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend. You walk to Fort Worden and picnic overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. You have time to browse through Port Townsend's distinctive shops and galleries.
Evenings, you rest your walking legs in fine lodges and a Victorian inn.
Easy to moderate hiking, 4-12 miles/day with longer options, nights in lodges and inns.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by Sanjay Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Older children may participate but must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult.
From $2,950-$3,600 depending on number of participants, with an additional fee of $350 for individual accommodations. Trip prices include airport transfers, sightseeing fees and permits, accommodations, services of group leader, equipment, breakfasts in cities and all camp meals in the field.
Journey in Leh in the Ladakh province of India, one of the last strongholds of Tibetan Buddhism. You spend the first few days acclimatizing to the high altitude and enjoying the festivities of the Tak Tak Tsechu, the annual Buddist festival at Tak Tak Gompa. Then you embark on spectacular five-day trek over a high pass in the Zanskar mountain range to the base of the Stok Kangri range.
You spend the next week on the mountain learning ice and snow skills before climbing the snowcapped Kang Lha Chen (20,300 feet), the highest peak in the Stok Kangri range. Although it is not a technical climb, it is a difficult trek at high altitude.
This trek combines the best attributes of a full-service Himalayan trek, a guided ascent to a peak and instructions in high-altitude mountain climbing. During the trek, you are taught rope handling, knot-tying, belaying, rappelling, and moving on rock by experienced and highly qualified leaders. Once you establish your high camp on the snow field, you are taught how to use an ice axe, crampons, self-arrest, roped glacier travel and the use of ice screws and snow anchors as protection.
Prior mountaineering is not necessary to participate in this trek although backpacking and/or trekking experience is required. Also on hand is an experienced photographer to offer hints and help on landscape and portrait photography.
Courtesy Canyons Incorporated.
Courtesy Canyons Incorporated.
Courtesy Canyons Incorporated.
Prices range from $750 for three days to $1,050 for six days. Price includes meals, equipment except sleeping bag, guides and transportation from Boise.
Canyons Incorporated offers three- and six-day rafting and inflatable kayaking trips down the Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers in central Idaho.
The Middle Fork drops 50 feet per mile near its bends and boulders and triples in volume before it joins the Main Salmon.
During these trips, you pass granite gorges, sheer cliffs and sage-covered hills sprinkled with natural hot springs. Beneath you in the clear waters, west slope cutthroat and rainbow trout abound.
The Main Salmon was once called Big Fish Water by Shoshone Indians. The river proved impassable to Lewis and Clark in 1805 and claimed the lives of many explorers and prospectors. This is the legendary River of No Return.
Canyons Incorporated's run on this river takes you nearly 100 miles through a canyon even deeper than the Grand Canyon of Colorado. The river carves its way through granite outcroppings and pine forests, leaving deposits of clean white sand along its shoreline.
Sensational surfing waves make the Main the ultimate play river for kayakers and canoeists.
Bring your clothes, sleeping bag and pad and Canyons provides the rest, including transportation to and from Boise, the equipment, wetsuits for rafters in June and September, plastic canoes and kayaks for experienced paddlers and great food.
Courtesy Executive Outdoor Adventures.
Courtesy Executive Outdoor Adventures.
Courtesy Executive Outdoor Adventures.
Courtesy Executive Outdoor Adventures.
Courtesy Executive Outdoor Adventures.
Price set after plan is created.
Executive Outdoor Adventures works with you to create individually tailored outdoor adventure programs for top achievers, corporate team building, celebrities and special groups.
Relying on New Zealand's stunning scenery and rich native culture, EOA designs adventures to suit your needs. You may want to build team spirit and increase production and morale. You may need a way to detect strengths that can be developed in your team or locate weaknesses that can be overcome. You may be part of a group that needs a totally different break from daily stress and routine.
EOA offers a range of activities to help you achieve your goals: rafting, helicoptering, bungee jumping, hiking, whalewatching, tents or executive lodges, simple hearty meals or gourmet creations. A high level of creativity combined with detailed planning and friendly service creates exciting and rewarding adventures.
Level of difficulty can vary greatly, depending on customized plan.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Must be accompanied by parent or responsible adult.
From $2,850 PP/DO, with a single supplement of $630. Land costs includes all accommodations, most meals, all land and train transportation, internal India airfare, sightseeing, services of guide and porterage.
Royal Rajasthan is a province of India where traditions of chivalry, honor and pride in a long history live on. The colorful dress of the people and the richness of their culture contrasts with the barren landscape of rock and desert.
This expedition explores the magnificent forts and palaces of Rajasthan, as well as the "immortal monument to love," the Taj Mahal.
Like the rest of India, festivals play a major role in the Rajasthani way of life and you partake in one of the most important, dramatic, and colorful of them all, the Pushkar Camel Fair.
Although there are many temples all over India temples dedicated to Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer, Pushkar boasts the only temple dedicated to the third party of the Indian Trinity, the all-powerful Brahma the Creator. A bath in Pushkar's ghats (the broad flights of steps on Indian river banks) offers great sanctity.
Near the eleventh full moon of every year, there is a week-long festival in Rajasthan at Pushkar. Indians come from all over, bringing with their camels for barter and goats and cows to trade and jewelry and other fine handicrafts to sell. It is a time of great festivity and music, dance and religious observance.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
Photo by S. Saxena. Courtesy Destination Himalaya.
From $2,650, PP/DO, with a supplement of $380 for individual rooms.Trip prices include all land transportation, accommodations, most meals, sightseeing tours, services of tour leader and photography guide and porterage.
On this trip, you photograph the startling, lunar-like landscapes of Ladakh's Himalayan ranges and experience the equally intriguing Tibetan Buddhist culture.
You begin your trek in Leh, Ladakh, the last stronghold of Buddhism outside Tibet, where you visit and photograph many monasteries. You meet high Lamas and participate in two Buddhist festivals.
You join the festivities at the Hemis Tsechu, the annual Buddhist festival at Lamayuru. This 10th and 11th century monastery has always been very active and powerful. In the 13th century, it rivalled the Sa-skya Monastery for supremacy among the Buddhists in Tibet.
At both monasteries, you witness two days of masked dancing and prayer ceremonies. Outside in the courtyards, booths and stalls are set up by local people in a temporary bazaar. Hundreds of people from all over Ladakh congregate there in traditional dress to pay homage and participate in the festival.
You also visit the mural wonderland at Alchi and the hidden gompa of Rizong.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
From $1,200 PP per week.
Yacht Connections arranges charter sailing cruises in many fascinating regions, including Polynesia and Thailand.
In Thailand, cruising areas are ruled by the monsoons. From November to April, the yachts charter between Phuket and Penang on the west coast while from May to October they switch and charter on the east coast in the Koh Samui archipelago. The scenery is hauntingly beautiful and the majority of the islands are uninhabited.
Polynesia, an exquisite collection of islands, represents the epitome of getting away from it all to the seafarer. The Windward Islands of Tahiti, including Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora are relatively close to each other and offer smooth blue water sailing and good anchorages with stunning scenery.
A chartered sailing vacation gives you the opportunity to explore some of the remoter parts of the countries you visit. You meet local people and reach places accessible only by boat.
On most cruises, you sail for only two to three hours a day, then take time to explore, swim, snorkel or just sunbathe.
The yachts have a crew of two: captain and cook. You need have no sailing experience, but you are welcome to participate in sailing if you wish and many of the captains are qualified instructors.
Accommodations vary from vessel to vessel, but gone are the days of narrow bunk beds and hammocks. Yachts are spacious and the cabins offer normal-size double and single beds, generally with bathrooms en suite.
The salons are ideal for reading and relaxing, but most of your time is spent on deck where you can sunbathe, relax and dine.
You may help sail if you wish.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
$695 for six-day kayak and $875 for combination bike and kayak trip. Price includes meals, accommodations, guides and equipment from Moab.
Slickrock Adventures, which began in 1977 as a kayak school, offers kayaking trips, or combination kayak and mountain bike tours, through the Canyonlands of southeastern Utah.
-- The kayak trip traverses 97 miles of the Green River through the Canyonlands to the great confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. The steady current and sleek hull design of the sea kayaks help you cover the mileage easily. Side canyon hikes and Indian sites highlight your journey, and the spectacular canyon walls that tightly enclose you unfold into wide vistas of the buttes and mesas surrounding the Sky and Maze District in the heart of Canyonlands National Park.
You will be self-supported, and camp on wide sandy beaches along the river. The kayak-only tour continues for six days at a cost of $695.
-- The combination mountain bike and sea kayak tour begins on the Green River. You paddle to Mineral Bottom, where you are met with the support van and bikes for the four-day ride along the famous White Rim Trail through Canyonlands National Park.
The ride is rated moderate to easy and will be vehicle supported, allowing you the luxury of not having to carry food, water and gear, but providing comfortable camping.
The trail follows the White Rim Sandstone into the heart of the park. You also will take side hikes and rides to many special attractions.
Slickrock also offers wilderness kayaking trips, which allow you to improve your kayaking skills, in Desolation and Gray Canyons on the Green River. These five-day trips cost $715 PP/DO and are available in May, June and August.
Courtesy W.I.L.D./W.A.T.E.R.S. Outdoor Center.
Courtesy W.I.L.D./W.A.T.E.R.S. Outdoor Center.
Courtesy W.I.L.D./W.A.T.E.R.S. Outdoor Center.
Prices vary according to clinic or tour.
Learn to kayak, canoe or raft on the Hudson River or on an Adirondack lake with the experienced, certified and friendly instructors of W.I.L.D./W.A.T.E.R.S. Outdoor Center. A large variety of programs are offered for different skill levels and experiences.
Multi-level scheduling allows families and groups of varying skills to participate in different clinics at the same time. Clinics vary in length from two to seven days, with a special two-week clinic designed for youths, ages 10 to 17.
Safety comes first during all clinics, then the proper strokes and techniques are taught to ensure your success and enjoyment. Specialty clinics, rolling clinics, a family rafting trip, adventure rafting or kayaking travel, kayak touring and fishing adventures are also offered.
Contact W.I.L.D./W.A.T.E.R.S. Outdoor Center for more information.
Participants need to be reasonably fit. Lodging in a local bed and breakfast or primitive camping area.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
$1,200 includes ground transportation, food, lodging, guide services and equipment.
The Rio Usumacinta, known locally as "River of the Sacred Monkey," is one of the largest rivers in Mexico and threads through the second-largest rain forest in the world.
The "Usu" flows through some of the wildest jungle left in Mexico and allows you to visit two Mayan cities accessible only by river.
Other highlights of this river journey, which you can navigate on inflatable kayak or row raft, include abundant wildlife, waterfalls, springs, caves, sandy beaches and a one-day visit to Agua Azul at the end of the trip.
This is the perfect jungle adventure for the rafter, beginner kayaker or amateur archaeologist.
Slickrock recommends you fly to Villahermosa from either Mexico City or Cancun. A Slickrock guide will meet you at the airport. All transportation, meals and lodging will be taken care of from there.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
From $1,200 PP per week.
From the sophisticated resorts of southern France to the beautiful deserted beaches and coves of Sardinia off the coast of Italy, a sailing vacation in the Mediterranean offers great variety.
Chartering a yacht is not just for the rich and famous. The price per person per day can compare with that of a good hotel.
A chartered sailing vacation gives you the opportunity to explore some of the remoter parts of the countries you visit. You meet local people, visit markets and reach places accessible only by boat.
On most cruises, you sail for only two to three hours a day, then take time to explore, swim, snorkel, learn to windsurf, waterski or scuba dive.
The yachts have a crew of two: captain and cook.
You need have no sailing experience, but you are welcome to participate in sailing if you wish and many of the captains are qualified instructors.
Accommodations vary from vessel to vessel, but gone are the days of bunk beds and hammocks. Yachts are spacious and the cabins offer normal-size double and single beds, generally with bathrooms en suite.
The salons are ideal for reading and relaxing, but most of your time is spent on deck where you can sunbathe, relax and dine.
The Mediterranean is mainly a summer cruising area. Among the regions you can cruise in are the captivating Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain, Sicily and the enchanting Lipari Islands, and the Dodecanese islands of Greece, considered a chartering paradise.
Turkey combines all the features required for an ideal charter: perennially blue sky, light winds, protected anchorages and some of the most hospitable people in the world.
You can choose whether to participate in sailing.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
$1,095 for nine days and $1,395 for 13 days. Price includes transportation from Villahermosa, food, accommodations, equipment and guides.
Accompany Slickrock Adventures on a trip this winter down the Jatate River, deep in the jungles of southern Mexico.
The rivers of Chiapas are renowned for their warmth, clarity and unique waterfalls, which turn the rapids into a fantasy of chutes and waterfalls.
During this 13-day tour, you explore some of the most extensive travertine formations found in the world.
Many of the waterfalls are wide and runable, and you hike to the lower falls where Slickrock helped film the National Geographic Explorer show "Jungle Kayaks."
This exotic jungle trip is a true visit to paradise, the best river running has to offer.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
$925 PP, includes equipment, meals, accommodations, instruction and transportation from Villahermosa, Mexico.
The Rio Chancala is a tributary of the Usumacinta, beginning near Slickrock's base camp in Palenque.
This trip is designed for novice kayakers and provides Class II and Class III rapids. Slickrock staff will provide instruction and equipment.
You begin the trek with a visit to Agua Azul National Park, where you practice kayaking for a few days to warm up.
A short drive puts you on the Chancala, where you paddle down to its confluence with the "Usu," finishing with easy, large volume rapids as the river winds through two spectacular canyons.
You will visit three rivers and improve your paddling skills on this exclusive trip.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
Courtesy Slickrock Adventures Inc.
$1,195 PP includes meals, accommodations, instruction, ground transportation in Belize and guides.
Discover Glovers Reef Atoll by kayak during this Slickrock Adventures tour.
Glovers Atoll lies 16 miles outside the famous Barrier Reef, encircling 82 square miles of luxuriant reefs and lagoons in the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The abundance and variety of marine life is astounding, adding to the atoll's unspoiled character.
Slickrock's crew in Belize includes a local guide who provides daily seafood feasts as you explore the atoll from your private island base camp on North East Caye.
The unsurpassed snorkeling and fishing, daily and overnight excursions by sea kayak, and hammocks under the palms are a few of the highlights you enjoy on this exciting trip.
This trip includes a base island with rustic cabins, scuba diving option, and a 50-foot sailboat for transfers from shore.
No kayaking experience is required for this wonderful tour of Glovers Reef, future site of the country's newest National Marine Reserve.
Courtesy Blue Ridge Adventure Tours.
Courtesy Blue Ridge Adventure Tours.
Courtesy Blue Ridge Adventure Tours.
$3,700 per rider, $2,900 per passenger includes airfare, motorcycle rental, inn stays, all breakfasts and most dinners, and support van.
Blue Ridge Adventure Tours sponsors a two-week tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a dramatic route that covers some of the most scenic mountain and coastal territory in the U.S.
The Blue Ridge touring philosophy stresses personal exploration at your own pace and riding level. An emphasis is also placed on the exploration of the merging of modern American culture with its historic heritage.
The tour begins in Charlottesville, Virginia, and heads first to Monticello, the historic home of Thomas Jefferson. The following day might begin with a hot air balloon ride or a visit to Galax, Virginia, for a visit to the oldest traditional music festival in the country. From your inn you can ride comfortably to the Daniel Boone Native Gradens or an authentic old lumber and grist mill.
You follow the parkway south to Asheveille at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains. Stops here include the Biltmore Estate, a 250-room French Renaissance-style chateau surrounded by 35 acres of gardens and home to an excellent art collection. You then saddle up and head to the Oconaluftee Indian Village or the Qualla Boundary Cherokee Reservation.
When you arrive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it will become apparent why the mountains are so named as a blue haze floats over the ancient peaks. An abundance of wildlife can be seen throughout the park.
Crossing through the mountains, you head into West Virginia to ride along the New River (actually the second-oldest in the world) and across the world's longest steel arch bridge which spans a gorge of limestone cliffs. Winding your way through the mountain passes, you eventually pause to soothe tired muscles in Warm Springs.
The following days find you on the road to Pennsylvania by way of the Shenandoah Valley, affectionately known as "Little Switzerland" for its beautiful mountain views and pastures. A side trip might include Luray Caverns, full of underground lakes and thousands of large, colorful stalactite formations.
You end the day in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of the largest and bloodiest Civil War battle and President Lincoln's famous address. Other Pennsylvania adventures include a tour of the Harley-Davidson factory and museum in York, and a ride through Amish country near Lancaster.
Chesapeake Bay provides an opportunity to witness another type of traditional lifestyle, that of the fisherman. Artisans and wildlife also reside here.
As you return to Blue Ridge's headquarters in Orange, Virginia, you visit the historic towns of Williamsburg, Yorktown, Richmond and Jamestown, Norfolk Naval Base, the largest naval facility in the world.
Blue Ridge also sponsors cross-country motorcyle excursions in July and August.
Three years motorcycle experience necessary.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
From $1,200 PP per week. Airfare not included.
When you sail in the Seychelles, you are literally a thousand miles from nowhere in a tropical island paradise. More than 100 islands make up the Seychelles archipelago, spread over 200,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean.
Nature enthusiasts and especially birdwatchers will find these islands magical. The snorkelling, diving and fishing are unsurpassed and there are miles of white beaches fringed with caserina and palm trees.
A week-long charter will give you time to visit La Digue, Praslin, Cousin and Bird Island, but, for the truly adventurous, Yacht Connections recommends a longer sail down to the Amirantes and Aldabra, one of the last homes of the giant tortoise.
On most cruises, you sail for only two to three hours a day, then take time to explore, swim, snorkel or dive.
The yachts have a crew of two: captain and cook. You need have no sailing experience, but you are welcome to participate in sailing if you wish.
Accommodations vary from vessel to vessel, but gone are the days of narrow bunk beds and hammocks. Yachts are spacious and the cabins offer normal-size double and single beds, generally with bathrooms en suite.
The salons are ideal for reading and relaxing, but most of your time is spent on deck where you can sunbathe, relax and dine.
You may help sail if you wish.
Courtesy Skylark North.
Courtesy Skylark North.
Courtesy Skylark North.
$2,200 PP or $4,000 for two. Includes ground transportation, accommodations, flights and instruction.
Spend a week in the beautiful Tehachapi Valley learning to fly like the birds at Skylark North Glider Flight School. This renowned school has been safely training pilots for more than 20 years and has brought the magic of soaring to hundreds of new pilots.
Skylark's experienced staff guide you through all the skills necessary to safely pilot a Federal Aviation Administration-certified sailplane, including basic and advanced airwork, traffic patterns, landings and emergency procedures.
You also receive comprehensive ground instruction in subjects such as aerodynamics, weather, flight planning, navigation and more. At the end of the course, students who satisfactorily complete a flight and ground evaluation will be issued an FAA student pilot certificate and will be given the opportunity to pilot a sailplane in a solo flight.
The seven-day package includes 12 hours of flight training in a Schweizer 2-33 sailplane, 12 hours of ground instruction, a thrill flight in a high-performance sailplane, study materials, six nights lodging at the recently-constructed Summit Travelodge and transportation between the airport and the Travelodge.
In the event that inclement weather prevents completion of the course, Skylark North's responsibility is limited to rescheduling the uncompleted flight training.
You must be free of any medical problems that could prevent you from piloting a glider.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
Courtesy Yacht Connections.
From $1,200 PP per week.
Yacht Connections offer a variety of charters in the Caribbean and off the coast of Venezuela, with something to suit everyone.
The British Virgin Islands, consisting of 50 islands and cays, offer some of the finest sailing in the world. The climate is perfect with gentle year-round tradewinds which makes this the ideal cruising ground for first-time charters. Distances between the islands are short and it is possible to explore two or three coves each day.
In the Leeward Islands, distances between islands increase and Yacht Connections does not recommend this area for first-time sailors as it can be rough in winter months. There are delightful anchorages and island cultures that are a fascinating combination of French, Dutch, Spanish and British influences.
The Windward Islands stretch from Dominica to Grenada. Perhaps the favorite cruising area is the Grenadines, which include St. Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Palm Isalnd and the Tobago Cays. The sail between islands is short and there are exquisite anchorages.
Just 25 minutes by plane from Caracas, Venezuela, lies Los Roques archipelago, perfect for those wishing to enjoy the natural beauty of the Caribbean.
A chartered sailing vacation gives you the opportunity to explore some of the remoter parts of the islands you visit. You meet local people, visit markets and reach places accessible only by boat.
On most cruises, you sail for only two to three hours a day, then take time to explore, swim, snorkel, learn to windsurf, waterski or scuba dive.
The yachts have a crew of at least two: captain and cook. You need have no sailing experience, but you are welcome to participate in sailing if you wish and many of the captains are qualified instructors.
Yachts are spacious and the cabins offer normal-size double and single beds, generally with bathrooms en suite. The salons are ideal for reading and relaxing, but most of your time is spent on deck where you can sunbathe, relax and dine.
You may help sail if you wish.
Courtesy Women in the Wind Inc.
Courtesy Women in the Wind Inc.
Cost details available from Women in the Wind.
Women in the Wind is a sailing school for women by women, providing classes and adventure trips. Experience the excitement of sailing a keel boat, the adventue of living on board and most importantly, the self-confidence of learning a new skill.
These classes are taught in an up-beat, supportive environment. Nobody yells and class members share the learning process and knowledge as everyone discovers the skills needed to sail a 28 to 36 foot keel boat. Leverage, not body strength, teamwork, and planning ahead to be ready for the unexpected are the skills of a good sailor.
This sailing school offers you the opportunity to learn about yourself. The insight and skills you gain here impact you in your daily life and future growth. The excitement of feeling oneself take charge, working as a crew member and participating in group leadership lets you leave the course strengthened and taking pride in your accomplishments.
The school takes place at Lake Pepin in the Hiawatha Valley, just an hour and a-half south of the Twin Cities. Weekend classes are limited to four students. You sleep on board the boat and spend Saturday night on your own in beautiful Pepin or Lake City.
Courtesy Wilderness Southeast.
Courtesy Wilderness Southeast.
Tuition ranges from $570 to $1,125 depending on workshop.
Twenty years ago, three people joined forces to create Wilderness Southeast, a forum for experimental environmental education. This program promotes environmental awareness and informed decision making by offering wilderness camping trips for youths.
These treks allow an up-close, firsthand look at some remarkable ecosystems in the South and Central America.
You stretch both mind and muscles as you paddle your canoe, pitch your tent, shoulder your pack or snorkel in crystalline waters.
An unhurried pace and well-planned itineraries make it possible to relax and unwind.
Wilderness Southeast offers a variety of science camps and backpacking challenges for teens, ages 13 to 17 . Participants carry their own gear and food and water along the beaches, mountains and tropical islands they visit.
The courses range in cost from $545 for eight days of science workshops, sea turtle watches, photo courses, swamp exploration or trekking to $690 for 10 days of mountain trekking.
The program workshops are conducted in South Carolina, British Virgin Islands, Belize, Florida, Bahamas, Costa Rica and the Amazon.
Courtesy Divi Resorts.
Courtesy Divi Resorts.
Courtesy Divi Resorts.
Courtesy Divi Resorts.
$249 PP/DO for divers, $139 PP/DO for non-divers for four-day stays in the standard rooms; $637 PP/DO for divers, $307 PP/DO in standard room. Excludes airfare, but includes guided boat dives, use of tank, backpack and weights, and unlimited tanks for shore diving.
Calm, clear and colorful, the waters of Bonaire and Cayman Brac provide world-class scuba diving opportunities. Peter Hughes' Dive Bonaire and Dive Tiara, in association with Divi Resorts, offers four- and eight-day scuba packages and scuba and underwater photographic instruction.
Packages include comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations, transfers, guided boat dives and unlimited use of tanks for daytime shore diving. The spectacular powder white beaches and plentiful topside activities include swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling and tennis. Nature reserve visits makestays on the islands enjoyable to non-divers as well.
Dive Bonaire's versatile fleet of custom designed boats provide quick access to the more than 50 dive sites in the corals surrounding Bonaire and its sister island Klein Bonaire.
Dive Tiara explores little-known Cayman Brac sites as well as more visited places. Professional dive masters and mid-sized boats make the trips both safe and pleasurable.
All levels of instruction are provided.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Varies, depending on length of program.
Hurricane Island Outward Bound's mission is to develop self-esteem, self-reliance and concern for others and the environment through safe adventures.
Instructors help people discover and act upon their strengths through demanding courses in wilderness settings and at sea. These courses challenge you to develop personal resources and sharpen your problem-solving skills by cooperating with others.
Hurricane Island offers separate sailing courses for youths age 14-15 and for young adults age 16-20. The courses are offered at the Burnt Island Sailing School in Rockland, Maine, Big Pine Key in Florida and in Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
You and the crew learn about the challenge of the open sea and work to master the essential skills of seamanship.
You are constantly in motion as crew responsibilities are rotated. You will be called upon to take the helm as captain to develop your leadership skills.
Along the way, the sea challenges you and tests and develops you. Rock climbing, rappelling and a high ropes challenge are also included.
This program ranges in cost from $895 for eight days to $1,795 for 22 days.
A special family seven-day sailing program out of Rockland, which explores and celebrates the uniqueness of individual family members and their relationships with each other, is held for families between the ages of 14 and 55 on July 3 and Aug. 16 at a cost of $695.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Prices range from $825 for seven days to $1,745 for 22 days. Price includes instruction, camping facilities, meals and accommodations.
Hurricane Island Outward Bound's mission is to develop self-esteem, self-reliance and concern for others and the environment through safe adventures.
Instructors help youths and adults discover and act upon their strengths through demanding courses in wilderness settings. These courses challenge you to develop personal resources and sharpen your problem-solving skills by cooperating with others.
Hurricane Island offers backpacking, canoeing and other courses in the wilderness that balance youth's need for discovery with mastery of skills that promote a sense of personal achievement and increased self-esteem.
During the course, participants camp, canoe, kayak and gain skills in planning, leading and supporting backpacking expeditions in areas including western and northern Maine and the Allegheny Mountains of Maryland.
Outward Bound also offers a winter backpacking expedition, to enhance those same skills, in the Mahoosuc Mountains and in Newry, Maine.
In addition, Outward Bound offers wilderness programs for the entire family.
Each program is geared to youths of similar ages, for example for youths age 14 to 16 or youths age 16 through 18. There are also programs geared to young adults, age 18 and older and adults age 21 and older.
Courtesy Maui Dive Shops.
Custom beach dives include two-tanks and instruction for $65 per day; Four-day course is $99 excluding rental of equipment ($25 extra). Boat charters are $85 per day and include lunch.
Maui Dive Shops offers one- to four-day diving excursions from its various locations on the Hawaiian island of Maui. As the island's largest dive retailer and an outfit with more than 17 years of experience, Maui Dive's knowledge of the area's premier dive spots and its first-rate equipment and instruction make for great diving.
Numerous wrecks, caves, reefs and undersea species provide the scenic setting for guided day-long boat dives, night dives and instruction. The most exciting location is the area around Molokini Island, home to a famous underwater crater accessible by the organization's catamaran.
Other great spots include Hana Bay, Olowalu, where there are shallow coral reefs; and Ahihi Bay, the island's first marine preserve. Prime snorkeling areas are abundant and are usually easily reached from shore.
A complete P.A.D.I. open water certification course is taught during four days along Maui's Wailea/Makena coast and includes eight ocean dives and classroom lessons.
Instruction and guides make diving fun and safe.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
Starts at $775 PP/DO for package including course and accommodations.
Your time with Offshore Sailing School is more than a vacation -- it begins a lifetime of sailing enjoyment.
Offshore staff and management, led by Steve and Doris Colgate, are dedicated to your success. Their courses cater to all levels, from those who have never sailed to expert sailors who want to learn intricate racing maneuvers.
Most of their schools are on islands, where you learn in an environment of pure pleasure. The flagship school is on Captiva Island, a true island hideaway just 30 minutes from Ft. Myers, Florida.
Some courses are offered at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands; Marigot Bay, St. Lucia, in the Windward Islands; the Sea of Cortez in Mexico; legendary Newport, Rhode Island, and Long Island Sound in New York.
Children and non-sailors have their choice of interesting activities, and those traveling alone benefit from the special camaraderie found only among sailors.
Choose a full week, three days or something in between.
Your primary classroom is on the water. With a student-teacher ratio of no more than 4:1, you receive maxium individual attention. There also is on-land classroom instruction.
The Learn to Sail course will have you and your crew charting a course and sailing on your own without your instructor by course's end.
You can take the more in-depth Performance Sailing course or combine the two into an accelerated, one-week class. Also offered are introductory and advanced racing courses, bareboat cruising preparation and accelerated cruising.
Cruising skills also are taught in an intensive, live-aboard program in which you sail a 43-foot yacht in some of the world's finest cruising grounds. Offshore Sailing School has teamed up with The Moorings charter company to offer this exciting opportunity in Tortola, St. Lucia and the Grenadines, or the Sea of Cortez.
With all other courses, accommodations are on land. You can choose a course and accommodation package or course only.
Graduate benefits include discounts on future classes and on charters with The Moorings.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
$450 to $495 including instruction, textbook, graduation party, various future discounts and benefits. Some courses include extra practice sailing time.
New York City dwellers do not have to travel far to find a quality learn-to-sail program.
Offshore Sailing School offers courses at two convenient New York locations, both just 30 minutes from Manhattan and easily reached by car or public transport from anywhere in the tri-state area.
Courses include classroom instruction, but your primary classroom is on the water on boats that are responsive, sleek, comfortable and safe.
You can take a basic "learn to sail" course, a more in-depth course on performance sailing, bareboat cruising preparation or racing classes. Some are held for three to four days over two consecutive weekends, or on a three-day holiday weekend. You also can take three-day courses during the week.
All courses are offered on City Island, Offshore's New York base since 1964. This location offers the charm of a New England fishing village from within city limits. Sea breezes blow, the air is fresh and a sense of history prevails.
Learn to Sail is also offered at Port Washington, where you learn while enjoying the scenic beauty of Manhasset Bay and the open waters of Long Island Sound.
Offshore Sailing School also has locations in Rhode Island, Florida,Tortola and St. Lucia in the Caribbean and the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
Courtesy Offshore Sailing School.
$860 to $1,530 for six-day program, including instruction, practice sailing time, accommodations and some meals. $317 to $775 for four days.
In May, the National Women's Advisory Board on Sailing and Offshore Sailing School offer a "You Can Sail Escape" Week for women only. It is designed both for women who have never sailed and want to enter a fascinating new world, and for those who already sailed and want to move up to bareboat chartering or learn more about sail trim and spinnakers.
The event takes place at the Offshore Sailing School on Captiva Island, Florida.
Each day, you start with a morning classroom session. Then you're on the water for fun-filled, half-day instructional sessions. With no more than four students per boat, you receive maximum attention from certified instructors.
Evening cocktail seminars answer questions that you have about sailing and offer excellent networking opportunites. The program culminates with a gala graduation dinner.
If you have limited time or just want a taste of sailing, you can take a four-day "weekend escape" version of the program.
Accommodations are in deluxe hotel rooms and villas.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
$330 PP/DO for three-day trip includes all gear, meals and accommodations.
Deep Sea Divers Den offers two- and three-day live-aboard diving excursions to sites off Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the most spectacular dive settings in the world. It is the world's largest and longest coral reef structure and is home to thousands of exotic species of marine life, including 400 varieties of coral and 1,500 species of fish.
Many of the reef's best dive spots are too far out to be reached and dived in a day, which makes the den's live-aboard excursions all the more appealing.
Each trip visits at least four sites over a three-day period opting for those with optimal conditions, and usually includes two dives at each location. Some days divers are treated to four descents staying within the Queensland Government's safety regulations. Night dives are also included.
The den has permanent moorings above some of the most impressive spectacles in the area, including Troppo Lounge, a sandy patch and wall where stony and soft corals, morays and white-tipped reef sharks congregate. You can see Caves Mooring, a concentration of unique coral structures including caves, arches, crevices and tunnels, a favorite haunt among turtles and barracuda and the Mountain, a massive coral head that is close to 60 feet tall and contains huge Tridacna clams and stingrays.
Divers should be of average fitness and certified.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
Courtesy Deep Sea Divers Den.
$300 for four days; $380 for five days includes all meals and accommodations aboard vessel, use of equipment, instruction and certification.
Deep Sea Divers Den is one of the few facilities in the world to earn a five-star rating for its instruction. Their learn-to-dive programs are offered in four- or five-day tours and include a three-day live-aboard trip, featuring a fascinating night dive upon completion of the requisite course.
The Great Barrier Reef, the site of your open water dives and live-aboard trip, is the world's largest coral reef structure and is home to an astounding variety of marine life. It is one of the finest places to dive on the planet.
The course consists of two days of theory and pool instruction where you will be taught the fundamentals necessary for safe diving. The use of all diving equipment is included in the package. At the end of the course, you are awarded a P.A.D.I. Certificate (or "c" card) that is your ticket to diving anywhere in the world.
Advanced diver, divemaster and rescue courses are also available.
Qualified instruction makes diving fun and safe.
Courtesy M/V Caracol.
Courtesy M/V Caracol.
All children are welcome but you must be at least 12 years old to dive.
$120 PP/DO per day includes all meals, accommodations, tanks, weights and backpacks.
The M/V Caracol is a live-aboard diving excursion vessel that offers customized or one- to 10-day live-aboard cruises that search out prime dive spots in the Caribbean.
Most of the Caracol's diving takes place along the north coast of Colombia, though the boat is willing to go just about anywhere.
Spacious and comfortable, the Caracol sleeps 10 and has air-conditioned bunks, two complete baths, two external showers, complete galley and top-deck barbecue. She is crewed by a captain, marine biologist scuba guide and instructor, a cook and a mate.
The Caribbean's clear, warm waters teem with life and the Caracol and its inflatable raft will transport you to the best sites in the area -- a world full of wrecked Spanish galleons covered with multi-hued coral structures.
When not below the surface, you are taken to tropical islands that beckon intrepid explorers with beautiful beaches for swimming, snorkeling and windsurfing. The boat anchors for the evening in quiet coves perferct for stargazing or simply enjoying the fine food.
Divers must be certified.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Costs vary greatly depending on type of yacht tours. Call or write for prices.
Orion Tour offers bareboat charters, custom-crewed charters and several crewed week-long yacht charters that follow a specific itinerary, hugging the breathtaking Turkish coastline and stopping in exotic ports for sightseeing.
Ancient cities, pagan kingdoms and statues and temples lie beneath sunrises and sunsets along the shore.
Boats and routes vary for crewed charters, but there are four regular programs to choose from. They sail from the ports of Bodrum and Marmaris and explore the historic harbors, inlets and islands that dot the coast . Days and afternoons will be left open in various towns to enjoy windsurfing and diving, swimming or simply exploring the quaint villages and ancient sites.
The first tour begins in Bodrum and sails to the Castle Knidos in the town of Knidos which sits at the end of a very long peninsula jutting out into the Aegean.
The following days take you to Yedi Adalar, where there will be a barbecue on the beach; Ingiliz Limani (English Harbor); Limani Sidere (Cleopatra Island); Marmaris and Oraklar before returning to Bodrum.
A second tour departs from Bodrum and travels to the Bay of Bitez. You also visit the ancient city of Cnidus; Gokova Bay and Seven Islands; Marmaris, which bustles with shops, discos and taverns; the ruins of Cedrea and Cittlik before returning to Bodrum.
Marmaris serves as the base for two tours that explore an entirely different stretch of coast. The first leaves Marmaris and heads to Ekincik, Dalyan-Kaunos, Manastir, Tersane and Oludeniz. The other follows a similar tack, but spends differing amounts of times in various ports. Highlights include the rock-cut tombs of Fethiye and cruising in Fethiye Bay.
Yachts are picked up in Bodrum and Marmaris and are comfortable, easy to handle and modern. Technicians are on hand 24 hours at either port to receive calls if you need assistance. Boats vary and range from six to 11 berths, and you provide your own food.
Bareboat charters require experienced skippers. Crewed cruises are relaxing and easy as experienced mates do all the work.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Courtesy Don Donnelly Stables.
Prices range from $750 for five-day tour to $1,200 for 8-day tour, PP/DO. There is an additional charge of $100 for single accommodations. Prices include transfer from start city, motel and meals the first and last nights, horse and camp equipment, hot showers (on most rides), and entertainment.
Don Donelly Stables is a full-service riding stable and outfitter located in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains, 40 miles east of Phoenix. You explore the wilderness in some of the most rugged mountains in Arizona. The beauty is breathtaking, the wildlife is abundant and history comes alive.
In beautiful Monument Valley, you ride through the heart of the Navajo Indian Reservation surrounded by giant, red monoliths. You wake up in the White Mountains and see elk grazing in the meadow.
Rides are offered for five, seven or eight days with lodging and meals included. You ride six to eight hours each day with plenty of time for photography and a hearty lunch. In the evening, you enjoy entertainment around the campfire.
You ride "Old Cavalry Style," meaning 50 minutes on and 10 minutes off. This allows for a comfortable ride with time for pit-stops, stretching and pictures. You ride a pace that is comfortable for the group, sometimes splitting into two groups, one faster and harder for the hearty rider and the other well-paced but leisurely for those who wish to take time relishing the beauty and wonder of the sights. You are free to join either group on any day of the ride.
Courtesy Dude Ranchers' Association.
Courtesy Dude Ranchers' Association.
Courtesy Dude Ranchers' Association.
Most dude ranch prices include accommodations, meals and activities including riding.
A dude ranch invites you to enjoy a unique Western experience in a setting which presents both a ranchers' way of life and a sincere concern for the comfort and pleasure of guests.
Esablished in 1926, the Dude Ranchers' Association can be your guide to a Western-style adventure you won't forget. On an annual basis, they publish the Dude Rancher Magazine/Directory that lists news and information and offers a directory of all their member ranches across the United States and Canada.
The ranches are divided into three categories: working dude ranch on which livestock is raised and guests may participate in the ranch chores; a dude ranch, where the scenic surroundings and the comfort of the guest are the focus of any tour; and a resort dude ranch, where itineraries are geared to the wishes of the guest and many activities are offered.
Each Dude Rancher Directory entry offers information about whom to contact, the months it is available, what activities are offered and the location and ambience of the camp.
Must have some riding experience.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Courtesy Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Price varies depending on course, call Outward Bound for brochure and prices.
Hurricane Island Outward Bound's mission is to develop self-esteem, self-reliance, personal renewal and concern for others and the environment through safe adventures.
Instructors help you discover and act upon your strengths through demanding courses in wilderness settings and at sea. These courses challenge you to develop personal resources and sharpen your problem-solving skills by cooperating with others.
Hurricane Island offers sailing, backpacking, canoeing and other courses in the wilderness that balance your need for discovery with mastery of skills. You gain a sense of personal achievement and increased self-esteem.
During these courses, specially designed for women, executives and different age groups of adults, for example for those age 21, age 30 or age 40 and older, you camp, sail, canoe, kayak and gain skills in planning, leading and supporting expeditions in areas including western and northern Maine, Florida and the Allegheny Mountains of Maryland.
Outward Bound also offers a winter backpacking expedition, to enhance those same skills, in the Mahoosuc Mountains and in Newry, Maine.
Outward Bound also offers wilderness programs for the entire family.
Courtesy ISS/CYOA.
Courtesy ISS/CYOA.
Courtesy ISS/CYOA.
$1,245 per person.
CYOA's International School of Sailing uses home study, systematic drills, crew rotation, cross-training and pure fun to teach big boat sailing in a completely new way. In this live-aboard course offered in the Virgin Islands, you participate in every aspect of operating a large sailboat.
Class size is limited to six to assure you plenty of time at the helm.
You also learn what you need to know for sailing self reliance -- marine radio operation, diesel engine care, cooking at sea, preventive maintenance and securing a vessel at the end of a day.
ISS courses start at the beginner level and progress to increasingly more advanced levels. Except for the beginner course, some experience is required.
Courses offered are basic sailing, coastal bareboat sailing, offshore bareboat sailing and Caribbean cruising. Completion of the coastal bareboat course qualifies you to skipper a bareboat charter with CYOA.
While ISS takes a serious approach to boating instruction, there is also time to explore this beautiful group of islands, their secluded coves, great swimming and snorkeling spots and charming restaurants.
There are courses geared to all skill levels.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Call for pricing information.
Orion Tour offers week-long crewed charter diving cruises on their Bodrum-class yachts (also called gulettes or Bodrum Sponge Fishers) in the blue-green waters of the Turkish Aegean. Diving in the area is fantastic due to its unique reefs and wrecks.
An experienced guide joins the regular crew and leads your underwater excursions in carefully selected dive spots. Tanks, air and weights are provided.
The route generally follows the prescribed cruises that Orion sponsors and leaves from the diving center in Bodrum, stopping for visits in quiet coves and visits to exotic villages.
Orion also provide instruction and hotel-based diving.
Divers must be certified and have doctor's permission.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Varies, depending on seminar. Call for more information.
Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc., established in 1981, offers a wide variety of winter outdoor adventure seminars that teach you about cross-country and telemark skiing, snowshoeing, wilderness survival and mountaineering in winter.
Most of the seminars take place in Crater Lake National Park, the Lassen National Park or the Mt. Shasta Wilderness.
Experts guide and educate you helping you improve your skiing and survival skills as you travel to a series of backcountry ski camps. You stay in lodges, which provide home-cooked meals, while you learn ski mountaineering and the fundamentals of winter travel, mountain safety and snow camping.
Sierra Wilderness Seminars also offers courses in basic avalanche survival. Many of the seminars combine field experience with lectures and slide presentations.
The cost of these seminars varies, ranging from $445 for a six-day Sierra Crest tour to $275 for a three-day advanced winter mountaineering seminar.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Courtesy Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
Cost ranges from $389 for six days to $1,125 for 14 days. Includes ground transportation, accommodations, instruction and some food.
Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc., established in 1981, offers a wide variety of outdoor adventure seminars that teach you about backpacking and wilderness survival with the mountains of California as your classroom.
Many of these survival and backpacking seminars take place in the Trinity Alps and Gold Alps wilderness, Joshua Tree and the Sierra Nevadas.
Experts guide and educate you allowing you to improve your survival skills as you trek in the woods. You learn techniques to lighten your load, find routes, build emergency shelters, identify edible plants, locate water and catch fish with your bare hands.
There are a variety of seminars, ranging from introductory courses to advanced survival courses.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Most of Orion's speleology tours are custom-designed and cost depends upon number of days and other factors. Call for price information.
Orion Tour sponsors spelunking excursions into the many diverse caves of the western Black Sea coast, Mediterranean coast and the Taurus mountain regions of Turkey in conjunction with the Turkish Speleological Society.
Perhaps the largest and most interesting cave in Turkey Kocain ("koca" means big and "in" means cave in Turkish) features traces which indicate that it was inhabited in prehistory, and throughout the Roman and Byzantine ages. A beautiful cistern sits inside, and stalagmites measure up to 1,320 feet with exquisite white crystallization formations are nearby.
Tours to Kocain and several other vast underground networks are available upon request.
A regularly scheduled 22-day tour combines cave exploration and sightseeing in the nearby ruins of the ancient Anatolian civilization. You visit national parks and beautiful cities; underground churches; Ankara Fortress; Temple of Augustus; the Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the World; the ancient city of Troy; and several caves including Tilkiler, one of the world's largest; and Insuyu Cave and underground lakes.
Spelunking is not for the claustrophobic.
Courtesy Caribbean Yacht Owners Association (CYOA).
Courtesy Caribbean Yacht Owners Association (CYOA).
Bareboat charter starts at $1,449 per boat per week. Crewed charter starts at $1,000 per person per week.
A plane ride to St. Thomas, a 10-minute cab ride to Yacht Haven Marina and you are on your way to a charter sailing vacation in the Virgin Islands with CYOA - Caribbean Yacht Owners Association.
You can expect balmy weather, seas just right for swimming and snorkeling and a host of beautiful islands to explore, all within easy cruising distance.
Minimum charter period is five days and there is no maximum.
You can provision your vessel from U.S.-style grocery stores a short walk from the dock or CYOA will do it for you.
Some keelboat sailing experience is necessary before you can charter. If you are not sure of your skills, you can take a sailing guide for the entire trip, or just a few days. If , after reviewing your sailing resume, CYOA has concerns about your experience, they may require you to take a sailing guide for a day or more.
You also can sign up for the International School of Sailing (ISS), which offers courses for all levels.
If you would like the fun of sailing, but not the full responsibility, CYOA will arrange for a licensed sailing guide, who will do as much or as little as you want.
For the ultimate sailing vacation, charter one of the more than 100 fully crewed yachts in the Virgin Islands.
You can charter the boat on your own with the necessary experience, or sign on a captain to help you sail.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Price varies depending on program. Call for more information.
The North Carolina Outward Bound Program began traveling in and exploring Central America in 1981. Since that time, it has developed courses in Costa Rica and Mexico where students explore local transportation systems, wilderness areas, markets and traditional events and work in local service projects.
One 83-day cross-cultural odyssey begins in North Carolina, where you hike and explore. Next, you move to the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida and then on to Costa Rica, where you hike through five different ecosystems.
Another Florida-Costa Rica program begins in the Florida Everglades and allows you to experience Central American cultures.
Another odyssey journeys from North Carolina to Mexico, while shorter programs focus just on Costa Rica and Mexico. You explore local cultures while climbing mountains, rafting and camping.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Varies with program, ranges from $900 for nine days to $1,995 for 22 days.
Outward Bound courses can be of significant value for teens age 14 to 18 and young adults age 18 and older. For this age group, this is a period of change and choices. Outward Bound's courses are designed to develop the values and skills necessary for making the tough decisions that lie ahead.
Students are placed in situations that encourage them to take initiative, cooperate with group members, develop leadership skills, communicate with others and complete tasks.
Outward Bound prides itself on combining adventure and excitement with educational experiences. These programs allow youths to challenge themselves among a supportive peer group.
N.C. Outward Bound offerings include mountain challenge courses for youths age 14-16 and age 16-20. There is also a program for parents and teens, which helps all family members enhance and explore their relationships with each other. These courses, which involve canoeing, backpacking, rock climbing and rappelling, take place in the lushly forested Southern Appalachians.
Outward Bound also offers an Everglades Challenge, which gives you time to explore the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades and backpack through the saw grasses in the Big Cypress National Preserve. A ropes course, mini-marathon, solo and service project are also part of this course.
There is also a canoe and sail program in the Everglades.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
From $950 PP/DO for adults ($995 for individuals); from $650 PP/DO for children 12-15 yrs. ($695 for individuals). Prices include all meals, lodging, horses and tack, and authentic Western B-B-Q/Dance.
Although you can enjoy a Western-style vacation any time of year at High Island Ranch, each spring during Branding Week, you can participate in ranch life at a very exciting time.
Guests can participate in all phases of ranch work including rounding up the herd, branding and doctoring cows and all the other acitivies that come with spring.
Of course, you also have time to ride for hours through the backcountry of Wyoming on your trusty steed as cowboys have done for years.
There are sing-alongs and Western dancing at High Island, a 41,000-acre working ranch devoted to providing guests with "luxuries" that are hard to find in the modern world. They offer unlimited riding, wilderness adventure, spectacular vistas, hearty fare and service by friendly, caring people.
Riding experience necessary.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Courtesy North Carolina Outward Bound.
Varies, call Outward Bound for brochure and prices.
Year after year, adults come to Outward Bound seeking personal and professional renewal and adventure. The courses are used as a stepping stone during a period of transition -- a tool to restore a sense of self and sense of community.
Outward Bound offers adults the courage to take risks again and stretch themselves in new directions. The simplicity of the wilderness is also a welcome break from the complexity of urban life.
You are placed in situations that encourage you to take initiative, cooperate with group members, develop leadership skills, communicate with others and complete tasks.
Outward Bound prides itself on combining adventure and excitement with educational experiences. The programs allow adults to challenge themselves among a supportive peer group.
These courses, which involve canoeing, backpacking, rock climbing and rappelling, take place in the lushly forested Southern Appalachians. There are courses designed just for women, and for adults age 21, 30 and 40 and older.
Outward Bound also offers an Everglades Challenge, which gives you time to explore the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades, kayak off the coast and backpack through the saw grasses in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Call for exact dates and pricing information.
Several tall mountain ranges and legendary peaks beckon ski mountaineers in Turkey. Orion Tour sponsors eight ski tours that ascend and descend the country's Bolkar, Kackar and Tauras ranges, including Mt. Ararat (16,804 feet) the nation's highest peak and the alleged resting spot of Noah's Ark.
Each tour begins in Istanbul from where you fly to prime peaks. Three of the eight tours include skiing on Mt. Ararat or Mt. Suphan. Others ski the Kackar Range, Mt. Erciyes and the Central Taurus Mountains, Mt. Hasan and neighboring peaks in the Bolkar Range. Most tours are 10 days, the longest is 16.
Almost all expeditions include sightseeing tours of Istanbul and Erzurum, two of Turkey's most fascinating cities. Days of skiing are usually interspersed with visits to ancient relics and or boat trips.
Accommodations are provided by hotels where available and in mountainside camps when skiing.
Skiers should be physically and mentally up to the challenge.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Costs range from $950 for three days to $1,550 for seven days of boat rental during peak season.
Majestic mountains and towering evergreens are the backdrop for a spectacular houseboat vacation on Lake Shasta.
The lake in the northern region of the state has 379 miles of shoreline, the largest of any California lake. You can explore for days through inlets and coves. You should plan side trips through abandoned mines and fossil beds. Take a tour through the Shasta Caverns and Shasta Dam. Or travel by car to Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen's volcano and Castle Crags.
You can stop at Bridge Bay Resort, which features lodging, dining, groceries, tackle and bait and a full service marina.
Digger Bay Marina, just a short cruise from Shasta Dam, features a floating grocery store and tackle shop, marine services, gas dock and a free launch ramp.
Houseboats may be rented for a minimum of three days and two nights. Most vessels have two bedrooms with additional bedspace in the kitchen. The cost varies from $550 for a three-day rental from September to June, to $950 for a similar rental during peak season. A seven-day rental costs $1,150 during off-season and $1,550 during prime time.
Courtesy Nicholson Yacht Charters, Inc..
Courtesy Nicholson Yacht Charters, Inc..
Courtesy Nicholson Yacht Charters, Inc..
Over 200 boats are available for charter at weekly rates. Call for price information.
Nicholson Yacht Charters is a family business that has been in operation since 1949. They personally inspect all the yachts they charter and have sampled all of the cruising grounds. With offices in Antigua, Cambridge and Newport, they keep in close touch with yachts and clients.
The business began just after World War II when Cmdr. Nicholson and his two sons began taking passengers on their own yacht from English Harbor in Antigua to the neighboring islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique.
Today, they offer charters on 200 vessels in cruising grounds throughout the Caribbean and all over the world -- Turkey, Greece, the French and Italian Rivieras, French Polynesia, the Pacific Northwest, New England and Venezuela -- anywhere yachting is safe and exciting.
On a typical day on a crewed charter, you wake to the smell of fresh coffee, which you will enjoy even more after a dip in the salty sea. About 9 a.m., the crew raises anchor. You are welcome to take the helm or just grab your suntan lotion and relax.
Mid-morning, bouillon and crackers are apt to be served during island passages which average three to four hours. Luncheon of tasty casseroles, salads, fresh fruits, French cheeses and wine are served in the awning-covered cockpit.
After lunch, you go ashore to beachcomb, waterski, shop, hike, tour by taxi or engage in whatever interesting activities that anchorage affords. Mid-afternoon tea and cake are followed by the sunset hour with rum punches and snacks. Dinner is usually served by candlelight.
While this is typical of a crewed yacht, you have other options including captain-only charters where guests are the crew or bareboat charters. You can join a tandem cruise in which several yachts sail together or join a group by booking a single bunk or cabin on a large yacht for a pre-scheduled cruise.
Nicholson's Antigua address is English Harbour, Antigua, West Indies, tel: 809-460-1530; fax, 809-460-1531.
On a skippered charter, you can do as much or as little sailing as you want. Experience is required for bareboat charters.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Houseboat rentals are $750 for seven days off-season and $1,150 for peak season.
The California Delta, due east of San Francisco Bay, is an endless network of rivers, tributaries and channels that create an incredible Western boating experience.
Originally used by miners and settlers during the 1884 Gold Rush, the Delta is still as beautiful and mysterious as ever.
You can cruise for days, exploring islands, fishing, swimming or sunning. You can pick wild blackberries from the banks or visit the historic towns of Walnut Grove and Locke.
You find unique dining possibilities in riverfront restaurants. Discoveries are made everywhere along the 1,000 miles of California Delta waterways.
Seven Crown's extensive rental fleet at Paradise Point Marina features modern houseboats, ski boats, fishing boats, patio boats and personal watercraft.
The nearby city of Stockton features The Waterfront area, with small shops and restaurants. On the Delta, you share you boating experience with ocean-going vessels, sailboats and even an old Chinese junk.
Houseboats may be rented for a minimum of three days and two nights. Most vessels have two bedrooms with additional bedspace in the kitchen. The cost varies from $450 for a three-day rental from September to June, to $650 for a similar rental during peak season. A seven-day rental costs $750 during off-season and $1,150 during prime time.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Courtesy Seven Crown Resorts.
Price varies, ranging from $850 for three days off-season to $1,050 during peak season.
Sheer rock cliffs, sandy beaches and blue waters are spectacular surroundings for a memorable vacation in a houseboat.
Originally a mining town, Lake Mohave offers exceptional sightseeing, including ancient Indian rock carvings or petroglyphs on many cliff walls. You can also tour the Davis Dam on the Arizona shore.
Lake Mohave offers the most versatile family vacations anywhere, with 150 miles of fantastic shoreline for exploring and sunning, plus exciting evenings at several casinos located on the Nevada side of the lake.
Lake Mohave Resort and Marina offers motel lodging, RV park, family restaurants and coffee shop plus a comfortable lounge.
There is a grocery store, tackle and bait shop plus a full marina including slips, moorage and repair facilities and a rental fleet of houseboats.
Houseboats may be rented for a minimum of three days and two nights. Most vessels have two bedrooms with additional bedspace in the kitchen. The cost varies from $850 for a three-day rental from September to June, to $1,050 for a similar rental during peak season. A seven-day rental costs $1,250 during off-season and $1,650 during prime time.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Call for exact dates and price information.
Orion Tours sponsors ascents up a variety of 10,000-foot mountains and volcanoes in the Taurus, Kackar, Cilo-Sat and Munzur ranges scattered throughout Turkey. Trips are scheduled to allow for visits to the wealth of historical and cultural points of interest in the towns and cities that neighbor and surround the peaks.
Expeditions range from nine to 16 days and usually take place on the peaks of Mt. Ararat (16,804 feet), Turkey's highest peak and the fabled resting spot of Noah's Ark; Mt. Suphan (13,391 feet) which looms above Lake Van; Kackar Peak (12,975 feet), host of forests and thermal springs; and Mt. Erciyes (12,922 feet) a volcanic cone near the city of Kayseri.
Several of the tours conquer more than one peak -- one expedition ascends both Ararat and Suphan, the two highest mountains.
Almost all expeditions begin in Istanbul, Turkey's fascinating capital city and cultural center, and visit the city of Erzurum because of its proximity to several mountain ranges.
High mountain ascents require mental and physical fitness.
Courtesy Eastern River Expeditions Inc.
Courtesy Eastern River Expeditions Inc.
$75 PP on weekdays and $90 on weekends. Two-day rafting and camping tours are $200 and include dinner, two lunches and wetsuits.
Eastern River Expeditions offer one- and two-day rafting trips on the Penobscot, Kennebec and Dead Rivers from May through October.
-- The Kennebec is Maine's Big Water River, surging through five miles of vertical walled gorges. You raft over crashing waves and through flying spray, sometimes in Class V rapids. Once past Magic Falls, raft crews inflate sturdy inflatable kayaks. Under the supervision of the guides, each paddler can kayak the Kennebec's Class II and III sections.
This 13-mile trip is the most popular of Eastern's river trips. The minimum age is 12.
-- The Dead River is 16 miles of non-stop whitewater. Most rivers have slow moving sections, but not the Dead River. Melting snow and rain push the river beyond its banks into the trees and woods. The Dead is the guides' rodeo river, where crews compete to perform the most outrageous river antics. The Dead's rapids are so long that most remain unnamed, except for Poplar Falls where the river tilts sharply downhill. The minimum age is 14.
-- The West Branch of the Penobscot River winds around the base of Mt. Katahdin, Maine's highest peak. This is a scenic river, with its dramatic mountain views and rugged rapids.
The rapids churn through rocky passages and crews must negotiate drops and challenging water features. Some rapids almost exceed Class V. You should have athletic ability to participate on this ride. The minimum age is 16 on the Gorge and 12 for the side trip to The Big Eddy.
Varies with river and time of year.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
From $1,450, PP/DO, $45 more for single accommodations. Trip prices include all meals, lodging, horses and tack, and authentic Western B-B-Q and Dance.
On this special tour offered by High Island Ranch, you can ride with the Rock Creek Gang in the style of the 1800s. Waking before dawn, you smell hot coffee brewing over a crackling fire, roust yourself out of your warm bedroll and eat your hearty breakfast before hitting the trail. You saddle up quickly and push the herd out onto the trail, settling into the slow pace of the West.
Ride back in time for three days on a 35-mile trail to seasonal pastures in the spectacular landscape of Wyoming. You eat, sleep, dress and ride in the style of frontier life as it was in the 19th century. Sample buffalo meat, beans, canned peaches, pies, fry bread, lemonade and cowboy coffee ("it isn't ready 'til the horseshoe floats...").
Live the legendary life of a cowboy -- riding the herd all day, enjoying chuckwagon grub, clear blue skies, the wide open spaces, campfires and peaceful nights under a canopy of stars.
Riding experience necessary.
Courtesy Eastern River Expeditions Inc.
$180 for a two-day clinic.
Eastern River Expeditions brings 15 years of experience to its whitewater paddling program. Its instructors are talented teachers and dedicated paddlers who are happy to teach you to kayak and canoe in whitewater.
Eastern River offers full days of instruction and low student-teacher ratios. They specialize in river paddling and students benefit from their personal attention and skills.
Maine's dam-released rivers guarantee great boating flows and warm summer water. You can learn paddling on a variety of rivers, starting out on a placid pond and moving up to more challenging rapids.
Eastern River can also customize instruction programs, and can accommodate beginners as well as advanced paddlers. Its spring Guide School offers training for raft guides and it also offers Rescue Education programs.
Currently, it has beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate clinics scheduled from June through September. The rates are $180 for a two-day clinic.
Eastern River can also design custom canoe and kayak clinics for families.
Courtesy Orion Tour.
Prices vary, call for more information.
Orion Tour sponsors several trekking excursions into the hills that surround Turkey's many tall peaks. Lasting about two weeks, the treks intersperse hiking with exploration of relics documenting the country's colorful history, and the many cultures that have occupied the territory.
The tours all begin in Istanbul and allow time to peruse the ancient city's many treasures. Destinations include the area surrounding Mt. Erciyes (12,922 feet) and the Taurus, Bolkar, Munzur, and Kackar Ranges.
Accommodations are provided by hotels in more populated areas and in camps along the trek. Seaside camping along the Aegean Sea is featured on many trips.
Wildflowers and mountain hamlets adorn the sides of many of Turkey's mountain ranges and high elevations afford excellent views of the surrounding areas. Mountain goats, lynx, wolves, wild boars, fox and eagles roam freely in the forests and snowy limestone hills that surround glacial mountain lakes. Unique rock formations, ancient archaelogical sites and Ottoman relics all await explorers.
Treks are tiring but vans provide support.
Courtesy Euro-Bike Tours.
Courtesy Euro-Bike Tours.
Only if accompanied by parent.
$2,745 PP/DO includes most meals, accommodations, bike, support van and guide. Excludes airfare.
The harmony of the landscape and the Danube's vast stretch of water radiate a feeling of calm in this beautiful, storybook region of Europe. You find friendly people who enjoy life's pleasures, including opera, gypsy music or a hearty village dance.
During this Euro-Bike Tour, you enjoy the culture, art and excellent food of Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest. You begin in Munich and ride along Bavaria's Lake Chiem, where you can take a boat ride to visit the island palace of eccentric King Ludwig II.
The next day you cycle to Austria to the site where Silent Night was composed. You follow a picturesque bike trail to Salzburg. You meander for three days along the Danube and explore Vienna.
From Vienna, you cross by coach into Hungary, a country known for its hospitality. You bike through rural villages rarely visited by Westerners. From here you can peek into the former Czechoslovakia, just across the river.
You visit Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube, where you revel in Eastern European culture.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
Courtesy High Island Ranch.
From $950 PP/DO for adults. $45 more for own room. from $650 PP/DO for children 12-15 years. Prices include all meals, lodging, horses and tack, and authentic Western B-B-Q/Dance.
Be a cowboy for a week . . . ride the range, round up strays, fix fences, check cattle and move them to fresh pastures. The cowhands at High Island Ranch and Cattle Company invite you to join them on an authentic working ranch doing all the daily chores of a Classic American Cowboy.
After the day's hard ride, pull off your boots, sit back and hook a cutthroat trout for supper. End the day spinning yarns around the blazing campfire before falling asleep to a coyote lullaby.
Riding experience necessary.
Courtesy Euro-Bike Tours.
Courtesy Euro-Bike Tours.
Courtesy Euro-Bike Tours.
Must be accompanied by guardian.
$2,945 PP/DO includes meals, accommodations, support van, guide and equipment. Excludes international airfare.
Scandinavia is studded with islands and the summer sun barely sets below the horizon. Here is some of the best cycling in Europe.
Biking the gently rolling countryside with its golden fields and open seas is an exhilarating experience. You adventure begins on the islands of Aero and Taasinge in Denmark. You cycle past doll-sized cottages, huddled along a narrow cobbled path.
The old skippers' villages and the crisp salty air are vivid reminders of a Viking heritage.
Island dwellers here are cheerful biking enthusiasts filled with humor, charm and hospitality. You skirt the wooded, "Danish Alps" on the way to the ancient walled fishermen's village of Faaborg.
This scenic town has been painted by more artists than any other part of Denmark. You pedal the shoreline to Ebeltoft. A cruise takes you to the famous Nordic cathedral site. Here five Viking vessels recently raised from Roskilde's Fjord are now on display.
After crossing into Sweden, you spend two days on its wealthy Riviera around the medieval market town of Ystad on the Baltic Sea.
You cycle inland through the grain region and down the slopes to meet colorful forests, bountiful lakes and flat country lanes.
From Sweden, you ferry hop to the most romantic castle island of Denmark.
Bike down Zealand's coast to the outskirts of Copenhagen.
Photo by Mary Lee. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by Joe McDonald. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by Jeff Foott. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by Joe McDonald. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by Joe McDonald. Courtesy Voyagers International.
$2,495 from Miami includes food, lodging and transportation; add $650-$790 for Amazon Basin option.
The Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Basin are home to some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife -- and a very diverse array at that.
Ever since Darwin visited the islands during his famous study of evolution, the islands have been a favorite haunt among those seeking natural adventure. The islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are today preserved as a national park. Voyagers International offers 10-day excursions by boat to the islands to study their natural history and commune with the gregarious wildlife.
According to travel literature, animals in the Galapagos have never learned to fear humans and so birds will light on your shoulder, sea lions will nibble at your toes and seals and penguins will be your companions for a swim. Because of little human contact, the islands have remained virtually unaltered by the centuries and many of their species are found nowhere else.
Innumerable bird species including parrots, the graceful and coquettish blue-footed booby, Darwin's finches and red-billed tropicbirds fly about freely. Marine and land iguanas bask on black lava rocks and wander alongside sea lion pups and massive tortoises.
Guides will escort you and explain the ecology, geology and plant and animal customs of the islands. Time will be set aside for swimming and snorkeling in the clear waters. During the evenings, the boat moves on to visit a new island.
The Galapagos cruise can be augmented by an optional five- to seven-day exploration of the Amazon Basin upon your return to the Ecuadoran mainland.
The Amazon Basin remains somewhat undisturbed and supports a population of scarlet macaws, robin-sized hummingbirds and more than 500 other species of birds, manatees and dolphins, jaguar, tapir, peccary and deer, a dozen types of monkey.
You explore a maze of lakes, rivers and marshes by canoe and walk through dense forest, spending the evenings in camps and lodges that cater to tourists, but remain well integrated into the ecosystem.
These trips require a modicum of fitness.
Courtesy Ciclismo Classico.
Courtesy Ciclismo Classico.
Courtesy Ciclismo Classico.
Price ranges from $1,980-$2,300 for eight-day tours. Excludes airfare from U.S.
Capture the essence of Italy on bicycle tours sponsored by Ciclismo Classico. These tours strive to give participants the most educational and authentic Italian experience possible.
Ciclismo introduces you to many Italian friends, food, secluded beaches and captivating picnic spots. You visit mushroom festivals, experience an Italian cooking lesson and take a walking tour around Florence.
You enjoy quality accommodations, a guide fluent in Italian, Italian language lessons and feasts galore.
While sipping Chianti, twirling fettucine or savoring stuffed ravioli, you relive the day's adventures. These tours are open to cyclists of all skill levels. You can ride the shuttle over particularly challenging hills or take extra long routes if you want the challenge.
The current tours include a trek through Tuscany and the island of Elba , a journey from Lucca to Florence, an exploration of the island of Sardinia, a bike ride across Italy from the Adriatic to the Mediterranean and a tour of the land of Barolo and truffles in northern Italy.
Anyone can ride these tours, support van is always available.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
$446 to $1,321 PP/DO including accommodations, windsurfing equipment and seminars.
Aruba's motto is "One Happy Island" and no wonder. Blessed with tropical sun, warm, turquoise water and white sand beaches, it also boasts very consistent winds and fast, flat water sailing.
Vela's Highwind Center is located on the beach adjacent to Aruba's premier sailing area, Fisherman's Huts. Flat water and extensive shallows allow sailors of all abilities to enjoy this pristine spot. This location is ideal for mastering new skills and sailing at lightning-fast speeds.
Winds are off-shore at 18-25 knots and reach a peak velocity from May to July. They are at a lower velocity in the fall.
On the beach, you find sails fully rigged and ready for action. Lesson options include free seminars, small group or private lessons and a discounted beginner program.
Accommodations are at beachfront hotels and boardwalk apartments.
This location is suitable for all abilities, from beginner to expert.
Courtesy Suwannee Bicycle Association.
Courtesy Suwannee Bicycle Association.
Price varies, depending on tour.
The Suwannee Bicycle Association organizes tours of north Florida and each April co-sponsors the three-day Suwannee Bicycle Festival near Live Oak.
Currently, Suwannee offers two tours, one from Suwannee Springs to the Florida Sheriff's Boys Range, the other from the ranch to the confluence of the Suwannee and the Alapaha rivers.
Both tours cross areas that are among the most scenic on the upper Suwannee River, with snaking turns, high limestone bluffs, white sand beaches and forested banks. Wildlife ranging from deer and alligator to the endemic Suwannee cooter turtles may be seen.
Suwannee also offers bike tours across rural Florida, that cross the state from the Georgia state line, north of Tallahassee, to the Gulf Coast at St. Marks.
The total distance of 45 miles is the shortest route across Florida and includes the entire 16-mile length of the St. Marks Rail Trail.
For Florida residents who want to escape from the heat in summer, Suwannee offers summer mountain getaway tours.Treks are available in Kalispell, Montana, the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park and in western Montana and Idaho, all in July.
For more information about these tours contact Suwannee at 904-397-2347.
Courtesy Outdoor Centre of New England.
Courtesy Outdoor Centre of New England.
Courtesy Outdoor Centre of New England.
Costs range from $159 for two-day beginner workshops to $319 for four days.
The Outdoor Centre of New England provides two- to six-day canoe and kayak workshops from April to October. Instruction begins on the quiet waters of a lake and progresses to more challenging whitewater river runs.
Founded in 1982, the center is considered one of the finest paddling schools in the country. Courses feature small classes with a 1:4 instructor-student ratio, classroom instruction and five to six hours on the water.
Sea kayak classes are conducted in Maine by H2Outfitters through the center.
Workshops and clinics are geared to different skill levels ranging from beginner, including a special workshop for beginners age 40 or older, to whitewater paddling workshop days. Advanced courses for instructor certification are also available.
The center provides one- and two-person canoes and kayaks.
Workshop prices include instruction, equipment and a gourmet lunch buffet. Transportation to and from program sites is the responsiblity of the student.
The center also provides daily boat rentals.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
From $1,750 for 8-day Kongakut Backpack trip; from $1,800 for 12-day caribou migration trip; from $2,350 for 11-day Kongakut River raft trip; from $3,000 for combinations of backpack and river trips. Trip prices include air transportation from Fairbanks; camp food and cooking gear; boats, paddles and lifejackets; safety and repair equipment and services of trip leaders.
Each spring, an estimated 160,000 caribou migrate across the Brooks Range to the north slope of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
This 60-mile backpack trek into a remote mountain valley is an exceptional wildlife trip for the seasoned trekker. In the early spring bands of caribou forage in the mountain valleys. Wolves watch you from their nearby dens and you can photograph Dall sheep at mineral licks along the route.
In addition to this 12-day backpack trip, ABEC also offers an eight-day trek to the headwaters of the Kongakut River.
As a sequel to the backpack trip, you can paddle the emerald green waters of the Kongakut River. There are myriad opportunities to capture animals of the Arctic, caribou swimming the river, Dall sheep and moose grazing along gravel bars and grizzly bear foraging on the slopes above on film.
Other highlights include exciting whitewater trips, fishing for arctic char, and a celebration of the summer solstice with evening hikes in the golden glow of the midnight sun. This is a trip for all ages and abilities.
Photo by David Blanton. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by David Blanton. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Photo by Mary Lee. Courtesy Voyagers International.
Costs vary from tour to tour depending upon whether airfare is included, $1,990-$5,000 is the range.
Voyagers International, a leader in travel photography, offers tours to regions around the globe in pursuit of photographic art. The organization's leaders view photography and travel as sharing the goal of experiencing the world with a "fresh vision."
Voyagers staff also says photography and travel play a role in promoting understanding and respect for other cultures and the natural environment.
Tours are generally a little longer than two weeks and visit Ireland, Italy, East Africa, the Canyonlands of the southwestern U.S., Nepal, Borneo, Bali and Komodo, New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica.
Trips rely both on a schedule and serendipity, and are led by experienced photographers who impart their knowledge to small groups on an individual basis. No fancy equipment is necessary, though a 35 mm camera that can accommodate lens attachments usually captures the best pictures. Learning is informal and the emphasis is placed upon the art of seeing rather than on camera technique. Time is set aside around meals and in the evening for discussion and individual tutoring.
The rigors of each trip vary and you should choose the one you feel most comfortable with. Safaris, for example, are conducted from vehicles while gorilla treks require long hikes in muddy terrain.
Difficulty levels vary from trip to trip. Hiking can be strenuous while boat and vehicle expeditions are less so.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
$313 to $776 PP/DO including acommodations, windsurfing equipment and seminars.
Take advantage of a great windsurfing vacation value at Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, sometimes called the "best-kept secret in the Caribbean."
At the Vela Highwind Center, the price is right, the sailing fantastic and the setting adventurous. Sail on warm tropical waters and explore secluded beaches, lush valleys and mountain rain forests.
From a convenient launch site on Cabarete's windswept bay, you find everything from flat water cruising to wave sailing, depending on the season and time of day.
In general, all abilities can sail here in summer, with novice sailing in the morning. In the winter, however, high intermediate to expert levels only are recommended.
From December to September, winds are 15-25 knots side-shore in the afternoon.
Cabarete has many activities and a colorful local scene to entertain you. Take mountain bike rides or horseback rides or shop for arts and crafts in nearby Puerto Plata.
All abilities in summer with novice sailing in the morning. In the winter, high intermediate through expert recommended.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
From $2,000 for 12-day river tour, from $1,550 for 8-day backpack tour, and $2,650 for 19-day combination of both river and backpack tours. Prices are PP/DO and include transportation from Fairbanks, camp food and cooking gear; boats, paddles, and life jackets; safety and repair equipment and trip leader services.
The Noatak River Meanders through an expanse of parkland tundra gone brilliant red and gold in early fall. Springing from the glaciers of Mt. Igikpak (the highest mountain in the Central Brooks Range), the Noatak is the largest complete river system in the United States unaltered by man.
Illuminated by low-angled Arctic lighting, migrating bands of caribou ford the river and stream across the valley on their journey to southern wintering grounds. You join the caribou on their journey and alternate paddling days with tundra hikes in search of fresh berries and glimpses of Dall sheep grazing on the ridges.
Toward the completion of the 70-mile float, you run some easy but exciting rapids as the river cuts through ancient glacial moraines.
The backpacking section of your trip begins near the river where the sky dominates the landscape, and proceeds at a leisurely five-mile-a-day pace into the seldom-visited major caribou migration corridors in the Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Hike the superb trails of this primeval wilderness set within a framework of lofty palisades and knife-edged ridges, cascading streams and hidden pools of crystalline aqua blue water. Photo opportunities abound as multitudes of restless caribou, conscious of winter's approach, traverse against a backdrop of colorful autumn tundra and mountains freshly dusted with snow.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
From $1,650 for 8-day river trip, from $1,500 for the 9-day backpack trip and from $2,050 for a 16-day combination of the two. Trip prices include all air transportation form Fairbanks, Alaska; camp food and cooking gear; boats, paddles and lifejackets; safety and repair equipment (including water filter and expedition first aid kit); and services of trip leader.
"Arrigetch" is an Eskimo word meaning "fingers of a hand out-stretched." Viewed from the nearby Alatna River, these gigantic peaks do indeed resemble fingers reaching for the sky. You have vivid views of these rocky spires as you float past on this river trip.
You paddle 40 miles of the scenic upper Alatna, with day hikes into side valleys and along ridges, enjoying spectacular views of Arrigetch Peaks and the quiet beauty of the Alatna Valley.
For a closer look at Arrigetch Peaks, trek on a 30-mile backpack trip to the very base of these perpendicular rock faces. You spend several days, freed of your backpacks, exploring this world of vertical rock, glacial cirques (steep-walled mountain basins shaped like half a bowl), lush alpine meadows and lovely blue tarns (small, steep-banked mountain ponds).
A hike to a nearby hot springs for a soak rounds out your Brooks Range adventure.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
Courtesy ABEC's Alaska Adventures.
From $1,700 for 8-day backpack; from $2,200 for 12-day backpack trip; and from $2,900 for a combination of the two. Trip prices include all air transportation from Fairbanks; camp food and cooking gear; boats, paddles and lifejackets; safety and repair equipment (including water filter and expedition first aid kit) and services of trip leader.
This 35-mile backpack trip into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge celebrates the summer solstice in one of the prettiest of valleys in the Brooks Range. Dramatic mountain scenery, a profusion of colorful wildflowers and the endless summer sunlight will delight you as you explore this glacial valley at an easy pace.
On several days, you exchange your backpacks for day packs and hike to the ridge tops for a "sheep's eye" view of the valley and the highest peaks of the Brooks Range.
On the rafting trip, you challenge the Hulahula River, filled with heady whitewater. The mood of the Hulahula varies as it dances over rocky rapids and flows serenely through canyons of ice. Previous river skills are not necessary, however. Each paddle raft has an experienced boat captain directing its crew.
The pace of this river trip is relaxed. River days are interspersed with days of hiking which allow ample time to thoroughly explore this wildlife refuge. You float the entire Hulahula from its mountainous headwaters across the Arctic coastal plain to the Arctic Ocean.
Courtesy Brooks Country Cycling and Hiking Tours.
Courtesy Brooks Country Cycling and Hiking Tours.
Courtesy Brooks Country Cycling and Hiking Tours.
Domestic tours range from $735 for six-day Louisiana tour to $349 for a combo rafting and cycling weekend in the Berkshires. Price includes accommodations, most meals, guide and support van.
For 17 years, Brooks Country Cycling has been offering high-quality tours in Europe and the United States for bicycle enthusiasts. Brooks strives to provide the finest in accommodations, cuisine and enthusiastic and professional leadership.
Brooks offers weekend, mid-week and six-day cycling vacations in the Northeast and South.
Its six-day trek through Louisiana takes you along the Mississippi where you enjoy gently rolling countryside, plantation homes, cotton fields and historic towns such as St. Francisville. You take the Great River Road to Nottoway Plantation and stop at New Orleans to enjoy its rich heritage.
Brooks also sponsors a tour through the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You cycle along the coast and ferry to the former pirate's village of Ocracoke on remote Ocracoke Island.
You also visit Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, ferry back across Pamlico Sound and cycle along the scenic tidal flatlands to Bellhaven.
There are mid-week getaways to Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and to Montauk, Shelter and Block Island in New York. There are weekend getaways in New Paltz, N.Y., Lehigh, Del., and Princeton, N.J.
Brooks also sponsors two- and three-day rafting and cycling weekend tours in Massachusetts and along the Delaware River on the border of New York and Pennsylvania.
Hiking vacations sponsored by Brooks include a heli-hike in the Canadian Rockies outside Calgary.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
$448 to $1,205 PP/DO including accommodations and car rental.
Maui, the mecca of boardsailing, attracts vacationing windsurfers from all over the world. From novice to expert, they come for constant tradewinds, the wide variety of ideal conditions and lush tropical scenery.
Vela and The Maui Windsurf Company have teamed up to help you enjoy Maui's world-class windsurfing conditions. The Maui Windsurf Company will welcome you to Maui, share its knowledge of current conditions, recommend the best locations and help you choose the most suitable equipment. They outfit your car with racks and even load your equipment for you.
Vela also schedules your lessons at the Maui Magic Windsurfing School. Advance at your own pace with optional private or small group programs. Learn the basics or more advanced skills, including beachstarts, harness use, waterstarts and jibes.
You stay at condominium properties carefully chosen to meet a windsurfer's needs -- close to the Kihei area's best windsurfing, only a short drive from Maui's North Shore.
Instruction is offered for a variety of skill levels, from the basics to advanced skills.
Courtesy Gabriola Cycle and Kayak.
Courtesy Gabriola Cycle and Kayak.
Courtesy Gabriola Cycle and Kayak.
Courtesy Gabriola Cycle and Kayak.
Prices range from $90 for a two-day trip to Valdez Island to $675 for a 10-day tour to Queen Charlotte islands. Cost covers instruction and equipment.
Gabriola Cycle and Kayak offers adventure trips on kayaks, on bikes and on both, off the coast of British Columbia, in Oregon and Baja, Mexico.
Gabriola tours journey to Desolation Sound, renowned for its warm water and abundant shellfish. Majestic mountains border the sheltered channels and inlets. Evening swims under the stars are a must in these protected waters during this easy, four-day tour.
A six-day tour ventures to Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound, near Robson Bight. Blackfish is named after the killer whales that populate this region. You paddle from Telegraph Cove through the islands where the orca feed. This is scheduled in mid-June to avoid the peak tourist season.
A 10-day tour explores the Queen Charlotte islands and Haida Gwaii. Attractions include giant rain forests, eagles, whales, sea lions, salmon and ancient Haida villages where the remnants of totems and long houses can still be found.
Other tours visit the 100 Broken Islands chain and Nootka Sound, a paradise on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The rugged coastline is broken up by hidden coves and stretches of sand beach, which provide great camping areas.
Gabriola's bicycle adventures in Oregon feature 400 miles of rolling hills and sandy beaches and tailwinds. You average about 60 miles a day, which allows time for beach exploration.
Gabriola also offers a two-day introduction to sea kayaking and a kayak festival and bluegrass bash combination, scheduled for June 12-13 in British Columbia.
In Baja, Mexico, Gabriola features a 15-day, 900-mile tour for experienced cyclists which also includes three days of kayaking. Another combination tour features seven days of mountain biking in the Sierra de la Gigantia range west of Loreto plus three day of kayaking in the Sea of Cortez.
Difficulty varies with tour.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
Varies according to course. $595-$695 for regularly scheduled leadership programs.
Strathcona Park Lodge on scenic Vancouver Island offers Wilderness Youth Leadership Development programs to youths from ages 10 to 18. The program promotes environmental awareness, group cooperation and personal development. The goal is to instill in participants a sense of self-esteem and accomplishment and a respect for nature and others.
This is done through a variety of outdoor adventure activities including canoeing, kayaking, sailing, survival skills, rope courses, rock climbing and snowboarding as well as extended canoe camping and backpacking trips. Participants find their limits challenged and their adrenalin pumping during these adventurous but safe programs.
The courses are set against the dramatic backdrop of Vancouver Island, which is separated from the city of Vancouver by Georgia Strait, and is dominated by 7,200-foot peaks, Alpine meadows, forests, lakes, rivers and caves. Black bear, cougar, elk, deer and marmot roam the woods and eagle, great blue herons, and trumpeter swans soar above. Seals, dolphins, whales and sea otters swim offshore.
Stratchona also offers rock climbing, sailing, kayaking, mountain travel and art and outdoor photography camps to youths 13-18.
The programs are challenging but safe.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
Courtesy Vela Highwind Centers.
$699 to $734 PP/DO in Baja and $699 to $799 PP/DO in Cancun. Prices include accommodations, windsurfing equipment, on-land seminars. Baja includes all meals and mountain bike/sports program. Cancun includes breakfast and lunch each day and some dinners.
In Mexico, Vela Highwind Centers in Cancun and Baja offer a choice of superb windsurfing conditions.
Cancun's ideal conditions will send you home inspired and a better sailor. Just a few miles north of Cancun's hotel zone, Vela's site offers a protected bay with moderate side-shore winds. More adventurous sailing is just a short reach away.
Cancun is the ideal location for the novice to intermediate sailor due to moderate winds and flat, shallow water. Windier months will satisfy more advanced sailors.
After sailing, try snorkeling, day trips to Mayan ruins and dining at first-class restaurants.
Lodging is in a beachfront resort with a serene atmosphere.
Baja's Sea of Cortez is for more advanced sailors who know how to waterstart or are confident in their ability to learn. Your home base is a beachfront hotel in Los Barriles where you enjoy panoramic coean views.
El Norte winds usually blow for periods of three to eight days with two to four days of light wind in between. Side-shore winds average 18-25 knots with peak velocities up to 30.
Among the many activities you can try are mountain biking on a variety of terrain and snorkeling on the East Cape, known for its underwater coral and tropical fish.
Conditions in Cancun are suitable for all abilities, while Baja is for intermediate to advanced only.
Courtesy Windsurfing Vacations.
Courtesy Dominican Republic Tourist Office.
Costs will depend on the length, location and season of your windsurfing vacation.
Windsurfing Vacations is a tour operator specializing in windsurfing destinations. They will custom design a tour for you in locations throughout the Caribbean, as well as in the United States, Europe and other regions.
Some of the Caribbean destinations they specialize in are Cabarete in the Dominican Republic, St. Bart's in the French West Indies and the Grand Cayman in the British West Indies.
On Grand Cayman, they arrange vacations at Morritt's Tortuga Club, where trade winds blow on-shore year-round, often at 15-25 knots in winter and 10-20 knots in summer. In front of Morritt's, you can sail at high speeds in the reef-protected waters. You can practice jibes or waterstarts, or, if you have never windsurfed, take your first lesson here. Advanced sailors can head out to the reef to find challenge on the waves.
In the Dominican Republic, tours are arranged at the Carib Bic Center in Cabarete, where various levels and ages are accommodated with a protected bay, reef break, children's boards and rigs and instruction for all abilities.
You can find a location to match your skills.
Photo by S. Cazenake/BIC. Courtesy TraWell Tours.
Photo by F2. Courtesy TraWell Tours.
Photo by Darrell Jones. Courtesy TraWell Tours.
Write or call for prices.
TraWell Tours of Vienna, Austria, specializes in some areas that few other tour operators do. They arrange windsurfing vacations in Greece, Turkey, Egypt, the Canary Islands, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Hawaii and other locations.
Difficulty varies by location.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
Courtesy Strathcona Park Lodge.
$3,395-$3,920 for 50-day program; $6,795 for 100-day program includes instruction, major equipment, food and lodging, written materials, transportation and written evaluation.
Strathcona Park Lodge's Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training Centre (C.O.L.T.) is located just outside Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia's oldest and largest park. Its goal is to develop wilderness and outdoor leadership through experiential learning.
The program is intended for mature and fit adults, 19 and older, who have a true love of the outdoors. Most are either interested in pursuing a career in guiding or leading outdoor programs, or are interested in finding new directions in their lives.
The program includes training in canoe skills, canoe camping, kayak skills, sea kayaking, native culture, natural history, survival skills, rescue, mountaineering, nutrition and provisioning and other outdoor skills.
You develop water- and land-based outdoor skills, self reliance and judgment, fitness and new life skills, leadership skills and environmental awareness.
Your classroom is a large wilderness area graced with a myriad of 7,000-foot-high peaks and rivers surrounded by sea. Black bear, cougar, elk, deer and marmot roam the woods and seals, dolphins, sea otters and whales swim offshore.
Mental and physical fitness are required as some of the pursuits are challenging.
Courtesy Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camps.
Courtesy Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camps.
$475 per week includes instruction, food and lodging.
Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camps train skiers between the ages of 12 and16 (younger skiers are welcome if they are ready emotionally for a week or two away from home) on the only year-round ski area in North America.
Summer training takes place on Palmer Glacier, one of the many glaciers that cover the 11,235-foot peak. Other early summer skiing is available on Zig-Zag and White River Glaciers. Two chair lifts service 2,500 vertical feet of summer skiing beginning at Timberline Lodge (6,000 feet).
You should be an intermediate skier or better if you plan to attend because there are no beginner slopes. Groups of eight receive training in slalom and giant slalom and other racing techniques. Technical drills are offset by hours of free skiing and video analysis with your coach in the evening.
While some weeks are geared to intense skiing for experienced high school and college racers interested in becoming Olympic contenders, others are geared toward skiers who simply want to improve and develop new skills. Beginning racing and skiing on varied terrain such as bumps, jumps and moguls are taught by friendly coaches.
Lodging is dorm style in houses at Government Camp, and is supervised by counselors. When not skiing, outdoor activities are popular and include whitewater, snowboarding, roller blading, mountain biking, swimming and rock climbing. Evening activities include video analysis, ski tuning, ping pong, basketball and volleyball.
Skiers should be intermediate or better as there are no bunny slopes.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
From $1,825-$2,700 depending on program chosen. Prices include lodging and meals.
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center conducts special seminars throughout the Southwest, each is led by two or more experienced professional archaeologists.
These seminars offer participants an opportunity to travel in close company with leading scholars and visit out-of-the-way places seldom seen by visitors to the Southwest. Participants tour in air-conditioned vans, traveling by day to remote places and returning in the evening to comfortable inns.
Although the tours differ every year, recent trips have visited Navajo Indian weavers, jewelers, potters and sculptors in New Mexico and Arizona. Their work combines a deep awareness of artistic origins, stretching back to Anasazi times with a high level of innovation.
This nine-day program takes you to the homes and studios of artists. There you see and discuss the work with leading interpreters of Southwest Indian art and with the artists themselves.
Another tour has explored the remains of the Hohokam culture that flourished in the Salt River Valley in southern Arizona from 300 B.C. to 1450 A.D. At the top of the Great Mound at Pueblo Grande and at the Desert Botanical Garden, you study the extraordinary skills the Hohokam employed to survive in the desert. More than a dozen experts in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, history and ecology join you at various points along the way.
You travel by van. Some programs spend 1-4 days on the San Juan River.
Courtesy Sovereign Sailing.
Courtesy Sovereign Sailing.
On Caique holidays, you may bring children under 18 only if your group charters the whole boat. In some locations in Greece, special children's programs are available.
Call for price information.
Sovereign Sailing invites you to live aboard your own yacht. for a week or two and explore the incomparable Greek or Turkish coasts and islands. Most cruises are combined with time ashore during which you can explore the beautiful sites where Sovereign is based.
Their Greek sites range from the small seaside farming village of Finikounda on the remote Peloponnese, to the bustling town of Nidri on the Ionian island of Levkas.
In Turkey, their base is the rugged Bodrum Peninsula on the west coast with its many bays and islands. Sovereign also offers vacations in Sardinia, the Italian island that offers spectacular scenery, brilliant white beaches, emerald clear water and excellent food.
Yachts range from 27 to 34 feet, accommodating two to seven passengers, while caiques take up to 16.
Caique cruising is a week of Greek island-hopping in traditional eastern Mediteranean vessels. Propelled mainly by motor, these distinctive vessels have small sails that give a push when the winds are right. They are operated by crews, so you need have no experience except that of "dedicated passenger." The cruise can be combined with a week ashore.
Another two-week vacation is the "Villa-Flotilla" cruise. During your first week, spent ashore, you may want to take sailing lessons to prepare youself for the week ahead. In the second week, you can skipper your own yacht as part of a flotilla, under the guidance of the lead crew.
Two-week flotilla sails also are offered, skipping the "villa" week. Those with the necessary sailing and navigation experience also have the option of an independent or bareboat charter.
Parents who want time alone to sail or explore in Greece can enroll their children in "surfbusters," a program offering water-based activities for children age 5-13 during high season in Nidri and Porto Heli or "sea urchins" in which staff are available all season to look after your toddlers (age 2-5) in Vassiliki and Nidri.
Sovereign Sailing, formerly Falcon Sailing, has been in business for 21 years.
Some options require sailing experience.
Courtesy Great Trips.
Courtesy Great Trips.
$665 excluding airfare. Includes lodging, 11 meals, transfers and Blue Hole trip.
The second largest barrier reef in the world stretches 185 miles form Ambergris Caye to Sapodilla Cayes along the coast of Belize. Three of the five atolls in the Western Hemisphere -- Turneffe Island, Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Reef -- sit not far from the barrier reef. Lighthouse Reef is punctured by the Blue Hole -- 1,000-feet across and about 412 feet deep -- home to a large variety of life and an assortment of caves, caverns and stalactites.
Famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau parked Calypso above the Blue Hole in 1976 and explored the caves with his crew. They are considered a "must" for any serious diver.
Great Trips books week-long stays in nearby Amergris Caye, the second-largest and northernmost island along the Barrier Reef. Once a fishing village, the island has become a popular destination among both divers and sunworshippers. Development, however, has been kept somewhat subdued and no highrises are allowed.
You head to the hole aboard the 55-foot Manta IV, spend the night anchored nearby and do a number of descents into the unique structure.
Other days can be spent on boat and shore dives or exploring the natural refuges inland, boating, caving, fishing or jungle boating.
Divers must be certified.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
From $775 PP. Prices include lodging in comfortable log hogans (private rooms are not available), modern shared shower facilities, 3 home-cooked meals/day. A complete list of gear is sent upon enrollment.
Crow Canyon's ethnobotanical research program is wide-ranging and includes many different activities that study the relationship between plants and ancient Native American people.
Document vegetation recovery after the large 1989 forest fire in Mesa Verde National Park. Determine fuel wood accumulation rates and construction timber availability. Analyze yields of Native American crop varieties that have been planted using traditional techniques and strategies. Document the seasonality and predictability of native plants.
Special discounts for these programs are available in early June and in September. Lower rater are available for senior citizens.
Certain research activities involve hikes of up to two miles over moderately steep terrain at altitudes above 6,000 feet.
Courtesy Sovereign Sailing.
Courtesy Sovereign Sailing.
Some locations have special programs for children.
Call or write for price information.
If you are seeking an active and sociable one- or two-week sailing vacation in Greece, Turkey or Sardinia, look into Sovereign Sailing's Surf and Sail holidays. You live ashore at any one of seven centers, making daily use of any of the dinghies, windsurfers or yachts available on site. Each center teaches novices, some are geared to experts and others cater to various levels.
Whether you are a single, couple or family, old or young, looking for an active nightlife or peace and quiet, there is a site for you.
Surf and Sail centers are at Nidri, Vassiliki and Paxos in the Greek Ionian islands; Finikounda and Porto Heli on the Peloponnese; Bitez on the Bodrum Peninsula in western Turkey; and Cannigione on Sardinia.
Centers have small sailboats, 10-17 feet; some also have catamarans and yachts. Those centers with windsurfing have a wide choice of boards and rigs, with lots of short boards in the windy resorts.
Parents who want time alone to sail or explore in Greece can enroll their children in "surfbusters," a program offering water-based activities for children age 5-13 during high season in Nidri and Porto Heli or "sea urchins" in which staff are available all season to look after your toddlers (age 2-5) in Vassiliki and Nidri.
Sovereign Sailing, formerly Falcon Sailing, has been in business over 21 years.
Choose the resort which suits you.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
From $775 for one week, $550 for students, price includes meals and lodging.
Participants in the Crow Canyon excavation programs make a major research contribution by excavating prehistoric Anasazi ruins in the field and analyzing these artifacts in the lab.
The program begins with an introduction to Southwestern prehistory. You spend one day in the lab and several days in the field.
An optional day trip to Mesa Verde is included in the program.
Excavation requires kneeling and also carrying buckets of dirt. Altitudes may be above 6,000 feet.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
From $895-$2,000, depending on tour, per person. Prices include food and lodging.
Crow Canyon's cultural explorations provide a taste of the richness of Native American tradition as well as the grandeur of the magnificent Southwest.
Participants have the opportunity to learn first-hand from Native American artisans and to explore seldom-seen Anasazi ruins in the area. These programs provide a unique cross-cultural exchange between you and Native Americans and the opportunity to learn from outstanding Southwestern scholars.
These programs are offered in workshop format and have explored numerous topics, including Southwestern and Native American cuisine, Navajo basketry, dreamshields, rattles and moccasins, woven design and backcountry archaeology.
Courtesy Valef Yachts Ltd..
Courtesy Valef Yachts Ltd..
Courtesy Valef Yachts Ltd..
Bareboat charters, accommodating 6-12 passengers, range from $210 to $1,000 per day. Crewed sailing yachts, carrying 6-58 passengers, cost $700 to $12,000 per day. Call for complete price list.
Sail away from cities and crowds and relax in comfort with your own crew under the sun and blue skies of Greece. You can sail on the Aegean or Ionian seas among 4,000 islands on your own floating villa from Valef Yachts.
There are four categories of yachts from which to choose: sailing yachts, either with or without crew, motor yachts or motor sailers (primarily powered by motor, sails provide auxiliary power).
On boats without a crew (bareboats), the charterer must have a proficiency certificate of ability to sail from a yacht club or the U.S. Coast Guard. Another option is to hire a skipper and cook at $100 each per day.
Bill Lefakinis formed the company in 1969 with only one yacht and now there are 150 owned, managed and represented by Valef Yachts, giving you a wide variety of sizes, styles and options.
Valef Yachts also arranges charters in the Caribbean.
No experience is necessary unless you opt for a bareboat charter.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
Courtesy Guided Discoveries.
Six-day Junior Sea Camp is $495; three-week Sea Camp is $1,650.
Guided Discoveries' Catalina Sea Camp and Junior Sea Camp are summer camps where kids age 8-17 can explore the wonders of the marine world. Based on Catalina Island in southern California, the camps expose participants to marine science, island ecology, sailing, board sailing, seamanship and snorkeling or scuba diving, depending on the age group.
-- Junior Sea Camp is offered to youths age 8-12 who learn to snorkel under the tutelage of highly-qualified instructors. They learn about the formation of islands and go on ecology hikes in search of plants and animals. They also see and learn about a wide variety of marine fishes, handle and identify marine invertebraes and touch sharks and moray eels.
-- Catalina Sea Camp is attended by youths age 12-17 who learn to scuba dive and receive a diver's certificate. Underwater photography and video, island ecology, sailing, boardsailing and seamanship are also studied in an experiential manner using the island and a sea as a natural classroom.
In addition to maritime instruction, participants enjoy traditional sumer camp fun. Soccer, football, volleyball, swimming and kayaking are available in the evenings. Dances, campfires, movies and boat rides are also regularly scheduled.
The difficulty of certain activities vary but students should be fit and proficient swimmers to scuba dive.
Photo by Georg Holton. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Skip Voorhees. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Georg Holton. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
From $3,450 PP, includes all air, ground and water transport from Ottawa, most meals and accommodations (the best available but may be 2-3 persons per room.)
Dog sled to Baffin Island!
This individualized trip begins every Monday from mid-March through May. You plan your trip with an Inuit guide. You travel in the traditional style of the Arctic in search of polar bears, seals and ptarmigans. Fish through the ice for Arctic char.
This Arctic Odysseys tour is a cultural experience as well as an exciting adventure. These nine-day trips are solo--just your party and your guide.
Courtesy Jet Sea.
Courtesy Jet Sea.
Courtesy Jet Sea.
Courtesy Jet Sea.
Call for price information.
Jet Sea has created a fleet of top-class deep-water cruisers, rich itineraries and a remarkable organization to help you enjoy a dream vacation in the Caribbean. Professional skippers and attentive crew provide the best of everything as you sail from port to port.
You can hoist anchor from the free port of St. Martin on a journey to the northernmost end of the Lesser Antilles including Tintamarre, St. Bart's, Oyster Pond, Rendezvous Bay and Marigot Bay.
You can also embark on a picturesque tour of the Grenadines, from the twin mountaintops of Sainte-Lucie to the fantastic mooring provided in Tobago Cays. Just before your return, you fly over all of the Grenadines to reach Fort-de-France.
In the Virgin Islands, discover the exceptional beaches, turquoise-colored lagoons and unforgettable coves.
Jet Sea offers these and other destinations, including a special deep-sea diving trip with a professional instructor in the tropical fish-laden waters of the Saintes and the boat wrecks of the East Coast of Dominica.
Experienced sailors who can do without a skipper also can choose from a fleet of seaworthy, well-equipped craft.
Jet Sea also has a wide range of motor yachts available for charter.
Experience is required to charter a yacht on your own, but no experience is needed for a crewed charter.
Courtesy Moki Mac River Expedition.
Courtesy Moki Mac River Expedition.
Courtesy Moki Mac River Expedition.
On Grand Canyon and high water Cataract Canyon trips, minimum age is 12.
From $45 per adult ($35 child) for one-day Gray Canyon trip to $1,945 per person for 14-day Grand Canyon trip. Cataract Canyon six-day oar-powered trip is $635 adult, $320 per child. Price generally includes food, rafts, waterproof bags, life jacket. Not included are airfare to meeting point, tent and sleeping bag.
Moki Mac River Expeditions offers several trips in different terrain and whitewater.
A one-day run through the Gray Canyon on the Green River offers beginners an excellent introduction to river running while experienced rafters will enjoy a great respite. This tour offers tame but splashy rapids and the rugged scenery of the Beckwith Plateau and Book Cliffs.
The two-day, oar-powered Colorado River run through Westwater Canyon combines resplendent scenery with some very exciting whitewater.
For a more in-depth trip, the Cataract Canyon trip on the Colorado River through spectacular Canyonlands National Park is one of Moki Mac's favorites. It provides the ultimate in relaxed floating, as well as an action-packed day of whitewater. This trip is available in a four-day run using motorized pontoon rafts for 10-12 passengers, or a six-day run with oar-powered rafts holding three to six people plus the boatman.
Desolation Canyon on the Green River is a wonderful trip for people of all ages and highly recommended for family groups. Several options are available, with various trip lengths and a variety of craft.
Children's rates (15 and under) are available on the Cataract, Desolation, Westwater and Gray Canyon trips.
And then there's the Grand Canyon.
Millions visit it each year, but relatively few experience the full grandeur of the canyon as it can be experienced from a raft on the river and from hiking in the hidden side canyons. Moki Mac runs six- , nine- and 14-day oar-powered trips and an eight-day motorized trip. The shorter rowing trips each require a strenuous 10-mile hike.
The company also sponsors Green River canoe adventures.
Must enjoy camping out.
Courtesy Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Courtesy Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
$2,495 includes use of school car and instruction.
Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving offers this four-day Grand Prix road racing course to those interested in experiencing the adrenalin-pumping thrill of driving a race car in a controlled environment. The program also serves a great introduction to those interested in pursuing a racing career.
The course takes place at Bondurant's custom designed 1.6 -mile road course adjoining the Firebird International Raceway outside Phoenix.
Each morning begins with a short ground school in which various technical aspects and the day's activities are reviewed. The first 2.5 days are spent in Mustang-GTs which allow instructors to ride and drive with you. Once you have mastered the basics, the last 1.5 days are spent in Formula Fords. You do lots of learning and driving, with no artificial RPM limits, and maintain maximum car control. Your ability and comfort, not speed limits, determine how fast you drive.
The driving environment is thrilling but controlled.
Courtesy Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Courtesy Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Courtesy Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
$1,325 for initial course includes tuition; $1,995 for follow-up includes use of school car.
Bob Bondurant offers two three-day high performance driving courses for those interested in learning to drive their personal sports car like a professional.
The primary course begins each morning with a ground school that covers theory and techniques of high performance driving and is followed by plenty of time on autocross and accident avoidance courses and in the skid-car.
If you cannot bring your own car, you can rent a Ford Mustang GT, Thunderbird SC or Cougar XR7 for an additional fee. Day three on the track allows time to review and put all the techniques together.
The follow-up course, High Performance Graduate, spends the first day and a-half reviewing techniques previously learned in a Mustang GT, and then hits the Bondurant Racetrack. The last day and a-half finds you behind the wheel of a Formula Ford!
Though challenging, the driving is done in a safe and controlled environment.
Courtesy Sun Yacht Charters.
Courtesy Sun Yacht Charters.
Courtesy Sun Yacht Charters.
In Tortola, prices for bareboat charters range from $1,715 for 10-day rental of a 36-foot yacht during summer to $5,292 per week for a 50-foot yacht during some winter months. Price includes airport-marina transfers, fuel, dinghy and outboard, snorkel gear and barbeque grill. Available at an extra cost are provisions, skipper, cook and sailboard.
Set sail from the very heart of the Virgin Islands.
Sun Yacht Charter's base at Roadtown, Tortola, puts you within easy reach of hundreds of island anchorages. The Virgins are the perfect choice for first-time charterers, family groups or sailors who simply want to relax.
Another vacation choice is St. Martin, an incredibly diverse island, mixing the Old World cultures of France and the Netherlands. A short sail takes you to sophisticated St. Barts, while accomplished sailors can head to St. Kitts and Nevis. When you choose to sail from SYC's flagship base on St. Martin, the possiblities are almost limitless.
SYC also has a base at historic Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbor in Antigua, a sailor's mecca with countless coves, 365 great beaches and dependable trade winds. Just a half-day sail away lies the lively undeveloped island of Barbuda.
You can sail one way between St. Martin and Antigua, in either direction, with no extra fees.
For most sailors, a South Sea Islands cruise is the stuff of dreams. Now you can sail with SYC in the Leeward Islands of Tahiti, the Isles Sous Le Vent. Short, comfortable sails take you among the reef-ringed volcanic islands of Raiatea (where SYC Tahiti is based), Tahaa, Huahine and Bora Bora.
Everywhere, the natural beauty of the islands is complemented by the unparalleled hospitality of the Polynesian people.
Sun Yacht Charters helps you design the vacation that's right for you -- commanding your own yacht if you're an experienced sailor; hiring a skipper ($80 a day plus provisions); a cook ($70 a day plus provisions); or, for the ultimate indulgence, a fully-crewed charter aboard a luxurious Centurion 49.
Sailing experience is required for a bareboat charter.With a skipper, you can do as much or little sailing as you like.
Courtesy Otter Bar Lodge.
Courtesy Otter Bar Lodge.
Courtesy Otter Bar Lodge.
$1,090 PP per week, includes meals and accommodations.
Otter Bar Lodge Inc. is a remote lodge in the northwest corner of California. There, you can learn to kayak or the revered art of fly-fishing. You can enjoy water sports, hiking and mountain biking. Or, you can simply relax.
The lodge has five bedrooms and four shared baths. The food is superb with a focus on fresh produce. Otter Bar Lodge also offers trips down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in October and a kayaking trip in Costa Rica in January.
Otter Bar, tucked between the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps Wilderness area, is a mountain biker's dream, providing easy access to remote trails and hundreds of miles of dirt road.
Otter Bar is a large river bar of flat land in an otherwise steep mountainous area. You can choose to bank fish along Otter Bar's private river front or take a hike up one of the numerous side creeks in search of native trout. Many people choose a boat trip during some point of their stay. During the months of September and October, Otter Bar offers fly-fishing schools and two days of drift boat fishing for steelhead.
Kayak lessons and rafting on the Klamath River, are available during the summer into the month of September.
Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School.
Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School.
Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School.
Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School.
Courtesy Skip Barber Racing School.
$3,850 for speedweek includes tuition, driving gear and use of a race car.
Skip Barber Racing School is a nationwide drivers training school that offers courses in auto racing and defensive driving. Speedweek is an intensive amalgamation of the school's courses and includes a Three-day Competition Course, a Racer's Car Control Clinic, a Lapping Session and a Formula Ford Race Series weekend over the course of a week.
For those with less time, each course is offered individually. For nearly all courses, your "textbook" is a Formula Ford race car.
The Three-day Competition Course is an introduction to the secrets of speed. Students, whether they are interested in becoming pro drivers or simply want to drive a race car, are offered instruction in double-clutching, heel-toe-downshifting, braking, passing, finding the "line" of a track, driving in the rain and the ins and outs of racing rules.
The Racer's Car Control Clinic is conducted on a skid pad and a short autocross course in a Formula Ford, and helps students understand driving at the "limit" and the finer points of car control.
The Lapping Session allows the driver to work on specific problem areas, develop new skills, learn a new track and experience traffic, passing, drafting etc.
In the last few days of the course, you join a Formula Ford Race Series weekend to try out all your new skills on the track in an actual timed competition.
The largest racing school in the world, Skip Barber's offers classes in the following states: California, Connecticut,, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.
The driving is challenging but safe and conducted in a controlled environment.
Courtesy Vermont Bicycle Touring.
Courtesy Vermont Bicycle Touring.
Courtesy Vermont Bicycle Touring.
Prices vary, ranging from $599- $995 for five-day tours. Prices include lodging, guide services, support van and most meals.
Vermont Bicycle Touring has offered bicycle tours through Vermont for 21 years and specializes in designing tours for all skill levels. Every tour is artfully prepared to ensure you the best vacation ever.
During its Vermont tours, you stay in cozy country inns, delightful small hotels and manor houses. All have been selected for their charm and excellent dining. The tour route has been chosen to cover outstanding scenery and the best bicycling possible. You follow country roads that lead to crystal-clear lakes and secluded waterfalls, romantic covered bridges and 18th-century villages, fields of wildflowers and panoramic views.
The group is usually a mix of singles, couples and families who share a sense of adventure and a common interest in exercise and fine accommodations. Tour sizes are limited to 18 to 20 people on average to foster the sincere friendships that often develop.
There are two or more routes between inns so you can decide which is best suited to your fitness and pace.
On the five-day Northeast Kingdom Wanderer tour, you spend nights at three charming inns, including the Old Cutter Inn at the foot of a ski mountain in East Burke and the Fox Hall Inn on the shore of Lake Willoughby. This tour, which includes guides, lodging and most meals, costs $599 during May and $699 during July, August, September and October.
Vermont Touring offers several weekend and eight five-day tours through Vermont. Tours in Virginia, Maine, Pennsylvania and Cape Cod, Massachusetts are also available.
Routes are designed to accommodate any skill level.
Courtesy Shoals Marine Laboratory.
$775, includes instruction, ground and sea transportation, room and board.
The Shoals Marine Laboratory, based at Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals in Maine, offers non-credit, educational programs for the general public.
The programs are designed to make the island's unique surroundings accessible to nature enthusiasts while introducing them to the marine environment in an enjoyable and relaxed manner.
All course prices include room, board, field trips, instruction and round-trip ferry transportation between Portsmouth, N.H. and Appledore Island.
Shoals is currently offering the following summer and fall seminars:
-- The natural history of islands and the sea in the Gulf of Maine. This course examines the ecological, historical and economic attributes that make up the Gulf of Maine. It is scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at a cost of $775.
-- Observing marine mammals. You observe whales and mammals in their natural habitat by examining the evolution, biology and behavior of marine mammals with emphasis on those native to the Gulf of Maine. Scheduled for Aug. 23-28 for $775.
-- Colonial history and archaeology. You examine the intriguing islands of the Isles of Shoals and look for the remains of seafaring people in the 18th and 19th centuries. Scheduled for Aug. 23-28 at a cost of $775 per person.
-- Seafood from the Gulf of Maine. You are introduced to the edible marine invertebrate and vertebrate species and the economics and politics of commercial fisheries. Scheduled for Aug. 23-28 at a cost of $775.
You should be able to hike along the coast.
Courtesy INTERHOSTEL.
Courtesy INTERHOSTEL.
Courtesy INTERHOSTEL.
Costs range from $2,000 to $3,000. Price includes airfare from New York, lodging, meals and instruction.
INTERHOSTEL, the International Educational Experience for Active Adults Over 50, opens the door to 24 countries on five continents. In each program, you are hosted by an overseas university, college or cultural institution.
Your activities include lectures, seminars, field trips and excursions. You learn what makes that country or region unique as you focus on its art, music, literature, economy, traditional history, politics, foods, customs and beauty.
You meet and interact with people of the region, and attend a variety of social and cultural events. Most importantly, you are part of a group of people similar to you who believe learning is a lifelong process.
INTERHOSTEL, sponsored by the University of New Hampshire, offers two- and three-week programs. Most provide an in-depth view of one or two specific regions in the country.
For example, an INTERHOSTEL tour in Poland allows you to explore three historic locales, Lublin, Krakow and Warsaw, and be hosted by the Catholic University of Lublin. You explore churches and marketplaces, attend university lectures and visit the Tatras Mountains. During your stay, you are lodged in hotels with private baths.
This tour, one of dozens available, costs $2,415, which includes airfare from New York, accommodations, meals and instruction.
Courtesy Sources of Adventure Re-creation.
Courtesy Sources of Adventure Re-creation.
Courtesy Sources of Adventure Re-creation.
From $2,475 (Canadian) per person.
The world's second-largest barrier reef runs offshore for 170 miles, the entire length of Belize, supporting and protecting a chain of 175 small islands or cays.
On a 13-day tour with Sources of Adventure Re-creation, you sea kayak for several days among the cays, camping on beaches of white coral sand beneath swaying coconut palms. The shallow turquoise waters and a one-foot tidal range allow for an extraordinary snorkeling experience and you see marine life in all its vivid colors.
On Day 8, you travel inland to Cockscomb Jaguar Sanctuary where you hike on Day 9.
During the next few days, you travel to San Ignacio, stopping at the Blue Hole for a swim and to explore St. Herman's Cave, then visit the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. You travel to the Pine Ridge area for an exploration of rivers and caves, then travel to Belize City for the final night of the tour.
An optional extension of the trip is available to visit the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala.
An eight-day Belize trip also is offered.
Sources of Adventure Re-creation also leads trips to Haida Gwaii in Canada's Queen Charlotte Islands in the Pacific Northwest, where you sea kayak and camp for 10 days, view abundant wildlife and explore native Indian culture.
Suitable for novices with camping experience.
Courtesy Gold Prospecting Expeditions.
Seven-day trip is $950 and includes, food, lodging and equipment; six-day helicopter trips are $1,200 and include food, lodging and equipment; three-day course is $595 and includes instruction and equipment.
World-famous prospector Ralph Shock's Gold Prospecting Expeditions offers a variety of trips into the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in search of the mother lode. You can opt for a week-long gold mining adventure, a four- or six-day search by helicopter, or a three-day course in prospecting.
The seven-day gold mining trip heads into the beautiful Sierra Foothills and uses the latest techniques and technologies to find gold along some of the best gold-producing waterways in the country.
Multi-day helicopter excursions combine the thrill of searching for and finding gold and the awesome spectacle of the rugged canyons of California from a bird's-eye view.
The three-day prospecting course is for those who are interested in becoming professional gold prospectors or simply successful amateurs. You learn the scientific techniques of sampling and how to take advantage of simple physics and hydrology. Upon completion of the course, you know how to find the richest "pay streak" in a river, down to a 15" stretch. A computer tracks your progress each day of the course, and you recevive a training manual, field notes and daily test papers to reinforce your practical applications.
The trips are family-oriented and designed to be fun.
Courtesy INTERHOSTEL.
Courtesy INTERHOSTEL.
Price ranges from $2,000 to $2,400. Includes airfare from New York, meals, accommodations and instruction.
INTERHOSTEL, the International Educational Experience for Active Adults Over 50, is offering a Grandparents/Family Hostel program designed for three generations of family members -- grandparents, parents and school-age children (especially ages 8 to 14).
Like INTERHOSTEL, this program opens the door to new countries. You are hosted by an overseas university, college or cultural institution in the country you visit, including the Czech Republic, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Mexico.
Your activities include lectures and seminars, field trips and excursions. You learn what makes that country or region unique and focus on its art, music, literature, economy, traditional history, politics, foods, customs and beauty.
You meet and interact with people of the region, and attend a variety of social and cultural events. Most importantly, you are part of a group of people similar to you who believe learning is a lifelong process.
INTERHOSTEL, sponsored by the University of New Hampshire, offers two- and three-week programs. Most provide an in-depth view of one or two specific regions in the country.
There will be special activities for the children, the adults and the family together. In addition to workshops, there will be planned recreational activities such as hiking, swimming, dancing, painting and concerts.
Prices, which include airfare from New York, meals, accommodations and instruction, vary from $2,300 for adult and child to $1,395 for adult.
Courtesy Swiss Hike.
Courtesy Swiss Hike.
Courtesy Swiss Hike.
Courtesy Swiss Hike.
From $1,900, including transportation, accommodations, breakfasts and dinners. Airfare to Switzerland not included.
Swiss Hike offers two-week, inn-to-inn walking tours through the Alpine passes, green pastures, forests and storybook villages of Switzerland. The pace of the tours is relaxed, affording ample time to "smell the flowers," sightsee and shop.
Your tour starts in Chur, with a short walk about the historic city, followed by dinner at a restaurant. Buses transport you to Flims-Waldhus (3,650 feet) where you hike through meadows, forests and cliffs above the Rhine Gorge. Vals, near the gorge, will be your base for the next six nights.
Hikes in the countryside around Vals take you through flower-filled meadows, past shepherds tending their flocks and into quaint villages. You explore the surrounding hills and forests, enjoying spectacular views of the highest Swiss peaks. In Vals, you visit a museum and enjoy thermal baths where you can body surf.
You spend the next several nights in Riederalp. On day trips you follow the route of 16th-century irrigation channels, hike on a glacier, visit several ancient villages and ride a chairlift to Moosfluh for stunning panoramic views of the Jungfrau region with its massive peaks and sparkling glacial lakes.
Swiss Hike also offers one- and 12-week itineraries which follow similar formats.
There are two guides to accommodate various hiking abilities.
Courtesy Northwest Marine Charters.
Courtesy Northwest Marine Charters.
Call for price lists. For example, a 30-foot sloop sleeping four can be chartered for $145 per day July 1-Sept. 15, a 30-foot powerboat for $190 per day.
The relaxed, friendly Pacific Northwest and Northwest Marine Charters invite you to enjoy exceptional cruising from southern Puget Sound in Washington to southeast Alaska.
The essence of cruising in the Northwest is in breaking away to find oneself in secluded coves, combing isolated beaches for driftwood, rock and shell, probing into breathtaking fjords. You can swim, fish or scuba dive in many of the inlets and coves.
Chartering provides a convenient and affordable way to enjoy the pleasures of cruising in this region, with its abundant anchorages, marine parks and resort areas.
Since 1967, Northwest Marine Charters has been providing knowledgeable boaters with an excellent choice of quality sailing and power yachts and houseboats.
You should either have owned or operated a boat similar in size and type to the one you wish to charter. You must be able to read a marine chart and plot a course while taking into account tides, the weather and other factors.
Qualified skippers are available to accompany you should you need assistance with boat handling, seamanship or navigation.
Specific qualifications needed to charter a boat on your own. Skippers may also be hired.
Courtesy Olympic Circle Sailing Club.
Courtesy Olympic Circle Sailing Club.
Call for price list. Learn-to-Sail week is $790 for non-members, $592.50 for members.
Whether you are new to sailing or an experienced sailor looking for new adventures, Olympic Circle Sailing Club has something to offer you. Top-notch courses ranging from basic sailing to ocean voyaging, a knowledgeable and supportive staff, ideal location and a fleet of fine yachts is waiting for you.
Services offered to sailors and sailors-to-be include instruction, sailboat rentals and social events.
Olympic Circle's "accelerated learning system" combines time-honored traditions of good seamanship with modern teaching methods. Using a modular system, each course is a complete learning experience, one course building on another.
As you progress, you earn certifications to sail. Then, you refine and explore sailing on your own before moving to the next course.
Courses offered are basic sailing I and II, basic coastal cruising, bareboat charter, navigation (basic, coastal and celestial), performance sailing I and II and ocean sailing. Basic sailing I and II can be combined into an intensive learn-to-sail week.
Olympic Circle, in operation 15 years, was named 1993 sailing school of the year by the American Sailing Association.
Course or activity you choose will depend on your experience.
Courtesy FITS Equestrian.
Courtesy FITS Equestrian.
Call for price information.
FITS Equestrian offers riding tours throughout Europe, allowing you to explore regions with strong equestrian traditions. Most tours are eight days in duration and use English saddles.
One tour takes you to the Extremadura region in Spain, southwest of Madrid, one of Europe's premier riding areas and the home of conquistadores such as Cortez, Pizarro, De Soto and Balboa. Large open and natural tracts of land are wonderful for riding and are home to many wild animals and birds. You also visit quaint towns and villages where the pace is that of an earlier era.
Tours are offered in March, September, October and November. In addition, a special tour of this region takes place in October to coincide with festivities honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe. You ride through the provinces of Castilla and Caceres to meet Spanish riders dressed in traditional costumes at the main Plaza of Guadalupe.
In Portugal, two riding tours are offered on the fabled Lusitano horses. One ride makes a wide loop through the province of Sintra, one of the most scenic in Portugal. You return each night to a hotel in the lovely town of Sabugo.
The second tour covers the Costa de Prata, or Silver Coast, where impressive shores, beaches, dunes, tall cliffs and pretty lagoons give plenty of variety. Both tours meet in Lisbon and are offered through the Alcainca riding center.
FITS Equestrian offers riding tours and treks in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, German, Austria, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Greece. Many trips also are offered in the Americas and in some African countries.
The rides require a range of abilities, from basic to advanced. Even the basic skill level requires that a rider be capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, comfortable and in control at a walk, moderate length trots and short canters.
Beginners and novices, or those who want to polish their skills, also can enjoy a riding vacation with FITS Equestrian at various training centers in the U.S. and abroad.
Tours vary from basic riding ability to advanced.
Courtesy FITS Equestrian.
Call for price information.
Some of the finest horses and horse riders in the world are from this fabulous country. Now, you can experience the Russian equestrian tradition on a tour with FITS Equestrian.
The trip begins in Moscow, including a tour of the city. You fly to Barnaul, then to base camp near Sargat, less than 200 miles from the Mongolian border where you begin your horseback trek through the Altai mountain range in the Siberian wilderness.
Guide, interpreter, cook and farrier are your crew that set up camp, cook and look after the horses and your luggage. You explore pine, birch and wild chestnut forests, the open tundra and the black lakes of Karakol, a series of pools like a chain of beads on the mountainside.
You ride up to six hours a day at a slow pace for seven days on this 16-day journey, at altitudes from 5,000 to 9,000 feet.
At the end of the ride, a steamer takes you to the Bia River where you switch to rubber rafts for some exciting whitewater rafting. You return to Moscow via Barnaul, then home.
Basic horseback riding skills are needed.
Courtesy ABC Yacht Charters.
Courtesy ABC Yacht Charters.
Call for price lists. A 30-foot power boat sleeping 4 can be chartered for $1,400 per week during high season (July-Aug.). A 30-foot sailing yacht sleeping 6 is $1,000 per week in July and August. Skipper, if needed, and provisions are extra.
The beautiful San Juan Islands, the tranquil Canadian Gulf Islands, majestic Desolation Sound or breathtaking Southeast Alaska are yours to explore in a power or sailing yacht from ABC Yacht Charters.
Founded in 1947, the company is dedicated to making your cruising vacation as pleasant and trouble-free as possible. All yachts are privately owned and remain in the fleet only as long as they meet stringent safety and maintenance standards.
In the unlikely event that you need assistance while cruising, two airplanes and two search and rescue boats are ready 24 hours a day to come to your aid.
You may have a professional skipper on board for a day or two until you become familiar with the yacht, or have a skipper and/or crew take care of you the entire vacation.
Prepared itineraries are available: a six-day cruise of either the San Juan or Gulf Islands, or a 13-day cruise to Desolation Sound.
Experience is needed to cruise independently. With a skipper, you can help as much or little as you like.
Courtesy Snake River Institute.
Courtesy Snake River Institute.
Special summer programs for children 9-15 are offered.
Tuition for multi-day adult programs ranges from $195 to $500 without lodging. Programs that include lodging range from $350 to $1,250. Meals are generally included.
Snake River Institute offers educational adventures in art, literature, photography, history and natural history, focusing on the American West. You can explore Native American culture, American literature or 19th-century painters.
There are workshops for you to photograph the Tetons or Yellowstone in the fall, or to expand your personal photographic vision. Workshops focus on journal writing, painting watercolors and sculpting animals.
A four-day course in September takes you to the high plains of Wyoming where rich dinosaur quarries supply many of the world's natural history museums. Based in Rock River, 30 minutes from Laramie, Wyoming, you divide your time between working in the field and discussing the nature of the dinosaur.
Courses range from one to five days, and groups are small -- often as few as 10 and never more than 25.
Special summer children's programs, most lasting three days, give children age 9-15 the opportunity to discover their creative powers. Subjects include Native American culture and crafts, nature illustration and radio broadcasting.
Courtesy The Foothills Safari Camp.
Courtesy The Foothills Safari Camp.
Courtesy The Foothills Safari Camp.
Courtesy The Foothills Safari Camp.
Courtesy The Foothills Safari Camp.
From $375 PP/DO for 3-day safari.
The Foothills Safari Camp is secluded in the heart of a 3,000-acre endangered species breeding center near Glen Rose, Texas. Naturalist guides lead an array of excursions including game drives to see more than 1,000 exotic and endangered animals.
There are herds of wildebeest, oryx and zebra, giraffes that will feed from the palm of your hand and cheetahs grooming each other only a few feet from where you stand. You can visit the breeding facilities and go on nature walks, fossil hunts and birdwatching tours.
You stay in two-person guest cabins designed to resemble African safari tents, but with central heat and air conditioning, ceiling fans, cozy beds and private baths.
A professional chef serves gourmet meals in a glass-walled dining pavilion overlooking a watering hole, where a variety of wildlife come to drink.
Nature hike is optional.
Courtesy Audubon Center of the North Woods.
Courtesy Audubon Center of the North Woods.
Courtesy Audubon Center of the North Woods.
Some of these Audubon programs are designed specifically for children.
From $290 PP for week-long youth programs to $1,075 PP for more extensive tours. Contact the Audubon Center of the North Woods.
Established in 1969 as a non-profit education facility, the Audubon Center of the North Woods is situated on the east shore of Grindstone Lake, near Sandstone, Minnesota, (100 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul).
This Audubon Center offers a great deal of variety in their programs. People of every age can participate in a wide variety of programs -- canoeing, hiking, maple syrup collection, rehabilitation of injured birds especially raptors, cross-country skiing, wolf studies, research and observation.
One of their most interesting programs is learning to track wolves, howl with a wolf pack, canoe in wolf country, camp with minimum impact and distinguish between fact and fiction about the wonderful wolf. You combine wolf ecology with exciting outdoor skills.
Students learn how a wolf pack functions, how they mark territory, their relationship to prey and the current status of wolf populations. You study human's relationship to wolves. You also examine European and Native American attitudes. You may visit a captive pack of wolves to examine their pack structure during the week. The highlight of the workshop is a three-day canoe trip into wolf country to examine their habitats and look for signs of this elusive animal. These programs are available to both children and adults.
Contact the Audubon Center of the Northwoods for specific details and schedules.
Level of difficulty depends on particular program chosen.
Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Andrew Holman. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Ross Reed. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
From $10,900 PP/DO from Reolute Bay, N.W.T. Includes lodging, most meals, transportation during tour and guide services.
This week-long tour to the North Pole begins in April at Resolute Bay, Northwest Territories, Canada. You visit both the Magnetic and Geographic North Poles and Greenland to the vicinity of the Geo-Magnetic North Pole.
You follow Peary's Columbia Meridian route from Ellesmere Island. You land on the polar ice cap as close to 90 degrees north as sea ice conditions permit. You overnight at the Canadian High Arctic weather station in Qaanaaq, Greenland. You also visit the small Inuit village of Grise Fiord, on Ellesmere Island's south coast.
This is a truly unique experience with a guide well-seasoned in polar conditions.
Courtesy Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas.
Courtesy Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas.
Prices vary dramatically depending upon length of stay and accommodations. $495 for a six days (three days of diving) in a Costa Rican hotel or $1,495 for a week-long, live-aboard excursion off Belize. Call for price list.
If you are interested in diving the Blue Hole, the Plancar Reef, Buck's Island and Salt River National Parks, or swimming with dolphins, mantas, turtles and whales or exploring the wreck of the Lesleen M, consider Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas, a dive booking agency that specializes in the Caribbean.
Maduro's mission is to "locate dive destinations where a diver could experience a combination of quality dive sites." It is operated by professionally-adept dive specialists. They offer countless packages in areas throughout the Caribbean, which range from posh accommodations and live-aboard cruises to beachfront cotttages and cabanas.
Warm, clear, azure waters and a wealth of marine life make the Caribbean one of the world's greatest diving arenas. Maduro has relationships with boats, diveshops, inns and hotels at the following locations: Dominica; St. Lucia; Tobago; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Bimini; Belize; Costa Rica; Cozumel; the Virgin Islands; the Netherland's Antilles; and the Bahamas.
Most packages include several days of boat diving at prime sites and unlimited shore diving. Several also offer night dives. Certification and advanced instruction are almost always available and non-divers are welcome.
Divers should be fit and certified (unless opting for an instructional program).
Courtesy Oregon Trail Wagon Train.
Courtesy Oregon Trail Wagon Train.
Courtesy Oregon Trail Wagon Train.
From $16.95 PP for a three-hour wagon train ride to $579 PP for extended wagon train tours.
The Oregon Trail Wagon Train takes you on an authentic Old West vacation, a pioneer history lesson along the trails and paths of Nebraska's Great Plains. You follow the same route as pioneers of the Oregon, California and Mormon trails did more than a hundred years ago. You can see wagon ruts from these old trails not far from Highway 92, which roughly follows the old trails from Bridgeport, Nebraska, to the Wyoming border.
You can take one-, three-, four-, or six-day treks on the prairie, as well as tours of Chimney Rock. You enjoy a pioneer cookout of stew, hoecakes, spoonbread, relishes, sourdough bread, vinegar pudding and strong pioneer coffee. You see pioneers prepare original recipes using authentic utensils. And there's always singing in the evening around the campfire.
Each day is filled with wagon train activities, experiences, and more. You sleep in the covered wagon, tent under the stars. You ride in a covered wagon or take your turn on the scout horses. You search for pioneer or Indian artifacts and try your hand at the arts and crafts of the prairie. You can participate in muzzle loading, black powder rifle demonstrations and enjoy the thrill of receiving mail by Pony Express (have your mail sent to Oregon Trail Wagon Train one week in advance of the trek). You'll experience an Indian attack, council and dancing and prairie square dancing instruction.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Call for pricing information.
Safaricentre offers a nine-day tour of the eastern Central Atlas region of Morocco that combines two days of rafting with four days of mountain biking.
You explore a sparesly populated rich agricultural area dotted by Berber villages. The riding is often on rough tracks but there is an opportunity to stop and drink mint tea and chat with the locals.
The tour begins in Marrakech and ventures by bus to the Ait Bougamez village of Agouti. After a day acclimitazing to the elevation, you take to the bikes and ride through high passes before making a descent into the village of Zwayat Ahnsal.
On day five, you board rafts and challenge the River Ahnsal on your way to a riverside campsite eight miles downriver. You ride a short stretch before continuing your raft journey to Tilouguite where you camp under the tall Cathedral Rocks on the river's bank.
You then hop back into the saddle for an easy ride through the beautiful countryside of Igherm n Ait Assa.
Your final day is spent exploring Marrakech's more popular sites including Djemaa el Fna, Koutoubia, Koran Medrassen and the central bazaar.
You should be reasonably fit and excercise regularly as most of the activities are not optional.
Photo by Deborah Rosen. Courtesy Andean Treks.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Andean Treks.
Photo by Peter Robertson. Courtesy Andean Treks.
From $1,985 PP/DO. Trip prices include all meals, accommodations, excellent camp service, llamas to carry gear, experienced English-speaking guides, entrance fees.
Close to Cuzco, yet seldom visited by Westerners, the green valley of the Urubamba Range shelters Quechua villages renowned for their weavers.
In traditional Andean fashion, llamas haul your camp gear. The trip leaders include a skilled weaver born in the Peruvian highlands. On this 23-day tour you enjoy moderate trekking for nine days. You stay in four-star hotels and in simple rural inns.
During the trekking segments of your tour, you awaken to tea and hot wash water brought to your tent. After a hearty breakfast, you set out, carrying only a daypack for another stimulating day of hiking in the spectacular mountains.
You use packhorses, llamas or porters to haul your belongings and modern, roomy tents and camp gear to ensure a civilized standard of comfort. You hike with the group, or set your own pace and rendezvous for a picnic lunch.
Shelter and warmth are at hand when you arrive in camp. Enjoy delicious dinners and nightly displays of stars that will take your breath away. Don't worry about the kitchen chores, they're taken care of. After all, you're on vacation.
Andean Treks offers a wide variety of trekking, cultural/wildlife, biking, river rafting and mountaineering tours in South America. They take you to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina.
Itineraries include the Vilcanota Climber's Workshop, Biking in Machu Picchu and the Amazon, Four Worlds of the Andes, Mountain Biking Patagonia, Royal Cordillea Llama Trek and the Budget Inca Trail Amazon Adventure.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Courtesy Safaricentre.
Call for pricing information.
Safaricentre offers this ambitious 15-week expedition from London to Nairobi.
You travel through France and Spain on your way to the African continent. Along the way, you visit the bazaars of Morocco, famous African game parks, traverse the Sahara and stop at the much heralded source of the Nile.
You begin in London and spend a week in France and Spain before ferrying across the straits of Gibraltar to Ceuta, Morocco, almost immediately feeling the remarkable difference between Europe and Africa. You spend two weeks in Morocco visiting the bazaars and places of historical importance and trek into the High Atlas mountains, stopping in small Berber villages.
You enter Algeria and you spend two weeks journeying across the Sahara, over thousands of miles of gravel plains, shifting dunes, rock formations and the occasional oasis town, before heading into Niger.
Eventually, you reach Agades, a colorful meeting point of the peoples of the Sahara and Sahel regions, the Tuareg, Hausa and Fulani.
The cosmopolitan city of Kano, Nigeria, beckons to you after your long spell in the desert. You spend a week exploring Nigeria's sights and sounds.
The following week is spent in Cameroon where you venture into the dramatic, volcanic Mandara Mountains and the land becomes greener as you come under the spell of tribal Africa. Passing many herds of long-horned cattle, you drive south through thick forests and stop at Boali Falls before reaching Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.
You spend two weeks exploring Central African Republic before venturing into Zaire where the roads are little more than tracks through the jungle and the going is slow. Wildlife is common in the dense forest and you stay at mission settlements in small villages that seem to be hacked out of the forest. You come across communities of pygmies, or "forest people" as they call themselves, who live mainly by hunting. On the last few days of your two-week stay in Zaire, you close in on the Mountains of the Moon, where you can visit the famous Nyiragongo crater and track mountain gorillas.
After visiting Lake Victoria in Uganda, you cross the rolling green hills into Kenya where you explore some world-famous wildlife parks, usually Masai Mara or Amboseli. Here, you can usually see elephant, hippo, gazelle, sebra, giraffe, warthog, lion, jackal and hyena.
Some of the journey may be difficult and is intended for fit people between the ages of 17-45.
Courtesy Margo Greep.
Courtesy Margo Greep.
Courtesy Margo Greep.
Cost details available from Andean Treks. Tours are offered on request only.
Unlock the gates leading to the secrets of the ancient world of the Incas.
Accompanied by an expert in the esoteric arts, you visit sites renowned for their mystic power, steeped in legend and mystery including Tiahunanaco, the Island of the Sun, Machu Picchu and many more.
Andean legends identify Lake Titicaca as the region where Andean civilization was born. The Incas were strongly influenced by the monumental architecture they found in the ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco, just south of the lake. They constructed their own temples and palaces at many sites on the lake, especially the Islands of the Sun and Moon.
This tour is offered on request.
Andean Treks offers a wide variety of trekking, cultural/wildlife, biking, river rafting and mountaineering tours in South America. They travel to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina. Their tours include Vilcanota Climber's Workshop, Biking in Machu Picchu and the Amazon, the Affordable Amazon, Mountain Biking Patagonia, Galapagos Cruises and the Budget Inca Trail Amazon Adventure.
Photo by Susan Voorhees. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by William Boehm. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Susan Voorhees. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Susan Voorhees. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Havner Parish. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
From $4,250 PP/DO from Winnipeg. Includes lodging, most meals, transportation during tour and guide services.
This August tour begins in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and emphasizes viewing polar bears in their natural habitat, in a region with one of the world's greatest concentrations of polar bears. From boats, accompanied by native guides, you view the polar bears at close range as they swim, climb cliffs and do all the things that bears do naturally.
This Odyssey gives you a unique perspective, different from that of polar bear trips operating from land vehicles.
You also visit outstanding archaeological sites and enjoy optional hiking and birdwatching, especially of rare gyrfalcons and peregrines. Your itinerary includes a day at Baker Lake to view world-famous arts at the native co-op workshop and gallery where native guides share their knowledge and insight.
You overnight in Churchill, Manitoba, where you view beluga whales and ride in their midst in small boats.
Photo by William Boehm. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by William Boehm. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Photo by Skip Voorhees. Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
Courtesy Arctic Odysseys.
From $5,950 PP/DO from Ottawa. Includes lodging, most meals, transportation during tour and guide services.
This Arctic Odysseys tour travels to the worlds of the High Arctic during the month of August and explores the natural sciences, Inuit culture, wildlife and the diverse and awe-inspiring scenery of the steppes of Baffin Island. You see the miles-long glaciers of Ellesmere Island and Greenland's spectacular far-northwest Iceberg Coast.
This tour is led by a naturalist/geographer. You visit archaeological sites and search for birdlife and wildlife on the tundra, which is just beginning to show its fall colors of gold and red. You also visit the world-famous Cape Dorset arts center.
Excellent photographic opportunities abound and you'll be able to enjoy optional hiking. Throughout the tour, you stay in small inns and travel by charter plane.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
$3,085 includes lodging, all meals but a few in the cities, and local transportation. Airfare not included.
Modern day Japan sits on a foundation of folk beliefs (Shintoism), mixed liberally with Buddhist, Confucian and Western thought.
Journeys East's 15-day Inner Japan tour takes you inside Japan's temples and shrines for a personal encounter with these influences. Through meetings with remarkable men and women, from Zen masters to Shinto priests, you discover the connections between past and present.
In keeping with Journeys East's philosophy, this trip is a hands-on encounter with Japanese culture. You learn through sharing sake with the head minister of one of the Grand Shinto Shrines, joking with Buddhist priests or chopping firewood with a Zen master. Sculptured landscapes and Zen gardens surround you on your journey.
You travel from a Sumo "stable" in Tokyo where mammoth wrestlers invoke the Shinto spirits during their morning workout, to a lantern-lit Zen retreat in the foothills below Mt. Fuji. You stay in elegant lodging where each room looks onto a private garden and carp pool.
You journey as the Japanese do, sharing trains with local travelers, eating Japanese cuisine, relaxing in the traditional evening ofuro (hot bath) and sleeping on futons. In Kyoto, you spend the evening in a 180-year-old inn while you explore such sites as Ryoanji and Saihoji (the Moss Temple).
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch.
Week-long packages range from $510-$1,800 depending on age and activities pursued. Prices include meals, accommodations, organized activities, horseback rides, evening programs and use of recreational facilities.
Lone Mountain Ranch, located in Big Sky, Montana, offers a wide range of activities in the beauty and comfort of a mountain lodge setting.
In the spring and summer, you can hike or ride horseback through lush meadows filled with wildlflowers below snowy peaks. Wildlife still inhabit their winter homes in the meadows and valleys. You see newborn elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. Yellowstone National Park and Lone Mountain Ranch are uncrowded and you can enjoy the Montana wilderness in relative privacy. The rivers run high in June, offering great whitewater rafting and challenging fishing.
July and August are good times to come with the family. The dry fly-fishing is superb. Horseback riding, hiking and the fishing trips to more remote areas are great experiences during these months. This is a peak time at the ranch so make reservations early.
In September and October, amidst beautiful fall colors, the rivers are low and fly-fishermen have the opportunity to wrestle with some really big brown trout. Elk and bighorn sheep are in their prime. The days are warm and the nights are cool, with daytime temperatures average in the 60's. Fall offers wonderful opportunities to photograph the wilderness.
In winter, Lone Mountain Ranch is a world-renowned cross-country ski center, with more than 40 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. Winter ski packages include a horse-drawn sleigh ride to dinner and an "on-the-snow" buffet on the cross-country ski trail.
Depends on activities chosen.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
$3,485 includes transportation and transfers, accommodations, most meals and entrance fees. Excludes airfare.
Journeys East has combined the highlights of several of their trips into a 15-day traditional arts tour of Japan.
The trip begins in Tokyo with an Ikebana class and a Butoh dance performance. In Hakone, you wander through a giant sculpture garden perched atop a mountain. Your home for the evening is an exquisite country inn on the Izu Peninsula.
An overnight at a Shinto shrine in an ancient cryptomeria forest provides an interesting contrast to your tour of a robotic Honda factory. You travel to Kyoto for four nights in the heart of traditional Japan where you visit the studios of artisans and the Imperial Villas of Katsura and Shugakuin.
In Kurashiki, art museums and craft studios converted from rice storehouses provide you with a feel for Edo-period architecture.
The trip ends on the island of Kyushu where you spend a night in a remote hot springs resort, with time for hiking, soaking and visits to local museums.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
Courtesy Journeys East.
$3,125 includes transportation and transfers during tour, accommodations and most meals. Excludes airfare.
Journeys East sponsors this 16-day tour that blends outdoor and cultural adventure.
From Tokyo, you head to Mt. Fuji and then on to the pristine Kita Alps wilderness area in central Japan where you hike from lodge to lodge for five days. You carry only mountain gear and pass through woodlands and meadows into highcountry with the option of ascending a 10,000-foot peak.
You also spend time in country villages of thatched roof buildings and open hearths, where you are welcomed by the warm hospitality of innkeepers.
Your journey ends in Kyoto where you stay in an exquisite ryokan (inn) that transports you from the bustle of the surrounding city to the tranquility of its inner gardens. Your days are flexible allowing for exploring Kyoto's cornucopia of temples, gardens, villas and palaces.
Hiking is moderate with a maximum distance of six miles a day. Some of the terrain is mountainous though the maximum ascent in one day is 2,500 feet.
Courtesy Adventure Center.
From $3,840 PP. Contact Adventure Center for cost details.
Experience one of the world's epic rail journeys. From Japan, travel by cruise ship to Siberia and then by rail across the vast steppes through Russia, visiting Irkutsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg, before continuing on to London.
Options include starting in Kathmandu, visiting Nepal and Tibet, or starting in Hong Kong, visiting Guilin and Xian, before taking the train from Beijing through Mongolia to join the westbound Trans-Siberian in Ulan Ude.
This tour is available April through December.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
$415 PP/DO for three-day safari in the off-season; $765 for seven-day trip PP/DO; $1,175 PP/DO for 11-day safari. Includes all meals, accommodations, entrance fees, transportation and other activities.
Safari Consultants Ltd. sponsors affordable three-, seven- and 11-day tours to the major game reserves of two of Africa's premier safari destinations. Photographic opportunities abound as the tours coincide with the great Serengeti migration. Millions of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle herd en masse across the vast plain.
More than 10,000 miles of protected land is home to more than 3,000 lions, 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra, 70,000 waterbuffalo and other predators who roam at will. The diversity of habitats make the area a natural place for birdwatching and photography as well.
You travel on a nine-seater bus with sliding windows, roof hatches and high ground clearance adapted specially for safari and photographic purposes. Accommodations are provided by safari camps and feature spacious, insect-proof tents with twin beds, flush toilets and private shower.
Most safaris combine the attractions of Amboseli, Aberdare, Samburu and the Masai Mara National Parks, with Lake Nakuru and the Great Rift Valley. Mount Kenya Safari Club -- where elephants and other animals gather at the illuminated waterhole outside a treehouse lodge -- is among the more prestigious accommodations.
Travel is not difficult though the accommodations are in tents.
10% off published tour prices when you mention Deep River Publishing's CD-ROM Adventures.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
From $1,675 PP/DO from Anchorage. Includes all meals, lodging, equipment and transportation.
This tour shows you the best of Alaska. While adventurous in spirit, this tour maintains a high level of comfort. Small group size allows visits to special destinations that would usually be off-limits to larger group tours.
With your local guide, you seek the out-of-the-way towns, destinations and people that make Alaska unique. You balance overland travel and marine cruises. This guarantees a rewarding experience in a relatively short amount of time.
You visit Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. You also visit the perennial favorites -- the remote ghost towns of McCarthy and Kennicott. You cross a river on hand-pulled cable trams.
You explore Alaska's marine environment. You cross Prince William Sound and take a day-long wildlife and glacier cruise along the coasts of the Gulf of Alaska.
During this tour, your accommodations are unique and comfortable, although private baths are unavailable at several destinations. Physical fitness is not a requirement for this tour, but some walking is necessary. Group size is limited to ten persons.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
$540 for three days, $743 for four-day canoe safaris; houseboats are $170 PP/DO, includes all meals and accommodations, all game viewing and fishing activities. Walking safaris vary depending upon where you go and duration of trip. Call for detailed pricing information.
Safari Consultants Ltd. offer three unique ways of exploring the wilderness regions and game parks of Zimbabwe and Botswana. You visit the peaceful stretches of the Zambezi Valley, Lake Kariba and the famous Okavango Delta by canoe, foot or houseboat.
You are able to get an intimate feeling of the African landscape and to view large herds of elephants and buffalos as well as lion, zebra, crocodiles and hippo from relatively close range.
Excursions by canoe paddle the length of the lower Zambezi River in the company of a professional guide and experienced canoeist. You travel in the early morning when the temperatures are cool and the animals abundant along the river's edge. Because of your quiet mode of transportation, the animals seem to totally ignore you and allow you to serenely enter their presence in a way few other safaris can. No experience is necessary, The river's currents do all the work.
Walking safaris allow you to get upclose and personal with Africa's remote regions. An experienced and professional guide lead you into the game-rich national parks of Chizarira, Kazuma Pans, Hwange and Victoria Falls. Support vehicles carry food, equipment, providing comfort and mobility.
Houseboats moored along the edges of Lake Kariba and Lake Wilderness offer an informal headquarters for game cruises by motor boat and canoe, walking safaris and fishing for the feisty and aptly-named tiger fish. You encounter elephants, view fish eagles plummeting to the lake's surface to snatch fish, and lie awake in the starlit evenings listening to the natural nocturnal whoops and cries of the animals around you.
The tours are designed to be relatively easy.
10% off published tour prices when you mention Deep River Publishing's CD-ROM Adventures.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
From $2250 PP. Trip cost includes all modes of transportation from Anchorage, lodging, meals and instruction.
This is a spectacular winter trip to Alaska, centered around the Last Great Race, the 1000-mile Iditarod dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome. This very exclusive trip is limited to only six persons each year. It provides an in-depth education in mushing your own dog team and a unique perspective of Alaska's defining season.
You spend several days with the dogs and "mush" to a lovely lodge inaccessible by road before heading back to Anchorage to witness the start of the Iditarod.
You then head by small bush plane to a remote family homestead. You visit the first Iditarod checkpoint the next day and return to the homestead for a second night as you experience the lifestyle of dog sledders.
For those who desire a hands-on experience, the trip lets you gain an appreciation of winter in the far north.
Accommodations range from quite deluxe to spartan. The tour requires a moderate amount of physical fitness and a willingness to fly in a small plane and participate in a range of activities. Your personal cold weather clothing is supplemented by Arctic gear supplied by Adventure Alaska.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
Courtesy Safari Consultants Ltd.
$1,800-$2,000 includes accommodations, ground transportation and meals. Excludes airfare.
Safari Consultants Ltd. sponsors a 16-day camping safari into the wilds of arid Namibia. The tour takes you into some prime wildlife viewing areas and scenic vistas.
You rendezvous in Windhoek before heading to the 6,000-square-mile Namib-Naukluft National Park. You explore the mountain streams and walks of the parks and spend the next two nights at Sesriem. You also spend a day climbing the dunes of Sossusvlei, some of the highest in the world and with fantastic views.
You travel through the Kuiseb Canyon region of the Namib Desert where the rare Hartmann's mountain zebra as well as ostrich and gemsbok can be found. The scenery includes endless quartz plains punctuated by quiver tree and koppie.
A night in the historic and continental charm of Swakopmund allows time for exploring the town's cafes and craftshops.
Journeying north from Swakomund you visit the Skeleton coast. Highlights include the shipwrecks and the Cape Cross seal colony. You stay in the bungalows of Terrace-Bay, a small national park camp on the Atlantic coast. Sand dunes, canyons and hardy desert animals populate the area.
The remainder of your expedition is concentrated in the easterly and southern areas of the country. You visit the remote 400,000-acre Damaraland Wilderness Reserve and stay in rustic bush camp venturing into the surrounding are by foot and in expedition vehicles. After three days in Damaraland, you travel to Etosha National Park, one of the continent's finest.
At the heart of Etosha National Park is a salt pan, an enormous shallow depression over 62 miles across that has a number of springs around its circumference. It attracts large concentrations of animals. Elephants, antelope and rhino are numerous as are lion, cheetah, and leopard. Birds are also abundant and varied.
The Waterberg Range is your last refuge, and offers good walks and birdlife.
Expedition vehicles do most of the work.
10% off published tour prices when you mention Deep River Publishing's CD-ROM Adventures.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
From $1,175 PP from Anchorage. Trip cost includes all modes of transportation from Anchorage, lodging, meals and instruction.
On this tour, you experience a wide variety of marine environments, modes of travel and special hideaways while learning about Alaska's natural history. This is a great tour for the curious and adventurous traveler who doesn't want to camp.
Local guides and hosts share their experiences of the wildlands of Alaska and you have the opportunity to get to know them without crowds.
A local naturalist/herbalist leads you on a pleasant tour that teaches you about local flora and fauna. You enjoy gourmet meals cooked with local delicacies, many gathered by the group during your outdoor "classroom."
Accommodations include deluxe waterfront cabins in tiny Halibut Cove and in a hand-crafted lodge at Harmony Point, as well as two nights in a rustic cabin next to a waterfall on Rocky River. None have private bath facilities, but all have a sauna. Physical fitness is not a prerequisite for this tour, although a leisurely six-mile walk gathering local flora is part of the trip to Rocky River.
Activities include extensive water travel, hiking, outdoor instruction, small plane travel and optional sea kayaking. The beautiful scenery and unlimited opportunities for wildlife viewing will exceed your expectations. Tour is limited to eight persons.
10% off published tour prices when you mention Deep River Publishing's CD-ROM Adventures.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
From $1,875 PP/DO. Trip prices include meals, accommodations, instruction and all transportation from Anchorage.
This incomparable wilderness trip takes you by float plane to the most northern of the Kodiak Islands, Shuyak. Its unique geographic characteristics have made it the crossroads for a tremendous density of wildlife. Thousands of years ago, it was the home of native people.
You travel much as these native peoples did, exploring leisurely by double sea kayak the intricate passageways of this island complex. The starkly magnificent outer coast is coupled with extensive inland passages, allowing protected calm water for paddling, along with forays to the contrasting outer shores. You experience an unbelievable richness of wildlife that includes whales, sea otters, porpoises, sea lions and marine birds.
Led by a sea kayaking expert, this tour requires no prior paddling experience. You learn and practice the basics in a pool before leaving Anchorage.
This is a very special wilderness trip where the subtle rhythms of the natural world are paramount. If you have ever longed to feel a part of a wilderness environment, you will succeed on Shuyak Island.
Some physical exertion but no prior sea kayaking experience necessary.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
$3,300 includes transfers, accommodations, all meals and snacks, use of an elephant and Ker and Downey postcards and postage. Excludes airfare to Botswana.
Ker and Downey offers a six-day elephant safari into the heart of Botswana's wildlife-rich Okavango Delta, a unique river system that starts high in the mountains of neighboring Angola.
It descends into a 4,800 square-mile plain where it supports one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. More than 160 mammal species including reedbuck, Cape buffalo, zebra, antelope, lion, leopard, cheetah, hippopotamus, giraffe and elephant abound here. Some 550 avian species add color to the wildlife cornucopia. Being on an elephant allows you to get closer to the other animals than if you were on an intrusive vehicle.
Your base camp is Abu's Camp, named after Ker and Downey's lead elephant, Abu. The itinerary is designed to be flexible. Each evening, you discuss the thrilling possibilities and arrange a tour plan. There are generally two elephant safaris daily with a break for lunch and resting.
Safaris on foot are also available and can add an element of adventure. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with floodlights allow for forays in the evening in search of nocturnal creatures. There is also the possibility of exploring the silent waters of the Okavango in a delta canoe.
The elephants do most of the work.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
Courtesy Ker and Downey.
$300 per person per day and up includes flights within Africa, accommodations, meals and fees.
Ker and Downey offers a variety of safaris in Tanzania, from fly-in to those that coincide with the massive migrations of wildebeest and zebra.
Fly-in safaris utilize a unique tented camp circuit that can frequent one or all three ot their permanent tent camps in Tanzania's wildlife-rich regions including Camp Serengeti Mara, Camp Serengeti South and Camp Tarangire National Park.
Serengeti National Park is the largest of Tanzania's national parks and is arguably Africa's premier park. Each year, more than 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle begin their great circular migration across the open plains. This, of course, attracts predators for one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles in the natural world.
Tarangire National Park is a wide grassy savana with an occasional large baobab trees. The park is less well known than its counterparts but certainly is not deficient in sights. Huge herds of elephants and other big species amble towards the blue gleam of the Tarangire River. Oryx and lesser kudu are two of the unique resident species, and lions are common. Innumerable species of birds also flock to the waterway.
Safaris also visit Ngorongor Crater, home to all of the "big five" -- elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, waterbuffalo and one of the best places for observing lion. The wildlife appear so pleased to be in this 100-square-mile natural Eden that they remain placid while you move among them.
Courtesy ARTA River Trips.
Courtesy ARTA River Trips.
Courtesy ARTA River Trips.
Courtesy ARTA River Trips.
Some trips are excellent for families, while others are for highly experienced rafters only. Check with ARTA.
Ranges from $85 per adult ($75 per youth 17 and under accompanied by an adult) for one-day trip on the Stanislaus River to $1,963 per adult for 13-day Grand Canyon trip. A 4-day camping trip on the Rogue River is $475 per adult, $405 per child, including meals and gear.
ARTA River Trips offers 12 rafting trips in the Sierras, including one on the rarely-run but beautiful Illinois River. On this four-day journey, you meet obstacles like the Green Wall and Submarine Hole, 20 other major rapids and countless minor ones.
There are three- , four- and five-day trips on the Rogue River, where clear sidestreams cascade into deep pools. Otter, deer, bear, heron and osprey can be spotted from your raft, spawning salmon are seen leaping and rolling their way upriver and warm water, ideal for swimming, erupts into exciting rapids. A choice of inflatable canoes and paddle rafts makes this a trip for everyone to enjoy.
The Cal-Salmon River, where you can camp or stay at a lodge during a two- or three-day trip, is worth all the trouble it takes to reach it. This river, in a remote corner of California, has rapids equal to any in the West. A natural runoff river, the Cal-Salmon packs an unforgettable springtime wallop.
In a three-day exploration of the North Umpqua River, you can stay at the Steamboat Inn, an isolated collection of cottages and cabins right on the river.
The canyon you raft through is thickly forested, the water sparkling and the rapids lively and challenging, making it a great place for paddle rafts and inflatable canoes.
Other trips available in the Sierras are on the American, Merced, Tuolumne, Upper Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Upper Klamath rivers.
ARTA will also take you through the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Utah and Arizona, including the Grand Canyon, and the Main Salmon, Middle Fork of the Salmon, and Selway rivers in Idaho.
ARTA also offers whitewater workshops and special trips for families.
Varies with trip. Some are for experienced rafters only, while others are open to beginners.
Courtesy Willow Springs International Driving School.
Courtesy Willow Springs International Driving School.
Precision Driving: one day costs $150, two days are $225; Advanced High Performance Driving is $675 for two-day course; Intro to Racing half-day session is $250; Competition Road Racing is $1,850.
Willow Springs offers several one- and two-day courses in high performance driving for serious driving enthusiasts or those interested in pursuing a career in auto racing.
The Precision Driving Workshop helps you realize the full potential of your automobile. Learn and perfect the same car control and vehicle dynamic skills taught and practiced by every racing professional in the world.
Advanced High Performance Driving is a two-day course addressing specific problems you might be having on or off the race track. Theory, technique, skid pad exercises and lots of track time will help you move toward your objective. The class uses both the streets of Willow Springs and the Willow Springs International Raceway for practice. Proof of club affiliation or competition license is required. Prior participation in Car Control or Precision Driving Workshops is also acceptable.
A half-day introduction to auto racing begins with a classroom session to familiarize you with the sport's various elements. Following the lesson, you suit up and strap in to learn heel-toe techniques, threshold braking, vehicle control and driving corners.
Competition Road Racing is a three-day intensive program that provides you with the experience you need to pursue professional racing or club competition. You use both the skid pad and the streets of Willow Springs to study vehicle dynamics and car control, heel-toe shifting, threshold braking, over-steering and under-steering. Then you take to the raceway, the "fastest road in the west" to try new skills on its flat-out straights, sweeping high-speed corners and elevation changes.
Participants should be ready for the thrill of racing and be able to drive a manual transmission.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
$3,995 riders, $3,695 passengers includes all scheduled air, land and water travel, accommodations, meals, fees, motorcycle rental and visa.
China Adventure Tours offers this pioneering motorcycle tour to remote regions of China. This trip is the first of its kind ever to explore the Nujiang (Angry River) Valley and allows you to meet the tribes that live in the foothills of the eastern Himalaya.
The valley is situated in southwestern China near the Burmese border. The astounding diverse scenery and the exotic mix of 26 cultures makes Yunnan Province a fascinating place to explore. You explore the region's "wilds" and discover for yourself its ancient civilizations.
The 21-day tour includes 13 days of riding, 10 of which are spent in remote mountain areas, and covers about 1,200 miles. The roads aren't suitable for high speeds, so you drive at a pace of around 40 to 50 mph, which gives you time to absorb the surroundings.
All luggage is carried by a support bus, allowing you to bring along some of the comforts of home and still have a light bike. In the towns, the bus leads or transports you through crowds of bikes, pedestrians, tractors and buffalo all competing for road space.
You explore several historic towns along the way and visit small mountain villages. You learn about the ways of life of traditional villagers, like a tribe in the Lugu Lake Area, while spending days in their communities and mixing among them.
Though most days' itineraries have a target destination, China Adventure Tours tries to keep their tours flexible and unresticted to encourage a feeling of discovery among riders.
Those who plan to ride must know how to operate a motorcycle.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
Courtesy China Adventure Tours.
$5,495 PP/DO based on a minimum group of 10 includes all scheduled air and ground travel, permits to enter restricted areas, all accommodations, all meals, all fees, provision of land transportation and guides.
China Adventure Tours sponsors this 22-day tour into Tibet and the high Himalaya, an area once ruled by a god-king. This remote, forbidden kingdom has fascinated explorers for centuries and has been opened to China Adventure Tours by special permission of the Chinese government.
This is the first commercial overland expedition from southwest China through the eastern Himalaya into Tibet.
The journey begins in Kunming, capital of the Yunnan Province, a region that is home to almost half of China's 56 minority peoples. It takes 12 days and 1,500 miles to complete the journey. Along the way you meet fascinating nomadic people and see some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.
The route passes through pastoral areas and historic cities that have changed little with the passage of centuries. In Tibet, you cross 14,000-foot mountain passes marked by shrines and prayer flags and bridge raging rivers.
Accommodations are in guest houses in remote towns and officers' quarters at Chinese army stations when there are no other suitable places to stay. This offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet and gain an understanding of the people who live in this spectacular area. There will also be opportunities to visit Buddhist temples and other cultural sites along the way.
An English-speaking guide, doctor, mechanic and cook accompany your group and a support vehicle carries food and luggage not needed during the day. Each vehicle is chauffeur-driven and carries a maximum of three passengers with a window seat for all.
Much of the journey is in remote regions.
10% off published tour prices when you mention Deep River Publishing's CD-ROM Adventures.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
Courtesy Adventure Alaska Tours.
From $2,950 PP/DO. Trip prices include all meals, lodging, guide services, instruction and transportation from Anchorage.
The Alaska and Yukon Adventure is a comprehensive tour, combining wilderness travel and camping. You see a true cross section of Alaska and the Yukon -- both famous destinations renowned for their wilderness.
You travel in the footsteps of the great Gold Rush, paddling its route from Dawson City down the Yukon River to Eagle. This intinerary includes activities like hiking, canoeing and kayaking. Moderate physical fitness is required, though no prior experience in any sport is necessary.
You visit three national parks and a variety of small frontier towns, including the ghost towns of Kennicott and McCarthy. You explore coastal Alaska and Prince William Sound and cruise past glaciers and marine wildlife.
Accommodations range from deluxe to rustic. You see a wide range of sites on this tour, many off the beaten track.
Courtesy Travel Walji's, Inc.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Courtesy Travel Walji's.
Costs depend on tour combinations and individualized itineraries. Departures are guaranteed with as few as two people. Costs include all meals, accommodations, sightseeing excursions and tours, entrance fees, camping equipment and guide services.
The spectacular mountains of the Western Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and the Hindu Kush ranges and their immense river systems combine to make Pakistan one of whitewater rafting's newest frontiers.
In a land of such incredible geograhic diversity, the serenity of beautiful, unspoiled valleys creates a scenic setting for dramatic whitewater rafting. There are several different river trips available from Travel Walji's -- along the Kunhar River, the Gilgit River and a combination tour of trekking and rafting in the Nang Parbat region.
Raft the Kunhar River through the fresh, verdant Kaghan Valley from the high Babusar Pass within view of Nanga Parbat. Or begin in Balakot, the largest village in the Kaghan Valley, where the river runs swiftly under footbridges, past goat herds and below the breathtaking scenery of the high mountains.
See Rakaposhi in the Karakorum Range as you raft from the town of Gilgit, an old tribal center and once a stop for weary travelers along the Silk Route.
Travel Walji's offers many other tours to Pakistan, including Marco Polo four-wheel-drive safaris, Ancient Silk Route tours, Hunza Batura glacier treks, mountaineering excursions and cultural tours to northern Pakistan and India.
These rafting trips span all levels of difficulty.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
Courtesy Woodswomen.
From $60 for a two-day canoeing trip to $4,995 for a 20-day mountain trek and safari in Kenya.
Trip prices include guides, lodging, permit fees, transportation while on the trip, and some meals.
Woodswomen is a pioneering women's organization that uses its wealth of experience to provide outdoor adventures for women.
It is one of the largest and most extensive women's travel organizations in the world and allows women an opportunity to achieve feats in the great outdoors. During the past 15 years, it has created a variety of adventure travel programs for women and children to the most remote and rugged places around the world.
Many of their shorter short trips and retreats take place in Minnesota. Some recent examples include horsepacking in Wisconsin, dog sledding in Superior National Forest, a Spring Hike in St. Croix and a Great Books Canoe Vacation.
Learn basic and intermediate rock climbing at Joshua Tree National Monument or sea kayaking in Alaska's Kenai Fjords. Raft the Grand Canyon or learn glacier travel and ice climbing in California's Cascades.
Backpacking trips are offered to Mt. Olympus, Mt. Rainier, Arizona and Canada. Woodswomen will take you biking in the Napa Valley or whale watching off Cape Cod.
Woodswomen also offers many workshops that teach leadership skills through a variety of activities -- rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Monument in California, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest and backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains.
You can also travel to foreign destinations with Woodswomen -- including the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Roatan, Mexico, Ireland, the Swiss Alps, Nepal and New Zealand.
Difficulty levels range from easy to very difficult.
Courtesy Center for American Archeology.
Courtesy Center for American Archeology.
Courtesy Center for American Archeology.
Courtesy Center for American Archeology.
Courtesy Center for American Archeology.
Special archaeology programs available for high school students.
From $475 PP per week (Monday to Friday) for adults, from $400 PP per week for high school students. Tuition includes meals, lodging in dormitories and instruction. Adult participants can claim a portion of the tuition fee as a tax-deductible donation to the Center for American Archeology.
Located in Kampsville, Illinois, the Center for American Archeology has studied the archaeological record of the lower Illinois River valley for more than 30 years. The center has always included school-age and adult students in the excavation and analysis of many of the 3,000 documented archaeological sites in the area.
Students attending field schools in Kampsville are immersed in an intensive, on-going research effort. Surrounded by professional scientists and educators, you learn about the cultural traditions of ancient America.
The rich plain of the lower Illinois River valley has been inhabited for 12,000 years. The soil beneath the valley floor contains a record of long-term human occupation, from the earliest North American hunter-gatherers through the development of complex agricultural societies. In only a few areas of the world can scientists find such a record of human change.
Adults, college and high school students can participate in one to four week-long sessions. Excavate in different Kampsville archaeological sites. Spend some of your daytime hours in the field and some in the lab. In the evenings, you study and attend lectures.
Students analyze the cultural history of the region using artifacts and data form the center's collections. In experimental archaeology activities, you use native techniques to reconstruct ceramics, lithics (stone carvings) and prehistoric dwellings.
College students and adults with previous experience may enroll in the University of Chicago Field School under the direction of Dr. Jane Buikstra and excavate the Mound House site, a 2,000-year-old ceremonial center.
Bending and kneeling required.
Courtesy Seneca Rocks Climbing School.
Courtesy Seneca Rocks Climbing School.
Courtesy Seneca Rocks Climbing School.
Courtesy Seneca Rocks Climbing School.
Children must be physically fit and mature.
From $85-125 PP/per day, including instruction only.
The Seneca Rocks Climbing School, accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association, is dedicated to teaching people to safely discover the challenge and adventure of vertical rock climbing.
At Seneca Rocks, you learn basic skills that are the foundation of your climbing career. For the sake of continuity, one guide takes you through your entire two- or three-day course from beginning to end.
The climbing school is located in some of the most beautiful country in the eastern United States, the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. Seneca Rocks is a sheer sandstone peak towering 900 feet above the valley floor, providing a "little big mountain" atmosphere unique in the East and an ideal instructional setting.
Seneca Rocks offers a three-day Comprehensive Basic Rock Class for those with little or no previous climbing experience; a Two Day Weekend Basic course; an Intermediate Rock Skills course and a Learning to Lead course. Private guide services are available.
Courtesy OARS.
Courtesy OARS.
Courtesy OARS.
Courtesy OARS.
Courtesy OARS.
Courtesy OARS.
Minimum age varies with tour but is generally from 7-12.
Varies depending upon number of days and location. $2,264 for 13 days on the Colorado; $330 for 3 days on the Payette; $1,995 for 12 days on Alaska's Alsek; $2,695 for 15 days on Turkey's Coruh. Call for detailed prices and itineraries. Includes guides and gear and meals. Tents and bags are available for rent.
OARS offers multiday excursions down some of the world's most exciting rivers, from the Colorado and Snake Rivers to the Bio-Bio and Zambezi.
The company believes that rivers are the planet's lifeblood without which there is no water for humans and animals, no force to carve the landscape into its remarkable forms and no river recreation. They have designed a bevy of trips that teach people the value of keeping these waterways alive.
All OARS trips attempt to reveal the personality of each river, whether they run in the golden hills of California or along warm desert sands.
The rivers of southwest. Californian tumble over polished boulders towards the mighty Pacific, while their canyons house centuries-old pictographs and petroglyphs. The rivers of Idaho penetrate tall coniferous forests and the rocky landscape of the Tetons, while the Sawtooths shelter wildlife still curious about human visitors.
The Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers glide through glacial melt and some of the world's most awe-inspiring scenery. The Bio-Bio in South America bisects the mysterious Andean foothills and Africa's Zambezi floats past huge herds of wildlife.
The Coruh River in Turkey swells through a gorge rising almost 5,000 feet to a backdrop of snowcapped peaks.
OARS visits each river with fondness and respect, and their trips are entirely self-contained. All gear is transported in dry bags, and waste is carried out. Guides are fully trained on the rivers they run and know the area's lore and natural history. In the evenings, they work culinary magic in dutch ovens and propane stoves.
The difficulty of each trip obviously depends upon the rapids, and OARS trips run the gamut from easy to intrepid Class IV and V.
Difficulty can vary from placid Class I stretches to very challenging Class V raging rapids depending on the river.
Photo by Werner Zehnder. Courtesy Zegrahm Expeditions.
Photo by Werner Zehnder. Courtesy Zegrahm Expeditions.
Photo by Werner Zehnder. Courtesy Zegrahm Expeditions.
Photo by Werner Zehnder. Courtesy Zegrahm Expeditions.
Depending on program and space available.
From $1,575 PP.
What are you doing New Year's Eve, 1999?
Zegrahm Expeditions will be toasting the start of the 21st century in Antarctica, and a $500 deposit will reserve you a space on their charter vessel, accommodating up to 100 people. Departing from the U. S. on December 20, you sail from Punta Arenas, Chile, spend Christmas in the Falklands, and usher in the year 2000 ashore at Paradise Bay in the Antarctic.
Zegrahm Expeditions leads an astounding variety of tours to some of the world's most out-of-the-way places. The company was formed in October 1990 to offer travelers the most intriguing adventures possible on land and sea. Many of the trips take place on expedition yachts and small ships, but overland travel is also featured.
In addition to Antarctica, Zegrahm's other destinations include remote northwest and northeast passages, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Amazon, Galapagos Islands, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Trip numbers are kept small to maximize each person's contact with trip leaders and naturalists and to minimize impact on the places you visit. There are dive trips, cultural, natural history and archaeology expeditions, photo tours and jungle tours. The focus is on education and eco-tourism.
In 1991, Zegrahm organized the first-ever circumnavigation of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, home to the earth's greatest concentration of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic wildlife.
In January 1994, Zegraham is sponsoring a 10-day circumnavigation of this beautiful and pristine island, providing wonderful opportunties to visit colonies of thousands of majestic king penguins and to stand next to four species of breeding albatross, including the regal wandering albatross, largest of all flying birds.
Zegrahm offers trips to Alaska and Siberia, Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, among many other destinations.
Call or write for a complete calendar of scheduled expeditions.
Trips offer "soft" adventure with emphasis on education and eco-tourism.
Courtesy Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys.
Courtesy Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys.
Courtesy Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys.
Courtesy Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys.
Courtesy Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys.
$1,075-$2,995 depending upon length of stay and country visited. Includes accommodations, most meals, land transportation, tips, taxes and service charges. Excludes airfare.
Gerhard's Bicycle Odysseys offers one- and two-week bicycle excursions to several of the prime pedaling areas in Europe.
The tours are designed to appeal to all levels of cycling experience and you typically bike 35 to 40 miles daily avoiding hills. More strenuous routes are available for serious bikers.
Tours visit the historical areas of Denmark and Sweden; the villages, fjords and dramatic scenery of Norway; the hospitality of the Moselle and Rhine valleys of Luxembourg, Germany and France; the green pastures, thatched cottages, salty air and pubs of Ireland; the beautiful landscapes bisected by the Salzach and Danube rivers in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, and the multicultural and scenic splendor of Switzerland.
Routes are carefully selected to follow the less-traveled country lanes that take you through the small villages and green valleys of each country and into contact with its people.
Each rider is given detailed maps and daily route outlines that make it possible to set an individual pace and allow you time to enjoy the many unique sights -- magnificent castles, village squares, bustling fields or serene pastures.
Accommodations are provided by first class hotels, country inns or castles rich with the ambiance of the region.
Gerhard's also offers a 16-day tour of New Zealand in February.
Routes are chosen to avoid hills and cover 35-40 miles per day.
Courtesy HistoryAmerica TOURS.
Courtesy South Dakota Tourism.
Courtesy South Dakota Tourism.
Courtesy South Dakota Tourism.
Courtesy South Dakota Tourism.
From $649-$1,049 PP/DO, $100-$150 more for own room. Prices include accommodations, transportation, most meals, admission to monuments and services of historian/guide and escort
If you have a yearning to relive history, then HistoryAmerica TOURS has just the vacation for you. They tour the trails, routes, battlefields and monuments of the United States' most dramatic historical events.
You travel with renowned historian guides to Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, Chickamauga, along the trail of Custer to the Battle of Little Big Horn, along the Texas trails and along parts of the Oregon Trail to the Pacific Coast. Each tour is filled with discussions of historic events, lectures and visits to these historic places.
Enjoy learning about American History where the events took place. Gain perspective about the troops and their leaders, the conditions of their campaigns and the final outcome of their battles.
HistoryAmerica TOURS also offers tours for children in summer -- following the Civil War in the West, the Civil War in Virginia, and the campaigns of Custer and Crazy Horse.
Courtesy Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennel.
Courtesy Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennel.
Courtesy Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennel.
Courtesy Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennel.
Courtesy Krabloonik Restaurant and Kennel.
$175 per ride, PP for adults and $110 for children 3-8 years old. Ride tours last four hours and include gourmet lunch.
Founded in the spring of 1974, Krabloonik means "big eyebrows" and is the Eskimo word for "white man." They offer half-day dogsled rides, tours of the kennels and gourmet lunch.
The dogs are hybrids of three original sled dog types -- Malamute, Eskimo and Siberian (commonly grouped under the name of Husky). The combination results in dogs with broad chests and shoulders, long legs and wide paws, which are ideal for pulling on powdery snow.
Teams of 13 dogs pull handcrafted sleds every day in winter. The sleds were adapted from the original bone and rawhide Eskimo sleds. They carry people and provisions on tours of the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness area. The dogs work hard during the sledding season and rest all summer.
There are plans to offer dog sledding through Wrangell/St. Elias National Park in conjunction with Alaskan kennels and Ultima Thule Outfitters of Chitina, Alaska -- an ultimate frontier experience in the great north.
Courtesy FITS Equestrian.
Call for price information.
FITS Equestrian offers riding tours throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, South and Central America. You can ride inn-to-inn in Vermont or explore the canyonlands of Utah.
In California, you can ride among the redwoods and along the coast, or ride a real mustang -- strong, enduring and willing -- in nature parks surrounding the San Francisco Bay area.
You can join rides in Wyoming, Alaska, Colorado and New Hampshire. All rides require at least basic riding ability and some are intermediate to advanced.
There also are options for beginners or those interested in improving their skills. At Blue Fox Farm in Virginia, only 50 minutes from Washington D.C., you can combine riding and learning at the farm, even if you're a beginner, with visits on horseback to local historical landmarks and driving excursions to the nation's capital
Experienced riders can tour the western Canadian wilderness, or head south for a memorable ride in the Mexican countryside, far from tourist crowds. FITS Equestrian also offers tours of Belize and Argentina, as well as many other countries throughout the world.
Riding ability is required, ranging from basic to advanced, depending on the trip.
Courtesy Southern Heritage Expeditions.
Courtesy Southern Heritage Expeditions.
Courtesy Southern Heritage Expeditions.
Courtesy Southern Heritage Expeditions.
Courtesy Southern Heritage Expeditions.
Call for pricing information.
Southern Heritage Expeditions offers 12-, 15- and 18-day excursions to the handful of remote islands south of New Zealand's South Island. Huge bird populations come to the uninhabited islands to breed and live undisturbed. Dramatic cliffs, overgrown vegetation, plateaus and grasses provide pristine habitats.
Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Macquerie Island and the Snares and Bounty groups have seen little human contact since they emerged from the sea millions of years ago.
Campbell Island is the only inhabited island in the group and is home to several staff members of the New Zealand meteorological service. The are no trees and tussocks dominate the terrain. More than 7,500 pairs of southern royal albatross are scattered across the hillsides, and vast colonies of greyheaded and blackbrowed mollymawks are concentrated on a few headlands.
The Australian explorer Sir Douglas Mawson called Macquarie Island "one of the wonder spots of the world," due to the sheer numbers of species. Approximately 100,000 seals and four species of penguin (a population of about 3 to 4 million) are native to the island.
All of the islands are nature reserves and can be entered only by those with permits. Southern Heritage Expeditions offers cruising and walking tours of the islands and will introduce you to their inhabitants. Photography, ornithology and natural history opportunities are unprecedented.
The majority of wildlife is accessible, but you must be able to cope with life at sea.
Courtesy Tumbaco Inc.
Courtesy Tumbaco Inc.
Courtesy Tumbaco Inc.
Courtesy Tumbaco Inc.
Diving cruises are for adults only.
$1,850 per person, excludes airfare.
Tumbaco Inc. arranges cruises and diving expeditions to the incomparable Galapagos Islands. On these private yacht expeditions, you enjoy a relaxed and independent look at this wonderful region. Both motor and sailing yachts are available.
For the diver, exploring the Galapagos is one of the ultimate diving experiences. The yachts are fully equipped for diving and comply with PADI safety requirements.
Tumbaco also offers tours of the Ecuadoran mainland.
Experience is required for the diving cruise.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Courtesy TravelWild International.
Costs depend on individual itineraries. Trip costs include all meals, lodging, ground and specified air transportation during the tour and services of guide.
On a TravelWild International tour, you set out to capture the essence of the natural world. A massive grizzly snatches a leaping sockeye salmon from Alaska's raging Brooks River. Alpine wildflowers explode in colors in the Canadian Rockies. A newborn giraffe finds its legs in the timeless Serengeti.
Nature enthusiasts and photographers find these tours get them to the right place at the right time to see the spectacle of the natural world at its finest. Your tour leaders are expert interpretive naturalists and bring the grand story of wildlife drama to light. Each leader possesses teaching experience in both the classroom and the field and their fluency in languages transforms your journey into a living documentary.
Extraordinary worlds await you on tours to Alaska, Canada, Africa and Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Tours last from 3 to 20 days and include lodging, all meals, ground transportation during the tour, specified air transportation and guide services.
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd..
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd..
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd..
From $2,535 for the land cost. Includes accommodations and most meals.
Tread Lightly Ltd. offers two-week excursions to the enchanting land of Bali and Borneo, home of majestic temples, ancient traditions and the Tanjung Puting Orangutan Preserve.
The highlight of your trip is a visit to the preserve with orangutan expert Dr. Birute Galdikas. Dr. Galdikas will share her extensive knowledge of these endangered primates.
As their name suggests, Tread Lightly Ltd. stresses "soft-adventure" and respect for both the environment and people of the region through which your are traveling.
Your excursion costs also include a dontaion to the organizations fighting the destruction of the rain forest homes of the orangutan, who are now being sacrificed for the production of lumber.
The trip is for generally fit individuals.
Courtesy Outer Edge Expeditions.
Photo by Brian Obrecht. Courtesy Outer Edge Expeditions.
Courtesy Outer Edge Expeditions.
Courtesy Outer Edge Expeditions.
Photo by Brian Obrecht. Courtesy Outer Edge Expeditions.
Minimum age varies. Some tours are adults-only.
Australia: Dive and Sail, $3,350 to $4,340; Camel Safari, $790; Eastern Australian Odyssey, $2,890; Sports Spectacular, $1,790.
New Zealand: $2,290 to $2,490.
Amazon: Jungle Adventure, $2,550 to $3,550; Pink Dolphins, $1,400 to $1,800.
Prices are per person and exclude airfare.
Outer Edge Expeditions is committed to making the exciting wilderness, from the Australian Outback to the Amazon jungle, accessible to the active traveler. They specialize in small-group expeditions, from one to 10 people, to provide personalized service, flexibility and minimal environmental impact.
Four trips are offered to Australia, covering a broad range of activities and interests.
-- A dive, sail and whale-watching odyssey explores the Great Barrier Reef, the dive site against which all others are judged. On a private sailboat, you visit isolated reef systems, remote islands and Platypus Bay, where humpback whales come to breed. This two-week tour begins in August. Minimum age is 16.
-- You can ride your own camel through the Red Center, a vast, uncharted red-sand desert epitomizing the Australian outback, and experience, for 10 days, a nomadic lifestyle almost forgotten in most parts of the world. Minimum age for this March tour is 14.
-- An expedition in eastern Australia, open to all ages, explores rain forests in Lamington and Eungella national parks, the Great Barrier Reef and Frasier Island. This 15-day trip departs the fourth Saturday of every month in 1993 and 1994 .
-- The physically fit person looking for a challenge can try virtually every Australian outdoor sport -- kayaking, mountain biking, diving, backpacking, whitewater rafting and horseback riding -- in a 15-day, adults-only, sports spectacular offered in late spring, summer and fall.
-- Outer Edge offers a 17-day Amazon jungle exploration where you travel by dugout canoe and camp deep in Manu National Park and Bisosphere Reserve, far beyond any lodge-based trip. You also explore both Machu Picchu and Cuzco. Minimum age is 12.
-- In the Yarapa River in Peru, you can swim with pink freshwater "boto" dolphins. In this lodge-based tour, you also build your own raft, catch fish without hooks and spend time with a native family. This 15-day July and October tour has a minimum age of 10.
-- An adults-only tour in New Zealand combines heli-biking with whitewater rafting and bungee-jumping. This 16-day action adventure is offered in January.
Outer Edge also leads trips through Indonesia and Canada.
A portion of the proceeds from each tour goes to conservation and research projects in the area of the expedition.
Tours range from easy to challenging.
Courtesy Himalayan Travel.
Courtesy Himalayan Travel.
Courtesy Himalayan Travel.
Courtesy Himalayan Travel.
Courtesy Himalayan Travel.
From $2,670 PP/DO with an additional $600 charge for internal airfare. Trip costs include leader, transport, excursions and accommodations during 21-day trip. Airfare not included.
This tour offers you South America in a nutshell. You see Brazil, Paraguay's landlocked isolation, the primitive beauty of Bolivia and the Inca heritage of Peru. You see markets, ruins and the world's highest navigable lake.
In Rio de Janeiro, you see views from Sugar Loaf Mountain over the city and Guanabara Bay.
You visit spectacular Iguassu Falls from the Argentine side and visit the Itaipu dam project. You fly over the red sandstone gorges of the Andean foothills to visit rural Tarabuco in Bolivia. On market day, all the villagers wear traditional dress to the market -- the distinctive red, orange and black ponchos, knee-length woollen breeches and conquistador helmets.
You also visit La Paz, Bolivia, the world's highest major city. Sixty percent of the population is pure Indian, quechua- and aymara-speaking. The women still wear voluminous skirts, bowler hats and their hair parted down the middle as decreed by a Spanish monarch more than 200 years ago.
A full-day train journey takes you through the Peruvian Central Valley. You clatter at 20 mph through fields worked by oxen, past sheep and llamas, women spinning and weaving and adobe hamlets lit by paraffin lamps.
In Cuzco, the navel of the Inca Empire, you visit the mighty fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the citadel of Ollantaytambo, the market at Chinchero and the spectacular agricultural terraces at Pisaq. After a visit to Machu Picchu, you return home.
Himalayan Journeys offers tours all over the world, to nearly every continent. They offer walking tours to Britain, climbing expeditions to the Himalayas, trekking in Morocco and Corsica and rafting in Middle Asia.
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd.
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd.
Courtesy Tread Lightly Ltd.
From $1,700 land cost, excludes airfare to Newfoundland.
Legend has it that Newfoundland was the place Cain was exiled to after slaying his brother Abel. If so, it musn't have been much of a punishment. This corner of Canada is a spectacular wildlife refuge -- home to moose, caribou and some of the world's largest concentrations of bird and marine life. Some like to call it a little bit of Britain set on ice.
Tread Lightly Ltd. sponsors a week-long exploration of the area based in cozy English bed and breakfasts. You visit the oldest city in North America, St. John's, and watch icebergs float in St. John's Bay.
At Whittle's Bay you see the continent's largest population of puffins. Another place of ornithological interest is Cape St. Mary, host of one of the greatest gannet colonies.
You also visit Terra Nova National Park and are hosted by Canadian naturalists Mark and Terry Carpenter.
Tread Lightly believes in "soft-adventure" and respect for the environment and people of the places you visit. They also sponsor tours to Central and South America, parts of the U.S. and Mongolia.
10% to all Adventures Customers
Courtesy Calypso Diving Centre.
Courtesy Calypso Diving Centre.
Courtesy Calypso Diving Centre.
Courtesy Calypso Diving Centre.
Courtesy Calypso Diving Centre.
$290 PP per week (Apr.-May) $325 (June-Sept.), $350-$390 (July and Aug.) for accommodations, breakfast and dinner, use of beach facilities and airport transfers. Diving packages are an additional $165-$185 and includes 6 dives, use of weights and tanks, and the service of an experienced guide.
Calypso Diving Centre is situated in Agio Gordis, a small village on the west side of Corfu, the most northerly of Greece's Ionian Islands. It is set on pine-covered hills and surrounded by sea.
Perched at the confluence of the Ionian and Adriatic seas, the waters around Corfu have hosted many vessels since the Golden Age, are largely unexplored and may host many archaeological treasures.
The Calypso team leads diving excursions twice a day, weather permitting. Generally, the morning dives are deeper and geared towards more experienced divers and the afternoon dives are in shallow water. Night dives can also be arranged. They tailor dives to suit the diver as opportunities abound near Corfu and the neighboring islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. Clear water, spectacular drop offs, caves teeming with sealife, groupers and undersea arches all await the diver.
The center has comfortable accommodations, apartments that sleep four to five or smaller rooms for two to three along the sandy beach. An adjacent restaurant specializes in Italian cooking but can serve up tasty Greek dishes as well.
Nearby are unspoiled villages, more beaches, famous night spots and quaint cafes where you can sample local cuisine and watch folk dancing.
Divers should be reasonably fit and certified.
Available on certain special departures. Call for details.
Courtesy Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
Courtesy Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
Courtesy Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
Courtesy Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
Courtesy Big Five Tours and Expeditions.
From $6,995 PP/DO including airfare and land cost from New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. Includes some meals, accommodations, services of drivers and guides and game drives.
Big Five Tours and Expeditions offers tours to all parts of Africa. They specialize in safaris and individualized itineraries to the remote and unfrequented locales.
On some of their tours, you fly between east African games parks for a bird's-eye view of the stunning landscapes. They offer tours to Hemingway country to view game in the shadow of mighty Kilimanjaro at Amboseli National Park.
You stay at the Mount Kenya Safari Club, the retreat of the late William Holden. You savor the spectacular wildlife of the Samburu and Masai Mara game reserves. On the FlameTrees of Thika tour, you watch game from "tree lodges" throughout the night. See the densely forested landscapes of the Aberdares in Kenya. Float through the Nile Valley on a five-day cruise. See the boisterous elephant population of Botswana or float on the lagoons and channels of the Okavango Delta in a dugout canoe. See mountain gorillas in Rwanda or lowland gorillas in Zaire.
Big Five Tours also explores Latin America, India, Nepal, Indonesia, the Arctic and Antarctica.
Courtesy Yamnuska Inc.
Courtesy Yamnuska Inc.
Courtesy Yamnuska Inc.
Courtesy Yamnuska Inc.
From $275 for mountaineering weekends to $6,635 (Canadian) for mountain skills and outdoor leadership semesters. Prices cover land cost. Private instruction begins at $214 per person per day. Prices include guiding, accommodations, most meals, group equipment, local transportation and sales tax where required.
Yamnuska programs provide challenging and rewarding mountain experiences for novices and experts alike.
Whether in summer or winter, on foot or on skis, on ice or on rock, you can enjoy the many moods and aspects of the mountains.
Yamnuska offers mountaineering, rock and ice climbing seminars from beginning to advanced levels. They offer outdoor leadership and backcountry skiing courses as well as courses in ski mountaineering and avalanche survival.
You can also hike with Yamnuska in the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, Yukon, the Canyonlands in the U.S. and Nepal.
Difficulty levels range from beginner to advanced.
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