Around the World
September 29 - October 20, 2010
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September 29
Enjoy a special welcome
reception and dinner at our hotel.
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
Lima, Cusco & Machu
Picchu or The North Coast, Peru
September 30, October 1 &
2
Fly to Lima aboard our
private jet and overnight. Then, transfer to a local flight to Cusco, the
legendary city at the center of the Andean world for centuries. Travel by train
through the wildly scenic Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu. Abandoned by the Inca
and rediscovered in 1911, Machu Picchu is one of the world’s greatest
archaeological sites and natural wonders. Instead of exploring Cusco and Machu
Picchu, you may go to Trujillo and explore ancient Moche and Chimu temples,
including Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world.
Swissôtel, Lima and Monasterio Hotel, Cusco
Easter Island, Chile
October 3 & 4
Fly 2,300 miles off the
coast of Chile to Easter Island, the most remote inhabited island in the world
and an open-air museum of ancient stone villages, sanctuaries, and giant statues
called moai.
Resident archaeologist Edmundo Edwards explores the island’s treasures with you.
Hanga Roa Hotel, Taha Tai Hotel, or Iorana
Hotel (Accommodation upgrades are available at Explora Rapa Nui)
Apia, Samoa, Polynesia
October 5
Samoa has one of the most
traditional Polynesian cultures. Visit Vailima, once the home of Robert Louis
Stevenson, who wrote fascinating stories about the local people. Here we will
enjoy a fiafia,
a colorful performance of Samoan dance and song.
Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa, Samoa
Cross the International
Date Line
October 6
From Polynesia we continue our voyage across the
Pacific, crossing the International Date Line. We lose a day and arrive in
Australia the following afternoon.
The Great Barrier Reef
or The Daintree Rain Forest, Australia
October 7 & 8
The resplendent Great
Barrier Reef is home to an exceptionally rich variety of marine life,
unparalleled in the world. We will have the opportunity for relaxation, bird
watching, snorkeling, and other activities in this incredible marine sanctuary.
Instead of exploring the reef, you may cruise the Daintree River and go on a
Dreamtime walk with a member of the Kuku Yalanji tribe.
Sea Temple Resort & Spa, Port Douglas
Angkor, Cambodia or
Hanoi & Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
October 9, 10 & 11
Fly to Siem Reap to explore
the astoundingly beautiful monuments at nearby Angkor. Built between the ninth
and 13th centuries, Angkor Wat is the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire, and
one of the world’s greatest architectural triumphs. Or instead of Angkor,
explore the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay. Marvel at the spectacular
seascape of towering limestone pillars and floating villages on a serene cruise
in traditional boats. Or instead of Angkor or Ha Long Bay, continue by private
jet to Hanoi—a beautiful city filled with lakes and parks. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s
modest wooden house-on-stilts and the curiously-shaped One Pillared Pagoda built
in 1049.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor or
InterContinental Westlake Hanoi
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
October 12
Board our private jet bound for Agra, capital of
India’s Mogul empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. Explore one of the world’s
greatest architectural wonders, the Taj Mahal.
Rajasthani Palaces of
Jaipur
October 12 (continued) &
13
Reboard the jet and fly to
the “Pink City,” named for the rose-pink wash of its prominent buildings. Visit
the sumptuous City Palace and the unique Hawa Mahal—the Palace of the Winds. You
may also, if you wish, explore the whimsical Jantar Mantar, an 18th-century
observatory of enormous and curiously sculptural astronomical tools. Or take an
excursion to the Amber Fort, with sweeping views of the historic old town below.
In the evening, gather for a gala Rajasthani dinner.
Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
Tanzania Safari
Adventure
October 14 & 15
We break up into smaller groups—each exploring a
different part of Tanzania. At the Serengeti National Park, go deep into the
savannah to witness the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa; or at
the Ngorongoro Crater, observe the permanent population of about 30,000 animals
in the largest unbroken caldera in the world.
Mobile Tented Camp, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, or Ngorongoro
Sopa Lodge
Luxor & Giza, Egypt or
Petra, Jordan
October 16 & 17
Visit Luxor Temple, the
temples of Karnak, and the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and sail the Nile
River in traditional felucca
boats. Alternatively, fly to Jordan and visit the ancient lost city of the
Nabataeans at Petra.
Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor or Mövenpick
Petra, Jordan
Marrakech, Morocco
October 18 & 19
Fly by private jet to the fabled gateway to the
Sahara, Marrakech. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and tombs of Saadian kings. Relax
in the courtyard garden of a palace that now houses the Dar Si Said Museum of
Moroccan Arts. Wander through the enchanted Djemaa el Fna, the busiest market
square in Africa, and enjoy a gala farewell dinner.
Mandarin Oriental Jnan Rahma, Marrakech
London, England
October 20
Following breakfast, our jet carries us to London
to connect with a regularly scheduled commercial flight home. If you prefer to
leave the next day, we can arrange for you to spend a complimentary night at a
hotel near the airport.
