From Antarctica to Zambia
Whether the ice-clad continent or the sun-warmed plains of East Africa, you can explore these fascinating places on a tour
By Katie Solan
Escorted tours provide convenience and value to the traveler. Tour packages bundle together ground transportation, lodging, some meals, sightseeing and activities in one price that's paid upfront, and travelers are free from the worry of researching and planning their own itineraries. Additionally, tour operators receive group discounts on lodging and other components of the vacation, savings that are then passed on to their guests.
When traveling to exotic locales, group travel can offer further benefits. "Escorted tours are often the way to go because people like the safety of traveling in groups," says Troy Bringle, vice president of the tours and resorts division at Vacations To Go. "You're led by a knowledgeable guide who knows how to get around the area, which is a huge benefit when you're traveling in an unfamiliar part of the world."
Here is a sampling of some of the world's most exotic travel destinations, all of which can be explored on an escorted tour.
Wildlife Adventures
Tours visiting Antarctica, an icy expanse of frozen tundra, attract people intrigued by Earth's "final frontier." The fifth-largest continent was only discovered in 1820 and has no indigenous human inhabitants. The land offers pure pristine wilderness, and travelers here are sure to see rare and breathtaking sights.
Tours to Antarctica generally depart from Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile. From there, tours move to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Shorter trips usually follow Drake's Passage south to the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting islands such as the South Shetlands or Deception Island. A longer route travels east from Ushuaia, visiting the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island before heading south to the Antarctic Peninsula.
No matter the route, a tour to Antarctica promises spectacular views of wildlife and dramatic landscapes. While cruising to the Antarctic Peninsula, travelers can catch views of sea birds flying in the ship's wake or humpback whales swimming nearby. On land, guests can see vast penguin rookeries, seal colonies, sea lions and albatross.
Visits to the "White Continent" also give travelers the opportunity to see fantastic ice formations, whether the spectacular glaciers lining the Lemaire Channel or groups of icebergs slowly drifting north from the continent. In addition, tours to Antarctica are staffed with knowledgeable guides and feature on-board lectures that detail the area's natural history and early explorations of the continent.
Information: Learn more about tours to Antarctica by visiting Vacations To Go or calling (800) 680-2858.
African safari tours appeal to animal lovers and photo enthusiasts, guiding travelers to parks and reserves in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia for views of big game in their natural environment. A highlight of most safaris is the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, which boasts the richest concentration of wildlife in Africa. This vast stretch of savannah dotted by flat-topped acacia trees is home to the "Big Five" -- lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffaloes.
Hippos bathe in pools of water across these grasslands, and the plains are famous for the annual migration of more than 1 million wildebeests. Also found in the Mara, as well as across East Africa, are zebras, giraffes, gazelles, antelopes, cheetahs and hyenas. East Africa is home to more than 450 bird species, including cormorants, pelicans, hornbills and delightful flamingos that line the banks of lakes -- a surreal haze of cotton-candy pink.
On African safari tours, guests typically spend nights in a combination of lodges and hotels. Sometimes participants stay in deluxe canvas tents, giving travelers the authentic experience of the savannah at night.
A travel warning for Kenya was recently issued by the U.S. Department of State, citing "continuing terrorist threats." However, Pamela Lassers, director of media relations at Abercrombie & Kent, a tour operator that has led trips to Africa for more than 40 years, assures travelers that this "hasn't been an issue."
"We have hundreds of visitors that visit Kenya each year, and this hasn't been a problem at all. In fact, tourism to Kenya is up dramatically this year," she said when interviewed in December 2005. "The number of guests traveling on safari to Kenya with A&K is up 65 percent in 2005 compared to 2004."
Lassers also notes that the wilds of the savannah aren't common terrorist targets, and that safari tours always travel in groups of multiple vehicles. Vehicles also are equipped with two-way radios, she adds.
Information: For details on escorted African safaris, visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858.
Treasures of the Ancient World
Egypt, a land of ancient pharaohs, wind-swept deserts and mythic pyramids, is filled with countless historical treasures. Travelers will view centuries-old iconic structures that are among the world's most notable.
Tours to Egypt commonly visit Giza, near Cairo, home to the three Great Pyramids, including Khufu. Dating to 2560 B.C., it is Giza's oldest pyramid and the largest in Egypt. Nearby is the legendary Sphinx, the part-feline, part-pharaoh relic that gazes eternally across the desert. Other Egypt highlights include the Valley of the Kings, the resting place of more than 60 pharaohs, including the tomb of Tutankhamen, and the Temple of Amon Ra, an immense structure dedicated to the king of the Egyptian gods.
Many Egypt tour itineraries include a cruise on the Nile River, the core of Egyptian life and culture for more than 5,000 years. Typical stops include Luxor, home to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Temple of Karnak, the former a nod to Egypt's longest-ruling female leader, the latter the largest temple complex in the world. Nile River cruises also often visit the Temple of Horus, honoring the Egyptian falcon god, and the modern Aswan High Dam.
"When you take a river cruise, you can see things not as easily accessible from land," says Bringle. Another benefit to a river cruise, he says, is that you travel from destination to destination without the hassle of packing and unpacking. "You can really just relax during the day and enjoy the passing river scenery," Bringle says. "It's a nice alternative to a motor coach."
Information: For information on escorted vacations in Egypt, visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858.
Lands of Traditions and Temples
Tours to India offer travelers a look at this lively, diverse country, known not only for cities of boisterous clamor but also for peaceful, unexpected delights. Most tours include a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India's most famous architectural masterpiece and a colossal monument dedicated to love. Tour guides tell visitors the story behind this structure of shimmering marble, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century as a tomb for his beloved wife, who passed away after giving birth to their 14th child.
Highlights also include touring Old Delhi and New Delhi. The former is India's young capital city of wide avenues, colonial mansions and imperial government buildings. The latter was the capital of Muslim India from the 12th through 19th centuries. Much of its past is maintained in the labyrinthine streets, vibrant bazaars and ancient temples. In New Delhi visitors can tour the Mahatma Ghandi National Museum, featuring the revered leader's personal letters and diaries.
China, the largest country in the Orient, is known for its imperial past and rich cultural traditions. Tours to China include stays in ancient imperial cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai. In Beijing, tours call at the Forbidden City, the best-preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. Located in the heart of Beijing, it was off limits to most of the world for nearly 500 years, but visitors can now tour its lush gardens, grand courtyards and great palace halls.
Also in Beijing is famed Tiananmen Square, a 100-acre expanse of paving stones smoothed by years of imperial gatherings and Maoist revolutionary rallies. It captured the world's attention during the massive student-led demonstrations of 1989. Today, citizens and tourists wander the square while children fly kites. From Beijing, travelers can walk across the famous and awe-inspiring Great Wall of China.
In cosmopolitan Shanghai, tour the renowned Shanghai Museum, home to a 120,000-piece collection of Chinese history. In Xi'an, travelers can marvel at the ancient, life-sized terra-cotta warriors and horses stoically guarding the Dayan Pagoda. Bustling Hong Kong is another stop on Chinese tours, and visitors can bargain-hunt for unique finds at the Stanley Market or perhaps find Zen at the Miu Fat Monastery, a peaceful Buddhist temple.
Popular China tour itineraries also include Yangtze River cruises, an excellent option for seeing more of China's varied landscape, such as the canyon views from the Daning River tributaries and small rural villages. Shibaozhai is a notable stop, featuring a grand, 12-story temple offering stunning views of the river below.
Thailand is southeast Asia's most popular tourist destination, known for its rich culture, breathtaking natural beauty, tranquil temples and piquant cuisine. Sights to see in the capital city of Bangkok include Wat Phra Keo, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a magnificent structure of gilded spires, colorful tiles and rich marble pediments. It can be easy to overlook the actual Emerald Buddha while touring the grounds; at only 26 inches tall, the carved-jasper figure sits high above worshippers in the main temple, often outshined by the tall golden shrine that cradles it. Adjoining the temple is the Grand Palace, a former royal residence comprised of four buildings, featuring a blend of architectural styles, such as Italian Renaissance and traditional Thai.
Tours to Japan bring to life the culture and beauty of the island, a land of ancient samurai warriors and centuries-old shrines and castles. Most tours include stays in Tokyo, Japan's ultramodern capital city, bustling with 8 million people. Its famous Ginza shopping district is a popular place for visitors to spend free time, strolling underneath the strip's neon lights, past famed department stores and extravagant window displays.
Tours often travel from the big-city glitter of Tokyo to serene and majestic Mount Fuji, a snowcapped dormant volcano reaching 12,387 feet. Japan tours also can visit Matsumoto, home to the 1592 Matsumoto Castle, one of the most stunning of Japan's original castles, as well as the Japan Folklore Museum, offering a taste of Japan's rich history.
From Matsumoto, many itineraries travel through the ruggedly enchanting Japanese Alps, stopping in quaint, isolated towns to see a slice of Japanese culture barely touched by the passage of time. History buffs will be captivated by visits to Hiroshima and its World War II memorials.
Kyoto is another popular stop, filled with well-preserved temples and shrines. Here, visitors can tour Gion, Kyoto's geisha district.
Information: Learn more about escorted tours to Asia and the Far East by visiting Vacations To Go or calling (800) 680-2858.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2006 .
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858 for current rates and details.