Journeys of discovery with National Geographic
The passion and expertise of those in the know is infectious, and the National Geographic Society has been sharing its knowledge of cultures, natural wonders and remote environments with us for over 120 years.
What’s better then, than actually travelling with the experts to destinations many of us discovered by reading and watching their own documented accounts?
The latest National Geographic Journeys brochure operated in partnership with award-winning travel company Titan Hitours, offers 17 extraordinary travel adventures worldwide that take travellers beyond the usual trail both in insight and access. Think private access to the Great Pyramid, VIP access to the Terracotta Army, spiny tailed iguanas close up and camping with the Tuareg in the Sahara.
The differences between a “tour” and a “National Geographic Journey” are in the commitment to authenticity and knowledge built on the destination choices and itineraries, and how the adventure is put together from the very beginning:
Tours conducted by a National Geographic expert means the chance to see a place through the eyes of someone who knows it intimately and cares about it: highly regarded writers, photographers, historians, wildlife biologists and Egyptologists all host the 2010/2011 tours
The “Journeys By Sea” Collection includes an Expedition team of naturalists, geologists and anthropologists on hand to explain discoveries along the way
National Geographic photographers offer valuable guidance on capturing experiences, and a video chronicler produces a professional record of the highlights of the journey
The groups are like-minded and small with an average of 12-15 people. The small group allows for private talks, visits and stays in deserts, traditional Tipis and on board the National Geographic expedition ships.
‘Treasures, Temples and Tombs’, a 12-day Egyptian adventure is led by Mohammed Aziz, a licensed Egyptologist who has conducted trips to Cairo and Luxor for over a decade. He takes travellers on a discovery of the secrets of the monumental pyramids and tombs, treasures of a boy-king, the Nile and the buzzing capital city, by going beyond the accessible.
This tour goes further with a private talk from the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities (Dr. Zahi Hawass), an exclusive visit to the tomb of Nefertari, now permanently closed to the public, private access to the Great Pyramid, private access to the restricted area in front of the Sphinx, a private dinner at the Old Winter Palace and an excursion by air to the temples of Abu Simbel on the banks of the Lake Nasser.
Departing on September 26th 2010, prices are inclusive of all activities, flights and meals outlined in the full itinerary are from £3,598 per person.
‘Classical Heritage of Libya’ offers a 12-day exploration of more than ten thousand years of Libyan cultural history, from the magnificent prehistoric rock paintings of the Southern Sahara to the nomadic traditions of the surviving Tuareg. Led by Neil Faulkner, a research fellow at Bristol University and a field archaeologist, the tour takes in Tripoli, Sabratha, Ghadames, Fezzan, Acacus, Germa, Ubari and Leptis Magna.
The National Geographic “difference” sees the inclusion of a private dinner in Ghadames with an exclusive cultural show, camping with the Tuareg in the Sahara, visiting prehistoric artwork and natural wonders rarely accessible on “standard” itineraries, a private viewing of the mosaics at the Roman Villa Sileen (normally closed to the public) and a private dinner at the grand Dar Zumit, a restored 19th century caravanserai.
Departing on December 10th 2010, prices are inclusive of all activities, flights and meals outlined in the full itinerary are from £2,748 per person.
‘Cities of Silk and Stone’ offers a 14-day “see it for yourself” of a country probably featured more than any other on the pages of National Geographic magazine – China. The tour is led by Peter Hibbard, an ex-pat based in Shanghai whose background is in urban planning, sociology and tourism. The itinerary introduces travellers to China’s cultural and natural wonders, including Beijing, the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, pandas of Chongquing and the gardens of Suzhou.
Delivering on the promise of “under the skin” experiences are exclusive elements: Meeting a leading archaeologist and enjoying VIP access to the astonishing terracotta warrior dig, a walk along an isolated section of the Great Wall, meeting a head engineer from the Three Gorges Dam project, meeting the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Xi’an, a principles of Feng Shui lesson and an insight into panda conversation efforts at Chongquing Zoo.
Departing on September 7th 2010, prices are inclusive of all activities, flights and meals outlined in the full itinerary are from £2,998 per person.
‘Journeys in the Sea Of Cortez’ presents a tour of an area so rich in wildlife it’s often referred to as “Mexico’s Galapagos” and the opportunity for a flexible “at sea” itinerary. The National Geographic Sea Lion, accommodating just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins, is large enough to “go remote” in location and small enough to enter ports and inlets not accessible to bigger vessels.
The 10-day “sea of Cortez” option offers travellers a flexible itinerary to fit in kayaking, hiking, bird watching and stunning landscapes along the way in the company of an expert expedition team. In addition the tour includes snorkelling and swimming with reef fish and sea lions and a naturalist-guided walks on desert islands of sand dunes, vast cacti and colonies of colourful seabirds.
Departing on December 11th 2010, prices are inclusive of all activities; flights and meals outlined in the full itinerary are from £2,998 per person.
The National Geographic Journeys brochure also features similarly “under the skin” authentic adventures in the company of the experts to destinations including Petra, Cape Town, India, North America, Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica and Antarctica.
Contributions from each journey help the society continue its mission to inspire people to care about the planet, and the experiences create ambassadors from the travellers themselves - passion is infectious when an experience is shared.
For more information and bookings, visit ngjourneys.co.uk.