Tour Overview
China has always been one of the most attractive travel destinations in the world, partly because so much history exists alongside the new, partly because it is still so unknown to outsiders. The country and its people remain a mystery. The rice paddies may have sprouted cities and manufacturing centers, and the streets may be clogged with cars and pollution, but the people remain rooted in a rich cultural heritage. This program will introduce you to some typical rural villages in different areas of China. We’ve chosen three of them, each with their own unique features, giving you some insight and understanding of life in rural China!

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing, China
Today when you arrive in Beijing you will be met and driven to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Holiday Inn Downtown Beijing is located in the city center, near the financial district, surrounded by securities houses, insurance companies & major government ministries.

The capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is a unique reflection of the many changing facets of contemporary Chinese culture, where ancient cultural sites such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven vie for space alongside high-rise buildings, modern shopping malls, and an intricate freeway system. A thriving commercial capital, continually developing, Beijing's 2000-year-old cultural heritage is still very much in evidence, with a vast array of stunning attractions throughout the city.
Holiday Inn Downtown

Day 2: Beijing
Start your tour of Beijing with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world.

Then visit the impressive Forbidden City within the Imperial Palace. Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum or Gugong, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties carried out their administration and lived. Now it is open to the public as a palace museum where people can see the great traditional palace architecture, enjoy the treasures kept in the palace, and learn of the legends and anecdotes about the imperial family and the court.

After lunch you will be driven to visit the Summer Palace, a former summer resort for the royal family, and take a boat ride on its Lake Kunming (weather permitting).
Holiday Inn Downtown

Day 3: Beijing
Join a full-day excursion to include the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, which snakes over the green hill countryside outside of Beijing.

UNESCO enlisted the Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, in the World Heritage in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 4,163 miles from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2,000 years, some of the sections of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

Mid-afternoon you’ll return to downtown and will visit the Old Beijing- Hutongs- by trishaw and have tea at the home of a local family.

This evening you will be treated to a delicious Beijing roast duck dinner!
Holiday Inn Downtown

Day 4: Beijing- Cuandixia- Beijing
Today you’ll drive to visit a special village called Cuandixia, which is located on an ancient post road in a mountainous area 90km west of Beijing.

First built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Cuandixia Village preserves about 70 courtyard houses built with stones and wood. They sit one by one following the slopes of the terrain in the valley. Its natural environment and distinctive characteristics make the old post an interesting stop, which will give you the chance to understand more about everyday life in rural China.
Holiday Inn Downtown

Day 5: Beijing- Xi'an
Your sightseeing this morning is the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. It is the largest temple complex remaining in China today. You will also have a chance to visit a famous silk shop, which has a history of over a hundred years.

This afternoon you’ll take a two-hour flight to Xi’an, the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road. You will be transferred to your hotel upon arrival.

The Aurum International Hotel: Each of the 302 rooms at this fine 4-star hotel feature superior amenities: some of the features you'll enjoy are Internet Access, Television, Separate Shower and Tub. Also to be found at the hotel are a Coffee Shop, Bar/Pub, Laundry Service/Dry Cleaning, Meeting Facilities, Restaurant, Room Service, Babysitting, Business Center. After a day of exploring, massage, gym/fitness facilities, sauna, and out door pool are some of the ways to unwind.
Aurum International Hotel

Day 6: Xi'an
This exciting day of sightseeing will include the Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin Emperor. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in 652 AD. It contains a large volume of Buddhist scriptures, which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. You will also have the chance to visit a jade carving factory. Afterwards, the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Aurum International Hotel

Day 7: Xi'an- Dong Han- Xi'an
Today you will be taken to visit a village near Xi’an named Dong Han, which is famous for farmer’s paintings. Drawn by hand, the artwork actually demonstrates their heart & soul. Just like the melodious folk songs of West China, the farmer’s paintings express the farmers loves and pursuits in life. The great changes of each passing day are recorded in these works.
Aurum International Hotel

Day 8: Xi'an- Shanghai
Today you’ll visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum where you will discover how Xi’an became the cradle of Chinese culture and then visit the ancient city wall, one of the few well-preserved city walls in China.

After lunch, you will be driven to the airport for a two-hour flight to Shanghai, a cosmopolitan, bustling city. When you arrive you will be driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Located in the heart of the city and only minutes from major tourist attractions and historical districts, is the Hotel Equatorial Shanghai. Since it’s opening in June 1991, Hotel Equatorial Shanghai is constantly evaluating and improving its guest’s services and facilities in order to keep up with the needs of the modern traveler. The latest development has been the refurbishing of the 526 guestrooms and suites; all of which now offers a contemporary yet warm feel. This includes the Equator Club reception and lounge area located on the 26th and 27th floor of the hotel tower.
Equatorial Hotel

Day 9: Shanghai
Your sightseeing today features a tour of the Yuyuan Garden, the old area of the city, and a stroll along the lively waterfront, known as the “Bund”. After lunch you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple, home to two famous white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in 1882.

Then, experience a traditional tea ceremony and dinner and stunning acrobatic show.
Equatorial Hotel

Day 10: Shanghai- Zhujiajiao- Shanghai
On this fabulous day you will be driven to visit a beautiful water town called Zhujiajiao. It is an ancient water town with a history of more than 1,700 years. Covering an area of 47 sq km, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.
Equatorial Hotel

Day 11: Depart Shanghai
Today is the end of your unforgettable trip to China. You are at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Tour Overview
Desert adventurer T. E. Lawrence's wartime trek across Jordan, from Wadi Rum to Aqaba, was one of the most arduous journeys of modern times. These days, however, you can explore Jordan's challenging terrain with considerably less effort. You'll probably forego camels for, say, an air-conditioned four-wheel-drive. But you might well echo Lawrence of Arabia's awestruck description of Jordan's dramatic desertscapes as "vast, echoing, and God-like."

Set on the ancient crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is full of historic sites. Crusaders' forts along old trade routes and ancient cities carved from stone will captivate anyone in search of the past. And while the land might be ancient, Jordan's cities offer the modern conveniences that help make your trip to the past a little less demanding. When you tire of desert ardors, you can relax at a Dead Sea spa or go scuba diving in the Red Sea.

Although it's mostly covered by desert, Jordan also has mountains, forests, marshes, beaches, plains, rolling hills and fertile river valleys. The Jordan Valley is actually an extension of the Great Rift Valley, which runs through Kenya and Tanzania in Africa

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Amman, Jordan
Your professional iExplore Representative will meet you at Queen Alia International Airport to assist you with visas, luggage and customs before driving you to your hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel Amman-Premium Room

Day 2: Amman
Today enjoy a full day sightseeing city tour of Amman. Start the day by visiting the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Theatre, the Folklore Museum, walk down town through the bazaars and the Gold market, then on to visit Darat al Funun. The tour ends at "The Pacha" for a relaxing massage and Turkish Bath. Then, return to the hotel for dinner.
Four Seasons Hotel Amman- Premium Room

Day 3: Jerash & Ajloun
Full day excursion to Jerash and Ajloun. Begin your day sightseeing in Jerash, sometimes called the Pompeii of the East. Jerash flourished in the first century AD and thrived by trade due to the benefits of the “Pax Romana.” Continue on to Ajloun where you will visit the castle of Ajloun “Al Rabad Castle.” Return to Amman for dinner and evening at leisure.
Four Seasons Hotel Amman- Premium Room

Day 4:Amman-Petra
This morning we leave the hotel for a full day sightseeing excursion to Mt. Nebo, Madaba, the King’s Highway, Kerak, and on to Petra for overnight.
Petra Moevenpick Resort- Standard Room

Day 5: Petra
Enjoy a full day tour of Petra. Start the visit with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city. Then walk on foot along the to visit the rose-red city of Petra.
Petra Moevenpick Resort- Standard Room

Day 6: Petra & Wadi Rum
This morning, enjoy a return visit to the site of Petra. After lunch, drive to Wadi Rum, pick up your 4x4 vehicle and driver for a 3-hour drive inside the beautiful desert of Wadi Rum and enjoy the sunset. Enjoy a special dinner under Bedouin tents with local music entertainment.
Petra Moevenpick Resort- Standard Room

Day 7: Petra & The Dead Sea
Transfer to Little Petra for a half-day visit. Return to your vehicle and drive to the Dead Sea via the Desert Highway. Arrive the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea and check in, enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
Kempinski Dead Sea- Standard Room

Day 8: Dead Sea
Enjoy the day at your at leisure for swimming and using the Sanctuary Spa. This afternoon you are collected from the hotel for a drive to the Baptism Site.
Kempinski Dead Sea- Standard Room

Day 9: Dead Sea-Amman-Depart
Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport (note: the drive from the Dead Sea to the airport is around 45-minutes.) Our representative will assist you with check-in and immigration procedures for your departure.

Tour Overview
The Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb is considered a strenuous and physically demanding trip (reaching altitudes exceeding 19,000 ft above sea level.) It is imperative that you are fully prepared (both physically and mentally) for this trip and you must ensure you have all the appropriate equipment and clothing, which can greatly affect the overall enjoyment of your tour.

You will experience equatorial to arctic conditions. The range begins with the warm dry plains with an average temperature of 30C (86F) and ascends through a wide belt of wet tropical forest, through zones with generally decreasing temperature and rainfall, to the summit where there is permanent ice and below freezing conditions. The altitude and seasons determine weather conditions. The fact that for most months of the year there are so few rainy days makes it possible to climb in relatively good conditions all year round. The rainy season is from March to June, with short rains in October and November

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: Moshi, Tanzania
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in and overnight. AMEG Lodge is based at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and set in a 4.5-acre area. It has been constructed with local Tanzanian building materials and designed to combine antique African and modern contemporary styles creating an articulate and seductive ambiance. Frangipani and palm trees adorn the grounds amidst a variety of colorful tropical plants.
AMEG Lodge

Day 02: Moshi - Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park / Mandara Hut
After an early breakfast you will be driven to Kilimanjaro. The actual hike begins at the park gate (6,000') and hike 5.5 miles up to Mandara Hut (8,860') near the upper edge of the forest line. The hike takes about 4-6 hours. The path is interesting, starting off through rain forest vegetation, then opening up to giant heather. If time and weather permit, a short walk from Mandara to Maundi Crater is worth it. Accommodations here, as well as at Horombo, are in wooden A-frame huts that sleeps 4 to 8.
Mandara Hut

Day 03: Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park / Marndara - Horombo Hut
Today the destination is Horombo Hut at 12,200’. It is approximately 5-6 hours to cover the 10-mile journey, and here, you will often get your first views of the Kibo summit. The trail is strenuous and slippery and takes you clear of the forests, and out onto the moorland, it continues past and beneath the rocky southern face of Mawenzi, one of the three volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro. Rainfall in this region is frequent.
Horombo Hut

Day 04: Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park / Horombo Hut
Today is an extra day to acclimatize, and it is best spent taking a day hike up toward the Maundi Hut by the upper trail to a viewpoint at 14,100 feet (4 hours round-trip). If you are feeling very fatigued, it can be spent resting or exploring the nearby region. Birdlife is abundant at Horombo. The rains come upon us almost every afternoon. So plan your day hike to be back inside the lodge with a cup of tea and good book by 4 p.m. Most climbers begin to feel the altitude at this level. After the rain clears, Horombo typically has beautiful sunsets and a night sky full of stars.
Horombo Hut

Day 05: Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park / Horombo - Kibo Hut
Another long hike, this time up to Kibo Hut at almost 15,500’. Although somewhat shorter in distance, this usually takes 7 hours because it is steeper and the altitude slows everyone down. The route passes directly up onto the Saddle, a wide, flat area with the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi looming overhead. Views from here can be fantastic. The last part of the trail passes across the arid plateau before ascending to Kibo Hut. Kibo Hut is a stone hut with rooms that sleep 10-15 people in bunk beds. You will have a light dinner, and turn in early for any sleep if possible. The guides give a little pre-climb talk after dinner.
Kibo Hut

Day 06: Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park / Ascent - Descent
We are awakened about midnight, and have tea and cookies. The guides try to get everyone ready to climb as quickly as possible, leaving between 1:00-1:30 a.m. Starting off, the trail swings back and forth up a steep scree slope and the climate is bitterly cold. The summit climb is an event you will not forget, with the night sky full of stars and only your breathing to help focus your mind. Most climbers arrive at Gillman's Point, elevation 18,635 feet, in time to enjoy sunrise around 6:30 a.m. The views from the top looking down on the plains of Africa make it all worthwhile. Some climbers decide that they have reached their goal and head down from here. For the strong, the true summit is Uhuru Peak (19,340 feet)-an additional 3 hours away round-trip. The descent from Gillman's Point is fairly rapid, taking about 2 hours. Most climbers take a short rest at Kibo Hut before descending to Horombo Hut for the night, arriving in the late afternoon.
Horombo Hut

Day 07: Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park - Depart
A long 14-mile hike back to the Marangu gate and park's headquarters. After finishing your climb you will be taken to Kia Lodge where you will have the use of a room to freshen up before being taken to the airport to connect with your onwards flight.
Kia Lodge Dayroom use

**NOTE: For a more aggressive itinerary, a 6-day option is available. Climbers who choose this option will continue on to Kibo Hut on Day 04, as opposed to staying an additional night at Horombo Hut. If interested, please ask your Adventure Consultant for more information & pricing.

Tour Overview
Lake Manyara National Park, famed for its tree-climbing lion, is made up of acacia woodlands, grassy floodplains and verdant groundwater forests and is home to an incredible diversity of birds, especially waterfowl, as well as antelope, primates and predators.

Visit the famed Ngorongoro Crater, located at the eastern edge of the Serengeti, and nearly three million years old, the ancient caldera of the once-volcanic Ngorongoro shelters the most beautiful wildlife haven left on Earth. The Crater is home to countless cheetah, serval, wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, leopard, and jackal.

After you'll travel to the Serengeti National Park, famous for the annual wildebeest and zebra migration. During June and July, mind-boggling numbers of hoofed animals make the long trek from Tanzania to Kenya, allowing for superb wildlife viewing.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: Arusha, Tanzania
Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Overnight, Arusha

Day 02: Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park - Ngorongoro Crater
Morning (2-hour) land transfer to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive for 2008 departures and for 2009 departures for Gold level priced trips or an air flight to Manyara airstrip for 2009 departures for Silver level priced trips. From soaring groundwater forests and a tranquil lake, to the mountain escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park boasts an incredible wealth of habitats and diverse African wildlife. Stopping at Gibb’s Farm for lunch before continuing your drive to Ngorongoro Crater for an afternoon at leisure.

As recently as 2.5 million years ago the young Ngorongoro Volcano became filled with molten rock that subsequently solidified into a crust or roof. As the lava chamber emptied, the solid dome collapsed and thus was formed the largest perfect caldera in the world (almost 20 km wide). Often referred to as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife arenas. A World Heritage Site, it is also one of the largest volcanic craters in the world (almost 20 km wide, 610-760m deep and covering a total area of 264 sq km). Explanations as to how it derived its name vary; some say it commemorates an especially valiant group of Datoga warriors who defeated their Maasai enemies in a pitched battle on the crater floor some 150 years ago whilst others believe it relates to a long-forgotten Maasai age-set. Most evocative is the suggestion that it refers to an old Maasai warrior, named Ngorongoro, who lived in the crater and made cowbells for his beloved herds of wandering cattle.

An utterly unique biosphere, the Crater harbors grasslands, swamps, forests, saltpans, a fresh water lake and a glorious variety of birdlife, all enclosed within its towering walls. Perched on the jagged rim of the crater, wreathed in morning mist, camouflaged in river-stone and cloaked in indigenous creepers, the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion. Sensitively constructed so as to take nothing from its environment whilst affording endless vistas over the heat-shimmering reaches of the crater below, the clustered boulder-built buildings of the Lodge hug the crater rim, linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the buttressed roots of ancient, liana-hung trees.
Overnight, Ngorongoro Crater

Day 03: Ngorongoro Crater
This morning you will descend into the Crater for another tour and picnic lunch. Due to its high concentration of wildlife, close-range viewing opportunities and striking scenery it is also Tanzania’s most visited destination. Quite apart from the ‘big five’ (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo), all of whom can often be spotted in a morning, the Crater also hosts up to 25,000 large mammals. Most are grazers, of which zebra and wildebeest comprise almost half, the rest being gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and warthog. As a result of these extraordinarily large numbers of herbivores, the crater also numbers one of the densest predator populations in Africa, most of which are lion and spotted hyena. Finally, the crater supports a large elephant population, most of which are bulls due to the relative paucity of food for the breeding herds, whilst certain animals such as giraffe, topi and impala, are notable by their absence. Return to the lodge and enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.

Optional activities (fees may apply) from the lodge include: morning wildlife walks around the lodge with our resident naturalist, selection of adventure hikes around the Ngorongoro Crater and the volcanoes of the nearby Crater Highlands, visits to authentic Maasai villages & traditional cattle markets and women’s handicraft groups, nightly wildlife and cultural talks, videos and film shows.
Overnight, Ngorongoro Crater

Day 04: Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park
Morning (4-hour) land transfer for 2008 departures and for 2009 Gold level priced departures or an air flight transfer for 2009 Silver level priced departures to the Serengeti National Park with visit to Olduvai Gorge en route. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1959, most of it having previously belonged to the now contiguous Serengeti National Park. Many natural attractions that are contained within its vast boundaries (8,300 sq km), these include both dormant and active volcanoes, soaring mountains, archaeological treasures, rolling plains, rivers, forests, lakes and shifting sand dunes whilst almost half of the NCA is made up of vast tracts of open grassland, which swing in a vast arc stretching from the Serengeti in the northwest through the Gol Mountains to the Salei Plain in the northeast. Close to the centre of the NCA is Olduvai Gorge, the ‘Cradle of Mankind’, where the remains of our earliest ancestors, the hominids, were found. From Olduvai, enroute to your lodge enjoy a picnic lunch and afternoon game drive.
The Serengeti Ecosystem and the Wildebeests (white-bearded gnus) and Burchell's Zebras. The wildebeest calve on the Serengeti Plains from January to March. They generally depart the Serengeti in May, where they head east and north for Lake Victoria and the Maasai Mara, crossing the Mara River around July. They leave the Mara in October-December. Animals migrating within game drive are Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Gazelle. Carnivores such as the Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena follow closely behind.
Overnight, Serengeti

Day 05: Serengeti National Park
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the park.The Serengeti National Park. The vast and sensational Serengeti, covering 14,763 sq km of endlessly rolling savannah plains, is Tanzania’s first-established, largest and most famous park wherein tens of thousands of hoofed animals roam in a constant and unremitting search for the fresh grasslands upon which their survival depends. The million-plus wildebeest are the predominant herbivore and also the main prey of a huge cast of large carnivores, principally lion and hyena. While the annual migration is the Serengeti’s most famous attraction, the Park is also renowned for its lion, many of which have been fitted with radio-transmitter collars so that their movements may be tracked, and additionally for its wealth of cheetah, zebra, giraffe, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, eland, impala, klipspringer, hippo and warthog.

Finally, the Serengeti, whose Maasai name ‘Siringet’ translates as ‘the endless plains’, offers unparalleled ornithological opportunities and an unrivalled natural arena wherein the glory and harmony of nature can be appreciated as nowhere else on earth. Optional activities (fees may apply) from the lodge; morning wildlife walks around the lodge with our resident naturalist, safari breakfast, cooked in the bush, ‘Bush Barbecue’ lunch, evocatively staged on a bluff overlooking the Mbingwe Valley, wherein is enacted the world-famous wildebeest migration, traditional displays of dance, music and cultural performance, nightly wildlife and cultural talks, videos and film shows Relaxing ‘après active’ massages, Balloon safaris over the plains followed by a champagne breakfast at the bush-landing site.
Overnight, Serengeti

Day 06: Serengeti - Arusha - Depart
After breakfast, a game-drive transfer to the Serengeti airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro, you will be assisted to clear customs and provided a picnic lunch to enjoy while you connect to your onward flight.

Tour Overview
Get the heart-pounding thrill of a safari while still enjoying the comforts of luxury accommodations on this ten-day East Africa adventure. Depart early morning for a game drive just as the dawn sunlight begins to stir the sleeping lions, zebras, and giraffesDay

by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Arusha, Tanzania
Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport. Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Check-in and enjoy your evening at leisure.
The Mountain Village Lodge, secreted in the depths of a tree-shaded coffee plantation, wreathed in multi-colored tresses of tumbling bougainvillea, cooled by mountain streams and strung like a necklace around the shores of an idyllic wooded lake, Mountain Village offers a haven of calm and serenity just outside the hustle and bustle of Arusha, Tanzania’s premier ‘Safari Town.’
Serena Mountain Village Lodge


Day 02: Arusha - Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
After breakfast you will be transferred to Arusha Airport where you board your scheduled flight to Manyara Airstrip. From the airstrip a road transfer of approximately 2 hours will bring you to the Lodge.
Ngorongoro Crater, located at the eastern edge of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania, is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The floor of the crater is only 100 square miles but is home to 3,000 animals with a high concentration of predators.Perched on the jagged rim of the crater, wreathed in morning mist, camouflaged in river-stone and cloaked in indigenous creepers, the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is a triumph of ecological and architectural fusion. Sensitively constructed so as to take nothing from its environment whilst affording endless vistas over the heat-shimmering reaches of the crater below, the clustered boulder-built buildings of the Lodge hug the crater rim, linked by rope-lashed timber walkways that skirt the buttressed roots of ancient, liana-hung trees.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge


Day 03: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
Enjoy game viewing activities, including a shared half-day game drive and picnic lunch in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Day 04: Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area - Serengeti National Park
After breakfast depart by road to the Manyara Airstrip for regional scheduled flight to Serengeti National Park. From the airstrip a game-drive transfer of approximately 45 minutes will bring you the lodge.
The word "Serengeti" comes from the Masai word siringet, which literally means "an extended area." Because the park covers 5,000 sq mi/12,950 sq km of grassland (broken by rock outcroppings and stands of acacia trees), it's an excellent place to observe animal migrations.
Set high on the saddle of tree-clad ridge commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the Serengeti, the Serengeti Serena Lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style. Drawing its inspiration from the circular ‘Rondavel’ dwellings and winding paths of a traditional Maasai village, the Lodge features thickly-thatched, stone-built rooms, spaciously set amongst groves of indigenous trees that are cooled by sparkling streams and papyrus-fringed ponds.
Serengeti Serena Lodge

Day 05: Serengeti National Park
Enjoy game viewing activities, including shared morning or afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park.
During the migrations, the wildebeests move first, then the zebras. Lions, hyenas and scavenger birds follow and feast on the sick, young, old or weary. More than 3 million animals move south from mid November to January, then north again from the end of May to June - though there is some variation in the dates, depending on the level of rainfall during a given year.
Serengeti Serena Lodge


Day 06: Serengeti National Park - Masai Mara Game Reserve
After breakfast, you will have a game-drive transfer of approximately 45 minutes will bring you to the airstrip. Board your scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport. After clearing customs and immigration you continue on your scheduled flight to Wilson Airport where you board the scheduled flight to the Masai Mara. You are met by a lodge representative and from the airstrip a short game-drive will bring you to your camp.
Kichwa Tembo is situated at the foot of the Oloololo Escarpment on the western border of the Masai Mara Reserve in southwestern Kenya. Meaning ‘Head of the Elephant’ in Swahili, Kichwa Tembo is located on a private concession leased from Maasai landlords in the exclusive western Mara – much less crowded than the eastern part of the Reserve.

In addition to an excellent year-round concentration of animals, Kichwa Tembo lies directly in the path of Africa’s spectacular Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti, Tanzania, to the Masai Mara in Kenya. This is indeed nature at her most theatrical, offering you an African wildlife experience unsurpassed in the world.
Kichwa Tembo Camp or similar

Day 07 & 08: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Enjoy two days of game viewing activities, including shared morning or afternoon game drives in Masai Mara National Park.

The Masai Mara is host to a spectacular array of wildlife. The open savannah, woodlands, and tree-lined rivers create and eco-system that supports huge numbers of bird and mammal species. Lion are found in abundance throughout the park, as are elephant, giraffe, zebra and a wide variety of gazelle species. Cheetah and leopard are regularly seen and, if lucky, you might also find rhino. Discover the Masai Mara on interpretive morning and afternoon game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Fascinating night game-drives in the private concession will reveal a host of interesting nocturnal creatures. Interpretive bush walks led by highly skilled guides and traditionally-attired Masai naturalists, wilderness walks along the Mara River and up the Oloololo Escarpment – one of the ‘steps’ of the Great Rift Valley – will bring you face-to-face with wild Africa at its best.

Daily lectures by a Masai naturalist and visits to a Masai cultural village offer an incredible insight into the fascinating lives of the brilliantly clad Masai people. Hot air ballooning may be arranged for an additional fee.
Kichwa Tembo Camp or similar

Day 9: Masai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi - Depart
Depart on an early morning game drive, followed with breakfast at camp and later transfer to the airstrip and fly on schedule to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Regional scheduled flight from Masai Mara Airstrip to Wilson Airport. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Holiday Inn Nairobi, for a dayroom. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure or do last minute shopping in Nairobi. This evening you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your outbound flight.
Holiday Inn Nairobi -Dayroom

Tour Overview
Welcome to Kenya! Come take a service adventure through the rich landscapes and abundant wildlife of Kenya. Get to know the people whose culture and traditions have existed for centuries, while giving aid and support to help them overcome multiple barriers so they may flourish long after you have returned home. Vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, antelope, zebra and elephant bring the bush alive with exciting drama of predator and prey. From the hustle and bustle of Nairobi and the clear mountain air of Eldoret, to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru and witnessing the incredible community and wildlife of the Maasai Mara in the northern Serengeti, you’ll be inspired by the bountiful spirit of the people and the country. Day by Day Itinerary

Days 1-2-3: Nairobi, Kenya
Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be met and escorted to your impressive accommodations, formerly a British officer’s retreat 50 years ago.

Then, visit the Cottolengo Children’s Home and the Nyumbani Orphanage to deliver educational, medical and recreational supplies. Get involved with arts & crafts alongside the children and learn new games to play with them.

Feel the silky-soft muzzle of a Rothschild giraffe while hand-feeding them at the AFEW Nature Center.
Nairobi Safari Park Hotel

Days 4-5-6: Eldoret
Drive through the rich farm country that segues into mountains and forest as you ascend into the highlands of Mount Elgon, rising to 7,000 feet. Eldoret is an agricultural center where four tribes have been practicing agriculture on the mountain slopes for centuries, and is an important area for the Teso people, who originate from the Karamajong region of Uganda. Unfortunately, it is also home to more than 2,000 street children left to fend for themselves, sometimes violently, due to lack of supervision and family support. You will make a difference in their lives by teaching conflict resolution, leadership skills and peace modules. Experience the culture and natural history of the region while interacting with the children at Eldoret Rescue Center, hiking through a nature reserve with the children of Koinonia Street Children’s Rehabilitation Project, and delivering educational supplies and food to the Huruma Baptist Nursery School in the village of Huruma- the setting of the movie The Constant Gardner.

Your hotel is a serene haven.
Sirikwa Hotel

Days 7 & 8: Lake Nakuru
Drive through the outer Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park and see huge concentrations of flamingos that inhabit the shallow, alkaline lake, along with the Marabou Stork and pelican. Scout the magnificent yellow-barked acacia trees for napping leopards. Look for incredible wildlife, such as the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, white and black rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck and baboon.

Engage in a community service project in the town of Nakuru to enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged residents.

Your camp is located on the privately owned Congreve Conservancy with over 350 bird species and plenty of plains wildlife, including eland, warthog, zebra, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, dik dik, giraffe and buffalo. Your camp also offers nature walks, bike rides, hiking and day and night wildlife drives.
Mbweha Camp

Days 9-10-11: Northern Serengeti- Maasai Mara
On your drive through classic savannah see the Maasai tending their cattle as wildlife grazes nearby. Arrive at Kenya’s most famous wildlife reserve, the Maasai Mara, where you will have three full days to search for incredible wildlife, including lion, cheetah, elephant, leopard, giraffe, zebra, hippo, and over 500 resident bird species including larks, sunbirds and the Lilac-breasted Roller. The endangered black rhino favors the bushland near your camp. Beginning in July, the drama of the annual migration of almost two million wildebeest and thousands of zebra takes place here. Exciting optional activities (some at additional cost) include witnessing dawn over the Serengeti from a hot air balloon, flying to Lake Victoria to fish for giant Nile perch, night wildlife drives or guided bush walks. Visit a Maasai Village and school to experience this nomadic tribe’s way of life and participate in a service project with them, from school renovations to ecological rehabilitation projects, such as planting indigenous trees or soil erosion control. Your luxury tented camp is situated at the base of the Ngama Hills just outside the eastern border of the Mara. Daily entertainment may be found from two vervet monkey troupes at the camp and wildlife hides give you exceptional up-close views. The acacia and fig forest surrounding the camp is paradise for the Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike and African Golden Oriole. Bushbuck, olive baboon, small-spotted genet and marsh mongoose congregate around the free-flowing springs, and the rabbit-like tree hyrax may be seen napping on branches during daylight hours.
Siana Springs Intrepid Camp

Days 12 & 13: Maasai Mara- Depart Nairobi
A last chance to capture the sunrise over the Mara before driving back to Nairobi (an optional flight is available at an additional cost). A day room awaits you at the Nairobi Safari Park Hotel. This evening, board your flight home.
Nairobi Safari Park Hotel- Dayroom

Tour Overview
South Africa, Kenya and Egypt
Cape Town is the oldest and most beautiful city in South Africa and one of the top destinations in the world. Although Cape Town is better known for stunning beaches and beautiful landscapes, the regions around Cape Town offer a range of activities and attractions, like wildlife safaris in the Cedarberg Mountains, wine tasting in the glorious Winelands, expeditions to see thousand-year-old San rock art and adventure activities such as sandboarding, surfing, bungee jumping, kloofing, abseiling and much more.

The Masai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961. It is situated some 168km (105 miles) south of the equator. Bordering on its southern edge are the mighty Serengeti plains of Tanzania. The entire reserve is 1530km2 in size, with the inner, core reserve covering 320km2. The inner reserve is what is known by visitors as the Masai Mara with its entrance gates and no human settlements within its boundaries. Yhe Oloololo Escarpment to the west rises 300m above the plains and forms the boundary with the TransMara district. The escarpment was formed by the Mara river which itself is the scene for the spectacular crossing of thousands of wildebeests and zebra on their annual migration from the Serengeti Plains.

Travelers have been marveling at Egypt's wondrous antiquities for thousands of years -- even the ancient Greeks and Romans were awed by them. But today, a visit to Egypt is more than an immersion into past glories -- mud-brick villages sprout TV antennae, stone and glass high-rises tower over ancient monuments and pop music blaring from radios counterpoints the call to prayer. Although modern life coexists with the legacies of the past, it has also opened up possibilities for exploring a wider area of Egypt. In addition to the great monuments of the Nile Valley, an Egyptian itinerary could also include diving along the Red Sea coast, a desert trek to remote oases or a visit to the Sinai Peninsula. The hub of transportation -- and most likely your first and last stop in the country -- remains Cairo, a city that never fails to make a strong impression.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Cape Town, South Africa
Upon arrival in Cape Town, you are met and transferred to your hotel, situated in the heart of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.
Portswood Hotel

Day 02: Cape Town
Full day Cape Peninsula Tour. The tour begins with a stroll through the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then drive past the pristine beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno – currently the hottest real estate in the world – to Hout Bay, a functioning harbor and heart of the local crayfish industry (optional Seal Island cruise, time permitting). Drive along the breathtakingly scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, around the Atlantic Seaboard. Continue on to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and its scenic viewing point.
Portswood Hotel

Day 03: Cape Town
Full day Cape Winelands Tour. Escape to the beauty and tranquility of the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch winelands. Visit wineries of well-known estates, to sample wines of merit, before visiting the Huguenot Monument and Museum in Franschhoek, to discover the origins of this world-renowned wine-producing region. A picnic lunch at one of the Wine Estates is included. Then onto Stellenbosch, don’t miss the world-famous 19th century-style general dealer in Stellenbosch’s Dorp Street – Oom Samie se Winkel.
Portswood Hotel

Day 04: Cape Town
Full day at leisure in Cape Town.
Portswood Hotel

Day 05: Cape Town - Nairobi, Kenya
Transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your international flight* to Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi you are met and transferred to the your hotel for check-in and overnight.
The Stanley Hotel

Day 06: Nairobi - Masai Mara Game Reserve
Transfer to Wilson Airport for your domestic flight to the Masai Mara Game Reserve. On arrival you will be transferred from the airstrip to your safari camp with a game drive en route. A great deal of activities including game drives, game walks, bush breakfasts, Maasai song and dance, that make your safari remarkably unforgettable stay.
Serena Lodge

Day 07 & 08: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drives are included during your stay.
Serena Lodge

Day 09: Masai Mara Game Reserve - Nairobi - Cairo, Egypt
Morning game viewing. Transfer to the airstrip for return domestic flight to Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi, you are met and transferred to the Carnivore Restaurant for lunch. Then transfer to Nairobi International Airport in time for your international flight* to Cairo. Arrival Cairo and transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Sonesta Heliopolis Cairo

Day 10: Cairo - Luxor
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. On arrival in Luxor, you are met & transferred to the port to board your cruise. Afternoon visit to the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, the “mother” of all temples, and the smaller yet charming Temple of Luxor.
Ti Yi Cruise

Day 11: Luxor
Morning visit to the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including Tutankhamen’s tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. Continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.
Ti Yi Cruise

Day 12: Esna - Edfu - Kom Ombo
Cruise by Esna to Edfu, where you board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. Sail on to Kom Ombo and enjoy an evening galabia party aboard. Breakfast, Lunch,
Ti Yi Cruise

Day 13: Kom Ombo - Aswan
Explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo, and then sail south to Aswan. After lunch, board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands, returning to the ship in time for tea.
Ti Yi Cruise

Day 14: Aswan - Cairo
Disembark the cruise and visit the awesome Aswan dams. Next stop is an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk, the Nubian Museum, and then board a motor launch to visit the Island temple of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS. Transfer to the Aswan airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. On arrival in Cairo, you are and transferred to your hotel.
Nile Hilton

Day 15: Cairo
Full day tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum. The Egyptian Museum has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities anywhere in the world. It features artifacts from the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods, including the celebrated mummies of ancient Egypt's Kings and Tutankhamen’s treasures. The pyramids of Cheops, Chephran and Mycerinus, were considered by the Greeks, as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built of 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing an average of two and a half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that so many writers and artists have sought to convey over the centuries.
Ramses Hilton

Day 16: Cairo - Depart
Transfer to the airport in time for your homebound departing flight.

*International flights are not include in the tour package price.

Tour Overview
Many people think that Antarctica is the impossible destination- impossible to get to, impossible to afford, impossible to understand. They are mistaken. Antarctica has always been about possibilities- exciting, breathtaking possibilities.!

Antarctica is so vast that only a small portion of it can be explored during a two-week period. The Antarctic Peninsula, that part of the continent that points towards the tip of South America, is so long that it spans 12 degrees of latitude, approximately 800 miles!

For many, perhaps the most appealing aspect of Antarctica is its wildlife. Although there are only a few native species, those that have adapted to the harsh environment thrive in large numbers. Penguin populations are counted in the tens of thousands in some rookeries!

Antarctica is devoid of power lines, billboards, and highways. There are no designer coffee shops or cellular networks. When the engines are turned off, the only sounds you hear are natural- wildlife, water and the occasional boom of icebergs calving. If you listen closely, you can hear your heart beating with excitement!


Day by Day Itinerary
Adventures in comfort.
Traveling to the farthest reaches of the world doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable. Our Expedition Ships offer adventure combined with the service and many of the amenities of a classic passenger vessel. The outstanding cuisine may vie with the landscape and wildlife for your attention. You’re traveling in the wake of history’s greatest explorers, with steak in place of pemmican. These expeditions provide quality and value at a good price.

About the itinerary
The itinerary descriptions reflect the plans for each expedition and should be read as general guides only. These are expeditions to remote and rarely visited regions of the world, and flexibility is required. The exact program will vary based on local weather and ice conditions, availability of local permissions, and government orders.

Itinerary
The itinerary described is subject to change at the discretion of the ship’s master and Expedition Leader. This is an expedition to a remote part of the world, and we reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control without consulting the passengers. It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel. Passengers have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these inevitable itinerary changes. Nothing in this brochure is meant to signify the use of any specific design or model of helicopter. The images featured are inspirational in character and do not necessarily depict the exact people, animals, and places encountered by passengers.

Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula.

Important Note: Due to International/Domestic Airline misconnects, we recommend arriving in Buenos Aires a day early. Your iExplore Adventure Consultant will be happy to assist you with these arrangements.

Day 1: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Ushuaia sits at the foot of the Andes, in a beautiful setting. Relax at a sidewalk café and soak up that “end of the world feeling” of this frontier town, before spending a night at our host hotel.

Day 2: Embarkation Day
Board the ship in the late afternoon for the voyage through the Beagle Channel to the Drake Passage.

Day 3-4: The Drake Passage
Among the many unforgettable experiences you’ll have on your journey, food will certainly be one of them. It may seem as if you are dining in one of the finer restaurants in the world, with one exception: other restaurants would never interrupt you with shouts of “whales ahead at 12 o’clock.”

You’ll be properly prepared for wildlife sightings, because our Expedition Team delivers an incomparable education program as you cross the Drake Passage en route to Antarctica.

Day 5-8*: Land, birds, seals, whales, volcanoes, ahoy!
You have arrived in Antarctica! The Expedition Team will attempt an average of two landings per day. Many factors influence the daily program, such as prevailing wind, ice, weather conditions, and wildlife behavior. During the voyage, our onboard fleet of Zodiacs will transfer you to penguin rookeries, where you are welcomed by a committee of chattering birds. There will be leisurely Zodiac sightseeing cruises past icebergs or wildlife on the rocky shoreline.

Discovering the White Continent.
During our four days exploring the Peninsula, you’ll make new friends over a game of cards in the lounge, or a beverage in the bar. Don your parka and join fellow travelers on the deck as you sail through the Gerlache Strait or along the Danco Coast, past towering glacier-covered mountains that shoot to the sky. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars. There may be seals sunning on an ice floe or a raft of penguins feeding as you sail past.

History, wildlife, scenery – Antarctica has it all.
During the in-depth education program, the historian will recount the development of the region, pointing out the remains of buildings where spies dwelled or a doctor went mad. The ornithologist will take you ashore and help you identify different species of birds. You could cruise with a glaciologist through a bay filled with fantastically colored icebergs.

Day 9-11: A reluctant farewell
Returning to Ushuaia across the Drake Passage, you know you are one of the people in the world that have visited Antarctica. The adventure will be with you forever. You may already be thinking of a return trip – as many have found before, the lure of Antarctica is a strong one.

Important Reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage.

*12 day itineraries have one additional day on the peninsula.