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Travelista! by Janet K. Rodgers Tours/Trips/Getaways Flights-of-Fancy Exclusively for Sololady.com, ... to intrigue, inspire and propel
(For extensive, amazing past entries, ideas and links, please click here for our archives.)
Samurai Join Diva Shopper Suzy Gershman, author of all the Frommer’s “Born to Shop” guides, on her 8th guided trip -- this year to Tokyo and Kyoto. One date and coming up fast: Nov. 4 - 11, 2010. Even non-stop shoppers will be thrilled by the prospects for treasure and fun, packed in with authentic local experiences. Visit Tokyo's famous fish market and auctions, break for sushi in the stalls, swathe yourself in pearls, learn to wrap your own kimono, visit the paper district, a temple sale… and oh blasphemy here we come…even shop at the shrines. For the full scoop contact her Editorial Director, Sarah Lahey at srlahey@gmail.com or call 415-435-1444. _____ Turtle Solo women sea-lovers will have one great chance to explore uninhabited islands, snorkel with technicolor fish along isolated coves, and learn plenty about marine life in the Sea of Cortez, Baja California peninsula, Mexico this October. One 8-day trip is planned for the 24th through the 31st, 2010, and novices are welcome. Grab a pair of waders and climb aboard the panga (skiff) for 8 amazing days: hands-on helping researchers monitor and tag endangered green turtles at their nesting beach in Magdalena Bay, paddle a sea kayak alongside dolphins and sea lions in the clear waters of Loreto Bay – Mexico’s newest marine park and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, all under the watchful care of naturalist guides. Forty percent of the $1,650 per person price is contributed to local sea turtle conservation efforts. For further information, contact Idaho-based Sea Kayak Adventures Inc. at (800) 616-1943 or click on www.seakayakadventures.com. _____ One Whiteout Day Pack up those mittens! The White Desert, the only property on the ice in Antarctica, is now set up to welcome visitors for a one-day trip to the end of the world --and one day may be just enough as the air temp down there is sub-nippy. Solo-ista adventurers can spend their 8-hour “Greatest Day” trip-of-a–lifetime genuflecting before Emperor Penguins (+ cute chicks), exploring ice grottoes, trekking the ice and/or in a sauna at the Russian base. There’s a gourmet champagne lunch break, alfresco of course, near a high ice cliff. How? Meet in Cape Town, South Africa on November 28, 2010 for a polar safety and equipment briefing. The trip takes place the next day, November 29. Private jet for 5.5 hours over the Southern Ocean to (and from) – you gotta love this: Unknown International Airport, Antarctica. If this seems a bit of an effort for a one-day jaunt, tack on the White Lions trip: 2 nights in Cape Town, 2 nights at the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in Little Karoo to spy on the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard) and the rare opp to see the only free-roaming white lions on the planet. Back to Cape Town for a sunset cruise on The Princess Emma, an 85-foot luxury yacht. _____ Bush and Beach South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and Robin Pope’s award-winning ‘walking safari’ originated here. This is surely the ultimate way to experience the pristine wild land. Walk?! In the bush!?? Yes. Dedicated, professionally-guided walks are the way to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the bush in a totally personal and never-to-be forgotten way. Walking coerces your every sense to work to its max and delivers another level of reality. It surely leaves driving in the dust. In South Luangwa, the river that runs through it is today one of the last untouched major rivers in the world, the life blood of this park, and home to about 60 animal species—starring the sly, rock star leopard, supported by the Thorneycroft giraffe and thundering wildebeest in a cast of thousands. Robin Pope Safaris offers the best of Zambia and Malawi, winding up at the beautiful Pumulani Lodge, luxurious neighbor of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for the nudgy among us there is waterskiing, sailing, diving, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and bird-watching in Malawi. Deal: The 10-night “Hidden Africa” bush and beach safari is only $475 per person per night, but this offer is valid only until October 31, 2010. For more: info@robinpopesafaris.net or www.robinpopesafaris.net/ _____
Plunge deep into the Borneo rainforest way out there in the South China Sea to investigate the exotic flora and fauna, local burial grounds, chameleons, gibbons, and, yes – those ultra human orangutans. Then push off down the Kinabatangan River to checkout native proboscis monkeys and rare pygmy elephant. At the Sepilok Nature Resort (est. in 1964 to return orphaned orangutans to the wild), see, hear and learn about wildlife conservation and research while visiting one of the rare orangutan sanctuaries on earth. Bonus visit: Selingan Island, one of three pristine “turtle islands” off Borneo’s northeast coast -- safe haven for the endangered green and hawksbill turtles in egg-laying season. And not to worry, time, too, for the beach and shopping in the wild marketplace. Three upcoming dates for award-winning Baobab Expeditions’ ten-day orangutan and turtle adventures: November 9th, 2010; and April 3rd and November 9th, 2011. Prices begin at $3,321. For the total scoop and an on-line brochure: click on http://baobabexpeditions.com/media/downloads/pdf/Wildlife/Orangutans/Orang-utans%20&%20Turtles1.pdf. Or call 516-622 2279. _____ “Foodoir” Inspired by Ann Vanderhoof's newest book, The Spice Necklace: My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life, St. Lucia's beloved boutique hotel, Cap Maison, is offering guests the opp to create a "foodoir" – a personal culinary memory. Call 888-765-4985 or e-mail reservations@capmaison.com and/or click on: www.capmaison.com. _____ Cruise - Kayak ….and it’s not too early to hop aboard. No need to hang out at home over the holidays: consider AdventureSmith Explorations, a boutique collection of small expedition ships. “Small” is 150 or fewer passengers and the focus is on experiences off the ship – glacier exploration, whale, bird and land animal watching – delving into the authentic, vibrant local cultures – and not just borrowing through the buffet. Their 2010-2011 sampler includes: - Voyage through The Sea of Cortez - Dec 19-26, Dec 26-Jan 2 - Panama Canal & the Wonders of Costa Rica – Dec 18-25, Dec 25-Jan 1 & Jan 1-8 - Antarctic Peninsula aboard the Expedition – Dec 22-Jan 1 Click: www.adventuresmithexplorations.com or call them in California: 800-728-2875. Named by National Geographic Adventure as one of “The Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” their mission is to give back to the individuals and communities they visit, connecting travelers with a network of grassroots and global nonprofit partners. _____ Shoot in Sardinia Always on the lookout for travel combined with photography, we unearthed the “Different View of Sardinia” tour – the perfect eye-opening combo (sorry, couldn’t resist). Professional photographer and nature-lover Tommaso Galli will share his expertise during the course of a sensuously scenic tour of Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Med. Learn how to photograph, print, save and manage your photos while enjoying cultural experiences, meet real live Sardinians, savor local dishes. Shoot beautiful landscapes, wildlife, prehistoric ruins, medieval villages and the famed emerald waters. Learn to “see” new photo subjects and experiment with rare techniques. Learn to optimize camera settings for each photographic situation. Instructions are delivered in a practical and relaxed manner. Galli, personable and English-speaking, has been exhibited in many Italian art exhibitions and published in magazines and newspapers, and published a new book on Ladakh. Google him! One departure: September 20, 2010 from Cagliari for 7-days/6-nights. The land-only tour costs $1,458 for 7 nights in a double room in an apartment in the village of Torcoli, daily breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners, a photo workshop and transportation in and around Sardinia. For more information, visit www.tourcrafters.com. For reservations, call 800-482-5995. ______ Quechua Before you hop aboard the choo choo to Machu Picchu, the Quechua* Indians (pronounced Kitch-wa) will welcome you as an honored guest in their Peruvian village homes if you opt to travel with award-winning, Nevada-based, Top Adventure Outfitter Myths & Mountains. A culturally enriching and exotic experience, this tour operator will introduce you to the age-old Incan traditions of hospitality and village life. And after shopping in the mercado in Cusco, enjoy a hands-in cooking lesson with a local chef. This 9-day gem of a trip also includes Incan ruin inspections, traditional ceremonies, and a ceramic workshop. Only two tours left in 2010: October 8-17 and December 3-12. _____
Got $28,300 extra bucks in your travel budget? Got a hankering to see 6 exotic countries in 60 eye-popping days over the course of 9,400 miles too? Well, have we got a deal for you: Drive the legendary Silk Road from Istanbul to Beijing in a caravan of Land Rovers (fitted with GPS, maps, GMRS Radio Walkie-Talkies) -- surely a peak experience of two lifetimes. Brave hearts, start packing! The expedition starts one year from now on Friday, April 22, 2011 in Istanbul and ends in Xian/Beijing on Monday, June 20, 2011. Prepare for sensory overload as you drive through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China, through deserts, over mountains, on rivers… visiting bazaars, gardens, mosques, and meeting the locals as you travel “on the road again.” (The “Silk Road” is not, by the way, one weird old highway, but an extensive network of trade routes reaching across Asia into the Med, Africa and Europe.) Oops: There are a few extra expenses such as international airfares and visas, mandatory travel insurance (no problem with that) plus $700 in cash when starting out from Istanbul. Ms. Yue Chi is President of the Toronto-based outfitter AAST Inc. (Asia Adventures & Study Tours). They are specialists in unique cultural adventures to Asia since 1990 and committed to providing expert advice, planning and strong professional operations. Each group is accompanied by a leader, chosen for his/her experience, personal qualities and passion for this style of travel - and this is the person, not parenthetically, who takes care of all the transport, accommodation and paperwork en route. Click on: http://drivethesilkroad.com/ for maps, pix, and thrilling itinerary details, _____ Mekong -- Me Too! Six Countries Explore six countries along the banks of the Mekong River, lifeblood of Southeast Asia, from Yunnan Province in China to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam … and not just a look-see. Journeys Within, a boutique Asian tour company, provides immersive cultural experiences to the big six: China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. See daily life as it opens out on the river escorted by Western tour leaders and English- speaking local guides. Beauty, history, and local culture will be brought to life visiting traditional villages, the bustling capitals, ancient, modern palaces, colorful markets, traveling by an interesting variety of river boats -- a luxurious private Thai cruiser -- the traditional longtail boat. High-light: ziplining over the treetops in the Valley of Elephants in Jinghong, China! And on this fabulous 2010 Mekong Experience, Journeys Within donates a portion of each traveler's fare to different regional projects and these specific community projects are part of the itinerary. They’ve been praised by Conde Nast as “pioneers in philanthropic travel.” One date: Oct. 28 – Nov. 26, 2010. Cost: $6995 per person on double basis. Single supplement, alas. (Airfare is extra). 12 participants is their max – so jump in and be one! Write to the founder, Andrea Ross at andrea@journeys-within.com. Call (877) 454-3672or click: www.journeys-within.com for the awesome itinerary. _____
Most respected name in remote expeditionary cruising, Hurtigruten, is setting sail for Antarctica, a continent beloved for its year-round welcoming committee of little fellas in tuxedoes. Penguins are just the tip of the iceberg of the Antarctica experience, of course, a fearsomely fabulous destination of high drama scenery and zillions of species of bird and marine life. Seven itineraries are offered in the 2010-2011 season, running from November through February, from 10 -19 days, beginning and ending Buenos Aires, Argentina's and world’s tango capital. Bored by the idea of same-old chestnuts roasting on that open fire? Their special 17-day Christmas/New Years voyage, "Shackleton's Christmas," is the last word at the end of the earth: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands and Antarctica all to the tunes of traditional carols, Norwegian glogg, and a New Year's Eve midnight dinner party. Good deals for solos, or join a friend, on early booking fares. Surf to: www.hurtigruten.us or call (800) 323-7436. _____
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One River
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An energetic world-wide traveler and guidebook author, Janet Kaplan Rodgers is a veteran public relations travel pro.
