NEW EXPLORATORY: Emerald Isle: A Photo & Hiking Expedition in Ireland
with Brian McGilloway and Con Moriarty, May 24 - June
1, 2008
Traditional western Ireland, heartland of the Gaeltacht,
offers a wondrous array of photographic possibilities: the
stone walls and flower-laden landscapes of the Aran Islands,
the whitewashed cottages and dramatic seascapes of the West
Coast, and the brightly painted towns of Kenmare and Dingle.
Join veteran Travel Photographer Brian McGilloway on a special
hiking and photography journey deep into ancient Ireland.
We weave together coastal, mountain, and island hikes and
discover that Ireland’s enchantment is found not only
in its spectacular scenery but also in the warmth of its
people. Along the way, Brian will share the techniques and
philosophies behind his superb travel photographs, with
the goal of helping you create images that capture your
travel experience and express your photographic eye.
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Area Manager
In the Footsteps
of the Great Game -
NEW DEPARTURE ADDED!
Across Central Asia from Xinjiang
to Kazakhstan
with Roger Williams, June 17-July 10, 2008 & May
20-June 12, 2008
- LIMITED SPACES LEFT ON BOTH DEPARTURES!
In the Central Asian world where the “Great Game”
between British India and Tsarist Russia played out, visit
Kashgar and its world-famous Sunday market, head overland
to the breathtaking Hunza Valley and over a newly opened
pass into Tajikistan to discover the majestic peaks of high
Pamirs.
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Area Manager
Nepal: The Ultimate
Dolpo Trek
Trek to a Remote Enclave of Tibetan
Culture
with Gary McCue, June 27-July 31, 2008
Cut off from the outside world by a series of very high
passes and closed by the snow much of the year, the Dolpo
region of Nepal is a truly isolated and magical corner of
the high Himalaya. We invite you to join Tibet expert and
veteran WT Trip Leader Gary McCue for “the ultimate”
Dolpo trek, a journey into the far reaches of Upper Dolpo
along Nepal’s border with Tibet. On our 27day trekking
expedition, we head out on a spectacular and little traveled
route to explore Dolpo’s most remote villages, where
an ancient Tibetan way of life is preserved. Here people
live as barley farmers or seminomadic yak herders and wear
traditional homespun wool robes and Tibetan boots. Many
villages still practice Bön, the preBuddhist religion
that all but disappeared from Nepal in the 7th century.
This is a strenuous high altitude trek that brings many
rewards, including an exploration day to visit Shey Gompa
at 15,500 feet, the legendary monastery that Peter Matthiessen
described so beautifully in his book The Snow Leopard.
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
Peru's Sacred Ausangate
A Meditation Trek in the High Andes
with Mark Coleman and Andrea Heckman, July 7-19, 2008
This fantastic journey combines a stunning trek in the high
Andes with the opportunity to practice meditation in a spectacular
natural setting. Veteran Peru Trip Leader Andrea Heckman
will be joined by Special Guest Mark Coleman, a renowned
wilderness meditation teacher and author of Awake in the
Wild, who will conduct formal and informal workshops and
share many forms of nature-based meditations.
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
Japan: The Shikoku Island Expedition
A Cultural Odyssey in Exquisite Rural
Japan
with Kate Ulberg, October 26-November 7, 2008 - CALL FOR AVAILABLE
SPACE
Discover tranquil Shikoku Island, the smallest and least
visited of Japan’s four main islands, with a lushly
rural atmosphere and a history rich with elements of traditional
Japan found nowhere else in the country. As we journey across
Shikoku, we explore Japan’s history through the ages,
enjoying exquisite natural scenery, from craggy mountains
to dramatic sea cliffs, and visiting Edo-period castles,
the landscaped gardens of feudal lords, 300-year-old craft
shops, renowned pilgrimage temples, and village hamlets
tucked into the mountains. Shikoku is known for its folk
arts, and we also see traditional weaving and dyeing craft
shops, Otani pottery makers, washi makers, and candlemakers.
As Kate shows us the delights of this extraordinary island,
we discover the kindness of the Japanese people and the
innate sense of beauty and attention to detail that affect
every aspect of Japanese life. Most nights we stay in ryokans,
the serene inns that reflect Japanese culture in miniature.
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
India:
Trek to Nanda Devi East
A High Trek in the Garhwal
Himalaya
with Hashmat Singh, October 13– November 3, 2008
Join veteran Wilderness Travel Trip Leader Hashmat
Singh for a magnificent trek right to the base of legendary
Nanda Devi (25,645'), crown jewel of India’s Garhwal
Himalaya, one of the most spectacular regions of the great
Himalayan chain. Our 21-day trip (with a 15-day trek) brings
us into a hidden world of ancient cultures and unspoiled
villages as we hike from luxuriant subtropical forests all
the way to the alpine wilds below Nanda Devi, a glorious
peak known as the “Goddess of Bliss” and revered
by all who live in her mighty shadow. The splendors of our
trek include dozens of peaks over 20,000 feet, pristine
forests of rhododendron, oak, and deodar pines, lovely Himalayan
villages, and a local populace unaffected by mass trekking
tourism. We invite you to join us for a unique mountain
adventure in the company of Hashmat Singh, one of our most
treasured Trip Leaders and a Himalayan explorer extraordinaire.
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
Mauritania: Journey into the Land of the Moors
Sahara Desert Expedition
- CALL FOR AVAILABLE
SPACE
with Annie Hawkins, January 2 - 15 & January 17 – 30, 2009
Join veteran WT Trip Leader Annie Hawkins for an adventurous expedition into Mauritania, the Moorish Sahara, land of golden dunes, nomads in flowing blue robes, and medieval caravan towns long lost in the desert. We travel by 4WD across the mountainous Adrar Plateau amid shifting dunes, taking time to visit petroglyph sites and traditional villages as we savor the surreal scenery. At night, we camp in the pure beauty of the desert. The Adrar is Mauritania's most spectacular landscape, with endless date-palm oases, cliff-edged mesas, Neolithic remains, and intriguing towns including the photogenic outpost of Chinguetti, a venerated caravan crossroads and pilgrim town. We end our journey by traveling overland to Mauritanias Atlantic Coast at wild and beautiful Banc dArguin National Park, a nature sanctuary where the Sahara meets the sea. Along this remote stretch of desert coast the Imragen people, a traditional fishing culture, still live in ways little changed in centuries. Mauritania is for me the quintessential Saharan country, says Annie Hawkins, and it has always been my dream to travel to the holy city of Chinquetti. In the good company of Annie, a long-time desert explorer, this journey promises to be the adventure of a lifetime, extraordinary in so many ways, from encounters with traditional families to starry nights, pure desert silence, and the chance to live the life of a nomad for a few daysa travelers dream in the company of a true expert!
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY: The Heart of India: Tigers, Tribes & the Taj
A Cultural and Natural History Journey with Raj & Diane Singh
January 15 - 27, 2009
Join Indian naturalist Raj Singh and his wife Diane for a spirited journey behind the scenes and into the ancient heart of Mother India. Raj and Diane, organizers of our popular India journeys for the past 20 years, bring to this new WT Expedition a wealth of knowledge and a passion for introducing people to the hidden treasures of India.
One of the wonders of this journey is Indias amazing wildlife, which we discover as we explore the sal forests and bamboo thickets of renowned Kanha National Park, haunt of the royal Bengal tiger, and the marshes of Keoladeo-Bharatpur, Indias most famous bird reserve. Raj, author of Bird and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India, Nepal and Bhutan, brings these reserves to life for us with his unparalleled knowledge of Indian natural history. Another highlight of our travels is discovering the fascinating tribal cultures of Kanha and the traditional Hindu villages of ancient Bharatpur, eastern gateway to Rajasthan. Raj was born and raised in Bharatpur (he descends from the Maharajas of Bharatpur) and he and Diane are fantastic companions for exploring this regions rich history and heritage.
Our journey promises to be a memorable experience of India, with the Singhs introducing us to friends and family along the way as we roam the local markets, enjoy a cooking lesson, watch a tribal dance, learn about ancient arts such as henna painting, meet a wonderful array of peoples from all walks of life, and take in colorful history and myriad of cultures. The legendary Taj Mahal and the pink city of Jaipur, with its fabulous palaces of pink sandstone, make a fitting grand finale. Our accommodations range from an eco-friendly game lodge at Kanha to the dazzling Raj Palace in Jaipur. We invite you to join us for a once-in-a-lifetime journey with two India experts!
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY: Ethiopia: Trekking in the Simian Mountains
with Bruce Klepinger, January 15- February 2, 2009 (with Timkat Festival)
Join veteran Trip Leader Bruce Klepinger for a trekking and cultural adventure in Ethiopia, a country like no other in Africa, from its Orthodox Christian heritage and rock-cut 12th century churches to the spectacular landscape of the Simian Mountains, the roof of Africa. The centerpiece of our journey is a challenging seven-day trek in the Simians, a dramatic high-altitude escarpment riven by sheer canyons, topped with jagged peaks, and carpeted with unique Afro-alpine vegetation, including giant lobelias and giant heather. The trek also brings us through isolated Amhara settlements, and along the way we keep our eye out for two of Ethiopias endemic species, the rare walia ibex and the more common gelada baboon, often seen clambering across the canyon walls. Most of our hiking is at 10,000 feet, with an optional hike up Ras Dashen (15,120'), the highest point in Ethiopia and Africas 4th highest peak. Our journey also delves deeply into the cultural mystique of Ethiopia, including fascinating places like Lalibela, with its amazing churches carved into solid rock, Axum, known as Ethiopias holy city, and the castles and battlements of imperial Gondar, seat of Ethiopian emperors. We scheduled the trip to witness the exuberance of the Timkat Festival (Epiphany), the biggest celebration of the year in Ethiopia.
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Area Manager
Indochine Photo
Adventure
with Dan Heller, January 31 - February 15, 2009
Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are brimming with images that transport travelers into another realm: gold-leafed pagodas glinting in the tropical sun, ornate French Colonial architecture under a canopy of frangipani trees, straw-roofed sampans drifting down languid rivers, young monks draped in saffron-colored robes. On our special Photography Expedition, join Travel Photographer Dan Heller and veteran Trip Leader Max Holland to explore and photograph exquisite places like Luang Prabang, heart of the old Lao kingdom, breathtaking Halong Bay, and Hoi An, Vietnam's beautiful 16th century trading port. Our grand finale is magnificent Angkor Wat, Cambodia's jungle-shrouded city of massive ancient temples. As we enjoy the breathtaking settings and cultural treasures of Indochine, Dan Heller will offer photo tips and coaching on technique, a wonderful opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional.
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Area Manager
Japan: Kyushu,
Honshu & Hokkaido
Dancing Cranes, Bathing Monkeys & the Sapporo Ice Festival
with Kate Ulberg, February 1-13, 2009
This wonderful journey to the islands of Kyushu, Honshu,
and Hokkaido is full of delights and surprises, from the
spectacle of the masses of cranes gathered together at Izumi
to the sight of the wild snow monkeys soaking in hot springs.
Beginning in Kyushu, our journey first visits the Arasaki
Crane Reserve, home to one of the largest gatherings of
wintering White-naped Cranes and Hooded Cranes in Asia.
Then it’s on to Honshu to view the famed snow monkeys,
a photographer’s delight as they bathe in their own
natural hot springs. On the island of Hokkaido, we begin
with the fun and fantastical Snow Festival and its myriad
of sculptures in the lovely city of Sapporo. We then train
across the island to Kushiro to visit several of the "Tancho"
(Japanese Crane) reserves nearby. The snowy landscape provides
a lovely backdrop for the red-topped cranes as they cavort
about–it’s a sight not soon to be forgotten.
We spend our last night in Hokkaido at the lovely frozen
Lake Akan before returning to Tokyo.
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Area Manager
Zhivago's Siberia: Winter in Lake Baikal & Camel Polo in the Gobi
with Roger Williams, February 2009
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY: Bhutan: Merak Sakten
with Roger Williams, March/April 2009
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Trans-Siberian Explorer: St. Petersburg to Kamchatka
with Roger Williams, June 14-July 11, 2009
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY: Camel Safari in the Gobi Desert
with Roger Williams, August 19-September 2, 2009
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
France: Coastal Trails & Villages
of Brittany
with Nicos Caravellas, September 2009
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
In the Footsteps of the Dalai Lamas:
A Trek to Lhamo Latsho, Tibet's Oracle Lake
September 9 – October 9, 2009
Tibet’s legendary Oracle Lake, called Lhamo Latsho
("Life Force Lake"), is the holiest lake in
Tibet and a renowned pilgrimage destination. Join Gary McCue
for a week-long trek to this ethereal body of water in a
mountain basin at 16,000 feet, the place where every Dalai
Lama has had prophetic visions concerning the future of
Tibet. We take the spectacular outer pilgrimage circuit,
hiking alongside Tibetan nomads and pilgrims on trails festooned
with prayer flags, with a chance to visit the monasteries,
small hermitages, and cave retreats en route. Tibet’s
high lamas come to this lake upon the death of a Dalai Lama
to seek visions and clues to finding the child who is the
next incarnation of Tibet's spiritual leader. This is an
extraordinary opportunity to trek to one of Tibet's holiest
sites in the company of a renowned Tibet expert.
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
Across the Lands of the Iron Curtain
September 2009
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Madagascar & Beyond: Madagascar, Mauritius & Rodrigues
with Roger Williams, September 27-October 22, 2009
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Area Manager
NEW EXPLORATORY:
Borneo: Expedition to Kalimantan
with Ivan Somlai, POSTPONED-PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS
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