Africa: 9 Days
During this 9 day safari you will experience two safari game lodges and the beachside town of Umhlanga. It features deluxe accommodations, small group tours and great immersion into nature. Your first few nights are at Amakhosi Safari Lodge along the Mkuze River of Amazulu Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. This 5-star safari lodge offers six thatched-roof chalets that overlook the river as well as your own personal ranger to see to your needs during your stay. You will have two morning and afternoon game drives in search of the big five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo), antelope and birds.
From Amakhosi, you’ll transfer to Umhlanga on the coast, not far to the north of Durban. Staying at an iconic hotel on the beachfront, you’ll enjoy a full day in the heart of the Umhlanga Rocks. Spend your time swimming in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean or exploring the cultural highlights nearby this resort town. After recharging at the beach in Umhlanga, you’ll connect onward to Thornybush Game Reserve in Greater Kruger National Park. Enjoy one of the 18 luxury suites of this 5-star lodge overlooking the Monwana River. Spend two full days heading on morning and afternoon game drives in the park. Follow the trail of lions, spot elephants cooling off in the shade, and keep your eyes on the air in order to spot some of the colourful birds that live in the reserve. At the end of the day, enjoy sundowners before decompressing at the Guerlain Spa.
Thornybush Game Lodge Amakhosi Safari Lodge Amakhosi
Tahiti & Bora Bora: 9 Days
This 9-day vacation to the Islands of Tahiti takes you to Tahiti and Bora Bora, pairing together two of the most romantic islands in the South Pacific. It features first-class accommodations, international airfare, and private transfers. In Tahiti you will stay at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort & Spa, a 4-star accommodation located a mere two miles from the airport. Staying in one of the resort’s 258 rooms spread across eight buildings, you’ll enjoy incredible views of Moorea and access to the pleasures of the island. Stroll through the on-site gardens, snorkel off the resort beach, or head into Papeete to try out some local snacks at the food trucks, Les Roulottes. You can also arrange for an excursion into the mainland rainforests.
In Bora Bora, you’ll have 5 nights at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort. This 4-star property offers an intimate environment astride two white-sand beaches. Enjoy stunning views of Mt. Otemanu and easy access to the waters from your Beach Junior Suite Bungalow. Your days in Bora Bora are yours to spend as you wish. Kick back at your resort and enjoy the pristine sands and sumptuous cuisine in the on-site restaurants. Wind down each day with a cocktail as you watch the sunset over the Pacific. You can also arrange for scuba diving excursions to popular dive sites, snorkel through the Bora Bora Lagoon, or ride an ATV up Mt. Otemanu to explore Bora Bora’s verdant inland.
Bora Bora Le Moana Resort Bora Bora Lagoon Tahiti Resort & Spa
Bali: 9 Days
This 11-day, air-inclusive luxury escape to the Island of the Gods offers unparalleled relaxation with plenty of time at leisure, along with immersive experiences that include a Balinese cooking class.
Check into your Ubud hotel and spend your first days in Bali simply unwinding, slowing to the rhythms of Indonesia’s only Hindu island, and exploring the local shops, museums, and restaurants. Take things at your own pace. See the famous terraced rice paddies and explore the pristine rainforest that surrounds the town. Note that unlike many of Bali’s resort areas, Ubud is not a beach town, so your time here is all about enjoying Balinese culture. On your last day here, enjoy a cooking class, buying fresh ingredients alongside the locals at Ubud’s markets, and learning about Balinese cuisine.
Your Bali vacation moves to the beautiful beaches of Jimbaran for four more nights, with more time at leisure to explore this side of the island. This part of your stay includes a half day tour of the local sights including the Royal Temple, the monkey forest of Alas Kedaton, and a Batik making centre where you’ll see one of Bali’s oldest indigenous art forms in action.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay Photo: Daily Travel Pill Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Cruising the Galapagos: 4-8 Days
The Galapagos Elite is specifically designed for sailing the waters of these enchanted islands. A sleek, twin-hulled catamaran, it provides its guests with a steady, safe cruise without the rocking and swaying common to the older, single-hulled yachts that dominated the island cruise industry for decades.
San Cristobal – Genovesa – Santiago – Santa Cruz – San Cristobal (5 Day Itinerary)
Begin at Charles Darwin Research Station and learn about the work being done to preserve this fragile eco system, including its Galapagos tortoise breeding program. On Genovesa, visit Price Philip’s Steps past boobie colonies and take a panga ride to see Galapagos fur seals. Nearby Darwin Bay is known for its snorkelling and kayaking opportunities. Sail on to Santiago and see the Sally Lightfoot crabs of Espumilla Beach, and the sea lions and turtles of Buccaneer Cove. On Santa Cruz, see the remnants of American war activity, and a popular turtle nesting site. Roam the island’s highlands, seeing its pit craters and lava tunnels, and enjoy stunning views over the Galapagos before returning to San Cristobal.
Garnder Bay Blue Footed Booby Galapagos Elite
Greece Highlights: 10 days
This 10-day Greek vacation takes you from Athens to lesser-known islands, Naxos, Ios, and Paros…lesser-known islands that offer plenty of opportunity to swim, hike, and enjoy the charms of pastoral Greek life.
Your Greece vacation begins in Athens, the Greek capital and one of the world’s great historical cities. As the city was the centre of Ancient Greece, you’ll want to spend most of your time exploring the remnants of the ancient world. Focus your time on the Acropolis, which is home to the Temple of Athena Nike and the iconic Parthenon, and fit in the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Olympics were held in 1896, if you have time. Also be sure to explore the narrow streets of its oldest neighbourhood, Plaka, and enjoy the nighttime views of the Acropolis, when it illuminates the city from its central hill.
From Athens, journey to Naxos, the largest and greenest island in the Cyclades. The island’s high mountains attracts ample rainfall, which transforms the island into a green wash of olive trees and vineyards. Spend your time exploring the main city, Hora, with its picturesque waterfront, and hiking to Mt. Zeus, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, if you feel up to the task. You can also spend your time exploring the isolated mountain villages that dot the landscape. Before you leave, be sure you’ve visited the door-like ruins that make the island famous.
From Naxos, head to Ios, an island that has a rowdy reputation, to say the least. If you’re a partier, you’ll find plenty of ways to cut loose on Ios, from nightclubs to beachside raves. However, if you’re more for tranquility, you’ll find plenty of picturesque escapes across the island, from golden beaches in the south to goat farms and hillside villages across the inland. Close out your Greek Islands vacation on Paros, a central island known for its ferry hub and trendy resorts. Spend your time enjoying the dining scene, relaxing on the beaches, and exploring the historical marble quarry, which supplied the marble used to carve the Venus de Milo. Then return to Athens for your journey home.
Ios, Greece Alectra Hotel Athens Naxos, Greece
