Today we embark the Ffestiniog Railway for a steam train journey on a narrow gauge through the heart of Snowdonia to Porthmadog where we visit the Maritime Museum. In the afternoon we visit the Slate Museum at Llanberis.
Read MoreThis morning we visit the Bodnant Gardens, one of Britain's most famous gardens. We continue to the medieval walled town of Conwy for lunch after which we explore Conwy Castle Plas Mawr Tudor Merchant's House and the medieval town walls. Return via a scenic drive through the mountains of Snowdonia.
Read MoreAfter breakfast, we make a scenic drive through the Cambrian Mountains to Snowdonia. Optimal afternoon hike or town trail in the vicinity of Dolgellau, the ancient market town, before checking into the Tyddyn Llan Hotel, our accommodation for the next three nights.
Read MoreToday is devoted to an exploration of the scenically beautiful Black Mountains of south Wales. Spend the morning at leisure in the delightful market town of Hay on Wye, famous as the world capital of second-hand books.
Read MoreToday we arrive in London and travel by road to Wales. Our first stop is Tintern Abbey, made famous by poet Wordsworth, where we will have lunch. We follow the River Wye towards Llangamarch and check into the Lake Country House Hotel which will be our home for the next two nights.
Read MoreThe ship was originally built in July 1981 at the Ulstein Hatlø A/S Shipyard in Ulsteinvik, Norway and launched as a passenger ferry in 1982. Commissioned for the Hurtigruten Group, it was originally named the MS Midnatsol. Its sister ships were the MS Narvik and the MS Vesterǻlen and, after being refitted in 1995, they were designed to carry approximately 500 passengers and 40 cars.
Read MoreAnother day in London! We are excited to meet up with our group tomorrow.
Read MoreWe have arranged to arrive two days before everyone else to explore London on our own and get situated before the trip begins.
Read MoreWe're back, and excited to share with you our next great adventure. For the next three weeks we will be aboard the National Geographic Explorer as we travel around the British and Irish Isles. Check back with us daily to read about our journey.
Read MoreAnd we are off on our next adventure!
Read MoreToday we head home. After three weeks of a wonderful adventure, we can't wait to share stories and pictures with friends and family at home. Thanks to everyone who checked out our journey along the way.
Read MoreAfter breakfast at our hotel, depart Marrakech on our homeward journey. While on board our jet, our team of experts will recap places visited and what has been learned on this truly once-in-a-lifetime expedition.
Read MoreAfter breakfast at the hotel, we depart for our morning tour of Marrakech, one of the most exotic cities in the world. This vibrant trading center’s medina, with its winding alleys and shops, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our tour includes stops at the Koutoubia mosque, Bahia Palace, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa.
Read MoreAfter an early breakfast at the hotel this morning, you have the option of departing for a 4x4 jeep safari of Wadi Rum, the magnificent red desert where T.E. Lawrence was based during the Arab Revolt. Enjoy tea in a Bedouin tent before we transfer to the airport for our flight to Marrakech, Morocco. Or you may choose to enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and spend your morning at leisure before transferring to the airport.
Read MoreAfter breakfast at our hotel, we begin our exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, the most famous site in Jordan, by walking across the road and entering the main gate. We walk through the long, cool, and mysterious chasm (known as the Siq), a narrow gorge with steeply rising sides that all but obliterate the sun.
Read MoreAfter breakfast, we transfer back to the Seronera Airstrip, enjoying a game drive as we go, before connecting to our short charter flight to Kilimanjaro. We then board our plane for our flight to Aqaba, Jordan. We will be in air approximately 6.5 hours today.
Read MoreAfter breakfast we depart for a morning of game viewing. The Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth. It is famed for its annual migration when over 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing, but even when the migration is quiet the Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.
Read MoreAfter an early breakfast at the hotel this morning, we transfer to the airport for our 8 hour flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. From Tanzania we board our charter flight to the Serengeti National Park. In the evening we will go on brief safari that will be followed by dinner at our lodge.
Read MoreEarly this morning we set out to visit the Taj Mahal. It was built by Shah Jahan in honor of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The perfect proportions and decorative marble design make this UNESCO World Heritage site one of the most beautiful in the world.
Read MoreWith over 7 hours of flying time, today is taken up with mostly travel. We will hit the sack early tonight in preparation for our big day tomorrow.
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