HOLBROOK EXPEDITIONS
Alumni and Association Travel 2018 Customizable itineraries for organizations related to their disciplines, faculty, research experts, academic study abroad and field programs
Enriching lives through travel since 1974 800-451-7111 | holbrooktravel.com | travel@holbrooktravel.com
THE HOLBROOK TRAVEL FAMILY At Holbrook, the world is our classroom.
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eadquartered in Gainesville, Florida, Holbrook was founded in 1974 and has over 35 employees on staff. The Holbrook team is composed of lifelong learners and global adventurers from around the world who all share a love of travel. A significant portion of our team has a long tenure at Holbrook, a unique trait that translates into smooth communication, extensive knowledge, and deep relationships with our travel partners around the globe.
LEARNING ADVENTURES: TEAM BIOS
ANDREA HOLBROOK President and CEO
Andrea joined the Holbrook Travel team in 1993 and has been the president and CEO since 1998. In addition to providing leadership and vision to Holbrook, she helps manage client relationships in educational travel and partnerships. Andrea has been an active participant in the annual Educational Travel Conference for over 15 years. In addition to her role at Holbrook, she supports her mother’s work at Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve. Andrea is a board member of the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center, a non-profit organization closely linked with Selva Verde that connects communities with conservation through education and ecotourism. Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in Russian studies from Columbia University.
CHRIS BENSLEY
Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris recently joined Holbrook Travel after more than 25 years of experience in the travel industry. He has led marketing, product, and interactive teams at Vantage Travel, Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Overseas Adventure Travel. He has developed partnerships with numerous educational travel organizations, including programs with Smithsonian, Harvard, and The Nature Company. In addition to his travel industry roles, he led several technology startups, including EstateWorks, where he formed sales partnerships for leading financial institutions. Chris has an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School and a BA from Dartmouth College. A child of educators, he caught the travel bug at an early age on a Europe sabbatical and now has ventured to over 40 countries on 7 continents.
SANDY DOSS
Sales Director and Global Education Specialist Sandy, a former classroom educator, first joined the Holbrook team in 1997 to support the quest for expeditionary learning. A biologist by degree, Sandy has enjoyed a career working with both national and state associations, higher education, K-12 education, and non-profit travel. Sandy specialized in partnership development, fostering organization-to-organization educational travel and faculty-led initiatives spanning the globe, with personal travels to all 7 continents. Sandy returned to Holbrook in 2016 after a 5-year hiatus which included serving as Groups Regional Sales Manager for G-Adventures and Founder of The Eco-Infinity Group, specializing in sustainable design and hospitality solutions for event and lodge management. Sandy holds a BS in Biology from the University of North Texas.
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS IN LEARNING ADVENTURES INCLUDE: Stephanie Kowacz, Chief Operating Officer, at Holbrook Travel since 1992 Pelin Karaca, Vice President of Program Development, at Holbrook Travel since 1998 Jennifer Bruck, Operations Manager, at Holbrook Travel since 1994
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ADVENTURES IN LEARNING Core features setting Holbrook Travel apart
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xperiential learning and enrichment have been Holbrook Travel’s mission for over 40 years, including work with hundreds of academic institutions and nature organizations.
With our Institutional Connections, we create custom itineraries for organizations related to their disciplines, faculty, research experts, academic study abroad and field programs.
SMALL GROUPS
EXPERT GUIDES
We typically limit our groups to 16 travelers, to ensure authentic interaction with local life and to tread softly in natural habitats.
We take pride in hiring and training local resident guides, carefully selected for their depth of knowledge, sensitivity and skill in the field.
ITINERARIES OFF-THEBEATEN PATH
CARBON OFFSETTING
We avoid high-tourist stops in our selection and timing of activities, routes, and areas within national parks, based on years of experience.
Climate change is real. We were among the first to provide an offset program and set aside funds for every traveler to support conservation through ClimateSafe.
AUTHENTIC ACCOMMODATIONS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Our lodgings reflect and support the local culture to enhance the immersion experience. We select high-quality, conveniently-located lodgings at the best value available.
We foster global citizenship though meaningful and authentic exchanges with local communities. These may include visits to schools and villages, home-hosted meals, talks with local leaders, community service projects, and more.
ACTIVE LEARNING We provide options for “soft adventure” and various physical activities including walking, hiking, paddling, rappelling, caving, and riding!
8 0 0 - 4 5 1 -7 1 1 1 hol b rook tra v e l .c o m trave l @hol b rook tra v e l .c o m PHOTOS BY ERIC LINDBERG, DEB SAVARESE, DAIN VAN SCHOYCK, LAURA HARE, GREG BASCO, AND THE SARAPIQUI CONSERVATION LEARNING CENTER.
ADVENTURES IN LEARNING: 2018 PROGRAMS Active, small group educational travel with close connections to culture and the natural world COUNTRY
DAYS
ADVENTURE LEARNING NAME
SEASON
AUSTRALIA
12
Wild Australia: Reef, Rainforest and Cultural Exploration
Sep-Jun
BELIZE
8
Exploring Belize: Rainforest, Reefs, and Ruins
Oct-Jun
CHILE & ARGENTINA
15
Frontiers of Patagonia: Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego, and Beyond
Oct-Mar
COSTA RICA
10
Preserving Paradise: Parks and Reserves of Costa Rica
Nov-Apr
COSTA RICA
9
Costa Rica Eco-Adventure: Tortuguero, La Selva, and Arenal
Nov-Apr
CUBA
10
Eastern Cuba: History, Culture and Nature in El Oriente
Oct-Jun
CUBA
7
Inside Cuba: Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad
Oct-May
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
10
Adventure Galápagos: Active Exploration of the Islands by Land
Oct-Aug
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
11
Biodiversity and Volcanic Terrain aboard Tip Top II or III
Oct-Aug
ICELAND
9
Expedition Iceland: Glaciers, Volcanoes, and the Midnight Sun
May-Sep
INDIA
12
Tigers, Taj Mahal, Culture, and History
Nov-Apr
MADAGASCAR
15
Exotic Madagascar: Wildlife and Culture on the Red Island
Mar-Oct
NAMIBIA
15
The Wild Namibia: Exploring the Natural Wonders
May-Oct
NEW ZEALAND
18
Exploring New Zealand: Best of the North and South Islands
Sep-May
PERU
13
Ultimate Peru: The Amazon and Machu Picchu
Sep-Jul
PERU
13
Pathways to Machu Picchu: a Lodge-to-Lodge Adventure
Sep-Jul
TANZANIA
13
Tanzania Up-Close: Culture, Safari and the Great Migration
May-Oct
Other special interest programs from Holbrook Travel:
Birding Tours Photography Expeditions
Natural History Programs Garden Tours
Student Travel Professional Development
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
coral cay by tourism queensland
AUSTRALIA
Wild Australia: Reef, Rainforest and Cultural Exploration 12 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: SEP - JUN
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ustralia is a land of superlatives and the best of it comes together in the North Queensland territory. This indepth, small group expedition delves into aboriginal culture and also reveals rare wildlife and unique natural formations that exist only in Australia. You’ll swim and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. Go bushwalking in ancient rainforests. Learn about aboriginal traditions and the Dream Time beliefs that offer a very different view of reality. Get close to koala, cassowary, kangaroos and platypus, the world’s only egg-laying mammal. And cap off your discovery with a stay in historic Sydney, the multicultural metropolis that’s the birthplace of modern Australia.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Travel in a small group for the most up-close wildlife experience with koala, cassowary, kangaroo, kookaburra, platypus, and other species unique to Australia. • Snorkel and swim the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Visit Magnetic Island, a refuge for an estimated 800 koalas. • Experience Reef monitoring at Reef HQ, Australia’s National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef. • Sail Sydney Harbor and explore the iconic Sydney Opera House. • Explore rainforests, waterfalls, mangroves and mountains within the UNESCO-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland. • Immerse yourself in aboriginal culture at Mungalla Station, an Indigenous Protected Area where you’ll visit a museum, take an ethno-botany walk and toss boomerangs.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
BELIZEAN CORAL REEF by STEFFI LOPEZ
BELIZE
Exploring Belize: Rainforest, Ruins and Reef 8 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - JUN
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he eco-paradise of Belize offers something to arouse the imagination of every curious traveler: incredible biodiversity... the world’s second largest Barrier Reef... lush rainforests... and ruin-rich jungles and caves where the heritage of the Maya is ever-present. This 8-day learning expedition introduces you to it all, and makes the discovery even more memorable with some exhilarating adventure activities. At the end of each rewarding day you’ll enjoy the comfort and hospitality of some of Belize’s best eco-lodges.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the Mayan underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal, a cave with ceremonial artifacts, stunning natural formations and mysterious tombs and human remains. • Swim and snorkel amidst the technicolor marine life of South Water Caye reserve on Belize’s Barrier Reef • Rappel through the rainforest canopy down into the “Mother of all Caves,” Actun Loch Tunich, set at the bottom of a 300-foot sinkhole. • Learn about the Tropical Education Center at the Belize Zoo, where exotic rescued wildlife live in a natural environment that’s often “visited” by creatures from the neighboring forest. • Discover the pre-Columbian ruins of Xunantunich, and take in 360° views from atop its El Castillo shrine • Seek out iguanas, crocodile, toucan and other exotic wildlife as you kayak the Sittee River. • Learn about local life at Sittee River Village, one of Belize’s oldest communities.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
patagonia by debbie sturdivant jordan
CHILE & ARGENTINA
Frontiers of Patagonia: Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego and Beyond 15 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - MAR
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nife-edged Andean peaks, electric blue fjords, teeming rookeries and vast steppes. Patagonia promises adventure on a grand scale, and you will experience it, by land and sea. Aboard the awardwinning MV Stella Australis, your small group will hug the coast at the bottom of the world, served by a multidisciplinary team who will explain the science and history behind the beauty. Discover the skyscraping splendor of Torres del Paine National Park, the roiling seas of Drake Passage and Cape Horn National Park, sparkling glacial lakes and old ports where whalers and adventurers sailed in the wake of Magellan and Darwin. A Chilean winery tour and time in sophisticated Buenos Aires and Santiago add color and contrast to your wilderness adventure.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Stay in an eco-camp in spectacular Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. • Hike through Tierra del Fuego National Park in search of the guanaco, foxes, condors and other rare wildlife. • Cruise in comfort aboard the award-winning MV Stella Australis through the fjords, bays and open seas from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas. • Sample the sophisticated pleasures of Buenos Aires, Santiago and the Chilean Wine Country. • Learn about the native Yámana people and their interactions over the centuries with international missionaries, explorers and scientists. • Visit Magdalena Island to view a colony of more than 120,000 Magellanic Penguins.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
COSTA RICA RAINFOREST by GREG BASCO
COSTA RICA
Preserving Paradise: Parks and Reserves of Costa Rica 10 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: NOV - APR
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osta Rica has more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity, 801 miles of coastline, and the world’s highest percentage of protected areas. At the same time, it consistently ranks high in prestigious international quality of life studies. How does Costa Rica maintain its fragile balance, and what can we learn from it? Find out as we explore glorious national parks and private reserves, and learn from the naturalists and conservationists who are stewards of this remarkable realm. With rainforest hikes, horseback riding, birdwatching, river cruising, canopy walks and a relaxing spa stay, your 10-day learning expedition will be as exhilarating as it is enlightening. Experience abundant wildlife and stunning panoramic views unlike any other as you discover the natural gems that Costa Rica has to offer.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Explore some of Costa Rica’s most awe-inspiring national parks and reserves, including Manuel Antonio National Park, Carara Biological Reserve, and Los Quetzales. • Hit the trails in search of rare tropical birds such as scarlet macaw and the beautiful resplendent quetzal. • Witness the intersection of indigenous traditions and modern livelihoods during a hands-on experience at a chocolate farm. • Seek out caiman, sloths and other wildlife during a Sarapiquí River cruise, and learn about important land use issues. • Discover some unusual creatures during a nocturnal nature walk at Villa Lapas. • Go horseback riding along the Savegre River and learn about the diverse bird species in the cloud forest reserve at Savegre.
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
HIKING AT ARENAL by JOANNA LIVINGSTONE
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica Eco-Adventure: Tortuguero, La Selva, and Arenal 9 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: NOV - APR
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his adventure explores the Caribbean side of Costa Rica’s “rich coast,” including Tortuguero National Park; then takes you inland to discover the primary rainforests of Selva Verde, our private ecoreserve set on 500 protected acres within the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor. These distinct locations offer the perfect introduction to Costa Rica’s biodiversity, which you’ll also encounter at La Paz Waterfall Reserve, on a Rio Sarapiquí whitewater rafting excursion, and during a highland interlude near Arenal Volcano. Conclude with an overnight in the capital, San Jose, for a cultural dimension to your Costa Rica experience. Overall, this active exploration of Costa Rica’s rich habitats will enliven all your senses with a wide variety of excursions.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Go on a canal safari in Tortuguero National Park in search of reptiles, monkeys, butterflies, and birds. • Ride a boat to Tortuguero Village and visit the museum of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, a leader in turtle research and conservation. • Get a thorough overview of Costa Rica’s biodiversity with a naturalist-led discussion at Selva Verde Lodge and Rainforest Reserve. • Revel in the beauty of La Paz Waterfall Reserve with its aviary, serpentarium, hummingbird exhibit, ranarium (frog exhibit), orchid park and monkey rehabilitation center. • Go whitewater rafting on the Rio Sarapiquí’s Class II and III rapids. • Relax in thermal hot springs in the shadow of Arenal Volcano.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
cuban man on rÍo toa by julio larramendi
CUBA
Eastern Cuba: History, Culture and Nature in El Oriente 10 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - JUN
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hen Columbus first landed in the New World in 1492 near Cuba’s Baracoa, he called it “the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen.” You may agree when you explore the unspoiled beaches, mountains and jungles of Eastern Cuba. But “El Oriente,” the East, is also beloved for its ethnic mix, creative arts, and the spirit that sparked the Cuban Revolution. This 10day cultural and natural expedition features musical Holguin, mystical Baracoa, historic Santiago and more. Experience Cuban hospitality at evocative paladares, hear the music that moves the nation, understand the political currents that swept the provinces, and celebrate the natural splendor that gave rise to it all.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Celebrate eastern Cuba’s rich musical, literary, political and ethnological heritage in its most important cultural centers. • Delve into Cuban history at Santiago de Cuba, where the Revolution began. • Swim in the double waterfalls of Salto del Guayabo, with views of a canyon and the Atlantic. • Trace Cuba’s aboriginal past in its oldest settlement, Baracoa. • Explore Alejandro Humboldt National Park, which boasts the richest flora and fauna in Cuba. • Hike, snorkel, boat and swim at Bahia de Taco, 5600 acres of protected marine ecosystems. • See San Juan Hill, where Teddy Roosevelt and his American-Cuban Rough Riders won a decisive battle in the Spanish-American war.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
musicians classic in trinidad car by guillaume baviere
CUBA
Inside Cuba: Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad 7 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - MAY
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he door is finally open for Americans to discover the varied, vibrant and very welcoming people of a land whose culture, history and unspoiled landscapes have wonderful secrets to share. This journey focuses on the people and culture of Central Cuba, visiting Havana, Zapata National Park, Cienfuegos and Trinidad— all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Learn about Cuba’s turbulent history—from the Spanish conquest to the 19th century sugar trade to the Revolution and today’s newly evolving reforms. Meet artists and musicians, participate in a community conservation project, visit a school, swim, snorkel and fall in love with the neighbor you never knew. Engage with community members and gain a more in-depth understanding of this Caribbean island’s people and their daily way of life in their past and present.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Discover the gracious architecture and cultural verve of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Ride in a classic 1950’s automobile on your way to an evening dinner along the Malecón, the broad esplanade along the Havana coast. • Explore the wetlands of Zapata National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is one the world’s best natural habitats. • Stroll the cobbled streets, artisan studios, markets and colorful homes of colonial Trinidad. • Stay at a Casa Particular, dine with a local family and get a first-hand account of life in Cuba. • Visit French-founded Cienfuegos, an important port whose Castillo de Jagua fortress, beautiful square, and Malecón promenade make it the “Pearl of the South.” • Learn about Cuba’s indigenous Arawak-Taíno culture during a visit to a restored Taína village commissioned by Fidel Castro, where traditional life is reflected through life-sized statues.
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
MARINE IGUANAS by ALTON BIGGS
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Adventure Galápagos: Active Exploration of the Islands by Land 10 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - AUG
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he Galápagos Islands were Charles Darwin’s “Living Laboratory of Evolution,” named for the tortoises that roam the lush landscapes of the small archipelago. This active learning adventure is an opportunity to experience the islands’ unique environments in a way that most visitors to the Galápagos seldom do, through fun activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, biking and stand-up paddleboarding. The Galápagos have become world-renowned for vast wildlife, which includes sea lions, turtles, marine iguanas, and more. You’ll learn about the natural history of the Islands during visits to Tortuga Bay, El Chato Tortoise Reserve, Tintoreras Islets, the Wall of Tears, the Charles Darwin Research Station, and a host of other highlights of the Enchanted Islands.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the Galápagos by land and sea as you hike, kayak, bike, and SUP (stand-up paddleboard) your way through the islands. • Snorkel the archipelago’s turquoise waters for the chance to view sea lions, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and more. • Discover the fascinating human history of the islands, from 17th century whalers and pirates to Charles Darwin’s 1835 voyage, 20th century settlers, and today’s inhabitants. • Hike up to the edge of Sierra Negra, one of the Galápagos’ largest and most active volcanoes. • See the iconic Galápagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat in the densely forested areas of Santa Cruz Island’s highlands.
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LEARNING ADVENTURE
DIVING BOOBIES BY CATHY TURGEON
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Biodiversity and Volcanic Terrain aboard Tip Top II or Tip Top III 11 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: OCT - AUG
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he Galápagos were Charles Darwin’s “Living Laboratory of Evolution” and this 11-day small-group catamaran expedition offers a front-row seat. After visiting Ecuador’s capital, Quito, you’ll explore the archipelago with an onboard naturalist-guide. Stunning formations like saw-toothed Pinnacle Rock, sandy beaches, teeming lagoons and volcanic craters play host to unique wildlife such as the bluefooted booby, Darwin’s finches, giant Galápagos tortoises and more. With no fear of human predation, many creatures can be approached up-close; you can even swim with the sea lions. You’ll also learn about the islands’ sparse but dramatic human history, a tale of buccaneers, penal colonists and hardy settlers.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Come face-to-face with iconic wildlife including bluefooted boobies, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, Darwin’s finches, and Galápagos penguins. • Explore diverse islands by catamaran and small panga craft, making wet and dry landings and stopping to hike, swim and snorkel. • Learn about important conservation efforts at the Darwin Research Station. • Visit the historic Wall of Tears, site of a former penal colony where prisoners were forced to build a wall with huge lava blocks. • See endangered tortoises at Isabela Island’s Tortoise Breeding Center. • Hike on Bartolomé Island for spectacular views of Pinnacle Rock, the archipelago’s most recognizable feature.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
Skógafoss by Andrés Nieto Porras
ICELAND
Expedition Iceland: Glaciers, Volcanoes, and the Midnight Sun 10 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: MAY - SEP
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orn of fire and ice, Iceland is unlike any place you’ve ever seen, and this learning expedition introduces you to its rugged landscape, rich cultural history, and dynamic earth forces. You’ll behold spectacular geologic formations in national parks on this complete island circuit. Seek out diverse avian and marine life along black sand beaches, glacial lakes and towering rookeries. Discover the trendy capital, Reykjavik, and fishing villages whose quirky and charming people will inspire you with their creativity. Walk across blue-white glaciers and undulating lava fields. Float past a glittering iceberg or soak in a geothermal pool. Explore the oral and written history of the Vikings, through Saga Storytelling and tales of the hidden huldufólk, whose tiny gnome houses dot the countryside. All the while you’ll enjoy maximum exploring time during the long, leisurely days of the Midnight Sun.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Explore Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set on the continental drift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, where the ancient Icelandic Alpingi parliament meet. • Float among icebergs at the Jokulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. • Sample Iceland’s “New Nordic” cuisine which enhances traditional dishes with creative cooking techniques. • Witness spouting hot springs and bubbling mudpools of Geysir, Goðafoss waterfall, Vik’s black sand beaches, and the jagged coastline of the East Fjords. • Learn about Iceland’s Viking settlements at the Wilderness Center. • Discover the WWII Legacy of northern Akureyri near the Arctic Circle.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
TAJ MAHAL by Todd gustafson | gustafson photo safari
INDIA
Tigers, Taj Mahal, Culture, and History 12 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: NOV - APR
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ndia delights the imagination with layers of civilization that date back 7,000 years. Its deep spirituality finds expression in a riot of temples, palaces, bazaars and everyday devotion. It is saturated colors, entrancing music, rich cuisine and wild habitats of amazing biodiversity. Discover it all on our carefully-curated itinerary that blends the iconic cities of the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur); visits to rural villages; and an unforgettable safari in search of the elusive Bengal tiger. From its dynastic origins to the Mughal era to the British Raj, come experience India’s neverending transformation on this diverse introduction to the subcontinent.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Achieve a travel milestone when you see the Taj Mahal, one of several UNESCO sites on this adventure. • Ride an elephant to Jaipur’s Amber Fort, then explore Jantar Mantar observatory, Palace of the Winds, Johari Bazaar and other marvels of the “Pink City.” • Go on safari in Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in search of Bengal tigers, and learn the challenges of protecting this majestic species. • Experience rural life during a school visit and cooking demonstration in a village outside Kanha. • Admire the UNESCO monuments of Delhi, including Jama Masjid and Qutab Minar. • Behold the 10th-century Chandela sculptures, friezes and murals of Khajuraho, which depict the intersection of eroticism and spirituality.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
RING-TAILED LEMUR by IAN SEGEBARTH
MADAGASCAR
Exotic Madagascar: Wildlife & Culture of the Red Island 17 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: MAR - OCT
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adagascar inspires the imagination with its dancing lemurs, strange-looking baobab trees, and colorful reptiles and insects. On this exploration of the “eighth continent,” you’ll have the chance to observe the island’s endemic flora and fauna up-close, especially its many lemur species, from the giant Indri to the diminutive mouse lemurs. Along the way, you’ll delve into the spiny forests, canyons, red hills, and beaches that make Madagascar’s landscapes so distinct. Take guided hikes in national parks, learn about the Malagasy way of life, and explore an uninhabited island off the coast of the “Great Red Island.”
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Come face-to-face with Madagascar’s unique and unusual wildlife, including geckos, chameleons, rare birds, and butterflies. • Encounter the nine species of lemur that roam freely in Lemur’s Park, an urban botanical park that was established to increase public awareness of the importance of protecting these animals. • Watch Malagasy craftsmen make the ubiquitous aluminum pots used for cooking over open fires. • Discover natural and cultural history while taking in panoramic views on a trek over rice fields, incised rocks, gorges, the Canyon of the Makis and Canyon of the Rats, and the huge Ihorombe plateau in Isalo National Park.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
Twyfelfontein petroglpyh by Hans Hillewaert
NAMIBIA
The Wild Namibia: Exploring the Natural Wonders 18 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: MAY - OCT
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amibia, one of the world’s youngest countries, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Kalahari Desert, is packed with potential. The Namib, the oldest desert in the world, dominates Namibia’s landscape. Take time for visits to surrounding safari areas, which are visually impressive, with exquisite flora, towering red dunes, bush country, and fascinating geological formations. Take game drives in Etosha National Park to view wildlife, including the “Big Five” — elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards — plus giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, and more. You’ll also have the chance to learn about Namibia’s cultural history as you visit Twyfelfontein, home to one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in Africa, and learn about the San people who have inhabited the area for tens of thousands of years.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • See unique desert-adapted wildlife like geckos, beetles, chameleons, and the arachnid known as the “dancing white lady spider.” • Discover the Skeleton Coast and the largest colony of Cape fur seals at Cape Cross Seal Reserve. • Immerse yourself in the San culture, learning about signs and tracks of the veldt, firemaking with traditional San fire sticks, making bows and arrows, jewelry and craftmaking, and hunting in the traditional San way. • Descend 100 feet into Sesrium Canyon for a visual history of Namibian geology, and watch for bird life high on the cliffs. • Float over the red dunes and white salt and clay pan of Sossusvlei, one of Namibia’s jewels and the largest conservation area in Africa, on a hot air balloon safari.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
MAORI CARVING
NEW ZEALAND
Exploring New Zealand: Best of the North and South Islands 15 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: MAR - OCT
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his comprehensive, 15-day adventure celebrates the cultural, geologic, and biological diversity of New Zealand, visiting both the North and South islands. The range of terrain and microclimates will astound you, from the volcanic peaks and geothermal springs of the north to the southern rainforests, alpine mountains and glacier fields. It’s all bounded by a stunning coastline where we’ll seek whales, orca, dolphin and other marine species. You’ll have the opportunity to hike, kayak, bungee jump, and go on a heli-tour and more in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World,” and everywhere, you’ll encounter the rich culture of the Maori, New Zealand’s original inhabitants.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Admire a rainbow of color at Rotorua’s Te Puia Geothermal Valley, with its steaming geysers and fumaroles, redwood forest, and a village buried beneath volcanic ash. • Cruise overnight on scenic Milford Sound in Fjordland National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Experience Maori culture at Tamaki village, where you’ll enjoy a traditional hangi feast. • Hike on Franz Josef Glacier and learn about the impact of climate change on this UNESCO-listed site. • Board a catamaran in search of the immense sperm whales of the Hikurangi Trench. • Explore the golden beaches and turquoise water of the Abel Tasman National Park via kayaking and hiking.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
on the amazon by laura hare
PERU
Ultimate Peru: The Amazon and Machu Picchu 13 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: SEP - JUL
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chieve two travel milestones on a single adventure that includes Peru’s Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, the most famous Incan archaeological site. You’ll experience the vast biodiversity sheltered among the Amazon’s tributaries, lagoons, and forests, exploring by boat and foot. Then, discover the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, set in the Andean highlands atop a cluster of humped emerald peaks. Along the way you’ll meet the inheritors of Peru’s natural and cultural legacy: the native Amazonian and Quechua people who welcome us into their homes. From colorful rubber baron mansions to the mysterious Sacred Valley to the canopy of the world’s largest rainforest, this is the total Peru experience.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Experience two of South America’s most iconic destinations: the Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu. • Discover colonial Cusco and Lima, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. • Cruise the Amazon and its oxbow lakes, lagoons and tributaries by skiff. • Enjoy a nighttime rainforest safari in search of nocturnal herons, bats, pauraques, spectacled owls, and more than a dozen frog species. • Experience the many facets of native Peruvian life when you explore an Amazonian village and the Quechua towns of the Sacred Valley, visiting family homes and meeting shamans, farmers, and craftsmen where they live and work.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
HIKING to MACHU PICCHU by LAURA HARE
PERU
Pathways to Machu Picchu: a Lodge-to-Lodge Adventure 13 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: SEP - JUL
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alk the road less traveled to Machu Picchu through a breathtaking tableau of Andean peaks, rushing streams, glacial valleys, coffee plantations, and villages where Incan ways find vivid expression in today’s Quechua cultures. The intimacy of your small group makes the grandeur even more stirring as you hike lodge-to-lodge along Salkantay route, the less-travelled Royal Inca Road. At the end of each day, you’ll be rewarded with luxurious comforts, cuisine and hospitality at our fine mountain lodges, recent winners in Travel + Leisure’s 2016 World’s Best awards. Your adventure is complemented by exploration in the colonial gems of Cuzco and Lima, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Hike the Royal Incan Road in the shadow of Salkantay to Machu Picchu, through a wonderland of glacial valleys, Andean peaks, roaring rivers, orchards and plantations. • Spend a full day within the Machu Picchu archaeological site, with the option to hike to Huayna Picchu for commanding views. • Behold the massive stone walls of Sacsayhuaman. • Explore the Inca-Quechua heritage of Sacred Valley towns like Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Chinchero. • Pamper yourself at award-winning lodges with gourmet cuisine, luxurious bedding, Jacuzzis, and massage in a setting that evokes the Inca aesthetic. • See the world-renowned collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and jewels at Lima’s Larco Museum.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m
LEARNING ADVENTURE
MAASAI man
TANZANIA
Tanzania Up-Close: Culture, Safari and the Great Migration 13 DAYS | Choose your dates | Best season to travel: MAY - OCT
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his comprehensive adventure visits Tanzania’s most famous parks for unforgettable wildlife viewing, but also celebrates Africa’s humanity with authentic cultural encounters in Maasai, Kikuyu, and Hadzabe Bushmen communities. The culmination will be the legendary Serengeti, where you will see the vast migrating herds and many predators who follow them. Our camps are positioned right where the seasonal migrations are most prolific. You’ll also witness the near-perfect balance of predator and prey in the stunning Ngorongoro Crater. Of special note is the fact that your game viewing takes place on foot as well as safari vehicles, a rare approach that provides the most up-close and thrilling safari experience ever.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Follow the Serengeti herds during the legendary Great Migration, the world’s largest terrestrial mammal movement. • Celebrate African culture as you explore local communities, have lunch in a village home, browse the markets and visit a local school. • Seek out the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater with one of the earth’s richest concentrations of wildlife. • Walk trails on Mt. Meru in search of buffalo, colobus monkeys, and warthogs. • Learn clues to the origins of mankind at Olduvai Gorge, where Louis & Mary Leakey discovered important fossil remains. • Embark on a walking safari in the Serengeti, a completely new safari experience to that of standard game drives. • Stand in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro at Arusha National Park.
hol brooktrave l .com | 800-451-7111 | travel@ho lbro o ktravel.c o m