ECO TOURS explore • learn • preserve
Go Ahead Eco Tours Positively impact the places you visit. Get a closer look at vibrant communities while supporting conservation programs and local economies. Our itineraries highlight businesses and organizations that give back to the local people and support wildlife— so while you explore breathtaking natural landscapes and engage in authentic cultural experiences, you’ll also bring awareness and travel dollars to meaningful initiatives.
your tour includes: Round-trip airfare • Hotels & eco-lodges • Expert Tour Director Select meals • Private transportation
On the cover: Exploring Australia’s Daintree Rainforest
The serene waters of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala • 3
Eco Tours for every traveler We offer three types of tour experiences for travelers seeking different levels of eco-engagement, ranging from opportunities to delve into conservation efforts and local traditions to getting a small taste of ecotourism on the itineraries of our traditional cultural tours.
Community & Conservation p.7 Engage in activities that benefit surrounding communities and fund wildlife conservation efforts. Learn handicrafts and cultural traditions directly from the locals. Travel on our most immersive adventures, designed to make a positive impact.
Safari, Nature & Wildlife p.16 Go wild and give back, too. These nature-focused tours and safaris lead you through picturesque landscapes and get you closer to diverse wildlife, with the added benefit of knowing your travel dollars are helping to sustain the conservation areas you visit.
Sustainable Highlights p.22 Experience a touch of ecotourism. This is a collection of sustainable components found on the itineraries of our traditional cultural tours, featuring activities that bring you closer to indigenous cultures and endangered wildlife.
4 • Visit the homes of Kenya’s wild creatures
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the go ahead eco tours experience
Learn from the best Nature lovers, history buffs, avid adventurers— call them what you will, Tour Directors know everything there is to know about the unique
Our Eco Tours feature destinations and communities that we’ve visited and experienced firsthand, ensuring
ecologies and cultural traditions of the lands
that your adventure is as genuine and memorable as it is eco-friendly. We’ll lead you off the beaten path, so you’ll
and communities you’ll visit on tour.
have more opportunities for authentic cultural immersion and to learn more about everything—responsible travel, environmental initiatives, people, places, even yourself.
A Tour Director lecturing in Costa Rica
Do good. Sleep well It’s a little easier to sleep knowing that your accomodations fund local schools or support environmental initiatives. In addition to more traditional hotels, we’ve handpicked a mix of lodges and hotels that either help sustain communities or the environment.
6 • An early morning bush walk in Kenya
A wildlife camp in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley • 7
Travel like you mean it
Community & Conservation Do your part to ensure that the world’s most vibrant communities and environments stay that way. This group of tours gets you closer to local people and rare wildlife. No matter where you visit, you’ll know your travel dollars are helping to preserve the serenity and authenticity of those places. And to make sure that we leave as small of a footprint as possible, you’ll travel in small, intimate groups, with as few as seven companions.
8 • The women of Umasbamba show off their traditional handicrafts
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Guatemala To Belize: Local Traditions & Tropical wildlife 10 days • Community & Conservation • Breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 7 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Antigua, Guatemala
Punta Gorda, Belize
1 night—Hotel Villa Colonial
2 nights—Cotton tree lodge
day 1 Fly to Guatemala City and settle in to your hotel in the beautiful colonial city of Antigua.
days 7-8 Embark on a half-day journey down the Rio Dulce, a national marine protected area. Cruise toward the Caribbean, navigating through the jungle and past local villages. Stop at a community hot spring before arriving in Livingston, a town without road connections. Take in the local Garifuna culture before boarding a ferry to Punta Gorda, Belize and checking in to the award-winning Cotton Tree jungle lodge. The next morning, visit Eladio Pop’s organic farm, where he’ll show you his land and discuss his personal conservation efforts. Taste cacao fruit, sugar cane and other fresh-picked treats. Afterward, Eladio Pop will invite you for lunch at his home, where his daughter will demonstrate how to turn cacao beans into chocolate.
Santiago atitlan, Guatemala 2 nights—Posada santiago
days 2-3 Brush up on your bargaining skills in Chichicastenango on a visit to Guatemala’s most famous highlands market. Twice a week, the market attracts indigenous farmers, weavers and other merchants from throughout the region. Continue to Panajachel, gateway to Lake Atitlan, and embark on a boat ride across the lake to Santiago Atitlan, where you’ll check in to your eco-friendly lakeshore lodge. The next day you’ll cruise along the lake to San Juan la Laguna to meet a local guide from Rupalaj K’istalin, a community guiding association. Your guide will show you the town and its local artisan cooperatives. There, local women will teach you how to spin and dye yarn and weave it into textiles. Optional Excursion: San Juan la Laguna: Volcano Hike & Bird Watching
Antigua, Guatemala 2 nights—hotel villa colonial
days 4-5 Return to Antigua and discover the colonial churches and evocative ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, travel to San Miguel Escobar, near Ciudad Vieja, for a morning on the coffee farm. Meet a local farmer who participates in As Green As It Gets, a nonprofit that strives to provide sustainable incomes to local coffee growers via coffee exportation and tourism. Tour the nearby coffee growing areas, then visit your guide’s home for a demonstration of sorting, roasting and grinding—followed by tasting. Each visitor will receive the gift of a one-pound bag of local coffee. Rio Dulce, Guatemala
hopkins, Belize 1 night—Jaguar Reef lodge
days 9-10 Travel to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the country’s oldest jaguar sanctuary. A naturalist guide will lead you through the trails in hopes of spotting the elusive animals. Then, settle in to your Caribbean hotel in Hopkins, where you can relax on the beach. The next morning, you’ll board your flight home. Stay longer: add Flores & tikal Begin your trip with 2 nights in Flores, your base for seeking out Guatemala’s expansive collection of ancient Mayan ruins in Tikal and Yaxha.
Communities & Conservation Areas You’ll Visit on Tour: • Rupalaj K’istalin, by Lake Atitlan • As Green As It Gets • Rio Dulce National Park • Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary • Cotton Tree Lodge, jungle eco-lodge
Above: Sorting coffee beans at a local farm Below: Preparing chocolate from fresh cacao
Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013
Oct 19, Nov 9, 30
2014
Jan 25, Apr 5, Jun 21, Oct 18, Nov 8
1 night—Hacienda Tijax
day 6 Leave early for Rio Dulce, and arrive at your jungle lodge. Afterward, travel by boat to Finca Paraiso, a local farm with incredible waterfalls and hot springs.
10 • Guatemala’s volcano-ringed Lake Atitlan
Passport must be valid for at least six months after date of travel.
goaheadtours.com/gcc • 1-877-354-8151
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Kenya: Sustainable communities & Wildlife safari 11 days • Community & Conservation • Breakfast daily, 8 lunches, 9 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Naboisho
Nairobi 1 night—Ole sereni
2 nights—Basecamp Eagle View
days 1-2 Upon arrival in the capital city of Kenya, you’ll be escorted to your hotel and enjoy dinner.
days 8-11 En route to your next destination, you’ll have the chance to visit the Ole Sere school and health clinic, also supported by the Basecamp Foundation. Then, make your way to Eagle View, one of the newest camps at the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. Upon arrival, listen to a lecture about the conservancy and initiatives supporting the local environment and communities. Afterward, meet with the conservancy’s lion scouts and visit the Koiyaki Guiding School, where locals are trained to be tourism guides. End the day with a game drive and wake early the next morning for a sunrise game walk through the conservancy. After one final game drive, you’ll bid farewell to your fellow travelers over dinner at camp. The next morning, transfer to the local airstrip, watching for wildlife on the way, and fly back to Nairobi, where you’ll connect to your flight home.
Il Ngwesi 2 nights—Il Ngwesi lodge
days 3-4 Following a flight north, you’ll be greeted by safari vehicles for a game drive in Lewa Conservancy, one of the earliest examples of community-led conservation in Kenya. Be on the lookout for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, impala and buffalo. The next morning, wake up for an early morning bush walk in Il Ngwesi’s conservation lands. In the afternoon, you can head to a rhino sanctuary, where you might catch a glimpse of the elusive black rhino. Later, visit a nearby community to learn about local history, culture and traditions before enjoying dinner in the village and setting out on an evening game drive. Optional Excursion: Il Ngwesi Camel Safari Ride
masai mara 3 nights—Basecamp Explorer masai mara
days 5-7 Fly south to Masai Mara, where representatives from Basecamp Explorer will meet you for a short game drive on your way back to camp. After an eco-orientation, embark on a game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve, considered one of Africa’s best-managed game parks. Watch for the “Big Five” of African safaris—leopards, rhinos, buffalo, lions and elephants—and admire the vast, stunning scenery of rolling hills, waving savanna grasses and acacia trees. Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive to see wildlife at its most active, followed by a morning lecture about the Basecamp Foundation and its tourism-supported initiatives in the local communities. You’ll then tour the Foundation-supported school and community health clinic in the Talek area before taking the opportunity to meet some of the women who work at the Bascamp arts center and browse their sustainable beaded jewelry. The next day is free for game drives in Masai Mara or to help plant trees in the Basecamp reforestation area.
Stay longer: add zanzibar & chumbe island End your trip with 1 night on the island of Zanzibar and 2 nights on Chumbe Island where you’ll stay at an awardwinning eco-lodge, visit a local school and explore the forest trails along the coast.
Communities & Conservation Areas You’ll Visit on Tour: • Lewa Conservancy • Il Ngwesi • Masai Mara National Reserve • Mara Naboisho Conservancy • Talek & Ole Sere Health Clinics • Basecamp Arts Center • Lion Scouts & Koiyaki Guiding School Above: Women creating sustainable jewelry Below: A lion spotted in the Masai Mara
Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013
Aug 8†, Sep 5, Oct 3, Dec 6
2014
Jan 30, Apr 10, Jul 24†, Sep 18, Nov 13
† Dates fall during wildebeest migration. A visa is required to travel on this tour.
Optional Excursions: Masai Mara Sunrise Balloon Ride, Basecamp Foundation Tree Planting
12 • Capturing A bush walk daily through life inthe a Masai Masaivillage people’s community lands
goaheadtours.com/kcc • 1-877-354-8151
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Australia: Wild Tasmania & the Rainforest 14 days • Community & Conservation • Breakfast daily, 6 lunches, 7 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Daintree
Melbourne 3 nights—Vibe Savoy Hotel C
3 nights—Silky Oaks Lodge
days 1-5 Arrive in Melbourne on day three. After taking some time to settle in, you’ll have the chance to mingle with some of Australia’s most notable residents—koalas and kangaroos. Join a researcher on a walk through the country’s natural bushland, open plains and teeming forests to interact with the creatures up close. The next day, you’ll be free to explore Melbourne, perhaps hopping on one of its iconic trams or walking through its lively, art-lined laneways and arcades.
days 9-11 Following a flight to Cairns, ride along the famously scenic Captain Cook Highway, taking in the rainforest to your left and sparkling Coral Sea to your right. Your destination is Silky Oaks, a boutique eco-lodge set in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its incredible biodiversity. From here, travel to Australia’s northeast coast for a close encounter with the only living organism visible from outer space—the Great Barrier Reef. Board an eco-cruise bound for Agincourt Reef, where a marine biologist will teach you about the ecosystems contained within the reef before letting you grab your snorkel for a closer view of the marine life below. The next day, follow the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people as they lead you on a tour of their home in Mossman Gorge, one of the oldest continuously surviving rainforests on earth.
• Koalas & Kangaroos in the Wild
sydney
• Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
2 nights—Parkroyal darling harbour C
• Freycinet National Park
days 12-14 After flying to Sydney from Cairns, you’ll have free time to explore on your own or join an excursion to the Blue Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The following day, you’ll board your flight home.
• Tasman National Park
Optional Excursions: Melbourne’s Lanes & Arcades Walking Tour, Colonial Tramcar Lunch & Ride
Freycinet, Tasmania 2 nights—Freycinet lodge
days 6-7 After landing in Tasmania, make your way to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. As a haven for injured and orphaned wildlife, Bonorong has been helping to rehabilitate animals in need since 1981. During a guided tour, you’ll have the opportunity to care for and hand-feed the sanctuary’s resident animals, gaining an up-close and personal experience with creatures like golden possums, sugar gliders and even the Tasmanian Devil. Following your tour, head to Freycinet National Park and take in your surroundings from your waterfront lodge. Spend the next day continuing to explore Tasmania’s east coast on a guided tour of the park. hobart, Tasmania
Communities & Conservation Areas You’ll Visit on Tour:
• Daintree Rainforest & Mossman Gorge • The Great Barrier Reef
Optional Excursion: The Blue Mountains & Katoomba
Stay longer: add a sydney city stay Finish out your trip with 2 extra nights to spend in Sydney as you like.
Above: Interacting with koalas in the wild Below: Marine life in the Great Barrier Reef
1 night—salamanca inn C
day 8 Part ways with Freycinet and board an eco-cruise to Tasman Island, part of Tasman National Park. The island is comprised of the tallest seaside cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere, rising a daunting 300 meters into the air. Tasman is also home to one of the world’s largest colonies of Fairy Prions, making it an Important Bird Area (IBA). Afterward, experience the colonial charms of Hobart, Australia’s second-oldest city and Tasmania’s capital.
14 • Strolling along the tranquil bays of Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013
Aug 22, Sep 5, Oct 17
2014
May 15, Jul 17, Sep 4, Oct 2
Passport must be valid for at least six months after date of travel.
goaheadtours.com/acc • 1-877-354-8151
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Peru: the Amazon & culture of Lake Titicaca 12 days • Community & Conservation • Breakfast daily, 8 lunches, 7 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Lima
Cuzco
2 nights—jose antonio C
1 night—ECO INN C
days 1-2 After arriving in Peru and settling in to Lima, get to know the city’s historic center. Let your Tour Director lead the the way as you wind past colonial mansions and Moorish balconies overlooking Lima’s atmospheric old streets. Stop to admire the 16th-century Santo Domingo Convent, boasting an ancient crypt full of relics.
day 7 Following your return to Cuzco, spend a free day uncovering this UNESCO World Heritage site, or join our optional excursion and board the Vistadome Train for a scenic ride to Aguas Calientes. From here, you’ll travel to Machu Picchu to explore the Lost City of the Incas.
Puerto Maldonado
Puno
2 nights—Hacienda concepcion
1 night—casa andina Private Collection puno
days 3-4 Catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado, then travel by canoe along the Madre de Dios River, an Amazonian tributary, to arrive at your jungle lodge. Afterward, maneuver across the hanging bridges of the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway to see what goes on in the jungle treetops. You’ll also learn how the walkway supports the research of the Inkaterra Asociación (ITA), an organization responsible for many of the area’s conservation projects. During a visit to Tambopata National Reserve, discover why the region is called Peru’s biodiversity capital as you navigate across Lake Sandoval, home to the endangered giant river otter, blue-and-yellow macaw, red howler monkeys, black caiman and one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, the paiche.
day 8 Ride through stunning Andean landscapes, stopping to investigate the Incan ruins at Raqchi before arriving in Puno, a small port town on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Sacred valley region 2 nights—SOL & LUNA
days 5-6 Observe butterflies in their natural habitat before flying on to Cuzco, a colonial city built on the foundation of Incan palaces. From there, travel to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. While in the Sacred Valley, you’ll stay at Sol & Luna, a boutique hotel where 100 percent of profits support the eponymous foundation and school. The next day, you’ll have a chance to visit the Sol y Luna school. Afterward, meet with Umasbamba villagers, who will teach you their traditional agricultural and weaving techniques.
16 • The Uros people who inhabit the floating islands of Lake Titicaca
Optional Excursion: Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca 2 nights—Isla suasi by casa andina
days 9-12 Boat around Lake Titicaca, anchoring to visit local communities on Uros and Taquile Islands. Later, arrive at the peaceful and secluded Suasi Island, where you’ll be free to wander the trails on your own or join a guided walk to discover local flora and fauna. End your adventure stargazing beside the bonfire before flying home the next day. Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013 2014
Aug 25, Sep 27, Nov 1
Communities & Conservation Areas You’ll Visit on Tour: • Inkaterra Asociación (ITA) • Tambopata National Reserve • Asociación Sol & Luna • Umasbamba Village • Suasi Island
Above: Crossing the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway in the Amazon jungle Below: A local weaving demonstration in Umasbamba
Feb 22, Apr 12, May 3, Jun 7, Jul 26, Sep 6 Oct 4, Nov 15
International flight times are subject to change and may affect the number and location of hotel overnights.
goaheadtours.com/pcc • 1-877-354-8151
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Botswana & Zimbabwe: Untouched africa 12 days • Safari, Nature & Wildlife • Breakfast daily, 6 lunches, 7 dinners • Expert Tour Director
For the wild at heart
Safari, Nature & Wildlife Support endangered wildlife and irreplaceable environments through nature-focused tourism. Travel to nature reserves and animal sanctuaries, where you’ll get the unforgettable chance to interact with the local fauna and support preservation efforts.
Feel the incredible rush of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Victoria falls
Chobe
3 nights—A’Zambezi river lodge
2 nights—Cresta mowana safari resort & spa C
days 1-4 Zimbabwe’s natural wonders beckon after your overnight flight. In Victoria Falls, explore a mile-wide waterfall so powerful that locals call it “The Smoke That Thunders,” and embark on a guided tour of local flora and fauna, including elephants, zebras and even leopards. Then, see compassion in action at Rose of Charity, an organization that works to alleviate poverty and improve education.
days 7-8 Chobe National Park is best known for its elephants: huge herds of them drink and bathe along the winding Chobe River. As the sun sets, take in this surreal sight while cruising down river. The next day, hop on another game drive for a chance to spy hippos, hyenas and baboons. And on an afternoon cruise, look out for Nile crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks.
Optional Excursion: Sundowner Cruise
18 • A herd of elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013
May 16, Jun 13, Jul 11, Oct 17, Nov 7
2014
Jan 16, Apr 17, May 15, Jun 19, Jul 10, Oct 2, Nov 6
Okavango delta
Hwange
2 nights—Moremi crOssing C
2 nights—Ivory lodge C
days 9-12 Arriving at the Delta, float down its channels in a native mokoro (a traditional canoe). From the waters, keep an eye out for giraffe, lion, leopard, jackal, impala and red lechwe. Next, on a guided bush walk, trek through the area’s rugged landscape alongside its grazing wildlife. Finally, commemorate your trip at a farewell dinner, and embark on a morning boating excursion before flying home from Maun.
days 5-6 Everywhere you look in Hwange National Park, there’s wildlife to be discovered. On your game drives through its teak forest and open grassy plains, pay close attention to your surroundings for a chance to see the area’s elusive mammal and bird species. You’ll spot more than a few buffalo, lion and plains game like kudu, eland and waterbuck.
Stay Longer: Add Cape Town End your trip with 3 nights in South Africa, diving into the culture and colorful markets of Cape Town before heading to the Cape of Good Hope.
A visa is required to travel on this tour.
goaheadtours.com/bzb • 1-877-354-8151
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Costa rica: arenal, monteverde & Guanacaste
The Galápagos islands & ecuador 10 days • Nature & Wildlife, Land & Cruise • Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 5 dinners • Expert Tour Director
9 days • Nature & Wildlife • Breakfast daily, 8 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Look out on the lush greenery of Monteverde
san josé 1 night—Ramada plaza herradura
day 1 Board a flight to San José, where you’ll spend the night. Arenal region 2 nights—Tilajari Hotel Resort
days 2-3 Passing pineapple farms and the famed Iguana Bridge, make your way to the Arenal region and its eponymous volcano. Hike at the base of this mile-high, continuously smoking peak, and open your ears to hear the harmonies of the Costa Rican forest. You’ll also relax in one of the nearby geothermal hot springs, a soothing experience in the midst of a remarkable landscape. Optional Excursion: Ziplining Tour
Monteverde 2 nights—El Establo Mountain HOtel C
days 4-5 On your way to Monteverde, traverse Lake Arenal and the lush surrounding rainforest teeming with
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Watch for Sally Lightfoot Crabs on the shores of the Galápagos
toucans, monkeys and more. Consider joining our optional sky walk to stroll through the rainforest’s canopy on a series of suspended bridges. You’ll gain further appreciation for the delicate balance of life in the cloud forests on a full-day guided tour; then enjoy a stop at Rancho Heliconia to learn about the region’s focus on ecological responsibility.
Stay Longer: Add Tortuguero National Park & San JOsé Begin your trip with 1 night in San José and 2 nights in Tortuguero National Park spent exploring Caribbean villages and rainforest wilds on guided tours.
Optional Excursion: Sky Walk
Guanacaste region 3 nights—Ocotal resort
days 6-9 Devote some time to basking on the sugarysand beaches before your float down the placid Corobicí River and full-day excursion to the highlands of Rincón de la Vieja National Park, known for its geysers and sulfuric lakes. You’ll also enjoy plenty of free time in Guanacaste— so kick back, relax, slather on some extra sunscreen and watch the world go by. After a final night in Guanacaste, you’ll fly home the next morning.
Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013
Mar 16, Apr 6, Jun 22, Jul 6, Sep 14, Nov 2, Dec 7
2014
Jan 25, Feb 22, Apr 26, Jun 28, Jul 12, Nov 1, Dec 6
Quito 3 nights—Mercure alameda quito C
days 1-3 Fly to Ecuador and spend your first evening as you like. The next day, discover the cobblestone streets and Baroque churches of colonial Quito, the sky-high capital of Ecuador. With the imposing sight of Pichincha Volcano as a backdrop, your Tour Director will introduce you to many of Quito’s charms, from the spectacular facade of La Compañía to the massive San Francisco Monastery, Ecuador’s oldest church. Following an excursion to two dueling monuments (each of which lays claim to the equator), you’ll have free time to wander through the old colonial center of Quito and seek out the city’s hidden gems at your own pace. Optional Excursion: Otavalo
are unlike any others, boasting some of the world’s most diverse flora and fauna. Naturalist guides will highlight the islands’ vast array of species, including iguanas, cormorants, turtles, flamingos, sea lions, penguins and so much more. The menagerie unfolds before you in stunning color as you float from the olive-green beaches of Ballena Bay to the lava flows and mangrove swamps of Punta Morena. Snorkel with sea turtles, visit with giant tortoises on the slopes of a volcano and enjoy an excursion to learn about the geological history of the Galápagos. The Bolívar Channel is a particular point of interest: whales and dolphins are known to swim through this narrow passage, and if you wish, you can grab a snorkel and some flippers and join them.
Optional Excursion: Antisana Volcano
Stay Longer: Add Peru & Machu Picchu End your trip with 5 nights in Cuzco spent exploring Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas before finishing your stay with 1 night in Lima. Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date. 2013 2014*
Quito
Galápagos islands cruise
2 nights—Mercure alameda quito C
4 nights—MV Galápagos legend
days 8-10 After exploring the islands to the fullest, make your way back to Quito, where you’ll prepare for your
days 4-7 From Baltra to Isabela, Darwin’s famous islands
journey home. Depending on schedules, your flight may depart at night or the following morning.
Mar 11, Apr 8, May 6, 20, Jun 3, 17, Jul 1, 15, Oct 21 Nov 18, Dec 2 Feb 24, Mar 10, 24, May 5, 19, Jun 2, 16, Jul 14, 28 Aug 11, Sep 8, Oct 6, Nov 3
*2014 itinerary varies. International flight times are subject to change and may affect the number and location of hotel overnights.
Optional Excursion: Sailing & Snorkeling
goaheadtours.com/crp • 1-877-354-8151
goaheadtours.com/ecu • 1-877-354-8151
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Kenya wildlife safari
Tanzania wildlife safari
13 days • Safari, Nature & Wildlife • Breakfast daily, 9 lunches, 9 dinners • Expert Tour Director
12 days • Safari, Nature & Wildlife • Breakfast daily, 8 lunches, 10 dinners • Expert Tour Director
Keep watch for prides of lions in Amboseli National Park
Ngorongoro Crater, known as “Africa’s Garden of Eden”
nairobi
Masai Mara
2 nights—Intercontinental nairobi C
2 nights—siana springs intrepids camps
days 1-3 Travel on an overnight flight to Nairobi, where you’ll go inside the estate that inspired Karen Blixen to write Out of Africa, and say hello to the long-necked residents of Giraffe Manor.
days 7-8 Travel to the land of the Masai warriors, where large prides of lions roam the fertile plains. On two days of game drives, you just might see them on the prowl, hunting the enormous herds of zebras, wildebeests and gazelle that pass through the park during their seasonal migrations.
Mount kenya national park 1 night—The ark
day 4 The wildlife comes to you at your hotel on the slopes of Mount Kenya. You’ll relax and watch from the safety of a secret viewing bunker as animals from near and far bathe and drink at your lodge’s watering hole. Great Rift Valley
Stay Longer: Add Tanzania End your trip with 4 nights in Tanzania spent among the rich wildlife of Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date.
nairobi 1 night—Intercontinental nairobi C
day 9 Pop back into Nairobi to enjoy a night in a firstclass hotel and an exotic meal at Carnivore, one of the city’s famous restaurants.
2 nights—Kigio wildlife camp
Amboseli
days 5-6 Witness the teeming mass of flamingos at Lake Nakuru. At their largest, these flocks contain upwards of two million birds. You might also spot a playful monkey or two cavorting near Nakuru’s shores.
2 nights—Amboseli sentrim lodge
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its elegant cheetahs, clever hyenas and graceful impalas before returning to Nairobi, where you’ll board your overnight flight home.
days 10-13 Seek out Amboseli’s elephants in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. On three included game drives, you’ll search for this national park’s elephant herds along with
2013
May 3, Jun 14†, 28†, Jul 5†, 19†, Aug 9†, 16, Sep 6, 27 Oct 11, 25, Nov 1, Dec 6, 20 Jan 10, 24, Feb 7, Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, Jun 6, 27†
2014
Jul 4†, 18†, 25†, Aug 1†, 22, Sep 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10 Nov 7, 28, Dec 22
† Dates fall during wildebeest migration. A visa is required to travel to Kenya and Tanzania on the tour extension.
goaheadtours.com/kes • 1-877-354-8151
Arusha
Serengeti National Park
1 night—Arusha hotel C
3 nights—Sopa Lodge
days 1-2 Jambo! After your overnight flight, travel on to Arusha, where you’ll get a taste for Tanzania at your welcome dinner.
days 6-8 Set off for a game drive amongst the Serengeti’s sweeping grasslands and open woodlands. Pass the striking Moru Kopjes (Rocky Cliffs) and spy the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Then, traverse the Seronera Valley and More Kopjes—stunning granite formations rising out of the plains.
Tarangire National park 2 nights—Kirurumu Tarangire
days 3-4 Descend into diverse lands, where predators and prey fill baobab-dotted plains, and get to know the indigenous Masai people who call this wild wonderland their home. Manyara region 1 night—Kirurumu manyara
day 5 Explore an authentic Masai Boma village and discover Lake Manyara’s starkly different landscape. Look for the lake’s many flamingos gathered around the water in a stunning swath of pink. Later, on your game drive, keep an eye out for the elusive tree-climbing lions.
Stay Longer: Add Zanzibar End your trip in Zanzibar, spending 1 night in Stone Town and 2 nights on the country’s beautiful eastern coast, where you’ll retrace the history of the spice trade on a tour of a local plantation. Go online or call to customize your tour and view pricing for your departure city and date.
NgoroNgoro
2013
2 nights—Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
days 9-12 En route to the Ngorongoro, stop at the Olduvai Gorge, where Homo habilis (the handy man) was first discovered. Then, descend 1,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater—covering 100 square miles and home to 25,000 species, it’s been called “Africa’s Garden of Eden.” After exploring the landscape, return to Kilimanjaro Airport for your overnight flight home.
2014
Apr 22, Jun 24, Jul 15, Aug 5, Sep 16, Oct 7, Nov 4 Feb 17, Mar 24, Apr 21, Jun 16, Jul 14, Aug 4 Sep 22, Oct 6
A visa is required to travel on this tour.
goaheadtours.com/tws • 1-877-354-8151
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Just a touch
Sustainable Highlights
AUSTRALIA: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF TO SYDNEY
New Zealand: Untamed Landscapes
15 days • goaheadtours.com/atr
15 days • goaheadtours.com/nzl
Kuranda Village & Rainforest: Visit local markets and soar on the rainforest skyrail on an optional excursion
Maori Cultural Tour: Watch Maori artisans at work and uncover local customs on an optional excursion
South Africa: A Journey of Discovery
Thailand: The Golden Kingdom
17 days • goaheadtours.com/saf
12 days • goaheadtours.com/tai
Lake St. Lucia Eco-Cruise: Count hippos and crocs within the lake’s estuaries
Chiang Dao Elephant Camp: Interact with Thailand’s gentle giants
Discover our selection of cultural and nature-focused tours featuring one or more sustainable components.
24 • Driving through the wilds of South Africa
Communities & conservation areas
making an impact Get to know some of the people and organizations you’ll meet on tour that are setting the foundation for responsible travel in their local villages and environments.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Aboriginal for “native companion,” Bonorong’s mission is to nurture injured and orphaned creatures. Located in Tasmania, the sanctuary allows visitors to hand-feed animals in need, including kangaroos, wallabies and the endangered Tasmanian Devil. Featured on: Australia: Wild Tasmania & the Rainforest, p.12
As Green As It Gets As Green As It Gets supports a collective of small, independent coffee growers, helping them to secure financing, implement environmentally friendly practices, pursue new markets for their coffee beans and add to their incomes through tourism. Featured on: Guatemala to Belize: Local Traditions & Tropical Wildlife, p.8
Learn about more communities and conservation areas featured on our tours at goaheadtours.com/eco Inkaterra Asociación
Lewa Conservancy
Inkaterra and the Inkaterra Asociación (ITA) have been supporting local conservation efforts in Peru since 1975. Together, Inkaterra and the ITA fund scientific research and ecosystem studies, protect more than 42 acres of rainforest and run sustainable lodges in the heart of the Amazon.
Lewa is home to 10 percent of Kenya’s black rhino population and 14 percent of its white rhino population, not to mention the world’s largest population of Grevy’s zebras. The conservancy also engages in community healthcare, water management, micro-lending and other social programs.
Featured on: Peru: The Amazon & Culture of Lake Titicaca, p.14
Featured on: Kenya: Sustainable Communities & Wildlife Safari, p.10
Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Asociación Sol & Luna
Meaning “coming together” in the Masai’s Maa language, Naboisho consists of 50,000 acres of land leased by 500 local landowners to five safari camps, making it the second-largest conservancy in the region.
In 1986, Cockscomb became the world’s first jaguar sanctuary. The sanctuary has since expanded from 3,600 to 28,000 acres, and is a refuge for hundreds of species of plants and animals, each playing a reciprocal role within the ecosystem of the rainforest.
This spa and hotel raises money to support the Sacred Valley community, with 100 percent of profits being redirected into schools and other programs. The most visible example is the Colegio Intercultural, a private school that welcomes children from all walks of life.
Featured on: Guatemala to Belize: Local Traditions & Tropical Wildlife, p.8
Featured on: Peru: The Amazon & Culture of Lake Titicaca, p.14
Meeting locals in a Masai village in Kenya
Basecamp Foundation Working with host communities in Kenya, Basecamp strives to improve healthcare access, support community conservation, mitigate the impact of climate change and aid education through its initiatives, which include safari camps, a guiding school and an arts and crafts center. Featured on: Kenya: Sustainable Communities & Wildlife Safari, p.10
Featured on: Kenya: Sustainable Communities & Wildlife Safari, p.10
The Great Barrier Reef Off the coast of Queensland lies the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system and largest single structure made by living organisms. The Reef is even more impressive by the numbers—it’s composed of 2,900 individual reefs, 400 species of coral and 900 individual islands. Featured on: Australia: Wild Tasmania & the Rainforest, p.12
Il Ngwesi The Masai community had the vision of using their natural resources to improve the livelihood of their people and conserve the area’s wildlife and culture. With this in mind, they set aside 80 percent of their land for conservation and also constructed an eco-friendly safari lodge to bring in travel dollars. Featured on: Kenya: Sustainable Communities & Wildlife Safari, p.10
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Daintree Rainforest & Mossman Gorge Australia’s largest tropical rainforest, Daintree is home to the Aborginal Kuku Yalanji tribe—the land’s indigenous inhabitants. Known as “Rainforest People,” many live in Mossman Gorge, the oldest surviving rainforest at over 135 million years old. Featured on: Australia: Wild Tasmania & the Rainforest, p.12
Private tours for groups as small as 8
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To view Go Ahead’s complete Terms and Conditions, visit www.goaheadtours.com/terms. The tour operator for your trip is EF Cultural Travel Ltd. CST 2060043-20.