2017
Travel Book
Travel for Your Life
WHAT’S INSIDE 1 2 4 6
Yours Truly Travel for your Life Why Travel with OBP? National Parks Conservation Association Partnership
SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES 8 10 12 15 16 18 26 32 36 37 38 39 40
In Good Company Great Guides Alaska Pacific Northwest California Rocky Mountains Desert Southwest Pathfinders Ecuador Costa Rica Patagonia Peru Pacific Islands
CUSTOM JOURNEYS 42 44 46 48 51 52 54 60 64 66 67 68 70 72 74 76
On Your Own, But Not Alone Personal Guides Airstream 2 Go Alaska Pacific Northwest California Rocky Mountains Desert Southwest Costa Rica Ecuador Peru Patagonia Pathfinders New Zealand Australia Pacific Islands
78 79 80 81
Yours for the Future Travel is Always in Season Terms & Conditions Small Group Adventures Calendar
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
800-445-2995
WELCOME
YOURS TRULY, I know that usually goes at the bottom of a letter, but the idea of “yours” has been at the top of my mind lately. On the surface, we’re all about “yours” at Off the Beaten Path. Your travels, for your life, on your terms. But as the father of kids who are growing up so fast, I feel a distinct pull these days toward “yours to give.” More than ever, we at Off the Beaten Path are committed to helping you dig into everything amazing about this planet so you can share it with the people you love. We make sure you don’t just scratch the surface on your journey, but cut the engine and sink in. It’s bliss, really, and so much fun—yours to have, and yours to give. One of the most exciting and unique opportunities for your travels this year is ours to give through music. Along with our partners at the National Parks Conservation Association and Airstream 2 Go, we’re offering a small number of special national park trips with up-andcoming singer-songwriters to explore the way American-roots music captures the feeling of place. It will be fun, inspiring, and hopefully foster appreciation for these treasured American landmarks as new songs ring out across the land. (Call us for details.) Whether you join us for a singer-songwriter trip, or venture off the beaten path on a Small Group Adventure or Custom Journey—be on your way! Make time to travel this year. It’s vital to us all. It’s your life, your family, your moment, your responsibility, your inspiration, and yours to make of it what you will. We would love to be your travel partner for life, as you make travel yours.
Yours truly, Cory Lawrence President & CEO
The world is yours to share. Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia. Photo by Aleksei Potov Cover Photo: Come to your senses, off the beaten path. Misty Fiords National Monument, Tongass National Forest, Alaska. Photo: Jonathan Kingston/Getty Images
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 1
YOUR TRAVEL. YOUR LIFE
Travel
FOR YOUR LIFE The air is slightly dusty and the round rungs on the log ladder are cool and smooth under your grip. From the dim stillness of the underground stone kiva, you climb toward the skylight, an open square of robin’s-egg blue. You are far enough into this mind-boggling trip that instead of grabbing your phone and snapping a picture, you are lost in thought, imagining what life must have been like for the original occupants of this quiet, remote land more than a thousand years ago. A red-tailed hawk cries overhead, and you feel a deep sense of belonging that is hard to describe and even harder to explain. With your hands on the top rung and your face in the sun, you feel like a thread in a very old, very fine fabric—a beautiful, complex tapestry woven of people and place across time that is still unfurling today. Yes, you belong here.
This is your world. Your one and only extraordinary world, to share, appreciate, and enjoy. At Off the Beaten Path, we think travel strengthens the connection to that fabric-without-end. Exploring new places and meeting people with lives different from your own keeps your spirit energized and your soul vibrant. So, when we say “Travel For Your Life,” that’s exactly what we mean. Go! Get out there! Hit the road, hit the trail, hit the river. Draw a line on a map. Throw a dart at the globe. Call us! Your legs were meant to move, your eyes were meant to search, your heart was meant to leap, your mind was meant to discover and connect. Our mission and our joy as your fully committed partner in that endeavor is to unlock hidden doors for you— doors that open in, as well as doors that open out. OBP journeys don’t just get you someplace, they take you somewhere. Travel like your life depends on it this year, off the beaten path.
...Yours PAGE 2 / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
Carve out time for what’s important this year. Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah. Photo by Irina K.
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 3
WHY TRAVEL?
TRAVEL ON A HUMAN SCALE.
PAGE 4 / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
Let your spirit soar, off the beaten path. Yosemite Valley. Photo by Attilio Pregnolato
WHY TRAVEL WITH OBP? EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL, WITH HEART. You might know the line from Norman Maclean’s story, A River Runs Through It: “In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.” We understand what Maclean was getting at—feeling so passionate about something it borders on religious fervor. That’s how we feel about travel. Your travel, to be specific. We want your trip to be fun and run smoothly, of course. Every travel company wants that, and those features are a given with Off the Beaten Path. But beyond that, we want your trip to grab you at some moment along the way when you’re not even looking and strike a chord so loud and clear that it burns into your memory for the rest of your life. That chord might be how much you love your family and how breathtakingly fortunate you are. It might be the genuine, dazzling smile of the little boy in an open market in Peru handing you a cherimoya and showing you how to eat the delicious “custard apple.” It might be a wildflower in the desert, the metaphor of metaphors to fuel contemplative thoughts.
Whatever form the moment may take on your journey, we just want you to feel what we feel: that travel is love in motion—love for the world, for each other, and for your best self.
Experiences, not just activities How do we transform our heartfelt though admittedly lofty ideals into real-life planning practices that shape your trip? Foremost, we deliver authentic experiences rather than canned activities, and craft itineraries that intersect with local people and local-favorite places. “Off the Beaten Path” speaks as much to your guide’s grandmother’s garden as it does to the lesser traveled geographic destinations like Big Bend National Park. To plan your trip we lean on local knowledge, which for us epitomizes the definition of “off the beaten path.” One of the reasons we can (or, one of the reasons we do) approach travel like the backroad-evangelists we are is that we are a small, family-run company, based in Montana, employing Montanans. We march to our own drummer. Rather, drummers. We don’t want to do it like everyone else—with the one exception that we are uncompromising when it comes to best business and best responsibletravel practices. Our guides, travel advisors, planners, and reservation specialists are friendly but highly experienced and consummately professional. Your itinerary, all the corresponding logistics, and your personal guidebook will be impeccably laid out, with your only surprise being the unexpected view around the next corner or the accomplished artist who pours your coffee.
Your Travel
OUR MISSION Our zealousness in crafting your journey is driven by our mission statement, which is no less than a commitment to change people’s lives through exceptional travel. Rest assured—if you simply have fun on our trips, we’re great with that! You don’t have to transform. No epiphanies required. Simple rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation with a splash of adventure can rebalance an overstressed life without an ounce of change. There is a continuum, for sure. At one extreme, we’ve known people to move across the country after an inspiring Off the Beaten Path trip. At the other end of the scale, every once in awhile, a traveler just doesn’t get “the OBP way.” We view the middle sweet spot as a lasting resonance that comes when a traveler steps outside his or her usual mode to feel and see something in a new way, even briefly. Maybe they meet a dog musher in Alaska who drives a beater truck but whose dogs sing to her every day, which is more than enough.
Maybe they meet a Navajo elder who talks about the old ways and why they must never die. Maybe they meet a park ranger who has dedicated a lifetime to the stewardship of America’s most precious landscapes. Those are life choices a traveler from New York or Des Moines might never make, lived out in places that seem distant and impossible, however beautiful. Even so, such encounters reveal how rich the world is for its differences, and how wonderful and important that is. If you’ve never traveled with us before, we invite you to discover for yourself the answer to, “why travel with Off the Beaten Path?” As we like to say—we’ll meet you at the confluence of journey and destination, where the heart of the traveler meets the soul of the place.
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 5
The NPCA-OBP partnership establishes the most compelling and unique travel programs to our National Parks in the industry.
PAGE 6 / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
For perspective, look to nature. Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California. Photo by Elenaburn
Explorings Our Park
NPCA & OBP
TOGETHER National parks conservation association & off the beaten path
OUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUR EXPERIENCE
THE INSIDER’S EDGE
Off the Beaten Path and National Parks Conservation Association work together to make your park journey unique, exceptional, and unforgettable. Between what NPCA knows about national (and international) parks, and what OBP knows about travel, you get an exquisitely crafted experience that captures the nature, culture, and current character of parklands from American Samoa to Yellowstone. Let us help you find your park this year, off the beaten path!
What does the NPCA+OBP partnership mean for you as a traveler? Plenty! Benefits to you include—
ABOUT NPCA Since its founding in 1919, NPCA has been the independent, nonpartisan voice working to protect America’s favorite places. The organization’s members, staff, and volunteers work to strengthen and protect our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage. Join the movement at npca.org/join.
• Insider’s access to the national parks during your Small Group Adventure. • Special OBP-exclusive information from NPCA before, during, and after your trip. • NPCA representatives travel with you on select departures to provide insight and perspective. • A portion of your journey cost goes to support NPCA’s work and mission.
DEAR FRIEND, There’s a very good reason our national parks hosted a record number of visitors last year. They are some of the most breathtaking landscapes and most important historic sites our country has to offer. They humble and inspire us. One of the best ways to truly get to know these parklands is by traveling in connection with National Parks Conservation Association. Last year NPCA forged a partnership with Off the Beaten Path, one of the best travel operators in the business. That means before your journey, our regional experts work with OBP to craft the best experience possible, based on our insider knowledge. Once on your way, OBP’s top-notch guides use their on-the-ground expertise to get you to the best spots, and to help you make the most of your time in these captivating environments—all in a small group setting, for a genuinely memorable adventure. In 2017, we are proud to be collaborating with OBP to offer multiple departures on 23 distinctive trips to more than 25 national parks. I hope you will join us on one of these journeys, where you’ll be reminded how fortunate we are to call these incredible places our own. I hope you’ll also join us in speaking up for our national parks to ensure they are protected for future generations, just as they have been for us.
SEE YOU ON THE TRAILS,
Theresa Pierno
President & CEO, National Parks Conservation Association
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 7
SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES
Small Group
ADVENTURES
The best journeys are filled with illuminating moments. Hidden Lake Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana. Photo by Mlorenz
PAGE 8 / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES
IN GOOD COMPANY OFF THE BEATEN PATH has been leading Small Group Adventures almost as long as we’ve been in business. We say almost, because OBP was born in 1986 as a custom travel company. You’ll feel that custom legacy in the personal attention you receive, and in the delicious sense that you and this journey were totally made for each other. One of the things we discovered in our custom-only days was that not every traveler had the interest in sifting through the mountain of choices that go into planning a custom journey. A lot of people just wanted to grab a trip and go! The next thing we recognized was that certain subsets of travelers shared common interests. Parents were looking to introduce their kids to the great outdoors in a fun, hands-on way. Hiker types
wanted to explore interesting terrain without having to find the trailhead or fix their own lunch. International travelers sought immersion in new cultures under the wing of a bilingual guide who could provide depth and perspective. So it was a natural progression for us to start building custom-style trips “on-spec.”
Find
YOUR TRIP
We hope you can join us this year. Browse through the Small Group Adventures on pages 12-41 and see what strikes your fancy, then call or email a Travel Advisor for a detailed trip brochure. See you out there!
SMALL, NIMBLE & CONNECTED While each OBP Small Group Adventure is unique, all share a few
core hallmarks. Small group size, for example. Most trips confirm after the first two people sign up, and cap at sixteen travelers. Connection is another OBP distinction—our personal relationships in, and local knowledge of, the places we take you. For instance, thanks to our partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association, we’re always in the loop on what’s happening in the parks, and how best to experience each place at any given time. Great guides are another sterling hallmark. The caliber of OBP guides and our guide-to-guest ratio set our group trips apart from the competition. Traveling in a nimble, well-led group lets you blend into and absorb your surroundings—so the place affects you, instead of the other way around.
Maybe it’s happened to you: you’re savoring a moment at a stunning national park viewpoint, or you’re at a historic site trying to spot the bird warbling somewhere in the trees, when you hear the KSSHHHHHH of a tour bus parking brake. Game over. Unless you’re with us—in which case your guide switches up the plan. There’s always room to move, off the beaten path.
TWO WILL DO Most OBP domestic group trips confirm with two travelers. That way you don’t have to put your plans in limbo, or wait to buy plane tickets. Even if you’re just two, you’re good to go!
MAKE IT
Yours!
Reserve any Small Group Adventure exclusively for your own private group.
800-445-2995
OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 9
GREAT GUIDES
“The trip with the group and guide (John Ninnemann] has been wonderful. The area is rich in ancient Native American history, making the journey very unique and distinctive. I’m signed up for another OBP trip in July and I can’t wait!”
–Linda S. PAGE 10 / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
Wish you were here? Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Alexey Stiop
GREAT GUIDES
Guided By
EXPERIENCE Kurt Westenbarger represents the spirit and professionalism of all Off the Beaten Path guides—dedicated, knowledgeable leaders who make sure your journey is fun, interesting, and fulfills its full travel potential. Growing up in an Air Force family, Kurt learned how to read people quickly and make friends fast—skills he uses to great affect as an Off the Beaten Path guide. Kurt’s groups bond quickly, and he can get to the heart of their interests on the morning of day one. For instance, he might pick up on the fact that his travelers are more curious about Yellowstone’s pronghorn antelope than its grizzly bears, so instead of the planned search for bears, they go find pronghorns. That ontrip flexibility is one of the reasons Kurt enjoys guiding for OBP. “If we have a serendipitous chance to see something more spectacular than what’s on the itinerary, that’s what we do.” Or for example, when Kurt knows that a certain popular hike in Bryce Canyon National Park is going to be crowded at midday, he’ll lead the hike after dinner so his group can have that magical place all to themselves. Kurt is energized by his work, and views guiding as his opportunity to invest in the future and bring joy to people’s lives. “In a particularly nice canyon in Zion, one of my travelers said it was so beautiful she could almost cry. So I gave her a hug, and she broke into tears— saying it was the most beautiful place she’d ever seen. That’s what I strive for on every trip, helping people connect with nature in a personal, powerful way. That is why I guide.” Kurt has been guiding for Off the Beaten Path for more than two decades, and isn’t close to being done. We’re very glad about that.
Energy
INDEX Look for the “Energy Index” rating with each Small Group Adventure description. This will tell you how much physical exertion to expect on the trip.
NO SWEAT
NICE & ACTIVE
HIGH FIVE
1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities.
3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration.
5-12 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun.
800-445-2995 OFFTHEbeatenpath.com / PAGE 11
a l as k a
Group
alaska
nce At-A-G8ladays Day 1 In Fairbanks, meet an Iditarod veteran and hear Alaska stories. Day 2 Take the train to Denali National Park. On the 90-mile bus ride to Camp Denali, spot caribou, golden eagles, grizzly bears, wolves and the snow-dusted Alaska Range. Days 3–4 On the tundra, look for tiny wildflowers with a naturalist in view of the High One, Denali. Day 5 Wildlife sightings put “scenic” in your drive from Denali to Anchorage. Day 6 Quietly raft past brown bears foraging on gravel bars on the Upper Kenai River and walk up to the icy, blue toe of Exit Glacier. Day 7 Spot humpback whales as you boat through Kenai Fjords National Park. Day 8 Depart for home from Anchorage.
Energy
AL AS KA
INDEX
FAIRBANKS
see page 11
Denali National Park
North to Alaska! Denali National Park to the Kenai Peninsula s mall g ro up adventur e Your adventure will begin in Fairbanks with a visit to a longtime, dog-mushing friend of ours. Then, you’ll be off on a scenic train ride to Denali National Park, watching for moose and other wildlife along the way. At Denali, you’ll stay in private cabins in the heart of the park, with a variety of naturalist-guided outings to choose from. Driving from Denali down to Seward and the Kenai Peninsula will give you a tremendous perspective on this vast, diverse state. What’s the true meaning of wilderness? Now you know. You learned it on a wildlife-watching float through Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and on a boating excursion into Kenai Fjords National Park where calving glaciers, puffins, sea otters and whales had something to teach you.
From $6,195
2017 dates: Jun 8-15, Jul 20-27
Page 12 / offthebeatenpath.com
NAT’l PARKS
ANCHORAGE
Prince william sound
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Kenai River exit glacier
SEWARD kenai fjords national park
Gulf of Alaksa
Camp Denali & North Face Lodge Nestled into the remote heart of Denali National Park, these private and very special family-owned accommodations give you unequalled access and unparalleled views of Mount Denali. Staff naturalists offer daily outings for an indelible experience of Alaska’s wildlife and expansive solitude. Photo Left: Camp Denali Photo Right: Brian Luenemann
alaska’s winter magic Northern Lights and Dogsledding s m all g ro up adventur e At a hot-springs resort outside of Fairbanks, rippling ribbons of blue, green and pink lights glow overhead, and you know your adventure has begun. Here, in this snow-muffled landscape, you’ll have two nights to watch for more flickering nighttime skies and two days to cross-country ski, snowshoe and soak in open-air hot pools. After a flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage, you’ll helicopter-sightsee near Girdwood for eye-popping views of the Chugach Mountains and Prince William Sound. Back on the ground but with your heart still soaring, you’ll learn the basics of mushing from Iditarod-veteran dog handlers. Then, Alaska truly becomes yours and your team’s, as you drive your eager companions 16 miles to Exit Glacier.
From $4,395
2017 dates: mar 19-24
Group
Energy
INDEX
AL AS KA FAIRBANKS
al aska
Chena hot springs
see page 11
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
ANCHORAGE
alyeska
START/STOP POINT
Kenai River exit glacier
kenai fjords national park
Gulf of Alaksa
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Arrive in Fairbanks and take the scenic drive to Chena Hot Springs resort. Soak in the pools and explore an ice museum, Ice skate, crosscountry ski or snowshoe on the resort’s grounds. Day 2 Feel the magic of winter in a horse-drawn sleigh or on a snow machine or dogsled. At night, look for northern lights. Day 3 Fly to Anchorage and snowshoe in the old gold camp of Girdwood. Watch for moose. Day 4 Flightsee by helicopter into the Chugach Mountains and over the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. Day 5 In Seward, become a musher—at least for a day! Day 6 Depart from Anchorage.
Photo Center: Brian Luenemann
800-445-2995 / page 13
al ask a
Group
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Take the Alaska State Ferry from Juneau to Haines. Absorb Tlingit culture. Day 2 Float through the spectacular mountain scenery of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Day 3 Fly over glaciers, waterfalls and high mountain lakes on the way to Gustavus. Day 4 Cruise up the West Arm of Glacier Bay National Park. Day 5 Hike the rain forest and cruise to one of the best places in North America to watch whales. Day 6 Fly to Juneau and ride the enclosed, aerial tramway through the rain forest and up Mount Roberts. Day 7 Be thoroughly impressed by the Mendenhall Glacier and depart for home.
Glacier Bay and the inside passage On the Wild Side in Southeast Alaska
Energy
s mall g ro up adventur e
INDEX
Forget the giant cruise ships. Ferries, small boats and scenic flights fit your style in Southeast Alaska.
see page 11
You’ll hop a beloved, blue state ferry from Juneau to Haines up Lynn Canal, one of the longest fjords on the planet. Bear-watching and a float through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve—which boasts the largest concentration of these raptors in the world—will put you squarely where the wild things are, which is where you’ll stay for this entire adventure. On a short flight to Glacier Bay National Park, you’ll gain a bird’s-eye view of this vast wilderness and its 15,000-foot peaks. During your three days in the park, you’ll venture out into coastal rain forests on comfortable excursion boats. Glacier Bay is one of the best places in the world to see whales and to witness the power (and fragility) of colossal, tidewater glaciers.
From $3,895
2017 dates: Jul 3-9, Jul 30–Aug 5, Aug 20-26
Page 14 / offthebeatenpath.com
AL AS KA
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
HAINES GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE
Gulf of Alaska
GUSTAVUS
ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY
JUNEAU
Group
Hiking Olympic National Park Rain Forests, Rugged Coasts and Mountain Meadows
pac i fi c n o rth w est
s m all g ro up adventur e National parks are beautiful almost by definition, but even within that category Washington’s Olympic National Park is extraordinary. More than 95 percent of it is designated as the Olympic Wilderness, meaning it’s undisturbed by buildings or roads. On a trail in this International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site, you might find yourself with black bears, elk or mountain goats as your only companions. On this hiking adventure, you’ll explore three distinct ecosystems: subalpine forests and wildflower meadows, rare temperate rain forests and the rugged Pacific Ocean shore. On windswept, mile-high Hurricane Ridge, Monetcolored mountain meadows have endless views. In the Elwha, site of the world’s largest dam-removal project, salmon swim free for the first time in more than a century. In the Hoh and Quinault Rain Forests, 300-foot, fogshrouded Douglas firs and Sitka spruces shade fern- and moss-draped alders, cedars, maples and Roosevelt elk, native only to the Pacific Northwest. On the coast, boulders are sculpted by waves, tidal pools teem with sea life, sea stacks are topped with trees and redwood-size driftwood rests. Olympic serves as the definition for indelible.
From $3,095
C an a da
LAKE CRESCENT
INDEX see page 11
Puget Sound
Pacific Ocean
Energy
hurricane ridge
SEATTLE
KALALOCh Hoh rain forest
NAT’l PARKS
Washi n gto n
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
2017 dates: Jun 18-23, Aug 27–Sep 1, Sep 24-29
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Arrive in Seattle. Set off for Olympic National Park and a hike in the Quinault Valley. Day 2 Hike among the huge trees, cascading moss and Roosevelt elk in the Hoh Rain Forest. Day 3 Drive north along the coast and stop at the La Push beaches and sea stacks. Settle in at the Lake Crescent Lodge and take an after-dinner hike to Marymere Falls. Day 4 Hike the Sol Duc Valley’s old-growth fir forests on the way up to the subalpine Deer Lake. Feel the cool mist of Sol Duc Falls as you pass by. Day 5 Explore mountain meadows on Hurricane Ridge. Day 6
pacific northwest
Return to Seattle for flights home.
Photo Left: Janis Burger
800-445-2995 / page 15
c al i fo rn ia
Group
california nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Get a true off-the-beatenpath introduction to the southern
Sierra Nevada range by driving from Fresno to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Day 2 Be awed by the ancient presence of the giant sequoias in General Grant Grove. Travel on to Yosemite National Park. Day 3 In Yosemite Valley, come faceto-face with the park features you recognize from classic Ansel Adams photographs. Day 4 Hike, perhaps in Hetch Hetchy or Tuolumne Meadows. Day 5 Take the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls, hike the Cook’s Meadow Loop, or the John Muir or Mirror Lake Trails. Day 6 Catch flights home from the Fresno airport.
Seasons of Yosemite Giant Sequoias, Waterfalls and Welcoming Trails
hetch hetchy
s mall g ro up adventur e As tireless hiker and pioneering conservationist John Muir knew, Yosemite was meant to be seen afoot: hiking mountain trails, walking among giant sequoias and wandering through a waterfall mist. Abraham Lincoln declared Yosemite our nation’s first-ever protected parkland in 1864, eight years before Yellowstone was the first officially designated national park. You’ll feel this long reach of history as you explore this much-photographed, granite-hewn valley. Of course, you’ll see the landmarks of El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, but you’ll also venture beyond the normal tourist routes, hiking lesser-traveled trails and possibly going up the Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows or winding your way over to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Like Muir himself said, “Another glorious Sierra day… .”
From $3,250
INDEX
Tuolumne Meadows
see page 11
YOSeMITE valley lodge
big trees lodge
FRESNO grant grove
JOhn muir lodge
C aliforn ia
2017 dates: Apr 16-21, May 25-30, Oct 15-20, Oct 26-31
Page 16 / offthebeatenpath.com
Energy
YOseMITE NATIONAL PARK
SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Joshua Tree and Death Valley Exploring Extraordinary Desertscapes s m all g ro up adventur e The landscapes of Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks are startling, sublime, surreal and exquisite. In these extraordinary desertscapes, you’ll thread your way deep into each park to discover the fascinating complexities of the seemingly austere surroundings.
Group Energy
Neva da
INDEX DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
see page 11
furnace creek
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
LAS VEGAS
START/STOP POINT
C a l i fo rn i a MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE
You’ll go to Zabriskie Point at sunrise; you’ll trace the smooth, cool walls of Mosaic Canyon; and you’ll drive on dirt roads where twisted Joshua trees and pinyon pines hold council. Then, because you appreciate what others often miss in such bleak but yet beyond-beautiful environments, you may be rewarded for your days spent in the desert by finding a tiny Joshua tree sprouting in the protection of a shrub. Before bed, you’ll marvel at the night sky as you’ve never seen it before.
From $3,350
c ali fo r n i a
twentynine PALMs PALM SPRINGS JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
2017 dates: Mar 12-17, Mar 19-24, Nov 5-10
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Drive through Joshua Tree National Park from south to north. Day 2 Explore the one-of-a-kind habitat of Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua tree. Engage in some serious nighttime stargazing. Day 3 Travel through the Mojave Desert to Death Valley National Park. Take a short hike to view striking landscapes. Day 4 In Death Valley, be awed by the sense of space, gazing down to Badwater Basin from Dante’s View. Day 5 Hike Mosaic Canyon, learn about the rare Salt Creek Pupfish. Day 6 Watch the sunrise from Zabriskie Point and depart for Las Vegas and flights home.
let’s go!
800-445-2995
Call Our Travel Experts
Photo Right: Dianne Milliard
800-445-2995 / page 17
Group Group
rocky m ou n ta in s
Essence of Yellowstone and Grand Teton Wildlife-Watching, Floating and Discovery
BOZEMAN
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS
OLD FAITHFUL
s mall g ro up adventur e Visiting Yellowstone National Park without a good guide is like going to a symphony concert wearing earplugs and dark glasses. You miss a lot—such as the cool science behind Yellowstone’s geyser basins, the surprising dynamics between wolves and elk and aspen, and the story of Chief Joseph’s flight through Yellowstone (there were a whopping 35 tourists in the park at the time). Equally amazing to learn is how much fun you can have in the midst of all that discovery. In your explorations of Yellowstone and neighboring Grand Teton National Park, you’ll hike the boardwalks and trails around Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful. You’ll pass through the Hayden Valley, where—in true Western style—coyotes, elk, grizzly bears, wolves and bison roam. You’ll watch for moose and other wildlife on a quiet float down the Snake River. You’ll even belly-up to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in the oh-so-Western town of Jackson.
From $3,095
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Yellowstone Lake Wyo m i n g
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
M o n ta n a
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
JACKSON
Energy
INDEX see page 11
2017 dates: Jun 25-30, Aug 6-11, Sep 17-22
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark over Bozeman Pass into Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park. Day 2 In the Hayden Valley, watch a massive bull bison roll in the dust, kicking its legs in the air. Day 3 Feel inexplicably thrilled by the eruption of Old Faithful. Giggle at the gurgles of mud pots. Day 4 In Grand Teton National Park, observe alpenglow on the mountain range. In the evening, take in the Western vibe of Jackson. Day 5 On a Snake River float, drift past a moose standing up to its knees in the water. Day 6 Depart from Jackson, Wyoming.
Photo Center: Barker-Ewing
Page 18 / offthebeatenpath.com
rocky Mountains
Group
ro c ky m o un tai n s
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Meet in Bozeman. Drive along the tumbling Gallatin River and feel the heat under your feet as you walk the boardwalks through the geyser basins of Yellowstone National Park. Day 2 In the Hayden Valley, watch for bison, black bears, grizzly bears and moose. Day 3 Come face-to-face with thousands of years of geothermal activity at Mammoth Hot Springs. Day 4 At first light, venture into the Lamar Valley. Visit a famed Yellowstone wildlife photographer. Day 5 Take one more pass through the Lamar Valley and then settle into the Chico Hot Springs Resort. Day 6 Mosey back to Bozeman for flights home.
Yellowstone Wildlife Safari Spring and Fall Wildlife-Watching s m all g roup adventur e On one especially fruitful Yellowstone Wildlife Safari, our travelers saw 27 grizzly bears, eight black bears and a wolf. This is what you mean when you say you want to go on a great wildlife-watching adventure.
M ONTA N A
On this journey, you’ll be out with your naturalist guide at the best wildlife-watching times—dawn and dusk—in the Lamar and Hayden Valleys and other hot spots your guide knows. In the springtime, frolicking calves, cubs, fawns, fledglings and pups are testing their legs, noses and wings. In the fall, bears are foraging to put on weight for their coming hibernation, wolves are ranging and hunting, bull elk are bugling and collecting harems, bighorn sheep are sparring and raptors are migrating through. In the moments you’re not glued to your binoculars, you’ll explore the park’s notable landmarks, such as Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
From $2,595
2017 dates: May 14-19, Sep 24-29
BOZEMAN
CHICO HOT SPRINGS
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS
LAMAR VALLEY HAYDEN VALLEY
OLD FAITHFUL
I DA H O
LAKE/CANYON
YELLOWSTONE NATIonAL PARK
WYO MI NG
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NAT’l PARKS
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OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
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800-445-2995 / page 19
roc ky m o u n ta in s
Group
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Meet in Bozeman and walk into the cool world of the limestone Lewis and Clark Caverns. Day 2 Get to know the world of grizzly bears and wolves at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. In Yellowstone National Park, feel the Earth rumble as Old Faithful explodes in a hissing plume. Day 3 From a sea kayak on Yellowstone Lake, watch an otter family play on the shore. Day 4 Get a private tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Day 5 Browse the galleries of Cody, Wyoming. White-water raft through Red Rock Canyon or the Lower Canyon of the Shoshone River. Attend the Cody Rodeo. Day 6 Depart for home from Billings.
Yellowstone for Fun Outdoors under the Big Sky s mall g ro up adventur e Hiking, zip-lining, rafting, a real dude ranch and cave explorations keep this family vacation buzzing! Fly into our thriving hometown of Bozeman, Montana, and follow the Jefferson River to the Lewis and Clark Caverns to prowl shadowy subterranean chambers and twisting passageways. After that—it’s out under the Big Sky, all the way. In your two days in Yellowstone National Park, your family-friendly guide will lead the way on a kayaking excursion along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, unlock the mysteries of geysers and mud pots and show you some insider tricks for spotting wildlife. You’ll get a one-of-a-kind perspective for watching wildlife and learn how to catch thermal features in the act of letting off steam. The adventure will wind up in Cody, Wyoming, with a behind-the-scenes tour of the incredible Buffalo Bill Center of the West, some calm-and-easy rafting and lots of rootin-tootin’ fun at the classic Cody Rodeo.
From $3,050
2017 dates: Jul 2-7, Jul 16-21, Aug 13-18
Photo Left: OARS
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BOZEMAN
M O N TA N A
320 Guest Ranch
CANYON
OLD FAITHFUL
IDAHO
Energy
YELLOWSTONE NATIonAL PARK
LAKE Hotel
CODY
WYO M I N G
INDEX NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
see page 11
START/STOP POINT
Group
ro c ky m o un tai n s
The Great American West The Black Hills to Yellowstone National Park s m all g ro up adventur e No other place could be more storied than the real American West. But you not only want to see the locations and iconic landmarks, you want to build meaning around them. That’s what makes your journey here different. Your informative, active and fun explorations will begin with Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park, with its hiking trails and prairie wildlife. Next is a walk around Devils Tower—“Bear Lodge” to the Lakota. Then it’s on to the Little Bighorn Battlefield, escorted by a member of the Crow Nation. An exhilarating, high-altitude drive over the Beartooth Highway ultimately delivers you to Yellowstone National Park for more exotic geology, extraordinary sights and matchless personal experiences
From $3,295
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2017 dates: Jun 25—Jul 1, Ju l 30—Aug 5, Aug 20-26
INDEX see page 11
M o nta na BOZEMAN
canyon lodge yellowstone national park
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
Little bighorn battlefield national monument
RED LODGE
START/STOP POINT
DEVIL’S TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT
So u t h Da kota
Rapid City
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL memorial
BUFFALO CUSTER STATE PARK
Wyo m ing
WIND cave nat’l park
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Get into a Western frame of mind with stops at Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park. Day 2 Walk the banks of French Creek, where General George Armstrong Custer’s expedition discovered gold in 1874. Explore an underground world at Wind Cave National Park. Day 3 Drive to the Big Horn Mountain Range and sacred Lakota site of Devils Tower, Wyoming. Day 4 In the company of a Crow guide, follow Custer’s path on the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Day 5 Take the famed Beartooth Highway into Yellowstone National Park. Day 6 Feel, hear, see and smell the world’s most extensive concentration of geysers. Day 7 Drive to Bozeman for flights home.
800-445-2995 / page 21
roc ky m o u n ta in s
Group
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Arrive in Calgary. Drive to Yoho National Park, stopping at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Day 2 In Yoho, wonder at Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest and most dramatic waterfalls. Day 3 Transfer to Jasper. Don crampons and grab trekking poles for a walk on the Athabasca Glacier. Day 4 In Jasper National Park, hike through a carpet of wildflowers in the subalpine Edith Cavell Meadows. Day 5 Along the Continental Divide, travel the Icefields Parkway, passing through glacial ice fields, mountain peaks and extensive valleys. Day 6 In Banff, visit the thundering Johnston Falls. Day 7 Return to Calgary for flights home.
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Canadian Rockies Quest Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks s m all g ro up adventur e No matter how much research you do before traveling to the Canadian Rockies, you won’t be prepared for the spectacle. Unlike the Rocky Mountains, which rise from a plateau that’s 5,000 to 8,000 feet high, Alberta’s Front Range shoots up from the flat, brown ocean of the prairie, close to sea level. It startles. On this journey into the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site, you’ll examine splendor in its best iteration of physical form. In Yoho (a Cree expression of awe and wonder) National Park, you’ll be amazed by dizzying peaks, vertical rock walls and altitudinous waterfalls. Although almost 97 percent of Jasper National Park’s 4,247 square miles is protected wilderness, you’ll find breathtaking trails right outside your doorstep. Surround yourself with wildflowers in the Edith Cavell Meadows, and then travel the Icefields Parkway, one of the continent’s most scenic drives. On the trail to Johnston Canyon in Banff, follow canyon-clinging catwalks and cliff-mounting staircases to the gorge’s cascading falls. You do your homework, but you also realize that nothing takes the place of experience.
From $4,395
2017 dates: Jul 9-15, Aug 6-12
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Bri ti sh Colu mbi a yo ho natio nal park
jasp e r natio na l pa rk
alberta Ba nf f natio na l pa rk
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NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
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INDEX see page 11
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Crown of the Continent Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
Energy
INDEX
s mall g ro up adventur e Grab your favorite hiking boots and come with us to a staggeringly beautiful wilderness straddling the U.S.-Canada border. Conservationists in the 1890s dubbed this mountain kingdom the “Crown of the Continent,” which today is anchored by Glacier National Park in the U.S. and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The Crown is a place of lofty peaks, dazzling lakes and seriously wild creatures, such as grizzly bears and wolverines. Small historic towns add quirky charm to the larger-than-life geography. Along with classic national park hikes, you’ll tread less traveled trails— notably, right from the door of your beautiful, backcountry lodge in British Columbia. Even the drives will get your heart going, with astonishing views from the Going-to-the-Sun Road and Chief Mountain Highway.
From $3,195
2017 dates: Jul 9-14, Jul 16-21, Aug 19-24
ro c ky m o un tai n s
BRITISH COLUM BIA
see page 11
A L B ERTA
ISLAND LAKE LODGE
WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK MANY GLACIER WHITEFISH
GOING TO THE SUN ROAD
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
NAT’l PARKS
M on ta n a
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Take Going-to-the-Sun Road into Glacier National Park. Watch as mountain goats navigate sheer cliffs. Check in at Many Glacier Hotel. Day 2 Note the shapes and colors of glaciers that may be gone in 10 years. Unshoulder your daypack and munch a cookie in a sunny meadow. Day 3 Cross the border into Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. Quaff a cold, Canadian beer after a great day of hiking. Day 4 In British Columbia, relish the pristine nature right outside your doorstep at the luxurious-but-still-backcountry Island Lake Lodge. Day 5 Hike oldgrowth forests or bag a peak in the Canadian Rockies. Day 6 Depart for home from Kalispell.
Photo Left & Right: Kurt Westenbarger
800-445-2995 / page 23
rocky m ou n ta in s
Group
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Arrive in Bozeman and travel to Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Warm up by walking through the steaming limestone terraces. Day 2 In the Lamar Valley, watch as a wolf throws back its head and howls. Day 3 Snowcoach to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Snap photos of bison from just a few feet away as your vehicle eases past. Day 4 Explore the Upper Geyser Thermal Basin. Swoosh through the woods on cross-country skis or snowshoe over glittering ice crystals. Day 5 Snowcoach back to Mammoth via Fountain Paint Pots. Take an evening soak in Chico Hot Springs. Day 6 Depart for home from Bozeman.
Yellowstone’s Winter Wonders Experience the Extraordinary! s mall g ro up adventur e
BOZEMAN
There is literally no place else on Earth like Yellowstone National Park in winter. Bison shovel snow with their huge heads to find buried grass. Frozen waterfalls hang in icy drapes. Sulfur-scented steam hangs over blue-and-orange hot springs. Winter is a fantastic time here for wildlife-watching. Snow pushes animals to lower elevations, and the only traffic on the closed roads are tracked vehicles—such as the snowcoach that will carry you to Old Faithful Snow Lodge. You’ll see herds of bison and elk, watch for wolves, spot foxes pouncing for voles and discover wing prints in the snow left by hunting raptors. Your guide will get you going on crosscountry skis or snowshoes to explore quiet trails to hidden geysers. At day’s end, there’s a hot chocolate waiting for you by the fire. This is the Yellowstone only a special few get out to see; but now it’s your winter, and you’re one of them.
From $3,395
gardiner MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS
OLD FAITHFUL
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Energy
2016/2017 Dates: Dec 21-26, Dec 29—Jan 3, Feb 17-22
INDEX
2017/2018 Dates: Dec 21-26, Dec 29—Jan 3, Feb 6-11
see page 11
Photo Left: Yellowstone Alpen Guides
Page 24 / offthebeatenpath.com
M o n ta n a
chico hot springs
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CANYON
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Wyo m i n g
NPCA
Why you should travel to the national parks with NPCA and OBP Off the Beaten Path brings you to a genuine place of connection with the parks, thanks to our partnership with National Parks Conservation Association. To really see why national parks are “America’s best idea,” and to know in your heart of hearts why we must cherish and protect them, you need to get past the postcard versions. You have to absorb your own lingering sunsets, observe wildlife from your own quiet vantage point, feel waterfall mist on your face, and walk in a meadow of wildflowers still wet with morning dew. You need to leave the crowds behind and see, feel, hear, and catch the scents of these irreplaceable landscapes.
Your choice is clear By traveling with OBP and NPCA, you get: Special access. NPCA and OBP have been friends to the National Parks for a very long time—nearly 100 years in NPCA’s case! This level of relationship makes a significant difference in the experiences you have on your travels. All the parks. Not only do we make the “Bigs” personal for you (think Yellowstone, Yosemite, Denali), we also show you around the hidden treasures like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Innovation and partnership. In addition to having a unique travel experience, a portion of your tour cost goes directly to support NPCA’s advocacy work and other OBP-NPCA partnerships, like the National Park Zero Landfill Initiative spearheaded by Subaru. The best guides in the business, period. Our guides have a personal passion for sharing what they love about “their” parks, and are deeply committed to these sacred national treasures.
Make your park experience real. Come with us. 800-445-2995
Dear OBP: At times we doubted we would be able to accomplish our goal of seeing all 59 of the “true” nation al parks. But thanks to National Park Conservation Association and Off the Beaten Path, we made it to American Samoa. Then you got us to Alaska fo r the final six—with a champagne to ast at Bettles Lodge on the final leg of the trip. We can’t thank you enough for your outstanding planning! –M.H.
800-445-2995 / page 25
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desert southwest nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Drive to the Hoover Dam and arrive at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Day 2 Get to know Grand Canyon National Park through some hikes, then soak in the peace and beauty of a Grand Canyon sunset. Day 3 Appreciate the beadwork on a Sioux cradleboard from 1890 at the Cameron Trading Post, step into a postcard at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook and arrive at your Lake Powell resort. Day 4 Trail a toe in the mighty Colorado River as your raft bobs downstream. Arrive in Zion National Park. Day 5 Hike the massive canyons of Zion National Park. Day 6 Depart for home from Las Vegas.
Classic Canyon Medley Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, and Zion Canyon
Nevada las vegas
s m all g ro up adventur e They say variety is the spice of life. If you’re the curious type with wide interests, this journey will satisfy your craving for lots of flavor. Your overnight anchors will be Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, with full days to hike and explore both of these incredible landscapes. Those mainstays are set in an interesting matrix of places and experiences, including a mind-boggling stop at the Hoover Dam to tour the power plant. A morning float on the Colorado River will set you to river time, and a stop at the famous Cameron Trading Post will take you to a page out of history.
From $2,995
2017 dates: Apr 9-14, Apr 17-22, Oct 22-27
Page 26 / offthebeatenpath.com
Utah ZION NATIONAL PARK
springdale Lake powell HOOVER DAM GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
NAT’l PARKS
south rim
cameron trading post
Arizo n a
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
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INDEX see page 11
Photo Left: National Park Service
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Hiking Utah’s National Parks Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion
Energy
INDEX
s m all g ro up adventur e
Locals call Utah’s national parks “The Mighty Five,” and on this epic journey you’ll hike in all of them. Your first base of operations will be Moab, Utah’s adventure capital. From here, you’ll traverse the fins and needles of Arches National Park, which holds the world’s largest array and quantity of natural arches. In quiet Canyonlands National Park, you’ll discover some of the nation’s most untouched landscapes. As you venture through the backcountry canyons and gulches of Capitol Reef National Park, you’ll find some of the best of southern Utah’s rock formations and wideopen spaces. Then, you’ll go to the hoodoo heaven that is Bryce Canyon National Park. Under some of the clearest skies anywhere, you may be able to see 200 miles and into three states on a clear day. In Zion National Park, every one of your trails will culminate in an astounding viewpoint, full of crimson, orange and pink rock monoliths This is your ultimate Utah: heaps of hiking, numerous national parks and pockets of peace for red-rock ruminations.
From $4,550
2017 dates: Apr 21-29, Oct 14-22, Oct 23-31
d esert so uth w est
see page 11
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
UTAH ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
GRAND JUNCTION
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
MOAB
BOULDER St. George
SPRINGDALE
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
COLORAD O
ZION NATIONAL PARK
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Grand Junction, Colorado. Drive to Moab, Utah, and take a short hike in Arches National Park. Day 2 In Arches, jaunt to the famous Delicate Arch. Day 3 Trek the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Day 4 Transfer to Boulder, Utah, hiking in Capitol Reef National Park along the way. Day 5 In the remote panhandle section of Capitol Reef, explore Muley Twist Canyon from the Burr Trail Road. Day 6 Hike from Bryce Point to Sunrise Point in Bryce Canyon National Park. Days 7-8 In Zion National Park, get to know slot canyons and cliff trails.
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Day 9 Linger for a sunrise hike in Zion. Depart from St. George, Utah.
Call Our Travel Experts
Photo Left & Right: Cary Costello
800-445-2995 / page 27
desert sou t h w est
Group
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Visit Zion’s Kolob Canyon on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park. Day 2 Hike through the gallery of red, orange, pink, yellow and cream hoodoos, fins, mazes and spires in Bryce Canyon. Step outside your lodge to gaze at the Milky Way. Day 3 Hike in the lightly traveled Kodachrome Basin State Park on the way to Grand Staircase-Escalante. Day 4 Venture deep into terra incognita in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Day 5 Take some short hikes on the way to Zion National Park and track the shifting colors of a Southwest sunset. Day 6 Watch and wonder as water trickles out of a rock wall to feed a garden of ferns and mosses in Zion. Day 7 Depart for
Zion and Beyond Hiking and Exploring Zion, Bryce and Grand Staircase-Escalante s m all g ro up adventur e
Surprise and delight abound as you hike through twisting canyons, over slickrocks, along shallow streams and past multihued cliffs in Southern Utah’s canyon country. Each national park you visit offers a magical experience and a strikingly different view. Bryce Canyon National Park has its giant, natural amphitheaters and legions of hoodoos, natural rock columns eroded into fantastic forms. At Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument, the land rises in broad, tilted terraces (the staircase) of red, white, gray and pink cliffs. Zion National Park is a maze of narrow canyons with unexpected springs and waterfalls. Your off-the-beaten-path bonus comes in the seldom-visited Kodachrome Basin State Park, with a hike among the pillar-like sand pipes. While all your hikes will give you happy feet, lovely accommodations and superb Southwest cuisine will satisfy your soul.
From $3,375
2017 dates: May 6-12, Aug 28–Sep 3, Sep 30–Oct 6, Oc t 7-13
Page 28 / offthebeatenpath.com
NEV A DA
home from St. George.
Energy
NAT’l PARKS
INDEX
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
see page 11
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
UTAH
ZION NATIONAL PARK BOULDER
St. George SPRINGDALE
GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE NAT’L monument
ARIZON A
Group
d esert so uth w est
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona, and travel to Grand Canyon National Park. Day 2 Wonder at the sunset—and how you don’t have to elbow your way through at this point to see it. Day 3 Ring in the New Year with a festive dinner at the celebrated El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim. Day 4 Eat a New Year’s Day breakfast in the Grand Canyon. Visit national monuments around Flagstaff on your way south. Stargaze with an astronomer who will guide you through Sedona’s dark skies. Day 5 Hike and jeep-tour among the red-rock monoliths of Sedona. Day 6 Drive to Phoenix for flights home.
Grand Canyon New Year Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona s m all g ro up adventur e
Put time in perspective by ringing in the New Year on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim—millions of years in the making. Winter is an enchanting time here. It’s quiet, uncrowded and visually stunning, with the play of lowangled light and an occasional lace shawl of snow on canyon temples and buttes. Days are typically sunny, with highs in the mid 40s F.
slide rock state park
Expect great guides and your own, memorable beginning-of-the-newyear moments on this naturalist-led adventure. Your three days at Grand Canyon National Park will be filled with hiking and exploring. New Year’s Eve will bring a never-to-be-forgotten celebration at the historic El Tovar Hotel dining room. Your journey will end with a couple of days in the redrock wonderland of Sedona, with a jeep tour and a spectacular night of stargazing. Happy New Year!
From $2,795
wupatki national monument
south rim
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
sedona
phoenix
Ar izona
Energy
INDEX NAT’l PARKS
2016/2017 Date: Dec 29—Jan 3 2017/2018 Date: Dec 29— Jan 3
OVERNIGHT
see page 11
START/STOP POINT
800-445-2995 / page 29
des e rt sou t h w est
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nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Wander some of the best preserved Puebloan ruins in Mesa Verde National Park, New Mexico. Day 2 Hear the echoes of a vanished community at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Day 3 In Canyon de Chelly National Monument, connect with Navajo history and the people who are physically and spiritually connected to this land. Day 4 Feel a window in time open as you see the canyon’s rock art through your Navajo guide’s eyes. Day 5 Walk over the creaky wooden floor at Hubbell Trading Post, and peer at the petroglyphs and Spanish inscriptions at El Morro National Monument. Day 6 Hear the Acoma language spoken by tomorrow’s leaders at Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. Day 7 Depart for home from Albuquerque.
Trip
Puebloan Mystery Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly
PACE
PACE
Trip
Trip
PACE
OVERNIGHT
A thousand years ago, civilizations thrived in what is now the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Explore the mystery of the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) on this adventurous trip through history.
mesa verde national park
2017 dates: Apr 29–May 5, May 20-26, Oct 7-13,
Page 30 / offthebeatenpath.com
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NAT’l PARKS
START/STOP POINT
From $2,795
PACE
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s m all g ro up adventur e
On this journey, which Travel + Leisure magazine named a “Best Adventure Travel choice,” your guide will help you interpret Mesa Verde National Park, with its astonishing cliff dwellings and the 150-room Cliff Palace. As you move farther off the beaten path, a gravel road will take you to Chaco Culture National Historical Park, one of the richest and least developed archaeological sites in the U.S. Next, at Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona, your Navajo guide will share traditional knowledge and insights. Making the full historical circle, you’ll visit Acoma Pueblo to connect the stories and imagine the span of time that has shaped the people and cultures of this exacting region.
Trip
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
colorad o durango
farmington chaco culture NATIONAL historical PARK
chinle
A rizona
albuquerque grants acoma pueblo
Energy
new mexico
INDEX see page 11
Photo Left: John Ninnemann Photo Right: NPS Sandy Groves
Group
Big Secret, Big Bend The Chisos Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert s mall g ro up adventur e Tucked like a secret into a sweeping bend of the Rio Grande is the biggest, most surprisingly diverse national park you’ve never thought of visiting. Very few other travel companies offer trips to this spellbinding place in far West Texas, and none provide the active exploration and excellent naturalist guides you get with Off the Beaten Path. Big Bend National Park is a hiker’s paradise, birder’s mecca, stargazer’s heaven, and explorer’s jackpot—magical, remote and quiet. Along with the largest protected tract of Chihuahuan Desert in the U.S., the park is graced with the forested and wildlife-rich Chisos Mountains, limestone cliffs and canyons, and an astonishing 27,000 acres of wetlands. You’ll also hike in one of our nation’s most pristine wildernesses, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the world’s premier example of a fossil reef from the Permian Era. Here, in caves inhabited by the early Mescalero Apaches, you’ll discover pictographs—and rediscover your long-lost sense of wonder. Once, it never occurred to you to make a foray here; but now, you can’t wait to go back.
From $2,995
d esert so uth w est
N EW M EXICO EL PASO
NAT’l PARKS
VAN HORN
guadalupe mountains national park
T EXAS
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
FORT DAVIS
Energy
BIG BEND national park
INDEX see page 11
2017 dates: Mar 24-30, Apr 29–May 5, Oct 28–Nov 3
ance At-A-G7ldays Day 1 Drive to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis. Day 2 Visit the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute and enter the hauntingly beautiful topography of Big Bend National Park. Day 3 Hike amid the huge cottonwood trees lining the Rio Grande River. Explore Boquillas Canyon. Day 4 In the Chisos Basin, watch for Big Bend geckos, bobcats, coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, mule deer and Texas horned lizards. Day 5 Hike to a waterfall along the massive walls of Santa Elena Canyon. Day 6 Drive to Van Horne, exploring fascinating canyons and plateaus along the way. Day 7 Get acquainted with Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Depart from El Paso.
800-445-2995 / page 31
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national parks pathfinder experiences nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 Meet the magnificent Michigan coastline on a sunset boat tour along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Day 2 Get to know this first-ever national lakeshore with hikes. Day 3 Drive through the Upper Peninsula to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Hear the cannons of the Revolutionary War-era Fort Michilimackinac. Day 4 Enjoy a morning bike ride in Little Traverse Bay before an evening dinner at a vineyard. Day 5 Amble up the sturdy inclines of Sleeping Bear Dunes to gain majestic views of Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. Bite into a slice of warm, fresh pie at the Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. Day 6 Take a last walk on the Leelanau Peninsula before midday flights home.
Northern Michigan’s National Lakeshores Pictured Rocks and Majestic Sand Dunes s m all g ro up adventur e Hidden away in the heart of our nation’s Heartland, there are soaring sandstone cliffs, shining beaches, splashing waterfalls, splendid natural archways, serene hardwood forests, sky-high sand dunes and sparkling inland lakes and streams. Fittingly, these superb landscapes lie along two of our “Great Lakes”. Sided by Lake Superior—our coldest, deepest, largest and most pristine of all the Great Lakes—is America’s first national lakeshore: Pictured Rocks. In this gallery of nature’s art, you’ll not only hike on a 100 mile trail network and boat along 15 miles of color-saturated cliffs, you’ll watch sunsets that artists dream of capturing on canvas. Then, in Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore, you’ll feel your heels sink into sandy banks created by the last Ice Age. Perched atop glacial moraine headlands, the dunes stand 450 feet above another Great Lake, Lake Michigan. Viewers of Good Morning America recently named this national lakeshore the “Most Beautiful Place in America” with 100,000 votes. You’ll be glad you’re the type that tends to veer off the beaten path and happily heads into the Heartland, because these lakeshores would be marked on your ballot, every time.
From $2,995
Energy
INDEX see page 11
marquette
munising sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore
Page 32 / offthebeatenpath.com
tahquamenon falls state park
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NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
2017 dates: Jul 30–Aug 4, Sep 10-15
pictured rocks national lakeshore
START/STOP POINT
michigan
Group
acadia and New Brunswick Acadia National Park, Roosevelt Campobello International Park and the Bay of Fundy
C A N A DA
s mall g ro up adventur e Some places on Earth still qualify as truly rare, and the Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic Coast is one of them. Having the highest tides on Earth, the bay is a feeding ground for the protected and legendary North Atlantic right whale. Recently, it was named one of Seven Natural Wonders of North America. What isn’t a wonder is why people have been drawn to this rugged area throughout history. In Maine’s Acadia National Park, you can hike granite peaks, hike historic carriage roads or just be awed by the rocky scenery. In the nearby Roosevelt Campobello International Park in Canada, the only park in the world owned by the peoples of two countries, you can walk in the footsteps of Franklin D. Roosevelt and stay in a cottage on the grounds—an experience not open to the general public. On the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy, you can paddle your sea kayak in one of the planet’s most prized marine biospheres.
USA bay of fundy
Saint Andrews
M AIN E
DEER ISLAND
BANGOR
Campobello Island Roosevelt campobello int’l park
Bar Harbor NAT’l PARKS
ACADIA NAT’l park
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Energy
This phenomenal pocket is where sea and mountains, presidents and people, right whales and Roosevelts meet. It’s where you, naturally, wonder.
From $3,250
path fi n d ers
INDEX
2017 dates: Jul 9-15, Aug 6-12
see page 11
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Arrive in Bangor, Maine. Hike scenic trails along the Ocean Drive to Acadia National Park. Check in at your Bar Harbor accommodations. Day 2 Explore Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the North Atlantic Seaboard. Boat Bass Harbor. Day 3 Hike historic carriage trails, discover remote Schoodic Point or enjoy tea and popovers at Jordan Pond House. Day 4 Drive to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park in Canada. Hike through spruce-fir and hardwood forests and wander the seashore. Day 5 Whale-watch with the Campobello Whale Rescue Team captain. Day 6 Hop ferries to St. Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick. Go sea kayaking in the Bay of Fundy. Day 7 Depart from Bangor.
let’s go!
800-445-2995
Call Our Travel Experts
800-445-2995 / page 33
pat hf i n d e rs
Group
nce At-A-G8ladays Day 1 Drive to Bayfield, Wisconsin and cruise to Madeline Island and Big Bay State Park. Spend a relaxing evening in a historic Victorian inn. Day 2 Explore the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Michigan’s wild Upper Peninsula. Day 3 Board the ferry for the rugged Isle Royale National Park. Day 4 On Isle Royale, meet with a scientist involved in the moose-wolf population study. Day 5 Canoe, kayak, hike or take a refreshing dip into Lake Superior. Day 6 Cruise around Scoville Point to the trailhead for Hidden Lake and Lookout Louise. Point out the moose, if you can. Day 7 In Keweenaw National Historical Park, learn about copper mining in the UP. Day 8 Depart for home from Houghton, Michigan.
Isle Royale Wilderness Sojourn Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Peninsula s m all g ro up adventur e Isle Royale is a rugged wilderness of forests, rocky ridges and small lakes. The island is difficult to access, and its famous wolves and moose probably walked there over winter ice. You’ll take a three-hour ferry ride from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (the UP) to accomplish the feat. Isle Royale is not the easiest wild place to get to, but that’s why you want to go there. On the island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1980, you’ll have two full days to explore by foot, kayak and canoe. You’ll also have a chance to meet with a scientist involved with a moose-and-wolf population study that has been going on there for more than 50 years. Each day of this surprising sojourn will be filled with wild discovery and unique experiences.
From $4,150
Rock Harbor
Isle Royale National Park
M in n esota
Keweenaw Nat’l HISTORICAL Park
Copper Harbor
APOSTLE ISLANDS STATE PARK
Duluth Bayfield
Energy
Houghton
Wisconsi n
INDEX NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
see page 11
START/STOP POINT
2017 dates: Jul 9-16, Aug 13-20
Page 34 / offthebeatenpath.com
Photo Right: Peterson
Group
path fi n d ers
nce At-A-G6ladays Day 1 In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take in the stirring 360-degree view from Clingmans Dome. Day 2 Hike the Porters Creek Trail, rich with southern Appalachian and Cherokee history. Pluck the strings of a handmade dulcimer in an artisan’s shop on the Tennessee Heritage Arts and Crafts Trail. Day 3 Trek part of the Appalachian Trail and chat with a “thru-hiker.” Day 4 In the spring, marvel at the wildflowers in the Cataloochee Valley. In the fall, listen to elk bugling. Day 5 Hike an old Cherokee trail with Civil War history. Cross a footbridge over a mossy-stoned creek in the quiet woods. Day 6 Depart for home from Knoxville.
Splendor in the Smokies Spring and Fall in Great Smoky Mountains National Park s mall g roup adventur e Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for its spring wildflowers: black-eyed Susans, orchids, trilliums and more—to say nothing of flowering shrubs such as azaleas, dogwoods, redbuds and rhododendrons. It’s intoxicating.
T e n n essee KNOXVILLE
And in the fall, autumn leaves on the hickories, sugar maples, scarlet oaks and sweetgums wash a palette of brilliant reds, yellows and oranges across one of the largest deciduous, old-growth forests left in North America. This very active hiking adventure takes you off the beaten path to discover hewn-log cabins, family cemeteries and moonshine caves. You’ll hike on the Appalachian Trail; and, as a park insider, venture into secluded corners not marked on the park map or in any guidebook.
From $3,195
2017 dates: Apr 9-14, Oct 15-20
GAtlinburg cataloochee valley
clingmans dome GREAT smoky mountains national park NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
Energy
START/STOP POINT
INDEX see page 11
800-445-2995 / page 35
ecuad o r
Group
ecuador nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Walk along lava-rock trails on San Cristobal Island and marvel at the strange and unafraid, endemic wildlife. Day 2 Snorkel with sea lions in the shadow of Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock). Day 3 On Isabela Island, snorkel with penguins and visit the giant tortoise-breeding center. Day 4 Hike in the uplands to the rim of Volcan Chico. Day 5 Kayak to Villamil Bay. Bike through marine iguana colonies to the Wall of Tears. Watch for comical blue-footed boobies. Day 6 Take a speedboat to Santa Cruz Island. In the highlands, spend time with giant tortoises. Day 7 Visit the Charles Darwin Research Center. Fly to mainland Ecuador.
Afoot in the Galapagos Islands Hike, Bike, Kayak and Snorkel the Galapagos
Energy
INDEX
s mall g ro up adventur e Land-based trips—where you stay in lodges instead of on a boat—have evolved as a wonderful alternative to Galapagos cruising expeditions. By choosing to travel this way, you immerse in a select few islands and set yourself up for energetic days of hiking, kayaking and snorkeling. Happily, you can forget about seasickness or the sometimes-awkward process of getting off the larger boat onto a smaller one for “wet landings” at the beach. (These are all good reasons why land-based trips can be a super option for families.) This style of journey is also about as local a choice as you can make, with the most direct economic benefit to the communities in which you stay. On this naturalist-led Off the Beaten Path Galapagos exploration, your days will be filled with unique wildlife, active island fun, and local and authentic accommodations.
From $4,395
2017 dates: Feb 27— Mar 5, Oct 26—Nov 1
Page 36 / offthebeatenpath.com
see page 11
Gal apagos
Isabella Island
Santa Cruz Island puerto ayora
san cristobal
puerto villamil NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Group
Costa Rica Under the Radar Cloud Forest and the Osa Peninsula s m all g ro up adventur e
NAT’l PARKS
Costa Ri c a
For nature enthusiasts, Costa Rica is the dreamland. If you go there, you’ll want to luxuriate in it. On this journey, your first luxury will be time. You’ll stay active—hiking, wildlife-watching, zip-lining and white-water rafting—but not one day will feel rushed, pushed or packed. Your second luxury will be space, both literally and figuratively. In the lush hills of the cloud forest, you’ll stay in an airy Relais & Châteaux bungalow. On the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, a tropical cabana with crisp sheets and private outdoor garden shower will turn you outside in. Both lodges are set on vast, private reserves so you can hike, walk, bird and explore starting from your doorstep.
OVERNIGHT
bajos del toro
START/STOP POINT
sarapiqui river
san jose
Caribbean Sea
Energy
INDEX see page 11
This is genuine pura vida (the good life), where you have room to breathe and time to count your lucky Costa Rican stars.
From $3,750
Costa r i c a
Pacific Ocean corcovado National park
osa peninsula
2017 dates: Apr 23-29, Dec 10-16
nce At-A-G7ladays Day 1 Arrive in San José, then board a raft for a river adventure down the Rio Sarapiquí through lowland rain forest. Hear a howler monkey for the first time. Day 2 Sit on your lodge’s verandah and sip a mug of coffee as a pair of scarlet macaws flies by. Then zip-line through the cloud forest canopy. Day 3 Fly to the Osa Peninsula. Watch leafcutter ants file across a rain forest trail on the grounds of your lodge. Days 4-5 Hike the self-guided trails, dolphin-watch, enjoy spa services or take a boat ride to a wildlife sanctuary. Day 6 Fly to San José and take a city tour. Day 7 Depart for home rom San Jose.
Costa Rica 800-445-2995 / page 37
patago n i a
Group
Patagonia nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. Drive into El Chaltén, the heart of Patagonia. Day 2 Hike to the base of Mount Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares National Park. Day 3 Feel the crampons grip underfoot while navigating the otherworldly terrain of Viedma Glacier. Day 4 Drive to Estancia La Maipu, set on bluffs above the turquoise Lago San Martin. Days 5–6 Watch a condor work the thermals on hikes or rides on the estancia. Day 7 Look for petrified wood and fossils at La Leona Petrified Forest. Day 8 Take a boat trip and guided walk at the base of the commanding Perito Moreno Glacier. Day 9 Return to Buenos Aires for flights home.
buenos aires
A RGE N TI N A
PATAGONIA ADVENTURE Las Glaciares National Park & Estancia La Maipu s mall g ro up adventur e This very active, very distinctive journey leads to granite massifs, vast glaciers and immense lakes, as well as to condor nests, lenga woods, a petrified forest and a private, working estancia. Your experiences will be extraordinary, such as when you don crampons to trek Viedma Glacier and explore the moonscape of La Leona Petrified Forest, where bones of the colossal dinosaur Puertasaurus reuili have been found. If you’re up for it, you can hike a mountainside to a condor’s nest and ride horses with a gaucho. Then, your Patagonia evolves into true authenticity, when you receive a warm welcome at Estancia La Maipu, a gracious and very local accommodation that has panoramic views of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. An unforgettable boat ride along the face of Perito Moreno Glacier will seem like the “icing” on the cake for this remarkable adventure.
From $5,150
2017 dates: Dec 10-18
Page 38 / offthebeatenpath.com
mount fitz roy
maipu
el chalten
CHILE perito moreno glacier
Energy
INDEX see page 11
el calafate
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
Group
Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley Peru, Past and Present
Energy
s mall g ro up adventur e
INDEX
Past mingles with present as you get to know the people, places and pleasures of Peru. Daily, you’ll have the choice to be more or less active and to pursue your personal interests. At the Awanacancha weaving cooperative, you’ll see wool-producing llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, and observe the weaving and dying techniques that have been used by local people for centuries. Then, you’ll make your own foray into the colorful Pisac market. Once in Machu Picchu, you can climb Huayna Picchu Mountain for a bird’s-eye-view of the ancient site—or not. In Cusco, choose to travel by foot or car to the citadel Sacsayhuaman, the Inca religious site of Q’enqo, the military ruins of Puka Pukara or the aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks at Tambomachay.
p eru
see page 11
PERU LIMA
Aguas Calientes
Urubamba
MACHU MACHUPICCHU PICCHU
NAT’l PARKS
Ollantaytambo
SACRED VALLEY
CUSCO
OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
From the traditional manufacturers of Awanacancha to the magnificent mystery of Machu Picchu, this is your personal and remarkable, off-the-beaten-path encounter with Peru’s long-stretching past and vibrant present.
From $4,350
2017 dates: Apr 23-30, Oct 8-15
peru nce At-A-G8ladays Day 1 In the Sacred Valley, see ancestral textile techniques and the feast of colors at a local weavers’ cooperative. Day 2 Explore Chinchero and Misminay, and the Maras and Moray archaeological sites. Day 3 Meet Willoq villagers, some of the region’s most skilled weavers. Day 4 Absorb the beauty and mystery of the ruins at Machu Picchu. Day 5 Return to Machu Picchu, hike to a waterfall or visit a spectacled bear conservation project. Day 6 Kayak, stand-up paddleboard or take an outdoor cooking class. Day 7 At Tambomachay ruins, touch a 120-ton, stone monolith set by Inca hands. Day 8 In Lima, immerse yourself in the city’s stunning colonial architecture and art. Take a night flight back to the U.S.
Photo Left : Bill Bryan
800-445-2995 / page 39
pac i f i c i s l a n ds
Group
pacific islands
nce At-A-G8ladays Day 1 Arrive in Pago Pago on the night flight. Day 2 Boat to Aunu`u, populated by a single village and the home of your Samoan guide. Day 3 Attend a church service for Samoan singing and dancing. Day 4 Fly to Ta`ū Island, half of which is part of the National Park of American Samoa. Boat to Ofu island. Day 5 Walk a quiet beach, with no other footprints. Day 6 Hike or watch colorful fish dart around massive corals as you snorkel. Enjoy a traditional “umu” dinner. Day 7 Fly to Tutuila and visit the National Marine Sanctuary. Day 8 Go on a walking tour of Fagatogo and depart on the latenight flight to Honolulu.
Fa`a Samoa Tropical Islands, Culture and the National Park of American Samoa s mall g ro up adventur e Settled by seafaring explorers 3,000 years ago, Samoa is the cultural hub of the Polynesian wheel. It is also a true off-the-beaten-path paradise, with rugged volcanic mountains, dramatic shorelines, empty beaches, colorful coral reefs and dense tropical forests. You’ll visit three islands—Tutuila, Ta`ū and Ofu—each containing sections of the National Park of American Samoa. There is nothing here, and everything here, just what you’d hoped for in your travels. No food courts and gift shops, but blue lagoons, pristine beaches, fruit bats (flying foxes), red-footed boobies, green sea turtles and small villages that follow a traditional lifestyle. In keeping with the meaning of the word Samoa, “sacred earth,” the park helps protect fa`a samoa—the customs, beliefs and traditions of the ancient, family-centered Samoan culture.
From $4,450
2017 dates: May 5-12, Oct 20-27
Photo Left: Pacific Islands Institute
Page 40 32 / offthebeatenpath.com
Energy
INDEX see page 11
Tutuil a
National park of american samoa
Pago pago
Ofu NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT START/STOP POINT
boat
Ta ` ū
Group
pac i fi c i sl an ds
Exploring Hawaii’s National Parks The Big Island, Molokai and Maui Energy s mall g ro up adventur e
You’ll feel it as soon as you step off the plane: Hawaii wrapping you in a flower-scented embrace of warm welcome. This active journey connects you with some of Hawaii’s most special places, from lush rain forests to dramatic lava plains. You’ll explore six national parks on three islands— the Big Island, Molokai and Maui—investigating volcanoes, identifying plants, looking for sea turtles and learning about ancient Hawaiian culture. Leading the way are volcanologists, biologists, cultural specialists, naturalists and park rangers. Of course, you’ll hike, swim and snorkel on these calming Pacific Islands. However, being the off-the-beaten-path traveler that you are, you’ll go deeper by spending time with local Hawaiians at a private backyard luau—an intimate, traditional Hawaiian custom that few visitors get to experience.
From $6,295
2017 dates: Oct 29—Nov 6
INDEX
K aua’ i
see page 11
kalaupapa National historical park
oah u
mo lo ka i haleakalĀ national park
NAT’l PARKS OVERNIGHT
m au i
START/STOP POINT
Kaloko-Honokōhau Historical Park
Kailua-kona
h awaii (big is l a nd )
Hilo
hawai’i volcan0es national park
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Hilo. Stay on the rim of Kīlauea Caldera in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Day 2 Walk past a wisp of steam rising from cracked, black lava. Day 3 Hike through a rain forest to a caldera’s floor. Day 4 Watch a green sea turtle climb out of the blue ocean onto a black-sand beach. Day 5 See blacktip reef sharks swim over a submerged, ancient temple dedicated to shark gods at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. Day 6 Fly to Molokai and Kalaupapa National Historic Park. See the highest coastal cliffs in the world. Day 7 Snorkel, sail or take a submarine ride on the Ka`anapali Coast. Day 8 Hike in Haleakalā National Park. Day 9 Depart for home from Kahului, Maui.
let’s go!
800-445-2995
Call Our Travel Experts
800-445-2995 / page 41
CUSTOM JOURNEYS
Custom
JOURNEYS On Your Own, But Not Alone Is it high time for that lodge-to-lodge trek to Machu Picchu? Are you geared up to hike the Rockies? Ready to thread through a Southwest slot canyon?
y
a W r u o Y , p i r T r You
Page 42 / offthebeatenpath.com
CUSTOM JOURNEYS
LIVING THE DREAM Off the Beaten Path Custom Journeys deliver on your travel dreams. We take your ideas, aspirations, and practical considerations and weave them into a singular plan, using our experience and connections to add dimensions you hadn’t even imagined. Trusting your travel plans to Off the Beaten Path is a wise move—we started out in 1986 as a custom journey company, and the urge to craft exceptional, tailor-made trips is in our DNA. Based on your feedback, we tweak, tuck, shift, and adapt the ideas you and your travel planner have been bouncing around into a fine-tuned itinerary. We then engineer all your trip logistics, make the phone calls and reservations, and capture the end result in a Journey Guidebook that serves as your own, no-longerlonely-planet resource. Your unique Journey Guidebook contains a comprehensive day-by-day itinerary, plus contact numbers for every lodge, provider, guide, or climbing-fishing-canyoneering instructor along the way. Your guidebook also offers travel tips, background information on local history and culture, and personalized recommendations for side trips and eateries.
TRAVEL FOR YOUR LIFE We are committed to this notion of Travel for Your Life. It’s a call to action we believe in—and it’s what we’ve been providing since 1986: the right travels for you, at every stage of your life. The trip you take with your ten and twelve year olds is different from the trip you take with friends for your fiftieth birthday, is different from the getaway you take with your spouse, is different from the trip you take solo to push out your horizons. Call us to brainstorm about travels for your good life this year, off the beaten path.
RANCH VACATIONS & FLY-FISHING EXPEDITIONS Horseback riding and fly-fishing are among our favorite strategies for clearing the mind and lifting the spirits. We work with the most reputable guest ranches in the West, and have fished the finest waters from Alaska to Patagonia, to say nothing of the sweet spring creeks close to home.
Let’s build your trip!
800-445-2995
Kids, naturally. South Plaza Island, Galapagos Islands. Photo: BlueOrange Studio Photo Right: Jeff Johnston
800-445-2995 / page 43
GREAT GUIDES
“BEST TRIP EVER!” We hear that again and again, and it fills us up every time. Check out some exciting ideas and sample custom itineraries for your best trip ever on pages 48-77.
Space and time. South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Photo: OBP
Page 44 / offthebeatenpath.com
GREAT GUIDES
y e n r u o J m o t s u C
PERSONAL GUIDE We strongly believe in the value of guided experiences on your Custom Journey. That might mean a day with a naturalist in a national park, three days with a hiking guide in a desert wilderness, a morning walk with a Crow tribal member to an unmarked sacred site, or an afternoon of tide-pooling with a marine biologist. We work with fantastic guides, all of whom we respect and appreciate for their professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to your travel experience. Like Keith Watts… Keith has a PhD in geology, but his real education began as a boy out hiking with his forester father in Targhee National Forest. “My dad taught us about the plants and animals, and how everything is connected,” says Keith. This balance of academics and firsthand knowledge makes for an outstanding interpreter, which is at the heart of great guiding. Take geology, for instance. Keith guides in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Capitol Reef National Parks, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. “Those are all geological parks,” he says, “which are far more interesting when you understand something about their physical history. That connects the dots to what lives there.” Never fear that Keith’s explanations—of geology or anything else—will be arcane, or heaven forbid, dull. He has found that a whoopee cushion under a neckerchief is perfect for illustrating the volcanic bulge under Yellowstone Lake, and he might fall into one of a dozen characters to make history and nature come alive. In Yellowstone, Keith sometimes feels his greatest contribution can be in maneuvering travelers past summer crowds. One lucky day, this resulted in an early morning beeline to the Lewis River, where he and his guests watched a grizzly bear drag an elk carcass out of the river, climb on top of it, and fall asleep. In Keith’s Southwest territory the challenge for travelers isn’t crowds, but the remote, untracked landscape. No problem! Keith leads people on routes not listed in any hiking book, where they likely won’t see another soul. Interestingly, that experience of solitude often inspires an intimate sense of togetherness, with each other and the world. And that, he says in the plainest language, is what it’s all about.
Build
YOUR
TRIP
Browse through the Custom Adventures on pages 48-77 TO GET YOUR IDEAS GOING, then call or email a Travel Advisor TO BEGIN PLANNING YOUR ADVENTURE.
800-445-2995 800-445-2995 / page 45
airstream 2 go
Your Great Airstream Escape In the 1920s, Wally Byam mounted a tent on a Model T chassis to entice his first wife to go camping with him. . . The rig was good enough for Wally, who loved the outdoors and freedom of the open road. As a child he had enjoyed rough-andready travels with his muleskinner grandfather, and after high school Wally served in the merchant marines. But Marion was less than enthusiastic, so Wally replaced the tent with a sturdier teardropshaped shelter.
Get out, and stay out
It still wasn’t good enough for Marion, but other people really liked it so Wally set up shop in his Los Angeles backyard and began building and selling improved models that cruised down the road “like a stream of air.” An American icon was born, and a movement begun. In 1957, Wally introduced the Airstream International—the world’s first fully self-contained camper trailer, which allowed intrepid travelers like Wally and his second wife Stella to get out farther, and stay out longer.
Until recently you had to own an Airstream to enjoy Wally-style freedom, but now, thanks to Airstream 2 Go, you can rent your great escape. Off the Beaten Path partners with A2G to book your Airstream, and we can also plan your trip if you’d like. We will recommend the best route, show you to the nicest campsites, and set you up with the best outfitters and guides for rafting adventures, horseback rides, rock-climbing instruction, canyoneering, wildlifewatching, kayaking, surfing, tide pooling, fly-fishing, or whatever else you’ve been hankering to do.
Page 46 / offthebeatenpath.com
The opportunity to stay out in style remains one of the greatest appeals of Airstream travel. Instead of a two-hour drive back to the nearest hotel, you can relax streamside and listen to owls hoot as the sun goes down, then fix a nice dinner in your little kitchen and sleep in a fantastic bed.
airstream 2 go
In a Nutshell WHAT Choose from a MODERN 28-foot Airstream International, which sleeps UP TO six, or a 23-foot version, which sleeps UP TO four. Both come fully equipped, and include a GM Tahoe OR YUKON tow vehicle (mandatory).
WHERE Pick up your Airstream in Los Angeles AND
No experience needed You don’t need any prior towing experience. You’ll receive all necessary instruction and training when you pick up your rig, and A2G supplies a custom-matched tow vehicle for every trailer. One of the things we hear a lot is how much A2G travelers love the sense of accomplishment and self reliance they feel on these trips—hooking up the trailer and hitting the road, setting up and settling into camp, saying yes to new family fun like canyoneering, and feeling the magic of freewheeling adventure. Our dauntless rovers rave about their Airstream adventures. If you’re looking to expand your experiences and your travel horizons at the same time, call us about reserving an Airstream. Then get ready for the road trip of a lifetime!
Las Vegas Year-round, or Bozeman, Montana in the summer.
HOW MUCH Pricing varies depending on season, trailer size, and level of travel planning. Rates for a 23-foot trailer during peak season (March 15-September 30) with no travel services begin at $3,400 for a fourday minimum.
WHEN It’s never too early to reserve your Airstream!
HOW Call 800-780-9880 or visit airstream2go.com.
800-445-2995 / page 47
A L AS K A
A L A S KA
Custom
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Anchorage. Day 2 Take a charter flight to your lodge inside the great Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. Day 3 Listen for the sift of glacial flour in the park’s rivers as your raft charges downriver. Day 4 Enter the surreal blue of a glacial ice cave on your guided glacier hike. Day 5 As you leave the park, fly over massive snowfields and glaciers. Drive to Valdez. Day 6 In Prince William Sound, sea kayak past floating bergy bits. Day 7 Take the ferry to Whittier, and then drive to Girdwood. Day 8 Fish the Kenai River, go on an ATV tour, dogsled or sign up for a guided hike. Day 9 Depart for home from Anchorage.
Authentic Alaska Adventure in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park custo m t ravel Wrangell–St. Elias is the largest park—by far—in the national park system. That and the fact that it’s located in Alaska make it also one of the most adventurous places to explore. Here, in the summer months of June, July and August, you can engage in wilderness rafting, climbing, fishing, flightseeing, hiking, glacier skiing and other Alaska-style excitements. Four soaring mountain ranges collide in this wild and ruggedly beautiful place, including the tallest coastal mountains in the world. Along with snowcapped peaks, you’ll find monumental glaciers, northern wildlife, shining rivers, active volcanoes and even an abandoned mining town. It takes a logistical master to get here and manage this magnitude, but that’s why you have an Alaska-savvy travel partner like Off the Beaten Path.
From $5,265
June Through August
Page 48 / offthebeatenpath.com
Alaska’s National Parks Grand Slam Capturing Alaska’s Eight Amazing National Parks custo m t ravel
The big state of Alaska holds eight national parks, and you can see all of them in one epic adventure. Along with encountering the stunning beauty of the Northern
wilderness, you’ll meet Alaskan guides, boat skippers, outfitters, pilots and others who will make you feel that their Great Land is your Great Land. You’ll get a front-row seat for viewing massive glaciers and watching whales in Glacier National Park. You’ll see grizzlies fishing for salmon just feet from where you stand on a platform at Brooks Falls in Katmai, and then enjoy your own salmon dinner on a cedar plank on the remote Fox Island in the Kenai Fjords. You’ll survey old mining towns in Wrangell–St. Elias and ancient caribou routes in Gates of the Arctic. In Denali, you’ll gaze upon the “Great One” and reflect upon Wonder Lake. In Alaska, whether you achieve the grand slam of national parks or just explore one of them, you come out a winner.
From $8,495
Custom
AL ASKA
ce At-A-G1l8andays Days 1 - 3 Fly to Gustavus, gateway to Glacier Bay National Park (NP). Get an up close look at humpback whales on your naturalist-led boat excursion. After sea kayaking and hikes in the park, fly to Anchorage. Day 4 Take a floatplane to Brooks Falls in Katmai NP for an exciting day of bear-watching. Days 5-7 Travel in style in your Alaska Railroad dome car to Seward and Kenai Fjords NP. Enjoy a full-day boat ride into the park’s bays teeming with seabird rookeries and marine mammals. Have dinner
July & August
on Fox Island. Return to Anchorage. Days 8-10 Catch a charter flight to your wilderness lodge in Lake Clark NP. Mix it up with some hiking, fishing, kayaking or water skiing on Crescent Lake. Days 11-12 Take a charter flight to Kennecott Glacier Lodge in Wrangell-St. Elias NP. Strap on crampons for a walk on Root Glacier. Days 13-15 Fly to the entrance of Denali NP. Ride a bus into the interior of the park. Hike with a naturalist and catch periodic glimpses of the Great One. Take the scenic route to Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad. Days 16-18 Hop a bush plane to Bettles, north of the Arctic Circle. Boat up the Koyukuk River to the ghost town of Old Bettles. Explore Gates of the Arctic NP by floatplane and land for a hike. Fly to Kobuk Valley NP to see the unusual sand dunes and caribou migration route. Fly back to Fairbanks and return to civilization.
800-445-2995 / page 49
Custom Custom
N EW Ze al and
A L AS K A
N EW ZE ALAND N EW ZE ALAND ce At-A-G15landays Day 1 Arrive in Anchorage.
Days 2-6 Fly to Homer and take a
water taxi to the Tutka Bay Lodge.
Active Ad15vendatuysre Hike in Kachemak Bay State Park, go
birding on private nature trails, fish from the dock, explore the beach at low tide, relax in the hot tub and
end your days with mouthwatering
meals. Days 7-11 Fly from Homer DAY 1-3 Christchurch to Kaikoura, back to Anchorage. An Ultima Thule Swim with fur seals and whale Lodge airplane will transport watching. an afternoon in Maori you to your accommodations in DAY 4-6 Drive to Bird’s ferry. Paparoa Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, National park, Rafting through the largest wilderness area in the Bueller gorge. tube an underground National Wilderness Preservation river. DAY 7-9 Te Wahipounamu World System. Choose your activities, such heritage site, Glacier hot pools and a as canoeing, fly-in fishing, hiking, galaxy of glow worms in tree trunks. mountain climbing and trekking, Fox glacier, horse back riding and paragliding, river rafting, summer spring creek fishing. DAY 10-12 Helicopdogsledding (if conditions are right) ter ride over a glacier, Drive crown and wildlife-viewing—brown and
range road to queenstown. black bears, caribou, Dallzip-lining, sheep, horsemoose back riding and winegoats. tastings in and mountain a natural DAY home 13-14 Holly Day 12cavern. Depart for from ford trek, fly over milford sound, drive Anchorage. through fiordlands national park and back to queesntown on your final night. DAY 15 fly from queensland to auckland to catch your international flight home.
EPIC Alaska Tutka Bay and the Wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias custo m t ravel “Surrounded by wild.” That’s how Alaska’s world-famous Ultima Thule Lodge characterizes itself. It also encapsulates the reason why you want to go to Alaska.
epic new Zealand
custo m t ravel Begin your Custom Journey at the coastal Tutka Bay Lodge, and you’ll jump right into the
bush. Sitting at the entrance to a journey rugged leads fjord attothe southern end of Kachemak Bay near This very active, very distinctive granite massifs, vast Homer, this will encircle you in dramatic mountains, old-growth Sitka glaciers, andresort immense lakes, as well as to condor nests, lenga woods, a spruce forests, quiet beaches fluctuations. At estancia. the end ofYour eachexperiences day, you’ll dine a meal made petrified forest,and andtidal a private working are on truly with the freshest ingredients, including salmon suppliedGlacier, by neighboring fishermen. Then, extraordinary. Like donning crampons to trek Viedma and exploring for moonscape a change of setting, you’llpetrified be whisked awaywhere to thebones UltimaofThule Lodge, located within a the of La Leona forest, the colossal mountainous section ofreuili Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Ultima Thule only 10 guests dinosaur Puertasaurus have been found. If you’re up for it, youaccepts can at a hike time aand operates its to own planes, sonest, you’ll travel a birdwith to the excursions you choose, also mountainside a condor’s and ridelike horses a gaucho. suchexperience as wildlife-viewing, mountain or river is, literally, the limit. Alaska You authentic estanciaclimbing life as well, on arafting. simpleThe butsky gracious is enormous, enticing and extraordinary; deserves an adventure nothing private estancia with panoramic views ofitMount FitzRoy and Cerro Torre.short An of epic.
+
unforgettable boat ride along the face of Perito Moreno Glacier ties the bow on this remarkable adventure.
From $F15ro,9m00
$9,000
JUNE THROUGH AUGUST spring, summer or fall September through April
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PAGE XX / OFFTHEbeatenpath.com
Photos: Ultima Thule Lodge
PACIFIC e r u t n e v d A e v i t c A NORTHWEST CustomCustom
N EW Ze a l a n d
PAC I FI C N O RTH W EST
“c a n’ “ca n ’ t wa i t to t o g o bac k ”
Off the Beaten Path put on a trip we’ll never forget. Our guides were the best we’ve ever expereiecned and we are already planning our trip for next year. The only problem is choosing where to go!
15 days
DAY 1-2 Aukland to Tongariro National Park, alpine crossing and birds eye view of the countryside. DAY 3-5
Ocean-side retreat at Hawke’s bay, hike, bike and cast in famous trout streams. DAY 6-8 from wellington,
Glance At-A-18 days
catch a ferry cross cook straight. kahurangi national park and explore abel tasman by sea kayak or water taxi. dAY 9-10 drive along the west coast and up into the southern alps.
Days 1-2 Arrive in Seattle,
hike and explore. DAY 11-12 Christchurch
Washington. Sample beers on craft
to queenstown and enjoy the world
brewery tours and coffees in Pike
heritage area. boating expedition in
Place Market. Days 3-4 On Oregon’s
Milford sound. DAy 13 behold doubtful
Cannon Beach, enjoy the view of
sounds scenery on an overnight
the famous Haystack Rock outside
adventure. kayak and relax with a
your private balcony. Days 5-6 In
gourmet dinner. DAy 14 drive to
Hood River, spend a full day with a
queenstown for an evening in the
guide in the Columbia Gorge National
city. DAy 15 catch your international
Scenic Area. Days 7-9 Fly-fish, canoe
flight home from queenstown.
and taste more brews in Sunriver, nestled next to the Deschutes River. Day 10 Marvel at Crater Lake National Park’s bluest waters. Days 11-12 Embark on a three-day Rogue River trip. Days 13-14 Discover a lodge inspired by the Tututni people in Gold Beach. Days 15-16 In Redwoods National Park, California, wander with a naturalist among the giant redwoods, beaches and tide pools. Days 17-18 Depart for home from Medford, Oregon.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ADVENTURE Cannon Beach,&Hood River, Crater Lake, and hiking exploring with Redwoods National Park a splash of fishing custom travel custom travel
800-445-2995 T’ ’sS 800-445-2995 lLeEtO Call Our Travel Experts G ! go! Call Our Travel Experts
Some regions in the United States—regardless of state borders—take on veryall active, very simply distinctive journey leads to granite massifs, vast anThis identity their own because of their natural beauty. The Desert glaciers, and immense lakes, as well as to condor nests, lenga woods, a Southwest is one such place, and so is the nation’s upper left-hand corner, known petrified forest, and a private working estancia. Your experiences are truly as the Pacific Northwest. Here, ancient forests back up to crater lakes, pumice extraordinary. Like donning crampons toand trekwaterfalls Viedma Glacier, and exploring deserts exist alongside mountain meadows fed by glaciers plunge the moonscape of La Leona petrified forest, where bones of the colossal from sheer cliffs. dinosaur Puertasaurus reuili have been found. If you’re up for it, you can also hike a mountainside to California, a condor’sOregon nest, and ride horses with a gaucho. On a Custom Journey through and Washington, you’ll explore You experience authentic estancia life as well, on a simple but gracious the Columbia River Gorge, where lofty basalt faces are graced with the greatest private estancia with panoramic of Mount FitzRoy andLake Cerro Torre. concentration of waterfalls in North views America. In Oregon’s Crater National An unforgettable boat ride along the face of Perito Moreno Glacier ties the Park—which contains the deepest lake in the nation and perhaps the most bow on this remarkable adventure. Like donning crampons to trek Viedma pristine on Earth—you’ll travel the Rim Drive, an engineering feat on the caldera’s Glacier, exploring the River moonscape of La petrified where edge. On aand three-day Rogue trip, you’ll fishLeona for salmon and forest, steelhead, and bones of the colossal dinosaur Puertasaurus reuili have been found. stay in wilderness lodges along the way. In California’s Redwood NationalIfPark, you’re upamong for it, giants. you canThe also hike Northwest a mountainside a condor’s andand you’ll walk Pacific has a to personality all nest, its own, ride horses with a gaucho. it’s well worth pursuing.
FFrormom 1,90705 $$81,4
spring, summer or fall APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER September through april Photo Right: National Park Service
800-445-2995 / page 51
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C A LI FO RN I A
Custom
CALIFORNIA ce At-A-G10landays Day 1 Arrive in California. Days 2-3 Meet your Airstream representative for an orientation. Head out to Sequoia National Park and explore at your leisure. Days 4-6 Drive to Yosemite National Park and set up camp. A naturalist guide will meet you for a full day, private hiking and sightseeing adventure. Days 7-10 Drive to the California Coast and the Monterey/Carmel area. Take a special tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Days 11-12 Travel the Pacific Coast Highway along Big Sur’s jagged cliffs. Tour the Hearst Castle in San Simeon and stay two nights in a state park. Days 13-14 Drive Highway 1 to Santa Barbara. Spend two nights in a campground overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Day 15 Drive to San Gabriel. Transfer to a hotel or airport for flights home.
California Cruisin’: An Airstream Adventure Sequoia, Yosemite, and the California Coastline custo m t ravel With a craggy coastline, rugged mountains, some of the world’s tallest trees and nearly 300 national and state parks, California calls—at some point or other—to almost all of us. In popular vernacular, that yearning is known as “California dreamin’.” Such an abundance of natural beauty, though, practically requires that you steer clear of the usual hotels and instead get behind the wheel of your own movable camp that you can set down in the midst of all that grandeur: a sleek and modern Airstream trailer. Travel by Airstream, and you can stay overnight out with the giants of Sequoia National Park and the mammoth peaks of Yosemite. Then, switch gears and take in some dramatic Pacific Coast scenery. Stop in Monterey for a behind-the-scenes tour of the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium. In San Simeon, visit the Hearst Castle and immerse yourself in the extravagance. In Santa Barbara, wander the world-famous Stearns Wharf or relax in wine country. Who hasn’t dreamed of California at least once? You can make your visions come true.
From $4,050
APRIL through NOVEMBER
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Photo Center: Lyons Family
CLASSIC CALIFORNIA SoCal Beaches, Big Sur and Monterey Bay, Yosemite, and Wine Country
Custom
C ALI FO R N I A
custo m t ravel Your opening act begins in the hub of the entertainment industry, Los Angeles, with a behind-the-scenes tour of Universal Studios. Then, it’s “indie” all the way! You get on the road in car-culture California, driving the fabulous, cliffhugging Pacific Coast Highway. On the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur Coast, you spend a morning searching tide pools with a marine biologist and an afternoon kayaking through the kelp forests in Monterey Bay. This evening, the day slowly fades to black at your ocean-view resort. Your location then moves inland, to the heart of the Sierra Mountain Range and the iconic Yosemite National Park. Here, embark on three days of hiking adventures—maybe tackling the 8.5-mile Panorama Trail, with views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Vernal Falls and the entire valley. Back in the city, get to know San Francisco by foot, city bus and, of course, trolley. You might even bike across the Golden Gate Bridge. In Sonoma, California’s “other wine country,” you partake of wonderful wines and superlative farm-fresh foods. This is a good place to say, “That’s a wrap!”
From $4,250
APRIL through NOVEMBER
Glance At-A-15 days Days 1–3 Settle in for a classic Southern California beach experience in Santa Monica; Hollywood touring and surf lessons on Santa Monica beach. Days 4–6 Drive the famed Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur; hiking, tidepooling, and sea kayaking in Monterey Bay. Days 7–10 Immerse in Yosemite National Park; hiking Yosemite Valley and walking among the Giant Sequoias of the Mariposa Grove. Days 11–12 Live like a local in Pacific Heights; bike the Golden Gate Bridge and explore San Francisco. Days 13–15 Connect with Northern California’s wine country among the artisan wineries of Sonoma County.
let’s go!
800-445-2995
Call Our Travel Experts
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ROC KY M O U N TA IN S
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ROCKY MOUNTAINS
WANDERING IN THE WEST Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks custo m t ravel The supervolcano that made Yellowstone National Park holds approximately half of the world’s geysers and is one of the largest, nearly intact, temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. In spring and summer, huge herds of buffalo gather in the Hayden and Lamar Valleys—areas that also summon grizzly bears and wolves. There’s truly no other place like it on Earth. Its smaller neighbor, Grand Teton National Park, is visually striking in a different way: its namesake snowcapped peaks, wide valleys, glacial lakes, meandering Snake River and blue skies are home to abundant and diverse forests, wildflowers and loads of wildlife. In addition, you’ll find a rich cultural history here, with old cattle ranches and homesteads. Walk on a trail tread by Native Americans or fur trappers in the 1820s, or one built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Hike to broad fields of wildflowers or a pristine mountain lake, or float on the scenic Snake River while watching for bald eagles and moose. Supervolcano or superlative summits, see the sights on a specialized journey of your own creation.
From $2,400
MAY through SEPTEMBER
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nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Jackson. Days 2-3 Take a privately guided mountain bike ride through meadows and aspen groves. Horseback ride to a butte overlooking the Snake River Valley. Day 4 Float the scenic Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. Day 5 On a privately guided, full-day Grand Tetons excursion, hike into your guide’s favorite, secret spots. Photograph wildlife in the morning and evening. Enjoy a picnic lunch near a mountain lake. Day 6 Drive to Yellowstone National Park. Catch an Old Faithful eruption. Day 7 Meet up with your OBP naturalist guide for the day. Spot wildlife, feel the steam of geysers. Day 8 Kayak the pristine Hebgen Lake. Learn about the ecosystem from water-level. Day 9 Depart for home from Bozeman.
Custom
RO C KY M O UN TAI N S
Glance At-A-18 days
custo m t ravel
Day 1 Arrive in Kalispell. Drive to your West Glacier lodge. Day 2 Paddle white water on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. Day 3 Hike in Glacier National Park with a private guide. DAYS 4-6 Ride a horse to a historic backcountry chalet and explore the remote mountains. Day 7 Say goodbye to your mountain chalet and arrive back at West Glacier. Day 8 Take the breathtaking Going-to-the-Sun Road to St. Mary Lodge & Resort. Day 9 In East Glacier, boat across lakes to access trails. Day 10 Cross into Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. Cruise the lake. Day 11 Go hiking with a naturalist. Days 12-13 Stay in Fernie, British Columbia, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Day 14 Drive to Whitefish, Montana. Day 15 Depart from Whitefish.
Hiking the Crown of the Continent Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, and Fernie, B.C. custo m t ravel At the spot where Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana meet, you’ll encounter one of the wildest, most biodiverse and intact ecosystems in the world. It’s here, in what’s known as the “Crown of the Continent,” where soaring mountains rise out of vast prairies and where the rivers that reach the Atlantic, Pacific and Hudson Bay begin. Grizzlies, elk, moose and wolves thrive in this dramatic landscape, and the country feels as fresh and untrammeled as when frontiersmen passed through nearly 200 years ago. In this quintessential peak-bagging terrain, you’re going to want your boots on the ground. Hike classic trails in Glacier National Park and in Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park—as well as some of the area’s lesser-known gems—on a journey of your own design. Then, make it truly extraordinary by riding a horse to the trail-access-only Sperry Chalet and take it on foot from there. Log a little white water and travel along the park’s definitive Going-to-the-Sun Road—50 miles of alpine slopes populated by agile mountain goats. They, too, know that Glacier was made for fancy footwork.
From $3,600
June through September
800-445-2995 / page 55
ROC KY M O U N TA IN S
Custom
RoAMING the Rocky Mountains Airstream Adventure in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks custo m t ravel It’s almost as if someone took a giant blender to create the “mix” of topography that is the Rocky Mountains. Add together alpine meadows, dense forests, geothermal features, pristine lakes, rugged peaks and a very generous helping of wildlife, and what pours out is an emulsion exuding exquisiteness and exemplifying iconic Americana. Navigate through this marvelous medley by Airstream trailer, and you’ll be able to taste all of these“ingredients” separately. In Island Park, Idaho, camp near Big Springs, a National Natural Landmark, and canoe one of the largest springs in the country. In Grand Teton National Park, set down your wheels in the heart of the park and watch the morning sun illuminate the pinnacles from a hot-air balloon. After a day of bison, elk and wolf sightings in Yellowstone National Park, watch the sun set from a kayak on Yellowstone Lake. Park amid the aspens, Douglas firs and spruces of Gallatin National Forest, and learn how to rock climb. In your Airstream, you’ll drive into the amazing amalgam of our greatest American landscapes.
From $6,000
MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER
ce At-A-G15landays Day 1 Arrive in Bozeman, Montana. Day 2 MEET Your Airstream representative for an orientation. Set off for Ennis. Explore ghost towns or fascinating underground caverns. Days 3-4 Drive to Island Park, Idaho. Hike, or rent a canoe and paddle Big Springs. Days 5-7 Drive to Jackson, Wyoming. Experience a breathtaking morning hot air balloon ride. Attend an evening rodeo. Days 8-9 Raft the Snake River In Grand Teton National Park, spend a full day with your geologist/historian guide. Days 1012 Spot wildlife with your private, OBP naturalist guide in Yellowstone National Park. Kayak Yellowstone Lake at sunset. Days 13-14 Surrounded by the tall trees of Gallatin National Forest, learn how to rock climb. Day 15 Drive back to Bozeman.
Photo Bottom Right: National Park Service
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Custom
RO C KY M O UN TAI N S
Glance At-A-13 days
custo m t ravel
Day 1 Arrive in Calgary. Drive to the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff. Days 2-4 On a heli-hiking adventure, travel via helicopter to your accommodations deep in the mountains. Explore alpine lakes, glaciers and wildflower meadows in small groups with a guide. Days 5-7 Return by helicopter and drive to Lake Louise. From your elegant Relais & Châteaux hotel, horseback ride to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. Watch as blackhorned mountain goats scramble up steep rocks. Enjoy views of the crystalline Lake Louise. Days 8-10 Travel past the Athabasca Glacier to the Jasper Park Lodge. Spend a full day in the field with your private naturalist guide. Days 11-12 Drive to Canmore. Fly by helicopter to a backcountry-hiking trail. Day 13 Depart for home from Calgary.
Heli-Hiking in the Canadian Rockies Banff and Jasper National Parks custo m t ravel Hearing the call of loons on a mountain lake. Trekking on the tongue of a glacier. Hiking in Technicolor alpine meadows. Jumping across meandering, clear streams. Exploring karst caves and incised canyons. This is the you you become in the Canadian Rockies. In Banff, world-renowned for its spectacular scenery, you stay at a lodge on the top of a mountain. Opting for a multiday heli-hiking adventure deep in the Purcell and Selkirk Mountains, you amble in the wilderness with like-minded adventurers. At Lake Louise, you find that the trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House takes you close to the heart of Mount Lefroy, Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. Then, you migrate to Jasper National Park—what Parks Canada calls the “gentle giant of the Rockies” for its easy access to majestic peaks and endless outdoor adventure; and what the United Nations calls a World Heritage site for its incredible beauty. You went to a place above the tree line. You got to a world beyond anything you know now.
From $6,950
JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER
800-445-2995 / page 57
ROC KY M O U N TA IN S
Custom
ce At-A-G12landays Day 1 Arrive in Boise, Idaho. Attend a white-water rafting orientation session. Days 2–5 Take a scenic flight over the Sawtooth Mountains. Launch on your five-day/four-night, whitewater, wilderness Salmon River adventure! Days 6–8 Fly back to Boise and take in the scenery as you drive to the world-famous Sun Valley Resort. Hike, bike, soak in the hot springs and ride the ski-hill gondola up Bald Mountain. Days 9–11 Drive to Stanley and check in at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. Enjoy three nights of unparalleled Western hospitality and explore the magnificent Sawtooth Mountains. Day 12 Drive back to Boise via the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. Depart for home from Boise.
wild west adventure Rafting the Salmon River and a Classic Western Ranch Stay custo m t ravel Through one of the deepest river gorges in North America, the crystal clear waters of Idaho’s Salmon River run. Here, on a five-day river adventure, you’ll find the perfect blend of spectacular scenery, remote wilderness, abundant wildlife, white-water rafting, blue-ribbon trout fishing, white-sand beaches, riverside natural hot springs and prehistoric sites to explore. Then, you’ll swap your river gear for ranch wear when you live the authentic Western life on the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. Since 1930, this respite from the harried world has combined living history of the Old West with the serenity of its 900 acres in the mountain country of the Sawtooth National Forest, one of the largest protected wilderness area in the continental United States. Spend your days here fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or swimming in the natural hot springs on the property. A contemporary, state-of-the-art rafting trip joins an Old-West-style ranching stay in this best-of-the-West Custom Journey.
From $4,990
JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER
Photo Top: Jeff Johnston
Page 58 / offthebeatenpath.com
GORGEOUS GLACIER! Exploring Glacier National Park and Backcountry Llama-Trekking
Custom
RO C KY M O UN TAI N S
custo m t ravel Glacier National Park is known as the “Crown of the Continent” for a good reason: it encompasses parts of two mountain ranges (subranges of the Rocky Mountains) and more than a million acres. It’s filled with alpine meadows, more than 130 spectacular lakes, at least a thousand different plants and hundreds of animal species. Glacier is a paradise for adventurers seeking wilderness and solitude. Like many national parks, Glacier has its icons, such as Going-to-the-SunRoad—a true engineering feat—and you’ll see them all on this Custom Journey. But if you’d also like to get into true, off-the-beaten-path Glacier Country, hit the hiking trails of the nearby wilderness complex—the third largest in the Lower 48 and the most rugged—with a privately guided, llamasupported* trip into the backcountry. You’ll carry only your daypack as your trusty team of llamas transports all the comforts of a deluxe camp. You’ll navigate ridgelines, top out on mountain peaks and stroll through pristine forests. It will be the “crowning” adventure in your Montana odyssey.
From $2,415
JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER
*Ask about similar trekking options in Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Mountains.
ance At-A-G9 ldays Days 1 Arrive in Kalispell. Drive to the lakeside town of Whitefish. Day 2 Tackle the family-friendly Aerial Adventure High-Ropes Course in the morning and a private, downhill mountain biking lesson in the afternoon. Day 3 On the stunning Middle Fork of the Flathead River, run the rapids on a white-water rafting excursion. Sleep in a luxury camp in West Glacier. Day 4 Take a privately guided hiking tour in the wilds of Glacier National Park. Day 5 Spot mountain goats and, perhaps, grizzlies as you drive along the glorious Going-to-the-Sun Road. Days 6-8 Set off on a three-day/twonight, Llama supported-camping trip. Spend your last night in Montana in the quaint town of Bigfork. Day 9 Depart for home from Kalispell.
800-445-2995 / page 59
DES ERT SO U T H W EST
Custom
DESERT SOUTHWEST nce At-A-G10ladays Day 1 Arrive in Las Vegas. Enjoy a show on The Strip. Days 2-3 Drive to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Go on a naturalist-led, fullday park exploration, tailored to your desires. Days 4-5 Drive to Zion National Park by way of Lake Powell; spend a full day with a private guide. Days 6-7 Drive to Boulder, Utah, and the Boulder Mountain Lodge through Bryce Canyon National Park. Go hiking in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Days 8-10 Drive on to Moab and your accommodations at the Sorrel River Ranch on the banks of the Colorado River. Go on a 4x4 overland tour and hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Take a guided hike of Arches National Park. Day 11 Depart for home from Grand
HEART OF THE CANYONS Classic Road Trip through the Best of Canyon Country custo m t ravel No matter where you live, it seems you have a share in an American Southwest heritage. In this specific section of our nation, our most grand-scale landscapes, colorful human history, and boldest and most-bare geology come together to write “The Great American Story.” On a Custom Journey here, you’ll get to know some of our most iconic national parks, take part in truly off-the-beaten-path experiences, and stay in grand hotels and remote eco-lodges. Working from a “midas list” of Southwestern national parks, you’ll learn about the animals, plants and geology of these incredible landscapes on privately guided, naturalist-led outings. From Grand Canyon to Zion to Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase-Escalante to Moab’s wedge position between Arches and Canyonlands, there is an iconic landscape at every turn. Stone formations and terrain that shift in color with the day’s light bookend each day on this trip—from yellows, oranges and browns to reds, purples and blues. Classic guides take the experience to another level as you connect and immerse in each destination along your way. Heart of the canyons? No doubt—yours all the way.
From $2,995
MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER
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Junction, Colorado.
supreme southwest! Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands
Custom
D ESERT SO UTH W EST
custo m t ravel There’s so much to see and do in Utah’s Canyon Country that it can make your head spin and your heart pound. Hoodoos and spherical formations seem to sprout organically from rock-and-clay floors to stab at whirling clouds overhead. Terraced canyons carved by eternally rushing rivers entice you to see what’s around just one more corner. By foot, 4x4 and float, you’ll experience this dizzying kaleidoscope of kinetic energy. On hikes, contrast the ancient petroglyphs and pictographs of Capitol Reef National Park to the gracefully arching stone and legendary red-rock landscapes of Arches National Park. Ratchet up and over Elephant Hill on a 4x4 experience deep into the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park through terrain few people ever get to see. On a thrilling white-water rafting trip on the Colorado River, run the 46-mile Cataract Canyon with expert guides, stunning scenery, and riverside sandbar camps. Relive the excitement of each day’s time on the river with chatter around the campfire before sleeping under magically star-filled skies.
From $2,550
MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER
ance At-A-G9 ldays
custo m t ravel
Days 1-2 Arrive in Teasdale, Utah. Based at your lodge situated on a former stage stop on the shores of the Fremont River, explore Capitol Reef National Park with a local guide. Days 3-5 Drive to Moab. Enjoy a full-day, guided hike in the Edward Abbey-storied Arches National Park. In the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, take a 4x4 excursion through the notoften-seen Chesler Park, with great options for hikes and stunning scenery. Days 6-7 On a three-day, two-night white-water rafting trip, run the rapids of Cataract Canyon with an expert guide. Sleep under the stars. Day 8 Return to Moab for a final night and a celebratory toast to an amazing, life changing experience. Day 9 Depart for home.
Photo Top Right: Paxson Woelber Photo Right: Shari Griffith Expeditions Photo Middle: Pudlin Family
800-445-2995 / page 61
DES ERT SO U T H W EST
Custom
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Las Vegas and drive to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Set up your campsite in Kaibab National Forest, part of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the United States. Day 2 Meet your Off the Beaten Path guide for a full day of hiking and sightseeing in the park. Days 3-4 Drive to Lake Powell. Drop into the most photographed slot canyon in the world, Antelope Canyon. Rent a powerboat to survey Lake Powell and its shoreline canyons. Day 5 In Bryce Canyon National Park, wander among the hoodoos. Days 6-8 Take a full-day, beginner canyoneering course in Zion National Park. Spend another full day discovering its geological treasures on your own. Day 9 Return to Las Vegas and depart for home.
Southwest National Parks Grand Circle An Airstream Southwest Sojourn custo m t ravel American Southwest canyons are suffused with color: in Grand Canyon NationalPark, minerals impart vivid shades of green, red and yellow to steep, rock walls. Bryce Canyon National Park is a maze of crimson-colored spires; and in Zion National Park, waterfalls create rainbows above emerald pools. Even plant and animal names here include shades: violet-green swallows fly above golden-mantled ground squirrels, tiger-striped salamanders sun on red rocks next to blue spruce and golden eagles fly in cobalt skies. Explore this region via an Airstream trailer, and you’ll never be far removed from nature’s palette—or activities. In the Grand Canyon, spend a whole day hiking with a private guide. Rent a powerboat on Lake Powell and motor out to Rainbow Bridge, one of the world’s largest natural bridges. In Bryce, hike through the hoodoos with a naturalist; and in Zion, climb and rappel through a slot canyon. Discover the place where yellow scampers across rocks, blue grows up from the ground and gold soars through the air. Keep close to a place in living color.
From $3,400
February through November Photo Left: National Park Service
Page 62 / offthebeatenpath.com
Custom
D ESERT SO UTH W EST
Glance At-A-15 days Day 1 Arrive in Albuquerque and transfer to Santa Fe. Days 2-3 Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and take a night walk in Bandelier National Monument. Explore Santa Fe’s arts, culture and wines. Days 4-6 Drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu. Visit O’Keeffe’s home and studio. On the O’Keefe Landscape Tour, see the locations that inspired her artworks. Days 7-8 Drive to Farmington and wander Chaco Culture National Historical Park with a naturalist/history guide. Days 9-12 In Durango, Colorado, connect with the real Old West. Wonder at the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. Ride the historic Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway into the San Juan Mountains. Days 13-14 Drive from Durango to Taos. Enjoy art and music festivals. Day 15 Transfer from Taos to Albuquerque for flights home.
Perfection in the Land of Enchantment Art and Culture in Santa Fe, Mesa Verde and Taos custo m t ravel When Georgia O’Keeffe first visited the Desert Southwest in 1929, she knew it was her country; her spiritual home. The landscape inspired her so much that she produced a flurry of artworks that continued unabated for decades. The terrain “fitted to me exactly,” she said. You can explore the scenery, art, cultures and history of the Four Corners canyon country on a Custom Journey that will take you from Santa Fe’s vibrant arts scene and museums, to O’Keeffe’s inspirational landscapes, to ancient dwellings in Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Mesa Verde National Park. You’ll stargaze in Chaco Culture, an international Dark Sky Park, and look into the lives of Ancestral Pueblo people at Mesa Verde. You’ll ride a train—Old West-style—into the San Juan Mountains and take a moonlight walk on Bandelier National Monument mesas. After that first visit to canyon country, O’Keeffe said the source for her art became the region’s nature. And, in turn, it could be said, the Four Corners became O’Keeffe Country. You may find that it fits you exactly, too.
From $4,995
APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER Photo Top: Neil Grasso Photo Middle: Mike Krajnak Photo Bottom: Bob Brady
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COSTA RI C A
Custom
COSTA RICA
ICONIC Costa Rica Ziplining, Canyoning, and Rafting the Pacuare River custo m t ravel For Central Americans, the tall, imposing and perfectly symmetrical Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is as iconic as Mount Rushmore is for North Americans. Luckily, the rich and biodiverse rain forest that surrounds it is highly accessible and offers thrilling adventure opportunities. Within Arenal Volcano National Park, you’ll explore the forest canopy by suspended bridges that provide eye-level views into this unique ecosystem full of colorful birds and white-faced capuchin monkeys. Then, take a turn on a Sky Tram, a gondola that will whisk you to the top of a mountain. Choose to zip-line down, and hear your heart pound as you descend on 10 exhilarating cables of up to 650 feet in length. On a canyoning excursion, rappel some of the most dramatic waterfalls in the country and drop into a flower-filled canyon that sings with tropical birds, calling monkeys and a bubbling creek. On the Pacuare River, raft through Class III-IV whitewater that flows through remote scenery rippling with rain forest wildlife. In Costa Rica, the canopies, canyoneering and cascades will certainly captivate.
From $2,950
YEAR ROUND
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nce At-A-G9ladays Days 1-2 Arrive in San Jose. Drive to Arenal Volcano. Ride the best zip-line network in the country and explore the rain forest canopy by Sky Tram and on “sky walks.” Day 3 Go on a morning canyoneering excursion and drive south TO explore a coffee plantation. Days 4-6 Fly to Palmer Sur and explore the Sierpe River ecosystem by boat. Hike in Corcovado National Park, bird-watch, take a boat cruise or snorkel. Day 7 Fly to San Jose and hike at the smoldering and beautiful Poas Volcano. Day 8 Tackle the whitewater of the famous and pristine Pacuare River, regarded as one of the top 10 river trips worldwide. Day 9 Depart for home from San Jose.
Costa Rica Retreat Family Fun at Savegre and Manuel Antonio
Custom
COSTA R I C A
custo m t ravel Costa Rica may be a small country, but it squeezes a lot in. Because of its unique geography between North and South America, species from these two, vast biological provinces found this place perfect for mixing and mingling. The result is a country saturated with a diversity of plants and animals; in fact, no other nation on the planet has such variety. On a Costa Rica Custom Journey, you and your family can stay in a luxury, safarilike “camp” nestled in the middle of a jungle along the Savegre River, and then reside on a white-sand beach at the edge of one of Costa Rica’s famed national parks. Get a wake-up call from a gang of howler monkeys, discover a sloth sleeping in the forest canopy, snorkel through clouds of tropical fish, sign up for surf school, and have a picnic on the beach and watch squirrel monkeys try to sneak up and steal your sandwich. Soak up the spectrum and gaze upon the gamut. Explore a whole new, in between world with your children.
From $2,990
YEAR ROUND
At-A-Glance
8 DAYS
custo m t ravel
Day 1 Arrive in San Jose. A driver will take you on a stunning drive along the Pacific Ocean to the Rafiki Safari Lodge. Your African-inspired, safaritent camp is located near the border of the Quetzal National Park. Day 2 Go on an “aqua hike,” which includes
trekking, rafting, waterfall-jumping and exploring local culture. Day 3 Go whitewater rafting on the Savegre River. Days 4-7 Transfer from your jungle camp to Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort near Manuel Antonio National Park. Horseback ride on the beach, go zip-lining, swim in the surf or hit the park trails. Sign up for a free tortillamaking class or sustainability tour. Practice yoga poses on the beach, or dolphin and whale-watch. Day 8 Depart for home from San Jose.
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ce At-A-G14landays Day 1 Arrive in Quito. Day 2 Fly to the Galapagos Islands. Board a luxury catamaran for eight days of island explorations. Day 3 Walk the volcanic landscape of Santiago Island and spot the best-known landmark in the Galapagos, Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome. Day 4 Visit the archipelago’s largest island, Isabela. Day 5 On pristine Fernandina Island, engage with land iguanas. Day 6 Find fur seals, marine iguanas and hawks on Santiago Island. Day 7 Meet giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands. Day 8 Observe the red-footed boobies on Genovesa Island. Day 9 Watch bluefooted boobies “ dance” on North Seymour Island and fly back to the mainland. Days 10-12 Explore the Mindo Cloud Forest from the Mashpi Lodge. Day 13 Return to Quito. Day 14 Depart for home.
Ecuador Expedition Galapagos Islands and Mindo Cloud Forest custo m t ravel Ecuador lies across the imaginary line of the Earth’s equator—from which the country got its name—but it is hardly a “middle ground” for anything. It’s a land of extremes, from the sharply pointed peaks of the Andes to the lowlands of the famed Galapagos Islands. This extraordinary place of giant tortoises, fearless-ofpeople birds and singular swimming iguanas calls for an uncommon way to see it. Make your adventure here as individual as you are with a Custom Journey. For an out-of-the-ordinary mode of Galapagos island-hopping, choose a 16-passenger-only catamaran. You’ll not only visit popular stops such as Isabela, Santa Cruz and Santiago Islands, but you’ll get to lesser-known sites, such as Mosquera Island, home to colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs and one of the largest sea lion populations anywhere. On the mainland, stay at a cloud forest hideaway near Mashpi, a planetary biodiversity hot spot. You and your naturalist guide will come face-to-face with the birds and mammals—some found only here—that thrive in the upper canopy. There certainly won’t be anything middling about your Ecuador expedition.
From $11,250
year round
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peru
Custom
p eru
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Fly to Lima, Peru. Day 2 Catch a morning flight to Cusco. Visit a local weaving cooperative, indigenous market and Inca ruins in the village of Pisac. Day 3 Horseback ride or bike to the agricultural terraces of Moray and the Maras Salt Works. Day 4 Learn about making wool in the Andean village of Willoq. Hike to the Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo ruins. Day 5 Go white-water rafting on the Urubamba River. Overnight in a “sky lodge.” Day 6 Zip-line to the valley floor. Take a train to Aguas Calientes. Day 7 Explore Machu Picchu on a private tour. Transfer to Cusco. Day 8 Take a private walking tour of the city, noting the Inca and Spanish influences. Day 9 Catch a flight back to Lima. Depart for home.
peru family adventure The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu custom t ravel For many intrepid travelers, getting “lost” is at the heart of every authentic journey: you become so absorbed in a place that you no longer think about where you are on a map but of the fresh cultural outlooks and varying worldviews. But how many cities can claim to be “lost”? One of the most legendary is the Lost City of Machu Picchu in Peru. Why it was constructed and what it was used for still remains secret: was it a ceremonial center, a royal retreat or an Inca attempt to preserve their ways in their waning years? You and your family can explore this Peruvian puzzle on a private tour and then see the Sacred Valley in one of the most adventurous ways possible: by whitewater raft on the Urubamba River. You can even sleep in a “sky lodge,” a transparent, luxury capsule that hangs from a mountaintop overlooking this stunning landscape. By foot, by river or by suspension from above, on this Custom Journey, your family will find unique perspectives on perplexing Peru.
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From $3,985
April through October
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Custom
patago n i a
patagonia ce At-A-G17landays Days 1-3 Fly overnight to Buenos Aires. Spend a day in the city and catch a flight to Patagonia. Meet your private driver and photography guide. Explore an historic estancia. Days 4-6 Drive to El Chalten, gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Capture the glory of the Fitz Roy Massif and Cerro Torre. Days 7-9 Drive around the picturesque Viedma Lake and Lake Argentino to El Calafate. Photograph the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier. Days 10-14 Cross the border from Argentina into Chile and catch your breath as you first glimpse Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine. Daily, guided excursions will take you to stunning vistas of these mountains. Days 15-17 Shuttle back to El Calafate. Board a domestic flight to Buenos Aires. Spend the night before a next-day flight home.
patagonia photography pilgrimage Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Park custo m t ravel On the steppes of South America’s southern frontier, jagged, granite mountain peaks jut into the stratosphere; winds blow across vast and wild lands; herds of guanacos gallop and graze; giant glaciers grow; and clear, deep lakes reflect the clouds. Nature here is enormous in scale, free of light pollution and little changed over millions of years. If a pilgrimage is defined as a journey to a holy, special or unusual place, Patagonia certainly fits that bill for photographers. If you’re one of them, we can connect you with a local guide and professional photographer who’ll lead your explorations so that you’ll be able to capture some of the most iconic sites on the planet, such as Mount Fitz Roy, the Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres Del Paine. Then, you’ll go beyond the expected shots and be taken to places where you can shoot these scenes from lesser-known overlooks and off-the-beaten-path locales. We think you may even find yourself setting your camera down once in a while, just to take the scope of it all in. Completely private. Completely tailored to you.
From $9,000
November through April
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Photo Center: Bill & Pam Bryan Photo Bottom: Silverman
Custom
Family Adventure in Patagonia’s Lakes District Glacial Lakes, Snowcapped Volcanoes and National Parks
patago n i a
custo m t ravel The alpine villages, ancient forests, glacier-fed lakes and snowcapped volcanoes are what strike you the most when visiting the Lake Districts of northern Patagonia. This place of unimaginable beauty also holds unlimited potential for adventure, be it by horse, raft, bicycle, zip-line or by foot on the flank of an active volcano. In Santiago, Chile, begin by biking through picturesque parks. In the adventure town of Pucón, explore volcanic caves and hike over dried riverbeds where lava once flowed. Soak in the natural, geothermal waters of Villarrica National Park, then horseback ride to the base of a 275-foot waterfall. Fly up to 40 miles per hour on a zip line through the forest canopy across the Trancura River and kayak the crystal clear waters of Lake Perito Moreno to hidden bays that for most people are inaccessible. On the remote Manso River, white-water raft Class III–IV rapids through a rugged canyon to the Chilean border. The Lake Districts of Patagonia pack a powerful punch of “outside”—and you’ll want to hit it all.
From $11,975
October through May
nce At-A-G9ladays Day 1 Arrive in Santiago, Chile, and discover the city by bike. Day 2 Fly to Temuco and transfer to Pucón. In view of snowcapped Volcán Villarrica, stroll through the charming town. Day 3 Hike among volcanoes and soothe sore muscles in thermal hot springs. Day 4 Ride horseback to the El Claro Waterfall and zip-line through a forest. Day 5 En route to Argentina, pass ice-clad Volcán Lanín and the town of San Martín, set on a sparkling lake. Day 6 Kayak on Lake Perito Moreno in Bariloche and hike to a spectacular view of glaciated Mount Tronador. Day 7 White-water raft the Río Manso in Nahuel Huapi National Park. Day 8 Fly to Buenos Aires and explore on foot with a guide. Day 9 Depart for home.
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pat hf i n d e rs
Custom
pathfinders ce At-A-G11landays Days 1-2 Arrive on the morning of Day 2 in Santiago, Chile. Explore the heart of the city. Day 3 With a guide, take in Santiago’s museums, seafood markets and panoramic views. Day 4 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Valparaíso. Day 5 In the Atacama Desert, stop at the Valle de la Luna nature sanctuary and Dinosaur Valley. Day 6 Meet the sunrise at the Tatio Geysers. Take a rejuvenating, thermal hotsprings soak. Give “sandboarding” a try. Day 7 In Bolivia, watch for flamingoes on Laguna Colorada. Day 8 Pass through Andean villages and stunning alpine lagoons on the way to Uyuni Salt Flats. Day 9 Be astonished by Incahuasi’s unearthly formations and giant cacti. Day 10 See the isolated Tree of Stone. Reenter Chile. Day 11 Depart for home via Santiago.
Chile, Bolivia & Beyond Atacama Desert and Uyuni Salt Flats custo m t ravel
The word beyond usually means “to the farther side of.” But in the title of this Custom Journey, we’re signifying “way out there” in an adventure sense; in fact, almost to the moon—or a place just like it. Travel to Chile and Bolivia, and you’ll have probable cause to call yourself an astronaut. In Chile’s Atacama Desert—the driest on Earth—eerie “stalagmites” just up from the floor of the Valley of the Moon. At the Tatio Geysers, bubbling mud pots, hot springs and steaming fumaroles could mean you’re closer to Mercury. The perfectly level salt flats of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia—the largest in the world— are roughly the size of Lebanon. On this endless white horizon, with the peaks of the Andes far in the distance, there’s almost no vegetation, except for the thousand-year-old cacti that inhabit Incahuasi, a coral “island” in the middle of the flats. And for a last stop on this supernatural sojourn: the Arbol de Piedra (Tree of Stone). It’s enough to make you believe you’re on another heavenly body.
From $4,850
yEAR round Photo Center: Tyler Bangs
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Custom
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ce At-A-G14landays Days 1-2 Arrive in Marrakech. Visit the Lalla Hasna Garden, Palais de la Bahia and Saadian Tombs. On a sunset stroll, get a breathtaking view of the Atlas Mountains from the Menara Gardens. Days 3-5 Accept an invitation to have tea with a Berber family. Hike the Atlas Mountains. Days 6-7 Return to Marrakech and stay in the heart of the old city. Days 8-11 Visit the ksar—a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls—of Ait-BenHaddou, a World Heritage site. In the Sahara, jeep into the Erg Chigaga Dunes, and then explore by camel for the next two days. Days 12-13 Fly into Fez and discover the city, the spiritual and cultural center of Morocco. Day 14 Transfer to Casablanca to catch your flights home.
the Magic of MOROCCO Imperial Cities, Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara Desert custom t ravel Sitting on the top of Africa and just off the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco is a whirl of cultural connections and an exquisite jewel of geography. Get to know its deserts, mountains, people, souks (open-air marketplaces)—and even its camels—on an off-the-beaten-path adventure that’s a world away, literally and figuratively.
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In Marrakech, you’ll visit the marble-and-gold Saadian Tombs dating from the late 1500s, which contain the remains of a sultan’s family; the 1860s-era Palais de la Bahia; and the grounds of the Koutoubia Mosque, the city’s largest. You’ll hike in the rugged Atlas Mountains— which separate the Mediterranean Sea from the Sahara Desert—and stay at a classic casbah located in Toubkal National Park. You’ll travel by jeep into the Erg Chigaga Dunes, and then by camel to your deluxe Sahara Desert camp. Enjoy the hospitality of your Berber hosts as you eat authentic foods in traditional tents and outdoor living spaces set among a sea of undulating sand dunes. There is magic in abundance on this fabulous excursion to Morocco—from the exotic nature of the people you encounter and places you experience to the diversity of the landscapes, cultures and history that encircle your every move.
From $6,550
November through March Photo Bottom: Kayla Lee
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new z e al a n d
Custom
new zealand nce At-A-G16ladays Day 1 Arrive in Auckland. Explore the city. Day 2 Hop a ferry to Waiheke Island, a local-favorite, saltwater fly-fishing spot. Day 3 Go on a privately guided fly-fishing excursion. Day 4 Enjoy a two-winery tour with a private guide. Day 5 Take a morning ferry off the island and drive to Tongariro National Park. Days 6-7 Ride horseback and hike through the native bushland surrounding the Ruapehu and Tongariro Mountains. Days 8-10 Drive to Turangi, a small fishing town. Catch some of the Tongariro River’s famous rainbow trout. Days 11-13 Drive to Hawke’s Bay for a full-day, privately guided, fly-fishing outing. Sip the area’s award-winning wines. Days 14-15 Drive to Wellington. Discover the capital city’s sandy beaches and picturesque waterfront. Day 16 Depart from Wellington.
Fly Fishing New Zealand’s North Island Auckland, Wellington, Tongariro River, and Hawke’s Bay custo m t ravel It would be hard to find wild rainbow trout anywhere in the world that are larger than those that swim in the waters of New Zealand’s North Island. A temperate climate and an ideal water temperature make this spot a promised land for fly-fishers. Add in the area’s fine local wines and a national park that is a dual UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its great natural and cultural value, and you have not only a fly-fisher’s ultimate getaway but a deeply immersive experience into the life of the country itself. Fish the productive waters of Waiheke Island, the Tongariro River and some of the many rivers that run through Hawke’s Bay. Take a winery tour, and then horseback ride to Mount Ruapehu and Mount Tongariro in Tongariro National Park, the nation’s oldest. For the Maori, these mountains were once gods and great warriors, and they symbolize a spiritual connection to the land. Whether by foot, by horse or by hook, your travels in New Zealand will take you below the surface.
From $9,000
October through April
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Hiking Adventure on the South Island Queenstown, Fiordland National Park, and Abel Tasman Exploration
Custom
n ew z eal an d
custo m t ravel Eighty million years ago, New Zealand sheared off from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. It has been adrift ever since. Adrift is also a fitting term when talking about a Custom Journey here. Free from restraints in this land of thick forests and glacier-dotted fjords, you can range and roam from one outdoor adventure to the next. On the South Island in Queenstown, take a trek on the Hollyford Track in Fiordland National Park and step into a world of sheer rock walls, blue lakes that mirror snowcapped mountains and unending views that look the same as they did thousands of years ago. From your base at Minaret Station—accessible only by helicopter—in the Southern Alps, horseback ride through rolling meadows and craggy foothills. Go whale-watching in Kaikoura, that rare and matchless place where mountains meet the ocean and rain forests run into glaciers. In Kaharangi National Park, hike the marble mountains and palmfringed beaches. In Abel Tasman National Park, kayak along golden coasts and sculptured granite cliffs. You’re adrift, but with high aims.
From $11,975
December-March or June-July
ce At-A-G17landays Days 1-3 Arrive in Auckland on the North Island. Fly to Queenstown on the South Island. Take a private tour of the worldrenowned Gibbston Valley Winery. Days 4-5 Retrace the footsteps of original Maori on a three-day, Hollyford Track hike in Fiordland National Park. Fly out over Milford Sound. Day 6 Overnight in Queenstown. Days 7-8 Helicopter to the luxury, alpine lodge of Minaret Station. Surround yourself by Southern Alps. Day 9 From Queenstown, fly to Christchurch. Days 10-11 Take the KiwiRail to Kaikoura. Go whale-watching. Days 12-13 Travel by train to Blenheim. Savor the Marlborough Wine Region. Days 14-16 Transfer to Nelson. Kayak in Abel Tasman National Park and take a privately guided hike in Kaharangi National Park. Day 17 Fly from Nelson to Auckland for departures home.
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Custom
australi a
australia ce At-A-G10landays Day 1 Arrive in Sydney. Day 2 Take a private dinner cruise in Sydney Harbor. Select the ingredients for your dinner at fresh seafood markets. Day 3 Fly to Hobart, Tasmania. Pick up a rental car and drive to your accommodations on the waterfront. Wander the city’s cafes, boutiques and galleries. Day 4 Kayak Lake Pedder, Australia’s largest freshwater lake. Day 5 Voyage down the Derwent River and into the D’Entrecasteaux Channel’s sheltered waters surrounding Bruny Island. Watch for fairy penguins. Day 6 Explore Freycinet National Park with a naturalist. Stroll Hazards Beach and meander over to Wineglass Bay for a picnic lunch. Days 7-9 Fly to Melbourne. Take a walking tour of the city. Enjoythe art galleries, fine-dining restaurants and vibrant downtown area. Day 10 Depart for home.
exploring the land down under Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania custo m t ravel In Australia, where local, organic foods are widely available and active exploits are a mainstay, delicious meals go hand in hand with outdoor adventures. Start your Land Down Under journey in Sydney, and you’ll cruise the harbor on a private boat, stopping at fresh markets along the way to pick out delectable ingredients for your onboard dinner. Then, for the main “entrée,” you can fly to Hobart, Tasmania’s capital. On a full-day, Derwent River cruise, guides will provide you with insights into the pristine, wilderness environment—and oysters shucked straight from the water. In Freycinet National Park, you’ll hike the pink-granite mountains with a naturalist before a respite at Wineglass Bay, a crescent of dazzling, white sand and sapphire-colored seas. Linger for a picnic lunch here, and you’re likely to sip some world-class Tasmanian wines. Top it all off with “dessert”: a few days in Melboune, known for its flavorful, eclectic dining scene. “Tasting” Australia is a feast for the eyes, a banquet for the body and—most certainly—a smorgasbord for your soul.
From $9,000
September through May
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Custom
Authentic Australia Arnhem Land, South Australia, Melbourne, and Sydney
Australi a
custo m t ravel For so many reasons, Australia is a one-of-a-kind place. At 165 million years old, its Daintree Rain Forest is the oldest continuously surviving tropical rain forest in the world. Most of Australia’s exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else on the globe. Aboriginal Australians are thought to have the oldest continuous culture on the planet. More than 80 percent of Australians live within 62 miles of the coast, making them one of the world’s most urbanized coastal-dwelling populations. But that also means there’s a great, big Outback out there for you to wander in, dream in and explore. There’s no better way to get to know this unique country than by taking the time to embark on a custom, quintessential journey here. See the cities of Adelaide, Darwin and Sydney—and then stay at the authentic and remote Bullo River Station ranch. Ramble in the national parks—then relax in wine country. Hop on a ferry to Kangaroo Island, and then board a train to Melbourne. It’s archetypical Australia in one awesome outing.
Estimated soprin ce per per $20,300
August through October
lance At-A-G32 days Days 1-3 Arrive on the morning of Day 3 in Darwin. Take a sunset sail in Darwin Harbor. Days 4-6 See Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land with a guide. Days 7-10 Stay on the remote Bullo River Station in Western Australia. Day 11 Fly back to Darwin for a night. Days 12-13 Fly to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park/Ayers Rock. Days 14-15 Fly to Adelaide in South Australia. Days 16-17 Unwind with the incredible wines of Barossa Valley. Days 18-20 Get to know Kangaroo Island. Day 21-22 Board a train to Melbourne. See the city. Days 23-24 Drive the Great Ocean Road. Days 25-27 Fly to Sydney. Get a behind-the-scenes opera house tour. Day 28-31 In Queensland, kayak, sail and wander the rain forest. Day 32 Depart for home.
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H awai i
Custom
pacific islands ce At-A-G15landays Day 1 Arrive on the Big Island. Drive to your Kohala Coast bungalow accommodations. Day 2 Boat to Kealakekua Bay and snorkel in coral gardens with tropical fish. Day 3 Explore the culture and biology of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on a customized hike with a private guide. Day 4 See towering sea cliffs and thousand-foot waterfalls cascade into rain forests below by helicopter. Day 5 Fly to Maui and drive to Hana. Hike the trails of ‘Ohe‘o Gulch at Haleakalā National Park and Wai’ānapanapa State Park. Day 6 Drive the spectacular shoreline to Wailea. Day 7 On a rain forest hike, jump safely from rock ledges into refreshing waterfalls. Day 8 Catch the sunrise from Haleakalā Volcano’s top before an easy downhill peddle. Day 9 Depart for home from Maui.
Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui Volcanos, Waterfalls, and Lava Galore! custo m t ravel You might think going on an adventure in Hawaii is giving in to a highly developed “tourism machine”: twinkling tiki torches, hip-swinging hula performances and stylized luaus. But plan a Custom Journey here, and you’ll bypass customary activities for off-the-beaten-path pursuits. Starting on the Big Island, take a boat to Kealakekua Bay and snorkel with colorful fish into sea caves. In Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, walk through a lava tube on a naturalist-led excursion tailor-made for you; then hop a helicopter for a flyover of one of the most geologically active environments on Earth: the Kilauea Volcano, continuously erupting since 1983. Next, fly to Maui, and set off on the Hana Highway, passing flourishing rain forests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. On a waterfall hike, discover colossal cascades; large, clear swimming pools; and freshwater streams. End the day with a real Hawaiian “shower,” under a waterfall. Outside of Haleakalā National Park, bike—all downhill—to the “cowboy town” of Makawao, far from any large crowds. You and your Hawaii are on the frontier’s edge.
From $4,865
Year Round
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Custom
fi ji
ce At-A-G17landays Days 1-4 Arrive in Nadi on Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. Walk the cobalt-and-white beach, kayak, snorkel or weave palm fronds with your hosts at your out-ofthe-way retreat. Days 5-10 Fly to Taveuni, the “Garden Island,” home to dense rain forests and endemic ferns, orchids and palms. Dive, snorkel or swim from just outside your beachfront lodging. Take a guided walk in the rain forest and let the spray from spectacular waterfalls cool you. Days 11-15 Fly to the white-sand beaches of the Yasawa Islands. Hike, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, and snorkel during your stay at an intimate, boutique resort. Try spearfishing or night lobsterdiving. Days 16-17 Return to Nadi by catamaran. Visit markets and the Sri Siva Subramaniya Hindu temple before late-day flights to Los Angeles and then home.
escape to fiji Nature and Culture on Island Time custom t ravel Invariably, Fijians greet guests to their 333 South Pacific islands* with a rousing “Bula,” which means, “Welcome home.” What’s even more endearing is that Fijians really mean it. Although graced with white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, extraordinarily fresh foods and loads of adventure opportunities, Fiji’s inviting culture is what travelers remember most. Venture to Fiji on a Custom Journey, and you’ll hike, paddle, raft and snorkel your way through rain forests, underwater gardens and waterfalls. On Viti Levu, slip through a gap in Naihehe Cave, and you’ll enter into a cavern full of cultural relics, stalagmites and underground springs. On the Upper Navua River, glide through a narrow gorge, and you’ll find sunlight filtering down to black rocks adorned with ferns and vines. On Taveuni Island, boat out to Rainbow Reef, and you’ll snorkel among multicolored corals and multitudes of bright fish. On the Yasawa Islands, canoe, hike, kayak or paddleboard from right outside your bungalow’s door. Fiji shines and sparkles in the sun, but the hospitality of its people is its best reflection.
*Ask about other Custom Journeys in the Pacific Islands
From $11,975
May through October
800-445-2995 / page 77
yours for the future The National Park Service celebrated its centennial in 2016. In the spirit of looking ahead, National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Service invited Off the Beaten Path to Yosemite to participate in a forum about what to expect and how to plan for the next 100 years. We felt privileged to be part of the conversation, but also knew we rightfully belonged there. We have a stake and a role, not just in preserving the physical landscapes of the national parks, but in protecting the cultural environment and travel experience as well.
over the rim for five minutes, then hurry off to Lake Powell because they don’t know what to do with all that awe and immensity. Those folks leave without feeling the silence, without seeing a condor, and without having watched the light shift across the very face of our planet’s physical history. They will leave not understanding why a giant Grand Canyon resort might not be the best idea.
As part of our commitment to responsible, sustainable travel, we work to ensure our travelers make genuine, perspectiveexpanding connections during their journeys. There are all sorts of That was the impetus tangible and less tangible behind our idea to ways to work toward a create national park sustainable future for our trips featuring singernational parklands. In songwriters. Music can a tangible way, Off the be so evocative of place, Beaten Path is joining with powerful messages our partners at National carried forward in special Parks Conservation songs. This land is your Association, Subaru and land, this land is our land. others, in the National We care about it, and are Park Zero Landfill Initiative invested in its protection. underway in Yosemite, That’s the idea, anyway. We’ll Grand Teton, and Denali The OBP Home Team, your travel partners for life. Left to right: Rob Wales, see. Maybe you’ll see! National Parks. Additionally, Kate Close, Alan Stelling, Kelsea Jacobs, Jeff Lee, Julie Eik, Elin OBP facilitates traveler Hert, Katy Lingman, Carrie Lawrence, Sandi Gerchow, Emmy We’ve explored the idea of “travel contributions to local programs Luenemann, Cory Lawrence, Anna Burkhardt, Cary for your life” in these pages, and in serving communities on the front lines Costello, Kayla Lee. Not pictured the travel experiences we’re offering for of stewardship in the places we visit. Julianne Mohr 2017. If you’ve read this far, you know we’re suggesting that “yours” isn’t always about you. Also of vital importance, but harder to measure, It’s about making sure there’s a Yours to share with future is fostering love and respect for the land, as well as for generations. That’s an idea worth singing about. communities fighting to maintain traditional ways of life, from Peru to Wyoming. That’s where we feel that we, as a small company, can make the most difference. Too many people do things like drive into Grand Canyon National Park, park (often illegally), stare in awe
Page 78 / offthebeatenpath.com
travel is s pr i n g • Some of the lowest tides occur around the spring equinox in March. Join a marine biologist at Monterey Bay for some delightful tide-pooling. (Classic California, p. 53.)
s y in season a w l A winter
• Northern lights illuminate Alaska’s winter skies with undulating ribbons, sheets, and swirls of green, pink, and white. See it to believe it. (Alaska’s Winter Magic, p. 13.) • Yellowstone National Park turns into a different creature in winter—wilder, if that’s possible. There’s magic at every turn. (Yellowstone’s Winter Wonders, p. 24.)
• Spring is nesting season for everything from flamingos to marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands. See the action from island paths. (Afoot in the Galapagos, p. 36.) • More wildflowers grow in Great Smoky Mountains National Park than in any other national park–over 1,500 species. (Splendor in the Smokies, p. 35.) • If you love waterfalls this is the season to visit Yosemite National Park, when the famous falls are at a spectacular crescendo. (Seasons of Yosemite, p. 16.) • The spring migration in Big Bend National Park has been likened to a river of birds in the sky, as migrant birds return north to nest. (Big Secret, Big Bend, p. 31.)
s u mme r • Lucky whale-watchers in Glacier Bay National Park might see humpbacks “bubblenetting” as they corral a school of fish. (Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, p. 14.) • Hit the high-country trails in Glacier National Park, watching for mountain goats and other wildlife that frequent Glacier’s natural salt licks. (Crown of the Continent, p. 23.) • Unplug on a rafting trip down the Salmon River, floating through old growth forest watching for wildlife and listening to the nature’s soundtrack. (Wild West Adventure, p. 58.) • Paddle your sea kayak along a protected coastline into a quiet cove for the otter’s eye view—of otters, eagles, seabirds, and more. (Acadia and New Brunswick, p. 33.) • Our summer is a great time to visit Northern Australia, when wildlife crowds the billabongs. (Authentic Australia, p. 75.)
• Sink your toes into a white sand beach in the National Park of American Samoa, then snorkel out to join colorful reef fish in the blue lagoon. (Fa’a Samoa, p. 40.) • After you open Christmas presents, go surfing, white-water rafting, or watch for monkeys and toucans in the rainforest. Jingle all the way! (Costa Rica Retreat, p. 65.) • Ride horses on the sunny beach, then tube down a river through an underground cavern lit by glowworms. It’s upside-down winter in New Zealand! (Fly Fishing New Zealand’s North Island, p. 72.)
fall • An eerie squeal echoes through the forest. It’s the fall rut in Yellowstone National Park, and bull elk are assembling their harems. (Yellowstone Wildlife Safari, p. 19.) • Hawaii’s nights are getting deliciously cooler, and the macadamia nut harvest is in, too. (Exploring Hawaii’s National Parks, p. 41) • Watch the morning light scan across the mysterious Machu Picchu from a bird’s eye vantage point. (Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, p. 39.) • In the Desert Southwest, dark nights bring out a brilliance of stars. Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon National Parks are certified Dark Sky Parks. (Southwest National Parks Grand Circle, p. 62.) • Microbrews and steelhead fishing. And. Or. Coffee at Pike Place Market and redwoods. It’s the Pacific Northwest, your way. (Pacific Northwest Adventure, p. 51)
let’s go!
800-445-2995
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terms & conditions OUR COMMITMENT At the heart of our relationship with our travelers is our desire to be clear and fair when it comes down to the details. Because our terms and conditions may occasionally change, you will receive the most current version along with your travel documents at the time of booking. Since 1986, Off the Beaten Path (“OBP”) has been partnering with travelers on fabulous experiences throughout the world. Being clear about our terms and conditions is at the heart of these successful partnerships. Making Reservations To secure your place on a Small Group Adventure or to begin planning your own Private Custom Journey, call (800) 445-2995 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time, or log on to www. offthebeatenpath.com and select the journey style in which you are interested. PAYMENT TERMS Exceptions to these terms may apply for certain trip types (e.g. ranch and lodge stays, single destination trips, cruises, deluxe camping excursions, etc.) and will be discussed with you in advance. International departures are trips not based in the US or Canada. PAYMENT
1st payment
confirmation payment
domestic or international
small group adventures
domestic
$500 deposit per person
international
domestic & international
$1000 deposit per person
n/a
private custom journeys $500 non-refundable deposit to begin trip development process. applied in full to final payment. 50% of total trip price due at reservation confirmation (typically within 3 weeks of deposit)
domestic
trip balance due 90 days prior to departure date.
international
trip balance due 120 days prior to departure date.
final payment
Single Destinations, Ranch Vacations, Yachting, and Fly-Fishing Expeditions Travel planning that entails a single, or only a few, reservations are subject to payment terms that coincide with those imposed by the related service providers and may vary from the payment terms detailed above. In such cases the payment terms associated with your itinerary will be discussed with you as a part of the travel planning process. PRICING Small Group Adventures –Prices for Small Group Adventures detailed in this catalog are per person and are based on double occupancy. We work hard to maintain the rates that we publish, but reserve the right to adjust them should our own journey-related costs change materially. Although price changes rarely occur, you can always verify pricing with one of our travel advisors or at www.offthebeatenpath.com. We accept personal checks, wire transfers, and most major credit cards. Single Travelers – We encourage solo travelers to join Small Group Adventures and for those who do, and occupy a single room, a single supplement will apply. Family Pricing – Families love our trips—and we love to have them. To encourage this, we offer a 10% discount on our Small Group Adventures for children 12 years of age or under. (For younger than 5, call for special pricing.) “Make It All Yours!”- We have many travelers who prefer to take over one of our Small Group Adventures exclusively for their own group. Call our office at (800) 445-2995 and speak to one of our Travel Advisors about making a departure yours. Tell us about your group and give us your preferred dates, then we’ll determine if those dates are available, and if any pricing differences apply. Payment and cancellation terms will vary depending upon the details of your trip and will be covered with you at the time of booking. What’s included in the price of your Small Group Adventure – Trip pricing includes all lodging, activities, baggage handling, transportation and return airport transfers, permits, entrance fees, most meals (a handful of trips include one meal “on your own” -- see itinerary for details), speakers, and professional guide service from the commencement point of your trip. Not included are trip interruption/cancellation insurance, costs associated with travel to and from the point of trip commencement, separately identified on-trip airfare, alcoholic beverages, end-of-tour gratuities (not required but strongly encouraged and customary), telephone calls, laundry service and other personal expenses, expenses incurred due to inclement weather or other acts of God, altered river, road, or trail conditions, sickness, flight delays, or unforeseen security issues. Custom Journeys – Pricing for Custom Journeys detailed in this catalog is an estimate of the per person pricing for the trip detailed. In general terms, trip pricing for Custom Journeys is conveyed in one, per-person amount and includes accommodations, planned activities, itinerary development, travel planning services, support services while traveling, and your deluxe pre-departure package featuring your personalized Journey Guidebook, maps, travel vouchers, and detailed regional information. As this service is tailored to your specific interests and needs, we are not able to provide itemized detail of individual costs. Trip pricing does not typically include travel to and from the point of trip commencement, on-trip transportation, rental car charges, meals, or gratuities, although exceptions to this will occur should specific requests be arranged in the planning process. Ranch Vacations – OBP maintains one of the industry’s most extensive, consumer-based databases of guest, dude, and working ranches in the American West. Our unique Ranch Matching Service combines this information with our traditional travel planning services to select the appropriate ranch experience for your specific needs and interests. A fee of $300 is charged for this Ranch Matching Service in addition to the cost of the ranch booking for your party. Pricing does not include transportation to and from your destination or rental car charges, if necessary. Fly-Fishing Expeditions – As with Private Custom Journeys, pricing for Fly-Fishing Expeditions is entirely dependent upon the features, choices, and amenities that are developed in partnership with your travel planner. Pricing typically includes the lodge fees, planning services, support services while traveling, and pre-departure materials that are custom published specific to your itinerary. Pricing does not include transportation to and from your destination, rental car charges, or gratuities. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS In the event that OBP cancels your travel for reasons other than acts of insurrection, strikes, acts of God or nature, government restriction, or any other cause beyond the control of OBP, you will be refunded the entire amount that has been paid to that point, and OBP will pay for any change fees associated with airline tickets that you have purchased related to the trip. Cancellation fees charged by OBP for travel that you cancel on your own accord are necessary to cover the costs associated with development and document processing costs and/or the loss of appropriate time to resell the space. If you are unable to begin or complete your trip, notice must be given to OBP immediately and in writing. Refunds are based upon the date of receipt of written notice (mail, e-mail, or facsimile) and will be subject to the following cancellation fees as well as any additional fees associated with non-refundable advance payments made on your behalf related to your trip.
Page 80 / offthebeatenpath.com
domestic (includes canada)
small group adventures
private custom journeys
> 90 days
$250 per person
$500 development deposit
61 – 90 days
25% of trip price
25% of trip price*
31 – 60 days
50% of trip price
50% of trip price*
< 30 days
100% of trip price
100% of trip price*
international
small group adventures
private custom journeys
> 120 days
$250 per person
$500 development deposit
90 – 120 days
25% of trip price
25% of trip price*
61 – 90 days
50% of trip price
50% of trip price*
< 60 days
100% of trip price
100% of trip price*
*Cancellation fees for Private Custom Journeys will be in excess of this total to the extent that reservations made on your behalf are subject to fees greater than the amount imposed by OBP. Single Destinations, Ranch Vacations, Yachting, and Fly-Fishing Expeditions Cancellation fees for these trip types are dependent on those fees imposed by the service providers associated with your trip. An additional OBP cancellation fee will also apply. OTHER Confirmed Departures and Group Size Every Small Group Adventure has a stated minimum group size at which OBP guarantees the trip will run. Almost all domestic departures run when 2 travelers are booked. See individual trips for minimum number of travelers required. Trip Interruption/Cancellation Insurance We strongly recommend that you purchase trip interruption/cancellation insurance. Such insurance can be purchased directly through OBP. A full explanation of travel insurance coverage will be included with your trip confirmation materials. Travel insurance premiums are nonrefundable unless your journey is cancelled by OBP. Late Bookings Trip reservations made within 30 days of departure may be subject to additional fees to allow for express mailing and other necessary expediting. Traveler Responsibility Travelers are responsible for choosing a Small Group Adventure or Private Custom Journey consistent with their ability, fitness, and overall health. All travelers are required to complete and return their trip enrollment form and consent to these Terms and Conditions prior to the commencement of their travel with OBP. Travelers are also responsible for reading and understanding all pre-departure materials, bringing appropriate clothing and gear as suggested by OBP, and acting in a manner that is considerate to other people with whom they are traveling or with whom they come into contact. Release from Liability and Assumption of Risk Off the Beaten Path, LLC, its employees, shareholders, officers and directors (collectively, “OBP”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, guides or trip leaders, food service providers, equipment suppliers, ground and safari operators, etc., including, without limitation, various entities which may utilize the OBP name. OBP is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity nor for any act or inaction of any other third party not under its control. Without limitation OBP is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation, any willful or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, train, hotel, restaurant or food supplier, bus, taxi, van or safari operator, local outfitter or guide, whether or not it uses the OBP name, which is to or does supply any goods or services for this trip. OBP is not responsible for any loss, injury, death or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, insolvency, or default of any third party, attacks by animals, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or nature, government restriction, acts of terrorism, civil disturbance or threats thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, epidemics or the threat thereof, criminal activity, or any other cause beyond its control. Travelers agree to hold OBP harmless from its own negligence. OBP reserves the right, either prior to or after departure, to cancel, change or re-price any tour, trip or expedition due to acts of insurrection, strikes, acts of God or nature, government restriction, or any other cause beyond its control. OBP may, as it deems desirable for the benefit of the trip, among other things, alter or omit any part of the itinerary, substitute hotels, leaders or trip features, or change any means of conveyance without notice and without allowance of refund, with the liability for increased costs, if any, to be borne by trip members. OBP reserves the right to pass on fuel surcharges or other cost increases beyond its control. All Traveler Information Forms are subject to acceptance by OBP in Bozeman, Montana. OBP reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a trip member at any time. Trip members grant OBP express permission to take photographic records of its trips for promotional and commercial use. CONSENT AND AGREEMENT Client will be required to sign a traveler information form consenting and agreeing to these Terms & Conditions and acknowledging that he, she, and/or they are not relying on any oral, written, or visual statements of any kind, including promotional statements made by OBP to induce him, her, and/or them to travel with OBP. Changes to this document can be made only in writing signed by an officer of OBP. Client acknowledges that in the event any part or portion of the Terms & Conditions is found to be void or unenforceable, then such part or portion will be stricken but the rest of this document will be given full force and effect. Client agrees that these Terms & Conditions and any other agreement entered into with OBP will be governed exclusively in all respects by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Montana. Client irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Montana and agrees that no other courts can exercise jurisdiction over the agreements and claims referred to herein. Any litigation pertaining to this agreement or arising out of the Client’s OBP travel experience shall be instituted in the State of Montana and nowhere else. Client affirms that he, she, and/or they is/are of legal age to enter into this Agreement and that he, she and/ or they have had sufficient time to read and understand what he, she, and/or they is/are agreeing to in this Agreement before signing it and that it will be binding up his, her, and/or their heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, and successors.
Travel for Your Life
2017 Calendar - Small Group Adventures page
trip name
pricing*
single supplement
Dec 16
jan
feb
march
arpil
may
june
july
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec
al ask a 12
North to Alaska!
$6,195
$1,050
13
Alaska’s Winter Magic
$4,395
$795
14
6/ 8 / - 6/ 1 5
7 / 20 -7 / 27
3 / 19 –3/ 24
Glacier Bay & the Inside Passage
$3,895 $650
7/3-7/9 7/30-8/5 8/20-8/26
$3,095
$825
6/18-6/23 8/27-9/1 9/24-9/29
$3,250
$985
$3,350
$1,050
3/12-3/17 3/19-3/24 11/5-11/10
$3,095
$1,050
paci fi c no rthwest 15
Hiking Olympic
National Park
c al i fornia 16
seasons of yosemite
17
joshua tree and
death valley
4/16-4/21 5/25-5/30
10/15-10/20 10/26-10/31
ro cky m o untains 18
essence of yellowstone
and grand teton
6/25-6/30
8/6-8/11 9/17-9/22
19 yellowstone
wildlife safari
$2,595
$675
5/14-5/19
20
yellowstone for fun
$3,050
$800
7/2-7/7 7/16-7/21 8/13-8/18
9/24-9/29
21
The great american west
$3,295
$850
22
canadian rockies quest
$4,395
$1,300
23
crown of the continent
$3,195
$825
7/9-7/14 7/16-7/21 8/19-8/24
$3,395
$810
12/21-12/26 12/29-1/3 2/17-2/22
$2,995
$830
4/9-4/14 4/17-4/22
10/22-10/27
$4,550
$1,025
4/21-4/29
10/14-10/22 10/23-10/31
6/25-7/1 7/30-8/5 8/20-8/26
7/9-7/15 8/6-8/12
24 yellowstone’s
winter wonders
12/21-26 12/29-1/3 2/6/18-2/11/18
dese rt so uthwest 26
classic canyon medley
27
hiking utah’s
national parks
28
zion and beyond
$3,375
$960
29
grand canyon new year
$2,995
$865
12/29-1/3 12/29-1/3
30
puebloan mystery
$2,795
$675
4/29-5/5 5/20-5/26
10/7-10/13
31
big secret, big bend
$2,995
$715
3/24-3/30 4/29-5/5
10/28-11/3
5/6-5/12
8/28-9/3 9/30-10/6 10/7-10/13
n at i on a l parks path fi nd er experi enc e 32
northern michigan’s
national lakeshores
$2,995
$795
7/30-8/4 9/10-9/15
33
acadia & new brunswick
$3,250
$525
7/9-7/15 8/6-8/12
34
isle royale
wilderness sojourn
$4,150
$710
35
splendor in the smokies
$3,195
$695
4/9-4/14 10/15-10/20
$4,395
$750
2/27-3/5 10/26-11/1
7/9-7/16 8/13-8/20
ecuador 36
a foot in the galapagos
costa ric a 37
costa rica
under the radar
$3,750
$1,150
4/23-4/29 12/10-12/16
$5,150
$1,450
12/10-12/18
patag onia 38
patagonia adventure
p eru 39
machu picchu and
the sacred valley
$4,350
$1,200
40
fa’a samoa
41
exploring hawaii’s
national parks
4/23-4/30 10/8-10/15
paci fi c isl ands $4,450
$685
$6,295
$1,325
5/5-5/12 10/20-10/27
10/29-11/6
*Lowest tier prices for earliest bookings. Trip price excludes any on-trip airfare. Reduced pricing for children age 12 or younger sharing a room with an adult (see page 80 for details.)
7 east beall street • bozeman, montana 59715 1-800-445-2995 • 406-586-1311 • fax 406-587-4147 offthebeatenpath.com • travel@offthebeatenpath.com
Testimonials
OFF
THE
BEATEN
travel with the best– off the beaten path:
PATH ince 1986
OFF
THE 7 east beall street bozeman, montana 59715 BEATEN 1-800-445-2995 • 406-586-1311 offthebeatenpath.com ince 1986
PATH
“Your attention to detail makes a trip special.” – J. U., Costa Rica Small Group Adventure “We will always cherish our 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the Rockies with our whole family! We loved every stop and activity. To make that happen for a group of 20 adults and kids was amazing! We can’t thank you enough.” – A. S., Custom Journey “Every detail was handled perfectly and communicated clearly. It made for an awesome trip. Stressless.” – J. V., Airstream 2 Go adventure “The quality of the guide has a part in making a travel trip special. Drew’s obvious love of the area and encyclopedic knowledge really enhanced the beauty of Yellowstone. This was the trip of a lifetime for me, and Drew made it a memorable experience.” – F. G., Yellowstone Small Group Adventure “Every accommodation and extra activity was well planned. It was wonderful to have an expert familiar with the Glacier area put together the itinerary.”– B. B., Custom Journey “Excellent customer service.” – N. G., Southwest Small Group Adventure “Our guide, Steve, was the best of the best! He was experienced, knowledgeable, kind, helpful, prepared for everything, thoughtful, and spontaneous. We had a fabulous trip! ” – J. I., Yosemite Small Group Adventure
Reflecting on the future. Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Photo: Attilio Pregnolato