Spring 2019 / 2020 Classic Land Journeys

Classic Land Journeys 2019/20 SMALL GROUPS: JUST 16–24 GUESTS GUARANTEED

SmithsonianJourneys.org / 877.338.8687

8

32

28 38

50

Our Classic Land Journeys Collection Book an unforgettable journey.

Choose your preferred departure date now.

About Smithsonian Journeys

The Smithsonian Journeys Difference Our Experts At Home in the World

Europe

Highlights of Italy Treasures of Southern Spain and Portugal Old World Europe Across Northern Spain and Portugal Northern Italy France through the Ages The Emerald Isle Southern Italy and Sicily Adventure in Iceland Pearls of Croatia and Slovenia

12

Africa

African Safari Splendors of Morocco Ancient Egypt and the Nile - NEW

North America

Alaska’s Natural Wonders

Central and South America

48

Costa Rica’s Natural Treasures Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Patagonian Explorer Legendary Peru

Australia and the South Pacific

Splendors of Australia and New Zealand Journey through New Zealand

Asia

Mystical India Classic China featuring Tibet Eternal Japan Discovering Vietnam

4 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54

Cover: Visit the storied pyramids on the Giza Plateau on our new Ancient Egypt and the Nile tour (pages 32-33).

Curating the world

through travel to enrich and transform lives Forge lasting friendships with travelers who share your passion for learning and exploration.

This is the story of Smithsonian Journeys From the Smithsonian was born an idea to bring the world’s cultures and natural sciences alive in experience-rich travel. Inspired by the Smithsonian mission for the “increase and diffusion of knowledge,” Smithsonian Journeys fosters the power that comes through travel—unlocking knowledge and cultural awareness—to better understand the world.

When you join our community of curious travelers, you will engage with the world through the Smithsonian lens, enjoying a memorable, immersive, and transformative experience. And, importantly, your participation benefits the work of the Smithsonian, helping to make the world a better place by preserving and celebrating what we cherish from our common past, present, and future.

4

Smithsonian heritage and community

Educational emphasis

Powered by more than 170 years of prestige and trust in the Smithsonian, our trips mirror the reputation, varied collections, research, and community of the Institution. On any given trip, you’ll be brought together with other intellectually curious, worldly, and adventurous travelers, and forge lasting friendships with others who share your passion for deeper learning and exploration.

Travelers return again and again due to the fun and engaged learning at the core of every Smithsonian Journeys tour and cruise. You’ll revel in the meaningful enrichment and insider perspectives brought by insightful, world-class, and charismatic Smithsonian Journeys Experts and local guides.

A quality experience With more than 350 departures on all seven continents, Smithsonian Journeys has been renowned for almost 50 years for superior service, special access, and the personal touch of Smithsonian Journeys Experts, Travel Directors, and other staff. Plus, you’ll always find the ideal ship and distinctive properties that reflect the culture of your destination.

For more information visit SmithsonianJourneys.org

I met extraordinary people, was inspired by the sights, and delighted in all I learned.

– Katherine M.

CLASSIC LAND JOURNEYS ACTIVITY LEVEL Our Classic Land Journeys require that participants be in good physical condition: you must be capable, without assistance, of walking two to three miles over uneven terrain and of climbing stairs that may not have handrails. Participants should have sufficient stamina to keep pace with an active group of travelers on long days of touring.

Tours with visits to a­ncient sites and archaeological ruins ­ typically include considerable walking, and in many places motorcoaches are prohibited from entering historical city centers, which means walks to and from the motorcoach.

In addition, some of our small hotels do not have elevators. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate in a tour, please discuss it with one of our Cultural Travel Specialists.

Take advantage of time to explore on your own.

CLASSIC LAND JOURNEYS INCLUDE: • A small group of just 16 to 24 guests – guaranteed • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities, plus all flights within your tour

Enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded travelers.

• A full program of lectures and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert and the services of a professional Tour Director • Accommodations in distinctive lodgings that offer the best combination of quality, atmosphere, and value • Most meals: all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners (including festive welcome and farewell meals) – and the opportunity to explore and dine on your own (B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner) • Extensive sightseeing, including all entrance fees and admissions • Singular activities and more intimate cultural encounters possible only with a small group • Gratuities included (except for cruise staff on cruise journeys) • Pre-departure planning packages, including customized travel tips and a comprehensive, annotated reading list • Luggage handling for one bag per person

Smithsonian Journeys travelers on Patagonian Explorer stop for a photo in Torres del Paine National Park..

• On-tour medical evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), emergency medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance, and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only, not including U.S. Territories). Travel must be more than 100 miles from the Insured’s primary residence.

BOOK YOUR TRIP / SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687

5

Our Experts

Providing In-Depth Understanding and a Sense of Wonder Cassandra Hannahs

France through the Ages, The Emerald Isle Cassandra Potts Hannahs has a Ph.D. in medieval history and was a tenured professor at Middlebury College in Vermont. A Fulbright scholar and recipient of several grants, she has also spent considerable time living in France pursuing research. Her publications include a book exploring the Viking settlement of Normandy during the 10th and 11th centuries, and the revival of monasticism as monks returned to the region after the Viking raids. In her research and lectures, Cassandra explores the cultural and political exchanges that have historically linked Britain, France, Ireland, and Scandinavia. She will lead the April and October departures to France and the May departure to Ireland.

Jeff Cole

Patagonian Explorer Jeffrey A. Cole has led over 50 Smithsonian Journeys tours to Latin America since 1992, including 26 to Peru and 20 to Chile. He has also directed lecture series on South America for the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program in Washington, DC. Jeff’s research and publications have focused on colonial South American history and civil-military relations in Argentina and Chile.

He has taught Latin American studies at Clark University, Tulane University, SUNY-Oswego, Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Smith College. Jeff will lead the February departure.

Ana Afzali

Treasures of Southern Spain and Portugal, Across Northern Spain and Portugal Ana Afzali is a medievalist who specializes in the history and literature of both Spain and Portugal. She is a tenured professor at Citrus College in Southern California teaching Spanish culture, literature and language courses. Ana is a scholar of the Iberian Renaissance, and she has published extensively on the political and cultural history and literature of Spain and Portugal and is the author of the book Modern Spain (2009). Ana has earned both her Masters and Doctorate in Spanish literature and languages from University of California, Los Angeles where she taught for four years. A native of Madrid, she has traveled and lectured extensively through Spain and Portugal, and she is the recipient of numerous academic awards. Ana will lead the March departure to Southern Spain and the April departure to Northern Spain.

6

Rita Sodha

Peter Bobrowsky

Mystical India Rita Sodha holds a Ph.D. in art history and is a lecturer at the University of Baroda’s Faculty of Fine Arts. She is an expert on Indian painting and has published several articles on contemporary art in India. Rita has conducted workshops on the technique of enameling, tie and dye, patchwork, and quilting, and she designs soft furnishings for customized interiors. Rita also studied the sitar at the University of Baroda’s Faculty of Performing Arts. She will lead the January and March departures.

Brent Garry

Splendors of Australia and New Zealand

Brent Garry is a geologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where he studies lava flows and volcanoes on Earth and compares them to similar features on the Moon and Mars. He earned degrees in geology from The College of William and Mary (B.S.), the University of Kentucky (M.S.), and the University at Buffalo (Ph.D.). He then held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum from 2006-2010, after which he worked at the Planetary Science Institute, and then moved to NASA. Brent has conducted field work in Iceland, the U.S., and Belize; served as editor for the GSA special volume Analogs for Planetary Exploration; and was selected as a Participating Scientist on NASA’s Dawn and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) missions. He will lead the April departure.

Journey through New Zealand

Peter Bobrowsky is an archaeologist and geologist who has spent the past 30 years doing field work around the world. He obtained his Ph.D. in geology at the University of Alberta, and is currently an adjunct full professor at Simon Fraser University. Peter is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and has authored over 300 scientific publications. He is a veteran of television, radio, and print media and is known for his scholarly insights, and his enthusiastic and easygoing speaking style. Peter will lead the March departure.

Janet Duncan Jones

Ancient Egypt and the Nile Janet Duncan Jones is a professor of classics at Bucknell University. She received her B.A. in Latin from the College of William and Mary and her M.A. and Ph.D. in classical archaeology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Janet is an active field archaeologist specializing in Greek and Roman art and architecture, ancient urbanization, ancient technology with a focus on ancient glass production, and ancient environmental issues. She has published widely on the history of technology and is a frequent lecturer at universities and museums. Janet has traveled extensively in the Mediterranean and Middle East and has over 20 years of archaeological field work in Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, and Jordan. She will lead the January 4 departure.

Dana Sachs

Allan Langdale

Discovering Vietnam Dana Sachs first traveled to Vietnam in 1990, and she has been visiting the country and writing about it ever since.

In 2010, she published The Life We Were Given: Operation Babylift, International Adoption, and the Children of War in Vietnam, the result of a Fulbright Foundation Fellowship that allowed her to conduct extensive research there. Dana has translated many Vietnamese short stories with Vietnamese partners, and co-edited Crossing the River, a collection of short fiction by the acclaimed writer Nguyen Huy Thiep. She and her sister, documentary filmmaker Lynne Sachs, also produced Which Way is East, a documentary film about contemporary Vietnam. Her journalistic articles and essays on Vietnam have appeared in numerous places, including National Geographic, The International Herald Tribune, Travel and Leisure Family, and the Huffington Post. Dana will lead the January departure.

Northern Italy, Southern Italy and Sicily, Highlights of Italy Allan Langdale is an art and architectural historian, filmmaker, photographer, and travel writer who received his Ph.D. in art history from UC Santa Barbara. He has taught courses in Italian Renaissance art, Byzantine art, East Indian art, and Islamic art and currently teaches art history at UC Santa Cruz and film studies at UC Santa Barbara. Allan has written a number of guidebooks, his most recent being Palermo: Travels in the City of Happiness (2015). A popular Smithsonian Expert, Allan has traveled extensively and often lectures in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, including Jordan and Egypt, and India. He will lead the October departure to Northern Italy, the April 13 departure to Southern Italy, and the May 18 departure of Highlights of Italy.

For more information about our experts visit SmithsonianJourneys.org/experts

At Home in the World Let the journey begin

Whether you’re enjoying the cultural treasures of Europe or the wildlife of a safari adventure in Africa, the accommodations enhance your overall experience and are often integral to a memorable trip. Traveling with Smithsonian Journeys, you can be assured of distinctive properties that feature the character and ambiance of the local culture plus the quality service that meets the high standards you expect.

The Places We Stay We categorize our diverse selection of accommodations as follows:

Excellent Hotels These are the Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class accommodations in major cities worldwide, including well-known chain hotels as well as ­independently owned properties. You can expect excellent service and amenities in these w ­ ell-­located properties.

Unique Lodgings These interesting proper­ties cater to small groups and indepen­­dent t­ ravelers, and generally are not available to ­conventional groups of 40 or more. From the historic paradores of Spain and pousadas of Portugal, to a French ­farmhouse or Japanese ryokan, these accommodations are often seen as destinations themselves.

Grand Hotel Bohemia, Prague, Czech Republic

A Note About Foreign Accom­moda­­­tions Hotels around the world can vary sig­nif­icantly.

For example, European hotel rooms tend to be smaller than those in the United States – especially single rooms, despite the supplement charged.

Also, air conditioning isn’t as universal as at home; bathtubs typically have higher sides; and of course, standards of service can vary depend­ing on cultural norms. These lodg­ings offer a sense of place, stan­­ dard amen­­ities, good service, and a good lo­ca­t ion.

Please note that in rural areas the best accom­modations avail­able may be limited in terms of service and amenities. Please call 877-338-8687 or visit SmithsonianJourneys.org to answer any questions you may have.

Hotel Sahrai, Fez, Morocco

La Palma Hotel, Stresa, Italy

Hotel Rio Serrano, Torres del Paine, Chile

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, Vietnam

Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge, Ranthambore, India

BOOK YOUR TRIP / SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687

7

EUROPE

Highlights of Italy

From the Amalfi Coast to Venice

16 days from $5,774 total price from Boston, New York

Enjoy a breathtaking drive along the 43-mile Amalfi Coast.

($5,295 air & land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

From the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to eternal Rome, through the gentle Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to timeless Venice, this leisurely tour showcases ancient sites, contemporary life, priceless art, and beautiful natural scenery.

Venice

ITALY

Siena

Florence San Gimignano Assisi

Adriatic Sea

Orvieto Rome Montecassino Naples

Overnight

Pompeii Amalfi

Tyrrhenian Sea

Featured Site Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Amalfi Coast Rome Venice

Apr 63 66 62

May 72 74 70

Jun 79 79 76

Oct 70 71 65

Nov 63 61 53

Highlights Include Discover the stunning beauty of the Amalfi Coast • Participate in an Italian cooking demonstration and savor the results at dinner • Explore the “green heart” of Italy in pastoral Umbria • Tour the evocative ruins at Pompeii • Visit the Borghese Gallery in Rome with a guided tour • Enjoy three- and four-night stays in intimate small hotels in Amalfi, Tuscany, and Umbria

Day Itinerary Hotel 1 2-4

Depart U.S. for Naples Amalfi Hotel Marmorata

5-7 Rome Empire Palace Hotel

8-10 Orvieto Grand Hotel Italia (Umbria) Hotel Borgo di 11-13 Tuscany

Cortefreda

Rating First Class Sup. First Class First Class First Class

14-15 Venice Carnival Palace Hotel Sup. First

Class 16 Depart Venice for U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

8

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Naples, Italy Day 2: Naples and Amalfi Upon arrival, travel to seaside Amalfi, a popular resort and your base for exploring Italy’s Campania region. Dine at your hotel tonight, as you will throughout your stay here. (D) Day 3: Amalfi and Ravello This morning experience this breathtaking coast by sea on a cruise to Amalfi Center (weather permitting). Here enjoy a brief tour of the region’s largest town, then have lunch on your own. Next, ascend to mountaintop Ravello with its spectacular gardens and coastal views. (B,D) Day 4: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento A fullday excursion today begins with an exploration of the vivid remains of Pompeii, the city devastated by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 but not excavated until 1748. After lunch on your own, embark on a breathtaking drive along the winding Amalfi Coast high above the azure Mediterranean – with stops for photos along the way and in Sorrento. Return to the hotel late this afternoon. (B,D) Day 5: Amalfi, Montecassino, Rome En route to Rome today visit the town of Montecassino, whose abbey is the mother church of the Benedictine order

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

and a center of medieval art. A German stronghold during World War II, the hilltop abbey was destroyed

by Allied bombing then rebuilt as a replica of the 17th-century original. Tour the abbey, then continue on to Rome, the “Eternal City.” Arrive at your welllocated hotel mid-afternoon and enjoy an informal neighborhood walk led by your tour director. (B) Day 6: Rome This morning tour the heart of ancient Rome: the 55,000-seat Colosseum, completed in A.D. 80 to stage gladiator spectacles; and the temples of the Forum, ancient Rome’s political and legal center. The afternoon is free to explore on your own, with endless possibilities, such as shopping along the fashionable Via Veneto; sipping espresso in beautiful Piazza Navona; seeing the Pantheon; or tossing a coin into Trevi Fountain. Early this evening enjoy a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery before dinner on your own. (B) Day 7: Rome Visit the Vatican for a tour of St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Highlights include Michelangelo’s Pietà in St. Peter’s, considered one of the greatest sculptures of all time; his frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, now restored to its original glory; and art-filled St. Peter’s itself, the most important church in all Christendom. (B)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

This was truly the trip of a lifetime. We did and saw things we never would have had we made the trip on our own. – Diane C.

Day 8: Rome and Umbria Leaving Rome, travel north through a pastoral landscape of gentle agricultural land bounded by mountain wilderness and dotted with traditional villages and medieval hill towns.

Mid-afternoon arrive in Orvieto, perched high on a plateau above a vineyard-clad plain. After checking in at the hotel in the heart of the city’s medieval quarter, enjoy an informal walking tour then attend a simple cooking demonstration followed by dinner at Zeppelin Restaurant. (B,D) Day 9: Orvieto This morning embark on a guided walking tour of this dramatically set city. Visit the medieval Duomo featuring a frescoed chapel by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece, The Last Judgment. Next explore the formerly secret passages of Parco delle Grotte, a labyrinth of underground caves used since Etruscan times. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B) Day 10: Orvieto and Assisi Today’s excursion is to Assisi, considered a gem of an Umbrian town with inviting plazas, buildings of white marble, and a pervasive medieval air. Visit St. Clare Church and the renowned Basilica di San Francesco, the burial place of St. Francis and a sacred pilgrimage site that dominates the town. Inside are Giotto’s priceless frescoes The Life of St. Francis. There’s time on your own to stroll the fountain-splashed piazzas and to enjoy local specialties for lunch. En route back to the hotel, visit Deruta, know for its prized hand-painted Majolica ceramics. (B) Day 11: Siena and Tuscany Continuing your journey, visit walled Siena whose ochre-colored buildings and ancient ramparts evoke the city’s medieval past. Fanshaped Piazza del Campo is one of Europe’s greatest public squares and its distinctive Duomo is one of Italy’s finest. After a walking tour that includes an inside visit to the Duomo, housing masterpieces by Michelangelo and Donatello, enjoy free time to explore on your own. (B,D) Day 12: Florence A living monument to the Renaissance, Florence is the crown jewel of Tuscany.

Experience this splendid city on a full-day excursion

Post-Tour Extension

Venice – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $395 total price Single Supplement: $325

Enjoy time on your own in this timeless city.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • 2 nights accommodations at Carnival Palace Hotel (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

Visit Rome’s Forum, which dates to the 7th century B.C.

that includes a morning walking tour. Together visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to view Michelangelo’s sublime David, as well as his pieces for the papal tombs; and visit the revered Duomo, with its stupendous dome by Brunelleschi. This afternoon is free to enjoy Florence as you wish before returning to your hotel, where you dine tonight. (B,D) Day 13: San Gimignano Encounter classic Tuscany today as you visit the hill town of San Gimignano, known for the 13 watchtowers that have left its skyline virtually unchanged since medieval times.

Tour the 1300 Museum, then after lunch on your own visit a local winery and enjoy a tasting before returning to your lodgings mid-afternoon. (B,D) Days 14-15: Venice Leaving Tuscany today, travel through the Veneto region to Venice, arriving early this afternoon. Begin enjoying this wondrous city on your own. The next morning take a guided walk through vast St. Mark’s Square and surroundings. The afternoon is free to explore Venice independently; tonight join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. (2B,1D) Day 16: Depart for the U.S. Depart this morning for your connecting flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Valerie Hedquist is a professor of art history at the University of Montana. She earned her Ph.D. with honors at the University of Kansas and has been teaching and writing for over twenty years. Valerie has travelled with students to many national and international locations, including several trips to Italy. She has written reviews and catalogue essays for museum exhibitions and broadcast radio programs, and has presented papers to local, regional, and international meetings on an array of topics from the plague in art to the use of assemblage in contemporary artistic processes. She will lead the October 21 and May 2 departures. Allan Langdale (see page 6) will lead the May 18 departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 14 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 22 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 21 2020 Apr 13 Apr 20

2019 Oct 7 Oct 14* 2020 May 2

2020 May 18*

Boston, New York

$5,774

5,974

$6,174

Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$5,974

6,174

$6,374

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

$6,074

6,274

$6,474

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,174

6,374

$6,574

Land Only

$5,095

$5,295

$5,495

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $479, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,295. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed. *Accommodations on Amalfi Coast: Hotel San Francesco Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,995 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 Oct; $1,595 Apr, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

9

EUROPE

Treasures of Southern Spain and Portugal 15 days from $5,478 total price from Boston, New York

Visit Granada’s Alhambra, the Moorish “pearl set in emeralds.”

($4,795 air & land inclusive plus $683 airline taxes and fees)

An exciting history of explorers and invaders is etched across the gentle landscapes of the Iberian Peninsula. Stay in historic inns called paradores in Spain and pousadas in Portugal on this special sojourn, which features vibrant modern-day cities and the spectacular monuments of an illustrious past.

Atlantic Ocean

Barcelona

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

Madrid Toledo Merida

Lisbon Evora Overnight Featured Site

Cordoba Seville

Carmona

Ronda

Ubeda Granada

Mediterranean Sea

Motorcoach Extension (Air)

Avg. High (°F) Lisbon Seville Madrid

Mar Apr May Sep Oct 66 67 71 79 72 69 74 80 90 78 59 65 70 77 65

Highlights Include Spend eight nights in distinguished lodgings, including a medieval monastery, historic fortress, stately palace, and old town hall • Enjoy a traditional music performance that dates to the Middle Ages • Explore charming Ronda from your parador, perched dramatically at the edge of the plunging gorge, and enjoy a visit to a nearby olive farm • Visit seven World Heritage sites, including the historic centers of Evora and Cordoba as well as Granada’s Alhambra and Generalife • Explore sophisticated Madrid including the world-famous Prado

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-3 4-5 6-8 9-10 11 12-14 15

Deluxe First Class First Class First Class First Class Deluxe

Depart U.S. for Lisbon Lisbon Corinthia Hotel Lisbon Evora Pousada dos Loios Carmona Parador de Carmona Ronda Parador de Ronda Ubeda Parador de Ubeda Madrid Wellington Hotel Depart Madrid for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

10

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Lisbon, Portugal Day 2: Lisbon Arrive in Lisbon early this afternoon.

The remainder of the day is at leisure until your welcome dinner with fellow travelers. (D) Day 3: Lisbon and Queluz On a tour of Portugal’s lively capital city, visit the waterfront area of Belem.

See the medieval Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, an elegant example of the distinctive Manueline style of architecture, and the Monument to the Discoveries, which commemorates Portugal’s storied explorers. In the nearby town of Queluz, visit the National Palace, the former residence of Portu­ guese royalty now used for state occasions. (B) Day 4: Evora Travel through the Alentejo region with its olive groves, vineyards, and wheat fields. After stopping for lunch in the fortified hilltop town of Monsaraz, arrive in the regional capital of the Alentejo, Evora, late this afternoon. Relax at your lovely pousada, considered one of Portugal’s finest. (B,L,D) Day 5: Evora Spend the day exploring this university town, a World Heritage site and one of the architectural gems of Portugal. A morning walking tour highlights the well-preserved Roman and Moorish heritage, while the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this Golden Age city on your own. (B,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 6: Merida, Spain, and Carmona Travel east through a countryside checkered with the ruins of fortresses to the Spanish border town of Merida.

Discover Merida’s outstanding Roman ruins and enjoy time at leisure for lunch and personal interests.

Continue to Carmona and your parador, a dramatic 14th-century Arab fortress. (B,D) Day 7: Carmona and Seville Today visit nearby Seville, the splendid Moorish capital of the Andalusia region, considered by many to be the cultural capital of Spain. A walking tour stops at the famous cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic building, and features the delicately ornate Moorish Alcazar, or Royal Palace.

Return to Carmona late this afternoon and dine at your parador this evening. (B,D) Day 8: Carmona and Cordoba Travel to Cordoba, once a major European center for art, science, and culture during the Middle Ages. Here, explore a rich legacy where Moorish, Christian, and Jewish cultures mingled successfully. After touring the highlights, including the magnificent Mezquita Mosque, enjoy free time to explore on your own, then return to Carmona. (B,D) Day 9: Ronda Leave Carmona behind and travel south to tiny Ronda, scene of the last great rising of the Moors against Ferdinand and Isabella. Its

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

What an incredible journey - tracing the different civilizations from Lisbon through Southern Spain. Smithsonian made this trip unforgettable. – Karen S.

whitewashed houses, and your parador, are perched dramatically near the edge of a plunging gorge, spanned by an 18th-century arched bridge. Enjoy a special afternoon excursion to a local olive farm. (B,D) Day 10: Ronda After a brief walking tour, return to your parador, Ronda’s original town hall, for a special tapas style lunch. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. Take in the spectacu­ lar views of the gorge and bridges, and marvel at the impressive Moorish architecture. (B,L) Day 11: Granada and Ubeda Depart this morning for Granada, the former stronghold of Moorish Spain, which is set in the foothills of the snowcapped Sierra Nevada. The city’s undisputed highlight is the Alhambra, the extraordinary Lisbon’s Monument to the Discoveries palace of Spain’s last Moorish rulers. Sprawled across a hilltop, the Alhambra commands breathtaking views of the city below. This after­ noon, tour this splendid citadel and the Generalife, with its lovely acclaimed gardens.

Continue traveling north to Ubeda and your next parador, a former 16th-century palace. (B,D) Day 12: Toledo and Madrid Toledo, capital of medieval Spain, still looks much like it did when the artist El Greco painted here in the 16th century.

See Toledo’s most important sites on a guided tour featuring the massive Gothic cathedral. Continue to Madrid, arriving late in the afternoon. (B)

Post-Tour Extension

Barcelona – On Your Own

4 days/3 nights for $795 total price Single Supplement: $355

Enjoy this bustling seaport, Spain’s cultural and commercial capital, with its medieval Gothic Quarter and popular Ramblas waterfront promenade.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • Air transportation Madrid/Barcelona inclusive of airline taxes and fees • 3 nights accommodations at Hotel Avenida Palace (Superior First Class) • 3 meals: 3 breakfasts • Transfers to/from airport

Cordoba’s flower-embellished Old Town

Day 13: Madrid Enjoy a morning tour of this monu­mental and dignified capital city including the vast Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Old Madrid; the Moorish medieval district; and the opulent 18th-cen­ tury Palacio Real (Royal Palace), with its 2,800 rooms.

Then sample some of Madrid’s specialties over a lunch of tapas. Our tour ends at the Prado, one of the world’s great museums, where you are free to explore on your own. The remainder of the day is free. (B,L) Day 14: Madrid Spend your final day enjoying the Spanish capital as you wish. Stroll along the city’s broad boulevards; see Picasso’s famed painting Guernica at the Reina Sofia Museum; or wander through the weekly El Rastro Market. Tonight join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 15: Depart for the U.S. Depart Madrid for your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Marta Staudinger is an artist, art historian and curator. She is the director and founder of the Latela Art Gallery in Washington DC. Marta travels three to four times a year lecturing for Smithsonian Journeys in Italy, Portugal, and Spain. She received her B.A. from George Mason University in art history. Prior to founding the Latela Art Gallery, Marta worked on archival and curatorial projects in many museums in Florence, Italy including the National Bargello Museum, Medici Chapels, and Casa Martelli; in Barcelona at the Antoni Tàpies Foundation; and in Washington DC at the National Gallery of Art as the Samuel H. Kress Archivist. A former resident of Florence, Marta left Italy to pursue her M.A. in Barcelona at the Universitat de Ramon Llull in curatorial studies. Marta will lead the October departure. Ana Afzali (see page 6) will lead the March departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights accommodations: 5 nights in Deluxe hotels; 8 nights in First Class paradores and pousadas • 25 meals: 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 9 dinners • Regional wine with dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 2020

2020 Sep 28 Apr 16

Mar 12 Oct 12 Apr 30 Boston, New York

$5,478

Philadelphia,

Washington, DC

$5,678 $5,778 $5,978

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte,Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

$5,778

$5,878

$6,078

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, $5,878 Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$5,978

$6,178

Land Only

$4,795

$4,995

$4,695

$5,578

$5,778

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $683, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 Sep, Oct; $1,595 Mar, Apr per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy this tour to the fullest.

11

EUROPE

Old World Europe

From Poland to the Czech Republic

16 days from $5,497 total price from Boston, New York ($4,995 air & land inclusive plus $502 airline taxes and fees)

Join us for a fascinating journey to Central and Eastern Europe. From the faithfully rebuilt Old Town of Warsaw and Vienna’s splendid Schönbrunn Palace to Prague’s Charles Bridge and Budapest’s Castle District, witness the cultural and political renaissance of this beautiful and vibrant part of the world.

Overnight/Featured Site Motorcoach

Warsaw

POLAND

Prague

Krakow

CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA Vienna

AUSTRIA

Budapest

HUNGARY Avg. High (°F) Warsaw Budapest Vienna

Apr May Aug Sep Oct 53 67 73 66 55 62 61 81 74 61 58 67 75 68 56

Highlights Include Explore the faithfully rebuilt Old Town of Warsaw, now a World Heritage site • Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine and admire the intriguing salt sculptures created by mine workers and contemporary artists • Discover Budapest’s cultural, historical, and architectural heritage and visit the Hungarian National Gallery • Follow in the footsteps of Habsburg monarchs at Vienna’s grand Schönbrunn Palace, and enjoy a classical music performance • Explore Prague’s many architectural gems

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16

Sup. First Class Not rated Deluxe Deluxe Sup. First Class

Depart U.S. for Warsaw Warsaw Polonia Palace Krakow Hotel Pod Roza Budapest Hilton Budapest Vienna Hilton Vienna Plaza Prague Grand Hotel Bohemia Depart Prague for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be listed.

12

Splendid city of art, architecture, culture, and commerce, Prague ranks among Europe’s most beautiful and popular urban settings.

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Warsaw, Poland Day 2: Warsaw Upon arrival in Warsaw transfer to your centrally located hotel. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D) Day 3: Warsaw Virtually destroyed during World War II, Warsaw was rebuilt in the decades that followed. With the fall of Communism, the city became a dynamic and progressive capital while retaining much of its distinct Old World character. Explore the faithfully rebuilt Old Town, the Royal Castle, and the area of the former Jewish Ghetto and Cemetery. This evening enjoy a private classical piano recital. (B) Day 4: Auschwitz and Krakow Today travel south of Warsaw to Krakow, the former Polish capital city, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant en route. In Oswiecim – Auschwitz in German – and Birkenau spend somber moments at the grounds of the former concentration camps. Arrive in Krakow in the late afternoon. (B,L,D) Day 5: Krakow A major center of Polish culture, Krakow survived World War II almost intact. Its authentic Old Town is a World Heritage site, and the Main Market Square is the largest medieval square in Europe. Visit St. Mary’s Church, famous for its wooden altarpiece; the Royal Chambers of Wawel

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Castle, seat of royalty for more than 500 years; and Wawel Cathedral, Poland’s national sanctuary. (B) Day 6: Wieliczka and Krakow A morning excursion features the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the “Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland.” Admire magnificent statues of historic figures sculpted out of rock salt by miners and contemporary artists. The mine’s centerpiece is the Chapel of Saint Kinga, with its chandelier and carving of The Last Supper. The afternoon is free for independent exploration in Krakow. (B) Day 7: Budapest, Hungary Head south today through the snowcapped Tatra Mountains into the country of Slovakia where you stop for lunch. Early this evening, reach your hotel in Budapest’s elegant Castle District located on the Buda side of the Danube River, where you dine together this evening. (B,L,D) Day 8: Budapest The Hungarian capital stretches along both sides of the Danube proudly displaying its rich cultural and historical heritage. Explore the magnificent Matthias Church, scene of several coronations, and stroll around the Fisherman’s Bastion for outstanding views of the Pest side of the river. Visit the Dohany Street Synagogue, where Franz Liszt and Camille SaintSaëns once performed. Enjoy a visit to the Hungarian National Gallery this afternoon then savor a typical Hungarian dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Our trip was an outstanding learning experience that came without the stress.

Smithsonian did everything for us! – Tom M.

Day 9: Budapest Enjoy a full day at leisure to discover the “Paris of the East” independently. (B) Day 10: Danube Bend and Vienna, Austria Journey through the delightful countryside of Western Transdanubia en route to Vienna and take in the stunning views of forested hills, medieval castles, and the meandering Danube. Stop to visit Szentendre, a charming small town with inviting artisan shops and a museum displaying the work of acclaimed ceramicist, Margit Kovacs. (B,L) Day 11: Vienna Follow the footsteps of imperial Habsburgs as you explore the ornate Vienna Opera House and the majestic Schönbrunn Palace, which richly demonstrates the tastes and aspirations of Habsburg royalty.

Prague’s historic Jewish Cemetery The afternoon is at leisure. Following dinner at a local restaurant, enjoy a concert of classical music. (B,D) Day 12: Vienna Woods Today’s excursion to the Vienna Woods reveals the natural beauty of this region, which was once a royal hunting ground. Visit the medieval abbey of Heiligen­kreuz, the oldest continuously occupied Cistercian monastery in the world, and the spa town of Baden, once the summer residence of Habsburg monarchs. (B) Day 13: Vienna and Prague, Czech Republic Leave for Prague, proud capital of the Czech Republic.

Upon arrival in Prague, enjoy an informal late afternoon walk through charming Old Town, a World Heritage site. (B,L)

Post-Tour Extension

Berlin – On Your Own

4 days/3 nights from $895 total price Single Supplement from $345

Explore the cosmopolitan German capital – a city of art, culture, and history – as you wish.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Rail transportation Prague/Berlin • 3 nights accommodations at Hotel am Steinplatz (Superior First Class) • 3 meals: 3 breakfasts • Berlin city orientation tour with local guide • Transfer from rail station and to airport

Budapest’s Chain Bridge over the Danube connects Buda and Pest

Day 14: Prague Explore the Hradcany district, home of the distinctive 9th-century Prague Castle.

Visit St. Vitus Cathedral, then enjoy a stroll along Golden Lane with its picturesque artisans’ cottages.

The remainder of the day is free. (B) Day 15: Prague This morning visit Josefov, Prague’s historic Jewish ghetto, which was founded by a 10th-century colony of Jewish tradesmen. Visit the historic Old Jewish Cemetery and several of the once-thriving synagogues that are now part of the Jewish Museum. Tonight celebrate your Eastern European adventure during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 16: Depart Prague for the U.S. Transfer to the airport for your early return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Experts Carol Reynolds, a musicologist, pianist, and organist, specializes in Russian, East European, and German cultural history.

Before becoming a professor of Music at Southern Methodist University (Dallas), she studied at the Leningrad Conservatory and lived in West Germany. Carol is a frequent Smithsonian Journeys Expert and is fluent in Russian and German. She will lead the August and May departures.

Timothy Blanning, is professor emeritus of modern European history at the University of Cambridge and is also a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College. A Fellow of the British Academy since 1990, Tim has also published extensively on the political and cultural history of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and his books have been translated into 12 different languages. Tim will lead the September 28 departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 14 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and unrated hotels • 24 meals: 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019

Aug 31

Sep 12

2020 2019 2020

April 21 Sep 28 May 12 Boston, New York

$5,497

$5,697

$5,897

Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$5,697 $5,897 $6,097

Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

$5,797 $5,997 $6,197

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, $5,897 $6,097 $6,297 Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle Land Only

$4,795

$4,995

$5,195

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $502, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395 Aug, Sep; $1,495 Apr, May. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Berlin Post-Tour Extension: $895 Aug, Sep; $995 Apr, May. Single Supplement: $345 Aug, Sep; $395 Apr, May Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 Aug, Sep; $1,595 Apr, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

13

EUROPE

Across Northern Spain and Portugal 17 days from $5,978 total price from Boston, New York ($5,295 air & land inclusive plus $683 airline taxes and fees)

Fortified cities and tiny fishing villages, rugged Atlantic coastline and commanding Pyrenees peaks, iconic shrines to both religion and fine art, and intimate lodgings in historic paradores and pousadas – it all awaits on this singular small group journey from Lisbon across the north of Spain, ending in vibrant Barcelona.

Bay of Biscay Santiago de Compostela

Atlantic Ocean

Bilbao León

Pamplona

Bielsa

Pyrenees

Barcelona

Porto

PORTUGAL SPAIN

Lisbon

Mediterranean Sea

Overnight

Visit Santiago’s 11th-century cathedral, last stop on the pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago.

Featured Site Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Lisbon Bilbao Barcelona

Apr May Jun Oct Nov 67 71 78 73 65 60 62 68 65 59 65 71 78 69 62

Highlights Include Tour Lisbon and Queluz Palace • Experience a Douro River cruise and port wine tasting • Discover the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela • Visit Bilbao’s Guggenheim and Fine Arts museums • Travel along the rugged, beautiful Basque coastline • Enjoy two nights in the Pyrenees Mountains region and a three-night stay in vibrant Barcelona • Spend seven nights in distinguished historic lodgings

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1

Depart U.S. for Lisbon Corinthia 2-3 Lisbon Deluxe

Hotel Lisbon 4-5 Porto Pousada do Porto First Class

Santiago de Parador de Santiago First Class 6-7

Compostela de Compostela 8 León Hotel Conde Luna First Class 9-11 Bilbao Melia Bilbao Sup. First Class 12-13 Bielsa Parador de Bielsa First Class 14-16 Barcelona Hotel Avenida Sup. First Class

Palace 17 Depart Barcelona for U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

14

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Lisbon, Portugal Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This afternoon is at leisure to relax before tonight’s welcome dinner.

(1D) Day 3: Lisbon A morning tour introduces you to the city on the River Tagus; the afternoon is free for independent exploration. (B) Day 4: Porto Leaving Lisbon via the coastal route, stop in the small fortified town of Obidos and in the seaside village of Nazare. Mid-afternoon reach your pousada in lovely Porto, Portugal’s second largest city and a World Heritage site. (B,D) Day 5: Porto Highlights of today’s city tour include colorful Bolhao Market, the historic city center, baroque Clerigos Church, and the sophisticated Foz oceanfront district. Then enjoy an hour-long cruise on the Douro River. End the tour with a visit to a port lodge for a tasting of the fortified wine exclusive to the region. (B,D) Day 6: Santiago de Compostela, Spain En route to Santiago, stop in the old Galician town of Pontevedra. Then continue on to Santiago, capital of Spain’s northwest Galicia region, arriving midafternoon at your parador. (B,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 7: Santiago de Compostela Last stop on the celebrated pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and presumed repository of the remains of St. James the Apostle, Santiago de Comp­ostela ranks among Spain’s most beautiful and visited cities. Discover this important cultural and educational capital on today’s tour, featuring the Cathedral housing the silver crypt believed to hold the remains of St. James. From here enter Plaza de Obradoiro, the monumental square surrounded by Santiago’s most important buildings. This afternoon is free for independent exploration in this eminently walkable and lovely World Heritage city. (B,D) Day 8: León Leaving Santiago this morning, travel east to vibrant León, another stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route and known for its religious festivals and Easter Week processions. Upon arrival, visit the 12th-century León Cathedral, one of Spain’s most beautiful with its sculpture-covered facade and impressive stained glass windows. Also visit Casa Botines, a Modernist structure by architect Antoni Gaudi, and the notable Castille Leon Museum of Contemporary Art. Reach your hotel early this evening where you will dine tonight. (B,D) Day 9: Santander and Bilbao Stop today in the elegant port city and Cantabrian capital of Santander for a tour and lunch. Then travel on to Bilbao, the

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Smithsonian tours are more than just sightseeing, they provide an education and insight into a country’s history and culture. – Diane B.

industrial port city almost magically transformed by the construction of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in 1997. (B,L) Day 10: Bilbao This morning’s tour begins in Bilbao’s medieval Old City, with a charming mix of narrow cobblestone streets and inviting squares. See the Catedral de Santiago (c. 1379), once a stop on the pilgrimage route; monumental Plaza Nueva; and busy seaside La Ribera market. Then take a guided tour of the Guggenheim and its contemporary art collection. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the jaw-dropping structure of limestone, titanium, and glass has drawn acclaim, attention, and visitors to this popular, revitalized city. Your last stop is Bilbao’s Fine Arts Museum, with a rich collection of Spanish and Basque artworks. (B,D) Day 11: Basque Country A day-long excursion begins with a poignant stop: Gernika (Guernica), heart of the Basque region and the town razed by Nazi bombing in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, that was immortalized in the namesake painting by Picasso. Then pass through countryside historically home to the Basque people of Spain’s Atlantic Coast and western Pyrenees. At the seaside village of Bakio, follow a coastal road of wild beauty to the islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, with its hermitage to St. John the Baptist. Stop in the key fishing town of Bermeo then continue on to the medieval fishing village of Mundaka, to enjoy magnificent views of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve of streams and a salt marsh surrounded by sheer cliffs. (B,L) Day 12: Pamplona and Bielsa Travel today to the Pyrenees town of Bielsa, stopping en route in fabled Pamplona, known for its annual Running of the Bulls tradition. (B,D) Day 13: Bielsa Fresh mountain air and stunning scenery are on tap as you visit the Chistau Valley. A broad and tranquil valley in the Spanish Pyrenees, the Chistau offers overwhelming natural beauty in the form of jagged mountain peaks, trickling streams, lush hillsides, and postcard-worthy villages. (B,D)

Post-Tour Extension

Barcelona – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $395 total price Single Supplement: $265

Discover more of this lively, spirited city.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • 2 nights accommodations at Hotel Avenida Palace (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

Spend two nights in the rural Pyrenees

Day 14: Bielsa and Barcelona Travel today to the world-class city of Barcelona. After a brief orientation walking tour, you are free for dinner on your own. (B) Day 15: Barcelona This morning’s city tour features Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), a maze of medieval streets, and Las Ramblas, the tree-lined pedestrian mall that attracts locals and visitors alike, day and night. Pay homage to Barcelona’s native son, flamboyant artist Antoni Gaudi, by visiting his illusory Parc Guell and the landmark Sagrada Familia, the surreal – and unfinished – cathedral. Following a tapas style lunch, the remainder of the day is free. (B,L) Day 16: Barcelona Your Gaudi tour continues this morning at Casa Mila, whose curving stone face inspired the nickname “La Pedrera” (stone quarry).

Now housing a cultural center, Casa Mila is a World Heritage site. This afternoon is at leisure; tonight join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 17: Depart for the U.S. Transfer to the airport this morning for flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Michael A. Ryan is an associate professor of medieval and early modern history at the University of New Mexico. He earned his doctorate from the University of Minnesota, where he studied under two of the preeminent historians of premodern Spain, William D. Phillips, Jr. and Carla Rahn Phillips. He is a specialist in the social, cultural, and intellectual history of late medieval Spain, Italy, and the Mediterranean Basin and is the co-creator and co-editor of a new academic monograph series published by Penn State University Press, Iberian Encounter and Exchange, 475-1755.

Michael will lead the October departure. Ana Afzali (see page 6) will lead the April departure, and the other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 15 nights accommodations: 9 nights in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels; 6 nights in First Class paradores and pousadas • 28 meals: 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 10 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all ­entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 25 2020 Apr 3

2020 May 5

2020 May 26

Boston, New York

$5,978

$6,178

$6,378

Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$6,178 $6,378 $6,578

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

$6,278

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,378 $6,578 $6,778

Land Only

$5,095

$6,478

$5,295

$6,678

$5,495

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $683, which are subject to change until final payment has been made. Single travelers please add $1,495. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 Oct; $1,595 Apr, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

15

EUROPE

Northern Italy

From the Alps to the Adriatic

15 days from $5,874 total price from New York ($5,395 air & land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

This leisurely exploration of Italy’s varied northern regions, from the romantic Lake District and dramatic Cinque Terre to beloved Tuscany, the majestic Dolomites, and canal-laced Venice, offers a refreshing perspective on a well-known land. In the company of a congenial small group, celebrate the Italian penchant for hospitality, good food, and good living.

Bolzano Stresa Italian Lake District

Venice

Milan

Cinque Terre Santa Margherita

Ligurian Sea

Florence

Lucca Siena

Adriatic Sea

Tuscany

A World Heritage site, the rugged and scenic Cinque Terre region has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

ITALY

Overnight Featured Site Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Stresa Florence Venice

Aug 81 86 81

Sept 74 79 75

Oct 62 68 65

Highlights Include Enjoy lake region touring, including medieval Orta San Giulio and Stresa • Cruise to Isola Bella and tour the palace and gardens • Explore Cinque Terre on a full-day excursion featuring Monterosso and Vernazza • Tour medieval Lucca, beautiful Florence, and historic Siena • Discover the majestic Dolomites • Visit a winery in Barolo for a tour and tasting

Day Itinerary Hotel 1 Depart U.S. for Milan 2-4 Stresa La Palma Hotel Santa 5-7 Hotel Metropole

Margherita 8-10 Florence Hotel Rivoli Boutique 11-12 Bolzano Hotel Scala Stiegl

Palazzo 13-14 Venice

Veneziano 15 Depart Venice for U.S.

Rating First Class First Class First Class First Class Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

16

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Milan and Stresa, Italy After arriving in Milan, drive to the town of Stresa on lovely Lake Maggiore. This afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s welcome dinner. (1D) Day 3: Stresa and Orta San Giulio This morning visit the lovely lakeside town of Orta San Giulio – dubbed “God’s watercolor” by Italian writer Piero Chiara – with its cobblestoned streets, 16th-century town hall, and medieval houses flanking the inviting town square. After lunch on your own here, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. (B) Day 4: Stresa Embark this morning on a cruise to Isola Bella, the beautiful Borromean island in the middle of Lake Maggiore. Fully occupied by 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo and its extravagantly landscaped gardens, the island offers lovely views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Take a guided tour of the palazzo, with its priceless works of fine art, and stroll through the flower-adorned gardens, then enjoy lunch together on nearby Isola dei Pescatori. (B,L) Day 5: Stresa, Barolo, Santa Margherita Leave the Piedmont region, bound for Santa Margherita and the Cinque Terre. En route, stop in the village of Barolo for lunch and to sample Barolo, the “king of

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

wines,” at Marchesi di Barolo, one of Italy’s premiere vintners. Continue on to the Italian Riviera resort town of Santa Margherita, with its palm-lined esplanade overlooking the harbor. Tonight enjoy dinner together at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 6: Santa Margherita and Portofino This morning travel by boat to the renowned – and beautiful – resort town of Portofino. Enjoy free time to meander through the colorful streets and visit the chic boutiques and galleries here before returning to your hotel midday. (B) Day 7: Santa Margherita, Cinque Terre, Portovenere Depart this morning by train for the hour-long trip to the Cinque Terre (literally, “Five Lands”), the five cliff-clinging villages seemingly carved from the mountains. Originally medieval fishing villages, the Cinque Terre were inaccessible by land for centuries; even today, no road connects all five. Stop in scenic Vernazza then board a boat for a comfortable cruise along the rugged coastline to visit another village of the Cinque Terre. From here cruise to the port town of Portovenere, with its cluster of colorful column-shaped houses. After a brief walking tour of the Old Town, enjoy time to explore and have lunch on your own. Dine together tonight at your hotel. (B,D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Day 8: Santa Margherita, Lucca, Florence Travel south to beloved Tuscany, stopping first in the atmospheric medieval town of Lucca. Take a walking tour of this incredibly well-preserved gem, whose city walls and ramparts remain intact. After time for lunch on your own, continue on to your lodgings in the heart of Florence. (B,D) Day 9: Florence Spend today touring and exploring wondrous Florence, a living monu­ment to the Renaissance and crown jewel of Tuscany. Your day includes a guided morning walking tour followed by free time. Together visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to view Michelangelo’s sublime David and his pieces for the papal tombs; and visit the Duomo, with its stupendous dome by Brunelleschi. There’s time on your own to visit renowned museums and churches, stroll the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio, and enjoy lunch and dinner at typical Florentine restaurants. (B) Day 10: Florence and Siena Visit the walled city of Siena, whose historic center is a World Heritage site. Fan-shaped Piazza del Campo is one of Europe’s greatest public squares; its Duomo, with pillars of black Florence, birthplace of and white marble, the Renaissance is one of Italy’s finest, with masterpieces by Donatello and Michelangelo.

Following a guided walking tour that includes an inside visit to the Duomo, enjoy free time to explore on your own. Return to Florence mid-afternoon. (B) Day 11: Florence, Verona, Bolzano As you travel north today, stop in storied Verona, renowned as the setting of several Shakespeare plays, including, of course, Romeo and Juliet. A World Heritage site, Verona boasts well-preserved monuments from antiquity, including a 1st-century Roman amphitheater still in use today. After time for lunch on your own here, continue your journey to the South Tyrol, Italy’s German-accented northern reaches bordering Austria and Switzerland. You’re bound for the

regional capital of Bolzano, gateway to the Dolomites in the Italian Alps. Late afternoon reach your hotel, where you dine together tonight. (B,D) Day 12: Bolzano Bolzano boasts an enviable quality of life – and truly spectacular scenery. Take a cable car to a spot for views of the 18-peak Dolomites, their vertical walls and sheer cliffs presenting a magnificent backdrop to the surrounding woodlands, valleys, and pastures. Then walk through Bolzano’s colorful historic center and visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, well known for housing the mummified corpse of Ötzi the Iceman, dating to 3,300 B.C. Tonight dine at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 13: Bolzano and Venice En route to Venice, travel through the Dolomites themselves, enjoying jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. Reach Venice late this afternoon, and enjoy dinner on your own.

(B,L) Day 14: Venice This morning take a guided walk through vast St. Mark’s Square. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. Tonight join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 15: Depart for the U.S. Depart early this morning for your connecting flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Luca Zavagno was born in Venice, where he received his B.A. degree in history from the University Ca’ Foscari. He completed his Ph.D. studies at the University of Birmingham on the society, culture, economics, and politics of Byzantine cities. Luca is an assistant professor of history at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, and visiting professor of Byzantine art history at University Ca’Foscari in Venice. Luca is also the co-organizer of the annual Conference of the Mediterranean Worlds, Associate Scholar of the Mediterranean Seminar, and a Teaching Fellow of the School of Advanced Studies of the Università di Salerno. He will lead the August departure. The October departure will be led by a comparable expert.

Post-Tour Extension

Venice – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $445 total price Single Supplement: $345

End your journey with a longer stay in this beautiful city.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• 2 nights accommodations at Palazzo Veneziano (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 23 meals: 13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 7 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all ­entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Enjoy stunning scenery in the South Tyrol

2019 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Oct 9

Aug 28

New York

$5,874

$5,974

Boston, Philadelphia

$6,074

$6,174

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

$6,174

$6,274

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,274 $6,374

Land Only

$5,195

$5,295

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $479, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,395. All 2019 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,995 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

17

EUROPE

France through the Ages

From Toulouse to Normandy

15 days from $5,997 total price from Boston, New York ($5,495 air & land inclusive plus $502 airline taxes and fees)

Discover the richness of French culture, the breadth of its history, and the beauty of its artistic and architectural treasures on this comprehensive journey. From Toulouse to Normandy, you’ll experience the beauty and hospitality of provincial France and stay in charming rural inns, an 18th-century mansion, and delightful hotels.

English Channel

D-Day Beaches Crépon

Mont St. Michel Normandy

Loire Valley

Saumur

Atlantic Ocean

Paris

FRANCE

Dordogne

Sarlat Rocamadour

Toulouse Carcassonne

Overnight Featured Site

Spend several days in the Dordogne, a region of medieval villages, alluring landscapes, and a rich history.

Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Toulouse Paris

Apr May Oct 63 69 65 63 68 60

Highlights Include Explore the market town of Albi, including the ToulouseLautrec Museum • Enjoy an exclusive visit to Château des Milandes, former residence of Josephine Baker • Tour the Fontevraud Abbey, site of the original graves of King Henry II of England and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine • Visit Château Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years • Tour the caves at Lascaux IV to view replications of the prehistoric cave art

Day Itinerary

Hotel

Depart U.S. for Toulouse Crowne Plaza 2-3 Toulouse

Toulouse

Sarlat-en-Perigord Au Grand Hotel 4-6

(Dordogne) de Sarlat Saumur Hotel Anne 7-9

(Loire Valley) d’Anjou

Crépon Ferme de la 10-12

(Normandy) Rançonniere Hotel Château 13-14 Paris

Frontenac 15 Depart Paris for U.S.

Rating

1

First Class Not rated Not rated Not rated Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be listed.

18

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Toulouse, France Day 2: Arrive Toulouse Upon arrival, enjoy the afternoon at leisure, then gather for a welcome dinner and a b ­ riefing about the journey ahead. (D) Day 3: Toulouse and Carcassonne Travel to Carcassonne to tour this quintessential medieval town with the longest city walls in Europe. Sitting atop a hill overlooking vast green plains that stretch all the way to the Pyrénées, Carcassonne boasts battlements and ramparts dating to the 1st-century Romans.

Return to Toulouse for an afternoon at leisure. (B) Day 4: Albi and Sarlat Hometown of Belle Epoque artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the historic market town of Albi was built with rose-colored bricks that cast a warm glow over the city’s medieval streets and ramparts. Tour the town, including the Palais de la Berbie, an ancient fortress that houses a museum devoted to the works of Toulouse-Lautrec. Leaving Albi, continue to the rugged unspoiled countryside of the Périgord region and the Dordogne Valley. Travel to Sarlat-la-Canéda, one of France’s prettiest villages and one of Europe’s best preserved medieval gems, with more registered historic sites than anywhere else on the continent. (B,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 5: Sarlat and Lascaux IV This morning, tour the International Center for Cave Art at Lascaux IV, showcasing reproductions of the pre-historic cave paintings found nearby. After lunch at a charming local inn, visit Château des Milandes, the former residence of Josephine Baker, before returning to Sarlat, where dinner is on your own. (B,L) Day 6: Sarlat and Rocamadour After a morning at leisure to explore this charming town at your own pace, travel to Rocamadour, a revered pilgrimage site and medieval village whose three tiers cling almost impossibly to a sheer limestone cliff. Enjoy a walking tour and lunch on your own here, then take a leisurely cruise along the Dordogne River, life-blood of this fertile region and redolent with history. As you pass cliff-top castles and fortified medieval towns, the history of Aquitaine truly comes to mind, particularly the 12th-century reign of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Return to Sarlat for a walking tour of this charming town. (B,D) Day 7: Le Dorat and Saumur Leave the rugged, unspoiled countryside of the Dordogne region and travel north to the beautiful Loire Valley. Stop in the busy market town of Le Dorat for a typical country lunch at a local restaurant. From here travel to Saumur and your hotel, a converted 18th-century mansion on the banks of the Loire River. (B,L)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

‘France through the Ages’ was a feast for the body, mind, and soul!

Visit the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach

–David B.

Day 8: Saumur This morning is at leisure to explore this charming town on your own. This afternoon visit Fontevraud Abbey, the original resting place of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard the Lion Heart. (B,D) Day 9: Saumur and Chenonceau Here in the châteaux region England battled for control of France, Joan of Arc triumphed, and a great opu­lence reigned during the 16th century. Originally built as fortresses to keep intruders out, the Loire Valley’s grand châteaux now welcome visitors from around the world.

Today, tour the Renaissance masterpiece of Chenonceau, considered one of the most romantic châteaux of all. After lunch at La Cave in Montlouis, visit the Château Clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years. (B,L) Day 10: Mont St. Michel and Crépon Travel to historic Normandy and make your way to the pilgrimage site of Mont St. Michel, Normandy’s famed Gothic abbey that sits atop a 264-foot high rock formation at the edge of the sea. With a history equal to its dramatic setting, the abbey was constructed between 1017 and 1521. Over the centuries it was a hotbed of French nationalism and religion, and recently monks have returned here to live and work. After a guided tour, enjoy some free time for lunch and exploring on your own. Early this evening, arrive in Crépon at your rustic 13th-century restored farmhouse where you’ll dine tonight on fresh regional fare. (B,D) Day 11: Crépon, Bayeux, Caen Miraculously, medieval Bayeux was spared from wartime bombing and was the first town to be liberated during the Battle of Normandy. Visit the city’s highlight – the Tapestry Museum, home to the 1,000-year-old Bayeux Tapestry depicting the exploits of William the Conqueror.

Travel north to Caen to visit the Memorial Museum devoted to “history for peace.” Time permitting, you may visit Arromanches late this afternoon. (B,D) Day 12: D-Day Landing Beaches A poignant, inspiring day features the sites where Allied forces overcame overwhelming odds to alter the course of

Post-Tour Extension

Paris – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $495 total price Single Supplement: $345

Savor the “City of Light” on your own time, at your own pace.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • 2 nights accommodations at Hotel Chateau Frontenac (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

World War II. Visit Pointe du Hoc, where American Rangers scaled towering cliffs to establish a beachhead; Utah Beach; and Ste-Mère-Eglise, where the 82nd Airborne Division successfully parachuted on June 5, 1944. End the day at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. (B,L,D) Day 13: Giverny and Paris This morning visit the village of Giverny and the home and gardens of Impressionist artist Claude Monet. Walk amid his gardens with the familiar lily pond and wisteria-covered Japanese footbridge of his paintings, and see his home, now restored to its original design. Then travel to Paris, reaching your hotel late afternoon. Dinner tonight is on your own in this culinary capital. (B) Day 14: Paris During a city tour, view sites that bear historic and artistic significance. The afternoon is free to explore the French capital on your own.

Tonight gather for a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 15: Depart for the U.S. This morning depart for the airport and your flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Stéphanie Jeanjean is a professor of art history at The Cooper Union and Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York; she also teaches French translation at The CUNY Graduate Center. She has been a regular lecturer in English and French at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. A French native, Stéphanie graduated from Bourgogne University in Dijon and completed a Ph.D. at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York.

She curated exhibitions involving French artists, most recently at A. A. Wallace Gallery at SUNY College of Old Westbury, at the Brecht Forum in Brooklyn, and at the Kitchen in New York. She is a specialist of contemporary France, early French video, and new media art. Stéphanie has worked on translating, and subtitling in English, rare early French video materials.

She will lead the May departure. Cassandra Hannahs (see page 6) will lead the April and October departures.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights accommodations in Superior First Class, First Class, and unrated hotels • 25 meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 4 2020 Apr 20

2020 May 15

Boston, New York

$5,997

$6,197

Charlotte, Philadelphia,

Washington, DC

$6,197 $6,397

Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa

$6,297

$6,497

Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,397

$6,597

Land Only

$5,295

$5,495

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $502 which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $995 Apr, Oct; $1,195 May. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,595 per person; Premium Economy – $1,595 Oct; $1,595 Apr, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking up hills or stairs, and on uneven or cobblestone streets.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

19

EUROPE

The Emerald Isle

From Dublin to the Rugged West Coast

13 days from $5,672 total price from Boston, New York, Newark

Encounter some of Ireland’s most beautiful scenery, including the Ring of Kerry.

($5,295 air & land inclusive plus $377 airline taxes and fees)

Steeped in history and boasting a rich tapestry of arts and cultural activities, Ireland welcomes travelers eager to explore its breathtaking landscapes and fascinating literary heritage.

Join us on this intimate small group adventure to meet the local people and experience the culture of the Emerald Isle.

Overnight Featured Site

NORTHERN IRELAND

Motorcoach Extension (motorcoach/van)

Atlantic Ocean

Belfast/ Antrim Coast

Connemara Clonmacnoise Galway Aran Islands Cliffs of Moher/ The Burren

Dublin

IRELAND Cashel

Kilkenny

Irish Sea

Killarney Ring of Kerry

Avg. High (°F) Dublin Killarney

May 60 63

Jun 65 67

Aug 67 70

Sep 63 66

Oct 57 61

Highlights Include Enjoy touring Dublin, including Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral • Admire the magnificent scenery of counties Galway and Kerry, including the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Connemara • Climb Dun Aenghus fortress during your full-day tour of Inishmor • Meet a local family during a home-hosted dinner outside Killarney • Drive around the Ring of Kerry with stunning mountain and coastal scenery • Explore the ancient Rock of Cashel • Tour medieval Kilkenny Castle, considered one of the country’s most beautiful castles • Learn about Irish emigration at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum

Day Itinerary Hotel Depart U.S. for Dublin The Shelbourne 2-3 Dublin

Dublin 4-6 Galway The Twelve Hotel 7-9 Killarney Killarney Royal 10-11 Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel

Finnstown 12 Dublin

Castle Hotel 13 Depart Dublin for U.S.

Rating

1

Deluxe Sup. First Class Sup. First Class Sup. First Class Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

20

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Dublin, Ireland Upon arrival in Ireland’s dynamic capital, check in to your hotel located on St. Stephen’s Green. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon before gathering for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (1D) Day 3: Dublin Enjoy a day getting to know the engaging city of Dublin, where almost every Irish writer lived for some time. Highlights of today’s tour feature Trinity College to see the extraordinary Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by monks around A.D. 800, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy your own individual pursuits. You may also wish to join your Smithsonian Journeys Expert and Tour Director for an optional walk to the National Museum of Archaeology, which you can visit on your own for an in-depth overview of Ireland’s heritage, culture, and natural history. (B) Day 4: Galway Head west to the region some con­sider the “most Irish part of Ireland,” and where traditional Irish is often heard. En route, stop at the 6th-century Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s most important early monastic site and burial place of the last High King of Ireland. Arrive in charming Galway City in the afternoon and enjoy dinner at your hotel, located in the nearby village of Bearna. (B,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 5: Connemara Evocative and legendary Connemara is a dramatic, rugged landscape of mountains, glacial lakes, and uninhabited bog lands.

During a full-day excursion, stop at the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s most photographed castles, which was built as a private home in 1861.

Enjoy spectacular views of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the background. This evening enjoy dinner with traditional Irish entertainment at Padraicins over-looking Galway Bay. (B,D) Day 6: Aran Islands and Galway Today’s destination is Inishmor, the largest of the fabled Aran Islands, whose unique culture and history have been an inspiration to artists, writers, and filmmakers. Located across Galway Bay, the islands feature primitive stone forts, early Christian churches, and medieval castles. Meet a local islander who shares knowledge and stories d ­ uring a special tour, including a stop at Dun Aenghus Fortress, the three prehistoric stone walls crowning the tallest cliffs of Inishmore.

Then enjoy time to explore on your own before returning to the mainland in the late afternoon. Dine tonight at a local restaurant in the village of Bearna. (B,L,D) Day 7: Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Killarney Traveling south along the fabled coastline of County Clare, stop to admire the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, which rise vertically from the sea and stretch for five

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

What a great overview of Ireland’s political and religious history, music, literature, and arts. With the small group size, everyone is included in the lectures and activities.

Wonderful adventure! – Martha W.

miles from north to south. Pass through the Burren, the 116-square mile rocky landscape of craggy gray karst (limestone) formations. Then cross by ferry into County Kerry, and arrive in the late afternoon in Killarney, set in beautiful Killarney National Park.

Tonight, enjoy dinners in local family-run B&Bs. (B,D) Day 8: Killarney Explore this vibrant town from the perspective of a historic jaunting-cart, then continue to 15th-century Ross Castle, the last stronghold to fall to Oliver Cromwell’s forces. Travel by boat to Muckross House, a 19th-century E ­ lizabethan-style manor, where you’ll tour the elegantly furnished rooms and informal garden. Also explore the Kerry Folklife Centre, which showcases traditional arts and crafts such as bookbinding, pottery, and weaving. (B) Day 9: Killarney and Ring of Kerry Today, admire The breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and experience the Ireland of postcards — the stunning mountain and coastal scenery of the Ring of Kerry, a 110-mile route around the Ardagh Peninsula. On the return to Killarney, stop at a 1,000-year-old Ring fort and for an Irish sheep dog demonstration. Dinner tonight is at the hotel (B,L,D)

Post-Tour Extension

Northern Ireland

4 days/3 nights for $1,295 total price Single Supplement: $295

Savor the dramatic beauty of the Antrim Coast, one of the most scenic in all of Ireland and the British Isles, and encounter the lively capital city of Belfast.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip private motorcoach or van transportation Dublin/Belfast • 3 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Belfast at Fitzwilliam Hotel (Deluxe); 1 night in Dublin at Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport (Superior First Class) • 7 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners • Sightseeing including Belfast, Antrim Coast (Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage site; Bushmill’s Distillery; Carrick-arede Bridge); Titanic Museum in Belfast • Services of a professional tour representative • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, and airport and hotel porters

Visit beautiful Kylemore Abbey

Day 10: Blarney, Cashel, Kilkenny Travel southeast to the small town of Blarney and visit the ruins of the 15th-century castle, with its celebrated Blarney Stone. After lunch on your own, continue to County Tipperary and the Rock of Cashel, once home to the High Kings of Munster. Arrive in Kilkenny late this afternoon. (B,D) Day 11: Kilkenny A small medieval city, Kilkenny is known as Ireland’s cultural capital. Enjoy a tour of 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, considered one of the country’s most beautiful, then embark on an informal walking tour, noting the many buildings constructed of black limestone or “Kilkenny marble.” Spend the remainder of the day at leisure exploring this charming town on your own. (B,L) Day 12: Dublin Set out for Dublin this morning, and tour fascinating EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum depicting 1,500 years of Irish history in an interactive environment. Mid-afternoon reach your hotel, located just outside Dublin. Tonight celebrate your Irish adventure at a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 13: Depart Dublin for the U.S. Transfer to the airport this morning for your flights to the U.S. (B)

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Smithsonian Journeys Expert After graduating from Emory University with a degree in history, Miriam Davis studied history and archaeology at the University of St. Andrews on a Bobby Jones Scholarship.

She went on to earn an MA in medieval archaeology from the University of York and a Ph.D. in medieval history from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition to her scholarly publications, Miriam has written for the popular press on archaeology, history, and travel; has lectured throughout the U.S., Great Britain, and Israel; and is now a freelance writer. Miriam will lead the September 22 departure. Cassandra Hannahs (see page 6) will lead the May departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 11 nights accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels • 22 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019

Aug 18

2019 2020 2020

Sep 22 May 17 Jun 14 Boston, New York, Newark

$5,672 $5,772 $5,972

Baltimore, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa, Washington, DC

$5,972 $6,072 $6,272

Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis

$6,072

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,172 $6,272 $6,472

Land Only

$5,095

$6,172

$5,195

$6,372

$5,395

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $377, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395 Aug, Sep; $1,495. May, Jun. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $3,595 per person from Newark, Washington, DC (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

21

EUROPE

With Apulia and the Amalfi Coast

Southern Italy and Sicily 15 days from $5,874 total price from New York

Drive along the Amalfi Coast, among the world’s most breathtaking routes.

($5,395 air & land inclusive plus $479 airline taxes and fees)

Delight in a special exploration of Italy’s southernmost regions – from striking Sicily to the “boot heel” of Apulia and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast – where each region reflects a unique history, architecture, and cuisine. Plus, enjoy Italian hospitality and notable lodgings that allow you to immerse yourself in la dolce vita.

Overnight

Rome

Motorcoach Extension (Air)

Adriatic Sea

ITALY

Featured Site

Naples

Pompeii

Sorrento

Alberobello Matera

Lecce

Tyrrhenian Sea

Catania/ Taormina Agrigento

Avg. High (°F) Taormina Lecce Amalfi Coast

Sicily

Apr 65 64 63

Ionian Sea

May 69 73 72

Highlights Include Spend four days visiting Sicily’s intriguing cultural and historic heritage • Visit the “Valley of the Temples” in Agrigento • Tour the active volcano, Mt. Etna • Enjoy lunch at a working Sicilian farmhouse • Stay in a renovated cave dwelling in Matera • Learn about Alberobello’s medieval white-washed buildings • Take part in a Neapolitan cooking demonstration and dinner • Tour Lecce, the “Florence of the South” • Enjoy drives on the stunning Amalfi Coast • Tour the ancient ruins at Pompeii (a World Heritage site) • Explore the cozy isle of Capri • Enjoy well-located, smallgroup style hotels

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1

Depart U.S. for Taormina (Catania) Eurostars 2-5 Taormina Sup. First Class

Monte Tauro Locanda di 6-7 Matera First Class

San Martino 8-10 Lecce Patria Palace Hotel Sup. First Class 11-14 Sorrento Hotel Antiche Mura First Class 15 Depart Naples for U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

22

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Taormina (Catania), Sicily Arrive in Catania on Italy’s autonomous island of Sicily then transfer by motorcoach to Taormina and the boutique hotel overlooking the Ionian Sea. Tonight gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

with the volcano, which frequently erupts but is seldom destructive. Midday enjoy a small group highlight: lunch at a family-run working farm amidst acres of lemon and kiwi. After returning to the hotel midafternoon, the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

Day 3: Taormina Take a walking tour of this delightful medieval town, including the spectacular ancient Greek theater dating to the 3rd century B.C., the popular 13th-century cathedral, and grand Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. This afternoon is at leisure to relax by the hotel pool, visit a lovely Taormina beach, or stroll along Corso Umberto lined with shops and restaurants. (B)

Day 6: Taormina and Matera Depart Sicily today for the mainland region of Basilicata, a day-long transfer that includes a ferry ride from Sicily to Calabria. Reach Matera, whose historic troglodyte churches and dwellings (Sassi) have been designated a World Heritage site and where the hotel is a renovated cave dwelling in the city’s historic district. (B,D)

Day 4: Taormina and Agrigento Visit the “Valley of the Temples,” the archaeological zone of Agrigento, whose Doric temples and sanctuaries date to Greek rule in the 5th century B.C. Known in its heyday as the “most beautiful city of mortals,” Agrigento’s highlight is the stunning, well-preserved Temple of Concordia (c. B.C. 430). A visit to the museum here lends context to our explorations. Return to the hotel to enjoy dinner. (B,L,D) Day 5: Taormina and Mount Etna Venture to Europe’s largest active volcano. The ancients believed Mt. Etna to be the forge of Vulcan, god of fire. Today, modern-day Sicilians have a very personal relationship

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 7: Matera Explore this city of art and folklore, with its unique ancient urban structure still intact.

Home to more than 100 rock churches, Matera resembles ancient Jerusalem and has been used by international film directors as a stand-in for the holy city. Following a guided walking tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore independently before dinner tonight at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 8: Matera, Alberobello, Lecce Departing Matera this morning, stop in Alberobello, whose 400 or so trulli – whitewashed conical houses with greystone roofs – rank as a World Heritage site. Take a walking tour along the pristine cobblestone alleys, stepping inside an artisan’s workshop or trulli tipici,

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

There were so many moments to treasure. The people on our tour were smart, friendly, great to get to know, and we all shared the joy of new experiences.

We learned so much! – Suzanne Z.

a recreation of an inhabited home. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Lecce, capital of Apulia’s southern Lecci province (in Italy’s “boot heel”), in time for dinner together at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 9: Lecce Discover the “Florence of the South,” so named for the unique decorative style for which Lecce is known: barocco leccese, the ornate and intricate sandstone carvings of cherubs, monsters, fruits and flowers that adorn local buildings. See Palazzo Vescovile (c. 1632), the exuberantly decorated church of Santa Croce, The ancient cave town of Matera and the duomo with its lovely piazza. This afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s dinner together.

(B,D) Day 10: Lecce and Otranto Today’s excursion takes you to the beautiful walled town of Otranto, overlooking the Adriatic. On a walking tour here see the imposing 15th-century Aragonese castle with its traditional moat, and the Romanesque cathedral whose impressive wall-to-wall mosaic floor was created in 1166. Continue to a local winery for a tasting and lunch, then return to Lecce mid-afternoon. Dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) Day 11: Lecce, Polignano, Sorrento Depart by coach for Polignano a Mare, a historic coastal town set on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic. After lunch at a trattoria (tavern), travel to Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples. (B,L) Day 12: Sorrento and Pompeii Visit the evocative World Heritage site of Pompeii for a guided tour of the city frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in

A.D. 79 (the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1749).

Gather for a hands-on Neapolitan cuisine cooking lesson, followed by dinner to savor the fruits of your labor. (B,D) Day 13: Sorrento and Capri Travel by hydrofoil to the storied Isle of Capri, a popular resort since Roman times. Explore cozy Capri town, and visit the terraced Gardens of Augustus with stunning views of the azure sea. Then, enjoy free time to explore on your own before meeting a local family for lunch in their home. Return to Sorrento early afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L) Day 14: Sorrento and Amalfi Coast Embark on a breathtaking drive along the winding, cliff-top Amalfi Coast between Sorrento and Amalfi, above the glistening Tyrrhenian Sea – with stops for photos along the way. This afternoon is at leisure. Tonight join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 15: Depart for the U.S. This morning, transfer to Naples airport and connect with your return flight to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert David Guinee teaches at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he is the Edwin Minar Professor of Classical Studies. He earned his B.A. in classical languages at Carleton College and his Ph.D. in classical philology at the University of Michigan. Dave has been an active participant with the Center for Hellenic Studies’ Sunoikisis project, developing collaborative inter-institution courses in Greek and Latin literature. He has lived in Rome and Siena, where he served as a visiting faculty member for the AHA International Study Program. Dave will lead the April 25 departure. Allan Langdale (see page 6) will lead the April 13 departure.

Post-Tour Extension

Rome – On Your Own

4 days/3 nights for $795 total price Single Supplement: $295

Explore the “Eternal City” at your leisure.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • Air transportation Naples/Rome inclusive of airline taxes and fees • 3 nights accommodations at Empire Palace Hotel (Superior First Class) • 3 meals: 3 breakfasts • Transfers to/from airport

Mt. Etna and Taormina’s 3rd-century B.C. Greek theater

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 27 meals: 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Apr 13

Apr 25

New York

$5,874

$6,074

Boston, Philadelphia

$6,074

$6,274

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

$6,174

$6,374

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$6,274

$6,474

Land Only

$5,195

$5,395

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $479, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395. All 2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,895 per person; Premium Economy – $1,595 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking uphill and on uneven or cobblestone streets, and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

23

EUROPE

Adventure in Iceland 11 days from $5,597 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC ($5,195 air & land inclusive plus $402 airline taxes and fees)

The second largest island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is a land of massive glaciers, rumbling volcanoes, spouting hot springs, lava fields, and powerful waterfalls. It is also known for its gracious hospitality and relaxed pace. Experience the astonishing natural history and cultural heritage of pristine Iceland on our journey.

Siglufjordur

Puffin Island

Akureyri

Godafoss Lake Myvatn

ICELAND

Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Borgarbyggo Gullfoss Thingvellir Nat’l Park

Reykjavik

Selfoss

Overnight

Skogafoss

Featured Site

Vik

Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Lake Myvatn Reykjavik

Jul 58 57

Aug 59 56

Sep 50 52

Oct 46 47

Nov 37 37

Highlights Include Marvel at the stunning, unique natural wonders • Tour the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula • Visit charming Akureyri • Admire Godafoss, “waterfall of the gods” • Learn about Lake Myvatn’s mud flats, lava fields, and volcanic craters • Witness Dettifoss, Iceland’s “Niagara Falls” • Visit Glacial River Canyon National Park • Tour Thingvellir National Park • Experience a bird-watching coastal cruise • Discuss Iceland’s economic issues with a local expert • Enjoy sophisticated Reykjavik • Visit Hellishedi geo-thermal power plant

Day Itinerary 1 2-3 4 5-6 7-8

Hotel

Depart U.S for Reykjavik Borgarbyggo Hotel Husafell Siglufjordur Siglo Hotel Lake Myvatn Fosshotel Myvatn Selfoss Hotel Selfoss

Grand Hotel 9-10 Reykjavik

Reykjavik 11 Depart Reykjavik for U.S.

Rating First Class First Class First Class First Class First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be listed.

24

Visit Skogafoss, which often features rainbows on sunny days.

Air

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Reykjavik, Iceland Day 2: Reykjavik and Borgarbyggo Arriving early morning in Iceland’s capital, meet your tour leaders and enjoy a scenic drive north stopping for breakfast along the way. Then take an excursion to the thermal areas of Deildartunguhver and also to Hraunfossar Falls. Visit the Settlement Center, an interactive museum detailing the story of Iceland’s earliest settlers, including that of famed 10th-century Viking Egil Skallagrimsson. After reaching your hotel mid-afternoon, enjoy time to relax before this evening’s briefing on the journey ahead followed by a welcome dinner. (B,D)

for scenic views. Call on a Gauksmyri farm to see their famed Icelandic horses – small and hardy, with long manes – and tour Glambaer, a folk museum featuring authentic turf houses. Reach the small fishing village of Siglufjordur and arrive at your hotel in time for dinner tonight. (B,D)

Day 3: Borgarbyggo and Snaefellsnes Peninsula Encounter the stupendous scenery of the Snaefells­nes Peninsula. Begin with a walk along the shell sand beach at the abandoned fishing village of Budir, surrounded by a vast lava field. Explore the caves and bizarre rock formations along the rugged shore at Arnarstapi, site of thousands of nesting cliff birds. After stopping for lunch at a rustic oceanfront restaurant, visit Djupalonssandur where you see the haunting remains of abandoned coastal farms. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Lake Myvatn and Jokulsargljufur National Park Today travel to beautiful Lake Myvatn. One of the world’s natural wonders, Lake Myvatn and its environs of bubbling mud flats, lava fields, and lunarlike volcanic craters comprise a stunning national park. Your explorations begin with a walk to view the fascinating Hverfjall crater, a local land-mark. Later see the region’s unique “pseudo craters,” the boiling mud pots at Namaskard, the bizarre lava formations at Dimmuborgir, the explosive crater at Viti, and the flat volcano system at Krafla. Your last stop is at the incredible Glacial River Canyon National Park (Jokulsargljufur), yet another of Iceland’s natural wonders, where you walk to jaw-dropping Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall and Iceland’s “Niagara Falls.” After this day of stunning scenery, check in to your hotel in time for dinner together tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Siglufjordur Travel towards the northeast corner of Iceland today, through the beautiful Norourardalur Valley. Along the way visit Grabok Crater

Day 6: Lake Myvatn and Husavik This morning traverse Hljodaklettar Echo Cliffs, the labyrinth of “echoing rocks” created by the spiral basalt formations

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Iceland is one of the most revealing places to study the history of our earth. The volcanoes, lava fields, waterfalls, and geysers are amazing reminders of the power of nature. – Judith H.

of arches and ­canyons here. Continue to Asbyrgi, a huge canyon with towering walls; in the middle of the par­tially wooded canyon sits a huge hoof-shaped rock called “The Island.” Continue to Husavik, and embark on a bird-watching cruise to Puffin Island to see the thousands of seabirds here (based on seasonality): puffins, black guillemots, fulmars, and Arctic terns. (B,D) Day 7: Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, Selfoss This morning stop at Godafoss, the “waterfall of the gods,” named for the carvings of Norse gods discarded here when the country was declared Christian 1,000 years ago. Then transfer to the Akureyri airport for the flight to Reykjavik. Upon arrival enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then embark on a city tour of the Icelandic capital, home to more than half of Iceland’s population. Depart for Selfoss, stopping along the way to see the geothermal exhibit at the Hellisheidi Power Plant, Iceland’s largest. Continue your drive along the country’s southern coast to the beautiful agricultural area of Selfoss. (B,L) Day 8: Selfoss and Vik This morning visit the new Lava Centre, dedicated to Iceland‘s riveting volcanic activity and its frequent earthquakes. En route to Vik, stop at Skogafoss waterfall, known for its rainbows on sunny days. Continue to lovely Vik, Iceland’s southernmost town, and enjoy time to have lunch on your own and explore or shop for items of locally produced wool. Take a walk along the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, lined with columnar basalt-filled caves.

En route to the hotel, stop by the Solheimajokull “sliding” glacier, so named for its rapid advance in the 1990s, and visit picturesque Seljalandfoss waterfall. (B,D) Day 9: Reykjavik Traveling back to Reykjavik continue through “saga” country, the setting of one of the country’s famous medieval stories. Stop along the way to visit Gullfoss, the immensely popular “golden” waterfall, and Great Geysir, the most famous of Iceland’s geysers.

After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Thingvellir National Park, known both for its historic importance and as the place where the fissure between the geological Iceland boasts 8-10 million puffins.

plates of North America and Europe is most evident.

Learn about the historic parliament founded here in A.D. 930. Meet with a local expert to learn about the 2008 bank crisis and its effects throughout Iceland.

Dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) Day 10: Reykjavik Today is at leisure to explore and enjoy Reykjavik as you please; those who wish can join in an optional tour to the Blue Lagoon for a soothing bath in geothermal waters. Tonight, celebrate over a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 11: Depart for the U.S. The morning is at leisure. Early this afternoon, depart for the airport and your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Experts Pat Dickerson is a geologist and visiting research fellow with the Jackson School of Geosciences– University of Texas at Austin and the American Geosciences Institute. Her field research focuses on rifts of the world as well as on mountain-building. She was schooled in geology and classical archaeology (B.A.), then geology/tectonics (Ph.D.) at UT–Austin. She draws from those experiences in leading geological and natural history field seminars for Smithsonian groups. Pat will lead the July 25 departure.

Jim Reynolds is a professor of geology at Brevard College. He received his Bachelor’s degree in earth science and Master’s degree in volcanology from Dartmouth College. He then worked in the minerals and energy industries, government, and academia for six years before returning to Dartmouth for a Ph.D. (Andean tectonics, 1987). Jim was awarded two Fulbright Scholarships to teach at Argentine universities, and in 2006 he was inducted into the fellowship of the Geological Society of America. He will lead the Aug., Sep. 12, and Oct. departures. The Sept. 24 departure will be led by a comparable expert.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; flight within itinerary • 9 nights accommodations in First Class hotels • 21 meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all ­entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Iceland’s landscape reveals an austere beauty

2019 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Sep 12u Jul 25t^ u

Oct 24^ Sep 24*u Aug 31° Boston, New York, Washington, DC

$5,597 $6,397 $6,797

Baltimore, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle

$5,897

Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa

$5,997 $6,797 $7,197

Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco

$6,097 $6,897 $7,297

Land Only

$4,995

$6,697

$5,795

$7,097

$6,195

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $402, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $995 Oct; $1,395 all other dates. All 2019 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Accommodations: Days 2-3 *Icelandair Hotel Hamar; Days 5-6: tIcelandair Hotel Myvatn, °Fosshotel Husavik (Husavik); Days 9-10: ^Hotel Centrum (Reykjavik) These departures offer the best opportunities for witnessing the Northern Lights. u

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $1,495 from Boston, Newark, New York, Washington, DC, (Dulles); $2,195 from Chicago, Minneapolis; $2,395 from Denver, Seattle (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

25

EUROPE

Pearls of Croatia and Slovenia 15 days from $5,584 total price from Boston, New York ($5,095 air & land inclusive plus $489 airline taxes and fees)

Independent, democratic Croatia welcomes visitors eager to absorb its remarkable history, culture, and its beautifully unspoiled Dalmatian coastline. As your small group travels from historic Zagreb and beautiful Lake Bled to the Habsburg resort of Opatija, the island of Hvar, and beloved Dubrovnik, you see why this cherished region lays such a claim on the hearts of all who visit.

Lake Bled

SLOVENIA

Ljubljana

Zagreb Istrian Peninsula Opatija Rovinj Pula

CROATIA Plitvice Lakes National Park

Dalmatian Coast Trogir Overnight

Ship

Adriatic Sea

Extension (Motorcoach)

Avg. High (°F) Zagreb Dubrovnik

Enjoy a pleasing mix of guided touring and time on your own in Dubrovnik, whose medieval Old City is a World Heritage site.

Hvar

Featured Site Motorcoach

Split

Dubrovnik Cavtat

Tivat (Bay of Kotor)

Apr May Sep Oct 63 70 73 61 63 70 77 69

Highlights Include Tour historic Zagreb and vibrant Ljubljana • Discover the fairy-tale setting of Slovenia’s Lake Bled • Explore the Postojna Cave and Plitvice Lakes National Park • Experience the Istrian Peninsula and dramatic Dalmatian coastline • Tour Diocletian’s Palace, a World Heritage site • Tour charming Opatija and enjoy a two-night stay on island of Hvar • Discover Dubrovnik, including the Old City walls

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-3 4-5 6-8

Deluxe Sup. First Class Sup. First Class

Depart U.S. for Zagreb Zagreb Esplanade Zagreb Ljubljana Grand Hotel Union Opatija Hotel Milenij 9 Trogir The Trogir

Palace Hotel 10-11 Hvar Adriana Hotel Hvar

12-14 Dubrovnik Grand Villa

Argentina 15 Depart Dubrovnik for U.S.

First Class Sup. First Class First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

26

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Zagreb, Croatia Day 2: Arrive Zagreb After a connecting flight in Europe, arrive in Zagreb and transfer to your hotel.

As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, there are no group activities or meals planned for today.

Day 3: Zagreb This morning’s tour of the Croatian capital by coach and on foot reveals a gracious city of culture and hospitality. Visit Mirogoj Park Cemetery, known for its arcades and sculpture, then continue through Old Town with a visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. After calling on the colorful Dolac open air market, the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. (B,D) Day 4: Ljubljana, Slovenia Departing by coach for the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, arrive in time for lunch on your own. An afternoon walking tour reveals the charming heart of Ljubljana, a friendly, mid-sized European capital with a historic city center, ornate building facades, romantic bridges, and abundant parkland. Dine tonight at the hotel. (B,D) Day 5: Ljubljana and Lake Bled Travel northwest this morning to the town of Bled, whose namesake lake is reminiscent of a fairytale. Surrounded by the Julian Alps and deep forests, and with a medieval castle perched on its shore, the almost mile-wide

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

lake ranks as a popular destination. After touring the castle enjoy a boat ride around the scenic lake.

Return to Ljubljana, where the rest of the day is at leisure. (B,L) Day 6: Ljubljana, Postojna, Opatija, Croatia En route to Opatija today, stop to explore Postojna Cave, the almost 13-mile long karst cave system where an electric train takes you deeper than is possible in any other cave in the world. Then, after free time here for lunch on your own, continue on to Opatija, the seaside resort where Habsburg princes once vacationed. Upon arrival, explore the “Opatija Riviera” on a walking tour of this modern-day resort town nestled between green forested hills and the cobalt Adriatic. Dine together tonight. (B,D) Day 7: Opatija and Istrian Peninsula Today’s tour of the Istrian Peninsula reveals the multicultural roots of this alluring spit of land jutting into the Adriatic. At various times a vassal of Venice, the first Austro-Hungarian Empire, Fascist Italy, the Yugoslav Federation, and finally, Croatia, Istra, as it is known, boasts an interesting history, mild Mediterranean climate, lovely scenery, and good wines. Your first stop is in the port of Pula, where you visit the well-preserved remains of a Roman amphitheater (c. 177 ce).

Next is Rovinj, a charming old Venetian port where you are free to explore on your own and perhaps enjoy

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

lunch at an outdoor café. After returning to Opatija late this afternoon, dine together tonight at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 8: Opatija Today visit nearby Moscenicka, once a fishing village that now draws visitors to its tranquil port and beautiful pebble beaches. After lunch together, return to Opatija where the remainder of the day is at leisure amid the Belle-Epoque architecture and atmosphere. (B,L) Day 9: Opatija, Plitvice Lakes, Trogir Travel south this morning for an excursion to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Famed for its string of 16 turquoisecolored lakes connected by a series of waterfalls and cascades, separated by distinctive travertine deposits, and surrounded by dense forests, Plitvice counts as one of the first World Heritage natural sites and Croatia’s largest national park. Late afternoon depart for Trogir, arriving early this evening in time for dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 10: Trogir, Split, Hvar This morning travel to Split, the main city of the central Dalmatian Coast and home of 3rd-century Diocletian’s Palace. As you see on your guided tour, the palace, and eventually its ruins, formed the historic heart of picturesque Split.

After time for lunch on your own, board a ferry for the two-hour cruise to Hvar, “queen” of the Dalmatian islands. Upon arrival travel by coach to lively Hvar Town, where you spend the next two nights.

Dine tonight at a local restaurant just a short walk from the hotel. (B,D) Day 11: Hvar With captivating natural beauty and a strategic Adriatic location, Hvar has prospered since antiquity. Discover some of its charms this morning, first with a walking tour of Venetian-tinged Hvar Town, then with a walking tour of nearby Stari Grad.

Here, in one of Croatia’s oldest cities, you will have time to wander on your own. Enjoy lunch and a tasting

Post-Tour Extension

Montenegro

4 days/3 nights from $1,245 total price Single Supplement: $455

Discover this tiny nation with a stunning coastline, imposing mountains, ancient towns, and a rich culture formed from its perch straddling East and West.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip private motorcoach transportation Dubrovnik/ Tivat, Montenegro • 3 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Tivat at Regent Porto Montenegro (Deluxe); 1 night in Cavtat, Croatia, at Hotel Croatia (Superior First Class) • 5 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners • Extensive included sightseeing: Kotor town and bay, Our Lady of the Rocks church, walled city of Budva, historic capital of Cetinje, Roman mosaics of Risan • Services of a professional Tour Director • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, hotel porters, and all drivers

at a local winery before returning to your hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure. (B,L) Day 12: Hvar and Dubrovnik Continue your journey south today, leaving Hvar for the mainland and traveling along the scenic Dalmatian coast to popular and beloved Dubrovnik. After reaching your hotel late afternoon, enjoy dinner there this evening. (B,D) Day 13: Dubrovnik Today discover the city whose ancient walls have withstood both time and tide for hundreds of years. Begin with a walking tour around the city walls, whose original ramparts and bastions date to the 12th and 13th centuries (Dubrovnik itself was founded in the 7th century). Then continue through the Old City, paying a visit to the stately Baroque Cathedral (c. 1672). You also see the Treasury, whose gilded shelves and historic relics sit behind locked wooden doors; and the Franciscan monastery with a 14th-century pharmacy. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. (B) Day 14: Dubrovnik Today is free to explore on your own. From the medieval Old Town to the contemporary city with its Mediterranean accent, Dubrovnik offers discoveries aplenty. Enjoy a small group highlight as you set out late this afternoon for a farewell dinner with a local family whose home overlooks Dubrovnik. The menu features produce from their garden, homemade olive oil, and local wine. (B,D) Day 15: Depart for the U.S. This morning transfer to the airport for your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Hugh Agnew earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University and currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on history at the George Washington University, where he is a member of the Institute for Russian, European, and Eurasian Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs. Hugh has published books on Czech history and many articles on aspects of East European history. His insightful talks on past Smithsonian Journeys throughout Eastern Europe have made him a favorite with Smithsonian travelers. Hugh will lead the September departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 13 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels • 25 meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Hvar Town’s palm-lined harborside promenade

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2020 Apr 20*

2019 Sep 30

2020 May 14*

Boston, New York

$5,584

$5,784

$5,984

Philadelphia,

$5,784 Washington, DC

$5,984 $6,184

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago Cincinnati, Cleveland, $5,884 $6,084 $6,284 Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$5,984 $6,184 $6,384

Land Only

$4,695

$4,895

$5,095

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $489, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,395. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed. *Accommodations in Zagreb: Amadria Park Hotel Capitol Montenegro Post-Tour Extension: $1,245 Sep; $1,295 Apr, May. Single Supplement: $455 all dates Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,795 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 Sep; $1,595 Apr, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking uphill and on uneven or cobblestone streets. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy this tour to the fullest.

27

AFRICA

African Safari

Botswana, Zambia, and Victoria Falls

14 days from $8,284 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC ($7,295 air, land & safari inclusive plus $989 airline taxes and fees)

Discover an extraordinary safari experience in some of southern Africa’s great wildlife sanctuaries. With our Smithsonian Journeys Expert, you’ll explore magnificent Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, captivating Chobe National Park in Botswana, and remote Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia on this unique journey.

Lusaka

ZAMBIA

Lower Zambezi Nat’l Park Chobe Nat’l Park

Livingstone/ Victoria Falls

ZIMBABWE Indian Ocean

BOTSWANA

Overnight/Featured Site

SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town

Johannesburg

Air (Private charter) Extension (Air)

Mar 86 86

Apr 85 82

May 82 79

Oct 90 89

Nov 88 91

Highlights Include Tour spectacular Victoria Falls • Search for the “Big Five” in southern Africa • Take a guided walking tour on the massive Victoria Falls bridge • Discover Chobe National Park’s diverse and abundant game on early morning game drives and afternoon boat safaris • Explore remote Lower Zambezi National Park during a three-night stay at the unique Royal Zambezi Lodge

Day Itinerary 1 2-3

Hotel

Depart U.S. for Johannesburg Rosebank 54 on Bath

Batonka Guest 4-6 Victoria Falls

Lodge 7-9 Chobe Nat’l Park Chobe Marina

Lodge

Lower Zambezi

Royal Zambezi 10-12

National Park Lodge Lusaka/ Radisson Blu 13

Depart for U.S. Lusaka (day room) 14 Arrive U.S.

Rating Deluxe Not rated Sup. First Class Deluxe Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too new, too small, or too remote to be listed.

28

There will be multiple opportunities to see big game up close while on safari.

Safari Vehicles

Atlantic Ocean

Avg. High (°F) Sydney Alice Springs (Zambia

Air

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Johannesburg, South Africa Upon arrival transfer to the hotel in the suburb of Rosebank. (1B) Day 3: Johannesburg and Soweto Meet your fellow travelers today and embark on a full-day tour of the Soweto district of Johannesburg. See the home of former Archbishop Desmond Tutu; visit Nelson Mandela’s home, which is now a museum; and tour the moving Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, and learn more about apartheid and the Soweto uprising of 1976. Before lunch, hear stories from a local Sowetan who was present during the uprising.

Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. (B,L,D) Day 4: Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Fly today to Livingstone, Zambia, then transfer to Victoria Falls and your historic hotel.

View the thundering falls, first “discovered” by David Livingstone and claimed for Queen Victoria in 1855.

With its 300-foot-deep gorge and soaking spray, “Vic” Falls is a wonder of the natural world. (B,D) Day 5: Victoria Falls Enjoy a small group highlight: a game drive to spot the elusive black rhino. This experience serves to educate visitors about the increasing threats to Africa’s wildlife. Late afternoon embark on a “Sundowner” dinner cruise on the Zambezi, where you see wildlife on shore and in the water. (B,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 6: Victoria Falls Take a guided tour of the Victoria Falls bridge and learn about its construction from atop the catwalks. This afternoon is at leisure to relax at your grand hotel. Tonight hear a fascinating guest speaker on “The Story of David Livingstone,” followed by dinner together. (B,D) Day 7: Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park, Botswana This morning visit a local school, then travel two hours by motorcoach to Botswana and Chobe National Park, boasting one of the largest concentrations of game in all of Africa. After settling in and enjoying lunch at the lodge, embark on a gameviewing boat safari on the Chobe River, where you may see hippo, crocodiles, some of the park’s 450 species of birds (including the Sacred ibis, carmine Bee-eaters, Fish Eagle, and Kingfisher) and perhaps a beautiful Chobe sunset. Dine tonight at the lodge. (B,L,D) Day 8: Chobe National Park Known for its diverse terrain that attracts an exceptional array of wildlife – including the world’s largest elephant population (around 120,000), along with zebra, lion, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, and buffalo – Chobe covers 7,270 square miles of protected parkland.

See a portion of this natural wonder on this morning’s game drive and this afternoon’s boat safari. (B,L,D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Africa and its wonders must be experienced in person! Nature at its best!

– Allen S.

Day 9: Chobe National Park Settle into a comfortable routine, with early morning and late afternoon game drives. In between game viewing activities, enjoy the amenities of the lodge on the banks of the Chobe River, adjacent to the park itself. (B,L,D) Day 10: Chobe National Park and Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia Board a privately chartered plane for the 1½-hour flight to Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia’s newest reserve (since 1983) and, as the former private sanctuary of Zambia’s president, the least developed. Here in one of Africa’s last stretches of pristine wilderness get closer to the animals than anywhere else. This afternoon engage in some of the lodge’s game viewing activities that include open vehicle game drives, fishing, guided canoe trips, bush walks, and boat safaris. (B,L,D) Day 11: Lower Zambezi National Park A day of game viewing activities await in this 1,600 square mile park on the southern end of Zambia known for its 100-strong elephant herds, unusually large Thundering Victoria Falls prides of lion, plus buffalo, waterbuck, antelope, zebra, crocodile, and hippos. Together with Zimbabwe’s renowned

Post-Tour Extension

Cape Town, South Africa

4 days/3 nights for $1,495 total price Single Supplement from $295

Discover South Africa’s sparkling Cape Town, from Table Mountain and the Malay Quarter to the Cape Peninsula and The Winelands.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Air transportation Lusaka/Cape Town, inclusive of airline taxes and fees • 3 nights accommodations at The Table Bay Hotel (Deluxe) • 6 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner • Extensive included sightseeing: full-day Cape Peninsula tour; full-day Cape Town and Winelands tour • Services of a professional tour representative • Private motorcoach/van transportation • Transfers to/from airport • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers Please note that guests on the extension will proceed directly to Cape Town and will not use the hotel day room in Lusaka on Day 13.

Mana Pools Reserve situated across the river, the Lower Zambezi National Park forms a massive sanctuary and World Heritage site where you’ll enjoy unparalleled game and bird viewing. (B,L,D) Day 12: Lower Zambezi National Park From the 14-room luxury lodge on the banks of the Zambezi, take part in game viewing activities in this lush riverine environment of 50 mammal species and 400 bird species.

With the Zambezi River, abundant game on the valley floor, and the Zambezi Escarpment as a backdrop, the Lower Zambezi National Park offers a dramatic setting for game viewing, as does the lodge, where animals roam freely on the grounds. Tonight celebrate your wildlife adventure at a farewell dinner. (B,L,D) Day 13: Royal Zambezi National Park, Lusaka, Depart for the U.S. Travel by charter flight today to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, where you have hotel day rooms until the departure this evening for the airport and the overnight flight to the U.S. (B) Day 14: Arrive in the U.S. Arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with your flights home.

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Tiiu Lukk first fell in love with Africa when she was on assignment there as a foreign correspondent for ABC News.

Since then, she has served as a naturalist and enrichment lecturer on board cruise ships, as well as on land, most recently covering territory from Namibia to East Africa. Tiiu received her B.A. degree in art from St. Olaf College, and her M.S. degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her work on the PBS anthropological film, “Trobri and Cricket,” earned her an Emmy Award. She will lead the October departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from cities listed; all flights within itinerary • 11 nights accommodations: 5 nights in Deluxe hotels; 6 nights in Deluxe and Superior First Class lodges • 29 meals: 12 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 10 dinners • Game viewing as described, including all park entrance fees • Mineral water while on safari • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, driver/guides, hotel and lodge staff, and porters

You may see cheetahs, the fastest land animal

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 27*

2020 Mar 28

Boston, New York,

Washington, DC

$8,284 $8,584 $8,984

Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles San Francisco, Seattle

$8,584

$8,884

$9,284

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami,

Minneapolis, Orlando Philadelphia, Tampa

$8,684

$8,984

$9,384

Denver, Detroit

Phoenix, Portland (OR)

$8,784 $9,084 $9,484

Land Only

$6,895

$7,195

2020 May 2

$7,595

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy in a Deluxe thatched tent at Royal Zambezi Lodge and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $989, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395 Oct; $1,195 Mar, May. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Upgrade to thatched tent suite with large living area and private plunge pool at Royal Zambezi Lodge: $165 ($295 single *Accommodations in Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls Hotel Depending on flight schedules, certain U.S. cities may require a departure one day prior to the listed schedule above.

Cape Town Post-Tour Extension: $1,495 all dates Single Supplement: $295 Mar, May; $345 Oct Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $4,995 Oct; $5,495 Mar, May per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

29

AFRICA

Splendors of Morocco

from the Imperial Cities to the Sahara

14 days from $5,879 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC

Encounter many of Morocco’s age-old kasbahs on your journey.

($5,195 air & land inclusive plus $684 airline taxes and fees)

Morocco is a land of contrasts – Roman ruins and sacred mosques, endless desert and storied mountains, imposing kasbahs and spirited souks. On this exotic adventure, discover the imperial cities of Rabat, Fez, and Marrakech; the High Atlas Mountains; and the vast Sahara.

Our journey will open your eyes and heart to a traditional culture and gracious people.

Mediterranean Sea Atlantic Ocean Rabat

Casablanca

Meknes

Fez

Atlas Mountains

MOROCCO

Marrakech Erfoud Ait ben-Haddou Ouarzazate

Overnight

Sahara Desert

Featured Site Motorcoach

Avg. High (°F) Rabat Marrakech

Jan Feb Mar Apr Nov Dec 65 65 68 71 70 65 64 68 74 79 73 66

Highlights Include Enjoy a Sahara sunset excursion and camel ride on the dunes • Visit five World Heritage sites including the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fez, and Marrakech • Tour the ruins of Volubilis • Enjoy a home-hosted dinner in Fez • Relax with an afternoon of Arabic music • Marvel at the scenic “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs” and the dramatic Todra Gorges • Tour the kasbah of Ait ben-Haddou • Enjoy tea with a local family • Traverse through Marrakech’s medina and Djemaa el Fna Square • Meet with an imam in Marrakech • Tour Casablanca and Hassan II mosque

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-3 4-6 7-8 9 10-12

Sup. First Class Deluxe First Class Sup. First Class Deluxe

Depart U.S. for Casablanca Rabat La Tour Hassan Fez Hotel Sahrai Erfoud Le Palais du Desért Ouarzazate Le Berbere Palace Marrakech Sofitel Marrakech 13 Casablanca Hyatt Regency

Casablanca 14 Depart Casablanca for U.S.

Deluxe

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

30

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Casablanca, Morocco Day 2: Casablanca and Rabat After arriving in Casa­blanca, the commercial center of Morocco (and of all North Africa), proceed to Rabat, and check into your hotel near famed Hassan Tower. Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel. (D) Day 3: Rabat One of Morocco’s four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is the present-day capital, at once historic and contemporary as you discover on today’s tour. Visit the fortified Kasbah of the Oudaias, the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, and the necropolis of Chellah, built on ancient Roman ruins. Cross the river to Sale for lunch in a private home followed by a visit to the new Mohammed VI contemporary art museum and a walk through the medina (old city).

Late afternoon return to your hotel before enjoying dinner together at Dinarjat, an acclaimed restaurant in Rabat’s Old Town. (B,L,D) Day 4: Meknes, Volubilis, Fez Depart Rabat for Fez this morning, stopping along the way in Meknes, Morocco’s youngest imperial city (and World Heritage site). Visit the Bab el Mansour gateway and the ruins of the imperial stables before lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to the ancient Roman ruins at the site of Volubilis, known for its intricate and

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

colorful mosaics. Upon arrival in Fez check into your elegant hotel adjacent to the medina, another World Heritage site. (B,L,D) Day 5: Fez Explore Morocco’s oldest imperial city, considered the “Athens of Africa.” Begin with a walking tour of Fez’s fascinating medina, focusing on the artisans’ quarters, the 14th-century Koranic schools, and Al Karaouine, the medieval theological university. Return to the hotel for lunch and some time at leisure, then tour the old mellah (Jewish quarter) and its 17th-cen­tury synagogue, the royal gates, and the Museum of Fez. Tonight enjoy a private dinner at an intimate family-run riad in Fez. (B,L,D) Day 6: Fez This morning return to the medina to discover some hidden treasures, including the Blue Gate, the medieval school of Bouanania, and the 12th-century home of Jewish scholar Maimonides.

Share tea with a local family and visit the traditional quarter to watch artisans craft the acclaimed Fez pottery and ceramics. After lunch, enjoy a concert of enchanting Arabic music. (B,D) Day 7: Midelt and Erfoud Cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. Stop in the small town of Midelt for lunch, then cross the Ziz River, passing rows of sky-scraping palm trees and fortified villages before

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

This was an amazing trip to an exotic land. Truly a sublime experience that I will always treasure. – Melanie P.

reaching your kasbah-style hotel in Erfoud late in the day. Dinner tonight is at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 8: Erfoud, Rissani, Merzouga Visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. Set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. In the enormous silence, watch the sun set over the desert from atop a camel. (B,L,D) Day 9: Tinehir, Todra Gorges, Ouarzazate One impressive scene unfolds after another on today’s journey to the snowcapped High Atlas. Visit the village of Tinehir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of riverside ter­races lush with palm trees, and see spectacular 984-foot Todra Gorges, home to a variety of rare bird and plant species.

Follow­ing lunch, visit El Kelaa Visit Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech des Mgouna, Morocco’s “rose capital,” then set out on the fabled “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs” ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated facades.

Spend the evening in the town of Ouarzazate (the “door of the desert”). (B,L,D) Day 10: Ait ben-Haddou and Marrakech En route to Marrakech today, stop first at uninhab­ited Ait ben-Haddou, a World Heritage site. Its old section consists of deep red kasbahs packed together so tightly they appear to be a single unit. Descending from the High Atlas, enjoy views of typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. Arrive in Marrakech late this afternoon and dine tonight at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 11: Marrakech The city of Marrakech is an allur­ing oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sites. Today’s touring includes the Koutoubia Mosque with its distinctive 282foot minaret visible from miles away, the beautiful Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace, and the ruins of the 16th-century Palais El Badii. After lunch at the hotel, embark on a walking tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna Square, a World Heritage site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charm­ers, ­entertainers, storytellers, musicians, and sellers of fruits and spices. Dinner tonight is on your own in this exotic city. (B,L)

Watch the Sahara sunset from atop a camel train

Day 12: Marrakech Travel by horse-drawn carriage from Menara Park to Majorelle Garden, a private botanical garden with 15 species of birds native to North Africa and known for its cobalt blue accents. Visit the newly renovated Berber Museum, with art and artifacts reflecting Berber culture in Morocco. This afternoon, enjoy an exciting meeting when you visit the home of a local imam to discuss the Muslim faith. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant in the city’s Old Town. (B,D) Day 13: Marrakech and Casablanca Depart Marra­kech this morning for storied Casablanca, Morocco’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After a brief orientation tour of the city, visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s only functioning mosque open to non-Muslims. Tonight celebrate your Moroccan adventure during a farewell dinner at a festive and lively restaurant. (B,D) Day 14: Depart for the U.S. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Chloé Capel is a field archaeologist in the medieval history PHOTO specializing of North and Western Africa. She TK received her Ph.D. in medieval archaeology from the Sorbonne University (Paris, France) and was a lecturer in Islamic arts at the Ecole du Louvre (Paris, France) for 10 years. She participated in numerous archaeological expeditions across the Sahara (Egypt, Mauritania, Ethiopia, and Niger) and currently works on several archaeological programs in southernMorocco. Chloé is a specialist of the famous caravan city of Sijilmassa, southeastern Morocco and co-directs the archaeological excavations of Aghmat, which was a powerful and thriving medieval city located close to present-day Marrakech. She will lead the November departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 12 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels • 31 meals: 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Nov 29 2020 Jan 31

2020 Mar 3 Mar 14 Apr 14

Boston, New York, Washington, DC

$5,879 $6,179

Atlanta, Chicago

$6,079

$6,379

Baltimore, Charlotte, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia

$6,179

$6,479

Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa

$6,279

$6,579

Land Only

$4,995

$5,295

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $684, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,295 Jan, Nov; $1,495 all other dates. All 2019/2020 prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,795 per person; Premium Economy – $1,195 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

31

AFRICA

Ancient Egypt and the Nile 15 days from $5,297 total price from Boston, New York

Featuring Abu Simbel

Travel to the Giza plateau to see the legendary pyramids, built 5,000 years ago as royal tombs.

($4,695 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $602 airline taxes and fees)

Accompanied by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert and Egyptologist, this small group journey through antiquity travels from vibrant Cairo and the Great Pyramids to Abu Simbel and Aswan, plus a classic voyage along the Lower Nile from Aswan to Luxor.

Mediterranean Sea

Amman

JORDAN

Cairo Giza

Petra

Red Sea

EGYPT Luxor

Overnight Featured Site

Nile River Aswan

Ship Air Extension (Motorcoach) Extension (Air)

Avg. High (°F) Cairo Aswan Luxor

Abu Simbel

Lake Nasser

Jan Feb 65 67 74 78 73 74

Mar Apr 72 81 86 94 82 91

Highlights Include Discover Cairo’s intriguing ancient sites, including the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara • Enjoy Old Cairo touring • Explore the renowned Egyptian Museum • View Abu Simbel’s dramatic temples • Experience a Nile felucca sail • Relax on a Nile River cruise • Visit the Aswan Dam and the temples at Kalabsha • Marvel at the ancient temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens

Day Itinerary

Hotel

Rating

1

Depart U.S. for Cairo

Four Seasons at the Deluxe 2-4 Cairo

First Residence Mövenpick 5-6 Aswan Deluxe

Resort Aswan 7-9 Nile cruise M/S Hamees Deluxe

Steigenberger Sup. First 10-11 Luxor

Nile Palace Class

Four Seasons at the 12-13 Cairo Deluxe

First Residence 14 Depart Cairo for U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

32

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Cairo, Egypt Arrive in the Egyptian capital and transfer to your hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, no group activities or meals have been planned.

Day 3: Cairo After a morning briefing, your fullday tour begins at the acclaimed Egyptian Museum, the world’s greatest repository of ancient relics. Then tour the Citadel of Saladin housing the alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Day 4: Cairo This morning discover the astounding Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx, whose leonine body and human face were carved from a single piece of limestone. This afternoon encounter Old Cairo, the district where early capital cities once rose. Visit 5th-century St. Sergius Church, the Coptic church of el-Muallaqa, and Ben Ezra Synagogue, built in 882. (B,L) Day 5: Cairo, Abu Simbel, Aswan Very early this morning fly to Aswan, where you connect with your flight to Abu Simbel. Here, on the west bank of Lake Nasser, visit the two massive rock temples guarded by statues of Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, featuring incredibly well-preserved murals within. Carved into a mountainside between B.C. 1264-1244, the temples were moved stone by stone to their current location

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

in 1968; otherwise, they would have been flooded and submerged by the creation of Lake Nasser.

After touring this World Heritage site, return to the airport for the flight back to Aswan, where you have lunch at a local restaurant then check in at your hotel. Dine tonight at your hotel. (B,L,D) Day 6: Aswan Today see the Aswan High Dam, considered a marvel of engineering when completed in 1965 to control Nile flooding. Then tour the Temples of Philae, in antiquity a pilgrimage site for the cult of Isis and one of ancient Nubia’s – and now Egypt’s – most important temple complexes. Built between B.C. 380-362 on a small island in the Nile, Philae, like Abu Simbel, was relocated to save it from flooding; its current island site closely resembles the original. Move on to lunch at a local restaurant, then this afternoon visit the Nubian Museum, an acclaimed showcase of Nubian art and architecture.

Mid-afternoon return to your hotel; dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) Day 7: Aswan After breakfast at your hotel this morning, board your ship and embark on a threenight Nile cruise, enjoying lunch together onboard.

This afternoon, board small feluccas, replicas of ancient Nile sailboats, for a relaxing afternoon sail.

Sailing along the Nile, pass by the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island, home of the British hero who

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

helped tame the Sudan; see Elephantine Island, with its huge granite rocks; and the tomb of the Aga Khan.

Then dine and overnight aboard your Nile ship in Aswan. (B,L,D) Day 8: Nile Cruising – Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu Cruise today to the site of the ancient trading town at Kom Ombo with its unusual double temple and outstanding Nile views. Then sail on to Edfu, where tonight you are invited to a shipboard celebration. (B,L,D) Day 9: Nile Cruising – Edfu, Luxor, West Bank This morning sail to Luxor, the world’s “greatest open-air museum,” whose vast temple complexes, tombs, and statues dating from B.C. 2755 represent the pinnacle of Egyptian architecture. Here tour the haunting Valley of the Kings, where 34 royal tombs feature magnificent paintings; the Valley of the Queens; and the dramatic Temple of Hatshepsut, honoring one of the few female pharaohs. Also see the massive Colossi of Memnon, two 64-foot- high statues of Amenhotep III that once guarded the gates of his own tomb. As an added highlight you will also tour the village of Deir el Medina; home to the artisans who constructed the Valley of the Kings. Back on board, tonight enjoy a show of Middle Eastern belly dancing. (B,L,D) Day 10: Disembark, Luxor, East Bank After disembarking your ship later this morning, explore the East Bank, home of Karnak, the greatest temple complex

of them all, whose ruins stretch for more than a mile.

Also visit Luxor Temple, whose builders included both Tutankhamun and Alexander the Great. Enjoy lunch together before time at leisure this afternoon. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. (B,L,D) Day 11: Luxor You have the choice to rise very early to see the West Bank from above on an optional hot air balloon ride. Later this morning visit Luxor Museum, housing relics discovered at the site. The afternoon free before enjoying dinner together at your hotel. (B,D) Day 12: Luxor and Cairo Fly to Cairo today, where this afternoon you visit Khan el-Khalili bazaar. (B) Day 13: Cairo Begin today’s exploration at the open-air museum at Memphis, Egypt’s first capital believed to be some 5,000 years old. Your next stop is at nearby Sakkara the vast burial ground for Memphis, with various pyramids (including the famous Step Pyramid) and decorated chambers. Also see the lesser-visited site of Dahshur; home to the Bent and Red pyramids. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D) Day 14: Depart for the U.S. Very early this morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

Post-Tour Extension

Jordan: Petra & Amman

5 days/4 nights for $1,695 total price Single Supplement: $395

Discover the fabled “rose-red city, half as old as time” on this exciting exploration, plus ancient Jerash and the capital of Amman.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Air transportation Cairo/Amman • 4 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Petra at Mövenpick Resort Petra (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Amman at Grand Hyatt Amman (Deluxe) • 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners • Extensive included sightseeing: Madaba (City of Mosaics); Mt. Nebo pilgrimage site; full day at Petra; Amman’s Roman theatre and Citadel; Roman ruins of Jerash • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation • Gratuities for Tour Director, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Smithsonian Journeys Expert

M/S Hamees

Sail traditional feluccas along the Nile

Emily Teeter received her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Her areas of specialization are the religion, social history, and the material culture of ancient Egypt. Emily has written a wide variety of popular and scholarly articles, published many books on Egypt, and has curated many permanent and temporary exhibits of Egyptian artifacts in major museums in the United States. She has conducted fieldwork in Alexandria, Giza, and Luxor and has appeared on many television programs about Egypt. Emily will lead the February 15 and March 21 departures. Janet Jones (see page 6) will lead the January 4 departure, and the other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within Egypt • 12 nights accommodations: 9 nights in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels; 3 nights aboard a Deluxe ship • 29 meals: 12 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including shore excursions • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Apr 4

Apr 11

Jan 4 Mar 7 Mar 21

Jan 11 Feb 1 Feb 15

Boston, New York

$5,297

$5,497

$5,697

Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$5,597

$5,797

$5,997

Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland,

Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami

$5,697 $5,897 $6,097

Denver, Minneapolis, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa

$5,797

$5,997

$6,197

Land Only

$4,395

$4,595

$4,795

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy in an outside cabin on the cruise and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $602, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $1,195. All 2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transatlantic flight: Business Class – $3,195 per person; Premium Economy – $1,495 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

33

NORTH AMERICA

Alaska’s Natural Wonders 11 days from $7,087 total price from Seattle

A highlight of any journey to Alaska: Denali, North America’s highest peak.

($6,995 air & land inclusive plus $92 airline taxes and fees)

Awe-inspiring natural beauty and outdoor adventure await as you explore Alaska’s varied landscapes and noteworthy cities. From Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords national parks, to the energy of Anchorage and scenic Seward, your small group encounters the breadth and beauty of America’s Last Frontier.

Overnight Air

Denali National Park

Motorcoach

A LASKA

Train

Chitina Talkeetna

Seward Kenai Fjords National Park

Avg. High (°F) Anchorage Denali Seward

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Knik Valley

Anchorage

Gulf of Alaska

Jun 63 68 59

Jul 66 69 61

Aug 64 63 62

Highlights Include Explore scenic Denali National Park • Visit an Iditarod sled dog kennel • Discover remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park • Visit the copper mining town of Kennicott • Hike to Root Glacier • Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center • Cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park • Tour Anchorage and visit the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum

Day Itinerary

Hotel

1

Anchorage Marriott First Class Downtown Denali Park First Class Village Lodge

2-4

5-6

7

Depart Seattle for Anchorage Denali National Park Kennicott (Wrangell-St. Elias Nat’l Park) Knik Valley

Kennicott Glacier Lodge

Rating

First Class

Knik River Lodge First Class Seward 8-9 Seward First Class

Windsong Lodge Anchorage Marriott First Class 10 Anchorage

Downtown 11 Depart Anchorage Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

34

Day 1: Depart Seattle for Anchorage, Alaska Depart today for Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.

Upon arrival, check in to your hotel then have time to explore on your own. As guests’ arrival times may vary, there are no group activities planned.

Day 2: Anchorage and Denali National Park This morning meet your Smithsonian Journeys Expert, Tour Director, and fellow travelers at a welcome briefing about the journey ahead. Then depart by motorcoach for Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska’s – and America’s – true Last Frontier. First travel to Talkeetna, where you board a deluxe domed railcar that provides you with panoramic views of the passing landscape on the four-hour journey. Upon arrival in Denali late this afternoon, enjoy a special interpretive presentation, “Welcome to the SubArctic,” introducing you to the park. (B,D) Day 3: Denali National Park Today is a day of extreme beauty as you encounter Denali National Park up close. This six-million-acre preserve, larger than the state of Massachusetts, comprises forests, alpine tundra, subarctic taiga, and snow-covered mountains. Begin a full day of touring as you board a Denali bus for the drive along the lone road deep into the park. Stop at the Eielson Visitor Center, where, weather permitting, you may see one of the most dramatic views of grand Denali (formerly Mt.

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

McKinley), North America’s tallest peak standing at more than 20,000 feet. Throughout your journey, a local naturalist and your driver-guide will share stories about the park and the historic characters who found their way to this remote wilderness. After stopping for a box lunch, set out on an easy hike through the park’s tundra, where you may see grizzly bear, moose, caribou, and the iconic Dall sheep. (B,L) Day 4: Denali National Park Today enjoy an authentic Alaska experience as you visit a local Iditarod sled dog kennel. Covering 1,000 miles of some of the roughest terrain in the world, the grueling Iditarod, “The Last Great Race on Earth,” draws nearly 100 competitive mushers and their dog teams annually. At the kennel, learn about the history of the race and meet the kennel’s Husky puppies, who will soon start their training to become working sled dogs. Return to the lodge for lunch followed by an afternoon at leisure. This evening reconvene for dinner and a lively show at the Denali Dinner Theater housed in an authentic log cabin. (B,D) Day 5: Denali National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Depart Denali by motorcoach this morning for the day-long journey to remote Chitina (pop. 126). Here board a prop plane for the scenic flight deep into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States at

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

8.3 million acres. Your destination: the historic copper mining towns of Kennicott and McCarthy, sitting deep within the park. During your 30-minute flight, get your first views of the park’s rugged wilderness, including 5,000 square miles of pristine glaciers, volcanoes, and mountains. Upon landing, transfer to your lodge in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias, overlooking 25 miles of glacier and surrounded by 14 of the highest mountain peaks in North America. Dine tonight at the lodge, the only one in Kennicott. (B,L,D) Day 6: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Home to more than 150 glaciers, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park contains the largest collection of these ice masses in North America. See one of these glaciers up close today on a singular half-day hike to Root Glacier. After being fitted with crampons – steel shoe spikes created to traverse ice – begin the two-mile excursion to the glacier and behold the natural beauty before you: unspoiled icefields, blue pools, cascading waterfalls, deep canyons, narrow crevasses. Eat a sack lunch in the wild then return to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner together at the lodge. (B,L,D) Day 7: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Knik Valley This morning, explore Kennicott, a National Historic You may see grizzlies while on tour Landmark District. Established in 1903, Kennicott was once a bustling mining camp that became a ghost town after the ore was depleted in 1938. The town is now considered one of the best remaining examples of 20th-century copper mining.

See this firsthand on your tour of the 14-story concentration mill and other historic mining buildings.

This afternoon board a prop plane for the return flight to Chitina, where you then board a motorcoach for the four-hour drive to your European-style lodge in pristine wilderness just an hour from Anchorage.

Join your fellow travelers for dinner at the lodge. (B,L,D) Day 8: Knik Valley, Anchorage, Seward Late this morning journey by coach to the coastal town of Seward. En route, stop for a city tour of Anchorage, beginning at Lake Hood, the largest and busiest seaplane base in the world with more than 190 float planes taking off and landing daily. Also explore the city’s historic downtown, including Old City Hall; the Wendler Building, a popular women’s-only bar from the 1940s and ’50s; and 4th Avenue Market Place filled with local artisan shops. After time for lunch on your own, continue on to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality animal care and preserving Alaska’s wildlife. With 200 acres of spacious enclosures, the center offers an opportunity to see injured or orphaned bears, moose, elk, lynx, caribou,

and more display their natural behavior in a safe environment. Then continue on to Seward and your hotel nestled in the Exit Glacier Valley. (B,D)

Colorful houses overlook Seward’s harbor

Day 9: Seward One of Alaska’s most scenic communities, Seward features a bustling harbor, inviting shops, and plenty of outdoor activities. The city also serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, a 600,000-acre preserve comprising rocky peninsulas, long fjords, primeval glaciers, and tranquil bays and coves. Explore this rugged park today on a glacier and wildlife cruise. On board, get up close to one of Kenai’s many glaciers and keep an eye out for some of the park’s diverse array of mammals and marine life, including bears, mountain goats, moose, otters, porpoises, sea lions, harbor seals, and whales. Enjoy lunch onboard before returning to Seward. (B,L) Day 10: Seward and Anchorage Today return to Anchorage, where you visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center representing 11 of Alaska’s major native cultural groups. Here enjoy a tour of the center and watch a dynamic Native Games demonstration. Then have lunch on your own followed by a visit to the Anchorage Museum including the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. Tonight, celebrate your journey through Alaska at a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 11: Depart Anchorage Transfer this morning to the Anchorage airport for your flights home. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Experts Carola Stearns is a field geologist and geophysicist with over 40 years of experience enthusiastically sharing her fascination with the Earth and how it works. She earned a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, has worked in exploration for major oil companies, taught at universities, and maintains a research affiliation with the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan. She will lead the August 20 departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; flights within itinerary • 10 nights accommodations in First Class hotels • 22 meals: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Aug 20 2020 2020 Jun 2 Aug 18

Seattle

$7,087 $7,187 $7,387

Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco

$7,387

$7,487

$7,687

Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis

$7,587

$7,687

$7,887

Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Tampa, Washington, DC

$7,687

$7,787

$7,987

Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia

$7,887

$7,987

$8,187

Land Only

$6,495

$6,595

$6,795

2020 Jul 7

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $92, which are subject to change until final payment has been made.

Single travelers please add $1,695 Aug 20; $1,795 all other dates. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Depending on flight schedules, certain cities may require an overnight flight on the return, with the arrival home the following day.

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain and in a natural environment. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest.

35

SOUTH AMERICA

Costa Rica’s Natural Treasures 11 days from $3,981 total price from Miami ($3,795 air & land inclusive plus $186 airline taxes and fees)

Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica possesses a wealth of natural beauty and a variety of wildlife that belies its diminutive size. During this fascinating introduction to Costa Rica’s striking diversity, you’ll enjoy pristine landscapes and exotic flora and fauna as you learn about the unique environments from cloud forest to rain forest.

Caribbean Sea Tempisque Arenal Region River

Liberia

Tortuguero National Park

Monteverde

Palo Verde Guanacaste National Park Beach Resort

Poas Volcano

San José

COSTA RICA Overnight Featured Site

Arenal is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Pacific Ocean

Motorcoach Extension (Motorcoach and Boat)

Avg. High (°F) San Jose Guanacaste

Jan 75 88

Feb 76 89

Mar 79 89

Oct 77 84

Nov 77 85

Highlights Include Visit Poas Volcano and see Arenal Volcano at night • Learn about coffee-making at the Doka Coffee Estate • Tour Carrizal’s Botanical Orchid Garden, the Ecocentro Danaus Biological Reserve, and the Arenal hanging bridges Sky Walk • Visit with children at an elementary school • Discover Monteverde Cloud Forest, including the Hummingbird Gallery and Bat Jungle • Take part in a private cooking class of local cuisine

Day Itinerary 1

Hotel

Depart U.S. InterContinental for San Jose Costa Rica

InterContinental 2 San Jose

Costa Rica 3-5 Arenal Region Arenal Manoa

Monteverde El Establo 6-7

Cloud Forest Mountain Hotel

JW Marriott 8-10 Guanacaste Guanacaste

Resort & Spa 11 Depart Guanacaste for the U.S.

Rating Sup. First Class Sup. First Class First Class First Class Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

36

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for San Jose, Costa Rica Arrive in the Costa Rican capital and transfer to your hotel located in the Escazu area outside the city. This afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Day 2: San Jose After this morning’s breakfast briefing, embark on an excur­sion through the Central Valley to Poas Volcano National Park. View the world’s largest crater (a steaming, bubbling caldron), and take a guided walk along park trails. Continue to the Doka Coffee Estate where you learn about coffeemaking and Costa Rica’s coffee industry, one of its largest exports. After lunch at the Doka Estate, return to your hotel late afternoon. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

of more than 95%. Continue to Ecocentro Danaus, a biological reserve focused on conservation, environmental education, and sustainability. A series of trails wind through the secondary forest, where you see diverse flora, including orchids, bromelia, and heliconia, along with some of the preserve’s 150 species of birds, sloths, and bats, among other fauna. Highlights include a butterfly farm with 30 different species and a natural water spring that attracts waterfowl, alligators, and iguana. Later today there’s time for more volcano viewing before and after dinner (at a local restaurant) from a comfortable perch at our hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Arenal Leave San Jose this morning bound for the Arenal region, passing picturesque villages along the way. En route stop in Carrizal at the familyowned Botanical Orchid Garden, which features trails, exhibits, nurseries, and gardens dedicated to the wondrous orchid plant and its many varieties. After time to explore here, travel to Arenal and your hotel, which offers magnificent views of Arenal Volcano. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Arenal Region On this morning’s visit to Arenal’s hanging bridges Sky Walk, enjoy the special opportunity to experience the rainforest from the canopy level as you traverse a series of five suspension bridges high above the forest floor. While you observe the rainforest from a unique perspective, your naturalist guide will point out some of the flora and fauna that thrive here. Then return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax amidst the beautiful grounds and thermal waters. Lunch and dinner today are on your own. (B)

Day 4: Arenal Region This morning visit a local elementary school to enjoy a cultural exchange with the children and learn about Costa Rica’s vaunted educational system – the country boasts a literacy rate

Day 6: Monteverde Cloud ­Forest Travel today to the “green cathedral” of Monteverde. En route stop to visit a nonprofit handicrafts cooperative, dedicated to enhancing the economic and social well-being of

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

The diverse perspectives and knowledge shared by and with my fellow travelers makes each trip unique, special, and memorable in ways words cannot express. – Stephanie B.

local women artists. After lunch on your own in Santa Elena, continue to your hotel, arriving late afternoon.

Dine tonight at a local restaurant in Monteverde. (B,D) Day 7: Monteverde This morning enjoy a guided walk through Monteverde’s biological reserve, learning about the amazing biodiversity in this relatively small area. Also tour the Hummingbird Gallery, where feeders attract several different species of the delicate hummingbird. After lunch, visit the Monteverde Bat Jungle to learn about Costa Rica’s diverse — and important — bat population. Late this afternoon return to your hotel for time at leisure before dining together this evening. (B,L,D) Day 8: Monteverde and Guanacaste Depart by coach this morning for Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s stunning northCosta Rica: a paradise for west Pacific hummingbirds coastal region.

Along the way visit Monteverde’s delightful Butterfly Garden, with a variety of species including the stunning Blue Morpho and the virtually transparent Glasswing.

After a stop for lunch, reach your resort hotel overlooking the Pacific and the town of Tamorindo mid-afternoon.

Later this afternoon enjoy a private cooking class and learn how to prepare a traditional tamale with local, market-bought ingredients. (B,L,D)

Pre-Tour Extension

Day 9: Guanacaste A float safari on the Tempisque River highlights this morning’s excursion to the Palo Verde region, which is both an extraordinary wetland and also one of the world’s last tropical dry forests.

You should see abundant bird species and wildlife, including monkeys, iguanas, sloths, and crocodiles in this unique eco­system. After lunch at a local restaurant, the remainder of the day is at leisure along one of Costa Rica’s most pristine beaches. (B,L) Day 10: Guanacaste Today is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach club and other amenities of your hotel, including an outdoor pool. Optional activities include snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and diving. This evening gather at a farewell dinner to celebrate your Costa Rican adventure. (B,D) Day 11: Depart for the U.S. Transfer to the airport this morning for your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Dennis Wille Sáenz became enamored of wildlife as a youngster in his native Costa Rica. He has led groups in Central America, South America, Africa, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Australia, Russia, Alaska, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the Caribbean. When he is not lecturing, he travels to remote areas in Central America explaining to young students how fragile the ecosystems are where they live and also works on several projects to monitor endangered species. Dennis will lead the October, November, February, and March departures. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Tortuguero National Park

4 days/3 nights for $795 total price Single Supplement: $145

Encounter exceptional biodiversity, from rain forest to marsh, where freshwater meets the sea to form canals, lagoons, and wetlands; and also to provide an important turtle nesting reserve.

Your Pre-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip transfers San Jose/Tortuguero by van and boat • 3 nights accommodations: 1 night in San Jose at InterContinental Costa Rica (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Tortuguero National Park at Mawamba Lodge (First Class) • 8 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners • Included sightseeing: Tortuguero town and Caribbean Conservation Center; two boat safaris along the Tortuguero canals • Services of a professional Tour Director

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 10 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 23 meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of an expert Costa Rica naturalist as your professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities on main tour only for Tour Director, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Enjoy treetop rain forest views from Monteverde’s Sky Walk

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 2020

Nov 11 Jan 9

2019 2020 Jan 16

Oct 28 Mar 16 Feb 8 Miami

$3,981 $4,081 $4,281

Atlanta, Houston, New York, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

$4,181

$4,281

$4,481

Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas,

$4,281 Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco

$4,381 $4,581

Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Seattle

$4,381

$4,481 $4,681

Land Only

$3,595

$3,695

$3,895

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $186, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $995. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Please note: This trip includes nature walks and lengthy coach rides over bumpy dirt roads. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

37

SOUTH AMERICA

Machu Picchu and the Galápagos 16 days from $8,793 total price from Miami ($8,095 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $698 airline taxes and departure fees)

They rank as two of South America’s greatest treasures, and a small group tour is the natural selection for both: the enigmatic ruins at Machu Picchu, where you spend the night at an intimate on-site hotel, and the fascinating Galápagos Islands, Darwin’s “living laboratory,” for a three-night, island-based adventure.

Overnight/Featured Site

Quito

Air Train

ECUADOR

Extension (Air)

Iquitos (Amazon)

Pacific Ocean

PERU G ALÁPAGOS I SLANDS

North Seymour Baltra

Lima

Santa Cruz Santa Fé

Avg. High (°F) Lima Cuzco Quito

Machu Picchu

Jan Feb Apr May Jun Aug Sep Oct Nov 79 83 83 80 68 66 68 71 74 66 64 65 66 66 66 71 68 67 70 66 66 66 67 67 68 67 67

Highlights Include Tour historic Cuzco and the magnificent Sacred Valley • Lunch in the home of a Cuzco family • Enjoy an overnight stay at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, adjacent to the ruins at Machu Picchu • Discover Machu Picchu during two guided visits • Explore the Galápagos with day cruises on a privately chartered yacht plus island-based exploration

Day Itinerary Hotel 1

2

Depart U.S. for Lima Lima

Rating

Westin Lima Hotel Sup. First Class

Westin Lima Hotel Sup. First Class

3-4 Sacred Valley Aranwa Sacred Sup. First Class

Valley Hotel

Machu

Belmond 5 Sup. First Class

Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Belmond Hotel Deluxe 6-7 Cuzco

Monasterio 8-9 Quito Swissotel Quito Deluxe

Galápagos Royal Palm Hotel Sup. First Class 10-12

Islands Galápagos 13-14 Quito Swissotel Quito Deluxe 15-16 Depart Quito (overnight flight)/Arrive U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

38

See Galapagos giant tortoises in the highlands, their natural habitat.

Cuzco/Sacred Valley

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Lima, Peru Depart today for the Peruvian capital. Upon arrival tonight transfer directly to your hotel. The next morning, visit a prominent art museum in Lima. Then, encounter colonial Lima on an afternoon tour, followed by a welcome dinner at your hotel. (1B,1D) Day 3: Cuzco and Sacred Valley Today fly to Cuzco and stop at the Incan site of Koricancha, dedicated to the Sun God, before continuing to the beautiful Sacred Valley, a region of Inca sites and traditional villages. After visiting the Indian market at Pisac, reach your hotel late this afternoon. (B,L,D) Day 4: Sacred Valley Explore Ollantaytambo, known for its massive Incan ruins that continue to inspire wonder. Then visit the Incan farming town of Chinchero, where residents live much as their ancestors did, keeping ancient Inca traditions alive. Attend a native “Offering to the Earth” ceremony before dinner this evening. (B,L,D) Day 5: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Early this morning travel by train for the 1½-hour journey to Aguas Calientes, where you board a bus for Machu Picchu. Enjoy your first guided visit of the stunning “Lost City of the Incas” late this morning. Due to its small size, your group will move nimbly through the ruins and have the leisure to absorb the beauty and

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

mystery of this site. With an afternoon at leisure and an overnight stay here, you have the rare privilege of seeing the ruins after the tourists have left. (B,L,D) Days 6-7: Machu Picchu and Cuzco Today before the day-trippers arrive, begin your second guided tour of this World Heritage site. Following lunch at the lodge, return to Aguas Calientes with some free time before your mid-afternoon train to Cuzco. The next morning tour this World Heritage site, including a special visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Stop at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, an Incan masterpiece, then enjoy lunch in the home of a gracious Cuzco family. (2B,2L) Day 8-9: Quito Early today fly via Lima to Quito, arriving late afternoon. This evening enjoy a briefing and dinner at your hotel. Nestled in Andes foothills, Quito boasts a well-preserved historic center, as you see on a city tour that includes the Intiñan Museum and the Middle of the World Monument. (2B,1L,1D) Day 10: Quito, Baltra, Santa Cruz Island Fly to the island of Baltra then transfer to Santa Cruz, your island-based home for your Galápagos exploration.

En route to the hotel, stop to see Los Gamelos, the huge twin craters formed by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Arrive at your beautiful hotel in the highlands adjacent to Galápagos National Park

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

in time for lunch. This afternoon set off to see the giant Galápagos tortoises in the wild, and get an up-close look at how the locals live and work at El Trapiche. End the day with a chance to explore the “lava tunnels” at your hotel: to literally walk through the naturally-formed tube through which lava flowed eons ago. (B,L,D) Day 11: North Seymour Island and Bachas Beach This morning embark on your first excursion aboard the Santa Fe, your privately chartered yacht. Set out for North Seymour, a flat, low-lying island with ample opportunities for close encounters with the magnificent Frigate bird, land iguanas, and lava lizards on your naturalist-led walk. After lunch, head back to Santa Cruz island, weighing anchor off Bachas Beach. Highlights of your nature walk here include flamingos, nesting sea turtles, and Darwin’s finches. (B,L,D)

Your Island-Based Galápagos Experience: Royal Palm Hotel

Day 12: Santa Fé Island and Punta Carrion Today’s destination is small in size but rich in flora and fauna: Santa Fé Island. During your nature walk, you could see such local residents as the Galápagos snake, rice rats, the Santa Fé land iguana, the smaller lava lizards, Blue-footed Boobies, and perhaps even the Galápagos hawk. Then cruise to Punta Carrion, where you have the opportunity to snorkel in the calm waters of a shallow cove teeming with colorful reef fish. (B,L,D) Day 13: Santa Cruz Island, Baltra, Quito After a morning at leisure, transfer to Baltra for the return flight to Quito, arriving mid-afternoon. (B,D) Day 14: Quito Enjoy a full-day excursion to a rose plantation outside the city of Quito, and enjoy lunch before returning to Quito. Tonight celebrate your adventure at a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Days 15-16: Quito and Return to the U.S. This morning enjoy a tour of Quito’s Botanical Gardens then move on to the Iñaquito Market, a covered market spanning an entire city block. Return to the hotel for lunch on your own and an afternoon at leisure. Later this evening transfer to the airport for your overnight flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert

Your tour includes a four-night cruise aboard the M/V Stella Australis. Amenities: restaurant, two lounges, Zodiac expedition boats, boutique, onboard lectures, open bridge, panoramic open deck

Post-Tour Extension

Amazon Rainforest

Pat Dickerson is a geologist and visiting research fellow with the Jackson School of Geosciences - University of Texas at Austin and the American Geosciences Institute. Her field research focuses on rifts of the world as well as on mountain-building. She was schooled in geology and classical archaeology (B.A.), then geology/tectonics (Ph.D.) at UT-Austin. She draws from those experiences in leading geological and natural history field seminars for Smithsonian groups (since 2003), for students, and for professional scientists. Pat will lead the October departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

4 days/4 nights from $1,195 total price Single Supplement: $235

Discover the Amazon’s amazing flora, fauna, and villages on this exceptional – and comfortable – tour.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation Lima/Iquitos • 4 nights accommodations: 1 night in Lima at Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport (First Class); 3 nights in the jungle at Ceiba Tops (Superior First Class) • 10 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners • Extensive sightseeing, including guided Canopy Walkway tour and visit with ribereños (Amazon river people) • Fully escorted by an Amazon-born naturalist guide as your professional tour representative • Private vehicle transportation • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers Land only guests from $1,295 total price per person

Explore the amazing ruins at Machu Picchu

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 14 nights accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels • 34 meals: 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees; Galápagos National Park fee of $100 • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of local professional Tour Directors; experienced naturalist guides while in the Galápagos • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Directors, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 26 Nov 2 2020 2020 Feb 29 2019 Jan 11 Apr 11 Aug 31

Miami

$8,793 $8,993 $9,093 $9,193

Orlando, Tampa

$9,193

2020 May 2 May 16 May 30

$9,393

$9,493 $9,593

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, $9,293 $9,493 Houston, Minneapolis, New York Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$9,593 $9,693

Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles,

Phoenix, $9,393 $9,593 $9,693 $9,793

Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle Land Only

$8,595 $8,795 $8,895 $8,995

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy in a Casita at the Royal Palm Hotel and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $698, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $2,495 Aug-Nov; $2,695 Jan-May. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Upgrade to a Highland Villa at the Royal Palm Hotel: $295 ($495 single). Please note: Availability of all room categories is limited.

Amazon Post-Tour Extension: $1,195 Aug-Nov; $1,295 Jan-May. Single Supplement: $235 all dates. Land only guests: $1,295 Aug-Nov; $1,395 Jan-May. Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain. Also, there are both wet and dry landings in the Galápagos. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest. In addition, Cuzco’s high altitude (11,150 feet) could pose problems for travelers with certain health conditions.

Please consult your physician if you have concerns.

39

SOUTH AMERICA

Patagonian Explorer

Argentina and Chile by Land and Sea

16 days from $8,582 total price from Miami ($7,795 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $787 airline taxes and fees)

Follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorers as you travel to the southernmost tip of South America. From the bustling cities of Buenos Aires and Santiago to the dramatic vistas of Torres del Paine, this journey offers educational, natural, and cultural elements as diverse as the destinations.

Iguazu Falls

CHILE Pacific Ocean Santiago

Buenos Aires

ARGENTINA Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas

Atlantic Ocean

Overnight/Featured Site Air

Torres del Paine

Motorcoach

Punta Arenas Cape Horn

Avg. High (°F) Buenos Aires Ushuaia Santiago

Jan 85 58 85

Ship

Ushuaia

Feb 83 56 84

Mar 79 54 80

Oct 69 51 72

Nov 76 54 78

Dec 82 57 83

Highlights Include Enjoy an Argentine dinner and tango show in Buenos Aires • Discover Southern Patagonia on a four-night cruise through the Beagle Channel, Cape Horn, and the Strait of Magellan • Visit the penguin colony on Magdalena Island • Explore Torres del Paine National Park during a three-night stay • Enjoy a home-hosted dinner with Santiago families • Learn about wine blending in Santiago’s wine country

Day Itinerary Hotel Depart U.S. for Buenos Aires 2-4 Buenos Aires Emperador Hotel

Buenos Aires

Patagonia 5-8 M/V Stella Australis

cruise 9-11 Torres Hotel Rio Serrano

del Paine 12 Punta Arenas Hotel Cabo

de Hornos

Rating

1

Deluxe Sup. First Class First Class First Class

13-14 Santiago Hotel Atton Vitacura Sup. First

Class 15 Santiago/Depart for U.S. (overnight flight) 16 Arrive U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

40

Spend two days exploring unspoiled Torres del Paine National Park.

Extension (Air)

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Buenos Aires, Argentina Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, where rooms are ready for your early arrival to rest before this afternoon’s welcome briefing. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. (1B,1D) Days 3-4: Buenos Aires This morning’s city tour features lovely Palermo, the colorful bohemian district of La Boca, picturesque San Telmo, elegant Recoleta Cemetery, and historic Government House.

Tonight visit the legendary Esquina Carlos Gardel, one of the city’s premier tango houses, for dinner and a performance. The next day enjoy a guided tour of Teatro Colón, the famed opera house. (2B,1D) Day 5: Buenos Aires and Ushuaia Fly today to Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost urban center. After lunch on your own in this windswept city, embark on your ship in the late afternoon, then set sail through the Beagle Channel. (B,D) Day 6: Cruising – Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay, Chile See one of the world’s last unspoiled frontiers up close as you sail through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay. Watch for sea lions and Antarctic fur seals as you cruise to Cape Horn National Park.

Later encounter sheltered Wulaia Bay on a guided walk. (B,L,D)

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 7: Cruising – Pia Glacier and Garibaldi Glacier Awaken this morning in Pia Fjord, home of the stunning Pia Glacier. Later board inflatable Zodiacs and go ashore for an up-close look at the glacier, a tumbling wall of ice that extends from the mountaintops down to sea level. After lunch on board, drop anchor in a nearby fjord for a shore excursion to Garibaldi Glacier, one of only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass. Here enjoy the opportunity to hike through the Magellanic forest, passing glacial waterfalls and viewpoints that overlook the glacier and fjord. (B,L,D) Day 8: Cruising – Agostini Sound and Aguila Glacier This morning cruise through several channels to enter the spectacular Agostini Sound, where you see massive glaciers flowing down the mountainside. Later take inflatable Zodiacs to Aguila Glacier. (B,L,D) Day 9: Cruising – Magdalena Island, Punta Arenas – Torres del Paine Early this morning, visit Magdalena Island to observe an immense colony of more than 120,000 Magellanic penguins.

End your cruise at Punta Arenas, and board your motorcoach for the journey to Torres del Paine National Park. (B,L,D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Days 10-11: Torres del Paine National Park Today you encounter breathtaking Torres del Paine, a 700-square-mile World Biosphere Reserve and one of the most unspoiled and beautiful nature preserves on Earth. Spend the day exploring this unparalleled landscape of jagged peaks, ice-blue glaciers, turquoise lakes, rushing rivers, and thundering waterfalls, and enjoy lunch at magnificent Lago Grey. The next day take an excursion that features Laguna Amarga, Laguna Azul, and Cascade Rio Paine. You’re sure to see some of the park’s only permanent residents: 106 species of birds and 26 species of mammals, including the beloved guanaco.

(2B,2L,2D) Day 12: Punta Arenas Travel by coach today to Punta Arenas and your hotel in the city center. (B,L,D) Day 13: Santiago Fly today to the sophisticated Chilean capital. This afternoon take a city tour

featuring the Plaza de Armas and the tra­ditional city center. Tonight you are dinner guests in the homes of gracious Santiago families. (B,D) Day 14: Valparaiso Today encounter the old port of Valparaiso, a one-time fishing village marked by colorful wooden houses and narrow streets, now Chile’s third largest city and cultural heart. En route visit a local winery for a private tour and tasting.

Tonight celebrate your adventure at a farewell dinner at a local Santiago restaurant. (B,D) Days 15-16: Santiago and return to the U.S. After a morning at leisure, enjoy an afternoon visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, known for its art and artifacts from Chile and across the Americas.

Then have time to explore on your own. From here, transfer to the airport for your overnight flights to the U.S. Arrive the next morning and connect with your return flights home. (1B)

M/V Stella Australis Smithsonian Journeys Expert

Built: 2010 Decks: 5 Cabins: 100 (all outside)

Length: 293 ft Width: 48 ft Draft: 11 ft Gross Tonnage: 4,508

Your tour includes a four-night cruise aboard the M/V Stella Australis. Amenities: restaurant, two lounges, Zodiac expedition boats, boutique, onboard lectures, open bridge, panoramic open deck

Post-Tour Extension

Carola Stearns is a field geologist and geophysicist with over 40 years of experience enthusiastically sharing her fascination with the Earth and how it works. She earned a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, has worked in exploration for major oil companies, taught at universities, and maintains a research affiliation with the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology at the University of Michigan. Her diverse research interests include tectonics as well as climatic geomorphology, especially as it relates to human history. Carola has lectured as a park ranger at the Grand Canyon, on trips for the UM Alumni Association, and in Ann Arbor training docents for the botanical gardens, arboretum, and the public school’s environmental education program. She will lead the October departure. Jeff Cole (see page 6) will lead the February departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Iguazu Falls

2 days/2 nights from $1,095 total price Single Supplement: $295

Discover the magnificence of one of the world’s iconic landmarks and great natural wonders.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation Buenos Aires/Iguazu Falls inclusive of airline taxes and departure fees • 2 nights accommodations at Loi Suites Iguazu Hotel (Superior First Class) • 3 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner • Services of a professional tour representative • Private motorcoach/van transportation • Included sightseeing: Iguazu Falls National Park (Argentine side of the falls) with viewing opportunities • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers Land only guests from $1,195 total price

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within Argentina and Chile • 13 nights accommodations: 4 nights aboard M/V Stella Australis (Superior First Class); 9 nights in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels • 33 meals: 14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 12 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Open bar service (wine and select liquors) on board ship • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout the trip • All port taxes and national park fees • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Buenos Aires’ colorful La Boca district

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019

Oct 23

2019 Dec 2 2020 Mar 7

2020 Jan 11 Jan 19 Feb 12

Miami

$8,582 $8,982 $9,482

Orlando, Tampa

$8,882

$9,282

$9,782

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, $8,982 $9,382 $9,882 Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York Philadelphia, San Francisco Washington, DC Denver, Detroit, Phoenix, $9,082 $9,482 $9,982 Portland (OR), Seattle Land Only

$7,595

$7,995

$8,495

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy in a Category B outside forward cabin on Deck 2 (Magellan) and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $787 which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $3,195 Oct, Dec; $3,395 all other dates. All 2019/2020 prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Upgrade to Category A outside cabin on Deck 2 (Magellan): $695; Category AA outside cabin on Deck 3 (Tierra del Fuego): $895; Category AAA outside cabin on Deck 4 (Cape Horn): $995. Please note: Availability of all cabin categories is limited.

Pre-Tour Iguazu Falls Option: $1,095 Mar, Oct, Dec; $1,295 Jan, Feb. Single Supplement: $295 all dates.

Land only guests: $1,195 Mar, Oct, Dec; $1,395 Jan, Feb Business Class upgrade on round-trip international flight: $3,195 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

41

SOUTH AMERICA

Legendary Peru

World of the Inca and Machu Picchu

11 days from $4,987 total price from Miami ($4,395 air & land inclusive plus $592 airline taxes and fees)

A land of archaeological, cultural, and natural treasures, Peru draws those eager to learn about the distant past and encounter a fascinating present. Explore the legacy of the Inca and other ancient peoples as you view spectacular ruins and artifacts that still bear silent testimony to the power of their civilizations.

Iquitos (Amazon)

PERU

Pacific Ocean Machu Picchu

Lima

Cuzco/Sacred Valley

Overnight/Featured Site Air Motorcoach

Puno

Train

Lake Titicaca

Just 50 miles from Cuzco, Machu Picchu (ca. 1450) was unknown to the outside world until its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Extension (Air)

Avg. High (°F) Lima Cuzco

Mar 83 65

Apr 80 66

May Jun 74 68 67 66

Oct 71 68

Nov 74 67

Highlights Include See the following World Heritage sites: the historic center of Lima; the city of Cuzco; the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu • Tour Lima’s oldest colonial home • Explore Machu Picchu before the day crowds arrive • Enjoy hospitality and a midday meal in the home of a gracious Cuzco family • Attend a native ceremony in Cuzco’s Sacred Valley • Tour the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art • Take a full-day tour of Lake Titicaca

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1

Depart U.S. for Lima 2 Lima

Casa Andina Sup. First Premium Miraflores Class Casa Andina Sup. First Premium Miraflores Class 3-4 Sacred Valley Sonesta Posada First Class

del Inca Sup. First 5 Machu Picchu Inkaterra

Machu Picchu Class 6-7 Cuzco Palacio de Inka Deluxe

Puno

8-9 Hotel Libertador Puno First Class

(Lake Titicaca) 10 Lima/Depart for U.S. (overnight flight) 11 Arrive U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

42

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Lima, Peru Upon arrival tonight transfer directly to the hotel.

Day 2: Lima Learn about the journey ahead at a briefing with your tour director, then embark on a tour of colonial Lima. A highlight is a special inside visit to one of the oldest colonial homes in South America, Casa Aliaga, built in 1535 and still owned by the same family. Another highlight is the Larco Herrera Museum, whose ceramics collection features renowned Moche pottery from the north coast of Peru dating to the first millennium A.D. Enjoy a welcome lunch at the museum and an evening at leisure. (B,L) Day 3: Cuzco and Sacred Valley Early this morning, transfer to the airport for the brief flight to Cuzco.

Upon arrival visit the sacred sites of Koricancha and Santo Domingo then continue to the beautiful Sacred Valley, a region of Inca sites and traditional villages.

After visiting the colorful Indian market at Pisac, reach your hotel in the mid-afternoon and begin to acclimate to the elevation. Dinner is at the hotel this evening. (B,L,D) Day 4: Sacred Valley This morning attend a native ceremony at the hotel then set out for Ollantaytambo, known for its awe-inspiring Inca ruins. Continue to the Inca farming town of Chinchero, set on a broad plateau overshadowed by a snowcapped mountain.

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Here residents live much as their ancestors did, wearing traditional clothing and conducting business and local government by time-honored means. Return to your hotel late this afternoon and dine there tonight. (B,L,D) Day 5: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes Early this morning board a train for the 1½-hour journey to Aguas Calientes. After lunch, board a bus for Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, enjoy your first guided visit of the stunning “Lost City of the Incas.” Due to its small size, your group will move nimbly through the ruins and have the leisure to absorb the beauty of this site whose original purpose remains a mystery. Spend the night at a hotel near the archaeological site. (B,L,D) Day 6: Machu Picchu and Cuzco When the early morning sun bathes the stones in a haunting, evocative light and before the crowds of day-trippers arrive, take your second guided tour of this amazing World Heritage site. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, return to Cuzco by train, arriving early evening. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B,L) Day 7: Cuzco Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, an archaeological hub of the Americas, and a World Heritage site. Enjoy a morning tour of this dynamic and historic city, including a visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, one of Peru’s

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

This superior tour goes way beyond the requisite Machu Picchu stop, by introducing you to the complexity of Peruvian history, architecture, culture, art, and the issues facing Peru today.

Fantastic educational experience! – Jo-Anne B.

most important. Explore the ruins of Sacsayhua­man, the time­less “Temple of the Sun,” an Inca masterpiece, then experience warm hospitality and a traditional meal in the home of a gracious Cuzco family. The afternoon is at leisure. (B,L) Day 8: Puno This morning depart for the day-long journey by coach to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Travel through the rugged snowcapped Andes, dotted with small villages The beautiful and historic and herds of llama Sacred Valley and alpaca. Stops along the way include Andahuaylillas, an attractive village known for its lovely 17th-century church; the ruins at Raqchi, once the holiest site in the Incan empire; La Raya, perched on Peru’s altiplano and home to the Llama and Alpaca Research Center; and the ceramics center of Pucara. Late this afternoon, arrive at your hotel, on the shores of Esteves Island on Lake Titicaca, near the town of Puno. (B,L) Day 9: Puno and Lake Titicaca Spend the day exploring the fascinating area of Lake Titicaca; at 12,500 feet above sea level, it is among the world’s

Post-Tour Extension

Amazon Rain Forest

4 days/4 nights for $1,195 total price Single Supplement: $235

Discover the Amazon’s amazing flora, fauna, and villages on this exceptional tour with comfortable accommodations.

highest navigable lakes. Bolivia’s snowcapped Cordillera range is a striking backdrop to the deep blue of Lake Titicaca. Board a boat to visit the Floating Islands of Los Uros, where the top-hatted Uros people live on islands made of reeds that grow in the lake’s shallows.

Continue to Taquile Island, known for the high quality textiles crafted by local artisans. Tonight celebrate your Peruvian adventure at a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D) Day 10: Puno and Lima This morning visit the mysterious chullpas, or burial towers, at Sillustani overlooking Lake Umayo. Then fly to Lima, and check into a day room at an airport hotel. Late this evening depart for the airport for return flights to the U.S. (B,L) Day 11: Return to the U.S. Arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with return flights home.

Please note that guests on extension will overnight in Lima on Day 10.

Land only guests: $1,295 total price

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Bill Sapp is an archaeologist with special expertise in the Andes. He has been leading archaeological and cultural tours of Peru for more than a decade and is an expert in the Inca sites of Machu Picchu and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, the Sacred Valley, and other sites located in and around Cuzco. Bill serves as a director for the non-profit corporation Conservation Volunteers International Program, where he organizes and leads groups of volunteers who work with the Peruvian Cultural Ministry. He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, where his doctoral dissertation documented his excavations at Cabur, a country palace located on Peru’s north coast. Bill teaches part-time at California State University-San Bernardino and also serves as an archaeologist for the U.S. Forest Service and as a tribal liaison between the U.S. government and 11 federally recognized Indian tribes. He will lead the November departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Round-trip air transportation Lima/Iquitos • 4 nights accommodations: 1 night in Lima at Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport (First Class); 3 nights in the jungle at Ceiba Tops Lodge & Resort (Superior First Class) • 11 meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners • Extensive sightseeing, including guided Canopy Walkway tour and visit with ribereños (Amazon river people) • Fully escorted by an Amazon-born naturalist guide as your professional tour representative • Private vehicle transportation • Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Uros residents Lake Titicaca Explore theIsland amazing ruins atonMachu Picchu.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 9 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels • 22 meals: 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 4 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019

2019 Oct 21

Nov 11 2020

2020 Apr 20

Mar 16 May 25 Miami

$4,987 $5,187

Orlando, Tampa

$5,287

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$5,387 $5,587

Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$5,487 $5,687

Land Only

$4,395

$5,487

$4,595

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $592, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,195. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip international flight: $1,495 per person from Miami (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking uphill, on uneven terrain, and at sites of ancient ruins.

You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest. In addition, the high altitude of Lake Titicaca (12,500 feet) and Cuzco (11,150 feet) could pose problems for travelers with certain health conditions. You should consult with your physician if you have concerns.

43

AUSTRALIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Splendors of Australia and New Zealand 22 days from $10,184 total price from Los Angeles

Serene Milford Sound ranks as New Zealand’s most popular destination.

($9,795 air & land inclusive plus $389 airline taxes and fees)

Venture “Down Under” for an exploration of some of the world’s most stunning landscapes— from Australia’s spectacular Great Barrier Reef to the storied Outback and sophisticated Sydney. In New Zealand, discover Christchurch, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound, and Queenstown and Auckland.

Great Cairns Barrier Reef

Coral Sea

Alice Springs Ayers Rock

AUSTRALIA Sydney

Auckland Rotorua

Overnight Featured Site Air Motorcoach

Tasman Sea

Mount Cook National Park Milford Sound Queenstown

Christchurch

NEW ZEALAND

Avg. High (°F) Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Sydney 78 78 76 71 89 90 88 Alice Springs 97 95 90 81 87 89 91 Queenstown 71 70 67 60 56 60 64

Highlights Include Ride the Kuranda steam train and Skyrail gondolas • Explore the Great Barrier Reef • Visit an Aboriginal tribal camp and experience their “Dreamtime” legend • Watch the sunset at Ayers Rock • Cruise Milford Sound past breathtaking scenery • Visit Rotorua, spiritual center of the Maori culture

Day Itinerary Hotel 1-2 3-5

Depart U.S. for Cairns Cairns Pullman Reef Casino

DoubleTree 6-7 Alice Springs

by Hilton

8 Ayers Rock Sails in the Desert

9-11 Sydney Sir Stamford

Rydges Latimer 12 Christchurch

Christchurch 13-14 Mt. Cook Hermitage Hotel 15-17 Queenstown Hotel St. Moritz 18-19 Rotorua Regent of Rotorua

Grand Millenium 20-21 Auckland

Auckland 22 Depart Auckland for U.S.

Rating Deluxe Sup. First Class Sup. First Class Deluxe Sup. First Class First Class First Class First Class Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

44

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Cairns, Australia Fly to Australia, losing a day as you cross the International Date Line.

Days 3-5: Australia’s Far North—Cairns, Kuranda, the Great Barrier Reef Arrive in Cairns, transfer to your hotel, and enjoy a special welcome dinner. The next day, tour Cairns, then take a thrilling journey aboard the historic Kuranda Railway. Explore Kuranda, then travel through the rainforest canopy on the world’s longest gondola cableway. During an all-day excursion, cruise from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living organism and richest marine resource, with more than 2,800 coral reefs. At Michaelmas Cay swim, snorkel, view the reef from a semi-submersible vessel, or enjoy a guided birding tour. (2B,1L,1D) Days 6-8: The Outback—Alice Springs and Ayers Rock Fly to Alice Springs, the capital of the Outback. At Anzac Hill, enjoy a panoramic view and see the monument to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in both World Wars. Visit the Royal Flying Doctors Service, the first comprehensive aerial medical organization in the world, then tour the School of the Air, which provides education to the widely scattered Outback children.

Relax around a campfire, enjoy musical entertainment, and look for the Southern Cross and other

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

constellations at a traditional “bush” dinner. Spend the next day exploring more rugged terrain as you visit the camp of the Walpiri Aboriginal people and learn about their ancient culture on a “Dreamtime” tour. Explore Simpsons Gap, an Aboriginal spiritual site, and Standley Chasm. The next morning, depart by coach for Ayers Rock. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a World Heritage site and home to the Anangu Aboriginal peoples. Take a walking tour of the Olgas rock formations and watch the sun set over Uluru (Ayers Rock), the fabled sandstone monolith that rises 1,114 feet above the flat plain. (3B,1L,2D) Day 9: Ayers Rock and Sydney This morning explore the base of Uluru before visiting the archaeological museum there. Fly to Sydney, arriving late in the afternoon. (B,D) Days 10-11: Sydney Experience Sydney for two fascinating days. Highlights include a visit to the Rocks historic neighborhood, Darling Harbour and Mrs. Macquarie’s Point, Rose and Watson Bays, and popular Bondi Beach. Then enjoy a luncheon cruise around Sydney Harbour. You’ll also spend time at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, featuring ten acres of rain forest, eucalyptus, and garden habitat where koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and dingoes roam freely. Enjoy time for individual pursuits in Sydney this afternoon, then dine together this evening at a local restaurant. (2B,1L,1D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

Day 12: Sydney and Christchurch, New Zealand After a late morning tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House, this afternoon is free for independent exploration. This evening board a flight to Christchurch, New Zealand’s “Garden City.” (B) Day 13: Christchurch and Mount Cook National Park This morning’s orientation tour features the acclaimed Botanic Gardens and Cathedral Square, the beating heart of Christchurch and site of Christchurch Cathedral. Then board a motorcoach for the journey south to Mount Cook National Park. Dine together tonight at the hotel. (B,D) Day 14: Mount Cook This morning’s tour of alpine Mount Cook Village and environs includes a visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center.

Also visit the Hillary Gallery commem­orating Sir Edmund’s achievements, including the first ascent of Mount Cook’s difficult South face. After time in the village for lunch on your own, this afternoon is at leisure to relax amid the breathtaking scenery, hike, or take an optional scenic flight (weather permitting). (B,D) Day 15: Mount Cook and Queenstown Travel through New Zealand’s lush fruit-growing region to Queenstown, stopping in the former gold mining town of Arrowtown. Enjoy a wine tasting and savory lunch before continuing to the famed Kawarau Bridge, where in 1988 AJ Hackett invented Bungee jumping.

Mid-afternoon reach the “adventure capital” of Queenstown. (B,L,D) Day 16: Milford Sound The day-long excursion to Milford Sound includes a nature cruise through the breathtaking fjords. Have lunch on board then later have the opportunity to return to Queenstown on an optional scenic flight (weather permitting). (B,L) Days 17-18: Queenstown and Rotorua Board the Spirit of Queenstown this morning for a scenic cruise to Mt. Nicholas High Country Farm. At this working ranch, watch a sheepdog demonstration and learn about the wool industry. Then, explore on foot and take a four-wheel drive excursion into the breathtaking high country. Depart the next morning for Rotorua, with its geysers, bubbling mud pools, hot thermal springs, and a center of Maori culture.

Upon arrival, take a panoramic tour of this city on the shores of Lake Rotorua. This evening visit Te

Post-Tour Extension

Auckland – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $325 total price Single Supplement: $245

Enjoy the sparkling “City of Sails” at your own pace.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • 2 nights accommodations at Stamford Plaza (Superior First Class) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to airport

Puia Thermal Reserve and Cultural Centre for a traditional hangi dinner and Maori performance. (2B,1D)

Tour Sydney’s Iconic Opera House

Day 19: Rotorua This morning visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park, a popular showcase of native flora, fauna, and birdlife, and where you tour the National Kiwi Trust, which rehabilitates injured kiwis, the national bird. (B) Days 20-21: Rotorua and Auckland On your way to Auckland stop at Ruakuri Caves to see the unique glowworms illuminate underground grottoes.

Late this afternoon arrive in Auckland, the “City of Sails,” in a beautiful natural setting atop 48 volcanic hills. Take a half-day city tour featuring the War Memorial Museum, Auckland Harbour, and the America’s Cup Village. Tonight celebrate your adventure at a farewell dinner. (2B,1D) Day 22: Depart for the U.S. Early this morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Los Angeles (via Sydney) where you connect with your return flights home. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Grant Nel, travels the globe, continuously studying the Earth’s most diverse wildlife. He received his ranger training at the world-renowned Mala Mala Game Reserve and has worked in the African wild for more than two decades. Grant has lived a few hundred meters from the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers, making Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park virtually his back yard. A highly respected conservationist, he is a former CEO of the acclaimed Selinda Reserve, sits on the boards of two local environmental organizations, and holds a postgraduate honors degree in zoology from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Grant will lead the October and January departures. Brent Garry (see page 6) will lead the April departure, and the other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 19 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels • 34 meals: 19 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 10 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Sep 28 2020 Apr 6

2019 Oct 19 2020 Mar 14

Los Angeles

$10,184 $10,384 $10,584

Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$10,484 $10,684 $10,884

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa

$10,584 $10,784 $10,984

2020 Jan 11 Feb 19

Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, New York, $10,684 $10,884 $11,084 Philadelphia, Washington, DC Land Only

$9,095

$9,295

$9,495

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $389 which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $2,195 Apr, Sep, Oct; $2,395 Jan-Mar. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transpacific flight: Business Class: $5,995 per person Sep, Oct; $6,495 per person Jan-Apr. Premium Economy: $2,995 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing and significant amounts of walking on stairs and uneven surfaces. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

45

AUSTRALIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Journey through New Zealand 16 days from $8,174 total price from Los Angeles

From Auckland to Queenstown

See 7.5-mile-long Franz Josef Glacier up close on a guided walk through Glacial Valley.

($7,895 air & land inclusive plus $279 airline taxes and fees)

Explore both the North and South Islands of New Zealand—from its cosmopolitan cities and award-winning wineries to lush farmlands and pristine fjords—with a knowledgeable expert.

Plus, travel on the TranzAlpine train and enjoy a three-hour cruise aboard a catamaran on scenic Doubtful Sound.

Overnight Featured Site Air

Auckland

Motorcoach Train

Rotorua Napier

NEW ZEALAND Tasman Sea

Wellington

Franz Josef

Christchurch

Queenstown Doubtful Sound/ Fiordland National Park

Avg. High (°F) Auckland Wellington Queenstown

Pacific Ocean

Feb Mar Apr May Oct Nov 74 72 68 63 64 67 67 65 61 58 59 62 70 67 60 52 60 64

Highlights Include Enjoy New Zealand’s unspoiled natural scenery • Explore Auckland, including the distinguished Auckland Museum and an Auckland Harbour cruise • Discover Geothermal Rotorua • Take an Art Deco walking tour in Napier • Visit Wellington’s acclaimed Te Papa national museum • Take a guided walk through the Glacial Valley in Franz Josef

Day Itinerary Hotel Depart U.S. for Auckland Grand Millenium 3-4 Auckland

Auckland Millennium 5-6 Rotorua

Hotel Rotorua

Scenic Hotel 7 Napier

Te Pania 8-9 Wellington Bolton Hotel

Rydges 10 Christchurch

Latimer Square

Franz Josef Scenic Hotel 11-12

Glacier FJ Glacier 13-15 Queenstown Millennium Hotel

Queenstown 16 Depart Queenstown for U.S.

Rating

1-2

Sup. First Class Sup. First Class First Class Sup. First Class Sup. First Class First Class Sup. First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

46

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Auckland, New Zealand

Reserve and Maori Cultural Center for a traditional hangi dinner and performance. (B,D)

Day 3: Arrive Auckland Arrive in New Zealand’s largest city early this morning and transfer to your hotel. After time to relax and freshen up, take a casual walking tour of the area around the hotel. This evening attend a briefing on the journey ahead, followed by a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 6: Rotorua With its geysers, bubbling mud pools, and hot thermal springs, Rotorua ranks as a geothermal wonder. It is also a center of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture since Maoris comprise 40% of Rotorua’s population. Encounter this intriguing town on a morning tour that includes a guided visit to the Rainbow Springs Nature Park.

Your guided tour here includes a visit to the National Kiwi Trust, dedicated to rehabilitating injured kiwis, housed on the park’s grounds. (B)

Day 4: Auckland This morning tour cosmopolitan Auckland, an eminently livable city. One of only a few world cities straddling two harbors on separate bodies of water, Auckland offers an abundance of natural beauty. A highlight of your tour is the visit to the Auckland Museum, with its prized collections of Maori and Pacific Islander art and artifacts (Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world). After lunch at a local restaurant, embark on a cruise around glittering Auckland Harbour.

Return to your hotel early this afternoon; the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.

Dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) Day 5: Auckland and Rotorua En route to Rotorua today, stop at Ruakuri Caves to see the unique glowworms that illuminate the underground grottoes and caves. Late this afternoon visit Te Puia Thermal

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Day 7: Rotorua and Napier Today set out for one of New Zealand’s celebrated wine regions: Hawke’s Bay and the seaside city of Napier. Sample the local wine during a tasting and lunch at Church Road Winery, one of the country’s oldest and most acclaimed.

Reaching Napier after lunch, embark on a guided walking tour of the city’s 1930s Art Deco architecture.

After an earthquake leveled the city in 1931, it was rebuilt in “Deco” style; today, Napier, along with Miami Beach, rank as the most authentically Art Deco cities in the world. Dinner tonight is on your own. (B,L) Day 8: Napier and Wellington Travel to New Zealand’s capital of Wellington, stopping en route at a private farm to learn about the country’s vital sheep

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

This was a trip of a lifetime. Each new location we visited was better than the last.

It far exceeded my expectations. – Elsie W.

farming industry. See the sheep dogs at work and watch a sheep-shearing demonstration, then enjoy a barbecue lunch. Reach Wellington late afternoon; tonight’s dinner is at a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Day 9: Wellington Explore this genial waterfront city located on the southern end of the North Island.

A morning tour features a ride on the historic Wellington Cable Car with panoramic views of the city and harbor. Also visit acclaimed Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum with interactive exhibits spanning art, history, native cultures, and the natural environment. The remainder of the day is free to explore as you wish, perhaps to stroll along Bohemian Cuba Street; see the kangaroos and wallabies at Wellington Zoo; or visit the lively waterfront area.

Lunch and dinner Cosmopolitan Auckland, are on your own “City of Sails” in this city with a vibrant restaurant scene. (B) Day 10: Wellington and Christchurch Today fly south to Christchurch, New Zealand’s “Garden City.”

Highlights of our city tour include the Botanic Gardens, the “green heart” of Christchurch dating to 1863; and Cathedral Square. This afternoon is at leisure and dinner tonight is at the hotel. (B,D) Day 11: Christchurch and Franz Josef Early today embark on one of the world’s great rail journeys aboard the TranzAlpine train. Travel along the open farmland of the Canterbury Plain, through the foothills of the Southern Alps, then into the snow-capped peaks themselves. Cross steel girder bridges above deep gorges and through tunnels on your journey to Arthur’s Pass, where you board a motorcoach for the scenic drive to the village of Franz Josef, reaching the hotel this afternoon and dining there tonight. (B,D) Day 12: Franz Josef In Westland National Park this morning, encounter one of New Zealand’s most spectacular sights: Franz Josef Glacier. The mass of ice descends the frigid upper reaches of the Southern Alps to a rainforest at sea level. With a local guide take a walk through the Glacial Valley, and enjoy spectacular views of this natural wonder. Then visit the West Coast Wildlife Center with its rare Kiwi birds, an animal linked so closely to New Zealand that its residents are known colloquially as “Kiwis.”

This afternoon is free to enjoy the splendid surroundings as you wish. (B,D)

Visit the Botanic Gardens of Christchurch

Day 13: Franz Josef and Queenstown Traveling to Queenstown today, stop in the lakeside resort of Wanaka for lunch on your own. Continue to the Central Otago region and visit the award-winning Gibbston Valley Vineyard for a private tasting and tour. Late this afternoon reach Queenstown and your hotel. (B,D) Day 14: Queenstown and Doubtful Sound More scenic overload is in store on your full-day excursion to Fiordland National Park and Doubtful Sound, one of New Zealand’s top attractions. Travel by boat across Lake Manapouri then by coach over Wilmot Pass to reach the “Sound of Silence,” as Doubtful is called for the remarkable serenity that prevails here. Among the wildlife you may see on your three-hour catamaran cruise are dolphins, Fiordland crested penguins, fur seals, and even whales. Return to Queenstown early this evening. (B,L) Day 15: Queenstown Enjoy a day at leisure and choose from the many activities of this outdoor mecca with its spectacular setting on Lake Wakapitu. Tonight celebrate your New Zealand adventure over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 16: Depart for the U.S. Depart this morning for the airport and your return flights home. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert George Losey, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii, received his Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography working on the behavior and ecology of the fishes of the East Pacific. His research, mostly on coral reef fishes, includes cleaning symbiosis, intraspecific aggression, and learning behavior. His most recent work on ultraviolet vision and coloration in reef fishes led him to Australia’s Lizard Island Research Station on two research expeditions. He will lead the October 31 departure. Peter Bobrowsky (see page 6) will lead the March departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 13 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class hotels • 25 meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 17 Oct 31 2020 Apr 16

2020 Feb 13 Mar 19

Los Angeles

$8,174

$8,374

Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

$8,474

$8,674

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa

$8,574

$8,774

Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC

$8,674 $8,874

Land Only

$6,395

$6,595

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $279, which are subject to change until final payment has been made.

Single travelers please add $1,595 Apr, Oct; $1,795 all other dates. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip transpacific flight: Business Class: $6,995 per person; Premium Economy: $2,895 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing and significant amounts of walking on stairs and uneven surfaces. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

47

ASIA

Mystical India

Featuring Ranthambore National Park

17 days from $5,787 total price from Boston, New York

Visit the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage site that is considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings.

($4,895 air & land inclusive plus $892 airline taxes and fees)

Mystical and spiritual, chaotic and confounding, India overflows with riches. While staying at excellent hotels, travel the classic Golden Triangle from bustling Delhi to Jaipur, great city of the Rajput, to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Plus, search for elusive Bengal tigers and absorb the holiness of Varanasi.

Overnight/Featured Site Air Motorcoach Extension (Air)

NEPAL

Delhi

Ranthambore National Park

Kathmandu

Agra

Jaipur Kalakho

Varanasi

INDIA Arabian Sea Avg. High (°F) Delhi Agra

Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec 70 75 83 89 82 73 72 77 88 91 85 75

Day 2: Arrive in Delhi Arrive in India’s bustling capital late this evening and transfer to your hotel.

Highlights Include Enjoy a private home-hosted dinner with a Jaipur family • Spend two nights at Ranthambore National Park • Experience the holy city of Varanasi and enjoy an exclusive dance performance • Take a camel safari and visit with a tribal family in Kalakho • Join in a yoga demonstration • Attend a traditional aarti offering ceremony on the Ganges

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-4 5-7

Deluxe Deluxe

Depart U.S. for Delhi Delhi Taj Diplomatic Enclave Jaipur Jai Mahal Palace

Taj Sawai 8-9 Ranthambore

Madhopur Lodge The Clement 10 Kalakho

Village Retreat

Courtyard

11-12 Agra

Marriott Agra Taj Gateway 13-15 Varanasi

Ganges

Hotel Pullman 16 Delhi

New Delhi Aerocity 17 Depart Delhi for U.S.

First Class Not rated Sup. First Class Sup. First Class Deluxe

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too new, too small, or too remote to be listed.

48

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Delhi, India

Day 3: Delhi After a morning briefing with your tour director, take an afternoon tour of Old Delhi including Raj Ghat, the simple black marble slab honoring Mahatma Gandhi, and Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to the Indian icon. The exploration continues with many highlights including: 17th-century Lal Qila, the Red Fort complex of palaces, where you stop for photos; Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque dating to 1656; a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk market; and the 16th-century Tomb of Humayun, now a World Heritage site. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Day 4: Delhi Today explore more of this city beginning at Qutab Minar, the 379-step tower dating to 1192, and pass by India Gate, honoring the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Following lunch at a local restaurant, visit a Sikh temple before returning to the hotel. (B,L) Day 5: Jaipur Travel by coach to the “pink city” of Jaipur, one of the great cities of the Rajput, with historic forts, palaces, and gardens. En route to Jaipur stop for lunch at Shahpura Haveli, a 300-year-old

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

Rajput fort and palace complex with extensive courtyards, staircases, and arches that typify Indo-Saracenic architecture. Late this afternoon reach Jaipur and your hotel, where you dine together tonight. (B,L,D) Day 6: Jaipur Explore the city’s rich history today beginning with the stunning Hawa Mahal, or “Palace of the Winds,” an elaborate facade of carved pink sandstone. Tour the famous Amber Fort, a Rajput capital from 1037 to 1728 and considered the pinnacle of Rajput architecture. Visit Jantar Mantar, the open-air observatory, then view some of the Maharajahs’ magnificent art collections at the City Palace Museum. (B,L) Day 7: Jaipur and Sanganer Early this morning, participate in a yoga demonstration and chanting. In the nearby village of Sanganer, learn about traditional block printing and handmade paper industries, then experience the sights and sounds of a local market.

Spend the evening as dinner guests in the home of a multi-generational Rajasthan family. (B,D) Day 8: Ranthambore Travel today to Ranthambore National Park. Once the hunting ground of the ​ ­Maharajah of Jaipur, the park is now a 512-squaremile nature preserve that is home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, mammals—and of course,

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

the endangered Bengal tiger. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive through the park. (B,L,D) Day 9: Ranthambore Enjoy both morning and afternoon game drives today to see not only game but also picturesque ruins of forts and palaces. (Tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed.) (B,L,D) Day 10: Kalakho Early today depart for Kalakho and set out on a village walk to meet the local Meena tribespeople who have maintained much of their traditional culture and customs in their homes. Tonight you enjoy dinner accompanied by a local folk dance performance. (B,L,D) Day 11: Abhaneri and Agra­ Travel to the village of Abhaneri to see the fortified Chand Boari stepwell (c.

800), whose 3,500 Search for tigers in Ranthambore steps descend some 13 stories into the ground.

Arrive in the ancient Mughal stronghold of Agra in the early afternoon. After lunch on your own, visit Itimadud-Daulah, the two-story marble “Baby Taj” that inspired the Taj Mahal. (B,D) Day 12: Agra This morning visit the Taj Mahal, the magnificent tomb built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz. After an Indian cuisine cooking lesson and lunch, visit the imposing Agra Fort complex, a vast complex that served for generations as the seat of Mughal power. (B,L)

Post-Tour Extension

Nepal

5 days/4 nights for $1,295 total price Single Supplement: $345

Absorb the beauty of the Himalayan kingdom –­­and the warmth of its people – on this special journey featuring sacred shrines, royal cities, and indigenous lifestyles.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Air transportation Delhi/Kathmandu, inclusive of airline taxes and fees • 4 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Kathmandu at Crowne Plaza Soaltee (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Nagarkot at Club Himalaya Nagarkot (Superior First Class) • 8 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners • Sightseeing, including Pashupatinath shrine (World Heritage site); Boudhanath monument; colorful Bhaktapur, “City of Devotees;” Swayambhunath Temple; royal city of Patan; and Kathmandu and environs • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation • Gratuities for Tour Director, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Day 13: Varanasi Depart by coach this morning for Delhi. After lunch together board a late afternoon flight to Varanasi, the holiest city in Hinduism and a center of learning, civilization, and religion since time immemorial. Dinner tonight is at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Tour Sydney’s Visit Iconic Jaipur’s Opera Amber House Fort

Day 14: Varanasi and Sarnath Before breakfast today, those who wish can join in a private yoga session.

Then visit nearby Sarnath, where the Buddha first taught after achieving enlightenment. One of Buddhism’s four holiest sites, Sarnath draws pilgrims from the world over. See some of the temples and stupas then tour Sarnath Museum, housing a superb collection of Buddhist artifacts from excavations here.

Highlights include a statue of the Buddha turning the wheel of law, and the celebrated Lion Capital of Emperor Ashoka, dating to 250 B.C. Back in Varanasi tonight attend a traditional aarti offering ceremony (a twice-daily ritual performed to ward off evil) during a cruise along the Ganges. (B,D) Day 15: Varanasi Early this morning return to the Ganges, where Hindu pilgrims perform their rituals along the ghats (steps) leading to the river. Visit several of the important ghats by boat as you experience the spiritual mystique of these hallowed waters. Enjoy a private Kathak dance performance, then celebrate your journey with a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Days 16-17: Delhi and Return to the U.S. Fly to Delhi this afternoon where the evening is at leisure.

Early morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (1B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Linda Hess is senior lecturer emerita at Stanford University, where she taught for 21 years as a specialist in religions of South Asia. Her own work has been on the passionate religious poetry of North India, composed in Hindi in the 15th-16th centuries and still vibrantly alive in today’s culture. Linda has been interested in the history of Buddhism and has often included Buddhist texts in her teaching on religions of South Asia. She will lead the November departure. Rita Sodha (see page 6) will lead the January and March departures, and the others will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within India • 15 nights accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, First Class, and unrated hotels • 32 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2019 Oct 24 Nov 10 Dec 1 2020 Mar 12

2020 Jan 9 Feb 13

Boston, New York

$5,787

$5,987

Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC

$5,987 $6,187

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa

$6,187

Denver, Detroit Phoenix, Portland (OR)

$6,287 $6,487

Land Only

$4,695

$6,387

$4,895

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $892, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,495. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $4,995 Oct-Dec; $5,495 Jan-Mar per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking as well as some lengthy coach rides. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

49

ASIA

Classic China featuring Tibet 19 days from $7,587 total price from Los Angeles, San Francisco

Including a Yangtze River Cruise

Tour Tibet’s Potala Palace, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lamas, an active Buddhist temple, and World Heritage site.

($7,095 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $492 in airline taxes and fees)

Immerse yourself in the cultural landscapes of China. This small-group journey features intriguing Beijing, plus the extraordinary Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xi’an, three days in mystical Tibet, and a cruise on the fabled Yangtze River. Conclude your journey in cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Overnight/Featured Site Air River Cruise

Beijing

CHINA Xi’an

Yellow Sea

Tibet Lhasa

Yangtze River

Shanghai

Yichang Chongqing

East China Sea Avg. High (°F) Beijing Lhasa Shangha

Sep Oct 77 66 67 61 79 72

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Beijing, China Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. After time to relax, embark on a brief walking tour. Dine independently this evening.

Highlights Include Tour China’s National Museum and see Beijing’s World Heritage sites, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven • Gaze upon the imposing ranks of the Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xi’an • Spend three nights in Tibet’s capital Lhasa, learning about Tibetan Buddhism and visiting with a local Tibetan family • Travel through the heart of China on a three-day Yangtze River cruise and transit partway through the locks of the Three Gorges Dam • Tour dynamic Shanghai

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-5

Deluxe

Depart U.S. for Beijing Beijing Wanda Vista Beijing Hotel

Wyndham Grand 6-8 Xi’an

Xi’an South 9-11 Lhasa, Tibet Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa 12 Chongqing JW Marriot Chongqing Yangtze 13-15

Victoria Cruises Cruise 16-18 Shanghai The Kunlun Jing An 19 Depart Shanghai for U.S.

Deluxe Deluxe Deluxe Sup. First Class Deluxe

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

50

Days 3-5: Beijing and the Great Wall Begin your exploration of this 2,000-year-old city at vast Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of China. Enter the gates of the fascinating Forbidden City, seat of imperial power during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Tonight, savor a traditional Peking duck dinner. Begin the next morning with a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s hutongs, or old neighborhoods, where you visit a local home for a rare glimpse of the fast-disappearing communal lifestyle. Then stop at Olympic Park, site of the 2008 Olympic Games. At the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall take a cable car to the partially reconstructed ramparts and walk along the seemingly endless fortification over 5,000 miles in length. The following day tour the splendid Temple of Heaven, where China’s emperors once worshipped, as well as the impressive National Museum of China, newly reopened after an extensive renovation. (3B,2L,2D) Days 6-8: Xi’an Fly to Xi’an, the capital city of some of the most significant dynasties in Chinese history and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Upon arrival visit the Yangling Mausoleum, a Han Dynasty tomb dating to A.D. 153. After lunch, tour Xi’an’s

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

impressive nine-mile city wall and the Great Mosque of Xi’an. Tonight enjoy a special dumpling dinner.

The next morning visit the revered Small Wild Goose Pagoda (c. A.D. 652), a former center of Buddhist teaching. Devote the afternoon to the extraordinary Terra-Cotta Warriors, more than 7,000 life-sized soldiers created to guard China’s first emperor in the afterlife. Get a panoramic view of these individualized figures arrayed in military formation. The entire complex is now protected as a World Heritage site.

On your last day in Xi’an, tour the Shanxi Provincial History Museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit a typical village where you’ll see the agrarian lifestyle up close. (3B,3L,2D) Days 9-11: Lhasa, Tibet Fly this morning to Lhasa, Tibet’s capital city located on a Himalayan plateau at 12,000 feet. Stop to meet with a Tibetan family in their home and spend the remainder of the day acclimating to the high altitude. Opened to foreigners only since 1984, Tibet is a profoundly spiritual place where Buddhism has infused all aspects of life for 13 centuries. The next day visit Jokhang, Tibet’s holiest temple dating to 647, as well as the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas at Norbulinka. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Your final day provides more perspective on Tibet’s ancient Buddhist culture by a visit to immense 17th-century Potala Palace which features 200,000 Buddha images and 1,000 rooms, some of

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

This was an excellent cultural education opportunity that we could not have replicated if we traveled on our own. – Gregg & Carol D.

which you’ll explore. You’ll also visit Sera Monastery, a vast complex devoted to Buddhist scholarship and teachings. (3B,3L,3D) Days 12-13: Chongqing and Dazu, China Fly to Chongqing, a bustling port city on the Yangtze River, where you’ll visit the local zoo to see the beloved pandas. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. The next day’s excursion features the Dazu Rock Carvings dating back more than a millennium – and now a World Heritage site. Tonight board your river ship and set sail downstream. (2B,2L,2D) Days 14 - 15: The Yangtze Prized for its haunting natural beauty, the 3,600-mile-long Yangtze is one of the world’s longest and busiest rivers. This afternoon visit either the Red Pagoda in Shibaozhai, or the “ghost city” of Fengdu. The next day enter narrow Qutang Gorge, and board a small sampan for a cruise through the stunning Small Three Gorges. After lunch enter tranquil Wu Gorge, then cruise 42-mile Xiling Gorge, famed for its swift rapids and churning whirlpools. (2B,2L,2D) Day 16: Three Gorges Dam and Shanghai During your final morning on the Yangtze, tour the

Victoria Cruises Premier Ships

Launched/Rebuilt: 2004–2011 Registry: Chinese Crew: 121–189

Air Conditioning: Yes Decks: 5 or 6 Passenger Capacity: 218–378

All Cabins: Private balcony; satellite TV with HBO

Post-Tour Extension

Shanghai – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights for $245 total price Single Supplement: $195

Spend additional time exploring dynamic Shanghai, China’s most prosperous, vibrant, and cosmopolitan city.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • 2 nights accommodations at Hilton Shanghai (Deluxe) • 2 meals: 2 breakfasts • Transfer to the airport

immense Three Gorges Dam Project, one of the largest feats of modern engineering in the world.

Continue cruising to Yichang, where you’ll disembark and fly to Shanghai. (B,L) Days 17-18: Shanghai Begin your day with a walking tour of the Xin Tian Di neighborhood of rehabilitated traditional homes. Stroll through peaceful Yu Yuan, a traditional garden whose plantings recreate the Chinese landscape in miniature form.

After lunch tour the acclaimed Shanghai Museum with its priceless collections of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, and calligraphy. Tonight, attend a lively Chinese acrobatics show. The next morning walk along the Bund, Shanghai’s broad and bustling riverfront boulevard, once the center of European influence in the Far East. The afternoon is at leisure to experience China’s free-market economy along the Nanjing Road, cruise the Huangpu River, or get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. In the evening toast your adventure at a farewell dinner. (2B,1L,1D) Day 19: Depart for the U.S. Depart Shanghai for your return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Barry Till is a curator of Asian art at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in Canada. With a wideranging knowledge of Asia’s history, archaeology, and cultures, Barry has travelled extensively and lectured on numerous expeditions throughout Asia. He has published more than 100 exhibition catalogues, books, and articles, and in 2008 received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Museums Association. Barry speaks Chinese, holds degrees in Far Eastern studies, and studied at Oxford and Nanjing University in China.

He will lead the September 26 departure. The other departures will be led by comparable experts.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 17 nights accommodations: 3 nights aboard Superior First Class ship of Victoria Cruises; 14 nights in Deluxe hotels • 43 meals: 17 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 12 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including shore excursions • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Tour Shanghai’s Yu Yuan Gardens

2019 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Oct 10

Sep 12 Sep 26

Los Angeles, San Francisco

$7,587 $7,687

Portland (OR), Seattle

$7,787 $7,887

Boston, Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Washington, DC

$7,887

$7,987

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa

$7,987

$8,087

Land Only

$6,895

$6,995

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy in an outside cabin and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $492, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,795. All 2019 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transpacific flight: $3,795 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Due to Chinese visa restrictions, no new registrations can be accepted within 65 days of the tour.

Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing and significant amounts of walking. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour. Lhasa’s altitude (12,090 feet) could pose problems for travelers with certain health conditions. You should consult with your physician if you have concerns.

51

ASIA

Eternal Japan

From Tokyo to Kyoto

13 days from $6,757 total price from Los Angeles, San Francisco ($6,395 air & land inclusive plus $362 airline taxes and fees)

Historically a land of delicate art and rich traditions, Japan is also known for its bustling commerce and dizzying modernity. Experience fascinating aspects of Japanese culture, from a traditional tea ceremony to a stay in a ryokan, as well as historic and modern sites and the stunning scenery of Mt. Fuji. See the highlights of Tokyo and Kyoto, and go off the beaten path to the lovely historic cities of Takayama and Kanazawa.

Sea of Japan Kanazawa

JAPAN Shirakawago

Takayama Kyoto Hiroshima

Osaka

Lake Biwa

Mt. Fuji

Tokyo Hakone

Nara

Visit Kyoto’s gold-leaf covered Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion.

Overnight

Pacific Ocean

Featured Site Motorcoach Train Extension (Train)

Avg. High (°F) Tokyo Kyoto

Aug Sep Oct Nov 86 78 70 60 89 82 74 62

Highlights Include Learn about Tokyo’s past during a special visit to the EdoTokyo Museum • Visit the gallery of preeminent calligrapher Koshun Masunaga in Tokyo • Experience an overnight stay in a traditional ryokan • Tour the famed Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa • Enjoy a full day excursion to Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, featuring many World Heritage sites.

Day Itinerary Hotel

Rating

1 2-4

Deluxe

Depart U.S. for Tokyo Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo

Aura Tachibana 5 Hakone

(ryokan) 6-7 Takayama Hida Hotel Plaza

Hotel Nikko 8-9 Kanazawa

Kanazawa 10-12 Kyoto Hotel Granvia Kyoto 13 Depart Kyoto for U.S.

Not rated First Class First Class First Class

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small, too new, or too remote to be listed.

52

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Tokyo, Japan Upon arrival this evening, transfer to your hotel where you learn about the journey ahead at a briefing with your ­tour director.

Day 3: Tokyo Spend the morning touring this amazing city that comprises 23 wards and covers a staggering 840 miles. Focus on a smaller area visiting some of Tokyo’s top sights, including Shinto Meiji Shrine, a peaceful enclave of temples and gardens; the Edo-Tokyo Museum, a historical presentation of Edo (the city from c. 1600 until 1868) and Tokyo (the new Edo from 1868 until the present); and a visit to the gallery of preeminent calligrapher Koshun Masunaga, where you learn about this ancient art and browse the collection. The tour ends in Ginza, Tokyo’s famed shopping, dining, and entertainment district, where you can stay to explore as you wish or return to the hotel. Tonight gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 4: Tokyo Your tour of Tokyo continues at the Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and ramparts, and home of the Imperial family. Visit the East Gardens, part of the innermost circle of defense of the historic Edo Castle that once stood here. Continue to the Buddhist Asakusa Kannon, Tokyo’s oldest temple, followed by the Nakamise Shopping arcade. Last, visit

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

the Tokyo National Museum, housing an extensive collection of art and antiquities from Japan and other Asian countries. This afternoon is at leisure. (B) Day 5: Mt. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Hakone Depart Tokyo this morning for Mt. FujiHakone-Izu National Park. Here sits imposing Mt. Fuji, a dormant volcano (it last erupted in 1707) with a perfectly ­symmetrical cone that rises to 12,388 feet.

The mountain’s majesty is breathtaking, as artists and writers have attested for centuries. Take a coach ride where, weather permitting, you’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views; then descend for a relaxing cruise on scenic Ashi Lake. Leaving the park, travel to the town of Hakone where you spend the night at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn where you take off your shoes upon entering and sleep on a futon. (B,D) Day 6: Takayama Today, travel to lovely Takayama in the Japanese Alps, considered one of the country’s most attractive towns with its 16th-century castle and old-style buildings. Your explorations center on three narrow streets in the San-machi-suji district where, in feudal times, merchants lived amidst the authentically preserved small inns, teahouses, and sake breweries that you see here. This afternoon attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony: a historic, ritualized ceremony of form, grace, and spirituality. (B,D)

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

‘Eternal Japan’ is a fabulous overview of Japanese culture, with plenty of hands-on experiences and marvelous experts and guides from Smithsonian. – Kathy A.

Day 7: Takayama Pay an early visit to the riverside Miyagawa Morning Market, a blaze of dazzling colors and provisions. Here meet a local chef to gather ingredients for the lunch you will prepare together.

After enjoying the fruits of your labors, embark on a walking tour, visiting Takayama Jinya, a historic government house; the local sake brewery; and Takayama’s old town, whose well-preserved buildings and homes date to the Edo Period (1600–1868). (B,L) Day 8: ­Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa Leave Takayama this morning for the World Heritage site of Shirakawago Gassho-zukuri Village. Comprising buildings re­locat­ed from authentic villages nearby that were razed for a dam, the village is also a vibrant community whose residents work together to preserve the unique traditional architecture here known as Gassho style. Late afternoon reach the castle town of Kanazawa, an alluring coastal city that survived the ravages of World War II. (B,L) Day 9: Kanazawa Today’s tour of this culturally rich city features renowned Kenrokuen Garden, a national landmark whose origins date to 1676. Also see Ishikawa Gate, the only remaining section of the town’s original castle; Hakukokan, a museum celebrating the art and craft of gold leaf technology; and the Higashi Chayagai tea­house and geisha area. Your last stop is the Nagamachi Samurai district, where the ruling family’s samurai warriors lived. (B,D) Day 10: Kanazawa and Kyoto This morning board the train for Kyoto, once Japan’s Imperial Capital and now the country’s cultural and artistic center. Upon arrival, visit Kinkaku-ji, the lakeside Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and Ryoan-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple whose acclaimed dry garden epitomizes the

Post-Tour Extension

Hiroshima: City of Peace

3 days/2 nights for $1,095 total price Single Supplement: $245

Discover the city reborn from the atomic destruction of World War II, a modern and cosmopolitan urban center whose residents warmly welcome American visitors.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes • Rail transportation Kyoto/Hiroshima; Hiroshima/Osaka • 2 nights accommodations at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (First Class) • 3 Meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch • Extensive included sightseeing: Miyajima Island and Isukushima Shrine; Hiroshima touring by local “Hiroden” train; visit to Peace Memorial Park and Museum; Atomic Bomb Dome • Services of a professional Tour Director • Gratuities to Tour Director, dining room servers, hotel porters, and drivers

simplicity of Zen meditation. Then continue on to Unrakugama, a workshop specializing in prized Kiyomizu pottery. (B,D) Day 11: Kyoto and Nara Today travel to Nara, Japan’s 8th-century capital renowned for its shrines and temples. First visit Todaiji (c. A.D. 752) whose main hall (c. 1692) is the world’s largest wooden building. Also visit historic Kasugataisha, the Shinto shrine and World Heritage site surrounded by parkland where deer roam free. (B) Day 12: Kyoto This morning’s tour reveals more of this city that was spared destruction during World War II. Highlights include Nijo-jo Castle (c. 1603), the extravagant residence and fortifications of the shoguns who ruled Japan for more than 250 years; and Sanjyusangendo Hall (c. 1266), an important Buddhist temple housing 1,000 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon deity. From here venture to the Gion district, where the geishas gather. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 13: Depart Kyoto for the U.S. Travel by coach to Osaka, to board return flights to the U.S. (B)

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Robert Foster earned his Master’s degree in East Asia studies and his Ph.D. in Chinese history from Harvard University. He is a professor at Berea College, where he created the Asian Studies program and where his courses focus on Chinese and Japanese history. Robert has been a participant in National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institutes on the Silk Road and has written on Confucian philosophy, and on the modern use of Confucian imagery in the PRC and Japan. He has also led workshops on Asia with organizations as diverse as the U.S. military and secondary school educators in Kentucky. Robert will lead the October departure. The August departure will be led by a comparable expert.

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities • 11 nights accommodations: 10 nights in Deluxe and First Class hotels; 1 night in traditional Japanese ryokan • 19 meals: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Train transportation as described • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Mt. Fuji has been treasured throughout Japan’s history

2019 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Aug 28

Oct 9

Los Angeles, San Francisco

$6,757 $6,957

Portland (OR), Seattle

$7,057

$7,257

Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix

$7,257

$7,457

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

$7,357 $7,557

Land Only

$5,895

$6,095

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occu­pancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $362, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,395. All 2019 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transpacific flight: $4,595 per person from San Francisco (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves full days of sightseeing and significant amounts of walking on stairs and uneven surfaces. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

53

ASIA

Discovering Vietnam

From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City

17 days from $4,597 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC ($3,795 air & land inclusive plus $802 airline taxes and fees)

In a land of breathtaking natural beauty and abiding tradition, rewards abound for the thoughtful traveler. Experience imperial Hue, to the villages and rice paddies of Da Nang, to Ho Chi Minh City, so prominent in recent history. Everywhere you go you’ll be welcomed by gracious, hospitable people.

Red River Hanoi

Ha Long Bay Gulf of Tonkin

Hue Da Nang/ Hoi An

Mekong River

VIETNAM

Siem Reap

CAMBODIA Can Tho/ Cai Rang

Ho Chi Minh City Mekong Delta

Overnight Featured Site Air

Visit the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay and view the limestone cliffs up close during a day cruise.

Motorcoach Extension (Air)

Avg. High (°F) Hanoi Da Nang Ho Chi Minh City

Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec 68 69 74 84 78 72 75 78 81 83 80 77 89 91 92 88 87 87

Highlights Include Enjoy Hanoi sightseeing, including a visit to the “Hanoi Hilton” • Marvel at the ethereal landscape of Ha Long Bay • Visit Hoi An • Tour the acclaimed Cham Museum • Take part in a private cooking class of local cuisine • Enjoy a home-hosted lunch in Hue • See the Mekong Delta • Visit the floating markets at Cai Be and Cai Rang • Tour Ho Chi Minh City • Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Day Itinerary

Hotel

Rating

1-2

Depart U.S. for Hanoi InterContinental 3-5 Hanoi Deluxe

Hanoi Westlake

6-8 Da Nang Hyatt Regency Danang Deluxe

Sup. First 9-10 Hue Saigon Morin Hotel

Class Can Tho Victoria Can Sup. First 11-12

(Mekong Delta) Tho Resort Class 13-15 Ho Chi Sofitel Saigon Plaza Deluxe

Minh City 16 Ho Chi Minh City/Depart for U.S. (overnight flight) 17 Arrive U.S. Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

54

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam Day 3: Hanoi Arrive in the Vietnamese capital today then transfer to the hotel. Tonight, walk the narrow streets of the diverse Ancient Quarter, where you enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D) Day 4: Hanoi This morning take a walking tour of the Ba Dinh Square complex of sites, including the marble and granite mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace, and thousand-year-old One Pillar Pagoda. Following lunch on your own, embark on an orientation tour of this French-accented city. Pass Hoan Kiem Lake; visit the marvelous Temple of Literature (c. 1070); and tour infamous Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. Dine tonight at a local restaurant. (B,D) Day 5: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay This morning depart on a full-day excursion to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site. This is Vietnam’s legendary waterway sprinkled with 3,000 islands and islets, and surrounded by a fairytale landscape of limestone cliffs, secret grottoes, and hidden caves. Your tour includes a boat ride and seafood lunch. (B,L) Day 6: Da Nang Fly to Da Nang, Vietnam’s third largest city situated on the south central coast. Upon arrival, tour the acclaimed Cham Museum, which

SMITHSONIANJOURNEYS.ORG / 877.338.8687 / BOOK YOUR TRIP

celebrates the Cham people’s Hindu legacy with a fine collection of sculpture and artifacts dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. Arrive at your beachfront hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,D) Day 7: Da Nang and Hoi An Visit nearby Hoi An, where a succession of Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese traders helped to build an architecturally diverse and colorful village where many ancient traditions still hold sway. A World Heritage site, Hoi An’s Old Town is a charming, car-free pedestrian zone lined with tailors, shops, and art galleries. (B,L) Day 8: Da Nang A morning walking tour of a local farming settlement reveals the daily life of a local community up close. Nestled amidst seemingly endless rice paddies, the village represents the Vietnam of fable and film, where villagers engage in threshing and harvesting, water buffaloes plow the fields, and local residents ride to market with produce piled high on their bicycles. Enjoy a private cooking lesson of regional cuisine followed by dinner in Hoi An. (B,L,D) Day 9: Hue Depart for the ancient imperial city of Hue, whose palaces, temples, and tombs evoke its past grandeur as home to emperors and mandarins.

Explore the Imperial City, now a World Heritage site. Visit the Central Market where locals shop.

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP

Just 16–24 Smithsonian guests per departure

We could not have journeyed through Vietnam on our own. Smithsonian provided everything to make our trip worry-free. All we needed to do is pack a bag! – Victor C.

Tonight enjoy a special Hue dinner, accompanied by a performance of traditional music. (B,D) Day 10: Hue This morning cruise along Hue’s Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist monastery, then visit the palatial Tomb of Ming Mang (c. 1804). Enjoy lunch in the home of a local historian. See the tombs of Tu Doc, a gem of royal architecture; and Khai Dinh, an elaborate mix of ancient and modern, European and Asian. Finish the day with a visit to a Buddhist orphanage. Meet the children, speak with the head nun, and learn about the inspiring work done to provide these children with a better future. (B,L) Day 11: Mekong Delta and Can Tho Fly early to Saigon. Upon arrival transfer to a motorcoach for the three-hour drive south to the Mekong River town of Cai Be. Travel by coach and ferry to the busy river port and provincial capital of Can Tho. (B,D) Day 12: Can Tho and Mekong Delta Rise early for today’s journey by boat to the bustling floating marCity Hall, Ho Chi Minh City ket at Cai Rang on the Mekong’s lower reaches. After lunch together at a local restaurant, the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L) Day 13: Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City Travel by motorcoach to the upper reaches of the storied Mekong. Here board motorized sampans for

Post-Tour Extension

Cambodia: Angkor Wat

3 days/2 nights for $995 total price

an up-close look at river life. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue by coach to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving late afternoon. Dinner is on your own in this vibrant city. (B,L) Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City A morning tour includes the Reunification Palace and the History Museum, where you’ll learn about the indigenous peoples of Vietnam. Later attend a traditional water puppet performance. (B,D) Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City This morning experience the Cu Chi Tunnels, the infamous underground network from which North Vietnamese forces operated in wartime. Tonight gather for a farewell dinner. (B,D) Day 16: Depart for the U.S. Enjoy a day at leisure.

This evening depart for the airport and your overnight flight to the U.S. Your rooms are reserved for late check-out. (B) Day 17: Arrive in the U.S. Arrive in the U.S. and connect with your flights home.

A Vietnamese farmer plants rice

Smithsonian Journeys Expert Jonathan M. Hall is a film researcher and curator in media studies at Pomona College in Claremont, California. An expert in East Asian film cultures, Jonathan’s research profile extends to avant-garde art and digital technologies. He has previously taught at the University of Chicago, the University of California, and the National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo. He pursued his graduate work simultaneously at the University of Tokyo and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Jonathan will lead the December departure. Dana Sachs (see page 6) will lead the January departure, and the others will be led by comparable experts

Single Supplement: $245

A special opportunity to discover the amazing temples and statuary from the Angkorian Empire.

Your Post-Tour Extension Price Includes

• Air transportation Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap, inclusive of airline taxes and fees • 2 nights accommodations in Siem Reap at Sofitel Angkor (Deluxe) • 4 meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners • Three days of sightseeing at Angkor complex (World Heritage site), including all entrance fees • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation • Gratuities for Tour Director, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Your Tour Price Includes • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary • 13 nights accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels • 27 meals: 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners • Sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees • Planned and informal talks by a Smithsonian Journeys Expert • Services of a professional Tour Director • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip • Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

2019/2020 Tour Dates and Prices

including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

2020

2019 Jan 8

Oct 23 2019 Feb 9

Nov 10 Dec 1 Feb 23 Boston, New York Washington, DC

$4,597

$4,697

$4,897

Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle

$4,897

$4,997

$5,197

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa

$4,997

$5,097

$5,297

Denver, Detroit, Phoenix, Portland (OR)

$5,097 $5,197 $5,397

Land Only

$3,595

$3,695

$3,895

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $802, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,595. All 2019/2020 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Airline upgrades on round-trip international flight: Business Class – $5,995 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

55

PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Odysseys Unlimited

Smithsonian Institution P.O. Box 23182 Washington, DC 20026

2019/2020 Classic Land Journeys Go online to learn about these and other exceptional tours!

Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon Himalayan Kingdoms

Scotland’s Treasures

Southern France

Highlights of Britain

Scandinavian Journey

Let the Journey Begin

SmithsonianJourneys.org / 877-338-8687

The Northern Rockies