EXPERT LED GROUP TOURS
Welcome.
“Ifyouwanttogofast,goalone.Ifyouwanttogofar, gotogether”-Africanproverb.
We’reveryexcitedtobere-launchingtheSteppes TravelGroupCollectionfortravellerswhoenjoythe camaraderieoftravellingtogether.
We’vecharteredourfavouritesmallshipsandcalled onsomeofourfavouriteexpertstojoinyou,giving insightontopicsasdiverseaswildlifephotography, conservation,cultureandhistory.We’vechosen festivalsofferingthethrillofcompletecultural immersionandwe’vetappedourspiritofadventure todeliverpioneeringtripsthattakeabigstepaway fromthewell-troddenpath.Expecttobejoinedby outstandingguidesandhostsandtobeaccompanied bytravellingcompanionswhomayjustbecome futurefriends.
Someexperiencesarejusttoogoodtobeenjoyed alone.Gofartogetherandjoinusonatripfromthe SteppesTravelGroupCollection.
Group Tour Collection.
Galapagos Islands
Exclusive Charter with GCT
Galapagos Islands
Exclusive Charter with Jonathan R. Green
Canada - Great Bear Rainforest
Exclusive Voyage with Paul Goldstein
Peru - Andes to Amazon
Guided 4x4 Self-Drive Adventure
Cameroon
Nguon Festival and Baka Communities
India
Kumbh Mela
India
A Private View with Ursula Weeks
India - Ladkh
On the Trail of Snow Leopards
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
Minarets, Silk and Fergana Valley
Turkey - Ephesus and the Lycian Coast
Exclusive Gulet Charter
JUNE 2024
JULY 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
MULTIPLE DEPARTURES
DECEMBER 2024
JANUARY 2025
FEBRUARY 2025
MARCH 2025
APRIL 2025
MAY 2025
5
Galapagos Islands.
Exclusive Charter with Galapagos Conservation Trust
DATES - 16th - 25th June 2024
JoinSteppesTravelandGalapagosConservationTrust(GCT)onan exclusivevoyagearoundtheGalapagosIslands.
Thisisanexceptionalopportunityforanybodywantingtoexperiencethe GalapagosIslandsandlearnmoreaboutthedynamicconservationwork takingplacetocontinueDarwin’slegacy.What’smore,thistripwillhelp fundworktosavetheuniquewildlifeandhabitatthatmakesavisittothe Galapagossomemorable.ThevoyageishostedbyGCT’sKellyHague throughout,alongwithoneoftheGalapagos’mostexperiencedlocal guides.Youwillmeetscientistsandresearchersonthefrontlineof conservationintheGalapagos,gainingprivilegedinsightintothevitalwork beingcarriedouttopreservethebiodiversityforwhichtheislandsare renowned.
HAGUE
Since joining Galapagos Conservation Trust in May 2018, Kelly has been a vital conduit between the Trust’s supporters and the conservation projects on the ground.
More about Kelly
HOSTED BY GALAPAGOS CONSERVATION TRUST
HostedbyGCTthroughout,visitconservationprojectsand meetexpertsinthefield.
BIODIVERSITY ON LAND AND SEA
Snorkelalongsidepenguinsandsharksandspotiguanas, boobiesandfinchesonland.
GIANT TORTOISE CONSERVATION
SpendanightinSantaCruztogobehindthescenesongiant tortoiseconservation.
KELLYREQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
ONLY ONE CABIN REMAINING
Cost: £7,395
Single supplement: £2,960
Group size: 15 max
Galapagos Islands.
Exclusive Charter with Jonathan R Green
DATES - 7th - 16th July 2024
NowhereonEarthhaswildlifeliketheGalapagosIslands.Thisisn’t hyperbole,butascientificfact,withjustunderhalfofallthespecies recordedonthearchipelagobeingendemic.Foranybodywithaloveof wildlife,acruisearoundDarwin’sarchipelagoisariteofpassageandso you’llwanttobeaccompaniedbyexpertswhocanhelpyoufully comprehendthisbeautifulandendangeredeco-system.
Spendeightdaysatsea,exploringtheGalapagosarchipelagointhe companyofmarinebiologistandwhalesharkexpert,JonathanGreen.We haveexclusivelycharteredoneofourfavouritemotoryachts,Natural Paradisetoprovidetheperfectlow-impactbaseforyourwildlifeadventure.
GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE
JONATHAN R. GREEN
Founder of the Galapagos Whale Shark Research Project, Jonathan's work was featured on the BBC Blue Planet series, when he and his team successfully conducted ultrasound and blood extraction from a free swimming whale shark.
More about Jonathan.
Visiteightdifferentislands,eachwiththeirowndistinct terrain,floraandfauna.Dayswillbespentsnorkelling, kayakingandtakingpanga(smallmotorisedboat)ridesto getashorefromwhereyourguideswillleadfascinating walkingsafaristoseethewildlifeforwhichtheseremarkable islandsarerenowned.
GALAPAGOS WHALE SHARK PROJECT
BybookingthisGalapagosvoyageyouwillhelpraisefundsto purchaseasatellitetagwhichJonathanandhisteamwillputto goodusetrackingthewhalesharksfoundaroundthe archipelago.
REQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £6,950
Single supplement: £2,780
Group size: 15 max
Canada - Great Bear Rainforest.
Exclusive Voyage with Paul Goldstein
DATE - 5th - 13th September 2024
Leadbyguideandaward-winningphotographerPaulGoldstein,sailaboard theIslandRoameronaquesttocapturethespectacularwildlifeofBritish Columbia’sGreatBearRainforest.WithPaul’sguidance,learnhowtotake consideredshotsthatshowintimatecharacteristicsofthewildlifeand landscapes.
TwoofthedayswillbespentnavigatingtheinletsandshoresofPrincess RoyalIsland,oneofthebestplacestoseethemajesticspirit(Kermode)bear andhometoepicmarinewildlifeincludingorca,humpbackandPacificwhitesideddolphin.Thebeautyofthistripisthatthewildlifedictatestheitinerary; ifapodofwhalesengageinbubble-netfeedingorpectoralslappingtherewill benorushtogettothenextdestination.
GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
According to The Sunday Times, Paul is ‘preposterously vivacious, a guide of psychotic gusto’ ‘ noone will drag you up the wildlife photography ladder quicker.’ A trip with Paul is never dull, sometimes challenging but always fun and fulfilling.
More about Paul
Setoutinsearchofthemysticalspiritbear,grizzlies,black bears,coastalwolves,aswellasorca,riverottersandbald eagles.
BUBBLE-NET FEEDING
Achancetowitnesstheimpressivetechniqueofhumpback whalesbubble-netfeeding.
THE ISLAND ROAMER
TheIslandRoamerisacompact68-footsailingboatthatcan navigatesmallchannels,givingsuperbaccesstoincredible wildlifeviewing.
PAUL GOLDSTEIN Photo taken by Paul Goldstein in the Great Bear RainforestREQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £7,950
Single supplement: £3,950
Group size: 11 max
Peru - Andes to Amazon.
Guided 4 4 x Self-Drive Adventure
DATES
- 26th October - 10th November 2024
- 18th November - 3rd December 2024
- 13th March - 28th March 2025
- 31st March - 15th April 2025
Thisexhilaratingself-drivejourneyencompassesthespectacular landscapes,culture,cuisineandhistoryofPeru.Followingexpertguide Paul,driveyourownexpedition4×4vehicleona15-dayadventurewith routesspanningthemostspectacularmountainranges,vastdesert landscapesandtwistingAmazonjungleroads.
PAUL BOARDMAN
It’s Paul’s energy and knowledge that is the icing on the cake of this already exciting itinerary Both Paul and his Peruvian wife, Marisol, have a great love of Peru and its people and know the insand-outs of getting off the tourist trail and into real Peru.
More about Paul.
TRADITIONAL PERU
TraversemountainroadsthroughAndeanIndianvillages, wherelocalpeopleweartraditionaldressandstilltravelby horseback.
AMAZON & ANDES
NavigatetheunpavedMantaroRiverCanyontoreacha haciendaonlyaccessibleby4×4,followedbyanightatan Amazonjunglelodge.
CUSCO
SpendthreedaysexploringthecolourfulcityofCusco,sitting atover3,000metresabovesealevel.
REQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £7,995 - £8,595
Single supplement: £0
Group size: 8 max
Cameroon. Nguon Festival and Baka Communities
DATE - 4th - 15th December 2024
Explorethisremarkableanddiversecountry.Spendtimeattheheartofone ofAfrica’slastfeudalkingdoms,experiencingthecenturies-oldNguon Festival.HeaddeepintotheforesttomeetBakahunter-gatherers,before experiencingCameroonianbeachlifeatKribi.
TheNguonFestivalisover600yearsoldandcelebratestherichandvibrant Bamounculture.Itlastsforsevendays,witheachdayheraldingdifferent dances,ceremoniesandfeasts.ThecelebrantsfillthestreetsofFoumban,as thewholecityistakenoverbyNguonfever.Fantasticcostumesandelaborate hatsdecoratethecrowds,whilstmusiciansfromnearbyvillagesprovidea soundtracktothelivelycelebration.
BAKA PEOPLE
Mountain Leader, certified Astronomy guide and published photographer, Jorge brings many skills and passions to his guiding In the last six years he has been guiding across central and western Africa, from Cameroon to the DRC.
More about Jorge.
ExperiencetherichcultureoftheBaka,intheformof music,dancingandpolyphonicsinging.Theseperformances ofteninvolvefiredancesandcancalluponthespiritofthe forest,the“Ejengi”.
CAMEROON'S COAST
FinishyourwestAfricanadventurebesidethebeachinKribi anddiscoverthebeautifulLobeFalls,whichflowsdirectlyinto thesea.
Aweek-longcelebrationofBamounculturethatcomprisesof horseparades,mockbattles,elaboratedancing,outrageous costumesanddeliciousfood.
JORGE FERNANDEZ NGUON FESTIVALREQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £5,995
Single supplement: £695
Group size: 12 max
India. Kumbh Mela
DATE - 21st - 29th January 2025
Thisisarareopportunitytoexperiencethelargestreligiousgatheringinthe world.KumbhMelaistheapogeeofHinduworshipinacountryrenowned forthevibrancyofitspeopleandreligiousfestivals.
SteppesTravelhasacquiredexclusiveaccesstoaprivatetentedcampfor threenights,locatedontheedgeofthefestivalgrounds.Thiswillbeyour baseforthedurationofyourtimeatKumbhMela,duringwhichyouwill meetwithsadhusandspiritualleaderstogainaninsightintowhatthe festivalmeanstodevoutHindus.VisitDelhiandVaranasibeforethefestival andfinishwithadayandahalfexploringKolkata.
LAKSHMI SINGH
A princess from the royal family of Tikari in Bihar, where her father was the last Maharaja, Lakshmi was exposed to a life of adventure from an early age.
More about Lakshmi
PHOTOGRAPHER'S DREAM
Theperfectopportunityforphotographerswantingtocapture theessenceofspiritualityandworship.
SPIRITUAL INSIGHT
VisittheholycityofVaranasiandtakeaboatridetowitness earlymorningprayeronthebanksoftheGanges.
KOLKATA FLOWER MARKET
Dazzling,high-definitioncoloursandintoxicatingfloral aromashavebeenconstantcompanionstotheKolkatatraders whohavebeensellingflowersforover150yearsatthecity’s famousmarketalongsidetheHooghlyriver.
REQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £7,795
Single supplement: £2,450
Group size: 14 max
India. A Private View with Ursula Weekes
DATE - 2nd - 15th February 2025
ForcenturiespeoplehavetriedtounderstandIndia.Mosthavefailed.
Forthosekeentotry,forthosewhobelievethatknowledgeand understandingofacountryisbestachievedthroughartandhistory,this alternativeitinerarythroughRajasthanandthe‘GoldenTriangle’ofDelhiAgra-Jaipurisanopportunitynottobemissed.
Visitingarchaeologicalandhistoricsitesofmajorimportanceaswellas othersrarelyvisitedbygrouptours,SteppesTravellerswillgainunrivalled insightintoRajputandMughalculturethroughprivateaccesstoart collectionsandthroughmeetinglocalexpertsandcommunityleaders.
DR URSULA WEEKES
Dr Ursula Weekes is an independent art historian based in London, specialising in Mughal and Rajput art and culture. She teaches at various academic and museum settings, including the Courtauld Institute of Art, the V&A Academy and formerly at JNU in Delhi.
STAY IN A MIXTURE OF HISTORIC HAVELIS AND PALACES
Convertedfromancientpalaceorfortstructures,these propertiesarefullofcharacter,charmandhistory, containingsomeofthemostbeautifulfrescosandartwork thatyouwillseeinIndia.
CONNECTIONS
There’snothingwelikemorethanconnectingourclientswith localcharacterswhobringdepthandinsighttotheir experiences.Thistourispunctuatedbymeetingswithlocal experts,suchasSamDalrymple,historianRanaSafviand artist,ShammiBanuSharma.
More about UrsulaREQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £7,694
Single supplement: £1,735
Group size: 13 max
India - Ladakh. On the Trail of Snow Leopards
DATE - 4th - 16th March 2025
OursnowleopardgrouptourworkswiththeSnowLeopardConservancy TrustIndiainLadakhandisaccompaniedbyateamofexperttrackersfrom themountaincommunityofUlley.SpendsixfulldaysexploringtheUlley Valleysearchingfor‘TheGhostoftheHimalaya’.
YAJU UPADHYAYA
Anexceptionalteamoftrackersisanessentialcomponentofasuccessful snowleopardholidayandinourlocalteamfromUlley,weareconfidentwe havefoundjustthat.TheycombineanintimateknowledgeoftheUlley Valleyandthemovementsofitssnowleopardinhabitantswitha comprehensiveunderstandingofsnowleopardbehaviourandasound relationshipwiththelocalcommunity.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
As an accomplished photographer and avid conservationist, Yaju has travelled all over India but is particularly drawn to the wildlife of Central India and the Himalayas.
More about Yaju.
Marchisthesnowleopardbreedingseasonandistheprime monthforoutstandingsightings.
GIVING BACK
WithourpartnersinLadakh,wehavecreatedtheperfect exampleofcommunitybasedtourismthatactsasavitaltool forconservation.Thistourdonates$200perpersontothe SnowLeopardConservancyTrustIndia.
ExploretheBuddhisttemplesofLehandexperienceLadakhi hospitalityandhomecookedmealsatSnowLeopardLodgein thevalleyofUlley.
LADAKHI CULTUREREQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £6,195
Single supplement: £2,350
Group size: 8 max
Uzbekistan and Tajikist
Minarets, Silk and Fergana Valley
DATE – 12th – 25th April 2025
ExploreFerganaValley,thehubofCentralAsia’ssilkindustryalongside writerandexpert,ChrisAslan.Chrisknowsallthebestsilkworkshops, tradersandbazaarswherethecraftsmanshipandhistoryoftheancientskill ofcarpetweavingisproudlyupheld.InTajikistan,youwillalsomeetthe pottersofKhujandanddiscoverthefrescoesandmosaicsofPanjikent.In UzbekistanyouwillvisittheUNESCOsitesofBukharaandSamarkand whilealsomeetingwithChris’friendsandcolleaguesfromtheworldofsilk, embroidery,carvingandminiaturepainting.Travellingbyroadandby train,thisisatourfortravellerswantingtogainbothaninsightintothe historyoftheSilkRoadandanunderstandingofmodernlifeintheStans.
CULTURE
Chris has spent 15 years living and working in Central Asia, speaks fluent Uzbek and passable Kyrgyz, Tajik and Pamiri, and has immersed himself in the history, culture and traditions of the region. His latest book, Unravelling the Silk Road unravels the fascinating history of the world’s oldest trading route.
Visitvibrantsilkworkshops,offthemaintouristtrail,tosee ancientcarpetweavingskillsstillinpractiseinmodern CentralAsia.
HISTORY
Visitthemausoleums,madrasasandmosquesofUNESCOsites inSamarkandandBukhara.
FANTASTIC ACCOMODATION
Stayinsmall,boutiquehotelsreflectingthearchitectureand cultureofCentralAsia.
CHRIS ASLAN More about Chris.REQUEST A FULL ITINERARY
Cost: £3,495
Single supplement: £565
Group size: 15 max
Turkey - Ephesus and the Lycian Coast.
Exclusive Gulet Charter
COMING SOON - May 2025
ExplorethefabledlandsoftheLyciancoastinagulet(atraditionalTurkishschooner)exclusivelycharteredfor Steppes’clients.InthecompanyoftravelwriterandTurkeyexpert,JeremySeal,visittheByzantinemonastic ruinsofStNicholas’Island,theshore-sidenecropolisatTeimiussaandLycia’sfabledriversidecapital,Xanthos. Inbetweenexcursionsalongthecoast,ourexperiencedcrewwilldropanchorinsecludedcovestoallowfora coolingdipinthesea.Beforethecruise,JeremywillescortthegrouponaguidedtourofEphesus,Magnesiaand Aphrodisias.
Travel Calendar.
JUNE ‘24
Galapagos
GCT Charter
Join Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) on an exclusive voyage around the Galapagos Islands.
OCTOBER ‘24
Peru
4x4 Andes to the Amazon
This 4x4 self-drive journey encompasses the stunning scenery, culture cuisine and history of Peru
JULY ‘24
Galapagos
Exclusive Charter
Witness the extraordinary wildlife of the Galapagos Islands with Jonathan R. Green.
NOVEMBER ‘24
Peru
4x4 Andes to the Amazon
This 4x4 self-drive journey encompasses the stunning scenery, culture cuisine and history of Peru
SEPTEMBER ‘24
Canada
Great Bear Rainforest
Embark on a quest to capture the spectacular wildlife of British C l bi ’ G t B R i f t
DECEMBER ‘24
Cameroon
Nguon Festival
Spend time at the heart of one of Africa’s last feudal kingdoms, at the centuries-old Nguon Festival.
Find out more
JANUARY ‘25
India
Kumbha Mela Festival
Kumbh Mela is the apogee of Hindu worship which only takes place once every 12 years.
Find out more
MARCH ‘25
India
Snow Leopard Tracking
March is the snow leopard breeding season and is the prime month for outstanding sightings
Find out more
FEBRUARY ‘25
India
Mughal Art Tour
Discover Rajput and Mughal culture through private access to art collections.
Find out more
APRIL ‘25
Uzbekistan & Tajikistan
Minarets, Silk and Fergana Valley
Peru
MARCH ‘25
4x4 Andes to the Amazon
This 4x4 self-drive journey encompasses the stunning scenery, culture, cuisine and history of Peru.
MAY ‘25
Turkey
Exclusive Gulet Charter
Turquoise waters and delicious delights found only in the heart of Turkey.
Stunning landscapes and architecture.
Find out more
Find out more
2024 - 2025.