Travel Directors - October 2017 Newsletter

137 Cambridge St, West Leederville WA 6007 • www.traveldirectors.com.au Tel: (08) 9242 4200 or 1300 856 661 (from outside WA) • Fax: (08) 9382 8393October 2017 Edition ...Adventures of a lifetimeIt’s an exciting time here at Travel Directors, amongst them the inaugural Epic Rail IN THIS ISSUE…with bookings rolling in for 2018/19 and a Odyssey – which, by all accounts exceedednumber of tours already filling up. If you’ve expectations: a cutting-edge Adventure of a The Wild Side of Indiamade up your mind where you want to go Lifetime in true Travel Directors’ style! We Essential South Americanext year, give us a call quick smart: we regularly post photos from the tours on our Christmas Crackersdon’t want any of our valued travellers facebook page, so follow us for day to day Back to Black Seato be disappointed! In the last couple of updates. Now, read on!months we’ve had eight tours on the road,Africa:The Last Frontiers! Locals feed the wild hyenas at Harar, Ethiopia.Hamer people, Ethiopia. It is with great excitement that we bring you a brand new addition to our rapidly expanding portfolio of tours – Africa: The Last Frontiers! Our tour mastermind, Tony Evans, hasdone it again, with a remarkable 30-day exploration to parts of the mysterious continent that are well andtruly off the beaten path! We’ve been taking our travellers to Ethiopia for many years, but never before tothe south. This brand new tour will give you a remarkable insight into the very different cultures and tribalgroups that live in the Omo Valley and surrounding regions, where time appears to have stood still andold traditions and rituals still take place today. The tour begins in Somaliland – a very different propositionto its neighbour, Somalia. Here law and order is the norm, and foreigners are warmly welcomed by thelocals, who are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality. Somaliland is also home to extraordinary If you have Madagascar in your sights but want a morerock paintings and wonderful landscapes, and is a must-see for seasoned travellers in search of something compact tour – we also offer ‘Essential Madagascar’, adifferent. Then there’s Madagascar - the world’s fourth-largest island that is home to an extraordinary array 15-day exploration of this fascinating island, departingof flora and fauna, much of it endemic to the island. A highlight in August/September, is the annual migration 1 August 2018, and priced at $9,950. Check it out onof humpback whales, which head to the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean to find mates and breed before the website.returning to the South Pole. They offer a truly magnificent spectacle as they put on a display of acrobaticsin the waters off Madagascar’s coastline. Another highlight at this time of year is the amazing Malagasyceremony of famadihana - ‘Turning of the Bones’ - which we are privileged to see at first hand. Tony will beleading the inaugural tour to these fascinating and little-visited destinations in August 2018 – with numbersstrictly limited to 18. If you fancy joining him, give us a call asap and get your name on the list!

Russia is the largest country in the Russia off theworld, not only by territory but alsoby the number of ethnic groups Beaten Trackand cultures represented by them.Those travellers who visit onlyMoscow or St Petersburg – bothfascinating and exciting cities –cannot say that they have reallyseen or felt the true essence ofRussia. Our Russia off the BeatenTrack tour fills those gaps – with anin-depth exploration of this hugeand diverse nation. Our tour startsin the Caucasus, at the beautifulshores of the Black Sea, whereRussians, Georgians, Armeniansand Azerbaijanis peacefully coexisttogether – sharing their culturesand intermarrying. Here we trythat special Caucasus cuisine –famous for its spicy meat dishesand cheesy pastries, served withthe red wine of the area. But it’snot just about culinary delights –there’s a wealth of history here too,which we discover with excursions The Mamayev Monument, Volgograd.to noted historic sites includingStalin’s dacha. In Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, we are in the heart of the Muslim part of Russia that Ivan the Terrible conquered, converting some of thepopulation to Christianity. Thus, today, we see churches and mosques standing side by side with each other. The Tatar cuisine is famous for its bakedgoods, especially rich and tasty pies filled with meat or jams. This is just a little taster – no pun intended! – of what’s in store for you on our fabulous 22-day Russia off the Beaten Track tour being led by the inimitable Olga Mescheriakova. Other major highlights include the remarkable Kuban CossackChoir in Krasnodar, the spectacular Victory Parade in Volgograd on 9 May, a walk through the history books at Ekaterinburg, and a visit to Ivan theTerrible’s medieval fortress at Sviyazhsk Island. This truly is Russia off the beaten track! Departs 1 May 2018.Jordan & Oman Nizwa Fort mosque, Oman.Join us as we follow in the footsteps of prophets and kings on a journeyof discovery to the ancient desert kingdoms of Jordan and Oman. Ourtour begins in the Jordanian capital, Amman from where we visit theancient Greco-Roman ruins of Jerash. Moving south we arrive at thelowest point on earth – the Dead Sea – a vast natural spa of salt andminerals shimmering in the shadow of Mt Nebo. We then continueon to the lost caravan city of Petra – one of the world’s most visuallystunning archaeological sites. Petra (meaning ‘the rock’ in Greek) isan abandoned necropolis of temples and tombs cut into towering cliffsof red, pink and orange sandstone, accessed via a narrow, almostimpenetrable, chasm. A visit here is never to be forgotten. LeavingPetra we head south to great desert of Lawrence of Arabia, WadiRum, where we enjoy an overnight stay in a luxury tented Bedouincamp. From Jordan we fly to the Sultanate of Oman, a country ofbreathtaking natural beauty, interwoven with ancient history and legends. We begin in the capital, Muscat, before heading south to Ras Al Hadd, themagnificent Wahiba Sands, Nizwa, the spectacular ‘Grand Canyon’ of Oman, and the gorgeously lush city of Salalah. Here the footsteps of prophetsand kings have left their mark on a majestic land that seamlessly blends traditional and modern culture that is the last real essence of Arabia.When: 14th October 2018 - Duration: 22 Days - Cost: $13,950Christmas is a coming…New Year’s Eve in Red Square. …but don’t get your tinsel in a tangle! If you’re looking for an alternative to sun, sand and mozzies, we can help: we have two fabulous, and very different, Christmas trips that will give you an unforgettable festive experience. The Christmas Trans-Siberian will take you from Beijing to St Petersburg – with Christmas Day in Siberia and New Year’s Eve in Red Square. A Christmas Cracker will take you to the bright lights and festive fare of the wonderful Christmas Markets in Germany, with Christmas Day spent at the foot of the Hartz Mountains in Wernigerode and New Year’s Eve in Munich. They depart 14 December and 10 December respectively. These tours must close off soon – so give us a call!

If Eastern Europe is on your The Balkans Beckonradar for 2018, look no further:we’ve got it covered! In particularwe have two remarkable tours tothe Balkans – each tour offering The magnificentsomething very different. Soul mountains and lakesof the Balkans is a superb 25- of Montenegro.day journey to Croatia, Bosniaand Herzegovina, Montenegro,Macedonia and little-visitedAlbania, beginning with an8-night cruise along thesouthern Croatian coastlinefrom Dubrovnik to Split,aboard our private charter shipEmanuel. Among the multitudeof highlights on this tour are thedays spent in Montenegro – thesmallest Slavic state in Europe,but with a wealth of natural andhistorical beauty crammedwithin its borders. And that’s notto mention Bosnia’s beguilingbridge town of Mostar, gloriousLake Ohrid in Macedonia, andthe mysterious and little-visited Emanuel moored at Split, Croatia.Albania. The only commondenominator between Soul ofthe Balkans and our equally-popular Gateway to the Balkans is MS Emanuel. Our other offering to this region features an 11-night cruise alongthe northern part of the Croatian coastline from Pula to Split, visiting such gems as Mali Losinj, Zadar and the wonderful Kornati archipelago.‘Gateway’ also takes us to some of the most remarkable towns and national parks of Eastern Europe, including beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia,Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes, and the cultural melting pot of Serbia. Gateway to the Balkans is 29 days departing 11 July and priced from $18,950.Soul of the Balkans is 25 days departing 27 June and priced from $16,350.The Wild Side of India Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kaziranga National Park, Assam.Together with our travel partners in India we have put together a Epic Rail Odyssey: Just the Ticket!fascinating itinerary that showcases the wildlife and nature of India.When it comes to wildlife, people think Africa and often forget that It was one of our more adventurous undertakings in many ways:India has some of the most Bio-diverse regions in the world. It has 12,500kms (mostly by rail), eight countries, multiple time zones,its own Big Five: the Asiatic lion, Asiatic elephant, leopard, Royal and 34 days from beginning to end. Our Epic Rail pioneers deserveBengal tiger, and endangered one-horned rhino. The tour combines a big pat on the back for staying on track and arriving at the finalincredible scenery and remarkable cultures, but the main focus is on destination, Singapore, a little bit tired, but wearing big sunnythe magnificent wildlife in some of India’s most pristine nature reserves. smiles. It truly was an epic adventure and they were an epic groupIt will take you to the beautiful north east region of Assam - an area of – ably led by our highly-regarded tour leader, Leon. From Moscowunspoiled natural beauty, teeming with wildlife, and populated by warm to Singapore, the journey was an action-packed adventure, withbeautiful people of various ethnic backgrounds - creating a truly rich many off-the-beaten-track sights, such as the space station attapestry of culture. The tour is 18 days, beginning in Mumbai and flying Baikonur, Kazakhstan, the remarkable, dessicated Aral Sea,out of Kolkata - and departs all Australian capital cities on 11 March. and the amazing Stone Forest at Kunming. And that’s before weThis is a unique small group tour, with a local escort and naturalist even got to the wonderful countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, andguides throughout, and will run with a minimum of 6 and a maximum Thailand! This is a tour at the cutting edge of travel, and richlyof 15 people. It is not on our website, but our friendly consultants are deserves its title of ‘Epic Rail Odyssey’. Bookings are rolling in nowarmed with all the in-depth info and detailed itinerary – so give them a for 2018, so give us a call to book your berth. Departs 6 Sept 2018,call to find out more. priced from $18,950.

Nobody Magnificent Machu Picchu, Peru.Does ItBetter!If you have yet to set foot in thegreat continent, you couldn’t doit better than with our EssentialSouth America tour. As well as the‘essentials’ – Rio, Machu Picchu,the Amazon Basin, Iguassu Falls,Lake Titicaca and Buenos Aires– to name but a few – you willdiscover hidden gems, meet localpeople, and really get into theculture of the countries we visit onour comprehensive 31-day tour. Asone national travel journalist putit: “Travel Directors’ month-longitinerary is by far the best I haveseen for this part of the world”. Ourtours in this neck of the woods areescorted by the inimitable Yanezbrothers – Juan Carlos and Manny– the award-winning, multi-lingualSouth American experts. They add an extra dimension to this unforgettable tour, with their knowledge and passion for their continent and theirirrepressible humour. On arrival in their home town, Cusco, you’ll head straight to their Mum’s house for delicious homemade empanadas and cocatea, and a very warm Peruvian welcome! As with all of our ‘Adventures of a Lifetime’ Essential South America is fully inclusive of air-fares, visas,taxes, accommodation, most meals, entrance fees and sightseeing, and all tips and gratuities. We had planned to ‘rest’ this tour in 2018 to makeway for our crop of new tours – but due to public demand, we’ve put it back! It departs 2 October 2018, priced at $21,450 – and the bookings arealready rolling in. Give us a call now to book your spot.Baltics & Beyond Persia & the CaucasusIntroduced to our repertoire in 2014, Baltics and Beyond ticks The Pink Mosque, Shiraz, Iran.all the boxes when it comes to ‘paths less travelled’ in Europe. The warmth and hospitality of the Iranian people is well-documented, yetIn 2015 Lonely Planet listed Lithuania in its top ten countries comparatively few travellers venture to this remarkable country to see forto visit, and the 2016 list put Latvia and Poland in the top ten. themselves. Iran is a country with a proud history and heritage, fantasticAll of these are included in our 29-day itinerary, together with art, poetry and literature, and has churned out great architects, artisans,Estonia and Belarus. This tour is an eclectic mix of cultures poets and philosophers. Treasures of Persia and the Caucasus begins inand a treasure trove of ancient and modern history. From this unspoilt cultural treasure-trove with its magnificent ancient desert citiesone of the least religious countries in the world, Estonia, to and glorious mosques and mausoleums. We begin in the beautiful city ofthe magnificent art nouveau architecture of Latvia, and on to Shiraz before heading north to Tehran via Yazd, Persepolis and Isfahan.‘quirky’ Lithuania – there is much to discover in these unique Crossing the border into Armenia – the Cradle of Christianity – we head tostates, before crossing into the Soviet-style time capsule of the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with its imposing views of Mt Ararat. We alsoBelarus. But perhaps one of the major highlights of this journey visit ‘The Pearl of Armenia’ Lake Sevan, and World Heritage-listed Geghardis the two-week exploration of Poland – a country re-emerging Monastery before moving on to the heart of the Caucasus, Georgia, with itsas a top European travel destination. Here you will discover fabulous cuisine and culture, incredibly diverse landscapes, and exceptionallythe magnificent Masurian Lake District, Hitler’s hidden bunker warm and friendly people. Finally we move on to little-visited Azerbaijan,city and the delightful cities of Gdansk, Wroclaw, Krakow and beginning in the ancient city of Sheki before heading to the capital, Baku, onWarsaw. Departs all Australian capital cities on 11 June 2018, the Caspian Sea. The 30-day tour departs 4 May and 7 September 2018.priced at $16,450.Jim Gill and his group at Malbork Castle, near Gdansk, Poland.

Tony Evans and the inaugural Kamchatka group at a sensational lunch stop! Information Sessions in OctoberKamchatka a Triumph! We’re heading to a few different spots aroundOur inaugural tour to the Kamchatka Peninsula was a huge success, with ecstatic Australia for our next round of info sessions.travellers singing the praises of our tour mastermind, Tony Evans, and describing their First stop is Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, onexperiences in glowing terms. Crafted, as ever, with Tony’s usual imagination and flair (not Saturday 14 October, followed by Newcastle,to mention logistical planning and attention to detail), the consensus seems to be that he NSW, on Sunday 15 October. Next is Canberrahas bettered his best! Words like ‘stroke of genius’, ‘stupendous’, ‘out of this world’, and on Saturday 21 October, then Geelong on Sunday‘best tour ever’ were bandied about – and judging by the pictures they’ve shared with us, a 22 October. Finally we’ll be presenting in Perththoroughly good time was had by all. Amongst the many highlights were a helicopter flight on Saturday 28 October. Full venue details areover the Valley of the Geysers and the amazing chain of volcanoes that characterise the on our website, or you can call the office on 1300landscape of the Kamchatka peninsula, while a visit to the wonderfully warm and friendly 856 661 to register your interest. The timetable ofEven people was an experience that few people have been privileged to enjoy, and one presentations is as follows:that will live on in the memory of our travellers. This is a corner of the globe that receivesfewer than 10,000 international travellers per year: where roads are few and getting to 09:30 The Five Stanssome of the pristine wilderness areas is by helicopter: where brown bears feast on salmon toin crystal clear rivers, and where you are so remote from the busy world you can almost (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,hear a pin drop. Our ever-popular tour leader Jim Gill will be leading the 12 July departure 10:15 Tajikistan, Uzbekistan &in 2018 – and it’s filling fast. This tour is strictly limited to 18 people, so give us a call asapif you want to join Jim on a fantastic adventure to Far Eastern Russia! Turkmenistan) The group with Cossack horsemen, Kiev, Ukraine. 10:15 Treasures of Persia to & the CaucasusBack to the Black Sea 11:00 (Iran, Armenia, GeorgiaFor the first time in two years we have revisited our wonderful ‘Beyond the Black Sea’ & Azerbaijan)tour – and what a fabulous tour it was! Not surprising really – it is a fantastic part of theworld, and we’re thrilled that it is back in the programme. It is a wonderful itinerary that 11:00 Beyondtakes you to Western Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria – not to mention the to the Black Seabreakaway Republic of Transnistria! We begin in Kiev then head to Kamyanets-Podilskyand the beautiful city of Lviv, from where we take an overnight train journey to the Black 11:45 (Ukraine, Moldova,Sea city of Odessa. Crossing the border into Moldova – via Transnistria – we spend two Romania, & Bulgaria)nights in the capital, Chisinau, and visit the famous underground winery, Milestii Mici.Next stop is Romania (possibly the major highlight of this part of ‘undiscovered Europe’) 11:45 Eastern Europewhere we delve deep into Transylvania visiting Dracula’s Castle and the wonderful to & the Balkanstowns of Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu. Finally we cross into Bulgaria and the fairy-taletowns of Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv – one of the earliest settlements in Europe. If you 12:45 (Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina,fancy a date with Dracula in August 2018, give us a call today. The 27-day tour departs Montenegro, Macedonia,all Australian capital cities on 25 August 2018, priced at $16,950. Albania, Serbia & Slovenia) 12:45 Jewels of the to Mediterranean 13:30 (Malta, Sicily, Sardinia & Corsica) 13:30 Africa & the Indian to Ocean 14:30 (Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, 14:30 Reunion Island & Mauritius) to Asia 15:30 (China, Burma, Tibet, Nepal & Bhutan)

Soak up the Antigua, Guatemala.Culture Juan Carlos and his group at Tikal, Guatemala.Imagine enjoying an aperitif as the sun prepares to set over Lake Atitlan, and the early-evening air is tinged with the smell of fresh Sea Basssizzling on the BBQ: imagine breathing in the ancient energy of the Mayan citadel of Tikal – a mysterious and spiritual UNESCO World Heritagesite and one of Guatemala’s most iconic destinations. These are just two of the myriad once-in-a-lifetime experiences on offer when you join usfor our Treasures of Central America tour. Nature lovers will relish the opportunity to stay two nights in Tortuguero’s jungle wilderness, visit theworld’s finest hummingbird garden, and take in the colourful majesty of a butterfly farm on the edges of the Poas volcano. A boat cruise down thePanama Canal and train ride through the cloud forests of Monteverde showcase the marvellous landscapes of this unique, dynamic region at aleisurely pace. But, as ever, it is the people and cultures of this fascinating corner of the globe that really give Central America its vibrancy. Plannedto coincide with Easter, we stop in the ancient city of Antigua for the festival of Semana Santa, where residents construct intricate sawdust carpetsin every colour of the rainbow on the cobbled, labyrinthine streets of the city. Hours later, these meticulous creations will be trampled underfootas the Holy Week parade, honouring the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, rolls by. Travelling through Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala,Treasures of Central America is a 29-day journey to four unique destinations, departing 3 March. What a way to start 2018!Burma with a differenceIf you fancy discovering Burma in a very different way, give us a call and find out what Book and paymakes our journey to this corner of Asia so unique. Plenty of tour companies go there deposit by 31but nobody has an itinerary quite like ours. Our 26-day tour offers an original and October and saveunforgettable experience, full of surprises (of course!) and showcasing some of the $500pp on 19 Febless-trodden paths in China and Burma. The tour begins in south-west China wherewe visit the delightful cities of Lijiang, Dali, and Tengchong, before moving into Burma departure!and the wonderful Shan Province. Here we explore remote and untouched villagesand enjoy multiple night stays at Hsipaw and Maymyo. From Mandalay, we cruisealong one of the world’s greatest rivers, the Irrawaddy, to the magnificent templecomplex of Bagan, before heading to the serenity and beauty of Inle Lake and ourfinal destination, Yangon. Road to Mandalay is a stunning journey that encapsulatesmystery, beauty and adventure, touching the very heart of two exquisite countries! The ancient temple complex of Bagan, Myanmar.