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T R A V E L · C U LT U R E · L I F E S T Y L E · F O O D & W I N E Issue 2 Ω≈travel.com.au 13–26 August 2016 M A G A Z I N E San Francisco One step at a time WIN CALIFORNIA A 9 - D AY T R I P T O COURTESY OF EUROPE Why cruising is the way to go 16-PAGE PEREGRINE LIFT-OUT INSIDE WIN $7,000 towards a Wendy Wu Tour of your choice for 2 people — see page 14 BEST RIVER CRUISE OPERATOR 2015-2016 BEST INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATOR 2014-2015 BEST DOMESTIC TOUR OPERATOR 2012-2016 See Europe like you never imagined Magnificent Europe Experiencing Europe with APT really is something else. Only with APT can you board Australia's most awarded, all-inclusive luxury Europe River Cruise. Absolutely everything down to the last detail is taken care of so that you can lose yourself in the moment. It truly is unforgettable. AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS gne Bonn 14 RIVER SHIP Colo GERMANY h rnac Ande berg Bam berg eim rg h s e m Rüd iltenbe urg Unforgettable day trip aboard the luxurious Majestic Imperator train Nure b M z r ü W rg stein SLOVAKIA Private tour and a lavish banquet at Germany’s Namedy Castle enbusburg inz Dürn h L t slava o R egen Brati ssau a R P INCLUDED – All onboard meals and beverages†, tipping, transfers, Wi-Fi and port charges, elk as well as a butler, room service and complimentary laundry service in select suites^ urg MVienna b z BUDAPEST l a S INCLUDED – Exclusive Royal Signature Experiences: Cocktail Reception and private classical concert at Vienna's City Palace, featuring members of the Mozart Boys Choir INCLUDED – Freedom of Choice inclusions and APT’s exclusive Signature Invitations AUSTRIA HUNGARY Budapest to Amsterdam 15 days from $5,795* per person, twin share Fly for $995* + receive a $1,000 Bonus Early Payment Discount* HURRY! BONUS OFFERS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED Visit aptouring.com.au/GOxplore or call 1300 514 032 or see your local travel agent *Conditions apply. Prices are per person (pp), AUD, twin share and include port charges. Price is inclusive of Bonus Early Payment Discount. Prices are correct as at 1 August 2016, but may fluctuate due to changes in availability, surcharges, fees, taxes or exchange rates. Price based on EUMCR15: 11 November 2017 (Cat. E). ALL OFFERS: All offers are strictly limited and available until sold out. Limited suites/cabins/staterooms on set departures are available and are subject to availability. DEPOSITS & FINAL PAYMENTS: A first non-refundable deposit of $1,000 pp is due within 7 days of booking. A second non-refundable deposit of $2,000 pp is due by 31 October 2016. Final payment due 100 days prior to departure. $1,000 BONUS EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT: Save up to $1,000 pp on select tours and departure dates. A first non-refundable deposit of $1,000 pp is due within 7 days of booking. A second non-refundable deposit of $2,000 pp is due by 31 October 2016. Tour must be paid in full 10 months prior to departure date. Offer is strictly limited, applicable on new bookings only and may be withdrawn at any time. This offer is combinable with applicable airfare offer, Solo Traveller Offer and Travel with Friends discount. AIRFARE OFFERS: All offers are subject to availability of airline and booking class. Once class is sold out surcharges apply. Flights must be booked by APT. All airfare offers are in economy class with Singapore Airlines (W class) depending on routing (or another airline of APT’s choosing). Airfare offers are valid ex. MEL/SYD/BNE/PER/ADL. FLY FOR $995 PER PERSON: Offer includes return economy class flights to Europe, with air taxes up to $1,000 pp. Surcharges will apply if air taxes exceed this amount. †Complimentary beverages exclude French Champagne, premium spirits and selected wines. ^Selected suites only. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd. ABN 44 004 684 619. ATAS accreditation #A10825. APT4643 Insider track on www.goxploretravel.com.au General enquiries (03) 9417 7610 Editor: Mary O’Brien [email protected] National Advertising Director: Chris Jefferson Jnr [email protected] Design: Artifishal Studios Printing: AIW Printing Pty Ltd Distribution: Salmat Pty Ltd Published by GOxplore Pty Ltd ACN 612 161 609 140 Johnston Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 Australia While every attempt has been made to ensure information is correct at the time of going to press, the publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in content. Phnom Penh Scott Neeson Founder, Cambodian Children’s Fund I was born in Scotland, grew up in Australia and worked for 26 years in the film business (including 11 years in Los Angeles, where I was president of 20th Century Fox International). I have lived for the past 11 years in Cambodia — years which have involved me criss‑crossing the world to fundraise. I have seen a lot of the world but I’m still excited by the energy of my home, Phnom Penh. BES T T I ME T O V I S I T November — as the temperatures are cool and the rainy season is drawing to a close. You can still expect occasional downpours but there are fewer tourists around. BES T T I P Along with the temples of Angkor Wat, the thing most visitors talk about are the people. They truly are the warmest, friendliest, most welcoming people, and remarkably cheerful in the face of challenges. Meet the locals by heading to the Olympic Stadium at sunset as hundreds gather to dance, exercise, eat and socialise. It’s fun, fascinating and free. CU LT U RE FI X FAV O UR IT E S P O T G REAT O U T D O O RS Another great way to experience Phnom Penh is at Maline Sky Bar, where you can take in the city, which is shifting from low-rise charm to high-rise grandeur. Meta House puts on wonderful exhibitions and shows fascinating documentaries in an outdoor movie theatre. If you want something more traditional, Cambodian Living Arts dancing, hosted at the National Museum, is a vivid reminder of a culture that was almost lost. For a glimpse of a more traditional Cambodian way of life, Silk Island — in the centre of the Mekong River — is just 40 minutes away. Beautiful crumbling temples, silk weaving, tiny villages — it’s like time travel, only more convenient and less risky. I probably spend too many evenings at the Black Bambu restaurant — partly because the Cambodian Children’s Fund runs it and it trains some of our students — but it’s genuinely a cut above the rest. The interiors are gorgeous and the food is some of the best in Phnom Penh. cambodianchildrensfund.org California Dreaming Competition Every month we’ll be giving away amazing prizes to help you Ωxplore… We are offering one of our lucky readers a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to California, courtesy of Collette Travel. This includes two return airfares to San Francisco PLUS a 9-day Collette Treasures of Northern California tour for two, worth $10,500! An experienced tour leader will take you and a friend to iconic destinations including Sacramento, Napa Valley and its world-famous wines, Lake Tahoe, and the spectacular Yosemite National Park. Treasures of Northern California Tour Highlights: San Francisco • Yosemite National Park • Sacramento • Lake Tahoe • Santa Rosa • Sonoma Wine Country • Napa Valley Wine Train To enter, just tell us in 50 words or less ‘Why California needs ME’ …convince us why you should be chosen from 24 million other Australians! HINT: Make the judges laugh out loud. Enter via our website at www.goxploretravel.com.au/win-trip/ by 5pm, 26 August 2016. Terms and conditions apply. See www.goxploretravel.com.au/win-trip/ 13–26 August 2016 3 A hike in the hood Andrew Bain explores San Francisco’s urban trails. 4 13 August 2016 San Francisco Walkers on the slopes of Twin Peaks, overlooking San Francisco S an Francisco is the world’s tech city of the moment, home to the likes of Google, Facebook, Apple and eBay. But not all the activity here is virtual. San Francisco is a place where playtime is as cherished as FaceTime. Yosemite National Park is little more than a three-hour drive away and Marin County, the birthplace of mountain biking, is just across the Golden Gate Bridge. Inside the city itself, there are more than 100 kilometres of walking trails. On the slopes of Twin Peaks, one of San Francisco’s highest points, I’m exploring one of those trails, following Alexandra Kenin, who is symbolic of the city’s duality. A former marketing manager at Google, she now runs Urban Hiker SF, leading walking tours around the city. She’s not alone — now more than half a dozen tour companies operate walking trips around San Francisco. This may be the most tech-minded of cities but it’s still best explored in the most low-tech way of all — on foot. Hikers take a break on the Urban Jungles and City Heights tour On Alexandra’s Urban Jungles and City Heights tour, both the digital world and the urban world seem secondary to the green belts and open spaces that are squeezed like puzzle pieces into the city. In the Castro, where our walk begins, the sun is shining brightly but there are rainbows everywhere. The Castro is the city’s LGBT district where rainbow-coloured flags fly from roofs. There are rainbow signposts and we set out across zebra crossings painted in rainbow livery. The walk will cover eight kilometres and take us through three city districts, the Castro, Upper Market and Twin Peaks, threading steadily uphill on some of the 670 stairways that run like zippers through San Francisco. Like most hilly cities, the topography of San Francisco creates much of its character. We walk along streets and past homes that conform to the shape of the land, making a winding, wandering climb towards Twin Peaks. The topography of San Francisco creates much of its character There are glimpses of San Francisco’s irreverent nature, such as the home with Richard Nixon gargoyles supporting its window frames, and arguably the finest view the city has to offer as we reach the summit of Twin Peaks. Here we stare straight down Market Street into the heart of downtown. Hummingbirds hover overhead and the Castro’s rainbows beam far below. A laneway of murals in the Mission Photos by Andrew Bain One of the great curiosities on Twin Peaks is a eucalypt forest, planted by a city mayor in the late 19th century. We descend through the forest, suddenly alone in the 13–26 August 2016 5 The Mission District Food Tour stops outside the Women’s Building middle of the city, and it’s a cool reprieve from the hot San Francisco day. It’s like no stand of gum trees in Australia — vibrantly green, with ivy winding high up the trunks. Through the forest we descend along ridgelines, emerging onto rocky, open knolls with varying angles on the city view. People climb the paths towards us, walking with six or seven dogs. “Because of the tech boom and so many young people here, we have more dogs than children in this city,” Alexandra says, before we descend a final stairway back into Castro. Adjoining Castro is the Mission, one of San Francisco’s oldest and most interesting neighbourhoods, and it’s here that another walking tour unveils a different flavour to the city. The Mission contains San Francisco’s oldest building, one of its most beloved parks, and supposedly the highest concentration of murals in the US. It has also become affectionately known as the “gourmet ghetto” in recognition of its transformation from one of the city’s no-go crime zones to arguably its most cutting-edge food district. The Best In Worldwide 4-star Touring Let Collette Take Care of You From Start To Finish Call for your free brochure 1300 792 195 gocollette.com ABN: 13–26 6 32 600 161 671 I AFTA Allied Member August 2016 Avital Tours’ Mission District Food Tour is a walk that focuses on bites rather than bytes, creating a progressive meal on foot through the streets of the Mission. My guide is Russian-born, San Francisco-raised Ida, who proudly traces her roots back to a Russian murderer. It’s a fitting lineage, she says, given the Mission’s one-time reputation for violence. “Fifteen years ago you wouldn’t have walked around here,” Ida says. “It was scary.” The Mission’s shabby-chic rebirth began in the 1990s. Its seed was a restaurant, the Slanted Door, with its modern Vietnamese cuisine enticing a new breed of clientele into the Mission. What followed was all but a food phenomenon, with TripAdvisor now listing almost 500 restaurants in the district. Almost every restaurant and cafe here has a twist on flavours (fancy a specialty cheese restaurant or a ham and oyster bar?) and on this walk we eat at four of them. There are soft tacos cooked in beer and tequila, sausage muffins with soft-boiled eggs inside, and French-toastflavoured gelato, all earned through effort. But the walk isn’t just about food. Ida guides us past the Mission’s many murals and deep into its long history. Its oldest building, the Mission Dolores, from which the Embark on a premium escorted rail journey in 2017 and be transported back to a golden era of holidaying, when train travel travel was a highlight in itself. Committed to offering more choice, our partnership with award-winning Great Rail Journeys has expanded for 2017 with a selection of amazing experiences throughout the world. GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS TRAVEL More Value • More Inclusions • More Choice ü The perfect balance of comprehensive inclusions, key sightseeing and free time to explore at your pace ü Premium escorted rail travel & premium accommodation ü Locally guided sightseeing, transfers and tipping MORE SALE Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands SALE ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER 9 Days From PP Twin Share $2,995* Kyle Line Inverness 3 Kyle of Lochalsh Loch Ness Mallaig Fort William Jacobite Steam Train 3 Ballachulish Isle of Oban Mull West Highland Line Glasgow SAVE $1,000 PER COUPLE* 2 Edinburgh RJTSHS9 Member of the APT family Order your free brochure today ( 1300 301 076 or see your local travel agent travelmarvel.com.au/Goxplore *Conditions apply. Prices are based on per person (pp), twin share. Prices are correct as at 1 August 2016, but may fluctuate due to changes in availability, surcharges, fees, taxes or exchange rates. Advertised prices do not include porterage. Prices are based on RJTSHS9: 20 April 2017. Prices are inclusive of their stated monetary saving. A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 pp is due within seven days of booking. Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure. Offers may be withdrawn at any time, are strictly limited and are available on new bookings only. Offers cannot be combined with any other offer, unless specified. Offer is available until sold out. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash and is not transferable. Refer to pgs.18/19 of the Travelmarvel 2017 Great Rail Journeys brochure for more information. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ABN 44 004 684 619. ATAS accreditation #A10825. TM3086 district takes its name, dates from 1776, the same year as the Declaration of Independence. TM3086.indd 1 The tour is also a walk through the parallel roads and existences of the Mission. On the main strip, Valencia Street, it’s all now hipsters and bohemian store windows but on Mission Street semblances of the district’s grime remain. Back here the Mission has more character but less polish, with a hint of its rougher edges still in place. The district’s stories run just as deep inside its restaurants and cafes. We stop at a bakery, Craftsman and Wolves, run by a 1/08/2016 4:13 PM former lifeguard who used to hide cookbooks inside his surf magazines. An hour later we enter a former theatre which houses La Cumbre, a simple Mexican restaurant, which claims to be the birthplace of the burrito. Inside the taco-specific Tacolicious, we dine in a back room that was formerly a garage where, it’s rumoured, the beams for the Golden Gate Bridge were constructed. Like so much here, it’s the flavour of the Mission entwined with the history of San Francisco. And it tastes so much better now that I’ve well and truly walked up an appetite. Fast facts Stepping out… FLY 1 Pay homage to the golden fire hydrant said to have saved the Mission from the 1906 fire that destroyed so much of San Francisco. 5 2 Grab an eye patch or a pirate hook at the pirate supply store attached to the Mission’s non-profit youth literacy centre, 826 Valencia. 6 3 7 4 8 Qantas flies direct to San Francisco from Sydney. STAY Handlery Union Square Hotel, a third-generation family hotel that exudes a nostalgic sense of early 20th-century Americana. Rooms start from US$159 a night. sf.handlery.com EAT For an assortment of dining options, head to the Mission. DO Urban Hiker SF runs three hiking tours, including Urban Jungles and City Heights (US$49). urbanhikersf.com Avital Tours’ Mission District Food Tour is US$84, including all food. avitaltours.com Hear the “music” of the city’s Wave Organ, played by the amplified sound of wave action through pipes. Follow the buzz to the Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum, showcasing exactly what the name on the tin suggests. Slink into a prohibition-style speakeasy at Bourbon and Branch. This bar operated illegally through the prohibition years. Bookings required. Seek galactic wisdom from the Yoda statue atop the fountain at the Letterman Digital Arts Centre in the Presidio. Most cities have a Chinatown, but San Francisco also has Japantown. Visit the Peace Pagoda, or come for the April Cherry Blossom Festival. Save yourself a trip to Yellowstone by checking out the bison wandering the Buffalo Paddock in Golden Gate Park. 13–26 August 2016 7 10% OFF PERUVIAN ADVENTURES IN 2017 Book now, and within the year you could be gazing at the sunrise over Machu Picchu, walking on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, gorging on fresh ceviche in Lima and breaking bread with a local family in the Sacred Valley. Living it up in Peru? Sounds like our kind of party. Amazon Jungle Ollantaytambo Inca Trail Lima Sacred Valley Machu Picchu PERU BOL IVIA Cuzco Puno Lake Titicaca La Paz Inca Trail or non-hiking option available Sacred Land of the Incas EX LIMA, 15 DAYS // NOW FROM $3,433 Lima PERU Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo Sacred Valley Cuzco Real Food Adventure - Peru EX LIMA, 9 DAYS // NOW FROM $2,425 Book any Intrepid Peru small group adventure before 31 September and you’ll get 10% OFF*. Call 1300 797 010 Email [email protected] Visit intrepidtravel.com or ask your travel agent *Terms and conditions apply. Prices are per person, land only based on twin share accommodation, low season and are subject to change. Visit our website for details. SPONSORED ARTICLE Home away from home Marianna Jamadi tells what it’s like to do a homestay in the Peruvian Andes. T he right side of my mouth goes numb as coca leaves swish around my molars and cheek. Our local guide, Angelito, passes a plastic bag around the van so we can spit out the numbing remnants. We are at 14,000 feet and it feels like I have a herd of alpacas sitting on my chest. I can’t tell if I’m feeling dizzy because I’m flirting with hypoxia or if it’s because the landscape is so breathtaking. As we barrel down open roads and passages filled with vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas, a vastness fills my window. We’re headed towards Chivay Valley for lunch before we continue to our homestay for the evening in Canocota. We arrive that afternoon in a small village tucked away in the Andean mountains. Our hosts Señor Pedro and Señora Julia are waiting to welcome us into their home. They’re in their sixties and are happy for the company — their kids have moved into the city and left them empty nesters. We’re escorted into a living room of sorts and greeted in the native Quechua language. Our hosts, dressed in their beautiful, colourful Our hosts Señor Pedro and Señora Julia native garb, extend their welcome. They say they may not have a lot, but their house has a big heart. As I found out throughout our stay, this couldn’t be more true. I settle into my room, which feels like the perfect mountain hideaway. I mosey to the front gate with camera in hand where I see a group of kids trotting up the path. As they near, I greet them with “Hola!” and they swarm around me, chatting in Quechua. Once their mothers call for them, I head back into the house where Señora Julia asks me and fellow traveller, Michaela, if we would be interested in borrowing traditional wear for our next activity: tending the land. I jump at the opportunity. Being fully dressed in the local attire suddenly makes me feel closer to Señora Julia, closer to the land, and deeply connected to the culture. By fully embracing the external aesthetic, I felt grateful for the ability to connect. We set out for their farm and it’s Señor Pedro’s turn to show us a few things. In the field, he hands us sickles and shows us his technique for clearing potato lines. I am in a dress, battling altitude sickness, sickle in hand, and suddenly I have a new appreciation for the work that is done here daily. I feel so grounded, savouring the soil under my nails. It’s like I’m a part of Andean life. While we’re busy on the potatoes, Señor Pedro and Señora Julia gather fresh vegetables for dinner. dinner like a family. Our appetites are huge, having put in some serious toil in the field, and we gather around a table to enjoy the fruits of our labour. I’m always amazed at how a meal around one table can create an unrivalled kind of intimacy. Yesterday I didn’t know these people and now we’re all sharing in conversation, stories, good food, and good company. I go to bed with a full belly and we wake up the next morning with one last activity before we leave. Yesterday we cleared crops and today we’re planting them. We head into the field which we share with two large bulls. They’re the ones doing the real work as Señor Pedro guides them across the soil. I get in front of the bulls (trying to push the thought of getting gored from my mind) and let seeds fall from my hand as the earth devours them. Want to meet Señor Pedro and Señora Julia? Intrepid Travel includes a homestay on their Peru Encompassed small group trip. Marianna Jamadi was a guest of Intrepid Travel. You can follow more of her adventures at mariannajamadi.com This article was originally published as a blog: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/ homestay-peru-andes/. Posted on April 27, 2016 by Marianna Jamadi. We finish work as the sun sets and it’s time to get to work in the kitchen. While Señora Julia prepares soup, she puts me to work peeling fava beans. I spend a few minutes alone with her and we get to chatting. I ask her what she likes about living where she lives, and she’s quick to talk about how simple and beautiful her life is. She does not have very much, but that she has everything she needs, she says. I’m reminded how far removed I am from my food. I go to the store to buy packaged products but Señora Julia has her own organic grocery store at her doorstep. My fellow travellers join in and peel potatoes at a neighbouring table. Here we are in a house that now feels like a home, preparing Our own organic grocery store at the doorstep 13–26 August 2016 9 Cruising Go with the flow W Sally Macmillan sails the rivers of Europe. hat’s not to like about river cruising? It’s easy — once you step aboard, everything is taken care of. It’s efficient — two weeks will cover five countries. And it’s beautiful — your floating hotel will take you right into the heart of the European countryside. Think medieval castle dinners, classical concerts in palaces and sipping local wines in river-side vineyards. An Amsterdam-to-Budapest (or vice versa) ticket will see you sail along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers, cruising through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. It’s a scenery-packed trip. Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North for its maze of 17th-century canals. Take a boat tour to find out more about the city’s history, or walk from your ship’s central docking area along picturesque streets to museums, art galleries and markets. Famous for its twin-spired Gothic cathedral, Cologne is Germany’s fourth-largest (and oldest) city. A day here allows time to explore the city, perhaps starting with a ship’s guided tour, then wandering through the squares, museums and shopping precincts on your own. Chocoholics will enjoy the Schokoladenmuseum — culture and indulgence in one sweet hit. Your floating hotel will take you right into the heart of the European countryside Heading south from Cologne, ships cruise through the castle-studded Rhine Gorge, a 65-kilometre stretch of river between Koblenz and Bingen that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Moselle flows into the Rhine at Koblenz, a town dating back some 2000 years. Marksburg Castle, a 30-minute bus ride from Koblenz, is worth the short trip; it is the only Rhine castle that has survived wars, weather and bombs — intact and inhabited — for more than 700 years. 13–26 August 2016 11 Royal Suite aboard the AmaReina Photo courtesy of APT Cruising time •Don’t rely on the ship’s tours. Strike out on your own on foot, bike or local transport. •Onboard gyms and pools are usually tiny. Keep fit by walking circuits of the deck or cycling in port. •August in Europe is busy. Consider a spring or a Christmas Markets cruise. •Keep your blinds down when rafted up to another ship — your neighbours may be able to see into your cabin. The Rhine-Main-Danube Canal runs between the German towns of Bamberg (another important UNESCO site) and Kelheim via Nuremberg. There are 16 locks along the 170-kilometre canal that connects these vital waterways and allows passenger and cargo ships to travel from the North Sea to the Black Sea. With usually only two days in Vienna, you will have to make some tough choices. The Ringstrasse encircles the imperial city’s most treasured monuments and cultural institutions; you can hop on and off a tram or walk the five kilometre boulevard to take in the essential sights. Medieval Regensburg, on the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers, is a popular stop. As well as being home to some 1500 listed buildings, Regensburg boasts the oldest sausage kitchen in Germany — built in 1135, you’ll find it near the equally ancient Stone Bridge. Visit the 16th-century Spanish Riding School, or take a tour of the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace. And when you need a rest from sightseeing, take a break at a traditional coffee house for a strong caffeine hit and a slice of strudel. From Passau, you can take a day trip to Austria’s Salzburg to soak up the atmosphere of Mozart’s birthplace, or board the luxury Majestic Imperator train for a journey to Linz. Cycling the 30-odd kilometres along the river between the towns of Melk and Durnstein is one way to work off a few cruise kilojoules; it’s also great for photos. Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. It is divided by the Danube into Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east bank. Famous sites include Heroes’ Square, Matthias Church and the Fisherman’s Bastion on Castle Hill. Thermal baths, which have existed since Roman times, offer a relaxing Norske Skog is Australia’s only local manufacturer of publication papers for use in the printing of newspapers, magazines and catalogues. We have invested heavily in our future by converting a paper machine at our Boyer Mill in Tasmania to produce a coated mechanical paper (Light Weight Coated). Now available, LWC will extend our already broad range of papers and offer publishers and printers access to a world class coated paper from a local source. For enquiries, call us in Sydney on +612 8268 2001 or in Auckland on +649 524 3400. 12 norske vantage poster.indd 1 13–26 August 2016 VANTAGE LIGHT WEIGHT COATED 20/07/2016 3:08 PM Fast facts Cruise lines that offer Amsterdam–Budapest itineraries include: APT aptouring.com.au TM Discover More of the World for Less with Gate 1 Travel Europe • Asia • Africa • USA & Canada • Latin America • River Cruises AVA L ON WAT ERWAYS avalonwaterways.com.au C OL L E TTE gocollette.com C OX & KI N G S coxandkings.com.au EVERGREEN TOURS/ EMERALD WATERWAYS evergreentours.com.au break; Szechenyi, in the city centre, has 15 indoor baths and three outdoor pools. A night out in the “ruin pubs” in the old Jewish quarter is a must‑do. If you have time to add an extra day or two in Budapest at the end of your cruise, you most certainly won’t regret it. Gate 1 Travel has been operating affordable first class tours for over 35 years. You will be thrilled with the inclusions and high quality service that you receive for the price. SC E NI C EARLY BIRD SALE TA U C K Save on all Gate 1 Travel tours & river cruises in 2017 SAVE UP TO $2400 scenic.com.au tauck.com.au Deposit up to $300 locks in the deal & balance due 60 or 90 days before travel. TR AVE L M ARV EL travelmarvel.com.au U NI W OR L D B OU TI QU E RI V ER C R U I SE C O L L ECT I O N Call for more info and quote code GXEBS15A Subscribe to WIN Get exclusive travel deals & enter to win a $4000 travel voucher at www.gate1travel.com.au uniworld.com/au VIKING RIVER CRUISES vikingrivercruises.com.au *Valid until 30 August, 2016. Promo code must be advised at time of new booking & not valid inconjunction with other offers. Exclude sea cruises & Antarctica. Booking conditions apply at www.gate1travel.com.au or call 1300 653 618. ABN 74 169 034 575. ATAS accreditation number A11423 Our Exclusive Coupon for GoXplore readers 30% OFF ANY FULL PRICED ITEM VALID UNTIL SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2016 W here's your ne xt adventure ? NO MATTER IF YOU’RE CAMPING IN THE BACKYARD, OR ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS, ANACONDA IS YOUR ONE STOP, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND SPORTS SUPERSTORE! • Coupon is single use only, one coupon per customer. Adventure Club card and coupon must be presented to receive offer • Excludes gift card purchases, existing lay-by payments, FitBit, GoPro Cameras, GPS units, Yamaha Generators, Fish Finders, Exide Batteries, Fishing Licences, Multi-Buys, fridges, Ground Breaking products, Sale & Clearance Items • Not to be used in conjunction with any other voucher, coupon, team member discount or online. • Store stock only. PROCESSING INSTRUCTIONS : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Enter sale as normal Scan coupon barcode Scan item barcode Press Supervisor Select Item Discount Select Discount % 7. Enter a price of $0.01– the discount will not be applied yet. 8. Select reason Promotion 9. Item will now represent a discount ANACONDA.COM.AU 2017 ASIA EARLY BIRD SPECIALS 12 hours in… Hong Kong OVER 40 TOURS OVER 330 DEPARTURES H FROM $2,980pp twin share For tours from 9 days FULLY INCLUSIVE OF: ✓ Return airfares ✓ Accommodation ✓ Sightseeing & guides ✓ All meals ✓ Visas & more by Allison Stekelenburg ong Kong is a no‑brainer when it comes to a stopover city — it is small enough to squeeze in lots in 12 hours, but big enough to keep you amazed for every minute. You can stretch your legs (but not your bank account), fill your stomach with great food and re-boot your energy levels. As you stagger out of the arrivals hall, forget the taxis. Get a day return ticket from the airport to Hong Kong Station at the Airport Xpress counter for HK$100. Use this station as your hub. SAVE UP TO S EE Enjoy Hong Kong harbour’s million-dollar views from a landscaped waterfront public park area with resort-style seating. From the station walk through the IFC Mall to CitySuper Deli on level 1 and grab some wine, olives and cheese. Then zip past ZARA catching the internal escalator to level 3. This is a public park area but it also has alfresco restaurants. You can BYO your own drink and food but use the seating outside the RED bar. Perfect for prams too. www.pure-red.com DO Relax with a dreamy foot reflexology or a body massage at any Happy Foot Spa (1 Lyndhurst Terrace) or Iyara Day Spa (26 Cochrane Street) in Central. If you’re feeling flush, try the Four Seasons Spa in IFC Mall — it’s a fiveminute walk from the station. happyfoot.hk, iyarabeauty.com PL AY $900 pp ON CH INA TO URS WA L K Add a Stopover in Hong Kong 3 days from $355pp twin share wendywutours.com.au 1300 815 740 Leafy Bowen Road is Hong Kong’s oldest walking and running track. Cutting along a hillside high above the skyscrapers, it’s a car-free, 4km flat track. From Hong Kong Station, walk to level 1, exit one IFC/IFC Mall. Take the footbridge that connects Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central, then walk through Central Market arcade to Queen’s Road Central. Keep walking straight to Hong Kong’s famous outdoor escalator, the longest in the world. Continue up the escalator till you reach Robinson Road. Exit here, turn left and walk along Magazine Gap Road to beautiful Bowen Road. Catch a taxi at the other end on Stubbs Road back to Central MTR (about HK$45) or walk back. Head to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Sai Ying Pun, a 20-minute walk west along the harbour foreshore from IFC Mall. The boardwalk boasts sweeping harbour views. If you arrive on a typical hot, steamy day, there is a modern indoor swimming pool next to the park that won’t break the budget (HK$12) (April to Nov). www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimopening-hk-summer.html Allison Stekelenburg is an Australian expat who has lived in Hong Kong for 10 years. W IN E AT A TOUR FOR 2 PEOPLE!* To enter, visit: wendywutours.com.au/competition Early Bird Specials: Valid for sale to 16 Sep 16 on selected departures, unless sold our prior. Subject to availability. Prices advertised reflect savings. Correct as at 2 Aug 16. Tipping included and subject to change. Visas based on Australian passports. Not valid with any other offer. Visit wendywutours.com.au/early-bird for full details. *Competition closes 30 November 2016. Full terms and conditions can be found at wendywutours.com.au/competition. ATAS: A10517. K4740 Yum Cha is mandatory in Hong Kong. Head to Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, Admiralty, beside the Central Main Post office, a 10-minute walk from Hong Kong Station. Traditional dim sum trolleys, spectacular harbour views and gaudy chandeliers will immerse you in Chinese food culture. Get there early to avoid queues. SH O P Go to PMQ, the hip new shopping hub in Aberdeen Street, SOHO, near the escalator. Formerly the 1951 Police Married Quarters (PMQ), the residential units have been converted into cool design studios for creative enterprises. www.pmq.org.hk Insider tips •Book a table with a Victoria Harbour view to watch the 8pm city lightshow: A Symphony of Lights. This is a gobsmacking nightly multimedia show, lighting up more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour. •Also try Isola Bar & Grill (IFC), SEVVA (Princes building), Blue Bar (Four Seasons Hotel), Man Wah (Mandarin Oriental Hotel) or Wooloomooloo Steakhouse Rooftop Bar, Wan Chai. Take your camera. Sapa Ubud Hanoi Kowloon Seminyak Macau Jimbaran Nusa Dua BALINESE DISCOVERY YOU DREAM IT... WE’LL CREATE IT. TAILOR-MADE SPECIALISTS INTEREST FREE^ + 7 nights accommodation at the 5-star Grand Nikko Bali in a garden view room + Buffet breakfast daily + Return transfers + Casa Luna Cooking Class + See Ubud rice fields + Uluwatu Sundowner and dinner at Jimbaran Deal: 4108641 from $1099 * Contact us today for the best airfares to Bali Danang Hoi An $24/wk $24/wk HIGHLIGHTS OF HONG KONG & MACAU INTEREST FREE^ NORTHERN VIETNAM $34/wk INTEREST FREE^ + 6 nights accommodation in 4 and 4½-star hotels + Big Bus Hop on Hop off Premium Tour – 24 hours + Street Food Tour + Turbojet Ticket – Hong Kong to Macau + Transfers to and from Hong Kong International Airport and Ferry + City of Magic Show + 7 nights accommodation + Return overnight rail journey from Hanoi to Sapa + One-way overnight rail journey from Hanoi to Danang + Local Life Hanoi walking tour + Half day cycling and boat village tour in Hoi An + Return private transfers from Danang to Hoi An Deal: 4108653 Deal: 4167909 from $1129 * SAVE on your airfare when you book with an Escape Fare ~ [email protected] escapetravel.com.au from $1659* SAVE on your airfare when you book with an Escape Fare ~ CALL 132 601 TEXT 0437 841 854 *Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Please ask us for further details. Prices and taxes are correct as at 5 Aug 16 and are subject to change without notice. Updates and corrections to advertised products including pricing may be found at www.escapetravel.com.au/ads. Prices quoted are on sale until 13 Aug 16 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior. Prices are per person and are subject to availability. Accommodation is based on twin share. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel. Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies, government charges and other applicable fees. Airfares are not included. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store. ~Escape fares are only available to adult travellers and are non-refundable and non-transferable. Minimum 4 nights accommodation or minimum 7 day tour or cruise needs to be booked in conjunction with this Escape Fare in order to receive your discount. This must be within the same continent of your Escape Fare destination or as part of a stopover to your destination. A non refundable deposit of $250* per person is required at the time of booking for your accommodation, tour or cruise. Your Holiday Expert will advise payment deadlines for your airfare and if any further deposit is required for your land or cruise arrangements. Escape Fares are only available over selected dates; please ask your Holiday Consultant for more details. ^Approved applicants only on a Lombard 180 Visa card. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply including a $99 Annual Fee charged on the account open date and annually on the anniversary of the account open date. Minimum finance amount applies and is valid on holidays over $999. Interest, currently 22.99% p.a., is payable on any balance outstanding after the 12 month Interest Free period. Ask in store for details. Offer ends 31 Dec 16. Credit provided by Lombard Finance Pty Limited ABN 31 099 651 877, Australian Credit Licence number 247415. Lombard® is brought to you by FlexiGroup®Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. ATAS Accreditation No. A10412. GoXplore_235x135ET FROM $167* PER DAY NEW Incredible experiences Unbeatable prices USA, Canada & Mexico 2017 brochure Experience the best-priced tours in travel. Enjoy holidaying the CostSaver way with experience-packed itineraries, great hotels and plenty of free time to explore your own way with world-class Travel Directors offering insider tips to ensure you make the most of every moment. RHYTHMS OF THE SOUTH 12 days from $2,595** THE BIG APPLE, NIAGARA CALIFORNIA AND THE GOLDEN WEST AND WASHINGTON D.C. 14 days from $2,575** 8 days from $1,895** PANORAMIC CANADIAN ROCKIES 12 days from $1,995** SAVE $100† per couple when you book with this code: ppgoxcsusa17 Visit www.costsaver.trafalgar.com or your local travel agent. *All prices are per person, twin share. From price relates to Panoramic Canadian Rockies 25 Apr 17 trip. **Advertised pricing applies to Rhythms of the South departing 22 Jul 17; The Big Apple, Niagara and Washington D.C. departing 23 Mar and 12 Oct 17; California and the Golden West departing 04 May and 12 Oct 17 & Panoramic Canadian Rockies departing 25 Apr 17. †$100 per couple ($50 per person) bonus offer is applicable to new bookings only when you book & pay in full by 31 Aug 16. Promotion code PPGOXCSUSA17 must be quoted at time of booking. Offer valid on all guided holidays from the 2017 USA, Canada & Mexico CostSaver brochure for travel in 2017. This offer is combinable with all brochure discounts including past guest discount, multiple trip discount and select promotional offers only TT4895 WINNER 2016 BEST INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATOR S P I R I T O F A D V E N T U R E UP TO MUST-DO TOURS Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Morocco, East Africa, South America, Antarctica $850 FREE EXTRAS PER TOUR* OFFER ENDS 14 SEPTEMBER 2016: SEE INSIDE FOR DETAILS Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 1 5/08/2016 10:16 AM PREMIUM ADVENTURES At Peregrine we offer premium adventures, and for us that means embracing the spirit of adventure through a more immersive cultural experience. It means guaranteed departures, hand-picked accommodation, intimate small groups, award-winning local guides, added inclusions and a slower, more considered pace. We’ll take you to the major highlights as well as along roads less travelled, getting you closer to the local people and the culture you came to discover. Premium stands for an exceptional experience, but never an artificial one. Some people subscribe to the theory that if it’s comfortable it isn’t an adventure. Not us. We’re all for taking the hassles and uncertainties out of group travel. From the first enquiry to the final farewell dinner, you’re in safe hands. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a premium style of adventure. Your standard tour cost covers: • Guaranteed departure • All included sightseeing and entrance costs • Quality, hand-picked accommodation • A highly experienced Peregrine tour leader • Gratuities for services received as part of the tour • Many meals (as indicated) • Additional specialist guides and porters • Airport arrival transfers • 24-hour emergency support from our local team www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 2 5/08/2016 10:17 AM Photo: Dennis Harbach ACCOMMODATION LOCAL GUIDES Our accommodation is hand-picked by our local destination experts for its quality, character, amenities and central location. We look for the key things: a private bathroom, good service, air-conditioning and telephone/ Wi-Fi facilities. We learnt long ago that the best way to see a destination is with the people who live there. That’s why we pioneered the concept of employing local guides: expertly trained, and with a depth and breadth of knowledge you won’t find anywhere else. This year, we’ve introduced something a bit special: feature stays. Each tour includes a night (or two) in at least one standout property – places that offer a deeper level of cultural immersion or provide a unique perspective on a destination. Want to know the secrets of Tibetan Buddhism? Where to find the best steak in Buenos Aires? Or what makes a Languedoc merlot so special? Your guide, and their local connections, have the answer. Along with being your ticket to really getting to the heart of a destination, our expertly trained guides are there to make your trip authentic, enjoyable and hassle-free; an adventure to remember. While local standards often vary between countries, you can rest assured that you’ll always have a comfortable place to rest your head at the end of a day of exploring. FLIGHTS INCLUDED* ON ALL FEATURED PACKAGES PACKAGES OFFER For a limited time only, purchase our fully inclusive Peregrine holiday package and receive a FREE 2-night city stopover package including accommodation and sightseeing valued up to $850. FLIGHTS INCLUDED UP TO BOOK BEFORE 14 SEPTEMBER, 2016 FOR GUARANTEED DEPARTURES AND PRICES. $850 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 3 5/08/2016 10:17 AM SEVEN WOMEN Our taxi pulls up outside some rusty wrought iron gates. Inside is one of Nepal’s philanthropic success stories: a tiny business that’s slowly changing the lives of local women. It’s called Seven Women, and it began in 2006 as a grassroots project to help (literally) seven women who were suffering discrimination as a result of their disabilities. Nine years later, the project has expanded big time, with two centres in Kathmandu and four more in outlying villages. This is the largest, a three-story building lost in the warren of Kathmandu’s slightly crumbling backstreets. The gate opens up and our group wanders inside. The courtyard is boiling in the late October sun, but inside it’s quiet and cool. About fifteen women in sarees sit behind black Singer machines, feeding fabric through flashing needles with their fingers. The sewing machines are all old, classic models, powered by a foot pedal, and they fill the room with a soft mechanical jingling, like the noise a slot machine makes when it pays out. Seven Women is a small operation by international NGO standards, but its achievements are substantial. Since its inception it’s employed and trained over 900 local women, many of them disabled, and their handicrafts are sold online and overseas. The women that work here are usually single and over 45, members of poor rural communities in the lowlands around Kathmandu. They might be divorced, or suffer from some disability like glaucoma, blindness or polio. Here they can work, earn a wage and learn transferable skills. Padam says that most go back to their villages and start their own small businesses. It’s charity in its most sustainable form: an initial investment that repays itself a hundred fold. This is why I travel, to see initiatives like this. A small project, doing some good, for no reward other than the satisfaction of making the world a slightly better place. We wave goodbye to the women and hop back into the taxi. I watch them as the car pulls away. The last thing I can see is their smiles, then they turn around, walk into the nondescript house and go back to work. Written by James Shackell Peregrine is a proud supporter of The Intrepid Foundation, a not-for-profit that supports community projects (like Seven Women) in the places we visit. For more info, visit theintrepidfoundation.org www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 4 5/08/2016 10:17 AM “I’m very mature aged but young in mind and Nepal was somewhere I had dreamed of seeing. This trip was exactly how I wanted to see this country: grassroots but a comfortable bed. Thank you Nabin and my fellow travellers.” FAYE MORELAND NEPAL Annapurna Pokhara Kathmandu Everest Bandipur INDIA Chitwan National Park Bhaktapur COLOURS OF NEPAL 14-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $4,695* Experience the diversity of this spiritual country and discover what makes it beloved by so many travellers. Explore exotic Kathmandu, stand beneath the striking peaks of some of the world’s highest mountains and uncover the rural beauty of hilltop villages. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY KATHMANDU POKHARA CHITWAN HOTEL ANNAPURNA See the world’s highest mountain, Mt Everest, from the air on a breathtaking scenic flight. Enjoy a tranquil boat ride across Phewa Tal, before walking to the Peace Pagoda, which offers exceptional views of the surrounding Annapurna ranges. Buckle up for an afternoon safari, keeping an eye out for tigers, rhinos and sloth bears. Relax with a book in the manicured gardens of this comfortable hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Kathmandu. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $545 OF EXTRAS *Feature stay in 2017 trips only 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 5 5/08/2016 10:17 AM “I have been to India a number of times with work but this trip has really helped me to understand the culture and experience a much more authentic India. My wife and I loved this amazing country and we have already discussed where to go on our next trip to India!” EWAN NORTON Delhi Agra Jaipur Orchha INDIA Varanasi Khajuraho THE SPIRIT OF INDIA 15-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $4,495* Meander around the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, explore vibrant bazaars and soak up the ambience of holy Varanasi on this journey of discovery through India’s north. Spend the night in a heritage hotel and enjoy a home-cooked meal in the home of a local Hindu family. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY JAIPUR KHAJURAHO VARANASI Settle in for a colourful evening – complete with delicious Indian snacks – at the historic Raj Mandir Cinema for a Bollywood film. Tour the incredible 1,000-year-old temples of Khajuraho, famous for their explicit carvings, with an expert guide. Start the day with a sunrise boat trip on the Ganges, watching the light illuminate the ghats and temples on the riverbanks. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $435 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation AMAR MAHAL HERITAGE HOTEL Live like royalty in this stately hotel, set in the ancient medieval town of Orchha. Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 6 5/08/2016 10:18 AM “My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this trip: the places we saw, the food we ate, the locals we met, the group we travelled with and the great crew that looked after us from start to finish.” SUSAN LAVERTY SRI LANKA Sigiriya Marawila Kandy Colombo Kalutara Haputale Kataragama Galle CLASSIC SRI LANKA 18-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $4,975* Sri Lanka has just about everything a traveller could want: superb ancient sites, incredible scenery, amazing wildlife and delicious cuisine. Hike to the top of Lion Rock, tour a tea plantation and indulge in moreish curries, hoppers and roti with your travelling companions. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY NEGOMBO BANDARAWELA YALA NATIONAL PARK ALIYA RESORT Watch as fishermen prepare their daily catch at the lively fish markets. Learn about all things tea on a guided tour of a local tea plantation before a traditional lunch at the planter’s bungalow. Keep your eyes peeled for elephants, crocodiles and leopards on a sunset safari through the park. Cool off with a dip in the infinity pool, with views to Sigirya, at the end of a long day’s exploring. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $405 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 7 5/08/2016 10:18 AM “This was my first tour and I really enjoyed it. From the pleasing accommodation to the interesting and informative talks our leader gave us, all added to the enjoyment of the trip. I never thought I’d say this, but doing a tour was the best way to see the country, rather than trying it on one’s own.” SYLVIA HAWKEN Jerash JORDAN Amman Dead Sea Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba JORDAN EXPLORER Red Sea 12-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $4,395* Be romanced by Jordan’s majestic architecture and desert culture, from Wadi Rum’s sweeping rock formations to the hand-hewn facades of Petra. Sleep beneath the stars in a Bedouin camp, float in the buoyant Red Sea and take in Petra’s magical and mysterious Treasury building. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY PETRA THE DEAD SEA WADI RUM WADI RUM NIGHT CAMP You never forget your first glimpse of The Treasury through narrow canyon walls in Petra. Spend the day taking in the mystery of this unforgettable place. Experience the unique sensation of floating in the Dead Sea. Share a traditional Bedouin meal with the locals under the stars at your comfortable desert camp. Retreat to your private and comfortable Bedouin-style tent, surrounded by the silken sands of the desert. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $550 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 8 5/08/2016 10:18 AM “Morocco is a fascinating place to visit with its myriad colours, exciting aromas and melding of the ancient world with the 21st century. It gives one another view of the Islamic world and an insight into their religion and culture.” HELEN MCEWEN Rabat Volubilis Fes Casablanca Meknes MOROCCO Essaouira Bin el-Ouidane Marrakech MOROCCAN SERENADE 16-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $3,995* Immerse yourself in the very heart of Morocco. Marvel at the imposing Mosque of Hassan II, explore the labyrinthine medina in Marrakech with an expert local guide and feast on pastille and tagine with your travelling companions in Fes. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY BIN EL-OUIDANE MARRAKECH VOLUBILIS RIAD RITAJ An oasis of calm between two bustling cities. Watch the sun set behind the Atlas Mountains from the comfort of your poolside terrace. After a day spent exploring palaces, mosques and medinas, enjoy an authentic dining experience in the lively Djemaa el Fna marketplace. Wander around the impressive World Heritagelisted Roman ruins, admiring basilicas, temples and mosaics, with an expert local guide. Relax in the decadent courtyard of this traditionally restored riad in the heart of Meknes’ medina. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $325 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 9 5/08/2016 10:19 AM “To quote our driver, ‘Surprise everyday!’ and he was right. If the cast of The Lion King were not amazing enough, how about a leopard with a fresh gazelle on a tree just metres away, with the stunning backdrop of green plains and distant mountains. The hot air balloon ride... spectacular!” somalia NORQURSHIAH JISMI KENYA Lake Nakuru NR Lake Elementaita Masai Mara Lake Naivasha NP Migori Nairobi Serengeti NP Ngorongoro Crater Arusha TANZANIA EAST AFRICA DISCOVERY 16-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $10,785* Observe a procession of wildlife, such as wildebeest, zebras and gazelles, making their way across the Masai Mara National Reserve, while elephants and giraffes trundle over distant plains. This incredible adventure includes game drives with expert guides and is a must for nature-lovers. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY MASAI MARA SERENGETI NGORONGORO CRATER Learn about the Maasai’s history and culture from a local elder in an authentic Maasai village. Admire the stunning sights and sounds of the Serengeti, with a sundowner in hand. Descend to the spectacular crater floor by 4WD in search of the Big Five. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $850 OF EXTRAS 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation KATI KATI TENTED CAMP Immerse yourself in safari life at our comfortable Serengeti tented camp. Free Urban Adventures day tour * In 2016, this trip is a day shorter and the package price for 2016 departures is $9,510. Masai Mara highlight not included in 2016 itinerary. Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 10 5/08/2016 10:19 AM LIMITED EDITION TOURS This year, Peregrine has created a range of unique new journeys for travellers looking to combine their special interests with their love of travel. From history and archaeology, to literature, wildlife, and food, our Limited Edition small group trips have been crafted just for you. Led by expert local guides, staying in quality accommodation and with only one or two departures on each trip, these are true Limited Edition adventures*. JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL & KIPLING’S BUNDI PYRAMIDS, MUMMIES & PHARAOHS UGANDA GORILLA EXPEDITION & SAFARI 13 DAYS FROM $2,995* DEPARTS 12 JAN 2017 14 DAYS FROM $3,295* DEPARTS 9 APRIL 17 & 15 OCT 17 9 DAYS FROM $6,955* DEPARTS 16 JUL 17 & 19 NOV 17 • Spend four days attending literary events and exploring the city as it comes to life with international and local writers, poets and book lovers. • Ahmed, your local leader, has worked registering hieroglyphic texts on the Pyramids of Giza plateaus. Who better to take you on a journey through Egypt’s fascinating history? • Explore the hidden gem of Bundi, an ancient city famous for its elaborate step-wells, and learn from a local guide how it inspired the work of literary great Rudyard Kipling. • In addition to seeing the Pyramids of Saqqara, visit Memphis, the ancient capital of Lower Egypt, and the famous Red and Bent Pyramids. • Meet with a representative of Gorilla Doctors and learn about their important vet and conservation work, providing these critically endangered animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild. • Visit the famed tomb of King Tutankhamun at the Valley of the Kings. • Spend two days trekking through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to get close to Uganda’s rare mountain gorillas (permits included). *Please note prices quoted are land only. We can provide you with an airfare quotation. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 11 5/08/2016 10:19 AM REMEMBERING SOUTH AMERICA It’s a cool and grey Melbourne autumn morning, and I’m walking to my favourite café in Rathdowne Street for a coffee hit. Three weeks ago I was in Lima, on a similarly cool and grey morning at the start of a Peregrine South America tour. The small group I travelled with were high-spirited, well-informed and thoroughly good humoured. After sightseeing, walking and climbing, we were always ready to sit down with our guides over dinner, talking about the day’s experiences and what they meant to each of us. While I was travelling I kept a diary and tried to write in it every day. Looking back at it now, it’s hardly a literary masterpiece; just a jumble of notes written on the run and sometimes late at night under the influence of one too many glasses of red. But what I wrote about still surprises me. There’s very little about the spectacular sites we visited – the ancient city of Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo and the Sacred Valley, the Amazon jungle – my scatty notes are more about experiences, and people. I flick back to my pages on Lima. After a day spent exploring the city centre and the Franciscan monastery, with its catacombs and ruined library, we set off for Cuzco. On the way to the airport, I experience some jet-lagged confusion. Is this South America or South Asia? Lima has a population of 8.5 million (that’s twice Melbourne’s) and it seems that everyone is on the road in tiny commuter buses, honking and weaving through dense smog, cycling or walking in great squadrons. Another metropolis, Buenos Aires, a week later. Its centre is breathtaking, with great avenues and a grandiose blend of architectural styles. Our guide here is Candelaria, a strikingly intelligent and politically savvy young woman who takes us to the Plaza de Mayo, where she speaks www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 12 5/08/2016 10:19 AM movingly about the weekly vigils held by the families (mainly mothers and grandmothers) of the desaparecidos, the estimated 30,000 ‘disappeared’ victims of the 1976 military coup. I sit for a while in the Metropolitan Cathedral, once home to Pope Francis, but it’s hard just now to see its Rococo glory through tourist eyes. I need to read more about the junta and its cruel legacy. From Buenos Aires we take a bus ride with guides Jasmina and Dennis to La Eloisa, an estancia; until recently a working ranch and now a golf and polo lodge in a vast European-style park with guest accommodation (and some of the finest beef I’ve ever tasted). La Eloisa is memorable for many reasons, not least its owner: in his seventies with a mane of white hair, the proud possessor of a 1950s Mercedes convertible in which he bounces all over the estate. He’s a great conversationalist, and tells us about his other property, a 16th-century castle outside Siena, which he has converted into a boutique hotel. The night before we fly home, we head out to a wonderful dinner in Santiago (perhaps the best of the trip, and that’s saying something!) at a small restaurant, known for matching regional food with local wine. It’s a night tinged with sadness. Our spirit of adventure has taken us to some great cities, ancient and modern, through the jungle and under a waterfall. We have seen howling monkeys, dozing caimans and shrieking macaws, but the quiet and private moments of the Peregrine trip were every bit as wonderful. That’s what I’ll remember. Written by Greg Kratzmann www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 13 5/08/2016 10:19 AM “We loved this trip, the falls were just mind blowing, the other sites were amazing and we saw and experienced many things. We were looked after well and would thoroughly recommend it to others.” GLENYS BOYANTON BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Iguazu Falls ARGENTINA South Atlantic Ocean Buenos Aires ARGENTINA & BRAZIL 11-DAY HOLIDAY PACKAGE $5,930* From Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro, unleash your spirit of adventure on this wild ride through South America. Wander the cobbled streets of San Telmo and La Boca, witness the power of the 275 waterfalls that make up Iguazu and dance like no one’s watching in Rio. HIGHLIGHTS FEATURE STAY BUENOS AIRES IGUAZU FALLS RIO DE JANEIRO EL PUEBLITO IGUAZU Explore the eclectic and lively neighbourhoods of this cosmopolitan city on a full-day tour with a local guide. Marvel at the falls from several angles; the Argentinian side gets you up close and personal, while the Brazilian side unveils sweeping panoramas. Immerse yourself in Brazilian culture, dance and music. Everyone’s invited to the party in this heaving metropolis. Situated in the Paranaense Forest, this comfortable eco-lodge is a must for nature-lovers. FLIGHTS INCLUDED $630 OF EXTRAS *Feature stay in 2017 trips only 2 nights free pre-tour accommodation Free Urban Adventures day tour *Holiday package includes return economy international flights from your nearest capital city in Australia, Peregrine tour including all accommodation, transport, highly experienced tour leader, sightseeing as specified, some meals, gratuities and an arrival transfer. Please refer to www.peregrineadventures.com/peregrine-holiday-packages for full terms and conditions. www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 14 5/08/2016 10:20 AM Photo: Richard Busch (Flickr). ANTARCTICA EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS SAVE UP TO $8,300 ON 2017/2018 VOYAGES* These expeditions offer the chance to discover the best of the Antarctic Peninsula. Cruise past penguins, whales and seals, watch as icebergs calve into the sea and set foot on the frozen continent after zipping between glaciers on a Zodiac. TOP-SELLING TRIPS NEW VESSEL 11-DAY ANTARCTIC EXPLORER 20-DAY ANTARCTICA EAST & WEST 23-DAY CROSSING THE CIRCLE Land on a beach inhabited by thousands of penguins and enjoy watching their antics up close. Encounter whales and seals on Zodiac excursions along the Antarctic Peninsula coastline. Gain an insight into the unique history, geology and wildlife of the Antarctic through a series of on-board lectures by polar experts. ISLAND SKY Explore the Polar seas in our newest ship. Each cabin has a flat-screen TV, en suite bathroom and sea views, while the ship boasts a bar, library and lecture theatre. * Please note prices quoted are land only. We can provide you with an airfare quotation. Up to $8,300 off. Valid on new Antarctica bookings made until 30 September 2016 or until sold out. Valid for select departures between November 2017 and March 2018. Not valid on existing bookings. Applicable to select cabins. Not applicable on triple cabins or the highest priced premium cabins. For cabin types and full terms and conditions please visit http://www.peregrineadventures.com/antarctica-earlybird www.peregrineadventures.com | Call: 1300 854 445 Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 15 5/08/2016 10:20 AM With more than 300 carefully curated itineraries in over 80 countries around the globe, you’re never far away from your next adventure. TO BOOK Call 1300 854 445 or your local travel agent For more information visit peregrineadventures.com Package Offer Terms & Conditions: Offer valid only on the following trips: Classic Sri Lanka PISP, Spirit of India PISI, Classic Moroccan Serenade PGMS, Jordan Explorer PGJE, Argentina & Brazil PSBA, East Africa Discovery PFED, Colours of Nepal PHCN. Offer includes international return economy airfares from your nearest capital city in Australia with our preferred, full service airline partners, two additional nights pre tour or post tour accommodation which can be used in the start/finish country or a stopover country if available - customers may use 1 night pre-tour and 1 night post-tour, a private arrival transfer and an Urban Adventure of your choice in either the start/finish country or a stopover city if available – exclusions are: Hell’s Gate National Park (Nairobi), Parks, Giraffes & Karen Blixen (Nairobi), Exploring Patan & Bhaktapur, Total Rio, Gnawa Music Experience and Private Urban Adventures options. Please note there are no Urban Adventures in Casablanca. In Jordan, you will enjoy a cooking school experience. To book and confirm your holiday you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit for the tour of $250 per person with full payment being due 56 days prior to departure. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer applies to new bookings made between 14 Aug 2016 and 14 Sep 2016. Departure must occur prior to 30 Apr 2017. Blackout dates are for departures between 16 Dec 2016 and 15 Jan 2017. Valid for bookings made in Australia only. East Africa Discovery (PFED) is one day shorter in 2016. Some itineraries may have slight changes in 2017. Should the airline require us to ticket prior to 56 days then full payment may be required earlier. If booking within 56 days of departure, full payment is due immediately. All tours are subject to availability. Prices are based on twin share accommodation. Single supplements, where available, can be purchased at an additional charge and on a request basis. For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.peregrineadventures.com/ peregrine-holiday-packages Any airfare date changes, re-routing or cancellations made by you after ticketing will be subject to the airlines change, re-routing and cancellation fees and any additional fare and taxes payable. Upgrades to a different airline, or to premium Peregrine_Go_Xplore_16_page.indd 16 economy or business class flights can be arranged and are subject to availability and any additional fare and taxes. Standard booking conditions apply as per Peregrine’s website www.peregrineadventures.com. By paying a deposit you acknowledge you have read the terms & conditions of this special package offer and our booking conditions. The special package offer is not applicable to Private Groups, Independent Journeys or Independent Experiences. Offer does not apply to additional travel arrangements other than those specified, travel insurance or any other costs not included on the itinerary or in the package details but these can be arranged at additional cost. Visas, entry permits, tourist cards and reciprocity fees are not included in package offer and are the responsibility of the traveller. To redeem the offer please quote promo code 28011 at time of booking. For actual tour dates, detailed essential trip information and useful country information visit Peregrine’s website http://www.peregrineadventures.com/ peregrine-holiday-packages or call us on 1300 854 445. Antarctica earlybird Terms & Conditions: Discount amounts are $4,200, $4,700, $7,750 and up to $8,300 off per person. Offer valid on 2017/2018 Antarctica departures. To book and confirm your holiday a non-refundable, reduced deposit of 5% is required. Please note this deposit is 5% of the full cost of the berth, not the discounted cost. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer applies to new bookings made until 30 Sep 2016. Departure must occur between 01 Nov 2017 and 31 Mar 2018. Valid for bookings made in Australia only. All voyages and cabin types are subject to availability. Prices are based on twin share cabins. Single supplements, where available, can be purchased at an additional charge and on request basis. Standard booking conditions apply as per Peregrine’s website. By paying a deposit you acknowledge you have read the terms & conditions of this special offer and our booking conditions. For full terms and conditions, voyage dates and cabin types please visit www.peregrineadventures. com/antarctica-earlybird or call 1300 854 445. 5/08/2016 10:20 AM