national geographic

Hone Your Photography Skills on a Private Jet Tour of Central & South America

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jay Dickman (above) is leading an incredible 16-day private jet tour of Central and South America, part of the National Geographic Expeditions program, set to take place from Mar 26 - Apr 10, 2011. Dickman, a National Geographic Expert who has covered events as diverse as the war in El Salvador to the Olympics for numerous publications including National Geographic magazine, is part of the Olympus Visionary Program, a group of prestigious professional photographers who all use Olympus cameras like the brilliant new PEN E-PL1 for professional and personal assignments. The luxe trip via a custom Boeing 757 takes you through lush rain forests, magnificent mountain ranges, lively cities, and the legacies of mighty civilizations.

Destinations include Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Costa Rica, from "the soaring pyramid temples of the ancient Mayans to the alluring grace of Argentina's tango, and from the awe-inspiring rush of Iguazú Falls to the serene rain forests of the Amazon", with luxury hotel stays in between. As the excursion is priced at $46,950 per person, you'll obviously want to make sure you get great photos – which Dickman helps ensure, leading photographic expeditions and discussing technical as well as aesthetic issues that make for great photography and photographs. Book your seats now as space is limited.

Tags: Brazil, camera, Costa Rica, digital camera, Jay Dickman, luxury travel, National Geographic, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, Peru, photographer, photography, private jet, South America

The Ten Best Family Vacation Destinations Around the World

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Children

Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island's Kona Coast.

Luxist readers have selected their favorite luxury vacation spots for families around the world. From Scotland, France, New Zealand, and South Africa to Hawaii, Colorado and the Galápagos Islands, these destinations offer wonderful programs tailored specifically for children, in addition to luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities.

The top ten vacation destinations for families, according to our readers, include:

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise Through the Burgundian Countryside (France)
Abercrombie & Kent offers many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for family vacations, but one of the most special trips has got to be its river barge cruise through the Burgundian countryside. A chartered seven day cruise aboard La Belle Epoque, A&K's 126-foot-long, 16.5 feet wide barge, is a luxurious and relaxing way to travel and taste award-winning Burgandy wines.

The barge, which is equipped with six cabins, all outside facing and each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. There's one deluxe double cabin; one deluxe twin/double; two twin/double cabins and two cabins each with twin beds. There's also a small swimming pool, a sauna and several sun decks. Bicycles are also available for anyone in the family wanting to cycle in the towns the barge visits. A gourmet chef is on board to prepare all of the meals, which are included in the cost of the excursion.

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, awards-main, Beaver Creek, best family vacation, Burgandy, Cruise, Ebony Lodge, family vacations, galapagos, GalapagosIslands, gleneagles, Gleneagles Hotel, Grand Wailea, Hawaii, Kenya, kona village, Kona Village Resort, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, Maui, National Geographic, New Zealand, Sabi Sand Reserve, Singita Game Reserve, south africa, treetops, Treetops Lodge, TreetopsLodge, Vail

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The Nominees For The Best in Summer Travel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

Best Adventure Getaway
The first nominee offers an unforgettable trekking experience in Bhutan while the second offers an unparalleled safari in East Africa. The third nominee is located in one of the world's finest unspoiled havens, while the fourth features elephants in their natural habitat. The final nominee, located in the Montana Rockies, is known for its outdoor sports, from fishing to horseback riding.

Amankora Resort: Trekking in Bhutan
East African Safari with Abercrombie & Kent
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savute Elephant Camp by Orient-Express
Montana's Triple Creek Ranch

Best Beachside Hotel
The first nominee is where to go when in search of a peaceful sanctuary while the second nominee is a tropical haven with a relaxed pace. The third nominee is located in a secluded natural sanctuary while the fourth offers an award-winning beach. The last nominee offers a beachside location that is idyllic and unspoiled.

Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, Thailand
Four Seasons Resort, Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
The Oberoi, Mauritius

Best International Summer Destination
The first nominee is one of the world's most glamorous destinations while the second one was once the home of the Ottoman Sultans. The third nominee is the premier hot spot on the Amalfi Coast while the fourth offers chauffeured-driven tours of the Tuscan wine country. The final nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip from Venice to Istanbul aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains.

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast
Kempinski's Ciragan Palace, Istanbul
San Pietro di Positano, Amalfi Coast
Tuscany Wine Tours
Venice Simplon Orient-Express Train

Best Luxury Family Vacation
The first nominee offers a luxurious barge cruise through Burgandy while the second offers an armchair safari suitable for the whole family. The third nominee is where families go for Scottish outdoor pursuits from falconry to golf. The fourth nominee is considered to be the jewel of Maui while the final nominee is unplugged and unpretentious.

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise in Burgundy
Ebony Lodge, Singita Game Reserves
Gleneagles, Scotland
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel, Maui
Kona Village Resort, Hawaii

Best Summer Cruise
The first nominee offers an unforgettable cruise through the fabled Far East while the second nominee is the way to experience the Greek Isles and Turkey in complete luxury. The third nominee is an expedition to see the ice bears upclose while the fourth nominee takes its passengers down the Nile in style.

Fabled Far East Cruise by The Yachts of Seabourn
Greek Isles and Turkey Cruise by Sea Cloud Cruises
Land of the Ice Bear Cruise by Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic
Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruiser: Down the Nile in Style
Mediterreanean Luxury Cruise on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Amalfi Coast, Amanpuri, awards-main, Cunard, Ebony Lodge, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Gleneagles, Grace Bay Club, Grand Wailea, Hotel Santa Caterina, Kempinski, Kona Village, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, Oberoi Mauritius, Oberoi Zahra, Phinda, Queen Mary 2, San Pietro di Positano, Savute, Sea Cloud, Tuscany, Venice Simplon Orient-Express, wine tours, winners-summer-travel, Yachts of Seabourn

Best Cruises to Take During the Summer

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxist readers have nominated their favorite cruises to take around the world during the summer months. From Istanbul to Hong Kong and Egypt, what these cruises have in common are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see the world while enjoying luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities. What's best, is you will be able to explore the beauty and culture of faraway places without having to spend half of your time in confusing and crowded airports.

The top five cruises to take during the summer, according to our readers, are:

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise (seen in photo above) offers a 24-day itinerary that begins in Bangkok, Thailand and ends in Kobe, Japan, with stops in five cities along the Pacific coastline. The first week includes stops in Vietnam's sprawling Ho Chih Minh City and bustling port of Da Nang before chugging over to Hong Kong, where shore excursions include a helicopter ride and high tea at the Peninsula Hotel.

Week two starts with a journey to mainland China's seaside city of Xiamen; the trip continues with two days in Shanghai, the "Paris of China," and wraps up with a day on the Yellow Sea. The third week takes visitors to South Korea, first to the mountain-backed city of Mokpo, then to Jeju, a volcanic island formed from eruptions nearly 2 million years ago. The trip ends with stops at Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan.

The Fabled Far East cruise takes place on the Seabourn Pride, a boat that boasts both a restaurant and spa. Best Available Fares per person, based on double occupancy, start at $11,400 for wait list spot, while the brochure fare is $22,800. Fares go all the way up to $32,800 for a wait list spot in a deluxe owner's suite (the stated brochure fare is $65,600), not including airfare.

Gallery: The Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn (The Fabled Far East Cruise)

Tags: Athens, awards-main, Best Cruises, Best summer cruise, Best summer cruises, Cunard Cruise Line, CunardCruiseLine, Greece, Istanbul, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, Norway, Oberoi Zahra, Queen Mary 2, Sea Cloud, Seabourn, Turkey

Continue reading “Best Cruises to Take During the Summer”

Land of the Ice Bears Cruise by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Land of the Ice Bears with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic

Sea and sun are the hallmarks of most summer vacations, but the Land of the Ice Bears cruise is one of few to offer an unlimited quantity of both. Dreamed up by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic, the getaway features a never-setting sun and plenty of polar bears-just part of the reason it's a Luxist Awards' nominee in the Best Summer Cruises category.

Fly from the United States to Oslo, where you'll spend your first full day taking in the sights and sounds of metropolitan Scandinavia. Then board the fully stabilized ice-class expedition cruise ship that will transport you to Svalbard, a remote archipelago 350 miles beyond Norway's North Cape. This is the farthest that vessels are allowed to travel without an ice-breaker; still, there are plenty of floes bobbing in the icy fjords.

The wildlife, however, is anything but frozen. From the comfort of Zodiac boats and kayaks, you'll observe a plethora of creatures-reindeer, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, and of course, polar bears-frolicking amid the thawing tundra and surrounding seas. In the evening, you'll retire to your ship and its myriad amenities, including a bar, restaurant, gallery, library and lounge.

Spots on the Land of the Ice Bears cruise start at $7,500 per person (based on double occupancy) and run as high as $14,000 for the finest cabins, not including airfare. But for those intent on catching plenty of summer sun and really cooling off, this cruise is hard to beat.

Vote for the Luxury Family Summer Vacation that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: awards-main, cruises, LindbladExpeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, polar bears

Fairmont's Global Explorer Series Launches New Travel Packages Focused On The Ocean

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts first debuted its Global Explorer Series last year and now for its second year there are three new adventure vacation packages built around exploring the world's oceans. Offered in collaboration with the National Geographic Society to promote responsible and sustainable tourism, guests can explore wondrous underwater worlds along with an expert to make the experience truly unforgettable.

Join National Geographic environmental anthropologist and underwater cave expert Dr. Kenny Broad on a snorkeling expedition through the freshwater jungles of the Mayan Cenotes.
Snorkel around The Big Island of Hawaii with National Geographic environmental anthropologist Dr. Kenny Broad.
Enjoy an unforgettable weekend of diving, exploring and learning at Fairmont Mayakoba with legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Rates start at $399/night and are 'mostly inclusive,' with details varying per location.

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Tags: adventure travel, diving, eco travel, fairmont, mayakoba, national geographic, ocean, oceangraphy, travel, travel adventure

Galapagos Islands: Explore with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Lindblad Expeditions, in partnership with National Geographic, offers an expedition to the Galápagos Islands that is a Readers' Choice Nominee for Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation.

Lindblad Expeditions offers this educational 10 day expedition to the Galápagos Islands, also known as the "Land of Darwin", which are located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The islands are a natural habitat for some of the world's most interesting and unusual animals. Only in the Galápagos can you come face to face with wildlife up close that has never developed a fear of people, from the diverse bird life to the giant Galápagos tortoise. The Galápagos are one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world both from a geographical and a wildlife perspective.

The itinerary includes visits to seven or more islands, including Floreana where guests can snorkel and observe a large colony of sea lions. At Fernandina, guests will see flamingos, visit a tortoise breeding center, caves and beaches. On the excursion to Fernandina Island, the youngest island in Galápagos, guests will observe marine iguanas and see dramatic volcanoes.

Activities include Zodiacs and kayaks that take guests to the volcanic shores and pristine beaches. There's also an undersea program that utilizes underwater video, glass-bottom boat and hydrophone that bring seldom seen or heard worlds to life.

Lindblad Expeditions keeps two ships permanently in the islands: the National Geographic Endeavour, which is a 96-passenger ship and the National Geographic Islander, a 164-foot twin-hulled vessel that can accommodate 48 guests (and reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to its small size). Both ships makes 48 expeditions to the Galápagos each year.

Lindblad Expeditions also offers a 16 day long cruise to Galápagos that includes a visit by land to Peru. Guests will be taken to Lima, the ancient Incan capital of Cusco and Machu Picchu.

The cruises are known for excellent service and knowledgeable staff. Every expedition to the Galápagos is led by a team of five English-speaking naturalists (including an underwater specialist), a videographer, and an expedition leader. Together, they provide a multitude of resources for a rich and unmatched understanding of all that you'll see.

While the cruise is priced as a luxury vacation, don't expect the kind of nightly entertainment you might expect aboard a luxury Caribbean cruise. One guest summed it up this way: "People might wear their wealth with jewels on another luxury vacation, but on a National Geographic/Lindblad cruise, guests are more apt to show off their intellect."

Rates for a double occupancy cabin on the National Geographic Endeavour range from $4,980 (for a standard cabin with two single beds) to $8,040 (for a suite with separate sleeping and sitting areas, including a sofa to accommodate a third person). Included in the cost of the cruise are all meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship and on land, service charges, taxes, shore excursions, sightseeing, entrance fees, special access permits, transfers to and from group flights, use of snorkeling equipment, use of kayaks and shorty wet suits. The ships are fully air-conditioned and has a spa, sauna, fitness center, a small swimming pool, library and full-service bar. There's also a ship physician on most voyages. The prime months to vacation at the equator are January through May.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Tags: awards-main, endeavor, Galapagos Islands, GalapagosIslands, Lindblad Expeditions, LindbladExpeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, NationalGeographic, winter-travel-awards, winter-travel-main

Fairmont Golden Treasures of Afghanistan Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ever since I read about it in this month's Archaeology, I've been obsessed with the Hidden Treasure of Afghanistan story. In 1988, Omara Khan Massoudi, director of Afghanistan's National Museum in Kabul and a team of museum workers hid over 20,000 precious artifacts dating from 2000 B.C. to A.D. 100 to keep them from the Taliban and others who would seek to destroy them when civil war erupted. For a long time the collection was believed destroyed or sold but in 2002, Massoudi revealed that he had hidden the items. Now 228 of the artifacts are part of an exhibit which has been exhibited throughout Europe and came to the U.S. this May. It will appear in just four cities, staying in Washington, D.C. until September 7 then San Francisco October 24–January 25, 2009, followed by Houston February 22–May 17, 2009, and finally New York June 23–September 20, 2009. The exhibit features golden bowls, bronze sculptures, ivories, glassware and more. Some pieces which had been imported from around the world and excavated from ancient storerooms discovered in the 1930s and 1940s others are gold ornaments from the "Bactrian Hoard," found in 1978 in Tillya Tepe.

It's not coming to my town so I'll have head to the nearest city near me that has it San Francisco. The Fairmont has partnered with the National Geographic Society on special packages at their hotels in Washington, San Francisco and New York in conjunction with the National Geographic exhibition, "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul."Starting October 24, 2008, when the exhibition opens at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, guests will be able to stay at The Fairmont San Francisco with the Golden Treasures of Afghanistan package. The package includes a one-night stay, two entry tickets to the museum, a traditional Afghan treat of baklava and Turkish coffee for two and a set of note cards commemorating the exhibition. Rates start from $299 USD per night, and the package is available through January 25, 2009.

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Tags: afghanistan, fairmont, kabul, national geographic

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