• AUSTRALIA - lose yourself on a walkabout in the Outback or in the Daintree Rainforest, marvel at the underwater treasures of the Great Barrier Reef, feed the cultural part of you with a fine wine or an opera at the world famous Sydney Opera House. The Aussies are warm jovial characters. This is a perfect spot to escape the harsh winter in the U.S. and soak in the sunshine!

• BORNEO (KALIMANTAN) - visit the Orangutans. One of the few remaining populations of these spectacular Great Apes.

• BOTSWANA - where the Okavango Delta teems with wildlife and birds and where one can spend a morning "walking with elephants" - a personal favourite! Traditional, sophisticated lodges and camps in private concession areas.

• CAMBODIA - the astounding ruins of Angkor Wat, once the seat of the mighty Khmer Empire and now one of the world's great architectural marvels.

Angkor Wat

. Women Dancing

• CENTRAL AMERICA - with its ancient cultures, beautiful rainforests, lovely beaches and easy flight connections - no jet lag!

• CHINA - a land steeped in tradition and man-made landmarks - Great Wall, Terra Cotta Soldiers in Xian, Forbidden City. Cruise the fabled Yangzi River and visit vibrant Shanghai. A fascinating history and a fast changing destination with something for everyone - politics, history, art and architecture and of course, Hong Kong with its bustling markets and exceptional shopping.

• EGYPT - pyramids, haunting tombs in the Valley of Kings and Queens, incredibly hospitable citizens and awe-inspiring antiquities - a Nile Cruise is breathtaking and takes you back in time.

The Great Temple of Ramses

Felucca on the Nile River

• FRANCE - Romantic Paris; beautiful landscapes; chateaux and vineyards; lavender fields and olive groves; medieval walled towns and Gallo Roman ruins; centuries old wine estates; world-class restaurants or local cafes; designer boutiques and Parisian elegance; barge trips - a perfect family destination, a place for honeymoon, anniversary or mother-daughter trip.

• GALAPAGOS - see the famous Charles Darwin World Heritage Site found 600 miles off the coast of Peru which originally provided the inspiration for some of his theories on evolution. Fabulous birdlife (masked boobies and blue footed boobies to name a few!). Sea kayak and snorkel alongside sea lions, dolphins, whales, and turtles. Chartering a small boat is an ideal family/friend holiday especially when combined with Peru's Macchu Picchu. Note: it is imperative that you book at least 1-2 years ahead of time over popular times (i.e. Christmas, spring breaks).

Blue Footed Boobies

Sea Lion

Macchu Picchu

• INDIA - with its hustle and bustle, colours and spice-filled markets, not to mention its wonderful wildlife parks where you may see tigers which words cannot describe - or the rhino in its ill-fitting skin - or ride elephants to view the other wildlife - the Taj Mahal, Palaces - this is a country of infinite possibilities and is a feast for the senses.

• INDONESIA - including Irian Jaya to visit the Asmat and its fierce tribal peoples, contrasted with the slow pace of Bali and its gentle people, gorgeous beaches, and beautiful festivals for every occasion.

• ITALY - famous artwork and history, scenic beauty, fine wines, gourmet meals, rent a private barge or villa - ideal options for time with family and friends. Special Tip -renting a private villa with a chef is often cheaper than staying in a luxury hotel!

• KENYA - where the wildebeest migration of over a million animals is to be found in the Masai Mara for several months a year, visit the semi-arid north with its spectacular red sunsets and unique wildlife; the stunning coast with long, empty and beautiful white sandy beaches and the warm Indian Ocean! Small owner-hosted charming camps located on private land far away from minivans and allowing one to get out of the vehicle on walks, horseback rides, or even a mountain bike. Visit a baby elephant orphanage and visit them again when they have grown up and gone wild in Tsavo National Park - this is an awesome (in the literal sense!) experience. The people and tribes of Kenya are probably amongst the friendliest and most hospitable to be found anywhere in the world - truly the Cradle of Mankind.

Kenya Coast

Masai Children

Elephant Family

• MALAWI - with its highlands and Lake

• MOROCCO - ancient history; exotic and frozen in time with its beautiful mosques and bustling, sprawling "medinas" (markets). Full of beautifully renovated Riads (boutique hotels) and luxury hotels like Aman Resorts and La Mamounia, Morocco feels like another world.

• NAMIBIA - with its dramatic Skeleton Coast; this country offers a rich ethnic diversity and cultural heritage. One of the most distinct ethnic groups is the Himba, semi-nomadic pastoralists who live in scattered settlements throughout the Kunene Region of northern Namibia. Some of the largest and most colourful sand-dunes in the world, wildlife reserves.

Farley with Himba People

• NEPAL - tigers, elephants and rhinos and inspiring mountains for gentle or strenuous hikes.

• RUSSIA - perhaps the " hottest" "new" destination. See the opulence of Russian czars, extraordinary art collections at the Hermitage or the Pushkin Museums, the grandeur of Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral, the ornate and colourful palaces of Peter the Great and Catherine, the lovely St. Petersburg with canals meandering through the city, and the more "communist" feel of Moscow reminiscent of the old Russia.

Red Square

St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Petersburg

• RWANDA - a favourite destination to trek the magnificent Mountain Gorillas - sit within just a few feet of these gentle giants. This is a "must" for any animal lover!

• SOUTH AFRICA - with its combination of wine lands, fine cuisine, game reserves and the scenic Garden Route. The famous Blue Train, Rovos Rail and luxurious lodges.

• SPAIN - with its diversity of cultures; Barcelona and Madrid excellent cuisine; colourful "Feria" in Seville where the people and their horses are adorned in all their finery; accommodation in a private"Hacienda"; bull farm; Spanish Riding School (see the horses waltz!). Spain is a third home for Anne!

• TANZANIA - with its famed Serengeti Game Reserve and the annual wildebeest migration of over 1.5 million animals; the Ngorongoro Crater, a caldera full of wildlife said to be the original "Garden of Eden"; Olduvai Gorge, the famed Leakey archeological site; and other delightful and lesser known game reserves such as the Ruaha and Selous. End your safari with a few days of relaxation on pristine white beaches and world-class snorkeling and diving on the island of Zanzibar.

• THAILAND - Glittering temples, culinary delights, and Buddhist monks - a country with some of the most hospitable and beautiful people in Southeast Asia, whose state of serenity instantly envelopes visitors. Thai people believe in chai yen (cool heart) and sanuk (life is a pleasure). Ride elephants, relax on beautiful beaches, visit hill tribes, lose yourself in the markets of Bangkok.

Sukhotai Historical Park

Bangkok

Bangkok's Famous Canals

• UGANDA - with its beautiful parks, chimps in one of the few remaining indigenous forests, and of course the highlight - thrilling gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

• VIETNAM - rid yourselves of the age-old stigma of a place of conflict and instead recognize its charming beauty and powerful seductiveness that emanates everywhere from rugged mountains to fertile valleys. The hustle and bustle of city life in Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) is a nice contrast to the French colonialism influences found in Hanoi. Dizzying street scenes of bicycles and motorcycles. The mystical beauty of Halong, or "Bay of the Descending Dragon."

• ZAMBIA - the Africa of old with simple, small tented camps where the game viewing is spectacular (especially for leopard and bathing elephants!), the Luangwa River with its Ox Bow lakes and the mighty Zambezi River. Walking safaris are a highlight. This lesser known safari destination often steals the show from its better-known southern Africa counterparts!

If you have been tempted, please call us for more details on each destination and for the best times for a visit. We will share our knowledge and make sure you are well prepared for your upcoming adventure.