Overland Journey

For those who have always wanted to go to Israel, now is the perfect time!  We're offering $1,000 off our 8-day/7-night tour through Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and beyond!

While Israel is one of the oldest countries in the world, it is also home to the modern city of Tel Aviv, where your trip starts.  There is something for everyone there, with bustle and activities available 24-hours a day!

This is your chance to visit the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and even drive through Jericho, the oldest city in the world.  You will have the opportunity to see synagogues, museums, and the Tomb of King David.  The trip takes you through ancient ruins, Mt. Zion and Yad Vashem (a memorial to the Jews killed in the Holocaust).

 

If you ever wanted to learn about the history of this country (and the world), this is a trip you do not want to miss out on!  Click here to book today!

If you're like me, the days of long hikes, followed by setting up your own tent, sleeping outside and eating some granola and beef jerky are long gone.  Even the thought of it makes me cringe and wonders how I ever did it.  However, quite the alternative now exists for hiking to Machu Picchu. This more luxury experience addressed all of my "less masculine" needs: the "Machu Picchu Lodge to Lodge" tour.  You cannot do better than hiking up to your nightly lodge and having exotic juices, hot cocoa tea and a damp washcloth to wipe down your face waiting for you as you enter each majestic lodge.  The fact that your heavy backpack has been carried by mule and is now waiting in your spacious, hot water, clean room is just icing on the cake.

After arriving in style, I would have been happy just taking a nap and having a bite to eat before heading to bed, but this tour takes things up a few notches.  Coffee, tea and pastries await each traveler in the early evening, bird and flower tours can be had before dinner and then just sit back and have a 3-course gourmet meal brought your way with all the trimmings.   

At this point, only a massage could have ended my day better- oh wait, they have an on-site masseuse at each lodge to cater to your aching body.  Needless to say, I took advantage of every amenity possible before heading back to my heated bed where I could finish my day while sampling the best Peruvian chocolates.

In the morning, you are greeted to a full breakfast buffet of anything you can ask for, before heading out on that day's picturesque journey.  One of the greatest advantages of the Salkantay Trail over the Inca Trail is that you virtually don't see other groups on your hike.  You have Peru's Andes Mountains to yourself- for good or bad!  With ample water and snacks provided and as much information from the highly educated guides, your focus is only on making that next step up the trail- just how I prefer it!

When you think of Australia, I would imagine one of four images come to mind: The Sydney Opera House, Uluru (you may know it as Ayers Rock), The Great Barrier Reef or kangaroos.  Visitors to Australia are often trying to maximize their time down under.  Many don't realize that Australia is equivalent in size to the contiguous states or Europe.  It is difficult to experience all that Australia has to offer in just a couple of weeks.

That being said, I am always surprised to hear people took the time to travel to the center of Australia to see Uluru (named after the tallest peak, Mt Olga) are just over 15 miles from Uluru.  I had read very little about The Olgas before my journey to the center of Australia.  As my wife and I watched a sunrise over Uluru I kept turning my head and looking at the odd grouping of rocks off in the distance.  As soon as the light show on Uluru's face completed, my wife and I jumped in our truck and headed for the Olgas. We spent much of our day exploring this great attraction.

From the outside you see smooth domed rocks that are the size of small mountains.  You would be short-changing yourself if you simply viewed the Olgas from the viewing area.  Plan ahead and bring a day pack and plenty of water and plan to spend several hours exploring the Olgas by trail.  We chose to hike the longer "Valley of the Winds" trail. Midway through this five-mile hike an inner hidden gem reveals itself to you.  Within these dry rocks is a lush valley of rolling hills, creeks and trees.

Hiking the Olgas is a great way to spend a day that should be book-ended with sunrise and sunset viewing of Uluru.  Uluru is absolutely magnificent to watch as the sun changes the color throughout the start and end of the day.

A favorite experience for visitors to Chicago or tourists in their own city is taking a Chicago Architectural boat tour on the Chicago River.  Chicago is a city rich with architectural heritage and there is no better way to enjoy it then from the river.  Take in the historic Wrigley Building, Chicago's tallest building the Willis Tower and the newest addition to the riverfront Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago.

A great alternative for those looking for a more active experience is to take a kayak tour of the Chicago River. Kayak Chicago offers a variety of  tours but one of their most popular is the architectural and history paddle on the Chicago River.  A three hour adventure in which you learn about the history of the city, buildings and people of Chicago, all the while looking up at the looming skyscrapers from the comfort of your kayak. 

Combine a workout with a bit of education and site seeing on your next visit to Chicago. Tours operate from the beginning of May all the way through October.  The great part about a self-powered kayak tour is you burn off enough calories so as not to feel guilty taking advantage of Chicago's great restaurants or enjoying our famous Chicago style pizza.

Not a water lover, your in luck you can also enjoy Chicago's phenomenal architecture while be active through the Chicago Architecture Foundations walking tours.

Enjoy a few photos from my recent paddle down the Chicago River.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I am always planning future trips and thought I would gather some interesting locations. So during my online research I located a great Wiki site that might help you find some adventure. Its called Extreme Points of the United States. Its a great site and as you look through your mind will start racing about where to go. Here are a couple that stood out to me:

Northern most point in the US: Point Barrow, Alaska 71°23′20″N 156°28′45″W / 71.38889°N 156.47917°W / 71.38889; -156.47917 (Point Barrow)

Southern most point in the US: Ka Lae, Hawaiʻi (18°54′39″N 155°40′52″W / 18.91083°N 155.68111°W / 18.91083; -155.68111 (Ka Lae)), (in lower 48)Ballast Key, Florida (24°31′15″N 81°57′49″W / 24.52083°N 81.96361°W / 24.52083; -81.96361 (Ballast Key))

Western most point in the US(lower 48): Cape Alava, Washington (48°11.1′N 124°47.1′W / 48.185°N 124.785°W / 48.185; -124.785 (Umatilla Reef))

Eastern most point in the US (lower 48): West Quoddy Head, Maine 44°48′55.4″N 66°56′59.2″W / 44.815389°N 66.949778°W / 44.815389; -66.949778 (West Quoddy Head)

Highest Paved Road in the US: Mount Evans, Colorado 39°35′16″N 105°38′34″W / 39.58778°N 105.64278°W / 39.58778; -105.64278 (Mt. Evans) (14,120 feet, 4,304 meters)

Lowest Point in the US: Badwater Basin (Death Valley), California 36°14′23″N 116°50′5″W / 36.23972°N 116.83472°W / 36.23972; -116.83472 (Badwater Basin, CA) (−282 feet; −86 meters)

Center of the lower 48: Lebanon, Kansas, 39°50′N 98°35′W

So there are some interesting geographical locations to help you plan your next big expedition! Make sure to visit our how-to section if you need advice for your Overland Journey!

Start planning!

iExplore’s team of travel experts have been busy creating some new Best Of Travel lists that showcase some of the best travel destinations and experiences. This week we focus on the Best Safari destinations.

It should come as no surprise that Africa heads the top 10 list for wildlife and safaris. Not only is this where the notion for the safari began, and the origin of the word, but it contains many of the big greats of the mammal kingdom. However, you may be surprised to learn only three of our Top 10 Safari experiences are based in Africa. Check out our entire list:

Top 10 Safari Destinations

Whether your vision of the ideal safari includes luxury lodges and meals on fine china, or a tent in the bush–we have a trip for you. Our list of top 10 safari destinations is sure to make you ready to pack your pith helmet.

Pakistan has never been on my top 10 list, but this pic changes things. That would be a crazy trip and a sweet pic to duplicate! Here is what they had to say about the pic:

Deosai means Land of Giants. It is among the highest plateaus in the world. The Deosai National Park is above the tree line and at an average height of 4000 metres above sea level covers a vast area of almost 3,000 square kilometers. It is wolrd highest pleatue after Tibet

Between November and May – Deosai is snow-bound. In the summer months it is accessible from Skardu in the north and the Astore Valley in the west. Deosai Plains make up one of the last frontiers of natural habitat for the Himalayan brown bear that once roamed the mountains freely.

Find more info on touring Pakistan here.

Amanda Sundt recently had the opportunity to sit down with Chuck Kratz--the host of "Travel News and Views" on talk radio WJR 760. Amanda and Chuck talked all about Chile--the Land of Fire and Ice and what a fabulous and unique vacation destination it is! Did you know that Chile's topography includes the world's driest desert (Atacama), a prospering wine region, the Lakes District and glaciers? Not to mention the cultural attractions in Santiago or the unique 30 foot stone statutes on Easter Island! Take a listen--it will make you want to book a trip!

Chile: The Land of Fire and Ice with iExplore's Amanda Sundt
Travel News & Views (760-WJR)

Download

The team at iExplore prides itself in finding once in a lifetime travel experiences for our customers.  The Elephant Experience in Botswana is a perfect example of a unique travel experience iExplore offers for our clients.  Guests on our iExplore Botswana Experience & Moremi Reserve Tour have the option to spend a day with three amazing semi-habituated elephants.  Two of the elephants, Jabu and Thembi, were orphaned in a Kruger National Park culling operation more than 20 years ago.  Doug Groves adopted them back then and has been caring for them ever since.  He adopted a third member of the herd, Morula, after she was orphaned in Zimabwe.  He uses his organization, Living With Elephants, to "foster harmonious relationship between people and elephants".

Your morning starts by meeting Doug and the elephants out in the wild.  Leaving the confines of your 4x4, you walk into the bush to meet these amazing creatures.  Fear not walking freely in the wild floodplains of the Okavango Delta, you have a trained and armed guide with you at all times.  You will be introduced to Jabu, the proud bull who serves as alpha elephant of the herd, Thembi, the baby of the herd and the center of attention, and Morula, a mild-natured and sensitive elephant.

You will watch the elephants graze while Doug tells you all about these magnificent animals. During Doug's talk, the elephants gradually get comfortable with your presence as you gain comfort standing next to such massive creatures.  You will then be invited  closer. As you slowly approach these animals you will see details you have never noticed before about elephants such as the thick hairs protruding from their trunks, the long eyelashes and their massive tongues.  As you get more comfortable you will be given a chance to feel their tusks, peer inside their mouths to see some of the largest teeth you will ever see and even feel the massive weight of their trunks.

Much of the day is spent walking with the elephants as they go about their morning routines. That may mean grazing, bathing in a mud wallow, or drinking from a nearby stream.  In a short amount of time you will begin to see that each of the three elephants has their own distinct personality and place within the herd.  Doug will continue to share his extensive wealth of knowledge on elephants and his life living with them.

At the end of the day you will enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild while your elephant companions enjoy an afternoon snack of their own.  You are guaranteed to walk away from this experience with photos of a lifetime and with a new appreciation for these gentle giants. If you are interested in learning more about the one of a kind Elephant Experience contact, one of iExplore's specialists today.

The Natural World Wonders have always been a popular cornerstone for our clients' adventures and there is no bigger World Wonder than Mt. Everest.  Standing majestically at just over 29,000 feet, it is the world's highest mountain.  Although you may not be ready to reach for the summit you can enjoy trekking the Everest region -  a photographer's paradise and a sportsman's dream.

iExplore has recently increased our product line of adventure and cultural exploration tours to Nepal, focusing specifically the Everest region.  Check out the thoughts of iExplore's Ben McFadden on visiting this breathtaking destination.