AROUND THE WORLD
Wonders
Tikal • Easter Island • Rarotonga • Ayers Rock • Chiang Mai • Xi’an • Jaipur • Petra & Wadi Rum • Cairo & The Great Pyramids • Istanbul
Day 1: Orlando, Florida
Days 2 & 3: Tikal, Guatemala
Tikals’s residents were priests, astronomers, mathematicians, artists, and craftsmen.
Explore the city’s monuments, some towering 300 feet above the jungle, including the Pyramid of the Giant Jaguar and the Great Acropolis.
Days 4 & 5: Easter Island, Chile
Resident archaeologists lead you to hidden troves of statuary, as well as pictographs and petroglyphs that detail the annual rituals of the birdman cult.
Day 6: Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Day 7: Cross the International Date Line
Days 8 & 9: Ayers Rock (Uluru), Australia
In addition to exploring the mammoth sandstone Ayers Rock, also walk among the Olgas’, dome-like monoliths located nearby.
Days 10, 11 & 12: Chiang Mai, Thailand
One option for exploring the area is a visit to a traditional carving center and to Doi Inthanon National Park, which encompasses spectacular trails and waterfalls as well as Hmong and Karen villages.
Other options for exploring Chiang Mai include a Thai cooking class, visits to pottery and textile studios, or an exploration of ancient temples and city walls.
Days 13 & 14: Xi’an, China
Hidden in a tomb for millennia, thousands of life-size clay warriors, horses and chariots – each unique – were accidentally discovered by farmers outside Xi’an in 1974. Many figures are still being unearthed.
Days 15 & 16: Jaipur, India
Explore Jaipur’s ornate Amber Palace; the “palace of winds” built for courtiers to view public events; the City Palace; and marvelous instruments of Jai Singh’s observatory.
Days 17 & 18: Petra, OR Jerash & the Dead Sea, Jordan
A Petra veteran? Travel to the Dead Sea to see the Greco-Roman city of Jerash, buried in sand until 1925, with its perfectly preserved temples and theaters. Main street still shows the ruts worn by chariot wheels over the centuries.
Day 19: Wadi Rum, Jordan
Days 20 & 21: Cairo, Egypt
Nearby on the Giza plateau sit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, enduring symbols of ancient Egyptian strength and wisdom.
Your choice of explorations includes Istanbul’s mosques, palaces, bazaars, or ancient neighborhoods.
Day 24: Istanbul/Depart for Home
Dates, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Meet fellow travelers, lecturers, and expedition leaders at a festive welcome dinner at our hotel.
More than 2,000 years ago, the Maya people erected their most magnificent city: Tikal. It flourished for hundreds of years, reaching its peak in AD 550 to 850. Mysteriously abandoned, the city was lost to the jungle for a thousand years until its re-discovery in 1848.
There’s much the world could learn from this remote island that sits more than 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile. A thousand years ago, a sophisticated society developed then disappeared, leaving stone villages, open-air sanctuaries, and giant statues called moai.
The South Seas paradise of Rarotonga is one of the few pockets of pure Polynesian culture in the world. Relish exquisite reefs, winding valleys, and beautiful beaches.
We lose a day crossing the International Date Line and arrive in Australia the next day.
In the center of the Australian Outback we explore Ayers Rock — also called Uluru or "Great Pebble" — the earth's largest monolith and one of the Anangu Aboriginal people’s most sacred sites. The base contains ancient rock paintings and formations prominent in Dreamtime legends.
Against a striking mountain backdrop , Chiang Mai is dotted with magnificent wats (temples) and rich with history. Among its distinctive hill tribe peoples are the Hmong, Karen, Yao, and Akha.
At various times for more than a thousand years, Xi’an was the capital of the Chinese Empire. Discover ancient imperial artifacts in the Shaanxi Museum and explore the Ming Dynasty city wall.
In Rajasthan’s exotic pink-stone capital of Jaipur, enjoy a gala evening featuring costumed performers, artisans, and a royal Rajasthani banquet. You may also wish to join a game of elephant polo.
Board the private jet for 2,000-year-old city. The following day, pass through a narrow passageway to experience the ancient power and glory of its hidden rock-carved tombs, temples, and treasury.
Enjoy a full-day exploration of the lunar landscapes of Wadi Rum, onetime base of Lawrence of Arabia, where paintings and temples are hidden among the brilliantly colored cliffs.
Explore Cairo’s bustling Khan el-Khalili souq, visit the historically-rich Ben Ezra Synagogue, and discover the 4th-century Coptic Church of Saints Serguis and Bacchus. To prepare for your exploration of Giza, visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum.
Days 22 & 23: Istanbul, Turkey
Located at the juncture of Europe and Asia, Istanbul – ancient Byzantium – boasts masterful art, grand Ottoman palaces, and imposing architecture.
Following breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for commercial flights homeward.
| Date | Priced from |
| October 29 - November 21, 2009 | $64,950 |
| Single Occupancy: | $68,950 |
Please note that the following items are NOT included:
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To check availability or receive additional information on TCS Expeditions drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739 |
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