Guided Tours - Beyond The Ordinary!
Untamed landscapes, unspoiled vistas, and intimate moments with nature's marvels – step into the realm of guided tours! Crafted for the inquisitive traveler, today’s guided tours are a far cry from those of the past - leading you to a deeper bond with the world around you. Delve into the core of far-flung destinations, from ancient cultural hubs to secluded natural sanctuaries. With meticulously planned itineraries, accommodations and meals included, and knowledgeable local guides to lead the way, guided tours ensure a blend of learning, discovery, and unparalleled awe. Each path reveals a fresh tale, each interaction invites a closer connection to the land, and every adventure is a narrative in the making. Embark with us, explorer, and let the planet's undiluted splendor sweep you off your feet!
Guided Tour Special Offers
Why Choose a Guided Tour?
Navigating the world's wonders is an adventure in itself, but when paired with the right companions and resources, the experience becomes truly transformative. Here's why choosing a guided/escorted tour is the ideal way to explore:
Expert Guidance: Embarking on a journey with a seasoned guide ensures you're not just observing, but truly understanding and connecting with your surroundings. From the rich tapestry of history to vibrant cultural nuances, guides provide invaluable insights that breathe life into every locale.
Safety First: There’s comfort in numbers. Group travels, especially under the watchful eye of a local expert guide, provide an added layer of security. Wander off the beaten paths or explore bustling city centers with the peace of mind that you're in safe hands.
Hassle-free Convenience: Forget the stress of planning every intricate detail. Tours come with meticulously pre-arranged routes, top-tier accommodations, and seamless transportation. Dive into the experience while all of the logistics are managed for you.
The Joy of Community: Beyond the sights and sounds, it's the people you meet along the way that often make a journey unforgettable. Guided tours introduce you to a community of like-minded explorers, allowing you to share experiences, forge new friendships, and create memories together.
In essence, guided tours are not just about reaching a destination, but about embracing the journey in its entirety. Redefine the way you see the world. Click below to view more on guided touring from our partners at Tauck, Kensington Tours, and Globus!
Featured Guided Tours
There are literally thousands of amazing guided tours available covering all seven continents. Here are five that our clients LOVE, operated by travel partners that we know and trust!
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10 days | 2024 prices from $2,895/person
2024 Tour Dates: February 18 | March 5, 17, 24, 31 | April 2, 7, 16, 26, 30 | May 3, 7, 10, 14, 24, 28 | June 7, 11, 18, 23, 28 | July 5, 12, 16, 28, 30 | August 2, 9, 11, 16, 20, 25, 30 | September 1, 3, 8, 13, 17, 22, 27 | October 4, 13, 20, 27Trip Itinerary
Day 1 Glasgow Highlights - Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your Glasgow hotel. Set out on a panoramic tour of central Glasgow - a city that flourished in Victorian times due to the shipbuilding industry and international trade. Drive around George Square with its ornate City Chambers. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a splendid, Spanish Baroquestyle building housing one of Europe's finest art collections, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Titian, and Dali. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner. (D)
Day 2 Loch Lomond | Loch Ness Cruise - Travel alongside the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its beauty. Drive across the haunting Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe, admiring the wild and spectacular scenery. Continue through Fort William and on to Fort Augustus. Embark on a short cruise on Loch Ness before heading to your hotel. (B, D)
Day 3 Whisky Tasting | St Andrews - Visit Blair Athol Distillery, founded in 1798, to discover traditional whisky production and taste a sample. Travel to St Andrews, a town rich in medieval heritage and the home of golf; take a panoramic drive and have time to explore independently. Continue on to your elegant manor house hotel outside Edinburgh; three centuries old, it's set on 1,000 acres of beautiful parkland. Explore as you wish and dine independently this evening. (B)
Day 4 Edinburgh Castle | City Tour | Scottish Evening* - Explore the principal sights of central Edinburgh from the bustling Princes Street through the gracious, wide streets of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town.” Walk along part of the Royal Mile where compact medieval houses reach several stories tall. Visit Edinburgh Castle perched high above the city on volcanic rock, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. The rest of the day is free. Experience a lively Scottish evening with dinner and traditional entertainment. (*The August 1 - 23 departures attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade.) (B, D*)
Day 5 Ferry to Ireland | Belfast - Depart Edinburgh and travel through Ayrshire and along the coast. Embark on a ferry ride to Belfast. Take a panoramic drive through Belfast, seeing the highlights of this fascinating city, where the Titanic was built in the once-bustling shipyards. Visit Titanic Belfast to explore the fascinating story of the doomed ship. Then travel to Dublin, where you will enjoy some free time for dinner on your own. (B)
Day 6 Dublin Sightseeing | Christ Church Cathedral | Canal Dinner Cruise - Explore Dublin on a panoramic tour with a local guide, discovering its history and viewing its elegant Georgian buildings, Trinity College, the River Liffey, and more. Visit Christ Church Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the city for more than 1,000 years. This evening, dine on a former Guinness barge as you cruise the Grand Canal, listening to traditional Irish music. (B, D)
Day 7 Farmhouse Tea with Sheepdog Demonstration | Blarney Castle | Killarney - Travel through the countryside to a traditional farm, where you'll savor tea and homemade scones and watch sheepdogs display their skills at herding sheep. Head to Blarney Castle and climb the winding stairs to kiss its famous stone, or enjoy the gardens. Move on to the lively lakeside town of Killarney, where you'll have dinner. (B, D)
Day 8 Jaunting Car Ride | Ring of Kerry | Skellig Experience - Step back in time as a jaunting car drives you past Ross Castle on Lough Leane. Head to the scenic Gap of Dunloe to visit Moriarty's, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner. Embark on the Ring of Kerry drive - a winding route with breath-taking sights of mountains and coastal views. Cross the bridge to Valentia Island to visit the Skellig Experience, which explains the life of early Christian hermits on Skellig Michael, a rocky offshore island featured in the film “Star Wars VII.” Enjoy a casual lunch before a pause at Moll's Gap for panoramic mountain views. Return to Killarney where the evening is free. (B, L)
Day 9 Cliffs of Moher | Medieval Castle Banquet - Cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry on your way to visit the Cliffs of Moher. Take in the spectacular views from these awesome cliffs, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic. Head on to Bunratty, where you'll have a little time to relax in your hotel or have a drink in the famed Durty Nelly's Pub nearby. Your dinner will be a medieval-style feast in a castle, complete with serenading lords and ladies. (B, D)
Day 10 Tour Ends in Shannon - Your tour ends after breakfast today. (B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
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11 days | 2024 prices from $4,589/person
2024 Tour Dates: May 23 | June 6, 20 | July 11, 20, 22 | August 22, 24, 31 | September 5, 7, 12Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 ARRIVE IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA - Welcome to Rapid City! At 6pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
DAY 2 RAPID CITY–BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK–CUSTER STATE PARK - Legends of the West. After breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Rapid City. Visit Badlands National Park to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Afterward, there’s time to explore Wall Drug, known for its quirky roadside signs. Continue to Custer State Park for a backcountry adventure; a Buffalo Safari with a local expert and Chuckwagon Cookout. Breakfast & Dinner included.
DAY 3 CUSTER STATE PARK. EXCURSION TO HOT SPRINGS & CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL - Wild & Wooly Discoveries! Travel to Hot Springs to visit the world’s largest Mammoth Site. Next, Crazy Horse Memorial, built in honor of the fearless Sioux Chief whose renown is derived from the Battle of Little Bighorn. The remainder of the day is yours to relax in Custer State Park. Perhaps try some fly-fishing, mountain biking, or take a nature walk. Breakfast & Dinner included.
DAY 4 CUSTER STATE PARK–MOUNT RUSHMORE–DEADWOOD–SPEARFISH CANYON - Statesmen, Sheriffs & Sharpshooters! Visit one of the world’s largest stone monuments – Mount Rushmore National Memorial – to see the solid granite faces of four legendary American presidents majestically carved more than a thousand feet overhead. Continue to the historic Old West town of Deadwood for a tour with a Local Guide. Afterwards, drive the scenic Spearfish Canyon for an overnight at the exclusive Spearfish Canyon Lodge. Breakfast & Dinner included.
DAY 5 SPEARFISH CANYON–UCROSS RANCH, WYOMING–CODY - Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch... Continue across the grassy plains of Wyoming and soak in the expansive blue skies. Enjoy lunch at the historic Ranch at UCross with free time to enjoy a variety of activities. Next, cross the Bighorn Mountains via Shell Creek Canyon to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West town of Cody, Wyoming. Breakfast & Lunch included.
DAY 6 CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Frontier Treasures! Visit Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a fascinating tribute to frontier America. Depart for Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest. Breakfast included.
DAY 7 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - America’s First National Park! A full day’s adventure in this vast national park! See the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with its Upper and Lower Falls. Watch for herds of bison in Hayden Valley, and view many of Yellowstone’s geothermal sites, including Old Faithful Geyser. Breakfast & Dinner included.
DAY 8 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–JACKSON - Glacial Giants! This morning, tour Grand Teton National Park on your way to Jackson for a 2-night stay at the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole. Breakfast included.
DAY 9 JACKSON - Peak Experiences! Today is at your leisure to explore on your own, enjoy your resort, or perhaps take an optional float trip down the Snake River. Breakfast included.
DAY 10 JACKSON–SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - This is the Place! Follow the Snake River and lovely Star Valley en route to Utah. Wind along the shores of beautiful Bear Lake before climbing through the Wasatch Mountains and on to the Great Salt Lake Basin and Salt Lake City. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director. Breakfast & Dinner included.
DAY 11 SALT LAKE CITY - Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Salt Lake City? Additional nights are available for purchase. Breakfast included.
2024 Dates:
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8 days | 2024 prices from $6,590/person
2024 Tour Dates: April 18, 25 | May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | June 6 | September 5, 12, 19, 26 | October 10, 17Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 Welcome to Florence - Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Helvetia & Bristol. A transfer is included from the Peretola Airport to the elegant Helvetia & Bristol. Join us this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner. Dinner included.
DAY 2 Santa Croce & the Uffizi Galleries - Michelangelo's shadow looms large in Firenze. Sightseeing begins today with an early-opening, private morning visit of the 15th-century Basilica di Santa Croce. Dubbed the "Temple of Italian Glories," Florence's answer to London's Westminster Abbey is filled with the tombs of major Italian legends – including Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, Machiavelli, and more, along with a statue that inspired the Statue of Liberty. Florence's Renaissance heart makes yours beat a little faster as you ramble through it with your Florentine guide, then discover some of the city's masterpieces on a guided visit to the fabulous Uffizi Galleries – without crowds; the Uffizi is Europe's oldest art gallery, founded by the Medicis to display their countless treasures, today housing some of the world's most beloved art. Today you'll understand how art and history are inextricably intertwined in Florence. Breakfast & Lunch included.
DAY 3 A day in the Tuscan countryside - Your day begins with exploration of the Sienese countryside south of Florence with a local guide; you'll view some of the prettiest landscapes in Tuscany boasting rolling hills, vineyards, and hilltop towns, and visit the charming Renaissance town of Pienza (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). This evening, join us for a special apericena at your hotel in the Wine Cellar, dating back to the 13th century. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
DAY 4 A day in Siena - Awaken in beautiful Siena; accompany your local guide to discover Siena's many architectural treasures on a walking tour – including its black-and-white Duomo, one of Italy's great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. You'll see the Piazza del Campo – where the famous Palio bareback horse race has been held twice every year for centuries – Palazzo Salimbeni, Palazzo Tolomei, Torre di Mangia, Santa Maria della Scalla and more. Spend the afternoon exploring as you please, or join us at Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo to view the world's first secular fresco, Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, followed by free time. Breakfast
DAY 5 Cooking, cycling and tastings - Head to the walled town of Lucca for either a bicycle* tour led by a local guide or a guided walk. This medieval city's surviving Renaissance-era, red-brick walls shut out traffic and the modern world… leaving a peaceful community that still revolves around its original Roman street plan, encircled by a delightful, tree-lined promenade. And because it's topographically flat – unlike most Tuscan towns – Lucca is a cyclist's dream. One of the best ways to explore this historically powerful and culturally rich city is by bicycle... and, led by your local guide, you'll do just that – down its narrow lanes… across its ancient piazzas… even along the top of its massive walls. At a local agriturismo, enjoy a hands-on lesson with local chefs, an olive oil and wine tasting, and a pasta-making class. Breakfast & Lunch included.
DAY 6 Cinque Terre National Park - Weather permitting, travel by ferry to Monterosso al Mare, one of five remote fishing villages strung like jewels along the coast – Cinque Terre National Park, "the five lands." They're now linked to the outside world by rail, but for centuries were accessible only by sea… or on foot, the best way to appreciate life in what is truly a world of its own. Enjoy lunch and some time to explore, and then head north by a local train. Arrive in the small town of Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera for a two-night stay. Breakfast & Lunch included.
DAY 7 Portofino and a garden visit - Ferry this morning to the small fishing village of Portofino, revered by artists and writers for its stunning Mediterranean setting; if you wish, walk up the steep climb to Castello Brown for amazing views overlooking the port. This afternoon, enjoy a docent-led visit at La Cervara, a 14th-century abbey renowned for its stunning gardens overlooking the sea. Join us this evening for a farewell reception at your hotel, followed by dinner. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
DAY 8 Arrivederci, Italy - Tour ends: Genoa. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Imperiale Palace Hotel to Genoa Airport, Peretola (an approximate 60 minute drive), or Genoa train station, or you can post-stay in Genoa (ask at booking). Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Breakfast included.
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15 days | 2024 prices from $7,075/person
2024 Tour Dates: January 24 | February 7, 21 | March 20 | April 3 | May 15, 29 | June 26 | July 10 | August 7, 21 | September 4 | October 30 | Npvember 27 | December 11, 18, 25Tour Itinerary
Day 1 | Welcome to Tel Aviv - You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and driven to your hotel in Tel Aviv. At 7:30 meet your travel companions for a Welcome Reception and a short introduction to your Israeli adventures.
Day 2 | Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv -Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city, including the Habimah National Theater, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbor. Visit the artists' quarter with its galleries, boutiques and picturesque narrow lanes. Walk along the seaside promenade at sunset for spectacular views, as local musicians and street artists take to the stage. Meet a local artist at their gallery for an insight into their work and inspiration. Breakfast included.
Day 3 | Caesarea to Galilee - Travel from Tel Aviv, along the coastal road to Caesarea. Explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheater. Travel via Haifa to Acre, fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. See the fortress, the old harbor area and Crusader crypt. Continue to Nazareth and visit one of Christianity’s most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary. Head on to your hotel in Tiberias, which is located on the Sea of Galilee. The day concludes with a brief introduction to life on a Kibbutz. This evening, break traditional challah bread with your travel companions over a cheerful Shabbat dinner. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 4 | Hula Valley - Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet a ranger for a tour of the Agmon Hahula natural reserve. This nature reserve is home to endangered plant species native of the Hula Valley, and also hosts a bird park on one of the most important migration routes in the world. Breakfast included.
Day 5 | To the Dead Sea - Explore Galilee with Insight Choice. Choose to cruise the serene waters of lake Kinneret for glorious views of the Golan Heights. Alternatively, nd out more about the remains of a rst century shing boat that was found embedded at the bottom of the lake. Visit Capernaum, where Jesus is said to have entered the synagogue to teach, before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount. Journey through ever-changing landscapes along the Jordan Valley, past ancient Jericho, to take a dip in the buoyant salt waters of the Dead Sea. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 6 | Masada and the Holy City of Jerusalem - Take a cable car ride up to the fortress of Masada, where Jewish zealots held out for three years against King Herod's armies. Travel through the Judean Hills to Mount Scopus for breathtaking views of Jerusalem. Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and follow the winding cobbled alleyways to the magnificent Wailing Wall, the most sacred monument in Judaism. Breakfast included.
Day 7 | Exploring Jerusalem -
oday is dedicated to exploring the multiple facets of Jerusalem. Visit Yad Vashem, a memorial for those who perished in the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum and retrace the history of the city. Visit the Shrine of the Book, home to ancient Dead Sea scrolls, and look out for the most ancient one, the Isaiah scroll, dating from the third century B.C. Breakfast included.
Day 8 | Optional Bethlehem Experience - Enjoy a relaxed morning or alternatively choose to meet your Local Expert at the West Bank border and continue to the Holy city of Bethlehem. The Optional Experience includes visiting the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. In the afternoon, visit the Garden of Gethsemene and walk through the Old City to see the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Continue along the Via Dolorosa past the Stations of the Cross, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Pool of Bethesda, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At night, toast your adventures over a hearty Highlight Dinner with wine. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 9 | From Jerusalem to Amman - Travel through the Judaean Desert to the border of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. You are met on the other side to journey through a landscape that has changed little in the last 2,000 years. Once at your Amman hotel, relax and settle in before meeting your Jordanian Travel Director for drinks and dinner. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 10 | Exploring Amman and Jerash - After breakfast depart for Iraq Al-Amir. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and visit a women's cooperative, working with women and girls from the nearby Wadi Al Seer villages. The association is supported by Insight Vacations through The TreadRight Foundation and provides training and work opportunities for women in the region. Then, the journey to Jerash reveals the most beautifully preserved example of a Greco-Roman city still in existence. Enter through Hadrian's Arch, to explore the grand ruins of the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, where you can listen to the Whispering Column. Overlook the vast Oval Plaza and Cardo Maximus, the key Roman road. Enjoy an al fresco lunch of natural produce and family recipes at Beit Khairat Souf, during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This women-owned café is combatting female unemployment and aims to build a strong community of women leaders. Return to Amman where the rest of the day is at leisure. Breakfast & Lunch included.
Day 11 | Red City of Petra - Continue to Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, where Moses stood and saw before him the Promised Land. At Madaba, visit the famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its amazing 6th century mosaic map depicting the entire Holy Land, stretching from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. Follow the King's Highway to visit Shobak, an authentic 12th century crusader fortress, perched on the side of a rocky mountain, standing guard over a barren and desolate land. Admire the towers and Arabic calligraphy on the external walls before discovering the original Crusader chapel, palace complex, and even a set of secret passages! Then head south for one of the highlights of your journey: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 12 | Exploring the Lost City of Petra - This day is devoted to the beautiful ‘rose-red city, half as old as time'. You enter this lost city through a narrow gorge, the Siq, with walls that rise up to 200 meters. Emerge from the path to see the magnicent Treasury, carved out of solid rock and standing over 40 meters high. Wind your way through the canyon to explore the ancient tombs and the Roman Amphitheater, which once seated 3,000 spectators. Dine with locals at the Ammarin desert camp with a stunning backdrop. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 13 | Wadi Rum with the Bedouin - Head to Wadi Rum. Enjoy beautiful vistas as you make your way on a jeep safari deep, into the heart of Wadi Rum's majestic desert. Enjoy the spectacular Bedouin hospitality tonight as you dine with locals under the stars. Wadi Rum is known as one of the world's best place for stargazing. After dinner join an astronomer for a private stargazing session, a magical experience. Stay in elegant simplicity in a desert camp for the night. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 14 | Amman - If you wish, start the day with sunrise yoga at the Bedouin camp, before returning to Amman. Explore Amman with Insight Choice. Choose between joining a guided sightseeing to discover the highlights of the city and learn about the history and culture or alternatively, explore Amman's street art scene on a guided grati walking tour. Later, check in at your hotel where the rest of your day is at leisure. Join in a lively dinner to celebrate the end of your Jordanian adventures. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day 15 | Depart Amman - After breakfast, you are transferred to Amman Airport for your onward flight. Breakfast included.
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14 days | 2024 prices from $4,699/person
2024 Tour Dates: January 10, 24 | February 7, 20 | March 13, 20 | April 17Tour Itinerary
Day: 1 Depart from Home - Cross the International Dateline, skipping a day ahead, and begin your adventure of a lifetime.
Day: 2 Christchurch, New Zealand - Tour Begins - Arrive in the historic city of Christchurch. Devastated by an earthquake in early 2011, see firsthand how the city known as “the Garden City” is recreating itself. Meet your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner and start your South Pacific journey off on the right foot. Dinner included.
Day: 3 Christchurch - Start your morning with a city tour of Christchurch. Then, pay a visit to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. A leader in the conservation of New Zealand species, Willowbank offers the chance to view New Zealand’s “Big 5” - the Kiwi, the Kea, the Tuatara, the Kaka, and the Takahe - up close and personal. Learn about the local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or ‘waka’. Breakfast included.
Day: 4 Christchurch - Queenstown - Depart Christchurch and make your way south to Queenstown. Known as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” Queenstown is nestled against a picturesque bay and snowcapped mountains. Arrive in Queenstown in the afternoon and have time to explore independently before dinner. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day: 5 Queenstown -Cruise Lake Wakatipu on board the TSS Earnslaw, an iconic coal-fired steamship and head to Walter Peak High Country Farm, an operating sheep farm. En route, see Walter Peak, Cecil Peak, and The Remarkables mountain range. During your visit, you’ll get a tour of the farm and have the opportunity to see the sheep dogs in action during a herding demonstration. Enjoy a BBQ lunch before cruising back. This evening is yours to explore the town. Breakfast & Lunch included.
Day: 6 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley as you travel through an ancient beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. Cruise the Milford Sound and see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. Following your cruise, you may choose to return to Queenstown via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Breakfast & Lunch included.
Day: 7 Queenstown - A free day offers a variety of optional activities to enhance your tour. Shop or people-watch in the village; partake in an optional tour taking you through the majestic Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the locations where blockbuster movies have been filmed. Later, it's your choice! Go bird watching at the Kiwi Birdlife Park -OR- take a gondola to the top of Bob’s Peak for stunning panoramic views of the area. Gather for a “farewell to New Zealand” dinner. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day: 8 Queenstown - Cairns, Australia - Fly to Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions and a World Heritage site - the Great Barrier Reef. Established as a marine park in 1975, the reef is a haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds. Breakfast included.
Day: 9 Cairns - Come to know the history of Australia’s original inhabitants at the Rainforestation Nature Park where an Indigenous Pamagirri guide will show you through some of their oldest customs and traditions. Then, visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to see crocodiles on a nature cruise. Head through rainforests on boardwalks to see animals such as birds, reptiles, and wallabies. Visit with a koala and chat with a wildlife naturalist to learn more about these furry creatures. End your visit at Hartley’s with a dinner of local favorites. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day: 10 Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Cairns - Board a high-speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the reef from your base on Green Island. Enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride, stroll the island’s walking trails, relax on the beach, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, an optional outer reef tour is also available. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
Day: 11 Cairns - Sydney - The morning is yours. Enjoy your last few hours in Cairns by relaxing and taking in the tropical atmosphere and surrounding neighborhood. Then, fly to the bustling city of Sydney. After settling into your hotel, head out to dinner in the ‘harbor city’. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day: 12 Sydney - See where English colonists first settled during a city tour of Sydney, featuring Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Darlinghurst. Take an expert-led tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. Then, have the chance to join a special presentation at the National Opal Collection. Breakfast included.
Day: 13 Sydney - Embrace the exciting city of Sydney during a day of independent exploration. Tonight, say farewell to Australia while on a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour. Marvel at the scenic vistas of the harbor, showcasing Sydney’s magnificent skyline, the iconic Sydney Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge. Breakfast & Dinner included.
Day: 14 Sydney - Tour Ends. Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful adventure. Breakfast included.