Ebiner's GeoTours

Cairo (Citadel, Khan al Khalili bazaar, Egyptian Museum with King Tut’s treasures), Felucca (sailboat) ride on the Nile, Pyramids of Giza, Camel Ride to an old desert monastery, Nubian village and dinner, Luxor (Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple), Felucca (traditional sailboat) ride on the Nile River Cruise from Aswan to Luxor (1 night sleeping on deck on the Nile riverbank), Mt. Sinai (sunrise hike to summit), St. Catherine Monastery, Nuweiba on Red Sea Coast (beach, snorkeling); Jordan: Wadi Rum (desert safari and camp, Bedouin culture); Petra (ancient city carved into stone cliffs; one of the greatest archeological sites in the world); Crusader castles, Madaba (Roman mosaics), Dead Sea (float in the saltiest, lowest body of water on earth), Amman (Jordan’s capital, with Roman theater); many additional options for reasonable cost: Abu Simbel, Temple of Philae, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo temple, Karnak temple, Luxor Temple, Jesus’ Baptism Site.

GHANA: JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 5 ($1390); airfare is additional, approximately $1100 from LAX, including taxes - FULL

Accra, Slave Castles at Cape Coast and Elmina, Traditional markets, Kakum National Park (rainforest), Nzulezo (stilt village on lagoon, accessible by canoe), 4 nights in beachfront accommodations, Green turtles nesting on beach, Kumasi (cultural center of Ghana, great museums and lively market), Monkey Sanctuary, Waterfalls, Village stay (2 nights) for in-depth experience of traditional rural lifestyle, Mole National Park (elephants and other wildlife), Handicrafts (excellent wood carvings and fabrics)

Hindu temples and festivals, Ubud (cultural center of Bali), Volcanoes (option to hike to summit for sunrise), Lakes (boat trip in traditional canoes), Rainforest hiking, Monkeys, Elephants, Rice Paddies, Snorkeling, White-sand Beaches, Water Palace, Traditional Balinese dance, Massage ($10/hour), Distinctive handicrafts (great shopping), Excellent value

Istanbul (St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, boat trip on the Bosporus), Cappadocia (carved dwellings and churches in the surrealistic landscape of volcanic “fairy chimneys”), Derinkuyu (underground city), Ihlara Valley hike (lush gorge, with Byzantine rock-cut churches), Whirling Dervishes performance, Antalya, Aspendos (Roman theater), Kaya Koyu (Greek ghost town from 1920s), Hike part of the Lycian Way to Oludeniz (beautiful beach and lagoon), Hike in Butterfly Valley, Aphrodisias (Roman city), Pamukkale (hot springs and travertine terraces), Selcuk (House of Mary and burial place of St. John), Ephesus (one of the greatest ancient cities of the Mediterranean), Pergamon (ancient Greek city), Ayvalik (fishing village), Troy (ancient battle site), Gallipoli (World War I battle site)

Antigua (beautiful colonial city), Pacaya Volcano (hike up to the flowing lava), Hike along Lake Atitlan (surrounded by volcanoes) and take a boat ride, Chichicastenango Sunday Market (indigenous market with lots of color), Atitlan Nature Reserve (monkeys, waterfalls, zip-lining), Coban, Bombil Pek Cave (very impressive sinkhole with opportunity to rappel almost 300' down into it, no experience required), Tikal (one of the greatest archeological sites of the Americas, ancient Mayan city, great wildlife amid the rainforest), Hacienda Tijax Jungle Lodge amid mangroves on the Rio Dulce, San Felipe Castle, Hot Waterfall, Boqueron Gorge

Machu Picchu (the greatest archeological sity of the Americas); Cusco (old Inca capital, beautiful colonial architecture); Colca Canyon (view condors soaring above the canyon, indigenous cultures); Vicunas in the Aguada Blanca Reserve; Arequipa (pleasant weather, attractive city below towering Misti Volcano); Santa Catalina Monastery (Peru's "forbidden city") in Arequipa; Lake Titicaca (boat ride to the floating Uros Islands; overnight home stay on Amantani Island with traditional indigenous culture); Fiesta of Virgin del Carmen in Pisac (great costumes and dances to watch); excellent shopping for handicrafts. Optional extension to Peruvian Amazon July 4-8 for $595 including roun-trip airfare Lima-Iquitos-Lima.

Dublin (Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus; Kilmainham Jail; Dublin Castle; Trinity College); Rock of Cashel (awesome castle ruins). Powerscourt Estate (beautiful gardens), Glendalough (ancient monastic settlement; forest and lakes); Killarney National Park (Torc Waterfall, Muckross House; Gap of Dunloe walk); Ring of Kerry (scenic drive through the countryside and along the coast); Cliffs of Moher (spectacular coastal cliffs); Galway (great traditional music and nightlife); Aran Islands (dramatic landscapes); Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick (St. Patrick’s holy mountain; outstanding hike); Derry, Northern Ireland (fascinating political murals; walk the old city walls); Giant’s Causeway (volcanic rock columns poking up from the sea); Dunluce Castle (impressive castle ruins); Carrick-a-Rede suspension bridge (over the ocean, connects to an offshore island); Bushmills Whiskey Distillery; Belfast (docks where Titanic was built; religious neighborhoods and murals); friendly people, mild weather, excellent music

SOUTH AFRICA & SWAZILAND: AUGUST 2 – AUGUST 18 ($2090; discounted to $1950 if registering before 12/31/10);

International airfare is additional, about $1700-2000 from LAX, including taxes

Cape Town (Table Mountain cable car, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope, Penguins at Boulders Beach, township visit), Oudtshoorn (visit an ostrich farm), Cape Winelands, Garden Route, Hike at Robberg Nature Reserve (rugged peninsula above dramatic coastline), Plettenberg Bay, Monkeyland, Tsitsikamma National Park (Spectacular coastal landscape), Durban (Indian and Zulu influence, beautiful waterfront), St. Lucia Wetlands (crocodiles, birds), Swaziland (experience Swazi culture, great hiking and wildlife at Mlilwane Reserve), Kruger National Park (one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife), Panorama Route (great views over cliffs, rivers, lakes), Pretoria

VICTORIA FALLS (ZAMBIA/ZIMBABWE): AUGUST 18 –22 ($800; airfare from South Africa to Zambia is additional, about $250-350)

This is designed as an extension to the South Africa trip above - Victoria Falls (one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world; visit on both sides, Zambia and Zimbabwe), Sunset cruise on Zambezi River, Excellent handicrafts; Your choice of 3 of the following activities: whitewater rafting on the Zambezi, helicopter flight over the falls, Lion Encounter, Elephant Interaction; Bungee Jumping; canoeing on the Zambezi; game drive