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   click images for more details MONDAY FOOTLOOSE HIKING
  click images for more details THE MOJAVE AND DEATH VALLEY
BHUTAN = SHANGRI-LA
THE TURQUOISE COAST AND EXOTIC TURKEY The
The Eastern Mediterranean was the cradle of civilization almost 10,000 years ago.
The alphabet and our numerical system originated here as well as most of the
great religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. To travel in Turkey is to
explore the roots of modern day civilization itself. This exotic country,
at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, boasts magnificent Greek and Roman
antiquities as well as the extraordinary legacies of the Byzantine and
Ottoman Empires. Now it is a dynamic, modern, democratic nation with
friendly people, delicious cuisine, fantastic shopping and beautiful
scenery. In addition to visiting Turkey's most important historical and
archeological landmarks, we will spend five days sailing the famed Turquoise
coast. The sea is crystal clear and the coast is lined with pretty fishing
villages and pristine beaches. Our local guide is my dear friend, Yasemine.
She is currently writing a guide to the wildflowers of her remarkable country.
She is also one of the cultural highlights of this trip!
MOUNT LASSEN The
We spend long summer days exploring California's least visited National Park - Mt.
Lassen. This geothermal wonderland last erupted in 1917, a blink of a geologic eye,
and until Mt. St Helens blew in 1980 it was the only active volcano in the contiguous
US. In many ways Lassen Volcanic National Park is like our own little Yellowstone -
remote high country with sulfur springs, boiling mud pots, steam vents and abundant
wildlife and bird activity. Four Native American tribes intersected here. And Ishi,
the so-called last wild Indian, came from this region. In August there will still
be beautiful wildflower displays. The flora is a delightful mix of the Cascade
Range and the northern Sierra. The weather will be perfect for incredible stargazing
and a lot of hiking. We will have the option to climb Lassen Peak at 10457 '. We are
based at one group camp on the peaceful east side of the park, right on Juniper
Lake. But if you don't like to camp, there is a motel option. COST: $325 MADAGASCAR
The world's fourth largest
island is home to an increasingly threatened population of unique, rare and endangered
plants and animals. This 600 mile long island has been separated from the African
continent for the last 165 million years and 80% of the plants and animals that
evolved in this isolation are found no where else in the world. Madagascar's most
famous mammals are its lemurs - 14 species of primates that range in size from
the tiny nocturnal mouse lemur to the huge black and white Indris. Lonely Planet
says: "Madagascar's forests are a shimmering, seething mass of a trillion stems
and dripping leaves and slithering, jumping, quirky creatures out of nature's bag
of tricks: lemurs, periwinkles and baobabs, aloes, geckoes, sifakas and octopus
trees. Sadly, they are threatened by aggressive deforestation"
This deforestation is from humans that only arrived in Madagascar 1000 years ago.
And they did not come from Africa but rafted west from Malaysia! I spent the entire
month of July 2007 exploring this country. Our itinerary includes most of the best
preserved areas where our chances of seeing the diversity of bizarre baobabs,
changeable chameleons, leaping lemurs, and bodacious birds are best. This trip
is limited to only 8 people which makes wildlife spotting (lemurs!) in the dense
forest much easier for everyone.
The
Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts: the Namib
(after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, and its sea of red sand
lies along the Atlantic coastline, and in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari,
a vast and sparsely vegetated savannah that sprawls across the border into neighboring
countries. Namibia is celebrated for its vast open landscapes - an abundance of
space in which to inhale deeply and bask in an infinite supply of blue skies,
sun-drenched weather and tranquil starry nights. This safari explores four distinct
regions: the sands and red dunes of Sossusvlei; the icy, life-filled coasts at
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay; the stark plains of Damaraland, with their desert-adapted
elephants; and the amazing wildlife abundance on the Etosha savannah. It concludes
with a breathtaking scenic flight over dramatic desert landscapes to the exclusive
Skeleton Coast Camp situated in a private concession in the Skeleton Coast Park.
This is one of the most inhospitable but hauntingly beautiful places on the planet:
desolate and uninhabited. It has everything, from roaring sand dunes, windswept plains,
towering canyons and saltpans to seal colonies and shipwrecks. Full-day explorations
in 4x4 Land Rovers will take all these in, picnicking on the way. Included are cultural
visits to the remote villages of the Himba people. DATE: November 5 to 21st, 2008 The
The return of the waterfowl to California's Great Central Valley has been described
as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, and it happens every winter.
We'll visit the famous Gray Lodge Refuge to see thousands of Snow Geese joining
Canada and White-fronted Geese. Around the defunct volcanic Sutter Buttes we'll
see aerial displays of the sandhill cranes and tundra swans. We'll hike around
the Colusa Wildlife Refuge and then to the Sacramento Refuge for more avian
delights - ruddy ducks, pintails, shovelers, bitterns, night herons, mallards,
harriers, rough-legged hawks, gallinules et al. Not only will we learn how to
identify these birds, but also we'll learn about their evolution, behavior and
physiology. Discover why so many people make this an annual trip. It's fun!
You'll need to arrange your own lodging for Saturday night after you receive
a list of the area's accommodations.
DATE: Saturday, December 13 to Sunday, December 14, 2008 Not just
one but three trips in one! Six hundred miles off of Ecuador, right on the equator lay the Galapagos
Islands. Every person interested in the wild things of the planet must make at least one trip to this
amazing place. Giant prickly pear cactus, tree ferns, and monstrous daisies lend a surreal aspect to
the landscape. The exotic fauna shows little fear of humans. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins,
blue-footed boobies, lava lizards, sea lions, fur seals and even the fish are friendly. Our boat, one
of the top ships in the Islands, has air conditioning, a fresh water maker, and even an ice machine.
In the Highlands is dramatic Quito at 9200'and surrounded by the Andes. We shop at colorful Indian
markets and clamber on the slopes of snow capped volcanoes. Next we fly into the upper Amazon Basin
for a stay at a comfortable lodge. You will swear you are on a Hollywood set. There are jaguars,
crocodiles, piranhas, monkeys, sloths and more exotic tropical plants and birds than you can
imagine. We will venture daily into the surrounding jungle on foot and by canoe. What a trip!
DATE: January 14 to 31, 2009 GREATEST
SHOW ON EARTH: THE SERENGETI THE
PANTANAL AND AMAZON BASIN South
In south-western Brazil lies one of the world's most extraordinary natural areas: the
Pantanal. It is an enormous wetland the size of South Dakota. Some biologists
compare it to the African savanna with its vast prairies divided by lazy
meandering rivers forested at the water's edge. This area teems with life
and is a refuge for many of South America's largest mammals - tapirs, jaguars,
capybaras, marsh deer and giant anteaters. It is a true gathering ground for
South American ecosystems. The flora and fauna of the Amazon and Atlantic forests
of the north, the Chaco grasslands from the east and west and the pampas to the
south all intersect in the Pantanal to create one of the most biodiverse regions
in the world. We stay in comfortable lodges and explore by vehicle, on foot and
by boat. Next we fly north into the Amazon Basin. We stay at beautiful Cristalino
Jungle Lodge, nestled in a private forest reserve. It borders the Cristalino State
Park and is part of an extensive protected area that extends northward into the
adjacent state of Pará. This unique region contains many species found only in
this part of the Amazon. The area contains pristine forest and aquatic habitats
that support a very rich fauna and flora. The lodge is internationally known for
its diversity of birds and butterflies. The number of tourists visiting Cristalino
is limited to ensure a minimal environmental impact.
DATE: June 9 to 23, 2009 (approximate)
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