Recommend May 2012 - (Page 33)

wildlife in Ranthambore National Park, marveling at the Taj Mahal, discovering multi-faceted Delhi, catching a Bollywood blockbuster in Jaipur and experiencing a taste of rural Rajasthan. Plus, there’s an emphasis on the holy city of Varanasi and nearby regions. Diane Molzan, general manager, Asia, for Goway, says the Adventures Incorporated trips to India “... appeal to clients who have an adventurous spirit and want a culturally rich experience. One has to be open to new and different things. While I have seen many ﬁrsttime travelers to Asia sign up for these tours, typically both programs are higher on the culture shock scale compared to say...Europe.” But at the same time, she adds, “Adventures Inc. offers clients the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the ‘real’ India while still maintaining a certain level of comfort. Most tour operators only offer highlights, while Adventures Inc. takes our travelers through the wonderful nooks and crannies of the country.” The transport is no less eclectic, with guests utilizing everything from a cycle rickshaw, city transport and train, to a private vehicle, bus, auto rickshaw, Jeep and a 4x4 safari vehicle, so domestic ﬂights are not necessary. Still, she says, “We do have very competitive international air we can offer.” The land-only rate is priced from just $1,420, with lower-priced three-star accommodations that add a culturally rich vacation experience. On the 15-day Kathmandu to Delhi program, travelers embark on an adventure tour of Nepal and India, from the rich wildlife of the Himalayan foothills and across the sacred River Ganges, to the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini. Between Kathmandu and Delhi, they’ll witness the pilgrimage to the ghats of Varanasi, go sightseeing in Delhi and get an up-close look at the magniﬁcent Taj Mahal. Highlights include discovering ancient stone temples in Orchha, taking a riverboat down the Ganges, getting caught up in a bargaining negotiation in a Delhi bazaar and experiencing some of Asia’s best wildlife viewing. Priced from $1,550. International Expeditions (IE) has spent the last couple of decades utilizing its eco-tourism expertise to bring visitors to a wealth of Heritage Sites—from Mumbai to India’s national forests, on tiger safaris and a whole lot more. “If you are looking for one single thing that sets International Expeditions’ India tours apart, it has absolutely got to be our focus on nature. Every tour operator does the Taj Mahal and temples and that is important. Only IE spends six nights at family-run jungle lodges so we can delve into the great national parks and tiger reserves of India at Kanha and Bandhavgarh,” explains Emily Harley, IE’s media relations director. “Guests go out in Jeeps and even board elephants to look for Bengal tigers, and on average, see six to 10 Bengal tigers on each departure,” an important point because the Bengals, thanks to poaching and deforestation, have become very elusive. “Plus,” she adds, “IE guests are going to learn so much from their naturalist guides and the locals working at the lodge; they are our primary resources for educating guests about the areas where they are traveling. Passionate, friendly and talented, these knowledgeable locals provide a depth of information and familiarity you simply could not ﬁnd in any guidebook or replicated by traveling with an American tour guide.” IE’s 17-day India program is an eclectic mix of India’s big cities and the countryside, spending a couple of days in Mumbai examining its World Heritage Sites, followed by an early-morning private plane ride to Raipur for a drive to Kanha National Park—one of India’s signature wildlife areas—arriving in the lateafternoon, with a picnic lunch en-route. The Sal forests, grasslands, ﬂat-topped hills and streams here are home to a rich variety of wildlife and nearly 300 species of birds. Guests explore the park in open 4x4 jeeps in search of barasingha deer, Indian gaur, sambar deer, chital, wild boar, gray jackal, wild dog and troops of langurs. They’ll also keep an eye out for the park’s greatest prize of the India tiger safari: the Bengal tiger, with the possibility to observe them from elephant back. During three nights at the Kanha Jungle Lodge, guests also enjoy stargazing, cooking demonstrations and a dance performed by local villagers. Next, it’s off to Bandhavgarh National Park and on the way, visit a local home and stop in the sleepy town of Mandla (a sacred city for Gond tribals) where the Narmada River, second holiest to the Ganges, is the center of activity. Temples and ghats line the banks of the river, where you might see the Gonds perform their funeral rites. The main bazaar has shops selling tribal silver and bell metal. Bandhavgarh National Park is one of India’s most important tiger reserves and considered the best place to see wild tiger, plus 250 species of birds, including India’s national bird, the peacock. Other residents include various deer and antelope species, jungle cats and Indian wild dog. It’s a good place to spend three nights at Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge, enjoying morning and afternoon wildlife excursions. Wildlife viewing is by open fourwheel drive vehicle and from the back of an elephant. Over the next several days traveling to Jaipur, clients check out numerous villages and the Taj Mahal in Agra. Visitors should know the optimum time to view this magniﬁcent treasure is not just at dawn, but also at dusk or twilight to get a different perspective. Another highlight is a morning elephant ride to the Amber Fort in Rajasthan’s ancient capital, continuing on to Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory, glittering with mirrors and farther on to Samode, spending the night at the 18th century Samode Palace. Harley reminds agents that, “India is not a destination for everyone and it’s important for agents to ‘weed out’ travelers who need everything to be perfectly scheduled. India is endlessly fascinating and diverse, but travel to India necessarily involves some inconveniences. The subcontinent is large, there can be long travel days and bumpy roads. Find an adventurous client who loves nature, is interested in culture and has a sense of humor.” The program is priced from $6,198 pp dbl. Additionally, park fees run $555 and intra-country air is $278—neither of which is commissionable. Contact Information Collette Vacations: (800) 340-5158; collettevacations.com/agent_login.cfm Elite Travel Collection: (888) 477-2649; elitetravelcollection.com Goway: (866) 515-2874; gowayagent.com Greaves India: (800) 318 7801; greavesindia.com Insight Vacations: (888) 680-1241; insightvacations.com/user/log-in International Expeditions: (800) 234-9620; ietravel.com/travel-agents Swain Tours: (800) 22-SWAIN; swaintours.com/agents Travcoa: (800) 992-2003; travcoa.com/travel-agents recommend.com I-11 http://www.collettevacations.com/agent_login.cfm http://www.elitetravelcollection.com http://www.gowayagent.com http://www.greavesindia.com http://www.insightvacations.com/user/log-in http://www.ietravel.com/travel-agents http://www.swaintours.com/agents http://www.travcoa.com/travel-agents http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Worldwide Traveler
Viking Longships Invade European Waters
In Chile: Going to Extremes
India Travel Planner 2012
Devon & Cornwall: England's Peerless Destinations
Israel & Jordan: The Wellspring of Spirituality
Top Golf Resorts: North America
Top Golf Resorts: Caribbean & Bermuda
Top Golf Resorts: Mexico

Recommend May 2012