Natural Habitat Adventures Introduces Charter Flights, Making Antarctica Sailing Expedition More Accessible

NatHab-Antarctica

BOULDER, CO– Natural Habitat Adventures, a leading nature travel company, has just introduced a new opportunity for guests to fly to and from the White Continent on its Antarctica Sailing Expedition—The Ultimate Polar Nature Adventure (http://www.nathab.com/expeditions/arctic-antarctica/antarctica-expedition/) on chartered flights, included in the program price.

“Choosing to fly both ways by chartered plane allows guests to save time,” said Ben Bressler, founder and president of Nat Hab. The option bypasses the voyage across Drake Passage, a journey that typically takes three days in seas that are notorious for frequent gales.

The new “fly both ways” itinerary will debut with the Dec. 12, 2016, departure from Punta Arenas, Chile. Two additional round-trip flight itineraries have been added for 2017. The 12- to 17-day adventure (depending on itinerary chosen) also offers departures that fly one way across Drake Passage and sail the reverse. Guests aboard all departures will explore the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the 75-foot polar expedition sailboat Australis.

Flights land at King George Island in the South Shetland group where guests will board the ice-strengthened sailing vessel to begin an exclusive polar nature adventure. Each departure accommodates just seven guests on this unique-to-Nat Hab vessel that offers a taste of how legendary expeditioners encountered Antarctica. The per-person rate is from $22,995. In addition to the expedition cruise and flight, pre- and post-voyage hotel accommodations are also included.

NatHab-Antarctica shipS/V Australis is a modern sailboat that’s a seasoned veteran of polar waters, with state-of-the-art navigation and safety equipment. A crow’s nest with ladder access offers 360-views and fantastic wildlife viewing. Guests are hosted by Nat Hab’s naturalist Expedition Leader and crew members, who provide hearty and tasty meals throughout the journey.

The nimble dimensions of the 75-foot Australis allow exploration of remote coves, narrow passages and isolated beaches that larger ships can’t access. And in contrast to the typical ship-based Antarctica voyages that generally spend four to seven days making shore excursions on the Antarctic Peninsula, this itinerary calls for eight to 12 shore adventures (depending on weather and sea conditions), several of which are exclusive to this vessel.

While some ships offer a single night’s camping on the ice at an additional cost, Nat Hab holds special permits from the National Science Foundation that allow its guests to spend up to six nights camping ashore (weather permitting, included in the voyage price) in remote locations frequented only by penguins and seals, rather than ship-based crowds. Guests also enjoy intimate kayak outings and extended hikes to view whales, seals, penguins, a multitude of seabirds and astounding icebergs at close range. The company employs the best and most up-to-date equipment available, including top-quality safety and survival gear, tents, kayaks and camping equipment.

NatHab-Antarctica3The skipper of the S/V Australis, Ben Wallis, has an impressive maritime resume. On or around boats since before he could walk, he sailed at age 16 in the prestigious Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sparking his interest in Southern Ocean sailing. In 1997 at age 18, he began crewing on yachts in Antarctica alongside his father, a seasoned skipper in polar waters. He worked his way up to skippering the S/V Australis, operating in both Arctic and Antarctic polar regions for approximately eight months each year. He holds multiple certifications for offshore safety and sea survival training and guides a crew that is also exceedingly experienced in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters.

For more information see http://www.nathab.com/expeditions/arctic-antarctica/antarctica-expedition/

For information on all of Nat Hab’s trips, descriptive itineraries, date availability and reservations, call 800.543.8917 or visit www.nathab.com. Click HERE to order a copy of the 2016 catalog.

Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in responsible adventure travel and nature-based ecotourism. Since its founding in 1985, the company has offered eco-conscious expeditions and wildlife-focused small-group tours to the planet’s most remarkable nature destinations. Inspired and created from years of scouring the planet for the singular and extraordinary, Nat Hab’s itineraries are artfully crafted experiences that are far from “typical.” Trips are guided by professional naturalist Expedition Leaders, and Nat Hab enjoys a longstanding reputation for hiring some of the world’s best guides. Conservation is at the forefront of everything NHA does, and its philosophy is simple: tourism must work with and benefit local communities, which will in turn find value in protecting natural resources and wildlife. NHA is proud to be the travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, sharing a mutual commitment to travel as a means of helping to protect the world’s wondrous natural places.

 

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Wildland Adventures ‘Pays it Forward’ with Fundraising for Tanzanian School, Joins Opt Out Black Friday Movement

wildland-black fri

 

SEATTLE, WA, Nov. 18, 2015 – Experiential travel leader Wildland Adventures — along with one of the country’s best-known outdoor retailers, REI – is closing its doors on Black Friday this Thanksgiving holiday and encouraging its staff, friends and family to enjoy the great outdoors for the day while also thinking of others less fortunate.

This year Wildland Adventures is also giving thanks to an alumni traveler and an incredible cause that she has embraced.  The company is advocating a Thanksgiving “pay it forward” to assist the fundraising effort of a young Wildland client, Jamie Eisner, age 12, who is half-way toward a $6,500 goal that will help build a well for a school she recently visited on a family safari in Tanzania.

From now until the end of Black Friday (Nov. 28), for every adventure photo posted and tagged, Wildland Adventures will donate $10 – up to $500 — to building the fresh water well for the Mikocheni Primary School. Submissions should be tagged on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with #OptOutside and #Wildland.

Those who are Interested can also donate directly to the cause by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/mpswell/donate

“Before I visited Tanzania, I took for granted that I have easy access to water whenever I want, air conditioning, plenty of food, medicine, a great education, and so much more. The children at Mikocheni have none of this, but we can give them something that would change their lives,” explains Jamie. “With the well, the kids will do better in school because they’ll be less tired and less dehydrated. If they are doing better in school, then they will be more successful when they grow up, and live a better life.”

(See the Go Fund Me page with project and fundraiser info: https://www.gofundme.com/mpswell)

Approaching its 30th anniversary year, Wildland Adventures has a lot to give thanks for, and when better than at Thanksgiving, said Kurt Kutay, CEO/President, who founded the company with Anne Kutay, Vice President, in 1986. As active managing directors they are continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel.

“The ‘Wild Style’ is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and places where they travel. By fostering genuine connections to create personalized experiences their travelers, Wildland fosters a growing and vibrant community of enlightened and compassionate travelers.”

Rated by National Geographic Adventure as the #1 Best ‘Doitall’ Outfitter on Earth and Fodor’s as one of the Worlds Best Tour Specialists, Wildland Adventures offers more than 150 itineraries on 6 continents in 37 countries. 

Follow Wildland Adventures
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Twitter:          https://twitter.com/WildTravel
YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/wildtravel
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+wildlandadventures
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Abercrombie & Kent Launches Private People to People Journey to Cuba

Abercrombie & Kent has introduced its first private people-to-people journey to Cuba.
Abercrombie & Kent has introduced its first private people-to-people journey to Cuba.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL –Travelers now have the opportunity to experience Cuba as it currently is, still untouched by time, on Abercrombie & Kent’s first private journey, Signature Cuba: A Private People to People Journey. On this 7-day privately guided itinerary, you and your chosen travel companions will travel with a dedicated A&K Program Director and local guides who reveal the spirit of this island nation through meaningful interactions and people-to-people connections.

The program is designed to enable you to uncover the Havana only a long-time resident would know. Explore the city by foot with a local architect who offers authentic insights into its charming, historic styles. Dine at a paladar (family-run restaurant) where the owners share their passion for Cuban cuisine and discuss what is involved in running a private business in Cuba – an opportunity that, historically, was all but unheard of. Join renowned Cuban painter and ceramicist, José Fuster on a neighborhood walk, followed by a discussion of the role of the arts in contemporary Cuban culture.

Gain a deeper understanding of the island’s cultural traditions through its art and music. Join in a private salsa lesson and one-on-one talk with a Cuban salsa instructor. Visit the neo-classical-style Museo de Artes Decorativas, an arts museum in the former residence of the Countess of Revilla de Camargo. Explore the Muraleando Neighborhood Community Project, meeting members and seeing firsthand the art projects and significant restorations that are underway.

Compare the distinct differences and similarities between Cuba and the United States with a briefing on the history of U.S.-Cuban relations by a Foreign Service scholar in Havana. Explore Las Terrazas eco-community with resident specialists for a better understanding about Cuba’s environmental commitments at this unique UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Land arrangements for 7 days from $10,795 per person (Pricing available for four guests from $8,295 and six guests from $6,995 per person). Discover this enigmatic destination with family and friends on Abercrombie & Kent’s Signature Cuba: A Private People to People Journey. Call 800.554.7094 to speak with a travel consultant, go to www.abercrombiekent.com or contact your travel professional.
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Off the Map Travel Introduces’ Northern Lights for the Soul’ at Yoga Retreat in Finland

An unusual tour organized by Off the Map Travel allows guests to experience the spiritual side of the Northern Lights at a yoga retreat in Finland.
An unusual tour organized by Off the Map Travel allows guests to experience the spiritual side of the Northern Lights at a yoga retreat in Finland.

(Kilpisjärvi, Finland)  – An unusual tour allows guests to experience the spiritual side of the Northern Lights. Off the Map Travel, a tour company that specializes in Northern Lights, has worked with a remote Arctic Aurora spotting destination in Finland and well-being experts to create a four-day “Northern Lights for the Soul” program that includes yoga, meditation, a special wellness nutrition menu, and other fitness and wellness activities. The trip is slated for March 7-11, 2016.

Priced starting at $2158 per person, program includes all meals, a private room sharing a Saana chalet, daily yoga and meditation sessions, access to the spa area, optional 1:1 meditation sessions with experts, daily Northern Lights hunts, a traditional kota evening with a meal cooked on the fire, and return airport transfers. Flights are not included.

With yoga, exercise and relaxation techniques; a hot tub and ice hole; a nutritionally designed diet using local recipes and local produce; and an exploration of Sami beliefs around the Aurora, this is an opportunity to not only see the Northern Lights, but also to connect with them to revitalize both body and mind.

Northern Lights for the Soul has been developed in the remote Finnish destination of Kilpisjärvi which offers serenity distinctively delivered from Arctic remoteness. Jonny Cooper, Director of Off the Map Travel, said; “Anyone who has experienced the Arctic night sky and the Northern Lights will agree that it is a transcendent experience. Combine this with the isolation and beauty of the Arctic tundra and you have an amazing shift in physical and emotional well-being. We want you to leave with a new outlook and mindfulness, feeling energized and touched by the Northern Lights. We see this as a way to help make fundamental changes to your physical and emotional outlook and well-being.”

Off the Map Travel  consists of a team of travel experts who work with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world. Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based on first-hand experience. Each itinerary is tailored to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels appropriate for all participants.

For more information about Off the Map Travel or Northern Lights vacations,visit www.ILoveNorthernLights.com,  www.offthemaptravel.co.uk , call +44 (0) 800 566 8901 or email  [email protected].

 

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Win 7-day Natural Habitat Adventures Kenya Safari for 2 in World Wildlife Fund Sweepstakes

You can win a 7-day/6-night safari, offered by Natural Habitat Adventures, to the famed Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya World in a sweepstakes from the World Wildlife Fund aims to raise public awareness of conservation efforts.
You can win a 7-day/6-night safari, offered by Natural Habitat Adventures, to the famed Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya World in a sweepstakes from the World Wildlife Fund aims to raise public awareness of conservation efforts.

You can win a 7-day/6-night safari to the famed Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya  The World. Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Habitat Adventures have just launched a sweepstakes for the safari, custom-designed by Natural Habitat Adventures for the sweepstakes and not available anywhere else. Enter by December 8; the winner will be randomly drawn in mid-December.

The week-long safari offers an immersion in East Africa’s iconic landscapes, amid some of the most prolific and diverse wildlife on the continent. The prize-winner and a guest will explore the vast savannas of the Maasai Mara in search of the fabled Big Five — elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard — and a host of other wildlife. Safari activities include classic game drives and exclusive guided bush walks on a private conservancy, with exceptional proximity to wildlife from a mobile safari camp located in a remote sector of the reserve.

The sweepstakes aims to raise public awareness of the efforts of WWF and its on-the-ground partners in Kenya who have worked together for years to protect elephants, rhinos and other wildlife by fighting illegal wildlife trade, minimizing human-wildlife conflict, and protecting critical habitat.

RULES

  • Enter the sweepstakes by visiting www.worldwildlife.org/sweepstakes and completing the sweepstakes registration form.
  • The sweepstakes begins on November 2, 2015 and ends on December 8, 2015.
  • Open to legal residents of the United States who have reached the age of majority at the time of entry.
  • The registration form requires each entrant to provide his/her full name, complete mailing address, date of birth, telephone number, and email address. All required information must be provided to enter and to be eligible to win.
  • During the sweepstakes period (November 2, 2015 – December 8, 2015), there will be a limit of one (1) entry per person. Sponsor (Natural Habitat Adventures) reserves the right to disqualify any person who submits more than a single entry.
  • No purchase necessary to enter or win.
  • Winner will be drawn at random in mid-December.

PRIZE DETAILS

  • Explore the savannas of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve via open-air 4×4 vehicles and on foot with a local Maasai guide, and spend three nights in a luxury mobile safari camp in the heart of the reserve.
  • Stay at an intimate safari camp on a private conservancy with exclusive activities that are not available in the national parks, including bush walks and night drives in search of nocturnal wildlife.
  • Opportunities to look for Africa’s Big Five—elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard— as well as a multitude of other classic African wildlife such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, gazelle and more.
  • Grand Prize package includes: Two (2) round-trip standard economy airfare tickets to Nairobi from a major commercial airport in the United States near the winner’s primary residence; accommodations for six (6) nights in Kenya (double-occupancy room, room and tax only); economy-class airfare from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara National Reserve; meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7; services of the Natural Habitat Adventures’ professional Expedition Leaders and camp staff; airport transfers; and permit and entrance fees.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visitwww.worldwildlife.org to learn more and follow our news conversations on Twitter @WWFnews.

Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in responsible adventure travel and nature-based ecotourism. Since its founding in 1985, the company has offered eco-conscious expeditions and wildlife-focused small-group tours to the planet’s most remarkable nature destinations. Inspired and created from years of scouring the planet for the singular and extraordinary, Nat Hab’s itineraries are artfully crafted experiences that are far from “typical.” Trips are guided by professional naturalist Expedition Leaders, and Nat Hab enjoys a longstanding reputation for hiring some of the world’s best guides. Conservation is at the forefront of everything NHA does, and its philosophy is simple: tourism must work with and benefit local communities, which will in turn find value in protecting natural resources and wildlife. NHA is proud to be the travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, sharing a mutual commitment to travel as a means of helping to protect the world’s wondrous natural places.  Nat Hab has donated more than $2 million to WWF and will continue to donate 1% of gross sales plus $100,000 annual through 2018 in support of WWF’s mission

 

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