The world’s only earthquake-themed festival, fireworks, horseraces, dances, parades, parties, Machu Picchu and more, are among the highlights of six new active adventures into the cultural heart of Peru with tour company Culture Xplorers. Focused on the culture, heritage and living traditions of Peru, each small group departure takes in a range of activities and coincides with a vibrant local festival.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
I’ve been itching for an excuse to visit India. I’m also a gluttonous bookworm. So when travel professional Marta Rabins told me about this January trip centered around the Jaipur Literary Festival, I was instantly tempted.
There’s space still available. Should we go? Read on for details…
Diggi Palace, Jaipur, India.
When?
January 11 - 26, 2014.
Why go?
While the annual Jaipur Literary Festival attracts world renowned speakers like author Gary Shteyngart and the Dalai Lama, it’s still a virtually unknown to U.S. travelers. The largest literary festival in the Asia-Pacific region, it’s held in the beautiful heritage Diggi Palace in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, one of the most colorful states in India. The festival draws authors, journalists, scholars and visitors from all over the world. While there, you can meet interesting people devoted to literature. You can also find fantastic new authors to follow, like Kota Neelima and Ashok Ferrey, a fabulous opportunity for anyone who enjoys discovering the world through books.
About the trip.
This journey with Ponte Travels begins in New Delhi, the nation’s thriving capital and a microcosm for the rest of India, and then takes you to Rajasthan to attend the annual Jaipur Literary Festival. Once the festival concludes, you’ll be off to Pushkar, Jodhpur and Udaipur, exploring and meeting village artisans along the way.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Winter escapes don’t have to involve tropical beaches and sunshine or swishing down ski slopes. Check out this new for 2014 Iceland Winter Adventure from REI Adventures.
Why go:
The people of Iceland make the most of all seasons, and winter is no exception. REI Adventures’ new Iceland Winter Adventure explores stunning countryside while the country is embraced by winter’s icy—and beautiful—grip. Hike the rugged coast, snowshoe across ice-covered lava fields, and walk on crystal-blue glaciers. Along the way be mesmerized by frozen waterfalls, burbling hot springs, and ethereal Northern Lights before retiring to a cozy hotel each night.
A multicolored display of Iceland’s Northern Lights. Photo courtesy of REI Adventures.
What to expect:
When Icelanders hear “winter is coming,” hibernation is the furthest thing from their minds. The inhabitants of this dramatically-beautiful North Atlantic island have learned how to fill all seasons with outdoor activity. This tour makes the most of a wintertime getaway with a week of unexpectedly abundant activities fit for the season.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
THIS JUST IN: Aurora Expeditions Becomes First Operator to Offer Snorkeling in Antarctica.
Expedition cruise and adventure company Aurora Expeditions has just announced that they will be offering passengers the chance to snorkel in Antarctica, becoming the first tour operator to offer guests the opportunity to explore the icy waters alongside penguins, seals and whales.
Why go:
In addition to serious bragging rights, you’ll be among the first to witness Antarctica’s extraordinary wildlife and underwater world from a truly unique angle. Passengers who select this option will be provided with all of the training and equipment they need including expert polar diving guides, specially designed Waterproof© Snorkel-Drysuits, gloves, hood, fins, mask, and snorkel.
How it works:
Passengers who take part will enjoy the opportunity to snorkel daily (weather dependant) in sheltered bays, off shore islands and secluded ship wrecks which make for spectacular wildlife viewing. Polar Snorkeling Cost: US$975pp
Dates and rates:
Aurora Expeditions have a selection of voyages that include Polar Snorkeling in February 2014 and 2015
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
New Connections Journeys to Cuba to Begin in September 2013
Why go:
Although only 90 miles separate the United States from Cuba, for decades it has remained off-limits for most Americans. Travel provider, Abercrombie & Kent is bridging the gap with Cuba: People to People, a 10-day program filled with meaningful interactions and people-to-people connections which reveal the spirit of this fascinating, culturally-rich island.
What to expect:
Limited to just 24 guests in a program that enables Americans to discover Cuba through a combination of authentic personal encounters designed to transform their understanding of the people of this enigmatic country, Abercrombie & Kent USA has been granted a license by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control to offer people-to-people educational exchange programs to Cuba.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Is an African safari on your bucket list? Do you dream of photographing the extraordinary wildlife, seeing the vast plains of the Serengeti, and staying in luxurious camps, with all the comforts, in of some of the planet’s most amazing wilderness?
Get ready, because Mountain Travel Sobek (MTS), pioneers in adventure travel, just launched an Ultimate Tanzania Sweepstakes in celebration of their 40th anniversary.
Prize pack includes:
- -12-day Ultimate Tanzania Safari.
- -Roundtrip airfare from Exito Travel.
- -Gear pack with safari clothes and goodies from Magellan’s.
Sweepstakes ends July 18th, 2013. No purchase necessary to win.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".