Being someone who would never be satisfied with a week at an all-inclusive beach resort or being trapped on a guided bus tour through Europe, I was excited to dig into the Specialty Travel Index (www.specialtytravel.com) -- definitely my kind of travel website.
It's a site that will appeal to the most intrepid or sophisticated traveler who is looking for something out of the ordinary. It prides itself on being a source for adventure and special-interest vacations worldwide, and it is certainly true to its name. Featuring tour and contact information for over 400 travel providers around the world, the directory offers ideas on everything from air safaris to ghost towns. The destinations are likewise colorful -- when was the last time you saw Afghanistan and Aruba on the same website?
Search for unique and interesting travel opportunities by destination or interest and discover a different way to expand your horizons. You can sign up for their free regular e-mail newsletters highlighting vacation deals that match your specific travel passions, subscribe to their magazine (two issues per year; $10 for US, $15 for Canada or $25 everywhere else) or read articles from back issues online for free.
To make your life easier, the discerning travel experts at Specialty Travel do the research for you. There are currently 25 specials listed on the site with discounts totaling several hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a variety of vacations from a women's only culinary tour of Spain to an archaeological excavation in Tunisia.
Here are a few of my personal favorites, from the cultural to the obscure, for you to consider:
Asian Pacific Adventures (tel. 800/825-1680; www.asianpacificadventures.com) is offering $150 off per person on an "Indian Heartland" tour from November 15 to December 7, 2005. This unique adventure focuses on the tribes, festivals and lesser-visited areas of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Cities visited include Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Kanker, Kawardha, Kanha National Park, Bhopal, and Mumbai. The itinerary takes in a wildlife safari at the Kanha Tiger Sanctuary and the Konarak Dance & Music Festival held at the Sun Temple in Konark, Orissa, a world heritage site and an architectural wonder. The land-only price after discount is $4,490, with six participants required for each 21-day tour. Approximate airfare when booked through Asian Pacific is $1,510.
Palio Tours (tel. 888/495.8502; www.paliotours.com) has a $150 discount on its fall "Culinary Tour" in Chianti. The Italian culinary tour includes three cooking classes with professional instruction, accommodation, day and evening excursions, wine-tastings, dinner at a medieval castle, city tours, transportation, plus a choice of one other Italian city to complete the eight day/seven night journey through to Italy. To take advantage of the savings for this tour, which departs regularly from September 17, 2005, you must book by May 31, 2005. Prices start from $1,696 per person (airfare is additional).
Wildland Adventures (tel. 800/365-0686; www.wildland.com) is a provider of authentic worldwide cultural tours and nature ecotourism for active and inquisitive travelers. Join their breathtaking wildlife encounter to see Mountain gorillas in the wilds of Uganda during the dry season, when wildlife viewing is at its peak and the weather is mild. Prices start at $4,950 per person (airfare and taxes additional) with departures throughout the year. Book a Uganda Gorilla Safari for June, July, and August and receive a $200 discount. The price includes airport transfers, land transportation, accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary, guide services, gorilla permits and all park entrance fees. The tour, starting in Entebbe, takes in visits to Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mbarara town, Murchison.
Save $3,000 per cabin on a Prince William Sound Adventure Cruise. No that's not a typo! Adventure Smith Explorations (tel. 800/728-2875; www.adventuresmithexplorations.com) is offering a huge discount ($1,500 per person) on its inaugural season cruising the inlets, islands and fjords of Prince William Sound. Their specially outfitted "sport utility vessel" features sea kayaks with unique launch platforms and shore landing craft enabling access to rugged wilderness areas for all. Highlights include the Columbia Glacier, Valdez and College Fjord, plus the abundance of wildlife like humpback and orca whales, sea otters, sea lions, bears and bald eagles! The price for this nine-day trip starts at $2,999 per person for an inside cabin with regular departures in June, July and August. Taxes and port fees of $55 per person are additional.Explore the Peruvian Amazon rainforest from a monkey's perspective with Explorama's (tel. 800/707-5275; ?www.explorama.com) "Canopy Walkway" packages, which start from $555 per person for five days. Staying at Ceiba Tops or Explorama Lodge (both located near Iquitos, Peru) mention Specialty Travel and get 10% off this price which includes airport transfers, four nights accommodation (choose between rustic and luxury accommodation), meals, boat excursions, hikes and walking along some of the highest canopy bridges in the world (115 feet up). No extreme climbing skills required, just a sense of adventure and a lack of vertigo. Airfare is additional.
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