Itinerary – October 2015

October 2 – Fly to Washington, DC – Tour National Geographic Headquarters, Welcome Dinner – Hotel – Hay Adams Hotel

October 3 –  Fly to Lima, Peru – Tour Larco Herrera Museum – Hotel – Miraflores Park Hotel

October 4 – Fly to Cusco, Peru – Tour cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, tour Pre-Columbian Art Museum meeting master weaver Nilda Callanaupa, tour the great fortress of Sacsayhuaman – Hotel – Hotel Monasterio

October 5 – Take the Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu – tour Machu Picchu – Hotel – Hotel Monasterio

October 6 – Fly to Easter Island – tour to see the moai statues – Hotel – Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa

October 7 – Continue touring on Easter Island – performance by Rapa Nui dance troupe – Hotel – Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa

October 8 – Flying to Samoa – lose day due to crossing the international date line

October 9 – Tour on Samoa – attend a fia fia – performance of traditional Samoan dance and song – Hotel – Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa

October 10 – Fly to Cairns, Australia – transfer to hotel in Port Douglas – Hotel – Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa

October 11 – Explore the Daintree Rainforest – go on a Dreamwalk in Mossman Gorge with a member of the Kuku Yalanji aborigine tribe – see sacred sites – Hotel – Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa

October 12 – Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia – Tour Angkor Wat temple complex – Hotel – Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

October 13 – Tour Bayon Temple and Terrace of the Elephants at Angkor Thom, cruise to floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake or explore temple of Ta Prohm, classical Apsara dance performance – Hotel – Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

October 14 – Fly to Chengdu, China – tour the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center to see the giant pandas – Hotel – Shangri-La Hotel

October 15 – Fly to Lhasa, Tibet – visit the Jokhang Temple and explore colorful Tibetan markets for local crafts – Hotel – St. Regis Lhasa Resort

October 16 – Tour the Potala Palace , tour the Sera Monastery, options to tour the Tibet Museum or visit a local nunnery – Hotel – St. Regis Lhasa Resort

October 17 – Return to Chengdu and then fly on to Agra, India – tour the Taj Mahal – Hotel – Oberoi Amarvilas

October 18 – Rise early to photograph the Taj Mahal at sunrise, explore the Red Fort of Agra, meet with local families and visit a school – Hotel – Oberoi Amarvilas

October 19 – Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport and then transfer to smaller aircraft to Serengeti National Park – wildlife drives – Hotel – Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

October 20 – More wildlife drives, opportunity to meet either Meave or Louise Leakey – Hotel – Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

October 21 – Fly to Petra – tour the sandstone city – Hotel – Movenpick Resort

October 22 – Continue touring to Wadi Rum, festive Bedouin dinner – Hotel – Movenpick Resort

October 23 – Fly to Marrakech, Morocco – tour the city, Koutoubia Mosque, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and grand Bahia Palace, wander in the medina – Hotel – La Mamounia

October 24 – Continue touring in Marrakech, Majorelle Gardens, farewell dinner with traditional entertainment – Hotel La Mamounia

October 25 – Fly to Washington, DC – overnight at Hyatt in the airport

October 26 – Return flight to Fort Myers