What we’re about
We have renamed our meetup to reflect a more casual approach to wine & wine tasting & food pairing by adding additional & unique wine activities. Events include Wine Tours. Wine & Art Tours & the unique concept of Wine & Nature Adventure Outings. (Wine/Bike trips, Wine Kayak Outings, Foodie/Wine & Nature Outings.)
Occasionally we will invite vintners to offer their insights about their own experience in the wine industry while pouring their wines. And we invite wine drinkers to share in these discussions, treks, and tastings. Come join in the exploration.
Santé,
TOM Bold aka: Koma Nahoa (Hawaiian Name)
Please note: Tom Merle is still our Wine Guru.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Wonders of Chile & PatagoniaTorres del Paine, Torres del Paine, Torres de Pain, MA
April 19th - April 25th, 2024
Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have invited us to another amazing adventure in Chile & Patagonia! This will be the FIFTH time and considering the program and world-class accommodations, it is easy to understand why.
E-mail joinus@photoflytravel.com for the DAILY ITINERARY!
Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/chile-group-tour-santiago-patagonia/
Our Chile and Patagonia small group tour is one of our most exciting adventures! This epic journey will begin in the world renowned capital of Santiago where we will enjoy the culture, food, and energy of the bustling city among the mountains. After heading further south, unforgettable hikes & photographs will be the norm throughout this adventure with activities available for all fitness levels!
Email to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
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- 7 night/8 Day Journey (2 Nights Santiago, 5 Nights Patagonia)
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Santiago
- Centrally located and welcoming Santiago accommodations
- Breakfast included
- Privately guided city tour exploring the highlights, such as Cerro San Cristobal, Cerro Santa Lucia, Plaza de Armas, La Moneda (Presidential Offices), and more!
*Free time in Santiago to explore the city & photograph the sites
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Patagonia
- Patagonia Camp is one of the first luxury camps in South America. It is an original and distinctive glamping concept where every detail has been carefully thought of so that our guests may thoroughly enjoy the magnificent and wild nature of mythical Patagonia, combining comfort, convenience, and the warm hospitality that Chileans are known for.
- All Inclusive Meals & Adventures while at Patagonia Camp. Plus Open Bar throughout!
- One of a kind luxury yurt style accommodations at Patagonia Camp. Patagonia Camp was recognized by Conde Nast in the Top 20 Reader's Choice Award for all of South America!
- Each day we will have the opportunity to embark on amazing walks and hikes around this wonderland landscape of sharp edged mountains and glacier lakes. See below for JUST A FEW OF THE HIKES AND ADVENTURES that we’ll be able to choose from each day (all are optional, included, and cater to different fitness levels including beginners!). To see the full list of hikes, learn more about the Torres del Paine National Park we'll be exploring, and to see more pictures of the unbelievable luxury yurts, email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com to request an itinerary.
Base of the Towers Trek: A rewarding & deservedly famous trek to the base of the iconic “Towers” of Torres Del Paine. Panoramic views of lakes and valleys greet us along the way until we penetrate the ancient lenga tree forest.
Los Cuernos Trek: This trek is perfect to experience the beauty of the park’s two iconic mountains: Las Torres and Los Cuernos del Paine. The hike starts alongside beautiful rivers and lakes with ever-present native flora and fauna.
Mirador Condor Hike: The hike to the Cóndor viewpoint is another privileged trek in terms of views. The trail begins at Lake Pehoé which will fascinate our eyes and cameras with its distinctive turquoise color. You will climb for about an hour through the Sierra del Toro; along the way you can appreciate some of the local vegetation such as nothofagus trees, the area’s micro-wildlife and the beautiful soaring condors.
*Optional horseback riding & boat trips will be available at additional price (minimum # sign-ups needed)
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Inclusions:
- Privately guided small group tour as always!
- All taxes & entrance fees included
- All transfers and ground transportation included
- Roommate pairing to save money as always!
- Domestic round-trip airfare from Santiago –> Punta Arenas INCLUDED
- International airfare is not included but we will assist all guests with finding the best flight!
(Specific arrival/departure times will be sent to all guests and we’ll assist in booking the proper flights as always)
- Email us to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
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Join Us!
*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $3,949.00
*Single Supplement: $645.00
Deposit: $600.00
For those looking to enhance their stay even further, there are yurts available with outdoor jacuzzi! Imagine - enjoying the warm soothing waters in the cool air while looking up into the endless night sky as the stars dazzle above. Please contact us for availability!
Go here to sign up: http://www.photoflytravel.org/chile-group-tour-santiago-patagonia/
- Ultimate Botswana Safari & Best of Cape Town, South Africa!Kanisa Road, Arusha
May 10th - May 19th
Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have put an amazing, unbeatable Botswana safari combined with the best parts of Cape Town in South Africa!
E-mail joinus@photoflytravel.com for the DAILY ITINERARY!
Sign up here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/botswana-okavango-safari-cape-town-group-tours/
It’s clear we just can’t get enough of Africa based on everyone’s requests and how quickly these trips are filling up! This is a trip designed to experience the finish line of Africa's greatest migration - the Okavango Delta! Millions of animals and hundreds of species find their way to this part of Botswana to soak up the waters revealed annually by natural flows.
After several days of luxury safari, the trip continues to South Africa's tourist paradise - Cape Town. The city is one of the most popular places to visit on the continent. Expect to enjoy dramatic coastline, vibrant city life, historic sites, Table Mountain, and a trip west of the metro area along the world-famous garden route.
This is going to be a photo dream trip in style with luxury boutique accommodations, all-inclusive in Botswana, plenty of included activities, and so much more!
Email us to see the daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
- 9 nights/10 days of Botswana safari and South Africa touring
- All-inclusive Botswana, 4 lunches & 5 dinners in South Africa
- Glamping and boutique properties throughout
- Wildlife: elephants, buffalos, antelopes, lions, leopards, giraffes, wild dogs, birding, and MUCH more!
- Multiple included flights
Botswana's Okavango Delta - 4 nights
"Welcome to one of Africa’s most extraordinary places. There is something elemental about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Okavango Delta: the rising and falling of its waters; the daily drama of its wildlife encounters; its soundtrack of lion roars, saw-throated leopard barks, and the crazy whoop of a running hyena; and the mysteries concealed by its papyrus reeds swaying gently in the evening breeze." - Lonely Planet
From the luxury tented camp in the bush of the country, we'll be able to enjoy Africa's wild in total comfort.
- Daily game drives or other safari activities
- Private chef
- Incredible photo opportunities
- World-class animal viewing
- Local drivers & wildlife guides
South Africa's Cape Town - 5 nights
"A coming-together of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, there's nowhere quite like Cape Town, a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. And one can’t help but be seduced by the glorious natural beauty of the Garden Route. The range of topography, vegetation, wildlife, and outdoor activities is remarkable, not to mention the world-class vineyards & stunning beaches." -Lonely Planet
There is A LOT to see and do here, this is what we have planned.
- Cable Car up Table Mountain
- City highlights private tour
- Traditional cooking demonstration and lunch
- Harbor cruise to photograph seals
- Visit to Boulder Beach's penguin colony
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
After a few days exploring the city, we'll be heading west towards Hermanus along the world-renowned Garden Route finishing in one of the country's wine region.
- Abalone aquaculture tour
- Fernkloof nature reserve
- Wine tasting safari
- Beautiful scenery with photo stops
- All taxes, transfers, & fees included
- Airfare is not included, ask us for help. Flying into Maun International Airport (MUB) & out of Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
- Roommate pairing to save money
- Email us to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
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Join Us!
*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $5,695
Single Supplement: $1,550
Deposit: $600
Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/botswana-okavango-safari-cape-town-group-tours/
- Wonders of Japan!Tokyo, Tokyo
May 10th - May 19th, 2024
Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have invited us to a one of a kind adventure throughout Japan!
E-mail joinus@photoflytravel.com for the DAILY ITINERARY!
Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours/
Our Japan group tours are chock full of diverse activities including unique cultural experiences, fantastic landscape & people photography, and all the beautiful temples and architecture which make Japan so iconic. E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!
- 9 nights/10 days throughout the highlights of Japan
- Breakfast Daily
- 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners (Welcome Dinner & Farewell Dinner)
Tokyo: 2 Nights
Everything that you have heard about Tokyo is true – and it is not. For if ever there was a city that you could not confine to one definition, this would be it. Tradition and technology stand side by side in this city that can be whatever you want to make of it.
Highlights:
- Privately guided tour throughout parts of Tokyo including Akihabara, Asakusa Kanon Temple, Sensoji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku, and more
Takayama: 2 Nights
Mountains in Japan were once believed to be the sacred dwelling places of divine spirits. The Hida, Kiso, and Akaishi ranges, known collectively as the Japan Alps, rise majestically in northern Honshu.
Highlights:
- Privately guided tour throughout Takayama
- Takayama Morning Market
- Takayama’s Old Town
- Optional Hida Folk Village Tour
The Japanese Alps & Her Wonders; Stunning National Park Walk, Hot Springs, & Waterfalls
Highlights:
- Japanese Alps of Kamichochi
- Shinhotaka No-Yu Hot Springs
- Hirayu Great Falls
Hiroshima & Charming Miyajima Island: 1 Night
Hiroshima is a city that needs little introduction. Despite its tragic past, Hiroshima is now a bustling and vibrant city which has risen phoenix-like from the ashes. No visit to Hiroshima would be complete without sampling okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake. While in Hiroshima we’ll take a ferry ride to Miyajima Island where the world famous Itsukushima Shrine is located.
*Privately guided tour of Hiroshima:
- Memorial Peace Park, Museum, & A-Bomb Dome
*Privately guided tour of Miyajima Island
– Vermilion Torii Gate & Optional Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
Kyoto: 4 nights
Filled with tradition, Kyoto is the ultimate destination for anybody who wants to soak up time-honored Japanese culture.
Highlights:
- Privately Guided Tour of Kyoto:
– Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion)
- Okochi Mountain Villa
– Monkey Park Iwatayama
– Gion District (The Old Geisha Quarter) & Optional Geisha Photo Shoot
– Free time in Kyoto to explore on your own
– Fushimi Inari Shrine
*Japan is wonderful country to see by train and of course they are world famous for their advanced bullet train system. For many of our journeys between each city we visit, we’ll use this fun and efficient way to travel the country. This is one place where local public transit is a lot faster than using a vehicle!
- All transfers, rail tickets, transit passes, entry fees and activities as listed in the daily itinerary, & taxes included!
- Tour Leader and photographer to help those interested in photography throughout this Japan group tour
- International Airfare is not included. We are happy to help you find a good flight as always! (Flying into Narita International Airport in Tokyo (NRT) and departing from Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka)
E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!
Join Us!
*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $3,895
*Single Supplement: $825
Deposit: $600
Go here to sign up: http://www.photoflytravel.org/japan-group-tours/
CST 2101181-40
