OC Travel Buddies & Local Events!

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/

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

May 19th – May 30th 2024

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (http://www.photoflytravel.com/) have invited us on an amazing adventure to Greece!

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/greece-small-group-tours/

***

• 11 Night/12 Day adventure
• Breakfast every day
• 2 Lunches & 4 Dinners included
• Welcome & Farewell Dinner included
• Privately guided

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Athens: A Taste of the Gods (2 nights)

• Explore Athens: Highlights including Constitution square, Monastiraki and flea market area, national library, Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, Herod Atticus street, the Panathenaic Stadium (first modern Olympic games in 1896), Hadrian’s Arch, Temple of Zeus, & of course, the Acropolis & Parthenon with the Acropolis new museum.
• Scenic Drive along the “Riviera of Attica” Coastal Road

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Central & Northern Greece: Where the Real Gems are Found… (3 nights)

Mystical Delphi: Amazing photography and breathtaking scenery from the slopes of Mount Parnassus await.

• Meteora: A real photography highlight on our Greece small group adventure, this region is famous for its beautiful monasteries standing between earth and sky atop huge pinnacle rocks.
• Monodendri Villlage: The small town of slate-roofed houses has a handful of great tavernas and some amazing churches including the triple-bell Church of Agios Athanasios and the 17th-century Church of Agios Minas.
• Vikos Gorge: Formerly regarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the deepest canyon in the world at almost 3,000 ft, this geological wonder has incredible hikes with views for the Gods!

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The Greek Isles: Zakythnos & Corfu (6 nights)

• 3 nights Zakythnos & 3 nights Corfu
• A variety of the best beaches, hikes, culture, & architecture Greece has to offer

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Zakythnos: “The Ionian’s Flower of The East”

• Shipwrecks, Caves, & Epic Beaches: An incredible day of exploration along Zakynthos’ dramatic west coast!
• Sea Turtles, the Keri Caves, & Charming Villages

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Corfu: The Grand Lady of the Ionian Islands

• Corfu Town: An UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic center’s colonial British and Venetian buildings with neoclassical influences will dazzle us and our cameras.
• Paleokastritsa Village: Arguably the most beautiful village on the entire island, Paleokastritsa offers a plethora of local taverns overlooking the blue bay and six idyllic beaches dotting the coastline surrounded by olive tree forests unchanged for millennia!
• Kanoni Town: A must stop due to the most famous and photographed spots on the island: The church of Panagia Vlacherna & Mouse Island.
• Sidari: Live music, Greek dancing, & one of the best beaches on Corfu sum up this small town gem.
• Corfu Photography Adventure: Impressive caves, breathtaking cliff views, isolated Byzantine monasteries, & stone-made villages are just some of the highlights we’ll explore and photograph

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• All taxes, tours, & entrance fees included as per itinerary
• All transfers and ground transportation included
• Roommate pairing to save money! Avoid the single supplement!
• International airfare is not included but we will assist all guests with finding the best flights upon request! (Flying into and out of Athens International Airport (ATH) )
• Email us to see the daily itinerary for our Greece small group tours at joinus@photoflytravel.com

***

Join Us!

*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,295.00
Single Supplement: $725.00

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/greece-small-group-tours/

Arctic Realms: Polar Bears, Walruses, & Icebergs!

June 24th to July 3rd, 2024

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (http://www.photoflytravel.com/) have invited us on an amazing adventure to Arctic!

This excursion will be onboard a specially designed cruising vessel that will navigate the many islands, inlets, and areas of the southern Arctic Ocean.

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/arctic-polar-bears-group-tours/

***

• 9 nights/10 day adventure
• All-inclusive
• Knowledgeable guides throughout
• Comfortable expedition vessel with included workshops and activities (included free of charge!)

***

Join us in the realm of Polar Bears, Walruses, & the most beautiful ice in the world! Svalbard (also known as Spitsbergen) is the premier hub for exploring this polar region. Touched by three seas – The Norwegian Sea, the Greenland Sea, and the Arctic Ocean – Svalbard is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago of northern Norway. By far the largest wilderness area in Europe, Svalbard offers some of the finest scenery and wildlife experiences in the world. Its rugged mountains and rolling tundra offer plenty of opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, photography, and all-around polar adventure. Our travel club has partnered with the best-specialized operator in the industry taking groups to the Arctic and Antarctic for over 25 years!

Activities & Adventures are included!

Shore Excursions and Zodiac Cruises: Zodiac rides emphasize active wildlife and nature experiences. Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting, etc.

Shore Based Walking: Our guides will lead the shore excursions and will decide where to go and what to do.

Hiking: Expand upon the normal shore walking program on optional hikes.

Bird Watching: With your guide, spot the various species of local animals.

Workshops & Lectures: If we are unable to disembark for a planned activity due to weather conditions, etc. we’ll sometimes have the option of enjoying interactive workshops and activities.

Wildlife: These parts are visited and occupied by walrus, several types of whales, polar bears, several types of seals, reindeer, Arctic fox, puffins, migratory birds, and others.

***

• All taxes, tours, and fees included as per itinerary
• All transfers and ground transportation included
• Roommate pairing to save money as always to avoid single supplement
• International airfare not included (one booking will be your round-trip tickets between your home airport and Oslo (OSL), another round-trip booking between Oslo (OSL) and Longyearbyen (LYR) to reach the ship's port)
• EMAIL US to see the daily itinerary for our Arctic small group tours at joinus@photoflytravel.com

***

Join Us!

*For our solo travelers, you will share accommodations with others of the same gender.

Price: $5,395 - $9,925 depending on cabin style, type, and occupancy

*Single Supplement: Email us for details

Deposit: 10% of cabin type

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/arctic-polar-bears-group-tours/