Carolinas International Adventure Club

Wonders of Japan

Tue, May 12 · 7:00 PM EDT

Tokyo, Japan, 1 Chome-5-10 Shibakoen, Minato, JP

May 12 - May 21, 2026

Join here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Travel friends at PhotoFly Travel Club are bringing back their adventure to Japan! Our Japan group tours are chock full of diverse activities including unique cultural experiences, fantastic landscapes, and all the beautiful temples and architecture that make Japan so iconic. Highlights include the Meiji Shrine in downtown Tokyo inside a park with over 100,000 trees, an easygoing walk through Chubu-Sangaku National Park in the central mountain ranges, visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and accompanying museum, strolling through the Fushimi Inari temple complex in Kyoto filled with over 10,000 bright orange torii gates, an overnight stay on the peaceful Miyajima Island, and an optional activity to have a private photoshoot and cultural exchange with Japan's cultural treasure, a geisha! Thanks to the advanced bullet trains crisscrossing this country, covering distance is easy to do, and all the complex arrangements will be made on your behalf. Read on to see more of the highlights below.

• 9 nights/10 days
• Boutique hotels, ryokans, & highly rated accommodations
• Breakfast daily
• 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners
• All transfers, rail tickets, public transit tickets, entry fees, and activities as listed in the daily itinerary
• Private guides throughout
• All taxes, transfers, & fees included

Email us directly at joinus@photoflytravel.com to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Tokyo: 2 Nights

• The Electric City - Experience Akihabara, an otherworldly place filled with bizarre "Japanime" oddities, neon signs, and streets & alleys lined with vendors selling every type of new and used electronics you can think of!
• Asakusa Kanon Temple (Sensoji) - Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist Temple from the 17th century.
• Meiji Shrine - Dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.
• Shinjuku - skyscraper district has great restaurants, shops, and neon lights everywhere you look. It's nicknamed the Times Square of Tokyo.

The Japanese Alps & Takayama: 2 Nights

• Hirayu Great Falls: This magnificent waterfall is over 200 ft tall and 20 ft across.
• Kamikochi Valley: Inside Chubu-Sangaku National Park, this highland area is home to an amazing walk through lightly forested areas with ponds, macaque monkeys, and a curving river with the mountains as a backdrop.
• Takayama Morning Market: On the bank of the Miyagawa River, the market is fun to observe stands selling local farm produce, flowers and crafts.
• Takayama’s Old Town: Visit and photograph Takayama Jinya, the old government house as well as old homes, shops, coffee houses, and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries.
• Optional Hida Folk Village Tour: This open-air museum exhibits over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around Takayama.

Kyoto: 4 nights

• Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion): Covered with 18-carat gold leaf, this incredible building was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397.
• Okochi Mountain Villa: This famous villa consists of several beautiful gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses, and a meditation hall.
• Monkey Park Iwatayama: We’ll meander up a small hill to reach the park with a nice overlook filled with macaques.
• Gion District & Optional Geisha Cultural Exchange: Walk through the sleepy district where geisha come from all over the country to train. For those interested (not included) we’ll get to have an incredible experience in a local house with a geisha for a cultural exchange and private photo shoot.
• Fushimi Inari Shrine: Filled with thousands of vermilion gates, this hillside complex and temple is enormous and beautiful.

Hiroshima & Charming Miyajima Island: 1 Night

• Memorial Peace Park, Museum, & A-Bomb Dome: Experience the poignant reminder that caused Hiroshima’s fame.
• Miyajima Island: is small sacred island located in the Inland Sea. It has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times.
• Vermilion Torii Gate & Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima: a sacred island where we’ll visit the world famous Vermilion Torii gate at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Miyajima is one of Japan’s three most scenic places.

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Price: $4,195
Single Supplement: $1,095

Deposit: $600

Sign-up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours/

England & Wales: Britain’s Green Heart & Cultural Soul

Tue, May 26 · 7:00 PM EDT

Manchester, 101 Portland St, Manchester M1 6DF, United Kingdom, GB

May 26th - June 3rd, 2026

Join here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/england-wales-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Criss-crossing the heart of England and stretching into the rugged beauty of Wales, a journey through Central and Northern UK is a heady mix of industrial heritage, cultural landmarks, and awe-inspiring landscapes. Across two cities and four national parks, these are the spots where locals travel to escape the business in the south. See Manchester, a city pulsing with creativity, music, and sporting pride; a short ride to the west brings us to Liverpool, where maritime history and Beatles nostalgia collide. The real treat awaits outside the vibrant cities. Step into Wales and marvel at the soaring peaks and glacial landforms in Snowdonia National Park; enjoy light hiking or a ride on the historic heritage railway. In the north, walk beside tranquil lakes and learn the literary history within Lake District National Park. The Peak District National Park is full of windswept moors and rolling hills around villages filled with stone cottages. Not to be overlooked, the lush valleys and limestone cliffs of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are an exciting surprise. It's a classic UK route that blends urban edge with untamed countryside perfect for curious travelers chasing contrast and character.

• 8 nights/ 9 days accommodation
• Refined boutique hotels
• Private transportation
• Breakfast daily
• 4 Dinners, 1 Lunch
• Arrival and departure transfer within the given time range
• All privately guided small group tours and activities as listed in the itinerary (unless otherwise specified)
• All entrance fees, transfers, taxes

Email us directly at joinus@photoflytravel.com to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Manchester - 3 nights

• City Tour (half day): Guided tour that feature the highlights of this storied city. See the Victorian, Neo-gothic Town Hall, John Rylands Library, the now trendy Northern Quarter, and the industrial heritage around Castlefield.
• Free time to explore: spend an afternoon at the Museum of Science & Industry, the Manchester Gallery, Heaton Park with green spaces and neoclassical hall, or shop around the street market area.

Peak District National Park

• Chatsworth House: one of England’s finest stately homes, a grand 17th-century estate surrounded by rolling parkland and sculpted gardens.
• Lunch in Bakewell: Lovely market town in the district of Derbyshire and the largest settlement within the national park.
• Walk the Monsal Trail: This a traffic-free walking, cycling, and horse riding trail located in the center of the park.
• Cross the Monsal Head Viaduct: One of the most iconic and photographed landmarks, this impressive structure built in 1863 by the Midland Railway is about 300 feet long and 70 feet high. Enjoy the sweeping views of the river valley and cliffs.

Yorkshire Dales National Park
Renowned for its tranquil beauty and rich farming heritage, the Dales provide endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year.

• Visit Malham Cove: This striking curved limestone cliff, rising around 230 feet, was carved by a powerful waterfall fed by glacial meltwater at the end of the last Ice Age.

Lakes District National Park - 3 nights

• Visit Wordsworth Grasmere: Home of Dove Cottage, this was the home of England's most celebrated romantic poet, William Wordsworth.
• Stroll through Grasmere village: A picturesque village located in the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England.
• Walk along Derwent Water: One of the most beautiful and popular lakes in the Lake District National Park, located just south of the market town of Keswick.
• Walk to Friar's Crag: Enjoy this tranquil, tree-lined headland on the eastern shore of Derwent Water. It offers one of the lake’s most iconic and peaceful viewpoints, with sweeping views across the water toward Borrowdale, framed by dramatic fells and wooded hillsides.
• Windermere Lake Scenic Cruise: Enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. Stretching over 10 miles, Windermere is surrounded by rolling hills, lush woodlands, and picturesque villages.

Liverpool - 2 nights
Once a powerhouse of maritime trade, city is now a vibrant hub of music, art, sport, and is famously the birthplace of The Beatles. Explore its revitalized waterfront, dive into world-class museum, and enjoy exploring on your own time!

• Optional - Fab 4 Taxi's Beatles Classic Tour: Hop into a black cab with Fab 4 Taxi Tours of Liverpool and journey back to the Swinging Sixties on their iconic Beatles Classic tour. This is their most popular experience, where over roughly 3 hours, a local expert will guide you to some of the band’s most famous and memorable spots around the city. This includes Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, Liverpool's version of Abbey Road, and childhood homes of the band.

Snowdonia National Park (Wales)
Wales' best-known slice of nature became the country's first national park in 1951

• Guided Walk in the Park: Walking in Snowdonia offers a thrilling escape into rugged mountain landscapes, ancient forests, and shimmering lakes. There are plenty of choices for us and simply exploring quieter trails will include breathtaking scenery at every turn.
• Optional - Ride Heritage Railway: The Ffestiniog Railway is a historic narrow-gauge steam railway that winds through the stunning landscapes of Snowdonia, Wales. Established in 1836, it was originally built to transport slate from the quarries to the coast and is now one of the oldest independent heritage railways in the world.

Email us directly at joinus@photoflytravel.com to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Price: $3,995.00
Single Supplement: $895.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/england-wales-group-tours/

Amazing Alaska Small Group Tours

Mon, Aug 24 · 7:00 PM EDT

Fairbanks Rescue Mission, 23 27th Avenue · Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AL, US

August 24th - September 5th, 2026

Join here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/amazing-alaska-small-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

We really outdid ourselves this time. Join PhotoFly on our inaugural adventure throughout the unmatched beauty of Alaska's land & sea. This Alaska Cruise-Tour blends the best of both worlds: five nights deep in the wild heart of Alaska, where mountains, forests, and wildlife reign, followed by an intimate 7-night small-ship journey past calving glaciers and into remote coves. Think whale watching, kayaking, and zodiac landings in spots the big ships never see!

• 12 Nights/13 Days Alaska Small Group Tour
• Quaint Lodge & Hotel Accommodations (land tour)
• 1 Domestic flights INCLUDED!
• Breakfast daily
• 7 Lunches, 8 Dinners Included
• Privately guided adventures throughout
• All taxes, transfers, fees included

Part 1: The Wild Interior - 5 Nights

• The Alaska Rail: Traveling by rail in Alaska is more than just getting from A to B—it’s part of the adventure. The tracks wind past glacier-fed rivers, towering peaks, and endless forests, all while you sit back and soak it in.
• Fairbanks: Alaska’s quirky northern hub, where frontier history meets Arctic adventure. Legendary Gold Dredge No. 8: Pan for treasure at this historic mining site near Fairbanks, where we can relive Alaska’s gold rush era. Discovery II Sternwheeler: Step aboard the Discovery II for a 3½-hour cruise along the Chena and Tanana Rivers—rated the top boat tour in North America. Visit Chena Indian Village: Here, Athabascan guides share their traditions and survival skills, offering a rare glimpse into Alaska’s Indigenous heritage passed down through generations. Alaska University Museum of the North (Optional): Discover this treasure trove of Alaskan art, wildlife, and Indigenous culture. From towering totem poles to rare wildlife exhibits, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the state’s history and natural wonders.
• Denali: Experience Alaska at its wildest, where towering peaks, sprawling tundra, and abundant wildlife, including grizzlies, caribou, and Dall sheep roam the land. Experience a full-day Denali adventure with breathtaking views of Mt. Denali, wildlife spotting, and optional hikes. Along the way, scan the ridges and riverbeds for grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and foxes. Birders are in for a treat too, with over 150 species calling this vast wilderness home. With trails to suit every level, hiking here puts you right in the heart of Alaska’s most celebrated landscape.
• Talkeetna: This quirky, laid-back town with a frontier spirit serves as the gateway to Denali and the Alaska Range. Its historic downtown is filled with colorful buildings, cozy cafés, and local shops, giving visitors a taste of small-town Alaska charm. Take flightseeing tours over glaciers and peaks, or enjoy fishing, hiking, and river activities. The town's stunning views and easygoing vibe make it the perfect base for exploring the wild landscapes of Alaska’s interior.
• Anchorage: Anchorage blends wild Alaska with urban energy, where moose wander greenbelts and the Chugach Mountains rise just beyond downtown. Stroll the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail for sweeping inlet views, or dive into local history at the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center. Fresh-caught seafood, buzzing breweries, and easy access to glaciers and wilderness are just a short drive away.

Part 2: Cruising Alaska Off the Path - 7 Nights

Our small-ship adventure cruise is your front-row seat to one of Alaska’s most awe-inspiring wildernesses, where thunderous tidewater glaciers calve into icy fjords and humpback whales breach against snow-draped peaks. Unlike the big liners, nimble vessels slip into secluded coves and narrow inlets, giving you access to hidden bays alive with sea otters, puffins, and brown bears foraging along the shore. Days are filled with kayaking beneath towering cliffs, hiking old-growth rainforests, and Zodiac excursions that bring you nose-to-ice with glacial walls—every moment a chance to feel the raw pulse of wild Alaska up close. This is the cruise for travelers who crave intimacy, adventure, and a true connection with nature’s grand stage.

• Juneau: Alaska’s quirky capital, is tucked between snowcapped mountains and the shining waters of the Inside Passage, where no roads lead in or out—just planes and ferries. The star attraction is the mighty Mendenhall Glacier, easily reached from town, while whale-watching cruises, flightseeing tours, and glacier hikes open the door to unforgettable adventures. Downtown, historic saloons, fresh-caught seafood, and a vibrant arts scene give this frontier city a lively, down-to-earth charm.

Exploring the Inside Passage & Glacier Bay National Park
Sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage is a journey through a labyrinth of emerald isles, fjords, and towering mountains, where glaciers calve thunderously into icy waters. In Glacier Bay National Park, colossal rivers of ice spill from the Fairweather Range, creating a landscape alive with cracking ice and echoing roars. Humpback whales, sea otters, and puffins thrive in these nutrient-rich waters, while brown bears and mountain goats roam the rugged shoreline. Few places on earth combine such raw wilderness, cultural history, and wildlife encounters, making this one of Alaska’s most unforgettable voyages.

• Hobart Bay: Paddle tranquil waters by kayak, hike with naturalists to discover hidden flora and fauna, or spot eagles soaring above the treetops. The day winds down with wildlife watching, happy hour, and expert talks back on deck.
• LeConte Glacier: This southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere offers an intimate wilderness experience unreachable by mega ships. Spend the day exploring by kayak or small boat, with the chance to land ashore and wander among icebergs beached like frozen sculptures.
• Thomas Bay: Explore this ethereal, misty bay, where whales surface and Cascade Creek thunders through the forest in a dramatic series of waterfalls. With trails for every level, plus unmatched water access for kayaking, zodiac tours, and wildlife encounters, it’s one of Southeast Alaska’s hidden gems.
• Whale Watching & Kuiu Island: This island’s wild west coast offers calm bays teeming with playful sea otters and some of the world’s highest densities of black bears. Add in the chance to spot humpbacks bubble-net feeding along the reefs, and you’ve got a quintessential Alaskan wilderness experience.
• Snorkeling in Alaska: Slip into one of the warmest wetsuits around and snorkel into a surprisingly vibrant “cold-water tropical reef.” Explore an astonishing variety of sea stars and the Pacific’s hidden underwater wonders in this wild, touchable world.

Glacier Bay National Park: UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve is massive. In the calm of the night, the ship’s crew has taken us deep into Glacier Bay National Park. Less than 1% of visitors to the park have the opportunity we are about to have – get on land with, or kayak in front of Margerie Glacier, a deep blue, mile-wide chunk of ice!
The Brown Bears of Chichagof Island: A rugged wilderness paradise, renowned for its dense populations of brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer. In the Backcountry: Discover the vast, infinitely discoverable Tongass National Forest where calm waters and gentle shorelines invite kayaking, paddleboarding, and guided hikes amid bald eagles, harbor seals, and the occasional whale spout. With every turn dictated by wildlife and the seasons, this is an intimate introduction to Southeast Alaska’s wild beauty.

Activities & Adventures

• Shore Excursions and Zodiac Cruises: Zodiac rides emphasize active wildlife and nature experiences. Guided shore excursions, walks, wildlife spotting, and Zodiacs to/from landings are all included!
• Hiking: Venture beyond the shore and reach higher ground for more expansive vantages on guided hikes through forests and across glaciated environments. The leadership of certified mountain guides & assistants makes this a safe and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Physical fitness is essential. Special alpine equipment is provided if needed (ropes &/or crampons). *Optional BUT INCLUDED for those interested
• Kayaking & Paddle Boarding: We hope to offer kayaking & paddle boarding on several days in the "passage". Basic kayak experience is welcome but not required. Physical fitness is essential to participate. Kayaks/paddles are provided. *For more details, please refer to the daily itinerary.
• Snorkeling: Try your hand at a snorkel (we have the warmest wetsuits known to man, fear not) and unlock an entire universe of discovery as you peruse the most diverse population of sea-stars on earth – a surprise to many who visit this place.
• On-Board Workshops/Presentations: Most of our time will be spent experiencing & photographing the landscapes & wildlife of this Alaskan region. In the evenings, and when cruising from one location to the next, we'll have the option of partaking in a wide range of onboard workshops and presentations. Certain topics may include navigation, astronomy, geology, & botany along with in-depth presentations that explore the fascinating life of the regions' whales, land mammals, birds, and other animals that call this magical realm home.

Encounters with Whales
Whale watching in Alaska is nothing short of breathtaking, with chances to encounter the ocean’s most majestic giants in a pristine, untamed wilderness. From the deck of an expedition ship or the spray-kissed edge of a zodiac, every sighting is unforgettable in its own way.

Curious whales sometimes circle beneath the Zodiac or even spy-hop, rising to eye you with astonishing intent. Peering into a whale’s gaze, with only a thin rubber hull between you, is a truly unforgettable moment and a vantage point that few get to witness and photograph.

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Price From: $7,995.00

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