Peru Special Bring your Friend for Free – 4 tours to chose from

Posted on January 21, 2012 by YJ

Intrepid Travel have an amazing sale on 4 of their Peru Trips, departing from Jan – Sep 30 2012. Must be booked by Mar 31 2012, while space is available.

Visit Cuzco,travel to Machu Picchu – by foot or by train, explore the Amazon Jungle, visit the La Paz Boliva and Lake Titicaca. Explore with a small group of 12 or 16 people and have a real life experience!

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!! SOLO TRAVELLERS 30% OFF

Please contact Anna at Your Journey for details and to check availability, space is going fast. If you want to trek the Inca Trail, please have your passport details handy when you are ready to book, you will need this to confirm the Inca Trail permit. $250 CAD Deposit due at time of booking and full payment is due with 72hrs to hold space.

Email:anna@yourjourney.com toll free 1 800 978 0544  or local  Toronto    647 347 9150

PLEASE SEE THE DETAILED ITINERARIES BELOW.

Machu Picchu

CLASSIC PERU 9 DAYS LIMA TO CUZCO $1835CAD REGULAR PRICE

Day 1 Lima
Welcome to Peru! Admire ornate churches and palaces on a walk through the well-preserved historic centre of Lima. In free time, perhaps wander through one of the many excellent museums that shed light on the interesting history and culture of Peru.

Days 2-4 Puno/ Lake Titicaca
Spend the night in Puno before heading off to sail on iconic Lake Titicaca, where water stretches as far as the eye can see. Be welcomed by friendly locals during an overnight island homestay, travel by boat on the calm waters and pick up some quality knitted goods – handmade by the local men – on Taquile Island.

Day 5 Cuzco
Travel by local bus to Cuzco – the heart and soul of Peru. Take a slow stroll around the Inca-built walls that line the streets. Head to the buzz of Plaza de Armas – a great place to people watch and interact with the locals.

Day 6 Sacred Valley/ Ollantaytambo
Travel through the lush, fertile Sacred Valley, known to the Incas as Wilcamayo. Spend the night in Ollantaytambo, a town built by the Incas with geometric precision.

Day 7 Aguas Calientes
Take a winding train ride through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. Nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes’s hot springs are a refreshing way to relax.

Days 8-9 Machu Picchu/ Cuzco
Spend the day at mesmerising Machu Picchu. Explore the iconic ruins, taking advantage of the abundance of awesome photo opportunities. Be sure to take time to stop and reflect on the profound beauty of this famous site. Travel back to Cuzco for a final night in this city that is big on charm.

Cuzco celebrations

INCA TRAIL EXPRESS 7 DAYS $1210 CAD REGULAR PRICE

Day 1 Cuzco
Welcome to Peru! Get acquainted with the intriguing blend of Inca and Spanish cultures and discover some of Cuzco’s lesser-known sights on a guided walking tour. Take the opportunity to taste unique mate de coca (coca tea).

Day 2 Sacred Valley/ Ollantaytambo
Travel through the lush Sacred Valley and visit a local community. Learn about their traditional lifestyle, browse handicrafts and pick up a few words of the Quechua language. Look out for the maize crops alongside the river and covering the terraces that stretch high up the valley walls. Spend the night exploring the Ollantaytambo ruins – a magnificent example of Inca urban planning.

Days 3-6 Inca Trail/ Machu Picchu/ Cuzco
Trek the Inca trail, which once linked this ancient Peruvian Empire. The ancient paths wind around mountains, across high, rocky plateaus, through dense cloud forest and past crumbling temple ruins. Climb over challenging mountain peaks – including the 4,198m high Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) – and camp out in the evenings. On the final morning, climb the steps to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, and see mystical Machu Picchu appearing through the mist. Rest for a moment to take it all in before descending to the famous site to spend the day uncovering the mystery of these amazing Inca ruins before returning to Cuzco.

Day 7 Cuzco
Still seeking adventure? An optional trip from Cuzco to the Urubamba River provides whitewater rafting or mountain-biking thrills. For those with weary legs, have lunch at the Aldea Yanapay Cafe, part of a self-sustainable organisation that provides the underprivileged kids of Cuzco with health and education facilities.

Llamas at work outside of Arequipa

MAJESTIC PERU 15 DAYS $2,770 CAD REGULAR PRICE

Day 1 Lima
Visit Lima and uncover the treasures of the capital of Peru on a walking tour, beginning with the bustling downtown area.

Day 2 Pisco/ Ballestas Islands/ Nazca
Travel to Pisco and boat around the wild Ballestas Islands before stopping off at Ica’s sprawling sand dunes. Sample Peru’s tipple of choice at a Pisco distillery before crossing the desert to reach the puzzling Nazca Lines. There is an option here to take to the air on a flight that offers the best views of this ancient mystery.

Day 3 Puerto Inca
Stop by the eerie desert cemetery at Chauchilla. Travel down Peru’s rugged coast en route to Puerto Inca and watch sea lions lazing on the beach in Atiquipa.

Days 4-5 Arequipa
Get acquainted with the ‘White City’ of Arequipa that dazzles in the sunlight, an effect created by the pale volcanic rock used to construct most of the buildings.

Days 6-7 Puno/ Lake Titicaca
Learn about the incredible pre-Inca funerary towers at Sillustani. The floating reed islands of the Uros people are sure to fascinate during a boat tour of majestic Lake Titicaca. Pick up some handmade gifts on Taquile Island, famous for its knitted goods made – under strict tradition – by men only.

Days 8-9 Cuzco
Cuzco’s status as the hub of the Inca Empire is apparent in its traditions and architecture. Join the throngs at the busy San Pedro market.

Day 10 Sacred Valley/ Ollantaytambo
Meet locals and learn about life in this fertile valley – a great opportunity to pick up a bit of Quechua, the language of the Incas. Visit a valley community and admire the perfectly geometric Ollantaytambo ruins.

Day 11 Aguas Calientes
Soak in thermal baths surrounded by cloud forest, high up in the Andes.

Days 12-13 Machu Picchu/ Cuzco
Enjoy a guided walk through the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, learning the history of the ancient site at Machu Picchu and marvelling at its structure and setting. Thought to have been constructed around 1440, some evidence hints it has existed for much longer. One theory suggests it was built as an astrological observatory. Take the time to contemplate and admire these incredible ruins and reflect on one of the world’s great wonders.

Days 14-15 Lima
Travel back to Lima and bargain at the markets for that perfect memento. Celebrate the end of this adventure with a Pisco sour.

Taquile Island Lake Titicaca

SACRED LAND OF THE INCAS 15 DAYS $3160CAD REGULAR PRICE

Day 1 Lima
Arrive in the capital of Peru, Lima, and unravel its fascinating history on a walking tour around the city’s major sights. The vibrant suburb of Miraflores is full of cafes, bars and restaurants so why not use free time to sample local gastronomic delights.

Days 2-3 Amazon Jungle
Fly to the frontier town of Puerto Maldonado and travel by canoe into the dense Amazon Jungle. Macaws, monkeys, peccaries, jabirus, otters and thousands of butterflies all coexist in this amazing ecosystem. Learn about the medicinal properties and practical uses of the plants from a local guide.

Day 4 Cuzco
The heart and soul of Peru is definitely beating in Cuzco, a great town to explore on foot. Discover colonial churches and cathedrals as well as impressive Inca ruins dotted around the city.

Day 5 Sacred Valley/ Ollantaytambo
Travel by private bus through this lush, terraced valley on the outskirts of Cuzco, stopping at a village to gain insight into both modern and ancient Peru. Meet friendly locals on a community visit before spending the night in the ancient town of Ollantaytambo – one of the few places the Incas defeated the Spanish.

Days 6-9 Inca Trail/ Machu Picchu
Embark on a four-day trek along the iconic Inca Trail, accompanied by porters, cooks and a local guide. Take in the sights and sounds of this ancient route, hiking across high plateaus and through dense forests, stopping to observe the ruins of villages and temples along the way. After all that hard work, take the time to explore stunning Machu Picchu – an unforgettable sight worthy of many photos.

Day 10 Cuzco
Get reacquainted with Cuzco. Browse the food stalls of the bustling central market, pick up some colourful woollen garments or enjoy a more relaxed pace in one of the many cafes.

Days 11-13 Puno/ Lake Titicaca
On the border of Bolivia and Peru, Puno and mystical Lake Titicaca are nestled 3,800m above sea level, making Lake Titicaca the world’s highest navigable lake. Cruise to the incredible floating Uros Islands, constructed entirely from reeds. Sail to Taquile Island where the handmade woollens are strictly crafted by men. Make new friends and enjoy local hospitality on a family homestay.

Days 14-15 La Paz
Travel to Bolivia’s capital La Paz and hit the markets to pick up some souvenirs. The Witches’ Market sells a quirky collection of herbs, folk remedies, amulets and other items used in traditional rituals.

Machu Picchu

 

 

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Live from Japan – Almost

Posted on January 16, 2012 by anna

For the next little while we’ll be posting the observations, insights and anecdotes of Karl’s soon to be brother-in-law, Victor Pajek. He’s become a real Japanophile over the last few years, including living and working in Japan, learning to speak Japanese and visiting Japan many times since he’s moved back to North America. He recently spent 3 weeks in Japan and we asked him to share his thoughts about the trip. Here’s his first report:

Hi Karl,

Well, it was a tough year for Japan. The tsunami and earthquake and nuclear disaster affected the north (obviously) and the Tokyo region. However, radiation levels are normal everywhere except close to Fukushima, and have been since right after the disaster. There is some concern about contaminated food, but it is far from hysteria. Having said all that, it would impossible for a typical foreign tourist to notice anything different whatsoever. People are as friendly as usual and appear as upbeat as always. Japan has always had a lot of disasters, so they have some built-in coping mechanisms. The Kobe earthquake killed thousands of people in the 90′s. (I think Buddhism helps with the pain, it’s not all about the individual, like it is over here). And anyway, they don’t show their real feelings except to close friends. (Maybe you know the concept of the “private face” and the “public face?” )

The people in Kansai region don’t seem to have been affected very much at all. BTW, ever since I started going to Japan in 2002, people have talked to me about “escaping Japan.” This is due to the various pressures of Japanese life and the perceived freedoms overseas.

More on this later.

Victor

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Barry Kemp, director of the Amarna Project, speaks about Akhenaten’s ancient city

Posted on August 13, 2011 by YJ

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Gayle Gibson Special Amarna Talk, September 15 at 7pm

Posted on August 13, 2011 by YJ

Exciting news! An exclusive new talk has just been confirmed at the beautiful Arts & Letters Club in downtown Toronto – with limited seats available.

Join us for a rare and enlightening Ancient Egypt Talk on the Amarna Period with Canadian Egyptologist, Gayle Gibson.

Pharaoh Akhenaten – Mad Tyrant or Tragic Hero?

Thursday September 15 – 7pm – 9pm at the Arts and Letters Club, Toronto

Akhenaten: Freud called him the inventor of monotheism. The inspiration for Moses. The very first idealist. However, Barry Kemp’s team, working at the site of Amarna for decades, has unearthed evidence that Pharaoh Akhenaten, and his lovely Queen Nefertiti, may also have been ruthless despots who oppressed their people. In the 18th dynasty, they made their great exodus from Thebes to follow the sun and build the first planned city out in the desert. It all lasted only 17 years. Any way you look at it, the Amarna period, with its exciting revolution in religion and art, is one of the most colourful eras of Egyptian history.

Come learn about the drama, recent discoveries and the exclusive tour with Gayle Gibson that travels to Egypt next January!

The talk will cover:
·      The fascinating era of  Queen Nefertiti, King Akhenaten and his son, Tutankhamun

·      The Amarna period’s impact on Egypt’s history

·      Exciting new discoveries by Barry Kemp (recently awarded CBE) and his archaeological team

·      Insight on travel to the Amarna area – and what you can see today!

·      Gayle Gibson’s fabulous January 2012 two week guided trip – with a private tour of Amarna with esteemed CBE Barry Kemp. (Visit www.youregyptjourney.com for details)

What: Akhenaten – Mad Tyrant or Tragic Hero – Talk with Gayle Gibson
Where: The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto – Boardroom – 14 Elm Street (just blocks from Yonge and Dundas)
When: Thursday September 15 – 7pm – 9pm
Cost: Free – Coffee and tea will be served (Optional donation to the Amarna Trust)

RSVP Mandatory – Space is limited and we anticipate this will be a very popular talk. Please RSVP to anna@yourjourney.com or call (647) 347-9150 or 1-800-978-0544

Click Here to view a video of Laura’s interview with Barry Kemp, talking about his passion for the Amarna Project.  You can see him in person if you join Gayle’s January tour.
Find out all things Egypt on our Facebook Page dedicated to Archaeology Alive. We will be posting more video soon, so please check the page out again in the coming weeks.

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What do Egypt, Kilimanjaro and Oshawa have in common?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by YJ

This past weekend, May 28 and 29, we were very excited to be a part of the Boomerama show in Oshawa. We were invited to exhibit at this show, geared to the 50 plus crowd, and we were also asked to present a few seminars.

Never ones to shy away from an opportunity to spread the word about adventure travel, we had renowned Egyptologist Gayle Gibson speak about the wonders of ancient Egypt and our Archaeology Alive program and our very own Anna MacKay was on hand to speak and answer questions about how to safely and successfully summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Anna is leading a group there in September.

Anna speaking to a group of interested Kilimanjaro climbers at Boomerama in Oshawa

And finally, we are very happy to announce that the winner of the 4 Day Nile Cruise is Cathy Seguin. We will be contacting Cathy to inform her about the prize details.

Thank you once again for entering the draw. Please watch for our monthly newsletter in which we highlight new and exciting trips, traveller’s stories and special offers.

 

 

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Barry Kemp updates from Amarna – Egypt

Posted on May 24, 2011 by anna

News from Amarna, May 2011

I see that my last report was dated 26th February, and was written with the optimism that flows from a crisis just passed.

Within a few days of arrival at the expedition house, seemingly with all obstacles cleared, it emerged that liaison between the regional police and the antiquities administration was no longer working as it had in the past. The local police had supplied their usual contingent to man the little police post that is attached to the house, and I have continued to live here until now without objections. But at a more senior level, the police had decided that they would have one thing less to worry about if they did not have foreign expeditions in their province. Amarna has remained throughout as rurally peaceful as ever, but in the towns and cities demonstrations against various aspects of government have sporadically continued and created a sense of unease, heightened by rumours of banditry blamed on escaped prisoners, though no extra hindrances have been placed in the path of tourist groups.

So for two and a half months I have visited or telephoned the police weekly. To begin with, a few members of the expedition arrived in Cairo and it seemed possible that the fieldwork was on hold only temporarily. But as that hope faded, we were forced to accept that no outdoor work would be possible this side of the summer.

Eventually, near the end of April, the police conceded that the last group due to come, the anthropologists from the University of Arkansas, could be allowed to stay at the house and work on the human remains we have stored in the magazine at the house. Despite this agreement, police caution made even this seem uncertain until the last moment. The first group arrived three days ago, and the magazine has been opened, and work has begun. Since a further excavation at the South Tombs Cemetery has not yet taken place, the purpose of the study is to go over certain areas of the recording done in the past to ensure consistency, and, with the benefits of hindsight, to review aspects where recording leads to evaluations, particularly in respect of aging the individuals and the related topic of the rate of childhood skeletal development. A review of the craniometrics – the precise scheme of skull measurements that is another way of defining a population – is also planned.

Looking beyond the summer, the hope is to use the autumn as a time to carry out the postponed fieldwork. This should cover both the repairs at the North Palace and excavation at the South Tombs Cemetery. The autumn is also the promised time for elections to Egypt’s new parliament that will lead to the formation of a new government, and beyond that looms the election for president. These, for Egypt, are uncharted waters. It may require a further period of patient discussion with the regional police to get a full expedition going again.

I hope that keeping the house open for this length of time has helped to maintain our credibility as a regular part of local life. It has also enabled the house staff – all local people – to be employed, if at a slightly reduced level. It is a pleasure to be able to report that, at the outset of the upheavals, when the house had to be closed for nearly a month, one well-wisher donated a sum of money specifically to cover the wages of the house staff for that period.

Two and a half quiet months at Amarna have not been without benefit, mainly in providing time for writing.

I brought to the expedition house copies of the archive records of the original North Palace excavations of 1923 and 1924. Over many years, from time to time, myself and others have turned our hands to bringing together a full report on the palace, a project originally disrupted by the early death of the main excavator, F.G. Newton, near the beginning of the second season (he died from Encephalitis lethargica in Asyut hospital on Christmas Day 1924).

Amongst the records are small-scale copies of inscribed and decorated fragments of limestone made at the time by members of the expedition who were then working and living at the northern expedition house. They number around 600. Many are fragments of conventional designs, but some showed traces of alterations in places where the name of the ‘owner’ of the palace was written. The alterations are a further example of a phenomenon documented from other parts of Amarna that has been much discussed, that bears on the status of female members of Akhenaten’s family, namely, his eldest daughter Meretaten, a secondary wife named Kiya, and Nefertiti herself. Are we looking at the rise and fall of one of them in an outbreak of harem politics?

Because the erasures and recuttings were done on soft limestone surfaces, it is tricky to discern what the original signs were. The man who made most of the copies in 1924, C.R. Duncan Greenlees, worked carefully but without the benefit of studies of parallel material. This would not matter if the stonework were still available. Hardly any of it was photographed and, apart from a small number of pieces that were sent to museums, it is not extant. Its most likely fate was to be buried beside the northern expedition house at the end of the 1924 season. It might seem that the next logical step is to look for the place of burial. The northern house stands, however, on part of the ancient site. Any disturbance to the ground immediately becomes another excavation, and this is not something to be undertaken lightly. So far geophysics has failed to point to a likely location. We will probably be left, therefore, with a study in which the exercise of judgement on archival sources plays a crucial part.

How far can we trust Greenlees’ copies? This is the norm for historians when interpreting documents from the past. Here, as is not infrequently the case, archaeology overlaps with research on historical archives. Having made a preliminary assessment of the evidence, I am not persuaded that a simple sequence, in which one woman’s name replaced another, reflecting their respective positions at court, is necessarily the correct explanation, but there is some way to go before this material will be ready for publication.

Over the same period, the Assistant Director, Dr Anna Stevens, has remained in Cairo, preparing the final publication of excavations and survey at the Stone Village, carried out between 2005 and 2008. At the same time, and with the assistance of Tim Kashmiri, a computer database specialist, she has developed an improved database design for the many thousands of objects that have been registered by the expedition since it began excavations in 1979.

The closing date for the work at Amarna is set for June 12th. We have obviously lost some money in air fares and expenses in Cairo for the first small group who came, but not disastrously so. The costs of keeping the house open are mostly covered from elsewhere. The donated funds for the North Palace remain untouched.

In the meantime, we have, through the Justgiving site, set up another appeal. See:

www.justgiving.com/amarna-project0

This is to help us move forward with one of the many publications of fieldwork, in this instance the painted wall plaster from an early Christian church that had been constructed over the remains of one of Akhenaten’s buildings at Amarna, the place called Kom el-Nana.

Thanks to all for continuing support and encouragement.

Barry Kemp, 21st May 2011.

The work at Amarna is supported directly by two institutions: in the UK by the Amarna Trust, and in the USA by the Amarna Research Foundation. In both cases, donations are tax deductible.

Amarna Trust:
Donations can be made directly to the treasurer:
Dr Alison L. Gascoigne
Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology
University of Southampton
Avenue Campus
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BF
+44 (0)2380 599636
or to the Trust’s bank account:

Bank: Nat West
Address: High Wycombe branch, 33 High Street, High Wycombe, Bucks,
HP11 2AJ
Account name: The Amarna Trust
Account number: 15626229
Branch sort code: 60-11-01
BIC: NWBK GB 2L
IBAN: GB66 NWBK 6011 0115 6262 29

or by electronic transfer through Paypal or Justgiving, available on the website www.amarnatrust.com (where a Gift Aid form is downloadable)

The Trust sends out a free newsletter twice a year, Horizon, to anyone who sends me a postal address. It is also available as a downloadable pdf file from our two web sites.

Amarna Research Foundation

The Amarna Research Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado. It has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization, and contributions to the Foundation are tax exempt.

The Foundation receives donations and runs a membership list. See www.museum-tours.com/amarna/ where a membership form can be downloaded.

The Foundation publishes a regular newsletter, The Akhetaten Sun, available to members.

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“Friendliness and graciousness of the Peruvians has surpassed anything I had imagined”

Posted on April 30, 2011 by anna

Your Journey travellers Donna and Cindy recently enjoyed a 12 day small-group tour in Peru in March, 2011. Learn about their experience in their own words and with their own pictures.

 

Donna-

I just returned from a day trip, which I booked with the guide we had for the last few days, Marcial. He took me to the town of Chinchero, which had a market today and is different than Pisac. The whole town has improved their standard of living due to the revitalization of textiles and weaving. It is a lovely little town and the market still has a section where bartering is the norm for their groceries, potatoes for gourds, vegetables for bread, etc. Then I was taken to some potato fields to see about five different varieties all with different foliage and to see barley and oats cultivated right beside them. Also lupins, which I always assumed when I saw them were for decorative purposes, are grown for their beans.

Then I was shown the salt mines of Maras. That would be recommended as a side tour with an hour’s hike to get back down. Quite fascinating and unusual. All in all a very good Sunday spent on my own. Approx. cost for the taxi: $100 sols ($33), the tour was $30 and lasted about 5 hrs.

Market Day Pisac

The trip has lived up to my expectations and the friendliness and graciousness of the Peruvians has surpassed anything I had imagined. The hotels were all very comfortable and clean and each one had it’s own character. I especially enjoyed the grounds of the Sonesta Posada del Inca in Yucay and the quaintness of the rooms was unique.

Shy Peruvian Child

Baby Llama

 

Colourful dress everywhere

I did feel the altitude for about 3 days, but not too unbearable. I lost my passport (left it in the safety deposit box), and my keys in another hotel (left in the safety box)! Not usually like that, so the rest of the folks on tour chalked it up to the altitude (or early onset Alzheimer’s). Hope to get home tomorrow with everything I am supposed to have.

 

 

Cindy -

I thought I’d let you know how Peru was for me.

I am really glad I went despite my misgivings about my injuries. My knee and foot hung in there, with careful treatment while there.

The people in Peru are very friendly and helpful, I found that to be true everywhere we went. Even with the language barrier, we were always treated well whether in the hotels or in the towns. My memories of Peru will be llamas & alpacas, the colourful dress of the people, the various degrees of scenery, from stark to lush to breathtaking, the crazy traffic in the bigger cities, the craft markets and the altitude — phew, that one was hard. But overall, it was all worth it!

I made it!

Thank you for your help in guiding me there. I attached some pictures I especially liked.

Uros, Lake Titicaca - island made of reeds

llama, his mama & me

Colourful Peru

We were so happy to have found the right trip for Donna and Cindy. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about the right trip for you.

 

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Bloor West Egyptologist brings “Archaeology Alive”

Posted on March 31, 2011 by YJ

 

Renowned Canadian Egyptologist Gayle Gibson is profiled in this Toronto neighbourhood newspaper article by Laura Ranieri – Archaeology Alive.

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Archaeology Alive

Posted on March 19, 2011 by YJ

Join Laura Ranieri as she guides you through Egypt along the route of Your Journey’s Archaeology Alive trip.

The trip, scheduled for January of 2012, is being led by renowned Canadian Egyptologist Gayle Gibson.  Click here for trip details.

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In search of Tigers in India – Guest Post by Your Journey traveller Phil Kiep

Posted on March 7, 2011 by YJ

We recently completed a customized trip to India. Our itinerary included Kolkata, a week-long  river trip on the Ganges, several days in Varanasi, and a search for tigers in Ranthambore National Park.

First glimpse of a Bengal Tiger

Although Kolkata (Calcutta) was not high on our list, it was a gateway to the river trip.  How pleased we were that we allowed a day and a half for the city!  We can only describe it as teeming.  Teeming with everything!

The river trip was delightful.  It was way off the beaten path in the Bihar region.  The boat was superb in all respects.  We stopped daily to see various temple ruins, reminders of the British Raj, the most sacred Buddhist site of Bodhgay (where Buddha attained enlightenment), and remote villages rarely encountered by tourists.

We then visited Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India.  It is gritty.  It is magical.  Most tour groups will visit for a couple of days to encounter the morning and evening rituals on the Ganges, see a few temples, and visit Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon.  However, we elected to stay for four days and were glad we did so.  For example, the extra time allowed us the opportunity to witness the celebration of the feast day of the goddess Saraswati. Varanasi is fascinating, and it needs to be “absorbed” at a leisurely pace.  We stayed at a hotel directly on the Ganges and highly recommend doing so. Varanasi is all about the Ganges and the old city.

One of our major objectives of this trip was to see our first tiger.  We chose to visit Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan.  We stayed four days to increase our odds.  We had pre-booked three safaris (there are two available each day).  It wasn’t until our third safari that we caught a glimpse.  We then booked a fourth safari and were rewarded with a good sighting.  “Our” tiger was resting near the road in some grass and stayed there a couple of hours, occasionally moving and raising her head.  Our mission was accomplished!  Many other people with whom we talked had better luck and had good sightings with one or two safaris.  There are a couple of safari options:  4-6 passenger jeeps and larger trucks holding 16 people.  We think that it was worth paying extra for the smaller vehicle, if for no reason other than ease of photography.  Ranthambore Fort is also a “must see” in the park.  It is a huge fortress with many well-preserved ruins of temples and palaces.

Bengal Tiger in Ranthambore National Park, India

India is truly INCREDIBLE.  Our thanks to Karl and Anna for putting this together for us.  It was a flawless and most enjoyable adventure.

Phil and Marilyn
Worthington, Ohio

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