Small Ship Cruises And Adventurous Land Packages Still Available For Year-End Holidays - But Selling Fast

 Suddenly it’s late summer with 2014 Holiday travel only months away. 

AdventureSmith Explorations that offers both sea and land excursions year-round reports that plans can still be made with them for prime holiday season December 2014 and early January 2015 escapes.

“But don’t wait too long,” said Todd Smith, founder/owner of AdventureSmith Explorationsthat specializes in small-ship expedition cruising that allows gusts to get up close and personal with the environments and landscapes they travel far to see.

Opportunities still available for Holiday cruises include the following destinations: Amazon, Antarctica, Australia, Baja (Mexico), Chile/Patagonia, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Galapagos and Hawaii.

For example, Hawaii Christmas CruisesHawaiian Seascapes Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3, Jan. 3-10 on the 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht lets guests explore four islands. This active itinerary includes time for snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, touring local farms and museums, and even night snorkeling. The 8-day cruise is from $3,595 per person double.

There are two Baja, Mexico, Christmas Cruises. The first is Wild Islands & Treasures of Baja Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3 on the 62-guest National Geographic Sea Bird. This expedition unites its twin facets: culture and wildness. Guests explore pristine desert islands, rife with endemic species, rare plants and towering forests of cacti, and spot Humpback whales migrating in the Sea of Cortez. The 8-day cruise is from $5,690 per person double.

Cousteau’s Aquarium of the World Dec. 20-27, Dec. 27-Jan. 3 uncovers the area of Dabo Pulmo where French Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau led numerous expeditions in a setting of steep bluffs and sandy beaches. This Baja expedition through marine-life-rich waters aboard the 84-guest Safari Endeavour offers opportunities to snorkel among gentle whale sharks and sea lion pups, and explore the desert landscape explored by Cousteau. The per person rate for 8 days is from $3,395.

Baja, Costa Rica, Chile/Patagonia, Guatemala, Panama and Peru offer opportunities for both pre-set and on-request land departures that may also include itineraries suited to families. These combine hiking through rainforests, sourcing indigenous wildlife, sometimes whitewater rafting and explorations of archaeology, culture and history.

For example in Peru, the Peru Mountain Lodge Trek Dec. 20-26, Dec. 21-27 Dec. 24-30 Dec. 27-Jan. 2 is the very first trans-Andean lodge-to-lodge trek to one of the ancient world's most extraordinary sanctuaries: Machu Picchu. After full days of trekking, guests spend evenings unwinding by the fireplace, stargazing and enjoying a comfortable lodge. The 7-day program is from $3,489 per person double.

Costa Rica Christmas Tours, Quest for Pura Vida Dec. 20-28, Dec. 27-Jan. 4, combines the cloud forests of Monteverde and the active Arenal Volcano with the verdant lowland tropical forests of Tortuguero to highlight Costa Rica's diversity of nature and culture. This 9-day program combining mountains, rainforest and the Caribbean is from $2,700 per person double.

About AdventureSmith Explorations
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious 14th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions. A distinction he received again in 2013. For information, availability and 2014 reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visitwww.adventuresmithexplorations.com.

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Five Places Best Discovered Onboard An Expedition Ship

There are some places in the world that are best explored by small ship – a chance to get as close as possible to the destination, and explore the wildlife on land and in the sea.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, the global leaders in expedition travel, voyage to some of the most remote and unique places in the world, providing guests the ultimate experience while also respecting the cultures and ecosystems they explore.

The following five expeditions are the ones that guests should put to the top of their priority list – the places that need to be seen now from onboard an expedition ship.  Rates are per person, in Australian dollars based on a double occupancy in a category one cabin:

The Galápagos Islands

Described as “a little world within itself” by Charles Darwin, the Galápagos offers a paradise where each island is different and the wildlife have no fear of humans. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic have raised millions for the conservation of this archipelago, and have two ships based there year round. Guests can explore Galápagos the way Darwin did – aboard an expedition ship. The voyage is designed to offer more in-depth learning and up-close encounters, with opportunities to hike, kayak and Zodiac, as well as snorkel with sea turtles, penguins, sea lions and the world’s only swimming iguana. The 10-day expedition departs and disembarks every Friday and Saturday from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Prices from $5,490.

The Kimberley and Spice Islands

Discover the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes etched with ancient human history and sail to remote island villages of Indonesia. Guest can search for spectacular wildlife, snorkel and dive at Rowley Shoals and witness giant manta rays glide through the water. Guests can also dive and snorkel at three more landings in the Spice Islands, including Komodo, one of Valerie Taylor’s favourite places to dive. Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary, will join this voyage as a Global Perspectives guest speaker. Following in the footsteps of his father, the first mountaineer to summit Mount Everest alone with Tenzing Norqay, Peter has climbed the highest mountain on every continent, including Mount Everest five times on different routes, as well as travelled extensively around Australia. 

The Amazon

Guests will discover the wildlife of the upper Amazon, witness sunsets on the still waters of the Amazon Rivers basin and explore the tannin-rich lakes of the flooded forest of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve with the team of naturalists. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic offers three expeditions that explore the Amazon – the Upper Amazon; Upper Amazon plus Galápagos; and Upper Amazon plus Machu Picchu & Peru’s Land of the Inca. The Upper Amazon is a 10-day expedition that embarks and disembarks in Lima, Peru. Prices from $5,990. The Upper Amazon plus Galápagos is an 18-day expedition that departs Guayaquil, Ecuador and disembarks in Lima, Peru. Prices from $11,480. Upper Amazon plus Machu Picchu & Peru’s Land of the Inca is a 17-day expedition that embarks and disembarks in Lima, Peru. Numerous departures throughout the year. Prices from $10,980.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 134 species of sharks and rays and more than thirty species of marine mammals. Along with the Spice Islands, guests can snorkel, swim and dive the world’s largest reef and see a range of animals, from starfish and sea anemones to reef sharks and turtles. Aboard the National Geographic Orion, guests will have access to the new exploration tools as part of recent enhancements to the ship, including kayaks, a remotely operated vehicle that reaches depths of up to 300 metres, a glass bottom boat, Zodiacs and more. Dr. Lawrence Blair, an expert on the culture, geography and zoology of Indonesia,will join this voyage as a Global Perspectives guest speaker. The Spice Island Adventure is a 17-day expedition that departs Bali, Indonesia and disembarks Cairns,

Antarctica

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is bringing to life one of the most storied expeditions in modern history with special activities, amenities and events celebrating the Centennial of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Guests aboard National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion will be led by a remarkable expedition team, who will shed new light on the storied exploits of Shackleton and his men. And, since expedition photography is part of the Lindblad-National Geographic DNA, the season will be dedicated to Shackleton’s expedition photographer, Frank Hurley.  Guests will also receive a commemorative Centennial edition parka that combines vintage- style expedition wear with high-tech fabrication for maximum comfort, and comes with a Centennial badge to commemorate the once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent is a 12-day expedition that departs Buenos Aires, Argentina, embarking/disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina.  Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands is a 22-day expedition that departs Buenos Aires, Argentina, embarking/disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina. Departures on the National Geographic Explorer:  .

To obtain additional information on Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic or to book, visit www.expeditions.com

5 Ideas for Adventure Travelers In 2014

Adrenaline-loving travelers looking to push the boundaries in 2014 have plenty of enticing destinations to choose from next year. Whether it’s the time-warped villages of Burma, or the far-flung shores of Antarctica (which, as it happens, will be in the spotlight for the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest Shackleton‘s epic adventure), 2014 is sure to be filled with inspiration, adventure, and plenty of good photo ops.

Antarctica: In recent years, this frigid continent has drawn more and more adventure travelers who come to see awe-inspiring winter landscapes of icebergs, glaciers, and whales – and, of course, for the bragging rights of venturing to such distant horizons.

And 2014 could usher in a new crop of visitors, with the 100^th anniversary of legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton’s historic (although ultimately failed) expedition to make the first land crossing of Antarctica. In late 1914, Shackleton’s team was less than 100 miles from the continent’s Vahsel Bay when his ship went down in ice-filled waters, preceding Shackleton’s eventual rescue of his 27 crew members – an excursion widely regarded as the greatest adventure in history.

Follow in Shackleton’s footsteps on a trip with modern-day explorer Tim Jarvis and Intrepid Travel, which sponsored Jarvis’s 2013 recreation of Shackleton’s excursions, and which offers several other Antarctic journeys for travelers looking for a little more comfort.

Ecuador: Sure, this coastal country boasts the Galapagos – an epic destination for outdoorsy travelers since Charles Darwin put the biodiverse islands on the map more than 100 years ago as the inspiration for his theory of evolution. But Ecuador’s mainland has also been generating buzz as of late as one of South America’s under-the-radar gems, with an inviting blend of cosmopolitan appeal, colonial charm, and adventurous offerings like the 19,347-foot Cotopaxi, an active volcano that towers over the capital of Quito.

Burma: Yes, Burma, also known as Myanmar, is expensive. No, it’s not easy to reach or get around. But savvy travelers who want to experience Asia’s time-warped, last frontier should still make the trek despite all that. In recent years, developments such as more foreign exchange centers, ATMs, and Internet are evidence of a steady increase in tourism that’s expected to continue.

In June, the country unveiled a new master plan for tourism that projects more than 3 million visitors in 2015 and initiatives such as a new airport and other infrastructure improvements. Go there now, and you’ll still have Burma’s remote villages, welcoming locals, and vastly different customs and culture, almost to yourself.

East Africa: Seeing some of East Africa’s most exotic wildlife – gorillas along with the Big 5 – on the same trip will become much easier for travelers beginning in 2014, when changes to visa regulations in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda take effect.

The new joint visa will go into effect in January 2014, costing $100, which promises a much cheaper, and far less complicated process for travelers moving between the three countries than the previous scheme. For those hoping to see the gorillas of Uganda along with the Big 5 in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, tour operators such as Africa Adventure Consultants have already introduced new offerings taking advantage of the joint visa.

Outer Space: In August 2014, Sir Richard Branson’s suborbital commercial flights will launch for the first time, with Branson and his two children as the first passengers. But if the quarter-mil ticket on one of Virgin Galactic‘s flights isn’t in your travel budget (ours either) for a trip of your own, you can experience the last frontier from Earth via a live broadcast of the inaugural journey on NBC’s The Today Show.

Contributed by Blane Bachelor,  http://blog.shermanstravel.com