Jetsettersblog

Libya Expeditions, a tour operator and travel adventure specialist, has unveiled “The Great Libyan Adventure,” an 18-day journey into Libya’s desert landscapes, ancient civilizations, and natural beauty.

Libya offers Roman and Greek ruins and desert landscapes, and is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

The Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha;

the Hellenic ruins of Cyrene;

the desert town of Ghadames;

and the Rock-Art Sites of the Tadrart Akakus.

“Libya has it all — sun, sea, sand, and culture,” said Ryad Sunusi, founder and CEO of Libya Expeditions. :Libya has come of age and is quickly establishing itself as a premier travel destination in the Mediterranean for adventure and cultural travelers – now is the time to see Libya’s unspoiled treasures early, before the masses arrive.”

The Great Libyan Adventure is a comprehensive look at ancient and modern Libya, beginning with a coastal tour of the charming capital of Tripoli, the Roman sites of Leptis Magna and Sabratha, and Greek Cyrene and the Pentapolis.

The tour then heads deep into the Libyan desert to the Ubari Lakes and into the Tadrart Akakus.

The Wadi Metkhandoush and its Neolithic rock art gallery are explored, before the tour ends at Ghadames.

For more information, visit www.libyaexpeditions.com

Libya Expeditions is celebrating the tale of courage honor, and comradeship during the Siege of Tobruk with its historic five-day ANZAC Libya World War II Remembrance Tour.

“Every April, ANZAC Day is commemorated in Australia and New Zealand, and the legend of the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ and their valor has made Tobruk extremely popular with Australian and New Zealand tourists,” said Ryad Sunusi, Libya Expeditions founder and CEO.

“In Tobruk, the past comes alive with World War II memorials, memorabilia and relics, where the deeds and hardships of those who fought and died thousands of miles from their homes and loved ones are forever enshrined.”

The ANZACS, an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, were known for their tenacious fighting spirit and courage during the World Wars, often overcoming tremendous odds to win key victories. In Libya, where the besieged ANZACS — dubbed the “Rats of Tobruk” by the impressed Germans — achieved legendary status for their heroism and ferocious resistance against Rommel’s forces during the Western Desert Campaign.

The Libya World War II Remembrance Tour is a step back into time and the battles between Allied and Axis forces in North Africa.

The tour visits Tobruk and its memorials and cemeteries, including the Commonwealth War cemetery, Knightsbridge Acroma, and Bar Hakim.

Interesting side excursions include Rommel’s massive underground bunker, the Fig Tree Hospital, the “Lady Be Good,” and the German Memorial. April is the most popular month for the ANZAC Tobruk tour, coinciding with ANZAC Day and the Siege of Tobruk, on April 25 and 10, respectively.

Libya Expeditions is a full-service Libya tour operator that provides Libya travel services, focusing on escorted Libya cultural, archeological, and desert adventure tours and holidays. Libya Expeditions is committed to promoting responsible tourism and supporting the local Libyan economy while retaining respect for traditional customs and way of life.

For more information, visit www.libyaexpeditions.com

Libya has become more popular in recent years and garnered attention from Mediterranean cruise lines, according to Libya Expeditions, a Libyan tour operator and travel adventure specialist.

Libya is a land of Greco-Roman ruins and desert landscapes and is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha, the Hellenic ruins of Cyrene, the desert town of Ghadames, and the Rock-Art Sites of the Tadrart Akakus.

“Cruise calls to Libyan ports are skyrocketing, with a 65 percent recorded increase in passenger shore excursions in 2009 compared to 2008,” said Ryad Sunusi, founder and CEO of Libya Expeditions.

“Cruise lines with Mediterranean itineraries are eager to call on Libyan ports and offer passengers an opportunity to savor the magnificent cultural heritage Libya has to offer — the cosmopolitan and historic twin capitals of Tripoli and Benghazi, amazingly preserved Roman and Greek ruins, World War II battle sites, and exotic Saharan towns.”

According to the Libyan Ministry of Tourism, 36 cruise vessels visited and 12,218 passengers disembarked in Libya in 2009.

The most popular Libyan ports of call, usually found on 10- to 16-day Mediterranean cruises, are Tripoli and Benghazi.

Most shore excursions target the Roman cities of Leptis Magna and Sabratha, Greek Cyrene and Apollonia, and the World War II cemeteries at Tobruk.

Libya recently announced an ambitious strategy to attract 1.5 million tourists annually by 2012 and, to that effect, loosened tourist visa procedures so most nationalities can be obtained visas on arrival.

Top countries sending tourists to Libya are Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

For more information, visit www.libyaexpeditions.com

Lakani World Tours, best known for luxury private jet tours and customized tailor-made journeys, added a small selection of escorted group tours, designed for travelers who wish to experience the best that each region has to offer in the company of like-minded travelers.

Lakani’s group tour destinations were selected due to high traveler demand and are often less accessible places where escorted group travel has great advantages.

In the African/Middle East region, group tours are scheduled to South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Namibia, West Africa, Libya (pending Libyan visa approval) and Egypt’s Nile River and Lake Nasser.

On the Indian sub-continent, travelers can choose between North and South India (or both for those with more time), and attend a colorful festival on Kingdoms of the Himalayas — Bhutan & Sikkim.

Asian journeys include Western Asia featuring Iran and Eastern Turkey and East/Southeast Asia covering Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar with the luxury Orient Express Road to Mandalay cruise, Thailand, Japan, China, Tibet and Mongolia.

In South America, an indepth tour to Peru with the Colca Canyon is offered. Lakani group tours are limited to 14 travelers and are escorted by experienced Lakani tour directors.

Luxury features on each journey include deluxe accommodations at the finest hotels in each locale, all meals, a la carte dining with Lakani’s exclusive Dine By Choice allowing flexibility to explore local flavor, special entertainment and comprehensive sightseeing.

For more information, call 888-565-5554 or visit www.lakani.com

Libya Expeditions, a Libya tour operator and travel adventure specialist, is offering a series of exploratory cultural and archeological Libya tours: the introductory seven-day “Libya Explorer — Romans & Berbers,” and the extended 12-day cultural adventure, “Libya Unveiled — Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan.”

Remarkably well-preserved by the desert sands, the unspoiled Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites) are arguably Libya’s biggest tourist attractions and a magnet for the cultural traveler. Leptis Magna, whose presence and scale rival anything in Rome, has been praised as the most beautiful Roman city in the world.

“Libya Explorer — Romans and Berbers” is a look at the Roman Empire in North Africa and the Berbers who warred with the might of Rome from their mountain redoubts and desert strongholds.

The massive ruins of Leptis Magna, birthplace of the Emperor Septimius Severus, are extensively explored with a look at the Forum, Marketplace, Hadrianic Baths, and Theater.

The tour stops by Sabratha, smaller cousin of Leptis Magna, then ventures into the Berber heartland through stunning scenery and unique Berber architecture and ghurfas before finally arriving at the renowned Saharan town of Ghadames, the Pearl of the Desert.

“Libya Unveiled — Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan” includes the Roman and Berber attractions of Libya Explorer and ventures further East to the Hellenic ruins of Cyrene and Appollonia, and the mythical Pentapolis; all set amidst a landscape of rolling hills and lush valleys and the soothing backdrop of the Mediterranean.

Libya’s location in the middle of the Mediterranean and the proximity of its classical attractions to its two major cities, Tripoli and Benghazi, make Libya a very popular Mediterranean cruise stopover, as well as a popular school and educational destination.

Libya Expeditions is a full-service Libya tour operator that provides comprehensive Libya travel services, focusing on escorted Libya cultural, archeological, and desert adventure tours and holidays.

Libya Expeditions is committed to promoting responsible tourism –

supporting the local Libyan economy while retaining respect for traditional customs and way of life.

As a 100 percent Libyan-owned company, it employs local drivers and guides who are part of their traditional community, thus providing a sustainable income whilst protecting an established way of life.

For more information, visit

www.libyaexpeditions.com

African Travel Inc.
CONTACT: Heidi Podjavorsek
TEL: (800) 421-8907 x 115
E-MAIL: heidip@africantravelinc.com
WEB: www.africantravelinc.com

African Travel Inc., a company that specializes in super-luxe journeys throughout the African continent, to islands in the Indian Ocean, and to Dubai, recently announced an exciting lineup of itineraries for the 2010 season.

African Travel Inc. caters to travelers who seek highly personalized and customized encounters with African wildlife and culture, and who require product exclusivity, diversification, and extraordinary personal services.

Although these are just a few of African Travel Inc.’s diverse offerings, the following provides a sneak preview of some exciting 2010 itineraries.

The Ultimate Safari

An unprecedented safari experience awaits travelers on this journey that combines culture, natural attractions, and superb Big Five game viewing.

A private car and guide transform ordinary sightseeing into a comfortable and personalized adventure and accommodations have been carefully chosen to reflect the best that Africa has to offer.

Highlights include accommodations in distinctive lodges and camps including some of Conde Nast’s “Gold List” winners, gourmet South African food and wine, dinner with a local Capetonian family, extraordinary game viewing in Kruger National Park and Botswana, an elephant back excursion at Elephant Whispers, and much more. 18 days starting at $10,795 per person, land cost.

Southern Jewels

With a combination of vast pristine wilderness and a small population, Namibia is the definitive land of discovery and soul-searching.

Marvel at the world’s tallest sand dunes and one of the oldest forms of art before becoming entranced in the distinctive safari experience in Etosha, Namibia’s largest animal refuge, before finishing up in cosmopolitan Cape Town. Other highlights include exploring Fish River Canyon, second only in size to the Grand Canyon, climbing the world’s tallest sand dunes at Sossusvlei, viewing some of the fascinating geological features in Damaraland and rock engravings by some of Namibia’s oldest inhabitants, the Bushmen, wildlife excursions in and around Etosha National Park, and more. 13 Days starting at $6,995, land cost.

Nile Splendors

From the moment of arrival in Cairo, travelers are immersed in the sights and sounds of a thriving modern culture living side by side with remnants of the ancient past.

From the legendary pyramids at Giza to the immense temple complex at Karnak, the sheer magnitude of these structures dwarfs the imagination, and to bear witness to the accomplishments is truly a humbling experience.

Highlights of this journey include walking in the footsteps of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs, exploring the temples along the Nile from the comfort of a luxury cruise ship, private tours led by Egyptologist guides, recreating the past while donning a galabeya for a traditional dinner aboard the Nile cruise, gazing at the golden mask of Tut, and much more. 12 days starting at $2195, land cost.

African Travel Inc. caters to adventurers and luxury travelers of all ages — singles, couples, families, small groups of friends, inter-generational, and special interest groups. Their travel experts help travelers plan family travel, honeymoons, golfing tours, spa trips, wine and food tours, as well as cultural extensions and special interest safaris.

To learn more about African Travel Inc. or to order a brochure, visit the website at www.africantravelinc.com  or contact Heidi Podjavorsek at (800) 421-8907 x 115.

Destination specialist Voyages of Discovery has launched new video itineraries for all of its summer 2010 cruises.

They can be viewed online when selecting a summer 2010 itinerary at www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

The online videos have been created to bring Discovery’s brand of destination-led, small-ship cruising to life. Each video brochure gives potential guests a taste of what they can expect from their cruise.

The videos capture the destinations as well as what guests can expect on board the 650-passenger Discovery.

Each video is roughly 90 seconds long and makes up a chapter from a film of the entire summer program.

When browsing the website, visitors will see “Watch Cruise Video” and can click to view. Discovery’s summer program features the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Northern Waters.

During the past two years, over $3.5 million has been spent refurbishing the public areas of Discovery, including the Seven Continents restaurant and some of the cabins.

An additional $3.5 million budget for the next 12 months includes refurbishment and improvements to the Yacht Club, as well as a major roll-out of refurbished cabins.

For more information, call 866-623-2689 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

Destination specialist Voyages of Discovery has launched its summer 2010 cruise atlas with 20 percent early-booking savings and low-cost air add-ons from 25 North American cities. Guests who book by Feb. 1 will save an additional 10 percent with the line’s Launch Offer Savings.

Special rates for single travelers also are available.

The summer 2010 season offers 11- to 17-night voyages such as Greenland to Normandy, the Black Sea and the Levant.

As Voyages of Discovery rarely repeats an itinerary, the line also will offer eight Grand Voyages ranging from 21 to 43 nights.

Cruise destinations for the 650-guest Discovery include the Arctic, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Red Sea and North Africa. In the atlas, two-page spreads for each itinerary provide destination highlights, an historical description of each port, details on the scheduled guest speaker(s) and values such as hotel stays and low-cost air add-ons.

The brochure can be viewed online, downloaded and printed from the website, or emailed to a client or friend. The line’s website also reflects the new design of the new brochure. New streaming video for winter 2009-10 cruises to India, Asia and Africa also have been added to the site.

“We’re pleased to present a fresh new look to both our brochure and website,” said Mark Flager, vice president of sales, marketing and passenger services. “With the addition of destination videos for our winter 2009-10 programs and richer destination and lecturer content, we’re providing a better understanding of our cruise-tour programs to travel agents and their clients.”

Summer 2010 destination videos are in production and will be added to the site shortly. All Voyages of Discovery itineraries feature an extensive enrichment program. Historians, diplomats, scientists and naturalists provide background and insight into the history, culture, flora and fauna of the destinations visited.

Scheduled guest speakers include Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Johns; Derek Blundell, emeritus professor of geophysics at Royal Holloway, University of London; and Prof. Richard Wilson, host of the BBC’s “Writers and Places” series. New ports in 2010 include Sicilian Catania, Nauplion near the Greek citadel of Mycenae, the island of Korcula and the city of Split on the Dalmatian Coast.

The itineraries are carefully planned to maximize time spent ashore, exploring sights, many beyond the reach of larger ships. Guests also can visit inland destinations such as Berlin and Cairo. Overnight stays are scheduled in places such as St. Petersburg, Venice and Reykjavik.

Summer 2010 programs include a rare visit to Ilulissat, Nuuk and Qaqortoq, Greenland, on the 17-night “Iceland & Greenland” voyage sailing Aug. 6 from Reykjavik. Cruise fares (with Launch Offer Savings) start at $4,337 per person.

The “British Isles Heritage Trail” departs June 22 from Harwich (London) and includes Discovery’s first visit to Liverpool as well as visits to the Scilly Isles, Dublin, Belfast, Oban and Dundee. Fares begin at $3,485 per person.

At Dundee, Scotland, guests can visit the line’s namesake vessel, the restored RRS (Royal Research Ship) Discovery, flagship of the 1901 British National Antarctic Expedition under the command of Lt. Robert Falcon Scott. Also new in 2010 is “A Taste of France,” a 10-night voyage calling at St. Helier, Channel Islands; La Rochelle, Bordeaux (overnight); St. Malo and Rouen for Paris; and the Normandy beaches. Fares for the Aug. 17 cruise begin at $3,458.

About $3.5 million has been spent on updating and improving the facilities on the Discovery over the past two years and a further $3.5 million will be spent this year. From late May to late August next year, a majority of Voyages of Discovery’s summer cruises will sail roundtrip from Harwich (London). Cruise-tour packages feature two hotel nights in London pre- or post-cruise with an included half-day sightseeing tour. Voyages of Discovery is a trading division of U.K.-based All Leisure Holidays, which also owns and operates Swan Hellenic and Hebridean Island Cruises.

For more information, call 866-623-2689 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

Destination specialist Voyages of Discovery has launched its summer 2010 season with a 20 percent early-booking discount and low-cost air add-ons from 25 North American gateway cities.

The summer 2010 season offers voyages to the Arctic, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Red Sea and North Africa. Guests who book by Feb. 1 can save an additional 10 percent Launch Offer Savings.

Special rates for single travelers also are available. “Summer 2010 on Discovery will feature a wide range of interesting and eclectic destinations,” said Mark Flager, vice president-sales, marketing and passenger services.

“We’ll begin in Safaga, Egypt, on April 16, and sail the Mediterranean and Black Sea to Syria, Turkey, Spain and Italy before beginning our summer season round-trip from London to Scandinavia, the Baltic, Iceland and the Arctic.”

New ports in 2010 include Sicilian Catania, Nauplion near the Greek citadel of Mycenae, the island of Korcula and the city of Split on the Dalmation Coast.

Each of the itineraries has been planned to maximize time spent ashore exploring sights, many beyond the reach of larger ships. Guests will also be able to visit inland destinations including Berlin and Cairo. Overnight stays are offered in places such as St. Petersburg, Venice and Reykjavik.

Summer 2010 programs on the 650-passenger Discovery include a rare visit to Ilulissat (120 miles north of the Arctic Circle), Nuuk and Qaqortoq, Greenland, on the 17-night “Iceland & Greenland” voyage sailing Aug. 6 from Reykjavik, Iceland.

Cruise fares, with the launch offer savings, start at $4,337 per person.

The “British Isles Heritage Trail” begins June 22 round-trip from Harwich (London) and includes Discovery’s first visit to Liverpool as well as visits to the Scilly Isles, Dublin, Belfast, Oban and Dundee. Fares begin at $3,485 per person.

Also new in 2010 is “A Taste of France,” a 10-night voyage calling at St. Helier, Channel Islands, La Rochelle, Bordeaux (overnight), St. Malo and Rouen. Fares for the Aug. 17 cruise begin at $3,458.

All Voyages of Discovery itineraries feature an enrichment program featuring historians, diplomats, scientists and naturalists. Scheduled guest speakers include Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Johns; Derek Blundell, emeritus professor of geophysics at Royal Holloway, University of London; and Prof. Richard Wilson, host of the BBC’s “Writers and Places” series.

The company invested $3.5 million to update and improve the vessel over the last two years, and a further $3.5 million will be spent this year.

From late May to late August next year, a majority of Voyages of Discovery’s summer cruises will sail round trip from Harwich, a port near London.

Cruise-tour packages feature two hotel nights in London pre- or post-cruise and a half-day sightseeing tour.

The Discovery repositions to the Mediterranean on Sept. 6 with a 20-night “Grand Iberia & Italy” sailing, with fares starting at $4,708 per person.

Late-summer and fall destinations include the French and Italian Riviera, the Adriatic and the Black Sea.

The season concludes with an antiquities cruise beginning Nov. 6 from Alexandria to Safaga, with calls at Sharm El Sheikh and Port Said for Cairo, and also an overnight onboard in Aqaba for Petra.

Fares for the 12-night “Egypt & the Red Sea” cruise begin at $3,516 per person. The new program also features “Grand Voyages” that combine two or more summer cruises.

Fares start at $6,232 per person for the “Grand Andalucia, Italy & Adriatic” voyage departing Sept. 3, which combines the “Grand Iberia & Italy” voyage with the “Venice & the Adriatic” cruise.

To celebrate the launch of its summer 2010 program, Voyages of Discovery is offering a 10 percent Launch Offer Savings for guests booked by Feb. 1.

For more information, call 866-623-2689 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

Africa Travel Association (ATA) and the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) renewed their partnership agreement in an effort to promote both organizations’ endeavors in the religious travel trade. Religious travel and hospitality is present throughout the continent and is defined in four ways by WRTA: visiting a religious destination, attending a religious gathering, traveling for missionary or humanitarian purposes, or leisure traveling with fellowship intent.

“Faith-based tourism attracts 300 million travelers worldwide, who spend $18 billion annually,” said WRTA President Kevin Wright.

“We look forward to once again working with ATA, especially as Africa has long served as a top destination for people of faith.” Under the new partnership agreement, ATA and its members will participate in the WRTA World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2009 to be held Nov. 14 to 16, 2009, in Reno, Nev., and WRTA will participate in ATA’s upcoming events in the United States and across Africa, most notably the 35th Annual Congress in The Gambia in May 2010.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) was established as an international travel industry trade association in 1975. ATA’s mission is to promote travel, tourism and transport to and within Africa, and to strengthen intra-Africa partnerships.

For more information, visit ATA online at www.africatravelassociaton.org  or call 212-447-1357. WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry.

For more information, call 859-219-3529 or visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com  or www.WRTAexpo.com