Jetsettersblog

PlanetWildlife.com, a leading provider of diverse wildlife travel and tours around the world, presents Wildlife’s Hot Spots for 2012 – a month-by-month directory of what’s happening and when – and itinerary suggestions to inspire nature lovers to experience some of the seminal seasonal events of the natural world. To explore all the ideas and options available, visit PlanetWildlife’s Calendar presented on the website under ‘Travel’…..itineraries are all-inclusive from point of departure but do not include international flights.

January – India
January is the breeding season for the green sea turtles around the Galapagos Islands – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour – is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594 per person (pp)
This is also an excellent time of year to go tiger spotting in India when the clement weather facilitates close study of these rare and endangered big cats – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-kanha-and-bandhavagarh – a six day safari itinerary including elephant rides in Central India priced at £756/US$1,180pp

February – Nepal
February is a good time to go trekking in Nepal with better than usual odds of spotting the famed Bengal Tiger – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/chitwan-explorer  is a nine-day itinerary in Chitwan National Park priced at £1,465/US$2,287pp. This is also an ideal month for tracking the rare and beautiful snow
leopard in nearby Ladakh, India – visit www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/snow-leopard-experience  for a 13-day trekking adventure priced at £2,163/US$3,377pp.

February also sees the gathering of hundreds of thousands of spectacular pink flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya, Africa – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp.

March – the Arctic
When the days start to lengthen and become milder in the Arctic region, this is an ideal time to spot Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights – and a cruise is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience this natural wonder – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/lofoten-aurora-borealis through Norway is an eight-day journey on the schooner ‘Noorderlicht’ priced at £1,979/US$3,090pp.

April – Galapagos
April presents another excellent opportunity to go bird-watching in Galapagos where enthusiasts can spot blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gullies, frigate birds and red-billed tropic birds amongst others. www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594pp).

May – India – Ladhak and Karnataka
In India, the weather is perfect for an extensive trek around Ladhak in the Himalayas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/amazing-leh-community-service-trek – presents an unusual 13-day itinerary and the opportunity to become involved in local community service in the villages of Spango Valley while learning about and tracking the elusive snow leopard – priced at just £569/US$888pp.

This is also an opportune month to visit Karnataka in India and the Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, the natural habitat of Bengal tigers, leopards, elephants and hyenas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-karnataka  is a five-day itinerary including the fascinating cities of Bangalore and Mysore and priced at £1,330/US$2,076pp.

June – Rwanda
Head to Rwanda this month to witness a unique baby gorilla naming ceremony, “KwitaIzina” – an annual ceremony attended by hundreds of local villagers but international visitors are also welcome – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/gorillas-wildlife-and-chimpanzees is a comprehensive seven-day adventure through some of Uganda’s best national parks of Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi and is priced at £4,457/US$6,958pp.

July – Costa Rica and Brazil
Latin America is the destination to head for this month to spot the endangered green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beautiful Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The park is also home to manatees, crocodiles, tropical gar, jaguars, sloths and basilisks, amongst other exotic wildlife – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/forests-and-volcanoes-costa-rica  is a 15-day excursion round Costa Rica and the Caribbean priced at £3,662/US$5,717pp.

Alternatively, in Brazil’s Pantanal area this is the best time of year for jaguar sightings and for close study of many other endangered species including the hyacinth macaw and the maned wolf – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/voyage-heart-amazon  is an eight-day voyage to the heart of the Amazon and is priced at £2,940/US$4,590pp

August – Kenya
Head to Kenya this month to be amongst the first to witness one of nature’s greatest shows – the annual Great Migration sees thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras make a dash across the Mara River risking death from predators such as the crocodile – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp

September – Botswana
This is an ideal time to ravel to Botswana and explore the wilderness of Chobe National Park and the Okavango delta and take in the full majesty of the famed Victoria Falls – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/best-botswana-chobe-and-okavango  is an eight-day itinerary commencing in Maun and finishing at the Victoria Falls prices at £2,664/US$4,159pp

October – Madagascar
During this dry month off the coast of Africa, lemurs are particularly active and playful on the island of Madagascar – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/magical-madagascar  is an exciting eight-day adventure combining lemurs and bird-watching as well as interaction with tribal villagers and is priced at £1,713/US$2,674pp.

November – the Falkland Islands

Head to the bottom of the world to the Falkland Islands (classified under the Antarctic zone) to watch five different species of penguins breed at this special time: the King, Rockhopper, Gentoo, Magallanic and Macaroni penguins – the islands also present a chance to spot the rare black-browed albatross – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/antarctic-peninsula-weddell-see-falkland-islands  is a 14-day cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina to the Falklands priced at £8,995/US$14,041pp

December – Sri Lanka
In southern Sri Lanka, this is the best time of year to spot one of the natural wonders of the world – the Blue Whale….nowhere else do they come as close to the land as they do near the coast of Sri Lanka. The www.planetwildlife.com/trave/itineraries/blue-whale-and-leopard-experience  is a nine-day itinerary commencing in Colombo which combines blue whale and dolphin spotting with safaris in Yala, home to elephants and leopards – priced at £2,520/US$3,934pp.

For further information, please visit www.planetwildlife.com  or contact a PlanetWildlife office (listed on the website). PlanetWildlife is as a leading international provider of diverse wildlife and safari tours with over 300 creative itineraries in 26 countries around the world catering to a wide range of interests and budgets.

About PlanetWildlife:

PlanetWildlife is an international travel company based in India with sales offices in UK, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden. It is backed by highly successful entrepreneurs and managed by a professional team who are passionate about wildlife and have been involved in a variety of nature conservation activities over the years. The www.PlanetWildlife.com website features over 300 itineraries to Africa, India, and South America comprising a diverse range of photography safaris, hiking expeditions and bird-watching adventures, including ocean cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Most tours offer daily departure dates and each is well-organised, competitively priced, environmentally responsible and tailored to suit the requirements of group or individual travellers. In all instances they are led by highly qualified and experienced leaders. Respected travel industry professionals and wildlife experts work in consultation with PlanetWildlife and are instrumental in designing each themed itinerary Via the website, a comprehensive and continuously expanding reference library on species and destinations is readily accessible and is regularly updated to ensure its usefulness to travellers, students, wildlife enthusiasts and bloggers.

PlanetWildlife is committed to responsible tourism, and in particular: minimising negative environmental impact; contributing to the conservation of natural and cultural heritages and embracing diversity; providing rewarding experiences for visitors through meaningful interaction with local communities to the economic benefit of those communities; and promoting a greater understanding and respect for local cultural, social and environmental issues. It is part of PlanetWildlife’s corporate policy to fund selected awareness drives and wildlife conservation programmes and welcomes suggestions from the public in this regard.

“…what does not allow me to sleep well is, not the strength of our enemy army, but crossing these immense mountains”.

An opportunity has arisen for a journalist to take part in this epic adventure 12-20 February 2012. This historic route is taken on horseback and suitable for bold novice riders with a sense of adventure.

Follow in the footsteps of San Martin as he crossed the Andes to free the people of Chile in 1816.

For more information please visit www.unicorntrails.com/latinamerica/chile/chiletoargentina-acrosstheandes/

If you are a staff journalist on a quality, national print newspaper or relevant magazine, or a freelance journalist who has already secured a commission from one and are interested in the trip then please contact: Gemma Johnson on 01767 600606.

If you think you can help with the above query please reply to the author direct. You’ll find contact details below. Simply click on the email address or phone the number given.

AdventureSmith Explorations is offering five new Central and South American cruises, thanks to the relaunch of renovated Sea Voyager, starting in March.

The 60-passenger expedition ship will offer eight- to 12-night cruises from a per diem of $365 per person, double.

Included are all meals, pre- and post-cruise hotels stays, shore tours, admission to museums and parks, tax and port fees.

In addition, travelers can save up to $2,000 per couple if they book their cabin on any of the Sea Voyager departures by Jan. 31.

The discount amount depends on the time of year, the cabin type and the itinerary.

Onboard are a lounge, a bar, a fitness and massage rooms, a library with Wi-Fi, a dining room, a buffet, fore and aft deck space, and a platform for getting on and off of Zodiacs.

The five new itineraries are a nine-day Panama to Costa Rica Pacific cruise, a 10-day Panama to Costa Rica Caribbean cruise, a nine-day Panama to Colombia Caribbean cruise, a nine-day Columbia Caribbean cruise, and a 13-day Panama to Ecuador Pacific cruise.

South America adventure travel specialists Andean Trails has four exclusive deals to bring extra cheer to the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Anyone liking their Facebook page before December 19 is automatically entered into a prize draw for six bottles of fine Argentinian Malbec.

If that whets your appetite for travel to South America, then all entrants are also eligible for a five per cent discount on any land tour (flights excluded) booked before Jan 31, 2012.

And Antarctica travellers are urged to look at their exclusive discount deal with the Antarctic Dream.

Book an 11-day cruise before January 15, 2012, – and get 10% off sailings departing on January 21 and 28, February 5 and 15, 2012.

Meanwhile, trekkers get 15% off their 13 day and 15 day Patagonia Adventure tours, which run December 24-January 5 and December 24-January 7.

Spaces will fill up quickly, so please contact info@andeantrails.co.uk to start planning your South America trip as soon as possible.

Website: www.andeantrails.co.uk

Contact: info@andeantrails.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andean-Trails-wwwandeantrailscouk/63308976046?ref=mf

University graduates aged 21-35 with a strong desire to teach English, learn Spanish and travel around South America can do all three on the new Volunteer Chile programme, launched this week by overseas work placement specialist, BUNAC.

In conjunction with Government initiative ‘English Opens Doors’, which has been implemented by Chile’s Ministry of Education, BUNAC volunteers will help to improve English teaching in schools throughout Chile, by giving pupils more opportunity to communicate with native English speakers.

Among the benefits of signing up with BUNAC is the extensive ongoing support and advice provided to volunteers, as well as English teacher training, 15 hours of intensive Spanish language tuition, plus a seven-day cultural orientation package on arrival in Chile.

Successful applicants on the Volunteer Chile programme don’t need to have a teaching qualification or to speak Spanish prior to taking up their voluntary position and are entitled to remain in South America for between four and eight months.

Costs compare favourably with other similar volunteering options available, starting from £595 per person for a four-month stay and from £695 for eight months. This includes accommodation with a host family located close to the school in which the volunteer will teach, three meals a day, as well as a monthly allowance (approx £75 per month).

The opportunity to spend time with a Chilean family genuinely enhances the stay of a volunteer, providing a truly memorable cultural experience, aiding Spanish language learning and helping them to feel more at home in the local community.

Also covered in the price of the BUNAC package are a handbook, an orientation interview, visa assistance, personal support and travel advice, a Lonely Planet guidebook, a BUNAC t-shirt, health screening, an e-learning Spanish course, plus airport transfers to accommodation on arrival.

Extra costs to be considered include flights, around £800-£900, insurance, from £185, a police check (£25), plus inoculations and a monthly spending and travel allowance. The latter will enable students to get the most out of their stay by visiting other areas of Chile during their days off or before they return to the UK.

There are four separate start dates in 2012 for the new Volunteer Chile programme. They are 4 March, 18 March, 2 April and 15 July. Places are very limited so candidates are advised to apply as soon as possible and no later than eight weeks before the programme is due to begin.

For further information or to register for one of the BUNAC Volunteer programmes, visit www.bunac.org.uk/volunteer  or telephone 020 7553 6180.

From colourful festivals to unique local celebrations, World Expeditions and their European division UTracks choose their favourite events around the world for 2012…

JANUARY: VIETNAM
TET NGUYEN DAN – VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR 23 January 2012
WHY: Festive atmosphere, street gambling and dragon dances: Tet Nguyen Dan (literally meaning “the first morning of the first day”) is the biggest and the most sacred festival in Vietnam and is celebrated nationwide. An occasion for family reunions, it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and the arrival of spring, with the Vietnamese taking extreme care to start the new year out right: they buy new clothes, paint and clean their homes, pay off all debts and make amends to rid themselves of all bad feelings!
BOOK IT: Treat your family to the Vietnamese New Year celebrations with World Expeditions’ luxury 13-day Vietnam Family Explorer. Departs on 22 January, from £1,250 per adult (£790 per child).

FEBRUARY: LAOS
LAO ELEPHANT FESTIVAL 17-19 February 2012
WHY: Saddle up – who could pretend to have visited Laos, the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’, without meeting one of these superb animals? The Elephant Festival is organised to raise awareness of the need for action to protect the Asian elephant as part of Laos’ vital cultural and natural heritage. Expect to see colourful elephant processions, elephant bathing, mahout demonstrations, ancient Baci ceremonies, traditional Monk blessings, night markets and of course the prestigious ‘Elephant of the Year’ contest.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Laos on time for the Elephant Festival with World Expeditions’ Best of Laos and Cambodia (15 days) that departs on 16 February. From £1,550 per person.

MARCH: INDIA

HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLOURS 8 March 2012

WHY: Let the spirit of revelry overtake you… Although it is the least religious of Hindu holidays, Holi (“the Festival of Colours”) is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. Celebrated all over India since ancient times, it welcomes the arrival of spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is a time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking: participants hold a public bonfire, spray friends and family with coloured powders and water and go absolutely crazy!

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ compact Delhi to Kathmandu trip (7 days) will make sure you are in Jaipur, the capital of the desert lands of Rajasthan, for Holi. Departs on 7 March, from £590 per person.

APRIL: HOLLAND
QUEEN’S DAY 30 April 2012

WHY: Europe’s biggest street party! Every year on 30 April the Dutch celebrate their Queen’s Day. It is by far the most widely celebrated holiday in the country (Amsterdam alone welcomes two million party-going visitors) and the entire nation dresses in orange, the royal colour. Grab a bargain at one of the many garage or car boot sales (street trading laws are relaxed for 24 hours), there are street performers on every corner and cafés see their outside terraces in full swing, with live music pulling in the customers.
BOOK IT: Celebrate Queen’s Day in Holland with UTracks’ compact 4-day Tulip Tour. Departs on 28 April, from £430 per person.

MAY: UK
GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHEESE ROLLING 28 May 2012

WHY: For hundreds of years the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling has been taking place on this steep hillside. Although traditionally by and for the residents of the local village of Brockworth, the event now sees people from all over the world taking part. A guest roller starts the race by releasing a 7-8lb round of cheese down a treacherous slope and competitors then hurl themselves down the slope after it. The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill (usually after numerous tumbles) is the winner and gets the cheese!
BOOK IT: Book UTracks’ self-guided A Week in the Cotswolds (8 days, NEW FOR 2012) which departs daily and plan it around the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling. From £556 per person.

JUNE: PERU
INTI RAYMI – FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 24 June 2012

WHY: Daytime expositions, street fairs, dancing in the streets and live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups: Inti Raymi (“the Festival of the Sun”) is a weeklong celebration marking the beginning of a new year. Originally celebrated by the Incas, today it is the second largest festival in South America, after the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, with hundreds of actors chosen to represent historical figures. The greatest honour? Being selected to portray the Sapa Inca, the Emperor of the Inca Empire, or his wife Mama Occla.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ Peru – Raft, bike and hike (14 days) that departs on 24 June and get to Peru on time for the Inti Raymi celebrations. From £1,590 per person.

JULY: MONGOLIA
NAADAM – THE THREE GAMES OF MEN 11-13 July 2012

WHY: Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Naadam is a true test of manhood in such traditional games as horse racing, archery and wrestling. The most widely watched festival among Mongols, it enjoys special popularity comparable to that of football in Europe, baseball in the US or sumo wrestling in Japan. It is believed to have existed for centuries, although today it formally commemorates the 1921 revolution, when Mongolia declared itself a free country.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ special Trans Siberian Adventure Naadam Festival (23 days) departure on 2 July costs £3,690 per person.

AUGUST: FRANCE
CORSO DE LA LAVANDE – LAVENDER FESTIVAL 3-7 August 2012
WHY: Corso de la Lavande (“the lavender festival”) is a significant colourful local affair – and a wonderful excuse to visit Digne-les-Bains, the self-styled “capitale de la lavande” and one of the most visually striking regions of Provence! Here, the local lavender harvest is celebrated during the first week of August in a half-a-century old festival. The town comes alive as parades with elaborate floats and presentations of folklore culminate in a grand ball, all devoted to this abundant crop.

BOOK IT: Celebrate Corso de la Lavande with UTracks’ self-guided Best of Provence (8 days). Departs daily from April to October, from £790 per person.

SEPTEMBER: ETHIOPIA
MESKEL – FINDING OF THE TRUE CROSS 27 September 2012

WHY: Meskel is Ethiopia’s most colourful Christian festival – but even for non-believers, it offers a dazzling excuse to celebrate with bonfires and parties! Thousands of locals and visitors get together to watch priests, nuns and parishioners sing, clap, beat drums and dance as they put on a unique show for the crowd. Meskel commemorates the recovery, 17 centuries ago, of the cross on which Jesus was crucified and the Ethiopian Church still claims to have its own piece, hidden from public view at the remote monastery of Gishan Mariam.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Ethiopia to celebrate Meskel with World Expeditions’ special departure of the Ethiopia Explorer (16 days) on 21 September. From £2,220 per person.

OCTOBER: BHUTAN
JAMBAY LHAKHANG FESTIVAL 29 October – 2 November 2012

WHY: A hugely popular religious festival, Jambay Lhakhang takes place every autumn at one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Jambay Lhakhang is known for its two special events: ‘Mewang’ (the “fire blessing ceremony”), where locals run underneath a huge flaming gate made out of dry grasses with ambers and piles of burning grasses falling on their head; and ‘Tercham’ (the “dance of treasure”), where dancers with their face covered by a mask perform a dance completely naked.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ dedicated departure for Land of the Thunder Dragon – Jambay Lakhang Festival (13 days) is on 25 October 2012. From £1,890 per person.

NOVEMBER: ARGENTINA
FIESTA DE LA TRADICIÓN – TRADITION DAY 10 November 2012

WHY: This is the best opportunity you will have to see the ‘gaucho’ culture and get a feel for country life in Argentina. There are competitions, dances, horse and bronco riding, folk music and asados (“barbecues”), as well as exhibitions of local craftwork including silverware, spurs, stirrups and saddles. The finale involves hundreds of gauchos in their traditional dress – typical bombachas (“baggy jodhpurs”), wide-leather belts, boots and leather hats – parading through the centre of town.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ 11-day Patagonia Adventure which culminates just in time for Fiesta de la Tradición. Departs on 27 October, from £1,890 per person.

DECEMBER: CHILE
NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL 29-31 December 2012

WHY: Attracting one million tourists from around the world, this three-day festival culminates with a huge (30,000 explosions!) firework display. Live bands play until the early hours of the morning on Plaza Sotomayor, while local traditions include: eating lentil dishes with 12 grapes to symbolise each month of the year; writing down everything that was bad about the old year and then symbolically burning the paper; going out walking with luggage so that you travel during the year; and wearing ‘lucky’ items, such as yellow underwear.

BOOK IT: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Chile with World Expeditions: Book Chile End to End (18 days) that departs on 31 December 2012, from £3,290 per person.

For more information and bookings please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk and www.utracks.com  The all-inclusive policy of World Expeditions and UTracks ensures there are no local payments. Prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.

Not traditionally known as a honeymoon destination, Latin America offers everything a newlywed couple could wish for from their trip of a lifetime. Over the past 12 months specialist tour operator Journey Latin America have seen a 60% increase in the number of couples enquiring about honeymoons in this part of the world and as a result have just launched a collection of brand new honeymoons for couples looking for something a bit more unique than the typical Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius offering.

With the whole of the continent to choose from, Journey Latin America has taken the stress out of booking a honeymoon in Latin America by designing eleven unique itineraries in the areas they feel are most suited for a romantic holiday-of-a-lifetime. Each holiday offers the best accommodation in the most romantic locations and newlyweds will enjoy private excursions to visit the region’s best highlights, travel in private transport and benefit from having all their flight arrangements etc pre-booked. And with the help of a dedicated travel consultant, couples can choose to personalise their trip even further to make their holiday a truly memorable experience.

A few of Journey Latin America’s hot honeymoon picks include:

An Alternative Honeymoon Safari in Brazil, 15 days from £4,069pp
For a relaxing and stress-free honeymoon, but one that is full of adventure, this honeymoon ticks all the boxes. Stay at two of the best lodges in Brazil’s primary wildlife wilderness areas, the Amazon and the Pantanal. Add a couple of days at the stupendous Iguazú Falls on the border with Argentina and stay a few days in fabulous Rio de Janeiro, enjoying its views and sunlit beaches.

Nicaragua, 12 days from £2,026pp
For those looking for something a bit more adventurous and off-the-beaten-track, offering a bit of adventure and discovery, unspoilt scenery with glimpses of wildlife and a little history and culture Journey Latin America propose a honeymoon in Nicaragua, fast gaining popularity among travellers but as yet free of hordes of tourists.

Argentina, 15 days from £4,914pp
For couples looking for something a bit different from their honeymoon: who are not keen on the idea of lying on a beach all day, and would prefer to fill their time with exciting, unique experiences in stunning natural scenery, Argentina will not disappoint. Staying in first-class hotels, feast on sumptuous steaks in Buenos Aires, trek amongst the glaciers of Patagonia, and relax in the beautiful wine region around Mendoza.

Costa Rica, 11 days from £2,384pp
The friendly, peaceful little country of Costa Rica is the perfect choice for a relaxing honeymoon spiced up with a bit of adventure and wildlife watching. This honeymoon holiday includes white water rafting, spotting turtles and exotic birds at a top rated jungle lodge, and long lazy days on a near perfect Caribbean beach; all while based at first class accommodation.

Recently returned from her honeymoon in Peru, Head of Product Diana Henderson says ‘Latin America really is a wonderful place for a honeymoon. From a moonlit dinner on a secluded Brazilian beach to star-gazing in the Atacama desert to cruising down the Amazon on a luxury boat, there really is an endless amount on offer to make your trip one to remember. The biggest problem is trying to work out what you can realistically fit in!’.
For more information on Journey Latin America and to see our full range of holidays, please visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk  or telephone: 020 8747 8315.

ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours is offering new wine and cycle tours in Chile for 2012. The 11-day Bicycling Chile’s Wine Country Plus! explores the wine-producing regions of Chile’s Central Valley. Departures are March 12 to 22 at $4,395 per person double and Oct. 20 to 30 at $4,595 per person double. Single supplements are $600. Rates include use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle, 10 nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, seven dinners, three lunches, van support, bilingual tour leaders, three wine tastings and visits to wineries. Guests are shuttled to and from Santiago, the host city.

An abbreviated eight-day program is also offered March 12 to 19, 2012, at $3,400 per person double and Oct. 20 to 27, 2012, at $3,550 per person double. Single supplements are $500. Rates include use of a quality 27-30 speed bicycle; eight days, seven nights accommodation, all breakfasts, four dinners and three lunches with two wine tastings. Guests are shuttled to and from Santiago, the host city. For more information, call 800-685-4565.

The South American economic miracle is impacting travel. Described as a “tale of two Americas where travel trends are concerned,” the latest ITB World Travel Trends sees the 2011 South American market as buoyant, whereas international arrivals in North America rose only slightly and U.S. travel abroad was weak.

Boosted by the strong economic performance of countries such as Brazil and Argentina, South America’s domestic and international travel markets registered high double-digit growth. In America, economic uncertainty dampened many U.S. citizens’ desire for travel. Trips to North America increased slightly over the last eight months, whereas international travel remained at last year’s levels. For next year, UNWTO forecasts a 4 to 5 percent increase in international tourists from the Americas, compared with 6.4 percent in 2010.

By contrast, many countries in South America continues to boom.

Even if growth rates have now slowed when compared with previous years, during the past eight months trips abroad by South Americans increased by 15 percent. Brazilians were particularly keen to travel. With the help of a robust domestic economy and strong currency they spent 45 percent more on trips abroad than in 2010. Relatively young, well educated and wealthy travelers are characteristic of South America’s three burgeoning markets, those of Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

The arrival of more low-cost airlines in South America will further increase the number of long-haul trips. Many holidaymakers who travel abroad have also put South America at the top of their wish list. International arrivals increased by 13 percent, while trips to the Caribbean and Central America rose by a lowly 4 percent each.

The difficult economic times currently experienced by many Americans is also reflected in how they take holidays. The focus is increasingly on price awareness and travel bargains. “Staycationers” either remain at home altogether or go on holiday locally.

Only 23 percent of U.S. citizens intend to take more trips abroad next year, 28 percent aim to take less, while 23 percent have no plans at all to travel abroad next year.

The U.S. inbound market registered only slight growth.

During the last eight months, the number of international arrivals rose by only 3 percent, compared with 7 percent in 2010.

The findings are based on the assessments of 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor, recognized as the largest ongoing survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries. The findings reflect trends which emerged during the first eight months of 2011.

Expedition cruise company, Aurora Expeditions, has released their exciting new 2012/13 Antarctica program.

With 20 voyages encompassing the highlights of Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, this season is set to be their biggest and best ever.

The 2012/13 season has a variety of new features, including a choice of two ships, with the addition of Akademik Shokalskiy to the Antarctic Peninsula program. The increased capacity also allows for a greater variety of voyage lengths (8 to 20 days), and more opportunities for adventure activities with kayaking offered on 16 voyages.

With successful uptake of the Fly & Sail options in 2011/12, Aurora Expeditions have increased their Fly & Sail options in 2012/13, allowing passengers to see more in a shorter amount of time, and cutting out one sea crossing. These voyages will include either a flight in from Santiago or Punta Arenas in Chile, or a flight out from King George Island or Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

Celebrating one of the greatest survival stories in Antarctic exploration, Aurora Expeditions has created a brand NEW voyage that will follow in the wake of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

In comfort and safety, ‘South Georgia & Weddell Sea – Shackleton’s Odyssey’, will shine a light on Shackleton’s heroic expedition. Passengers will also have the option to complete the ‘Shackleton’s Crossing’, an alpine traverse of South Georgia’s interior from King Haakon Bay to Stromness, completed by Shackleton himself, on his historic journey.

As one of the world’s most experienced small-ship adventure cruise companies, carrying a maximum of 54 passengers, Aurora Expeditions’ voyages are more akin to expeditions than conventional cruises.

No matter which voyage you choose, or which ship you wish to sail, all of their voyages offer the best experience possible of this incredible region.

For the more adventurous there are a range of activities on offer, such as scuba diving, kayaking, photography, camping and ice climbing.

Prices for the 2012/13 Antarctic season start from US$6365 per person based on a triple cabin for an 8 day cruise.

Bookings made before 31 December 2011 will receive a 10% early bird offer. Valid on the first 15 bookings on each voyage only. Direct bookings only and not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

To order a 2012 / 2013 Antarctic brochure or for more information, visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au  or call our expedition experts on +61 2 9252 1033 or freecall within Australia 1800 637 688.