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2012 is a BIG year for AdventureWomen! It's our 30th Anniversary and we hope you'll come celebrate with us! We're bringing back many of our all-time favorite trips, some that we haven't run in years. So take a look at what's coming up in 2012, and start dreaming about your next vacation now!
When you find your "must do" adventure, just click on the link at the end of the trip description for full details. If the trip isn't yet available on our website, send us your name and email address. We'll make sure you're on the special EARLYBIRD list and that you are one of the first to receive the itinerary and full details when they're available.
1. January 29 – February 4, 2012
WOMEN'S DOWNHILL SKI WEEK IN MONTANA
Our week of delightful Montana skiing begins with sunshine, blue sky, and plenty of incredible snow, called the "cold smoke" because it is so light and fluffy. This is what a women's only ski vacation and downhill ski clinic in Montana was meant to be! Come discover, OR rediscover, the pure joy of a downhill ski adventure - Montana style - at the most all-inclusive women's ski clinic in the country. With expert women ski instructors and small groups with individual attention, women of any ability level (from those who have never skied before, to beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers), will improve not only their skiing skills, but their confidence and comfort zones. The camaraderie of skiing together with other women and your instructors is what women from our past clinics have valued as the most important aspect of the week. It provides an emotionally safe environment where each participant can learn to develop their skiing abilities and develop at her own level. Come see why so many of our past clients return year after year! Price $2,595. ($600 deposit) All Ability Levels.
> Click here for more details.
2. February 5 – 11, 2012
WINTER WONDERLAND IN YELLOWSTONE
What could be more dramatic than Yellowstone in winter; the BEST time to be in the Park due to the fewest number of visitors during this prime wildlife viewing season. Billowing geysers, frosted landscapes, frozen waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and surreal snowscapes are the magical world of winter in Yellowstone.
We begin at Yellowstone Park's north entrance at Mammoth Hot Springs. Experience viewing wildlife through the beautiful landscapes of the Lamar Valley, getting a rare glimpse of the natural habitat and ecology that is home to Yellowstone's famous wolves, bison, elk, and other animals. Snowshoe around the famous travertine terraces and enjoy staying in the close-by town of Gardiner, MT, at the gateway to Mammoth. Then travel to Big Sky, Montana where we base at our favorite guest ranch and start off with a fun and old fashioned sleighride. You'll thrill with the excitement of driving a dog team of well-trained athletes, and maybe choose an exhilarating optional ziplining experience at Big Sky Ski Resort. Then enter the Park on a snowcoach tour to Old Faithful and experience a natural display of unique splendors like no place else on earth! Our Big Sky-based naturalist-guide, Leslie Stoltz, will amaze you with her knowledge of the ecology and wildlife in this white-on-white wonderland.
Custom-designed by AdventureWomen, you won't find a trip like this on anyone else's schedule. It is a one-of-a-kind, very special itinerary, with space for only 11 participants. Price $2,895. ($600 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
3. February 15 – 28, 2012
BURMA (MYANMAR) AND LAOS: LAND OF GOLDEN PAGODAS AND FASCINATING TRIBES
In 2007 AdventureWomen was ahead of the curve with this new trip. There were few American tourists going to Burma and Laos then. However, the trip and our experiences were so fantastic that we are bringing it back again for our 30th anniversary so that more women will get a second chance to understand the wonders and people of these two splendid countries. It is a rare opportunity to step back in time and experience the Asia of old in two Buddhist countries that are the most exotic and least explored areas of SE Asia. From the magic of Rangoon and Mandalay; the ancient ruins of Bagan, one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites; Inle Lake, home to Ngae Ni's Intha tribe, famed for their unique one-leg rowing technique and floating vegetable gardens; to shimmering golden-spired temples, and the fascinating tribal peoples of Laos, our journey incorporates classic wonders and incomparable natural phenomena.
With the recent release from house arrest of political activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in November 2010, tourism in Burma (Myanmar) has already increased, and Burma is now being touted as Asia's next "tourism hotspot." Come with AdventureWomen NOW, and beat the crowds! Price $5,995 all inclusive (land and air) from Bangkok, Thailand, including all internal flights in Burma and Laos. ($800 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
4. March 4 – 10, 2012
CARIBBEAN SAILING, SNORKELING, AND SCUBA DIVING IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
It’s no wonder that one of our longest-running, most popular winter getaways is our British Virgin Islands Caribbean Sail, Snorkel, and Scuba adventure. In the middle of winter, who wouldn't want to be onboard the world's largest luxury trimaran sailboat, enjoying a fabulous warm-weather escape with an activity level for everyone. There are water sports galore, decadent food, an incredible crew, and wonderful accommodations in 10 deluxe double staterooms—an experience rated as "one of the top five vacations in the world" by travel writers! Our days are filled with sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sea kayaking in addition to eating, relaxing, and island excursions! Take your pick of activities, or just sit on the deck and read a book! Be pampered in paradise in the warm, turquoise Caribbean waters. Price $2,995. ($800 deposit) Easy to Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
5. April 14 – 20, 2012
HIKE ARIZONA'S SONORAN DESERT
Another of our old favorites, we are bringing back this hiking trip to celebrate spring with the wonders of this biologically diverse environment. From Tucson's blooming deserts, to Geronimo's home in the Chiricahua Mountains, we'll hike through desert canyons and along rushing streams, past giant saguaro cacti and into the yearly bloom and riot of color in the Sonoran Desert. This is the perfect adventure for women who love to hike! Our accommodations for the week are at a luxurious resort set in pristine natural surroundings above Tucson, and a delightful hotel in Sierra Vista, a small historic town with an old west flavor.
Custom-designed by AdventureWomen, you won't find a trip like this on anyone else's schedule. It is a one-of-a-kind, very special itinerary, with space for only 11 participants. Price $2,895. ($600 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
6. May 14 - 27, 2012 and May 29 - June 11, 2012
GORILLA, CHIMPANZEE AND WILDLIFE SAFARI IN UGANDA & RWANDA
Encompassing the tropical forests of the Western Rift Valley, the savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, dramatic volcanic peaks and lush green forests, Uganda and Rwanda provide the backdrop for one of the best wildlife adventures you will ever experience. From the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in western Uganda, and from the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, we will track some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world. This is a spine tingling adventure, and a truly remarkable experience, when you finally come face to face with these amiable primates.
On this incredible adventure, we will also combine gorilla tracking (in both Uganda and Rwanda) with wildlife viewing in Uganda's spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park and with chimpanzee viewing in Kibale Forest. Stunning accommodations and fantastic guides round out the trip of a lifetime. Price $7,995 from Entebbe, Uganda. International round-trip flight from the U.S.A. – Entebbe, Uganda, and from Kigali - Rwanda – U.S.A. is priced separately. ($1,500 deposit) Moderate to possible High Energy on gorilla trek days.
> Click here for more details for May 14 - 27, 2012.
> Click here for more details for May 29 - June 11, 2012.
7. June 4 - 15, 2012
THE BEST OF PERU
This South American experience is like no other we have offered. Although many of the sites are the same as in other trips we've done to Peru, the way we are introduced to the culture during our time here is through the eyes of prominent Peruvians, most of them women, who will accompany us throughout.
We'll explore Peru's capital city of Lima, learning from Silvia Stern about her impressive collection of Spanish colonial art and from Ulla Holmquist, head curator of the Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum. We travel to the glorious city of Cuzco, high in the Andes Mountains, and the archeological sites surrounding it, plus spend a day in a Cuyuni native community, learning from the proud villagers about their daily activities and ancestral traditions from pre-Inca times. We experience the Urubamba Sacred Valley and Nilda Canallaupa's National Geographic-sponsored native weaving project; then take a spectacular early morning train ride through dramatic landscapes and spectacular vistas to the most remarkable architectural site on the South American continent: Machu Picchu, The Hidden City of the Incas. Here we stay two nights at a luxury hotel, conveniently located near the ruins, so we can explore to our hearts' content. Our guide in Machu Picchu is Roger Valencia, named the best guide in Cuzco by Peru's Ministry of Tourism. Then we take the Orient Express to the world's highest lake, Titicaca, and stay on Suasi Island at Casa Andina's Private Collection lodge to take in the magnificence of the lake. It will serve as a base from which we do outings that will be true "journeys of cultural discovery."
Don't miss this amazing in-depth exploration of the culture, art, and archeology of Peru, historically and aesthetically one of the most beautiful and interesting lands in South America. $6,195 all inclusive (land and air) from Miami, plus 2 internal flights and 2 train journeys. ($800 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
8. June 16 - 23, 2012
ALASKA BEAR VIEWING AND WILDLIFE SAFARI
Another one of our AdventureWomen long time favorites, we fly by bush plane to a spectacular and remote bear camp ("Best U.S. Bush Camp," Outside Magazine), plus hike, sea kayak, whitewater raft through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, glacier cruise from Seward, and visit the charming town of Homer "at the end of the road" on this action-packed adventure in the BEST of Alaska's Parks and Kenai Peninsula. Price $3,995. ($600 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
9. July 14 - 20, 2012
MONTANA WILD WEST SAMPLER
From our favorite Montana guest ranch just north of Yellowstone National Park and close to the wonders of Big Sky, you can try ALL the activities that make this part of the Rocky Mountain West so famous, while staying in luxury log cabin accommodations. We'll hike, horseback ride, whitewater raft, zip line, and maybe fly fish in the famous Gallatin River (where A River Runs Through It was filmed). We'll explore Montana's Lewis and Clark history at the Missouri River Headwaters, visit the amazing Lewis and Clark Caverns, and safari into Yellowstone for a day of spectacular wildlife watching. And there's more. This is AdventureWomen's own "back yard" and we KNOW the places to take you and the activities you'll love. Price $2,795. ($600 deposit) Easy to Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
10. July 28 - August 3, 2012
HORSEPACKING THROUGH THE CANADIAN ROCKIES - BANFF NATIONAL PARK
One of AdventureWomen's all-time favorite horsepack trips, we bring back this Canadian adventure because it doesn't have any comparison. Like Yellowstone, the U.S.A.'s first national park, Banff is Canada's first national park and now is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After an overnight in Banff, our adventure in the saddle begins as we explore the high mountain passes and glacial cirques along the Canadian Rocky Mountain front, riding with our guides and packers through meadows and along grassy ridges beneath snowy peaks. Wildlife is abundant and includes elk, deer, eagles, wolves, and innumerable species of birds. We'll cross streams and maybe view Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep as we stop to take spectacular photographs. We stay in tented camps named Flint's Park, Stoney Creek, and Mystic Valley. Hearty western breakfasts and dinners are prepared by skilled cooks and served inside large tents, while lunch is picnic style along the trail. And the horses are good mountain horses! Each is chosen to meet your individual needs and riding experience. These equine friends will easily win you over with their charming personalities and their trail savvy. Price $2,795. ($800 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
11. August 4 - 11, 2012
MONTANA'S GLACIER NATIONAL PARK - HIKING MAGIC
Recognized as one of the truly outstanding wilderness parks in the world, this trip combines all the elements that make a hiking week in the wilderness spectacular, and one of AdventureWomen's all time favorite hiking trips: top-rate guides, beautiful park lodge accommodations, and the absolute grandeur of Glacier Park. We'll also cross the border into Canada's awesome Waterton International Peace Park and whitewater raft on the scenic and exhilarating Flathead River. This trip combines adventure at its best in some of the country's most spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery. Price $2,795. ($600 deposit) Moderate with some High Energy.
> Click here for more details.
The following 3 trips are part of the 2012 "30th Anniversary Celebration" series called "Travels with the President." Susan Eckert, Founder and President of AdventureWomen Inc., will be traveling on all 3 of these adventures, and is looking forward to sharing one (or more) with you. The trips are set up such that each trip ends with ample time to get to the next trip. So come hiking in the Dolomites and then barging in France! Or barge in France first and then join our new trip in Poland!
12. August 22 - 30, 2012
HIKING ITALY'S DOLOMITES
Looking more like a Gothic painter's fantasies than a geologic upheaval of Triassic coral reefs, this chain of massifs, the Italian Dolomites, has tempted those with a love of mountains for centuries. In fact, the alpine passes of the Dolomites have been sought by such travelers as Neolithic man, the Romans, and the mountain troops in World War I. Today, this picturesque region of the Italian Alps offers superb walking through protected wilderness parks to historic, cultural centers. Our hikes take us on high mountain trails to discover scenery similar to Austria and Switzerland as we look down on lush green valleys and fairy tale villages, and walk past clear mountain streams, cascading waterfalls, and beautiful lakes. Warm Italian hospitality awaits us in our lodgings at night, and of course, as with all AdventureWomen trips, the cuisine, as well as the scenery, is a highlight. Price $3,895 from Verona, Italy. ($800 deposit) Moderate with 2 days High Energy.
> Click here for more details.
13. August 31 – September 7, 2012
A GRAND FRENCH "TOAST" TO CELEBRATE ADVENTUREWOMEN'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY – TRAVEL FRANCE BY BARGE THROUGH ALSACE-LORRAINE
AdventureWomen has barged through Burgundy, France, many times. But for our special 30th anniversary celebration trip, we're going to barge a different, more fascinating and adventurous canal, through the heart of Alsace-Lorraine. Besides tunneling through the Voges Mountains, our barge is also carried up or down on the spectacular Arzvillier hyadralic lift. We pass through stunning mountain scenery, cruise through serene and rolling landscapes, and by picturesque Medieval towns and villages. Our barge route in Alsace-Lorraine takes us through one of France's most interesting regions, where French and German culture combine. Enjoy gourmet food, superb wines at meals and wine tastings, brewery visits, endless discoveries of art and architecture, history, and heritage.
Our elegant barge, the Lorraine, is newly renovated and will accommodate 22 AdventureWomen in 11 comfortable twin cabins on the lower deck. Each cabin has large opening windows and air conditioning. The barge is equipped with a flower-strewn sundeck with chairs and parasols, bicycles, a cozy saloon leading to the bar, and a separate dining room. Hike and bike along the towpath, with tours of nearby towns and villages.
Join the celebration! 30 years of adventure! Price $3,995 from Strasbourg Train Station, France. ($800 deposit) Easy with Moderate options.
> Click here for more details.
14. September 8 – 15, 2012
POLAND CULINARY, CULTURAL, AND HIKING IN EASTERN EUROPE
We've been trying to set up a trip in Eastern Europe for some time, and have finally found the perfect vacation for AdventureWomen. The southeast part of Poland is one of the country's most beautiful and "delicious" regions. We begin in the charming town of Zakopane, immersed in the highlander culture, rich in culinary and cultural traditions. There are many unique historic attractions, and first rate hiking trails run through the Tatra Mountains, offering stunning views of gorgeous scenery. We cook, walk, explore, and learn about Polish folklore from Polish women in their homes. Then we travel to the magnificent city of Krakow, built around Europe's largest medieval market square, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we dine and cook with Krakow's talented chefs in some of the city's best restaurants, all the while exploring the unique architecture and history of a city designated as a "European City of Culture." Price $3,895 from Krakow, Poland. ($800 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
15. October 5 - 16, 2012
CLASSIC MAINLAND GREECE AND THE ISLAND OF CRETE
Greece is classic, unforgettable, fundamental, and exotic! It is Socrates and Plato, Zorba, Shirley Valentine, and ancient feuds that read like soap operas—so precious that gods and goddesses waged war over it!
We begin with an exploration of classic Athens and the Acropolis, the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture. Then off to Pelion, a peninsula with more than 20 charming villages, each with lovely architecture and winding cobblestone streets, with immediate access to mountain and sea. We hike, swim, eat marvelous meals, and visit a village where the movie Mama Mia was filmed. On to Meteora, an impressive geological site where 36 monasteries were built in the 14th century, and now only 6 remain, all with stunning views that make them seem suspended between earth and sky. And next Delphi, considered the center of the known world, the place where heaven and earth met, and one of the most beautiful sites in all of Greece. Then we fly to Crete, a Greek island that has everything to offer us: the stunning ruins of the ancient Minoans, mountainous landscapes, beautiful beaches and charming towns.
Our accommodations are in the warm atmosphere of "untouristy" and boutique hotels. We dine in local restaurants where the Greeks themselves eat. Our knowledgeable and personable Greek guide (who else knows this country as well?) will help make this an unforgettable AdventureWomen vacation. The sun, the sea, the ancient ruins, the history... will take your breath away. It's the perfect, classic place to walk amidst the ruins and among the ghosts of the gods. Let the Mediterranean sun heal you. Surrender to the temptation of Greece... and join AdventureWomen on our 30th anniversary year celebration in 2012!
$5,395 from Athens, Greece. ($800 deposit) Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
16. October 24 – November 8, 2012
NEPAL ANNAPURNA LODGE TREK IN THE HIMALAYAS
Back by popular demand! Experience exotic splendor in Nepal's Himalayas on a low altitude lodge trek in the incredibly spectacular Annapurna foothills. Stay in comfortable private lodges with solar hot water showers! Then switch to rafts for a relaxing two-day trip on the Seti River, followed by a safari on elephant-back in Chitwan National Park to find rhinoceros and the elusive tiger. This Nepal trekking adventure is a unique combination of hiking, cultural interaction, rafting, and getting to know Nepal's southern Terai country. You can have it all on this 16 day odyssey on foot through the highlights of this fascinating destination in Asia! All this in one, exciting trip! $4,795 from Kathmandu, Nepal. ($800 deposit) Moderate with 2 days High Energy.
> Click here for more details.
17. October 27 – November 2, 2012
HALLOWEEN SEA KAYAKING IN BAJA AND MEXICAN COOKING CLASS
Baja's Sea of Cortez is the perfect warm water sea kayak escape from pre-holiday mania. Great guides and a comfortable safari-style beach camp, with a special Mexican cooking class to celebrate our last night together. $2,795 includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to La Paz, Baja, Mexico. ($800 deposit) Easy to Moderate.
> Click here for more details.
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