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Anniversary Cruise |
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2008 Dates: Jun 26 -
Jul 13
Prices from: $9,990 |
Join us on Norway's untamed coast and spend your days
strolling the Art Nouveau streets of Alesund, taking in
breathtaking vistas of plummeting waterfalls. The experience will
leave you forever changed.
Trip Overview:
Day 1-4: Copenhagen.
Day 5-6: Geiranger; North Sea.
Day 7-9: Trondheim, Glaciers
Day 10-13: Spitzbergen.
Day 14-16: Alesund, Bergen.
Day 17: North Sea.
Day 18: Dover, Home.
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Day by Day
Day 1 – Home (Transfer Day)
Travelers on the pre-trip will take an overnight
flight to Europe and then connect on another flight to Cape
Town. Others may choose to fly direct to Cape Town from New
York or arrive a few days earlier.
Day 2
- Cape Town
Arrive in Cape
Town, known as South Africa’s “Mother City”, where we settle
in at our waterfront hotel, The Commodore, and have a chance
to get acquainted over a glass of wine at a welcome reception.
Hotel: Commodore Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 3 - Cape Town
We enjoy a full day exploring the spectacular
Cape Peninsula including a scenic drive on the Atlantic Coast,
visits to Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Noordhoek, and the breathtaking
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, and take the funicular up to
Cape Point. After lunch in Seaforth, and a look at the beach
of playful penguins at Boulders, take in views of the Indian
Ocean, and visit Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, and St.
James. Hotel: Commodore Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 4
- Cape Town
This morning we take a cable car ride up to top
of Table Mountain, then explore many of Cape Town’s
highlights. From St. George’s Cathedral, we stroll along
Government Avenue and view the houses of parliament, the South
Africa Museum, and the National Gallery, then have the
afternoon to do a bit of shopping perhaps, or simply stroll
along the waterfront. Hotel: Commodore Hotel
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch and
Dinner)
Day 5 - Stellenbosch and Wine Region
We explore South
Africa’s lush wine regions today, including wine tasting,
walks through the manicured rows of vineyards, and a visit to
the town of Stellenbosch with its mostly-Dutch origins as
evident in oak-lined streets and whitewashed Cape Dutch
architecture. Hotel: Commodore Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 6
- Garden Route; Knysna
This morning we head out to take in on of the
most scenic and magical landscapes in the world, along the
lush and verdant Garden Route past Hermanus and Stanford to
Swellendam before we stop for lunch in Zanddrift. We continue
to the coastline on Mossel Bay and Wilderness before arriving
in Knysna where we settle in to our quaint hotel on the
beaches of Knysna, the Knysna Quays with its many surrounding
shops and restaurants. Hotel
Knysna Quays Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 7 - Knysna
After a tasting
of fresh oysters this morning, we take a leisurely cruise on
the Featherbed Ferry to the local nature reserve, and a
trailer ride to the top of Western Head, and a nature walk
back to the food forest. We sample some fresh seafood at a
barbeque, then take a journey on the narrow gauge steam
railway, the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Steam Train, that runs 50
kilometres from Knysna to George, crossing the Knysna lagoon,
and enjoying a short excursion into the town of George itself.
Hotel: Knysna Quays
Meals: (Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner)
Day 8 - Knysna
The day is yours to explore, perhaps spend it
on the beach and go for a dip on the shores of Plettenburg
Bay, renowned for its southern right and pygmy whales, and
calm waters, perfect for a refreshing swim. Hotel:
Knysna Quays Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 9 - Knysna
Today we travel
to the Storms River Adventure Centre, and enjoy the
Woodcutters journey where we traverse the Storms River Pass to
experience the indigenous forest. We follow the Elephant
Trail, passing yellowwoods and stinkwood, while listening to
the legends of the area and its forests. Lunch is savoured at
a beautiful site next to the Storms River where wagons out
spanned more than a century ago. Hotel:
Knysna Quays Meals:
(Breakfast and Dinner)
Day 10 - Port Elizabeth; Durban;
Ithala Game Reserve
This morning we
transfer to Port Elizabeth for a short flight to Durban, and
then proceed to Ithala Game Reserve, where the African
rhinoceros was saved from extinction. This evening we try to
catch glimpses of “The Big 5”, (lion, leopard, buffalo,
elephant, and rhino) and a range of nocturnal hunters emerge
from their lairs on a night game drive. Hotel:
Ithala Camp meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 11 - Ithala Game Reserve
As dawn breaks, we set off again in search of
big game on a morning game drive, then take a leisurely boat
cruise on the dam with a local guide to spot more fascinating
birds and animals. Hotel: Ithala
Camp Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day
12 - Swaziland
This morning we depart
Hluhluwe for the Kingdom of Swaziland, lying between
Mpumalanga and the province of KwaZulu Natal, this kingdom
gained its independence from Britain in 1968 under King
Sobhuza. We settle in to out hotel, the Ezulwini Sun Hotel,
where we enjoy views from the Phumalanga terrace with its
sparkling pool, surrounding manicured lawns and mountains
beyond. Hotel: Ezulwini Sun Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day
13 - Swaziland
At a local glass
and candle factory we admire the many ornate and skilfully
created items, and spend the afternoon as we like exploring,
or perhaps trying our hand at a game of lawn bowling or
snooker. Hotel: Ezulwini Sun Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 14 - Kapama Private Game Reserve
We make our way out of Swazi borders and back
into South Africa once again, and up to the vicinity of Kruger
National Park, where we arrive at Kapama Private Game Reserve
to experience a most luxurious game lodge and safari. We board
our 4x4s this evening for a night game drive, then enjoy a
decadent meal in an outdoor boma. Hotel:
Kapama Private Game Reserve
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 15 - Kapama Private Game Reserve
We have a full day of game activities today, as
we embark on morning and evening game drives searching for
lions on the prowl, or perhaps a leopard emerging from his
lair. We make stops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and even
have the chance to take an exciting bush walk if we like.
Hotel: Kapama Lodge
Meals: (Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner)
Day 16 - Kapama Private Game Reserve
On our second
day of full game activities, we experience more game viewing,
and visit the Hoedspruit Cheetah Breeding Project, where we
see more than 70 cheetahs including tame ones, cubs and the
extremely beautiful King Cheetah can be viewed in natural
surroundings. With many other species in the centre, the
ultimate objective of this project is to return endangered
African species to the wild once their numbers have been
increased. Hotel: Kapama Lodge
Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 17 - Pilgrim’s Rest
After a few days of thrilling game viewing we
make the panoramic drive to the quiet historic old gold mining
town of Pilgrim’s Rest. After lunch, we unpack at the
impeccably restored Royal Hotel for our two-night stay. Hotel:
Royal Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 18 - Johannesburg
We depart Pilgrim’s Rest this morning and
journey southwest to the sophisticated, upscale outskirts of
Johannesburg, in the area of Sandton in Gauteng. Our hotel,
full of Renaissance-style elegance, stands over the heart of
Sandton Square, and is the perfect vantage point from to which
to observe the entertainment and corporate capital of South
Africa. Hotel: Michelangelo Hotel Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 19 - Johannesburg
On our final day in South Africa, we visit some
of Johannesburg’s most important sites, including the
Apartheid Museum, the Constitutional Court, as well as Mandela
Bridge named after the revolutionary leader. Later this
evening we say our goodbyes, and travellers will board their
overnight flight home via Europe. Meals:
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 20 - Home (Transfer Day)
Travelers will arrive home after connecting in
Europe.
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THE ESSENTIALS: |
| Level of Activity: |
Light: Strolling along nature paths,
through small towns and city walking. Suitable for all
ages and abilities, with some opportunities for extended
walks. |
| Start: |
Cape Town, South Africa |
| Finish: |
Johannesburg, South Africa |
| What’s Included: |
- all accommodations on a shared twin/double room
basis
- all breakfasts, most lunches & dinners
- all entrance fees and tours
- all transfers and baggage handling
- all local experts and specialists
- the leadership of a Horizon guide
- all special events and on-trip surprises
- all gratuities to porters, drivers, restaurants and
other service staff
- all pre-departure materials, including documents
wallets and destination details
- all gratuities to the Horizon Guide
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GETTING THERE |
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Flights: |
We generally recommend that our travellers
arrive at least a day before the trip starts in order to
get their bearings and ease in to the new surroundings.
Depending on your preference, you can generally choose
between a day flight or an overnight flight.
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Travel Services: |
For the convenience of our travellers, we
have assembled a pre-trip flight package to and from the
trip (see below). If you require assistance beyond the pre
trip (i.e. if you wish to extend your journey or arrive
earlier), if we wish to depart from a city other than
Toronto, or if you wish to make special private or custom
travel arrangements, please call us to discuss your needs. |
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Flight Package: |
For
travellers seeking assistance with travel to and from our
Classic Series trips, we have designed flight packages
including return flights from Toronto. Please call us for
further details.
The
flight package includes:
airport transfers to and from home (within the GTA)
check-in assistance at the airport
the companionship of a Horizon guide on the flights
economy class flights to and from Toronto
airport transfers in the start and finish cities
porterage charges throughout
any relevant meals on the flight
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DATES:
| 2008: |
Feb 12-Mar 3 |
| Length: |
19N / 20D |
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PRICES ($CDN)
| Per person: |
$11,995 |
| Single Sup: |
$1,870 |
| Air (GTA): |
$1,800 |
| Air Tax: |
$200 |
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PRICES ($US)
| Per person: |
$10,430 |
| Single Sup: |
$1,625 |
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