As we look back at 2009 it is clear that it was a year of adventure and excitement! We saw some new travel trends emerge in 2009--we sent a record number of travelers to Antarctica-which was also our #1 selling destination for the first time ever! We also saw a dramatic increase in the number of travelers to Jordan. Additionally, we saw the number of solo travelers increase.  Throughout the year, the common theme we heard from all of our travelers was a desire to travel to a place that really mattered to them and provided them with a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In addition to sending our customers on amazing trips all over the world, our staff was busy in 2009 reviewing new destinations and continually improving our itineraries for our existing trips! We have sent our experts to Antarctica, Bostwana, China, Egypt, Galapagos Islands and Zambia---just to name a few!

In 2010, we are excited to offer some great new itineraries including a fascinating tour of  Bhutan, Nepal & Tibet, a Gorilla safari in Rwanda and Uganda and an incredible hiking tour of Piemonte, Italy!

As for me, I am looking forward to spending the holidays with my family in Chicago (yes, it is going to be a white Christmas here judging by all the snow falling outside my window) and a quick ski trip over New Years.

From all of us at iExplore--Happy Holidays and Safe Travels!

 

As a mother and an avid traveler I am always looking for great, family friendly vacation deals! So, when I heard about this great offer from Adventures by Disney--I had to check it out!  Adventures by Disney is offering a FREE three-night Disney Cruise to the Bahamas if you purchase a select Adventures by Disney vacation by January 15, 2010!

Two great Disney vacations for the price of one!  I spent some time on the Adventures By Disney website and was intrigued by the American Southwest, Europe and Australia trips they offer! They offer 19 unique itineraries that include special activities just for kids!

Of course, Disney is known for their customer service and the Adventures By Disney trips are no exception--in fact all of their itineraries are led by two Disney-trained Adventure Guides. These Guides handle all of the details, so that families can do what they are meant to do on vacation--relax and enjoy time together!

We are planning our 2010 family vacation in the next few weeks and Adventures by Disney is definitely on the top of my list!

It is not abnormal to find cats climbing into trees. It is however fairly unusual to see lions lounging in the trees.  Like all other cats they use their claws to help them scale tree trunks while climbing into the branches of a tree, however their size often makes scaling a tree a challenge or impossible.  

Our partners at Chief's Camp in Botswana shared with us these fun photos of lions relaxing in the trees of the Moremi Game Reserve. Their experts are speculating that the lions are climbing into the trees either to avoid the pestering of flies or to enjoy a cool breeze that will cool them from the heat.

Either way we wanted to share with you these wonderful photos courtesy of our friends at Chief's Camp in Botswana.

iExplore's team of travel experts have been busy creating some new Best Of Travel lists that showcase some of the best travel destinations and experiences. This week we focus on the Best Safari destinations.

It should come as no surprise that Africa heads the top 10 list for wildlife and safaris. Not only is this where the notion for the safari began, and the origin of the word, but it contains many of the big greats of the mammal kingdom. However, you may be surprised to learn only three of our Top 10 Safari experiences are based in Africa. Check out our entire list:

Top 10 Safari Destinations
Whether your vision of the ideal safari includes luxury lodges and meals on fine china, or a tent in the bush--we have a trip for you. Our list of top 10 safari destinations is sure to make you ready to pack your pith helmet.

Often when explaining what we do here at iExplore, the topic of adventure comes up. We frequently debate how to define adventure.  Surely everyone's definition will vary. There are those who think taking the family truckster off the safety of the highways without GPS or with only an out-of-date map is an adventure where others need to scale El Capitan to tap into that sense of adventure.

Merriam-Webster defines it both as "an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks" and "an exciting or remarkable experience".  I look at adventure as being closer to the latter; I think of it as a state of mind.  To me, an adventure is an experience that reminds you that you are alive. An experience that challenges you in some manner be it experiencing the diversity of a new continent, or learning about new cultures or new skills.

Monika Petrillo, star and director of the documentary Flyabout, shared with me one of my favorite quotes on adventure saying, "The difference between an ordeal and adventure is your state of mind."

iExplore aims to change the state of mind for each one of our clients with every trip they take. We offer challenges, be they physical, experiential or intellectual that encourage genuine growth on the part of the traveler. Our greatest success and satisfaction comes when a client returns from an iExplore tour breathless with excitement; with an unshakable sense their lives have been enriched and almost disbelieving their experience actually happened.

As we build our 2010 itineraries, it is with these ideals in mind that help us define each and every itinerary we offer.  We'd love to help you come back different.  Ask us how or start looking for your next adventure.

Amanda Sundt recently had the opportunity to sit down with Chuck Kratz--the host of "Travel News and Views" on talk radio WJR 760. Amanda and Chuck talked all about Chile--the Land of Fire and Ice and what a fabulous and unique vacation destination it is! Did you know that Chile's topography includes the world's driest desert (Atacama), a prospering wine region, the Lakes District and glaciers? Not to mention the cultural attractions in Santiago or the unique 30 foot stone statutes on Easter Island! Take a listen--it will make you want to book a trip!

Chile: The Land of Fire and Ice with iExplore's Amanda Sundt
Travel News & Views (760-WJR)

Download

As soon as I tell anyone that I work for iExplore--the first question they ask is----what iExplore trip are you going to take next? This is such a hard question to answer because we have so many fabulous trips! So, I have finally narrowed it down to my top three: Egypt, Chile and Africa.

Here's why:

Egypt: I have always been fascinated by the pyramids and the Temple of Sphinx and would love to see them first hand. I am not a big fan of cruises, but I think that spending a couple of days floating down the Nile on a small ship sounds incredible. I would also love to poke around the markets in Cairo and haggle with the merchants!

 


Chile: The "land of fire and ice" really does offer it all! The Atacama desert in the North is the driest in the world--they haven't had rain in 400 years!The Central Valley is one of the biggest producers of wine in the world---and I would love to tour a vineyard and spend an a couple days wine tasting! The Lakes district offers hiking, kayaking and amazing views of volcanoes. Finally, I would love go down to the far south and see the glaciers!
 

Africa: An African safari has been "on my list" for the past couple of years. To me, this is the ultimate travel experience.However, while my vision of a safari includes seeing the big five on lots of game drives, it also includes amazing food and luxury lodges--and sundowner cocktails!





Now, if only I can find the time to get away from work to take one of these incredible trips!

iExplore customer booking habits did not change much between June and July. Seven of June's Top Ten Destinations also made the July list.  Antarctica continues to be the most popular destination of 2009 by holding on to the Top Destination spot again in August and for the fifth month in a row.  iExplore Adventure Consultant Rosemary Burki commented "Antarctica is on so many of my clients 'Must See List'.  Many of them say that the attention Global Warming has received has encouraged them to get there sooner than later."

Safari's continue to be popular with South Africa (#2) and Kenya (#4) maintaining their spots on the list. Also unchanged from last month was perennial favorite Egypt (#3).

We welcomed Indonesia (#7), Jordan (#9) and Spain (#10) to this months list, replacing Alaska, Russia and China.

View the entire Top Ten list for iExplore bookings in July below:

1. Antarctica Expedition
   
2. South African Safari
   
3. Pyramids of Egypt
   
4. Safari in Kenya
   
5. Adventure Down Under
6. Ruins of Machu Picchu
7. Cultural Exploration of Indonesia
   
8. Galapagos Islands Cruise
9. Exploring Petra in Jordan
   
10. Cultural Tour of Spain
    

Have you always wanted to visit Switzerland? Take a hike through the Alps? Sample the cheese and chocolate? Explore the art scene in Basel? 


Join us for a webinar: Planning the Perfect Switzerland vacation on Wednesday, August 12th at 12 CST. Our panel of experts includes:

• Nick Malgieri - Noted chef and cookbook author

• Will Kauke - Rail Europe

• Alex Herrmann - Switzerland Tourism

• Vera Marie Badertscher -  Travel Writer

• Rosemary Burki - iExplore Adventure Consultant

Join us as our experts give you an insider's view to discovering the hidden gems of Switzerland.

Register now!

I recently had the opportunity to talk to one of iExplore's past travelers-Thomas Laussermair--about his trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Thomas and his wife, Jill, traveled with iExplore to climb Kilimanjaro, followed by a week long safari in the Serengeti.

So, I think about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro but am worried about getting in shape! Can you tell me how you prepared?

I am a pretty active guy and I ride my bike year round. Also, I go to the gym 2-3 times a week, so physical fitness was not really a concern for me. That said, you really do not have to be a super athlete to climb Kili. In fact, slightly overweight, less fit people do well in a high altitude!

I know that photography was an important part of your trip--can you tell me more?

I used an Olympus 570 camera with a really large zoom lens that we purchased just before we left. I think the most difficult shot I took was at 1AM on the day we were going to summit. It was a very cold morning and the sky was extremely clear--we hiked by another camp and saw the dome shaped tents that had lights on. The tents look like they are glowing orange against a blue/ black sky. It was such a cool site that I immediately got out the camera and the tripod.

























What were some of the best memories of your trip?

I think one of the most interesting aspects of climbing Kili is that you pass thru about 5 climate zones as you make your way to the summit. At the low altitudes, it is very dry and arid and then as you climb a bit higher you go through the rainforest. At about 10,000 feet it is alpine vegetation, followed further up by barren land. Once you reach the summit, it is a glacier. It definitely makes packing a challenge! And I think it keeps the trip really interesting as every day you are experiencing a new climate zone.


 



















Reaching the summit is another one of my favorite memories. However, it was cold and cloudy that day, so we did not get to explore the glacier as much as we would have liked. I will say that I told my son, age 11, that if he wants to see snow on Mt. Kilimanjaro he better hurry up due to global warming!





Thomas is now off on another great adventure--Panamerican Peaks. He is riding his bike from Alaska to Patagonia and climbing the highest peak of every country along the way! Check out his blog to see where he is and find out how he is doing.