1. Sicily's Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Marsha Runningen, 10-time traveler from Springfield, VA:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Explore the magnificent Mount Etna—a UNESCO World Heritage Site— in 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The highest Italian mountain south of the Alps, Mount Etna stretches to a height of more than 10,000 feet. It’s not only the tallest active volcano in Europe, it’s also one of the most active volcanoes in the world—with rich volcanic soil that brings abundant vineyards and orchards to its slopes.
View Itinerary2. Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Marilyn Farmer, 58-time traveler from Altoona, KS:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Set off for Val Gardena, a valley nestled in the heart of the UNESCO-designated Dolomites where a trio of languages is spoken: German, Italian, and Ladin. An ethnic minority of about 35,000 people occupying five valleys of the Dolomites, Ladins developed their own language—unrelated to German or Italian, it’s the oldest language of Italy’s Alpine region.
Board the Bernina Express Train. One of the few rail journeys designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bernina Express Train is not just the world’s highest Alpine crossing (reaching an altitude of 7,400 feet), but also the steepest, with gradients up to 7%. Panoramic views from the train allow us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the unfolding Alpine scenery as we travel over bridges and viaducts, through tunnels, and past glaciers, villages, alpine meadows, and vineyards.
3. Morocco Sahara Odyssey
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Larry Dean, 15-time traveler from Damascus, MD:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Drive across the Middle Atlas Mountain range, winding through pine groves and giant cedar forests. The rich purple soil and the tall evergreens are quite a contrast against each other. We cross a 6,000-foot pass in the mountains and head further toward the Sahara. This long transfer will give our small group ample opportunity to witness the varied geologic and ecological zones we travel through and gain a deeper understanding of the regional landscapes.
4. The Wilderness Beyond: Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & the Chilean Fjords
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Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Pierre Cousineau, 4-time traveler from Salinas, CA:
- 15-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 4 nights aboard the chartered, 210-passenger M/V Stella Australis or M/V Ventus Australis
- Majestic Mountain Views: Hike in Torres del Paine, whose national park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978 and is renowned as one of the most remote, beautiful, and unspoiled places in the world. The landscape is rich and diverse in dramatic geological formations, which combine in several distinct ecosystems, from the wind-bent grasses of the plains to the sheer, frozen cliffs of the Andes.
5. Machu Picchu & the Galápagos
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Gordon Clifford Wininger, 30-time traveler from Henderson, NV:
- 17-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure with 4 nights aboard the privately chartered, 16-passenger Galápagos Small Ship
- Majestic Mountain Views: Go on a full-day optional tour to Termas de Papallacta, a spa resort located high in the Andes adjacent to the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve. At close to 11,000 feet above sea level, Papallacta is also Ecuador's highest town, and is renowned for the thermally-heated waters that pour from the ground by the subterranean activity of nearby Volcan Antisana. You can enjoy a relaxing soak in any of the eight pools located at the spa, whose therapeutic waters range in temperatures from a bath-like 86° F to a scalding 158° F. Other treatments ranging from mud wraps to massages are available at the spa, and you may wish to reserve a treatment of your choosing.
6. Nepal & the Mystical Himalayas
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Tom Ossim, 12-time traveler from Vienna, VA:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Explore the foothills of the Himalayas—from the dense Chitwan jungle to the terraced farmland, wooded hillsides, and sweeping views of the Pokhara Valley.
Embark on an optional flight to Everest (weather permitting). This iconic mountain is known in Tibet as Chomolungma, which means “Mother of the Universe” or “Goddess Mother of the Earth.” The Nepali name is Sagarmatha, or “Goddess of the Sky.” Avid climbers call this mountain “the ultimate climb,” and with its astounding summit height of 29,029 feet above sea level, Mount Everest earns the title of the tallest peak on Earth.
7. New! Southern Africa Discovery: Victoria Falls, Kruger Safari & the Cape Peninsula
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Our most popular video by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Edward Getley, 13-time traveler from Somerdale, NJ:
- 16-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Travel by cable car (depending on wind conditions) up to Table Mountain, one of Cape Town's most dramatic natural landmarks. From the top, we’ll enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean, the bays, the city below, and the peninsula that meanders south to the Cape of Good Hope. Some 1,400 species of wild flowering plants grow on and around Table Mountain, which is also home to the unusual rock hyrax (often called dassies)—rodent-like creatures whose closest living relative is the elephant.
8. Rwanda: Mountain Gorillas in the Land of a Thousand Hills
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Erica Suppa, 4-time traveler from New Castle, DE:
- 11-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Admire the breathtaking views of the five massive volcanoes within Virunga National Park before visiting a gorilla family residing high on its slopes.
9. New! Alpine Europe: France, Italy's Dolomites, Switzerland & Austria
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Marilyn Farmer, 59-time traveler from Altoona, KS:
- 18-day O.A.T. Small Group Adventure
- Majestic Mountain Views: Explore picturesque towns in the Swiss Alps—such as Lugano. Nestled on the shores of lovely Lake Lugano, this picturesque region is one of the most unique ones we will visit, as the glacial lake is situated along the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. With a population of around 63% Swiss and 37% Italian, the best of both cultures are represented here—from Swiss sophistication to Italy’s world-renowned cuisine.
Hike in one of Italy’s most spectacular natural landscapes—the Dolomites. These mountains offer hikers of all levels various trails to explore and seemingly endless vistas. After a photo stop at glacial Lake Carezza, we'll continue our panoramic drive until we reach one of the most beautiful passes. Here, a naturalist guide will join us for a hike in this scenic region of lush Alpine meadows and soaring mountain peaks.
10. Enhanced! Best of the Canadian Rockies: Calgary to Vancouver
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Our most popular slideshow by an O.A.T. traveler—created by Susan Karski, 5-time traveler from Wimauma, FL:
- 14-day Grand Circle Land Vacation
- Majestic Mountain Views: Discover some of nature's most stunning creations on this comprehensive Canadian Rockies tour. Journey through the flat prairies of Alberta's cowboy country to the dramatic mountainous landscapes of British Columbia and the Pacific Coast. Travel from cosmopolitan Calgary to Vancouver, British Columbia's sparkling city by the sea, visit an Alberta cattle ranch, and embark on an exciting ride onto Athabasca Glacier aboard The Ice Explorer snowcoach.
11. New! The American West: Cody, Yellowstone & Jackson Hole
Our most popular trip video:
- 9-day Grand Circle Land Vacation
- Majestic Mountain Views: Witness the Grand Tetons. Long before the pioneers came west, the rock formations of the Grand Tetons presided over a traditional summer home for the Native Americans. When the early “mountain men” ventured out this way, the area became a destination for hunters and fur trappers. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1881, establishing Jackson Hole as a cattle-ranching center. The skiing industry took off here in the 1930s and Jackson Hole remains a winter sports mecca to this day. In the summer, this year-round resort offers hiking, river rafting, camping, and other outdoor activities.
