10 seconds ago 2009-11-29T15:09:47-08:00
WASHINGTON – Exotic tours have never been more affordable, according to National Geographic Traveler, which is listing "50 Tours of A Lifetime" in the magazine's May/June issue.
"Travel companies are coping with the downturn by offering incentives, freebies and discounts," the magazine says. "Add to the traditional savings an outfitter gets by being able to negotiate better rates on trip components and there may be no better time to take that tour of a lifetime."
All the tours listed "offer small-group thoughtfully crafted experiences that are eco- and culturally sensitive ... and foster interaction with locals."
Tours recommended by National Geographic Traveler include Frontiers North Adventures' trip to see the wildlife and Inuit culture of Arctic Canada; Intrepid Travel's "Insider's Silk Road" trip from Istanbul to Tehran; International Expeditions' "Amazon Workshops: Rain Forest Educational Adventure, Peru"; and Imaginative Traveller's "Amongst the Maharajahs, India," with visits to Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, as well as to local villages.
While some of the trips are quite expensive — a 20-day Tahitian excursion from Zegrahm Expeditions is $12,880 — others are moderately priced. A Village Tours and Treks trip to Bhutan is $1,670 for 11 days.
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