OC Travel Buddies & Local Events!

Our friends at Photofly Travel Club ( https://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have planned an extraordinary Nepal & Bhutan Adventure!

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/extraordinary-nepal-bhutan/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

• 13 nights/ 14 Days throughout the best of the Himalayas in two countries!
• Boutique hotels & 4 star accommodations
• Privately guided adventures
• Expert local guides
• Breakfast daily
• 11 Dinners, 8 Lunches
• Four flights included ($1,000 value!)

Nepal (7 Nights)

• Perfect combination of culture, photography, food, & adventure!
• We truly maximize our time to see the incredible diversity throughout Nepal which most trips don’t even know exists!
• Best time of year to explore, which is after the monsoon has passed but before the tourist crowds take over!

Kathmandu

• Kathmandu City: Highlights include the temple of the Living Goddess & Durbar Square with it’s array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient residence of the Nepalese Royalty.
• Swayambhunath: Just outside the city proper is a hill with a mosaic of small Chaityas (shrines) and Pagodas temples.

Pokhara

• Pokhara City Adventure: Discover the best of this “Shangri-La” Valley epicenter!
• Davis Fall’s
• Gupteswor Mahadev Cave
• Fewa (Phewa) Lake

Chitwan National Park, wild beasts in subtropical Nepal

• In Search of Tigers, Rhinos, & Sloth Bears?: That’s right, our time here will be spent on safari, exploring the gorgeous park to witness & photograph the beautiful Royal Bengal Tigers, One Horned Rhinos, AND, if we are lucky, even a sloth bear! Not to mention, endless other unique creatures & birds only found in this part of the world.

Bhutan (6 Nights)

• Low volume, high value tourism: Perhaps the most sustainable approach to tourism in the world!

Thimphu

• Thimpu City Adventure: All the best of the new and old…
• National Memorial Chorten
• Indigenous Hospital
• Traditional Paper Factory
• School of Fine Arts: Here, young students learn the traditional arts and crafts known as Zo Rig Chusum (the thirteen crafts).

Punakha

• The Palace of Great Happiness

Paro

• Paro Town Adventure: Home to the “Tiger’s Nest” and so much more…
• The Old Watchtower
• Rinpung Dzong: This architectural wonder and the life around it are not to be missed and a must to photograph!
• Taktsang Monastary (Tigers Nest): This incredible feat of human architecture and pure will has a name to match and is deservedly one of the most venerated and famous of Bhutan’s monasteries.

Tour Leader and photographer to help those who want to learn more about using their camera’s, taking better pictures, etc. This is not a workshop-style based tours and you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!

International airfare is not included. We are happy to help you find a good flight as always!

• Flying into & out of Kathmandu International Airport (KTM)
• Specific arrival/departure times needed will be sent directly to the group.
• Roommate pairing to save money
• All taxes, fees, & transfers included

Join Us!

For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $4,995
Single Supplement: $695

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/extraordinary-nepal-bhutan/

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (http://www.photoflytravel.com/) have invited us to this amazing new adventure!

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/french-polynesia-tahiti-moorea-huahine-borabora-small-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

• 7 Nights/8 Days in Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea & Huahine
• Breakfast daily
• 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners

Tahiti - 3 Nights
Shadowy mountains. Waterfalls around every corner. Quiet turquoise lagoons. Strongly Polynesian. These are a few ways to describe the heart of French Polynesia, the island of Tahiti. This is the 'Island of Love' where ocean, land, sun, and air all come together to create the idyll.

• Luxury hotel located in the famed Matavai Bay - think poolside cocktails, relaxing spa, direct beach access, and classy dining areas.
• Visit Lafayette Beach - famed for it's soothing black sands, this western facing beach is a secluded spot perfect for a dramatic sunset.
• 4x4 Adventure - drive into the heart of Tahiti through the Papenoo Valley towards the stunning Lake Vaihiria. This is the only natural lake on the island and part of the excitement is driving through lush valleys and volcanic craters.

Visit to Mo'orea Island - Day Trip
Accessed by a high speed ferry and about 30 minutes away lies the island of Mo'orea. Tropical jungles, jagged peaks, bright white-sand beaches, aquamarine lagoons - this is an iconic destination.

• Discover Paradise - 4X4 adventure throughout stunning landscapes. Photograph Cook & Opunohu Bays, interior of a volcano and its majestic caldera, and the magnificent viewpoint of Belvedere. Along the way, discover ancestral vestiges, pineapple fields, and tropical gardens.
• Tropical Garden & Tahitian Vanilla Plantation - Take in and photograph beautiful bay view from the lush gardens before tasting local jams, sweet treats, & freshly squeezed juices. Learn about the daily operations of the garden and vanilla plantation before sampling exquisite farm-to-table produce.
• Optional jet ski & snorkel with dolphins, rays, and sharks - 2 hours of unbelievable fun and discovery on the tropical waters off the coast. Jet through two bays before hopping in the water to snorkel among sharks and rays. There is a chance to encounter humpback whales and an even higher likelihood of dolphins this time of year!

Huahine Island - 2 nights
Immaculately tropical. Delicious sunshine. Extreme calm. Genuine opportunities for culture. The days go by easy here with plenty of opportunities to feel the soothing waters. This is a great place to welcome yourself into the Polynesian experience.

• Polynesian Immersion - your Polynesian guide will fascinate us with the legends and traditions the island. Discover traditional fish traps, blue-eyed eels, the archaeological site of Maeva, and more. A special homemade lunch will be waiting for us.

Bora Bora - 2 Nights
The stuff of dreams. Color palette of blue, indigo, and sapphire. Sand-edged islets. Mix all these elements and more, and you've got the makings of the island Bora Bora.

• Luxury Polynesian resort on the water with the options to upgrade to an overwater bungalow.
• The Ultimate Lagoon Cruise, BBQ Lunch on the Beach, & Snorkel Extravaganza - hop aboard a comfortable motorized outrigger to meet the colorful fish & coral of Bora Bora. Our Polynesian guide will charm us with the sounds of the ukulele as we arrive at a small islet where a tasty BBQ of typical dishes is prepared. Enjoy local entertainment, sunbathing, or swimming in the lagoon. Aside from the amazing snorkeling, partake in sting ray watching and feeding. The thrill continues with the opportunity to swim and watch a shark feeding for the black tips & lemon sharks.
• Optional Bora Bora Discovery: Experience the wild interior via 4X4, its WW2 remains, and the endless, spectacular, panoramic views over the lagoon’s 1,000 shades of blue.

Additional details:

• 2 domestic flights included
• International airfare not included. We are happy to help you find a good flight. While researching options, search flights into and out of Tahiti [PPT].
• All taxes, fees, & transfers Included

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

For our solo travelers, we can pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $4,675
Single Supplement: $1,795

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/french-polynesia-tahiti-moorea-huahine-borabora-small-group-tours/

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (www.photoflytravel.com) have invited us on a well-crafted tour of Morocco.

Our Morocco Adventure has sold out several years in a row now, and for good reason!

Email joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/morocco-group-tours/

• 12 N/13 D
• Private Guides
• Breakfast Daily
• 4 Lunches, 8 Dinners

Tangier (2 Nights)
Going back over 2,000 years to the time of the Phoenicians, and after WWII when it was made into an international zone attracting eccentric expats, colorful artists & hippies, and spies!

– Mountain Road Trip: Pass splendid villas & gardens en route to Cape Spartel and lighthouse
– Hercules Cave: Continually inhabited since the Neolithic period, we’ll visit the place full of legend
– Medina (Old Walled City): Private tour through the labyrinth of paths that make up the cultural epicenter of the city.

Chefchaouen (1 Night)
Known as the “blue” city due to its picturesque blue-glazed houses & buildings, the tradition comes from the town’s former Jewish population.

Volubilis
Spend the morning exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site, 2000-year-old Roman ruins.

Meknes
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites for the price of one this morning with another stop in the 17th century imperial city of Meknes.

Fes (2 Nights)
One of the largest medieval cities in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage site, Fes is Morocco’s oldest imperial city and the religious, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural center of the country.

– Guided City Walk: see and photograph the artisans’ quarters, 14th-century Koranic schools, the famous Fes tannery and more.
– Unique Family Dinner in Traditional Home: enjoy a very special experience dining at a traditional house with a host family.

Erfoud & Sahara Desert (2 Nights)
The “Gate of the Sahara” and some of the highest dunes in North Africa!

– Scenic Cedar Forest & Barbery apes: A drive through and stop to photograph a beautiful cedar forest and encounter a tribe of “apes”.

Erg Chebbi Desert Camp
– Camel ride into the desert: We’ll hop on camels at the edge of the desert and be guided to our luxury desert camp for an amazing sunset.
– Enjoy and photograph sunrise the next day before a specially prepared Berber breakfast

Boumalne Dades: Land of Valleys & Gorges (2 Nights)
Famous for it’s majestic, sand castle like rock formations, Dades Gorge offers a plethora of unique landscape shots.

– Tinghir: We’ll walk through flowered gardens, ksours, and Kasbahs, then onto the Todre Gorge.
– Todra Gorge: Lush palm trees cover 30 miles of wide tracts along this giant natural creation.
– Dades Gorge & Valley: Explore the stunning gorge and valley to admire and photograph all sorts of interesting formations.
– Ait Ben Haddou: World famous Ksar (fortified village), now an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Marrakesh (3 nights)
The Jewel of the South, the city reached its prominence when it became the epicenter of trade for slaves, gold, ivory, and leather along the ancient caravan routes.

– Bahia Palace: Gilded woodwork ceilings of the stunning grand and petit courts, & the sultans “harem” rooms with silk panels, stained-glass windows.
– Saadian Tombs: Three rooms make up the tomb with the most elaborate known as “The Chamber of the 12 Pillars”.
– Majorelle Botanical Gardens: A truly enchanting place, the gardens were designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle over the course of 40 years and are reminiscent of the famous

Generalife gardens in Spain.
– Jemaa el Fna Square: Wander around and photograph this UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech.
– Souks of Marrakech: The most colorful and liveliest in Africa.

Lots of free time to explore the city on your own or sign up for an optional tour:
– Hot Air Balloon Ride
– ATV through the desert
– Day Trip to Essaouira
– Cooking classes, hammam (spa), horse cart rides, and other optional activities available

PhotoFly Travel Club adventures are laid back when it comes to photography. They are not workshop tours, you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!

• International airfare is not included. (Flying into Tangier (TNG) & flying out of Marrakesh (RAK) )
• All taxes, fees, transfers Included

Email joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

Solo travelers will be paired up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy requested.

Price: $2,995
Single Supplement: $675

Deposit: $600

Go Here to Sign Up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/morocco-group-tours/

Join Here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club are relaunching their Colorful Cuba tour. It is an excellent program full of surprises, fun, and off the beaten path sights - and it is 100% legal! Take this once in a lifetime trip to this undisturbed Caribbean gem!

• 8N/9D throughout the best of Cuba with amazing off the path experiences!
• One-of-a-kind "casa particulares" (small converted homes & guesthouses!)
• Privately guided adventures and local experts throughout
• Breakfast every day
• 3 Dinners, 5 Lunches INCLUDED
• Legal, licensed & permitted program with all USA compliance requirements met under the SCP Program

Email us directly at joinus@photoflytravel.com to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Havana

• Old Havana: Privately guided walking tour including many of the historical sites
• Fusterlandia & Jaimanitas Fishing Village: Colorful fishing village made famous by local artist, Jose Fuster, outside Havana

Soroa

• Unesco Biosphere Reserve
• Callejon de Hamel: Street art project where resident Salvador Gonzáles Escalona has decorated and painted in vibrant colors a pedestrian alleyway with scrap objects
• Las Terrazas: Mountain community was built as a reforestation project in the 1960s and is now part of the same UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Orchid Garden: Specialized botanical garden, with a collection of 20,000 specimens and more than 350 species of orchids

Viñales

• Sustainable Farm Discovery: Cuban farmer and his family who'll show us around their organic farm and explain the methods they use to grow their produce without pesticides or artificial fertilizers
• Valley Walking Tour & Tobacco Plantation: A beautiful walk through the valley to a local tobacco farm to learn about the making of Cuba’s famous cigars
• Cuban Cooking Class: Learn to cook Cuban-style with a cooking demonstration of 'platos tipicos'.

Cienfuegos

• Bay of Pigs: Scenic drive along the site where the Bay of Pigs occurred in 1961.
• Sinkhole or Ocean Snorkel: Stop for a swim and snorkel in the ocean or by a sinkhole which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank.
• Guided Orientation Walk & Palacio de Valle : A short walk to see and learn the local landmarks followed by a visit to the Palacio de Valle, an "Arabian Nights" like aspiring restaurant with a fantastic terrace bar.

Trinidad

• Guided Trinidad Walk: Cultural tour of numerous churches, museums, and many colonial buildings
• Learn to Bartend: Bartending demonstration and discussion of the history behind Cuba’s most popular cocktails.
• Salsa Lesson: Visit a local dance school for a demonstration and lesson in the dances of Cuba
• Salto de Javira Waterfall: An easy hike to this beautiful waterfall, perfect for photos and a dip to cool off.
• Dinner on the Beach: Weather permitting, we'll celebrate this amazing journey together with a feast on the beach!

E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Price: $2,495
Single Supplement: $695

Deposit: $600

Check out our club's official trip page: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/