JET: ANCIENT TRADITIONS & NATURAL WONDERS

As you journey from bustling metropolises to remote archipelagos, you’ll discover wonders both natural and human made. And in the end, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how the past, present, and future are intertwined.

ITINERARY | 21 DAYS

SEPTEMBER 4 – SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

DAYS 1–2

Arrive in Seattle, and meet your National Geographic Experts, as well as your fellow travelers, during a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. The next morning, your first flight by private jet takes you to Japan. On the way, you’ll cross the international date line, losing a day in transit.

Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

KYOTO, JAPAN

DAYS 3–5

Land in Osaka, and transfer to Kyoto, a former capital of imperial Japan. Explore this historic city, where ancient wooden temples and exquisite gardens have collectively been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout your trip, you’ll have the option to select from an array of tours and destinations to explore. During your day in Kyoto, you can choose to visit the iconic Kinkakuji, or Golden Pavilion, and gaze at its gleaming reflection in the Mirror Pond as you wander the surrounding garden. Or you may choose to tread carefully across the famed nightingale floors of Nijo Castle, designed to give away intruding enemies. This impressive castle complex is one of the best surviving examples of palace architecture from Japan’s feudal era. Later, you may choose from a variety of excursions, including a visit to the Tenryuji temple for a private Zen meditation lesson, or a tranquil stroll through the Sagano Bamboo Forest.

The next day, venture to ancient Nara, and marvel at the 50-foot-tall Buddha statue in the soaring main hall of Todaiji temple, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Alternatively, explore Kyoto further, as you take part in a traditional tea ceremony prior to hands-on activities where you’ll learn techniques of Japanese cooking from a local chef, and discover the art of shibori indigo-dying methods. Or you may opt to visit a local craft center.

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Archaeologist William (Bill) Saturno is a National Geographic Explorer specializing in early civilizations. He has received numerous grants from the Society to support his ongoing excavations of ancient Maya murals in Guatemala. His breakthrough discovery at San Bartolo, of the oldest intact Maya murals yet found, became the focus of the National Geographic magazine articles “The Sistine Chapel of the Early Maya” in December 2003 and “The Dawn of Maya Gods and Kings” in January 2006. Outside of Mesoamerica, Bill has conducted archaeological research in the American Southwest, Bolivia, Cambodia, and most recently on the North Coast of Peru.

Photojournalist Massimo Bassano has worked for National Geographic since 1990. He’s also had his photos published in numerous worldwide publications. He has traveled extensively to more than 87 countries, performing various assignments involving social and human culture, famine in Africa, wildlife, and even sports, fashion, and advertising. His acclaimed unique photography book, The Colors of Silence details the 12 weeks he spent in a well-known Italian monastery. For almost two decades, Massimo has traveled with National Geographic Expeditions teaching photography worldwide. He regularly leads photography and multimedia workshops, and enjoys teaching and sharing his passion for travel.

Travel writer Don George is an editor-at-large for National Geographic Traveler magazine, as well as host of the National Geographic Live series of conversations with notable authors. In four decades as a travel writer and editor, Don has visited more than 90 countries on five continents. He has traveled throughout—and written extensively about— Europe and Asia. He has also lived in France, Greece, and Japan, working as a translator in Paris, a teacher in Athens, and a television talk show host in Tokyo. Don is the author of The Way of Wanderlust: The Best Travel Writing of Don George and has received dozens of writing awards, including the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year Award.

HOI AN, VIETNAM

DAYS 6–8

Fly to Da Nang, and drive to Hoi An, an enchanting port city that offers a glimpse into a bygone era when traders from Japan, China, India, and beyond frequented the harbor. The narrow lanes of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient town look much as they have for centuries: lined by merchant houses, strung with silk lanterns, and free of modern vehicles.

Optional tours include a visit to Da Nang including Marble Mountain and Linh Ung pagoda, or a bike ride through rice paddies to local villages. Or travel to Ba Na Hills to ride the cable car, and visit the Golden Bridge, or visit the ancient Hindu temple complex at My Son with a temple preservationist. You may also opt to travel to Hue, a former imperial capital that sat in the crossfire of the north and south during the Vietnam War. Here, you’ll explore the historic citadel, and the imperial tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty. You may also choose to join a chef for a stroll through the delightfully chaotic market, picking out ingredients for a private, hands-on cooking class. Or select a full-day excursion to Cham Island where you’ll visit a local fishing village.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An

UDAIPUR, INDIA

DAYS 9–10

Fly by private jet to the Indian state of Rajasthan, the “land of kings,” where aristocratic Rajputs channeled their wealth from overland trade into sumptuous palaces and gardens. Land in Udaipur, known as the “city of lakes,” and admire the grand palaces that appear to rise from the waters of Lake Pichola.

Venture into a spectacular labyrinth of courtyards within the City Palace, a soaring creation of marble and granite perched on the lake’s edge. Later, wind your way through the old town and its bustling bazaars, stopping in at an artist’s studio to see Udaipur’s traditional miniature paintings. Visit Sadhna, a handicraft center and social enterprise that has trained women artisans, and helped lift them out of poverty.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

Seychelles

DAYS 11–12

Scattered across the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles Archipelago boasts an exceptionally diverse ecosystem with many endemic species. Internationally recognized as a pioneer in conservation, the country has extended protected status to half the land surface area of its 115 islands. Explore how innovations in satellite imaging, habitat restoration, and species reintroduction—as well as a strong commitment to protecting marine ecosystems—have helped to preserve this remote archipelago.

Enjoy a full-day catamaran excursion to Praslin and La Digue. At La Digue, spend time on the island of L’Union Estate, followed by a visit to Anse Source d’Argent. At Praslin, visit the National Park, and relax on Anse Lazio Beach. For travelers that don’t want to go on the catamaran excursion, there is an optional visit to either the Mahé Island botanical gardens or Victoria Market.

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA

DAYS 13–15

Fly west to Nairobi, and continue by private charter to the legendary Masai Mara wilderness, through which the spectacular wildebeest migration passes. Settle into the elegant tented camp located on the border of the reserve. Then set out on morning and afternoon safaris to discover an incomparable variety of wildlife amid Kenya’s spectacular landscapes. Keep an eye out for lions, wildebeests, leopards, elephants, and other wildlife that call the savanna home. Also keep an eye out for endangered black rhinos, stately giraffes, and more than 500 species of birds. Between wildlife drives, you’ll have free time to relax and enjoy the amenities at the camp, or head out on bush walks with a guide to identify smaller flora and fauna.

CAIRO, EGYPT

DAYS 16–17

On the evening of your arrival, head to the historic center of Cairo, and visit the Khan el-Khalili market where you’ll enjoy a meal and then explore the rows of stalls. The next day, visit the medieval Citadel of Saladin, an Islamic-era fortification containing the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Next, transfer to the Pyramids of Giza, where you’ll have the opportunity to enter the Cheops Pyramid. Then go to the Great Sphinx of Giza, carved from a single piece of limestone and one of the world’s largest sculptures. Enjoy a Nile River cruise aboard a felucca— a traditional wooden sailing boat used in the protected waters of the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean. Later, visit the Grand Egyptian Museum where you’ll have dinner.

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo

MADRID, SPAIN

DAYS 18–20

Start with a special evening of dinner and a flamenco show. In the morning, tour the Prado Museum, home to one of the world’s greatest collections of paintings, including the largest collections of Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, and Velazquez, along with over 100 works by Francisco Goya. You will also visit Madrid’s Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, which houses Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece “Guernica.” Activity options include a Spanish Cooking Class, Wine Tasting, and a Historic Walking Tour of Madrid.

You will also have the option of a full-day tour to Toledo or Segovia. In Toledo, you’ll experience many sites of interest like the Gothic Cathedral, and the church of Santo Tomé. In Segovia, you’ll see outstanding architectural monuments, including the Roman aqueduct, the 16th-century Gothic-style cathedral, and the Alcázar of Segovia—a medieval fortress and castle.

Rosewood Villa Magna

WASHINGTON D.C., U.S.

DAY 21

Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., transfer to your connecting flight home, or enjoy dinner and complimentary accommodations at the Hyatt Dulles International Airport.

Hyatt Regency Dulles

INFORMATION

DATE September 4–25, 2024

COST $99,995

Your Trip Makes A Difference

The National Geographic Society funds research, conservation, and exploration, including a study of fossilized coral reefs in Western Australia to determine the effects of an ancient sea level rise; research on how island ecosystems in Oceania recover from mammal eradication; and the development of low-cost systems for monitoring water quality in traditional Maori fishing areas.

Price is per person, double occupancy. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Transportation by private Boeing 757 and other conveyance, as noted in the itinerary, is included in the expedition cost. Airfare to Seattle, Washington and return from Washington, D.C. is not included in the cost. For your protection and peace of mind, all payments are protected by a surety bond. This trip will be operated by National Geographic Expeditions on flights operated by Icelandair. For Terms and Conditions and OperatorParticipant Contract, visit nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/terms/ private-jet/atw-ancient-traditions-natural-wonders/.