Dear Traveler, The cover of the December 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine featured National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek leading camels on his epic 7-year trek from East Africa to Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego. “What is it like to walk through the world?” he asks in the article within. “It is learning to read the landscape with your whole body, your skin, not merely your eyes.” There is something very special—many would say even spiritual—about moving through the landscape slowly, whether it’s by foot, by kayak, or by camel. Away from the busy roads, away from the crowds, out in the open air, you rely on your own physical strength to transport you from place to place, and the exhilaration you feel arriving in a spectacular spot is even sweeter for the fact that you’ve earned it. Though we’ll leave the continent crossing to Paul Salopek, our new 2014 National Geographic Adventures reflect the same simple joy of exploring on foot. We’ll set off on two very different UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage routes, trekking the most beautiful parts of the historic Route of St. James (El Camino de Santiago) across northern Spain, and hiking to mountain shrines alongside pilgrims in traditional garb on Japan’s sacred Kumano Kodo. In Provence, we’ll encounter well-loved places from the unique perspective of the trail and discover medieval hamlets tucked within the region’s wild geology. While there, we’re invited to a family farm in the Lubéron for a walk in fields of lavender and rosemary and a home-cooked meal featuring the farm’s herbes de Provence. This year, we’re also introducing a white-water rafting adventure on the Middle Fork of Idaho’s Salmon River. Splash through steep canyons and lush forests, stopping to fly-fish, swim, and discover the intriguing human history of this national treasure. No matter where we go, we get acquainted with local cultures in a meaningful way, walking through the Namibian wilderness with San bushmen or learning about traditional weaving techniques with artisans in Peru.
EUROPE
Provence Hiking Adventure NEW England Coast to Coast Ireland: Hiking the Emerald Isle Hiking Scotland’s Highlands and Islands Spain: Walking El Camino de Santiago NEW Sweden: Dogsledding to the Icehotel Tour du Mont Blanc Tuscany and Cinque Terre Hiking Adventure Greek Islands Adventure Iceland Adventure Kayaking and Hiking Croatia’s Islands Hiking Italy’s Dolomites
NORTH AMERICA
Salmon River Rafting Adventure NEW Alaska by Sea Kayak Hiking the Grand Canyon Costa Rica Adventure Belize: Reefs, Rain Forests, and Ruins
SOUTH AMERICA
Hiking Patagonia Peru: Machu Picchu Inn to Inn
12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 56 57 32 33 34 35 36 38 40
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Japan Adventure: Tokyo to Sacred Kumano NEW 42 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia Adventure 44 China: The Tea Horse Road and Shangri-La 46 Mongolian Horse Trek 47 48 New Zealand Adventure Nepal: Everest Base Camp Trek 57 57 Bhutan Sacred Valley Adventure
AFRICA
Tanzania: Walking Safari with the Maasai Namibia Culture and Wildlife Adventure Morocco Camel Trek and Hiking Adventure Tanzania: Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari
50 52 54 56
RESOURCES
About Our Trips and Activity Levels 4 Our Adventure Team 6 The National Geographic Difference 8 Photography Adventures 10 Trip Calendar 58 Terms and Conditions 59
From dogsledding in Sweden to riding horseback across the Mongolian steppe, this catalog is brimming with opportunities to experience extraordinary places actively and intimately. We hope to see you on the trail! Sincerely,
John Fahey Chairman National Geographic Society
Your participation in a National Geographic Adventure provides support to National Geographic’s mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.
Cover: A tunnel of vermilion torii gates curves toward the Fushimi Inari Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
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