2019 Expert led Group tours with Steppes Travel

EXPERT-LED GROUP TOURS 2019

Welcome Exploration and discovery are an intrinsic part of human nature. As pioneers in small group travel we offer you authentic adventures across the globe.

They are insightful, hand-crafted with expertise, enthusiasm and attention to detail.

I am delighted with the breadth and range of itineraries featured in our 2019 brochure, in terms of both their destination and their specialism.

Our knowledge, expertise and group size sets us apart.

I hope you agree. You could travel with other companies and follow the crowd – or you could join us on a small group tour with like-minded people.

JUSTIN WATERIDGE MANAGING DIRECTOR WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU JOINING US IN 2019.

EUROPE 6-7 ALBANIA: ORIGINS OF ILLYRIA 8-9 ARMENIA & GEORGIA: THE CAUCASIAN SILK ROUTE 10-11 GREECE: CLASSICAL PELOPONNESE 12-13 ITALY: ARTISANS OF TUSCANY 14-15 RUSSIA: JEWELS OF ST PETERSBURG 16-17 RUSSIA: LUXURY TRANS SIBERIAN TRAIN JOURNEY 18-19 SPAIN: PREHISTORIC CAVE ART IN NORTHERN SPAIN MIDDLE EAST 22-23 IRAN: A PERSIAN JOURNEY 24-25 ISRAEL & PALESTINE : JOURNEY THROUGH BIBLICAL LANDS 26-27 SAUDI ARABIA: BEHIND THE VEIL INDIAN SUBCONTINENT 30-31 BHUTAN: FESTIVALS AND PHOTOGRAPHY 32 -33 INDIA: HAMPI AND THE DECCAN PLATEAU 34-35 INDIA: LIONS AND LEOPARDS OF WEST INDIA 36-37 INDIA: ON THE TRAIL OF THE SNOW LEOPARDS 38-39 INDIA: TIGER CONSERVATION AND WALKING SAFARI 40-41 SRI LANKA: FAMILY WILDLIFE ADVENTURE ASIA & AUSTRALASIA 44-45 AUSTRALIA: TASMANIA WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 46-47 CAMBODIA:WILDLIFE WITH THE WWT 48-49 CHINA: ANCIENT CULTURE & TEXTILES OF GUIZHOU 50-51 INDONESIAN BORNEO: ORANGUTAN CONSERVATION 52-53 KYRGYZSTAN & CHINA: JOURNEY ALONG THE SILK ROUTE 54-55 PAPUA NEW GUINEA: LUXURY PHOTOGRAPHY CRUISE 56-57 UZBEKISTAN: CARPET RIDE TO KHIVA

AFRICA 60-61 CHAD: ZAKOUMA AND WILDLIFE OF SAHEL 62-63 KENYA: WILDLIFE AND COMMUNITIES WITH FFI 64-65 KENYA: WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE MARA AND LAIKIPIA 66-67 MADAGASCAR:LAND OF THE LEMUR 68-69 MALAWI: CONSERVATION SAFARI WITH AFRICAN PARKS 70-71 SOUTH AFRICA: RHINO CONSERVATION PROJECT THE AMERICAS 74-75 ALASKA: LUXURY CRUISE WITH CHRIS PACKHAM 76-77 ANTARCTICA, FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA 78-79 BRAZIL: JAGUAR CONSERVATION SAFARI IN THE PANTANAL 80-81 CANADA: GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST CRUISE 82-83 COLOMBIA: A CULTURAL JOURNEY FROM CAPITAL TO COAST 84-85 CUBA: IN HEMINGWAY’S FOOTSTEPS 86-87 COSTA RICA: IN SEARCH OF SPINNER DOLPHINS 88-89 GALAPAGOS ISLANDS CRUISE 90-91 PERU: ANDES TO AMAZON 4X4 SELF DRIVE 92-93 PERU: TRADITIONS AND COMMUNTIES OF THE SACRED VALLEY TOURS CALENDAR 94 - 95 A MONTH BY MONTH GUIDE

Europe “I HAVE TAKEN MANY GROUP TOURS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND THIS ONE WAS THE BEST. CAROLYN PERRY’S KNOWLEDGE, WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND COMMAND OF DETAIL, FROM THE HISTORICAL TO THE ANECDOTAL ADDED SO MUCH RICH TEXTURE TO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE HELLENIC AGE.” GREECE WITH CAROLYN PERRY

06 ALBANIA 08 ARMENIA & GEORGIA 10 GREECE 12 ITALY 14 RUSSIA 16 RUSSIA 18 SPAIN

ALBANIA

DAY 1

TIRANA /KRUJA Fly to Tirana and travel on to Kruja. Afternoon city tour including the National Historical Museum.

DAY 2 KRUJA /LEZHE/DURRES Drive to the

historic town of Lezhe, famed for its connection with Skanderburg. Afternoon departure to Durres, one of the Greek colony cities of Albania.

DAY 3 DURRES /BERAT Depart for the ancient

city of Apollonia. Continue onto Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DAY 4 BERAT /LLOGARA Leave Berat for the

ancient Illyrian city of Amantia founded in the 5th century BC. Continue on to Saransa.

DAY 5 LLOGARA/ SARANDA Travel along the

‘Albania Riviera’ through spectacular scenery. Continue on to Saranda.

DAY 6 SARANDA Explore Saranda and its

surrounding villages and towns including Butrint, Malathrea and Ksamil.

DAY 7 SARANDA/ GJIROKASTRA Depart

Saranda via the Muzine pass. En route visit Antigonea, the city founded by King Pyrrhus of Epirus in honour of his wife Antigone.

DAY 8 GJIROKASTRA/ TIRANA Depart

Gjirokastra for Elbasan, via Tepelene the city of the infamous Ali Pasha. Continue to Petrela Castle.

Albania Origins of Illyria LED BY CAROLYN PERRY 31 MAY - 8 JUNE 2019 £1,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•In-depth tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site Butrint •Beautiful mountain scenery and hidden villages •Grama Bay, site of more than 1,500 inscriptions Journey through the ‘Land of Eagles’, known as Illyria throughout the classical era and discover a country with a fascinating past and present. This new tour explores Albania’s lesser known sites, including rock-cut tombs, quarries full of inscriptions and a Bronze Age site overlooking the sea. Combining Illyrian cities like Amantia with Roman towns such as Hadrianopolis, the tour also takes in the natural beauty of rural Albania. We have also included a visit to Butrint – one of Albania’s more wellknown sites.

Following a degree in Cla s sics and Archaeology, Carolyn lectured in Ancient History and Mythology at Queen Mary College. Her research into the Illyrian Kingdoms have led to this completely new itinerary.

DAY 9 TIRANA Full day exploring Tirana, before

evening departure. *Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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ARMENIA & GEORGIA

DAY 1

YEREVAN Arrive in Yerevan.

DAY 2 YEREVAN Visit the city including the

Matenadaran museum, the Genocide Memorial and Museum, Victory Park and Republic Square.

DAY 3 YEREVAN Explore Garni’s Roman temple

and the rock-cut monastery at Geghard.

DAY 4 YEREVAN/ DZORAGET Depart for

Echmiadzin, Zvartnots, Sevan and on to Dilijan.

DAY 5 DZORAGET Visit the Haghpat and Sanahin

Monasteries.

DAY 6 DZORAGET/ BORDER CROSSING INTO GEORGIA Drive via Vanadzor and Spitak

cities to Gyumri.

DAY 7 VARDZIA/ BORJOMI Visit Rabati Castle,

Timotesubani church and the Romanov Palace.

DAY 8 BORJOMI/ KAZBEGI Drive to Gori, visit

Stalin’s Museum, continue on to Aten Sioni church.

DAY 9 KAZBEGI/ STEPANTSMINDA Travel to

Stepantsminda.

DAY 10 KAZBEGI/ TBILISI Drive to Tbilisi visiting

Ananuri Fortress en route.

DAY 11 TBILISI Full day sightseeing.

DAY 12 TBILISI/ GAREJA/ TBILISI Head east to the

wild, dramatic landscapes of Gareja.

The Caucasian Silk Route LED BY IAN COLVIN 2 - 14 MAY 2019 £3,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Explore hill-top monasteries and fortresses •Dramatic snow-capped Caucasus Mountains •Sample the region’s delicious food and wine Beginning in the shadow of Mount Ararat, see the world famous illuminated manuscripts in Yerevan.

Visit the pilgrimage site of Echmiadzin and the 13th century monastic complexes of Saghmosavant. Crossing over into Georgia, land of Jason and the Argonauts, discover dramatic, unspoilt scenery peppered with fascinating historical and religious sites. From Tbilisi’s Metekhi Citadel to the rock-cut monasteries of Gareja, explore Georgia’s magnificent art and architecture.

Ian Colvin is a historian and researcher at the University of Cambridge, working on the South Caucasus, Byzantium and Sasanian Iran.

Alongside work for the School Classics Project, he is Director of the Anglo-Georgian Archaeological Expedition to Nokalakevi in Samegrelo, West Georgia, a project he established in 2001 in collaboration with the Georgian National Museum. Ian reads and speaks Georgian.

DAY 13 TBILISI Depart Tbilisi.

*Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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GREECE

DAY 1

ATHENS, NAFPLION Arrive in Athens,

travel to Nafplion.

DAY 2 NAFPLION Full day exploring the ancient

cities of Tyrins, Argos and then on to Corinth.

DAY 3 NAFPLION Morning visit to Epidauros,

then on to Mycenae.

DAY 4 NAFPLION/PYLOS Drive to Pylos, en route

visit the fortified town of Mystras.

DAY 5 PYLOS Visit Nestor’s Palace and

Neokastro castle.

DAY 6 PYLOS / OLYMPIA En route for Olympia,

visit the ruins of Messene.

DAY 7 OLYMPIA Full day in Olympia. Discover the

palaestra, temple of Zeus, temple of Hera and stadium.

DAY 8 OLYMPIA / DELPHI Travel to Delphi, pass

through Patras City.

DAY 9 DELPHI/ ATHENS Travel from Delphi

to Athens. Depart Athens.

Classical Peloponnese LED BY CAROLYN PERRY 17 - 25 MAY 2019 £3,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Visit the fortress city of Mystras •See the ‘Treasury of Atreus’ at Mycenae •Explore the famous sites at Delphi The Peloponnesian peninsula is the southernmost part of Greece, and home to many of the most famous cities of ancient Hellas, including Mycenae, Corinth and Olympia. This tour visits the crucial sites of the Peloponnese and travels across millennia, from Mycenaean times through to the Classical and Roman periods and into the Medieval age.

Carolyn Perry has extensive knowledge of the Mediterranean, she has a degree in Classics and Archaeology, she has lectured in Ancient History and Mythology in the Department of Mediterranean Studies at Queen Mary College, University of London. Greece is a remarkable country made even more fascinating by the insight of Carolyn Perry.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 10

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ITALY

DAY 1

PISA/FLORENCE

Arrive in Pisa. Transfer to Florence for an afternoon city tour, including the Piazza del Duomo and Baptistry of St John.

DAY 2 FLORENCE Sightseeing around Florence.

Walk through Via Maggio with its antique shops and grand palaces. Visit a leather workshop and rare silk factory.

DAY 3 FLORENCE Take a walking tour of local

artisans. Visit the Church of San Miniato al Monte.

DAY 4 FLORENCE Visit Santa Croce cathedral

and leather school. Afternoon at the Uffizi gallery.

DAY 5 FLORENCE Explore the markets of Sant

Ambrogio and the Bargello sculpture museum.

DAY 6 TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE Drive to the

Chianti region. Market visit followed by a cookery class and wine tasting.

DAY 7 TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE Drive to

Penzano. Visit local artisan, historic villa and farm estate.

DAY 8 TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE Transfer from

Florence to Pisa where you will depart.

Artisans of Tuscany LED BY KAMIN MOHAMMADI 11 - 18 MAY 2019 £4,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Discover Florence’s master artisans •Stay in a historic Tuscan castle •Learn to cook authentic Tuscan dishes A chance to ‘live like a local’ and discover the real Florence by visiting ‘the left bank’ and artisans’ workshops, helping to contextualise the artistic riches of the Renaissance. Escape the city for a few days and journey to the beautiful Tuscan countryside enjoying the produce of the land. Take a shopping trip to a local market in Chianti, a cooking lesson using seasonal ingredients, wine tasting in the historic cellars of local wine producers and a visit to the area’s most famous butcher.

Kamin Mohammadi is an author, journalist and broadcaster. Born in Iran, she grew up in London and has lived near Florence for ten years.

She is a regular presenter on BBC Radio.

Our new tour has been created together with Kamin, inspired by her latest book, ‘La Bella Figura’ in which Kamin explores the intricate nuances of Italian culture, for a guide to a better, more elegant and satisfying way of life.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 12

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RUSSIA

DAY 1

ST PETERSBURG

Arrive in St Petersburg.

DAY 2 ST PETERSBURG Morning visit to the

Mining Institute, home to one of the world’s finest collection of gems. In the afternoon, there will be an introductory tour of the Hermitage.

DAY 3 ST PETERSBURG Morning visit to

the Church of Spilled Blood and the Russia Museum. Spend the afternoon at the Ethnography Museum and Fabergé Museum.

DAY 4 ST PETERSBURG A morning discovering

the stunning Catherine Palace. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful estate of Pavlovsk.

DAY 5 ST PETERSBURG Discover the Golden

and Diamond rooms of the Hermitage in the morning. In the afternoon, thanks to Katya, enjoy tea at the Galitzine library.

Depart St Petersburg in the evening. *Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

Jewels of St Petersburg LED BY KATYA GALITZINE 27 FEBRUARY - 3 MARCH 2019 £2,295 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•See the hidden treasures of The Hermitage •Discover the jewels of the Fabergé Museum •Take tea at the Galitzine Memorial Library Discover the splendour of the Tsars with Katya Galitzine, with a focus on some of the jewels and treasures of preRevolutionary Russia. Explore some of the vaults within the Hermitage and uncover exceptional gems and marvel at the riches of Russia at the Mining Institute. See the fantastic private collection of Fabergé eggs in the new Museum at the Shuvalov Palace, showcasing a collection of over 1,500 pieces.

Katya Galitzine is a direct descendant of Catherine the Great and went to live in the former Soviet Union in 1989 to learn Russian and study sculpture. She studied at the prestigious Repin Academy of Arts in the studio of Mikhail Anikushin, the People’s Sculptor of the Soviet Union and ended up making St Petersburg her home for ten years. Katya has written articles for many newspapers and magazines and has led cultural tours since the mid 1990’s.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 14

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RUSSIA

DAY 1

MOSCOW Arrive in Moscow.

DAY 2

MOSCOW Full day sightseeing including the Armoury in the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral. Board the Golden Eagle train.

DAY 3

KAZAN Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kremlin Fortress.

DAY 4 YEKATERINBURG Full day sightseeing.

DAY 5

NOVOSIBIRSK Visit Lenin Square and the

Opera house. Alternatively, visit Novosibirsk’s excellent Railway Museum.

DAY 6 NOVOSIBIRSK Travel onboard the train.

DAY 7

IRKUTSK Explore the city. Visit the Volkonsky House Museum.

DAY 8 LAKE BAIKAL Visit Lake Baikal Museum and

the Aquarium.

DAY 9 ULAN UDE Visit an Old Believers’ Village, now

a UNESCO Cultural Centre.

DAY 10 ULAANBAATAR Visit Gandan Monastery and

on to Sukhbaatar square. Experience the beautiful scenery at Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.

DAY 11 RUSSIA FAR EAST Relax on board.

DAY 12 AMUR REGION The train follows the Shilka

and Amur rivers, close to the Chinese border.

DAY 13 AMUR REGION Pass through Khabarovsk,

where the train crosses the River Amur.

DAY 14 VLADIVOSTOK Disembark the train. Full day

sightseeing including Funicular Railway and Vladivostok Fortress Museum.

DAY 15 VLADIVOSTOK Depart Vladivostok.

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Luxury Trans Siberian Train Journey LED BY NICK LAING & KATYA GALITZINE 2 - 16 JUNE 2019 £12,895 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6 - 20

•See Kazan's impressive Kremlin and mosque •Visit the church at Yekaterinburg •Explore Irkutsk and Lake Baikal Discover one of the world’s greatest train journeys aboard the luxurious Golden Eagle Train, accompanied throughout

by Steppes Travel chairman Nick Laing and his wife Katya Galitzine. The sheer size of this part of the world makes train travel the ideal way to explore. Journey from Moscow, through to Mongolia, ending in Vladivostok, discovering a rich insight into the regions history and culture, with spectacular views throughout. This journey is sure to leave you awestruck.

Nick Laing founded Steppes Travel in 1989, while on an exploratory trip to the Altai region of Russia. Having visited over 80 times, his love and knowledge of the region is unsurpassed.

Katya Galitzine is a member of one of the oldest noble families in Russian history. She has written articles for many publications and has appeared on several discussion panels on Russian history.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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SPAIN

DAY 1

BILBAO Arrive into Bilbao, gateway to the Basque region. City tour of Bilbao.

Option to see Bilbao Museum of Fine Art in the afternoon.

DAY 2 BASQUE/CANTABRIA Drive through the

picturesque Basque and Cantabria regions.

Visit Ekain and Altamira caves, two Paleolithic art masterpieces.

DAY 3 CANTABRIA Explore the intimate cave

spaces of Hornos de la Peña and Las Monedas caves.

DAY 4 CANTABRIA Drive through the pastoral

hills and into the mountains of Cantabria.

Visit Covalanas, Miron and Pendo caves.

DAY 5 CANTABRIA/ ASTURIAS Drive along the

coastal area from Cantabria to the Asturias region, also rich in Paleolithic sites. Explore three caves including Tito Bustillo and El Pindal , located right on the sea.

DAY 6 ASTURIAS Full day visiting the remote and

scenic area sites of Peña de Candamo cave and Prehistory Park of Teverga.

DAY 7 ASTURIAS/CANTABRIA Return to

Cantabria and El Castillo mountain.

Visit El Castillo cave, one of the world’s most important Paleolithic sites, decorated for over 30,000 years. Afternoon visit to the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria.

Prehistoric Cave Art in Spain LED BY CHARLES SCHWALBE 20 - 27 MAY 2019 £3,225 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-6

•UNESCO World Heritage Palaeolithic cave art sites •Maximum group size of six people •Gain exclusive insight from Charles Schwalbe Explore and learn about the most significant Palaeolithic art caves of northern Spain, all of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This journey will include insightful visits to actual sites, replicas and museums to provide a comprehensive experience of the art, which spans some 30,000 years.

Understand the archaeology of each site, delving into this fascinating period, which marks the dawn of art and symbolic communication.

Charles Schwalbe was born and lives in Cantabria, in the heart of the Palaeolithic art cave area of northern Spain.

He has been leading tours of the caves for nearly a decade and has accumulated hundreds of hours exploring and learning about them, including first-hand experience in caves closed to the general public.

DAY 8 BILBAO Transfer to Bilbao and depart.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 18

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Middle East “TOP CLASS. ENGAGING, PLEASINGLY PITCHED AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND PERSONABLE TOO. WE WELCOMED THE DISCUSSIONS AND VARYING INTERPRETATIONS OF SITES.” IRAN, A PERSIAN JOURNEY

22 IRAN 24 ISRAEL AND PALESTINE 26 SAUDI ARABIA

IRAN

DAY 1

TEHRAN Arrive into Tehran. Afternoon visit to the National Museum.

DAY 2 TEHRAN/AHWAZ Full day exploring

Tehran’s main museums. Evening flight to Ahwaz.

A Persian Journey

DAY 3 AHWAZ/CHOGHA-ZANBIL/ SUSA Full-

day excursion to Chogha-Zanbil, Susa and Shushtar.

DAY 4 AHWAZ/SHIRAZ Drive from Ahwaz to

Shiraz, visiting Bishapur en route.

DAY 5 SHIRAZ Full day city tour of Shiraz. Visit

some of the famous gardens of this city.

DAY 6 SHIRAZ/PERSEPOLIS/NAQSH-E RUSTAM/ SHIRAZ Spend a day visiting

Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam.

DAY 7 SHIRAZ/YAZD Drive from Shiraz to Yazd

visiting Pasargadae and Abarkuh en route.

DAY 8 YAZD Full day sightseeing in Yazd.

DAY 9 YAZD/ISFAHAN Drive from Yazd to

Isfahan visiting Na’in en route.

DAY 10 ISFAHAN Full day tour of the beautiful

city of Isfahan.

DAY 11 ISFAHANAnother full day exploring

Isfahan. Visit the magnificent Friday Mosque.

DAY 12 ISFAHAN/TEHRAN Transfer from Isfahan

LED BY SYLVIE FRANQUET 13 - 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 £4,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Explore the ruined ceremonial city of Persepolis •Experience the romantic city of Shiraz •Wander the vast Imam Square in Isfahan Rising to prominence under the Achaemenid dynasty, rulers of the largest pre-Roman empire, Iran’s culture and architecture has flourished ever since.

Visit Shiraz, the cultural capital of Iran and discover Yazd, a city designed around desert life. Explore the site of ancient Persepolis, before visiting the rock-cut tombs of the Achaemenid kings.

Finally travel on to Isfahan, the beautiful creation of Shah Abbas, and marvel at the magnificent Imam Square, arguably one of the wonders of the world.

Sylvie has led many trips to the Middle East and has written at length about the region in travel articles and guidebooks. Having travelled extensively in the Middle East, she then went to Iran, and fell totally under the spell of the country.

to Tehran by road visiting Natanz and Kashan en route.

DAY 13 TEHRAN Depart Tehran.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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ISRAEL & PALESTINE

DAY 1

TEL AVIV/ JERUSALEM Arrive Tel Aviv, transfer to Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall followed by a traditional Sabbath dinner with a local family.

DAY 2 JERUSALEM Explore Jerusalem Old City.

DAY 3 JERUSALEM/ MASADA/ DEAD SEA/ QUMRAN Discover the beauty of Masada

National Park, Dead Sea and Qumran National Park.

DAY 4

JERUSALEM Visit Yad Vashem followed by the Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s largest open-air market. Finish the day in the company of a curator from the Israel Museum and dinner with an expert geopolitical advisor.

DAY 5 JERUSALEM/ NAZARETH/SEA OF GALILEE/ GOLAN Explore Nazareth followed by visits to

Kibbutz Degania Beth and the Sea of Galilee.

Take part in a kibbutz cooking workshop in the evening.

DAY 6 GOLAN Explore Banias National Park,

before lunch at a nearby winery. See Mount Bental overlooking Golan and Syria.

DAY 7 GOLAN/TEL AVIV Visit the UNESCO

city of Acre with its thriving Arab market followed by Caesarea, King Herod the Great’s imposing port town. Continue to Tel Aviv.

DAY 8 TEL AVIV Explore Jaffa and Tel Aviv

accompanied by an expert guide from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Informal dinner at Jaffa Port.

DAY 9 TEL AVIV Depart Tel Aviv.

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Journey through Biblical Lands LED BY LOCAL EXPERTS 20 - 30 SEPTEMBER 2019 £4,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Gain insight via geo-political regional specialists •Visit Tel Aviv Museum of Art with an art historian •Explore with Israel Museum’s archaeology curator This tour takes place in a region known for its political and religious history and it is with that in mind we’ve gathered together highly regarded experts, bringing alive this vibrant and diverse country. Enjoy a dinner in the company of regional experts such as a senior advisor on Arab/Israeli relations. Have discussions with an art expert and curator and gain culinary insight via lively markets. Join the group to gain a rounded and well-informed view of the region in the company of like-minded travellers.

Designed to take advantage of the best local leaders Israel has to offer. This tour will be escorted by experts ranging from a geopolitical expert on Jerusalem, a specialist on Syria and northern Israel and museum curators. The tour will also be accompanied by an experienced guide to ensure all runs smoothly.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA

DAY 1

JEDDAH Arrive Jeddah and transfer to the city. Morning at leisure. Afternoon explore the Corniche and Sculpture Park.

DAY 2 JEDDAH Sightseeing including the fish

market, Abdul Rauf Khalil Art Museum and Nasif House.

DAY 3 JEDDAH/ MADINAH/ AL ULA Fly to

Madinah and travel by road to Al Ula. DAY 4

AL ULA Full day sightseeing of Al Ula Old

Town, Lion Tombs and Elephant Rock.

DAY 5 AL ULA/ SAKAKA Travel overland from Al

Ula to Sakaka visiting the ancient oasis town of Tayma and Dumat Al Jandal en route.

DAY 6 SAKAKA/ HAIL Morning visit to Sakaka

with Za’Abal Fort, a Nabatean well and AlRajajil. Travel by road to Hail via the Great Nafud Desert.

DAY 7 HAIL/ RIYADH Sightseeing in Hail before

flying to Riyadh.

DAY 8 RIYADH Visit the UNESCO Diriyah

Archaeological Site and the National Museum in Riyadh.

DAY 9 RIYADH Visit the Dira Souq and

Murabba Palace.

Saudi Arabia Behind the Veil LED BY PETER HARRIGAN £4,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•In the company of Saudi expert, Peter Harrigan •Explore the old town of Jeddah •Visit the UNESCO site of Diriyah The prospect of travelling in the footsteps of Richard Burton, T. E. Lawrence and Wilfred Thesiger is a tantalising one. Having found a reliable partner on the ground and an exceptional leader with the knowledge and experience required to give insight into the Kingdom, we are excited to offer this group tour again, following a successful tour in 2017. There are few places left that can be said to represent the last frontier of tourism. Follow your curiosity and put experience before prejudgment.

Peter Harrigan has travelled frequently and extensively throughout Saudi Arabia and has led previous trips for Steppes to this region. He is founding director of Medina Publishing and senior contributor to Aramco World Magazine. He also writes on the culture and history of Saudi Arabia.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 26

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Indian

Subcontinent “DAVID WAS INCREDIBLY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HIS ROLE WITH THE SNOW LEOPARD CONSERVANCY ADDED AN EXTRA DIMENSION.” INDIA, ON THE TRAIL OF THE SNOW LEOPARDS

30 BHUTAN 32 INDIA 34 INDIA 36 INDIA 38 INDIA 40 SRI LANKA

BHUTAN

DAY 1

PARO/ THIMPHU Arrive in Paro.

Journey to Thimphu, en route visit Simtokha Dzong.

DAY 2 THIMPHU Full day sightseeing in Thimpu.

DAY 3 THIMPHU/GANGTEY Journey through

the Dochula Pass, witness the Himalayan mountain range.

DAY 4 GANGTEY Explore the Gangtey

Nature Trails and observe the black-necked cranes.

DAY 5 GANGTEY/ PUNAKHA Travel to Punakha

and visit the second oldest dzong in Bhutan.

DAY 6 PUNAKHA Hike through the Punakha

Valley to see the Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten.

DAY 7 PUNAKHA/ PARO Drive to Paro, visit the

Chimi Lhakhang Monastery, National Museum of Bhutan and Paro Dzong.

DAY 8 PARO Attend the traditional Paro Tsechu.

DAY 9 PARO Hike to Taktsang Monastery.

DAY 10 PARO Depart Paro.

Bhutan Festivals & Photography LED BY SUE FLOOD 12 - 21 MARCH 2019 £8,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Traverse the Dochula Pass for breath-taking views •Hike to the iconic Taktsang Monastery •See the colourfully clad monks at Paro Tsechu Accompany photographer Sue Flood and journey through the Land of the Peaceful Dragon. Capture the 360 degree views of the Himalayan mountains through the Dochula Pass to the ancient monastery hidden in the Haa Valley. Experience the unspoilt traditional culture and join in a colourful celebration of Bhutanese faith discovering one of Bhutan’s most colourful and famous festivals, Paro Tsechu. Hone your photographic skills whilst dances are performed by trained monks and laymen, wearing incredible masks and costumes.

Your guide on the trip is Sue Flood, a photographer, author, wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. Sue was an Associate Producer on the award-winning BBC series ‘The Blue Planet’, more recently worked on Planet Earth. She will accompany the group throughout Bhutan and will be present on all excursions to provide guidance and workshops aimed at improving photography skills.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 30

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INDIA

DAY 1

AURANGABAD Arrive in Aurangabad.

DAY 2 AURANGABAD/ AJANTA CAVES/ AURANGABAD Visit Ajanta Caves.

DAY 3 AURANGABAD/ ELLORA CAVES/ AURANGABAD Visit Daulatabad Fort,

Khuldabad and Ellora Caves.

DAY 4 AURANGABAD/ HYDERABAD

Sightseeing including Bibi-ka-Maqbara and Pan Chakki. Evening flight to Hyderabad.

DAY 5 HYDERABAD Sightseeing including

Golkonda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs.

DAY 6 HYDERABAD Visit Charminar,

Chowmahalla Palace and Paigah Tombs.

DAY 7 HYDERABAD Visit the British Residency

and Raymond’s Tomb – The White Mughals Tour.

DAY 8 HYDERABAD/BIDAR/ GULBARGA Drive

to Bidar. Sightseeing in Bidar including Bidar Fort and Ashtur Tombs.

Drive to Gulbarga.

DAY 9 GULBARGA/ BIJAPUR Gulbarga

sightseeing and continue on to Bijapur.

DAY 10 BIJAPUR Sightseeing including Gol

Gumbaz, Ibrahim Rouza and Jama Masjid.

DAY 11 BIJAPUR/ HAMPI Drive to Hampi

Sightseeing on arrival.

DAY 12 HAMPI See Virupaksha, Vittala Temple

and other temple ruins.

Hampi and the Deccan Plateau LED BY JONTY RAJAGOPALAN 30 NOV - 13 DECEMBER 2019 £5,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-9

•See the impressive cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora •Be captivated by the UNESCO site of Hampi •Explore cultural diversity through regional cuisine The central Indian regions of Andra Pradesh and Karnataka, known as the Deccan Plateau, offer a heady mix of fascinating culture and history.

A veritable treasure trove of delights, this tour discovers a rich and vibrant culture, full of art, music, textiles and delicious cuisine. Visit the diverse site of Hampi and see the exceptional Islamic architecture of Bijapur and Gulbarga.

Visit Hyderabad, with emphasis on its buzzing culinary scene. Explore a less visited part of India to learn of an ancient past through its food and customs.

Occasionally you meet someone who is such fun and so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their country’s history and culture that you just want to travel with them. Such an individual is Jonty Rajagopalan. Born in Hyderabad, Jonty quit the corporate world to follow her passions of history and food. This tour not only visits key historical sites of central India, but offers an understanding of the region’s cultural diversity through its customs, dress and food.

DAY 13 HAMPI Explore Hampi including step

wells, Queen’s Bath, Elephant Stables.

DAY 14 HAMPI/ MUMBAI Fly to Mumbai.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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INDIA

DAY 1

MUMBAI Arrive in Mumbai.

DAY 2 MUMBAI/DIU/ GIR NATIONAL PARK Fly

from Mumbai to Diu, continue onto Gir National Park.

DAY 3-4 GIR NATIONAL PARK Over the next two

days there will be morning and afternoon game drives to maximise the chances of lion sightings.

DAY 5 GIR NATIONAL PARK/VELAVADAR

Morning game drive and transfer to Velavadar.

DAY 6 VELAVADAR Explore Velavadar National

park by open top jeep. Spot blackbuck and nilgai against the savannah landscape.

DAY 7 VELAVADAR/ DASADA Morning Game

Drive and transfer to Little Rann of Kutch.

DAY 8 DASADA Little Rann of Kutch Sanctuary

and tribal villages.

DAY 9 DASADA/ BERA Morning safari and

transfer to Bera.

DAY 10-11 BERA Two full days of leopard safaris.

DAY 12 BERA/ PHALODI Drive to Phalodi, a

trading centre on the caravan route through the Thar Desert.

DAY 13 PHALODI/ JODHPUR Visit Khichan, Umaid

Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort.

DAY 14 JODHPUR/MUMBAI Fly to Mumbai for

departure.

Lions & Leopards of West India LED BY KARTIKEYA SINGH 29 NOV - 12 DECEMBER 2019 £6,295 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 8-13

•View the endemic Asiatic Lions at Gir National Park •See the leopards of Bera in the Aravalli hills •Visit Little Rann of Kutch for flamingos The lions of Gir National Park are the only remaining wild Asiatic lions on earth. Discover Gujarat’s other thriving wildlife populations of leopard, sloth bear, wolf, black buck and even striped hyena against a savannah style landscape.

The wetlands of this state support huge congregations of birds. For birders, there are several regional endemics and globally threatened species to seek out.

Explore the remote regions of the state of Rajasthan surrounding Bera, where leopards make their homes in the caves of the Aravalli Hills.

Kartikeya is an expert naturalist with over 20 years’ experience of working in the field of Indian wildife. He has monitored the ecology and biodiversity of Gir National Park and Little Rann of Kutch and has extensive experience of endemic species including Asiatic lions. He is also a keen photographer and has worked as a consultant for the BBC series Natural World and Planet Earth. His guiding skills have been nationally recognised with an award for the Best Lodge Naturalist.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 34

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INDIA

DAY 1

DELHI Arrive into Delhi.

DAY 2 DELHI /LEH Fly Delhi to Leh. Meet

with experts from the Snow Leopard Conservancy for a briefing on snow leopard conservation.

DAY 3 LEH Explore Leh’s Surrounding villages

and valleys.

DAY 4 LEH Explore Leh and spend time at leisure.

DAY 5 LEH/ ULLEY Drive west on the road to

Kargil.

DAY 6 -10 ULLEY Spend the next five days

searching for snow leopards with David Sonam from the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

Explore the Ulley Valley with chief tracker Tchewang Norbu and his expert team. You may also encounter species these apex predators prey on, such as blue sheep, ibex and Ladakhi urial.

DAY 11 ULLEY/ ALCHI/ LEH Travel back to Leh. Visit

Alchi Monastery en route.

DAY 12 LEH/ DELHI Fly Leh to Delhi.

Overnight Delhi.

DAY 13 DELHI Depart Delhi.

On the Trail of the Snow Leopards LED BY DAVID SONAM 15 - 27 MARCH 2019 £5,195 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-8

•Track snow leopards, blue sheep, ibex and urial •Join David Sonam from Snow Leopard Conservancy •Explore the Ulley Valley with expert local trackers Ulley is in the centre of three interlocking valleys that support between eight and ten snow leopards according to the last census. Sightings of ‘The Ghost of the Himalaya’ are not unusual here, especially when tracking is handled by chief tracker Tchewang Norbu and overseen by David Sonam from the Snow Leopard Conservancy. Explore this less frequented area of Ladakh by vehicle and on foot searching for snow leopards, blue sheep, ibex and Ladakhi urial.

David is the managing trustee of the Snow Leopard Conservancy in India. A keen ornithologist and photographer, David has led numerous wildlife expeditions in Ladakh. His understanding of the snow leopard’s behaviour gives unparalleled insight into the world of this big cat.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 36

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INDIA

DAY 1

MUMBAI/ NAGPUR/ TADOBA NATIONAL PARK Fly from Mumbai

to Nagpur, continue on to Tadoba National Park.

DAY 2 TADOBA NATIONAL PARK Learn how to

set camera traps and identify animal tracks.

DAY 3 TADOBA NATIONAL PARK Morning and

Tiger Conservation & Walking Safari

afternoon jeep safaris in the national park.

DAY 4 TADOBA/PENCH NATIONAL PARKS

Travel overland from Tadoba to Pench.

DAY 5 PENCH NATIONAL PARK Morning and

afternoon game drives.

DAY 6 PENCH/ SATPURA NATIONAL PARKS

Cycle through Pench National Park.

Transfer by road to Satpura in the afternoon.

DAY 7 -10 SATPURA NATIONAL PARK Activities

each day may include Jeep safaris, boating and walking safaris.

DAY 11 SATPURA NATIONAL PARK/ BHOPAL

En route to Bhopal, visit the Bhimbetka cave complex.

DAY 12 BHOPAL/MUMBAI Visit Sanchi and

fly to Mumbai.

DAY 13 MUMBAI Depart Mumbai.

LED BY KARTIKEYA SINGH 3 - 15 MARCH 2019 £4,595 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-12

•Tadoba, Pench and Satpura by foot, canoe and jeep •Set up camera traps and learn tracking skills •Meet conservation experts with current projects Search for tiger in central India’s prime tiger habitats escorted by award winning naturalist, Kartikeya Singh. Tadoba, Pench and Satpura national parks are lesser known but are arguably the naturalist’s choice for tiger and wildlife opportunities. Hike the Panchmari Trail; canoe, cycle and safari by jeep through water bodies, dry sal and teak forests.

Meet the communities that live alongside wildlife in the buffer zones. Hear about the ongoing conservation issues and projects relating to village relocation and tiger translocation programmes.

Kartikeya is an expert naturalist with over 20 years’ experience of working in the field of Indian wildife. He has spent a number of years working as a head naturalist, guiding safaris into the parks of central India. He is also a keen photographer and has worked as a consultant for the BBC series Natural World and Planet Earth. His guiding skills have been nationally recognised with an award for the Best Lodge Naturalist.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 38

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SRI LANKA

DAY 1

COLOMBO Arrive Colombo, transfer to Horathapola Estate to enjoy the rest of the day.

DAY 2 COLOMBO/ MADULKELLE Morning

village walk. Transfer to Madulkelle in the afternoon.

DAY 3 MADULKELLE Half day trek up to

Campbell Forest Waterfall, passing through stunning tea plantations.

DAY 4 MADULKELLE/ GAL OYA Travel to Gal

Oya Lodge and spend three nights in the company of wildlife enthusiasts.

DAY 5-6 GAL OYA During your time at Gal Oya,

spend time exploring the local nature and bug life through nature walks, by boat and by jeep around the local forest. Visit the ongoing projects at the research centre.

DAY 7 GAL OYA/ SINHARAJA Transfer from

Gal Oya to Deniyaya today for Sinharaja Rainforest.

DAY 8 SINHARAJA/ DENIYAYA Follow trails

throughout the rainforest.

DAY 9 DENIYAYA/ COLOMBO Return to Colombo

for an overnight stay in Galle Face Hotel on the waterfront.

DAY 10 COLOMBO Transfer to the airport for

onward travel.

Family Wildlife & Bug Adventure LED BY GEORGE MCGAVIN 26 OCTOBER - 4 NOVEMBER 2019 £3,995 PP | £850 PER CHILD EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 6-10

•Discover wildlife big and small with George McGavin •Explore tea plantations, jungles and mountains •Stay at family friendly lodges like Gal Oya Join this exciting family friendly group tour exploring the fascinating natural world of Sri Lanka. While you will see big mammals on this trip, there is a myriad of smaller species that are equally as compelling. These creatures range from butterflies and beetles to scorpions and spiders and make up most of the island’s ecosystem. George will shine a light on these species to provide a fascinating overview of wildlife in all its forms.

Dr George McGavin is an Honorary Research Associate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and a Research Associate of The Department of Zoology of Oxford University. George is an entomologist and TV presenter and has had several insect species named in his honour.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 40

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Asia &

Australasia “CHRIS ASLAN ALEXANDER IS A WONDERFUL TOUR EXPERT. HUGELY KNOWLEDGEABLE. COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR MORE. EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS AND HIS EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.” UZBEKISTAN, CARPET RIDE TO KHIVA

44 AUSTRALIA: TASMANIA 46 CAMBODIA 48 CHINA 50 INDONESIAN BORNEO 52 KYRGYZSTAN & CHINA 54 PAPUA NEW GUINEA 56 UZBEKISTAN

AUSTRALIA

DAY 1

HOBART Arrive Hobart.Visit Bonorong Wildlife Park for an introduction to Tasmanian wildlife and conservation.

DAY 2 HOBART/ BRUNY ISLAND Day and night

tour of Bruny island in seach of short beaked echidna and penguin.

DAY 3-4 BRUNY ISLAND Raptor viewing from

platforms and hides, nocturnal wildlife photography and an island cruise in search of fur seal, albatross and whales.

DAY 5 BRUNY ISLAND/ MOUNT FIELD NP

Possible platypus sightings plus wonderful waterfalls and scenery.

DAY 6 MOUNT FIELD/ CRADLE MOUNTAIN

Travelling day with regular stops.

DAY 7 CRADLE MOUNTAIN AREA Visit Cradle

Mountain and Dove Lake. Take short walks in search of wombat and a night drive in search of Tasmanian Devil.

DAY 8 CRADLE MOUNTAIN/NARAWNTAPU NP / HAWLEY BEACH Travel north in search of

platypus, water birds, and kangaroo. Night walk in search of brown bandicoot, long nosed potoroo and little penguin.

DAY 9 NORTHERN TASMANIA Continue

exploring the reserves and national parks of Northern Tasmania.

DAY 10 HAWLEY BEACH/ BICHENO Visit

Freycinet National Park. Private ‘Devils in the Dark’ wildlife experience.

DAY 11 BICHENO/ MARIA ISLAND/ HOBART

Day trip to Maria Island.

DAY 12 HOBART Depart Hobart.

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TasmaniaWildlife Photography LED BY SUE FLOOD 18 - 29 NOVEMBER 2019 £7,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-10

•Expert tuition from wildlife photographer Sue Flood •Encounter endemic species in the wild •Visit Maria Island, refuge to endangered wildlife Tasmania is a photographer’s dream with breath-taking landscapes, habituated wildlife, incredible colours and superb lighting. It is home to many unique and endangered mammals many of which are marsupials, distinctive to other mammals by their methods of carrying their young in a pouch. It is also home to two species of monotreme plus a wealth of birdlife including twelve species found nowhere else in the world.

Explore rugged islands, mountains and deserted beaches in search of Tasmania’s wildlife

Your guide on the trip is Sue Flood, a photographer, author, wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. Sue was an Associate Producer on the award-winning BBC series ‘The Blue Planet’, and more recently worked on Planet Earth. Sue is great fun to be with and throughout the trip, she will be on hand to give ad-hoc shooting tips and to answer all questions you may have.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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CAMBODIA

DAY 1

PHNOM PENH Arrive in Phnom Penh.

Afternoon tour including the Royal Palace, National Museum and Wat Phnom.

DAY 2 PHNOM PENH/ KEP Witness the large flocks

of Sarus crane in the wet grasslands of Boeung Prek Lapouv.

DAY 3-5 KEP Spend the next three days working with

the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust ecotourism programme and engage with the local communities in Anlung Pring.

DAY 6 KEP/ PHNOM PENH/ SIEM REAP Fly to Siem

Reap. Afternoon visit to Kdei Temple.

DAY 7

SIEM REAP Explore the Temples of the Forest.

Afternoon ramble at Angkor Thom.

DAY 8 SIEM REAP Journey by boat across the Tonle

Sap Lake to the Prek Toal reserve.

DAY 9 SIEM REAP Witness the sunrise

at Angkor Wat, later explore the Cambodian countryside.

DAY 10 SIEM REAP Depart Siem Reap.

Wildlife of Cambodia with Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust LED BY LOCAL EXPERTS 1 - 10 FEBRUARY 2019 £3,695 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-10

•Led by WWT’s experts at Boeung Prek Lapouv NP •Observe the beautiful but threatened Sarus Crane •Watch the sun rise over the temples of Angkor See an alternative side of Cambodia, travel to the lower Mekong region to spot the magnificent Sarus crane in the wetlands of Anlung Pring and spend time working alongside the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, a conservation charity providing support to the local community. Either side of this conservation work you will visit the thriving capital of Phnom Penh and the contrasting inland lake and wetlands of Tonle Sap. Your trip will then conclude in Siem Reap, home to the epic temples of Angkor.

Large areas of wetland are being destroyed to support Cambodia’s fastgrowing economy. In just 15 years, half its wetlands have disappeared. A third of the population don’t have access to clean water. This affects wildlife as well as people. Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust, is working with local communities to help farmers grow crops that use less water and don’t need harmful pesticides.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 46

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CHINA

DAY 1

BEIJING Arrive in Beijing.

DAY 2

BEIJING/ GUIYANG Fly to Guiyang. Explore the city, visiting the People’s Square.

DAY 3

GUIYANG/ HUANGGUOSHU Discover the

Lao Han historical villages .

DAY 4 HUANGGUOSHU Visit a Shitou Buyi

village and the 78-metre-high Huangguoshu Waterfall.

DAY 5

HUANGGUOSHU/ LIUZHI Travel to the miao

villages, to see traditional festival costumes.

DAY 6 LIUZHI/PUDING Experience a traditional

performance given by the Big Flowery Miao.

DAY 7

PUDING/ ZHIJIN Journey to Zhijin, observe the traditional textile techniques used by the Miao of Zhijin.

DAY 8 ZHIJIN / GUIYANG Travel to Guiyang, visit a

textiles museum.

DAY 9 GUIYANG/ KAILI Visit a silk-felt Miao village.

DAY 10 KAILI Visit a batik village.

DAY 11 KAILI /CONGJIANG Journey to the Biasha

Miao village set high in the mountains.

DAY 12 CONGJIANG View the Jiabang rice

terraces in Guizhou.

DAY 13 CONGJIANG/ RONGJIANG View the

traditional dress and indigo dying practice at a Dong village.

DAY 14 RONGJIANG / GUIYANG Travel to Guiyang,

Ancient Culture & Textiles of Guizhou LED BY GINA CORRIGAN 12 - 27 OCT 2019 £3,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Accompanied by textile specialist Gina Corrigan •See ancient decorative textile techniques •Visit the traditional Miao villages Dedicated to showcasing the intricate, decorative and traditional textiles skills of this region. This tour also highlights the architecture and landscapes of the Guizhou Province, a relatively unknown region. The people here still uphold a traditional way of life and ancient traditions are plain to see as you travel through the province. During the tour you will be given demonstrations of ancient textile techniques, with Gina on hand to give narrative during home visits and visits to textile museums.

Gina first visited China in 1972 and has been working in the region ever since, organising and leading tours. In 1987 Gina organised her first textile tour to south west China and from then on, became fascinated by Guizhou. Concerned that they were going to disappear, she began collecting and documenting costumes and textiles of the ethnic peoples from Guizhou.

visit the Costume Museum.

DAY 15 GUIYANG / BEIJING Fly to Beijing.

DAY 16 BEIJING Depart Beijing.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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INDONESIAN BORNEO

DAY 1

JAKARTA Arrive Jakarta.

DAY 2 JAKARTA/ PANGKALAN BUN/ TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK Fly to

Pangkalan Bun, travel by boat to Tanjung Puting National Park.

DAY 3 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

Morning forest walk and Tanjung Harapan orangutan viewing.

DAY 4 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK

Morning visit to Pondok Tanggui followed by afternoon at Camp Leakey.

DAY 5 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK/ PANGKALAN BUN Half day visit to

Yayorin, working with local communities to protect orangutans.

DAY 6 PANGKALAN BUN/ TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK Return to Rimba Lodge

to visit Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve and Camp Gemini, a release site for reintroducing orangutans.

DAY 7 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK Free

morning. Afternoon at Tanjung Harapan Feeding Site.

DAY 8 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK Half

day at the Pondok Ambung Tropical Forest Research Station. Evening farewell dinner and night walk.

DAY 9 TANJUNG PUTING NATIONAL PARK/ PANGKALAN BUN/ JAKARTA Return to

Pangkalan Bun by boat before flying to Jakarta for the night.

DAY 10 JAKARTA Depart Jakarta.

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Orangutan Conservation LED BY ASHLEY LEIMAN 9 - 18 JUNE 2019 £3,395 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-10

•Visit the renowned Camp Leakey •Gain exclusive access to orangutan release sites •Join experts from the Orangutan Foundation Through the expertise of the Orangutan Foundation, understand the importance of the forest and the role of local communities in securing the orangutans’ future. Visit areas which are only accessible through this unique partnership. Escape the crowds and witness these magnificent primates in the wildest parts of Indonesian Borneo.

Come face-to-face with the orangutans in their fragile natural environment and spend time at the three feeding sites, including Dr Galdikas’ famous Camp Leakey.

Ashley founded the Orangutan Foundation UK in 1990. She is one of the leading figures in orangutan conservation and has made numerous radio and television appearances and authored a number of scientific papers.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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KYRGYZSTAN & CHINA

DAY 1

BISHKEK Arrive in Bishkek. Sightseeing tour.

DAY 2

BISHKEK/ ASHU VILLAGE Take a walking tour in the Chon-Kemin valley.

DAY 3

ASHU VALLEY /NARYN Visit Kochkor village, en route to Naryn.

DAY 4 NARYN/ KASHGAR Visit the ancient

caravanserai of Tash Rabat. Cross the Kyrgyz-Chinese border to Kashgar.

DAY 5: KASHGAR See China’s largest mosque and

Apak Khoja’s Tomb.

DAY 6 KASHGAR / TURPAN Explore the bazaar.

Overnight train to Turpan.

DAY 7-8 TURPAN Two days exploring sites such as the

Turpan Museum and the city of Jiaohe.

DAY 9 TURPAN/DUNHUANG Visit the Karez Wells

and Emin Minaret. Train to Dunhuang.

DAY 10 DUNHUANG See the Singing Sand

Mountains. Visit the Mogao caves, the White Horse Dagoba and Dunhuang County Museum.

DAY 11 DUNHUANG/ JIAYUGUAN Journey

through the arid Gansu corridor and see the Overhanging Great Wall.

DAY 12 JIAYUGUAN/XIAN Visit the restored fort and

the Jiayuguan Museum. Fly to Xian.

DAY 13-14 XIAN See the Terracotta Warriors, the Great

Mosque and Shaanxi Provincial Museum.

DAY 15 XIAN / BEIJING Visit the terracotta figurines

and burial chambers of Han Jing Tomb and museum.

DAY 16 BEIJING Depart Beijing.

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Journey along the Silk Route LED BY DIANA DRISCOLL 11 - 26 JUNE 2019 £4,295 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Witness Kyrgyzstan’s dramatic landscapes •Discover an incredible wealth of Buddhist cave art •See the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors Journeying eastwards by road, rail and air, explore key sites along the Silk Route, one of the world’s oldest and most legendary trade routes. From Bishkek in the heart of central Asia, this tour traverses the spectacular Tien Shan Mountains to Kashgar, then skirts the northern edge of the magnificent Taklimakan Desert before culminating in Xian, the eastern terminus of this once great trading network. *Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

Lecturer and guide Diana Driscoll has over 30 years experience of Ancient Near and Middle East history, languages, religion and culture. She lectured throughout China and east Asia, and during this time, developed an interest in the history of the Silk Road. Her research now covers the history, art & archaeology, cultures and religions covering over 5,000 miles of road and 3,000 years of history from Rome to Xian. She regularly gives British Museum talks on the Silk Road.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

*T SU S WO PP IN F LE GL RE M E E EN TS

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

DAY 1

CAIRNS Arrive in Cairns.

DAY 2 CAIRNS/ MADANG Fly to Madang, board

the True North ship.

DAY 3-4 SEPIK RIVER Travel up river on the True

North and then spend two days exploring and discovering by expedition boat or, optionally, by helicopter.

DAY 5 LONG ISLAND & UMBOI ISLAND Hike to

Lake Wisdom on Long Island, experience local life and explore the excellent reefs of Umboi Island.

DAY 6 EAST NEW BRITAIN ISLAND Visit the local

eco warriors of Tavolo, later discover the coral reef at Lindenhafen.

DAY 7 NEW BRITAIN ISLAND Travel by

expedition boats and journey deeper into the jungle, visiting isolated villages.

DAY 8 LUSANCAY ISLANDS Visit Star reef,

snorkel in the shallows or dive the outer-reef.

DAY 9 TROBRIAND ISLANDS Explore the

mysterious, untouched Trobriand islands.

DAY 10 TUFI Cruise the picturesque fjords in a

traditional rigger to experience local village life.

DAY 11 FERGUSON ISLAND Morning nature trek

through the jungle, later visit the local hot springs.

DAY 12 ALOTAU/ CAIRNS Disembark the True

Papua New Guinea Photography Cruise LED BY SUE FLOOD 1 - 13 NOVEMBER 2019 £14,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | MAX GROUP SIZE OF 32

•Meet the crocodile initiates of the Sepik River •Dive and snorkel in Coral Triangle’s world-class sites •Travel onboard luxury ship True North This expedition cruise, on board the luxury small ship True North, sails around the remote islands of Papua New Guinea and up the Sepik River to explore the fascinating interior of the country.

Six expedition boats and a helicopter option* ensure that all on board get to experience the very best of Papua New Guinea. The ship’s helicopter soars above mountains and volcanoes, giving photographers the perfect bird’s eye view while small, manoeuvrable speed boats allow for snorkelling and diving on pristine coral.

Your guide on the trip is Sue Flood, a photographer, author, wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. Sue was an Associate Producer on the award-winning BBC series ‘The Blue Planet’, and more recently worked on Planet Earth. Sue is great fun to be with - throughout the trip, she will be on hand to give ad-hoc shooting tips and to answer all questions you may have.

North ship at Alotau, fly to Cairns.

DAY 13 CAIRNS Depart Cairns.

*Helicopter excursions at an additional cost.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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UZBEKISTAN

DAY 1

TASHKENT Arrive Tashkent. City tour.

DAY 2 TASHKENT / NUKUS/ KHIVA Fly to Nukus.

Visit Savitsky Museum. Travel from Nukus to Hojeili. Continue to Khiva.

DAY 3 KHIVA Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva.

DAY 4 KHIVA Full day at the UNESCO Ichan

Kala. Also visit carpet and silk making workshops.

DAY 5 KHIVA/ BUKHARA Travel to Bukhara.

DAY 6 BUKHARA Explore Bukhara, the former

capital and religious centre of Uzbekistan.

DAY 7 BUKHARA/ SAMARKAND Further

sightseeing in Bukhara. Travel by train from Bukhara to Samarkand.

DAY 8 SAMARKAND/ SHAHR-I-SABZ/ SAMARKAND Excursion to Shahr-i-Sabz,

birthplace of Timur.

DAY 9 SAMARKAND See the Afrosiab Museum

and excursion to Urgut for Sunday market.

DAY 10 SAMARKAND/ TASHKENT Full day

sightseeing including Registan Square, the most spectacular architectural ensemble in central Asia and tour of the remarkable Shah-i Zinda complex.

Evening train to Tashkent.

DAY 11 TASHKENT Morning sightseeing.

*Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

Carpet Ride to Khiva LED BY CHRIS ASLAN ALEXANDER 27 APRIL - 7 MAY 2019 £2,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•See the turquoise domes of Timurid architecture •Visit UNESCO’s Samarkand’s Registan Square •Explore the Bukhara bazaars with traditional artisans Take in the arts, crafts, architecture and historical sites of this remarkable country, accompanied by experts who will help bring the region to life.

Uzbekistan has a dazzling array of mosques, madrasas, tombs and tales of Tamerlane. The depth of its history, makes it the perfect introduction to the Central Asian Plateau. Escorted by tour expert Chris Alexander, discover the treasures of the fabled Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

Born and raised in Turkey and Lebanon, Chris travelled to Uzbekistan in 1998 to work on content for a guidebook. After completing his book, he went on to live in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and speaks fluent Uzbek.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 56

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Africa “IT WAS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO NOT ONLY SEE BUT TAKE PART IN RHINO CONSERVATION.” SOUTH AFRICA , RHINO CONSERVATION TOUR

60 CHAD 62 KENYA 64 KENYA 66 MADAGASCAR 68 MALAWI 70 SOUTH AFRICA

CHAD

DAY 1

N’DJAMENA Arrive in Chad and spend a night at the Hilton in N’Djamena.

DAY 2 N’DJAMENA/ ZAKOUMA Fly to Zakouma

National Park and stay at Tinga Lodge.

DAY 2- 8 ZAKOUMA Fly to Zakouma National Park

and stay at Tinga Lodge.

Spend several days exploring Zakouma National Park, guided by Doug Macdonald.

The schedule is flexible, but activities will include game drives, bush walks and night drives. This will give you the best chance of spotting the varied and unique wildlife that can be found here.

There will also be the opportunity to visit a local Chadian village, as well as African Parks’ headquarters in Zakouma.

DAY 9 ZAKOUMA/ N’DJAMENA Fly back to

N’Djamena and connect with your flight home.

Zakouma & Wildlife of the Sahel LED BY DOUG MACDONALD 13 - 21 JANUARY 2019 £5,595 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6

•Gain privileged insight into African Parks’ conservation •Search for the park’s large herd of 400 elephants •Explore an area rich with migratory birds Flourishing under the stewardship of African Parks, Zakouma is squeezed between the sands of the Sahara and the jungles of the tropics. Famed for its resurgent elephant population – once poached almost to extinction – the park forms a haven for the region’s wildlife, which includes Kordofan giraffes and West African savannah buffalos.

Explore during the dry season, when this impressive landscape can be accessed at will. Take game drives and bush walks led by Doug Macdonald, one of the few guides to know this remote park.

Doug Macdonald was born in Zimbabwe, into a family of adventurers and explorers. His grandfather was also one of the first Europeans to canoe down the Zambezi River, heading into Mozambique on his quest to find minerals.

Doug has travelled and guided through many countries in Africa, from well-known safari areas to some very unusual destinations, such as Zakouma.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 60

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KENYA

DAY 1

NAIROBI Arrive in Nairobi.

DAY 2 NAIROBI/ OL PEJETA Fly from Nairobi to

Ol Pejeta.

DAY 3 OL PEJETA Explore Ol Pejeta. Meet with

Richard Vigne, the conservancy’s CEO. DAY 4 OL PEJETA/ LEWA Drive from Ol Pejeta

Wildlife & Communities with Fauna & Flora International

to Lewa.

DAY 5 LEWA Visit Lewa Headquarters and drive

into the neighbouring Borana conservancy.

DAY 6 LEWA Day exploring Lewa.

DAY 7 LEWA/ SERA Fly to Sera Conservancy and

meet the manager.

DAY 8 SERA Track black rhinos on foot.

DAY 9 SERA/ NAIRBOI Fly back to Nairobi.

LED BY TANIA BIRD 9 - 17 JUNE 2019 £7,895 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-8

•Spot big game in Ol Pejeta Conservancy •Learn about conservation at Lewa Conservancy •Track black rhinos on foot in Sera Conservancy Explore northern Kenya visiting the projects supported by Fauna & Flora International (FFI). Explore Ol Pejeta Conservancy, before moving to Lewa Conservancy, which is at the forefront of black rhino conservation in East Africa.

Finish in Sera Community Conservancy, the first conservancy to entrust rhino protection to the community and where you will track these animals on foot.

At each conservancy, meet the people behind the projects and gain behind-thescenes insight into the vital conservation work of FFI.

A conservationist and researcher, Tania Bird has worked across southern and eastern Africa, attached to a variety of different projects. With expertise in long term monitoring and habitat restoration, much of her work has focused on wildlife management and biodiversity.

Tania has previously worked for both Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) in Kenya, which is a community conservancy organisation.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 62

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KENYA

DAY 1

NAIROBI Arrive in Nairobi.

DAY 2 NAIROBI/ MASAI MARA Fly to

Masai Mara.

DAY 3 MASAI MARA Photography and game

drives in Mara North Conservancy.

DAY 4 MASAI MARA Another day in

Wildlife Photography in the Mara & Laikipia

the conservancy.

DAY 5 MASAI MARA A further day of

photography and game drives.

DAY 6 MASAI MARA/ NAIROBI/ LAIKIPIA

Fly to Nairobi then on to Laikipia.

DAY 7 LAIKIPIA Photography and game drives

in the Mugie Conservancy.

DAY 8 LAIKIPIA Another day in the conservancy.

DAY 9 LAIKIPIA Final day on safari.

DAY 10 LAIKIPIA/ NAIROBI Fly to Nairobi

then depart.

LED BY HARRY SKEGGS 16 - 25 FEBRUARY 2019 £4,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-6

•Visit the Masai Mara for fantastic game viewing •Explore Laikipia on foot and by safari vehicle •Flexibility with private vehicle in the Mara & Laikipia Explore two of Kenya’s greatest wildlife areas, rich with photographic opportunities. Wildlife encounters abound throughout both conservancies, but the exclusive nature of this trip means that photographers can make the most of them. Private vehicles afford a flexibility that can be invaluable, whilst the protected nature of the conservancies makes for incredible, uninterrupted encounters. Stay in carefully selected camps, travelling in a small group, accompanied by professional photographer Harry Skeggs.

Harry Skeggs is a multiple award-winning wildlife and travel photographer.

His work has been exhibited around the world and regularly features in the pages of large publications such as National Geographic. Throughout the trip, Harry will be on hand to give shooting tips and will work with you to take your artistic and technical skills to the next level.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 64

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MADAGASCAR

DAY 1

ANTANANARIVO Arrive in Antananarivo.

DAY 2 ANTANANARIVO/ ANDASIBE Travel to

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park by road.

Land of the Lemur

DAY 3 ANDASIBE Spend the day looking for

lemurs and other wildlife.

DAY 4 ANDASIBE/ ANTANANARIVO Travel by

road back to Antananarivo.

DAY 5 ANTANANARIVO/ TSINGY Fly to the

Tsingy de Bemaraha.

DAY 6 TSINGY Take guided walks through the

spiky Tsingy.

DAY 7 TSINGY/ KIRINDY Drive to the

Kirindy Reserve.

DAY 8 KIRINDY Explore the Kirindy Reserve on

foot and visit the Avenue of the Baobabs.

DAY 9 KIRINDY/ MIANDRIVAZO Drive through

rural Madagascar to Miandrivazo.

DAY 10 MIANDRIVAZO/ ANTSIRABE

Drive to Antsirabe.

DAY 11 ANTSIRABE Explore this colourful

market town.

DAY 12 ANTSIRABE/ ANTANANARIVO

Drive back to Antananarivo and depart. *Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

LED BY CHARLES RANDRIANANTENAINA 8 - 19 SEPT 2019 £3,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-10

•Set off on a classic wildlife tour of Madagascar •Explore rainforests, lakes and the Avenue of Baobabs •Discover the dramatic Tsingy de Bemaraha landscape Experience the diversity of Madagascar, away from the crowds. Explore the island’s jungles, searching for the various lemur species, and discover its unique landscapes. Start in AndasibeMantadia Park, where the cry of the indri echoes through the forest. Continue to the towering limestone pinnacles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha. Then head west, via the iconic Avenue of Baobabs, to Kirindy Forest. Here, hope to catch a glimpse of Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the catlike fossa, before visiting the colourful, rickshaw-strewn town of Antsirabe.

This tour will be led by local guide Charles Randr ianantenaina.

Charles moved to Isalo, where he began his training as a local park guide. After qualifying as an official independent guide he focused on English speaking clients and since then, he has explored almost every region of Madagascar, leading several specialist groups for Steppes.

As charming as he is knowledgeable, he always maintains the best groups are the ones that ask the most questions.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813| GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 66

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MALAWI

DAY 1

BLANTYRE/ MAJETE Arrive in Blantyre.

Transfer to Majete Wildlife Reserve and stay at Mkulumadzi.

DAY 2 MAJETE Meet Craig Hay, the park

manager. Learn about the history of Majete.

DAY 3 MAJETE Explore this Big Five park by boat,

4x4 and on foot.

DAY 4 MAJETE/ LIWONDE Transfer to Liwonde

National Park and stay at Mvuu Lodge.

DAY 5 LIWONDE Meet Craig Reid, the park

manager and track cheetahs with the park rangers.

DAY 6 LIWONDE Explore the park and cruise

the Shire River.

DAY 7 LIWONDE/ NKHOTAKOTA Fly by light

aircraft to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve and stay at Tongole Wilderness Lodge.

DAY 8 NKHOTAKOTA Meet the park manager,

Sam Kamoto, and hear about African Parks’ vision for Nkhotakota.

DAY 9 NKHOTAKOTA Explore the park and

perhaps visit one of the community projects.

DAY 10 NKHOTAKOTA/ LILONGWE Drive back

to Lilongwe and depart. Or extend your trip with some time by Lake Malawi.

Conservation Safari with African Parks LED BY AFRICAN PARKS AUGUST 2019 £5,695 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-6

•Explore Malawi and learn about African Parks •Meet the park managers for insight into conservation •Cruise Liwonde’s Shire River; spot Majete’s Big Five Explore Malawi and see the work of African Parks. Begin in Majete, Malawi’s most established park and home to the Big Five. Then continue to the riverine landscape of Liwonde, with its palm-tree-dotted savannah and large elephant herds. Finish in the forested hills of Nkhotakota, the site of the largest wildlife translocation of modern times.

Afterwards, head home or have the chance to relax on a beautiful island on Lake Malawi.

African Parks are a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas. Renowned for their longterm vision, ambitious species translocations and willingness to work in unstable areas, they are at the forefront of conservation in Africa. Working in partnership with governments and local communities, they manage more than ten million hectares of national parks and reserves across Africa.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 68

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SOUTH AFRICA

DAY 1

JOHANNESBURG/ HOEDSPRUIT

Arrive Johannesburg and travel by road to Hoedspruit.

DAY 2 HOEDSPRUIT/ KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Visit the Moholoholo Rehab Centre,

then travel by road to Kruger.

DAY 3 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Rhino Conservation Project

Full day game drive.

DAY 4 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK / KLASERIE PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE Travel by

road to Klaserie, then have the option of a night game drive.

DAY 5 KLASERIE PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE

Join the rhino darting and notching, then take an afternoon game drive.

DAY 6 KLASERIE PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE

Morning walk then afternoon game drive.

DAY 7 KLASERIE PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE/ JOHANNESBURG Travel by road to

Johannesburg and depart. *Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

LED BY DR PETER ROGERS 21 - 27 JULY 2019 £2,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 4-10

•Exclusive hands-on experience of a rhino darting project •Guided game drives and walks in the Greater Kruger •See a wildlife rehabilitation centre and reptile project This tour is for wildlife lovers wanting hands-on experience of an authentic conservation project. Accompany chief vet, Dr Peter Rogers, and rangers from Klaserie Nature Reserve as they locate a rhino and undertake the task of notching and micro-chipping. Expect to be more than just a spectator, with the group assisting in this vital conservation work.

With rhino horn fetching more money than gold, the stakes have never been higher.

A local guide will accompany the group throughout. For the rhino notching, Dr Peter Rogers and his team will meet and accompany the group.

In addition to running a wildlife veterinary practice in Hoedspruit, Dr Peter Rogers is also a specialist in wild animal capture and translocation. He is one of South Africa’s leading authorities on rhino conservation and we feel privileged to have been working with him on this project for a number of years.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 70

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The Americas “WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR? SUE FLOOD WAS FANTASTIC. SHE WAS FRIENDLY, COMPETENT AND ALWAYS IN GOOD HUMOUR. AS A PHOTOGRAPHER SHE GAVE US SO MANY TIPS AND SPECIALIST ADVICE.” GALAPAGOS WITH SUE FLOOD

74 ALASKA 76 ANTARCTICA, FALKLANDS & SOUTH GEORGIA 78 BRAZIL 80 CANADA 82 COLOMBIA 84 CUBA 86 COSTA RICA 88 GALAPAGOS 90 PERU 92 PERU

ALASKA

DAY 1

PETERSBURG Arrive Petersburg.

DAY 2 PETERSBURG Enjoy a 60-minute scenic

flight for views of the glacial peaks or join Chris on a birdwatching beach walk. Late afternoon, board the Safari Quest.

DAY 3 KAKE/ KEKU ISLANDS Visit Kake, a

Tinglit village and later explore the Keku islands by kayak.

DAY 4 TEBENKOF BAY Explore the Tebenkof

Bay Wilderness.

DAY 5 SOUTH BARANOF Paddle among the

inlets looking for seals, sea otters and sea lions.

DAY 6 CHATHAM STRAIT / FREDERICK SOUND

Today sail in search of whales.

DAY 7 ADMIRALITY ISLAND Explore the area

by skiff (dingy) or soak up the wilderness quietly on a kayak.

DAY 8 STIKINE-LECONTE WILDERNESS

View the southernmost tidewater glacier LeConte, then hike along the Three Lakes trail.

DAY 9 PETERSBURG Disembark the Safari Quest,

depart Petersburg.

Luxury Cruise with Chris Packham LED BY CHRIS PACKHAM 1 - 9 AUGUST 2019 £7,195 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 22

•Capture images of Alaska’s wildlife with Chris Packham •View humpback whales bubble net feeding •Access to less visited areas on board the Safari Quest This tour is for wildlife and wilderness lovers that want immersion in the spectacular Alaskan outdoors. Back by popular demand to lead a second trip for Steppes, join Chris Packham to navigate the rugged coast of Alaska and the islands of the Inside Passage. Board the Safari Quest for seven nights in search of humpback and orca whales, sea lions, sea otters, grizzly and black bears. There will be an emphasis on photographing Alaska’s charismatic fauna, however, anybody with a love of wildlife and wild places will enjoy this cruise.

Chris Packham is one of the world’s leading natural history experts.

He has gained recognition as a wildlife TV presenter, writer,photographer, conservationist and campaigner. Chris will be on hand throughout the voyage to give advice and tips on photography. He will also share his knowledge of post-production software that will further help to enhance your images and will also be giving informal lectures on natural history, conservation and life as a BBC TV presenter.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 74

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ANTARCTICA ARGENTINA

FALKLANDS

Ushuaia Stanley Drake Passage Elephant Island

Grytviken

SOUTH GEORGIA

Deception Island Wilhelmina Bay

ANTARCTICA DAY 1

USHUAIA Arrive in Ushuaia, board the RCGS Resolute.

DAY 2 AT SEA Sail towards the Falkland Islands.

DAY 3-4 FALKLAND ISLANDS Observe the wildlife

on the West Falkland archipelago. Visit the capital Stanley on the East Falkland.

Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Cruise

DAY 5-6 AT SEA Sail to South Georgia, watching for

whales and birdlife. Time for talks by the onboard experts.

DAY 7-9 SOUTH GEORGIA Arrive at South

Georgia. Encounter elephant seals and large king penguin colonies at Salisbury Plain and St Andrews Bay.Visit the historical whaling station Grytviken and Shackleton’s grave.

DAY 10- 11 AT SEA Sailing to Antarctica.

DAY 12 AT SEA As you enter Antarctic waters,

witness the dark cliffs of Elephant Island.

DAY 13 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Explore the

South Shetland Islands and caldera of Deception Island.

DAY 14-16 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Cross

the Bransfield Strait and marvel at the Antarctic continent. Take to the Zodiac boats and explore Wilhelmina Bay, Orne Harbour, Cuverville Island and the Errera Channel. Observe the penguin colonies with photographer Sue Flood.

DAY 17-18 DRAKE PASSAGE Head north across the

Drake Passage.

DAY 19 USHUAIA Disembark RCGS Resolute,

depart Ushuaia.

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LED BY STEPHEN VENABLES, WADE DAVIS & SUE FLOOD 30 JAN - 17 FEB 2019 £13,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 60*

•Explore wildlife hotspots of South Georgia & Falklands •Sail aboard a high-end Antarctic expedition ship •Travel in the company of outstanding experts If you have a love of wildlife and wild places, an expedition voyage to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula is the ultimate travel experience. Nothing quite prepares you for the epic scale, the amazing sense of space or the prolific wildlife. Towering ice cliffs, gigantic glaciers, bergs the size of skyscrapers – little wonder that Roald Amundsen wrote of Antarctica that “the land looks like a fairy-tale.” *Steppes group will be 60 passengers however capacity of RCGS Resolute is 146 passengers.

In addition to the regular experts on board which include expedition leaders, naturalists, historians, ornithologists, marine biologists, photographers and artists you will also have, exclusive to Steppes Travel, three additional experts - Stephen Venables, mountaineer and South Georgia expert; Wade Davis, anthropologist and ethnobotanist and wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Sue Flood.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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BRAZIL

DAY 1

CAMPO GRANDE/ PANTANAL Arrive Campo Grande airport. Take a scenic flight to Baia das Pedras Lodge, giving an aerial view of the vast wetlands.

DAY 2-3 PANTANAL Whilst at Baia das Pedras,

spend time with the team at Project Giant Armadillo. Embark on activities such as walks, boat rides, 4x4 drives or horse riding.

DAY 4 PANTANAL Scenic flight to Caiman Lodge.

DAY 5-8 PANTANAL Over the next four days the

group will become part of the Oncafari Jaguar Habituation Team, searching for jaguar and getting involved in daily research and activities. Also visit the hyacinth macaw project which monitors these distinctive birds.

DAY 9 PANTANAL/ CAMPO GRANDE

Scenic flight back to Campo Grande for flight out.

Jaguar Conservation Safari in the Pantanal LED BY DR ARNAUD DESBIEZ & MARIO HABERFELD 10 - 18 OCT 2019 £4,395 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 2-9

•Track wild jaguars with the Oncafari Jaguar Project •Study giant armadillo, anteater and tapir •Explore the largest wetland on the planet This tour gives you the opportunity to be involved in hands-on pioneering conservation work and the chance to see jaguar in the wild. Accompany leading conservationists as they track endangered jaguar and armadillo in the southern Pantanal. The vast floodplains of the Pantanal are home to a variety of wildlife and provide refuge to over 650 species of birds, including the scarlet and blue macaw as well as capybara, giant anteater and giant otter. Take scenic charter flights between the lodges for a sense of perspective of this wetland area.

Having conducted research in the Pantanal since 2002, conservation biologist Dr Arnaud Desbiez set up the giant armadillo project in 2010.

Mario Haberfeld works with the Oncafari Jaguar Project using ground breaking techniques to learn about jaguar behaviour in the wild.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 78

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CANADA Terrace Principe Channel

CANADA

Kitimat Great Bear Rainforest

Princess Royal Island

Fiordland Conservancy

Bella Bella

Vancouver

DAY 1

VANCOUVER CITY Arrive in Vancouver.

DAY 2 VANCOUVER CITY/ BELLA BELLA Fly to

Bella Bella.

DAY 3 BELLA BELLA/ EMBARKATION Embark

the Island Roamer that will be home to the group for the next seven nights.

Great Bear Rainforest Cruise with Sue Flood

DAY 4 FIORDLAND CONSERVANCY Travel

deep into the coastal mountains to explore the Fiordland Conservancy.

DAY 5 PRINCESS ROYAL ISLAND A highlight

of this cruise will be the time spent on the shores of Princess Royal Island- the best-known area for seeing the rare spirit or Kermode bear.

DAY 6 GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST Explore the

Great Bear Rainforest.

DAY 7-9 PRINCIPE CHANNEL Over the next

few days explore the Whale and Principe Channels in the hope of seeing humpback whales.

DAY 10 KITIMAT/ TERRACE/ VANCOUVER

Disembark in Kitimat and travel to Terrace, fly back to Vancouver. *Please note the itinerary for the 1st

September departure operates in reverse*

LED BY SUE FLOOD 24 AUG - 2 SEPT 2019 | 1 - 10 SEPT 2019 £6,495 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE 6-11

•Expert tuition from wildlife photographer Sue Flood •Photograph black bears, spirit bears and grizzlies •Sail along the coastline in search of humpbacks Sail aboard an expeditionary yacht to explore the inside passage of British Columbia and the wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. Wildlife is prolific with the grizzly bears ruling the roost; and towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and lush forests provide a dramatic backdrop. Also visit the region of the rare Kermode or spirit bear, found only in BC. Sue Flood knows these waters well and alongside a local naturalist will assist in getting memorable photographs of the scenery and wildlife.

Sue was Associate Producer on the BBC series ‘The Blue Planet’ and also worked on ‘Planet Earth’. Both programmes featured animal behaviours which were filmed for the first time and Sue obtained unique images for the series. More than all this Sue is great fun to be with and while you will doubtless hone your photographic skills under her tuition, you are also guaranteed a fun and rewarding time in her company.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 80

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COLOMBIA

DAY 1

BOGOTA Arrive Bogota and meet group.

DAY 2 BOGOTA Paloquemao Market tour. Usaquen

for Coffee Experience.

DAY 3 BOGOTA Visit the Gold Museum,

La Candelaria, Museo Botero and Cerro Monserrate.

A Cultural Journey from Capital to Coast

DAY 4 BOGOTA/ SOGAMOSO Visit Zipaquira Salt

Cathedral, Puente de Boyaca monument and Tibasosa.

DAY 5

SOGAMOSO Tour of Eliecer Silva Celis Museum with Margarita Silva.

DAY 6 SOGAMOSO/ VILLA DE LEYVA Visit

Monquira Archaeological Park, the Palaeontology Centre and Villa de Leyva.

DAY 7 VILLA DE LEYVA Adventurous drive through

La Candelaria desert to visit Raquira.

DAY 8 VILLA DE LEYVA/ BOGOTA/ COFFEE REGION Early drive to Bogota. Fly to the Coffee

Region and visit a local coffee finca.

DAY 9-10 COFFEE REGION Explore Salento. Travel by

US army jeep into the Cocora Valley for wildlife watching and trek to La Pastora refuge.

DAY 11 COFFEE REGION/ MEDELLIN Fly to

Medellin. Pablo Escobar tour with ex Medellin policeman, Carlos Palau.

DAY 12 MEDELLIN City tour.

LED BY JUAN ORTIZ 5 - 18 SEPTEMBER 2019 £4,795 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-15

•Visit the vibrant colonial cities of Bogota & Cartagena •Explore Colombia’s coffee region by US army truck •Discover the legacy of Pablo Escobar Join us on this ground-breaking tour to discover the natural, historic and modern highlights of Colombia.

The tour includes visits to some of Colombia’s most important museums, a focus on art (from graffiti to gallery), exploration of historical colonial city centres and the rejuvenated, once notorious city of Medellin. Experience traditional cuisine and the offerings of a new wave of creative Colombian chefs.

Juan Ortiz will host this group and introduce you to an impressive line-up of Colombia’s leading local experts who will be joining the group at various points during the trip. Each local expert will provide in-depth information and a local perspective. The line-up ranges from archaeologists to ex-policemen.

DAY 13 MEDELLIN/ CARTAGENA Fly to Cartagena.

Afternoon walking tour of old city.

DAY 14 CARTAGENA Walking archaeological tour of

Cartagena with Monika Therrien.

DAY 15 CARTAGENA Morning at leisure.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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CUBA

DAY 1

HAVANA Arrive Havana.

Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 2 HAVANA City tour of Colonial Havana. Visit

Ernest Hemingway’s house, accompanied by Valerie Hemingway.

DAY 3 HAVANA Explore the Afro-Cuban culture

in Regla. In the afternoon, tour Havana’s architecture with Hermes Mallea.

DAY 4 HAVANA / VIÑALES Visit a tobacco farm in

Pinar del Rio, continue on to Viñales.

DAY 5

VIÑALES Morning trekking to visit the Water People.

DAY 6 VIÑALES / PLAYA LARGA Transfer to the

south coast and Playa Larga. Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 7 PLAYA LARGA/TRINIDAD Morning nature

tour of the Zapata swamp. Continue to Trinidad with a stop and tour of Cienfuegos on the way.

DAY 8 TRINIDAD Explore the colonial town of

Trinidad and learn about the history of sugar plantation.

DAY 9 TRINIDAD Day at leisure to relax by the beach.

DAY 10 TRINIDAD / SANTA CLARA / REMEDIOS

Depart for Remedios stopping at the revolutionary city of Santa Clara, the final resting place of Che Guevara’s remains.

DAY 11 REMEDIOS / HAVANA Depart for Havana

stopping at the town of Sagua.

DAY 12 HAVANA Depart Havana.

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In Hemingway’s Footsteps LED BY LYDIA BELL 4 - 15 APRIL 2019 £5,995 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-12

•Join leading journalist and Cuba resident, Lydia Bell •Meet Valerie Hemingway and see Ernest’s house •Discover Cuba’s history, architecture and wildlife 2019 marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban revolution - a perfect time to experience life on the island today and learn about its history and culture.

This tour has been carefully crafted to include many behind-the-scenes visits, private dining experiences and musical performances. Exclusive meetings with Valerie Hemingway (last assistant to Ernest) with rare access inside his house. Architect and expert on Cuban architecture, Hermes Mallea, provides a behind-the-façade introduction to Havana’s most iconic buildings.

Lydia Bell is a travel and features writer. She first visited Cuba in 2007 and fell in love with the island, returning to do some research for a cookery book and later married a Cuban.

Over the last decade, Lydia has written numerous travel and feature articles about the island. Lydia will be on hand to give a deeper insight and guide you in the subtleties of Cuba’s cultures.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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COSTA RICA

DAY 1

SAN JOSE Arrive San Jose.

DAY 2 SAN JOSE Morning visit to Poas Volcano

and the Orchid Botanical Gardens. Sunset walking tour of the historic neighbourhoods.

DAY 3 SAN JOSE/ SAN GERARDO DE DOTA

Depart San Jose for San Gerardo de Dota with a stop for lunch and hike at Paraiso de Quetzales.

DAY 4 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA Early morning

birding to see the quetzal followed by a hike in the Paramo mountains. Opportunity for an evening walk along the local trails.

DAY 5

SAN GERARDO DE DOTA / GOLFITO Drive

to Golfito and boat transfer to Playa Cativo.

Evening sunset dolphin tour.

DAY 6 GOLFITO Morning dolphin tour in the

Golfo Dulce. Afternoon kayaking in the mangroves.

DAY 7 GOLFITO Day hiking in Piedras Blancas

National Park. Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 8 GOLFITO / OSA PENINSULA Boat transfer

to Golfito, drive to Sierpe. Boat transfer to Corcovado Lodge on the Osa Peninsula.

DAY 9 OSA PENINSULA Search for spinner dolphins.

DAY 10 OSA PENINSULA Full day hike to Sirena

Ranger Station in the Corcovado National Park.

DAY 11 OSA PENINSULA Search for spinner

dolphins. Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 12 OSA PENINSULA Boat transfer to Sierpe and

land transfer to Palmar Sur for flight to San Jose for international flight connections.

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In search of Spinner Dolphins LED BY HUGH PEARSON 22 JANUARY - 2 FEBRUARY 2019 £6,295 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-10

•Sail off the Osa Peninsula in search of dolphins •Join BBC natural history producer, Hugh Pearson •Hike the cloud forests for the resplendent quetzal Join Hugh Pearson on a unique journey through southern Costa Rica, visiting remarkable and remote areas that qualify as some of the most biodiverse locations on the planet. Hugh’s prolific wildlife filming experience will be key as you go in search of spinner dolphins with a real possibility of entering the water with them. He will impart the particular challenges and triumphs of his recent project – filming superpods of up to 10,000 spinner dolphins off the wild coast of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.

Hugh Pearson is a m a r i ne biolo g i s t , producer and director.

He has been producing world-class wildlife films for over 20 years and is one of the most experienced and respected in the business. Hugh specializes in telling stories about life in our oceans and has produced some of the most memorable sequences filmed at sea.

Hugh filmed spinner dolphins in Costa Rica for Our Planet, an eight-part series for Netflix due to premiere in 2019.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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GALAPAGOS

DAY 1

QUITO Arrive in Quito.

DAY 2 QUITO Half day colonial Quito tour.

DAY 3 QUITO/BALTRA/GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Fly Quito to Baltra, board the Alya catamaran, visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre for a special reception.

DAY 4 ISABELA ISLAND Panga (dinghy) around

Moreno Point, later snorkel in Elizabeth Bay. DAY 5

ISABELA/FERNANDINA ISLANDS

Discover the wildlife on Isabela and snorkel with turtles and rays. Walk on pristine Fernandina Island home to sea lions, penguins and flightless cormorant.

DAY 6 ISABELA ISLAND Walk at Tagus Cove for

great views of the island. Wildlife highlights include blue-footed and Nazca boobies, penguins and sea lions at Vicente Roca Point.

DAY 7 SANTIAGO ISLAND Snorkel and discover the

marine life at Espumilla beach and Egas Port .

DAY 8 RABIDA / SANTIAGO ISLAND Morning visit

to Rabida’s famous maroon sandy beach, later explore Chinese Hat Islet off Santiago Island.

DAY 9 SANTA CRUZ/SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND Swim

at Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island, then see the one of the largest sea lion colonies on South Plaza island.

DAY 10 SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND/ GUAYAQUIL

Morning visit to El Junco Lagoon, disembark at San Cristobel Island, fly to Guayaquil.

Galapagos Islands Wildlife Cruise LED BY JONATHAN GREEN 6 - 16 APRIL 2019 | 13- 22 APRIL £6,695 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 15

•Explore the marine-rich western Galapagos Islands •Exclusive time at Charles Darwin Research Centre •Optimum water visibility and warm days in April Travel aboard the stylish and spacious Alia Catamaran, visiting seven different islands. Accompany a top National Park guide plus Jonathan Green who brings a wealth of knowledge. You will have a private reception with a resident researcher at the Charles Darwin Research Centre and learn about one of the latest projects. As well as the varied geology which spans this archipelago the highlight will be the wildlife, get close to many endemic species in this living laboratory of evolution.

Jonathan Green is a keen wildlife photographer, qualified naturalist guide and dive master, who has been working in the Galapagos for over 25 years. In 2011 he set up the Galapagos Whale Shark Research Project to monitor and study whale sharks in the Galapagos. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London and recently worked on the BBC Blue Planet II.

*Please note the itinerary for the 13th

April departure visits the eastern islands* 88

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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PERU

DAY 1

LIMA Arrive in Lima.

DAY 2 LIMA/SOUTHERN COAST Journey to the

deserts around Nazca .

DAY 3 NAZCA/CHALHUANCA Optional flight over

the Nazca Lines, evening drive to Chalhuanca in the Andes.

DAY 4 CHALHUANCA/CACHORA Travel through

the Andes with stunning views of the Apurimac Gorge and Mount Salkantay.

DAY 5

CACHORA/CUSCO Travel along the Apurimac Gorge to Cusco.

DAY 6 CUSCO Explore the ancient Inca city

of Cusco .

DAY 7 CUSCO Return journey by train to the ruins

of Machu Picchu.

DAY 8 CUSCO Day at leisure to explore Cusco .

DAY 9 CUSCO/ ANDAHUAYLAS Travel via

subtropical forests, home to spectacled bear and Andean condor, to Andahuaylas.

DAY 10 ANDAHUAYLAS/ AYACUCHO Pass through

traditional Andean villages to Ayacucho.

DAY 11 AYACUCHO/ PAMPAS From Ayacucho travel

along the Rio Mantaro Gorge to Pampas.

DAY 12 PAMPAS/ TARMA Travel to Tarma.

DAY 13 PAMPAS HERMOSA SANCTUARY

Travel through the tropical rainforest.

DAY 14 TARMA Ascent back to Tarma, stay in a

Andes to Amazon 4x4 Self Drive LED BY LOCAL EXPERTS 12 - 27 JUNE 2019* £4,145 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 6-13

•Drive your own 4x4 vehicle exploring southern Peru •Drive across the Andes and the Amazon jungle •Visit Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu This tour is for those with a sense of adventure and a love of off-road driving, wanting to get under the skin of Peru.

Drive your own expedition 4x4, as part of a four-vehicle group, accompanied throughout by expert guides on twoway radios. Reach remote locations and experience the desert, the Andes and the Amazon, all in one epic adventure. This tour goes far beyond the usual Peruvian highlights and immerses you in local cultures, festivals, wildlife and food.

A 4x4 with two experienced guides will always be at the head of the four-vehicle convoy, and in two-way radio contact at all times. They will give information on the surrounding highlights, answer your questions and offer guidance on driving techniques. A guide is always available to take over if you feel tired or are not confident with any section of the route.

*other dates are available, please contact us for details.

family hacienda.

DAY 15 TARMA/ LIMA Return to Lima.

DAY 16 LIMA Depart Lima.

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FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

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PERU

DAY 1

LIMA Arrive in Lima.

DAY 2 LIMA Morning visit to Larco museum.

Afternoon at leisure.

DAY 3 LIMA/SACRED VALLEY Half day city tour.

Fly to Cusco and transfer to the Sacred Valley with time to acclimatise.

Sacred Valley Traditions & Communities

DAY 4 SACRED VALLEY Morning visit to Accha

Alta Andean community and learn about their traditions and way of life. Afternoon sightseeing at Inca ruins in Pisac.

DAY 5

SACRED VALLEY Morning textile dying workshop with the Chinchero community at the Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

Nilda Callañaupa one of the founders of the centre will be joining the group. Afternoon visit to the salt terraces at Maras and the Inca site of Moray if time allows.

DAY 6 SACRED VALLEY/ MACHU PICCHU

Morning exploring Ollantaytambo town and impressive Inca ruins. Afternoon visit to Machu Picchu.

DAY 7 SACRED VALLEY/ CUSCO Travel by

road to Cusco, stop at Awanakancha to visit the Andean camelids and Inca site of Sacsayhuaman. Afternoon city tour of Cusco.

DAY 8 CUSCO Day at leisure in Cusco .

DAY 9 CUSCO Depart Cusco.

LED BY LOCAL EXPERTS 11 - 26 OCTOBER 2019 £3,295 PP EXC FLIGHTS | GROUP SIZE OF 4-11

•Meet Accha Alta, Chinchero & Pitumarca communities •Learn about Peruvian folklore and traditions •Explore various Inca ruins including Machu Picchu This tour goes beyond the iconic sites of southern Peru with an immersion into the traditions, folklore and way of life of the Andean communities.

Meet with Accha Alta, Chinchero and Pitumarca communities, each with their own weaving designs, techniques and stories. Local guides will accompany you and give insights into how life in Peru today continues to be shaped by traditions from the past. Visit Inca sites including Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca.

You will be accompanied by knowledgeable local guides, who have lived all their lives in Peru and can explain the cultures and traditions of life in the Andes. This will include time with Nilda Callanaupa, a remarkable woman, whose passion for weaving and textiles has helped keep the traditional techniques alive and create opportunities for women to earn an income in local communities.

*Two free single supplements are available for the first two solo travellers to take up this offer.

FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY OR TO DISCUSS THIS TOUR CONTACT: T: 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM 92

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2019 Calendar January Chad: Zakouma and Wildlife of Sahel Costa Rica: In search of spinner dolphins Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia

Page 60 - 61 86 - 87 76 - 77

February Cambodia: Wildlife with Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Saudi Arabia: Behind the Veil Kenya: Wildlife Photography in the Mara & Laikipia Russia: Jewels of St Petersburg

46 - 47 26 - 27 64 - 65 14 -15

March India: Tiger Conservation and Walking Safari Bhutan: Festivals and photography with Sue Flood India: On the Trail of the Snow Leopards

38 - 39 30 - 31 36 - 37

April Cuba: In Hemingway’s footsteps Galapagos Islands Cruise with Jonathan Green Uzbekistan: Carpet ride to Khiva

84 - 85 88 - 89 56 - 57

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May Armenia & Georgia: The Caucasian Silk Route Italy: Artisans of Tuscany Greece: Classical Peloponnese Galapagos Islands Cruise with Charles Clover Spain: Prehistoric cave art in northern Spain Albania: Origins of Illryia

08 - 09 12 - 13 10 - 11 See Website 18 - 19 06 - 07

June Russia: Luxury Trans Siberian Train journey Kenya: Wildlife conservancies and communities WWF Indonesian Borneo: Orangutan conservation project Kyrgyzstan & China: Journey along the Silk Route Peru: Andes to the Amazon Self Drive by 4X4

16 - 17 62 -63 50 - 51 52 - 53 90 - 91

July South Africa: Rhino Conservation Project

70 - 71

August Alaska: Luxury Cruise with Chris Packham Canada: Great Bear Rainforest Cruise with Sue Flood Malawi: Conservation Safari with African Parks

74 - 75 80 - 81 68 - 69

| BOOKING | 03300 372 813 | GROUPS@STEPPESTRAVEL.COM | WWW.STEPPESTRAVEL.COM

September Canada: Great Bear Rainforest Cruise with Sue Flood Colombia: A Cultural Journey from Capital to Coast Iran: A Persian journey Israel & Palestine: Journey through Biblical Lands Madagascar: Land of the Lemur

80 - 81 82- 83 22 - 23 24 - 25 66 - 67

October China: Ancient Culture & Textiles of Guizhou Brazil: Jaguar Conservation Safari in the Pantanal Peru: Traditions & Communities of the Sacred Valley Sri Lanka: Family Wildlife Adventure

48 - 49 78 - 79 92 - 93 40- 41

November Papua New Guinea: Photography Cruise Australia:Tasmania Wildlife Photography Cruise Peru: Andes to the Amazon Self Drive by 4X4 India: Hampi and the Deccan Plateau India: Lions and Leopards of West India

54 -55 44 - 45 90 - 91 32 - 33 34 - 35

See our website for all our new tours

WE ARE ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR NEW TOURS THAT OFFER YOU AN IN-DEPTH INSIGHT. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF ALL THE TOURS WE OFFER INCLUDING THOSE NOT FEATURED IN THIS BROCHURE.

Indonesia: The Wallace Line Voyage in the footsteps of Alfred Russel Wallace, a contemporary to Charles Darwin. Discover Indonesia’s ‘Coral Triangle’, home to arguably the most diverse marine life in the world. Explore underwater and on land discovering what captivates wildlife lovers from across the globe.

Mongolia If our front cover image has inspired you to travel to Mongolia, keep an eye on our website for more information of our new Mongolia group tour for 2019. Our Product Director, Jarrod has just returned from an incredible journey across this glorious country and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Romania: Beyond the Carpathian Mountains Unearth the secrets of one of Europe’s most enchanting countries. Discover a wealth of folkloric heritage, picturesque villages, dramatic castles and palaces, and the mesmerising Carpathian Mountains.

“WE D O NOT TAKE A TR IP; A TR IP TAKES US” - JOHN STEIN BECK

BEYON D THE OR DIN AR Y