9 Unforgettable Travel Experiences for True Explorers | Viking Cruises

9 UNFORGETTABLE TR AVEL EXPER IENCES

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for true explorers —

Destination focused. Culturally enriching. Carefully curated.

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UNFORGET TA BLE TR AV EL E X PER IENCES for true explorers

After spending more than two decades exploring the world, we’ve learned a thing or two about travel experiences which truly stand the test of time.

The places that continue to fill travellers with awe and wonder are those that go beyond the highlights and sights. The ultimate travel destinations are not actually destinations, they are experiences that provide opportunities for learning and personal enrichment.

At Viking, we believe that to truly appreciate and understand a destination, you need to spend quality time with those who call it home, immersing yourself in their culture and retracing their history.

That’s the Viking Way of Exploration, and it’s the ethos we pride ourselves on delivering for each and every guest who chooses to cruise with us.

Keep an eye out for our special range of authentic Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences, designed to immerse you in the rhythms of daily life, help you understand the local economy and trade, or take you behind closed doors where other tourists just don’t go.

Throughout the following pages, discover our top nine unforgettable travel experiences for true explorers — carefully curated to inspire your next adventure. How many have you already ticked off your bucket list?

WHALE WATCHING, ANTARC TIC A

1

W ITNESSING T HE W ILDLIFE OF A N TA RC TIC A

Few places on Earth are as vast and otherworldly as Antarctica, with its dramatic icy landscapes awash in blue and white. Travelling during the Antarctic summer, when temperatures rise to a comfortable zero degrees Celsius and the sun never sets, prepare to be wowed by up-close encounters with extraordinary wildlife — think humpback whales, orcas, leopard seals, Gentoo penguins, several species of migratory birds and more.

Enjoy unparalleled opportunities to observe, photograph and learn about these spectacular creatures with the help of your experienced expedition leader and resident scientists. Amp up the adventure by choosing to experience the wonders

of Antarctica from on board a sixseater yellow submarine, a 12-seater convertible RIB or a two-seater kayak.

Buenos Aires ARGENTINA Ushuaia

Beagle Channel

Atlantic Ocean

Cape Horn

Drake Passage ANTARCTICA

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Chartered flight Example expedition destinations

Half Moon Island Whalers Bay Brown Bluff Damoy Point Antarctic Peninsula Lemaire Cuverville Island Channel Neko Harbor Petermann Island

Weddell Sea

See this on our Expedition itinerary: Antarctic Explorer 13 Days | Buenos Aires – Buenos Aires VIEW ITINER ARY

BORDEAUX, FR ANCE

2

SA M PLING WOR LD - CL A SS W INES, T RUFFLES A ND CHEESE IN FR A NCE

The south of France is synonymous with wonderful food and even better wine. Understanding how the experts craft such exquisite fare takes your sense of taste to the next level. Take a Working World excursion into the scenic French countryside to a picturesque château, where you will step inside a medieval cellar for a private wine tasting of regional specialties like Beaujolais. Continue to a nearby truffle farm for a delicious organic lunch, then accompany the farmer and his dog as they hunt for truffles in the soil. These “diamonds of the kitchen” are renowned for their rich, earthy flavour and intense aroma.

Complete your culinary journey with a visit to a chèvre — or goat’s cheese —

farm. Learn all about the production process, sample some of the cheeses, and enjoy a glass of paired local wine.

FRANCE

Tournon Viviers

Lyon Vienne

RHÔNE

RHÔNE Avignon Arles

Nice

See this on our River itinerary: Lyon & Provence 8 Days | Avignon – Lyon or v.v.

VIEW ITINER ARY

GIZ A , EGYP T

3

EXPERIENCE THE GREAT PYR AMIDS OF GIZA IN EGYPT

No visit to Egypt would be complete without exploring the engineering masterpieces that are the Great Pyramids of Giza and nearby, the iconic Sphinx, erected to guard the tombs below and ward off enemies of the pharaohs. Take an included shore excursion and accompany your expert local guide to the spectacular necropolis of Sakkara, believed to be the first pyramid built in ancient Egypt.

Admire the enduring construction of the Step Pyramid, then enter one of the many tombs, some of which are decorated with the finest paintings from the Old Kingdom period. After a tasty local lunch, travel to the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile River and take in the Great Pyramids

of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure — the last remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – while learning about the kings for whom they were built.

Mediterranean Sea

Jerusalem Bethlehem ISRAEL

Cairo

Amman Dead Sea JORDAN Petra

EGYPT

Qena Esna Edfu

Cruise Air

Luxor NILE Kom Ombo Aswan

Red Sea

See this on our River itinerary: Pharaohs & Pyramids 12 Days | Cairo – Cairo VIEW ITINER ARY

ISTANBUL , TURKEY

4

E X PLOR ING ISTA NBUL’S H AGI A SOPHI A BY NIGHT

At close to 1,500 years old, the magnificent Hagia Sophia is a sight to behold, housing priceless treasures, storied mosaics and colourful frescoes. Originally built as a cathedral — by some accounts by more than 10,000 workers — when Istanbul was known as Constantinople, it was later converted to a mosque and is now a splendid museum, which even boasts runic inscriptions left by Vikings in the 10th century. Not to

be missed: Exploring these hallowed halls free of the crowds on a private, Privileged Access tour while the monument is illuminated at night.

Venice

CROATIA Dubrovnik

ITALY

Split Adriatic Sea

MONTENEGRO Kotor Istanbul GREECE

Corfu (Kérkyra) Ionian Sea

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Aegean Sea

Troy (Çanakkale) TURKEY

Katakolon Athens (Piraeus)

Ephesus (Kuşadasi) Rhodes

Mediterranean Sea

Cruise

Heraklion Crete

Overnight in Port

See this on our Ocean itinerary: Ancient Adriatic Treasures 15 Days | Venice – Istanbul or v.v.

VIEW ITINER ARY

AL ASK A , USA

5

OBSERV ING BE A R S IN T HEIR N AT UR A L H A BITAT

With more animals than people in an area that is twice the size of Texas, Alaska is an incredible place for wildlife sightings — and there is no animal more synonymous with Alaska’s wilderness than its bears.

There are some 100,000 black bears and 35,000 larger brown bears in this pristine region. Opportunities abound to view the bears feeding in their natural habitat — coastal bears tend to frequent river rapids to feast on salmon, while further inland, bears

can be spotted in alpine regions. Be sure to keep an eye out for other wildlife too, including moose, deer, whales, seals, otters and eagles.

ALASKA

Valdez

CANADA Hubbard Glacier Skagway

Seward Yakutat Bay Icy Strait Point

Juneau Sitka Ketchikan

Pacific Ocean

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Cruise

Inside Passage

Vancouver

Overnight in Port

See this on our Ocean itinerary: Alaska & the Inside Passage 11 Days | Vancouver – Seward or v.v.

VIEW ITINER ARY

BARCELONA , SPAIN

6

M A RV ELLING AT T HE A RCHIT EC T UR E OF A N TONI G AUDÍ

Architectural and design genius Antoni Gaudi’s surreal works have to be seen to be believed, and lived to be understood. Built between 1900 and 1914 almost exclusively in Barcelona, the enchanting Park Güell — a UNESCO World Heritage site — covers almost 50 acres and showcases some of his finest work, complete with multi-coloured mosaics. Next, you will be blown away by the fantastical sanctuary of La Sagrada Família Cathedral, one of Gaudi’s most iconic creations.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1882 and is scheduled for completion in 2026, the centenary of the architect’s death. Later, pass by the Casa Batlló, or House of Bones,

and the hulking Casa Milà — two impressive buildings featuring Gaudí’s characteristic curved facades and haunting “scooped out” windows.

FRANCE Venice

Madrid

MONACO Monte Carlo Marseille Florence/Pisa Barcelona (Livorno) Rome (Civitavecchia)

SPAIN

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Mediterranean Sea

ITALY

CROATIA

Split Dubrovnik Adriatic Sea Naples

Stromboli Volcano Strait of Messina

GREECE

Ionian Sea

Corfu (Kérkyra)

Cruise Overnight in Port

See this on our Ocean itinerary: Mediterranean Odyssey 13 Days | Barcelona – Venice or v.v.

VIEW ITINER ARY

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

7

SH A R ING A M E A L W IT H LOC A LS IN A RUSSI A N KOM MUN A LK A

Kommunalki, or communal apartments, first appeared in the Soviet Union following the Russian revolution of 1917 as a response to a housing crisis in urban areas, with between two and seven families typically sharing each dwelling.

Among the many Russians who grew up in this type of environment is the country’s President, Vladimir Putin.

Many communal homes have outlived the Soviet era that created them.

Taking a tour inside one of them allows you to capture the soul of today’s Russia as you learn about daily life and former times with your hosts over tea, pastries and fascinating conversation. A truly authentic Russian Local Life experience.

FINLAND LAKE LADOGA

Kizhi SVIR RIVER

Helsinki St. Petersburg

LAKE ONEGA

Mandrogy

NEVA RIVER

VOLGA–BALTIC WATERWAY

RUSSIA

Kuzino RYBINSK RESERVOIR VOLGA RIVER

VOLGA RIVER

Cruise

MOSCOW CANAL

Yaroslavl Uglich

Moscow

See this on our River itinerary: Waterways of the Tsars 13 Days | St. Petersburg – Moscow or v.v.

VIEW ITINER ARY

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

8

ENJOY ING A N E V ENING OF TA NG O A ND TR ADITIONAL ARGENTINE CUISINE

During the late 19th century, Argentina experienced a wave of European immigration. The children of those immigrants would later become the first generation of porteños, or “port dwellers”, and the tango music that grew out of the working-class districts of Buenos Aires expressed the apprehensions and longings of their new urban life.

As you explore the colourful neighbourhoods of this unique city, you will hear the sounds of this vibrant artform everywhere —

from the distinctive melodies to the rhythmic footsteps. But for a more indepth experience, a Privileged Access authentic dinner and tango show at a local venue is an absolute must.

Santiago (Valparaíso) Buenos Aires CHILE

Chilean Fjords

N

Amalia Glacier

Cruise Overnight in Port

Montevideo

ARGENTINA

Puerto Montt Puerto Madryn

Pacific Ocean

URUGUAY

Punta Arenas Ushuaia

Atlantic Ocean Falkland Islands UNITED KINGDOM Port Stanley

Cape Horn

See this on our Ocean itinerary: South America & the Chilean Fjords 18 Days | Buenos Aires – Santiago VIEW ITINER ARY

TROMSØ, NORWAY

9

SA ILING IN SE A RCH OF T HE AUROR A BOR E A LIS

On a clear winter evening, as you set sail from Tromsø — Norway’s scenic gateway to the Arctic — you might just be lucky enough to witness the magical Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky above you. This seldom-seen, mesmerising natural phenomenon occurs when electrically charged solar particles in the atmosphere interact with Earth’s magnetic field, causing shimmering curtains or spirals of light to appear in vibrant shades of green, pink, yellow, blue and even purple. The illusive Northern Lights are incredibly difficult to predict, so if you are lucky enough to see them, take the time to soak up the crackle of magic in the air.

This is truly the epitome of a once-

in-a-lifetime experience — don’t forget to pack your camera!

Norwegian Sea

Alta Tromsø Narvik Bodø

NORWAY

North Sea

Bergen Stavanger

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ENGLAND London (Tilbury)

Cruise Overnight in Port

See this on our Ocean itinerary: In Search of the Northern Lights 13 Days | London – Bergen VIEW ITINER ARY

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