Expedition Details

Itinerary - 14 Days

Day 1 — London, England, U.K.

Meet fellow travelers and the expedition staff at a gala welcome dinner in London. Please note that most travelers from the United States will need to depart on an overnight flight on March 20 in order to arrive in time for the expedition.
The Dorchester (D)

Days 2 & 3 — Mopti and Timbuktu or Djénné, Mali

Our private jet takes us over the Mediterranean to Mopti, Mali. Located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani Rivers, this busy port town was once the outpost of desert kings and continues to be a major gathering center of the region. Board a traditional flat-bottomed pinnace and cruise the Niger to see daily life on the river. Here, Bambara, Fulani, and Bozo fishermen and merchants ply the waters in boats laden with fish, salt, and produce. Later, watch a stilt dance performed by colorfully dressed Dogon dancers who move deftly on stilts as tall as 15 feet high.

The next morning, visit Djénné, one of the oldest known cities in sub-Saharan Africa. The Bozo people, known as the “masters of the river,” founded this remote village along the Niger River in 250 B.C., and it remains home to outstanding examples of Sudano- Sahelian architecture. To this day, Djénné builders are revered as great artists and spiritual leaders. See the extraordinary Great Mosque, the largest mud mosque in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the mosque’s beautiful symmetry, and stroll the city’s jumble of narrow streets shaded by traditional two-story mud-brick homes. Learn about the culture of the Bozo people, and step into a bogolan workshop to watch artisans design and dye traditional mud cloth.
Kanaga Hotel, Mopti (B,L,D daily)

Alternate: Or take a private local flight to Timbuktu. Spend a day in this fabled city, which enjoyed its golden years under the Askia dynasty during the 16th century and was a major stop along the prosperous trans-Saharan route and the Great Ink Road. Timbuktu’s medieval mud-brick library is one of 120 that used to exist in the city; most have been lost to the desert sands. View the Djinguere Ber Mosque, and head to a desert camp for a Tuareg dance performance and, if you wish, a camel ride.

Days 4, 5, & 6 — Luxor’s Egyptian Antiquities or the Sîwa Oasis in the Western Desert

Continue on by private jet to Egypt and arrive in Luxor. Set on the Nile River, Luxor is home to a treasure trove of temples, tombs, and other monumental achievements. At the Luxor Museum, examine a stunning collection of statues, bas-reliefs, and mummies. Sail the Nile River in a felucca, a traditional sailboat; and in the Valley of the Kings, venture into the tombs of divine pharaohs, including King Tutankhamun. Stop at the majestic temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the longest reigning female pharaoh and one of history’s great leaders. See the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues that are all that remain of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Visit Medinet Habu, the best preserved temple in the area, and gaze up at its colorful reliefs detailing the triumphs of Ramses III, considered the last great pharaoh. Stroll between the soaring columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall at the temple complex of Karnak, the largest ancient religious site in the world—once described by Egyptians as “the most perfect of places.” In the evening, gather for an unforgettable gala dinner at the Luxor Temple.
Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor (B, L, D daily)

Alternate: Instead of spending a third night in Luxor and visiting Karnak, you may spend a night at the Sîwa Oasis, deep in the Egyptian Western Desert at the edge of the Great Sand Sea. Home to the Sîwan Berbers for thousands of years, the oasis is filled with salt lakes, freshwater springs, ancient olive and palm groves, and fantastic sandstone hills. Craggy ruins of temples built by the ancient Greeks dot the landscape alongside the traditional kershef dwellings made of mud, salt, and sand. Take a private local flight to the oasis, and unwind in a renowned kershef eco-lodge. With no electricity, the lodge is softly lit with beeswax candles and the star-studded desert sky. Explore mountain tombs and ancient temples, and wander through a labyrinth of medieval kershef homes. Return to Luxor in time for our departure to Jordan. Please note that this excursion is limited to a small number of travelers.
Adrère Amellal, Sîwa Oasis, and Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor (B, L, D daily)

Days 7 & 8 — The Lost City of Petra or Wadi Rum, Jordan

Step back in time 2,000 years as you stroll through the enchanting archaeological site of Petra. Half-built, half-carved into rose-red cliffs, Petra was occupied by the mysterious Nabataean people by 312 B.C. The region is now home to the Bedouin, an Arab people who have been nomadic herdspeople here for centuries. Venture into the Siq, a narrow chasm in the bedrock, and arrive at the iconic Treasury. Explore elaborate buildings and tombs carved from sheer rock walls, and observe up close the superb blending of Eastern traditions with Hellenistic architecture.
Mövenpick Hotel, Petra (B,L,D daily)

Alternate: Instead of Petra, discover Wadi Rum, a lunar-like landscape made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Meet with Bedouin people currently living in this evocative desert valley.

Days 9 & 10 — The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Board our private jet and fly to Agra, India, site of the legendary Taj Mahal. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this astoundingly beautiful monument in the 17th century as a tribute to the memory of his second wife. Wander through this enchanting masterpiece, which incorporates and expands on Persian, Hindu, and Islamic styles. Admire the Taj Mahal’s lovely form among the reflecting pools and gardens that surround it, and examine the intricate ornamentation of inlaid precious stones.
The Oberoi Amarvilas (B,L,D daily)

Alternate: Instead of exploring the Taj Mahal, you may visit the tomb of Itmad-Ud- Daulah, the first Mughal tomb built entirely of marble; then stop by Kachhpura, a village inhabited by the Harijan people, otherwise known as “untouchables.” Meet with families; visit a school; and learn about community projects such as the Mughal Heritage Trail, which connects many rarely visited monuments and promotes community-based tourism.

Days 11, 12, & 13 — The Kingdom of Bhutan

We fly by private jet to Kathmandu, Nepal to connect with our local flight to Bhutan, passing by mighty Mount Everest for a rare perspective on the spectacular peak (weather permitting). Arrive in Paro, situated deep in a valley dotted with hilltop Buddhist monasteries and brightly decorated fortresses, or dzongs. Visit the great Paro dzong, one of the oldest dzongs in the country and still home to a monastic community of 200. At the National Museum, admire a superb collection of textiles, ancient weapons, and classical thangka paintings depicting Buddhist cosmology. Witness a prayer ceremony recited by monks at Choeding Temple, enjoy a picnic and a demonstration of traditional Bhutanese archery beside the Paro River, and visit with a family at their farmhouse. Spend a day exploring Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital city, including the Dechen Phodrang Monastery, the Memorial Chorten, the Folk Heritage Museum, the Textile Museum, and the National Library. We have arranged for a special meeting with the revered Mynak R. Tulku, a spiritual leader and professor emeritus of the National Library in Thimphu. Sit down to a sumptuous spread of local cuisine at a gala farewell dinner in Paro.
Zhiwa Ling and Uma Paro (B, L, D daily)
(Accommodation upgrades are available at the Amankora.)

Alternate: Instead of visiting Thimphu for a day, enjoy a vigorous hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched on a cliff at more than 10,200 feet above the valley floor. It is one of the country’s most revered sites, named for the flying tigress that carried the Guru Rinpoche to this sacred location.

Days 14 & 15 — Bangkok/Homeward

Take a local flight back to Kathmandu and connect with our private jet to fly to Bangkok. Depart for home via an individual commercial flight on Saturday, or, if you prefer, spend one complimentary night at the Peninsula Bangkok or at a hotel near the airport and fly home the next day.
(B,L,D)

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