Bay Area Wine & Nature Adventures

November 1st - November 13th, 2024

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club (www.photoflytravel.com) have invited us on a well-crafted tour of Morocco.

Our Morocco Adventure has sold out several years in a row now, and for good reason!

Email [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/morocco-group-tours/

• 12 N/13 D
• Private Guides
• Breakfast Daily
• 4 Lunches, 8 Dinners

Tangier (2 Nights)
Going back over 2,000 years to the time of the Phoenicians, and after WWII when it was made into an international zone attracting eccentric expats, colorful artists & hippies, and spies!

– Mountain Road Trip: Pass splendid villas & gardens en route to Cape Spartel and lighthouse
– Hercules Cave: Continually inhabited since the Neolithic period, we’ll visit the place full of legend
– Medina (Old Walled City): Private tour through the labyrinth of paths that make up the cultural epicenter of the city.

Chefchaouen (1 Night)
Known as the “blue” city due to its picturesque blue-glazed houses & buildings, the tradition comes from the town’s former Jewish population.

Volubilis
Spend the morning exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site, 2000-year-old Roman ruins.

Meknes
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites for the price of one this morning with another stop in the 17th century imperial city of Meknes.

Fes (2 Nights)
One of the largest medieval cities in the world and an UNESCO World Heritage site, Fes is Morocco’s oldest imperial city and the religious, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural center of the country.

– Guided City Walk: see and photograph the artisans’ quarters, 14th-century Koranic schools, the famous Fes tannery and more.
– Unique Family Dinner in Traditional Home: enjoy a very special experience dining at a traditional house with a host family.

Erfoud & Sahara Desert (2 Nights)
The “Gate of the Sahara” and some of the highest dunes in North Africa!

– Scenic Cedar Forest & Barbery apes: A drive through and stop to photograph a beautiful cedar forest and encounter a tribe of “apes”.

Erg Chebbi Desert Camp
– Camel ride into the desert: We’ll hop on camels at the edge of the desert and be guided to our luxury desert camp for an amazing sunset.
– Enjoy and photograph sunrise the next day before a specially prepared Berber breakfast

Boumalne Dades: Land of Valleys & Gorges (2 Nights)
Famous for it’s majestic, sand castle like rock formations, Dades Gorge offers a plethora of unique landscape shots.

– Tinghir: We’ll walk through flowered gardens, ksours, and Kasbahs, then onto the Todre Gorge.
– Todra Gorge: Lush palm trees cover 30 miles of wide tracts along this giant natural creation.
– Dades Gorge & Valley: Explore the stunning gorge and valley to admire and photograph all sorts of interesting formations.
– Ait Ben Haddou: World famous Ksar (fortified village), now an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Marrakesh (3 nights)
The Jewel of the South, the city reached its prominence when it became the epicenter of trade for slaves, gold, ivory, and leather along the ancient caravan routes.

– Bahia Palace: Gilded woodwork ceilings of the stunning grand and petit courts, & the sultans “harem” rooms with silk panels, stained-glass windows.
– Saadian Tombs: Three rooms make up the tomb with the most elaborate known as “The Chamber of the 12 Pillars”.
– Majorelle Botanical Gardens: A truly enchanting place, the gardens were designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle over the course of 40 years and are reminiscent of the famous

Generalife gardens in Spain
– Jemaa el Fna Square: Wander around and photograph this UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech.
– Souks of Marrakech: The most colorful and liveliest in Africa.

Lots of free time to explore the city on your own or sign up for an optional tour:
– Hot Air Balloon Ride
– ATV through the desert
– Day Trip to Essaouira
– Cooking classes, hammam (spa), horse cart rides, and other optional activities available

PhotoFly Travel Club adventures are laid back when it comes to photography. They are not workshop tours, you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!

• International airfare is not included. (Flying into Tangier (TNG) & flying out of Marrakesh (RAK) )
• All taxes, fees, transfers Included

Email [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

Solo travelers will be paired up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy requested.

Price: $2,995
Single Supplement: $675

Deposit: $600

Go Here to Sign Up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/morocco-group-tours/

Colorful Cuba

January 24th - February 1st, 2025

Join Here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/

E-mail us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club are relaunching their Colorful Cuba tour. It is an excellent program full of surprises, fun, and off the beaten path sights - and it is 100% legal! Take this once in a lifetime trip to this undisturbed Caribbean gem!

• 8N/9D throughout the best of Cuba with amazing off the path experiences!
• One-of-a-kind "casa particulares" (small converted homes & guesthouses!)
• Privately guided adventures and local experts throughout
• Breakfast every day
• 3 Dinners, 5 Lunches INCLUDED
• Legal, licensed & permitted program with all USA compliance requirements met under the SCP Program

Email us directly at [email protected] to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Havana

• Old Havana: Privately guided walking tour including many of the historical sites
• Fusterlandia & Jaimanitas Fishing Village: Colorful fishing village made famous by local artist, Jose Fuster, outside Havana

Soroa

• Unesco Biosphere Reserve
• Callejon de Hamel: Street art project where resident Salvador Gonzáles Escalona has decorated and painted in vibrant colors a pedestrian alleyway with scrap objects
• Las Terrazas: Mountain community was built as a reforestation project in the 1960s and is now part of the same UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Orchid Garden: Specialized botanical garden, with a collection of 20,000 specimens and more than 350 species of orchids

Viñales

• Sustainable Farm Discovery: Cuban farmer and his family who'll show us around their organic farm and explain the methods they use to grow their produce without pesticides or artificial fertilizers
• Valley Walking Tour & Tobacco Plantation: A beautiful walk through the valley to a local tobacco farm to learn about the making of Cuba’s famous cigars
• Cuban Cooking Class: Learn to cook Cuban-style with a cooking demonstration of 'platos tipicos'.

Cienfuegos

• Bay of Pigs: Scenic drive along the site where the Bay of Pigs occurred in 1961.
• Sinkhole or Ocean Snorkel: Stop for a swim and snorkel in the ocean or by a sinkhole which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank.
• Guided Orientation Walk & Palacio de Valle : A short walk to see and learn the local landmarks followed by a visit to the Palacio de Valle, an "Arabian Nights" like aspiring restaurant with a fantastic terrace bar.

Trinidad

• Guided Trinidad Walk: Cultural tour of numerous churches, museums, and many colonial buildings
• Learn to Bartend: Bartending demonstration and discussion of the history behind Cuba’s most popular cocktails.
• Salsa Lesson: Visit a local dance school for a demonstration and lesson in the dances of Cuba
• Salto de Javira Waterfall: An easy hike to this beautiful waterfall, perfect for photos and a dip to cool off.
• Dinner on the Beach: Weather permitting, we'll celebrate this amazing journey together with a feast on the beach!

E-mail us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Price: $2,495
Single Supplement: $695

Deposit: $600

Check out our club's official trip page: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/

February 1st – February 13th, 2025

Spiritual Capitals, Monuments of Love, & Bengal Tigers!

Sign up & Secure your spot at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/mystical-india-group-tours/

Email us to see daily itinerary: [email protected]

We're invited to another incredible adventure with our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club! (https://www.photoflytravel.com/)

Deposit needed to secure spot, RSVPing does not secure spot.

• 12 Nights/ 13 Days
• Boutique hotels & 4 star accommodations
• Privately guided
• Expert local guides
• Breakfast daily
• 12 Dinners, 5 Lunches
• 4 domestic flights ($700 value!)
• Air-conditioned, luxury coach
• Porter gratuities included

Ancient monuments and century’s old traditions set the backdrop for the world’s largest democracy. Without a doubt, India is arguably the most diverse country in the world on many levels!

Delhi (2 Nights)

India’s capital and political hub is an ancient city that has something for everyone. Settled seven times over the centuries, this city has grown in a way that reflects its past, while retaining its cosmopolitan flavor.

• Explore Old Delhi: See Asia’s largest mosque (Jama Masjid), rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, & ancient silver market
• Experience New Delhi: See the India Gate (official residence of the President of India), Parliament House (unique circular building with huge colonnades), Humayun’s Tomb, & 70-meter high Qutub Minar

Varanasi (2 Nights)

Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world and has been the ultimate Hindu pilgrimage spot for thousands of years.

• Assi Ghat (Riverbank): Explore the fascinating riverside with narrow and puzzled alleys excellent for cultural photography
• Manikarnika: Sacred river fronts alongside the river Ganga and unique cremation ground will help us understand why people want to spend their last days in Varanasi.
• Sarai Mohana Village: Translated means “weavers” village, the mastery here is silk weaving.
• Sarnath, Birthplace of Buddhism: Considered the center of the Buddhist world, it was here that Buddha himself preached his very first sermon.
• On the Ganges: Hour long morning boat ride will be an outstanding way to see the pilgrims standing in deep-waist water to worship the rising sun.

Agra, Jaipur, & Udaipur (5 Nights)

Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

• Taj Mahal: View & photograph this master piece of marble, and the greatest monument depicting love of all time during the golden hour of sunrise!

Jaipur: The pink jewel of Rajasthan, Jaipur’s old walled section is known as the Pink City due to its light red paint (a lucky color in Hindu culture).

• Pink Markets & Bazars: Bapu & Johri Bazaar are not just great places to shop but make for a great photo walk
• Amber Fort: Ancient palace which doubled as a fort was at the former epicenter of Rajasthan during the 15th century, now a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Galtaji (monkey) Temple: Beautiful temple between two mountains is not only a favorite place of macaque monkeys, but a sought after pilgrimage site for Hindu’s all over India.

Udaipur: Founded in 1568 as the capital of the old Mewar state; Udaipur was the only Rajput stronghold to uphold its Hindu allegiance in the face of Muslim invasion.

• City Palace: Standing on the crest of a ridge overlooking Lake Pichola, the largest palace in Rajasthan was built over various historic periods.
• Jagdish Temple : In the heart of old town, this place of Hindu worship was built in the mid-17th century and has a remarkable bronze statue of Garuda.
• Lake Pichola: Relax on a boat ride through the steel blue waters of the magnificent, albeit artificially created lake of the 14th century.

Sawai Madhopur & Ranthambore, Home of Tigers! (3 Nights)

Ranthambore National Park is one of the few places left in the world where tigers roam free! Also keep your eyes open for sloth bears, hyena, leopards, and a number of other endangered species.

• Safari: Explore the park to photograph Bengal tigers in their home, along with other unique animals.

PhotoFly Travel Club adventures are laid back when it comes to photography. They are not workshop style-based tours, you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!

• 4 domestic flights INCLUDED ($700 value!)
• International airfare is not included.
• Flying round trip into/out of Delhi (DEL)
• Roommate pairing to save money
• All taxes, fees, & transfers included

Email us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,495

Single Supplement: $695.00

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/mystical-india-group-tours/