January 2010

We would  like to extend a Happy New Year to all travelers for 2010. While many companies in travel saw a significant decline in guests in 2009, Great Explorations enjoyed a 32% growth in the number of guests traveling with us. We would like to thank those of you who traveled and hope that you’ll continue to join our trips! We were also awarded as being one of the top travel companies on earth by National Geographic Traveler in 2009.

What’s new in 2010? As you read this, Robbin, le voyageur, is off to Vietnam to guide a trip from Hanoi to Saigon, a trip that he first did solo a decade ago; Sebastian, our newest guide extraordinaire in Morocco (fluent in 5 languages and a flamenco guitarist to name some of his talents) will lead a custom family trip to Fes, Ourika Valley, Essaouira and Marrakech. We have a special departure in June for independent travelers to an area of France we call ‘Haute Provence’ with our partner company Randonnee Tours; the trip will circumnavigate (and then climb) Mt. Ventoux- you’ll want to train for this one. Finally, we have a special departure to Turkey September 28-October 8 that will be sailing the luxurious yacht ‘Ilariya’ on its blue cruise along the Turquoise Coast.

P.S. If you missed it from last newsletter, we are at the Tour de France again as an official tour operator and bookings for our trips have been brisk. We are on the verge of selling out our Yellow Jersey trip to the Pyrenees and Paris; we still have space on our green and polka dot jersey trips, all of which will now stay in the quaint town of Bagnerres de Bigorre, the wine town of Bordeaux and of course, Paris. Our Tour de France Burgundy, Lake Annecy and Alps trip also has space, but not for long. If you are keen to see Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong compete head to head for the maillot jeaune, this will be a great year to be in France.

Speaking of chasing Lance on a bike, the Tour of California has confirmed the 2010 routes for what is now the largest cycling event in the United States and we are offering a Napa, Sonoma & San Francisco trip from May 12-18 and in ‘SoCal’ a trip that takes in the San Bernardino Mountains, L.A. and Santa Monica from May 19-26. Join Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and the best of American & international cyclists in California this May.

As in all of our trips, you’ll find our prices are 20-50% less than other tour companies. With over 20 years experience, small group sizes, only the best in equipment, unique itineraries & exceptional guides, we invite you to consider Great Explorations in 2010.