STEPPES OFFERS A PRIVATE SEA SAFARI AROUND REMOTE INDONESIA ISLANDS

NEW YORK, NY (02/14) Steppes Travel, whose watchword is “Travel Beyond the Ordinary,” is offering an exclusive cruise to explore the stunning and remote islands of Eastern Indonesia on Tiger Blue to explore Komodo, the Spice Islands (also known as Malaku Islands) and Raja Ampat.  Adventurers can go on a set departure (see dates below) or take an opportunity for a family or a group of friends to charter Tiger Blue for a private cruise. Either way, it is a trip that few humans have ever made.

Here are beautiful sandy beaches, world class diving and snorkeling, and diverse marine and wildlife.  The seven-night cruise starts at $3,042 per person sharing, with a minimum of 12 persons.  Last minute travelers who sail before February 28 will save $265 per person on the Raja Ampat tour.

Tiger Blue is a timber phinisi sailing yacht, hand-built by craftsmen from Sulawesi.  A phinisi is a traditional Indonesian two-mast sailing ship historically and still widely used for local transportation, cargo and fishing within the Indonesian archipelago.  Tiger Blue has four meticulously appointed, air-conditioned en suite cabins.  A crew of eight includes the expedition leader, dive master and executive chef.  Asian and western menus are tailored to guests’ preferences.

Justin Wateridge, managing director of Steppes, explains:  “Until recently, Indonesia has mostly been an unknown destination for tourism.  This tour enables us the chance to experience life at sea in a very graceful, comfortable vessel and to explore the beautiful islands of Eastern Indonesia with their diverse bird and wild life, gentle hiking opportunities and world class dive sites.  Most of these islands are only accessible by boat.  The cruise is very laid back and passengers can do as much or as little as they like.”

The Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompasses three large islands and 26 smaller ones.  It is the home of the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest lizard.  The Park has been named as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Raja Ampat is known for fantastic diving sites with natural underwater beauty and diverse marine life.  The Spice Islands (Malaku) features a mountainous terrain with several active volcanos.  Its tropical rainforest climate allows for luxuriant vegetation. 

Guests can opt for the set departures which begin and finish in the same port or a Journey of Discovery which starts in one port and finishes in another.  For more information or a detailed itinerary, contact: enquiry@steppestravel.com or visit: www.steppestravel.com

SET DEPARTURES 2014
10 - 17 Jan (Raja Ampat)
31 Jan - 7 Feb (Raja Ampat)
16 -23 May (Komodo)
7 - 14 Sep ( Komodo)
17-24 Sep ( Komodo Journey of Discovery) 

AUSTRALIS OFFERS FREE AIR FROM SANTIAGO FOR CRUISES IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH

SANTIAGO, Chile (01/2014) –Expedition cruise operator Australis announces free air round trip between Santiago, Chile, and the ports of Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina. The airline savings of approximately $900 applies to four-, five-, and seven-night cruises booked for February and March.

For the four-night itinerary fly from Santiago to the departure point for the cruise in Punta Arenas, Chile. The cruise ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, where travelers will fly to Santiago via Buenos Aires. Rates for the cruise start at $2,410 per person sharing, depending on the cabin. Choose from the following departures: February 22 and 26 and March 1, 6, 8, 13 and 29.

The five-night itinerary is a new Tierra del Fuego by Land and Sea launch. Begin and end in Punta Arenas.  Rates for the cruise start at $2,815 per person sharing, depending on the cabin. Choose from the following departures: February 5, March 8, March 23, March 24 and April 7.

The seven night itinerary is a round trip cruise.  The trip will begin and end in Punta Arenas. Ushuaia is the halfway point. Rates for the cruise start at $3,958 per person sharing, depending on the cabin. Choose from the following departures: February 3, March 6, March 8 and March 29.

The cruise is an all-inclusive experience and includes accommodation, all meals, an open bar, shore excursions and on board entertainment. The deal is good as long as supplies last. For more information, visit www.australis.com/landing-enero/ticket-aereo-incluido_en.html.

GAUCHOS, PENGUINS & GLACIERS; PATAGONIA FULL CIRCLE

SANTIAGO, Chile (09/2013) – Meet gauchos in estancias… See an entire penguin colony upclose… Take in looming glaciers and step foot on legendary Cape Horn… These experiences are the keys to a Patagonian adventure, one reflected in Australis’ newest itinerary: 
“Gauchos, Penguins & Glaciers.” This is a roundtrip land and sea experience from Punta Arenas, Chile; see everything Tierra del Fuego has to offer with daily lectures given by experts in the field.

With multiple departures this season, passengers have the option of two itineraries; the onlydifference is the addition of Pia glacier, one of the tallest in South America, for that extra day. From October 2013 to April 2014, the Stella Australis will be part of a five-night program. From November 2013 to March 2014, the Via Australis will be part of a six-night 
program.

After a night in Punta Arenas, cross the Strait of Magellan to debark at Porvenir, capital of the Chilean Province of Tierra del Fuego, near the world’s most accessible colony of king penguins. It is here you will be able to see these penguins up close; they are the second largest species of penguins and one of the most beautiful to capture on film.

Drive on to an estancia (a rural estate) where passengers are able to interact with gauchos, Patagonian cowboys, and see how the locals live. Observe how they handle their dogs for herding sheep, and see what a Patagonian barbeque is like. Usually, the barbeque would consist of lamb, Patagonia’s meat of choice, with a very serious cooking process. The result is a very sweet and tender meal. While with the gauchos, everyone will have the opportunity
to horseback ride with the pros.

Before the journey comes full circle, go ashore at mystical Cape Horn, also known as the “End of the Earth;” and take in the mesmerizing beauty of the Magellan forest, looming glaciers and the Magellan Penguins at Madgalena Island. Many of these places are only accessible using Australis’ small expedition ships.

And finally, end back in charming Punta Arenas, and reflect on your Patagonian adventure.

Rates start at $3,536 per person sharing, depending on the season and itinerary (the larger the group, the lower the rate). This includes accommodation, all meals, an open bar, shore excursions and on board entertainment. For more information, visit www.australis.com/site/en-us/routes-itineraries/punta-arenas-punta-arenas-2.

CRUISE THE NILE IN STYLE; ZING THROUGH THE KAZINGA MARASA LAUNCHES NEW LUXURY BOATS

KAMPALA, Uganda (08/2013) Sure the Nile River looks pretty great from land, but why not cruise it in style with a 2- hour water safari on a luxurious boat from Mweya Safari Lodge through Uganda’s Kazinga Channel. The 22-mile channel links saltwater Lake Edward to fresh water Lake George – two rift valley lakes with royal lineage; they were named after Queen Victoria’s son Edward VII and her grandson George V.  

Mweya offers a couple of ways to experience the channel, with seasoned guides and a full crew. The Sunbird comfortably seats ten people, but for those seeking a truly special experience, the Kingfisher is perfect for a dozen people to ride in style and enjoy drinks and canapés while soaking in the beautiful surroundings and rich wildlife.

Nestled on a peninsula deep in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and surrounded by the fabled Rwenzori Mountains, (the ‘Mountains of the Moon’), Mweya is off the proverbial ‘beaten path.’ The Kazinga Channel serves as the border between the range and the Great Rift Valley Hills, and is a wildlife haven; hordes of hippos flock to the channel, and share this aquatic paradise with Nile crocodiles, while buffaloes and elephants drink at its edge. Additionally, the birding along Kazinga is truly unparalleled; there are over a hundred species of water birds, from the African Fish Eagle to the threatened, otherworldly Shoebill to the Lesser and Greater Flamingo. Mweya also boasts luxurious accommodations, a health club, and a host of activities.

A new luxury excursion boat, The Paraa Voyager, has also been launched at Paraa Safari Lodge to take guests and non-guests on a 2-1/2 hour Nile River cruise to Murchison Falls. Located in Murchison Falls National Park, Paraa overlooks the Nile as it flows from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert, where the Earth’s longest river squeezes through its narrowest point and cascades into a frothing pool below.  

Each excursion costs $36 per person and includes canapés and one soft drink/hard drink/beer/small bottle of red or white wine.

Both Paraa and Mweya are owned by Marasa Africa, which generously supported World Lion Day this year and continues to support lion conservation. Marasa has also donated two full board nights at Paraa to the Hope North event, benefiting Ugandan orphans, to be held in New York City September 18^th.

For more information or reservations, contact Corne Schalkwyk: corne@marasa.net or visit Mweya Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge

PATAGONIA IN A NUTSHELL: INTIMATE ENCOUNTER WITH 7-NIGHT ITINERARY

SANTIAGO, Chile (07/2013) – For the first time ever, Cruceros Australis offers a 7-night itinerary through pristine Patagonia. Noted as the only cruise specialist to take passengers on land at Cape Horn – along with many other high-adrenaline excursions – Cruceros Australis provides an intimate encounter with this region. Bonus: with this itinerary, passengers have a choice of activities to further explore Punta Arenas Chile or the most important city in Tierra del Fuego – Ushuaia, Argentina.

With Zodiac boat excursions one to two times a day and complementing lectures from expedition leaders, passengers receive the full impact of the region. (Keep cameras at the ready to capture the photogenic Magellanic penguin along the way and perhaps the unpredictable elephant seals in Ainsworth Bay.)

Should the halfway point be Ushuaia, Argentina – the southernmost city in the world – passengers choose between a four-hour Tierra del Fuego National Park visit and a two-hour Prison/Yamana Museum visit (explore, explore, explore). If the halfway point is Punta Arenas, Chile, passengers can visit two museums and/or the public cemetery, which tells the story of the city in silence. Of course, the pinnacle of the trip is sailing to Cape Horn National Park, 
known as the “End of the Earth” and the last territory before arriving in Antarctica.

A sample itinerary can look like this:

Day 1: Departure from Punta Arenas, Chile
Day 2: Disembarkation at Aguila Glacier and Condor GlacierDay 3: Disembarkation at Garibaldi Fjord and Pia Glacier, then sail through Glacier Alley
Day 4: Disembarkation at Ushuaia
Day 5: Disembarkation at Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay
Day 6: Disembarkation in Chico Sound
Day 7: Disembarkation at Brookes Glacier and Ainsworth Bay
Day 8: Disembarkation at Magdalena Island and arrive at Punta Arenas

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience. Rates start at $2,765 and include airport transfers, sea transportation, shore excursions, onboard entertainment, all meals and an open bar. Passengers will also enjoy local Chilean and Argentinean wines. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes to highlight the delicious and varied regional fare.

For more information, visit www.australis.com.

CHRISTMAS IN PATAGONIA: CRUCEROS AUSTRALIS OFFERS DEALS FOR THE SEASON

While there won’t be reindeer, cruise specialist, Cruceros Australis, invites travelers to a Christmas with Santa Claus and penguins this winter. With Zodiac excursions and complementary lectures, Cruceros Australis conveys peace on earth with the natural beauty of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. A big bonus for families looking for quality time together: kids cruise free.

These two four-night expedition cruises depart December 21, 2012 and December 22, 2012 with your choice of Ushuaia to Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. Either way, the route involves Patagonia’s signature wildlife and environment: fjords, canals and glaciers.

While on board, revel in the season as you pass by the raised Christmas tree, enjoy a special Christmas dinner and meet with Santa who will make an appearance with gifts for the children.

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience including sea transportation, shore excursions, onboard entertainment, all meals and an open bar. Passengers will also enjoy local Chilean and Argentinean wines. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes to highlight the delicious and varied regional fare. Rates start at $2,187 per adult for these departures, and children 15 and under will sail free (one child per adult).

For more information, visit www.australis.com.

CRUCEROS AUSTRALIS COMMEMORATES WHALE CONSERVATION WITH SPECIAL DEPARTURES

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the vote to end whaling. To show future generations the importance of the conservation of whales and dolphins, cruise specialist, Cruceros Australis, invites travelers to come to Patagonia and join one of four special departures that will take place early 2013. With Zodiac excursions and complementary lectures, Cruceros Australis displays both the beauty and history of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego at the bottom of the world.

These four-night expedition cruises include special programs that incorporate the observation of humpback whales in the Strait of Magellan to effectively demonstrate that education is part of conservation. Guests are taken to Francisco Coloane Park, Chile’s first marine park. In this protected area, they will be on the lookout for humpback whales and will be able to speak with a leading scientist while surrounded by the typical landscape encountered in Patagonia: fjords, canals and glaciers.

The newest ship, Stella Australis, will host the first departure on January 12, 2013. The Via Australis will then take over for February 4, February 20 and March 8, 2013 departures.

Day 1: Departure from Punta Arenas, Chile

Day 2: Humpback whale watching around Carlos III Island

Day 3: Disembarkation at the bays of Garibaldi and Pia Glaciers

Day 4: Disembarkation on Hornos Island and Wulaia Bay

Day 5: Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina. Check-out is 8am

(Whale sightings cannot be guaranteed due to their natural habits and constant movement.)

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience including sea transportation, shore excursions, onboard entertainment, all meals and an open bar. Passengers will also enjoy local Chilean and Argentinean wines. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes to highlight the delicious and varied regional fare. Rates start at $1,989 for these departures.

For more information, visit www.australis.com.