Here is a remarkable itinerary discovering some of the world’s most magnificent regions for wildlife combined with unique natural wonders. Witness iconic animals in their natural habitats including brown bears in Romania, tigers in India’s Ranthambore National Park, Aldabra giant tortoises in the Seychelles, lemurs in Madagascar and the Big Five in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
In addition to the marvellous wildlife encounters, we will take a hike in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, explore the unique geological formations of Turkey’s Cappadocia region, visit India’s ‘pink city’, Jaipur, walk through the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest, relax on pristine beaches in the Seychelles, snorkel in the Indian Ocean and finally, float in the Dead Sea.
Our unique journey certainly isn’t one which could be undertaken independently with such ease by using scheduled flights. With the luxury of a private plane at our disposal, we have planned our route meticulously to ensure that all the flights are daytime flights and no flight is in excess of five and a half hours. Guided excursions including safaris and the opportunity to view the landscapes of Cappadocia and the Serengeti by hot air balloon are included in each destination and such experiences will provide an understanding of the flora and fauna and natural wonders of the regions. Travelling with us will be a naturalist Guest Speaker and we have also arranged for local specialists to give talks which will add greatly to our knowledge of the conservation efforts in place.
We have carefully selected a range of wonderful hotels which are all five-star or best available and we have chosen the accommodation based not only on the hotel’s facilities but also on the location and accessibility of the properties ensuring we are in close proximity to the sites whenever possible.
Call of the Wild Accommodation
We have carefully selected a range of conveniently located, luxury hotels for our stay which are five star properties, or in some of the locations, best available. For convenience our first evening will be based at the Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted where you can meet your fellow travellers and the Noble Caledonia team over welcome drinks and dinner. The next morning, we will be just a short transfer from the Private Terminal.
Some of the standout properties we will be staying at during our tour include:
Itinerary
Day 1 Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted.
This afternoon, check in any time after 3pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel. If you are driving you may leave your car at the Private Jet Terminal at London Stansted and join our complimentary transfer to the hotel. Alternatively, if arriving by train the hotel is located a short walk from the station. Enjoy dinner this evening with your fellow travellers and the Noble Caledonia Team.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted
Day 2 London Stansted to Brasov, Romania.
After breakfast we make the short journey to the Private Jet Terminal to embark our flight to Sibiu. On arrival, transfer to the Radisson Blu hotel in Brasov, our base for the next three nights. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels, Brasov exudes a distinct Medieval ambiance. After some time to settle in we will meet for dinner this evening.
Flight Duration: 2.5 Hours
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Brasov
Day 3 Libearty Bear Sanctuary & Bran Castle.
This morning we will drive to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti which is located in 69 hectares of oak forest and where over 130 brown bears have been rescued and rehabilitated. Previously kept in small cages as tourist attractions the bears are now free to climb trees, swim in pools and receive veterinary care. We will learn about the programme, the largest brown bear sanctuary in the world, which started in 2005 and have a chance to see the bears in their natural environment. Later we will take lunch at one of the region’s vineyards before continuing to the world famous ‘Dracula’s Castle’, built as a fortress in 1212 by the Knights of the Teutonic Order. Vlad Tepes, better known as Vlad the Impaler, used the castle as headquarters for his incursions into Transylvania.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Brasov
Day 4 Piatra Craiului National Park & Brasov.
The Carpathian Mountains are Europe’s second longest mountain range stretching 1500 kilometres through six countries in Eastern Europe. Today we will offer a series of walks, of varying levels, in the Piatra Craiului National Park to explore the beauty of the region which is one of Europe’s last wilderness areas with a wide range of flora and fauna to discover. After lunch in the park we will return to the hotel and you can choose to spend the afternoon at leisure or join a city tour including the Old Town Hall Square; the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania; Rope Street, the narrowest street in Europe at just four feet wide; Catherine’s Gate, built in 1559 and the only original gate to have survived from Medieval times and the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Brasov
Day 5 Sibiu to Keyseri, Turkey.
After breakfast in the hotel we return to our private plane in Sibiu for our flight to Keyseri. On arrival we will transfer to the Cappadocia Cave Resort for our three night stay. Enjoy time to settle into the hotel before we meet later this evening for dinner.
Flight Duration: 2 Hours
Accommodation: Cappadocia Cave Resort & Spa
Day 6 Cappadocia.
Cappadocia is a region of central Turkey famous for its ‘fairy chimneys’. These unique geological formations have been created from volcanic detritus of porous rock that is easily carved, chipped and eroded by the elements. This region is also known for its early Christian history with St Peter referring to Christians living in Cappadocia as early as the 1st century AD. Our day starts at the Goreme Open Air Museum which includes a number of cave churches. Along with rectories, dwellings, and a religious school, they form a large monastic complex carved out of a roughly ring-shaped rock formation in the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia. Most of the churches are fully painted inside with beautiful and historically important Byzantine murals dating from 900-1200 AD. Next we will see the castle of Uchisar, a rocky peak containing a labyrinth of man-made chambers. This rock, riddled with windows and tunnels, was once used as a fortification and offers a magnificent panoramic view of Cappadocia and Mount Erciyes in the distance. After lunch we continue to the amazing underground city of Kaymakli. Signs of an early troglodyte lifestyle are evident in the communal kitchens blackened by smoke, stables and storage spaces carved into the rocks as need arose. The maze of living quarters hundreds of feet below ground is startling proof that tens of thousands of people existed deep within the earth.
Accommodation: Cappadocia Cave Resort & Spa
Day 7 Cappadocia.
We wake before sunrise to join a thrilling hot air balloon ride above the Goreme Valley to see this amazing landscape from the sky. Returning to the hotel for breakfast, the remainder of the morning is free to relax. We will continue our exploration of the region after lunch as we visit Pasabagi (Monk’s Valley) with its multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area. Then continue to the cliff dwellings in the three valleys of Zelve. Formed from three valleys, Zelve has the most intense chimney rocks formed in the volcanic tufas. The chimney’s rocks from the valley have large, pointed tops and large trunks. There are many settlements used for hiding by the first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers.
Accommodation: Cappadocia Cave Resort & Spa
Day 8 Cappadocia to Jaipur, India.
After breakfast in the hotel we transfer to Keyseri Airport to join our flight to Jaipur. Arrive this evening and transfer to the Jai Mahal Palace Hotel for an overnight stay.
Flight Duration: 5 Hours
Accommodation: Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Day 9 Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park.
One of the largest national parks in Northern India, located at the junction of some of the geologically oldest mountain ranges - the Aravallis and Vindyas - Ranthambore offers some of the finest opportunities for wildlife sightings, including the magnificent tiger. Named after the historic Ranthambore fortress, which lies within the park, this used to be the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur and in 1972 the sanctuary came under the Project Tiger scheme. After a three hour drive from Jaipur we will have lunch before an afternoon game drive. The animals here are rather unfazed by human presence and we may see basking crocodiles, king vultures, serpent eagle, sloth bears, jackal, hyena or spotted deer. The landscape is dominated by the 10th century fortress of Ranthambore while the valleys have numerous cenotaphs, ruins and abandoned settlements overcome by nature. The dry deciduous forest covers open valleys with lush vegetation around the lakes, and open grasslands in the higher slopes. Our base for two nights will be the Sawai Vilas. Before dinner we will enjoy a drinks reception and a talk from a wildlife photographer who will share his experience along with the insight on wildlife photography at Ranthambore National Park.
Accommodation: Sawai Vilas, Ranthambore National Park
Day 10 Ranthambore National Park.
Early risers can enjoy a dawn safari as we continue our search for tigers as well as sambar deer, the blue bull antelope or nilgai, rhesus macaque, langur and an incredible variety of birds amidst a setting of dhok, fig and banyan trees. Return to the hotel for breakfast and enjoy the remainder of the morning at leisure to relax. This afternoon, there will be a choice of excursions, you can choose to visit Dastkar, a society established to promote the local craft traditions of the area or alternatively visit the Ranthambore Fort. The fort is characterised by temples, massive gates and huge walls. Constructed in 944 AD, Ranthambore Fort has witnessed many sieges and battles. Probably the most famous among these is the war of Rao Hamir in 1301 against the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji. It has become part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
Accommodation: Sawai Vilas, Ranthambore National Park
Day 11 Jaipur.
Return this morning to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan province and known for its arts and crafts, jewellery, hand-painted fabrics and stone sculptures. It is one of North India’s finest examples of a planned city embodying the best of Rajput and Mughal architecture. We will visit the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. Later we see Jantar Mantar, the most famous of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India. Jai Singh was a great admirer of progresses and research made in the fields of science and technology, and was passionate about astronomy.
Accommodation: Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur
Day 12 Jaipur to Praslin, Seychelles.
We return to the airport this morning and embark our private plane for a flight to the Seychelles. Arriving into Mahe in the afternoon, we will board a private boat to the neighbouring island of Praslin. On arrival we transfer to the Constance Lemuria Resort for our three night stay and have free time to settle in and enjoy the facilities before we meet for dinner this evening.
Flight Duration: 5.5 Hours
Accommodation: Constance Lemuria Hotel, Praslin
Day 13 Praslin.
This morning we explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest and home to the coco de mer. We will walk its paths looking out for the rare black parrot and enjoying its natural beauty. Return to the hotel for lunch and a relaxing afternoon to enjoy the beautiful palm-fringed beaches, take a swim or visit the nearby turtle sanctuary.
Accommodation: Constance Lemuria Hotel, Praslin
Day 14 Curieuse Island.
After breakfast we board our private boat to the neighbouring island of Curieuse, a rugged uninhabited island which was once home to a leper colony and now houses an eco-museum and visitor centre. The island is managed by the Marine Parks Authority of the Seychelles and is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles and home to wandering Aldabra tortoises, skinks, geckos as well as many bird species including the rare Seychelles black parrots. On a series of walks we can watch for wildlife as we pass by endemic coco de mer forests as well as dense mangroves. Return to the hotel this afternoon and enjoy a leisurely afternoon.
Accommodation: Constance Lemuria Hotel, Praslin
Day 15 Mahe to Nosy Be, Madagascar.
We will return to Mahe this morning by private boat and embark our private plane for the short flight to Madagascar. Arrive into Nosy Be this afternoon and transfer to our hotel for our three night stay.
Flight Duration: 2 Hours
Accommodation: Ravintsara Wellness Resort, Nosy Be
Day 16 Lokobe National Park.
This morning we will visit the Lokobe National Park, the last protected primary forest on the island. Declared a National Park in 2011, Lokobe now shelters many endemic plants, including ylang ylang, palms and vanilla orchids as well as ancient trees. Covering 740 hectares of forest hugging the shoreline we will embark on a series of walks hoping to catch sightings of some of the resident wildlife which includes black lemurs, the rare panther chameleon, pygmy kingfishers, plated lizard and diamond frogs. After lunch in the park we will return to the hotel for a leisurely afternoon before we meet for dinner.
Accommodation: Ravintsara Wellness Resort, Nosy Be
Day 17 Nosy Komba & Nosy Tanikely.
This morning we board private boats and transfer to Nosy Komba where forested mountains meet small sandy coves. On arrival we will take a walk into the forests where we have a good chance to see lemurs as well as some of the twenty species of birds that live here. Return to our boats and sail to nearby Nosy Tanikely Island Marine Reserve, an uninhabited island which offers snorkelling opportunities and wonderful beaches. We will take the chance to either swim in the clear waters or snorkel over the corals keeping an eye out for reef fish, turtles and morays. Alternatively local rangers will lead guided walks on the island where we may see the resident lemurs, fruit bats and hermit crabs and enjoy fantastic views from the lighthouse on the island’s highest point. We will have a beach barbeque before returning to the hotel later this afternoon.
Accommodation: Ravintsara Wellness Resort, Nosy Be
Day 18 Nosy Be to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Return to the airport this morning and board our private plane to Kilimanjaro, departing in the late morning. On arrival we will board a small light aircraft for our journey to the Serengeti Seronera airfield. From here we transfer to the Melia Serengeti Lodge. After settling into our rooms we will meet tonight for a Welcome Boma dinner at the Lodge.
Flight Duration: 2.5 Hours
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti National Park
Days 19 & 20 Serengeti.
Early risers will be able to join a marvellous hot air balloon journey above the Serengeti. Just after you elevate from the ground, you will enjoy a great African sunrise before witnessing an uninterrupted birds eye view of the vast Serengeti plains. The pilot will try to spot wildlife for you and lower the balloon for better viewing all the while enjoying the tranquility and sounds of nature. Breakfast will be served on our return to the lodge and over the next two days there will be opportunities to join walking and jeep safaris in the Seronera Valley, a transition zone between the southern plains and the northern woodlands. The most prominent is the Seronera River from which the area takes its name. With year round water, this is the most reliable area to view wildlife. It is possible to see many of the Serengeti’s resident wildlife including giraffe, buffalo, topi, hartebeest, waterbuck, impala, reedbuck, bushbuck, dikdik, hippopotamus, crocodile, warthog and diverse birdlife. Large prides of lion reside here, as well as clans of spotted hyena. The Serengeti would not be the same without the beautiful rock outcrops known as kopjes. Also known as inselbergs, the intriguing, rounded shapes of these ancient granite rocks are the result of cracking and erosion from exposure to sun, wind and rain. They provide shelter and capture water for a wealth of wildlife and plants.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti National Park
Day 21 Serengeti to Dead Sea, Jordan.
After breakfast we board our light aircraft and return to our private plane in Kilimanjaro and depart mid-morning. Arrive in Amman this afternoon and transfer to the Kempinski Hotel in the Dead Sea area for a two night stay.
Flight Duration: 5.5 Hours
Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea
Day 22 Dead Sea & Bethany.
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel and a leisurely morning. You may wish to swim or float in the Dead Sea which, at 423 metres below sea level is the lowest spot on earth. The high salt content prevents the existence of any life forms but is also believed to provide healing properties with the mud on the seabed being rich in minerals. After lunch at the hotel, we will drive to Bethany, the site where John the Baptist met and baptised Jesus Christ. The excavations conducted at Bethany in Jordan have uncovered a 1st century AD settlement with plastered pools and water systems, which were almost certainly used for mass baptisms, a 6th century Byzantine settlement with churches, a monastery and other structures most probably catering to religious pilgrims. This evening we will meet for our farewell dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Dead Sea
Day 23 Amman to London Stansted.
After breakfast we transfer to Ammann airport to join our flight back to London Stansted.
Flight Duration: 5.5 Hours
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy| 23 September to 15 October 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Price | |
| Twin | £38995 | |
| Single | £41995 | |
Tour Reference Code: LAWILD
PRICE INCLUDES: Flights aboard privately chartered plane in business class style seats (specially arranged charter flight in Tanzania) • 22 nights hotel accommodation in five-star (or best available) hotels • All meals • Drinks with all meals • All excursions/safaris as described • All transfers • All porterage • Noble Caledonia Team including Guest Speaker • All gratuities • All taxes. Noble Caledonia will also be carbon offsetting the air travel on behalf of all those travelling.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas.
Visa Information: A visa is required for British passport holders for India (E-visa processed before travel for a fee of approximately £10); Tanzania (E-visa processed before travel for a fee of approximately £80) and Jordan (no charge arranged on arrival). Noble Caledonia will provide all supporting documentation needed for passengers to arrange visas. This information is correct at the time of printing and further information will be sent to passengers 12 weeks prior to departure.
Important Information: Please note that all bookings (including those made by Commodore Club members) are subject to a 20% deposit when booking this tour.
Call of the Wild Accommodation
We have carefully selected a range of conveniently located, luxury hotels for our stay which are five star properties, or in some of the locations, best available. For convenience our first evening will be based at the Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted where you can meet your fellow travellers and the Noble Caledonia team over welcome drinks and dinner. The next morning, we will be just a short transfer from the Private Terminal.
Some of the standout properties we will be staying at during our tour include:
Travelling by Private Plane
Our private plane is equipped with everything needed to ensure each flight is a comfortable and relaxing experience. Outfitted and custom configured to seat a maximum of just 62 guests, the cabin is spacious with Business Class seating and only two seats on each side of the aisle. The seats provide a comfortable level of recline with leg rests. Meals served on board will be accompanied by fine wines and throughout each flight all drinks including champagne are included. The ultimate advantage of travelling by private jet is the flexibility it provides when developing the itinerary and it ensures we are able to utilise your holiday time to the best effect, maximising time in destinations and minimising time wasted at airports. Whenever possible we will use private terminals at airports and benefit from expedited customs and immigration arrangements. Each passenger will have a generous luggage allowance and when possible, our team will ensure that your luggage is collected from your hotel room and delivered to the plane (occasionally local authorities may insist that guests check in their own luggage and collect it upon arrival). We will depart from the Private Terminal at Stansted Airport avoiding the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. Our private plane will be directly in front of the terminal allowing for a stress-free boarding process.
Travelling with You
On board our private plane you will be cared for by a specially trained crew including two pilots and a team of flight attendants. The same crew will remain with us throughout the tour and welcome you back on board after each exciting destination. There will also be a Noble Caledonia team of five who will accompany you throughout and will dine with our group each evening. Should you wish to dine independently on some evenings, there will be inclusive alternatives available which our team can assist with arranging for you. In addition to our Tour Leader, Guest Speaker and experienced Tour Managers, there will be a medically trained first responder travelling as part of the team.
Also of Interest
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Crossroads of Cultures Accommodation
Itinerary at a glance
- Aqaba / Wadi Rum / Petra / Muscat / Nizwa / Kerala / Kathmandu / Thimpu / Tiger's Nest Monastery / Paro / Thimpu / Samarkand / Tbillisi
South Africa & Namibia by Private Train
A journey from Pretoria to Swakopmund aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail Private Train
Rovos Rail Private Train
Itinerary at a glance
- Johannesburg / Pretoria / Kimberley / Upington / Fish River Canyon / Kolmanskop / Luderitz / Keetmanshoop / Quiver Tree Forest / Soussuvlei / Windhoek / Cheetah Conservation Fund / Etosha National Park / Namib Desert / Walvis Bay / Swakopmund /
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000