For Women Only Selected Departures. Aqua Expeditions is pleased to announce two new opportunities for women-only travellers in 2017

Transcription

1 17 November 2016 For Women Only 2017 Selected Departures Aqua Expeditions is pleased to announce two new opportunities for women-only travellers in 2017 January 17th to 20th, 2017

2 Phnom Penh (PNH), Cambodia Journey aboard the Aqua Mekong 3 Night Itinerary from NZ$5,545* March 20th to 24th, 2017 Iquitos (IQT), Peru Journey aboard the Aria Amazon 4 Night Itinerary from NZ$6,999* We are also offering guests additional benefits on these special women-only departures: Waiving Single Supplement One 60-minute Complimentary Massage 3 Night Cruise on the Aqua Mekong: January 17th-20th, 2017 (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) From NZ$5,545* ITINERARY DAY1 Tuesday: PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA

3 Welcome our 3-night passengers over custom sundowners like the Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil. Together we celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat. DAY2 Wednesday: TONLE SAP RIVER - KOH CHEN - KAMPONG PRASAT - CAMBODIA In the silversmith village of Koh Chen, we watch artisans producing the magnificent silverware favoured by Khmer royalty. We continue to Udong, the royal capital from the 17-19th centuries, where we learn about a uniquely challenging Buddhist practice at the Vipassana Dhura Mandala, a meditation centre. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Kampong Prasat offers a close up perspective on local lives and their riverside environment. DAY 3 Thursday: TONLE SAP RIVER - KAMPONG CHHNANG - KAMPONG TRALACH CAMBODIA In the cooler hours, we head into the lush countryside to visit traditional potters and palm-sugar producers, astride mountain bikes or chauffeured by shaded tuk-tuk. Into the rice paddies we pedal to watch wizened masters scale sky-piercing palms towering over us. Cruise across the glassy water and disembark among the lotuses for an ox-cart ride along the Tonle Sap riverbanks, past lacquered wooden houses where during these dry months residents take refuge in the relative cool of these outdoor impromptu living rooms. DAY 4 Friday: PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA We show off the Cambodian capital to our passengers by motorised tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shopping at Russian Market. All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions. WHAT'S INCLUDED All meals while onboard All beverages (premium non-alcoholic, house wine and beer) All shore excursions Laundry Bike use Internet Group transfers to/from vessel and the meeting points in Siem Reap and Saigon Not Included: All air tickets Visas Private transfers Spa services Boutique purchases Guide and crew gratuities

4 4 Night Cruise on the Aria Amazon: March 20th 24th, 2017 (Iquitos, Peru) From NZ$6,999* ITINERARY DAY 1 Monday: ARRIVAL - NAUTA - EMBARKATION - MARAÑON RIVER Your guides await you, as your flight from Lima glides in for landing at Iquitos International Airport. After you ve claimed your luggage, you will board an air-conditioned bus for your journey to the river. Transfer to Nauta s main wharf: Enjoy a scenic one-and-a-half hour drive through the Peruvian countryside to the small village of Nauta. You will be travelling along the only road out of town... and it only goes as far as Nauta. From the moment you step on board, enjoy the ARIA AMAZON s low-key luxury. As you settle into your handsomely appointed, generously proportioned suite, you will feel the vessel begin to move the beginning of one of your life s great adventures. We suggest you stand on the Upper Deck to take in the view, as the ARIA AMAZON leaves Iquitos behind. Over the next four days, you will also sail along the two largest tributaries of the Peruvian Amazon, the Ucayali and the Marañon, as well as on the mighty Amazon itself. You are embarking on a spectacular journey to a place visited by only a very few of even the most experienced world travellers. Before dinner we will perform a routine safety drill. Then it s into the air-conditioned lounge, where you will learn about life on board, and will have the first nightly briefing about your next day s Amazon adventure. You will meet our naturalist guides and your cruise director, who will use video, photos, and maps to introduce the details of your journey deep into the Peruvian Amazon. Welcome Dinner: Sit down, relax, sip fine South American wine, toast the beginning of a beautiful journey and enjoy the innovative Amazonian cuisine, created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima s top ranked dining experiences. Schiaffino s imaginative use of local products fruit, fish, spices makes every meal a delightful adventure. (The menu always offers choices, including a vegetarian option.) Perhaps sip a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring. DAY 2 Tuesday: MARAÑON RIVER -YANAYACU - PUCATE RIVER - PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE Expedition on board our boats to Yanayacu - Pucate River: This morning, visit the Yanayacu - Pucate River within Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Here on this black water river you can observe many species of flora and fauna, especially macaws and several species of primates like squirrels monkeys, capuchins monkeys and the famous river dolphins, either pink or gray. You will also have the opportunity here to fish for the ferocious piranha. Return to the ARIA AMAZON: Lecture in the lounge by our naturalist guides who will tell you about sustainable development projects carried out in this part of the Peruvian Amazon.

5 Village Visit: On this visit to a community located along the great river Marañon, our expert guides will introduce you to the native people of Amazonia. You will be invited to visit the lands where they practice subsistence farming and see how they cultivate wild plants and trees to earn income. In the primary forest, your guides will also teach you about the fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle. DAY 3 Wednesday: SAMIRIA RIVER - VILLAGE VISIT - NAUTA CAÑO - PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE Exploration walk along the Samiria River: This morning your naturalist guide will talk about sustainable development projects in Amazonia. You will visit one of the projects, where villagers are planting palms to obtain oil. Your guide will also show you the artificial nests created in the sand to protect turtle eggs. Then we will go into the jungle to encounter wildlife and learn first-hand about the value of medicinal plants found here. Keep an eye out for the famous Ceiba tree, the highest in the Amazon. We will have the opportunity to make brief trips in traditional Amazonian canoes and to swim in the waters of the Samiria River. Cooking lessons Lecture in the lounge by our naturalist guides. Excursion to Nauta Caño: Nauta Caño is part of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, also known as the Forest of Mirrors due to its dark lagoons, which reflect the scenery. In this area we will observe toucans, macaws, and iguanas, among many other species. As we make our way back to the ARIA AMAZON, you may also see alligators, frogs and fishing bats. DAY 4 Thursday: MARAÑON RIVER / CASUAL TERRA FIRME FOREST WALK / YANAYACU YACAPANA Marañon exploration and trail walk: We sail along the Marañon River, watching the different species of flora and fauna as we approach the Casual community where we will hike on land. Here you will see a plethora of wildlife, so keep your binoculars ready to observe tanagers and orioles as well as various reptiles and amphibians. Keep an eye out for the beautiful and eye-catching but poisonous frogs along this fascinating trail, as well as trees and medicinal plants. Canoeing at Sapira Creek - Marañon river (Optional) Yanayacu Islands Exploration Yacapana and fishing: The locals call Yacapana Islands Islands of the Iguana" for the large number of these reptiles - like tiny dinosaurs - that inhabit them. We pass by in the skiff, giving you the opportunity to take plenty of pictures. After our arrival at one particular spot, you may use your hooks to try to catch some of the ferocious piranhas and other fish. Your naturalist guides will tell the story of the lake and its wildlife while you watch the sunset. En route, we will also go in search of the world's largest aquatic plant called Victoria Regia." As the sun goes down, photograph the freshwater Amazon dolphins both gray and pink. Once back on board, the ship will continue its journey down stream, sailing toward Iquitos through the night. Meet in the lounge with our naturalist guides for the Crew Presentation: The guides will introduce some of the crew members whom you may not have met, who worked "behind the scenes" to ensure your memorable trip has been filled with countless exceptional experiences. DAY 5 Friday: CHECK OUT - DISEMBARK AT THE MAIN WHARF - CITY TOUR - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT Depending on the weather, we will tour the flood zone that borders the city of Iquitos and observe the houses and shops that actually float on the Itaya River for several months of the year. Then we will visit the traditional market of Bellavista Nanay, bordering the Nanay River, to see products from the Peruvian Amazon including exotic snacks like the Amazon Caterpillar. Called "Suri," these caterpillars live in the palm trees and are considered a very appetizing snack for Amazonia people, even in the city. Disembarkation / City Tour / Manatee Rescue Centre / Transfer to the Airport: This afternoon, we will take you on a tour of Iquitos, glorious city in the days of the rubber boom. Visit the Manatee Rescue Centre, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. Later, we stop at the Amazonian Indian Market San Juan, where, you may wish to shop for local crafts before leaving. Guides will help with check in at the airport and stay with you until you have boarded your flight back to Lima. All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions. All times indicated are approximate, and are also subject to change.

6 WHAT'S INCLUDED All meals while onboard All excursions off the Aria Amazon Beverages (non-alcoholic, select premium wines, sparkling wine and national beer) Transfers to/from vessel when arriving or departing on recommended flights Pacaya Samiria National Reserve entrance fee Not Inluded: Air tickets to and from Iquitos Guide and crew gratuities Boutique purchases Women tell us they love the variety and diversity of the Aqua Expeditions cruise experience: The ultimate in luxury accommodations: Our custom-designed suites and more intimate award-winning vessels are unique among river cruises. 5-Star guest service: Our 1:1 staff to guest ratio says it all. Personalised service, Soft adventures off ship: Hand-crafted itineraries offer biking, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, cultural meet and greets with local community members. Educational learning: guided small group excursions into local riverside communities to learn about history, ecology, local economies and fascinating guide presentations in the evenings. Culinary fun: visits to local markets with our chef, cooking classes, 5-star cuisine incorporating local fresh produce and regional specialties. Relaxation at its finest: Our on board spa and infinity pool offer massage, aromatherapy and soothing dips while drifting past riverside views.

7 Terms & Conditions: *Cruise only. Fares are per person, in NZ Dollars, in lead-in River-view stateroom. Cruise fare includes port taxes & government fees and all applicable discounts (correct as at 16/11/2016). Offers are nontransferable and may not be redeemed for cash if not utilised. All fares and taxes are subject to change and currency fluctuations without notice up until full payment is received. Gratuities and airfares are additional. Price for cash and cheque payments only. Subject to availability. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Valid for sale till 30 November 2016 or until sold out.

8 Alaskan Dream Cruises - American Queen Steamboat Company Aqua Expeditions - Carnival Australia - Carnival Cruise Line Holland America Line - Luftner Cruises - Oceania Cruises Pandaw River Adventures - Ponant Yacht Cruises & Expeditions Quark Expeditions - Regent Seven Seas Cruises Voyages to Antiquity - Windstar Cruises P E info@privatetravel.co.nz W