Ultimate Earth

Itinerary

• Day 1: Fly to Quito

  Welcome to Ecuador! You’re landing in Quito, the capital city and home to the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get ready to feel like you’re on top of the world—because you kinda are; Quito is 2,500 meters above sea level. Deep breaths everyone, you’re in for an adventure (and because the air is thinner).

  This tour requires a visa for U.S. citizens. Check entry requirements or call us with questions at 800-766-2645.

  Today's highlights:

  • Meet a trip representative at the airport.
  • Transfer to your accommodation in Quito via private coach.
  • Receive the latest schedule and trip updates from your Tour Director.
  • Greet your fellow travelers as they arrive.
• Days 2-9: Ecuador & the Galapagos

  Quito’s a bit of modern-day meets traditional. As you get to know the area under the guidance of your Tour Director, be sure to keep a look out for people wearing traditional Ecuadorian clothes, including ponchos, long dresses, and lots of jewelry. When you’re not enjoying the rather distinctive dress code, be sure to look up at one of the eight volcanoes that surround the city.

  Highlights:

  • Enjoy a guided tour of the highlands and its lush forest compared to the lowlands and beaches that are to come.
  • Fulfill your dream of standing in two places at once at Mitad del mundo, the line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (AKA the equator).
  • Take a speedboat ride to San Cristobal, the oldest island in the Galápagos.
  • Gaze at the fish swimming below you during your snorkeling adventure.
  • Shop in Otavalo, the handicraft capital of Ecuador, and a beautiful city of the Imbabura Province
• Days 10-13: England

  You’re off to a new continent: Europe! Your first stop is England, home of the royal fam, tea, a wonderfully different form of the English language, and the largest city in the European Union: London. It’s here that red busses zip down the left side of the road, Big Ben chimes at tea time and medieval castles accent a futuristic skyline. Brimming with history and unique architecture, you’ll soon understand why it’s one of the most visited cities in the world.

  Highlights:

  • Climb aboard a bus for a guided tour that rolls past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
  • Experience a royal ritual during the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.
  • Get a proper view of London from above on an optional London Eye & Tea excursion.
• Days 14-16: France

  Next up: Paris, France, a city known for world-class art and gastronomical perfection. There’s nothing quite like a warm croissant, except for maybe croque monsieur AKA next-level French grilled cheese. From the major landmarks like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower to the serenity of the River Seine, you’re going to see it all. Study up on high fashion, watch the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and get used to having only one free hand since your other hand will always have a fresh baguette in it. Now you’re ready for France.

  Highlights:

  • Arrive to your accommodation and get settled in the city of love and cheese: Paris.
  • Float down the River Seine during a scenic boat ride that makes its way through the true heart of the city.
  • Watch the world-famous lights of the Eiffel Tower sparkle (every hour, on the hour after sunset).
  • Find peace of mind at Luxembourg Gardens, a tasteful collection of tree-lined promenades, flowerbeds, statues, and the Medici Fountain.
  • Opt in for the optional (and oh-so-elegant) tour of the Palace of Versailles.
• Days 17-18: Switzerland

  You’re off to Switzerland, home to postcard-worthy views everywhere you look. Breathe in fresh lake air with hints of fresh chocolate (it might only be your imagination) as you explore a charming city overlooked by the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. It won’t take long to see why so many people flock to Switzerland—and seemingly never want to leave.

  Highlights:

  • Get introduced to the city with a guided tour from your Tour Director.
  • Stand in wonder before Löwendenkmal, an impressive sculpture of a wounded lion carved into a sheer rock cliff.
  • Stroll across the Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge featuring a series of paintings dating back to the 17th century.
  • Shout from the top of a mountain during an optional excursion up the Swiss Alps.
• Days 19-24: Italy

  It’s everybody’s favorite boot-shaped country, recognized for Renaissance art, people that use outdoor voices all the time, and infinite carbs: Italy! It’s safe to say, whether you’re consuming art or pizza, Italy is a cultural mecca begging to be explored. And even though Italians don’t actually eat spaghetti and meatballs, it doesn’t mean you can’t finally have your Lady and the Tramp moment. Start in Venice, and make your way down through Florence and then Italy’s capital city of Rome, where hustle and bustle is served with a side of ancient ruins.

  Note: There is no included entry to the Duomo during the guided sightseeing of Florence, but you will have free time to return if you so choose.

  Please note: The Roman Catacombs optional excursion will run through July 1st, 2023.

  Highlights:

  • Stand in the footprints of history on the Rialto Bridge, the oldest spanning the Grand Canal.
  • Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as several intricate sculptures.
  • Visit the final resting place of some of the most illustrious Italians such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli at the Basilica di Santa Croce.
  • Stop for a photo outside of Rome’s Colosseum, where gladiators battled to the death in mortal combat, and be glad you live in the 21st century.

  Roman Catacombs & St. Paul's Basilica (extra cost)

  Rome has a bit of a spooky side. Travel deep underground to catacombs built by early Christians. Then, head to St. Paul’s Basilica. Existing since at least 324 AD, they say St. Paul himself is buried there.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Days 25-29: Greece

  Hop over to Athens, Greece, a vibrant metropolis that was once the center of art, politics, and literature. Ancient monuments, feta cheese, and people socializing in the streets make this country stand out from the rest. After experiencing Greece, you’ll know two things for sure: The Mediterranean Sea is bluer than most things (including, but not limited to, Eiffel 65’s hit song from the 90s), and baklava is a dessert sent from the gods. After a few days in Athens, journey out into the Mediterranean to begin your epic Greek island adventure to Santorini. Get ready for beaches by day, and nightlife by—you guessed it—night.

  Highlights:

  • Switch from Italian to Greek as you make your way to Athens, the center of Greek mythology and home to The Acropolis, the remains of an ancient citadel built 2,500 years ago.
  • Update your watch to island time on the ferry to Santorini, famous for its white-washed and blue-domed buildings, volcanic landscapes, and picture-perfect sunsets that you can happily post with #nofilter.
  • Sit back and relax at your beachside hotel. (Seriously, this is all you have to do.)
  • Head back to Athens for one more opportunity to see the sites and put tzatziki on everything.
• Days 30-32: United Arab Emirates AKA Dubai

  You are now entering the Middle East, a region made up of 15-20 (depending on who you ask) countries in North Africa and Southwest Asia. The first cities were born here, religions arose, and humans figured out how to express ideas through abstract characters on clay tablets (also known as writing). Touch down in Dubai, a futuristic desert city that is hard to put into words. Picture pet cheetahs instead of dogs, indoor ski resorts, and the most expensive hotel in the world. It’s incredibly wealthy, outrageously over the top, and expats make up 80% of its population. Prepare your mind, because it’s about to be blown.

  Highlights:

  • Kiss Europe goodbye, and hop on your flight to Dubai, a city plopped in the middle of the desert, that needs to be seen to be appreciated.
  • Help yourself to a geography lesson, brought to you by the World Islands, 300 man-made islands off the coast, placed together to look like a map of the world.
  • Put on your bargaining shoes, and walk through the Dubai souk, a traditional marketplace that sells everything from jewelry to textiles.
  • Look waaaaaay up at Burj Khalifa. It’s the tallest building in the world, and almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building.
  • Count the number of luxury cars you pass, not including the police in Lamborghinis.
  • Hop aboard a Land Rover 4x4 for an adrenaline pumping, desert safari through the sand dunes outside the city, followed by a barbecue dinner and belly dancing performance.
  • Cheers to being half-way through your trip with an included Half-way lunch.
• Days 33-39: Kenya

  New continent alert: welcome to Africa! When it comes to historical significance, Africa takes the cake; human beings literally came into existence here over 6 million years ago. You’ll spend the next seven days in the East African country of Kenya exploring national parks, coming face-to-face with countless wild animals, and simply enjoying the peaceful serenity of the great outdoors.

  Highlights:

  • Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city.
  • Hit the open road towards Amboseli National Park, known for three things: elephants, birds, and jaw-dropping views of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
  • Enjoy two days in the Masai Mara, a huge area of savannah grasslands.
  • Keep your eyes peeled during your game drives for The Big Five (lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinoceroses).
• Days 40-43: Thailand

  Asia, unknown to much of the Western world, is a behemoth of a continent with a couple billion people, beautiful beaches, and thousands of years of rich history—the perfect adventure for the culturally curious. Hopefully you’ve worked up an appetite, because you’re going to the home of delicious spicy noodles: Thailand. But this country is more than thin strips of dough and spices. There are tropical forests, floating markets, and golden Buddhas everywhere. On the way to Bangkok, sit back, relax, and practice some yoga. Try corpse pose, which, is essentially sleeping. Bangkok’s mixture of modern day norms is juxtaposed with traditions of the old world. As night falls, the energy of the busy city streets turns into world-renowned nightlife.

  Highlights:

  • Arrive in City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra's behest (a rough translation of the city’s full name).
  • Board a longtail boat and find out why Bangkok is known as the “Venice of the East.” Hint: it’s not because of gelato.
  • Look up at the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most important religious icon, which happens to be a two-foot-tall jade statue of Buddha.
  • Gawk at the intricately adorned Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok, and then travel by speedboat an hour outside of the city to behold the floating markets.
  • Explore the busy streets of Bangkok as you search for the city’s best noodles.
• Days 44-52: Islands of Thailand

  Yes, you’re still in Thailand, but the islands are as special as they come, which is why they get their own section. After you’ve had your fair share of Southeast Asia’s mainland, it’s time for some island fun. Phuket and Phi Phi Islands in Thailand are your places to lounge in the sun on a white sand beach and snorkel in crystal-clear water among tropical fish. These islands are part tropical paradise, part party central. Which style will you pick? Spoiler: there’s no wrong answer.

  Highlights:

  • Snorkel, sunbathe, or take a walk along the beach in Phuket before picking from a breadth of dinner options and hitting the town.
  • Zoom over to Ang Thong National Marine Park on a speedboat and get ready to hit the beach, snorkel the colorful reefs with exotic fish, and kayak around the islands.
  • Learn about the essential herbs, vegetables, and sauces in Thai cuisine by creating some of the country’s most famous dishes during a cooking class.
  • Enter a real life Planet of the Apes as you pass by a beach with hundreds of monkeys lining the sand and cliffs, hoping you’ll toss them a banana.
  • Lounge at Maya Bay, where Leonardo DiCaprio filmed The Beach.
  • Find a beach bar and watch Islanders test fate as they juggle flaming batons and you question whether you could do that, too. Spoiler: You can’t.

  Phi Phi Island Day Trip (extra cost)

  Spend a day exploring islands known for their tropical waters and limestone cliffs.

• Days 53-56: Australia

  Sydney, Australia's oldest and largest city is the last stop on your adventure around the world. It has an energizing combination of beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture, and nightlife. The moment you step foot in Sydney, you’ll feel the buzzing energy all around you. It’s loud, it’s attractive, and it knows it. And there’s no better way to end your trip than with four days of beaches, delicious food, extravagant nightlife, and—wait for it—koalas.

  Highlights:

  • Check out all that Sydney has to offer on a guided tour from your Tour Director.
  • Learn about Sydney’s most famous hydrated amorphous form of silica (it’s opal, if you couldn’t guess).
  • Enjoy a scenic boat ride out on the picturesque Sydney Harbor.
  • Hit Manly Beach, catch some rays and watch surfers in their natural habitat (like Planet Earth but instead of birds it’s bros).
  • Get out of town for a day hike in the Blue Mountains, where you can balance out the constant endorphin-high of traveling with the peaks and troughs of the Jamison Valley.
  • Come face-to-face with some of Australia’s best wildlife (lookin’ at you koala bears and kangaroos) at the Sydney zoo.

  Farewell Dinner
  Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.

• Day 57: Fly Home

  Goodbye, friends family!
  Let’s face it. After 57 days, you’re practically family. But your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?