Journeys for 2012

Alaska
Alaskan Odyssey: Girdwood to Kenai Fjords National Park
You’ll see wildlife everywhere—bears to whales to puffins—from the mountains and forests of Girdwood to the coastal wilds of your boat-in wilderness lodge in Kenai Fjords.

New for 2012!
Alaska’s Winter Magic: Northern lights, dog sledding, and skiing
Venture to Alaska in later winter/early spring to chase the northern lights near Fairbanks, drive a dog team out of Seward, and ski and snowshoe at Mt. Alyeska.

Glacier Bay & the Inside Passage: Whales, eagles, and glaciers
After a visit to Haines and an eagle-watching float on the Chilkat River, fly over mountain wilderness to the remarkable Glacier Bay National Park for hiking and whale-watching.

Rocky Mountains
Yellowstone for Fun: Yellowstone National Park, guest ranch, and the Cody rodeo
A full measure of fresh air, fun, and active discovery make this a fantastic family vacation. You’ll hike, walk, raft, zip-line and have plenty of quality time to just have a good time together.

Crown of the Continent: Exploring Glacier and Waterton National Parks
Lace up your hiking boots and enjoy classic Rocky Mountain trails with breathtaking views. The Crown is home to nearly all of North America’s large mammals, so expect great wildlife-watching.

Essence of Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Discovering the high heart of two beloved National Parks
Your naturalist guides know where to find the wildlife, and can help you understand the fantastic features you’ll see as you walk through steaming, bubbling, spouting thermal basins.

Winter Wonders: A wintery adventure in Yellowstone National Park
Experience Yellowstone National Park in the magical snowy season. Wolves, elk, bison, coyotes, and other wildlife are active, and the steamy thermal basins create a surreal landscape.

Wolves, Bears & Wild Things: Wildlife-watching in Yellowstone National Park
Visit Yellowstone in the best seasons to see wildlife, with the best naturalist guides. With the full complement of predator, prey, and scavenger species, there’s always something interesting going on!

Pacific Coast
New for 2012!
Seasons of Yosemite: Tracing time and trails in Yosemite National Park
Discover this national treasure, with its waterfalls, towering cliffs, monumental rock faces, expansive vistas, and impressive, imponderable groves of giant sequoias.

New for 2012!
San Juan Islands Adventure: Hiking, biking, and sea kayaking in Washington’s San Juan Islands
You’ll feel active and laid back at the same time on this really fun island-hopping adventure through the beautiful San Juans. Two nights of deluxe camping will have you seeing stars.

Desert Southwest
Chaco Canyon & Canyon de Chelly: Ancient civilizations of the American Southwest
With your expert historian guide, discover the incredible great houses of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and the amazing cliff dwellings and extensive rock art of Canyon de Chelly in Arizona.

Deep Southwest Sojourn: Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa Verde
Enjoy moderate hikes and exceptional opportunities for exploration in the stunningly scenic national and tribal parklands of southern Utah and Colorado.

Exploring Big Bend: Adventures afoot in Big Bend National Park
Dig deeply into the region’s natural and cultural history with your naturalist guide as you stroll sandy washes, explore dramatic canyons, and watch for neotropical birds.

The Grandest Canyons: Sedona, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Zion
Active adventure is a wonderful way to bring the family together. You’ll hike, raft, explore narrow canyons, take a jeep tour, and divine the night sky with an astronomer.

Zion, Bryce & Escalante: Exploring the canyon parks of Southern Utah
From surreal rock formations to waterfalls and hanging gardens, Utah’s canyon parks are full of surprises. Enjoy unique hiking and some of the Southwest’s most lovely lodges on this trip.

New for 2012!
Grand Canyon, Rim to Rim: An epic hiking adventure in and around the Grand Canyon
Hike down from the North Rim onto the floor of the Grand Canyon for two nights at Phantom Ranch, then hike up to the South Rim. Strenuous, yes; unforgettable, oh yeah.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica, Off the Beaten Path: Adventures on the Pacific Coast and Pacuare River
Join us on an adventure that ranges from wild Pacific beaches to a rushing jungle river in Costa Rica’s interior rainforest. You’ll hike, ride horses, zip-line, and raft the famous Pacuare River.

Ecuador
Ecuador – Andes to Amazon: Colonial Quito, colorful Otavalo, and the jungle wildlife of Yasuni National Park
Experience the rich diversity of Ecuadoran nature and culture on this journey. In the Amazon, you stay in an acclaimed eco-lodge, with spectacular birding and wildlife-watching.

Peru
Positively Peru: Active fun and fascination, Machu Picchu to the Nazca Lines
Pure excitement mixes perfectly with cultural connection on this adventurous journey stretching from the mountains and mystery of Machu Picchu to the coastal desert of the Ica region.

Patagonia
Exploring Patagonia: Dramatic landscapes, warm hospitality, and gaucho culture
Explore Patagonia’s iconic landscapes, from the granite massif FitzRoy, to the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier, to the steppes, where you stay on a historic estancia and ride with gauchos.

Pacific Islands
New for 2012!
Fiji Escape: Waterfalls, coral reefs, and kava
Dive into the real Fiji on this immersive journey. You’ll snorkel brilliant waters, swim in waterfall pools, hike pristine rainforest, and experience the contemporary expression of an ancient culture.

New Zealand
Iconic New Zealand: Whales, wine, mountains, and Maori ways
Loop across the South Island for a fabulous, active excursion that includes whale-watching, wine touring, and a stay at a luxury wilderness lodge on a sheep station in the Southern Alps.

To see a full list of Off the Beaten Path small group adventures by date, click here.