Around the World Tour

After meeting your driver and guide at London Heathrow airport, we’ll take a panoramic tour of London’s famed landmarks, architecture, and historic sites. Our nonstop procession of “must-sees” includes the Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth’s Tower (Big Ben), Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column, Marble March and more. After hotel check-in and a short rest, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. D Doubletree by Hilton Islington (or similar)

*Nov. 4, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, and Mar. 2 Departures will visit Windsor castle upon arrival in London. After an independent lunch in Windsor, we will continue to London to start the panoramic tour as a group en route to the hotel.

Today is a free day to sample the delights of London on your own. Make sure you use your included round-trip River Thames Cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier. This stretch between Tower Bridge and Westminster Abbey is one of the most recognizable in the world. You’ll pass under eight bridges and see sights, like the Tower of London, London Eye and the Shard, from a fresh perspective. B Doubletree by Hilton Islington (or similar)

*Nov. 4, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, and Mar. 2 Departures will complete the rest of their panoramic tour this morning with the remainder of the day at leisure.

On our way to a midday flight, we’ll drop by Windsor Castle, which most recently captured the world’s imagination as the venue for the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. We’ll admire the palatial home of over 40 monarchs before catching our flight to Egypt. At the airport we’ll be met by a representative who will assist us with customs and formalities before transferring to our hotel. B Cairo Marriot Hotel (or similar)

*Nov. 4, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, Mar. 2 Departures will depart the hotel this morning for their flight to Cairo (Windsor Castle was already visited on arrival in London).

Today we explore the splendors of Egypt on a half-day tour that takes us to the wondrous Great Pyramid and the Sphinx of Giza, which famously combines a reclining lion with the head of an Egyptian king. We’ll gain insights into the magnitude of their creation before seeing another example of Egyptian construction at the Solar Barge Museum. Ancient Egyptians buried a “solar barge” near the pharaoh’s tomb to help transport the ruler into the afterlife. See the meticulously restored and assembled barge at this glass-enclosed museum. After lunching like the Egyptians do at a local restaurant, you’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure. B/L Cairo Marriot Hotel (or similar)

Welcome to Thailand, the “Land of Smiles.” After a morning arrival, we’ll be met at the airport by our Thai tour guide and escorted to our hotel for breakfast. Once refreshed, we’ll embark on a morning orientation tour of Bangkok, where we’ll catch a peek of famed temples and shrines as we drive around Rattanakosin Island, a historic district flanked by the Chao Phraya River. We’ll be energized by a stop at Bangkok’s vibrant Chinatown and Flower Market. There’s time to stroll about the fruit and flower stands before returning to the hotel. The balance of the day is at your leisure. B Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok (or similar)

After breakfast, we’ll tour some of Bangkok’s most impressive Buddhist temples. Marvel at the five-ton solid gold statue of Buddha at Wat Trimitr and the colossal 150-foot-long reclining Buddha at Wat Po. We’ll also stop at the White Marble Temple, one of the finest examples of Thai architecture. Spend the afternoon at your leisure or hop aboard an optional canal boat ride across the river for a glimpse of daily Thai life. (See Optional Tours for details.) In the evening, join your fellow Around the World travelers for dinner. B/D Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok (or similar)

A full day of sightseeing in beautiful Bali awaits! Our itinerary starts with a performance of the Barong and Keris Dance, a traditional Balinese dance narrating the fight between good and evil. We’ll continue to Taman Ayun Temple, which translates as “beautiful garden.” This landmark features traditional architecture and, of course, gardens with lotus and fish ponds. Our next stop is the Pura Tanah Lot, the Sea Temple, perched precariously on a rocky outcrop and a stunning (and popular) photo op. After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll explore Goa Gajah (aka Elephant Cave), a man-made grotto of archaeological and religious significance. We’ll descend into the courtyard to view carvings of mythical creatures, fountains, bathing pools and meditation areas. The evening is at your leisure. B/L Ubud Village Hotel at Monkey Forest or ARMA Museum & Resort (or similar)

Now that we’re more than halfway through our trip around the world, it’s time to stop and smell the flowers…and herbs! We’ll visit the Jamu Organic Remedy Workshop, learning about Indonesian traditional medicine (known as “Jamu”) while taking a nature walk with a local farmer, who will help you select herbs to make your own organic body mask, oil and scrub. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll view traditional and modern Balinese artwork at the Museum Puri Lukisa and visit Ubud Palace, where the royal family still lives. We’ll have time to wander the grounds and see traditional buildings embellished with stone carvings, including work by Bali’s most well-known artist, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. B/L Ubud Village Hotel at Monkey Forest or ARMA Museum & Resort (or similar)

Ah, spectacular Sydney! After meeting our local guide, we’ll take off for an introductory city tour. We’ll see the famous Bondi Beach and stroll along its promenade, as well as see some of the city’s neighborhoods like the exclusive eastern suburbs, historic Paddington and The Rocks, which offers a glimpse into Sydney’s past. We’ll stop at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, hand-carved out of rock by convicts in 1810, for spectacular photo ops of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the celebrated Opera House. Like what you see? We’ll have the chance to experience the harbor firsthand on a lunch cruise featuring a seafood buffet. After you check-in to your hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure. L PARKROYAL Darling Harbour (or similar)

We’ll see (and taste!) nature at its peak beauty as we venture into Fiji’s heartland, through the beautiful Sabeto Valley, to the lush Garden of the Sleeping Giant, home to more than 2,000 different kinds of orchids. We’ll continue to Viseisei Village, the oldest settlement in Fiji, and Vuda Point, to view handicraft displays and marvel at the panoramic vistas of mountains, Nadi Bay and the Yasawa Islands. Before returning to our resort, we’ll refresh ourselves with a tropical fruit-juice drink and seasonal fruit from orchids while relaxing in a traditional Fijian bure (wood-and-straw hut). The evening is at your leisure. B DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Fiji (or similar)