Europe: National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a...

Europe: National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a Lifetime for 2014 Tours & Trips

9 Europe: National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a Lifetime for 2014 trips. Tours from 10 tour companies. 0 reviews.

9 Trips match your criteria (1 - 9 shown)

Green Charms of Slovenia
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Ljubljana

Highlights

  • Trekking in the Logar Valley
  • Visit of Bled Castle, Bee Family and Pletna Boat Ride
  • Bovec and Soca Valley with Rafting
  • Visit of Postojna Caves
  • Bike Tour

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Kensington Tours is a vendor with nasty, pushy old school sales tactics and sketchy opaque pricing to get you fleeced in my opinion, read on ! Kensington Tours pre-charged my Amex Centurian card a staggering $85,985.00. for 6 nights without international airfares in one cost-opaque invoice. This consisted of a simple assembly of 9 hotel room nights in 3 locations, 6 in-country economy flights, 3 airport pickup/drop offs, a 2 day 'tour' and a 1-day expedition on a small boat. It was so bad we declined the 2nd tour day and boat trip. The full retail cost of the trip, which would include profits to Kensington Tours, is estimated at $30,140.47 versus their invoice of $ 85,985.00. That is a staggering overcharge of $54,859.43. see details below. The experience should have been amazing for this amount of money, but the cost was so egregious for the average to low quality of the tours, flights, boat, and cheap or kerb-side restaurants and food establishments I decided to assemble the full retail price for these activities by speaking directly with all the major vendors. These are mostly time-specific cost comparisons on the days we were there. Both hotel general managers informed me the costs were about the same as on the previous days for the day extensions they quoted. i.e. peak season pricing. The full retail costs I've assembled would include any tour outfits profits on the hotel, airfare and lunch as they buy wholesale. It should be a close season-specific estimate. This was verified by a call from Kensington Tours Director of Asia sales who confirmed she couldn't reveal room prices because they have contracts with the hotels for discounts over retail. Kensington Tours provided near zero value, I also didn't get the typical additional hotel $ benefits, comped amenities and prestige of direct Centurion bookings, instead the reservations showed as a lowly Kensington Tours operator booking. Kensington Tours unilaterally declares their sales brochure is a de facto contract agreement without either attaching the contract doc to my knowledge or getting a counter signature, i.e. it's not a contract and would never hold up. They attempt to hide behind 'private discount contracts' with hotels and insinuated to me costs were 3x reality The comped me back $30,000.00 because I have some leverage, it should have been $55,000.00. I'm still considering whether to file a quick suit, they'll eat at least the balance defending against me in attorney fees. I'll see if I can be bothered to do that. I probably will, to let others know to be careful and not use an outfit like this. Hopefully save folks their hard earned money. My bottom line, Kensington Tours is a disgrace run the other way. Paolo T Here are the cost details: #1 HOTEL : CHANG MAI : FOUR SEASONS 3 BEDROOM VILLA RATE: THB 179,250 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT X 2 (2 NIGHT STAY) COST USD: $10,262.06 COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL #2 HOTEL : KRABI : PHULAY BAY ROOM 1 VILLA RATE: THB 63,000 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x3 COST USD: $5,409.18 COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL ROOM 2 VILLA RATE: THB 78,500 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x3 COST USD: $6,741.18 COMMENTS: PRICE FROM HOTEL #3 BOAT : PRIVATE SPEEDBOAT FULL DAY RATE: THB 36,251 FOR 3 PERSONS INCLUSIVE 17% COST USD: $1,034.93 COMMENTS: TRIP DECLINED. PRICE FROM BOAT VENDOR #4 THAILAND IN COUNTRY FLIGHTS BANGKOK AIRPORT TO CHIANG MAI RATE: $211.40 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $634.20 + TAX COST USD: $634.20 PRICE FROM CARRIER CHANG MAI TO KRABI RATE: $256.00 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $768.00 + TAX COST USD: $756.00 PRICE FROM CARRIER KRABI TO BANGKOK AIRPORT RATE: $195.80 USD PER TICKET ECONOMY x3 $587.40 + TAX COST USD: $587.40 PRICE FROM CARRIER #5 KENSINGTON TOURS : ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL SERVICES ROUND TRIP TRANSPORT FROM AIRPORT TO HOTELS ESTIMATED COST PER TRIP: $150 x6 ($900) INEXPENSIVE TRIPS + LUNCH ESTIMATED COST PER TRIP $500 x2 ($1,000) NO PRIVATE TOURS #6 MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL BANGKOK DELUXE 2 BEDROOM SUITE RATE: THB 98,600 + 18.7% TAX & SERVICE CHARGE PER NIGHT x1 COST USD: $2,815.52 (ONLINE ESTIMATE) TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $30,140.47 KENSINGTON ESTIMATED COST 80% $24,112.37 KENSINGTON COST PROFIT 20% $6,028.09 KENSINGTON TOURS AMOUNT CHARGED TO CUSTOMER: $85,000.00 COST DIFFERENCE: $54,859.43"

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Sweden: Dogsledding to the Ice Hotel
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Drive your own team of Alaskan huskies on a sledding expedition through the Lapland wilderness.
  • Relax in cozy cabins ideally situated for viewing one of nature’s most dazzling displays: the aurora borealis, or northern lights.
  • Spend time with Sami herders and try your hand at driving a traditional reindeer sled.
  • Stay at the famed Icehotel, with the option of sleeping in one of its sculpted ice rooms.

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

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Turkish Delights
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4.8/5 Excellent
11 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Marvel at Istanbul’s finest historic sites, including the Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar
  • Feast like a sultan at Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace and enjoy fresh seafood beside the Bosphorus Strait
  • Join the harvest celebration during the Festival of Wild Greens in Alaçati (April departure only)
  • Revel in the bounty of farmers markets and fish auctions
  • Sample wines at an organic vineyard and witness the Slow City movement at Seferihisar
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Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"My dream vacation had always been to go to Italy for a couple of weeks with my wife. I am Italian and yet even at my age I had never been. This past October we finally arrived in Tuscany. Let me say it was incredible in every way. We were fortunate to be acquainted with Kathy Dragon who founded and directs Whole Journeys, and independent travel company. After speaking extensively with her we decided to let her organize our entire trip including lodging, the food, wine, olive oil and don’t forget the chocolate. The only effort I made was to decide airline and pay the fare. My wife and I decided to spend a few nights in 3 locations in Tuscany. We really wanted to savor our time there and not be rushed around or be part of a group. First a few nights in a exquisite small village and then on to Siena and finally Florence. Whole Journeys organized private tours of two beautiful wineries and an olive oil farm; and we were treated to delicious authentic meals prepared by the owners and their families. We went to see one of the most recognized chocolatiers in Italy and saw chocolate made the old way and followed that to a famous terra cotta factory. For me it was like being home, so comfortable and engaging. Kathy is very connected and has an extensive network of people who love to guide and host her clients. Our lodging accommodations were very nice, clean and totally affordable. I have been in the hospitality business for over 20 years and have owned and operated luxury resorts and hotels, and it is this professional experience that leads me to say… I could not be more impressed with Whole Journeys and Kathy’s ability to organize and execute the many things that made this trip memorable."

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Wilderness Walking: The Outer Hebrides and Skye
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Eilean Donan Castle, Scottish Highlands

Highlights

  • Visit one of the most diverse and spectacular regions of Europe, indulging in the wild scenery and rich history of the islands
  • Experience the rich ornithology of Lewis, spy red deer and golden eagles on Harris, and seek out otters on Skye
  • Enjoy exceptional Highland hospitality at our carefully selected guest houses, set in magnificent locations on the coast

Themes

High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Super three days and good fun with our guide. Also, a learning experience."

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Transylvania Traverse
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5/5 Excellent
40 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Extreme
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Bucharest, Transylvania

Highlights

  • Bike, hike and ride a horse through remote villages and rugged countryside full of haystacks, horse-drawn wagons and grazing dairy cattle.
  • Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the walled city of Sighişoara and the Transylvanian villages with fortified churches.
  • Meet and interact with locals who still make their living as beekeepers, blacksmiths, carpenters, shepherds and weavers.

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"Awesome trip, the guides were amazing, and overall trip was well worth the money."

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Human Origins: Southwest France and Northern Spain
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Basque Country, Santillana del Mar, Vézère Valley

Highlights

  • Examine the Paleolithic art of two UNESCO World Heritage–listed cave regions: France’s Vézère Valley and the northern coast of Spain.
  • Meet leading archaeologists and anthropologists for talks and private tours of cave sites.
  • Visit Castel-Merle with Isabelle Castanet, whose family has excavated the site for generations.
  • Explore Sarlat, France, and Santillana del Mar, Spain, two of Europe's best-preserved medieval villages.

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

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A Chronicle of Russian Cuisine and Culture
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5/5 Excellent
23 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Armory Museum, Cristall Vodka Museum, Moscow, St. Petersburg

Highlights

  • Master cooking class at Taste of Russia cooking school
  • Cook’s tour of Moscow, a treasure-hunt for culinary highlights
  • Private tour and tasting of Russia’s best at the Cristall Vodka Museum
  • Moscow’s 850-year-old Kremlin and Red Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Exploration of the Armory Museum, housing Russia’s national treasures
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Themes

Cultural, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"Thank you for all your help. MIR has been unbelievably helpful, reliable and good value for the money. Your personal help has been invaluable as well. If anyone ever asks me which agency I used to go to Central Asia I will refer them to you"

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Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees
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4.6/5 Excellent
9 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

French Pyrenees

Highlights

  • Survey and observe birds. You'll check nest boxes set up by the researchers throughout the mountains, and learn to identify birds by their songs.
  • Track biodiversity. On your long-hike days, you will take note of all the plants and animals you see and monitor camera traps set up by the researchers.
  • Monitor small mammals. Keep an eye on the health of vole, mouse, and shrew populations by capturing them, collects measurements, and safely releasing them.
  • Survey bats. On some evenings, you will walk paths and count all the bats you see or detect with special sensors.
  • Assess vegetation. In preset research plots, you will measure trees and record the timing of natural events like fruiting and flowering.

Themes

Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I went on my first Earthwatch expedition in 2012. It was a great experience but clearly showed that safety was not a top priority of the organization and it was extremely expensive. They will tell you this money goes to the scientists and to the lodging but that was a minuscule amount. Having actually talked to the scientists I saw most of the money did not get to them. It’s for overhead and lining the pockets of the executives. Years later I received a trip as a graduation present. This happened to be shortly before the pandemic shut down. Conveniently they waited until the day after the payment deadline to shut down the trips. Now by their own words they did it out of an abundance of caution which is them choosing to shut down trips that could have otherwise progressed but even so they would not refund the 5k that had been given to them less than 24 hours earlier. An organization with integrity would look at this unprecedented event and give that money back but like I said money over everything and so even though they clearly had been in talks of shutting down and waited until the money was in their hands to do so they saw nothing wrong with keeping it and not providing the trip. This is predatory behavior. The research was not being done and the trip was not being taken so they saw 100% of that money going into their pockets and did not care about anything else. In a time that caused extreme financial hardship they chose greed. If they hadn’t done this I probably would have taken another trip with them but this experience caused me to look deeper and see they actually had a long history of choosing money over the well being of their participants in a lot of different ways. I absolutely encourage you not to use this company and not to give them money. Even if the trip progresses as planned they will choose money over you every single time which could at best diminish your experience and at worst put you in a dangerous situation. I cannot stress enough how much they do not care about you as a human being only as a cash machine."

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Best Europe: National Geographic Traveler’s Tours of a Lifetime for 2014 Tours by Duration

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