Give the Gift of Travel through JOURNEYS International

Give a gift of adventure, experience and discovery.

Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) November 30, 2008 -- There are gifts which gain meaning with time. There are gifts that counter our tendencies to accumulate stuff in favor of our yearnings to accumulate understandings, to stretch the boundaries of our lives.

"You can, metaphorically, gift wrap the tip of the iceberg," chuckles Joan Weber, Director with husband Will of the award-winning Ann Arbor-based eco-company JOURNEYS INTERNATIONAL (http://www.journeys.travel/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel), "or the green of the rain forest, or the beat of tribal drums, when you launch a journey for or with loved ones."

Literally, JOURNEYS INTERNATIONAL will gift wrap their 76-page color catalog - a jaw-dropping piece with four hundred photos from adventures on seven continents - while gift-givers decide on the size and specificity of the present. Some pay a deposit on a particular trip, some buy a complete package, some purchase a modest, open-ended, gift certificate.

JOURNEYS is unique among global adventure operators in their capacity to customize, and the staff take pleasure in designing trips for milestone birthdays, graduations and anniversaries. "This holiday period more than ever," notes JOURNEYS INTERNATIONAL Director of Marketing Kirsten Kulik, "our clients are taking special pleasure in giving such a joy-filled promise."

Below are JOURNEYS INTERNATIONAL'S top travel gift choices for 2009.

Top Travel Gifts for 2009

Galapagos Aboard the Eric, Flamingo & Letty (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/americas/galapagos/555/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

Encounter some of the most spectacular wildlife in the world on the Galapagos Islands. Las Islas Encantadas, the Enchanted Isles, have excited the interest of scientists and nature travelers for centuries. This barren, volcanic archipelago is habitat for some of the world's most unusual animals and plants. Most of the resident birds and reptiles are found nowhere else in the world.

Our choices of naturalist-guided, first class and luxury yacht Galapagos tours offer plenty of time on the islands, fast travel between islands and access to landing sites open only to small ships. Our programs feature great food and comfortable cabins, but the real emphasis is spending the most time possible exploring the scenic and wildlife diversity of the Islands with a certified naturalist. We find that most people with natural history interest who are planning a once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos trip will prefer these smaller yachts and a more personal experience.

Exotic India (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/asia/india/512/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

Let India enchant you. Experience the antiquity and diversity of her culture, the hospitality of her people, and the riches of her landscape. Lose yourself in the colors and chaos of Indian bazaars. You will be dazzled by the marvels of Indian architecture, temples built to honor the gods of this fabled country's many religions. Bombay is your gateway on this journey. From there, you will fly to Rajasthan, the Land of the Kings. Travel next to Agra and the glorious Taj Mahal, followed by Varanasi, where you will see the holy Ganges. Your journey ends in Delhi.

Tanzania Culture & Wildlife (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/africa/tanzania/594/)

Embark on a 4x4 guided safari to view and photograph East Africa's greatest wildlife concentrations and meet some of Tanzania's fantastic people. Enjoy daily game drive safaris through the famous Serengeti, as well as Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater. Hike with Masai tribes people and spend a day with hunter -gatherer Hadzabee people. Your nights are in very comfortable lodges and eco-camps. Your guides are experts at animal spotting and identification.

Greece Odyssey (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/europe/greece/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

Explore Greece, a land where pure blue skies and sparkling waters provide the backdrop for breathtaking scenery. Take a walk through olive trees, explore rocky formations and lose yourself among ancient ruins. Learn about the country's rich history, inextricably intertwined with a rich tradition of mythology, as you visit Delos and Delphi. See remnants of modern man's first societies at the Acropolis in Athens. Travel through the past, and through paradise, with JOURNEYS.

Indochina Grand Adventure (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/asia/cambodia/751/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

This amazing, superbly guided four-country journey will give you remarkable insight into one of southeast Asia's most vibrant and colorful regions. At your first stop in Bangkok, you'll visit the Grand Palace before flying north to Chiang Rai and crossing into Laos, where you'll stop in the best preserved city in southeast Asia - Luang Prabang. After a sojourn in the sleepy capital of Vientiane, a short flight to Siem Reap takes you to the magnificent Angkor temple complexes before leaving to explore Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh. Vietnam's steamy southern city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels await you next. After making stops at French-inspired Dalat, the beaches of Nha Trang, historic Hoi An, and the former Vietnamese capital of Hue, you'll complete your all-encompassing Indochina tour by discovering the charms of Hanoi, Vietnam's graceful capital. By the end of your grand adventure, you'll have an exceptional understanding of the Indochina region and memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

You Better Belize It: A Family Adventure (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/americas/belize/718/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

When families join JOURNEYS guide-extraordinaire Luis Godoy for this nine-day trip packed with activity, adventure and surprise in magnificent Belize, participants of all ages are always thoroughly delighted. Not only does Luis have complete comfort in the rain forest, encyclopedic knowledge of the orchids and tropical birds and reptiles, and total command of Mayan lore, but he communicates these with an energy, passion and joy rarely matched by guides anywhere. He makes everything fun.

Jambo, Tanzania! Family Safari (http://www.journeys.travel/destinations/africa/tanzania/609/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel)

This is our top choice for a Summer family safari! Join a true big game safari and see it all - lions, rhinos, zebras, hyenas, hippos, baboons and more. Following the great seasonal migration of zebra, wildebeest and other animals may be the most spectacular wildlife experience on earth. This safari especially planned for families is timed, plotted, outfitted and guided to enhance your experience of the migration in every way possible. At this time of year the greatest concentration of wildlife is on the Serengeti Plains of northern Tanzania. You will travel in Land Rovers especially equipped for safety, comfort, photography, and off-road access. Stay in safari camps and lodges in the Serengeti near the seasonal location of the concentrated migrants. In addition to seeing great numbers of animals, you will spend time in a tribal village with local families. All generations of families welcome!

About JOURNEYS International:

JOURNEYS Internationa (http://www.journeys.travel/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=gift_of_travel) of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was recently chosen by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of Ten "Best Outfitters on Earth." JOURNEYS International has specialized in ecotourism since 1978. They offer the best nature tours, safaris, treks, adventure travel, family and cultural trips on earth. Whether it is called an eco vacation, adventure travel, ecotravel, ecotour, sustainable travel or responsible travel, for nearly 30 years they have been creating ecologically sensitive and culturally responsible travel to exotic destinations around the world. Specialty ecotrips include women's tours, Kilimanjaro climbs, exploration cruises, festival trips, student group trips and cross cultural and wildlife safaris. For more information about this trip or other JOURNEYS trips visit www.journeys.travel or contact JOURNEYS at 800-255-8735.

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