2023 Tours

Lord Howe Island and the Snowy Mountains

12 day tour | Feb 17 – Feb 28 (approx) 2023

With Australians restricted to travel within their own country and now the arrival of the Trans-Tasman bubble Lord Howe Island is already almost totally booked up for the next year. I expressed interest very early so have been very fortunate to have been able to reschedule my tour to February 2022. With limited flights to and from this island and limited accommodation there, my tour offers a rare chance to get to Lord Howe for the foreseeable future!

We’re going to have five nights on this island, all of which is a Unesco-listed site with a visitor cap of 400 people. Lord Howe has been described by Sir David Attenborough as “so extraordinary, it’s almost unbelievable”.

The island’s combination of spectacular volcanic geography, rare endemic species, the world’s most southernmost coral reef, a huge lagoon and an amazing mix of marine life sustained by a mix of warm tropical and cool temperature ocean currents, is unique.. It has more species diversity than the Galapagos and is truly an island ark with unique flora and fauna. Feral cats, goats, pigs and even rats were completely eradicated by 2019 and even introduced weeds have nearly been wiped out.

To add to the highlights of this tour and to make the journey across the Tasman extra worthwhile, the last five days of our tour are going to be a complete contrast as we head back to the Australian mainland up into Snowy Mountains, and ending our tour in the nation’s capital Canberra, which often gets missed off New Zealanders’ Aussie itineraries!

Cherry Blossom Time in Japan

April, 2023

We have had a lot of inquiries about Japan and what better way to launch a tour than in spring – cherry blossom time (Hanami). The Japanese have revered cherry blossom for centuries and Hanami is the time for parties and picnics under these beautiful trees. We will get to experience this but also to enjoy the delights of other Japanese gardens, such as the Kyoto bamboo forest. We’ll also spend time in quirky, dynamic Tokyo, see Mt Fuji, take a ride on the world-famous bullet train, enjoy the tranquillity of Zen temples, visit Hiroshima, try Japan’s delicious cuisine and stay in a traditional Japanese guesthouse or ryokan.

This will be a two-week (approx.) tour – ideal for those wanting a shorter holiday.

Cruising the Croatian Coast aboard Luna

Mid May, 2023

I’m offering this tour again partly due to inquiries from travellers who have already experienced this idyllic cruise or people who have simply heard how great it is! This holiday starts in Croatia’s capital Zagreb and ends in in the wondrous walled town of Dubrovnik. But, in between we spend two weeks aboard the motor cruiser Luna with her onboard chef and open bar. The Luna has only seven cabins available so it is an exclusive JWT- only cruise. During our two weeks we will explore many Adriatic islands, including Hvar, Korcula, Brac, Lastovo and Vis. A day trip to neighbouring country Montenegro is also included.

Walking the Pilgrim Paths of Ireland

June, 2023

This two-week small group tour scheduled for early June features leisurely day walks along some of Ireland’s historic pilgrim paths in Wicklow, Kerry and Donegal, plus walks on one of the Aran Islands, Inishbofin, and a boat trip out to one of my top five places on the planet, Great Skellig Island. This being Ireland I’ve definitely included some classic Irish pubs with great entertainment and we’ll be accompanied by my very knowledgeable and highly entertaining local guide, Frank.

Ecuador and Galapagos

July, 2023

Run in conjunction with Xavier Munoz, who many of you have travelled with in Brazil and Colombia, this tour will include cultural and wildlife highlights in Ecuador, including Quito, Cuenca, Cotopaxi volcano and cloud forests plus five nights in the Galapagos where we will be based on land (rather than on a cruise ship) with daily boat trips. This is a more economic option, thus opening up the amazing Galapagos Islands to more of my travellers) There will also be the option for a Ecuadorian Amazon jungle extension.

Spain and Portugal with Jill and Zlatko

September, 2023

This tour will feature some of the best sights and experiences in both Spain and Portugal, including the Andalusian cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba, the capital Madrid and Barcelona and then into Portugal to the beautiful capital of Lisbon and the northern city of Porto. The tour will feature great accommodation, excellent food and wine and quality local guides.

Egypt and Jordan

November, 2023

I’ve run numerous tours to Jordan and am delighted to be going back there. In Jordan we’ll visit the Roman ruins of Jerash, have the chance of a dip in both the Red and Dead seas, stay overnight in the legendary desert scenery of Wadi Rum and spend time in wonderful Petra where I have many friends, including our Jordanian guide, Harbi. Then it’s on to Egypt and the spectacular new Grand Egyptian Museum (and the nearby pyramids and Sphinx) along with a cruise on the River Nile including Aswan and Luxor (and optional extension to Abu Simbel).