Overview
Explorations
Itinerary
Overview (Return to top)
Join an epic journey to peoples and cultures of the past. Come face-to-face with nomads and hill tribes, sorcerers and warriors, village elders and young initiates, artisans and scholars for a rare insider’s view into some of the most fascinating peoples and tribes in the world. Join this 23-day adventure to the remote corners of 10 countries -- Norway, Armenia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, China, Bhutan, Ethiopia, and Mali -- for a unique inquiry into who we are, where we came from, and the paths our early ancestors took to inhabit the earth. As you are whisked from one wondrous destination to the next on our specially-outfitted private jet, travel with a team of world-renown experts and professional staff for the ultimate travel experience.
Traveling by private jet with only 88 passengers is an ideal way to reach these fascinating, remote cultures around the world. We fly on a private jet with VIP-style seating for the ultimate in luxury, convenience, and safety. We set our own schedule, avoid the hassles of commercial travel, and land in smaller airports closer to our destinations.
Follow your passion with a flexible itinerary. Go beyond the main itinerary with your choice of personalized excursions along the way. Whether you want to take a cooking class, visit a school, or hike off the beaten path, we will ensure that your travels are tailored for you.
Priced at $55,950 for double occupancy
Single occupancy supplement: $8,395
Starquest Expeditions
Commercial airfare to and from Copenhagen is not included. For your protection and peace of mind, all payments are secured in a bank escrow account.
For reservations or additional information, contact:
Jan Breitman [jbreitman@alumni.iastate.edu]
Iowa State University Alumni Association
Phone: (515) 294-6526 direct or (877) ISU-ALUM toll-free
Fax: (515) 294-9402
Explorations (Return to top)
• Norwegian Samiland’s Sami People
• Armenia’s Old World Christian Heritage
• Mongolia’s Majestic Steppe & Celebrated Nomads
• China’s Naxi People of Yunnan
• Australia’s Aboriginal Culture & Natural Wonders
• Papua New Guinea’s Melpa & Nebilyer Tribes, Huli Wigmen & Sepik River People
• Cambodia’s Angkor Wat & Other Treasures
• The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
• Ethiopia’s Rock-Hewn Churches & Traditions
• Mali’s Dogon People, Tuareg Nomads & Timbuktu
Itinerary (Return to top)
Days 1-2
USA/Copenhagen, Denmark
Depart your hometown independently on a commercial flight to Copenhagen, Denmark. Meet with your fellow travelers and the expedition staff during a gala welcome dinner at our well-appointed Scandinavian-style hotel.
Accommodations: Hilton Copenhagen Airport
Day 3
Norwegian Samiland
We board our jet and fly to the remote outpost of Karasjok, home of the colorful Sami people and one of the last remaining wilderness areas in Europe. Visit with a Sami family at a reindeer farm, see the local Sami museum, and go to the local parliament and meet with a representative to discuss the political goals of this unique community. Then unwind in a traditional sauna and enjoy a special fire-roasted dinner and Sami joiking performance.
Accommodations: Rica Hotel Karasjok, Samiland
Days 4-5
Yerevan, Etchmiadzin, & Garni, Armenia
With 3,000 years of history, Armenia is a rich enclave of Old World Christian culture. Its stunning medieval churches and religious relics attest to the region’s brilliance in art and architecture. Tour the National Museum in Yerevan, visit the great temple at Garni, and explore Etchmiadzin -- the country’s religious center and a UNESCO World Heritage List site.
Accommodations: Hotel Marriott Armenia, Yerevan
Days 6-7
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Explore the legendary land of Genghis Khan, where the vast expanse of the beautiful steppe and the renown nomadic lifestyle are inextricably intertwined. Venture into the countryside to meet with a family in a traditional ger dwelling. Explore the Gandan Monastery, tour the National Museum of Mongolian History and the Natural History Museum, and enjoy a private Mongolian throat singing performance. If you wish, you may visit the Hustai National Park, for a rare glimpse into the unique Takhi (Mongolian horse) re-introduction project.
Accommodations: Ulaanbaatar Hotel
Days 8-9
Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China
Our private jet whisks us to China’s Yunnan Province, one of the most beautiful and ethnically diverse areas of the world. Explore 1,000-year-old Lijiang, home of the Naxi people, known for their matriarchal social structure, pictographic language, and fine music. Then, in the countryside, visit the Museum of Natural Glaciers and go hiking where the Golden Sand River carves its way along the majestic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Accommodations: Hotel Guanfang, Lijiang
Days 10-11
Port Douglas & Daintree Rain Forest, Australia
Fly to Port Douglas and meet with local Aborigines. Go on a Dreamtime walk with an Aboriginal guide and learn about sacred sites and ancestral traditions. Wander through the exotic fauna at the Botanical Ark and cruise the Daintree River to discover the world’s oldest rainforest (approximately 90 million years older than the Amazon rainforest). Or, you may choose to spend the day at the Great Barrier Reef on a snorkeling or diving excursion.
Accommodations: Sea Temple Resort & Spa, Port Douglas
Days 12-13
Western Highlands or Southern Highlands or Sepik River Basin, Papua New Guinea
Our private jet takes us to Port Moresby, where we board smaller private aircraft to venture into the seldom-visited areas of Papua New Guinea. Spend time with the Melpa and Nebilyer tribes in the Western Highlands, or the Huli wigmen in the Southern Highlands, or the various tribes along the Sepik River.
Accommodations: Rondon Ridge, Ambua Lodge or Karawari Lodge, Papua New Guinea
Days 14-16
Siem Reap & Angkor, Cambodia
Visit the stunningly beautiful Angkor Wat temple complex, the heart of the great Khmer Empire and one of the greatest architectural structures in the world. You may also explore Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and The Bayon temples. If you wish, visit more remote, recently opened temples and ruins, including the rarely visited Citadel of Women (Banteay Srei). Or tour a local school, visit one of the floating markets, or cruise along the Tonle Sap River.
Accommodations: Grand Hotel d’Angkor
Days 17-18
Kingdom of Bhutan
Bhutan -- the last independent kingdom in the Himalayas -- is an incredible treasury of Buddhist culture. Visit the great Paro Dzong, home to a monastic community of 200, and meet with the revered Datong Tulku Rinpoche, believed to be a reincarnation of the famous monk Bami Yeshi Yang. At the National Museum, examine the superb collections of textiles, ancient weapons, and classical thangka paintings. Weather permitting, hearty travelers may take the challenging hike to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
Accommodations: Zhiwa Ling or Uma Paro, Bhutan
Days 19-20
Addis Ababa & Lalibela, Ethiopia
For centuries, Ethiopia has developed its own brand of Christian Orthodox culture, making it unique in Africa, if not the rest of the world. From the capital of Addis Ababa, travel by local aircraft to Lalibela, where the country’s religious traditions are magnificently expressed at the site of 13 medieval churches. Explore these 12th-Century rock-hewn sanctuaries -- a UNESCO World Heritage List site -- and discover exquisite illuminated Bibles, manuscripts, and other treasures inside.
Accommodations: Sheraton Addis
Day 21
Mopti & Timbuktu, Mali
Fly by private jet to Mali, where we will meet with citizens of the Saharan tribes, “sons of the clouds.” In Mopti, enjoy a sunset cruise on the Niger River and meet the local Dogon people, who will treat us to a dazzling masked dance performance. We then continue to Timbuktu, the legendary “last stop on Earth.” Explore the town’s unique mud-brick mosques and ride camels across the dunes with the Tuaregs, also known as the blue men of the desert.
Accommodations: Relais Kanaga, Mopti
Days 22-23
Copenhagen, Denmark/Home
Today we board our private jet and enjoy a festive farewell party on our return trip to Copenhagen, where we will spend the night. After breakfast, transfer to individual commercial flights to your home city, or extend your stay in Denmark (please contact us for more information).
Accommodations: Hilton Copenhagen Airport
