We do a lot of travel on our own, but have also gone on 8 Tauck trips (Japan later this fall will make 9). The China land tour was our favorite Tauck trip. The sites were iconic, but also, it was just so culturally different, and it was an excellent learning experience. We'd put Israel/Jordan as our #2 for similar reasons, especially seeing so many history-shaping sites. And Antarctica would be our #3. Why? It really felt like an adventure. The boisterous seas of the Drake. The seriousness of the gear and clothing. The excitement of first sightings of icebergs. The daily briefings by the expedition leader and naturalists. The need to stay alert during zodiac travel in frigid water and often choppy seas. The challenge of the hikes on snow trails--especially the longer, optional treks. Continuous jaw dropping views--really the most magnificent nature views we have ever seen. And finally, very close encounters with penguins, seals, orca, and especially humpback whales. Humpbacks were feeding within 20 feet of our little zodiac on two different occasions, and late one night (it never got dark) when the ship was moored in a large bay we bundled up and sat on the forward deck with binoculars watching, and listening (love their sounds) to many humpbacks feeding in the calm waters all around us. Unforgettable...
Also, we are not cruise people, so the Ponant ship experience was all new to us (in a good way). Half the passengers were non-Tauck Europeans, and it was fun to mingle with them (they drank more and dressed way better than most of us at the dinners!). We also enjoyed exploring Buenos Aires and gaining a first hand perspective on the political and economic turmoil going on in Argentina. I think the biggest gulp about doing an expensive trip like this is unpredictable weather. We lucked out with mostly excellent weather, and only moderately rough Drake passages.
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We do a lot of travel on our own, but have also gone on 8 Tauck trips (Japan later this fall will make 9). The China land tour was our favorite Tauck trip. The sites were iconic, but also, it was just so culturally different, and it was an excellent learning experience. We'd put Israel/Jordan as our #2 for similar reasons, especially seeing so many history-shaping sites. And Antarctica would be our #3. Why? It really felt like an adventure. The boisterous seas of the Drake. The seriousness of the gear and clothing. The excitement of first sightings of icebergs. The daily briefings by the expedition leader and naturalists. The need to stay alert during zodiac travel in frigid water and often choppy seas. The challenge of the hikes on snow trails--especially the longer, optional treks. Continuous jaw dropping views--really the most magnificent nature views we have ever seen. And finally, very close encounters with penguins, seals, orca, and especially humpback whales. Humpbacks were feeding within 20 feet of our little zodiac on two different occasions, and late one night (it never got dark) when the ship was moored in a large bay we bundled up and sat on the forward deck with binoculars watching, and listening (love their sounds) to many humpbacks feeding in the calm waters all around us. Unforgettable...
Also, we are not cruise people, so the Ponant ship experience was all new to us (in a good way). Half the passengers were non-Tauck Europeans, and it was fun to mingle with them (they drank more and dressed way better than most of us at the dinners!). We also enjoyed exploring Buenos Aires and gaining a first hand perspective on the political and economic turmoil going on in Argentina. I think the biggest gulp about doing an expensive trip like this is unpredictable weather. We lucked out with mostly excellent weather, and only moderately rough Drake passages.