Thomson Family Adventures presents:
Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands & Andean Highlands:
A Photographic and Natural History Exploration
180 years ago this December, Charles Darwin set
sail on the HMS Beagle for the journey that would
ultimately change the course of biology and natural
history. Follow in his footsteps with your family
on this very special expedition, where you and your
children will experience the rich culture and history
of the Andes and the amazing natural history of the
Galapagos. You will be led by renowned primatologist
and Harvard professor Richard Wrangham and celebrated
photographer Stewart Halperin, two longtime friends
who launched their careers together in East Africa
nearly forty years ago. Improve your photographic
skills and learn more about animal behavior than
you could ever imagine.
Venturing 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador, your
journey begins in the enchanted Galapagos Islands,
where you will board ship for a seven- day, six-night
nature cruise. Teeming with wildlife, including blue-footed
boobies, flightless cormorants, giant tortoises,
and the only penguin species north of the Equator,
the Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s
great treasures, protected both as a wildlife sanctuary
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Disembark on a
different island each day to explore, hike, swim,
snorkel, and view the remarkable wildlife.
Return to the mainland and fly south into the Andean
Highlands, to the area near the charming colonial
town of Cuenca, where there will be plenty of time
to soak in the breathtaking natural beauty. Once
dotted with Inca villages, there are several opportunities
to explore these centuries old stone buildings, and
learn about a way of life long gone. Visit a local
market as well as a small artisan village, encountering
the area’s still-vibrant ancient culture and
shopping for crafts in colorful markets. Also included
is the opportunity for interested children to write
to a pen pal ahead of time, and then meet his or
her new friend while in Ecuador.
June 15-26, 2012
Friday, June 15: Depart U.S. / Arrive Guayaquil,
Ecuador Upon arrival, you are met and transferred
to your hotel. You will be greeted and welcomed by
Richard and Stewart, then catch up on sleep after
your long journey! Hilton Colon
Saturday, June 16: Galapagos Islands
Our seagoing home is the M/V Galapagos Explorer II,
a 293-foot, first-class ocean- going cruise ship
that carries 100 passengers. Comfortable cabins
feature air-conditioning, private bathrooms and
a small sitting area. Experienced naturalists will
lead shore expeditions to seek out wildlife. When
not exploring, enjoy the ship’s Jacuzzi,
solarium and reading room without experiencing
the motion of a smaller vessel. After checking
in to your cabin and an orientation, venture out
for your first island visit, to Sullivan Bay on
Santiago Island.
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
Sunday, June 17 – Thursday,
June 21: Galapagos
Islands
Spend these five days exploring the remarkable
varying landscapes of the Gala- pagos Islands and
enjoying close-up encounters with the islands’ abundance
of wildlife. A typical day has two shore excursions
as well as one or two opportunities for snorkeling.
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
Friday, June 22: Galapagos Islands / Cuenca / Andean
Highlands
Fly from the Galapagos to Guayaquil. Time
permitting, enjoy lunch in Guayaquil and a short
city tour, and then fly to Cuenca. Arrive at the
comfortable Hosteria Uzhupud later this afternoon,
our home for the next three nights located just outside
of Cuenca. There is time for swimming in the pool
or just relaxing before dinner. Hosteria Uzhupud
Saturday, June 23: Andean Highlands
Take a short drive to the village of Cojitambo, where
you can explore one of the largest sites of Canari
and Inca ruins. There are wonderful opportunities
for walking and hiking here. After a picnic lunch,
head to the rose plantation ALTA FLOR. Here you
can observe the different varieties of roses being
produced, and learn about the cultivation procedures,
the harvesting, and the system of transportation
to take the stems from the plantation to the packing
room for quality control and stem size selection.
Return to Uzhupud for a cooking lesson, where you
can learn about traditional local cuisine. Kids can
opt to make pizza!
Hosteria Uzhupud
Sunday, June 24: Andean Highlands
Today head to the forest of Aguarongo and enjoy an
easy hike through a misty mountain forest. This
forest is one of the few remaining Andean forests
in the Azuay province in the southern Andes of
Ecuador. The walk doesn’t include big changes
in altitude, making it the perfect way to experience
the plants and birds of this magical place.
Continue on to the remote countryside village of
San Bartolomè, reaching our highest point
at over 10,000 feet before descending to town. Here
woman wear traditional dresses and panama hats, and
you can get a taste of life in a Highlands village
as well as view the wares for sale by these artisans.
Returning later to the hotel, there is time for
swimming and games before dinner.
Hosteria Uzhupud
Monday, June 25: Andean Highlands / Cuenca / Guayaquil
After breakfast, drive to the beautiful colonial
city of Cuenca. Here you can visit a ceramic workshop
to learn how traditional ceramics are made. Then
walk the cobblestone streets of this beautiful city.
Be ready with your bartering skills at the Market
10 Agosto where you can buy everything from native-made
trinkets to herbal cures for whatever ails you! Walk
and visit San Francisco market, Flower
Plaza and the New Cathedral.
After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Inca
ruins at Pumapungo, where kids can find a treasure
with map and clues! Later catch a flight back to
Guayaquil, where you can enjoy a farewell dinner
with your fellow travelers and guide.
Hosteria Uzhupud
Tuesday, June 26: Depart Guayaquil / Arrive U.S


October 12-13, 2011: Depart US / Amsterdam
/ Arrive Tanzania
Venture to Tanzania via Amsterdam, where you will
catch a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro Airport;
there, your trip leader Stewart Halperin will greet
and welcome you to Tanzania. A transfer to your lodge
in Arusha wil be provided.
• Overnight: Arusha Lodge
October 14-15: Private Nature Refuge
Take a short flight to the remote wilds of a 12,000
private nature refuge reserved exclusively for Thomson
guests. Over two thrilling days, you will explore
the pristine savannah and woodlands by vehicle and
by foot. See zebra, impala, giraffe, and other animals
as they go about their daily routines. You will also
have unique opportunities to meet some of our Maasai
neighbors and friends, such as a women’s collaborative,
a storyteller, and dancers. This is the Africa you
have been dreaming about.
• Overnights: Thomson East Serengeti Nyumba
October 16-18: Serengeti National
Park
After a morning drive, enter the endless plains
of the famed Serengeti, where you’ll have three
days of wilderness ventures over a diverse landscape
of acacia forests, rolling hills, grasslands, rivers,
and kopjes. While in the Serengeti you will stay
at two distinct Thomson sites, which are both ideally
located for the best possible wildlife viewing opportunities.
With luck, you may even encounter some of the Great
Migration near the Mara River. Closer to the central
part of the park you will explore the Seronera RIver
Valley, which is home to numerous prides of lion.
• Overnights: Thomson Serengeti Nyumba
October 19-21: Ngorongoro Crater
You will drive from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area this morning, stopping for lunch
en route at Olduvai Gorge, where Louis and Mary Leakey
discovered the 1.75-million-year-old skull of Australopithecus
Boisei. From there, you’ll head to the Ngorongoro
Crater, spending three nights at a camp perched on
the crater rim. You’ll spend the following
day on the crater floor, where over 30,000 large
mammals live all of the Big 5: black rhino, leopard,
lion, elephant, and buffalo.
• Overnights: Thomson Ngorongoro Nyumba
October 22: Ngorongoro Village
Take an early-morning drive down to Manyara Airstrip
to catch a flight to Kigoma town in western Tanzania.
Take a guided tour of Kigoma and an optionak visit
to Ujiji, the site where Henry Stanlet found Dr.
David Lingstone in 1871. In perparation for the next
leg of your journey, Stewart Halperin will present
a slideshow documenting his expeiences at Gombe Stream
Nation Park.
• Overnights: Kigoma Hilltop Hotel
October 23-25: Gombe Stream National
Park
Take a boat ride over the beautiful blue waters
of Lake Tanganyika to Gombe Stream National Park.
Over the course of the next three days, you will
hike through the dense bamboo forests and mountainous
terrain while you track Gombe's legendary chimpanzees.
When you do finally come upon the chimps, whether
they are playfully squabbling, grooming each other,
or swinging through trees, the moment will be simply
spectacular. When not trekking, you can also pursue
other optional activities, such as bird-watching
and even snorkeling in Lake Tanganyika.
• Overnights: Gombe Forest Lodge
October 26-28: Arusha / Depart Tanzania
/ Amsterdam / Arrive US
You will transfer from Gombe to Kigoma and then
take an afternoon flight to Arusha. Spend the night
at your hotel relaxing with friends. The following
day you'll have time to prepare for your journey
home. Enjoy special lunch together, do a bit of souvenir
shopping, use the business center, take a swim, and
repack before you are transferred to the airport
to check in for your flight home.
• Overnight and Day Room: Arusha Lodge
Price
$11,900 per person, based on double occupancy
Deposit
$1,500
Booking
Call us at (800) 235-0289 to reserve your space.
This once in a lifetime safari is exclusive, so please
book early to ensure availability.
A $1,500 non-refundable, non-transferrable credit
card deposit is required to reserve your space.
Cancellation Charge
From booking to 121 days before departure: 100% of
the deposit
From 120 to 91 days before departure:
50% of trip price
From 90 to 61 days before departure:
65% of trip price
From 60 days or less before departure:
100% of trip price
Additional Terms
Itinerary and price is subject to change. Lodges
in Arusha and Zanzibar will be determined prior
to the final payment deadline.
This trip requires a minimum enrollment of 12 guests;
should Thomson Safaris need to cancel the trip due
to insuffient enrollment, your safari deposit would
be refunded in full.
Trip Leader
Stewart
Halperin, Photographer
With his keen eyes always alert and cameras ready,
Stewart Halperin has journeyed to more than 80 countries
while capturing an eclectic array of extraordinary
color images over the past 40 years.
His collection includes some 120,000 color transparencies
of fine art photographic prints and an expanding
digital library, which ranges from stunning landscapes
in New Zealand to dreamy abstracts in Italy, from
wildlife in Key West to dramatic cultural displays
in Brazil. The most formative moments of Halperin’s
career came when he studied under the photography
juggernaut, Ernst Haas.
Now based in Saint Louis, Halperin leads regular
workshops and world tours, striving to instill his
students with a sense of composition so they can
discover and develop their own aesthetics.
He says his days as a graduate student with the
chimps at Gombe gave him an entirely different sense
of time, observation, and wonder.

"Before the Click" Workshop at Shaw Nature
Reserve
“Before the Click” is an immersion into
what makes good, great, and exceptional photographic
images. It is part spiritual, part psychological,
plus practical tips on how to spend more time behind
the lens and less at the computer manipulating images.
Participants should have working knowledge of their
camera and must submit a disk prior to the workshop
with 15-25 images on a single subject. Workshop includes
a lecture and visual presentation of Stewart’s
work, a critique of the group’s photos, and
a brief presentation by computer guru Jeff Hirsch.
More details sent upon registration. Accommodations
dormitory style. Meals included. Adults only.
Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m. to
Sunday November 6, 1:30 p.m.
Stewart Halperin
Dana Brown Overnight Center
$250 member, $275 nonmember

Venetian Tour Guide – Luisella Romeo

We have been privileged to have Luisella Romeo (pictured,
center) as our Venitian tour guide each year we have
gone. Her unparalleled knowledge of the art, architecture,
history, and culture of this storied city has been
priceless and she is a vital part of our Venice experience.
Click
here or on the image below for more information
on her tour services and to see a gallery of Stewart's
photos taken during previous Venice trips.
Digital Imaging Specialist - Jeff Hirsch

photo by Valerie J. Snyder
We are also fortunate to have photographer, tech
guru, and photo-educator Jeff
Hirsch along on our Venice trip this year to
provide "after-the-click"
expertise in managing the entire digital photography
workflow — everything from capture to storage
to print. His knowledge and skill in the field of
digital imaging will be of great benefit to each
and every member of the trip, no matter what their
level of experience.
An expert photo-educator, Jeff will show us how
Adobe's Lightroom and Photoshop combine to give the
shooter an unprecedented amount of control over both
the organization and reproduction of photographic
images.