The Romantic Route Express

This trip covers some of Switzerland's most spectacular Alpine passes, the Furka Pass, the Grimsel Pass and the Grosse Scheidegg. For those who love steam trains, there is a special surprise, you can do part of the trip by the recently restored steam engine. The Swiss Alps are synonymous with picturesque Post Bus rides. And so, The Swiss Romantic Route is experienced on these very attractive and modern Swiss Post Buses. They complement the trains and boats, which are part of Switzerland's much admired public transport system. These buses are comfortable and safe. The drivers are especially trained to drive in all weather conditions and on tight alpine roads. The windows of the buses are huge and give all a good view of the Alpine world.

Route: Andermatt - Furka Pass - Gletsch - Grimsel Pass - Meiringen - Grosse Scheidegg - Grindelwald.

The Romantic Route starts in Andermatt where you will board one of the distinctive yellow coaches that make up Switzerland's much-loved Alpine Postbus fleet. Your trip over the Furka Pass to Gletsch, with views of the famous Rhone Glacier, promises to be an unforgettable experience.and skirts the Rhone Glacier on its way down to Gletsch. Steep switchbacks and many hairpin bends bring the bus to the Grimsel Pass (2165 m a.s.l.), then swoops by a deep blue manmade lake and on through the Hasli Valley to Meiringen, where the world-famous meringues, an airy confection of sugar and egg whites, were invented. Cool glaciers contrast the meadows exploding with color, all set to the sound of cowbells clanging.

Then it is on through the romantic Reichenbach Valley and over the Grosse Scheidegg. On the Grosse Scheidegg be prepared for the alpine triumvirate, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the breath-taking mountains of this area. This valley was traveled two centuries ago by Goethe, Mendelssohn and Lord Byron, when they discovered the fascinating mountain world of the Bernese Oberland. Glaciers, Alpine pastures and cheese dairies all make the Swiss Alps look just as you expected. Eventually the bus reaches Grindelwald, the alpine village of world renown. Here, enjoy the views of the Eiger North Face, a daunting wall braved by many a mountaineer, as well as all the other imposing mountain peaks that surround this charming village.

Running once per day in both directions the approximate travel time taken is 7 hours. Seat reservations are mandatory and can be made at any Swiss train station or your local Swiss Travel System sales point. A surcharge is applicable for the same. Please note that the ride from Schwarzwaldalp to Grindelwald is not included. The charge needs to be paid directly to the bus driver. Swiss Pass discounts are applicable on this excursion.

Option: To really make this a unique adventure, take the vintage Furka Steam Train from Realp across the Furka Pass to Gletsch.

iExplore Central Mexico & the Pacific Coast Experience

Enjoy a 10-day cultural tour featuring Mexico City, central Mexico and the Pacific Coast.

One of the world's largest metropolis’ Mexico City is also the oldest urban center in the Western Hemisphere, when it was called Tenochtitlán…

Querétaro, one of Mexico's colonial jewels, and picturesque town studded with charming and amazingly well-preserved baroque churches, temples and mansions boasting graceful balconies and ornate facades.

San Miguel de Allende is so strikingly lovely in its architecture that it has been designated a national monument. Its many beautifully restored colonial mansions house delightful patio restaurants and fine shops. Students of all ages come to San Miguel de Allende to study art, painting, weaving, sculpting, photography and Spanish.

Guanajuato, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, is nestled in a narrow canyon between huge mountains, and a photographer's delight with its quaint plazas, colonial buildings, winding cobblestone streets, hidden alleyways and underground passageways.

Morelia, considered the aristocrat of colonial cities features few modern buildings, and architecture kept in the traditions of Old Spain. Wide polished-stone streets and stately buildings give this city its special attraction.

Guadalajara, one of the most serenely beautiful and stately cities in North America, is a city of parks and fountains, of monuments and rose-lined boulevards, a city alive with color. Its rich colonial heritage dates back to 1542 and is evident throughout the city.

The Costalegre, a stretch of Pacific coastline that runs from Manzanillo in the South to Puerto Vallarta in the North, is an area of unspoiled tropical jungle, gorgeous beaches, bays and lagoons filled with exotic birds, tiniy fishing villages, and small hidden luxury hotels. With exclusive polo tournaments, impressive cliff side golf courses and many famous weddings going on around the area, the Costalegre is becoming a sought-after destination for the rich and famous.

iExplore Canada - British Columbia Experience

British Columbia is Canada’s ‘outdoor playground’ offering year-round adventures for thrill seekers and nature lovers alike. Situated in BC’s southwest corner and bound by the Strait of Georgia, the Fraser River, and the Coastal Mountains, is the alluring city of Vancouver. In Vancouver, one can experience a wide array of recreational activities by day with the comfort of returning to urban amenities at night.

Continue on to the Sunshine Coast. While technically part of the mainland the Sunshine Coast, reachable only by boat or air; feels more like an island. BC Ferries sail regularly between main areas of interest offering visitors access to miles of pristine coastline and lush countryside.

Roughly the size of Holland, Vancouver Island is an exciting region rich in history and culture, wine and agro-tourism, wildlife watching and a plethora of outdoor activities. Also home to the historic capital city of Victoria, which is famous for its historic buildings and bustling inner harbor; no trip to the island is complete without visiting this jewel.

From the internationally renowned Metro Vancouver area to the 110 mile stretch of paradise known as the Sunshine Coast, & Vancouver Island visitors can experience BC’s breathtaking scenery their own way—from five-star resorts to rustic cabins, laid-back relaxation to white-knuckle adventure.

JUJUY

Full of contrasts, the Province of Jujuy opens up a plethora of dream destinations. Located in the extreme northern part of the North-eastern Region of Argentina, with altitudes ranging from 1259 m.a.s.l. to above 6000 m.a.s.l. it has a population of over 604 thousand people.

Its varied landscapes allows the traveller to practise different types of adventure tourism, while at the same time enjoying an immense landscape filled with colours, silences and sounds, amongst valleys and gorges, amongst mountains and water courses, and, all coupled to the simplicity and culture of its people.

Jujuy shares its 312 kilometres long northern frontier with Bolivia and in the west 139 kilometres with Chile. In the east and south it borders the Argentinean Province of Salta.

The Spanish conquistadors that arrived in these lands encountered numerous indigenous peoples, such as the Omaguacas, the Ocloyas and the Jujuyes. After several failed attempts to enter the Region, during which we may mention two occasions when settlements founded by the Spaniards were razed to the ground by the native population, the military superiority of the Spaniards finally prevailed and on April 9th, 1593, Francisco de Argañaraz y Muguía founded San Salvador de Velazco in the valley of Jujuy, the present capital of the Province.

During the wars for independence, Jujuy became the battlefield between the so-called Northern Army - el Ejército del Norte and the forces fighting on the side of the Spanish Crown. In 1812, the general Manuel Belgrano led an ordered retreat, known as the Jujuy Exodus - "Exodo Jujeño". The decisive action by general Martín de Güemes and the replacement of Belgrano by José de San Martín, ended in the liberation of the Province that achieved its autonomy in 1834.

In the territory of Jujuy, the traveller can go - always with San Salvador de Jujuy as a central point - from the almost glacier like cold of the Puna highland to the tropical warmth of the rivers close to the Río San Francisco River, passing through the temperate area of the Gorge of Humahuaca.

Thus, the traveller may chose without problem between a trek or horseback ride through the subtropical Andean low valleys - the Yungas, or else a tourist circuit of the so called Ramal Jujeño, which, although it is sometimes as a place of minor interest for tourism has the following to offer the traveller, the Valle Grande, Siete Aguas, Fraile Pintado and, especially the National Park of Calilegua, in which you will find the jaguarundi, the northern guemul and the River otter, three species in acute danger of extinction.

Throughout the Region, the houses seem to grow from the earth itself: made of adobe, clay and straw bricks, catching the attention of most tourists that visit the area, whether by car, biking, and hiking or by horseback.

Thus, Jujuy has become the Province of northern Argentina most visited by tourists. Its capital city of San Salvador de Jujuy, located 1660 kilometres from Buenos Aires, its rich history, its excellent roads, a modern airport, its multiple tourist circuits that include landscapes crowned by valleys and peaks, where one can practise all types of adventure tourism, coupled to its excellent network of services, makes this area a place to visit during any time of the year.
All you have to do is go there

ECOTOURISM IN SALTA

Indigenous Aboriginal Communities: Most are located in the northern part of the Province and belong to the Chiriguanas, Chané, Churupíes, Tobas and Wichí Missions, among others. They keep their customs and traditions intact and preserve the cultural identity that characterizes them.

Natural Reserves: Salta has three Provincial Natural Reserves: Los Palmares, Los Andes and Acambuco. Each one of them shows different varieties of plant and animal species, peculiar to the regions where they are located. Trekking, camping, photo safaris, bird watching, horseback rides and other activities can be practiced in the reserves, all under the supervision and responsibility of an adventure tourism guide or a park guard.

Scientific Excursions: The provincial territory has an ample offer of places fit for the carrying out of scientific studies; among them, in Guachipas, you will find the caves of Las Juntas with their ancient rock paintings, which need to be pointed out. Pre Columbian pictures, portraying complex rituals from the Santa María late culture period, can be appreciated.

There are also palaeontology excursions that allow travellers to recognize and appreciate the tracks left behind by dinosaurs, which roamed the Tonco valley area, approximately 65 million years ago. They are unique in the world due to their vertical position on a wall of rock.