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At NWF Expeditions, our goal is to find extraordinary ways to connect you with nature, and travel is an outstanding way to do that. We can't create the trips ourselves, but we can provide a service that is just as valuable. Every year, we vet hundreds of tour companies, and review thousands of programs and itineraries, to find the best tour operators, the best destinations and the best values. How useful is this service? Consider this: If you type "wildlife tours" into an Internet search engine, you'll find more than 650,000 entries. The choices can be overwhelming, so we've taken the guesswork out of the process. As a benefit to our members, NWF has selected what we consider to be the top 30 wildlife-viewing trips for 2009.
After we've selected the best trips, we ask our travel partners to designate specific dates just for NWF members. We attract great people to these tours. NWF members are curious and adventurous, and treasure the natural world. If this sounds like you, then you would find yourself in terrific company on one of our Expeditions. But that's not all.
We know that giving travelers unique opportunities to experience wildlife first-hand also generates greenhouse gas emissions. So we've partnered with Native Energy Travel Offsets to create a carbon offset for each Expedition traveler, ensuring that our members can enjoy our trips without contributing further to global warming. What's more, NWF pays for these offsets without increasing the price of the trips. NWF is committed to ensuring that all 2009 Expeditions are carbon-neutral. By offsetting the impact we make through travel-related activities, NWF is hoping to set an example for others in the battle against global warming. For more information about NativeEnergy Travel Offsets visit www.nativeenergy.com/traveloffsets.
You might notice that some trips are sold out. Don't worry! Just contact us and tell us you are interested. If we get enough people on our waitlist, we might be able to arrange another trip.
If you are having trouble seeing itineraries, you can also request brochures and information to be sent through the mail.
2008
November 22, 2008 - December 6, 2008
Antarctica (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $10,250 per person
Why we picked it: With Antarctica, who takes you is perhaps more important than anywhere else on the planet. That's why we've put our trust in Lindlbad Expeditions, whose hard-won experience dates back to 1966 and whose countless voyages to the "White Continent" means you can safely go to an otherwise dangerous place - and have the absolute adventure of a lifetime.
December 19, 2008 - December 28, 2008
Christmas on the Amazon (SOLD OUT) (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $3,298 per person
Why we picked it: This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the holidays as few people ever will - taking a cruise on the Amazon. This 4,200-mile river sustains one of the greatest profusions of life on Earth. Thousands of tropical birds and an abundance of other exotic creatures live in this lush tropical wilderness.
December 26, 2008 - January 7, 2009
New Year's Safari to Botswana (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $6,450 per person
Why we picked it: On New Year's Eve you'll be standing on the private, elevated deck of your own thatched cottage overlooking the magnificent Okavango Delta, viewing the amazing array of wildlife that lives in this wetland wilderness. Can you think of a finer way to welcome in 2009?
2009
January 17, 2009 - January 24, 2009
Baja: Among the Great Whales (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $4,620 per person and includes complimentary roundtrip charter flight between Los Angeles and Mexico
Why we picked it: The whale-watching on this Baja, Mexico, program is phenomenal. A morning of cheering for breaching humpback whales, snorkeling with brilliant marine life and watching seabirds culminates in a call from the bridge: "Gray whales spotted just off the bow!" So goes another day aboard the 62-guest ship National Geographic Sea Bird.
January 28, 2009 - February 2, 2009
The Extraordinary Winter Elk Migration (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,595 per person
Why we picked it: As part of its program to promote land stewardship in the American West, Off the Beaten Path is partnering with some large ranches in the Madison Valley of Montana to offer remarkable wildlife watching opportunities. Discover huge elk herds - and the wolves that prey on them - amid the winter-wonderland landscape of Yellowstone and surrounding private lands.
February 1, 2009 - February 6, 2009
Kingdom of the Monarchs (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,895 per person
Why we picked it: Every year, nearly 300 million monarch butterflies set off on a remarkable 2,500-mile journey from Canada and the United States to their ancestral wintering grounds in Mexico. The location of their breeding grounds was once a mystery, but now small groups, accompanied by Mexico's premier naturalist guides, can experience this stirring phenomenon.
February 6, 2009 - February 15, 2009
Patagonia, Exploring the Remote Regions of Chile (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $4,598 per person
Why we picked it: Patagonia has some of the world's most inspiring landscapes and some of its most unique wildlife. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks, immense glaciers and vast steppes, travelers will see condors, guanacos and rheas and stay in fine hotels and lodges.
February 21, 2009 - February 27, 2009
Best of the Everglades (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,895 per person
Why we picked it: On this trip to Florida, you'll see more wildlife than 99.9 percent of the visitors who travel to the same region. That's because this program includes the best guides. From Biscayne to the Keys and Dry Tortugas, naturalists and biologists lead you to prime habitat for flamingos, spoonbills, bald eagles and much more.
February 26, 2009 - March 2, 2009
Greater Yellowstone Predators: A Research Expedition (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,775 per person
Why we picked it: Don't just look for wolves and other Yellowstone predators - help protect them for the next generation. Join researchers Steve Gehman and Betsy Robinson in recording wildlife sightings and other animals' signs, and contributing to the science of land and predator management.
March 7, 2009 - March 15, 2009
Jade Route of the Ancient Maya (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,495 per person
Why we picked it: On this incredible adventure through Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, you will explore the trading routes of the Ancient Maya while traveling through wildlife-rich sanctuaries. Through easy kayaking, snorkeling and hiking, you'll discover marine and terrestrial animals at nearly every turn, as well as communities still steeped in traditional Maya ways.
March 9, 2009 - March 24, 2009
A Classic Wild Adventure to India (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $4,995 per person
Why we picked it: Tigers, elephants and a bevy of beautiful birds are among the attractions of India's national parks and preserves. On this trip, you'll hopefully cross paths (safely of course!) with wild tigers as you journey in safari vehicles or on elephants through two Project Tiger reserves: Kanha and Bandhavgarh. You'll also explore cities, villages, temples and palaces.
March 25, 2009 - March 31, 2009
Big Bend: The Unexpected Texas (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,995 per person
Why we picked it: Big Bend is a wild world of deserts, mountains and canyons that supports a remarkable diversity of life. A thousand plant species, some found nowhere else on Earth, 75 species of mammals, and more than 400 species of birds call this home. Your days are devoted to exploring this otherworldly place.
March 26, 2009 - March 29, 2009
Sandhill Cranes of the Platte River (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,695 per person
Why we picked it: The spectacle of 500,000 migrating sandhill cranes should be enough to attract any wildlife enthusiast to this trip. But this program goes much further by incorporating scientists and photographers who have been working hard to protect the Platte River Basin.
March 28, 2009 - April 4, 2009
Belize Dolphin Research (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,950 per person
Why we picked it: For years, groups of NWF members have traveled to Belize to participate in one of the world's longest-running dolphin research projects. Every year, the feedback we receive is similar to this traveler's: "The experience was one of the best vacations I've ever had." Help us ensure the future of these amazing creatures.
May 16, 2009 - May 23, 2009
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $4,890 per person
Why we picked it: First, toss out every notion you have of an Alaskan cruise. This expedition may be on a ship, but that's where the similarities end. Lindblad's vessel holds only 62 guests, so the journey is intimate and focused on seeing wildlife, glaciers and rain forests in places the big ships couldn't dream of going.
May 23, 2009 - May 29, 2009
Wolves, Bears and Geysers (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,895 per person
Why we picked it: Springtime in Yellowstone, the "Serengeti" of North America. Lakes are thawing, grizzlies are waking, and bison and elk calves are playing in the meadows. This is a wildlife extravaganza for nature lovers, photographers and birders.
May 26, 2009 - May 31, 2009
Volunteerism in New Orleans (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,895 per person
Why we picked it: NWF has been working with volunteers to restore hurricane-damaged wildlife habitat on public lands throughout coastal Louisiana. Thousand acres of wetlands and shoreline still need help - restoration projects that will provide havens for birds, fish and other animals. This service-oriented trip is a way to give something back to nature and the city of New Orleans.
June 6, 2009 - June 12, 2009
The Very Best of Yellowstone: A Photographic Expedition (SOLD OUT) (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,995 per person
Why we picked it: This trip is limited to eight participants who will travel through Yellowstone with Tom Murphy, an outstanding nature photographer. This program is based on the idea that people learn best by doing, so most instruction is in the field and the field - and the wildlife - doesn't get much better than this.
June 6, 2009 - June 13, 2009
Exploring Alaska's Wildlands and Wildlife (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $3,795 per person
Why we picked it: Anyone who has priced tour packages to Alaska can see this is a real bargain, but it doesn't come at the expense of comfort or wildlife-viewing opportunities. Included in the program are stays in both Denali National Park and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. It also features the marine creatures and tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park - a wonderfully diverse eight-day program.
June 8, 2009 - June 12, 2009
Wine and Wildlife in Bordeaux (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $3,125 per person
Why we picked it: In France's picturesque wine growing region of Bordeaux, an effort is underway to improve methods for monitoring wildlife on the vineyards at Chateau les Vergnes. Through these efforts, researchers hope to increase the biodiversity in viticulture. This trip offers an opportunity to contribute to the science.
July 4, 2009 - July 10, 2009
Glacier National Park (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,995 per person
Why we picked it: A foray in Glacier National Park energizes the soul. Spend a week scouting for grizzlies and other wildlife, scanning peaks, and discovering wildflowers and meltwater lakes fed by the glaciers that give the park its name.
July 6, 2009 - July 14, 2009
Churchill: An Arctic Summer (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $4,295 per person
Why we picked it: This journey will take you to one of the most inaccessible spots on the planet, where you'll experience one of nature's most intense experiences - the Arctic summer. There, you'll have close encounters Arctic wildlife, including beluga whales, polar bears and caribou.
July 10, 2009 - July 20, 2009
Land of the Ice Bears (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $6,920 per person
Why we picked it: A remote archipelago situated only 600 miles from the North Pole, Svalbard is a place of astounding beauty as it awakens for spring. Home to the polar bear and walrus, this is a place where wilderness is in its purest form. Your voyage aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer is unhurried, and guided by the serendipity of nature's revelations.
July 31, 2009 - August 5, 2009
Hiking Yosemite National Park (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,295 per person
Why we picked it: Plunging waterfalls, granite monoliths, alpine lakes, giant sequoia trees and raging rivers - quite a list for just one piece of paradise. Yosemite is meant to be explored on foot, and the guides will lead participants five to nine miles each day, discovering the park's exquisite flora and fauna.
August 31, 2009 - September 14, 2009
Journey to Southern Africa (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $5,295 per person
Why we picked it: Splitting time between South Africa and Botswana, this program features the best of both. Your visit to famed Kruger National Park is complimented by smaller, less-visited preserves such as Mashatu in Botswana, home to one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants. But what really makes this program unique is the number of wildlife experts you will meet, including specialists on cheetahs and leopards.
September 3, 2009 - September 13, 2009
Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $3,295 per person
Why we picked it: These national parks include some truly magical natural areas, abundant wildlife and the greatest concentration of geothermal activity in the world. Whether its wolf watching in the Lamar Valley or standing in awe of the Grand Teton, you'll not only see the parks, you'll experience them!
September 9, 2009 - September 14, 2009
Vermejo Park Ranch: Wildlife, Conservation, and Scenery (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $2,795 per person
Why we picked it: You may not be familiar with Vermejo Park Ranch, but you will certainly recognize its owner, Ted Turner. Now, for the first time, this historic lodge and 588,000-acre New Mexico ranch is being opened to visitors. Summers there feature a diverse array of wildlife, including large herds of elk, deer, pronghorn and bison. Spend your days exploring a region that has benefited from sound stewardship.
October 2, 2009 - October 11, 2009
Galapagos (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $4,740 per person
Why we picked it: With 97 percent of these islands protected as a national park, the Galapagos is one of the world's most important laboratories for the future of conservation, sustainable tourism and wildlife management. Lindblad Expeditions has been our trusted choice for programs in the Galapagos eight years running.
October 11, 2009 - October 18, 2009
Hiking Acadia National Park (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $1,799 per person
Why we picked it: Three words - autumn in Maine! This is a chance to hike through a quintessential New England fall, surrounded by the season's palette of ambers, crimsons and golds. Walking through these colorful landscapes, you can spot wildlife that is busily preparing for winter.
October 14, 2009 - October 27, 2009
Tropical Rivers and Rain Forests of South America (Help with PDF files)
Rate: From $7,995 per person
Why we picked it: The wild rivers of northeast South America, including the Orinoco and the Amazon, are among the world's last great undeveloped places. They also are among the world's richest storehouses of plants and wildlife. Explore these two famed rivers as well as lesser-known river ecosystems aboard an intimate, all-suite vessel.
October 24, 2009 - November 1, 2009
Panama, Wildlife Bridge of the Americas (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $3,598 per person
Why we picked it: This is a place where more than 500 species of birds have been observed in a single day! The centerpiece of the trip is a four-night stay at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, the perfect base for exploring the wildlife-rich region without having to continuously pack and unpack. The program also features highland cloud forests and a passage by ship through part of the famous canal.
November 6, 2009 - November 12, 2009
The Great Polar Bears of Churchill (Help with PDF files)
Rate: $5,295 per person
Why we picked it: On this Churchill program, travelers receive a real insider's perspective. Meet with local scientists, bear ecologists, photographers and aboriginal artists to get a more complete understanding of the magnificent polar bears you'll see in astonishing numbers and proximity.
"You Can Go Your Own Way"
We know group tours aren’t for everyone. But we still want everyone to get out and connect with nature--and travel is a great way to do that. NWF partners with some of the best tour companies in the U.S. to develop and execute our Expeditions. These companies share our philosophies about wildlife and wild places. They work to educate travelers about the natural world, and to ensure their programs have minimal impacts on the environment. That's why we can whole-heartedly recommend these companies, to help you plan your own individual tours and itineraries. If you'd rather plan a trip for yourself, your family, or a group of friends, and Expeditions just isn't the right fit for you, these companies can help you from beginning to end. View more information.
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