Alaska25

RMC Presents

CRUISING ALASKA
and the Pacific Northwest
September 26-October 10, 2025

Our September/October 2025 trip takes us to the Pacific Northwest … a small ship cruise that starts in Juneau, Alaska and ends in Seattle, Washington as we explore southeast Alaska’s remote wilderness, native culture and the stunning natural history of the Pacific Northwest.

Cruising offers the best way to view the heart of Alaska plus seeing some of the scenic towns along the Canada’s inside passage.

During our cruise there will be time for non-cruising activities including walks, kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable skiffs, hikes, walks, a fitness room, a library and hot tubs.

Important Note: RMC Has blocked a number of cabins per category so reservations are on a “first-come/first-served” basis and once our allotment is filled, future reservations will be “on request” if available

 

Alaska Cruise map

TOUR INCLUDES
• Roundtrip transportation from Montauk to JFK
• Roundtrip air to Juneau and return from Seattle
• Airport transfers
• 1-night accommodation in Juneau
• 1-night accommodation in Seattle
• 13-day/12-night Alaska & Pacific Northwest cruise
• All hotel service charges and taxes
• Breakfast at both hotels
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Sightseeing entrance fees

CRUISE INCLUSIONS
• 13-day/12-night’s accommodation onboard the Safari Endeavour
• Choice of Outside cabins
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Unlimited Beverages
• Wine, beer, spirits & soft drinks at meals
• All onboard activities and presentations

SPECIAL FEATURES
• Welcome dinner and sightseeing tour of
• Sightseeing tour of Seattle
• Visit to the  600-foot-high Space Needle
• Explore Sucia Island Marine State Park (only accessible by boat)
• Cruise through Canada’s Inside Passage: Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound, Johnstone Strait, and more
• Search for sea wolves and spirit bears along the shores of Great Bear Rainforest
• Explore the quaint town of Ketchikan
• Full day in Misty Fjords National Monument
• Visits to Grand Pacific, Margerie, Johns Hopkins and Reid Glaciers
• Whale watch in Frederick Sound, Stephens Passage and Chatham Strait

 

Our Ship: The Safari Endeavour

Four decks are fully equipped for comfort and action. From the exercise equipment to the bow viewing area on the lounge deck and dining room on the main deck, everything you need is within easy reach. The lounge has a large flat-screen TV featuring closed-circuit channels that include a GPS map of the location of the ship and an under-bow camera. The lounge also has a limited library, filled with wildlife encyclopedias and binoculars to be used for wildlife-spotting. The dining room features open seating. Meals are served tableside with unlimited beverages, alcoholic and non that are included in the price of the cruise. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free options are available. Onboard amenities include kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable skiffs, hiking poles; underwater bow-mounted camera; two on-deck hot tubs; fitness equipment and yoga mats, movie and book library.


ALASKA CRUISE ITINERARY

1st day: Friday, September 26 – To Juneau (D)
Depart for JFK Airport where we board our connecting flight to Juneau. Early evening arrival where we are met and transferred to our hotel. After check-in, we will have a welcome dinner.

2nd day: Saturday, September 27: In Juneau. Late Afternoon Cruise Embarkation (B/D)
Mendenhall glacierMorning free for a leisurely breakfast. At about noon we will have a sightseeing tour of the world’s most visited glacier, the Mendenhall Glacier located in Thunder Mountain. Afterwards we return to Juneau for a panoramic tour before we head for the pier to start our cruise. The smell of the sea hits you as you walk down the gangway to the ship. Juneau alaskaWelcome aboard and meet your captain and crew as you familiarize yourself with your home for next week. In the lounge, a welcome cocktail and Champagne toast await you as you prepare for the grand stories yet to be written about the coming week. As we push off the dock, get out on deck with a pair of binoculars (there is a pair in your cabin for your use this week) and start the search for spouts!

3rd day: Sunday, September 28: Cruising – Glacier Bay National Park (B/L/D)
This national park covers over 3 million acres. Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not us. There’s a cool factor with our visit, and it’s not just coming off the face of the glaciers! This Park was covered by ice as recently as 1795. Since then, the park’s receding glacier activity has made it easier to access those inner reaches. Glacial history, retreats, advances, moraines. They come with expert insight from our onboard naturalists – so bring on the questions. Pigeon guillemots, puffins, common murres, and cormorants colonize and nest at South Marble Island. One good whiff and a few loud barks give away one of its mammalian residents—Steller’s sea lions. It’s a full day in the bay exploring Muir’s legacy—all the way to Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers. Celebrate with a toast to nature’s handiwork.

4th day: Monday, September 29: Cruising – Glacier Bay National Park Continued (B/L/D)
Today is day two in the park, and you’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. Hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and icefields is energizing. If you motor over to Tidal Inlet, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. Kayak the bay. Bushwhack into the forest.

5th day: Tuesday, September 30: Cruising – Icy Strait Whale Search (B/L/D)
Bull whip kelp threads through nearby channels like deep, twisted mangroves. And you know better, but orange and purple starfish and jellyfish make it hard to believe you’re not in the tropics. Follow the currents out to where the sea lions flock to remote rock formations. Our captain is on the bridge, the expedition team on deck, and all eyes are on the water and the shore. Everyone is on-watch for the telltale blow of humpbacks. Come closer to the shoreline by skiff, kayaking, or on foot. Sometimes the smallest things are the biggest wonders. Take in the evening solitude from the bow, or the hot tub. Or both—why choose just one?

6th day: Wednesday, October 1: Cruising- Chichagof Island (B/L/D)
When you come this far, you’ll want to keep going. This is the way back – to the backcountry of Alaska’s wilderness that is seldom seen. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, mud and a lush forest. This day is for you to choose your own adventure: kayaking or even paddle board in calm protected waters, hiking to find a snow-melt waterfall in Cascade Creek. (various degrees of walks and hikes) Whatever you decide, you’ll definitely have bragging rights when you return home.

 

 

7th day: Thursday, October 2: Cruising – Thomas Bay & Wrangell Narrows (B/L/D)
Spend some time on the bow as you glide through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Then anchor for more activities. Time to lower the kayaks and skiffs and get up close and personal with a sea otter or wildlife watching from your kayak. Camera in hand, set off on land and sea explorations. Closer inspection by skiff, moss dripping trees run right down to the water. Any bears in there? With one of the world’s largest populations of bears, it’s possible. Go searching for giant trees and tidal pools. Hiking in the Tongass, it won’t take long to find them. Your eagle-eyed guides lead the pack—and pull up the rear. Or just relax on deck.

8th day: Friday, October 3: Arrival at Ketchikan (B/L/D)
In Ketchikan, connect with the Tlingit Culture. Tribal leader and local legend Joe Williams, known as Ka Xesh X’e in his native language, guides you on a walking tour. With a rich oral tradition, the Tlingit passed stories from generation to generation—and Joe’s storytelling is captivating! Amble through the surrounding forest on a moderate to easy trail or challenge yourself to a hard-charger hike along trails and boardwalks past cedar, spruce, streams, and waterfalls.

 

 

9th day: Saturday, October 4: Cruising – Misty Fjords National Monument (B/L/D)
There are places on the planet that completely overcome you. This is one of them. The beauty. The peace. The sense of place you feel. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. And that alone is a lot to consider. Glacial valleys filled with sea water. Sheer 3,000-foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, all find safe haven here. Kayak in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you find it’s just as easy to paddle and go, as it is to sit and float and take it all in. Or skiff to the base of a waterfall for a fjord released shower. The area’s affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved.

10th day: Sunday, October 5: Cruising – Canada’s Inside Passage (B/L/D)
Today you sail out of Alaska’s Inside Passage and into Canada’s. You will head south for the next couple of days. Check out the bridge – it’s an ideal spot to look for whales and other wildlife. See what the crew has in store today. Maybe a cooking or cocktail demonstration or a galley tour. Or maybe learn more about navigation from the crew and try your hand at tying knots!

11th day: Monday, October 6: Cruising – Canada’s Inside Passage Continues (B/L/D)
Take your cup of joe to the bow and watch the world wake up with you. Bald eagles watch the ship along its course from treetops. Islands to the west, inlet-etched mainland to the east. Your captain and mates navigate twisting passages. Harbor seals spend their days on rocky islets. Breathe in the fresh air and take in miles of forested wilderness. In the lounge, your bartender mixes up the daily special. Take the challenge and play a few friendly hands of cards with your fellow Montaukers … “Mexican Train” or “Kings in the Corner” anyone?

12th day: Tuesday, October 7: Cruising – Canada’s Inside Passage Towards Washington (B/L/D)
It’s a day of intricate waterways and cruising for critters, keeping watch for black bears on shore, including the elusive spirit bear. Civilization gets closer as you coast south through the remote waters of British Columbia towards Washington. Our captain and crew are on the lookout and give the call of a wildlife sighting. Slow down and take it all in as forested fjords roll by. It’s a full day of adventure tomorrow!

13th day: Wednesday, October 8: Cruising – Sucia Island (B/L/D)
Sculpted sandstone formations, lush trails, and emerald waters make this a very special and magical island. Only available by boat, earn bragging rights by visiting this jewel of the Pacific Northwest.

seattle space needle

14th day: Thursday, October 9: Arrival in Seattle, Washington. (B/D)
Enjoy a final breakfast with your fellow travelers as we sail through the historic Hiram M. Chittende. Early morning arrival to Seattle where we disembark as we are welcomed to Emerald City. We will meet at the pier and taken on a short sightseeing tour of Seattle ending at arrival at our hotel as we get a closer look at attractions such as the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Ballard Locks. We’ll pass by landmarks including Pike Place Market and Seattle’s pro baseball and football stadiums. Hear live commentary from your guide and get great photo ops throughout the tour. After check-in at our hotel, we have the balance of the day for independent exploration and relaxing before we meet at the top of the 605-foot high Space Needle followed by our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

15th day: Friday, November 15 – Arrival in JFK (B)
Morning at leisure. Then transfer to the airport for our early afternoon departure for JFK, with a late evening (local time) arrival.

 

Safari Endeavour Ship Deck Plan

ship deck plans

YOUR HOTELS

Alaska tour hotels

 

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
RMC Travel now offers the “PayPal Credit” Plan (Click here for details)

ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES PER PERSON

PLUS – ADD:
U.S. airline facility security and tax charges $181 ($189 by credit card)
Port Fee and Cruise Taxes: $769 ($809 credit card)
Prepaid Gratuities for Guides in Juneau and Seattle: $25 ($27 credit card)
Note: Gratuities for Cruise Staff is to be paid independently onboard. Suggested gratuities to be provided

ALASKA AIR UPGRADES (Per Person)
First Class @ $2,989 plus $181 tax (only 8 seats available)

Almost First Class (offers extra leg room, complimentary alcoholic beverages and priority boarding)**
From JFK to Seattle @ $60
From Seattle to Juneau @ $54
From Seattle to JFK @ $71

** Upgrade seats on each flight cannot be confirmed until about 30 days before departure. So, if you are interested in reserving one of these seats, please indicate on your Registration and if we obtain the seat, we will invoice the supplement separately.

INITIAL DEPOSIT ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 20, 2025$1,500 ($1,575 credit card)

Note that early Registration is suggested as we have a quota on reserved cabins

FINAL PAYMENTS: Due on or before July 5, 2025

 

registration formIf you already registered online and want to access the Payment Information page, click here.


Travel Insurance

As travel professionals, RMC Travel highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself regarding health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

RMC Travel will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption travel insurance.

 

 


Photo credits:
Misty Fjords National Monument: Enrico Blasutto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Spirit Bear: Jon Rawlinson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

California

ST THERESE

Presents

CALIFORNIA’S SCENIC
& SPIRITUAL COAST

Featuring

San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles
Hosted by Robert Joerger and Edward Beck
May XX – XX, 2022

California tour

“It is all so very beautiful and magical here—a quality which cannot be described.” So said famous photographer, Ansel Adams about California’s Pacific Coast Highway.  Brisk, salty air flows throughout, sweeping curves captivate your senses and cliff-side views take your breath away. Taking a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway feels like a right of passage, and reminds us that it’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination.

Included in this journey will be visits to several surviving Spanish missions that are the state’s oldest and most-visited historic monuments.  A true way to experience first-hand at the first missions that opened in 1769 and were designed to spread Christianity in the State.  Plus visits to the New Camaldori Hermitage in Big Sur, where the time clock stops when you arrive.  As someone once said, “It is one experience in your life you might want to do before you die.” Or our stop at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its world-famous twin bell towers.  The Mission preserves an abundance of rich treasures that offer a unique perspective on the past and the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

 

Welcome from Fr Bob & Edward (need welcome message)

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ITINERARY

1st Day: Wednesday, May xx – Departure for San Francisco (D)
Optional morning Mass at St Therese. For those not joining the tour in Montauk or the East End, we meet at JFK. Then we board our coach to JFK for our flight to San Francisco. Upon arrival, we transfer to our reserved hotel accommodations and a bit of time to relax.  Afterwards transfer to a local restaurant our Welcome to California dinner.

2nd Day: Thursday, May xx – In San Francisco (B)
mission doloresAfter breakfast, we start our tour with to the Mission Dolores. Then onto Saint Mary’s Cathedral followed by a visit to the Shrine of St Francis of Assisi. We return to our hotel where we have the afternoon and evening free to explore San Francisco. Enjoy a spectacular cruise across San Francisco Bay. Visit Alcatraz. Do some shopping at Union Square. Take a ferry to Sausalito or Tiburon for lunch. Take the California St. cable car ride (skip the lines San Francisco tourof the more popular route) from Embarcadero to the end, turn around and on the return trip get off at Grant Street. Walk through Chinatown, back around through North Beach. Have a drink at the Equinox Room at the Hyatt Regency for a great rotating view. This evening try one of the great San Francisco restaurants.
Or take an Optional San Francisco City Tour that features the Golden Gate, twin Peaks, Fisherman’s Wharf, Victorian houses, Lombard Street, Coit Tower, the Presidio, Mission Dolores and much more.

3rd Day: Friday, May xx – In To Monterey & Carmel by the Sea (B/L/D)
Lone CypressToday’s journey leads us from San Francisco along the picturesque and breathtaking coastline of the Pacific Ocean to historic Monterey where we will have a sightseeing tour of city featuring the colorful Cannery Row that was brought to life in the books of John Steinbeck. We also will see the famous aquarium. carmel missionThis will be followed by lunch at a local seaside restaurant before the high point of our travels today and that is experiencing the delight and coastal splendor of the world-renowned “17-Mile Drive” with its wild wind-swept cypress trees, frolicsome sea mammals, famous Pebble Beach golf course and tenacious Lone Cyprus. Continue to Carmel by the sea with its unique artistic flavor, where we will have our dinner and overnight accommodations.

4th Day: Saturday, May xx – To Big Sur and Santa Barbara (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we drive south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur, where the mountains drop right to the sea. Each turn offers new, awe-inspiring panoramas of some of the most breathtaking coastline found anywhere in the world.  In Big Sur, we will stop at the New Camaldoli Hermitage.  The road up to the Hermitage will offer you coastal views not to be seen anywhere along the Big Sur coast – simply one of the best in the world.  It will take Hearst Castleyour breath away and you will feel like a bird. This visit alone will imprint you for the rest of your life. A bit of time to shop at their magnificent gift shop before we have lunch in Big Sur, we continue to San Simeon to visit wealthy newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst’s opulent majestic hilltop castle. Here we will view the splendid antiques, art treasures and exotic possessions housed on the 12-acre estate. Continue to Santa Barbara for our overnight and dinner.

 5th Day: Sunday, May xx – In Santa Barbara. Visit to Montecito (B)
Mission Santa BarbaraAfter breakfast we start the day with a visit and Mass at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its world-famous twin bell towers.  The Mission preserves an abundance of rich treasures that offer a unique perspective on the past and the humble spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. It fosters reverence, care and joy for all creation (people, creatures and environment) through witness to the Franciscan tradition, practicing radical hospitality and Butterfly Beachwelcoming everyone to this gathering place of joy, learning, and spiritual reflection.  Afterwards we will take a short scenic ride to Montecito. Montecito is home to some of the area’s most stunning stretches of coastline, from Fernald’s Point, past the calm waters of Miramar Beach and renowned surf break at Hammonds Point, to sparkling Butterfly Beach. The balance of the day is free for independent exploration. This evening try one of the wonderful Santa Barbara restaurants.

6th Day: Monday, May xx – To Santa Ines, Solvang and Los Angeles (B/L/D)
Mission Santa InesAs we leave Santa Barbara, we take a sort of detour as we journey first to visit the Santa Inés Mission. The “hideden Gem” of the California Missions. The Mission was founded on September 17, 1804 by Father Estevan Tapis.  It was named in honor of Saint Agnes, an early Christian martyr of the fourth century. The Solvang windmillSpanish for Agnes is Inés, hence the name of the church. Then to Solvang, where Denmark has been recreated with picturesque buildings and windmills.  A chance to browse through the charming shops featuring Danish specialties and time on our own to have lunch before we reboard our coach for Los Angeles with a stop at the Serra Retreat Center in Malibu. Check into our hotel for dinner and our overnight.

7th Day: Tuesday, May xx- In Los Angeles (D)
Cathedral Los AngelesMorning program includes Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angeles Cathedral. Afterwards, the balance of the day is free for independent exploration. Maybe go to Venice Beach. This is one of the most interesting areas in L.A. to explore –Hollywood Boulevard it’s a rough-around-the-edges, colorful, bohemian enclave.  Or maybe do the Downtown Art Walk one way to experience the area’s robust art scene.  So is so much to see in Los Angeles with its array of restaurants and bars that is clustered at the periphery. But as with Times Square,  many visitors just prefer to stroll around this giant pedestrian zone, trying to take it all in. This evening try one of the city’s great restaurants.

Or take an Optional Los Angeles City Tour sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis starting from Olivera street, the oldest thoroughfare in the city, to Hollywood as you have an opportunity to step into the footprints of famous movie stars at Mann’s Chinese Theater, Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive and Mulholland Drive for a spectacular view.

8th Day: Wednesday, May xx – In Los Angeles (B/D)
Universal Studios tourA full day free for independent exploration in the “City of Angels.”  Maybe take a trip to Disneyland or Universal Studios. In the evening, we meet for our farewell dinner at local restaurant.

 

 

 

9th Day: Thursday, May xx – Back to NYC (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and our flight to JFK. Upon arrival we board our coach for the journey back to Montauk.

Special Features:

  • Masses with Father Bob and Father Edward
  • Welcome to California cocktail in San Francisco’s Monarch
  • Visit to the magnificent New Camaldoli Hermitage Mission in Big Sur
  • Visit to the Santa Ines Mission in Solvang, considered the Gem of California Missions
  • Optional sightseeing tours in San Francisco and Los Angeles
  • Sightseeing tour of Monterey
  • Travel California’s famous “17-Mile Drive” coastal route
  • Visit to William Randolph’s Hearst’s famed opulent hilltop castle
  • Mass at the Old Mission Santa Barbara with its rich treasures

The Price Includes:

  • Round trip transportation from the Montauk to JFK
  • Round-trip air from JFK to San Francisco and return from Los Angeles
  • Airport transfer to and from hotels
  • 8 nights accommodations in First Class & boutique-style hotels
  • Hotel taxes and service charges
  • Breakfast every day
  • Lunch as per itinerary (Day 3, 4 and 6)
  • Dinners as per itinerary (Days  2, 3, 4 and 8)
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary including entrance fees
  • Deluxe coach transportation throughout the tour
  • Fully escorted

Our Accommodations (or similar)
● In San Francisco – 2 nights @
● In Carmel – 1 night @
● In Santa Barbara – 1 night @
● In Los Angeles – 3 nights @

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
RMC Travel now offers the “PayPal Credit” Plan (Click here for details)

PRICE PER PERSON

Per Person in Double Occupancy
$XXXXX via check or money order
$3, XXXXX via credit card
Per Person in Single Occupancy Room
$4, XXXXX via check or money order
$4, XXXXX via credit card

Add to above costs:
*U.S. airline facility, security, taxes and Fuel Surcharge $XXX ($XXX via credit card)
*Prepaid Gratuities to drivers and guides $XXX ($XXX via credit card)

Optional Sightseeing Tours
*½ day tour San Francisco city sightseeing tour @ $
*½ day tour Los Angeles city sightseeing tour @  $

INITIAL DEPOSIT: $500 ($525 by credit card)

Deposit due as soon as possible to be assured space on this spiritual journey.

FINAL PAYMENTS due on or before March XX, 2022

If you have already registered online and require access to the PayPal payment page, click here.

Travel Insurance

RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.


Photo credits:

Mission Dolores: Photograph by Robert A. Estremo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cable Car & Alcatraz: Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Carmel Mission: Dsdugan, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lone Cypress: Gartenflo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Big Sur: catlin.wolfard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hearst Castle: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mission  Santa Barbara:Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Butterfly Beach: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Solvang: Dan Lindsay © 2011. Downtown Solvang in June 2011, via Wikimedia Commons
Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels: Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hollywood Boulevard: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Universal Studios tour: Anothercountry, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico

May 18-24, 2017

THIS TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT

New Mexico is a haven for the unexpected. It’s an attitude. A way of life. It’s adventure in its truest form – from culture to art to cuisine and everything in between – just waiting to be seized.

Trace the steps of Georgia O’Keeffe as we traverse trails through her beloved Ghost Ranch. Witness the vast Rio Grande Gorge and marvel at the famous Ancestral Pueblo rock dwellings at Bandelier. Gaze upon yawning canyons and towering rock formations that reveal millennia. Along the way, feed our spirit and our curiosity of ancient marvel at the capital city, Santa Fe with its cuisine, museums and renowned art galleries.

New Mexico has it on charm, beauty and history and on this quick tour, we will be experiencing a little of each.

Thursday, May 18: Depart for Albuquerque and continue onto Mescalero
Depart today so you arrive at Albuquerque Airport no later than 2pm. You may also consider a Jet Blue flight that leaves late in the evening of May 17, overnight at an airport hotel and then spend the morning of May 18 exploring Albuquerque on your own. We meet our driver and escort at about 3pm for a three-hour drive to Mescalero and our overnight accommodations at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort.

Friday, May 19- In Mescalero – Touring the Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell
Roswell UFOAfter breakfast, our tour today begins with a drive on the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway following this byway through the rugged beauty of the million-acre Lincoln National Forest. It takes us through Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs to visit the Hubbard Museum of the West. Continue from the mountains following the Ruidoso Rio down Lone Pine Canyon to the grassland plains surrounding Roswell, NM. Here we will visit the UFO Museum learning about the event in 1947 that prompted a major uproar about whether or not a UFO actually crashed outside of Roswell. We can decide for ourselves about the flying saucer that allegedly crashed here in 1947. Whatever we decide, we are likely to be intrigued by the many exhibits and programs about the crash itself and the phenomenon of UFO research. Next we travel south along the Carlsbad Caverns tourPecos River and the Brantley Lake State Park to Carlsbad and White City, home to Carlsbad Caverns. Here we will have a Park Ranger guide us at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park that showcases one of the most spectacular collections of caves anywhere in the world. Protecting over 100 caves with intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations Carlsbad Caverns was once the site of a complex ocean reef. Long after the waters receded, the area experienced a geologic uplift when the Guadalupe Mountains were formed, which disrupted the buried limestone reef and allowed for water to percolate through the sedimentary layers. Eons of undisturbed water erosion have created the caves, amphitheaters, tubes, and stalactite/stalagmite formations (some pushing 60 feet in size) including Lechuguilla Cave, which is the deepest limestone cave in the United States at 1,567 feet. Our visit to the Carlsbad Caverns is guaranteed to amaze and impress. Late afternoon we will drive back to the Inn of the Mountain Gods for our overnight.

Saturday, May 20 – In Mescalero – Touring the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation & White Sands National Park & Monument
This morning we will depart from the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero down from 7,000 feet, in the mountains through the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the desert landscape surrounding Alamogordo, NM and the White Sands National Monument at 4,000 feet. Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain ringed valley called the Tularosa Basin. Rising from the heart of this basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field, along with the plants and animals that live here. Here we will learn about the history, vegetation, flora and fauna of the area as we descend. After a talk at the White Sands Visitors Center and time to enjoy the Park exhibits, we will have a Park Ranger join our van to provide a narrative of the Park as we do a Park Loop road. You will have time during the tour to ask questions and interact with the Ranger. Continue to Alamogordo for lunch followed by a tour back up into the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. The Mescalero people were nomadic hunters and gatherers and roamed the Southwest. They were experts in guerrilla warfare and highly skilled horsemen. The women were known for their ability to find and prepare food from many different plant sources. The people were given the name “Mescalero” because they gathered and ate the mescal plant. It was the staple of their diets and could sustain them in good times and bad. After a brief tour here, we continue through the beautiful mountains before returning to our hotel in the afternoon. Free time for golf, fishing or hiking. Overnight accommodations at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.

Sunday, May 21 – To Acoma Pueblo and Santa Fe
We have an early departure for our 4-hour drive to the Acoma Pueblo. A mid-morning stop at Los Lunas before we head onto the historic Route 66 and to the Laguna Pueblo A brief stop will be made at the overlook of the Laguna Pueblo for photos of the beautiful, whitewashed St. Joseph Church, constructed in 1699, continuing on Route 66 as we travel west arriving at the Acoma Pueblo, were we will learn about the people and visit the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum. Here our Acoma guide will drive us to the top of the Mesa where we learn about the Acoma people, walk completely around the Mesa and learn about the history of the people, see where they still live in houses constructed in the 1600s and 1700s. After the tour, we continue to Santa Fe. via “Three Pueblos” as we learn about these historic Pueblos and their quest. Afternoon arrival in Santa Fe the capital of New Mexico, and a quintessential southwestern town for art, culture and history. Dominated by adobe buildings and pueblo style architecture, Santa Fe is home to hundreds of galleries, artisans and museums, all of which are heavily influenced by the beauty and immensity of the landscapes. Overnight in Santa Fe at the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi.

Monday May 22 – In Santa Fe – Full day excursion to Taos
Today we will tour the “High Road to Taos”. This historic, scenic road is filled with Spanish, Pueblo and Mexican history. We’ll see villages, Missions, houses, ranches and shops that date back to the 1600s and 1700s. A stop will be made at Chimayó, a traditional weaving village with galleries featuring work by award-winning weavers. Here we will find the 19th-century Santuario de Chimayó, known as the “Lourdes of the Southwest”, that attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, seeking the “miraculous dirt” on church property rumored to have healing powers. Continue through the towns of Cordova, Truchas and Ojo Sarco which all have great galleries selling woodcarvings, pottery, rugs and other local arts and crafts. In Las Trampas, San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas, an 18th-century mission church, is one of New Mexico’s best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. At Peñasco we wind our way through the Carson National Forest to Ranchos de Taos. Here we’ll see the famous San Francisco de Asis Church, which has been photographed and painted by many artists. Then into Taos to explore its museums, galleries, shops and have lunch. Midafternoon departure to historic Taos Pueblo where we have a Tewa guided tour of the Pueblo, learning about this scenic, ancient structure nestled up against the highest mountains in New Mexico, Mount Wheeler. Late afternoon we tour back down the Rio Grande Valley the “low road” to Santa Fe arriving about dinner hour.

Thursday, May 23- In Santa Fe
A free day in Santa Fe. For those looking to get the highlights of Santa Fe there are enough art galleries, museums, street vendors and interesting curio shops in Santa Fe to take up days. If there’s any doubt that Santa Fe is a prime destination for art lovers, Canyon Road quashes it. Situated just east of the Santa Fe Plaza, Canyon Road is home to a slew of art galleries selling renowned artwork from famed artists such as Fernando Botero and cultural treasures like hand-woven Navajo rugs and Southwestern wood carvings. The area is touted as an art lover’s Mecca because of the variety of mediums used to highlight art. Pop into the different galleries (there are more than 50) along the street and you’ll find everything from jewellery and pottery to sculptures and paintings. The street itself is also a feast for the eye. Many of the galleries found here are housed in historic adobe buildings laced with brilliantly colored flowers. Art installations are often showcased outside and the spicy odor of chili peppers wafts from the doorways of top-notch eateries like Geronimo Restaurant and Compound Restaurant. Overnight in Santa Fe.

Friday, May 24 – Tour ends in Albuquerque
Transfer on our own with the local Santa Fe shuttle to Albuquerque airport for our return flight. Or stay on independently.

Includes:

  • Transfer on arrival
  • 3 nights accommodations at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Superior Lake View rooms
  • 3 nights accommodations at the Rosewood Inn in Premier King bedrooms
  • Hotel service charges and taxes
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Sightseeing entrance fees
  • Park Rangers for some touring
  • Special tour of the Laguna Church
  • Transportation by min-vans

Our Hotels

Mescalero- The Inn of the Mountain Gods
While not one of the properties that we usually stay in, the Inn of the Mountain Gods is the best property in the area, and with our rooms facing their private lake, we will have an opportunity to enjoy the local scenery and when we have some extra time to walk the nearby trails, do some fishing or even a short round of golf. The hotel is known for its casino, but also has a multitude of restaurants for us.

Santa Fe- The Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi
An intimate world-class retreat, Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi celebrates the enduring creative spirit and traditions of the region’s early Native Americans, the city’s rich cultural heritage as an early Spanish establishment and its ongoing legacy as an artist colony. The name and interiors of this Santa Fe boutique hotel pay homage to the area’s native Anasazi tribe, while the handcrafted textiles, paintings, carvings and baskets that make up the hotel’s extensive art collection are a vivid blend of Native, Hispanic and Anglo influences. With the city’s historic plaza just steps from the hotel doors, this sterling example of Santa Fe luxury hotel is uniquely New Mexican.

THIS TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT

PRICE PER PERSON

Per Person in Double Occupancy room:
$1,599 payments via check or money order, $1,689 payments via credit card

INITIAL DEPOSIT
$350 ($369 by credit card) Non-Refundable deposit due on or before February 1, 2017 to hold space. Please Read separate Terms and Conditions and Tour Travel Insurance sheets

FINAL PAYMENTS
Due on or before March 18, 2017