Lions, Tigers and Tradewinds 2023

Dubai offers a convenient stopping point to rest after international flights. Restore and unwind at our beautiful resort in the Arabian desert and meet your fellow travelers and expedition host. Engage in the Bedouin traditions of archery and falconry during interactive demonstrations, stretch your legs on guided nature walks among the dunes in search of desert wildlife, or choose to simply enjoy views across the stunning landscape from your villa’s private terrace and pool.

A short morning flight takes you to the vibrant port city of Muscat, Oman. Visit the National Museum for an introduction to the country’s heritage before embarking on a scenic drive to Oman’s epic “Grand Canyon” and the fabled Green Mountain. Dine on the canyon’s edge and relish dramatic views. Over the next two days, explore this stunning mountainous region and its richly storied past: the abandoned Birkat Al Mouz, a traditional mud brick village; tombs dating back to the Iron Age; Nizwa’s grand souq; and the date palm oasis of Misfat Al Abriyeen. In the spectacular Wadi Tanuf gorge you will be accompanied by archeologist and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Jeff Rose who in 2006 discovered a Bronze Age rock art site hidden behind a waterfall.

We spend our last night in Oman glamping under the stars in a comfortable tented camp set up especially for us in the majestic desertscape of Sharqiya Sands. Your taste of Bedouin life includes camel rides, live oud music and a feast of traditional dishes. As sunset bathes the rippling dunes in golden hues and the star-filled night settles over the desert, recount the day’s adventures by the soft glow of our campfire beneath glittering constellations that have guided nomadic tribes since ancient times.

Experience the majesty of the desert dawn among the dunes before returning to Muscat where we board our jet for Jaipur, Rajasthan’s Royal City. Enter a fabulous realm of maharajas, majestic forts, and lavish palaces, interspersed with the bustle of bazaars and passing rickshaws. After the Royal Welcome at our hotel, a nineteenth-century palace, end your day in stately fashion with a Grand Rajasthani Soiree. As you feast your eyes on your stunning surroundings, you’ll delight your palate with sweet and savory local dishes served at a private dinner accompanied by live sitar and traditional dance performances.

From Jaipur travel overland to Ranthambore National Park: a wilderness tucked between the rugged Aravalli and Vindhya hills, spanning 500 square miles of dense jungle, golden savanna, dramatic cliffs, and lotus-filled lakes with ancient ruins of palaces and temples. Once the hunting grounds of royalty, the park was the first of nine to be designated a Tiger Reserve in the early 1970s. Today the park is considered the best spot to catch a glimpse of elusive Bengal tigers in the wild. It also provides a sanctuary for other wildlife including leopards, striped hyenas, sambar deer, chitals, nilgais, common langurs, macaques, jackals, caracals, sloth bears, wild boars, Indian porcupines, mongooses, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species. Your visit occurs during the optimum time of year. Weather is pleasant, and as water sources and foliage begin to recede, wildlife becomes easier to spot, enriching your four guided game drives.

After a morning game drive, we return to Jaipur and board our jet for the short flight to the picturesque city of Udaipur, nestled along the shores of Lake Pichola and framed by splendid views of the surrounding Aravalli Range. Long the capital of the royal family of Mewar, the Old City abounds with lavish palaces and lakeside temples. Wander the twisting streets and uncover the city’s heart and heritage in its ornate architecture and intricate art. We’ll enjoy an exclusive lake cruise at sunset and a private tour of the exquisite and imposing City Palace, constructed over a period of nearly four decades and comprising the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Further afield, visit the Adinatha Temple at Ranakpur and hear insights into the Dharmic religion of Jain that originated on the Indian subcontinent. Before departing India, we are privileged to join in the festivities of Holi, the Hindu ‘Festival of Colors’, a joyous celebration of the arrival of Spring.

Fly directly to Mahé, the largest of the 115 Seychelles islands, a remote archipelago suspended in the sparkling blue Indian Ocean. The island’s quiet, white-powdered beaches and striking granite rock formations give way to a mountainous interior, largely covered with dense cloud forest. Your stay here can be as full or as unstructured as you desire. Snorkeling and diving are exceptional, amid sculpted granite rocks ablaze with colorful corals and an array of marine life. Critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles may be spotted underwater, and on shore between December and March, when they lay their eggs on the beach. Stroll along the resort’s secluded beach and among tropical gardens, rejuvenate at the luxury spa, or simply indulge in downtime at your private villa with infinity pool, panoramic vistas and dedicated host service.

Like traders of old, we follow the trade winds across the Indian Ocean to East Africa. Upon landing in Nairobi, a scenic flight by bush plane transports us to Africa’s famed savanna, where a Maasai guide will join you for cocktails and describe the traditional practices of the Maasai people and their enduring relationship with the land and its wild inhabitants. For the following two days, relax into a schedule of morning and afternoon game drives in an area unrivaled for its constant flow of wildlife. This is a uniquely beautiful time of year, prized by photographers, when the landscape is transformed into an emerald carpet and dramatic afternoon storms crackle over the open grassland.

After our morning game drive, we journey to the much-storied Swahili Coast and our beach hideaway on a private island in the Lamu Archipelago. Once a crucial hub for trade across the Indian Ocean, this seemingly timeless world of sandy beaches, bustling villages and ninth-century ruins of once-thriving settlements reveals its unique cultural history with an intriguing mélange of Arab, Persian, Bantu, Chinese and Indian architecture and traditions. Visit Lamu Old Town, the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and browse the art galleries and boho boutiques of Shela, a chic contemporary hamlet. We spend a day exploring the archipelago on the majestic Tutsitiri dhow, a traditional sailing vessel that once plied the trade routes between Mombasa and the Middle East. And October to March is the optimal time to enjoy water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding as the Kaskazi trade winds deliver warm breezes and crystal-clear waters. On our final evening, we celebrate our journey together with a farewell dinner under the stars.

A short scenic flight along the coast takes us to Mombasa where our private jet awaits. Return to Dubai for an overnight stay in the heart of the city and enjoy your evening at leisure before your international flight home the next day.