Splendours of India

By guest blogger Steve Newman

India has captivated travellers for centuries, but venturing to this cultural melting-pot can be a logistical challenge. In February and December 2011, Zegrahm Expeditions will treat travellers to over two weeks of in-depth exploration in Southern India, including a stop in Sri Lanka, via the 110-passenger Clipper Odyssey (above).

Zegrahm believes the best way for travellers to immerse themselves in the countries they visit, with minimal distractions and inconveniences, is by small ship (and, having sampled their style earlier this year, I would fully endorse that view).

They are also one of the leading adventure travel companies, specialising in small-ship expedition tours and safaris to remote and intriguing destinations around the world, and their India voyage will add another string to their considerable bow, revealing yet another array of dazzling visual wonders and cultural delights.

From Chennai (Madras), the ship visits Madurai’s Meenakshi temple, then explores fascinating Sri Lanka, where you search for wild elephants and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth.

Along India’s west coast, visits are Cochin, Mangalore and Goa, and you end your journey in Mumbai. There is no better way to explore this diverse land than by sea, affording you the opportunity to travel from the serene villages to bustling city streets all in genuine 5-Star style.

You can beat the heat, too, as the air-conditioned Odyssey allows you to travel from port to port in the utmost comfort, bypassing long, steamy drives to get to your next destination. Soak in the coastal sights as you make your way from port to port - a view of India often unseen by most tourists - and you can also choose from several shore excursions each day, all of which are complimentary.

Learn more about the February 1-17 and December 7–21, 2011, Splendours of India departures on Zegrahm’s website at http://www.zeco.com/

Global Adventure, All the Stars of The Zodiac

By guest blogger Steve Newman

One of the fastest growing areas of cruising is the eco-adventure sector, with some companies offering you the chance to be literally the first human to land on particular places for possibly hundreds of years.

So, if you like adventure, untouched wilderness, expertly operated tours, and lecturers and leaders rich in field experience, then do have a look at Zegrahm. From small-ship expedition cruises through the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica to tropical adventures in the South Pacific, this company offers what comes close to the ultimate expedition travel experience.

You’ll need to be reasonably fit but age is no barrier. Their policy is that if they see something of interest, they will actually stop the ship and give you the chance to hop into the zodiacs and go and see it up close.

Onboard amenities include spacious lounges, fine dining and ocean-view cabins, ranging from 16- to 110-passenger capacities. The other good thing about these trips is you can eat as much as you like in the five-star vessels as you know you’re going to burn it off anyway!

The company has a great mix of natural history and cultural destinations for 2011. Their ships will be covering destinations around the Pacific and exploring new ports in the Arabian, Mediterranean, and North Seas.

They are are also introducing several new expeditions, including circumnavigations of islands such as Sicily’s archaeological wonders and famed cuisine, and Sumatra’s abundant wildlife and diverse landscape.

Zegrahm’s expeditions to Antarctica offer the opportunity of treading where no one may have been before as they ride Zodiacs through waters populated by whales and seals to land amid the cacophony of penguins or albatross colonies, or negotiating pack ice and tabular icebergs aboard an icebreaker.

With this company you can find yourself in Zodiacs in the islands of the South Pacific or the North Atlantic (above).

Expeditions range from two to three weeks in length, ensuring an in-depth look at the regions. Keeping the number of travellers on each expedition small also allows members personal contact with the leaders and naturalist experts.

Zegrahm will also be exhibiting at the Cruise Show at London's Olympia in April, so you can find out more about them in person.

In the meantime, for more info go to http://www.zeco.com/

Eco Adventure Cruising

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Wow! I thought that a 12-night west coast of Britain cruise would not be that interesting. How wrong could I be? One of the best cruises I've ever been on, this eco adventure, boutique-style cruising is really the way forward.


Zegrahm Expeditions offer high-end luxury cruising with less than a hundred guests and, with a one-to-one crew/hotel/lecturers/leaders to passenger ratio, they really looked after us. Plus this is true expedition stuff, as we were hopping in and out of Zodiac inflatables all the time, even at ten minutes' notice when something was spotted.

Age is no barrier, either; if you're fit enough, go for it. Incredible places, Skellig Michael with its unbelievable 6th Century monastery (above) and St Kilda, with its stunning gannet colonies. Sometimes we were exploring sea lochs at 10 o'clock at night, going 60 yards deep into sea caves and at others literally looking into the eyes of wild animals and birds.

The company doesn't stop here; if it's wild and untamed they go there, from Antarctica to Tahiti and from Madagascar to Baffin Island. Take a look at http://www.zeco.com/destinations/