All Expeditions in Asia

Burma & Laos

Vietnam & Angkor Wat

Empires of the East: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan

Treasures of Japan with a day in Gyeongju, Korea

Five ‘Stans: Hidden Heart of Asia

Western Himalayas

Iran: Wonders of Persia

Wild India with the Brahmaputra River

Sands of Time: Dubai to Muscat

Splendors of India: Mumbai to Chennai

Snow Monkeys and Cranes

Burma & Laos

Departs: March 2, 2010

Join us on a Southeast Asia tour through two of the least-explored regions of Indochina: Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. Travel these fascinating Buddhist lands with Gary Wintz, leader, expert on Asia, and member of the Association of Asian Studies (AAS.) Gary specially designed this in-depth cultural tour to include regional highlights such as Rangoon, the ethereal Shwedagon Pagoda, the famous Buddhist caves of Pak Ou, a Pandaw cruise on the Irrawaddy River, the Golden Triangle, and a cruise on the Mekong River to the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang.

Vietnam & Angkor Wat

Departs: March 27, 2010

Our expedition begins in Siem Reap, Cambodia with a tour of the jungle-clad ruins of Angkor Wat. In bustling Saigon, board the Clipper Odyssey for a distinctive Vietnam cruise. We trace the 1,000-mile-long coast of Vietnam visiting the World Heritage Sites of Hue, My Son, Hoi An, and exquisite Halong Bay. Shop for hand-woven silks in colorful markets, sample exotic cuisine, photograph terraced rice paddies, cruise down the peaceful Perfume River, and bask in the warm hospitality of the Vietnamese people. The grand finale is a tour of Hanoi and its rich culture and history.

Empires of the East: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan

Departs: April 9, 2010

Experience a unique cultural adventure on our expedition cruise to the ancient empires of the east. Tour the glittering mega-metropolises of Hong Kong and Taipei as we cruise toward Japan. Visit remote Okinawa Island, the venerable Shinto Shrine of Miyajima, the Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima, and view amazing museum collections of textile arts, and exquisite pottery and painting. In the company of expert leaders and lectures, we visit sub-tropical islands and sub-alpine forests to watch for wildlife and rare endemic birds. In Kyoto, sightseeing includes lovely Japanese gardens and temples.

Treasures of Japan with a day in Gyeongju, Korea

Departs: April 21, 2010

Join our Japan cruise and sail the Inland Sea, exploring the cultural highlights, natural attractions, and dramatic coastlines of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu Islands. From imposing castles and timeless villages to a moving tour of Hiroshima, our voyage presents an intricate tapestry of Japanese riches. Enjoy court dancers, and tour Shinto shrines and Japanese gardens. Spend a full day in Gyeongju, Korea, a World Heritage Site encompassing hundreds of excavated monuments, temples, tombs, and pagodas. In the company of our expert leader team, including Japanese cultural experts, discover the treasures of this ancient and fascinating land.

Five ‘Stans: Hidden Heart of Asia

Departs: May 4, 2010 and September 7, 2010

Join Asian cultural expert, Gary Wintz, on a tour through central Asia that reveals the history, people, and natural treasures of some of the least-traveled countries on earth. View architectural gems from the tsarist era in Almaty Kazakhstan. The Silk Road settlement of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by lush forest, alpine meadows, and glacier-clad peaks. Travel to Uzbekistan and tour the cultural wonders of Tashkent and Samarkand, Tameralane's 14th-century capital, along with the incredible Islamic architecture of Bukhara. Discover soaring mountains and ancient Persian ruins in Tajikistan and the bustling bazaar of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.

Western Himalayas

Departs: October 3, 2010

A tapestry of exquisite cultural landmarks and spectacular natural wonders, our journey travels from the splendors of Delhi to the Kashmiri moonscapes of Ladakh and the princely states of the Western Himalayas. From ancient mountaintop monasteries to tidy British hill towns, from chaotic bazaars to the serene Tibetan Buddhist temples of McLeod Ganj, experience the richness of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh religions and the wondrous variety of wildlife in cedar forests and verdant valleys. Our arrival in India's former "summer capital," Shimla, coincides with the Dussehera Festival, a journey highlight. Enjoy an optional extension to the Kashmir for a houseboat stay on beautiful Lake Dal.

Iran: Wonders of Persia

Departs: November 12, 2010

Eco-Expeditions’ cultural tour to Iran reveals a fascinating, hospitable country where turbaned clerics and carpet-weaving nomads co-exist in the shadows of architectural masterpieces. Formerly known as Persia, Iran’s turbulent and colorful history was written by its successive rulers, the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Parthians, Sassanians, and even the British and Russians. Each conquest left its mark and we visit Iran’s unique cultural treasures replete with magnificent ruins, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Persepolis; glorious mosques; and stupendous citadels. Travel in Iran with eco tour leader and cultural expert, Gary Wintz.

Wild India with the Brahmaputra River

Departs: November 19, 2010

Travel to India, a country steeped in beauty and diverse wildlife habitats that can equal those of Africa for drama and for profuse concentrations of animals. Our India wildlife safari is led by expert naturalists who reveal thousands of birds, herds of grazing deer, bison, and elephants and, we hope, the elusive tiger. We invite you to join us on an adventure that will unveil an India unseen by most including a private Brahmaputra River cruise.

Sands of Time: Dubai to Muscat

Departs: November 24, 2010

Join us on an expedition cruise as we travel from Dubai to Muscat, experiencing a region of visual contrasts, ancient cultures, and a history that reaches back millennia. As we cruise through the Arabian Gulf, explore the city-states of the United Arab Emirates, the fabled Sultanate of Oman, and the tiny, but powerful countries of Bahrain and Qatar. This in-depth cultural tour reveals island landscapes and stupendous architectural wonders. In the company of expert guides and field leaders tour bustling souks, camel markets, serene mosques, and desert oasis.

Splendors of India: Mumbai to Chennai

Departs: December 5, 2010

Our India expedition cruise from Mumbai to Chennai reveals dazzling visual wonders and cultural delights. From Mumbai’s Gateway Arch to the charming former Portuguese trading center of Goa, from the emerald landscapes surrounding Mangalore to the canals of Cochin, and from the spectacular Hindu temple of Madurai to the famed cotton and silk weaving city of Chennai (Madras), this is a journey of a thousand impressions and a lifetime of memories. Travel the coast of southern India in the company of expert leaders, cultural specialists, and naturalists while enjoying the luxury and comfort of our expedition vessel, the Island Sky.

Snow Monkeys and Cranes

Departs: February 2, 2011

Our Snow Monkeys and Cranes expeditions provide opportunities to enjoy a Japan that few Westerners experience: Japan in winter. For photographers and aficionados of wildlife, people, and Japanese culture, these will be memorable departures full of snow-filled landscapes punctuated by troops of dancing red-crowned cranes, flocks of sea eagles, and bathing snow monkeys.