Category: Regions

MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Oh My, Oman! 9 Intriguing Facts About a Little Known Nation.

on December 20, 2016

The beauty of exploring Oman in a small group is the opportunity it affords to really get to know a place. Here’s just a sample of the kinds of things you’ll learn about fascinating corner of Arabia:

  • Several cities in Oman were major stops along the Incense Route between the 7th and 2nd centuries BC. The route stretched between the Mediterranean and India and witnessed the trade of frankincense and myrrh, Indian spices, precious stones, pearls, silk, rare bird feathers and gold.
  • The mighty fortresses of Oman, beautifully restored to their former glory, once defended the nation from marauders. In all, 500 edifices still stand throughout the small country.
  • Oman’s colorful and bustling souks are a richly textured pastiche of perfume, livestock, freshly plucked dates, silver jewelry, and khanjars, the silver daggers that have long symbolized manhood here.
  • Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is an enormous testament to the kind and giving Islamic faith. Its dazzling expanse of white marble is accented with wooden panels and fantastic stain-glass windows. Inside, its central carpet covers 45,000 square feet and its chandelier measures 46 feet tall!
  • The Portuguese ruled Oman from Muscat for 150 years. Two 16th-century forts – Al Jalali and Al Mirani – stand like guardians on either side of the Sultan’s Palace, adorned in turquoise and gold.
  • Muscat’s souk in the Muttrah district is called Al Dhalam, which means “darkness” in Arabic. This marketplace, one of the oldest in the Arab world, got its name from the constant shadows cast by its crowded stalls and narrow lanes. It can get so dark here even during the day, shoppers need lamps to find their destinations.
  • Oman enjoyed its own days as an imperial power. In the late 17th century, it actively vied for control of the region with Portugal and Britain. By the 19th century, its territories reached as far as Iran and Pakistan, and it relocated its capital to Zanzibar, the island off of today’s Tanzanian coast.
  • The tower of Nizwa Fort boasts many architectural deceptions and strategic secrets. Hidden shafts and false doors were meant to confuse anyone who breached the fort’s walls. A twisting narrow staircase led to the tower’s ramparts, but a heavy wooden door studded with spikes prevented entry once infiltrators reached that last step. Additionally, shafts above these doors allowed the defenders to pour boiling oil or the sticky syrup of dates onto their enemies.
  • Though football and basketball have recently entered Oman’s culture, traditional sports include horse racing, camel racing, bull fighting, falconry and the racing of dhows, the narrow wooden boats that have plied the country’s coast for centuries.

Travel to Dubai & Oman with Gate 1 Travel today!

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MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

on December 15, 2016

Shimmering Cities Rising from Desert Sands

It’s hard to believe that the ostentatious cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi were little more than backwaters on the Arabian Peninsula as little as 50 years ago. These humble places were sustained by centuries-old pearl-fishing and boat-building and dotted with goats, sheep, and date trees. Pearl divers took to the waters in handmade dhows, small wooden boats that still bob along the coast today.

Then oil was discovered in the mid-20th century – and the region’s extreme makeover began, financed by huge fortunes that grew quickly. With newfound wealth under their sands, the once-disparate regions of Dubai and Abu Dhabi joined together with Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain to form the United Arab Emirates. They named Abu Dhabi their capital. And the Arabian Peninsula has never been the same.

Dubai: an Intoxicating Blend of Modern and Ancient

You have to see Dubai to believe it. In this city of extremes, the world’s tallest building scrapes the sky, the world’s largest shopping mall spreads 1,200 shops at its feet, and a manmade island chain off its coast resembles a palm tree. In one afternoon in this desert city, you can see sharks at a huge aquarium, and step out of the heat to skate on an Olympic-sized ice rink or take to the snowy slopes at “Ski Dubai.” Many call it the most contradictory and diverse city on earth. Only 17% of Dubai’s people are true Emiratis and, amidst all this excess, the state religion is Islam, renowned for its tenets of modesty and reverence above all material possessions.

In your small group, you can contrast the futuristic metropolis with the traditional market of Old Dubai, where narrow lanes lead past shops and stalls brimming with aromatic spices, precious metals and stones and other treasures. Here, you can browse the world famous gold souk, a maze of covered streets and alleyways lined with gold. Speaking of old Dubai, you can get a glimpse of history in the Dubai Museum, located in the Al Fahidi Fort, the oldest standing building in the city. It’s a remarkable foray into the days before the oil boom. Delve into Emirati culture and tradition with a local during a special discussion. And embark an authentic abra, or water taxi, for a scenic ride along Dubai Creek, passing traditional low-slung dwellings and svelte minarets pointing skyward.

From Old World to new communities, you’ll venture onto the Palm Jumeirah archipelago. This island chain juts into the gulf, a spectacular sight for two reasons: it is entirely manmade, and it is laid out in the shape of a palm tree. The “trunk” of the tree serves as a causeway and eight fronds fan out on either side. Once they were completed, the islands doubled the length of Dubai’s coastline. Burj Al Arab also complements the oceanside setting of Dubai. This magnificent 7-star hotel – built in the shape of a dhow’s billowing sail – overlooks the gulf from an artificial island. Its 575-foot atrium lobby is the tallest in the world. Rooms start at around $1,700 per night … needless to say, it’s not a property that we at Discovery Tours have been able to secure for our travelers! Visitors are welcome to stroll into the lobby and take in its grand magnificence.

Of all Dubai’s magnificent sights, the most impressive is the 2,723-foot Burj Khalifa. Record after record was broken with its completion: tallest building, fastest elevator (40 mph), the most floors (160), highest outdoor observation deck (124th floor), highest restaurant (122nd floor), tallest structure to offer residential space, and more. At its feet, the Dubai Mall is the largest in the world. There are 1,200 storefront and they lured 54 million shoppers in 2011 – more than the entire city of New York! It features designer label stores, high-end boutiques, cinema, an Olympic-size ice rink, and a theme park. You’ll have time to explore this massive complex on your own if you wish.

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Thrilling Capital

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is a beautiful city of culture in its own right and a glorious desert metropolis down the coast from Dubai. Behind its glimmering façade lies a shining cultural beacon reminiscent of Islam’s golden age – the opulent, white-marble Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque boasts 82 domes, each topped with 24-carat gold, 1,000 columns, and a 40,000-capacity courtyard. Contrast this ten-year old building with Abu Dhabi’s oldest stone structure, Al-Husn Palace, the “white fort” originally built in 1761 … to the resplendent Zayed House, home of Sheikh Zayed, “Father of the Nation” … and to the second most expensive hotel ever built, the Emirate Palace (it cost $3 billion to construct over three years).

For a taste of local traditions, we’ve arranged a cruise through the city on a two-level dhow boat, giving you a unique perspective on this captivating city. More traditions live on at the Heritage Village, a fascinating open-air museum that depicts life before the oil boom, when women wove textiles, embroidered, and painted henna. You’ll look to the future at Manarat Al Saadiyat, an exhibition center profiling ongoing and projected developments in the city. And see the future at work at Masdar, the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city.

Witness the Giants of the UAE in a Small Group

The United Arab Emirates pulses with cultural and architectural treasures you have to see to believe. Dubai and Abu Dhabi only tell part of the story of this economic powerhouse. A visit here offers a mesmerizing blend of cosmopolitan flair and traditional Arab ways, all polished with a futuristic sheen. Between snacks of lamb kebabs and hummus in the tiny shawarma diners of the Deira district, or perhaps after relaxing in a shisha boutique with a bubbling water pipe, you’ll find lots to experience here.

EuropeGate 1 Connections

Witness Italy’s Endless Treasures with Gate 1

on November 29, 2016

Towering mountain peaks that plunge through emerald forests. Culture-steeped cities perched over glittering, cobalt seas. Cathedrals that soar, artwork that inspires, and cuisine that tempts the palate and then lingers on the memory—Italy is all of these things and more.

To truly immerse yourself in la dolce vita of Italy, you need to know the local people and what they love about their land; at Gate 1 Travel, we do. Our Tour Managers unveil to you their country’s most thrilling and fascinating sites, and are eager to enlighten you about Italy’s most beloved treasures. And as you arrive at some of Italy’s most visited museums and landmarks, you’ll bypass the long lines, thanks to our pre-purchased entry—offering more time for discoveries.

Welcome to Gate 1’s Italy!

Capitals of Culture: Rome, Venice, Florence & Milan

Rome really is an Eternal City, where past and present intermingle. On streets 2,000 years old, Vespas scoot by visitors soaking in the loveliness of the city’s charming piazzas. These open plazas embody public art at its finest, adorned with finely sculpted fountains carved by some of history’s greatest artists, from Bernini to della Porta.

Piazza to piazza, the architecture astounds—the Romans didn’t do anything half heartedly. Here, the Pantheon, built to honor the gods, soars to the skies. Its revolutionary crown – still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome – is a masterwork of Roman engineering that has never been duplicated. And the ancient Colosseum still dazzles: Once able to host 80,000 spectators, this was where Romans gathered to witness gladiatorial combat and contests between men and beasts.

Art and architecture come together in inspiring fashion in Vatican City. Surely, St. Peter’s Basilica and its sprawling square is one of the most moving pilgrimage sites in all of Christendom. Whether it is faith or art history that beckons you, the Vatican Museum rewards with one of the world’s undisputed treasures: Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, painstakingly painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In total, the artist painted more than 5,000 square feet of frescoes here. Today, they remain a wonder of rich color and sumptuous detail.

Rome might think of itself as the pinnacle of Italian culture, but citizens of Venice would firmly disagree. The glories of the Venetian Empire, which ruled much of the Adriatic region for over 1,000 years, are on full display. The glittering domes of St. Mark’s Basilica watch over its namesake square, which Napoleon once called “the drawing room of Europe” for its grace and beauty. The nearby Doge’s Palace was the empire’s center. Here, opulent chambers recall the lifestyles of the rich and regal. And the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the palace to the prison, afforded the final view that convicted criminals enjoyed (and “sighed” over) before they were locked away. And you can still find Murano glass, a true Venetian treasure, being shaped on the neighboring island by descendants of the finest glass blowers in history.

It didn’t take a kingdom to elevate Florence—just a family. The politically powerful and deep-pocketed Medicis made the city the epicenter of art and intrigue alike, a powerful draw for the greatest minds and talents of Europe. No wonder Florence gave birth to the Renaissance. With its grand buildings, sculptures, gardens, and the astonishing Duomo of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, the city is an open-air museum of the period that defined it. And visitors have two chances here to see its most iconic work, Michelangelo’s David: The original is in the Accademia of Fine Arts and a replica stands in the Piazza della Signoria.

Milan may not have given rise to an entire movement, but it made a name for itself as the heart of fashion in a nation that puts other countries to shame when it comes to style. You might never strut the catwalks of Fashion Week here, but you can always make your own runway with a stroll through the glamorous Victor Emmanuel Galleria, a 19th century pedestrian mall beneath a large arched glass ceiling. It’s the perfect distillation of Italian city life—stylish, historic, and aesthetically beautiful all in one.

Splendor of the Hills

When you leave the bustle of metropolitan centers for lush valleys and romantic hill towns, Italy’s astonishing natural beauty comes into view. At the medieval fortified town of Montecatini, spectacular vistas of emerald-hued slopes await—if you can tear yourself away from a soak in the city’s extensive thermal-fed spas. Travelers have long come here to “take the waters,” and you may do the same during your free time. 

Italy’s hill towns each boast a unique flavor and a distinct character. Lucca is a gem of medieval architecture. Its spectacularly preserved 17th-century wall is still fully intact and today is home to a public park that’s ideal for strolling and taking in amazing countryside views of olive and fig groves. Within its walls, the original Roman street layout reveals layer upon layer of history. Umbrian Assisi straddles a hilltop, appearing more like a fortress than a major center of the Franciscan Order, though the view from the city is indeed heavenly. Historic Verona is more focused on earthly pursuits, from the remarkably preserved amphitheater to the charming balcony on which Shakespeare’s Juliet is said to have swooned over her famous suitor.

Verdant green hillsides spill down to the sparkling waters of Lago di Como, or Lake Como, in Lombardy. Playground of jet-setters and celebrities, this vast and glistening lake is surrounded by cypress trees, earth-toned villas, lush gardens and spectacular mountain views. It is pure pleasure simply to be here and stroll the scenic lakeside promenade, and it’s hard to resist a cruise to nearby Bellagio, “The Pearl of Lake Como.” The gentle waves lapping at the shores of this lyrical red-roofed village whisper, “Come again…”

The Glittering Sea

As lovely a backdrop as Lake Como might be, it is easily rivaled by the stunning sweep of Italy’s jaw-dropping coastline. On the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, a necklace of five villages clinging to cliff sides, is one of the world’s most enchanting destinations. Largely untouched by the congestion of the modern world, the villages can only be accessed by foot or animal trail or by a 19th-century railway.

The Amalfi Coast tempts with one of the world’s most scenic drives, tracing dramatic and rocky shores to quaint seaside villages and colorful houses that seem to spill into the sea, from Positano to Ravello. Its gateway is Sorrento – famed for its limoncello lemon liqueur and its sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples.

On the Ligurian coast, romance and glamour infuse the route from Portofino to Chiavari with palm-fringed beaches and pastel-colored villas. At the heart of the beauty lies Rapallo, home to the 16th century Castello sul Mare (Castle-on-the-Sea), built to keep out pirates (though it’s understandable why they’d be attracted to such a pretty port).

Sicilian Splendor

Sicily knows a thing or two about pirates, having launched its own in the Roman era (including a crew which kidnapped Julius Caesar) and coming under attack from Barbary pirates for years after. An island of fierce individualism and cultural pride, its heritage nonetheless reflects the influences of the many empires which have tried to tame it.

The island has been a crossroads of civilizations for centuries and countless cultures left their mark here – from the hilltop Norman Cathedral in Monreale to the 12th-century Byzantine mosaics within. The island’s heart is Palermo, its Old Town a stunning blend of architectural styles, many of them represented in the Palermo Cathedral, which was built and enhanced over centuries.

A spectacular sampling of Greek culture defines Agrigento. Here, in the Valley of the Temples, are the best preserved worship sites outside mainland Greece, including the Temple of Juno and incredibly intact Temple of Concordia. Remarkably restored Roman villas are nearby, providing unique insight into the lives of that era.

The most active volcano in Europe, Mt. Etna is the island’s true conqueror, outlasting all other regimes. It watches over Taormina and Catania alike. Perched on a rocky plateau, Taormina overlooks the Bay of Naxos and the Ionian Sea. The meticulous preservation of its Greek stadium and its walls is equaled only by the coastal vista from its hillside setting. To the south, Catania stood on par with Florence for its cultural and artistic contributions during the Renaissance. Much of the town was destroyed during a 1693 earthquake, and so today it boasts a more baroque flavor, with wide-open piazzas and colorful markets.

Undiscovered Beauty

Perhaps less well known to outsiders than Sicily—and thus seldom as crowded—the Puglia region spreads across the heel of Italy’s boot. Surrounded by turquoise sea, the port city of Bari has been welcoming home sailors and fishermen for more than two millennia. At the open-air market, locals buy the day’s catch, often brought ashore by their own friends and loved ones. The Bari Cathedral and the grand Romanesque Basilica of San Nicola show that Italy’s penchant for artistry didn’t miss Puglia. The same is true in Lecce, where baroque gems outline 300 year-old cobblestone streets. From its Piazza del Duomo to its 2nd century Roman amphitheater, it’s easy to see why Lecce is fondly named the “Florence of the South.

Like in the rest of Italy, history stretches back across the centuries in Puglia, as a visit to a pair of UNESCO World Heritage Sites reveals. Alberobello is home to 14th-century dry stone huts known as trulli, small conical structures based on prehistoric building techniques. And in Matera, the Paleolithic Age is revealed by the mysterious Sassi, ancient stone dwellings carved into rock, believed to be the first human settlements in Italy.

Truly, the full sweep of human history awaits you here, from boot to heel and mountain to sea.

Join Gate 1 Travel in Italy to Make the Most of Your Visit, and Your Budget

You’re coming this far…add another country! Italy’s neighbors each have their own story to tell, and savvy travelers know that combining trips makes the most of their travel dollars. Follow the route of Venetian tradesman to Croatia & Slovenia, taking in gems like seaside Opatija and Dubrovnik, the UNESCO World Heritage site. Add a fourth additional country, with Bosnia fleshing out your Balkans experience. Compare the best of Italy with the ancient gems of Greece or a kaleidoscope of cultural capitals in Spain or in Spain and France.

Gate 1 offers choice not just in where you explore—but how. Prefer the up-close access and intimate feeling of a small group trip? Travel with Discovery Tours, our sister company that opens up doors that large groups just can’t access. Italy your way is always possible with Gate 1.

For the richest discoveries at the best value, join Gate 1 and discover the timeless appeal of Italy!

EuropeTravel Tips

All Roads Lead Here: The Must-See Wonders of Ancient Rome

on November 28, 2016

Standing outside the Roman Coliseum, you can almost hear the echoes of ancient crowds roaring through the ages. The mammoth amphitheater is one of the empire’s many architectural achievements whose remains lend an unparalleled historic depth to today’s Rome. This arena stands four stories tall and is graced by 80 entrance arches. In its day, it could accommodate a crowd of 50,000 spectators who rooted for man to slay beast, for beast to slay man, or for men to slay each other. The arena’s bowl could even be flooded with water so that Roman citizens could witness mock sea battles.

It’s hard to believe that such a place could have been imagined in the ancient world, never mind constructed. That’s the wonder of exploring the millennia-old sites of Rome. Their power and their glory transcend the city itself, rising above today’s modern bustle to whisper and shout all at once that this is where a great arc of history began.

The past is palpable here. Along the byways of the ancient Forum—called by historians the most celebrated meeting place in the world and in all of history—triumphal processions marched to proclaim Rome’s latest military victory … public speakers rattled on about the latest current events … senators debated the latest laws … and merchants traded goods with vendors from faraway lands. Of course, it’s not just the social and political buzz of history that makes this place so spectacular; the Roman Forum is a living museum of architectural splendor. 

The Temple of Saturn is, for many visitors, the most prominent of the remains. Rome’s trusted financiers walked through its eight towering columns—all that remains of the once-grand building—to gain access to the city’s treasury of gold and silver. Saturn was the logical god to look over it all because he ruled during the Golden Age and was closely associated with wealth.

Also impressive, the Arch of Septimus Severus, a hulking and incredibly preserved structure, has stood here since its completion in the year 203. It commemorated the victory of Severus over the Parthians. It is so well preserved for two reasons: First, it was incorporated into the structure of a Christian church by Pope Innocent III in 1199. When the church moved, the arch stayed. Second, in the Middle Ages, flooding deposited debris and silt into the small valley that the Forum occupies, leaving the arch half-buried.

There’s another monument to Rome’s rich past that is admittedly harder to find. (Here’s a hint: It’s next to Arch of Septimus Severus.) The Umbilicus Urbis Romae, or Navel of the City of Rome, is little more than a plaque that marks the symbolic city center. You might think such a marker insignificant, but to ancient Romans it meant everything. Rome was, after all, the center of the world. And so distances to and from every outpost of the Roman Empire started and ended at this point. All roads did indeed lead to Rome.

One road—the Via Triumphalis—led to the Navel of Rome via the magnificent Arch of Constantine. This remarkable gate, adorned with bas reliefs, commemorates Emperor Constantine’s defeat in the Battle of Milvian Bridge in the year 312. The arch was built to straddle the Via Triumphalis, the road on which emperors made their ceremonial entrance into the city after a victory. The structure was so admired that it served as the inspiration for arches built all over the world in the coming centuries.

The Pantheon predates the arch by at least 200 years, yet it is the most complete building from ancient Rome. This majestic monument to Roman engineering was originally built as a temple to all the gods of ancient Rome. Today, it serves as a church, making it one of the city’s oldest structures in continuous use. Its circular room is topped by the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The oculus at the apex of the dome bathes the rotunda in rays of sunlight. The massive gray-granite columns on the rectangular porch were quarried in Egypt, transported here down the Nile River, across the Mediterranean Sea, and up the Tiber River. 

It’s easy to see why all roads lead to ancient Rome. Ingenuity seems to have been born here, and inspiration lives in the brilliance of its architecture 2,000 years later.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

The Flam Railway: Where Staggering Beauty Meets Human Engineering

on November 16, 2016

When a railroad was built to connect the major Norwegian cities of Bergen and Oslo, advocates and residents of the more rural region of Sogn saw an opportunity: Why not also construct an additional line that would lead visitors to the gorgeous Sognefjord and allow those who live in the countryside easier access to the rest of Norway? The result – the astonishing Flam Railway – is a man-made wonder where nature steals the show.

The distance between the railway’s starting point of Myrdal and its scenic terminus of Flåm, which gracefully rests on the edge of a fjord, was a mere 12 miles. But the incline to connect the two points was so steep—rising to almost 3,000 feet—it seemed beyond what a train could handle. Norway’s best engineers decided that the only way to pull it off would be to create a route that twisted and turned, not just hugging mountainsides but burrowing through them. After years of debate, a plan was finalized to carve 20 tunnels out of the rocky mountainside—18 of them by hand.

Construction started in the 1920s, eventually employing 280 builders at once. Local farms got an unexpected bonus: Suddenly, their horses and wagons were in high demand for hauling materials, filling the bank accounts of rural families more than their fields alone ever had. Tourists also came to watch the construction itself, pouring more income into the local economy. It was quite a show: Workers drilled into the rock walls, stuffed dynamite into the holes and blasted away. Each foot of progress required roughly 40-50 hours of backbreaking work. All this was not without danger; twice, construction was briefly halted when workers were killed in accidents.

Once the rail line’s ten stations were built and tracks were laid, the pace picked up. By the end of the 1930s, the first freight train was rolling along the route three times a week. World War II actually hastened construction as the occupying German forces wanted the route for steam locomotives, too. After the war, the Flam Line was a commercial hit as trains ran in both directions twice daily. It was the fastest way for people, goods and mail to travel between the region of Sogn and Oslo and Bergen.

Now, the tracks are maintained by the Norwegian rail authorities. In a route that takes you from sea level to 2,847 feet in the span of a single hour, you are treated to an endless array of vistas. Waterfalls plunge down steep slopes to wide verdant valleys. Peak after snowcapped peak etch out the horizon, while bucolic farms overlook flower-filled pastures. At one point, there is a thrill ride element, as the train emerges from a 2,000-foot tunnel onto a clifftop shelf with a staggeringly sheer vertical drop. It is easily one of the world most breathtaking train journeys.

Showered with accolades by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, and others, the Flam Line is now one of Norway’s top three most visited sites, no longer a route toward a destination, but the destination in itself.

It’s all aboard the Flam Railway when you join us in on our Scandinavia, Naturally Charming small group trip. Click here to learn more!

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Tiny Titans: Iceland’s Legendary Horses

on November 15, 2016

For a creature just over four feet tall, the Icelandic horse looms large in its country’s folklore. The breed arrived with the Vikings a thousand years ago and was featured in the Norse mythologies that came with them. With the passage of time, the tall tales of Norse gods were replaced by majestic Icelandic Sagas, but the hardy little horses remained.

Typically, a horse this short would be considered a pony, but Iceland has never agreed with the classification, noting the strength and spirited temperament of the breed. First used for sheepherding and other farm work, the breed was developed in seemingly endless permutations for showing and racing. There are now so many colors and patterns that there are 100 Icelandic words to distinguish them.

For all their visual variety, Iceland is keen on keeping its beloved species genetically pure. No Icelandic horse may be bred with any other species, and no other breeds are allowed to be imported. If an Icelandic horse is exported it may never return. The 19 nations lucky enough to have an exported herd must still refer to them as Icelandic.

Aside from their stout beauty, the horses are beloved for their friendly temperament. They are cheerful beasts, known for their enthusiastic personalities and enjoyment of human company. Without any natural predators, they aren’t easily spooked, which makes them easy to handle. Some of their behaviors, too, are distinct. They walk, trot, and canter like other horses, but have two extra gaits: an “ambling pace” (tölt) and a “flying pace” (skeið). The term “flying” references a brief moment when the tiny creature is suspended in the air, all four hoofs off the ground, lending a hint of the magic that earned them roles in the Icelandic Sagas.

In the best known legend, a mighty chieftain vowed that if anyone dared to ride his prized horse Freyfaxi, the interloper would be put to death. When the chief followed through on the threat, he was beaten and chased out of town by locals, who then threw Freyfaxi off a cliff and told the animal to fly to the gods. That act took things too far and the deities were displeased; they restored the chieftain to his fortune, and impoverished the horse’s tormentors. Alas, the gods did not bring Freyfaxi back to life but no one again dared show such disrespect to the value of an Icelandic horse. By the medieval era, such horses were without question the greatest treasure of a household, and warriors were often buried not next to their wives but to their horses.

At Fákasel Horse Park in the northern reaches of Iceland, you can see skilled exhibitions by the four-legged stars of the sagas. But you’ll see plenty of them outside this special equestrian facility, too: They remain highly popular. One census estimates there is roughly one horse for every four humans in Iceland. After a thousand years, this land is truly theirs.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Lands Awash in Beauty

on November 14, 2016

From Norway’s Fjords to Iceland’s Watery Wonders

Where on earth could you find a deep-water coral reef teeming with life and a glacier bigger than the city of New Orleans? How about a volcano with slopes hot enough to cook eggs on and icy peaks gilded in permafrost? Only in Scandinavia. Norway and its North Sea cousin Iceland boast landscapes that linger long in memory, together composing one of Earth’s most dramatically diverse corners.

There’s Nowhere Like Norway 

The Vikings made the waters of Norway famous and exploring by boat is still the thrill of a lifetime. Nowhere is that more true than among the magnificent fjords that have long defined this astonishing part of the world. Sognefjord is Norway’s biggest and best known, rising higher than the tallest skyscraper on earth and plunging a whopping 4,291 feet. At 127 miles long, it’s not only the longest in Norway, but the second longest on earth, and at its widest point, the span is nearly three miles across.

Humbler in scope but concentrated in its beauty, Norddalsfjorden (which you can cruise through on your way to the village of Eidsdal) is only 9 miles long but has been praised for its beauty since it was first mentioned in writing during the Middle Ages. Lined now by quaint villages and webbed with limpid rivers, Norddalsfjorden is idyllic in the extreme, a model of pastoral beauty.

If one had to pick a favorite Norwegian fjord, surely Geirangerfjord would be in the running. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is lined alternately with vertical rock walls rising from the pristine water and emerald green slopes lush with vegetation. Just when you think the vista couldn’t get more impressive here, you witness how (in the words of the mother-in-law of Henrik Ibsen, the famed Norwegian writer), “Foaming waterfalls plunge into the fjord from jagged peaks.” Local legend has a more romantic interpretation of the showers that plunge down the cliffs: The “Seven Sisters” cascades face the singular waterfall known as “The Suitor” across the fjord, and folklore says the spirit of The Suitor keeps trying to woo one of the Sisters to be his bride. If he succeeds, they don’t have to go far to prepare for their nuptials: Geirangerfjord is also home to a lacy waterfall known as The Bridal Veil.

For an entirely different perspective on Norway’s natural splendor, go high along some of the most memorable driving routes on Earth. From the Dalsnibba Lookout, you can see not only Geirangerfjord, but a dozen more fjords and snow-capped mountain peaks beyond. The highest vantage point in the region, this route was the handiwork of 300 men. The breathtaking Trollstigen Mountain Road, which was completed next, was built by 11 teams, one for each of its 11 hairpin bends. As you zigzag past waterfalls, you’ll be rewarded with views stretching miles from mountains to fjord.

Iceland: Wild at Heart 

From the imaginary kingdom of Westeros in Game of Thrones to Ridley Scott’s alien landscape in Prometheus, Hollywood directors looking for the most eye-popping and otherworldly terrain head to Iceland.  And no wonder: it’s striking at every turn.

A trio of unforgettable settings comprises what is famously known as the Golden Circle, a wealth of fantastic vistas that harken back to the world’s primeval origins. Thingvellir is the site of Iceland’s first parliament, which was called to order back in 930 AD. On the flat of a rift valley, lawmakers assembled in the open air to discuss clan business. It’s a wonder anyone could focus on the work at hand: the setting itself is a showstopper. Between tumults of rock, the verdant green plains are riven with gleaming pools that reflect the blue of the vast sky. Mountains overlook the scene and Iceland’s largest lake forms the far border.  It’s a truly inspiring setting for Iceland’s National Shrine, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just a forty-minute drive away waits Haukadalur, a geothermal hotspot where the hissing earth vents its emotions, continually letting off steam. This is home to the original geyser—or at least to the first place ever called “Geysir,” the jettisoning plume after which all others have been named. Geysir, first mentioned in 13th-century accounts, has lately been dormant, but its  showoff sister Strokkur still regularly delivers scalding jets of water as high as 100 feet into the sky every ten or fifteen minutes.

At Iceland’s famous Gullfoss waterfall, the water cascades downward rather than spurting upward. These raucous waters plunge 100 feet into a ravine, a spectacular foaming curtain that seems to disappear into the earth.  It’s a feast for the senses: the roar of the falls, the transient spectacle of rainbows in sunlight, the spray of the mist cooling your skin.  According to locals, it’s so beautiful that when it was almost sold to foreign investors as a potential energy source, the landowner’s daughter threatened to throw herself into the crevice. Happily, she didn’t need to; Iceland bought the falls outright to protect them for eternity.

Few places on Earth match Norway and Iceland for their magnificent beauty and pristine wilderness shaped by glacial and volcanic forces. We invite you to join a Discovery Tours small group to experience them to their awe-inspiring fullness.

EuropeSmall Group Discoveries

Oslo’s Art of Reinvention

on November 10, 2016

Step aside, London and Paris. Move over Tokyo and Manhattan. There’s a new cultural capital on the map: Oslo. Granted, you can’t really call a nearly 967-year-old city “new” but with a recent boom in architecture and forward-thinking renovations of public space, it’s become the destination for those seeking sophisticated modern pleasures.

All eyes are on the waterfront. For the last decade, as part of a master plan reaching to 2020, Oslo has pumped money into transforming this once dour, industrial area into a glittering interconnected strand of inviting neighborhoods known as the Urban Fjord. The five-mile Havnepromenaden (Harbor Promenade) runs east to west like a ribbon tying the city together, with vivid orange markers guiding those who would like to follow the entire route.

One of the first finished areas was Sorenga, which boasts a public seawater pool and a lamplit tunnel that connects kayakers to the Akerselva River. Strolling down the promenade, you arrive at the new Barcode district, where shining ultramodern high-rises draw your gaze upward. Further along, the Aker Brigg Wharf is studded with cafes, boutiques, and a jetty rife with some of Oslo’s most acclaimed restaurants. One of the newest districts is Tjuvholmen, known for its romantic Venetian-style canals, and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, which has become a magnet for contemporary art lovers from across the globe.

The crown jewel of the waterfront remains the new Oslo Opera House. The 60-million-dollar beauty mixes gleaming glass with sloping white marble and granite ramps designed to mimic a glacier rising from the sea. Norwegians love strolling up the ramp-like surface all the way to the rooftop, where summertime begs for basking in the sunlight and taking in lovely views. It’s just one of the reasons the New York Times made Oslo one of the top places to visit in 2013, and called the city “ready to shine.”
Not all of Oslo’s treasures are new, of course. The Vigeland Sculpture Park is one of the great masterpieces of 20th-century culture in Oslo. The stunning outdoor collection of more than 200 granite, bronze, and wrought iron pieces is the largest sculpture park on earth by a single artist. Their creator, Gustav Vigeland, was considered a master in his own time: Back in the 1920s, the city agreed to build him a home, studio, and future museum. The result is the massive outdoor garden and a stunning indoor collection that Vigeland gifted to the city.

Perhaps Vigeland’s best known work, however, is his design for the Nobel Peace Prize medal. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel that is not awarded in Stockholm. The annual ceremony is a grand affair hosted at Rådhuset, Oslo’s City Hall, a modern-style building built in the mid-20th century. Yet its enormous clock face and carillon bell towers recall centuries-old European town halls, and the peal of the bells lends an especially timeless feel. True to Norway’s citizen-centered spirit, City Hall’s simple brick façade was meant to reflect the lives of ordinary Norwegian workers, while the stunning interior central hall is ablaze with color from the greatest Norwegian muralists and fresco artists.

With more treasures still in the making, Oslo feels like a thrilling hub of urban evolution. After nearly a millennium, travelers are finally taking notice: Oslo’s moment is now.

Visit Oslo, Norway with Gate 1 Travel today! View our trips to Norway here.

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

From the Gobi to Khovsgol: Keeping in Steppe with Mongolia’s Remote Beauty

on October 26, 2016

Most people envision unspoiled Mongolia as two ruggedly different environments: the barren Gobi Desert and vast steppes blanketed with grassland. But these two landscapes only paint a fraction of a remarkable canvas.

To start, the Gobi—one of the last great untraveled places on earth—is unlike any desert you’ve imagined. It is kept dry by the Himalayas, which prevent rain clouds from heading northeast. The Gobi is the third largest “hot” desert in the world, after the Sahara and the Arabian, and only three percent of it is actually covered by sand. The rest is a surprisingly diverse array of ecosystems: gravelly plains, exposed rock, soaring peaks, dizzying gorges, dense forest, and babbling springs. It all thrives with a miniscule amount of annual rainfall and supports a rich variety of wildlife.  Little wonder that 13 million acres of the desert have been declared the Great Gobi Protected Area, and comprise Asia’s largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Within this massive reserve, Gurvansaikhan National Park—whose name translates into “Three Beauties” for its three mountain ranges known as East, Middle, and West Beauty—hosts some remarkable desert delights. The range is completely surrounded by desert, yet a semi-permanent ice field clings to its slopes. Elsewhere, in Eagle Valley, the stunning bearded vulture, or lammergeyer, rides warm thermals where deep gorges have been carved into the desert floor. You might imagine this raptor has been around since the age of the dinosaurs. If so, then its ancestors would have witnessed the reign of Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurids here; dinosaur egg fossils and other prehistoric remains of these beasts have been uncovered in the shadow of the Flaming Cliffs, breathtaking monolithic rock formations named for their vivid red sandstone.

Perhaps the Gobi’s most mesmerizing natural wonder are its Singing Sands. You might think it magical that these towering sand dunes would whistle like desert spirits sending a message to the living. But this is a natural phenomenon, not a ghostly one. These sands can only sing because of a unique recipe found only here and a few other places on earth: Start with specifically-sized grains of sand … make sure they contain silica … and adjust the sand’s humidity to a very precise level. Add a gust of wind, and listen to the sands sing.

All told, the Gobi is a colossal, dynamic living organism that’s been known to affect climates outside its borders. Easterly winds during Mongolia’s stormy seasons can kick up Gobi dust and carry it to China, even lingering over major cities like Beijing.

Heading west from the Gobi, tiny villages of round tented huts called gers dot the green steppes. Wild horses drink from spring-fed, pristine lakes. Perhaps a nomadic family journeys across an open plain, their yak and reindeer and provisions in tow. And perhaps they are headed to Khovsgol in the far northwest, Mongolia’s green paradise of forests, mountains, and lakes.

Just over Khovsgol’s Sayan mountain range of 10,000-footers, Russia’s great Siberian wilderness—the taiga, or subarctic coniferous forest—stretches in all directions. Sacred rivers course down alpine slopes and feed some of the purest lakes in the world, Lake Khovsgol among them, known as the “dark blue pearl.” It is the largest fresh water lake in the country, and the centerpiece of a protected national park area larger than Yellowstone.

Life is simple here … both for the locals who have learned to welcome travelers without harming their cherished way of life … and for visitors who quickly learn to slow down to a peaceful pace among forests of Siberian larch trees and magenta fireweed. This is about as remote as the Gobi, perhaps even more so, the kind of place where you can hear yourself breathe amidst the whispers of a pine-scented breeze.

Who knew Mongolia was so magnificent? Discover it for yourself during our Mongolia & the Gobi Desert trip. Click here to learn more!

Asia & PacificSmall Group Discoveries

The Wrath of Khans

on October 24, 2016

Like all nations, Mongolia has seen its share of violent days. After all, if you’ve got building an empire on your mind, politeness is likely to fall away. The Mongolian Empire, largely bookended by Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan, blossomed throughout the 13th century, reaching as far west as today’s Poland, south to Pakistan and South China, and east all the way to Pacific shores. It was the largest contiguous land empire in human history, comprising 16% of the earth’s land surface. Herewith, the niceties of war, Khan-style:

  • Genghis Khan did not allow looting of his enemies without his prior approval, preferring to split acquired wealth among his warriors and their families.
  • He codified all laws, including prohibitions against selling women, stealing, fighting among Mongols, and hunting during the breeding season.
  • Genghis Khan declared religious freedom, international trade, and literacy for all, thus forming many alliances.
  • Genghis Khan saw his son and heir Ogedei as courteous, generous, and charismatic. Ironically, this kept the Empire on the path originally laid by Genghis, and Ogedei Khan expanded it to its farthest points west and south.
  • By the time of the third Khan’s enthronement at Karakorum in 1246, the reach of the Empire’s power was apparent: many foreign ambassadors attended Guyuk Khan’s coronation, including Pope Innocent IV, the Grand Duke of Moscow, a Seljuk Sultan, and the Emperor of India.
  • Khan #4, Mongke Khan, built Buddhist monasteries, mosques, and Christian churches in the Mongol capital. One prized installation in Karakorum was a silver tree whimsically adorned with pipes that dispensed various drinks. A replica of its stands before a Chinese temple today.
  • After Mongke Khan’s death, his two brothers Ariqboke and Kublai fought over the throne, stirring up a civil war in the once-united empire. Kublai emerged victorious.
  • Kublai Khan, after conquering all of China, became the first non-Chinese Emperor of that country. He grew the economy there and opened more than 20,000 public schools.
  • As the Mongol Empire grew, it broke into disparate factions who held allegiances to different ancestral brothers. By the time Kublai Khan died, southern expansion had reached its limit and over the following decades, the empire crumbled.
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