2024 will be a big travel year with trips to Antarctica, the American Southwest, Scotland, Galapagos and Machu Picchu, and the Julian Alps in Slovenia. See the complete list below.
December 30, 2023 to January 22, 2024
Around the World by Private Jet, with Smithsonian Journeys. This will be my 5th time lecturing on this specific itinerary but the first one that I will serve as a representative of the Smithsonian. Stops include Machu Picchu and Cusco Peru, Easter Island, Fiji, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Angkor Wat Cambodia, Taj Mahal, the Serengeti, Victoria Falls and Marrakech Morocco. We will travel on TCS’s Airbus 321 aircraft configured with 52 First Class seats. I will give presentations while in the air on the jet, using images from my previous visits. I will be blogging on the Earthly-Musings blog site, so look for updates and photos there of this amazing trip.
February 24 to March 7, 2024
Antarctica: The White Continent, with Smithsonian Journeys on the vessel Le Boréal (Ponant Cruise Line). This will be my 30th trip to the White Continent and I never tire of the pristine nature and stunning scenery of Antarctica. A summer in the Antarctic Peninsula is warmer than many midwestern or eastern winters so don’t let the cold scare you away. Visits will be made to various penguin rookeries, scientific research stations, and Zodiac cruises among whales and seals. And of course, the stunning and ice-filled landscape displaying great geology! Many landings ashore. See the itinerary here.
June 1 to 8, 2024 Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce, with National Geographic. What could be better than visiting the great American Southwest with your own personal geologist to explain the many colorful landforms! This trip begins in St. George Utah and then visits Grand Canyon’s North Rim. We then transfer to Zion National Park and Bryce. You will not be disappointed at the amount of information conveyed during our overland journey. The full itinerary is here.
May 11 to 17, 2024
Rafting the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. This is a private charter requested by one of my neighbors in Flagstaff. The outfitter for this trip will be my long-time partner and official Grand Canyon National Park concessionaire Colorado River and Trail Expeditions (CRATE). This trip will have a geology theme but of course all aspects of the canyon’s natural history will be discussed.
June 15 to 22, 2024
The Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords: A Cruise from Glasgow to Bergen, with Smithsonian Journeys. I am super excited to be going back to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, two of the more satisfying destinations in all of Scotland. This cruise will be on the vessel, Le Champlain. Launched in 2018, Le Champlain is among a new fleet of luxury expedition ships of the French-flagged Ponant Cruise Line. The full trip itinerary can be found here.
August 10 to 16, 2024
Rafting the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. This is a private charter requested by the Desert Mountain community in Scottsdale. The outfitter for this trip will be my long-time partner and official Grand Canyon National Park concessionaire Colorado River and Trail Expeditions (CRATE). This trip will have a geology theme but of course all aspects of the canyon’s natural history will be discussed.
August 24 to September 8, 2024
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, with Smithsonian Journeys. This is a really fantastic itinerary that begins in Peru’s capital city, Lima. We transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River and the ruins of Ollantaytambo. A special overnight stay at the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu allows us to enter the site before the general public. Many days are also spent exploring the ancient city of Cusco. Fly to the Galapagos for four nights based in as hotel with day trips by boat. The full itinerary can be viewed here.
September 15 to 25, 2024
Hiking the Alpe-Adria Trail, Julian Alps and Glossglockner Hiking, with National Geographic. On this hiking adventure, myself and a National Geographic Expedition Leader will accompany you and share insights and a behind-the-scenes perspective. Local guides will join us along the way. Stay in hotels each night and hike during the daylight hours. See the website description here.
Wayne Ranney - Landscapes and Travels 