Eurocircle Travels Around the World

08/01/2024

Hi Travelers,

many of you are asking what to wear, so I checked in with our tour company to make sure we look appropriate and are well prepared for our trip. Since this year we have many newcomers in our group, I want to let everybody know that most of our trips are heavy on sightseeing , therefore comfortable walking shoes and sneakers are a must.

Normally we get picked up at the hotel at 9 am by our guide and are back in the hotel around 3pm, at which point you are free to do as you like. It will be hot in Saudi even in winter, so wear comfortable loose clothing.

Although SA has relaxed its dress code for travelers, and women are no longer required to wear an abaya, we are still expected to dress conservatively, wear loose clothing that does not reveal curves, skin or cleavage, and wear modest/subdued colors. I was told not to wear any religious symbols, logos or decals or text.

Many female tourists choose to wear an abaya anyway because it is easier to keep everything covered and they get fewer stares when traveling. You don't have to do this, but make sure you are covered to your elbows, that your clothing does not cling, and if you are wearing jeans, wear a longer top to cover your bum :-) Maxi dresses are ideal, but make sure they either have elbow length sleeves or wear a T-shirt underneath. Instead of an abaya, I am considering buying a few long silk tunics. If you go to Shein.com and type abaya in the search box, you will get a lot of loose dusters, capes, and sleeved tunics that will cover everything.

Online, you will see many tourists wearing shorts, but even men get stared at when they wear this. Most wear long pants, with a loose untucked T-shirt with no text. While a few hotels allow bikinis (rare), a one-piece bathing suit is suggested. Most tourists wear a t-shirt over their swim suit while in water.

Jeddah is more touristy, so you should feel more comfortable dressed western, and people won't stare at you as much as in Riyadh. You should still pack a scarf in case we visit any mosques or religious buildings.

07/11/2024

Saudi Arabia Update for Eurocircle Travelers. The good news is that our approvals are instant. I received my visa within minutes of submitting the application. The online application is a bit buggy, relax. Compared to all the other countries we have been too, the Saudi visa is the easiest. once you have received your approval, please forward it to me via email. Looking forward to traveling with you to Riyadh, AlUla, and Jeddah.

Apply now for an Electronic Tourist Visa to visit Saudi Arabia in 3 simple steps from the Official eVisa Portal

05/29/2024

If you are joining us in Saudi Arabia this December, please contact our tour organizer

Alula, Saudi Arabia – A Hidden Gem in the DesertJoin me on a journey through the stunning and historic city of Alula, Saudi Arabia. From the ancient ruins of...

01/19/2024

I was born traveling. But divorce freed me to explore the world. 13 years later, I have a travel company, 91 countries under my travel belt, amazing friends. Would I ever go back to my past life? Travel has given me so much more.

A majority of people traveling abroad alone these days are women, and demand for women-led tour groups is rising. Stephanie Sy takes a closer look at the rea...

10/11/2023

Check out the Registan Square light show, posted by Eurocircle traveler David Kent

Samarkand was one of the stops on my recent travels to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. [Read more about that here] With over half a million inhabitants, Samarkand is the capital…

10/08/2023

Eurocircle traveler David Kent has a new blog post about our 2023 destinations: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgizstan & Kazakhstan. David is a published author of several books, and he often blogs about his travels. Here is why Uzbekistan should be on your travel bucket list.

Make a New Plan, “Stan” https://hotwhitesnow.wordpress.com/2023/10/08/make-a-new-plan-stan/

Paul Simon had a highly successful song in the mid-1970s called 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. The repeating chorus has the line, “Make a new plan, Stan,” one of several ways the song suggests to “get yourself free.” But this post isn’t about music; it’s about “Stan.” Well, “Stans.”

Part of the reason for the gap since my last post is that I was traveling. Not just a road trip like I did in early April (or even the Iberian and Moroccan jaunt from late April). This one took me to Turkey and four of the “Stans,” specifically Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

Read the rest: https://hotwhitesnow.wordpress.com/2023/10/08/make-a-new-plan-stan/

08/30/2023

UZBEKISTAN.

Uzbekistan stretches between the Gissar Mountains and the Aral Sea. The country is characterized by seemingly endless sandy deserts and oases, and was once o...

08/24/2023

Who matches their reading material to their travels?

The nomads of the Eurasian steppes played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed.

They built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade along the Silk Road and disseminated religions, technology and knowledge that enriched and changed the lives of millions across Europe, China and the Middle East.

From a single region emerged a great many peoples - the Huns, the Mongols, the Magyars, the Turks, the Xiongnu, the Scythians, the Goths - all of whom went on to profoundly and irrevocably shape the modern world.

In this pacey and exhaustive new history, Professor Kenneth W. Harl draws on a lifetime of scholarship to vividly recreate the lives of these peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age.

08/02/2023

I love this lady, follow her for more travel gems :)

07/05/2023

06/08/2023

https://youtube.com/shorts/X1nBgLiARpc?feature=share

06/05/2023

https://guide.michelin.com/rs/en/article/michelin-star-revelation/the-michelin-guide-belgrade-spotlights-17-restaurants-in-its-new-2023-selection?fbclid=IwAR2j7BHx3WsX148VkReEo0s1QvzNVVelbMlYPhJQiNMHhVwWyBJfFFpy1Js

Michelin is delighted to present the 2023 selection of the MICHELIN Guide Belgrade. In this second edition, 3 new restaurants are recommended by the Guide, ...

05/19/2023

Awesome little documentary about our destination 2021.

What do you imagine when you hear the word "Galápagos"? If you're interested in booking this tour (or one similar), click this link for 5% off your booking: ...

05/16/2023

How many of these destinations have you already been to?
https://www.departures-international.com/travel/destinations/2023-best-travel-destinations?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=Facebook_Desktop_Feed&utm_campaign=NS-US&utm_content=TRAF%202023%20Destinations%20-%20US%20%28LP%29&fbclid=IwAR0gVlzdb4gSJc7dZwT_eTIxvlgPo90rMzwjaIp_iffxxSV92vssYw1RQoo

From under-the-radar regions ready to shine to well-visited metropolises burnishing their credentials in creative new ways, here are the places to add to your itinerary this year

04/04/2023

TOUR DATES: Arrival Day: Sept 20, 2023 COST: See price breakdown below. DEPOSIT: $900 per person. Please contact tour organizer to pay by check, Venmo, etc. Tour: Central Asian TourCountries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, KyrgyzstanDuration: 8 days/7 nights Tour itinerary: Day 1: Tashkent – arrivalArrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the…...

TOUR DATES: Arrival Day: Sept 20, 2023 COST: See price breakdown below. DEPOSIT: $900 per person. Please contact tour organizer to pay by check, Venmo, etc. Tour: Central Asian TourCountries: …

01/27/2023

Machu Pichu has closed indefinitely. If you had plans to see this wonder of the world, you might want to wait until things calm down in Peru.

Hundreds of visitors who were left stranded at the popular Inca site have now been rescued.

01/05/2023

I have been to 18 of these places. Yes, some of them were life changing. But, what I think is more important is to take roads less traveled. Looking back, all those lesser known, non-touristy, out of the way spots offered more in terms of authenticity, time to reflect and appreciate, get to know a culture or people in depth as opposed to checking off global bucket-list items.

From African safaris to must-visit cities, these once-in-a-lifetime trips will make you want to plan your next great adventure.

12/18/2022

Eurocircle Traveler Woodford https://vimeo.com/781890353 filmed some amazing videos of life in Tanzania. Check out his entire video feed.

Large bull elephant and I have a moment....Tarangire National Forest Tanzania Nov 22

11/24/2022

Here I am drinking my second Sauvignon Blanc EWR surrounded by female solo travelers. IT’s thanksgiving, the airport is desolate and 5/6 patrons are single women. I ask ‘Where are you traveling’ and I hear answers like Panama, Burundi. I myself and spending thanksgiving on the Serengeti. As a licensed travel agent and travel club organizer I read the statistics. 68% of travel bookings are made my single female travelers. Yet if you watch travel related media, you’d see that the vast majority of travel series are hosted by men. Did you know that after business travelers and families, single males compose the smallest segment of global travel? So why are world explorers, adventurers and daredevils all men? I host travel adventures all across the world. Here I am at an airport lounge, connecting to a flight to Tanzania. 86% of my travelers are single women, here we are embarking on a thanksgiving on the Serengeti. Where are the males? They’re here, they’re just traveling with their wives. And when they’re here, they are offering me travel advice, telling me how to lead a safari tour, angling for the top spot, creating drama when they’re not comfortable admitting they’re uncomfortable. In my 13 years of running a travel club, I have yet to meet a male who has actually traveled more than the women. But I ask again, where do they get their “expertise’ and attitude from? This is not a post against males, it’s an encouragement to the girls who are uncomfortable booking a trip to the Serengeti. Chances are high, you’ll be surrounding by single female travelers, your guide and safari driver will be awesome ladies, and the vast majority of the people you meet will be some women from all across the world. You have nothing to worry about. ttps://www.solofemaletravelers.club/solo-female-travel-stats/

The most detailed range of statistics about solo female travelers preferences, needs and worries from the largest annual survey.

09/18/2022

https://youtu.be/2pGfxcZZNfE

In 2010, the Himalayan nation of Nepal was one of 13 countries to commit to doubling its wild tiger populations by 2022. In the decade since, Nepal is the on...

09/18/2022

Hi Travelers,

This is just a short note to let you know that I am in the process of finalizing all bookings. (Thus far we were reserved, now we
will be confirmed). To do this, I will need to know if you have decided to continue to Zanzibar, and if you have purchased your
airfare, please send it to me in a word document showing your Booking Reference Number, flight numbers and arrival times.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL ALERTS***
1) As you may have heard in the news, flights all over the world are getting delayed, even cancelled. I have another group in Europe, and two people are returning home because the airlines have cancelled all options for them. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance this year. If you have a travel credit card such as AMEX Platinum or Chase Sapphire, your trip may be automatically covered, but if you don't, I recommend purchasing insurance through Allianz. https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/?accam=F202942&gclid=CjwKCAjwg5uZBhATEiwAhhRLHmvWldwT7Zq-iAtz8M-pISkM9rRL1_xJfI7K1NDnSXGO0GQUVcizHhoC5h4QAvD_BwE
I tend to go with their Prime protection plan, and they do compensate you quickly when you are stranded at an airport. They also cover medical.

2) *** If you are vaccinated, please check the date of your last booster shot. These vaccines are only valid for 9 months, and you can be turned away by both the airline and the country. While Tanzania does not have vaccine requirements, your airline may have its own requirement. 2 weeks ago, a member of my travel club was not allowed to board an American Airlines flight because her booster had expired by 3 days. This happened even though the destination country had no vaccine requirements at all. Your options are to either get another booster shot (at least 11 days prior to departure, as boosters are not valid for the first 10 days), OR arrive at the airport with a current PCR test.

3) LUGGAGE: You can bring as much as your airline allows, but please bear in mind that airlines are short-staffed, and some international connections are losing luggage. The smartest thing you can do is bring a carryon, and bring all your emergency necessities (medicine, toiletries, change of clothes) in that carryon. DO NOT pack anything expensive such as jewelry or cameras in your checked-luggage. You will lose it! There are several airports in Africa where travelers report loss of electronics at a 100% rate.

Also, as we approach departure. You will be receiving email updates from me more frequently. Please make sure these emails don't go into your spam folder. Now is the time to call or text me, to make sure you ask all questions. There are no frivolous questions, and I enjoy chatting with you.

When we get closer to departure, I will know more about weather conditions and will let you know what to bring. Thus far the must haves are; a mask, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, sneakers or hiking shoes, camera, medicine/prescriptions (Immodium, Pepto, charcoal pills, anything for stomach/nausea), a water bottle, cash for tip money (we will be tipping our drivers and guides, and I will be collecting your tips at the start of the trip). Please bring a few masks, as they are still sometimes required, and you may feel safer in crowded airports and areas where people are still coughing (flu season is approaching).

Water: Our tour company will provide us with some bottled water. While in Arusha, I will ask our driver to stop at a grocery, so we can buy larger bottles of water for the road and to have extras. You should not drink tap water. The most common ailment travelers report is a stomach bug, nausea, etc.
Please call or text me any time. Also, please add me to your WhatsApp, because we will be communicating with each other via this app while we are abroad. It looks like we have a fun group of very easy-going travelers this year, so I am excited to see all of you soon.

Get a quote, compare plans and buy Allianz travel insurance online. Trip protection for cancellations, emergency medical & more. Over 55M policies sold.

08/16/2022

Seeing a tiger in Ranthanbore, India was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. And now, thanks to conservation programs, tiger populations are growing in Nepal and Bhutan.

Nepal has pulled off the extraordinary feat of more than doubling its tiger population in the past 10 years, bringing them back from the brink of extinction....

06/23/2022

Our Tanzania traveler Woodford just shared this article with us.

THE BIG TOPIC:
THE KEY TO SAVING THE SERENGETI
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
In today’s newsletter, join the seed hunters; how to stop glacial melt; using AI to help electric vehicles boom … and what if you could hear climate change?
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES

By Peter Gwin, Editor at Large

Over the last century, National Geographic has sent scores of scientists and researchers, filmmakers, and photographers to document the Serengeti. But a couple of years ago, photographer and Nat Geo Explorer Charlie Hamilton James pointed out that it had been 30 years since the magazine had taken a comprehensive look at this important ecosystem—which covers a Maryland-size swath of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. That observation led us to this month’s special issue—a deep dive into the current state of one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

Part of what makes the Serengeti so special is the astonishing array of life it contains—a deeply interconnected web of thousands of animal and plant species. There are, of course, the safari favorites—elephant, lion, rhino, hippo, cheetah (pictured above), and giraffe. But there are multitudes of creatures that get little attention—the African fish eagle (a near doppelganger for the American bald eagle), the tree hyrax (a tiny distant relative of the elephant), and a hundred species of dung beetles (which navigate by the Milky Way).

Like many wild places, the Serengeti now faces immense challenges—many posed by the growing number of humans who now live in and around it. Kenya and Tanzania have seen their populations double in the last 30 years, and though both nations have protected large parts of the ecosystem, more people are moving into the area. With them come the pressures of livestock, farming, new roads and buildings, and more harvesting of resources. The demand for firewood and charcoal—traditional fuel sources—for example, has devastated the Mau Forest in the north of the Serengeti. Meanwhile, deforestation, dams, and large-scale irrigation projects have disrupted the predictable flow of the Mara River (pictured below)—the Serengeti’s lifeblood.

Since the 1970s, scientists have understood that the key bellwether for the health of the Serengeti is the wildebeest. The ecosystem relies disproportionately on the more than one million wildebeest moving steadily clockwise around the region, following the pattern of seasonal rains. This spectacular interactive map explains how the migration causes everything to flourish—trees and grasses, insects and birds, predators and prey.

But the surge of human activity has squeezed the wildebeest migration routes, raising concerns about this crucial piece of the Serengeti puzzle. According to Joseph Ogutu, a Kenyan statistician whose specialty is counting wildlife populations and modeling how they will change, the number of wildebeests migrating from Tanzania into Kenya is declining, and those that do come are spending up to one and a half months fewer per year than they used to. (Below, lions rest after feeding on wildebeests.)

In addition to the wildebeest, Kenyan conservationist and Nat Geo Explorer Paula Kahumbu points out other animals that serve as barometers to the Serengeti’s health. The greater kudu, common duiker, bushbuck, bushpig, giant forest hog, oribi, colobus monkey, sable antelope, roan antelope, and black rhino are all species that safari guides report have disappeared or nearly disappeared in recent years.

To change course, Ogutu cites the need to reduce fencing in key areas and enact better policies regarding grazing, but he especially emphasizes the need to set aside land to protect the wildebeest migration route because, as Tanzanian ecologist Tony Sinclair has pointed out, “Without the wildebeest, there would be no Serengeti.”

It really comes down to the will of the local people, Kahumbu says. “I believe we can defend this wilderness and preserve it for future generations, but that will not happen unless ordinary Kenyans and Tanzanians demand it.”

05/01/2022

The day we landed into Nepal in 2019, this ceremony happened to be in full swing in Kathmandu. Young girls are appointed as "living goddesses" to be both feared and worshiped. What is life like for these children? Here is an interesting documentary by BBC that also shows a lot of the beautiful sites we visited.

For centuries in Nepal, girls - some as young as one - have been chosen to be living goddesses - or Kumaris. They are worshipped and revered by Buddhists and...

04/20/2022

TANZANIA Zoom Call. I am organizing Zoom calls for Eurocircle's Tanzania travelers. Round 1 of calls will be for existing EC travelers who have traveled with us in the last 5 years. Round 2, travelers in the last 10 years, Round 3, new travelers.
Please let me know if you would like to participate on a call. Please only participate if you are serious about traveling, and if you are ready to place a $900 deposit.
Tour Dates: First week of December, 2022 Land Cost Est: $3565-4000 (depending on accommodations).
Includes airport transfers, safaris, guides, most food, Arusha, Serengetti, Ngorongoro, Hadzabe tribe, etc. (no travel agents please). Post below if you are interested in joining the Zoom call. I will arrange times.

04/08/2022

Shared by our traveler Mary

Ghana just feels like home, according to many Black travelers . And while the country has increased in popularity since 2019’s Year of Return,...

01/31/2022

Dorota Kubicka Biernat, you'll appreciate this video about landing in Antarctica. Are you still planning to go?

→ Join me for daily adventures on Instagram: https://instagram.com/evazubeckThis is the beginning of my 4-part series about climbing the tallest mountain in...