Cosmos

This budget-friendly tour through Thailand highlights the country’s rich history, delicious cuisine, fascinating cultures, religious monuments, and much more! In Bangkok—Thailand’s current capital—visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha; the Temple of the Reclining Buddha built in 1832; and the Grand Palace, the royal residence established in 1782 where you’ll see the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most sacred Buddhist sculpture. You’ll also cruise the city’s canals (klongs) by long tail boat. In Sukhothai, Thailand’s 13th-century capital, visit Sukhothai Historic Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with ruins of palaces, temples, and homes. But that’s not all…in Chiang Mai explore a night market by tuk-tuk and visit an amazing elephant sanctuary to learn about the conservation efforts of orphaned and rescued elephants. Travel to the “Golden Triangle,” where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet and visit a local tea plantation. You’ll also visit several interesting hill tribes in the mountains near Chiang Rai. The perfect conclusion to your Thailand experience is the paradise of Phuket. Relax with 3 days of aquamarine water, pristine beaches, and pampering services available if you choose. Your trip to Thailand is rich in experiences, sights, and welcoming people you’ll long remember!

On this Peru tour—with a Galápagos Islands cruise—delve into the past, learn about the local culture, and experience beautiful scenery as you overnight in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Quito, along with three nights aboard the Galápagos Legend. You'll visit ancient ruins, enjoy guided sightseeing, and marvel at the flora and fauna found in the Galápagos Islands. History comes alive on this tour through Peru. Imagine what life was like in the 15th century as you tour the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, where you'll see this famous Inca complex set in a majestic setting. More history awaits at Ollantaytambo, the archaeological site of the Incas’ resistance during the Spanish conquest, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress with some of the best examples of Inca masonry. Guided sightseeing in Cusco features the Santo Domingo Monastery and the Cathedral, housing a magnificent collection of artwork. On this Peru tour, you'll also learn about the local culture. On your motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca, you'll visit Taquile Island, where you'll see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past, and the Uros Floating Islands, where you'll learn how the Uros people construct their islands from totora reed. In the Incan town of Ollantaytambo, visit with locals in their homes for insight into their way of life. Spend time at the famous market in Pisaq and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) to Inca culture. You'll also spend six nights in Ecuador, including three nights in Quito and three nights cruising the Galápagos Islands. Swim and snorkel in search of sea life, explore the islands, marvel at the many bird species, and enjoy seeing giant tortoises, sea lions, land iguanas, blue and red-footed boobies, and much more. These are just some of the many highlights of this Peru tour and Galápagos Islands cruise. Designed for savvy, value-minded travelers, it's a dream vacation!

From the gorgeous national parks to the thrilling cities, this western U.S. tour through California, Arizona, and Nevada features natural wonders, scenic drives, deep canyons, and sparkling waterfalls—not to mention fun in some of the world’s most famous cities. Your tour starts in Los Angeles, ends in San Francisco, and overnights along the way in Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Williams, Las Vegas, Selma, Sonora, and San Francisco. You’ll visit two of the West’s most famous and beautiful national parks, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Yosemite National Park in California. Stroll the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and stand in awe as you look out at the stunning vistas. In Yosemite National Park, have your camera ready for the giant granite domes, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and more. But that’s not all…you’ll also witness spectacular scenery along the way. Between Scottsdale and the Grand Canyon, you’ll see Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon, known as one of America’s most beautiful drives and home to brilliantly hued cliffs and rugged spires of sandstone, and you’ll stop in Sedona, with the massive red-rock formations that make the area famous. Between Williams and Las Vegas, watch for Joshua trees, a member of the Yucca family, which can grow to be more than 40 feet tall and live to be 300 years old. Between Las Vegas and Selma, you’ll see the vast Mojave Desert. Enjoy included sightseeing in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Free time in each city—including Las Vegas—gives you time to explore on your own or to take optional excursions. Perhaps consider a ride on San Francisco’s historic cable cars, enjoy an outing to Alcatraz Prison, the federal penitentiary that once housed Al Capone and other notorious criminals, or take an optional excursion to walk through the soaring 600-year-old redwoods of Muir Woods —the choice is yours! Breathtaking scenery, exciting cities, scenic drives, and more…this western U.S. tour is a perfect vacation for savvy, value-minded travelers.

You’ve dreamed about Italy—its magnificent architecture, majestic cathedrals, ancient ruins, world-class art, sumptuous cuisine and wine, and relaxing cafés—and now it is your time to experience it. On this affordable Italy tour, explore the most famous cities and discover the unique sights as you visit Rome, Siena, Montecatini, and Venice. This affordable Italy tour offers the opportunity to step back in time. Imagine what life was like in Rome 2,000 years ago, as the city was the political, social, and trading center of the Roman Empire. Imagine life during the Middle Ages as you explore San Gimignano’s medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers still standing. Fast forward to Renaissance times with a walking tour of Florence, featuring beautiful Piazza Signoria, the hub of the city’s social and political life since the 14th century. Discover some of Italy’s magnificent cathedrals: in Vatican City, wonder at the masterful St. Peter’s Basilica and square; in Orvieto, the Cathedral is a great example of Gothic architecture in Italy; in Assisi, where St. Francis was born, the world-famous Romanesque and Gothic Basilica is a permanent exhibition of Giotto’s frescoes. Discover Pisa’s Square of Miracles—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—with its three famous buildings (Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery) that have historically been central to religious life. From a more secular viewpoint, experience a wine tasting in Greve, the capital of Chianti, and visit Venice, reaching St. Mark’s Square by boat. Witness Venetian glassblowers creating works of art just as they did centuries ago, and spend free time admiring the crisscrossing canals, the legendary gondolas passing under the arched bridges, the palaces, and the quaint piazzas. All of this and more—including views of the most scenic Italian landscapes—are included on this fabulous Italy vacation designed for the value-minded travel lover.

On this South America tour, experience some of South America's most exciting cities, gorgeous natural wonders, and famous historic sites. You'll overnight in Manaus, Brazil’s Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco. Enjoy guided sightseeing of South America's famous cities: Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, and Cusco. Visit the famous Opera House in Manaus; take the cog railway to the summit of Corcovado Mountain to see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio; visit Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón is buried, in Buenos Aires; explore the relic-filled Cathedral in Santiago; visit Lima's 11th-century San Francisco Monastery; and explore Cusco’s Cathedral, with its important collection of artwork. Tour highlights include Brazil’s Amazon, Iguassu Falls, and Machu Picchu. In Brazil’s Amazon, cruise on the river, take Naturalist-guided walks, visit a local village, and marvel at the flora and fauna that thrive in the Amazon. At Iguassu Falls, marvel at the 275 waterfalls spanning almost two miles, the thundering roar of the falls, and the 180-degree rainbows that surround you. At Machu Picchu, stand in awe as you witness these 15th-century ruins and learn about the Incas' accomplishments. Set in a majestic setting, it is nothing short of spectacular! While in Peru, you'll also visit other Inca ruins, including Ollantaytambo and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, where you'll see an amazing example of Inca masonry. You’ll also have a chance to learn why camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) are important for Inca cultures and to visit an Indian market and a local's home. Historic sites, beautiful scenery, vibrant cities, and time to explore on your own—all of this and much more await you on this value-minded South America tour. It's a dream vacation!

Welcome to Calgary! More fun than a 10-gallon hat can hold, it’s no wonder the Calgary Stampede is “the greatest outdoor show on Earth.” This celebration of the Old West brings frontier days to life with entertainment and exhibits, great food, world-famous Chuckwagon horse races, and the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Then continue your adventure traveling to the majestic Canadian Rockies and beautiful Banff National Park where you’ll spend two nights. Explore the park by hiking or horseback riding, shop in the townsite or take a once-in-a-lifetime optional helicopter tour over the magnificent Canadian Rockies! Stop at gorgeous Lake Louise, its turquoise waters perfectly mirroring the surrounding mountains and glaciers, then continue to the Columbia Icefield to experience a ride on the Ice Explorer that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick! Journey through breathtaking wilderness before arriving in Jasper National Park for two nights. There you can join the optional excursion to see Maligne Lake and the much-photographed Spirit Island. Then have time to explore this amazing park with its abundant wildlife. As you travel to Prince George, visit Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mount Robson is the highest of Canada’s Rockies at nearly 13,000 feet. Next board VIA Rail’s Skeena train for a memorable all-daylight journey through the rugged Coast Mountains. Retrace the steps of the ancient First Nations trading routes and follow the paths of the earliest fur traders before arriving in Prince Rupert for a two-night stay. Here, visit the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village, a national Historic Site and take a guided tour of British Columbia’s oldest cannery village. Then it’s time for an unforgettable voyage! You’ll cruise on the Inside Passage seeing some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Along the way, be sure to watch for whales, sea lions, porpoise, eagles, and other wildlife. Overnight in Port Hardy and then make your way south to charming Victoria where sightseeing includes Bastion Square, the Inner Harbour, and Thunderbird Park with its interesting collection of totems poles. You’ll have free time to shop, have high tea at the Empress Hotel or perhaps take an optional excursion to Butchart Gardens with its stunning 55-acres of floral displays. Then set sail across the picturesque Strait of Georgia and Gulf Islands for an arrival in Vancouver. Here you’ll see city highlights like Stanley Park, Chinatown, and more. This amazing value tour is jam-packed with beauty and adventures that are not to be missed!