East Bay Travel Buddies, Adventures, Local Hikes, & Trips

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( https://www.photoflytravel.com/) an exotic adventure to one of the world's natural wonderlands!

May 22nd - May 28th, 2025

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/galapagos-small-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

The Galapagos is an “up-market” destination but fortunately we’ve been able to create something special at an amazing value! Take a look at the details below and you will see that our small group trip is arguably the best deal out there!

• 7 days
• 3 nights/4 days on Santa Cruz
• 3 nights/4 days on private motor yacht
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
• Round-trip domestic flight to/from Galapagos
• All snorkel gear

Part 1: Santa Cruz Island & Nearby Gems

Santa Cruz is the most important island in the Galapagos archipelago with the only substantial port town of Puerto Ayora. From white sand beaches teeming with endemic marine iguana, lush highlands where the giant tortoises still roam, turtle coves, thriving reefs, ancient calderas, and sea birds

• Highlands & Tortoise Reserve: Walk into the forest overgrown with lichens, ferns, and tortoises; the pond at El Chato is surrounded by forest teeming with birdlife
• Charles Darwin Research Station: Founded in 1959, it has a Natural History Interpretation Centre and carries out educational projects in support of the Galapagos National Park Service.

Day Boat Excursions

For our two days staying on Santa Cruz, we’ll head off island on exciting day trips via boat and in search of biological wonders!

• Santa Fe Island - White Sands, Cacti, & Giant Iguanas: White sand beaches surrounded by sea lion colonies lined with endemic cactus forests is just one appeal to this natural wonderland.
• South Plaza Islet - Land of Red & Yellow: An impressive cactus forest where colorful yellow and red land iguanas live will be our introduction to this small landmass.
• North Seymour Island: Formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, this island is the home to large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls.

Part II: Private Luxury Yacht Island Hopping

Our next experience is very special. We’ll board our very own private cruising yacht and embark on a journey throughout the eastern Galapagos Islands. Aboard the Coral I or Coral II, we’ll live in the perfect combination of classic beauty and exquisite style. Built in Holland, the ship surpasses all the standards you would expect from a high-class yacht, providing a slightly larger than average cruising vessel while maintaining the friendly atmosphere of a small expedition yacht.

Every cabin features handsome wood decoration, along with air-conditioning, a private bathroom, safe deposit box, telephone, and more. Additionally, the boat has plenty of room to relax with three sundecks (some shaded), a jacuzzi, comfortable dining room, and lounge.

• Dragon Hill: Bright, pink flamingos thrive as we walk by a brackish lagoon to the trail which leads across typical dry zone vegetation. Dragon Hill is an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, not to mention incredible views & photograph opportunities of the anchored boats and neighboring islands at the top.
• Bartolome Island: Enroute to the summit, impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock make for incredible & iconic panoramic photographs. Next, we’ll make our way down to the beach for snorkeling and a chance to see the famous Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks among a great variety of colorful fish.
• Rabida Island: Dark-red sand covers the unique beaches of Rabida, home to thriving sea lions colonies. This island is considered the epicenter of the Galapagos due to the diversity of its volcanic geology.
• Santiago Island & Espumilla Beach: This is an amazing location due to the remains of an eroded shoreline, home to seabirds, fur seals, and playful Galapagos sea lions. The white, sandy Espumilla Beach nearby is in James Bay where mangroves and a small palo santo forest lead to salty-water lagoons home to wading birds like pink flamingos.
• Black Turtle Cove: Back on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island and accessible only by sea, four species of mangrove crowd and form an internal lagoon and turtle sanctuary where sea turtles visit the calm waters.

Don’t forget to email us for the day by day itinerary of these Galapagos small group tour (joinus@photoflytravel.com)

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Join Us!

For our solo travelers, we pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $4,795
Single Supplement: $1,595

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/galapagos-small-group-tours/

May 23 - June 1, 2025

Travel friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) are bringing back their adventure to Japan!

See details below and email joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Sign-up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours/

Our Japan group tours are chock full of diverse activities including unique cultural experiences, fantastic landscapes, and all the beautiful temples and architecture which make Japan so iconic.

• 9 nights/10 days
• Breakfast daily
• 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners (Welcome & Farewell Dinner)

Tokyo: 2 Nights

The never-ending hustle and bustle of the city creates an energy that is quite contagious.

Highlights:

• Privately guided tour through parts of Tokyo

– Akihabara: otherworldly place filled with bizarre Japanime, neon signs, and streets & alleys lined with vendors.
- Asakusa Kanon Temple (Sensoji Temple): See and photography Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist Temple.
– Meiji Shrine: Named for a dynastic ruler from the Meiji period in Japanese history, thus making the shrine one of Tokyo’s most famous landmarks.

Takayama: 2 Nights

The Japanese Alps & Takayama

Central Honshū is home to the Northern Japanese Alps and Japan’s heartland. Boasting some of Japan’s most magnificent peaks and dramatic scenery, the Northern Alps are truly spectacular!

Highlights:

• Shin-Hotaka no Yu Hot Springs: Open air hot spring is in a beautiful setting
• Hirayu Great Falls: This magnificent waterfall is over 200 ft tall and 20 ft across.
• Kamikochi Valley: Inside Chubu-Sangaku National Park, this highland area is home to an amazing walk through lightly forested areas with ponds, macaque monkeys, and curving river with the mountains as a back-drop.

Takayama lies in the heart of the Hida Mountains. Established in the 16th century as a castle town of the Kanamori family, it’s now famous throughout Japan for its old town area of narrow streets containing many well-preserved inns, tea houses, shops and merchants houses.

Highlights:

• Privately guided tour
• Takayama Morning Market: On the bank of the Miyagawa River, the market is fun to observe stands selling local farm produce, flowers and crafts.
• Takayama’s Old Town : Visit and photograph Takayama Jinya, the old government house.
• Optional Hida Folk Village Tour: This open air museum exhibits over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around Takayama.

Hiroshima & Charming Miyajima Island: 1 Night

Despite its tragic past, Hiroshima is now a bustling and vibrant city which has risen phoenix-like from the ashes.

Hiroshima:

*Privately guided tour
– Memorial Peace Park, Museum, & A-Bomb Dome: Experience the poignant reminder that caused Hiroshima’s fame.

Miyajima Island is small sacred island located in the Inland Sea. It has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times.

– Vermilion Torii Gate & Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima: After a ferry ride to this sacred island we’ll visit the world famous vermilion torii gate at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Miyajima is one of Japan’s three most scenic places.

Kyoto: 4 nights

Home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, this ancient city showcases the heart and soul of traditional Japan.

Highlights:

• Privately guided tour

– Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion): Covered with 18 carat gold leaf, this incredible building was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397.
- Okochi Mountain Villa: Form residence of a film star, this famous villa consists of several beautiful gardens and buildings, including living quarters, tea houses, and a meditation hall.
– Monkey Park Iwatayama: We’ll meander up a small hill to reach the park with a nice overlook filled with macaques.
– Gion District & Optional Geisha Cultural Exchange: Walk through the sleepy district where geisha come from all over the country to train. For those interested (not included) we’ll get to have an incredible experience in a local house with a geisha for a cultural exchange and private photo shoot.
– Fushimi Inari Shrine: Filled with thousands of vermilion gates, this hillside complex and temple is enormous and beautiful

• All transfers, rail tickets, public transit, entry fees, taxies and activities as listed in the itinerary included
• International airfare is not included - flying into Narita International Airport in Tokyo (NRT) and departing from Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka.

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

Solo travelers will be paired with same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,995
Single Supplement: $915

Deposit: $600

Sign-up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours/

Our friends at Photofly Travel Club ( https://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have planned an extraordinary to Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux).

June 5 - June 16, 2025

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/belgium-luxembourg-netherlands-group-tour/

• 11 Nights/12 Days
• Luxembourg (2 N) | Belgium (5 N) | Netherlands (4 N)
• Charming boutique hotels
• Breakfast daily
• 2 Dinners
• Privately guided adventures

Luxembourg (2 Nights)

• City Walking Tour
• Pont Adolphe: Capture stunning views and photos over the Petrusse Ravine
• Place d'Armes: Lively public square located in the heart of the city’s old town
• Mullerthal Trail Hike: Often referred to as "Little Switzerland" of Luxembourg, this guided scenic hike winds through lush forests, dramatic rock formations, and picturesque valleys
• Vianden Castle & Chairlift: This stunning, hilltop fortress dates back to the Romanesque and Gothic periods

Belgium (5 Nights)

Experience Dinant!

• Discover Dinant: Privately guided walking tour
• Collegiate Church of Notre Dame:
• Dinant Citadel: Discover the historic fortress perched high above the town with stunning panoramic views
• Cruise the river Meuse: A scenic and relaxing way to experience the beauty of the Meuse River and its stunning surroundings

Experience Brussels!

• City Walking Tour
• Grand Place: The central square of Brussels, renowned for its stunning architecture and historical significance, featuring ornate guild halls and the impressive Town Hall
• Atomium: Designed to resemble an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times symbolizing scientific progress and innovation, this iconic structure is a delight to photograph
• Manneken Pis: This famous bronze statue depicts a small boy urinating into a fountain, and has become a beloved symbol of the city’s irreverent sense of humor.
• Chocolate Museum & Private Chocolate Making Class: Dive into the gourmet world of cocoa and chocolate.

Experience Ghent!

• Day Trip to Ghent: Guided tour throughout the highlights of this storied city with a rich history, stunning architecture, and lively cultural scene.
• St. Bavo’s Cathedral
• Gravensteen Castle: The "Castle of the Counts," as its known, stands as a remarkable testament to Ghent's medieval past
• Ghent Canal Cruise: Enjoy a serene and picturesque way to explore the city's stunning medieval architecture

Experience Bruges!

• City Walking Tour
• Market Square & The Belfry
• Burg Square: This charming square features the striking Gothic-style Town Hall, built in the 14th century, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which houses a revered relic that draws visitors from near and far.
• Church of Our Lady: Explore this architectural gem that showcases a stunning blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles.
• Cruise the canals of Bruge: Encounter the city's enchanting waterways, with its medieval bridges and fairy-tale architecture framing every turn.
• Menin Gate Memorial: Witness this solemn tribute to the thousands of soldiers who went missing in action during World War I
• WWI Battlefields: Embark on a sobering journey through the scarred landscape where some of the fiercest fighting of the Great War took place.

Netherlands (4 Nights)

Experience Rotterdam!

• Cube Houses: See and photograph this iconic architecture, a striking example of urban ingenuity.
• Experience Rotterdam: Free time to explore the city’s bold architectural innovation, bustling food stalls, & vibrant art scene-
• Museum Quarter Art Depot: See and photograph this groundbreaking facility from the outside and housing an impressive collection of over 150,000 works
• Optional: Iconic Dutch windmills & the country's oldest city: Take a waterbus to capture the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk against the backdrop of canals and green fields.

Experience The Hague!

• The Hague City Highlights: Guided driving tour of the city's most notable locations
• Peace Palace: An architectural masterpiece and symbol of international justice
• Scheveningen Beach: Explore The Hague’s lively seaside escape
• The Madurodam, a country in miniature: Discover this unique park showcasing the Netherlands' most iconic landmarks

Experience Amsterdam!
Optional fast-pass entry to...

• Van Gogh Museum OR Rijksmuseum
• Guided walking tour
• Dam Square & Royal Palace
• The Floating Flower Market
• Ann Frank House

Join Us!

For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $4,395
Single Supplement: $895

Deposit: $600
Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/belgium-luxembourg-netherlands-group-tour/

September 4th - September 12th, 2025

Join here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/bali-small-group-tours/

Email us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club have invited us to their classic adventure in Bali.

We’ve been exploring Bali for years crafting a one of a kind experience to the best known and unknown treasures of this special island. From the coastal temples of Tanah Lot, to the gorgeous pure white sand beaches and snorkeling on Nusa Penida island, to the man made wonders of the Jatiluwih rice terraces, we will see an incredible slice of diverse spectacle’s throughout Bali. The food is incredible, amazing photography opportunities, and the locals are known for their friendliness.

Canggu and Tanah Lot Temple

• Enjoy the seaside resort town full of surfing, beachside restaurants, and beautiful sunshine
• Tanah Lot Temple: Privately guided tour of the 16th century temple built upon a rock formation along the rocky shore

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces and Munduk

• Walk through the expansive undulating rice terraces in the island's interior and enjoy lunch with a view of the lush scenery
• Travel into the country's interior to Munduk to enjoy various waterfall hikes, an included massage, and quietude away from the tourist areas

Taksu Sanur

• En route to Taksu Sanur, stop at incredibly detailed Ulun Danu Bertan Temple built on the shores of a huge lake to honor a god that provides water to the local farmers
• Visit a local farmer's market to purchase and enjoy a multitude of tropical fruit such as lychee, longan, mango, papaya, rambutan, guava, and more
• Stop at a farm specializing in the production of coffee known as kopi luwak, a Balinese specialty that uses partially digested coffee beans
• Included dinner on the beach overlooking the stunning ocean
• Included massage

Nusa Penida

• Take a short ferry to adjacent islands known for dramatic limestone cliff views, beach paradise, secluded bays, island exploration, and a slower pace of life
• Surrounded by turquoise waters, the island's main street is full of ice cream shops, small bars and restaurants, cheap spa treatments, and plenty of quiet beaches
• Optional activities include snorkeling with the chance to swim with manta rays and a trip to other islands to explore mangroves, unique cultural experiences, and geological wonders

Ubud

• Shop around in this artistic capital known for wood carving, stone carving, painting, custom jewelry, and handmade goods
• Walk through the Monkey Temple containing hundreds of long-tailed macaques in this forest sanctuary throughout the sprawling temple complex
• Final night's Farewell Dinner includes a traditional Balinese dance performance that recreates cultural tales and legends

Bali small group tours inclusions:

• 8 Night/9 Day adventure
• Amazing Balinese style bungalows and boutique hotels
• Privately guided, small group tour
• Delicious local meals throughout - daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
• 3 Massages throughout the experience - great way to unwind and relax at the end of a day’s adventure!
• All taxes and entrance included
• All transfers and ground transportation included
• Roommate pairing
• International airfare is not included but we will assist all guests with finding the best flight! We will be flying into and out of Denpasar International Airport (airport code: DPS)

Email us to see daily itinerary for our Bali tour at joinus@photoflytravel.com

Join Us!

For our solo travelers, we can pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $2,495
Single Supplement: $595.00

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/bali-small-group-tours/