3 Reasons to Leave Home for the Holidays with Natural Habitat Adventures
Between the frenzy of shopping for presents, stuffing the turkey, and decking the halls, it’s easy to forget that December is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. If you’d rather hang all that up and head out for the Christmas holidays, Natural Habitat Adventures, a global leader in responsible adventure travel and ecotourism, is offering three last-minute getaways to three extraordinary nature destinations.
Enjoy a white Christmas like none other in the wintry wilds of the American West, trade the turkey baster for a kayak paddle in a far-flung Galapagos island paradise, or experience family drama of a different kind as you observe lion prides on the Serengeti Plains. Whatever the escape, it’s bound to be more relaxing than the frantic festivities at home.
Go Walking in a Real Winter Wonderland
Often favored as a summertime spot, Yellowstone National Park becomes extra-special when it’s blanketed in snow. That’s partly why Nat Hab’s Yellowstone Wolf Quest, an eight-day wolf and wildlife expedition, only takes place between December and April. It’s also the best time to spot the charismatic Canis lupus without the crowds. Alongside a naturalist Expedition Leader (and wolf expert), travelers can track these elusive canines – along with pronghorn antelope, elk and bison – across the captivating expanse of Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. Learn about wolf behavior and get photography tips over lunch with naturalists and photographers who have spent much of their lives among these complex creatures, and marvel at the majesty of Yellowstone’s most famous predator using high-powered spotting scopes.
Escape on Dec 21-28, 2018; Priced from $6,395
Trim Your Own Treehouse
Steal away from snow to the sunny, secluded shores of the Galapagos, where sea lions, giant tortoises and iguanas roam. Island-hop between volcanic formations and black lava beaches on Nat Hab’s Galapagos Hiking & Kayaking Adventure, where paddling, snorkeling and swimming from Nemo III, a deluxe private catamaran, makes for some truly memorable quality time. Explore an otherworldly realm of lava caves, spatter cones and blue-footed boobies on guided walks through cacti forests, and visit secret lagoons where seals swim and sea lions lounge by the dozens on the beach. Later, take a brief intermission from life aboard Nemo III to celebrate a successful holiday escape with an overnight stay in a treehouse or safari-style tent cabin at Nat Hab’s exclusive Tortoise Camp, which serves up chef-prepared meals in a rustic highland setting.
Escape on Dec 21-30; Priced from $7,295
Hang Your Stockings in the Savanna
This year, break tradition in a big way by celebrating another iconic annual occurrence: The Great Tanzania Migration. Nat Hab’s vintage-style small-group safari adventure takes travelers into the very heart of the Serengeti Plains — and the world’s greatest ancient migration route. As guests in one of the largest familial gatherings on the planet, you’ll watch wildebeest, zebra and gazelle graze their way across the savannas, welcoming newborns into the fold and evading cheetahs, lions and jackals as they go. Sip cocktails in comfort at Nat Hab’s elegantly appointed plains camps, set out on sunrise game drives with naturalist Expedition Leaders, and bear witness to the wonder of nature at its most authentic under a boundless blue sky.
Escape on Dec 20-27; Priced from $10,195
For more information about Natural Habitat Adventures’ nature expeditions around the world, visit NatHab.com.
-19 Comments-
I think that it’s a wonderful idea to get away for the holidays. It would help to relieve a lot stress.
Great! My granddaughters love to go on adventures!
My granddaughters love adventures!
The Galapagos island paradise seem like a wonderful place to vacation with the whole family.
The tree house looks awesome!
If I were to travel someplace for the holidays, it would definitely be a winter destination. Even though I live where there’s snow, I couldn’t imagine celebrating Christmas in a warm climate. 🙂
Yellowstone Park is one of my all time favorite places to visit. I have some of the coolest photos of all the wildlife that you get to see. Hoping to go again in the next year or two!
I love the idea of heading to the snow or a treehouse for Christmas! What an adventure!
might have to start a new tradition!
WE tried to drive to Yellowstone in December once. We had no idea what “snow” meant up there! We got no where near the park due to a blizzard. We had a great holiday, though and really saw some beautiful parts of this country.
(3 Reasons to Leave Home for the Holidays with Natural Habitat Adventures) These sound like some places that my ex-husband would enjoy visiting. Me, I am more of a beach vacation person, maybe a trip to Hawaii would be great!
I would love to go on an adventure with my family.
Those pictures are amazing.
i would love to getaway after the holidays, great pictures
This sounds amazing! I don’t travel often but now that my kids are all grown we need to start.
These are all great destinations to visit. My favorite is Yellowstone National Park.
All of these sound like wonderful places to go on vacation!
Nature can be so relaxing for the soul. This sounds like a wonderful vacation.
If I go away for the holidays I would go to a warm climate like Florida.