1,000 Places to See Before You Die® Author Patricia Schultz to Guide Tour to Ethiopia

Veteran travel journalist and author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die® Patricia Schultz will be a one-time host of ET African Journeys’ popular “Imperial Ethiopia” tour, from April 25 – May 4, 2013.

Schultz accompanies this “one-of-a-kind” tour of destinations featured in her best-selling travel books. The tour features stops in Ethiopian regions rich in old imperial dynasties and ancient royal and religious architecture. A land filled with historical, natural and cultural treasures, Ethiopia has a long-documented history that stretches back to approximately 1000 BC. “Imperial Ethiopia” introduces travelers to the customs and beliefs of ancient and modern Ethiopian society.

“It is surprising to me that with its mix of rich history, gorgeous scenery and beautiful people Ethiopia isn’t positively overrun by tourists,” said Schultz. “Africa’s best kept secret is hiding in plain sight! Stunning UNESCO sites in the north, and the remote and inaccessible Omo Valley to the south, a whole other world of ancient tribes and fragile cultures visited by very few. I’m excited to get to host this tour with ET African Journeys and introduce more people to this incredible part of the world.”

The tour includes visits to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Gondar, travelers will visit the seven churches and six castles built by Emperor Fasilides in the mid-1600s, as well as Debre Birhan Selassie Church and the Falasha Village and Synagogue. The tour next takes travelers to Axum for visits to Stealae Park, St. Mary Zion Church and the Sanctuary Chapel, the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The third UNESCO site on the itinerary is Lalibela, built as a “New Jerusalem” by Emperor Lalibela in response to the Muslim capture of Jerusalem in 1187. Lalibela is the site of twelve majestic rock-hewn churches, which are still used as places of worship today, and the Nakuto Le’ Abe Monastery, a church carved into a cave.

“Imperial Ethiopia with Patricia Schultz” includes round trip airfare from Washington DC to Addis Ababa, 7 nights of accommodations, all inter-country transportation and flights and all meals.

For more information about “Imperial Ethiopia with Patricia Schultz,” visit http://www.etafricanjourneys.com/1000places

Patricia Schultz is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die®. The books have sold close to 4 million copies in the English language market, with 25 translations available around the world. A veteran travel journalist with 25 years of experience, Schultz has written for guides such as Frommer’s and Berlitz and periodicals including The Wall Street Journal and Travel Weekly. She also executive-produced a Travel Channel television show based on 1,000 Places to See Before You Die®.

ET African Journeys is a joint venture by Ethiopian Airlines and Group IST to create exciting, original, thematic, educational and cultural travel programs to Ethiopia and beyond. Working with the most experienced providers in the region, ET African Journeys is able to offer a diverse range of quality tour products at competitive prices to both the individual traveler and the group organizer. Ethiopian Airlines is the only non-stop service between the East Coast of the United States and the East Coast of Africa and is one of the largest and most modern air carriers on the African continent.

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Gift of Travel that Gives Back: Travcoa Offers Series of African ‘Hand-to-Hand’ Itineraries that Give Back to Community

From education to cultural awareness and preservation, travel enriches the lives of everyone it touches. This holiday season, Travcoa, the world leader in luxury travel, is presenting a series of African itineraries that belong to the ‘Hand-to-Hand’ portfolio – journeys which showcase the abundance of African hospitality while contributing to communities throughout each journey.

“Our Africa ‘Hand-to-Hand’ journeys contribute to social enterprise-supported projects that fund education, health, self-reliance, and conservation initiatives,” stated Jerre Fuqua. “These trips are ideal for couples and families interested in sharing a meaningful experience as a holiday gift this year.”

Each of the finely-crafted journeys to Africa feature world-class accommodations and support organizations that contribute to community building projects:

Grandeur of Zimbabwe & South Africa Independent Journey – 18 days from $18,995 per person
In Zimbabwe, Singita Pamushana supports the Malilangwe Trust, an organization that feeds 19,000 children per day in adjoining villages. In South Africa, guests visit the inspiring Uthando Project in the townships of Cape Town, and participate in an interactive tour on a range of topics, including the environment and the care and protection of children, women and the elderly.

Travcoa makes a contribution to Uthando’s projects on behalf of each guest. Also, Singita Sabi Sand sponsors the “Growing to Read” program, which enhances early education efforts, and Singita Lebombo supports the School of Cooking, an organization that develops culinary skills in communities bordering Kruger National Park.

Pure Kenya Independent Journey – 11 days from $5,695 per person
This journey visits the Kalama Wildlife Conservancy where guests stay at Saruni Samburu. The lodge uses all guest revenue to cover operating costs of the conservancy and fund community projects. Guests also visit the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which rescues orphan elephants and rhinos and reintroduces them to the wild. Travcoa adopts an elephant in each guests’ name.

Grand Safari: Kenya & Tanzania Escorted Journey – 15 days from $10,990 per person
During this journey, guests stay at Governors Camp in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The camp built the region’s first Bio-Gas Project to help the Maasai people conserve the woodlands, rather than use resources for cooking fuel. Travcoa provides a contribution to this project on behalf of each guest. This journey also visits the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, as well as the Amboseli Elephant Research Project.

For more information on Travcoa’s Africa ‘Hand-to-Hand’ journeys, to request a brochure, or to make a reservation, please contact a travel agent or a Travcoa Journey Consultant at 1-800-992-2003, email info@travcoa.com or visit www.travcoa.com.

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