By
Rebecca Gibson |
Silversea has introduced 11 new overland adventures to its programme of more than 60 extended mid-voyage excursions for 2015.
Unlike a partial day shore tour, Silversea’s single or multiple day inland adventures offer guests the chance to enjoy more intimate and in-depth encounters with local people, history, wildlife and natural attractions that lie beyond their ships’ ports of call.
“We always strive to offer fresh, innovative programmes that provide a variety of authentic onshore options,” said Darius Mehta, Silversea’s vice president of air and land programmes. “These new mid-voyage adventures are carefully designed for travellers seeking one-of-a-kind experiences that will take them further into a region, giving them plenty of time to actively engage in its scenery, activities and cultural heritage.”
Guests sailing on Silver Whisper’s 6 March itinerary can enjoy a two-day ‘Tsavo East National Park Bush-Walking Safari’ trip, enabling them to observe lions, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, monitor lizards and more in their natural habitats. Two game drives are included on this itinerary.
Meanwhile, a six-day ‘Gorillas in the Forest’ tour enables guests sailing on Silver Whisper to visit the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Uganda. The sanctuary is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas and runs guided safaris to allow guests to track and interact with primates in the wild.
Guests can also enjoy a number of new overland adventures in Asia, including a four-night ‘Taj Mahal & Jaipur – A Magical Journey to India’ adventure, which is part of Silver Whisper’s 6 Match voyage. As part of this itinerary guests can visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, a city that was formerly the capital of the Mughal Empire. The guests also stay in Jaipur.
Available on Silver Whisper’s 5 January voyage and Silver Spirit’s 22 January sailing, the one-night ‘Over-the-Water Overnight’ excursion enables guests to stay in an overwater bungalow in Moorea’s InterContinental Resort & Spa in French Polynesia. From the thatch-roofed bungalows, guests can view marine life and climb down the steps to snorkel in a Pacific lagoon.
As part of Silver Spirit’s 12 February voyage, the line will offer a four-day ‘New Zealand Explorer excursion that will enable guests to drive through two of New Zealand’s national parks – Mount Cook and Fiordland – which are both located in the Te Wahipounamu area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights of the excursion include a ski plane flight to the Tasman Glacier, a cruise on Lake Tasman and a jet boat excursion on the Shotover River.
Silversea has also introduced new overland adventures to its South America itineraries, including Silver Shadow’s five-day ‘The Andes & the Train to the Devil’s Nose’ excursion, which incorporates a train ride through the Andes featuring a 45-degree descent.
Departing from Mata in Ecuador, Silver Shadow’s five-day ‘Galápagos Adventure’ adventure features a two-day exploration of the Galápagos Islands by boat, enabling guests to see native wildlife such as giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and sea lions. The programme also includes accommodation at the Royal Palm Hotel, which is located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
As part of Silver Shadow’s two-night ‘Patagonia Express’ excursion from Punta Arenas, guests can visit the national parks of Torres del Paine in Chile, and Los Glaciares in Argentina.