AROUND THE WORLD IN 25 DAYS
Spark your imagination and fulfill a dream as you embark on your very own around-the-world adventure with Wells Gray Tours, just like Phileas Fogg from the popular 1873 novel, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. In this novel, Phileas Fogg accepts a wager to circumnavigate the globe and travel eastward by ships and trains. Jules Verne’s wrote this novel in a time where recent technological innovations, such as the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in America, the opening of the Suez Canal, and linking of railways in India enabled world-wide travel that could be enjoyed in a relatively quick, safe, and comfortable way for the first time (source: Wikipedia). Jules Verne was seemingly fascinated with the idea of global travel and quite frankly so are we—although, in this day and age, we’re making the journey in only 25 days with all the comforts of a luxury vacation!
Join us on this group travel experience as we circumnavigate the globe by plane and cruise ship to explore and experience a variety of new places, cultures, and historic cities along the way.
Tour Overview
We will begin our journey from departure points in the BC Interior, Vancouver Island, and Lower Mainland on March 24, 2025 then fly west from Seattle to Singapore. We cruise from Singapore to Doha aboard the beautiful Norwegian Sky, take a domestic flight from from Doha to Istanbul, and then fly west over Europe to return home. Please click here to view our detailed itinerary.
Tour Highlights
There is so much to love about this epic adventure. Here are just a few of the many wonderful highlights from the places we visit.
Singapore
Prior to boarding the Norwegian Sky, we will spend 3 nights in Singapore, an island city-state, located off southern Malaysia and just north of the Equator. Here we visit the Botanical Garden, recently declared a UNESCO site, and the National Orchid Garden which displays over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids. We get an insider view of the Straits Chinese heritage with a Joo Chiat walking tour, discovering how the centuries-old traditions are translated into today’s world. Find hidden architectural gems, taste and experience Popiah making, see unique craftsmen and fusion temples, feel the intricate Nonya beadwork, smell the Rempah spice blends, and indulge in colourful Kueh pastries and other goodies along the way. Explore Kampong Glam, site of the magnificent Sultan Mosque, as well as cruise on a traditional Bumboat along the Singapore River!
Cruise Ports & Shore Excursions
While aboard the Norwegian Sky, we will visit ports in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Kochi (Cochin), Mangalore, Mormugao, and Mumbai, India; as well as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We have also included fabulous Wells Gray Tours shore excursions at every port! To name a few highlights, we’ll visit the cultural enclave of Phuket Old Town, the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, and see historic buildings, synagogues, mosques, and churches in Kochi (Cochin). We’ll enjoy a guided tour of a cashew factory in Mangalore, walk amidst the grandeur of Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its magnificent churches, in Mormugao, and explore the narrow, boutique- and cafe-lined streets of Fontainhas, the charming Latin Quarter of Goa, where vibrant hues adorn colonial-era homes and the scent of spices fills the air. We will also explore Mumbai, the financial capital and most populous city in India; Abu Dhabi, including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; and stunning Dubai before we disembark our cruise ship in Doha, Qatar. One of the main perks of cruising is that you get to see so many places without having to change your accommodation frequently!
In Doha, we’ll stay for 2 nights. A few highlights here include a visit to the Katara Amphitheatre, a crafted balance between classical Greek and modern Islamic features, the Souq Waqif with specialties of gold and spice, and we’ll even ride on Land Cruisers across the Qatar desert to the Inland Sea, an arid landscape where vast sand dunes spill into the sea’s azure waters.
Istanbul, Türkiye
After our stay in Doha, Qatar, we fly to Istanbul, Türkiye, for 2 nights, before returning home. Straddling the busy waterway of the Bosporus Strait, Istanbul bridges Europe and Asia, making it the only city in the world situated on two continents. We stay two nights at the 5-star Point Hotel, located close to vibrant Taksim Square and will visit Topkapi Palace, have free time in the Grand Bazaar to browse some of its 3,500 shops, cruise the Bosporus Strait taking in sights on both the European and Asian shores including mosques, fortresses, and palaces.
Tour Notes & Booking Information
Cruises are incredibly popular post-Covid. Ships are filling up fast and earlier than they once did. Norwegian has confirmed a block of staterooms for this unique one-way cruise and they are normally held until 90 days before sailing (late December 2024). However, any unsold staterooms can be taken away from us at any time if the ship or even a category fills. This occurs on most of our group cruises, then we have to turn away disappointed customers, even though seats are available on the connecting motorcoach. Therefore, please don’t delay booking this tour.
A deposit of $1,000 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due November 22, 2024. Please click here to view the full brochure, including the Itinerary, Tour Notes, and Policies. If you have any questions and would like to book on this tour, please reach out to your local Wells Gray Tours office at 1.800.667.9552.
Photo Credits
Wikimedia: Norwegian Sky
Adobe Stock: photos of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Phuket Old Town, The Gateway of India, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Dubai, Qatar desert, and Grand Bazaar.