The World Traveller Winter 2017 | Page 22

TAUCK TOURS Planet Earth Series Watching the BBC nature series Planet Earth, you’d be forgiven for wishing you were there instead of at home. The stunning destinations and exotic animals are something most people only dream about seeing. However, one luxury tour operator is making those dreams a reality. Working with BBC Earth, Tauck Tours has created travel experiences featuring elements based on the Planet Earth series. Tauck is a worldwide leader in travel, while BBC Earth is nature's premier storyteller. Together they are offering a backstage pass to experience the places, people, animals and stories relating to the series. The Tours On a Planet Earth Series Tauck Tour, guests are treated to special documentary films produced by BBC Earth exclusively for Tauck Tours. They also have the opportunity to try out filmmaking technology as they explore, magical learning experiences with wildlife in natural habitats. And local cultures sharing their traditions are waiting to be unearthed. Great Plains The Great Plains and vast open spaces of our planet’s immense wilderness seem empty, but that’s just an illusion. The plains support the greatest gatherings of wildlife on earth, and bear witness to some of the most dramatic wildlife stories on our planet. Get intimate with the “Big Five,” in their natural habitats, with the aid of specialised microphones and infrared camera traps. Ice Worlds The uniqueness of the living creatures in Ice Worlds is incomparable to those found in any other destination. Get up 22 orbitworldtravel.com.au close and personal to astonishing Arctic life and immerse yourself in the Earth experience. Thermal imaging cameras reveal how animals conserve heat, while specialised microphones bring normally unheard voices of nature to our ears. Shallow Seas Shallow seas make up only 8% of the world’s oceans but they contain the vast majority of its marine life. Resting on the continental shelves, shallow seas fringe our planet’s continents for hundreds of miles before reaching deeper, darker waters. The diverse marine life here cannot be found elsewhere on earth, and the inhabitants go to extraordinary lengths for survival. Mountains & Forests The stories told by Earth's Mountains and Forests are as diverse as their ecosystems and habitats. In these places, the natural world lives out an annual cycle of change. From kaleidoscopes of colours and textures, to predators and hierarchical animals, hear and see stories of volcanoes, glaciers, and unique and familiar wildlife and flora. To make things a bit wilder, future Planet Earth inspired Tauck Tours itineraries will include Tauck Expedition small-ship cruises. Starting in 2018, the new venture will see even more themed itineraries for travellers to choose from. The company is also doubling its small ship capacity with the help of French- owned cruise line Ponant. This will see the addition of Iceland as a destination, and BBC Earth experts on select cruises as guides. In the meantime, take advantage of hands-on use of field equipment, as well as knowledgeable guides and local experts. From African plains to frozen worlds, and shallow seas to tropical jungle, embrace your inner explorer with Tauck Tours and the Planet Earth Series.