The centuries have done little to tarnish the vibrant detail of Samarqand's exquisite blue-tiled mosques, the rich frescoes and glass mosaics of Udaipur's City Palace, Vientiane's golden stupas, or the detailed woodcarvings and ironwork in Kathmandu Valley cities.

Some of mankind's finest achievements are also the hardest to reach, tucked away in the world's remote corners. We lay them at your feet: Albania's ancient Roman theaters, Petra's rock-carved treasury, the massive temple complex of Angkor, Bhutan's cliff-hugging dzongs.

Your journey to history's lost cities touches many different worlds, from the soaring heights of the Himalayas to the green expanses of Southeast Asia, and from the sheer desert canyons of Jordan to the scenic lakes of India's Rajasthani capital.

The people of history's lost cities are very much alive in the faces of their contemporary successors. Rub elbows with Angkor's Buddhist pilgrims, Rajasthani royalty, desert nomads, members of Hmong and Mien hill tribes, Uzbek merchants and Bhutanese monks.

Private Jet Travel is Safe, Comfortable and Convenient

Our private Boeing 757 offers unmatched safety, long-range capabilities, access to smaller airports, and an interior customized for maximum comfort. Not limited by regular commercial routes or schedules, we fly direct, bypass busy airports and avoid layovers, crisscrossing continents and countries with ease. We enjoy special privileges, including expedited boarding, luggage handling, and Customs and Immigration formalities. Because we set our own schedules, we fly during the day, arriving refreshed and ready to explore.

NEW, Spacious Leather Seats Fit Like a Glove
We have reconfigured our Boeing 757 jetliner to accommodate just 74 guests in new VIP leather seats. Made with a patented, dense foam core, the seats automatically adjust to a wide range of body types and provide heightened comfort, flexibility and improved circulation. Each seat has an individual power source for laptops, digital cameras and other equipment. The cabin has 24 flat-screen monitors.

We Control the Quality and Safety of Our Transportation
The Boeing 757 is unsurpassed among today's jetliners for safety and has a 99 percent reliability rate for operating without mechanical delays. Our private jet is operated and maintained by First Choice Airways, founded in the United Kingdom in 1987. Carrying more than seven million passengers on more than 30,000 flights a year, First Choice Airways is one of the U.K.'s largest airlines and is consistently recognized for its high level of safety, performance and service.

First Choice Airways monitors access to the jet and baggage at all times. Every piece of luggage is screened and identified with a security tag and remains under the watchful eyes of our staff and security officers. Find out more about our safety and security program.

An Expedition Physician Travels With Us
An experienced expedition physician accompanies each journey and is on-call to passengers 24 hours a day.

An International Crew and Fine Create a First-Class Expedition Experience
Accompanying our journey is an experienced, international crew, including eight cabin attendants, three pilots, two engineers, an airport liaison officer, and two chefs. The flight crew remains with us throughout the trip. Experienced expedition leaders also accompany the group.

In-flight meals are graciously served on china and linen. Carefully chosen menus and wine lists accommodate a range of tastes. Dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients and special emphasis is placed on food safety by our chef and catering assistant.

Seminars in the Sky Prepare Us for Adventures on Land
Our lecturers deliver in-flight presentations, using a public address system and conveniently placed overhead monitors. An on-board library of books and publications relating to each destination is available during flight.

Travel with superb lecturers and leaders.
Expert lecturers help create a rich context for your journey, increasing your awareness and knowledge of areas like art, history, geography and politics.

Professional expedition leaders take care of every detail, leaving you free to immerse yourself in every amazing destination.

World Heritage Sites
UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited on History's Lost Cities 2009

UNESCO World Heritage sites are places of extraordinary and universal cultural and/or natural value that have been chosen for special protection from damage and destruction. When a site is selected by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, it is inscribed onto the official World Heritage Site List and receives ongoing aid and technical support from the World Heritage Fund.

Accommodations
Hotels featured on History's Lost Cities 2009

United Kingdom
The Dorchester, London
With views across Hyde Park, this grand 1931 hotel blends old-world style with 21st-century comforts. Guest rooms are richly furnished and accented with paneling, thick carpeting, and polished woods. Immense marbled baths include deep tubs and walk-in showers. The elaborate health club offers an excellent gym, health and beauty treatments, saunas, tanning beds, and whirlpools.

Jordan
Mövenpick Hotel, Petra
Located a two-minute walk from the Petra entrance gate, the Mövenpick blends Middle Eastern craftsmanship with Western design in one of the country's most luxurious hotels. Notable features include an excellent gym and hammam (Arabic steam bath), opulent restaurant, well-stocked library and spacious, contemporary guest rooms.

OR

InterContinental Hotel, Aqaba
Situated on Jordan's Red Sea, the InterContinental Aqaba has its own private beach. All guest rooms have balconies with spectacular views overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba. On site are several restaurants, as well as a spa, 24-hour gym with ten cardiovascular machines, Jacuzzis, steam room, squash court, and outdoor pool.

India
The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
With views over Lake Pichola to the City Palace, this hotel resembles a palace itself with fountains and pavilions, ornate carving and inlay, landscaped gardens and private courtyards. All guest rooms have huge bedchambers with large private terraces and are appointed with exquisite hand-crafted furniture, hand-knotted rugs and Indian textiles.

Cambodia
La Résidence d'Angkor, Siem Reap
Surrounded by trees, this intimate Khmer-style hotel is set within a leafy walled garden.

Spacious guest rooms are exquisitely decorated using traditional hardwoods, bamboo, and natural textiles. Wood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and balconies with chaise longues exude tranquility. Enormous baths have oversize terrazzo tubs and sinks, and amenities in locally made pottery and baskets. Enjoy the hotel's well-shaded freshwater pool, or in-room spa and beauty services.

Laos
Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane
The tallest building in town, the luxurious Lao Plaza is decorated in local style and offers complete modern facilities. It is used for the most important guests of the Lao Government, official state visits and social events. Located near the Lao National History Museum, it was renovated in 2003, when a new fitness club and spa were added.

AND

Pansea Phou Vao Hotel, Luang Prabang
Sitting imposingly atop Phou Vao (Kite Hill), this luxurious French-managed hotel is surrounded by gardens and has stunning views of the city below. The huge guest rooms are finished in spare, modern, Asian style and feature four-poster beds, large baths, day beds and shaded balconies.

Nepal
Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu
This city resort hotel is set on 37 acres overlooking Bodhnath Stupa, the most holy of Tibetan Buddhist shrines outside Tibet. The courtyard lobby features replicas of nine 11th-century shrines. Hotel amenities include floodlit tennis courts, a high-tech fitness center with jogging track and a complete spa with Ayurvedic massage.

Bhutan
Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Paro
Elaborate hand-carved wooden cornices and masterful stonework coexist with state-of-the-art technology and under-floor heating at this boutique property. All guest rooms overlook forests and mountains, and feature oak floors, hand-knotted rugs, and rich furnishings. Guests can relax in the sauna, steam room, gym, and traditional Bhutanese outdoor hot-stone bath. The hotel also features a full-service spa, archery and dart ranges, a tea house, and a meditation house.

Uzbekistan
Domina President Hotel, Samarqand
This hotel is close to the historic old city. The comfortable guest rooms are outfitted with modern conveniences, Jacuzzi tubs, and balconies. Recreational facilities at the Domina President include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and outdoor tennis courts.

Albania
Butrinti Hotel, Saranda
The finest hotel on the entire coast, the Butrinti features an impressive resort-style outdoor pool area, complete with poolside bars framed by Doric columns. The fitness area includes a sauna and basketball court, and jogging and bike paths follow the Ionian Sea coastline. Guest rooms are modern, spacious, and air-conditioned.

Price of the Expedition Includes

• All hotel accommodations, meals, group transportation, excursions and other group activities from arrival in London on October 9, 2009, through departure from London following breakfast on October 29, 2009
  
• Airport transfers at beginning and end of trip
• Transportation by private jet (or other conveyance) according to the itinerary, including meals, beverages, wine, beer and liquor on board our private jet
• Complete program of special events and activities
• Enrichment program of lectures and presentations by a team of experts
• Professional expedition staff and physician to assist you throughout the trip
• Bottled water throughout the expedition
• Baggage handling abroad
• All gratuities
• Amenities package
• Comprehensive medical evacuation insurance.

Price of the Expedition Does Not Include

• Roundtrip airfare and taxes between home cities and London (see airfare section below)
• Passport fees and visa charges
• Accident/baggage/cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses such as immunizations, laundry, telephone, fax charges, taxis
• Liquor except as noted above.

Airfare
Because travelers originate from a variety of home cities, airfares will vary. We are happy to reserve flights in the class of service you prefer, and to arrange for your airport transfers and pre- or post-trip hotel accommodations.

Expectation of Travelers
We consider this a fast-paced, strenuous program. Walking and climbing stairs are required to board and disembark the jet at most airports, to get around in hotels and to participate in many excursions. Riding in four-wheel-drive vehicles on rough terrain or unpaved paths can aggravate back conditions.

All members of the trip are expected to be in good mental and physical health.