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Three new Signature Journeys hosted by our Destination Specialists!
 April 30 - May 8, 2016Price from: $2,950 pp
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Hosted by Alt for Norge winner David Engen  land and cruise ___________________________ February 3 - 18, 2017Price from: $6,455 pp
land and cruise $300 Early Booking Discount through March 1, 2016
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Your Extraordinary Honeymoon Awaits!
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Let Borton Overseas help you create an unforgettable honeymoon. Whether you desire a beach-side adventure to Thailand or something more adventurous, such as an African safari, we can design the right itinerary for any couple.
Give us a call to start planning!
1-800-843-0602
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 What is your position at Borton Overseas? The best one in the company, Scandinavia Specialist ;) What makes you a Scandinavian Specialist? I grew up in a Scandinavian family. Although not a Lutefisk fan, I endure the smell every Christmas to enjoy the lefse and r�mmegr�t. I decided to really explore my heritage by studying a semester abroad in Norway. Falling in love with the country and its culture turned that semester into nearly seven years abroad. Now I get the chance to help others explore all the amazing wonders the Nordic countries have to offer. What is your favorite vacation destination? And why? I may sound like a broken record here, but Norway would have to be my favorite destination. In all my years there, it never lost its appeal. There was never a lack of beautiful views or exciting new places to discover. What is your favorite thing to do on vacation? I like to do things that I could not do at home. One thing I love to do, which may not be the norm, is go to a local grocery store. I feel that the items tell so much about a culture. It is a great opportunity to try foods that may not be sold where you live. Also, I like to go and explore a waterfall or take a superjeep excursion to a glacier. I won't be doing that on a regular basis, so why not try it out if my travel destination offers it? A wise person said once, "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." This is my motto when it comes to personal vacations. What are you most looking forward to this winter? My upcoming trip to Iceland. I was happy to accept an invitation to a conference that will promote the relationships Borton Overseas has with its Icelandic vendors. And yes, I will be hitting up the local grocery store for an odd snack and heading on a superjeep tour to a glacier in between meetings.
What travel tips do you have for our readers?
Having traveled extensively in Scandinavia, my biggest tip would be not to be afraid to ask a local. Sometimes we get so caught up in what our phones say, we miss out on what is going on around us. Ask a local for directions or restaurant ideas. Don't just go to McDonald's because it is familiar. You may miss out on a unique experience, like a moose burger or a fun local hot spot.
Do you have any interesting hobbies/passions we can know about?
Although I grew up in Minnesota, I am a definite Green Bay Packer fan. Win or lose I wear green and gold. Even in Norway I kept up on how they were doing and hosted a Superbowl party when they won a few years back. One fun fact is that when playing the superbowl in Norway, instead of the commercials at halftime, they actually explain how the game works. I had to laugh a bit, but soccer is the big thing over there currently so not everyone is clear on the rules of our version of 'football'.
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Borton Overseas Staff Travel Journal
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 November Suzanne - Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa Linda - Denmark Mette - Denmark Betina - Iceland
January
Kjell - Tanzania February Nicole - Iceland April
Mette - Norway
Linda - Norway
EJ - Chile May Jody - South Africa | |
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Gift Certificates make great gifts, and travel never goes out of style. Our Gift Certificates can be customized to any occasion and are available in any denomination. | |
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Happy New Year from Borton Overseas!
2015 was a busy year for us! We added China, Asia and India to our destination portfolio, expanded our programs in South America and Antarctica, and have kept up with what's new and exciting in Scandinavia and East, Southern and South Africa.
Since adding and expanding destinations, we have decided to discontinue producing our annual brochure. Instead, we will dedicate our time, energy and resources to keeping our website comprehensive and current. Unlike brochures, we are able to add and update programs in minutes and to include full package details and itineraries. You can access the information needed to make travel choices quickly!
Our website is user-friendly, with a side bar listing many travel experiences from which to choose: accommodations, activities, country, travel period, travel style, and trip duration. From there, lists of programs are offered based on your criteria.
Customizing your journey is also an option, so if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, we can craft an itinerary just for you!
Our expert Destination Specialists will work with you from the planning stage until you return home for seamless and personalized service. We are committed to providing you with the most unique, customized and memorable travel experience.
Please visit our website for complete and updated details on all of our programs!
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Introducing Small Group Tours in Asia! |
Borton Overseas is thrilled to introduce a number of small group guided tours to Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar! A variety of tour dates are available, and they are scheduled to allow for a combination of countries.
These exclusive guided tours are for those not wishing to travel alone or preferring to travel with a small group, making them a perfect opportunity for single travelers. The tours include a dedicated private guide that travels with the group throughout the journey. Each of the departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 participants. For details on these departures, click on the photos below.
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Latest Passport News
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What every traveler should know about their passport
If you believe that passports expire every 10 years (5 years for minors) and that the expiration date is clearly listed, then you are correct...at least here in the US. What you may not know is that many countries require that your passport be valid for up to six months past your travel date in order to gain entry into their country. The "Six Months Validity Rule" states that passports expiring within six months of departure date (sometimes only three depending on the country) are considered invalid and travelers will be denied access to the given country. This is to make sure that a traveler's passport won't expire if unforeseen circumstances detain them in a foreign country. Travelers whose passports are not valid due to this rule are denied boarding at airports and on cruise lines traveling to certain destinations. What does this mean for you? Be aware of your passports expiration date and always check for the passport regulations for your destination(s) on the State Department's website.
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Antarctica has been heating up this past year. Not literally of course, but it is becoming a hot travel destination. If you are looking for a new kind of off-the-beaten path adventure or are looking to fill a space on your continent passport, we have several options for trips to the White Continent.
Whether your passions run to nature or photography, or you want to participate in active options such as hiking, mountaineering or kayaking, we can plan the perfect trip for you. And with both expedition and discovery-style cruises, as well as fly-in options available, Antarctica continues to become more accessible. However, with a limited travel season of mid-October through March and restrictions on the number of people allowed on the continent at any given time, booking early is a must. Give our Antarctica Specialist EJ a call to start planning your Antarctic adventure today, or join him February 3 - 18, 2017 on our Signature Journey "On the Keels of Giants".
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NEW Destinations and NEW ways to see them!
Great news! We now offer packages to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Get away this winter and take a vacation to the warm beaches of the Galapagos, the peaks of the Andes Mountains, or the tropical rainforests at the headwaters of the Amazon River. Ecuador may be small, but it is the most bio-diverse country in the world and is packed with adventures for travelers of any age and activity level. We are also expanding the types of programs we offer. In the past few months we have added wine tours in Chile, fly fishing in Patagonia, cultural immersion packages on Easter Island and, our favorite, island-hopping in the Galapagos. Unlike a standard Galapagos cruise (which we also offer), our island-hopping package includes hotel stays on the islands with visits to several islands during your stay.
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Africa Specialist and animal-lover, Andrea Berger, traveled to Kenya in December 2015 as a guest of New African Territories, a portfolio of individually-owned boutique camps and lodges throughout Kenya. She had a fantastic trip, met some incredible people, stayed at some exceptional lodges, and saw some amazing animals. Here is her story:
I began my trip in Nairobi, Kenya's international entry point. I spent my first night at Ololo Lodge, a peaceful oasis in Nairobi National Park, a park full of wildlife so close to the city that the transfers to and from the lodge double as a game drive. This meant I got to see lions, leopards and rhinos shortly after getting off the plane!
Then I flew up to the Laikipia region in the country's north, to stay at Sabuk Lodge in the Loisaba Conservancy. Sabuk's remote location lends itself to various activities aside from just seeing animals. I was able to do a one-night fly camp, which involved hiking to a campsite in a river valley with camels, where I swam in the cool river, fished and slept under the stars. I was also fortunate to attend a Samburu celebration thrown by a local Samburu family; it was a colorful and welcoming glimpse into a fascinating culture.
I continued south to spend a few nights in the Masai Mara area. At Alex Walker's Serian Camp, I took a night game drive where I was entertained by a family of lions and amused by an encounter with an aardvark. Next I stayed at the luxury mobile camp Nkorombo, situated on a hippo-filled spot on the Mara River followed by Speke's Camp where I took game drives into the world-famous Masai Reserve which provided impressive wildlife sightings, like leopards, hyenas, elephants and antelopes of every size. We even saw Malaika, a cheetah whose mother starred in the BBC's Big Cat Diaries, with her two older cubs. Fresh rain had provided plenty to drink and grass for grazing, so there were baby animals everywhere!
A scenic "air safari" took me across southern Kenya to Tsavo West National Park, where I stayed at Kipalo Hills. It was warm and humid there, so the camp's pool was a relief. Game viewing was harder in this part of the country because rain had greened up the dense bush, making spotting animals difficult, except, of course, for the "red" elephants, coated in layers of the red dusty soil which stood out against the green bush. The highlight of my stay here was walking on centuries-old elephant trails with the concession's game warden and a local man -- a former poacher turned wildlife guardian -- who showed us the practical and medicinal uses of native plants and shrubs.
When my adventure came to a close, I was sad to say farewell to such an extraordinary land, but happy to leave with new memories and experiences of an extraordinary journey, which I'm eager to share with everyone. Be sure to take a look at my trip slideshow below!
Andrea's Reasons to Travel to Kenya:
Kenya has something to offer everyone, of all ages, interests & budgets: - Friendly and welcoming people of different cultures
- Varied habitats and landscapes: flat grassy plains to mountains, river deltas to deserts
- Diversity of wildlife: the Big Five plus many more, and great birding
- Assorted lodges: inexpensive to over-the-top luxury, camping and tented camps, architecturally appealing lodges, private homes - something to fit every budget!
- Commitment to wildlife conservation, supported by tourism dollars
- Variety of experiences: off the beaten track, authentic cultural interaction, active and adventurous, family friendly, romantic
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Discover Finland, A Land of Contrasts
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Introducing NEW packages
In a land covered by forests and lakes, one might not expect to find the latest and greatest in both fashion and architecture, but in Finland they can be seen nestled between the ancient trees and cobbled streets. And with its large indigenous Sami population, a rich colorful mythology, and a plethora of outdoor activities for every season, Finland has a lot to offer both the adventurer and historian alike. Oh, and don't forget that Santa's Village is situated in the lush, green Finnish Lapland, and is open to visitors year round!
Our requests for travel to Finland have been growing as more people discover everything this remarkable destination has to offer. Due to popular demand, we are pleased to introduce two new summer packages including, for the first time, an escorted tour through Finland! Check them out here or let us customize your own Finland adventure!
 
Price from $3,408 pp Price from $2,943 pp
Escorted Tour: Departs August 4 Independent Tour: Departs Daily
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HEARTBEAT
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As individuals and as a company, we are dedicated to leaving a positive impact on our destinations and the people who call them home. HEARTBEAT is our way of raising awareness and endorsing the organizations making a difference in our destinations and our local community. It is our heartbeat heard around the world, and your invitation to learn about and engage with these organizations....and to get your heart beating!
Educate Tanzania, Inc. (ETI), is a Minnesota based non-profit committed to education in remote, northwestern Tanzania. Founded in 2010, their first project is building an agricultural college, called KARUCO, in Karagwe, Tanzania. To date they have constructed two classrooms, an administration building, and waste management systems. They are currently working to build water and infrastructure development within the area, as well as starting recruitment for the university. ETI's visions and dreams are brought to life through partnerships with some of the most respected global specialists and organizations.
Borton Overseas proudly supports this outstanding organization and we hope that you will be inspired to learn more and join us in supporting their efforts.
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