8 Top Stops on Our President's Journey by Private Plane Around the World

Stonehenge

After your overnight flight and arrival in London, you will be greeted by your Group Leader. The following morning, embark on your adventure to Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site managed by English Heritage, where you will walk in the footsteps of our Neolithic ancestors at the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe. Alongside a local expert, learn the history of this important site that remains a source of inspiration and spirituality as well as a feat of engineering and building. In the afternoon, continue on to the enclosure at Avebury, still part of the World Heritage Site and the largest prehistoric stone circle in Europe. Walk through the site with your expert as you stand where farmers first made their imprint 6,000 years ago.

Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx

Led by your Egyptologist, explore the most renowned icons of Egypt. Learn about the monumental importance of the three largest pyramids in the sandy valley, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Kafhre and the Pyramid of Menkaura, as well as the kings that each pyramid is dedicated to. Discover perhaps the only true rival to the pyramids when it comes to ancient Egyptian architecture, the Great Sphinx. Uncover the history of this massive landmark, the most famous and well-known sphinx in the world, which has been guarding the Necropolis for centuries.

Petra

A far cry from the lush green meadows of England, scenes of sandstone dominate every view as you journey through Jordan in search of the “lost city” of Petra. Though one of the most revered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, its popularity is a relatively new phenomenon. After firstserving as the thriving capital of the Nabataean empire, the city sat in near ruin for centuries, lost to the Western world until the early 1800s. Cap off your journey in Petra by learning about the Bedouin, the nomadic Arab people who call this their home, through an interesting lecture by one of our esteemed experts. 

Taj Mahal

Arrive at the Taj Mahal and bask in the glow of one of the Seven Wonders of the New World. Combining Indian, Persian and Islamic influences in the grandest of fashions, this structure is perhaps the most famous example of Mughal architecture and a proud symbol of India’s richhistory. Gain a unique insight into Indian culture alongside your expert instructor at Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, as well as a gurdwara, or Sikh temple.

Jaipur and the Amber Fort

After we say goodbye to one of the world’s most poetic monuments, we board our private plane for a short journey to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan — India’s most colorful state. But it’s what lies beyond the city limits, amid the arid hill country, that you have come to explore. The 17th-century Amber Fort is a fairytale-like palace of red sandstone and marble that is nothing short of breathtaking. Rajasthan is home to six forts, but none as majestic as the Amber Fort. The opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. The architecture bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries.

Angkor Wat

Explore Cambodia’s pride and joy, Angkor Wat, with an expert eager to share the history and symbolism of the world’s largest religious monument, once a Hindu sanctuary until changing hands to become the Buddhist temple it is today. Continue your adventure to Angkor Thom, the last capital and fortified city of the Khmer empire, and Bayon, to learn about the 54 Gothic towers that are decorated with 216 giant smiling faces, a true reflection of Cambodia’s welcoming culture. Discover Banteay Srei, a pink, 10th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, to study some of the best-preserved carvings of all Angkor monuments.

The Borobudur Temple Compound

The Borobudur Temple Compound, the largest and one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world which dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries, sits in the center of the island of Java in Indonesia. The UNESCO World Heritage site contains three monuments: the Borobudur Temple itself and two smaller temples, the Buddhist Mendu Temple and the Pawon Temple. The compound is renowned for its artwork, with over 500 statues of the Buddha and walls depicting reliefs of the life and teachings of Buddha.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

In Muscat, you’ll notice one structure in particular dominating the skyline, with its 295-foot minaret soaring into the clouds — Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Spanning over 131,000 square feet, explore this magnificent mosque, which can hold 20,000 worshippers in its musallas (prayer halls) and is adorned with countless colorful mosaics, handcrafted to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art. Further your studies of Oman at the Al Mirani and Al Jalali forts, both built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, who occupied Muscat at the time. Get a taste of the local culture at the Mutrah Souk bazaar before finishing your educational experiences in Oman aboard a traditional dhow boat.

Want to find out more about our learning adventures by private plane? Go to our website to discover more about this adventure and our President’s Journey to Africa!