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Award winning cruise booking system, allows you to compare sailings from up to five cruise lines side-by-side, empowering you to easily search, sell, book and manage cruise vacations...

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We offer you a unique opportunity with over 3,500 specialty cruise departures that sail around the world. Choose from hosted sailings, including private car and driver amenities...

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With our volume and longevity in the travel business, we are pleased to provide top tier supplier commissions. Agent commissions are paid promptly upon receipt from vendors...

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Expertly Designed

We get it. You’re not the homebody type. We aren’t either. Your passion, needs, and desires have shaped our business. Destination experts hand-craft transformative experiences designed specifically with you – our fellow traveler – at heart. We wouldn't trust your experience with anyone else.

Guided Touring Reimagined

We know you want to explore and also dive in. We’re curious travelers, just like you, so rest assured, you’ll experience must-sees and connect with the people and culture that define the destination. You’ll eat in locals’ homes, take cooking classes, travel by trains and tuk tuks, explore cities with food tours, and stay in igloos, castles, and chateaus.

Value Beyond Price

Your time is one of your most precious commodities, so you should spend more of it in the destination, not driving between places. We design tours that spend the fewest hours on the coach. One-night stays are a rarity. This is your trip, and you shouldn’t feel rushed. With choice, flexibility, and free time, take it all in – this is your tour.

Confidently Collette

Travel with trust. Because this is your trip - something you've planned for and dreamed about. You should feel confident in your journey every step of the way.

Industry-Leading Travel Protection

Cancel for any reason (bad hair day applies) up to 24 hours before your tour leaves and get a full money-back refund. Collette issued a record-breaking $185 million cash back to travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experience & Expertise

We've been doing this for a long time. Since 1918, in fact. Collette is the most experienced and longest-running tour operator in North America. You choose...

Traveling Well

Our team is on the pulse of world events and protocols, so you are kept fully aware and feel well-prepared for your trip.

Service Rating

Independent

Why Guided Travel

You're a traveler with places to go. We'll take care of the details. You embrace the journey.

Social Connections

Meet a group of people who share your love of travel. Learn from locals. Forge friendships in the coolest places.

Independence

There's plenty of time built into our itineraries, plus optional tours, Choice on Tour excursions, and more. It's your trip, your way.

Expertly Planned

You know what you want to see and do - let a team of experts handle all the details from the must-sees to centrally-located accommodations and local lessons.

The Best Pacing

Don’t rush – this is your time to see the world. Get more time in the destination, and enjoy an ideal balance of included excursions and free time.

Our Best Moments

When you go, capture all those incredible moments, and use the hashtag #GoCollette so that we can share your joy!

Featured Tours

Collette travelers choose from 160 tours across all 7 continents, as well as 5 travel styles including small group touring and destination spotlights. Check out some trending tours for inspiration on your next adventure.

Explorations

A Taste of the Balkans featuring Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina & Slovenia

Majestic Cities of Central & Eastern Europe featuring Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest & Krakow

Painted Canyons of the West featuring Utah’s Five National Parks

Flavors of Portugal & Spain: featuring Barcelona

Essence of France Paris, Provence & the French Riviera

Colors of Morocco

$7,199 pp* $7,499 pp.

Wilderness of Southern Africa: Safari by Land & Water

$3,299 pp* $3,399 pp.

America's Music Cities featuring New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville

Discover Croatia, Slovenia and the Adriatic Coast

Historical greenbrier featuring washington d.c. & williamsburg, old world sicily & malta.

Spain's Costa del Sol & Madrid

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• North America Tours
• Tour Operators

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in USA 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in USA. Below you will find 31 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in USA offering in total 348 tours and holidays through-out USA. Combined they have received 172 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in USA are: Adventure and sport, Wildlife, landscapes and nature & Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history.

• Tours in USA
• USA Travel Guide
• 12 Things to do in the USA

29 Tour Operators in USA with 172 Reviews

Infinite Adventures

• Address 809 W Riordan 100-325, Flagstaff, USA
• Response Rate 100%
• Response Time 2 hours

• Address 2461 FM 778, Mineola, USA
• Response Rate 95%

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies

Expat Explore

• Address 10 Merryweather Place, London, England
• Response Rate 90%

Omega Tours

• Address 142 Westmount Avenue, Toronto, Canada

Intrepid Travel

• Address 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia
• Response Time 3 hours

World Expeditions

• Address 1B Osiers Road, Wandsworth, London, England
• Response Rate 82%

• Address Picquet House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, London, England

The Coyote Trip

• Address 182 Mayall Road, London, England
• Response Time 1 hour

Luxury Gold

• Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 60%

Doctor Gumbo Tours

• Address 823 Decatur St, New Orleans, USA
• Response Rate 50%

Indus Travels

• Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
• Response Rate 98%

Adventures Abroad

• Address 2148-20800 Westminster Highway, Richmond BC, Canada
• Response Rate 53%

• Response Rate 88%

• Address Nelson House, 55-59 Victoria Rd, Farnborough, England
• Response Rate 96%

USA Tour Reviews

• Mrs. Yvonne N.
• Sarah Palmer
• USA budget tours
• Eco tours in USA
• USA guided tours
• USA family tour packages
• USA luxury tours
• USA private tours
• USA self-guided tours
• USA small group tours
• USA solo trips
• USA tailor-made vacation packages
• USA tours for senior citizens
• USA tours for young adults
• USA group tours
• USA last minute deals
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Popular Destinations

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Best United States Tour Companies

Search 275 United States tour operators and travel companies, with 2,402 reviews.

Exodus Travels

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Insight Vacations

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G Adventures

Tours of Distinction

Discover Corps

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Peregrine Adventures

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Western River Expeditions

American Queen Steamboat Company

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Maple Leaf Adventures

Pullman Rail Journeys

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United States Reviews & Ratings

I have had an absolutely amazing trip.

My wife and I have had an absolutely amazing trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles via Napa Valley, Yosemite, Death Valley, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Monume...

An absolutely amazing experience,

An absolutely amazing experience, would highly recommend to anyone. Parks we...

Vanessa and Martin

The Vegas to LA trip is amazing.

The Vegas to LA trip is amazing. Excellent and diverse range of trip experiences. Wonderful and breathtaking locations of the Canyons with opportunities to explore b...

The trip itself was amazing!

The trip itself was amazing! The Venus were interesting and beautiful. The food was delicious (especially the buffet at The Grand on Mackinac Island). We enjoyed get...

It was a great trip

It was a great trip with a great group. The food and accommodations were very nice. Our bus broke down at one point but our guide and driver handled it as quickly an...

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USA Tours & Trips

From the remote wilderness of Alaska to the vibrant New York , an American vacation is what you make it. Discover the volcanic wonders of Hawaii , take a trip your inner child will thank you for in Florida , be lost for words with the iconic views of the Grand Canyon or the Golden Gate Bridge , or enjoy a laid back cruise along the Mississippi River . Fun for the whole family and ideal all year round, a tour through the United States is full of adventure whether you're hopping from city to city on the West Coast , or embarking on your very own road trip along Route 66 . Read our guide to the best USA vacations and the best times to visit .

250+ USA tour packages with 19,161 reviews

Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure

Fabulous Tour in a beautiful place!

• Mountain Hikes
• Hiking & Trekking

7 Day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Camping Tour

An epic, whirlwind adventure! What an amazing trip! Our guide was Dylan and he was terrific. He was smart, informative, and funny. He customized our week based on our group - making sure we all had a say and got to experience these magical places in our own ways as much as reasonably possible. He even saved someone’s life from another van by doing the Heimlich Maneuver! We did the camping option. We had envisioned relaxing evenings by the campfire but that only happened a couple of times. Usually we were scrambling to set up camp in the dark and then get packed and ready to roll out with the sunrise so we could pack in as much adventure as possible. So many incredible moments along the journey - our van fam was wonderful, pizza at sunset on the Grand Canyon’s south rim, a night hike in Aches with shooting stars and the Milky Way, s’mores on our last night with the whole group, and Dylan’s playlists for every occasion… we came home exhausted and happy, with multiple bucket list items checked off. Highly recommend!

• 5% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

7 day Southwest National Parks Grand Canyon Tour

Outstanding tour and tour guide. The trip was well organized, with half of the guests camping and half of the guests lodging. John, our tour guide, kept us informed and entertained us during the entire trip. Only criticism is that we had the same lunch just about every day. Highly recommend.

Hiking Utah's Mighty 5

Charlie was an excellent guide. He fed us well and made everyday exciting. The hikes were breathtaking.

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Wild West – 5 days

Excellent! Very enjoyable and highly recommended!

• Cultural Photography

Magnificent West - 7 Days

Excellent trip. There was a lot of driving but it was worth it. We had excellent guides with information that wasn't listed on the website. There was a lot of driving but many stops to break that up. I have been on a number of tours in America and Europe and found the hotels on this tour to much nicer than in the past. The tours of Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon were nothing less than SPECTACULAR. The guides on the bus and at the sites were more than knowledgeable. The bus was top of the line. I have already spread the name of this company to friends and family. Next year I will be looking for my next trip with this company. Judy Lockie, Ontario, Canada.

Western USA National Parks Loop

This was a great tour, I highly recommend

Looking for tours beyond just USA?

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Vegas to San Fran

Mighty 5 From Las Vegas

Our tour guide,Vicky took care of us & exceeded my expectations for this tour!She was very punctual & showed us all that was described in the tour agenda plus a few other side trips!She shared interesting information on all the areas we visited & had some pretty humorous stories too!I would highly recommend this tour!

Mighty 5 From Salt Lake City

Guide was knowledgeable and helpful. It was a good group

Majestic Alaska (10 Days)

This was an excellent experience

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Photography
• Walking Adventure

Yellowstone / Grand Teton 4 Day / 3 Night Wildlife Adventure

This trip was fantastic! The group totaled 4 plus the guide Cade. We were not disappointed in wildlife viewing. We saw Black wolves, elk, big horn sheep and bison were up close and personal. Cade is an excellent guide and the trip would not have been the same without him. Cade knows both Teton and Yellowstone National parks like the back of his hand. He answers all questions and is an easy person to be around. Did I mention black bears, moose, Old Faithful and more. Fantastic trip! For birders, the bald eagle feasting on carcass and several other raptors. But, communication from Brushbuck is only when necessary for them. Don't let it stop you though. Hotels were luxe and transportation too. Loved it!

Hawaiian Explorer (8 Days, Intra Tour Air Hilo To Kahului)

Alaska Kenai Adventure 9 Days

Excellent trip! I would absolutely recommend the Infinite Adventures trips to anyone who loves an adventure, enjoys being outside and is flexible in their travel. In this tour, you should be ready for the weather (have good gear) and love camping because much of it is outdoors. This was overall a great trip with lots of activities along the way.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Nature's Best: Alaska

Our Tour guide, Wayne, was fantastic! He went above and beyond; to make sure we were comfortable on the bus and on the tours! He also got us as close as he could when there were animal sightings! Lane, our driver, was also an excellent driver; and he kept us safe on the narrow and winding Mountain roads! Hats off to these two!

What people love about USA Tours

Everything was great organized, our CEO Megan was so kind and well prepared.

We thoroughly enjoyed the 7-day tour of the US southwest . We love the destinations included in the tour, every place we visited is on our bucket list. I wanted to pinch myself every day that I visited those iconic and beautiful places as shown in my photos below. We enjoyed all the extra, optional experiences that were suggested by the tour guide. They added more fun to the tour. The Hummer tour in Moab, Utah was one of the optional experiences and it was a blast! Not only it’s fun, you get to see the amazing scenery during the sunset. One previous review mentioned he or she was forced to participate in the Navajo taco dinner in Monument Valley. That comment is not true. You have a choice not to do that and the guide can make a different arrangement for you. The optional Navajo taco dinner is one of the highlights of the tour that we will remember for a long time. It would be a shame not to have this cultural experience when you get to meet Navajo people when you are in the Navajo Nation! Our tour guide, John did a fantastic job. He was full of enthusiasm and energy. He kept the tour well organized and always provided information we needed. We highly recommend the tour.

What a lifetime experience everyone needs Jun 2023 • Solo Within 7 days, we drove in 3 states, visited 5 national parks / 2 state parks, hiked 60 miles, made friends from 7 different states/nations, and eventually traveled through the iconic Route 66 back to Las Vegas. What a lifetime experience everyone needs Day 1 - Zion National Park Day 2 - Bryce Canyon National Park Day 3 - Canyonlands National Park Day 4 - Arches National Park Day 5 - Monument Valley Navajo Nation Day 6 - Grand Canyon National Park / Antelope State Day 7- Grand Canyon back to Las Vegas via Historic Route 66 AMAZING!

USA Destinations

• Western USA (772)
• Sun Belt (448)
• Southwest USA (434)
• Eastern USA (233)
• Four Corners (229)
• East Coast USA (172)
• West Coast USA (169)
• Northeast USA (111)
• Pacific Coast USA (106)
• Southern USA (104)
• Southeast USA (92)
• Northern California (80)
• Mideast USA (69)
• New England (59)
• Pacific Northwest (41)
• Mighty 5 (40)

Travel Styles

• Small Group (336)
• Budget (62)
• Luxury (70)
• Singles and Solo (637)
• For Couples (493)
• Young Adults (31)
• Seniors (572)
• Group (1161)
• Fully Guided (1055)
• Explorer (862)
• Family (583)
• Hiking & Trekking (377)
• In-depth Cultural (267)
• Active (243)
• Coach / Bus (212)
• Personalized (196)
• Partially Guided (129)
• Private (56)
• Self-Guided (46)
• Bicycle (41)
• Ocean Cruise (38)
• Intl. Flights Included (25)
• Self Drive (19)
• 3 Day Tours (64)
• 7 Day Tours (348)
• 10 Day Tours (214)
• 2 Week Tours (146)
• 3 Week Tours (82)
• 4 Week Tours (8)
• Spring 2024 (358)
• Summer 2024 (631)
• Fall / Autumn 2024 (604)
• Winter 2024 / 2025 (177)
• Spring 2025 (265)
• Summer 2025 (288)
• Fall / Autumn 2025 (286)
• Winter 2025 / 2026 (75)
• April 2024 (177)
• May 2024 (373)
• June 2024 (436)
• July 2024 (494)
• August 2024 (503)
• September 2024 (530)
• October 2024 (376)
• November 2024 (177)
• December 2024 (149)
• January 2025 (116)
• February 2025 (119)
• March 2025 (143)
• April 2025 (141)
• May 2025 (215)
• June 2025 (230)
• July 2025 (234)
• August 2025 (239)
• September 2025 (261)
• October 2025 (181)
• November 2025 (79)

USA Tours starting in

• Starting in Las Vegas (115)
• Starting in Los Angeles (85)
• Starting in Jackson (51)
• Starting in Anchorage (51)
• Starting in New York City (48)
• Starting in San Francisco (36)
• Starting in Nashville (25)
• Starting in Honolulu (23)
• Starting in Denver (21)
• Starting in St. George (19)
• USA Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 10 Best Backpacking Tours & Trips 2024/2025
• Best time to visit East Coast USA (Low & High Season)
• Best Time to Visit the West Coast, USA in 2024/2025 (with California)
• Best USA Vacation Spots for Couples: Parks, Cities and more
• 5 Best Guided Backpacking Trips & Tours
• Best 10 Day USA Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

International Versions

• Deutsch: USA Rundreisen
• Français: Circuits et voyages aux États-Unis
• Español: Circuitos y viajes por Estados Unidos (EUA)
• Nederlands: Rondreizen in de Verenigde Staten

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The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies for 2023

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her adventures around the world on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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For those truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations, you want to leave your itinerary to the experts. Whether your dream is to see the Big Five on an African Safari, trek tall mountains, explore European cities, or something even wilder, a group tour is the easiest way to do it.

However, picking the wrong group tour company is the quickest way to ruin your trip. Make sure you choose a tour company that aligns with your goals and travel styles. Do you want an intimate group tour or do you prefer to make lots of new friends in a big group? Does the price line up with what you like (luxury vs. budget)? Is the itinerary going to all the places you want to see? 

We’ve done the research and found the very best group travel tour companies for 2023 for every type of traveler.

Best Overall Group Travel: Exodus Travels

With trips on every continent, Exodus Travels covers anywhere on this planet that you could possibly want to go, from popular destinations like the Amalfi Coast to well off-the-beaten path adventures like Tajikistan. This award-winning group travel company boasts thousands of repeat customers who sign up for trips year after year (97% of past participants would recommend Exodus Travels to a friend). 

These small group tours operate with only around 12-16 people, and always feature experienced local leaders who can give you a unique insight into your destination. Exodus Travels caters to any type of travel style, including trips broken down by type of activity (think walking, cycling, multi-adventure, winter, or cultural) as well as type of traveler (family, age group, etc.). There are curated collections (coastal, “away from it all”, European wilderness, and trips of a lifetime) to inspire you, as well as self-guided options for when you want all the benefits of a group tour planner without the actual group. Looking for that special safari? Exodus Travels just partners with the African Wildlife Foundation to create carefully curated luxury adventures that go above and beyond the standard safari. 

Exodus Travels tours work for almost any budget, with options that range from affordable to premium. 

Top Trip: Explore under-the-radar Europe by foot on Exodus Travels’ Lakes & Mountains of Slovenia walking tour .

A Taste of the Sweet Life in Slovenia

Best Adventure Group Travel: World Expeditions

World Expeditions has been taking adventurous travelers to remote locations all over the world ever since its first group trek through Nepal in 1975. Today, World Expeditions offers active itineraries on every continent. Intrepid travelers can opt for trips themed around mountaineering, rafting, cycling, hiking, and more. 

World Expeditions aims to leave communities and places where they operate tours better than they found them. Trips are created using the company’s Thoughtful Travel Charter as a guideline, which emphasizes respect for the environment, sustainability, having a positive impact on local communities, protecting wildlife, and more. 

World Expeditions’ trips are capped at just 16 people to provide a good experience for participants, and there are no single supplements for solo travelers willing to share a room with someone of the same gender. 

Top Trip: Summit Africa’s tallest mountain on a fully-supported trek up Kilimanjaro on World Expeditions’ eight day trip up the beautiful Lemosho Route . 

Best Budget Group Travel: G Adventures 

For travelers on a budget, G Adventures offers cheap group tours that make dream destinations accessible to nearly anyone. (Think: sailing the Galapagos for just $1,124 , criss-crossing India’s Golden Triangle for $559 , or spending 8 days in Bali for less than $800.)

G Adventures is one of the best tour companies for solo travelers as well, as most trips don’t have a single-supplement. You can choose to share a room with another G Adventures solo traveler, or pay extra to have your own space.

G Adventures keeps costs down by opting for cheaper hotels and local meals, and making certain activities optional (for an additional cost). Pick your travel style—options range from “basic” to more luxe tours run in partnership with National Geographic. Family tours, local living tours (featuring homestays), and wellness-focused tours are also available. 

Top Trip: G Adventures’ China Express trip is a great way to see the highlights of China if you’re short on both time and budget. 

8 Trending Destinations to Visit in 2023

Best Educational Group Tours: EF Go Ahead Tours

When you really want to learn about a destination, consider a group trip with EF Go Ahead Tours . EF is the world’s largest private education company, and the Go Ahead Tours arm capitalizes on the company’s relationships with local educators, historians, and tour guides to create group trips that take you deep into a destination. 

These small group tours generally cap at 38 travelers, and feature unique educational experiences. For a bucket list trip, EF Go Ahead Tour’s special event tours are particularly enticing, as they offer behind-the-scenes access to tough-to-plan trips like Oktoberfest in Munich or Cherry Blossom season in Japan. 

Intimidated by solo travel? EF Go Ahead Tours is a great option for solo travelers, since it offers designated trips for solo travelers , where everyone is traveling alone, making it less intimidating.  

Top Trip: Bring the tastes of Italy home with you on EF Go Ahead Tours’ Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany tour (operated in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen), where you’ll learn how to make local dishes. 

Best Responsible Group Travel: Intrepid Travel

Looking for a responsible group travel operator that focuses on bettering the communities and destinations they visit? Intrepid Travel is the world’s largest travel B Corporation, a certification for companies doing good. 

Intrepid Travel’s tours focus on sustainability, diversity, inclusion, and sustaining communities. The company has its own charity, The Intrepid Foundation , which has donated over 7 million dollars to over 130 community organizations. 

Intrepid Travel’s small group tours attract a wide range of travelers, but they are especially great for younger travelers, as they have a large number of trips designed for people aged 18-29 . (Other trips, including family-focused trips, are geared toward any age.)

Top Trip: Experience unforgettable wildlife encounters on Intrepid Travel’s Premium Uganda & Rwanda trip which includes time with the mountain gorillas of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. 

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Best Private Group Travel: Kensington Tours

Whether your group consists of just two people or involves taking the entire extended family, Kensington Tours will take all the hassle of planning out of the equation. This private group operator creates personalized trips and itineraries tailored to your preferences, while their experts handle all the logistics and bookings. 

Plans are entirely flexible, and can even be changed while on the trip on a whim. Need some inspiration? Browse Kensington Tours’ travel ideas , to get some ideas for your next adventure. 

Top Trip: Sail around the stunning shores of Croatia and the Dalmation Islands on a private luxury catamaran on Kensington Tours’ fully customizable tour . 

Best Polar Group Travel: Chimu Adventures

Whether you’re headed north to the Artic or south to Antarctica, Chimu Adventures has the perfect polar group trip for you. Chimu Adventures has some of the most variety for polar trips, with options to fly, cruise, or a combination of both to get to your destination.

For an ultra-unique Antarctica trip, Chimu Adventures offers cruises departing from Australia or New Zealand (most Antarctica trips depart from Argentina). Can’t stay long? Book one of Chimu Adventures’ scenic flights to Antarctica , which fly as far as the south pole in one spectacular 16-hour day.

Chimu Adventures is one of the cheapest group trips to Antarctica, with rates starting under $5,000.

Top Trip: If you’re pressed for time (or simply don’t have the stomach for the Drake Passage), Chimu Adventures’ Antarctica Fly Cruise will get you to the ends of the earth quickly and smoothly.

Program These Numbers Into Your Phones Before Traveling Internationally

Best Group Tours for Solo Travelers: For the Love of Travel

Group tours can be a great way to meet new people, but they can sometimes skew on the older age range. If you’re between 25-39 and a solo traveler looking to meet new people, you’ll love For the Love of Travel . All participants on the trips are between 25-39, and according to the company, 80 percent are solo travelers—so you’ll make friends fast. Hoping to meet someone who will be more than just a friend on your next trip? Trips include a balanced number of “gal and guy spots” to ensure an even balance of genders within groups (and of course, non-binary genders are always welcome). 

For the Love of Travel offers weeklong (or longer) international trips as well as shorter weekender trips to nearby destinations like Mexico or Denver—perfect for people without a lot of vacation time.

Top Trip: Sleep in a glass igloo under the Northern Lights, go sledding with huskies, and warm up in traditional saunas on For the Love of Travel’s Lapland tour , already booking dates for 2024.

Best Biking Tours Group Travel: DuVine Cycling

Biking through the rolling hills of Italy or across the mountain roads of Chile sounds like a dream, but the logistics seem daunting (especially if you don’t want to haul all your own stuff from point-to-point). Enter: DuVine Cycling , a luxury small group tour company that specializes in bike trips. 

With trips across Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States, DuVine Cycling is a cyclist’s dream. Choose from all-biking trips or mix things up with a cycle and sail bike tour or a multi-sport adventure —no matter what, everything is included, from luxury boutique accommodations to top-quality name brand bikes. 

Top Trip: DuVine’s Holland Bike Tour promises “tulips, windmills, beer, and cheese”—what more could you need?

Best Luxury Group Travel: Abercrombie & Kent

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I am not trying to talk you out of using a tour company, but maybe consider (check out other opinions here at Moscow forum by doing simple queries), you may be better served by perhaps using an agency or guide in each city for maybe a full day, but otherwise doing more on your own with some preliminary light reading, research...

> I do plan on an extensive trip report after we are done.

Please do report. "Russia from the limo window" is a rare genre here.

I sure hope I don't detect any snark in that reply!

We had originally booked a cruise , but after looking into it (I'm much more active on Cruise Critic), found it was not going to be our cup of tea. The boats, all similar Russian built models, are not what one experiences in other countries. The day starts and ends with a long bus ride into and out of the city in rush hour traffic. The tour is in a group trotting behind a guide listening to him or her on headphones. The cruise company warns the walking can be strenuous and they reserve the right to leave anyone behind (red flag). And the cost of the cruise is in the same ballpark as this private tour.

On last year's trip to Hawaii, we booked a private tour on one of the islands. We were picked up by a native Hawaiian in a jeep and he drove us all over the island, showing us things that interested us and passing on stuff that did not. He even stopped at the home of a native Hawaiian family he knew where we sat in the back yard talking and looking out over the ocean while eating banana cream pie she had made from bananas grown in her back yard. We also got a good education in history, flora and fauna as our guide was also a college professor. It was one of the great tours we've had and nothing we could have done in a group or on our own.

I realize from reading these forums that many of the posters take great pride in how independent they are and how much money they can save. What's wrong with saying you plan to see a country in luxury as a once in a lifetime experience. Does everyone have to rough it and save money?

No, please don't take it as a "snark" - I have read your other posts about your wife's condition and I think you are doing exactly the right thing, moreover I applaud her willingness to travel the world when her legs can fail her any moment.

The pride in having taken an independent trip to Russia for most people is not about saving some money but mostly about proving that it IS possible to do it on their own the way they prefer and have a blast despite Western media picturing Russia as a scary and dangerous place.

Sorry if I sounded testy.

We've always wanted to visit Russia. It is an especially "mysterious" place to those of our generation who lived through the cold war, which may account for some of our generation having some trepidation about doing it alone, though it is assuredly not warranted.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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April 8, 2024, Solar Eclipse Will Pass Over All 7 US Cities Named Nineveh?

Some christian groups have preached that the eclipse is a bad omen., published march 31, 2024.

About this rating

On April 8, 2024 , a total solar eclipse will blot out the sun for a couple of minutes in a small band across the United States. The eclipse's totality is the only time humans can look directly at the sun without damaging their eyeballs, and so millions of people from around the world will flock to cities in the path of totality, such as Dallas and Indianapolis.

Eclipses do not discriminate, so anyone in the path of totality will be able to see the sun fully obstructed by the moon. However, some people  have claimed online that there's one interesting coincidence about the eclipse's path of totality: It will pass through every city in the United States named Nineveh. That name is shared by an ancient city in modern-day Iraq that was described in the bible as "evil." 

Snopes received an email from a reader who requested that we check the claim about cities named Nineveh in the eclipse path. In our research, we discovered that many of the people making the claim were Christians who were interpreting the eclipse as a bad omen . 

Contrary to the claims, Snopes discovered that the path of totality in the eclipse does not pass through seven cities in the United States named Nineveh — it passes through just two. But before counting places named Nineveh, we must first briefly clarify how eclipses work.

How Eclipses Work

A total solar eclipse is caused by the moon and the sun being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The moon fully blocks the light from the sun, casting a really large shadow on the earth. Those inside the moon's shadow, called the umbra, are the only ones who will be able to look directly at the sun without eye protection, and it's the small path of the umbra that people travel to in order to see the total solar eclipse. The website GreatAmericanEclipse.com created a visualization of the shadow's path across North America.

Outside the umbra, where the moon blocks only some of the sun, is called a partial solar eclipse, and the sun looks like it has a giant bite taken out of it. You cannot view a partial solar eclipse without special eclipse glasses, and this area is much, much larger than the umbra. The entirety of the continental United States will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on April 8, just as the entirety of the United States (even Alaska and Hawaii) was able to see a partial solar eclipse in  2017 . 

The cool part (partial) of an eclipse can be seen from a very large area, as long as you wear eclipse glasses. The really cool part (total) of an eclipse can be seen only in a small area. It is the total eclipse that people have thought held religious significance since practically as long as humans have had eyes to see and religions to follow.

To quote the essayist Annie Dillard :

A partial eclipse is very interesting. It bears almost no relation to a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him, or as flying in an airplane does to falling out of an airplane. Although the one experience precedes the other, it in no way prepares you for it. 

Places Named Nineveh

We started with Wikipedia's list of places named Nineveh to get a general idea of where to look. Of course, we cross checked those results with more-reliable sources of knowledge, including Google Maps and data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Wikipedia listed just six places in the U.S. named Nineveh, which made our claim of seven dubious to begin with. Checking the locations of those places on Google Maps, we found that three were actually townships, a term used for county subdivisons in some states. 

The first was the largest, Indiana's Nineveh Township (south of Indianapolis), which contains a small hamlet of the same name. Both the township and the hamlet will indeed fall in the path of the total eclipse.

Next, Wikipedia listed two townships in Missouri — one in Adair County (about halfway between Kansas City and Davenport, Iowa) and one in Lincoln County (about an hour northwest of St. Louis). But neither of the two townships contained a village named Nineveh on any of the maps we looked at. Furthermore, neither of the townships fell in the path of the total eclipse. 

The fourth place on Wikipedia's list, Nineveh, New York, is about 30 minutes east of Binghamton. We found it marked on maps but, again, it did not lie in the path of totality.

Fifth: Nineveh, Pennsylvania, roughly halfway between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, West Virginia. This Nineveh was marked on maps, but it was also outside of the total eclipse. It was also the last Nineveh listed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sixth, we found Nineveh, Virginia, an hour and a half west of Washington, D.C. This was the easiest to check: Nobody in the state of Virginia will be able to see full totality during the eclipse. We did not find a label for Nineveh on maps, and buildings located in the area had their postal addresses listed as White Post, Virginia.

That completed the Wikipedia list, but various posts about the supposed line-up listed two more Ninevehs located in the U.S.: one in Texas and one in Ohio.

Nineveh, Texas, was not marked on maps, nor did it have a post office. It was located not far off of Interstate 45 halfway between Houston and Dallas. This one was close, but we eventually confirmed that it would be outside of the zone of totality by referencing nearby cities that also were outside of totality.

Nineveh, Ohio, was a similar story: not found on maps, no post office, no Census data. But this Nineveh, 30 minutes northwest of Dayton, was finally our second hit.

In total, we counted two places named Nineveh in the United States that could be found in the path of totality.

2024 Total Eclipse . https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"A Total Eclipse Is near. For Some, It's Evidence of Higher Power. For Others It's a Warning." USA TODAY , https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/23/2024-total-solar-exclipse-religious-implications/72869724007/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8, 2024 Eclipse Will Pass Over 7 United States Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6dp85XynY. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8 Eclipse and Third-Day Events in Scripture . https://www.biblejournalclasses.com/blog/april-8-eclipse-and-third-day-events-in-scripture-2. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Dawson, Brandon. "THE JONAH ECLIPSE - 40 DAYS - GODS URGENT WARNING TO AMERICA!" Tribe of Christians , 2 Mar. 2024, https://www.tribeofchristians.com/single-post/the-jonah-eclipse-god-s-great-warning-to-america-april-8th-2024.

Dillard, Annie. "Total Eclipse." The Atlantic , 8 Aug. 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/annie-dillards-total-eclipse/536148/.

Eclipse 2017 . https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Mark, Joshua J. "Nineveh." World History Encyclopedia , https://www.worldhistory.org/nineveh/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Nineveh (Disambiguation)." Wikipedia , 29 Oct. 2023. Wikipedia , https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nineveh_(disambiguation)&oldid=1182408744.

Noah. "The Upcoming U.S. Eclipse Just Got Even Stranger!" WLT Report , 4 Mar. 2024, https://wltreport.com/2024/03/04/upcoming-u-s-eclipse-just-got-even-stranger/.

The APRIL 8, 2024 ECLIPSE & The 7 Cities Named Nineveh | The APRIL 8, 2024 ECLIPSE & The 7 Cities Named Nineveh | By Messiah GuguFacebook . www.facebook.com , https://www.facebook.com/100067092253715/videos/the-april-8-2024-eclipse-the-7-cities-named-nineveh/397509926249711/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

The April 8 2024 Eclipse and the 7 Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLkxKT65IFc. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Total Solar Eclipse 2024 US." Great American Eclipse , https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

By Jack Izzo

Jack Izzo is a Chicago-based journalist and two-time "Jeopardy!" alumnus.

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Reign of Fear: Secret Raids Sweep Russia After Terror Attack

Russian authorities have unleashed a frenzied crackdown on migrants in Russia in the aftermath of the Moscow concert shooting.

Shannon Vavra

National Security Reporter

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Images

The Kremlin has been accused of ordering sweeping raids, unlawful deportations, and baseless arrests targeting migrants on the heels of the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow last month, in what appears to be a frenzied effort to deter future attacks.

Russian authorities have relentlessly beat, attacked, and intimidated scores of migrants after blaming the concert hall massacre on four men from Tajikistan , Valentina Chupik, a human rights activist who has been working with migrants targeted in the crackdown, told The Daily Beast. The police are demanding bribes in order to let migrants go in some cases, Chupik said.

In one case, a woman from Tajikistan was detained in Zhukovsky airport and brought to the basement for intimidation purposes, Chupik said. There, the police suggested she pay them off with 30,000 rubles or risk being detained, according to Chupik, who added that they had no legal reasons to detain the woman. The woman’s son-in-law allegedly paid off the cops with 10,000 rubles, and his mother-in-law was allowed to leave the country without getting detained.

People walk past a billboard with militaristic propaganda, installed on the bus stop, April 1,2024, in Moscow, Russia.

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The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency had previously announced increased security measures at airports including Zhukovsky, but made no mention of police detaining migrants and demanding bribes.

Others haven’t been so lucky. Some Russian police appear to be getting a green light from superiors to instruct migrants to break the law, and then punish them for following their orders, Chupik told The Daily Beast.

In one case, local authorities urged migrants to formalize some of their documents in Odintsovo, an area that restricts foreigners’ entry, she said. But when migrants began arriving this week, police allegedly began pulling them over and detaining them indiscriminately. One migrant from Uzbekistan told her he was beaten and jailed for 15 days for not following police instructions.

“Russian authorities created rationale,” Chupik said. “They created the potentiality of deportation of migrants.”

In a dormitory near Moscow, other migrants recounted stories of getting beaten by police. One migrant had his eyes clawed out, Chupik said.

Some are fleeing the country to seek safety, Chupik said, recounting multiple phone calls she had recently received from migrants who were looking for advice on whether they should leave. Tajikistan’s Ministry of Labor said it has recorded a surge of citizens leaving Russia, while others are laying low by staying home from work, according to the BBC.

“They called from work and said not to come yet,” one migrant from Tajikistan, whose name was changed for their safety, told the BBC.

Last month police in St. Petersburg conducted raids they called “Anti-Migrant” raids, according to human rights group Department One. The Daily Beast could not immediately verify the accounts.

Similar attacks are happening all across the country, including in Moscow, Samara, Yekaterinburg, and St. Petersburg, Chupik said. Court records show that since the Crocus City Hall attack, Russian authorities have recorded 2,647 cases under Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses in Russia—which concerns immigrants and rules of entry—in Moscow alone, marking an uptick since the attack.

In just the last week and a half, Chupik says she has written nearly 600 appeals for migrants that have been unlawfully detained in Russia. Their appeals likely won’t be heard until next year.

Pedestrians walk past a poster honoring the Russian Armed Forces in Moscow on April 2, 2024.

Natalia Kolesnikova/Getty Images

Target practice.

The raids coincide with increasing concerns about the Kremlin’s ability to prevent terrorist attacks on Russian soil after the shooting attack last month, which killed over 140 people. Russian authorities had ignored multiple warnings from British and American intelligence agencies about a possible “imminent” attack.

After ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacre, the Russian government blamed the shooting on four men from Tajikistan, stoking alarm over connections between immigration and terrorism.

In an apparent effort to broadcast that the government is taking serious measures to protect citizens, Moscow police have been instructed to go door-to-door searching for overcrowded housing or other places where illegal migrants might live, according to a report from BAZA . The raids, which reportedly began on April 1, combine criminal investigation officers, district police officers, and other forces, according to BAZA. Training is still reportedly being conducted in other regions for similar raids.

Putin urged the Ministry of Interior Affairs this week to crack down more harshly against illegal migration, noting that he thinks migration is a breeding ground for extremism and criminality. He also stressed that the ministry must prioritize preserving the cultural and linguistic identity of Russia in the overhaul.

“We need to deeply, radically update our approaches to migration policy," he said at a board meeting of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, according to a Reuters translation.

According to Chupik, while the raids may look like they’re targeted at migrants, Russian authorities are also going after anyone who looks like they might be an immigrant—and more specifically, anyone who doesn’t have blue eyes and blond hair.

“They detain everybody who has no blonde hair and blue eyes,” she said. “They just stop everybody who has dark skin, black hair, black eyes.”

Russian authorities are still working to track down suspects in the Crocus City Hall attack, having announced at least five more arrests this week.

The interior ministry has also proposed a new policy of limiting foreigners’ stays in the country to just 90 days, according to a spokesperson. Currently, foreigners can stay for 90 days and return for another stay if they leave for a period of time. The draft law also suggests establishing biometric identification of foreigners entering the country.

Russia is currently working on proposals to restrict the hiring of foreign workers, according to the spokesperson.

Riot police officers walk past a street exhibition of military-themed posters in Moscow on April 2, 2024. The spring conscription campaign, running from April 1 to July 15, will call up 150,000 men from the age of 18 to 30 for compulsory year-long military service.

Other roundups abound. Police detained dozens of migrant workers working at a corporate warehouse in the Moscow region after conducting a “document inspection,” according to RIA Novosti.

Many other immigrants have noted a surge in discrimination against them, including instances in which they were refused cab rides. “Hello, if you are Tajik, cancel the order, I’m not going with you,” one message reads, according to Meduza.

The fear in Russia is spreading to other countries as well. The Kyrgyzstan Foreign Ministry recently warned residents against traveling to Russia, urging them to keep their documents proving the legality of their entry into the country if they must go.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

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March 27, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapse

By Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Elise Hammond , Tori B. Powell and Aditi Sangal , CNN

Our live coverage of the Baltimore bridge collapse has moved here .

Here's what you should know about the Key Bridge collapse

From CNN staff

Officials recovered the bodies of two construction workers who were on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed early Tuesday morning after a 984-foot-long cargo ship collided into a pillar.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the collapse Wednesday " a global crisis ."

"The national economy and the world's economy depends on the Port of Baltimore. The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in the country," Moore said.

Here's what you should know:

• The victims: The six people who are presumed dead were from Mexico Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, according to Col. Roland L. Butler Jr, the superintendent of Maryland State Police. Two bodies were recovered and have been identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera from Guatemala. The two workers were filling potholes on the bridge and were later found trapped in a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water, Butler said. The FBI is handling notifying the victims' families, Butler said.
• Recovery efforts: Authorities are pausing search efforts for the four other workers who are presumed dead, because additional vehicles are encased in concrete and other debris, making it unsafe for divers, Butler said. Once salvage operations clear the debris, divers will search for more remains, he said.
• The investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the fatal incident, according to the agency's chair Jennifer Homendy. During a Wednesday news conference, Homendy said there were 21 crew members and two pilots on board the Dali cargo ship when it crashed into the bridge. She also said a senior NTSB hazmat investigator identified 56 containers of hazardous material, and that some containers are in the water. The agency received six hours of voyage data from the ship and the investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete, Homendy said. She emphasized that NTSB will not analyze information collected or provide conclusions while on scene of the collapse.
• Looking forward: Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said rebuilding the bridge will not be "quick or easy" but that it will get done. He said there are four main focus points ahead: reopening the port, dealing with supply chain issues until its reopening, rebuilding the bridge and dealing with traffic issues until the bridge is rebuilt. Biden  pledged the full support  of the federal government in the response and recovery efforts. His administration has already conveyed a sense of urgency to open up federal funding to remove debris and ultimately rebuild the bridge. Maryland has submitted a request to the Biden administration for emergency relief funds "to assist in our work going forward," Moore said Wednesday.

It's almost impossible to place people on the bow of ship due to the unstable structure, fire official says

 From CNN's Sarah Engel

Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace said Wednesday that the cargo ship's bridge structure and containers at the bow remain unstable.

"It's going to be very difficult, if not impossible, and very dangerous, to place people on the bow of that boat right now," Wallace told CNN's Kaitlan Collins.

"Naturally, we're still very cognizant of the fact that there are hazardous materials on board the vessel itself," Wallace said, alluding to the National Transportation Safety Board saying earlier that 56 containers were carrying hazardous materials.

Wallace said his team is relying heavily on aerial recognizance, including drones. "That's the only way we're able to see in," he said.  

He added that the aerial surveillance has "been able to really assure us right now we have no [chemical] reactions on board." 

"It's just utter devastation," NTSB chief says of the bridge collapse site

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, called the site of the Key Bridge collapse "devastating."

"It's pretty devastating, certainly, seeing not just what's going on with the cargo containers, but just looking at what was a bridge span — three bridge spans that is pretty much gone. It's just utter devastation," she said at Wednesday evening's news briefing.

She added that she is thinking of families who lost loved ones and those who are waiting to reunite with their lived ones.

NTSB interviewed the Dali's captain and some other crew members today, agency chief says

The National Transportation Safety Board has interviewed the ship's captain, his mate, the chief engineer and one other engineer today, according to Chair Jennifer Homendy.

The two pilots on board the Dali at the time of collision will be interviewed tomorrow, she added.

Cargo ship's voyage data recorder is basic when compared to an airplane's, NTSB chair says

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

The voyage data recorder on the cargo ship Dali was a "newer model" but is considered basic when compared to that on an airplane, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"But it is very basic compared to say, a flight data recorder, where we would have 1,000 parameters," she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The NTSB chief investigator Marcel Muise added:

"It's not a ship-wide system recorder, so most of the sensors that are being recorded are from the bridge. So things like GPS, the audio, rudder feedback, rudder commands are recorded on there. But not engineering, the temperature of each cylinder, power distribution sensors."

There were no tug boats with Dali at the time of the collision. That's normal, NTSB chief says

There were no tugs with Dali when the cargo vessel collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge, which is normal protocol, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

Remember: At 01:26:39 on Tuesday, Dali's pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugs in the vicinity to assist, the NTSB investigator Marcel Muise had said.

"The tugs help the vessel leave the dock, leave the port and get into the main ship channel. And then they leave. Once it's on its way, it's a straight shot through the channel. So there are no tugs with the vessel at the time. So they were calling for tugs," she said.

NTSB chair says she saw some containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said she did see some of the 56 containers that were carrying hazardous materials in the water.

When asked how many

When asked how many containers of hazardous materials were in the water, Homendy said:

"I did see some containers in the water, and some breached significantly on the vessel itself," she said. "I don't have an exact number, but it's something that we can provide in an update."

Homendy said that a preliminary report should be out in two to four weeks.

This post has been updated with more quotes from Homendy.

Bridge did not have any redundancy, unlike the preferred method for building bridges today, NTSB chair says

Baltimore's Key Bridge did not have any redundancy, which is included in the preferred method of building bridges in the present day, according to National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

"The bridge is a fracture critical," she explained. "What that means is if a member fails that would likely cause a portion of, or the entire bridge, to collapse, there's no redundancy. The preferred method for building bridges today is that there is redundancy built in, whether that's transmitting loads to another member or some sort of structural redundancy. This bridge did not have redundancy," Homendy said.

There are 17,468 fracture critical bridges in the United States out of 615,000 bridges total, she said, citing the Federal Highway Administration.

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80-year-old American tourist killed in elephant attack during game drive in Zambia

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HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A bull elephant charged a truck that an 80-year-old American was riding in with other tourists on a game drive in a Zambian national park, flipping over the vehicle and killing her, a safari company said.

The attack injured five others on March 30 in the vast Kafue National Park , which covers 22,400 square kilometers (8,600 square miles) and is one of Africa’s largest animal reserves.

According to the safari company Wilderness, the “aggressive” bull elephant unexpectedly charged at the truck, which was carrying six guests and a guide on a morning excursion through wild areas.

It wasn’t clear what upset the bull. But in a video widely circulated online, the pachyderm is seen menacingly charging through the bushy terrain toward the tourists’ vehicle. A man is heard shouting “hey hey hey,” in apparent but futile efforts to scare it away. It reaches the truck and flips it over using its trunk.

Another female tourist was seriously injured and flown by helicopter to South Africa for treatment while the rest were treated for minor injuries, the company said.

“This is a devastating incident for everyone involved and we are doing our best to support the family and all affected,” Tarryn Gibson, the safari company’s head of communications told The Associated Press on Thursday. Gibson did not identify the tourist who was killed, and said her family wished for privacy. The company also asked people to not share the video of the attack online.

While many wildlife parks in southern Africa teem with dangerous animals like elephants and lions, such incidents are rare, although they sometimes do occur with fatal consequences due to the unpredictability of wild animals.

Keith Vincent, chief executive officer of the safari company, said rough terrain minimized chances of an escape.

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough” he said.