You can learn a lot about a foreign country by walking its streets, but it’s always fascinating to see a destination from another perspective—to let yourself be taken away from the center of the activity and allowed to see it all from afar. Whether this means floating above Egypt in a hot air balloon, riding a cable car in South Africa, or boarding a funicular in Chile, our small group tours offer a variety of ways to see some of the world's most famous destinations from on high.
Read on to learn about some of the fascinating means of airborne transport that we utilize on our small group tours. And for more insights like this, read our two other posts: On the Ground on an Odysseys Tour and On the Water on an Odysseys Tour.
Soaring above Cappadocia. Photo credit: Kelly M
Hot air balloons in Cappadocia: On our Legendary Türkiye tour, we have ample time to fully explore this ancient and continent-spanning nation. But it's not until our optional post-tour extension that we visit Cappadocia, the region renowned for its awe-inspiring natural rock formations. Cappadocia became a haven for the first Christians, who ultimately carved more than 3,000 churches in the porous rock, and we have the option to see this lunar-like landscape from on high as we float along in a hot air balloon.
China's iconic Great Wall
Cable car to the top of the Great Wall of China: On our Exploring China tour, we spend the morning exploring the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, a well-preserved section of this ancient fortification that dates back some eight centuries. To get a bird's-eye view of the wall, we board cable cars to ascend to one of the highest points on the wall.
The Nordkette looms above Innsbruck Austria
Cable car to the top of the Nordkette: In Innsbruck, Austria, during our Alpine Splendor: Switzerland and Austria tour, we board a cable car for panoramic views from the summit of the Nordkette, the "mountain at the heart of Innsbruck.
Revolving cable car to the top of Mt. Titlis: Just outside Engelberg, Switzerland stands Mt. Titlis, ranking as central Switzerland's tallest peak at roughly 10,000 feet. During our Majestic Switzerland with Italian Lakes tour, we board the world's first revolving cable car and are treated to breathtaking, 360-degree views as we ascend to the peak of this iconic mountain.
Valparaiso, Chile
Funiculars in Valparaiso: The colorful port city of Valparaíso, Chile is often called “Little San Francisco” for its steep hillsides and labyrinthine streets. To ease the pain of hiking up and down these inclines, the city offers a system of wooden funiculars—essentially, outdoor elevator cars set parallel to the hills. We board these traditional cars on our Patagonian Frontiers and South American Tapestry tours, where we gain an appreciation for the painstaking (and treacherous) work that went into creating this unique city.
Mistico Park Hanging Bridges, Arenal
Hanging bridges rainforest walk in Costa Rica: On our Costa Rica's Natural Heritage tour, we explore the vibrant rainforest near our hotel in the Arenal region from the canopy level, as we traverse the Mistico Park Hanging Bridges, a series of five suspension bridges strung high above the forest floor.
MetroCable excursion in Medellin: During our Jewels of Colombia tour, we board the iconic Medellin MetroCable, the gondola system that services some of this city's steep hillside neighborhoods.
We have the option to see Luxor's Valley of the Kings from above via a hot air balloon ride
Hot air balloons in Luxor, Egypt: As an optional excursion on our Egypt & the Eternal Nile and Exploring Jordan & Egypt tours, we have the opportunity to see Luxor, dubbed “the world’s greatest open-air museum,” from high above on a hot air balloon ride. This early-morning excursion shows us a truly unique perspective on this living piece of history, as we watch the sun rise over the Nile and Luxor’s enormous collection of ancient Egyptian monuments.
The view from the summit of Table Mountain
Cable car to the top of Cape Town's Table Mountain: Speaking of cable cars, we ride another one at the very opposite end of Africa, as we ascend 3,500 feet to the top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. This thrilling ride, which you can take either on our Southern Africa Odyssey or the extension to our Africa’s Wildlife tour, is one of Cape Town’s most popular attractions. From the summit, it seems that the whole of South Africa’s capital is spread out below, with Robben Island to the north and the vast Atlantic all around.
The plane for our flight to the Maasai Mara
Flight from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara: On Classic Safari, we take an internal flight from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara, providing incredible views of the endless savanna stretching in all directions.
We ride Skyrail, one of the world's longest gondola cableways, outside of Cairns, Australia
Skyrail ride outside of Cairns, Australia: The Great Barrier Reef is the main attraction for visitors to the northeast Australian city of Cairns. But on our Exploring Australia & New Zealand tour, we add to our adventure in this region by riding Skyrail, one of the world’s longest gondola cableways. Gliding just feet above the rainforest canopy, we enjoy spectacular 360-degree views encompassing both the dense rainforest and the deep blue Pacific.
Glacier Skywalk and Banff Gondola: On Canadian Rockies Explorer, we put our heads into the clouds on two separate excursions. First, we traverse Banff's glass-bottomed Glacier Skywalk (above), suspended nearly 1,000 feet above the valley floor and offering stunning views of the snowcapped peaks and forested mountainsides all around. The following day, we board the Banff Gondola (below) to ascend to the top of Sulphur Mountain, so named for the hot springs on its lower flank. This 8,000-foot peak overlooking the town of Banff affords stunning mountain views in every direction; indeed, we can see six mountain ranges during this excursion.
Banff Gondola, Sulphur Mountain
Odysseys employee Moriah B. (second from right) about to board her flight into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Scenic flight into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park: As part of our Untamed Alaska tour, we take a scenic flight into (and out of) Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. At 8.3 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias is the country's largest national park, and while in flight we get our first views of the park’s rugged wilderness, including 5,000 square miles of pristine glaciers, volcanoes, and mountain after mountain. Upon landing, we transfer to our lodge in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias, overlooking 25 miles of glacier and surrounded by 14 of the highest mountain peaks in North America.
Taking to the air lends an incalculable sense of perspective and scale to any adventure. So when you're considering your next trip, remember to see things not just from the ground, but from the clouds as well. We hope to welcome you soon on an Odysseys Unlimited small group tour.
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