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Nancy Hartill Bio 
Religious Travel
Special Interests: Mission travel for Groups and Individuals, Pilgrimages, Christian and Jewish Customized and Escorted Cruises and Vacations, Biblical, Historical and Cultural sites, Adventure Travel.
Church groups get the most competitive individual and group rates for their mission travel by booking their travel with me. Those hard to reach places in East Africa, like Conakry, Benin, Togo, or South Africa in Swaziland, and immerging destinations for mission travel in India are no problem.
As an Italy and Turkey Certified Specialist, having travelled to most parts of Italy--most famously, Rome, touring the Vatican, St. Peter's in Chains, the Mamertine Prison where Paul was imprisoned, the Appian Way, seen the Holy Stairs, St. Paul's and St. John's Cathedrals in Rome; cruised the route of Paul to see where Paul was imprisoned at Malta, his recently discovered anchors, and walked in his footsteps at Ephesus, hiked to John's Cave on Patmos, stood at Mar's Hill in Athens where he spoke to the masses, and touched the Bema Seat at Corinth--I have made possible many customized tours for religious travel. Having designed, booked, and coordinated about 300 passengers on escorted group travel to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt yearly. My clients have walked in Jesus Footsteps, Moses Footsteps along the Exodus route, seen St. Catherine's at Sharm el Shekh, the wonders of the Treasury at Petra, the Pyramids, the Egypt Museum, the beautiful Nile River and its tombs and Aswan for spices and textiles. Egypt is where the Ark of the Covenant landed at Elephantine Island and ended it's journey in Axum, Ethiopia. I've sent about 50 passengers a year to Ethiopia during the most culturally opulent Christian festival of Timket, celebrating the journey of the Ark of the Covenant stored at Axum. The tour takes in the famous historic route to see Lalibela's rock-hewn churches, archaeological digs on Bahar Dar's islands of Lake Tana, and the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa to see the 3.5 million year old relic of Lucy.
If historic early Christian Travel is your interest, I've operated tours to Turkey to see the fascinating fairly-like sites of Cappadocia and the underground cities where the Christians hid during persecution, tours of the Early Church in England, tours following Martin Luther throughout Germany, and interesting river tours to visit where the Protestant Huguenot's struggled in southern France.
EAST AFRICA
Special Interests: Mission Travel, Orphanages, Black History Touring, Safaris, Big Five, Adventure Travel, Native Culture
Egypt's Nile River dazzles the eye with the Pyramids and Sphinx. Have the hieroglyphs interpreted by your own Egyptologist and see the incredible colorful paintings in the tombs of Luxor's Valley of the Kings and Queens. Shop for spices at the evening market in Aswan. The Nile's origin starts in Ethiopia near Bahar Dar where it is called the Blue Nile. Ethiopia's wonders come to life as you travel the historic route of Ethiopia. You'll see prevalent orphanages, but also the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Queen of Sheba's Axum where the Ark of the Covenant is guarded, and the islands of Bahar Dar's Lake Tana.
Extend your travel on these journeys to include Kenya where I've visited over 9 tented Safari camps. My favorite is Cottar's 1920 camp for their unrivaled welcome and where you will enjoy sumptuous meals prepared from fresh vegetables grown right at the camp. Their guides take you to the border of Tanzania to see where Lion's, Hyena's, Vulture's, and Eagles, all struggle to share the same Leopard's kill. Richard's Camp, Elephant Pepper's Camp, Saruni Mara, are very different Mara camps. You'll see baboons from Saruni Samburu's cliffside site and it's lovely panoramic setting. Elsa's Kopje at Meru offers a refreshing pool and outdoor shower as you soak in the views from its precipice. Enjoy hot coffee delivered to you on arising after sleeping under the stars on Loisabas star beds. You'll savor all types of wild animal delicacies having dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant, see Karen Blixen's Museum and the Giraffe Manor near Nairobi.
I have handled many mission and customized travel groups to East Africa. If you are travelling on humanitarian or mission travel, let me know and I'll get you the most competitive fares for individuals or groups.
EGYPT
Special Interest: Religious Travel, Biblical Travel, Mission Travel, Archaeological, Cultural and Historic Travel, Beaches, Diving, Adventure Travel
Religious based travel can easily encompass Egypt Starting at Sharm el Shekh to see Mt. Sinai, the Exodus route, and the route of the Ark of the Covenant which landed at Elephantine Island. Have me set up your own Egyptologist to decipher the hieroglyphs at the tombs and columns along the Nile, on tablets inside the Museum of Cairo, and relay the history of the tombs at Memphis, Saqqara, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx. Traveling the Nile you will take in the Valley of the Kings and Queens and the colorful paintings inside the tombs. If you are a diver, you'll love Sharm el Shekh and it's 5-star hotels and vast beaches. I can arrange an overnight with the Bedouins, or take in a boat trip on the Red Sea. Egypt has much to offer, and I can arrange your individual or group travel by air, rail, or sea.
TURKEY
Special Interest: Religious Travel, Biblical Travel, Mission Travel, Archaeological, Cultural and Historic, Beaches, Shopping, Adventure Travel
Turkey is the core of the many routes of Apostle Paul, whether it is a tour to see the Seven Churches of the Revelation, Ephesus to see the Celsius Library and Amphitheatre, sites where Paul travelled thru Konya and Tarsus, or Antioch near Syria, I can assist planning your scheduled or customized journey. Old Testament sites are prevalent like the birthplace of Abraham at Urfa, or Mt. Nemrut nearby where lie stone carved heads. If you stop at Istanbul to shop for beautiful scarves, carpets, and brass ware, see the Blue Mosque or the Haggia Sophia, take the time to extend your stay to see Cappadocia's underground civilization where the early Christians hid from persecution. The area is very eerie having fairy-like stone formations.
ITALY
Special Interest: Gourmet Food, Wine Tours, Religious Travel, Biblical Travel, Theatre, Art, Shopping, Cultural and Historic Touring, Bicycling, Cruising, Adventure Travel
Italy has so much to offer. I've escorted groups throughout Rome, travelled as far west as Portofino with its quaint village, planned trips through the Cinque Terra, truffle hunting in the Piedmont Region, sampled the sumptuous Reggio Parmesiana and Parma Hams, the Museums of Maserati, Ducati, Ferrari, and Verdi in Emilia Romania, took in the theatres churches, and beautiful Tuscan and Lago Trasimeno scenery of Umbria, as well as the unrivaled medieval villages and beaches of Abruzzo. Imagine taking a sweeping tour of Florence by Segway, having a private guide you thru the Uffizi Gallery and Academia, touring the ruins of Pompeii or having Spa treatments on the Isle of Ischia. Wine connoisseurs will never forget the sites, foods, wines, and experiences of Siena, Tuscany, and Umbria on their customized group tour. Not to be missed is your pre- or post cruise guided tour of Rome to see the Coliseum, Vatican, the wonderful shopping experiences, and religious sites. Call me to give you that unique personal experience like no other.
GROUP TRAVEL
Special Interest: Family Travel, Religious Travel, Sports Tours, Wine Tours, Hobby Groups, Cruises, Cultural and Historic Travel, Archaeology, Anthropology, Adventure Travel, Eco Travel
Whether you're looking for a scheduled tour, cruise, or a customized tour, I have the experience and expertise to handle your winery tours, Christian and Jewish tours, family reunions, symphony tours, and exclusive sightseeing through many parts of the world. Religious/Bible-based group travel is my expertise. I've handled 300 passengers a year doing combination cruise and land-based travel thru Israel, Jordan, England, France, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Turkey. No matter where you go, you'll get that something unique and extra special you won't find in a cookie cutter tour. You'll find I can negotiate your group airfare for mission travel to those difficult parts of Africa, India, China, and South America.
ARCHAEOLOGY TRAVEL
Special Interest: Wine Tours, Cultural and Historic, Religious Travel, Adventure Travel
Having worked with largely religious group travel, I've planned a number of trips to Israel, Jordan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Malta, and Greece, and Kenya, designed around the interests of an archaeologist. There is growing interest in traveling with a knowledgeable archaeologist while on a vacation. We can help your non-profit organization fundraise for your archaeological projects, or join individuals with groups already in progress. In this day and age where home-schooling is becoming more prevalent, the parents want their children to get up close and personal with the sites and history they are currently learning, like, "what happened at Pompeii or Herculaneum", or "where did archaeologists find the anchors of Paul's shipwreck on Malta", or "where is the alternate location of the real Sinai". Let me know what you are studying, and I'll set course for your educational adventure.
MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL, EGYPT, JORDAN
Special Interest: Religious Travel, Cultural and Historic, Custom Group Travel, Ancient Sites, Political Strife, Beaches, Diving Expeditions, Archaeological Excursions
I've averaged up to 300 passengers in a year to Israel and Jordan, with many adding Egypt to the trip. Israel has lovely beaches, fabulous Spas along the Dead Sea, cultural differences between Palestine and Israel, and yet, the melting pot of all religions in Jerusalem. You can stay in a quaint guest house within the old city walls or a 5-star hotel just a few blocks away, walk in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher or the room of the Last Supper. Stay in a Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, or see the border of Syria from the Golan Heights. Stay 3 extra days and travel into Jordan to see the Treasury House of Petra. I've led groups along the Nile in floating hotels, touring the colorful paintings inside the tombs and exploring temples with our own Egyptologist. If you have time to tour the route of Moses Exodus thru Sharm el Shekh, you can enjoy the best diving and beaches of the Middle East.
ALASKA
Special Interests: Bird watching, Wild game hunting and game viewing, Deep Sea and River Fishing, Nature Walks, Glacier Climbing, Rail Touring, Cruising, Group Travel, Native Culture
Most people think of cruising when taking a trip to Alaska, and that makes it easy coming from Seattle, or Vancouver, but have you driven the route through British Columbia, Banff, along the Alaska Highway or up the Cassiar Highway, or even taken the side trip to Dawson City by way of the Top-of-the-World Highway? I have! How about a 29 Glacier tour once you reach Anchorage, or a Misty Fjords excursion from Juneau, or a boat ride to the Russian village of Seldovia from Homer. I can arrange your deep sea fishing excursion or your drift boat river fishing trip at Kenai. No trip to Alaska should miss a rail, bus, motor home, or driving experience to see the wildlife of Denali, or a river raft trip there, and if you have time, take in some of the historic gold mining camps near Fairbanks. If you decide to drive, I can help you plan the length of your trip, mileages, and your hotels along the way.
HAWAII
Special Interests: Beaches, Deep Sea Fishing, Hang Gliding, Zip Line Touring, Adventure Touring, Snorkeling, Diving, Whale Watching, Bird Watching, Luxury Vacation, Hiking, Golfing, Boating, Native History, Naval History
Having visited relatives living on Maui many times, I've traveled to all of the islands, but most of all Maui. I've inspected most of the hotels on the islands, and can suggest the perfect accommodation for your budget or requirements and plan your daily activities to make the most of your stay. I've seen lovely exhibits at the Maui County Fair, the colorful and amusing Halloween Parade, and survived the road to Hana. Experiences that I can recommend are hang gliding at Up Country, a Lavender Tea, Pineapple Plantation, wind surfing at Paia, and the orchid farms at the holistic frontier town of Makawao. I am certified by the Hawaiian Tourist Board as a specialist in all of the islands and can plan your trip with confidence.
AUSTRALIA
Special Interests: Culture and History, Adventure Travel, Native Culture, Wildlife Viewing, Sightseeing, Snorkeling and Diving
As an Aussie Specialist and 29 years in the travel industry, I've planned everyday of a 3-month and 5-month retirement vacation to New Zealand and Australia. Most recently I travelled to Brisbane staying at the luxurious Versace Resort, seeing Dream World, then on to the laid back surfer's paradise of Byron Bay. I stayed at the fabulous Byron at Byron Bay, exploring the rainforest and the beautiful beaches. Next I stayed at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney, seeing the sites of the Rocks, Opera House, and then on to the historic Lillienfels Resort in the Blue Mountains, the Grand Canyon of Australia. While there I saw the Jenolen Caves. If you are wanting to get the most out of Australia, I can plan your rail excursion in October to see the wild flowers from Perth to Adelaide, plan your wine tour, your opal mining excursion, an Ayer's Rock experience where you can dine with a camel, or see the crocodiles of Kakadu up close and personal. Honeymooners will love Hayman Island, snorkelers and divers will be excited about the Barrier Reef, and adventure seekers will enjoy wonderful nature walks among the multitude of National Parks on Tasmania. Call me to plan your custom vacation.