Going on a small group trip with a recommended tour company can make your adventure even better…
A wilderness adventure in the Kimberley
The Kimberley gets under your skin, its spirituality and rugged beauty swirling into your heart with the same intensity as its ochre-red dust finds its way into everything. And I mean everything. There are so many exquisite experiences in the Kimberley it is impossible to choose a favourite. Soaking in the idyllic clear, palm fringed thermal waters of Zebedee Springs, soaring over the Mitchell Falls in a helicopter, being mesmerised by the colours of the setting sun over the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park and bumping down the legendary Gibb River Road to Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge. All unforgettable, and all easily done with APT Luxury Travel.
Even staying in one of APT’s exclusive network of wilderness lodges, all perfectly placed for exploring the remote Kimberley region, is a delight. Dine under the stars and stay in private tented cabins with ensuites and hot showers – there is no roughing it here.
Pluck the White Lotus
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Sicily was one of the stars of the second series of The White Lotus, its spectacular locations almost as vibrant and watchable as Jennifer Coolidge’s character – Tanya – looking very swish in her Camilla number. A wonderful way to experience Sicily’s delights is on the 10-day ‘Splendours of Sicily’ tour with Back-Roads Touring. With 30 years’ experience, Back-Roads Touring excels at creating wonderful adventures that customers will long remember. The itineraries, in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America, give guests the time and space to explore independently, with the perfect blend of time escorted in the group, and wandering on your own.
New directions
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Finding new places to explore adds another notch of excitement to any holiday, and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are definitely on the rise. Bunnik Tours has launched a new tour to these three countries, with guests able to be immersed in local culture as they connect with locals and venture off the beaten tourist track. The 22-day tour will introduce guests to world-class wine from the Kakheti region in Georgia, they’ll get a real taste of the local traditions and culture at an organic, home-made tea-cream party in Azerbaijan, and learn to make the traditional Armenian thin bread, Lavash. Guests will also partake in a hands-on dumpling masterclass with a local family, indulging in Georgian cuisine. The tour also takes in Tbilisi with its stunning architecture, as well as the small town of Kazbegi and the resort town of Borjomi, known for its artesian springs.
The Emerald Isle
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Ireland is much loved by Australians from its raucous pubs to its breathtaking coastal scenery and vibrant cities. Collette’s ‘Best of Ireland’ tour will have guests listening to ancient folklore told by a traditional Irish storyteller and experiencing the mystical landscape of Giant’s Causeway. There is a two-night stay in almost every location on this itinerary, with food and drink playing a merry role. Visit the iconic Bushmills Distillery, do a foodie walking tour of Galway and drink in the wondrous scenery at the Cliffs of Moher. For those who admired the stark landscapes and seascapes on the new film The Banshees of Inisherin, you can see it for yourself on the ‘Countryside of the Emerald Isle’ small group tour, which includes an overnight stay on the Aran Islands, the setting for the movie. The movies was mostly shot on Achill Island, and Inis Mór.
An Andean Experience
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The National Geographic Journeys collection with G Adventures created in partnership with National Geographic, comprises tours that are designed to take you deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places visited, offer more inclusions compared to other G Adventures Travel Styles and to ensure rich interactions with local experts. An example is ‘Iconic Peru’, a 14-day itinerary taking in the major sights including the Amazon and Lake Titicaca. It includes a traditional Andean Experience in the Sacred Valley of the Inca, where six communities of indigenous people are working together to preserve over 700 species of potato, followed by lunch in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families that, with G Adventure’s help, has become a successful farm-to-table program boosting the local economy. Morocco, Borneo, India and Nepal, Italy, Israel & Beyond … are just a few of the other options.
Make your choice
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The best thing about touring is that you can find the perfect tour for you – the one that suits you for destinations, pace, cultural immersion, activity, adventure, and so on. Globus has several different travel styles and ways to see the world. Undiscovered tours is an exclusive collection that invites travellers to break free from the beaten path, getting up close to the untouched, unspoiled, and unexpected discoveries that make a holiday shine. Escapes by Globus is a compilation of the best itineraries in Europe, South America, North America and the Middle East. Offered during the low season, guests can experience the world’s most popular destinations for less. Choice touring is a mix of guided tours at the must-see sights, along with Globus’ new YourChoice excursions, so guests can tailor a tour to their own interests. Independence by Globus is as the name suggests, I-opening adventures that can be enjoyed untethered and unscheduled, and without the group. Last but not least, there are the Globus European Private Tours.
Make Travel Matter
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Touring with Insight Vacations helps to Make Travel Matter while experiencing different cultures, experiences and cuisines around the globe. Their ethos to Make Travel Matter guides their decision making at every level, with these experiences included on most of their tours. Many experiences also align with Insight’s values of sustainable tourism. The experiences are selected with great care to ensure they advance the United Nations Global Goals and positively impact the planet, the people they visit and the wildlife. In Morocco, discover the beauty of Marrakesh on a guided bike tour organised by a company that empowers local youth by promoting education, employment and financial opportunities. This experience advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty. Other Global Goals include Life Below Water, Quality Education, Responsible Consumption and Production and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Cooking up the perfect tour
Diving into a country’s cuisine is an integral part of getting to know its heart. In Morocco, the aromas of tagines rich in saffron and argan dancing on the breeze along with the teasing scents of spices in the souks are part and parcel of the experience. And Intrepid Travel knows Morocco, offering a range of tours up to 24 days long. Their 15-day ‘Premium Morocco in Depth’ trip is a deep-dive into the energetic cities, wild deserts and soaring peaks that are Morocco – all with premium accommodation, premium experiences and premium knowledge.. You can even take some of the culture home with you. Guests love the hands-on cooking class with Chef Tarik, a celebrated local chef in Tahanaout. He is known for his healthy Middle Eastern recipes, focus on organic, local produce and authentic flavours. Guests explore his bio-restorative organic kitchen garden, olive grove and orchards, set in a traditional Berber douar, before harvesting ingredients themselves and learning how to make Moroccan delicacies.
