Artisans of Leisure - Luxury Travel & Tours
 

Luxury Travel Newsletter Winter 2011

Active Tours for Luxury Travelers

luxury Indonesia tours
Amanwana resort on Moyo Island, Indonesia

When you travel, do you want to keep active, see the cultural highlights and be guaranteed absolute luxury at the end of the day? Then you might want to consider our new Active & Adventure Tours. They incorporate cultural touring with activities such as kayaking, biking, hiking, walking tours, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, sailing and more.

One of our favorites is Indonesia Luxury Adventure, which includes rafting in Bali, snorkeling and hiking on remote Moyo Island, elephant rides in Java, and extensive cultural touring throughout.

luxury Thailand tours
Ride elephants in Southeast Asia

Other popular Active & Adventure Tours feature hiking along the Inca Trail in Peru, biking to ruins and villages in Cambodia and Laos, sailing along the stunning Turquoise Coast in Turkey, biking among castles in the Loire Valley in France, trekking in the rhododendron forests and mountains of Bhutan and biking through vineyards in New Zealand.

All activities can be adjusted to your level of interest and physical ability.

private luxury tours

Spring Break Travel

luxury Australia tours
Enjoy totally private and personalized touring with your family

Spring is one of the best times of the year for families to take a big trip overseas. Children have long breaks from school, and the weather is ideal in most destinations. Because it’s such a popular time to travel, now is the time to contact us to begin planning an incredible spring vacation for your family.

Families wanting to see some of the highlights of Europe might enjoy our Family Tour of London, Paris & Rome. Italy is a wonderful spring break destination and we highly recommend our Highlights of Italy. Another great combination: Introduction to Spain & Morocco.

luxury Thailand tours
Participate in activities that bring you close to local cultures

Our Southeast Asia tours, such as Family Tour of Southeast Asia, offer exciting cities, spectacular cultural sites and relaxing resorts. Our Family Tour of Japan is another favorite of our clients, and there’s nothing like seeing towns like Kyoto under a profusion of pink cherry blossoms. Families wishing for an emphasis on seeing wildlife and enjoying abundant outdoor activities in stunning landscapes would like Australia for Families or Highlights of South Africa.

private luxury tours

Just Back: China

luxury China tours
Tour the canals of a water town in a private boat

We visit China often to keep pace with the country’s rapidly expanding luxury and cultural options. On our most recent visit to China, we stayed at some of China’s best new hotels, including the outstanding Peninsula Shanghai, the Four Seasons Hangzhou at West Lake, and Amanfayun in Hangzhou. Here are some photos from our recent trip.

photo icon Launch China slide show

Our China tours feature activities such as a private tea experiences at tea plantations and local tea houses, private art and architecture tours in Shanghai, hiking along remote sections of the Great Wall, private tai chi lessons in the foothills of the Himalayas, sailing to beautiful islands near Hong Kong, and cooking classes focusing on regional Chinese cuisine.

private luxury tours

Private France Tours for Sophisticated Travelers

luxury France tours
Tour exquisite gardens, chateaux and vineyards in the Loire Valley

Updated and expanded for 2011, our France tours are unrivaled for their level of variety and luxury. They include France’s most luxurious hotels and seaside resorts, touring with private guides and drivers, and activities customized to your interests.

Highlights include a private tour of the D-Day sites in Normandy with a local expert; meeting wine makers and enjoying tastings at leading wineries in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais and Champagne; a behind-the-scenes tour of the Eiffel Tower; a private tour of the Louvre with an art expert; visiting our favorite gardens and chateaux in the Loire Valley; visiting Provence’s best markets; touring renowned art collections along the Cote d’Azur; and visiting the Lascaux caves and villages in the Dordogne region.

Some of our most recommended France tours include Family Tour of France, Discover Normandy, and Paris, Chateaux, Wine & Caves.

private luxury tours

Mexico City for Art and Food Lovers

luxury Mexico tours
The studio of Diego Rivera is a fascinating stop in Mexico City

We love Mexico City and the nearby town of San Miguel de Allende. Our recent visit reminded us that they make an ideal combination of great food, art and scenery.

luxury Mexico tours
Fine dining options abound

Mexico City is a paradise for foodies and art lovers. We had some of our best meals ever in the city's excellent restaurants. We also love the region’s seemingly endless range of cultural options: ancient pyramids, superb museums, gallery districts, historic murals and the home of architect Luis Barragan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Miguel is a great luxury getaway. It’s just a few short hours from Mexico City with your private guide and driver, but it feels a world away. The town has excellent luxury accommodations, including an Orient-Express hotel and a new Rosewood resort. We arrange tours of local haciendas, gardens, art galleries, upscale shops, and the wonderful market just outside town.

Among our most popular tours that feature Mexico City are Best of Mexico City, A Week in Mexico and Culinary Tour of Mexico.

photo icon Launch Mexico City slide show

private luxury tours

India: Luxury at its Best

luxury India tours
Experience the romance of India's finest luxury properties

India has long been one of our favorite destinations, and it’s on our short list of ultimate getaways. For over-the-top luxury hotels, incredible shopping and fascinating cultural touring, it’s hard to beat.

We’ve recently expanded our popular India tours to include a number of new itineraries that capture the best of the country, including India in Style, Art & Temples of India, Family Tour of India and India for Foodies - A Culinary Tour.

Throughout India, we arrange exclusive and special interest activities such as private yoga lessons, appointments with top designers, wildlife viewing at luxury tented camps, learning about Hinduism, visiting local festivals and much more.

private luxury tours

Iconic Sights of South America

luxury Galapagos tours
Meet the locals in the Galapagos Islands

Our private tours in South America are the best way to experience the continent’s iconic destinations, including Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, the wine country of Mendoza and the Colchagua Valley, and spectacular landscapes such as Torres del Paine (Patagonia), Iguazu Falls and the Atacama Desert.

Whether traveling with your family, fulfilling a lifelong dream, or making a romantic getaway, our luxury tours in South America give you plenty of options.

luxury Chile tours
Explore Torres del Paine National Park

Want to focus on one or two destinations? Try a tour such as Highlights of Chile. Want to combine several destinations into a longer trip? Consider Best of Peru & the Galapagos or Highlights of Argentina & Chile or Introduction to Argentina & Peru. Alternatively, contact us to begin planning a custom tour of South America. No matter which option you choose, you can be sure that it will be an incredible experience that includes the best hotels in the region and touring that is customized to incorporate your interests.

private luxury tours

Special Interest Japan

luxury Japan tours
Take an insider's tour of Kyoto's geisha districts

Artisans of Leisure is well known for our Japan tours and our expertise on the country—all of our Japan specialists have spent years living there. Many travelers ask us to arrange unique cultural experiences during their Japan tours, which gives us the opportunity to draw on our in-depth knowledge and vast network of local connections to create rewarding, one-of-a-kind experiences and cherished memories.

luxury Japan tours
Visit a traditional tea plantation

We organize a wide range of special interest activities in Japan. Some examples? A private martial arts lesson; attending a Japanese baseball game; a behind-the-scenes visit to watch sumo wrestlers practicing; Japanese cooking classes in private homes; lessons with a sushi master; visiting a tea plantation; pop culture tours of Tokyo; meeting renowned craftsmen; private Zen meditation sessions at temples; exclusive tea ceremonies at private tea houses; private geisha concerts; and access to private Imperial gardens.

Contact us to start planning your private Japan tour.

private luxury tours

Our Blog: On Safari in Botswana, Visiting Tivoli Near Rome

luxury private tours
Luxury safari experiences in Botswana

luxury private tours
A tour of Tivoli, Italy

Our blog continues to provide visitors with a wealth of information about some of our favorite destinations and experiences. Safari lovers won’t want to miss our recent post on the Okavango Delta, Botswana, which highlights a few of the experiences that make this such a remarkable destination.

Another recent post, A Tour of Tivoli: incredible gardens, ruins and food, covers our favorite private excursion from Rome to the ancient ruins of Hadrian’s Villa and the outstanding water gardens of Villa d’Este.

private luxury tours
 

Subscribe

Current Issue

November 2023

May 2023

November 2022

August 2022

October 2021

July 2021

May 2021

December 2020

October 2020

July 2020

February 2020

November 2019

October 2019

August 2019

June 2019

April 2019

February 2019

November 2018

August 2018

April 2018

January 2018

October 2017

May 2017

February 2017

October 2016

August 2016

April 2016

February 2016

December 2015

November 2015

October 2015

July 2015

February 2015

January 2015

November 2014

Autumn 2014

Spring 2014

Winter 2014

Autumn 2013

Summer 2013

Spring 2013

Winter 2013

Early Winter 2012

Autumn 2012

Summer 2012

Spring 2012

Autumn 2011

Late Summer 2011

Summer 2011

Winter 2011

Autumn 2010

Summer 2010

Winter 2010

Summer 2009

Spring 2009

Autumn/Winter 2008

Spring/Summer 2008

Autumn/Winter 2007

Spring/Summer 2007

Autumn/Winter 2006

Spring/Summer 2006

Autumn/Winter 2005

Spring/Summer 2005

Autumn/Winter 2004