April 22, 2009

Our Way into Vietnam’s Food Culture

Photos from one of our clients from her private Artisans of Leisure culinary tour of Vietnam, including the highlights of Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An.

Destinations: Asia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam

Tags: Asia tours, Asian food, cooking classes, culinary, culinary tours, food markets, food tours, foodie, Halong Bay, Hanoi, Hanoi tours, Hoi An, Hue, luxury Vietnam tours, Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia culinary tours, street food tours, Vietnam, Vietnam food tours, Vietnam tours, Vietnamese food

April 17, 2009

A Visit to a Private Kyoto Machiya

Kyoto’s abundant traditional Japanese architecture is one of the most noticeable and impressive characteristics of the city. The opportunity to get inside these traditional buildings–including private homes and merchant’s houses, known as kyo-machiya–is a rare and fascinating experience in Japanese culture.

Destinations: Asia, Japan

Tags: architecture tours, Artisans of Leisure, cultural tours, culture, design tours, family, garden tours, gardens, interior design, Japan travel experts, Japanese, Japanese culture, Japanese gardens, Kyoto, Kyoto gardens, machiya, machiya tours, private gardens, private tours, traditional culture, traditions

April 17, 2009

Madrid for art and design lovers

Madrid is one of Europe’s most interesting cities for art and architecture lovers, with renowned art museums, notable contemporary architecture and beautiful historic sites. The first stop for many international travelers arriving in Spain is Terminal 4 at Madrid Barajas International Airport. A stunning complex of glass walls and undulating rooftops designed by British architect […]

Destinations: Europe, Spain

Tags: architecture tours, art, art experts, art tours, Artisans of Leisure, contemporary architecture, design, guides, historic, international art tours, luxury Spain tours, luxury tours, luxury travel, museums, palaces, private, private Madrid tours, private Spain tours, Spain experts, Spanish, tour operator

April 15, 2009

Notes from our travelers: Peru’s Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

This post is by travelers of ours (a husband and wife) from Maryland. They are currently on an around-the-world tour with Artisans of Leisure. Along the way, they have been sending updates about their journey to friends and family back home. They have generously allowed us to share their stories and images with our blog […]

Destinations: Peru

Tags: adventure travel, Andes, art, art historian, Artisans of Leisure, blog, crafts, Cusco, Incan, Lima, luxury hotels, luxury South America tours, Machu Picchu, markets, Orient Express Hiram Bingham train, Peruvian, private guides, private luxury travel, private Peru tours, ruins, Sacred Valley tours, South America, tour operators, tours, weavings

April 14, 2009

Helsinki and the architecture of Alvar Aalto

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is home to an intriguing collection of architectural monuments ranging from vernacular wooden structures and stone fortresses to neo-Classical edifices and even a church hewn from rock. But for fans of modern architecture–and those curious about one of Finland’s most creative minds–a trip to Helsinki would be incomplete without touring […]

Destinations: Europe, Finland

Tags: 20th century, Aalto House, Alvar Aalto, architecture, art, Artisans of Leisure, culture blog, design, design blog, design tours, European, excursions, Finland tours, Finnish design, glass, Helsinki, Helsinki tours, Iittala, interior design, international, luxury, luxury travel, luxury travel blog, modern architecture, modernist, Paimio Chair, private, shopping, Studio Aalto, tours

April 10, 2009

A walk through Bangkok’s Amulet Market

I grew up in Bangkok as a little girl and I’m always amazed at how much the city changes every time I return. Even with the constant modern expansion, it’s always possible to find the city’s deeply traditional culture, customs, and hidden cultural gems if you know where to look. Whenever I return, I enjoy […]

Destinations: Asia, Southeast Asia, Thailand

Tags: amulet market, Artisans of Leisure, Asian, Bangkok, Bangkok tours, Buddhist, collect, cultural tours, culture, food, insider travel, lifestyle, luxury Thailand tours, luxury tours, luxury travel, markets, private, religious, shopping, Thai amulets, tour operators, traditional, traditions

April 10, 2009

Incredible Folk Art, Food & Ruins in Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca is one of our favorite cultural destinations in Mexico. It is known for its fantastic food, impressive ruins, a thriving art and gallery scene, and interesting local markets and craft villages in the valleys surrounding the city.

Destinations: Mexico

Tags: alebrijes, architecture, art fairs, art tours, Artisans of Leisure, authentic culture, Camino Real Oaxaca, cheese, chocolate, craft villages, crafts, cultural journeys, cultural tours, cultural travel, folk art, food, galleries, luxury, luxury hotels, markets, Mexican, Mexico art tours, Mixtec ruins, museums, Oaxaca, Oaxaca tours, Oaxacan artists, pottery, private tours, rugs, shopping tours, tour operators, travel, trips, Valles Centrales, wood carvings, Zapotec ruins

April 10, 2009

A conversation with Asian food expert Corinne Trang

The founder of Artisans of Leisure, Ashley Isaacs Ganz, recently met up with cookbook writer and Asian food expert Corinne Trang. Ashley assisted Corinne with her extensive travels and culinary arrangements in Asia when Corinne was doing research for her acclaimed cookbook Essentials of Asian Cuisine. Q: You started your food career at Saveur Magazine […]

Destinations: Asia, Bali, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

Tags: Artisans of Leisure, Ashley Isaacs Ganz, Asian, Asian cuisine, chefs, cookbooks, cooking classes, Corinne Trang, cuisine, culinary tours, culinary travel, culture, customized, food, food blog, food markets, food writing, foodies, gourmet travels, Indonesia, ingredients, international, luxury tours, luxury travel, recipes, shopping, techniques, travel, world travels