February 26, 2009

A surprising highlight of Xian: the food!

Many of our China tours include an overnight stay in Xian, one of the four great ancient capitals of China and the terminus of the ancient Spice Route. While the main draw for travelers to Xian is the incredible Terracotta Warriors, there are other compelling reasons to visit—most notably the food! Xian is known for […]

Destinations: Asia, China

Tags: Asia tours, Chinese, cuisine, culinary, culinary tours, cultural tours, food, guide, markets, Muslim, restaurants, Silk Road, Spice Route, street food, Terracotta Warriors, tours, travel, Xian, Xian tours

February 24, 2009

Must Buy: marble inlay in Agra, India

Until you see Agra’s Taj Mahal in person, it’s hard to imagine how impossibly beautiful a building can be. The classic images we know of this iconic structure seem to convey a stark white marble exterior, but upon closer examination you can see that the Taj Mahal is actually adorned with colorful inlaid semi-precious stones in intricate […]

Destinations: Asia, India

Tags: Agra, artisans, inlay, marble, marble inlay, Oberoi Amarvilas, shopping, shopping tours, Taj Mahal, tours, trips

February 24, 2009

An Interview with One of Our Art and Architecture Travel Experts

John is one of the travel experts based in our New York City office. He’s passionate about art and architecture, and helps design our tours around the world. Q: What are your favorite travel destinations? A: Each destination is fascinating in its own way, and I love exploring new places and discovering what’s distinctive about them—local […]

Tags: architecture, architecture tours, art, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, contemporary art, cuisine, culture, design, exhibitions, history, Kanazawa, Krakow, London, Madrid, Mexico City, museums, music, Naoshima, Potsdam, special trips, St. Petersburg, Taipei, travel, Vatican, Veneto

February 20, 2009

Our Top 5 Best Adventure Tours

Many of our travelers like to complement cultural touring with soft adventure activities. The following tours in Asia, South America, the Himalayas, the South Pacific and Africa have just the right balance of soft-adventure and culture—and they all include private touring and the best luxury hotels in the world. 1). Journey Through Morocco A highlight […]

Destinations: Africa, Asia, Latin America, South America, Southeast Asia

Tags: Aboriginal, adventure, adventure tours, Angkor, Asia tours, Atlas Mountains, Bangkok, Berber, biking tours, camel ride, culture, desert, desert tours, estancia, Great Barrier Reef, Halong Bay, Hanoi, hike, Hoi An, Indochina, kayaking, Luang Prabang, luxury, luxury tours, luxury travel, Milford Sound, Patagonia, rainforest, rock art, ruins, safari, Sahara, Saigon, scuba diving, South America, Sydney, temples, Tiger's Nest, tour, tours, travel, treks, Uluru, Whitsunday Islands

February 19, 2009

Zhongdian in China is a cultural Shangri-La

For repeat travelers to China, or for those who enjoy more off-the-beaten-track cultural travel, I often recommend Zhongdian (“Shangri-La” or “Gyalthang”) in Yunnan Province. Zhongdian is located near the Tibetan border and is populated by ethnic Tibetans, so the food, architecture and culture are Tibetan, and quite different from what travelers experience in the rest […]

Destinations: Asia, China, Tibet

Tags: adventure, Banyan Tree, Buddhism, Buddhist, China tours, culture, Gyalthang, hotel, hotels, Lijiang, luxury resorts, luxury tours, luxury travel, private tours, Ringha, Shangri-La, Songzanling Monastery, Tibetan, Tiger Leaping Gorge, tour, travel, Yangtze River, Yunnan, Zhongdian

February 18, 2009

Top 5: Best food markets in Europe

We feel that food is a window into culture, history and traditions, and we always encourage our travelers to visit local food markets as part of the private tours we arrange. It’s a great opportunity for people-watching and to sample the tastes and flavors of each destination. Here are a few of our favorite food […]

Destinations: Austria, England, Europe, France, Italy, Spain

Tags: architecture tours, Avignon, Barcelona, cheese, Cornwall, cuisine, culinary tours, Europe food tours, European, Florence, food markets, food tours, foodie, international tours, Les Halles, London, luxury tours, market tours, markets, Mercat de la Boqueria, Mercato Centrale, Naschmarkt, Neal's Yard, olive oil, oysters, pastries, Patrick Blanc, Pinotxo, tripe, Vertical Gardens, Vienna, wine, wine tours, xuixo

February 18, 2009

The best English gardens in the Cotswolds

One of the highlights of having a privately guided tour of the Cotswolds is the opportunity to learn about the incredible gardens in the region–the history, unique characters and characteristics of the manor homes and their gardens, and how international trade and exploration influenced English gardens, planting and style in the Cotswolds. Our tours of England and the […]

Destinations: England, Europe, UK

Tags: Barnsley House, Britain, British, Buckland Manor, Cotswolds, English gardens, garden, garden tours, gardens, Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court, luxury, National Trust, private, tour, tours, travel

February 18, 2009

Family festivities during Christmas season in Vienna

Our favorite time to visit Vienna is during the magical holiday season that takes place from late November through December. For families traveling in Vienna during this time, we arrange special activities that are particularly recommended during the holiday season, such as making gingerbread in the kitchen at Schonbrunn Palace. We also arrange for families […]

Destinations: Austria, Central Europe, Europe

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Markets, family, family activities, family tour, holiday season, holidays, luxury, luxury tour, luxury travel, markets, Nutcracker, practice, Schonbrunn Palace, Spanish Riding School, tour, tours, travel, Vienna, Vienna Boys Choir