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The spectacular karst formations along the Li River in southern China constitute one of the country’s most iconic landscapes. Mists swirl around the craggy, foliage-covered hills as they rise out of rice paddies and tea plantations, recreating Chinese ink paintings in three dimensions. Artisans of Leisure arranges day cruises on the Li River from the […]
A private day trip to the spectacular terraced rice fields of Longsheng, near Guilin, is one of our favorite excursions in southern China. Longji Titian or “Dragon’s Backbone” is the local name for the undulating mountain landscapes, where the shimmering, water-filled terraces are said to resemble dragon scales. Built over centuries, the rice terraces have […]
Cherry blossom season is a wonderful time to be in Japan. Starting around mid-March in most of the country, the pale pink sakura flowers burst open in a shock of color that signals the end of winter and the start of spring. It can be surprising how widespread cherry trees are in Japan until you […]
New Zealand’s extraordinary luxury lodges are destinations in their own right. Here are five of our favorite lodges, all of which are featured in our private New Zealand tours. 1. Blanket Bay, Queenstown Blanket Bay—a longtime favorite lodge among our travelers—sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu just outside Queenstown on the South Island. We […]
Artisans of Leisure founder and CEO Ashley Isaacs Ganz shares a few of her favorite things about her recent two-week overland trip that visited parts of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France. Favorite hotels on this trip: I love the luxurious Old World hotels found throughout the region, such as Brenners Park-Hotel in Baden-Baden, Germany; the […]
Artisans of Leisure travel specialist, Stephanie, tells us how she has been lucky to be able to combine her twin passions–birding and travel–since she was a child. Q: When and how did you become interested in birding? A: My mom has been birding forever, and she would take me along with her when I was […]
Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, a three-hour drive (or short helicopter transfer) from Sydney, is a must-stay for those who wish to experience one of the very best resorts in Australia. The valley setting is magnificent, surrounded by sandstone escarpments and thickly forested hills. The resort is made up of approximately 40 stand-alone suites, furnished […]
Versailles is one of the most interesting and elegant cities in France. Our private France tours bring travelers to our favorite spots in Versailles, many of which are rarely visited by international travelers. One of the grandest royal palaces in the world, the Chateau de Versailles is a magnificent Baroque complex set on thousands of […]