Just Back From

New Orleans is so much more than drinking Hurricanes on Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras. NOLA is the perfect destination for a weekend of culture, world class cuisine, jazz-fueled evenings.

Trip Duration: 2-3 days

Great For: Couples, friends, and families

Highlights:

-Savor some of the best food in the world - whether it's fried chicken at the local gas station or fine French cuisine;

-Music, music and more music - from Frenchman Street clubs to old school music halls like Tipitina's and Preservation Hall

-Antique shopping on Royal Street in the Quarter and Magazine Street in the Garden District

-World War II Museum

-Explore the colorful neighborhoods: the artsy Warehouse DIstrict; the up-and-coming Bywater neighborhood; and Treme, the birthplace of jazz.

Grand Cayman is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.  This tiny island is only 22 miles long and 8 miles wide at it’s widest point making getting around very easy.

Duration: 5- 8 days
Great for: Families, couples and girls' trips

Highlights:
        -Walk along the famous 7 mile beach
        -Visit Sting Ray City
        -Visit the Cayman Turtle Center where they are helping to repopulate the world's sea turtles.
        -Visit one of the over 200 restaurants on the island

New non stop service on certain days from Chicago has greatly increased the popularity of the island for mid-westerners and with good reason!  The island is lush and green and interior rainforests provide for lots of hiking and outdoor activities.  A mecca for honeymooners!

Trip Duration: 5- 10 nights

Great For:  Couples will find the romantic resorts nestled in the hills a plus but families will also have plenty to do.

Highlights:

-Excellent options for snorkeling and scuba diving;

-Charming fishing villages that dot the landscape;

-Relax in the amazing hot springs;

-Challenge yourself with a hike of the Gros Pitons, the soaring volcanic spires and the island's most iconic site;

-Savor the delicious local cuisine - freshly caught lobster, red snapper and mahi-mahi; homemade Creole bread or the local favorite: braised oxtail.

Morocco is a feast for the senses.  This African country is only 9 miles from the coast of Spain at its closest point.  You can feel the Spanish and French influences all over this beautiful land.  Famous for its medieval, mazelike medina’s and souks, where you can find ceramics, leather, jewelry, metal works and much more. Some of the most intact Roman ruins can be found in Morocco.  From vast deserts with sweeping sand dunes to vibrant cities to gorgeous hiking through the Atlas Mountains, this country has much to offer clients with all interests.

Trip duration:  9-12 nights

Great for: Families and couples.

Highlights:

               Get lost in the largest medina in Africa located in Fes.

               See the famous Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

               Dine on cous cous and tangine cooked meals.

               Visit the well preserved Roman ruins at Volubilis.

               Join a local family for a traditional dinner in their home.

               Ride a camel through the desert to reach your luxury tented camp for the night.

               Hike the gorgeous Atlas Mountains.

               Stop in Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood” of Morocco.

Santa Fe has become a mecca for artists and foodies.  The historical center is well known for its Pueblo style architecture and winding streets.  It was founded in 1610 as a Spanish colony, and therefore has a traditional Plaza at its center.  Surrounded by several national monuments and only an hour away from Albuquerque, Santa Fe has so much to offer.

Trip duration:  A long weekend will allow you to just scratch the surface.  You will want to go back.

Great for:  Couples, girls weekends and families

Highlights:
-One of the most lively art scenes in the entire US, Canyon Road has one of the highest concentrations of art galleries anywhere.

-Vibrant Native American culture.

-Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum, Loretto Chapel or one of the many historic places in historic downtown Santa Fe.

-Surrounded by numerous national monuments and forests, the options for hiking and being in nature are endless.

-Visit Albuquerque for the famous Balloon Fiesta.

-Take a cooking class or visit one of the many wonderful restaurants to check out the food scene.

A country of beautiful diversity, Vietnam entices travelers with soaring mountains, thousands of kilometres of unspoilt beaches and one of the best street food scenes anywhere in the world. Anchored by Hanoi in the north with its 1,000 years of history, and the modern, French-influenced metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the south, Vietnam also boasts world-class beach destinations, including Nha Trang, Danang and the paradise island of Phu Quoc, all home to luxury designer resorts and private yacht charters.*

Trip duration: 10 nights

Great for: Families, couples and friends

Trip style: Culture, foodie escape

Highlights: 

• Discover the delicious street food tour of Vietnam as you zip along the busy streets of Saigon on the back of a vespa.
• Explore the river life of the Mekong Delta, home to about 20 million people and nearly 2,230 miles of streams, canals and rivers. 
• Watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most renowned temple and the most religious monument in the world. 
• Experience a traditional monk's blessing at one of Siem Reap's most famous pagodas. 
• Kayak among the towering limestone karsts and grottoes of Lan Ha Bay, 

• Stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarter and witness a myriad of different trades and bustling activities.

• Explore the ancient temples, pagodas, and monuments dotted throughout the city of Hanoi.

The heel of Italy’s boot boasts sun-baked coastlines, ancient Baroque cities, dramatic caves, and honey-hued villages, not to mention some of the best cuisine in Italy. Typically a vacation area for Italian families, the region, while growing in popularity beyond Italy’s borders, remains blissfully unspoiled. Puglia is flanked by two crystal blue seas – the Adriatic and the Ionian – and its southern exposure offers miles of stunning beaches, but this is not your average beach vacation. In Puglia you can wander the narrow streets of whitewashed medieval cities carved into limestone cliffs, immerse yourself in the areas ancient history, explore 13th century citadels and ornate churches, or while away the hours discovering charming fishing villages along the region’s wild coastline.

Trip duration: 6 nights

Great for: Families, couples and friends

Trip style: Culture, foodie escape, family escape

Highlights: 

• Visit the ancient city of Matera carved into limestone cliffs.
• Explore the trulli (the traditional Apulian dry stone huts) in Alberobello.
• Visit the dramatic sea caves on your way to the striking cliff top town of Polignano a Mare.
• Learn how to cook delicious Apulian dishes in a private hands-on cooking class with a local chef. 

• Visit Ostuni, the "White City," a maze of alleyways, staircases and arches, rising high above the ocean of olive trees that sweep through this area.

• Wander the streets of Monopoli, taking in the charming white-washed buildings, watch fisherman haul in their catch on the traditional gozzi at the Porta Vecchia, or immerse yourself in the slow, charmed pace of la dolce vita at one of the piazzas. 

New Zealand is famous for its diverse and dramatic landscapes as well as its cosmopolitan cities and unique culture and history. No other country offers so much in such a compact area. The North Island offers subtropical forests, thermal geysers and golden beaches, while in the South Island you will find mountainous peaks, majestic fiords, ancient glaciers and tranquil countryside. 

Trip duration: 9 nights

Great for: Families, couples and friends

Trip style: Family Adventure

Highlights: 

• Kayak at the spectacular Manupirua Springs Hot Pools on Lake Rotoiti in Rotorua
• Traverse over half a kilometer long walkway among Rotorua’s gentle giants at the Redwoods Treewalk, consisting of a series of 21 suspension bridges between 22 majestic 110 year old Redwood trees.
• View magnificent waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife on a cruise along Midford Sound and the Tasman Sea.
• Saddle up and ride alongside braided, glacial fed rivers this adventure offers river crossings and spectacular scenery, including views of The Misty Mountains, The Wizard’s Vale and The Mighty Methedras.

• Tackle ten rapids on the untamed Shotover River then raft through the darkness of the 170 metre Oxenbridge Tunnel and shoot the Cascade Rapid.

• Experience a high-velocity zip-line reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour as you make your way down Bob's Peak Mountain, sitting 450 meters above Queenstown.

• Explore the cosmopolitan city of Auckland

Colombia (not Columbia) is South America's best kept secret. For decades the country was torn apart by drug wars and conflict but today the country is safe - and tourists are beginning to look to Colombia for their next getaway. Set amidst the striking backdrop of the Andes Mountains and bordered by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, it's a country bursting with colonial charm, aromatic coffee plantations, stunning greenery and wildlife in the Amazon rainforest, and silky-soft white sand beaches. Colombia boasts all of South America's allure, and more. Now is the time to explore.

Trip duration: 9 nights

Great for: Families, couples and friends

Trip style: Culture, adventure, foodie escape 

Highlights: 

• Begin in the bustling capital of Bogota - a sprawling mix of people and architecture. 
• Stroll the cobblestoned streets of the historic district, La Candelaria, the vibrant heart of the city. Don't miss the colorful murals of street art, the impressive Gold Museum, and the Botero Museum celebrating one of Colombia’s most accomplished artists, Fernando Botero whose unmistakable work depicts people and animals in exaggerated proportions and volumes. 
• Just a short tram ride but a world away from the hustle of Bogota explore the mountain of Cerro de Monserrate (Montserrate), which dominates the skyline of Colombia's capital.
• After a quick flight, bask in the city of Eternal Spring
• Discover the turbulent history and miraculous transformation of the Comuna 13 district in Medellin, once considered the most dangerous neighborhood in Colombia and now a hub of growth and amazing art. 
• Take a day trip to the colorful city of Guatape and climb the 740 steps to the top of "The Rock," otherwise known as Piedra del Peñol, for breathtaking views.
• Relax at a tree-house hotel in Santa Marta the gateway to Tayrona National Natural Park and  the Lost City (Teyuna) archaeological site in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.
• End your trip in the festive port city of Cartagena.
• Explore the Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings. 
• Spend a day island hopping by private boat in the Rosario Islands. 

Visitors flock to the glorious Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, but that is just a small piece of what you will find if you visit Peru. Here the ancient collides with the modern resulting in colorful diversity and energy. Peru is a foodie destination, an adventure-junkie's dream, and a cultural haven all rolled into one. Savor the culinary wonders of Lima, fly over the mysterious markings of Nazca, horseback ride the deepest canyons, explore the native communities of the highest lakes, and take in the amazing biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest by boat. Our founder's recent trip was just the tip of the iceberg...

Trip duration: 9 nights

Great for: Families, couples and solo travel

Trip style: Culture, foodie escape 

Highlights: 

• Travel through archaeological Inca sites to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu.  
• Explore more than 30 walking, hiking and biking paths in the Sacred Valley and discover traditional villages still untouched by globalization, perfectly preserved ancient traces, and lost lagoons in the Andean pampa.
• Savor the culinary creations of some of the greatest chefs in South America on a culinary journey through Lima. Indulge in delicious ceviche, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour, and end your tour at the ancient adobe and clay pyramid known as Huaca Pullaca in the upscale coastal Miraflores neighborhood of Lima.
• Explore the cultural and historic sites of Lima from the Plaza Mayor to the San Francisco Monastery as well as the Larco Herrera museum, the Awanakancha Center, Ollantaytambo and more.
• Spend time exploring the charming colonial city of Cusco, the former capital of the Incan Empire, where you will find a bustling hub of textile markets, preserved Incan ruins, and whitewashed homes. 
• Explore the otherworldly Amazon rainforest on a 3-night cruise. Head deep into the jungle - to areas inaccessible by foot - and explore the flora and fauna of the Amazon river and rainforest with a naturalist guide.