Escape Routes

from Audley Traveler Spring 2019

by Audley Travel

A Diary from Down Under

ESCAPE ROUTES

TRAVEL NEWS | FLIGHT DECK | RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | CHECK IN

↘ WHAT’S NEW

New stays in Cambodia

From the glory of Angkor Wat to the infamy of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia has long drawn visitors for its historical and anthropological angles. The list of Cambodian experiences is growing, making it a destination that warrants a few weeks’ exploration. Traveling beyond Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, unspoiled jungles and remote islands now harbor some of the most exciting new properties in Asia. Highlights include the luxury camp Shinta Mani Wild (pictured) and Alila Villas on the island of Koh Russey.

For more information, contact our Cambodia specialists on 1-833-357-5611.

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WHERE TO GO IN…

FLIGHT DECK

The latest flight news

British Airways has made improvements to its Premium Economy (World Traveler Plus) cabins. The changes include new menus with enhanced catering and the introduction of updated amenity bags, blankets and pillows. This follows the ongoing rollout of new Premium Economy seats on flights from their London Gatwick base.

As of June 22nd, Royal Air Maroc will begin offering direct flights, three times a week, between Boston and Casablanca, Morocco. EgyptAir will begin flying direct between Cairo, Egypt, and Washington Dulles as of June 3rd. This will be the carrier’s third North American destination.

Air New Zealand will fly direct from Christchurch to Singapore using its 787 Dreamliner from December 1st 2019. The seasonal service will run five times per week, until February 22nd 2020 and features a revised interior with more Premium Economy and Business Class (Business Premier) seating. Its partner Singapore Airlines currently operates this route daily.

3 MONTHS

PERU

As the rains in the Andes cease, visitors can enjoy warm, sunny days and chilly, crisp evenings at altitude. This time of year lends itself to enjoying the attractions Peru has to offer, from admiring Machu Picchu in the sunshine, to enjoying a boat trip on Lake Titicaca under vivid blue skies, to trekking against backdrops of snow-capped mountains. For more information, contact our Peru specialists on 1-833-357-5689.

6 MONTHS

THE UK & IRELAND

With a mild climate, the UK and Ireland can be visited any time of the year, but we love to go in October, and bypass the peak crowds of summer as well as be rewarded with views of the autumn leaves’ changing russet and amber colors. The crisp weather is great for outdoor exploration followed by a hearty meal besides a roaring pub fire. For more information, contact our UK and Ireland specialists on 1-833-357-5669.

9 MONTHS

JAPAN

During the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Summer Olympic Games, flight availability in Japan will be limited and prices inflated. If attending isn’t a priority, we recommend visiting between December and February, which will see far fewer crowds – plus, the crisp wintry skies mean you’re likely to see a snow-capped Mount Fuji. For more information, contact our Japan specialists on 1-833-357-5658.

Introducing custom adventures to Greece

Starting this July, Audley will offer hand-crafted trips to Greece. Our team has been sourcing immersive experiences to help you connect with the country’s rich history and culture.

Join us as we discover sunken ruins in Epidavros – kayak to the ruins before snorkeling over them for a closer look, then visit an olive oil producer for a tasting before you indulge in fresh sea urchins as part of lunch on a deserted beach. Or pedal an e-bike to Meteora monasteries to watch the sun set over the area’s unusual rock formations. Stay tuned for more information.

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CHECK IN

The most exciting new stays

Ranginui, South Island, New Zealand Ranginui is a three-room B&B on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Floor-to-ceiling windows and patios look out onto the lake and the Southern Alps. The hosts, Ann-Maree and Sab, are already popular with Audley travelers: they also run experiences in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Souly Lodge, Oman Located right by the beach on the Indian Ocean, Souly Lodge is one of the first eco-lodges in Oman, using local wood and stone to construct the spacious bungalows and employing solar power and energy-saving lightbulbs.

Senda Monteverde, Monteverde, Costa Rica This boutique hotel is located in the cloudforest of Costa Rica’s northwestern highlands. Rooms are dotted around the grounds in casitas overlooking a valley. Activities on offer include cookery classes, Spanish lessons, coffee tastings and birdwatching.

The Middle House, Shanghai, China The Middle House is a sleek, modern oasis in the midst of Shanghai. Set away from The Bund, the historic riverside is a short walk away. The zen-style spacious studio rooms offer a soothing respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Ramble New Zealand’s latest trail

New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’ are celebrated as fine ways to see the country at its wild best – and now you can take a guided expedition of the newest addition to those ten epic treks: the Routeburn Track. Your day begins with a scenic drive around Queenstown’s Lake

Wakatipu to reach the trailhead in Glenorchy. The track crosses suspension bridges over rushing waters, before winding through native beech forest and into the mountains. For more information, please contact our New Zealand specialists on 1-833-357-5652.

A Shanghai history tourGet closer to the wildlife

Now you can explore Shanghai’s former French Concession district on a guided walk with Patrick Cranley. A historian and Art Deco enthusiast, Patrick’s lived in Shanghai for more than 20 years and knows its buildings better than most. Together, you’ll dart in and out of traditional lilong (laneway) neighborhoods, pass forgotten ballrooms – with their original parquet flooring – and walk the Bund, popping into tenements just steps away from luxury hotels. For more information, please contact our China specialists on 1-833-357-5660.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa has always been acclaimed for its diverse wildlife and luxurious lodges. Cheetah Plains is the latest lodge to open its doors, and is the first in the country to introduce Tesla-battery-powered game vehicles. Not only are these electric 4x4s more environmentally friendly, they’re also quieter. It means you can get closer to animals without disturbing them for even better sightings in the bush. For more information, please contact our South Africa specialists on 1-833-357-5629.

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RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Making giant strides in elephant welfare

We’re committed to taking a responsible approach to travel and we want to ensure that your visit has a positive effect. One key area for concern is the welfare of captive elephants in tourism and we’ve already stopped offering experiences that involve riding elephants. Over the last year, as part of a wider focus on animal welfare, we’ve reviewed all the elephant experiences that we offer.

It’s been a robust approach, with an internal team that includes a steering group working under the guidance of an external expert. After lots of discussions, we’ve drawn up a set of guidelines to ensure that we only offer experiences with associations whose primary purpose is the welfare of the elephants.

To find out more about our Elephant Policy, please visit www.audleytravel.com/us/ about-us/responsible-travel

What to READ

What to WATCH

What to SEE

What to DOWNLOAD

Put your travel knowledge to the test against family and friends with Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel Quiz Book. With questions on everything from geography and culture to wildlife and transport, it’s ideal for all ages – and a great addition to any trip. Available May 21st, 2019

Disney is set to release the all-new live-action version of The Lion King on the 25th anniversary of the original movie. In 1991, they sent a team of animators to Kenya to do research for the film. As a result, most of the landscapes are based on the country’s vast national parks. Out July 2019

The Joan Miró: Birth of a World exhibition looks at the artist’s career and his dreamlike paintings that blur realism with abstraction. His work, which was often inspired by poetry, is showing at the MOMA in New York. Until July 6th 2019. For tickets, visit www.moma.org

Plane Finder tracks planes live on a worldwide map or by pointing your camera viewfinder at the sky. Simply type in the flight number and then follow your plane’s journey across the world on the map. Available on iOS and Android

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ESCAPE ROUTES

Going out for an Italian Learn to cook in Campania with Laura

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RECIPE

Torta Valeria

By Joe Fellini, Italy specialist

Of all the people I met in Italy,

Laura Niccolai is one of the most interesting. An energetic octogenarian with a passion for cooking, she grew up in an era when Italian women were expected to get married, have a family and stay at home. She chose to defy expectations instead and learned to cook in Milan under chef Gualtiero Marchesi, the first Italian chef to be awarded three Michelin stars.

Laura opened her first cooking class in the 1980s before moving to the USA. There, she offered classes in San Francisco, Dallas, San Antonio and California. Here, she shares her recipe for torta Valeria (named after her daughter), which she usually serves with vanilla ice cream.

INGREDIENTS

3 egg whites 1/4 cup sugar 1 pinch of salt 3 egg yolks 1 tablespoon of corn starch, sifted 1 cup 58% cocoa content Valrhona

Chai chocolate, melted is sold in with most 1/2 cities cup and of towns butter

Confectioners across India. sugarI recommend trying it when you visit, but you’ll need

METHOD a sweet tooth – it’s premixed with 1. Preheat milk and the many oven vendors to 375°F. add Grease sugar and without flour a 8 asking. inches Master cake tin. tea-makers, known as 2. chai-wallahs, Place the egg make whites, the ancient sugar and art of salt in brewing a bowl. Whisk chai look until easier the than mixture it is. has slightly In many thickened places, small – it clay should cups take are used about to three serve to the four chai. minutes. Once you’ve finished, you smash 3. Add the cup egg near yolks, the chai-wallah, the corn starch who’ll collect and the the melted pieces and chocolate send them butter back to the mixture; potters mix to be gently recycled until into smooth new cups. (mixing During too a recent hard visit will to make the sleepy the cake Keralan flat). countryside, 4. Pour the batter I met and into chatted the tin. to Bake a on the chai-wallah oven’s middle as my rack homestay for 30–35 host, minutes. Sinta, interpreted 5. Remove for the us. cake He taught from the me his oven and mother-in-law’s let it cool. Unmold, recipe transfer for masala to serve chai, and which sprinkle he with brewed confectioners fresh for me. sugar. I watched

Have you recreated a recipe we’ve featured in Audley Traveler? Or have you sampled a delicious local cuisine on your travels? We’d love to see your images of your favorite food and drink experiences. Tag your posts with #TheAudleyWay and @AudleyTravel.

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JAPANESE

DRIVETIME

Hit the road and explore the land of the rising sun from the driver’s seat. Our specialists get behind the wheel and reveal their favorite cross-country jaunts…

Iya Valley, Shikoku by Hilary Nisbet

“The bullet train might be the most iconic way to see Japan, but the country’s smallest island, Shikoku, is much better visited by car. Drive deep into the thickly forested Iya Valley and see the hidden vine bridges and mountainous views that are especially impressive in November as the leaves begin to redden. Stop off in some of the tiny rural villages, including Nagoro, a village that is populated by more scarecrows than humans.”

Tohoku by Caitlin Frost

“Tohoku refers to the little-visited northern part of Honshu. The region’s volcanic mountains, wild coastline and neat rice fields are only really accessible by car – perfect for the adventurous. Take a pitstop and hike Mount Gassan (and be blessed by a priest at the top), relax by crystal-clear caldera lakes, or explore former samurai strongholds.”

Noto Peninsula by Rory Dent

“The Noto Peninsula juts out of the northern coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu. Home to the country’s most rugged coastline, the area is renowned for its healing hot springs and historic Buddhist temples. Spend a few days exploring 12th-century samurai residences and winding coastal roads, finishing at one of Japan’s finest traditional inns, Lamp No Yado, on the northeastern tip of the peninsula.”

Okinawa by Amanda MacKenzie

“Japan may have a world-leading public transport system, but along the tropical island chain of Okinawa, you’ll need a car to explore freely. Enjoy a slice of Japan that few people visit as you hop between powder-white beaches, biodiverse national parks, and rural villages that feel different from anywhere on the mainland.”