CULTURE + WALKING // FAMILY // MULTISPORT // CULINARY // PRIVATE // 2019 CLASSIC JOURNEYS
H ANDCRAF TING TRIPS OF A LIFE TIME
2019 TRAVEL ADVENTURES
TO THE EDGE ON EASTER ISLAND From the Atacama Desert to Rapa Nui, a new escape to Chile Page 46
SIX SWEET DAYS IN MOROCCO
A new itinerary makes the exotic exceptionally easy Page 38
19 EXPERIENCES FOR 2019 Top experiences to make this a year to remember Page 16
SHEPHERDED THROUGH SCOTLAND You outlanders will feel right at home in the highlands Page 26
And now for something different … I confess that I don’t like to repeat myself when I travel. That doesn’t mean I never return to favorite places. I could happily spend the rest of my life commuting between Italy and the Galápagos and Iceland (and about a hundred other places)! But I’m always eager to find a new twist, wake up in a hotel I didn’t know about the first time, and walk a path that veers through a village I somehow missed to a view I never dreamed of. I like to think of it as “creative restlessness,” and it’s an approach to travel that pays off for you in all kinds of interesting ways when you come along with Classic Journeys. Sometimes it yields an alternative take on a favorite destination like our new Morocco trip that gives you the option of experiencing this exotic country in just six days (page 38). In Chile, we’ve just added a dramatic second itinerary that includes the Atacama Desert and Easter Island (page 46). Or for something different — and tailored to your personal interests — ask us to create a private trip for you (page 64). You’ll have a totally unique experience without a trace of been-there/done-that. On every Classic Journey, we empower your amazing local guides to jigger activities to take advantage of one-of-a-kind events like a village festival or the particular interests of our guests. That’s how a group of dog-lovers visiting Scotland recently got some extra quality time with a shepherd and his team of border collies (page 26). Whether you’re looking for something exciting and new (page 16) or taking a sentimental journey back to a land you’ve loved forever, talk to one of our travel experts at 833-242-3698. It’ll make all the difference in how special and memorable your 2019 travels will be. Best Regards,
– EDWARD PIEGZA
President & Founder
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Five Ways to Explore
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Hotels + Cuisine
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Guides
Destination Finder
AMALFI COAST & CAPRI
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TUSCANY & CINQUE TERRE
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19 EXPERIENCES FOR 2019
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ITALY
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FRANCE 22 PORTUGAL & SPAIN
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SCOTLAND 26 UK & IRELAND
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EUROPE 32 CROATIA & SLOVENIA
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ICELAND 36 MOROCCO
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AFRICA, SOUTH ASIA & OCEANIA
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ASIA 44 CHILE 46 CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
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COSTA RICA
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GALÁPAGOS 54 CUBA 56 BRYCE, GRAND CANYON & ZION
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UNITED STATES
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CANADA 62
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Private Travel
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Solo Travel & Ambassador Club
For more information on tours, visit classicjourneys.com
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 3
HOW WE TRAVEL
5 to explore WAYS
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CULTURE + WALKING
A stimulating cultural immersion highlighted by scenic walks designed to reveal the region’s personality and history. Your full-time local guide will set a casual tempo that offers plenty of opportunities to absorb the environment, sightsee and relax. You’ll enjoy our exceptional lodgings and relish local cuisine, from picnics to gourmet feasts.
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MULTISPORT
Active fun in amazing environments. Multisport trips offer a spectrum of energetic outdoor activities from body-surfing with iguanas to glacier hiking and zip lining. We partner with expert outfitters and provide you every bit of the gear you need to join in — all at no extra cost. You’ll stay fueled up with unforgettable meals and re-charge every night at luxury inns and hotels.
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FAMILY
Fascinating itineraries designed to satisfy the curiosity, energy levels and passions of your multi-generational clan. We include activities to engage the whole family, plus focused events for teens and even younger children. This is a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone, bond with the people you love most, and enjoy the company of other families.
HOW WE TRAVEL
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CULINARY
Sensory heaven for lovers of food and wine. These itineraries include casual cooking instructions in local kitchens … plus visits to markets, vineyards, bakers, cheesemakers and the like. All offer non-cooking options for companions who don’t want to spend time in the kitchen, as well as walks and visits to sites of historic and scenic interest.
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PRIVATE
Your vacation, your way. We’ll customize any Classic Journeys itinerary to start on any day you choose … incorporate activities and points of interest on your personal wish list … or create a bespoke one-of-a-kind vacation extravaganza. We’ve created private trips for one to 80 or more guests, including professional and alumni groups.
TRAVELING SOLO? Join us on any Classic Journey. You’ll find yourself in the company of others who look at the world like you do. Go to classicjourneys.com/solo to learn more.
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HOTELS + CUISINE
Ah, the Creature Comforts FIVE-STAR INNS TO MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANTS, WE TREAT YOU TO THE VERY BEST. SUPERIOR HOSPITALITY
ABOVE-AND-BEYOND BENEFITS
When you shop for a trip, the easiest way to compare options is to look at hotels. At Classic Journeys, our accommodations include coveted properties that appear in “World’s Best” and “Top 10” rankings. In most cases, we obtain lower rates than bigger companies thanks to our long relationships with hoteliers. If there’s a fine hotel tucked into an authentic farmhouse, within view of the Taj Mahal or clinging to the cliffs in Santorini, we’ll find it. More often than not, you’ll spend two or more nights in a location for a chance to settle in.
Only Classic Journeys enhances your vacation with a selection of these special amenities you won’t find anywhere else.
UNFORGETTABLE MEALS Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit, and we prove it with every meal. If we start telling you about the Provençal dinner with endless courses ... the sweet taste of a just-caught trout in Montana ... the homemade spring rolls on our junk in Halong Bay ... we’ll never stop. All of your breakfasts and most dinners are included and many lunches, too. For picnics, we shop local markets and bakeries. We’ll also get you into village cafés and small restaurants that are favorites of our local guides who often know the cooks.
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Invisible Check-in – Your hotel check-ins are arranged in advance. You and your bags are whisked directly to your room. And of course, we tip the bellman for you. Wine on Us – In many regions, we uncork wonderful local wines at every dinner, compliments of Classic Journeys. Perfect Pairings Dinners – A special dinner prepared by one of our favorite chefs with a procession of wines tailored to each course. Privileged Access Events – One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places and activities arranged just for you. Imagine a private visit to Stonehenge, pizza making in a private home overlooking the sea, or a jump to the front of the line to see Michelangelo’s David.
HOTELS + CUISINE
• SAN IGNACIO, BELIZE
Ka’ana Luxury Resort Tucked into a tropical jungle in western Belize, this resort caters to the whole family. It’s named for the ancient Maya city next door. (Ka’ana means “Heavenly Place.”) There’s a terrific swimming pool and easy access to all of the outdoor activities that Belize offers. All of the spacious rooms open wide to the outdoors. There’s a spa, too, and great dining in the restaurant that’s supplied by the organic farms around the property.
• KENMARE, IRELAND
• NEAR ALTAMURA, PUGLIA
• BARBENTANE, PROVENCE
Sheen Falls Lodge
A “Simple” Farmhouse Lunch
Isabelle’s Olive Oil
This is Irish country house luxury almost beyond imagining. Out your window, a salmon-rich river tumbles down to Kenmare Bay. Heather-covered mountains provide the backdrop to your 300-acre estate. Welcome to Sheen Falls Lodge, a Relais & Chateaux property. The rooms are gracious impeccably decorated. The cuisine (including salmon from that river) is amazing, and the service is nothing short of the warm Celtic ideal.
Tomatoes sun-dried on the vine. Oregano fresh from the garden. Pecorino made from the farmer’s own sheep’s milk. With ingredients like that how much better could a meal get? Well … it could also be that you get to help cook it in the family kitchen — stuffing the peppers, maybe, or giving the orecchiette pasta a stir while you sip on homemade wine. “Simple” has never tasted so extravagantly good.
Your Classic Journeys guide Isabelle is much more than a guide. She and her husband Jean own a traditional olive oil mill. Who better to introduce you to the liquid gold of Provence? “Can you taste the note of artichoke in the oil?” “The pepperiness is the flavor of the freshest oil.” Their oldest neighbors crave Isabelle’s oils because they “taste like when we were children,” and now you get a taste of the real Provence.
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GUIDES
Our expert local guides take you inside the places they call home. On every Classic Journey, you’ll travel in the company of our exceptional local guides. Instantly, you’ll be on first-name basis. And because our trip leaders live where they work, don’t be surprised when everybody seems to know them — and welcomes you as the friend of a good friend. Your full-time guide will be the kind of person whose cousin is the llama-trekker. A plugged-in resource who knows the opening day of truffle season ... and a truffle-hunter who’ll let you tag along. A native who can navigate the maze of the medina in Fés with her eyes closed, because it’s where she and her family live. With a personal entourage of experts, colleagues and logistical wizards, our guides make sure that you are always in the cultural mix and never at arm’s length from the best experiences a region has to offer. We happily empower them to personalize your trip on the fly, to leap at an unexpected opportunity like a once-a-year festival day or an off-the-cuff invitation into a private home. They are unflappable folk, as genuine and sunny as they are sincere. And really, can you think of a better description of a great traveling companion? Even after your trip is over, some of your happiest memories will be of the shared stories, unfiltered insights and good times that you shared with your new friend in Peru or Iceland or Croatia.
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GUIDES
Welcome to my world Marcia HOME TURF: BRYCE, GRAND CANYON & ZION PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR: 15 YEARS " I love seeing how a week spent with bighorn sheep, and walking through hoodoos, and hanging out in historic lodges is a life-changer for a lot of families. They get a little outside their usual comfort zones and have a blast."
I was very impressed with Marcia's overall knowledge of the area. Her understanding of the geography, geology, flora, fauna and cultural history was excellent. Marcia has an excellent sense of humor and was adept at keeping everyone comfortable.”
— Bill C. | Mathews, VA
Beny HOME TURF: PANAMA PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR: 24 YEARS Beny is a rare bird and one of our favorite naturalist guides. “I help people ‘remember’ the other senses they have but seldom use. To smell the royal palm tree flower or hear the almost silent crawl of an anteater changes how you experience nature.” Benny was wonderful! He was understanding, cooperative, listened, and gave advice. We all loved him. He was great with the whole group and really made the trip.”
— Mellrose F. | Brookhaven, GA
Livio HOME TURF: CROATIA & SLOVENIA PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR: 20 YEARS Named Croatia’s #1 guide, Livio only brags about his homeland. “Our truffle hunters are the best. Our wine too. Oh … and the views where Slovenia meets the crystal Adriatic. Every moment is incredible.” (And so is he!)
Having a guide like Livio, who was born and raised in Croatia, who has such a passion for his country, made all the difference on this trip. We experienced the culture and history and food and wine from an insider's perspective. It was an extraordinary.” — Susan L. | Mystic, CT
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Handcrafting
Trips
of a
Lifetime
AT CLASSIC JOURNEYS, WE TAKE PRIDE IN CURATING EVERY DETAIL OF YOUR VACATION, AND THE BENEFITS OF THAT APPROACH START RIGHT HERE. In the pages ahead, you’ll find all of our trip options — Culture + Walking, Multisport, Family, and Culinary — conveniently organized by region. Whether you’re looking for an itinerary in a specific destination or browsing the world for a fresh idea, your next vacation is easy to find. Our small groups average just 10 guests per departure, so whichever one you choose, you can look forward to a rich, intimate and immersive travel experience. Here’s to the start of your trip of a lifetime!
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Amalfi Coast & Capri ON A LAUNCH APPROACHING THE AMALFI PENINSULA, YOU FACE A STARTLING SIGHT. Like elegant rock climbers, villas cling with no visible foothold to the sheer cliffs. You have to ask yourself how … why? But when you swing open the shutters in your cliffside hotel room, the jaw-dropping view is all the answer you need. In balmy Amalfi, orange trees shade village streets. Seaside footpaths around Ravello and Positano encourage an easy pace perfect for soaking in the atmosphere. You’ll settle in for a stay on the glorious isle of Capri — a luxury the day-trippers can’t imagine. You’ll reach the rim of Mount Vesuvius, too, and explore Pompeii with an archaeologist. Whether you choose our Culture + Walking, Culinary or Family experience, you’ll see Amalfi in the best way — in the company of an Italian friend who knows the ins and outs of life at the edge of the sea.
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULINARY
Positano & the Isle of Capri
Positano & the Isle of Capri
One of our all-time best-sellers. From Naples, you ferry to romantic Capri for a two-night stay, and then to Positano for three nights. An amazing week includes seaside walks, limoncello tastings, and visits to Mt. Vesuvius, Ravello and Pompeii.
A fantastic week in Amalfi. You’ll cook in a cliffside kitchen and with a top Positano chef, taste the wine and limoncello, and walk in Capri and Ravello. You’ll explore the streets of Pompeii ... and see the town from the top of Mt. Vesuvius.
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 7, MAY 5, MAY 19, JUN 2, SEP 8, OCT 6, OCT 20, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6090
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 21, SEP 22 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6490
AMALFI COAST
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AMALFI COAST
• FAMILY
AMALFI COAST
Capri, Positano & Pompeii Together, you walk Vesuvius’ rim, eat gelato, kayak the coast and explore Pompeii. The kids go for a boat ride in the Blue Grotto. The adults enjoy some fine walks and dinners out. And everybody loves the island of Capri and cliffside Positano. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 31, JUN 16, JUL 14 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5890
yo u r W E E K O N T H E A M A LF I C OAST • HYDROFOIL ACROSS THE BAY OF NAPLES FOR TWO LUXURIOUS NIGHTS ON CAPRI AT THE GRAND HOTEL QUISISANA • WIND ALONG THE LEGENDARY SEASIDE PATHS TO POSITANO • MAKE PIZZA IN THE KITCHEN OF A PRIVATE HOME … AND EAT IT ON A TERRACE OVERLOOKING THE SEA
WORKSHOP WHERE IT’S MADE • JOIN AN ARCHEOLOGIST FOR A WALK THROUGH THE RUINS OF POMPEII • AMBLE ALONG THE SPECTACULAR COAST AND SAVOR LUNCH AT AN EXCLUSIVE BEACH CLUB
• TASTE LIMONCELLO IN THE
AMALFI COAST & CAPRI ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 13
Tuscany & Cinque Terre SOMEBODY HAS TO SIT ON THE TERRACE OF A TUSCAN VILLA, SIPPING A GLASS OF CHIANTI AS THE SUN SETS OVER A ROLLING SEA OF SILVERY OLIVE TREES. Why shouldn’t it be you? And why shouldn’t life always be like this? Lunch in a 15th century castle. A vineyard walk to San Gimignano. Private kitchens that invite you in to garlic-scented heaven. Famed Portofino and the Cinque Terre — those five impossible villages that lure you down from a clifftop trail to pastel streets that practically spill into the Ligurian Sea. And in Florence, more art treasures per square inch than anywhere on earth (and a jump-to-the-front-of-the-line opportunity to see one of the most famous: Michelangelo’s David). On our Culture + Walking trips and Culinary tours, you’ll discover one of the happiest truths in travel: Tuscany is everything you dreamed it would be, and more.
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• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULINARY
Chianti, Florence & Seaside Villages
Florence, Chianti & Cortona
Selected as one of Forbes’ Luxury Walking Favorites, this trip to Tuscany includes Florence, San Gimignano, vineyard strolls, a home-cooked lunch in the Chianti hills and more. Cap the week with walks to the spectacular villages of the Cinque Terre and Portofino.
Start with cooking instructions in our friends’ farmhouse and villa kitchens. Add in a visit to San Gimignano, Chianti tastings, cheesemakers and markets. And walk off the calories on three-night forays in both Florence and Cortona.
TUSCANY & THE CINQUE TERRE
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 14, MAY 12, MAY 26, JUN 9, JUL 7, SEP 1, SEP 15, SEP 29, OCT 13, OCT 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490
TUSCANY
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 21, MAY 19, JUN 16, SEP 22, OCT 20, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
TUSCANY ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
YO U R W E E K i n Tu scany & C i n q u e Te r r e SETTLE INTO AN ELEGANT VILLA WHERE YOUR HOSTS FOR THREE NIGHTS ARE A COUNT AND COUNTESS LUXURIATE IN SANTA MARGHERITA’S GRANDEST SEASIDE HOTEL SAVOR YOUR FIRST SIP OF CHIANTI AT A FAMED TUSCAN WINERY STROLL THROUGH VINEYARDS TO A HOME-COOKED LUNCH ON THE GROUNDS OF A 15TH-CENTURY CASTLE EXPERIENCE THE GREAT TREASURES OF FLORENCE WITH AN ART HISTORIAN
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19 FOR
'19
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NINETEEN mind-blowing, tasty, high-adrenalin, utterly cool ways to make this year’s vacation one for the books
GO DEEP IN ICELAND. HAVE A MILLIONSTAR MACHU PICCHU MOMENT. SHORTEN THAT BUCKET LIST. STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION. YOUR OPTIONS ARE AS WIDE AS THE SAHARA AND AS DEEP AS BRYCE CANYON. YOU’LL BE ON TREND AND AWAY FROM THE CROWDS WHEN YOU FOLLOW OUR EXPERTS’ ADVICE ON ANY OF THESE I - C A N ’ T- B E L I E V E - I ’ M - D O I N G - T H I S EXPERIENCES.
C LI F F H A N G E R PI ZZ A Toss and bake your own pizza … and don't forget to taste it as you have lunch on a local friend’s sky-high terrace overlooking the Amalfi Coast.
S TA R RY I N C A N I G H TS Feel Machu Picchu haunt you as you return to the ruins, lit only by the starry megawatt nighttime sky over the Andes.
R A PA N U I S MILES Stare down Easter Island’s fierce and moody moai statues at the culmination of a new Chile trip also includes the Atacama Desert and Santiago vineyards. READ MORE ON PAGE 46
RAREFIED GEISHA In Kyoto, accept the elegant honor of dining as the honored guests of traditional geishas who entertain you with samisen and ritualized dance.
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B R E E ZI E R M OR OC C O Compare the sands along the Atlantic coast with those around your luxury desert encampment on a 6-day visit that also includes Essaouira and Marrakesh. READ MORE ON PAGE 38
SEC RET ST ON EHEN GE Enter sacred Stonehenge for a private visit at dusk, and toast the falling night and mysterious past with a flute of champagne.
P RIS TINE BAY OF P IGS Invade the Bay of Pigs in a snorkel mask, the better to see the miraculously rich marine environment under the waves.
I CY C AVING Shiver — from the beauty of it all, not the cold — as you enter the glowing natural chamber of a glacial ice cave in Iceland.
JU NG LE LIVING Paddle deep into Panama’s rainforest for a day of interaction with the indigenous Embera Tribe in their riverside village-on-stilts.
T USC A N FA NTA SY Live your dream at a glamorous hilltop villa-hotel with a count and countess as your hosts. Go ahead and go totally Tuscan.
GR EA T ER WA LL O F C H I N A Leave the masses behind and stroll on a beautiful, unrestored stretch of the Great Wall to truly grasp the imperial will that built it.
A NGKO R WA T TA G E Watch Cambodia’s legendary temples fade into awesome view on a morning walk in the growing brilliance of sunrise.
UP T H E L A Z Y DO U R O Cruise Portugal’s gorgeous river to a vineyard walk, port-tasting, and a picnic for a perfeito Portuguese day.
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LO W-T I DE H I GH P OI NT Channel a 12th century pilgrim as you walk to Mont-St.-Michel on the firm sandy sea bed emptied by the ebbing tide.
PE N G U I N P L U NGE Swim as you’ve never swum before with the world’s only warm-water penguins in the Galápagos.
C OOL C OLLIES Envy the Scottish shepherd whose team of ridiculously smart border collies respond to his commands with extra-sensory precision. READ MORE ON PAGE 26
T O O TA J TO BE L I E V E Claim ownership of the Taj Mahal from the unbelievable vantage point of your regal hotel room that overlooks the pearlescent masterpiece.
H O O DO O VOODOO Walk on Mars, also known as the floor of Bryce Canyon, where the maze of sandstone spired called hoodoos transports you to a different world.
N ÆR ØYFJ O R D Stroke a silky alpaca at the family hotel where you’re greeted with wide-open arms after a cruise on Norway’s skinniest fjord.
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Italy VISIT ITALY EVERY YEAR FOREVER, AND YOU’D NEVER HAVE TO REPEAT YOURSELF. Each region — sometimes it seems like each village — is its own utterly unique and totally irresistible destination. From the alpine breezes that cool the villas on Lake Como to sun-warmed Sicily, the culture, climate and terrain couldn’t be more different. For something more rustic and off-thebeaten path, head for Apulia in the heel of Italy’s boot. For the flip side of Italian sophistication, our Family trip to Venice, Florence and Rome is a wonderful introduction to the best of the best. Or hobnob with rural shepherds — and the yacht set — on a visit to Sardinia that also includes the nearby French island of Corsica. Your options also include our best-selling trips to Tuscany (pages 14-15) and the Amalfi Coast (pages 12-13).
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING
Palermo, Agrigento & Taormina
Introduction to Italy
Rustic Villages & Costa Smeralda
The ultimate Italy with its own rustic culture. Our circuit takes in Palermo, Taormina and the olive groves and vineyards of the Aeolian Islands. Wait until you see your hotel overlooking the Greek temples of Agrigento.
Three must-see cities — like most families never get to see them! You’ll discover the best of Italy without feeling like you’re in a rush. Best of all, you’ll meet pizza-makers, art experts and gladiator trainers who will give Italy a happy personal spin for your family.
Rustic. Quiet. Gorgeous. Walking Corsica’s herb-carpeted coast or lunching with a Sardinian shepherd, you’ll step back in time. Nature preserves, country inns, suave nights in Bonifacio, archeological wonders. These French and Italian islands have it all!
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 28, JUN 23, JUN 30, JUL 7, JUL 14, JUL 21, JUL 28, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 2, SEP 8, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
SICILY
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 14, MAY 12, JUN 9, SEP 15, OCT 13 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
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VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME
SARDINIA & CORSICA
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Como, Maggiore & Orta
Matera to Lecce
Como. Maggiore. Orta. Italy’s stunning mountain lakes have lured travelers for millennia. Starting in Bellagio, you’ll walk in extravagant villa gardens and alpine meadows, meet a shepherdess, go wine-tasting, shop for local treasures and more.
You’ll love the sunny heel of Italy’s “boot.” There’s the baroque city of Lecce and cliff-clinging Matera. Plus, fish markets, walled farms, blue seas, snow-white trulli and homemade lunches filled with amazing food.
ITALIAN LAKES
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 28, MAY 19, JUN 9, JUL 7, SEP 8, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5890
PUGLIA
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 28, MAY 26, JUN 23, SEP 29, OCT 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5390
ITALY ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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France THE SEDUCTIVE POWER OF FRANCE IS IRRESISTIBLE. You can try to wave off the lunchtime splash of Bordeaux, but the glass always seems to find your lips. When a maman leans out her window on folded arms and cocks her head in that comehere-and-tell-me-who-you-are way, what can you say but, “Of course.” If a breeze heavy with lavender tugs at your senses, it’s almost impossible not to give in. Our Culture + Walking trips go happily with the French flow, whether we’re on a lazy low-tide walk at Mont Saint-Michel or catching the rays on the ramparts of a clifftop castle overlooking the Dordogne River. The cuisine is remarkable, the hotels are magnifique, and with your local guide you’ll slip easily into la vie française.
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
• CULINARY
Vineyards & Villages of the Luberon
A Week in the South of France
Markets, Vineyards & Kitchens
Lavender fields, vineyards and orchards. Award-winning country hotels and goat cheese on warm baguettes. Avignon, the Pont du Gard, cooking in a friend’s kitchen. It hardly seems possible, but Provence is even better than you’ve imagined.
All ages love our Provence! Everyone will enjoy great walks in lavender fields, river kayaking and climbing around castle ruins. You’ll go wine-tasting, they play boules and you all mellow out with the full-time help of our expert local guides.
Live the dream during a gourmet week in a château-hotel. You’ll cook with professional chefs and a cookbook author, shop local markets and go wine-tasting. Easygoing walks take you to Sénanque Abbey, Les Baux and the Pont du Gard.
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 12, JUN 2, SEP 8, OCT 13 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUL 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 26, JUL 7, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
PROVENCE
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PROVENCE
PROVENCE
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Mont-St.-Michel to D-Day Beaches
San Sebastian, Bilbao & Pyrenees
Bordeaux & Southwestern France
Make the pilgrimage to Mont-St.-Michel at low tide. Sip apple brandy at your châteauhotel. Explore the D-Day beaches. Take a Breton cooking lesson. Deauville to Saint-Malo, this is France at its historic and scenic best.
Explore Basque culture in both Spain and France. You’ll see medieval villages, catch a game of pelota, walk the Jaizquibel, eat tapas in San Sebastián, walk by the Bay of Biscay and visit the titanium-wrapped Guggenheim museum.
This best-selling tour starts in St. Émilion’s legendary vineyards. Then you’re off to wander castle-studded river valleys, go truffle-hunting, see ancient cave paintings and stay at one of our favorite inns.
NORMANDY & BRITTANY
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 13, JUN 17, SEP 2, OCT 7 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
BASQUE COUNTRY
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 12, JUN 16, SEP 8, OCT 13 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
DORDOGNE VALLEY
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 6, JUN 10, SEP 16, OCT 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
FRANCE ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 23
Portugal & Spain THE IBERIAN PENINSULA IS EUROPE’S SUNNIEST REGION, which is quite the useful fact when you are plotting out a Culture + Walking vacation. Yet, with all that fine weather in common, Portugal and the varied districts of Spain couldn’t be more different. Beyond the gorgeous cities of Lisbon and Porto, Portugal offers the vineyards of the Douro River Valley, wonderful seaside walks, and some of the finest hotels anywhere. You’ll also meet the Portuguese people from the workers who harvest sea salt to respected winemakers. In Spain, our adventures immerse you in unique lives and diverse cultures. From the intricacy of the Moorish Alhambra to vibey, cosmopolitan Barcelona, you’ll get an unforgettable look at a country where a thousand years of fierce history and easy-going 21st-century style blend perfectly in culture, architecture and truly remarkable food.
• CULTURE + WALKING
PORTUGAL
Lisbon, Douro Valley & Porto Portugal has more regal grandeur than any other country we know. Experience the rich imperial landmarks of Lisbon and Porto, explore 8,000 year old Neolithic stone formations and cruise on the Douro River in a traditional Portuguese Rabelo boat. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 28, MAY 19, JUN 2, JULY 7, SEP 1, OCT 6, OCT 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5390
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• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
Andalucia’s Seville to Córdoba
Barcelona to Costa Brava
Barcelona to Costa Brava
Moorish southern Spain is cinematic. First, suave Seville, Granada and the Alhambra with a local expert. Then, vast plains dotted with ruined fortresses, a luxury five-star hotel in the style of an Andalusian village, gnarled olive groves and spectacular country walks.
Our local guide says Catalonia is “like Tuscany, only better!” In Vic, the farmers’ markets, rustic country paths and farmhouse-parador are just right. The “better” part: a private seaside resort at Begur and walks along the warm Costa Brava.
From cool Barcelona, this active family vacation heads to the country and a four-star hilltop parador near waterfalls and extinct volcanoes. From a resort overlooking the Costa Brava, go sea kayaking, cave exploring, and walking amid Roman ruins.
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 9, SEP 8, OCT 13 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 12, JUN 16, SEP 15, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 7, AUG 4 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
SPAIN
SPAIN
SPAIN
PORTUGAL ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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SHEPHERDED THROUGH
LA SCOTLA WITH DAVY IN THE LEAD, OUTLANDERS FEEL RIGHT AT HOME IN THE HIGHLANDS.
My mom broke down in tears when we were in the Scottish Highlands last fall, thanks to a border collie puppy. As Senior Tour Operations Coordinator at Classic Journeys, I suppose I should have predicted that. One of everybody’s favorite parts of this trip is when we go to our friend Neil’s farm where he tends to a massive herd of sheep. When we pulled into his barnyard, there he was with 10 or 15 black and white border collies at his feet. Growing up, this was our family’s favorite breed, so they had us at hello. Then Neil issued a couple of sharp whistles like Morse code, and one of them charged off over a hill only to reappear minutes later behind about 30 sheep that he guided right down to us. Neil put all of the dogs through their paces for us, and then his son brought out a couple of warm, wiggly 8-weekold puppies for us to hold. You know, the sheer joy of a moment doesn’t get much more perfect than that. Pass me a Kleenex, Mom. Also, several people in our group including my parents are fans of the TV series “Outlander.” It’s about time travel — a woman from the 20th century slips back and forth to the Scotland of the 1740’s. What you quickly realize is that the director of that series doesn’t have to spend much on locations. Out in the Highlands, a lot of the scenery looks like it always has, even longer ago than when Claire met Jamie. Of course, we didn’t need to rely on a screenwriter for our story. The secret Classic Journeys weapon is Davy, a longtime friend of ours and the guy
AND
BY PETER HAMILL
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 27
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who has to be Scotland’s best guide. When you walk on Culloden Moor with him, you don’t have to guess what it was like the day Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated there by the Duke of Cumberland. Davy paints the most vivid word pictures you’ll ever hear, about how the people dressed, and how their military formations were set up and what the battle felt like. He can also tell you that a red deer made that hoofprint, how tall the trees grow in the Caledonian pinewoods, and what St. Columba had to do with the Loch Ness Monster. When a real estate agent in our group asked the going price today for a 2-bedroom cottage outside St. Andrews, Davy knew the answer. I came to realize that the kind of pleasure Davy has in being a super-guide is a lot like the pride and hospitality that the Scots extend every time you turn around. When we pulled up at Loch Ness Country House, for example, the staff was at attention, waiting for us. We felt like we were arriving at our own summer country home. You see a different variation on the theme at the Old Course at St. Andrews. You really don’t need to be a golfer to be impressed. The grass couldn’t be greener. I don’t think there was even a grain of sand outside any of the traps. Also, at the Scotch whisky distillery we visited, I could hardly believe all of the finesse and the strict historical standards that go into it. I wasn’t a Scotch drinker before, but I am now. (I’ll get back to you when I can tell the difference between a 12 Year Old and a 21 Year Old.) For all that I thought I already knew about Scotland, I now recommend this trip for different reasons than I did before. This history isn’t just there on display, it really feels alive. Leave Glasgow or Edinburgh — great cities that I truly love — and you really feel that you are plunging back in time to a natural world where the lochs are the deepest, the Highlands couldn’t be higher, and there’s always a warm greeting and a wet puppy nose to make you happier than you ever thought you could be.
Scotland • CULTURE + WALKING
SCOTLAND
Edinburgh & the Highlands The highlands you’ve imagined and more. Royal Edinburgh, St. Andrews, a dram at a micro-distillery, heathery walks at Culloden Moor, Loch Ness and dramatic Moray Firth, plus fishing villages, a cashmere mill and sheep shearing. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 26, JUN 9, JUL 28, SEP 1 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5890
SCOTLAND ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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UK & Ireland IS THERE ANYPLACE ELSE THAT IS SO WONDERFULLY FAMILIAR BUT REFRESHINGLY UNEXPECTED AS IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND? We think not. Images of tiny thatched villages and emerald meadows dotted with sheep are practically part of our DNA. The landmarks from Edinburgh Castle to Stonehenge are nothing short of iconic. As you walk along a Cornish beach straight out of a Daphne du Maurier novel or slather a warm scone with clotted cream, it all feels so … natural. But the lovely little surprise is that life in these lands is full of traditions, history and ways of life that are great fun to discover. From falconers to spinners of blarney to cottage gardeners, the folk you meet on our Culture + Walking and Family trips will change the way you see the places you thought you already knew.
• CULTURE + WALKING
ENGLAND
Cornwall Coast to Land’s End The finest walking anywhere on headland trails overlooking the sea. You’ll follow them to St. Michael’s Mount, Tintagel Castle, a seal sanctuary and Bedruthan Steps. Stays include three nights at Fowey in Daphne du Maurier country. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 12, JUN 9, JUL 14, SEP 8 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
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• FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING
Capital Cities & Countryside
Cotswolds, Stonehenge & London
In London, see all the top sights from Westminster Abbey to a fascinating tour of the Tower of London, then visit Stonehenge when it’s closed to the public. In Paris, you’ll join a chocolatier in his kitchen, grab a bird’s eye view of the city, take an e-bike tour of Versailles and skip the lines at the Louvre.
Imagine a private visit to Stonehenge at sunrise. We’ve arranged it, plus walks in picture-perfect countryside, stays in Chipping Campden and Burford, meetings with a falconer and a cheese-maker and dinner in a private manor house.
LONDON & PARIS
ENGLAND
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 6, AUG 3 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5495, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6490
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 2, JUL 7, SEP 1 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
• CULTURE + WALKING • FAMILY
IRELAND
Killarney Lakes & Dingle Peninsula Warm, friendly and fun. There’s castle climbing in Killarney. A sheep-herding lesson. A cart ride in the Gap of Dunloe. Easy walks to waterfalls and eerie stone circles. Stay in a manor house, hit the local pub and get a warm, personal welcome to Irish life. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS CULTURE + WALKING: DEPARTS JUN 2, JUL 7, AUG 11, SEP 8 CULTURE + WALKING: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4295, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5090 FAMILY: DEPARTS JUN 30, AUG 4 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4295, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5090
UK & IRELAND ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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Europe FOR MANY OF US, THE FIRST TIME WE USED THAT SHINY NEW PASSPORT WAS FOR A TRIP TO EUROPE. The continent is still a sentimental favorite, not least because of the kaleidoscopic options it offers. Maybe it’s time to thread your way through the fjords of Norway or take your family to Switzerland. Discover the culture and history that links Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Or go a little farther afield to the gorgeous Greek Isles or rugged Montenegro on the Adriatic. The first Classic Journeys were in Europe, so our roots are deep, our friendships are strong, and our connections guarantee you immersive and unforgettable experiences. In addition to these trips, we also offer itineraries to favorite European destinations in Italy (pages 12-21), France (pages 22-23), and Spain and Portugal (pages 24-25).
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING • FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING • FAMILY
Prague to Budapest
Oslo, Jostedal & Bergen
The Bernese Alps & Oberland
Explore the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary in one compact visit. Between the two bookend capitals, you’ll also visit Vienna, walk in rolling farmlands and vineyards, stay in the preserved village of eský Krumlov, cruise the Danube and more.
Norway is spectacular fun on a visit that ranges from Oslo to Bergen. You’ll cruise on mind-boggling fjords. There’s a cinematic glacier walk, kayaking amid fascinating ice floes, and spectacular mountaintop views. And you’ll discover real Norwegian life on a family-owned hotel on an working alpaca farm.
Go Swiss with a twist! Your adventures can include dog sledding, glacier walking, river rafting, trekking and biking. From chalet-hotels, you’ll walk in wildflower meadows, meet cheesemakers, visit the carless village of Mürren, and see the country’s mostprized alpine views.
CULTURE + WALKING LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS CULTURE + WALKING: DEPARTS MAY 19, JUN 23, JUL 14, AUG 11, SEP 1, OCT 6 CULTURE + WALKING: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6090 FAMILY: LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS FAMILY: DEPARTS JUN 30, JUL 21, AUG 18 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5990
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS CULTURE + WALKING: DEPARTS AUG 4, SEP 15, OCT 6 CULTURE + WALKING: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490 FAMILY: DEPARTS JUN 17, JUL 22 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490
CZECH REPUBLIC, AUSTRIA & HUNGARY
LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 2, AUG 4, SEP 1, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5390 Call us for details on our Special Edition Christmas Markets departure to Prague, Vienna and Budapest on Dec 15, 2019!
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NORWAY
SWITZERLAND
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Azure Adriatic & Soaring Mountains
Crete & Santorini
MONTENEGRO
Start on the balmy Adriatic coast with palm-lined bays. Ascend into wild mounts with sheer canyons and quiet lakes. And all along the way meet olive growers, grappa-makers, shepherds and artists in this most beautiful and remote Balkan country. LENGTH 7 DAYS/ 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 2, JUL 7, SEP 8, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490
GREEK ISLES
Soak up Greek history and culture. Rustic Crete is a rich mix of Minoan ruins, fishermen and olive groves. On gleaming Santorini, you’ll stroll vineyards, visit classic artisans and bask in dramatic sunsets from the terrace of your cliffside hotel. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 2, SEP 1, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
EUROPE ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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Croatia & Slovenia CROATIA IS THE COUNTRY WHERE WE WOULD LIVE IF WE COULD LIVE ANYWHERE. Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe Dalmatia’s Adriatic coastline or Istrian vineyards that Napa should envy. Cinematic Dubrovnik (aka King’s Landing on “Game of Thrones”), Rovinj perched on the tip of a peninsula, and harbor-side Hvar. And next-door Slovenia offers some of the most picture-perfect scenery anywhere in the Balkans. These are lands where you can do an artisanal olive-oil tasting lesson, take a country walk a million miles from anywhere, and luxuriate at your 5-star hotel by the sea, all in the same day. The locals are warm hosts and — from vintners to truffle hunters — just about the most engaging people ever.
• CULTURE + WALKING
SLOVENIA & CROATIA
Ljubljana to the Istrian Peninsula Start with picturesque Ljubljana and the grand scenery of Lake Bled. Then explore Croatia’s Istrian peninsula complete with walks on the Adriatic coast, truffle hunting and ancient red-roofed villages. Highlights include the Brijuni Islands, Rovinj and a stay at a seaside villa in Opatija. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 12, JUN 9, JUL 14, SEP 8, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5390
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• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
Dubrovnik & Dalmatian Coast
Dubrovnik & Dalmatian Coast
The grandeur of Dubrovnik. Footpaths above the Adriatic. Wine-tasting lunches and seafood dinners. Lavender fields, olive oil mills, a two-monk monastery, harborside nights in Hvar. This amazing week is a rich, relaxing cultural experience.
Kids love Croatia. Adriatic waters invite swimming, kayaking and snorkeling. Country walks take you to monasteries and olive mills. And there’s great variety with stays in Dubrovnik, at a seaside resort and on the beautiful isle of Hvar.
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 5, JUN 2, JUL 7, SEP 1, OCT 13 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4795, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUL 14 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5590
CROATIA
CROATIA
CROATIA & SLOVENIA ON YOUR SCHEDULE!
YO U R W E E K I N CR OATI A’S I S T R I A N PENI NSU L A JOIN A HUNTER AND HIS TALENTED HOUNDS ON A TRUFFLE HUNT STROLL VINEYARD TRAILS TO SUNNING HILLTOWNS EXPLORE THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATER AT PULA WALK THE COASTAL “OLIVE OIL ROAD,” FOLLOWED BY A TASTING AT A LOCAL MILL LUXURIATE IN A 5-STAR HOTEL OVERLOOKING THE ADRIATIC PROMENADE
We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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Iceland SOMETIMES IN ICELAND, WHEN THE SKY TURNS ORANGE, THE PUFFINS SQUAWK, AND YOU’RE SOAKING IN A STEAMING LAKE, YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF THAT THIS IS EARTH, NOT PLANET X. Other-worldly fun is what our Multisport and Family trips are all about. If you’re not walking on a black beach, you’re snorkeling in clear-as-glass water between tectonic plates, or trotting on an Icelandic horse. Icelanders were recently proclaimed the “Friendliest People in the World”. With your local guide, you’ll learn just how true that is, whether you’re hot-tubbing with them at the Best Hotel in Iceland or exploring the super-hip scene in Reykjavik.
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• MULTISPORT
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
Spectacular South & Glacier Lagoon
South Coast & Snaefellsnes
South Coast & Snaefellsnes
Think waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and lava fields covered with insanely green spongy moss. For every ice cave, there’s a geothermal pool. The Northern Lights curtain the night sky. Activities range from tectonic snorkeling to horseback riding, spectacular coastal and countryside walks to puffin watching.
Iceland is wild and ruggedly beautiful. You’ll walk amid lava flows, binge on lobster, visit a puffin colony, go whale watching and meet a shark fisherman. Country inns with gourmet restaurants are in absolutely spectacular settings!
The perfect outdoor family vacation. Think puffin watching, soaking in a geothermal lagoon, exploring the wild country on Icelandic horses, and walking on glaciers and cooled lava fields. Luxury hotels include a deep-country lodge and a spot in the heart of Reykjavik.
ICELAND
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 10, MAR 24, JUN 2, AUG 11, SEP 15, OCT 27, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5395, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6190
ICELAND
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 9, JUN 23, JUL 21, AUG 18, SEP 15 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5495, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6390
ICELAND
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUL 7, AUG 4 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6590
ICELAND ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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SIX SWEET DAYS IN FROM ESSAOUIRA TO MARRAKESH, THE EXOTIC IS EXCEPTIONALLY EASY ON OUR NEWEST MOROCCO ITINERARY That morning in Essaouira, we knew we’d struck gold. A contingent of our group split off with one of our guides to go paddle boarding on the bay. The Mediterranean sun felt fantastic. The views of the city walls and Mogador Islands left us with no doubt that we were in Morocco. But we were seeing it in a totally unique way. Meanwhile, the others were just as absorbed in a kitchen where a local chef gave a cooking instruction in tagine, Morocco’s classic stew.
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It was a homey, lively, sensory session that was full of laughs and a chance to dig in to local culture. When we came back together, the debate over who had the best morning ended in a draw. In Morocco, everybody wins. Those early moments on our newest Morocco itinerary proved a lot. The trip came to be because a private group asked if there was a practical way to explore Morocco in just one week. Indeed, there is! Exotic as it feels, Morocco is nearer than many travelers realize. Casablanca is closer to most U.S. gateways than Rome, and it’s roughly the same distance as Paris. Plenty of travelers go to Europe for a week … so the same is eminently doable in Morocco. Add to that the fact that Classic Journeys has more than 22 years worth of friends, contacts and wonderful experiences in Morocco, so handcrafting this new itinerary was as easy as sliding down a desert sand dune. That special trip was such a success that we are now offering it as a second Morocco travel option to complement our incredibly popular 9-day trip from Fès to Marrakesh. The six days are a leisurely cascade of quintessentially Moroccan cultural experiences. In Essaouira (aka Astapor in “Game of Thrones”) the medina is a time-stands-still place where a guided stroll includes centuries-old fortifications and shops spilling over with silver and carpets. You meet the Amazigh Berbers on a walk in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Out there, argan trees that grow only in Morocco yield nuts whose oil is used for everything from drizzling on couscous to moisturizing shampoo. You’ll “come wiz us to ze Kasbah” as well. That’s the Kasbah Abderrazak in this case, an old fort where today a craftsman turns goats’ milk into cheese. As far as we’re concerned, no visit to Morocco is complete without an excursion into the desert … and the only way to go is on a camel. A Berber blue man will meet you with his mounts. You tie on a headscarf, and then sway into the Agafay Desert in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains. Your ride ends at a luxury desert encampment with gleaming white tents, cushy beds, and all the amenities. A feast of a dinner is on the fire, and it tastes all the better because you enjoy it while watching dusk turn into starlit night. When the new day dawns you have another choice of activities — either a bike ride or a guided walk on paths ending at an oasis of palm and olive trees. As any trip to Morocco must, yours makes its way to Marrakesh where you shop the souks, explore quiet water-splashed gardens, and sit down to an extravagant farewell dinner in a palatial private home that’s world-renowned for its interior design. Back at home we had a dozen opinions about which moment was the best. But then that’s the hallmark of a vacation so full of exceptional and exotic experiences. The one thing that everyone agreed on is that six days is absolutely enough time to fall in love with Morocco. HAVE YOU BEEN TO MOROCCO WITH US BEFORE? Would you like to go back without repeating yourself? This new 6-day itinerary visits different regions of the country and offers an array of fresh experiences to welcome you back.
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The Comforts of Morocco On your visit, days full of a rich variety of activities and cultural experiences end in the quiet elegance of some of the country’s finest lodgings.
• ESSAOUIRA
L’Heure Bleue Palais Set in an 18th century riad in the city’s heart, this Relais & Chateaux property focuses inward on its private courtyard. The rooftop pool overlooks the medina and the sea.
• AGAFAY DESERT
Scarabeo Camp Snow-white tents rise from the sands and offer 360º views of the desert and Atlas Mountains. The luxurious tents include proper beds, a traditional Moroccan lounge and carpeted floors.
• MARRAKESH
Les Jardins de La Koutoubia In the heart of the medina, this elegant property perfectly captures the style of the city. In graceful Moroccan style, most rooms face an inner patio where the centerpiece is a gorgeous pool.
Morocco 3 Ways • CULTURE + WALKING
MOROCCO
Marrakesh, Sahara & Fès Can you top camel riding in the Saharan dunes with a night in a luxury Berber encampment? You will on this tour with visits to the Medina of Fès, oasis walks, kasbah and palace hotels, cedar-forested mountains, the souks of Marrakesh and more. LENGTH 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 9, APR 6, MAY 4, SEP 14, OCT 5, NOV 2, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
• FAMILY
MOROCCO
Marrakesh, Sahara & Fès Our own kids’ favorite trip! Could yours forget a camel ride in the Sahara or a night in a Berber encampment? You’ll bike in an oasis, walk in a 900-foot-deep gorge, see snake charmers and meet the friendly people of this amazing land. LENGTH 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS DEPARTS FEB 16, MAR 10, MAR 23, JUN 15, NOV 23, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
• SPECIAL EDITION
MOROCCO
Essaouira to Marrakesh Exotic Morocco in just six days! Cook tajine with a local chef or take a paddle boarding lesson on a scenic Atlantic bay in Essaouira. Meet vineyard owners and cheese makers in the scenic Argan Valley. Ride camels into a luxury encampment in the cinematic Agafay Desert. And explore the souks and Djemaa-el-Fna Square in Marrakesh. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 3, JUN 30, DEC 22 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4690
MOROCCO ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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Africa, South Asia & Oceania WHEN KIPLING WROTE THAT, “EAST IS EAST AND WEST IS WEST,” he concluded that the difference in geography didn’t matter at all when the people of East and West came face to face. You’ll experience the wonderful truth of that sentiment on our trips across the International Date Line. From the exotic lands of South Asia to sophisticated culture in New Zealand and South Africa, to the rich tapestries of Nepal, India and Bhutan, you’ll go exploring in the company of our experienced local guides. They remove the logistical obstacles to a seductive vacation halfway around the world. With visits to villages, iconic landmarks, incredible game reserves, legendary cities and the homes of everyday people, you will experience these remarkable and very distinctive cultures like few travelers are privileged to do.
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Himalayan Villages & Chitwan Safari
Rajasthan & Taj Mahal
A remarkable look inside the storied Himalayan land. You’ll explore Kathmandu, visit sacred temples, and meet the locals in remote villages. Activities include an elephant and rhino safari in Chitwan National Park, meeting artisans from chefs to potters, and walking through terraced countryside in the shadow of famed Annapurna.
An epic journey! Delhi. The Taj Mahal at dawn. One-of-a-kind countryside walks that introduce you to villagers and rural life ... as well as descendants of royal families, sari- and turban-tying experts, and eminent naturalists.
NEPAL
LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS DEPARTS NOV 11, DEC 19 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
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INDIA
LENGTH 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 27, MAR 13, NOV 1, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $8590
• CULTURE + WALKING • FAMILY
NEW ZEALAND
North & South Islands Awesome variety from Auckland to Queenstown! Sail on an America’s Cup yacht and sip wine on lush Waiheke Island. Visit a working sheep farm and go jet-boating. All capped by a glacier walk and a cruise in the fjords of Doubtful Sound. LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS CULTURE + WALKING: DEPARTS FEB 21, MAR 25, DEC 30 CULTURE + WALKING: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5395, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6290 FAMILY: DEPARTS APR 8, DEC 30 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5295, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6190
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Cape Town, Vineyards & Safari
Himalayan Villages & Monasteries
Experience the best of South Africa from every angle. Explore Cape Town and visit the Cape of Good Hope. Walk amid penguins one day and through vineyards on a wine estate the next. Then take the Big Five safari you’ve always dreamed of from your base at a luxurious tented encampment.
This Himalayan kingdom is a revelation with its perched monasteries, rice paddies and rhododendron forests. On guided walks, you meet farmers, wood carvers and yak-herders. And you’ll be immersed in Bhutanese cultural and spiritual life.
SOUTH AFRICA
LENGTH 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS DEPARTS 2019: JUL 30, OCT 7, DEC 28 2020: MAY 24, JUN 28, OCT 4, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $8590
BHUTAN
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 16, NOV 5 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $7620
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 43
Asia LAZY JUNGLE RIVERS. Raucous cities crowned by golden temples. Sugary ocean beaches and plains sprinkled with ancient pagodas. The lands of Asia define exotic travel. Where the languages are inscrutable, and cuisine is an endless stream of new and wonderful flavors, it’s more reassuring and revealing to explore in the company of experienced local guides. Vietnamese friends share their homeland with open hospitality matched only by the art of the geisha in Japan. In China, you’ll get a fresh look on the must see and walk among villagers. You’ll talk with the floating farmers of Myanmar, participate in a Laotian almsgiving ceremony with proper respect, and meet hill-tribe villagers deep in the Thai countryside. With Classic Journeys, you’ll experience the cultural traditions you only find if you approach the region like a traveler, rather than a tourist.
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
Phuket to Chiang Mai
Shanghai to Shangri-La
Tokyo to Kyoto
Stepping far beyond the temple-spired capital, we’ll visit an elephant sanctuary in the foothills of Chiang Dao, and walk from rice-paddy paths to remote villages where we receive the blessing of saffronrobed Buddhist monks at an early morning alms-giving … glide over rivers in long-tail boats … and are welcomed into one of the country’s finest kitchens.
Moving beyond must-see China — Beijing, the Great Wall, Xi’an’s terra-cotta warriors, Shanghai — you’ll penetrate the interior, including Guilin and Yangshuo. And finally, living and walking among natives in the Tibetan highlands called Shangri-La.
A revealing look at Japan’s history and modern culture. Explore Tokyo and learn to make sushi. Take in the beauty of Hakone with views of Mt. Fuji. Visit Kyoto’s temples, partake of the tea ceremony, and experience the art of the geishas at an elegant dinner.
THAILAND
LENGTH 7 DAYS/ 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 4, NOV 4, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6890
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CHINA
LENGTH 12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 8, MAY 27, SEP 9, OCT 7 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $8990
JAPAN
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS APR 15, MAY 13, SEP 2, NOV 11 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $9290
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING
Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
Mandalay to the Temples of Bagan
Between Saigon and Hanoi, spend a night on a junk in Halong Bay and bike amid Mekong rice paddies. In Laos, care for elephants at an elephant sanctuary. Explore Cambodia’s splendid Angkor Wat. And luxuriate at some of Asia’s finest hotels.
Take a bath with an elephant. Explore awesome caves along Halong Bay. Bike along the Mekong, meet rural schoolchildren and rice farmers. Give alms to monks and climb on Angkor Wat. The list of amazing family experiences is almost endless!
LENGTH 10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 22, MAR 10, MAY 12, OCT 20, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6290
LENGTH 10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 24, JUN 16, DEC 20 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6290
From Yangon’s gold-encrusted Shwedagon Pagoda to mind-boggling Bagan where 2,000 pagodas and temples dot the plain, you’ll see the country’s essential landmarks. But most of all, we’ll immerse you in the lovely countryside and the lives of the people whose local traditions continue from floating farmers, lacquerware artisans, schoolchildren, and ethnic tribespeople in village markets.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
SOUTHEAST ASIA
MYANMAR
LENGTH 9 DAYS/ 8 NIGHTS DEPARTS NOV 11, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6290
SOUTHEAST ASIA ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 45
46 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
ESCAPE
TO THE EDGES Easter Island to the Atacama Desert, Chile couldn’t be farther from life as you know it.
Sometimes, the best purpose of a vacation is to shut down the hubbub and plugged-in chatter of everyday life. It’s good, on trips like that, to spend some time with the big mysteries of nature and civilization. Oh, and to pause now and then to ponder it all over a fine glass of wine. Chile checks all of those boxes, as you will quickly discover on our new itinerary that ranges from the Atacama Desert to Santiago vineyards to enigmatic Easter Island. Out on the edge of everything — in a tiny village huddled on a sky-high plateau or on a volcanic speck in the Pacific guarded by Moai — it’s just about impossible to feel anything but awe. The ancient is always close. The gargantuan efforts that long-lost people made to leave a mark are humbling. In Chile, even in the nation’s urban capital, the tallest skyscraper looks like a toy against a backdrop of the snow-crowned Andes. It’s an adventure rich with how-is-thiseven-possible moments.
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 47
48 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
Chile It’s hard to imagine the Atacama Desert — even after you’ve been there. It’s amazing to see flamingos tiptoeing in a lagoon up against a tumble of crimson rocks at the foot of a steaming volcano. At Pukará de Quitor, you walk in the ruins of a 12th century fortress that’s one of the first places where the indigenous people met the Spanish. And if you doubt for a moment that it’s possible to live in this near moonscape, you’ll learn otherwise when residents of a pre-Inca village invite you in for lunch. A miracle of how to squeeze great wine from a waterless land, the Casablanca Valley is home of some of Chile’s finest vineyards. You’ll spend time amid the vines, on one of the most famous ones, and sit down to the most scenic tasting of white varietals that are especially happy in this micro-climate. You also have two nights in Santiago with plenty of time to explore, join the locals for an evening promenade, and see some of the architectural treasures from the Colonial era. Then, all of a sudden, time kicks into reverse as you cross a patch of the southwest Pacific Ocean to Rapa Nui, known to us as Easter Island. The first inhabitants came from the opposite direction — Polynesia — nine centuries ago. You already know about the relics they left behind, the Moai statues, but you cannot begin to appreciate them until you see them in person, and you’ll have plenty of time for that on your two-night visit. Let yourself soak in the solitude and the mystery of the island. There are gorgeous trails for walking, and the luxury resort where you settle in. It shows you the great hospitality that couldn’t contrast more with the glares cast by the Moai. You’ll be well connected with experts who help you understand the unfathomable obsessions that created one of the most unique places in all the world. Toasting the new trip over a Maipo Valley cabernet, Andres, our local friend and expert guide, summed it up. “This view of Chile drives home just how small the world we inhabit every day really is. Out on the periphery — where an Andean breeze carves an Atacama moonscape, where stone faces five times as tall as you stand guard against who-knows-what — you get to feel what you’ve never felt, learn what you never knew, and have the time of your life in the process.”
3 Ways • CULTURE + WALKING
CHILE
Lake District & Patagonia So much awesome nature! The Andes, Osorno Volcano and the wilds of Patagonia — not to mention penguins and wild guanacos. Chilean civilization is fun, too, from a gaucho lamb barbecue to lush Maipo Valley vineyards and Santiago. LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 20, FEB 17, MAR 10, NOV 3, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5790
• CULTURE + WALKING
CHILE
Easter Island, Atacama & Maipo Vineyards Escape to the beautiful edges of Chile on an exploration that roams from the Atacama Desert in the shadow of the Andes to the enigmatic Moai statues of Easter Island. You’ll also taste in Chile’s renowned vineyards and visit the capital of Santiago. LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 30, SEP 22 PRICE PER PERSON *CALL FOR DETAILS
• SPECIAL EDITION
CHILE
Total Eclipse of the Sun As rare as total solar eclipses are, it’s even rarer to experience the event in a setting as dramatic as Patagonia. On December 14, 2020, the path of totality will sweep across a narrow sliver of Chile ... and you can be there. Join us on this very special departure of our Lake District & Patagonia itinerary that will place you in the perfect spot at exactly the right moment. LENGTH 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS DEPARTS 2020: DEC 20 PRICE PER PERSON * DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6990
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 49
Central & South America TOWNS PAINTED HEAD-TO-TOE IN VIVID MURALS. Coffee plantations and a sunken city. Snorkelers facedown over coral gardens and schools of manta rays. Dugout canoes coming ashore in a jungle village. Colombia, Panama, Belize and Guatemala are eco-experiences to the Nth degree — teeming nature with an abundance of super-fun activities. Meanwhile, Machu Picchu is actually in a jungle. Travel by foot along the Inca Trail to the lost city and you approach from above. Throughout the Americas, we arrange superlative accommodations for you. And thanks to our naturalist and cultural guides, all you have to do on any trip is go with the flow and have the time of your life.
• CULTURE + WALKING
COLOMBIA
MedellÍn to Cartagena Towns painted head-to-toe in vivid murals. Coffee plantations and a sunken city. The lush Tayrona jungle a-twitter with countless birds. The maze of cobbled alleys and Caribbean culture in wonderfully walkable Cartagena. Colombia is full of amazing experiences that defy expectations. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 30, SEP 22 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $7294
50 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
• MULTISPORT • FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING • FAMILY
Canal, Rainforest & Highlands
Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley & Cusco
Take a shower under a waterfall. Paddle a dugout canoe to a rainforest village. See anteaters, parrots and hummingbirds, taste shade-grown coffee, go ziplining. And see the Panama Canal in action.
The best way to see Machu Picchu! You’ll get two nights there with the choice to arrive via the Inca Trail or by train. You’ll explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Meet llama herders, artisans and local school kids with your Quechua guide. Hotels include several of South America’s best!
PANAMA
LENGTH 6 DAYS/ 5 NIGHTS MULTISPORT: DEPARTS FEB 17, MAR 3, JUN 30, NOV 3, DEC 29 MULTISPORT: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4190 FAMILY: DEPARTS FEB 10, MAR 24, JUN 23, AUG 4, NOV 17, DEC 20, DEC 27 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4290
PERU
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS CULTURE + WALKING: DEPARTS MAR 31, MAY 26, JUN 23, JUL 7, SEP 8, OCT 13, NOV 10, DEC 27 CULTURE + WALKING: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5490 FAMILY: DEPARTS MAR 24, JUN 30, JUL 21, DEC 27 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5690
• MULTISPORT • FAMILY
BELIZE & GUATEMALA
Coral Reefs & Mayan Pyramids A luxury eco-adventure taken to beautiful extremes! Super fun for everybody. Expert naturalists walk you into teeming rainforests. Visits to Mayan ruins include sunrise atop Tikal. At Ambergris Caye, you snorkel and kayak over the vast coral gardens. and explore the coast on your own private catamaran. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS MULTISPORT: DEPARTS FEB 17, APR 7, JUL 7, NOV 3, DEC 1 MULTISPORT: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4890 FAMILY: DEPARTS FEB 17, MAR 24, JUN 23 FAMILY: PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4890
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 51
Costa Rica YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BIRD-WATCHER TO GET A BUZZ WHEN A HUMMINGBIRD LANDS ON YOUR HAND. Costa Rica touches you in all kinds of ways. It’s the most bio-diverse country anywhere, the land where eco-tourism was born. Our spectrum of itineraries takes you from Caribbean coast to Guanacaste on the Pacific shore and include Manuel Antonio Park, Arenal Volcano, and Tortuguero National Park renowned as the breeding ground for sea turtles. You’ll meet the native Ticos and residents of Afro-Caribbean villages, have mind-bending eco-experiences with our local guides and naturalists, and enjoy the most relaxing active vacation ever. Because Costa Rica is temperate and easily accessible from the U.S., you can join us in almost any season — and it’s a fantastic spur-of-the-moment getaway.
• MULTISPORT
COSTA RICA
Arenal & Manuel Antonio Park You’ll explore a cloud forest, walk the slopes of Arenal Volcano and zipline in the forest canopy. From our luxury hotel overlooking the Pacific in Manuel Antonio Park, you’ll take naturalist-guided walks, go kayaking and taste the brew at a coffee plantation. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 13, FEB 24, MAR 17, MAY 19, JUN 16, OCT 27, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3495, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4190
52 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
• FAMILY
• MULTISPORT
• FAMILY
Arenal & Manuel Antonio Park
Tortuguero & Papagayo Peninsula
Tortuguero & Papagayo Peninsula
Our top eco-tour, kicked up a notch. Your kids
From Tortuguero on the Caribbean to Guanacaste on the Pacific, this is the best of Costa Rica. Watch out for toucans, orchids, river otters and more. You’ll go on jungle walks, spot sea turtles, ride ziplines and catamarans … and stay in fine waterfront hotels.
See both sides of this amazing country. Start in Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean. You’ll take a plunging raft ride on the Tenorio River. At Guanacaste on the Pacific coast, watch for tapirs and tiger herons and zipline through the forest canopy.
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 31, SEP 1, SEP 29, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3395, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3990
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS FEB 24, MAR 10, JUN 30, AUG 11, NOV 24, DEC 28 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3495, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4090
COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA
will love waking up to white-face monkey chatter. They’ll zipline through the rainforest canopy, go whitewater rafting, spot three-toed sloths and hummingbirds on fun wildlife walks. And you will all enjoy the comfort of luxury lodges. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS FEB 17, MAR 24, JUN 23, NOV 24, DEC 27 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3395, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3990
COSTA RICA
COSTA RICA ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. Call us for details on our Special Edition departure to Panama and Costa Rica on Dec 29, 2019 CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 53
Galápagos YOU MAY GO THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS FOR THE WILDLIFE, BUT THE ACTIVE LIFE IS WORTH THE TRIP, TOO! Even if you weren’t bumping into giant tortoises, sea lions or strutting flamingos at every turn, this would still be a fantastic multisport vacation. The landscapes are like nothing you’ve ever seen, and the climate is great. Too bad for most visitors that they tour the islands by cruise ship. Everybody can get stir-crazy in the limited space. That’s why Classic Journeys pioneered trips on the islands with stays in luxury boutique hotels where you’ll have plenty of elbow room, a seaside pool, and maybe some blue-footed boobies right out the back door. We have easy access to amazing lagoons for snorkeling and kayaking, great trails for hiking and mountain-biking, and white beaches for lounging. All activities and gear are included and arranged for you seamlessly. Want even more fun? Join us for a couple of days in the high Andes of Ecuador.
• MULTISPORT
• FAMILY
• MULTISPORT
Island-Based Wildlife Adventure
Island-Based Wildlife Adventure
Islands, Wildlife & Mountain Villages
Our island-based itinerary trades cruise ships for boutique inns. You get more naturalist-guided time to snorkel, explore lava tunnels, visit a coffee plantation and meet iguanas, penguins, sea lions, bluefooted boobies — and local people, too.
The coolest active vacation ever. Penguins, giant land tortoises, iguanas, sea lions and blue-footed boobies, of course! Plus guideled sea kayaking, snorkeling, mountain biking and friendly boutique hotels with pools (instead of cruise ship cabin fever)!
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS 2019: FEB 17, APR 7, MAY 19, JUN 9, JUN 30, SEP 1, OCT 6, NOV 3, DEC 28, DEC 30 2020: JAN 12, FEB 16, MAR 15, APR 5, MAY 17, JUN 14, SEP 6, OCT 4, NOV 8, DEC 30 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5990
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS 2019: MAR 24, MAR 31, JUN 16, JUN 23, JUL 21, JUL 28, NOV 24, DEC 27, DEC 29 2020: FEB 16, MAR 22, MAR 29, JUN 21, JUL 19, JUL 26, NOV 22, DEC 22, DEC 27, DEC 28, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5990
Giant land tortoises, iguanas and blue-footed boobies are stars of your island-based visit to the Galápagos with stays in luxury boutique hotels. Then settle into a ranch hacienda in the Andes to see rare condors, shop traditional Otavalo Market and more.
GALÁPAGOS
54 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 800-781-1459
GALÁPAGOS
GALÁPAGOS & ANDES
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 24, DEC 27, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6390
• FAMILY
YO U R W E E K I N T H E GA LÁ PA G O S
GALÁPAGOS & ANDES
Islands, Wildlife & Mountain Villages This trip has it all. In the Galápagos, you stay in luxury hotels and get close-up looks at wildlife from sea lions to land tortoises, with days full of kayaking and snorkeling. On the mainland, you’ll ascend to an Andean ranch where you see rare condors and visit Otavalo Market. LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 31, APR 14, JUN 23, JUL 21, DEC 22, DEC 26 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $6390
SPREAD YOUR WINGS IN LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTELS (INSTEAD OF CRAMPED CRUISE SHIP QUARTERS)
KAYAK TO ISLA LOBOS TO PLAY WITH THE SEA LIONS
SWIM AND SNORKEL WITH SEA TURTLES ON SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND
WANDER AMONG THE 500-POUND GIANT TORTOISES ON SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
EXPLORE THE RIM OF A VAST VOLCANIC CALDERA
TAKE A DIP IN OUR HOTEL’S INFINITY POOL BEFORE A RELAXING DINNER
• LEARN THE ISLANDS’ AMAZING STORY FROM YOUR FULL-TIME NATURALIST GUIDE
MEET THE GONZÁLES FAMILY AT THEIR ORGANIC COFFEE PLANTATION
GALÁPAGOS ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 55
Cuba
UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 20TH CENTURY, AMERICANS PUDDLE-JUMPED TO CUBA FOR QUICK GETAWAYS. Now, the door is ajar again.
But this time it opens to deep, warm and fun interactions with Cubanos on our one-of-a-kind people-to-people explorations. In the company of expert local guides, you’ll meet a remarkable cross-section of society: school students and cigar-makers, singers and white-magic priests, farmers and chefs. On the streets of Havana, in the scenic Viñales Valley, and in Cienfuegos and Trinidad on the Caribbean shore, every moment is eye-opening. Each of our four itineraries includes meaningful time to explore on your own. And whether you’re snorkeling on the Bay of Pigs or discovering your inner salsa dancer, you’ll get a close-up look at the how’s and why’s of life in Cuba today. Join us now for adventures that National Geographic Traveler included in their 50 Trips of a Lifetime.
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
• CULTURE + WALKING
Havana & the Viñales Valley
Havana & the Viñales Valley
A Long Weekend in Havana
The very best of Cuba in one remarkable and immersive trip. You’ll meet and interact with the Cuban people, from farmers and cigar rollers to historians and dancers. We explore Havana, walk in the scenic Viñales Valley, chat with classic car aficionados and visit Hemingway’s home.
A remarkable exposure to Cuban culture, history and life on a trip including activities for kids ages eight to 18. Meet local students, farmers and artists, cruise the streets of Havana in classic cars from the ’50s, and change the way you see the world.
On this four-day/ three-night hop to Havana, you’ll meet and mingle with Cuban artists, dancers and musicians. Visit Hemingway’s home and a cigar factory. Try out the paladares, fine privately owned restaurants. It’s instant immersion in modern Cuban life.
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 13, FEB 10, MAR 10, MAR 17, MAR 24, APR 14, JUN 23, SEP 8, OCT 20, NOV 17, DEC 15, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5290
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 10, MAR 24, MAY 19, JUN 23, NOV 17, DEC 15, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5290
LENGTH 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAR 7, APR 11, MAY 9, JUN 20, JUL 18, AUG 15, OCT 10, NOV 7, DEC 5 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4590
CUBA
56 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
CUBA
CUBA
• CULTURE + WALKING
Yo u r W E E K I N C I E N F U E G O S, T R I N I DA D & H AVA N A
CUBA
Cienfuegos, Trinidad & Havana The colonial Caribbean side of Cuba. Wander in pastel seaside cities. Walk amid coffee plantations and fincas in the Escambray Mountains. Snorkel in the Bay of Pigs and ride classic cars in Havana. It’s an amazing immersion into 500 years of history and culture.
• VISIT THE WORKSHOP OF CLASSIC CAR RESTORERS ... AND CRUISE THE STREETS OF HAVANA IN THEIR VINTAGE MODELS
• WANDER THE GROUNDS OF FINCA VIGIA WHERE HEMINGWAY WROTE SOME OF HIS MOST FAMOUS WORKS
LENGTH 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS DEPARTS JAN 20, FEB 10, MAR 3, APR 21, MAY 12, JUN 9, SEP 15, OCT 13, NOV 10, DEC 8, DEC 29 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5290
• TAKE A GUIDED WALK IN THE 500-YEAR-OLD STREETS OF OLD HAVANA
• EXPLORE CIENFUEGOS, THE FRENCH COLONIAL CITY THAT IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
• SNORKEL ON THE CORAL REEF IN THE BAY OF PIGS
• ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES FOR AN INSTRUCTION WITH A CUBAN COOK • WALK TO A FINCA IN THE ESCAMBRAY MOUNTAINS FOR LUNCH WITH THE OWNERS • ENJOY A PRIVATE CHORAL CONCERT AT A MANSION IN CIENFUEGOS
CUBA ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 57
Bryce, Grand Canyon & Zion THREE OF AMERICA’S MOST SPECTACULAR — AND COOLEST — NATIONAL PARKS WITHOUT A SINGLE ARE-WE-THERE-YET MOMENT? You can do it on our Family and Multisport trips to Bryce, Grand Canyon & Zion. We take care of all of the logistics. Mountain bikes? Check. Mule rides into Bryce Canyon? Check. Timing visits perfectly to canyon rims for sunset, hiking through waterfalls, and great inns with swimming pools? Absolutely! We thread through canyons that are barely 20 feet wide, explore mysterious Native American ruins, and go river tubing. There’s time for gallery-hopping as well as some very fine dining. You can’t get through this week without testing the echoes in awesome, eerie canyons. Best of all, the experiences you have on this action-packed vacation will echo in your memory for years to come.
• MULTISPORT
BRYCE, GRAND CANYON & ZION
America’s Finest National Parks
Three amazing parks on one easy trip. Bryce’s red rock hoodoos. Sunset from our lodge on the Grand Canyon’s rim. A guided visit to Ancestral Puebloan ruins and the Zion Narrows slot canyon. Great lodges keep you in the heart of the action. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 26, JUN 16, JUL 14, SEP 1 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3295, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3790
58 • CLASSIC JOURNEYS | TOLL FREE: 833-242-3698
• FAMILY
BRYCE, GRAND CANYON & ZION
America’s Finest National Parks
Take your family national parking with total emphasis on fun instead of logistics. This amazing vacation is about so much more than the sights: mountain biking, river tubing, fossil hunting, a cowboy cookout and more will make your three park visit a once-in-a-lifetime experience. LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUN 30, JUL 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4190
yo u r W E E K I N B RYC E , G R A N D C A N YO N & ZI O N N A T I O N A L PA R KS WALK AMONG BRISTLECONE PINES TO A PICNIC WITH VIEW OF 1,000-FOOT SANDSTONE CLIFFS LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD AS YOU WALK AMONG OTHERWORLDLY HOODOOS, ROCK SPIRES AND FINS
TAKE IN THE SUNSET ON THE GRAND CANYON RIM RIDE A MULE DOWN INTO BRYCE CANYON WANDER ANCESTRAL PUEBLOAN RUINS ON A GUIDED VISIT
WALK UNDER HANGING GARDENS ALONG THE VIRGIN RIVER HUNT FOR FOSSILS IN THE KAIBAB LIMESTONE RIDE RIVER TUBES BETWEEN RED WALLS OF SANDSTONE
BRYCE, GRAND CANYON & ZION ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 59
United States WHEN YOU CRAVE A VACATION THAT FEELS FAR AWAY BUT ISN’T, THE GOOD OL’ U.S. OF A. IS IT. There’s a region just right for your mood. Kayak with icebergs and chat up the halibut fishermen of Alaska on a Multisport trip second to none. Down in Charleston, the pace is languid and the culture refined. For mountains’ majesty, Montana’s Glacier Park is unsurpassed. (Alpine meadow walks and meet-ups with cowboys are the icing on the cake.) And the list goes on. Just as much as if you were headed for Morocco or Machu Picchu, the idea of seeing America first with a full time local guide and zero logistical hassles makes great sense. Here’s to home turf … and the adventures in store for you!
More ways t o see th e USA NAPA PRIVATE JOURNEY SANTA FE & TAOS
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• FAMILY
• MULTISPORT
Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
Amazing family fun! You won’t just see glaciers, you walk and kayak right up to them. There are puffins, beluga whales and moose, too. You’ll meet native Aleuts and gold miners, and go river-rafting, spit-walking and tide-pooling together! And the resorts and lodges are very cool.
The walking is wonderful — no “bush” skills required! You’ll step onto a glacier, take paths through the world’s most northerly rainforest and wildflower meadows and spot humpback whales and orcas. You’ll also meet halibut fishermen in Homer and cruise sparkling fjords.
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, AUG 4 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4690
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 30, AUG 18 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4095, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4690
ALASKA
ALASKA
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
The Antebellum South
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park
Think grand city mansions … barrier islands where dolphins romp … villages where Gullah culture from West Africa is still strong. The moss-draped coastal South is one of America’s most distinctive regions with history, culture and a way of life all its own.
Glacier Park is the centerpiece of a fun outdoor week full of snow-capped Rockies, elk and eagles, walks and picnics in wildflower meadows. Meet local Blackfeet natives and ranchers, boats and gondolas and soak in nature at its amazing best.
LENGTH 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS DEPARTS MAY 26, OCT 6 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4790
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 7, JUL 21, AUG 18 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4690
A mountain vacation with more high points than you can count! Like a gondola ride up Whitefish Mountain, horseback riding on a working ranch, stargazing in the inky sky, waterfall picnics and cozy nights in classic lodges. It’s a fine outdoor week in our nation’s most beautiful park.
CHARLESTON & SAVANNAH
MONTANA
MONTANA
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 7, JUL 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3995, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4690
UNITED STATES ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose.
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Canada
SNOW-CAPPED ROCKIES MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANY ALP OR APENNINE. The ésprit of France in Québec. Seaside villages as quaint as the best of Cornwall or Brittany. The provinces to our north aren’t just Canada Nice. They’re Canada Awesome … all the more because these destinations are right here on the continent you call home. From the Bay of Fundy to shining Puget Sound, Canada offers a remarkable variety of scenery, culture and multisport fun. Our guides are all locals who can lead you to the friendliest lobstermen, the best path to a wildflower meadow, Québec’s finest restaurants, and the richest hunting grounds of orcas. If you don’t have a ton of time or just want to squeeze in an extra vacation, so much the better! You can pull off any of these Canada vacations in six fun-filled days.
• MULTISPORT
• FAMILY
Banff & Jasper National Parks
Banff & Jasper National Parks
Experience the wild beauty of Lake Louise and Lac Beauvert. You’ll walk among lodgepole pines, stand in the mist of Takakkaw Falls, spot elk and bighorn sheep and take a guided walk on Athabasca Glacier.
This trip has a high “cool” quotient. Think suspended gondola rides, spotting bighorn sheep, elks and bears, fossil hunting in the Burgess Shale and whitewater rafting on the Athabasca River. Around a campfire or settled into a lodge on Lake Louise, it’s fun for everybody.
CANADIAN ROCKIES
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 7, AUG 11, SEP 8 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4195, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5090
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CANADIAN ROCKIES
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUL 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4195, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $5090
• CULTURE + WALKING
• CULTURE + WALKING
• FAMILY
Québec City to Charlevoix
Halifax, Bay of Fundy & Lunenburg
Halifax, Bay of Fundy & Lunenburg
It’s France next door! Explore Québec City on splendid walks. In rural Charlevoix, you’ll spot caribou, gallery-hop in BaieSaint-Paul and taste local cheeses. From La Malbaie, an awesome day cruise of Saguenay Fjord is ideal for whale watching.
A postcard-perfect way to spend long summer days. See the Bay of Fundy, explore Kejimkujik Park, go for a wildlife walk on a deserted island, and watch the whales on a working lobster boat. Stays in Annapolis Royal and Lunenburg immerse you in history and culture.
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 16, JUL 7, AUG 4, SEP 1 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3695, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4290
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUL 14, AUG 11, SEP 1 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3295, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3890
Your family will be quite the whale-watching, bog-hopping, lobsterboating, sea-kayaking bunch. Based in Lunenburg and Annapolis Royal, you’ll explore a deserted island, canoe on forest lakes in Mi’kmaq country and squeeze a ton of togetherness into long summer days.
QUÉBEC
NOVA SCOTIA
NOVA SCOTIA
LENGTH 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS DEPARTS JUN 23, JUL 21 PRICE PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FROM $3595, SINGLE OCCUPANCY FROM $4190
CANADA ON YOUR SCHEDULE! We’ll handcraft a private version of these itineraries that departs on any day you choose. CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 63
PRIVATE TRAVEL
Your Wish is Our Command. On a Private trip, your whims and what-ifs are all that matter. A few months ago, a lifelong band of friends came to us with a regal request. “We all want to go on your Ireland trip, but our fantasy is to only stay in castles and posh country manor houses. Can we do that?” They could … and they absolutely did on the stately private trip we created for them, based on our Emerald Isle itinerary. You may know how they felt. You discover a trip, and the experiences it offers really speak to you. Except that it doesn’t begin and end on dates that match your calendar. Or you’d really jigger the plans so that you could visit the Old World village named for your family or satisfy an unquenched urge to sip the Brunello of your dreams at the very vineyard where it’s grown. Our advice: Ask us how we can make it happen for you. Since 1995, travelers like you have been asking us to curate itineraries just for them with
departures on special dates. We do that all the time — but, even better, we can kick the experiences up a notch with bespoke details inspired by your particular interests and tastes. You could end up like the quartet of sorority sisters who were determined to celebrate their milestone birthdays together at Stonehenge — which we made happen with a champagne toast right among the megaliths while the legendary site was closed to the public. Last summer, we sailed family members right up to the Norwegian farmstead on the shores of a remote fjord where their grandfather was born. You’re forgiven if you envy the group that claimed all the rooms in a luxury villahotel on the Amalfi coast for a week of what they describe as ridiculous amounts of fun. We’ve even pulled off surprise fireworks displays perfectly timed to cap dinner on a
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PRIVATE TRAVEL
terrace overlooking the sea. Believe it or not, we’ve arranged a private visit to the Sistine Chapel where the guests were invited to lie on the floor for a head-on look up at Michelangelo’s legendary ceiling. Your trip could start with a vow to eat at as many Michelin-starred restaurants as can be fit into a week. If you’re bird watchers, ask us to arrange a Costa Rica trip or Panama for peak migratory season. But you don’t need a theme either. It’s enough to ask for our usual handcrafted visit to the Galápagos or Iceland on a trip departure just for you, your family or your group of friends. Putting together a private trip is simpler than you probably imagine. It starts with a phone call on which our experts listen to you brainstorm, daydream and lay out your wish list of places, activities, hotels and the like. Then we put together a complete program including all of the land arrangements — so you don’t need to juggle hotel communications, track down guides or scratch your head over how to make transfers. Pricing is based on the amount of customization and the size of your group, but your price will often be less than what you would pay for other companies’ standard tours. If you dream it, you can do it … and it doesn’t cost anything to find out how.
2 WAYS TO GO PRIVATE
1
Handcrafted Set Departures READY FOR YOU TO BOOK
Pick any Classic Journeys itinerary you find here or on our website. Then just name the date when you would like your vacation to begin. It’s the simplest way to arrange a private vacation.
2
Custom Crafted Private Trips EVERY MOMENT DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU
The sky’s the limit with a Custom-Crafted trip. A candle-lit dinner in the heart of Angkor Wat … two weeks in Peru and the Galápagos … or a summer-long Grand Tour with your extended family. If you can wish it, our team can make it happen.
Start planning your private vacation here. To get the process started, go to ClassicJourneys.com/Private-Tour-Request or call us toll free at 833-242-3698.
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SOLO TRAVEL
Traveling Solo? You’re Not Alone.
WE LOVE TRAVELERS WHO HAVE THE SPIRIT AND INDEPENDENCE TO STRIKE OUT ON THEIR OWN. On average, about a third of guests on Classic Journeys are solo travelers. When you join us, you’ll have a singular travel experience in the congenial company of others who see the world just like you do. OUR SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS ARE THE LOWEST.
YOU’LL NEVER FEEL LIKE A FIFTH WHEEL.
Admit it. You’ve learned that you can’t get emotionally involved with a trip until you check out the single supplement. Well, here is the news you’ve been hoping for! To encourage solo travel, Classic Journeys has the lowest single supplements you’re likely to find anywhere. While some companies boost prices up to 50 percent for single travelers, we keep it to just 15 to 20 percent on average. We only pass along any extra costs that hotels charge us, instead of marking it up to make extra profit from you.
For starters, you already have a friend on the tour. Our local guides are with you full-time to watch out for everyone’s needs and interests. At the fine restaurants we select, you won’t find yourself at a table for one. And, as often as possible, we arrange accommodations that are “doubles for single use” so that you can have as much elbowroom as everyone else. If you like, we’ll invite another solo traveler on the tour to share accommodations with you.
“I just feel really comfortable traveling solo with y’all, and I look forward to this trip every single year.” —Susan L. Mystic, Connecticut
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AMBASSADOR CLUB
Welcome to the Ambassador Club! THE GUEST LOYALTY PROGRAM WORTHY OF THE WORLD’S BEST GUESTS Guests like you are our best ambassadors. Eleven years in a row, they have voted us a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Tour Operator, and they refer other travelers to us in amazing numbers. The Ambassador Club is our way of saying thanks for that trust and support. As a Classic Journeys guest, you automatically get access to a whole suite of Ambassador benefits you can use immediately … and as often as you like. There’s no enrollment,
$
no fee, no card to clutter your key chain — just a variety of savings options, priority room assignments, and even credits for your travel photos. That’s extra value designed to make it even easier for you to come back for more of the exceptional travel experiences, welcoming and knowledgeable local guides, and award-winning boutique hotels we handcraft into every Classic Journey.
5% COMEBACK REWARD
$750 PAIRING BONUS
Reserve another trip with us within 60 days after returning from any Classic Journey, we’ll reduce the cost of the next trip by 5% per person.
Combine two back-to-back Classic Journeys in one trip, and we’ll reduce your combined price by $750 per person.
REFER A FRIEND
BEST ROOM PRIORITY
As a Classic Journeys Ambassador, you receive a $250 travel credit when a guest you refer travels with us for the first time.
As a Classic Journeys Ambassador, you get priority assignment to the best rooms we have reserved for your departure on every Classic Journey.
TRAVEL FOR FREE Your trip is free when you organize a Classic Journeys trip with 10 or more travelers (including you)! Or you can share your savings with other group members.
Start Using Your Benefits Now! Call us toll free at 833-242-3698 to ask us how you can maximize your savings. www.classicjourneys.com/ac
CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM • 67
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ALL-SEASON DESTINATIONS THAT ARE READY WHENEVER YOU ARE. Perfect for spring break. Super in summer and fall. Totally right for your winter vacation. These year-round destinations let you visit when the moment is right for you.
THE GALÁPAGOS AFAR Magazine named our island-based Galápagos trips the “Best Wildlife Encounter.” But what’s even better is how hospitable the climate is all year round. — PAGE 54
CENTRAL AMERICA Paradise never takes a break in Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Guatemala — which means it’s easy to enjoy an eco-adventure on your schedule. — PAGE 50
ICELAND Multisport activities as cool as glacier walking, ice caving and puffin watching are winners — even when the calendar says that it’s winter. — PAGE 36
CUBA Choose from four fantastic options that immerse you in Cuban culture and introduce you to the island’s warm and welcoming people. — PAGE 56
CULTURE + WALKING // FAMILY // MULTISPORT // CULINARY // PRIVATE JOIN US ON A HANDCRAFTED TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
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