When our clients visit a destination, we want more than for them to enjoy the trip; we want them to see something of the country’s soul. The best holidays are those that leave both visitor and destination enriched, and our expert consultants are perfectly placed to suggest the insights, encounters and experiences that showcase the destination and – wherever possible – ensure that your trip has a positive impact on a place and its people. For us, the ultimate reward is knowing that travel can – and should – be a force for good, and for clients to pass that philosophy on to their nearest and dearest. That’s why we pay particular attention to family holidays (see page 36). We want the travellers of tomorrow to have an authentic understanding of the contemporary world from both a cultural and philanthropic perspective, all while having enormous amounts of fun along the way, naturally. We also encourage all our clients to adopt a slower, more mindful, style of travel, as befits the great ecological challenges of our time, and we will explain the best ways to achieve this.
TOM BARBER CO-FOUNDER, ORIGINAL TRAVELOur consultants – all specialists in their countries and regions –are pivotal in turning your travel plans into reality. They are passionate about their places, attuned to your specific requirements, and endlessly adaptable. In fact, we currently have (by far) the most consultants of any UK or US travel company recognised by Conde Nast Traveler as Top Travel Specialists.
With their finely honed questions, keen minds and genuine empathy, our travel consultants are excellent listeners who do so much more than conjure up a set of logistical arrangements. From your very first interaction, they will try to form as precise a picture as possible of your likes, dislikes, preferences and favourite pastimes, providing a solid foundation on which to construct a trip that suits you to a T, while also offering an
experience that accurately reflects the destination as it is today. This is possible courtesy of a fulsome familiarity with their countries, with every consultant maintaining ongoing contact with their areas of expertise, visiting and revisiting on a regular basis. This allows them to design truly tailor-made trips, each and every time, according to their clients’ profiles and budgets.
If, as we hope, you and your consultant build a great rapport during the planning of your trip, then they can become your dedicated contact, introducing you to their expert colleagues for future destinations. Wherever you wish to go, you’ll always receive the very best treatment at Original Travel.
You can make an initial enquiry by phone, email or via our website; whichever is most convenient for you. Once we have established the basic parameters of the trip, we will introduce you to an expert in the given area. This first meeting, be it over the phone, or video link (or even – by appoint-
ment – in our London office), will provide a precious opportunity to discuss your planned adventure in depth with one of our attentive experts, so that together you can flesh out the key elements which will make your trip all the more memorable.
Sometimes you might not have a particular place in mind, but a theme. If you’re not yet sure where you want to travel, don’t worry. We’ll take the time to give you some fantastic suggestions (some of which may not even have crossed your mind) based on the time of year you want to travel, your budget and the sort of trip that you have in mind. It’s part of our expertise.
The smooth running of your trip is our primary concern. To this end, we have developed a range of special Original Services, from before departure to your arrival home again.
We’ll pre-book your airline seats, process your boarding passes and can even request an airport transfer: all these can be arranged in the blink of an eye.
Every child aged three to ten receives one of our Family Packs. The packs – created with our friends Sharky & George, the children’s party people – are designed to entertain and inform children, pique their curiosity about destinations, and provide some much-needed distraction in those flashpoint ‘I’m bored’ moments like the airport.
Our UK airport departure Meet and Greet service is included as standard with every Original Travel booking. You will be met in the departures hall by a member of our team who will then help fast-track you through check-in, and whisk you through security. We also offer this service on your return, on request.
Where available, lounge access is provided for all flights departing from UK airports, even if you’re flying in economy class. Enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks in the comfort of the lounge before making your way to your flight.
When you arrive in your destination, the Original Travel Concierge will do all they can to make life easier for you, be that by arranging an outing or a service, or dealing with any little hiccups. Whether it’s delivering a forgotten swimsuit to your room, sourcing a dinosaur-shaped birthday cake, finding a restaurant with a view, or booking a babysitter in deepest
Lapland, the Original Travel Concierges have seen – and done – it all. Super-responsive and blessed with great initiative and adaptability, their big black books of local contacts enable them to fulfil any request, from the simplest to the strangest, as well as sorting out the unexpected, be that a missed flight or a lost item. These local heroes are always just a text or phone call away.
There’s no one like a local to provide extra insight on a destination, whether regarding politics, religion, economics, society or culture. Our fixers help unlock a country, making for a trip punctuated with memorable encounters only possible thanks to our excellent local contacts and knowledge.
Take an informal stroll (tailored to your personal interests) with a local resident who’ll share tips and recommendations, and give you a genuine insight into local customs. It’s an enriching and original experience.
Our agents are on call 24/7, no matter the time zone, to assist you in finding a solution to whatever logistical, administrative, medical or mechanical snag may arise. We can also put you in touch with visa and travel insurance experts before departure.
On the Original Travel app you’ll find the day-by-day itinerary for your trip, complete with accommodation details. Intuitive and easy to use, it is also a smart guide, containing a personalised list of geolocated recommendations.
Whether it’s a morning arrival or a late departure, we can arrange with your hotels for you to check-in/out of your room at a time convenient to you. We can also arrange a room for the day for certain stopovers.
Available on the Original Travel app and in your documents, our detailed dossier of recommended restaurants, shops, museums and more will be your trusted travel companion.
Always stay connected, even in far-flung locations. For certain destinations, a mini Wi-Fi router or an eSIM is provided, which you can connect to with up to five devices (1 GB/day included).
If you’re going on a dive holiday with Original Diving (our dive division), we will lend you a top of the range GoPro to film and photograph your dives. We’ll arrange for you to return the camera after the trip. Feel free to share the best footage!
Do you crave big city buzz? Or pastoral peace and quiet? Or a bit of both? Are you looking to unpack and unwind, or crisscross a country living out of a suitcase? Because every traveller, and every trip, is unique, we fine tune the smallest details to suit every client’s profile, budget, rhythm, hobbies and interests.
Head south when all roads lead north, dare to travel off-season, visit down-on-their-luck destinations. Don’t follow fads; Original Travel will help you become an undertourist.
Hit the road and choose the longest distance between two points. Original Travel have perfected the art of the road trip, with our Concierges to the fore.
Blend in, stay in locally owned accommodation, meet indigenous people, who are often the guardians of our most precious wilderness regions. We can help you to travel truly sustainably.
We are standard-bearers for flight-free travel, and wherever possible we recommend travelling by train: the most environmentally-friendly form of all motorised transport.
Breathe in, focus on a far-flung horizon, really feel the elements. Take a trip to somewhere nature expresses herself in high definition.
Walk, cycle, drive, paddle, sail. If there’s a way to get from A to B that’s not by plane, we’ll let you know.
Enjoy a slick city and a nearby island idyll on one trip; or make cross-border incursions to enjoy two cultures in one holiday. With us, anything is possible.
Work while travelling, travel while working: now that the boundaries between business and pleasure have blurred, our team can plan the perfect workcation.
We know the most stylish places to stay, from lodges buried deep in primary forest to tented camps in the middle of the desert and clapboard cabins on the water's edge.
Our clued-up consultants and Concierges know which destinations are about to have a ‘moment’. Beat the crowds and be the first to know, and go.
Spread your wings and enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Even better, take the children, because experiencing the world and learning about other cultures will arguably teach them more than in one academic term, especially with online learning and a tutor on tap.
We know where to travel when, and also the times of year in popular places when the prices come down, but the experience is every bit as wonderful.
We’ll work to your exact budget, if needs be choosing cheaper – but still charming –accommodation (we call this making ‘accompromises’) and calling on clever travel hacks to keep costs down.
Spending quality, screen-free time on holiday with your children is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but every tribe and every trip is different. We’re here to help you pass those tricky family holiday exams with flying colours.
We believe passionately that Life is in the Detail, so we are constantly on the lookout for new experiences, from nocturnal wildlife spotting in Costa Rica to dogsledding in Lapland, treasure hunts in Bangkok, baking classes in New York or graffiti workshops in Melbourne – the choice is as vast as their imagination. We also regularly revisit our destinations to find out what’s new and improved, what flight times work best, and what accommodation might no longer warrant the ‘family-friendly' tag. We also hold client focus groups to hear the views of those key constituencies – the parents, and the children.
Every child aged between three and ten who goes on an Original Travel holiday receives one of our Family Packs, designed in cahoots with our friends at the famous children’s party people Sharky & George. These family travel first aid kits are designed to entertain and inform children, pique their curiosity about destinations, and provide some much-needed distraction and interest in those flashpoint ‘I’m bored’ moments like the airport. And on the subject of airports, our airport Original Services (see page 11) are brilliant at the best of times, and completely indispensable when travelling with children.
Every family is different, with their own idiosyncrasies and interests. We relish the challenge of tailor-making a stress-free and inspirational family trip entirely from scratch. We know what questions to ask, what solutions will work, and how to weave everything together into one terrific and entirely tailor-made whole, whether it’s a 3G (Three Generational) trip or a parent and child bonding break.
Our team is made up of both parents and family travel experts, including our Co-founder Tom, a father of four. As such we appreciate the pressures and pitfalls of planning a top-notch family holiday. Our consultants pick out the accommodation best suited to families: those with kids clubs, dedicated services, little extras, and – most of all – early check-in to your rooms after a morning arrival, or late check-out for evening departures. Similarly, they consider the choice of flight departure times and the feasibility of connections, the time spent on the road each day, and generally every logistical detail that will affect your children’s patience, and consequently your own peace of mind. We will always make sure to adapt your schedule to the ages of your crewmates.
Question: what’s the best way to teach your children new things? Answer: make it fun. That’s why we’re huge fans of what we call ‘stealth learning’. We believe travel can and should be every bit as informative as formal school time. Whether that’s time spent shadowing a botanist in the Amazon or an archaeologist at Angkor; or learning bush tracking skills in Africa, our consultants have tons of ideas for turning travel into the best teacher ever.
We work with the best guides in every destination, but while an art historian might be best to accompany a couple around a notable museum, an academic approach will likely prove a no-no with the niños (children). Instead, we might try to orga-
nise for a children’s book illustrator to guide the family, and spark their imaginations. Among the recommendations in the Dossier on your travel app there will also be family-friendly suggestions, whether that’s a museum or an animation studio, a toy shop or the best ice cream parlour in town. We also take care to book kid-friendly restaurants wherever you go.
Our Concierges are your informed insiders, able to pull rabbits out of hats while you’re in their beloved destination. They also know what makes their spot special for children specifically, and can suggest and arrange experiences that the little ones will be talking about for years to come and which showcase the destination’s distinctive charms, from shadow puppet shows to cooking classes.
We are well aware of tourism’s impact on the planet, so for many years we have been involved in a range of remedial environmental, humanitarian and social initiatives through our Foundation.
Travel undeniably plays a role in global warming. Currently, air travel accounts for around 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Although the sector is making progress towards less polluting energy sources, they will still not be sufficient to attain carbon neutrality within the timescale recommended by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change); namely a carbon reduction of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. It is therefore essential to act in other ways. As part of the Voyageurs du Monde group, Original Travel has been fighting this battle on two fronts for years. Firstly, through our commitment to make a 20% cut in our emissions (based on the figures for 2019) by 2030, whatever our volume of clients, in accordance with the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC of March 2023, which aims to limit global warming to no more than 2°C. This will be achieved through the deployment of all possible means to
reduce our carbon footprint, be that the use of direct flights and the most fuel-efficient aircraft, as well as proposing train connections where possible, and the hire of electric vehicles.
Secondly, we source accommodation according to its environmental policy. Three of our own properties – the Satyagraha House, Steam Ship Sudan and Flâneuse du Nil – are now largely solar powered. At the same time, we view reforestation as a key strategy for global ecological transition. For several years we have been involved in the planting of additional and permanent forests. Thanks to our investment, close to one million trees are planted each year, guaranteeing the carbon neutrality of all trips booked with us. What’s more, reforestation has many positive repercussions on biodiversity and, by extension, on the lives of local communities. A hat-trick of wins.
We support the ecological transition
Whether travelling in Europe, or once you’ve arrived in your further-flung destination, taking the train offers another way to experience the world. It makes for a pleasant, leisurely journey which gives you time to think, read, chat and connect more deeply with a country.
We will always book you direct flights whenever possible, as well as on the most fuel-efficient aircraft. Indeed, the aviation sector, notably in Europe, is moving towards synthetic kerosene where a proposed EU regulation will make it compulsory to use a minimum of 2% e-kerosene (made using hydrogen and captured CO2).
At Satyagraha House – our South African guesthouse – 50% of the electricity used is generated by a solar installation. As for our boats: Flâneuse du Nil generates 80% of its energy from a solar generation system with recycled electric vehicle batteries, while Steam Ship Sudan is fitted with solar panels powering its highly efficient twin paddle wheels, enabling this century-old vessel to cut its CO2 emissions in half (further upcoming modifications will soon see its carbon footprint reduced by a further 50%).
Whether heading out on an off-road safari or exploring Norway in a Tesla, whenever your trip includes a section on roads (or tracks), we endeavour to pick local partners who operate electric vehicles.
The remaining volume of carbon emissions related to our clients’ trips – andthose of our staff – is completely absorbed thanks to reforestation. A calculation system certified by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) enables us to calculate precisely how many trees are required to absorb all of our emissions. This figure currently stands at 2,700 trees planted a day, or one million a year. Since 2010, the Voyageurs du Monde group has chosen to invest in reforestation projects certified by the international Verified Carbon Standard, which ensures adherence to the greenhouse gas reduction standards decreed by
the UN. Each of these initiatives meets the two key criteria of additionality and permanency. In other words, these projects only exist thanks to our funding and have no ulterior goal other than reforestation. It’s about the long-term – 40 years minimum – with the aim of serving several generations.
Our four major reforestation projects:
- Senegal, reconstituting the mangroves
- Peru, saving the forest and developing agroforestry
- India, restoring the Sundarbans ecosystem
- Indonesia, halting deforestation in North Sumatra
In line with our travel philosophy, we undertake charitable initiatives through our Foundation, covering three key principles: fighting global warming, supporting development in the Global South, and assisting refugees.
As a group we provide nearly two million pounds of support a year to NGOs. One of them, SOS Méditerranée, is a European sea rescue charity which rescues and assists refugees fleeing war-torn countries on flimsy vessels.
Among the hundreds of accommodation options we work with around the world, five actually belong to us. Each is unique, deeply rooted in the history of its homeland, and has been lovingly and faithfully restored with real soul.
Enjoy the sensation of time travel on the only century-old paddle steamer still sailing the Nile, as Steam Ship Sudan makes its leisurely journey upstream from Luxor to Aswan, taking in magnificent temples and the picturesque riverbanks. As you gaze out from one of the 24 beautifully restored cabins and suites, you can feel yourself transported back to one of the early cruises of the Belle Époque.
With only seven cabins, a convivial lounge and a sundeck just feet above the water, this dahabieh feels more like a private residence, and one which can be hired in its entirety to see the Nile in intimate style.
Restored in traditional Moroccan style – from the terracotta floor to the walls plastered in tadelakt – this riad is a haven of tranquillity in the buzzy Marrakech medina, midway between Djemaa el-Fna square and the Majorelle Garden.
Mahatma Gandhi lived in The Satyagraha House in Johannesburg between 1908 and 1909. Restored as a guesthouse and museum, this remarkable property is a considered and meditative haven for guests.
In the heart of Pelourinho, Salvador’s historic centre, Villa Bahia comprises two houses from the Portuguese colonial era of the 17th and 18th centuries. There are 17 rooms, a lovely patio and a pleasant pool in which to cool off.
Tom Barber Creative Directors Olivier Romano and Faustine Poidevin-Gros • Picture editor Marie Champenois • Picture Team Daria Nikitina, Alix Aurore Pardo
September 2023 edition
Credits – Cover: Lucy Laucht
Lucy Laucht (p. 2) ; Nurial Val (p. 5) ; Cecilia Renard (p. 6) ; Carol Sachs (p. 7) ; Cécilia Renard (p. 9) ; Nuria Val (p. 10) ; Pia Riverola (p. 11 & 12) ; Lucy Laucht (p. 13) ; Lucy Laucht (p. 14) ; Jérôme Galland (p. 15) ; Pia Riverola (p. 16 & 17) ; Brian Chorski/Kintzing (p. 19) ; Vasantha Yogananthan (p. 20) ; Alice Kaio (p. 21) ; Carlo Piro (p. 22) ; Alixe Lay (p. 23) ; Pia Riverola (p. 24 & 25) ; Julia Nimke (p. 26) ; Liberto Fillo/Kintzing (p. 27) ; Nuria Val (p. 28 & 29) ; Scarabeo Camp Hotel (p. 30) ; Lucy Laucht (p. 31) ; Christopher Churchill/Gallery Stock (p. 32 & 33) ; Victor Bensusi (p. 34) ; Isaac Marley Morgan (p. 35) ; Marco Arguello (p. 36) ; Pia Riverola (p. 37) ; Claire Guarry (p. 39) ; Claire Guarry (p. 41) ; Marco Arguello (p. 42) ; Andrea Illan (p. 43) ; Birgit Sfat (p. 44) ; Charlotte Lapalus (p. 47) ; Romain Laprade (p. 48) ; Charlotte Lapalus (p. 51 & 52) ; Marion Osmont (p. 54) ; Grant Harder (p. 56) ; Mathieu Richer Mamousse (p. 59, 60 & 61) ; Manuel Zublena (p. 62 & 63) ; Marc Eden (p. 64) ; Alix Pardo (p. 65) ; Pablo Escudero (p. 62).
Original Travel
111 Upper Richmond Road
London
SW15 2TL
+44 (0) 20 7591 4420
www.originaltravel.co.uk
By using Carbon Balanced Paper for this magazine Original Travel has balanced the equivalent of 901kgs of carbon dioxide. This support will enable World Land Trust to protect 172m2 of critically threatened tropical forest. Certificate number CBP020597.
