INSPIRING ITINERARIES
Highlights
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Private walking tour of Istanbul’s architectural jewels
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Private walking tour of cultural icons, the Grand Bazaar, and various historic markets
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Sailing excursion in the Bosphorus Strait
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Private cooking class in an authentic Turkish home
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Soar over Cappadocia in a hot air balloon ride
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Day 1 Arrive Istanbul
After you arrive, collect your bags and make your way through customs. An English-speaking guide will meet you after customs, coordinate with your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.
Day 2 Architecture of Istanbul
Wake up refreshed and ready for some exploring. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby to take you on an in-depth tour of this evocative city. Visit the iconic Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome, and the Hagia Sophia. As the only city to straddle both the European and Asian continents, you will soon understand the complexities of being such an economically and culturally significant city.
Day 3 Culture of Istanbul
Istanbul (once known as Constantinople) is the ending point for the historic Silk Road. East and West collide to create one of the most culturally entangled places on earth. Today, your guide will start your day off with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. As lively as the market is today with modern artisans, performance artists, and craftsmen, imagine what it would have been like thousands of years ago. Next, carry on to the Süleymaniye Mosque, one of the most significant and best-preserved buildings from the Ottoman era. Stop along the way for some delicious hot Çay and lunch. Your guide will take you meandering through various ancient alleys, ethnic markets, and point out sites of significance along the way.
Day 4 Istanbul - Sailing Excursion
Climb onboard your private sailing charter and cruise the Bosphorus Strait, between the two continents. Old wooden mansions, marble palaces, and ornate mosques line the shores and make up the hauntingly beautiful skyline that is Istanbul. From this perspective, you’ll also be able to see Ottoman fortresses and ethnic neighborhoods.
Day 5 Cooking in Cappadocia
This morning, your private transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Istanbul and take you to the airport. You will board a short, one-hour flight to Cappadocia. Here, your private guide and driver will meet you, and transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon, you have the opportunity to learn a few of the secrets behind Turkish cuisine, in a hosted cooking class that takes place in an authentic Cappadocian home. You will learn several recipes, help prepare these dishes with the guidance of a chef, and then sit down to enjoy them, all in a quaint, cozy home setting.
Day 6 Soaring in Cappadocia
A mythical landscape, known for its ‘fairy chimneys, distinct cone-shaped rock formations all clustered together in Göreme, Monks Valley, and beyond. There is no better way to experience this otherworldly place, than by stepping into a hot air balloon and seeing it from above. Early this morning, your driver will pick you up from your hotel, and escort you to the launch site. Enjoy a light breakfast, step into your balloon, and watch as dozens of balloons ascend to the skies simultaneously for an hour-long journey across Cappadocia. After you return to Earth, enjoy a privately guided tour of Ortahisar, Kaymakli, or Derinkuyu, and the Cavusin Valley and Red Valley.
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Day 7 Return Home
Your private transfer will take you from your hotel to Cappadocia airport for the one-hour flight to Istanbul, where you can either connect to your flight home or extend your stay in Turkey.
Istanbul & Cappadocia
At the confluence of the European and Asian continents, Turkey is the keeper of ancient history, culture, art, and literature. Spend two days exploring Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, and various other well-known sites across this 1700-year-old city. Pull the curtain back on some of Turkey’s most beloved dishes during an intimate cooking lesson. And soar the skies over Cappadocia on a hot air balloon ride that will take your breath away.
Rhone River Cruise to Provence
Sailing the Rhone from Lyon to Arles reveals the very best of Provence: from the culinary delights of Lyon and the ancient Roman theater in Vienne to the medieval charm of Viviers and the papal history in Avignon. This itinerary is a feast for the senses, blending iconic landmarks, vineyard-dotted landscapes, and the captivating beauty that inspired artists like Van Gogh. With options to bike the scenic Rhone River Trail and indulge in a Chef’s Table dining experience overlooking Arles, this journey brings together culture, cuisine, and unforgettable scenery.
Highlights
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Explore Lyon’s Renowned Culinary Scene.
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Roman Heritage in Vienne.
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Bike along the Rhone River Trail thru vineyards and orchards.
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Medieval Charm of Viviers – Wander cobbled streets and experience wine tastings among Roman ruins.
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Visit the UNESCO-listed Papal Palace in Avignon and marvel at the ancient Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard..
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Day 4 Tournon to Viviers
Start the day with an excursion on the historic train through the scenic Ardeche countryside, taking in lush landscapes and dramatic gorges. Return to Tournon to relax on deck as you sail through the picturesque Rhone Valley, ending the day in Viviers, a hauntingly beautiful medieval village with winding cobblestone streets and centuries-old architecture..
Day 5 Avignon
Known for its UNESCO-listed Papal Palace, Avignon is a highlight with its towering medieval walls and lively cafés. Explore this historical marvel and the vibrant surroundings..
Day 6 Arles and Les Baux
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Spend the morning exploring the ancient city of Arles, where you can visit its iconic Roman amphitheater and the charming streets that inspired Van Gogh. In the afternoon, visit the stunning hilltop village of Les Baux, known for its medieval castle ruins and panoramic views of the Provence countryside. Cap your river cruise with a dinner at the Chef's Table, with a river view to picturesque Arles.
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Day 7 Extend your Stay in Provence
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After disembarking in Arles, extend your stay in Provence to discover even more of its charm. Visit Marseilles, France’s vibrant port city, known for its rich history and the stunning Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde overlooking the sea. Alternatively, head to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where you can explore the picturesque town and the ancient Roman ruins at Glanum, or wander through the landscape that inspired Van Gogh. For a scenic escape, consider a visit to the Luberon's markets or the lavender and sunflower fields (seasonal).
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Day 1 Lyon
Begin your journey in France’s culinary capital, exploring Lyon’s historic silk district and sampling local specialties in the bustling food markets.
Day 2 Vienne
Discover ancient Vienne’s Roman theater and riverside promenades as you wander this historical town filled with treasures from the Roman era. For the active traveler, take a hike to the top of Mt Pipet.
Day 3 Scenic Cruise to Tournon-sur-Rhône
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Enjoy a scenic cruise along vineyard-lined hills and charming chateaux before arriving in Tournon. Here, explore the historic riverside town and visit the famous L'Hermitage vineyards, or take an invigorating bike ride along the Rhone River Trail for picturesque views of this celebrated wine region.
Colombia - Bogota to Cartagena
Come explore Colombia’s verdant, jungle-entangled mountains, bustling colonial capitals, and experience the layered mosaic that is Colombian culture. This journey show’s off Colombia’s iconic cities. Taking you from the cosmopolitan capital of Bogota, the third-highest capital city in the world; Next, on to the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, Medellin, and rounding it all off in the World UNESCO Heritage jewel that is Cartagena. This itinerary provides an exciting blend of city life, rich Colombian culture, and pre and post-colonial history.
Highlights
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Coffee immersion and tasting experience
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Coffee farm visit and lecture
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Guided community walk through Medellin
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Colombian Caribbean cooking class
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Visit the transformed Comuna 13 neighborhood
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Day 4 Medellin
Catch a flight to Medellin, the ‘City of the Eternal Spring’. This once notorious city is experiencing a replenishing renaissance. Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day getting acquainted with the area around your hotel and further afield.
Day 5 Medellin
Get a sobering history lesson on a guided tour of Comuna 13, a neighborhood that regularly made headlines around the world, and was once considered one of the most dangerous areas in South America. Medellin is now a tourist haven. Come ride the famous cable cars, and enjoy sprawling hillside views. Your local guide will fill you in on how this community is now held together by music, culture, and art.
Day 6 Medellin
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The day is yours to dive deeper into Medellin. Or if you feel like venturing out of the city, consider visiting nearby Guatapé, perched on the edge of the Embalse Guatapé, a beautiful artificial lake. This brightly colored town is a dream for photographers and culture enthusiasts.
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Day 7 Cartagena
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Wrap up your time in Medellin and catch a flight to the Caribbean jewel that is Cartagena. A guided walking tour will take you through picturesque, cobblestoned alleys, past balconies with flowers cascading over them like aromatic waterfalls. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is full of stories and folklore. In the afternoon, enjoy a hands-on, highly immersive cooking class.
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Day 1 Arrive in Bogota
Your transfer will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel for the night. Depending on what time you check-in, you may want to venture out and explore some popular neighborhoods nearby such as La Candelaria, La Macarena, and La Zona Rosa
Day 2 Armenia
After breakfast, hop a flight to the lush western slopes of Cordillera Central, to the coffee capital of Armenia. Colombian coffee is amongst the most famous beans in the world, and today, you’ll learn about the coffee growing, harvesting, and drying process at a family-run coffee plantation.
Day 3 Armenia
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Today brings you into the mountains, to the beautiful Andean town of Salento, a coffee-growing town. This full-day excursion takes you on a hike in the Cocora Valley. Trek through giant wax palms, the tallest palm tree in the world, and Colombia’s national tree. Spend the afternoon at an immersive coffee tasting, and then take a wander through the local craft stalls of Salento.
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Day 8 Cartagena
Visit a women’s workshop and collective that transforms coconuts into fashion accessories, crafts, and various other works of art. After you’ve learned and watched their finite process, throw on your artist hat, and try your hand at creating something beautiful out of natural materials. Spend the rest of the day getting to know Cartagena better. Buy those last few souvenirs, and stop in at a cafe for a frothy cup of Colombian espresso.
Day Home
Catch your transfer back to the airport to catch your flight home, or extend your stay further
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Southern Spain
This two-week itinerary whisks you away to some of Spain’s most historic villages, wind-swept beaches, colorful capital cities, and quaint countryside landscapes. Check off a few more boxes on your list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites with no less than eight included on this trip. Visit four distinct regions including the Community of Madrid; Castle and Leon; Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia. This culture-packed itinerary includes the very best of Spain.
Highlights
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Day trips to Avila, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Toledo and Segovia
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Attend a flamenco show in Andalusia
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Visit Granada's Alhambra Palace
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Sightseeing tours of Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Cadiz
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Travel on Spain’s sophisticated, high-speed trains
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Take a Beach Day in Spain's Costa del Sol
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Day 4 San Lorenzo de El Escorial
After breakfast, your guide will take you on a full-day trip to see the towns of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Avila. You’ll visit a famous monastery, UNESCO World Heritage site, and a building that was commissioned by King Philip II during the 16th century. See the “Valley of the Fallen”, a controversial monument and reminder of the Spanish Civil War. Lunchtime is on your own after which you’ll head back on the road to Avila. A medieval, 11th-century city, Avila boasts some of the best-preserved Old Town walls in Europe. Wander through Gothic palaces and Romanesque churches. After your two-hour tour, you will be brought back to your hotel in Madrid where you can spend the rest of the day and evening at your leisure.
Day 5 Segovia (Castile and Leon)
Today marks your final day trip from Madrid, taking you first to the ancient city of Segovia just north of Madrid, in the region of Castile and Leon. Before the Romans settled here, the region was home to Indigenous Iberians. During the Middle Ages, Queen Isabella I was crowned here in the 15th century. Be sure to snap photos of the Aqueduct of Segovia, one of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts in the world. After lunch, explore Segovia on your own at leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll be brought back to your hotel in Madrid where you can spend the rest of the day doing last-minute shopping, sightseeing or seeking out one of the many rooftop terraces
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Day 6 Cordoba
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After breakfast, check out, and hop on your private bus to be transferred to the train station. Board a high-speed train to Cordoba, where you will spend the next week in one of the most inspiring regions of the country: Andalusia. Robust, romantic, ethereal, and imaginative, everything about Andalusia is larger than life. Mudejar architecture (decorative Islamic applications), something you’ve only seen in books or on a screen, is instantly brought to life on the other end of your lens. Cities like Cordoba, are amongst the most heavily influenced by the Moors. Today you will tour this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mosques, medieval libraries, cathedrals, and bathhouses are just a few of the highlights.
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Day 7 Granada
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After breakfast at your hotel, your group will check out, and transfer to Granada by private bus. Your luggage will be stored at the next hotel, and after lunch, you’ll spend the afternoon sightseeing around the Alhambra Castle Complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). After your guided tour, you’ll return to your hotel and relax before this evenings’ dinner and a flamenco show.
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Day 1 Arrive in Madrid
Upon arrival, a local guide will be in the arrivals hall to meet your group. Your rooms will not be ready until early afternoon, so you will be taken on a sightseeing bus tour before being dropped at your hotel for check-in. Spend the afternoon settling in, and getting freshened up. A welcome dinner will be provided in your hotel restaurant.
Day 2 Half Day in Toledo
Be sure to wear your comfiest walking shoes, because after breakfast you’ll be heading to the medieval city of Toledo. Once the capital of Spain, this cobble-stoned town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was an exemplary example of Jews, Christians, and Muslims thriving together in harmony. Visit the 14th-century Synagogue del Transito, a building that once served Toledo’s Jewish community in the pre-Inquisition era. In the afternoon, you will be returned to Madrid where you can explore at your leisure.
Day 3 Personal Day in Madrid
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After breakfast, you have a full day to experience Madrid. You may want to consider visiting the Reina Sofia Museum or the Prado Museum. Here, you’ll find works by great artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Salvador Dali. Stop in for lunch and try the city’s most famous sandwich, bocadillo de calamares (fried squid sandwich). And if you’re out after hours, enjoying some live music, indulge in some churros con chocolate, a favorite late-night dessert.
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DAY 8 Malaga
After breakfast at your hotel, you have the option of checking out, leaving your bags with reception, and exploring Granada on your own for the morning. If we could recommend a site, Albaicin, the city’s Muslim quarter, would be one a favorite. We’ll recommend some favorite lunch spots, and then we ask you to meet back at the hotel so you can board your bus for the sunny south. Malaga on the Costa Del Sol is the birthplace of the incomparable Pablo Picasso. Check into your hotel for the evening, and head out on your own to experience Malaga’s exciting night scene.
DAY 10 Arrive in Cadiz
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Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then check out and hop on the bus. Today you’ll be driving west to the stunning Roman town of Ronda. Nestled in the mountains, Ronda is also home to Plaza de Toros, Spain’s oldest bullring. When you arrive in Ronda, a local guide will take you on a tour of the bullring. After your tour, you’ll have a few hours of free time to find a lunch spot, and wander through the Old Town. Board the bus to travel to your hotel for the night in the coastal city of Cadiz.
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Day 11 Cadiz
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After breakfast with your fellow travelers and new friends, It’s time to take a sightseeing tour through one of Europe’s oldest cities. Cadiz was a notable port that hosted the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors over the centuries. Cadiz was well known for its Carnival celebrations, and its picturesque city squares where locals, artists, and performers gathered. After your working tour, you have the rest of the day to wander on your own.
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Day 12 Seville
After breakfast, it’s time to board your private coach to spend the next two nights in Andalusia’s stunning capital city. True to the romance of the region, Seville’s baroque churches, Gothic cathedrals, intimate flamenco clubs, and intoxicating cuisine, are reasons it has become a favorite stop for culture-seeking travelers. Today, you’re in for an incredible walk and bus tour that will take you to places like the 14th-century Alcazar Palace complex and cathedral. The tour will conclude in the late afternoon, by which time you’ll be able to check into your hotel and freshen up. Tonight, you will head out to Seville’s Barrio de Santa Cruz with a local guide. Enjoy a one-hour pre-dinner walking tour of this historic Jewish neighborhood.
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Day 13 Madrid
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After breakfast, you’ll check out, load up on the bus and head back to Madrid. Spend the day at leisure visiting sites you may have missed at the beginning of the tour. Take some time to do some shopping, explore a few galleries, and take a few moments to enjoy a Spanish coffee.
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Day 14 Home
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After breakfast, it’s time to check out and hop on the bus to be taken to the airport to catch your flight home.
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