New Connections Journeys to Cuba to Begin in September 2013
Why go:
Although only 90 miles separate the United States from Cuba, for decades it has remained off-limits for most Americans. Travel provider, Abercrombie & Kent is bridging the gap with Cuba: People to People, a 10-day program filled with meaningful interactions and people-to-people connections which reveal the spirit of this fascinating, culturally-rich island.
What to expect:
Limited to just 24 guests in a program that enables Americans to discover Cuba through a combination of authentic personal encounters designed to transform their understanding of the people of this enigmatic country, Abercrombie & Kent USA has been granted a license by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control to offer people-to-people educational exchange programs to Cuba.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Recession or not, experiential travel continues to thrive because the true rewards of travel are intangible: discovering a new destination at its most intimate and authentic, expanding your view of the world, and returning with memories that last a lifetime.
If time is your ultimate luxury, I recommend you check out these four new itineraries for fall 2010 from Abercrombie & Kent.
1. Thailand in Depth (November 17-29, 2010)
An introduction to the rich history and culture of Thailand with value-pricing at some of the world’s finest hotels. Participate in the celebration of the Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai where the festival originated. Venture off the beaten path to Lampang in a traditional horse carriage. Be blessed by monks in remote Mae Hong Son. Visit the hill tribes in the Golden Triangle and learn about their distinct cultures. Paint with elephants in Chiang Mai and relax at the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, one of Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best.” Thirteen days from $4,885.
2. Magnificent Asia (November 6-18, 2010)
Illuminate your understanding of the cultures of Southeast Asia, from Thailand and Laos to Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. Participate in an alms offering in Bangkok. Enjoy a private baci (welcome) ceremony in Luang Prabang. Learn about Vietnamese art from Suzanne Lecht at her private gallery in Hanoi. Bike along peaceful roads, passing small villages en route to Preah Khan. Learn about Khmer history from an expert before visiting Angkor Wat. Explore the pagodas, temples and stupas that dot the plains surrounding Bagan. See how sustainable tourism is making a difference by supporting Sam’s Brothers Clean Water Project. Thirteen days from $7,995.
3. Discover Australia (September 4-14, 2010)
A carefully-planned introduction to this diverse continent at an exceptional price. Explore Melbourne’s hidden corners on a walking tour led by a local historian. Enjoy lunch at the renowned TarraWarra Winery. Get a close-up view of some of Australia’s indigenous wildlife at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary. Cruise along the Great Barrier Reef to Agincourt Reef, which offers some of the best snorkelling in the world. Privately tour the Sydney Opera House. Eleven days from $4,995.
4. Australia: Land of Contrasts (October 16-30, 2010)
Combine cosmopolitan Melbourne and Sydney with the remote Australian Outback, Ayer’s Rock (Uluru) and the Great Barrier Reef. Learn the workings of a private sheep station established nearly 100 years ago. Observe the extraordinary wildlife on Kangaroo Island. Dine and sleep under the stars at a desert camp with views of Uluru. Cruise on a high-speed catamaran to the ribbon reefs on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, some of the most pristine eco-systems in the world. Go behind the scenes for a private tour of Sydney Opera House. Accommodations include Longitude 131°, a Conde Nast Traveler Gold List and Travel + Leisure World’s Best winner, and Southern Ocean Lodge, with spectacular ocean, beach and wilderness views. Fifteen days from $11,295.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Explore North America with Abercrombie & Kent
What began fifty years ago on a family road trip to national parks across the country led to a lifelong fascination for writer Dayton Duncan, resulting in “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” a six-part, 12-hour documentary by Ken Burns, which begins airing on PBS stations September 27. Filmed in some of nature’s most spectacular locales, the series is sure to inspire other families to visit all 58 U.S. national parks. Abercrombie & Kent celebrates these national treasures with new itineraries in North America for 2010, featuring several of the national parks showcased in the series including Denali National Park in Alaska and Glacier National Park, where “Going-to-the-Sun” Road is said to be “the most beautiful 50 miles in the world.”
Alaska: A Backcountry Adventure – New for 2010 
Glimpse Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak, en route to your lodge in Denali National Park, home to large caribou, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and grizzly bear. Travel aboard the Alaska GoldStar Dome train to Talkeetna for a river canyon trip by jetboat. Visit the homestead of 4-Time Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser. Enjoy a scenic glacier cruise in Prince William Sound, keeping watch for glaciers calving and a variety of marine wildlife, including whales.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".