We had wonderful trip with private tour guide Carlos. He is very professional, very knowledgeable and funny. He understood my husband's passion for photography, our interests of history and culture, our love for great food.
Thank you, Carlos
Unveil Japan’s lesser-known treasures on the 12-day 'Discover Hidden Japan' tour, starting and ending in Tokyo. This easy-paced explorer trip is crafted for seniors, featuring comfortable hotels, organized transport, and included meals. The group’s main focus is guided sightseeing, leading participants off the beaten path to reveal authentic local experiences. The unique aspect of this package lies in its dedication to showcasing Japan’s hidden gems, making it a rewarding choice for travelers seeking something beyond the usual tourist trail.
Let Paris set the stage for romance and exploration with the "Romantic France" tour, a nine-day sightseeing journey centered in the heart of France. Ideal for seniors, this group trip includes everything you need—hotel stays, transport, and daily meals. Enjoy gentle walks through Parisian neighborhoods and take in the city’s art and history at a relaxed pace. The unique feature of this trip is its exclusive focus on Paris, providing a deep, immersive experience of the city’s timeless allure.
The tour was amazing! We got to see different parts of Italy, and there were guided tours and optional excursions that were enjoyable. Everything was well organized and our tour leader Vinni was brilliant! Highly recommend this for active people who want to explore the most out if Italy!
This tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi will take you through the breathtaking gems of the United Arab Emirates. Begin your journey in Dubai, where you will discover an extraordinary mix of modernistic and traditional Arabic-inspired buildings. Visit some of Dubai’s landmarks like the famous Souk, and the breathtaking Dubai Creek. Prepare for a breathtaking dune ride through the Desert of Dubai, where you will experience the Arabian way of life. Discover the towering skyscrapers and man-made islands of this fascinating metropolis. Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, with diversity expressed in the culinary scene, fashion, and art. From there you will visit Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This city's skylines compromise modern towers and mega shopping centers. Discover the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the city's most breathtaking building and the largest mosque in the UAE. Immerse yourself in the rich Islamic culture with this tour to Amazing Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
This tour operator organized a cultural, spiritual and community immersion for me, my husband, my adult daughter and her boyfriend for 16 days in late February/early March of 2023. It was the most exciting trip I’ve taken. This is saying a lot considering I have spent a lifetime of travel, both personal and professional, focusing on Latin America.
Everything ran smoothly, even with chaotic settings and complex logistics. A big part of this was by providing us with amazing guides, starting with Jahel Amaru, who met us at the La Paz airport to whisk us across the altiplano to Oruro for its truly spectacular Carnival. Jahel is knowledgeable, patient, down-to-earth, smart patient, funny, and an extremely enjoyable person to spend time with. She guided us through the hectic Oruro Carnaval during its culminating weekend - with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm. We had the time of our lives cheering on the colorful characters as they paraded and danced thanks to Jahel knowing exactly where to go, when, and providing invaluable context.
Community tourism (where visitors are connected with everyday Bolivians to learn about their lives) - has started to blossom in Bolivia, and this company is one of its pioneers. We got to experience it in Potosi, where we had another excellent guide, Marlene Quispe. She took us through Cerro Rico mine, which was the world’s leading supplier of silver. Marlene has close ties to mining: her brothers, parents and even she has worked there. As we ventured deeper into the earth, we learned from her about the mining process and cooperatives involved with it. She also introduced us to one of the mine's “tios” (“uncles” who are believed to protect miners), to whom she made an offering as she explained his importance.
Marlene took us to the Quechua community of Phuto Phuto, one of several in the rural district Cabanias that welcomes visitors as part of its community tourism program. Families take turns showing visitors their homes and traditions, including cooking huts with steaming pots, whose contents you later share for lunch. Marlene and one of the family members we met then led us on a beautiful hike to a spot where they invited us to participate in a ritual offering to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). It was an incredible day I will always remember.
Another wonderful community tourism experience was in the majestic Cordillera Real (Central Andean range), where we appreciated both the nature and culture of the region by staying near the town of Tuni with the multi-generational Quispe family (not related to Marlene). Family members share with guests Aymara traditions like placing fishing nets, spinning yarn, making quinoa flour, and shearing alpaca fleece. Patriarch Jaime is a charismatic host and a certified mountain guide who along with his adult son Denys, also a certified mountain guide, have expertise leading visitors of different ages and abilities. We loved staying with them!
There are a few other places that stood out on our trip:
Hostal Las Olas in Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca with gorgeous, artistic “cabins” and lovely views
Templo del Retiro Espiritual Cruz Andina (the Andean Cross Spiritual Retreat Center), in Tiwanaku steps from the ruins and owned by spiritual and cultural guide Rosse Mary Vargas Vilela. It’s filled with cats and crystals and offers delicious vegetarian meals. This is not a stop for everyone, but worth visiting or staying in if you are interested in mindfulness, ancient healing, and/or new age spirituality.
It capture so much of Spain--its rich history and its people. In just one week, we visited at least eight cities. I recommend this tour for those who want to experience this country.
Journey through Egypt on this eight-day trip and follow the winding path of the river Nile, soaking up Egypt's history, beauty and colour. Cruise the longest river in the world on a traditional felucca, discover the largest and most impressive Egyptian temples and share stories with interesting locals over home-cooked meals. Live it up in this country of deserts, bazaars, monuments and unmatched experiences – and come away with a deeper understanding of how Egypt’s past has shaped its future.
This was a fabulous overview of the entire country. Highlights were the wilderness experiences - the forest bathing and the sound of silence on Doubtful Sound. This was a trip of a lifetime!! Well done.
There’s a reason this trip was the one that started it all, and still remains one of the most popular. On this 15-day adventure, you'll discover Northern Thailand, experience the chaotic metropolis of bustling Bangkok, trek among the hillside villages near Chiang Rai, drift down the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi and see the historic temples of the Siam Kingdom. With welcoming hospitality, local experiences, mouth-watering cooking classes and plenty of free time to travel at your own pace, come along and see why this trip was, and still is, a benchmark for all our adventures.
