Abercrombie & Kent has added five new itineraries in 2018 to their Marco Polo Journeys. The trips are designed to take guests off the beaten path to less traveled areas of the world like Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia and Vietnam. The trips also provide a behind-the-scenes opportunity to join in the revelry of Rio's Carnival or exclusive festivities at London's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
The intimate tours carry no more than 18 guests and offers itineraries designed around the small groups, like from private museum openings to visits with local people in their homes. This also provides guests with more one-on-one time with the Resident Tour Director, who has extensive knowledge of the destination.
New journeys include:
Mongolia: Naadam Festival & the Khan Legacy
Guests will have the chance to see one of the continent’s oldest displays of skill, strength and daring. Guests will: follow Kublai Khan's footsteps on the Great Wall and through the hutongs of Beijing; talk with a Buddhist lama at a monastery in Ulaanbaatar; and take a camel through the dunes of Moltsog Els and explore the fossil-rich Flaming Cliffs. The itinerary 12 days, starting from $11,795; Departures: July 3-14 or July 8-19, 2018.
Nepal & Tibet: From the Jungle to the Roof of the World
Here, guests will learn what it takes to climb Mount Everest from an expert climber and speak with monks at Sera Monastery in Lhasa. Then, guests will venture on a safari in Chitwan National Park, home of the one-horned rhino and elusive Bengal tigers. A lesson on Nepalese cuisine at an exclusive Chef's Table experience will be offered as well as an exploration of rural Nepal in Dhulikhel with the Himalayas as the backdrop. The trip is11 days, starting from $6,995; four departures: April 11-21, September 5-15, October 10-20, November 1-11, 2018.
Vietnam: The Spirit of a Nation Revealed
Traditional Hanoi sits in contrast to modern Ho Chi Minh City, and guests will explore them both during this journey. From seascapes to less-visited areas of Ha Long Bay, the tour will explore traditional ways of life in the rural countryside of Mai Chau by bicycle. Also on the itinerary is Hue's Imperial Citadel, the former national capital. The journey is12 days, priced from $5,995; Four departures: January 16-27, February 21-March 4, October 23-November 3, December 14-25, 2018.
English Gardens & the Hampton Court Flower Show
Guests will spend a day at the Royal Horticultural Society's world-famous Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and stroll through Hidcote Manor. Owners will guide guests on a tour of Sezincote House & Gardens to learn about the history behind this Neo-Mughal fantasy building. They will also explore Sudeley Castle's priceless art collection, the enchanting Queens' Garden and the final resting place of Katherine Parr. The journey is nine days, starting from $8,995; June 28-Jul 6, 2018.
Brazil: Soul of Carnival
On this trip guests will be a part of the Carnival street experience and be able to see see an encore performance of Carnival champions at the Winners' Parade. Afterwards they will sail Guanabara Bay and explore Bahian culture with insights into Salvador's local music and cuisine. The Bahia Folklore Company will also perform. This itinerary is eight days, priced from $6,595; February 16-23, 2018.
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