Clients who’d rather take their kids out into the real world than Epcot to learn about other cultures will love the new Family Japan tour from Abercrombie & Kent, while youth travel company Contiki has unveiled a new program in India.
Led by a “Young Explorers Guide,” Abercrombie & Kent’s Family Journeys have activities appropriate for travelers of all ages: the new Family Japan tour includes lessons on origami-making and Taiko drumming as well as bullet train rides and a stay at a traditional ryokan inn. Rates for the nine-day tour start at $9,795, with an $800 discount for children under age 12.
Other new Family Journeys destinations include Peru and Kenya/Tanzania: highlights of these programs include visiting Maccu Piccu and swimming with sea lions in Peru, and meeting Maasai villagers and exploring an elephant orphanage in Africa.
The tour company also announced a trio of new Luxury Small Group Journeys, which are limited to 18 guests, feature stays in high-end resorts, and are led by resident tour directors who are intimately familiar with each destination. The new “Thailand in Style” tour, for example, includes visits to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Phi Phi Island. Rates for the 12-day tour start at $7,995 per person.
Also debuting in 2016 is “France: From Paris to Provence,” with an itinerary that includes the Picacco Museum, Burgundy wineries, shopping in Lyon’s Les Halles de Paul Bocuse market, and a chance to play pétanque with locals in Eze. The “Scandinavia: Stockholm, Copenhagen & Oslo” trip will take clients to Oslo’s Mathallen Food Hall, the ancient town of Sigtuna, the Gothic cathedral in Uppsala, and to see the Norse longships at the Viking Ship Museum. Rates range from $5,995 to $10,995. Clients have the option of adding on a three-day luxury stay in Dubai and discounted Business and First Class airfares on Emirates.
Contiki this month unveiled its first India program in 40 years, part of a growing menu of Asian offerings from a company that tailors tours to travelers ages 18-35. The 12-day “Eternal India” itinerary will feature stops in Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa, and is aimed squarely at Millennials who are looking to immerse themselves in India’s dense cities and diverse and dazzling culture.
“Recently we’ve seen a sharp rise in the demand for more authentic, out-of-comfort-zone travel experiences that give young people more of a sense of adventure and make them feel far from home,” said Alexis Sitaropoulos, Contiki’s Vice President of Marketing, in a written statement, adding that the new India trip “really encapsulates this style of traveling, but also provides for the best food, accommodation and in-region travel as well, serving up the best of both worlds to our savvy young travelers.”
Led by local guides, the Eternal India tour includes experiences like a safari and stay at Ranthambore National Park as well as the expected visit to the Taj Majal; optional activities include joining a family for dinner in Jaipur, a Mumbai Bollywood tour and beach yoga. Trips, which include two internal flights to minimize bus time, begin in December. Rates start at $2,039 per person.
Visit www.abercrombiekent.com and www.contiki.com.