When it comes to planning tailor-made trips, sussing out people’s preferences is key. For some travellers, depth is important. They want to do a deep dive into a single region or country to experience everything on offer and really get to grips with what makes that place special. Other travellers are after breadth – to combine multiple regions or countries in a single trip to see as much as they can of that corner of the world. Both approaches have their merits and no matter your travel dimensions, we’ve got your covered...
- Go deeper in Greece
- Give Laos some love
- Set your sights on South Africa
- Linger longer in the Yucatan
- Tour Southern Spain by train
- Road trip through New Zealand
- Journey across Namibia
- Conquer the American West
Travel for depth
Go deeper in Greece
On an alternative tour of Greece, visit the northern region of Macedonia, an under-the-radar region still untouched by mass tourism. While there, immerse yourself in the history and culture on a private tour of Aigai, the first capital of the Macedonians, with an expert archaeologist guide. This ancient kingdom (now a UNESCO World Heritage site) rose to importance between the ninth and fourth centuries BC and was the site of many historic events, from the assassination of Philip II of Macedonia to the crowning of his son Alexander the Great in 336 BC. Visit the astonishing royal palace, necropolis and the tomb of Philip II which houses opulent funerary furnishings, including a gold chest containing the king’s remains.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Off the Beaten Track in Greece: Macedonia and Halkidiki
© Eirini Vourloumis /The New York Times-REDUX-REA
Give Laos some love
Many travellers to Indochina only dip a toe in Laos before visiting Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. They’re missing out. Laos is one of the great under-the-radar destinations in Southeast Asia and well worth spending some time in. On a luxury road trip, explore the country from top to bottom. Along the way, tour the ancient town of Luang Prabang with its labyrinthine streets and ornate temples (including Wat Xieng Thong, which is adorned with ornate carvings and mosaics); join a cooking class to learn how to make delicious local specialties like laap (minced meat salad), fer (the Laotian equivalent of Vietnam's legendary pho broth) and, for pudding, mango sticky rice; and get a glimpse into seldom-explored areas of this charming country as you travel by tuk-tuk along the western banks of the Mekong River.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Luxury Laos Road Trip
Set your sights on South Africa
South Africa is one of our all-time favourite safari destinations and you’ll become well acquainted with its wonderful wildlife on this trip. Spot the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes) as well as the less well-known but equally magical Marine Five (whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and penguins) in the gorgeous Grootbos Nature Reserve. Take in the so called ‘sofa safari’ in Madikwe, where animals wander past camp while you relax in the pool or on your private terrace. And enjoy bush walks and traditional game drives in Tswalu, where you can spot meerkats, black-maned lions and, if you’re really lucky, an elusive pangolin deep in the savannah.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Land & Marine Big Five in South Africa
© Olivier Romano
Linger longer in the Yucatan
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a true tropical paradise with its crystalline Caribbean waters, dense jungles dotted with ancient Mayan ruins and colonial towns exuding old-world charm. It’s no surprise many travellers choose to linger longer. On a self-drive tour, don’t miss a sunrise visit to Chichen Itza – where your expert guide will show you the Temple of the Warriors as well as the incredible indigenous architecture – and snorkel in some of the cenotes (sinkholes) which pockmark the region like one giant Emmental cheese and offer a refreshing respite from the heat with their cool turquoise waters.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Exploring the Yucatan
Travel for breadth
Tour Southern Spain by train
You’ll cover some serious ground on this trip as you travel by train through southern Spain on a three-act city-hopping adventure. Begin in Seville, where we can arrange a private tour with a local resident who can show you a side of the city that tourists rarely see. Next, it’s onto Cordoba where we can arrange a private evening tour of Mezquita, one of Europe’s most important examples of Islamic architecture. Round off your tour in Granada, where we can arrange an indulgent visit to a hammam (we’re talking thermal baths and massages with essential oils) in the old district of Albayzin.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Southern Spain by Train: Seville, Cordoba and Granada
© Alix Pardo
Road trip through New Zealand
Given how much of a journey it is to get there, most people who visit New Zealand want to see as much as possible on their trip. You’ll do just that as you hit the road on an epic self-drive adventure through these incredible islands from North to South (or South to North). The itinerary includes a visit to Wai-O-Tapu with its bubbling mud pools and erupting geysers; the Abel Tasman Coast Track, which takes you through native bush, across tidal estuaries and along sandy shores; and a cruise through Fiordland National Park where waterfalls cascade down moss-covered cliffs and seals bask on rocky outcrops.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: New Zealand from North to South: Auckland to Queenstown
© Graeme Murray / Tourism New Zealand
Journey across Namibia
You’ll feel like you’ve visited multiple countries on this road trip through Namibia which combines multiple landscapes, from the crashing Atlantic Coast to the famous red dunes of Sossusvlei and Mars-like landscapes of Etosha. One of our favourite stop offs along the way is Twyfelfontein, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its ancient rock engravings. These intricate petroglyphs, created by the San people over thousands of years, depict a variety of animals – including giraffes, elephants, and rhinoceroses, as well as human figures and geometric patterns – and offer a fascinating insight into their daily life, rituals and beliefs.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Namibia for Couples: From Savannah to Ocean
Conquer the American West
Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, Jasper: discover the highlights of the Rockies as you journey from the US to Canada on an epic road trip adventure. You’ll cover almost 3,000 miles, passing through legendary landscapes and crossing five states and provinces on both sides of the border. Some of our favourite experiences along the way include a sunset tour of Grand Teton National Park with a naturalist guide; visits to the old western ghost towns of Virginia City and Nevada City, where you’ll see Victorian houses, eclectic saloons and kitsch shops; and a cruise on Lake Maligne in Jasper National Park, a watery wonder famed for its turquoise hue.
Feeling inspired? Check out an example itinerary here: Road Tripping the Rockies: From the American West to Canada
© Grant Harder
Written by Ella Mawson | Header image by Un Cercle
