Delight your loved ones with wine
under the Tuscan sun, a cruise over the turquoise-blue waters of Greece or even
a private tour of the magnificent architecture of ancient Egypt. When they travel
with Insight Vacations, they won’t just see a destination, they’ll meet it,
feel it and taste it. Insight Vacations creates the opportunity to experience countries in depth with deliciously authentic dining, immersive
experiences with locals and hand-picked, luxurious hotels— located
in the heart of the destination. Our passionate Travel Directors will be with
you every step of the way providing a seamless, magical and unforgettable
experience.
Insight Vacations is offering 10%
off trips with its popular Early Payment Discount on trips to Europe for those
who book and pay in full by December 18, 2019. In addition, past guests and
Club Bon Voyage Members can save up to 5%.
By choosing flights with
American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia, you can save $150 off
per person on Economy, $200 off per person on Premium Economy or $300 off per
person on Business Class on departures to Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean,
Egypt and Morocco from Oct. 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020, and Sept. 1, 2020
to Nov. 15, 2020.
Insights’ immersive trips to Europe,
the Eastern Mediterranean, Egypt include:
Best of Italy (11 days):Showcasing
Italy’s grandest attractions, this remarkable journey takes guests to historic
landmarks with a local expert such as the Vatican Museum, the Bramante
Staircase, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. In Tuscany, guests
experience a guided visit through the house of the Italian Renaissance
diplomat and writer, Niccolò Machiavelli, with a special opening of
his private office where he wrote “The Prince.” Afterwards, guests taste
wines made from vineyards surrounding the home. They’ll also visit the
Italian garden for a view of Florence’s iconic domed cathedral and explore
the historic cellar connected to one of the oldest restaurants in Italy
by a secret tunnel. On Giudecca Island, guests will admire the
age-old skill of glassblowing by skilled artisans at an arts center,
and in Venice they will ride on a gondola while being serenaded through
the historic canals under starry skies. Travelers also take a private
cruise to the Isle of sun-kissed Capri to enjoy breathtaking views of
the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Wonders of Egypt (9 days): Guests
begin this spectacular journey by visiting the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and
viewing the treasures of Tutankhamun with Insight’s professionally
trained Egyptologist. They experience the splendor of the Great Pyramids
and venture inside one of the inner chambers before gazing upon the
mythical Great Sphinx. Clients then take a scenic flight to Luxor,
where they explore the massive temple complex of Karnak before boarding their
cruise ship then visiting the Temple of Luxor, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On
the west bank of the Nile they’ll explore the Temple of Hatshepsut and
the Valley of the Kings, home to the magnificent tombs of Egypt’s
pharaohs, and visit a working bakery to watch local artisans
making authentic Egyptian bread. The following evening clients experience
a traditional Egyptian dinner and galabeya party, and on the final
day they see the imposing Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the
majestic Temple of Isis. The trip ends with a ride in a traditional
Nile felucca, where clients learn about the art of sailing this ancient
craft from a local sailor.
For more information, contact Insight Vacations at 800-582-8380 or visit www.insightvacations.com.
On
one issue I take exception to the courageous climate activist, Greta Thunberg:
travel – even airline travel – is not the enemy of the climate action crusade,
travel is its best ally. She may have taken two weeks to sail the Atlantic to
reach the United Nations Climate Action Summit, but the thousands of diplomats
and heads of state she scolded and shamed into action, could not.
“What would happen if we
stopped traveling, stopped flying? Would we save the planet or unleash a global
conservation crisis? There would be global conservation crisis,” asserted Costas
Christ, chairman of The TreadRight Foundation, a philanthropy created by The
Travel Corporation’s 42 brands, to preserve and protect the planet, people and
wildlife.
Christ, who came out of
the Wildlife Conservation Society, pointed to the three great forests on the
planet – New Guinea, Amazon Basin, Central African rainforest including Gabon. But
in the early 2000s, Gabon’s economy was dependent on mining and timber
concessions.
The Wildlife
Conservation Society went to Gabon’s president and said, “If you continue
mining, cutting trees, the party is over in 50 years, but if put aside area for
conservation, travelers will come, alleviate poverty and save the forest – your
great grandchildren will be able to make their livelihood here.
“With stroke of Gabon
President’s pen, he created 11 national parks, protecting 13 million acres –
Travel Matters,” Christ said. “Travel is
the alternative to exploitation – preserve and protect instead of poach and
encroach.”
“If travelers did not go to the African
continent, the future would be unrelenting poverty. Travel is hope,
conservation.”
Colombia, where The
Travel Corporation has introduced new travel programs, is one of the 30 places
on the planet which are the “Noah’s Ark of Life,” a biodiversity hot spot harboring
one out of 10 species.
“If we are able to help Colombia protect its natural
resources we will protect the second largest biodiverse place on the
planet.”
“We make an impact when
travel supports conservation, protects wildlife and alleviates poverty. Travel
matters when it is planned, managed well, sustainable. Then magic happens – we
deliver on our promise to make the world a better place.
It is significant that
travel benefits the destinations, but travel also enriches individuals, in a
mutually virtuous circle.
What is wanderlust and why
do we seek out other places? Christ asks. Marco Polo understood. So did John
Steinbeck, who, in
his Pulitzer-Prize winning book, wrote:
A journey
is a person in itself; no two are alike.
And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are
fruitless.
We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip;
a trip takes us.
Mark Twain, who actually was a travel writer, wrote in “The
Innocents Abroad,” “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and
narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.
Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by
vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
Costas Christ
traveled to meet the Dalai Lama, who travels constantly, to ask ‘Why travel?.’ “He said, ‘in ancient Tibetan ‘gropa’ is
the word for human being, but the literal meaning is ‘one who goes on
migrations.’ We define the essence of being human to travel – to travel is to
be human.
“We think of the word
‘progress’ as hitting goals, but to pro-gress is a kind of travel. In Middle English,
“progress” means “to go on a seasonal journey” – so success is a journey,
success is linked to travel.”
The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created 10 years ago as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, takes a percentage of profit from 42 companies to make sure goes to projects that make a difference. TreadRight supports 55 projects in 280 communities in 26 countries in three basic categories: planet, people and wildlife.
TTC, a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council, is
joining in a commitment for the industry – which accounts for one in 10 jobs
around the world and accounts for 10% of the global economy, to become carbon
neutral by 2050. TTC will also take steps to eliminate plastics through its
supply chain, and reduce carbon emissions.
“We’re committed to be carbon neutral before 2050 and not through carbon offsets. Carbon is what’s destroying climate, not offsets,” Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation and Founder, The TreadRight Foundation. said at a reception marking TreadRight’s 10 years.
“We are at an unfortunate tipping point, where unless we careful, this industry will be the poster for all that’s bad,” he said. “We have the opportunity to make change, but we have to be courageous.”
But though travel –
particularly airline travel – does have a carbon cost (until the technologies
improve), not traveling would be far worse for the quest of saving the planet
and communities from the impacts of climate change and promoting a more just
society.
Christ points to places devastated
by climate catastrophe that have rebounded because of tourism, communities and
cultures destroyed by war and conflict, like Bosnia and Croatia, rebuild and
thrive because of the economic support of travel dollars.
For example, working with the Jordan tourism Board, TreadRight
supports the Queen Noor Iraq Alamei, a
cooperative that employs women as potters and artisans – giving women jobs
outside the home but within the village. With TreadRight support, the
cooperative built up a gift shop and opened an Air BnB.
New
travel programs in Colombia help create a wildlife nursery and install solar
panels, while another program in Sierra Nevada, through Trafalgar, creates an opportunity
for visitors to be hosted by a family.
“Travel
is an incredible gift. It has the ability to open our eyes to the unique
cultures and spellbinding beauty of the natural world. But with this gift comes
a responsibility – to protect the world as we know it. At TreadRight, our
mission is clear; to have a positive impact on the people and communities we
visit, to protect wildlife and marine life, and to care for the planet we call
home.”
Craig
Kielburger, the co-founder of WE charity, explained how Treadright’s family of
travel companies is partnering with We.org, which builds schools, promotes
sustainable agriculture, brings pure water to communities – to offer programs
in which travelers can immerse themselves into that community.
In partnership
with ME to WE, travelers have the opportunity to visit three iconic
destinations: India, the Ecuadorian Amazon and Kenya. In conjunction with TTC,
guests can book ME to WE Immersive Volunteer Trip extensions on upcoming set
departure dates or as a requested custom trip. Travelers stay among local communities in comfortable
lodges, owned and operated by ME to WE. All meals, ground transfers,
transportation and local sightseeing excursions hosted by an expert facilitator
are included.
You
can run with the Masai, help build a school, see what it feels like to have to
carry water barrels on your back; stay in a family’s home in Ecuador; in India,
visit an elephant rescue preserve instead of riding on one. (See TreadRight.org site, https://www.TreadRight.org/trips/).
“Travel is a privilege,”
said Celine Cousteau, a documentary filmmaker and TreadRight Ambassador and
storyteller. “Experience places and people, become a part of who they are.
Travel fosters profound change. Travelers become storytellers. Traveling on an
airplane has a carbon footprint, yes, but the value it brings more than
compensates. Travel is an opportunity to
bring a thriving economy, conserve, preserve. Make a choice to do good and if
travel, make it count.”
TTC’s ‘Make Travel Matter’ Pledge
TreadRight has made
#maketravelmatter its mission and its theme and on this year’s World Tourism
Day, made this pledge:
“This World Tourism Day, Friday, September 27th, 2019, engaged citizens will examine the positive impact travel has on the globe and TreadRight is making its commitment public to Make Travel Matter,” the company stated.
Inspired by Palau’s First Lady, Debbie
Remengesau who introduced the Palau Pledge, every one of TTC’s 10,000 team
members and 42 companies worldwide are committing to make travel matter, with
its new official pledge standing to help protect people, planet and wildlife.
In celebration of World Tourism Day, all members of TTC’s family of brands will
use the opportunity to stand up and personally commit to share TreadRight’s
ethos as travelers, as travel providers and as members of the global travel
industry.
“Our Make Travel Matter Pledge is another step on our journey and an impactful one as it further solidifies our commitment to helping protect the destinations we work with, its communities and local wildlife,” Tollman said. “As responsible travelers, TreadRight’s ethos has become part of our company’s DNA and what we stand for, and we share our pledge with our guests as well as partners in hopes they will join us.”
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER PLEDGE
I will make my travel matter –
for our planet, for people and for wildlife.
When I explore this planet, I
will do my best to TreadRight.
I will refuse single use
plastics when I can and recycle what I cannot avoid.
When possible, I will offset my
travels.
When I meet new people, I will
honor their home as I do my own and do so in the spirit of diversity and
inclusion. I will purchase locally made items wherever possible and pay a fair
price.
When I experience wildlife, I will do so in nature.
I will not ride animals that
ought not be ridden, nor support animal cruelty in any way.
Together, we will TreadRight
upon the earth – and we will make our travel matter.
For more information about TTC, visit www.ttc.com.
TreadRight
is not the only entity that facilitates authentic, transformative, responsible travel
experiences – there is a whole travel industry subcategory, many represented by
Center for Responsible
Travel (responsibletravel.org), Global
Sustainable Tourism Council (gstcouncil.org), Earthcheck
(earthcheck.org) and the Rainforest Alliance (https://www.rainforest-alliance.org).
NEW YORK –Each September, the United
States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) celebrates Travel
Together Month to showcase the unparalleled group travel experiences
offered by USTOA tour operators. This year, USTOA is spotlighting new
itineraries that lead travelers off-the-beaten path in 2020.
Travelers who explore relatively less-traveled destinations
often experience fewer crowds, encounter more opportunities to immerse
themselves in the local culture, and discover activities that are distinctly
different.
“Traveling to the lesser-known corners of the earth supports the
growth of emerging destinations while providing a richer and deeper
understanding of local cultures and communities,” said Terry Dale, president
and CEO of USTOA. “Our tour operator members have been taking travelers to
off-the-beaten-path places for decades and have an exciting array of new programs
available in 2020 to explore.”
New USTOA tour operator itineraries for 2020 include:
Lithuania & Latvia: the Baltics – Cyclists
can spin along the Baltic coast, take a private cruise to the Curonian Spit,
and join a Lithuanian barbecue with VBT Bicycling Vacations.
Departures are available between May and September 2020, starting at $3,095 per
person.
Discover Ethiopia –Perillo’s Learning Journeys takes guests
on a city tour of the capital, Addis Ababa, home to museums and open air
markets, and on an exploration of Lalibela, a town in the Amhara region known
for its distinctive rock-cut churches. Private group departures are available
throughout 2020 starting at $3,890 per person.
Wukalina Walk – Travelers can take a guided,
four-day adventure in Tasmania with Goway.com through
Launceston while listening to the stories of this northeast region. Departures
are available on Sundays through March 2020, starting at $1,609 per person.
Coastal Wonders of Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland –
Adventurers can visit Norway’s spectacular fjords, discover the Viking heritage
in the Faroe Islands, and observe nesting seabirds on Iceland’s Látrabjarg
cliffs with Lindblad Expeditions. Departure is June 18,
2020, starting at $17,160 per person.
Vietnam & Cambodia – Holiday Vacations takes travelers through
these two neighboring Southeast Asia destinations with time for traditional
cooking classes, museum visits, and boat cruises. Departures are available in
March 2020, starting at $8,299 per person.
Bolivia & Chile’s Atacama Desert – International
Expeditions takes guests through Bolivia’s dramatic landscape
and wildlife, and to the turquoise lakes and red plains of the Atacama Desert
in Chile. Departure is available May 9, 2020, starting at $10,698 per person.
UNESCO Banff National Park & The Rocky Mountaineer –
Travelers can explore the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park, and Lake
Louise by boat, rail, and a glass-domed car with Seabourn Cruises. Departures are available on
select dates between June and September 2020, starting at $5,399 per person.
Representing nearly $19 billion in revenue, the member companies of
U.S. Tour Operators Association provide tours, packages and custom arrangements
that allow 9.8 million travelers annually access, insider knowledge,
peace-of-mind, value and freedom to enjoy destinations and experiences across
the entire globe. Each member company has met the travel industry’s highest
standards, including participation in the USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program,
which protects consumer payments up to $1 million if the company goes out of
business. As a voice for the tour operator industry for more than 40
years, USTOA also provides education and assistance for consumers and travel
agents.
SEATTLE, WA – Over-touristed sites are now the new norm throughout the world.
For example, this year in record numbers, tourists are queuing up at the Blue Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul.
“Travel is an investment in time and money. Istanbul has cultural and historical treasures that extend beyond the Blue Mosque. So why waste hours just to get inside a building you have been told you must see?” asks Kurt Kutay, CEO and President of Wildland Adventures.
Instead, Wildland Adventures guides with deep knowledge of Istanbul and Turkey will share the Blue Mosque story with fine-tuned timing that skirts crowds and by introducing historical/cultural takeaways at less selfie-prone places.
“This resurgence of interest to visit Turkey is keeping us on our toes,” Kutay says. “We have to be aware, well in advance, where the maddening crowds will gather next. Then we plan contingencies that will connect the same cultural dots that the hot spots do – but perhaps even more effectively without the distractions that come with crowds.” Turkey has 100,000 registered historic spots. If a must-see UNESCO World Heritage Site is over-run by crowds, Kutay’s team will choose the best hours to visit or designate a comparable place to fulfill a similar interest and expectation.
Wildland Adventures to Turkey embrace the culture people flock here to experience. “We bring our guests as close as possible to real worlds, freed of artifice, must-sees and must-dos,” Kutay explains. Among the takeaways that Wildland Adventures guests enjoy are:
Extant Greek and Roman ruins, more numerous here than in Greece and Italy combined.
One of the world’s prized cuisines. “We make sure to feature a different dish every day. Dining in Turkey is simultaneously a history lesson served up on a plate,” Kutay exudes, paraphrasing Poet Abdulhak Sinasi who wrote: “Do not dismiss the dish saying that it is just, simply food. The blessed thing is an entire civilization in itself.”
Visits to less-known alternative sites that are comparable to the crowded hotspots to imbibe history, culture and traditions. “Instead of waiting in lines, our guests talk with local people including merchants, artists and religious leaders.” Most tours focus exclusively on historic sites around Sultanahmet Square, which is less than half a mile in diameter and a stone’s throw from the cruise ship dock. But Constantinople (so named until 1930) is surrounded by 14 miles of walls; the heart of the ancient city is four miles east to west. Wildland Adventures extends tours into old, traditional neighborhoods and to Bosphorus villages for a full understanding of old and contemporary Istanbul.
Experiences that move beyond monuments and historic buildings. Guests visit markets, eat street food, visit artist workshops, neighborhood coffee shops, wine bars and panoramic rooftop bars to take it all in on a grand scale.
Cruising the Turquoise Coast of the Mediterranean in traditional hand-built Gulets (classic Phoenician-style, wooden yachts). Guests explore along footpaths only accessible from the sea, paths that lead to pastoral grazing lands chalk full of Crusader, Byzantine Greek and Roman archaeological sites. “It’s all about timing as well by avoiding busy coastal towns and beaches where tourists flock by day,” underscores Kutay. “We anchor in quiet coves and wait until tourists disappear for the day. We then serve wine and appetizers in ancient ruins where, sitting in the sunset, we take turns reciting poetry or singing a song in the Odeon (a stone structure specific to the ancient arts).”
The tours Wildland
Adventures offers in Turkey are:
Turquoise Coast Odyssey – a 13-day itinerary from $4,965 per person double. Accommodations include a restored Ottoman home in the heart of a mountain village, a boutique cave hotel and Istanbul inns with rooftop restaurants. Highlights are Istanbul, Cappadocia, Kas, an Anatolian village, Ephesus and a voyage along the Turquoise Coast in a traditional gulet yacht.
Highlights of Turkey – a 9-day exploration from $3,695 per person double. This itinerary embraces Turkey’s three most important cultural and political centers: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus on foot along ancient pathways and by boat. Guests enjoy well-appointed friendly hotels, a boutique cave accommodation and a renovated historic hotel in the Aegean highlands.
Departure dates are
available upon request. Kutay notes that even though there’s more pressure on
prices because of renewed demand by tourists, the Turkish Lira has fallen
against the stronger dollar.
“Our trip prices remain the same as they were three years ago,” he notes.
Kurt Kutay, Founding CEO/President, and Anne Kutay, Vice-President, established
Wildland Adventures in 1987. As active managing directors, they are
continuously refining and evolving their Wild Style of travel. The ‘Wild Style’
is based on an ethic of sincerity, compassion and understanding that breaks
down barriers of separation to build lasting intercultural, interpersonal, and
environmental bonds designed to enhance rather than exploit the people and
places where they travel.
Ride & Seek adventure cycling company has introduced the first two stages of The Marco Polo Expedition, cycling 1900 km from Venice to Athens.
(Provence, France) —
Ride & Seek, an adventure cycling company offering itineraries that follow
in the footsteps of historical figures, is thrilled to announce its most
ambitious project to date: The Marco Polo Expedition. The goal of this newly
created tour is to cycle from Venice, Italy to Beijing, China in seven distinct
stages. The first two stages are scheduled to run in September 17 – October 14,
2020, leading riders 1,900 km from Venice to Athens, Greece over 26 days.
Guests will bike down the coast from Italy through Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, riding from harbor to harbor. Accommodations range from charming Soviet-style hotels to agriturismos and modern boutique hotels. Fine wine and gourmet food will be featured throughout the trip. This epic excursion ranges from $5,260 USD to $11,248 USD per person.
“Our Epic Adventures are all created with a sense of discovery at their core, and this tour fulfills that in abundance,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “Marco Polo is one of the great travelers in history and in many ways, he embodies the spirit of the tours we run.”
Polo was a Venetian merchant who journeyed across Asia at the height of the Mongol Empire. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, travelling overland along what later became known as the Silk Road. Upon reaching China, Marco Polo entered the court of powerful Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, who dispatched him on trips to help administer the realm. Marco Polo remained abroad for 24 years.
STAGE 1 – Venice to Dubrovnik Leaving Venice by boat, the first stage of The Marco Polo Expedition embraces the essence of island-hopping, which lies at the heart of this tour. We negotiate our way down the stunning Dalmatian coast via Marco Polo’s alleged birthplace of Korcula and take in such jewels as Hvar and Split on our way to the enchanting city of Dubrovnik. 12-days/11-nights, 738 km, September 17-29 2020
STAGE 2 – Dubrovnik to Athens Leaving Dubrovnik, riders quickly enter the beguiling country of Montenegro before jumping on to the road-less-traveled through fascinating Albania, a true tour highlight and phenomenal cycling destination. The final week take guests first to Corfu, before heading inland towards Athens. 16-days/15-nights, 1,050 km, September 29 – October 14, 2020
Ride & Seek is a worldwide adventure cycling company offering unique
historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural
immersion. Cyclists can not only ride some of the greatest roads in Europe but
also visit some of the most spectacular sites as well. Providing a cultural
insight into the areas visited both historically and gastronomically is central.
Historical journeys and cultural adventures are the company’s specialties. https://rideandseek.com
How can
the travel industry better support the communities we love around the world? On
World Tourism Day, leaders in tourism and community development will come
together in Washington, DC on Friday, September 27, to discuss best practices
for travel giving, voluntourism, and corporate social impact.
The 2019
World Tourism Day Forum, Impact Tourism: Giving Time, Talent, &
Treasure, is a day-long event focused on how tourism business, travelers,
and organizations are successfully making strategic contributions of time,
talent, and treasure to social and environmental projects in destinations.
Recognizing that “doing good” does not always mean “doing right,” the forum
will also examine the downsides of poorly implemented travel giving programs.
Hosted by
the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and the Organization of American
States, this event will trace the evolution of what was originally referred to
as “travelers’ philanthropy” into “impact tourism,” which is recognized today
as a core component of responsible travel. Designed to generate insights and
highlight innovation, the forum will also discuss the future of this growing
source of development assistance.
Select speakers include:
James Thornton, Chief Executive Officer, Intrepid Travel
Chris Blackwell, Founder, Island Outpost
Meenu Vadera, Founder & Executive Director, Women on Wheels/Azad Foundation
Katherine Redington, Vice President of Social Impact Journeys and Business Development, Elevate Destinations
The event
is taking place on Friday, September 27, 2019, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m at United States Institute
of Peace, 2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC (reached by the Foggy
Bottom-GWU Metro, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines).
Grasshopper Adventures, a leader in Asia
bike tours, launches three bike & boat
adventures for 2019 and 2020 on the Mekong in Cambodia/Vietnam, the Brahmaputra
in India and the River Kwai in Thailand.
Grasshopper Adventures is partnering up with colonial and intimate
river vessels on Asia’s great rivers. Cycling off-the-beaten-path, cruising
along storied rivers, meeting villagers at the river banks and enjoying some
scenic pedalling mixed with culture and delicious local food.
With these new itineraries unpacking is only needed once. The ships
are under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures and are escorted by a
Grasshopper tour leader.
Single travelers are welcome. Grasshopper Adventures is matching guest with another same sex single traveler or guest can decide to pay the single supplement for a private cabin.
“With these new, exciting and unique tours we are able to welcome non-cycling partners or friends and will have special activities planned for them each day while the riders are out on the bikes,” Adam Platt-Hepworth, Grasshopper Adventures’ founder, said. “ It’s like having a portable hotel!”
Mekong Bike & Boat Adventure, from Vietnam to Cambodia, 9 days / 8 nights (from $4,990 per person sharing) This epic journey on the Mekong starts at colonial Saigon in Vietnam and finishes at breath-taking Angkor in Cambodia’s Siem Reap. The RV Toum Tiou with its shallow draft can reach river arms inaccessible to other cruise lines. Guests will be cycling through Vietnam’s scenic and busy Mekong delta and exploring Cambodia’s remote and rural corners before reaching the bustling capital Phnom Penh with its colonial and Art Deco architecture. The trip ends in Siem Reap with off-the-beaten-track cycling excursions to the Angkorian temples.
6 nights on board RV Toum Tiou
2 nights at Jaya House River Park, Siem Reap
India: Bike & Boat Brahmaputra, 9 days / 8 nights (from $4,900 per person sharing)
The Brahmaputra, one of the world’s most storied rivers, flows through Assam, India’s most north-eastern region. Guests will start exploring charming and colonial Kolkata before flying to Jorhat to embark the elegant Grand Dame of the river, the RV Charaidew. The polished brass engine room, telegraph and enormous ship’s wheel bear witness to her heritage. We cycle on the world’s largest river island, Majuli and explore rural villages which have not often see foreigners. There will be national parks with plenty of wildlife from rhinos, to elephants and birds – with a bit of luck maybe a tiger spotting.
1 night at the Oberoi Grand, Kolkata 7 nights on the RV Charaidew
Thailand Bike, Boat & Beach, 8 days / 7 nights (from $3,950 per person sharing)
Guests
will be cruising the scenic River Kwai and immerse into the history of the
infamous Death Railway, built during
WWII. The colonial RV River Kwai will take passengers on a trip back in
time. This tour combines cycling Bangkok by night, with a river cruise and the
extension to the paradise in Southern Thailand, Koh Yao. Guests can take part
on our included cycling, kayaking or hiking activities down south, or enjoy the
stunning beach and island resort.
1 night at the Riva Surya Hotel, Bangkok
3 nights on the RV River Kwai
3 nights at Paradise Koh Yao Resort, Island of Koh Yao
Grasshopper Adventures is approaching its 15-year anniversary. Grasshopper multi day tours across Asia feature great guides and bikes, off-the-beaten-track itineraries, unique escapes and genuine experiences and fine-tuned details. Grasshopper Adventures operates tours in Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Choose from scheduled group departures, bike & boat, private tours, family tours or self-guided trips.
Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a cycling tour exploring the back roads of Rajasthan, India’s quintessential land of maharajas, majestic forts, lavish palaces and tigers.
(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a cycling tour exploring the back roads of Rajasthan, India’s quintessential land of maharajas, majestic forts, lavish palaces and tigers. Starting in Delhi and finishing in Udaipur, guests will ride through rural farmlands, deserts, and mountains, while exploring the “Land of Kings”. The eight-day trip starts at $3,300 USD per person double and is scheduled for October 26-November 2, 2019.
The remnants of a rich and romantic past have earned Rajasthan a place on most travelers’ bucket lists. It is a land of deserts, jungle, camel trains, tigers, jewels, art and vibrant culture. The festivals and cuisine are nothing short of spectacular. It is the must-see state of India, brimming with history and unique attractions.
“We will pedal 230 km through fascinating towns, ancient desert hamlets, and an oasis of Rajasthani forts,” said Grasshopper Adventures CEO Adam Platt-Hepworth. “Rajasthan is one of India’s most captivating states, famed for its historic forts and palaces, desert villages, spice markets, and the warmth of its people. This tour definitely discovers the real Rajasthan.”
The cycling follows predominantly flat, country roads and lanes with little traffic. There is some hill riding, but it is broadly achievable at a moderate level of fitness. A support vehicle is always on hand throughout the entire trip to give guests a lift if they need a break from the riding. Distances covered are between 40 km and 60 km a day.
“Rather than the popular tourist sites, guests may well find that the highlight of this bike tour is a chance encounter with a pink-turbaned man in the middle of nowhere, or maybe a shared Rajasthani family meal,” said Platt-Hepworth. “That is the beauty of this trip!”
Highlights:
Touring the 15th century Mehrangarh fortress
Riding through the desert to Rohet
Taking a Jeep tour to visit the Bishnoi tribes
Visiting a traditional haveli for a tasty lunch
Boarding a train for a scenic ride from Khambli Ghat to
Phulad
Overnighting in the lush, wooded valley of Ranakpur
Touring Kumbhalgarh and the world’s second largest
man-made wall
Bellevue, WA —Imagine a trip that combines the exotic and colorful country of India with the Himalayan nation of Nepal to the north. All for only $135 a day—including includes deluxe hotels like Marriott, Hilton and Crowne Plaza and air fare. World Spree Travel makes that happen with its Exotic India and Kathmandu Tour in the fall, when the 14-day trip costs $1,899.
That price includes not only round-trip international airfare from San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York, but also 5-star hotel accommodations, daily buffet breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners, all transportation in India and Nepal, comprehensive sightseeing tours with entrance fees, wonderful English-speaking tour guides, baggage handling and audio earphones. A mind-blowing flight to Mount Everest for a close-up view is optional and extra.
The tour starts in the capital, Delhi, with (cycle rickshaw) sightseeing in Mughal Old Delhi’s narrow alleys, mosques and bazaars, and monumental New Delhi’s colonial architecture reminiscent of the British Raj. There’s also a visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s former residence. Then it’s on to Agra, the second city of India’s famed Golden Triangle, and that legendary symbol of love, the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, considered the finest monument of Mughal architecture.
On the way to Jaipur, the 10th-century Chand Baori (Stepwell), merits a stop. (This incredible well, with 13 floors and 3,500 steps, inspired the centerpiece sculpture in New York City’s new Hudson Yards.) Jaipur, the third city in the Golden Triangle, is the capital of Rajastan, the “pink city” that starred in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Here there’s a tuk-tuk ride to see historic mansions, palaces and temples, as well as a jeep ride up to the famous Amber Fort, and a visit to a home for underprivileged children. Then it’s back to Delhi for an overnight and the flight to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, which is surrounded by the high peaks of the Himalayas..
In Kathmandu, sightseeing includes the array of temples and Nepali royal palaces in Durbar Square, and the “Monkey Temple” with its impressive stupa. Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley include Bhaktapur, the nation’s cultural gem with its appealing crafts, ornate palaces, temples galore and 19 Buddhist monasteries, and Patan, full of old charm, traditional brick houses. temples and monuments. Then there’s Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most important Hindu temple on the holy Bagmati River. And, of course, that thrilling flight to Mount Everest, which is optional and costs $220. After a short flight to Delhi, there’s a farewell dinner and then the flight back home.
For additional information about the Exotic India and Kathmandu Tour visit www.worldspree.com, and click India, or call toll-free 1-800-652-5656.
NEW YORK—The Shed, New York City’s new arts center that commissions, develops, and presents original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences, will open to the public on April 5 with the world premiere of Soundtrack of America. The five-night concert series, conceived and directed by Steve McQueen with a creative team led by Quincy Jones and Maureen Mahon, celebrates the unrivaled impact of African American music on contemporary culture with performances by a new generation of artists. A free live stream of the April 5 concert will be available on The Shed’s website, TheShed.org, and its social media channels.
The
opening commissions continue on April 6 with new work by artist Trisha
Donnelly and the world premiere of Reich Richter Pärt, an
immersive live performance installation from iconic artists Steve Reich,
Gerhard Richter, and Arvo Pärt, featuring new works by Richter
and a new composition by Reich. The world premiere of Norma Jeane Baker
of Troy, a specially commissioned spoken and sung dramatic work by poet
and scholar Anne Carson, starring Ben Whishaw and Renée
Fleming, directed by Katie Mitchell, will be performed on April 9
(with previews on April 6 and 7).
In
development for more than a decade, The Shed is a nonprofit cultural
institution located on city-owned land on West 30th Street between 10th and
11th Avenues on Manhattan’s west side, where the High Line meets Hudson Yards.
It is housed in The Bloomberg Building—designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro,
Lead Architect, and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect–an innovative, movable structure that adapts to support new
work of all kinds. The Shed’s primary program spaces include two floors of
expansive galleries, the versatile 500-seat Griffin Theater, and The McCourt, a
multiuse hall for large-scale performances, installations, and events for
audiences ranging from 1,250 seated to more than 2,000 standing. A rehearsal
space, lab for local artists, and event space are located in The Tisch
Skylights on the top floor.
“As a commissioning home for artists from the worlds of
performance, visual arts, and pop, The Shed is a place for all artists and all
audiences to meet,” said Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots.
Dan Doctoroff,
Chair of The Shed’s Board of Directors said, “The Shed is doing something very
different: a new idea of a cultural institution; an unprecedented building in a
new part of the city; a new team commissioning all new work. It is uniquely of
New York, dedicated to the pursuit of boundless artistic ambitions across all
art forms for all audiences.”
Elizabeth Diller,
of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, said, “Eleven years in the making, The Shed is
opening its doors to the public as a perpetual work-in-progress. I see the
building as an ‘architecture of infrastructure,’ all muscle, no fat, and
responsive to the ever-changing needs of artists into a future we cannot
predict. Success for me would mean that the building would stand up to
challenges presented by artists, while challenging them back in a fruitful
dialogue.”
David Rockwell,
of Rockwell Group, said, “The Shed was conceived as an adaptable and structural
palette that will allow an extraordinarily diverse group of creators and
artists to incorporate the building into their work. After what has been a
wildly satisfying collaboration, we are thrilled to hand The Shed over to the
artists and audiences who will carry it forward. I couldn’t be prouder. It’s an
exciting addition to the long lineage of institutions that have kept our city
on the cutting
edge of the arts. Ultimately, it is a testament to the energy of New York
City.”
In recognition of a $25 million gift from Kenneth C.
Griffin, The Shed announced earlier this week that its 11,700-square-foot,
500-seat theater has been named The Kenneth C. Griffin Theater. “The Shed will
create new opportunities for artists and audiences to join together in unique
experiences. Over a decade in the making, this space reflects New York’s
determined commitment to fostering artistic expression and the idea that the
arts should be accessible to everyone,” said Griffin. Including this gift, The
Shed has raised $529 million toward its capital campaign goal of $550 million,
which includes building costs, organizational start-up expenses, and support
for the creation of new work.
Opening Commissions
Soundtrack of America,
April 5–14, The McCourtConceived and directed by Turner Prize-winning artist
and Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen and developed with music visionaries
and academic experts including Quincy Jones, Maureen Mahon, Dion ‘No I.D.’
Wilson, Tunji Balogun, and Greg Phillinganes, Soundtrack of America is a
five-night concert series celebrating the unrivaled impact of African American
music on contemporary
culture with performances by today’s most exciting emerging musicians.
The
headline performers for Soundtrack of America are:
April
5 at 8 pm: PJ Morton, Rapsody, Sheléa, and Victory, featuring special guest Jon
Batiste
April
7 at 8 pm: Braxton Cook, Kelsey Lu, Jade Novah, Smino, and Tank and The Bangas
April
9 at 8:30 pm: Samm Henshaw, Judith Hill, ill Camille, Emily King, Fantastic
Negrito, and serpentwithfeet
April
12 at 8:30 pm: Cory Henry, Melanie Faye, Terrace Martin, Oshun, and Sy Smith
April
14 at 8 pm: Keyon Harrold, Eryn Allen Kane, Phony Ppl, Moses Sumney, and
Tamar-kali, featuring special guests Richard Bona and Natasha Diggs, plus and
appearance by Aja Money.
Special
guest performers include: Natasha Diggs, resident DJ for all five nights, tap
dancer Michaela Marino Lerman (April 5), and jazz harpist Brandee Younger
(April 7), banjoist Dom Flemons (April 9), Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir
(April 12), Cameroonian Grammy-winning bassist Richard Bona (April 14), and
poet Aja Monet (April 14).
A
free live stream of the April 5 concert will be available on The Shed’s
website, TheShed.org, and its social media channels. Major support for Soundtrack
of America is provided by the Ford Foundation.
Reich
Richter Pärt, April 6–June 2, Level 2 Gallery
An immersive live performance installation in The Shed’s galleries, Reich Richter Pärt explores the shared sensory language of visual art and music. Composer Steve Reich and artist Gerhard Richter will debut a world premiere commission, as two New York groups—Ensemble Signal and International Contemporary Ensemble—will alternate performances of Reich’s new score in counterpoint with Richter’s new work, including a new moving picture work created by Richter and filmmaker Corinna Belz. Each presentation of Reich Richter begins with a performance of Richter Pärt, a collaboration between Richter and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Two New York-based choirs—the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street—will sing Pärt’s music within an installation of Richter’s new work, in the form of tapestries and wallpaper. The Richter Pärt partnership builds on a concept originally developed by Alex Poots and The Shed’s senior program adviser Hans Ulrich Obrist for the Manchester International Festival in 2015. The Reich Richter composition and film were newly commissioned by The Shed as part of Reich Richter Pärt, and co-commissioned for a concert setting by The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Gustavo Dudamel, Music and Artistic Director; Cal Performances, University of California, Berkeley; Barbican Centre and Britten Sinfonia; Philharmonie de Paris; and Oslo Philharmonic.
Trisha
Donnelly, April 6–May 30, Level 4 Gallery
New
work by artist Trisha Donnelly. Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, April
6–May 19, The Griffin TheaterIn 1964, an office manager has hired one of his
stenographers to type out his translation of Euripides’s Helen but his
obsession with the recently dead Marilyn Monroe kidnaps the translation. Ben
Whishaw and Renée Fleming star in this spoken and sung performance piece by poet, essayist,
and scholar Anne Carson, directed by Katie Mitchell with music composed by Paul
Clark. (Preview performances April 6 and 7; opens April 9).
IN FRONT OF ITSELF,
ongoing, The Plaza
A large-scale, site-specific work by artist Lawrence Weiner
is embedded in The Shed’s plaza, serving as a walkable outdoor area when the
movable shell is nested over the fixed building, or as the base of The McCourt
when the shell is extended to the east. The 20,000-square-foot work is titled IN
FRONT OF ITSELF and features the phrase in 12-foot-high letters fabricated
with custom paving stones.
The Bloomberg Building
Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect, and
Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect, The Shed’s Bloomberg Building is an
innovative 200,000-square-foot (18,500 m2) structure that can physically
transform to support artists’ most ambitious ideas.
When deployed, The Shed’s telescoping outer shell creates a
17,000-square-foot (1,600 m2), light-, sound-, and temperature-controlled
space, The McCourt, named in recognition of Shed Board Member Frank
McCourt, Jr., and his family. The space can accommodate an audience of
approximately 1,250 seated or more than 2,000 standing. Large operable doors on
its north and east sides allow The McCourt to function as an open-air pavilion.
When the shell is nested over the base building, the 20,000-square-foot (1860 m2)
Plaza will be open public space that also can be used for outdoor exhibitions
and events.
The Shed features two expansive and flexible, column-free
galleries on Levels 2 and 4 of the base building, totaling more than 25,000
square feet (2,340 m2) of museum-quality space with 19-foot-high (6 m)
ceilings. Operable east-side walls can conjoin the galleries with The McCourt
to accommodate space or seating needs for large-scale installations and
performances.
An 11,700-square-foot (1,080 m2), sound-isolated black box
space on Level 6, The Kenneth C. Griffin Theater, can be used as a
single large theater with 500
seats or subdivided into two smaller theaters that can host concurrent events.
The Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Skylights and The Tisch Lab (Level 8) feature a 1,700-square-foot (160 m2) creative lab
for local artists, a 3,300-square-foot (305 m2) rehearsal space, and a
9,500-square-foot (880 m2) flexible, multipurpose space for events.
Additional 2019 Opening Season Commissions
Björk’s Cornucopia, the multidisciplinary artist’s most elaborate staged concert to date, directed by Lucrecia Martel (May 6–June 1, The McCourt).
Art and Civil Disobedience with Boots Riley, a one-night-only lecture by the director of Sorry to Bother You in conjunction with The Shed’s DIS OBEY program (May 10, The McCourt).
POWERPLAY, a women-centered celebration of radical art and healing, created by multimedia artist LATASHÁ in collaboration with special guest artists including Nona Hendryx and Ashley August and participants in The Shed’s DIS OBEY program for NYC high school students, which explores themes of civil disobedience through poetry (May 18 and 19, The McCourt).
Open Call, an unprecedented opportunity for 52 New York City-based emerging artists and collectives to develop and showcase their work throughout The Shed’s primary spaces, free to the public (May 30–August 25, and continuing in 2020, Level 2 Gallery, The Griffin Theater, The Plaza).
Collision/Coalition, a series of three distinct commissions with intersecting themes on the nature of historic, present, and future collaborations between antithetical forces. Artist Oscar Murillo will create a new body of work using Diego Rivera’s famed, and destroyed, murals at Rockefeller Center as his starting point. Tony Cokes will explore the relationship between artist, studio, and gentrification. And the third, a new documentary by Yanina Valdivieso and Vanessa Bergonzoli on Beatriz González’s monumental public artwork Auras Anonimas—now under threat of being demolished by Bogotá’s city administration. Organized by Emma Enderby, Senior Curator (June 19–August 25, Level 4 Gallery).
Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise, a futuristic kung fu musical co-conceived by Chen Shi-Zheng and Kung Fu Panda screenwriters Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, with songs by Sia remixed by Arca and The Haxan Cloak, choreography by Akram Khan, martial arts direction by Zhang Jun, and production design and costumes by Tim Yip (June 22–July 27, The McCourt).
Maze, a new production from street dance pioneer Reggie ‘Regg Roc’ Gray, co-directed by Kaneza Schaal (July 23–August 17, The Griffin Theater).Mutant;Faith, a premiere of the first act of an experimental performance cycle created by Venezuelan artist, singer, and electronic music composer Arca (opens September 25, The Griffin Theater).
Agnes Denes: Absolutes and Intermediates, the most comprehensive survey of the artist in New York to date, featuring more than 130 works on paper, sculptures, and newly commissioned works for the exhibition. Organized by Emma Enderby, Senior Curator (October 9–January 2020, Level 2 and 4 Galleries).
William Forsythe: A Quiet Evening of Dance, featuring new and existing work by the inventive choreographer set to the sounds of music and the dancers’ breath (October 11–25, The Griffin Theater).
Mirrors and Memory, a collaboration on a new live production about memory between Joan Jonas and pianist Hélène Grimaud (November 2–9, The McCourt).
Manual Override, a group exhibition with artists Lynn Hershman Leeson, Sondra Perry, Simon Fujiwara, Martine Syms, and Morehshin Allahyari. Organized by Nora N. Khan, Guest Curator (November 13–January 2020, The Griffin Theater).
Requiem, a performance of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem by Teodor Currentzis and his orchestra and chorus musicAeterna, from Perm, Russia, in their North American debut, accompanied by a specially commissioned cinematic artwork of moving image by the late avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas (November 19–24, The McCourt).
The Wells Fargo Foundation is the leading sponsor of Maze and FlexNYC. William Forsythe: A Quiet Evening of Dance is a Sadler’s Wells London Production co-commissioned by The Shed; Théâtre de la Ville-Paris, Théâtre du Châtelet ,and Festival d’Automne à Paris; Festival Montpellier Danse 2019; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens; and deSingel international arts campus (Antwerp). Winner of the FEDORA – VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Prize for Ballet 2018.
Cedric’s at The Shed
Opening to the public in mid-April, Cedric’s at The Shed is a
new bar from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. Located in the
street-level Lobby at the West 30th Street entrance, Cedric’s serves a menu of
daytime and evening fare including cocktails, craft beer, wine, and coffee,
accompanied by shareable bites, sandwiches, and salads. Open Tuesday through
Sunday from 11 am to midnight, Cedric’s draws on the creativity and inventive
spirit of The Shed, offering a welcoming and casual experience for locals and
visitors alike.
Tickets
and Operating HoursAdmission to
exhibitions at The Shed is $10, which includes entry to all exhibitions on view
that day (admission is free for children and teens 18 years and under, and for
Shed Members at the Builder level and above). Ticket prices for live
productions vary by show. Tickets for the first half of the opening season
(April–August 2019) are available now at TheShed.org and via phone at (646)
455-3494. Tickets for fall-winter programs will go on sale later this year.
Exhibition hours are Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11 am to 6 pm;
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm. Times for live productions
vary by show.
The Shed, The
Bloomberg Building, 545 W 30th Street, New York, NY 10001
