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Independent trips
| Who Do You Want to Travel With? |
Strictly Personal Travel |
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Our Independent trips are designed for individuals or couples, are not escorted (although there may be expert local guides available), have a fixed itinerary, have a fixed price, and leave on flexible departure dates. The quality of the experience on our escorted trips are driven by two things - our trip planning expertise and our travel partners.
Trip Planning - Our planners have been travelling the world for over 44 years in search of hidden treasures, and their discoveries and secrets are built in to every trip. We are confident that their craftsmanship, passion and expertise is reflected in every one of our itineraries, whether they built the trip themselves by hand or collaborated in its design with our travel partners.
Travel Partners - Our travel partners are the world's best travel companies, period. In some cases we place our travellers on existing trips with our partners, while in other cases we custom-design a unique trip from scratch. In either case, our travellers benefit from access to itineraries that are superbly designed and personally vetted by us, are fast and easy to book (24-48 confirmation turnarounds), and are inherently adaptable to the needs and schedules of our travellers. All travellers on our Independent trips also receive exclusive amenities as a "thank you" for booking their trips through us.
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| Independent Trips | |
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| Championship Series: French Open |
| See the best tennis players in the world as they try to conquer the legendary red clay courts of Paris in pursuit of a coveted Grand Slam title. Watch match play on Centre Court, spend the weekend in a stylish boutique hotel in Paris and hang out in the City of Light’s hottest bars. |
| Dates: May 24 - Jun 7, 2009 |
Prices from: $3,450 | |
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| Championship Series: Kentucky Derby |
| Experience the most electric two minutes in sport at the Kentucky Derby. Sip mint juleps in the privileged environs of the clubhouse, attend the hottest parties in town, enjoy behind-the-scenes access to Churchill Downs and watch the winner cross the finish line at the most famous horse race in the world. |
| Dates: Apr 30 - May 3, 2009 |
Prices from: $4,995 | |
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| Championship Series: Wimbledon |
| Surrender to pomp and circumstances as the world’s best players serve & volley on the emerald grass of Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious championship in tennis. Watch the action on Centre Court, enjoy access to the Debenture Lounge and spend the weekend at one of London’s hippest hotels |
| Dates: Jun 22 - Jul 5, 2009 |
Prices from: $5,995 | |
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| Dream Car Driving - Germany by Porsche |
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Discover the versatility of the Porsche 911 on a thrilling weekend drive through the relaxing countryside of the Black Forest with its winding roads and long open straights. Sit back and enjoy the splendid atmosphere of hand-picked destinations, such as the Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa or the Restaurant Traube Tonbach, where both opulent surroundings and first-class cuisine await your arrival. |
| Dates: May-Oct |
Prices from: $2,995 | |
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| Dream Car Driving: Europe by BMW |
| Conquer Europe in a sleek BMW as you circumnavigate the spectacular roads around the Alps. Stroll through the magnificent Dolomites, admire the beauty of the Italian Lakes, unwind at a chic Swiss resort, ride bikes through the vineyards of Burgundy and relax in the healing waters of Baden Baden. |
| Dates: May-Oct |
Prices from: $6,450 | |
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| Dream Car Driving: Italy by Ferrari |
| Put your driving skills to the ultimate test following a guide through the medieval hill towns of Tuscany, then unwind in the famed thermal pools of Fonteverde. Sample the subtle Italian blend of art, fashion and gastronomy from behind the wheel of one of the world’s most exotic automobiles. |
| Dates: April-Oct, 2009 |
Prices from: $8,650 | |
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| Dream Car Driving: Rockies Summer |
| Take in the vast panorama of the Canadian Rockies as you drive on winding mountain roads. Cruise along the famed Ice fields Parkway, take in the picturesque Alpine lakes and grassy meadows, hike among snow-capped peaks, enjoy superb meals and finish each day at legendary hotels. |
| Dates: Year round |
Prices from: $1,995 | |
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| Dream Car Driving: Rockies Winter |
| Take in the vast panorama of the Canadian Rockies as you drive along spectacular winding mountain roads. Cruise along the famed Icefields Parkway behind the wheel of a high performance BMW, take in the picturesque Alpine lakes and grassy meadows, hike among snow-capped peaks, enjoy superb meals and finish each day at legendary hotels |
| Dates: Oct-May |
Prices from: $1,995 | |
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| Dream Car Driving: Switzerland by Porsche |
| Switzerland has so much more to offer than just chocolate and cuckoo clocks. Explore the heart of the country with its fjord-like lakes and Alpine scenery in a mid-engined Porsche, from the winding country roads around Lake Zurich to the spectacular scenery around Vitznau on the Lucerne Riviera. |
| Dates: May-Oct |
Prices from: $2,995 | |
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| Epicurean Journeys: India |
| Journey from Tamil Nadu (home to vegetarianism) to Chettinad (with the most aromatic dishes), from South Kerala (with its tropical fruits) to North Kerala (with its unique Moplah cuisine), from Jaipur (with its delicate Rajasthani dishes) to Agra (with its magnificent biryanis) and finish in vibrant Delhi. |
Dates: Sep-May |
Prices from: $7,995 | |
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| Epicurean Journeys: Indochina |
| The supernal flavours of the Asian palate are as brilliant as the landscapes in which they are savoured. Explore the markets of Luang Prabang, shop with a famous Vietnamese chef in Saigon, float down the Mekong river past lush rice paddies and take in the sunset over the sprawling ruins of Angkor Wat. |
| Dates: Sep - Apr |
Prices from: $4,995 | |
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| Epicurean Journeys: Morocco |
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| Inhale the peregrine scents of the Marrakech spice market as you weave through intricately woven alleys in the company of an accomplished chef. Emerge from the colourful maze into the Place Djemaa el Fna, a hive of local bounty and culinary fervour just as the haunting call to prayer fills the air. |
| Dates: Oct - May |
Prices from: $4,995 |
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| Epicurean Journeys: Normandy |
| The gastronomic traditions of Northern France. Our culinary adventures will include a visit to a dairy farm in Camembert, shucking Oysters on the pier with a Cancale fisherman, a Calvados tasting in an ancient orchard, negotiating for truffles in open air markets and invitations into the homes of local food stylists, wine makers and chefs. Slow down the daily pace to merge with that of the local villagers, share the joy of an unhurried dinner over a vintage wine, and return home with a healthy portion of joie de vivre clinging to your spirit. |
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| Family Expeditions: Chile |
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Explore the ends of Chile's sinewy geographical makeup, from the arid landscapes of the northern Atacama desert to the southern shimmering lakes, mountains and jagged peaks of Patagonia where you will spend a few days in luxury yurts on the edge of the incomparable Torres del Paine national Park. |
| Dates: Nov-Apr |
Prices from: $5,350 | |
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| Family Expeditions: Darwin's Cruise |
| If someone deserves credit for changing the modern views of what happens around us, it must be given to Charles Darwin. With his theory of evolution by means of natural selection, Darwin was able to explain the dilemma about where species come from, and how they interact with their surrounding environment. In this journey, explore the lands that gave him the same inspiration, onboard the expedition vessel M/V Santa Cruz and the Finch Bay Ecohotel. Come with us and rediscover Galapagos....in Darwin's Footsteps. |
| Dates: Mar 26 - Apr 02, 2009 |
Prices: $4,245 | |
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| Family Expeditions: Honduras |
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Honduras is diverse enough to comprise three different worlds: the Caribbean, the Mayan, and tropical Nature. Soak in the sun off the Bay Islands in the Caribbean, home to the world's second-largest coral reef; tour the famous Mayan ruins at Copán, and journey through the rich wetlands lining the north and south coasts. |
| Dates: Nov-Apr |
Prices from: $3,250 | |
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| Family Expeditions: Panama Explorer |
| Discover the charms that Panama has to offer from its stunning coastline of palm-fringed beaches, its astounding wildlife - boasting an incredible diversity of tropical birds - and its proud, vibrant indigenous peoples. While there, you'll find it hard to shake the inescapable feeling that you're in on a secret the rest of the traveling world has yet to discover. |
| Dates: Nov-Apr, 2008 |
Prices from: $4,650 |
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| Foreluxury Golf: Classic Scotland |
| Scotland is a land of legend and romance. Its castles were once a stage for heroic struggles, its cities are among Europe's most dynamic, and its countryside is filled with rolling highlands, remote lochs and incomparable golf courses. For the avid golfer, Scotland remains, as ever, the soul of the game of golf. |
| Dates: May - Sep |
Prices from: $6,995 | |
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| Foreluxury Golf: Ryder Cup FIT |
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Watch three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo captain Europe into battle against Paul Azinger and his American team. From the Opening Ceremonies to the Saturday Foursome Matches and the Final Day singles matches, enjoy one of golf's premier events on this independent self-drive itinerary. |
| Dates: Sep 17-22 |
Prices from: $2,995 | |
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| Luxury Adventure - Patagonia |
Patagonia Wilderness Walks. Patagonia is a hauntingly beautiful, totally unspoiled place, a land brimming with natural wonders almost too magnificent to be believed. Join us on our new travesia (literally, "long journey") along the scenic shores of Lake Pehoe and you’ll be rendered speechless by the sight of the jagged granite spires of Chile's Torres del Paine national park and the glaciers of Argentina's Los Glaciares national park. Complementing this natural extravaganza are the incomparable luxuries of the Explora lodge, which has “artfully merged the marvels of the otherworldly surroundings with the pleasures of a civilized hotel experience,” according to the Hideaway Report. |
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| Luxury Adventure - Pushkar Camel Fair |
| Imagine the scene at dusk on the steps of an ancient temple on the banks of Pushkar's sacred lake, created, according to legend, when a lotus blossom dropped from the hand of God Brahma into the Pushkar valley. Suddenly, the ululations of an itinerant sadhu ring out through the evening air as the golden haze is parted by a line of camels stretching over the horizon. The Pushkar Camel fair is the world's largest, held in the desert state of Rajasthan, and attended by camel traders, Hindu pilgrims, Rajput warriors, enterprising mendicants and you. |
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| Luxury Adventure: Atacama |
| Atacama is a hauntingly beautiful, totally unspoiled place, a land brimming with natural wonders almost too magnificent to be believed. The Atacam Desert, girded on both sides by soaring Andeean peaks, is the driest desert on earth, a virtually rainless plateau made up of salt basins, sand and lava flows. Complementing this natural extravaganza are the incomparable luxuries of the Explora lodge, which has “artfully merged the marvels of the otherworldly surroundings with the pleasures of a civilized hotel experience,” according to the Hideaway Report. |
| Dates: Dec-Apr |
Prices from: $5,995 | |
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| Luxury Adventure: Vietnam |
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The Pearl of Indochina - Imagine a woman working in an emerald-green rice field in an isolated village on the Mekong Delta. She wears a traditional conical hat to protect her lustrous dark hair from the tropical sun as she works. Suddenly, she looks up and dazzles you with the most radiant smile you have ever seen. Her natural grace, her other-worldly serenity and her joyous spirit encapsulates the complex character of Vietnam, a land of both immense beauty and immeasurable sadness. |
| Dates: Jan-Apr/Sep-Dec |
Prices from: $3,450 | |
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| Luxury Adventure: Yukon |
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Adventure in the Midnight Sun – In the summer months, the landscape of the Canadian Arctic becomes aglow with light. Join us as we tee off for a round of golf under the midnight sun, sample arctic char in the heart of Whitehorse, raft through the rushing whitewaters of the Tatshenshini, and pan for gold like the gold-seekers of 1897 complete with hip waders and pick-axe – pure adventure. |
| Dates: Jun-Sep |
Prices from: $2,980 | |
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| Luxury Adventures: Arctic Ice |
| There is no more romantic experience on earth than sleeping on spruce bows beside a wood-burning stove in an authentic prospector’s tent under the shimmering Northern Lights. The swish of your dogsled, a private wilderness camp for two, a luxurious post and beam lodge and a bushplane flight across the permafrost... |
| Dates: Jan-Apr, 2008 |
Prices from: $4,850 | |
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| Luxury Adventures: Bhutan |
| Experience the mesmerizing Shangri-la of Bhutan, where the culture runs pure, the wilderness remains pristine, and the people remain among the most spiritual on earth. Embark on a magical journey from remote cliff side monasteries and dizzying snow-capped peaks to lush river valleys and vibrant medieval villages. |
| Dates: Oct-May, 2008 |
Prices from: $3,995 | |
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| Luxury Adventures: Indian Himalayas |
| High up in the foothills of the Himalayas, where rhododendron forests carpet hillsides and slate pathways connect ancient villages, a new luxury travel experience is being born. Join us as we walk along ancient paths with expert guides, enjoy the hospitality of local families and unwind at a decadent new mountain retreat. |
| Dates: Sep - May, 2008 |
Prices from: $4,950 | |
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