ESCORTED TOURS 2020-2021 “Adventure by day, luxury by night” Dear traveller, In 1962, I founded Abercrombie & Kent with nothing more than a game-changing idea, a refrigerated ex-Army truck, and $100 in my pocket. A&K pioneered a new way to travel, one that combines authentic local access with five-star style, and unparalleled expertise. Today, our escorted tours, which still reflect that nearly 60-year-old ethos of excellence, illuminate the world’s most inspiring places in a style in which you have always longed to experience them. Carefully designed by A&K experts in more than 55 offices in over 30 countries around the globe, any of the escorted tours in this brochure make for the journey of a lifetime. Choose from two types of tours: in-depth Immersive Journeys, on which early-booking solo travellers pay no single supplement; and faster-paced Luxury Small Group Journeys, which feature the VIP Travelling Bellboy® and Traveller’s Valet® services. Whichever you opt for, you will travel in a small group of no more than 18, on an itinerary that balances must-see sites with overlooked attractions known only to the The itinerary, resident locals. You’ll tailor your journey to your interests with the Design your Day® concept, available on all tours in 2020. Your resident tour director will imbue each visit with tour director, and my his or her unique perspective, while a handpicked luxury hotel, wilderness lodge, or sanctuary-like river boat will provide a comfortable retreat at day’s end. fellow travellers were We hope you’re inspired to start thinking about your next luxury adventure on an all factors that made escorted tour with A&K. for a joyful, relaxing, As always, I wish you happy travels… yet educational experience. It was my first A&K escorted tour, but it definitely Geoffrey Kent won’t be my last Founder, Chairman & CEO Abercrombie & Kent Ms D, 2019 Follow @geoffrey_kent on Instagram Call 01242 547 892, visit abercrombiekent.co.uk/escortedtours, or speak to one of our trusted travel agent partners 3 Contents INTRODUCTION EUROPE Letter from Geoffrey Kent ........................................................ 3 The Treasures of Russia ...........................................................58 Why travel with A&K ............................................................... 6 Why an A&K Escorted Tour .................................................... 8 INDIAN SUBCONTINENT Design your Day® ....................................................................10 Splendours of the Golden Triangle .......................................62 Luxury accommodation .........................................................12 The Secrets of Southern India ................................................66 Extend your journey & book your flights with A&K .........13 The Spice Lands of Sri Lanka .................................................70 Immersive Journeys ................................................................14 Luxury Small Group Journeys ...............................................15 SOUTH-EAST ASIA & THE FAR EAST A&K Philanthropy ..................................................................16 The Wonders of China ............................................................74 Why choose an A&K safari ....................................................18 Across China: Tibet & the Yangtze .......................................78 Deciding on your safari destination ......................................19 Journey Through Japan: From Tokyo to Kyoto ...................82 Classic Japan .............................................................................86 AFRICA Rhythms of South-East Asia ..................................................88 South Africa & Victoria Falls .................................................20 Images of Indochina & Angkor Wat ..........................................92 Botswana Safari in Style ..........................................................22 Cruising the Mekong: Siam, Saigon & Angkor Wat ...........94 The Great Migration Safari in Style .......................................26 Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safari..........................................30 LATIN AMERICA Climb Kilimanjaro: Summiting the Machame Route .........34 Peru’s Ancient Marvels ...........................................................98 A Naturalist’s Guide to Madagascar Inside Tracks in Argentina & Brazil ....................................102 with Dr Charlie Gardner ........................................................38 Marvels of Chile .....................................................................106 NORTH AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST FURTHER INFORMATION Egypt: Cairo & Cruising the Nile ..........................................40 Calendar .................................................................................110 Jordan: Petra & Beyond ..........................................................44 Terms & conditions ...............................................................112 Splendours of Oman: City, Mountain & Desert ..................48 Ways to travel .........................................................................115 The Delights of Morocco ........................................................52 Israel: Crossroads of History ..................................................56 4 Call 01242 547 892, visit abercrombiekent.co.uk/escortedtours, or speak to one of our trusted travel agent partners Call 01242 547 892, visit abercrombiekent.co.uk/escortedtours, or speak to one of our trusted travel agent partners 5 Why travel with A&K A&K is the world’s leading luxury travel company. With over 55 years of experience, more than 55 offices around the world, and a renowned network of connections, only A&K can take you to the heart of a destination with the privilege of authentic, local access AWARD-WINNING PEACE OF MIND A&K’s service and reputation are tested every day When you book with A&K, you can do so by the most discerning critics: our clients. Time and with complete confidence. We’re ATOL (Air again, we pass with flying colours. Travellers who Travel Organiser’s Licence) affiliated and ABTA choose A&K often write to tell us they’re now too (Association of British Travel Agents) bonded. spoilt to travel with anyone else. Both ATOL and ABTA offer travellers forms of Our guests vote for us too – thanks to those who protection to ensure that your money is protected have journeyed with us, we have won distinctions from the moment you pay your deposit until the that include ‘Best Tour Operator 2018’ in the Luxury instant you return from your holiday. Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards. In 2018, These schemes differ depending on the type of A&K was ‘Best Luxury Tour Operator’ for the third transportation that is included in your holiday. time at the annual News UK Travel Awards, voted Managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, ATOL- for by the readers of The Times, The Sunday Times, protected holidays include flights. ABTA-covered and The Sunday Times Travel Magazine. holidays include rail, cruise, or self-drive elements, Among our peers, we are consistently recognised but no air travel. ABTA protection is both legal and as the gold standard for luxury travel. In 2019, for financial in nature and being associated with the the 10th consecutive year, A&K was voted ‘Africa’s most-recognisable name in the industry means that Leading Luxury Tour Operator’ at the World we adhere to a code of conduct that demands the Travel Awards. highest professional standards. Additionally, we’re proudly part of IATA WINNER (International Air Transport Association) and AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators). World’s Leading Tour Operator World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company BEST LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR BY TRAVELLERS, FOR TRAVELLERS ACCESS & AUTHENTICITY When Geoffrey Kent was 16 years old, he rode a A&K works tirelessly to design adventures you won’t motorbike from Nairobi to Cape Town. On this be able to undertake with any other tour provider, 3,000-mile journey of self-discovery along some of thanks to our globe-spanning access. Underlying Africa’s most dangerous roads, the ethos on which each inspiring escorted tour is the most robust tour he would found A&K occurred to him: adventure by operator support network in the travel industry day, security and luxury by night. – more than 55 offices in more than 30 countries More than 55 years after our first pioneering around the world, all working 24/7 to uphold the safari in Africa in 1962, we’re still setting the same impeccable standards. Unlike our competitors, standard for adventurous, luxury escorted tours. we train and manage our own full-time staff, who A lot has changed in the intervening years, but we orchestrate every aspect of your journey with still want to take you down the road less-travelled precision and flexibility down to the last detail. by devising unique, meticulously planned journeys At A&K, we forge lasting, one-on-one into hard-to-reach wildernesses to commune with relationships with the people who know your authentic cultures. destination best, from craftspeople and chiefs to Nearly six decades later, with Geoffrey Kent experts in local art and history. Our itineraries are still at the helm, we have grown into a family of the result of the authentic connections established over 2,500 luxury travel specialists. These experts between our experts and the friendly, hospitable are devoted to making your holiday dreams an local people who lend your journey a unique and unforgettable reality.