Abercrombie & Kent Releases Details on 2014 Small Group Journeys

Here's good news for fans of small group tours: Abercrombie & Kent is introducing some new options while leaving prices as they are. A&K’s 2014 Luxury Small Group Journeys cover more than 40 itineraries, including new destinations like Tibet and Sicily. Bonus: The company’s signature African safaris have also been restructured for greater flexibility.

 

We're especially intrigued by two new features that give a real sense of place: Ride Like a Local and Chef’s Table. Guests can see Mumbai from one of India’s ubiquitous three-wheeled tuk-tuks or explore Ho Chi Minh City from a pedal-powered cyclo. In Israel, a chef can demonstrate cooking middle-eastern cuisine in her home, and a South African sommelier can share tips on how to pair local wines with your meal. 

For 2014, A&K will decrease the group size to 12-18 guests, including cruises. This smaller group size will make it easier to stay in intimate, upscale lodgings and sites that are not available to larger groups. Details like private airport transfers, gratuities and complimentary Internet access are all included, and every trip is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of two guests.

New Programs Include:

The Great Migration Safari in Style – Follow the route of the annual spectacle on a seasonally adjusted itinerary through the greatest game reserves in Kenya and Tanzania. Personalize the safari by choosing from two styles of accommodations:

·         Luxury Lodge Edition includes secluded, eco-friendly luxury lodges and permanent tented camps. 

·         Under Canvas Edition brings guests to luxury tented camps.

Myanmar & the Ayeyarwady – Float along the Ayeyarwady River on a three-night cruise aboard ‘Road to Mandalay,’ then see the area's 2,000 pagodas and temples of Bagan from a hot air balloon. 

China, Tibet & the Yangtze – Discover Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, on a three-night stay in Lhasa. (Guests get a private tour of the Terra Cotta Warriors with an on-site archaeologist.) Visit the Panda Research Center to learn about the endangered animal and its natural habitat. Take a private boat in Leshan to see the largest stone-carved Buddha in the world. 

Botswana & Zambia: River Safari & Cruise – Explore the Okavango Delta, Chobe, Victoria Falls and South Luangwa, some of Africa’s last remaining wilderness areas. Relax on a three-night cruise aboard the ‘Zambezi Queen’ on the Chobe River. Search for wildlife on day and night game drives in customized 4WD vehicles, by mokoro (dug-out canoe), and even on foot. 

Costa Rica: Nature’s Riches from Coast to Coast – Explore the varied habitats from the Pacific to the Caribbean. Meet an original Quaker settler and learn about the country’s history firsthand. Learn about how coffee and chocolate are grown and taste the results. The Family version of this journey offers  educational activities for younger travelers. 

Sicily: From the Mountains to the Sea – Learn the history and elaborate process to create Marsala wine. Visit a traditional Sicilian puppet maker. Explore Mount Etna, taking in the views along the way. Try a private chocolate making demonstration and tasting. Explore some of Europe’s most interesting archaeological sites. 

Ten Family Journeys featured in A&K’s Luxury Small Group Journeys portfolio are designed with families in mind: They take place over holidays and school breaks, include entertaining and age-appropriate activities such as scavenger hunts, cooking and craft lessons and wildlife encounters, and have a dedicated Children’s Activity Coordinator on many departures. 

Good to know: Not every date works for every traveller, so A&K offers guests the option to ‘Take This Journey Private,’ guaranteeing the same experiences on an independent journey. And following the success of the guaranteed group extensions introduced last year, A&K is expanding the choices for 2014. 

For more information, visit www.abercrombiekent.com.