USA Self-Drive Family Vacation

USA Self-drive Family Vacation

San Francisco – Yosemite – Mammoth Lakes – Las Vegas – Zion – Bryce – Monument Valley – Grand Canyon – Kingman – Los Angeles

If you’re looking for a family adventure during the Easter or Summer holidays then this highlights itinerary is the perfect mix of cities, deserts, and nature. Starting in San Francisco, you’ll take part in a treasure hunt through the city before heading inland to explore plunging canyons, towering rock formations, and the bright lights of Las Vegas. You’ll end your trip in Los Angeles with a foodie tour through a local farmers market, sampling everything from cheese to chocolate – a sure-fire hit with all ages!

Deep South Delta Blues Tour in America

Deep South Delta Blues Tour

Enjoy a self-guided odyssey through the Deep South, and a taste of genuine Southern hospitality, as you explore the unique cultural landscape and often sobering history that crafted America’s musical legacy.

You’ll learn the leading figures behind the American Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta and Birmingham, their stories, and tragedies. You’ll travel back to a refined, romantic era with a memorable riverboat dinner cruise along Old Man Mississippi in New Orleans. And you’ll compare the lavish lifestyles of the inhabitants with the hardships of their slaves at well-preserved plantations.

Just a few of the many highlights on this tour include the elegant French Quarter and Garden District of New Orleans, and visits to Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo and his mansion, Graceland. You can stop at the crossroads where the legendary Blues guitarist Robert Johnson is said to have made his infamous deal with the devil, or the Sun Studio in Memphis, through whose doors many of the greatest names in music have walked.

Naturally, no effort to trace America’s musical heritage could ignore Nashville, the heart and soul of Country, where you might catch a show at a traditional honky-tonk, or even join in a spot of line dancing.

Alongside several included excursions, such as Graceland and the dinner cruise, your self-guided itinerary could also feature the Gibson guitar factory in Memphis, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, or the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. You might wander historic districts around Natchez that were immortalized by Mark Twain, catch live jazz in a bustling Bourbon Street hangout, or wander filming locations from ‘The Walking Dead’ in Atlanta – no doubt about it, this Deep South road-trip will have your feet tapping.

Small Group Tour in Brazil

Small Group Tour in Brazil

Over the course of two weeks on this small group trip to Brazil you will see one of the world’s largest and most beautiful waterfalls, ride a speedboat through the canals and creeks of the Amazon Forest, track caiman by night, learn how to catch a piranha fish, and sip a freshly made caipirinha while overlooking the Atlantic in Rio de Janeiro. Pretty special, right?

Your adventures begin in Salvador, among Brazil’s most historic cities and a jumble of cobbled streets and faded colonial architecture, a delight to wander with a camera swinging from your arm. From Salvador you’ll fly on to Manaus, with its famous Opera House, and the gateway to the mighty Amazon Rainforest. Soon you’ll be skipping along the water headed for a remote jungle lodge, which will be your base for some fascinating walks by day and night in search of the Amazon’s colourful wildlife.

Very few visitors make it as far as the Pantanal Reserve, so remote is it. Yet this is a treasure trove of biodiversity, with hundreds of species of bird – many of which you’ll hear singing as you relax in a hammock at sunset. In Pantanal you’ll head out in small boats for a spot of piranha fishing. Let’s hope they only bite the bait!

You continue on to the immense Iguazu Falls, a staggering natural spectacle, surrounded by spray-soaked forest where toucans, parrots and hummingbirds fly. There is the option here of taking a helicopter flight overhead for amazing panoramic views.

Finally, the tour comes to an end but what a place to end it: Rio de Janeiro, among the world’s most exciting destinations, where you might catch a samba show, take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain, or simply toast your fellow travellers with a few cocktails before saying your goodbyes.

Oman and Dubai Vacation

Oman and Dubai Vacation

This 11 day Oman and Dubai holiday include luxurious stays at the Park Hyatt in Dubai and Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman.

Just next to Dubai Creek, its golf club, and the marina, the Park Hyatt is a quiet haven in this busy city. Designed in contemporary Arabic style, it’s a low-rise building – unusual in Dubai – with five floors surrounded by gardens and courtyards. There’s an excellent spa here, a beautiful pool, and lots of dining options here serving Thai, French and Arabic food. Rooms are spacious, with balconies or patios, in eight buildings dotted around the resort.

There are plenty of excursions to enjoy from the hotel. Take an off-road adventure into the desert, see traditional villages, the ancient fossil rock, and the fort at 16th-century Hatta Heritage Village. Take a cruise through Dubai on a traditional dhow, too, admiring this prosperous city from the water.

After four days in Dubai, you’ll travel to Oman to stay at Six Senses Zighy Bay. This is a remote resort, beautifully designed using traditional techniques and materials – natural stone, warm wood – sitting within a bay backed by mountains. You reach the hotel by speedboat or 4×4 unless you’re feeling very James Bond, in which case you can paraglide down from the mountains! Relaxing is easy once here – there is even a private butler service. This is a serene place, with a wonderful spa that uses Omani natural ingredients, and there’s also the chance to hike, cycle or climb in the mountains, snorkel, or take a cookery course.

Palestine and Israel Small Group Tour

Palestine and Israel Small Group Tour

There is no doubt that this is a troubled region, for centuries the land and holy sites have been fought over and today is no different. With two nations laying claim to the region it can be a difficult land to travel through, not due to safety concerns but due to walls and checkpoints. With this small-group tour, we hope to take you across the checkpoints, travel on both Israeli and Palestinian roads, and give you an insight into the current situation faced by locals in their daily lives. We will also visit historical sites, Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, and Crusader halls as well as take in the beautiful countryside.

Our tour takes in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Hebron where we see ancient history and Biblical sites as well as meeting local people living in refugee camps and in the shadow of the separation wall. We also head away from the tourist trail to the villages of Battir and Taybeh taking the time to stop for a brewery tour and wine tasting. In the north, we visit the Golan Heights, a beautiful rural Syrian area as well as the Mediterranean towns of Haifa and Acre.

Staying in local hotels, eating traditional food, and traveling in a small group we hope to provide a great introduction for you to the area as well as increasing awareness and providing tourism to areas and people who will benefit from it.

Kiev and Chernobyl Tour

Kiev and Chernobyl Group Tour

An exclusive and unique small-group tour visiting the colourful and welcoming city of Kiev and fascinating Chernobyl. Explore the Ukranian capital of Kiev, a pleasant city boasting the golden spires of St Michael’s Cathedral, the wide streets and exclusive houses in the elite Vozdvizhenka district and the ancient cupolas of St Sophia’s.

From the city head to Chernobyl, site of the worst environmental disaster in human history. Explore the various parts of the exclusion zone, visiting the school, sports centre and fairground to see the devestation of the event and how nature has since begun to re-claim the site. Meet with some of the ‘self-settlers’, people who have since returned and settled in the zone. These people are often from the older generation returning to their historic homes: learn about everyday life in the zone and how these resilient locals pursue a lifestyle many would never consider. Spend the night in a small hotel built for scientific advisors before returning to explore the capital a little further.

This unique tour is designed to provide visitors with a fascinating contrast between the beauty and impressive scale of the the colourful capital of Kiev with Chernobyl, site of a disaster that rocked the Soviet Union leaving the area still in recovery.

Mont Blanc Vacation

Mont Blanc Vacation

Western Europe’s highest mountain is surrounded by seven beautiful valleys, and the Mont Blanc circuit follows the paths that link them together. The full circuit takes around two weeks to complete – but this week-long Tour du Mont Blanc holiday is perfect with those for less time, as it is based in the charming town of Chamonix, and takes minibusses out each day to explore the diverse highlights of the circuit. Each day you’ll walk a different section of the Tour du Mont Blanc, ensuring you take in the most outstanding landscapes that this route has to offer.

You’ll walk between 9 and 16km each day, over five days, and while there are some steep ascents, you’ll stay at a comfortably low altitude – although there is an optional cable car ride from Chamonix up to 3,842m on your free day, for spectacular views of Mont Blanc. Each day, you’ll experience different terrains and vistas – crossing into Switzerland for views of Mont Blanc’s glaciers and the Swiss Alps, trekking up to mountain refuges, and traversing Alpine meadows and natural reserves. You’ll pass quaint farmhouses and idyllic hamlets, look out for ibex and walk around mountain lakes.

Your base for the week is the delightful Chalet Chamonix, which enjoys its own views of the mountains, and after your trek, you’ll be glad of the chalet’s soothing Jacuzzi at the end of the day.

Catalan Horse Riding Vacation in Spain

Catalan Horse Riding Vacation in Spain

If you’re interested in horse riding holidays, Spain, Catalonia in particular, is a great place to get started. This eight-day horse riding holiday in Spain is ideal for beginners as well as seasoned riders as we have an excellent choice of horses from youthful stallions to experienced mares and we’ll do our very best to match riders with a horse that bests suits their abilities and physicality.

Catalan horse riding lessons take place in the ring whilst trekking, jumping, western, dressage, and buggy rides can all be built into your day-to-day activities. The surrounding Catalan countryside is perfect for horse riding holidays and includes a local river where you can swim with the horses as well as volcanic trails, Pyrenean foothills, and the chance to take an evening ride in the buggy to a nearby restaurant.

Treks over a few days can be arranged for those who like to get out and explore whilst our base is a comfortable 3-star country hotel which features a swimming pool and sauna alongside a massage service, perfect for relaxing after a good day spent Catalan horse riding.

Families are always welcome and we have a suitable pony for kids under five. We can also organize numerous optional extra activities, including Spanish lessons, mountain biking, quad-biking, ropes courses, kayaking, paintball sessions, and visits to Girona, Barcelona, and Besalu.

Guests will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a national equestrian coach, Rafa Rodriguez, who was part of the Spanish Equestrian Federation and UNED University.

Rafa has been a Spanish champion in jumping and western several times and loves to coach kids and adults in the skills of dressage, jumping, and western, as well as teaching students how to become horse riding coaches themselves. As well as speaking good English, Rafa also speaks Castillian and Catalan and has many fascinating and fun folklore stories to relay as he takes groups horse riding in the beautiful surrounding countryside.

A tailor-made bed and breakfast rate with a choice of horse riding activities can also be arranged, as well as shorter stays.

How to get here:
The train from London takes 10hrs.
Flights from London to Girona or Barcelona take 2hrs.

Lanzarote Villa Vacation with Music Festival

Lanzarote Villa Vacation with Music Festival

Eco Lava Fest, hosted at the amazing villa Palacio, on the island of Lanzarote.

Lanzarote Retreats specialists in event organizing have put together an amazing itinerary, filled with great food and incredible experiences. All of which are included in your weekend package (unless stated otherwise). This gives you great value for money and you have the chance to see Lanzarote as a local rather than a tourist!

The itinerary provides you with the opportunity to explore the neighboring island of la Graciosa, stunning viewpoints, and local markets.

On a Friday evening, we will host our very own music event, with live bands, DJs, drinks, locally cooked food…

Come and visit the stunning traditional island of Lanzarote, and enjoy this exclusive experience not to miss.

This amazing weekend is a perfect gift for your loved one or comes along with friends.

If you have any questions or requests do get in touch and the Lanzarote Team will be able to help you plan your visit.

Russia Culture and History Vacation

Russia Culture and History Vacation

From Moscow to Vladimir to Suzdal, then on to Nizhny Novgorod, Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan, this tour takes you around Russia’s iconic Golden Ring, and by doing so traces not just the country’s historic, religious and cultural development but also the world’s.

In Moscow, you’ll enjoy an enthralling guided tour of the capital, including Lubyanka Square and the fabulous Moscow Underground, which surely is the most unique metro system in the world with its mosaics, stained glass, and bronze sculptures. Red Square, a must-see landmark, is surrounded by magnificent architecture including the Kremlin towers, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the Lenin Mausoleum.

The next stop is one of Russia’s former medieval capitals, Vladimir. A tour of the city unveils its treasures one exciting and informative glimpse at a time, including the Golden Gates, Assumption Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St Demetrius.

You’ll transfer overnight to the beautiful museum-city of Suzdal, with its churches, monasteries, and markets – a pleasure to explore the following day.

From Suzdal, you’ll transfer to Nizhny Novgorod, one of the oldest cities in Russia, where you’ll explore the Novgorod Kremlin, Yaroslav’s Courtyard, and the Yuriev Monastery before continuing on to the lesser-visited, but nonetheless unique, cities of Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan.

An overnight train back to Moscow allows you to complete this small group history and culture tour of Russia in style.