Travellers seeking the ultimate global experience should look no further: luxury travel specialists TCS World Travel have created a jaw-dropping 24-day, all-inclusive package taking in nine world-famous destinations and 14 iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
A specially-appointed Boeing 757 with just 80 seats (just one-third of the usual number) with onboard executive chef will take guests from one spectacular destination to the next in the height of luxury. Expert guides accompany guests at all stops, and travellers can choose from multiple experiences at most destinations.
Only three tours will take place between now and 2019, the first starting September 2018; the next in January 2019 and the last in September 2019 – so it’s worth moving fast to secure one of the extremely limited places.
DAYS 2-4: CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU, PERU
Once departed from Fort Lauderdale, USA, the jet touches down in Peru. A privately chartered train – the luxury wood-panelled Belmond Hiram Bingham – will take guests through the scenic Sacred Valley of the Inca to Machu Picchu, which has been declared one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Accommodation: Cusco’s all-suite Belmond Palacio Nazarenas hotel, once a 16th-century Carmelite convent which now boasts a tranquil pool and round-the-clock butler service.
DAYS 5-6: EASTER ISLAND, CHILE
The globally recognisable 20-tonne moai monuments – left behind by the ancient Rapa Nui Polynesians – dominate the landscape of Easter Island. A former governor of the island will recount the story of this now-vanished people, before guests head to Ahu Tahai, the site of the now-restored statues, and Rano Rakaru, a quarry filled with half-completed works.
Accommodation: Hangoroa Eco Village & Spa, a relaxing hotel constructed from natural materials reflecting the heritage of the surrounding area.
DAYS 7-8: APIA, SAMOA
Polynesian culture is at the forefront of the next stop, where travellers are treated to a festive fia fia dinner and fire-dance display, watch a demonstration of traditional Samoan tattoo art and learn more about island life and local crafts from a Samoan Women’s Committee.
Accommodation: Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort, a quiet retreat with an old-world feel.
DAYS 9-10: GREAT BARRIER REEF
On the Australian stop, travellers can don snorkels and flippers for a guided tour of the corals, tropical fish, whales and turtles of the Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, there’s the option to tour the Daintree rainforest with an aboriginal guide from the Kuku Yalanji people.
Accommodation: Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa is set on ten secluded acres on Four Mile Beach, with lush gardens and a lagoon-type pool.
DAYS 11-13: ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
Travellers alight in Cambodia to tour the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat, the home of the ancient Khmer Empire – which includes a 13th-century Hindu temple, the largest religious monument in the world.
Accommodation: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor sits ten minutes from the UNESCO site, with restored colonial-era architecture and a pool inspired by the ancient royal bathing spaces nearby.
DAYS 14-15: TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this gigantic, romantic mausoleum dazzles visitors with its size, stillness and exquisite interior craftsmanship. Rising early to watch the sun rise over its white marble domes is a must.
Accommodation: Overlooking the Taj Mahal itself, the Oberoi Amarvilas hotel is almost as stunning as its neighbour, with sumptuous Mughal-inspired gardens and richly detailed interiors.
DAYS 16-18: SERENGETI PLAIN, TANZANIA
Guests alight in the African continent and head out on safari to Tanzania’s biggest national park in search of the ‘Big Five’: lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos. A balloon ride elevates the views to new heights.
Accomodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti offers luxury in the wilderness.
DAYS 19-20: THE LOST CITY OF PETRA, JORDAN
Half-built, half-carved into red sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans over two millennia ago, the Lost City of Petra is guaranteed to take visitors’ breath away with its sheer scale. Of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it’s the third visited on this tour. A 4×4 expedition covers the landscapes of Wadi Rum, made famous by the movie ‘Laurence of Arabia’.
Accommodation: just a short journey from the ancient city, the comfortable Mövenpick Petra hotel is richly furnished to reflect the heritage of its surroundings.
DAYS 21-22: MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
The tour finishes with a slow wander around the medinas, marketplaces and carefully preserved Islamic architecture of Marrakech, before guests board a plane to return to a farewell dinner in Fort Lauderdale. Alternatively, guests can opt to visit a Berber village in the Atlas mountains.
Accommodation: La Mamounia is an exquisite, orange blossom-scented retreat which combines royal Moroccan luxury with Berber furnishings.
