Leading luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has just released its new portfolio of luxury private journeys through Europe. The collection comprises ready-to-book holidays to more than 30 captivating countries from the Nordic regions of the north to the sparkling Mediterranean in the south, the vast expanse of Russia and the Caucasus region to the Baltic nations of central Europe.
The collection offers an almost limitless number of options for travelling in style across the continent and beyond, putting all that makes the region so unique and front and centre. There are more than 20 ready-to-book private journeys mapped out in the brochure for individual travellers as well as luxury rail and river options, and many more available online.
A&K’s Europe Product Manager, Robina Frosinini, lived and worked in Italy for 10 years, has been visiting the continent since 1994 and is fluent in the language. Her intimate local knowledge has shaped this portfolio and it is A&K’s most extensive ever. She has combined new destinations and itineraries with those that are tried and tested combining remarkable sites accessed through private viewings and behind-the-scenes visits with experiences that take travellers well off the beaten path. She knows just how to see the blockbuster sights without the crowds, can access those little-known galleries and museums where priceless exhibits reveal Europe’s finest artistic talent, where to appreciate the finest orchestral performances or the best gastronomic guide for a food walk through urban markets and produce stores.
When asked for her favourites from the new collection, Robina quoted Goethe, “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything!”. She puts the 10-day Splendours of Sicily journey at the top of her list saying, “Sicily is a remarkable island brimming with culture, a rich history, fascinating art, architecture and archaeology, innovative cuisine and wines – all thanks to centuries of occupation. Plus, the landscape is truly breathtaking and I’ve added an exploration of Mt Etna by jeep to the journey which gives unbelievable views of the whole island.”
Robina is a passionate art enthusiast so, “It was an easy decision”, she says, “to design the new 13-day Treasures of the Low Countries around visits to the Rijksmuseum, the Mauritshuis Museum, and the homes and museums dedicated to iconic artists Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Rubens. I designed the itinerary to offer a diversity of experience in terms of culture, history, landscape and cuisine. The architecture of Amsterdam with its tall rows of brightly painted buildings is a delightful contrast to the Art Nouveau style of Horta House in Brussels and the impressive castles and grand sophistication of Luxembourg. One of the highlights, for me, is a cruise along the treelined Amsterdam canals by private boat, because the perspective of the city by water is so magical.”
What’s New in Europe?
Azerbaijan, part of A&K’s 2020 Hot List, is one of the new destinations and has been combined with Georgia and Armenia to form a 17-day cross-Caucasus adventure. The region is right on trend at the moment thanks to a wealth of remarkable sites and a variety of experiences. This is old world Europe without the crowds. Travellers can expect dramatic mountain scenery, ancient winemaking traditions, traditional handicrafts, a rich musical heritage and in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, extraordinary futuristic architecture.
A&K’s 17-day Ancient Crossroads: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia journey is priced from $13,540 per person twin share.
While London is one of the world’s most visited cities, A&K delves beyond the obvious in its new U.K. journey. Hand-picked hidden gems like the Wallace Collection in London and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford are featured with walking tours and stunning hotel stays in properties that are themselves destinations like The Bloomsbury Hotel and Gravetye Manor in the picturesque Sussex Downs. Garden lovers will revel in the horticultural wonders of Gravetye while opera enthusiasts should plan at least one performance at Glyndebourne if travelling June-August.
A&K’s 10-day London & Southern England journey is priced from $9,315 per person twin share.
A&K’s Scandinavia offering has been enhanced with a new Nordic Adventure which offers a wide variety of experiences, from gracious Copenhagen and its royal heritage, to the raw landscapes of Iceland. This journey ticks all the Nordic boxes with street art and Scandi design, grand castles and iconic mountain rail trails and a snowmobile adventure to hidden ice caves. There’s a thermal dip in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, time to marvel at incredible geysers and waterfalls of the Golden Circle, the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo and a private backstage tour of the Royal Danish Opera House.
A&K’s 13-day Nordic Adventure: Denmark, Norway & Iceland journey is priced from $24,380 per person.
A&K Bespoke Journeys in Europe
In addition to the ready-to-book journeys, A&K gives travellers the tools to customise their own made-to-measure journeys with lists of the foremost sights and locations in each area, exceptional activities and exclusive opportunities to consider, a wider range of hand-picked accommodation choices as well as ideas for extending a journey to gain a deeper appreciation of the place. These ideas are provided to inspire guests who wish to develop their own bespoke journey in close consultation with their Travel Specialist.
Amongst A&K’s bespoke options in Europe are the following captivating activities, many of which are also included on A&K’s ready-to-book private journeys:
- A lively tour of Paris by night in an iconic Citroën 2CV.
- Dance lesson with a flamenco master over wine and tapas.
- A culinary exploration of Lisbon’s markets, eateries and barzinhos.
- Private whisky tasting at Edinburgh’s The Scotch Whisky Society.
- A backstage visit and performance of Moscow’s prestigious Bolshoi ballet.
- Search for the Northern Lights in handpicked locations across the Nordic north.
- Guided hike through the ancient oak woods of County Kerry.
To book your A&K itinerary today or to enquire further please contact Abercrombie & Kent on 1300 590 317 or visit abercrombiekent.com.au.
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