Spring/ Summer 2024 Travel News
April
Escorted Tour: Uncovering the Treasures of Georgia
Nestled between the subtropical Black Sea coast and the snowy peaks of the Caucasus, Georgia’s rich heritage has been hugely influenced by both Byzantine and Persian cultures. Its mix of natural beauty and medieval history makes it one of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating destinations. This unique tour explores ancient architecture in the vibrant Tbilisi Old Town; visits the famed ‘motherland of wine’, Alazani Valley, to view its treasured monasteries; and offers local led Georgian cooking classes. Delve into the Khevi Province, and enjoy breathtaking scenery before visiting Kazbegi, a small town with views of Mt. Kazbek, the mountain associated with the myth of Prometheus. The tour ends with two nights in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, exploring the Prometheus Caves and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Gelati Monastery.
How: 12 days, 7th April - 18th April, from £3,780 per person, including accommodation, daily meals, all entrance fees, excursions and local transportation with www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788
Japan - Cherry Blossom & Two New Hotel Openings
Voted best country in the world in 2023, Japan is touted as being one of the hottest destinations for 2024. Few months rival April when it comes to seeing Japan at its finest. Throughout the country, including the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the iconic cherry blossom is in full bloom. The locals celebrate by putting up beautiful Japanese lanterns and enjoy picnics below the pretty flowering trees. It’s a magical time to visit and requires booking well in advance.
Whilst the country as a whole is attracting tourists with its incredible history, architecture, nature and cuisine, it is Kyoto that The Ultimate Travel Company have their eye on. Once the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, it is steeped in history and culture, with 3,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, 16 of which are registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. However it is the arrival of two of the most exciting hotel openings of 2024; Six Senses Kyoto and Kyoto Higashiyama Banyan Tree, that have heads turning to this bustling city. Both hotels open in the Higashiyama district and are the first of their kind in Japan.
How: 5 nights at Six Senses, Kyoto from £4,939 including international flights with www.theultimatetravelcompany.com | +44 (0) 2045 252788
Borneo - Dry Season for Trekking
Borneo is now in its dry season, providing optimal conditions for guided rainforest treks in search of orangutans, proboscis monkeys and other intriguing, native wildlife. Those feeling extra adventurous can also climb the slopes of Mt Kinabalu to be rewarded by exquisite, far-reaching views. One day you may come face-to-face with an orang-utan. The next could see you standing at the mouth of a cave big enough to swallow St Paul’s Cathedral; watching in wonder as two million bats stream past you and into the darkening night sky. There is magic at every turn on your Ultimate Borneo holiday. From the Chinese temples of Kuching, to the expressive faces of the rescued orang-utans in the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Sanctuary. From the caves of Mulu and the wildlife of Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley to the snow white beaches of Gaya Island.
17 days from £6445 per person including domestic flights, private transfers, accommodation and activities, based on two people travelling www.theultimatetravelcompany.com | +44 (0) 2045 252788
May
Peru - Dry Season to Explore First Tented Camp
May marks the start of the dry season in Peru, bringing with it warm, sunny days and crisp evenings. You can experience the very best the country has to offer, including a new itinerary to experience Peru’s first tented camp in the Colca Valley. ‘Puqio’ from Andean Experience who have two other properties; Cirqa and Titilaka, will connect three unforgettable experiences not often explored by the crowds at Machu Picchu and the throngs in Lima. From the shimmering waters of Lake Titicaca to the great chasm of the Colca Canyon and on to the ‘white city ‘ of Arequipa, this adventure will open up the country to new eyes. You can see more on the new route here. School holidays haven’t started yet which also means fewer crowds at the top attractions.
8 night trip staying at Cirqa, Puqio and Titilaka from £9,492 per person including international flights with www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788
June
Kyrgyzstan - Escorted Tour - Riding Adventure with Alexandra Tolstoy
Alexandra Tolstoy’s Kyrgyzstan Riding Adventure is designed for intermediate and above level riders who want to embrace the outdoors, explore remote wildernesses, and immerse themselves in a different culture. The trip begins in Bishkek to explore the capital city of Kyrgyzstan before heading southwards towards Osh, arriving at the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, a natural paradise known for its outstanding beauty and only accessible to a limited number of visitors per year. It is here skilled local horsemen and their horses join to set up a traditional campsite surrounded by wild, untamed beauty of the Tien Shan Mountains. It’s all about meandering along rugged mountain paths, through ancient walnut forests and across wildflower-strewn valleys dotted with alpine lakes. Riding approximately six hours per day, with a break for a picnic lunch, the journey covers remote mountain passes and plateaus that offer a unique glimpse into the lives of nomadic shepherds and their families who spend their summers grazing sheep in these elevated regions. Each night a private mobile camp is set up by the dedicated back-up team with individual tents and a mess tent where there will be home-cooked meals at tables laid with Uzbek pottery and lit by oil lamps.
How: 5th -16th June & 24th September - 2nd October 2024 12 days from £6,560 per person full board with www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788
Iceland - Escorted Tour - The natural Wonders of Iceland
In June, Iceland experiences warmer weather, less rain and, most remarkably, the natural phenomenon of the Midnight Sun when there is light for all 24 hours of the day. The country really comes to life at this time of year, taking advantage of the longer days with activities like river rafting, hiking, horseback riding and whale watching. Travel to the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’ with ornithology and wildlife expert Andy Bunten to discover the stunning scenery and rich bird life of Iceland.
8 days 16th June 2024 - 23rd June 2024 from £4,595 per person including accommodation, breakfast daily; 6 lunches; 6 dinners, all entrance fees, visits and excursions, transfers, gratuities to guides; gratuities to driver/s, local English-speaking guide/s. www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk| +44 (0) 2045 252788
Alaska - Atlantic Salmon Arrive Bringing Bears
Seeing a wild bear in the majesty of its natural habitat is a truly breathtaking experience. In June, Atlantic salmon arrive in the freshwater creeks of Alaska, giving visitors to Glacier Bay National Park the opportunity to see both black and brown bears up close as they feed and forage along the riverbanks.
Barely changed since the beginning of time, America’s 49th state has eight national parks. These include Denali, a 16 million acre wilderness, sixteen of the country’s twenty tallest mountains, half the world’s glaciers and 34,000 miles of coastline, more than the east and west coasts of the ‘Lower 48’ combined. Not surprisingly, there’s plenty of wildlife too, including bears, bald eagles, whales, sea lion and caribou.
13 days from £5980 per person includes car hire, private transfers, accommodation based on two people sharing. www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788
July
Kenya - Primeval Forest with Mountain Gorillas
Embark on an extraordinary journey through Kenya and Uganda. July is one of the most anticipated months in Kenya thanks to the natural wonder that is the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. Experience unforgettable wildlife in the country’s dry season with a tailored safari, whether it’s watching vast herds of migrating wildebeest in the Maasai Mara, gazing at giraffe on horseback in the remote Laikipia Plateau, or taking flight over the grasslands in a hot air balloon.
Alongside rare and endangered species like Jackson’s hartebeest, oryx and Grevy’s zebra, the conservancy’s grassy plains and woodlands play host to gazelle, cheetah, buffalo, lion, giraffe and wild dog. Elephants can be seen here in large numbers, whilst birders may tick off over 350 different varieties. After exploring Kenya's wonders, venture to Uganda to track rare mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The primaeval forest is home to over 450 of these majestic creatures, making up half the population of the Mountain gorillas worldwide.
14 days from £9,185 per person, including domestic flights, private vehicle transfers, gorilla permit and park fees and accommodation. www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788
The Arctic - Northwest Passage Explorer
Famed for its icy climate and allure to adventurers, the High Arctic is at its best in July due to the slightly warmer climate. Following in the footsteps of great explorers seeking the infamous Northwest Passage, passengers aboard the one-time polar research vessel can watch polar bears hunting seals on the ice, photograph breathtaking fjords and mighty glaciers taller than most apartment blocks, and meet some of the most isolated communities in the world, who are descendants of Inuits.
With the Arctic being home to over 400,000 seabirds like thick-billed murres and northern fulmars, alongside marine mammals like beluga whales, this distinctive tour travels across the fantastic Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area of Coburg Island. A stop at Croker Bay offers hikes to see musk ox as well as great icebergs set against a backdrop of colourful mountains, and of course the natural phenomenon that is the Northern Lights.
9 days with prices on request. www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk | +44 (0) 2045 252788