The Top-10 Cultural Travel Hot List 2012

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Parent Category: Travel Info

Category: Travel Feature

Published on Saturday, 17 March 2012 21:25

Written by Joanne Choi

The top 10 places to travel this year consists of destinations that have been booked for upcoming months and exotic places they would like to discover. In the past,The Artisans of Leisure has set up not only private tours, chose lavish hotels, but has thoroughly researched places that spark frequent travelers with great interest. ould

It is time to explore the striking views of each unique country. 

Below is the top ten travel list for 2012:

 Cultural Travel Hot List 2012

1. Myanmar (Burma)
2. Portugal
3. England
4. Peru
5. China
6. India
7. South Africa
8. Germany
9. Israel
10. Morocco

1. Myanmar (Burma):
Myanmar's nascent democratization is great news for the Burmese and inspiration for travelers wanting to visit this beautiful but little-known country, where Artisans of Leisure has operated tours for years. Artisans of Leisure notes that Myanmar has also become a popular destination for honeymooners seeking culture, value and an exotic once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Myanmar experiences:

Meeting and observing master artisans (lacquer, gold leaf, textiles, ceramics and wood)
Visiting a monastery to learn about Buddhism and the lifestyle of monks
Hot-air balloon rides over the temples and pagodas of Bagan

2. Portugal:
Why has Portugal become one of Artisans of Leisure's most frequently booked destinations in Europe for the coming months? In addition to two key reasons--great value and an increasing number of luxury hotel options--are Portugal's impressive culture, incredibly rich history, excellent food and wine, high-quality traditional crafts, and great modern design.

Portugal experiences: 

Exclusive private boat rides on the Douro River
Private, behind-the-scenes tours of Portugal's leading decorative tile factory
Access to remote locations with spectacular fossilized dinosaur tracks

3. England:
London is more festive and exciting than ever, with preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games and Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The city is buzzing with new luxury hotels, incredible new restaurants, acclaimed new museum exhibitions and other new cultural attractions. London is also the gateway to England's many other popular destinations, such as the Cotswolds, Oxford and Bath, all of which are featured on Artisans of Leisure tours.

England experiences: 

Insider shopping and foodie tours in London
Private cricket lessons at Lord's Cricket Ground
Access to private gardens and heritage-listed homes

4. Peru:
New luxury hotels in the beautiful Sacred Valley and in fascinating Cusco--where the much anticipated Palacio Nazarenas hotel is scheduled to open in summer 2012--are adding even more appeal to this outstanding destination. Artisans of Leisure Peru tours are esp

ecially popular with families, who enjoy traveling on the legendary Hiram Bingham train, expert-led tours of iconic Machu Picchu, and luxury Amazon cruises.

Peru experiences: 

Private tours of little-visited Inca and pre-Inca sitesPrivately guided hiking excursions to traditional villages
Private tours of Machu Picchu with an archaeologist

5. China:
China is a perennial favorite for cultural travelers, many of whom return regularly with Artisans of Leisure to explore different regions or see what's new in the rapidly developing Middle Kingdom. Contributing to China's popularity are expanding luxury hotel, dining and shopping options in places such as Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, as well as new luxury hotels in more remote destinations such as Xian and Lhasa, Tibet.

China experiences:  Private kung fu lessons

Tours of private sections of the Forbidden City
Private art and architecture tours in Shanghai

6. India:
India is in high demand for 2012 as many sophisticated travelers are either visiting the country for the first time or returning to explore new regions. India's palace-style luxury hotels, spectacular cultural sites, and great regional diversity make it irresistible. And ongoing improvement

s in infrastructure are making travel in the country ever more accessible and comfortable. Artisans of Leisure India tours feature not only iconic destinations such as Delhi, Rajasthan, the Taj Mahal and Varanasi, but also incredible but less-visited places such as Kerala, game reserves, and Ajanta and Ellora.

India experiences:

Private Bollywood dance classes
Private yoga lessons in spectacular settings
A private cooking class with a royal chef

7. South Africa:
Retired baby boomers and families account for the uptick in the popularity of Artisans of Leisure South Africa tours, where a safari in one (or more) of the top game reserves is a dream trip for even the most worldly travelers. The company's tours appeal to both demographics with sophisticated touring in Cape Town and the Winelands, customized activities for all ages, and safaris at Singita and other luxury lodges in Sabi Sand Reserve, Kruger National Park and malaria-free regions.

South Africa experiences:

Private game drives while on safariVisits to local schools and community projects
Personalized wine touring with a local expert

8. Germany:
Good value, an increasing interest in 20th-century history, and Germany's abundance of outstanding art museums, modern architecture and picturesque villages are among the many reasons Artisans of Leisure Germany tours are gaining in popularity for 2012. Many of the company's travelers like to combine Germany with destinations in neighboring countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Germany experiences:

Researching family heritage (visits to hometowns, meeting with local genealogical specialists)
Private, behind-the-scenes tours at legendary concert halls and museums
Tours of car factories (e.g. Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Porsche)

9. Israel:
Israel remains enormously popular for 2012 because it's one of the easiest and most rewarding travel destinations in the Middle East. Sophisticated travelers love Israel for its great food, mild climate, incredible ancient ruins, design districts and spa resorts. Travelers on Artisans of Leisure Israel tours enjoy activities such as private cultural touring in Jerusalem, floating in the Dead Sea, and visiting a Druze village.

Israel experiences:

Private safaris by jeep or camel in the Negev Desert
A day working on an archaeological dig
Private architecture and design tours in Tel Aviv

10. Morroco:
The opening of a number of new luxury hotels and resorts in Marrakesh over recent months has focused even more attention on Morocco, which has long been popular among Artisans of Leisure travelers for an exotic adventure that includes luxury spa resorts, private day hikes, private cooking classes and desert safaris. Morocco's ongoing popularity is also due in part to its mild climate, which helps make it a great year-round destination.

Morocco experiences:

Private air charters to remote Sahara Desert locations for overnight Bedouin safaris
Private shopping tours in the souks
Exclusive private dinners with Moroccan music, belly dancers and tray dancers

List and notes provided by Artisans of Leisure.

For more detailed information on travels and booking please visit: www.artisansofleisure.com 

Artisans of Leisure
18 East 16th Street (between Fifth Avenue and Union Square West) 

Suite 301 New York, NY 10003 USA

(212) 243-3239 or (800) 214-8144

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