We Nomads naturally discuss amongst ourselves (quite vigorously at times!) the relative merits of different trips.
Our latest debate centred upon which travel journey would best showcase what each of the world’s great continents has to offer.
It is of course a rather foolish notion to think that just one particular itinerary could possibly represent all that a continent holds, but we’ve had a lot of fun discussing this, as you might imagine.
And so, for the record, here are our magnificent seven ‘Continental Classics’ …
EUROPE
London to Istanbul incorporating the Orient Express
What better way could there be to sample the treasures of some of Europe’s most historic cities than to take a journey by rail from London to Istanbul aboard the world’s most legendary train?
Every journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express feels like a special occasion and transports passengers back to an era when embarking was a glamorous and stylish affair which required fine-dining and high fashion. The original 1920s carriages formed part of the express trains which traversed Europe in the ‘golden age’ of rail travel and each has been lovingly restored to their former glory by expert craftsmen.
Travel initially by Eurostar from London Victoria to Paris where you can break your journey amidst its tree-lined boulevards and beguiling café culture for a few days before continuing on the Orient Express to Venice. Let the water taxis navigate you through the canals to take in the splendours of the Doge’s Palace, the Accademia Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
There is also a very special annual route to Istanbul where your journey ends at the Bosphorus on the very cusp of Asia. The skyline is spectacular and the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are staggering in their size and opulence. Lose yourself in the intoxicating markets and bazaars.
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Head onwards from Istanbul to see the Greco-Roman splendours of Ephesus and Pergamon.
AFRICA
Kenya & Zanzibar
The scene in ‘Out of Africa’ where Meryl Streep and Robert Redford fly in a ‘Gipsy Moth’ above the teeming plains of Kenya is etched in the mind of everyone who has seen this movie and, in our view, an East African safari just has to be at the heart of the quintessential African holiday.
Our recommended itinerary would be centred on a stay in the Masai Mara, perhaps the most famous reserve in Africa with its classic savannah scenery, prolific game and blood-red sunsets. Between July and September a million wildebeest and thousands of zebra and antelope travel north from the Serengeti Plains in search of the Mara’s lush green grass. During this migration it’s possible to witness one of nature’s great spectacles as the animals risk their lives crossing crocodile-filled rivers as they descend from steep-sided banks.
A stay at Lake Nakuru where Black and White Rhino and the rare Rothschild’s Giraffe can be seen along with over 650 species of birds, or Lake Naivasha – a freshwater lake where you can fish, sail, hike or just relax – can also be incorporated, both lakes sitting within the vast breadth of the Great Rift Valley. Amboseli National Park is another gem, situated at the foot of snow-capped Kilimanjaro which forms a dramatic photographic backdrop to the herds of elephants for which this park is renowned.
Then travel onwards to Zanzibar for some post-safari chill-out time where the pristine white sandy beaches are lapped by the turquoise coral waters of the Indian Ocean. The island has an excellent choice of accommodation from characterful guesthouses to five-star hotels.
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Make a date with the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. Kigali is a 1.5 hr flight from Nairobi.
ASIA
Vietnam & Cambodia
This one was hotly debated and it was a close-run thing with northern India, but we have opted for Vietnam & Cambodia as our top choice for Asia’s most representative itinerary.
The classic Vietnam route should not be tampered with and we’d concur that starting at ‘the top’ in Hanoi is the most sensible entry point with its rich blend of Asian culture and French influences. We’d recommend however a short foray into the countryside around Sapa for a glimpse of rural life before heading to Lan Ha Bay for an overnight cruise amidst the magical landscape which we suggest as an alternative to Halong Bay as it is much less visited.
The journey south to Vietnam’s central trio of Hue, Danang and Hoi An can be taken by train travelling with the locals on the Reunification Express. Visit the tombs of the Nguyen emperors, the Phien Mu pagoda, the ruined temple of My Son, enjoy a short cruise along the Perfume River and take a cookery class in Vietnamese cuisine.
Continue to Ho Chi Minh City with visits to the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame cathedral, the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels. Have a full day exploration too of the Mekong Delta including a trip to Cai Be Town, a boat ride along the smaller channels and walking in the countryside.
End the trip with the grand finale of the Angkor Wat temples in neighbouring Cambodia, visiting the small island temple of Neak Pean and watching the sun set with a boat ride on Angkor Thom moat.
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Extend your time with a beach extension on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc.
AUSTRALASIA
New Zealand: South & North Island road-trip
The ‘top-end’ of Australia including the Kimberley Plateau came close to being first choice here but our favourite Down Under itinerary just had to be the full New Zealand road-trip taking in the spectacular alpine scenery of South Island along with the beautiful bays and sub-tropical forests of the North.
Beginning with arrival into Christchurch, take the TranzAlpine to Greymouth to pick up your rental car. Make your way to Franz Josef to enjoy a few days exploring the breathtaking scenery of glaciers and verdant walking trails.
Onward to Queenstown, nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by The Remarkables mountain range, which offers superb hiking with many walks starting right from the centre of town.
Continue your South Island journey with a Milford Sound cruise excursion, a visit to historic (and very Scottish) Dunedin and time spent in the scenic surroundings of Tekapo and Mt Cook, before indulging yourself a little perhaps in the Marlborough wine region.
After taking the ferry-crossing from Picton to Wellington, take a tour of ‘Zealandia’ at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary before driving onwards to Napier, known as the Art Deco Capital of the World with its beguiling architecture and vibrant arts scene.
New Zealand’s geothermal wonders can be best witnessed at Rotorua and then en route to Auckland there is the opportunity to visit ‘Middle Earth’ whilst exploring The Shire, home to hobbits from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies. Finally, explore the 144 islands and rich Maori culture of the Bay of Islands before returning to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’ to end the journey.
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Singapore Airlines fly London into Christchurch and from Auckland to London with only one stop en route so they are a great flight choice for a South / North Island combination, which gives the opportunity to have a few nights’ stopover in stylish Singapore in either direction.
NORTH AMERICA
Western Canada
This Canadian road, cruise and rail journey boasts the very best of North America’s scenery and wildlife and was just ahead of the USA’s western states as our first choice.
Start in Vancouver with a few days exploring Stanley Park, Chinatown and the shops of Robson Street before crossing by ferry to Victoria and – after a whale-watching boat trip – making your way by self-drive up the spectacular rugged west coast of Vancouver Island to Tofino. Enjoy access to the Pacific Rim National Park and take a boat journey along the coastline where black bears can be seen.
Drive onwards via the impressive old-growth trees of Cathedral Grove to Campbell River and then onwards to Port Hardy at the tip of the island. Drop off your hire car and board the Inside Passage ferry for a 15-hour journey north to Prince Rupert seeing whales, dolphins and eagles en route.
From Prince Rupert have a full day excursion into the Khutzeymateen region to see the local population of grizzly bears. Thence onwards by train to Prince George (overnight stop) and then to Jasper travelling through the heart of mountainous British Columbia. Collect a rental car for the remainder of your journey and explore Jasper National Park before driving along the spectacular Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, stopping en route at the Athabasca Glacier to join a guided walk (with crampons provided) on to the ice.
Onwards to the bustling town of Banff and join a small group guided hike to Sunshine Vistas, rated as one of Canada’s best hikes passing through wildflower meadows and alpine lakes. Finally drop off your car at Calgary airport before flying home.
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At Port Hardy fly onwards by amphibious light aircraft to stay at Great Bear Lodge for unparalleled bear-watching excursions.
SOUTH AMERICA
Rio to Lima
A regular favourite of our clients is this ‘ocean to ocean’ classic route starting in Rio de Janeiro and finishing in Lima taking in the highlights of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru en route.
Following a few days in Rio exploring this cosmopolitan city including a cable-car ride up Sugar Loaf Mountain for a panoramic view of its mountains and beaches, fly to Iguassu Falls and marvel at the 275 falls that plunge over its mile-wide precipice – one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders.
Onwards to Buenos Aires with its cultured Parisian centre, bohemian San Telmo district and port of La Boca famed for its cobbled streets and brightly-painted houses, before flying to sleepy white-washed Sucre in the southern highlands of Bolivia from where a visit to the silver-mining town of Potosi can be made where the former mint, the Casa Nacional de la Moneda is now a museum dedicated to Bolivian art and history.
La Paz at 3500m the highest capital city in the world is explored next, plus a side trip to the imposing pre-Columbian ruins of Tiwanaku, before the scenic drive to Lake Titicaca is made. The sapphire waters and snow-capped cordillera make for a dramatic landscape for the local Uros Indians who live here and have built islands made of tortora reeds.
Travel by train from Puno across the altiplano to Cuzco for the trip’s finale which culminates in time spent exploring the Inca ruins and colourful Quechua market towns of the ‘Sacred Valley’ and a visit of course to the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu. A flight to Lima wraps up the trip as you arrive at the Pacific Ocean 3-weeks after leaving the Atlantic behind.
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Extend your trip with a cruise around the Galapagos islands – one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences.
ANTARCTICA
The Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica
The classic voyage from Ushuaia via the Falklands and South Georgia to the Antarctic Peninsula cannot be beaten for its historical interest, wondrous wildlife and staggering iceberg scenery.
The first stop flying from the UK is Buenos Aires before continuing on to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city from where you can explore the nearby Beagle Channel. Then board your polar vessel of choice (we always recommend the smaller 100-passenger ships if possible) and head east to the Falklands to spend a couple of days exploring Port Stanley for a slice of British life with its local pubs, hiking to see the Magellanic penguin colony at Gypsy Cove and making landings in the western region of this rugged archipelago.
The journey continues further east to South Georgia. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Galapagos of the Poles’, the island is home to massive king penguin colonies, including Salisbury Plain which hosts over 250,000 breeding penguins. The island is also the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton and there is a long-held tradition of raising a glass of his favourite drink – a scotch whisky – by his grave.
A central part of the great Shackleton legend is the part played by Elephant Island and it is sometimes possible to call in here if conditions allow as you journey on from South Georgia towards the Antarctic Peninsula.
Finally, there is the long-awaited arrival at the icy vastness of Antarctica itself and around four days are spent exploring the western side of the Peninsula, dropping anchor in remote bays to explore key wildlife locations. You’ll encounter adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguin rookeries up close, while the nutrient-rich seas are home to an abundance of wildlife including crabeater, Weddell, leopard and elephant seals and orca, minke and humpback whales. Expect plenty of walks, Zodiac rides and for the foolhardy, perhaps even the opportunity for a polar plunge!
Then, it’s across the infamous Drake Passage (hope for the ‘Drake Lake’ not the ‘Drake Shake’) to Ushuaia to begin the journey home.
So, there we have our top seven choices distilled from our collective travel experiences and our combined 80 or so years of creating travel itineraries for clients.
We’re sure you’ll have your own ideas, so if you’d like to suggest your own personal favourites, do let us know!
Happy travels!
The Nomads