Image captured by Yadid Levy, provided by Anzenberger/Redux.
Travel enthusiasts are in for a treat this year as "Tours of a Lifetime" unveils its 2021 selection of iconic and immersive travel experiences. These itineraries offer a unique blend of cultural immersion, expert local guides, and thoughtfully paced activities, allowing travellers to deeply engage with historic sites, natural wonders, and unique local traditions.
Discovering Cuba's People and Culture
For those seeking a taste of Cuban culture, Our Website Expeditions offers a 9-day "Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture" tour. Priced at $5,995, this adventure connects travellers with locals and offers a genuine Cuban experience. (www.our websiteexpeditions.com)
Navigating the Northwest Passage
The French-flagged, Clean Ship-rated L'Austral is making waves in the travel industry by sailing among the ice floes of the Northwest Passage. This 22-day journey, priced at $16,525, navigates from the west coast of Greenland to Anadyr, Russia. (http://en.ponant.com)
Exploring the Great Smoky Mountains
Trek Travel offers a 6-day "Great Smoky Mountains and Blackberry Farm" tour, combining cycling and dining at the Blackberry Farm inn, priced at $5,499. This adventure promises a memorable experience in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. (www.trektravel.com)
Cycling and Dining in Tennessee
An unspecified provider offers a cycling and dining tour, "Cycle and Dine," based at the Blackberry Farm inn in the Great Smoky Mountains foothills. Pricing for this tour is not available at the moment.
Racing the Train in the West
Details for a Washington, Idaho, and Montana itinerary, "Race the Train," are not provided, nor is its pricing. However, this adventure promises a thrilling experience as travellers race against a train through the stunning landscapes of the American West.
Adventuring in Mexico
Access Trips offers a 7-day Mexico adventure for $1,990, combining biking in the Sierra Madre and surf lessons in the fishing village of Sayulita. (www.accesstrips.com)
A Family-Focused Montana Itinerary
Austin Adventures presents a family-focused 6-day Montana itinerary for $2,298. This adventure includes Big Sky scenery, wolf-watching, backcountry hiking, horseback riding, and a tour of Little Bighorn Battlefield, making it an ideal choice for families seeking adventure. (www.austinlehman.com)
Exploring Kauai, Hawaii
Sierra Club Outings offers an 8-day "A Sunny Multisport Sampler, Kauai" tour, featuring experiences such as paddling the Na Pali Coast, volunteering, and exploring Hanalei Bay, priced at $1,795. (www.sierraclub.org/outings)
Vermont's Locavore Trail
For those interested in local food and organic farming, Vermont's Locavore Trail offers a 7-day itinerary for $3,368. This adventure includes tours of the country's only independent organic seed company and mozzarella-making at Shelburne Farms. (www.culturalcrossroads.com)
Biking Across the Pacific Northwest
Bicycle Adventures offers an "Empire Builder Epic" tour, a 10-day, 600-mile bike ride from Seattle to Glacier National Park, priced at $3,695. This adventure promises scenic mountain views and a train ride back on Amtrak. (www.bicycleadventures.com)
Exploring Alaska's Birding Hotspots
Field Guides offers a 18-day "Alaska" tour, exploring various birding locations across the state, including the Pribilofs, Denali, Nome, and Barrow, priced at $10,050, including internal flights. (www.fieldguides.com)
Hiking Dominica's Waitukubuli National Trail
World Expeditions offers a 12-day Dominica hiking expedition for $3,390, exploring the Waitukubuli national trail's 114 mountainous miles, from Scotts Head to Cabrits. (www.worldexpeditions.com)
Olympic National Park Adventure
EverGreen Escapes provides a 6-day "Olympic Adventure" tour, focusing on backcountry skills and ecology, exploring the park's peaks, lakes, rain forests, and coastline, priced at $3,450. (www.evergreenescapes.com)
French-Canadian Archipelago Vacation
Freewheeling Adventures offers a 7-day French-Canadian archipelago vacation for $2,895, featuring cave swimming, kitesurfing, snorkelling with seals, and Paris-worthy croissants. (www.freewheeling.ca)
The author of these articles, Margaret Loftus, has been reporting and writing "Tours of a Lifetime" for the past eight years.
- Margaret Loftus, an experienced reporter, has been writing the "Tours of a Lifetime" series for eight years, showcasing unique travel experiences.
- For those seeking Cuban culture, Our Website Expeditions offers a 9-day "Cuba: Discovering Its People and Culture" tour priced at $5,995.
- The French-flagged, Clean Ship-rated L'Austral explores the Northwest Passage on a 22-day journey, priced at $16,525.
- Trek Travel offers a cycling and dining tour in the Great Smoky Mountains for $5,499, combining experiences at the Blackberry Farm inn.
- Access Trips provides a 7-day Mexico adventure for $1,990, featuring biking in the Sierra Madre and surf lessons in Sayulita.
- Austin Adventures presents a family-focused 6-day Montana itinerary for $2,298, with activities like wolf-watching, backcountry hiking, and horseback riding.
