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Group TripsJoining a TBE group trip makes foreign travel a little less intimidating, safer and much more fun than if you traveled alone. Most of our group tours are on-your-own; they highlight the nature, history and unique cultures of fascinating destinations worldwide. Choice and flexibility make our expeditions ideal for adult travelers of all ages and for those with a variety of travel styles. Although you will fly with the group and stay in the same hotels, you are free to do exactly what you want, when you want. While optional tours are always part of our group events, you control how engaged or independent you want to be… join others for meals and activities, explore and dine exclusively on your own, or partake in a combination of a little of both. The choice is yours. Whatever your travel style, leave yourself plenty of unplanned time. Some of the best travel moments are those you stumble upon or spontaneously create. (These files are in .pdf format. If you don't have Adobe Reader, download it here.) 2010 Group DestinationsChilies, Chocolate, Cactus and MezcalAug 26 - Sept 2, 2010 Oaxaca, Mexico is every bit as complex as the mole sauce it is famous for — a mixture of ingredients that while very different, fuse into one amazing end product. It is stately and stands with proud Zapotec roots and a Spanish colonial gloss, yet the streets are filled with unmistakably indigenous Indian faces. Equally cosmopolitan, but far more tranquil than Mexico City, Oaxaca is one of the country's best destinations for gastronomy and is also becoming the artistic capital of Mexico, drawing traditional artists from around the country. It is difficult to find a block in the Centro Historico without a fabulous café or an art gallery, many of them showcases for striking abstract and expressionist works, as well as indigenous folk art, weavings, local black pottery, wood carvings, textiles, and other handicrafts. Oaxaca is also where celebrity chefs, Rick Bayless, Bobby Flay and Alice Waters, often come for inspiration. Read all about it here! (download PDF) No Bull, We're Going to IstanbulMarch 14 - 21, 2010 Location. Location. Location. This is the story of Turkey – where east meets west, Europe meets Asia, Islam meets Christianity, and where the world’s oldest city was discovered. Alexander the Great was the first to meld the cultures, and then many followed suit. Across history Turkey was the place where empires frequently changed hands – the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans all left their mark on this land. It is here that whirling dervishes spun themselves into trances in a mystical search for a spiritual union with God. Today Turkey is a splendid mosaic, a thriving democratic country rich in Oriental history and European splendor and full of marvelous mystery and intrigue. It is a rapidly modernizing country with one foot in Europe and the other barely in the Middle East. A blend unto itself, the country is a spicy maelstrom of history knocking up against the present, the present bursting out all over the place, and the future peering back at the past. The cuisine is to die for, the coastline a dream, and its major cities and unique pockets in the country are dotted with majestic old buildings worthy of a good old-fashioned gasp. There is an enormous variety of things to see and do: from archaeology to night clubbing, hammam scrubbing to power shopping, mountain trekking to raki drinking, ferry cruising to horseback riding. Whether you leave Turkey with magnificent flying carpets, amulets to ward off evil, belly dancing tips, an appreciation of its history, or just a full belly of tasty nibbles of meze, you're likely to want to go back for more. I certainly did… hence this trip. Trust me on this one! Read all about it here! (download PDF) 2009 Group DestinationsSushi to Samurai, Godzilla to GeishaExplore more than 2,000 years of Japanese history and culture, from ultra-modern Tokyo to the former imperial capital of Kyoto. In between, retrace the footsteps of the awe-inspiring Samurai Era along the revered Old Post Road (AKA Nakasendo Trail) to catch a rare glimpse of feudal Japan – yes, this means another fabulous four-day “trek” (through parts of Japan even the Japanese rarely see), so don’t put away your Nepal hiking boots quite yet! As a grand finale, “bathe” in the hot black sand baths at Ibusuki, then relax in a luxurious traditional Japanese style hot spring ryokan spa in the Kirishima Mountains. Along the way, stay in a snazzy modern 5-star Tokyo hotel as well as a variety of traditional Japanese-style ryokans and minshuku (local family-run guest houses) all the while tasting regional specialties like sushi and sake… Welcome to Japan – TBE style! Read all about it here! (download PDF) Guinness, Spuds and Leprechauns!Dublin, Ireland Young, trendy, chic… Dublin? Oh yes! Dublin might look like the old grey town of Europe, but don’t be fooled. It’s now a city on the move. In the wake of a remarkable economic boom (ahem… theirs, not ours), fueled by banks, hightech companies and tourism, this compact Gaelic city is no longer the land of ramshackle pubs and baked potato pushcarts. Dublin's landscape has changed immeasurably over the past decade. These days Dublin ranks among the top tourist destinations in Europe and this vibrant city hums with a palpable sense that is creating a new cultural heritage. The city's burst of prosperity gave it a new confident sheen, but what remains special is the spirit of the people who ensure that, despite whirlwind changes, Dublin remains one of Europe's most down-to-earth, friendly, fun and accessible cities. Read all about it here! (download PDF) See Where We've Been Lately... Subscribe to the TBE e-newsletter to get more details on all our group journeys. |
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