Exclusive cultural and culinary experiences worldwide
Specialist tour operator Voyages Jules Verne has published the latest edition of its popular World of Wonders brochure. Featuring cultural tours to destinations as diverse as Lake Como and Costa Rica for departures until December 2015, the brochure also offers a tempting array of VJV Special Events. Arranged exclusively for VJV clients, these range from the cultural to the culinary, as well as several cruise experiences and a couple of ‘unforgettable arrivals’, including:
Cultural Experiences…
Enjoy a guided visit to Casa Bernard, a 16th century Maltese mansion that is still a private home, take tea with Omani locals or listen to a lecture about the end of Communism in western Romania. Experience a traditional Sudanese evening of local music and dancing, hear Armenian choral music in the Hellenistic temple of Garni or take part in a drumming lesson in South Africa.
Witness a traditional Baci ceremony with a shaman, group of elders and musicians in Laos, learn about Andean culture and traditions in Peru, or about Palki, Aarti and Border ceremonies in India. Visit a Freemasonry lodge in Cuba and hear about its connection with Castro’s Revolution, meet a Moon Valley artist in La Paz and a family of artisans creating Aztec-inspired pottery in Central America.
Watch a private gala ballet performance featuring artistes from the Mariinskiy (Kirov), Mussorgsky and other leading companies in St. Petersburg or attend a Sichuan Opera and acrobatic show in China.
Culinary Experiences…
Dine with members of the Hindu Royal family at Lucknow’s Khajurgaon Palace, eat like a Madrileño on an evening tapas trail and enjoy dinner at a private rock camp on the outskirts of Petra. Sip organic apple juice at an orchard in the Romanian town of Gura Humoruilui, a cocktail at El Floridita - the Havana bar frequented by Ernest Hemingway - and a drink at the Rum Doodle Bar in Kathmandu, the famous haunt of Everest summiteers.
Watch private cookery demonstrations that include traditional cepelinai (potato dumplings) in Vilnius, the traditional Uzbek dish Plov (a hearty one-pot stew) in a local home in Samarkand, empanadas (stuffed bread or pastry, baked or fried) at Bogota’s oldest restaurant and curry in Sri Lanka.
Try a taste of Hungary that includes Bull’s Blood wine in Eger and a Gundel Pancake in Budapest, visit the home of a private art collector for an aperitif and wine tasting in Tuscany, sample delicious Italian cheeses at the home of a local resident in Sorrento and experience a traditional Jewish-style meal with music in Krakow.
Cruising Experiences…
Enjoy a medley of Vietnamese cruises on the Saigon River, Mekong River, Thu Bon River, Perfume River and at Ha Long Bay, potter by private launch on Italy’s pretty Lake Como or sail at sunset on the Costa Rican waterways of Tortuguero. Keen to see Kerala’s world-famous backwaters? There can be few better ways than by canoe, an experience that’s included in VJV’s Splendours of Southern India itinerary.
Unforgettable Arrivals…
Whilst some may say it’s better to travel than to arrive, the chance to be transported by bullock cart to India’s impressive Nimaj Palace heritage hotel ahead of a traditional welcome and private rooftop dinner with fireworks, is something not to be missed. Neither is the Farmhouse Dinner in Sibiel experience that features in two of VJV’s Romanian itineraries. Led to a farmhouse by two horsemen, clients are greeted by a farmer with bread and salt (a local tradition) before sitting down to a delicious dinner.
As well as a plethora of Special Events from which to choose, the latest edition of World of Wonders features two new itineraries:
Aspects of Aswan: Step back in time with a stay at the Old Cataract Hotel - where Agatha Christie wrote part of ‘Death on the Nile’ - during a seven-night trip to the classic Egyptian winter resort of Aswan. The price is from £1,190 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, B&B and the services of guides and local representatives. Alternatively, stay at the stay at the five-star Mövenpick Resort Aswan from £795 pp. Optional excursions available (additional cost).
Classic China: Visit Beijing and Shanghai on a seven-night itinerary that samples the highlights of two of China’s most famous cities, including the Imperial & Summer Palaces, the Great Wall of China, the famed gardens of Suzhou and the elegant Bund. The price is from £1,145 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, six nights’ B&B, four lunches, two dinners, excursions and the services of guides and local representatives. No Single Supplement places (subject to availability) on selected departure dates.
The new World of Wonders also features two new tour extension options, enabling clients with more time (and budget) available to add a few extra days - and a wonderful additional experience - to either the beginning or the end of their holiday:
As if the prospect of immersion in Georgia and Armenia’s ancient cultural heritage and scenic beauty isn’t sufficient an incentive to travel, it’s now possible to add a four-night stay in Azerbaijan to VJV’s ten-night escorted tour to The Crossroads of Europe & Asia (from £1,415 pp). This pre-tour extension costs £745 pp (two sharing) including four-star accommodation and excursions.
Or why not add the biosphere reserve of Santana to A Slice of Madeira, VJV’s popular four-night sojourn to the Portuguese sub-tropical garden island (from £575 pp)? This three-night, post-tour extension to the reserve, which includes the protected Laurisilva forest and Rocha do Navio Nature Reserve, costs £275 pp (two sharing) including three nights’ four-star accommodation and a full-day tour.
Booking with the best
Voyages Jules Verne was placed among the top ten UK holiday companies in a July 2014 survey of Which? Travel magazine readers. Achieving an overall customer service score of 84%, VJV performed consistently against a set of criteria that included ease of booking, value for money and overall holiday quality, scoring five stars out of a possible five for the description of its holidays matching the reality.
For further information, or to book one of the new tours, visit vjv.com.