When you study a map of the Amazon, it looks like the roots of an ancient, sprawling tree.
But maps are just that: abstractions. To really understand the Amazon, you have to spend time in the Amazon. This new trip – which can’t be booked anywhere else – offers you all the time your family will need.
Following from the streets of Rio, its “heart” is a private river journey that will carry you up the Rio Negro and into stretches of the rainforest that travelers rarely – if ever – get to see. Through a host of carefully curated encounters, we’ve prepared a journey whose heartbeat is a kind of beautiful “boredom” – where silence, nature, and human connection will guide and give structure to your days.
In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature into its constitution. This will tell you something about this ancient equatorial paradise. But it won’t tell you everything.
This trip – which has been the work of countless annotated maps, fruitful conversations, and extensive site visits – dots an unforgettably adventurous line from the colonial cupolas of Quito and the majestic Cloud Forests of the Andes to the legendary islands of the Galápagos, introducing you – one cup of cocoa at a time – to the fascinating story of the equator, and the people, and cultures, who bring it to life.
Calling all city dwellers and island lovers; this 9-night luxury escape offers the best of both worlds. Paris is the ideal romantic getaway – the Parisian charm, a patisserie on every corner and an oh-so-elegant way of living. But the beach is calling. After a busy few days of urban exploring, it’s time for some well-needed R&R. The stunning private island, Félicité in the Seychelles offers the perfect tranquil getaway for those seeking a mix of relaxation and adventure.
ROMANCE IN PARIS
A hop over the English Channel and bonjour Paris. You’ll be whisked away inside the world-renowned Hotel de Crillon, where you’ll enjoy a luxury three-night stay. As soon as you step foot in reception, the romance will take over with nowhere doing indulgence quite like the Crillon. Spend the first three days of your trip in this beautiful city amidst the locals, dipping in and out of cafes, drifting through world-class museums and browsing the boutiques. You’ll be bedding down in a prime location, just footsteps away from Arc de Triomphe, so from here stroll hand in hand down the Champs Elysees – one of the most romantic boulevards in the world. Explore the world’s most charming city before flying down to Mahé in the Seychelles where a private helicopter will be waiting to take you to the private island of Félicité for an exclusive island getaway.
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It’s not every day that you get to prepare a new journey through Mexico. This one started life on a casual, post-taco afternoon at Black Tomato HQ, where we idly wondered about weaving some of Mexico’s most diverse regions together in a way that our clients would love. The requirements were thus: lots of engaging things to see, great food and a heap of activities to keep you all entertained.
We spent a lot of time finessing the particulars, and this joyful journey is the result.
When we sat down to curate our latest trip through England and Scotland, we spent a lot of time drawing maps, making calls, calling in favors, and debating the finer points of bothies and bedrooms. It was a lot of work. And it was totally worth it.
The result is a trip that we’re thrilled by – and we think you will be too. It’s full of fine food, heaps of history, breathtaking landscapes, and some very royal treatment. You’ll be working your way around scones, drams, lochs, and a whole lot of drama – enjoying stays at some of the UK’s most enviable hotels along the way. Let’s get started.
“Iceland will serve everything you could ever imagine” – Ashley Longshore
We’ve been friends with Ashley Longshore – dubbed “fashion’s latest art darling” by The New York Times – for many years. So, when the renowned, New York-based pop artist came to us in search of something passionate, peculiar, and freeing, our thoughts immediately turned to Iceland. Ashley agreed.
On the eve of returning home, Ashley was rhapsodic: “I don’t want to leave you; I love you!” So, given this elated review, it was only natural that we’d turn Ashley’s trip into a journey that you can enjoy too. It’s a lot of Iceland – and a lot of Ashley. The perfect combination, if you ask us.
For more of Ashley’s Iceland, have a listen to her episode of The Pursuit of Feeling.
A world of holy cities, mountain shrines, and ancient ayurveda healing, India nourishes the body (and the soul).
On this soothing Subcontinental journey, you’ll disconnect from the cares of the everyday; rising to open-air yoga in the Himalayas, attending Hindu blessings in Jaipur, and gliding along the sacred waters of the River Ganges at sunrise (and sunset). Along the way, you’ll flow with yogic gurus, followers of Gandhian values, and scholars of Indian religion.
Returning home, you’ll feel refreshed and revitalized; having found a sense of peace that you’ll carry home with you.
Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to find yourself on some strange other planet? If so, Chile’s Atacama Desert – the driest place on Earth – is about the closest we can get you (at least for the time being). Where red skies hang above and jagged rocks lie underfoot, there’s a deep otherworldliness to it; so far from the everyday that you may as well be on Mars. And to us? This is what freedom feels like.
On this trip, you’ll spend six days exploring the barren and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes of the Atacama – by way of lunar valleys, searing blue lagoons, and hot-air balloons. And with some of the clearest skies in the world, there’s nowhere better to gaze up at the spiralled stars of the Milky Way (don’t worry, we’ll sort the telescope). It’s pretty out of this world.
The heart of the Inca Empire from around 1100 to 1533 AD, the spirit of nature and tradition runs deep in Peru. Of course, there’s the ‘floating castle’ of Machu Picchu. But there’s a lot more. From Lima’s 80s ‘chicha’ street art neighbourhoods and Virgilio Martínez’s cocoa lab in the Andes to the solitary Huaypo lagoon and Awana Kancha, the “weaver’s palace”.
On this journey, we’ll take you on an unforgettable expedition through some of its most enchanting sites and off-the-beaten-track secrets. The dramatic cliffs of Lima, the cloud forests of the Sacred Valley, the aqueducts of Tambomachay. Along the way, you’ll be led by some of the best and friendliest guides that Peru has to offer. Let’s dive in.
Lodged between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is home to a dazzling 500,000 wildlife species and offers a wealth of adventures on both land and sea. Jungle ziplines, whitewater rafting, surfing swells and beachside gallops. It’s for good reason that Costa Rica is often considered one of the world’s foremost adventure capitals.
On this captivating adventure, we’ll show you why – taking you on a breathtaking expedition through the heart and to the wild edges of this mesmerising country. The cloud forests of Central Valley, the roaring rapids of Pacuare, the fresh sea air of Osa and Nicoya. Along the way, you’ll meet some of the inspirational people working to preserve Costa Rica’s vital natural habitats.
