Rarely do you find a vacation that’s simultaneously inspiring and humbling, wildly beautiful and thought-provoking. We crafted this 18-day journey through three African nations to be that – and more.
This is a trip that combines South Africa’s cosmopolitan city of Cape Town and its nearby vineyards with the stop-you-in-your-tracks moments – quite literally, there may be an elephant crossing – of its northern neighbors. There are lunar-like landscapes of seemingly endless saltpans and swirling tapestries of green waterways in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Okavango Delta. And then there’s the thundering drama of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. You’ll witness widescreen wilderness beneath a canopy of cornflower-blue sky, where predators stalk in the world’s most remote bush and some of the world’s top guides help you create everlasting memories.
And while you’re there, you’ll slumber in some of the world’s most beautiful suites – with the wild, remote beauty of some of the most rarely seen corners of the globe just beyond. In fact, to call this a vacation barely does it justice. It’s pure adventure: the type you never knew you were craving, but would return to in a heartbeat.
At the far edge of western Europe, fringed by the Atlantic ocean, is Portugal, a country that we’re happily addicted to, thanks to the heady mix of buzzy city streets where artists sketch out the skyline at sunset, empty hinterlands dotted with vineyards and Neolithic sites, and dramatic beaches (we’ll take you to our favorite). On this laid-back journey, with swift travel times, you’ll quickly fall for it, too.
You’ll uncover the capital bite by bite, sip earthy wines in the shade of olive trees, and swim in tie-dye blue ocean – without a soul in sight. The trip we’ve crafted is one of our favorites, stitched together from years of exploring, but as always we can tweak and tailor to what you want. From the city, to countryside, to coast; this is Portugal, at its most relaxed and joyful.
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 front desk, 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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The movies – care of the industrious Lumière brothers – were invented in France. Perhaps that’s why we know it so well – and so visually. The Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, fields of lavender, the sun-hot shores of the south. There’s an immediately memorable image here; hold it in your mind.
With this new itinerary (which, bien sûr, you can tailor any way you like), we wanted to take a long, lingering look at all the things that make France, well, so particularly French. The resulting trip is a marvel to behold – taking you on an elegant voyage through the country’s most breathless sights. North to South – from city to coast. Think of this one as elegant, uplifting, and so very easygoing.
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.
In Greenland’s remote wilderness, you’ll push your limits – and break through them.
On this exhilarating Arctic adventure, you’ll feel the adrenaline of the new and unknown: swimming between icebergs in Disko Bay, kayaking between the towering peaks of Amitsuarsuk Fjord, and foraging for your own food in the Greenlandic wilderness. Throughout, you’ll be led by a team of local guides who know this land like the backs of their hands.
Returning home, you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction and renewed self-belief; having challenged yourself to dig deep and break the mould. You did it.
Greece is dreamlike. That’s if – like ours – your dreams are colored by zigzags of blue-white houses, fragrant olive groves, pretty fishing villages, and visions of a balmy Aegean Sea.
Happily, this trip weaves these things together at a blissfully gentle pace. We’ll take you through some of the country’s lesser-traveled corners; moving gradually south from quirky Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki peninsula and around the Sporades Islands, with a sublime finale on Sifnos. Equal parts slow and sweet, this one’s a recipe for contentment. Tried and tested, of course.
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.
“Black Tomato devises distinct, upscale adventures” – WSJ
At Black Tomato, we’ve earned an award-winning reputation for curating immersive, tailor-made travel experiences. Our mission isn’t just about where you travel –but how you want to feel when you get there. That’s why we avoid box-ticking itineraries, tourist traps, and FOMO-fueled agendas; instead crafting journeys that go far deeper. With Black Tomato x The Journal Collection, we’re bringing this philosophy to life through exclusive, bespoke adventures created especially for subscribers.
This journey, designed for The Journal Collection, has been carefully crafted to capture Italy’s timeless allure. From sipping a cool limoncello spritz in a cliffside lemon grove and cruising in an Alfa Romeo across the shores of Lake Como to strolling between the temples of Rome’s Villa Borghese gardens – there’s a lot of life (and magic) to be found here. We can’t wait to show you, one passo at a time.
And as part of your exclusive offer, you’ll enjoy a complimentary wine tasting experience in the Tuscan countryside (you’ll find the details below).
A world of twisting turquoise rivers, baroque chateaus, and daring alpine pursuits, Slovenia is – to many – a fairytale destination. And we agree. Some things you’ll expect. Like the familiar haunts of Lake Bled and Ljubljana. Others you won’t. Like the fish gardens of Piran and Istria’s hilltop “town of artists”.
On this enchanting journey, you’ll step into your own fairytale; weaving your way south from the jagged Julian Alps to the glittering Adriatic Sea, through white birch forests and Cviček vineyards. Throughout, you’ll be led by some of Slovenia’s warmest guides, experiencing the country through the eyes of those who know it best: the locals.
