luxury adventure travel to exotic islands

I'm not a big fan of cruises. I much prefer to stay and sleep on land, to wander and explore the interesting neighborhoods just outside the door of my hotel. But there's an exception to that rule: sometimes luxury adventure travel takes you to exotic destinations that are best explored by sea. Two such cruise expeditions have come across my desk in recent days.

The Azores and Canary Islands. This tour begins in Granada with a guided tour of the incredible Alhambra (a highlight of my recent trip to Spain). Boarding the ship in Malaga, subsequent stops include Gibraltar and Morocco (with an optional two-day excursion to Marrakech) before heading out into the Atlantic to explore the natural and cultural attractions of the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. The expedition is led by expert naturalists including a marine biologist, a professional birder, and a horticulturalist.

Circum-navigation of Sicily. This tour begins in Malta with an exploration of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boarding your ship there, the cruise traces the coast of Sicily and includes guided visits to varied historic and cultural sites including Greek temples, Roman theaters, and Arab castles. There will be abundant opportunities for wine and olive-oil tasting, visiting local outdoor markets, with free time in the evenings to dine on your own in the picturesque coastal towns of Sicily.

These unique experiences are offered by Zegrahm Expeditions, a select Virtuoso company specializing in luxury adventure travel and eco-tourism. With over three dozen exotic trips planned for 2011, some by sea but many by land, there is bound to be an adventure that will intrigue your imagination. Want to plan something totally different for next year? Get in touch with me to explore the possibilities!


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copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Iceland | luxury adventure travel

I recently spent four days in Iceland, and although November would not have been my first choice for a visit to this island country at the 66º parallel, the weather was acceptable. Iceland is a fabulous destination to visit for luxury adventure travel.

The name of the island was apparently a marketing ploy to discourage too many settlers from coming and taking away a good thing from those already there. Greenland is actually icy while Iceland is actually quite green!


Iceland offers wonderful natural beauty — waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, wildlife, and even a black sand beach. Although it's possible to do all the research yourself, rent a car or 4x4, and explore the island on your own, luxury adventure travelers will appreciate having an experienced tour company put together a personalized tour of the island. Our group of 15 was shuttled all over the south of Iceland in a caravan of three Lincoln Navigator SUVs. We saw the sights, learned about the history and culture of Iceland, and enjoyed it all in a perfectly relaxed and comfortable way. If you can afford it, this is the way to travel!

A few must-see highlights for your trip to Iceland:

• The Golden Circle Tour

This 190-mile circular route encompasses Thingvellir, site of the oldest parliament in the world; Geysir, the geyser which gave its name to all other erupting hot springs; and Gullfoss, Europe's largest waterfall.

• Hellisheidarvirkiun Geothermal Power Plant

Iceland has developed a green technology of exploiting the earth's own heat to produce electricity and hot water and is exporting this technology around the world.

• Seljalandsfoss waterfall

You can walk behind this waterfall, quite an interesting experience.

• Thorsmork

This nature reserve is accessible only by 4x4 mountain vehicles.

• Blue Lagoon Spa

I spent my last few hours in Iceland luxuriating in the naturally heated sea water of this outdoor spa. If you want to get a massage, you'll want to make reservations in advance.

Where to eat? The Seafood Cellar in Reykjavík has an incredibly imaginative chef. An asian-fusion style restaurant, just order the Chef's Selection menu ... and be prepared for a great surprise with dessert!

Where to stay? In Reykjavík, consider either 101 Hotel with a very contemporary design — rooms are smallish, so book a Junior Suite — or the Hotel Borg with an art-deco style. In a more rural setting in Southern Iceland, consider Hotel Ranga, a rustic property with wood paneled rooms on the south side of Iceland. This property is a good base for visiting the natural beauty of the country — and well situated (in the winter) to see the Northern Lights.

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copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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