Savoring the local culture—that’s what today’s travelers want while exploring the world. Rather than hopping into a destination and just as quickly hopping out, travelers want to spend a few days in one place. They’re opting to venture beyond the tourism hotspots, dine where the locals do and check out recommendations off the beaten path. Just as important, they’re seeking travel that treads lightly on the planet.
United States Tour Operator Association’s (USTOA) members offer experiences that speak to travelers who want to slow down and immerse themselves in the local culture—from hiking mountain trails in the Amalfi Coast and exploring a working farm in Ireland alongside its owners to engaging with the traditions of Māori culture in New Zealand and staying in a small village on the Kenyan coast.
Amalfi Awaits: Hike, Savor, and Explore with G Adventures
Imagine your clients basking in all the delights that the Amalfi Coast has to offer. G Adventures—a new USTOA Active Member—offers an 8-day Local Living Italy-Amalfi Coast itinerary that allows clients to do just that. Tour highlights include staying in a renovated 16th-century former monastery that’s been converted into an agriturismo; hiking along the coastline of the Mediterranean; exploring chic resort towns, historic villages and the ruins of Pompeii; savoring home-cooked Italian food made from local ingredients; and taking in spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast from the water on a scenic ferry ride between Positano and Amalfi.
Explore Iberia by Train: Culture, Wine & Hidden Gems with Exodus
Exodus Adventure Travels’ 11-day Discover Spain & Portugal by Rail journey explores these two European countries by train. Your clients will discover Madrid’s under-the-radar spots; they’ll watch a flamenco show in the artform’s birthplace, Seville; visit one of Europe’s oldest universities in Coimbra; they’ll take a short river cruise through the Douro Valley (wine lovers rejoice!), visiting the picturesque village of Pinhão; and stay in small, locally owned hotels.
From Titanic Tales to Farm Feasts: Discover Ireland with Trafalgar
In Ireland, during Trafalgar’s 11-day Ireland Tour of Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Ring of Kerry and Waterford itinerary, travelers will delve into all the Emerald Isle’s delights. In Belfast, a Local Specialist “cabbie” guides the group on an insider view of the city’s living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a real taxi, while at the UNESCO-listed Cliffs of Moher, soaring 650 ft. above the Atlantic, a Local Specialist illuminates the interconnection between environmental issues and current conservation initiatives at this breathtaking landscape. Other highlights include a visit to the Broughgammon Farm just outside the charming town of Ballycastle for a Be My Guest experience; a journey through the lush countryside to Belleek, where visitors discover one of the oldest working potteries in the world at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Center; and a visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast Experience to gain insights into the story of the Titanic and its passengers.
SITA’s Luxury Kenya Itinerary Blends Safari Adventures with Coastal Bliss
Heading to Africa, SITA World Tours offers the 10-day Kenya Luxury Bush & Beach vacation, with stays in the exclusive Hemingways resorts: the 45-suite Hemingways Nairobi boutique hotel; the Hemingways Ol Seki Mara, a luxury tented camp located in the heart of the private Naboisho Conservancy with 10 exclusive luxury tents with 270-degree panoramic views of the Mara plains; and the Hemingways Watamu on the scenic Kenyan Coast, embraced by white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Clients will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives on the Naboisho Conservancy, adjacent to the Masai Mara, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve, and they’ll have plenty of leisure time during their coastal adventures, with options to explore the Mambrui Sand Dunes and the Maraga Canyon, among other must-sees.
Goway’s New Zealand Odyssey Blends Culture, Scenery & Adventure
During Goway Travel’s small group journey through New Zealand—the 13-day New Zealand Odyssey: Auckland, Napier, Weelington, Queenstown & More—adventurers will go behind the scenes of the world’s most famous rugby team at the All Blacks experience in Auckland; cruise to Waiheke Island for a wine tour of the island’s boutique wineries; explore Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set before engaging with the traditions of Māori culture at Te Puia and the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute; spot humpback whales along the picturesque coastal town of Kaikoura; hop on Queenstown’s Skyline Gondola to catch breaktaking views; and take a tour of Art Deco Napier in a vintage car.
For more information, visit ustoa.com/travel-advisors.
