Creating off-beat travel itineraries is my favourite part of holiday planning. As an introvert and research nerd, I enjoy losing myself along rabbit holes hunting for hidden gems to add to the list: authentic little hotels, old-timey bars, alleyway restaurants, bizarre local museums, dusty bookshops, local markets and shops, and ways to avoid the crowds. I’ve never hired a travel company to plan a trip for me, I fear they won’t ‘get’ me and my off-beat travel tastes. Or, if I dare say it, be as thorough as me at the research. Plus, and this is a side point, there’s something clinical- and corporate-sounding in the phrase ‘tour operator’ that puts me off a little.
Holiday planning with Original Travel
Anyway, having said all this, I’ve just discovered a travel company I would willingly hand the holiday-planning reigns to. They’re called Original Travel and I’ve just spent the morning on their website drooling over their trips. I discovered them when I was writing about the steamship in Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. Turns out, it’s inspired by one Christie travelled on, SS Sudan, still available for Nile cruises today with Original Travel.
What’s so special about Original Travel, I hear you say? Well, the clincher for me is that they craft tailor-made adventures that take you in search of the unique and unusual, using personal insights and their exceptional knowledge of the world. No two travellers and no two itineraries are ever identical. Each holiday they plan, as their name suggests, is truly original. They can also organise any kind of trip: honeymoons, family holidays, expert-led journeys, cultural experiences, adventures, safaris, discreet luxury travel, private properties and diving. And if you’re worried about the state of the planet, they also take a considered approach, encouraging adventures in under-explored countries, or going off the beaten path in well-known regions.
Original Travel’s magic touch
They also work their magic and add in special exclusive elements and extras you didn’t even know were possible, as well as contact with local concierges, expert guides, fast-track check-in and airport meet-and-greet, and lounge access are all available to keep things stress-free.To get you in the mood and give you a taste of what they do, I’ve picked out a few of my favourite trips. Let’s go…
A luxury nile cruise on Agatha Christie’s SS Sudan
An eight-day adventure in Egypt, cruising the Nile on board the SS Sudan, a traditional sailing boat with just seven cabins. Beginning in Luxor to explore the temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings, before sailing towards Aswan, stopping at Egyptian and Nubian villages and magical ancient sites along the way. Optional extras include an introduction to Egyptian hieroglyphs, a private tour of the Abu Simbel temple set in two sandstone hills facing the Nile; a stay in buzzing Cairo to visit the pyramids. Find out more here.
Off the beaten track in Israel
This eight-day trip takes in the country’s gems beyond Jerusalem and Tel Aviv such as the fortress of Masada, the Golan Heights and Acre, to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites and hike in glorious mountain or desert scenery on this trip to see secret Israel. Itinerary highlights: discovering an oasis in the desert for walking and swimming in the shade of palm trees; experiencing the unusual feeling of floating in the Dead Sea; learning about Zionism at a kibbutz, a unique community; Israeli wine tasting at a vineyard in the Golan Heights; cool dining and art in Tel Aviv and delve into history of haggling in the ancient port of Jaffa. Find out more here.
A musical adventure through the Deep South: from Chicago to New Orleans
A 15-day road trip from Illinois to the Deep South, set to a blues, country and rock soundtrack to soak up the cities that gave birth to America’s famous music scene: Chicago, the Windy City, and the birthplace of the blues scene and a surprising green haven; Nashville, the birthplace of country music and HQ for legendary guitar brand, Gibson; Memphis, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and centre for the fight against racial discrimination, where you can pay homage to ‘The King’ in Graceland, visit Elvis’s legendary studio and impressive car collections, and tour the Civil Rights Museum; and New Orleans on the Mississippi River, a beautiful melting pot of Spanish, African, French and Creole cultures, famous for Voodoo and spiritual folklore. Included in the itinerary are tours of Chicago’s architecture, jazz concerts, Louisiana plantations, New Orleans with a local guide. Find out more here.
Little-known Colombia – the Costa Caribe
A 10-day journey sailing, diving and experiencing Colombia’s little-known Costa Caribe on the Caribbean sea with its coral reefs, fine sandy beaches and a relaxed way of life and inland forests. Itinerary highlights: authentic accommodation including a colonial house in the old walled city of Cartagena, and contemporary villas by the sea; a private tour of Cartagena, with beautiful Spanish architecture and the soothing sound of champeta, traditional Colombian music and dance; meeting with an emerald hunter and taking a trip to Tayrona. Optional extras: a trip to Bogota, the Colombian capital with a charming old quarter, to visit the Botero Museum, try local food like empanadas and ajiaco, a soup made from potatoes, sweetcorn and chicken and dance to cumbia rock, carranga or salsa. Find out more here.
If you win the lottery… A Luxury Mediterranean Sabbatical
This is just a miniature taste of what Original Travel offers. For more, lose hours browsing the full portfolio on their dreamy website, here.
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