R. Crusoe & Son, Belmond Brochure, May 2016 by R. Crusoe & Son

7 unusual journeys R.Crusoe & Son

Burma. 1890.

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” —Audrey Hepburn

Fred & Ginger. Laurel & Hardy. Frick & Frack.

introduction to Crusoe’s Investigating Italy hey go together. journey. As do R. Crusoe & Son and Belmond. If traveling by water appeals, how about R. Crusoe is delighted to offer travel plying a canal through the French in partnership with Belmond, a company countryside? We suggest time aboard a synonymous with exquisite luxury and Belmond Afloat in France luxury barge. service. We’ve teamed up to offer unusual Cleopatra had her own barge. So journeys—going behind the scenes to explore should you—at least for a glorious week. exquisite places around the world—aboard Many travelers have yet to see Burma absolutely delightful trains and boats, and (you might know it as Myanmar). Positive in hotels owned and impeccably managed change is certainly afoot here. Belmond by Belmond. Road To Mandalay is a fabulous way to What are your travel the fabled Irrawaddy River. options? And while you’re in Southeast Asia, There’s never consider the delightful Eastern & Oriental been a better time Express train on a seven-day journey from to visit Machu Singapore to Bangkok including a Picchu. On Crusoe’s Peru journey, stay in complimentary night at Singapore’s amazing Belmond hotels, and opt to ride the legendary Raffles Hotel. incomparable Belmond Hiram Bingham On all these journeys, we pamper you train through the historic Sacred Valley. with marvelous accommodations, excellent In Southern Africa, any old safari camp meals, and countless insider experiences. just won’t do. You stay in excellent Belmond How else do you lodges. get invited to tea in Off to Europe? a Scottish castle, If you are heading to or float in a hot-air Scotland, don’t miss balloon over Bagan’s Belmond Royal golden pagodas, or Scotsman, one of wander through the our favorite trains. finest tea plantation What more can we in Malaysia, or say? This vintage explore magical beauty brings back Machu Picchu an irresistible before the crowds Golden Age of arrive? luxury travel. We could go The inimitable on, but instead, we Venice Simploninvite you to turn Orient-Express the page and see train is a legend on what R. Crusoe & the rails. We like Son and Belmond the London-Venice have in store for route, and it works Meet Andean weavers in Peru’s Sacred Valley. you. perfectly as an 2

Belmond Afloat in France barges lead you along some of the country’s most picturesque canals.

R. Crusoe & Son 7 unusual journeys. 1.

Perusing Peru. Sunrise & Sunset Over Machu Picchu Included. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Where the Buffalo (Elephant, Zebra, Hippo, Hyena, & Lion) Roam. South Africa & Botswana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3. Aboard Belmond Royal Scotsman. Travel the Way It Used to Be. The Classic Highlands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4. Gently Barging Through France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 5. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Historic, Elegant, but by No Means Murderous. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6. Burma & Belmond Road To Mandalay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 7. Southeast Asia aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Around the World: Belmond’s Most Iconic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 R. Crusoe & Son: Travel Your Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 EUROPE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ASIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 AFRICA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 THE AMERICAS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 When to go where. An R. Crusoe travel calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 A selection of R. Crusoe Sample Custom Journeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 3

Beware the dangers of a dysfunctional family.

case of sibling rivalry changed the course of history in South America. When Inca ruler Huayna Capac died in 1533, his sons Huascar and Atahualpa struggled bitterly for control of the empire. Conquistador Francisco Pizarro recognized a perfect opportunity to attack, and attack he did (obliterate might be a better word). The Inca all but disappeared. Nearly 500 years later, their remains still have us guessing about exactly who they were, and digging, and guessing a little better. Innovative farmers, talented ceramists, incomparable stonemasons and architects. That much we know about the Inca.

With no written history, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little for us to do but marvel at all theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve left behind. And we do so in absolute style, staying in Belmond properties along the route. Our search for the Inca begins in Lima, a mix of Spanish colonial, Inca, and pre-Inca ruins. On to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, gateway to Peruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past. Listen well: Quechua, ancient Inca tongue, still spoken here. Visit Chinchero for a traditional weaving demonstration. Maras for its salt mines, and Moray for its fine terraces.The mighty Ollantaytambo fortress for its incredible mortarless masonry. (The town here is a living museum; locals still use its ancient irrigation canals.) Step inside a

Inca masonry at its best (and most mortarless). Cusco, 1907.

Perched above a bend in the Urubamba River between snowy peaks and virgin jungle, Machu Picchu has the most spectacular setting of any remains in the world. 5

Settle into the Belmond Hotel Monasterio, one of R. Crusoe’s favorite hotels. Cusco.

Bingham organized an expedition to search ceramics workshop. See a Paso horse for the royal Inca city of Vilcabamba. demonstration. If you’d like, witness a After weeks of false leads, an earthquake, shaman ceremony. a delectable lunch of roast guinea pig, Board the Vistadome train through negotiations with the Sacred Valley to Indian carriers, Machu Picchu. Better and the discovery of yet, opt to ride the ever1,500 square miles so-elegant Belmond of unrecorded glaciated Hiram Bingham train. terrain, he and his party (Professor Bingham finally arrived at the would be jealous.) foot of Machu Picchu, Two luxurious dining where he hit pay dirt. cars, one bar car. Have Owing to its brunch on board in one inaccessibility, no doubt, direction, cocktails and Machu Picchu was dinner in the other. wonderfully preserved. We alight in No Spaniard had ever terrific Belmond hotels Climb Moray’s old farming terraces. penetrated it. in Machu Picchu, the The purpose of these 200 shrines, palaces, Sacred Valley, and Cusco (it doesn’t get and temples? No one’s certain, but so what? any better than these). If you find your private tour of Machu In 1911, American historian Hiram 6

Picchu astounding, consider making the THIS IS A SAMPLE ITINERARY. R. CRUSOE rigorous ascent up Huayna Picchu or along CREATES CUSTOM JOURNEYS TO YOUR the worn path to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. EXACT SPECIFICATIONS. The train takes us back to Cusco. Our favorite ruins nearby? Sacsayhuaman Perusing Peru. Sunrise & Sunset (pronounced “sexy woman”). The Kenko Over Machu Picchu Included. amphitheater. Day 1: U.S.; Lima, Peru The Fly to Lima. Belmond Tambomachay Miraflores Park Plaza. baths. PucaP E R U Day 2: Cusco, Sacred Lima Pucara fortress. Valley Machu Picchu Fly back to Lima Fly to Cusco, Sacred Sacred Valley Valley. Belmond Rio for a look around. Cusco Sagrado. Then we’ve reached journey’s end. Day 3-4: Sacred Valley Call 1-888-490-8046 to book. Detailed itineraries available Chinchero, textile More? If you have at www.rcrusoe.com . demonstration, Moray, more time, talk to Maras, ceramics workshop, R. Crusoe about an extension to AREQUIPA, horse demonstration, COLCA CANYON, and LAKE TITICACA. option to children’s center, Ollantaytambo. Belmond Rio Sagrado.

Day 5: Machu Picchu Vistadome or Belmond Hiram Bingham train, Inca ruins private tour. Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.

Day 6: Machu Picchu, Cusco Ruins at sunrise, leisure time, options to Huayna Picchu or Inti Punku, Belmond Hiram Bingham or Vistadome to Cusco. Belmond Hotel Monasterio.

Day 7-8: Cusco Aboard Belmond Hiram Bingham. We urge you not to miss it while you’re in Peru.

ABRIDGED LIST OF R. CRUSOE INSIDER EXPERIENCES

Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca-Pucara, Cusco including San Blas, Inca Museum, San Pedro Market, Coricancha, Plaza de Armas, cathedral, Pre-Colombian Museum. Belmond Hotel Monasterio.

Day 9: Lima • Opt for the exquisite Belmond Hiram Bingham train between Cusco and Machu Picchu. • Stay in luxury Belmond hotels in Lima, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and Cusco. • Stay at the entrance of Machu Picchu to access the site before others arrive. • Sunrise and sunset at Machu Picchu. • Watch a traditional textile demonstration. • Witness an Andean shaman ceremony.

Fly to Lima, Old Town including Plaza Mayor, cathedral, Iglesia de San Francisco, and Casa de Aliaga, Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, fly home. Dayroom: Belmond Miraflores Park Plaza.

Day 10: United States Arrive home. Prices: Per person sharing room from $6,290 for this 10-day sample itinerary. Belmond Hiram Bingham upgrade per person $640 Internal air per person (estimate) $490

“The Leopard, he was the ’sclusivest sandiest-yellowestbrownest of them all... and he matched the ’sclusively yellowish-greyish-brownish colour of the High Veldt to one hair. And when the Giraffe or the Zebra or the Eland came he would surprise them out of their jumpsome lives.” —Rudyard Kipling, How the Leopard Got His Spots

journey to Southern Africa will surprise even you, ’sclusively worldish traveler, out of your jumpsome life. For here, everything is remarkable, from the tiniest bird to the mightiest mammal. And who knows? You might even meet the Leopard himself. Consider this your engraved invitation to visit the wet wonderland that is Southern Africa. Four-by-four vehicles take you on game drives day and night (if you choose). Ply mysterious waterways in mokoros (dugout canoes) under the guidance of expert polers. Big cats linger for the evening hunt. At night, tiny reed frogs lull us to sleep. Our accommodations? All are exceptional Belmond properties. Imagine the level of luxe. 8

Begin in Johannesburg and Pretoria, site of the first Anglo-Boer War (1877) and Nelson Mandela’s inauguration (1994). Bed down at the Four Seasons Hotel the Westcliff, a tranquil Mediterraneaninspired retreat in a quiet neighborhood just outside of Johannesburg. Wake up to magnificent views. Fly to the Okavango Delta. Unlike most rivers, which flow toward the ocean, the Okavango fans inland, its 4,000 square miles of islands, lagoons, and waterways chock-a-block with wildlife. Think elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and a dizzying array of avian life. Imagine Kipling himself here, filling notebook after notebook with his eccentric prose.

Home is Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, hangout of elephants, cheetahs, leopards. whose wildlife viewing is legendary. It sits Belmond Khwai River Lodge, home base in Moremi, cannot be topped. Aside on Xaxaba Island and overlooks a lagoon from its unique fed by tranquil delta location on the edge waters. The New of a leadwood and fig York Times named tree forest and its its Fish Eagle Bar immediate access to one of the world’s most romantic spots. the bush veldt, it Too true. also offers a pool, a gym, a spa, and While you’re at plenty of room to Belmond Eagle Island spend quality time Lodge, view the game Climb into a mokoro for a journey through with yourself. from a traditional intricate waterways, home to some of Another light mokoro, from a Southern Africa’s most interesting species. aircraft, this one to small motorized boat (water levels permitting), from a helicopter, the heart of Chobe National Park, a swampor—if you’ve an appetite to be right in the and-grass wilderness. Prepare yourself for bush—take a guided walk through the encounters with Cape buffaloes, hippos, wilderness. It’s an experience you won’t soon warthogs, antelopes, and plenty of birds. forget. Around here, Chobe is known as the Elephant Capital of the World, and with Next, to Moremi Wildlife Reserve and the vast Khwai River flood plains. This is good reason. And Savute Marsh has the hands-down one of Southern Africa’s best highest density of predators in Southern areas for spotting concentrations of fourAfrica. The relatively short grass makes legged creatures. Our camp is a favorite for excellent photo ops. Bring lots of film. Cape buffalo and its hitchhikers, red-billed oxpeckers. Somehow, it all works. Botswana.

Technically speaking, this is a tent. Think you can rough it? Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge.

Home here is the wonderful Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, right in the heart of the nature preserve. A local channel has been flowing again after nearly 30 dry years, which means the animals are congregating around a new water hole right in your front yard, so to speak. Expect to see elephants, elephants, and more elephants. Plus Cape buffalo, hippos, warthogs, plenty of antelopes, birds galore. And the predators that follow: lions, leopards, cheetahs. Fly back to Johannesburg or continue on to one of our favorite African cities, Cape Town, Allow Crusoe to show you another side of South Africa.

More? Cape Town. One very sophisticated city; 17 stretches of gorgeous beaches; dozens of vineyards just now coming into their own; and infinite hospitality. Fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and settle into a landmark hotel, Belmond Mount Nelson, surrounded by lush gardens at the foot of Table Mountain. Refreshed, poke around historic Cape Town itself. Visit Robben Island, Nelson Mandela’s home for way too many years. Explore Cape Point. Take in South Africa’s wine country. Taste the fruits of the vintners’ labors before flying home.

At the southern tip of the African continent, Cape Town sparkles.

THIS IS A SAMPLE ITINERARY. R. CRUSOE CREATES CUSTOM JOURNEYS TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATIONS.

Where the Buffalo (Elephant, Zebra, Hippo, Hyena, & Lion) Roam. South Africa & Botswana. Day 1: United States Fly overnight to South Africa.

Day 2-3: Johannesburg, Rivonia, Pretoria or Soweto, South Africa Arrive Johannesburg, Liliesleaf Farm, Pretoria including Paul Kruger House, Voortrekker Monument, and Parliament, or Soweto including markets, a worker hostel, the Hector Pieterson Memorial & Museum, and the Apartheid Museum. Four Seasons Hotel the Westcliff.

Day 4-5: Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana Fly to Maun, connect by bush plane to the Okavango Delta, game drives by vehicle and/or on foot, and game viewing by mokoro or motorboat. Belmond Eagle Island Lodge.

Day 6-7: Moremi Wildlife Reserve Fly by bush plane to Moremi, safari walks, day and evening game drives, local village visit. Belmond Khwai River Lodge.

Day 8-9: Chobe National Park Fly by bush plane to Chobe, game drives on land and in mokoros, options to ancient San rock paintings and to Gametrackers baobab trees. Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge.

Day 10: Maun; Johannesburg; United States Fly to Maun, connect to flight to Johannesburg, and fly home, or continue to Cape Town, South Africa, and/or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with R. Crusoe. Prices: Per person sharing room from $7,380 South Africa/Botswana air per person (estimate) $490

Bathing al fresco. Belmond Eagle Island Lodge.

Call 1-888-490-8046 to book. Detailed itineraries available at www.rcrusoe.com.

Moremi Chobe Okavango Delta B O T S WA N A Johannesburg SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town

Utterly Civilized Cape Town. Extend your R. Crusoe Southern Africa safari with a journey to CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. Get to know the highlights of this marvelous city inside and out. Then explore the Cape Peninsulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural wonders, and taste your way through the lush Cape Winelands. We suggest a four-day visit, with overnights at the legendary Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. Speak to an R. Crusoe travel specialist for details.

With kilt adjusted and uisgebeatha poured, a Scotsman is ready for just about anything. 12

Belmond Royal Scotsman: Room with a view. Some room. Some view.

Grab a plate of tatties, neeps, and haggis. Fill your tumbler with single malt. It’s Burns Night!

T he Scots love Robert Burns, and every 25 January, they gather to celebrate his birth. Over scotch, the men toast his timeless verse, and the women mourn those whose hearts were broken by this legendary womanizer. Romantics fill the Scottish Highlands. Come see for yourself. Head for the hills with us in transport that’s fit for a king— Belmond Royal Scotsman, one of the world’s most exclusive trains. Polished, stylish, discreet—elegance on the rails. Truly one of a kind. At night, this train stops moving. Becomes absolutely motionless. Noiseless. Serene. Every night of your journey. (You’ve never slept more gloriously.) And each morning, just outside your window, an immense, unspoiled world. The train seems to be running on tracks not used by ordinary conveyances.

You and a fortunate few—35 other passengers, to be exact—are doted on by an experienced crew of 12. The surroundings? Mahogany, overstuffed sofas and chairs, and the world’s best scotch. The food? Incredible. And we promise—no haggis (unless you’re really keen to try it). Along the way, see how Highlanders live, where they work, where they play. A kilted Scotsman pipes us aboard (aperitifs are waiting). R. Crusoe offers The Classic Highlands, an eight-day journey through Scotland that includes four nights aboard Belmond Royal Scotsman. Begin with some time in glorious Edinburgh. See why Sir Walter Scott fell in love with this city. On a walking tour, we learn about the rich history—and the colorful personalities—responsible for making Edinburgh what it is today. Then board Belmond Royal Scotsman, 13

Belmond Royal Scotsman’s Observation Car. A perfect place to relax, clear your mind, and enjoy the scenery.

and head north across the tongue-twisting Firth of Forth and through the Kingdom of Fife. Cross the Forth Railway Bridge, one of the world’s first cantilever bridges and one of the Victorians’ most splendid accomplishments. Uisgebeatha, the water of life, awaits in Muir of Ord at Glen Ord Distillery, founded in 1838 and known for perfectly

malted barley and age-old traditions. Back onboard, head west to Inverness, capital of the Highlands. Can you see the ghosts of Scotland’s bold history: Macbeth, Robert Bruce, Mary, Queen of Scots, and the warriors of the Highlander battles? Continue to Kyle of Lochalsh, arguably the most scenic route in Britain. See the Torridon Mountains, formed before life began on Earth. Get lost in Plockton. Watch for seals from a boat near the Isle of Skye. Castles? Of course. Ballindalloch Castle has been the beloved home of the same family since 1546. They welcome us into the ancestral home. Want to play a round of golf on the estate course? Please do. After dinner on the train in Boat of Garten, Highlander Ray Owens regales us with stories of Scottish heroes.

Belmond Royal Scotsman winds through the Scottish Highlands.

At Rothiemurchas Estate, fish on a local loch. Try your hand (and your aim) at clay-pigeon shooting. Relax by the fire at Drumintoul Lodge. In Dunkeld, drop by Glamis, childhood home of the late Queen Mother. The Bowes Lyon family has lived in the castle since 1372. Finally, Perth, Dundee, and back to Edinburgh. Farewell to Edwardian luxury.

SCOTLAND Kyle of Lochalsh

Muir of Ord

Keith

Boat of Garten

Dundee

Edinburgh

More? Aside from The Classic Highlands, we offer other journeys that include time aboard Belmond Royal Scotsman. Give us a call, and we can describe the Grand North Western Highlands (11 days); the Grand West Highlands (nine days); the Western Highlands (seven days); and the Highland Fling (six days).

Call 1-888-490 046 to book. Detailed itinera-8rie s available at www.rcrusoe.com .

Aboard Belmond Royal Scotsman. Travel the Way It Used to Be. The Classic Highlands. 8 Days. Day 1: U.S. Fly overnight to Scotland.

Day 2-3: Edinburgh, Scotland City tour. Balmoral or Scotsman Hotel.

Day 4: Edinburgh to Keith Firth of Forth, Fife, Arbroath, Montrose, Aberdeen. Belmond Royal Scotsman.

Day 5: Muir of Ord to Kyle of Lochalsh Glen Ord Distillery, Eilean Donan Castle, Plockton, Kyle of Lochalsh. Belmond Royal Scotsman.

Day 6: Kyle of Lochalsh to Boat of Garten Kyle of Lochalsh, Carrbridge, Ballindalloch Castle, Boat of Garten. Belmond Royal Scotsman.

Day 7: Boat of Garten to Dundee Rothiemurchas Estate for fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, or relaxing, Kingussie, Dunkeld, Glamis Castle, Perth, Dundee. Belmond Royal Scotsman.

Day 8: Dundee to Edinburgh Tay Bridge, Forth Bridge, Waverly Station. Departures: April through early October. Price: Per person sharing cabin from $8,490 There are a limited number of single cabins available for which no single supplement applies.

Aboard Belmond Fleur de Lys, Burgundy bound.

The canals along which we barge are shallow. Our journey into the French countryside is anything but.

Crusoe and Belmond get you into the best estates to sample the reds, whites, and rosés.

F rom the sun deck of an elegant Belmond Afloat in France barge on the backwaters of France, get inside shy hamlets and otherwise hidden lives. Head for the rural reaches to places you can’t 16

access in a car or train or motorcoach. Canal and river barges (and the bikes on board) are our preferred transport. If you get what we’re saying, we urge you to try something truly unique—one of the five Belmond Afloat in France barges. Glide along France’s quiet waterways with your favorite comrades (hand-picked by you). Serenity. Calm. The finest fruits, vegetables, wines, cheeses. The most buttery croissants. All courtesy of your most excellent on-board crew and chef. Your fellow bargers—and the boat itself— are your very own for one glorious week. Savor the unspoiled pays français. Slowly. Here’s a chance to catch your breath, to chat, to laugh, to share. It’s the kind of

vacation many of us have longed for all our adult lives. Belmond Afloat in France barges sleeps four, six, eight, or 12 (depending on the boat). It caters just to you and your family or your pals or your beloved first cousins. Fresh-cut flowers, well-stocked libraries (and liquor cabinets), sun decks, bikes for all, perhaps a grand piano, even swimming pool on two boats. All this makes barging soothingly luxurious. Let’s face it—life is one continuous fastforward. Charter barging slows you down and puts you back together. Awaken each day in your well-appointed room (with private bath, of course). Drink in the morning air, then your morning coffee. Loll on a deck chair beneath a strategically placed umbrella. Breakfast on buttery croissants and berries straight from the farm. Slowly, the morning unfolds. As your Your charming barge moves you along France’s quiet canals. The appointments within? Nothing short of splendid. And it’s all yours.

day’s cruise gets underway, your barge approaches a lock. Gates close and the canal chamber fills with water. Some of you decide that you like the scenery here, and you step ashore for a morning walk along an ancient towpath beside the canal. Others are ready for a bike ride to explore the sleepy village nearby. Everyone wants to poke around local abbey ruins. And have a picnic. Why not? As the sun sinks toward the horizon, head back to the barge for cocktails and conversation before a candlelit dinner. Once again, crewmembers have outdone themselves. The table is set, the wine is breathing, the meal is a masterpiece. Dining is exquisite. Only the freshest ingredients from local markets find their way to your table. Your chef takes full advantage of the regional larder and tailors the cuisine to your tastes. Curl up with your favorite book of poetry—or your favorite poet. The only rushing you should do is to make your reservation. (Some barges book a year in advance.)

There are so many choices, so many canals, so many lavish boats, we’re forced (grudgingly) to cite only a few favorites as examples. Belmond Fleur de Lys (six passengers) winds through Burgundy’s Cote d’Or along the Valley d’Ouche on the Canal de Bourgogne to Dijon. Belmond Amaryllis (eight) follows the Canal de Bourgogne from Dijon to the River Saône then onto the Canal du Centre. Belmond Hirondelle (eight) travels from Franche-Comté along the Canal du Rhône au Rhin to the Saône and along the Canal du Centre. Belmond Napoléon (12) cruises the River Rhône south along the Rhône Valley into Provence. Belmond Alouette (four) navigates the Canal du Midi and Carcassonne. No matter which barge route you choose, we suggest you begin your journey in Paris, then board the speedy TGV train or a private vehicle to your barge. Wend your way through the tranquil countryside, letting the time and tides take control of your journey. Play pétanque or golf. Visit a Renaissance château.

Provence. The views from your Belmond Afloat in France barge? Indescribable.

If only home had this much to recommend it. Settle into your fully-staffed and outfitted cabin for a week of absolute luxury.

Of course, you mustn’t miss the vineyards—this is France, after all. Visit some of the country’s finest estates and give your taste buds an education. Along the way, a manor house here, a take-your-breath-away view there. R. Crusoe & Son, is mad for More? barging, and we’re sure Come to France a few days early, you’ll be, too. or stay a few beyond your Paris barge journey, and let us create (Don’t a PARIS holiday just for you. really need a whole barge Gently Barging Dijon to yourselves? Through France. FRANCE Two of them can be Lyon Departures: April through booked by the October. individual cabin. Call LANGUEDOCfor information.) ROUSSILLON Prices: From $24,000 for a Arles whole barge that sleeps four; Is there a Carcassone from $40,000 for a whole barge destination in France Call 1-888-490-8046 that sleeps six; from $36,500 for to book. you care to visit—one Detailed itineraries at www.rcrusoe.comavailable a barge that sleeps eight; from . we haven’t mentioned? $60,800 for a river barge that Do tell. Contact an sleeps 12. Individual cabins from R. Crusoe travel specialist and let us know $4,500 where available. Prices do not include where you’d like to go. We create Custom air. Prices may vary depending on season and Journeys just for you and yours. number in your party. Call us for details. Rhône

BURGUNDY & CÔTE D’OR

There’s no doubt, really, that the movie “Murder on the Orient Express” is marvelous.

B rilliant story, fabulous cast, stunning

decadent company, and fine wines characterized this era on the rails. Royalty, scenery. Agatha Christie at her best. celebrities, courtesans, and spies Time aboard the actual train, the intermingled as they traveled in opulence vintage Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, is equally brilliant, fabulous, and stunning. through Europe. Small wonder that this provided the And being on the train puts you directly in perfect setting for Ms. Christie’s most touch with the colorful history of elegant famous work. European train travel World War II put that Ms. Christie so a stop to everything. deftly used to bring Cross-frontier travel her story to life. became impossible. By the turn of the The Depression century, the great age pushed premier of rail travel was in travel out of reach full swing. In 1906, for many. Air travel the Simplon became faster and Tunnel—at 12.5 Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot in Sidney cheaper. miles, the world’s Lumet’s “Murder on the Orient Express.” Enter James longest—opened for B. Sherwood, entrepreneur and rail business, cutting the trip from Paris to enthusiast. In 1977, he bought two of the Venice significantly. train’s carriages and spent the next years The 1920s and 1930s were the heyday purchasing and restoring the vintage of the legendary train. Elaborate meals, Get to know the remarkable staff during meals aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express winds through the Austrian Alps.

sleepers, Pullmans, and restaurant cars. In 1982, the legend was reborn when the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express made its maiden run from London to Venice. Today, the gleaming carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express continue to transport passengers across Europe in exquisite surroundings on one of the most romantic journeys ever. Our favorite route? London to Venice via Paris, naturally. One night aboard the world’s most famous train. Make it a quick getaway, or choose to extend with Crusoe’s Custom Journey, Investigating Italy. Begin in London. As you board the gleaming carriages of Belmond British Pullman train in London Victoria Station, your steward shows you to your reserved seat. Sit back and enjoy brunch with wine and a glass of champagne as you travel throughout the Kentish countryside to Folkestone, on the Strait of Dover. Board a Chunnel train to cross the English Channel and then embark the gleaming blue-and-gold carriages of the

St. Marks, Venice.

Venice Simplon- Orient-Express. Enjoy your afternoon on board as the train winds through the countryside of France toward the Swiss and Austrian Alps. Throughout your journey you are thoughtfully attended to by your cabin steward. Soon after you settle into your private compartment, it’s time to dress for dinner. Why not sip an aperitif in the Bar Car before making your way to one of three magnificent restaurant cars? Here you are served a delicious four-course dinner prepared by the Executive Chef. After dinner, consider lingering in the Bar Car, listening to your favorites on the baby grand piano. When you are ready, retire to your cabin, which has been transformed into a cozy bedroom. Next morning, awake to the dramatic scenery of the Swiss Alps as Continental breakfast is served in your cabin at a time that suits you. Spend the morning in the Bar Car chatting with fellow guests over coffee. Enjoy a leisurely three-course lunch.

Visit the on-board Boutique, or relax and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: admire the scenery—now the towering Historic, Elegant, but by No Italian Dolomites. Means Murderous. Afternoon tea is served in your cabin Day 1: London, Paris as we traverse the Brenner Pass. Depart London, Victoria Station, arrive All too soon it is Paris, Gare de l’Est Station. time to disembark as Aboard theVenice Simplon-Orient-Express. the Venice Simplon Day 2: Innsbruck, Verona, Venice Orient-Express Arrive Innsbruck, Hauptbahnhof, depart pulls into Venice’s Innsbruck, arrive Verona, Porta Nuova Station, Santa Lucia BRITAIN depart Verona, arrive Venice, Santa Lucia Station in the Station. early evening. London Don’t want This route is also available in reverse. to leave the The Venice Simplontrain? Who could Orient-Express Paris blame you? Innsbruck route is subject Fortunately, we AUSTRIA to change FRANCE without prior drop you off in one Verona Venice warning due to of the world’s most last-minute railway storied cities. work or similar. ITALY Speak to a Crusoe R. Crusoe & Son travel specialist about a . travelers share ok 8-490-8046 toaibo 88 1l al e C bl la av the train with Custom Journey in Italy. ineraries . Detailed.rit om .c oe us cr other, nonat www More? Crusoe travelers. There are also other Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys Departures: March available—for example, to Paris, Bucharest, through November. Vienna, Budapest, Prague... Call Prices one way: $3,490 per person sharing R. Crusoe & Son at 888-490-8046 for Double Cabin. details. $5,880 per person sharing Suite Cabin. Prices include all table d’hôte meals and accommodations on board. An a la carte menu and 24-hour compartment service are available at additional costs.

Meals aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are as much an event as they are sustenance.

The Bar Car, heart of the train, is the perfect place to linger with fellow passengers.

Sunrise creeps over the Bagan Plain of Pagodas. See it firsthand with R. Crusoe and Belmond.

Burma could be one of Asia’s richest countries, with its infinite resources: jade, rubies, oil, gas, fertile farmland... and a feisty 70-year-old visionary named Aung San Suu Kyi.

W rapped in a silk longyi, with jasmine and lilac blossoms in her hair, the petite Suu Kyi has been spearheading her country’s fight for democracy for more than two decades. Despots, take note. Travelers still find shy Burma intact. Begin in Yangon (Rangoon). Look familiar? It’s that British colonial template. Stay at Belmond Governor’s Residence, a hotel about which Architectural Digest has gushed, 24

“Enchanting... The pairing of luxury with restraint is everywhere apparent.” Mercifully little has changed since the Brits left in 1948. Beeline to Shwedagon Pagoda, filled with saffron-clad monks and incalculable treasures. Then to a quiet monastery, where we participate in the morning meal ceremony. Fly to absurdly picturesque Inle Lake. Here, the Inthas live in stilt homes perched like storks over the water. They farm

floating gardens, setting rice and vegetables to seed in a stew of soil and hyacinth roots. See graceful leg-rowers fish for perch. Intha kids learn to swim before they can walk. Literally. Ride hand-hewn longtail boats through a village. Visit the home of a local family. Drop in to temples in the town of Indien. Watch as canoe-makers and silk and lotus weavers do as they’ve done for centuries. Next, fly to Mandalay. The last Burmese capital before British rule, it’s Burma’s nod to the Raj. The “Road” to Mandalay we refer to is the Irrawaddy River, fluid highway of old

Burma. Travel on Belmond Road to Mandalay, a luxurious river cruiser. Our home away from home for the next three nights, she is a luxurious way to travel along the Irrawaddy. The ship has been completely refurbished by teams of talented Myanmar craftsmen. The on-board experience has been transformed. Cabins feature elegant furnishings with outward-facing windows to maximize your viewing. A new suite has been created. Deluxe cabins have been expanded with attractive new en-suite bathrooms. Lovely state rooms and a piano bar are perfect for nursing a Pimms Cup and 25

An Intha leg rower on Inle Lake sets off on a fishing expedition. The sight is pure poetry.

Belmond Governor’s Residence. Yangon.

Belmond Road to Mandalay plies the Irrawaddy.

putting the finishing touches on your novel. All in all, very much up to snuff. Down the River of Lost Footsteps (Rudyard Kipling’s words) to the ancient riverside capital of Ava. Board a traditional pony cart to a scenic spin around the remains of this former royal seat. Visit a teak monastery that still functions as a monastic school. See an old watchtower and a royal temple. Then cruise to Bagan’s Plain of Pagodas to see the sun rise over 2,200 or so ancient shrines. The archaeological scene here is one of the most breathtaking in Southeast Asia. Locals take it all in stride, cultivating corn, sesame, peanuts, and more amid the ruins. We recommend a hot-air balloon ride over the region for absolutely spectacular views. Return home, refreshed and amazed.

THIS IS A SAMPLE ITINERARY. R. CRUSOE CREATES CUSTOM JOURNEYS TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATIONS.

Burma & Belmond Road to Mandalay. Day 1-2: Yangon, Myanmar Fly to Yangon, city tour, option to Kalaywa Tawya Monastery morning ceremony, National Museum, Scott Market. Belmond Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residence.

Day 6: Ava Option for village visit to witness alms gathering, Ava by pony cart including Bagaya Kyaung, palace watchtower, Me Nu Okk Kyaung royal monastery temple, Yedanasini Paya, onboard longyi and thanaka lessons, cruising. Aboard Belmond Road to Mandalay.

Day 7-8: Bagan

I r r awa d d y

Shwezigon Paya, Htilominlo Pahto, Ananda Pahto, sunset in the Plain of Pagodas, option for early-morning hot-air balloon M YA N M A R (BURMA) (weather permitting), Day 3: Heho, Mandalay disembark ship, Inle Lake Ava palm tree Fly to Heho, drive to Inle Bagan plantation. Inle Lake, private Heho Lake longtail tour including Aboard Belmond floating farms, leg rowers, Road to Phaung Oo Pagoda. Mandalay, Yangon Lake View Resort. Aureum Palace Hotel. R i ve r

Day 4: Inle Lake

THAILAND

Day 9: Bagan, Five-day market, Indien temples, Nampan Bangkok Yangon craft workshops, traditional canoe ride to Fly to Yangon, local family home. Lake View Resort. Call 1-888-490-8046 to book connect with Detailed itineraries available . Day 5: Heho, Mandalay at www.rcrusoe flight home. .com. Drive to Heho, fly to Mandalay, city tour, embark ship, begin cruising the Price: Per person sharing room from $5,980 Irrawaddy River. Internal air per person (estimate) $660 Aboard Belmond Road to Mandalay.

Familiar comfort awaits in your cabin aboard Belmond Road to Mandalay.

Why not reinvent the wheel?

W ith the success of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express running more than 125 years, Belmond has embarked on a careful expansion of its luxury train empire. Target: Southeast Asia. The year 1993 saw the birth of the Eastern & Oriental Express, complete with a colonial-age atmosphere. Rattan chairs on the verandah, linen suits, and tea dances. You get the picture. The Eastern & Oriental Express

cocoons 82 passengers in 41 air-conditioned cabins, all furnished with beautiful fabrics, fine linens, and soft towels. The same team that had worked on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express created the interiors. The cuisine reaches the same (ho-hum) high standards clearly established by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, the service is just as impeccable. On Belmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fables of the Peninsula journey, begin in Singapore. Enjoy time at

The Eastern & Oriental Express made history as the first-ever train to transport passengers directly from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. And what a way to go.

Drinks aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express. Will cocktail hour ever be the same again?

leisure and a complimentary overnight in the fabled Raffles Hotel. Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling, and Joseph Conrad stayed here before you. Board the Eastern & Oriental Express the next afternoon, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re off. Spend the day luxuriating as stunning scenery fills the picture windows. Sit down to dinner on board the train, then linger over a nightcap in the Bar Car while a pianist tickles the ivories. Another overnight brings us to Kuala Lumpur, where there are options for touring. Continue via coach to the Cameron Highlands, the highest point in peninsular Malaysia. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the Cameron Highlands Resort. More sightseeing options await, including a visit to the Highlandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; top tea plantation or a jungle exploration along the Jim Thompson trail. Back on the Eastern & Oriental Express, join us for a lavish formal dinner. We now reach Penang Island, where sightseeing options await. Awake the next morning to tour Baan

Huay Yang, a picturesque fishing village. Then the island of Koh Chaan, part of a stunning national park. A boat ride takes us to Hat Wanakon Beach for a seafood barbecue. Return to the Eastern & Oriental Express for a farewell cocktail party and formal dinner. The following morning, disembark in magical Bangkok, Thailand. Allow R. Crusoe to create a pre- or post-train Custom Journey just for you in Singapore or Thailand.

More? The Eastern & Oriental Express follows other routes through Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. 2 Days. The Eastern & Oriental Express pulls out of historic Kuala Lumpur station bound for Kuala Kangsar. Tour the grand Ubudiah Mosque, the Royal Museum of Perak, and the Sultan Shah Gallery. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at leisure as the train continues to Thailand. The next morning, disembark to see the River Kwai Bridge before cruising 29

along the picturesque river. Visit the war museum and, if you choose, the war cemetery. Return to the train for lunch before ending your journey in Bangkok, Thailand, in the late afternoon. This journey runs in both directions between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

The train reaches Bangkok in the late afternoon. Singapore to Bangkok New Year Celebration. 4 Days. This is the perfect journey for those seeking a unique New Years’s Eve. Check in at Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel before departing for Malaysia. Afternoon tea is served on board, then relax on the Singapore to train. Savor an Bangkok. 3 Days. aperitif in the Bar Get comfortable in Car before dinner. your private cabin Enjoy breakfast aboard the Eastern before disembarking & Oriental Express at Butterworth for in Singapore before a guided tour of Alex Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa in the 1957 film “Bridge Over the River Kwai.” the train rolls colonial Georgetown. through the southern Lunch is served Malaysian countryside. Dinner is served at a local restaurant before we rejoin in one of the elegant Dining Cars. the train. The scenery changes as we enter After breakfast the next morning, Thailand. arrive at Kuala Kangsar to tour Ubudiah Relax the following day aboard the Mosque, the Royal Museum of Perak, and Eastern & Oriental Express before the Sultan Shah Gallery. we gather for a formal New Year’s dinner. Return to the train and enjoy a relaxing Then head to the beach of music, dancing, afternoon as we continue to Thailand. and fireworks. Alight late morning at the River Kwai Start the first morning of the new year Bridge for a cruise. relaxing as the train travels to Bangkok. No, it’s not a dream. It’s Asia in panorama from your cabin on the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Take the pulse of Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural life at vibrant Marina Bay.

Fables of the Peninsula. Bangkok to Singapore. 7 Days. Day 1: Singapore Day at leisure. Raffles Hotel.

Day 2: Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. 2 Days. Kuala Lumpur Kuala Kangsar River Kwai Bangkok

At leisure on the train. Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Please note: This journey operates in both directions between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

Day 3: Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands

Departures: Throughout the year. Price: Per person sharing cabin from $2,280

Kuala Lumpur tour options, coach to Cameron Highlands. Cameron Highlands Resort.

Singapore to Bangkok. 3 Days.

Day 4: Cameron Highlands Tour options, embark train, formal dinner. Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Singapore Kuala Kangsar River Kwai Bangkok

THAILAND

River Kwai Bangkok

Day 5: Penang Island Penang tour options, embark train. Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Baan Huay Yang, Koh Chaan Island, & Hat Wanakon Beach

Departures: Throughout the year. Price: Per person sharing cabin from $2,690

Singapore to Bangkok New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Celebration. 4 Days.

Day 6: Baan Call 1-888-4908046 to bo . Detailed itin Huay Yang, Koh aries availablok at www.rcruser e oe.com. Chaan Island, Hat Wanakon Georgetown & Beach Penang Island

M A L AY S I A Sightseeing, boat to seaside barbecue, Kualu Cameron Singapore Kuala Lumpur Kangsar return to train for farewell Highlands Georgetown Bangkok cocktail party and formal Kuala Departures: 29 Dec 2016; 29 Dec 2017. dinner. Aboard the Eastern Lumpur & Oriental Express. Price: Per person sharing cabin S I N G A P O R E from $4,140

Day 7: Bangkok Disembark train.

Departures: 3 Oct 2016; 2 Oct 2017. Price: Per person sharing room from $7,900

Note: Eastern & Oriental Express. routes are subject to change without prior warning due to railway engineering work or similar.

Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Take in views of enchanting Venice over a chilled Bellini.

Around the World: Belmond’s Most Iconic Properties

Belmond Copacabana Palace has always been a magnet for trendsetters. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

T here are times that a hotel embodies the true spirit of a city or a country. In fact, sometimes a hotel actually lends its own magical personality or fabled history to a location. Such is the case with a number of Belmond properties. Herewith, a glance at several of them. BELMOND HOTEL CIPRIANI, Venice, Italy. The city of Venice is a glorious, theatrical place that affects all the senses. And if Venice is a theater, Belmond Hotel Cipriani is the royal box. Four minutes by private launch from San Marco, on the tip of Giudecca Island, this luxury hotel commands unrivalled views of the lagoon and the Doges’ Palace. BELMOND COPACABANA PALACE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A truly iconic hotel in the city center, with Copacabana Beach just steps away. Hands down, this is the finest address for visitors to Rio. Soak up the sun

in Belmond Copacabana Palace’s magnificent pool. Rub elbows with Rio’s style-setters and trend-watchers at the Piano Bar. And don’t miss the hotel’s restaurants, whether for great local dishes or fine Italian fare at the Hotel Cipriani Restaurant. BELMOND HOTEL MONASTERIO, Cusco, Peru. Right beside Cusco’s lively main square stands Belmond Hotel Monasterio, a former monastery and national monument. One of the most unique hotels in Cusco, this delightful 16th-century retreat combines centuries-old charm with modern luxury service. Discover inspired restaurants and boutique rooms and suites, all clustered around a tranquil central courtyard. BELMOND HOTEL DAS CATARATAS, Iguazú Falls, Brazil. This is the only hotel located within Brazil’s Iguazú National Park. Belmond Hotel das Cataratas enjoys an 33

unmatched location just a short stroll from the sensational waterfalls. This classic luxury hotel, fashioned on a Portuguesecolonial residence, exudes an atmosphere of tranquility, inviting guests to savor lazy days lounging on a veranda or beneath delicate palms. BELMOND GRAND HOTEL EUROPE, St. Petersburg, Russia. From Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg unfolds at your doorstep. A cultural and culinary landmark, the hotel has played a central role in the life of the city for 140 years. A truly iconic building, it stands on Nevsky Prospekt among the city’s great architectural treasures. The hotel is renowned for its impressive facade and decorative interiors. BELMOND NAPASAI, Koh Samui Island, Thailand. Belmond Napasai is enveloped in irresistible, traditional Thai charm. Stand-alone villas dot 17 acres of tropical gardens, rich with cashew and coconut

Soak away your worries in the infinity pool at Belmond Napasai. Koh Samui, Thailand.

trees, hibiscus, and bougainvillea. This secluded beachside hideaway is the perfect place to escape the world. BELMOND GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE, Yangon, Myanmar. A romantic, colonialstyle mansion from the 1920s, Belmond Governor’s Residence takes you back to the days when it was home to the ruler of Myanmar’s southern states. Relax on the fan-cooled veranda set with teak armchairs, just as luminaries before you have done. This delightful hotel in the city’s elegant

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas gets you closer to Iguazú Falls than any other hotel standing. Brazil.

Belmond Jimbaran Puri. Leaving might be the most challenging part of your visit. Jimbaran Bay, Bali.

embassy quarter stands among verdant lotus gardens, offering a peaceful respite from the bustling city streets. BELMOND JIMBARAN PURI, Jimbaran Bay, Bali. Bali offers an escape from a busy life, and Belmond Jimbaran Puri is one of the

finest hotels for doing just that. With a fine sand beach and clear azure water before you, and resplendent gardens behind, you find all the space you need to unwind. Enjoy a seaside massage, then let the calm azure waters lure you in.

R. Crusoe & Son Travel Your Way. T

ravel specialists at R. Crusoe & Son create all sorts of luxury travel—for individuals, couples, families, and friends; for small groups; and for travelers who are part of a special-interest group. Years ago, our company set out to approach travel in a new way. We sought to answer the call of intellectually curious, bold, sophisticated people who wanted something unusual—no cookie-cutter stops—as they traveled the world. We stay true to that goal today, doing things our way—which is essentially your way. And we’ve discovered that sometimes you know exactly what you want, and other times you need the input of our travel specialists to get the wheels turning.

Old friends enjoy Tuscany on a Custom Journey. The “Jambo Mamas,” Crusoe travelers, make it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Crusoe offers a rich variety of travel options. We specializes in Custom Journeys as well as Hosted Journeys, Luxury River & Ocean Cruising, and Special Interest Group Tours. CUSTOM JOURNEYS Tell us your dates. Your interests. Your schedule. Your tastes. With that information, R. Crusoe creates one-of-a-kind luxury Custom Journeys to meet your exact specifications and based on your passions, your whims—and your calendar. We strive to meet the needs of extraordinary travelers who want what they want when they want it. No surprise, then, that so many of our travelers choose Custom Journeys. These offer options, not dictates. Blessed flexibility. To help you get started with travel ideas, we have put together a collection of sample itineraries to inspire you. These should be used as starting points for building your own unique journey abroad. These sample itineraries can be found on our website, rcrusoe.com. Or call us at 888-490-8046 to request them, and we’ll get them to you by regular mail. And remember that we can create a journey for you virtually anywhere in the world. Just let us know what you have in mind. HOSTED JOURNEYS Every now and then, R. Crusoe offers a Hosted Journey. This means that we find the perfect person (or people) to lead a small group to a remarkable destination. Our host partners with hand-selected guides who are intimately familiar with the destination country. Together, they introduce the group to a far-flung culture, to local characters who count, and to

Rudyard Kipling declared Milford Sound the “eighth wonder of the world.” Come see it—and much more—on our New Zealand Hosted Journey departing 30 October 2016.

friends who make a difference. A Hosted Journey presents a great opportunity for a traveler who prefers joining a small group of like-minded folks. In 2016, we offer one Hosted Journey: New Zealand with David & Patty Weber. 13 Days. Departs 30 October 2016. As of this writing, there are still a few open spots; call us right away for details.

luxury journeys with the same attention to detail. Anyone who has ever pulled together a wedding knows the planning required for one successful event. A great Special Interest Group tour is essentially a series of unique events: dinners in private homes, curator-led museum visits, cooking lessons, wine tastings, behind-the-scenes exploration. We have had years of experience creating luxury group travel for patrons of arts and sports organizations, gourmet clubs, business groups, and many others. Have a group? Give us a call.

LUXURY RIVER & OCEAN CRUISING Crusoe offers a wide range of Cruises, all on small, elegant vessels we love.Where to? The Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Amazon, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Alaska, Luang Prabang, Laos. Hawaii, Antarctica, the The following Arctic, Norway’s fjords, French canals, the pages should help you gather some ideas South Pacific, Russia’s Volga waterways... for future travel with R. Crusoe. Visit our SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP TOURS For Special Interest Groups, we also create

website, rcrusoe.com, for details. Questions? Call us at 888-490-8046. We love to talk travel. 37

The Grand Tour of Europe, 21st-century style.

inside the triumvirate of her great cities— rite of passage for 19th-century VENICE, FLORENCE, ROME. Use them to Europeans, the Grand Tour opened up the triangulate the very soul of the republic. world to a boy on the brink of manhood. Venice’s canals, bridges, and tiny, hidden He’d travel the Continent, his tutor and 11 squares enchant. Prepare to swoon. With Louis Vuitton valises in tow. Leisurely, Crusoe, skip the lines to get into the and with panache, he’d meet the people that Galleria dell’Accademia. (Ditto for the mattered and see the worthiest places, Uffizi in Florence.) getting educated the old-fashioned way: Speaking of Florence, a top guide takes firsthand and on the road. you on a city walking These days, few tour for visible proof of us can spare a year that this was the to tour, but that epicenter of the mustn’t keep you Renaissance: Giotto’s from taking in Italy Campanile, Ghiberti’s or France or the Baptistry doors, Dalmatian Coast. Brunelleschi’s Gothic Travel is still Duomo. learning made Find blessed quiet delectable. inside Rome’s In Europe with Contarelli Chapel R. Crusoe, prepare among Caravaggio’s for sensory overload St. Matthews cycle. of the very best Art envelops you in kind. Retool your the Vatican museums observational skills (but with Crusoe, the from a seat at an Classic A-lines. 1955. Paris. entrance lines do not). outdoor café. Fall in love in Italy. Romeo and Juliet Reawaken your sense of smell in a lavender did in Verona. And in Vicenza, Andrea field in Provence or among the casks on a Palladio lost his heart to classic Roman private visit to an old cellar in Chianti. architecture, reworking the old into Some of the finest art in Austria and something new. With Crusoe, explore Hungary and Russia is found right on the nearby Lake Como from a private launch. streets around you. A stroll in Rome Olive groves and grape arbors blanket reminds you what a city looks like with TUSCANY. Dig into the hills, then join us nary a Starbucks in sight. In Barcelona, for a glass of ruby Brunello and a steaming locals gather in the evening to gossip. bowl of ribollita. When was the last time you indulged in Towns along the AMALFI COAST hang a some artful eavesdropping? thousand feet above the sea. Vacation as the In Europe, you can’t help but turn down Italians do, in utter splendor, in Amalfi, the speed. Relearn the fine art of Ravello, Positano. Or all of the above relaxation, reawaken your five senses. (remember, you’re on holiday). Investigate ITALY by delving deep 38

Escape to FRANCE, the sybarite’s dream come true. Who ever complained of too much phenomenal wine and food, an excess of stupendous art, too-too-perfect gardens? Find enchantment in PARIS, just as Henry James did a century ago, when he mingled with Flaubert and Zola. Paris is the logical launch for any French journey. In BURGUNDY, taste your way on a stroll along the Grand Cru Route. Meet Burgundy’s winemakers—some old-timers, others young innovators—in precious villages—Pommard, Meursault... D-Day is a big part of what makes NORMANDY, well, Normandy. On the Overlord Route, bomb craters still scar fields beneath your feet. Beware: SPAIN is addictive. Start in Madrid, then continue to Seville, Córdoba, Granada, and beyond. On a private tour of Gaudí’s Barcelona, open your mind to the possibilities when parochial architecture mixes with Moorish swagger. Inimitable PORTUGAL is the land of seafarers, castles, and port. One can never get too much of GREAT BRITAIN. England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have never looked better. The Habsburgs threw their weight around EASTERN EUROPE for three

R. Crusoe gets you behind the ropes for a look at Strahov Monastery Library. Prague.

centuries, leaving behind Baroque—and quite baroque—remnants. So you can imagine the scenery in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Vienna. Discovery awaits on the DALMATIAN COAST, an assortment of untrampled Croatian towns, many of them hugging the sparkling Adriatic shore. Add to the mix a sprinkling of highlights in neighboring Slovenia, Montenegro, and BosniaHerzegovina. Come explore a marvelous region that the Europeans themselves have been keeping a secret for decades. Peter the Great left RUSSIA himself for a Grand Tour of Europe. The result? St. Petersburg, which borrowed the finest of what he saw in the Continent. See what a Grand Tour can do?

A Grand Tour of the Continent really ought to include Budapest, Burgundy, and Tuscany.

Asia: Enigmatic. Indefinable. Altogether irresistible.

O n a journey in China, will you meet peasant families living as they have for six hundred years? Yes. In Bhutan, can you discuss politics with Buddhist monks who follow world events on late-model laptops? Yes. In Hanoi, do men pedal bikes past you, heading to a meeting with Western venture capitalists ready to do a deal? Yes, indeed. Asia is a collage, a marvelous collision of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Don’t take our word for it. See it with your own eyes to fully understand. Unravel all that is CHINA. Hong Kong stands as a reminder of England’s presence—and her absence. The Bund, Shanghai’s Wall Street, came of age during the boom years, back when your grandmother was a girl. But in the Pudong District, geometric glass and steel slice into the future. Allow us to introduce

Bhutan. Home of Gross National Happiness.

you to an expert who deconstructs it all. Crusoe takes you through Xian’s ancient necropolis of terracotta warriors and follows up with Beijing’s buzzing streets. See what’s new, what’s old, what’s ageless. Ride a cyclo in the old Hutong district, which is nearing extinction. In the Forbidden City, enter a prince’s residence closed to the public. Heading back to China for a second look? Discover age-old Hangzhou and its surrounding water towns. Lijiang’s ethnic population, still steeped in traditional

Vietnam’s sense of place is eternally vivid. Especially on Halong Bay, where time has stopped.

ways. And Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves, tucked into the Gobi Desert. Buddhist monks spent a thousand years filling the caves with sacred statuary. Look up—that’s the big toe of a 20-story tall Buddha. VIETNAM is a rich stew of influences—Asian and French colonial, brandnew and Old Quarter. Greens are greener here, Crusoe puts you up in India’s most luxurious hotels. spices more fragrant. Crusoe’s tribal expert explains who’s who in ethnic Vietnam. Take a leisurely cyclo ride through historic Hoi An, where we decode traditional cuisine for you during a private cooking lesson. Consider Hanoi’s hum from street level, Halong Bay’s limestone silhouette from the deck of a sailing junk. If Hanoi and Hue stand for Vietnam’s past, Come with us deep inside the Forbidden sizzling Ho Chi Minh City is her future. City. Beijing, China. In CAMBODIA, Vietnam’s neighbor, Somerset Maugham arrived on a languid disappearing klongs (canals). In Chiang journey in 1930. Like him, we examine the Mai and Chiang Rai, settle into spectacular country’s light and dark sides. Cambodia’s resorts to learn Elephant Handling 101. crown jewel? Thousand-year-old Angkor, To spend time in INDIA is to grasp the where we find spirituality set in stone. puzzle of humankind itself. Revisit the Raj Touch down in shy BURMA. Enter her in Delhi, the sacred in Varanasi and most precious cities and, from an elegant Sarnath. Spy the Taj Mahal from the Irrawaddy River cruiser, her most sacred private balcony of your lavish Agra hotel. monuments. Yangon, archetypical Udaipur wears its palaces and temples British-colonial gem. Mandalay, Burma’s like sparkling tiaras. Penetrate the pink last royal capital. Ava and her stupas, vastly city of Jaipur, the blue city of Jodhpur. old but wonderfully preserved. Explore Kanha’s thick jungle, home to On Inle Lake, we take you by private rare Bengal tigers. Game drive by day, retire boat to see Intha people row longboats in resplendent luxury by night. with their legs and tend tangled floating In the kingdom of BHUTAN, the more farms, defying the future. things change, the more they stay the same. Long ago, kings carpeted the Bagan Through Himalayan valleys and high passes, Plain with golden pagodas. Watch them in ancient dzongs, be moved by living catch the setting sun, and be moved history. immeasurably. R. Crusoe creates journeys throughout Asia. Proud THAILAND was once Siam. Float Visit rcrusoe.com or call 888-490-8046, and in an ancient longtail boat along Bangkok’s tell us where you’d like to go. 41

One look, and you completely understand why it’s called the Great Migration. Tanzania.

Those who have never been to Africa are lucky. They can look forward to the shock of seeing it with first-time eyes.

E ast Africa’s plains still belong to the animals. R. Crusoe’s approach? Cover a lot of turf, jumping between the very best game parks by air (to maximize your time on the ground). Get a fix on KENYA and TANZANIA’S immense animal populations from learned naturalist-guides. Stay in magnificent one-of-a-kind lodges and tented camps. Into the wild. Specifically, the SERENGETI, 5,000 square miles of glorious remoteness. It is here (and in neighboring Masai Mara) that the Great Migration takes place. One of the wonderful things about a Crusoe East African safari: After a remarkable day among the creatures, sip a cold cocktail as you trade stories with others back at your luxurious tented camp. Tuck into a gourmet dinner. Sink into a feathery bed for a good night’s sleep. In the middle of the African plains, it seems anathema, doesn’t it? Indeed not. 42

A gorilla family at home. Rwanda.

This is safari tradition at its finest, and it goes back at least to Teddy Roosevelt. Perhaps you’d like to try a seasonal tented camp that moves as the weather dictates? A rare opportunity these days. NGORONGORO CRATER, in Tanzania, is an immense lost world. Stand on the crater lip to peer down at a pink wall of wading flamingos. We’re crazy about one particular lodge here, where lovely meets whimsy. A little Versailles, a little Masai. TARANGIRE is a Tanzanian treasure a bit

off the usual safari route. Don’t miss it. Mix up your Tanzania safari with a few days of beach time on ravishing ZANZIBAR. Kenya has its own charms, of course. And by that we mean excellent fenceless game parks. Take AMBOSELI, for instance. A visit inspired Hemingway to write his famous safari and hunting stories. In the MASAI MARA, we safari about, but expect quite a show right at camp. Big game mingles at the water hole just in front of your tent’s private veranda (not unlike the water cooler at your office). Examine the Masai Mara every which way. From a hot-air balloon. On a fishing expedition. On a bush walk. LEWA DOWNS supports a large population of endangered black rhinos. One thing you won’t see in Kenya or Tanzania? Mountain gorillas. We suggest you add a gorilla trek in neighboring RWANDA to the beginning or end of your East African foray. Rwanda offers only a handful of gorilla trekking permits each year, and we have access to them. Southern Africa delights. Elephants rule in Chobe National Park, BOTSWANA, and the Okavango Delta is teeming with animals. Game drive, bush walk, safari by dugout canoe. Moremi boasts one of the region’s largest concentrations of animals. Ditto Savute Marsh. And don’t miss ever-

Roughing it at Belmond Khwai River Lodge. Botswana.

so-civilized Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA. MOROCCO intrigues, seduces, enthralls. We suggest you approach the country in three parts. Step back in time in Fez, Volubilis, Meknes, and Marrakech. Sidetrip to the imperial city of Rabat and the port of Casablanca. Finally, Essaouira offers a history lesson on the Phoenician, Roman, and European influences left behind on Morocco’s Atlantic shore. We also offer journeys elsewhere in Africa as well as to Egypt and the Middle East.

Djemma El Fna, in the heart of Marrakech, where the action keeps up round the clock. Morocco.

There’s only one United States, but there are three Americas. Isn’t it time to know the others?

T ime to get to know South America... ECUADOR’S GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS are a kind of Magic Kingdom not even Disney could think up. Sea lions bark lullabies to their overtired pups. Lava lizards recharge their batteries (solar power at its finest). Flamingos preen, penguins dive. Some animals and plants that live here are found nowhere else on Earth.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, tango’s the thing. Shall we dance?

Charles Darwin’s H.M.S. Beagle preceded us by almost 200 years. Sorry Charlie: Our accommodations are nicer than yours. The yachts we use have superior amenities, experienced crews, well-spoken naturalists. Begin in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, a serenely beautiful city flanked by the snowcapped Andes. 44

In the Galápagos, learn the blue-footed booby’s courtship dance, a thing of beauty.

From the mainland, fly to the archipelago. The Ecuadorians have gone out of their way to keep the Galápagos pristine. See for yourself as we island hop. Pangas (inflatable skiffs) take us to soft beaches, turquoise water. Chat with sea lions, play tag with giant manta rays. This world is stunning, primeval, and graciously indifferent to our presence. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in PERU in 1531. A nonetoo-welcomed guest, he laid waste to the Inca culture. What do we see? The remains, and they’re substantial… a mix of Spanishcolonial, Inca, and pre-Inca culture (Moche, Nazca, Chimu).

One possible perch in Chilean Patagonia.

We adore charming Cusco, capital of the Inca Empire, for its rich layer-cake of Inca and Spanish-colonial remnants both in and around the city. The Sacred Valley still reflects old Inca ways. Come here to get a fix on traditional life, ancient farming techniques, and Andean hand-weaving. Accidents happen. In 1911, American professor Hiram Bingham stumbled upon Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Inca 2,000 feet above the rushing Urubamba River. There are temples and terraces and more to explore. Crusoe times your visit to include sunset and sunrise over the ruins. Remember to breathe. Eva Peron’s greatest fear was to be forgotten. She needn’t have worried. Traces of Evita pop up all over ARGENTINA, especially in Buenos Aires, South America’s greatest city. Nearby Mendoza is Argentina’s answer to the Napa Valley. Fall in love with Malbec once and for all. Iguazú Falls have carved a border between Argentina and Brazil. Helicopter over them, if you’d like, or ride a boat that takes you (very) close to the action.

CHILE is South America’s Shangri La. Think Andean peaks, every imaginable climate, a vast fertile valley, clear lakes, Earth’s driest desert, and a tail of solid ice. From Santiago, day-trip to the Pacific coast, then fly north to Atacama, a desert outpost rich with spectacular nature, history, and archaeology. Next, a flight far south takes you to Patagonia, where two incredible lodges await. Select from a wide variety of activities designed to reveal local wonders. Hike to a glacier. See icebergs afloat. Explore on horseback. Go condor-watching. Track wild guanaco herds. U.S. travel advisories to COLOMBIA have relaxed, and the nation has blossomed into South America’s next frontier. Hardly surprising. Colonial buildings still stand in Bogotá, founded in 1538. Lush coffee plantations drape the slopes around Periera. In the Corcora Valley, towering quindío palms thrive. And don’t miss marvelous old Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. We create journeys elsewhere in South and Central America. We also cruise the Amazon, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Visit rcrusoe.com or call 888-490-8046, and let’s talk.

Cartagena's streets speak of the city's colonial past. Colombia.

To the ends of the Earth. Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, & Beyond.

A NTARCTICA. The last great continent. One of the last great adventures. Deserts wrapped in ice. The purest snow and water filled with whales, seals, and penguins, all living, breeding, and migrating in this rare and beautiful Pleistocene time warp. Crusoe travelers head to the bottom of the Earth aboard several luxurious small ships, members of both the Silversea and the Ponant fleets. A perfect mix: excellent ships and serious, interesting expedition leaders. Zodiac landing craft whisk us from ships to shore in otherwise inaccessible locations. Walk among penguins and elephant seals throwing a beach party. Swim in geothermally heated water (seriouslyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; bring your bathing suit). Meet scientists. Listen. Look. The glaciers are calving new icebergs. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re short on time, cruise from the tip of South America along the Antarctic Peninsula only. But we hope you have

South Georgia Islands. Black tie optional. Antarctica.

enough time to indulge in a slightly longer journey that includes the South Georgia Islands, the South Shetlands, and the Falklands. AUSTRALIA is a vast and eerie chunk of rock where mountains, deserts, forests, and coral reefs meet a cultural richness not matched elsewhere on Earth. This country has something for everyone. Ancient

Long time, no see. Brown bears get reacquainted in Alaska.

folks, Maori history, and excellent wine. Bring your most sensible shoes. Walk trails through scenery right out of the “Lord of the Rings” (filmed here). Rudyard Kipling fell for Milford Sound. See why, with your own eyes. Spend time in Queenstown, a magnet for adventure junkies the world over. The Safari Explorer, a small yacht (36 passengers, which can be chartered or booked by the cabin), takes us closer than you can imagine—right up to all that distinguishes ALASKA and its Inside Passage. John Muir believed nature could “wash your spirit clean.” Make time for a soul-deep cleansing in Alaska. Days are filled exploring on the yacht, on foot, in a skiff, in a kayak. Walk in a quiet fishing village here, an Eden-like forest there. Before us, grizzlies hunt. Approach a sea lion colony. Humpbacks sound, moose forage. You are most definitely not in Kansas anymore. history. Pristine outback full of strange and wonderful creatures. Culture-packed cities, including one of the world’s finest (and most recognizable) opera houses. By all means see Sydney, with edgy restaurants and swell architecture. Cruise the lively harbor with Crusoe. View Aboriginal art at our favorite gallery. Cuddle a koala. Find bliss. Australia is the oldest continent. And the most eroded. Need proof? Get it at Uluru (the rock once known as Ayers). Climb the big marble to its rounded summit, if you like. Nearby are the Katatjuta (formerly the Olgas), like Uluru also sacred to the Aborigines. Visit Earth’s oldest living rain forest. Beachcomb on Cape Tribulation. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Melbourne charms with its artists and its inviting, small-town feel. Speaking of small-town pleasures, NEW ZEALAND has it in spades. Also here: magnificent scenery, incredibly friendly

We also create journeys to the Arctic and the South Pacific. Visit rcrusoe.com or call 888-490-8046, and let’s get planning.

See Sydney Harbor, always in motion.

In New Zealand, Maori carvings fascinate us.

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EUROPE France Barging

France Italy

Eastern Europe/Dalmatia England/Ireland/Scotland

Spain/Portugal Russia

Turkey Norway/the Arctic

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AFRICA Egypt/Jordan

Israel Morocco Kenya/Tanzania/Rwanda South Africa/Botswana

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ASIA China India Indochina Japan Burma (Myanmar)

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Bhutan

OCEANIA Australia/New Zealand

Peru/ Brazil Colombia Argentina Chile Costa Rica

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CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA Galรกpagos

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A Sample of R. Crusoe & Son Custom Journeys.

1. Investigating Italy. 2. History Writ Large. A Sicilian Odyssey. 3. Irresistible Tuscany. With a View from Your Private Villa. 4. The Ageless Inspiration of Normandy. 5. Gently Barging Through France. 6. Turkey. Europe & Asia All at Once. 7. Moorish-to-Modern Spain. 8. Dalmatian Coast. Exploring Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, & Bosnia-Herzegovina. 9. Imperial Cities of Eastern Europe: Prague, Vienna, & Budapest. 10. Scotland: From the Border Country to the Highlands & Beyond. One (Very) Grand Tour. 11. Captain Cook’s Rediscovered Australia. 12. New Zealand: A South Pacific Switzerland? 13. China. The Sleeping Giant is Wide Awake. 14. A Dream of Indochine: Vietnam & Cambodia. 15. Burma: Two Journeys with Time Along the Irrawaddy River. 16. Exuberant India. Treasure Trove of Color, Majesty, & Soul. 17. Bhutan. Three Journeys Inside the Hidden Himalayan Kingdom. 18. Sri Lanka & South India. Five Millennia of Spices, Artistry, & Architecture. 19. Japan Revealed: Shrines, Treasures, Geishas, & Gardens. 20. Colombia. El Dorado at Last. 21. Galápagos. Days of Tropical Phenomena. 22. Perusing Peru. Sunset & Sunrise Over Machu Picchu Included. 23. Argentina & Brazil: Soul of South America. 24. Chile. South America’s Spine. 25. Great African Flying Safari: Inside Kenya & Tanzania. 26. Where the Buffalo (Elephant, Zebra, Hippo, Hyena, & Lion) Roam. South Africa & Botswana. 27. Something Civilized, Something Wild. South Africa at Her Finest. 28. Rwanda: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park. 29. Essential Morocco. From Fez to Marrakech. We have many more sample Custom Journeys we’d like to tell you about. Visit us at rcrusoe.com for information and a more complete list of sample journeys. Or call us at 888-490-8046, and let’s talk travel.

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