Greetings from Thailand!
On the verge of summer it may be incongruent to invite thoughts about winter, but perhaps a unqiue opportunity to find summer in the winter is an exception to the rule.
Not many travellers from Canada make it to the Mascarene Islands, the southern Indian Ocean enclaves more commonly known as Mauritius and Réunion. They are, in two words, far away...a concept which seems perfectly appropriate when thinking about winter.
I found both islands quite charming and delightfully different when I did a reconnaissance mission there last fall to organize things for our newly released LiveAway there happening at the end of January 2024.
Mauritius is the more traversed of the two, and this is reflected in its special blend of Indian, African, Chinese, and European cultures that give it a vibe unlike anywhere else. The French influence is much more pronounced in Réunion (no pun intended), and I quite enjoyed finding proper French bakeries and ambience in an idyllic tropical setting.
The natural beauty of both islands is breaktaking and we will take it all in, from the beaches and distinctly different coastlines through the lush forests, up to the volcanic calderas and mountainous peaks.
Doing something different in the winter is the essence of the LiveAway experience, and it's hard to get more different than finding yourself somewhere off the coast of Africa taking in the view from the edge of a volcano. As always my words fail to compare to pictures, so do take a look at the itinerary below to get a feel for what I'm talking about.
Our other new trip this week is an adventure through Peru, culminating in a visit to the majestic Machu Picchu. I think both South America and Peru are underappreciated by most Canadian travellers, with Europe and Asia grabbing most of the spotlight.
Peru is full of mystery, full of spectacular feats of engineering by an ancient people we know little about. To visit Peru is to reignite your curiosity about the ancient past and the lessons it has for us today. You can also find the full itinerary for this trip below should you be interested.
Lots more to come, including two new Italy programs and a hiking program in Patagonia, all of which I'm excited to tell you about in the upcoming webinars we have below.
I'll leave it there - I trust you're well and ready for the summer to begin, and do reach out if you have any questions about these or any of our trips.
Cheers!
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