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• Top 8 Things to Do in Buenos Aires

  Buenos Aires was voted a top city in South America by Travel + Leisure readers in this year’s World’s Best Awards. It’s one of our favorite cities in South America too. Its European flair can be felt throughout the city and at night, the city comes alive with tango. A few days should be spent here exploring the city and all she has to offer on your next journey to Argentina. To help with your plan...

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• Top 5 Things to do in Prague

  Amy, our in-house graphic designer is spending a year traveling the world. She just finished up a month in Prague and today, she’s sharing her top 5 things to do in Prague. To read more about Amy’s travels, click here. There is nothing more pleasant than being in Prague in the summer. Sure, it’s touristy, but if you plan ahead of time, you can avoid crowds and create a perfect itinerary seeing all...

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• 5 Things to Do in San Miguel de Allende

  Ker & Downey Product Manager Elizabeth Frels shares the top 5 things to do in San Miguel de Allende – voted the world’s top city in this year’s Travel + Leisure Worlds Best Awards. The results are in and this year, San Miguel de Allende was voted the number one city in the world by Travel + Leisure readers in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The small city, which is located about 150 mile...

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• Fairytale Castles and Palaces

  Fit for a queen, these fairytale castles and royal abodes are stunning masterpieces of architecture and history. Schloss Neuschwanstein: Bavaria, Germany The inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty’s castle is a towering structure with turrets emerging from the alpine forest. It is located high on a rugged hill above a village in Bavaria. Stunning views of the green countryside and the mountains ...

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• More Luxury Treehouses Around the World

  Last year we highlighted some of our favorite luxury treehouses around the world. This year, we scoured the globe and found eight more treehouses you can stay in for a night of pretending you’re a kid again. Kanana | Okavango Delta, Botswana Located in the remote reaches of the Okavango Delta, but just close enough to camp for you to feel comfortable, Kanana’s sleep out tree house is the best way ...

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• Traveling to Cuba with Ker & Downey

  Ker & Downey has been partnering with travelers to create their own journeys to Cuba since August 2015. Recent policy changes on American travel to the country have stirred up questions about traveling to Cuba and the future of visiting a place that is so close, but was once too far out of reach for many. The good news: it’s not out of reach with Ker & Downey. Our legal, people-to-people trips can...

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• Ker & Downey Staff Share Their Most Life Changing Trip

  Ker & Downey staff members share stories from their most life changing trip.  For me, I would say two trips have changed my life. The first was my very first safari to Botswana when I was just nine years old. (My mother speaks about the same trip below.) It opened my eyes to a world I hardly knew existed and sparked my enduring love affair with Africa and her people. The second life changing trip ...

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• Our Top 5 Fly Camping Experiences in Africa

  Ker & Downey’s top 5 fly camping experiences in Africa get you close to nature.  What is Fly Camping? ‘Fly Camping’ is a term that originates from the early days of safaris. Hunters wishing to travel light would pack just the outer sheet of a tent – called a fly sheet – and string it up between trees for their shelter. The minimalist camping set up was meant to protect the safari-goers from sun an...

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• Top 10 Reasons to Travel to the Galapagos in the Fall

  When you’re taking a once in a lifetime trip to the Galapagos, you want to make sure you’re seeing it at its best. Luckily, due to the Galapagos’ idealistic island weather, there’s really no wrong time to visit. However, Fall remains one of the best times to visit the Enchanted Islands. Here’s why: Rich Displays of Marine Life Between July and November, the presence of the Humboldt Current in the ...

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• Guide Interview: Samuel Brett – Ireland Adventure Travel

  Guides can make or break a trip. At Ker & Downey, we work hard to make sure all of our privately guided tours are led by the most knowledgeable guides. You can view all of our previous interviews with some of the world’s top guides right here. In addition to the UK, Ireland is also one of the world’s top destinations for adventure travelers. Today, we’re introducing you to Samuel Brett, our immers...

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• Guide Interview: Tim Willis – Scotland Adventure Travel

  Guides can make or break a trip. At Ker & Downey, we work hard to make sure all of our privately guided tours are led by the most knowledgeable guides. You can view all of our previous interviews with some of the world’s top guides right here.  Did you know the UK is one of the world’s top destinations for adventure travelers? Today, we’re introducing you to Tim Willis, our immersive adventure gui...

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• A Shoulder Season Safari in Tanzania

  Each safari season has its pros and cons. Travel during the high season and you’re almost guaranteed fantastic wildlife sightings, but you’ll also battle crowds at those particularly great or unique sightings. During the low season in Tanzania, you’ll get some rains, but you’ll also have lush, green landscapes creating a stunning backdrop for wildlife photography. A shoulder season safari might ge...

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• Jill’s Top Ecuador Adventures

  Luxury Travel Consultant Jill Braley recently traveled to Ecuador. Today she’s sharing her top Ecuador adventures to add to your next Ker & Downey journey. The drive to Mashpi Lodge is long, and the last hour can be bumpy and rough, but it’s worth it. Once you’re there, you can feel the ambiance and energy changing. The air is so fresh, the surroundings are green and beautiful. It’s pretty incredi...

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• Ker & Downey’s Top Culinary Experiences in Peru

  “I am very much about promoting Lima because I think Peru and the mountains and the Incas, everybody is aware of those, but Lima is something that people should discover – especially our food.” – Mario Testino, Peruvian fashion and portrait photographer The verdict is in: more people are traveling to Peru for food than for Inca ruins. It’s not just because Peruvian cuisine is delicious (which it u...

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• The Best Hotels in Asia for Afternoon Tea

  For Afternoon Tea in England, you’ll find pastries and crustless sandwiches served on a three-tiered stand. And while some hotels in Asia have kept the English custom, others are putting their own spin on the centuries-old tradition. Here are Ker & Downey’s picks for the best hotels in Asia for Afternoon Tea. Mandarin Oriental Tokyo At the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, Afternoon Tea comes with an Asian...

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• Exploring Waiheke Island

  Ker & Downey’s Lisa Chapman travels to Waiheke Island and finds it firmly planted on her “do not miss list” when you find yourself in Auckland. An early morning arrival into Auckland recently provided me with a grand excuse to hop on a ferry from the Queens Wharf for the short sail over to Waiheke Island. Most notable today for an impressive collection of wineries, olive growers, and an annual out...

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• A Three Day Uyuni Tour with Ker & Downey

  Michelle Sole, a former safari guide for Marataba Safari Lodge, is spending a year traveling the world and sharing her experiences with us. Today we’re making our way to Uyuni through the salt flats of Bolivia. To read more of her travels, click here. Say the word ‘Bolivia’ and my mind immediately conjures up images of pristine salt flats and sparkling lagoons full of pink flamingos. A recent thre...

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• Copacabana, Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol with Ker & Downey

  Michelle Sole, a former safari guide for Marataba Safari Lodge, is spending a year traveling the world and sharing her experiences with us. Today we’re headed to Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, and Isla del Sol. To read more of her travels, click here. Lake Titicaca sits at an altitude of over 12,000 feet between Bolivia and Peru. It has the largest surface area of any lake in South America and is well...

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• Must-See Game Of Thrones Travel Destinations

  HBO’s Game of Thrones has taken the globe by storm, and inspired globe-trotters to make their own epic journey to some of the real-life places that double as scenes from Westeros. Ahead of the highly-anticipated season 7 premiere, we’ve rounded up the best places to walk in the footsteps of your favorite characters on a Game of Thrones travel adventure. Underground river in Grjótagjá, Iceland Icel...

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• Mountains, Lakes, and Adventure: Hiking in Bariloche

  Michelle Sole, a former safari guide for Marataba Safari Lodge, is spending a year traveling the world and sharing her experiences with us. Today we’re hiking in Bariloche in Argentina. To read more of her travels, click here. Famous throughout South America for its skiing in the winter, Bariloche is a hiker’s paradise for the rest of the year. Surrounded by the dramatic Patagonian landscapes foun...

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• Milan Fashion Week

  The Spring/Summer Milan Fashion Week is gearing up to take the designer world by storm from September 20 through September 27. Hosted in Italy’s fashion mecca, this week-long fashion festival is the perfect jet-setting destination for anyone in search of style and creativity alongside the rich and famous. Ker & Downey is excited to offer an exclusive journey for fashion–forward travelers, providin...

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• The Power of Pachamama: Experiencing Peru’s Ancient Traditions

  Ker & Downey’s Elizabeth Frels travels to Peru where she participates in a Pachamama (Mother Earth) Ceremony.  Staring across the Andean Mountains of Peru, I approach the ceremony site with trepidation and wonder. Waiting for me are two humble individuals marked by their multi-colored ponchos and tasseled wide-brimmed hats. The quiet shaman priest sits in welcome, beaming with a sort of peace and ...

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• Top Safaris Around the World

  Safaris aren’t just for the African bush. We’ve rounded up some of our top safaris around the world for your next Ker & Downey journey. A Jaguar Safari in the Pantanal July through September is jaguar spotting season in Brazil’s Pantanal. The Pantanal wetlands in Western Brazil have been described as ‘the Okavango Delta on Steroids’ because of its astounding birdlife. It has recently become a mecc...

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• A Patagonia Safari: In Search of the Elusive Puma

  Ker & Downey’s Elizabeth Frels takes a Patagonia safari in search of their elusive puma.  It’s early, and I’m exhausted. I should be thankful that it’s not the height of Patagonia summer, when the sun rises much earlier than my body would be able to handle. Fortunately, I am in Torres del Paine on the verge of winter, in April when the chill has returned to the winds, the days have become shorter,...

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• A Photo Essay of Steve’s Journey to Antarctica

  In December, Steve Brandon joined an elite group of travelers – he took a journey to Antarctica where he and his wife crossed the seventh continent off their list. He flew from Atlanta to Punta Arenas in Chile via Santiago and Puerto Montt where he overnight-ed. The next day, he boarded a flight for King George Island where he met the Sea Adventurer for his five-day Antarctic adventure. Upon his r...

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• MATE: Peruvian History through the eyes of Mario Testino

  Product Manager Elizabeth Frels travels to Peru and discovers its history through the eyes of Mario Testino. Peru is a country of color and creativity. From its delicious food to its Inca citadels, Peru’s stunning heritage is on electric display no matter where you go. Outside of visiting and tasting these offerings in person, one of my favorite experiences during my time in Peru was witnessing Pe...

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• Babymoon Bliss: Tips for Traveling in the First Trimester

  Elizabeth shares her tips for traveling in the first trimester. Traveling while pregnant can be a daunting experience, no matter how far along you might be. I admit that I had some nerves traveling in the first trimester of my pregnancy as well: Would I push myself too hard? Would I find foods I could trust? Would I get enough rest? Doubts can cloud your entire mind during that time, but in the en...

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• Travels with Memaw and James

  My grandparents loved to travel. I have a very clear memory of my immediate family traveling with my grandparents and aunt to New Mexico. We spent a day driving in jeeps through the mountains. Their vehicle was in front of ours and we all laughed as their heads bopped this way and that at exactly the same time. I don’t actually remember much from that trip, but that memory I do have of traveling w...