It only took a day for me to fall in love with Atacama. Its rugged, ever-shifting landscape, astronomic clarity, and five-star amenities were enough for me to feel like I could stay there for weeks. It wasn’t until my third day, however, that I embarked upon what would be my favorite excursion during my time in the world’s driest desert. I didn’t know anything about the Kari Gorge when I selected ...

Long before planes, trains, and automobiles existed, goods were traded along the Silk Road. Spices, fabrics, food, and frankincense made their way along this route carried on foot and on camel and horseback. Journeys were long and difficult, passing through various climates, shifting sands, snow-covered fields, and through soaring mountains, always pushing toward the shimmering horizon. Bustling c...

Canopy walkways give you a chance to see the world from a different angle. Get eye-level with primates and bird species, see the forest floor from above, and test your adventurous spirit. These are our top canopy walkways around the world. Nyungwe Forest Lodge | Rwanda Nyungwe Forest National Park shelters over 25 percent of Africa’s primate species and there’s no better way to experience them tha...

Beauty, spas, baths… oh my! Go in search of the world’s best places for pampering and blissful beauty products. A journey to these alluring destinations will leave you glowing inside and out. Vichy, France Dating back to the Roman times, picturesque Vichy is un rêve. The waters in this countryside escape are believed to soften skin. It’s a secret that the French have happily shared with the rest o...

Warning: you might feel green with envy when you see our list of the world’s most colorful cities. Drab isn’t fab in these perfectly painted places… they’re making us feel blue that we aren’t there right now. Jodhpur and Jaipur, India The state of Rajasthan has a lot of pretty towns and villages, with Jaipur and Jodhpur competing for the most colorful. Jodhpur homes are painted a heavenly blue to ...

Try cave exploration around the world and discover ancient secrets. These underground caves abound with history and natural beauty, and they are all waiting to be explored. Cave of the Thousand Buddhas: Western China Hidden away along the Silk Route is a series of over 400 caves with preserved murals and painted statues spanning back 1,000 years. Monks carved the first caves, stretching one mile i...

Sun, sand, spices, and a deeply fascinating culture splashed with vibrant colors and gorgeous architecture make Morocco a photographer’s dream. It’s truly difficult to narrow in on what’s most picture-worthy, but here are some of Ker & Downey’s favorites. Medina, Fez A warren of narrow lanes, ancient homes, and interesting archways, Fez’s medina offers a blast into the past. There’s something to s...

The fragrance of flower petals, saffron, and cinnamon wafts through the air in these bustling, exotic, and colorful bazaars and souks. Ker & Downey takes you on a trip around the globe to some of our favorite spice markets. Add them to your next journey for total sensory immersion. Bazar-e-Vakil, Shiraz, Iran This 11th-century vaulted market is a maze of lanes selling carpets and crafts, but it is...

Luxury travel to India offers rich history, color and charm to all who sojourn within her borders. From royal palaces to holy shrines, explorers are never disappointed. Whether you are a lover of color and spice, or architectural magnificence, India luxury travel is overflowing with untold riches. Palaces, bazaars, and riverboats await, ready to reward those who touch down for a week of exotic su...

Join Ker & Downey’s luxury travel expert Lisa Sun as she takes us on a journey to Japan spanning north to south. Lisa shares the highlights from her unique experiences in Hokkaido, Teshima, and Tokyo. There are so many reasons to visit this beautiful country: unique culture, amazing sites, excellent shopping, superb cuisine, and friendly people. Solo travelers, couples, friends, and families will ...

Drift amidst a dazzling rainbow of fish and above a myriad of vibrant corals in these exotic locales.  These are some of our top spots for snorkeling, where mother nature’s beauty shines bright beneath the waves. Isla Holbox, Mexico This island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is the place to snorkel right next to whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. The sliver of an island is part o...

Wild, windswept, and wonderful, Australia’s Yorke Peninsula is a place to explore nature’s beauty and dine on scrumptious fresh fruits of the sea and land. Ker & Downey shares some of our favorite ways to discover this remote and remarkable part of southern Australia. It’s just a preview of what you can expect to discover on our own South Australia Explorer journey, perfectly customized to your ow...

Before filming Marvel’s blockbuster Black Panther, director Ryan Coogler traveled to Africa for the first time. Although the Kingdom of Wakanda is fictional, he said it was important to first experience the continent to make sure he authentically represented the film’s African setting. The influence of cultures and places from across Africa is evident on-screen. We’re taking a look at the way Afri...

Joy, happiness, and a massive cloud of color fills the air every year during India‘s Holi celebration. The entire country busts out in a frenetic fervor, doused in a hearty splash of vibrant pigments. Purple, pink, blue, red, and green powders turn many cities and villages into a riotous rainbow. What is Holi Holi is a joyous festival welcoming spring’s arrival. The date Holi is celebrated changes...

With the United Kingdom ranking among the top five tea drinking countries in the world, it’s clear that the British love their brew. Maybe it’s the frequent grey weather that makes them reach for a cuppa so often. Grab your own mug and settle in as Ker & Downey shares our top picks for an afternoon cup of tea in London. St. James Hotel and Club Learn about the Victorian history of traditional afte...

The One Thousand and One Nights are a collection of classic tales of love and adventure with genies, magical lamps, villains, and heroes. These stories were compiled over centuries and span many countries like India and Egypt, mostly in the Middle East and Asia. Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Sinbad the Sailor are all stories that have lasted through the ages and have inspired Ker & ...

Elusive and increasingly threatened, the African wild dog is a coveted sighting while on safari. Some of our favorite safari camps throughout eastern and southern Africa are among the top places to see African wild dog. Finding animals that roam such large territories can be a challenge, and it’s important to remember that sightings are never guaranteed. Visiting these select parks and camps puts ...

You could say New Orleans is having a moment. It has recently been recognized as a top city by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler, and this year, it’s celebrating its tricentennial. With celebratory events scheduled throughout the year, there’s no better time to travel to the “Big Easy.”  The three-hundred-year-old city is a true melting pot of cultures, with influences from Europe, the Cari...

“Bologna is celebrated for producing popes, painters, and sausages.” – Lord Byron (1788-1824) Rome, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast… the classic sites of Italy are incomparable in their appeal for both first-time visitors and repeat returners. Yet one of Ker & Downey’s passions is pursuing points of interest outside the typical tourist circuit, whether that’s presenting a popular locale in a ne...

Long considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is packed with extraordinary art and architectural masterpieces around each turn of its narrow cobbled streets. The city is brimming with world-class art museums full of paintings and sculptures from masters like Botticelli and Michelangelo, fresco-clad churches, quaint trattorias, local markets, and of course, the Duomo.  With so...

Quest’s Editor in Chief Martine Bury went island hopping in Croatia and discovered a different Mediterranean in the region known as Central Dalmatia. When I think of Europe’s great seaside escapes, I think of the French Riviera, Mallorca, Spain or Kefalonia, Greece. In Croatia, everything is fresher and more surprising: a layered history, a profound wine culture, and islands so vivid they actually...

Stories of pirates, parrots, and perfect seas are popular because of their sense of adventure. We selected some of our favorite tales that had us dreaming of turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and snorkeling through coral reefs from Cuba to the Red Sea. These are tropical tales, our beach island inspired stories. Gulliver’s Travels This classic was written in 1726 by Jonathan Swift and is about...

A trip to the Coral Triangle reveals a colorful underwater world in Southeast Asia. By Rina Chandarana Some places are designed to blow your mind. Others are born with a certain x-factor and bestowed with blessings: lush, green islands cloaked in white sand, wrapped in blue-green oceans; a kaleidoscope of sea life, protected and thriving; a natural playground for all. The Coral Triangle is such a ...

Tasmania, the island at the edge of the world is a hot spot for culture, gastronomy and natural wonders. By Rina Chandarana Just 150 miles off the Australian mainland, Tasmania might as well be worlds away. The far-flung island state—which also encompasses 334 islands dotting the Pacific and Indian Oceans—offers the same turgid mix of unspoiled wilderness, fruitful vineyards, fascinating history a...

Dian Fossey was one of the foremost primatologists, studying the mountain gorillas in the forests of Rwanda for 18 years before her tragic death in 1985. In celebration of her birthday, we’re taking a look at some of our favorite gorilla safaris, not only in Rwanda, but in Uganda, and the Republic of Congo too. Rwanda The mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park were well-loved and researched ...

Each year, the famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli hosts a concert in his hometown of Lajatico, Italy at the Teatro del Silenzio (Theater of Silence). The theater, built in 2006, is an open-air amphitheater surrounded by the Tuscan hills. Once every July, the Teatro del Silenzio hosts a concert by Bocelli, then remains silent the rest of the year. It’s a truly special event for devoted fans of the ...

Experience the Land of the Incas on the ultimate bucket list trip. Elizabeth Frels shares five reasons Peru should be on the top of your travel list in 2018. Ker & Downey’s new high-flying adventure invites you to journey to the uncharted corners of Peru in search of the country’s finest hidden gems. Private jets and exclusive-use train charters give unprecedented access to these far-flung hotspot...

Whether you are planning a trip in the new year or just daydreaming, these 2018 travel trends are sure to make your wayfaring heart swoon. Solo Travel Ever since Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love was published, solo travel has gained popularity, especially among female travelers. While some destinations are certainly safer to travel solo to than others, with Ker & Downey, the world is at your fi...