I know what you’re thinking…is it Friday already? Sorry to disappoint, but this week I have a special Wednesday blog post for you – partly because I couldn’t wait until Friday to share this news, and partly because I realized this Friday is April Fool’s Day. And this news is no foolin’!
At long last, I am thrilled to unveil the debut Mockingbird tours! As with all great things, they took a little longer to come to fruition than I had hoped, but I think you’ll agree that they were worth waiting for. So without further ado…where will Mockingbird lead you this year?
South American Gem: 9-Day Tour of Ecuador
July 11-19, 2016
It seems like such a long time ago that I announced I was going to Ecuador – and now you can see it for yourself on Mockingbird’s inaugural tour. From energetic Quito, Ecuador’s culturally rich colonial capital, to its more sedate and refined southern city, Cuenca, our tour hits the highlights of Ecuador’s culture and nature. We’ll explore UNESCO World Heritage cities and Incan ruins. We’ll fly over volcanoes and drive through cloud forests. We’ll straddle both sides of the Equator simultaneously. We’ll experience Ecuador’s vibrant (and still very much alive) indigenous culture first-hand. We’ll meet some of Ecuador’s talented artisans and see how they make ikat weavings, leather goods, silver filigree jewelry, and more. This is Ecuador as the locals would like you to see it.
Vietnam, Cambodia & The Riches of the Mekong:
8-Day River Cruise with AmaWaterways
August 29-September 5, 2016
Maybe Asia is calling to you, but you aren’t sure where to start your explorations; or maybe you’ve been to the big cities and you’re ready to get off the beaten track: This trip has your name written all over it! As I announced earlier this year, I’m taking a reconnaissance trip to Southeast Asia to research future Mockingbird tours – and I want to take you with me. There’s no better way to explore this part of the world than a luxury river cruise with AmaWaterways and Mockingbird. You can scratch a few things off your bucket list while you’re at it, too. This one is going to be epic.
European Discovery: 8-Day Tour of Lake Geneva and the French Alps
September 30-October 7, 2016
Switzerland may not seem the most obvious choice for Mockingbird’s “road less traveled” philosophy, but in fact, Geneva is less traveled: it’s almost always overlooked on European tours. What a shame that is, because Geneva is a gem of a city – a little bit French, a little bit German, and completely lovely. And as the home of the World Health Organization, the world’s governing body for global health, and my former home, it seems only appropriate that we include Geneva in the first slate of official Mockingbird tours. Geneva is also the perfect home base for exploring French-speaking Switzerland and the French Alps. We’ll make forays into France to visit Annecy (the “Venice of France”) and to take a breathtaking, heart-stopping trip up to 13,000 feet at Chamonix Mont-Blanc. We’ll channel our inner diplomats with tours of the International Red Cross Museum and the United Nations’ European headquarters. Then we’ll follow the north shore of Lake Geneva to jazzy Montreux, where we’ll explore castles and sample wines. Switzerland offers so much more than chocolate.
One of the great joys in my life is helping people to travel. I would love to make 2016 a remarkable travel year for you, by welcoming you on one of Mockingbird’s tours.
I can’t wait to explore the world with you – on these tours, and for many years to come.