The veteran tour operator’s 2016 catalog includes an at-a-glance trip calendar, 19 new itineraries, plus vibrant photos of the sites and people on these bucket-list worthy tours
Award-winning experiential tour operator Myths and Mountains just released a 2016 tour catalog filled with handcrafted, life-changing journeys to Asia, Southeast Asia and South America. The company has more than 25 years of experience in designing intimate, culturally-rich itineraries for discerning and inquisitive globetrotters, focusing on four unique trip concepts that take travelers to the heart of each destination to truly embrace the local culture.
This early catalog release gives travelers plenty of time to find the perfect travel experience to embark on in the coming year. Fold out the trip calendar to plan for a specific month, read through the tour descriptions and join a scheduled group tour, or create a customized tour with the experts. The company has also designed 19 new itineraries in adventurous locations around the globe, including two exclusive tours to Cuba. Examine the rich photos selected; not only do they focus on the sites but also on the people because, as the company puts it, travel is about people and their culture – it’s about sharing worlds and learning from each other.
“Discover neighborhoods not on a tourist map, engage in spontaneous conversations with locals, read stories to children who have no books, sit down with a farmer to enjoy a meal prepared with ingredients he grew – it’s the small moments that people find most memorable, especially when they’re organic, unforced experiences,” said Myths’ Vice President Allie Almario.
Here are five new, must-see tours and why adventure seekers will love them:
Chile and Bolivia: The High Deserts of the Atacama and the Salar de Uyuni (12 Days)
For travelers who want an off-the-grid experience, this journey moves through the diverse landscapes of Chile then leads guests into the barren but stunning landscape of Salar de Uyuni – the basic food and accommodations here are a small price to pay for a true adventure.
Eat Your Heart Out: An India Tour For Foodies (15 Days)
India boasts rich and varied culinary traditions, so Myths and Mountains designed an itinerary using food as a vehicle for sharing intimate experiences with locals, visiting different parts of the nation and learning about the kaleidoscope of cultures that exist throughout the country.
Giving Back to the Galapagos (8 Days)
Myths’ has partnered with Galapagos high school students who will show travelers a side of the islands most people will never see – the Galapagos from an insider's point of view. Guests will also get the chance to give back to one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world: spend an afternoon with the students on a beach clean-up at one of the most iconic visitor sites in the Galapagos – Academy Bay.
Myanmar: Cruising the Chindwin River (14 Days)
Still relatively new to tourism, Myanmar has many parts that see few travelers and have remained virtually untouched. Travel up the Chindwin River to an area where there are no roads, visit rural villages, places occupied by the Japanese during World War II and parts of Nagaland that have gone back and forth between India and Myanmar over the years.
Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan: Bengalis and Buddhists (22 Days)
Explore Calcutta’s busy streets, visit sacred lakes in Sikkim, wander through local bazaars and jump aboard the famous “Toy Train” in Darjeeling before crossing into Bhutan to discover whether “Gross National Happiness” is real or a myth. Take the spring departure to experience the Tsechu Festival in Punakha, Bhutan, or join the fall tour for the captivating Durga Puja Festival in Calcutta, India.
Schedule a tour with Myths and Mountains before the end of 2015 and the company will donate a percentage of each booking to READ Global in Nepal (details below).
For more information on booking a group departure or custom tour with Myths and Mountains, check out www.mythsandmountains.com or contact the home office at [email protected] or 1-800-670-MYTH. You can also read Myths and Mountains’ blog and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Instagram and other networks.
Support Nepal
For every trip booked in 2015, Myths and Mountains will donate a percentage of its profits to READ Global in Nepal. READ Global was founded by Myths and Mountains in 1991 and is now a separate 501c3. With 59 READ Centers in rural Nepal, READ is providing on-the-ground support to villages devastated by the earthquakes, helping to rebuild, providing safe space for schools and childcare, and other critically needed support.