Abercrombie & Kent's Autumn Travel Planner

Autumn is a picture-perfect time to travel, whether you're embracing the season – or escaping it.

You may be looking for an ideal place to bring the family, an itinerary packed full of adventure or simply after a little rest and recuperation.

Choose to chase the changing colours, either in the leafy suburbs or the great outdoors. You could head to Japan and join the locals for momijigari– the traditional pursuit of the most vivid red leaves around. Or why not visit beautiful New England for its cultural counterpart, leaf-peeping season?

Along with colourful leaves, autumn also ushers in cooler temperatures and longer nights. This is when many of us dream of sunnier climes. For a never-ending summer, take an autumn holiday in the Maldives, spending days soaking up the sun on powder-soft beaches. Or whisk the whole family off to a peaceful Caribbean retreat. At this time of year, much of Southern Africa is still in the dry season, meaning you'll not only have warm, dry weather, but fantastic wildlife watching opportunities, too.

Below are just a selection of what A&K can do. For more information on any of our destinations, please contact our PR Manager.

James Treacy | PR & Communications Manager UK | 01242 546686 | Jtreacy@abercrombiekent.co.uk 

Adventure

Immersive Grand Canyon and the South West | 16 Nights from £6,750pp

Self-drive through magnificent Arizona and Utah and enjoy a private guided exploration of the Grand Canyon on this classic Grand Canyon itinerary. Spending two nights on the canyon rim, you'll enjoy a half-day float trip through the canyon and hike less-visited trails. You'll make the most of the area's spectacular National Parks with your own SUV and driver-guide for three days in Utah. And there's more to this itinerary than sculptural rock formations and sweeping views. Your holiday starts amid the serenity of Scottsdale, Arizona, and closes with the vigour and vim of sparkling Las Vegas.

Indochina Adventures | 22 nights from £5,355pp

Visiting Vietnam's cities, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue and Hoi An as well as Ho Chi Minh. Unwind in Phu Quoc Island before time in the Mekong Delta. You'll travel to Cambodia's Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, ending at the colonial city of Luang Prabang in Laos. Explore Indochina's beautiful beaches, ancient streets and tropical jungles. Take a sampan cruise through the Mekong Delta and explore phenomenal monuments on foot, by bicycle and even by cyclo (pedicab). Witness market-life in Vietnam and see Cambodia's forgotten jungle temples. Afterwards, head north to experience the welcoming tribal cultures of Laos.

Culture

The Colours of Japan | 10 nights from £4,895pp

Japan is a kaleidoscope of natural beauty, elegant architecture and cultural wonders. Drink in the colours of Japan on this tailor-made tour. Guided visits to botanical gardens include the masterpieces of Shinjuku Gyoen and Kenroku-en. Here you'll learn Japanese gardening secrets from those who consider it a classical art. The manicured perfection transforms into the sublime, wild majesty of Japan's mountains. At Nikko National Park the peaks are graced by the formal brilliance of Toshogu Shrine. Cherry blossom provides the atmospheric background colours of Japan's history-rich Kyoto. In the foreground a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites paint a very pretty picture indeed.

Life along the Mekong | 15 nights from £6,445pp

The Mekong flows through the heart of Southeast Asia, from the Tibetan Plateau to the sea. Your tour follows this majestic river's journey through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Gilded temples, ancient monuments, thrilling cities and all the fascinating life on the Mekong are yours to experience. Starting amid the temples of Luang Prabang you'll drift in pampered comfort through the dramatic landscapes of the Four Thousand Islands. Angkor Wat will loom into view and the infectious energy of Phnom Penh will charm you. Relax on our luxury cruise ship as the life on the Mekong spills into Vietnam's exciting metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City.

Explore Kolkata, North Bengal & Sikkim | 13 nights with £3,380pp

This tour introduces you to India's beautiful facets. Take time with nature when you cruise along the holy River Ganges as the sun sets. Darjeeling's forest, valley and mountain landscapes never look better than from the iconic toy train. The natural world comes to life at Kanchenjunga Falls and Khecheopalri Lake. But we can't forget the culture and bustle of India – a visit to the Gangtok market introduces you to daily life while the Buddhist scriptures and ancient art on show in the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery reveals its religious past.

Family

Family Cape Adventure, Meerkats & Madikwe | 13 nights from £6,995pp

Your South Africa itinerary ticks off the best of the country's cities and natural wonders. Start your adventure in cosmopolitan Cape Town, and enjoy the panoramic views from Table Mountain. After two days exploring the city, depart for the bewitching Kalahari Desert. In one of the largest reserves in Africa, you can go in search of meerkat, dine on the dunes or simply visit the world's oldest rock art. End your holiday in style with an African safari in the Madikwe. Here you'll see the Big Five on game drives from your lavish lodge.

Family Adventure Down Under | 13 nights from £4,995pp

This family holiday in Australia explores the beautiful coast and fascinating culture of the great Down Under. While driving through some of the most dramatic terrains on the planet, you'll learn about the traditions of the Aboriginal people. You can also experience a slice of rural life at the sustainable Keeyuga Farm, with the Thomson family and their farm dog, Fergie. Grab your snorkels to explore the underwater paradise of the Great Barrier Reef before you head for four fun-filled days in Sydney, exploring its world-famous city's landmarks, beaches and getting up close and personal with Australian wildlife at Taronga Zoo.

Family California | 14 nights from £6,495pp

Experience the wonders of the Golden State with this family-focused itinerary. Starting off in San Francisco, your road trip includes a huge variety of experiences. Visit Alcatraz Island, soar over the Golden Gate Bridge by seaplane and set sail on the America's Cup yacht. Natural beauty comes with a guided tour of Yosemite National Park and a self-drive adventure on the Pacific Coast Highway. Other highlights include a VIP tour of Universal Studios, a visit to off-exhibit areas of San Diego Zoo and opportunities to learn how to kayak, paddle board and surf.

Food and Drink

Home dining with a Chilean chef | Santiago

Sample traditional cuisine and sparkling wines with an intimate visit to the home of a renowned chef and art lover. The charismatic Almendra Santibañez will delight you with her contemporary Chilean dishes based on local, seasonal ingredients. She loves preparing seafood and creating exquisite dishes inspired from living in a country with a very long coastline. During this authentic experience, you will have the chance to engage in conversation with Chileans and other travellers. Discover all there is to know about good food, wine and the arts. Discover the secrets of Chilean cuisine from this celebrity chef who was born in the beautiful city of Viña del Mar and appeared on the MasterChef Chile competition, taking third place in 2016. Almendra has always been involved in the art theme, working in advertising, photography and film. Her passion for art has now led her to sell and buy art in Chile and around the world.

Discover Florence & Tuscany's food & wine | 7 nights from £2,030pp

Italy's stunning countryside, coastline and culture are second only to its food, which is adored the world over. Tuscany's regional specialities are no exception, famed for their simplicity and use of seasonal produce. Chianti Classico, produced in the hill vineyards between Florence and Siena, is the perfect accompaniment to the region's distinctive flavours. Explore the architectural and gastronomic delights of Renaissance Florence and Pisa. Learn some culinary secrets with your own private cookery lessons. Enjoy guided vineyards tours and exclusive wine tastings. Sample some of Tuscany's finest extra virgin olive oils – on an Italian gourmet adventure to remember.

Gourmet California | 7 nights from £6,095pp

Visit some of the Golden State's most inspiring culinary destinations on this Gourmet California adventure. Take a VIP tour of San Francisco's thriving food scene and meet some of the hottest chefs in the city. You'll also explore the hippest San Fran neighbourhoods on a bespoke guided tour. The Sonoma and Napa valleys are dotted with world-renowned wineries. Taste the best vintages on exclusive visits, and explore the surroundings on a guided bike tour. Top things off with a sunrise hot air balloon trip over the Napa Valley.

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About Abercrombie & Kent:

Geoffrey Kent founded A&K in Africa in 1962 with little more than a refrigerated ex-Army truck and the best tents money could buy. Then, the company went by the motto 'off-the-beaten-track safaris. A lot has changed in the intervening years, but we still want to take you down the road less travelled. We devise unique, meticulously planned journeys into hard-to-reach wildernesses and authentic cultures. We win awards for not only our bespoke luxury holidays and unparalleled escorted tours, but also our philanthropic efforts to protect and preserve the places we travel to… because sometimes it's the how as well as the where. Nearly six decades later, with Geoffrey Kent still at the helm and leading our expedition team, we have grown into a family of over 2,500 travel specialists. These experts have all turned their passion for travel into a vocation and between them visited nearly every country on Earth. They continue to go off-the-beaten-track every day. They are passionate about helping you find authentic experiences and pushing your boundaries, wherever they might lie. Our long-standing networks allow us to uncover local secrets beyond the reach of most. We can open doors to private palaces; arrange out-of-hours tours of museums and galleries; take you to monuments when not another soul is there. Not much is truly impossible we ensure that your time away is the time of your life. www.abercrombiekent.co.uk