Abercrombie & Kent Launches Trips to Unconventional Destinations

Offering insightful and fascinating experiences aimed at travelers interested in history and culture, Abercrombie & Kent has teamed up with charismatic and accomplished educators to reveal the secrets behind the magnificent architecture, idiosyncratic traditions and captivating communities defining these countries.

The Managing Director of Abercrombie & Kent, Justin Wateridge, commented on the new programme, explaining that “Many clients want more than just relaxation from their holiday, and at A&K we have seen a growing trend towards trips which are more experiential, insightful, and culturally enriching.”

Annabel Tremaine, Head of Marketing at A&K added, “We have designed our itineraries to combine visits to places of enormous historical and cultural interest with comfort and rest. We've selected expert guides and chosen unusual locations to offer an authentic experience for our clients, following a less travelled path.”

Expert led tours enable travellers to gain an unrivalled insight into the cultural and historical elements of a society. A&K is therefore trusting Michael Jay to reveal Samurai and Geisha Traditions in Japan, Denise Heywood to reveal the artistic symbolism in temples in Laos and Cambodia, and Rob Caskie to tell the stories of the legendary war on the Battlefields of North Sudan.

Michael Jay will be leading In the Footsteps of the Geisha and Samurai, Japan
25th September – 8th October 2012
Michael holds the prestigious title as the only non-Japanese person to hold a Samurai rank since William Adams in 1600, possesses seven black belts in Japanese martial arts and has used his expertise to teach self-defence to military personnel and police forces. His fluency in Japanese allows for greater interaction with local residents and craftsmen, and his experience presenting lectures to respected institutes has secured his reputation as a compelling storyteller.

During this fascinating journey Michael will:
• Unravel the themes of loyalty, honour and self-sacrifice at Sengakuji Temple by telling the stories of the 47 Samurai who exacted a terrible revenge for their lost lord, and were sentenced to death for their devotion
• Explain the symbolic craftsmanship of the deadly Samurai swords and offer a rare demonstration of this martial art in a traditional dojo
• Introduce travellers to the Japanese lifestyle and hospitality, revealed during a stay in a traditional ryokan – a peaceful haven characterised by its tatami-matted rooms and sliding door.

Rob Caskie will be leading The Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs in Sudan
14th – 21st October 2012
• Tracing the footsteps of vast warrior forces on the Battlefields of Metemma, Jebel Abu Tulayh and Abu Kru, and re-living, through Rob Caskie's enchanting storytelling, the ecstatic victories and the crushing defeats
• Crossing paths with isolated groups of Bisharin nomads, roaming the Bayuda desert with their herds of camels and donkeys

Denise Heywood will be revealing Artistic Heritage in Laos and Cambodia
6th – 18th January 2013
• Including a visit to the 54 striking towers at the Temple of Bayon in Cambodia, a complex of magnificent watchful faces emerging from jutting slabs of ancient stone and a lingering reminder of King Jayavarman VII's omnipresence in the great city of Angkor Thom
• Taking a behind-the-scenes tour around a private textile museum in Laos to discover how artistry and ancient techniques are interwoven in the production of these intricate masterpieces

In addition to expert-led trips, Abercrombie & Kent has a range of itineraries to unconventional travel destinations such as Iran (pictured above), North Korea, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which have unfamiliar political systems and religions that have enriched modern society beyond measure.

Guatemala and Honduras: The End of the Mayan Calendar
12th – 23rd February and 8th – 19th July 2012
• Including learning about Mayan spiritualism in Santiago with a visit to the God Maximon - a wooden effigy attended by witch doctors who supply him with cigarettes and alcohol to satisfy his hedonistic desires
• Exploring the stunning lost city of Tikal, set deep within the lush and misty national park, where the ancient Mayan temples pierce the forest canopy and loom above the landscape

Northern Peru: Pre-Inca Civilisations
April – October 2012
• Including a visit to the Huaca Rajada, tomb of the powerful Lord of Sipan, who lies surrounded by the bodies of those killed in order to accompany and serve him in the afterlife
• Exploring the expansive Chimu centre of Chan Chan near Trujillo, a ‘mud city' built from adobe brick and the previous residence of 30,000 pre-Incan citizens

North Korea: The Last Frontier
17th – 25th August 2012
• Including a visit to the majestic Kumsusan Memorial Palace, mausoleum of President Kim Il Sung, where visitors are expected to undergo an elaborate reverential procedure to respect this honoured leader
• Engaging with North Korean citizens during a visit and exclusive performance at the Schoolchildren's Palace in Pyongyang, a centre dedicated to extra-curricular excellence

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: Architectural Highlights
7th – 18th September 2012
• Including a visit to the architectural monuments of Samarkand, once a prosperous crossroads for the great silk trade route of the 2nd century CE and a town responsible for the spread of Islamic culture across modern-day Uzbekistan
• Feeling the breezes that blow across the ancient ruins of Old Nisa, where the lower walls and column bases are all that remain, surrounded by the baking grey sands of the Kara-Kum desert

Iran: Pearls of Persia (pictured above)
6th – 14th October 2012
• Including the opportunity to admire the exquisite tilework adorning the Sheikh Lotfollah mosque and the convoluted passageways within, designed to block sight of the female harem from the outside world
• Soaking up the poetic past of Persia while walking among the exquisite gardens in Shiraz, inspired by portrays of earthly paradises in Persian literature, and passing-by the tombs of Iran's greatest lyricists Hafez and Sa'adi

More information: www.abercrombiekent.co.uk