Our New Partnership With Abercrombie & Kent
Condé Nast Traveller has teamed with the legendary travel company to offer Curated Escapes, a collection of specialised trips custom-designed for our readers. The program kicks off with small-group journeys exploring the timeless and of-the-moment culture of Japan, with departures beginning this September, and a private journey focused on wine, gastronomy, and adventure in Sonoma County, which can be booked any time.
Japan: A Cultural Journey
From moss gardens and ancient temple complexes to sleek bullet trains and robot waiters, no country does the dance of the old and new quite like Japan. Nor is there any other quite as obsessive in the pursuit of perfection (or perfect imperfection). Your journey will showcase these qualities through the skyscrapers and Shinto shrines of Tokyo, the Samurai districts of the coastal city of Kanazawa, and the Zen temples and textile traditions of Kyoto. This nine-day small-group trip runs September 14 – September 22, October 8–16, October 22–30, and November 5–13.
Journey highlights:
- Learn how to make sushi from a master at Tokyo’s legendary Tsukiji Fish Market
- Unlock the essence of old Japan in Kyoto through temple tours and sake tastings
- View authentic period artefacts at the Nagamachi Samurai Residence in Kanazawa, a restored home that captures the daily life of Japan’s legendary warrior class
- Sit down for a private dinner while listening to live traditional Japanese music
- Take a pottery painting workshop in the birthplace of Kutani ceramics
Sonoma: A Culinary Adventure
Sonoma County has developed a reputation among wine lovers as the fresh younger sibling to long-established Napa next door. But a visit here also means soaring redwood groves, the bohemian charms of the Russian River, and 55 miles of wild, dramatic Pacific coastline—not to mention charming small towns, outstanding restaurants showcasing local produce, and scores of great boutiques and art galleries. These private, four-day trips can be booked at any time.
Journey highlights:
- Go horseback riding through vineyards, redwood groves, and tranquil oak woodlands
- Dine on lauded regional gastronomy with global influences at Farmhouse Restaurant
- Taste world-class Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays among the vines from which they were harvested
- Spend an evening at Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, one of the most recent ventures from star American chef Charlie Palmer
- Wander among 300-foot-tall old-growth redwoods in the historic Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve
- Experience a farewell dinner fusing Japanese and Californian influences at the lauded SingleThread
