USTOA Members Take You on the Paths Less Traveled

Are your adventurous clients looking to push the envelope? If so, they are like many of today’s travelers who crave exploring truly off-the-beaten-path destinations for their next vacations. Whether it’s spending the night in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert or meeting indigenous tribes in Papua New Guinea, USTOA-member tour operator packages allow your clients to discover remote parts of the world not typically available to the average traveler.

Here are several member programs that take travelers off the beaten path for immersive experiences in lesser-known destinations.

Asia Answers’ four-day “Beauty in Bhutan” itinerary enables travelers to disconnect from the outside world with hikes to the Tiger’s Nest, an iconic cliffside monastery, and a visit to the Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery. The tour includes ample free time for exploring the surrounding towns and local markets, allowing guests to meet the welcoming people of Bhutan. Select departures are available through November 2018. Rates start at $1,219 per person, double. asiaanswers.com

Cox & Kings’ seven-day “Mongolia’s Legendary Gobi” journey explores one of the world’s last true wildernesses—the Gobi Desert. Travelers spend two nights at the Three Camel Lodge in the desert, visit the towering Moltsog Els sand dunes and meet a local family who breeds camels. The tour also includes the chance to hear the morning chanting session at Gandan Monastery and watch a performance of Mongolian dancers and hoomi throat singers. Select departure dates are available through December 2018. Rates start at $5,795 per person. coxandkingsusa.com

AmaWaterways’ four-night post-cruise Rwanda Extension is available on the line’s Africa Safari & Wildlife cruises and includes a trek through Volcanoes National Park for sightings of the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Guests also tour Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali and enjoy lunch at the Hotel Des Mille Collines, the inspiration for the film “Hotel Rwanda.” The land extension is available for all 2019 and 2020 Africa Safari & Wildlife Cruises. Rates vary by season. amawaterways.com

Papua New Guinea remains largely untouched by tourism and is home to more than a dozen species of birds of paradise and to special orchid species. Goway Travel’s nine-day “Wonders of New Guinea” package takes travelers on a journey that includes visits with some of the destination’s indigenous tribes, such as the Huli people of the Tari Valley and the Melpa people in the highlands. Departing on Thursdays from Port Moresby, the itinerary is available through March 2019. Rates start at $5,840 per person. goway.com

During Insider Journeys’ “Taste of Sri Lanka” itinerary, travelers explore the emerging destination with jeep safaris and a climb to see the Sigiriya Rock, which is steeped in legend and offers magnificent views of the jungle. The trip also includes visits to such culturally significant sites as the Temple of the Tooth, which houses Sri Lanka’s most revered relic, a tooth of Buddha; and a Bodhi tree reported to be propagated from the tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment. Select departures are available through 2019. Rates start at $1,800 per person.

For more information about tours and packaged vacations, visit ustoa.com. And, remember that when booking with USTOA Active Members, you also get the assurance of knowing that they are held to the highest standards in the industry with our $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program.

Editor’s Note: Information was correct at time of writing. All tours/packages subject to availability. Prices may vary from time of writing based on currency fluctuations.