Other friends of mine have commented that while my articles are interesting, they like more luxurious vacations. I understand…we all need some luxury in our lives. So, Diane and Jerry, here are some thoughts for you.

Go to following websites and look at some of the previous trips ex-Marine and I have taken. (I never recommend a tour operator that I haven’t used!) Every now and then, we “bite the bullet” and spend lots of $$$ because these trips are so unique. Also, I definitely use an American organizer for “iffy” countries because they will move heaven and earth to make sure you enter, travel through, and leave those places – SAFELY.

Mountain Travel Sobek – Look at their “Golden Kingdoms of West Africa” through Ghana, Benin and Togo. View image Not only is it a stupendous trip, but MT-S’s operators in West Africa, Roberto and Alberto are fun, organized and fantastic. They bring wine, show tremendous caring for their clients, and go out of their way to accommodate your interests.

Our trip was during the Christmas season. We were tooling along the road when our car passed a biker carrying a turkey (hanging by his feet) upside down from the handlebars. Our American group got all excited, “Turkey for Christmas.” Roberto immediately stopped all three or four vehicles, jumped out and started negotiating for the turkey. Victory was ours, and the Turkey rode on top of our vehicle until dinner time! When our cook, bar-be-qued it.

Yes, that trip did involve a total of 5 nites camping out of the 15-day trip, but that is because there are no Ritz or Four Seasons equivalent hotels in that part of the world. MT-S also has many non-camping, great luxury (and non-luxury) trips to some unsual destinations. If that’s not for you….

How about “Adventuring in South Africa” with Wilderness Travel? When you pull up the itinerary on Wilderness’ website, there is our photo along with the other 5 people on this trip! It was a complete surprise to us, but there we are. This was a total luxury trip – NO CAMPING, DIANE! Filled with spectacular game viewing, South Africa’s world famous wines and food, and unbelievable accommodations. The trip has changed somewhat since we did this (ours included the fabulous Phinda Forest Lodge View image), but MT-S also can put together a private journey for you.

mother cheetah and cubs in South Africa

pretty impressive male lion in South Africa

Two other suggestions:

MIR Corporation, “Treasures of the Trans-Caucasus”, another 15-day trip to: Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Some of the perks that MIR usually includes on their trips are: private concerts, and other intimate goings-on that ordinary operators wouldn’t even think of doing. Wonderful guides – lots of Americans travelling in Armenia, just us’n in Azerbaijan and Georgia. (I’ll do a more detailed article in the future.) MIR works closely with local offices in Western Russia, Siberia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and is my choice for trips in that part of the world…a huge presence there.

a private concert in Republic of Georgia

Geographic Expeditions – Would you believe we went to Yemen with them? Now, I’m not saying the Yemen is for you (it was for us with unbelievably interesting sights View image and I’d go back). Geo-Ex has put Yemen back in their catalog after a lengthy hiatus (think bombings, kidnappings, etc.). If an American operator drops a country, you can be certain it’s not safe to go. And when the Brits drop a country, you’re risking your life going there. Geo-Ex also takes excellent care of their clients, and has many other trips to choose from.

Carolyn (Geo-Ex) and ex-Marine with their Yemeni “antique” purchase – $10 non-working rifles

crossing the desert

A word on some of these far-out locale’s – the people in ALL these countries were unfailingly hospitable and warm. Do not believe our newspaper accounts of how American’s are detested. Time, and time again, people have said, “Please, do not believe what you read in the newspapers about our country…we love Americans and want peace.”

A little more exotic luxury tomorrow….