Expertly curated for the discerning traveler, our journeys offer an unparalleled travel experience, with every detail taken care of. Above and beyond iconic landmarks and sublime destinations, you may be wondering what exactly does a Luxury Gold journey include before you sign on the dotted line. To help you out, here’s everything you need to know.

You may be interested to read: How Luxury Gold Journeys Go Above and Beyond with Expert Karen Gower

Magnificent Stays

When we say luxurious accommodations, we’re not just meaning somewhere to rest your head. We’re talking about a carefully curated selection of boutique properties, historic gems and 5-star hotels in select locations that you will be talking about long after you return home.

A true immersion in each destination, enjoy superior service from partners like Belmond, JW Marriott, Intercontinental, and Red Carnation Hotels, along with a sensational array of one-of-a-kind boutique stays.

Guests enjoy the 5-star Marriot Mena House Hotel in Cairo, as featured on Elegance of the Nile.

At the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Peru, you’re invited into a storybook world. This exceptional retreat is set high in the Cloud Forest, in its own intimate Andean village. In the heart of Old Québec, Canada Fairmont Le Château Frontenac  is an iconic property that has been standing for over a century overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River. Sleep like a movie star at the exquisite  Hotel Quisisana on Italy’s glamorous Isle of Capri, a favorite of nobility and celebrities, while the 11th century Ashford Castle in Ireland once home to the Guinness family will leave you feeling like royalty.

In Ireland, the magnificent Ashford Castle stands proud on Loch Corrib, a featured stay on Ultimate Ireland.

Read more about one of our exceptional hotels Step inside Peru’s blissful Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Exceptional Dining

A daily breakfast and many of your dinners are included on your Luxury Gold journey. Thoughtfully chosen, these culinary experiences are more than nourishment, they are highlights.

We integrate the best fine dining and local gastronomic tours into our itineraries, for the perfect blend of curated meals and foodie experiences, along with the freedom to also explore your palate as you choose.

Dinner is served at the Hotel D’Angleterre in Geneva, as featured on Majestic Switzerland.

Michelin Star and Acclaimed Restaurants – Skip the waiting lists and dine in Michelin-starred and acclaimed restaurants. Enjoy delicious menus from top rated chefs, some sensational locations and experience the pinnacle of sustainable dining.

Some of our favorite restaurants include the Michelin-starred L’Antic Moli in Spain, a hidden gem where Head Chef Vincent Guimerà places local produce at the center of his menus and Fotografiska in Stockholm, a bastion of Swedish cuisine that holds a Michelin Green Star for its focus on reducing waste. Showcasing Peruvian gastronomy at its finest, MAP Café in Cusco delights with a surprise filled menu, and in South Africa, dining on the freshest catch in Cape Town’s award-winning Salsify, alongside the Atlantic Ocean is something that you’ll be talking about long after you return home.

L’Antic Moli’s Head Chef puts finishing touched to plates, as featured on Spain & Portugal in Style. Image credit: @lanticmoli on Instagram

Gastronomic Variety – Variety is always on the menu, with local produce and traditional dishes always favored on our trips. Depending on which tour you choose, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn from local gourmands on foodie street tours, create delicious favorites with cookery masterclasses and indulge at winery picnics. These experiences often allow you to meet local characters with stories to tell, something you wouldn’t get when travelling alone.

In Room Breakfasts – On days with Relaxed Starts you can set your clock a little later and enjoy a continental breakfast in bed with complimentary room service.

Step inside a Michelin-starred restaurant: Meet Michelin-star chef Vicent Guimerà of Spain’s L’Antic Molí restaurant

Concierge Services

Included on every Luxury Gold journey, our concierge services ensure a flawless personal service, tailored to you and always enjoyed in a small group setting. Features include:

Your Personal Travel Concierge – Taking care of every detail and at your service 24/7, your Travel Concierge is an expert on your destination and your happiness. They’ll get to know you, and then know what you need before you need it. No ask too great, their little black book of contacts and recommendations is second to none, whether you’re looking for a Ferrari ride in the Tuscan hills or a private dining experience in the gastronomic city of Bordeaux. Included within the price of your journey, they also take care of tips for services on trip by dining-room staff, chambermaids and porters at hotels, airports, docks and train stations.

A Luxury Gold Travel Concierge welcomes guests to their hotel.

Private Door-to-Door Transfer Service – Relax right from the start with an uninterrupted, seamless journey to your departure airport. At the end of your vacation, on arrival at your chosen airport, you will be greeted inside the terminal for a smooth and comfortable journey directly back home. The private door-to-door transfer service is available for guests in the UK, US and Australia, within a 50-mile radius of major international airports.

Full-Service Porterage – For your ease and comfort, full-service in-room porterage is always included. Your luggage will seamlessly be delivered from the coach into your hotel room, and on departure days, the porters will call your room to personally assist with the transport of your bags, so you won’t need to worry about your suitcase’

Personal Service within a small group setting – Always enjoy a bespoke experience within an intimate setting of an average of 20 guests, meaning a personal one-to-one experience. With our small groups, you benefit from more personalized service from your Travel Concierge and gain access to people and places that are closed to larger groups.

Bookmark for later: The 7 secret skills of every Luxury Gold Travel Concierge

Curated Experiences

Curated travel with VIP access and unique luxury experiences at your fingertips – each itinerary is thoughtfully crafted with the discerning traveler in mind to include:

Extraordinary VIP experiences – Front-of-the-queue priority, behind-the-scenes access, before and after-hours visits. We invite you to enjoy rare insights into majestic landmarks, with personal anecdotes from those in the know. Egypt’s Temple of Luxor is lit up for you, after hours and in England, enjoy exclusive access to the Tower of London before witnessing the ancient Ceremony of the Keys. Dine with a former All Black rugby player in New Zealand and learn about life on one of the most successful teams in the world, while in Italy enjoy a VIP visit to the magnificent Doges Palace in Venice.

On Elegance of the Nile, experience the Temple of Luxor after-hours, without the crowds.

Personalize Your Days with a Choice of Inclusions – On many days you can enjoy a choice of included experiences to personalize your journey. Plus, your personal Travel Concierge combines insider knowledge with a flair for knowing what guests want, to further customize your trip during your free time at your destinations.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences – Our sustainable travel experiences are included on all of our Limited-edition Small Group Journeys. Enlighten your senses, support local communities and enjoy exclusive invitations behind the scenes. Each experience supports up to 2 of 11 specific United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals​ and leaves a positive impact as you travel.

On Treasures of the Incas, meet Peruvian artisans protecting heritage crafts for future generations.

You may also enjoy reading: After Hours: Travel Like a VIP With These Exclusive Experiences

The Gold Standard in Travel

Setting the gold standard for travel, we want you to feel like a VIP every day of your Luxury Gold tour. Our first-class coaches ensure you arrive at each destination refreshed and entertained – your Luxury Gold coach is specially customized for smaller groups, with double the legroom and personal space. Complimentary wi-fi on board means you can stay in touch as you travel.

Guests relax on a private cruise in Capri, a feature on Ultimate Italy.

You can relax throughout your Luxury Gold journey knowing that you have 24/7 Support, with our on-the-road and remote support team available round the clock to assist you. Alongside your expert Travel Concierge, you’ll also benefit from highly skilled coach drivers and best-in-class Local Experts bringing each destination to life. This support also includes any queries before you leave and once you return.

Does a Luxury Gold journey sound like the vacation you’ve been dreaming of? Take a look at our full collection of Limited-edition Small Group Tours and choose from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas for your next luxurious getaway.

Want to get ahead of the travel pack? The hot travel trends and destinations are already forming for next year, from the safari scene to ultra-luxe hotel openings, active pursuits and top destinations. If you’re looking for the best luxury vacations to book, here’s your starter’s guide. Wild, unspoiled nature and low formality are two things that will set the tone, says the founder of trend forecasting website Globetrender, Jenny Southan. “Sometimes when people are investing a lot in a trip, it can create a lot of pressure,” she explains. “When everyone is in a relaxed state of mind then time together becomes more enjoyable.” From hotel merchandise to padel games, here are some of the top trip styles and places to travel in 2025.

1. The “it” hotel

One of the top trends Jenny has noticed is what Globetrender is calling “hotel hotlisting”. “High-net-worth travellers are chasing new hotel openings around the world to tick off, and in so doing may find themselves exploring places they hadn’t considered before,” she explains. Some of her top openings to watch in luxury vacation destinations for 2025 include the Corinthia Bucharest in Romania, Six Senses Papagayo in Costa Rica and One&Only Moonlight Basin in Montana. Luxury Gold’s tours tick off many of the most sought-after hotels on the planet: your hotel hotlist might include Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, at Argentina’s Iguassu Falls (the Grand South America tour), South Africa’s striking Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (Spectacular South Africa), and Ireland’s Ashford Castle (Castles & Kingdoms tour).

Brazil’s Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, by Iguassu Falls, might make your hotel hotlist

2. Accessible safaris

Safaris are for everyone – or they should be. Jenny points to a leader in this field – Ximuwu Lodge, in South Africa’s Klaserie Private Nature Reserve – as a pioneer of accessible safaris. Ximuwu’s vehicles are adapted for wheelchair users, as well as its lodge bedrooms, pool, corridors and communal areas; there are mobile ramps to access wildlife hide locations, strategically positioned for optimal lighting so all visitors can capture great images of the Big Five.

3. Nature for family bonding

Some of the best luxury vacations for the year ahead will be in naturally bountiful nations, says Jenny. “Nature-based retreats trump cities, for example. And less formality will enable everyone to feel more relaxed than white glove service,” she observes. “The emphasis will be on time together as a family – not leaving your children in a kids’ club all day, or with a nanny. In Italy, the Borgo Egnazia hotel is organising ‘Family Happiness Breaks’, for example.” Whether nature immersion means rugged National Parks or white sand beaches to you, think about getting the family out to an outdoors-focused destination such as Norway, Ireland or Australia.

National Parks like Banff in Alberta, Canada, could be the place for your next family vacation

4. Padel in paradise

Luxury vacation destinations are getting sporty with the latest fitness trends. “We have identified a trend for ‘Racketeering’, whereby people are seeking out hotels and resorts where they can play tennis and other popular racket sports, such as padel and pickleball,” says Jenny. Even the billionaires are at it. “Necker Island, Richard Branson’s resort in the British Virgin Islands, recently installed new padel and pickleball courts, while other high-end properties and cruise ships are following suit. Unlike tennis, padel courts are smaller and the games are easier to master. Plus they’re social,” says Jenny. 

5. The screen-inspired trip

“Nantucket on the US east coast and luxury Thailand will be big due to ‘jet setting'”, says Jenny – the two destinations feature in new Netflix show The Perfect Couple, starring Nicole Kidman, and the upcoming series of The White Lotus respectively. Other inspiration for 2025’s best luxury vacations will be the upcoming film Paddington in Peru and the Mediterranean island of Malta, which served as a location for both Jurassic World Rebirth and the highly anticipated Gladiator II. For southeast Asian serenity, White Lotus style, try Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Indochina itinerary; for Paddington worthy landscapes, book Treasures of the Incas.

6. Winter sun outside the box

New openings in classic locations such as the Seychelles will be big for next year, says Jenny, who cites the new Cheval Blanc in the islands as one of the most exciting openings on her radar. A Four Seasons is also coming to Belize, putting this less well-trodden Latin American destination on the luxury map. “I saw that Bahrain is promoting itself as a winter sun holiday destination,” she adds, “and there are a number of new luxury hotels opening on Saudi Arabia’s Red sea coast”. Get ahead of the high-end travel crowd by booking less obvious winter sun destinations before everyone else gets there.

Ancient spa practices from Cambodia to India will inspire wellness trips

7. Wearable hotels

One huge travel trend in the hospitality world is luxury merchandise, says Jenny. “More and more luxury hotels are jumping on the ‘shoppable stays’ trend, where they launch highly covetable branded merchandise, fashion apparel, sports gear and homeware. These are often in partnership with couture brands such as Dior and Fendi, but also the likes of Lacoste and Superga,” she says. “Pioneers include the One&Only and Four Seasons groups, as well as Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Marbella’s Puente Romano Beach Resort, the Beverly Hills in LA, and Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Passalacqua in Lake Como.” 

8. South America for digital nomads

South American countries including Argentina, Brazil and Colombia are emerging as the new digital nomad destinations, Globetrender has found. Good value living costs, sunshine, nature and vibrant communities are all thought to be draws for the world’s wealthy entrepreneurs -and where the working-from-abroad crowd goes, the luxury travellers will follow. Some of the best luxury vacations for 2025 can be found in magical Peru, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. See the best of the Latin American continent on Luxury Gold’s epic, 23-day Grand South America tour.

9. Authentic spa destinations

Tapping into historical spa and healing practices will be a big trend of 2024, say Jenny and Globetrender – they recently reported on the Skjol bathing ritual you can experience in Iceland. In terms of the best luxury vacations, the world’s top spa destinations will include India for Ayurvedic practices (the luxe hotels on the Imperial Rajasthan tour have you covered), Peru’s Inkaterra lodges for ancient medicinal treatments (Treasures of the Incas) and Cambodia and Laos for steam baths, meditation and massage (Inspiring Indochina).

10. Fabulous rail journeys

Taking the train will be a core part of the luxury experience in 2025, says Jenny – going on recent Globetrender reports of The Vietage train’s new experiences in Vietnam, and champagne catering on Belmond’s luxury trains in Singapore and Europe. Bucket-list rail experiences abound in Luxury Gold’s itineraries: from Switzerland’s mountain scenery aboard the Glacier Express to Norway’s Flam Railway and Japan’s iconic bullet trains, you can ride the rails in style on several continents.

Taking to the water is a supremely soothing and restorative experience – whether you’re gliding across Vietnam’s storied Halong Bay, traversing the neon-bright waters of the Great Barrier Reef, or simply plying the waters of the ancient Nile. River cruises, overnight “boatels” and adventurous day sailings should all be a part of your luxury travel itinerary. Here’s where Luxury Gold comes in – with our built-in days at sea or along the river, you’ll see your destination from a different perspective, stopping off for bucket-list swimming and sightseeing along the way. Here are the luxury cruise experiences to book for the year ahead.

Norway’s Fjords

The peaceful, rock-encircled fjords of western Norway are a must-see while in Scandinavia. On Luxury Gold’s 12-day Timeless Scandinavia tour – which traverses three countries in total – you’ll board a RIB boat to explore its Geiranger Fjord, gliding around this hook-shaped body of water surrounded by cathedrals of rock and skyscraper-tall waterfalls. You’ll feel dwarfed by the sheer scale of nature along this unspoiled body of water, counting the Seven Sisters waterfalls along with the lonely Suitor cascade while a guide tells you all about the local landscape – and lore. Afterwards, retreat to the nature-swathed Hotel Union Gerainger, where you’ll unwind in luxury surrounded by fjordland scenery.

Book Luxury Gold’s Timeless Scandinavia tour.

Egypt’s River Nile

One of the most important waterways in the history of civilization, the Nile still hums with ancient magic. You’ll spend seven nights sailing it on Luxury Gold’s Elegance of the Nile tour, embarking on one of the world’s best luxury cruise experiences aboard the deluxe, all-suite River Tosca vessel. Drifting along past riverbank palm trees, golden kasbahs, mountainside sunsets, wading birds and crocodiles, you’ll be living in style. A spacious outdoor sundeck has a swimming pool and lavishly cushioned sun loungers, a river-view restaurant lets you order with the breeze in your hair, and a smart library-lounge with books, views and a bar are the place to unwind. 

Book Luxury Gold’s Elegance of the Nile tour.

Halong Bay & the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Southeast Asia is famous for its waters: glittering jade bays hugging white-sand beaches, snorkel-friendly lagoons, placid lily-ponds reflecting crumbling temples, jungle waterfalls with cooling pools. But nothing beats the two bucket-list experiences the region holds: Vietnam’s luminous Halong Bay and the mighty Mekong Delta. On Luxury Gold’s 16-day Inspiring Indochina tour, you’ll first take to the Mekong for a guided boat tour close from Ho Chi Minh City, stopping for lunch at the authentic Mango Home thatched restaurants and learning about life along the waterway. On day 11 of the tour, you’ll board a traditional Junk boat for one of the planet’s best luxury cruise experiences: sailing Halong Bay. A dazzling spot for a water-based adventure thanks to its bright emerald waters and vast limestone karsts (island mountains), it has floating villages, complex caves and white-sand beaches to spy from the comfort of your vessel. Sunset over this otherworldly setting is something to experience in your lifetime.

Book Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Indochina tour.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Crowned one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the expansive Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeast coast, can be seen from outer space. On Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Australia tour, you’ll get up close and personal with its lurid turquoise waters, containing some 2,500 individual reefs and 400 types of coral, not to mention turtles, sharks, manta rays, clownfish and colourful Maori wrasse fish. On day three of your 13-day tour, you can opt to cruise the Barrier Reef, getting to know one of the world’s most complex eco-systems from the comfort of a captained boat. Borrow masks and snorkels to see the world beneath the surface, and speed past idyllic castaway islands on a sun-soaked day at sea.

Book Luxury Gold’s Inspiring Australia tour.

Matsushima Bay, Japan

Matsushima Bay, Japan (Tohoku Tourism/JNTO)

The world’s finest luxury cruise experiences take you to the still and quiet of nature, often found a stone’s throw from the most bustling metropolis. So it is in Sendai, northeast Japan, where futuristic Japanese architecture and innovation meets the wildness of the sea and craggy coastline. While here, a cruise through Sendai’s contemplative Matsushima Bay is a must; revered as one of Japan’s top three views, it’s factored into day seven of Luxury Gold’s 11-day Majestic Japan tour. Your private sailing will give unparalleled views of the hundreds of pine-covered islands, and you’ll hear about the cultural significance of Matsushima, which has had countless Haiku poems written about its beauty. Along with a serene tea ceremony, this luxury cruise experience will cement your love of Japanese culture while in underrated Sendai.

Book Luxury Gold’s Majestic Japan tour.

More luxury cruise experiences: Beauty Beyond Words: Past Guest Sal On Cruising Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.