Forge Unforgettable Connections With Luxury Gold

Imagine checking off the high-end experiences on your Luxury Gold Founder’s Collection small group journey of England and Scotland’s national treasures: London, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, Edinburgh and of course, lunch with a British duchess on the grounds of her 11^th-century castle.

Every Luxury Gold small group journey is meticulously planned, keeping convenience, exclusivity and extravagance at the center. From exceptional dining at Michelin-rated restaurants to VIP curated experiences with afterhours access and magnificent stays at world-leading properties, every detail is elevated. Plus, guests are catered to by Luxury Gold’s 24/7 Travel Concierge, who combine local knowledge with the ultimate black book of contacts.

The Founder’s Collection, personally curated Luxury Gold’s late founder Stanley Tollman, is inspired by his life in travel and calls upon his extensive connections. With a chance to meet royalty, scholars and regional experts from different countries and behind-the-scenes access to incredible locations, your itinerary will look quite impressive.

The exclusive meet-and-greets are part of select journeys. Of course, your Travel Concierge and local experts from the region you are visiting will accompany you to answer questions and provide more information. Many itineraries also include a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER^® experience, focused on sustainable travel practices, local culture and resources.

Here are just a few of the fascinating people you could meet on a Luxury Gold small group journey featuring a Founder’s Collection experience.

Be the Guest of an Artist, Scholar in Peru

Luxury Gold’s Treasures of the Incas excursion in Peru includes a VIP visit to artist Victor Delfin’s home in Lima and a trip to the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Pichu prior to the arrival of crowds. Enjoy the beauty of a tea plantation or a visit to one of the country’s biggest orchid farms.

Peru’s Founder’s Collection experience includes a stop at the ancestral home of Peruvian politician and philanthropist, Dr. Francisco Diez-Canseco Távara, in Lima. Over Lunch, Dr. Canseco relates anecdotes of his family’s experiences, surrounded by artifacts from his country’s and family’s personal history.

Visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of traditional Peruvian Cusqueñan textile weavers of Cusco in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Gardens Fit for a Duchess

If Great Britain is more your style, consider the British Royale small group journey, a 10-day guided expedition to the national treasures of England and Scotland. You can join the Yeoman Warder for a Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London and enjoy other historic landmarks. Have high tea at Castle Howard, get a private guided walk of the castle and grounds, and visit the Roman baths.

The unquestionable highlight is joining Jane Percy, the Duchess of Northumberland, for a private look at Alnwick Castle Gardens. The Percy family has owned the castle since 1345, and Percy spent years restoring the gardens. Included in the flora and fauna is one of the only poison gardens in the world, filled with deadly specimens such as the strychnine tree, hemlock and the castor oil plant, whose seeds contain ricin. A private guide shows off the castle’s interior and guests enjoy a seasonal lunch.

Princess Relates Family History

Royalty and living history await on other small group journeys as well. Princess Anita von Hohenberg of Austria welcomes Founder’s Collection members to her home, Artstetten Castle in Artstetten-Pobring for private reception with drinks. The castle was built on the ruins of a 13^th century fortress and has evolved over the centuries.

Von Hohenberg is a descendant of the Habsburgs, one of the oldest sovereign families in Europe, and is the great-granddaughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, who inherited the castle in 1889. His assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 triggered a series of events that led to the start of World War I. Ferdinand and his wife Sophie later were buried in a crypt under the castle. Artstetten was seized by the Nazis during World War II but returned to the family in 1949.

While guiding guests through the house and grounds, von Hohenberg emphasizes that while Artstetten is a castle, it still is a family home. She tells visitors about her family’s past and involvement with the history of her homeland.

Wining and Dining in Italy

Italy and wine go together like, well, cappuccino and cannolis. Enjoy both on a 13-day small group jounrey of Italy, loaded with must-sees, including a stroll through acres of vineyards in Tuscany and winemaking lessons from Marchese Mazzei. The Mazzei family has been producing premier wines for 25 generations at the Castello di Fonterutoli. The more than 1,600-acre estate includes 290 acres planted with vines. Enjoy lunch paired with some of the region’s best chiantis.

Also not to miss in Tuscany: An after-hours visit to the Doge’s Palace with a Luxury Gold local expert.

Other highlights include a glass-blowing demonstration in Venice, visits to Rome, the Vatican, Florence and Pompeii, and meals at exceptional restaurants. There’s something for everyone!

Contact your AAA Travel Agent and plan your next getaway today.

Featured image: Courtesy of Luxury Gold.