INSPIRATION • August 2016
Walk this way: tours inspired by famous travellers
From the route taken by Francis of Assisi across the Umbrian countryside to The Beatles’ pilgrimage through India, here are six adventures that travel writer Etan Smallman suggests will help you see another side of your destination
Francis of Assisi in Italy
Discover the old stomping ground of St Francis in gorgeous Umbria. Take a self-guided, eight-night walking tour and retrace the patron saint of ecology’s steps on his last visit to the town in 1226. It’s described as Italy’s ‘green heart’, and you’ll be blown away by the lush landscapes and rich history, taking in sun-drenched forests, limestone gorges, majestic lakes and stunning medieval villages. Be sure to stop and appreciate the sacred woodland maintained by Franciscan monks. From £1,340 per person.
Goya in Madrid
Spanish romantic painter Francisco Goya spent years studying and working in Madrid. Now you can enjoy some of the same sights – and gaze at many of his works. With Sol y Sombra’s small-group, nine-night Goya’s Madrid tour, you’ll visit some of the world’s major art collections, along with day excursions to Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca and El Escorial. Best of all, you’ll get a fascinating perspective on the art history from artists-turned-tour guides Alexandra Heyes and Grant Kenny. From £2,450 per person. The next tour starts on 1 October, with another planned for early July 2017.
JG Ballard in Shanghai
English novelist JG Ballard was born and raised in Shanghai in the 1930s. This three-hour tour invites you to discover the city through some of his most famous titles. Your guide, Rémi Mazourine, will walk you through many of the places where Ballard spent his childhood, as well as where he was arrested by the Japanese army with his family, imprisoned in the Longhua internment camp and forced to work in the Longhua military airport. For a private group of up to six people, £320. Tour can be delivered in English or French, full details from Shanghai Flaneur.
The Beatles in India
Visit Rajaji National Park in Rishikesh, northern India, to discover the ‘Beatles Ashram’, where the fab four went in 1968 to practise transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Take a 17-day tour of India with Paul Saltzman, an Emmy Award-winning director and author of The Beatles in Rishikesh. You’ll also see Mumbai’s Taj Mahal hotel where George Harrison stayed in 1966 when he went to study sitar with Ravi Shankar, and meet a musician who travelled with Harrison. £5,000 per person, based on twin sharing. This year’s tour starts on 22 September.
Evita in Buenos Aires
Marvel at the amazing life story of the city’s most-loved daughter, Eva Perón, on a half-day coach and walking tour. Part of the tour focuses on the two museums displaying her memorabilia – showcasing everything from her books and films to her haute-couture wardrobe – as well as her mausoleum at Recoleta Cemetery. There’s also lively discussion on the country’s history, culture and politics. Tour from £40.
John Muir in California
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist and author, whose campaigning helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park. This tour traces his trajectory from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada, including the beautiful Muir Woods, stunning Sequoia National Park and his beloved Yosemite. From San Francisco International Airport it takes just three and a half hours to get into the heart of Yosemite Valley, with its glacier-carved mountains, soaring redwoods and sequoia forests. From £3,150 for eight days.
This article has been tagged Adventure, Destination