{"id":1210,"date":"2017-02-16T11:51:04","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T16:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/?p=1210"},"modified":"2024-02-22T15:47:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T20:47:15","slug":"off-the-beaten-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ustoa.com\/blog\/off-the-beaten-path\/","title":{"rendered":"USTOA Takes Travelers Off the Beaten Path"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Terry Dale, President and CEO, USTOA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today\u2019s travelers want more than to just see a destination and check the major attractions off their bucket list. They want an intimate look at authentic experiences off the beaten path.<\/p>\n

From a river cruise around \u201cThe Golden Land\u201d of Myanmar, to wading in the geothermal waters of Iceland\u2019s Blue Lagoon, members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) reported Cuba, Iceland, Croatia,\u00a0Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iran, Africa (South Africa and Morocco), Cambodia and India as the top emerging destinations for 2017 in a survey released by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in December. Here are a few sample itineraries to peak your wanderlust for these fascinating countries:<\/p>\n

\"Cuba<\/a>
Cuba (Credit: Brandon Widener)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cuba<\/span> \u2013 Alexander + Roberts<\/a>\u2019 <\/b>\u201cClassic Cuba\u201d itinerary is an exploration of this year\u2019s top emerging destination. Island visitors will visit Ernest Hemingway\u2019s home where he lived and wrote for almost 20 years, browse Cuba\u2019s vibrant local markets and learn about Old Havana\u2019s architectural history, Afro-Cuban art, and music. Guests can enjoy this seven-night trip from $5,595 throughout 2017.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka<\/span> \u2013 Guests on Trafalgar\u2019s <\/b><\/a>\u201cWonders of Sri Lanka\u201d journey will visit some of the country\u2019s most enchanting sites like the Temple of Tooth and Udawalwe National Park, as well as a train trip to Sri Lanka\u2019s tea country to learn the art of tea tasting. This trip also provides travelers with insider moments like dance lessons in the village of Habarana and lunch at a family home in the village of Katugastota. Beginning in April 2017, this 11-day trip is available throughout 2017 with prices from $2,385 per person.<\/p>\n

Iceland<\/span> \u2013 Travelers on Contiki\u2019s <\/b><\/a>\u201cIceland\u201d trip will discover Iceland\u2019s Nordic landscape and explore the vibrant capital city of Reykjavik. The four-day itinerary includes a stop at Iceland\u2019s famed Blue Lagoon and a search for the Northern Lights. Available throughout 2017 with prices from $875 per person.<\/p>\n

Myanmar<\/span> \u2013\u00a0Avalon Waterways\u2019<\/b><\/a> \u201cGolden Myanmar & The Alluring Irrawaddy\u201d itinerary is offered northbound or southbound along the Irrawaddy River and includes walking tours through local villages. Among other activities, guests will visit a monastery where they can offer alms to the monks and witness their lunch ritual. This captivating 14-day river cruise is available throughout 2017 and into 2018 from $3,659 per person.<\/p>\n

To find your dream vacation, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Sri<\/a>
Sri Lanka (Credit: Trafalgar)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Note:<\/b> Information was correct at time of writing. All tours\/packages subject to availability. Prices may vary from time of writing, based on currency fluctuations.<\/p>\n

A version of this post originally ran in the February 2017 issue of Vacation Agent Magazine.<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Terry Dale, President and CEO, USTOA   Today\u2019s travelers want more than to just see a destination and check the major attractions off their bucket list. They want an intimate look at authentic experiences off the beaten path. From a river cruise around \u201cThe Golden Land\u201d of Myanmar, to wading in the geothermal waters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-blogs"],"yoast_head":"\nUSTOA Takes Travelers Off the Beaten Path - USTOA Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Interest in off the beaten path destinations remains strong. 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