Hotel Bora Bora, on the island of Bora Bora, is constructed like a native village, with
individual huts on stilts. Photo from The Leading Hotels of the World.
RUGGED OR
REGAL?
If your idea of travel
means "adventure," then
Mountain Ravel is prob-
ably already a familiar
name. Mountain Ravel,
The Adventure Com-
pany, based in El Cer-
rito, Ca., offers hundreds
of unique adventure
tours in diverse areas of
the world, from the
peaks of the Andes to
the top of Mt. Everest,
and all of the valleys
in between. Dena
Bartholomew says their
trips are for "anyone
who is curious about
the world and wants to
participate in it."
One of their most
popular trips is Hiking
Hidden Spain, a 17-day
inn-to-inn hiking journey
that visits parts of Spain
most tourists never see.
You will hike amid the
limestone peaks of
Picos de Europa, a
jagged mountain range
20 miles off the Atlantic
coast, passing through
villages, some only
reached by foot, that
seem lost in another
century. Accommoda-
tions are in small coun-
try inns; on four nights
you'll sleep in "refu-
gios" high in the moun-
tains. Summer and fall
trips are $1,890 per
person.
While some of Moun-
tain Travel's trips require
travelers to be in very
good shape because
they might be hiking for
eight hours in high alti-
tudes, other trips are
not particularly strenu-
ous. One such trip, also
very popular, is called
Peru Adventure. It in-
cludes exploring the
Amazon ecosystem, a
river rafting trip through
a valley filled with ar-
chaeological ruins, and
a walk along the Inca
Rail to the ancient
stronghold of Machu
Picchu. This 14-day tour
costs $2,395 per per-
son. For reservations or
information, call
1-800-227-2384.
If your idea of travel
means quiet relaxation,
you can treat yourself to
English country life at
Cliveden, Britain's only
hotel that is also a
home. Set on 376 lush
acres overlooking the
Thames River, this regal
retreat is just 25 miles
west of London and 20
minutes from Heathrow
Airport.
Cliveden was built in
1666, and has been
home to British dukes,
the Astor family, and
Frederick, Prince of
Wales. Following a care-
ful and accurate restor-
ation, Cliveden
reopened as a hotel in
1986. There are 25
rooms and suites. In
1990, a sports pavilion
was completed. Double
occupancy is approx-
imately $308 per night.
For reservations or in-
formation, call
1-800-223-6800.
STYLISH SAFARIS
A trip to a dude ranch in the American West can be a
family affair. Photo from American Wilderness Experience.
If you've ever yearned
to see a herd of ele-
phants up close but
you're just not a
roughing-it kind of per-
son, there are two
safaris for you.
"Our safaris offer very
luxurious accommoda-
tions, wonderful cuisine,
and excellent service,"
says Dennis Pinto,
managing director of
Micato Safaris. "Yet
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