Perhaps the most culturally compelling country in all of Europe, France brings together natural beauty, culture and among the most notable museums/art attractions in the world. Louis XIV wished [...]

Perhaps the most culturally compelling country in all of Europe, France brings together natural beauty, culture, and some of the most notable museums and art attractions in the world. Louis XIV [...]

Please see the following Machu Picchu guidelines below: Machu Picchu Huayna Picchu Mountain

A big part of our Lynch family’s fascination with Japan is its unique Shinto and Buddhist-based culture. Despite our many travels to this wonderful land, we are always amazed by the reverence and [...]

Regardless of where you travel in Japan, the natives are well-groomed, neat, and fastidiously clean. This extends to streets, homes, office buildings, and wherever, from garbage men with [...]

As an office full of hiking fanatics (having hiked in Patagonia, Atacama, Bhutan, Iceland (Laugavegur Trail), the Dolomites, Nakasendo Trail in Japan, and the strenuous Gorilla Trek in Rwanda!), [...]

Hope you find our Lunch Family's Favorite things about our beloved Japan informative/entertaining!

Despite the 3 ½ hour travel time from Kyoto (Shinkansen-subway-train-cable car), we thoroughly enjoyed our brief stay in Koyasan. Founded in the 9th century, Koyasan is home to  Shingon [...]

Botswana When Botswana first gained independence in 1966, it was one of the world’s poorest countries, with only 7.5 miles of paved roads and 22 citizens with degrees. Amazingly, Botswana has [...]

Naoshima represents nothing less than aesthetic perfection. The island’s relatively remote, picturesque location, coupled with its array of world-class contemporary art and architecture makes for [...]

We consider a ryokan stay (a traditional Japanese inn) to be the quintessential cultural immersion experience and essential activity on any Japan private tour!  Originally dating back [...]

Among our favorite stopovers in Morocco, this artsy, blue-washed mountain village of 45,000 is uniquely beautiful, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains. Chefchaouen medina is [...]

Derived from ancient Shinto rites celebrating a good harvest, Sumo is Japan’s truly unique national sport. The tournament’s lively pageantry is as exciting as the matches themselves, which can [...]

Overview Based on our most recent family gorilla trekking trip in 2024, we consider the time with a gorilla family to be the most intimate, emotional wildlife experience anywhere in the world. [...]

Japanese sweets “wagashi” have a long tradition in ancient Japan. Established in 1803, Kyoto-based Kameya Yoshinaga is among the most noteworthy practitioner of this unique Japanese culinary [...]

Overview Based on our most recent family gorilla trekking trip in 2024, we consider the time with a gorilla family to be the most intimate, emotional wildlife experience anywhere in the world. [...]

As a Chicago company, we here at Kipling & Clark know a little something about love for baseball, but, remarkably, not even our beloved city can compare to Japan’s obsession with [...]

The Expanded Protected Area of the Galapagos We were excited to see that the Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso recently announced plans for a large new section of the protected area to be [...]

For the many of us who have enjoyed past early morning visits through the fishy stench of the tuna auction at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, we are saddened to see the Market’s final move to the new [...]

By Zen Lynch Dating back to about 3100 B.C., ancient Egypt’s ability to create architectural feats of epic magnitude, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, is unparalleled. Egypt’s cultural [...]

October 2, 2024: Celebrating Kyoto’s Brand-New Nintendo Museum! Given we are huge fans (!) of Nintendo and have made recently visited the Super Nintendo World Theme Park in Osaka, we were [...]

South Africa We are particularly happy to partner with South Africa-based luxury safari provider, Singita, reflecting the history and culture of the native population. In terms of high-touch [...]

Rudyard Kipling aptly expressed the beauty of this place as “the embodiment of all things pure.”—we fully agree! The Taj Mahal is truly one of the iconic sights of the world and is [...]

October 1, 2024: Celebrating the Shinkansen’s 60th Anniversary! In a recent Financial Times article, Jamie Lafferty notes that the Shinkansen Bullet Train pulls into Tokyo Station at 6:16 AM and [...]

When looking back at the many things we love about Tuscany, parts of rural Japan, and northern California, we always return to aesthetic perfection — our beloved Provence! The area’s culture, art [...]

History of “Onsen” “Onsen” is one of the distinctly native Japanese cultural aspects that did not originate from Greater China. Accounts of onsen bathing go back to Japan’s earliest historical [...]

Our Complete Guide for First-Time Travelers to South Africa With a wide variety of countries to visit throughout Africa, we feel South Africa is a “one-stop shop” for a well-rounded, somewhat [...]

Among Mark Twain’s many compelling quotes from his traveling the world in the late 19th-century, one of our favorites is his description of Italy: “The Creator made Italy from the design of [...]

Botswana When Botswana first gained independence in 1966, it was one of the world’s poorest countries, with only 7.5 miles of paved roads and 22 citizens with degrees. Amazingly, Botswana has [...]

Though we enjoy the picturesque vistas of the Amalfi Coast, we freely admit that we feel the Italian Lake District to be the most idyllic, beautiful area within Italy. Ringed by [...]

We fully agree with Trinity College professor Shane O’Mara’s observation of the remarkable benefits of walking: “Walking improves our moods, our clarity of thought, our creativity, as well as our [...]

Overview Opened with much fortune in 2009, the modernist Acropolis Museum was designed by U.S. based architect, Bernard Tschumi, and Greek architect, Michael Photiadis. Next to the Louvre in [...]

In continuation of our staff’s scouting trips to the Galapagos Vessels in 2016 and 2018, we would like to inform you about the updates made to the Integrity luxury yacht during the unprecedented [...]

Overview Based on our most recent family gorilla trekking trip in 2024, we consider the time with a gorilla family to be the most intimate, emotional wildlife experience anywhere in the world. [...]

Though we have used many beautifully designed chopsticks throughout our various travels to Japan, Bev, Zen, and I have become especially enamored with the Yakusugi brand. The name comes from the [...]

Bhutan lies at the edge of the Eastern region of the Himalayas. Well known for being a destination where Buddhists hike to the top of steep mountain ranges to worship at monasteries like the Paro [...]

Rudyard Kipling aptly expressed the beauty of this place as “the embodiment of all things pure.”—we fully agree! The Taj Mahal is truly one of the iconic sights of the world and is [...]

We read, with great interest, the March 19, 2018, New Yorker article, profiling the enchanting centifolia roses used to create the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume. Bev and I experienced a [...]

Overview & History Despite experiencing some of the most putrid and indescribable odors we have ever experienced anywhere in the world, we believe a visit to spellbinding and colorful [...]

It’s no secret that Switzerland is full of endless picturesque landscapes and adventures. One of these adventures is the Jungfraujoch “Top of Europe”, which is one of the most popular visitor [...]

The magical scenery of Switzerland can be one of the most stunning landscapes of anywhere in the world to gaze upon. From lush green hills to rigid snowcapped peaks, it is an adventurer’s [...]

Tokyo is known to hold Japan’s finest collection of Bonsai trees, and the Shunkaen Bonsai Garden and Museum is no exception to this rule. We LOVE this place, and find an approximately two-hour [...]

Considered the most remote and isolated inhabited island in the world, we feel the five to six-hour flight from Santiago to Rapa Nui to be well worth the effort. Easter Island is 3,512 km away [...]

By Zen Lynch Dating back to about 3100 B.C., ancient Egypt’s ability to create architectural feats of epic magnitude, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, is unparalleled. Egypt’s cultural [...]

With an incredible 6,000 islands and 227 inhabited, it can be hard to determine which of the islands are worth a visit when traveling to Greece. We’ve selected six of our favorites, that we [...]

There is arguably no better way to experience Cyclades than by boat. Whether you travel via a luxury yacht, racing speedboat, or classic sailboat, every member of the family is promised a great [...]

By Zen Lynch The Colosseum In 2013, the Italian Ministry of Culture and Tourism partnered with luxury leather goods manufacturer, Tod’s, to fund a major $35 million renovation of the Colosseum. [...]

Bali is one of our favorite island destinations in the Pacific Rim. The beaches here are nice, though not nearly as impressive as the beaches in Hawaii, or many other places. We do not recommend [...]

Iceland Summer 2018 I will never forget Iceland. It is officially my second favorite place of all time (sorry but Japan is still always first). Aside from the adorable puffins on Drangey Island, [...]

Meet the Author: Kayla’s Irish Background As a first-generation Irish-American (née Ryan!), the country of Ireland is a very special second home to me. As a child, I spent my summers there [...]

Though skipped by many visitors to Greece, we feel Peloponnese to be a must-see destination, particularly for those interested in the myths and temples of the many Greek gods, as well as the [...]

Overview Running since the 1930’s, the Glacier Express passes through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels with the highest point of the route being the Oberlap Pass. A ride on the Glacier Express Train [...]

The ancient Greeks chose Delphi (from delphis, meaning womb) as their navel of the Earth and built the Sanctuary of Apollo here. Despite the continuous influx of tourists and blatant [...]

The Newly Expanded Protected Area of the Galapagos (January 2022)! We were excited to see that on January 14, 2022, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced plans for a large new section of [...]

 It is no secret that our Lynch family tribe has a profound love for the AMAN brand, as described in “Our Passion for AMAN” blog! As of 2009, AMAN has extended their luxurious brand to [...]

Atout France, the national French tourist office, has designated a small number of 5-star luxury hotels as “Palace Hotels” based on the property offering the highest level of service and [...]

With fun, relatively short hikes being a big part of many of our global private tours, Cape Town offers three contrasting options that we have enjoyed during our last two Lynch family visits. [...]

In the backdrop of spectacular volcanoes rising 20,000 feet, the Atacama Desert covers 40,541 sq. miles, stretching 621 miles from Peru’s southern border into northern Chile. The desert rises [...]

Kipling & Clark has often featured some of the world’s extraordinary global natural landscapes including: the green, picturesque valleys of Bhutan; the still, eerie sand dunes of the Sahara; [...]

Mt. Kilimanjaro As the highest mountain in Africa, with its summit being approximately 16,100 feet from its base and 19,341 feet above sea level, it is no wonder why bucket lists [...]

In March of 2019, Kipling & Clark’s content writer/editor and global destinations specialist, Emily, visited Norway and Denmark with her traveling companion to do some scouting of where to [...]

In March of 2019, Kipling & Clark’s lead writer/editor and global destinations specialist, Emily, visited the 29ǀ2 Aurland and stayed for two nights. Currently, the 29ǀ2’s [...]

The nine-island Archipelago of Azores is situated half-way between the U.S. and Europe, a remote destination that is not easily accessible. The population of the island is small, only 250,000 [...]

For the many of us who have enjoyed past early morning visits through the fishy stench of the tuna auction at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, we are saddened to see the Market’s final move to the new [...]

The M/C Endemic is the Galápagos Islands’ newest luxury catamaran, just launched July 8, 2018. The week of August 26, 2018, I was able to scout the Endemic while it was docked at Puerto [...]

According to NGO World Animal Protection, most tourists go on elephant rides because they truly love these giant mammals and wish to have a physical touch experience with them. Our [...]

What They Are Also known as the Aurora borealis in the north, the Northern Lights are bright, dancing displays of light in the night sky. This enchanting display is actually caused by [...]

Located about a one-hour drive from Paris, The Palace of Versailles is considered one of the greatest achievements of 17th-century French art. The palace was once Louis XIII’s old hunting [...]

Please note our Lynch Family abbreviated 2018 Kiattua Camp snapshot extension from our Iceland Nature Immersion Private Tour. Overview Being only 890 miles from nearby Iceland, [...]

Corsica, France  (population 326,898) Oblivious to many tourists, Corsicans go about their daily lives fully unaware they live in one of the most beautiful and untouched islands in the [...]

Conception Perhaps our favorite Athenian statesman/orator/general, Pericles commissioned the construction of the Parthenon and other buildings in 447 B.C. The temple was inaugurated in 432 B.C. [...]