It’s not the typical time for a vacation with the pending holidays, but sometimes it’s the perfect time to escape. Fall lets you recuperate right before that hectic time of year. It lets you take advantage of those built up vacation days that must be used before the New Year. Perhaps you don’t need a reason, and it’s just time to start packing that suitcase! Regardless, the Fall can be a great time to start checking destinations off that Travel Bucket List. From tasting the delicious flavors of the Chilean wine region, to exploring the incomparable Buddhist temples of Bhutan, cleanse your cultural pallet before dealing with that holiday family drama! Here are some great options for that last minute getaway.

Explore the South American Wine Region!

 Visit the famous wineries in Argentina’s Mendoza region, and the Colchagua Valley near Santiago in Chile. Yampu will guide you across the border from Mendoza, a popular destination for active travelers, to Santiago in a scenic bus or private car. Crossing the boarder you will have unforgettable views of the Aconcagua and the Andes Mountains. You will also spend three days in the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires with a visit to a typical estancia and a dinner with tango show. One day is also planned for touring Santiago, one of South America’s most sophisticated metropolitan areas.

Time for a Spin Through Mayan History…

Yampu’s Complete Maya Route will take you to see the mystifying Mayan ruins in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. We begin our Maya Route at the classical Mayan site in Copán. In Guatemala enjoy a city tour in colonial Antigua before visiting Lake Atitlán, its three surrounding volcanoes, and the largest site of Mayan ruins, Tikal. In Mexico, visit Palenque, known for its fine architecture and sculpture, and the beautiful Mayan pyramids at Uxmal and Chichen-Itza.

Get your Final Taste of Summer through the South African Garden Route!

Begin your visit to South Africa with a tour of Cape Town, Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula including the penguin colony at Boulder’s Bay. Then, head out to Swellendam, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and Port Elizabeth on the famed Garden Route. Though the Garden Route was named after the vineyards, orchards and agricultural areas that used to sit between the Karoo Desert and the Southern South Africa coastline, it has come to be known for the forests, coastline, beaches, marine life and game reserves (as well as the picturesque towns and villages along the way). We start off in Swellendam, the gateway to the Garden Route, before transferring on to Plettenberg Bay from there. Originally christened “Bahia Formosa” (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, Plettenberg Bay offers the visitor miles of sweeping, unspoilt golden beaches. It is also home to the best dolphin watching in the world according to National Geographic and is an adventure lover’s paradise with everything from surfing to kayaking and horseback riding. We finish at Port Elizabeth, where you will have the opportunity to experience a safari in the Eastern Cape.

Melt into the rich culture, mountain views, and historic sites of India, Bhutan and Nepal

This tour aims to provide the experience of India’s amazing sites, with Bhutan’s rich culture and Nepal’s scenic mountain ranges. While in India see some of the country’s finest palaces, fortresses and temples from centuries past. For a dramatic change of scenery, Bhutan will offer a peaceful and beautiful landscape steeped in Buddhist culture and kind people. As the main point of entry for the country, Paro offers a great introduction to Bhutan, but also hosts an array of must-see sites for any visitor, including several Buddhist sites like the impressive cliff-side Takstang Monastery. Thimphu is the country’s center of government, religion and commerce that hosts an intriguing mixture of traditional influences and modernity. This city is home to many Buddhist monks, businessmen, politicians, expatriates, civil servants and most importantly the Kings and Royal Family members. Furthermore, a drive to Punakha will take you over lofty mountain passes with surreal views to this old capital city. Once here, enjoy your remote setting and the magnificent riverside Punakha Dzong. As Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu is also a spiritual center for Hindus and Buddhists alike. Walk through this urban city’s network of narrow alleys to discover a place rich in colorful markets, countless temples and shrines. Also, enjoy an excursion to Bhaktapur, a nearby medieval city that is well worth a visit. Then find yourself in the mountain paradise of Pokhara, situated on the serene Lake Phewa. This enchanting city offers some interesting culture, but you will be most impressed by the stunning views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

Cruise Down a River and Through the Enchantment of Thailand, Laos, and Burma

Quiet reverence and boisterous indifference; rapid modernization and unexpected preservation; there will be few aspects of the innumerably varying styles of living that remain a mystery after this unique survey of South-East Asia. From the relatively undisturbed sites of Myanmar and Luang Prabang to the deservedly well-tread paths of Bangkok and Northern Thailand, an ever shifting spectrum of cultures will suddenly make themselves available.

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