6
of the of theBESTBEST
QUIRKY STAYS From salt hotels to tranquil
w
temples, escorted tours can offer some unusual accommodation, finds Alice Barnes-Brown
hen a client books an escorted tour, what are they most excited about? Perhaps it’s the once-in-a-lifetime
adventure, meeting local people or making like-minded new friends, but rarely will clients focus on the accommodation. Yet that doesn’t have to be the case. Andrea Godfrey, head of Regent Holidays,
says: “Accommodation on group tours is often quite standardised to ensure volume and consistency, but every now and again an unusual, standout gem is included. I recommend agents look out for these in the tour details and use them as key selling points – they are often cited as memorable highlights in guest feedback.” Ready to sell? Here’s our pick of escorted tours that include some seriously quirky places to sleep.
travelweekly.co.uk
DESTINATIONS QUIRKY STAYS | ESCORTED TOURS 1
Yurt camping If clients are keen to experience the windswept wilds of central Asia like a true nomad, Intrepid Travel’s new Premium Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan tour includes a one-night stay in a yurt camp on the shores of Issyk-Kul, one of the world’s deepest lakes. Yurts hold a sacred place in nomadic culture. Clients won’t find an en suite bathroom, but electric heaters keep these yurts feeling cosy, even in winter. They can also try their hand at assembling one in a workshop with a local craftsman, and discover how yurts are traditionally constructed with
a wooden lattice frame then insulated with handmade layers of felt called kiiz. Book it: Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Premium Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan tour is priced from £2,490 per person, including breakfast, some meals, listed excursions and ground transport, but excluding international flights.
intrepidtravel.com
2
Temple time Japanese hotels are often a special experience – from hotels run by robots to traditional ryokan inns. But did you know many of Japan’s Buddhist temples are also open to overnight guests? InsideJapan Tours’ 12-night Hidden Japan focuses on a sleepier side of the country. Clients will spend one night at a temple lodging in the spiritual centre of Mount Koya (pictured), where futons placed on tatami mats make for a comfortable – yet portable – bed. Guests are free to slide back the paper door and explore the temple, before eating vegan meals with the monks. If they wake early, they can even join a morning Buddhist prayer service, with the wafts of incense and rhythmic chants
setting them up for the day’s adventures. Book it: Hidden Japan costs from £4,975 per person for 12 nights, including accommodation, breakfast, some meals, ground transport and listed excursions.
insidejapantours.com
31 JULY 2025
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PICTURES: Kaori Kodama, Shutterstock/Matyas Rehak
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