Mahout
Mary-Anne Denison-Pender is one of those intrepid posh girls you would trust with your life. Her knowledge of India is superb and she is brilliant at finding charming hotels, reliable drivers and guides, and constructing really imaginative itineraries that take you away from predictable greatest hits, other tourists, and safely into the unknown. She has recently joined forces with Shakti which specialises in wilderness walks, treks and luxury camps high in the Himalayas. Newly opened in April this year is 360° Leti, an exclusive and gloriously comfortable mountain experience at 8,000ft. Don't leave it too late to plan your winter trip to India. Mary-Anne says that people are booking earlier than ever to secure their houseboat in Kerala, mountain hideaway or regal palace for Christmas and New Year. The Manor, Great Bourton, Banbury, Oxfordshire, 01295 758 150 www.mahoutuk.com
Steppes Travel
Nick Laing's bespoke travel company, founded in 1989, was originally called Steppes East and specialised in adventurous trips to far-flung places like the Kamkatcha peninsula with its hot volcanic springs, brown bears gorging on the spring salmon run, Russian naval bases and virtually no tourist infrastructure. When Nick married Princess Katya Galitzine, she brought unprecedented access to the palaces of Imperial Russia and a new glamorous dimension to the company was born. More recently, as high-net-worth individuals placed their trust in Laing's team, the company's scope has extended to Africa, Latin America and a broad spectrum of the East from Armenia to Yemen via (alphabetically that is) Bhutan, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen and many other exotic places. It is still relatively small with a staff of less than 20, but this is tailormade travel at the highest level. The Travel House, 51 Castle Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, 01285 880 980 www.steppestravel.co.uk
Tim Best Travel
Tim Best is a passionate and knowledgeable traveller whose first love was the landscape and animals of Africa. As the company developed he has put together an expert team who will take you to places you didn't know existed. From remote parts of Australia to deserted beaches in the Indian Ocean and the Fes Sacred Music Festival in Morocco. There are trips to the luscious terrain of Costa Rica, the golden beaches of North East Brazil and the sublime wilderness of Antarctica. Two new African countries have been added this year - Senegal and Libya. While not rich in wildlife like many of the East and Southern African destinations, they give a wonderful insight into the culture and history of the region. 4 Cromwell Place, London SW7, 020 7591 0300 www.timbesttravel.com
Pollen-Brooks Leisure
The ultimate Chamonix experience in winter or summer under the expert guidance of Dean Brooks whose company focuses on luxury chalets and five star service in this beautiful historic French mountain town. These slopes are for serious skiers and Dean can make anything happen for the most demanding boy racers: husky rides, heliskiing in fresh powder snow and moonlight skiing over to Italy. Don't write off the mountains during the summer. Chamonix is the tops for every sort of outdoor activity from paragliding and white water rafting to hiking, golf and tennis. St. Anthony, Portnall Drive, Wentworth, Surrey, 01344 849 135 www.pollenbrooks.com
isango!
Crazy name for this relatively new company, launched in October 2006. Co-founder Ranjan Singh is a former MD of Ebookers and Expedia and a graduate of the thoroughbred INSEAD business school. His partner Aseem Sadana, also of INSEAD, is a former management consultant. Their new company isango! plans to build the largest collection of "enriching experiences" around the world, all readily available on the internet. I must admit to a deep, irrational dislike of their multicoloured gimmicky logo but there's no denying the pedigree of the company's founders, so it's worth giving them a go. www.isango.com
The internet has turned us all into travel agents but some things you just can't do with Google. Bespoke travel companies are thriving as the cash-rich time-poor generation turns to specialists with unrivalled contacts and experience.
Must try...
Learning to cook is more fun on holiday when unfamiliar settings, local markets and a charismatic teacher make all the difference.
The enchanting Read's Hotel & Spa in Mallorca has launched Fosh Food, a Boutique Gastronomica to showcase the skills of their Michelin-starred chef, Marc Fosh. The concept includes a cookery school, fine food products and takeaway gourmet dishes, an extensive wine store, the latest kitchen equipment and even a yacht delivery service. www.readshotel.com (a member of Relais & Chateaux) and www.foshfood.com
Tasting Places uses well-known London chefs like Alastair Little, Peter Gordon, Hugo Arnold, Jeremy Lee and Eric Chavot in venues that range from Spain and Italy to Greece and Thailand. www.tastingplaces.com
The Belle Isle School of Cookery is set in beautiful countryside of lakes and mountains near Enniskillen. Learn traditional Irish dishes using an oil-fired Aga. www.irish-cookery-school.com
You may have seen Giancarlo Caldesi on TV setting up his cookery school in Italy, marrying his wife and shouting at people. In truth he's very charming and a great teacher. He has a cookery school at his London headquarters too. www.caldesi.com
Arblaster and Clarke is the most experienced holiday company for wine lovers. The 2007 programme includes top class Champagne weekends, wine tours of Chile, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, gourmet holidays, vineyard walks, luxury wine tasting cruises and many more exciting ideas. www.winetours.co.uk
