American Express is providing access to five new bespoke itineraries created by Kensington Tours, geared toward cultural exchange, and supporting local communities. The fully customizable itineraries are available for Denmark, Kenya, Peru, South Africa, and Vietnam. The new tours are available for U.S. American Express Platinum Card Members, booking exclusively through American Express Travel.
“Our customers are showing a desire for more genuine travel experiences with opportunities to immerse themselves in the cultures and communities they are visiting,” said Sangeeta Naik, Global Head of Partnerships and Marketing, American Express Travel. “These itineraries allow travelers to gain a deeper understanding of their destination.”
“As a company that specializes in privately guided travel that is customized for each client, we know that more people want authentic local experiences that connect with local communities and cultures,” said Helen Giontsis, President of Kensington Tours. “It’s about traveling more consciously. We’re thrilled to be part of bringing these experiences to American Express Platinum Card Members.”
According to The American Express Travel: 2022 Global Travel Trends Report, 81% of respondents reported that they want to travel to destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture and 81% of respondents want the money they spend while traveling to go back to the local community.[1] These fully customizable tours provide enriching cultural activities that are designed to create more meaningful travel experiences that can include:
- Denmark: Experience Denmark, a country committed to sustainability, with a private bike tour through Copenhagen's popular neighborhoods while learning about the local communities, explore a rural area of Denmark with a stay at the historic Dragsholm Castle, and embark on a private guided tour of Samsø Island, whose goal is to entirely phase out the use of fossil fuels by 2030.
- Kenya: Be immersed in the local communities of East Africa by witnessing an anti-poaching demonstration from the team at Loisaba and gain insight into the Mara Predator Conservation Program in Masai Mara’s Naibosho Conservancy.
- Peru: Explore Peru through a private tour of Machu Picchu, visit the Andean Highlands, engage with a local Indigenous community to learn about daily life, participate in an artisanal workshop and learn about a reforestation project in the Sacred Valley.
- South Africa: Learn about South African communities and wildlife through a Tour of Bo Kapp, the oldest suburb in South Africa, engage with local cuisine during a Cape-Malay cooking class, learn how women can uplift their communities during an immersive journey to the Cape of Good Hope, and track Africa’s most iconic wildlife with an expert guide through the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.
- Vietnam: Meet residents who are taking action to preserve the communities and cultures of Vietnam, including multi-generational families who will immerse you in Hanoi traditions and residents of the Vung Vieng fishing village, a former fighter pilot who served in the Vietnam War and internationally renowned photographers and documentarians who will showcase the country through images and film.
79% of Global Travel Trends respondents agree that the pandemic taught them that traveling may not always be possible, so they are trying to be more purposeful in how they plan their trips and the companies with which they book them. Providing access to these tours is part of American Express’ wider commitment to identifying new, thoughtful travel options that align with what our customers value.