In Travel News for January 23th, 2023 we have talk about the closing of Machu Picchu, new high speed rail between France and Germany, and a once in a lifetime journey from Uniworld.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Expanding Extended River Cruises
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is expanding their extended river cruise journeys for 2024. The ‘Rivers of the World’ cruise will take travelers on a 55-day voyage to 10 different countries across South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The trip will depart from Peru on October 3rd, 2024 and will have space for 68 guests. The journey will begin with a land tour in the Peruvian Amazon before boarding river cruise ships to visit famous sites such as Machu Picchu and Cusco. The tour will then continue through Argentina and Brazil before switching over to Europe to sail the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers. The cruise will end in Southeast Asia, sailing on the Mekong River. Guests will also have the option to take several land Tours including visiting Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Bookings are open now, with prices starting at $49,399.
High-Speed Paris - Berlin Rail Coming in 2024
The French President and German Chancellor have announced plans for a High-Speed Rail route connecting their respective capitals. The new service is expected to launch in 2024 and will provide a direct Paris-Berlin route, eliminating the need for travelers to change trains in either Cologne or Frankfurt. The journey will likely take about 8 hours, which is about the same as the current connecting services. The new train route is part of a larger effort to decarbonize their economies and strengthen cross-border links. The rail operator for the planned service has not yet been announced, but it is an exciting development for travelers and an eco-friendly alternative to flying.
Machu Picchu Temporarily Closed to Travelers
On December 7th, 2022 the president of Peru was deposed and arrested for attempting to illegally dissolve the parliament to avoid an impeachment vote. About 12 days later violent Protests in support of the deposed leader blocked travel between Machu Picchu and the airport 50 miles away, temporarily stranding travelers visiting the ancient Incan city. Now travel to Machu Picchu has been officially suspended as these protests continue. Travelers who have an upcoming trip who don’t want to rebook can receive a refund for up to one month after the conclusion of the protests.