Despite China’s 21st century emergence as a major economic power, a lot of the country still remains hidden behind closed doors . . . but not for long. On September 23, Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific launched brand new China Experience tours designed by local experts to provide unparalleled VIP access to normally off-limits attractions. Starting at $3,000 a pop, these all-inclusive, ultra-exclusive expeditions offer behind-the-scenes peaks of protected heritage sites scattered throughout Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai – like The Forbidden City’s Imperial Palace tea room, Xian’s national treasure vault, and Pit #5 of the famous Terracotta Warrior Museum (normally only open to archeologists). In addition to dining with locals in a traditional courtyard (“hutong”) and taking private tai-chi lessons, visitors can explore the better-known Great Wall and Tiananmen Square (pictured). Read the rest of this post »

TOMS Shoes, a popular California-based nonprofit, sells linen espadrilles modeled after Argentinian alpargatas at stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Urban Outfitters. For every pair purchased, one pair of TOMS is donated to a needy child in Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia, or the United States. This past fall, the company launched an initiative called TOMS Tours. Currently operating biweekly, the tours consist of eight-day volunteer trips to Argentina, where the project began back in 2006. Participants spend about half the time partaking in “shoe drops,” during which they visit local communities and hand out shoes to kids. The rest of the time, do-gooders take in the sites, including hikes in Iguazu National Park, wine tasting and horseback riding in Mendoza, and shopping in Buenos Aires. From $1,800/person, with accommodation, meals, activities, transportation (except for international airfare).

From the Feb/March issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.