I thought of a great tag line today:

Go with WOW! to the most incredible places you’ve never been.

Do you like?

I’ll be finessing that line a little bit, but it does seem to capture the essence of what I’m building with this leisure division of mine. Since my first WOW! journey to India in 2006, we’ve been to Botswana/Zimbabwe/Zambia, Peru, Ecuador/Galapagos, Puglia and many times to Cuba. Coming up within the month is a private cruise charter to Greece and Turkey – to virtually unknown ports of call such as Limnos, Symi and tiny Tilos.

Good chance you’ve never been to any of those places – unless you’re a WOWee, of course!

I think I’ve found my “sweet spot” – leading groups to places that are on the cusp of discovery. The places you read about in Travel+Leisure or Afar magazine’s list of “emerging” destinations. It’s fun to use my 35 years of experience to collaborate with suppliers in these fledgling destinations to develop cutting-edge itineraries and experiences before the place gets overrun with tour groups and cruise ship passengers.

And so, here goes . . . my “list” for the next 18 months or so (with dates, when known):

CUBA! – Haven’t I been telling you to go there NOW? If you haven’t listened to me before … listen to me now. I’ve got a rare block of rooms at the two best hotels in the country, in Trinidad and Havana. This will be my 10th journey to Cuba, and it could just be my last.

Dates are Oct 17-23, 2015. Don’t put this one off.

The pace of life is slower in rural Cuba . . .

MYANMAR & VIETNAM – Myanmar is a break-out destination and Vietnam is one of my favorite places, ever. This journey is filled with so many extraordinary experiences, it’s impossible to predict which will be your favorite. Floating silently in a hot-air balloon over the 26-square-mile plain in Bagan dotted with thousands of ancient temple ruins? Cruising on a longboat on Inle Lake at sunset, photographing the wondrous sight of the leg-rowing Intha fishermen? Watching a group of giggling, pink-robed young Buddhist nuns? Riding through the chaotic streets of 1,000-year-old Hanoi in a bicycle rickshaw? Floating through the misty, mystical Halong Bay on an overnight cruise? Getting fabulous clothes custom-tailored to your exact specifications for an unbelievably low price? Taking a cooking class in HoiAn to learn how to make some of the most delicious food you’ll ever eat? I tell you, it’ll be just one UNESCO World Heritage Site after another on this itinerary. And enough “wows” to last a lifetime!

Dates are mid-late January, 2016 – for 2 weeks.

The net of an Intha fisherman is reflected in the setting sun at Inle Lake, Myanmar

BAJA ECO ADVENTURE – The hip, happening, hotspot of Todos Santos in southern Baja, combined with swimming with whale sharks and sea lion pups, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, petting a gray whale and her calf (really!), spotting blue-footed boobies (no, you don’t need to go all the way to the Galapagos to see them!), horseback riding on 70 miles of pristine, undeveloped beach with some unforgettable “glamping” opportunities – make this a stand-out, unforgettable eco-adventure, oh, so close to home! If you didn’t read a recent blog post of mine, you might not get why I’m so enamored with this place.

Dates are March 1-9, 2016

That’s not me, snorkeling with a whale shark – the largest fish on the planet – but it could have been!

IRELAND – Been there, done that? Oh, no, you haven’t!

Okay, so Ireland doesn’t fit my “unknown or emerging” destination profile, but you won’t find my itinerary offered anywhere else and you won’t have experienced Ireland like WOW! is gonna experience Ireland next spring!  I’m having the time of my life collaborating with Pat Crowley, one of my dearest friends in the industry and the absolute nicest and most respected man in all of Ireland (Pat, I can see you blushing!). I wrote a blog post about him, too.

As a Murphy, I know a thing or two about travel to Ireland and the treasures to be discovered in small towns, charming inns and country roads less taken. Aside from the beauty, history and culture – the humor and hospitality of its people is what is most endearing and compelling about Ireland. We’ll learn a bit of cooking, a bit of Gaelic and a few naughty limericks from one of the world’s most affable tour guides. The springtime 2016 WOW journey will capture Ireland’s essence with every place and every experience … or my name ain’t Murphy!

Dates – first couple weeks of April, 2016.

My, oh my … those Murphys DO get around in this country!

UGANDA – Gorilla Trekking anyone? Without a doubt, this is one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences: the thrill of a close encounter with reclusive mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. There are less than 800 of these magnificent creatures in the world. This is a true bucket-list adventure! We’ll be traveling to Uganda, Pearl of Africa, on a diverse itinerary that will also include chimpanzees, world-class safari game drives, tree-climbing lions, philanthropy and community visits and optional Class 5 river rafting on the Nile – among other “wow” experiences.

Dates:  August 23 – September 4, 2016

Less than 800 mountain gorillas exist in the world – your permit offers one hour with the mountain gorillas per group of 8 – all proceeds go to their protection

Whew! That’s enough globe-trotting for one blog post! I’m working on the details, websites and registration sites for all these amazing journeys.

Let me know if I can save a seat for you on one (or more) of these adventures!