There are people who go on vacations and there are travelers. The former go somewhere to escape and relax. The latter seek immersion, adventure, and a deeper connection with the world. We asked six adventurous men of style to tell us the one place every traveler should visit before he dies. (For the rest of you, there’s always Cancun.)
1. The Travel Agent: Aaron Levine, vice-president of men’s design at Club Monaco. The Destination: Machu Picchu.
I went to Macchu Picchu about 15 years ago, but it’s stayed with me ever since. We started in Lima, then traveled to Cuzco, the jump-off point for Machu Picchu. That took us from about sea level to about two miles above, so we were immediately hit with altitude sickness. Fortunately, there’s a lot of coca tea to help you out. We adjusted for a few days, then made the journey up to Machu Picchu, where we stayed for several days. It’s amazing seeing what this early civilization built—how they engineered it with just their hands and tools. During the day, there are groups that come in, but in the very early morning and in the evening, once the last bus leaves, you’re alone. You can stay up there on top of the mountain. To have alone time, just you and the llamas, up in the Andes on this sacred ground, where the air is crisp and it’s completely quiet—that’s incredibly special.
2. The Travel Agent: John John Florence, 22-year-old surfer ranked third (one ahead of fellow American Kelly Slater) in the World Surf League’s rankings. The Destination: Tavarua Island.
You have to go to Tavarua Island in Fiji, especially if you like to surf. I didn’t expect it could be better than everyone built it up to be, but somehow it is. It’s just you and whoever you’re with, out in the middle of the ocean on a tiny island. And the waves are amazing. There are seven surfing breaks, but I have one favorite: Cloudbreak, about a quarter mile out. There’s no island there, just a big reef, so you feel like you’re in the middle of the ocean with no land around. Cloudbreak has some of the biggest, most perfect waves I’ve ever seen. Tavarua is a simple place. It’s simple and relaxing and the waves are good. It’s a surfer’s dream.
3. The Travel Agent: Ottavio Missoni Jr., brand ambassador for Missoni, the Italian fashion house founded by his grandparents. The Destination: South America by motorcycle.
Motorbikes are like a religion. I’ve been on one since I was a kid. I love them. I want to ride around the globe on one. Motorbikes, to me, represent freedom. There is no barrier between you and what’s around you. You can reach places you would never be able to reach by car. You can connect with the people whenever you are traveling. This is so important to understanding the culture, and it is gratifying to you and the people you encounter. I just want to live on a motorbike, going around and seeing new cultures. Alone. It’s so personal. There are three routes I want to try. One is across Russia; another is the North Cape in Norway. But the one that fascinates me most is in South America. Start in Buenos Aires, Argentina; then Patagonia; then down to Tierra del Fuego; then up the west coast to Santiago, Chile, and the Atacama Desert; then north to Bolivia and Lima, Peru; and finally Brazil. It would take at least two months. And it would be one of the greatest things I could do.
4. The Travel Agent: Rory McIlroy, the top ranked golfer in the world. The Destination: Dubai.
I was taken by Dubai when I was invited to play golf there for the first time. I was 15 at the time, so there were obvious limitations to what I could do, but it was still exciting, with skyscrapers, water parks, and wall-to-wall sunshine. It was almost as if somebody said: “Go and make a fun city.” Since then, I’ve returned at least twice a year for either a golf tournament or relaxation. In fact, this is where I spend a few weeks early each year in preparation for the season ahead. Everything there is so new, and for the first-timer, I’d suggest you head straight to the Burj Al Arab or the Burj Khalifa to check out the amazing views. Secondly, go out into the desert in a 4×4. It’s a great way to test your driving skills. Lastly, go skiing—on real snow—in the Mall of the Emirates before or after you stop in some of the best stores in the world. It sounds a bit weird, but it’s a great thing to do, especially at night.
5. The Travel Agent: Ezra Koenig, Vampire Weekend’s lead singer and guitarist and the most fashionable man in indie rock. The Destination: London.
It’s important for every man to visit the place that he was born. Just to stand there—as close as possible to the actual spot that you came into the world and connect with that energy. In the same way, I think it’s important for everyone to visit the birthplace of their native language. For someone like me, that’s England. I love London. I love the architecture, I especially love the Barbican Centre (a performing-arts venue built in the early ’80s for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the London Symphony Orchestra.) Some people think it looks ugly, but I like how it blends classic and modern architecture. It’s like you’re living in the world of A Clockwork Orange.
6. The Travel Agent: Ed Stafford, the first person to walk the length of the Amazon River and author of Naked and Marooned. He’s currently working on a new adventure series for the Discovery Channel. The Destination: The Jungle. Any Jungle. Doesn’t Matter Where.
As a species, we originated from the trees, and I believe there is an instinctive part of us that still recognizes this tangled world to be home. Every man should spend some time in the jungle, and he should see it on foot. My first job out of the British army was leading a conservation expedition to Belize. There is something inescapably primal about stepping foot into the jungle. It is the extreme opposite of manicured. Vines, leaves, roots, and spines stretch in every direction, and the sheer density of vegetation is, to use a much-overused word, awesome. Maybe it’s the fact that your eyes don’t know where to focus. There is almost too much information to ingest, but I challenge anyone not to be totally blown away by the raw, uncivilized feel to the place. Take a machete in your hand and enter the trees. It is the most sensory, immersive experience you could imagine. Go to a village and talk to people. Ask if anyone is prepared to come into the jungle with you. Not a tour guide, not an expedition leader—a local man who has always lived in the jungle and is a wealth of knowledge and experience. In most jungles, due to the nature of their size and remoteness, it is unlikely any Westerner will have gone there before. Take enough food for a few days, a hammock, a lighter, and a machete, and walk into another world. Your holiday has just become a real adventure.
This story originally appeared on Esquire.com.
Car and Driver has partnered with Mercedes-Benz to bring you “A Cut Above,” a travel series inspired by the all-new GLE Coupe exploring great drives, high-end gear, and must-visit destinations.
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