26 Jun 2014
AITO (www.aito.com) turns 38 years old this year. Its 120-plus specialist operators continue, as ever, to innovate, as will be clear from the selection of exciting new programmes and itineraries below.
New tours and announcements from AITO members
Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours has launched a ground-breaking journey to the world's oldest wine-producing country, Georgia, and introduced an innovative and unusual new wine tour to Greece this Autumn. For more information, on Georgia, click here, and for Greece, click here.
Baltic Holidays has launched a family adventure break in Latvia, which includes flights to Riga, car hire, wire adventure, kayaking, cycling and barefoot woodland walking, whilst staying in beachside Pods and Manor Houses. For more information, click here.
Discover Adventure has launched new dates for its Kilimanjaro treks – the perfect start to a New Year, New You campaign. Places on the 10-day trek are available on 23 January and 10 February 2015 departures. For more information, click here.
Discover the World is launching an alternative to the traditional Arctic cruise with the addition of Discovery at Arctic Watch. Located 500 miles north of the Canadian Arctic Circle, on Somerset Island, Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge is a permanent wilderness camp with 16 private, tent-style cabins, with hot showers, an excellent menu and internet access. This is the ideal base for beluga whale spotting and wildlife encounters. Departures are between July and August 2015. For more information, click here.
Ffestiniog Travel has launched a comprehensive preview of its 2015 escorted tours programme. The rail specialist's pre-brochure features new tours including 'Great Little Trains of India', 'Steaming Around the Baltic' and 'Mountains & Forest in Rural Romania', plus a welcome return to New Zealand and three festive breaks – to Vienna, Nuremberg and Switzerland. For more information, click here.
Inntravel is introducing a walking week in November among the almond tree-coated hills of Las Alpujarras, in the company of award-winning author Chris Stewart, following the publication of his new book, Last Days of the Bus Club. Gain an insight into life in rural Spain, learn to cook regional dishes, and explore the region's tranquil valleys on foot. For more information, visit click here.
Martin Randall Travel is launching two new tours to China for 2015 – 'Chinese Ceramics' and 'Essential China'. The former is an in-depth study of Chinese culture staying in Shanghai, Taipei and the porcelain capital of the world, Jingdezhen, led by ceramics specialist and broadcaster, Dr Lars Tharp. For more information, click here. 'Essential China' features many of China's most fascinating places - six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including a little-visited section of the Great Wall, as well as more time in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an. For more information, click here.
Naturetrek is launching a new 16-day itinerary in search of South America's iconic big cats, the Jaguar and Puma. The trip combines the stunning scenery of the Pantanal in Brazil and the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and, for the first time, participants can hope to see both cats on one tour. Departures are from 2 October to 18 October 2014. For more information, click here.
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays is offering no single cabin supplements, in conjunction with Fred Olsen Cruises, on a number of selected cruise & walk holidays for bookings between now and 30 June. For selected sailings only, single clients can book a twin cabin for sole use with no single supplement. For more information, click here.
Undiscovered Destinations is offering a £395 pp saving on its 15-day 'Iran - Treasures of Ancient Persia' tour, departing in October 2014 and March 2015. The saving applies to reservations made before 31 July 2014. For more information, click here.
Wilderness Scotland has introduced a new guided road cycling tour to complement the start of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland next month (23 July). 'The Grand Tour' starts in the Highland capital of Inverness and finishes in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. For more information, click here.
News from AITO-affiliated Tourist Board members
Czech Tourism has launched 'the Prague Wedding Guide' - a wedding catalogue displaying the city's most attractive locations for weddings, as well as giving advice on where to buy the best wedding accessories. The guide has been published by Prague Information Services and Prague City Tourism. For more information, click here.
The German National Tourist Office is updating its Royal Heritage Routecampaign, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Georgian Accession to the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland this year. Join the campaign and take this unique opportunity to book an unforgettable royal holiday. For more information, click here.
The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has unveiled four new fascinating walking tours designed to take visitors off-the-beaten-track and help them discover lesser known communities, savour local cuisines and discover the city's culture like never before. The four walking tours, titled 'Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities', are each themed to take in a different aspect of Macau. For more information, click here.
Saint Lucia will be celebrating 'Chocolate Heritage Month' this August, to recognise the island's long, rich heritage in producing some of the world's most sought-after chocolate. With a number of on-island experiences, the month-long festivities will delve into Saint Lucia's cocoa roots, offering visitors the opportunity to experience plantation tours to see how chocolate is made from scratch, exclusive chocolate-inspired spa treatments, special gourmet menus and much more. For more information, click here.
Ends/ 26 June 2014
For further information on AITO, please contact Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email Sue Ockwell (s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk), Rebecca Milne (r.milne@travelpr.co.uk) or Laura Manning (l.manning@travelpr.co.uk).
Issued on behalf of:
AITO, 18 Bridle Lane, Twickenham, Greater London, TW1 3EG
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8744 9280
