A brand new tour to the South Pacific explores an exceptionally biodiverse archipelago similar to the islands featured in the first episode of David Attenborough's new series Planet Earth.

David Attenborough's new Planet Earth series has everyone talking about the memorising remote islands it featured in the first episode. Next year ACE Cultural Tours has a new tour that explores the islands of New Caledonia, which splintered from Australia roughly 66 million years ago, bequeathing them a unique natural history. Today, the exceptionally biodiverse archipelago is home to an overwhelming assortment of endemic species. The oldest flowering plant still alive in the world, Amborella, grows only here, whilst the islands' tropical lagoons and coral reefs are listed by UNESCO for their extraordinary ecological variety and remarkable natural beauty. Join this natural history tour, led by an expert botanist and ornithologist, and discover some of the most remote islands on earth, little changed since the first European, Captain James Cook, reached them in 1774.

New Caledonia: Heart of the Pacific

October 7–23, 2017; £6045

This new natural history tour travels to the astonishing islands found halfway between Australia and Fiji. The itinerary includes exploration of tropical lagoons and primitive forests in search of endemic species which include 60 species of reptile endemic to the islands and the unique national bird, the kagu, found only here. The tour also takes in the French colonial architecture found in the capital, Nouméa, and the indigenous Kanak culture, seen on a visit to the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre.

For full details see our website: http://www.aceculturaltours.co.uk/tours/new-caledonia-heart-of-the-pacific-ncal-17

ENDS

Notes for Editors

For more information, images, or a copy of the ACE 2016 brochure please contact Kate Price Thomas on 01223 841055, at kate@aceculturaltours.co.uk or visit www.aceculturaltours.co.uk

ACE Cultural Tours is the UK's most experienced cultural tour operator. With a growing portfolio of over 1000 specially tailored tours for small groups, ACE offers over 180 departures every year. Each tour is led by a Tour Director – both a specialist in their field and a convivial host – and the tour groups regularly enjoy privileged access to private buildings, collections and performers. Owned by the charity the ACE Foundation, all surplus from the tour company is used to fund educational projects in the UK and abroad.

ACE Cultural Tours is a bonded tour operator, holding ATOL licence no 1204 and is also a member of AITO and ABTOT.