In light of HM Government's announcement that British travellers will be able to visit over 50 countries without quarantine restrictions (from 10 July) and the FCO lifting its non-essential travel ban from 4 July, Original Travel recommends its best itineraries to make the most of the summer. 

The luxury tour operator's recommendations include its new collection of self-drive itineraries from the UK to France and beyond, plus its recently-launched portfolio of rail-only itineraries throughout Europe, offering plenty of options for those who are keen to travel but not happy to fly. And for those who are happy to fly, Original Travel can minimise contact throughout the airport: Each and every client travelling with us is met at the airport, fast-tracked through security and check-in and given lounge access and pre-booked seats. There's now also the option of having your luggage collected from home and checked in (certain airlines and home locations) so you can make your own way to the airport luggage-free and avoid baggage-drop.  

Tom Barber, Co-Founder of Original Travel, says: 'We're thrilled that travel is back in time for the summer holidays and we're confident that ours are the safest pair of hands to arrange these first trips out: We are the only UK tour operator to have a network of local, knowledgeable and connected Concierges who can advise on quiet times to visit popular places and arrange exclusive, out-of-hours access and private, guided tours of museums and galleries (should they be open); we know the best boutique hotels, including those with private beaches and stand-alone cottages in the grounds; plus, we have just launched our Flexible Promise, which allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure. Our aim is to alleviate any concerns our clients have about travelling and allow them to simply enjoy their new-found freedom.' 

Without further ado, here are Original Travel's top trips for the summer: 

Road trips: 

Hot off the press is Original Travel's new collection of UK-France road trips, ideal for travellers wanting to avoid air travel and enjoy the freedom of an open road after months of lockdown. Options cover Brittany and Normandy in the north, the French Riviera in the South and Provence and Bordeaux in between. The Provence trip is a nine-day meander of Gallic life at its best. After an overnight stop in Reims, you will have three nights in your own Provencal farmhouse in Baux-de-Provence, a perfect base for exploring the medieval city of Avignon, the perfectly preserved ancient town of Glanum, the incredible Roman ruins of St Remy and the dramatic clifftop Chateau des Baux. Next, you will spend three nights in another French farmhouse one hour further south where you will taste local wines and explore the mysterious Camargue region, home to salt flats, marshlands, saltwater lakes and the native Camargue horse, one of which will be your steed for a morning's ride.   

Prices from £2,200 pp based on two sharing and including return travel on Eurotunnel, guided tours and experiences throughout and six nights' self-catering accommodation, plus two nights' B&B in Reims. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) 

Rail trips: 

Another new launch for 2020 - and another great option for those anxious about travelling by plane, is Original Travel's rail-only itineraries. From the collection is an eight-day trip from London to Naples, Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Once you arrive in Paris, it's a six-hour scenic route through the foothills of the French Alps to Turin, where you'll enjoy an overnight stop before travelling down the spine of Italy to Naples. After two nights here and a guided tour of nearby Pompeii, you'll have three nights on the Amalfi Coast, including day trips to Capri and Positano. You'll break up the journey home with an overnight stop in the fashion capital of Milan before heading back to the UK. 

Prices from £3,350pp per person based on two sharing  and including all train travel, transfers and seven nights' accommodation. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk)  

Short haul alternatives: 

For those not wanting to travel long-haul just yet, Original Travel has unearthed European equivalents that are every bit as jaw-dropping or fascinating as their more famous far-flung counterparts. These include Tabernas in Andalucia, which serve as a dead-ringer for the deserts of the wild west and was a favoured location for the so-called Spaghetti Western movies of the 60s and 70s. Europe's only desert spans 280 square kilometres and is a protected national park in the Andalucian province of Almeria, just over an hour from Granada. The region is still home to some of the original movie sets, complete with Mexican pueblos and realistic cowboy frontier towns, swinging saloon doors and all and can be visited on Original Travel's nine-day Andalucian road trip from Seville to Jerez. 

Prices from £2,350 per person based on two sharing and including return flights, car hire and eight nights' accommodation. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk) 

Reconnect: 

Our new Reconnect collection is all about tuning back into skills as wide-ranging as herding animals, foraging or learning the medicinal properties of the local flora. Given how much the pandemic encouraged bread-baking, pasta-making and vegetable-growing, we think there will be a real appetite to reconnect with other ways to become more self-sufficient. Norway is a hero destination for Reconnect, somewhere you can learn about the traditional methods of cheese-making, forage for fruits and berries and learn the art of fly fishing.  

A 10-night trip costs from £4,360 with Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk). The price is based on two sharing and includes 10 nights' accommodation, return flights and all overland travel and experiences. 

-Ends-  

For more information contact Rebecca Lowe:   

press@originaltravel.co.uk  

020 3582 4990  

      ________________________________________________________________________________  

Notes to Editors:  

Original Travel curates customised itineraries, crafted by destination experts to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.  

Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit and is staffed by a team that includes 1 dive instructor, 5 dive masters and a marine biologist. Having completed more than 3,000 dives in over 50 countries, equating to over 100 years' collective diving experience, the team pride themselves on their unparalleled expertise and knowledge of the best dive destinations across the globe.  

Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they wouldn't find with any other UK tour operator, including:  

• Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting  
• A brace of additional services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long-weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. A great way to start the holiday sooner  
• The knowledge that not only will Original Travel offset the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and other flights (even if booked independently)  

• The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £800,000 has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous peoples