Traditions, like many things, change over time and adventure holidays are no exception. Not only are people looking to travel for further and longer, but adventure travel specialist, Explore, has also noted a significant shift in when people are looking to go*. Over the past eight years, October to December have overtaken the traditional holiday period (July to September) to be the most popular times to travel on Explore holidays.

With 7.6% more Explore customers travelling in the autumn than the summer last year alone, it looks to be the end of an era for the traditional holiday period. To mark the rise in popularity of autumn departures, Explore is offering 5% off all its group adventures travelling between October and December 2013, including Christmas**.

For those looking to travel over a long weekend, Explore's five day Saharan Escape tour of Morocco, departing on 24th October 2013, now costs from just £617 per person. The tour explores the great Sahara desert, spends a night camping under the stars, enjoys traditional Berber hospitality, admires medieval Kasbahs and explores the vast sand sea and dunes of Chegaga. Price to include return flights; two nights' hotel and two nights' camping accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis; most other meals; transport and the services of a tour leader, driver and cook.

Getting further off-the-beaten-track and travelling over Christmas is Explore's 16 day Highlights of Burma tour. Discounted by 5% and now costing from just £2,163 per person, the tour explores the gold-encrusted pagodas of Rangoon, the floating gardens and stilt villages of Inle Lake and the spectacular Plains of Bagan. With various departures throughout October, November and December, the tour includes return flights, 13 nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, two other meals, transport and the services of a tour leader, driver and some local guides.

For active types looking to undertake the challenge of a lifetime, Explore's 18 day Everest Base Camp trek is also discounted by 5%. Departing on 7th and 21st November 2013, the trek which is graded challenging, now costs from £1,945 per person. The tour follows the renowned Everest expedition route and tackles an ascent of Kala Pattar(5,545m) before reaching Base Camp - the starting point for summit attempts. Price to include return flights; 12 nights' teahouse and four nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis; all other meals on the trek; transport and the services of a tour leader, driver, porters and local guides.

For cyclists, Explore's 17 day Cycle Rajasthan is also discounted by 5% and travels over Christmas. Leaving India's capital behind, the tour cycles through Jaipur and Udaipur. Along the way, customers will look for the elusive Bengal tiger in Sariska and Ranthambore National Parks, and cycle through remote villages, allowing them to gain a glimpse of everyday life. Departing on 11th October, 1st November and 20th December 2013, the tour now costs from £1,794 per person, to include return flights; 15 nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis; bike hire; transport and the services of a tour leader, bike mechanic and driver.

Ashley Toft, Managing Director of Explore commented, "While August and September are no doubt still popular with people looking for a fly-and-flop, we're finding that those seeking more adventurous and cultural holidays are increasingly keen to travel outside of this period. It means that people can make the most of the UK while it's at its warmest, and still have something to look forward to once the cold days and dark nights draw in".

He continued, "In celebration of the increasingly popular 'autumn adventure holiday', we have discounted all of our group tours departing between October and December by 5%. This includes family tours, and means that a family of four can celebrate Christmas in Morocco from just £2,550 all in."

For further information, to see the full range of discounted tours, or to book, visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844 499 0901.

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Notes to editors

** Discount does not include Tailormade and Polar adventures. To see the full terms and conditions of the 5% discount, please click here.
Explore's family tours, departing between October and December 2013 are also discounted by 5%.

For further information please contact: Emily Davies emily.davies@explore.co.uk