As experts in travel and with some 60 pairs of eyes between us, the Original Travel team can clearly see what the big trends for 2020 will be, from the year's emerging destinations to must-do activities and hottest travel trends.

HOT DESTINATIONS: 

Israel

With the new Ramon airport creating an international gateway to the Red Sea and Eilat, a brand new daily service from Heathrow to Tel Aviv launched by Virgin Atlantic in September 2019 and a new Six Senses property opening in the Negev Desert in February 2020, Israel is our top tip for the hottest destination next year. As such, Original Travel has launched three NEW itineraries: A 12-day twin-centre trip to Jordan and Israel; a five-day weekend in Tel Aviv; and an eight-day 'Ancient Wonders in Israel' tour, which includes guided tours of Jerusalem's Old City, Masada's magnificent mountain top ruins, Jaffa – one of the most ancient ports in the world – and Tel Aviv.

Prices start from £3,130 per person, based on two sharing and including flights and accommodation.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk/middle-east/israel

Kyrgyzstan

Now Uzbekistan has become a fixture on the travel map, more intrepid travellers are turning their attention to neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Such is the interest from existing clients, Original Travel is adding the country to its portfolio NEW for 2020. Where Uzbekistan is (in the main) all about deserts plains and stunning cities, Kyrgyzstan is 95% mountains and home to the newly-minted Issyk Köl Trail Network, this 'Stan' is ripe for exploration. Like Mongolia, the Kyrgyz way of life is often nomadic and there are plenty of opportunities to meet the locals and even homestay in yurts to experience their way of life.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk

Nicaragua

Removed from the FCO travel warning list in 2019, Nicaragua is set to welcome international visitors once more. A firm favorite with the Original Travel team, Nicaragua has everything that we love so much about Costa Rica, but with fewer tourists and – as it's the largest country in Central America – more space to get off the beaten track. Zip-lining? Check. Volcanoes? Check. Turtles? Check. A choice between the Pacific coast and Caribbean beaches – check mate! Perhaps where it has the edge over its Central American rivals is with Granada, arguably one of the most appealing colonial cities in the region. Set on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, it is filled with pastel-coloured baroque buildings and rich Spanish architecture and set beneath a towering volcano.

A 17-day twin-centre tour of Nicaragua and Costa Rica costs from £4,945 per person with Original Travel. The price is based on two people sharing and includes all flights, transfers and accommodation.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk/central-america/nicaragua

Turkey

With the Turkish Lira offering one of the very few favourable exchange rates for the British Pound, we suspect that travel-savvy Brits will suddenly rediscover Turkey, and boy, will they be in for a treat. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, it's a fascinating melting pot of cultures and history and its ancient sites easily rival those of Greece – indeed, Western Turkey is home to the lost city of Troy, which will be the subject of the British Museum's next blockbuster exhibition, Troy, Myth & Reality, running from 21 November 2019 – 8 March 2020.

A 7-day tour of Ancient Turkey costs from £2,520 per person with Original Travel. The price is based on two people sharing and includes all flights, transfers and accommodation.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk/itineraries/ancient-turkey

Portugal

Just as 2019 seemed to be all about discovering hidden Greece, in 2020 eyes will turn to lesser-known Portugal. Currently famous for the Algarve and golf, travelers are starting to wake up to how much more the country has to offer. Lisbon - home to the achingly hip Bairro Alto neighbourhood (where the eponymous luxury hotel has recently reopened) and a food scene that befits the hometown of star chef, Nuno Mendes (of Chiltern Firehouse fame), makes for a fantastic city break. Meanwhile, the boho surfing vibe of Comporta and surrounding coast channels Brazil and the Azores has been compared to 'a warm Iceland'. Make that comparison at your peril to a proud Azorean, but the fact is that the mid-Atlantic archipelago is characterised by a similarly dramatic volcanic landscape and is a haven for adrenaline junkies. Diving, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, canyoning, whale watching, swimming with wild dolphins – we could (and do) go on.

A 10-day road trip which travels the length of Portugal from Porto to Faro costs from £3,560 per person with Original Travel. The price is based on two people sharing and includes flights, car hire and accommodation.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk/itineraries/portugal-road-trip

HOT ACTIVITIES: 

Ghost-Netting

Like plogging (picking up litter while jogging) for divers, ghost-netting is the latest effort to rid the marine world of rubbish. Ghost-netting sees divers collecting lost and disused fishing nets, lines and traps – there's an estimated 640,000 tonnes of them, according to the United Nations - during their forays into the ocean. Predominantly made from nylon, ghost nets can take up to 600 years to biodegrade and become entangled in rocks and reefs, ultimately killing fish and other marine life and suffocating coral.

Original Diving, 020 3582 4990, originaldiving.com/blog/top-five-sustainable-resorts

E-biking

E-biking has officially become the new trend of the cycling world with the introduction of “uphill flow” trails in the Alps specifically designed for ebikes along with the launch of the world's biggest ebike event. Ebikes are particularly bringing a revival to summer ski resorts, adding another string to the bow giving pretty much everyone the chance to ride a bike in the mountains. Trading in for an ebike when mountain biking means you experience all the benefits of the views, fresh mountain air and wildlife spotting for minimal effort and sweat making for a more manageable holiday activity. You can of course stay at regular altitude and still enjoy the smooth ebike ride, especially along coastal paths and trails as less endurance means you will last for longer allowing you to breathe in even more fresh sea air.

Original Travel, 020 3582 4990, originaltravel.co.uk/itineraries/barcelona-bikes

Fluoro Diving

An increasingly popular form of diving, fluoro diving involves taking a special light on night dives that emits a blue light specifically designed to generate the maximum amount of bio-fluorescence, along with a yellow filter placed over your mask for the dive. Certain marine life will absorb part of this blue light and emit a different colour light in return, creating a spectacular range of vibrant colours that show up from all different types of marine organisms, including neon greens, oranges, yellows, pinks and purples.

Original Diving, 020 3582 4990, originaldiving.com/blog/uv-diving

Blackwater Diving

The latest diving craze to hit the ocean is blackwater diving. One of the most original diving experiences out there, blackwater diving involves being tethered to a boat line in the open ocean at night. Why? Because at night the tiny alien-like creatures that live in the deep ocean rise to the surface to feed under the cover of darkness. Much like a scene out of Blue Planet, these zooplankton and larval animals are often translucent and some are as yet identified – so this is a very exploratory experience. Some of the best places to do it are in Lembeh in Northern Sulawesi, Anilao in the Philippines and Palau.

Original Diving, 020 3582 4990, originaldiving.com/

-Ends-

For more information contact Carys Bedford:

press@originaltravel.co.uk 

020 3582 4990

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Notes to Editors:

Original Travel specialises in bespoke, tailor-made holidays, 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 a 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