Reef and Rainforest Tours, the long haul tour operator specialising in unusual and exotic destinations, has launched a brand new brochure, Reef and Rainforest Family Adventures, aimed exclusively at families with children under twelve years. This new brochure, which focuses on Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Seychelles, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands, Borneo, Madagascar and Sri Lanka, features a variety of suggested itineraries for the adventurous, nature-loving family.

BROCHURE HIGHLIGHTS BELIZE Belize, a friendly English-speaking Central American country the size of Wales, is ideally suited to families, with its well-run jungle lodges and seaside resorts, a long barrier reef, unspoilt rainforest and stable government. A suggested two-centre 14-day tour includes verdant rainforest, Mayan ruins and barrier reef islands, where time is split between a riverside lodge in the foothills of the Maya Mountains and a spacious island apartment on Ambergris Cay.

COSTA RICA Costa Rica forms part of the land bridge between north and south America, and thus contains species found in both continents. A volcanic mountain chain runs the whole length of the country with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, whilst the special geographical and climatic conditions have created an incredibly diverse ecosystem. This is a country that has never had a standing army, civil war or internal strife, and a past President who won the Nobel Peace Prize. A suggested two-week itinerary to Costa Rica includes jungle boat rides, gentle river rafting, active volcanoes, bird-filled cloud forests and beautiful Pacific beaches, all of which can be found by visiting Tortuguero, Muelle, Monteverde and Tamarindo.

SEYCHELLES With all the attractions that make it a popular honeymoon destination, the Seychelles is also eminently suited for families with very young children. Two World Heritage Sites, 115 islands scattered over 1.3 million square kilometres of Indian Ocean complement the fact that there is neither malaria nor dangerous wildlife here, and the location is also just outside the tropical cyclone zone.

A recommended three-centre, 15-day island hopping tour takes in Cerf island, Praslin and La Digue, where perhaps the world�s most beautiful beach, Anse Source d�Argent, can be found.

ECUADOR & THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS Ecuador, South America�s second smallest country, is filled with diverse geographical features and natural wonders, the most famous of which are the Enchanted Isles, better known as the Galapagos.

A recommended 17-day trip includes a seven-night cruise in the Galapagos, with talks aimed specifically at children, as well as a stay in a jungle lodge to explore the bird-filled cloud forests of the lower Andes and to learn about active volcanoes.

MADAGASCAR The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is most famous for its tree-dwelling lemurs and chameleons with individually swivelling eyes. There are no dangerous mammals here or poisonous snakes. More suited however to families with slightly older children, a suggested 16-day itinerary includes jungle wildlife, spiny forests and tropical islands, focussing on Perinet, Berenty, and Nosy Be.

There is also a 16-day luxury holiday involving convenient charter plane transfers and an exclusive private island resort with its own turtle conservation project.

ACCOMMODATION CONSIDERATIONS Each property has been hand picked taking a certain number of points into account. Properties are generally small and individually run with rooms to suit families of four: for example large rooms or suites, two-bedroom villas or optional interconnecting rooms. Coastal properties tend to be beach-fronted or very near to a beach that offers shade. Other considerations are hotel pools with shallow ends, flexible catering arrangements and babysitting availability.

WHY CHOOSE REEF AND RAINFOREST� FAMILY ADVENTURES The brainchild of Managing Director, Alan Godwin, the new Reef and Rainforest Family Adventures brochure was developed due to his perceived lack of exotic long haul family holiday options. �Becoming a father with a young family (Tom is now six and Tilly four), I became increasingly aware of the lack of exotic, yet educational family holiday options.

�Before children, my wife and I always chose long haul destinations that offered a rich natural history to explore. Now with a young family, all we could mostly find were holidays that revolved purely around sun, sea and sand.

�As parents we did not wish to forego travelling as a family to adventurous tropical countries while waiting for our children to grown up, so the brochure was born out of a desire to satisfy our family�s wish to travel and to explore the natural world we live in. In many ways our holidays are about offering children a valuable educational experience as well as allowing us to delight in witnessing their exploration of the natural world.� PRICES All brochure prices are per person and cover ground costs (internal flights, guide services, park fees, transfers, and accommodation), international flights on specified carriers and relate to a family of four with children under 12 years of age sharing quadruple accommodation. Those who require two or more rooms will receive individual quotations.

The lead-in price for a family holiday for four is �5,220 which refers to 14-day holiday to Belize 1st � 30th June 2004. This holiday, priced at �1,740 per adult and �870 per child, is based on a family of four, two adults and two children aged 2-11, all sharing one room. Price includes international and domestic flights, accommodation on a predominantly full board basis, transfers, specified activities, guide services and park entrance fees.

IN CONCLUSION The development and creation of the Reef and Rainforest Family Adventures brochure has been a labour of love for Alan Godwin � the love of his family and the love of travel have been brought together to create safe, memorable, educational and exotic holiday experiences.

CONTACT DETAILS Reef and Rainforest Tours can be reached on tel 01803 866 965 or log on to: www.reefandrainforest.co.uk www.familytours.co.uk

-ENDS-

Should you require further media information, or would like to discuss a media visit to sample a Reef and Rainforest Family Adventures tour, please contact Jovanka Ristich Independent Public Relations, tel 01628 623003 or email: ristichj@aol.com