New York, NY, November 23, 2015 – Wales is set to say “Croeso” (Welcome!) in 2016 to “The Year of Adventure,” and tour operators across the U.S. have rolled out a robust series of programs and packages for eager globetrotters seeking unparalleled experiences.  Inspired by Visit Wales to take on a creative interpretation of “adventure travel,” operators are launching programs that include everything from hard-core thrills to cultural experiences.  Travel agents and tour operators can join Lauren Summers, Director of Marketing at Visit Wales, on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm EST for a webinar highlighting the many 2016 Wales adventures by registering at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/465741401535380482.

Summers will detail how Wales has become the “go to” locale for travelers in search of experiences outside of their everyday comfort zones. Whether following in the footsteps of one of the country's official adventure ambassadors, Bear Grylls, by taking on heart-racing activities like scaling the mist-enshrouded summit of Mount Snowdon, or those looking for a softer adventure like exploring Wales' culinary delights via specialized food and wine safaris, Wales has no shortage of one-of-a-kind activities in store for 2016.

Wilderness Travel, for instance, offers a hiking, walking, exploring trip to Wales that lets guests fill up on a traditional Welsh breakfast at their B & B or hotel, conveniently followed by a hike right out of the front door through breathtaking coastal paths and mountain trails, coupled with breaks to indulge in the local food and explore myriad cultural treasures. The tour even includes a climb down Mount Snowdon, the mountain where the historic team, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, trained for the first successful summit of Mt. Everest. This trip is for active travelers with a healthy level of fitness and an energetic sense of adventure.

On the fully-escorted Special Group Tours' Wales: Land of Song – South, West and North Wales Sampler, history and culture buffs will explore a wide variety of sites all throughout Wales including:  Dylan Thomas' boathouse in Laugharne in South Wales; Pembrokeshire National Park and its mystical standing stones of Pentre Ifan; the seaside Victorian town of Llandudno on the West Coast and the majesty of Snowdonia National Park in the North. This nine-day/nine-night epic journey lets travelers choose which of the many adventures in Wales they want to experience. Learn the inner workings of a historic slate mine or spend the afternoon amidst the soft skeins at the Woolen Center. Shop for gifts in a charming market town or head for the rugged coast with natural geological wonders like the famous “Green Bridge of Wales.” The pinnacle of the tour is its namesake – a heart-stirring performance by a Welsh male voice choir in the 'land of song.'

On CIE's Taste of Wales and Irelandtravelers will spend five days in North Wales enjoying a variety of activities including a Tudor escapade to discover Henry VIII's link to the Welsh Pembroke Castle (hint: his dad was born here). Delving into Welsh traditions at a craft center, travelers will enjoy a creative adventure learning the art of hand-carved lovespoons.

On Sceptre Tours' eight-day Welsh Adventure, intrepid visitors will tour the wonders of Snowdonia National Park and experience a cultural adventure as they learn to speak Welsh, a musical language steeped in lore and legend.  Wine-lovers can lose themselves on a Welsh wine trail adventure, stopping at local vineyards and tasting the best of the harvest.

For those eager to journey into Snowdonia's rich history and Instagram-ready scenery, there's Lynott Tours' 5-day escorted Snowdonia Tour.  Climb atop the parapets of Caernarfon Castle, then venture on a 25-mile ride through the beautiful countryside on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland narrow-gauge steam railway.  The trip also visits the fantasy Italianate village of Portmeirion, and llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the railway station with the longest name in Britain. The program culminates in Llandudno, a charming Victorian seaside resort, known as the place where Lewis Carroll met Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland.

Tenon Tours' self-drive Game of Thrones-inspired tour of Wales explores the many historic sites that served as inspiration for the adventures of George R. R. Martin's complex world of Westeros. Visitors looking for a shorter jaunt can enjoy a city break with Tenon Tours in Cardiff or Llandudno that offers exciting day excursions to the new Bounce Below (the world's first underground trampoline park in a former slate mine) and Zip World (the longest and fastest zip line in the northern hemisphere) attractions near Llandudno, or a trip into a formerly working coal mind at the UNESCO World Heritage National Coal Museum outside of Cardiff. 

For train lovers, Lynott Tours offers an adventure like no other with its Great Little Trains of Wales tour, which includes authentic rides, historic narrow gauge steam rails like the famous Ffestiniog Railway from Blaenau to Porthmadog; the Welsh Highland Railway from Beddgelert to Caernarfon; and the Snowdon Mountain Railway that ascends to the highest peak south of the Scottish border.

Special Group Tours offers the ultimate girls' getaway on its Women Only Wales trip, an adventure that invites travelers to meet local women throughout the country. Meet the ladies of Abergavenny town for tea and learn about the group of 60 women who have worked together for over four years to weave a tapestry that tells the story of this historic market town.

SUGGESTED TWEET: .@VisitWales to host webinar on 12/10 at 2pm ET, discussing new tour lineup for 2016 'Year of Adventure' http://ow.ly/UYNt9

About Visit Wales:

Visit Wales is the New York-based government tourism office for Wales, one of four countries that make up the United Kingdom. A land with 641 castles, 870 miles of walkable coastline, three national parks and award-winning cuisine, Wales offers travelers a variety of activities and different landscapes to explore. The country's Celtic history and ancient language make it a distinctive British destination. For more information on Wales travel, visit www.visitwales.com/americas.

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Contact: Spring O'Brien

Ashlee White: (212) 402-1620 / ashleew@spring-obrien.com

Jennifer Reisfeld: (212) 402-1624/ jennifer@spring-obrien.com