New tours, new destinations and early bird savings. The internet may have changed the way travellers do their research, but brochures are still one of the best and popular ways to obtain travel information.
1. To Russia and beyond
Beyond Travel will take guests to new European destinations in 2015, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Available in the new Russia & Beyond 2015 brochure, the company’s marketing manager Bryce Crampton said the company has considered introducing Scandinavian tours for some-time.
“The demand from agents is strong and it’s a natural extension to our existing products in Finland, Russia and the Baltic States offering a one-stop shop for the region.”
Bryce Crampton, Beyond Travel marketing manager
New destinations can be found in the 10-day Fabulous Scandinavia itinerary departing from Copenhagen.
The tour takes guests to Oslo, Geilo, Bergen, Stalhem, Fagernes and Stockholm.
For train buffs, there’s also new first class and deluxe private train journeys as well as new small-group itineraries such as the 13-day The Trans-Mongolian from Beijing to Moscow or reverse.
2. Intrepid further into Asia
Adventure operator, Intrepid Travel has expended is Asia itineraries in 2015 to the Philippines, Burma, Cambodia and down the Silk Road.
A highlight of the new brochure is the eight-day Philippines Island Getaway, which includes a cruise to Puerto Princessa for snorkeling before island-hopping around the islands off El Nida. There’s also a jungle trek and lunch with a local tribe in Sabang.
Intrepid’s first Burma to Thailand itinerary travellers will experience the rarely visited town of Dawei and explore the surrounding islands.
The 14-day trip crosses into Thailand towards Kanchanaburi before ending the trip in Bangkok.
In Burma or Myanmar, guests will visit the holy site of Shwedagon Paya, see ancient stone carvings at Kawkune cave and visit Lombumni Garden and a Buddha meditation centre on Shampoo Island.
In Cambodia, travellers will have nine days to of exploring Angkor temples, kayaking, hiking to waterfalls and watching dolphins near Stung Teng.
The 12-day Silk Road itinerary from Beijing to Kashgar retraces the ancient trade route.
A highlight of the trip is the Zhangye’s picture-perfect danxia landscapes in this region’s renowned geological park, where millions of years of erosion have created phenomenal rocky formations made up of many earthy colours, giving the illusion of a painting. The trip also takes in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, Kashgar’s Sunday Bazaar and the Maijishan Grottoes.
3. Travelmarvel cruises the Kimberley
Travelmarvel will take guests to the Top End and Kimberley next year aboard 25-suite Coral Princess.
Two departure dates have been added to the new Travelmarvel Western Australia 2015/16 brochure – the 23-day Top End and Kimberley Coast Cruise and the 31-day West Coast Discovery and Kimberley Coast Cruise.
Both itineraries include a ten-night cruise aboard the ship taking guests to King Cascades and King George Falls.
Along the way, travellers will see ancient aboriginal art, secluded coves, a gourmet beach barbeque and the Horizontal Falls.
In addition to cruising, land tours in 2015 feature new accommodation and sightseeing.
For example, during the 16- and- 18-day West Coast Adventure travellers will spend two nights at the Oaks Cable Beach in Broome and the Kununurra Country Club.
4. Aloha Infinity
Infinity is making it easier for agents to choose the right itinerary for their clients, with three new genre sections – Young & Fun; Something Special; and Family Recipe – in its new 2015/16 Hawaii brochure.
The Young & Fun section features short itineraries on each island. There’s also recommendations for tours offering surf lessons, snorkeling and biking.
Family Recipes has itineraries ranging from four- to- seven-nights and recommends a Hawaii volcano tour and helicopter adventures.
Hitting the shelves on 12 December, the brochure will include a page of myTime packages that focus on the company’s great deals.
It will also have sections for cruises and car hire.
5. New tour to Peloponnese
Peter Sommer Travels has announced a new archaeological tour through one of the richest regions of mainland Greece, the spectacular Peloponnese peninsula.
The 15-day expedition, Exploring the Peloponnese, departs in June 2015 and takes travellers from the Neolithic and Bronze-Age civilisations to the rise of the Classical Greeks and Romans, the spread of Christianity, the riches of the Byzantine Empire, the might of the Ottoman Empire and the Greek War of Independence.
Beginning in Athens, the expedition is hosted by expert guides Heinrich Hall and Nota Karamaouna, both archaeologists and historians with extensive careers in the ancient worlds of Greece and Turkey.
The tour takes in several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Bronze Age fortifications of Mycenae, the Classical splendours of Olympia and the peaceful serenity of Byzantine Mystras. Guests will also have a chance to venture far off the beaten tracks to discover remote wonders like mountainous Arcadia with its perched villages and gorge-side monasteries, and the Mani Peninsula with its wild landscape and traditional architecture.