New for 2021 from Audley Travel

Audley Travel continues to innovate and expand its offering to clients travelling to destinations around the world on its tailor-made trips. New additions for 2021 include the following:

Stay on a train suspended over the Sabie River in South Africa’s Kruger National Park

New in Kruger for 2021 is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ accommodation in a refurbished train permanently situated on the Selati Bridge over the Sabie River. Kruger Shalati, a nod to African excellence, celebrates the first visits to the national park back in the 1920s where the train would park overnight in the exact spot that the new property is positioned. It offers 31 luxury rooms — 24 carriage rooms and seven Bridge House rooms. Each of the glass-walled, large train rooms offer stunning views of the river.

The pool deck is aligned with the floor level of the train, high above the riverbank. Here, clients will enjoy the unique experience of the sight of crocodile, hippos, buffalo and elephants roaming below them, whilst they relax by the pool.

A 12-day itinerary costs from £6,995 per person (based on two sharing) and includes two nights at Kruger Shalati as well as time in Cape Town and Victoria Falls. Price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com/south-africa or call 01993 838550.

Stay on one of Lombok’s finest beaches

New for 2021 will be The Legian Sire on Lombok — the perfect option to escape the crowds in style. Situated on the 3.8 km Sire Beach, one of the island’s finest beaches, The Legion Sire will offer 45 suites and 15 pool villas with stunning views toward the Gili Islands.

The hotel’s wellness offering will include an Apothecary Bar, with locally inspired spa treatments using all-natural, organic ingredients including Lombok volcanic clay. The Wellness Gardens will grow all the ingredients used at the property’s restaurant.

The resort will offer two main pools and visitors will also be able to enjoy surfing, snorkelling, diving, trekking and hiking. Away from the hotel, clients will be able to explore Lombok’s beautiful mountain ranges and swim in the crystal-clear, calm sea.

A 15-day itinerary costs from £4,490 per person (based on two sharing) and includes seven nights at The Legian Sire as well as time at Wapa Di Ume Sidemen and Belmond Jimbaran Puri. Price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. For more information, please visit www.audleytravel.com/indonesia or call 01993 838110.

A twist on a Golden Triangle and tigers tour, away from the crowds

Audley has launched a new itinerary recommendation for 2021, giving clients the highlights of a Golden Triangle and tiger safari but coupling this with rural options that minimise time in the cities. Clients will stay in a number of Rajasthan’s rural properties, visit the Taj Mahal, discover the wildlife along the Chambal River and spot tigers on safari in Ranthambhore National Park.

Rural highlights include a stay at Patan Mahal, where guests can visit an 800-year-old fort on a hill and the ruins of Badal Mahal palace. In Samode, a part of Rajasthan that few venture to, clients will enjoy the luxury of staying in a palace. In Ramathra, clients will have the unique experience of staying in a 17th-century fort, sleeping in one of six tents or four stunning suites within the fort’s restored walls.

From Ramathra, clients visit the Chambal Sanctuary, a nature lovers paradise. Resident experts lead nature walks and clients exploring in the early evening have a good chance of seeing palm civet cats, foxes, jungle hares, fruit bats, hedgehogs and Indian striped hyenas. Other recommendations from Audley’s specialists include a river boat trip in search of the Gangetic dolphin and gharial and a visit to the medieval temple complex at Bateshwar on the river Yamuna to see more than a hundred temples dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva.

A 13-day itinerary ‘India’s Rural Golden Triangle’ costs from £3,365 per person (based on two sharing). Price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com/india or call 01993 838330.

New ships in the Polar regions

2021 sees the launch of three new ships sailing in the polar regions. Audley will be offering Polar Latitudes new ship in Antarctica, MS Seaventure. The ship has 1A super-ice class rating (the highest class awarded to passenger ships), which means the vessel will be able to explore coves, bays, and channels previously unreachable. It offers a sauna, fitness centre, custom-built citizen science lab and heated saltwater pool. Activities from the ship will include kayaking, snowshoeing and camping.

Audley will also be offering Quark Expeditions’ new ships — Ultramarine in the Arctic and Antarctica, and World Explorer in Antarctica. Ultramarine is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and offers a great portfolio of adventure activities, the most spacious suites and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships of its size. World Explorer offers six tiers of deluxe accommodation, with a private walk-out or French balcony for direct ocean views on every suite. The glass domed Observation Lounge is ideal for enjoying the full skyline views and there is a dedicated lecture theatre for presentations and discussions. Health and wellness facilities include an outdoor walking track, small gym and sauna and a spa. Adventure lovers can add on kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding to their cruise experience.

Sample itineraries start from £9,000 per person for a 15-day itinerary including nine nights on MS Seaventure, £12,000 per person for a 15-day itinerary including nine nights on Ultramarine and £11,000 per person for a 15-day itinerary including nine nights on World Explorer. Each price is based on two sharing and includes flights and transfers as well as hotel accommodation before and after the cruise. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com/polar-regions or call 01993 838615.

New hotel on Hvar, Croatia

A 2021 addition to Audley’s Croatia programme, which launched this summer, is the new Maslina Resort on the island of Hvar. Located in Maslinica Bay, near the UNESCO-protected town of Stari Grad, a historic city dating back to Ancient Greece/Roman days, the resort covers two hectares of lush pine forest with the Adriatic Sea on its boundary. Clients staying at the hotel will enjoy multiple pools and beach access, and the concierge can help arrange activities including kayaking, diving, rafting, sailing, snorkelling, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing and speedboat excursions. The region is ideal for trekking with hiking paths covering the island and passing olive trees, lavender fields and vineyards.

A 10-day itinerary costs from £4,500 per person (based on two sharing) and includes three nights at Maslina Resort as well as time in Split, Korčula and Dubrovnik. Price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. For more information please visit www.audleytravel.com/croatia or call 01993 838234.

Alex Bentley, Head of Product for Audley Travel, says: “We are delighted to be able to go into 2021 with so many new experiences, accommodation and itineraries for our clients. We know inspiration for a trip-of-a-lifetime is important for many people at the moment, to make up for the lack of travel in 2020, and we are confident the new additions to our programmes will provide exactly this.”