New for 2024 from tailor-made specialist Audley Travel

Looking ahead to 2024 tailor-made specialist Audley Travel has further enhanced its programme, with the new additions focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism, and the chance to indulge in more luxury stays and incredible journeys. From the private island safari camps of Botswana to trekking the newly opened Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka, below is a round-up of the top highlights for 2024:

The Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka

The newly opened Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka is a fantastic way to explore the country’s varied landscapes. Beginning in the central city of Kandy, famous for The Temple of the Tooth and leading to Ella, Audley Travel is offering clients the opportunity to trek the most scenic parts of Sri Lanka via this 300 km route. With 22 stages (Audley is offering a selection of routes), all differing in distance and level of difficulty, it combines walking on the tea trails synonymous with the region, as well as through forest, jungle and remote towns and villages. Ten years in the making, The Pekoe Trail is the first collection of destination-based walking trails with the aim to support remote communities, promote its cultural heritage and showcase Sri Lankan scenery.

Highlights offered by Audley include:

• Nuwara Eliya is donned ‘Little England’ — 16 km, easy-moderate difficulty. Stay at Tafford Bungalow, Goatfell, Warwick Gardens, St Andrews, Heritance.
• Hatton is the Adam’s Peak Region with incredible lakes — 15 km, easy-moderate difficultly. Stay at Tea Trails Bungalows, Camelia Hills, Marinda Bungalows.
• Ella tells the story of Rawana and Ella Rock and the Nine Arch Bridge — 6 km, easy. Stay at 98 Acres, Nine skies, Mountain Heavens.

A 21-day tailor-made itinerary, including trekking part of The Pekoe Trail, costs from £6,160 per person (based on two sharing) and includes flights, transfers, excursions and accommodation. 01993 838335/www.audleytravel.com/sri-lanka.

Travesía by Explora, Chile

Audley has added Explora’s new Travesía journey to its Latin American programme for 2024. This journey across one of the remotest regions on the planet connects the Atacama Desert to the endless white of the Uyuni Salt Flat. Clients travel in a 4x4 with their own expert guide and local driver, staying in Explora’s lodge at Uyuni’s Salt Flat and Mountain Lodges that have been established in partnership with local families and designed to reduce the interference with the natural surrounding as much as possible, as well as highlighting the landscapes. The seven-day Travesía includes explorations in the three different altitude zones, with the schedule designed around the clients’ choices and preferences, with hiking, overland van trips and cycling available, as well as options to enjoy the night sky.

A 12-day tailor-made trip with Audley Travel costs from £13,500 per person (based on two travelling) and three nights in Santiago and six nights with Explora. The price includes international and domestic flights, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis in Santiago and fully inclusive with Explora. 01993 838640/www.audleytravel.com/Chile.

Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii

The Hawaiian word, Malama, means to take care. A sentiment that sits at the heart of Audley’s new tour at Kualoa Ranch where guests not only have the opportunity to learn about sustainable and regenerative farming practices, but also ‘give-back’ to the community by assisting with projects around the farm. This new experience teaches about Hawaiian culture, as well as sustainability and how the natural resources effect the Hawaiian ecosystem and has been certified by Audley’s new Responsible Choice criteria as being at the forefront of the sustainability journey. Activities will vary based on need, but guests may participate in anything from thatching traditional houses, to harvesting the local kalo (taro) crop.

A 17-day tailor-made trip to Hawaii with Audley Travel, including a stay in O’ahu and a visit to Kualoa Ranch, costs from £9,585 per person (based on two travelling). The price includes flights, car hire and accommodation well as excursions. 01993 838863/www.audleytravel.com/usa/hawaii.

New camps in Botswana

Botswana is the scene of a swathe of new luxury camp openings available to Audley clients.

Opening in May 2024, Tawana in the Moremi Game Reserve will combine luxurious suites and safari experiences with a contemporary camp setting, in a corner of Botswana known for its high population of wildlife including antelope, lions and leopards.

Great Plains’ recently opened Sitatunga Private Island Camp was designed to complement its waterside setting of the Okavango Delta and the nature that surrounds it, with the two-suite and one two-bedroom, private suite site providing an intimate, up close and personal five-star Botswana safari experience.

Atzaro Okavango from African Bush Camps opens in March 2024, offering sustainable luxury in the heart of the Delta. The eco-friendly property is made from recycled materials and powered entirely by solar energy. Guests stay in stylish air-condition suites with their own plunge pool and experience year-round sightings of iconic African wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, lechwe, and hippo.

Audley can arrange a 12-day tailor-made trip to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, with options to stay at each of the new camps:

• An itinerary including three nights at Tawana, three nights in The Khwai Private Reserve and three nights at Victoria Falls costs from £13,800 per person.
• An itinerary including three nights at Sitatunga Private Island, four nights in the Selinda Reserve and two nights in Victoria Falls costs from £12,500 per person.
• An itinerary including three nights at Atzaro Okavango, three nights in the Linyanti region and three nights at Victoria Falls costs from £10,500 per person.

Each price is based on two sharing and includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. 01993 838530/www.audleytravel.com/botswana.