New for 2024 from custom travel specialist Audley Travel

Looking ahead to 2024 custom travel specialist Audley Travel has further enhanced its program, with the new additions focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism, and the chance to indulge in more luxury stays.

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 186 mile 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’ — 10 mile, easy-moderate difficulty. Stay at Tafford Bungalow, Goatfell, Warwick Gardens, St Andrews, Heritance.
• Hatton is the Adam’s Peak Region with incredible lakes — 9 mile, 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 — 4 mile, easy. Stay at 98 Acres, Nine skies, Mountain Heavens.

A 20-day bespoke itinerary, including trekking part of The Pekoe Trail, costs from $6,750 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, excursions and accommodation. 855-435-1768/www.audleytravel.com/us/sri-lanka.

Travesía by Explora, Chile

Audley has added Explora’s new Travesía journey to its Latin American program 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 Uyani’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 10-day bespoke trip with Audley Travel costs from $16,200 per person (based on two traveling) and three nights in Santiago and six nights with Explora. The price includes domestic flights, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis in Santiago and fully inclusive with Explora. 855-435-1768/www.audleytravel.com/us/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 16-day bespoke trip to Hawaii with Audley Travel, including a stay in O’ahu and a visit to Kualoa Ranch, costs from $9,815 per person (based on two traveling). The price includes car hire and accommodation as well as excursions. 855-435-1768/www.audleytravel.com/us/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-conditioned 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 10-day bespoke 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 $19,100 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 $17,950 per person.
• An itinerary including three nights at Atzaro Okavango, three nights in the Linyanti region and three nights at Victoria Falls costs from $15,800 per person.

Each price is based on two sharing and includes domestic flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. 855-435-1768/www.audleytravel.com/us/botswana.