From striking mountain scenery and villages nestled deep in the Dolomites and the rural charm of Japan's Toyama region to exclusive, VIP behind-the-scenes access to the Verona Opera Festival, tailor-made tour operator Audley Travel has expanded its offering in its programmes spanning the globe.

Audley prides itself on arranging authentic experiences for clients, which take them off-the-beaten-track to discover what a destination is truly like, and these new additions for 2025 are no different.

Japan – Toyama

New for 2025 is the region of Toyama, where Audley recommends clients spend two days to immerse themselves in its rural charm. On the northern coast of Honshu, and on the Golden Route, Toyama has views of the Tateyama Alpine range, distinctive 'dispersed settlement' rural landscapes, and strong craft traditions. It is the ideal choice for clients keen to stay on the Golden Route but visit something off-the-beaten-track along the way and interact with local people.

Audley will arrange for clients to discover Toyama's agricultural heritage while enjoying a farm-to-table lunch and learn about the arts and crafts of the region from local experts. They also visit the UNESCO-listed village of Gokayama as well as Kaminashi, a village known for preserving the Kokiriko folk song as well as offering a unique glimpse into Japan's ancient traditions (shaped by centuries of isolation due to its rugged geography and snowy climate). Audley recommends clients stay in a 120-year-old renovated folk-house, where they take part in a welcome tea ceremony and join a walking tour to explore the dispersed settlement.

An 11-day tailor-made trip to Central Japan includes a night in Toyama, as well as time in Tokyo, Matsumoto and Kyoto and costs from £5,395 per person (based on two travelling). The price includes flights, transfers, train tickets, accommodation and excursions. 01993 838210 / www.audleytravel.com/japan

Italy - lesser-visited Dolomites and VIP Verona Opera experiences

Audley is expanding its offering in the Dolomites for 2025, including villages and activities around the Sella Massive, plus Bolzano as an overnight location where the landscape is truly unique. Highlights of the itinerary include exploring the provincial capital of the South Tyrol, Bolzano and visiting the 'Man from the Ice' in the Archaeological Museum. Foodies will love meeting with a local beer expert to discover the beer scene of Bolzano (beer has been produced here for over 1,000 years) and visiting three of the region's eight craft beer breweries as well as visiting a traditional cheese workshop to learn about centuries-old cheesemaking techniques and creating a small wheel of cheese from fresh alpine milk amongst the stunning landscape of Seiser Alm.

A 10-day tailor-made Best of the Dolomites self-drive tour including stays in Verona, Bolzano, Val Gardena and Alta Badia costs from £5,995 per person (based on two sharing) and includes flights, vehicle hire, accommodation and privately guided excursions. 01993 838960 / www.audleytravel.com/italy

Also in Italy, Audley has developed a new VIP itinerary focusing on the Verona Opera Festival which takes place between June and September each year. Availability is limited to a very small number of visitors making for an exclusive experience for clients with a Michelin Star dinner on one of the oldest terraces in Verona, feeling the excitement of the performers before the opera begins and learning about the history of the theatre with an exclusive backstage pass and enjoying the best views in the house from the Royal Box for two performances.

A six-day tailor-made Verona Opera Festival trip to Italy costs from £5,495 per person (based on two sharing) and includes flights, private guided transfers, accommodation and privately guided excursions. 01993 838960 / www.audleytravel.com/italy

New Zealand – hiking the latest Great Walk

New for Audley in New Zealand is the Hump Ridge Track, which opened in October. This three-day loop walk takes hikers through a part of Fjordland not normally visited by tourists, travelling along the south coast of New Zealand, up to the Hump Ridge's sub-alpine zone, and over historic viaducts in the native forest. The Hump Ridge Track is the ideal choice for visitors to New Zealand who relish exploring away from the crowds but want to stay in comfortable facilities in the backcountry lodges – each in a unique stopping point along the walk. The walk can be taken independently or with a guide, and helicopter tours can be added for clients keen to see the scenery from a different vantage point.

A 21-day tailor-made trip to New Zealand, including the three-day Hump Ridge Track, costs from £8,550 per person (based on two sharing) and also includes time in Auckland, Coromandel, Rotorua, Wellington, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Mount Cook. The price includes flights, transfers, car hire, ferry crossing, accommodation and excursions. www.audleytravel.com/new-zealand.

Alex Bentley, Head of Product at Audley Travel said: “Taking inspiration from client requests, these new and ultra-authentic experiences in Italy, Japan and New Zealand have seen our destination experts pulling on their deep knowledge of their specialist countries. As well as exploring away from the crowds, offering something truly authentic can also mean having exclusive access or experiences that very few others get to see – the Verona Opera Festival itinerary delivers exactly this as it is super limited to a very small number of visitors.”

ENDS