Custom tour operator Audley Travel, has grown its program for US clients to include new offerings in India, Tanzania, Japan, France and the UK, featuring history, trekking, wildlife tracking, new gateways and luxury rail available as part of custom itineraries.

India – bear tracking in the valleys of Dras

Clients of Audley can now view wildlife like never before in the valleys of Dras in Ladakh, India known as the "second coldest inhabited place in the world"– a new destination for 2025, that comes alive in an entirely different way during the summer months. 

As well as bird and bear tracking in the remote Himalayan village of Drenmo and Mushkow Valley, the most renowned bear country, the neighboring valleys of Pandrass, Goshan, and Mamel are equally rich in wildlife and pristine landscapes – prime destinations for an exciting sighting. Clients are also encouraged to explore the Mushkow Valley via a river walk or active hike led by a naturalist taking in the peaceful surroundings.

Whilst exploring the region on safari, clients can now stay at the boutique Drenmo Lodge - the first ever lodge in India offering an opportunity to see the Himalayan Brown Bear. With only six rooms and an outdoor dining deck over-looking the expansive valley, Drenmo has an experienced team of naturalists and trackers who bring in-depth knowledge of the surrounding valleys. A typical day at the lodge would include morning and evening wildlife viewing opportunities, including the Tibetan Wolf, Red Long Tail Marmot, and the Asiatic Ibex. 

A 14-day custom trip with Audley Travel including stays in Delhi, Nimmu, Uleytopko, Nurla, Leh, Nubra Valley and two nights staying at the Drenmo Lodge, costs from $8,800 per person (based on two traveling) and includes transfers, accommodations and excursions. 855 435 1768 / www.audleytravel.com/us/india

Tanzania – trekking the Great Rift Valley

A trek within the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania is available for Audley clients this year, who now have the opportunity to encounter the iconic pink flamingoes in the unique habitat of Lake Natron, can witness the Ngorongoro volcanoes and Empakai crater, and experience the stunning valley vistas during a walk with Maasai Warriors while learning about local tribes and customs.

Clients can expect to begin the trek at Empakai before descending into Empakai crater and taking a 10-mile hike down to Leonotis Camp. The surrounding Rift Valley is the perfect sundowner spot and highly recommended by Audley's specialists for the views alone. After camping underneath the stars and golden acacia trees, clients trek further down the Rift Valley before being privately transported to Lake Natron Camp. Here, they relax by the natural pool, have a well-deserved massage or take part in activities such as waterfall gorge hikes and flamingo walks.

 An eight-day custom trip with Audley Travel, including one night in Arusha, four nights for the Great Rift Valley Trek and two nights in Karatu costs from $8,742 per person (based on two traveling) and includes transfers, park fees, accommodations and excursions. 855 435 1768 / www.audleytravel.com/us/tanzania

Japan – new destination brings expansion of the Golden Route

Audley Travel has added Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture to its Japan offering. Nagoya's location in the center of the country, as well as its excellent transportation links (it has the world's largest railway hub), means it can be included in a traditional Japanese itinerary to expand the Golden Route, with the added benefit of breaking up the long journey between east and west Honshu.

Audley's Japan specialists say it is a great alternative to Takayama for those looking for “traditional Japan” with wooden houses in the mountains and canals running along the streets.

Nagoya has close connections to history's three most famous samurai (Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu) and is also home to the Great Shrine of Atsuta, which houses the legendary Kusanagi Sword (one of the nation's Three Sacred Treasures and Three Imperial Regalia).

Audley recommends clients stay for two or three nights, visiting the Arimatsu 'Old Town' District which was located along the ancient highway connecting Tokyo to Kyoto, and take a day trip to Ise (which is significant to Shintoism and has some of its most important shrines) or head to Inuyama to see one of the only remaining 12 original Japanese castles, Inuyama Castle.

A 12-day trip to Japan, including two nights in Nagoya as well as time in Kyoto, Kanazawa, Fukushima and Uno costs from $6,883 per person (based on two traveling) and includes transfers, train travel, accommodations and excursions. 855 435 1768 / www.audleytravel.com/japan /

France - medieval adventures

Audley has expanded its offering in France, with bespoke trips now available to the Basque country, Pyrenees and French Catalonia, just in time for Toulouse's spotlight as Lonely Planet's “Top City to Visit in 2025.” A new high-speed Renfe train connecting Barcelona, Costa Brava, Perpignan, Carcassonne, and Toulouse is scheduled to start operating this year, making travel from neighboring Spain easier for clients.

Audley has a number of new sample itineraries to showcase the region. A 10-day tour includes five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and hands-on experiences - from food tours and aerospace exhibits in Toulouse, to castle explorations in Carcassonne, the world's best-preserved medieval fortress.

Clients can also kayak, hike, or cycle along the Mediterranean in Collioure, a coastal Catalan town once beloved by Picasso and Matisse.

 Audley's experts recommend a 10-day custom Medieval France trip which costs from $7,930 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, excursions and accommodations. 855-435-1768 / www.audleytravel.com/us/france

UK – new exclusive rail experience with Belmond

Luxury rail travel is having a renaissance, and the recent launch of new Belmond Britannic Explorer is fueling the desire from US visitors to explore Britain in one of the most comfortable and charming ways. Clients of Audley can now perfectly pair a rail journey around Cornwall as part of a wider trip to the southwest of England, including the Cotswolds and Bath.

As the UK's first luxury sleeper train, described as a 'rolling country house', the landscapes of Britain can be viewed from the windowscapes and felt within the chic interiors too. The feeling of exclusivity continues thanks the 18 cabins or 'retreats', accommodating only 36 select guests.

Departing from London Victoria, the journey is the backdrop to the experience, where clients onboard the Cornwall-bound route get to gain access to the Tate Gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives, as well as sight-seeing from the comfort of their carriage. Michelin- starred cuisine will also punctuate the experience, from fine afternoon teas, to indulgent tasting menus.

An 11-day custom trip with Audley Travel, including rail travel on the new Belmond Britannic Explorer in Cornwall, costs from $22,595 per person (based on two traveling) and includes transfers, accommodations and excursions. 855 435 1768 / www.audleytravel.com/us/uk