Artisan Travel unveils new exciting destinations and experiences for 2015
(TRAVPR.COM) UK - February 9th, 2015 - Do you consider yourself an escapist, free-spirit, gentle explorer or authentic experiencer? Whatever type of traveller, Artisan Travel has it covered with its brand-new range of exciting, hand-crafted holidays.
Spanning 12 different countries and packed with a diverse range of activities, each itinerary has been designed to suit the individual, working closely with local partners to ensure that each person has the holiday experience they desire for each destination…
WIDE OPEN SPACES
These less-trodden and incredibly remote places offer some of the best travel experiences around. Get your fill of open spaces by zooming across an unending arctic panorama of snow-covered forest trails and vast frozen lakes on your own snowmobile in Scandinavia, fly in a sea plane across Alaska’s mountains and windswept tundra, or escape deep into the wilderness, far from towns (and light pollution) to hunt the Midnight Sun.
SAMPLE TRIP: Sail into the unknown in Iceland
Based on the MS Ocean Diamond, a brilliant super yacht that has been specially designed to function in icy waters, the Iceland Circumnavigationtour gives the best opportunity to reach areas often inaccessible to bigger ships on traditional cruise routes. Beginning and ending in Reykjavik, the most northerly capital in the world, you’ll stop in tiny fishing villages, see islands rich in wildlife and visit the fascinating volcanic archipelago off the south coast of Iceland. Nine nights from £1,475 pp*
GASTRONOMY AND WINE
What better way to get to know the people, culture and history of a destination than through your stomach? Food and wine therefore has a place in most of Artisan Travel’s new itineraries, with plenty of foodie opportunities, including sampling traditional local dishes, such as cured shark and singed sheep’s head in Iceland, foraging with a local chef in Malta and rediscovering reinvented Swedish classics, known as husmanskost.
SAMPLE TRIP: The gastronomic soul of Portugal, the Alentejo
Enjoy this spectacular region at your pleasure on this self-drive trip,Discovering the Alentejo from A to Z. Travel along the pretty, jagged coastline and along wide, empty roads surrounded by countryside with cork oak trees and grazing black pigs. As the poorest region in Portugal, the people of Alentejo have learnt to make the most of local, fresh and seasonal produce. Discover the many uses of bread, such as migas (bread, water and coriander, fried in pork dripping), or blended with fish to form açorda soup. Try traditional recipes using game, black pork and fresh seafood. Sample local grape varieties at nearby wineries, and interesting liqueurs made from herbs and nuts, and learn about using the humble sweet potato in the Moorish village of Alijezur. Seven nights from £1,075 pp*
THE NATURAL WORLD
Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and travel to the wild and quiet surroundings of one of these ‘Natural World’ tours. Designed to whisk you away from noise and stress, these trips include wonderfully-peaceful experiences, from husky sledding – a remarkably quiet activity once the excited dogs settle into their rhythmic run – in Finland, Sweden and Norway, to journeys through sparsely-populated and vast landscapes in Greenland and Iceland.
SAMPLE TRIP: Husky sledding adventure, Norway
Husky sledding into the soundless white wilderness is superb and the silence allows you to really take in your incredible surroundings, with the deep snow in this region serving to soften all exterior noise. On the Karasjok – Husky Safari to Alta, you’ll be led by a team of eager huskies over four consecutive days, some of which will be in the company of Sven Engholm (a world renowned dog musher and 11-time winner of the Finnmarksløpet, Europe's longest dog sled race). To complement this authentic adventure, you’ll stay in remote cabins, in a traditional husky farm in Karasjok, and in your own snow room at Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. Six nights from £3,058 pp*
DO IT YOUR WAY
If you prefer some independence on your holiday, Artisan Travel offers several self-drive tours aimed to provide the freedom and time to set your own itinerary. Get behind the wheel in Iceland, Norway, Portugal and Alaska, or even explore on foot on a self-guided walking holiday in Corsica.
SAMPLE TRIP: Self-drive in wild Alaska
Journey through mountain passes and along coastal inlets, spotting bald eagles, whales, moose and bear along the way, on the self-drive Alaskan Safari Adventure. As part of the trip you’ll visit the most renowned national park on the planet, Denali (which has unveiled a brand-new nature trail for 2015). Here you’ll have time to explore the towering, jagged mountains and the gigantic Mount McKinley, surrounded by numerous glaciers, on foot, by helicopter, float plane or dog sled. Ten nights from £1,997 pp*
GET ACTIVE
Blow away the cobwebs on one of these new action-packed adventures. Go rock climbing in Malta with a professional photographer, enjoy a midnight sun kayaking trip in Norway, go snorkelling to the hidden cave beach of Betina in Croatia or bike through the Peloponnese’s archaeological sites in Greece.
SAMPLE TRIP: Get healthy in Gozo, Malta
Kick-start spring resolutions on this Gozo well-being weekend. Swap over-indulgence for four days filled with healthy eating, beach bootcamps and activities. Pack in fat-busting exercise and fun beach workouts with bike rides along craggy cliffs and sea kayaking. Learn top tips for weight loss, strengthen your core with abdominal training, hike through the beautiful Gozitan countryside and rock climb along the coast. Four nights from £1,075 pp*
BEHIND THE CAMERA LENS
Crafted with local and expert photographers, these photography tours are designed to enable you to enjoy exceptional experiences whilst being tutored in some specialist techniques. Whether you’re exploring the Arctic wilderness, attempting to snap the Northern Lights or the Midnight Sun or finding postcard-worthy moments along the ancient streets of a Maltese city, there are endless photo-ready opportunities to suit any budding photographer.
SAMPLE TRIP: Photograph the Midnight sun, Finland
Regardless of the season, Nellim is a very picturesque location…and a photographer's dream. Due to its location, in the early summer it is bathed in daylight 24 hours a day and the wonder of the Midnight Sun provides photographers with a unique light in which to shoot. With a local photography guide to accompany you, the Midnight sun photography and the wilderness of Nellim tour will help you capture the best parts of Lapland in the summer. Three nights from £895 pp*
* For trip inclusions, please see the direct page link to Artisan Travel’s website (www.artisantravel.co.uk) for each holiday listed.
To book, or to learn more, please call an Artisan Travel expert on call 01670 785085 or visit www.artisantravel.co.uk
ENDS – 9 February 2015
Note to editors: Artisan Travel provides unique, hand-crafted holidays which marry expertise and local knowledge to provide unforgettable experiences for adults from an independent and trusted operator. It is a sister company to Activities Abroad (family-friendly holidays) and The Aurora Zone (specialist in trips to see the Northern Lights).
Press: Formore information, quotes or to discuss a press trip, please contact Laura Manning or Paul Bondsfield at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or l.manning@travelpr.co.uk or p.bondsfield@travelpr.co.uk.
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