Tailor-made tour operator Rainbow Tours (www.rainbowtours.co.uk) has expanded operations beyond its core destinations of Africa and Latin America for the first time, introducing itineraries in four new countries - India, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Canada.

The move comes as the company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, re-positions itself more firmly as a specialist tour operator for wildlife and nature holidays with the release of a new Safari and Wildlife Guide highlighting incredible encounters with animals, birds and marine life.

“The majority of Rainbow Tours' business has always centred around wildlife holidays,” comments Jennifer Atkinson, CEO of ITC Travel Group, the parent company of Rainbow Tours. “Whether it's birding itineraries in Costa Rica or Peru; gorilla trekking and big five safaris in East or Southern Africa; or bespoke trips to experience Madagascar's unique natural assets; our team is highly knowledgeable and incredibly passionate about crafting trips on the trail of iconic and lesser-known species. Our expertise stretches beyond Africa and Latin America, so it's a natural progression for Rainbow Tours to introduce new destinations where clients can encounter amazing wildlife such as polar bears, orang-utans, tigers, whales and more.”

New Safari and Wildlife Guide

The newly-published Safari and Wildlife guide by Rainbow Tours contains 112 pages of inspiration and information which will steer travellers towards the right destination and trip for them. 

“Wildlife enthusiasts don't necessarily pick their country first when it comes to planning a trip,” explains Matt Rushbrooke, head of product at Rainbow Tours. “Some might begin with a more general aim – a key species or an experience they want incorporate, for instance - so those are the elements we've put at the heart of the new guide.” 

Contents include:

• A guide to the wildlife and landscapes visitors can expect in different African countries, along with the different types of safari available (hot air balloon, walking, horseback etc)
• A safari calendar outlining where to travel when and why
• Information on finding Africa's big five; experiencing the Great Migration; and Africa's top five alternative wildlife encounters - lemurs, Abyssinian wolves, gorillas, chimpanzees and humpback whales
• A guide to India's 'big five' and Borneo's orang-utan hotpots
• Information on wildlife in the Americas such as the jaguar, the tapir, the resplendent quetzal, the blue-footed booby, sea turtles, penguins, killer whales, spirit bears and grizzly bears amongst other species
• Editorial features by travel writer Ben Lerwill on Sri Lanka, Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the Galapagos and an extract about Kenya from Big Cat Man Jonathan Scott's book Sacred Nature
• Inspiration for twin-centre trips, celebrations and family holidays
• As a pioneer in responsible tourism, the guide also looks at projects Rainbow Tours supports in various countries and lists its top five trips where travellers can see responsible tourism in action

The Safari and Wildlife guide is available to view in digital format on the Rainbow Tours website here. Travellers, media and travel agents can also printed copies at www.rainbowtours.co.uk/brochure. 

New countries

Aside from a few group tours in selected destinations, trips offered by Rainbow Tours are tailor-made to the requirements of the individual traveller. The following is a selection of suggested itineraries in the new countries now available to book through the tour operator.

• India

Wildlife lovers may be lured to India in the hope of spotting tigers, but rhino, elephant swamp deer, leopards, sloth bears and wild buffalo are just some of the other species they might also encounter. Amongst the suggested itineraries in India are India Wildlife Experience: Pench & Satpura, a 12-day trip costing from £3,295 per person which explores Pench - the original inspiration for The Jungle Book – and Satpura National Park, one of India's lesser known reserves. India River Cruise is a 12-day trip costing from £2,995 per person, meandering down the Brahmaputra River, stopping at some of Assam's best wildlife reserves and parks.

 For the full range of India trips, see http://www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/india-holidays/

• Borneo

Borneo is incredibly rich in biodiversity. The island is estimated to be home to over 200 species of mammal, over 400 types of bird, 100 varieties of amphibians and almost 400 types of fish, many endemic to Borneo. Borneo's famous Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre is likely to be a stop for most visitors, who can learn about the work being done to rehabilitate orphaned and injured orang-utans before returning them to the wild. The Really Wild Tour Sakau and Danum Valley begins with a visit to Sepilok, before moving on to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary; the Danum Valley where visitors will take a night drive in search of nocturnal species; and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, which offers the chance to learn about the traditional uses of jungle herbs and take an early morning bird walk. This eight-day trip costs from £2,895 per person.

For more suggested Borneo itineraries, see http://www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/borneo-holidays/

• Sri Lanka

Wildlife holidays to Sri Lanka are richly rewarding – this tear-drop shaped island is home to animals including whales, crocodiles, leopards, monkeys, bears, elephants and a huge variety of birdlife. Off the Beaten Track Sri Lanka: Wildlife and Beach Tour is an 11-day trip taking in Gal Oya National Park, Yala National Park and the beautiful beaches of Tangalle. As well as enjoying the resident wildlife, this tour includes the chance to learn about the culture of the indigenous Vedda people on a discovery walk with their chief. This trip starts from £4,199 per person.

For more on Sri Lanka, see http://www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/sri-lanka-holidays/

• Canada

Canada's most popular wildlife experiences include subarctic adventures to see polar bears, arctic hares and foxes in their natural habitat; encounters with elk, wolves and bears in the Canadian Rockies; and enjoying marine life such as Orca and Grey whales. Rainbow Tours' options in Canada include Spirit Bears of British Columbia, going in search of the world's only white-coloured back bears in the Great Bear Rainforest (from £2,959 per person); and Polar Bears of Manitoba, which visits Churchill, one of the few places inhabited by humans where polar bears can be observed in the wild (from £4,999 per person). 

For further information on Canada, see http://www.rainbowtours.co.uk/country/canada-holidays/

To book any of the trips listed here, contact Rainbow Tours on 020 7666 1266 or see www.rainbowtours.co.uk for more information.

-Ends-

 For further information, please contact Kate Popham, Group Head of PR, ITC Travel Group on 020 7666 1259 or email kate@westernoriental.com