Where will 2024 take you? If you have not started planning yet, World Expeditions and its two European brands, UTracks and Walkers' Britain, choose below 24 of the top brand new adventures kicking off in the coming months…

NEW ADVENTURES CLOSE TO HOME

NEW! Isle of Arran Coastal Way: From smuggler caves to iron-age stone circles, no two days are the same on this new walking trip from Walkers' Britain. The most accessible island on Scotland's West Coast, the Isle of Arran is also known as 'Scotland in Miniature': over a week you will experience classic Highlands and Lowlands scenery, hairy coos and sheep, scenic waterfalls and white sand beaches, as well as locally brewed whisky and traditional haggis.

NEW! Great Glen Cycle: From Ben Nevis, Britain's highest peak, to Scotland's northernmost city, Walkers' Britain launches a new epic ride in 2024: the Great Glen Cycle Way. It largely follows the walking course of the Great Glen Way National Trail (but with a different route around Loch Oich to the walkers) that starts at Fort William, continues along the shores of the famous Loch Ness and finishes at Inverness, the so-called 'Capital of the Highlands'.

NEW! Highlights of the Coast to Coast Walk: Walkers' Britain launches a distilled version of Wainwright's celebrated walk that will have you crossing Britain under your own steam over 12 days. The popularity of the Coast to Coast is on the rise, having recently become England's newest National Trail and with 2023 marking its 50th anniversary; with a series of path upgrades due for completion in 2025, walk the trail before even more people discover it. 

NEW! South West Coastal Path: Westward Ho! to Padstow: New for 2024, Walkers' Britain adds more options to walk Britain's longest official National Trail. Considered by many as the toughest section, but also one of the most spectacular, it crosses through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as it ventures from Devon into Cornwall – from Westward Ho! (England's only place with an exclamation point in its name) to the seaside town of Padstow. 

 

ACTIVE EUROPE

NEW! Walking the Côte d'Azur & Golden Isles: It may have been made famous by painters and film stars who have succumbed to its light and the dazzling beauty of its shores but the Côte d'Azur still harbours some hidden treasures. On this new trip from Walkers' Britain, you will discover the quiet, unspoilt part of the French Riviera, an area that is a real paradise for nature lovers and hikers, including France's smallest National Park, Port Cros.

NEW! Pisa to Florence via Chianti Cycle: A new weeklong cycling trip with UTracks through the classic Tuscan landscape: rolling hills interspersed with verdant vineyards and cypress trees lining the roads. From Pisa and its world famous leaning tower, pass through medieval San Gimignano and Siena, along a route of lush vineyards in Chianti all the way to Florence, the cradle of Renaissance.

NEW! Tulip Cycle: Plan the perfect 'flower escape' to Europe in 2024 with UTracks on this new trip through Holland's fields when the tulips are in bloom, designed to maximise the chances of viewing the world-famous flowers while enjoying cycling past classic Dutch scenes. By the time spring is in full swing, the country's tulip fields resemble a colourful patchwork, which you can see up close the way Dutch people do… by bike!

NEW! Cycle Vienna to Graz: Every turn of the pedal reveals a new chapter in Austria's captivating tapestry of history, culture and culinary wonders on this new trip with UTracks. From enchanting capital Vienna, the route takes you through charming villages, lush meadows, orchards and vineyards, green forest slopes and rejuvenating thermal spas to UNESCO-protected Graz, Austria's second largest city and one of its best-kept secrets.

 

NEW BORDERS

NEW! Secrets of Melanesia: Sail with World Expeditions into a world of idyllic islands and isolated villages that few have experienced and where unique, time-honoured traditions and elaborately costumed dancers will welcome you into their homelands. Explore coral-fringed beaches, snorkel at the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, visit islands where the traditional currency is 'shell money', with one last stop at Vanuatu, which has more than 100 indigenous languages.

NEW! Nepal Damodar Exploratory Trek with Simon Yates: Seldom visited Damodar, close to the Tibetan border, is one of Nepal's true last frontiers, where rugged landscapes and ancient culture merge. Led by internationally acclaimed mountaineer Simon Yates, on this new trek with World Expeditions you will explore the glaciers in the heart of this high altitude region, discover the sacred lakes of Damodar and visit Lo Manthang, the capital of Mustang. 

NEW! Birding Down Under: A new specialist cruise with World Expeditions that takes you to the tempestuous latitudes of the Roaring Forties and the Furious Fifties, a zone that hosts the most diverse collection of seabirds on earth. With over 40 species, more than 10 per cent of the entire world's seabird population, breeding here, most islands are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites and are afforded the highest conservation status and protection.

NEW! Undiscovered Philippines & Indonesia: The archipelagos of the Philippines and Indonesia offer travellers a plethora of undiscovered islands; escaping the tourist boom due to their hard-to-reach locations, they are perfect for exploration by expedition ship. Highlights of the 15-day itinerary with World Expeditions include snorkelling the pristine reef at Ticao Island and searching for the smallest primate in the world, the saucer-eyed Tarsier.

 

UNIQUE SOFT ADVENTURES

NEW! Panama Active Explorer: Most people's experience of Panama is on a cruise travelling the Panama Canal; for a more authentic and immersive journey, this new soft adventure with World Expeditions combines winter sun with experiences such as hiking the historic cobblestoned Camino de Cruces trail, swimming in the pools of scenic jungle waterfalls and travelling by a dugout canoe to an indigenous village.

NEW! Cycle Southern Taiwan: Experience the beauty of Taroko Gorge and venture on two wheels into the picturesque East Rift Valley, known as Taiwan's 'rice bowl'. Surrounded by lush landscapes, on this new trip with World Expeditions you will pedal through tropical hills with colourful butterflies and take in stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you can relax in invigorating hot springs or refreshing cold springs… your choice!

NEW! Jordan Hike & Bike: Jordan is one of those destinations that will always attract travellers thanks to its fascinating mix of history and scenery – although it is only a short flight away, it feels like a world away! This new multi-activity adventure with World Expeditions combines hiking in the Red Rose City of Petra and the stark Wadi Rum desert with two days cycling the Jordan Bike Trail, including the epic ride to 'Little Petra'. 

NEW! Land Of Fire Trek: Living Maya culture is everywhere in Guatemala and on this new trip with World Expeditions you will experience friendly communities and pass through a variety of landscapes, from coffee fincas to cloud forests. Guatemala is often described as the 'Land of Fire', with 37 volcanoes; three of them are active and this trip visits two of them (from a suitable, safe distance!). 

 

TAKE TO THE MOUNTAINS

NEW! Mallory and Irvine Memorial Expedition to Sikkim with Rebecca Stephens: 100 years ago, the journey to Everest was completely 'off the map'; with 2024 marking the centennial of the demise of Mallory and Irvine, Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Everest, heads to Sikkim with World Expeditions for a memorial trek that goes through the forests, tea plantations and historic sites where climbers in the 1920s ventured en route to the world's highest peak. 

NEW! Ladakh Mountain Biking Adventure: Ride across the heart of Ladakh on this new exhilarating cycle with World Expeditions along some of the world's highest roads. After acclimatising in Leh, you will head east along a former trade route to the ancient monastery of Lamayuru, before following the course of the Indus River as it flows from Tibet and reaching the salt lake at Tso Kar, a migration hotspot for the rare black neck crane.

NEW! Snowman Trek with Victor Saunders: Renowned British mountaineer and former chair of the Alpine Club Victor Saunders heads to Bhutan with World Expeditions for one of the world's most challenging yet rewarding treks: the Snowman Trek, undertaken by only a handful of trekkers each season, accesses Lunana, Bhutan's most remote region, where tiny Buddhist monasteries and secluded villages remain isolated for many months of the year.

NEW! Highlights of the Tour du Mont Blanc in Comfort: The classic Tour du Mont Blanc route takes two weeks to complete and accommodation is often available only in dormitories, however a new shorter and more comfortable tour with Walkers' Britain makes it accessible to even more travellers: developed in response to customer feedback, it ticks off the main highlights over 8 days, with overnights in comfortable hotels.

 

OLD FAVOURITES, NEW TRIPS

NEW! USA: Coastal Maine by Bike: Explore quaint towns and beautiful coastal villages with World Expeditions on a new, self-guided cycling trip along the coast of Maine, which is dressed up with 65 lighthouses. From stunning bays and hidden coves to the unique Acadia National Park, your holiday on the coast would not be complete without sampling delicacies such as freshly caught lobster, smoked salmon, fresh blueberries and 'whoopee pies'.

NEW! JAPAN: Shikoku Pilgrim Hike: With Kumano Kodo rising in popularity, World Expeditions launches a new pilgrim hike in Japan's lesser known Shikoku island. Famous for its 750-mile pilgrimage route, the self-guided trip takes in the most picturesque temples, shrines and scenery. Shikoku maintains an isolated, unspoilt nature, as it was not linked by road to Honshu, Japan's largest island, until 1988. 

NEW! AUSTRALIA: Larapinta Highlights: In response to demand for more options on the iconic Larapinta Trail in Australia's Red Centre, World Expeditions adds a shorter option in 2024. Completely encapsulated by the rugged beauty of the Australian desert, you will walk the highlights of the trail, pass over remote ridges and canyons, experience wilderness camping under the stars and view a spectacular sunrise from the top of Mount Sonder.

NEW! NEW ZEALAND: Best of New Zealand: Take to the water to discover the best the 'Land of the Long White Cloud' has to offer on this epic new cruise with World Expeditions. Featuring one of longest coastlines in the world, explore its spectacular natural assets and find out more about its fascinating history, from the first Polynesian arrivals through European settlement, early sealing and whaling and world leading conservation efforts.

 

For more information and bookings please contact:

World Expeditions: www.worldexpeditions.com, 0800 0744 135/+44 (0) 20 8875 5060 | UTracks: www.utracks.com, 0800 0744 135/+44 (0) 20 8875 5069 | Walkers' Britain: www.walkersbritain.co.uk, 0800 008 7741/+44 (0) 20 8875 5070

* Travel to the starting point and from the finishing point of each trip not included in trip prices *

- Ends -

PR/media contacts:

World Expeditions | UTracks | Walkers' Britain

020 8875 5060

Tom Panagos pr@worldexpeditions.co.uk

Gordon Steer gordon@worldexpeditions.co.uk

Notes for editors:

• One of the very first operators in what has now become a very popular area in travel, since its inception in 1975 World Expeditions has earned itself an outstanding reputation as a world leader in small group adventure holidays and cultural journeys.

• World Expeditions remains independently owned and a truly global company, with seven offices around the world, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

• The two factors that distinguish World Expeditions from its competitors, the number of inclusions and the exceptional value of its trips, can be found today in nearly 500 stand-alone itineraries across all continents, escorted by expert leaders and meticulously designed for those travellers who want to 'take the paths less travelled'. 

• Always innovative, it was, among others, the first operator to offer cycling holidays in India (1977), China (1978) and Vietnam (1990) and trekking trips in Mongolia (1980), Tibet (1981) and Japan (1999). As of 2011 World Expeditions is the only commercial company to offer the Full Nepal Traverse of the newly mapped Great Himalaya Trail. 

• An advocate of thoughtful, responsible travel, World Expeditions operates permanent, exclusive eco-campsites, designed to increase travellers' comfort levels, in the Himalaya (Everest, Annapurna) and Australia's Red Centre.

• The European division of World Expeditions, activity holiday specialists UTracks and Walkers' Britain, cover over 35 countries across the British Isles and the continent, with more than 400 stand-alone itineraries, from short four-day breaks to longer, month-long itineraries.

• The World Expeditions Travel Group consists of 16 travel brands in total, also including Adventure South, Australian Walking Holidays, Great Canadian Trails, Great Walks of New Zealand and North America Active.