If your brain is as fuzzy as ours on this dreary Monday, this wholesaler wrap should whip you back into shape in no time.

Chase the sun with Explore 

Explore has launched its ‘Chase the Sun’ summer sale offering savings of $200pp on a selection of trips departing between June and October 2019. Choose from snorkelling with colourful fish in the warm, clear waters of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, exploring the unique towns in the ‘heel of Italy’ or discovering Andalucía’s Moorish architecture on foot.

The ‘Chase the Sun’ offer can also be combined with Explore’s loyalty discount saving up to an additional 10% and with Explore’s price promise, once the booking is confirmed Explore guarantee the price won’t increase, whatever the circumstances.

Book before 24 April 2019 and quote ‘Chase the Sun’ to lock in your next adventure with Explore. *Terms and Conditions apply

Intrepid heralds new era of expedition travel 

Raja Ampat’s Wayag (credit: Andre Djohan)

Intrepid Travel has released its latest range of expeditions which cater to the most adventurous traveller looking for the ultimate off-the-beaten-track trip in the most far-flung destination, or a different take on an old favourite.

With 17 new trips added, Intrepid Travel’s Expedition range has grown 167 per cent this year, and the latest itineraries are paving the way for a new era of expedition travel.

An analysis of Intrepid’s current expedition tours shows that today’s quintessential expeditioner is a female (79 per cent) solo traveller (64 per cent) aged in her 60s (23 per cent). This data also prompted Intrepid to release a new series of Women’s Expeditions on International Women’s Day this year.

Among the new expeditions on offer are trips to West Papua, the far west of Mongolia and the outer lying islands of the Solomons.

Record number of Australian visitors to Jordan

Boutique destination specialist, Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre (GMTC) is on track to achieve another record year for Australian visitors travelling to Jordan.

The company has reported a 38 per cent increase in travel bookings to Jordan already this year, compared to 2018.

Additionally there was an increase of over 100 per cent in turnover of bookings from 2017 to 2018.

GMTC has been selling travel to Jordan for more than 10 years, and stands as the only Australian operator to produce a dedicated brochure for this Middle Eastern country.

The 2019 GMTC Jordan brochure is packed with 28 pages of private tour itineraries, ranging from one to 13 days.

Tour programs operate daily, are guaranteed and include transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver and a local guide in Petra. GMTC guests can also choose their style of accommodation from three to five-star properties.

Exclusive Tali Wiru dinner opens for 2019 season

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort’s exclusive evening dining experience in the desert, Tali Wiru, (meaning beautiful dune in local Pitjantjatjara) opens for its sixth season on 1st April 2019 featuring some of the most innovative uses of local Bush Tucker in Australia.

The award-winning gastronomic experience offers a magical evening of fine dining on a remote sand dune overlooking Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta.

Tali Wiru is a four-hour experience where guests enjoy Champagne and canapés while watching the sunset over Uluru accompanied by the sounds of a digeridoo.

Tali Wiru runs daily until 15 October 2019 and is limited to just 20 guests each evening.  Priced at $375 pp fully inclusive of return hotel transport, table d’hote menu, matched wines and entertainment. As an added bonus, guests also receive a Pass to the stunning Field of Light, Uluru installation to use during their stay at Ayers Rock Resort.

Guests can also choose to arrive in style by helicopter for their Tali Wiru experience. At $795 pp, Tali Wiru by Heli includes a half hour helicopter tour taking in Uluru and Kata Tjuta before the exceptional dining experience commences.

Top deals from Intrepid Travel

Save $481 on Intrepid Travel’s 10 day Ecuador: Raft, Hike & Bike departing 5 May 2019.

Now $1,444 per person – was $1,925 per person in a twin share room – a saving of $481 per person.

Raft, hike and bike through Ecuador for an intimate South American experience. On this trip, travellers will hike from the lake of Quilotoa to the small Andean village of Chugchilan, white water raft on a main tributary of the Amazon River and enjoy free time in Banos. Highlights of this trip include mountain biking down the world’s highest active volcano in Cotopaxi National Park and exploring Quito’s World Heritage-listed Old Town.

Inclusions: Accommodation, transport, some meals and activities.

Save $366 on Intrepid Travel’s 12 day Best of El Salvador departing 20 April 2019.

Now $1,099 per person – was $1,465 per person in a twin share room – a saving of $366 per person.

On this trip, travellers will enjoy the relaxed beachside vibe of El Tunco, ride along the Ruta de las Flores, have lazy days swinging in a hammock and taking a stroll through Suchitoto’s cobbled streets. Highlights include a guided tour through the Ruta de las flores, exploring the surf hub of El Tunco and experiencing the ruins at the nature reserves of Ahuachapan.

Inclusions: Accommodation, transport, some meals and activities.

Save $582 on Intrepid Travel’s 12 day Hoi An to Hanoi departing 20 April 2019.

Now $1,748 per person – was $2,330 per person in a twin share room – a saving of $582 per person.

Beyond Hoi An and Hue, there’s more to see in Central Vietnam. On this trip, travellers will cruise around emerald karsts off the coast of Cat Ba Island and learn the ways and history of the ethnic Co Tu people during an overnight stay at the highland village of Bho Hoong. Other highlights include a two-day journey through the enormous caves and subterranean rivers of Tu Lan Cave system and Phong Nha. The trip will also take in Hoi An’s famous shopping, food and a tour of Hue on motorbike or dragon boat.

Inclusions: Accommodation, transport, some meals and activities.

Save $453 on Intrepid Travel’s eight-day Cycle the Balkans departing 20 April 2019.

Now $1,362 per person – was $1,815 in a twin share room – a saving of $453 per person.

Cycle through Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro to explore these fascinating Balkan Nations that are rich in history and culture. On this trip, travellers will cycle through some of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes, including the historic Austro-Hungarian rail trail. Highlights of this trip include a guided tour Sarajevo to learn about its recent history as a city under siege and watching Mostar’s famous bridge divers.

Inclusions: Accommodation, transport, some meals and activities.

10 per cent discount on Back-Roads Touring

Back-Roads Touring is offering discounts of 10 per cent on select European tours departing in June and July 2019, making now a better time than ever to secure the trip of a lifetime.

The discounted tours are available only while spaces last until 4 April 2019 and include Back-Roads traveller favourites such as Highlights of Britain, Italian Indulgence and Tuscan Treats, which are widely popular for their unique experiences and hand-picked boutique accommodation.

Back-Roads Touring General Manager – global sales, David Gendle said these last-minute discounts won’t last long and encourages customers to take full advantage of the offer and book their UK or European Summer escape before time runs out.

Rainforest Expeditions celebrates 30 years of eco-tourism

Rainforest Expeditions is this year celebrating its 30th anniversay working at the forefront of the tourism and conservation movement in the Amazon.

Since being founded in 1989 by Eduardo Nycander and Kurt Holle, the Peruvian company behind the wildlife lodges Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Centre has been one of the pioneers of sustainable tourism in Peru.

The lodges welcome visitors who are not tourists but active explorers, guests whose visits help to generate a positive impact on the amazing Amazon, the lungs of the planet, as well as provide support for local communities.

To celebrate 30 years in the industry, Rainforest Expeditions will be honouring the national and international personalities who have helped to disseminate the company’s mission to protect the jungle through eco-tourism.

Nycander and Holle were some of the first operators to bet on sustainable tourism and responsible travel in the Peruvian Amazon.