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Original Travel

Life is in the detail: we specialise in luxury travel and tailor made holidays that are imaginative and ideas-driven
Visit us: www.originaltravel.co.uk

Wondering why you should choose us? We're all about enriching life's narrative. To find out how, click here: www.originaltravel.co.uk/why-choose-us

12/09/2024

When clients come back to us time and again, we know we're doing something (lots of things) right. So, what are you waiting for? Get us on your speed dial too!

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10/09/2024

"The slopes around the village swell out in sage-green folds and its houses come with cherry trees, log piles and hand-tied grapevines. Every so often, a pothole-dodging car or horse-drawn cart winds along the road, stirring dogs from their slumber."⁠
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Last year we sent the wonderful writer, to Romania (all the way by train!) for a feature. Ben travelled from remote villages, down winding country roads to the bison-ranging forest of the Fagaras Mountains and even climbed the 2,300-metre summit of Berevoescu. It was quite the adventure. ⁠
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We were so chuffed to hear that Ben's spectacular story has been shortlisted for National Consumer Feature of the Year at the 10th . We're very excited for him and wish him all the luck for the win! ⁠
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Want to read the nominated article in full? Check out our link-in-bio for a read. ⁠

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06/09/2024

Out of office mode switched on. ⁠
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Finding tranquillity in South Africa by . Connect with serenity on your own trip by clicking the link in our bio 💙⁠
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05/09/2024

We have some very exciting news and you, our lovely followers, are the first to see an exclusive sneak peek!

"‘This is the best thing I’ve ever done,’ whispers Milo, ‘I’m going to make lots of money and use it to come back here.’ And just like that, a conservationist adventurer is born.'"⁠

With each new Original Travel publication, we are excited to share more incredible stories from our talented in-house writers, as well as some of our favourite travel journalists.

This edition features a beautiful piece from capturing her family's incredible experience at . We're also fortunate to work with exceptionally gifted photographers, including these breathtaking images from , , and .

Keep an eye out next week as we reveal how you can get your hands on our latest publication, where you can read Stephanie's story in full 👀⁠

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04/09/2024

What's that coming over the horizon?

It's a bird? It's a plane? Or perhaps, some exciting news from Original Travel...

Keep your eyes peeled! Big spoilers for OT's newest publication coming up 👀

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02/09/2024

📣 Trend Alert!!! 📣

We're seeing a huge rise in pocket-sized Family Sabbaticals, where parents and children make the most of long summer holidays to embark on trips of a month or more to really explore a destination in depth.

One lovely client and family just got back from the US of A where they swung by California, Utah, Montana, New Orleans and finally Florida in five epic weeks. Amazing trip and what amazing photos 📸

Feeling inspired? Click the link in bio to start planning your own pocket-sized family sabbaticals:

29/08/2024

Forget five-star hotels; we worked with a focus group of junior travellers to find out what kids really want from a family holiday and discovered that they would overwhelmingly rather stay somewhere fun than fancy on holiday, particularly if that place is unique to the destination.⁠
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Teepees came out as the most popular choice of accommodation, closely followed by beach cabins, boats and igloos, which all pipped the likes of overwater villas and five-star luxury (unless they’re on a city break, in which case they’re rather partial to a rooftop pool, thank you very much). Places that are traditional to a country and totally different to home were also popular, particularly ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), ranches and tented safari lodges in Africa. ⁠
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From igloos in Lapland and western wagons in Utah to a beach lodge that is one of the few places on earth where you can watch zebra and whales at the same time, scroll for some of our picks for the coolest family hotels in the world, bound to knock the socks off children, parents and grandparents alike 🤩 ⁠

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23/08/2024

Blooming ylang ylang flowers and dazing turtles in 📍 Seychelles

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21/08/2024

Choosing the best foodie spots in Europe is a tough gig, but after much deliberation the OT Europe team has shortlisted their favourites. Ready to dig in? In no particular order...

Firstly we have Copenhagen. This Scandi city has a plethora of cosy cafes and Michelin-starred restaurants. From a leisurely indulgence brunch at Apollo Bar to stylish supper at the award-winning Høst, your taste buds will thank you.

From traditional Turkish cuisine to contemporary fusion restaurants, Istanbul has the lot. With street vendors around every corner, delicious fragrances in the air and locals lining up for their go-to lunch spots, exploring the street food scene is a great way to get enjoy a taste of true Turkish culture.

San Sebastian is the home of good eating. Known as the 'Food Capital of Spain', this city offers tasty pintxo (Basque tapas) hopping, fresh seafood (crab, lobster... you name it!), a glorious lineup of Michelin stars and of course, the iconic, Basque cheesecake.

Sometimes, a hearty helping of pasta is all you need. Bologna and wider Emilia-Romagna’s food scene is like a soothing hug; expect incredible cheeses ranging from sharp to creamy, freshly cut ribbon pasta, peppery sausage and grandma-quality Ragu sauces. Delizioso!

Lastly, we have Lyon. With a whopping 16 Michelin-starred restaurants, Lyon is regarded as the culinary capital of France, which is saying something. Lyon may look age-old, however its culinary scene has an up-and-coming feel, with many young Lyonnais chefs pushing the boundaries of French gastronomy. The quality of produce is also unmatched, so we won't judge you for bringing home a suitcase of saucisson.

How did we do? Let us know where your favourite foodie spot is in the comments 🧀

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13/08/2024

Cascading volcanoes, technicolored villages and patchwork quilt coffee fields in 📍 Guatemala

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07/08/2024

Our Original Travel and Original Diving teams have been joining forces a lot recently, as it appears to be an increasing trend that holiday-goers are wanting to combine safari and diving experiences into one MEGA trip 💥

To highlight this trend, here are some of our ultimate animal-combo trips and what you can expect:

Nyerere - Pemba Island 🤿
Spend your time on Pemba Island drifting around majestic coral where your diving guide can point out the incredible macro-organisms, such as nudibranchs and leaf scorpionfish. Swap small for big, by twinning with Nyerere National Park (aka Selous) in Tanzania where bush elephants and Masai giraffes roam.

Sabi Sands - Mozambique 🐠
The breathtaking Sabi Sands Nature Reserve is an animal-lover’s paradise, spanning over 65,000 hectares and rich with biodiversity. After snapping photos of the ‘Big 5’, fly to Mozambique for magical diving conditions in the Tofo and Bazaruto areas, for whale sharks, leopard sharks and the vibrant Five-Mile reef.

Kakadu National Park- Komodo 🐊
In northern Australia sits the Kakadu National Park, which is home to around one-third of all Australian bird species and about one-fifth of their mammals. Spend time scouting the land with your guide, before hopping on a plane to Bali then transferring to Komodo, a beautiful island where the coolest liveaboard experiences are on offer and a sighting of the world's only 'dragon'.

Yala – Galle – Maldives 🐆
Sri Lanka's Yala is famous for its leopard density, so you might be lucky enough to see these beautiful creatures prowling past your safari jeep! On your way to the Maldives, drop off in Galle for a whale-watching experience. Then catch an easy flight to the Indian Ocean, where you can expect to see mantas and whale sharks on your diving excursions.

Fancy going on your own epic wildlife trip? Get in touch with our team of experts who can help!

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01/08/2024

Bhutan, the beautiful Buddhist kingdom on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, is a land which holds its ancient traditions to this day. ⁠
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After opening up to tourists in the 1970s, this country has become a favourite spot those-in-the-know on the hunt for mindfulness and lush nature, but has yet to reach the mainstream, a fact which our Asia Travel Specialist, Frances states "makes you feel incredibly special being there". ⁠
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Frances, is just back from a mother/daughter trip there, visiting Paro, Bumdra, Punakha, Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang, taking in many 'mindblowingly beautiful' Dzongs and meeting local people - including many lovely monks who taught her how to play archery - along the way. The local cuisine was an unexpected highlight, as was a dance ceremony for the Black-Necked Crane Festival! ⁠
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Frances took some amazing photos of this incredibly scenic place, but our favourites were these portraits of the locals she met along the way, who gave us the thumbs up for them to be shared with you guys. We think they're a wonderful window into local life and a beautiful reminder that people maketh the place.

Click the link in bio to discover the beautiful Bhutan for yourself. ⁠

31/07/2024

We love hearing what you thought of your trips with us; it bring us as much joy as designing the trips themselves! Here are just some of the rave reviews we have recently received.

You really are too kind...although if you fancy being even kinder, we'd love it if you also cast a vote for us in The Times Travel Awards! You'll find us in the Best Luxury Travel Operators category (whoop whoop!) 🏆️

We hope this isn't too forward of us, but if you don't ask...

Check link-in-bio to cast your votes now 🏃🏽

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31/07/2024

We love hearing what you thought of your trips with us; it bring us as much joy as designing the trips themselves! Here are just some of the rave reviews we have recently received.

You really are too kind...although if you fancy being even kinder, we'd love it if you also cast a vote for us in The Times Travel Awards! You'll find us in the Best Luxury Travel Operators category (whoop whoop!) 🏆️ ⁠
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We hope this isn't too forward of us, but if you don't ask...⁠
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Check link-in-bio to cast your votes now 🏃🏽⁠

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29/07/2024

Simply being somewhere new and spending time together are what children enjoy most about going away with family, with each receiving nearly 40% of the total vote at a recent Original Travel family event, where a select group of children were asked to describe their ideal holiday.
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They also overwhelmingly voted to stay somewhere fun, rather than fancy on holiday. Think treehouses, boats, teepees, igloos and tented camps rather than overwater villas or five-star hotels (unless they’re on a city break, in which case they’re rather partial to a rooftop pool, thank you very much).

To top it off, most of their preferred activities were free. Jumping the waves to snowball fights, camping, climbing, snorkelling and star-gazing all got the most votes, with the most popular paid-for activity being ice-cream, plentiful supplies of which was deemed the most important part of any holiday. Maybe push the boat out and treat them to two scoops! 🍦⁠

With that in mind, Original Travel has highlighted some of its favourite simple family holidays, where the focus – and funds - are firmly on finding the most unforgettable places for families to spend quality time together:
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From biking around the islands of the Stockholm archipelago and staying on your very own jetty via a secret island, in Sweden to a family tour of Cambodia filled with temple walks, building sandcastles on Koh Rong's beaches and staying in a floating tent on the Tatai River, an American West family trip exploring national parks by foot or horse and eating s'mores around ranch campfires and a chilled self-drive safari across Namibia's Kalahari Desert, making friends with giraffe and zebra along the way. ⁠
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As long as there is ice-cream involved, you're on the right track! Get in touch to book your simple-life trip of a lifetime 🍨⁠
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26/07/2024

Paris might be the host city of the 2024 Olympic Games, but we wanted to shine the torch on the south of France this summer instead.

Whether you want to get involved in the sporting spectacular (Marseille will host the sailing events, as well as some football matches), or escape the event entirely, the south of France is the place to be.

Between mountains and sea, the French Riviera boasts a collection of incredible landscapes from beaches and glamourous resort towns, to lavender fields and medieval towns - and now it's all even easier to explore, thanks to a brand new rail pass. The pass allows hop-on-hop-off travel onboard a half-hourly double-decker train running between Grasse and Monaco via Cannes, Nice and nearly 20 other scenic stops. If that's not enough rail action for you, you can even get down to the south onboard the newly-restored Paris-Riviera sleeper train, which is back by popular demand 🚃

Click the link-in bio to explore our French Riviera trips and find out more about the region:

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24/07/2024

Fancy exploring further than the bright lights of Tokyo on your trip to Japan? Our two shiny new itineraries are the perfect way to explore the cultural, historical and spiritual sides of Japan, allowing you to delve into the heart of this wonderful country.

From trying your hand at wagasa (Japanese umbrella) making in Kanazawa, learning how kimonos are crafted in Kyoto, creating a piece of raku pottery at a traditional tea ceremony, snacking on grilled oysters in Miyajima and spotting wild deer amongst Nara Park's shrines, you will be taken on a journey like no other.

Delve deep into Japan's cultural allure, click the link-in-bio to find our new 'Cultural, Historical and Spiritual Japan' and 'From Tokyo to Hiroshima: Artisanal Adventures in Japan' trips 🗾

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22/07/2024

Enjoying the slow-life in the breathtaking 📍 Patagonia, Argentina

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17/07/2024

Keen divers rejoice! No more holding out all year for one annual dive trip; the team have set upon themselves to find a quick-fix solution, that means you can get a diving dose without using up large chunks of your annual leave.

Introducing..... (Drums, please!)... the NEW Short Break Dive collection! That's right. Original Diving now offer 4 and 5-day diving trips to the likes of Iceland, Gozo, Oman, Azores AND Egypt, meaning you can spend a long weekend exploring some of the most famous dive sites around the world. Who says you can't fit bucket-list experiences into your busy schedule?

Fancy going from desk to dive and back again? Click the link-in-bio to explore the new collection:

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15/07/2024

For a small country, Jordan packs an impressive punch in terms of history, culture and scenery. For one of our recent lovely clients, their trip was one they came back to recommend to all their friends and the topic of many dinner table chats!

From sleeping under the stars in the other-worldly red dunes of the Wadi Rum Village to a streetfood tour in the ancient capital of Amman and a table booked at the oldest bars in the world in Petra, it was what they called "a once-in-a-lifetime" trip (feedback which left Lucy, one of our Africa travel specialists, delighted!) ✨️

If anyone else fancies a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Jordan, Lucy is your girl! Click our link-in-bio or get in touch to find out more 👋🏼

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10/07/2024

Our most recent research reveals that 81.5% of parents give their children more of a say in the family holiday as they get older, while traffic to our ‘Travelling with Teenagers’ website pages is up 28.6%. Is this a cry for help in planning trips for the most notoriously demanding demographic?? If so, we are here to answer it! ⁠
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For any parents scrabbling around trying to find the perfect holiday, check out the carousel for our top five trending trips.⁠
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10/07/2024

Our most recent research reveals that 81.5% of parents give their children more of a say in the family holiday as they get older, while traffic to our ‘Travelling with Teenagers’ website pages is up 28.6%. Is this a cry for help in planning trips for the most notoriously demanding demographic?? If so, we are here to answer it!

For any parents scrabbling around trying to find the perfect holiday, check out the carousel for our top five trending trips.

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09/07/2024

We're thrilled to have been shortlisted again in the Best Luxury Travel Operators category of Travel Awards!

We (and particularly our record-breaking number of Conde Nast Traveler Specialists) would love to keep up our winning streak and nab the top spot, but we can't do that without you. If you feel like voting us (it's been a hot minute), then we'd be ever so grateful.

The voting page is linked in our bio and a whooping big thank you to all our lovely clients and followers for the support over the years. You rock!

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05/07/2024

We have said it before and we'll say it again; Montenegro is the new-kid-on-the-block of travel trends.

We recently sent The Times' Katie Gatens out to the tiny Balkan country and her verdict is that Montenegro is the Mediterranean's next big thing!

During her trip, Katie visited many of the quaint, pretty villages surrounding Kotor. From the majestically mountainous Kolasin to the town of Budva ("a mini Ibiza with beach bars and an underrated old town"), Katie discovered the many sides to the wonderful Montenegro.

Thank you Katie for writing such a cracking piece, we are glad you enjoyed your trip (and thank you for the glowing review on our concierge service) ✨️

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20/06/2024

Bumping shoulders with Bali, Lombok offers many similar characteristics to the paradisiacal spot, but on a slower-paced scale. We had the pleasure of taking freelance travel writer, to this peaceful spot to see how it compared to the much-beloved Bali. Ally's takeaway, Lombok is the place to go!

Hear Ally's experience staying at luxe hotels and taking part in an incredible shark conservation project. Click the link in bio to read all about it!

Thank you for the brilliant story Ally, we're glad you had a fantastic time 🌴

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17/06/2024

Trend Alert! Grab a virtual s'smore and gather around the campfire everyone, as you'll want to hear this one 🤠 ⁠
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Popularity for USA ranch stays have been booming, with rooms being booked up faster than a black-tailed jackrabbit! Why? We have our suspicions...(Beyoncé, we're looking at you 👀 ...⁠)⁠
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Ranches offer some of the best family holidays, with activities for everyone, including horse-riding adventures, lake-fishing and walking in oustanding scenery - all guaranteed to get the family off their gadgets and among nature. ⁠
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Leaving the best for last, get your boots and hat on, as Saturday night is line-dancing night! If your kids have yet to teach you the moves of the 'hoedown throwdown', we can recommend some great YouTube tutorials 🪕 ⁠
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They do say you aren't born a cowboy, but become one, and now is your time... follow the link in our bio to find out more. ⁠
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13/06/2024

On a recent research trip to Ecuador, our Americas specialist, Henrietta, ventured high into the Andes before setting sail around the Galápagos Islands. Along with encountering an array of exotic wildlife (including a 25-year-old giant tortoise), she hiked up the Sierra Negra volcano and enjoyed a cooking class with a Quechua family. Quite the adventure!

A photographer's paradise, Henrietta took some incredible wildlife images while there, which of course, we had to show off!

Let us know in the comments below which one is your favourite 👇️ We have a soft spot for the snoozing seal 💤

Want to hear all about Henrietta's trip? Check out our link-in-bio to read the blog.

11/06/2024

Rustic cobbled streets, custard-yellow trams and romantic hilly viewpoints
Welcome to 📍 Lisbon, Portugal

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10/06/2024

We've been itching to tell you the news and the time has finally come! We have made our partnership with party and events planners and dear friends, ten-times bigger and shinier! ✨️⁠ ⁠
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To celebrate the launch, we are hosting a mega-fun family party too 🎉 Carry on reading to find out how you could grab tickets for your family!
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Together with Sharky & George, we have put our heads together to create three NEW ways to make family holidays as smooth and hiccup-less as possible. ⁠
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As well as the Sharky & George-designed inflight activity packs - which every child travelling with Original Travel already receives, each one tailored to the holiday destination – Original Travel can now offer parents three NEW bookable Sharky & George add-ons. ⁠
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From the pre-and-post trip ‘Mind The Pack’ experience, where one of the Sharky & George team can come to your home and keep the kids entertained while you crack on uninterrupted with packing, to a personal PIC** (Partner-in-Crime) who can join for some or all of the family holiday, keeping the little ones occupied so parents can enjoy some downtime. We are here to help take the load off any stage of your trip planning 🙂⁠
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To launch the news, we are hosting a fun family event with the amazing Sharky & George team.

If you would like to join the party, DM us with your name and the number of tickets you would like for your family. The event will be best suited for little ones between the ages of 4-12 and located in London 🎈🍰
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Address

Original Travel, First Floor, 111 Upper Richmond Road
London
SW152TL

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Website

https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/

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Videos

Explore the picturesque streets of Lake Como villages while going speeding across the emerald lake on a private Venetian cruise. Enjoy the landscapes of Lake Como, nestled in the Prealps and sheltered by mountains, offering picturesque scenery. The banks of the lake, stretching between Switzerland and the plains of outer Milan, are composed of snow-capped mountains and shores with a mild climate. Aristocratic villas, palaces, Romanesque abbeys and small fishing ports are dotted along the shoreline. Sounds like your dream holiday? Head to our website to find the perfect Lake Como holiday for you. #originaltravel #travellesstravelbetter #tailormadetravel #originaltraveller #gratification #lakecomo #italytravel #lagodicomo #dolcefarniente #italyreels #travelreels #travelreel #travelinspiration #travelinspo

After years of taking travel for granted and then losing our right to roam entirely during the pandemic, a ‘Gratification’ is all about pleasing yourself with a holiday you’ve always wanted to take. No more waiting for ‘one day’ – now is the time to visit that place you’ve always wanted to visit, take the trip you’ve always wanted to take and finally pluck up the courage to try something new. Read more about Gratifications here: https://lnkd.in/ey5Mrs8p #originaltravel #tailormadetravel #travellesstravelbetter #gratification

Say hello to our new magazine, Original Traveller. Over the years we’ve published many award-winning brochures and even a book, but never a magazine. Now, as Original Travel turns 19 and emerges from a turbulent (not just for us) late teens, it feels like the perfect moment to rectify that because the coronavirus pandemic has changed perspectives. For many of us, one realisation (or reminder) has been that travel is a key component of a properly fulfilled life. 2022 is the moment to make up for lost time and missed opportunities; to experience and relish again that special sense of ‘otherness’ that only comes from immersing yourself in another culture. We look forward to introducing you to many wonderful things in 2022. Wonderful places, wonderful people, wonderful experiences, wonderful rituals, wonderful food and much, much more in our wonderful world. After all, the chances are we’re the only inhabited rock in the cosmos. It would seem a shame not to see it in all its glory. Click the link to order the magazine! https://lnkd.in/e6abM8s7 A big thank you to our contributors Tom Holland, Juliet Kinsman, Stanley Stewart, Olivier Romano, Lizzie Shipley and Ella Mawson Photo credit: @Piariverola #travel #tailormadetravel #travelmagazine #originaltravel

World Rhino Day: Rhinos Without Borders

Elephant Pool Party

Swimming with whale sharks - Mafia Island, Tanzania

Leopard at Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Baby Camel Dancers!

Safari in South Africa

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Life Is In The Detail

At Original Travel we believe life is in the detail. We are a creative travel company who take a thoughtful approach to creating tailor-made holidays that perfectly fulfil your needs.

Our thoughtful team of knowledgeable experts are here to do the hard work for you. To take care of every need and smallest personal request from the second you contact us to the moment you return home from another memorable trip or adventure.