More than just a coach holiday

These days, there’s so much more to escorted tours than the classic coaching holiday. Titan HiTours (titanhitours.co.uk), the escorted tours specialist, has launched its 2008 brochure of Paradise Journeys – some of which involve no coach travel whatsoever.

The brochure features a hand-picked selection of Titan HiTour’s most inspiring long-haul itineraries, encompassing a wide range of individually-themed tours to exciting destinations across all six continents.

With their comprehensive itineraries, excellent value for money and round-the-clock support from experienced Tour Managers, escorted tours are ideal for those who appreciate peace of mind and convenient, hassle-free travel with a group of like-minded people. Although coaches are traditionally the preferred means of transport for holidays of this type, they are by no means to everybody’s taste. As a result, Titan HiTours has developed certain itineraries to appeal to those who’d rather avoid travelling predominately by road.

The 14-day Essence of Japan itinerary, for example, incorporates travelling by just about every conceivable mode of transport. In addition to some journeys by coach, the tour also includes cruising on rivers and lakes; a cable-car ride over volcanic hot springs; an excursion by ferry-boat to beautiful Miyajima Island; and even an inter-city transfer on one of Japan’s famously speedy Bullet Trains. This wonderfully varied holiday costs from £2,595 per person and includes door-to-door transfers with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service, flights, accommodation on B&B basis, all ground transportation and a variety of excursions.

Those looking to avoid coach travel in its entirety will still find an excellent range of enticing options throughout the brochure. The 25-day Great Australian Rail Odyssey, for example, showcases this vast continent entirely from the comfort of scenic railways.

Starting in Perth and ending in Sydney, this epic journey costs from £4,845 per person and includes door-to-door transfers with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service, return flights, accommodation, all ground transportation and internal flights, some meals and a variety of excursions.

Those with more of a taste for the high seas may prefer the 18-day Caribbean & Amazon Adventure, a voyage of discovery that takes in the very different vistas of the Amazon rainforest, the dazzling beaches of Barbados and the endless horizons of the Atlantic Ocean.

Departing on 12 February 2009, this experience costs from £2,295 per person and includes door-to-door transfers with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service, return flights, in-resort transfers, two nights’ accommodation on B&B basis in Barbados, 14 nights’ full-board accommodation on the Boudicca (inside cabin) and a variety of excursions.

New for the 2008 Paradise Journeys brochure is the 26-day Australian Voyage from Sydney to Siam, another watery odyssey that combines a few days’ soaking up the sights of cosmopolitan Sydney with 20 indulgent nights aboard the luxurious Diamond Princess. The cruise takes in Melbourne, Adelaide and various other Australian highlights before moving on to Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and finally Thailand.

Departing on 19 February 2009, this incredible experience costs from £3,195 per person and includes door-to-door transfers with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service, return flights, accommodation, all ground transportation and a variety of excursions.

Commenting on the brochure, Hugh Clayson, Marketing Director says, “Our new programme contains a range of departures with validity through to May 2010, making it easy for clients to plan ahead for their Paradise Journey of a lifetime. Booking ahead is very advisable as some of our holidays – such as the range of cruises – have only a limited choice of departure dates, while our most popular holidays are often well over-subscribed.

“With only a finite number of places available on all our holidays, it’s worth booking early if clients want to ensure their place on the itinerary and departure of their choice”.

The brochure actually leads in at £1,145 per person with the California and the Golden West itinerary, a 16-day overland adventure through California, Arizona and Nevada.

The tour starts and ends in Los Angeles and takes in lively San Diego, glitzy Las Vegas and laid-back San Francisco along with the incredible natural scenery of the Grand Canyon, the cactus-strewn Mojave Desert, the towering redwood trees of Yosemite National Park and the dramatic, rocky coastline of Big Sur. The price includes door-to-door transfers with Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service, return flights, accommodation, in-resort transfers and a variety of excursions.

For more information or to book visit Titantravel.co.uk.