Titan HiTours introduces new programme of group holidays
Titan HiTours, the escorted tours specialist, has unveiled its 2011 programme of group holidays around the world, featuring a wide range of individually-themed itineraries that encompasses every corner of the globe.
The brochure introduces 12 brand new tours (including Titan's first ever ‘triple-centre’ and ‘stay put’ holiday) alongside some exciting cruise, multi-centre and no-fly options, making this one of the most comprehensive and varied programmes that the company has ever launched.
Two new tours to the Americas start in North America with the 10-day Southern Musical Medley with Nashville and Memphis (from £1,495 per person). This inspired itinerary follows in the footsteps of the Deep South's noted musical greats and includes visits to Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion; his birthplace in Tupelo; and the spiritual home of Country & Western music, the Grand Ole Opry. For a unique memento of the trip each group of guests has the opportunity to record their own 'hit' record in a working recording studio on a visit to the Alabama Hall of Fame.
On the other American continent, meanwhile, the 13-day Best of Argentina (with Rio de Janeiro) itinerary combines the very best of two of the world's most vibrant cities. Costing from £3,395 per person, the holiday takes in the natural wonders of Iguaçu Falls; the incredible beauty of Patagonia's glaciers; and the lively cultures of these two passionately Latin cityscapes. Both prices include flights, transfers, accommodation, various excursions and the VIP Home Departure Service (which collects clients from - and returns them to - their own front door). Some meals are also included in the Best of Argentina itinerary (none are included in Southern Musical Medley).
Other developments in the 2011 Worldwide brochure include a considerable expansion of holidays to Africa and the Middle East, with a total of four new itineraries to the region. Of particular interest will be the exploration of Syria's Cultural Heritage, as this is the first time that the Middle Eastern country has appeared in a Titan HiTours programme. This inclusive itinerary includes visits to all of Syria's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not least the imposing Crusader fort at Krak des Chevaliers, the extensive Roman ruins at Palmyra and the ancient hearts of Damascus and Aleppo - two of the world's oldest continuously-occupied cities. This holiday costs from £1,495 per person in January 2011 and includes flights, transfers, accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners, excursions as detailed in the itinerary and the VIP Home Departure Service (with a choice of ten possible departure dates).
There are three more World Heritage Sites to be discovered in the 8-day Libya & Leptis Magna tour, another new addition to the brochure. This thorough exploration of one of North Africa’s most captivating countries includes a full day amongst the fascinating ruins of Leptis Magna, arguably the best-preserved of the Roman Empire’s once-powerful cities. Other highlights include a tour of Tripoli’s monuments, mosques and colourful souks; and a visit to Sabrata, another Roman site with a fine collection of mosaics. The holiday costs from £1,445 per person, to include flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals, various excursions and the VIP Home Departure Service. Departures are scheduled during the cooler seasons of spring, autumn and winter 2011.
The brochure also includes two new itineraries to Egypt, both of which incorporate a cruise on the timeless River Nile. The 12-day Cairo, Alexandria & a Nile Cruise itinerary (from £1,395 per person) combines a thorough exploration of these two historic cities with a seven-night cruise between Aswan and Luxor; while the shorter, 8-day Egypt's Timeless Riches itinerary (from £995 per person) focuses solely on the cruise element. Both holidays include flights, transfers, accommodation (full-board on the cruises), excursions as detailed in the itineraries and the VIP Home Departure Service.
Europe also features heavily with a new winter tour to the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. The 8-day Malta & Gozo Winter Sunshine tour has departures scheduled for October and November 2011, with highlights including a tour of the walled city of Mdina and a two-night stay on the island of Gozo, plus plenty of free time to explore the island at leisure or participate in a programme of optional excursions. This holiday costs from £795 per person, to include flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, various excursions as detailed in the itinerary, and Titan’s exclusive VIP Home Departure Service.
Elsewhere in Europe, there are three other brand new itineraries including a ten-day tour of Prague, Dresden & Berlin, Titan's first ever three-centre holiday. Starting with a sightseeing tour and plenty of free time to discover the many wonders of historic Prague, the journey continues via museums and castles into Germany and the painstakingly rebuilt city of Dresden, which was practically flattened in the bombing raids of World War II. Highlights include a sightseeing cruise on the River Elbe before moving on to Berlin and its many unmissable landmarks. Departures are available in May, June and September 2011, with prices from £1,295 per person (to include flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, various excursions and city tours as detailed in the itinerary, and the VIP Home Departure Service).
Also new in Europe are two 'stay put' itineraries - another first for Titan. These include the same high standards of planning, service and experience that one might expect from Titan HiTours combined with the convenience of staying at a single hotel throughout, so guests only have to unpack once. The first of these is a 7-day discovery of ‘Sofia - Bulgaria's Cultural Capital’, which costs from £945 per person in May 2011 and takes in the city's major attractions along with excursions to the Roman amphitheatre in Plovdiv and the beautiful mountain scenery around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rila Monastery. The second stay-put itinerary is the 5-day Reykjavik City Break, which costs from £1,195 per person in September and covers all the highlights of Iceland, the world's most northerly capital, including the thermal springs at the Blue Lagoon and the regular-as-clockwork eruptions of Strokkur, the active water spout at Geysir. Both these prices include flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, excursions as detailed in the itinerary and the VIP Home Departure Service.
The final new additions to the 2011 programme are both to Asian destinations. India's Golden Triangle (8 days, from £1,295 per person) promises excellent value for money on account of the scope of meals and excursions that are included in the price, with accommodation being on a half-board basis and highlights of the tour encompassing six World Heritage Sites including the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, once the capital of the Mughal Empire; the Agra Fort, widely considered to be the most important of India's historic forts; Qutab Minar, a towering minaret dating from the 12th Century that dominates the Delhi skyline; and of course the Taj Mahal - surely the country's most iconic monument. There is also an option to extend this tour to take in the wildlife of Ranthambore National Park which is famed for its leopards, monkeys, sloth bears and Bengal tigers.
There's more wildlife to be discovered on the ‘Best of Sri Lanka’ tour (12 days, from £1,645 per person), which takes in both the Yala National Park (home to leopards and Asian elephants) and the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned and injured elephants are rehabilitated until they can be returned to the wild. Other highlights include the World Heritage Sites of the Sigiriya Rock Fort and the ancient city of Anuradhapura, plus temples, monuments and cultural experiences galore. Accommodation on this tour is on a half-board basis, with the prices of both new Asian itineraries also including flights, transfers, excursions as detailed and the VIP Home Departure Service.
The brochure also highlights the Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service which is offered within the tour price for all addresses in mainland England and Wales, with no additional mileage supplements, and allows for a smooth journey to and from the airport. For selected postcodes in Manchester and Newcastle there is the choice of the Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service transfers to and from the regional airport and free domestic flights or the VIP Home Departure Service transfers all the way to the from the airport of departure. Complimentary domestic flights are available for travellers from Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, and free car transfers to and from the airport for many postcodes.
Another key element to the programme is the selection of no-fly holidays, which involve UK departures by rail or sea. The range of no-fly itineraries encompasses sea and river cruises; city discovers; and mountain adventures, all with the usual standards of service and the convenience of a Titan Tour Manager. Prices start from £745 per person for 5 days in ‘Bruges - Cobbles, Canals and Chocolate’ (which is the lead in price for the brochure) and includes return Euro star Standard Premier Service from London to Brussels and rail between Brussels and Bruges; a walking tour of Bruges and an excursion to the evocative Ypres region.
Commenting on the launch of the brochure, James Hewlett, Head of Marketing said, "Our new 2011 Worldwide programme contains an incredible range of differently themed itineraries that also benefit from Titan's standard, high levels of service and exceptional value for money. Each balanced, comprehensive itinerary includes all the highlights that one might expect to see in a particular region, with every listed excursion (including admission charges) contained in the quoted price. And with our Tour Managers accompanying each group for the duration of the holiday, guests are able to sit back, relax and enjoy a hassle-free experience throughout”.
For details or to book, visit the website: titanhitours.co.uk