Press Releases

A Word From MD Charlie about the new Trips

What's New for 2013

Burma, Bhutan, Ladakh, Tibet, North America, Central America, Togo and Benin are just some of the new destinations included in Dragoman's 2013 - 2014 brochure, out next week.

The 50 new trips, the largest amount ever launched in one year by the pioneering overland specialist, represent a major shift in focus for the 31 year old operator.

Having carved out its reputation as an Africa specialist since being founded in 1981, the operator launched in South America in 1989. Now, offering adventurous, off-the beaten track trips to the latter represent over half of its business. This year, it's significant that many of the new trips are forging new routes through Asia and, in its 10,000 mile epic, Alaska to Ushuaia, North America and Central America, too.

Here's what Dragoman think will be the best selling trips and destinations of 2013 to 2014.

Burma

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010 and later election to the country's parliament didn't just herald a new era in Burmese politics, it opened the doors to mainstream adventure tourism. Undoubtedly the golden destination of 2012, 2013 will see tourist numbers soar further, a trend that is set to continue over the coming years. Dragoman have two new trips to this beautiful country are the only major overland operator to offer trips there. The 4 week Kunming to Bangkok via Burma, which takes travellers through three countries in a month: China, Burma and Thailand. Highlights include trekking through tribal villages in Burma's Shan state, exploring the archaeological wonders of Pagan, relaxing on the Irrawaddy River and visiting the former Royal capital of Mandalay. Inle Lake, Yangon, travelling deep into Burma's Mon state and joining local pilgrims as they admire the sunset from Mount Kyaiktiyo are also a draw. Dragoman's first Burma departure in 2013 is 15th October 2013 and costs from £2386 per person, which includes a local kitty payment. Flights from £869 per person ex Heathrow.

For travellers with more time, there's the 7 1/2 week 'Bangkok to Bangkok via Burma', which traverses Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China and Burma. Cost from £4016 per person which includes a local kitty payment. The first departure is 14th November 2013.

Brazil

It's the subject of Michael Palin's next travelogue and with good reason. With the World Cup being held there in 2014 and the next Olympics two years later, Brazil is the latest South American country to have its time in the tourist spotlight. Experiencing Rio Carnival is unarguably the highlight for anyone visiting and for 2013, Dragoman have launched a new bracket in its now three-strong Rio Carnival Package portfolio: Rio Carnival Basic*.  Testament to how hot a ticket this is, the 2013 departure sold out before the brochure was even printed, so our advice is: book early for 2014, when the Carnival is being held between 28th February and 6th March. Package costs £1040 per person, flights ex Heathrow from £649 per person. *Dragoman also offer a Standard Carnival Package and luxury 'Superior Carnival Package'.

Rio to Cusco

For the first time, South America's two most visited cities, Rio and Cusco, are now linked thanks to a brand new Trans Amazonian highway, and Dragoman are the first major overland operator to offer trips that use it. This 3 1/2 week, holiday-length trip will take travellers across the heart of Brazil via the Amazon Basin; beaches, steaming jungles and icy mountain passes all part of the adventure. The first departure, guaranteed, for 2013 is 14th February. The trip costs from £680 per person which includes a local kitty payment.  Flights ex Heathrow from £899 per person. There are 13 departures in 2013, testament to how popular the operator anticipates this route will be.

Ladakh

Set deep in the Indian Himalayas on the Western edge of the Tibetan Plateau and one of the highest places on earth, the season for travelling through Ladakh is short. June-July-August are undoubtedly the best months to visit 'Little Tibet', before the snow makes the high roads surrounding Leh impassable. This new 21 day Ladakh trip, overlanding by 4WD Mercedes Benz truck will see you visiting serene Buddhist monasteries and palaces in Leh, driving along some of the highest roads on earth to the remote and rugged Nubra valley. The trip visits Srinigar before heading back to Delhi. First departure 6 July 2014, costs from £1231 per person, which includes a local kitty payment. Flights ex Heathrow from £499 per person. Dragoman is the only major overland operator to offer trips in Ladakh.

Bhutan

21 days Kolkata to Kathmandu, through Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan. One of the most isolated countries in the world, Bhutan's strict limit on visitors has enabled it to retain its traditions and religious heritage, making it one of the most untouched destinations on the planet. Again, Dragoman is the first major overland operator to run trips there. It's first 3 week trip between India, Bhutan and Nepal leaves on 25th August 2014 and costs from £2200 per person plus on the ground payment of US$270 per person. For travellers with more time, the 3 month long trip, Kolkata to Kolkata via Bhutan takes in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Cost from £6058 per person which includes an on-the-ground kitty payment. Flights ex Heathrow from £599 per person. The first departure is 25 August 2014

Anchorage to Ushuaia

Is this the world's ultimate road trip? We think so. Summer sun to summer sun, this 10,000 mile epic, from the wilds of Alaska to the 'end of the world', Ushuaia, will see passengers traverse the entire North American, Central American and South American continents in 30 weeks, the North American section in an iconic bright orange school bus.  First departure is 9th January 2013, second departure 10th August, cost from £10,980 per person which includes local kitty payment. Flights ex Heathrow are from £999 per person.  First departure in 2014 is 2nd January 2014.

For bookings, call Dragoman on 01728 861133 or visit the website at www.dragoman.com

Please note, all flight prices quoted include taxes.

Media contact

For more information about Dragoman or the new trips it offers, please contact:

Rebecca Scrase

PR Manager

01449 677033

07985 973973

Rebecca@dragoman.co.uk

Notes to editors

Dragoman now offers over 110 different overlanding trips of between 2 and 28 weeks to more than 70 countries.

Dragoman has pioneered many overland routes throughout the world. It is the only major UK operator to offer overland adventures; that span the entire Silk Route, from Istanbul to Beijing (West to East Asia); that cover India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and Tibet ; that traverse from Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia to Singapore, just off the coast of Malaysia (North to South East Asia); that extend from Alaska to Argentina and; that circumnavigate almost the entire African continent. 

Suffolk-based travel operator Dragoman scoops gold

It's official! Dragoman, the UK's leading overland travel operator, has the world's best
tour leaders.

Dragoman, who last year celebrated their 30th anniversary, scooped Gold at
Wanderlust magazine's annual 'World Guide Awards' last night.

In a ceremony at London’s Royal Geographical Society (4th October), Italian Luca Alfatti
from Dragoman was presented the Gold Award by author Bill Bryson and Zoologist and
wildlife presenter, Mark Carwardine.

As an overlanding driver, Luca has been with Dragoman for six years and has driven the
length and breadth of South America, Africa and India as well as from London to Beijing
and back again – he even inspired one of his own clients to go on to become a Dragoman
driver.

A fluent linguist in at least three languages, one supporter says how Luca is “always
extremely modest and even describes himself as ‘average’, when he is truly anything but”.
Another says, “he devours reference/guide books in his sleep so no need to pack yours, I
would feel confident to travel anywhere with him”.

Luca wins a £5,000 bursary and plans to support a community in rural Guatemala as he
returns to Central America with Dragoman in 2013. He says, “I used to work in Guatemala
and I know the country fairly well. I will be looking at a community where there is a
project for orphans and abandoned mums”. Luca also plans to spend part of the bursary
to gain some qualification to better himself at his job.

Bill Bryson commented “Luca is an awesome all rounder, knowledgeable with great people
skills and a mechanic. Is there anything he can’t do?!”

The standard of the shortlisted guides this year has been exceptionally high. Wanderlust
Editor in Chief Lyn Hughes said “we were intending to get from ten guides down to three
for the final, but eventually let four go through to the final stage”.

Now in their seventh year, the awards are the only ones of their kind to recognise the
individuals who are at the frontline of so many of our travel experiences. Wanderlust
invited its readers to nominate and vote for guides, with a shortlist from over 1000
nominations, which were then judged by the team of experts who chose just four overall
winners.

This is the second consecutive year that a Dragoman tour leader has been a finalist in the
awards. Last year, Dragoman's Gaetano Barone won the silver gong.

Media contact:

For further information or to organise an interview with Luca, please contact

Rebecca Scrase
PR Manager
01449 677033
07985 973973

Notes to Editors:

Luca has been guiding tours for overland adventure tour operator Dragoman for six years,
and has just been promoted to Destinations Manager for North and South America. The
next trip he’ll lead is the Rio Carnival ‘Standard’ package from 8th-14th February 2013,
from £1,300 per person including accommodation and most meals – flights are excluded.
Book by calling 01728 861133 or through the website at www.dragoman.com.

Dragoman Overseas Travel Ltd is pleased to announce an expansion of its adventure travel offering with the acquisition of Imaginative Traveller.

From 1 October 2011 the small group adventure specialist Imaginative Traveller will be integrated within the Dragoman portfolio, allowing customers to choose between two distinct travel styles as they explore the world.

Dragoman has just launched its first ever ‘Friends and Family Holidays’ brochure to showcase its family adventures and private charter trips.

Dragoman, the travel operator who this year celebrates their 30th anniversary, has added three new India trips to its already extensive programme in the subcontinent.

Dragoman adds 11 new trips for 2011 & returns to Colombia, Zimbabwe and Libya!

Dragoman, one of the world’s most respected and reputable travel operators, is continuing to push the boundaries of adventure travel (overland, short adventure holidays, luxury, voluntary and family adventures) with 11 new trips for 2011.

Challenging the misconception that Dragoman only offer epic, overland adventures, they’ve included a range of adventure holidays (all on local transport anything from chick buses to trains), shorter trips (from 6 days to 2 weeks - great news for the time-poor traveller) and added another luxury adventure to the existing product range.

In Central Asia, where Dragoman pioneered overland travel through ‘the ‘Stans’, they are now the only major operator to offer an overland trip which covers the entire length of the Silk Road from Istanbul to Beijing. They are also the only major operator to offer overland trips through India and Nepal, and have the strongest foothold in Brazil with the launch of two new trips there this year.

Three of the new trips also herald the operators’ return to Colombia, Zimbabwe and Libya after a respective 2 year, 3 year and 4 year hiatus, following Foreign Office advice.

And, as part of the company’s continued commitment to investing in local communities and responsible travel, they have added 3 new homestays, from a Keralan backwater homestay or Colombian coffee plantation to a Mongolian ger.

Below is a summary of all the new trips by destination:

South America

• The addition of two Brazil trips, the 17 days ‘Brazilian Heartland’ trip (£615 per person plus kitty from US$360, first departure 1st June 2011) from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador - an inland route unique to Dragoman, and the 24 days ‘Amazon and Coastal Explorer’ trip (£785 p.p plus US$750 kitty) , means that the operator has the ‘firmest footing of any other major overland operator’ in the country.

• A return to overlanding in Colombia after a two - year hiatus following Foreign Office advice. Dragoman are the only major operator to run trips from Cartagena to Ecuador’s capital, Quito, and will be running their Colombia trips more regularly than other operators, with 8 departures in 2011, from 1st June.  The ‘Andean & Caribbean Trails' trip costs £650 p.p with kitty from US$460.

• Dragoman is also launching its 'Rio Carnival Superior Package', a luxury version of the best-selling Carnival package it has offered for the past ten years. According to Simon Williams, South America Operations Manager, the £1,550 price tag will be a winning feature - “nothing in the market comes close to it in terms of price and inclusions”, such as 4 star accommodation a stone’s throw from the beach, fantastic seats in Sector 5 of the Sambadrome and the chance to take part in the Samba Parade. The trip departs 4th March 2011.

Middle East

• The operator has also ramped up its Middle East offering, with the launch of three new trips: a 19 days Istanbul to Damascus trip (from £750 p.p an US$460 kitty, 5 departures in 2011 from 15th July) including Turkey, Syria and Lebanon; a 14 days Damascus to Cairo trip (£525 p.p and kitty from US$430, 5 departures in 2011 from 3rd July)  encompassing Syria, Jordan and Egypt; and; the 21 days 'Libyan & Egyptian Explorer' (from £925 p.p and $US760 kitty, 9 departures in 2011 from 14th May) from Tripoli to Cairo or vice-versa.

Africa

• Dragoman has also designed a new 24 days Nairobi to Victoria Falls trip (or v.v.). The trip costs from £1050 per person and US$990 kitty. There are 58 departures in 2011 from 2nd January.

• A 14 day niche West Africa trip, which showcases the music, dancing and indigenous culture of Mali has the mud mosque of Djenne as its star attraction. The ‘Music and Magic of Mali’ trip costs from £575 per person and US$390 kitty and has 9 departures in 2011 from 3rd April.

China

• Western China has soared in popularity - and for good reason. Dragoman’s 22 days ‘The Silk Route to Xi’an' (or v.v.) gets travellers right away from the well-beaten tourist trail between Kashgar and Xi’an. Prices start from £1,050 per person and US$370 kitty, with 5 departures in 2011 from 4th June.

India

• Dragoman remain the only major operator offering overland trips through India and have added a 17 days Himalayan trip which is big on spirituality, jungle adventure and national parks. The ‘Highlands & Game parks of India and Nepal’, from Delhi to Kathmandu, costs from £610 and US$320 kitty and departs 16th September in 2011. There are 7 departures in 2012.

As well as offering new trips, the operator has made significant changes to improve several existing trips or altered routes to adhere to current Foreign Office travel advice. The most noteworthy changes have been in Central Asia.

Central Asia

• The 15 nights ‘Mountain kingdoms of Kyrgyzstan’ (from £800 per person and US$320 kitty), whilst bypassing Osh and Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley, now offers travellers greater insight into Kyrgyz and Kazakh culture with the incluson of 2 homestays, one in Kazakhstan and one in Kyrgyzstan.  The route now also takes in the Chong kemin Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in Kyrgyzstan. There are five 2011 departures starting from 30th May.

• The 25 nights ‘Turkic and Persian splendours’ trip, which travels through Turkey, Iran and Turkmenistan, now includes a caravanserai between Yazd and Shiraz; visits the caves of Kandovan (almost impossible to access via public transport); travels through the heart of the Iranian desert with a homestay at Garmeh and; stops by the little-visited national parks in the north east of Iran. Prices start from £1,150 per person and US$780 kitty. There are 5 departures in 2011 starting 7th April.