Audley Travel has relaunched its programme to Jamaica three years after pulling out of the destination.

The tailor-made tour operator said it had reintroduced the country due to client demand for more Caribbean islands.

A sample itinerary to Jamaica includes a nine-day ‘Jamaica beach & rainforest escape’ with stays in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Other itineraries include a tour of Kingston and a visit to Dunn’s River Falls and The Blue Hole. 

Audley has also expanded its programme in India, Japan and Tanzania.

New tours in India include a 15-night tailor-made itinerary, with stays in Delhi, Nimmu, Uleytopko, Nurla, Leh, Nubra Valley and two nights at the Drenmo Lodge. There’s also bear tracking in the valleys of Dras, where guests can stay in the Drenmo Lodge for the chance to see the Himalayan Brown Bear. 

In Japan, Audley has added Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, which can be included in a traditional Japanese itinerary to expand the Golden Route. A sample itinerary includes a 17-day trip with two nights in Nagoya as well as time in Tokyo and Kyoto. 

The expanded Tanzania programme includes a 10-day itinerary with one night in Arusha, four nights for the Great Rift Valley Trek and two nights in Karatu. 

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has revealed details of its first 2027-28 deployment, marking its return to the Oceania region.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ 2027–28 season features voyages across seven continents, designed to connect travelers with wildlife, wild places and local communities in ways that are authentic, enriching and respectful. The season will see its return to the Oceania region after two years with the relaunch of several immersive itineraries on board the National Geographic Resolution, including the 11-day Pearls of the Pacific: The Society and Tuamotu Islands, and a return to Easter Island after four years with the 18-day Easter Island To Tahiti: Tales of The Pacific itinerary.

“Our 2027-28 deployment reflects everything our guests value about traveling with us: extraordinary access, thoughtful pacing and a deep respect for the environments and cultures we visit,” said Trey Byus, Chief Expedition Officer, Lindblad Expeditions, in a press release statement. “Every itinerary has been crafted with care—whether it’s a guest favorite or a returning route—to offer experiences that are not only awe-inspiring, but also positively impactful. We believe travel can be a powerful force for good, and through these voyages, we invite our guests to deepen their connection to the planet, support conservation and communities, and return home with a renewed sense of wonder and purpose.”

The brand will also return to Alaska in 2027-28, inviting guests to explore its snow-capped mountains, fjords and wildlife with additional departures of its eight-day Alaska’s Inside Passage, 11-day Voyage to the Great Bear Rainforest, and 14- and 15-day Treasures of the Inside Passage itineraries aboard National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture.

Additional departures will also be available on its 16-day Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture itinerary, exploring Japan’s history, culture, and landscapes—from the storied castle towns of the Edo period to the shrines and merchant districts of the Meiji era.

Whether kayaking alongside icebergs in Antarctica, observing sea lions while snorkeling in Baja California, wandering through rainforests in Central America, or journeying where few travelers have before by sailing through the Northwest Passage, each voyage is designed to offer transformative experiences that deepen guests’ understanding of the world—and their place within it.

For more information, visit expeditions.com.

Every year without fail, as the mercury drops and winter settles in, Aussies head overseas in droves, looking for warmer weather.

Bali and Europe are classic choices. But this year, Australians have some surprising destinations on their radar.

Recent data shows that Egypt, Morocco, and Peru are all on the rise as holiday destinations.

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According to Intrepid, bookings for tours in Egypt are up 170 per cent year-on-year.

With a rich history, fascinating culture, and warm weather, Aussies are choosing to head to this North African country for a different kind of holiday.

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Brett Mitchell, Intrepid Travel ANZ Managing Director, tells 9Travel that Egypt has made a major investment in tourism infrastructure, which has made it a far more accessible destination.

”New hotel developments, streamlined visa processes, and improvements to transport are all helping travellers move more confidently through the country and encouraging more Aussies to visit,” he says.

Another surprising region where Aussies are setting their sights is Central Asia. In the past year alone, Australian bookings with Intrepid to Uzbekistan are up 65 per cent, Mongolia 128 per cent, and Kazakhstan a staggering 560 per cent.

Though they’re not common destinations for Australians, travellers are choosing to explore so-called ‘lesser-known’ places.

“Travellers are looking to avoid crowds and overdone itineraries,” says Brett.

In response, Intrepid has beefed up its offerings in these destinations, including six new trips in Central Asia.

Recently, 9Travel writer Sarah Swain wrote that Euro summer as we know it is over. With soaring temperatures and inescapable crowds, a jaunt through Europe in the summer months is no longer the fun and carefree rite of passage that it once was.

Instead, travellers are choosing to holiday in the shoulder months, or to skip the ‘mainstream’ destinations altogether.

That’s why, perhaps, Intrepid has seen such a jump in bookings for their more ‘off the beaten path’ destinations. 

Peru and Ecuador are also soaring in popularity.

“These destinations are still relatively affordable, less saturated with tourists, and include experiences that give people a real sense of connection to culture,” says Brett.

Of course, we don’t need to head overseas to warm up in winter. Typically Aussies tend to head to Queensland for a domestic holiday in the cooler months, this year more of us have set our sights west.

The Kimberley, in north-western Australia, has also seen a bump in popularity, according to Intrepid.

Here, the daytime highs in winter average a balmy 28°C, there’s plenty of sunshine, and the chance of rain is slim.

Yes, Bali, Thailand, and Cairns will always remain at the top of the list for Aussie winter getaways.

But as tourism continues to skyrocket, don’t be surprised if you see some unexpected destinations edge their way into people’s travel wish lists.