New Volcano Charter - Your Holiday is Protected

Here at Discover the World we are committed to providing you with the best possible service and understand that the recent air travel disruption may have highlighted some travel concerns. To offer you reassurance in your future travel plans we would like to advise you of our new clear and transparent travel policy.

New Volcano Customer Charter – Applicable to all our Destinations

This comes into effect in the event of any further ash cloud disruption where an airline does not provide this equivalent level of care and assistance.

Flight Cancellations

In the event that it is not possible for your outward flight(s) to operate within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time we will do our best to rearrange your holiday for a later date or if you prefer, receive a full refund of the holiday costs that you have paid to us (excluding any travel insurance premium).

If your scheduled return flight(s) are cancelled and it is necessary for you to remain in your destination and if the airline does not make these arrangements for you, then we will provide you with accommodation and meals until such time that we or the airline can make alternative travel arrangements. This may include returning you to an alternative UK airport via an alternative route, in order to repatriate you to your original UK departure airport.

Holiday Alterations / Rerouting

If you are on holiday and it becomes necessary to alter or reroute any of our holiday itineraries then we will make these arrangements for you at no additional cost. 

To read our complete new Volcano Customer Charter and conditions please click here.

Please contact our specialist team if you require any further advice.

 
  

Passionate about Wildlife and Photography?

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October sees the return of Wildscreen’s WildPhotos event, the UK’s premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography. With a sensational line-up of the world’s finest nature photographers and industry experts, including winners from the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse.   
 
WildPhotos is aimed at anyone with a passion for wildlife and high-quality imagery, whether amateur or professional photographers, working in the photography or publishing industries or wanting to make more use of the power of nature photography to move and inspire people.

This year’s event, hosted by Springwatch presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham, includes a keynote presentation by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, National Geographic Editor at Large for Photography.
  
Over the course of the two-day event, more than 20 expert speakers will present their work, deliver inspiring talks and offer technical advice on topics ranging from marine, black and white and macro photography to how to sell your pictures.  

A one-day ticket costs £105; two-day tickets are £175. You can register online at www.wildphotos.org.uk or please contact WildPhotos on +44 (0)117 328 5975
/ wildphotos@wildscreen.org.uk

Invitation to our Travel Day - Saturday 10th October

TRAVEL TALKS * WINE-TASTING * PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP * STANFORDS

Whether you’re looking for travel ideas or purely wishing to discover delightful wine from the stunning countries of New Zealand and Australia then join us for a day of travel inspiration!

Enjoy a day of talks on travel to Iceland, Lapland and the ICEHOTEL, New Zealand and the Polar Regions and discover the wonder of the northern lights and where best to observe them.

Sample fine New Zealand and Australian wine with Great Western Wines and perhaps pick up your favourite travel book at the Stanfords stand and take advantage of a 15% discount. Then learn how to capture the perfect shot during a photography workshop with Icelandic photographer Ragnar Sigurdsson.

A fantastic opportunity to meet our team of travel specialists, look around a Maui Motorhome first-hand for your adventure to New Zealand or Australia and meet our worldwide travel partners before your trip!

Places limited. Click here to RSVP

 

Galapagos on the Big Screen this Autumn

As the nights start to draw in, now is a great time to start planning a holiday to look forward to and there’s plenty of inspiration on the big screen at the moment.  This week sees the UK release of the new film ‘Creation’, a portrayal of the life of Charles Darwin starring Paul Bettany.  The controversial film charts the story behind the eventual publication of the theory of evolution, a discovery which came about following Darwin's visits to the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and other key destinations in South America and worldwide. You can find out more about Darwin's life and travels at the Natural History Museum's newly-opened Darwin Centre.

Of a completely different nature is the Antarctica-based film ‘Whiteout’ – the story of a serial killer on the loose in the Great White Continent!  It might not make for a cosy autumn evening’s viewing and it’s not exactly an activity we'd recommend in Antarctica (!), but it’s still a rare chance to marvel at these incredible frozen landscapes before planning your own Antarctic adventure…

Popcorn anybody..?!

Guardian Travel Award - Last Chance to Nominate Us!

Enjoyed your holiday with us within the last year? Want to shout about your fantastic experience? Would like to recommend Discover the World to a wider audience?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then click here to nominate Discover the World in the Guardian Readers’ Travel Award 2009 and be entered into a prize draw to win £20,000 worth of prizes!

All you need to do is fill in a questionnaire about your holiday and potentially win another holiday – a great opportunity if ever there was one.

But hurry…your last chance to do this is tomorrow - Saturday 18 April! 

2009 - A Year of Anniversaries

Happy New Year!   Welcome to 2009, which marks a number of interesting anniversaries…  

In 1907 Sir Ernest Shackleton set out on the first significant attempt to walk to the South Pole, and trekked further south than any man before him. But on 9th January 1909, just 100 miles from the Pole at latitude 88’23”S, Shackleton was forced to turn back due to low supplies. This unfinished journey was a remarkable achievement, but for those of you with less time on your hands, why not fly to the South Pole instead?!  Contact our specialist sales team for further details.

2009 is also a special year for the Galapagos, as we celebrate several landmarks including the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of The Species, and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos and the Galapagos National Park. Darwin200 have organized numerous events in honour of Darwin, and the Natural History Museum are also hosting a major exhibition until 19th April. Alternatively follow in the footsteps of the great man with a 7 night cruise on The Beagle - and discover the wonders of the Galapagos for yourself.

BBC Galapagos series - success so far...

I hope you all had the chance to see the first episode of the BBC series "Galapagos" last Friday at 9pm on BBC2.  If you missed it then you can tune in tonight as it will be shown again!  Next Friday will be the second episode and it will also be repeated on Saturday early evening.

The Executive Director of the Galapagos Conservation Trust was interviewed on BBC breakfast this morning and he talked about the best way to see the islands.  He mentioned that it is best to travel with a tour operator offering small vessels (minimum impact on environment) - which is what Discover the World do!  Hurrah!

As for the Galapagos Conservation Trust, they were delighted to have the core team from the BBC - who were responsible for the filming and production of the series - as speakers to their 'Galapagos Day' last Wednesday.  Led by Producer Patrick Morris, the team told about the making of the series and the GCT were privileged to see clips from the film as well as some of the sounds and sights that didn't make it into the final series!

Don't forget to watch the repeat episode tonight!

New BBC Galapagos documentary!

Watch out for a new series that starts on Friday BBC2 at 9pm which explores the natural wonders of the Galapagos.  This is a new three-parter series which will bring the volcanic archipelago to life.  So what makes the Galapagos so special?

Location - The Galapagos lies slap bang in the middle of a volcanic hotspot.  Eruptions have created a string of 13 main islands and more than 100 smaller outcrops.  Because of its isolation and protection from human contact, it has allowed 95% of its endemic species to survive.

Birds and Marine life - Galapagos finches and the Blue-footed Booby are part of the rich array of fascinating birdlife on the islands.  The marine iguana is the only sea lizard and they started off as land lizards but lack of food forced them to take to the waters to feed.  Despite this they still spend their days warming up in the sun.

Giant Tortoise - The Galapagos were named after these reptiles but sadly, because passing sailors used them as highly valued food, there are now only 15,000 left.  The giant tortoise weighs the same as four men and can live for 200 years, making it the world's longest-living animal.

For more information visit www.gct.org.  Don't forget BBC2 on Fridays at 9pm!