New for 2008

In the travel business we don't half live in the future - it's almost enough to make you old before your time! However, that's the way it has to be and so we find ourselves in the last stages of preparation of the 2008 brochure with just a couple of months to go to the final deadline.

Last year firm resolutions was made that the 2007 version would be the biggest ever and never, never would we increase it any further. That was until it was launched at the British Birdwatching Fair. It's during those three days that one gets inspired by the enthusiasm of all the people one meets and, before you know it, you're coming round to the idea of several new destinations. To cut a long story short, 2008 positively WILL be the biggest ever!

There's some really exciting new stuff in it, some of which will be coming up next winter. In order to give you all a chance to make your plans well in advance, here's a sneak preview of the new destinations, some of which you already know about from the newsletter we put out just before Christmas:

Argentina and Argentina/Falkland Islands

A visit to South America in the autumn spawned three new tours, of which these are two. The first will combine Argentina and the Falkland Islands offering a bridge over troubled waters and a hand of friendship between the two sides of that oh-so-sad war back in 1982. 25 years on we will be celebrating the beauty of both countries and the fabulous scenery and wildlife which they share. Each of course has its own specialities but some things are found in both places. We'll be marking the 25th anniversary of the conflict by bringing the two together in one tour in November 2007.

Meanwhile, southern Patagonia merits its own dedicated itinerary and this will be offered in March of 2008. Starting in Buenos Aires (where there's a splendid nature reserve right in the centre of the city which gives a brilliant introduction to birding in the country), we move down to the very south of the country. We move down to the Valdez Peninsula where we will be hoping to see Killer Whales (Orca) beaching in the surf and on to El Calafate with its nearby glacier and El Chatén with its breath-taking mountain scenery. We finish up at "the end of the world" as Tierra del Fuego is known as we spend a couple of nights at Ushuaia to explore the surrounding national park and mountains before returning to Buenos Aires for our flight home.

Costa Rica

For years our regular clients - and visitors to our stand at the Bird Fair - have been asking us to include Costa Rica in our programme and this we have decided to do. Unfortunately I was unable to go on the "recky" but my representative, who will be leading the tour, came back thrilled to bits with what he had found. His descriptions are mouth-watering and I am sure you all know what to expect. He thought he did too, but the reality far outstripped his anticipation. So it is thatl our first tour to this legendary country (in terms of natural history) will take place in early January 2008.

Peru

Our first trip to this superb destination is scheduled for September of this year and will take in three distinct habitats - the coastal waters and islands south of Lima, the legendary Machu Picchu and the superb cloud forest in which it is set and the Amazonian Basin rainforest. This is an outstanding tour with lots of contrasts and many opportunities to enjoy all aspects of this fascinating country and its superb wildlife and scenery. If September is too soon for you don't worry - we'll have a date for 2008 in our brochure when it comes out.

Taiwan

The "beautiful island" as the Portuguese named Formosa, or Taiwan as it is now known, is one of those special destinations, an island for the connoisseur. Thoroughly Oriental, with lowland rice paddies, deep blue lakes, fast-flowing rivers, untouched forested hill slopes and mountain crags and peaks, this superb island has much to offer the birder and it is on this aspect which our holiday in early May will focus. We'll be moving around to optimize our chances of seeing as many of the 200 of so species as is realistic without turning the holiday into a route march!

Northern Malaya

Now there's a clue about this elsewhere in this newsletter where we celebrate Irshad Mobarak's accolade as an "Amazing Malaysian". Those of you who follow our blog (and I'm sorry the updates aren't perhaps as frequent as they should be!) will have read about Will Wagstaff's visit - he was certainly bowled over by those hornbills! It was Irshad's enthusiasm about his country and its birds which captivated me when I met him at the Bird Fair last year and, according to Will, he hadn't been exaggerating. And so we have put together a super itinerary taking in the highlights of this superb corner of Asia which will go out in March next year.

Spain's Ebro Delta

There are so many areas of Spain in which to enjoy the country's abundant birdlife and beautiful flowers and scenery that one really is spoilt for choice.

Shortly after this newsletter goes out I will be heading off to the Ebro Delta with a view to introducing that neck of the woods to our 2008 brochure. Obviously, not having yet done the research, there's not much more I can say about it yet so watch out for the new brochure in August.

Jamaica

After a gap of a few years we'll be re-introducing our delightful, relaxed birding holiday in Jamaica in March next year. It's such a beautiful island and the people out there with whom we work are seriously committed to environmentally responsible tourism. I'll never forget my visit a few years ago - arriving at Forres Park in the dark, waking up to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee and looking out to discover the famous Blue Mountains in all their glory. Streamertails were amongst the birds feeding on the flowering shrubs within touching distance of the balcony - and we had donuts with our coffee as well!!

I could talk about the glories of Jamaica for ages but you'll be pleased to hear that space does not permit! But do go and find out for yourself if you haven't already been - it's a wonderful island.

Latvia and Estonia

Both these fascinating and relatively little known Baltic states will feature in our 2008 programme, both separately and together. Again the research is on-going at the moment but I've been lucky enough to have Ken Shaw put together the programme for Latvia - he knows the country really well and spends a lot of time out there. We've already put the itinerary together and it includes a day over the border in Estonia. Meanwhile I'm off to Estonia to work on a stand-alone programme for that destination. Again, watch this space!

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