Audley Travel

An incredibly diverse but relatively small island nation, Sri Lanka offers magnificent wildlife, world-class cultural attractions and glorious beaches. With no long distances to cover, even a short trip can include a wide range of experiences and activities such as spotting leopards and elephants on safari, observing whales and dolphins off the south coast or marvelling at the wonders of the Golden Triangle. Step back in time with a visit to the ancient capitals of Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa or the Dambulla cave temples. Visit colonial Galle or simply relax beneath swaying palms on the golden beaches of the southwest or less-visited northeast.

A country by name, but a continent in scale, India in one word is diversity. To guide you where to go when faced with such rich variety, our India specialists use the experience of their own travels to create your tailor-made holiday to India. The north is banded by the snow-crowned peaks of the Himalaya. Moving south, you pass through Rajasthan, a microcosm of India with its forts, palaces and temples, as well as the Taj Mahal. Central India shelters leopards, elephants and the Bengal tiger. In India’s northeast corner, Calcutta still exudes its colonial heritage in a landscape of Bengali mansions and neo-Gothic architecture. West-coast Mumbai is an improbable proposition — a hub of manufacturing where you can wander among Art Deco architecture or through a teeming bazaar. Down in India’s south, cruising Kerala’s backwaters on a converted rice barge is a suitably relaxed way to embrace this region’s laid-back approach to life.

Visit the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Bathe in the thermal pools of the hot springs in the Atacama Desert.

Ecuador may be slightly dwarfed by other South American countries, but it punches well above its weight. It’s tempting to pass through only the mainland en route to the celebrated Galapagos Islands, but our specialists would urge you to holiday in continental Ecuador, too. They’re able to help you experience all the country’s beguiling variety in a tailor-made Ecuador itinerary. Lovers of textiles and artisan crafts can head to the animated markets of Otavalo and the capital, Quito, or observe authentic Panama hats being made in the colonial city of Cuenca. You can explore, and hike on, the geological spectacle of the almost conical Cotopaxi in the Avenue of Volcanoes. One of the feathers in Ecuador’s cap is its restored railway network, which offers visitors panoramic vistas of the Andean landscapes. Meanwhile, you’re able to immerse yourself in birdwatching and horticulture in cloudforest reserves.

The wild heart of Africa, Zambia is a green oasis of national parks fed by rivers and wetlands that attract a huge variety of animals. Elephant, lion, wild dog and hyena are commonly spotted, and leopards cool off from the sun on the shady branches of trees. Before or after your safari in Zambia you can visit Victoria Falls, half of which lies within the country’s boundaries. Our specialists will use their own safari experiences in Zambia to plan your trip, whether you want to focus on searching for the Big Five or look for more unusual wildlife. Added to its game drives, Zambia is known as the home of the walking safari, and its guides are among the highest qualified in Africa. They’ll show you how to track animals, identify birds from their calls and discover the hidden world of insects as you walk through the bush.