For more information, visit ustoa.com.
USTOA tour operators know a thing or two about planning a vacation, and they can help you with the when, where, how and why of planning your client’s dream getaway.
Working with a tour operator makes the vacation planning seamless, and it saves you loads of time. On an escorted/guided tour all the nuts and bolts are taken care of, with the tour operator handling the complicated logistics of transportation, booking necessary reservations at negotiated rates and providing personal services of tour directors with on-the-ground knowledge. A tour operator has all the elements of a trip planned out expertly, down to the last detail, ensuring that everything runs as planned. Transportation, lodging, dining, sightseeing and flexible free time are all included. And those authentic, local and unforgettable experiences today’s travelers are seeking are also part of the package—think private tastings at wineries, interacting with archaeologists and a home-cooked meal with a local family.
Plus, when a travel advisor books a client’s trip with a USTOA tour operator, their vacation is protected by the $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. This means in the case of a tour operator bankruptcy, insolvency, or cessation of business, tour deposits and payments are protected up to an aggregate of $1 million.
Nature-focused Escapes With 5 USTOA Tour Operators
USTOA tour operators immerse travelers in the world’s most breathtaking landscapes and deliver adventurous activities such as horseback riding on a Patagonian ranch and white-water rafting through the Pyrenees. The great outdoors awaits and these five USTOA tour operators deliver enticing nature-focused tours you’re going to want to recommend to your clients.
Abercrombie & Kent’s 10-day Patagonia: The Last Wilderness tour whisks travelers away to the pristine Patagonian wilderness, where they’ll stroll among Magellanic penguins, explore rugged Torres del Paine National Park and view the astonishing Perito Moreno Glacier. Traveling with A&K means your clients will sail on an exclusively chartered boat through the Beagle Channel, visit a working Patagonian ranch, explore the unspoiled Patagonian forest on a guided hike and sail Argentino Lake, among other unique offerings.
Collette’s 12-day Costa Rica: A World of Nature itinerary is brimming over with adventure, including a crocodile safari in the jungle, a birdwatching cruise in the rainforest, stays in remote resorts and visits to a local plantation to savor cacao. The most adventurous can stand suspended over the rainforest floor as they make their way across a network of hanging bridges, hike the lava fields of Arenal Volcano or soar over jungle canopies on a zipline.
On the 8-day Classic Dolomites-Premium Adventure getaway created by Exodus Travels walking and trekking are on the agenda. For this particular tour, the tour operator offers two activity level departures—Moderate and Challenging, with “moderate” being ideal for those who are moderately fit and “challenging” ideal for those who have a good level of fitness. The walking/trekking adventure has your clients venturing into the Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto National Park, taking in spectacular scenery and learning about the history of the area as they make their way across these mountain landscapes. Of course, authentic gourmet dinners and local specialties are also on the menu.
Intrepid Travel’s 8-day Andorra: Hike, Bike & Raft escorted tour doesn’t hold back when it comes to packing in the adventure. During this tour, travelers will bike down some of the best mountain trails in Andorra, including the historic Iron Route, go white-water rafting through the Pyrenees, explore the quaint town of Soldeu, based at an impressive elevation of 5,610 ft. above sea level, cycle along the scenic trails of Port de Cabus, the mountain pass on the Pyrenees Andorran-Spanish border, zipline between the trees and over rope obstacles in Cortals Valley and trek through the stunning Siscaro reserve, keeping an eye out for native flora and fauna along the way.
For those with time on their hands, recommend Trafalgar’s 17-day Majestic Alaska land/cruise tour, which starts in Anchorage and ends in Vancouver. This itinerary has vacationers exploring scenic river valleys and viewing Alaska’s snow-capped peaks, experiencing everything from Denali National Park’s tundra and the Alaska Railroad to Kenai Fjords National Park, home to black bears, and Prince William Sound. They’ll also have the opportunity to cruise closer to Alaska’s natural wonders—from calving glaciers to breaching humpback whales.
For more information, visit ustoa.com.
