It’s not every day that a tree is planted in your honour, or that a wholesaler launches dark matter tours (along with some sweet savings to boot). Read all about this and more here.

Insight Vacations breaks ground in Tasmania in celebration of National Tree Day

Alex O’Connor, Insight Vacations managing director

Insight Vacations is “thrilled” to have officially broken ground in Jericho, Tasmania, as part of its paperless documentation initiative – having now planted the first 600 trees for guests who have chosen paperless documents.

In celebration of National Tree Day on 28 July, the breaking of the soil signifies the start of a healthy planting season in Tasmania and allows every Australian guest to help make a positive environmental impact in their own country when choosing to receive their Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold travel documents electronically.

Travel Weekly was fortunate enough to have had a tree planted on its behalf by Insight Vacations.

Since the launch of the partnership with One Tree Planted just one year ago, Insight Vacations guests have assisted in reforesting 50 acres of trees in devastated land throughout Northern California and Vietnam.

From 2019, Australian guests will help make travel matter in reforesting their own backyard in Tasmania.

Travel Weekly’s upcoming event Travel DAZE tackles sustainability – but we’re not just talking carbon offsetting and charitable practices.

It’s about sustainable marketing, advertising campaigns, tech, workplace practices, retail and wholesale…the whole gamut which your business will benefit from as we approach 2020.

And we’re calling the big shots to lead the charge including former Greens leader Bob Brown, Gardening Australia’s Logie-winning presenter Costa Georgiadis, plus a slew of other inspiring speakers.

Travel DAZE is basically TED for Travel: rapid-fire 12 min talks by smart folks.

Grab a ticket now or bag a bonus Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

New Scientist launches new expert-led Discovery Tours for 2020/2021

Science and technology magazine New Scientist has launched its new Discovery Tours for 2020/21 – a program of science-inspired travel experiences now available to book.

The new tours incorporate a range of scientific themes, including: astronomy, wildlife, volcanology, space travel, particle physics and pre-historic culture.

Highlights include tracking snow leopards in the Himalayas, discovering the origins of humankind in ancient caves in Spain and exploring dark matter at CERN in Switzerland.

Each tour is accompanied by an expert from New Scientist’s expansive network of editors, science specialists, academics and authors.

Travellers will have the opportunity to engage with them as they share their extensive scientific knowledge during each uniquely curated travel experience.

Busabout Launches 2020 USA & Canada program 

Busabout has launched its 2020 USA & Canada brochure with three new guided adventures and a ‘3 Stop Hop-on Hop-off Pass’ on its West Coast coach travel network.

The travel operator launched into North America for the first time in 2019 and is venturing further afield in 2020, adding more adventures along the East Coast of Canada and the US.

The 2020 program features three new East Coast cross-border adventures exploring the US and Canada, including all accommodation, coach transportation, Busabout crew and a number of inclusions.

The Travel Corporation’s weekly deals

Haggis

Compass Buster

Save 10 per cent on your Scottish Adventure with Haggis for 2020. Travellers can save on the 10-day Compass Buster journey which spans Scotland. Guests will be awestruck by the crystal blue waters of the Western Isles, blown away by the history and heritage of Orkney and stunned by the magic and beauty of the Isle of Skye.

Starting from $1,501* per person (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 31 August 2019 for all 2020 departures.

For more information or to book contact https://www.haggisadventures.com/ or call 1300 287 226. *Conditions apply.

Contiki

Wild Western

Enjoy 10 per cent off Contiki’s 14-day Wild Western trip. Starting from $3,168* per person (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 13 August 2019 for select departures between 7 April 2020 and 17 November 2020.

For more information or to book call 1300 266 845 or visit www.contiki.com *Conditions apply.

Trafalgar

European Interlude

Book by 9 September 2019 to receive 10 per cent off with Trafalgar. Guests can save on the 15-day European Interlude journey from Amsterdam’s gabled canal houses and the Cologne Cathedral to Vienna’s Opera House and the Doge’s Palace in Venice.

Starting from $5,035* per person, twin share (discount included). This offer is on sale now until 9 September 2019 for departures between April and October 2020.

For more information or to book call 1300 78 78 78 or visit www.trafalgar.com *Conditions apply.

Uniworld

Ultimate European Journey

Uniworld invites travellers to sail on a 2020 all-inclusive luxury river cruise in Europe and save $2,500 per person on the price of your cruise, plus up to an additional 10 per cent Early Payment Discount when you pay in full within three days of booking – offer ends 16 August.

Starting from $14,039* per person, twin share (discounts included). This offer is on sale now until 16 August 2019 for departures on 29 April & 19 May 2020.

For more information or to book call 1300 780 231 or visit www.uniworld.com *Conditions apply.

Insight Vacations

Country Roads of Scandinavia

Guests booking with Insight Vacations can secure 2020 travel at 2019 pricing, in addition to saving up to 10 per cent for an Early Payment Discount.

This saving is featured Insight Vacations’ Country Roads of Scandinavia tour, with prices starting from $4,748* per person. This offer is on sale now until 31 August 2019 or sold out for departures on 12 and 19 August 2020. Departure dates are subject to change.

For more information or to book call 1300 727 767 or visit www.insightvacations.com or contact your local sales manager *Conditions apply.

Explore Worldwide

Walk Japan Kumano Kodo Trail

Book a small group Japanese adventure with Adventure World Travel in August 2019 and enjoy free pre-night accommodation and airport transfer, plus a free sushi making class.

Guests can use these savings on the 12 day Walk Japan Kumano Kodo Trail itinerary, with prices starting from $7,330* per person, twin share (with pre-night accommodation, airport transfer & sushi making class included). This offer is on sale from 1 August until 31 August for all departure dates for small group adventures to Japan.

For more information or to book call 1300 363 055 or visit www.adventureworld.com *Conditions apply.

U River Cruises

Rolling on the Rhine

Your choice: save 10 per cent or enjoy a free U Drink Package (valued at $499) when you pay in full at time of booking by 30 September 2019. Guests can enjoy these savings on the 8 day Rolling on the Rhine journey, starting from $3,599* per person, twin share (10 per cent early payment savings included OR enjoy a U Drink Package valued at $499).

This offer is on sale now until 30 September 2019 for all sailing dates. For more information or to book call 1300 730 010 or visit www.ubyuniworld.com *Conditions apply.

Inspiring Journeys

Victoria’s Hidden Gems

Receive 15 per cent off selected Inspiring Journeys when booked before 30 September 2019. Guests can enjoy these savings on the 7-day Victoria’s Hidden Gems itinerary where they will uncover the unique beauty of Victoria, with prices starting from $3,732* per person, twin share (including discount).

This offer is on sale now till 30 September 2019 for departures on 11 October, 2019; 8 November, 2019, and 6 December, 2019. For more information or to book call 1300 551 694 or visit www.inspiringjourneys.com.au *Conditions apply.

APT tickets for direct flights between Melbourne and Kununurra now on sale

APT has announced direct flights between Melbourne and Kununurra are now available to book in conjunction with its Kimberley departures in 2020, linking the East Coast to the East Kimberley region.

Flights are on sale from 1 August, 2019 with the first flight operating 15 May, 2020 in line with APT’s first departure of the 10-day ‘Grand Kimberley Coast’ cruise, which leaves from nearby Wyndham to Broome in 2020. The cruise can be combined with APT’s brand-new ‘Short Breaks for the ultimate Kimberley’ adventure.

The direct flights from Melbourne to Kununurra will operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while return journeys will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. A number of the available seats have already been pre-purchased by APT so customers can easily add connecting flights between Melbourne and their home city, including New Zealand.

Bentours announces 50 per cent off flash sale

Bentours is offering a 50 per cent off flash sale on its Iceland tour ‘Across the Wilderness’.

Discover the beauty and power of Iceland’s wilderness and visit the natural wonders of the Golden Circle on this small group tour.

Valid for new bookings for tour on 22 August 2019. Terms and conditions apply. Call Bentours on 1800 487 844 for more info.

Mountaineering elite take World Expeditions’ Adventures to new heights

Tim Macartney-Snape

World Expeditions’ new trekking and mountaineering range is reaching new heights with the announcement that Andrew Lock and Tim Macartney-Snape will lead two new trips in coming months.

Tim Macartney-Snape, the first Australian to summit Mt Everest – via a new route and without supplemental oxygen – will lead a new World Expeditions’ trekking adventure to summit three peaks of Uganda’s Mountains of the Moon while Andrew Lock, the first Australian to climb all 14 peaks over 8000m, will lead a climbing expedition to summit Nepal’s just opened Mt Himlung.

STA Travel: 20 per cent off last minute Euro trips

STA has released flights to Europe booked with Lufthansa from $1299.

Travellers will also have the opportunity to decide whether they want to transit through Asia, South America or North America, along with up to 20 per cent off last minute Contiki trips.

These include the ‘Contiki Mediterranean Highlights’ tour, from just $2,686 for 13 days (down from $3,358); the ‘20-day European Dream trip’, experienced over 20 nights, from $4,028 (down from $5,035), and ‘Turkey for 7 days’, from just $1,109.