Walking the West Highland Way and Hebridean Islands
July / August 2020

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CONFIRMED DEPARTURE

It is said that if you are going to do a walk in Scotland, it should be the West Highland Way.  Described as Scotland’s finest long-distance walk, ‘The Way’ features ancient and historic routes, old drovers’ roads, where Highlanders herded their cattle to lowland markets, and famous military roads built in the 18th century to control the Jacobite clansmen.  To this we have added a stunning train trip from Glasgow to Mallaig and a ferry ride to Skye followed by a further six days walking on Skye and the Outer Hebrides. Here you will walk in a world far removed from the hustle and bustle of life to scenes of unspoilt natural beauty, coastal seascapes, rare wildlife, ancient forests and historical monuments. Staying in country inns, B&B’s and comfortable hotels, you will find yourself immersed in the heartfelt warmth and spirit that is Scotland.

TOUR MANAGER
John Matheson will be your tour manager on this tour.  John has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years, the majority of these as a director of Calder & Lawson.  He has led many overseas tours and has travelled extensively in Europe.

TOUR DATES Thursday 30 July – Friday 21 August

TOUR INCLUSIONS

  • The services of a Calder & Lawson Tours tour manager
  • Economy class airfares
  • 2 nights accommodation in Dubai
  • 18 nights accommodation in Scotland
  • Breakfast daily, other meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Luggage transfers between accommodation on walks
  • All group transfers
  • Admissions as detailed in the itinerary
  • All tips for national and local guides
  • Pre-tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

  • Airline taxes
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Beverages during included meals, unless specified
  • Hotel porterage

This tour is now full, please contact us if you wish to go on a wait list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking in Italy
September 2020

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CONFIRMED DEPARTURE

Italy is the perfect place for a gourmet walking holiday.  Walk for several hours each day, absorbing the history and scenery, then reward yourself with the delicious food completely guilt free! Roam through the manicured hills with villas guarded by cypress trees and the walled hilltop towns of Tuscany.  Discover the small, elegant fishing harbours with colourful boats and welcoming gelatos of Liguria and the five seaside villages clinging precariously to the cliffs on the Cinque Terre. Stroll the lakesides and romantic gardens of the Northern Italian Lakes which have for centuries inspired poets and artists with their majestic beauty. Delight in the architectural treasures, art and history in Florence. Stay in small, comfortable, often family-owned hotels in villages and towns with time to absorb the atmosphere. A return of one of our most popular walking tours with some new twists.

TOUR MANAGER
John Matheson will be your tour manager on this tour.  John has worked in the travel industry for over 45 years, the majority of these as a director of Calder & Lawson.  He has led many overseas walking tours and has travelled extensively in Europe. Italy is Johns favourite destination in Europe, so much so that he has escorted this tour three times before. He is looking forward to helping you explore some of the hidden treasures and captivating villages of Italy.

TOUR DATES Monday 7 – Wednesday 30 September

TOUR INCLUSIONS

  • The services of a Calder & Lawson Tours tour manager
  • Economy class airfares
  • 2 nights accommodation in Dubai
  • 19 nights accommodation in Italy
  • Breakfast daily, other meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Luggage transfers between accommodation on walks
  • All group transfers
  • Admissions as detailed in the itinerary
  • All tips for national and local guides
  • Pre-tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

  • Airline taxes
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Beverages during included meals, unless specified
  • Hotel porterage

TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland
Share twin per person                                     NZD$13,880
Single supplement (limited availability)     NZD$  1,850  

Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place.

GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 18

 

 

 

 

Biking in New York, Cape Cod & Vermont
October 2020

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CONFIRMED DEPARTURE

Begin your tour with three nights in New York City experiencing the vibrancy of ‘The Big Apple’. Visit  Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and other iconic sights both on foot and by bike. You will also have time to catch a Broadway show if you wish. Moving on to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, you will cycle easy paths past scenic lighthouses, gingerbread cottages and dramatic sea vistas.  Discover what makes Martha’s Vineyard such a favourite with artists, writers and American Presidents. Following this spectacular coastal riding, you will travel to Vermont to ride through the glorious fall colours. Every day will feature leisurely lakeside cycling and magical views of Lake Champlain. Rides will be on the Burlington bike path and quiet back roads, through charming New England towns all the while staying in cosy inns and boutique hotels.   E-bikes are available.

TOUR MANAGER Pat Mandeno

TOUR DATES Thursday 1 – Friday 16 October 2020

TOUR INCLUSIONS

  • The services of an experienced New Zealand based Calder & Lawson tour manager
  • Economy class airfares
  • 13 nights accommodation in historic inns, resorts and 4 star hotels
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Bike and helmet
  • Local guides
  • All group transfers
  • Admissions as detailed in the itinerary
  • All tips for local guides and drivers
  • Pre-tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

  • Airline taxes
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Beverages during included meals, unless specified
  • Other meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Hotel porterage
  • American eSTA visa (electronic travel authorisation)
  • If you wish to pay by credit card, a surcharge of 2.5% will be charged

This tour is now full, please contact us if you would like to go on the waiting list. 

 

 

 

Walking in Japan – The Nakasendo Way
November 2020

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Walking the Nakasendo Way is one of our most popular tours. You will start in Kyoto, an ancient capital and cultural epicentre of Japan, and end in vibrant Tokyo. The walks follow some of the best-preserved and most interesting parts of the old road deep into the mountains. In its heyday, in the 17th century, the Nakasendo was crowded with travellers but is now largely forgotten and quiet. Staying in picturesque old post towns where the charming traditional inns have survived into the modern world, you will sleep on futons, eat delicious Japanese food and bathe in thermal baths. The typical daily walk is 10-17 kilometres, and transport can be arranged for those who want a more relaxed day. While you walk through the Japanese countryside, the architecture, food, ceramics and gardens provide a feast for the eyes. Gain a unique experience of Japan and its people as it was and as it is now.

TOUR MANAGER – Andrew Taylor
Andrew has thoroughly enjoyed his previous trips to Japan. His first trip was for the Japanese Tourism Board and took him inland from Nagoya on the Mountain Railway to the traditionally thatched houses of Takayama. His other experiences include the spectacular Hakone Open Air Museum with its many installation art pieces set out in a park-like setting. Andrew’s second trip took him to Bihoro in northern Hokkaido as part of a sister city exchange. He stayed with a traditional Japanese farming family and helped with the potato harvest. Japan has many contrasts to New Zealand, Tokyo’s massive Tsukiji fish market; and the Shinkansen trains speeding you across the countryside at 180km and always arriving on time. The cleanliness and the feeling of complete safety are abiding memories.

DATES Wednesday 4 – Friday 20 November

TOUR INCLUSIONS

  • The services of a Calder & Lawson Tours tour manager
  • Economy class airfares
  • 15 nights accommodation in Japan
  • Breakfast daily, other meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Luggage transfers between accommodation on walk
  • All group transfers
  • Admissions as detailed in the itinerary
  • All tips for national and local guides
  • Pre-tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

  • Airline taxes
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Beverages during included meals, unless specified
  • Hotel porterage

TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland
Share twin per person                                     NZD$14,299
Single supplement (limited availability)     NZD$  1,499

Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place.

GROUP SIZE Maximum 13

 

Walking Patagonia & Northern Argentina
Coming in 2021…

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Walk in awe-inspiring and contrasting landscapes to see some of the natural wonders of the world. From the glaciers, granite pinnacles, and aquamarine lakes of Patagonia to the red canyons, shimmering salt flats and vineyards of northern Argentina. The contrasts of this trip are like no other and offer a complete Argentine experience from the glacier filled South to the colourful North. There are many trekking tours to Patagonia but not many that have our unique combination of easier walking with incredible sightseeing, and cultural experiences. This tour also includes vibrant Buenos Aires, and the trip across the Andes to Santiago. No visit to Argentina would be complete without enjoying the culinary delights on offer in Buenos Aires and some of the famous red wines in Mendoza. A tour for people who want to enjoy the diverse highlights of this country all in one spectacular trip.

This tour has been withdrawn from the 2020 tour programme. We will be looking to offer this again in March 2021 – contact us to register your interest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Break – Walking in the Red Centre of Australia July 2021

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Immerse yourself in this ancient land by experiencing the natural wonders of the Red Centre. This is a land of colour, rich red ochre cliffs and rocky gorges, brilliant green waterholes and the startling white of the ghost gums. At the major sites of Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a knowledgeable guide will give in-depth interpretation of these special places. You will also walk in the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon. With two guides looking after you, you can choose easier or harder options along the way. The basic but comfortable accommodation means you can relax and fully enjoy the colours of this extraordinary landscape. After six days of walking, you will have time to explore Alice Springs and perhaps take a balloon ride before returning home. This short break will give you a real change of scene and respite from the New Zealand winter.

TOUR DATES  Thursday 29 July – Thursday 5 August 2021

TOUR INCLUSIONS

  • The services of an experienced New Zealand based Calder & Lawson tour manager
  • Economy class airfares
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • Cooked breakfasts, a la carte diners and comprehensive walker’s lunches
  • All group transfers
  • Desert Park and National Park admissions
  • Champagne and wine at sunset at Uluru
  • Pre tour material

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

  • Airline taxes
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Beverages during included meals, unless specified
  • Balloon flight – approximate price is AUD$300

TOUR PRICE TBA
Single occupancy places are limited on this tour, please contact us if you are interested in a single occupancy place.

The itinerary will be posted here shortly