Around the world in 80 fays for Children in Need
The Adventure Company is supporting this year's Children in Need campaign by donating £5 for every one of its adventure tours booked to destinations featured in the new celebrity BBC series Around the World in 80 Days.
If you loved Michael Palin's globetrotting adventure, tune into the new BBC series, Around the World in 80 Days, in which six pairs of celebrities follow in the footsteps of the Monty Python star to re-enact the famous voyage of Phileas Fogg.
The new six-part series which started on BBC1 on Tuesday 13th October and follows the celebrities who take part in an ambitious a six-leg relay race to circumnavigate the globe.
The first leg of the voyage is led by comedians Frank Skinner - who also narrates the series- and Lee Mack. They pass the baton to The Apprentice stars Nick Hewer and Saira Khan for leg two and Countryfile presenters Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker race on for leg three. BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull and BBC News presenter Louise Minchin take on leg four; Torchwood and West End star John Barrowman and TV and radio presenter Myleene Klass leg five; and actor Shane Richie together with actress and comedienne Josie Lawrence tackle the final hurdles to the finish line.
These big-hearted celebs have signed up for this challenging adventure to raise funds for the Children in Need Appeal.
The race left The Reform Club in London – the starting point for the real Michael Palin and the fictional Phileas Fogg's Around The World In 80 Days trip.
The next stop is Innsbruck in Austria followed by Venice, Athens, Crete, the Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Cairo, and Suez followed by Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Doha and Dubai. Then it is on to India and the cities of Mumbai, Guntakal and Madras, before Singapore, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shanghai. The final eastern port of call is Tokyo before landing in the USA and stopping at the cities of LA, Aspen, Chicago and New York. The final hop is from Le Havre in northern France to London.
While the celebrity duos will have the aid of 21st century technology, including a GPS phone and satellite tracker, in homage to Fogg and Palin, air travel is not allowed. They have to travel by other means of transport, from camels to bullet trains, to make their relay deadline.
The UKs leading specialist adventure travel operator, The Adventure Company, has a great selection of guided group tours to many of the destinations featured on the Around the World in 80 Days route, including Austria, Egypt, India, Japan and China.
Book a place on any of our tours to these destinations before 31st December 2009 and we'll donate £5 to Children in Need.
Here is a sample of some of the trips on offer:
Cycling in Austria - Families will cycle on traffic-free routes passing though alpine meadows, pine forests, gorges and along the shores of rivers and lakes. As well as cycling there is the chance to try white water rafting, tobogganing, llama trekking or summer skiing during the eight-day trip. Prices start from £989 per person.
Essential India - On this all-encompassing trip 14-day trip families will explore both Northern and Southern India with a houseboat cruise through the Malabar backwaters, wildlife safaris in the Ranthambore National Park, sightseeing in Delhi and a visit to the Taj Mahal. Prices start from £1,799 per child and from £1,879 per adult.
India Explorer - On this all-encompassing trip 14-day trip travellers will explore both Northern and Southern India. The itinerary includes a visit to the famous Taj Mahal, a tiger safari in the Ranthambore National Park, a houseboat cruise through the Malabar backwaters. Along with time to explore the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur and relax on the golden beaches at Kovalam. Prices start from £1,879 per person.
Wonders of the Nile - A 10-day Adventure Collection trip. The itinerary includes all of the highlights of Egypt including Cairo and the Pyramids, Luxor, the Red Sea and Aswan. In Aswan, holidaymakers will board a luxury Felucca boat and embark on a classic Nile cruise. Prices start from £1,399 per child and from £1,539 per adult.
Jewels of the Nile - A 10-day Adventure Collection trip. The itinerary includes all of the highlights of Egypt including Cairo and the Pyramids, Luxor with the opportunity to enjoy the optional hot air balloon ride, the Red Sea and Aswan. In Aswan, holidaymakers will board a luxury Felucca boat and embark on a 3-day cruise up the Nile. Prices start from £1,529 per person.
For further information, latest deals and full itineraries, visit adventurecompany.co.uk.