When it comes to our approach we’re proud to say we’re different to your average tour operator or travel agent. We offer something a little more special.
Tom Barber, Co Founder
Taking the time to understand what you want from your holiday allows us to provide the truly transformative details that turn time away into a memory that will last a lifetime.
Neill Ghosh, Director
We take great pride in creating an itinerary tailored around you. We can finesse every detail so your holiday is not only special but hassle-free too, with every detail taken care of.
Tom Barber, Co Founder
We want you to be on holiday while you're on holiday. Your Original Travel expert is here for last minute tips and our 24hr helpline is always available in the unlikely event something should go wrong.
Sixteen years old and counting. Find out how we got where we are today.
The three founders leave the City, the Army and Fleet Street and the Big Short Break is born.
We scoop our first award, for Best Brochure, at the prestigious Guardian/Observer Travel Awards.
One client goes on seven Big Short Breaks and our team now numbers nine.
Our second brochure picks up the Best Brochure gong again at the Guardian Observer Travel Awards
The team (now 14) head to Iceland, and in our quest for world domination we launch our long haul portfolio.
We turn publishers, launching our Big Short Break coffee table book.
The big one. We win Best Tour Operator at the Guardian/Observer Travel Awards in only our 5th year.
(and we also sweep the board at the inaugural Matrix Skeleton Challenge, hurtling down the Olympic bobsleigh track in Lillehammer.)
Alastair beats an opponent from one of our competitors at the Boodles Boxing Ball, raising money for the Starlight Charity.
The winning habit continues with a Best Short Break Tour Operator nod at the Guardian/Observer Awards, and the BT Essence of the Entrepreneur Award to boot.
The Original Travel baby boom begins with Tom's twins and, not entirely coincidentally, we launch our new family holiday portfolio.
We acquire well respected Africa, Latin America and India specialists Tim Best Travel, and pick up the Best Short Break Tour Operator award again.
We launch Original Diving with Tim Simond, author of the best selling Dive in Style books, and Dive Master and former Mr Universe, Neill Ghosh.
The hardier members of the team compete in the Blenheim Triathlon to raise money for one of our key charities, the admirable TUSK
We bag the Guardian/Observer Travel Awards Best Short Break Tour Operator award for a fourth straight year. Huw Edwards seems less than impressed.
We go from strength to strength organising wonderful trips - some more high profile than others - to far flung corners of the globe.
With the acquisition of Simoon Travel, founder Amelia Stewart brings the finest Middle Eastern and desert culture specialists on board.
A clean sweep of both Best Tour Operator and Best Short Break Tour Operator at the Guardian/Observer Awards. Trophy cabinet now officially groaning.
We move to our lovely new office, the former home of Victoria Beckham's fashion label.
Original Travel turns ten!
A sparkly new Original Travel website launches with over 3,000 pages and 20,000 photos of holiday inspiration. Share your holiday plans with friends using My Ideas and find your Travel Tribe.
We move into a shiny new office in Putney to accommodate the ever bigger and better team, which now numbers 50.
Two of Europe's best tailor-made travel companies join forces as French tour operator Voyageurs du Monde takes a strategic stake in Original Travel. Expect even better service and destination expertise.
We introduce a range of additional services, including our global network of Concierges, fast track through airport check in & security, and access to airport lounges. All as standard on every trip.
Our expanding team now numbers over 60! Original Travel's Amelia Stewart deservedly snags a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist 2019 award for her expertise in Georgia.
Our expertise goes from strength to strength as head of Original Diving, Louisa Fisher, is officially named a Travel + Leisure expert on diving.
Original Travel scoops a trophy in the Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 in the 'Above & Beyond' category which recognises companies who put families at the heart of what they do.
We are listed in the 'Top Tour Operators' category in the 2019 Condé Nast Traveller's Reader's Choice Awards with over 600,000 readers voting.
A fab four of the Original Travel team are featured in the 2020 Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists list, celebrating the finest in the field of travel.
In the toughest imaginable year for the travel industry, we launch our new Travel Less, Travel Better ethos, because travel should be a force for good.
Original Travel turns 18! Thank you to all the clients who have helped us come of age. We wouldn't be where we are without you.
We contribute no fewer than five experts to the annual and illustrious Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists list. That's more than any other UK travel company.
We're seasoned travellers who combine our personal insights and exceptional knowledge to create memorable trips and experiences.
Our thoughtful team of knowledgeable experts are here to take care of every need, from the second you contact us to when you return
