Luxury Travel Company - Original Travel

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.

We start by understanding you

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.

Give us a call or drop us an email to find out more
Drop by our offices for a chat
Or we can come to you, armed with maps and plenty of ideas

We do the hard work for you

Nick Newbury, Co Founder

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.

You'll receive a lovingly crafted itinerary pack
Every detail will be fine tuned for you
All your travel documents will be collated so the only thing you need to remember is your passport

We’re there for you while you’re away

Neill Ghosh, Director

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.

Your expert will happily send you any last minute advice you need while away
If something should go wrong our 24hr help line has you covered

Our Story

Sixteen years old and counting. Find out how we got where we are today.

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2003

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.

2004

One client goes on seven Big Short Breaks and our team now numbers nine.

2005

Our second brochure picks up the Best Brochure gong again at the Guardian Observer Travel Awards

2006

The team (now 14) head to Iceland, and in our quest for world domination we launch our long haul portfolio.

2007

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.)

2008

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.

2009

We acquire well respected Africa, Latin America and India specialists Tim Best Travel, and pick up the Best Short Break Tour Operator award again.

2010

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.

2011

We go from strength to strength organising wonderful trips - some more high profile than others - to far flung corners of the globe.

2012

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.

2013

Original Travel turns ten!

2014

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.

2016

We move into a shiny new office in Putney to accommodate the ever bigger and better team, which now numbers 50.

2017

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.

2018

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.

2019

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.