New Biking and Multi-Sport Trips in Eastern Europe

Austin-Lehman Adventures to Launch Programs for Slovenia/Croatia in 2011

Billings, Montana (April 2010) – A leading provider of small-group, active vacations in the Americas, Europe and Africa, Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) has announced the development of two new programs to Eastern Europe for the 2011 season.
 
Building on its successful acquisition of EuroBike Tours in the Fall of 2008, ALA continues to capitalize on its European base of operations and programs by creating two new trips:   a six-night, bike trip in Slovenia and a seven-night, multi-sport trip in Croatia.  The Slovenia excursion will include Ljubljana (the capital), Bled with Lake Bled, Kranjska Gora, Nova Gorica / Gorizia; and the Croatian program, beginning in Split and ending in Dubrovnik, will feature a number of islands in the Adriatic Sea (Brac, Hvar, Korcula).
 
ALA guests will experience the cultural and scenic splendor of these intriguing destinations.  From Ljubljana’s magnificent concert halls to the majestic Alps, lush farmlands and the harbor of Dubrovnik (the “pearl of the Adriatic Sea”), vacationers will be drawn to the natural beauty and urbane radiance of this compact region.  Passionate travelers have long known that Slovenia and Croatia are destinations of great history and panorama.  Reviewers have described this region as being “blessed with one of Europe's most glorious coastlines” and to have “miraculously escaped the overdevelopment of some other Mediterranean vacation destinations.”
 
Slovenia and Croatia are among the new trips added to ALA’s growing roster of biking adventures.  This move into Eastern Europe coincides with ALA’s recent acquisition of custom-adventure operator CBT Tours, which has been operating tours under the direction of its principal, Desmond Gibbens, since 1989.  “My wife and I have been running bike tours in Eastern Europe for years, but the challenge became too great in tandem with raising a young family,” said Gibbens.  “As I considered a prospective company to carry on our efforts, Austin-Lehman Adventures immediately came to mind.  Their expertise and emphasis on personalization will only enhance the trips we pioneered.”
 
According to Dan Austin, director of ALA, “In acquiring CBT and retaining Desmond to help fine-tune these Slovenia/Croatia programs, we are able to quickly develop two trips for next year that feature very compelling itineraries.  Desmond provides us with insight on every corner of the region, and that only reinforces ALA’s commitment to giving travelers the ultimate insider’s perspective and the most memorable experience possible,” Austin continued.  “It is a thrilling opportunity to expand our distinguished roster of trips and our geographic span, now verging on almost 25 countries.”
 
For more information, contact Austin-Lehman Adventures at 1-800-575-1540 or visit www.austinlehman.com
 
About Austin-Lehman Adventures
 
Ranked number one as the “World’s Best Tour Operator” in 2009 by readers of Travel and Leisure Magazine, Austin-Lehman Adventures, with a 35-year legacy, provides adventure vacations on four continents.  ALA has built an international reputation for small group active travel to destinations in North, Central and South America, Europe and Africa. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking vacations that emphasize history, culture, and geography’s natural beauty.  Trips are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures) and feature excellent regional dining, distinctive accommodations and all-inclusive rates and services.  Founders Dan Austin and Paul Lehman believe the best way to enjoy a destination is to experience it as a local; close-up, at one’s own pace far off the usual tourist track. In addition to its scheduled group departures, ALA also offers customized trip planning for families, solo travelers and adults.  To back up its strong commitment to the highest levels of guest service, ALA offers all its travelers a money back guarantee, a rarity among adventure travel companies
 
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