Our History
We've made great strides in the 20 years we've been doing this. We'd like you to join us and help with the next 20 years.
Craig Burkinshaw starts leading tours
Company founder, Craig Burkinshaw, leaves university and guides his own small group tours around Vietnam.
Craig & John found Asian Journeys
Craig joins forces with fellow London School of Economics (LSE) graduate John Brewer (still an Audley Travel Director along with Craig), to found Asian Journeys, a company specialising in tailor-made and group travel to Southeast Asia. The company’s first brochure is produced and it takes on its first employee.
Addition of North & Central Asia
The company expands into North and Central Asia and an accompanying brochure is launched.
Addition of the India Subcontinent
The Indian Subcontinent programme is launched along with an accompanying brochure.
Moving to a proper office
Quickly outgrowing its small premises in Northampton, which was a room above a post office, the company moves to a converted barn in the rural Oxfordshire village of Stratton Audley. An online presence is established with the launch of its first website.
Expansion demands a new company name
The name Asian Journeys becomes obsolete with the creation of the company’s South America programme. It is now that the company becomes Audley Travel (the name relating to the place where its offices are at this time). A South America brochure is also launched in this year.
New website
The original website design is superseded by something more up to date.
Expanding across the globe
Going from strength-to-strength, the following new brochures are created: Africa Safari; North Africa and Arabia; New Zealand; and Galapagos Islands. The company also receives its first ever award, which is from Wanderlust magazine.
Winning some major awards
A new Australia brochure is launched and the company wins the following awards: Wanderlust magazine ‘Best Tour Operator’; Sunday Times ‘Best Small Companies to Work for’; AITO award for outstanding service.
Audley move to Witney, Oxfordshire
Audley moved to the New Mill in Witney, Oxfordshire, a handsome converted blanket mill on the banks of the River Windrush. The company wins the following awards: Guardian/Observer ‘Best Small Tour Operator 2006′; Sunday Times’ Best Small Companies to Work for’.
More destinations, more awards
The following new brochures are launched: Canada, Alaska and the Arctic; Antarctica; and Madagascar. The company wins the following awards: Guardian/Observer ‘Best Small Tour Operator 2007’; Sunday Times ‘Best Small Companies to Work for’; Telegraph Green Travel Awards ‘Best Luxury Tour Operator’; Wanderlust magazine ‘Finalist for Best Tour Operator’; AITO 3-stars award for Responsible Travel.
More awards
A new updated website is launched. The company wins the following awards: Guardian/Observer ‘Best Small Tour Operator 2008’; Wanderlust magazine bronze award for website; Wanderlust magazine ‘Best Tour Operator of 2008’; AITO 5-stars award for Responsible Travel; Tourism New Zealand ‘Special Recognition award’; ‘Friends of Thailand’ award.
More awards
The company wins the following awards: Wanderlust Travel Awards bronze award in ‘Best Website’ category; Travolution Awards ‘Best Tour Operator website 2010’; Condé Nast Traveller magazine ‘Favourite Specialist Tour Operator 2010’.
More awards
More achievements: Wanderlust Travel Awards: silver award in ‘Top Tour Operator’ and gold in ‘Top Website’ category. In June we also launch an updated version of our website. This is one of the most comprehensive redesigns we have done to date.
More awards
Another successful year: Wanderlust Travel Awards: gold award in ‘Top Tour Operator’ and silver in ‘Top Website’ category. Guardian Travel Awards: third for ‘Best Small Tour Operator’. Travolution Awards: First for ‘Best Tour Operator Website’.
New 'Hidden Beaches' destinations added
In September we launch a brand new website called Hidden Beaches, a hand-picked collection of beaches from around the world twinned with an excursion in another place. Travolution Awards: First for ‘Best Tour Operator Website’; Telegraph Travel Awards: First for ‘Best Tour Operator’.
Audley opens a US office
In March we open our first US office in Boston, Massachusetts and in May our new London office in Shepherd’s Bush is opened for business. Joint top in the June 2014 Which? Holiday Companies survey.
New destinations & awards
Continuing to expand into new destinations, we added Turkey and the Caribbean. A new website was launched with a more modern design and easier navigation. We also won more awards including ‘Best Small Luxury Tour Operator’ in the Daily Telegraph Ultratravel Awards, ‘Which? Recommended Provider’ and our standing within the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for continues.
Audley celebrates 20 years
Audley celebrates 20 years since the company began back in 1996. We continue to win more awards including The Times 'Best Luxury Tour Operator', ‘Which? Recommended Provider’, ‘Top Tour Operator’ in the Wanderlust Travel Awards, and yet again feature in the 'Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for'. We also introduce our Europe product, offering Italy to our US clients in September.
Europe expansion and more awards
We expand our Europe product further, offering the UK and France to our US clients. We also receive 'Which? Recommended Holiday Company' for the fifth year running.
More awards
We feature in the 'Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for' list again. We also win 'Business of the Year' and 'Best Large Business' in the West Oxfordshire Business Awards.
