ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½

1991

Craig Burkinshaw starts leading tours

Company founder, Craig Burkinshaw, leaves university and guides his own small group tours around Vietnam.

1996

Craig and John found Asian Journeys

Craig joins forces with fellow London School of Economics (LSE) graduate John Brewer (still an ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½ 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.

1998

Addition of North and Central Asia

The company expands into North and Central Asia and an accompanying brochure is launched.

1999

Addition of the India Subcontinent

The Indian Subcontinent programme is launched along with an accompanying brochure.

2000

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.

2001

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 ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½ (the name relating to the place where its offices are at this time). A South America brochure is also launched in this year.

2002

New website

The original website design is superseded by something more up to date.

2003

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.

2005

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.

2006

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’.

2007

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.

2009

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.

2011

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.

2012

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’.

2013

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’.

2014

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.

2015

New destinations and 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.

2016

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.

2017

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.

2018

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.

2019

Europe calls

We enable our travellers to explore more of Europe by adding Iceland, Sicily, Spain, and Portugal to our offering, as well as launching Israel. Our commitment to responsible travel continues — we hire a Responsible Travel and Sustainability Manager, introduce our child welfare policy, and help set up refillable water bottle schemes in 12 destinations.

2021

25 years of travel

Audley celebrates 25 years of creating meaningful travel experiences, connecting clients with people and places around the world.

2022

More awards

Readers of Wanderlust Magazine ranked us in top spot in the Best Tour Operator category at the 2022 Wanderlust Readers' Travel Awards. And we win the Which? Recommended Providers for Escorted Tours once again.

2023

B Corp certified

Audley become a certified B Corporation^™. This means that we’re part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.