Audley Travel – a short history

Originally called

This year we celebrate 15 years of being in existence and it occurred to me that some of our clients may not be aware of how Audley actually came about and the subsequent milestones that have been achieved since that momentous date in 1996.

Few may be aware for example that the wheels were set in motion when the company founder, Craig Burkinshaw (MD), personally started escorting small group tours around Vietnam in 1991, or that Audley was initially run from a tiny room above a post-office in Northampton.

Well, we’ve come a long way since then so take a look at some highlights of those 15 years. I’ve also added a gallery of images showing how our website has evolved over the years – it’s an eye-opener!

1991 – Company founder and now MD, Craig Burkinshaw, leaves university and guides his own small group tours around Vietnam.

1996 - Craig joins forces with fellow LSE-graduate John Brewer, to found ‘Asian Journeys’, a company specialising in tailor-made and group travel to Southeast Asia. The company’s first brochure is produced and takes on its first employee.

1998 – The company expands into North and Central Asia and an accompanying brochure is launched.

1999 - The Indian Subcontinent programme is launched along with an accompanying brochure.

2000 – 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 – The name ‘Asian Journeys’ becomes obsolete with the creation of the company’s South America programme. It is now that the company metamorphosis’s into ‘Audley Travel’. A South America brochure is also launched.

2002 – The original website design is superseded by something more up-to-date.

2003 – Going from strength-to-strength, the following new brochures are created: Africa Safari; North Africa & Arabia; New Zealand; Galapagos Islands. The company also receive their first ever award, from Wanderlust Magazine.

2005 - 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 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 – The following new brochures are launched: Canada, Alaska & the Arctic; Antarctica; 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.

2008 – 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.

2009 – The latest incarnation of the website is launched. The company wins the following awards: Wanderlust Magazine ‘Best Tour Operator of 2009′; Wanderlust Travel Awards ‘Best Website 2009′; ULTRAS (Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards) ‘Best Small Tour Operator Award’.

2010 – 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′.

2011 – 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. 

The evolution of the Audley website