WWII plane recovered beneath Greenland ice, back in sky to complete mission

This is a great story I found on www.zeenews.com: Teterboro, New Jersey, June 30: A World War II fighter plane once entombed under several hundred feet (nearly 100 meters) of snow and ice in Greenland is back in the skies to complete a mission it began nearly 65 years ago.

The plane was part of a group that became known as the Lost Squadron that was forced by foul weather in 1942 to crash-land onto a glacier in Greenland.

Brad McManus, 89, who was the first member of his squadron to crash-land onto the glacier, is now the only pilot still alive from the group to see one of their planes attempt to complete the mission to Britain — a flight he never expected to see any of the damaged aircraft complete.

Visit this website for more details - http://p38assn.org/glacier-girl.htm

We offer plenty of unique holiday experiences to Greenland whether summer or winter, East or West Greenland. Take a look at our website or call for more info - www.discover-the-world.co.uk/greenland

Discover the World announce new direct flight to Kiruna - more information

We now have more details about our our new direct flight with SAS to Kiruna, Swedish Lapland. For more information, please click on the press release button in the navigation pane above or click here

In addition to the new flight, we are also developing combined Icehotel/Ski packages as well as ski-only itineraries which will be detailed in our Lapland & Beyond brochure (due out in the second week of June). The resorts are Riksgransen & Bjorkliden and offer some of the world's best  off-piste skiing as well as very affordable and absolutely amazing heli skiing opportunities (I was there last week and it was incredible - sunshine, fresh powder snow (this late in the season!) and    people-free mountains!).

We were even skiing at 1230 in the morning thanks to the midnight sun - where else can you do that!

What a combination - especially if you visit the icehotel in the same holiday.

Watch this space for more details and if you would like our Lapland & Beyond brochure (2007/2008 winter season) then let me know - 01737 214 294 / alexis@discover-the-world.co.uk

thanks

New SAS direct flight to Kiruna, Swedish Lapland

Visiting the Swedish Icehotel will become even easier next winter thanks to Discover the World & Scandinavian Airlines' ground breaking agreement to operate an exclusive charter flight series between Heathrow and Kiruna on selected dates between December 2007 and April 2008.

This means that the Icehotel will be brought within only three and a half hours of London, making the lengthy transit through Stockholm unnecessary.

We will also be adding skiing to our winter in Lapland programme as Swedish Lapland offers some of the most exciting and challenging skiing in Europe and with guaranteed snow right the way into June, this is an experience not to be missed.

I'll keep the media room posted on further developments so watch this space!
If, in the meantime, you would like further information then call me on 01737 214 294.
Thanks
alexis

Virgin Galactic takes off in Kiruna - Swedish Lapland

Story Angle: Space travel for mere mortals takes a step forward - Branson stamps his mark on Lapland and the city of Kiruna, whilst close by is an experience of a different sort - the Swedish Icehotel

According to www.sweden.se, british entrepreneur Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic have picked Kiruna (the northernmost city of Sweden) as one of their platforms for space tourism. In September 2004 Branson announced that his Virgin Group of companies had commissioned five spacecrafts. These vessels would be the first in the Virgin Galactic fleet, aiming to carry private passengers with adventurous spirits, not to mention fat wallets, beyond the atmosphere of Earth and into space.

The first commercial space tourism adventures will be launched in the US, from Spaceport America in New Mexico, starting as soon as 2008. Shortly thereafter, perhaps in 2011 or 2012, these atmospheric escapes will begin in Kiruna as well.

So...if unique experiences to space aren't quite within your readers' budgets, how about an alternative experience, visiting the icehotel and even taking part in husky sledging, snowmobiling, moose watching and of course sleeping on ice!

It just so happens that the Swedish Icehotel is around 20 minutes from the satellite control center and Discover the World offer a 3 night holiday experience (Dec - Apr each year) to the Swedish Icehotel from £751 based on twin share (1 night on ice, 2 nights in 'warm' accomodation). Click here for more details.

For images and further info then call me on 01737 214 294.

thanks.
Alexis

Air New Zealand's inaugural flight around the world departs this weekend

As per Tourism New Zealand's latest newsletter, "Air New Zealand flight NZ 38 takes off on its maiden flight between London and Hong Kong this Sunday 29 October at 9.15pm." "The new Asian route means that Air New Zealand will have the distinction of being the only airline to offer a round the world service out of the UK (London - Hong Kong - Auckland - Los Angeles - London, or vice versa). The new flight is in addition to the airline's existing daily service to Auckland via Los Angeles and gives one main advantage to the UK traveller. They can choose to fly around the world with stopovers in either direction - East and West, for the price of a UK to New Zealand return trip. Prices start from just £801 inclusive of taxes in economy class and include stopovers in Los Angeles, Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch and Hong Kong." Discover the World are obviously embracing this unique service and can offer a whole host of stop-over options as part of our New Zealand Programme. Please visit www.discover-new-zealand.co.uk for more details or call me on 01737 214 294 to discuss possible angles. We have loads of images available as well. Thanks. Alexis

6 seat cessna airplane - Iceland from a different perspective

Been to Iceland? Already written about Reykjavik's nightlife or the blue lagoon? Looking for something a little special for that next round-up?

How about giving your readership something really different - introduce them to the possibility of scenic flights over the 'Land of Fire & Ice'...something they will never forget or regret!

"As the city (Reykjavik) grew distant, the countryside opened up in front of us, summerhouses looking like insignificant specks, dwarfed by the huge green landscape. We circled patiently above Geysir and its more active neighbour, Strokkur, until the latter obligingly spouted sulphurous hot water. We rose above the clouds to get a glimpse of the legendary Mount Hekla, and dipped lower to see the various shades of pink in the hills around Landmannalaugar and the delicate fingers of the Mýrdalsjokull glacier slowly creeping towards Thorsmörk...." (read more at Iceland Review)

Let me know if you need any further details for upcoming features or round up ideas - whether it's inclusive packages to Iceland including scenic flights  or something tailored to experience the best Iceland has to offer - 01737 214 294 / alexis@discovertheworld.co.uk

If it can be done in Iceland, we can do it!

thanks. Alexis.

Air New Zealand to launch Heathrow/Auckland daily service

Air New Zealand will launch a second daily service between London Heathrow and Auckland flying via Hong Kong from 29 October 2006. This second service creates the world’s only current daily round-the-world service on one airline.

For information on all Discover the World’s NZ holidays, please visit www.discover-new-zealand.co.uk. Of course, you can call me on 01737 214 294 at any time if you need feature info/ideas. Thanks. Alexis