LOS ANGELES, July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise company, has announced the launch of Viking Tours, a new venture that will bring discerning travelers to some of the most compelling destinations on the planet. "Many of our customers have asked us if we would consider organizing worldwide tours offering the same richly rewarding travel and high level of comfort that they have experienced with Viking River Cruises," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of both Viking River Cruises and Viking Tours. "In this, our tenth anniversary year, we felt the time was right to begin this exciting new venture."

Journeys into the extraordinary

Viking Tours enters the travel market with extraordinary programs in India, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Eastern and Southern Africa, South America, the Galapagos, the Norwegian coast, Antarctica and Australia/New Zealand. All tours offer outstanding pre- and post-tour packages to such destinations as Bhutan, Dubai, Thailand & Cambodia, Petra, Reykjavik and Ayers Rock. "We are very proud of these unique itineraries," noted Ted Sykes, President of Viking Tours. "Based on feedback from our customers and on our own worldwide travel experience, we hand-selected an initial list of destinations that we knew would most interest and excite our market. Each tour was then carefully planned to ensure the proper pacing and the highest level of comfort and quality. We understand the high expectations our guests have of Viking and will continue to meet and exceed these standards."

Early Booking Discount helps launch Viking Tours

Viking Tours departures begin in November, 2007. Bookings are being accepted now, and an Early Booking Discount of $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) is applicable to tours booked and paid in full by August 31, 2007.

The world's most distinguished addresses

Viking Tours has partnered with some of the world's most distinctive hotel and resort owners and operators: for example, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, purveyors of five-star luxury hotels in India, and Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, which owns and manages hotels, trains, cruises and restaurants in an impressive array of exotic destinations. The Shangri-La in Bangkok, the Serengeti Serena Lodge and the legendary Kirawira Camp in Tanzania, the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, Sydney's Observatory Hotel, the Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa in Australia, the Hermitage Hotel at Mt. Cook in New Zealand (all glacier-view rooms), and the Taj Lake Palace and Jai Mahal Palace, two beautifully sited and appointed former palaces in India, are just a few of the fascinating accommodations that will pamper and inspire Viking Tours guests.

Remarkable rides

Depending on destination, in addition to luxury trains, deluxe ships and motor coaches, participants may travel by air, ferry, schooner, inflatable PolarCirkel boat, catamaran, Jeep, cable car, horse-drawn carriage, hot-air balloon, camel or elephant. Viking Tours is dedicated to ensuring that travelers always see the sights from the best and most interesting perspective as they progress along their journey.

An authentic taste of the world

Viking Tours has also established partnerships that allow travelers to get "up close and personal" with local people and be immersed in local cultures. Many tours feature dinners hosted by local families in their homes, or with native people in their villages. Tour participants have the opportunity to enjoy incomparable experiences like taking a private tango lesson in Buenos Aires, having tea with an Indian army colonel, having their hands painted with traditional henna designs, feeding giraffes outside Nairobi, or witnessing Maori dances while being hosted by a local Maori family. Traveling in small groups and accompanied all the way by knowledgeable English-speaking guides, Viking Tours guests feel right at home in the countries they visit.

Helping to make the world a better place

Viking shares its passengers' concerns about harming physical and cultural environments. Both Viking River Cruises and Viking Tours are committed to leaving destinations intact, and to making a contribution to the people and places that host our tours and cruises. Viking Tours itineraries are designed to leave the lightest possible "footprint" and to afford participants the chance to "give back" in various ways. Viking Tours supports various local programs such as the Bishop Desmond Tutu Peace Center and the Operation Nest Egg program to save New Zealand's native kiwi birds.

A great travel value with all-inclusive pricing

Because Viking Tours pricing includes all meals, guided tours, excursions and entry fees, travelers never have to worry about finding meals on their own or paying add-on fees for activities. Viking continues to offer their long-standing Price Guarantee: once booked and paid in full, travelers are safe from any increases in cruise prices or airfares, additional fuel surcharges, or currency fluctuations. The company also offers a Travel Protection Program that protects passengers' travel investment-including waiver of pre-existing conditions, trip interruption coverage up to trip cost, and "cancel for any reason" coverage. "A Viking Tours vacation is truly a great travel value," declared Viking Tours president Ted Sykes. "We offer desirable destinations, unique programs and high-quality hospitality, and our prices compare very favorably with similar high-end tour products."

Viking Tours Reservations

Viking Tours Reservations agents can be reached toll-free at 1-877-845-8687 (1-877-VIK-TOURS). Hours are Monday-Friday 5:00 AM-8:00 PM, Saturday 5:00 AM-5:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 am-4:00 pm, Pacific Time. Visitors to vikingtours.com may make an online request for an agent to contact them to answer questions or make travel arrangements.

New Viking Tours website

A new Viking Tours website is online and available to assist travelers as they plan their upcoming vacation trips. The site provides detailed day-by-day details about Viking Tours itineraries and pre- and post-trip extensions, shows up-to-date information about upcoming departure dates and availability, and makes it simple to request materials or get in touch with Viking Tours agents for more information or to make a reservation. The website can be accessed at vikingtours.com.

About Viking Tours

Viking Tours is a newly launched company dedicated to offering seasoned travelers once-in-a-lifetime experiences in fascinating, exotic destinations. Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise company, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" and Travel & Leisure's "World's Best" Awards. For additional information about Viking Tours, contact 1-877-VIK-TOURS (1-877-845-8687) toll-free or visit the company online at vikingtours.com.