Viva Expeditions has advised that Tierra Hotels in Chile have confirmed reopening dates after long closures due to strict Covid lockdowns in Chile. Tierra Hotels offers accommodation in spectacular locations in Chile.

Tierra Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama will re-open 3 September 2021, Tierra Chiloé on the Island of Chiloé will re-open 30 October 2021 and Tierra Patagonia in Torres del Paine National Park on 1 October 2021. The hotels will close again for the winter period in 2022 – Tierra Patagonia on 30 April, Tierra Chiloé on 31 March. Tierra Atacama is currently planning on being open until the end of April 2022.

Viva Expeditions’ double Tierra  Hotel experience starts from $8945 for eight days and includes luxury accommodation, all meals and drinks, internal flights, guided activities and more. Click here for details.

Viva Expeditions is reminding agents of opportunities around its exclusive two-day Mt John Observatory Overnight Experience. 

For the first time the University of Canterbury is opening the doors of Mt John Observatory to a limited number of people for an overnight stay.  Usually this type of experience is limited to astronomers and scientists.

How to grow consumer confidence so New Zealanders will travel again to Latin America post Covid-19 was on the agenda when Viva Expeditions managing director Rachel Williams caught up with the Latin American ambassadors in Wellington recently. The group also discussed creative ideas to be able to market the various destinations within Latin America with limited resources available in the short to medium term.

Viva Expeditions has sold out of its first flight to the Southern Lights on 20 March 2021 and has confirmed a second flight will take place the following day on 21 March.

While the first flight virtually sold out in the higher categories within days, Viva had to get on top of economy class requests and wait-lists before it could announce a second flight date.

Business and Premium Economy class seats on the second flight have already sold out and Viva is waitlisting clients for a potential third flight in May.

'I believe we have enough demand for a third flight and we already have people waitlisted for certain categories,' says Viva's founder, Rachel Williams. 'I think after two back-to-back flights we will all need time to catch our breaths before we take to the sky again.'

Williams is reminding agents that with its phone lines overloaded, they should email requests to info@vivaexpeditions.com. These will be processed in the order that they are received.

Wlliams says clients can join Aurora hunter and astrophysicist Dr Ian Griffin and fly into the night to witness one of the world’s most magical natural phenomena – the Southern Lights, also known as the Aurora Australis. The first flight is due to take off on 20 March 2021.

‘Many people spend a small fortune to fly to overseas destinations to see the Northern Lights, but can experience the same phenomena on a flight departing from Christchurch New Zealand.’

Williams says clients will take off onboard an Air New Zealand Dreamliner, and head south over the Southern Ocean towards Antarctica, aiming for latitudes of 62 degrees south where the Aurora Australis is brightest.

‘We take guests far away from light pollution, above the clouds and weather systems to see an unforgettable display with uninterrupted view of the southern lights. Along the way they will see constellations, stars, and planets as they have never witnessed them before.’

Throughout the flights passengers will receive a full inflight catering service in both business and economy classes. Expert astronomers will be onboard.

‘A lot of people want to get on a plane and go somewhere, do something exciting. This is it,’  says Williams.

Flights are available from $1195 per person with various seating options and views available.

Should the flight be cancelled due to Covid-19, a refund will be issued – see booking conditions for more details.

The adventure is being brought to market by Viva Expeditions in partnership with Air New Zealand and the Otago Museum.

https://vivaexpeditions.com/tours/new-zealand/canterbury-upper-south-island/southern-lights-by-flight

Viva has launched an easy getaway for couples, friends and foodies on Waiheke Island.

Clients stay in a boutique luxury lodge with ocean views and an in-house fine dining chef who will design a four course dining experience to suit.

Viva Expeditions recently hosted North Shore, Auckland travel agents at its office for drinks and to celebrate a new beginning. The invitation noted that agents just needed to bring a smile and a hug.

Meantime, managing director Rachel Williams has revealed Viva Expeditions’ Covid story in an honest and open reflection on her blog. 

‘I think everyone in travel is really hurting by what has happened, I thought by being open and honest about how it feels from the wholesaler perspective others may relate.  At the end of the day we are all in this together and there is some solace in that,’ says Williams

https://vivaexpeditions.com/blog/our-covid-story

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Viva Expeditions has a new range of luxury experiences in New Zealand. It has more than 30 domestic trips - exclusive heli-tours, remote luxury lodges, sub-Antarctic adventures and more.

A LATAM aircraft chartered by Viva Expeditions and the New Zealand Government set off from Lima in Peru towards Santiago in Chile this week, making a stop in the popular tourist destination of Cusco (the base for visiting Machu Picchu) to pick up more stranded tourists.

Viva Expeditions is recounting a March tour led by guides Franco De Antoni and Melinda Cleaver.

Helen Urban has joined Viva as sales support. She will be keeping travel agents updated with new sales, tour updates and support Flavio Stadnik in his BDM role.