Newmarket Holidays’ long-haul programme has resumed for the first time since September 2020.
The operator has taken more than 70 customers on tours to the US and Canada following the relaxation of border restrictions.
The company expects to take more than 130 passengers to North America by the end of the year.
The first departures were three Canadian trips: Canadian Rockies, Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer and Canada – Niagara to the Rockies.
Holidaymakers, who have to be fully vaccinated, were joined by senior long-haul product manager Kathy Vigolo (pictured).
North American itineraries continue with a Hollywood, Vegas and the Grand Canyon tour, which departed last week, and two further Deep South trips later this month.
Vigolo sees this as just the beginning of a fully operational long-haul programme into 2022.
She said: “After pausing our popular long-haul programme for more than 18 months, it was an absolute delight to accompany our first groups to Canada.
“To see the pure joy on the customers’ faces, after putting their travel plans on hold, was wonderful. So many of the customers found the experience really invigorating and were able to reconnect with each other and the world.”
She added: “Our customers are all fully-vaccinated and safety precautions were taken where necessary to follow government and local guidance.
“The testing procedures were really simple and not having to test before coming home made everyone feel at ease.”
Newmarket Holidays has been operating its UK, Ireland and European short-haul programme throughout the pandemic, as restrictions allow.