ll-inclusive Sports Tours

With our 20 years of experience of organising Sports Tours, Casterbridge has an unrivalled knowledge of all possible sporting options in most worldwide destinations.

In essence, Casterbridge will custom design a Sports Tour for your team. We can arrange Sports Tours throughout the year - depending on the host country's sporting calendar - in a variety of sports, including cricket, football, hockey, lacrosse, netball and rugby.

A Sports Tour offers a unique opportunity for your team to compete with international peers and be exposed to different styles of play and tactical approaches. Furthermore, a spell 'on the road' overseas can work wonders for building team spirit and morale. Whenever possible, we try to ensure that your team has the opportunity to mix socially with opponents after the games, which is a marvellous cultural experience for your team in itself.

In addition to handling all of your travel arrangements and escorted sightseeing, we can incorporate any of the following items into your touring programme as you might require:

* Games Against Overseas Teams
* 'Behind The Scenes' Sporting Visits
* Coaching Sessions with Qualified Coaches
* Tickets to Professional Games
* Tournaments and Competitions
* Homestay Accommodations

For example, we have special contacts with the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra to offer a training camp including coaching and seminars with accredited coaches. Here, you can meet and stay with Australia's elite athletes.

Casterbridge will always focus on the smooth planning and execution of your tour, so you can focus on the sporting content and on enjoying the tour itself.

Specified Services
We appreciate that many coaches have their own contacts for tours or competitions. We are therefore very willing to work with those teachers who would prefer to use their existing contacts, whilst we take care of all the logistical arrangements for flights and transfers and any further requirements for accommodation, meals, transportation or sightseeing.

To custom design the tour of your choice, call us free on 01935 810810 Monday - Friday 9-5.30.

SAMPLE SPORTS ITINERARIES - We can arrange Cricket, Hockey, Netball, Rugby or Soccer Tours. We try to balance playing a game with 'Behind the Scenes' visits and coaching sessions.

The tours listed are just a small sample of the itineraries we can offer. Overnights are shown in { }. (Day excursions are in parentheses.)

We will also be pleased to provide a customised itinerary to meet your particular requirements.

Call 01935 810810 for detailed day-by-day itineraries and costs for your group's proposed dates and preferred services.

AUSTRALIA - Guaranteed 6 Cricket, Hockey, Netball or Rugby Matches
20 Days - Student Costs from £1799
Sydney {5} - Blue Mountains - Megalong {2} - Hartley - Sydney {1} - Canberra {3} - Melbourne {2} (Phillip Island; Healesville Sanctuary) - Ballarat {1} - Melbourne {2}

BARBADOS - Guaranteed 3 Cricket, Hockey or Netball Matches
9 Days - Student Costs from £799
Bridgetown {7} (7 Wonders of Barbados tour; sailing)

CANADA - EAST COAST - Guaranteed 4 Rugby Matches
10 Days - Student Costs from £850
Toronto {2} (Niagara Falls) - Huntsville {1} - Algonquin - Provincial Park - Ottawa {1} - Trenifient {1} - Ste Foy {2} (Quebec City) - Montreal {1} - Toronto

CANADA - WEST COAST - Guaranteed 4 Rugby Matches
13 Days - Student Costs from £1299
Vancouver {4} - Vancouver Island {4} - Vancouver {3}

CUBA - Guaranteed 4 Soccer Matches
13 Days - Student Costs from £1199
Havana {3} - Playa Giron {1} - Cienfugos {2} - Trinidad {2} - Los Ingenios Valley - Sancti Spiritus {1} - Santa Clara - Havana {2}

INDIA - Guaranteed 5 Cricket Matches
16 Days - Student Costs from £1199
Delhi - {3} - Agra {1} - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur {3} (Amber Fort) - Delhi {2} - Overnight Train {1} - Calcutta {4}

ITALY - Guaranteed 4 Basketball, Rugby or Soccer Matches
8 days - Student Costs from £749
Milan - Lake Garda {7} (Parma; Padua; Treviso) - Milan

NEW ZEALAND - Guaranteed 5 Cricket, Netball, Hockey or Rugby Matches
23 Days - Student Costs from £1899
Auckland {3} (Coaching Clinic) - Waitomo - Rotorua {3} - Taupo {1} - Wellington {2} - Picton - Kaikoura {1} - Christchurch {2} - Fox Glacier {1} - Queenstown {4} (Milford Sound) - Mount Cook {1} - Hanmer Springs {1} - Christchurch {1}

SRI LANKA - Guaranteed 5 Cricket Matches
17 Days - Student Costs from £1245
Colombo {3} - Pinnawela - Sigiriya {1} - Dambulla - Kandy {2} - Nuwara Eliya {1} - Galle {2} - Wadduwa {3} - Colombo {2}

USA - EAST COAST - Guaranteed 3 Hockey, Netball or Soccer Matches
10 Days - Student Costs from £899
New York {4} - Newport - Boston {4} (Lincoln, Concorde)

FEATURED SPORTS TOUR ITINERARY

South African Sports Explorer

This South African tour could be arranged for school teams playing rugby, hockey, netball or cricket. In between games, teams generally practice or exercise every day depending on the itinerary. The final schedule will change from this sample itinerary as games are arranged to fit the host school's schedule and according to weekends, etc. The sightseeing is then adjusted to fit around the matches.

DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM LONDON
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to Cape Town.

DAY 2 ARRIVE CAPE TOWN (3 NIGHTS)
On arrival in Cape Town, you will be met by your tour guide, who will transfer you to your hotel and remain with you throughout the tour. After an introductory City Tour, the remainder of the day will be spent at leisure to recover from the flight.

DAY 3 CAPE TOWN
After breakfast, we depart for the lower Table Mountain cableway station from where we will travel to the top of the mountain. Our guide will explain various places of interest clearly visible from the top of the mountain as well as the fauna and flora found there. We will continue via the Indian Ocean coast towards the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, the meeting point of the mighty Indian and Atlantic Oceans. In this windy region of coastal scrubland, stunted trees, everlastings and other seasonal wild flowers, baboons and small wild creatures co-habit with an interesting variety of birdlife. After lunch we take a scenic drive back to the hotel followed by a practice session before dinner.

DAY 4 CAPE TOWN - 1ST GAME
Our day will start with a ferry ride to Robben Island to tour the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 17 years. At the Waterfront Harbour visit the Arts and Craft Market, the largest indoor craft market in Southern Africa. This afternoon will be your first match against a local school team, followed by a social evening and dinner.

DAY 5 CAPE TOWN - WILDERNESS (1 NIGHT)
This morning we check out of the hotel and depart via Sir Lowry's Pass and the apple country of Grabouw to the historic town of Swellendam. We will journey on past Riversdale to Mossel Bay then on to the Wilderness area where we will overnight.

DAY 6 WILDERNESS - PORT ELIZABETH (3 NIGHTS)
Today we will travel over the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn where we will explore the Cango Caves and an Ostrich Farm before our return to the coast. We will continue towards Port Elizabeth via Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and the primeval forests of Tzitzikamma, arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. A practice session will be held before dinner.

DAY 7 2ND GAME
Your second game will be held today against a local school, followed by dinner and a party.

DAY 8 ADDO NATIONAL PARK
Addo Elephant Park is our destination this morning. Situated approximately 50 miles from Port Elizabeth it is the only nature reserve in which the Addo Elephant is still found. Buffalo, rhino and numerous antelope also flourish, as well as a species of tough drought-resistant plant.

DAY 9 FLY PORT ELIZABETH - DURBAN 3RD GAME (3 NIGHTS)
After an early breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for a flight to Durban. On arrival in Durban, we will transfer to our beachfront hotel. Your third game will be played in the afternoon after a visit to a local school. Dinner will be taken at the school.

DAY 10 DURBAN
After a morning sightseeing tour, we can wander around the frenetic Victoria Street Market or visit the Sea World Aquarium.

DAY 11 PIETERMARITZBURG - 4TH GAME
This morning we visit Game Valley, situated near Pietermaritzburg. Enjoy seeing white rhino, Cape Buffalo, giraffe, sable and Roan Antelope, black and blue wildebeest, warthog, zebra, and various buck at the reserve. The fourth and final game will be played this afternoon against a local school team.

DAY 12 DURBAN - MAPUTALAND
Today we will take a drive north to Maputaland, a wild and fascinating area. We will stop at Damazulu, a village that demonstrates the traditions and daily life of the Zulu people.

DAY 13 ST. LUCIA PARK & GAME RESERVE
We will spend the morning driving in the St Lucia Park and Game Reserve. In the afternoon, we will visit the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands, one of the world's great eco-tourism destinations. A highlight is a Boat Cruise on the Santa Lucia, from which we hope to observe and photograph hippo, crocodile, fish eagle, heron, ibis and other birds and wildlife.

DAY 14 DURBAN - DEPARTURE
Your enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as your guide accompanies you to the airport for the return flight home.

DAY 15 LONDON
Your flight arrives back in the UK early this morning.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
For schools with the time available we strongly recommend a visit to the famed Drakensberg Mountains, which will provide the final element to complete your South African experience and the perfect finale to your tour.

SWAZILAND-KRUGER
Alternatively, from Maputaland drive through Swaziland and overnight before continuing to the Kruger National Park. Spend 2 or 3 days camping in this magnificent wildlife park before driving to Johannesburg for the flight home. Another match could be arranged in Jo'burg.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
(Admission Costs Included): * Cape Town: City Tour, Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Robben Island * Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves, Ostrich Farm * Tzitzikamma Forest * Addo Elephant Park * Durban: Victoria Street Market
* Pietermaritzburg: Game Valley * Maputaland: Damazulu * St Lucia Park & Game Reserve, Greater St Lucia Wetlands Boat Cruise

A GUARANTEE OF 4 MATCHES

Student Costs: From £1299 based on low season rates. Please see Page 7 for What is Included.

For a sports group wanting a well-balanced tour including well-organised games, visits to major sporting events and a comprehensive sightseeing programme, you can have no better partner than Casterbridge. We recommend you call 01935 810810 or Register now for sample or custom designed sporting itineraries.