The first issue of our interactive digital edition of our inspirational travel magazine written by award-winning travel writer Will Gray and packed full of holiday ideas.

1. 1 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
cloud9Inspiration for unforgettable holidays | Jan 2013
ICELAND • POLAR • AUSTRALIA • SWEDEN • NEW ZEALAND • CANADA • FINLAND • ALASKA • NORWAY
new!
Alaska
Click here for details
new-look, interactive digital edition

2. 2 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
inside
4 WINDOW SEAT
The best flights to see the
northern lights PLUS why
you (and your hard-earned
cash) are in safe hands
6 iceland
Click here to see the new
Hotel ION and our latest
Icelandic holidays PLUS
whale watching and hiking
10 GREEN LIGHT: GO
If you haven’t seen the
northern lights yet, now’s
your chance. Click here for
late availability trips and
next winter’s highlights
12 WILD STATE
Explore big new horizons
in Alaska, Discover the
World’s latest destination
16 NZ PICK ‘N’ MIX
The new go-slow, full-
immersion way to
experience New Zealand
18 ICONIC CANADA
The great outdoors by air,
sea, road, rail and sledge
Welcome to the new, interactive Cloud 9
magazine from Discover the World. Going
digital is not only better for the environment,
but it also means we can bring you more issues each year. We’ve
designed the magazine to be as user-friendly as possible, packed
with inspiring travel ideas and easy to share with friends. With just a
few clicks or taps you could be delving into Discover the World’s new
Alaska programme, checking out special places to stay in Iceland
or planning an indepth exploration of New Zealand. Enjoy.
interactive
How to get the most
from this digital
edition of Cloud 9
Seeing red? Give it a
click or a tap to explore
more. Throughout Cloud
9 you’ll find links to our
website, pop-up image
galleries and further info
panels, video clips and
opportunities to
enter competitions
and share with
friends.
win! a £1000
voucher
towards your
next holiday
Click here
to enter
William Gray, Editor
COVERARTWORK:LIZLUNNON

3. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 3DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
QDid the northern
lights lived up to all
the media hype?
AYes, absolutely
and some of the
experts are saying that it
will continue to increase
in intensity right through
next winter and beyond!
QWhat’s on your
travel wishlist?
AIt’s going to be a
very busy year. In
January and February I
will be visiting Argentina,
Chile and Antarctica
looking for new ideas.
Then it’s off to Iceland
for our WhaleFest. In
March I’ll be in Lapland
for a couple of weeks.
May will see me in Alaska
on Icelandair’s inaugural
flight to Anchorage, which
is the basis of our new
Alaska programme.
QAlaska sounds fun.
Tell me more.
AIcelandair are flying
there, via Reykjavik,
twice a week from mid-
May to mid-September,
providing us with easy
access to one of the
world’s most spectacular
places. We’ve developed
a brand new range of
Alaska holidays which you
can find out about here.
QIf we get another
summer like last
year, where would you go
to escape wet Britain?
AIf you wondered
where our summer
went, the answer is
Iceland! They had the best
weather on record. Some
scientists believe the jet
stream, which can bring
us warm, sunny summers,
has moved north…
Will Gray chats to Clive Stacey, Discover the
World’s MD, about travel and the weather
Qtell me about it
If you wondered where our summer
went, the answer is Iceland! They
had the best weather on record
reader poll
What’s on your travel
wishlist for 2013?
Click below to vote
ALASKA
CANADA
ICELAND
NEW ZEALAND
SCANDINAVIA

4. 4 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
One of the best places in the world to see the fabled northern
lights, Lapland may seem remote, but it’s suprisingly easy to reach
flights to the lights
There’s something slightly
surreal but immensely
satisfying about boarding
a plane at Heathrow and
then, three and a half
hours
later,
stepping out into bright
Arctic sunshine and
scrunching through snow
to an Arrivals Lounge
deep in Swedish Lapland.
Unique to Discover
the World, direct charter
flights to Kiruna offer the
quickest means to reach
the ICEHOTEL (just 20
minutes from the airport).
With sociable flight times,
a full meal service and pre-
bookable seats there’s no
easier – or more relaxing –
way to enjoy a short break
in Lapland.
As an added bonus, if
you book the three-night
Icehotel Break departing
on 16 March 2013, you’ll
be entered into a prize
draw to win two seats on
a northern lights scenic
flight timed to coincide
with the Spring Equinox.
window seat
Win
two free places on
a scenic Northern
Lights Flight during
your stay at the
Icehotel. Click here
to enter.
Click here to find out
about our acclaimed
Schools Programme
WILLIAMGRAY;XXXX

5. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 5DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
When you book your holiday with Discover the World, you are in
very safe hands thanks to their 100% Guaranteed unique pledge
100% guaranteed
QOnce I book with you,
is my money safe?
AYes. Thanks to our
various licences
and bonds, every possible
angle is covered should
the worst happen. It’s
amazing how often people
buy travel arrangements
from what appear to be
properly licensed travel
agents, airlines or tour
operators only to find that
their particular holiday
falls through the net.
QWe hear about rising
fuel costs all the
time. Does that mean I
might have to pay extra,
even at short notice?
AWe do not pass on
fuel surcharges
once a holiday is booked.
We get our suppliers to
absorb them or we do
so ourselves. The same
applies to currency
fluctuations, tax increases
or anything relating to
the dreaded ‘S’ word! We
believe that once you
place your faith in us and
book a holiday you should
pay the price agreed. It’s
far from the norm in the
travel industry.
QWhat about all those
other ‘unknowns’
like cancelled flights?
AIf your flight is
cancelled, for
whatever reason, we
expect the airline to
initially look after you. If
they won’t, we will — and
that means paying for
overnight accommodation
and, if appropriate,
meals until an alternative
means of travel is found.
If any company whose
services you have booked
with us as part of your
holiday goes bust, then
we will make alternative
arrangements or provide a
full refund.
QBut I guess volcanic
eruptions and ash
clouds are ‘Acts of God’?
ASpecialising in
holidays to such
places as Iceland means
that ‘Acts of God’ are all
part of the experience
and, no, we don’t walk
away from these either.
Natural disasters, strikes...
it makes no difference
to us — we look after you
come what may!
QAnd what happens if
I lose my job?
AWe can help with
that too! Click the
red button above for full
details of our pledge.

6. 6 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
iceland
NEW
FROM
From new hotels and lodges to whale watching festivals and hiking
adventures, Iceland is looking more exciting than ever in 2013
Discover the World has
been pioneering holidays
in Iceland for nearly
three decades. No other
UK operator knows –
or loves – the country
better. Innovation lies at
the heart of its Iceland
programme and this
year is a particularly rich
one. Not one, but two,
stunning properties make
their debut in 2013: the
classy, contemporary
Hotel ION and the idyllic
Glacier Lodge (exclusive
to Discover the World and
with views to die for).
It’s also 21 years since
Discover the World’s
managing director Clive
Stacey helped pioneer
Iceland’s whale watching
industry – a milestone
celebrated in 2013 by the
first ever WhaleFest.
New holidays this
year include an exciting
sailing adventure in the
Western Fjords, a tailor-
made hiking service and a
unique summer adventure
based at Hotel ION.
NEW Hotel ION NEW Glacier Lodge NEW Holidays

7. Look inside Hotel ION
Iceland Summer Adventure
Exclusive short break based at Hotel ION
This is the first holiday of its kind in Iceland where you
can stay in the countryside and have the option of
various excursions without being part of an escorted
group tour or having to drive yourself. And what better
place to base yourself than Hotel ION. Included are a
superjeep safari, dinner at a lobster restaurant, lava
caving and a trip to the Blue Lagoon, with optional
activities ranging from glacier hiking to river rafting.
Hotel ION
Luxury and adventure an hour from Reykjavik
Brand new for February 2013, Hotel ION buzzes with
style. Mountain and lake views pour in through picture
windows, the spa has a 10m outdoor hot tub, each of
the 46 guestrooms are pure pampered chic and the
restaurant serves local flavours with flare. Located near
Thingvellir National Park, this four-star beauty is easily
reached and makes a superb base, whether you’re
looking for a spa break or activity filled adventure.
Glacier Lodge
Cottage with a view on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
A modern self-catering cottage sleeping up to eight,
this is a perfect place from which to explore one of
Iceland’s most beautiful regions. Look north from
Glacier Lodge and Snaefellsnes rears it snowcapped
summit; look south and you’re met by the glittering
expanse of Faxafloi Bay. Top it all with aurora displays in
winter and activities such as hiking, whale watching and
snowmobiling and you have the ultimate Iceland escape.
Exclusive to
Discover the World
8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 7DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
Visit website
Visit website
Visit website
RAGNARTHSIGURDSSON/ARCTIC-IMAGES.COM

8. How it all began
Killer Whales & Northern
LightsOrcas and auroras, January to March
No surprises that this four-night break became an
instant hit when it was launched in 2012. Orca watching
by day, aurora gazing by night, it’s a double helping of
Iceland winter treats. The big news this year is that you
can now choose either full board hotel accommodation
or opt for breakfast basis at the modern and
comfortable Guesthouse Grundafjordur, which also
offers self-catering facilities and dine out options.
WhaleFest 2013
Celebrating 21 years of whale watching in Iceland
A special weeklong departure of the hugely popular
Killer Whales & Northern Lights holiday, WhaleFest
celebrates Discover the World’s 21st anniversary
of pioneering whale watching trips in Iceland. Click
the tab, above right, to find out how it all started. An
exclusive programme of whale watching, talks from
cetacean experts and time to explore Snaefellsnes,
WhaleFest looks set to become an annual event.
Sailing & Wildlife Adventure
A voyage to the remote Western Fjords
Set sail on the 12-berth Aurora, a spacious, 60ft
expedition yacht, cruising the spectacular Western
Fjords beneath towering sea cliffs festooned with
seabirds. Anchoring in sheltered bays, you’ll be able to
venture ashore, hiking pristine coasts and glacial valleys
and exploring the wilderness of Hornstrandir Nature
Reserve – accessible only by boat. This new 10-day
holiday is perfect for lovers of the sea and wild places.
8 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
Play video
clip of orcas
in Iceland
Visit website
Visit website
RAGNARTHSIGURDSSON/ARCTIC-IMAGES.COM

9. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 9DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
Pick your Peak!
New tailor-made walking holidays
This country was made for walking... and now you’ve
got no excuse not to lace up your boots and stride off
into the highlands of Iceland. Following the launch of the
new book Summit: 100 Best Mountain Hikes in Iceland,
Discover the World is offering keen walkers a new tailor-
made service. Simply purchase the book, choose your
peaks and and everything will be arranged for you, from
flights and accommodation to car hire and guides.
walk
THIS WAY
Click to start planning
your walking holiday
Visit website

10. green
light:
goThe aurora looks set
to dazzle again next
winter, so be sure to
book your northern
lights holiday well in
advance
Experts
forecast
that we can
expect another
five years of
excellent northern
lights while the solar
maximum continues to
fuel the phenomenon.
®
®
®
® ®

11. Click here to see
more northern
lights holidays
6If you’re quick, you
might still catch a
display of the aurora
borealis this winter.
Contact us now for late
availability on northern
lights holidays.
4In Pursuit of the
Aurora, Norway
A weeklong northern
lights odyssey, this trip
includes a voyage along
the wild Finnmark coast,
plus stays in Tromso and
Kirkenes – prime spots
for aurora hunting.
5Kakslauttanen,
Finland
Spend three nights in a
cosy log cabin or stylish
glass igloo, exploring by
snowmobile or husky
sledge and – with luck
– witnessing the aurora
above snowclad forest.
1Northern Lights
Special, Iceland
This three-night escorted
break combines the
geysirs and waterfalls of
the Golden Circle with
aurora watching, soaking
in the Blue Lagoon and
superb accommodation.
2 Aurora Nights,
Iceland
Base yourself at Hotel
Ranga or the equally
fabulous Hotel ION –
new this month – for
three days of free-spirited
roaming on this popular
Iceland self-drive break.
3Northern Lights at
Abisko & Icehotel
Swedish Lapland in all its
winter glory, this three-
day trip features aurora
gazing at Abisko and
the ICEHOTEL, which
this year has ten new
Northern Lights suites.
Top 5 northern lights holidays
Book now for 2012/13!
8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 11DISCOVER THE WORLD | cloud 9 | Jan 2013
our favourite aurora
borealis images so
far this winter
See
MAINPIC:WILLIAMGRAY;RAGNARTHSIGURDSSON/ARCTIC-IMAGES.COM

12. ALASKA
WILD
STATE
Plan your trip on
our interactive
Alaska map
Putting the wild in wilderness, Alaska is new
from Discover the World and can be easily
reached on new summer flights via Iceland

13. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 13DISCOVER THE WORLD | cloud 9 | Jan 2013
From gold-rush
stampeders to
wilderness seekers,
Alaska has long
been the ‘magnetic
north’ of the
United States
Click here
for photo
gallery
Listen to
the Robert
Service Poem
“I
t isn’t the gold that I’m wanting,” wrote poet,
Robert Service. “It’s the great big broad land
way up yonder. It’s the forest where silence
has lease. It’s the beauty that fills me with wonder. It’s
the stillness that fills me with peace.”
From gold-rush stampeders to wilderness seekers,
Alaska has long been the ‘magnetic north’ of the
United States. Robert Service craved its vast untouched
landscapes, but you could equally wax lyrical over
Alaska’s wildlife, its fascinating First Nations culture or
the sheer thrill of travelling in this wild state.
You can drive there on the Alaska Highway, visiting
national parks like Denali and Kenai Fjords. You can
charter a floatplane to take you beyond the road’s end,
stitch a route between old settler communities on the
Alaska Railroad or join an escorted coach trip.
For many, it’s the Inside Passage that embodies the
lure of Alaska. Cracks in crazy paving. That’s what it
looks like on a nautical chart. Except the slabs of paving
are thousands of forested islands, wedged against
the mainland — and the cracks form a coastal highway
stretching 1,000 miles from Seattle to Skagway.
The Inside Passage is a lifeline to numerous
settlements, including Alaska’s capital, Juneau. It’s also
a gateway to vast tracts of wilderness, from ice fields
to temperate rainforest. Imagine witnessing humpback
whales feeding in Frederick Sound, icebergs calving
from a tidewater glacier in Tracy Arm Fjord or totem
poles rearing from a Tlingit village. The Inside Passage
is awash with natural and cultural spectacles. And yet it
is just one facet of this wild and wonderful state.
Turn the page to start exploring Alaska >>

14. Click on the
map circles to
explore Alaska
ALASKA
Prince
William
Sound
Fairbanks
Anchorage
Kenai
Fjords
Denali
National
Park
Kodiak
Island
Katmai
National
Park
Y
u
k
o n
R i v e r
Gulf of
Alaska
Bering
Sea
A l a s k a
P e n i n s u l a
A
l a s k a R a n g e
The Arctic North
Wrangell-
St Elias
National
Park
B r o o k s R a n g e
A r c t i c C i r c l e

15. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 15DISCOVER THE WORLD | cloud 9 | Jan 2013
Glacier Bay
National
Park
Juneau
Ketchikan
To
ngass National Forest
5 ways to go
Pacific
Ocean
Cruise - Inside Passage:
Alaskan Discovery
Join a small-ship voyage
from Juneau to Ketchikan,
exploring fjords and islands
rich in wildlife and culture.
Kayak to hidden inlets and
hike in pristine forests.
Wildlife – Glaciers,Grizzlies & WhalesFrom Juneau, visit themajestic Mendenhall Glacierand take a floatplane safariin search of bears. Thenfly to Gustavus, gateway toGlacier Bay, for encounterswith icebergs and whales.
Rail – Alaskan
Railroad Adventure
Ride Alaska’s famous
Railroad from Anchorage
to Seward, cruise Kenai
Fjords, then continue by
rail to Talkeetna, Denali
NP and Fairbanks.
Self-drive – Alaska’s
Natural Wonders
Combine three national
parks – Kenai Fjords, Denali
and Wrangell-St Elias – on
a two-week adventure with
lots of extras included, like
bushplane flights, wildlife-
cruises and historic tours.
Escorted – Alaska
by Rail & Coach
Perfect for first-timers,
this weeklong tour takes
in the scenic, cultural
and wildlife highlights
of Denali NP, Portage
Glacier and Kenai Fjords.
Click here for
our full range of
Alaska holidays
Cruising into Prince William Sound

16. 16 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
An alternative to touring, Discover the World’s new modules offer a
more relaxed, in-depth way to experience New Zealand’s highlights
There is nowhere better
than New Zealand to
hit the road with a
motorhome or join an
escorted coach tour.
Discover the World
continues to offer both.
There’s a lot to be said,
however, for a ‘go-slow’
approach, restricting
yourself to one or
two carefully selected
locations and taking the
time to really get to know
their individual characters
– not to mention enjoying
the luxury of spending
several nights in one place.
‘Travel less, see more’
is the concept behind
Discover the World’s new
modules approach to
exploring New Zealand.
The box, opposite, shows
how they work, while
the map highlights the
modules in North Island
(we’ll be featuring South
Island’s modules in the
next issue of Cloud 9).
Click or tap the red
circles on the map to
get an idea of what each
module offers.
These quintessential
five-night itineraries
can be bolted together
and have been carefully
designed to showcase
the very best visitor
experiences in each area.
A choice of three types
of accommodation feature
in each itinerary, as well
as a range of new and
existing excursions and
recommended walks.
•travel less • see more•
New Zealand modules
Your ticket to
go-slow travel,
savouring the
very best of
New
Zealand
Lake Tarawera

17. Click on the
circles to explore
each module
Hawke’s
Bay
Wellington
& Wairarapa
Taranaki
& Wanganui
Northland
Coromandel
& Auckland
Central
North
Island
Tongariro
8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 17DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
NZmodules
How they work
1 Take your pick from
a selection of five-night
modules in key regions
of New Zealand.
2 If you like, add
three-night extensions
in other regions or bolt
on additional five-night
modules to tailormake
your ideal holiday.
3 Choose your
accommodation from
deluxe/luxury lodge,
boutique B&B or
standard/superior hotel.
4 A range of excursions
showcasing the best of
each region are included
in each module.
Salt Air flying safari
over Roberton Island

18. 18 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812
From Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland
to British Columbia
and the Yukon,
Canada is ablaze
with walking trails.
There are plenty of
self-guided short
walks available
on self-drive or
independent trips
with Discover the
World – whether
you feel footloose
in the forests of
Alberta or just
fancy a gentle
stroll through
the winelands of
Ontario.
When it comes
to classic train
journeys, the Rocky
Mountaineer is
among the world’s
finest. Soak up the
views from glass-
domed coaches
as the train winds
through Rocky
Mountain valleys
cloaked in forest
and studded with
azure lakes. Three
two-day routes
are available from
Vancouver – each
coupling smoothly
with a self-drive or
escorted holiday.
by road
From roaming the
Rockies to cruising
through Quebec,
a self-drive in big,
beautiful Canada is
all about relaxed,
free-spirited
travel. Choose a
car or motorhome
and spend your
days exploring
Vancouver Island,
and the mountain
gems of Banff and
Jasper national
parks or taking
a leisurely drive
through the
equally enticing
Atlantic Provinces.
can
ON FOOTby rail

19. 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk 19DISCOVER THE WORLD | Cloud 9 | Jan 2013
Canada’s ultimate
winter-wilderness
playground, the
Yukon outpost of
Whitehorse is just
the place to heed
your ‘call of the
wild’. Dog sledging
headlines Discover
the World’s five-
day Yukon Winter
Dream holiday, but
you also get to go
snowmobiling and
aurora hunting,
as well as taking a
spectacular scenic
flight over one
of Canada’s most
enigmatic regions.
Newfoundland is a
fascinating blend
of crinkle-cut
coastline, enticing
national parks
and rich maritime
history. Add a few
surprises, like the
Viking settlement
of L’Anse aux
Meadows and the
vibrant waterfront
city of St John’s,
and you have the
perfect setting
for a nine-day
expedition voyage
encircling the
island during the
golden days of fall.
Cast away any
fears: sea kayaks
are suprisingly
stable and easy to
paddle – and there
is no better way to
admire the scenery
and wildlife of
Canada’s coast
than by nosing
about in sheltered
inlets and bays.
One of the best
places to get
afloat is Tofino on
the west coast of
Vancouver Island
where giant cedars
and First Nations
culture stand proud.
ada
Snuggled deep in
the wilderness of
BC’s Great Bear
Rainforest you’ll
find a floating
lodge with just
five guestrooms
and where your
only neighbours
are grizzly bears,
wolves, otters and
eagles. Great Bear
Lodge is a nature-
lover’s dream,
made all the more
special by its subtle
link to the outside
world by floatplane
from Port Hardy on
Vancouver Island.
here to see more
fabulous ideas for
your Canadian
holiday
Click
by floatplane by sea kayak by boat by SLEDGE

20. Click here to share
this magazine
on Twitter
Click here to join
our mailing list
Click here
to like this
magazine
on Facebook
@
Discover the World Ltd
Arctic House, 8 Bolters Lane, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2AR
www.discover-the-world.co.uk Email travel@discover-the-world.co.uk
Fax +44 (0) 1737 362 341 Twitter @DTW_Holidays
20 Talk to the experts ✆ 01737 218 812 8 discover-cloud9.co.uk
cloud9In the next issue:
South Island NZ • Great adventures
Take a hike • Foodie escapes • Greenland
Holidays for special occasions
Writing & design William Gray | www.william-gray.co.uk