The Great Outdoors Offer Great - And Affordable - Tour Vacations

Thanks to the lyrics of Katharine Lee Bates, for more than 115 years, America has been revered for her beautiful "spacious skies," "amber waves of grain" and "purple mountain majesties." And, thanks to these landscapes that have inspired musicians, poets and travelers alike, 75 percent of Cosmos' tour lineup for 2012 is focused on experiencing the beauty found in North America's scenery and national parks.

"National parks are idyllic vacation 'hot spots' perfect for relaxation and introspection, wild life exploration or adventure, depending on each traveler's interests," said Scott Nisbet, president and CEO of the Globus family of brands. "And it's because of the experiences these parks provide that bookings for our North American national park tour sales have witnessed an increase in the last year. Even better? In 2012, our GoParks!Tours partnership will give Cosmos travelers the chance give back and preserve these parks for the future."

This year, as part of its 2012 offerings, Cosmos is partnering with the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America's national parks, to provide unique tour experiences in these amazing national treasures. And, as part of this GoParks! Tours partnership, when travelers book a Cosmos US national parks vacation, the company will make a donation to the NPF at no additional cost to travelers.

In addition, the company is offering travelers 15 vacations – many of which are GoParks! Tours – for $150 per day or less. They include:

Highlights of the Canyonlands (8 days), priced from $1,089

Western Wonders (11 days), priced from $1,399

Enchanted Southwest (12 days), priced from $1,679

National Parks & Canyon Country (13 days), priced from $1,489

Splendors of the Hawaiian Islands (13 days), priced from $1,889

Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains (14 days) priced from $1,899

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Ranging from seven to 14 days and featuring landscapes from the Blue Ridge to Rocky Mountains and Canada to the Canyonlands, In 2012 Cosmos' nature-inspired North American Regional Discoveries, Panoramas, Escapes and Rail Journeys offer travelers an inclusive-style of travel. And, as part of Cosmos' 2012 offerings, the company provides travelers a Trip Scale, giving them insight into how much they're "on their own" v. "on the go."

In addition to a NEW 10-day Wildlife of British Columbia vacation, also NEW for 2012, are 13 "Special Departure" vacations centered around exciting events, including:

Western Canada & Rocky Mountaineer Calgary Stampede (July 8, 2012 departure)

Dixieland & Rhythms New Orleans Jazz Fest (April 18 and 25, 2012 departures)

Route 66 Revisited: International Route 66 Mother Road Festival & Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (September 16, 2012 departure)

Elvis & the Southern Sounds 35th Anniversary Memorial Tour (August 12, 2012 departure)

The Old South & Florida Halloween (October 25, 2012 departure)

"We design tours for Travelers with a capital T," said Nisbet. "Those people who love to get out and get away, to see and experience the world. Our goal is to make their favorite pastime an affordable reality."

Cosmos tour packages offer travelers included sightseeing and a choice of optional excursions, some included meals plus the freedom to indulge in local fare on a whim; a dynamic blend of transportation as well as clean and comfortable pre-selected hotels.

Additional Savings: Those that book a North American Cosmos trip early can not only benefit from great built-in savings and value, they will receive $50 off per person on the price of any 2012 Cosmos vacation.*

Visit www.cosmos.com for more information or "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cosmos.

* Book a 2012 Cosmos vacation to receive the $50 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between October 12 and November 29, 2011 for travel commencing by December 31, 2012. Not combinable with any other promotion except the Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

ABOUT COSMOS
For 50 years, Cosmos has refined the concept of low-cost travel packages, offering travelers the best vacation value available in more than 30 countries around the world. This dedication has earned Cosmos Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine's official recommendation, year after year. When vacationing with Cosmos, travelers can enjoy the expert knowledge of Tour Directors while taking free time to explore on their own. Cosmos is part of the Globus family of brands, an award-winning, travel industry leader with more than 80 years of international travel expertise. The Globus family of brands is a member of Sustainable Travel International (STI).

Consumers can book a Cosmos vacation or request brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.866.313.2845. For more information, please visit www.cosmos.com.