See the Ashes Tour in Australia

With the exceptional Ashes series of 2005 keeping the nation on the edge of its seat, a holiday to see the Ashes 2006 is undoubtedly a cricket fan's dream.

The international cricket series is one of the most exciting ways of combining the sights of Australia's cities with what promises to be a great sporting experience.

Plus holidaymakers will get away from the beginnings of the British winter and soak up the hot Australian summer instead.

Sporting Journeys, one of the Ashes Series 2006-2007 official travel agents, has three tours available to see England and Australia in action.

Their ‘Bonzer’ Christmas tour combines a luxury food and wine-lovers holiday in Melbourne and Sydney with reserved tickets to the Test matches in both cities.

Christmas lunch takes place at the Morning Star Estate Winery in Melbourne and holidaymakers can celebrate the New Year in Sydney at the upmarket Argyle Cellars.

The tour costs £3,970 per person based on two sharing and includes four-star accommodation, internal and international flights with Quantas, Test match tickets, and departs from the UK on December 21st, returning on January 8th 2007.

A 12-night package to Sydney is also available for those wanting to catch the final Test, departing on December 29th with Singapore Airlines. Tickets for this tour ('Fair Dinkum') cost £2,840 based on two sharing.

Alternatively, you can see some of the earlier Tests on the 24-night ‘Billabong’ tour, watching the series Perth and having Christmas in Melbourne. The tour costs £3,400 per person with flights to Perth departing on December 9th with Malaysian Air.

Sara Malin, of Sporting Journeys, says: "Our tours combine a desirable holiday in the sun with one of the most hotly contested events in cricket. Only the last few tickets remain, so customers need to book immediately."

All tickets include international flights, four-star accommodation, reserved match tickets and merchandise.

For more information see www.sportingjourneys.com

Alternatively, if you are on a tighter budget, then there are two new cheaper Ashes packages available with Grandstand Cricket, another official travel agent for the series.

You can catch all five days of the first Test in Brisbane from £1,315, including flights with Qantas, match tickets, and a three-course Test match dinner with guest speakers, though accommodation is not included.

A similar package is available for the second Test match in Adelaide, for £1,330.

The specialist tourist operator also has some packages with accommodation left for Adelaide and Perth Test matches.

For more information see www.grandstandcricket.co.uk
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