The over-50s specialist on Tuesday (27 September) also reiterated its commitment to multi-generational holidays, and announced plans to extend its "hugely successful" jet touring programme.
Saga’s "experienced gap years" will centre around purpose-driven travel, with a focus on making a positive impact on local communities. Further details will follow "in due course".
Launching on Tuesday, Tailor-Made Travel by Saga will sit in the Saga portfolio alongside its escorted touring programme and hosted hotel business, with the aim of helping customers create their perfect itinerary through a range of add-ons and extensions.
Saga’s first tranche of Tailor-Made destinations includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, India, Thailand, Vietnam/Indochina, Malaysia/Borneo, Singapore and Indonesia, with more to be added over the next three months.
It said the programme had been inspired by its own research, which showed "a real desire" from travellers to customise their trips. Tailor-Made options will span its worldwide hotel offering, independent and private tours, rail journeys, cruise and stay itineraries, and road trips.
A range of new product will be showcased on a new-look website, some of which will be directly bookable as is currently the case with Saga’s tours and hotels. The business took a step back from the travel trade earlier this year, with Titan Travel serving as Saga’s main trade-facing brand.
Other options include door-to-door chauffeur transfers, UK airport lounge access and fast-track security, as well as flash offers – including for off-season travel.
Elsewhere, Saga plans to ramp up its jet tour programme, which is already 70% sold having been on sale for just two months. Jet tour flights are all direct and are no longer than five hours from one destination to the next, and come with an airport experience "mirroring that of travelling on a private jet".
John Constable, Saga Travel Group chief executive, said: “Our research has shown that our customers are keen to travel, explore and have new and different experiences with a brand they trust for quality, service and expertise. They know what they want and what they don’t.
“We are in a great position to respond to that and innovate the market, which we’re doing through our new ’Tailor-Made Travel by Saga’ service, our plans to introduce experienced gap-years, multi-generational holidays and, thanks to its huge success, a further roll-out of our premium jet tours."
Euan Sutherland, Saga Group chief executive, added: “Travel lies at the heart of the Saga brand and we are really excited about the plans that have been developed by John and his team. We are building the travel company for the experienced generation based around a dynamic, digital offering that will allow us to win a greater share of a market with more than 52 million trips a year.”
