Collette Vacations released a new brochure for its 2012 Explorations brand of small group tours, which officially launched in 2010. The brochure presents 15 vacation options including four new tours, including the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Discover Portugal’s Treasures and Three Kingdoms of Indochina.

Collette is offering an early booking incentive until Dec. 31. Travel agents who book any Explorations tour will save clients $250 per couple and the booking will count toward the agent’s Book your Own Bonus, a travel agent incentive program launched on Sept. 1, which incentivizes individual travel agents with limitless earnings.

Melissa Snape, executive vice president of product, said that the brand is “all about immersive experiences, unique accommodations and culinary adventures that are best suited to a smaller group of travelers. In Portugal, our clients stay in famed Pousadas -- converted castles and palaces that are uniquely Portuguese; and in the ancient city of Hoi An, a cooking class in which clients prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes begins at the local market and includes a lesson in the art of plate decorating.”

Explorations offers the ease and convenience of an escorted tour, but was created to capture the benefits of touring with a small group of 12 to 28 passengers, including a more leisurely pace, the freedom to explore on your own, and discovering cultures through hands-on experiences. While Explorations is its own brand, it also comes with the benefits offered by Collette on its other tour products, including complimentary roundtrip home-to-airport sedan service, the largest sales force in the industry, industry-leading No Worries Cancellation waiver and guaranteed departure dates. For more information, call 877-451-8687 or visit www.explorationstouring.com.

Collette Vacations is a tour operator based in Pawtucket, R.I., that has been in business for more than 90 years. The company offers 125 programs to destinations on all seven continents, including small group tours, family vacations, educational travel, train journeys, river cruises and vacations that feature a Collette Foundation site visit. For more information, call 800-611-3361 or visit www.collettevacations.com.