1
Western Daily Press, Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Fjord fiesta
WDP-E01-S3
Travel
2 TRAVEL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS
WDP-E01-S3
Cruise in comfort to scenic fjords or sun-kissed islands Cruises make great holidays. But it is even better when you do not have to make a long journey to the departure port. So our cruise choices this week come to you, right on Bristol’s doorstep, sailing from the port of Avonmouth. There are two on offer, one heading south for the sunshine islands of the Atlantic and the other heading north to Norway. The nine-day Whitsun fjordland
£1,699
Starting price of nine-day fjordland cruise departing from Avonmouth next May
Cruise ship Discovery will call at the Cape Verde islands during a trip next year
cruise departs Avonmouth next May and costs from £1,699. This tremendous-value cruise showcases western Norway’s magnificent fjords. See them at their very best, clothed in the beauty of early summer, with the snow-capped hinterland awakened to the glories of the new season. You sail there aboard cruise ship Discovery. And the price includes eight nights’ accommodation in your choice of cabin, full-board arrangements including full breakfast, luncheon, dinner, afternoon tea and midnight snacks, and on-board entertainment. This will be the 20,000-tonne Discovery’s second season of cruises from ports around the UK. With accommodation for 700 passengers, Discovery is a smaller ship built in traditional style, and offers the perfect home from home for a memorable holiday. You sail out of Avonmouth at teatime on the first day and head for Norway’s western fjords, taking in stops at Ulvik, Eidfjord, Flam and Bergen. Nine days later you sail back into Avonmouth. Our second cruise on offer sails out of the same port next October, again aboard Discovery, only this time heading for Madeira, Cape Verde and the Canaries on a 19-day voyage costing from £2,079. Discovery will call at the floral paradise of Madeira, two sun-kissed Canary Islands, and a trio of fascinating outposts in the Cape Verde archipelago. There is also a day in Portugal’s capital Lisbon. Ports of call are Funchal in Madeira, Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canaries, Porto Novo, Praia and Mindelo in the Cape Verde Islands, Arrecife in the Canaries, and Lisbon, before sailing back to Bristol.
A view across the rooftops of Funchal in Madeira, one of the destinations of a cruise next October
Perfect Places PARIS BY EUROSTAR
4 days from
£259
Departures November 2013 and March to November 2014
per person
PRAGUE
Departures April to October 2014
Paris was, is and always will be somewhere rather special. Why not try it with this superb four-day holiday. This inexhaustible city has something for everyone – whatever your taste. It is everything you imagine it to be, romantic, inspiring, vibrant even outrageous, but best of all Paris is unique. You will stay in a centrally located hotel, well situated for all the sights and have a wealth of visits and excursions included in the price.
This magnificent wide-ranging tour visits Prague, a city without parallel often described as ‘The Magical City’, ‘The Golden City’ or ‘City of a Hundred Spires’ and undoubtedly one of Europe’s most renowned and enthralling capitals. It’s dramatically beautiful too and always a magnet for innumerable civilisations: Slav, Jewish and German, all leaving unique legacies. In more recent times the 1989’s “velvet revolution”, so famously led by the self effacing poet Vaclav Havel, catapulted Prague back into the limelight as one of the finest cities in all of Europe.
Return rail connections available*
Return flights from Bristol, other airports available
Call us on 0844 472 4605
Quote
BRI
4 days from
£379 per person
Or visit us www.bririviera.co.uk
Request a brochure online: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/brochures
Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline. You may also be charged a connection fee. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Prices are from, per person, based on two people sharing a twin room unless stated otherwise, and are applicable to selected departure dates. These holidays and included excursions are subject to availability. Single rooms available at a supplement. Some visa costs and local departure taxes may not be included. Prices and holidays are subject to availability and change, some holidays are subject to minimum passenger numbers. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. *Supplements applicable for certain regional stations. Holidays organised by and are subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffs DE14 1SP ABTA V4744 and ATOL 3430 protected, a company wholly independent of Local World. When you respond, the holiday supplier and Local World may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission.
WESTERN DAILY PRESS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 TRAVEL 3
WDP-E01-S3
High adrenaline sport that requires stealth and guts Got what it takes to defeat the enemy? Run, dodge and get camouflaged among the scenery in a fun, safe and slightly scary afternoon of paintballing. This is the ultimate game of elimination and exhilaration that requires stealth and guts to overcome the opposition. Battlers get suitable protective gear, combat suit and gun and then battle commences. Warriors are assigned a team and sent out into the wilderness. There’s a selection of skill-testing scenarios. and visitors need to be resourceful and daring and work as part of a team to be triumphant. Experience a combat situation with this high adrenaline sport. Hide in the undergrowth and storm the enemy from behind trees, with eyes peeled and finger on the trigger, this is a game requiring all the senses.
210
Minutes you will spend exploring chocolate boutiques on our walking tour for two
Tour that reveals a chocolaty treasure around every corner Discover the hidden chocolaty treasures of Chelsea with our chocolate walking tour for two in London. Meet expert chocolatiers and sample some of the most mouth-watering treats in town and learn about the origins of chocolate and the modern trends that are taking the chocolate world by storm. An experienced guide will lead day trippers to some of the best British and French boutiques in Chelsea to sample award-winning chocolates and treats, like addictive sea salted caramels. Discover new favourites and take home mouthwatering delights with a VIP discount. The walking lasts three hours 30 minutes visiting some of the tastiest shops in Chelsea, with samples like hot chocolate, truffles and pralines.
Paintballing is the ultimate game of elimination and exhilaration; take home mouthwatering delights after a tour of some of London’s finest chocolate shops
Qwismas Presents ONE DAY PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE
FULL DAY PAINTBALLING FOR TWO
Perfect for all levels
Perfect pictures
£119 for one person
Price includes: • One full day with a professional photographer
• Advice on aperture, shutter speed, ISO, light balance and exposure control • Chance to test your new skills with expert tuition • Choice of 11 locations nationwide • Cancellation Indemnity •
Call us on 0844 472 4583
Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
CHOCOLATE WALKING TOUR IN CHELSEA
Get your camo on
Quote
BRS
Discover the hidden chocolate wonders Stealth buzz
£25
for two people
Price includes: • Entry to paintball park • All equipment rental
including semi automatic paintball gun • 8-10 paintball games per person • 100 paintballs per person • Hot lunch (at selected venues) • Cancellation Indemnity •
Indulgence
£89
for two people
Price includes: • 3 and a half hour chocolate walking tour, visiting
sine of the tastiest shops in Chelsea • Samples to include hot chocolate, truffles and pralines • VIP discount on purchased goodies • Cancellation Indemnity •
A wide range of other experiences available
Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline, other operators may vary. Experiences are subject to availability. Any applicable discounts have already been deducted. Postage not included, starts from £2.49. For further terms, please contact Acorne Plc. Acorne is wholly independent of dmg::media and Local World. When you respond, dmg::media, Local World and their Travel partners may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission; please let us know if you are happy for us to do so.
4 TRAVEL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS
WDP-E01-S3
A Rail Good Time! THE DORDOGNE & THE TRUFFLE TRAIN
HIGHLIGHTS OF CORSICA
Departing 18 May, 16 June & 1 September 2014
Departing 25 April, 6 June & 26 September 2014
6 days from
10 days from
£695
£1349 per person
per person
Rail travel from your local area for just £39
Rail travel from your local area for just £39
Corsica, ‘Ile de Beaute’, the little French island that is home to some of the most picturesque railways in Europe.
Indulge your senses in the beautiful Dordogne region of France.
Price includes:
• Return Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Lille • TGV high speed train from Lille to Nice and Marseille to Lille • Seven nights’ half board accommodation on Corsica
• Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation in France • Day time ferry crossing from Nice to Corsica and returning to Marseille • Train journey from Bastia to Calvi on Corsica • Train journey from Calvi to Corte on Corsica • Train journey from Corte to Ajaccio on Corsica • Coach transfers throughout
BERLIN, PRAGUE, BUDAPEST & VIENNA
Departing 15 July & 12 August 2014
Price includes: • Return Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris • Return TGV from Paris to Brive • Five nights’ half board accommodation • Visit to Rocamadour • Visit and entrance to the Caves of Gouffre de Padirac
• Visit to Sarlat • Visit to Souillac • Distillery Tour and tasting in Souillac • A cruise on the Dordogne in a traditional Gabare • A journey on le Truffadou train (The Truffle Train) • A visit to Martel
THE WILLIAM TELL EXPRESS & ITALIAN LAKES
Departing 17 May, 18 July & 19 September 2014
10 days from
5 days from
£959
£999
per person
per person
Rail travel from your local area for just £39
Rail travel from your local area for just £39
This summer city break takes you on a journey of discovery, as we stay in the heart of four of Europe’s grand imperial capitals. With individually selected 4 star hotels and plenty of free time this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy unique charms and cultures on a relaxing rail holiday.
Stay in Switzerland’s ‘Italian’ region of Ticino, where Italian style and ‘la dolce vita’ meets Swiss quality along with palm trees, vineyards, lakes and glaciers!
The price includes:
• Return Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Paris and TGV to Zurich • Three nights’ hotel accommodation in Bellinzona • One night hotel accommodation in Bern • Half board throughout • Visit to Locarno, Lake Maggiore
• Return Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Brussels • Connecting rail journeys • Return transfers from station to hotels • Two nights’ bed and breakfast in Berlin with one evening meal
Call us on
0844 472 4545
• Three nights’ bed and breakfast in Prague with one evening meal • Two nights’ bed and breakfast in Budapest with one evening meal • Two nights’ bed and breakfast in Vienna with one evening meal
Quote
BS
The price includes:
• Visit to Lake Lugano • Journey on the funicular railway to the top of Monte San Salvatore • Journey on the William Tell Express • Visit to Lucerne • Visit to Bern
For more information visit: www.diamondrailholidays.co.uk
Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline. You may also be charged a connection fee. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Prices are from, per person, based on two people sharing, are applicable to selected departure dates and may have been rounded up or down to the nearest pound. Any applicable discounts have already been deducted. These holidays and included excursions are subject to availability. Single rooms and regional departures are also subject to availability and a supplement may apply. Prices and holidays are subject to availability and change, some holidays are subject to minimum passenger numbers. Terms and conditions apply. Holidays are operated by various suppliers which are ABTA and/or ATOL bonded where applicable. These suppliers are independent of Local World. When you respond, the holiday supplier and Local World may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission.
WDP-E01-S3
WESTERN DAILY PRESS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 TRAVEL 5
Made to feel part of the tribe in Papua New Guinea Birds of paradise, tree-dwelling kangaroos and men in colourful face masks greet Liam Creedon on a trip to Papua New Guinea “Never spend more than 24 hours with a woman,” the village ‘bigman’ huskily intones, pausing to scratch his nose with the sharpened tip of an arrow. “It will make a man lose his magic and his powers will be weakened.” Advice from a Huli tribesman in the Papua New Guinea Highlands is generally heeded, especially if given by a man whose facial expression is masked under a thick layer of red and yellow war paint, whose nose is pierced by the long quill of a cassowary, and who is naked apart from a pig-tail belt.
Papua New Guinea encompasses jagged peaks, rainforest and beaches; a male hornbill; Malolo Plantation Lodge Seated around an open fire in the gloom of a smoke-stained hut, my interpreter explains that to preserve his “powers” the chief lives separately from his three wives. Wife number one lives next door in a similar lean-to, sharing space with the pigs and children. Other wives and relatives are housed around the settlement, guarded on all sides by steep mud walls designed to deter attacks from marauding neighbours. While the women tend to the cooking, child and pig-rearing duties, the
chief devotes his thoughts to the two great concerns of the Huli male – war and gardening. I have the unsettling feeling that I’ve stumbled back into the Stone Age. Papua New Guinea is a place you don’t forget in a hurry. Sandwiched between Northern Australia’s Cape York Peninsula and the sultry haze of the Equator, New Guinea is the world’s second largest island after Greenland. While Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern part of the island, Papua and West Papua in the west belong to Indonesia. It is a sweltering hotchpotch of jagged peaks, half-forgotten malarial swampland, mighty rivers and remote, enveloping rainforest. The island, shaped like a scurrying forest bird, is the most culturally diverse place on earth with more than 800 active languages spoken by its seemingly limitless ethnic groups and tribes. This variety is matched by New Guinea’s wildlife where kangaroos live in trees and birds appear to strut about in fancy dress. For a land where travelling from A to B can still be something of a challenge, PNG has a mind-boggling number of airstrips – more than 400 at last count. I was earnestly pondering the veracity of this claim as my tiny plane plummeted toward a tangle of jungle and certain oblivion. At the last minute, the Highland airstrip of Tari shook itself free from the greenery. New Guinea’s startling diversity is best expressed in the Highlands – a vast, previously impenetrable region sheltering broad, fertile valleys where the majority of Papuans live. The area was only ‘discovered’ by European explorers in the 1930s. Tari is Huli territory. The Huli are the largest ethnic group in the area, their distinctive red and yellow ochre colours noticeable everywhere, from face-paint to wooden fence posts guarding the airstrip. Traditional culture thrives here. The unsealed Highlands Highway is the only road, where Huli saunter barefoot, casually swinging machetes, their heads crowned with bamboo creepers – a Huli mark of respect to the jungle. Children pause from pig-walking duties to wave as our van travels ever higher to Ambua Lodge, situated at 7,000ft in the Tari Gap, a world famous bird-watching area. I find myself standing at a village edge, face to ochre-painted face with a man whose head-dress is taller than he is. Four feathers in particular stand out, lending him the appearance of someone who’s suffered a catastrophic collision with a radio transmitter. “Birds of paradise feathers,” whispers Peter, my interpreter. The village is preparing for a festival. Gardening is temporarily forgotten, head-dresses are dusted off, cassowary quills straightened through septums and face-paint applied via plastic hand-held mirrors. Carved pig ribs, giant hornbill beaks and blue beads adorn necks. A forest clearing reveals men delicately tending to oversized wigs. Huli wigmen are famous across PNG.
They attend wig schools where they’re taught incantations to encourage hair growth. The hair is then harvested and used for ceremonial wigs. Selling these helps the young men save for the all-important “bride price”. Acquiring a wife means they can enter adult Huli society. PNG is the world’s best birding location and the Tari Gap one of the country’s top spots. A lack of predators and glut of food has encouraged extravagant diversity, epitomised by the birds of paradise. A 5am start reveals the first in a series of birds seemingly designed by a madman. The silhouette of a tennis ball attached to a metre-long black streamer bounces through the dawn gloom. “Stephanie’s Astrapia,” Peter mouths – my first ever bird of paradise. This is bettered by the appearance of a thrush-sized bird with TV antennae protruding from its forehead. Binoculars reveal the antennae to be checked blue and black – King of Saxony bird of paradise is added to my list. Madang, nestling against the warm waters of the Bismarck Sea on PNG’s north coast, provides welcome respite after the nervous excitement of the Highlands. Dubbed the ‘prettiest town in the Pacific’, Madang is PNG’s leading tourist destination with a good range of hotels and excellent diving. In the Fifties, the Malolo Plantation Lodge was the first place in the
800 Number of active languages spoken in culturally diverse New Guinea province where locals could sample alcohol. The raucous atmosphere is long-gone; the sound of waves crashing on the black-sand beach the only distraction nowadays. More developed than the Highlands, Madang’s stifling tropical heat lends the region a laid-back feel. It’s also one of PNG’s diving jewels, boasting gin-clear water, extravagant wildlife and carcasses of warships holed during the Second World War. Being a coward I opt for snorkelling. A hollowed-out canoe deposits me on a tiny coral cay seemingly lifted from a Bounty advert. A confetti of psychedelic fish dance like underwater butterflies before my face-mask – zebra stripes, vermilion, sulphur with a blue trim – every feasible pattern is represented. But it’s the corals that steal the breath. I drift over a giant purple brain, then dodge between the stiff leaves of a four-metre cabbage, the reverie broken only by a sea cucumber vomiting up its stomach to deter a snorkeller. I recall the “bigman’s” warning. I’d spent much longer than 24 hours with Papua New Guinea. Rather than stealing my powers, her magic had soaked me to the core.
TRAVEL FACTS
Liam Creedon flew courtesy of Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) and Air Niugini (www.airniugini.co.uk), with Trans Nuigini Tours (www.pngtours.com). Trips from £4,775pp, based on two people travelling, including international and domestic flights, transfers, accommodation, most meals and all excursions. Advice from a Huli tribesman in the Papua New Guinea Highlands is generally heeded, especially if given by a man whose facial expression is masked under a thick layer of red and yellow war paint; the market in the ‘prettiest town in the Pacific’, Madang
For further information about PNG visit www.papuanewguinea.travel and www.wildlifeworldwide.com
6 TRAVEL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS
WDP-E01-S3
Pricebuster Cruises BUY ONE GET ONE FREE CRUISING
Onboard MV Discovery sailing from Bristol
Book by 7th Dec 2013 to take advantage of our amazing Buy One Get One Free offer. The first passenger pays the current brochure price, while the second passenger is free. Truly amazing value! When booking, please quote promotional code: 5J8WFY. MV Discovery – smaller ship cruising in classic style
Operated by highly respected British cruise line Cruise & Maritime Voyages and with a reputation built over many years, 20,000– tonne MV Discovery, with her classic lines, eight passenger decks and wonderful on-board ambience, offers accommodation for some 700 passengers. Small enough to offer an intimate, friendly atmosphere, but large enough to offer a range of shipboard amenities - including two pools, lounges and bars, a restaurant and bistro and on-deck meals, shop, beauty salon, gym, library and lecture theatre - to ensure your holiday enjoyment, Discovery will be the perfect ‘home from home’ for your very special cruise. 7 days from
£749 per person
D-DAY 70TH ANNIVERSARY AND WW1 COMMEMORATIVE CRUISE Departing 1 June 2014, from Bristol on board MV Discovery On the 70th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Occupied Europe, which led to the end of the Second World War, join Discovery on a very special cruise that will visit the places associated with the conflict, and pay homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
For further information visit: www.newmarket.travel/wdp18352
Price includes: • Six nights’ accommodation on board MV Discovery • Three ports of call; Honfleur, St Peter Port (Guernsey), Cherbourg • Commemorative sail-past of the Normandy beaches • On-board Service of Remembrance
MADEIRA, CAPE VERDE AND THE CANARIES CRUISE
19 days from
£2079
Departing 21 October 2014, sailing from Bristol On this wonderful autumn cruise, Discovery will call at the floral paradise of Madeira, two sun-kissed Canary Isles, and a trio of fascinating outposts in the Cape Verde archipelego. With a day in the colourful Portuguese capital, this is a perfect finale to Discovery’s 2014 programme from Bristol.
Price includes:
per person
• 18 nights’ accommodation on board MV Discovery • First-class on-board entertainment • Seven delightful ports of call; Funchal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Porto Novo, Praia, Mindelo, Arrecife, Lisbon
For further information visit: www.newmarket.travel/wdp18370 9 days from
£949 per person
WHITSUN FJORDLAND CRUISE Departing 24 May 2014, sailing from Bristol This wonderful value cruise from Bristol witnesses the fjords of Western Norway at their very best, clothed in the beauty of early summer, with the snow capped hinterland awakened to the glories of the new.
Price includes: • 8 nights’ accommodation on board MV Discovery • First-class on-board entertainment • Four delightful ports of call; Ulvik, Eidfjord, Flam and Bergen (all Norway)
For further information visit: www.newmarket.travel/wdp18358 All MV Discovery cruises include:
Entertainment whilst on board, Excellent service from an attentive crew, Traditional British and International full-board cuisine, Afternoon tea and late night snacks, Informative guest speakers, A wide range of on board leisure facilities
Call us on 0844 472 4655 Quote WDP Or visit us www.newmarket.travel/wdp
Alternatively, for your free brochure, tick brochure(s) required, complete the coupon and send to: Newmarket Holidays, FREEPOST KT2720, Worcester Park, KT4 8BR (NO STAMP REQUIRED)
D-Day 70th Anniversary Cruise – TGZ Madeira, Cape Verde and the Canaries Cruise – THM Whitsun Fjordland Cruise – THJ
Name ..................................................................
WDP
Address .......................................................................... ....................................................................................... Telephone....................................................................... Email ..............................................................................
Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline. You may also be charged a connection fee. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Operated by Newmarket Promotions/Air Holidays Ltd. ABTA V787X/V7812, ATOL protected 2325. Prices are per person, based on two sharing. Subject to availability. Single supplements apply. Terms and conditions apply. These suppliers are independent of Local World. When you respond, the holiday supplier and Local World may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission.
WESTERN DAILY PRESS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 TRAVEL 7
WDP-E01-S3
Pick and Mix 5 days from only
8 days from only
£549
£1199
per person*
per person*
ROME – ANCIENT AND BAROQUE
RHINE & MOSELLE RIVER CRUISE
Selected departures May to September 2014
Selected departures April to November 2014
There are many vessels cruising European rivers but few ships can match the luxury and elegance of the four-star superior Serenade 2, the five-star Lord Byron, Swiss Tiara or William Shakespeare. Boasting superb cuisine and the most comfortable surroundings possible.
Rome was, is and always will be one of the world’s most compelling cities. With an uninterrupted recorded history of more than 2,500 years, nowhere else seems to have managed to combine a heritage of classical antiquities and medieval buildings - from Renaissance palaces to intricate Baroque piazzas. The grandeur of the Colosseum and of the Vatican, the magnificence of St. Peter’s, the sheer brilliance of the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain and flamboyant Baroque buildings – the list is endless. Combine all this with world-class cuisine and the Italian lifestyle, and you have an unbeatable destination for a tour.
Price includes: • Return rail connections on selected dates from over thirty regional stations* • Standard class reserved seat on Eurostar from London St. Pancras or flight from a choice of regional airports (at a supplement) • Beautifully appointed four-star superior and five-star cabins with hotel standard beds, private bathrooms and river views on either the four-star superior Serenade 2, five-star Lord Byron, Swiss Tiara or William Shakespeare • Guided tour of historic Koblenz • Visit to Boppard, the picturesque ‘Pearl of the Rhine’ • Time to explore the hillside town of Rüdesheim
• Cruise through the spectacular Rhine Gorge • Stop in Cochem – the historic centre of the Moselle wine trade • Take a romantic stroll in the town of Bernkastel • Tour of Trier – once a key capital of the Roman Empire • Guided tour of Cologne – and see the stunning Gothic Cathedral • Full-board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day • Escorted by an experienced cruise manager
Price includes: • Return flights to Rome from Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands or Manchester • Four nights bed and breakfast at a centrally located four-star hotel • Guided tour of Baroque Rome – flamboyant yet elegant, the city of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps • Guided tour of Ancient Rome – home to the Colosseum, the Forum and capital of one of the world’s mightiest ever Empires
RAJASTHAN, THE TAJ MAHAL & AMRITSAR’S GOLDEN TEMPLE
Selected departures from January to October 2014
• Timed visit to the Villa Borghese, which houses some of the city’s finest museums, with artefacts from throughout Rome’s history, plus one of the world’s finest collections of paintings • Escorted by an experienced tour manager
14 days from only
£1699 per person
India is steeped in history, mystery and magnificence. It’s a heady cocktail of extraordinary contrasts, sumptuous palaces, splendid forts, lush countryside, haunting deserts and vibrant cities. This extraordinary tour takes you to some of the most colourful and amazing places on the entire planet – from Amritsar’s Golden Temple to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, the gleaming white of the Taj Mahal, and the ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur. India is all this and much more. It’s not just a country; it’s an entire continent crying out to be discovered and explored. Price includes: • Return direct scheduled flights from London Heathrow, with Manchester connections available • Stay in handpicked three, four and five-star hotels • Visit the extraordinary Golden Temple of Amritsar • Experience the breathtaking Taj Mahal • Relax on a two night stay in beautiful Udaipur, India’s most romantic city of lakes and palaces • Visit Pushkar, city of Lord Brahma and setting of the renowned ‘Camel Fair’ • Stay two nights at one of Rajasthan’s best-known heritage hotels – the Khimsar Fort • Visit the ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur • Spend two nights in the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, with its teeming markets, amazing City Palace, remarkable 18th century Astronomical Observatory and iconic Palace of the Winds • Experience the fascinating ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony on the Indo-Pakistani border • See the poignant site of the Amritsar Massacre • Opportunity to upgrade to Udaipur’s incredible five-star Lake Palace Hotel • Escorted by an experienced tour manager
Call us on 0844 472 4605
Quote
BRI
Or visit us www.bririviera.co.uk
Request a brochure online: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/brochures
Calls cost 5ppm from a BT landline. You may also be charged a connection fee. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Prices are from, per person, based on two people sharing a twin room unless stated otherwise, and are applicable to selected departure dates. These holidays and included excursions are subject to availability. Single rooms available at a supplement. Some visa costs and local departure taxes may not be included. Prices and holidays are subject to availability and change, some holidays are subject to minimum passenger numbers. Holiday organised by and is subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffs DE14 1SP ABTA V4744 and ATOL 3430 protected, a company wholly independent of Local World. When you respond, the holiday supplier and Local World may contact you with offers/services that may be of interest. Please give your mobile or email details if you wish to receive such offers by SMS or email. We will not give your details to other companies without your permission. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel.
8 TRAVEL TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 2013 WESTERN DAILY PRESS
WDP-E01-S3
Log cabins in the grounds of the Davvi Arctic Lodge in Karesuvanto on the Finland/Sweden border – cute little homes that come with their own sauna
Northern delights in a frozen land of raw beauty On her trip to Lapland Heather Pickstock saw the Northern Lights, drove a husky sled and had an argument with a stroppy reindeer. But had she been good enough to meet Father Christmas? In forty-something years on this planet I have never felt the need to buy a balaclava. Not a fashion accessory deemed necessary in my wardrobe. However when you are spending four days in the Arctic Circle where temperatures dip to minus 34 and a few degrees below is classed as “balmy”, a balaclava, however unfashionable, is a vital piece of kit. Never having been to a “cold” country before, my trip to Finnish Lapland in Karesuvanto on the Finland/ Sweden border was an adventure. The first excitement was on landing at the tiny Kiruna Airport. Descending slowly through the skies I got my first glimpse of this picturesque, snowy fir tree-lined landscape. How beautiful, I thought, until I
saw the runway, which immediately focused my thoughts to “how on earth is this plane going to land on that?” I travelled with Transun and stayed at the Davvi Arctic Lodge. And what a gem this place is. Tucked away in the snowy hillside, surrounded by white frosted firs, this quaint and rustic hotel is the stuff of postcards. We stayed in a three-bedroom fell house which was warm, cosy and incredibly spacious – plenty big enough for a large family or group of friends. On arrival we went to collect our snow suits and shoes, which you get to keep for the duration of the stay. As well as these suits you will also need several layers to keep you warm underneath – thermals are a necessity as are a good pair of gloves, and that balaclava! After taking in our surroundings and playing in the snow for the first night we enjoyed a hearty meal in the restaurant. The food was warming, filling and tasty – just what is needed to keep the body energised for the activities ahead.
Camping out under the stars in an Arctic Circle forest will have you reaching for the thermals; Heather Pickstock with her husky team; a ‘reindeer with attitude’
We had four activities included in our Arctic Spirit Northern Lights package. Our first was snowmobiling across the frozen lakes at night in search of a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Never in my life did I think I would be standing on a frozen lake in the middle of the Arctic Circle waiting for the lights to appear. One word for it. Mesmerising. The next day we were off to mush the huskies across the snow. This trip is unique as many other tourists only get the chance to sit in the sleigh while the huskies are driven by an instructor. This was my favourite experience of the trip. The huskies are beautiful animals and can survive temperatures of up to minus 60. But they are eager to work and go at quite a pace. Standing on the sleigh and working these dogs with a foot bar is challenging. Once back at the husky ranch we got the chance to meet and cuddle our steeds, feed them and put them back in their kennels. The huskies are so popular that when they retire there is a waiting list to adopt them. After that it was back to the hotel for a refuel dinner before heading off to a reindeer farm where we enjoyed a sleigh ride across the snow before getting the chance to work our own reindeer sleigh. Trust me to get a ‘reindeer with attitude’ which refused to keep to the track. Once the stubborn beasts go it’s hard to stop them and at one point I thought I was en route to the North Pole. Definitely an experience I’d try again, just next time with a betterbehaved descendant of Rudolph. Although we only stayed for three nights, there are seven-day trips at the Davvi Arctic Lodge and a range of additional activities and trips to take advantage of.
One of these was an overnight safari by snowmobile into the forest where you stay in a cabin in the forest, watch the Northern Lights and cook on an open fire. You can also stay in an igloo for the night and go cross-country skiing. As well as the fell houses, guests can also stay in log cabins in the grounds. These cute little homes are well appointed and even come with their own sauna. There is also the option of staying in the main hotel. As well as the trip I enjoyed, the Davvi also hosts Santa Safaris in November and December – a chance for children to get up close and personal with Father Christmas. These trips are hugely popular in the run-up to the festive season with thousands of children visiting each year to meet Santa. Children and their families are taken on a reindeer sledge through the forest to meet Santa and his elves in a special log cabin. All the elves are specially briefed by Santa so they know the names of each child, what they want for Christmas and whether they have been good. Davvi Arctic Lodge operations manager, Penny Zagloridou, said: “This is where dreams come true and memories which last forever are made. “It is very emotional to see all the children so excited about meeting Santa. The whole experience is special for them – and us.” As well as the chance to meet Santa there are also a range of activities, such as mini snowmobiles, for the children as well as face painting and arts and crafts. There are also day breaks available where children enjoy riding on snowmobiles, toboggan runs, ice sculpting, and riding on a reindeer sleigh before enjoying stories around the campfire. Between 1,000 and 1,500 children enjoy the Santa Safari in the run-up to Christmas each year while up to 2,000 youngsters visit on a day break. I hope to make a return to Karesuvanto this winter to meet Santa himself – Christmas is a magical time even for us adults. So it looks like I will have to be good, very good, this year, if I’m going to impress the man in the red suit. And that, quite frankly, could be a challenge.
TRAVEL FACTS
Children (and adults!) wanting to see Santa can enjoy a Winter Wonderland day break to see the man in the red suit from Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter airports as well as others across the UK. Prices start from £489 for an adult and £429 for a child. Activities included are a snowmobile adventure, reindeer sleigh ride, private family meeting with Santa and snow activities. For more information or to book your visit, see www.transun.co.uk or call 01865 265 200. The Northern Lights Transun trip is offered on a two, three, four and sevennight basis. Prices start from £699 per person for a two-night itinerary including international flights, halfboard accommodation, transfers and loan of a snow suit and boots for the duration of your stay. Activities included are a Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari, Northern Lights Forest Trek, Call of the Wild Husky Safari, Reindeer Camp. Other optional activities are available at an additional cost. Departures for the 2013-14 Northern Lights season from Bristol leave on selected dates including January 26 and February 27, 2014. For details or to book your visit, see www.transun.co.uk or call 01865 265 200.