Life gets even more interesting at 40

Somak Holidays marks its 40th birthday with the launch of a new Worldwide brochure featuring 40 new experiences. Thai home-stays, mobile safaris, working ranches and luxury lodges: These are just some of the forty fabulous holidays Somak Holidays (somak.co.uk) is offering to mark its 40th birthday.

The range of adventures is being showcased in a tantalizing new Worldwide brochure from the family-run specialist operator. The 200-page brochure encompasses the best of Somak’s India, Africa, Far East, Middle East and Indian Ocean programmes and introduces 40 brand new experiences ranging from a holiday to Dubai’s new Atlantis, The Palm to a Thai ‘home-stay’.

The full list of 40 new experiences in the exotic, new, Worldwide brochure can be viewed at somak.co.uk. Below are some of the highlights…

OUT OF AFRICA
Somak’s Elewana Safari and Tanganyika Under Canvas are two new Tanzania safaris, offering completely different experiences. Elewana Safari brings you a true ‘Out of Africa’ experience with stays in some of the most luxurious accommodation Tanzania has to offer.

Guests journey through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the famed Serengeti, where a variety of wildlife can be spotted including wildebeest, zebras, elephants, rhinos, oryx, buffalo, Africa's big cats and birds of prey.

Accommodation includes the Arusha Coffee Lodge, an exclusive boutique lodge which radiates the warmth of the old colonial plantation homes; Tarangire TreeTops, an exotic lodge perched high up in the age-old Boabab and Marula trees; Ngorongoro Farm House which is situated at the foot of Ngorongoro Crater and boasts three stylish and sophisticated camps; and finally, the Serengeti Migration Camp, a haven of sumptuous indulgence, featuring spacious tents that overlook the Grumeti River and its resident hippos.

Prices start from £2,585 per person and this includes seven nights’ accommodation, return flights from London Heathrow to Nairobi with Kenya Airways, transfers, game drives and all meals at safari lodges.

Tanganyika Under Canvas allows guests to follow in the footsteps of animals on the annual ‘Great Migration’ by accommodating them in deluxe ‘mobile tents’ for the final part of this eight-day itinerary. The exclusive mobile camp is intimately integrated into the surrounding African bush and moves around the Serengeti enabling guests to enjoy one of the natural world's greatest spectacles.

The mobile camp experience is preceded by one night in Arusha (Olasiti Lodge),
a night at Tarangire (Maramboi Tented Camp) and two nights at Ngorongoro (Ngorongoro Farm House).

Prices start from £2,340 per person and this includes seven nights’ accommodation, return flights from London Heathrow to Nairobi with Kenya Airways, transfers, game drives and all meals at safari lodges.

In Kenya, holiday-makers can sample life on a working ranch at Borana Lodge, new to Somak, or indulge in the ultimate in secluded luxury at Alfajiri Villas in Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. Borana Lodge offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the ranching experience and Alfajiri Villas come with a private butler.

Matemwe Retreat in Zanzibar is a new addition to Matamwe Lodge and consists of three fabulous villas, each featuring a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, bathroom with double basins, shower, and large romantic bathtub overlooking the Indian Ocean. The villas have their own small beach right in front of them and there’s also a plunge pool on the private roof terrace, complete with sun and shade decks.

DISCOVER THAILAND
For holiday-makers looking for something a little bit different in Thailand, Somak Holidays has launched a brand new Hidden Thailand itinerary, which incorporates an authentic Thai-living experience at a ‘home stay’ in Chiang Mai. The 12-night holiday begins in Chiang Rai where guests will enjoy a boat ride along the Mekong River plus visits to the Chinese refugee village and the area’s hill tribes. It also takes in the beach resort of Phuket and the jungle of the Khao Sok national park where guests with a sense of adventure will delight in their tree-top accommodation. At the Chiang Mai home-stay guests will visit orchid farms and working elephant camps, travelling by ox-cart, bamboo raft and elephant and there is an optional batik painting excursion for those looking to nurture their artistic flair.

Prices start from £1,582 per person and this includes 12 nights’ accommodation; return flights from London Heathrow to Chiang Rai (returning from Phuket) with Thai Airways, transfers, 12 breakfasts, six lunches and four dinners.

MIDDLE EAST SPREAD
Two new Oman itinerary extensions are featured in the Worldwide brochure, both providing the opportunity to overnight in individual tents in the desert sands of Wahiba. Desert Nights Resort and Hidden Treasures of Oman can be added to the original Treasures of Oman, six-night itinerary which takes in Muscat, Nizwa and Nahkl. Both tours escort visitors by 4WD along the scenic coastal route and over dunes to Wahiba Sands where they will stay for a night or two in a Bedouin-style tent with a cosy sit-out that boasts panoramic views across the golden sands.

Prices for the six-night Treasures of Oman start from £1,180 per person and includes return flights from London Gatwick to Muscat, six nights’ accommodation and transfers. A one-night Desert Nights Resort extension costs from £309 per person and a two-night Hidden Treasures of Oman extension starts from £419 per person.

NEW HOTELS
Brand new lodges and hotels include the David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa and the Protea Hotel Livingstone, both in Zambia. The 77-room David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa opened in April 2008, on the banks of the mighty Zambezi. The hotel offers visitors a restaurant and bar, a variety of safari excursions and activities in and around the falls. The Lady Livingstone, a 144 seater, triple-deck river cruiser enables guests to experience Africa in a unique style on the Zambezi River. The 80-room Protea Hotel Livingstone is located on the outskirts of Livingstone, in the heart of Zambia. The famous Victoria Falls is a mere 10kms from the hotel, making it the ideal base from which to view this must-see spectacular.

In addition, the Worldwide brochure features the hotly anticipated Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. Opening in September 2008, this iconic, lavish resort will be the largest water-themed attraction in the Middle East. The resort will house the world’s largest water park, Aquaventure, Dolphin Bay, which is home to 27 dolphins and The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater passageways and a variety of dining experiences including four world-class celebrity chef restaurants.

The mega-resort comprises 1,539 rooms in total, all with stunning views, 17 restaurants, bistros, cafes, bars and restaurants Sanctuary Nightclub, a spa, tennis courts, running track and gym.

For more information go to Somak.co.uk.