Adventure holidays provide antidote to World Cup blues
With England’s hopes of World Cup glory officially thwarted and the UK’s equally unreliable weather only now deciding to play ball, this is the perfect time to substitute further talk of red cards for your passport.
The Adventure Company and Imaginative Traveller are both offering an extra incentive to flee the country on a great value adventure holiday with a range of discounts just as our overpaid boys come home. With all trips accompanied by experienced local guides whichever corner of the world you choose to tackle, the fixtures list is wide open to plan your great escape.
And, for those heading off on their own in search of new team mates, there’s no danger of a ‘single supplement’ penalty either. With over half of travellers on small group tours holidaying alone, solo travellers simply room with someone of the same sex in twin share accommodation.
THIS SUMMER’S FIRST ELEVEN
The perfect way to kickoff your break from all things football:
Borneo: Cure your match-related malaise with the chance to come face-to-face with Iban tribespeople and orang-utans in Malaysian Borneo. An island once described by Charles Darwin as ‘one great luxuriant hothouse made by nature for herself’, its exotic cultures, tropical rainforest and great accommodation, including a treehouse, could be just what the doctor ordered.
Offer: With £100 off the 18 July and 8 August departures, prices for the 12-day Borneo Adventure start from £2049pp including flights, transport, accommodation and most meals. The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk)
China: A country perhaps with echoes of Capello’s mutiny-rousing regime, the 17-day Inland China trip showcases some of China’s most impressive sites, landscapes, cultures and cuisine. Heading north from Cantonese style cooking in Hong Kong to spicy Sichuan sauces and the ever-popular Peking Duck in Beijing, this trip has all the ingredients for a fantastic adventure.
Offer: £238 off the 22 August departure (20% discount), taking the 17-day adventure down from £1190 to £952pp land only. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)
Cuba: An in-depth 16-day exploration of Cuba past and present, exploring its fascinating blend of Latin culture, Caribbean beaches and atmospheric cities where classic American cars and the rhythm of salsa fill the streets. This trip gives a memorable overview of the country’s highlights, from the tobacco fields around Viñales and the Sierra Maestre, where Castro’s revolutionary forces went into hiding, to the Bay of Pigs and second city Santiago de Cuba.
Offer: The 25 July Salsa Cubana departure is reduced by £100 to £1599pp, including flights, transport and B&B accommodation. The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk)
Ecuador: Perched on the globe’s very own half-way line, Ecuador’s snow-capped mountains (including the world’s highest active volcano in Cotopaxi National Park)., huge river systems, tropical coastal plains and dense Amazonian jungle make it a perfect microcosm of South America. Starting and ending in Quito, the second of the Inca capitals and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this adventure allows extra time to explore the colonial charms of the bustling capital.
Offer: £130 off the 15 July Ecuador Alive departure (20% discount), taking the 9-day trip down to £520pp land only. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)
Egypt: The 11-day River & Reef adventure tour pays homage to the treasures of the ancient Egyptians, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the temples along the Nile River and the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. The itinerary also builds in plenty of time to relax both on board the private Nile River cruise boat and at the Red Sea.
Offer: £119 off the 14 July departure, a 20% discount which reducing the 11-day River & Reef trip to £476pp land only. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)
Jordan: Let yourself be lured by Jordan’s natural treasures on this 9-day Petra & Wadi Rum holiday. Highlights include the flora and fauna-rich Dana Nature Reserve, the towering sandstone landscapes of Wadi Rum, the lowest point on Earth (the Dead Sea) and snorkelling in the Red Sea, exploring the cultural gems – including ‘Rose Red’ Petra – along the way.
Offer: £50 off the 21 August departure. Prices start from £1099pp including flights, transport, accommodation and most meals. The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk)
Kenya: Do better than Three Lions with an 8-day Kenya Unveiled adventure. Taking in three of the country’s top game parks, this is a great introduction to Kenya’s wildlife, scenery and culture. From the ‘red elephants’ of Samburu and the mass of pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara’s black-maned lions and fellow ‘big five’ members, the dawn and evening game drives will help restore a more positive attitude to the beautiful game.
Offer: 21 August departure down 20% from £540 to £432pp land only, plus a local payment of $250. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)
Morocco: This 8-day Mount Toubkal Trek is the ideal adventure for those looking to burn off their football frustrations on a short and active break. Starting in lively Marrakech, you explore the old city on a guided sightseeing walk before escaping to the High Atlas Mountains and – with superb views as your reward - the challenge of a two-day climb of North Africa’s highest peak; Mt. Toubkal (4,167m).
Offer: With £50 off the 23 July and 27 August departures, prices start from £649pp including flights, transport, accommodation and most meals. The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk)
Peru: A land of contrasts, this 15-day holiday journeys from historic Arequipa via the depths of the Colca Canyon and across the floating reed Uros islands into the Peruvian Andes and Machu Picchu, which next year will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bingham’s rediscovery.
Offer: The Adventure Company is offering £100 off the 10 and 24 July land-only departures, meaning prices start from £1099pp including transport, accommodation and most meals. Alternatively, book onto any trip to Peru before 30 August and enjoy £100 off per person. The Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk)
Syria: Was it England’s ongoing below-par performance or yesterday’s dismal defeat that proved your personal road to Damascus moment in questioning Capello as the saviour of our national pride? Either way, Imaginative Traveller’s 8-day Syrian Explorer starts and ends is this oft-referenced capital. Having visited the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, the group heads east to explore Palmyra, the crusader castle at Krak des Chevaliers and Aleppo, home to one of the best bazaars in the Middle East.
Offer: 20% off the 13 July departure, reducing the trip by £105 to £420pp land only. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)
Thailand: Banish all recent Red Shirt protests from your mind – whether associated with England’s away colours or Bangkok’s anti government group – with this 18-day Hill Tribes & Beaches adventure. Combining the best of northern Thailand with those of the tropical south, holiday highlights include a glimpse into the country’s wartime past at the River Kwai, the temples of the ancient Siamese capital of Ayuthaya, trekking in Chiang Mai, elephant riding, camping on a secluded island in Phang Nga Bay and beach bliss in Phuket.
Offer: Save £182 on the 26 July departure, down 20% from £910 to £728pp land only. Price includes transport, accommodation and some meals. Imaginative Traveller (imaginative-traveller.co.uk)