Hard-pushed to pinpoint it on a map? You’re not alone. On the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, this tiny country is hardly on the tourist radar. But its lunar-like landscape, sculpted by volcanic activity and wind erosion and punctuated by salt lakes, where nomadic tribes still roam, makes a great setting for an adventure. Visitors can kayak or snorkel from the former beachside capital, Tadjoura, explore villages and waterfalls in the Goda mountains and kick back in Djibouti City, once a sleepy French outpost, now a lively port town. Explore has a new 12-day trip toEthiopia and Djibouti for £2,676, including flights and most meals. It’s not the cheapest place for independent travel, but there are some great places to stay (see lonelyplanet.com). Ethiopian Air has flights from Heathrow via Addis Ababa for about £500.
Burma has been one of the best-selling destinations of the past few years for adventure operators, which continue to be creative with itineraries. Imaginative Traveller says it expects its new Burma by Bike package (from £2,049pp for two weeks with B&B accommodation, flights extra) to be a bestseller. It includes rides to the lakeside Inthein pagodas, minority villages on Inle lake and Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma.
Specialist operator Inside Japan Tours is launching Inside Burma Tours for 2015, after success with its Inside Vietnam offshoot. Trips will include a 15-night Kipling’s Burma trip (15 nights from £2,650pp, flights extra) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth, which covers Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and a two-night cruise on Irrawaddy river – sites relating to the colonial era and Kipling’s writing.
Those who want to travel independently – which is now easy and safe to do in Burma – might find local operator mrmyanmartravel.com useful for ideas and some arrangements, such as domestic flights. You need to reserve hotel rooms well ahead in busy places such as Yangon.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
The best adventure holidays
Hard-pushed to pinpoint it on a map? You’re not alone. On the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, this tiny country is hardly on the tourist radar. But its lunar-like landscape, sculpted by volcanic activity and wind erosion and punctuated by salt lakes, where nomadic tribes still roam, makes a great setting for an adventure. Visitors can kayak or snorkel from the former beachside capital, Tadjoura, explore villages and waterfalls in the Goda mountains and kick back in Djibouti City, once a sleepy French outpost, now a lively port town. Explore has a new 12-day trip toEthiopia and Djibouti for £2,676, including flights and most meals. It’s not the cheapest place for independent travel, but there are some great places to stay (see lonelyplanet.com). Ethiopian Air has flights from Heathrow via Addis Ababa for about £500.
Burma has been one of the best-selling destinations of the past few years for adventure operators, which continue to be creative with itineraries. Imaginative Traveller says it expects its new Burma by Bike package (from £2,049pp for two weeks with B&B accommodation, flights extra) to be a bestseller. It includes rides to the lakeside Inthein pagodas, minority villages on Inle lake and Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma.
Specialist operator Inside Japan Tours is launching Inside Burma Tours for 2015, after success with its Inside Vietnam offshoot. Trips will include a 15-night Kipling’s Burma trip (15 nights from £2,650pp, flights extra) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth, which covers Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and a two-night cruise on Irrawaddy river – sites relating to the colonial era and Kipling’s writing.
Those who want to travel independently – which is now easy and safe to do in Burma – might find local operator mrmyanmartravel.com useful for ideas and some arrangements, such as domestic flights. You need to reserve hotel rooms well ahead in busy places such as Yangon.
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