Travel deals, tips, insider news and comment by 101 Holidays editors, Mark Hodson and David Wickers
Holiday details: A 4 night private tour designed to offer a flavour of Jordan, taking in the classical city of Jerash, Mount Nebo, Petra and a day trip to the Dead Sea.
Price: £895 including flights with Royal Jordanian, a private driver, entrance fees to Petra and accommodation in 5-star hotels throughout, with breakfast daily.
Date: 31 January 2012 (or earlier)
Book with: Cox & Kings
In the third of our “Five of the Best….” series, we asked Cox & Kings to nominate five cultural festivals which stand out from the rest. Each selected event not only represents a stunning holiday experience for visitors, but also sheds light on the local culture and customs. Do you agree, or have another suggestion? Please leave a comment below.
Known locally as “the three games of men”, Naadam consists of wrestling, horseracing and archery. It begins with an extravagant ceremony featuring dancers, horseriders, athletes and musicians, after which the competitions begin. People dress up in their finest deel, the traditional long colourful silken robe, with the men often adding a modern twist with a cowboy hat or boots. The biggest festival is held in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator in July, although other cities and towns across Mongolia have their own, smaller Naadam celebrations. Dating from the era of Genghis Khan, the Naadam Festival demonstrates wonderfully the traditional sports of the Mongolian warrior.
Visit this festival on Cox & Kings’ Mongolia: Land of the Blue Sky tour.
Camels are renowned for being strong-willed, unpredictable and irritable, so it is no wonder that camel racing is an entertaining spectacle. The quirky Camel Cup was first held in 1970 in the dry Todd River Bed as the result of a bet between two friends; it is now an annual event held in July of every year at Blatherskite Park. Alice Springs, usually sparsely populated, bursts to life with belly dancing, rickshaw rallies, colourful stalls and an array of exotic food. One of the most comical races is the Honeymoon Handicap – grooms race their camels half way around the arena, get their camel to kneel down and then place their ‘bride’ on the camel and race to the finishing line.
Cox & Kings can organise luxury tailor-made holidays to Australia to incorporate a visit to the Camel Cup.
The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a Catholic celebration in memory of deceased ancestors, held on November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls Day). The pretty colonial town of Oaxaca celebrates this festival with more ceremony, ritual and flair than any other town in Mexico. Despite the morbid subject matter, this holiday is celebrated joyfully, as it is both a remembrance of loved ones and a celebration of the eternal cycle of life and death. Some of the events include a parade in the middle of town with stilt-walkers, and people dressed as skeletons, an incredible competition of ofrendas (altars), and sand paintings made on the streets. There is a saying in Oaxaca which aptly describes this festival “We are not here for a long time, we are here for a good time.”
Visit this festival on Cox & Kings’ Highlights of Mexico group tour.
Timkat, meaning Epiphany, is one of Ethiopia’s most famous events and is celebrated across the country every January. The two-day festival commemorates the Baptism of Jesus and provides a rare glimpse into a tradition dating back over 1000 years. On the first day, Ethiopians dressed in their finest white gabbis (shawls) attend an early afternoon mass in their local churches. The priests and deacons wear elaborate ceremonial robes and carry magnificently colourful, sequinned umbrellas. By dawn the following day and after another mass, the Patriarch dips his cross in the water to bless it and sprays the nearby crowds to symbolise their rebaptism. In Addis Ababa, the most impressive of locations to witness this festival, you can expect between 80,000 and 100,000 people to be gathered, all with the same aim of being doused in Holy water. With such high numbers it is impossible for the priest to cover everyone, so younger priests use hose pipes connected to the blessed pool to spray those further away.
Cox & Kings has a special departure for this festival; Ethiopian Odyssey departs on 7th January 2012.
Paro Tsechu is the biggest and most spectacular of the Buddhist festivals, faithfully celebrated in October each year. People flock to bear witness to their Buddhist faith, dressed in traditional finery. They receive blessings and watch masked dances and colourful allegorical dramas performed in the atmospheric courtyard of the Paro Dzong (temple-fortress). A deeply religious country, Buddhism was first introduced to Bhutan around AD 800 by the revered Guru Padmasambhava, “he who was born of a lotus flower”, and it is in his honour that the festival is held. It consists of three parts: the “Pre-festival” on the first day, ceremonies inside the Paro Dzong on the second day, and the main festivities on the festival ground during the remaining three days. For the devout, the highlight is on the final day when a huge religious picture (thongdrel) is unfurled at dawn. Masked and dressed in elaborate costumes of silk brocade, dancers demonstrate the triumph of good over evil and the power of compassion to the haunting sounds of trumpets, cymbals and flutes. Dances are interspersed with folksongs and clowning, while copious amounts of butter tea and potent barley alcohol are consumed.
Cox & Kings’ Bhutan: The Dragon Kingdom group tour has special festival departures.
Check out Cox & Kings’ top 5 rail journeys and top 5 temples in India too.
In the second of our “Five of the Best….” series, we asked Cox & Kings to nominate five temples in India which stand out from the rest. Each selected temple carries with it a fascinating story, reflecting India’s rich history and diverse religions, spiced with romance, eroticism and triumphalism. Do you agree, or have another suggestion? Please leave a comment below.
The Golden Temple, officially known as the Harminder Sahib, is the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. Attacked by the Afghans in 1761 it was rebuilt by the Sikhs’ greatest secular leader, Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who donated the spectacular gold top for which the temple is now renowned (said to be 100 kg of pure gold). The gold shimmers as the temple sits in the middle of a rectangular lake, said to have healing properties. A blend of Hindu and Muslim styles, the temple itself is a two-storey marble structure; the lower storey’s exterior white marble walls are decorated with intricate flower and animal motifs. The interior walls mainly consist of carved wooden panels elaborately inlayed in silver and gold. There are four entrances to the temple, supposedly signifying the importance of openness and acceptance.
See Amritsar’s Golden Temple on the Journey from the Golden Temple tour
The Meenakshi temple, in the heart of Madurai’s old town, has been a centre of pilgrimage for decades. Legend recalls that Meenakshi started life as a magnificent princess, born of fire with eyes like a fish and three breasts. As the princess grew older, she overpowered all of the other gods with her hopeless beauty, until she met Shiva. It is said that Madurai is where the couple were married, making it one of the holiest cities in India. The temple’s gopurams (temple towers) soar almost 50 metres above the gateways and are decorated with colourful stucco images of animals, gods and goddesses. The thousand-pillared hall is a brilliant example of southern temple architecture.
See Meenakshi Temple on the Grand Tour of South India
A thousand years ago, artisans of the Chandela dynasty built the spectacular temples at Khajuraho, which are now famed for their sophisticated carvings and erotic sculptures. The sculptures, which were rediscovered by an English soldier in 1839, are said to portray the rite of creation in which both body and soul are involved. The temples are lavishly carved with beautifully rendered friezes of nymphs, gods, banquets, musicians and animals. Of the original 85 temples, only 22 now survive. The Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest and possibly the most impressive, with its spire looming over 30 metres high. The other main temples Chatrabhuj, Parswanath and Ghantai, are no less remarkable and have been beautifully restored back to excellent condition.
See Khajuraho on the Grand Tour of Northern India
The Sun Temple at Konark can be found in the state of Orissa, which is known as the temple state due to its abundance of temples. Built in the 13th century, the complex, now in ruins, was originally on the shore but now sits in solitary splendour with the sea over two kilometres away. The temple was built in the shape of a colossal chariot with 12 wheels, one for each month, and seven horses symbolising the days of the week, carrying the sun god Surya across the heavens. The walls are adorned with thousands of images of dancers, musicians, birds, deities and courtly life. Like the temple at Khajuraho, the Sun Temple is also covered with erotic sculptures.
See the Sun Temple on a tailor-made holiday to India
The Brihadeeshwar temple, constructed by the King Raja Raja Chola, follows the Dravidian style and was built in honour of his victorious reign. It took 12 years to complete and like many other temples built during this period served many functions; inside there are separate waiting areas for musicians, workers and so forth; whilst the periphery served as a meeting place for the public. An interesting aspect of this temple is its vimana (the central tower of the temple) over the sanctum sanctorum which, unlike other temples in the south, is very tall. Another striking feature of the temple is the colours of the frescoes which, although approximately 1,000 years old, are still bright and colourful. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a crowning example of the peerless architecture of the Chola dynasty.
See Brihadeeshwar Temple on Cox & Kings’ Grand Tour of South India
Check out Cox & Kings’ top 5 rail journeys too.
Details: as part of their new Relax & Explore programme, Cox & Kings are offering a ‘stay one, get one free’ deal on a choice of hotels at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in Muscat, Oman. Pay for only half the nights you stay with this fantastic deal, applicable to all room categories.
Price: a 7 day, 6 night holiday is priced from £745 pp – already a saving of £250 pp – including international flights, private transfers and breakfast daily.
Date: deal applies to bookings before 28 February on departures from May to August 2011, subject to availability.
Book with Cox & Kings
Find the best holidays for 2011
Holiday details: Cox & Kings has compiled a Christmas tour of India, including 7 nights on the luxury Maharajas’ Express with talks from guest-speaker, Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo, as well as 4 nights in Delhi. The ‘Celestial India’ train journey takes you from Delhi to ancient Gwalior, the holy city of Varanasi, exquisite temples in Khajuraho and Lucknow, plus Christmas Day will be spent in the Bandhavgarh National Park searching for tigers.
Price: £5,295 pp includes 7 nights full-board on the train, 4 nights B&B in Delhi, flights and transfers. Upgrade to Upper Class and one person travels half price, saving £637.
Date: 11 nights departing 18 December.
Book with: Cox & Kings
Click here for many more exciting holiday ideas for December.
Each week at 101 Holidays we meet one of the people behind the UK’s finest travel companies. This week we speak with Peter Kerkar, Managing Director of Cox & Kings Travel.
Peter was brought up in Mumbai, educated at Stanford University and took up his current role at the age of 24. He has since built the company from a niche independent tour operator into a global player with headquarters in India, America and Japan, as well as London. Although he travels extensively, Peter is based in London and is married with two daughters.
* Where did you go on holiday this year, and why?
I went to the Ring of Kerry in southwest Ireland. We have a small house there, and spend our summers there every year with family and friends. It feels far removed from city life and offers a winning combination great scenery, lots to do as a family, very friendly locals, good places to eat (wonderful fresh seafood) and great golf which I’ve become addicted to. The weather tends to be the only let down.
* What is your favourite bolthole in the UK, and why?
As an area I’m very fond of Devon, with its gentle and wild countryside.
* If you could spend a long weekend in any city abroad, which would you pick, and why?
Almost any Italian city – maybe Florence or Rome in springtime if I had to narrow it down. I’m a real foodie and find Italian food to be the most consistently enjoyable of all cuisines when it’s kept simple with the best fresh ingredients. Combined with the great art, architecture and history it makes for a great break.
* Please tell us three items that are always found in your luggage.
Three good books – I’m a voracious reader on long flights.
* What one thing would most improve people’s overall holiday experience?
If airports consistently had enough resources to minimise the amount of queuing at check-in, security, passport control, baggage reclaim etc. it would make a big difference. Airports are generally the first and last experience people have on a holiday and far too often they get holidays off to a bad start or a sorry end. I have been impressed with Heathrow Terminal 5, though.
* What has been your worst holiday experience?
Fortunately, I’ve never had a really bad holiday experience – a few of my holidays have been brought to an abrupt and premature halt by work, which is always depressing.
* Tell us your favourite hotel: in the UK; in mainland Europe; in the rest of the world.
I love Ballymaloe House just east of Cork in Ireland. They have great locally-sourced food and a cookery school, very friendly service, a lovely Georgian house, and lots to do locally. In the UK, I’d recommend St Petroc’s in Padstow, Cornwall. In mainland Europe I enjoyed the Mandarin Oriental in Prague. In the rest of the world I think Orange County (pictured top right) in Coorg in southern India has a lovely setting and feel.
* What is the most exciting project your company is working on right now?
Cox & Kings is working in partnership with the Indian Railways to create a new luxury train called the Maharajas’ Express (pictured top left). It is a unique public / private partnership in India and we hope to create the most luxurious train in the world, offering one-week journeys initially between Delhi and Mumbai, and Delhi and Calcutta. It is being built at the moment and it’s due to start operating in January 2010.
* Thank you, Peter.
By 101 Holidays newsdesk
Still not booked your summer holiday? Don’t fret, we’ve uncovered some amazing deals in August, including 2 weeks for the price of 1 in Turkey, and an unusual 3-day sale of holidays at some of the finest hotels in Bermuda.
Anatolian Sky is offering 2 weeks for the price of 1, departing August 24 to the 4* Ottoman Residence in Turkey’s charming resort of Akyaka. 14 nights on a B&B basis now costs from £579 pp including flights from Gatwick and transfers. The hotel is set on the Azmak River, a 10-minute walk from the sandy beach of Akyaka.
Prestige Holidays is holding a rare 3-day sale on holidays to Bermuda with savings of at least £500 pp at hotels including Cambridge Beaches, Coco Reef Resort, the Fairmont Southampton, The Reefs and Elbow Beach. Bookings must be made between August 2 and 5 for departures between August 21 and March 31 2010. A week at Grotto Bay departing August 21, for example, now costs £934 pp on a B&B basis, a saving of £628 pp; a week departing in November now costs from £764 pp.
Cox & Kings has cut £200 off the cost of its Highlights of China tours departing up to November 15. The 7-night escorted group tour, which takes in Beijing, the Great Wall of China, Xian, the Terracotta Warriors and Shanghai, now costs from £1,195 pp (book by August 31).
Vintage Travel is offering £200 off a week’s rental of Casa Camboa in Galicia, departing August 14 or 21. Sleeping 10 with 5 bedrooms and bathrooms, this country house has a private pool and is close to the village of Vilacoba. It’s also a 30-minute drive from some of Spain’s finest sandy beaches on this unspoiled northwest coast. Flights and car hire extra (fly to Santiago or A Coruna or take the ferry to Santander or Bilbao).
