20 Dream Holidays For The 21st Century

20 Dream Holidays for the 21st Century
Sunday January 26, 2003, The Observer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2003/jan/26/observerescapesection1
1 Pick up a penguin
Think white, think ice mountains and deserts of snow. Explorers who travelled across Antarctica simply
called it The Ice. You can follow in their footprints, walk across the pack-ice, visit research stations in
remote islands and see penguins, seals and even whales on an fantastic voyage this November. You'll travel
aboard a Russian icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov, which, in 1997, was the first ship to circle Antarctica with
passengers. There is the chance of a lifetime on 24 November, when a solar eclipse will send the landscape
into an eerie twilight.
The reality
Departing from Port Elizabeth in South Africa on 5 November, the expedition, which ends in Fremantle,
Western Australia, on 3 December, costs £15,995 from Wildlife Worldwide (020 8667 9158;
www.wildlifeworldwide.com).
2 Safari
Sweep over the Rift Valley in Kenya whilst listening to classical music in your own helicopter, sleep under
the African stars in a large bed, drift along in the sky in a balloon and breakfast in the Masai Mara... and
that's just to begin with. On what it calls 'Africa's sexiest safari', tour operator Aardvark includes three of
the most fascinating camps in Kenya: a cottage at Loisaba, a riverside house in the Mara and the exotic
Elephant Watch in Samburu, where even the beds are hand-painted. You will also probably fall
passionately in love with the grandest of all animals, the elephant.
The reality
11-night trips cost £8,500 for accommodation, meals and activities but not flights. From Aardvark Safaris
(01980 849160).
3 Sixty mile-high club

Reserve your place for blast-off on the first sub-orbital space flight if you really want a holiday that's out of
this world. Flights are expected to start this year, climbing to 60 miles above the Earth's surface and lasting
between 30 and 90 minutes. There will be a six-day space training course beforehand. It'll cost you almost
£70,000, but there is a cheaper alternative: fly to the edge of space in a MiG 25 supersonic fighter and look
down on Earth from the front seat of the cockpit.
The reality
Six-day sub-orbital flights and training are expected to cost around £70,000; three-day supersonic flights
from the Russian Zhukorsky airbase cost £9,000. From www.unmissable.com (0870 442 1350).
4 Light of your life

When the Northern Lights flash pink, green and gold across the sky, the experience is breathtaking. There
are many stories about this magic in the sky. For some the lights were messengers from the gods, for
others the reflections of heavenly warriors. For some they are torches to light the pathway to paradise.
Today's scientists say they are caused when sunstorms collide with the earth's magnetic field. Whatever
the reason, the result is amazing. The best places to see this are in Iceland, Greenland, Lapland, Norway
and even northern Scotland. The best time to go is during the darkest, cloudless nights of winter - sightings
can never be guaranteed. But if you're lucky enough to catch the Aurora Borealis you will remember it for
ever.
The reality
Northern Lights Tours (£30) are offered as extras on four-day Iceland breaks, which cost £300-£500. From
Arctic Experience (01737 214214; www.arctic-experience.co.uk).
5 Go Crusoe
The latest popular destination is Quilalea, a marine sanctuary which opened last October in the Quirimbas
Archipelago of Mozambique (Africa). Known only to local fishermen, Quilalea remained undisturbed for
centuries, and many travellers sailed right past it. Now turtles nest on its beaches, whales shelter their
young in its channels and only a handful of holidaymakers are allowed to share their paradise. It is a place
to live in local cottages, go wildlife watching, snorkelling, fishing or cast away in the island's dhows (local
boats) to picnic on other little islands in the archipelago. For experienced divers, Quilalea has some of the
finest sites near Africa.
The reality
Prices start at £276 per person per night, fully inclusive; a stay on Quilalea can be combined with a
Tanzanian safari. From Carrier (01625 547010; www.carrier.co.uk).
6 Island bliss
We know Australia is a big country. If you rent Woodwark Bay in the Whitsundays, off the Queensland
coast, you'll get 4,000 acres of your own tropical forest, with motorbikes to explore the area and
kangaroos and exotic birds for company. 'One of the most stunning properties,' says upmarket travel
company International Chapters. You and your party of up to 22 people will live in six luxury cottages with
names such as Dream House and Island House, Siamese Hut and Honeymoon Hut, giving friends and family
their own privacy. Lots of other toys come with the property - picnic pavilions, observation tower, a lake
for fishing and waterskiing, and a qualified masseuse is at hand. Take a boat to other islands or a helicopter
tour to the Great Barrier Reef if you need a change from the bush.
The reality
Woodwark Bay sleeps up to 14 adults and six children, is fully staffed and costs £18,095 a week to rent
from International Chapters (020 7722 0722; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk).
7 Feast of the east

In the nineteenth century, a tour of Europe used to take months. Now, thanks to new circular flights,
twenty-first century travellers can do the Oriental version in two weeks or less, visiting six UNESCO world
heritage sites in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. These include walled Sukhotai, the first Thai
capital, and Luang Prabang, the ancient city in Laos. There are three sites in Vietnam: the haunting ruins of
My Son, the enchanting riverside town of Hoi An and the old cultural capital, Hue, where 20-metre thick
walls surround the Forbidden Purple City, home to the former emperor. A fitting finale is provided by the
sublime Angkor temple complex in Cambodia, which has been described as the most inspired monument
ever designed by the human mind.
The reality
14-night tours combine all the sites and cost £2,500 (including international flights) from Audley Travel
(01869 276222; www.audleytravel.com).
8 Five-star canvas
Today's high- flying campers enjoy wood-floored tents, gold-tap bathtubs and champagne. Vanyavilas, the
new luxury jungle camp near Ranthambore tiger park in northern India, has tents covering 80 square
metres and come with air conditioning, bathrooms and sun balconies. When Bill Clinton was there, he
spotted two tigers. In Tunisia (Africa), you can sleep under five-star canvas at the Oasis of Ksar Ghilane in
the Sahara. Camel rides and jeep trips all come as part of the package. Even Australia has this. The new
tents at Longitude 131° at Uluru have beautiful and comfortable bed covers, hairdryers and CD players.
The reality
12-day luxury tours of Rajasthan with four nights at Vanyavilas cost £2,226 from Greaves Tours (020 7487
9111; www.greavesindia.com); Sahara Adventure tours, which include Ksar Ghilane, start at £995 from
Wigmore Holidays (020 7836 4999; www.aspectoftunisia.co.uk); 11-night luxury Australian tours with a
stay at Longitude 131° cost £2,600 with Austravel (0870 166 2070; www.austravel.com).
Lesson
Introduce and brainstorm types of holidays:
beach, safari, adventure, trekking, cycling, touring, weekend break, sightseeing, cruise, arctic, retreat etc.
Students get into pairs.
Each pair is given one holiday (numbered 1 to 8).
They need to read it and then be able to describe it to the class.
On the board, write:
Which holiday is;
• the most relaxing?
• the most exciting?
• the most unique?
• the most expensive?
Students listen and decide the answer to these questions.
Follow Up: Role-plays
The chosen holidays could then go on to be used in different ways:

- travel agent & customer roleplays - selling & buying
- travel agent & customer roleplays - customer complaining as the holiday wasn't all it was cracked up to
be.

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20 Dream Holidays for the 21st Century

Sunday January 26, 2003, The Observer

3 Sixty mile-high club

4 Light of your life

7 Feast of the east

Introduce and brainstorm types of holidays:

Students get into pairs.

Each pair is given one holiday (numbered 1 to 8).

They need to read it and then be able to describe it to the class.

On the board, write:

Which holiday is;

• the most relaxing?

• the most exciting?

• the most unique?

• the most expensive?

Students listen and decide the answer to these questions.

Follow Up: Role-plays

The chosen holidays could then go on to be used in different ways:

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