Countdown to the Christmas holidays

SWAP CAROLS FOR CORAL IN EGYPT:          
-         With the Ancient Egyptians part of the key stage 2 syllabus, this 10-day holiday is an ideal chance for families with children aged five upwards to journey back in time on a classic Egyptian adventure.  From sailing on a felucca along the Nile, riding a camel in the desert to snorkelling over coral reefs, this is a well-paced trip taking in this great value destination’s most awe-inspiring sights.  Its educational blend of fun and discovery means this remains the family adventure specialist’s best-selling trip.
-         Best of all, there’s no danger of being overlooked by Father Christmas as, to make sure Santa knows exactly where the children will be, The Adventure Company has arranged for him to meet them at the Pyramids where he’ll give out presents to those that have been good this year.  
-         Availability for Christmas still on the 18, 19, 23, 24, 26 and 28 Dec departures. Prices for the Feluccas & Pharaohs (10 days) from £1229 adult / £1119 child including flights, transport (minibus, sleeper train, felucca, horse-drawn carriage, boat, domestic flight), accommodation (7 nights hotel, 1 night sleeper train, 1 night felucca),  most meals (8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners) and a local group leader. Minimum age 5 years.  The Adventure Company (0845 287 1198 / http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk)

ALTERNATIVE TURKEY IN SANTA’S HOMELAND:
-          Try a different style of Turkey this Christmas without missing out on the trimmings.  Turkey lays claim to being home to the original Santa Claus, with St Nicholas born in modern-day Turkey in the 4th century AD. Imaginative Traveller's Turkey Explored adventure, departing 26 December and returning 11 January, takes you off the beaten track to enjoy the highlights of lesser visited Eastern Turkey with Imaginative Traveller one of the only operators visiting this region.  
-          As a country which doesn’t generally celebrate Christmas but places great emphasis on marking the New Year, this trip is perfectly timed. Rather than just focusing on sightseeing, the trip takes in locations that aren’t featured in any guidebook to ensure travellers visit the places that the locals do and enjoy a truly authentic experience.
-          Starting in Istanbul, highlights include the beautiful calcified formations of Pamukkale, an overnight boat cruise from Fethiye, the stunning eastern Taurus Mountains, Ephesus (one of the original Seven Wonders of the World) and the magical ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappadocia.
-          Prices for the 26 Dec Turkey Explored (17 days) departure from £870pp land only including all transportation, accommodation, some meals (14 breakfasts, 2 dinners), some sightseeing and an experienced local leader.  Flights available on request. Imaginative Traveller (0845 077 8803 / http://www.imaginative-traveller.co.uk)

RING IN CHRISTMAS WHILE CYCLING IN GOZO
-          In sharp contrast to December’s shopping frenzy and the social whirl too frequently associated with the Christmas period, the peaceful pace of life on Gozo combines with the island’s size to make it the perfect place for gentle exploration on two wheels.
-          Staying in characterful four and five star hotels along the way, all with pools, the only soundtrack to this holiday is the soothing peel of church bells, the sea softly lapping the shores and the rhythmical clopping of horse hooves.
-          Prices for the 20 Dec Highlights of Gozo (7 days) cycling holiday departure from £1304pp including flights, half board accommodation, bicycles, transportation of bags between hotels, route notes, a map kit and the services of a Headwater representative. Flights are available on request from most UK airports. Headwater (01606 720199 / http://www.headwater.com)  

DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN LAPLAND:
-          Travel into Europe’s northern reaches and explore the winter landscapes of Lapland as you spend Christmas discovering the culture of the Sami people amidst snow-covered forests.  If you’re missing the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree, the region’s magical feel is enhanced by the mysterious and ethereal Northern Lights dancing in the night sky.  And, having spent Christmas day morning learning the basics of dog-sledding and heading out across the winter landscape, the best Christmas present of all will the a night in the legendary Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi.  Carved afresh every year by a team of sculptors, this unique construction is manufactured from pure ice from floor to ceiling and beds to chandeliers. Arriving mid afternoon you’ll have time for a tour of the individually designed rooms, chapel and ice sculptures before enjoying a welcoming drink at the Absolut ice bar before checking into your room for the night.
-          Prices for the 21 Dec Active Arctic & the Ice Hotel (7 days) departure from £1929pp including flights, accommodation (4 nights basic lodges, 1 night hotel, 1 night Ice Hotel plus 1 night optional self-built igloo on day 3), transport (minibus, snowshoes, reindeer-sled, dog-sled, snowmobile, skis), most meals (6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners) and an experienced local group leader. The Adventure Company (0845 287 1198 / http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk)

A FESTIVE FIESTA IN THE VALENCIAN FOOTHILLS
-          Just south of Valencia’s architectural splendour, the mountains of the high Marine Alta crash together like limestone waves on a stormy ocean.  Here the only nod to a white Christmas will be the traditional white villages perched on sharp ridges and valley sides which seem a world away from the popular Mediterranean coastal resorts 20 minutes down the road.
-          Based in hilltop Parcent, a colourful Spanish pueblo where tourism is virtually unknown, you stay as guests in David and Sue Eaton’s exquisitely restored townhouse – with just six en-suite bedrooms and mouth-watering menus, with wine included, your helpful hosts will ensure a wonderfully cosy stay and also guide you along the extensive network of ancient Arab trails and mule tracks during the day.
-          Prices for the 21 and 28 Dec Vistas of Valencia guided walking holiday (8 days) startsfrom £1249pp including flights, accommodation, all meals and wine, a regional information booklet and a local map kit.  Flights are available on request from most UK airports.  Headwater (01606 720199 / http://www.headwater.com)  

CHOOSE A PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT: ANNAPURNA COMMUNITY LODGE TREK:  
-          For many, Christmas is a time to reflect and help the less advantaged and this wonderful new 6-day trek showcases the beauty of the Annapurna region using the series of lodges that the operator has developed over the last few years in conjunction with local communities. The lodges are located in small, pretty villages well of the tourist trail and were designed, built and funded with the help of Imaginative Traveller’s team in Nepal, enabling fantastic opportunities to interact with the villagers along the way as well as ensuring travellers enjoy the chance to stay in excellent accommodation through some of the Himalaya’s most exhilarating mountains.  
-          By staying in these Community Lodges travellers know they are helping support village schools and will also have the chance to visit one. Before and after the trek there is also ample time spent exploring the country’s capital, Kathmandu, as well as the lakeside town of Pokhara – the gateway to the Himalayas.
-          Prices for the 19 Dec Annapurna Community Lodge Trek (11 days) starts from £560pp land only including accommodation (6 nights lodge, 4 nights hotels / guesthouses), transport, a local group leader and porters.  No compulsory single supplement; twin share accommodation is arranged with a tour member of the same sex. Flights available on request. Imaginative Traveller (0845 077 8803 / http://www.imaginative-traveller.co.uk)

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