Destinations of the Week: Finland, Lapland & Egypt.

Welcome back to the Barrhead Travel Blog. Here's our latest destinations of the week, freshly prepared to whet your holiday appetite!

Finland

Nestled between Norway's famous fjords and the eastern reaches of Russia, Finland has for too long had a relatively low profile as a tourist destination for the UK. It's perhaps best known for the popular winter Lapland holidays, yet there is so much more to recommend Finland to anyone.

It's a beautiful country of 180,000 islands and even more lakes. The pretty cities of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere have many sights, and it's the home of Santa, Nokia and the sauna. Plus, most Finns speak English, so it's easy to get around.

The lion's share of Finland's tourists arrive in winter, flocking to the northern area known as Lapland. While Lapland technically spans areas of Norway, Sweden and Russia too, Finland has become synonymous with these winter breaks, and the tourist facilities are most developed there.

The Father Christmas experience is a huge selling point. Families can fly there for as little as a day to meet the big man in red, take a sleigh ride and have a go at some snowy pursuits. A special Santa Claus village with an office for the man himself, a toy factory manned by elves and an exhibition explaining his secrets - like how he fits down chimneys and visits everyone in the world in a single night. Facilities are extensive, but these areas can get a little crowded at the height of high-season.

Smaller, specialist operators such as Specialised Tours and Scantours choose quieter options such as Harriniva, where Santa may be played by the school teacher and the elves by local kids, making the whole experience more amateur, but infinitely more Finnish.

Temperatures can drop as low as -30C, but it's usually about -15C in January (the coldest month). It is recommended that you bring plenty of layers, thermals and thick socks, although most hotels and operators will provide outer-wear and boots.

There are many other activities on offer in Lapland, including snow-shoeing, reindeer sleigh rides, husky dog-sledding and snow-mobiling - or visitors can just join in a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

The atmosphere in the wilderness is really special, and Finland offers a wonderful range of activities. Christmas, New Year and February half term are really popular, and clients need to book four to six months ahead.

The magic of the Northern Lights can be seen, but to have the best chance of spotting the aurora borealis, you should travel in September, October, February or March.

Skiing is extremely popular in the Finnish winter - particularly for beginners, with many resorts offering gentle runs. Top resorts are Yllas, Saariselkä, Levi or Ruka. The new resort of Salla offers learn-to-ski and board packages.

Beyond Lapland winter holidays, however, Finland isn't very well known as a tourist destination at all. This anonymity goes some way to explaining why tourists choose the fjords of Norway, Sweden's pretty Stockholm or Iceland's glaciers and thermal pools instead but Finland has plenty to offer.

It's a land of lakes and the midnight sun in summer. It's unbelievably beautiful, much flatter than either Norway or Sweden (so easier to explore), and there are lakes and forests as far as the eye can see.

Finland's summer gateway is the capital Helsinki, a perfect city-break destination in its own right. Located on a peninsula that stretches into the Baltic Sea, its charms are particularly lovely in summer as the sun glints off the water late into the night. It's a pocket-sized city, with only 565,000 inhabitants, but is packed with sights and activities; Helsinki was the European Capital of Culture in 2000, and is home to many excellent museums and galleries.

Senate Square is home to the green and white Lutheran cathedral, and the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress - set across six islands and built by the Swedes in the 1700s during the conflict between Scandinavia and Russia - is easily accessible by ferry from Market Square.

Architecture and design are important to the Finns, and 20th-century Finnish architectural guru Alvar Aalto left his distinctive mark across the city. There are also many ultra-modern public buildings, such as the National Opera House and the Kiasma contemporary art museum.

However, Finland in summer doesn't just begin and end with Helsinki.

The old capital, Turku, hosts many music festivals in summer, and is home to Moomin World. Visitors access this island theme park, dedicated to the classic fictional children's characters, across a causeway from nearby town Nanntali.

Tampere, Finland's second city, is the gateway to its lake district where steamers spend all day chugging through the country's most stunning lakeside scenery - just make sure you don't forget your mosquito repellent.

Summer is also crayfish season, and visitors can go on fishing trips and cook their own catch, or simply visit a restaurant and feast on boiled crayfish washed down with vodka. Particularly adventurous tourists can track brown bears near the Russian border.

Lapland has plenty to offer in Summer too. The sun never sets and tourists can get active hiking, white-water rafting, cycling, canoeing and salmon fishing.


The Nile

Luxor is home to almost a third of the world's archaeological treasures, and the legendary Nile separates its east and west banks.

In addition to being a major stop on Egypt's historical and Pharaonic circuit, Luxor is the launch pad for scores of Nile cruises. Among its highlights are the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Karnak and Luxor temples, and the Winter Palace hotel, where Agatha Christie sought inspiration for Death on the Nile.

A typical itinerary heads south to Aswan, taking in the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel.

Refurbishments and infrastructure developments are boosting Luxor's appeal, and the pound's strength in this non-eurozone destination, coupled with some keenly priced packages, means affordable luxury for visitors this winter. Possible excursions include hot air balloon rides, tours to the West Bank and the Karnak Sound and Light Show.

The seven-night Nile Cruise is now on sale with various styles of cruise, including the new five-star Royal Viking, the most luxurious in the fleet. A week in early December leads in at £899 full board.

Efforts to 'beautify' Luxor are well under way. An impressive, tree-studded, white-tiled plaza flanks the new visitor centre at Luxor Temple, and the much-maligned New Winter Palace building, an eyesore that has marred Luxor's waterfront for decades, has finally been torn down and grassed over.

Most Egypt specialists agree that the most dramatic impact will come from the creation of a new marina, five and a half miles south of Luxor City, to house the burgeoning number of cruise boats that currently clog the waterfront of the east bank.

As a result, diesel fumes will be banished from town and the move will also pave the way for a much wider corniche. The riverside strip will be lined with cafes and restaurants that afford fantastic views of the sunset over the west bank. The completion date is set for 2010.

With one five-star property re-opened following a major facelift, and the ink still wet on a new Four Seasons, Luxor's accommodation offering is on course for a long overdue shake-up.

InterContinental Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Kempinksi Hotels are all rumoured to be interested, but leading the charge is Hilton, with a $45 million refurbishment of its Nile-front property at Karnak.

With restaurants, infinity pools and alfresco bars spilling on to 170 metres of prime Nile frontage, and a world-class spa to boot, the newly refurbished Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa is the city's first true luxury offering. Guests can even book rooms with their own private spa suites.

For holidays to Finland, Lapland and/or The Nile be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first stop. Call one of our friendly experts now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your next exciting holiday today!