Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week.

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Hello and welcome to another of our Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week features! This week we look at a number of idyllic spots in the Indian Ocean and also at some of the best family holiday destinations in Europe and beyond.

Mission Possible

Many visitors to the Indian Ocean region want nothing more than an idyllic beach and a pampering spa. But there’s plenty here to keep adrenalin junkies happy too.

Maldives & Seychelles

Although holidays in the Maldives are usually reserved for pampered honeymoon indulgence, one extreme sport is taking off at the region’s resorts. Kitesurfing is the latest craze to emerge and it offers thrill-seekers the chance to use wind power to reach speeds up to 50mph on a kite board – the fastest way to sail on the water.

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, teetering on the edge of the Maldives archipelago and exposed to the necessary winds, introduced the sport to the islands in 2001. Despite the extreme tag no experience is required; there’s plenty of space for beginners and seasoned experts to fly across the water.

Kuredo Island Resort, located in Lhaviyani Atoll, 80 miles north of Male’s international airport, also offers kitesurfing and wakeboarding at its watersports centre. Instructors give free introductory lessons to help tourists get the bug.

The sport is also developing in the Seychelles, and is now offered alongside other adventures such as swimming with 40ft whale sharks.

Sample price: Seven nights at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort from £1,349 per person half-board including return flights. Kitesurfing costs around $55 for a day’s equipment hire and $80 for a day’s instruction.

India

For tourists interested in high-altitude, high-octane activities, the Himalayas in India offer the perfect playground with a variety of thrills available. For keen climbers, the Stok Kangri mountain, a beast whose peak exceeds 6,000m, with challenges including a number of steep cliff climbs at high altitude and long treks. Visitors acclimatise by first visiting the remote villages of Ladakh above the Indus Valley.

We also offer a gruelling mountain bike escapade – a chance for enthusiasts to teeter across two of the highest passes in the world, cycling from Manali to Leh in the Ladakh region. Only the toughest thighs will conquer the winding roads of the western Himalaya, close to the borders of China and Tibet. Tourists will be expected to cover at least 40 miles every day, 50% of which is on craggy paths. While the climate will be warm during the day, the tour group has to huddle together at night when temperatures drop to -4C.

Sample price: The Manali to Leh ride (18 days’ half-board) costs from £1,799. Flights are included, bike hire is £145. The Stok Kangri climb costs £1,899, including accommodation and flights.

Mauritius

One way to see the island’s java deer and wild boar is on a quad bike tour. The three-hour tour encourages thrill-seekers to get muddy while touring the L’Etoile & Ferny Reserve on four wheels. This is a 3,500-hectare estate, found off the beaten track in the eastern part of Mauritius.

Or head south to the Saint Felix sugar estate where visitors are offered an unusual way to experience impressive views of banana plantations and waterfalls. Take part in a trek with a twist – the trail includes 11 zip lines that let you shuttle from tree to tree 30m up, only stopping midway for a bracing freshwater swim.

Sample price: The zip line experience costs £88 for a full day, and the quad bike tour is priced at £131 per person.

Sri Lanka

Perhaps you fancy a bit of speleology in Sri Lanka? To the uninitiated, this means cave exploration into 500 million years of history, squeezing through dark nooks in complete darkness with only a head torch to guide you.

Eco Team Sri Lanka offers pot-holing tours in Waulpane Cave, where amateurs and experts can explore the “cave of bats”. This is home to thousands of the cave’s namesakes and luminous fish lurking beneath an 80ft underground waterfall.

White-water rafting holidays are also on the rise and Eco Team offers a white-knuckle adventure into the shooting rapids of the Kelani river in Kithulgala, west Sri Lanka. Also known as the wet-zone rainforest and one of the dampest places in the country, this is a real test for hardy explorers. In between rapids, check out the location where much of Oscar-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed, before braving the larger grade five rapids of the Kelani gorges. Before the river run, a briefing is given on paddling techniques and “man overboard” procedures.

Sample price: A seven-day white-water rafting experience in Kithulgala costs £365 per person including half-board hotel/camping accommodation. Caving in Waulpane is also available and costs £90 per day.




Mum and Dad Are Happy Too

This year sees a raft of new beach resorts. Here are some which have the most to offer to the family market.

Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort and Spa, Turkey

Located on its own stretch of beach where the Dalaman River meets the sea, the Hilton Golf Resort and Spa is an excellent hotel for an active family holiday. The hotel boasts seven outdoor and three indoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a water sports centre where guests can learn to windsurf, jet-ski, wake board and dive. Children will love the dedicated Kidz Club and the Aqua Park filled with water slides. Out of the water, one of the main attractions for this hotel will be the 18-hole golf course and nine-hole golf academy, due for completion in 2010. Nearby attractions include hot springs and nesting turtle sites.

Sample price: A week for a family of four in the first week of July, all-inclusive, from £3,189 including flights.

Hotel Villas Resort, Sardinia

The resort offers good family accommodation in the form of two-bedroom suites with their own living room and spacious terrace. Helpful services include pushchair hire and babysitting, as well as room service and a laundry service. Excursions around the island such as boat trips, horse-riding and quad safaris have real family appeal, as does the hotel pool. The beach of Castiadas is 500m from the hotel and can be reached by complimentary golf buggy shuttle. The beach is wide, white and sandy, gently shelving into the sea. There is a semi-private area for hotel guests with parasols and sun loungers for hire. The hotel is less than a mile from the popular Costa Rei resort and 45 miles from Cagliari airport.

Sample price: A seven-night stay in early July from £2,773 for a family of four half-board, including car hire but excluding flights.

Verdura Golf and Spa Resort, Sicily

This new Rocco Forte Collection property is situated on the south-west coast of Sicily. The luxurious hotel is set in a valley of olive groves near the small town of Verdura, an hour away from Palermo airport. Many of its rooms open right on to the pebble beach. The hotel, which opened at the end of July 2009, is strongly courting the family market, with an introductory family offer of 50% off the interconnecting room and free or discounted lunches for children. Pool and beach areas are supervised at all times. There’s a kids-only pool and range of activities that end each day with a turn-down service complete with bedtime milk, cookies and a storyteller. For teenagers, there's a hangout area and opportunity to try sailing, tennis, windsurfing and golf.

Sample price: A seven-night stay from £11,705 per family. Price is based on two adults sharing a junior suite and two children under 12 in an adjoining deluxe room on a B&B basis. Includes flights and transfers.

Hesperia Lanzarote, Canaries

The newly-opened Hesperia Lanzarote is a great option for a family holiday in the Canaries. The five-star hotel boasts a spa treatment centre, four pools and gym. It also has an on-site dive centre which is particularly family-friendly. The hotel provides free cots for babies aged up to two years, and children aged 2-12 can have an extra bed in the room for an additional charge. Adjoining rooms are available on request.

Sample price: Seven nights from £3,082 for a family of four (B&B) including flights in July 2010.

Eleon Grand Resort & Spa, Zante

The five-star all-inclusive Eleon Grand Resort & Spa in Zante opens this May. Facilities include three freshwater pools, tennis courts, a spa and a dive centre. Young tots will be happy for hours in "aqua land" with water slides and kids' pools, plus there'll be a daily animation programme. The 174 rooms are set out in low-rise buildings around the pool.

Sample price: Seven nights at this hotel for £679 per adult, £259 for the first child and £505 for the second child, with flights, in peak season.

Movenpick Resort and Marine Spa, Tunisia

Located on the shoreline of Sousse, the resort is a short drive from Habib Bourguiba Monastir airport. The hotel has 618 rooms and six different restaurants. As well as direct access to the beach, children can play in the four pools and make the most of the tennis, beach volley, camel riding and water activities available. Parasols are available on the beach and lifeguards are always on duty. The resort opens in spring 2010.

Sample price: Seven nights all-inclusive from £779 per adult and £415 for the first child, including flights.

Real Marina Hotel and Spa, Algarve

A short drive from Faro airport, this resort is set to open in May 2010. The hotel is not on the beachfront but the new marina currently under construction will offer leisure facilities. The east coast's renowned beaches are a short boat ride away, but children will have their own swimming pool at the hotel and the Realito Kids Club promises to keep them entertained for hours.

Sample price: A classic room with a sea view starts from €298 per person for a double and a suite with a sea view starts from €596 per person in high season.

Mazagan Beach Resort, Morocco

This summer will be the first full season for the five-star Mazagan Beach Resort, 55 miles south of Casablanca. The Kerzner resort has three different kids' clubs. The Baby Club is for tots over three months. The Kidz Club (ages 3-11) has its own pool. For 12s and over, The Rush Club offers sports, films and nightly discos. Horse riding is also available. The spa, casino and golf courses will appeal to parents, and there are eight restaurants.

Sample price: Four nights' B&B from £885 per adult and £320 for the first child under 11, with flights.


For more information or to book to go to any of these tempting travel destinations contact one of our expert consultants now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday today!