Winter
Marsa Alam, along with buzzing capital Cairo, are very much open for business. Fellow north African nation Morocco
boasts many well-developed beach resorts that lay on heaps of activities, making it perfect for winter sun or an active break, while its ancient sites reveal a great deal about its past. Jonathan May, Explore’s product manager for Africa and the Middle East, says: “North Africa is a great choice for a winter holiday destination as not only is it a short flight from the UK, it is also warm year-round and has a wealth of culture and activities on offer.”
w SUN If it’s beachside lazing they’re after, clients will find plenty of it in both Morocco and Egypt, whose countless sun-drenched resorts are ideal for topping up a tan in winter, when average temperatures hover around 22C even in January. “Morocco offers a long-haul cultural
experience but with a short-haul flight,” says Jo Colchester, purchaser for Morocco at Classic Collection. “And it is very good value for money, as the pound still buys a lot of Moroccan dirham, and the climate is consistently good.” Colchester recommends late
November and early December as the best time to visit for cloudless, blue skies, warm rather than hot weather, and cool evenings, making it the perfect time for families or older couples to enjoy the destination. Agadir is Morocco’s best beach
destination, offering soft golden sands
Morocco offers a long- haul cultural experience with a short-haul flight, and it is very good value for money
that stretch for more than five miles, and for those that wish to venture outside the confines of their resort, there’s the lively city to discover, with the spice-scented markets of Souk El- Had and trendy beachside restaurants. For clients who like the royal
treatment, suggest a stay at the palatial Robinson Club Agadir, which is located on the beach and offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean, with the Atlas Mountains as a dramatic backdrop. There are two restaurants, including a WellFood station for clients trying to keep their waistlines in check. Marrakech is the perfect location for clients who want to explore the maze of souks, wander past the crumbling, russet-hued buildings of the walled medina, and enjoy some mouth- watering cuisine in a vibrant selection of restaurants. Clients can embrace the culture while escaping the hubbub by staying in an authentic Moroccan riad. Boutique hotel Les Jardins De La Medina is set in a historic building and is right in the heart of the medina.
Bedrooms are spread out among the olive and orange trees, and the focus is very much on wellness and relaxation, with a beautiful tranquil pool set in the gardens, and a wellness centre offering an array of treatments. The hotel also runs a cookery school, where clients can learn how to blend flavours under the guidance of Moroccan chefs. For those that wish to combine sun and sights, Classic Collection Holidays offers a twin-centre with three nights at La Maison Arabe and four at Kasbah Bab Ourika. La Maison Arabe is home to 26 uniquely decorated rooms, flower-filled courtyards and a swimming pool, with all the sights and sounds of Marrakech on the doorstep. Next, a 50-minute drive from
LEFT: The Sphinx and Pyramids, Cairo
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travelweekly.co.uk 17 November 2016
Marrakech will take clients to the hilltop retreat of Kasbah Bab Ourika, where easy walks, picnics and treks to national parks can be arranged, or clients can choose to do very little but enjoy the sunshine and mountain air. The sunny beaches of Egypt’s Marsa Alam are only five hours away by plane, and the Red Sea resort has a wide-ranging appeal, from family- friendly sandy beaches and clear, coral reef-filled waters teeming with marine life, to upscale couples-only resorts. Iberotel Coraya Beach Resort fits into
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