DESTINATIONS FESTIVE BREAKS | GUIDE


Budapest


Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago


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DOWN ON THE DANUBE There’s nothing like celebrating Christmas on a calming river cruise, with a tree gracing the lounge, garlands wrapped around the stairs


and the serenade of a classical quartet floating through the corridors. Riviera Travel’s Christmas on the Danube, looping from Budapest through Hungary and Austria, takes place on board the 169-capacity William Wordsworth. The first stop is Esztergom – one of Hungary’s oldest towns – for ice rinks and Christmas markets. On Christmas Eve, guests wake up in spellbinding Bratislava. The cruise crosses into Austria on December 25, offering passengers the chance to wander around Melk’s baroque streets, before enjoying a gala dinner in the ship’s fine-dining restaurant. They’ll then visit


the Danube’s two headliners: Vienna and Budapest. Book it: The seven-night cruise leads in at £2,199 per person, including meals and flights from selected regional airports on December 22, 2024. rivieratravel.co.uk


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SCANDI SAILING If hygge houses and starry-night trips to see the northern lights are on clients’ wish lists, Hurtigruten’s two-week Christmas


Expedition Cruise from London to Arctic Norway is what to suggest. Christmas is celebrated with a cosy day on board, where passengers can soak in the spa and listen to enlightening talks about Christmas traditions, before tucking into a Christmas dinner with a twist – it’s inspired by the meal Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen ate on his way to the North Pole, on Christmas Day 1893, which included roasted reindeer and Arctic cloudberries with cream for dessert. But on this cruise, it’s washed down with shots of strong akvavit. The cruise begins in earnest in Bergen, where clients disembark into a world of primary-coloured wooden wharfs. As the ship heads north, steep-sided fjords, fishing islands and expeditions into the ice are on the agenda – hopefully, instead of New Year’s Eve fireworks, they’ll see the breathtaking


aurora borealis. Book it: Prices lead in at £2,996, departing on December 23. The price includes all meals, excursions and activities, plus some drinks. hurtigruten.co.uk


FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT…


E IN-SEASON INDONESIA Sailing through the karst limestone spires of Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands makes a change from snowy countryside, but the greens, blues and reds of this tropical paradise make for a colourful Christmas. SeaTrek’s small-ship sailings use traditional pinisi boats, with stops for swimming with wildlife and trekking through the jungle. On Christmas Day, there’s reef snorkelling, festive cocktails, a gift-giving event and a feast fit for a raja. Book it: The nine-night trip leads in at £5,886, excluding flights, departing December 18. The price includes full-board accommodation and $150 bar credit. seatrekbali.com


E ADVENTURE SKIING


Active travellers will adore this cross-country ski adventure from Exodus in the dramatic setting of the Italian Dolomites. Skiers of all levels will spend five days exploring the off-piste paths near Dobbiaco. In the middle of the itinerary, there’s a free day, so clients can enjoy some all-important rest and exploration time. Book it: The itinerary starts at £1,799, including flights on December 14, 2024. The price also includes seven nights’ B&B, five dinners, equipment hire and the services of a guide. exodus.co.uk


E CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS


The Christmas holidays can mean Christmas deals. At adult-only Calabash Cove in show-stopping Saint Lucia, couples can save 25% on their all-inclusive break if they travel between December 21 and January 5. Mornings in the in-room Jacuzzi, afternoons in the outdoor spa and seafood dinners – Christmas is lobster season in Saint Lucia, after all – are a sure-fire recipe for success. Book it: Inspiring Travel offers seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Calabash Cove from £5,399, including flights, transfers and luggage. inspiringtravel.co.uk


Northern lights from Hurtigruten deck


E SEEING-IN SAFARI Newmarket Holidays’ New Year on Safari whisks clients to South Africa for safaris, stargazing and sunsets in the savannah. Clients can keep their eyes peeled for the big five – plus honey badgers and cheetahs – from the comfort of an open-top 4x4 vehicle. Bush walks and a visit to a conservation project add to the attractions, while New Year’s Eve is celebrated with sundowners. Book it: Prices start at £3,321, flying on December 26, including seven nights’ full-board at the Mabula Game Lodge and five game drives. newmarketholidays.co.uk


32 19 OCTOBER 2023 travelweekly.co.uk


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PICTURES: Tommy Simonsen; Shutterstock/Feel Good Studio


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