DESTINATIONS SHORT-HAUL | WINTER SUN
LIKE THIS? ISRAEL
Combining ancient religious sites in Jerusalem with a youthful foodie vibe in Tel Aviv, Israel springs to mind for hipster city breaks and history tours, yet it’s a great spot for a culture-packed winter-sun escape too. Base clients in Tel Aviv (pictured) for the best of both worlds – Bauhaus buildings, markets and miles of glorious beachfront, with historic Jaffa and Jerusalem in easy reach.
THE GAMBIA
It’s exotic enough to impress the neighbours, yet The Gambia is surprisingly accessible, just a six-hour flight from the UK and in the same time zone. The beaches are a big draw, but this West African country also offers local culture and abundant wildlife – expect to see brightly coloured birds, vervet monkeys or monitor lizards on the way to breakfast, or book a birding tour to explore in more depth – adding to the sun-and-sand experience. Katie Durham, product manager at The Gambia Experience,
says: “The Gambia is a great winter-sun destination for many reasons. Aside from its uncrowded sandy beaches, diverse wildlife, vibrant culture and welcoming people, the climate is hard to beat, with year-round sunshine and 32C temperatures. “It also offers visitors a safe and soft introduction to unspoilt
Africa. From beach breaks and wildlife encounters to exploring local villages and life along its river, plus the great variety of accommodation choices, it’s a hard holiday destination to beat.”
BOOK IT: The Gambia Experience offers seven nights’ B&B at Kombo Beach Hotel from £599 for selected departures in November and December, including flights and transfers.
gambia.co.uk
TRY THIS TENERIFE
We tend to think of Tenerife as primarily a beach destination – those golden stretches along the Costa Adeje or black volcanic sands of Puerto de la Cruz are justifiably well known – yet it offers so much more. Try hiking the lunar-like terrain of Teide National Park (pictured), taking a whale or dolphin-spotting cruise, or exploring the Unesco-listed Old Town of La Laguna.
GRAN CANARIA
Like its Canary Islands neighbour, Gran Canaria can be unfairly reduced to a fly-and-flop favourite, but there’s more here to do than sunbathe. Just moments from south coast resort towns such as Playa del Ingles lie the Maspalomas Dunes (pictured), a protected nature reserve full of undulating desert dunes more reminiscent of the Sahara than mainland Spain. Head inland and the volcano-forged landscapes present
hikers and mountain bikers with a vast array of trails to explore, with road-accessible viewpoints for those touring by car. Capital Las Palmas is worth a day trip too, and perhaps
even a twin-centre stay for those who want to soak up the atmosphere in historic hotels such as the refurbished Santa Catalina, which reopened late last year and is part of Barceló’s Royal Hideaway portfolio. Stroll around old town La Vegueta for cobbled streets and colonial-style facades, or refuel with cured meats and Canarian cheese at the Mercado del Puerto.
BOOK IT: Olympic Holidays offers a week at Gloria Palace San Agustin Hotel from £500 based on two sharing on a half-board basis, flying from Stansted on January 25, 2021.
olympicholidays.com
TRY THIS
LIKE THIS?
travelweekly.co.uk
28 MAY 2020
21
PICTURES: Shutterstock;
matthewshaw.co.uk
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