ESCORTED TOURS WINTER DESTINATIONS LEFT:
Memphis, US
RIGHT: St
Petersburg, Russia
BELOW:
The Ghan, Australia
6
CHRISTMAS IN GRACELAND For some, Christmas isn’t complete without festive
fairy lights, and for that, there’s Graceland, home of Elvis and – come November – the most over- the-top display of decorations. Janet Parton, UK head of sales
for Cosmos, says: “Christmas was Elvis’s favourite time of year, and he kept his decorations up from Thanksgiving until his birthday on January 8. During the annual lighting ceremony, hundreds gather to witness Graceland come alive with twinkling lights, Santa and his reindeer, and a huge nativity scene.” The tour takes in more musical highlights – Memphis, Sun Studio and the Country Music Hall of Fame, plus a private performance by Johnny Cash’s son – and the incredible ice sculptures of Nashville’s Ice Exhibition. Book it: Elvis & the Southern Sounds – Christmas Lighting Ceremony at Graceland starts at
For some, Christmas isn’t complete without fairy lights – and Graceland has an over-the-top display
£1,776 with Cosmos, for nine days including flights from Heathrow on November 14, home pick-up, transfers and excursions.
cosmos.co.uk
7
CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN RUSSIA While Christmas markets remain all the rage in
Europe, there are alternatives for clients who want all the fun of the fair, with an extra twist. The markets of Moscow and St Petersburg are certainly highlights of Insight Vacations’ newest Russia tour, but with eight days to explore, guests also get a
local’s lowdown on the Hermitage Museum and St Catherine’s Palace in St Petersburg, and a tour of Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin Fortress in the capital. UK sales director Paul Melinis
says: “The Russian Orthodox Christmas festivities are spectacular, and guests can enjoy events such as the annual International Winter Festival in St Petersburg and the Christmas markets in Moscow, where street shows, stalls selling handcrafted treasures, and festive tastes bring the city to life.” Book it: Insight Vacations’ new Easy Pace Russia with Christmas Markets starts at £1,526 for seven nights’ luxury B&B, dining experiences and door-to-door transfers in the UK.
insightvacations.com/uk
8 48
travelweekly.co.uk 31 August 2017
SUMMER DOWN UNDER While the northern hemisphere feels the chill, the reverse is true in the
antipodes, so why not inject a little of the Australian summer to brighten things up? Extended trips are perennially popular as clients maximise value for money and time spent travelling, and that’s where an escorted tour comes into its own, taking care of the logistics of a relatively long and complex itinerary. Trainspotter or not, Great Rail
Journeys’ Australia & The Ghan itinerary can’t fail to captivate. It brings together journeys on The Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide, plus the Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Puffing Billy. Tag on the Great Barrier Reef, a wine tour in the Barossa Valley, the Great Ocean Road, and the misty Blue Mountains and visitors will know they’ve seen Australia at its best. Book it: Great Rail Journeys’ 23-day tour, Australia & The Ghan 2018, starts at £6,695, including flights from Heathrow, departing January 30 and February 21.
greatrail.com
PICTURES: GREAT SOUTHERN RAIL/TOM ROSCHI; ARPAD BENEDEK; ISTOCK/WALENCIENNE
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