Wylde World: Summer Travel News
Sometimes, a beach based holiday just doesn’t hit the spot
Report by Leanne Bracey
ANANTARA, OMAN
Sometimes, a beach-based holiday just doesn't hit the spot. Anantara in Oman is the complete opposite…from sky running 2,000 metres above sea-level to the village of Hail Yemen to hiking through canyons and trails through waterfalls, or a rock climb on the Hajar mountain range. It’s the perfect place for those who love activity. The hotel is set at the edge of a gorge amongst the Al Hajar mountain range. You may just feel like you're on the edge of the Earth.
Nightly rates start from £278 on a B&B basis in a Premier Canyon View Room.
Visit the Website
NIHONBASHI, TOKYO
Nihonbashi in Tokyo is one of the safest cities we’ve ever stayed in. The district is business through and through but the backstreets take you to trendy Izakaya's, some of the best sushi-spots in the city and the opportunity to see the art of paper-making Japanese style. The metro system can be a little complicated to the uninitiated but once you’ve figure out how to pay and navigate, it’s the best way to get around. We loved an exhilarating stay at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, right in the heart of the Nihonbashi district.
The sprawling rooms are incredible with views out over the city and the top floor bars and restaurants are hip. To help you understand the area, the hotel are offering a Nihonbashi Experience which gives you to an in-depth tour. Choose from a gourmet and cultural option, washi paper making, Edo glass engraving, flower arranging or a Yukata rental and dressing – the summer kimono style that’s over 1000 years old.
Rates for Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo’s Nihonbashi Experience start from approx. £516 including breakfast for two and choice of one of the Nihonbashi Experience options.
THE LAKE DISTRICT
Our precious Lake District has finally been awarded UNESCO heritage status. With a campaign to protect this National Park taking a whopping 21 years, it’s finally been recognised for the natural beauty and inspiration it’s given to artists and writers over many years. Last year we were lucky enough to stay at The Gilpin, the only 5 star hotel in the area. This family-run gem of a hotel opened up their stunning Spa Lodges, purpose built eco-friendly self-contained rooms complete with picture-frame style windows out to the landscape beyond and individual spa bathrooms with their own hot tub, sauna and steam room. They are a complete treat and a great base to explore the area from. The hotel also has charming rooms within it's main house. Alternatively, Sherpa Expeditions are putting on an 8 day self-guided walk through some of the areas most prized hot-spots stopping off at cosy hotels and family run pubs on the way.
8 days are from £570 per person see Website
Rooms from £295. Visit The Gilpin Website
TUK-TUK IN THAILAND
A ride in a tuk-tuk feels like you're taking your life into your own hands. From our experience, it's rather like being in your own computer game – fun, exhilarating yet slightly scary. But now you can take your own tuk-tuk style adventure in Thailand in a convoy set to shake the island. The trip covers 400 miles over the course of 11 days.
Travelling through the countryside to the Myanmar border, visiting an elephant sanctuary, a 6 mile jungle trek through Doi Inthanon National Park, waterfall swims and stop-off's in local villages.
Prices for an 11-day self-drive Tuk Tuk tour start from £1,295 pp.
For departure dates, further information and to book visit the Website
SHOOTING THE (FREEZING) BREEZE
If the idea of a freezing cold getaway is heaven (believe us, people who love this do exist!) than Quark, one of the leading tour guides in polar expeditions, now have a luxury ship, the World Explorer. It's complete with luxury suites, outdoor running track if you can bare it and a spa with an outdoor heated pool. We love the idea of a photography trip complete with workshops, lectures and trips to Falklands and South Georgia to put your new-found skills to the test with ample time to do it in. There are a few different photography trips running throughout the season from the ‘Antarctic Explorer’ through the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, the ‘Crossing the Circle’, a more in-depth and remote exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Islands of the Southern Ocean.
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PARIS BY THE WATER
Rather than walk around Paris, why not take a canal tour instead? In a few hours you can take in the sights of the city from the water, giving it a totally different perspective. If it gets too hot, there are new canal pools just opened between the Canal Saint-Martin and the Canal d’Ours for a quick dip.
This is a chic, calm cruise along a very cool canal full of the dights of Bohemian Parisian life. This tour is organised through the Hotel Pavilion de la Reine, a hotel just off of one of the most beautiful squares in the world, a private retreat full of grandness yet understated and achingly sophisticated. Paris’ Secret Canals is bookable from 366€ per night based on two sharing on a B&B basis.
Visit the Website