Every destination across the world has a unique history
and flavour, with plenty for couples and groups of friends
to enjoy and explore. From sun-soaked beaches to gourmet
cuisine, desert adventure to designer shopping. Here are some
of our recommendations to make sure you get the most out
of your holiday. See the resort introduction and excursion
pages for more details.
Urban Adventures
New for 2009, these experiences in Thailand and Vietnam provide a glimpse of overseas adventure in a responsible manner. Providing local experience in small groups, benefit is provided to the local economy whilst keeping intrusion and ecological impact to a minimum. If small group adventures around the world interest you, then please request a copy of our Real World Adventures brochure.
Short Breaks
For many of us who are bound by the pressures of time, who want to escape work constraints and the daily treadmill, the short break is the perfect way to relax or glimpse the cultures and scenery of faraway shores. City breaks, spa breaks, short experiences or tours can add a great deal of value to our busy lives. There's no better excuse for a short break than Christmas shopping and no shortage of destinations from which to choose. Cairo or Dubai are perfect for the short snappy break; Shanghai or Hong Kong are both highly rewarding; or even Cape Town, where it's possible to flit from the mall to the beach in minutes.
Beaches and Water Sports
If you are looking for soft golden sands and deep blue waters then look no further. Head for the fabulous beaches in India, or the famous, laid-back beaches of Krabi
and Ko Samui,
in Thailand. Chill out on the tropical Malaysian island of Langkawi,
or combine beach relaxation with surfing and other water sports in Bali
or Mauritius
- the latter has a water park to keep you busy, too. Discover the snorkelling
and diving paradise of the Maldives,
with its rare underwater beauty on view all year in crystal-clear waters.
Pursue Your Passions
If you're looking for some action and adventure, from the gentle to the extreme,
you'll find it just about wherever you go. Drive the dry river beds, or wadis,
in Dubai. Play golf with amazing coastal views in Mauritius,
and get an adrenalin rush white-water rafting in the forests of Sri
Lanka. Challenge yourself to the highest bungee jump on earth in South Africa, at
Bloukrans Bridge. For theme park attractions and great golf, visit Singapore's
leisure island, Sentosa.
Culture and Heritage
Away from the modern buildings of Dubai
you can explore the narrow lanes of Bastakiya, or the National Museum. Visit Egypt to discover some of the world's most stunning ancient architecture, including the famous Pyramid at Giza and the Valley of the kings near Luxor. Discover some of Sri Lanka's 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and take in India's myriad wonders,
from the colourful palaces of Rajasthan to the legendary Taj Mahal. Kenya is home to some of the earth's earliest civilisations, and in South Africa you
can visit fascinating Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was once imprisoned.
Thailand's many temples and monasteries, tended by orange-robed monks, will
delight, and on Bali you can visit volcanoes and temples. In China,
the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors are simply amazing.
Golf
With the rising prices of playing golf on the costas and the strong Euro (correct May 2008), it's the perfect time to take advantage of playing golf on world-class courses in some of the most stunning locations in the world. Growing in popularity, combining golf with your main annual holiday, a bit of spa perhaps and almost certainly time on the beach, ensures complete relaxation and potentially one of your best rounds for years - not to mention, the ball travels further in the heat!
Back to Nature
Track whales and dolphins in the Maldives, spot tigers in India, feed baby
elephants in Sri Lanka's elephant orphanage and meet the orang-utans in Borneo.
Kenya and
Tanzania have some of Africa's best game viewing in the Masai Mara and the
Serengeti, and South Africa has more 'Big Five' thrills, plus Cape Town's Table
Mountain and the scenic beauty of the Garden Route. In Thailand,
you can escape to Doi Inthanon National Park, in the north, to enjoy scenic
walks amid mountain forests and waterfalls.
Shopping
Dubai is
a shoppers' paradise where you can lose yourself in huge malls. The idyllic
island of Mauritius is quietly transforming itself into a duty-free haven, and of all India's
famously bustling marketplaces, none is more atmospheric than Mumbai's Crawford
Market. In South Africa , check out out the bargains at Cape Town's Canal Walk Century City. Bangkok is also a legendary centre of retail, with everything from street markets to designer boutiques - whilst the night markets of Malaysia can serve up some great bargains.
Nightlife
When the day's adventures are over, it's time to take on the nightlife. The
pull of Bangkok's
many bars and clubs is hard to resist. On the paradise island of Bali,
it seems like every night is a festival, and fun will always be on the agenda!
And in Hong Kong, head
for Lan Kwai Fong and tour its bars, bistros and jazz clubs.
Taste of Adventure
Our Taste of Adventure touring options are ideal for those looking for something different, off the beaten track and away from the crowds. They all involve some sort of activity and as a mini-adventure they provide a fabulous 2 in 1 holiday! To ensure the ultimate flexibility, these tours are shown with pre-and post-tour ideas, so you can create your own perfect itinerary - so you can chill, thrill, then chill some more! Select the city or beach stays of your choice to ensure you combine all the fun and relaxation of a holiday with an adventure experience in the middle. The emphasis remains on maximising your time to get the most out of your hard-earned 2 weeks holiday!
Our adventures include:
For the Love of Food!
The food in Thailand
is fantastic, whether you sample it from street stalls or in gourmet restaurants.
Malaysian food combines fresh tropical fruits, succulent Malaysian seafood and
coconut milk in its exotic recipes. Singapore,
home to a mixture of Malay, Indian and Chinese communities, is the food capital
of Asia. You can gorge on amazingly inexpensive lobster in Bali, and savour
East-meets-West specialities in Hong
Kong, together with fantastic dim sum for lunch. And you haven't really
had a curry until you've had an Indian curry...
Best for Families
We want to make sure you choose a holiday that gives the whole family a great time away. We can take you to beautiful beaches with safe, shallow waters, or even to adventurous encounters with nature. In a destination where being the biggest and best is key, you can be sure that Dubai will satisfy the needs of even the most demanding kids. Many of the hotels in Dubai have state-of-the-art sporting facilities and well-organised kids' clubs, a good number of these are located right on Jumeirah Beach with its calm, shallow waters. Some even offer all inclusive to ensure your family holiday budget remains in control! We also have Virgin Holidays' reps in Dubai to offer reassurance and assistance should you need it.
Get Away from It All
Located just 45 min away from the beach is Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, the first Arabain eco-tourism resort in Dubai. Designed to reflect a Bedouin encampment and surrounded by desert dunes, it is one of the most stunning locations in Dubai. An oasis luxury, Al Maha lies within an award-winning conservation area and is the only resort within the area where visitors can experience the true beauty of the desert and observe the indigenous wildlife at close quarters. In the Timeless Spa, you will find the perfect place to unwind and leave the city behind you.
Tailor-make Your Holiday
At Virgin Holidays it's easy to custom-make the package you want without any hassle. We can tailor-make your holiday to suit
your needs, whatever you fancy - from twin-centre holidays, to tours and flydrives. With a wide range of accommodation,
covering everything from 3V to 5V Platinum hotels, where you go and how long you stay is completely up to you!
Group Bookings
If there's more than 10 of you going on holiday we can offer you excellent discounts, a dedicated team to handle
your bookings and services such as group check in, seating allocation and private transfers. Call
0844 573 8345 for more details.