Jetsettersblog

The elegant and contemporary home is relaxed beachfront living at its best. The house is in the centre of Fisherman’s Village, Bophut, only twenty minutes to the nightlife and shopping in Chaweng and fifteen minutes to the airport and golf course.

The Beach House is a combination of Asian antiques and artwork set against white walls and rich teak floors. It is light and spacious with plantation shutters opening onto the beach and the Gulf of Siam.
http://www.sjvillas.co.uk/asia-pacific/thailand-koh-samui-beach-house.html

There are five stylish double bedrooms, with individual en-suite bathrooms, a modern designer kitchen, a study, two comfortable living areas with magnificent beach and sea views and a decked infinity pool leading to the beach. There is also a rooftop jacuzzi and bar area overlooking the garden, palm trees, the beach and little fishing harbour.

Bophut village is charming and still retains a special Indochine feel with original Chinese wooden shop fronts and a popular Friday night market with hawker food stalls and local handicrafts. There are plenty of chic boutiques and, as the island’s dining hub, there are many restaurants offering beachfront dining on their balconies and the sand.

From the village pier there are boats, which go direct to the surrounding islands, including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, made famous in the movie “The Beach”.

The concierge can arrange a chef, Thai cooking classes, spa treatments, car hire, water sport activities, such as scuba diving and kayaking, and sightseeing tours including elephant and jungle trekking.

SJ Villas (www.sjvillas.co.uk; 020 7801 4010) can arrange seven nights at The Beach House on Koh Samui from £530 per person based on eight sharing, including daily maid service, transfers, American breakfast and concierge service.

New luxury accommodation is now available in Corsham with Guyers House branching out from conferences and weddings by developing 37 beautifully appointed en-suite bedrooms. The accommodation has been awarded four stars and a silver award by Quality in Tourism and the bedrooms compliment elegant dining rooms, tennis court, croquet lawn, fitness room and cricket and golf nets.

Guyers House is a beautiful 17th century house made from local Cotswold stone set in six acres of exquisite gardens ideally located for exploring Lacock, Corsham, Bradford-on-Avon and northern Wiltshire. Both the head chef and sous chef trained at the Dorchester and produce delicious menus using locally sourced ingredients. The house gardens provide numerous vegetables and herbs for the kitchen and fresh fish is delivered daily from Cornwall.

Wedding ceremonies and receptions can be held throughout the year utilising the ballroom, four interconnecting reception rooms, en-suite bedrooms, landscaped gardens and exclusive use for 24 hours.

The gardens are open to the public through the National Garden Scheme where lily ponds, orchards, rose hoops, avenues of clipped yew and colourful walled herbaceous borders can be enjoyed.

Room rates start from only £130 per room, per night and include a three course dinner and full English breakfast for two guests. Each room has tea and coffee making facilities, televisions and internet access.

For further information and reservations visit www.guyershouse.com or call 01249 713399.

Television presenter Julia Bradbury recently aired her documentary, ‘Icelandic Walks’, on BBC4 which showcased south Iceland’s spectacular Landmannalaugar Route.

The programme was watched by just under one million people- four times the average for the time slot. To allow UK visitors to experience Julia’s walk and other hiking areas in Iceland, a number of tour operators are releasing new walking holidays this summer.

‘Icelandic Walks’ documents Julia’s 60 km hike along the Landmannalaugar Route passing volcanoes, hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields and walking on some of the newest land in the world. The route also gets close to the notorious Eyjafjallajökull volcano which caused last year’s infamous ash cloud chaos.

The new walking itineraries are available for all abilities ranging from day trips to 10 day hikes and allow walkers to see exciting new landscape formations and Iceland’s lesser known areas including the Westfjords and the Borgarfjorður region.

Below are examples of walking holidays in different areas of Iceland. For a sneak preview of Iceland’s landscape watch Julia Bradbury’s documentary: http://bbc.in/lSd3se

Follow Julia on the Landmannalaugar walking trail

New for this summer, Discover the World has launched a five day hike, the Laugavegur Highland Walking Trail, which replicates Julia’s walk. The route takes in some of Iceland’s most inaccessible areas including Eyjafjallajökull’s craters, Emstrur Desert, Thorsmork Valley and the world’s newest lava field. In some areas the ground is hot from the bubbling magma below. The tour runs weekly from until 22 August 2011 and prices start at £639 per person. This includes accommodation on a full board basis, 4×4 jeep transfer for food and equipment, tents and cooking gear.

Hikes are in groups of four to 14. Discover the World also offers a wide range of other walking and tailor-made holidays in Iceland.

www.discover-the-world.co.uk/walkinginiceland

Day hikes

Julia’s tour was led by a guide from Iceland Mountain Guides which has a ‘Walk Through Fire and Ice’ day tour. This includes a mixture of walking and riding in a superjeep where, in just one day, visitors can bathe in a warm stream, walk on a glacier and get up close to the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The day tour costs £133 per person and includes transport (pick up from hotel), a guide, ice walking and all other safety equipment. The tour is available six days a week to 15 September and twice weekly in the winter.

www.mountainguides.is

For enthusiastic hikers

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays has a new 10 day Iceland tour, Eastern Iceland Explorer, which crosses the isolated and little walked eastern Borgarfjorður region. Highlights include the colourful rhyolite mountains which appear to change colour in different weather, Europe’s most powerful waterfall called Dettifoss, black sand beaches and the natural geothermal baths of Lake Myvatn.

The holiday costs £1,899 per person including return flights from Heathrow, half board accommodation in Reykjavik and full board accommodation for the rest of the trip and an expert guide. Eastern Iceland Explorer departs on 14 July and there are still spaces available.

www.ramblersholidays.co.uk

For intrepid hikers

Arctic Adventures leads a six day walking trip in the isolated Westfjords region. Walkers traverse the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve which is the northern most point in Iceland and completely unpopulated. The reserve is perfect for wild hiking as it is only accessible by foot or boat and the group can enjoy idyllic sandy bays, towering fjords, Europe’s largest sea bird colony and whales can be spotted offshore.

The trip costs £805 per person including the boat ride into Hornstrandir, food, internal flights, guiding, tents and cooking gear but excluding international flights. Departure dates are available on 4 July, 18 July and 8 August 2011.

www.adventure.is
www.visiticeland.com

Why just fly and flop when you can put your holiday to good use and learn something new? Here are Gap Adventures’ top three trips for expanding your mind

Come back with more than a suntan on your next holiday and book a Gap Adventures trip that will give you a skill for life.

Learn how to surf, sail or cook in some of the most beautiful and inspirational destinations in the world with one of these three “how to” holidays with Gap Adventures:

Costa Rica Learn to Surf
Price: £649
Trip Code: CRLS
Departure: 9 July 2011

Take to the waves on an eight-day surfing adventure in Uvita, Costa Rica. The perfect trip for novice surfers, enjoy the assistance of experienced instructors for five days before daring to try your skills amidst the locals. Experience two ‘4 X 4 Coast Safaris where instructors will share hideaway shores, perfect for practice. Enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Pacific from your view on the board while challenging yourself to stay upright.

The price includes: Seven nights’ accommodation, some meals, overland transport, the services of a CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, five surf lessons and two “surf safari” excursions. To book, call 0844 272 2040 or visit www.gapadventures.co.uk.

Culinary Mexico – Mezcal and Mole
Price: £789
Trip Code: CMMM
Departure: 9 July 2011

Become the master of Mexican cuisine on a nine-day culinary trip to Mexico. Guests will test out their knives during half-day cooking classes in Oaxaca learning to make traditional Mexican cuisine and fill the rest of their days with trips to the ruins and a Mezcal factory visit. Visitors will be able to stop in Puebla for the local restaurants and cantinas, as well as participate in a Mole-making demonstration and pop over to Veracruz for a market orientation walk.

The price includes: Eight nights’ accommodation, some meals, overland transport, the services of a CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, a Mole-making demonstration, a Mezcal factory visit and a market tour in Veracruz. To book, call 0844 272 2040 or visit www.gapadventures.co.uk.

Greek Sailing Adventure – Santorini to Santorini
Price: £999
Trip Code: GVSS
Departure: 10 July 2011

Set sail on a ten-day 50-ft yacht adventure and visit the picturesque Greek Islands. Visit the island of los for its beautiful beaches and chapels and then sail alongside the dolphins to Naxos to see the Temple of Demeter. Mykonos offers many boutiques and boasts the birthplace of Apollo while Syros offers snorkeling in the sea, and Paros presents caves for exploration. Make a quick trip to the secluded island of Sifnos and enjoy Folegandros on the last day before sailing back to Santorini.

The yacht offers five twin-share cabins, three shared bathrooms with two showers, and the services of a fully licensed Skipper.

The price includes: Nine nights on-board accommodation and snorkeling equipment. To book, call 0844 272 2040 or visit www.gapadventures.co.uk.

To order the 2011 brochures and browse the Best Adventures on Earth, or for more information on Gap Adventures call 0844 272 2040 or visit www.gapadventures.co.uk

Make Father’s Day even more special this year with a surprise adventure to Europe’s largest national parks in Spain or a picturesque coast in North Cyprus with The Adventure Company.

Pick the Picos de Europa for protected wildlife

- This 8-day trip offers active dads the chance to explore Europe’s largest national park, the Picos de Europa – an area of dramatic beauty and home to many protected species and birdlife. The area still remains one of the truly unspoilt places in Spain that few visitors have discovered and boasts a spectacular range of limestone peaks, ridges and deep valleys. The high ground is a ‘moonscape’ of dramatic rocky terrain, almost devoid of vegetation, while the lower valleys are full of beautiful wildflowers in the spring.

On the free day, fathers who prefer not to relax at the family-run hotel have a range of exhilarating activities to choose from, such as caving, canyoning or canoeing.
- The Picos de Europa walking holiday, departing on 18th June, costs £758pp including flights, 7 nights hotel accommodation, transport (minibus, bike & horse), most meals (7 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners) and an experienced group leader.

Walk on deserted forest tracks in North Cyprus

- This 8-day trip offers fathers a great opportunity to explore possibly the Mediterranean’s best kept secret – North Cyprus. Based in the picturesque coastal town of Kyrenia, he will walk on deserted forest tracks used only by farmers and heavy with the scent of wild flowers, enjoying stunning mountain views and dramatic coastal scenery along the way. Like most of its Mediterranean neighbours, Cyprus has witnessed many invaders over the years and consequently has many castles to explore, including the dramatic ruins of St Hilarion’s Castle and the 14th Century Crusader abbey of Bellapais. Dazzling beaches all add to the unique charm of the island.

- The Kyrenia Trails trip, departing on 18th June, costs £729pp including flights, 7 nights hotel accommodation, some meals (7 breakfasts & 5 lunches), transport (minibus) and a local group leader.

To find out more contact The Adventure Company on 0845 287 1198 or visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk

Open barely eighteen months, Reef’s intimate and private Reefresh Spa set amongst the tropical gardens continues to be in constant demand from our guests.

Requests for varying types of treatments has grown and we are therefore pleased to publish our new Reefresh Spa menu .

Reef has extended its range of exotic and aromatic treatments to include for:
an increased selection range of hand blended essential oil massages;

two new scrubs to include for a sandalwood, lime and tamarind exfoliating scrub and a lotus and cinnamon oil exfoliating scrub both designed to exfoliate the body to leave the skin beautifully soft and revitalised;

a range of facials incorporating sea weed, essential oils, coffee or natural plants and herbs.Treatment Collections to include for a Babymoon, a Romance at Reef and also two Collections for Reef’s male guests.

Sri Lanka is renowned for its invaluable medicinal natural plants and herbs and the neem tree, sandalwood, turmeric, cinnamon, veniwel, and gotukola etc are but a few that Reef has incorporated into its treatments.

In January 2011 Reef was cited as one of Asia’s Best Spas in Condé Nast Traveller India with one of the best speciality programmes.

And for the second year running, Reef Villa and Spa is the only hotel and spa in Sri Lanka to be recommended in Condé Nast Johansens’ publications.

For a copy of our new brochures or further information please email info@reefvilla.com

Rates start at USD433.00 per suite per night based on two persons sharing and includes for breakfast, service charge and all taxes.

Spa packages commence at USD2170.00 including for five nights accommodation in the Lily Pond Suite.

http://reefvilla.com/spa.html

www.reefvilla.com

Family holidays specialist Esprit Holidays is offering three fully organised outdoor activity programmes in the French and Swiss Alps this summer for children in age groups from 7 – 11 and 12 – 15 years and separate groups for adults, headed up by experienced outdoor activity leaders. And according to Esprit, their healthy holidays can even help kids live happier, healthier lives.

Programme Director Ian Hope said, “According to recent research* an active lifestyle encourages the growth of brain cells and children with active lifestyles make happier adults, while children with lower physical lifestyles are 35 per cent more likely to experience depression as adults.

The Alps is the perfect place to get outside and learn a new skill, have fun, and build up growing muscles and get lung-fuls of clean, fresh air”.

Esprit Holidays’ activity weeks are an optional add-on to the company’s Alpine summer holidays, with prices from £399 / adult and £146 / child for 7 nights’ full board chalet-hotel accommodation, and activities include adventure ropes courses, rock climbing, kayaking, glacier hiking, paragliding, tennis and wildlife walks. The active holiday programmes are run in the Swiss resort of Saas Fee and the French resorts of Alpe d’Huez and Belle Plagne and cost from £135 / adult, £113 / child, including all equipment and a five day programme of fully led activities.

While adults and older siblings enjoy the open air challenges younger children can be cared for in the Esprit nursery (4 months – 3 years) or kindergarten (`Mini Alpies’) for children 3 – 6 years.

Esprit Holiday’s ‘Seven Wonders of the Alps’ alpine activity week in the high altitude French resort of Belle Plagne includes paragliding down the valley, taking on an adventure ropes course through thick woodlands, rock climbing, kayaking and white water rafting. The cost for week’s activities is £189 for an adult and £156 for a child.

The ‘Mountains & Marmots’ activity programme takes place in the French resort of Alpe d’Huez and includes a paragliding trip, a go on the ‘Via Ferrata’ scrambling rocky routes with the use of ladders; ramps and cables, golfing afternoons and a mountainous wildlife hike in the Alps. The cost for week’s activities is £135 for an adult and £129 for children.

The company’s ‘Mountain Magic’ activity week in the Swiss resort of Saas Fee includes a guided forest adventure swinging through the trees on zip wires and suspension ropes, the Almagellerhorn adventure hike over the spectacular Alpine landscapes, an afternoon hiking over a beautiful sea of glaciers with a mountain guide as well as an afternoon of tennis. The cost for week’s activities is £135 for an adult and £113 for a child.

Contact Esprit Holidays on 01252 618300 and www.espritfamilyadventures.com

Valid until March 2013

8 day/7 night Uzbekistan tour from $1525 per person twin share with Fergana 4 day/3 night extension from $658 per person twin share. Departures until March 2013.

Gateway Travel is now offering an inspiring tour of Uzbekistan starting in Tashkent and visiting Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Samarkand. Price of $1525 per person twin share for 2 people, includes accommodation, breakfast, transfers, sightseeing tours, entry fees, overland transportation, visa support, English speaking guide and 1st class train ticket from Tashkent – Bukhara and Samarkand-Tashkent.

Extension to Fergana is available from $658 per person twin share for 2 people, and includes accomodation, breakfast, sightseeing tours, entry fees, overland transportation and English speaking guide.

Prices will reduce for larger group numbers. Single supplement applies. Visa support is $150 per person.

Enquire now at Gateway Travel

www.gatewaytravel.com.au

Tel: (02) 9745-3333

Classical 8 day Baltics Tour just released with set departures in 2011. Ultra low prices from just $977 per person twin share.

Travel from Vilnius via Riga to Tallinn by air conditioned motor coach and visit all 3 Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Select from set departure dates from June to September with 3 star and 4/5 star hotel options including daily breakfast, 7 nights accomodation, sightseeing tours English speaking guides, taxes and information packs.

Contact Gateway Travel on (02) 9745-3333 or email sales@russian-gateway.com.au  to book your place today.

Finnair opens daily direct flights from Singapore to Helsinki. Travel to Europe via Singapore is the most convenient connection for Australian travellers.

“Finnair’s Asian strategy has worked extremely well,” says Finnair CEO Mika Vehviläinen. “The Singapore route will strongly support our core strategy as well as serving our main target group of customers travelling between Australia and Europe on business.”

Singapore is Finnair’s tenth scheduled destination in Asia. Finnair is the only airline which offers daily connections between Singapore and Northern Europe according to a timetable devised especially for the needs of business travellers, and will provide Australian travellers with one of the shortest routes to Europe.

“The new route to Singapore gives splendid support to Helsinki Airport’s position as the leading long haul hub in Northern Europe,” says Helsinki Airport’s director Juha-Pekka Pystynen.

For Australian customers travelling through Singapore to Helsinki, it opens up excellent connections to over 50 European destinations with their network served by Finnair. The flights are being operated using Finnair’s state-of-the-art Airbus A340 aircraft.

Finnair is a member of Oneworld Alliance and will codeshare with Qantas on this new route. www.finnair.com/au