[جتستّرسبلوغ]

ليبيا [تووت] ككسر نهائيّة قصيرة

[تووت] ليبيا يكون كالنهائيّة طويلة نهاية أسبوع كسر بإختصاصية مشغلة [كيركر] عطل.

أظهرت البلد يكون في جديدة [نورث فريك] كراس مع [فوور-نيغت] يرافق رحلات [سترت ت] £1,123 [بر برسن].

[تك ين] الرحلة طرابلس, [سبرثا] والموقعة رومانيّة من [لبتيس] [منا]. يتضمّن الرحلة إختصاصية رحلة محاضرة, رحلات, إنتقال وأربعة ليال' تكييف مع وجبة فطور.

ال 24 صفحة يتضمّن كراس أيضا عطل [تيلور-مد] إلى مغرب, تونس ومصر.

[فيف-نيغت] مسار إلى مصر, حيث إدماج من قاهرة و [لوإكسور], بما في ذلك يرشد رحلات من المتحف مصريّة والأهرامات في جيزة, يقود داخل في £1,295

سياحيّة مرشدة حجز أداة

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

Hailed as “the travel service innovation of 2008″ by the Irish Times

OurExplorer facilitates with ease the on-line booking of professional tourist guides from all over the world. Save time and money while you explore your next destination with the wisdom and guidance of a local.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide.

OurExplorer has launched a new travel concept in BETA, a user-rated tourist guide booking tool created exclusively for your personal travel needs.

As the global financial crisis still looms, OurExplorer can save travellers hassle and money by getting the maximum out of their overseas adventure with a private tourist guide.

Enjoy the insight of the best shopping and value for money dining experiences in a city, directly from a native. Some tourist guides are currently offering special discounted rates and free tour hours on OurExplorer.

OurExplorer promote professional tourist guides only. Pre booking, the traveller can view their experience, license, past client testimonials or even chat with the tourist guide.

OurExplorer launched in July 2008 with now over 400 private tourist guides covering more than 80 countries worldwide — making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Make your trip overseas unique and full of adventure.
You book your flight and accommodation on-line, why not your tourist guide?
Get a tourist guide for land (city guide, mountain guide) or sea (diving guide).

Purpose of OurExplorer:

1. To help tourist guides increase their income thereby benefiting the local community - especially those in poor countries e.g. Kenya, Mexico and Cambodia.

2. Increase cross cultural awareness and acceptance via direct connection with locals e.g. people in USA get the chance to understand those in Pakistan and Israel

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry but it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends,” said Mahatma Gandhi.

“Less than 9.7% of overseas travelers interact in meaningful discussion with a local,” according to the Tourism 2020 Vision reported by WTO.

The IMF concluded in March 2007 that “direct support of independent local businesses when you travel has the most positive results on local economy”.

“Rather than just donating money, OurExplorer is a sustainable long term solution to help low income families globally,” said David Cunningham (Chief Exploring Officer).

Deilmann Cruises Spring 2009 Mediterranean Cruises

Peter Deilmann Cruises is debuting two new 2009 Mediterranean itineraries aboard its luxury flagship, MS Deutschland, with calls at such perennial favorite destinations as Rome and Venice as well as lesser-known medieval cities and towns boasting Roman and Greek ruins that span the millennia.

The seven-night Venice-to-Rome cruise, March 29, 2009, calls at ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy with fares from $3,950 to $9,150 per person, double.

The 12-night itinerary, roundtrip from Rome on April 5, explores destinations in Spain, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Italy, prices from $5,100 to $13,970. Peter Deilmann continues to offer its $99 air and shore excursion package that provides roundtrip air from 73 North American gateways, a package of pre-arranged shore excursions and free transfers to the ship, representing a value of up to $600.

Groups of five couples or more save an additional 10% off the published cruise fares.

The seven-night itinerary spotlights one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations, the Dalmatian Coast, with visits to the medieval cities of Kotor, Montenegro, a World Heritage Site set amid a magnificent fjord; and Zadar, Croatia, encircled by a mountainous park and home to the 9th-century St. Donat Church and the 14th-century St. Anastasia Cathedral.

The Greek ports of Katakolon and Corfu also bring the past alive for travelers, with the former city offering easy access to the ancient site of the original Olympic Games that debuted in 776 BC; and the latter featuring a Venetian Old Town and 19th-century Achillion Palace.

In Italy, Naples is the jumping off point for excursions to the ruins of ancient Pompeii and the breathtaking island of Capri. Venice brings guests some of the most famous landmarks in the world, including the Piazza San Marco and the two-mile Grand Canal, while Rome offers a seemingly endless array of attractions that include the Coliseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

A taste of Italy is on the 12-night itinerary’s menu, with an overnight in the Eternal City and calls at Sicily’s Lipari, home to a reconstructed Norman-era church; and Messina, whose museum features works by famed Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

Travelers trace the footsteps of the Roman Empire in Tunis’ La Goulette with visits to the city’s ancient baths, cisterns and basilicas, and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca, a beautiful port city founded by the Romans in 123 BC, and known for its rich history, varied culture and active nightlife.

Malta also boasts its share of breathtaking historic treasures including Megalithic temples, catacombs and fortresses, legacies of The Knights of St. John, Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians and Arabs.

Ancient Greece comes alive in Patras, where history spans four millennia with attractions such as the Holy Church of Agios Andreas, the Byzantine Church of Pantokrator and Castle of Rio, circa 1499.

With a guest to crew ratio of two-to-one, MS Deutschland offers its guests a choice of three gourmet restaurants, an outdoor dining terrace plus seven diverse bars and cafes, each featuring its own distinct ambience.

There are a variety of accommodations, all with fine moldings and artwork, classic furnishings, picture windows, ample closet space and marble-tiled bathrooms with full-size showers; suites are also equipped with bathtubs.

The nine-deck ship offers a spacious library lounge; outdoor and indoor pools; three sun decks; open-air promenade deck; grand ballroom for nightly entertainment and dancing; and fitness and spa facilities. Smoking is not permitted onboard except in open deck areas and in the Old Fritz Pub.

For those travelers arranging their own air, an allowance of $750 per person is deductible from the cruise fare. Deilmann Cruises also offers Business Class fares for an additional supplement on selected itineraries.

For details on the cruises, optional tours and other amenities, contact Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or by E-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com

 Cruises itineraries, deck plans and ship photos are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com

Travel Match Program to Africa and Ecuador

VoyageTrek Travel
Cliff Hawk
(206) 695-2915
cliffh@voyagetrek.com
www.voyagetrek.com

SEATTLE—VoyageTrek Travel, the free online travel directory that provides destination match-making services for travelers, announced that it is expanding its program to African safaris and Galapagos Islands adventure cruising. This unique company premiered the AdventureMatch matching service in March 2008. The program has been enthusiastically received by the travel industry.

Current match-making categories include tours to Alaska, select fly fishing lodges, and dude ranches throughout the Western United States. VoyageTrek Founder Cliff Hawk says tour operators are responding well to the new program and the company has had an easy time recruiting top new tour operators. Answering to its initial success and ongoing demand, VoyageTrek continues to expand its travel segments and commitment to helping people find their ideal vacation.

“By adding Africa and Ecuador as travel segments, we provide exceptional value to travelers interested in these areas,” says Hawk. “No one wants to pick the wrong tour operator, and on the other end, the tour operators who are providing the best tours in the business often don’t have a marketing budget or are only known by word-of-mouth so they need an easier way to find leisure travel customers suited to their services.”

As the leading customer referral and match-making program in the adventure tourism industry, VoyageTrek provides multi-category, customized match-making between high-end travelers and suppliers. For adventurers wanting to find their ideal Alaska tour, fly fishing, or rafting destination, as well as a dude ranch, safari or Galapagos cruise, they can do a search at www.voyagetrek.com and click on the “Get Matched Now!” button and program link.

For tour operators interested in the adventure match program, log on to www.voyagetrek.com/operator  or call Hawk at (206) 695-2915.

Passport to the World’s Natural Wonders

Baobab’s Nature Expeditions provide adventurous travelers with a passport to the planet’s most spectacular natural wonders.

On these trips, visitors will have enriching and illuminating encounters with nature, allowing them to experience the world from a whole new perspective. Baobab’s team of expert guides will take participants off the beaten path in to wild and wondrous places that are as inspiring as they are educational. With Baobab, people can discover the heart and soul of each destination firsthand.

Whether they dream of seeing the grizzlies in Glacier National Park, crave the experience of a close encounter with a giant polar bear, or desire to reach out and touch a grey whale, Baobab will show travelers the way to a new brand of experiential travel.

Baobab provides access to some of the most knowledgeable guides in the industry, and these Nature Expeditions are led by naturalists who are experts in their field.

Their passion for uncovering and interpreting the mysteries of nature is second to none. Baobab offers trips for those that want to experience the wonders of some of the last truly wild places on earth in areas like Antarctica, Asia, Galapagos, Latin America, and the rugged and remote parts of the northern hemisphere.

www.baobabexpeditions.com

AFRICA: The Cradle of Humanity

When people think of Africa, they think of the big five safari sightings (lion, leopard, elephant, water buffalo, and rhino) or the big five tragedies of the continent (war, genocide, famine, political corruption, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic). But Africa encompasses much more than wildlife and warfare.

Africa is huge. It’s four times the size of the United States. It’s roughly 5,000 miles long and 4,600 miles wide. Africa makes up 20% of the earth’s landmass.

“There’s a whole continent beyond the cliché that appeals to luxury travelers and intrepid adventurers alike,” says Andy Alpine, co-founder of Specialty Travel Index (SpecialtyTravel.com). “The photo safari is still a big draw, of course–where else in the world can you experience the sight of a lion stalking its prey or the magnificent wildebeest migration across Serengeti’s endless plains? You could track wildlife in every country in Africa and still not get tired of it. But there is a rich cache of African experiences that many people don’t discover until their second trip to Africa–and some may overlook it altogether.”

Specialty Travel Index puts hundreds of African vacations from some of Africa’s best outfitters in one easy to navigate web site. Travel agents and travelers can narrow down their choices by country and by type of trip with a couple clicks.

Here’s a look at just a few of the dream-of-a-lifetime African travel experiences from different outfitters that can be found at www.specialtytravel.com and the magazine/directory Specialty Travel Index:

Ghana arts & Culture

Ghana is a kaleidoscope of arts. Palace Travel’s seven day art and culture tour of Ghana gives collectors and culture buffs a unique and up-close cultural experience. Travelers visit a local casket making shop to see a collection of caskets carved in the shapes of various objects depicting traditional beliefs in life after death (the “Fantasy Coffins” of Teshie Nungua have been featured in National Geographic and galleries worldwide).

They take drumming and dancing lessons on Kokrobrite Beach and learn to make fufu, ground nut soup, red red, and palava sauce in a Ghanian cooking workshop. Then its’ on to the Ashanti craft villages–Pankrono, where potters create colorful hand-built vessels; Ahwiaa, known for royal stools, walking sticks and fertility dolls; Ntonso where artisans hand-stamp patterns on cotton cloth to make adinkra textiles worn for funerals and other solemn occasions; and Bonwire where the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms, in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. If your suitcase isn’t stuffed with art by then, it will be after the Kumasi Central Market (also known as Kejetia Market), the largest open-air market in West Africa, where more than 10,000 vendors sell just about everything you could need or want - food, fabric, clothing, furniture, beauty products, and handmade crafts.

PALACE TRAVEL

Diving the Red Sea

The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is one of the planet’s most fascinating natural sea environments. There are about 200 of coral types and over a thousand species of fish, more species than anybody of water its size. Many divers consider the Red Sea is the best diving in the world world. Lotus International’s Deep Down in the Red Sea diving tour starts in Cairo and gives divers the chance to explore the Abou Dabab Reefs, Elephinstone Reef, Dolphin Reefs (3 dives with the dolphins), St. Johns, Marsa Alam, and West Abu Dabab. LOTUS INTERNATIONAL TOURS

Photographer’s Safaris

There can’t be an amateur or professional photographer alive that hasn’t fantasized about the capturing a shot of lions cubs playing in the grass, a leopard in a tree, or a line of elephants. A professional photographer leads small (10 or fewer) photo-hungry groups on daily game hunts–at a photographers pace–in open vehicles and bushwalks through private game reserves and Kruger National Park. Photographers will spot game from above on an ultra light flight and take a boat through the world’s third largest canyon for hippo and croc shots. In the evening, guests compare shots in the tree house style lodge. AFRICA WILD SAFARIS

Explore the Kalahari

Few parts of Africa can match the mystique of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert. Its unique and striking environment, and its vastness and isolation, leaves a lasting impression on all visitors. In addition to exploring its fragile ecosystem, Travelers with Mountain Travel Sobek’s Kalahari Desert private adventure can experience the cultural richness of the indigenous San (Bushman) people, who live in complete harmony with their environment. From Jack’s Camp, an elegant, traditional East African–style camp (the best in the Kalahari!), you’ll explore the saltpans on quad bikes, search for the elusive brown hyena, and take a walk with a Bushman and learn how the San people have survived for centuries in this harshly beautiful environment.

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SOBEK

Tracking Large Game on Foot in Big Five Territory

An environmentally-friendly tented camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Bateleur Eco Safaris is in the heart of Big 5 territory. Forming a part of the Greater Kruger National Park, all artificial barriers between the reserves have been removed, allowing the wildlife to roam free. Sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, antelope, and 350 bird species are common. Guides conduct daily bush walks, which teach guests to track large game on foot and provide a fascinating insight into animal behavior. To ensure an authentic wildlife experience, Bateleur Eco Safaris exposes guests to a variety of activities such as bushcraft and survival skills, bringing them closer to nature than ever before.

BATELEUR ECO SAFARIS

Cradle of Voodoo

The Adventure Center offers a journey of extremes through some of Africa’s less-visited countries: Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Traveling through three very different nations, travelers experience diverse cultures and traditional religions, amazing natural attractions, unique architectural styles, friendly people and vibrant local music. From the Gulf of Guinea to the remote nomadic lands in the north of Burkina Faso, travelers visit fetish markets and python temples, spend a night in a traditional stilt village, witness fire-dancing and mask ceremonies and explore the vast expanse of the Burkinabe Sahel. Sometimes, they are even granted an audience with King Maiga Belko at Arabinda. Adventure Center

Maasailand Safari

One of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime”, this is the chance to explore the African savanna on foot with Maasai warriors, share stories with elders, discuss world issues of common concern, learn about wildlife conservation and animal husbandry, women’s issues, rites of passage, and discover the fine arts of beading, traditional healing, music and dance, all from a base of specially built guest bungalows in the Maasai village of Merrushi. WILDLAND ADVENTURES

Birding in Egypt

Egypt is a bridge between continents offering migratory species the perfect route for their annual flights from Europe and Asia. A wide variety of Egyptian habitats ranging from high rugged mountains to desert and tropical style jungle along the Nile basin, give it a unique character plus the diversity needed to attract an extremely wide range of bird life– over 430 species of birds are found in Egypt. Travel Egypt, in addition to Nile cruises classic Nile Valley tours, operates a tour during the anticipated peak of migrations to afford birders a vacation with the maximum chance to view and photograph the widest variety possible. Birders visit to important antiquity sites and oasis in both upper and lower Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula with its beautiful beaches, incredible undersea life, and bountiful collection of bird life. TRAVEL EGYPT

Spotting Gorilla and Chimps in Uganda

Uganda’s longest operating Safari provider (operating since 1959), Kimbla-Mantana African Safaris, combines luxury tent camps with real beds, comfortable furniture, thick rugs, and fully stocked dining and bar tents (this isn’t roughing it), with game viewing tin a private fleet of 4×4 Land cruisers. Lake Mburo Camp is set in a beautiful game park that has a wide range of Africa’s wildlife; Bwindi Forest Camp is the base for mountain gorilla treks; and Kibale Forest Camp is the forested base for chimpanzee spotting. Kimbla-Mantana African Safaris

These, and many other African experiences (as well as a myriad of special interest and adventure travel adventures), can be found in Specialty Travel Index and on www.SpecialtyTravel.com

STI is easy to use, on the web site with the “Find Your Adventure” search mechanism indexing tours by both interest/activity (Yacht Charter, Wine Tours,) and destination (Costa Rica, France) and in the magazine using similar choices. Subscriptions to the magazine cost $10 per year (Canada $15; other foreign $25) for two issues: July (Fall/Winter) and January (Spring/Summer). Send orders to: info@specialtytravel.com or order online at www.specialtytravel.com

Club Med for luxury

Club Med’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Henri Giscard d’Estaing was in Sydney to update the market on a significant programme of refurbishment underway in Asia Pacific. Since 2004 over $US51 million has been allocated to renovate Club Med resorts in Asia Pacific alone.

Since taking the reins of Club Med in 2002, Mr Giscard d’Estaing has led Club Med in an extensive renovation programme. In just the past two years Club Med has launched or re-opened ten resorts around the world, renovated six properties and closed five as part of its bid to appeal to a more sophisticated travel market. Mr Giscard d’Estaing says, “We are targeting families and couples who want upscale, all-inclusive and multicultural holidays and aiming to provide a broad range of choice to suit a variety of tastes.”

The move to appeal to sophisticated travellers has motivated the creation of a new range of refined properties with a ‘5 Trident’ rating. Closest to Australia, just eight hours from Perth, Club Med has built a $US75 million dollar resort on the west coast of Mauritius, Club Med La Plantation d’Albion. In Marrakech Morocco, Club Med Le Riad also boasts the ‘5-Trident’ standard and this year Club Med will upgrade the unique 187 metre sailing ship Club Med 2 making it the third ‘5 –Trident’ experience.

The ‘4-Trident’ Club Med Bali in Nusa Dua will also open in December this year after a significant refurbishment adding a wider variety of room choices including lavish suites, an extensive Mandara spa with 12 treatment rooms, two Turkish Hammams and two saunas and new common areas. Just 55 minutes off the coast of Singapore, Club Med Bintan Island has undergone a $US6.5 Million refurbishment and will be launched in September this year.

 In recent years the forward thinking company has also refurbished its ski resort in Sahoro Japan, created a 1000 square metre Mini Club Med for children within Club Med Phuket and added 75 luxurious over water bungalows to Club Med Kani in the Maldives.

One of the world’s largest ski operators, Club Med has also refurbished nine ski resorts in the last three years in a bid to offer Australians the best value for money, sophisticated ski experience in Europe and Japan’s the most popular ski fields of Europe and Japan. Close to Australia, Club Med Sahoro was relaunched in November 2007 and offers all-inclusive ski and snowboarding holidays for the whole family.

Appealing to a more upscale market represents an exciting new chapter for this iconic brand which has become a household name in Australia since the first office opened in Sydney in 1975 offering exotic holidays to New Caledonia and Tahiti. Since then, over half a million Australians have visited one of 80 Club Med resorts around the world.

The new signature “Club Med - Where Happiness Means the World” maintains the company’s long held conviction that by removing financial and social constraints, Club Med’s all–inclusive holidays offer guests the freedom to enjoy whatever makes them happy; whether that is relaxing, socialising, participating in sports or discovering new cultures.

This theme of happiness has been core to Club Med’s offering since its post war origins when French water-polo player Gerard Blitz offered holidays to his tent city in Andalucía, saying ‘the time to be happy is now and the place to be happy is here.’ The offer of a carefree exotic holiday attracted 2,300 people in the first summer of 1950 and strong demand meant more than 10,000 people were turned away. Continuing popularity of the concept meant rapid expansion for the altruistic Club which developed from a non-profit organisation to become publicly listed in 1967 and eventually one of the world’s largest resort operators.

The promise of happiness has persisted throughout 58 years of adaptation and pioneering change and undoubtedly contributed to Club Med’s enduring popularity. Over the years Club Med continued to innovate to attract guests. Ski, sun resorts as well as cruise ships were opened, the popular kid’s club concept was created and an exclusive internal currency was introduced in the form of a beaded necklace. Club Med’s latest great innovation is Club Med Passworld (now available at Cherating Beach and other selected resorts). Passworld is an innovative space where teens can mix music, make videos, participate in jewellery making or just hang out in a relaxed but safe environment.

The new Club Med brand recognises the evolution of the Australian consumer and makes a significant departure from the grass huts and beaded necklaces so popular in the 1980s. “Club Med targets families and couples who want an upscale holiday as well as a friendly environment where they can relax and enjoy interacting with the hotel staff and other guests,” said Mr Giscard d’Estaing.

Club Med’s new level of refinement combined with its enduring friendly spirit make it, now more then ever, a place where sophistication meets fun.

For full booking details please call Club Med on (aus only) 1800 258 263 or for more information visit www.clubmed.com.au

Hannibal’s Kingdom Adventure, Tunisia

A two week, half-board journey through ancient and modern Tunisia.

The country has played a hugely strategic role throughout history including Carthage, which launched the Punic Wars against Rome and was eventually crushed by the might of the Roman Legions.

After the Romans came the Arabs who still remain after periods of Turkish and French rule.

This fascinating adventure begins in Tunis (taking in the remains of ancient Carthage), then south along the coast to the great amphitheatre at El Djem; through Stax and the island of Djerba and the desert villages of Tataouine, Tozeur and Neflaiet (the set for Sta