Jetsettersblog

Festivals are an incredible way to experience a region and its culture and these new 2012 dates from the boutique operator Travel The Unknown showcase some of the most colourful festivals of Asia, Europe and South America.

From the Trumpet Festival in Serbia, the Barranquilla Carnival in Colombia and the Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca, Mexico, to North India’s grandest festival, the Hindu Festival of Navratri, Travel the Unknown guarantees a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Departure dates are in February, August and October 2012:

Cartagena and The Carnival, Colombia (seven days) £1,750 departing February 15 2012

Colombia’s biggest and brightest carnival, the Carnaval de Barranquilla, celebrates everything that’s great about this country. Take part in elaborate processions, dance to Colombian rhythms and get swept up with the vibrancy of this dazzling extravaganza. Discover the hip city of Bogota and its world-famous Gold Museum, before heading to Colombia`s crown jewel, Cartagena. Witness spectacular colonial architecture, cobbled alleys and mellow plazas and spend a relaxing day experiencing the magical healing powers of the Mud Volcano.
http://www.traveltheunknown.com/tours/CBC/Colombia/Cartagena%20&%20The%20Carnival

Festivals of Serbia (eight days) £1,545 departing August 11 2012
Discover Serbia`s premier festivals – the Trumpet Festival of Guca and Belgrade’s Beer Fest, as well as the cultural delights of Central Serbia – stunning orthodox monasteries, ancient and bizarre landscapes and the eerie Skull Tower of Niš. Experience the warm welcome of the Serbian people and eat, drink and be merry in Europe’s forgotten gem.
http://www.traveltheunknown.com/tours/FOS/Serbia/Festivals%20of%20Serbia

The Day of the Dead, Mexico (10 days) £2,325 departing October 29 2012
Discover the famous celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, the indigenous capital of Mexico and the best places to experience this special event. The Day of the Dead in Mexico is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colourful celebration in which death assumes a lively, friendly expression.

After the festival, explore the ancient history and phenomenal architecture of Monte Alban and Mitla, the stunning natural landscapes of Hierve El Agua and Santiago Apoala and wander colourful craft markets before taking a stroll in a cloud forest. Finally, learn some traditional Oaxacan cooking or taking a tour of Oaxaca`s legendary biodiversity in the botanical gardens.

http://www.traveltheunknown.com/tours/DOD/Mexico/The%20Day%20of%20the%20Dead

Festivals of India (14 days) £2,545 departing October 19

With more than 300 million gods, it is no surprise that India is unrivalled when it comes to its colourful religious festivals. Learn about Hindu culture and join millions of devotees as they celebrate the Hindu Festival of Navratri, dedicated to Goddess Shakti in her various forms. North India, in particular Mumbai, comes roaring into life with traditional song, dance and delicious food. In Kolkata, meet the skilful clay idol-makers of Kumartuli. Witness Durga Puja, where idols of Goddess Durga are carried through the city and immersed in the River Hooghly.

This magnificent tour also takes in Delhi and India’s other important religious towns -Amritsar, famed for Sikhism’s glittering Golden Temple and the hill-station of Dharamsala, home to the exiled Dalai Lama and his Buddhist followers.

http://www.traveltheunknown.com/tours/FNI/India/Festivals%20of%20North%20India

Nagaland Hornbill Festival, India (13 days) £2,645 departure dates TBC
Drive through the plains of Assam on the lookout for unicorn rhino in Kaziranga National Park. Cross the Brahmaputra river to Majuli, the world’s largest river island with its own unique culture before entering Nagaland, India’s true frontier state (bordering onto Myanmar), steeped in history and tribal tradition. Soak up the atmosphere at the Hornbill Festival, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where Naga culture is brought to life in colourful song and dance. Learn about Naga customs and their reputation as one of the last head-hunting tribes of Asia.
http://www.traveltheunknown.com/tours/NHF/India/Nagaland%20&%20Hornbill%20Festival

Visit www.traveltheunknown.com/festivals  for more information about our festival tours.

Condé Nast Traveler just announced their prestigious 2012 Gold List winners for the world’s finest hotels, resorts, and cruise lines, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is thrilled that it was once again included in the “World’s Top 12 Cruise Lines” category. This year, as a way to mark 25 years of Condé Nast Traveler, the magazine celebrated the “superstars” of the Gold List in their Platinum Circle honor, which includes Uniworld, which has made the Gold List every year for the past five years’ running.

Earlier this year, Uniworld was also rated as the world’s Number One “Best River Cruise Line” in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“I am deeply honored that Uniworld has again been recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List,” states Guy Young, president of Uniworld.

“The significance of being included as a Platinum Circle member reaffirms Uniworld’s commitment to consistently delivering the best river cruise experience possible to our guests. I am also very proud to be included in a list of well-respected cruise lines such as Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent,” furthers Young.

The eighteenth annual Gold List contenders are tested afresh every year in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Survey, described by Condé Nast as “the collective result of some eight million votes cast by as savvy a group of travelers as you’ll find on the planet.”

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, is recognized among the “World’s Best River Cruises” by Travel + Leisure. Uniworld was voted the“#1 River Cruise Line in the World” in Condé Nast Traveler ’s Readers’ Choice Awards, was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, and won “Best River Ships” in their Readers’ Poll, which ranked River Beatrice and River Duchess the #1 and #2 river ships, along with five other highly ranked ships in the top 20. Uniworld’s cabins and dining are also ranked among the top three in the world by Zagat Survey; Uniworld is the only river cruise line named in the Zagat Survey amongst the best of the best in the cruise industry.

Uniworld features luxurious boutique ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, included shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, and award-winning hospitality.

Uniworld offers over 500 departures sailing on over 13 rivers in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

For more details, please visit www.uniworld.com or connect with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises at www.facebook.com/uniworldrivercruises or www.twitter.com/UniworldCruises

BRAND NEW LOCATION FOR 2012 IN KOPAONIK, SERBIA
THE BIG SNOW FESTIVAL JOINS FORCES WITH CREATORS OF EXIT FESTIVAL
7 NIGHT PACKAGES INCLUDING LIFT PASS FROM £499
The Big Snow Festival returns to the slopes from the 23rd to 29th March 2012 and is set to be ‘the’ event of the winter as it enters its third year. Since its launch in 2010, The Big Snow Festival has proved to be a mountainous success with snow and music festival fans, and as the festival doubles in size for 2012, the organisers are proud to announce some exciting new developments!

The Big Snow Festival has joined forces with EXIT Team, the creators of the legendary EXIT festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, recognised as one of the leading music festivals in the world. And what’s more, the festival will be moving to its brand new home in the stunning resort of Kopaonik, the largest ski area in Serbia.

Kopaonik is a spectacular ski resort located in the heart of the Balkans in the Dinanic mountain range. At an altitude of 1770m (highest peak 2017m), the snow-sure resort of Kopaonik offers breathtaking vistas, a high standard of ski-in, ski-out accommodation and provides some fantastic venues for The Big Snow Festival parties.

The move to Kopaonik will bring bigger parties, more accommodation and amazing value for money, not forgetting fun-filled days out on the pistes. With 55km of alpine ski runs and 23 chair lifts, Kopaonik boasts a great range of runs to suit every level from gentle greens and sweeping blue runs for novices to a number of challenging reds and blacks for intermediates and experts. In addition, Kopaonik has 12km of cross country skiing and by night, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy night skiing the floodlit piste.

The move to Kopanik and working with EXIT Team will bring a new and exciting dimension to The Big Snow Festival and organisers are thrilled by the new partnership. Festival organiser, Deborah Milroy comments;

“We are really excited about our new home in Kopaonik. The resort is beautiful and the perfect setting for The Big Snow Festival. By teaming up with EXIT Team, we can most certainly promise our fans a memorable experience for 2012. The line-up is currently under wraps, but you can be sure to expect big things!”

Dusan Kovacevic, founder of the EXIT festival says;
“We are delighted to be working with The Big Snow Festival and it’s a great fit for EXIT Team. We have seen EXIT grow for more than 10 years to become one of the most recognised music events of its kind, and we hope to bring a taste of EXIT to the mountains.”

Exclusive 7 night packages to The Big Snow Festival are on sale now at www.nomud.com from £499pp.

Packages include return flights, airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation, 6 day lift pass and Big Snow Festival wristband providing you access to all the action and entertainment.
Secure your trip today with a deposit of £75pp.

Keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/thebigsnowfestival for breaking news, line up announcements, hot deals and more!

Notes to editors:
Flights are available from London Heathrow, Luton and Manchester airports flying to Belgrade
The Big Snow Festival launched in Arinsal, Andorra in 2010 and has doubled in size since its launch
Exclusive deals for ski hire and lessons will be available to book from The Big Snow Festival

General Tours World Traveler is offering two new Small Group Journeys to Eastern Europe. The Small Group Journey product line is distinguished by having never more than 16 guests to a group, with boutique hotel stays, quality meals and activities not possible in a larger group. They are designed to provide a deeper and more authentic look into the culturally diverse destinations.

New for 2012, Grand Capitals of Eastern Europe is a 10-day trip to Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow and Budapest featuring distinguished hotels like the Regent Berlin, deemed one of the best places to stay in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, and the Sofitel Chain Bridge overlooking the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Activities include a visit to the Schindler Factory Museum in Krakow, dinner with a Polish family in the charming town of Lowicz and a countryside excursion to Szentendre, an ancient Hungarian town and now-thriving artists’ colony in the Danube Bend. A pre-trip extension to Prague and Dresden features five-star city-center hotels, complete sightseeing and all on-tour transportation including first class rail from Dresden to Berlin to join the Grand Capitals tour.

Also new in 2012, Journey through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, features landmark hotels and resorts such as the Grand Hotel Toplice, overlooking Lake Bled, and Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade, originally built for passengers of the Orient-Express train. The itinerary includes Munich, Salzburg and Vienna, as well as destinations rarely featured on traditional large-group escorted tours, such as the Salzburg Lake District; Graz, Ljubljana, often called “Little Prague,” and the sixteen cascading lakes of Plitvice National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through Dec 30, General Tours is offering savings of $500 per person on bookings paid in full at the time of booking for either of the new trips to Eastern Europe.

Now in its 65th year, General Tours World Traveler offers Small Group, Privately Guided and Small Ship journeys to Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Specifically designed for never more than 16 guests, the company’s programs promise immersive cultural encounters and authentic travel experiences not possible in a larger group. For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.generaltours.com

Cook East is a new company that has been founded with the basic philosophy that food can provide an interesting medium through which to engage with your surroundings, beyond simply being a flavoursome addition to a nice evening. Providing interesting itineraries in their own right, you will be visiting some of the most desirable locations and impressive sights in the world. Where Cook East differs from other travel providers however is the concurrent series of cooking classes that allow you to see precisely how those restaurants at home cook your favourite dishes. These are not aimed at chefs or those with exceptional cooking abilities, but anyone who wants to gain a grassroots understanding of how food cultivation, purchase, preparation and consumption fits into the lifestyle of local people.

A typical day might involve breakfast, a late morning cooking class including the consumption of your prepared dish and then the afternoon spent on a guided tour of the city, at leisure or visiting a local temple of monument.

As the name suggests, the destinations visited by Cook East cover South East and Central Asia, but also include South America and we are always looking to add new destinations.

For up-to-date information on any of our itineraries or destinations please check our website, or get in contact. With prices starting from £735 including international flights we’re sure we have something for everyone.

Website: http://www.cook-east.com

Email: info@cook-east.com

Phone: 01276 682968

Serbia is currently excavating the archaeological ruins of the major Roman city and military camp of Moesia (now Serbia) dating back to the First century AD. Already attracting in excess of 60,000 visitors a year, Viminacium located 90 miles south-east of Belgrade is already making its mark with tourists.

Covering an expanse of over 450 hectares, the site contains the remains of temples, streets, squares, amphitheatres, palaces, hippodromes and Roman baths and lies on the Roman Road, via Milatris. Having excavated only 2 per cent of the city and military camp, archaeologists have already unearthed roman baths which clearly demonstrate the advance thinking of the Romans with ancient under floor heating and flushing toilets. The Mausoleum has already various graves and visitors can explore under tunnel 4th Century frescoes which have already been revealed. The amphitheatre, which can hold up to 12,000 people and is one of the largest to be found in the Balkans and is still undergoing excavation work, but there is already plenty to see. Next year, in conjunction with the Rome opera House there will be a production of Aida – the first in a series of concerts planned for the Viminacium amphitheatre.

Two years ago, Viminacium discovered a mamouth skeleton dating back some 5 million years and this should be on public view soon.

Viminacium has also recently built a new science and research visitor centre, complete with a library and a restaurant which will, when it opens later this year, serve Roman inspired dishes. There is also a new 15 room hotel for visitors wishing to explore the site for more than a fleeting tour, and accommodation is also being built for archaeology students or visitors who are interested in working with one of the excavation teams on site. The centre will also accommodate a spa centre with two pools for swimming and hydro-massage and a convention hall. The latest development will all be open for business at the end of the summer and will provide the backbone to Viminacium’s financial sustainability.

The excavation is ongoing but Viminacium needs further funds to unveil more of the hidden city however, tourism and site entrance fees are going some way to finance the development of the site. Government grants and even a small donation from a nearby power station have gone some way to help finance the teams. However, Viminacium also hopes to receive further funding from the EU in the future, to speed up the painstaking work of the excavation team.

Staying at Viminacium and working with the on-site team of archaeologists will be available from September from 150-200 Euros per day to include accommodation and all meals. Students will also be able to participate in excavations from 35 Euros a day to include hostel accommodation and all meals.

Viminacium is open February to November and for those wishing to find out more, should visit: www.viminacium.org.rs or call +381 62669013. English speaking guided tours are also available on site.

For general information about travel to Serbia go to: www.serbia.travel

Cheapflights.co.uk rounds up the freshest European festivals for sun-kissed beats

With the festival season fast approaching, Cheapflights.co.uk advises that now is the time to book and ensure your ticket to one of the hottest European gigs. Whether it’sparties on the beach or revelry at a lively campsite, there is something on offer for everyone this summer.
“Festivals are a great way to let your hair down and leave your worries behind. Partying with friends, dancing the night away and losing yourself in festival fever is something everyone should experience at some point,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

“While there’s a great mix of UK festivals to choose from why not head abroad for the party, where sunshine is guaranteed and there’s an exciting new experience to be had,” adds Hallak.

Here, Cheapflights.co.uk explores five of Europe’s coolest festivals:

EXIT, Serbia (7-10 July 2011)
Exciting – Xtraordinary – Inspiring – The must-go-to festival. Taking place in the picturesque setting of a 17th century fortress, overlooking Serbia’s second city of Novi Sad with incredible sunset views over the Danube, EXIT, one of Europe’s leading festivals, will be celebrating its 10th year in July. EXIT is famed for its unique vibe, bringing people together and connecting them through funky music. Party people dance in the fortress arena and watch the sun rise over its high walls. An exciting line-up of acts has already been announced for this year’s gig, including Groove Armada, Jamiroquai and Pulp. Beloved by hardcore dance fans, four days at EXIT is somewhat of an endurance test, but you will certainly have an amazing time. Flights to Belgrade, Serbia, start from £172.

Garden Festival, Croatia (6-13 July 2011)
Croatia’s Garden Festival in Zadaris all about funky beats and sun-kissed vibes. Set in a stunning costal fishing village, the festival takes place in a wooded peninsula over two weekends in early July, with chill-out days in between. Festival-goers frolic in the warm Adriatic waters during the day and lose themselves to the pumping dance music by night as local and international house and electro talent perform across three stages. If you are a dance music lover, then this is the festival for you. Flights toZadar start from £79 return.

Benicassim Festival, Spain (14-17 July 2011)
Benicassim Festival is ideal for those who want to combine a festival experience with a summer holiday. The festival campsites, which are next to one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches, are open from 11 July, so guests can relax to the max and soak up the sunshine before the four-day music explosion kicks off on 14 July. Be warned, this festival is not for the faint-hearted – headline acts hit the stage at 1 a.m. and party lasts through to 8 a.m. There is a wide range of music on offer from electro to pop, from indie to rock. This year’s acts include The Streets, Paolo Nutini, Pendulum and The Arctic Monkeys. Flights to Valencia, Spain start from £79 return.

Sziget Festival, Hungary (8-15 August 2011)
Students and young adults from all around the globe will flock to this week-long party extravaganza in August. Originally, Sziget was a Hungarian music event created to boost the summer festival scene after the fall of Communism. Over the years, it’s developed into one of the most exciting festival experiences around, showcasing an eclectic mix of music styles from all over the world. Famous names from this year’s line-up include Amy Winehouse, Dizee Rascal, Good Charlotte and The Chemical Brothers. Day trips into the centre of Budapest also add to the Sziget experience. Flights to Budapest start from £73 return.
To search and compare prices for these and other destinations, visit www.cheapflights.co.uk

Auto Europe has expanded its prestige and sports car services in addition to offering a large selection of hybrids from Toyota and Honda, and low CO2 models from Volkswagen, Citroen, Mercedes and BMW.

Auto Europe offers the largest selection of luxury vehicles including the latest models from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari including the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Jaguar, Lotus, Mercedes, Maserati, Porsche, Range Rover and others. New additions to their selection of models including the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari California, Rolls Royce Phantom, Mercedes Benz S Class hybrid and the Rolls Royce Ghost.

A survey from Skyscanner, released this month (May) highlights the Balkans as one of the fastest growing holiday regions in the world. Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina are all now in the top 100 Skyscanner holiday destinations. Regent Holidays, who offer holidays to all of the Balkan countries in the top 100, have a range of great deals right across the region.

The highest new entry was Kosovo which rocketed into the top 100 at number 67. The survey indicated that interest in the Balkans has increased across the board, with neighbouring Serbia climbing 11 places, Macedonia entering the Top 100 at number 95, and Bosnia & Herzegovina also just squeezing in at number 100. The hugely popular hotspot of Croatia is in the top 10 for the first time, and, perhaps less predictably, lesser known Albania is in the top 50 at number 38.

Regent Holidays, who were the first to offer holidays to Albania over 40 years ago, say that the survey reflects their own sales to the region, which are up 25% on the same time last year. The company was also the first to feature Kosovo in 2009, following its independence from neighbouring Serbia.

Regent’s programme of holidays to the Balkan countries includes :

Tailor-made tours of Kosovo or combination Kosovo/Albania/Montenegro (11 days starting from £1,015 per person).

12 Day Classic Albania Group tour departing 16 Sept from £1,440 pp.

A 6 day Sarajevo & Mostar itinerary from £550 per person
A 7 day tour combining Serbia with Bosnia-Herzegovina in a train journey from Sarajevo to Belgrade from £655 pp

14 day Highlights of the Balkans Tour from £995 pp.

For further information and reservations visit http://www.regent-holidays.co.uk or call 0845 277 3317.

Rainforest Festival in Borneo, Baia das Gatas Festival in Cape Verde and many more..

Songlines Music Travel is delighted to announce 14 exclusive trips this year with new trips to Malaysia for the Rainforest Festival in Borneo; Cape Verde for the Baia das Gatas Festival; India for the Jodhpur RIFF Festival and Malawi for the Lake of Stars Festival.

Each trip has been developed by the experts behind the leading world music magazine, Songlines, and the Tailor-Made Groups Company and will be led by a Songlines Travel Leader – creating the ultimate way to soak up the musical vibes of the country. The tours, for groups of 10 to 20 people, go beneath the surface to offer intimate and memorable musical experiences – be it private concerts, jam sessions or meetings with musicians and instrument-makers. Of course, our trips aren’t exclusively about the music and there are also historic, cultural and culinary highlights along the way. But nothing beats experiencing music where it belongs – with the food, the ambience and the local audience.

Borneo Rainforest Festival
July 4-11 2011
Tour price per person is £649
Flights per person from £500

In July, Kuching plays host to the annual Rainforest World Music Festival, the best in the region. It’s a great place to hear local artists as well as big international names. It takes place in the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum featuring traditional longhouses and dwellings of the various ethnic groups. Listen to the gorgeous sound of the plucked sapé, the most beautiful of the indigenous instruments.

In addition to the Rainforest Festival, our eight-day tour offers the chance to get a taste of the interior with an overnight trip to Bako National Park. However, for those who really want to experience the rainforest, our 13-day trip provides another five nights in Sarawak, offering time to take a couple of trips into the interior. Options include trekking in Mulu National Park, a river cruise, a caving trip or an overnight stay in a longhouse, a very warm and sociable experience.

Cape Verde
Baia das Gatas Festival
August 9-16 2011
Tour price per person is £995
Flights per person from £625

Home to the world famous ‘barefoot diva’ Cesaria Evora, this festival takes place on one of West Africa’s little-known island nations. On this eight day trip we visit two islands: – Sal (named for its salt flats), where we enjoy magnificent sandy beaches and São Vicente, where the capital Mindelo is Cape Verde’s liveliest town. The Baia das Gatas is a short journey away with a long beach, a lagoon and a handful of Portuguese restaurants, and is usually a quiet spot. All that changes however in August when the festival starts. We’ll spend the evenings at the beach where it becomes an open-air concert with music not just from Cape Verde but also from Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa and America.

India The Jodhpur RIFF and Rajasthan
October 7-18, 2011
Tour price per person is £1,095
Flights per person from £560

This 12 day trip departs on 7th October to Rajasthan, India’s most colourful and spectacular destination. This trip enables you to experience spectacular sights and, through the music, get a deep insight into the heart and culture of this larger-than-life destination. There will be hands-on opportunities to try out musical instruments for those that wish to, although you can also enjoy being a spectator. The trip takes in two of Rajasthan’s most important cities – the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur and the dramatic ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur, with its rocky fortress. After time learning about the music of Rajasthan in Jaipur , as well as meeting the hereditary Manganiyar musicians, we will move on to Jodhpur for five days to experience the Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival). This is one of the great music festivals in India with international names rubbing shoulders with outstanding local folk musicians in the unbeatable setting of the Mehrangarh Fort. The price of the tour includes tickets to all music events at the Jodhpur RIFF.

Serbia Gucaa Brass Band Festival
August 11-16 2011
Tour price per person is £495
Flights per person from £275

Balkan madness and brass bands as you’ve never known them. Each year 300,000 people descend on the village of Guca, home to just 3,000 inhabitants for the Golden Trumpet competition. It’s one of the wildest festivals in Europe. Songlines’ six day trip includes three evenings at the festival with accommodation arranged in the heart of the village. There’s also a chance to get a taste of Belgrade nightlife. It’s an unrivalled opportunity to experience the biggest, brassiest and Balkanist festival in Europe.

Cuba The Musical Island
May 8-May 22 2011
Sept 18-Oct 2 2011
Tour price per person is £1,439
Flights per person from £575

Led by Phil Sweeney, author of the Rough Guide to Cuban Music, this 8 or 15 day trip starts in Baracoa in the east of Cuba, where son and the Cuban revolution began in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Driving first to Guantánamo Bay and then onto Santiago de Cuba, our first major stop, where we’ll visit the Casa de la Trova in the evening, one of the best venues in Cuba. Then on to Trinidad for two days where we’ve arranged a walking tour of the old town and we’ll also take in plenty of music in the evenings. Continuing west, the trip ends with two full days in Havana, with a city tour and time to delve into the music of the capital where the popular sound of mambo emerged and where reggaeton holds sway today.

Other trips for 2011 include:

Marrakech and the Desert The Pulse of Morocco
September 22-30, 2011
Relish real Gnawa music as we head south into the Sahara. Meet musicians at a desert camp and learn more than you could ever imagine about this fascinating music scene, where traditional and popular styles collide.
Tour price per person is £939
Flights per person from £230

Morocco Gnawa Music Festival, Essaouira and Marrakech
June 23-27 2011
Tour price per person is £395
Flights per person from £135

Each June the Moroccan Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira hosts the extraordinary Gnawa and World Music Festival. Our tour offers a long weekend trip with two full days to enjoy the full range of the music and the opportunity to explore the narrow lanes of the old walled medina and the wonderful long beaches beyond.

Portugal
Lisbon – the Home of Fado
June 2-5 2011
Sept 1-4 2011
Tour price per person is £439
Flights per person from £140

For fans of Mariza and all things fado, see where Portugal’s most distinctive music was born less than 200 years ago and sample lively Brazilian and Cape Verdean scenes.

Mali – the Beating Heart of the Mande Empire
October 15-24, 2011
Tour price per person is £1,299
Flights per person from £690

This trip explores the music scene of Bamako, one of the liveliest in Africa, as well as visiting the Sikasso region and spending time in Ségou. A genuine insight into local culture and traditions.

Malawi Lake of Stars festival
Oct 2011 (Festival dates TBC)
Tour price per person is £1,039
Flights per person from £645

Enjoy beats on the beach at this award-winning festival on the shores of Lake Malawi.

Senegal
Never Mind the Mbalax
Nov 25-Dec 4 2011
Tour price per person is £1,065
Flights per person from £570

Senegal’s capital, Dakar, is renowned for its mbalax and hip-hop. We also visit the historically important Gorée island and
St Louis, West Africa’s first French settlement.

Cuba National Day and the Music of Cuba
Dec 29 2011-Jan 12 2012
For a New Year with a difference, celebrating in Havana before heading east.
Tour price per person is £1,649
Flights per person from £615

And looking into 2012 we have trips to Mali for the Festival on the Niger, Zanzibar for The Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Festival, Brazil for the Salvador & Sao Paulo carnivals and Spain for the Jerez Flamenco Festival:

Simon Broughton, Songlines’ editor-in-chief, says “Music is a great way into other cultures and an ideal way of meeting people, which is why we have created these trips”. He continues, “There is so much fantastic music out there, but the problem is it’s not always so easy to find. Who would guess that some of the best djembés in West Africa are made on a patch of wasteland beside a roundabout in Bamako? The key to these trips is our knowledge at Songlines, which is the basis of all the itineraries.”

For information and reservations, call Songlines Music Travel on 020 8505 2582 or visit www.songlinesmusictravel.com