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india&indianocean
Swim with Sailfish and Humpback Whales in the Seychelles
Vesna Tours offers holidaymakers the chance to live like a Maharaja THE MAHARAJAS were the driving force behind India’s cultural and artistic renaissance of the 18th and 19th centuries and New Delhi-based Vesna Tours has created a new tour which explores their palaces, with sightseeing and wildlife, complete with stays in a collection of luxury hotels, many of which were Royal Palaces themselves. This 16-night guided tour begins at Delhi Airport with a three-night stay at the Taj Mahal Hotel with sightseeing in Old Delhi, a visit to the famous Red Fort and a day trip to explore the Taj Mahal. Flying to Jaipur to see tigers in the wild at the Ranthambore National Park, guests will then stay overnight in a 1920s safari-style luxury campsite and, on the following day, embark on an exploration to take in the local wildlife on a jeep game drive. Guests will visit the Pink City, home to the Maharaja of Jaipur’s exquisite Royal Palace. This is followed by a two-night stay at the Sujan Rajmahal Palace Hotel with transfers to the Jawai Leopard Camp. The tour then returns to Jodhpur and the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel and a visit to the vibrant Jodhpur bazaar and Umaid Bhawan, the last of India’s great palaces and one of the largest residences in the entire world. The last leg of this tour takes in Fort Jaisalmer, one of the world’s largest desert forts and built in 1156 AD, followed by a transfer to Jaisalmer airport. Land package prices lead in at £6,085 per person for the full 16-night stay, based on twin sharing, breakfasts and all meals at Ranthambore and Jawai and Jungle Safaris at both locations. For further price details, dates and commission information, agents can contact Reshma Naqvi on reshma@vesnatours.com or the company’s UK Representative, Philip Cooke on 01452-500663.
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January 12 2018
FANS OF Blue Planet II can follow in the footsteps of the BBC’s Blue Planet team at Alphonse Island, with two new experiences available to guests who can swim with Sailfish and Humpback Whales. The private island has steep drop offs found a few hundred metres beyond the reef, which means Sailfish can be seen without travelling too far by boat. Using hookless lures to attract these creatures, guests can be in the water and see first-hand the fish with their vivid colours and sails raised flashing through the waters. Every year between August and October the Alphonse Group of Islands (Alphonse Island, St Francois and Bijoutier) play host to small groups of Humpback Whales. The whales are typically mothers that have travelled to the calm waters of the tropics in order to give birth to a single calf and who use the atolls as a stop off point on their long journey back to the cold waters of the Southern Ocean. Guests can see these creatures by boat, from the shore or in the Indian Ocean itself. Keith Rose Innes, managing director of the resort, said: “At Alphonse Island, we are passionate about land and marine conservation and protecting the environment. Swimming with both Humpback Whales and Sailfish in their own habitat is an incredible experience. Alphonse Island lies 400km from the mainland of Mahe and its remote location means minimal impact has been made in these waters, which allows for such diverse aquatic life to exist in the Indian Ocean surrounding the Alphonse Group of Islands. Our aim is to preserve and protect the oceans and the wildlife that exists within them.” For further information go to alphonse-island.com
THE RESIDENCE by Cenizaro has introduced a new Romance Concierge service at each of its three Indian Ocean properties in Mauritius, Zanzibar and the Maldives. Offering a helping hand in the creation of tailor-made and romantic breaks for couples, the dedicated Romance Concierge team can combine romantic activities such as sunrise yoga sessions, stand up paddle boarding at sunset, couples massages and private excursions with unique local flavours served up by the ocean on beach dinners and BBQs paired with chilled Champagne. Visit cenizaro.com/theresidence for details.
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