North Africa Supplement 2012

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north africa

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments

in North Africa

March 2012

All About

S01 North Africa Supp 2012 Start_Layout 1 23/03/2012 11:02

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All about North Africa 3

This time last year, when I was putting the finishing touches toTravel Bulletin’s North Africa supplement, it was very hard to knowwhat 2011 held in store for tourism to Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco.

The impact on tourism of the Arab Spring was difficult to quantifywith scenes of people taking to the streets of Tunisia and Egypt inprotest against the ruling governments being televised all over the world.

A year on, the unpopular governments are gone, the protesters areoff the streets and tourists are starting to return to the much-treasured tourist destinations of Egypt and Tunisia.

The tourist offices have played a big role in getting visitors backwith a series of global marketing campaigns. In the UK alone, theyhave teamed up with operators to get agents out on educationals toshow them that it is business as usual.

UK operators are working with hotel groups to ensure they candeliver the best-value prices to customers, and there is withoutquestion some great deals to be had.

Morocco, which was untouched by the unrest, is proving to be aspopular as ever, with new luxury hotel openings helping to keep thecountry in the headlines.

To find out what the operators and hotels are planning for this year,turn to page 4, for our What’s New section.

In our Culture Club feature on pages 8-11, we speak to the experts tofind out which tours are the best way to experience the history andheritage of Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, whether you are a first-timeror a repeat visitor.

In our On the beach feature (pages 12-14), we get the lowdown onwhich beaches are best for families, water sports lovers and coupleslooking to chill. From Hurghada in the Red Sea, Agadir in Morocco toTunisia in Hammamet, there is definitely something for everyone.

Fancy a bit of star gazing in the Sahara, or is mountain trekking inNorth Africa more up your street? The activity specialists talk to usabout the niche activities that are growing in popularity withcustomers who prefer to broaden their minds then top up their tanson holiday.

Finally, our page on travel essentials offer up some must-knowfacts before you go.

So make sure you grab a few minutes to read our All About NorthAfrica supplement so you can ramp up your knowledge of thisamazing region – and your bookings. Enjoy!

Angela CroninSupplements editorTravel Bulletin

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX

Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

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Cover Picture: iStockISSN: 0956-2419

CONTENTS

Culture club 8

What’s new 4

On the beach 12

Travel essentials 19

Niche holidays 16

north africaAll About


Tunisia National Tourist OfficeThe TNTO is running a series of trade workshops over thespring with a week’s holiday for two up for grabs at each event.

The workshops will take place on: April 16 in Glasgow; April 17in Middlesbrough; April 18 in Manchester; April 19 in Liverpool;April 23 in East Midlands; April 24 in Birmingham; April 25 inCheltenham; and April 26 in Brighton. For more details, [email protected]

Meanwhile, Wahida Jaiet has been appointed as the new UKand Ireland director.

Morocco National Tourist OfficeThe Morocco National Tourist Office and partners will behitting the road this spring to spread the word about thedestination to agents up and down the country.

The roadshows kick off in Gatwick on 30 April, then head offto Birmingham on May 1, Manchester on May 2 and Norwich onMay 3. Agents will be invited to meet the tourist office andpartners, create bespoke client itineraries in an informalreception before enjoying dinner. Following dinner theMoroccan Champions quiz will take place with a number ofprizes to be won. To request your place or for furtherinformation email [email protected]

Classic Collection HolidaysClassic Collection Holidays has teamed up with the MoroccanNational Tourist Board to cover trade activity for the

destination with an educational going out to Marrakesh at theend of April. The operator says sales for winter 2011/12 arebroadly in line with winter sales last year with summer 2012bookings 8% up year-on-year. Classic Collection has also addednew hotels in Morocco including the Four Seasons Marrakesh,the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf and Spa in Essaouira, andthe Sofitel Thalassa Sea and Spa in Agadir for summer 2012.

Prices lead in at £785 per person for three nights’ bed andbreakfast this June including flights and private transfers.

CosmosCosmos is meeting customers’ demand for flexibility on holidaydurations by including British Airways’s Gatwick to Tunis routein its package offerings for summer 2012.

The operator is also planning to include a scheduled servicefrom Manchester to Monastir, although details have yet to beconfirmed. Commenting on the success of incorporatingscheduled services in Cosmos’s Tunisia programme, productmanager Gemma Carroll said: “We believe customers arelooking for more flexibility and the scheduled programmeenables us to offer exactly that – as we know some peopledon’t want to be tied down to one or two-week breaks.”

She added: “With the wide selection of all-inclusive hotels inTunisia, it’s still a popular choice due to the fact you canpre-budget and save money on all the extras such as drinks, icecreams and activities. It is also a good option if you are lookingfor a hassle-free holiday.”

What’snew

Operators are putting last year’schallenges behind them to pull outall the stops to get Brits back toTunisia and Egypt, while new hotelsand product are helping Moroccogo from strength to strength

4

what’s new

All about North Africa

Djemaa El Fna Square isthe highlight of anevening in Marrakesh



KuoniThe operator has added a number of new hotels and productsto its Egypt, Dubai, Morocco and Arabia brochure.

In Egypt, these include the new seafront Stella di Mare BeachHotel and Spa in Sharm el-Sheikh, right at the edge of NaamaBay, with prices from £429 per person for five nights’ B&B.

In Morocco, guests who stay four nights at the riad of LaMaison Arabe in the heart of Marrakesh’s medina will receiveone extra night free, plus a room upgrade, complimentary wineand daily access to the hammam.

Meanwhile, honeymooners will receive special treatment atthe five-star Four Seasons, with a welcome amenity on arrival,VIP status and a complimentary couples massage for 50minutes, when staying five nights or more.

Specialist MoroccoOperator Specialist Morocco has reopened its four-star safarieco-camp in the Sahara Desert.

The camp is located in the south of Morocco, in southernDraa Valley and M’hamid. It consists of eight, safari-style Caidalsleeping tents, with a Moroccan twist.

Guests can go on camel trekking tours, visit the dunes ofChegaga, enjoy guided walks to adobe villages, 4x4 desertdiscovery tours, nomad encounters and star gazing.

The camp can be reached from Marrakesh by car or by airfrom Ouarzazate. Prices start at £45 per person per night.

Meanwhile specialist Morocco has opened its secondproperty in Marrakesh, Maison Africa. The four-bedroom,18th-century property is located in the heart of the Medina.

Just SunshineTunisia specialist Just Sunshine is stepping up its trade activityfor 2012 with a number of fam trip.

The first two leave from Heathrow and Manchester on April13 and 14 respectively. Agents interested in joining these groupsshould email national sales manager Tony Blakey [email protected].

In a further development, Just Sunshine has acquired theEl Mouradi Beach Hotel in Hammamet. The operator has alsoadded weekend flights from Newcastle and Glasgow and shortbreaks from Heathrow and Manchester in to Tunis.

Discover EgyptDiscover Egypt has relaunched its website combining bothEgypt and Jordan products for the first time.

The specialist has made navigation easier, with each sectionhighlighting the best deals on offer in each category.

The look of the site has also been improved using evocativephotography to inspire people.

Agents looking to offer their clients the best deals alsobenefit from a new special offers page which is regularlyupdated with some of the top deals available.

The site also features a whole range of tailor-madesuggestions split up into 12 different categories.

One of the cheapest deals currently being advertised is aseven-night all-inclusive to the Sharm el-Sheikh from£549 per person staying at the five-star RehanaRoyal Beach Resort on an all-inclusive basis including flightsand transfers. This is valid for travel from 26 April until 30September 2012.

Abercrombie and KentThe tailor-made specialist has added a private desert camp inthe dunes of Merzouga in Morocco, which can be accessed in a4WD vehicle or on a camel from Ourzazate.

Each tent has rugs, a small table between beds equipped withflashlight, a small wash basin with running cold water, andanother small table. Between every bedroom tent, there is abathroom tent with hot and cold running water, and a toiletand shower area at the back.

A five-night tour of Morocco including a stay at the A&Kdesert camp, Les Jardins de la Medina and Le Berbere Palaceleads in at £2,160 per person including flights.

Red Sea HolidaysRed Sea Holidays has launched its 2012/2013 programmefeaturing its biggest ever choice of holidays including newresorts such as Dahab, Taba and Taba Heights and new hotels inSharm el-Sheikh, El Gouna and Makadi Bay.

The Red Sea specialist is also increasing its activity with thetrade. Sales director Jason Hilton said: “We will continue ourcomprehensive education programme this year, giving agentsthe chance to experience the main Red Sea resorts andour new cruise offerings that include Luxor.”

5

what’s new



Prices lead in at £379 per person for seven nights’ bed andbreakfast at the four-star Ghazala Beach, Sharm el-Sheikh.

Agents interested in taking part in a fam trip to the Red Searesorts should call 0845 072 2477 or [email protected]

Anatolian Sky The specialist has expanded its Morocco and Egypt brochurefollowing the success of its first-ever programme to thecountries in 2011.

New additions include three-centre holidays that combine afew days in Marrakesh with a trip out to the High AtlasMountains followed by some time in Agadir.

Also new for this year is the stylish retreat of L’Oliveraie,situated among olive groves in the High Atlas Mountains.

Anatolian Sky is offering eight nights’ bed and breakfast forthe price of six on its Marrakesh and High Atlas Mountainstwin-centre break which includes four nights at the five-star LesBorj de Kasbah in Marrakesh and four nights at L’Oliveraie from£599, a saving of £165 per person.

In Egypt, the operator has introduced luxury Nile cruiser theMayfair, one of the new breed of spacious, stylish and elegantships operating on the Nile.

Anatolian Sky is offering savings of up to £278 per person ona seven-night cruise on the Mayfair departing on April 16, withprices leading in at £1,125 per person.

Longwood HolidaysLongwood has announced plans to add more affordable hotelsto its portfolio of properties in Morocco and Egypt.

A spokesman for the Red Sea specialist said it is keen tointroduce more affordable, many of them all-inclusive, hotelsto reflect the current demand in the market and todifferentiate our offer.

“The goal is to be able to offer agents a good range ofproperties to sell to a varied range of customers, coveringdifferent requirements, as well as different budgets,” he added.

Prestige HolidaysPrestige is offering agents a cash incentive to sell Morocco.

Agents will receive £10 for every passenger booked to theNorth African country before 30 April.

Commenting on how bookings to Morocco are performing,marketing manager Nicky Shafe said that business remainssteady. “The destination certainly attracts a high proportion ofrepeat business partly because it's constantly reinvesting in newhotels, riads and updating existing properties.

"Jardines de la Medina is one of our best-selling propertiesand has recently made considerable investment in refurbishingits rooms, public areas and spa. Our newest Riad Ksar Anika inMarrakesh is selling particularly well."

Prestige Holidays offers four nights’ B&B at Kasbah Tamadotfrom £879 per person including flights and transfers.

Cox and KingsCox and Kings has rolled out a ‘buy one get one half price’ offeron a range of Egypt tours.

Bookings must be made by 30 April and the tours included inthe offer are: the eight-day Wonders of Egypt, with prices from£1,679 per couple (a potential saving of £675 per couple); the 11-day Egyptian Grand Tour package which now leads in at £3,035per couple (a potential saving of £1,012 per couple); the SonestaDahabeya Nile Cruise, which starts at £3,195 per couple, (apotential saving of up to £1,400 per couple); the eight-dayEgypt in Style tour costs £3,000 per couple (a potential savingof £1,250 per couple); and the eight-day Footsteps of thePharaohs tour now starts at £2,106 per couple (a potentialsaving of £752 per couple).

6

what’s new



Sunset Faraway HolidaysSunset Faraway has introduced Morocco to its 2011-2012collection, featuring the new Mazagan Beach Resort by KerznerInternational. Prices for five nights’ bed and breakfast at theMazagan lead in at £499 per person.

Planet HolidaysPlanet Holidays’ 68-page Egypt 2012/13 brochure will beavailable online by the end of April

The operator has been working hard to promote the RedSea resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba, Dahab and El Gouna,and the lesser-known resorts of El Quseir, Makadi, Sahl

Hasheesh and Soma Bay to the trade as the perfectdestinations for winter getaways.

The main highlights of the programme include anexpanded Nile cruise section with a Lake Nasser cruise aspart of one of the three Fly, Cruise and Stay itineraries,together with a Luxor to Aswan cruise and two nights inAswan, with excursions.

Prices lead in at £1,079 for seven nights on the five-starDeluxe Jaz Royale.

Meanwhile, La Résidence des Cascades in Soma Bay hasbeen introduced for 2012 with prices from £798 per personfor seven nights’ bed and breakfast.

7

Despite the upheaval that North Africa experienced lastyear, hotel groups are putting their faith in the destinationby investing in new properties. Let’s get the lowdown onwhat is opening where.

EgyptHilton Worldwide has unveiled plans to open two hotels inEgypt – the 635-room Hilton Heliopolis, located near CairoInternational Airport in 2014 and the 660-room Hilton Makadiearly next year.

Red Sea Holidays has opened two new all-inclusive hotels inDahab. The Makadi Spa Hotel is a great Red Sea destinationfor couples with three outdoor freshwater swimming pools, aspa, fitness club and four restaurants.

The new Sunwing Waterworld Makadi Hotel is geared up tocater for the family market with an on-site water park, lots ofactivities to keep the kids busy and six restaurants to choose from.

MoroccoThe all-inclusive, 444-room Riu Palace Tikida Agadir hasopened in a beachfront location, boasting two heatedswimming pools, an indoor swimming pool, gym and spawhich will offer special treatments, massages, sauna andhammam.

A new Design Hotel has opened in Marrakesh. The GreatGetaway Medina is an intimate six-room hotel located in theheart of Marrakesh’s historic Sidi Ben Slimane quarter.

Originally a palace, it has been refurbished to preserve itstraditional architectural style.

The Palais Namaskar is due to open in Marrakesh nextmonth. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, thefive-star hotel will feature 41 villas and suites, including a poolpalace, mountain palace and water palace.

The Taj Palace Marrakesh is set to open this summer. The five-star hotel will have 161 guestrooms with views of the AtlasMountains and palm gardens of the Palmeraie district. The hotelwill also have a Jiva Grande Spa with 14 treatment rooms.

The five-star, 173-room Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea and Spahas opened in Agadir with a focus on wellbeing that includes athalassotherapy centre with a beauty and fitness area.

The Rocco Forte Assoufid, Marrakesh is due to open nextyear. The luxury golf resort will have 80 villas, each set on atleast one hectare of land, a luxury hotel and spa, and an 18-hole private golf course, with a clubhouse and Golf Academy.

The Selman Marrakesh opened earlier this month on a15-acre spot just outside Marrakesh. The hotel has 56 rooms,five exclusive riads, a couple of restaurants, a spa and astable of Arab horses.

The 72-room Pearl by Hivernage, is opening in Marrakeshthis year.

Finally, the Kasbah Tamadout has unveiled a range of specialoffers for 2012 including kids go free deals, spend four nightsfor the price of three, an Escape to Morocco three-night breakand three and five-night spa packages.

Hotel hotline

The new family-friendly SunwingWaterworld Makadi Hotel hasopened in Dahab

what’s new



culture escapes

8

Special offers andexpandedprogrammes are thename of the gamethis year as operatorslook to get travellersheading back toNorth Africa

Culture club

This time last year, Egypt and Tunisiawere right in the eye of the ArabSpring storm with the people’s

uprisings changing the politicallandscapes in both countries forever.

The knock-on effect for tourism wasimmediate with many operators andairlines forced to cancel tours and flightseven though most of the resorts in Egyptand Tunisia were unaffected by theprotests. A year on, the picture iscompletely different; everywhere is openfor tourists again, although Brits areslightly nervous to return.

To drum up business, operators arepulling out all the stops with a raft ofgreat offers.

Anatolian Sky managing director AkinKoc says that following the unrest in theregion, clients are still uncertain aboutbooking holidays to Egypt, and for wintersun breaks, there was a notable rise indemand for other destinations such as

Cyprus as alternatives to Egypt. “However, the demand is starting to

come back for Nile cruising itinerariesand there are great-value offers to befound.” he adds.

Red Sea Holidays sales director JasonHilton agrees that all-inclusive Nilecruises are likely to draw back the crowdsas they allow clients to explore thecultural highlights of Egypt from thecomfort of a luxury cruiser.

Cox and Kings has seen a revival indemand for Morocco and has recentlytaken a group of agents on a fam trip toMarrakesh (see separate story).

The specialist also held an Egyptworkshop for agents, and consultantstold them that clients are still happy totravel to Cairo but the majority want tospend less time in the city and are optingto head to Luxor or Aswan for Nilecruises instead.

So with this in mind, we spoke to the

Tourists are heading back tothe Pyramids of Giza after lastyear’s uprisings in Cairo

S02 North Africa Supp 2012 Culture Club_Layout 1 26/03/2012 12:08

experts to get the lowdown on what tours can deliver when itcomes to discovering the cultural highlights of North Africa.

Journeys of DistinctionLuxury travel company Journeys of Distinction has launched arange of tours for people watching the pennies. The New JODLight holidays are more affordable without sacrificing on theadventure element of the operator’s holidays.

One of the new Light tours is the nine-day Treasures ofEgypt, which takes in the pyramids of Giza, the EgyptianMuseum and four nights’ full-board on a Nile cruise on boardcruiser Hamees.

A four-day cruise extension fromAbu Simbel to Lake Nasser and Aswan is available for guestswho want to experience a bit more of what Egypt has tooffer.How much? The nine-day tour starts at £999 and must bebooked before 30 April. The price includes flights,accommodation, guides and some meals. Tours depart on 12October, 23 November, 1 February 2013 and 29 March 2013.ExodusFor a whistle-stop tour of Morocco to give you a taster of whatthis amazing country can offer, adventure specialist Exodus hasput together an eight-day Imperial Cities and Coast tour.

Tailor-made for clients who want to see a little bit of

everything, the tour starts off in the city of Fez for visits to theMedersa Bou Ananiya and the impressive medina before headingoff to the imperial city of Meknes and Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Rabat, Morocco's capital, is the next city to visit on day threefollowed by Casablanca on day four for a peek at the Hassan IIMosque. The tour then sets off for Marrakesh before heading outto the beach resort of Essaouira for the final day.How much? Eight nights cost from £829 including flights withseven departures available throughout the year.

For those among us who are really keen to find out what lifewas like in ancient Egypt, Exodus has put together a 14-dayEgyptology tour.

As well as visiting all the usual ‘must-see’ sites of Egyptincluding the Egyptian Museum, Citadel and Old Town of Cairo,the Pyramids, Elephantine Island, Philae and Kalabsha Islands,Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu the Valley of the Kings and thetemples of Karnak and Luxor, this tour strays slightly off thewell-trodden paths of the more popular guides with visits tothe workmen's village on Luxor's West Bank, the funerarytemple of Ramses III and El Fayoum, Egypt's largest oasis.

There are also options to visit the temples of Dendara andthe vast necropolis of Abydos, before heading back to Cairo bytrain.How much? Prices start at £1,299 and include flights with fivedepartures planned for later this year and more in 2013.

culture escapes

9All about North Africa

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Camel trekking in Morocco



KuoniThe operator has a number of options that allow customers tocombine a bit of culture with some sun, sea and sand.

In Egypt, visitors can go on a whistle-stop tour of Cairo thatserves up a taste of what this amazing city has to offer, including avisit to the Egyptian Museum, a trip out to the Pyramids of Gizafollowed by a Pyramids Sound and Light Show at dusk. How much? Three nights’ B&B at Le Meridien Pyramids cost from£584. The Cairo Highlights tour costs from £55 per person

Encounters TravelAdventure specialist Encounters Travel has put together a 13-day tour of Morocco that offers visitors the chance to getunder the skin of the destination.

Called Spicy Tagine, the 13-day tour starts off with three daysin Marrakesh, taking in the iconic Koutoubia Mosque, theMausoleum, the Bahia Palace, the sights and sounds of thesouks and Djemaa El Fna Square.

The tour then embarks on a trip through local Berber villages,

crossing Tizi N’tichka col, which is the highest pass in northAfrica and onward, through the Atlas Mountains.

Next is a 4WD desert trip through the dunes to Merzouga,where guests can watch the sun set over the desert beforesleeping under the stars in a traditional Berber camp. In addition,the tour takes in the oasis town of Tinghir, the UNESCO WorldHeritage site of Ait Benhaddou with three days at the end toenjoy the beaches of the coastal city of Essaouira.How much? For April and May departures, prices lead in at £949per person, excluding flights.

Encounters Travel also has a 13-day tour of Egypt that offersjust the right mix of sightseeing and adventure.

The Sacred Sands tour starts off in Cairo before headingsouth to explore Luxor, followed by Aswan and the temples ofthe Nile Valley, including the Philae temple. There is also timeto experience the souks and markets found in the town orwatch the sun set over the Nile. In addition, the tour includes anight on a felucca boat before returning to Luxor for anovernight sleeper train connection to Cairo for the flight home.

‘It was great to step foot in such an exotic place’

10

Cox and Kings assistant sales manager ThomasSaunders recently took a group of agents (pictured)on a five-day fam trip to Marrakesh.

The agents spent two nights at the Le Pavilion duGolf, an all-suite hotel in the Palmeraie district ofMarrakesh, two nights in riads in the city’s Medinabefore heading out to the High Atlas Mountains onthe fourth day for lunch at Kasbah Toubkal.

Thomas says the trip was most memorable withmany highlights including a visit to an hammam for ascrub down in a steam room followed by a Jacuzziand some chilling-out time in a relaxation room.

“The day in the High Atlas mountains was alsosuperb. The food was incredible with lots of differenttagines and the ultimate highlight was spending timewith a good group of like-minded travel agents allenjoying Marrakesh.”

Gary Wardrope, from Get Cruising, who was one ofthe agents on the educational, said the amazingthing about Marrakesh is that it is only three hoursaway but it is a complete culture shock, so is theperfect place to send clients who want something alittle bit different.

“The trip was amazing from beginning to end.

From being inside the Medina, shopping in the souks,the snake charmers in the main square and escapingto the oasis of our riad in the afternoon,” says Gary.

“The highlight of the trip was sitting on the roof ofour riad, looking across the city and hearing the callto prayer in the evening.

Sample product: Cox and Kings’s eight-day ImperialCities private tour leads in at £1,755 person and visitsthe imperial cities of Meknes and Fez, ending in thevibrant and colourful city of Marrakech.

Discover Egypt to launch charter serviceDiscover Egypt has teamed up with Monarch to offera weekly charter service from Gatwick to Luxor tomeet demand for classic Egypt breaks.

The specialist has decided to offer the charterservice, which will operate from September 10 toOctober 29, following an increase in forwardbookings for this period

Seven-night Nile cruises are available on the five-star Viking Princess and deluxe Royal Viking and,with prices from £899 and £1,099 per person withthe 2nd traveller going for £449 and £549respectively.

All cruises include return flights, transfers in Luxor,full-board accommodation plus 10 guided excursions.

culture escapes


How much? From £669 per person, theprice includes transfers, 12 nights’ B&B infour-star hotels, a night on board asleeper train and a night on a felucca.Flights are excluded.

Abercrombie & KentA&K suggests a number of tour options toreally experience Morocco, including toursthat take in the buzz and the vibrancy ofMarrakesh with the coastal laid-back townof Essaouira.

Alternatively, take in the beautifulIslamic city of Fes and the Moorish capitalof Rabat or combine a few days exploringthe kasbah of Ouarzazate with the sun, seaand sand of Agadir.

For the best of both in Egypt, headdown the Nile on a cruise followed by fouror five nights at the Red Sea resorts ofSharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada for somesnorkelling, diving and relaxing.How much? The seven-day ClassicMorocco tour that visits Casablanca,Rabat, Meknes, the Roman city ofVolubilis, Fes, and Marrakesh costs from£2,295 per person. A&K is offering savingsof up to £1,000 per couple on selecteddepartures for the eight-day Classic Egypttour, with prices starting at £1,995 perperson. The tour takes in Dendarah, Luxorand Aswan, entrance inside one of TheGreat Pyramids and see the cliffsideTemple of Hatshepsut.


News in brief

11

It is 90 years since archaeologist Howard Carterdiscovered the tomb of Tutankhamun andholidaymakers in Luxor can visit the house where helived while working in Luxor.

Howard Carter’s house has been open to the publicsince 2010 and has many interesting artefacts ondisplay, including his hat, shaving box, camera andumbrella, plus there is a 3D cinema with Carter himselftelling the story of his life and discoveries.

A seven-night Nile cruise with Discover Egyptincluding a visit to Howard Carter’s house leads in at£849 per person for the first traveller and £424 for thesecond traveller.

Agents can advise their clients that the Avenue ofSphinxes that stretches between Karnak and LuxorTemples, has partly reopened to the public this month,following excavation and restoration work.

The five-star Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Aswan

has reopened in the heritage hotel that has been aniconic building overlooking the Nile in Aswan since1899 and welcomed many famous guests including SirWinston Churchill and Agatha Christie who wroteDeath on the Nile during one of her stays.

Discover Egypt offers a four-night Nile cruise andthree nights at the Old Cataract from £1,199 perperson.

Morocco is hosting a number of festivals this yearkicking off with the Caftan in Marrakesh in May. Theevent, which launched in 1996, will showcase the newtrends in traditional women’s clothing. The city is alsohosting a Comedy Festival from 6-9 June starring thebiggest names in French and Arabic comedy.Ouarzazate is hosting the Rose Festival in May. Thevillage will be covered in rose scents and colors to honorthe flower. Finally, El Jadida will provide the backdropfor the Chevald’El Jadida Horse Show later in the year.

The Sofitel Legend OldCataract, where AgathaChristie wrote Death onthe Nile, has reopened

culture escapes


While the beach resorts ofEgypt and Tunisia werehundreds of miles away from

any of the cities and towns that wereswept up in last year’s Arab Springuprisings, they have felt the ripple effectof the drop-off in visitors.

UK operators, who over the last 10years have really built up their presencein the resorts across North Africa, arekeen to show their continued supportto the region by putting together a widerange of special deals, includingearly-booking discounts and free nights’deals to get Britons back out to Egyptand Tunisia. We asked some of theoperators to pick their favourite resortsin Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia.For families

For families who want to combine theirlove of beach holidays with a bit ofadventure, Exodus recommends itseight-day Red Sea Adventure break inHurghada, Egypt.

Families can go on quad-bikeexcursions, boat trips out to coral reefs,day trips to Mahmya resort on Giftunisland for snorkelling or relaxing by thesea, or enjoy a submarine experience todiscover marine life at 22 metresunderwater.

While camel safaris are on theagenda, there is also the opportunityto indulge in a little bit of culture witha visit to Luxor to the Valley of theKings and Queen Hapshetsut's templecombined with a cruise down the Nileon a traditional felucca sail boat plus a

horse and carriage ride in Luxor.How much? The eight-day Red SeaAdventure leads in at £999 per personincluding flights.

Red Sea Holidays sales director JasonHilton believes Egypt is the idealfamily holiday destination because thelocals really make the whole familyfeel welcome. Hilton says the hotels inRed Sea resorts are family friendly asmost have their own kids’ clubs oraccess to one.

“Also, when staying at a Red Seahotel, children can enjoy an all-inclusive meal upgrade, applicable toany board basis,” he said.

“New for 2012 are family and inter-connecting rooms in many Red Seahotels, which can be pre-booked and

From the Red Sea resortsin Egypt to the Tunisiancoastal favourite ofHammamet, there is a sun,sea and sand holiday tosuit all budgets

Sun,

sea

and

souks


on the beach

If white, sandy beaches are high on your client'sagenda, suggest they consider the Tunisianresort of Hammamet for some real down-time

S03 North Africa Supp 2012 On the Beach_Layout 1 26/03/2012 12:21


guaranteed. Family suites at the Makadi Palace Family Star areavailable and sleep up to six people.

“Child friendly restaurants with early sitting and separatechildren’s pool are also available and we offer a complimentarylate check-out – making the last day stress free,” said Hilton.How much? Red Sea Holidays offers six nights at the MakadiPalace Family Star Hotel from £2,728 based on two adults andtwo children sharing a junior suite.

Four Seasons Resort Sharm el-Sheikh is the perfect place forfamilies to spend a week or two relaxing, according to Kuoni.

Children receive a personal invitation to visit the Kids ForAll Seasons Club where a range of activities are tailor-madefor them. These include mini-chef cooking class, pirate-shipbuilding, kids' yoga, fish talk, beach games, jungle gymplayground and tennis.How much? Kuoni offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast for afamily of four from £4,844 during the school summer holidays.

The Mazagan Beach Resort in El Jadida is also highlyrecommended by Kuoni. Situated on four miles of beach offthe tourist track with an array of facilities including threedifferent kids’ clubs offering age-appropriate activities forbabies all the way through to teenagers.How much? Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B including flightsfrom £2,868 for a family of four, based on two adults and twochildren aged two to 11 sharing.

Built on six miles of beach spread across islands and lagoons,and known as the Venice of the Red Sea, Holiday Designersrecommends the Red Sea resort of El Gouna for families.

The destination boasts a wide range of water attractionsincluding Liquid Park, an inflatable water park with slides,trampolines and a number of other activities right on the water.

The Adventure Company’s agency sales manager VickyRodford recommends the Moroccan resort of Essaouira as anaccessible and good value option for active families keen toget something more from their holidays. “Famous for itswater sports, Essaouira’s long beach continues for miles,

wrapping itself around the bay and leaving plenty of roomfor kite-surfers, swimmers and sunbathers to take advantageof the sweeping coastline.

“When not wandering the sandy beach or taking advantageof the chance to enjoy a camel ride, the nearby harbouroffers a Mediterranean feel with locals bringing back theirday’s catch and grilling the fish along the shore. One of thethings we find inspires younger travellers most about thetown is its history as – being a former Portuguese port – itwas once used as a lair by pirates who would steal thetreasures of passing ships on the main trade route to westernEurope. The maze of streets in this preserved walled townare now a treasure-trove of hidden corners, while the oldtown also holds a huge draw for families as the colourfulmarkets are ideal for perfecting their haggling skills.”How much? The Adventure Company has an eight-day Kidsin the Kasbahs holiday that leads in at £769 per adult and£709 per child, which includes visits to Marrakech, the smallBerber villages in the Atlas Mountains and Essaouira.

Olympic Holidays commercial director PhotisLambrianides suggests families should consider the Tunisianresort of Hammamet for a week or two’s fly and flop.""Hammamet is best known for its lovely beaches. There'slots for families to do in the way of activities, a wide rangeof restaurants, good shopping and many hotels dedicatedto families," he says.How much? Olympic Holidays offers seven nights'all-inclusive at the four-star Houda Yasmine Hotel inYasmine Hammamet for £495 per person in June. The priceincludes flights and transfers.

Water sports lovers El Gouna’s spacious beaches, excellent winds, and shallowwaters are perfect for kitesurfing and attract droves ofkite-surfers, including world champions, says specialistoperator Holiday Designers. The resort’s five kite stations

Morocco is the perfect place for a twin centre city andbeach break, combining a short stay in Marrakeshwith a few days on the beach at Essaouria

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on the beach



provide the latest facilities, equipment and internationally-recognised courses for both beginners and advanced surfers.Water sport specialists, The Orange Concept, also offerbeginner courses for wakeboarding, waterskiing, wakeskatingand wakesurfing.

Taba Heights is home to some of the world’s best dive sitesand has amazing opportunities for underwater photography.The resort’s award-winning water sports centre, Waterworld,offers a range of water sports including wakeboarding,parasailing, waterskiing and diving.

Olympic’s Photis Lambrianides recommends Dahab,between Sharm el-Sheikh and Nuweiba at the foot of theSinai Mountains along Egypt's Red Sea Riviera, for itstop-quality water sports.

"Like all the Red Sea resorts, Dahab attracts water sportsfans, but it particularly appeals to divers for its fine dive sitesand windsurfers for its highly favourable conditions," he says.

"In addition, Dahab is attractive to holidaymakers for itsstriking desert landscapes, beautiful turquoise sea, fine hotelsand general relaxed ambience in which to chill out."How much? Olympic Holidays offers seven nights'all-inclusive at the Tropitel Dahab Oasis Hotel in Dahab for£504 per person in September, including flights and transfers.

Couples looking to chillHoliday Designers recommends a stay at the five-starInterContinental Resort Taba Heights as a great place toenjoy some welcome R&R. Its prime waterfront location,views of the sea, pools and desert mountains as well as aprivate sandy beach make it the perfect location for aromantic getaway. The hotel also has its own saltwaterlagoon and health club, providing sauna, steam bath, Jacuzziand massage facilities.

Abercrombie and Kent suggests that couples looking to getaway from it all should head to La Sultana Oualidia on theAtlantic coast of Morocco. It is an authentic Moroccan riad

dating back to the 19th century. Surrounded by orange, oliveand jacaranda trees, terraces, fountains and flowered balconies,it is positioned on the edge of the ocean sheltered by cliffs andbordered by green pastureland and salt-water marshes.

The heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and aromatherapy area ofthe interior of the hotel are akin to an underground cathedral.

Planet Holidays recommends the Egyptian resort ofEl Sokhna – a resort that is a popular weekend retreat withCairo city dwellers as it is only a two-hour drive from the city.

Planet has recently introduced the five-star Jaz Little VeniceGolf Resort to its programme. The hotel has 60 rooms, tworestaurants, three bars, access to a pristine beach and an 18-holechampionship golf course.How much? Planet offers seven nights’ B&B for £2,285 for twopeople including flights.

Olympic’s Photis Lambrianides recommends the Egyptianresort of El Gouna for some down time.

"El Gouna offers a wonderfully relaxing holiday, withtop-quality resorts such as the Sheraton Miramar catering to acouple's every whim," he says. "There's excellent diving, golf,water sports, fine cuisine and a buzzing nightlife, too."

How much? Olympic Holidays offers seven nights'half-board at the five-star Sheraton Miramar in El Gouna for£705 per person in July, sharing a standard room. The priceincludes flights and transfers.

Cox and Kings suggests a twin centre in Morocco for coupleslooking to combine a bit of culture with some time on thebeach. The specialist offers an eight-day/seven-night,twin-centre holiday combining Marrakesh with the Atlantic coastaltown of Essaouira.

The itinerary includes four nights at Palais Sebban inMarrakesh and three nights at the Sofitel Essaouira MogadorGolf and Spa, which boasts its two 18-hole golf courses stylishrooms, suites and villas with ocean views. How much? Cox and Kings offers this eight-day twin-centreholiday for £1,045 per person including flights and transfers.

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Exodus’s Red Sea Adventure includes a few days on thebeach in Hurghuda with a trip to Luxor and anovernight cruise down the Nile on a felucca

on the beach


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S04 North Africa Supp 2012 Nice & Niche_Layout 1 26/03/2012 12:52

While the two-week fly and flopserves its purpose for allowinghundreds of thousands of

people to leave behind their daily grindand relax for two weeks, more and moretravelling Britons are looking to broadentheir minds as well as enjoying somedown time.

We find out what operators are upto when it comes to combining theright destination with the appropriateactivity to deliver the perfect nice andniche package.

PhotographyLast year, The Adventure Companyintroduced a series of familyphotography holidays designed to inspireyoung travellers to look at their holidaysthrough a lense.

The eight-day Kids in the Kasbah FamilyPhotography Holiday will give childrenand grown-ups the opportunity to get

snapping at the souks, snake charmersand spectacular architecture ofMarrakesh before heading out to theBerber villages of the Atlas mountains,the coastal resort of Agadir and the oldpirate’s haunt of Essaouira. And let’s notforget the obligatory photo or two of acamel. Professional photographer SamOakes will help children aged 5 upwardslearn the basics as they enjoy thisphotographic journey.How much? From £949 adult and £939child includes flights, seven nights’accommodation, transport, some meals,expert tuition and an experienced localgroup leader.

Volunteer holidaysFor those of us who feel that activelycontributing to the communities in thedestinations that we visit should be highon our agenda, Exodus offers a 10-dayMorocco Volunteer experience.

As operators havediscovered, there’smore to North Africathen beaches, souksand pyramids

16 All about North Africa

The learningcurve

Exodus offers keen mountain climbers the chanceto scale North Africa's highest mountain, Mt

Toubkal in a one-week trekking holiday



Participants get to visit the remote community of Tijhza inthe High Atlas Mountains, where they spend three days helpingwith various schemes requested by the local Village Associationbefore heading out to explore the Sahara Desert.

Accommodation is at Kasbah Oliver in the evening for thethree days spent in Tijhza before the tour heads out to theSahara for a stay in the Kasbah in N'Kob. The tour also visits thecity of Ouarzazate, home to Ait Benhaddou, one of the best-preserved kasbahs and Marrakesh.How much? The 10-day holiday leads in at £979 per personincluding flights.

Arts and craftsTravelling with children and looking for something interactiveto keep kids busy, Wild Frontiers recommends that parentscheck out one of Egypt’s best-kept secrets – the FagnoonVillage. Close to the pyramids take out of Giza, visitors can takepart in a variety of activities such as painting, drawing,jewellery-making, pottery, ceramics, baking, carpentry and ironsmithing, along with camel and donkey riding.

Children are free to choose whatever they want from thevarious workshops available at Fagnoon. Painting is availableeverywhere, on walls, ground, and even on clothes.

Wild Frontiers includes a day at the Fagnoon Art Village in itsEgypt family trip, allowing kids – and grown-ups – to indulgetheir creative sides while enjoying a view of Abusir pyramid.

The tour also visits Luxor and Aswan on a cruise down theNile.How much? Prices lead in at £1,590 per adults and £1,350 perchild.

GolfKeen golfers who are a slave to the 18-holes are willing to headall over the world to get their fix. And according toYourGolfTravel.com head of product, marketing and strategyEuan Gillon, North Africa has its fair share of championship golfcourses.

“Not only is North Africa serviced by a pretty comprehensivenetwork of charter and scheduled flights from the UK, it is alsoblessed with a climate about as golf friendly as you could hopefor,” says Gillon.

“We've got some great products on our books for this year,including some outstanding value half-board offers in Tunisia,plus getaways to Egypt's Red Sea resorts.

“We're seeing the biggest surge in interest in Morocco, wherethe opening of new courses in the likes of Marrakesh,Casablanca and Essaouira is really marking the country on theinternational golfing map.”How much? YourGolfTravel offers seven nights’ half-board atthe five-star El Mouradi Hotel Hammamet in Tunisia for £319per person including four rounds of golf.

TrekkingIf climbing mountains floats your boat, then Exdous has justthe climbing holiday for you – a one-week trek to the summitof North Africa's highest mountain, Mt Toubkal.

Standing 4,167 metres above sea level with magnificentviews of the High Atlas Mountains, this walking holiday inMorocco passes through impressive landscapes on well-

Abercrombie and Kent has a number of experiencesthat will whet the appetite of those who shun thesunlounger for the cultural guide book.

It offers a day tour out to the Atlas mountains tothe Berber village of Asni – travelling options are a4WD vehicle or a helicopter – before heading offroad to the village of Imlil on the foot hill of theDjebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in the Atlas.

From Imlil, visitors take some mules and walk orride for about 15 minutes to a remote village for anauthentic Berber breakfast inside a Berber housebefore heading off to Sir Richard Branson’s KasbahTamadot, for a lovely lunch!

Alternatively, take part in a perfume workshop atthe Palmeraie Museum in Morocco where guests candesign their your own perfume under the directionof Mr Benchabane the artist who created the Soirede Marrakesh perfume.

Variety is the spice of life

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Niche holidays

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defined paths and is not too strenuous. As the climb heads higher up the mountain, climbers will be

rewarded for their hard work with views of Marrakesh, the Anti-Atlas Mountains and row after row of sharp granite peaks.

This Mt Toubkal trekking trip passes through remote villagesand terraced fields offering an insight to the life of the Berberpeople. The trek ends in Marrakesh.How much? This eight-day trek leads in at £649 per personincluding flights.

AstronomyLove him or loathe him, TV presenter Brian Cox, who alsohappens to be a professor of particle physics, has ignited apassion for star-gazing with his hit TV series Wonders ofthe Universe.

Specialist operator Explorers is making the most of theincreasing interest in astronomy with the introduction of anew range of star-gazing holidays, including one in Morocco.

Commenting on the new tours, Explorers operations andplanning manager David Phillips says: “The phrase ‘the sky’s thelimit’ perfectly sums up the potential for incorporating astronomyinto year-round adventure holidays all across the world.

“While this November’s Total Solar Eclipse in Australia is

sure to prove another ‘must-see’ experience, we’ve alsointroduced new 2012 stargazing trips closer to home that takeadvantage of the wonderful desert skies of destinations suchas Jordan, Turkey and Morocco.”

Explorers‘ new eight-day Nights Sky and Caravan Trail startsoff in Marrakesh before travelling across the Atlas Mountains tothe remote fringes of the Sahara desert. This stargazing tour ofMorocco will take guests to the palm oases of the Draa Valley farfrom light pollution and with an excellent 360 degree panoramicview. The tour will visit the Sahara Sky Observatory, which isequipped with an impressive range of telescopes.How much? From £1,099 per person including flights, sixnights in a hotel and one night in a Bedouin camp, somemeals, transport and an experienced local leader.

KuoniTake Kuoni’s advice and head out to the western desert of Egypt toleave all the white noise.

Go off the beaten track with four nights discovering the westerndesert, stopping at Bahariya Oasis, White Desert, Dakhla Oasis andKharga Oasis. The tour also stops in at Luxor and Cairo. The perfectpackage for repeat visitors or adventurous first-timers. How much? The nine-night itinerary leads in at £1,095.

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Niche holidays


EgyptFlying time: Cairo, four hours and 45 minutes; Luxor, fivehours and 15 minutes; Sharm el-Sheikh, five hours and45 minutes.Time difference: GMT +2 hours.Visas: all UK passport holders require a visa, which areavailable on arrival.Best time to visit? From February to April and October toNovember when the weather is warm. Summers areexceptionally hot and dry from May to August.Key events: during the months of July and August,Egyptians celebrate various saints birthdays with livelyprocessions in Cairo. Twice a year in February andOctober, the Abu Simbel Festival celebrates Ramses II’sbirthday. The celebrations include music, dancing,markets, and food and drink stalls. From July 20-August18 this year, Egyptians mark the holy month of Ramadan.During this period there may be restrictions on alcoholconsumption, restaurant facilities and entertainment.

MoroccoFlying time: Agadir, four hours and 30 minutes;Casablanca, three hours and 30 minutes; Essaouira, fourhours and 30 minutes; and Marrakech, three hours and45 minutes.Time difference: GMT + 0 hoursVisas: UK passport holders do not need visas.Best time to visit? Morocco is generally best visited in thespring months of March to May and autumn fromSeptember to November. July and August can seetemperatures soar to 40˚C in Marrakesh. On the coast inAgadir, Casablanca and Essaouira summers are cooled bythe winds from the Atlantic.Key events: Marathon de Sables takes place in April. Theseven-day, 151-mile race across the Moroccan Saharadesert by foot from Ouazazateis one of the toughest

courses in the world. Marrakesh Popular Arts Festivaltakes place in July. The five-day event is packed withtraditional cultural and folk events including Berbermusicians and copious belly dancing. The Timitar Festivaltakes place in Agadir in July and is a lively annualfestival of both traditional and modern Berber music. Asin Egypt, from July 20-August 18, Moroccans mark theholy month of Ramadan.

TunisiaFlying time: two hours and 30 minutes to Tunis.Time difference: GMT +1 hour.Passports/visas: EU citizens need a full passport valid forstays up to six months. For more up-to-date visa details,visit www.cometotunisia.co.ukGetting there: Tunisia has seven international airports:Djerba, Enfidha, Monastir, Sfax, Tabarka, Tozeur andTunis. Both Tunisair and British Airways operate severalflights a week from Heathrow and Gatwick to Tunis.There are charter flights flying to Enfidha from all overthe UK. Charter operators include Thomas Cook Airlinesand Thomson Airways with flights from Birmingham,Cardiff, East Midlands, Gatwick, Glasgow, Luton,Manchester, Newcastle, Stansted and Sheffield.Tunisair Express is Tunisia’s domestic airline, operatingfrom Tunis to Djerba, Tozeur and Sfax.Best time to visit: with temperatures during thesummer months hitting 40˚C, the ideal times to visit arefrom April to June, and September and October whenthe edge comes off the summer heat.

An at-a-glance guide to the must-knowfacts about travelling to North Africa

Travel essentials


North Africa

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Best advice We believe that there is no substitute for experience and local knowledge. That’s why our travel advisers regularly visit our resorts and hotels to ensure they can answer your questions with facts, not guesses.

Best value We only sell holidays to Egypt. That lets us build strong relationships which we can use to get the best deals for you; not just better prices, but better quality too. Our holidays also include more in the price, with free transfers, in-fl ight meals on many fl ights, and a generous luggage allowance as standard.

Best accommodation Our hand-picked selection of predominantly 4 and 5 hotels has been vetted personally by our team for quality, service, location and value.

Best experiencesIn relaxing surroundings and with all inclusive service, it’s all too easy to forget about life beyond the pool. But Egypt can offer so much more. Our extensive range of excursions, cruises, tours, and cruise and stay holidays ensure you get to experience Egypt’s many treasures.

Best operator to North Africa We’re not just saying that: we were voted it in the 2011 British Travel Awards, plus a silver award for best small tour operator of the year. Try our award winning service for yourself.

ABTA No.Y2507

Experience Egypt with the Egyptian experts

Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agent Call today on 0845 072 2477Scan me for more information

Enjoy the many faces of Egypt with Red Sea Holidays. We only sell holidays to Egypt that’s why we’re the Egyptian experts.

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North Africa Supplement 2012

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