Because I’ve always wanted to…

Greetings,

Where can you go this autumn and winter? All of a sudden you have a whole host of options

At long last the world is starting to open up!  It’s not too late to start planning an October half term trip for the family, or an escape to find some much needed winter sun before the Xmas holiday season commences…

Destinations which are about to be added to the list of those to which you can travel without too much hassle and by direct flights from the UK include Kenya, Sri Lanka, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, the Maldives, Canada, Guatemala, Belize and the USA from 1 November.

Also, from 4 October there is no need to get a lateral flow/PCR test before returning home if you are double vaccinated and we are reliably informed that the costly and much disliked PCRS test linked to a passenger locator form after 2 days of arriving home, will be replaced with a lateral flow test.

Below we are featuring some perfect getaways not only to the 6 countries mentioned above but also to Morocco and Italy to where we have already sent some happy travellers this month.

STOP PRESS – some of you may know that over the last year I have spent a fair amount of time on the east coast of Kenya! To that effect Lateral Life has been offered the last available Villa at The Cabanas, Lamu from December 15-22, and the last 2 available Superior rooms sleeping 2 adults and a max of 3 children at Peponi hotel, Shela, Lamu Island from Dec 22-27. This unique Xmas holiday opportunity has to be purchased as a bundle to firstly enjoy the peace and quiet of the beach at the Cabanas with its world class Kite Surfing before heading to one of the greatest Xmas party hotels in Kenya – PEPONI.

Please click Xmas 2021 Kenya to see the full itinerary and do contact us for more information.

With all our best wishes,
The Lateral Team

Kasbah Bab Ourika is a long time personal favourite of mine and most of those who we send to Morocco to and experience it for themselves and love it as much as I do.  Imagine waking up in the morning to fresh clean mountain air and breathtaking views like this!  You can see a current family trip to Morocco here.

“Our trip to Morocco was uplifting in every sense of the word: to be transported from grey London skies to the rich colours of Marrakech was magical in itself. The Villa des Orangers was an oasis of calm and charm beyond the hustle and bustle of the medina. An hour’s drive up into the mountains took us into another world of sights and sounds for the soul: stunning views over the red ochre Ourika valley, limpid blue skies, chattering birdsong and crystal waterfalls.  The mesmerising beauty of the landscape was matched only by the warmth of the Kasbah staff”

Oman: Muscat, Mountains & the Musandam Peninsula

Muscat is a well-ordered, peaceful low-rise capital city with lots to see.  Stay on the beach at the elegant Chedi Muscat and take a tour to see one of Oman’s bold forts, like Rustaq below.

Up in the Jabel Akhdar Mountains you’ll be astounded by the Alila Jabal Akhdar. On Oman’s Musandam Peninsula is Six Senses Zighy Bay, a sensational luxury beach resort.  This can be accessed by a relatively short and dramatic drive from Dubai if it’s just some classy flop and drop that you’re after in our long winter months.

You can see a trip including Muscat, the Jebel Akhdar mountains, a desert camp in Wahiba Sands and Zighy Bay here.

Egypt: Aswan & Abu Simbel

Egypt is a mesmerizing destination only 5 hours away by plane.  So much history and culture to blow you away time after time and the weather’s not bad either!  For a trip with maximum immersion fly to Cairo for a few days, down to Luxor, then to Aswan with a day trip by plane to the staggering Abu Simbel.  Finish with a flop on the beach at Hurghada.  You can see an example here.  In Aswan stay at the classic Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel for some retro Poirot-style atmosphere.

Sri Lanka: Sri Sharavi & Rosyth Estate House

Sri Lanka offers wild and beautiful beaches, dramatic temples a-plenty, magnificent scenery, an abundance of wildlife and nature, the intriguing history-steeped Galle Fort and of course the famous tea country.  You can see a typical journey around some of the highlights of Sri Lanka here which includes the fabulous right-on-the-beach Sri Sharavi.

As well as the Rosyth Estate House, a colonial planter’s bungalow on a family-run working tea estate nestled in the heart of tea country.

Turkey: Cappadocia

Turkey is a vast and dramatic country and one of the most dramatic places to go is Cappadocia.  It has so much to stagger and amaze, from magical ‘fairy castles’ to hidden underground cities.  Combine it with a few days in Istanbul and why not add a day or two to the nearby Princes’ Islands?  You can see a trip combining all these here.

Kenya – Ol Malo safari camp

To stay at Ol Malo is to live by a different rhythm – measure the day by the timeworn patterns of nature: wake up to see the awe inspiring sunrise, framing the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kenya; celebrate the new day with a dawn ride into the wilderness to view the animals as they awake; keep the tempo of the world by the roll of the camel’s stride; visit the colourful Samburu nomads of the North. For the ultimate adventure, pack your bags and explore the wilderness on horseback on a multi-day nomad camping trip which can be viewed in this itinerary.

The owner of Ol Malo is a helicopter pilot and his daily or multi-day heli flights can take guests even all the way to the Jade Sea – Lake Turkana – in the far North of the country.

Italy: Cinque Terre National Park

What better escape from the looming winter than basking in the bright colours of the Mediterranean sunshine. A quick flight to Pisa transports us to days’ worth of long delicious lunches, vertiginous sea views and treks in Cinque Terre National Park, pastel hued medieval villages, wine-fueled sunset boat trips, endless Tuscan vineyard exploration over rolling hills and glorious golden sunsets. Travelling in the autumn gives the added opportunity of taking part in seasonal activities such as wine harvesting or truffle hunting – Here is an itinerary featuring both.

“The trip was a wonderful success and Arianna and her team were superb and looked after us unbelievably well. The venues we visited were so beautiful and the villa in Chianti was exceptional, a view to die for. The harvest was yet another highlight during a week full of wonderful experiences. Such lovely people, welcoming and full of interesting information. We’ve all had a fantastic time which we will remember for a very long time. Thanks again Nico for such a wonderful service. I’m really glad we managed to salvage a trip with you despite all the challenges! On way to the airport now. Exercise programme starts tomorrow!!”

Maldives: the classic island paradise escape

The Maldives are the perfect getaway if you want sun, sand and sea on one of its many glorious islands.  A great place to dive also.  Stay at Six Senses Laamu and here you can see a trip to this wonderful place.

Up Periscope: Villa Bokeh, Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua in Guatemala is a small city where time stood still for more than a century after a massive earthquake in 1773 which ended its 200-year reign as Guatemala’s colonial capital. Antigua, surrounded by volcanoes, has been restored beautifully.  New to stay is the wonderful Villa Bokeh.