Eid Al Adha celebrations are just around the corner, so while it’s time to celebrate with your nearest and dearest, it’s also time to take advantage of the public holidays and dust off the passport. For a touch of intrepid exploration, Esquire tasked Lightfoot Travel‘s Matt Vlemmiks has come up with five options that will keep even the most active, excitable traveller busy and entertained. After all – if we just want to spend Eid 2015 on the beach or by the pool why would we even leave the UAE?
Sailing Remote Indonesian Islands on a Luxury Liveaboard
For hard-core divers, spending a week sailing through pristine waters where the marine life is abundant and untouched is as good as it gets. Rated as some of the best diving in the world, Raja Ampat offers an incredible diving experience but also astonishing landscapes of isles and cays. If you’re an avid scuba freak, there’s no better way to explore the best dive spots than by liveaboard, on traditional Indonesian phinisi boats made with teak wood.This makes it possible for guests to dive the most distant sites in spots like Raja Ampat, the Komodo Islands and Flores. And all this can certainly be done in style and comfort, aboard arguably our favourite vessel of all, the Alila Purnama, which can only be described as a floating luxury hotel.
Safari in Tanzania
Arguably the natural world’s most impressive natural phenomenon, the annual Great Migration of wildebeest across Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara is in full swing at this time of the year. By late September, the vast herds tend to run up against the Mara River in the northern sector of the Serengeti, so your chances of watching the iconic croc-threatened river crossings (you can just hear David Attenborough’s dulcet tones as you watch) tend to be better than at any other time of the year. Serengeti Safari Camp is a classic mobile tented safari camp that regularly ups sticks and follows the course of the migration, so it’s never likely to be far away, and you might well want to splash out a little extra for a private guide and vehicle.
Surfing in the Maldives
Experienced surfers will never want to leave the heavenly Maldives retreat of Six Senses Laamu, where the Ying Yang surf break calls. After a hearty breakfast, pick up your surfboard and head straight out to sea where great waves await – there’s no need for long transfers, as the waves are right by the hotel! Want to be spoilt for choice? MaabaidhooKandu, FushiKandu, Hothadhoo Corner and GadhooKandualso offer great breaks and are close by. Once you’ve had a good enough dose of surfing for the day, indulge in a massage, enjoy sundowners at the bar or chill by the pool. And repeat the next day – paradise!
Hiking in Bali
Not for the faint-hearted, climbing up Bali’s highest peak, Mount Agung, is a challenging but intensely rewarding feat; the view over Bali and neighbouring Lombok is incredible as the sun rises. Afterwards, to relax those sore muscles and pamper yourself, head straight to Uma Ubud for a well-deserved massage and a dip in the pool. If you’re still not quite knocked-out, make some time to try out white-water rafting whilst in Ubud, a thrilling ride and the perfect way to admire the region’s lush vegetation.
Golf in Vietnam
Vietnam is rapidly catching up to its more established Asian golfing neighbours with a raft of world class courses, and nowhere is this more obvious than in central Danang. Three of the greatest of all time have dropped by to design courses within a well hit Sand Wedge’s distance of each other: Colin Montgomerie’s Montgomerie Links; Greg Norman’s Danang Golf Club and Nick Faldo’s Laguna Lang Co. There are some lovely family resorts along the coast here, but for great food, a healthy splash of culture and unbelievable value for money, stay in the UNESCO listed old town at Hoi An, where the Anantara has a perfect spot on the river.
Lightfoot Travel is a luxury tour operator with offices in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. In addition to short breaks, UAE staycations and Eid holidays, Lightfoot organise luxury tailor made itineraries to all corners of the globe.
