Island hop around the Seychelles, languish in a tea planter’s bungalow in the Sri Lankan highlands, sail on a traditional dhoni or wreck dive in the Maldives and enjoy your own chef in a private Mauritian villa
The secluded paradise islands and atolls that make up the Indian Ocean - Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka – are perfectly presented in Kuoni’s new Indian Ocean brochure, valid January to December 2010. Accommodation spans everything from simple rustic charm to all-out pampering luxury, while holidays can be action-packed or pure chill-out time.
Lead-in prices are £685 for a beachfront room for five nights in Browns Beach, Sri Lanka, £885 for seven nights in a standard room in Biyadhoo, Maldives, £975 for seven nights half board in a superior room in the Maldives, and £1,135 for seven nights in Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay including breakfast.
Highlights of the brochure include:
· New three-star properties for added value options
· The luxury Oberoi in Mauritius is offering a partner goes free deal between January-April 2010
· Enjoy an oasis of calm at Male Airport with access to the VIP Lounge on departure for all clients on scheduled flights (excluding Monarch)
· Fabulous tented safari camps in newly-opened Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka
· The comfort of a private car and driver to see the sights in Sri Lanka for only £55 per vehicle per day
· Carefree sailing holidays in the Seychelles
· Exclusive to Kuoni: four-star Kuramathi Island resort, Maldives, with a fantastic range of villas, amid lush gardens, on the beach, over water or with their own Jacuzzi
· Private sunset champagne cruise when staying at Baros Maldives resort
· Seven or 14-night cruise aboard the 20 cabin-Atoll Explorer visiting deserted islands around the Maldives, at £1,155, £274 less than the 2009 price.
· Exotic treehouse villas with their own elevated infinity pools at the new Shangri-La, Maldives
EDITOR’S NOTES:
History and Track Record
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe’s first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 103 years, Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as: ‘The World’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the past 11 years at the World Travel Awards; The Daily Telegraph’s Ultratravel voted Kuoni ‘Britain’s Best Large Tour Operator’ and Sunday Times Travel Magazine readers voted Kuoni 'Favourite Tour Operator for Families'. Kuoni has been ‘Britain’s Best Longhaul Tour Operator’ for 27 years as voted by travel agents.
Ethical Performance
Kuoni is committed to being a good corporate citizen, empowering people to protect the natural environment and local populations. The broader aim of Kuoni’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) policy is to minimise the adverse impact of tourist travel. Kuoni has over 32 active global CR projects and four priority areas: protecting children from sexual abuse in tourism; promoting fair working conditions; finding solutions for water scarcity and mitigating the consequences of climate change.
Kuoni’s Unique Selling Points
1. Concierge Service
The Kuoni Concierge service offers all the usual facilities of booking theatres, concerts, restaurants, festival or cultural occasions and overseas sporting events. It also manages private airport transfers, late check-outs, private tours and personal guides.
2. Kuoni Personal Travel Experts
Kuoni Personal Travel Experts are knowledgeable staff passionate about travel and ready to tailor-make the perfect holiday. They offer a personal touch by building a relationship with customers so they can call on the same travel expert each time they book.
3. At Home with Kuoni
Launched this year, At Home with Kuoni offers complimentary champagne, canapés and a Kuoni personal travel expert for individuals able to host a small gathering of friends and family in their home to learn about exciting holiday options. Guests are offered exclusive discounts.
Customer Assurance
Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won’t be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni has professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.
For further press information & images of this expedition, please contact Kuoni PR: -
Fiona Blaszkowski on 01306 744 194/ fiona.blaszkowski@kuoni.co.uk
or Anne-Marie Hansen on 01306 744 173/ anne-marie.hansen@kuoni.co.uk
or Jemma Purvis on 01306 744 006/ jemma.purvis@kuoni.co.uk
Maldives (pages 22-55)
· Private sunset champagne cruise on Baros Maldives from £369 per couple in Nooma, a traditional dhoni , snorkelling along colourful reefs, enjoying a romantic dinner for two on a deserted island before retiring to a luxury cabin
· Pampering par excellence comes at the newly-opened Shangri-La, with exotic treehouse villas and private infinity pool elevated to three metres high
· For a touch of authentic Maldivian character, stay in Gasfinolhu Island resorts’ thatched roof, coral walled bungalows within the North Male Atoll
· Dive some of the best coral islands in the world with pre-booked quality diving packages at five-star PADI dive centres
· Fabulous water villas at over a dozen fabulous resorts, including Kuramathi Island Resort , Velassaru, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, Meeru Island Resort, Komandoo, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, Baros Maldives, Coco Palm, Centara Grand, Veligandu and Anantara
· The recently refurbished four-star Kuramathi Island Resort is exclusive to Kuoni , while the upgraded Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa offers great value with earlybird savings of 10% off room rates
· Visit deserted islands and windsurf, dive, night fish and snorkel from the 20 cabin-Atoll Explorer, for seven or 14 nights, for £1,155, £274 less than the 2009 price.
Mauritius (pages 58-74)
· Walk among lions and zebras on an escorted mini safari in Casela Nature and Leisure Park
· Enjoy a day out on a catamaran along the east coast of the Mauritius, passing waterfalls, enjoying pristine white beaches, and a BBQ on board
· Enjoy free golf at one of two nearby courses when staying at the 20-villa Constance Belle Mare Plage with its Shiseido Spa. The hotel hosts the annual Golf Open every December
· Fabulous two-bed family rooms at the three-star-plus Calodyne Sur Mer with free night offers on six, ten or 14 night bookings
· Villas Valriche, new luxury three and four-bed private villas, ideal for families and couples
· Book between January and April 2010 in the luxurious five-star Oberoi and partner goes free
· Family hideaway in one of three lavishly-furnished Le Touessrok Villas, served by dedicated chef, waiting staff and a manager to arrange dining and spa treatments at the Givenchy Spa
Seychelles (pages 78-93)
· Island hopping around the Seychelles archipelago for seven nights aboard the four-star Sea Star and Sea Bird modern yachts and dine on authentic Creole cuisine
· All inclusive Desroches Island Resort , a 40-minute flight from Mahe - offers free night offer based on five or eight-night stays
· Take a glass bottom boat and discover the dazzling underwater world in Sainte Anne Marine Park
· Great value family villas on a half-board basis at Constance Ephelia on Mahe Island
· Earlybird saver at Labriz with partner-goes-free deal
Sri Lanka (pages 96-119)
· Stay in a tea planter’s bungalow in the central Dickoya highlands in a beautiful lakeside location, with the added bonus of butler service for all meals. Trekking, biking, water rafting, rock climbing and golf can be arranged nearby
· New tented safari camp in Udawalawe National Park – one of the best parks for birdwatching, but also full of elephants, water buffalo, water monitor lizards, deer and monkeys. Can be an add-on to any beach stay or tour for one or two nights
· Try an elephant-back safari in Habarana’s woodlands and soak up the views of crocodiles and water monitor lizards from a safe height
· See the sights of Kandy in a full day tour of the picturesque lake, the splendid Royal Botanical Gardens, the Temple of the Tooth, Market Square and the unforgettable Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
· Multi-centre holidays, combining Kandy, Habarana – including the scared caves at Sigiriya - relaxing on a beach and Yala National Park
· Great value at all-inclusive three-star hotel Club Palm Garden, with five nights from £699
· Stay at the five-star boutique-style Saman Villas for two, three, four or five nights and get the same number of nights free on bookings between January and April 2010
· Health-conscious travellers can languish in one of 12 Ayurveda Pavilions, each with their own treatment space so guess have no need to leave their room. Food is re- balancing Ayurveda fare, while free yoga sessions and a complimentary consultation on arrival by the resident doctor will revive mind, body and soul. Includes access to the facilities at the Jetwing Beach hotel, across the road.