Tell us about your travel stories

The McCurdie family celebrate Christmas Day in the Masai Mara, Kenya

“Our visit to Malacca was an intriguing end to our visit to Malaysia, a country where numerous traditions, religions, cultures and cuisines meet and blend harmoniously.”
Nigel Wright, Malaysia

“Our heads and hearts are full of the images, sights, sounds, and smells, but perhaps the most lingering image of all is the one of the Cambodian people.”
Valerie and Raymond Gatward, Cambodia

“To have spent the time with the wonderfully friendly people of the Governor’s Camp among the enchanting wildlife of the Masai Mara made it an experience we shall treasure forever.”
Dr Ian McCurdie, Masai Mara in Kenya

These are just some of the comments we have received and which you can read in full in our Client Stories section of the Audley Magazine.

How to send us your Audley travel stories
It’s easy, if you’ve been on a trip with us simply click on this link and upload your text and photos. If you do you’ll also have a chance to win a £50 Bobbooks’ photobook voucher.

Egypt update: our Specialists report back

The pyramids of Giza

We added a blog back in April, called Client feedback from Egypt and Jordan, which featured the accounts of two Audley clients who had returned from trips in that region since the troubles there.

While their positive feedback was welcome, the raison-d’être here at Audley is Specialists who know a country intimately from their own personal experiences; this is one of the most important facets that sets us apart from many other travel companies.

This ‘tell it how it is’ approach can be seen in the following comments by three of our Egypt Specialists, in which they declare the country very much open for business.

Continue reading »

Audley SEA Specialist goes on honeymoon to Morocco

Nick on his honeymoon in Morocco

Nick Ghosh, one of Audley’s Southeast Asia specialists recently tied the knot and, working in the travel industry, he was spoilt for choice when it came to choosing a honeymoon destination.

Nick and his new wife decided to visit Morocco and on his return he had this to say about his trip:

I’m just back from a superb honeymoon in Morocco (thanks Natalie!) Never having travelled in this area before I was unsure of what to expect, but absolutely loved it and am already planning a return journey to see the bits we missed. It’s hard to pick highlights from our trip but if I had to it would be the superb Kasbah Tamadot, the excellent trekking in the High Atlas mountains, and mesmerizing Marrakesh.

Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot lived up to our high expectations: gorgeous gardens, superb views and friendly and excellent service. The three days previous spent trekking were the perfect preparation as we hiked through beautiful Berber villages surrounded by lush valleys and stunning views in the High Atlas. We trekked in and out of Toubkal Lodge, perfectly perched with a magnificent vista of the snow-capped mountains and green valleys.

Obviously we were a little apprehensive about visiting Marrakesh after the recent bomb there, but are so glad that we did as we felt completely at ease and loved it. There really is nowhere I have been as atmospheric and vibrant as the Djema El Fna (the main square) as the sun sets. Hundreds of food stalls, street entertainers and hawkers created a riot of amazing sights, sounds and smells each night.

After a hectic wedding Morocco turned out to be the perfect destination for us – just three hours flight away, with a whole host of beautiful riads and kasbahs to choose from and plenty to do once you get itchy feet and want to start exploring the country. I hope I can get back there soon!

For more information on tailor-made holidays to Morocco, visit our website.

Client feedback from Egypt and Jordan

Abu Simbel, Egypt

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about Egypt and how the country is getting back on its feet after its recent troubles. With North Africa and the Middle East experiencing a number of issues of late, it’s not surprising that some people have their reservations about travelling to the region, but some recent feedback from two separate clients will hopefully help to quash any worries travellers may have:

Mary & Leonard Holland – travelled to Jordan in March:
“We both had a great holiday that was well organised and thought through. Everybody we met in Jordan was friendly, helpful and very proud of their country. It is a great shame that tourists are cancelling their trips. As far as we could make out there are no political problems and the areas where there are issues in the Middle East are miles away. We felt very safe and in “good hands” throughout.

David & Pamela Rogers – travelled to Egypt in March:
“The lack of tourists because of the political situation meant that there was little traffic on the Nile. Also the tombs and temples were relatively empty, giving us easy access to items of interest. There was no queueing to see anything. All the locals were genuinely pleased to see us and were extremely friendly. We are so pleased we went!”

We have had quite a few clients travel to Egypt in recent weeks, and feedback from them has been overwhelmingly positive, so if you have been wondering about what effects the revolution in January has had on travel in Egypt, or have any questions at all then please do phone one of our specialists on 01993 838 410.

Alternatively, visit the North Africa & the Middle East section on our website for more information on tailor-made holidays to the region.

A new phase for Egypt

Many people are returning to Egypt after its recent troubles

After all the recent troubles in Egypt it is nice to hear the country is getting back on its feet again. Only this morning I was looking through the Audley Twitter account and read a tweet from Travel Weekly’s blog saying their Editorial Assistant had just returned from Egypt, where ‘locals are delighted to see tourists’.

A recent blog by Jennifer Conlin on The New York Times website echoes this thought. Returning to Egypt after spending a year there in 2010, Jennifer found the scene in Tahir Square a lot different to how she remembered. Here is a short extract from her blog article:

“I slid my hand along the shiny hunter-green and silver railings, marveling that even the curbs had received new coats of black-and-white paint to prevent illegal parking — courtesy of the protesters.

A boy sold me a bottle of water from a small stand he had set up, also with coffee and candy bars, while young girls swept the streets. Everyone stopped to talk to one another, whether it was an old friend or a visiting stranger.

“Enjoy Tahrir,” a young man yelled to me before taking a photo of his girlfriend, her white headscarf blowing in the wind. I smiled, then joined the parade of Egyptians heading to the square”.

Many of Egypt’s top attractions, including the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids of Giza have reopened to the public, and all seems very much ‘business as usual’. Indeed, many are beginning to venture back to Egypt; as a company we are pleased that we are able to send people once again.

As with all of the countries we operate in, we continue to monitor the situation in Egypt, however if you would like to find out more about travelling to this destination please do take a look at the Egypt section on our website, or speak to one of our Egypt specialists on 01993 838 410 for more information.

EasyJet launches new route to Jordan

Visit Petra on a trip to Jordan

From the 27th March 2011, it will be possible to travel to Jordan with one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines. EasyJet have announced they will be adding the capital of Jordan, Amman, to their flight routes and anyone wishing to travel will be able to do so three times a week from London Gatwick.

This is great news for us here at Audley, as our North Africa & the Middle East team often recommend EasyJet  to our clients as part of their tailor-made itineraries, meaning more choice and flexibility for our clients.

 At just over five hours flight time this will be EasyJet’s longest flight to date.

North Asia & Arabia team fundraise for Red Cross in Libya

Members of the North Asia & Arabia team at their cake sale

I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to have escaped the media coverage surrounding Libya and the awful events that have been unfolding there in the last couple of weeks. The country is a place in which we normally operate and so it’s very close to our heart, which is precisely why the North Asia & Arabia team decided to raise money in support of the Red Cross Libya & Region Appeal, and the work they are currently doing in Libya and neighbouring countries.

So in true Audley style, a number of the NAA team and even some of their family members donned their aprons and got to work in the kitchen, producing a vast array of culinary delights ready for a cake sale of immense proportions. Today’s mammoth spread included  chocolate brownies, ginger & chocolate flapjacks, fruit & nut flapjacks, rocky road à l’Orient, carrot & orange muffins, fruit loaf, honey & almond cake, Laura’s tiffin, lemon cupcakes and strawberry cupcakes, as well as Steve’s squidgy chocolate log, marble cake, honey cake and tea loaf.

At 11am on the dot NAA’s colleagues began to stream into the Waterwheel room, tummies rumbling and money at the ready. The first round of cake munching raised over £250 with a second round of selling scheduled for this afternoon, just in time for an afternoon snack!

Here are just a few images of the cakes on offer:

Well done to the North Asia & Arabia team for all of their hard work. They hope to have raised over £300 for the Red Cross Libya & Region Appeal by the end of the day.

If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross Libya & Regional Appeal, please visit the Red Cross website.

Last chance to see the ‘Book of the Dead’

Egyptian hieroglyphics on the Kom Omba Temple, Egypt.

I wrote a blog back in June last year about the British Museum exhibition of the ancient Egyptians’ journey from death to the afterlife.

I just want remind everyone that the exhibit finishes on March 6th, so if you want to see it you’ll need to book your tickets soon.

For more details here’s a link to the British Museum website.

Adornment and identity at the British Museum

Silver samt necklace with Maria Theresa thaler pendants on indigo-dyed cotton, Oman, 20th century

The start of the year saw the launch of a new exhibition at the British Museum which showcases a unique display of jewellery and costume from Oman.

Running until 11th September 2011, this exhibition features a selection of 20th-century silver jewellery, weaponry and male and female dress, including bracelets, anklets, necklaces, earrings, hair ornaments, kohl pots, and men’s accessories.

The jewellery is decorated with coins, coral and glass beads, and gold leaf decoration, with many amuletic pieces incorporating elaborate Qur’an cases. Also featured are colourful embroidered costumes, including children’s outfits, from different regions of Oman.

The event is free to attend. To find out more about this exhibition visit the British Museum website.

To learn more about tailor-made trips to Oman, visit the Oman section of our website, or call an Oman specialist on 01993 838 430 to discuss your ideas further.

Wild Jordan wins Guardian-Observer ‘Ethical Travel Award’

Wild Jordan wins Guardian-Observer Ethical Travel Award

As anyone who has been on a trip with us will know, travelling responsibly is a very important issue for us. We are passionate about the countries we specialise in and it seems only natural that we would want to help protect each region and maximise the benefits that tourism can bring. That’s why we support numerous charities and organisations around the world that aim to do just this. Continue reading »