Wanderlust Wednesdays: 5 Bucket List Activities to Inspire Your TravelsBy Francesca Brooking
For this week’s Wanderlust Wednesdays, your new comprehensive guide to what’s new in travel, we have an exciting range of bucket list activities in store. From a stay in a refurbished train carriage to a voluntourism project in the Faroe Islands, here are your next holiday goals:
1. For a Stay in a Refurbished Train: Sprat & Winkle
What: Mulberry Cottages is offering its guests the chance to stay in the newly refurbished Sprat & Winkle property, a Victorian train conversion named after the train line which once ran through the station.
The Lowdown: The Sprat & Winkle property is a real bucket list destination for anyone who wants to experience a unique weekend getaway. Located in the original Grade II listed Horsebridge railway station in Hampshire, which closed in 1964, the property takes the form of a beautiful Victorian train carriage. The property couples the romance of historic train travel with all the comfort and necessity of modern design. The iron-clad corridor features an open-plan living space with a fully-equipped kitchen and two ensuite bathrooms. The light fixtures hearken back to the days of the Orient Express and old Southern Railway posters from the 1920s decorate the walls. This beautiful countryside escape accommodates children and pets, walks around the surrounding area and BBQs on the platform.
How to book: Prices start from £425 for 3 nights / £590 for 7 nights. Book with Mulberry Cottages online or call 01227 464958.
2. For an E-Mountain Bike Tour: H+I Adventures
What: E-mountain biking is set to be the new travel trend of 2020 and specialist operator H+I Adventures has just announced its plans to lead the charge with its 5 new battery-assisted mountain biking tours for the year ahead.
The Lowdown: International mountain biking expert, H+I Adventures has unveiled its plans to launch 5 new e-mountain biking tours that take adventurers through the scenic routes of Croatia, Namibia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Each tour is led by experienced local guides and has been specifically designed for e-mountain bikes, with charging points factored in. Skill sets range from novice to intermediate and tours last 7 to 11 nights on average with accommodation and transfers included. Each e-mountain bike is light and fun to ride with the ease of assistance on steeper ascents. It’s an ideal mode of travel for anyone wanting to experience a more eco-conscious road trip.
How to book: Tours start from around £1,950 to £3,500 per person and the cost of hiring an e-mountain bike is extra (from £600pp). To find out more or to book an e-mountain bike tour visit H+I Adventures online or call 01463 231441.
3. For a 5* Hotel Opening in Eygpt: Casa Cook El Gouna
What: Orascom Hotels Management has announced the opening of the hotly awaited Casa Cook El Gouna hotel in Eygpt on 1st November.
The Lowdown: Casa Cook El Gouna hotel in Eygpt is a 5* 100-bedroom beachfront boutique hotel with stunning views overlooking the red sea. Newly opened at the start of this month, the hotel offers a variety of room types from standard twin and double rooms to villas with a private pool. Each room has a private terrace while the hotel itself has beautiful Arabic architecture with earthy grey tones and rustic wooden features to create a simple yet luxurious space to relax in. Guests can enjoy the lively atmosphere of the sea-view Beach Club or explore the bustling streets of El Gouna, just 10 minutes away by tuk tuk. A range of activities are on offer including kitesurfing, visits to the region’s only cable park and diving centres just a stone’s throw away from the hotel.
How to book: Visit Casa Cook El Gouna online to book.
4. For a Voluntourism Project: The Faroe Islands
Photo credit: c-Ólavur-Frederiksen
What: After the unprecedented success of last year the Faroe Islands have announced that they will be closed for maintenance again from Thursday 16th until Friday 17th April and registration is now open for voluntourists to help maintain and preserve the breathtaking Faroese landscape.
The Lowdown: The Faroe Islands are calling for voluntourists to join their Closed For Maintenance, Open For Voluntourism project in April 2020. Just 100 voluntourists will be enlisted to help mark paths with wayfinding posts, mend paths that have been eroded and re-build cairns as part of a move by the Faroe Island tourism board to pave the way for a sustainable future both for the islands and growing tourism industry. It’s expected that 14 tourist sites will be closed to the general public, including Slættaratindur, the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands while maintenance is carried out to make them safer and more practical. Participants will need to pay for their own way to the Faroe Islands but they will get free food, accommodation and travel on the islands. To mark the end of the project on Friday night, participants and local people will come together for a celebratory meal with Faroese food, local beer and dancing.
How to book: Registration is now open. Sign up here.
5. For a Festive Wellness Escape: Chiva-Som Wellness Resort
What: This week, Chiva-Som, Thailand’s wellness destination has announced its new festive discount offers valid from 1st – 25th December 2019.
The Lowdown: Recently reopened, Chiva-Som is offering two promotional offers for those seeking a festive feel-good season. By using one of two codes below, guests can save up to approximately £315 per person, per night and receive a wellness voucher worth around £25 per person, per night. Those who book a Thai Pavillion room over the same period will be treated to a complimentary upgrade to a brand new Thai Pavilion Suite. The wellness destination is located in the Royal Resort of Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand among acres of tranquil tropical gardens. It has a pioneering approach to wellness, combining Eastern and Western philosophies to guide guests along a personalised path to better long-term health and wellbeing. With award-winning cuisine and soothing atmosphere, it’s the perfect self-care hideaway for the festive season.
How to book: Visit Chiva-Som reservations online and quote ‘FESTIVE19’ or ‘TP2019’. Both offers apply to retreat bookings only.
