Eclectic escapes

From the beaches of Thailand to the highlands of Peru, the authors list destinations you can visit to get away from the sweltering Indian summer

BUDGET TRAVEL
Rs 1 LAKH PLUS PER HEAD

You no longer need to shell out multiple lakhs to enjoy an overseas holiday. From Italy to South Africa, Seychelles to Alaska, you can easily enjoy a trip abroad for Rs 1-2 lakh per person. Thailand is fast recovering from its political and economic turmoil to emerge as the most preferred budget-friendly international destination followed closely by Turkey. Don't just head to the beaches or the floating markets. Instead, soak in the eclectic culture in the cities of Thailand. A must-attend is the Hua Hin Jazz Festival that will take place at the beach resort in the latter half of June and will be attended by more than 15,000 locals and tourists. Among offbeat destinations, Oman, Seychelles, Fiji and Cambodia have emerged as the favourites. People are flocking to Victoria Harbour and Mahe in Seychelles, with some shelling out extra money to rent villas in the private islands in the vicinity. The beautiful lake regions of Italy and James Joyce-inspired tours of Ireland too are becoming popular with Indian tourists. There are packages to South Africa in all budget categories, depending on the duration of your visit. You can enjoy the best of South Africa, with a visit to its coastlines, beautiful wine estates and Kruger Park, in a basic one-week long package.
 

Packages

• Trafalgar India offers 8 days highlights of the Italian lakes, starting at $1,250, while the eight day Irish Wonder tour starts at $1,275
• Cox and Kings offers a romantic package of Seychelles and Dubai, starting at Rs 2,24,198 for a couple
• Kuoni India offers one-week packages to South Africa in the region of Rs 1.5 lakh
• Ezeego1 offers a 5 nights/6 days Thailand holiday package starting at Rs 52,556 per person

From Australia to Alaska
SUB-Rs 2.5 LAKH PER HEAD

With this budget, the world is your oyster. You can avail the James Bond package to Las Vegas and enjoy a true-blue 007 experience with personal lifts, private helicopter rides and a luxurious floor all to yourself. This year, Australia too is finding itself on the travel maps. With pristine beaches, gourmet dining, affordable shopping, spectacular landscapes and a mix of colonial heritage and Aboriginal lore, the country offers a holistic travel experience. Moreover, Tourism Australia has come up with some amazing offers to lure the Indian tourist. There are some cool festivals that one can attend as well while there, the most awaited of these being Vivid Sydney to be held in June. Eclectic performances by local and international musicians, talks and debates by leading thinkers and spectacular shows will take place at the illuminated Sydney Opera House. Bollywood seems to be inspiring vacation choices as well. A holiday to Spain, Morocco and Portugal too is becoming a popular option, thanks to the success of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, with cruises being lapped up by the tourists. Another popular choice is a 7-night cruise of Alaska. You can attend the famous Iditarod dog sled race or spend days in the wild outdoors canoeing, trekking and biking around.

Packages

• A 16-day trip to Spain, Morocco and Portugal by Trafalgar India starts at $2,699
• Ezeego1 offers a 10 night/11 days Majestic Australia starting at Rs 2,41,499 per person
• A 7-night cruise of Alaska starts at Rs 2.39 lakh

Amazing Amazon
Rs 5-10 LAKH PER HEAD

The verdict is unanimous. The well-heeled, inquisitive and adventurous traveller is opting for South America this season. You would think that with FIFA 2014 taking place in Brazil this summer, all the tourists would be heading there, while ignoring all the other marvels that the continent offers, but you are wrong. While Brazil surely is on the itinerary, it is the ancient Inca legends and vibrant way of life that is bringing tourists to South America.

Learn to mix the perfect Caipirinha or watch gems being transformed into spectacular jewels at a workshop in Rio de Janeiro. Meet an expert winemaker at a vineyard and enjoy the pampas experience in Argentina, and then move on to witness the marvels of Machu Picchu in Peru. Round off the trip with a visit to the mysterious Easter Islands and the jungles of the Amazon.

Packages

• For 22-day trip of the Icons of South America contact Trafalgar India. The packages start at $8,303. These are land-only packages and involve additional costs
• Ezeego1 offers a 14 nights/15 days Inca Explorer package, starting at Rs 3,09,415.
  

(Additional costs like FIFA tickets and personal expenses will increase the price of the package)

Thomas Cook offers another option with a package to USA and Russia in this price bracket with the opportunity to fly a zero gravity fighter jet all by yourself

For an out-worldly holiday
SKY IS THE LIMIT

Why confine yourself to set itineraries and oft-trodden tracks when you can create a vacation out of a fantasy novel. Embark on a chartered voyage of the world on a luxurious jet or rent an entire island in the Caribbean for a Robinson Crusoe-style experience. Islands like Musha Cay in the Bahamas, owned by illusionist David Copperfield, have five guesthouses and can accommodate as many as 24 guests. Embark on a treasure hunt or indulge in deep-sea diving, all in your exclusive garden of Eden. Or why not look beyond the realms of the earth to embark on a space voyage. There are operators like the Adventure Travel Company which offer the VIP Astronaut package which involves training in zero gravity and then embarking on a first class flight from the Spaceport in Mojave, Florida or Curacao to a distance of 103 kilometres above the earth. You can also check into the ICEHOTEL, located in Jukkasjärvian, an especially designed structure from 1,000 tonnes of river ice and 30,000 tonnes of snice, or snow and ice. Or soak yourself in luxury at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and the iconic Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, where gourmet dining, personalised service and old-world charm are on offer. Else, embark on a truffle and beer trail in Belgium or indulge in a spa experience at South Africa's award winning Karkloof spa set in a private game reserve.

Packages

• The per-day rent of Musha Cay is around $37,500 for 12 guests. For information, check, mushacay.com
• The VIP Astronaut package starts at $142,000, excluding personal and visa expenses. Check atcspace.com
• For indulgence packages to Iceland, Paris, Belgium, South Africa and Hong Kong, contact Thomas Cook India