The national Bardo Museum in Tunis has reopened after a refurbishment

The national Bardo Museum

The museum, in an old Beylic palace dating back to the XIXth Century, retraces Tunisia’s history from Prehistory to the contemporary and contains the largest collection of mosaics in the world. 

There is also a collection of Punic jewels as well as a gallery of Roman sarcophaguses and Christian baptisteries. 

One of the highlights is a Roman ship’s cargo wrecked off the coast of Cape Africa, facing the town of Mahdia, with its Hellenistic Greek art master pieces: bronze pieces, marble sculptures, and furniture. 

* www.bardomuseum.tn and www.discovertunisia.com 

* Fakhri Khalsi at fakhri.khalsi@discovertunisia.com

Djerba Island has been placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List

Djerba island, which covers nearly 198 square miles, is located in the Gulf of Gabes on the Mediterranean Sea. 

It is known for its religious diversity, has ancient mosques, churches and synagogues and natural landscape. 

Thousands of Jewish visitors visit the El Ghriba synagogue built 2,400 years ago for Jewish prayers and rituals. www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/1640 

There are now nineTunisian sites on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, with the others being the : 

 Amphitheatre of El Jem 

 Archaeological Site of Carthage 

 the Medina of Tunis 

 Ichkeul National Park 

 the Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis 

 Kairouan, Medina of Sousse, and 

 the Dougga archeological site. www.whc.unesco.org/en 

*  www.discovertunisia.com 

*  Fakhri Khalsi at fakhri.khalsi@discovertunisia.com

Escape to the Sahara as Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas Celebrates the Relaunch of Direct Flights from Paris to Tozeur

Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas 

Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas, a stunning oasis in the heart of the Tunisian desert, welcomes guests to discover the rich culture and history of the region with the return of direct flights from the end of October from Paris to Tozeur. Operated by Transavia on Mondays and Fridays throughout the winter season, the new route makes it possible for travellers from Europe to reach the resort in three hours.

To mark the start of the balmy winter season, the resort is also relaunching its signature Berber Nights experience, a unique dining concept that showcases the authentic cuisine and traditions of the nomadic Berber people. Guests can enjoy a sumptuous feast of grilled meats, oriental and Tunisian salads, and date- and honey-based desserts under a canopy of stars in a traditional tent setting. The experience is available exclusively from October to May, when the weather is ideal for desert exploration.

The resort, which is located only six kilometres away from Tozeur-Nefta International Airport, offers more than just a gastronomic adventure. Guests can also immerse themselves in the local culture and heritage by visiting the ancient city of Tozeur, which boasts a magnificent 14th-century medina, or exploring the nearby date palmeries and abandoned villages of Chebika, Tamerza and Mides, where some of the Star Wars scenes were filmed, on horseback.

For those who want to learn how to cook Berber dishes, the resort’s Spice Spoons cooking school offers interactive classes with expert chefs, while a Stargazing Guru leads private astrology sessions of the desert sky. Alternatively, guests can create their own bespoke dining experience with Dining by Design, which allows them to choose from a range of stunning locations and menus, or try the signature “Salt Bath” treatment at Anantara Spa named Tunisia’s Best Hotel Spa by World Spa Awards for the second consecutive year.

Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas 

Guests who book the La Toussaint Family Holidays package (from USD 346 per night) can enjoy complimentary stays for children, as well as daily breakfast, welcome amenities, camel riding and other activities. Direct Transavia flights from Paris to Tozeur are available between 30 October 2023 and 29 March 2024. Berber Nights experience is open to guests staying at Anantara Sahara Tozeur, as well as visitors who want to experience a memorable night in the desert for TND 199 per person.

For more information about Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas, please visit www.anantara.com/en/sahara-tozeur. For reservations, email: experience.atoz@anantara.com

* Hedi Semchaoui, Marketing & Communication Manager 
, Anantara Tozeur Sahara Resort hsemchaoui@anantara.com

The Bradt Guide to Tunisia

The new Bardt Tunisia is the first mainstream guidebook to the country since the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2010. Oscar Scafidi Tunisia, the northernmost African country, is bordered by Algeria, Libya and the Med. 

The new Bradt Guide the result of three years’ residence and intensive research by adventurer and travel writer Oscar Scafidi. 

Oscar’s travels took him to historic and archaeological landscapes, from Neolithic dolmens and Punic burial sites to Roman cities and Byzantine forts and to spectacular souks, mosques and minarets. Southern Tunisia is home to a dozen filming locations for the Star Wars films. 

A range of landscapes includes pine-forested mountains and preSaharan savannah. Tunisia also offers beaches, camel-trekking or quad-biking in the Sahara Desert and the moonscapes of Chott el Djerid salt lake. 

In the 2,000-year old capital of Tunis, originally an Amazigh settlement, there is the ancient Medina and Tunisia also has UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the remnants of Ancient Carthage and preserved Roman ruins, such as the world’s second-largest amphitheatre of El Jem? 

Bradt Tunisia offers detailed travel information, over 100 videos QRcoded and has a language appendix for Tunisian Arabic, French, Amazigh and Italian. 

Oscar Scafidi at oscar.scafidi@gmail.com        www.bradtguides.com/product/tunisia-1/ 

Bradt Travel Guides 

Bradt Travel Guides founded in 1974 by Hilary Bradt and her husband George, is one of the world’s leading independent travel publishers. 

 www.bradtguides.com 

 For review copies : Hugh Brune at Hugh.Brune@bradtguides.com

Experience The Wonders of the World In 2022: The Best Twelve Adventures with Anantara

In the era of wanderlust, global nomads seeking to plan their year of adventure need look no further than Anantara’s 2022 travel guide, highlighting a few natural and manmade masterpieces that happen to be on our doorstep. From soaring canyons to deafening waterfalls, engineering phenomenon and remnants of lost ancient civilisations, immerse in the wonders of the world with Anantara.

Admire Mother Nature’s Handiwork with Natural Wonders:

1) Stand on The Edge of Victoria Falls, Zambia

• Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara sits on the edge of the falls and within ear shot of the Mosi-oa-Tunya; which means 'The smoke that thunders.' Anantara guests have unlimited complimentary access to the falls during their stay and for those who dare, take a dip in the Devils Pool, a natural rock ledge with dramatic views over the edge of the falls.

2) Gaze Upon the Green Valley, Oman

• A two-hour drive from Muscat, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar is one of the world’s highest resorts, offering Omani splendour overlooking the fabled Green Mountain. Guests can stargaze from the viewing platform where Princess Diana once sat and scale the Jabal Activity Wall, which offers 200metres of via ferrata snaking across the cliffs and Oman’s first mountain zip lines.

3) Roam the Sahara Desert, Tunisia

• Situated on the edge of a sparkling salt flat, Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas is a luxurious gateway to the majesty of the Sahara. Wake up to desert sun rises from your private pool villa before touring the dramatic Atlas Mountains to abandoned 14th century Berber villages. The out of this world desert landscape served as the filming location for the Star Wars movie, Episode I The Phantom Menace.

4) Misty Mornings Where Three Countries Converge, Thailand

• Slip into serenity in Northern Thailand’s jungle with endless mountain views across the borders of Myanmar and Laos. Zip along the Mekong River in an iconic longtail boat and walk with giants at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort’s neighbouring elephant camp, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to observe elephants in their natural habitat.

Be Spellbound by Man-made Wonders Past and Present:

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel

- The Colosseum, Italy

5) Step Back in Time at The Colosseum, Italy

• Opening in 2022, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel is suspended over the ancient Diocletian Thermal Baths and has original elements commissioned by Pope Clement XI in 1705, its lobby was a filming location for the House of Gucci movie. No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the 1st century Colosseum and Anantara brings a thoroughly modern spin, whizzing guests around the Eternal City in vintage Vespas with side cars.

6) Touch the Clouds at Burj Khalifa, UAE

• The Burj Khalifa boasts several world records including the tallest freestanding structure in the world. The brand new Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort, itself located on a feat of engineering on The World Islands archipelago, offers unobscured views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai’s dramatic skyline.

7) Transcend to Mindfulness at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

• Anantara Angkor Resort is an all-suite luxury hotel in Siem Reap, and the closest to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat. Only 15 minutes away, it offers the perfect base to explore the temples by tuk-tuk, Vespa or helicopter. Unique experiences include Temple Running, where guests can pound the same walkways that Khmer Emperors and Buddhist monks have trod since 802 AD.

8) Submerge in History at The Thermal Baths, Budapest

• Dating to the Roman Empire, Budapest is famous for its mineral rich thermal baths and spa culture. Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel, offers an architectural ode to the Belle Époque era and guests can take a medicinal dip in the world famous thermal baths before touring the city in a vintage VW Campervan to meet local artisans and sample Pálinka.

9) Pilgrimage to Sri Lanka’s Ancient Fortress

• Perched on a rocky outcrop on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle is fringed by golden hued beaches and coconut palms. Soar above the tear drop island’s lush jungles to observe Sirigiya by helicopter. Once the holiday retreat of choice for Kings, this archaeological site offers some of the world’s best-preserved and oldest water gardens.

10) Cruise to Siam’s Ancient Capital, Thailand

• Departing from Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, the Loy Pela Voyages river cruise offers a unique way to experience the River of Kings in ultimate luxury. As Bangkok slips away and riverbanks glide by, observe daily life of orange robed monks before arriving at the old capital of Ayutthaya to explore ancient palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries and statues.

Explore the Mysteries of the Deep with Marine Wonders:

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

- Manta Ray Snorkelling

11) Glide the Ocean with Manta Rays, Maldives

• Dive with manta rays in the protected environment of Hanifaru Bay, with a wingspan of several metres, these fascinating creatures can gather in their 100s during the full moon. Located on the Baa Atoll in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas offers a luxury paradise. Guests can also stargaze into the night at the Maldives’ only over water observatory.

12) Dive with Giants, Thailand

• Drift amid coral gardens and glittering shoals, where marine life flourishes in every imaginable form. Venture from the white sandy shores of Koh Phangan to swim among whale sharks, barracuda and anemones with Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Resort. Thailand’s Southern Islands are world famous, revered for their diving visibility and now is the perfect time to come.

Anantara

Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.

From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 40 stunning hotels and resorts located in Thailand, Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Zambia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Hungary and Italy, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com.

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels

The Holiday and Travel Magazine
https://theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas Celebrates Success At 2020 World Spa Awards

Anantara Spa at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort

Oman's Best Resort Spa

Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas worldwide has received a total of 11 top accolades at the World Spa Awards 2020, with Anantara Spa recognised as the World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand for the fourth consecutive year.

Named the World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand at the 2017, 2018, and 2019 World Spa Awards, Anantara Spa has retained this title in 2020 and once again has been named  the World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand, as officially announced on Wednesday 28 October.

As the most prominent awards programme in the spa tourism industry, the prestigious World Spa Awards serve to celebrate and reward excellence in spa tourism. Nominated contenders are voted for by professionals working within the spa industry - senior executives, travel buyers, tour operators, agents and media - and by the public.

The first round of the selection process saw an impressive total of 43 nominations for Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas in 15 countries across Europe, Middle East, Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa and South America.

Properties in the Middle East and Africa led the way for Anantara Spa with six awards scooped by this region. The honour of Oman's Best Resort Spa went to Anantara Spa at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort for the second year running; Anantara Spa at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara was crowned Qatar's Best Hotel Spa; while Anantara Spa at Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara was announced as Abu Dhabi's Best Resort Spa.

Anantara also saw strong results for three resorts in Africa with the award for Tunisia's Best Hotel Spa going to the recently opened Anantara Spa at Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas. The award for Zambia’s Best Safari Spa went to Anantara Spa at The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara, and the title of Mozambique's Best Resort Spa was awarded to Anantara Spa at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort. 

In Thailand, Anantara Spa at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort was voted Thailand's Best Resort Spa, while Anantara Spa at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas earned the title Malaysia's Best Resort Spa. 

Representing Anantara Spa in South America, Anantara Spa at Tivoli Eco Resort Praia do Forte in Brazil received two awards - the prestigious award for Latin America's Best Resort Spa and Brazil's Best Resort Spa. 

Meanwhile in Europe, Tivoli Spa at sister property Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort was voted Portugal's Best Resort Spa by World Spa Awards. 

Zoe Wall, Group Director of Spa for Mspa International, the corporate division of Spa and Wellness for Minor Hotels, said: “We are delighted that Anantara Spa has been recognised by voters of the World Spa Awards as the World’s Best Hotel Spa Brand for the fourth year in a row. Receiving this award for our continuous efforts is deeply touching and very rewarding for the teams, particularly during these challenging times for the spa and hospitality industry. Anantara Spa will continue to adapt, innovate and remain agile to ensure we pave the way forward for the spa and wellness industry to keep thriving because wellness, now more than ever before, is at the forefront of everyone’s mind.” 

Drawing upon Thailand’s wellness traditions, cultural inspirations and therapeutic ingredients, Anantara Spa offers unique signature journeys deeply rooted in authentic luxury, holistic practices and indigenous experiences. Now using chemical-free products, treatments and rituals are inspired by the Thai origins of Anantara, while innovative modern therapies and natural products promise the highest definition of relaxation and pampering.

Anantara Spas are a haven of peace and tranquillity – an utterly relaxing and rejuvenating experience in unique settings. Currently, Anantara Spa operates over 40 spas in 16 countries across Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Europe.

Every treatment at Anantara Spa is performed by highly trained and specialised therapists. These spa experts tailor perfect experiences from comprehensive menus of massages, body and facial treatments, bringing together exclusive ingredients and aromas, and time-honoured techniques to promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Anantara Spa at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

Thailand's Best Resort Spa

World Spa Awards™ is a dynamic awards programme, launched in 2015 and designed to drive up standards within spa tourism by rewarding the organisations that are the leaders in the field. World Spa Awards was established in response to overwhelming demand from the spa industry for a programme that was fair and transparent; a programme with a mission to serve as the definitive benchmark of excellence, and to help to foster a new era of growth in spa tourism.

For more information about spa and wellness with Anantara Hotels and Resorts, visit https://www.anantara.com/en/spa-and-wellness

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp

Tunisia is one of the destinations to secure the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Safe Travels Global Safety Stamp.

The stamp will allow travellers to recognise governments and companies around the world that have adopted globally standardised health and hygiene protocols. Those eligible to apply for the Safe Travels include hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation and airports, They will be able to display the stamp once the health and hygiene protocols, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented.

The global protocols, to aid the travel and tourism sectors recovery, have been embraced by over 1,200 companies, including some of the world’s major tourism groups, and over 80 destinations. The World Travel & Tourism Council The WTTC represents the global private sector of travel and tourism, with a mission to ensure the sector is seamless, secure, safe, inclusive and sustainable.

Websites:  www.wttc.org/COVID-19/SafeTravels-Stamp-and-Assets, 

www.wttc.org and 

www.discovertunisia.com/en

Escape to Remote Destinations with Anantara. Indulge in Thrill Seeking Experiences and Secluded Luxury

Anantara Golden Triangle
Pool View

Renowned for crafting journeys of adventure and discovery in some of the world’s most captivating destinations, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas invites guests to its most far-flung resorts to indulge in sequestered luxury. From Africa to Asia, Anantara offers exclusive reopening packages from the edge of the Sahara Desert, to the thunderous rumble of the Victoria Falls, or to immerse in the age-old charms of Central Vietnam. Anantara welcomes back guests looking for exclusive luxury in secluded destinations with a series of tantalising experience led stays.    

Anantara Tozeur Resort, Tunisia

Newly opened at the end of 2019, Anantara Tozeur Resort offers unrivalled desert luxury in the Southwest of Tunisia in the ancient medina town of Tozeur, a gateway to ancient cultural and desert wonders. Wake to sunrise over the sparkling Chott El Djerd salt flats stretching as far as the eye can see beyond the private pools of luxurious villas. By day professional drivers whisk guests safely through undulating dunes and stark savannas to nearby abandoned 14th century Berber villages and mirage-like desert oases. As night falls, feast on traditional Tunisian fare beneath the stars or enjoy Asian flavours with multiple dining options.  

The Desert Pool Villas package is based on two adults sharing a One-Bedroom Pool Villa and includes: 

• Rates from TND 1,400 per villa per night
• Half board basis consisting of daily breakfast and dinner   
• One half day excursion – a choice of Village Exploration or The Nefta Oasis
• Two 30-minute massages at Anantara Spa
• Return transfers to Tozeur International Airport 
• Minimum stay of three nights
• Valid from September 1^st - December 22^nd 2020 and January 5^th - December 21^st 2021
• To book visit https://mhg.to/i1205 or www.anantara.com with promo code: Villa2021 

The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara, Zambia

Get up close and personal with the Victoria Falls, one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders, with the ultimate adrenaline-filled package at The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara. Located on the banks of the Zambezi River, the renowned property enjoys peerless views of the spray of the iconic Falls, with unlimited complimentary access for guests via the hotel’s private entrance a short walk away. 

Perfect for thrill-seekers, The Royal Livingstone Experience package includes all manners of experiences covering air, land and water. Take to the skies by helicopter to soar over the dramatic Bakota Gorge and observe the awe-inspiring scenery of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Enjoy a private river safari for game and bird viewing lead by an experienced guide. Back at the resort, dine on regional delicacies and spot the wildlife including zebras and giraffe that roam the hotel grounds. 

The Royal Livingstone Experience package is designed for two guests sharing a double or twin room with rates starting from USD 973 per room, per night. The package includes:   

• Accommodation in a Deluxe Room on a B&B basis
• One 15-minute helicopter or microlight flight experience   
• Half-day river rafting experience 
• Private river safari cruise with breakfast or lunch
• Welcome cocktail with bar snacks at Travellers Bar per person per stay
• Three-course dinner with wine tasting at The Old Drift restaurant 
• USD 45 credit per person per stay for lunch at Kubu deck   

A minimum of three nights’ stay is required, and the package is valid until 30^th December 2021. Some blackout dates apply. 

For more information or to book visit https://mhg.to/fxzhx  or email reservations.africa@minorhotels.com / royallivingstone@anantara.com 

Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, Vietnam  

Remote destinations don’t come more exclusive than the opportunity to completely buy out Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, on the central coast of Vietnam. Set on a secluded beach against a backdrop of dramatic verdant mountainside, the 26 ocean-facing luxury villas at Anantara Quy Nhon each boast private infinity-style swimming pools, expansive outdoor decking areas and stunning views of the picturesque Bay of Quy Nhon. 

This Vietnamese paradise offers its own private beach and a large main swimming pool with a swim-up bar to sip on artisan cocktails as the twinkling lights of the fishing boats in the bay come alive. Delectable dining options can be savoured in the resort’s Sea.Fire.Salt. restaurant, poolside, or even in the privacy of the villa deck. 

Anantara Quy Nhon Villas private resort buy out package can be fully customised and starts from USD 43,000 per night, including:

• 26 private pool villas with floor-to-ceiling windows, large sundeck area and oversized bathtubs overlooking the bay
• Villa host services
• Exclusive use of Sea.Fire.Salt. restaurant
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner with selected wines, beers, soft drinks, tea and coffee on a free-flow basis during these times
• Private beach and large swimming pool with swim-up bar
• Exclusive use of the fitness centre
• Unlimited spa treatments at Anantara Spa
• Stay With Peace of Mind Hygiene programme applied

To tailor-make your private resort buy out package, please contact quynhon.villas@anantara.com

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar  Infinity Pool

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Oman

Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on Oman’s famed ‘Green Mountain’, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar provides the perfect secluded escape, with endless fresh mountain air, cooling canyon edge pools and thrilling mountain adventures.

The Best Of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Experiences package includes many of the resort’s outstanding experiences. Culture and adventure enthusiasts can explore the remarkable surrounding landscapes and take to the newest Jabal Activity Wall for a mountain climbing and zipline challenge. Those looking to simply relax can enjoy the luxurious facilities, take a dip in their own private pool and enjoy a bespoke dining experience with canyon views.

The Best of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Experiences package is based on two adults sharing a double or twin room, with rates starting from USD 732 (OMR 282) per room per night.

• Accommodation at a Canyon Cliff Pool Villa
• Half board basis consisting of breakfast and dinner at three restaurants 
• One Dining by Design dinner, either in-villa or at Diana’s Point
• One experience of Jabal Activity Wall
• One experience of Natural Hike or Cultural Walk of your choice 
• Return transfers from Muscat International Airport to the resort in luxury 4x4 cars

A minimum of four nights’ stay is required, and the package is valid until 31^st October 2021. Some blackout dates apply. To book, please contact reservations.aaja@anantara.com

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Thailand

Unfolding across 160 acres of Northern Thailand’s ancient jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is perched on a hill overlooking the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, with grazing elephants in the most stunning of natural settings below.  The luxury resort is world-famous for its elephant camp, set up to help vulnerable ex-street begging elephants and provides an optimum way of getting to know the elephants responsibly.

In a world-first, Anantara Golden Triangle enables guests to spend the night with Thailand’s majestic elephants in their natural habitat while sleeping in unique transparent Jungle Bubbles.  

The all-inclusive Jungle Bubble Adventure package is designed for two guests sharing a room for three nights.  Rates start from USD 2,850 per person for a total of three nights and include:

• Two nights in a Deluxe Three Country View Room and one night in a Jungle Bubble
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner inclusive of soft drinks and select alcoholic beverages
• Round trip private transfers from and to Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) 
• VIP Elephant arrival longtail boat ride from Chiang Saen to the resort
• One unforgettable activity for every night stayed from a choice of: Elephant Experience, Golden Triangle Discovery Excursion, Spice Spoons or Spa Discovery Package
• Signature Dining By Design experience
• One 90-minute sunrise Yoga session with private instructor and one guided meditation session in a Buddhist temple with a monk

The package is valid from 1^st October 2020 until 31^st October 2021. For more information or to book visit https://mhg.to/8cbcw, contact goldentriangle@anantara.com or call +66 5378 4084. 

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara  Aerial View

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, United Arab Emirates

On the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest sand desert – the Empty Quarter – beckons. Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara rises up from flame-coloured dunes like a mirage, inviting adventure in the most luxurious of surrounds.

Located 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi, the resort is a magical haven for an escape, with some exciting new experiences launching with its reopening in August 2020. Set half a kilometre from the main resort amidst the rolling desert, the Royal Pavilion Villas are ten standalone pool villas tailored for privacy in an enchanting environment and offering extraordinary desert adventures. 

The Royal Desert Hideaway package is based on two adults sharing a One-Bedroom Pool Villa and starts from AED 3,999 per villa per night. The package includes: 

• Accommodation in a Royal Pavilion Villa with a private pool
• Daily in-villa breakfast 
• One activity per guest during the stay 
• Two 15-minute relaxing neck and shoulder massages at the Anantara Spa, per stay
• Personal Villa Host

For more information or to book, visit https://www.anantara.com/en/royal-pavilion-abu-dhabi or email res.auh@anantara.com for stays from the 15^th August 2020 until 15^th April 2021.

Stay With Peace of Mind

To ensure guests feel safe and secure during their stay at all Anantara properties, the new Stay With Peace of Mind programme builds on existing health and safety measures for heightened sanitisation and hygiene. Every Anantara property has a dedicated ‘Guest Guardian’ responsible for ensuring regular disinfection and implementing social distancing measures where appropriate. From the fully sanitised airport transfers to the breakfast experience, guest to team member interactions are minimised to ensure that guest safety and wellbeing remains the utmost priority.

Tunisia : #ready_and_safe

Tozeur

Tunisia is a North African country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert.

Its capital, Tunis, has the Bardo Museum with archaeological exhibits from Roman mosaics to Islamic art. To the east, the site of ancient Carthage features the Antonine Baths and other ruins, plus artifacts at the Carthage National Museum. 

Tunisia has seen a good recovery rate and its early health care strategy of isolating travellers meant many infections were avoided.

There is regular disinfection with UV and a fleet of mobile laboratories to carry out tests and analyse them quickly.

Tunisia has seen a good recovery rate and its early health care strategy of isolating travellers meant many infections were avoided.

It is now fully ready to begin welcoming visitors safely and has also started introducing measures to guarantee the safety of its people and future visitors.

Robots monitor the streets as do drones equipped with microphones and thermal imaging cameras.

There is regular disinfection with UV and a fleet of mobile laboratories to carry out tests and analyse them quickly.

In order to reassure travellers and prepare for the return to normality, the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts has established strict health and hygiene measure and created a Ready and Safe certification label that all those in the tourism trade in Tunisiamust apply for and comply with. 

Website: www.discovertunisia.com

Follow in the steps of Star Wars!

Sidi Bou Said

1st Day Tunis Airport / Sidi Bou Said / Hotel in Gammarth

• Personalized welcome of guests at the airport, assistance through customs.
• Departure to the hotel Dar Said or La Villa Bleu boutique hotel, welcome cocktail at check in.
• Evening Visit Sidi Bou Said stroll through the narrow streets of Sidi Bou Said, a picturesque small town bordered by white-washed houses with blue shutters and doors. Check out the various art galleries and try some mint tea in one of the traditional street cafes while enjoying the superb view of the gulf of Tunisia. Then, spend some leisure time to indulge in shopping.
• Welcome cocktail in Nejma Zahra The Mediterranean Music Centre is located in this Moorish Palace which used to be the belonging of the Baron d Erlanger.
• Dinner in restaurant Dar Zarrouk in Sidi Bou Said The Dar Zarrouk is located in the heart of the village. Its charming white terrace offers a breathtaking view of the Tunis Gulf
• Return to the hotel and overnight.

2nd Day Excursion Carthage Bardo museum Medina, then flight to Djerba Island

• After breakfast, check-out and departure to explore Carthage UNESCO World Heritage Site, the capital of ancient Carthaginian Empire. Visit Byrsa Hill to see the ruins of Roman buildings and Carthage Museum. See the Tophet, where urns containing the ashes and milk teeth of 8th century BC children have been unearthed. Visit Antonine Baths, a huge Roman bath complex on the edge of the Mediterranean.
• Take an opportunity to see the theatre and Punic Port.
• Then visit of Bardo Museum closed on Mondays, one of the best archaeological museums in the Mediterranean, which is especially well-known for its beautiful collection of mosaics. The museum is located in an old palace that belongs to the Beys, rulers of Tunisia.
• Enjoy lunch in restaurant Dar El Jeld in the Medina of Tunis, this restaurant is special and you know it from the moment you see the grand bee-yellow door, which leads to an elaborate 18th century mansion. The decor is a bit like a lavishly decorated jewellery box and the dining room is magnificent. The "alcove" tables are arranged around a "secluded" courtyard. The Tunisian dishes are delicious and the twanging tones of and "elderly" musician accompany your meal.
• After, visit the Medina where we will see the old Tunisia which includes the Medina, the European quarter built at the beginning of the 20th century and the new modern suburbs. For more than 500 years, the Medina has been the historic heart of Tunis and UNESCO has classified it as a World Heritage Site due to its fascinating and exotic maze of streets. We will stop by the Zaitouna Mosque from outside, mosque of Sidi Mehrez and the mausoleum of the Husainides princes.
• 4.30 pm Departure to ATC airport and flight at 6.15 pm to Djerba Island.
• 7.30 pm Transfer to the hotel Hasdrubal Djerba or Radisson, welcome cocktail at check in.
• Dinner in Haroun restaurant.

3rd Day Djerba-Tataouine-Chenini-Douiret-Matmata -Tamezret

• After breakfast, departure in 4X4 vehicles for a panoramic visit of the island it is a beautiful place, in 2008, it has been announced by the American travel guide Trip Advisor, as the best tourist destination. In the same year, the New York Times also picked Tunisia as the 3rd best place in the world to visit.
• After, proceed to Tataouine, also known as Luke Skywalker is fictional home Planet Tatooine in Star Wars. This district is famous for its fortified citadels called ksars, and their interlocking cells known as ghorfas. Thereafter, explore 2 Berber mountain villages, Douiret and Chenini, which are hillcrest villages containing fortified granaries once used by the local Berber tribes to protect their food supplies from Arab invaders.
• Visit the mosque of the seven sleepers and lunch in restaurant Kinza A spacious cave with its serving as khazna troglodyte; A family-style kitchen fully equipped for art traditional cuisine. A ghorfa with a rich iconography of symbolic ksourienne with two terraces overlooking the citadel.
• Continue to Matmata and explore its famous troglodytes hung on the side of the mountain, 600 meters above sea level, this village of just 2,000 inhabitants is renowned for its remarkable troglodyte dwellings that make it one of the most important places of Tunisian tourism. The underground houses were built to protect the Berbers from the intense heat in the summer. This type of construction already existed 3000 years ago.
• Visit of the Sidi Driss hotel which served as a backdrop for Star Wars by George Lucas.
• Continue to Amazigh village Tamezret which is a small millenary Berber village, located 15 km from the village of Matmata on the road to Douz, there, we find old dwellings, hidden caves, abandoned oil mills. an atmosphere just like the middle ages.
• Installation in Dar Ayed Gite.
• Typical Dinner with Folklore of the area and overnight.

4th Day Tamezret-Douz-Tozeur-Ong Jemel-Tozeur

• After breakfast, visit the Berber Museum which is full of culture, history and rich by the Amazigh traditions.
• Then continue to Douz which is known as the door of the Sahara It is currently a destination for many tourists to visit the dunes of Grand Erg Oriental. The city is home to one of the most characteristic markets in the country where handicrafts are daily sold, but also donkeys and dromedaries once a week.
• Departure to Tozeur, photo stop at Chott El Jerid mirage, depending on the season the sun is almost permanent in this region. The salt and the sun make this space a unique and wonderful place.
• Arrival at Tozeur, visit the Medina, check in in boutique hotel Dar Habibi and lunch.
• Departure to Ong Jemel resembling the head and neck of a dromedary, where erosion combined with water and wind has sculpted spectacular forms. One of the shooting locations of Star Wars and English Patient.
• Return to the hotel.
• After, departure by Horse carriage to Eden Palm Museum, welcome cocktail, Dinner and team building at the Eden palm a palm museum, palm grove where you can taste products with dates with the possibility of purchasing these products. Folklore evening and typical dinner in the heart of the oasis.
• Return to the hotel.

5th Day Tozeur-Chebika-Tameghza-Mides-Gafsa-Kairouan-Hammamet

• After breakfast, visit Chebika, Tameghza and Mides. These three mountain oases located on the Saharian limes are linking Tebessa to Gafsa It is in this region of mountain oases that are shot some scenes of the movie The English Patient. The old village of Mides is hung on the edge of a canyon where there are fossils and colourful minerals. The new village of Mides is at the heart of the neighbouring palm grove which provides dates, oranges and figs.
• Lunch in Gafsa at Jugurtha Hotel.
• Then continue to visit Kairouan The Capital of the Muslim Maghreb stands as one of the most important features of Islam mainly The Great Mosque, the Medina and other impressive monuments such as the Aghlabiden pools, The Sidi Sahbi Mausoleum its magnificent ceramics.
• Departure to Hammamet, dinner and accommodation in hotel Badira or Hasdrubal 5*.

6th Day Tunis-Airport 70 km

• After breakfast, check out and visit panoramic of Hammamet Yasmine, and the Spanish Fortress before your transfer to the airport.

For more information, requests and/or rates, please kindly contact Mrs. Moufida Ameur at tunisia@euromic.com

Promotion of Tourism in Tunisia: Nothing Revolutionary

A shock wave, a wind that blows a spring. If democracy has the smell of jasmine in Tunisia, French, glued to their screens, have not lost a crumb of youth self-immolation in the street to protest that swells ... repressed in blood. Then there were scenes of jubilation, the flight of Ben Ali. Riots acquire the status of revolution, a word that should not scare children in 1789. But to fulfill what the French Tunisian hotels this summer, tourism professionals doubt on both sides of the Mediterranean.

And figures of Tunisian National Tourist Office gives them reason to worry. Revenues declined 40%, 60% drop overnight stays. Percentages "well below the reality," for Sylvie Messai, president of the association Tunisia otherwise. She just came back and says: "Except in Hammamet where there are some individual tourists, hotels are empty everywhere and especially in the south. Everyone is unemployed. Restaurants, car rental, guides, they are ready, but expect ... While the period from February to April is important. " To attract tourists, it is necessary to reassure him. "The message must first focus on safety. This is not anarchy, the Tunisian people has always been full of restrained and even today it has not yet fully accustomed to freedom, "she says.

Once refreshed the tourist, it is still necessary to seduce him. Mehdi Houas transitional minister of tourism in Tunisia took the lead, releasing 60 million dinars (30 million euros) for the sector. He launched a few weeks ago in a large hexagon campaign in his country. The design was entrusted to a communication agency in Paris, Bygmalion, Tunisians cringe. Two emerging slogans: "I love Tunisia" and "Free at last ... to tan. " Communication that resembles a "DIY hurry. The operation would have required several months of reflection, but they were quickly position identity at odds with the previous regime, "Pierre Frustier analysis, communication researcher in tourism at the University of Nantes.While the message is bland compared to the passions unleashed even Tunisia. But Sylvie Messai particularly regret this "golden opportunity" to break with Tunisia starred hotels with swimming pool lined beachfront, which has not seized the ministry.  

 

"The Tunisian tourism suffers long, it is more suitable for application today to get out of the box. Those who come to the hotel, see nothing of the country and did not want to return. Even communicate by telling them that the country has changed, their mean anything, they have not seen. " She wanted to be put forward architectural heritage, gastronomy, culture, rather than "tour operators selling off stays at the expense of the local economy."

This is the idea that also defends the Graduate Institute of Tourism Studies of Sidi Bou Said.    Researchers and practitioners are invited to think "after three S's (sun, sand, sea)," at a conference in mid-May Director of Intitut, Cheriffa Lakhoua, develops, "the triptych does not work, the revolution must be accompanied by a transition tourist. The tourism product today should be cultural, artistic, and it is becoming sunbathing accessory. "

In his eyes, the promotion of tourism must convey a political message. If we had left the reins, she told tourists "Come participate in the claim, come see equal and open Tunisia has changed." A communication strategy that can also "target" its tourist Bidochon finished, the tourist of tomorrow will be "committed", she noted. And Cheriffa Lakhoua cited to support the stay of Olivier Besancenot, "the revolutionary who had never seen a revolution."By Noemie Rousseau