Category: Short Escapes

Even during the most depressing of times, there can often emerge a bright piece of news. In Venice, one of the world’s greatest tourist spots, marine life has come back to attract the crowd. Swans, dolphins and plenty of fish are seen again in the Venetian canals, much to the delight of the local people. With the advent of the corona virus, there are hardly any tourists in Italy and the same can be said about Venice, known for its canals. Tourists often take gondola rides down these canals, but with the country under a lock down there are hardly ... Read more

With the monsoons on their way out and the slight nip on winter setting in, it’s time to begin planning your winter breaks! City life can be busy and may prevent you from organizing long haul vacations, but we’ve got here the top 6 places that would make for the perfect short winter break. Within comfortable driving distances of Mumbai and Pune, these are too tempting to pass! Maharashtra has the perfect winter weather, with the Sahyadris providing the cold without the chills. The range is dotted with several gems that make for amazing hideaways from the city crowds. Here ... Read more

A Shaman healer has introduced a pioneering programme at Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal, revealing ancient secrets to ‘hack the human DNA’ to prevent disease and increase longevity. Dr Alberto Villoldo’sGrow a New Body programme runs from November 03 to 10 at the five-star luxury resort. It combines the ancient wisdom of Shamanic healers with latest advances in neuroscience, medicine and nutrition. A world-renowned psychologist, anthropologist and shamanic healer, Dr Villoldo was the youngest clinical professor at San Francisco State University. He later spent 25 years studying shamanic healing practices in the Amazon and Andes before founding the world-renowned Four Winds ... Read more

Nature lovers and adventure seekers looking for a true taste of the Emirati lifestyle don’t have to look any further. Al Badayer Oasis by Mysk, the third gem in Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)’s ‘Sharjah Collection’, nestled in central Sharjah’s lively Al Badayer Desert, is now welcoming guests. This picturesque oasis is first of its kind in the UAE with a unique design inspired by traditional Emirati heritage. It is the ultimate desert experience nestled in Al Badayer Desert’s burnt orange dunes, which are famously known to be ‘made for adventure’. Al Badayer is one of the most popular ... Read more

The Kingdom of Cambodia has more to offer than the stunning temples of Ankor; the tropical beaches, colonial buildings and an abundance of natural attractions await you there at this destination which is slowly recovering from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge’s reign. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the major attractions in Cambodia… Angkor Archaeological Park The Angkor Archaeological Park, located about four miles north of the city center is a 150-square-mile complex, which includes the famous Angkor Wat Temple. Angkor Wat, the Buddhist temple complex here, is the largest religious monument in the world and sees steady ... Read more

Sharjah is a perfect destination for tourists who are into art & culture, adventure and food. Known for its rich cultural heritage and its picturesque landscape, the vibrant destination is also pocket-friendly and an ideal weekend getaway as it’s only a few hours’ flight time from India. Art & Culture Sharjah Art Foundation – Located in Sharjah’s historic Art and Heritage Areas, Sharjah Art Foundation activities and events take place throughout the year and include exhibitions featuring the work of Arab and international artists, performances, music, film screenings and artist talks as well as extensive art education programmes for children, ... Read more

An adventure that will leave you breathless! Take a swim in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea and explore the first Underwater Military Museum offering underwater enthusiasts 19 fascinating relics of battles. The military machines are stationed along the coral reefs imitating a battle tactical formation, that have formed the most exciting underwater escapade, intriguing divers and snorkelers to discover more and more of the dive site, not expecting what to see next and leaving them with a totally unique experience. After 30 days of scanning, photographing and planning, the blueprints for scuttling are ready, and the Aqaba ... Read more

Portugal has hit the limelight and is at the center of attention as a spectacular tourist destination with Bollywood’s two biggest action superstars shooting a sequence in this stunning country! Known for its natural landscapes, as well as history, culture and cuisine; the landscapes of Portugal have been used in the film “War”, the hottest Bollywood action film starring superstars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff who have shot a “dangerous” bike chase sequence on Portugal’s highest mountain peak Serra da Estrela for the film. “For one big action chase sequence, they had to drive superbikes at high speed on top ... Read more

Beyond Israel’s most popular tourist attractions – such as Jerusalem’s Old City, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv’s White City – the diverse country has lush forests to the north and a vibrant desert to the south, offering ample opportunities for adventure travelers to explore. Whether visitors are looking to rappel off an arch into a great and beautiful abyss, hike cross country or swim among the dolphins, adventure tourism in Israel is booming. Spanning only 263 miles, adventure-seekers will appreciate Israel’s offerings for adventurers of every level and interest, whether they are traveling north, south, east or west. In ... Read more

A trip to Mleiha is like stepping back in time. The past few decades of excavations have turned up more and more evidence, dating back as far as the Palaeolithic age, that establishes how important the region is archaeologically. Many of these discoveries can be experienced by visitors as part of the Archaeological Tours conducted by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre. However, Mleiha is a lot more than just archaeology digs. It holds a vast field of exciting discovery for the nature lover as well. The region has a plethora of flora and fauna including some rare plants and animals that ... Read more

Global icon, Bollywood star and former Miss Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez visited Sri Lanka as the first guest under Cinnamon’s ‘Bring a Friend Home’ (BAFH) campaign. This unique initiative by Cinnamon is to encourage Sri Lankans living here and overseas as well as expats in the country to nominate their foreign friends to visit the island nation. Hence, the hotel chain hosted Jacqueline from 10th to 14th August and created unique experiences for her in the country. As a Sri Lankan herself who is proud to support the recovery of the tourism industry, Jacqueline kick started the initiative by travelling ... Read more

Sharjah’s unique appeal lies in its celebration of heritage and traditional Emirati culture. Today, the emirate has made clever use of its landscapes and history to offer a wide variety of activities and attractions that meld together the historical and the contemporary. Below are our top 8 picks, which you should not miss when in Sharjah: Rain Room: After being launched in London then visiting New York, Los Angeles and Shanghai, the Rain Room, an immersive art installation created by Random International is now permanently housed at the Sharjah Art Foundation. When visitors enter the Rain Room, they are directed to ... Read more

Here’s everything you need to do before you plan a Golf Holiday in Thailand, where you can enjoy the ultimate experience of teeing off at the most stunning and Exclusive Golf Courses In Thailand plus all the amazing shopping, beaches, sight-seeing, and food that the country offers. Black Mountain, Hua Hin: Black Mountain Golf Club is an exclusive golf community ten kilometres west of the quaint city of Hua Hin, Thailand. It was the first course in Thailand to be included in US Golf Digest’s list of the Best 100 Courses Outside the United States. Today, Black Mountain Golf Club ... Read more

Israel is every Epicurean’s dream destination and a wide variety of cafés serve everything from Arabic, European to Asian fare. But no matter what one picks, the food in the Jewish heartland will always be infused with the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, the goodness of fresh dairy products and meats, garnished with garden crisp fruits, nuts and vegetables. Here’s a low down on dishes you must indulge in whether you’re in a market, street or at a restaurant in Israel Challah – A special Jewish ceremonial bread, braided and brushed with egg white that is baked to perfection Sabich ... Read more

There’s an old saying in Jordan: “Even when you’re full, you can still always eat 40 more bites of food.” Food is a very important aspect of Jordanian culture and is held as a community event with immediate and extended family present. In addition, food is commonly used by Jordanians to express their hospitality and generosity, food is served with great pride irrespective of how modest their means may be. Typically, a ‘Jordanian invitation’ means that you are expected to bring nothing and eat everything. Most of the celebrations in Jordan are exceptionally diverse in nature and quite festive at ... Read more