SNOW OR SAND IN REJUVINATED BEIRUT

Posted on 2010-01-25

Beirut’s reputation as the Paris of the Middle East has been making a sprightly comeback of late. And of course, with that comes an amazing place for sipping coffee on the streets and watching the world go by. With a tradition of great hospitality, Lebanese coffee – made in a rakweh – is distinctly thick, strong and sometimes lightly flavoured. For a top notch mid-morning kick head for Cafe Rawda by the Seaside Manara but be warned, if you’ve not got a sweet tooth remember to mention when ordering – the Lebanese certainly like more than a little sugar in their brew.

See more of Beirut on our snow or sand in rejuvenated Beirut experience or call on 020 7426 9888.

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SIGIRIYA – A DRAMATIC WONDER OF SRI LANKA

Posted on 2010-01-18

If you’re on the lookout for a really dramatic place to take your next holiday, we recommend that you consider Sri Lanka.
This is the home of Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock), the ruins of a once opulent palace and fortress and it truly is one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth.
We were enthralled by its maze of gardens and reservoirs and were left marvelling at the skills of the people who built them in the fifth century – we wouldn’t be able to manage masterpieces like that no matter how many diggers and mowers we hired.
At the foot of the giant piece of magma, there is also the carved stone remains of a lion’s paw which you can pose for photographs next to. It’s so realistic, you’ll be as convinced as us that it’s going to reach out for you.
Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s seven World Heritage Sites and definitely forms part of our own wonders of the world list.
Check it out from a luxurious base in the form of our Vil Uyana Sri Lanka hotel and feel like a king or queen as you survey the paddy fields and forests below.

For more information about Sri Lanka and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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ENJOY A WORLD FROM A DREAM IN NAMIBIA

Posted on 2010-01-11

If you’ve never been, this African country is like something out of a dream. It is one of the most wild, hauntingly beautiful places we have ever had the pleasure of visiting and we’d recommend it to anyone looking for a trip to remember.
We created a travel experience for the Skeleton Coast after coming back from the national park and it should come with a recommendation that it’s one of those places you just have to see for yourself.
It’s so called because over 1,000 ships have met a sticky end there and the wrecks are still visible from the shores, but don’t think it’s a miserable, dead place.
In fact, there are some great animals like seals and elephants which you can see as you go on safari around the coastal area, as well as some fantastic geological formations like the Agate Mountain and the clay castles of the Hoarisib.
Words just don’t do this destination justice – book a trip to Namibia with us instead and we’re sure you’ll find it to be like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

For more information about Namibia and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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A WILDLIFE ADVENTURE, BRAZIL

Posted on 2010-01-04

Animal lovers who also like travelling the world may have already seen the Amazon, one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world.
However, they may be less likely to have seen the Pantanal, which is a vast tropical wetland area in south Brazil. It is so huge that it even stretches into Paraguay and Bolivia and is 20 times the size of Florida’s famous Everglades.
Pantanal is also one of Brazil’s best kept secrets, which is great when it comes to travelling there to spot wildlife.
With 1,000 species of bird, 300 types of mammal and 480 species of reptiles there, you are likely to find that it’s not hard to spot plenty of fauna on your break there.
For a varied trip to Brazil, we’d suggest visiting the Iguassu Falls before heading to Pantanal and then continuing up to the fantastic city of Salvador, a travel experience we can cater for on our Safari Adventure in Brazil.
However, it’s your holiday, so if you have something else in mind, feel free to give us a call and we can sort it out for you.

For more information about Brazil and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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TRY A SAFARI WITH A DIFFERENCE IN ALASKA

Posted on 2009-12-28

If staying on a tropical island isn’t your thing, or you don’t fancy a city break, then why not head to somewhere cold and have the adventure of a lifetime?
We’re not talking about northern France or Italy; we’d rather take you to somewhere completely unforgettable, so that’s why we put together a travel experience in Alaska The largest US state, Alaska is virtually a complete frozen wilderness and makes the perfect place to skim over in a snowmobile.
Our Snowmobile Safari is based in Anchorage, a great location where you can eat out and catch a show at the theatre in the evenings.
The Snow Cafe is one of our favourite eateries – sample one of their breakfasts and it’ll probably become yours too.
However, during the day, you can put action heroes like Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone to shame as you zoom from place to place on your snowmobile, complete with a guide to point out the best sights.
For complete adrenaline junkies, we can also organise ice-climbing, bear tracking and heli-skiing.

For more information about Alaska and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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INDIA – IT’S THE PERFECT PLACE TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE

Posted on 2009-12-21

Anyone whose experience of India has been limited to traditional destinations like Goa may not know that it is one of the best destinations in the world in which to have an adventure.
There are dozens of holiday ads for India at this time of year which may make you think that all there is to do is lounge by the pool or on the beach.

However, here at Black Tomato, we beg to differ. Granted, you can enjoy a great relaxing holiday in this wonderful country, but you can also have the time of your life if you’re an adrenaline junkie too.
We headed to India to find out where the best places are to enjoy the experience of a lifetime – we’re always on the lookout for new ideas to save you the job – and we found so many that we built a whole trip around them.
Fancy zooming along a zipline over Rajasthan? Or travelling along deserted Himalayan roads on a motorbike? And how about enjoying elephant and hot air balloon rides, all on the same trip?
No problem. Take a look at our India + Extreme Thrills Experience and see what you think, then give us a ring and we can tell you how exhilerated we were after going on that zipline.

For more information about India and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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