Gujarat Travel Mart 2013. A landmark travel trade event for India.

Gujarat Travel Mart 

March 31, April 1 & 2, 2013 

Mahatma Mandir

Gandhinagar

Gujarat, India 

Travelife Magazine and its partner Tridem Asia Inc. recently traveled to Gujarat to attend the Gujarat Travel Mart 2013.

Gujarat Travel Mart (GTM) aimed to bring a personal encounter with the travel- trade, hoteliers and other stake holders from tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries in India and from abroad.

GTM is considered as one of the most anticipated and sought after travel expos in India due to its B2B (business to business) platform, offering business with over 200 registered buyers from over 30 countries.

BOOSTING TOURISM FIGURES IN INDIA

In addition to this large event, GTM presents pre- and post-familiarization tours to the delegates as part of their endeavor to promote Gujarat.

This has certainly contributed towards being a huge part of India’s growing tourism arrival figures, locally and overseas.

Hosted buyers from Europe, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Asia - including the Philippines -- visiedt Gujarat for the Gujarat Travel Mart 2013.

PARTNERS FOR THE GUJARAT TRAVEL MART

The event was supported by major travel – trade and hospitality association in India such as Association of Domestic Tour Operators Association of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), and the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

Cape Town and highlights basic tour

6 Days/5 Nights - SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City
Cape Town: is situated near the southern tip of South Africa, sandwiched between Table Mountain and the ocean. Affectionately known as the “Mother City”, it was the first established town in South Africa.

Population: 2 984 100
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Setswana, South Sotho, North Sotho, Tsonga, SiSwati, Venda, Ndebele Time: GMT +2 Hours

Day 1 - Cape Town City Tour
City Tour : Full Day Tour : Experience the rainbow nation of the Mother City (Cape Town). 

Highlights Include:
• Table Mountain or Signal Hill (weather permitting)
• Bo-Kaap, Cape Malay Quarter and Museum
• Parliament Buildings • Greenmarket Square
• Company Gardens • The Castle of Good Hope
• Robben Island – Visit Nelson Mandela’s Prison Cell.
• Slave Lodge
• Return transfer to your accommodation
• Overnight – Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel/Similar ( 4 Star Category )
• Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 – Township / Cultural Tours 
Full Day Tour: Discover the many facets of Cape Town’s culturally diverse communities.
Hear stories of the Struggle first-hand from the locals: from District Six, where forced removals changed the lives of many, to the informal, settlements where sangomas (traditional healers) and shebeens (taverns) add to the rich culture of township life

Highlights Include:
• District Six Museum
• Guguletu and Surrounds
• Lange:
• S’Thebe Art and Culture Centre
• Visit a sangoma (traditional healer)
• Homemade beer tasting at a shebeen (tavern)
• A township B&B
• Nyanga and Surrounds
• Sivuyile Technical College
• The Moslem and Indian communities of Athlone and Cape Flats
• Cape Malay food tasting
• Purchase arts and crafts manufactured by the local community
• Should your tour take place on a Sunday, attendance of a Church Service can be included by prior arrangement
• Return transfer to your accommodation
• Overnight – Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel /similar ( 4 Star Category )
 • Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 Cape Point Tour 

Full Day Tour: A scienic drive along the Peninsula’s magnificent coastline.
Enjoy the breathtaking Chapman’s Peak Drive and stop off the viewing point.

Highlights Include:
• Clifton and Camps Bay
• Hout Bay Harbour (Boat Trip to see the Cape fur Seals – optional)
• Chapman’s Peak (if open)
• Noordhoek
• Ostrich Farm
• False Bay
• Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
• Cape Point
• Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach
• Simon’s Town
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens / Constantia Valley
• Overnight – Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel/Similar ( 4 Star Category )
• Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 Cape Wine Route

Full Day Tour: A visit to the heart of Southern Africa’s food and wine industry. Stroke a cheetah at the outreach program on Spiers Wine Estate.

Highlights Include:
• Historic tour of Stellenbosch and surroundings
• Cellar tours and wine tasting
• Spier Wine Estate
• Helshoogte Pass
• Historical tour of Franshoek and surroundings
• Huguenot Memorial
• Cheese tasting
• Lunch on a historical wine estate
• Nelson Mandela’s former prison (not open to the public)
• Purchase wine directly from the wine estate
• Overnight – Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel/Similiar ( 4 Star Category )
• Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 Safari Tour 

One hour’s drive to one of Cape Town’s well known RESERVES to see the BIG 5

Highlights Include:
• Scienic Route
• Game drive to spot the BIG 5
• Overnight – Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel/Similiar ( 4 Star Category )
• Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6:  DEPART FOR AIRPORT 
After breakfast, depart for Cape Town International Airport for your flight home.
Meals – Breakfast

South Africa Tour 1: Citrusdal to Kgalgadi

6 Day Citrusdal to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Private Safari

Day 1:
Citrusdal – Orange River / Fish River Canyon Region (D) Lodge

Day 2: Ais – Ais / Fish river Canyon (B.L.D) Lodge

Day 3, 4: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (B.L.D) Lodge/Chalets

Day 5: Augrabies (B.L*) Chalets/Hotel

Day 6: Upington (B) Tour ends on arrival

B-Breakfast
L – Lunch
D – Dinner
* - own meals

What is included?

• All accommodation, park fees, entrance fees, conservation fees
• 4 x 4 vehicle & guide, all game drives in parks , all scenic drives 
• All meals indicated, mineral water
• Orange river day trip
• Visit to Fish River Canyon
• Game drives in Kgalagadi What is not included?
• Night Game drives in Kgalagadi
• Drinks (other than mineral water)
• Own visa fees ( if needed)
• Own transfer fees to airport on departure day.

Highlights!
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Fish river Canyon
• Augrabies National Park

Price per person sharing: 1500 Euro / single supplement: 150 Euro Nett rate
Clients also have a camping option if they would like to downgrade acc on request.

Trip Notes: Have decided to use Norotshama lodge at Orange River – breaks the long journey / great setting and makes it possible to visit Ais – Ais and a quiver tree forest on the way to the fish river canyon.

Day 1: Citrusdal / fish River Canyon / Grunau region (D) Lodge
We collect your clients at Bushmanskloof and transfer the journey on the N7 passing springbok and entering southern Namibia. Our suggestions in the south not further that 80 – 100 km from fish river canyon along the Orange River. We explore the Northern Cape and Namaqua region and have a great chance to view some wild flowers along the way. +/- 500km

Day 2: Ais-Ais / Fish river Canyon (B.L.D) Lodge
Ais – Ais Hot springs will be our first visit of the day. The Fish River canyon hike ends at the hot springs and i quick swim in the hot water will just be what we need before visit the 550 m deep canyon overlooking the fascinating plateau above the canyon. A great place t is the lookout point to have lunch overlooking the spectacular views of the canyon. Our overnight will be 1 hour from the canyon on a working guest farm 220km

Day 3,4: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park(B.L.D) Lodge/chalets
The southern part of Namibia will slowly change towards Kalahari vegetation as we near the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. An early morning departure will lead us to the Transfrontier Park at lunch time and we will be able to enjoy our first afternoon game drive in the park. Our second day is a full day in the park , exploring the endless streets of red sand dunes, home to the divers wildlife of the Kalahari .350km

Day 5: Kgalagadi/ Augrabies National Park/ Kakamas ( B.L*) Lodge
Our destination Augrabies is south of the Kalahari and we will depart after a 2 hour early game drive in the morning towards the wine yards and water fall at Augrabies. 400km

Day 6: Upington (B) – tour ends on arrival 80 km

Properties chosen – depending on availability

Norotshama Lodge
Savannah Guest farm

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Molopo lodge – depending on availability
Augrabies national park / Kakamas Hotel - depending on availability

Sri Lanka Tour, February 5-11, 2013

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

I still remember the exact moment when the inspiration for a trip to Sri Lanka came about.

Sometime in the middle of last year, H.E. Nawalage Bennett-Cooray, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, invited us to his residence to discuss our most recent trip to Sri Lanka over dinner.

I liked Sri Lanka so much that I went twice in a matter of 12 months.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

On the first visit, we’d visited Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle and the fortress town of Galle, and shot three television episodes.

On the second visit, we’d climbed Sigiriya Rock and the Dambulla Caves and photographed Sigiriya for our cover.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

“Why don’t we organize a tour for Travelife readers?” We all thought suddenly said aloud, almost in unison.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

It was the perfect time to visit Sri Lanka since the country had just opened up after a terrible period of war and unrest, and it was still at its most peaceful and pristine.

Already, many major hotel chains are breaking ground for new properties all over the island, and especially in Colombo. When the crowds and tourist buses start coming, it will probably be unrecognizable in a few years.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

Last month, this idea became a reality. An adventurous and extremely fun-loving group accepted our invitation to join us on a week-long discovery of Sri Lanka that included its most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites at Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa.

The trip was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka-Philippine Friendship Association, and in partnership with Thai Airways.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

A second tour to Sri Lanka is being planned for July 7 – 13, 2013.

For more information, please call Meg Caligner at tel. 8138400/ 8922620.

Sri Lanka Tour, Feb 5-11, 2013

Sri Lanka Tour Part 2, July 7-13, 2013

If you were at all thinking of joining us on a Travelife to Sri Lanka last week, you certainly missed a wonderful trip with a great group of people.

We returned to Manila on Monday, and we weren't really planning to do a Part 2 so soon because organizing a tour is a complete labor of love for us.

Here's what some of our friends and readers had to say

about our Travelife to Sri Lanka last week:

"Thank you so much Travelife Magazine for an absolutely wonderful and memorable trip to Sri Lanka. Can't wait to sign up for the next one."

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"We jumped at the chance to join the Travelife Sri Lanka Tour. 

We absolutely loved the personalized touch, great hotels, wonderful sites and luckily met a bunch of great people who are also passionate about travelling."

*     *    *

"The people who joined the trip were well travelled in the truest sense of the word. Their real world perspective was surprisingly inspiring. 

It made me think more of HOW I traveled rather than to where I traveled. And that, to me, is what makes TRAVELIFE different from the others! 

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But yesterday, we met the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, and the Embassy of Sri Lanka has once again decided to offer a Trip to Sri Lanka in cooperation with the Sri Lanka - Philippines Friendship Association, this July 2013.

This is definitely the time to visit this small but culturally rich country -- before the rest of the world discovers it.

Get yourself on our list by contacting Meg or Kat (tel 8138400/ 8922620). 

TRAVELIFE Magazine’s

Enchanting SRI LANKA Tour

in partnership with 

the Embassy of Sri Lanka 

and the Sri Lanka - Philippines Friendship Association

& Thai Airways

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Visit the country’s three top UNESCO World Heritage sites

Stay in two of Sri Lanka’s most famous hotels

Shop in Colombo’s best stores for gems, crafts and clothing 

*    *    *

Travelife with us to the next big destination in Asia

for lovers of culture, nature and shopping

Day 1: Sunday, 7 July 2013

MANILA - COLOMBO via Bangkok

on Thai Airways

Depart early afternoon for Bangkok and onwards to Colombo via Thai Airways. After arriving late at night in Sri Lanka, clients will be welcomed & transferred to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay.

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Day 2: Monday, 8 July 2013

COLOMBO – DAMBULLA 

After breakfast leave Dambulla. Lunch and check-in at a historic hotel designed by a famous architect. 

In the afternoon, visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Dambulla Cave Temples date back to the 1st century BC. 

These caves sheltered the Sri Lankan King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from the royal capital of Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built these magnificent cave temples in gratitude for his safety.

Day 3: Tuesday, 9 July 2013

DAMBULLA - POLONNARUWA - DAMBULLA

After breakfast, leave for a day excursion to Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century AD, and home to two magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

Polonnaruwa rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. 

The city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. A unique irrigation complex watered the city as well as the surrounding plains, making it "the grainery of the East.”

Scroll down to read more...

Day 4: Wednesday, 10 July 2013 

DAMBULLA – SIGIRIYA – COLOMBO

After breakfast, climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World and home to the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky,” which is perhaps the most fantastic manmade wonder in Sri Lanka. 

It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress.

Those who don't wish to climb can choose to stay and relax at the hotel or to visit the Sigiriya Museum adjacent to the site.

On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. 

On one of the stairways is the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels, all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour still visible.

In the afternoon, head back to Colombo for dinner and a stay at Sri Lanka's most famous hotel.

Scroll down to read more...

Day 5: Thursday, 11 July 2013

COLOMBO

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It’s a fascinating city, not only for its comfortable blend of East and West, but also for its easy mixture of the past and the present. 

After lunch at one of the city’s most fashionable restaurants, spend the afternoon shopping at some of Colombo's top retailers for crafts, clothing and gems.

From Arab settlers in the 8th century to the Portuguese, Dutch and the British up until the 20th century have all fought over Sri Lanka’s treasures including precious gems, scented woods, spices, and tea.

The island remains a popular shopping destination within Asia. Highlights include clothing with many well-known European and American brands available at discounted prices, antiques and furniture, contemporary home accents and jewelry.

Day 6: Friday, 12 July 2013

COLOMBO 

Free day and sightseeing/ shopping options will be available for those who wish to avail. 

Day 7: Saturday, 13 July 2013

COLOMBO – BANGKOK - MANILA

Early morning transfer to Bandaraike International Airport for your flight back to Manila via Bangkok.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please email travelife@travelife.biz

or contact Meg Caligner at Travelife Magazine

Tel 8138400/ 8922620

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