Get ahead for October half term with Rickshaw Travel
With the potential for laws to tighten further around travelling in school term time it’s now even tougher for teachers and families to take an exotic break in the school holidays and enjoy a different cultural experience. Summer holiday price hikes of more than 50% in some cases could spur families and teachers to explore alternative ways to holiday that make their money go the extra mile.
Travelling in October half term is an option to consider, and Rickshaw Travel recommends booking early to make the most of new flight route deals and availability. October is a great time for a family holiday: it gives everyone a break from the longest school term of the year, and a last chance to enjoy some sunshine before the clocks go forward and the Christmas frenzy kicks off. For the majority of UK schools, October half term falls on the week beginning 24th, but a few will be a week earlier. It seems the longer flight routes remain relatively unaffected in price at this time of year and, if teachers and older families are willing to fly further, it’s an opportunity to have a very different holiday experience.
Rickshaw Travel has suggested some destinations that shine in the autumn and, although far flung, aren’t completely unachievable with direct flight routes.
Rickshaw Travel in Morocco:
With its golden sand dunes, mountain ranges and wind-swept coastlines, Morocco is a diverse and year-round destination that’s fantastic for families. Although just a short affordable flight from the UK, it feels like another world. October is an ideal time to visit the Atlas Mountains when it’s not too cold and the winter mountain passes are open. Rickshaw Travel offers a range of one-week itinerary options that combine the highlights of this fascinating country. During ‘A taste of Morocco’ itinerary guests will explore magical Marrakesh and learn how to cook a traditional meal with the locals before travelling across the Atlas Mountains to the famous Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou. They’ll then make their way to the edge of the Sahara, ride into the sand dunes on the back of camels and sleep under a blanket of twinkling stars in the desert. Finally travellers visit the fascinating ‘movie-set’ town Ouarzazate before returning to Marrakesh. Those looking for a more active alternative can combine remote trekking in the Atlas mountains with sailing and chilling on the beach and still enjoy learning to cook in the colourful and spice-filled city of Marrakesh on the ‘Mountain Treks and Bohemian Beaches’ itinerary.
The eight-day, ‘Taste of Morocco’ itinerary cost from £485 per person (based on two sharing) and includes seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, dinner in the desert, cookery class in Marrakesh, private transfers and car hire.
The seven-day ‘Mountain Treks and Bohemian Beaches’ itinerary costs from £708 per person and includes six nights' accommodation with breakfast (two nights in a mountain hut on full board), cookery class in Marrakesh, coach and minibus transfers and a sailing excursion in Essaouira.
The flight time from London to Marrakesh is 3hrs 40.
Direct return flights are available with easyJet and Ryanair and cost from £81 departing 15th October and £304 departing 24th October (returning the following Saturday.)
For more Rickshaw Travel Morocco itineraries and trip options visit here
Rickshaw Travel in South Africa
Okay, so it’s a fair distance to travel and the flights aren’t cheap but once you arrive in South Africa there’s no jet lag (Cape Town is only an hour ahead) and it’s great value with the current exchange rate. South Africa is bursting with natural beauty and there’s a huge variety of things to see and do from the springboard of cosmopolitan Cape Town. Rickshaw Travel specialises in creating meaningful holiday experiences. The independent travel adventures offered in South Africa include small projects that actively encourage interaction between holidaymakers and locals, bringing travellers closer to the destination. Whether it’s touring the winelands by bike, elephant spotting in Addo, horse-riding along the beautiful wind-swept southern coast, experiencing life on an ostrich farm or even learning to talk Xhosa with the local community, Rickshaw provides the opportunity to explore in a different way. October is prime whale-watching season and the ideal time for nature-lovers to visit with Southern Right whales gathering in the Cape to breed. The weather is also spring-like and lovely, similar to the Mediterranean.
Holidaymakers can ‘build their own itinerary’ from a series of short bite-size trips in South Africa. A minimum of three bite-size trips are required to build an itinerary.
Prices start from £35 for a two-day ‘Life on the Farm’ experience in Heidelberg. This price includes one night’s accommodation with breakfast and farm tour. Wildlife enthusiasts keen to see the whales and explore along the ‘Garden Route’ can select a three-day ‘Whales, Waves and Sandy Bays’ trip in Plettenberg Bay which costs from £158 per person and includes two nights' accommodation with breakfast and whale tour. For something a bit different visit a local township and learn to ‘click with the Xhosa’ on a three-day Knysna trip, priced from £98 per person (based on two sharing) including two nights' accommodation with breakfast and township tour.
Visit here for a full range of Rickshaw Travel trips in Southern Africa
The flight time from London to Cape Town is 11hrs 25 mins.
Direct return flights are available with BA and cost from £1,166 departing Friday evening 15th October and returning the following Sunday 30th.
Rickshaw Travel in Costa Rica
With new direct flights with BA to San Jose currently on offer, Costa Rica presents a very different October half term holiday experience. Relatively small in size but big in weather systems, the climate differs across the country regions throughout the year and the destination offers huge variety in an easy-to-navigate area. October, while rainy in some regions, is the ideal time to visit the Caribbean region of Costa Rica and Monteverde. Rickshaw believes the wet season is also one of the best times to visit the rainforests when they are in full bloom and everything turns a rich, deep green. It’s also a great way to avoid the crowds of the drier months. Travellers can choose from a host of individual cultural and action-packed options with Rickshaw Travel. They can take a bamboo boat to the Bribri village and spend two days living with the Bribri tribe in an authentic cabana, make a pit stop in pineapple fields and have a fruity adventure on a working pineapple plantation in Sarapiqui or trek up volcanoes, spot wildlife and zip line through the cloud forest. For relaxation, sunshine and tropical vibes Rickshaw recommends rounding off a holiday in the vibrant Caribbean cost towns of Cahuita or Puerto Viejo. Enjoy Reggae beats with a tasty cocktail, learn to surf or just unwind in the sun. Holidaymakers should make sure they pack a swimsuit and a waterproof to prepare for all eventualities (!)
Prices start from £148 per person (based on two sharing) for a three-day 'Pit Stop in Pineapple Fields' experience in Sarapiqio. This price includes two nights’ accommodation with breakfast and farm tour. For something a bit different take a 'bamboo boat to the Bribri village' and live with and learn about the indigenous people and their culture, priced from £165 per person (based on two sharing) including two nights' accommodation with some meals, canoe tour of village and plantations and English-speaking guide.
Visit here for a full range of Rickshaw Travel trips in Costa Rica
The new direct flight time from London to San Jose is 10 hrs 50 mins. Direct return flights are available with BA and currently cost from £776 return departing Friday evening 21st and returning the following Saturday 29th.
A minimum of three bite-size trips are required to build a personalised itinerary with Rickshaw Travel. To see the full range of trips and itineraries to Morocco, South Africa and Costa Rica please visit: www.rickshawtravel.co.uk or call Rickshaw Travel’s team of experts on: 01273 934 823.
ENDS
Note to editors
Please note: All prices correct at time of release but may be subject to change - please refer to www.rickshawtravel.co.uk for the latest pricing information or get in touch with Vicky Norman at Heaven Publicity: Vicky@heavenpublicity.co.uk
Rickshaw Travel has been providing enriching, experiential and meaningful travel since the company was launched in 2008. Now covering 24 destinations across Africa, Asia, Central and South America, its individual approach to independent exploration enables adventurous holidaymakers to experience the real spirit of a local culture. Rickshaw’s dedicated team of Travel Specialists create unique travel itineraries using a combination of 2-3 day bite-sized trips which include all accommodation, local transport and excursions; ensuring a hassle-free holiday. They are committed to providing meaningful travel experiences and use a mixture of transport including sleeper trains, private transfers with friendly local guides and drivers or even tuk-tuks to link their trips together so each journey becomes part of the adventure!
Rickshaw Travel’s drive towards developing meaningful travel experiences was recognised in 2015 when they were awarded the Travelife Better Places Partner by ABTA.
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