The Sphinx with the Pyramids in the background in Egypt

Rustic Moroccan architecture

The coastline at Monaco

Cote-d’azur in the French Riviera

So you ushered in the New Year in style, on the white sands of Bali, Hawaii or wherever. Been wondering where your wanderlust will take you next? Nope, we don’t have a crystal ball, nor are we into deciphering tarot card predictions. All we are offering you is a round up of the hottest holiday destinations of 2007. So dig deep into your pockets and loosen your purse strings — there’s a whole new world out there, waiting to be explored.

This year, you could be cruising down the Nile, sipping wine by the pool at a posh resort in the French Riviera, taking in Morocco’s rustic splendour, honeymooning on a romantic Greek island or even skiing down Finland’s ice-laden slopes.

But no matter what appeals the most to you, the buzzword is ‘exotic’. You must holiday in style, at an exotic, if not new, locale — abroad, of course. The well-heeled Indian traveller will choose to visit relatively unexplored places, feels Kamal Hingorani, executive vice president of travel company Travel House. “The niche and upper-end of the market is looking for newer destinations. This, coupled with an increasing number of direct flights to-and-from India and the special offers these countries are coming up with to boost tourism, will ensure that places such as Monaco, Morocco and even Finland will feature in the Indian tourist’s itinerary this year.”

Scandinavian countries, including Denmark, Norway and Sweden, with a special focus on Finland, will be popular getaways this year. This, of course, is prompted by the recent launch of Finn Air’s direct service from Delhi to Helsinki. In fact, the airline is planning to increase its frequency from three days to five days a week by summer 2007. For those not planning to visit Finland, the airlines’ offer of a night’s stay in the country during transit is sure to be a tempting lure. “And once people visit Finland, they are bound to go back — it’s a very tourist-friendly country,” says Hingorani.

Finn Air, in association with various travel agents, is promoting other Scandinavian countries as well. The 12-day Grand Tour, for instance, includes a trip to Sweden, Demark and Norway. And a 13-day trip called the Northern Capital trip, including stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo comes for $2,299 per head. Another 14-day package at $1,999 per head called the Northern European Highlights, starts in Stockholm and ends in Helsinki.

Egypt, of course, has been a hit with Indians for quite some time now. Samy Mahumoud, counsellor for tourism, Egyptian Tourism Office, says: “Indian is a potential market that we are keenly looking at. This year, we expect a 20 per cent to 25 per cent increase in the number of visitors to Egypt.” In February the tourism minister of Egypt will be visiting India on an invitation by her Indian counterpart, Ambika Soni. Besides, the Egyptian Tourism Office will hold road shows in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Of course, these promotions will be followed by an increase in the frequency of flights between Cairo and India. As of now, Egypt Air flies twice a week from Mumbai, which will be raised to three flights per week from July onward. And the airline will also fly between New Delhi and Cairo within six months.

The focus will be Egypt beyond the Nile, with special packages for honeymooners at Sharm El-Sheikh to the south of Sinai and Orgada in the Red Sea. A five-night and six-day package could cost anything from Rs 50,000 onwards.

Morocco, on the other hand, is for the discerning traveller. In the last four years, about 2,000 to 2,500 Indians have visited Morocco. And what does the country have to offer Indians? The white city of Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital, Rabat, the administrative capital built in the 13th century, and Marrakech, are enchanting places.

It’s a country trying to maintain its identity, with quaint architecture and traditional Moroccan food, while trying to be modern as well, with its throbbing nightlife, casinos, luxury hotels and racecourses. Tours and travels firm, TCI, sells packages like the Mystical Bazaar for $2200 per head — a 12-day trip that’s a hit with leisure travellers.

Monaco, the smallest French-speaking country in the world, situated between the Mediterranean and France and only a short drive from Nice international airport, could also be the next big destination for the travel-thirsty Indian. The tourism board of Monaco recently held road shows in Delhi and Mumbai. “They were here to explore the potential of the Indian market and to talk about what they have to offer,” says Joseph Fernandes, general manager, Avioreps, a company that represents more than 35 tourism boards and 67 airlines.

Five years ago, would you have thought of honeymooning in far-off legendary Greece? Now, not only are leisure travellers strolling along Greece’s pebbly beaches, but also corporates are holding conferences there.

There is Abercrombie and Kent’s customised seven-day/six-night package priced between 825Euro and 1,081Euro. Titled Honeymoon in Greece, it is meant for high-end travellers looking for a unique experience. The tour usually starts with a visit to the Greek port of Piraeus, touching the highlights of Athens City including the City Hall, the picturesque harbour of Microlimano, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Cath-olic Cathedral, the Old Parliament and more. Then guests arrive at Plaka and have dinner entertained by live bouzouki musians and Greek folk dancers. The trip ends with a one-day cruise to the island of Aegina with its ancient Aphaia temple.

Route map

Rajasthan is the place to head this winter before the summer heat actually makes you think twice about exploring its beautiful palaces and forts. And what better way to spend the holidays than stay in the lap of luxury in a maharaja’s summer palace? Five kilometres north to the city of Jodhpur is the Balsamand Palace, a Welcomheritage hotel. This old 16th century palace, a beautiful example of Rajput architecture in red sandstone with the typical jharokhas and latticed windows, was built on a
manmade lake and is surrounded by lush green gardens. Apparently the swimming pool in the palace is reminiscent of the Roman Baths. The hotel package for a two-night/three-day stay for a couple in the palace suite is priced at Rs 15,400 and includes bed and breakfast and taxes. There’s another package if you want to put up in the hotel’s garden rooms. It comes at Rs 7,700 for a couple for two nights and three days and includes bed and breakfast and taxes.