Deals of the Week: Trains and boats and bikes

DriveAway with Britz

DriveAway Holidays is giving away to an agent five days rental of a Britz Venturer 2-berth motorhome in Australia.

All motorhome rental bookings made and paid with DriveAway Holidays during their September Motorhome Madness go into the prize draw.

DriveAway’s September motorhome specials include discounts, free days and free weeks, upgrades and other promotions for rentals in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Details at www.driveaway.com.au

Sea Dream drops in on Rangoon

SeaDream Yacht Club has a unique half-dozen opportunities to visit Myanmar (Burma) aboard its luxury 5-star SeaDream II in November and December this year.

It includes staying aboard in capital Yangon (Rangoon) for up to 2.5 days to avoid hotel and shore-side meal costs.

The mega motor-cruiser SeaDream II will sail from Singapore on November 25 this year for 13-days to Yangon and onwards to Phuket in Thailand, and a second 13-day opportunity sailing on December 8 from Phuket to Yangon and back to Singapore – including visits to eight popular as well as smaller and lesser-visited ports and islands in South East Asia,

BritRail discounts flagged

International Rail is offering 20% discounts on a range of rail travel, including Britrail Passes and Britrail England Only Passes.

The passes are available in both first and second class and range from three to 15 days of travel within two months to any destination in England, Scotland and Wales.

Discounted rail passes are valid for travel between November 1 and February 28, 2014, and must be purchased by February 14, 2014.

Details at www.internationalrail.com.au

Extreme adventure in the Himalayas

Motorcycle tour operator, Extreme Bike Tours, has introduced two new Himalayan adventure rides in the secluded Indian state of Sikkim and in the neighbouring kingdom of Bhutan

The Sikkim and Bhutan tours will run in May 2014 and May 2015, with guests riding India’s classic Royal Enfield 500cc motorbikes through the eastern Himalayas, with stays in local hotels and guesthouses.

On both tours, groups are limited to just 10 bikes and open to licensed motorcyclists although pillion passengers are also welcome.

Details at www.extremebiketours.com

SeaDream II slips into Macau

For the first time the former Portuguese enclave of Macau will be a port of call for luxury cruise ship SeaDream II.

The world’s Number 1 in the boutique category by Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, the mega yacht will make a historic visit in March 2014 during her 13-day Asian voyage.

The SeaDream II Asian voyage begins in Bangkok on March 2 with calls on Ko Chang/Ko Kut in Thailand, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) in Vietnam for an overnight stay, Nha Trang also in Vietnam, Sanya on China’s Hainan Island, Halong Bay (Vietnam) and Macau, ending in Hong Kong.

Extravaganza deals from Frasers

Frasers Hospitality has launched Holiday Extravaganza 2013 across its serviced apartments worldwide.

The deal offers travellers 25% Off Best Available Rates for a minimum stay of two nights or a complimentary night’s stay with the Stay 4 Pay 3 package.

Holiday Extravaganza 2013 destinations include Frasers properties in Paris, London, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul, Seoul, Osaka, Bangkok and Singapore.

Stays also include complimentary high-speed Internet access and welcome amenities. Valid for stays between December 1, 2013 and February 24, 2014.

Silversea adds another expedition ship

Silversea is to sail to more destinations from 2014 with the arrival of its newest expedition ship, the 128-guest Silver Discoverer.

Aboard Silver Discoverer, guests will be able to explore remote areas of Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia in addition to the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia, including the Kimberley.

The small-sized ship, the eighth in Silversea’s fleet, will become part of the Silversea Expedition fleet, which already includes Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos.

Bentours sees the lights

Bentours is offering travellers a second chance to experience this year’s Northern Lights phenomenon.

NASA scientists have predicted the coming European winter will provide conditions for the best Northern Lights in a decade and Bentours is offering a second departure of its Follow the Lights package, departing Helsinki on February 22 next year.

Highlights of the tour include a night in the unique Kakslauttanen Igloo Village, scooting around on a snowmobile or roaming through the pristine Arctic landscapes aboard a traditional husky sled, a visit to Rovaniemi – the home of Santa Claus, and a six-day cruise on Hurtigruten through Norway’s fjords.

Compiled by Ian Jarrett