Not being able to travel owing to the pandemic has probably left most of us pretty disappointed this year. And as and when the travel scenario gets better, travellers not just in India but across the globe will prefer non-traditional and offbeat destinations. That's what all the trends predict.
Even though quintessential travel may not be an option now, workcations and staycations have been in the mix for a while. To tap into the demand for unique or non-traditional travel, Thomas Cook and SOTC have together introduced &lsquoHidden Gems&rsquo in India.
These holidays include accommodation for 2nights/3 days in hotels with a 4/5-star rating or in boutique properties. The stay includes breakfast, an additional dining experience, unique sightseeing experiences, private transport and travel insurance. And they begin from Rs11,500 per person on a twin sharing basis.
Delving into India&rsquos history, heritage, scenic landscapes and culture, the Hidden Gems initiative incorporates most of India, including Khajuraho, Rishikesh, Udaipur, Munnar, Jawai Sagar, Manali, Coorg, Kollam, Thekkady, Pachmarhi, Kabini, Bandhavgarh, Lalsot and Goa.
The experiences include a wide selection of activities ranging from jeep safaris in Munnar, a royal 4-course dining experience in Amritara Pali Jawai Sagar, coffee and spice plantation tours in Coorg, exclusive and private night drives and star-gazing experiences at Pachmarhi, a unique bush-dining experience in Bandhavgarh, a vintage car drive around Udaipur&rsquos picturesque lake, mangrove walks in the Sundarbans biosphere, and bungee jumping in Rishikesh.
The initiative will ensure health and safety of travellers, says Mr Daniel D&rsquosouza, President and Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel. &ldquoAs health and safety is a key concern, all our holidays come with &lsquoAssured&rsquo, a comprehensive programme to safe travel in the COVID-19 era in partnership with Apollo Clinics. To further assist our customers, we have launched India&rsquos first Safe Holiday Helpline, a free service to the public, offering expert guidance and assistance for safe holiday planning, visa assistance, country specific updates, on-ground health and safety measures, travel documentation, health certification, etc. and have also tied up with ICMR accredited labs to offer seamless end-to-end COVID-negative certification services with contactless facilitation, across India.&rdquo
Interested You can find more details about the packages here.