Image by mindfulness

When the summer season is at its height, it is often hard to imagine that the long hours of sunshine and clear blue skies will soon be taken over by wet, grey and dreary days. This is the time when the sentimental part of us makes us reach for our holiday snaps to revive those happy holiday memories. Or this could simply be the time when the practical side of us tells us that summer doesn’t necessarily need to be over yet – and that this is the best time to set out on a journey to chase the winter sun.

Many tour operators have lined up their flights for the winter holiday season, which doesn’t mean only the skiers will have the chance to enjoy the long awaited white snow-covered slopes. Hundreds of flights will head for places like the Canaries, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or Gambia, which are classed as short or mid-haul destinations. This means that you can be on that sun baked beach within 6 hours!

Sharm el-Sheikh mosque by Argenberg

Egypt with its monumental history offers places like the calm remote Taba, with crimson mountains lining the blue coastline. The buzzing Sharm El Sheikh is a promise of hot sunny days on the beach and lively nights out, not mentioning the colourful reefs of its underwater world, ready to be explored by all keen divers.

The laid back coastal Agadir in Morocco is a perfect antidote to the frenetic capital Marrakech, with its cosmopolitan hotels and quaint city centre full of bazaars and salesmen trying to sell you anything from jewellery and textile to a camel!

If all this sounds too busy, then why not try and take a relaxing week on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia? Many hotels here specialise in Thalasso-therapy and invite all their guests to enjoy the pampering spa and hammam sessions at fraction of the UK prices. Wherever you chose to go in North Africa, the winter months will certainly not let you down when it comes to long hours of sunshine, great all inclusive hotels and amazingly cheap package holidays.

Sunset by Maurice Koop

Gambia is a relatively new holiday destination emerging on the list of exotic places to visit during the winter time. It’s hot and full of unspoilt beaches dotted with inexpensive hotels. The service here is marked by the hospitality of the smiling locals, and the wildlife in the lush green natural setting is to die for. The bonus is that you won’t be jet lagged after your 6-hour long flight and after your first encounter with this wonderful country, you are sure to be back the next season.

If, however, you are prepared to spend a bit extra cash and longer hours on the flight, countries in the ever popular Caribbean – Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, St Lucia or Antigua will satisfy even the most discerning traveller. The all inclusive resorts have been built with your utmost comfort in mind, directly on the beach and providing excellent food, entertainment and cultural experience, whether you are 6 or 66.

The Maldives by nattu

On the opposite side, where the tiffany blue Indian Ocean gently kisses the pearl white silky shores, the islands of Maldives are a true diver’s and honeymooner’s paradise. The impeccable service complements the elegant accommodation of beach villas and water bungalows from where you can take a plunge into the sea straight from your bedroom – the quintessential Maldivian experience.

Wherever your fancy takes you this winter season – the Canaries, North Africa, Caribbean, Goa or the Maldives and whether you choose to travel in October or January, they promise fun in the sun, sea and sand at fantastic bargain package holiday prices.

The major attractions and excitements that Gambia offers

• One of the prime attractions of Gambia is the Abuko Nature Reserve. Despite being the smallest game reserve in Africa, it is a fascinating place to visit. The lush green vegetation all around soothes the eyes, and the thrill of spotting callithrix monkeys, crocodiles, lizards, bushbuck antelopes and stunning birds makes the visit worth it.
• The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project in Gambia is one of the most successful chimp rehab centers of Africa. It also boasts of being the longest running center. Tourists can stay at one of the guest lodges of the project, and can have a tour of the project under the guidance of the founder Stella Marsden. The project has around eighty chimpanzees and a large number of baboons, hippos, vervet monkeys, western red colobus and a rich population of a variety of birds. Badi Mayo, the Chimpanzee Visitor Camp, is situated almost 270 kilometers up the River Gambia. So it is a time-consuming trip, but one does not seem to notice it in the excitement and thrill of it all.
• The Nuimi National Park and Jinack Island are enchanting places. The park spreads widely, covering vast areas of the North Bank of the Gambia. It ultimately ends at the Sine-Saloum Park of Senegal. Jinack Island is an ideal place for relaxation and unwinding. Kilometers of sandy beaches are often visited by Atlantic humpback dolphins, ospreys and sanderlings. The middle of the island is ideal for bird-watching. European migrants flock to the island in the winter months and are a treat to watch. Fortunate travelers can also spot a warthog, hyena or even a leopard.

The time from mid-June to early October is humid and hot because of the wet season. This season sees the vegetation grow tall, and as a result, tourists find wildlife viewing difficult. Wildlife becomes easier to see during the period between August and December. This is the perfect time to catch glimpses of dragonflies and beautiful butterflies. The best time to visit Gambia is the time between mid-October and June. It coincides with the prime tourist season, and hence flights during this period are cheaper than the rest of the year.

The best part of a holiday in The Gambia is that it is only six hours away from London and the other big European cities. This enables one to travel to a different continent with a different culture altogether, with ease. As there is no time difference, there is no jetlag.

The best way to find the cheapest airfare deals and hotel packages is to surf the Internet for websites that give clear comparisons and rate charts.

Gambia is a place that allows one to have a cheap holiday without any compromise on excitement and thrills. Gambia guarantees value-for-money and is entertainment to the maximum. A cheap holiday in Gambia will always be worth it.

Each holiday was very enjoyable, and we stayed at the Kombo Beach Hotel on both occasions. The hotel is of a good standard, and at the time of both my visits it was one of the best hotels in the Gambia (the top one was then called the Senegambia).

The Kombo Beach Hotel is great for water sports, and they organise lots of activates on a daily basis. There are now a number of good five star hotels in the Gambia, spread along its fabulous beaches. The people are very friendly and always willing to help and oblige you. The weather was glorious – long hot sunny days .On one occasion it rained very hard for a short period, but thereafter the sun shone all the time. We went on a very enlightening trip to a town called Serrekuda.

A trip to Gambia is a real eye opener to those people who have not travelled to Africa before.

More photos from my trip to the Gambia…