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Great getaways: Wines of Istria, on the spice trail in Kerala, Iceland's Northern Lights and low cost to Canada

 

Saturday 07 September 2013 19:00 EDT
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Meal deal

The Istrian Peninsula of Croatia is a fine spot for an epicurean escape. The Hotel Monte Mulini in the pretty port of Rovinj has a "Wine Roads of Istria" package for two for stays until 2 November. The price for two is €870 (£735), including two nights' B&B, a half-day guided excursion with tastings at two wineries, a four-course dinner at the hotel's Wine Vault restaurant and use of the spa. Flights not included (montemulinihotel.com).

Spice track

Real Holidays has a nine-night "Spice Trails of Kerala" trip for £1,295 per person, for travel before 31 October. The trip includes Emirates flights from Heathrow via Dubai to Cochin, followed by time in the Western Ghats mountains and Periyar National Park, before a stay in the state's exotic palm-fringed backwaters. Hotels with breakfast, guided sightseeing and private transfers are included (bit.ly/SpiceState).

Night vision

An accessible option for the chance of seeing the Northern Lights is Iceland. On 24 November a four-night tour goes in search of the Aurora Borealis, with entrance to the Blue Lagoon, the Skogar Folk Museum and some Icelandic horse stables, followed by three nights in the capital, Reykjavik. The price of the getaway from Northern Lights Holidays is £660pp and includes Wow Air flights from Gatwick to Keflavik, transfers and breakfast (http://bit.ly/16E15S2).

Canadian express

Keflavik is also transfer point for two new low-cost routes to western Canada. From next summer, you can connect from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow to Edmonton and Vancouver (icelandair.co.uk).

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