29 May 2008 - The Gambia Experience - Press Office
The UK’s leading tour operator to The Gambia, with over twenty years of operation, releases its November 2008 – October 2009 brochure this week with an expanded programme and many new features.
The Gambia Experience continues to offer more flight and accommodation options, many of which are exclusive, than its competitors, and leads the way with Responsible Tourism initiatives.
Highlights of the 2008-2009 brochure (which includes 23 hotels in total classified in one of three categories:
The Luxury Collection, Excellent Quality Hotels and Great Value for Money) include:
NEW Hotels:
Opening Autumn 2008 – Coco Ocean Resort & Spa
This new boutique hotel, due to open in Autumn 2008, will be exclusive to The Gambia Experience and will become the pinnacle of the tour operator’s Luxury Collection.
Sister property to the already acclaimed Coconut Residence, Coco Ocean Resort & Spa occupies a prime elevated position on a secluded beach next to Bijilo Forest Park Nature Reserve and is only a fifteen-minute beachside walk to the resort area of Kololi. The enviable location of the hotel, combined with its impressive moorish architecture, exceptional cuisine, and facilities including an 1800sq metre Spa facility will assure its recognition as one of the, if not the, best hotels in The Gambia.
View Coco Ocean Resort & Spa Hotel »
Sandele Bay Eco Retreat
A new eco-lodge has been added to The Gambia Experience portfolio.
Set on a palm-fringed expanse of unspoilt white sand in southern Gambia, Sandele Bay Eco Retreat is the ongoing creation of a British couple, working in conjunction with the local community of Kartong, who will personally benefit from the development of the Resort, assuming complete ownership in twenty-five years’ time.
Accommodation takes the form of inspiring individual circular brick suites, with domed ceilings, nestled amongst the trees, only 100m from the beach. Located 45 – 60 minutes from busier resort areas, Sandele Eco Retreat works perfectly as a twin-centre with a coastal hotel.
NEW: Twin Centres with Senegal
Expanded programme in the Sine Saloum Delta & introducing Saly
Simultaneous to the launch of this new Gambia Experience brochure, Serenity Holidays has also progressed its West African specialism, producing its first stand-alone Senegal Experience brochure.
The tour operator’s vastly developed Senegal programme now features five hotels in the Sine Saloum Delta region and five hotels in the beach resort area of Saly. A selection of properties is offered from the unique and original, small and romantic, to the elegant and luxurious.
With The Senegal Experience offering flights into Dakar and Banjul, twin centre Senegal and Gambia holidays can easily be arranged.
View Senegal Hotel Collection »
Special-Interest Holidays
Chris Packham returns / NEW: Introduction of Photograph Workshops
The Gambia Experience has long promoted The Gambia as a fulfilling destination for anglers and birdwatchers and is delighted to announce that regards the latter, celebrity ornithologist Chris Packham is returning to The Gambia to lead a three-day bird watching tour departing in February 09.
In addition, The Gambia Experience, in conjunction with Focus-Gambia, has launched Photography Workshop Tours, with inaugural trips scheduled for this summer.
View holidays with a difference »
NEW: Glasgow Regional Departure
Plus Airport Gold Package
The Gambia Experience continues to offer twice-weekly winter departures from London Gatwick, Bristol, East Midlands and Manchester airports to Banjul in The Gambia.
However, from November 2008 there will also be a new weekly departure from Glasgow.
Throughout the winter 08/09 season The Gambia Experience will offer a Premium Class service on its Friday Gatwick service with the award-winning Monarch airlines. Extra legroom seats can also be purchased year-round (from £100 per person return on Tuesday Gatwick departures in Winter 08/09).
In addition, The Gambia Experience is also able to exclusively offer an enhanced ‘Airport Gold Package’ - includes use of the business lounge in the UK, priority boarding, an additional 10kg luggage allowance and a complimentary drink on board the aircraft - available again from Gatwick, but also from Manchester, Bristol and East Midlands airports, from £39 per person.
More Glasgow airport information »
Responsible Tourism Update
The Gambia Experience is pleased to report great success since it launched its carbon offset scheme a year ago – 10,000 trees have already been planted in resort and solar power technology has been introduced.
Adding to the triumph of Serenity Holidays being awarded Travel Company of the Year 2007 by the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG), The Gambia Experience received the accolade of ‘Highly Commended’ in AITO’s Responsible Tourism Awards 2007 held in January this year.
Responsible tourism information »
The Gambia Experience offers 7-night holidays from £495 per person, based on bed & breakfast accommodation at the 2-grade Hotel African Village. Holidays including a hotel within the Luxury Collection start from £774 per person (based on bed & breakfast accommodation at the 5-grade Kairaba Hotel).
Both include return flights from London Gatwick, taxes and transfers.
A number of Early Booking Offers are available, valid for holidays booked by 30 June 2008.
These include free room upgrades and 10 & 11 nights for the price of 7 at selected hotels.
For more information please call The Gambia Experience Reservations on 0845 330 2087 or visit the tour operator’s new-look website www.gambia.co.uk which now includes video footage.