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The Artisan Travel Team
For most of us the festive season means family, friends, food and fizz. However, it can also bring with it a whole lot of stress as you try to play the perfect host, preparing food and wrapping presents or as you speed across the country trying to avoid the motorway traffic to be with your nearest and dearest. Here at Artisan Travel we think you should be able to enjoy the best bits of Christmas and New Year without any of the stresses. That is why we can think of no better way to spend the festive period than on an escape to Finnish Lapland! So, whether you are after a relaxing break with family and friends in a winter cottage or fancy an active overnight dog sledding adventure through the wilderness, we have something for you! Take a look below at 5 of our favourite festive breaks for this winter!
Get ready to celebrate, ICEHOTEL® number 30 is on its way!
"A Night at the Theatre", art suite created by Jonathan Green and Marnie Green
Summer might be drawing to a close but that doesn't mean it is time to pack up your passport just yet! Here at Artisan Travel we think there is plenty to get excited about when it comes to the winter months. Not only are there thrilling Arctic adventures to look forward to but equally as exciting is the fact that Sweden’s world-famous ICEHOTEL® has released its plans for this year as they celebrate their 30th birthday!
Summer might be steadily drawing to a close but that doesn’t have to be the end of your adventures until the snow rolls in during the months of November and December. In fact, here at Artisan Travel we believe that October can be an excellent chance to get away and avoid some fantastic destinations whilst avoiding the busier summer crowds.
So, whether you are looking to soak up the last of the summer’s sun or head north for an Arctic adventure, let us inspire you to get away this October with five of our favourite trips for this often-overlooked time of the year!
The idyllic summer months offer the perfect excuse to book a long weekend away, somewhere far beyond the typical staycation. Enjoy super-soft sandy beaches, explore vast volcanic landscapes, experience wildlife encounters, or simply bask in the summer sun; from breathtaking archipelagos to Nordic hot-spots – these destinations are all less than a five-hour flight away from London. So, take a look below at our recommendations to plan that much needed weekend away!
The islands of the Azores - which to visit and what to do
Situated in the mid-Atlantic, remote, volcanic yet full of life sit the nine islands of the Azores.
The archipelago’s islands are divided into three; the Eastern Group (Santa Maria and São Miguel), the Central Group (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial) and the Western Group (Corvo and Flores). On first glance, the rocky landmasses all have a similar presence - rugged and green with impressive geological structures, but delve deeper and you’ll find an individual charm on each island.
Here at Artisan Travel, we have a vast range of bucket list summer holidays, skilfully designed by our trusted Travel Experts with you in mind. We'll take you from the sun-drenched islands of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast to Northern Norway to watch the Midnight Sun over the sublime fjords, to the Azores to snorkel alongside dolphins, to Madeira to explore exotic botanical gardens and to Gozo to indulge your passion for photography. Here are our top destinations for you:
Why the Azores is one of the top holiday destinations for summer 2019!
Nothing beats an island holiday for your summertime getaway, but do you fancy trying something different this year? This summer, step beyond your much-loved European escapes for a new kind of island holiday in one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets; the magnificent Azores archipelago.
Whale watching in Madeira is one of the most popular activities during any visit to the island, and for good reason. With over 20 different cetacean species swimming in the surrounding waters, you’ll have a high chance of seeing a splash of a whale’s tail, a spurt from a blowhole or even a full breach!
Due to the depth of the water around the island, whales can be spotted as close as 5km away from shore where the ocean floor reaches more than 3000 metres deep. However, our whale watching excursions during your holiday in Madeira include a boat trip to give you an even better chance of seeing the wonderful marine life in their natural environment.
View our holidays in Madeira complete with whale watching here.
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When is the best time to see whales in Madeira?
Though marine life is present year-round, it’s said that the best time to see whales in Madeira is between April and September/October. This is because there are usually more species around at this time due to both resident and migratory species being present.
That’s why our holidays in Madeira complete with whale watching all run between April and October, to give you the best chance of seeing these mighty mammals.
There is no ‘best time of day’ to go whale watching. Our tours will operate in either the morning or afternoon, depending on weather and sea conditions.
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Which whale species can be found in Madeira?
In 1987 once whaling was banned, Madeira was officially declared as a marine mammal sanctuary and now, many different species swim through its waters. Sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales are most commonly sighted and though beaked whales are quite rare to see in other locations, you could see them in Madeira.
The waters also attract giants such as fin, sei and Bryde’s whales and you can even see humpbacks, minke and false killer whales.
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What to expect during whale watching on holiday in Madeira
Our boat trips all depart from Funchal, the welcoming capital which will be the base for your holiday.
You will usually sail aboard a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) for an adventurous way to speed across the water. There may be an option for a catamaran instead, but please enquire about this with one of our Artisan Travel Experts at the time of booking.
The marine biologist on board will help you look for and identify the different species found around the island. Make sure you bring your camera as these are moments you won’t want to miss!
Along with the many different whale species you could also spot sea birds, turtles and dolphins. To take your marine experience even further, we also offer the chance to snorkel alongside the wild dolphins that call the Atlantic Ocean home.
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Your whale watching experience in Madeira with Artisan Travel
We have spent over 15 years carefully crafting experience-led holidays to provide you with bucket list moments in extraordinary destinations.
By working alongside our local partners, listening to our clients and visiting all of our destinations ourselves, we’re able to create authentic holidays filled with experiences of a lifetime.
Call our Artisan Travel Experts today on 01670 785 085 to discuss how we can help you start ticking off your bucket list.
VIEW OUR HOLIDAYS IN MADEIRA COMPLETE WITH WHALE WATCHING HERE.
Image credit: Miguel Moniz And Visit Madeira, Rota Dos Cetaceos and Madeira Promotional Bureau
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Whale watching in the Azores is a must-do activity during any visit to the archipelago. As one of the world’s largest whale sanctuaries, it’s almost imperative that you get out onto the surrounding waters and look for the 20 different types of resident and migratory cetaceans found here.
When both the BBC and National Geographic have travelled to the Azores with their cameras ready to record these fantastic animals, you know you’ve come to the right place for whale watching.
View our holidays in the Azores complete with whale watching here.
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When is the best time to see whales in the Azores?
You can enjoy whale watching in the Azores throughout the year due to the number of species that live here permanently and those that are on their migratory path during different months of the year.
It is extremely common to spot a cetacean during your boat trip. In fact, whales and dolphins are spotted on 98% of the tours.
Though whales can be spotted at any time, it can be said that the main whale watching season runs from April to October as there are usually more species passing through the Azorean waters on their migratory paths. That’s why we run all of our holidays to the Azores between these months, to give you the best chance of spotting a flick of a tail, a spurt of water from a blowhole or even a full breach!
Rest assured there is no ‘best time in the day’ to see whales in the Azores and your boat trip will run in the morning or afternoon, depending on the weather and sea conditions.
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Which whale species can be found in the Azores?
Sperm whales are resident species, feeding on the giant squid found in the Atlantic. This means that they are the most commonly sighted whale species but there are many others you could see too.
April and May are usually the best months for larger whales such as blue, fin and sei, and October in the past has been a great time to see humpback whales. However, this is only looking at past patterns, we’ve also seen sei whales in summer and the mighty blue whale in winter!
There are also many other types of marine life to be on the lookout for including dolphins and turtles.
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What to expect from your whale watching trip in the Azores
Most of the whale watching trips take place on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) which really adds to your experience as you speed across the water in search of the magnificent marine life. There may be an option for a catamaran instead, but please enquire about this with one of our Artisan Travel Experts at the time of booking.
The only thing we recommend for you to bring is your camera – these are certainly memories you’ll want physical evidence of!
As well as the skipper, a marine biologist will accompany you on your trip to discuss the different whale species and help you spot the wonderful animals in the water.
Though you can’t swim with the whales, it is truly an amazing experience to see these huge creatures in their natural habitat. We do, however, offer swimming with the wild dolphins that call these waters home on our Wildlife and Volcanic Exploration holiday, our Volcanic Wonderland trip and our Volcanic Island Short Break.
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Which island can I go whale watching in the Azores?
You can whale watch from different locations in the Azores. Many of our trips depart from Ponta Delgada, the capital situated on São Miguel Island. However, you could start your boat trip from the island of Pico where you can also spend time at the old whalers’ museum, learning about how the Azores transitioned from a pro-whaling nation to one that now promotes conservation.
This whaling history can be seen all around the islands with ‘vigias’ found dotted along the coast. These whale observation posts were traditionally used to alert whale hunting fleets. Today, they do the same job of spotting the whales but now, this information is fed back to the whale watching tours. It takes very skilled spotters to be able to tell a species from miles away but there’s nothing stopping you giving it a try. You can also use these strategic lookouts to see more of the Azores’ fantastic landscape and surrounding waters, and if you’ve got a keen eye, you just might spot some of the whales!
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Protecting the whales of the Azores
Whale watching is taken very seriously in the Azores as they are a protected species and there are many safety measures in place. It’s important that humans keep interference to a minimum, this is about observing the whales in their natural environment, not disturbing them.
A code of conduct was developed to further protect the whales. It prohibits: chasing, disturbing or feeding the cetaceans, swimming with the whales, polluting the sea, making noise (whales are very sensitive to noise), and having more than three boats in the same spot at once. The boats must also only ever approach the cetaceans from behind and must keep at a constant speed, and leave the whale alone if they seem agitated. The boat must keep more than 50 metres away, or 100 metres if there are babies present.
Whales are naturally very inquisitive, so they may come closer to the boat, however, when this is their choice it’s absolutely fine!
View our holidays in the Azores complete with whale watching trips here.
Image credit: Futurismo Azores Adventure
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