Tripoli Stopover - 3 Days / 2 Nights

Tailor Made Holidays in Cuba

The island of Cuba lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 1,200km long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The largest of all Caribbean Islands is an addictive mixture of lavish Spanish colonial architecture, imposing communist statues and plazas, sublime powder white beaches, teeming coral reefs, densely forested mountains and verdant tropical plantations.

Travelling in Cuba is without doubt an incredible cultural experience and it should be treated as such. Cuba is definitely not a country that should be visited if you are looking for luxury or a trip where everything runs like clockwork. The appeal of Cuba is that it has remained free of western influence and commercialisation. There are no advertising hoardings or fast food restaurants. The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are stunning (although many are dominated by large all inclusive resorts) and most of all the people are wonderful. The colonial architecture, history and music all add further to its appeal culminating in a unique holiday which you will never forget. Anyone visiting with an open mind, a sense of humour and an adventurous spirit will be more than rewarded by what they find.

Cuba's unique and turbulent history weaves a fascinating tale from Spanish colonial rule and the slave trade to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution. This is reflected in its vibrant culture, thriving arts scene and flamboyant music. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba's economy has struggled and this combined with the US embargo are still very much in evidence. Although Cuba's focus is now on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law unto itself when it comes to quality of hotels, food, service and transportation. It may be a Caribbean island with the climate, scenery and wonderful beaches to match but the fact remains it is a communist country struggling not only with a crumbling infrastructure and the governmental control over its people and businesses but also the continuing US embargo.

Without doubt all of this adds to the charm of this unique country but it also means that Cuba's ability to maintain service levels and standards is far less reliable than that of other developing countries in the world. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods. Even simple items that we take for granted, such as bread, can be hard to come by. The government's control over everything prevents private enterprise and with a strictly enforced regulated wage system gives many of the local people little incentive to be doing a good job. With Raul Castro now in control, change is occurring but progress is slow.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our holidays are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Cuba has a warm and tropical climate with two distinct seasons.

The best time to visit is from December to May when you will have dry sunny days. From June to November Cuba can be hot, humid and wet. During the winter months of December and January daytime temperatures can drop below 20 degrees centigrade whilst in the summer months of July and August temperatures soar, especially in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

The hurricane season begins in June and in some years can continue through to November.

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All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel. In some instances we do promote holidays that are part of our "Classic" series and these will include approximate pricing.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.

ICAN Guides Cuba

ICAN Itineraries Cuba

Classic Cuba ~ 8 Days / 7 Nights

Tripoli Stopover - 3 Days / 2 Nights

Written by Travel Correspondent

Sunday, 22 November 2009 19:37

Tripoli Stopover - 3 Days

Tripoli - Leptis Magna

(This stopover is best suited to travellers from South Africa travelling on the Tuesday or Saturday overnight flight via Tripoli to European destinations)

leptis-magna-theatre2 Travelling from South African with Afriqiyah Airways, to European destinations, why not take the opportunity to Discover Libya's Capital and one of the 5 World Heritage Sites in Libya, Leptis Magna.

Leptis Magna is world famous as arguably the best preserved and most extensive Roman city in the world. Associated with the Emperor Septimus Severus who was born here, it many monuments of interest include the Severan Arch, Theatre, Colonaded Street, Nymphaeum, Baths, Amphitheatre, Forum, Basilicas and Market.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Wednesday or Sunday)
Your guide will meet you on arrival in Tripoli and transfer you to your hotel of choice. Full day sightseeing tour of Libya’s capital city including the marvellous National Museum and the souks and mosques of the old town where lunch will be taken.

Day 2 (Thursday or Monday)
Full day excursion to the magnificent Roman city of Leptis Magna. A visit will also be made to Villa Celine, the seafront home of an upper-class Roman family. Return to Tripoli.

Day 3 (Friday or Tuesday)
At leisure and perhaps time for a return visit to the Tripoli souk before your transfer back to the airport for departure to your next destination.

End of holiday arrangements.

Hotel Category	Tripoli 3 Days / 2 Nights Stopover cost per person
4 Star Hotel	R7,575 per person Share Twin
4 Star Hotel	Single Room supplement add R1950

YOUR HOLIDAY COST INCLUDES:

Accommodation on full board (from lunch on day 1 till lunch on day 3)
2 Dinners/2 breakfasts/3 lunches
Meals in local restaurants or in the hotel according to the itinerary. Dinners in Tripoli are foreseen in good local restaurants.
Mineral Water during meals in local restaurants and lodges (not in the hotels)
Soft drinks during meals in some restaurants (except alcohol free beer)
Transportation by Car/minivan
Passport registration upon arrival.
Entrees to museums and sites.
Tips in Restaurants and Hotels
Local guides (Subject to availability)
A permanent English speaking Guide (Subject to availability)

YOUR HOLIDAY COST DOES NOT INCLUDE :

The visit of Villa Silin (5 EUR per person and paid at the site)
Coffee/tea and alcohol free beer
Extra services in hotels (telephone communications, laundry, etc.)
Tips to guide and driver (3.5 EUR per person per day for both).
The Visa cost : 45 EUR per person (if delivered upon arrival in Libya)

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 December 2009 16:45

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