Good news if you’re keen to get away this year!… Double-jabbed UK tourists will be able to visit amber countries without having to quarantine on return “later this summer”.
We’re so happy to hear this. It goes without saying that whenever announcements are made about government plans, we meet them with cautious optimism. But, this really does sound like a positive step in the right direction.
With this exciting change coming later in the Summer, we wanted to whet your appetite with a couple of wonderful amber countries we’re confident you’ll be able to visit with us, *hopefully* without any need to quarantine on return.
So, grab a cuppa (or a Moroccan mint tea!), sit back and allow our Emma and Cat to explain why Morocco or Jordan could be the perfect amber country for a late summer escape for you….
Morocco
Emma shares 5 reasons why Morocco is perfect to visit in late Summer…
1) The weather is the absolute best at this time of year! That means the cities aren’t too blisteringly hot, the mountains aren’t cold, and the coast isn’t too windy – it’s a great time to be in Essaouira , for example, when the wind is a cooling breeze and less of a tornado coming off the Atlantic!
2) The hotel rates are great in September because it’s after the summer holidays but just before high season kicks in. So, it’s the perfect time to go! Kasbah Bab Ourika in the Ourika Valley is one of my absolute favourite hotels, with both Riad Fes and Riad Kniza close seconds – these riads tick all the boxes.
3) We’d always recommend visiting around September time as opposed to spring, because you avoid Easter (one of the busiest times of year for travellers to Morocco) and Ramadan, when restaurants open at funny times and towards Eid lots of places close. Even the souks in Marrakesh shut down for a week around Eid, and it would be such a shame to miss those!
4) It’s a great time to visit the north of Morocco for festivals. They are such a great way to really get under the skin of a country. Experience the Festival of Voloubilis , Fantastia Festival in Meknes (which is so very Moroccan!) and the Tanjazz in Tangier if you’re visiting at the right time. They’d be such a great addition to a holiday.
5) Going at this quieter time of year means you get to explore the maze-like souks with less crowds, take your time to sip on delicious fresh mint tea and soak up the calmer atmosphere.
Jordan
Cat’s top 5 reasons why Jordan would make a brilliant escape, particularly in late summer/Autumn…
1) In September, the scorching temperatures of the summer are beginning to tail off, making it the perfect time to take to the many hiking trails on offer, such as the cooling water trail of the Wadi Mujib Gorge or the ‘secret back door’ trail from Little Petra to Petra.
2) The clear skies of the Wadi Rum and Dana Nature Reserve are magic. With little chance of a cloud, you will experience a peaceful and perfectly cool night of star gazing and planet watching in the Jordan desert.
3) Petra. There is no wrong time of year to visit this mesmerising UNESCO World Heritage site, but the early morning September sun perfectly lights up the face of the Treasury and is a site not to be missed before the sun moves on and it is casted in shadow for the rest of the day.
4) The Jordanian hospitality. Whenever you visit you’ll always receive a friendly welcome and invitation to sit, relax and drink the famous and refreshing mint tea. You might also receive an invitation or two for dinner, but why not try your hand at cooking your own Jordanian dishes at the renowned Beit Sitti cookery class or Petra Kitchen .
5) With temperatures still in the regions of what we would class as the perfect UK summer, Jordan has the best places from which to cool off. Take a cooling dip in Aqaba or dive deeper to admire the spectacular coral reefs and then simply float away the stresses at the Dead Sea.
(We know things are still fairly uncertain right now. But our team of experts are at the end of the phone on 01242 253 073 to answer any questions you may have about getting away on a much-needed holiday later this year).
