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From The Times

August 5, 2006

What's new - feeding silkworms in China

Jill Crawshaw hunts out the best ideas, including a trip to the ancient town on Wuhzen in China

FEEDING silkworms and spinning silk, learning about traditional medicines and lessons in t’ai chi and cookery are all part of a new holiday in Wuhzen in China. The programme has been developed by the cultural specialist CTS Horizons and Wuhzen’s local authorities to encourage a deeper understanding of China’s 5,000-year-old heritage and help to resurrect tourism. Prices for the nine-day trip start at £995 for flights to Shanghai, transfers, a week’s B&B at the Tong. An hotel in Wuhzen and some other meals.

CTS Horizons (020-7836 9911, www.ctshorizons.com).

Jolly jumbos

A feast of festivals is guaranteed on Tell Tale Travel’s tour to Thailand in November. First visit is to Chiang Mai, with the celebrations for Loy Krathong on a full-moon night when the locals release hot-air paper balloons into the sky and launch a candle-lit boat to bring them luck. November also marks the opening of the huge Royal Flora show to celebrate the King of Thailand’s 60th year on the throne. Tell Tale Travel will also get you in on events such as the elephant buffet, when bamboo platforms are piled high with elephant treats. The two-week tour, which also includes visits to wildlife parks, plantations and cookery lessons, costs £1,477pp for flights, accommodation, private car, transport and most meals.

Tell Tale Travel (0800 0112571, www.telltaletravel.co.uk).

Doing a Darwin

Holidaymakers can stay in a luxury villa in the Galapagos Islands. On the main island of Santa Cruz, Infinite Blue, a 12-bedroom villa within walking distance of the Darwin Research Station, comes with whirlpool, masseuse and chef, as well as mountain bikes, kayaks and high-tech toys. It has a private yacht and guide to explore other islands and see blue-footed boobies and iguanas, penguins and giant tortoises. A ten-day holiday starts at £1,813pp for all flights and transfers, a week in the villa with all food and drinks and two nights’ B&B in a five-star hotel in Quito.

Cazenove & Loyd (020-7384 2332, www.cazloyd.com).

On your bike

Jewel in the Crown, which runs Royal Enfield motorcycle tours in India, is turning its hand to mountain biking holidays — for all levels of fitness and expertise. There are 14-night packages to Goa pedalling gently through 300 miles (500km) of tropical scenery, with the reward of two days on the beach at the end. The first tour leaves on December 28 and costs £1,430 for flights, bike hire and B&B stops in tents, lodges and hotels. The most challenging tour, the 16-day “Ultimate Ride” in the Himalayas, costs £1,699.

Jewel in the Crown Holidays (01293 533338, www.jewelholidays.com).

Flower power

Rare, wild and theatrical gardens are on Boxwood’s “Gardens of Snowdonia” tour next month. Horticultural devotees will visit Bodnant, famous for its camelias, and Powis Castle, with its 17th-century terraces. They will travel to Anglesey to see Plas Newydd, where the gardens overlook the Menai Straits. The base is Portmeirion, the Italianate village and gardens, the dates September 11-15, the price £998 for half board, three lunches, and transport.

Boxwood Tours (01341 241717, www.boxwoodtours.co.uk).