Travel Deals: book a colourful cultural trip or safari next year

Celebrate a riotous festival in India or head to the Galapagos Islands for a fulfulling photography holiday.

Celebrate Holi, the festival of colours that heralds the arrival of spring, in Rajasthan during a two-week trip organised by Bales Worldwide.

India

Enjoy Holi, the famous festival of colours, in Rajasthan, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on a 14-day trip by Bales Worldwide. Take in the impressive Moghul architecture of the Indian capital, visit the holy city of Varanasi, soak up the Taj Mahal in Agra, explore the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri and explore the Palace of the Winds before ending your journey in Udaipur, India's "City of Dreams". The special trip from Bales Worldwide includes an extra day in Jaipur, offering visitors a chance to participate in the riotous Holi festival. The two-week trip costs £1,795 (Dh10,207) per person, including accommodation, based on two sharing, most meals, sightseeing and all local transport. International airfare is not included. Visit www.balesworldwide.com to book.

Galapagos Islands

Capture the wildlife of the Galapagos with a new photography tour by Steppes Discovery. The trip begins in Quito, the old city of which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, before going on to the Galapagos for outdoor photography sessions. Your subjects will include iguanas, giant tortoises and sea lions, among other animals. The 10-day tour costs Dh20,528 per person, including accommodation, breakfast, flights from Quito to the Galapagos and then on to Guayaquil, a seven-day cruise, full board, tuition by a professional wildlife photographer, the services of a naturalist, and donations to the Galapagos Conservation Trust and the Darwin Research Centre. International airfare is not included. Visit www.steppesdiscovery.co.uk to book.

South Africa

Book a wildlife viewing and conservation holiday in South Africa's Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The highlights of the 14-day trip, which offers plenty of photo opportunities, include sightings of the Big Five (rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo), and lessons in identifying leopard tracks. Visitors can also choose to participate in the local community projects. At the end of the trip, a prize is awarded for the best photograph. The two-week trip starts and ends in Johannesburg and costs from £2,500 (Dh14,275) per person, full board, including accommodation, guides, game drives, bush walks and airport transfers. International airfare is not included. Book through www.responsibletravel.com.

Switzerland

Cox and Kings has an eight-day "Swiss Delight" tour with overnight stays in Zurich, Zermatt, Interlaken and Lucerne. Trip highlights include an excursion to the Gornergrat, a cable car ride to the Schilthorn (3,000 metres), a walking tour in Lucerne and a ride up Mount Titlis for views of the Alps. An optional add-on is an evening cruise on Lake Brienz in Interlaken. The trip costs from Dh5,727 per person, based on two sharing, including accommodation in city-centre hotels, breakfast, transfers, sightseeing and all taxes. International airfare is not included. Departures in March. Visit www.coxandkings.ae to book or call 04 3572628.