Travel news: New kayaking holidays on the Nile and more

Plus: Flydubai to launch three new routes; India opens first hill station bike path; New Design Hotel opens in Seoul.

A tour with Nile Kayak Club in Egypt. Courtesy Nile Kayak Club

Flydubai to launch three new routes

Travellers in the UAE can take off on three new routes from June when Flydubai launches direct routes to Batumi in Georgia, Qabala in Azerbaijan and Tivat in Montenegro. These follow its launch of a direct service to Bangkok in December. All three routes will operate seasonally on a non-daily basis from June 22 to September. The Qabala and Tivat routes are the first direct services from the UAE and the flights to Batumi – Georgia's second-largest city, which is located on the Black Sea coast – is the first direct service from Dubai. Qabala is a popular summer destination thanks to its mild climate, forested mountains and historic sites. Tivat is on Montenegro's Adriatic coast. For more information, visit www.flydubai.com.

New kayaking holidays on the Nile

The first recreational kayaking club in Egypt is offering kayak tours on the Nile. The Nile Kayak Club, which is based in Giza but has several branches, offers everything from an introductory one-hour experience on the river in central Cairo to a five-day, 200-kilometre trip from Aswan to Luxor. Tours cost from 150 Egyptian pounds (Dh35) for the one-hour trip to 5,200 pounds (Dh1,204) for a longer trip including hotel accommodation. No previous experience is necessary. For more information, visit www.nilekayakclub.com.

India opens first hill station bike path

The east Indian state of Darjeeling has opened the country's first hill station bike path. It's a 20-kilometre route through the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, a 30-minute cycle ride from the town of Darjeeling. The route offers gentle slopes with views of the Himalayas, and can be completed in a day. Organised trips can be arranged through Ashmita Trek & Tours (www.ashmitatrek.com). The path is closed during the clouded-leopard breeding season, from June to August.

New Design Hotel opens in Seoul

Visitors to the South Korean capital Seoul can now check into a new Design Hotel, the Glad Live, in Gangnam. It's Seoul's second Design Hotel and the third in the country. The Glad Live, which is situated in a modern block clad in steel mesh, is next to Coex, the largest underground mall in Asia. It has 210 rooms, some of which come with their own plunge pools and feature art by animation artists, photographers and fashion designers. Rooms cost from US$120 (Dh441) per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.designhotels.com.