I do not believe it is an overstatement to describe a visit to a polar region as a trip of a lifetime. And I believe that if you visit one end of the earth you will feel an inexorable pull to visit the other. Well, that is what I, a couple of my colleagues, and many of our clients have discovered over the last few years, and this has led to the development of our dedicated team of Polar cruising specialists.
The easiest way to visit a polar region is on a cruise, in our summer time to the Arctic and in our winter time to Antarctica, but these cruises are unlike any other. They are journeys of generally between 7 and 21 days on boats specially designed for navigating these waters.
If you are unsure which to visit first, then I would say where better to start than with a simple question: polar bears or penguins?
During the two years that I lived in New Zealand, spring was my favourite season. Clear, crisp days with the sun shimmering off the remaining snow on the mountain peaks, and a landscape revived by the snow-melt: burgeoning rivers, deep green hillsides and birds, plants and people alike shedding their winter shells and stretching their limbs for the months ahead. Even a cold winter doesn’t stop the Kiwis enjoying their beautiful outdoors, but spring brings renewed energy and a feeling that, perhaps, it’s just about warm enough to head back to the water for a surf or to disappear into the wilderness for some off-the-beaten-track walking.
Sri Lanka, otherwise known as the “Pearl in the Indian Ocean”, may be small but the attractions of this tropical island are vast. With a history dating back as far as the 4th century BC, the country is home to numerous religions and within its varied landscapes can be found a rich array of animal and bird life as well as friendly people and excellent food. When planning a trip to Sri Lanka, the country can easily be divided into four distinct regions and the time spent in each depends on your thirst for culture, scenery, wildlife or time relaxing on the beach.
Newfoundland feels like the end of the world. For many, the name conjures an image of a barren bulk of rock lurking in the fog somewhere in the North Atlantic. Glimpsed from an aircraft, its stark outline is often surrounded by specks of ice.
Belize is well-known for its superb reefs and sparkling turquoise sea but as I discovered on a recent research trip, there is so much more to the country than the reef alone. It is overflowing with vast expanses of wild untouched rainforest, over 900 fascinating ancient Mayan ruins, raucous wildlife, thriving tropical fruit and cacao plantations, over 500 species of beautiful birds and is a cultural melting pot that makes the very nature of the Belizean people both intriguing and unique.
Sampling the culinary highlights of a country is, for some, one of the main reasons for choosing to travel to a particular location. Japan is certainly a place where eating is half the fun, as long as you can overcome the misconception that all there is to eat is raw fish. Of course, Japan is renowned for its fantastically fresh and delicate sushi and sashimi, but adventurous eaters will be delighted to hear that Japanese food offers a wealth of dishes to satisfy any palate.
“Put the kettle on and we’ll all have a nice cup of tea”. A common suggestion in households across Britain. It’s easy to take the soothing effects of a decent cup of tea for granted, but tea has a far more complex and fascinating history than this simple act would suggest.
Nervously we crept forward, using a conveniently located acacia bush as cover. I felt clumsy in comparison with my Bushman guide, who seemed to move so effortlessly and silently. Less than 30 metres away stood two female rhino with a young calf. For a few seconds they sensed our presence, but we were downwind and with their notoriously poor eyesight we were entirely safe. That didn’t stop the adrenalin coursing through my veins as I viewed these majestic animals. It was an absolute privilege to see rhino on foot at such close range and yet another example of why Botswana remains one of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations.
A symbol of Brazil’s strong Catholic faith, the arms of ‘O Redentor’, Christ the Redeemer, embrace the city of Rio de Janeiro, its beaches, forested hills, homes, hotels and all those in it. On July 7th 2007, the concrete and soapstone statue was voted one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’ and it is undeniably deserving of its prestige as a local, national and international icon.
Chris Wilson explores the Sunshine Way and returns to Brisbane, a city that he once found to be struggling with rapid development, but a place now at ease with itself.
The Mekong covers over 4,300 kilometres as it navigates its passage from the Tibetan plateau to the South China Sea. The latter part of this journey is spent meandering through Indochina, forming the lifeblood of this diverse region. Here our Indochina specialists explore some of their favourite highlights along the way.
We asked our specialists which destinations offer particularly good value for the coming year. We see plenty of offers in the newspapers and on the web for low-priced tours, but these invariably cut a lot of corners, so we also stressed that the trips needed to be the ‘complete experience’ and not less than two weeks. Here are some of their suggestions.
The Roman Empire, at its height, extended from modern Sudan in the south, to the Scottish border in the north and from Morocco in the west to the Caspian Sea and Arabian Gulf in the east. With the exception of Oman, every country in our North Africa & Arabia brochure knew the tramp of legionary boots and rule of toga-clad governors. The Roman narrative from the early days of the republic, through to the collapse of the Empire, can be traced through the basilicas, mosaics, forums and amphitheatres still standing and demanding our attention.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics was, in many ways, the modern-day pinnacle of Chinese aspirations – not only a time for the Chinese government to sit back and absorb the world’s admiration for the stunning spectacle that they put on, but also for the ordinary Chinese citizen to witness something that they would never have dreamed possible only a short time ago. So fast has this enormous country changed over the last twenty years that in many areas it is unrecognisable from the place that the middle-aged Chinese knew when they were growing up.
There are, however, still parts of the country where traditional ways of life remain relatively untouched. We interviewed three very different Chinese people to see how life has changed and what they think the future holds for their families.
The beauty of Indonesia is to be found in its sheer diversity. The country is the world’s largest archipelago, consisting of 17,000 islands with a population of over 245 million. The people practise a vast array of religions and, although
officially a Muslim country, any tour of Indonesia will lead to encounters with Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Confucians and even Animists.
The sheer breadth of religions reflects the various waves of immigration to the country from many parts of Asia and beyond. This melting pot of cultures, beliefs and traditions makes the country a fascinating place to visit. To compliment this, the country is blessed with the verdant volcanic landscapes of Java; abundant wildlife including the endangered orang-utans of Sumatra and Kalimantan; and the white sand beaches of Bali and Lombok, to name just a few.
Diversity does bring one drawback and that is how to decide on what to see in a country with seemingly limitless options. Here we simplify the process, outlining the main highlights on the larger islands, explaining how these can be combined and highlight some outstanding offers.
South Africa is a country boasting an abundance of attractions, from safaris to wine lands, which have combined to make it a very appealing destination for the visiting traveller. However, away from the usual tourist trail is a country still coming to terms with its recent political past and trying to address a myriad of social, education and health problems.
Audley has worked with the Uthando project for just over a year now and here we explore the work of the charity from four different perspectives: the founder, the beneficiary, the visiting client and the staff at Audley.
Buenos Aires is often high on the list of the best cities in the world to visit, but to truly appreciate all it has to offer, insider advice from the locals is imperative. We therefore asked one of our top guides, Maria, to share a few of her favourite places to visit, eat, drink and tango!
Nothing draws people together like food, whether it’s the preparation or sitting down to taste local delicacies, barriers are broken down and conversation flows. We asked our specialists to choose some of their favourite culinary experiences from around the world.
‘Gross national happiness’ is a truly unique and very Bhutanese idea drawn from the Buddhist belief that the ultimate purpose of life is inner happiness. Here, Camilla Brent-Smith explores the origins of this rather unique idea and explains how this focus on people permeates throughout Bhutanese society.
When originally tasked with setting up Audley’s Australia programme, the company ethos of authentic, cultural, off-the beaten-track tours and experiences rang loudly in my ears. I’ll admit I was just a little worried.
Canada still remains one of the most scarcely populated countries in the world, covering a staggering 9,984,670 square kilometres (second only to Russia) but with just over 33 million people. Although small, the population has been formed from a base of indigenous people and then supplemented with waves of immigrants, mainly from the shores of Europe.
Peter Stanley-Jones, Regional Manager for Canada, takes a look at the history that conspired to create what is now a modern, passionately patriotic country and a hugely fulfilling destination for the traveller.
The image of a Geisha shuffling down a lantern lit, cobbled street dressed in a fine silk kimono and teetering on wooden geta sandals is one of the most iconic, yet perhaps most misunderstood, symbols of Japan.
The unanimous view amongst the New Zealand team at Audley is that our favourite properties are those with outstanding hosts. A property can have the most spectacular location with incredible views and luxurious rooms, but if the hosting and ambiance don’t match, then there is a real sense of something lacking.
All our favourite hosts bring something special to their property, be it their own life experiences, their local knowledge, their culinary skills or simply their enthusiasm, but occasionally we meet people who have a very specific interest which has driven their desire to welcome people into their homes.
Here we meet a variety of hosts with a diverse range of backgrounds who run some of our favourite unique places to stay.
When telling people I was about to embark ona self-drive trip around the north of Thailand, I was met with a mixture of interest and concern: “Have you seen how they drive in Bangkok?” But driving in Thailand outside the frenetic capital is a very relaxing experience with quiet, spacious roads and fabulous scenery. Having the independence to stop wherever you like is a great way to interact with the locals and adapt your pace of travel.
Guatemala is a country with a rich cultural heritage and a diverse population, ranging from the Garifuna in the east to the Spaniards around the colonial city of Antigua and the Mayans in the Western highlands.
The highlights of a trip to Jordan usually include: the iconic Petra, a pilgrimage to Mount Nebo, the crusader castles of Kerak, the Roman city of Jerash and maybe some time by the shores of the Dead Sea. However, this is not all that Jordan has to offer. Matthew Teller, author of the Rough Guide to Jordan, ventures to the less explored north of the country to walk the Al-Ayoun trail.
The sheer diversity of people in India is what makes it such a fascinating place. It would be impossible to feature all of the many faces that constitute India, but here we give a snapshot of some of the more colourful, remote or just simply striking people from this vast country.
