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.
