The wo wasc holida ourgroupof16butanabsolut to be shoutedatour(lo ly,g ,p guides. Ondaytwo, she sworeatone fellowpassengerandpushedanotheroff theirbike.I’dlove to saythese were just teethingissuesbutunfortunatelyshe gotprogressively worseasthe14-day holidaywenton, to levelsofsuchutter rudeness Ihave neverwitnessedina grownadultbefore...andhope to never again.
Herabhorrentbehaviourhadone positive —itunitedthe rest ofthegroup and we allbecamegreatfriends.It also inspiredus to beaskindand courteous as we could to ourbeleaguredguides, to insomesmall way makeupfor Linda’s awfulness.
DespiteLinda,I’mahuge fanof guided holidays,whetherit’s anafternoon walking touror atwo-week exploration of Europe. Aguide cantakeyou to interesting,off thebeatentrackplaces, theycanhelp youifthingsgowrong,and theycanbringtolifeanewdestination in waysyou’dneveruncover by yourself. This week’smagazineisdedicated to guidedholidaysallaroundthe world, fromsustainableoperators to epic journeys to solotraveltips.Wekick thingsoff onpage 8with aguide to thedo’s anddon’tsof grouptravel. Can someoneplease forwardittoLinda?
Theactortalksabouthis
Whatareyourstrongestmemoriesfromthe first overseastrip youevertook?
myfamily to theGoldCoastthemeparkswhen Iwas10orso.I bought ahatthat read“Damn Seagulls”with fake birdpooall overit. Theheightof90s fashion.
Whohasmostinspired yourtravels? MywifeJazmyne. Shemademego to Thailand. Turnsout,Ienjoyed Thailand.Whoknew?!Sheknew.
you’ve everbeenon?
stepsofthe101airbornedivisionwithmateGareth Williamsthrough Europe. We areboth World WarIIbuffsand fansof theHBOseries, Band of Brothers.Startingin London,boating acrosstoNormandy.Through France, Belgium,German andintoItaly.Wevisitedallthemajorbattlesites. It was aphenomenaltrip.
Andthe worst?
IoncebookedaccommodationinLAoff the internet.Turnedout to be aguy’s garagethathe had convertedinto“fourbedrooms”.The walls went three-quartersofthe way to the ceiling,andoneof my bedroom walls wasinfactthegaragedoor.$200a week ...what anoob.
Whatisthedestinationthatmostsurprised you —goodorbad?
India,becausenoone canprepareyou forthat.Wespenteight weeks shootingan Aussiecricket filmin Varanasi, KolkataandMumbai.The people were amazing,the food wasoff thescaleandculturewas something Ihadneverexperienced. Iwasthepickoftheactorsin
Touroperators fortravellers who care aboutsustainability
termsofcricketingability, and Iwascleanedup byevery secondlocalkidwho could rollthearm.Including aone-
Letyourself be guided by thevibrantcoloursofthelandscapearound youandbringthe best ofnature indoorswith Reseneplantbasedpaintsandnatureinspiredcolours. ProudlyNZmadeandownedsince1946.
Resene Forest Green Resene CaptainCook Resene Sandal Resene Koruexpress/2023-kolkata-to-mumbai
Contikiis celebrating its60thbirthdayby offeringtravellers aone-off 60-day tourthat takes in33citiesin19countries—atripwhich promisestobe“epic”and wasinspired by the travelcompany’s very firstContiki Adventure in1962, named TheBigOriginal. partinginApril,thisjourney will eyoufromthe SwissAlps to theidyllic Mediterranean,taking France, Austria, Sweden, Egypt.You’llcruiseonthe nube River, dinein a16th CenturyFrenchChateau,visitthe castlewhichinspiredthelegendary CountDraculacharacter, playwith huskydogs in Swedenand seethepyramidsin Egypt.
Contact: Contiki,0508 2668454or contiki.com/en-nz/activity/the-big-original
Unwindin Rarotonga for fivenights—oneof yournightsatPacific Resortisfreeofcharge. ReturnAirNewZealand fares, aNZ$250 food andbeveragecreditwith your roomand four nights’ accommodationwithdailybreakfasts included, startat$2025pp,twin-share, for travelfromAuckland.The fifthnightin your four-star studio roomisfree. Travelfrom WellingtonorChristchurch (via Auckland) starts at$2185pp,twin-share. Book by October30.Travelbetween February 10andMarch 7. ContactFlightCentre, 0800 427555or Auckland departures at flightcentre.co.nz/product/16531817, Wellingtondepartures at flightcentre.co.nz/product/16531886 orChristchurchdepartures at flightcentre.co.nz/product/16531955
KnownasThe Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’scoastaldrive isa mixofsecludedbeaches, clifftops, castles, anddramatic coastline. Return flightsfromNew Zealand to Dublin,Ireland,eightnights’ accommodationanda rental cartoexplore at your ownpace,arepriced from$5099pp,twin-share. Book by October28. Travel from Auckland,May1 to 19, May21toJune 8orAugust 21 to September13. TravelfromChristchurch,May 1to19orMay 21 to June8. Contact: Houseof Travel,0800 713715,hot.co.nz/wild-atlantic orhouseoftravel.co.nz/journeys-to-come/ wild-atlantic-way-CMPTI1710
Atour guidecan help yourholiday run more smoothly but there are things youcan do to help them,too.
Photo /Getty Imagesencounter
If you are settingout on yourfirst guided holiday, here’swhatyou shouldknow, writes Jessica Wynne Lockhart
Multi-dayguided holidays are one of the best waystoexplore an unfamiliar destination
Theyprovidelocal insight and knowledge into aregion’s history, demographics, ecology and even the bestplaces to eat or drink— all whileremovingthe stress of doing research and juggling logistics.
But if you’ve never been on aguided holiday before, there’s afew things you need to know. We spokewith tour guidestofind out what they wish travellersknew before they embarked on aguided holiday —and how theycan make the best of their timeabroad.
Choose aguided holiday based on your capabilities —not your aspirations Before youeven book aholiday, it’s critical to assessyour own physical abilities
Most tour operatorswill provide afull sample itineraryontheir websites, which will indicate the fitness levelrequired, regardlessofwhether you’re heading out on an active adventure or are just required to get on andoff abus.
“It’s very important to be honestwith yourself aboutyour abilities and fitness levels,” says Laura Rae, communications andmarketing manager for Globetrotting, atour company that specialises in globalhorse-riding holidays. “I always recommendtomygueststoundersell themselves —they’ll be pleasantly surprised by how muchthey can achieve.”
Let your guide know about medical conditions, dietary requirements, or phobias Even if you think it’s small or inconsequential, alert your guides to any possibleissues, such as knee problems, afear of heights, or amore serious ailment. Knowthat in return,they’ll look out for your safetyand comfortinthe most discreet mannerpossible
Scan this QR code with yourmobilephone to find more greattravel tips,advice and inspirationfrom nzherald.co.nz/travel
Personally, Ihave chronic motion sickness that no amount of Sea-Legs can cure. As atravel journalist, it’s embarrassing,and Idon’t like to have afuss made. But Ialso know that disclosing it ensures Isecurea front-row seat and prevents afar more embarrassing situation from occurring
Refer to the providedpacking list Keep yourload light, which includes packing appropriately for yourday excursions.
“I’vehad guests on guidedhikes expect me to carryeverything for them,” says Robert Ashpole, aguide in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. “I’m not there to bea sherpa, as I’m already carrying emergency supplies for the group.”
Treat your fellowgroup members with respect. It’s their holiday, too
If you’ve signed up for agroup trip, the reality is that youmay not get alongwith everyone. But Andrew Thomas, an independent guide whohas worked for GAdventures and Intrepid, says that before you pass judgement, keep in mind that people are often nervous when they’re meeting strangers for the first time.
“When we’re nervous, we can’t be our authentic selves andittakes afew daysfor people to comeout of their shell,”hesays.
If you’re asolo traveller and concerned about sharing aroom withastranger, it may be worth payingthe single supplement to have aroom of your own— asmallprice to paytoensure you have time by yourself to recharge.
Showupontime andcome prepared The most annoying person in any tour group?
“I oncehad atraveller ask me to makethem bacon andeggsevery morningtobedelivered to theirdoor when they woke up. This is what guideswon’t be doing.”
It’s often theperson who is chronically late. Don’t be that person. At the end of eachday, your guide will briefyou on what to expectthe following day, including whatyou’llbedoing, how you should dress,and what youshould bring. Take note and arrive for the allocated departure time, which ensures the itinerary runs smoothly for the entiregroup.
Your guideisthere to enhance your experience
According to KatherineMcGetrick,who has worked with Contikiand GAdventures, the role of atour guide is to providelocal knowledge and insights, organisethe daily itineraryand make sure it runs smoothly, and liaisewith supplies on the ground.With yoursafety beingtheir primary concern, expect them to ensure you have agood holiday.
Special requestsare okay but remember they’renot your personalconcierge.
“I once hada traveller ask me to make them bacon and eggs every morning to be delivered to their door when they woke up. This is what guideswon’t be doing,” says McGetrick.
Be flexibleand keep an open mind Read yourtrip itinerary carefullybefore depar ture but keep your expectations in check. Things don’t always go to plan —even if you’ve paid for aguidedtrip. Roadsclose and buses haveto re-route. Guides get sick. And, at the moment, the hospitality sector around theworld is understaffed, so snafusathotels andrestaurants are common.
The goodnews?Asa passenger on aguided holiday, you don’t havetoproblem-solve these issueswhen theydooccur —you just need to be patient as your holiday provider doestheir best to resolve the situation.
“I can’t stress enough how having an open mind is the key to trips running well.Ifyou lock yourself on to thisidea of, ‘I need to see this beach with perfect weather’, it’s goingtoruin your trip,” says Thomas
“Nothing’s ever going to be perfect. Know that you can have so much fun, even when things don’t go to plan.”
Guidedpackageholidayshave longhad abadrapfordoingthe equivalentofa hit-and-runon populartouristdestinations; justaskanyonewho’sever watcheddozensofplasticwaterbottle-wieldingtouristspileoff acoachbus. Inreality,thetypesof guidedholidaysavailableareasvariedasthetravellerstakingthem —andincreasingly,touristsareseekingout operatorsthatsupporttheenvironmentandlocal communities.In2022,IntrepidTravelcommissioneda surveyofmorethan1000New Zealandtravellersandfoundthat87percentare likelytochoosesustainabletraveloptions.The problem?Fifty-threepercentfinditdifficultto determinewhichcompaniesaren’tjust greenwashing.
“Peoplereallywanttochoosesustainable,but toactuallycomparecompaniesandunderstand ifthey’rereallya sustainableoptionisquite difficult,”says SarahClark,Intrepid’smanaging directorofANZ.
Thisisonlyfurthercomplicatedbytheactual complexityofensuringa guidedtourhasminimalnegativeenvironmentalandsocialimpacts. Agood,ethicaltouroperatorneedstoconsider everythingfromtheamountofweightcarried onitsbuses,tothesizeofitsgroups.Italsoneeds toevaluatewhetherthelonglistofsuppliersit workswith— frominboundtouroperators,to bus and airlines,restaurants,hotelsandoptional activitiesproviders —arecompliantwithits standards.
Thegoodnews? Touroperatorswhoaretaking stepstoensuretheirtoursaresustainableare proudoftheworkthey’redoing —so,they’ll usuallyletyouknowexactlyhowthey’redoing it.Herearethreetoptour operatorswhoare guidingforgood.
IntrepidTravel
Ifyou’reconcernedaboutgreenwashing, certificationscanbe ahelpfultoolfordeterminingwhether atouroperatoristrulysustainable. AleaderinthisspaceisIntrepidTravel,which
Over thelastcentury,we’veexploredalmostevery
isthelargestB Corp-certifiedbusinessinthe travelindustryintheworld.
“We’reensuringthatwe’rehavingapositive impactonthecommunitieswe’revisiting,the peopleinthem,andtheplanet,”saysClark.She notesthisincludeseverythingfromlookingat thecarbonfootprintof atour,toexamining Intrepid’sentiresupplychaintoensureworkers arebeingcompensatedfairlyandhavegood workingconditions.
OnIntrepid’sfive-daySibenikandthe KornatiIslandsitineraryinCroatia,for example,thecompanyhaspartnered withMEET, anon-profitorganisationthatsupportslocal providersinnationalparksby helpingthemdevelop community-based ecotourismprojects.Asa result,travellerscanvisit protectedislandsthatare trulyoff-the-beaten-path, whilehelpingtosupport theirprotectionand biodiversity.
Anotherinnovatorinresponsible grouptravel,touroperatorG Adventuresassesses eachofitstripsbasedon its“RippleScore”.Thisratingletstravellers knowhowmuchmoneyisspentlocallybyG Adventuresonalltheservicesittakestorun atour.Thehigherthescore,themoremoney staysdirectlyinthecommunity.
“Peopleshouldknowwheretheirmoneyis going,”saysSeanMartin, GAdventure’smanagingdirectorofOceania.“Wegenuinely believethattravelcanbetheworld’sgreatest formofwealthredistribution,whichiswhywe focusoncommunitytourism.It’salso amore immersiveandmemorableexperiencefor travellers.”
Hepointsto GAdventure’sitinerariesin Peru.Astheworld’slargestoperatoronthe IncanTrail,thecompanyhasfocusedongiving backtothesurroundingcommunities.OnG’s 12-dayClassicPeruitinerary,forexample, travellershavetheopportunitytovisit alocal women’sweavingco-op.ThankstoG’ssupport, theco-opisabletocreatelivelihoodsforlocal womenwhilepreservingculturaltraditions.
Foundedin2013,thisNewZealand-basedtour operatorisn’tjustcommittedtopositivesocial, environmentalandeconomic changeforthecommunitiesit visits.It’salsodeeply investedin movingbeyond “sustainable”travelto “regenerative”travel,as demonstratedbyits acclaimedGOODAwaits podcast,whichexamines bestpracticesintheemergingsector.
“We’vespentallthistime learningabouttheseconcepts andwewanttosharethemwith travellers,byinvitingtravellersinto thisconversationandthiswayoftravelling,” saysDebbieClarke,directorofregenerative developmentand aco-hostofthepodcast.
Althoughallthecompany’sitinerariesare foundedonsustainablebestpractices,inMarch 2023itwilllaunch afirst-of-its-kindregenerative tourismitineraryacrossAotearoa.Startingin AucklandandfinishinginChristchurch,travellerswillhavetheopportunitytoseeregenerativetourisminaction andlearnhowitdiffers fromsustainabletravel.GOOD Travelhopesits passengerswillbeinspiredtoexplorehowthey canlivetheirownlivesin awaythat’struly regenerative.
Whilesometimesitcanbeinteresting(and evenenjoyable)toplanyourownholiday, formanyofusitistime-consumingandsimplyoverwhelming.When you’vebeendreamingof discovering anewdestination,youknowwhat sightsyouwanttosee,the localdelicaciesyouwant totasteandculturesyou wanttoexperience–but it’sthe‘how’thatiseasy tooverlook.Luckily,that’s whatTrafalgarspecialise in.
So,ifyou’reinterestedto seetheworld,but alittle less keenonthehoursof planningandstressful on-triplogistics,hereare 5reasonswhytouringwithTrafalgaris simplythebestwaytotravel.
1.Touringistravelmadeeasy Explorewithoutworry,hassleorplanning. Travelcomeswithnewrealities,andtouringtakesawaythecomplexitiesandunknowns,withTrafalgar’s teamlookingout
foryourbestinterests,always.Yourtickets, accommodation,reservationsandtransportationareallsortedandhandledfor youinadvance,leavingyourmindfreeto focusonenjoyingwhateachdaybrings.
2.Youwillseeitall(andthensome) Whentravellingonaguidedtour,ofcourse wemakesureyouseeallthebucketlist items(afterall,theiconsareiconicfora reason)andtakeyoutothemaintourist attractions –oftenwithpriorityentryand VIPexperiences.We’llalsorevealthelocal secretsofeachdestinationandgiveyouthe timetouncoveritsgems atyourownpace.
3.GetfromAtoB stress-free
Holidaysare atimeto leavestressbehind. Afterall,youdon’ttravel acrosstheglobetospend yourvaluabletimeworryingaboutmemorising citymapsorhopingyou interpretedtheroad signscorrectly.Weknow drivingcanbedraining…andthat’sbefore youaddinchallengeslikeunfamiliarroad rulesand,ofcourse,rememberingwhat sideoftheroadyoushouldbeon.Luckily,whentravellingwithTrafalgaryoucan leavethatalluptoyourexpertDriver. Comparedtocatching flightscitytocity, travelling by coacheliminatestheriskof losingyourluggagebetweendestinations.
Oneofthegreatestblessingstocomefrom travelistheinspiringpeopleyoumeetand lifelongfriendshipscreated.Grouptravel istheultimatefacilitatoroffriendships, andTrafalgar’sholidaysattractpeople fromallovertheworldwhoarelookingto travelwithlike-mindedexplorers.
OneveryTrafalgaritineraryyouwilljoin atleastoneofover100BeMyGuestexperiences,whereyouwillbewelcomed intothehomesoflocalstoconnectovera home-cookedmeal,heartheirstoriesand learnabouttheircultures.
Touringisn’tonesizefitsall.Whetheryou wanttoseethesightsatleisure,enjoyan activeitinerary,stayinoneregionorwhirl aroundmultiplecountries,wehave atrip foryou.
Fromfoodietoursthatwillfeedyour curiosityandtantaliseyourtastebuds, tostrappingonyourhikingbootsfora NationalParkadventure,Trafalgarhas themedtoursfor adiverse rangeofinterests.WhentouringwithTrafalgar,you’ll enjoyone-of-a-kindexperiencesthatyou wouldn’t
ndinthepagesofaguidebook.
So,areyoureadyto
ndyourperfecttour?
visittrafalgar.com
Guidedgroups are agreatway for first-time solo travellers to get around,writes Alexia Santamaria
Getactive in theGrand Canyonwith aguided holidaywith Intrepid Travel
Solo travel is gaining popularity year on year. No longer seenasthe domain of the lonely or unsociable, many people are choosing to travel alone so they can do exactlywhat they want to do, whenthey want to do it, and meet new people alongthe way.
If you’re keen to headoff on asolo adventure for the first time, but are alittle daunted by the thought of doing it all by yourself, there are plentyofoptions that give you the benefits of travelling solo without the stress. Here are some trips to get you thinking.
Fancy exploring the sights,sounds and smells of Thailandand Malaysia but don’t know where to start? A Costsaver tour is the perfect way to do it. Days of scheduled sightseeing are intermingled with free afternoons (and whole days) to do as you please.
Explore the must-dos like theGrand Palace in Bangkok, the Floating Markets of Damnoen Saduak, Malaysia’sCameronHighlands, Petronas Towers and so much more with your guide and spend the rest of the time exploring shops,back streets and roadside foodstalls on your own or with new friends fromthe tour.
If you’re the active type,a guided kayaktour with Tribal Adventures in the Philippines mightappeal. With 7641 islands all surrounded by dreamywhite-sand beaches and dramatic volcanic landscapes, the Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept secrets.
TribalAdventures have plenty of trips around Northern Palawan, whereyou’ll explore Coron Island’s secret lagoons, sheer limestone cliffs andmeet Tagbanua tribespeople. The trip is done with asupport boat and solo participants have the option to enjoythe useofa motorised sailingAdmiral catamaran at no additional cost.
If you’re awoman travelling alone and would prefertotravel with other women, Insight Vacations have an incredible Venice and Croatian Coast women-only tour. This 13-day option takes you along Croatia’s stunning coastline, stopping inrustic townsand villages and meeting the inspiringwomenwho live, work and leadthe communities in that part of the world
From aFarm-to-Table lunch in Barban, hosted by three generations of the same family, to hearing more about afemale biologist’s conservation project, there are so many interesting experiences to be had. Insight also runs womenonly trips in other destinations around the world.
Solo-travelling wine lover? Avalon Waterways hasyou sorted with their Grand France (wineappreciation) tour. Riverboat trips are perfect for solo travellersasyou have so many options. Hang out in your amazing cabin with the doors wide open watching the world float by, explore cities on your own,orchoose from multiple includedand extraexcursions with yourfellowtravellers.
On this vinous trip youcan do anything from guided tours of Giverny (HomeofClaude Monet and inspiration for some of his most famous works), bike rides along the Seine, visits to achardonnay cellar, wine tastingson board, culinary tours of Lyon, exploration of Beaujolais, hikes in vineyards, tours of the Valrhona Chocolate factory or aguidedtour to Chateauneuf du Pape. Cheers to that!
If you’re the kind who likes to keep moving on aholiday(and not just movingyourglass or shifting your reading position), Intrepid Travel’s six-day Winter Hiking and Camping in the Grand Canyon: Rim to Rim could be just the ticket. You’ll headdown the famous canyon’s South Kaibab Trail, up the North Kaibab Trail to the North Rim and backtothe SouthRim via the spectacular BrightAngel Trail.
You’ll sleep under the stars, see beautiful waterfalls, Native American ruins, box canyons, rare flowering plants, squirrels and coyotesand so much more. You’ll use top-of-theline tents and gear, which is all provided. Dinners will be madebyyour guide and since this is asmall group(andinthe quieter season)
Top:VisitGiverny on an Avalon Waterwaysriver cruise; above, The Twelve ApostlesonAustralia's Great Ocean
you’ll have aGrand Canyon experience so different to those who battle the summer masses
GAdventures have plenty of small groupoptions for solo travellers. Try their 12-day Explore Southern Africa Tour whereyou’ll journeyfrom Cape TowntoKruger National Park via the magnificent Panorama Route, one of the world’s most picturesque drives. You’ll visit Soweto township (once home of Nelson Mandela), have dinner with alocal family in a Zimbabwean village, try to spot the “big five” and be gobsmacked by the beauty that is Victoria Falls.
There are numerous guided tour options in Australia perfect for solo travel lers, fromwalking holidays in the Northern Territory,small-ship cruises through Western Australia’s Kimberley, or iconic train trips through the centreofthe country.
Guided holiday specialist AATKings has itineraries across Australia,sothe trickypart will be deciding which one to choosefirst. For those wanting to enjoy the best food and wine our transtasman neighbour has to offer, how about the 11-day Tastes of Southern Australia coachtour from Sydney to Adelaide, where you’ll experience gourmet food, dreamylandscapes, and cities full of cultural highlights. Plus, you’ll be travelling with agroup of likeminded guests, so you’re boundto makenew friends along the way.
Itinerary highlights include driving the GreatOceanRoad to the Twelve Apostles, atour of Kangaroo Island, Mel bourne’s laneways, and beautiful wine regions including the Barossa and McLaren Vale. So don’t wait around for your friends and family (or even partner) to want to travel with you. There are plenty of solo options on every mode of transport from train to bike to ship to coach. See new places, meet new people and do it on your terms.
Sincelargecrowdeventsresumed afterpandemiccancellationsand restrictions,sportsfanshavebeen rejoicingatopportunitiestogoand dowhattheylovebest— cheeron theirfavouriteteamsamidhordes ofotherequallyexcitedsupporters(therecent sell-outcrowdsattheWomen’sRugbyWorldCup inAucklandcertainlyprovedthat).
Thisconceptgotevenmoreinterestingwhen internationaltravelbackcamebacktolife— whatcouldbebetterthanseeingyourfavourite sportliveinanothercountry,whileexploring whatthatdestinationhastooffer?Herearesome greatsportseventoptionstotakeyoursupport ontour.
AllBlacks —November2022
TheAllBlackstakecentre-stageintheNorthern HemisphereontheirNovemberend-of-yeartour: threetests,overthreeconsecutiveweekends,at threeofrugby’smostreveredgrounds.
AllBlacksToursaredoingsomeprettyincrediblepackagesforthis —in-betweenwatching WalesattheMillenniumStadium,Scotlandat Murrayfield,andEnglandatTwickenham,you’ll craminallsorts offunctions,walkingtours,and trainjourneysacrossBritain.There’sthewhisky experienceinScotland, anightatthetheatrein London’sWestEnd,dinner atEdinburghCastle andsomuchmore.
Thisisobviouslycomingupprettysoonsoif youcan’tdropeverythingandjumpona plane thisyear,checkoutwhat’sonofferfor2023.All Blackstoursalwayshavesomethinggoingon, dependingonwheretheABsareplaying.With theRugbyWorldCup comingupnextyearin France,it’stheperfect excusefor aEuropean holiday —therearesome excellentrivercruise optionsintheretoo. allblackstours.com
Adelaide500 —December1-4,2022
Ifyou’rea Supercarfanyou’llbepleasedtoknow TheAdelaide500isbackinDecember(aswell asmanyotherAustraliancarraces).BoysTrip isdoing apackagethatincludesflights,accommodation,four-daygeneraladmissionpasses (withgrandstandandhospitalityupgradesavailable)andfreepublictransporttoandfromthe circuit.
YoucanalsoaddPaddockPassaccesstosee whereallthebehind-the-scenesactiontakes place,gettingmuchclosertotheteamsworking inthegarages,thepurpose-builtteam transportersandeventhedrivers.PitLaneWalk add-onsareanoptiontoo,alsogivingaccessto up-close-and-personalSupercaraction.
Andthenthere’stheentertainment—ahuge concertlineupforthisyear’seventwithThe KillersheadliningwithsupportfromJimmy Barnes,Icehouseandothers.
TheAllBlackstakecentrestageintheNorthern Hemisphereontheir Novemberend-of-yeartour.
BoysTripalsodoesmanyotherpackagesfor eventsliketheFormula 1AustralianGrandPrix, BathurstandtheLasVegasGrandPrix.And despitetheslightlysexistnameandcompany logo,we’resurefemalefanscanbooktoo? boys-trip.co.nz
AustralianOpencruise —January2023
Here’sasuper-funwaytoseeAustralia’stop tennistournament —flytoSydneyandboardthis specialP&OcruisefromSydneytoMelbourne thatisdesignedforthoseattendingtheAustralianOpen.You’llenjoyallthefunofbeingatsea on anormalP&Oadventurebutwhenyouget toMelbourneyou’llhavetwodaystoenjoythe tennis(thepriceincludestwogeneraladmission ticketstoMelbourneParkandtransfersbetween theshipandthearena).
You’llgetalltheusualmealsandentertainmentonboardthecruise,buttherewillalsobe meetandgreetswithtennispersonalities,and achancetoholdtheAOtrophiesfortheultimate photoop. pocruises.co.nz/cruises
Isleof Man TTRace —June2023
TheIsleofManTTRacesalmostdefyalllogic —andbelief.The60km-plusmountaincourseis oneofthetoughestintheworldandthebravery, skillandconcentrationlevelsrequiredarenextlevel —especiallywhenmotorcyclespeedscan getupover300km/h.
SportingTourshave apackagefornextyear thatincludesaccommodation,transfers,welcomedrinksanddinner,ticketstotheraceitself plussomehospitality.Andwhata beautifulpart oftheworldtoexploreoncetheracingisdone. SportingToursalsodotripsforfansofgolf,horse racing,football,rugbyleague,rugbyunion,tennisandnetballandcovermanyoftheworld’s biggestsportingevents. sportingtours.co.nz
TheOpen— July2023
TheOpenisgolf’soriginalandmostinternationalchampionship,runningsince1860,andin 2023itwillbeheldatRoyalLiverpool.
ParNZhas agreatpackagethatalso includes aweekplayinggolfatthefamousStAndrews courseinScotland.Itincludesaccommodation inbothlocationsplusroundsofgolfonboththe CardenParkNicklausCourse,coachtransfers, top-levelhospitality,Q&Awitha pastorpresent player,andadmissiontoTheOpen.
WhenyougettoScotlandtherearefiverounds ofgolfatStAndrews,plusgreataccommodation andsomehospitalitytoo.Watchingthebestin thegameplayoneoftheworld’soldestcompetitions,plusgettingsomegreattimeonthecourse yourself. Whatmorecould atravellinggolfer want?
ParNZdogolf-basedtripsallovertheworld ifyouwanttocombineyourfavouritesportwith traveltoplaceslikeTasmania,Canada,Portugal, SouthAfricaandsomanymoreincredible destinations. parnz.co.nz
Let alocalexpertshowyou aroundthesewildand wonderfuladventures,writes JessicaWynneLockhart
Notinterestedinbeingjustanother bumin aseat?Wedon’tblameyou. Luckily,guidedholidaysaren’t limitedtosightseeingtours. Today’sactiveholidayssee travellersgettingoffthebeaten track —oftenquiteliterally,evenifitmeans havingtosnowshoe,swimorruntotheirnext destination.Hereareninewaystogetyourblood pumpingonyournextadventureabroad.
HikeScotland’sfamedWestHighlandWay Runningfor154kmfromMilngavietoFort WilliamjustoutsideGlasgow,theWest HighlandWayisScotland’s most famouslong-distancetramping route.Followingancient pathways —includingoldcoach roadsandtrailsthatdateback totheJacobiteuprisings —the trackisnottechnicallydifficult, butdoingiton aguidedtrip allowsyoutolearnmoreabout thearea’shistoryandecology.
Whilethetrailcanbecompleted inaslittleasfivedays,award-winning touroperatorWildernessScotlandslows thepacedowninitseight-dayitinerary(from$3607 inclusiveofmealsandaccommodation),soyoucan soakitallin.Bestofall,yourgearistransported foryou,soyoucanfocusonthesceneryaround you.
HorsebackthroughIceland’sGoldenCircle Icelandichorsesmaybediminutivebutmakeno mistake— theyaren’t“ponies”.BroughttoIceland byNordicsettlersmorethan1000yearsago,these equinecompanionshavetwouniquegaitsnot
typicaltootherbreeds:theirsignaturetolt(an amblinggait)andflyingpace(whichallowshorses toreachpeakspeedsofupto48km/hour).You’ll experiencebothonWildWomenExpeditions’ GoldenCircleRidingExpedition, aweeklong women’s-onlyretreatthatincludesvisitsto ThingvellirNationalPark, aprotectedarearich ingeologicalandhumanhistory,andGullfoss,one ofthecountry’smosticonicwaterfalls.
Suitablefornoviceandexperiencedriders,this tripwillseeyoutraverse adramaticvolcanic landscape,stayingatlocalfarms,andsoakingin hotsprings.Itstartsfrom$7067fullyinclusiveof meals,accommodation,andridinggear.
KayakwiththeorcasoffBritishColumbia Forseriouspaddlers,SpiritoftheWestAdventures offersmulti-destinationkayakingexpeditionsoff Canada’sWestCoast.Butifyou’relookingfora packagethatfeelslikemoreof aholiday, thefive-dayWhalesandWilderness Glampingitinerary($3347)isfor you.You’llspendeachday paddlingaslittleorasmuchas youlikethroughoutthewaters ofBlackfishSound.
Sandwichedbetweenthe mountainsofmainlandBritish ColumbiaandVancouver Island,theareaisknownforits smallpassages,islands,and abundantwildlife.Inadditionto orcas,youhavethechancetosee humpbackwhales,bears,cougars,river ottersandporpoises. Thenatnight,you’llretire toyourluxuriouscanvastentonanexclusive island,where arealbedandopen-airdiningarea awaits,alongside awood-firedspaoverlookingthe ocean.
SwimalongCroatia’sDalmatianCoast PioneeredbytouroperatorSwimTrek,swim holidaysseetravellersspendingtheirdays perfectingtheirbreaststrokeastheypropel themselvesthroughthewatertotheirnext
destination.Andwithmorethan1000islandsto explore,thereisnobetterplacetodiveinthan inCroatia,oneofthefirstdestinationstoputthe conceptonthemap20yearsago.
Today,SwimTrekoffersweek-longitineraries forbeginners(wheretheaveragedailyswim distanceis3km,splitupovertwoswims)andthose lookingtospendmoretimeinthewater(an averagedailydistanceof8km).Bothwilltakeyou tosomeoftheDalmatianCoast’smostisolated islands,includingsomethatareentirely uninhabitedandothersthathavewithstoodthe testoftime,includingZlarin,wherecarshave neverbeenlegalised.ThetripsdepartinJune throughAugust,startingat$2533.
TrekthenewlyopenedTrans-BhutanTrail Namedby TimeMagazine asoneoftheWorld’s GreatestPlacesin2022,fewlong-distancehiking trailshavegarneredasmuchpublicityas theTrans-BhutanTrail.Butit’s rightfullydeservingofallthe attention.Usedforcenturiesasa pilgrimageroutebyBuddhists andoncetheonlywaytotravel acrossthecountry,itfellinto disrepairwhenmajor motorwayswereconstructed. September2022markedthe firsttimeit’sbeenopenin60 years,thankstotheadditionof18 majorbridges,10,000stairsand hundredsofnewmilesofpathways. Visitorscanhikethe400kmtrailinits entirety,orjust aportionofiton aguidedtrip withoperators GAdventuresorIntrepidTravel. Alongtheway,you’llseefortifiedbuildings,lush andmountainousvalleys,andParoTaktsang (Tiger’sNest),thecountry’smostfamous monastery,whichhangsofftheedgesofthe surroundingcliffs.
Experience awintermultisportwonderlandin Finland Awinterskiholiday?WecandothathereinNew
Fromleft:Icelandic horsesaretheperfect travelcompanionforan expeditionthroughthe GoldenCircle;Joina SwimTrektourtosplash yourwayaroundthe stunningDalmatian Coast;Runyourway acrossoneoftheworld’s mostincredible landscapeson aRogue Expeditionstour.
Zealand.Buthere’swhatwecan’tdo:Snowshoe, downhillski,cross-countryski,dogsled,andice climb,allin aweek —andthat’sjustthetipof theicebergofactivitiesduringFinnishWilderness Week.
Inadditiontoexploringthetundrajustsouth oftheArcticCircle,you’llalsospend adaylearning winterwildernesssurvivalskills,includinghow tobuild aquinzee(asheltermadefromsnow), followedbytheopportunitytosleepinitovernight. (They’resurprisinglywarm,wepromise!)Thetrip isoperatedbyExodusTravels,anaward-winning touroperator knownforitscommitmentto sustainabletourism,includingrewilding100 squaremetresperpassenger.Packagesstartfrom $4549,withdeparturesinDecember,January,and February.
WhitewaterraftdowntheGrandCanyon Whatadventureholidayismore quintessentiallyAmericanthan whitewaterraftingthrough northernArizona’sGrand Canyon?Revealingmillionsof yearsofgeologicalhistory,the naturalphenomenonwas carvedoutbytheColorado River —whichtodayhas become abucketlisttrip forpaddlers,withits Class IthroughClassV rapids. Awildride punctuatedbythe opportunitytohike throughbeautifulsidecanyons andswiminrockpools,Holiday RiverExpeditions’Upper GrandCanyonRaftingTrips (startingfrom$3335)depart inMaythroughto Septemberandlast betweenfiveandseven days.Butifyou’re lookingforevenbigger water,eighttonine-
daydeparturesontheLowerCanyon(knownfor itsmassiverapids)arealsoavailable.
RunthroughMorocco’sSaharaDesert InMarch2012,AllisonMacsas(asemi-pro marathonrunner)andGabeSteger(anoutdoor adventureguide)wereonholidayinMoroccowhen theyrealisedwhatanidealenvironmentthe SaharaDesertwasforrunningthrough.Overthe next10years,theybecameregionalexperts throughtheircompany,RogueExpeditions. Today,theyofferrunningadventuresaround theworld,includingtowhereitallbegan.Starting fromMarrakech,runnerscanchoosetoeither spend10daysrunningthroughtheSahara(which providestheopportunitytoseevillagelifenot visiblefromthehighway)oralongthebackroads oftheAtlasMountains,hometoanancient networkofruggedshepherd’spasses.Pricing startsat$5657,inclusiveof accommodation,meals,andsupport vehicles.
TakepartintheCoasttoCoast racewithoutthetimer Inthe40yearssinceits inception,thelegendary multisportCoasttoCoastrace —whichseescompetitors traversethewidthoftheSouth Island —hasattractedmorethan 20,000hardcoremultisportathletes. Ifyou’vealwaysbeencuriousabout therace,butwouldprefertocompleteit in amoreleisurelyfashion,thenAdventureSouth NZ’sCoasttoCoastNZitinerary(from$2095)might betheanswer.Overfourdays,you’llmakeyour wayfromtheWestCoasttoChristchurch’sNew BrightonBeach,includingcyclingalongtheWest CoastWildernessTrail,hikingacrossthe challengingGoatPass,andraftingtheWaimakaririRiver.Although asupportvehicleisnever faraway,thisisoneofAdventureSouth’smore challengingitineraries,whereyou’llbedeeply immersedinAotearoa’remotewilderness.
From providingcrucial equipment to offering insider advice on itineraries, there aremanybenefits to travellingwith atour company or guide.
However, in certain places, they aren’t just anice-to-havebut amandatory requirement. Here are 10 places you’llneed someone to show you the way
ConsideringAntarctica’s 60C temperatures, polarstorms, wild creatures,and otherwise challenging conditions, it makessense that tourists are requiredtovisit with aqualifiedtravel agency. Plus, travellingwith an expedition cruise company meansyou can see the White Continent’s incredible sights from the comfort of aship equipped with all thegear you need to make the most of yourtime.
Depending on the cruise you choose, travellers can get up closetopenguins and explore scientific bases, ride Zodiacsaround giant icebergs and trek across icy tundra. Since the areaisenviron mentally fragile, tours and ships are held to strict regulations and continuetoimprove the way they travel around this magicalplace.
Of all the walking trails in the world,few are as famous as the Inca Trail. Wedged between the Andes mountains, the track meanders between cloud forests,ancient ruins and alpine tundra before reachingthe infamousInca citadel known as Machu Picchu. The PeruvianGovernment only distributes 500 walking permitseach day and travellersmust hike witha registered guide You can choose one of three overlapping trails; Mollenpata, Classic and OneDay. The firsttwo can take up to five days, andascend 3660m above sea levelwhile the latter is agentler, single-day affair, which still treats youtoincredible views of the mountainsand Machu Picchu.
An expensive daily tourist tax andtour guiderequirement hasn’t seemed to stop demand for visits to this nation famed for its dedicationtohappiness (which involves measuringthe country’s Gross National Happiness). In fact, it’s cultivated an air of exclusivitythat inspires travellers every year. Unless you have an Indian, Bangladeshi or Maldivianpassport,visitors must hold avisa and book through alocal tour operator.
Once there, you’ll pay$260-$450 per day, which covers atour guide, driver, all meals, anda hotel with a minimum of three stars.Popular trips within the country include theTiger’s Nest (a cliffside temple with stunning views) and trying archery at Changlimithang Stadium, as well as dozens of hikingtrails. Licensed tour operatorsare listed on Bhutan’s tourism website
For aunique island experience, one should head to Niihau; Hawaii’s most remote inhabited island. Assuming you have an invitationfrom the family who ownsthe islandorone of the few full-time Native Hawaiian residents, of course. In absenceofthat,you can still visit“The ForbiddenIsle” by joininga tour run by Niihau’s owners, the Robinsonfamily.
Severallow-impact tourismoptions are avail-
Main: You maymeet a woolly matewhilewalking to Machu Picchu alongthe Inca Trail; above, seeing the penguins of Antarcticawill require atourand guide.
Photos/ Unsplash
able,including ahalf-day helicopter tour. This takes visitors on an aerial tour of the island before landingonone of the manypristine beaches, leaving you free to explore, swim, snorkeland enjoya packedpicnic. Naturally, exclusiveislandsdon’tcomecheap, and ahalfday heli-tour can be $780 per person with a 5-personminimum or chartered for aflat rate of $4400.
MountTarawera, Aotearoa
Much closer to home, Mount Tarawera is just a15-minute drive from Rotorua and draws many tourists with its incredible views and stunning lake Famous for its eruption in 1886, which destroyed the Pink and White Terraces, the mountain is not onlyanincredible sight to behold but has deep spiritual significance for Nga¯tiRangitihi, who arethe kaitiaki of Te Maunga o¯ Tarawera.
Several walkingtracks surround LakeTarawera, but those who wantto climb the maungaitself must go with alocal guide. KaitiakiAdventures run guided walking experiences, which take around 4.5 hours and treatpeople to themaunga’sstunning vistas.
Many placesare described as remote and untouchedbut few live up to the title as well as CorcovadoNational Park. Located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, this highly protected park is considered one of the world’s most biodiverse regionsand boasts13different ecosystem types, from coastalbeaches to misty cloud forests.
Where there is vibrant flora,gorgeous creatures aren’t far behind, and visitors can get
up closewith thousands of species fromsloths and eagles to sea turtlesorjaguars. Guides have been mandatory since 2014, but several tour companiesrun in the areaand offer hikingor boat trips around the unique environment.
You maybeable to visit Australia’s Lord Howe Island solo but if you want to conquer its spectacular 875m-highMount Gower, you’ll need to find aprofessional guide.Considered one of the country’sbest dayhikes, the climb is technically straightforward but requiressturdyshoes, moderate fitness and aspare eight to 10 hours.
Unmarked and arduous, the climb must be done with alicensed guidewho can keepyou heading in the rightdirection. Along the way, they’ll offer interesting insights about the area’s plant and animal life.Both Island Toursand Environmental Tours offer daytrips up the mountain
ATM Caves, Belize Deep in the jungle of Belize, on theeastcoast of Central America is where you’llfind theActun Tunichil Muknal(ATM) Caves;anancientarchaeologicalsite famousfor its breathtaking beauty and ancient artefacts includinghuman skeletonsofMayan sacrifices. But don’t expect entry unless you’re with alicensed guide
Only 125 people can visit each day with official tour groupslike MayaWalk ToursorPacz Tours and after seeing how difficult the caves are to find andnavigate, you’ll be glad you’rewith an expert.
An hour-long hike through thedensejungle gets you to thecave’s entrance. From there, visitors must wade 800 metresthrough asubterraneanriver to reach several gigantic caverns
Thejourneyisworthitthough,asyouentera
ancientstonealtarsandthecalcifiedskeletons. Chernobyl,Ukraine
Pre-pandemic,Chernobylexperienced awaveof popularityamongtouristsinterestedinthe1986 nuclearexplosionsite.Becauseofradioactive risk,muchoftheareawasclosedtothepublic until 2011.Evennow,visitorsmustbeaccompaniedby aguidewhentouringcertainareas.
SuchtourswilltakeyouaroundthenowabandonedtownsofPrypiat,Zalissya,andLeliv, aswellaspowerplantsthatarestilloperational today.Luckily,thereactorthatcausedthe world’slargestnuclearexplosionissecurely lockedaway.Duetoitslocation,inNorthern KyivOblast,Ukraine,wemaynotbebooking ticketssoonbutthehistoricalsiteiscertainly oneforthebucketlistforthoseinterestedin “darktourism”.
KoreanDemilitarisedZone Running250kmlongandjust4kmwide, theKoreanDemilitarisedZonesplits theKoreanPeninsulacleanlyinhalf andis afascinatingdestinationfor historyandwarbuffs.Formedin 1953,thezone wascreatedtobea bufferandmeetingpointforNorth KoreaandSouthKorea.
Ironically,whiletheareaitselfis demilitarised,theborderbeyonditis allegedlyoneofthemostheavily militarisedbordersintheworld.Forthis reason,travellersmustvisitwithanorganisedtoursuchasKoridoororCosmojin.Once there,youcanwalkaroundtheJointSecurity AreaaswellasvisittheNuriPeacePark,Mount OduObservatoryand“BridgeofNoReturn”, whereprisonerswere exchangedattheendof theKoreanArmisticein1953.
Packupyourtroubles in yourold trailbag as Thomas Bywater goes in search of the world’s greatest‘thru-hi
Athru-hike is atrip that is impossible to plan in minute detail. It’s ajourneysolarge you mightaswell dropeverything, pick up apack andstart now.But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from agoodguide —orseveral
Ranging from acouple of hundred kilometres to afew thousand,taking upwards of five months at atime, they are the trails epic adventures are made of. These are journeys one makes time for. Or are taken by those who find themselves with time.
The “thru-hike” is an Americanterm.The Appalachian Trail or the PacificCrestTrail mighthave the most written about them but the phenomenon is found all over the world.Over the past decade, New Zealand has developed its own “3000-kilometre” pilgrimage.
“There are alot of differentdrivers for people on Te Araroa,” says Matt Claridge.
“Thisyear we are expectingtwo-and-a-half to three thousand walkers on the trail.”
Chief executive of the Te AraroaTrust,which looks after our longest walk,Claridge has seen it grow into one of the most acclaimedlongdistance trails in the world. It’s overwhelmingly international visitors comingto“hike the TA”
“There are twocrowds: those younger, freer spirits or,increasingly, moremature hikers with
fewer commitments,” he says.
Te Araroa, New Zealand
From Cape Reinga to StirlingPoint on the Foveaux Strait —tail to tip of Te Ika-a-Ma¯uiand along the spine of the South Island.
It’s adistance mere mortals who traverse the globe by aeroplane or automobile can nevertruly grasp. Even Claridge hasn’t donethe “end to end”. Although, like many hikers, he is doing the “TA”insections. This is an increasingly popular option,giving options for both selfguided or accompaniedtrampers.
There are several guided hikeswhich will take you across thehighlightsofthe trail. Based out of Christchurch, Adven ture Southleads aseven-dayitinerary along the alps
But even solo hikers are never really without guidance.
“Trail Angels are the community that kept Te Araroagoing in the early days,” says Claridge
They offer arange of servicesfromBnBs to “bounce boxes” to forward post while away on the road.A veryhelpfulservice when you’re going months withouta permanent address.
The average tramper spendsaround $10k pursuing the TA, although it has been done for far less. With the gear, accommodation and some
Alonehiker on Te Araroa tramps through the Tongariro;above, theItalian Dolomites, walkingvalley to valleyon the Via Alpina. Photos /Unsplash;
transport linksinter-island, it is aseriousunder taking. Still,over five months, that’s afair price for a“trip of alifetime”, says Claridge.
With 180 stagesand the flexibilitytostopand restart, it’s oneyou could spend alifetime completing. adventuresouth.co.nz
Five months and 4265km —the PCTisthe thruhike that launcheda thousand backpacks after it was given the Hollywoodtreatment in Reese Witherspoon’s film adaptationofCheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild.Walking from the Mexican border to Canada it’s one of the most popular long-distance treks. In the three decades since Strayed tookonthe trail, it has becomedecidedly less “Wild”, however,itstill passes through 51 federal wilderness reserves. With around 800 people settingoff ayear, the trailcommunity is second to none. It’s tough going. Only everyother hiker will make it to the end, with acompletion rate of around60per cent.
There are plentyofguided optionsfor those wanting ataste of the trail, includingthe Inter national Alpine Guides’ eight days through Northern Yosemite. internationalalpineguides.com/pacific crest-trail-hike
At 970kmitisn’t the longest trail but is as far as you can go on the British Isles before running out of track.Travelling through England, Wales and Scotland, it’s roughly the 500 miles of The Proclaimers’ classic song that will accompany you all of the way
Starting from theCornish headlands of Penzance, it traverses Cross Felland the Pennine Waytothe top of Caithness As one of the most popular— and shortest —ultra-trails,itattracts walkers andcharity record attempts from all over. Whilewalkers take around two months to complete the trail,it’s been attemptedontandem bikes, skateboards and in thebuff
The most popular way to complete the route
Continuedfromp21
isbybike.Skeddadleruns atwo-week,guided itineraryend-to-endwithbikehire. skedaddle.com
ViaAlpina,Europe
Avanti,Alpini!TraversingalleightAlpine countriestheViaisanelephantinejourney worthyofHannibal.Withmanyvariations,the longestsectionis161stages.Covering5000km, itbeginsinMonacointhewestandfinishesin thelowlandsofSlovenia,nearTrieste.
Withmanyhighmountainpasses,it’soneof themorechallengingthru-hikes.However,one ofthenoveltiesisfindingthatlanguages, culturesandcuisineschangefromvalleyto valley.
OneofthemostpopularsectionsistheSwiss AlpinePassroute,whichbeginsontheshores ofLakeGeneva,crossingthecountrytothe borderwithLiechtenstein.
Therearemanyself-guidedpackagesoffering accommodation,foodandluggagetransfersto helpyoumakethemostof a20-daytraverse throughthecantons. alpineexploratory.com Goingina differentdirection,theSentieroItalia addsanadditional3000kmtotheroutewithits 342-daystages.HeadingsouthtowardsMessina, therouterejoinsin agiantloop,leadingback throughtheislandsofSicily,Sardiniaand Corsica.
Shikoku88templetrail,Japan Leading a1400kmcircuitaroundJapan’sholy island,thefullShikokutrailtakesaroundtwo monthstocomplete.TheOhenroroutevisits almost100ShintoBuddhistshrinesalongthe way,earningitthenamethe88TemplesPilgrimage.
HavingbegunbyMonkKoboDaishi1200years ago,theroutearoundtheshoreofShikokutakes
youfromCastle-likeEdoeratemplesthroughto simplewoodlandshrines.
Thetraditionaltimetomakethetripisin springfromMarchuntilMaywhenthesakura cherryblossomisinbloom.
Thereareplentyofself-guidedandescorted optionstotakeyouthroughtheintricaciesand historyoftheOhenropilgrims,orsimplytohelp translatethethousandyearsofJapaneseculture specialtoShikoku’strail. walkjapan.com/tour/shikoku-templepilgrimage
GreatHimalayaTrail,Nepal Everest,AnnapurnaandLangtang,couldyouask forthree moreremarkablelandmarksthanthese waypointsattheroof of the world?Since1953 theKhumbuBaseCamphasbeen apilgrimage forKiwimountaineers.However,ifyou’relook-
ingforyourown“Everest”toscale,this90-day trailisoneofthemostchallengingintheworld. Since2002,theGreatHimalayaTrailhasbeen promotedbytheNepaliGovernment.Fromruggedsolocamperstoguidedtreksfromteahouse toteahouse,theGHToffersresourcesandguides forthe1700kmtrek.
OntheeasternendoftheGHT,neighbouring Bhutanhasalsoopened along-distancemountain route.TheTransBhutanTrailistheresultof ayears-longnationalculturalprojecttorestore theancientmountainroutesthatcutacrossthe country.
The430km—andaround20daysofhiking, endtoend —TBTisonlyopentoguidedtourists. GAdventuresandIntrepidTravelcurrentlyrun 11-dayhighlightroutesfromParoandtheTiger’s NestmonasterytoBumthang. greathimalayatrail.com;gadventures.com
hilefamouslandmarksand scenicvistaswillalwayshave theirplace,sometimes the mostimpactfultravelexperiencescomefromthelesssalubrioussidesof acity.From theeerietotheharrowing,herearesomeofthe world’smost unforgettableprisontours,where localguidesandevenex-prisonershelptobring thehistorytolife.
RobbenIsland,CapeTown,SouthAfrica BestknownasthecompoundwhereNelson Mandelawasincarceratedfor18years,Robben Islandisnow aUnescoWorldheritagesite.A 40-minuteferryridefromCapeTown,thesombre stonecellblocks,guardtowersandconcreteexerciseyardsareeveryinchwhatyouwouldexpect from amaximumsecurityjail,buthere,theguides aremoreknowledgeableaboutprisonlifethan most.
EverytourguideatRobbenIslandwasoncean inmate,imprisonedfortheirroleintheantiapartheidmovement.The2.5-hourtourincludes arangeofinsideranecdotes,andtakesin Mandela’sformercell,thequarrywhereinmates wereputtowork,andthesiteoftheisland’s formerlepercolony.
EasternStatePenitentiary, Philadelphia,USA
Designedtolookasfearsomeaspossible todeterpotentialcrims,Philadelphia’s historicprisonislikesomethingoutof thesetof ahorrorfilm.Thesprawling stonefortress,builtin1829,features medievalcastle-styletowers,endless corridorsofvaultedceilings,anddingy, crumblingcells.Knownforitsinhumane isolationmethodsandmostfamousprisoner (AlCapone),it’snow amajortouristattraction rightinthecentreofthecity.
Aswellasaudiotours,visitorscanbook in-depthweekendtourswithlocalhistorians, whichnotonlyexploretheprisonanditscheckeredpast,butalsodelveintobroaderaspectsof criminaljusticereform.Nighttoursarealsoon offer,whiletheprison’ssinistergroundsarea popularspotforghosthunters.
TuolSleng(S21Prison)GenocideMuseumand theChoeungEkKillingFields,PhnomPenh, Cambodia
AformerhighschoolturnedKhmerRougetorture
centre,theatmosphereatTuolSlengisheavy withtheunfathomablehorrorsthattookplace withinthegrounds.Join alocalguide(ortake theaudio-assistedoption)for awalkalongthe halls,whereit’simpossiblenottobemovedby therowsofvictims’photosthatlockeyeswith visitors,andthestoriesofthecity’stragic1975 takeover.
Continuethetourwith atriptoChoeung Ek, thelargestofthecountry’smanykilling fields,whereupto20,000wereexecuted.
Onthisharrowingpatchofground, fragmentsofboneandclothingstill regularlyrisetothesurfacefrom massgraves,andmorethan8000 skullsarearrangedinthe memorialpagodaatthecentreof thesite.Confronting,heartbreakingandcertainlynotsuitablefor kids,thesetoursare astarkreminderofthedarkrecenthistory thatcontinuestoimpactmodern-day Cambodia.
SpikeIslandPrison,Cork,Ireland
Utilisedas aprisonrightupuntil2004,Spike Islandtakesin1300years ofIrish history.From itsearliestdaysas a7th-centurymonasteryto theworld’slargestconvictdepotduring Victoriantimes,thesedaystheislandisknown foritsvaststar-shapedfortress,the200-year-old FortMitchel.
Ascenic15-minuteferryridefromtheCobh township,guided toursinclude awealthoflocal triviaand alookattheisland’smilitaryforts, freakytunnelnetworksandthesinister“PunishmentBlock”,whereinmateswerechainedto thewallinthedark.Anaugmentedrealityapp
isavailabletoaddanextradimensiontothetour, andnight-timevisitsarealsoonoffer. Bringyour walkingshoesasthesizeableislandalsoincludes severalnaturetrailswithstunningviews.
PortArthurHistoricSite,Tasmania Ononehand,it’s ascenicharbour,ontheother, thevastPort ArthurHistoricSiteishometo fascinatinglygrimlandmarksincludingan1830s penitentiarylinedwithsolitarycells,thenotorious“SeparatePrison”usedforhigher-level punishments,andtheunconsecratedconvict church.OnceknownasAustralia’stoughest prison,PortArthurwasthoughttohavethe strictestsecuritymeasuresintheBritishpenal system, makingitrichwithincredibletales.
Visitorscanchoosefrom arangeofguided experiencesincludingthe90-minuteCommandant’sTour,theafter-darkGhost Tour,theWheel ofFateTourforin-depthconvictstoriesanda lookatbehind-the-scenesareas,andtheIsleof theDeadTour,whichshedssomelightonthe morethan1000convictsburied onthe sitein mostlyunmarkedgraves.
AlcatrazPrison,SanFrancisco,USA Perhapstheworld’s mostwell-knownprison, Alcatrazis atinyislandwith ahugereputation. Oncehometoinfamousinmatesincluding MachineGunKellyandthe“Birdmanof Alcatraz”,theformermaximumsecuritycompoundincludes ableak13-storeycellhouse,a lighthouse,militaryfortsandtheruinsofthe warden’smansion.
Visitorscanchoosefrom arangeofexperiencesincludingshortself-guidedaudiotours, guide-leddayandnighttours,andin-depth experiencesfortheAlcatrazbuffs.
GorgeouscoastalsceneryontheCinque
andAmalficoast.
FlorenceandRome.
From OregontoOrlando and Nevada to Nashville,team up with savvy and authoritativelocal guides to discoverthe food, art, history and culture of cities throughout North America.
ExplorePortland’s craft beer scene
Dubbed “Beervana”, Oregon’s biggest city is one of the world’s best destinationsfor travelling hopheads. Getting around the city in aminibus, options with City Brew Tours include the Pacific Northwest is Best tour,exploring the hoppybeer stylesinfluencing craft beer around the planet, and the Original Brew Tour,including up to 16 differentbeer tastings and theopportunity to chat to localbrewers harnessinghops, grain, yeastand water to create Oregon craft beer alchemy. Breweries visited could include innovative Portland icons such as Von Ebert, Ex Novo and Unicorn. citybrewtours.com
Learn aboutJFK’s legacy in Dallas
JFK Historical Toursprovides detailed and poignant insights into the assassination of US PresidentJohn F. KennedyinDallas in November 1963, beginning at DealeyPlaza and the building then knownasthe TexasBookDeposi tory —allegedly where shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald and nowthe Sixth Floor Museum —beforecontinuing to the Grassy Knoll where debate continues over whetheradditional shots were also fired fromthere. Following the weekend timeline that unfolded after the Friday afternoon shooting,other Dallas locations visited during comprehensive and informative tours include theTexas Theatrewhere Oswald was arrested by Dallaspolice.
Dallasisabout to get much easier for Kiwis to get to —American Airlines’ direct flight from Auckland launches on October 29. discoverdallastours.com
Join arollicking country music road trip in Nashville
Equalparts comedy show, interactivemusic gig and citytour,anexperience with MusicCity Rollin’ Jamboree is agreatway to explore the home of country music. Hosted by acountry music uber-fan and aGrammy award winning singer, it’s ahugely fun way to spend 90 minutes. Sing along to country classics you’ll be surprised you know all the words to, and definitely pack arobust senseofhumour for all thejokesdelivered alongthe way. Afew of thejokes mean the Rollin’Jamboree experience is restricted to countrymusic fans 21 years and older musiccityrollinjamboree.com
Go behind the scenesatOrlando’s Kennedy SpaceCenter
Options at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center around 80kmeast of Orlando —include guided bus tours aroundthe facility’s main installations These include the Apollo/SaturnV Center which enabled travel to the mooninthe 1960s and 1970s, and morecontemporary multi-user areasnow being contracted by private spaceexploration companies such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX.Other highlights of the centreincludethe Race to the Moon exhibition and the Gateway gallery focusingonjourneying to Mars andfurther into deep space.
kennedyspacecenter.com
Experience thefood scene of downtown Los Angeles
Six differentfood stops across three hours provide plenty of local flavours on awalkingtour of downtownLos Angeles.Also incorporatingthe cultural and architectural heritage of this revitalised andre-emerging area, tasty dishes could include slow-cooked beef tacos, authentic Naplesstyle pizzatopped with farm-fresh Californian ingredients, and oven-fresh French baking. A
highlight of LA’s historic GrandCentralMarket is Texas-style barbecue from Horse Thief BBQ, while the hip Corporation Food Hall includesplant-based burgers at Plant-It Burger and Japanesedumplings at Gyoza Boyz. sidewalkfoodtours.com
Ride across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Dominatingthe San Francisco skyline, arguably the world’s most famous bridge is best explored on two wheels. Golden Gate &Sausalitobike tours with StreetsofSan Francisco meanderfor 13km over three hours, beginning with the famous Californiasea lions around Pier 39 and Fisherman’sWharf and ending acrossthe bay in the picturesque seaside village of Sausalito. Options for lunch in Sausalito include oceanfront seafood at Salito’s Crab House &PrimeRib before catching one of SanFrancisco’s famous Blue &Gold ferries back to Fisherman’s Wharf. sosfbiketours.com
Discoverculinary fusion in Hawaii With the food cultures of more recent arrivalsfrom Japan,Korea andthe Philippines all blendingwith localPolynesiantraditions, Hawaii offersdelicious culinary fusion.Beginningin Honolulu,Oahu Circle IslandFood Tours combine exploring Hawaii’s most populous island —including essentialsights like the Halona Blowhole and KualoaRegional Park with stops for garlic shrimp at Fumi’s foodtruck, malasadas(Portuguese-style doughnuts) at the legendary Leonard’s Bakery, and traditional Hawaiian dishessuch as kalua pork. Macadamia nuts andorganic coffee complete aflavourpacked day. andyoucreations.com
Eat your way aroundthe world in Toronto’s Kensington Market
More than 170 different languages arerepre sentedinCanada’s biggest city, and agreat way to explore Toronto’s culturaldiversity is on a walking tour aroundKensington Market. Experiences with Local Toronto Food Tours spend around three hours exploring themarket, combining historical and culturalinsights with a globalmenu of tastings. It’s probably the only place in theworld where Native American bannock (fry bread) at the Pow WowCafe canbe followed by traditional Tibetan momos (dumplings) andspicyJamaican-style meat patties. localfoodtours.com/toronto
Uncover theroots of punk and hip-hop in New York
Exploringthe legacyoficonic New York bands including The Velvet Undergroundand Talking Heads,BirthofPunk tours with Walk on the Wild Side take in legendary venues like CBGB,the local spots where the New YorkDolls and the Patti Smith Group firstformed, and gritty urban locations where classic album covers for the Ramones and Television were photographed. Other tours focus on exploring the rap and hip hop legacy of Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC,and thegraffiti-influenced art of JeanMichelBasquiat walkonthewildsidenyc.com
Cruisepast Chicago’s architectural heritage
Best seenwhile cruising alongChicago’s river system —a labyrinthine network of rivers and canals actually covering 250km —the soaring architectural heritage of Chicago spansmore than 150 years.Proto skyscrapers erected following 1871’s Great Fire of Chicago were followed by soaring 20th-century edificesdesigned by legendary architects including Mies van der
Rohe,while21st-centurytemplestocommerceandegoincludeAquaand Chicago’sveryownTrumpTower. Ninety-minutetoursrunthroughout theday,whiletwo-hourSaturday nighttours alsoincludefireworks. architecturetourchicago.com
Beimmersedintheafter-dark neonspectacleofLasVegas Atsunset,Nevada’sSinCityof nightlifeandgamblingis illuminatedbyshimmeringneon,a spectaclebestexperiencedon aBright Lights:LasVegasatNighttourwithPink AdventureTours.Lookforwardtogetting aroundthedesertcityin abrightpinkJeep Wrangler,andafterkickingthings off witha photostopatthefamousWelcometoFabulous LasVegassign,continuingpastWedding ChapelRowandontoridetheHigh RollerFerriswheel,soaring180m abovetheLasVegasstrip. pinkadventuretours.com
UnderstandAfrican-American historyinMemphis ExploringtheinfluenceofAfricanAmericancultureandheritagein Memphis,two-and-a-half-hour tourswithATOP Memphis— standingfor“ATourofPossibilities”— showcasetheimpactofblackAmerica inmusic,sportsandhistoryintheTennesseecity.Poignantstopsincludevisitingthe NationalCivilRightsMuseumandtheSlave HavenUndergroundRailroadMuseum,while there’s amusicfocusattheStaxMuseumof AmericanSoulMusic,andBealeStreet,the historicbirthplaceoftheblues. atopmemphis.com
Memphis. Photos /Getty Images;Supplied
Location: TheNordhavnportarea.A veryeasy 30-minutemetroridewithonechangefrom Copenhagen’sKastrupInternationalAirport.The metrostationisveryclosetothearrivalshalland itcost36Danishkroneoneway($7.80)toOrientkaj station,itselfonly athree-minutewalktothehotel. It’s amodernprecinctwithquite alotofconstruction goingoninthearea.However,youdon’thearany noisefromtheroomsandthereareplentyofnice restaurantswithin ashortstrollofthehotelanda popularswimmingspotintheharbourisnearby.
Style: Modernwithanemphasisonsustainability.The hotelhasanindustriallookinspiredbytheport’sraw characterwithitswarehouses,silosandquays.It’s constructedofpolishedconcretewhichcanwithstand constantexposuretosaltandseawaterandprovides asuperbwhitefinish.Ina citywith areputationas oneofthegreenestintheworld,thishotelwith400 guestroomsepitomisesthevaluesassociatedwith thatandthereisanemphasisonminimalisingwaste andsustainability.Theroomsaresleekandstylish.
Price: From$177pernight.
Perfectfor: Businessandleisuretravellersalike. You are ashortmetroridefromCopenhagenlandmarks likeNyhavn,TivoliGardensandtheLittleMermaid. Check-inexperience: Seamless.Withinminutesof arriving, Iwascheckedinandunwindinginmyroom.
Room: Small —just12sqm —butitwasdesigned in awaytofeelspacious.Rusticandrawwithchic Scandinavianfurniture, aperfectworkingdesk, ahuge 60-inchtelevisionscreenandthemostcomfortable bed Ihaveeversleptin at ahotel.Thereisevena bookletdescribingtheluxuriousDanish-madeduvet andpillowwhichisnamedafterHansChristian Andersen’sfairytaleaboutJack theDullard.Different pillowsizesareincludedwithinstructionsonwhich onestousedependingonyoursleepposition.
Bathroom: Smallbutalsodesignedtofeelspacious. Lovelyheatedfloorand alargevanity. Showerpressureisimportanttomeandthiswas perfect.Inkeepingwiththehotel’sconservation effortstherubbishbinsarealllabelledwith compartmentsforwaste,recyclablesetc.The cups aremadeofrecyclablematerial.
Thehotelprovideshandsoapandbodywashwhich thelabelsaysisveganandmadewithnatural ingredients.
Foodanddrink: Exceptional. Iwasinthecityfor theSailGPevent,andmorethan300peopleinvolved intheregattawerestayingatthehotel.SailGPplaces ahugeemphasis on reducingthecarbonfootprint whereverpossibleandthishotelepitomisesthat ethos.Muchofthefoodatthebuffetwasvegan, with somemeatoptions.Thebreakfastbuffetwasamong thebest Ihaveencountered.Optionsfromfreshfruit,
vegetables,birchermueslis,yoghurts,eggswith Danishsausageandbaconservedinindividualcups andthemostincrediblearrayofDanishcheese, beautifulorganicbreadsanddecadentDanish pastries.
Thereweretapsbuiltinto awall(like abeertap) withdrinkchoicessuchassparklingwater,elderberry, rhubarb,applejuiceandorangejuice.
RoomServiceisavailableviaQRcode —scanyour phone,uppops amenu.
Facilities: Ahugelobbywithsomeexcellentshared workstationsandplentyofloungerstorelaxin.The hotelhas awell-equippedgymandrentsbikesfor 160Danishkrone($35)perday.
Accessibility: Thehotelisfullyaccessiblewith excellentwheelchairaccess.
Contact: comwell.com/en/hoteller/copenhagenportside
Location: AtthetopofthetowninAuckland,the CordisisonSymondsStneartheintersectionwith KarangahapeRd,justacrossthebridgefromGrafton andAucklandDomain.
Style: Byroomcountnowthebiggesthotelinthe country,theCordisAucklandhasthefeelof alarge internationalpropertywithallitsroomoptions, facilitiesandservice.Whileit’sbig,theever-attentive staffkeepthepersonaltouchescoming.
Perfectfor: Remindingyourself abreakaway, no matterhowclosetohomeorforhowlong,islots offunbecauseyou’resurroundedbyhappypeople. Thehotelisidealfor asplurgewithfriendsandfamily in abigroom, achampagne/healthretreatweekend withfriends,highteaintheChandelier Lounge,a few drinksinthelivelyOurLandisAlivebarorfortreating youngkidstoa weekendaway —there’splentyto keepthementertained.
Price: Rangesfromaround$300for atwinroomin theexistinghoteltoaround$4500fortheChairman Suite(aimedatVIPsandworldleaders).Thehotel runscarefullycuratedpackagesandspecials continuously.
Firstimpressions: It’s abusyplaceon aSaturday afternoonbutcheck-inwasseamless.Besidesfriendly staff,you’realsowelcomedby amighty4.5m-tall bronzesculpture“HoldinguptheSky”,oneofthe46 commissionsatthehotel,makingithometooneof thelargestcuratedlocallycommissionedart
collections.Theartsetsthehotelapartfromothers —allowyourselftimetoadmireit.
Rooms: Ourshadrealwowfactor.Wewere upgradedtoanenormousexecutivesuiteon level16ofthePinnacleTower.Itstretched overabout80sq mandhad alounge,fully equippedkitchenetteanddiningarea,a balconywithviewsfromAuckland MuseumtoWesthaven,anenormous bedroomwith akingbedwith afull pillowmenu.
Bathrooms:Aspirational.Huge,with twinvanitybasins, awalk-inshowerand large,deeptub.
Foodanddrink: OurLandIsAlivewith itsNZ-orientedmenu,highteainthe ChandelierLoungeandanAuckland favourite,EightRestaurant,areoptions. However,ifyouhave aClubLoungepackage, thatgivesyouanotheroptionforpre-dinner canapes— whichisenoughfor alightdinnerifthat’s allyouwant.Breakfastisplentifulwitheggs cooked anywayyouwantandafternoonteaisserved between2pmand5pm.There’s abigrangeofwine, beer,spiritsandnon-alcoholicoptions,allservedwith asmile.
Facilities: Theheatedrooftoppoolhastobethe nicestatanAucklandhotelandisgreatforchurning outsomelaps,with ahotspatofollow.There’s asauna
inthechangingroomsandthefitnesscentrehas Technogymgear.TheChuanSpaoffers arangeof treatmentsforanadditionalcost.
Intheneighbourhood: You’re apleasantwalk awayfromAucklandDomainandthe Museum.For adiveintothehistoryof Auckland, the Symonds Street Cemetery datesbackto1842andisfascinatingfor ameander.Thereareplentyofgreat restaurantsonKarangahapeRd. AnywhereintheCBDisaneasywalk orcabrideaway.
Accessibility: Thereare15accessible rooms,withloweredfeaturesmaking everythingeasiertoaccessfor wheelchairusers.Bathroomshaveroll-in showerswithshowerseats.ChuanSpa, EightRestaurantandOurLandisAlivebar areaccessiblebyeitherramporelevatorand theChandelierLoungehasaccessibleseating. Sustainability: TheCordisispartof asustainability programmeknownasEarthCheckandrecently receivedMastersstatus,oneofonly15hotelsglobally toreceivethistopaccolade.Aswellassoaprecycling, energy-efficientlightingandrecyclingpractices,the hotelkeepsbeehivesontherooftoassistbee populationsandlocalpollination.Thehoney producedisusedinthehotel.
Contact: cordishotels.com/en/auckland
GREATBARRIERISLAND 4days/3nights,$1990, DepartAucklandJan17,Mar06 IncludeshomepickupOrewato
GRANDRAILTOUR
Christchurch(2nights),“TranzAlpinereturn,Hokitika(1night), Punakaiki(1night).Christchurch(1night).OptionalextensionMtCook, Queenstown,Fiordland,orNelsonlakes,GoldenBay,Abel Tasman National Park,andNelson.
FABULOUSFIORDLAND
