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Bucket List Experiences: Get ready to be inspired by these trending travel experiences
By Karen Leiva and Martha Chapman
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Madagascar: Lemurs and Beyond
Who could resist a lemur’s cute face and big eyes? If you want to see this famed animal in its natural habitat, they can only be found in one place – Madagascar. And while lemurs are notorious, there is a lot more to Madagascar than just animal encounters, inspiring G Adventures to name this African island as one of its top destinations to see in 2020. In between forest hikes, hitting the beach, and lemur trekking, G Adventures’ 14-day itinerary, Highlights of Madagascar, gives travellers a chance to experience local life, staying at a community guesthouse and dining with a local family. There is also a visit to the Soa Zara Tree Planting Project, supported by G Adventures to create a green corridor and help protect the biodiversity of Isalo National Park.
Lemur in Madagascar
Icy Expeditions
Polar cruising continues to top many bucket lists in 2020, and ultra-luxe cruise lines are responding to the demand for these extraordinary sailings with new ships and innovations. Lindblad Expeditions has a new specialized polar ship, the National Geographic Endurance, built with patented X-BOW key to its design with wave-slicing action, promising to deliver an extremely smooth ride even in the adverse conditions you might expect on a polar cruise. Itineraries in 2020 include sailings in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and the Russian Arctic.
Polar Bear near Svalbard, Norway
Sustainable Luxury
On the rugged and remote shores of Newfoundland, the Fogo Island Inn has been capturing the attention of the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Justin Trudeau. The inn has 29 rooms that feature floor-to-ceiling windows with majestic views of the Atlantic Ocean, incredible design, and handmade traditional furniture and quilts. Expect to take gourmet meals in a stunning dining room with more wall-to-ceiling views of the Atlantic – in the spring, look for icebergs known to drift past. Executive Chef Jonathan Gushue, a Newfoundlander, serves up local specialties – cod cheeks, caribou, and crab – elevated to fine dining. The Fogo Island Inn is a social enterprise with all profits being directed into its charity, Shorefast, which is dedicated to supporting the local economy and preserving the island’s unique culture.
Fogo Island Inn
How You Can Travel More Sustainably
• Bring along a refillable water bottle, one with a built-in filter if you are concerned about the purity of local water.
• A cloth shopping bag takes little space and you won’t require plastic bags every time you shop.
• Many hotels are now offering the option of not having your sheets and towels changed daily. Go for it. If they don’t, tell the front desk your wishes.
• Do a little research, choosing tour companies and cruise lines whose sustainability ethos matches yours. And make sure you share your priorities with your travel advisor.
