Grapevine

What’s New

Discover sustainable destinations, marvellous museums and the hottest new hotels in travel right now…

New year, new Green Capital

As January approaches, we can expect a new European Green Capital. Grenoble will be passing its crown on to Tallinn, the 13th city to receive this title. With its UNESCO-listed historic centre, the Estonian capital is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and impressed the international jury with its approach to sustainable governance and its ambitious goals, including achieving full climate neutrality by 2050. Celebratory events will be taking place throughout the year, including an opening ceremony in January and a green expo in the autumn, or just wander its cobbles and pedal its cycle paths for your own low-impact escape. visittallinn.ee/eng

Pioneers of sustainable travel

After two years of closure due to the pandemic, the Buddhist Kingdom has reopened its doors to the public. It does return with a difference, however. The nation has always had sustainability at its core, but this is being pushed to the forefront. The country recently announced that its Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) – which is payable by tourists – will rise from $65 (£56) per person (per night) to $200 (£173). The fees raised from visitors will go towards funding programmes that preserve Bhutan’s cultural traditions and upgrade its infrastructure. But, most importantly, it has been promised that it will also go towards sustainability projects that will help protect the world’s first carbonnegative country from the impacts of climate change.

ON OUR RADAR

There’s a host of new museums and exhibitions to savour…

A new Genghis Khan Museum has opened its doors in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, just on the edge of Sukhbaatar Square. Its collection stretches back more than 2,000 years, with some 12,000 artefacts presenting the history of the Mongolian Kings and the nomad Mongols, from the Khunnu dynasty to the beginning of the 1900s.

We have lift off! Pennsylvania’s only space museum has now opened to the public. Inside the Moonshot Museum (pictured), visitors can go on their own simulated lunar mission, see the first American lander since Apollo being built, and get up close to the technology behind space exploration in the 21st century. moonshotmuseum.org

The 20-year development of Berlin’s Humboldt Forum is finally complete. The museum is dedicated to exhibiting art and culture from around the world, with the final sections – the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art – opening just in time for winter. humboldtforum.org/en

Reopened earlier this year after undergoing a big refurbishment, the Burrell Collection in Glasgow celebrates one of the world’s great art and antique collectors, Sir William Burrell. The gallery has now been updated with new interactive digital displays, helping visitors to better understand its late patron’s life and his overwhelming passion for art. burrellcollection.com

New cycling trail in Norfolk

National charity Cycling UK have launched an exciting new long-distance cycling loop around Norfolk. The trail, called the Rebellion Way, is 373 kilometres in length and centres on the city of Norwich; from there you pass through areas including Diss, Thetford, King’s Lynn and Sheringham. The route has been created using bridle paths, country roads, cycle ways and forest tracks. The whole journey is expected to take cyclists four to six days to complete, with the added option of only pedalling half the route and finding alternative public transport home from King’s Lynn. cyclinguk.org

Fine art in Antwerp

Following more than a decade of renovation, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium, has finally reopened its doors. Originally founded in 1810, this Neoclassical building hosts more than 8,400 paintings, sculptures and prints. With a focus on Flemish and Dutch artists, visitors can expect to be dazzled by the detailed eye of the Flemish Primitives, the Baroque style of the city’s own Peter Paul Rubens, and the 19th century works of Henri De Braekeleer.

NEW SLEEPS

Located to the south of UNESCO-listed biosphere Sian Ka’an, Casa Chablé (pictured top) offers the ultimate seclusion on a private islet in Mexico. This luxury boutique hotel, just 35km from Tulum, is surrounded by five hectares of tropical jungle and is fronted by a glorious white-sand beach. chablehotels.com

Set to make an impression on Paris’ hotel scene is the anticipated November opening of Hôtel Dame Des Art. Located on the stylish Left Bank, close to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the interior look of this hotel has been led by internationally renowned local designer Raphael Navot. The room’s city views are also hard to beat. damedesarts.com

For a piece of Hollywood history, book a stay in Santa Monica’s The Georgian. First opened in 1933, this restored boutique property on Ocean Avenue expects to welcome guests again in January 2023. Previous Hollywood stars who have visited the hotel and its once-lauded restaurant include Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe. georgianhotel.com

Sitting on Bahrain’s little-explored south-western coastline is an idyllic new retreat, the Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa. The hotel has 196 rooms and suites, an exclusive 11-bedroom beach house and eight dining options, including a restaurant focused on local Bahraini produce. Expect the finest ocean views while being surrounded by luscious greenery. jumeirah.com

The Wanderlust Club has a great range of exclusive offers, competitions and events for our members – here are just a few. Already a member? Head to wanderlustmagazine. com/your-wanderlust to find out more.

VIRTUAL EVENT: Alice Morrison – Walking with Nomads (10 January)

We go live to the Atlas Mountains, Morocco, where adventurer and broadcaster Alice Morrison talks about her new book, Walking with Nomads, a story of trekking the Sahara, discovering lost cities and dinosaur footprints, and the joy of being out in the wilderness.

25% or 15% OFF! Purchases from the Stanfords website

Stanfords is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and accessories, and is beloved by explorers and keen travellers alike. Club members can get 25% off the price of any books featured on our ‘Read This’ page (p33) and 15% off any other purchases from the Stanfords website.

15% OFF! Lorton & Horn travel wallets

We love the Lorton & Horn range of quality travel wallets, organisers and other travel goods, and you will too. Made from high-quality vegetable-tanned leather (there are also vegan versions) and available in a range of desirable colours, they are not only practical but super stylish too. Better yet, they can be monogrammed to make the perfect gift.

WIN! A Craghoppers orlena half-zip fleece

We love this snuggly new women’s fleece (see p62) from Craghoppers, which is perfect for winter city breaks, country walks or even chilly houses. We have two fleeces to give away. And note that members also gets 20% off Craghoppers gear.

WIN! A copy of Climb Your Mountain by Sir Ranulph Fiennes

In this inspirational new book from legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, he not only shares extraordinary stories of his expeditions, but each themed chapter illustrates a lesson readers can take away with them. We have three copies to give away to Club members.