W
WIN! AN AMAZING TRIP TO BAJA CALIFORNIA
Wanderlust Issue 193 (February 2019) • Top 50 Trips 2019 + The Maldives + South Africa + El Salvador + Costa Rica + Phoenix, Arizona • Pocket guides: Darwin + Porto + Berlin
TOP 50 TRIPS 2019 Featuring: Chile, Georgia, Peru, Cambodia, Iceland, India, Ethiopia, Vietnam, South Africa, and more…
Swimming with mantas in the Maldives
001_Cover_SOv2.indd 1
WORTH £9,000!
THE ORIGINAL TRAVEL MAGAZINE Exploring El Salvador
Uncover Central America’s ‘Pompeii’
South Africa’s wild side Bush, beach and wildlife
Plus Costa Rica Sri Lanka Darwin Porto Phoenix
10/12/2018 11:59
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
Newly opened routes. Little-visited peaks. Expertly crafted itineraries. Only the freshest, most exciting journeys make it onto our list of the top picks... 54 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 54
06/12/2018 14:44
Unforgettable trips to get your adrenaline flowing, thighs sighing and hearts soaring
NAMIBIA
Tickle your taste buds off the beaten track
ACTIVE ADVENTURES
Soak up southern Africa’s wines, wildlife and wilderness on ATI Holidays’ Namibia: Walking and Wine Tasting trip. The journey begins in Windhoek and meanders south-west to the Naukluft Mountains, where the clop of mountain zebras and klipspringer antelopes echo on hikes or horseback through spectacular gorges. In between the red dunes and salt pans of Sossusvlei, the former German colony of Swakopmund and the rugged terrain of northern Damaraland – an area with strictly limited tourism and desert-adapted elephant and black rhino – you’ll discover age-old vineyards sustained by natural springs. Here you can enjoy a tipple among the vines and hear experts share the secrets of how they operate in some of the world’s harshest wine-making conditions. Who: ATI Holidays (0808 234 9378; ati-holidays.com) When: Year round How long: 13 nights How much: From £3,540 (excl int’l flights)
PERU
Go chasing rainbows £50 Even when you see Peru’s OFF Rainbow Mountain up close,
The NamibRand desert is home to dramatic landscapes
ATI Holidays
Red sands
you might not believe your eyes. But its ochre, sea green and scarlet stripes are real. It’s the result of naturally forming minerals, and on World Expeditions’ Ausangate and Rainbow Mountain Trek, you’ll get a front-row seat. You’ll have to work for it, though. Trekking at high altitude across the Andes, and wild camping along the way, makes this a challenging trip, yet worth it for those out-of-this-world views. You’ll start and end in Cuzco, but soon leave the crowds far behind. Who: World Expeditions (0800 074 4135; worldexpeditions.com)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 55
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 55
06/12/2018 14:44
When: Every Friday, 1 Mar–13 Dec 2019 How long: 5 days How much: From £795 (excl int’l flights)
NORTHERN PERU
Go off the Andean trail £50 Peru’s less touristed north OFF has long appealed to travellers in the know, thanks to its super-sized Andean topography and thrilling cultural heritage. Tucan Travel’s new tailor-made Northern Peru itinerary is a journey through some of the region’s most notable attractions, including the remote hiking-base town of Chachapoyas, the UNESCO-listed remains of Kuélap, carved clifftop tombs and the 771m Gocta Waterfall, after which there’s a day to sample the local walking trails. There are also nights to enjoy energetic Lima at the start and end of the trip. Who: Tucan Travel (020 8896 1600; tucantravel.com) When: Year round How long: 9 nights How much: From £1,689 (excl int’l flights)
£50 OFF
LOOK OUT FOR THIS SYMBOL
If you’re a subscriber, use your £50 voucher towards the cost of the trip. Not a subscriber? Sign up now for our great new offer; see p106
outdoors. As well as game drives in Awash National Park – where you might spy leopards or lions – it also includes a four-day hike through the peaks and hot springs of the Bale Mountains. Also included are visits to Addis Ababa, Lake Awasa and Abijatta-Shalla National Park. When: TravelLocal (0117 325 7898; travellocal.com) When: Year round (best months: Oct–May) How long: 8 nights How much: From £1,760 (excl int’l flights)
TURKEY
The Turkish coast with the most The Mediterranean coastline of Turkey is a rival to any sun-
Shutterstock, World Expeditions; G van der Waals
couldn’t be more different. This is a world of whisper-quiet country lanes threading through lush valley plains, and Headwater’s Heart of Veneto Cycling tour takes you deep into its rural centre, pedalling past pretty villages, cherry orchards, ancient villas and vineyards (with GPS provided). Base yourself in an agriturismo (farm stay) and follow daily cycling routes to the likes of Bastia’s market, the lakeside trattorie of Fimon and the vineyards of Tai Rosso grapes in the Berici Hills. Trips even branch out as far as Vicenza, a city whose elegant porticoes and balustrades echo the crumbling majesty of Venice, while a free day lets you catch the train to Padua, Verona, or even the busy regional capital itself. When: Headwater (01606 369824; headwater.com) When: Apr–Oct How long: 7 nights How much: From £1,239 (incl int’l flights)
ETHIOPIA
Trek the wild heart of Ethiopia
Perusing Peru
The UNESCO-listed remains of Kuélap; (above) hiking to the multi-coloured Rainbow Mountain
Now regarded as one of the very best of Africa’s lesser-heralded destinations, Ethiopia is an incredible country crammed with soul, history and dramatic landscapes. TravelLocal’s new Hiking Ethiopia’s Bale Mountains tour coincides with the December 2018 launch of new flights from Manchester to Addis Ababa and focuses on the great Ethiopian
ITALY
Escape the crowds in hidden Veneto While Venice battles over-tourism, the surrounding Veneto region
56 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 56
06/12/2018 14:45
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019 soaked European fringe. It also allows plenty of opportunities to push your adrenaline button, as Explore’s Active Turkey! escape demonstrates. Whether cycling the pine, oak and cedar forests of the Taurus foothills or canoeing down from the UNESCO-listed fortified city of Xanthos – an ancient city twice decimated, first by the Persians and then the Romans – you’ll find history and nature blending with ease. Take to the seas to kayak to the pretty hillside village of Simena, and make the steep hike up to the striking castle at the top. Steal a breath and then soak it all in. Who: Explore (01252 883911; explore.co.uk) When: 17 Jun, 29 July, 2 Sept & 23 Sept 2019
How long: 8 days How much: from £725 (incl int’l flights)
SURINAME, GUYANA & FRENCH GUIANA
Venture into the wilderness £50 They don’t call the Guianas OFF ‘hidden’ for nothing: over 80% of Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana is covered in dense, uncharted jungle. The result? Some of the richest biodiversity on Earth, with mangroves, coastline and primary rainforest absolutely bursting with wildlife. You’ll need a great guide, and KE Adventures has local knowledge in spades. On its Discovering The Hidden Guianas trip, you’ll use light
Welcome to the jungle Walking among the treetops in Guyana; (below) kayaking along the Turkish coast
aircraft, 4WD vehicles and dugout canoes to reach plenty of isolated communities and eco-lodges, visit far-flung islands, and explore a land of jaguars, monkeys and capybaras. Meanwhile a flight over Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall in the world, will be an experience you’ll never forget. Who: KE Adventure Travel (01768 773966; keadventure.com) When: 28 Mar, 26 Sept, 7 Nov 2019 How long: 15 days How much: From £5,275 (incl int’l flights)
RÉUNION
Head for a hidden island Nestled between Madagascar and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, Réunion is often overlooked, but it is an island of singular secrets. Exploring everything from villages set in collapsed craters to the lava tunnels of a dormant volcano, Off the Map Travel’s Like Nowhere on Earth trip nails its description pretty darn well. Little compares to heli-hiking into one of the deepest gorges on the island or spending the night in a see-through bubble in the forests of Réunion National Park. But it’s amid the old creole mansions of Hell-Bourg and Salazie, hamlets carved among winding roads that just about cling to the slopes, where you feel you’ve discovered a place that’s utterly unique. Who: Off The Map Travel (020 3504 6446; offthemap.travel) When: Year round How long: 7 nights How much: From £1,899 (excl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 57
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 57
06/12/2018 14:46
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019 Rid yourself of your everyday rigours on one of these relaxing and reviving adventures
The best way to really understand a destination? Absorb its unique colour, customs and cuisines…
RUSSIA
NEPAL
A mindfulness-themed trip might not sound like your typical Wanderlust adventure, but if you need some headspace, the home of the Buddha is probably the place to find it. Wellness Nepal, a new trip by G Adventures, features a twonight stay in a Buddhist monastery, meditation sessions with practising monks, and plenty of yoga classes. You’ll also explore Kathmandu, visit Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, and take a 4WD safari in search of rhinos, deer and crocodiles in Chitwan National Park. Who: G Adventures (0344 272 2230; gadventures.co.uk) When: Selected dates, Aug 2019–Dec 2020 How long: 13 days How much: From £2,499 (excl int’l flights)
SWITZERLAND
Stretch your legs in the Alps The Swiss outdoors exists on a grand scale, and the lush Alpine mountains of the Churfirsten
Join St Petersburg’s culture clubbers
range are as princely a setting as you’ll find in Central Europe. They serve as the suitably memorable location for Ramblers Walking Holidays’ new Alpine Activity Adventure, a wellness-focused week that includes everything from barefoot walking, sound-trail installations and medicinal herb paths to e-biking, pilates and yoga. If you’re in search of a short-haul experience as stimulating as it is scenic – not to mention an itinerary that also takes in Lake Constance and Mainau Island – it’s an attractive prospect. Who: Ramblers Walking Holidays (ramblersholidays.co.uk; 01707 331133) When: 6 Jun, 11 July, 5 Aug & 12 Sept 2019 How long: 7 nights How much: From £1,865 (incl int’l flights) Little nooks of calm
Amideva Buddha Park in Kathmandu; (above) the tranquil gardens of Mainau Island on Lake Constance
CULTURE SEEKERS
BODY & SOUL
Find your inner calm
Russia’s delta-bound city of St Petersburg is a world away from the Soviet bludgeon of Moscow. After all, this was once the imperial capital and it still wears its grandeur like it has a point to prove. Andante Travels’ St Petersburg: Palaces & Art tour unravels the city’s fascinating past and present through its architecture and culture, with trips to royal residences and historic islands, as well as a matryoshka doll-making workshop. From the ‘Russian Versailles’ of Peterhof Palace to a piano recital and champagne reception at the Brodsky Museum, history and art collide as you explore a city more than glad to put on its pearls once in a while. Who: Andante Travels (01722 569439; andantetravels.co.uk) When: 1 Sept 2019 How long: 7 days How much: £3,495 (incl int’l flights)
CHINA
Beat the crowds to classic China A recent report suggested that China would be the most-visited destination on Earth by 2030, so get there before the masses descend. Plot a classic route with Cosmos’ Flavours of China and the Yangtze trip, starting in Beijing – all imperial history, winding hutongs (alleys) and Great Wall hiking – before visiting the Terracotta Army at Xi’an and the giant pandas of Chengdu. From there, a bullet train ride puts the enormity of this sprawling nation on show as you hurtle towards Chongqing, gateway for cruises into the Three Gorges Dam, and then on to Shanghai – the posterchild for modern China. As you slip between glassy skyscrapers,
Helmuth Scham; Shutterstock; Grand American Adventures
58 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 58
06/12/2018 15:00
European relics and Ming dynasty gardens, the country’s eclectic majesty slowly comes into focus. Who: Cosmos (0330 058 8237; cosmos.co.uk) When: Selected dates, May–Oct 2019 How long: 16 days How much: From £3,200 (incl int’l flight)
VIETNAM
Highlights & homestays £50 It’s hard to know where to OFF start in Vietnam. North or south? Cuisine or culture? Frenetic cities or laid-back countryside? But on Vietnam Adventure, a new tour from Exodus Travel, you can leave the logistics to the experts and concentrate on packing maximum adventure into two short weeks. All the big hits are included: you’ll cruise around Halong Bay, explore the imperial cities and visit the haunting Cu Chi Tunnels (a remnant of the Vietnam War). But there are lesser-known experiences, too, such as a homestay in the Mekong Delta, a traditional sampan boat trip and a cycling journey through the countryside to savour. Who: Exodus Travel 020 3131 8320; exodus.co.uk) When: Year round How long: 16 days How much: From £1,729 (incl int’l flights)
PERU
Explore the ancient Andes Peru has some seriously iconic sites – think Cuzco, Lake Titicaca and, of course, Machu Picchu. But there’s also a rich trove of lesservisited and equally spectacular wonders for those keen to explore a bit deeper. New infrastructure developments have made the north of the country far more accessible, and Peru Revealed’s Ancient Cultures of Northern Peru starts in the capital Lima before touring the northern triangle of Trujillo, Chiclayo and Chachapoyas. Expect temples, fishing coves, royal tombs, ancient pyramids, cloud-forest wildlife, the muchvaunted new cable-car ride to the
sixth-century Kuélap ruins and the chance to trek or horse-ride to the beautiful Gocta Waterfall. Who: Peru Revealed (01932 424252; perurevealed.co.uk) When: Flexible dates How long: 12 nights How much: From £2,498 (incl intl flights)
Karst away
The towering limestone rock formations of Vietnam’s Halong Bay; (below) gawking at glaciers in Patagonia
ARGENTINA
Witness a solar eclipse £50 It doesn’t depart until 2020, OFF but Grand American Adventures’ Solar Eclipse Argentina & Iguazú Falls trip is already selling out. So, if you want to see the sun’s blazing corona create a remarkable ‘hole’ in the midnight-black sky, you’ll need to book now. The rare celestial event promises to be an emotive experience, and in Pilolil, Argentina, you’ll be in the best spot to see it. But it’s not the only highlight of this one-off itinerary: you’ll explore Iguazú Falls, tour Buenos Aires, visit Los Glaciares National Park, catch a tango show and much more. Better yet, there are no enforced single supplements, so solo travellers can twin-share at no additional cost. Who: Grand American Adventures (0333 060 1941; grandamericanadventures.com) When: 7 Dec 2020 How long: 12 days How much: From £3,849 (excl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 59
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 59
06/12/2018 14:47
Get the most out of the planet’s most fascinating corners with help from those in the know…
INDIA
Lebanon’s ochre Beiteddine Palace; (below left) the Philarmonic Garden in Azerbaijani capital Baku
THE CAUCASUS
Explore a mountainous trio The three countries of the Caucasus – Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia – make up one of the most varied travel regions on the world map. This new Across the Southern Caucasus trip from Cox & Kings showcases why. Commencing in Azerbaijan on the minaret-dotted shores of the Caspian Sea, the programme leads through the monasteries, vineyards and excellent restaurants of Georgia before arriving in fascinating Armenia, the world’s oldest Christian country. Travellers can look forward to palace visits, brandy tastings, musical performances and cooking masterclasses, as well as some generous doses of the hospitality the region has become famous for. Who: Cox & Kings (020 3642 0861; coxandkings.co.uk)
When: Flexible dates, 4 May–25 Oct 2019 How long: 13 nights How much: From £1,995 (incl int’l flights)
LEBANON
Uncover the Levant at a leisurely pace Lebanon has plenty to reward the slow traveller: you’ll want to linger over Roman temples, Crusader castles and decadent 18th-century palaces where you can literally touch the Levant’s fascinating past. But the country has more to offer than history lessons, which is where Corinthian Travel’s immersive Lebanon: Off the Beaten Track experience comes in. As well as visiting all of Lebanon’s main draws, this privately guided trip includes a culinary tour of Beirut, plenty of time to explore the Roman ruins of Tyre, and hiking in the lush Qadisha Valley. Expect plenty of homely, authentic accommodation, including a night in a homestay renowned for its traditional cuisine. Who: Corinthian Travel (020 3583 6089; corinthiantravel.co.uk) When: Year round How long: 9 days How much: From £2,380 (excl int’l flights)
Indian cuisine is a swirling, liptingling, multifarious joy, part of the country’s rainbow patchwork of customs and traditions. Wild Frontiers’ new Tastes of India: A Culinary Tour with Romy Gill trip combines all of the above into one sense-assaulting sojourn through the country. In the company of food expert and chef Romy Gill, you’ll head to Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Hyderabad, sampling delicious local specialties, touring markets and delving into the extraordinary history of the region. Meals, cookery lessons, entrance fees, sightseeing and other attractions are all included. Ever tried an authentic biriyani? You will here. Who: Wild Frontiers (020 8741 7390; wildfrontierstravel.com) When: 3 Oct 2019 How long: 10 nights How much: From £4,275 (excl int’l flights)
Shutterstock, Byron Mottley Photography, Dreamstime
Yellow stones
LEARNING FROM THE EXPERTS
Taste the spice of life
60 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 60
06/12/2018 14:48
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
GEORGIA
Join Wanderlust on a unique trip Lying on a key stop on the Silk Road, Georgia has always seemed like a cultural outlier: one foot in Europe, the other in Asia. It’s a fascinating blend of the two, and one that Wanderlust Journeys’ Discover Georgia with Lyn Hughes trip sets out to unravel, all in the company of Wanderlust’s co-founder and editor-in-chief – yes, that’s two travel icons for one. Join Lyn in winding from hip capital Tbilisi – a curious blend of sixth-century architecture and café culture – to the rock-hewn monasteries of Davit Gareja, and along the way sip orange wine in the vineyards of the Kakheti region, explore the remarkable cave town of Vardzia and wander the little-visited mountainous area of Tusheti. Who: Wanderlust Journeys (020 3553 9934; wanderlust.co.uk/GeorgiaJourney) When: 24 July 2019 How long: 11 days How much: From £1,825 (excl int’l flights)
CHILE
Watch the wonders of the cosmos with an expert £50 Wendy Wu’s Chile Eclipse OFF trip gives you premium seats as July’s total eclipse rips across the skies above the Pacific Ocean and southern Latin America. From the lively port of Valparaíso, where the poet Pablo Neruda once found inspiration and colourful houses trickle down the hills to the shoreline, you make for the seaside city of La Serena and out into the Elqui Valley. Here you’ll find vineyards and pisco makers, as well as the best views of the eclipse (2 July). You’ll also be joined by author and astronomer Dr Stuart Clark (along with a few bottles of local wine) to help unravel the mysteries of the day. Side trips to the colonial cobbles of Santiago’s old centre and the region’s surrounding vineyards only add to this trip’s star power.
Georgia on our minds Tbilisi blends striking architecture with cool cafés; (below left) a classic Indian biriyani; (below right) Havana’s Malécon promenade
Who: Wendy Wu (0808 274 8594; wendywutours.co.uk) When: 29 Jun 2019 How long: 7 days How much: From £3,790 (incl int’l flights)
CUBA
Live a literary adventure Ever-atmospheric, fast-evolving Cuba is a singular whirl for the senses – and Steppes Travel’s new Hemingway & Highlights small group tour captures it all. You’ll travel with Cuba expert and journalist Lydia Bell, meet Ernest Hemingway’s daughterin-law (and former PA) and see Cuba’s extraordinary highlights,
from colonial Havana and the Viñales countryside to the wetlands of Ciénaga de Zapata and Che Guevara’s resting place in Santa Clara. For those keen to scratch beneath the surface and understand how this Caribbean country is transforming, it’s the ideal itinerary. Who: Steppes Travel (01285 601050; steppestravel.com) When: 4 Apr 2019 How long: 12 days How much: From £5,295 (excl int’l flights)
JAPAN
Put the Far East in focus Few destinations are as photogenic as Japan, where sharp design and an exotic otherness intertwine to heady effect. For travellers who take their photography seriously, it makes InsideJapan Tours’ Portraits of Japan trip a deeply appealing prospect. Hosted by a professional photographer – and even featuring the services of a kimono model – the programme encompasses time-honoured highlights such as Kyoto and Osaka alongside a range of other striking sights. Expect to encounter everything
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 61
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 61
06/12/2018 14:49
from monks and fishermen to geishas and fan dancers – there’s even an exhibition party at the end of the trip to showcase the group’s images. Who: InsideJapan Tours (0117 3709751; getthepicture.tours) When: 21 Oct 2019 How long: 11 nights How much: From £6,000 (excl int’l flights)
NEPAL
Capture the magic
flag-draped bridges and on up the slopes, passing monasteries at 4,000m-plus to settlements where the air is thin and the pace is slow. Here everyday life is as fascinating as the geography is incredible, with professional photographer and mountaineer Stuart Holmes leading you all the way up to base camp at 5,300m. Unforgettable.
Silky way
The colourful portal of the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz; (below left) painting the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu
Who: Wild Photography Holidays (01630 647828; wildphotographyholidays.com) When: 26 Apr 2019 & 24 Apr 2020 How long: 16 days How much: From £2,450 (excl int’l flights)
IRAN
Follow in Lumley’s footsteps If, like us, you watched Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure series on ITV last year, you will no doubt have been swept up by her immersive Persian odyssey: travelling from the bustling bazaars of Tehran to the pleasure gardens of Kashan and the ancient grandeur of Persepolis. Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent (p34), one of the directors of Silk Road Adventures, worked closely with the crew to design the television series itinerary and thus makes the perfect leader for A Silk Road Adventure: Iran. You’ll visit all of Lumley’s favourite destinations, from the emptiness of the Dasht-e Lut desert to the Abbasid architecture of Isfahan and the food, historic sites and poetry of Shiraz, in a group of no more than ten travellers. Who: Silk Road Adventures (0117 427 0129; silkroad-adventures.com) When: 7 Apr 2019 How long: 14 days How much: From £3,650 (excl int’l flights)
Shutterstock, Stuart Holmes, Ivo Biocina/Croatian National Tourist Board
From old bazaars and ashsmeared sadhus to brightly coloured yak trains, even the everyday has a spark of the magical in Nepal – and that’s before you get to the mountains. Wild Photography Holidays’ Nepal: a Photographic Expedition to Everest Base Camp trip doesn’t simply head straight for the peaks, but provides time to train your lens on the stupas, markets and everyday life of the Kathmandu Valley first. From there, it’s a short flight to Lukla to trek rocky paths through forests, across prayer
62 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 62
06/12/2018 14:49
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
Treasure islands
GREAT JOURNEYS
Croatia’s Elaphiti archipelago; (below) Chile’s Route of Parks is the world’s biggest new road adventure
There’s the perfect epic adventure for you out there – whether by foot, wheel, rail or sail
CROATIA
See the isles by land & sea In among Croatia’s wealth of islands (there are over 1,000), the small Elaphiti archipelago harbours some of the most spellbinding and untouched sights in the Adriatic. Artisan Travel’s Elaphiti Islands Active Adventure soaks up many of them on a trip via land and sea. Begin aboard a private ten-berth catamaran as it travels north from Dubrovnik towards the Pelješac Peninsula, before stopping off at the lesser-visited islands of Ston, Broce and Sipan. Breeze past pine-scented landscapes, citrus gardens and sandy coves, then drop anchor to explore ancient ruins and Benedictine monasteries, meander crowd-free hiking trails and swim, kayak and snorkel in sparkling waters. Afterwards, shake off your sea legs in the picturesque
fishing village of Šipanska Luka, surrounded by olive groves and ancient relics from when Croatia was a maritime republic. Who: Artisan Travel (01670 785085; artisantravel.co.uk) When: Every Saturday & Sunday, 13 Apr–28 Sept 2019 How long: 7 nights How much: From £825 (excl int’l flights)
CHILE
Drive the next great road trip Chile’s new Route of Parks is one of the conservation feats of our time: a 2,800km trail connecting 17 national parks, many newly created. It was the brainchild of the late Douglas Tompkins (founder of outdoor clothing firm North Face), who together with his wife, Kristine, donated vast tracts of private land. With it finally opening in late 2018, Pura Aventura’s Route of the Parks Uncovered helps cut a year’s adventure into a manageable chunk by self-driving the world’s wildest new road trip. Visitors will wind down from the crystalline waters of
the Chilean Lake District, through the peaks of the Cerro Castillo and down to the little-seen Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. Watch condors in Coyhaique, fly into the wilds of Torres del Paine and cruise the Magallanes on one of the great wilderness adventures. Who: Pura Aventura (01273 676712; pura-aventura.com) When: Flexible dates, best Oct 2019–Apr 2020 How long: 45 nights How much: From £12,500 (excl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 63
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 63
06/12/2018 14:50
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019 and final resting place. The drive then continues along a restored, hand-laid brick segment of Route 66 before the iconic arch of St Louis marks the halfway point. From here, fly to Albuquerque for the second leg, winding past neon-lit diners and old motels to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, finally finishing up in Los Angeles. Who: Audley Travel (01993 838755; audleytravel.com) When: Year round How long: 15 nights How much: From £2,305 (incl int’l flights)
GREENLAND & ICELAND
Combine two frozen worlds
Take the high road across the Himalaya China isn’t all rampant modernity and glistening cities. Its scenic south-west is a land barely touched by the sweep of capitalism – and there’s no better way to see it than by car. Dragoman’s Tibet Explorer trip rolls out of Xi’an (after an excursion to see the Terracotta Army) towards the high-altitude plateaus and jade waters of Qinghai, then it’s on to the Tanggula Pass (at 5,231m) that marks the entry point into Tibet. Explore Lhasa’s monasteries and palaces before making for the Tibetan Everest Base Camp and beyond, passing panoramic views and roads that top 5,000m in places, before finally crossing into Nepal for the trails of Pokhara and teahouses of Kathmandu. Who: Dragoman (01728 861133; dragoman.com) When: 20 July 2019 How long: 31 days How much: From £1,960 (plus US$1,120/£875 kitty; excl int’l flights)
USA
A classic road trip just got shorter £50 Previously, the classic US OFF road trip required at least three weeks of your time, but Audley Travel’s Highlights of Route 66 Self-Drive tour means you can now get your kicks in a fortnight. Beginning in Chicago, the trip is divided into two parts along sections of the original road. Pass through rural Illinois and the swinging bridges of Pontiac to Abraham Lincoln’s former home
Mountain refuge
The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, is the former home of the Dalai Lama; (below) get your kicks right here
ASIA
Overland all the way to Asia (and back) £50 There’s nothing like a road OFF trip to change the way you see the world, and Oasis
Shutterstock
TIBET & NEPAL
While Iceland’s glacial icons are seeing more visitors than ever thanks to the transatlantic stopover set, that doesn’t apply to Greenland. Apart from passengers on Arctic cruises, few make it this far north, thus Collette’s A NordicInspired Voyage is a rather special opportunity to glimpse two very different frozen worlds in one go. After the hot springs, geysers and ancient sites of Reykjavík, you’ll board the MV Ocean Atlantic to explore Greenland’s north-east coast, where Inuit traditions and ceremonies echo among the fjords. Here, the frosty waters of Kangerlussuaq precede the colourful wooden sprawl of Sisimiut, where trips out among the monster ’bergs of Disko Bay and the Ilulissat Icefjord (from which 10% of all Greenland’s icebergs emerge) make you realise just how small you are, and how big the world really is. Who: Collette (0800 804 8701; gocollette.com) When: 16, 21 & 26 Aug 2019 How long: 8 nights How much: From £3,979 (excl int’l flights)
64 wanderlust.co.uk February 2019
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 64
06/12/2018 14:51
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019 Overland’s Exploratory Ultimate Asia Overland adventure is an essay in opening eyes and minds as you drive from the UK to Nepal. It’s also a one-off opportunity with limited numbers, so it pays to get in early for this 2020 trip. The whole thing takes about 181 days as you trickle through little-seen parts of Russia and the Ukraine (with a potential side trip to Chernobyl), the mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan’s fiery Darvaza gas crater (dubbed the ‘gates of hell’) and into Central Asia. As onion-domed cathedrals blur into 15th-century mosques, the landscape morphs into a mountainous range of vast glassy lakes and hilltop monasteries; and just as the prayer flags begin flickering in the Himalayan wind, an about-turn sees you finish in Turkey via Pakistan and Iran. Of course, you can break up the trip into bite-size sections (such as the 11-day London to St Petersburg opening stretch), but wouldn’t you prefer a life on the road? Who: Oasis Overland (01963 363400; oasisoverland.co.uk) When: 4 Apr 2020 How long: 26 weeks How much: From £8,349 (plus US$3,495/£2,730 local fee; excl int’l flights)
and spotting black-maned lions in the Green Kalahari. Who: Imagine Africa (020 3131 5034; imagineafrica.co.uk) When: Year round How long: 14 nights How much: From £3,820 (incl int’l flights)
SCOTLAND
Ride on the wild side
SOUTH AFRICA Break for the borders
On the hoof
An oryx in South Africa’s Northern Cape province; (above) the road to Everest Base Camp
If you’ve been to South Africa, chances are you’ve been wowed by the Western Cape’s whalewatching and wine tasting. But the country has so much more up its sleeve. Designed for second-time visitors, Imagine Africa’s Off The Beaten Track South Africa reveals its little-visited Northern Cape on a self-drive itinerary that stretches up to the Namibia and Botswana borders. The driving is sensational (think wild coastal panoramas and dramatic desert swathes) and you stretch your legs in spectacular fashion, with walking safaris in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, hiking and wine-tasting in Orange River,
On Great Rail Journeys’ Castles and Wildlife of Scotland tour, your adventure begins with an overnight trip aboard the Caledonian Sleeper train, whisking you from London to Inverness in comfortable club cabins. Over the next seven days, you’ll explore by road and rail, staying in luxurious heritage hotels. It’s a wild, wonderful week, with dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth, a 4WD red deer ‘safari’, and the chance to see red squirrels and wild cats in the Highlands’ Alladale Wilderness Reserve. Another treat for railway enthusiasts is a journey along the Kyle Line, which chugs at a leisurely pace between alluring lochs and crumbling castles. You’ll soon understand why it’s considered one of Scotland’s most scenic rail routes. Who: Great Rail Journeys (01904 527180; greatrail.com) When: Selected dates, Apr–Oct 2019 How long: 7 days How much: From £1,495 (incl travel from London)
ITALY
Sail the Aeolians in style Scattered north of Sicily, the volcanic Aeolians are the most ravishing and rambunctious of islands. The Small Cruise Ship Collection’s Sicily and the Aeolian Islands cruise shows the dramatic archipelago off at its best. You’ll hop between sunkissed islands on an intimate and elegant gulet – which only sleeps 12 people – hugging craggy coastlines, jumping in to swim in Venus’ pool, wandering pretty fishing ports, trekking to the top of bubbling Stromboli and eating the exquisite local
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 65
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 65
06/12/2018 14:51
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
seafood and other specialities both onshore and on deck. Who: The Small Cruise Ship Collection (01432 507280; small-cruise-ships.com) When: 8 Jun, 6 July, 3 & 31 Aug 2019 How long: 8 days How much: From £1,265 (excl int’l flights)
MEXICO
States – in Mexico’s Baja California, you’ll find the kind of backdrop that four-wheeled adventure is all about. Journey Latin America’s Self Drive Mexico: Discover Baja California and the Sea of Cortez tour lets you explore ‘the real Baja’, taking you away from the resorts of Cabo to discover colonial towns, quiet white-sand beaches and the beguiling landscapes of the interior. Expect national parks, dry canyons, hefty mountains, ancient cave paintings and serene bays – and if you’re there from January to April there’s also the prospect of whale and dolphin viewing. Who: Journey Latin America (020 8747 8315; journeylatinamerica.co.uk) When: Flexible dates How long: 12 days How much: From £1,815 (excl int’l flights) Life’s a breach
Alamy
A grey whale surfaces off the coast of Baja California; (above) traditional dancing at Papua New Guinea’s Goroka Show
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Whales & tales in Baja California £50 Great American road trips OFF aren’t reserved for the
If you’re looking to party or to get swept up in local celebrations, timing is everything...
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Immerse yourself in local legend and culture £50 Meet and live with some OFF of the most isolated
communities on the planet on Bamboo Travel’s The Tribes & Festivals of Papua New Guinea tour. Diving deep into a nation that has over 800 languages, it kicks off in Eastern Highlands Province at the annual Goroka Show, a dance and music spectacle started in the 1950s by Australian patrol officers (kiaps) to foster peace between rival groups. From there, the journey takes a scenic route, unearthing mountains, tropical rainforests and snaking in and out of traditional villages, where private homestays immerse you in local culture. Finish with a dugout canoe trip along the mighty Sepik River, learning how the sacred spirit houses are built and fishing with villagers. Who: Bamboo Travel (020 7720 9285; bambootravel.co.uk)
When: Flexible dates, Sept 2019 How long: 18 days How much: From £7,995 (incl int’l flights)
USA
Get your motor running… Now half a century old, Easy Rider perfectly encapsulated the freedom of the open road for a generation of motorcyclists, putting the grandeur of the USA’s landscape front and centre. Bon Voyage’s Easy Rider 50th Anniversary Movie Tour aims to recreate the ride undertaken by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda’s freewheeling bikers in the film, rattling through California’s Death Valley and on to Arizona’s Route 66 and Colorado, before heading down through Texas and Louisiana. From the saloons of Durango and the stone spires of Monument Valley to the jazz of New Orleans, ride your hog through America’s dusty outlaw soul, stopping at key locations from the film on the way. Who: Bon Voyage (0800 316 3012; bon-voyage.co.uk) When: 22 May, 6 Jun, 18 Sept & 2 Oct How long: 15 days How much: From £4,350 (incl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 67
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 67
06/12/2018 14:52
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
Canoe with a view
Al Bakker
NEW FRONTIERS
Kayaking through the ice floes in Svalbard; (below) Nakhchivan’s Ilandagh mountain marks the site of the Kahf caves
Be among the first to experience these freshly opened countries, trails and itineraries…
ICELAND & SVALBARD
Tour remote Arctic islands Opportunities to set foot on the still-active volcanic island of Jan Mayen don’t come along that often, so chances are that places on Aurora Expeditions’ 2020 Iceland, Jan Mayen and Svalbard trip will be snapped up quickly. From Reykjavík, the ship cups the north-west Icelandic coastline, carving through the beauty of the Westfjords and ticking off Europe’s largest seabird breeding cliffs, Látrabjarg, where you can spot puffins, razorbills and guillemots. It then makes for the Denmark Strait and rarely visited Jan Mayen Island, with its towering Beerenberg volcano. The voyage finishes in the tundra of Svalbard, where you can glimpse glaciers, polar bears, Arctic foxes and walruses.
Who: Aurora Expeditions (0808 189 2005; auroraexpeditions.com.au) When: 12 Jun 2020 How long: 10 nights How much: From £4,800 (excl int’l flights)
NAKHCHIVAN
Rediscover a forgotten exclave £50 There are some corners OFF of the world that travellers just don’t see, where territorial horse-trading and the ambitions of larger nations have left them cut adrift. The Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan is one such destination, passed down from Ottoman to British to Soviet hands until it broke free of its Communist yoke in the 1990s. Regent Holidays’ Pioneering Nakhchivan trip turns its gaze on this mountainous region with a powerful history, visiting the reputed site of ‘Noah’s tomb’, sanitariums built into old salt mines and medieval monuments. Head out to Batabat to reveal alpine meadows, floating islands and the pilgrim caves of Kahf where the
‘seven sleepers’ of the Qur’an were said to have hidden. But the real lure here is simply setting foot where few other travellers tread. Who: Regent Holidays (020 7666 1258; regentholidays.co.uk) When: 8 Apr 2019 How long: 6 days How much: From £1,520 (incl int’l flights)
NORWAY
Explore the land of the midnight sun £50 Few landscapes match OFF the frozen grandeur of Norway’s sprawling archipelago,
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 69
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 69
06/12/2018 14:53
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
and Discover the World’s Svalbard Summer Adventure captures them just at the right time, as the midnight sun lights up the tundra deep into the small hours. The seas fill with walruses, seals and whales as you paddle the Adventfjord or are pulled around the coast on a wheeled sled by huskies. From capital Longyearbyen, on Spitsbergen, explore the surrounding area on electric fatbikes or by foot, while longer detours head out to the mining settlements of Barentsburg and the ghost town of Pyramiden. Who: Discover The World (01737 218802; discover-the-world.com) When: Flexible dates, May–Sept How long: 5 nights How much: From £1,053 (incl int’l flight)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Spitsbergen Travel
Journey deep into the heart of the Sepik £50 The Sepik River Basin is OFF Papua New Guinea’s answer to the Amazon – a country within a country that’s home to over 250 languages. Regent Holidays’ Cruise the Sepik River tour dives into its heart, drifting past villages little visited by the outside, where life still revolves around the water. It’s a rare opportunity to visit the upper, middle and lower Sepik, glimpsing the artistry of the
peoples around Chambri Lakes, visiting spirit houses and seeing the colourful performances (sing sings) that carry the history of its people. The trip also takes in the Crocodile Festival, a creature that has special significance in these parts where scarring young men’s flesh to make it look like crocodile skin is still a rite of passage in some villages. Who: Regent Holidays (020 7666 1258; regentholidays.co.uk) When: 2 Aug 2019 How long: 14 days How much: From £11,475 (excl int’l flights)
ST HELENA
Visit one of the UK’s remotest outposts With an increased number of flights now landing at St Helena’s
Tundra trekking
Exploring Svalbard on foot; (below) a Yenchen crocodile mask dance along the Sepik river
airport, the days of only being able to access this remote UK outpost via a lengthy voyage aboard a Royal Mail ship are long gone. Jules Verne’s Airlink to St Helena trip opens the way to a land deep in the Atlantic, far off the coast of South Africa, and lets you discover a community with an unusual history. Wander relics from the days of Napoleon’s exile, the colourful Georgian houses that scatter capital Jamestown and the old fortifications of the East India Company. Offshore, dolphins and turtles offer a taste of the wildlife as volcanic cliffs loom over the shores of a land where, in spite of new connections, few have ever made the effort to see. Who: Jules Verne (020 3553 3722; vjv.com) When: 21 Feb, 7 Mar, 12 Sept, 10 Oct & 7 Nov 2019 How long: 11 nights How much: From £3,845 (incl int’l flights)
LAOS
See lesser-visited Laos £50 As serene as Luang Prabang OFF is, it’s good to escape Laos’s well-trodden trail, and Selective Asia’s Laos: Beyond the Ordinary trip does just that by ploughing new roads that lead deeper, further and faster into the backchannels of the country. Sink into local rhythms as you travel north from Champasak, through the mysterious Plain of Jars, Buddhist grottoes and the remarkable Vieng Xai caves, where some 20,000 hid out when the shelling of the Vietnam War spilled across the border. A night safari and a hike to a local salt lick in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area bring the chance of sighting clouded leopards, golden cats and even tigers, while a visit to a local youth project puts a more human face on a country where most visitors just flit between the colourful temples and markets. Who: Selective Asia (01273 670001; selectiveasia.com) When: Year round How long: 16 days How much: From £2,440 (excl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 71
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 71
06/12/2018 14:54
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
Wander woman
Alamy; David Merron
UNIQUE ACCOMMODATION
A Mongolian nomad in her ger; (below) discovering the sights on remote Somerset Island
Forgo familiar comforts and rest your head for the night in one of these unusual spots
MONGOLIA
The ride of your life You don’t have to be an equestrian expert to go Nomad Horse Riding with YellowWood Adventures; in fact, the trip is even suitable for beginners. Where could be better to learn the riding ropes than in Mongolia, on a surefooted steed hoofing your way up mountains, through forests and over spectacular steppe with an expert guide at your side? But while the landscapes and riding are thrilling, the best bit of this trip is the chance to stay with nomadic Mongolian families – sharing meals with them, learning about their lives, and sleeping in their traditional ger tent homes. This is Mongolia at its most authentic. Who: YellowWood Adventures (020 7846 0197; yellowwoodadventures.com)
When: 7 Sept 2019 How long: 8 nights How much: From £1,399 (excl int’l flights)
CANADA
Get the High Arctic to yourself As you rise up into the High Arctic, travelling among the frozen tufts of land that scatter the northern tip of Nunavut becomes ever trickier. More typically, you’ll spot the area’s islands from aboard large cruise ships, but Quark Expeditions’ Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge experience is that rare opportunity to sample life on the ground at a latitude few reach. From Yellowknife, a charter flight whisks you some 800km north of the Arctic Circle to Somerset Island and a familyrun base camp that brings you up close to these northermost wilds. You’ll explore estuaries rippling with beluga whales, learn to drive an all-terrain vehicle and visit Thule (ancient Inuit) bone and stone houses on Cape Anne. There’s also the chance to
paddle the ice floes and soak up views of the Northwest Passage – a legendary stretch of water that thwarted explorers for centuries – spotting polar bears, musk-oxen and ringed seals. Who: Quark Expeditions (020 3514 2712; quarkexpeditions.com) When: Selected dates Jun–Aug 2019 How long: 8 or 10 days How much: From USD$7,495 (£5,700; excl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 73
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 73
06/12/2018 14:55
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
Call of the wild
WILDLIFE WONDERS
A chimpanzee in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park
Discover the newest ways to encounter the most amazing creatures on our planet
UGANDA
Photo credit
Swing with chimps in the jungle Meet your distant relatives on a primate-tracking tour deep in the Albertine Rift with Wildlife Worldwide. Its Uganda’s Unforgettable Wildlife trip roams these dense forests to take you to some of the best ape- and monkey-watching spots on the planet, from gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to
cruising along the Nile through Murchison Falls on the lookout for chimps. Side trips to see the southern white rhinos at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary or to spot lions lounging in fig trees at Ishasha make worthy detours. But the real draw here is Kibale Forest National Park, home to 13 primate species, and where treks bring you face to hairy face with a family of habituated chimpanzees, who you can observe going about their daily lives deep within the forest interior for a full hour. Who: Wildlife Worldwide (01962 302086; wildlifeworldwide.com) When: 9 Oct 2019
How long: 14 days How much: From £4,995 (incl int’l flights)
UZBEKISTAN
Discover the Silk Road’s wild side Most head to Uzbekistan expecting stately squares and dazzling mosaics. And while architecture is high on the check list here, Naturetrek’s Uzbekistan’s Wildlife and Culture tour casts a wilder eye on the Silk Road favourite. Here you’ll head for the country’s oases, grasslands, wetlands and mountains, from the rocky peaks of Ugam-Chatkal National Park, where montane forests reveal
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 75
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 75
06/12/2018 14:57
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019 lammergeier and blue whistling thrush, to exploring the banks of the Zeravshan river in search of grazing bactrian deer. There’s time to visit the mausoleums and madrasas of Samarkand and Bukhara, of course, but trips out into the Kyzylkum Desert and the Amu-Bukhara canal to catch a glimpse of black-bellied sandgrouse, blue-cheeked beeeaters and Menetries’ warblers cast this ancient land in an altogether more natural light. Who: Naturetrek (01962 733051; naturetrek.co.uk) When: 19 May 2019 How long: 10 days How much: From £2,695 (incl int’l flights)
TANZANIA
Self-powered safari Get closer to the ‘Big Five’ than you ever have before on G Adventures’ Tanzania Active Safari, which features canoeing and walking trips in the parks and reserves, as well as 4WD game drives. In Momella Lake you’ll paddle alongside hippos and giraffes, while on foot in Empakaai Crater you’ll come eye to eye with flamingos, hyenas and buffalo. In the larger Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, a 4WD safari will whizz you straight to the wildlife action. With a group size of no more than 12, this promises to be an intimate and unforgettable trip.
Tree lions
Whizz straight to the wildlife on a 4WD Serengeti safari
Who: G Adventures (0344 272 2230; gadventures.co.uk) When: Selected dates, Jun–Dec 2019 How long: 8 days How much: From £1,749 (excl int’l flights)
CAMBODIA
Walk virgin jungle and sleep under the stars Cambodia’s Virachey National Park is one of those great wildernesses that you can’t hope to see in one go – and few even try. It’s so big (3,325 sq km) and difficult to negotiate that parts of it haven’t even been explored yet, which is why Walks Worldwide’s Cambodia Jungle Trek carries
G Adventures
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 77
054-075_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 77
06/12/2018 14:58
50 BEST NEW TRIPS FOR 2019
a whiff of real exploration about it. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the country’s icons, with waterfall and cave treks around Sen Monorom, a boat trip to see the endangered Mekong dolphins of Kampi, and a visit to the evergreen ruins of the great Angkor Wat. But it’s amid the bamboo thickets, cloud forest and lowlands of Virachey, as you walk trails hacked out of the bush by your guide’s machete, spotting civet and pygmy slow loris and sleeping in hammocks under the stars, where you’ll find your second wind. A truly wild escape. Who: Walks Worldwide (01962 302085; walksworldwide.com) When: 2 Mar, 15 Oct & 26 Nov 2019 How long: 10 nights How much: From £2,199 (incl int’l flights)
ZIMBABWE
Enjoy a safari on foot Since Zimbabwe threw off the shadow of former leader Robert Mugabe, one of the great wildlife destinations of the world has been gifted back to travellers. Mountain Kingdoms’ Mana Pools Walking Safari & Lake Kariba tour escorts you around one of the nation’s wildest parks, famed for its incredible walking safaris that take you from camp to camp along the Zambezi floodplains. It’s far from a hardened hike, though, and along the way you’ll learn about bush life and be on the lookout for elephants, hippos, leopards, buffalo and more, while skirting woodlands, shores and plains. From there, you fly to Lake Kariba for more wildlife-viewing opportunities, Watch your mouth
Hippos on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe; (above) tracking tigers by boat in the Periyar National Park
including a glorious farewell game cruise at sunset. Who: Mountain Kingdoms (01453 844400; mountainkingdoms.com) When: 28 Jun & 23 Aug 2019 How long: 12 nights How much: £5,480 (incl int’l flights)
INDIA
Alamy, Getty Images
Trains & tigers Taking a train in India is a rite of passage, but the convenience of private transport can be a relief on long journeys. Rail Discoveries’ Spectacular Southern India trip offers the best of both worlds, with a ‘toy train’ journey between Ooty’s lush tea estates and a jaunt from Coimbatore to Cochin by express train alongside journeys by private coach. You’ll take to the water, too, with a relaxing houseboat cruise on Vembanad Lake and a boat safari in Periyar National Park. Here you can hope to spot elephants, sambar and monkeys – and maybe even a tiger or two. Who: Rail Discoveries (01904 734812; raildiscoveries.com) When: Selected dates, Feb–Nov 2019 How long: 14 days How much: From £1,795 (incl int’l flights)
wanderlust.co.uk February 2019 79
054-079_Top 50_SO_v2.indd 79
07/12/2018 12:45