What’s your next adventure?

JANUARY

• Iceland – Witness the Northern Lights, hike to the Solheimajokull Glacier, and relax in the spa-like waters of the Blue Lagoon. Why not try snowshoeing in Þingvellir National Park (40km/25 miles north-east of the capital, Reykjavik).
• Colombia – Bring out your inner Lara Croft or Indiana Jones as you trek to the lost city of La Ciudad Perdida, also known as the “New Machu Picchu” by adventure travelers. The 27mile (43km) trek consists of crossing high rivers via rope, meeting local indigenous families, and climbing muddy inclines deep into the Sierra Nevada jungle.
• Sweden – Dogsledding. Luleå sits among the frozen lakes and silent forests of Swedish Lapland and dog-sledding is a very practical way to get around up here, especially when the snow lies thick on the ground. The mushers will teach you some basic commands. The important thing is to relax and trust your dog team.

FEBRUARY

• New Zealand – hike the multi-day ‘Finest walk in the world’ – the 53km (33 mile) Milford Track, or the 32km (21 mile) Routeburn Track from the main divide to the head of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. From here you can (literally) jump on any number of adventures given its aptly named the ‘adventure capital of the world’.
• Japan – Skiing and snowboarding in Japan is considered some of the best in the world and it snows here more than any other country in the world. It is a perfect place for beginners as well as advanced skiers/riders, and there is a fantastic cultural element to any trip. Après ski means soaking in an outdoor onsen with a Sapporo Classic in hand and dinner is the freshest sushi imaginable.
  Norway – The Svalbard archipelago is one of the best places in the Arctic to witness the resident polar bear population, which (if you’re lucky) can be glimpsed wandering along the coast. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago in northern Norway, and given polar bears are elusive, your best chance is a cruise around the north or east of the island (July/August), or November to February is a great time to visit if you want to check out a polar night.

 

MARCH

• Canada – Ski or snowboard some of the best resort mountains in the world with stunning scenery and amenities. Whistler resort is at the base of the mountain for very easy access. Banff is the ideal launching point for multiple ski resort options in Alberta, or try Revelstoke mountain resort with fantastic advanced terrain for powderhounds.
• Nicaragua – ‘Ash board’ down the Cerro Negro volcano near Leon. You’re standing on the crest of an active volcano and below you is a mammoth slope of jet-black volcanic ash. The sport of ‘volcano surfing’ was created in Vanuatu, but Cerro Negro is the most popular spot. You have to climb for about 45 minutes to the volcano’s crest, but the views are well worth the effort.
• Bolivia – Explore the Altiplano. From the dramatic salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, you can head straight over the wild Bolivian Altiplano, the largest high plateau anywhere on earth outside Tibet. There are thousands of kilometres of volcanic lakes, flamingos, mountains and moonscapes to explore. The Altiplano actually spans a large area of the Central Andes, including northern Chile and Argentina, western Bolivia and southern Peru.

 

APRIL

• Hawaii – Traverse the Kalalau Trail – one of the most beautiful and most dangerous hikes in the world. Located on the island of Kauai, hike along the gorgeous coastal landscape of the Napali Coast. The trail to and beyond Hanakapi’ai falls is recommended for experienced hikers only, with the 18km (11 mile) one way hike taking a full day. It can be hiked year round. If hiking is not your thing, take a helicopter tour over the Napali Coast to get a birds-eye view of the dramatic scenery.
• Belize – Scuba dive the Great Blue Hole – a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole in the middle of Belize’s Lighthouse Reef. While an aerial flight allows the true scale of the dramatic circular trench to reveal itself, scuba divers are the ones who get to experience the wonders that lie beneath, which include massive, 40-foot limestone stalactites and stalagmites that formed during the last glacial period.
• Namibia – Sossusvlei is found in Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia’s most photogenic place. It’s made up of a series of sand dunes carved by the wind into towering peaks of gold and black. The sands here are over five million years old, swept down from the Kalahari desert over millennia by the Orange River.

 

MAY

• Nepal – Embark on the trek of a lifetime by following in the footsteps of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary as you trek to Everest Base Camp. Reach a high point of 5,643m (18,514ft) at Kala Patthar above camp and soak in the majestic Himalayan vista. The difficulty level of the Everest Base Camp trek is moderate, however robust prior training is recommended. The trekking time often requires two weeks.
• Bhutan – Deep in the Paro Valley of west Bhutan lies Taktshang or The Tiger’s Nest is a Buddhist monastery perched on the side of a cliff, 900 meters (2,950ft) off of the ground. The only way to reach it is by hiking, and the views are worth every step. Prayer flags are waving in the air and you can smell the incense and hear the Buddhist monks in prayer. The Paro Tshechu festival draws large crowds in April, so if you want solitude, choose another date in spring to visit.
• Australia – Kakadu National Park—Australia’s largest—is a global treasure and dual World Heritage-listed for both its environmental and cultural values. Kakadu offers many experiences: bush walking, bird watching, cruising and swimming under waterfalls to four-wheel driving, camping, scenic flights and wandering through galleries of Aboriginal art 20,000 years old. Ubirr is one of the more famous rock art sites, deep in the north-eastern wilderness of Kakadu.

 

JUNE

• USA – Take a good old-fashioned road trip through America’s National Parks. There’s multi day options like Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and Alaska’s Denali National Park., or for incredible landscapes try the Mighty Five, the cluster of Utah’s national parks that include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.
• France – The GR20 (180km/112miles) has been touted as one of the toughest trekking routes in Europe. This trail spans the spine of the island of Corsica, France. It is not technically challenging but those who plan to hike this need to be very physically fit and ready to hike along rugged, uneven trails. 12 to 15 days.
• India – Track snow leopards in Ladakh. Ladakh’s Hemis National Park has gained a reputation as the world’s snow leopard capital, with hundreds of leopards (there are thought to be just 4,000 to 6,500 snow leopards left in the wild). Very few people have ever seen this endangered cat. Coupled with the fact that these charismatic big cats tend to live in cold, inhospitable, rocky clifftops at altitudes above 3,000m (9842ft), they’re not that easy to spot.

 

JULY

• Mongolia – Immerse yourself in the Naadam Festival – Mongolia’s largest festival, known as “the three games of men’. This is a colourful and circus-like exhibition of three sports: wrestling, horse racing and archery. Naadam is the most widely watched festival among Mongols and is believed to have existed for centuries.
• Japan – Climbing Mount Fuji (3776m/12,388ft), Japan’s highest and most prominent mountain, can make for lifelong memories. Depending on the trail one chooses to ascend Mt. Fuji, the climb can take between 5-10 hours. The majority of climbers will begin from the Subaru Line 5th station which is on average a 5-6 hour climb to the summit.
• Rwanda – Trek through the steamy jungles in Rwanda or Uganda for an up close encounter with mountain gorillas. It’s expensive and your time with the gorillas is short (you only get one hour on most excursions) but many people walk away from the experience considering it one of the most amazing interactions possible.

 

AUGUST

• Botswana – August is high season in Africa’s Okavango Delta, when chilly mornings warm up to pleasant, sunny days. It’s also a great month for wildlife viewing. Most visitors see at least four of the “big five” animals, which include lions, elephants, buffalo, cheetahs and rhinos, and waterfowl are abundant. The delta is a unique wetland, studded with islands, that formed as the Okavango River flowed into the Kalahari Desert of northern Botswana. Thanks to its natural beauty, it’s been called Africa’s last Eden.
• Pakistan – Drive the 1200km (746mile) Karakoram Highway, the highest paved road in the world. Strike north from Islamabad, Pakistan and you’ll pick up the highway at Hasan Abdal, with the route’s highlight being the 4,730m (15,397 ft) Khunjerab Pass. This highway retraces the movement of Buddhism into China, the worn donkey tracks of ancient caravans and the path of the old Silk Road.
• South Africa – Kruger, Kruger National Park is one of the jewels in Africa’s safari crown. Only a fraction of the 1.5 million annual visitors get to see the park’s northern reaches, cut off from the main game trails. The only way to see this wilderness is on foot: hiking the Pafuri Walking Trails through the Limpopo River Valley, Crooks Corner, Hutwini and the Luvuvhu fever tree forest. Keep an eye out for the African Big Five – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard, plus the iconic bird species of Kruger. Mid-year is generally the best time for game-viewing, from July to September.

 

SEPTEMBER

• Peru – One of the most magnificent historic sites on the planet is Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430m (7,970 ft) mountain ridge .You can book ahead and visit as a day trip from Cusco, or hike the 25 miles (40 km) Classic Inca Trail route over 3 to 5 days.
• Brazil – Immerse yourself in the Amazon as you explore this iconic river system from a luxury river cruise. Thesecruises take in the area’s wildlife and culture at a delightful, leisurely pace. You’ll encounter gourmet cuisine as standard, sublime service, and deluxe five-star suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking for something a little less luxe? There are many private lodge options in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil which offer rustic accommodation deep in the jungle where you can partake in kayaking trips along some Amazon tributaries, fish for piranhas and camp out in the rainforest.
• Georgia – The Climb Kazbek Challenge is an adventure trip that features climbing Mt. Kazbek in Georgia, one of the highest peaks in Europe! After this stunning adventure, you can partake in a cultural tour of Georgia’s ancient capital Tbilisi, with tasty food, fascinating history & culture, famous wine, and more. This is one of those off-the-beaten track adventures for those who want something unique and different.

 

OCTOBER

• Zambia – Soak in Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls (on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia). Devil’s Pool is a naturally formed eddy sitting at the very edge of the falls, where daring swimmers can splash around between August and January (depending on water levels). Given that a slippery rock barrier is the only thing separating you from going over the edge, this site is easily the planet’s most extreme infinity pool.
• Cambodia – Participate in the Cambo Rickshaw Challenge. Travelling through Cambodia is already a joy, but racing through it behind the handlebars of your own three-wheeled rickshaw is even better. You and your team start in Siem Reap and work your way through checkpoints on the way to Phonm Penh, dodging potholes and completing challenges along the way. The rickshaw challenge passes through Beng Mealea, Preah Vihear and Koh Trong in central Cambodia. No rickshaw experience necessary – the trip comes with a full driver training day in Siem Reap.
• Tonga – Dive and swim with whales. The Kingdom of Tonga is widely recognised as the best place in the world to swim with humpback whales, Tonga has a consistently high number of sightings and a long season. Getting up close to these majestic animals is such a privilege and a unique and memorable experience.

 

NOVEMBER

• Sri Lanka – Climb the iconic Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress that rises dramatically from the country’s vast central plains, visible for miles around. Spot Leopards in Wilpattu National Park, see elephants in the wild in Udawalawe, or join the pilgrimage to sacred Adam’s Peak. Sri Lanka is one of those countries that gets under your skin. Once you’ve been, you’ll want to go back time and again.
• Antarctica – No place on earth inspires exploration and adventure as much as Antarctica. An incredible polar destination of wildlife, mountains, history, glaciers, and a world of extremes. The Antarctic Peninsula provides the best bang-for-buck immersion into all things Antarctica. South Georgia is known as the Galapagos of the South due to the phenomenal numbers of King Penguins, Elephant seals, and a plethora of bird species. Or head off on a longer journey to explore lesser-visited areas of Antarctica, including getting up close to Emperor penguins.
• Djibouti – Ghoubbet al-Kharab (the Bay of Ghoubbet) is surrounded by cliffs and volcanoes, on the Djibouti coast. You can hike through the Day Forest National Park, sleep under the stars at Allouli and kick back on the white sands of Plage des Sables Blancs without ever spotting a fellow traveller. On the coast you will find another Djibouti secret: whale sharks. Plankton blooms cover the Bay of Ghoubbet from October to February attract whale sharks by the dozen.

 

DECEMBER

• Tanzania – Climb Kilimanjaro. Is this travel’s greatest trekking summit? Tanzania’s 5895m (19,340ft) Mount Kilimanjaro deserves to be on every travel bucket list. No other mountain manages to combine such a wealth of wow-factors to tick all those boxes: it’s an aesthetically awesome monolith poking out of the African plains; it’s a tough but achievable challenge; and it’s the roof of a continent. After your climb you may relax with a swim in Lake Tanganyika or lounge on a sunny beach in Zanzibar.
• Philippines – Charter a traditional Filipino tri-maran (Paraw) and travel from island to island exploring in the traditional manner that has existed in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Sailing skills aren’t necessary, just a sense of adventure, and maybe a strong stomach. You can meet locals, pick up some nautical wisdom, complete challenges and relax on some of the best beaches we’ve ever seen.
• Patagonia – Explore and hike some of the most dramatic scenery on the earth. Towering granite peaks, carving glaciers, sub-alpine forests, and beautiful turquoise lakes surrounded by mountains. Hike Chile’s ‘W’ or ‘O’ circuit in Torres del Paine National Park, witness the Moreno Glacier, or head to El Chaltén (the National Capital of Trekking in Argentina) to explore trails near the Southern Patagonian Ice field.