The World’s Most Exciting Itineraries

The world’s most exciting itineraries, from a multicountry train ride to a photography tour that features the Northern Lights. 

Best Hiking and Walking:

Cross Vancouver Island on Foot Stroll wide beaches and old-growth forests, pictured above, during Country Walkers’ six-day “British Columbia: Vancouver Island” adventure. Then rest your feet on a Zodiac boat trip to get a look at black bears. 2018 dates: Sept. 16–21, 23–28.

Best Over-the-Top Experience 

Circle the Globe by Jet Touch down in 10 countries in 24 days on TCS World Travel’s “Around the World: A Private Jet Expedition.” Explore sacred sites in Peru, Jordan, and Cambodia; hike through rain forests and scuba dive in Australia; and witness the wonder of Tanzania’s wildlife. Luxury hotels are your home away from home every night. 2018 dates: Sept. 27–Oct. 20. 2019 dates: Jan. 24–Feb. 16, Sept. 29–Oct. 22.

Best Wildlife Encounter 

Frolic with Fauna in the Galápagos On Classic Journeys’ seven-day “Galápagos Island Adventure Tour,” you’ll get up close to marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies, explore volcanic calderas, and stay in boutique hotels. 2018 dates: Sept. 2–8, Oct. 7–13, Dec. 28–Jan. 3, Dec. 30–Jan. 5.

Best Cultural Trip 

Ride the Rails in Southeast Asia Goway’s “Bangkok to Singapore Luxury Train Experience” takes you from Bangkok through the Malay Peninsula to Singapore on the Eastern & Oriental Express. Guided tours at two stops allow you to travel beyond the tracks. Various dates.

Best Photography Expedition 

Capture the Aurora Borealis in Finland Make your pilgrimage to the land of reindeer and Santa Claus on Explorations by Collette’s “The Northern Lights of Finland” trip. By day, get to know Lapland culture; at night, photograph the lights as they dance across the sky. Various dates.

Best Travel for Good 

Make a Difference in Machu Picchu You can help preserve the sacred Incan citadel on REI Adventures’ “Machu Picchu Volunteer Vacation,” mixing goodwill—archaeological restoration, invasive species eradication, Inca Trail repair—with adventure. 2018 dates: Oct. 31–Nov. 9.

Best Bike Tour Cycle 

Through Croatia and Slovenia On Backroads’ “Croatia and Slovenia Bike Tour” from Ljubljana to Trieste, no car windows will separate you from the sights of the Julian Alps and the feeling of the wind and sun on your skin as you ride toward the Adriatic Sea. Various dates.

Best Culinary Adventure 

Float Through Flavorful France Guests on Tauck’s 10-day “Savoring France: Paris, Lyon, and Provence” trip take a Parisian pastry class, then travel to Lyon for a cruise down the Rhône to Provence on the MS Emerald. Taste regional wines, savor local specialties, and enjoy a chef’s demonstration at a gourmet cooking school in Valence. Various dates.

Best Rafting and Kayaking 

Kayak the Waters of Baja On the “Sea of Cortez Island Hopping” trip with O.A.R.S., spend nine days paddling around the islands off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The kayaks are ideal for getting close to dolphins, manta rays, sea lions, and a variety of whales, and the slower pace makes it much easier to see them. 2018 dates: Oct. 13–21, Oct. 27–Nov. 4, Nov. 10–18.

sources:

AFAR July 2018

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