The lowdownHere’s a corker:Croatia,Montenegro,Greece,Malta and Italy linked as you slumber without a care on a luxury cruise ship. Kotor,Corfu,Valletta and Naples all rank among cruising’s most magnificent sail-ins,while towns such as Dubrovnik,Split and Catania ooze history. Visit ancient ruins,castles,cathedrals and World Heritage sites,and feast yourself on scenery.
Don’t missAn excursion from Katakolon to ancient Olympia,in whose ruined temples and stadium the Olympic Games were hosted for a millennium;you can still see the athletes’ starting blocks.
Make it happen 10 days from Valletta to Rome,departing October 16,2024. From $5500 a person,see oceaniacruises.com
The trip:Indian Pacific in Australia with Journey Beyond
The lowdownClickety-clack by train from Sydney to Perth and you’ll cross an entire continent and take in our splendid outback in comfort,including the world’s longest stretch of straight track (478 kilometres) across the Nullarbor. Instead of squinting through your windscreen,tuck into a three-course meal and gaze at the Blue Mountains,Flinders Ranges or exhilarating sweep of WA wheat fields.
Don’t missLeaping off the train for a half-hour in Cook in South Australia’s sun-hammered outback. The almost-abandoned railway service town features atmospheric ruins in a dusty orange landscape.
Make it happen Four day from Sydney to Perth,weekly departures on Wednesdays year-round. From $2430pp,see journeybeyondrail.com.au
The trip:Costa Rica Traverse
The lowdownThose who imagine that escorted tours are for the sedentary and unadventurous should head to top eco-destination Costa Rica and get trekking and biking in the highlands and sea kayaking on the Caribbean coast. This tour,graded challenging,takes you across farmland,cloud forest and mountain peaks. The reward? Spectacular scenery and wildlife and a cultural kick in capital San Jose.
Don’t missWhite-water rafting down powerful rapids in the jungle-draped canyons of the Pacuare River,one of the world’s classic white-water experiences. The setting is spectacular.
Make it happen 12 days return from San Jose,departing March 2 and April 6,2024. From $5340 a person,see worldexpeditions.com
The trip:Imperial Rajasthan in India
The lowdownThis tour kicks off with the monuments and markets of Delhi before moving on to Agra. Then you hit the splendid,market-glittering cities and gigantic forts of desert state Rajasthan:Jaipur pretty in pink and palaces,Jaisalmer golden,Jodhpur painted blue and topped by menacing Mehrangarh Fort and lovely lakeside Udaipur.
Don’t missThe Taj Mahal in Agra,although a cliche of travel,won’t disappoint. Seeing this glorious monument at sunrise is a stirring experience sure to make your neck prickle.
Make it happen 13 days return from Delhi,departing October 1 and 21,November 4 and 18 and December 2,2024. From $7725 a person,see luxurygold.com
The trip:Polynesian Expedition in French Polynesia with Ponant
The lowdownThis expedition cruise takes in well-known islands Tahiti and Moorea,but far-flung outposts such as the Marquesas and Fakarava too. Rangiroa is pancake-flat,but wade into the water and you’re amid huge coral heads and kaleidoscopic fish;the adventurous can drift dive through Tiputa Pass amid abundant sharks. Nuku Hiva is jagged,wave-pounded and fringed with black-sand beaches.
Don’t miss Moorea has verdant mountains that rise sheer from an impossibly blue lagoon you’d swear has been Photoshopped. Enjoy a fabulous float with turtles,rays and harmless lemon sharks.
Make it happen 14 nights return from Papeete,departing October 8,2024. From $15,450 a person. Seeponant.com
The trip:Discover Madagascar
The lowdownMadagascar has an exhilarating oddity of landscapes,flora and fauna,showcased on this small-group tour that takes in Andasibe National Park,the highland rainforests of Ranomafana National Park and the barren,lunar-like canyons of Isalo National Park. Lemurs,birds and reptiles such as chameleons are delightful,but so too are the island-nation’s fat and famous boab trees.
Don’t missThe visit to Ambositra,Madagascar’s chief handicraft centre,which has woodcarving on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. You can see craftspeople at work and bag a distinctive souvenir.
Make it happen 13 days return from Antananarivo,departing April 10,June 19,August 14 and October 2,2024. From $7295 a person,see bunniktours.com.au
The trip:Enchanting Canyonlands in the US
The lowdownScottsdale and Sedona in Arizona provide pleasant urban introductions to a tour that focuses on the big four of America’s southwest:Grand Canyon,Monument Valley,Bryce Canyon and the mighty hallelujah landscapes of Zion National Park. A trip into Navajo Tribal Park gives you the background to tribal heritage and Lake Powell offers watery refreshment.
Don’t missA helicopter ride above the Grand Canyon,on which the whopping size of this five-million-year-old geological cleft is laid out below you,banded in shades of red,purple and orange.
Make it happen Seven days from Phoenix to Salt Lake City,multiple departures until October 2024. From $4635 a person,see insightvacations.com
The trip:Iberian Coast&Bordeaux in Atlantic Europe
The lowdownThis multi-nation cruise around Europe’s ragged western edge is dense in wonderful cities both known and perhaps not,such as Valencia with its eye-popping modern architecture,Cartagena with its Roman remains,pastel-painted Porto and the French port of La Rochelle. Lisbon and Bordeaux bring big-city vibes,while Ferrol provides access to the venerable pilgrim town Santiago de Compostela.
Don’t missSt Helier in the quirky British crown dependency of Jersey. Admirers of naturalist and author Gerald Durrell can visit his zoo to encounter dozens of endangered species.
Make it happen 14 days from Barcelona to Dover,departing May 17,2024. From $12,699 a person,see seabourn.com
The trip:Top End&Kimberley Spectacular in Australia
The lowdownNot a confident outback traveller? This trouble-free tour takes you between great outback icons,from Kakadu to Katherine Gorge,the rugged Kimberley to Broome’s sunset beach. Beyond landscapes,along the way you’ll learn about the World War II bombing of Darwin,the Overland Telegraph,and Indigenous culture and rock art.
Don’t missThe dinner cruise through Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park. Late afternoon makes the rocks glow red:easy to see how the Jawoyn people believe this is a spiritual place.
Make it happen 13 days from Darwin to Broome,departing May 8 and June 9 and 17,2024. From $8695 a person,see scenic.com.au
The trip:Best of Cuba
The lowdownSure,this tour is an encounter with all the expected Cuban delights,from salsa clubs to cigar factories,vintage cars to boozy bars. But it’s long enough to delve into much more,too,in a country rich in history,culture and perplexing politics. Beyond Havana,you’ll visit other brilliant cities such as Trinidad,Santiago and Cienfugos,as well as get into mountains,cocoa plantations and canyons.
Don’t missA boat float on Guanaroca Lagoon,home to abundant waterbirds including ducks,gannets and cormorants but,most magnificently,a host of strutting flamingos.
Make it happen 15 days return from Havana,multiple departures year-round. From $2352 a person,see intrepidtravel.com
The trip:Male to Darwin in the Indian Ocean
The lowdownTake in 25 ports on an expedition cruise aboard luxe Silver Cloud for Asia,wild and off the beaten track – plus the Kimberley,too. Snorkel in the Maldives and India’s remote Lakshadweep Islands. Check out spice-trading port Cochin and former Andaman Islands penal colony Port Blair,then island-hop down Indonesia for encounters with volcanoes and dragons.
Don’t missGalle in Sri Lanka,a trading port influenced by the Arabs,Portuguese,Dutch and British. The World Heritage walled old town is surrounded on three sides by the ocean.
Make it happen 32 days from Male to Darwin,departing May 8,2024. From $36,800 a person,see silversea.com
The trip:Grand Tour of Switzerland
The lowdownYes,you’ll enjoy Zurich,Lausanne and oh-so-cute Lucerne,but no surprise that the Alps are the constant distraction on this journey through supermodel Switzerland,which is blessed with beauty that simply makes you stare. Tick off stunners such as the Matterhorn and Jungfrau,ride the scenic Bernina Express train and visit Switzerland’s Italian-speaking corner for gorgeous lakes and yet more snow caps.
Don’t missGruyeres,where you can visit a factory and see the famous cheese being made,but also wander through one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortified towns,topped by a miniature castle.
Make it happen 10 days return from Zurich,multiple departures May-September 2024. From $3749 a person,see cosmostours.com.au
The trip:Northwest Passage in Greenland,Canada and the US
The lowdownAt their most extravagant,cruises offer epic journeys you can’t do any other way,and few are more fabled than the Northwest Passage across the icy crown of North America. Follow in the wake of legendary explorers – minus the hardship and frostbite – to see glacier-encrusted fjords,Inuit settlements,abandoned whaling stations and a marvel of creatures such as polar bears,walruses and beluga whales.
Don’t missYou’ll hardly miss the expedition’s grand opening as National Geographic Resolution sails Kangerlussuaq Fjord,lined by hanging glaciers and afloat in icebergs. Sensational.
Make it happen 23 days from Kangerlussuaq to Nome,departs July 22,2024. From $56,250 a person,see expeditions.com
The trip:Highlights of Singapore and Malaysia
The lowdownFrom Singapore to historic port Melaka,modern Kuala Lumpur to the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands and on to colonial-era George Town,you’ll take in the chief sights of mainland Malaysia. But this tour is also a cultural encounter with Chinese calligraphy,Peranakan cuisine and handicrafts,Malay top-spinning and ethnic Orang Asli village life.
Don’t missSingapore Botanic Gardens is UNESCO-listed and provides a verdant stroll,but its National Orchid Garden is a particular highlight for its multi-coloured,perfumed eruption of dazzling blooms.
Make it happen 12 days from Singapore to Georgetown,several departures March-August and October 2024. From $5895 a person,see trafalgar.com
Five more trips worth considering for 2024
Autumn Elegance in Japan
While the cherry-blossom season in Japan is famous,autumn lasts longer and outdoes it in flamboyance. This new 13-night tour is timed for the colourful explosion across mountainsides and gardens,Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. The journey takes in castle town Matsumoto,craft town Takayama,and Kanazawa to visit the renowned Kenrokuen Garden. Then it’s on to former capital Kyoto and Hakone National Park,with its splendid views of Mount Fuji From $9538 a person return from Tokyo,six departures in November 2024. See insidejapantours.com
Brazil Natural Wonders
This 11-day small-group luxury journey takes you to Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls,but goes beyond the standard route to delve into Brazilian culture. Sao Paolo has a thriving contemporary arts scene,while UNESCO-listed,colonial-era Salvador de Bahia offers a strong Afro-Brazilian culture,which influences local cuisine,dance and religion. In Rio,guests are taken backstage to see preparations for Carnival costumes and floats. From $20,170 a person between Sao Paulo and Rio,several departures April-September and November 4,2024. See abercrombiekent.com.au
Remarkable New Zealand
If you really want to indulge while visiting our favourite neighbour,then take a private aircraft for this 12-day tour,on which you’ll see New Zealand’s scenic splendour from above as well as below. The journey takes in classic,super-scenic destinations such as the Bay of Islands and Milford Sound,as well as visiting cities such as newly revived Christchurch and adventure capital Queenstown. And it wouldn’t be New Zealand without a thermal soak in Rotorua. From $14,095 a person return from Auckland,several departures September-November 2024. See aptouring.com.au
Treasures of Turkey
The irrepressible Wendy Wu made her name with China journeys but has branched out with new tours in places from Portugal to India. This 18-day tour provides a satisfyingly thorough overview of Turkey. Starting with three nights in Istanbul,it moves on to Gallipoli and outstanding archaeological sites such as Pergamon and Ephesus. Antalya,Konya and Ankara provide urban distractions,while landscapes aren’t forgotten either,with visits to the startling travertine terraces of Pamukkale and wonderful rock outcrops and caves of Cappadocia. From $9880 a person return from Istanbul,several departures April-May and September-October 2024. See wendywutours.com.au
Gorges of theRibeiraSacra in Spain
On Foot Holidays,which specialises in self-guided hikes in Europe,has a new nine-day route through north-west Spain’s rugged Galicia region. Ribeira Sacra or “holy riverside” gets its name from vineyards established by medieval monks that still produce wine. The hike starts in Castro de Caldelas and crosses woodland and farmland before you head into the gorges of the Sil and Minho rivers. Walkers stay in rural B&Bs,inns and a former monastery,and have their luggage transferred. From $2227 between Castro de Caldelas and Ourense,flexible departures April-June and September-November 2024. See onfootholidays.co.uk