April

Boasting seemingly endless tropical forest and fingers of moist savannah covering its interior, the Republic of Congo holds the majority of the world population of western lowland gorillas. Its largely pristine northern rainforest is the heart of the Congo Basin, the world’s second largest expanse of tropical rainforest.

Cambodia captivates travellers with its history, heritage, wealth of timeless monuments and charming people who are delighted to share their unique culture with its visitors.

Possessing an immensely peaceful and easy-going atmosphere, Laos is an undiscovered gem of South-East Asia.

Malaysia is a destination full of surprises. A bustling melting pot of traditions and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups influence its rich and vibrant culture.

Far more than its celebrated idealistic beaches, Thailand is known as The Land of Smiles thanks to its warm people. This mythical nation accommodates a diverse assortment of ancient temples; buzzing, frenetic cities and its infamous cuisine.

With breathtaking scenery, excellent hospitality and impeccable service, the Sultanate of Oman is an ideal option for holidays of all types.

A destination of unparalleled diversity with a variety of exciting attractions to discover, the UAE is an ideal setting for cultural and active pursuits.

Jordan is a land steeped in history. It has been home to some of mankind’s earliest settlements and villages, and relics of many of the worlds great civilizations can still be seen today.

Mauritius is a fascinating, world-in-one island slice of paradise. Its very name conjures up images of tropical luxury and stupendous extravagance.

The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean and with Sri Lanka and India as its closest neighbours, means ‘garland of islands’ in the local language Dhivedi.

Off the east coast of Africa lies a cluster of 115 islands, together making up the Republic of the Seychelles. This cluster truly seems to epitomise the expression ‘tropical island paradise’; pristine soft white sands on coconut fringed beaches lie adjacent to the brilliant underwater shapes and colours of the coral atolls while above them rise granite peaks shrouded in verdant mountaintop forests.  

Not so much a country as a continent, India is an assault on the senses: spices, colours, palaces, temples, bustle and a magic hard to articulate. India is the sort of place you dream of visiting but with only limited time, where do you start?

Seated on a plateau at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres, Tibet is quite befittingly called the Roof of the World. It is also home to other impressive superlatives, such as the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest and deepest canyon, the Yarlung Zangbo Canyon. Home to almost three million people, Tibet forms the border China shares with several countries, including Myanmar, India, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Tasmania was the last part of the Australian continent to separate from the great southern landmass of Gondwana 45 million years ago.  This, together with 10,000 years of isolation from mainland Australia, has resulted in Tasmania’s environment being significantly different to the rest of the country.

Melbourne offers the traveller a year round program of festivals, major art exhibitions and theatrical events.

Western Australia is full of sun, wide open space, and friendly people – it is a great place for a relaxing holiday and a great place to experience some rather special natural attractions.

For many travellers Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is the starting point of their Australian experience. Sydney is a vibrant multi-cultural city that hugs the shores of a very beautiful harbour, making sightseeing by private yacht, launch or even on a ferry a particular pleasure.

New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan and with a population of only four million, it’s also gloriously uncrowded.

Lying just south of the equator, 160km north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is part of a great arc of mountains stretching from Asia, through Indonesia and into the South Pacific. With a vibrant and colourful Papua New Guinea culture, more than 600 islands and 800 indigenous languages, PNG is made up of 4 regions with 20 provinces.The striking natural beauty and myriad complex cultures in Papua New Guinea offer some riveting and truly life-affirming experiences.

Argentina is a country of extreme contrasts and a holiday here can combine snow-capped mountains tumbling into glacial waters with scorched deserts and tropical rainforest.

It is almost impossible not to fall in love with the colour and culture of this vibrant country. This is the place to come when you need a reminder that it’s the simple things in life that make us truly happy. The gentle beat of samba music; fresh fish pulled straight from the ocean and onto your plate (eaten with your fingers); warm, white sand under bare feet on an abandoned beach – no fancy deckchairs just you and the crashing waves of the Atlantic.

Most visitors to Peru will almost immediately find themselves drawn in to the story behind the Inca Empire. This enigmatic tribe has left on earth an imprint of how truly extraordinary the human race can be but left so many questions unanswered. It is no wonder that some of the world’s greatest adventurers who stumbled into Machu Picchu went on to dedicate the rest of their lives to researching questions unanswered.

A visit to Ecuador delivers a punchy balance of Latin American culture, extraordinary wildlife and contrasting landscapes. 600 miles off the mainland, is the county’s star attraction – the Galapagos Islands. This pinprick in the Pacific Ocean is surly one of the world’s greatest wildlife hotspots and they should be on every nature-lover’s bucket list.  

There are few countries that can rival Costa Rica’s incredible efforts to preserve and protect its environment. It has always been a trailblazer for conservation and ecotourism and, as a result, the country is carpeted in some of the world’s most pristine tropical forests.

In spite of, or perhaps because of its proximity to North America, Mexico remains resolutely Latin American. The country has a unique Latin culture that has been influenced by a thrilling patchwork of ancient Mesoamerican civilisations, Colonial invasions and a rich land of geological wonders.

Those seeking to immerse themselves in art, music and a way of life that has refused to conform to Western expectations will not be disappointed by a visit to Cuba. The country exemplifies a raw and heady fusion of Caribbean, Spanish and Latin culture that is utterly intoxicating.