June

Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa, where people have lived for over 2,000 years. It is the world’s fourth largest island, boasting 5,000 kilometres of coast and a current population of twenty-five million, split between 18 ethnic groups and a multiplicity of social sub-groups.

Malawi is a warm and welcoming country that offers visitors wonderful scenery, fascinating parks and some of the friendliest people in Africa.

After recovering from many years of civil war, Mozambique opened its doors to tourism and is fast becoming the hottest beach destination in Africa. With an enviable position between Tanzania in the north, Malawi and Zambia in the northwest and South Africa to the south, Mozambique has become the perfect compliment to any African safari.

Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts: the Namib (after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, and its sea of red sand lies along the Atlantic coastline, while in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari, a vast and sparsely vegetated savannah that sprawls across the border into neighbouring countries.

If you are planning to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, take a trip to São Tomé & Príncipe, Africa’s second-smallest country.

Decorated with the words ‘Unity in Diversity’, Indonesia’s national emblem is representative of its 700 languages and 17,000 islands scattered over 5,000km of equatorial turquoise seas.

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.

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.  

Queenslanders will tell you that their state is the best of Australia all rolled into one – it is the home of some of the world’s most treasured natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. It boasts beautiful beaches, perfect islands and the razzle dazzle of the Gold Coast; there is the channel country, the savannah country, Cape York, the Great Dividing Range and the Gulf country. Queensland is larger than life!

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.

At the geographical centre of the Australian continent the Desert Centre is home to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the remarkable rock domes of nearby Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Uluru rises out of the flat desert – a geological work of art, Uluru is riddled with caves, rivulets, strange wounds and gashes and is adorned with ancient Aboriginal rock paintings. To the west, the equally impressive, Kata Tjuta is a spectacular collection of 36 weathered red domes separated by narrow valleys and covering 35 square kilometres.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.