Seven sensational bucket list trips for 2021 or beyond

12 January 2021 - Metro

2020 was such a rough year that we are all in need of a serious holiday. While travel isn’t allowed at the moment, you can still plan ahead for the rest of 2021. So sort out that bucket list and star by ticking off the world’s most incredible destinations.

Combine Rio, Iguazu and Buenos Aires

‘Poor Niagara!’ That’s what Eleanor Roosevelt, then the US first lady, apparently exclaimed upon marvelling at South America’s Iguazu Falls. And no wonder: curving along the Argentina-Brazil border, these stepped cataracts are Earth’s largest, at 1.7 miles long. Gawp at them extensively during a private nine-night itinerary, which also visits each nation’s best city – affording guided tours and a free day in each. In Rio de Janeiro, you’ll see Copacabana beach and ride a funicular to the Christ The Redeemer statue before delving into Buenos Aires’ tango, football and steak scenes. The cost: From £1,595pp, B&B, including transport and tours, realworldholidays.co.uk. Flights from £463 in June.

Iceland

It’s prime time for Britons to tour Iceland: late 2020 witnessed the best sterling-to-krona exchange rates in five years. Though day-to-day costs remain notoriously costly, such mind-bending geography merits the expense. Following Iceland’s ring road, specialist firm Discover The World’s seven-night self-drive circuit packs in waterfalls and spurting geysers, black-sand beaches, belching mud pools, swimmable hot springs and icebergs for fun. In other words, bring a camera or seven. The cost: From £1,215pp, B&B, including flights and car rental, discover-the-world.com.

Sri Lanka

Contiki – whose small-group tours are for those aged 18-35 – has debuted a three-night Ayurvedic wellness retreat in Sri Lanka. Including beach yoga, treatments and a healthy cookery class, it’s hosted by certified therapists and works as an add-on to their nine-night trip discovering the joys of Sri Lanka. During that, travellers will see Lord Buddha’s tooth, meet baby elephants, taste tea, see the coastal city of Galle and visit a turtle-conservation project. The cost: From £1,486pp, B&B in October, for both experiences, including transport, tours and eight other meals, contiki.com. Flights from £591.

The Maldives

Maldives beach Get a slice of paradise in the Maldives Swap a hellish 2020 for the heavenly Maldives in 2021. Crowned ‘World’s Leading Destination’ at the recent World Travel Awards, this archipelago consists of tropical atolls fringed by white-sand shores and coral reefs. On one especially opulent atoll is Emerald Maldives – itself ‘Leading New Resort’ at the same gala – which hosts all guests on the same all-inclusive rate. While prices may seem steep, the fact that everything – unlimited dining at four restaurants, all drinks, mini-bars, water sports, tennis, dolphin-spotting boat trips – except spa treatments is covered, means you can truly relax. The cost: Five nights from £2,405pp, all-inclusive in a Beach Villa in September, including flights and sea-plane transfers, kenwoodtravel.co.uk.

Australia

Because of its distance, Australia represents true once-in-a-lifetime territory. There’s ample reason to shell out, though: on an introductory two-week itinerary, for instance, you can start in buzzy Sydney – its famous skyline featuring the Opera House and Harbour Bridge – before visiting iconic Uluru, in the rust-red Outback, and spending a week beside the Great Barrier Reef. There’s also time for crocodile- spotting cruises and wine touring along the way. The cost: Thirteen nights from £1,875pp, room-only, including transfers, car rental and two cruises. Alternatively, a Melbourne-to-Adelaide driving trip along the kangaroo-packed Great Ocean Road starts at £1,055pp, prestigeaustralia.co.uk. Flights from £678pp in October.

Kenya

This year’s a savvy time to safari in Kenya for two reasons. Firstly, the Masai Mara and Amboseli national parks are likely to be unusually crowd-free due to post-Covid caution. And second, Amboseli – a vast swampland with seasonal plains – witnessed an elephant baby boom in 2020. Factor in the Masai Mara’s prolific big-cat sightings and a splendid experience likely awaits with Jules Verne, whose tour, pairing both parks, offers game drives in groups of two to four. The cost: Six nights from £1,795pp, full board, in June, including flights, transport, safari activities and no single supplement, vjv.com.

Mount Kilimanjaro

‘I’ll do that one day.’ If you’ve ever vowed to trek up Africa’s highest peak, perhaps 2021 is the perfect time. In a normal year, G Adventures sends 1,500 travellers to Tanzania and Kili’s 5,895m summit across five expert-led routes. Combining rainforest, alpine desert, glaciers and assisted camping, its seven-night Machame route is paced to compensate for the challenging altitude and, encouragingly, boasts a 92 per cent success rate. Allow about six months to train, and perhaps to raise sponsorship money for a good cause. The cost: From £2,135pp, full board in June, including transport and tips, gadventures.com. Flights from £462.


Source: Metro

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