Face The Norwegian Tundra
See how you measure up to the explorers of yore with the Finse Polar Skills Challenge from UK travel firm Shackleton Challenges. Launched in 2021, this five-night experience teaches the skills required to face frigid polar environments before putting them to the test with an expedition in the breathtaking but unforgiving plateau. Navigate up to 20 kilometres via Telemark ski, dragging your pulk (Nordic sledge) behind you, then set up camp in temperatures as low as -20°C. Upon your return, the comforts of Hotel Finse 1222 – a former railway lodge turned historic hotel where the Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton himself trained – will feel like the lap of luxury.
Hike The Himalayas
Shakti Himalaya’s all-inclusive journeys eschew mass tourism with bespoke itineraries to suit individual preferences, priorities and fitness levels in India’s northernmost reaches. Assisted by a personal guide and driver, small groups make their way between Shakti’s properties in the area, which range from lovingly renovated village houses to modernist pavilions. Beguiling as the landscape may be, the trip is not about reaching the region’s remotest mountaintops, but discovering it in its fullness through long walks down unmarked paths generally used by local shepherds, temple blessings, and even visits to private homes, plus plenty of spontaneous encounters along the way.
Snorkel Australian Waters
Some of the excursions on this list require the assistance of a specialised travel company, but all you need to get a taste of the underwater wonders to be found along the Australian coastline is a snorkel and a pair of goggles. The glorious Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia – the nation’s second largest reef – boasts whale sharks, loggerhead turtles, manta rays and 500 other fish species; make your base at the Cape Range National Park campgrounds. Alternatively, from Sydney, the coral reefs of Lord Howe Island are just a short plane ride away, where you can see a plethora of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical species at dozens of spectacular dive sites.
Fly Into A Kenyan Safari
The classic three-day Masai Mara Fly-In Safari has several compelling advantages over its road-bound alternatives. The main one? The trip itself: when the small plane takes off from Wilson Airport, you’re treated to amazing views of the Great Rift Valley, with its volcanoes, cliffs and lakes all spread out under you – a beautiful introduction to what’s coming. The plane lands inside the reserve in just 45 minutes, with your guide and 4×4 already waiting. Once you’re in the Mara, game drives reveal more than 1,500 square kilometres of pristine wilderness in search of giraffes, zebras, lions and more. For the most exclusive experience, hop on a hot air balloon safari or a visit to a Maasai village, which are both worth considering. Even in just three days, it really feels like a proper African safari experience.
Helibike In New Zealand
Sticking with the blade-spinning theme, here’s another way to get down the mountain. Helibiking does away with the hard uphill slog and skips straight to the exhilarating descent by dropping riders and bikes among high peaks. New Zealand – and in particular its adventure capital of Queenstown – originally pioneered the sport, and HeliBike NZ has been guiding thrillseekers through a wide-reaching network of tracks encompassing five Central Otago ranges for 25 years.
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Cycle Through Chile
For a slower (but no less thrilling) two-wheeled experience, a bike tour through Chile is an enticing option. Duvine’s seven-day Lakes and Volcanoes jaunt from Pucón to Puerto Montt rolls past the prettiest lakes, rivers and lagoons in the region, with the volcanoes Villarrica, Choshuenco and Osorno as your nigh-constant companions. In between days on the move, sip Chilean wines like Cabernet and Chardonnay; sample local flavours, including an Indigenous cookery course with a Mapuche chef; and rest up in pure opulence at hotels that make the most of their magnificent surroundings (plus a muscle-soothing geothermal dip at Huife hot springs after a particularly tough ascent on day one).
Whale-Watch In Canada
The waters of the Strait of Georgia and the Gulf Islands, just south of Vancouver, are among the richest whale-watching grounds on Canada’s Pacific coast – and Vancouver Whale Watch, the city’s original operator with over 26 seasons of experience, knows them better than anyone. Departing from the charming historic fishing village of Steveston, the tours run three to five hours aboard purpose-built Zodiac vessels specifically designed to bring passengers as close as possible to the action. On-board guides narrate the experience and offer hydrophones, letting you hear orcas and humpbacks as well as see them. A lifetime sighting guarantee makes it as close to a sure thing as the wild ocean allows.
Traverse The Mongolian Steppe
The hypnotic vastness of the Central Asian country is adeptly framed in astonishing guided journeys by tour operator Nomadic Expeditions. As well as the nation’s craggy peaks, lush steppe and Gobi Desert, the itineraries take in the modern and ancient contrasts of local culture. Certain expeditions are planned around the Thousand Camel and Golden Eagle Festivals, alongside the legendary horsemanship to be witnessed at the Naadam Festival. Depending on your itinerary, you may sleep in traditional Mongolian gers (yurts) or the company’s two luxury lodges; ride camels and horses through isolated nature in the steps of the Silk Road; fly between the most incredible sites via private charter plane; and connect with the nomadic people and their time-honoured way of life.
