Top bucket list trips to seize the day

A classic tour of Egypt is all the more special with a Nile cruise (like the famous ‘Death on the river Nile’ story from Agatha Christie). On this journey of Egypt you’ll sail from Aswan to Luxor with plenty of space on deck to watch the scenery pass you by. Afterwards on a visit to the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings, learn all about the burial site of Tutankhamun and visit three of the 63 tombs.

After a lengthy break, 2023 saw us bringing back the ultimate Japan Food Adventure. So go and explore one of only three places in the world, where the food is UNESCO World Heritage certified!  Combine the seafood markets of ultra-modern Tokyo with matcha sweets from the green tea growing city of Uji. In Osaka, explore the quirky Instant Ramen Museum before heading to the reconstructed 16th-century castle tower.

Take a cycling tour in Vietnam for dramatic bays, lush paddy fields, bustling cities and countryside villages where locals in hammocks will wave at you while you pedal past them. On your cycling day off, hop on a boat to cruise the dramatic landscapes of Halong Bay and taste the delicious street food in Ho Chi Minh City.

Lovely Costa Rica has it all. It is ideal for thrill-seekers (fly down zip-wires over the jungle and walk on volcanoes in the same day) and for wildlife-lovers (stay in the rainforest and search for sloths). Listen to a chorus of crickets, frogs and more - from silence to a cacophony as the sun sets.

Discovering the last true wilderness of Antarctica is a life-long dream for many, and it's not hard to see why: the abundance of wildlife, the sheer scale of the icy scenery, and the feeling of tranquillity stirred up by this remote, pristine wilderness. Spot whale from the viewing platform of a world-class polar expedition ship, watch albatross soar above the deck, and see penguin and seals when visiting South Georgia and the Falklands. This is the ultimate adventure – creating memories that are bound to stay with you long after you return home.

Visit New Zealand the right way by going on an all-encompassing New Zealand Explorer adventure, bringing together the best of the North and South islands. From exploring jaw-dropping scenery in mist-shrouded fjords to visiting the iconic Hobbiton movie set on a guided tour, you’ll get right to the heart of this fantastical destination by bus, boat and ferry.

Discover a land teeming with exotic wildlife, contrasting cultures, verdant rainforests and friendly local people. The mighty canyons of Isalo National Park are a highlight not to be missed; the natural voids slice through the wind-blasted sandstone cliffs to create a labyrinth of crevices, rivers, waterfalls and valleys. And a Madagascar visit wouldn’t be complete without seeing some native Lemur and other wildlife unique to this wondrous island.