EXCLUSIVE I went to university on a cruise ship - here are the most annoying things about spending a semester at sea
And that's certainly the case for students who sign up to the competitive Semester at Sea programme, which sees them spend a term travelling the world on a cruise ship.
Twice a year, the MV World Odyssey, a 590 foot/179m ship, transforms into a floating home for students and faculty from all over the globe.
But what's it really like to study at sea?
MailOnline caught up with former Semester at Sea student, Carli Fogel, to find out.
Carli, from Florida, completed Semester at Sea in 2018 and describes the experience as 'the best four months' of her life.
She says: 'We left from California and we stopped in Hawaii and then went to Japan, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Hong Kong, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco and Portugal.'
But, while it might sound like a glamorous way to study, Carli reveals the ship was far from luxurious.
She says: 'I shared a room with another girl. The rooms were really small, like crazy small. You just had a tiny window that would look out on the water.
'I definitely got seasick and it was claustrophobic. A bunch of people got a stomach virus and there was a doctor and nurse onboard.'
A keen traveller, Carli reveals that she'd been set on doing Semester at Sea since the age of 12 when she met a family friend who had completed the programme.
But she wasn't originally sold on the ship element.
She explains: 'I'm from Florida, which is the home of cruises, but my parents hate cruises because they don't like relaxing on vacation.
'I never really went on cruises growing up. I only wanted to do this because I wanted to go to the different countries, I didn't want to live on a boat. But then it turned out the boat was the best part.
'Of course the countries were amazing, but the boat was home. You create this community onboard.'
While Semester at Sea is running today, Carli explains that today's students won't experience one of her favourite parts of her trip.
'There was no WIFI on the ship when I went which was my favourite part,' says Carli. 'You were really off the grid and you couldn't be on your phone.
'You couldn't be on social media and you had to be really present. Everything you learned, you learned from textbooks. You'd learn something in class and then you'd go on a field trip that matched that learning.'
The lack of WIFI meant that Carli and her friends weren't often able to plan their days on land which led to some spontaneous adventures.
She reveals: 'Unless you had a field trip booked with the ship, not much was planned. You ended up doing unexpected things that you would never have given yourself time for if you had a planned a trip using the Internet.
'The kids on the ship nowadays are making TikToks which is cute, but to me, it misses the point. When you didn't have access to WIFI, you really got to know people and it was a little utopian society.
'If a group of students didn't like how a course was being taught, they were then able to teach the course themselves. The travel was amazing but the community was very democratic, in a way I don't think I'll ever experience again.'
One of Carli's favourite memories from Semester at Sea was when she managed to persuade the ship's crew to turn off the top deck lights for 15 minutes at midnight.
'There were hundreds of students lying on yoga mats on the deck looking at the stars together. It was probably the best moment of my life,' she says.
And, despite the challenges of a tiny room and seasickness, Carli says 'everything was so worth it.'
'It really changed my life and where I wanted to live and the work I wanted to do,' she finishes.
'I ended up living in Tel Aviv for four to five years after and then I travelled in Europe a lot.
'I made everlasting friendships that I wouldn't change for the world.
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Times
29 minutes ago
- Times
11 of the best quiet Caribbean islands
Sure, there's one side to the Caribbean that's all clubbing, whopping all-inclusives and casinos — but with more than 7,000 islands scattered across a vast sea, there are still plenty of places to find some peace and solitude. Maybe it's listening to birdsong at waterfalls on a remote rainforest trail, swaying in a hammock on a tranquil fisherman's cove, or escaping to a deserted sandbar. Whatever your idea of blissful serenity, our guide to the Caribbean's best quiet islands — often best reached by cruise — will point you in the right direction. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Best for stress-free scuba diving Of the three so-called 'ABC islands', Aruba has long been an American package holiday favourite, while Curacao keeps the cocktails flowing with its eponymous bright blue liqueur — but let's not forget Bonaire. Marine life is the major selling point of this Dutch Antilles outlier, with miles of pristine coral reef encircling the whole island, creating more than 85 dive sites. Even better — novice divers take note — some of these are only a few metres from shore and relatively shallow. Back on terra firma, a fifth of Bonaire's desert-like landscape is protected by the Washington Slagbaai National Park — where flocks of flamingos nest on salt pans — and legions of cacti cover the volcanic hills (the island's distillery turns these spiky specimens into the unique spirit, Cadushy). Bonaire's laid-back capital Kralendijk is a port of call on Tui's seven-night Caribbean Charms cruise. Shore excursions let you explore the mangroves on a whisper-quiet electric-powered boat or take an e-tuk-tuk to historical sites. Best for bliss-seeking birders Rush hour on Little Cayman? It looks like a few bicyclists waiting for a resident iguana to cross the 'highway' (read: dirt track). On this bite-sized coral island — only ten miles long and a mile wide — crowds are an alien concept; instead, hundreds of bird species have made this haven their home, including thousands of red-footed boobies. Chirrups and squawks rippling across wetland lagoons might not exactly constitute 'quiet', but it's certainly a different soundtrack to urban life. With just a handful of hotels clinging to Little Cayman's white-sand shores, the island is a far cry from ritzier, more developed big sister, Grand Cayman, a half-hour flight away. It also dazzles below water: legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau declared it one his top three diving destinations, and Bloody Bay Wall in particular should be on the bucket list of any seasoned scuba fan. There are only a few hotels in Little Cayman, so looking towards the island's collection of pretty rental properties — a mix of pastel clapboard bungalows, palatial villas and modern condos — is a good idea. The three-bedroom property A Shore Ting comes with kayaks, an unrivalled beachfront location, and spectacular sunset views. Best for secluded couples breaks Want to spin the clock back to the days before the Caribbean's mega-cruise ships, glitzy casinos and all-inclusives? You can in St Vincent: the 32 islands and cays of the Grenadines have a gentle vibe that will best suit honeymooners and romancing couples. St Vincent lacks a cracking hotel but is worth touring to see its dramatic volcanic scenery and pirate-lair bays, so stay on nearby Bequia then take a day trip over on the local ferry. Further south, it's all about castaway dreams on Petit St Vincent, Palm Island or Young Island, where your luxury cottage might come without TV, phone or wi-fi, for proper peace and quiet. Virgin Atlantic not only flies twice a week from London to St Vincent and the Grenadines, it has all-inclusive holidays at dreamy retreats like Young Island, where the swim-up bar serves its cocktails in fresh coconuts, and complimentary water sports keep guests entertained. • Best hotels in St Vincent and the Grenadines Best for footprint-free beaches We're talking a stupefying 700 frangipani-scented islands to choose from, each brimming with flour-fine beaches, glassy bays and coves framed by silver buttonwood trees. The catch? To reach the really knock-your-socks-off bits of the Bahamas, you'll need to catch an extra flight (and sometimes a ferry, too) from the chaotic capital, Nassau, which teems with travellers — but on the Bahamas' unspoiled Out Islands, life slows to hermit-crab pace. North of Nassau, the Abaco Islands are a necklace of sleepy cays linked by small ferryboats, which makes exploring a doddle. Clapboard-cute Hope Town on Elbow Cay makes a pretty base, with its candy-striped lighthouse and picket-fenced lanes. Setting sail from Port Canaveral, the MSC Cruises Caribbean & Antilles itinerary calls at both Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve private island as part of an 11-night, full-board cruise. • Best hotels in the Bahamas Best for tropical beauty meets Gallic glamour These islands are fabulously French, with a dash of Caribbean je ne sais quoi. St Barts is super-chic, a tiny tropical take on the Côte d'Azur (without the froideur and with much better beaches). Guadeloupe is half-Caribbean beach idyll, half-tropical wilderness (with its own volcano!), though it wears its creole authenticity slightly haughtily. Martinique's quiet sophistication belies the fact that it has some of the best hiking in the Caribbean, thanks to its extraordinarily rugged geography. And St Martin has the most delicious street in the Caribbean: Grand Case Boulevard, with big-name French chefs and great creole food. Join the jet-set on chic, cultured St Barts on one of Carrier Luxury Holidays' tailor-made trips. Properties include the legendary Eden Rock, and the intimate Cheval Blanc, where Gallic gastronomy joins a spoiling Guerlain spa. • Best hotels in St Barts Best for active families and explorers St Kitts, the gateway to these gorgeous twin islands, is 23 miles long and crowned by mighty, volcanic Mount Liamuiga. It's also where, in 1623, the English first settled in the Caribbean, so expect atmospheric leftovers from the era. A 45-minute ferry ride southeast, quieter, sleepier Nevis is dominated by the beautiful triangle of Nevis Peak. There's not as much to see here, but the hotels are top-class and it has a charm and character that's been lost in the Caribbean's more-developed islands. This is a good choice for families, especially with older children: activities include riding on the beach, mountain biking and, in the summer, watching turtles nest. Elegant Resorts whisks serenity-seeking travellers to boutique hilltop hideaway Montpelier Nevis — a former sugar plantation — where you can spend the week flitting between your spacious garden suite and the hotel's nearby private beach. • More great hotels in St Kitts and Nevis Best for stacks to see and do Grenada ticks all the brochure-holiday boxes. Unlike some of its Caribbean counterparts, it's not a pint-sized blob (it's nearly as big as the Isle of Wight), so there's lots to see. Highlights include the mountainous, rainforested interior, waterfalls, foodie farm stops (think: nutmeg, cocoa, rum) and the capital St George's — as pretty as a postcard, with Georgian buildings rising above a natural harbour. The island gets the balance just right between being geared up for holidaymakers while keeping tourism development low-key (and low-rise). In fact, only the southwest corner, particularly the area around Grand Anse, is focused on tourism. A seven-night stay at boutique resort Mount Cinnamon is one of Caribbean specialist Caribtours' great line-up of Grenada holidays. Facilities include a pool, fitness centre, tennis court, spa and dive centre with complimentary non-motorised water sports. • More great hotels in Grenada• Best beaches in Grenada• What to do in Grenada Best for nature lovers If you haven't come to the region in search of huge beaches but instead fancy some jungle adventure as part of your trip, Dominica is for you. With steep mountains and dense vegetation, from above it appears like a chunk of the Amazon rainforest floating in the ocean. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's here you'll find the Caribbean's longest hiking trail, the 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail — as well as plenty of hotels that feel as though they've grown with the trees. The water isn't off-limits, of course; there's some sensational diving off Dominica, too. Mr & Mrs Smith spotlights Secret Bay as Dominica's most desirable hideaway. There are just six treehouse-style love nests in the lush grounds, each boasting a private pool and garden hammock. • Best things to do in Dominica Best for daredevils and trailblazers Some islands feel emptier because of their remoteness, while others feel undiscovered. The British overseas territory of Montserrat is neither of those but is nonetheless a rarely visited place thanks to the fury of the Soufrière Hills volcano. A series of eruptions began in the mid-1990s, releasing enough lava to destroy the capital Plymouth, now a ghost town. Today the southern half of the island remains off-limits, but for volcano fans — or anyone truly looking to get away from the crowds — Montserrat provides a rare chance to see an island being reborn. New investment and new ports are coming — ahead, undoubtedly, of the tourists. Vrbo lists plenty of private holiday rentals in Montserrat, ranging from breezy, budget-friendly apartments to ocean-view villas ideal for family gatherings. Villa Avalon is five minutes' walk from Lime Kiln beach, with three spacious bedrooms and an infinity pool. Best for doing absolutely nothing Not regarded as part of the traditional Caribbean island set, Nicaragua's Corn Islands are nonetheless indisputably in the relevant sea. After a period of British governance, they fell into the hands of pirates, before being used for fairly intensive coconut farming. Today, part of the South Caribbean Coast autonomous region of Nicaragua, they offer a pure, hammock-under-palm-trees sort of tourism. Little Corn gets the majority of visitors, though that's still a fraction of many of its Caribbean neighbours. The snorkelling is excellent, the Nicaraguan rum fabulous, and the expectations of you doing anything beyond relaxing are lower than a sea cucumber's belly. After getting inspiration from Audley Travel's sample itineraries, ask its regional experts to put together a trip that takes in the Corn Islands' beaches alongside natural wonders such as the Masaya Volcano National Park. • Read our full guide to the Caribbean Best for glowing seas For Europeans, Puerto Rico may well feel like an undiscovered destination altogether, but this nearly-but-not-quite US state is full of life. While the main island has plenty in common with mainland US, the eastern island of Vieques feels like something else altogether. Once used by the US Navy as a bombing range, its population has understandably never been very high. Today it's something of a green secret, with nature reserves, pristine beaches and few visitors. The undoubted highlight is Mosquito Bay, which was officially recognised in 2006 by Guinness World Records as the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Guests love the welcoming staff and jaw-dropping mountain vistas at the adults-only Club Vieques resort. • Best hotels in the Caribbean• Best Caribbean cruises
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I married stranger on stranded cruise ship – now we LIVE on board… holiday from hell turned into a 15-year honeymoon
IT looked like the holiday from hell - but it quickly became the honeymoon of a lifetime. When Gian and Angie Perroni were left stranded in Belfast after their luxury cruise was delayed for four months, all they could dream of was setting sail. 17 17 17 17 But neither of them ever imagined they'd find their soulmate while waiting for the round-the-world cruise to start its epic adventure. After Gian, 63, popped the question to Angie, 54, in September - just weeks after their first date - the next natural step was to hold their big day on board the mega Villa Vie Odyssey. The couple told The Sun how their 300-guest ship-wide ceremony officiated by the captain was "way too much fun". After four months of repairs, the huge cruise finally set sail last October. And Gian and Angie held their "magical" wedding - where the captain plunged into the pool with the bride and groom. They shared heartwarming images of the ceremony which took place on board the ship between Costa Rica and Nicaragua in May. Gian, from Vancouver, Canada, said: "We not only were honoured with the captain officiating the wedding, but he actually took the plunge into the pool with us as well which was a which was a lot of fun." Angie, from Colorado in the States, chimed in: "Very unexpected." Gian added: "We had professional dancers, and everybody had bubble guns and bubble wands, and the captain had the the ship's horn go off when we had our first kiss. "It was all very romantic and just way too much fun." Moment couple are jeered & mocked by cruise ship passengers as boat sets sail without them after showing up 30 mins late The pair, who also got matching Celtic trinity knot tattoos, held a smaller private ceremony on April 30 before pushing the boat out for a ship-wide party two days later. Angie said: "We had a lot of the ship help us out with the wedding, which I thought was very special." She revealed that most of the people helping to organise the wedding - such as photographers and decorating teams - were actually residents living on board the ship. Angie added: "Everyone on board was very much looking forward to it. And because, again, this is our community and not just a cruise, there was a very different support." Picture-perfect couple Gian and Angie are permanent residents on the Villa Vie Odyssey - a mega 600ft vessel which is set to visit almost every holiday hotspot Earth has to offer. 17 17 17 17 It boasts a jaw-dropping itinerary - including 425 destinations across 147 countries - around 75 per cent of all nations on Earth. Cruise-goers on board the Odyssey are set to visit all their dream holiday destinations across the planet as part of the journey. The huge vessel was previously marred by controversy when crew discovered problems with its rudders and gearbox - causing its launch to be postponed for four months. The residential cruise sells cabins on a permanent basis - with personal rooms starting at $129,000 for 15 years. Despite the eye-watering price tag, the only other residential cruise ship on the planet currently at sea, The World, offers its cheapest cabin for $2.5million. Gian and Angie are permanent owners on the Odyssey - and have their cabins guaranteed for a decade-and-a-half. Having set off just one year ago, they have already visited 36 countries. Unlike traditional cruises, the ship docks at different ports for around five days each, so residents can properly explore rather than just dash between locations. 17 17 17 17 Globe-trotters Angie and Gian are currently not on board the ship and have returned home due to a family matter. But they say their inboxes have been flooded by friends from their on board community who can't wait for them to get back. Describing day-to-day life on board the infamous vessel - it seems like the party never ends. "We party hard... The only little space we have left in our cabin is a little liquor storage," Angie said. "You definitely have your party years on board, for sure." Gian, who works in online marketing, said: "We've created some very, very good friendships. "There's been one other wedding on board already, another wedding off the ship, and then a few that have gone the opposite direction as well..." They also revealed the range of fellow crew members on board the ship. Angie said: "Once you start chatting with people and getting their history, it's pretty fascinating the different walks of life that are that are on board." Her husband said: "We've become friends with an ex-state Governor, we had an astronaut on board - one of the few people that's been on the moon." Villa Vie Residences' CEO Mikael Petterson previously revealed: 'We have a very diverse community including a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a White House chief of staff, an astronaut and many scientists and doctors on board that share their knowledge and experiences.' What happened to the Villa Vie Odyssey? by Harvey Geh THE Villa Vie Odyssey, a residential cruise ship offering a three-and-a-half-year world tour, was scheduled to set sail from Belfast in May 2024. But a series of technical issues with the ship's rudders and gearbox led to a four-month delay, keeping the vessel docked at the Harland & Wolff shipyard - where the Titanic was built. During this time, passengers who had sold their homes and packed up all their belongings were stranded in Belfast. The cruise company, Villa Vie Residences, provided accommodation for them in local hotels and serviced apartments - before eventually ending these funds and offering on board credit instead. Gian Perroni and Angela Harsanyi made international headlines when they met and fell in love before getting engaged during the unexpected delay. After numerous postponements, the ship finally set sail on the last day of September 2024 - but had to anchor in Belfast Lough overnight to complete last-minute paperwork and administrative checks before it could officially begin its voyage. Villa Vie admitted the project faced significant challenges - with the unexpected repairs and logistical issues costing them millions of pounds. The extended delays led to tensions among some residents, with one passenger kicked off the cruise for allegedly being 'negative' on a WhatsApp group. Despite its tumultuous and highly publicised four-month delay, the Odyssey finally embarked on its journey in October 2024. In terms of the demographics, Gian estimates 80 per cent of all residents on board the ship are American, quipping: "I even married one." Despite this, he thinks life on board the Odyssey "feels very international", as there are "a lot of different languages being spoken". "As we go to places like, for example, Japan, we've had people that have lived there, that have helped set up itineraries," he said. And even though they are said to be living their dream lives on board the mega-cruise - day-to-day life at sea isn't always plain sailing. "We collectively miss the ease of visiting family when we want or need to, especially the further away we are from home," Gian admitted. "But that is balanced by our ability to invite family to visit and cruise with us." They also listed one other surprising thing they never thought they'd miss before embarking on the years-long adventure. 17 17 17 Gian said: "It's not easy to hit fast food restaurants whenever we want, but we're likely healthier because of that." But the pros far outweigh the cons, the couple emphasised. Angie said: "It's just a whole another way to to live and see the world. I find it absolutely fascinating." Gian added: "We've been happily surprised at, for lack of better word, the stickiness - almost everybody that was with us in Belfast is still on the ship." Although Gian is a seasoned traveller, Angie said she had "never been out of the country" before she decided to step outside her comfort zone and board the Odyssey. And she's looking forward to ticking a few spots off her bucket list - with holiday hotspot Fiji being a "big one" for her. The cruisegoer said of the journey: "It's a lifestyle like I couldn't envision when I started... it's wonderful. And I would definitely recommend it to anybody especially young." The couple are set return to the "loveboat" in the coming weeks, most likely when the ship docks in South Korea. 17 17
Times
4 hours ago
- Times
26 alternative holiday ideas for your next big trip
There are several great reasons to visit an under-the-radar destination on your next trip. With overtourism an increasing problem in some of the world's travel hotspots, you'd be consciously helping the heaving likes of Amsterdam, Venice and Dubrovnik by lightening their load. But that might just be part of the appeal. There's also the chance to enjoy unique, authentic experiences in cities, on islands or within rainforests where few other holidaymakers tread; and to expand your own horizons by not settling for the obvious, the comfortable and the predictable in favour of somewhere totally, thrillingly new and different. By dint of being rarer — while hardly unknown — tourists in unsung places such as Bosnia, Bolivia and Sao Tome have a much more positive impact on their destinations, too. As for costs, there may be extra expense involved in reaching some of the further-flung corners on this list, but many are wonderfully cheap on the ground. Convinced? Here are 26 alternative suggestions for your next holiday, each with a suggested way to visit them. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Best for an alternative dolce vita Leave the Amalfi Coast traffic jams behind in favour of southern Italy's best secret. Between its pair of tiddly coasts — on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas — Basilicata crams in forest-framed lakes, ghost villages, a 1,452m zip line (the Angel's Flight, linking two small towns) and the craggy Lucanian Dolomites. The best-known place is Matera, whose millennia-old, rock-carved cave dwellings and churches have become posh hotels and James Bond filming locations (from No Time to Die). Do visit it, but, ideally, also aim for bargain-priced rural agriturismos and the churched-crammed port town of Maratea, which is flanked by many beaches. To fully explore you'll need a car; fly into Bari, Naples or Lamezia Terme. Make it happen If you'd most like to experience magical Matera, the Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy group tour with Globus visits there as well as a nearby primitivo wine museum before moving on to the conical buildings and beaches of Puglia. • Most beautiful places in Italy Best for volcano worshippers In 2023, the Dominican Republic received more than 10 million visitors. Barbados welcomed over 600,000, by comparison. And Montserrat? Just 14,429. There's a good reason for that: this British overseas territory is home to an active volcano, one whose series of eruptions from 1995 to 1999 engulfed the capital Plymouth, leaving it a Pompeii-like ghost town. The southern two-thirds of this Caribbean island remains off-limits today. Yet there are still rich tropical landscapes to enjoy, a fascinating volcanic observatory to explore and, in the form of Rendezvous Bay, a white-sand beach that explains why the likes of Sting and Eric Clapton once holidayed here. Make it happen Few cruise lines visit Montserrat, but Seabourn does during a week's voyage from Canada to Barbados aboard one of its contemporary, luxurious expedition yachts. The sailing operates early in October each year. Best for castaway vibes Read guides to the best Indian Ocean islands, and next to none will mention this tiny French outpost. There's no good reason why not. Four hundred miles east of Madagascar and about 100 southwest of Mauritius, Réunion particularly excels at outdoor activities — with everything from rafting and rock climbing to surfing, biking, hiking and ziplining off waterfalls. Ah yes, waterfalls: those, along with jungles, barren mountainscapes and one of the world's most active volcanoes in Piton de la Fournaise explain the nickname of 'L'Île intense'. Even so, a more slumberous family holiday is also entirely possible thanks to sugar-coloured beaches and resorts neighbouring calm, coral-flecked lagoons ripe for snorkelling. Look out, too, for the peculiar but moreish cuisine fusing French influences — including plenty of patisseries — with creole curries and an emphasis on seafood. Make it happen Set up base at Lux* Saint Gilles, the island's only five-star hotel. A beachside riot of typical creole architecture ringed by coconut and casuarina trees, it has facilities for volleyball, kayaking, tennis and snorkeling. Blue Bay Travel can arrange packages. Best for tropical island escapism Here's another secret Indian Ocean speck. Despite being almost six times as far from it as Réunion (see above), Rodrigues is actually an autonomous part of Mauritius. Ranking among the world's most remote inhabited islands, it's a place little spoiled by tourism — indeed, pre-Covid, of Mauritius's 1.5 million annual visitors, only 90,000 took the 90-minute connecting flight on to here. Africa's easternmost extremity, Rodrigues has a beach-flecked perimeter ringed by a lagoon and overlooked by lush peaks; there are reintroduced giant tortoises to see, octopus curries to eat, waterfalls to visit and just a few luxury resorts to discover. Make it happen Set up camp at the C Rodrigues Mourouk: an ultra-laid-back hotel on one of the prettiest beaches. Lagoon-bound activities such as paddleboarding are available below the pool and there's a brilliant, brightly coloured buffet restaurant where local musicians play after dark. Best for striking architectureThe Silk Road's romance is imbued in Uzbekistan's world-class architecture and with visa-free entry, the country is flourishing as an alternative summer holiday destination. There's plenty to see, with highlights including Tashkent, rich with museums and Soviet-era edifices, and Samarkand, the gilded former capital under the rule of the fearsome Tamerlane, where the Registan's blue-tiled mosques are an ancient wonder of the world. Further west along the Silk Road is Bukhara and its calamine-hued lanes that colour-match the desert. Meanwhile, Khiva's 1,500-year-old Islamic architecture is so well preserved it could easily be the backdrop of a blockbuster. Make it happen Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva all feature on Intrepid Travel's Premium Uzbekistan small-group tour. You'll also meet an artisan paper maker and learn how to make the classic rice dish of plov with a local family. Best for standout natural encounters Whether sailing close to breaching humpback whales or spotting grizzly bears on a national park walking holiday, Alaska is a pristine celebration of our natural world. Feel truly alive cruising the Inside Passage during summer via wildwood islands and glassy inlets choked with glacial ice. Or, in winter, sense the freedom of uncrowded skiing pistes or be mesmerised by an appearance of the elusive northern lights. Make it happen Throughout summer, Princess Cruises operates numerous Alaska cruises with departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, including many round trips and the option of overnight stays in five exclusive Alaskan lodges. Best for fascinating wildlifeCosta Rica is well-deserving of its reputation as the world's number one eco-paradise. Parading an exotic menagerie of everything from resplendent quetzal birds to red-eyed tree frogs, the Central American nation protects five per cent of the world's biodiversity despite comprising just 0.03 per cent of Earth's landmass. High on any list should be the volcanic bubbling geysers and hot springs of Poas, while the parrots and macaws of Corcovado rainforest make for the best walking holidays in Costa Rica. Dry season is from December to April, additionally enabling warm winter sun escapes to white-sand beaches. Make it happen A comprehensive, two-week introduction, G Adventures' Costa Rica North and South: National Parks, Wildlife & Hot Springs escorted tour takes small groups from pointy volcanoes to intensely blue waterfalls. • Best time to go to Costa Rica Best for feelgood staysBorneo is the world's third-largest island and the diversity of wildlife is matched only by the history and culture of the people. You'll find orangutans and pygmy elephants, enjoy the sandy beaches of Kota Kinabalu, pause for thought at the monuments to Allied prisoners of the Second World War. Wildlife tourism here adds value to this colossal island's forests, which are under increasing pressure from deforestation. Experience the feelgood factor supporting Sabah's spectacular Danum Valley, which safeguards 130 million-year-old rainforest where orangutans and monkeys dwell — best seen during the drier months from the end of March to until early October. Get active and dive in the world-class Sipadan Island's vibrant corals or tackle the daunting Mount Kinabalu (4,095m). Make it happen Want to travel in luxury? Available through Times Holidays is a high-end private touring itinerary which, between Malaysia's cool capital Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi's dreamy beaches, introduces Borneo's most wondrous wildlife. Best for oenophilesMany know nothing at all about this hidden gem of the Caucasus; those that do rate it as one of the top spots in the world. The mountain scenery is magnificent, the heritage fascinating, but it's something else: the warmth of the welcome, matched only by the excellence of the wine (this is one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries, after all, with a legacy of production stretching back 8,000 years). Start in Tbilisi. Its cobbled streets knit together a Persian and Russian fusion of ancient fortresses and a basilica. Here, you might try Georgia's esteemed saperavi wine or some khinkali dumplings on cosmopolitan Rustaveli Avenue, before heading to the Black Sea waters of Batumi or on day trips into the wild Caucasus Mountains to the likes of the photogenic, sixth-century Jarvi monastery. Make it happen Cycling is a great way to get around. For groups of for to 16 travellers, Explore! operates nine-day bike-based summer tours taking in lakes, gorges, gorgeous views and valleys. They're bookended by time in Tbilisi, with lots of focus on wine throughout. Best for surprising vistasLess than a three-hour flight from London, Montenegro is well within city break range. Its USP is a delightful juxtaposition of Balkans history and a sunny Adriatic coast ideal for winter sun. Mingle with the beautiful people at Porto Montenegro and Budva — both lively beach holiday hubs with wealthy marinas and water sports. Kotor, meanwhile, is so enriched with medieval masterpieces and Venetian palaces it offers a welcome alternative to overcrowded Venice. Inland, sense the transcendental calm of Montenegro's iconic Black Lake amid dramatic alpine scenery and feel giddy peering into the mighty Tara Canyon from one of Europe's highest arched bridges. Make it happen Content with a day in spectacular Kotor? On ships laid out with Brits in mind, P&O Cruises sails there on week-long round trips from Valletta in Malta; other calls include Corfu and Taranto, an unsung Puglian port. Best for urban fascinationWhile showier sibling Rio is as much a beach resort as a city, Sao Paulo is a true metropolis, thrumming with swanky fashion ateliers, art galleries, swish cocktail bars, pumping nightclubs and the kind of hotels that grace coffee-table books. Spend a day wandering around the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo to find Manets and Modiglianis you never knew existed or Choque Cultural for cutting-edge street art. Try a Japanese-Brazilian barbecue at the trendy restaurant Charco, then soak up caipirinhas in starchitect-designed bars in the Jardins neighbourhoods. Later, swing your hips in the samba clubs of Madalena — rootsy, wood-floored O do Borogodo whirls after midnight. Beaches? Sao Paulo also has some of Brazil's best: try tiny Ubatuba or Ilhabela Island, each about three hours' drive away. Make it happen During the winter months, Oceania Cruises operates various South American voyages which see its classy, mid-sized ships call at Santos for day trips into Sao Paulo. Available as fly-cruises, all also visit Rio and at least one beach destination. Best for budget breaksAs affordable as it is wonderfully walkable, the Bosnian capital makes for a superb weekend. Often overlooked in favour of Croatia's fancy coastline, this dinky city is a bewitching jumble of cobbled alleyways, Turkish bazaars and pavement coffee shops. By night, it thrums with music and chatter from jazz clubs, hookah lounges and lively cafés serving thick, foaming Bosnian coffee until the early hours. The cable car to the top of Mount Trebevic is another must-do, for sweeping views over the city's red-tiled rooftops, domed Orthodox churches and stately minarets. Make it happen Want to see more of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Finishing with a full day in Sarajevo, Intrepid Travel's small-group tour first visits pretty Mostar, whose iconic bridge is a symbol of reconciliation, looks for wild horses and enters Tito's old bunker. Best for adventureThe UAE's northernmost emirate feels far further away than the 90-minute drive from Dubai's bright lights and cloud-tickling skyscrapers. Ras Al-Khaimah (also known as RAK) is typically where Emiratis come to relax on quiet beaches. But its mix of mangrove forests and desert terrain is slowly starting to attract a new audience: adventurers. The big draw is the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, where guests come to learn a mix of survival skills and leave knowing how to make an emergency shelter from scratch in the wild. There's also a chance to test your nerve with the world's longest zip line (stretching almost two miles) and clear your head with a hike in the Al-Hajar Mountains, home to some of the highest peaks in the UAE. When you're ready to bed down, camp out in a Bedouin tent in the desert and sleep under the stars. Make it happen Celestyal Cruises visits Ras Al Khaimah during four-night round-trips from Abu Dhabi. You'll also sample the cultural Qatari capital of Doha and Khasab, an Omani town known as 'the Norway of Arabia' thanks to its photogenic fjords. Best for compact centresLjubljana, with its leafy looks and eco-credentials, is one of Europe's quirkiest — and best-value — city breaks. It's somewhere that The Grand Budapest Hotel director Wes Anderson might've created: pocket-size, whimsically eccentric, its cobbled lanes lined with baroque houses the colours of fondant fancies. Even though you're here for a lazy long weekend, you'll be walking everywhere in the compact centre, often on cobbles, so bring comfy shoes. Peruse the handmade shoes at Boutique Vodeb, then loop back along the opposite bank of the Ljubljanica river before browsing the Open Kitchen market beside Vodnik Square. Here, on Fridays, you'll find silver-haired farmers at stalls piled with harvest bounty and struklji filo parcels oozing cottage cheese. Make it happen Riviera Travel's group tour pairs some gentle walking around Lake Bled, where mountains tumble down to frame a pretty island church, with a full day in Ljubljana. Best for varietyJapan might be a bigger tourism destination but South Korea has the same cherry blossom, ornate temples and glitzy cities without the crowds. Wondering how to do it? Fly into Seoul and allow at least two days to explore it: the capital city combines rambling royal palaces, trendy shopping districts and neon-fronted karaoke bars. A high-speed train network will get you to almost everywhere else: to mountain-ringed Gyeongju, Korea's Kyoto, full of ancient temples, royal tombs and palace ruins; to Andong, with its straw-thatched villages; and to seaside Busan, home to powdery beaches and ultra-fresh seafood. Got more time? Add the volcanic Jeju Island on to your itinerary — it's a rugged yet-resorty postcard pin-up in the south. Make it happen Inside Asia Tours operates both small-group and private, tailor-made touring itineraries in South Korea, often with a culinary theme or K-pop dance class thrown in. • Best things to do in South Korea Best for jaw-dropping experiences Setting foot ashore in the Antarctic for the first time is an incredible experience: so familiar, yet so far below the southern boundaries of most tourist maps. Antarctica is the only continent on Earth with no native population and — free from an evolutionary history of human predation — gentoo penguins use investigative beaks to tug at travellers' trouser legs; colonies of chinstrap penguins huddle, unperturbed by tourists; and languid elephant seals roll in the surf. Cute Weddell seals make eyes at visitors, oblivious to potential human danger, even as they laze among the Brobdingnagian whale-bone vertebrae that lie strewn around the abandoned remains of 1920s whaling stations. With rules in place to limit tourist footfall, this ultimate alternative holiday destination is perfect for travellers who prefer small group excursions and offers one of the planet's most exclusive experiences. Make it happen Lindblad Expeditions is one of the most experienced Antarctica providers, with expert lecturers on board its modern expedition ships and Zodiac boats, sea kayaks and underwater cameras ready to help you see and experience as much as possible. Best for a sense of wonderLarge, landlocked Bolivia is a place of typical South American extremes: snow-streaked mountains here, Amazonian jungle or semi-arid lowland there. Getting around can be challenging — 'the only consistency is inconsistency' goes a local phrase — so booking an escorted tour is wise. The rewards are manifold and usually include a superlative. There's cable-car-covered La Paz, the world's highest capital at 3,650m (11,975ft), and a carnival of chaotic life and silence-inducing Andean views. Flamingo-dotted Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, is truly magical during the wet season (December to April) as rain water effects a giant mirror. And there's South America's biggest lake, high-altitude Titicaca, and its islands formed from reeds. Bolivia also excels at festivals — try Oruro's springtime La Diablada, where devils recreate the seven deadly sins. Make it happen Available year-round, this two-week highlights tour with Exodus takes small groups to Salar de Uyuni's cacti islands and spouting geysers, to amazing ancient ruins and to an ecolodge overlooking Titicaca. Best for a versatile getawayThe absence of a sensational pre-Columbian temple or colonial city enables Panama to fly slightly under the Central American tourist radar. Yet this snake-shaped country still has a wonderful range of experiences up for grabs. From slick Panama City, visitors can go sport-fishing, tackle terrific golf courses or cruise up the awesome Panama Canal. Fly west and things get wilder around the Baru volcano — one of the only places on Earth from which both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are visible. Surrounded by coffee farms, nearby Boquete is an adventure-travel capital with everything from easily-hiked trails past waterfalls to zip-lining. Panama also has some wonderful beaches: consider the Caribbean coast's San Blas islands — where simple accommodation and pristine white sand awaits — or cross to the Pacific for Islas Secas, a swanky private island resort run on solar power. Make it happen Indus Travel's 12-day Best of Panama itinerary combines the canal and Panama City with visits to an Embera indigenous village, a hike through cloud forests, dolphin-watching, waterfalls and beach time. Best for immersive counterculturePerhaps because this southernmost of the Baltic states was among Europe's last countries to be Christianised, folksy pagan traditions still pepper its boondocks. Demonic statues litter the many forests and lakes; wood-carving villages still serve mead. A different kind of counterculture, one more anchored on third-wave coffee, informs capital Vilnius, whose Unesco-listed old town has baroque churches lining twisting lanes. Cathedral Square's white belltower is especially enchanting. Elsewhere, floating on Lake Galve, witch's hat-shaped Trakai is the best of numerous castles; while the riverside spa town of Druskininkai is just a ten-minute drive from a bizarre Soviet sculpture park — The Grutas Park. But Lithuania's headline act is the Curonian Spit — shared with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. This exaggerated, oh-so-photogenic sandbar has amber-spangled dunes, pristine beaches and elk-inhabited pine groves. Make it happen Also visiting Estonia and Latvia, and starting from the Finnish capital Helsinki, Intrepid Travel's small-group tour spends six days in Lithuania. Jazz-loving Klaipeda, the Curonian Spit, the watery Aukstaitija National Park and Vilnius all feature. Best for adventurersPrincipe — the smaller isle of the two-island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, found about 135 miles off the coast of Gabon in west Africa — is finally getting overdue recognition. There are various factors: the presence of an island-wide, equatorial Unesco biosphere; the chance to see nesting sea turtles (November-February) or humpback whales (July-October); the lure of empty, paradise-like sandy beaches such as Praia Banana. Most crucial are three small, eco-luxury hotels established by South African philanthropist Mark Shuttleworth. As well as bringing good chefs and chic design, these have helped to revive the island's cocoa farms and boost employment. Local culture is encouraged, and outdoor activities — boat trips, parrot-watching walks, paddleboarding — are plentiful. Make it happen Arguably the loveliest (and least formal) of those Shuttleworth hotels is Bom Bom, which straddles two typically postcard-worthy beaches. On the tidal island between them is a good restaurant, while air-conditioned bungalows surround the palm-flanked pool. Best for off-radar safarisKenya, Tanzania and South Africa tend to hog Africa's safari limelight, but that's a good thing: it leaves authentic Malawi to savvy insiders. After decades of neglect, the non-profit organisation African Parks (Prince Harry is on its board) began rehabilitating three tracts here in 2015. Gradually, poached-out animals were reintroduced in record-breaking translocations, snares rooted out, fences formed and wonderful new lodges built. Visitors to Majete Wildlife Reserve's riparian woodland now frequently sight all the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) while hippo and croc-spotting cruises sail along Liwonde National Park's Shire River, as sunsets silhouette palm trees to create one of Africa's greatest safari experiences. Trips to this charming country should also include the tea-farming Thyolo Region before finishing at huge Lake Malawi, whose sandy beaches and diving make for an appropriately relaxing finale. Make it happen YellowWood Adventures arranges bespoke safari trips to Malawi, with the suggested itinerary pairing Liwonde, Majete and an island stay on Lake Malawi with time at a tea-growing estate in the country's south. Best for unique creaturesNinety per cent of Madagascar's exceptional wildlife can be found nowhere else on Earth, including blue coua birds, cat-sized chameleons, mongoose-like fossas and the chief reason to visit: more than 100 types of lemur, from graceful sifakas to large indris. Among the best places to view the latter is Nosy Be, an island off the island that also hosts some of the Indian Ocean's dreamiest beaches and the luxury lodge Miavana. Visit between July and October for whale watching, as well. Back on the world's fourth-largest island, vanilla plantations and crater lakes add to the natural spell, as does the striking Avenue of the Baobabs stretch of road. Make it happen Available in May and November, this 17-day group tour with Jules Verne will get up close and personal with lemurs and chameleons. You'll also pause in traditional tribal villages, walk avenues of ancient baobabs and explore sacred forests. Best for marvellous monasteriesBeloved for its philosophy of Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan kingdom is about as authentic as travel gets. Visitor numbers are limited — with tourists required to pay minimum daily tariffs from $200 (about £150), which covers accommodation, food, transportation and guiding — and Buddhist values dominate. That extends from Cham dance ceremonies to jaw-dropping standout is the Tiger's Nest, a fairytale complex somehow teetering on a precarious cliffside. Cities such as Thimphu and Punakha host impressive dzong fortresses and markets as vertiginous valleys all around provide a dream destination for trekkers. A potent fuel for that pursuit is the national dish of ema datshi — a lively stew combining hot chili peppers and yak cheese. Make it happen With its strict travel rules and myriad local customs, Bhutan is much easier to visit if you have expert help. The experienced Wendy Wu Tours is such a tour operator, and operates a 24-day group tour here every November. Best for aquatic adventureBy common consensus, this South Pacific archipelago is reckoned tobe the world's best bet for swimming with humpback whales. Its 170-odd islands, with only a few dozen of them inhabited, are a pit stop on the colossal cetaceans' natural migration from the Antarctic, with August and September being peak time. As well as swimming trips, numerous operators run boat-based tours for those who don't want to get in the water. Make for the northerly Vava'u group of islands, where you'll also find Tonga's best white-sand beaches. Tonga also promises surfing, happily little development, a Stonehenge-style megalithic structure, and absolutely no hurry. Make it happen Seabourn comes here on one of its small, sumptuous expedition ships in April as part of a cruise which also takes in Fiji and Samoa. You'll spend two days in Tonga: one in the Vava'u archipelago and another in the capital, Nuku'Alofa — its name meaning the 'Abode of Love'. Best for big sky energy 'This is wonderful! No one told me it was like this.' So, according to legend, said the modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe upon her first visit to New Mexico. The initial seduction for her came via this southwestern US state's mesmerising, one-off landscapes: White Sands National Park's eerie gypsum dune fields, the pink-hued Sandia Mountains, the giant Rio Grande Gorge at sunset. Beyond the Land of Enchantment's great geography, though, you'll also find an esoteric arts scene — especially in main city Santa Fe, where O'Keeffe's landscapes vie for attention with mysterious collective Meow Wolf — and a fiery food scene amalgamating Native American, Mexican and Spanish influences. Then you've got mud-brick Indian pueblos, microbreweries, a famous October hot-air balloon fiesta, Breaking Bad locations, Billy the Kid's grave and Roswell's UFO history. Make it happen Globus Journeys's group tour, Enchanted New Mexico, introduces Santa Fe, sandstone canyons, ancient pueblos, O'Keeffe's studio and plenty more of the state's highlights. Best for forest hikesUnlike Bali, there are no built-up resorts and hustling hawkers here, just lush rainforest trails, scattered waterfalls and a dramatic, Jurassic-looking coastline. The two islands may both have a Kuta Beach, but Bali's is packed with bars, malls and chain hotels, while Lombok's is a windswept zig-zag of milk-white sand meeting palmy forest. Inland, there are fewer overpriced spas and more authentic villages — hike to them along forest trails for glimpses of the Indian Ocean. And don't miss a trip to the trio of car-free treasure isles a ten-minute speedboat away: the Gili Islands, sandy circles sprinkled with chic boutique hotels and low-key beach bars. Make it happen G Adventures operates a seven-night Lombok tour for small groups. You're promised animist temples, bamboo forests and traditional Sasak weaving villages before several days of relaxation in the Gili Islands. • Most romantic city breaks in Europe• Best places in the world to go island hopping
