Bucket list holidays

For many, scaling the world's tallest freestanding mountain is the ultimate challenge. At 5,895 meters (19,340 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak may be the 'roof of Africa' but when you summit, you feel like you're on top of the world. Three popular routes take you through afromontane forest, alpine meadows and glaciers, all under the watchful eye of your expert climb crew. The pace is slow and steady so, with a little training, accessible to most people. We only work with the best guides and crews via responsible operators, and as a result, our success rate is 98%. So, are you ready to take on Kili?

Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil, but head to Rio if you want to soak up what is arguably the brightest, boldest and most extravagant carnival of them all. Celebrated each year, the streets are filled with the sounds and sights of Brazil's vibrant culture, a true testament to its incredible history, fascinating people and contagious party spirit. It's an excellent insight to exploring this energetic country in all its glory.

Whether you choose the famous Inca Trail or one of the lesser known routes through the High Andes to Machu Picchu, you'll stay in swanky lodges with incredible condor's-eye views. As you weave higher, you'll roll by traditional colourful markets, stone houses and farmsteads and carpets of tiny wild flowers. When you finally reach the mist-shrouded lost city itself, you'll explore in the company of an expert guide and meet the resident llamas (easily the most photographed in Peru). From your first pisco sour to the last citrusy mouthful of ceviche, this trip is a moving, life-affirming adventure unlike any other.

You'll never forget coming face to face with your first wild mountain gorilla. The smells, the sounds, their all too human interactions. With an expert guide, trek through dense forest in search of gorilla families going about their daily rituals in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. As the babies cling to their mothers or rough and tumble with playmates you'll be spoiled for photographic opportunities. Why not spend time with the Gorilla Doctors, vets on the ground working to protect these great apes? Perfect for a special celebration like a graduation or anniversary, gorilla trekking is tough to beat.

The Aurora Borealis is one of nature's spectacles. Once seen, the otherwordly beauty of the Northern Lights will remain with you forever. An isolated spot outside of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, is one of the world's finest places to observe this phenomenon. There, you can hike, fish, ride horses, and take a helicopter flight over bubbling volcanic craters. Soak up the dramatic landscapes, visit Thorsmork National Park's waterfalls and glaciers, and discover a hidden world below the lava field on a unique caving experience. Finally, a dip in the Blue Lagoon concludes this unforgettable journey.

Calm erupts in the blink of an eye into the thunder of hooves as millions of wildebeest migrate across the Maasai Mara and Serengeti in search of water and fresh feeding grounds...and predators are never far behind. This is life in the raw; the stage for one of the greatest spectacles on earth. With something to see all year round, from calves being born at the beginning of the year to the famous croc-infested river crossings in July, this is the ultimate wildlife drama for all nature lovers.

Known as the land of the Rising Sun, Japan is an island nation that provides an intricate blend of past and future. The Japanese people will charm you with their supreme politeness, mouth-watering cuisine will tantalise your taste buds and bright neon lights will dazzle your senses. With spring in full swing at this time of year, moderate temperatures and the chance to see cherry blossom shrouding the already iconic temples and shrines in beautiful hues of pink, we’d highly recommend visiting in April.

Discover a vast continent which contains an extraordinary wilderness of ice-sheets, glaciers and barren deserts that have formed over millennia. Antarctica is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences; the sheer magnitude of the scenery and the chance to see penguins, seals, whales and seabirds in their natural habitat will stay with you forever.

Canada is really upping its game with its new luxury camping experiences. The aim is to take advantage of the impressive views and untamed scenery and it most certainly succeeds! Canada is the epitome of the great outdoors with 328,198 km2 of epic national parks and this, combined with the relaxed Canadian way of life and welcoming attitude make this country one of the best destinations for active, adventurous travellers, regardless of the season.