Bucket List Holidays

Be blown-away by the sheer size and the depth of archaeological significance at both the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens in Luxor. Here you will delve into 3,000 years of civilisation to experience the cultural heart of Egypt and its many tombs bursting with history. Marvel at all the key sites dotted along the banks of the Nile, as you glimpse into Egypt’s best kept secret tombs with some of the world’s well-preserved hieroglyphs then be awed by the colossal temples dedicated to the ancient Egyptian kings and queens between Aswan and Luxor.

Patagonia is bursting with mesmerising mountain peaks, vast glaciers, unique wildlife, huge landscapes, and boasts a multitude of exhilarating experiences. Hiking the stunning trails of Torres del Paine is one of those breath-taking experiences, allowing you to soak up the very best of Patagonia. You will be spoiled with majestic scenery at every turn, distinct to this otherworldly region. The hikes vary in length and ability, letting you choose how far you wish you delve into this vast landscape, but however far you choose to go the sights and memories will be etched in your mind forever.

Go wild in Northern British Columbia with an epic once in a lifetime heliskiing adventure. This ultimate experience run by the highly experienced Last Frontier will take you in to the wilderness with 9,500km2 of ski area that has a hefty average annual snowfall of 25m. They operate with small groups of up to 4 guests and 2-3 groups per helicopter ensuring an efficient service to get the maximum run time through the vast mountain range. After your extreme day skiing return to your warm lodge, choose either the Bell 2 Lodge or the Ripley Creek Inn, with a perfectly cosy ambience full of charm and friendly service.

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.

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. We can arrange for the Gorilla Doctors to visit your lodge to do a talk about how they work as vets on the ground protecting these endangered species. 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.

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.