If you long for a vacation to remember — one away from the noise and the sameness of the usual mass tourist destinations, one where you will not lay eyes on a McDonald’s or Starbucks, and one that does not leave you stuck in an over-built resort for your entire two-week vacation — then you need to dust off your passport, put on your explorer’s hat, and step off the beaten track!
Royalty Free Photo
Nepal: Trek To Everest Base Camp
Arrive in the bustling city of Kathmandu, then journey out to Lukla where your epic hike to the mountain begins. Trek through isolated villages, face your fears, and step across towering suspension bridges hanging over glacial rivers. Ascend through pine and rhododendron forests, and eventually emerge at the foot of the world’s highest mountain, soaring 29,000 feet into the heavens above.
Trips to Mount Everest are fully guided and porters carry your supplies between the lodges along the route. Once at base camp you will have a few hours to rest and explore, then it is time to head back to your lodge for a good night’s rest before taking on a climb up Kala Patar, which offers breath-taking views of Everest. Check out this Everest Base Camp Trek overview if you want to know more.
China: Travel The Silk Route
Begin your adventure in Beijing, then fly on to the westernmost point of The Silk Route where your three-week tour really gets going. In the deserts of Duhaung, you will see Mingsha’s famous singing sand dunes and the ruined city of Yadan. Your journey will take you into the mountains to witness the beauty of Lake Karakul and across the border at the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, where you will spend a night under the stars in a traditional yurt. The next leg of the Silk Route takes you to Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in central Asia (and a World Heritage Site), before you travel on to the ancient cities of Bukhara, Khiva, and finally Tashkent.
Caribbean: Cruise The Islands
Take to the seas on a luxury Caribbean cruise and feel your cares drift away on the calm ocean. Forget those towering liners, packed tight with cut-price pleasure seekers; on a luxury cruise, you will enjoy exclusive, tastefully appointed vessels, limited numbers of passengers, an attentive crew, fine dining, and an exciting itinerary that will make your voyage an unforgettable experience.
Embark in Barbados and slowly cruise around the picturesque islands, calling into ports including Mayreau on St Vincent, Pigeon Island on St Lucia, Charlestown on St Kitts and Nevis, and the tranquil port of Gustavia on St Barts, where lush green hills rise up from the azure Caribbean waters.
When you step ashore to explore the islands, you can sun yourself on pristine beaches, swim in the gentle sea, hike into the tropical landscape, indulge in some boutique shopping, play a round of golf, tour historic sites, and enjoy sumptuous meals and fine wines from the best restaurants the islands have to offer.
Memorable vacations like these are easy to plan thanks to a wide range of specialist tour operators, who take care of all of the details for you, so all you need to do is turn up and enjoy your travels!
Love it! The Caribbeans are next up on my list, I am totally a beachy kind of girl. Currently sitting in a beachfront hotel in Thailand and it is heaven!