Holidaymaking is as much a part of our annual routine as birthdays and Christmas – but its easy to take our holiday planning for granted. Indeed, it’s not unusual to find oneself fatigued by the idea of yet another summer spent sharing a crowded beach or resort pool with other frazzled holidaymakers. With a little more time, a little more planning and little more in the way of funds, you could be doing something far more interesting with your summer. But what, exactly?
River Cruise in India
India is a stunning country to visit, and a popular country for many international backpacking outings – whether you aim for the brilliant beaches of Goa or the natural wonders of Ranthambore National Park. But there’s another way to experience India, which is quite simply incomparable to any other: by boat.
A river cruise in India is a phenomenal opportunity to discover the best of the nation from its riverbanks. The River Ganges is one such opportunity, which gives a new angle from which to explore India’s complex and beautiful relationship with religion – as well as a chance to see some of the most incredible architectural feats of South Asia, in Varanasi’s myriad riverbank temples.
Eco-Lodges in Costa Rica
Central America is another oft-vaunted destination for backpacking holidaymakers, with Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic attracting millions of travellers to their sunny and/or beachy climes each year. Costa Rica is another such famed name, but one with some aces up its sleeve too.
You might come to Costa Rica to explore its coffee trade and languor on its beaches, but when it comes to staying the night you can do far better than a resort hotel. Costa Rica’s eco-lodges have enjoyed critical acclaim for decades, combining sustainable hospitality with the peerless natural locales offered by this verdant country.
Diving in Jordan
Jordan is perhaps most famous for Petra, the ancient edificial city carved into sheer sandstone walls over 2000 years ago – and recognisably used as the location for such pop-cultural moments as the finale to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
But there are equally edificial discoveries to be made in Jordan’s waters as there are on land – particularly off the off the coast of Aqaba in the Red Sea, where you will find some of the most incredible scuba diving spots. Most go to Sharm El-Sheikh for their coral reef kicks, but Aqaba is quieter and all the more stunning for it.
Wine-Tasting in Georgia
Wine-tasting holiday trips are usually undertaken in the major wine-producing countries of France or Italy, each of which have their own historic and vinicultural draws – but there’s another (trans)continental country that is often overlooked, despite its place at the centre of winemaking history: Georgia. Georgia’s wine heritage is rivalled perhaps only by Greece, and a tour of its storied vineyards (particularly in Kakheti and Adjara) would be an experience like no other.
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