If you’re taking the same type of holidays each year and are looking for something a little different, we’ve got four ideas for a unique holiday experience that will prove to be truly unforgettable.
1. Take a cruise
Taking a cruise is far from the sedentary affair that one would imagine, and it offers you the opportunity to see some of the most breath-taking corners of the world.
While the traditional cruise destinations of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean are not without their charms, the Co-operative Travel offers exceptional cruise deals to the lesser-explored regions of Alaska, in the United States. Available during a short, five month window, these Alaskan cruises promise to be punctuated by picturesque scenery, abundant marine wildlife and remarkable mountain walks.
2. Diving in Egypt
Egypt is not only home to the ancient pyramids, it’s also rapidly becoming one of the world’s premier diving destinations, championed by even the most discerning underwater explorers.
With year-round temperatures in excess of 25° C, the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, on the southernmost tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, are the perfect jumping-off point from which to explore the 250 coral reefs and see more than 1,000 species of fish, which inhabit this underwater paradise.
Trying to get a snap of you and your friends swimming with sharks, turtles and blue spotted stingrays with an underwater camera is certainly not a challenge for the fainthearted.
3. Riding elephants in Thailand
Frequently nominated as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, the city of Chiang Mai offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the steaming Thai capital, Bangkok.
Chiang Mai is teeming with elegant temples and historical sites, as well as an extremely popular zoo, which is home to fur seals, Humboldt penguins and gibbons. This place provides an opportunity to trek through the highlands of Chiang Mai on the back of an elephant that makes a trip to the city a truly unique experience.
4. Wine tasting and safari in South Africa
South Africa is home to many extraordinary sites, but if you’re planning on taking a holiday to the Rainbow Nation this year, a combination of wine tasting and game drives, is sure to prove to be a truly unique and unforgettable holiday experience.
Northern Province, home to the world-famous Kruger National Park, offers you and your fellow travellers the opportunity to observe elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalos in their natural habitat, while the area surrounding Cape Town is blessed with over 40 vineyards – the perfect place to sample some of the region’s most sumptuous wines and enjoy some of South Africa’s most exquisite gourmet food.
Broaden your mind
Traditional beach holidays certainly provide a welcome respite from the stresses of everyday life, but if you’re an adventurous soul at heart, digging a little deeper can unearth a wealth of unique holiday possibilities – it simply requires a broadening of the mind.
Photos: blmiers2, iGwen, RG Ewing, atelier-africa
