These top trips offer incredible experiences for excellent prices
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Hit the highlights
Brand new for 2013, Explore’s Essential Burma is shorter than many Burma itineraries but packs the highlights of this fascinating country into one incredible, compact and great-value trip. You get a rich and varied experience, and don’t have to use as may holiday days at work – win, win!
Starting in the Yangon (Rangoon), discover the colonial buildings and markets, and watch the sun go down at the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. Explore the myriad temples and stupas dotted across the vast plains at Bagan then take to the river in Mandalay and visit the iconic teakwood U Bein footbridge. The incomparable Inle Lake is a real gem – explore the surrounding ancient temple ruins and admire the floating gardens while watching on as the leg-rowing fishermen do their traditional thing.
Who: Explore
When: 13 Sept, 11 Oct, 8 Nov 2013
How long: 9 days
How much: from £1,115 (excl flights)
2. NorwayMake the most of midnight
Best things about summer? Long days and short nights. And nights don’t get much shorter at this time than in Arctic Norway, where the sun doesn’t set at all. Make the most of the region on Discover the World’s action-packed Midnight Sun in Tromsø short break. Ride the Fjellheisen Cable Car, camp and kayak under the midnight glow, trek into the mountains and try training a husky.
Who: Discover the World
When: tailormade, Jun-Aug
How long: 4 nights
How much: from £1,160 (incl flights)
Explore by bike and boat
Get up close and personal with the awesome Adriatic on one of Sail Croatia’s Sail & Cycle trips. There’s a choice of three routes, sailing from either Zadar or Split, each offering a combination of biking and boating. This means you can mix pedalling through fields of lavender and rosemary, olive groves, fragrant vineyards and cool pine forests with lounging on deck in the sunshine – and then jumping in for a cool swim. Evenings are spent exploring historic ports.
Who: Sail Croatia
When: departures Sept-Oct 2013
How long: 7 days
How much: from £369 (excl flights)
Hike Annapurna in comfort
Himalayan trekking doesn’t have to be a rugged affair, as you’ll discover on Mountain Kingdoms’ Gentle Trekking & Luxury Lodges, Annapurna Foothills trip. Staying in comfort (but without a huge price-tag), you’ll spend six days hiking, with the opportunity to explore Kathmandu and Bhaktapur too.
Who: Mountain Kingdoms
When: various departures, Oct 13-Apr 14
How long: 13 days
How much: from £2,595 (incl flights)
5. MoroccoGet Mo’ for your money
From ancient coastal cities to High Atlas peaks, via bustling souks and Bedouin camps – Exodus’s Morocco Highlights trip packs in the essence of Morocco. Sleep under the stars in the Sahara, hike in the mountains and much more. Bargain!
Who: Exodus
When: various dates, Jul 13-Apr 14
How long: 15 days
How much: from £999 (incl flights)
Jump into the culture
InsideJapan Tours’ Hands On Japan trip packs in a truly incredible amount. Try Taiko drumming, watch sumo, learn a range of traditional crafts... By the time you reach your capsule hotel or ryokan, you’ll be ready for the tea and onsen baths!
Who: InsideJapan Tours
When: 11 May 14
How long: 14 nights
How much: from £2,700 (excl flights)
Self-drive in wildlife paradise
For tropical islands, tree frogs, toucans and trekking, try DialAFlight’s Incredible Costa Rica trip. This self-drive itinerary is a great-value way to explore, combining lush rainforests, mighty volcanoes and gorgeous colonial cities with ecolodge stays.
Who: DialAFlight
When: various departures, Aug-Oct 13
How long: 11 days
How much: from £1,249 (incl flights)
8. AfricaCover the whole continent
Simply, the stuff of dreams: discover all of Africa on Oasis Overland’s Trans Africa Expedition. The full truck trip travels from Morocco to Cape Town and back up again. Serious bang for your buck at £170/week.
Who: Oasis Overland
When: 10 Nov 13
How long: 38 weeks
How much: from £4,850 + US$2,270 local payment (incl flight to Gibraltar)
Find pharaohs – for less
With tourist numbers down, it’s a good time to visit Egypt without the crowds. Egypt Uncovered’s Nile Explorer visits them all – for a great price. Explore the sites of Cairo, and cruise Aswan-Luxor on a traditional felucca.
Who: Egypt Uncovered
When: various departures, Jul 13-Dec 14
How long: 9 days
How much: from £379 pp (excl flights)
