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ASIAGiant tortoises? Check. Sea lions? Absolutely. Penguins? Yep, them too. If you’re a wildlife lover, the top spot on your travel bucket list may well go to the Galápagos Islands – a volcanic archipelago around 965km (600mi) off the coast of mainland Ecuador, scattered either side of the Equator. On this epic five-day adventure, you’ll have ample opportunities to snorkel and observe the abundant marine biodiversity around Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. Plus, you’ll sleep in a luxury tented camp in a giant tortoise reserve, venture out to one of the uninhabited islands, and go kayaking in the Itabaca Channel.
Bali is certainly no stranger to tourism, but you can still find quiet and uncrowded spaces if you know where to look. Try hiking the summit of Mount Batur at sunrise, swimming underneath the Banyumala Twin Waterfalls or snorkelling with sea turtles in the reefs around the Gili Islands – it’s all on the itinerary of Culture Trip’s 12-day Bali adventure. The Gili Islands, just off the coast of Lombok, are also home to an unusual and hauntingly beautiful phenomenon – a collection of 48 life-size stone figures on the sea bed.
Colombia’s sun-soaked Caribbean coast often gets overlooked in favour of more established travel destinations, such as Bogotá and Medellín, but those who venture to the north are rewarded with seemingly endless swathes of golden sand beaches, spectacular jungle hiking trails and fun-loving coastal towns. On Culture Trip’s eight-day adventure, starting in Cartagena and moving east along the coast to Palomino, you’ll take a trip to the Rosario Islands – an idyllic archipelago around 100km (62mi) off the mainland, renowned for its peaceful beaches, abundant marine life and coral reefs. So grab a mask and a pair of fins and spend a day snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing in this tropical paradise.
From the secluded turquoise lagoon of Hong Island to the calm, clear water around Koh Yao Yai (a dreamy island in the Andaman Sea halfway between Phuket and Krabi), this 10-day journey through Southern Thailand is packed with opportunities to snorkel, swim and kayak to your heart’s content. You’ll also stay overnight in a floating raft house in Khao Sok National Park and embark on a wildlife safari by longtail boat. Be on the lookout for hornbills, gibbons and the elusive sun bear.