Our Most Original Travel Ideas for 2024

The oldest wine-producing region in the world? Georgia, where eastern Europe abuts Western Asia, has been in business for more than 8,000 years. Its wines are generally made on a scale so small that only locals get to taste them. But you will, too, on this adventure, which visits extraordinary landscapes and sights: think medieval monasteries above plunging gorges, and mountain passes through the snow-capped Caucasus range.

Ecuador ticks all the boxes, from the Andes to the Amazon. After exploring Quito, the capital, ride with Andean cowboys in the shadow of Cotopaxi, an active volcano; try white-water rafting from Baños village into orchid-filled cloud forest; and spot toucans and capuchin monkeys in the rainforests of the lowland Amazon. Along the way, you can swim in waterfalls, cycle mountain trails and learn to cook authentic Andean food.

Want to wander epic ruins, towering temples and inscrutable statues? Try Egypt. Culture Trip’s nine-day adventure kicks off in Cairo, close to the Pyramids of Giza. Next, a sleeper train trundles to Luxor, known for the massive Karnak temple and the painted tombs in the Valley of the Kings. You’ll finish the trip with a four night luxury cruise down the Nile, with excursion including haggling in the Souk of Luxor and Kayaking on the Nile itself.