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EUROPEStep back in time on this nine-day adventure through the Jordanian desert. Highlights include a guided hike through the rose-pink city of Petra, home to 2,000-year-old buildings carved into the rock face, followed by a sunrise ascent up Mount Haron, the mythical burial site of Moses’s brother, Aaron. You’ll also get the chance to camp with a Bedouin family in the Wadi Rum and trek through the terracotta-toned Barrah Canyon. Finally, kick off those dusty shoes and soak trail-weary legs in the saltier-than-samphire Dead Sea on the last day of this Arabian adventure.
Ever dreamed of hiking past the towering granite peaks in Yosemite? This week-long trip will take you through the valley itself, which Ansel Adams famously photographed. You’ll make a sunset stop on Sentinel Dome and walk through the high-altitude Tuolumne Meadows. Cool off at the ultimate wild-swimming destination, Tenaya Lake, an icy blue glacial pool 2,484m (8,150ft) above sea level. Top off your trip with a morning stroll through a magnificent cathedral of redwoods – the largest trees in the world – in the Samuel P Taylor State Park.
A winding, rock-strewn path known as the Pyg Track leads to the top of Mount Snowdon, a must-tackle hike for any keen adventurer. It’s also a key highlight of this five-day mini-adventure in Wales. On a clear day, you can see the Irish Sea and even southern Scotland from the 1,085m (3,560ft) summit. Descend to a cosy off-grid bunkhouse for dinner around the campfire, followed by stargazing in the Snowdonia International Dark Sky Reserve. You’ll also get the chance to scale a via ferrata inside an old Welsh slate mine and fly down a 130m (427ft) underground zip wire.
The Alps have nothing on the oh-my peaks of the Caucasus Range, eight of which are taller than the 4,809m-high (15,777ft) Mont Blanc. Lace up your boots for a three-hour trek to the Gergeti Trinity Church, which sits against a backdrop of soaring cliffs under snow-capped Mount Kazbek. This nine-day excursion in Georgia also features a ramble through the Lagodekhi National Park, filled with waterfalls, mountain eagles and wild cats. Then, recharge back in capital Tbilisi with local wine, typical Georgian cuisine and a session in the local thermally fed baths, complete with a traditional exfoliating kisa massage.
Imagine you’re in a Herbal Essences ad on this nine-day tropical expedition into the jungles of Northern Thailand. Thundering waterfalls, bamboo bridges and impressive canyons wait for your hair-swishing close up. However, the real highlight of this tour is a sunrise hike to the top of Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, as well as an afternoon spent at the Elephant Nature Park, a rescue centre for former working elephants. There will also be plenty of photo ops at the impressive Tham Lod Cave and Pai Canyon, a network of snaking paths that drop dramatically into a seemingly bottomless gorge.