Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges.Credit: Getty Images
Staying in tented eco-camps, this five-night trip with Australian Walking Holidays showcases the best bits of the Larapinta Trail, an epic 221-kilometre trek that winds its way through the Northern Territory’s rust-red West MacDonnell Ranges. Highlights include summiting Mount Sonder at sunrise, exploring the dramatic Ormiston Gorge and gaining a deeper understanding of the region’s Indigenous culture from traditional owners. Australian Walking Holidays is the only operator that includes a bush tucker lesson with Rayleen Brown, founder of Kungkas Can Cook, and has a guided tour through Standley Chasm with local Indigenous mob. See australianwalkingholidays.com.au
The Balkans, Via Dinarica
Intrepid Travel’s 10-day Split to Tirana itinerary showcases some of the Via Dinarica trail’s highlights.
Stretching from Italy through the western Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania), the Via Dinarica is the long-distance European hiking route almost no one has heard of. Launched in 2010, the trail aims to encourage tourism to the western Balkans and lure visitors from the region’s celebrated coastline to its lesser-known mountainous interior. Intrepid Travel’s 10-day trip from Split to Tirana showcases some of the trail’s most spectacular portions via six scenically stunning hikes, together with visits to the cities of Split, Sarajevo and Tirana. See intrepidtravel.com
Waterfall season, the Kimberley
True North … one of the Kimberley’s cruising pioneers.Credit: True North
Thundering waterfalls, spectacular sunsets and very few people are just some of the advantages of visiting the Kimberley at the tail end of the wet season. True North, one of the pioneers of expedition cruising in the region, now has two vessels (True North and True North II) offering departures in March and April, which is the best time to see the Kimberley’s famed waterfalls. It also means you’ll probably be the only ones at most of the rock art and swim sites you’ll visit. The price for this exclusive access? Hair-ruining humidity. Thankfully, both vessels are air-conditioned. See truenorth.com.au
Antarctic snorkelling, Aurora Expeditions
Polar plunge … a signature experience of Aurora Expeditions.
Obviously Antarctic vistas are incredible above the water, but what about below? This is a signature experience offered by Australian-based company Aurora Expeditions. Passengers don dry suits, masks, snorkels and fins and plunge into the water. On show are playful penguins and other marine life such as crustaceans and starfish along with icebergs and subaquatic rock formations. All this, and you don’t even have to navigate the most difficult part of Antarctic exploration to get there: crossing the Drake Passage. Aurora offers flights from Punta Arenas to King George Island, meaning less time at sea and more time in the sea. See auroraexpeditions.com.au
Coral Expeditions
Coral Expeditions’ compact ships can access bays and coastlines the bigger ships can’t.
This small Aussie-founded company celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and is an unsung minnow amid the cruise company whales. It pioneered the use of knowledgeable guides onboard and all-inclusive shore excursions, and has remained true to its mission of providing expedition cruises in remote Australia locations and now in South-East Asia and Japan. Its compact, purpose-built ships can penetrate small bays and convoluted coastlines, while tenders and Zodiacs enable guests to visit gorges and land on the tiniest of islands. Don’t expect on-board diversions and luxuries. Instead, enjoy exploring with enthusiastic leaders dedicated to passing on their impressive learning. See coralexpeditions.com
Le Soleal, Ponant
The finest of dining onboard the French-flagged Le Soleal.
If you like creature comforts, Beaujolais and plump pillows and yet want to see tricky-to-reach places such as Antarctica, Alaska or Papua New Guinea, then this stylish French-flagged ship keeps you in billionaire style while sailing gently through ice-encrusted coastlines or remote atolls. Le Soleal, near-identical to three other Ponant ships (L’Austral, Le Boreal and Le Lyrial), carries 264 guests, looks like a boutique hotel and has small bar-lounges, a theatre and spa. Particularly outstanding is the restaurant for the finest of dining in the most out-of-the-way places. See ponant.com
Celebrity Flora, Galapagos, Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Flora was designed especially for cruising the Galapagos archipelago.
Sailing around the Galapagos on Celebrity Flora is a sum-of-the-parts experience. Launched in 2019, the ship was designed especially for cruising the archipelago. A star-gazing deck, airy dining areas with massive windows (and top-notch cuisine) and staterooms with beds that face outwards, connect guests with nature. The marina, a cutting-edge rear deck, enables easy access to a plethora of off-ship adventures, from snorkelling to wilderness walks. The stellar national park guides have the smarts on everything that cheeps (Darwin finches), barks (Galapagos sea lions) and moves (wildlife galore) while daily lectures enhance your knowledge – all in preparation for a fun-filled Galapagos-focused quiz. See celebritycruises.com