Adventure

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a history that spans more than four millennia, so it should come as no surprise that there’s plenty to discover. Athens became the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BCE, and its cultural achievements during the 5^th century BCE laid the foundations of western civilisation.

SEE WHALES BREACH ON THE GARDEN ROUTE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Strictly speaking the Garden Route is just a four-hour coastal drive along the southern edge of Africa, one end an afternoon’s drive from Cape Town, the other two hours from Port Elizabeth. But no other highway is this appealing. It boasts the world’s second mildest climate, losing out only to Hawaii. The year-round rain means that its ten national parks are bursting with flora and fauna: more than 300 species of birds, coral reefs, elephants, dolphins and several types of whale.

There’s nowhere quite like Ireland, and that’s especially true when the sun shines. With beaches that belong in the Caribbean and striking scenery, it is only a short hop over the sea from UK mainland.  Sure, the Irish summer might not have the guaranteed heat of the Mediterranean, but what it lacks in scorching temperatures it more than makes up for with gorgeous countryside, an abundance of seafood and a hefty dose of 'craic'. And even if the weather isn’t in your favour, you can always be sure of a snug, cosy pub to warm the cockles.

Catch the Lake District on a fine winter’s day and you might think there could be nowhere more beautiful. Endless blue skies, glassy water, and the heather-clad hills that William Wordsworth described as ‘towering above each other, or lifting themselves in ridges like the waves of a tumultuous sea, an in the beauty and variety of their surfaces and colours, they are surpassed by none’.

Rugged, brooding Sicily crashes up through the waters of the Mediterranean, the wild and secretive ball to Italy’s slinky boot. Home to thousands of years of human history, the starkly beautiful island has fallen to the Greeks, Moors, Arabs, Romans and the French. But in the past 200 years, it has fallen to more modern conquerors, the Mafia, whose stranglehold over the island has only just begun to loosen. The Cosa Nostra (‘Our Thing’) turned Sicily into an impenetrable fortress of fear and the island is peppered with ‘relics’ of its reign of terror.

Tourism to Iran is on the up. Combined with strengthening diplomatic relations between Iran and the West, means the country is finally opening its doors to western tourist. Western government are no longer advising their citizens not to visit this once no-go-zone. However, there are some parts that are not recommending visiting yet.  Consequently, eager tour operators are lining up to take curious travellers to the crumbling city of Persepolis, the rug-strewn bazaars of Esfahan and the stately gardens of Shiraz and see Iran’s many temples, mosques, fortresses and monuments.

KUMANO KODO ANCIENT TRAIL (Japan)
This Unesco-approved network of trails leads deep into the heart of the Kii Mountains, southeast of Kyoto. Numerous tracks criss-cross these cedar-scented, waterfall-laced mountains dotted with shrines and temples; you can trek a section in a few days or complete the whole pilgrimage as Kyoto’s ancient emperors did, in roughly six weeks.

Duration: From one night to six weeks.

Level: Easy/moderate. Paths are well-maintained and shady, and you’re never far from help.

There are many reasons people choose to go skiing, from the wonderful alpine vistas to the top-class après-ski that can be as lively as it is stylish. But at the heart of any skiing trip is the snow itself – and an opportunity to enjoy the thrills (and sometimes spills) of a descent surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.

HOTEL CHESA ROSATSCH, CELERINA

Nestled in the popular Upper Engadine valley, on the banks of the Inn River, this charming property, with rosy red walls and wooden beams, is almost 400 years old. Rooms, though, are modern and boutique, while its restaurant serves tasty stone-grilled locals meat and crispy Flammechueche. The village of Celerina is quiet but perfectly placed for exploring the surrounding area, where it’s possible to view Engadine’s glaciers. Visit hotelrosatsch.ch/en/

Tenerife offers much more than mass tourism, sun loungers and neon cocktails. As one of the Canary Islands Tenerife can offer a different type of short. If you want to spend most of your time on two legs soaking up the panoramic views at La Gomera's Garajonay National park, the 'cloud forest' or two wheels in the La Esperanza Forest, it is here; relax at a small guest house away from the crowd.