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12 incredible experiences

Go big in 2023 and book one (or more) of these world-class holidays. With everything from bucket-list big trips to global events and pioneering experiences, next year could be your best yet... by Lauren Jarvis

This is a feature from Issue 12 of Charitable Traveller. 

January: Trek to see mountain gorillas in Africa

One of the world’s most incredible wildlife encounters, a trek to see Africa’s wild mountain gorillas is an epic way to kick off a new year of travel and adventure. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, conservation efforts by organisations, including the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, governments, and local communities have seen mountain gorilla numbers increase to over 1,000, with trekking fees funding ongoing protection. Whether you choose to see gorillas in the magical forested realm of  Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, or on the verdant slopes of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, your visit to their mountain home will be one you’ll never forget.

February: Trek the Historic Trans Bhutan Trail

The Kingdom of Bhutan is known for its imposing fortresses of Dzongs, the cliffhanging Tiger’s Nest Monastery and its stunning Himalayan peaks. And it’s now also the proud home of one of the world’s greatest trekking routes: the Trans Bhutan Trail. Dating from the 16th century, and running from east to west, the trail was originally a pilgrimage route for Buddhists and was used by traders until it fell into disuse in the 1960’s. Restored to its former glory during the Covid-19 pandemic, the 250-mile route passes through some of Bhutan;s major cities and remote villages, with tourism helping to support communities along the way.

March: Venture into the amazon in Guyana

For biodiversity, wild adventure, and an authentic glimpse into indigenous culture, there’s nowhere on Earth to match the Amazon. Shared by nine South American nations, the Amazon Rainforest is sadly under threat in many regions, but Guyana has large swathes of untouched forest, offering excellent wildlife viewing, and the chance to stay in traditional villages. And with British Airways launching twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick to the coastal capital of Georgetown from March 2023 – including a short stop in St. Lucia en-route – South America’s only English-speaking country and it’s natural wonders are about to become infinitely more accessible.

April: Travel light around Greece

Inspiring sustainable initiatives are giving travellers new reasons to explore Greece’s dreamy, laid-back islands. Paros is to become the Med’s first single-use plastic and waste free island, and Tilos is the first island in the Med to be 100% energy self-sufficient, using solar and wind power. Hop around the isles in the shoulder seasons, and you’ll be competing with Eros in the light-footed travel stakes. 

May: Human Power your way through Japan

Japan’s borders are open again after two years and we couldn’t be more excited. Start in the country’s hip and high-tech capital Tokyo, then switch to human power to explore the landscapes. Circle the Shimanami Kaido trail across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, kayak the region’s dazzling beaches, or hike the ancient Kumano Kodo World Heritage-listed pilgrim route. With the famed pink cherry blossoms in bloom – don’t forget to look up.

June: Head to the Heart of indigenous Australia

Australia’s cosmopolitan cities are on many a bucket list, but for a deeper, more authentic time, immerse yourself in the spaces between. The country’s Northern Territory is home to spectacular national parks like Kakadu and Litchfield, and incredible rock formations. Explore with an indigenous tour guide, and you’ll learn about the beliefs and customs of Earth’s oldest continuous civilisation.

July: Join a snorkel safari in Scotland

In summer. the dazzling white beaches and clear waters of the Inner Hebrides on Scotland’s West Coast are as stunning as any in the Maldives. And while the water temp isn’t the tastiest, with the right wetsuit and expert guiding team, you can discover an amazing underwater world of kelp forests and marine life, from seals to dolphins, otters to minke whales, basking sharks, and, if you’re lucky, orcas – without even taking a flight!

August: Watch Rewilding in Action in Zimbabwe

Forget Kenya and Tanzania’s great wildebeest migration, a new and unique migration is underway. Great Plains Foundation’s Project Rewild Zambezi is an ambitious initiative to move 400 elephants and 2,500 other wild animals from the overpopulated Savé Valley Conservancy to the Sapi Private Reserve on the Zambezi River. Best seen from Tembo Plains Camp, it’ll help animals in both locations to flourish.

September: Go leaf-peeping in Michigan

North America’s most spectacular autumn or ‘fall’ colours are not to be missed. Michigan – home to four of North America’s five Great Lakes – puts on a dazzling annual display, with forests of fiery red, rust, and gold reflecting in the lakes’ vast, crystal-clear waters. Historic towns lie between while overhead, some of the world’s darkest skies light up with a billion stars.

October: Join Día de Los Muertos festival in Oaxaca

Mexico is one of the world’s most exciting destinations at any time of the year, but at the end of October and beginning of November every year, the country comes alive with its annual festival to honour the dead. El Día de Los Muertos – or Day of the Dead – sees altars (or ofrendas) lit up with candles in homes and cemeteries, decorated with marigolds, photographs, and offerings to welcome the spirits of departed loved ones back to the land of the living. Historic Oaxaca in Southern Mexico provides a stunning backdrop for the festival’s colourful parades and parties, and visitors are welcome to dress up and join in. Then head off to explore ancient Mayan temples, learn about the history of the conquistadors and sample the country’s spicy food.

November: Photograph Polar Bears in Manitoba

Make 2023 the year your immerse yourself in an amazing Arctic adventure. Experiences in the frozen north are out of this world, and none more so than the unique encounters on offer with Explore! and Churchill Wild, the sustainable wildlife adventure company. A stay in one of its three incredible ecolodges around Hudson Bay in Canada’s Manitoba will bring you closer than you thought possible to polar bears, wolves, black bears, beluga whales, and moose. 

December: Come face-to-face with pharaohs in Egypt

If Egypt has been on your bucket list for a while, 2023 is the year to visit, as the largest archaeological museum in the world is set to open a stone’s throw from the Pyramids of Giza at the end of the year. The Grand Egyptian Museum will house a mind-blowing collection of 100,000 objects, and the jewel in its crown will be 5,300 artefacts from Tutankamun’s tomb, displayed together for the first time since being discovered since 1922. Prepare to be astonished.

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Call us now on 020 3092 1288 or email [email protected] to pklan and book these incredible experiences!

This is a feature from Issue 13 of Charitable Traveller.