GET A HEAD START ON TRAVEL PLANNING FOR 2018
Book your tickets to visit these five must-see destinations
MALTA
The rocky archipelago of Malta, lying just 80 kilometres and as many light years south of Italy, is one of the world’s smallest countries.
Located at the crossroads of powerful and lucrative sea lanes that carried precious cargo between East and West and back again, Malta was coveted, invaded and ruled by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and British — to name a few. History buffs will have a field day exploring the influence and vestiges of this complicated past left behind over the millennia, even if they travel no farther than the fortified capital city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This tiny nation has long been a favourite destination for cruise ships, beach lovers and divers — mostly from northern Europe — who flock here to enjoy these cerulean waters and near perfect weather.
But Malta is ready for the international spotlight in 2018, when it hosts the title of European Capital of Culture (which it shares with the Dutch city of Leeuwarden). The year’s packed events calendar includes baroque, pop and international film festivals. It can only augment the irresistible charm and rich legacy of this ancient Mediterranean gem.
MELBOURNE AND THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AUSTRALIA
The arch rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne is at the heart of a long debate.
Sydney has always been Australia’s glamorous darling, a stunningly beautiful city with its iconic opera house and harbour-spanning bridge. But Melbourne proudly holds the spotlight as Australia’s sports capital (it goes wild over everything from AFL football to Grand Slam tennis) and cultural nerve centre — known for its bohemian and sometimes quirky vibe, flourishing music scene and edgy street art.
Explore the city’s cobbled bluestone laneways, not long ago dark desolate, no-go alleyways that have recently undergone a dramatic transformation and are now home to galleries, shops, coffee houses and restaurants. Melbourne’s passion for all things food-related lives on at the Queen Victoria Market, said to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Break away from all the urban distractions for a glorious day spent driving the Great Ocean Road — 240 kilometres of end-ofthe-earth beauty often compared to California’s Pacific Coast Highway. At the end of this stretch of rugged and windswept coastline are the iconic limestone sea stacks called the 12 Apostles (there are only eight left standing) that rise out of the churning ocean and are most breathtaking at sunset.
As a local safari operator boasts, “If you see 10 per cent of what sees you, it’s an exceptional day.”
A rare, untouched wilderness, the Okavango Delta teems with legions of elephants (it is home to the largest remaining elephant population on earth), zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, hippos and more — and well over 500 species of birds.
A unique ecosystem and natural wonder, where the Okavango River (a tributary of the mighty Zambezi) meets the bone-dry Kalahari Desert, this inland delta the size of Switzerland is a patchwork of floodplains, sparkling lagoons, channels and islands that all act as a magnet for wildlife. It’s been called the world’s largest oasis and became UNESCO’s 1,000th World Heritage Site in 2014.
Whether you glide through a labyrinth of waterways in the traditional ‘mokoro’ dugout canoe propelled by a pole, or explore islands and islets on foot or in an open 4x4 jeep, this is a safari (a Swahili word that means journey) second to none.
YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA
So you’ve visited China’s fastpaced mega-city of Beijing and hypermodern Shanghai, and maybe witnessed the famous army of terracotta soldiers in Xi’an. But to immerse yourself in the rich and complex history and heritage of China, venture into the agricultural hinterlands of Yunnan Province, deep in the country’s southwest.
Sharing a border with Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, Yunnan is the country’s most diverse province both for its stunning scenery of snow-capped mountains, rice paddies and gorges, and fascinating mix of ethnic minorities — 26 of the country’s 55 recognized minorities live there, and account for over one third of the province’s population.
Once the territory of ancient trade caravans on their way to neighbouring Tibet, today historical trading towns and the cities of Dali and Lijiang show up on every itinerary, favoured for their traditional architecture, centuriesold festivals, weekly markets and scenic surroundings.
One of China’s great hikes is here, too — the 30-kilometre-long Tiger Leaping Gorge, through one of the world’s deepest canyons.
IRELAND
Ireland is a small country with a massive diaspora.
Unofficial records show that some 80 million people worldwide today claim some degree of Irish descent and ancestral heritage has long drawn many visitors to the Emerald Isle to seek out their roots.
But the country’s timeless reputation for its warm hospitality appeals to everyone, as do its animated pubs where the good time “craic” and Guinness flow. The world has long admired the 40 shades of green that colour rolling and romantic landscapes of sheep, crumbling castles and inviting stone cottages as seen in classic films such as The Quiet Man and Ryan’s Daughter.
I joined the impressive numbers of return visitors to Ireland most recently as the host and global ambassador for Trafalgar, the established travel company that celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017.
As one of the first trailblazers in the early years of tourism to Ireland (as well as to Belfast and Northern Ireland), it guarantees today a seamless and insightful experience of the country hitting all the classic must-see’s — The Guinness Storehouse, Cliffs of Moher and the stunning Ring of Kerry — while its excellent guides and local specialists tirelessly and effortlessly exemplify céad míle fáilte — a hundred thousand welcomes.