Go the distance
While most of us will holiday in Britain this Summer, take the car across the Channel or fly to a resort on the Med, around half a million Brits will be taking a long-haul holiday. So are they barmy? Not when many far-flung parts of the planet are also ba
The Pacific Coast of North America
Set sail on a ship that will ease into deep finger fjords under the shadow of immense snow-capped mountains and nudge close to almighty glaciers. You’ll cross the legendary Inside Passage, too (where I once saw, from the ship, a bear loping along a beach to starboard and a whale performing tail flips to port). Your shore time will be equally fascinating, varying from Sitka, the former Russian capital of North America (Siberia is as close as Brighton is to London), to Skagway, the gateway to the gold fields of the Klondike. Go with Holland America (hollandamerica.com)
Japan
Whether you are travelling independently or on an organised tour, the best way to explore Japan is by train. The country’s network is extensive, with trains going more or less everywhere you’ll want to visit. Stops include Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Mount Fuji and Hakone Park, Nara and Takayana. What’s more, station signs are in English and services are enviably efficient, topped by the blisteringly fast 186mph bullet trains, or Shinkansen, where delays are measured in seconds. Go with Great Rail Journeys (greatrail.com). Other Asian destinations that are in their Summer prime include Borneo and Nepal
The Caribbean
True, the islands of the Caribbean are really at their best in our Winter, but a lot of their appeal at that time lies in the fact that the weather at home is at its worst and we’re desperate to get away. In our Summer, however, you can not only find some good deals but, by booking all-inclusive, there’ll be no surprises no matter what happens to exchange rates. Stay at one of the 16 Sandals resorts (seven in Jamaica, two in Barbados, one each in Grenada and Antigua, three in St Lucia and two in the Bahamas) and everything is included in the price, from
[continued from previous page] water sports (such as diving and waterskiing) to premium brand drinks, all meals and wi-fi.
Go with Sandals (sandals.co.uk)
The Seychelles
One look at a Seychelles policeman’s badge – a tortoise with a palm tree growing from its back – will tell you where the islands’ priorities lie. This archipelago, 1,000 miles from anywhere, is the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean – gorgeous worlds of natural beauty where you can walk in the deep-green heart of any island without fear of wild beasts or insects.
Go with Kuoni (kuoni.co.uk)
Fiji
The Fiji islands, numbering in excess of 300, offer the perfect ambience for relaxation – a chance to chill out in romantic resorts with just the gentle shuffle of palm fronds to break the silence. Add superb, pearl-white ‘Bounty Bar’ beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs, lush vegetation, seas that cover the full spectrum of blues, from pale chalky peppermint to deepest indigo, and friendly locals, and you have the ideal setting for a dream holiday.
Go with Turquoise (turquoiseholidays.co.uk)
Bali
The Indonesian island gently massages all your senses – from the distinctive fragrances of spices, woodsmoke and tuba roses that rule the night, to the soft melodies of a gamelan band blending with the silky whisper of palm fronds in the breeze. Then there are the ravishing colours of exotic blooms and the deep-green, contoured interiors, the gentle, ever-smiling Balinese, the irresistible crafts, ceremonies and traditions… All conspiring to make the island one of the most enchanting on earth.
Go with Cox & Kings (coxandkings.co.uk)
Australia
Though generally considered a Winter destination, the whole top half of the vast continent is best seen in July and August. A perfect itinerary combines bush and beach, including the immense Aboriginal Dreamtime homelands and Kakadu National Park, the Daintree Rainforest (the oldest on the planet) and either the beaches of tropical North Queensland or one of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef.
Go with Bridge & Wickers (bridgeandwickers.co.uk)
Peru
No matter whether your prime interests are Incan archaeological sites – including the breathtaking Machu Picchu – native markets, jaw-dropping Andean scenery, rainforests, Spanish colonial architecture (at its World Heritage-finest in Cusco), or the floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca, you’ll find just what you’re looking for.
Go with Saga (saga.co.uk)
Canada
In the words of Premier Trudeau, Canada is ‘cool, not cold’. It’s also Lonely Planet’s number-one destination for 2017. From the Atlantic coast (less than a six-hour flight from the UK) to its Pacific shores, this immense country offers an amazing array of experiences, from mountains to Mounties, bears to belugas, gastronomy to Gallic culture, northern lights to the Niagara Falls. This year, in celebration of its 150th birthday, there’s free entry to all the national parks, too.
Go with Prestige (prestigeholidays.co.uk)