Keeping with the festive theme and with the New Year fast approaching, we thought it would be a fun idea to take a look at some of the extraordinary places you can visit on coach holidays and believe us the whole world can become your oyster on escorted worldwide tours. Perhaps you have decided that 2012 will be the year that you achieve your holiday goal, whether it’s celebrating the New Year in New York City, taking a sled ride pulled by huskies or reindeer, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, walking the Great Wall of China, taking safari in South Africa, heading to the Deep South to experience Mardi Gras or perhaps taking a spiritual journey to Macchu Picchu. Whatever the reason, we’re sure to provide some inspiration for you so check this out…
Sled ride pulled by huskies/reindeer
Adults and children alike simply have to experience visiting Santa’s home in Lapland and what better time to go than the lead-up to Christmas itself? If you didn’t quite manage to achieve it this year, perhaps 2012 is the year to do it.
Lapland is truly a magical winter wonderland where you can take a snowmobile ride through the crisp white snow and perhaps get to see the Mother Nature’s inspiring Northern Lights (if you’re lucky)! Hop aboard a sleigh and enjoy being pulled along by reindeer to meet the great man himself, Santa Claus. The whole family will also get their chance of posting their Christmas Cards from the Arctic Circle so make sure you pack them in your suitcase before you leave the UK. Complete your once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Lapland with a visit to a husky farm where you can catch a husky sled-ride through the crisp Arctic landscape. This is definitely one trip you’ll be talking about for many years to come, who knows you may even make a return visit because you loved it so much!
Discover the mystical Far East
For a trip that’s truly mystical, China won’t fail you with its rich culture and abundance of magnificent landmarks including the Forbidden City of Beijing, the elegant pavilions of the Summer Palace, the mysteries of Tiananmen Square and the exceptional Terracotta Army in Xian. Nothing truly matches up to experiencing the mighty Great Wall of China that was built in stages from around 500BC to keep out the troublesome neighbours from the North. Photos simply can’t do the Wall justice and the scale of the project is every bit as breath-taking as the views. Seek a traditional angle of the country and head away from the skyscraper-filled cities to explore the rice fields that have fed this nation of more than a billion people or take an inspiring cruise along the Yangtze to the Three Gorges where the river winds around steep misty mountains creating a timeless vision of China.
Getting close to nature with a wildlife safari
There are very few experiences out there that can match the sheer joy of seeing wonderful animals in their natural habitats and this is where safari adventures are perfect if you’re a wildlife enthusiast. Immediately as you consider
safari adventures, the vision of Africa appears in the mind but there are so many other places where you can see wildlife up close, what about the Galapagos Islands where you can walk in the footsteps of Darwin and perhaps see the extraordinary blue-footed booby or the beautiful Giant Tortoises where the intrepid explorer sought inspiration from for his theories on evolution? Head over to Canada and see polar bears in the wild or pay a visit to South Africa for a spot of whale-watching. Want to see orang-utans swinging from the jungle trees? You should definitely take a tour of Borneo as you walk through the jungle and look above, you’ll see them swinging about. Check out the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal where you’ll find the endangered single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger. Should you wish to stick to the classic safari adventure that is Africa, you certainly won’t be disappointed because everywhere you look (hopefully) you’ll see some of the Big Five including lions, elephants and giraffes and a whole host of other amazing animals that you’ll be heading home with memories that will never be forgotten!
The Mardi Gras in America’s Deep South
With one visit to The Deep South, you’ll soon realise that nothing beats Southern Hospitality. The South is a land of
cotton and tobacco, ante-bellum mansions, battlefield from the Civil War, beautiful cities such as Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis to explore, not forgetting the power of music from Dixieland jazz through to blues, Rock & Roll and country music – your feet won’t be able to resist tapping throughout your inspirational tour of Deep South country. Combine your visit to The Deep South by experiencing the Mardi Gras of Louisiana. For over 172 years, the ‘biggest free party on Earth’ has been attracting visitors to Louisiana (The Big Easy) for a one-of-a-kind experience where non-stop parades, music and dancing fill the streets from the French Quarter to the Garden District. Whilst in Louisiana, make sure you make time for the “Fat Tuesday Run”, a tradition dating back to the early 19th century where local folk don homemade costumes and mount their horses for a ride around town that ends with a party! This is most certainly one party that you will never forget but will want to experience again and again.
Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia
A trip to Australia is definitely one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and why not make it even more special by climbing the mighty Sydney Harbour Bridge? You can choose from three different Climb adventures that will take you
to the summit of this world famous Bridge and you can choose what time of day you wish to complete the climb so you can experience a different view of the city whether it’s at Dawn, during the Day, at Twilight or during the night. If time is of the essence, you should tackle the Express Climb that allows you to climb through the inner arch of the Bridge crossing over catwalks and stairs before reaching the summit in just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Discover more about the Bridge with The Discovery Climb that takes you right into the heart of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This 3 & ½ hour climb takes you to the top via the inner arch of the Bridge where, if you want to, you can touch the raw steel and rivets that make this structure such an icon of Australia. You’ll eventually reach the summit via a mammoth staircase between the two arches of the Bridge. The Bridge Climb is the final one in the set of 3 allowing you to journey to the summit along the outer arch of the Bridge on catwalks and ladders approximately 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. Here you’ll be able to experience 360 degree views of Sydney where you’ll be able to spot the world famous Opera House in the East, the Blue Mountains to the West and the surroundings of the Harbour City. This is certainly one adventure you will not forget so get booking your flight now!
There’s probably many other once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we have not mentioned here. If you think of one or have been on one that you think other readers will enjoy – get in touch and we’ll add it to the list!