Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2024 i Wanderlust

It’s good news for everybody that ‘sustainable travel’ has become the most talked-about term in the industry. However, far from being a new concept, it’s a label that brings together some time-tested ideas we’ve been writing about, in countless forms, for decades: eco-tourism, responsible travel, conscious travel… Put simply: it’s about caring for the impact that we have when we explore the world, whether heading off into nature, visiting local communities or following our heart to any other magical corner of the globe. And yet it isn’t always easy to give a straightforward answer as to what makes a travel experience truly ‘sustainable’, or indeed what constitutes greenwashing (p40). It’s only by becoming more familiar with these concepts that we can learn to tell the difference. When we set about…

The Art Gallery of Alberta marks its centenary in 2024 with a series of exhibitions by artists that highlight the province’s natural beauty. Look out for AGA100 Act II: Landscape to Land Use (15 Jun 2024-26 Jan 2025), which turns its - occasionally withering - gaze on how we treat nature. youraga.ca Tokyo Gendai returns for its second year (5-7 July; pictured). The Japanese capital’s contemporary art fair exhibits work from 70 of the world’s finest galleries, reserving wall space for the likes Ai Wei Wei, Vivian Springford and Tom Wesselmann. tokyogendai.com Following a four-year renovation, Folger’s Shakespeare Library in Washington DC will have its grand reopening on 21 June. It holds the world’s largest permanent collection of printed works by William Shakespeare, and its revamped exhibition space and new…

MEANDER THE MEKONG IN LAOS From its source high on the Tibetan plateau, the Mekong River snakes nearly 5,000km through China and South-East Asia, acting as both a border and source of bounty for Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Transindus’s Laos Mekong Cruise on board a luxurious Pandaw vessel traces the curves of the river as it navigates upstream from the Lao capital, Vientiane, dominated by the gilded pagoda of the 16th-century Pha That Luang temple. Exploring at a relaxed pace, you’ll watch the landscape become more lush and mountainous, discovering Lao village life and the legacy of the French colonial era in the stately villas and magnificent golden-roofed wooden temples of Luang Prabang, and the Buddha statues lining the Pak Ou Caves nearby. Transindus (transindus.com). Tailormade, two departures…

My least favourite way of exploring a city? Until January, I’d have told you it was cycling. Calling for impeccable balance and a hawk-like sense of direction - neither ofwhich I have there’s plenty about navigating a bike, especially in urban areas, that always made me wary. Then I visitedValencia. When I found myself pedalling through the centre and not actively disliking it, I knew there had to be something special about this city. The best way to see Valencia is by bike, I’d been told. With over 200km of cycle lanes lacing the city, getting out into the fresh air - reducing carbon and other polluting emissions at the same time - is easy and enjoyable. That’s just one of the many reasons why Valencia has been awarded the…

When to go Crowds and temperatures soar June to August, when the mercury can hit 31°C. Each March, the festival of Las Fallas celebrates Spring with fireworks, light shows, dancing and parades. The cooler, calmer months of December to February, when average temperatures are a balmy 17°C, are ideal for visiting. Getting there & around Between them, British Airways (ba.com), Ryanair (ryanair.com), easy Jet (easyjet.com)and Vueling (vueling.com)fly direct from various UK cities. Flight time is under three hours; return fares from under £50. Valencia is under two hours by train from Madrid; book at renfe.com or iryo.eu. The Valencia Tourist Card, valid for 24,48 or 72 hours (£13-21), includes entry to municipal museums and monuments as well as travel by bus, metro and tram. Carbon offset A return flight from…

KILLARNEY COFFEE CUP PROJECT Dismayed by the deluge of single-use coffee cups littering Killarney National Park, locals acted to tackle the problem. In summer 2023, the Killarney Coffee Cup Project was launched – a landmark initiative involving 25 independent coffee shops and 21 hotels working to create a lower-waste system. Residents and tourists alike now can enjoy takeaway drinks without the guilt thanks to a pioneering collaboration with 2GoCup. For a €2 deposit, you can get your drink served in a reusable cup, to be returned to any participating coffee shop. Just a year in, the initiative has kept more than 506,000 single-use cups from going to landfill or being discarded in the national park. Inspiringly, the project’s leaders are now working to spread the program across Ireland, starting in…

National Palace Museum, Taipei An exquisite collection of Chinese art and historical artefacts is housed in this giant must-visit museum – these include bronzes, sculptures, ceramics, scrolls, jade and calligraphy. The bulk of its more than 700,000 pieces were shipped from China by the KMT. There’s so much to explore that half a day is the minimum to do it justice. National Taiwan Museum, Taipei This smaller museum, housed in two beautiful Japanese-era buildings, captures a different side to Taiwan. The story of its Indigenous Peoples and the island’s flora and fauna are on display in the main site. On the other side of the road, the adventure continues in the beautiful Land Bank Exhibition Hall, where replica skeletons of dinosaurs and whales swing from the ceiling. National Museum of…

LEBAWIT LILY GIRMA Travel Green List, p131 “Tour operators are uniquely positioned to inspire us to change how we travel, as well as challenge the industry to ‘green’ its ways. There’s a long way to go, but the sustainability efforts that I reviewed this issue show signs of tourism’s evolution, which will mean enriching itineraries for all of us.” MARK STRATTON The Caribbean, p166 “The saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ couldn’t be truer when it comes to Caribbean wildlife. Take the Cayman Islands, which is more than just fancy yachts - whether spotting turtles at sea, staring skyward at rare parrots or being watched by oversized iguanas, I was blown away by its wilder side.” ANDY SKILLEN Republic of the Congo, p78 “Before I made my first…

“I spotted this adorable little quokka during an amazing visit to Rottnest Island in Western Australia.” Gunilla Roberts “Taken at Bandarawela station in Sri Lanka, I think this monk was waiting for divine intervention.” Michael Killey “After a long hike in the Swiss Alps, I changed trains in Lucerne and had an hour to spare for a stroll around the lake. The sun was already setting when I glimpsed the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), one of the oldest, most iconic bridges in Switzerland.” Rakhmon Boltaev “I finally found a secluded spot on the edge of a lily pond for this shot of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.” @chopsticksontheloose “From top to bottom, inside and out, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania is genius.” Lee Ann Murray “A 150km drive from…

1969 Pride Month began as a statement of LGBT rights commemorating the Stonewall riots of 28 June 1969, which saw a series of protests take place in New York City after police raided a gay bar in Manhattan. 28 June International Pride Day falls on a Friday in 2024, so Pride in London will be held on Saturday 29 June, and in New York on Sunday 30 June. 5 million+ The number of people who attended WorldPride NYC 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the largestever LGBTQ+march. However… 2 June São Paulo’s Gay Pride previously held the Guinness World Record, and claims as many as 5 million participants each year. Its parade takes place on 2 June in…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Readers get 10% off by using the code ‘Wandering’ on the Stanfords website (www.stanfords.co.uk). Wanderlust members can get 25% off. See p205 Taking the Risk by Hilary Bradt Bradt; £20 Stanfords Book of the Month for April The founder of Bradt Travel Guides looks back on 50 years of escapades, surprises, mishaps, disasters… and success. From her first solo trip at the age of three (on a British beach), she revisits six decades of hitchhiking, feeding the travel habit by working abroad, and starting a successful travel publishing company where knowing nothing proved a surprising asset. Cold Kitchen by Caroline Eden Bloomsbury; £18.99 Caroline Eden finds comfort away from the road in her basement Edinburgh kitchen. Join her as she cooks recipes from Central Asia, Turkey, Ukraine,…

Missing: meaningful change Growing numbers of resorts in the Maldives are hiring resident marine biologists to educate and guide guests on surrounding coral reefs. This can help tourists understand the threats faced by our oceans, but some properties have chosen to prioritise this over impactful change - such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing and improving management of waste, and contributing to local communities. Negative growth? Around 105,000 people visited Antarctica in 2022-23, up from about 35,000 in 2012-13. Many expedition cruise companies claim that their activities are environmentally sustainable, but the impacts of such rapid growth are rarely addressed. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently stated: “As the Antarctic tourism industry grows… the severity of its negative environmental impacts is likely to increase… compound[ing] other threats…

City cycle tour As well as cycle hire; Do You Bike offers relaxed, slow-paced tours with informative guides. Excursions, which last three hours and run daily, Start at 10am or 10.30am depending on meeting point; £21. doyoubikerental.com Albufera Natural Park boat tour Visit the park’s freshwater lagoon and learn about its history, biodiversity and importance for Valencia today; tours from £5. visitalbufera.com Ana Serratosa Gallery This contemporary art gallery showcases works by international artists, focusing particularly on pieces inspired by the natural world, and stages al-freseo exhibitions around the city. anaserratosa.com Ensedarte Silk Atelier Eva Escamilla’s boutique sells hand-painted silk garments. Visitors can also enjoy a ‘paint your own scarf’ Mocador experience, learning about all-natural techniques and Valencia’s Silk Road history; £80. ensedarte.com…

Odzala-Kokoua National Park The country’s most popular wildlife destination - managed by African Parks and home to diverse primates - this 1,350,000 - hectare reserve has excellent accommodation, guiding and logistics courtesy of Kamba Africa (kambaafrica.com). This company runs comfortable lodges at Ngaga (best for lowland gorillas), Mboko (savannah, forest edge and river) and Lango (overlooking an elephant-frequented bai). Kamba’s charter flights link Brazzaville to Odzala. Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park This vast expanse of 400,000 hectares of lowland rainforesthome to gorillas, forest elephants and chimpanzees, plus much other shy forest wildlife - is part of the Sangha Trinational Park stretching into the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Under the stewardship of the Wildlife Conservation Society, huge strides have been made in combatting poaching and other illegal activities. Kamba has plans to…

Visit Jamestown Settlement This site chronicles the story of the first English colonial settlement in the Americas through interactive displays, some 500 artefacts and a living history area. You can see replicas of the ships on which the British arrived in 1607, and explore an interpretation of a town inhabited by the Paspahegh, an Indigenous group who lived in the region in the early 17th century. jyfmuseumss.org Explore Yorktown’s Main Street Step out on Yorktown’s charming Main Street to feel as if you’ve gone back in time. Part of the National Park Service-operated Colonial National Historical Park, this street preservesa slew of 18th-eehtury buildings including the Cole Digges House now the home of the excellent Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Café, which offers good breakfast options and roastedon-site brews.…

Various places in Germany are Celebrating Caspar David Friedrich’s 250th birthday with exhibition and events. Hamburg’s Kunsthalle’s (hamburger-kunsthalle.de/en) big show ended in April, but it’s still worth visiting for its collection of 19th-century French painting, including works by Corot, Courbet, Manet, Degas, Monet, Cézanne and Gauguin. When you’re done with art, there are all manner of other aspects of this most British of German cities to explore. The Kunsthalle stands by the Alster lakes, lovely in summer and within walking distance of HafenCity, the revitalised docklands district dominated by the extraordinary, wave-topped Elbphilharmonie (elbphilharmonie.de/en) concert hall. Also here, in a 19th-century spice warehouse, is Miniatur Wunderland (miniatur-wunderland.com), an extraordinary micro-world of breathtaking scale and complexity. Some of the Hamburg museum’s collection Of German Romantic art, including Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the…

When to go Summer, after the snow has (for the most part) melted, brings plenty of sunny and warm days ideal for hiking and camping - but also crowds. The more well-known attractions can feel overrun at this time. It’s also prime fire season. The ideal time for a visit is late September into October, when the weather is usually still pleasant - though quite cold at night: you should still expect snow. The crowds won’t have dissipated entirely by then, but they’ll have dwindled. Winter is a truly breathtaking experience, and a number of activities can be enjoyed only in the coldest months - fatbiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing some backcountry trails, for example - but road conditions and avalanches can create challenges for travel during this time, so…

Africa House in the Wild Kenya Working with Maasai to allow wildlife and livestock to thrive, this eight-room lodge on the Enonkishu Conservancy north of the Mara runs on 95% solar energy. collectioninthewild.com/stay Earth Lodge South Africa This luxury lodge works with conservationists tackling controlled burning, invasive species management and poaching. An artificial wetland filters wastewater, and food waste is repurposed as livestock feed or compost. sabisabi.com/lodges Tembo Plains Camp Zimbabwe This low-impact luxury camp is set amid riverine forest beside the Zambezi. Rooms made of canvas and stone are naturally cool, and ran on solar power. greatplainsconservation.com Wilderness Damaraland Camp Namibia Thatched suites amid dramatic desert landscapes are visited by gemsbok, kudu and giraffe. The camp works with the community of the Torra Conservancy to reduce human-wildlife conflict. wildernessdestinations.com…

Dräi Eechelen Museum Housed in the 18th-century Fort Thüngen behind Mudam, the low-lying fortress with its stumpy three towers looks incongruous backed by the shiny skyscrapers of the European District. Admire the views of the old town across the valley before going inside. Follow the labyrinth of corridors and rooms with exhibits documenting the history of the fort, capital and Grand Duchy. National Museum of Natural History Next to Neumünster Abbey on the banks of the Alzette River, the museum is a must for the young, the young at heart, or anyone who loves natural history. It’s packed with domestic and exotic plant and animal specimens as well as minerals and fossils (including meteorites), plus areas devoted to Earth and Space. Clervaux Castle – The Family of Man An hour…

Grand Hotel Taipei, Taipei Grand Hotel Taipei was built to resemble a giant Chinese palace in 1952 on the orders of Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan’s former autocratic ruler under the KMT, who wanted a sufficiently impressive place to host visiting foreign officials. It sits in splendour with its gold roof and scarlet pillars up on Jiantan Mountain; opulent river-facing suites have sweeping views of the city. Within the premises are banquet halls, a bar, an outdoor pool and secret Cold War-era escape tunnels in the basement that guests can explore. grand-hotel.org/en The Retro Tai-Pan, Tainan Refashioned from the remains of an old garment factory, the Retro Tai-pan offers minimalist rooms that combine a 1970s look with industrial chic: sleepy ceiling fans, terrazzo flooring and rattan furniture are paired with polished concrete…

When to go Weather in Finistère is similar to that in the UK. Summer months are warm and sunny – but bring a waterproof coat. Getting there & around Brittany Ferries (brittany-ferries.co.uk) operates between Plymouth and Roscoff (5.5 hours; £69 one way). You can also take the Eurostar (eurostar.com; £39 one way) from London to Paris, from where direct trains to Quimper or Brest take from 3.5 hours (sncf-connect.com/en-en). Self-drive is the most practical option for getting around Finistère; car hire is available at Quimper airport or in the city centres of Brest and Quimper. Currency Euro (€), currently around €1.17 to the UK£. Further information brittanytourism.com…

The Wanderlust Club has a great range of exclusive offers, competitions and events for our members – here are just a few. Already a member? Head to wanderlustmagazine.com/your-wanderlust to find out more. 25% OFF Purchases on the Stanfords website Stanfords, the UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps, travel books and accessories, has been beloved by explorers and keen travellers since 1853. Members can get 25% off all purchases of the books featured in ‘Read This’ (see p38), and 15% off any other purchases from the Stanfords website. 30% OFF Bradt Guides books Award-winning independent publisher Bradt Guides has been specialising in slow travel, off-the-beaten-track destinations, wildlife adventures and quality travel writing for 50 years. Whether you are looking to explore Britain by rail, visit a lesser-seen corner of the UK…

Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, Hungary Photographer: Krisztian Bodis Few cities have a stronger claim to be the crossroads of Europe than Budapest - witness the countless invaders who came, saw, conquered and settled. From Celts to Romans, Huns to Mongols, Ottomans to Habsburgs, successive occupiers bestowed an extraordinary architectural heritage explored in András Török’s new book, Budapest Gem. This is a tale of not two but three cities: ancient Óbuda, home to Roman remains; regal Buda on the Danube’s west bank, dominated by the Royal Palace on Castle Hill (this image, back); and buzzing Pest, studded with Art Nouveau jewels and other gems. One such marvel is the Párisi Udvar, a Neoclassical shopping arcade-cum-residence that survived both world wars, and is now reimagined as a spectacular hotel. Amazingly, despite its…

Located an hour outside Stockholm, Landet (‘countryside’ in Swedish) is a new eco-friendly escape surrounded by trails and wild swimming spots. Its architect-designed cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows and private decking, and all guests receive a box of local produce, helping to keep their food miles down. landetstay.com Mallorca’s Son Sabater by Zafiro is a new four-star hotel that serves up a taste of Spanish agritourism. Set on a 16th-century country estate, it offers a chance to enjoy slow living and immerse yourself in rural Mallorcan life from the comfort of a room or villa. zafiroboutiquecollection.com Set to open this summer, Le Petit Hôtel Notre-Dame sits on the doorstep of Montréal’s most notable landmark: the Notre-Dame Basilica. This intimate hotel of 16 bedrooms lies within a 19th-century property, offering a refined…

Hotels 1 What measures have you put in place to conserve energy and water, and how do you manage waste? 2 Are you involved in initiatives that support local biodiversity? 3 Do you partner with local communities? If so, how? Tour operators 4 Have you committed to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism goal of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050? 5 How are you reducing the carbon footprints of your itineraries? 6 What proportion of the cost of each trip goes to locally owned and independent businesses? Cruise companies 7 How do you plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 8 Have you committed to halve emissions by 2030 and hit Net Zero by 2050?…

Think New England, think Vermont, and this is just the rustic idyll that you dream of. Dotted around 350 acres of woodland and a lake (they call it a pond, but to a Brit it’s a lake!), the accommodation at Sterling Ridge Resort varies from cosy studio log cabins and romantic retreats to larger houses suitable for families or groups of friends. I stayed in Field and Stream, a luxurious two-storey log cabin with a private setting overlooking the lake. I could hear the tail splash of the resident beavers from my porch and came face to face with deer when I took a short hike through the surrounding woodland at dusk.The cabin is well equipped with every kitchen gadget you can think of, a wood-burning fireplace for chilly evenings…

Portolito Centro This central restaurant uses locally sourced, traditional Valencian ingredients to create imaginative Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist. There’s another branch in the city centre and one at the beach. grupoportolito.com/centro Canalla Bistro by Ricard Camarena The brainchild of its namesake Michelin-starred chef, this less-formal venue creates a cosmopolitan fusion of flavours from seasonal Mediterranean produce. m.canallabistro.com La Marítima Run by a group of siblings, this contemporary restaurant (pictured below) in the marina servesffesh seafood and traditional Valencian paella. veleseventsvalencia.es/en/restaurante/la-maritima Colmado LaLola This relaxed delicatessen and bar serves local wines and cheeses, cava, Valencian oysters,seasonal Vegetables and other regional delights, lalolarestaurante.com/portfolio/colmado-lalola…

When to go The dry season (May–Oct) is the most popular time to visit, while March and April make up the shoulder season. It can get uncomfortably humid between November and February, when heavy rain can last for days. Getting there There are no direct flights from the UK to Indonesia. Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com) and its partner, Scoot (flyscoot.com), offer the fastest connections (18 hours) to Yogyakarta, from £929 return. Carbon offset A return flight from London to Yogyakarta via Singapore produces 1,179kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust encourages you to offset your travel footprint through a reputable provider. For advice on how to find one, visit wanderlust.co.uk/sustainable-travel. Currency & visa Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR), currently around IDR20,153 to the UK£. Visa: Entry visas are available on arrival to UK,…

When to go Temperature and humidity are high year round. The best time for wildlife-spotting is the long dry season, from May to September, when most roads are passable. The north, including Odzals, experiences a shorter dry season in January and February. Getting there & around There are no direct flights to the Republic of the Congo from the UK. Air France (airfrance.co.uk) and Ethiopian Airlines (ethiopianairlines.com) are among the carriers offering flights from London, via Paris and Addis Adaba, respectively. With a bit of haggling, expect to pay a few dollars for the taxi ride into town from the airport. French is widely spoken, and guides and lodge staff speak some English. Carbon offset A return flight from London to Brazzaville via Paris produces 768kg of carbon per passenger.…

When to go Visitor numbers at popular sites peak in summer. Come in spring or autumn for mild temperatures and sparser crowds - or even in winter, when you might hays galleries and guides to yourself. Getting there & around The region is around 180km South of Washington DC. British Airways (britishairways.com), Virgin Atlantic (virginatlantic.com), Delta (delta.com)and United (united.com) all fly to Washington Dulles International Airport from London Heathrow in under 8 hours; returns from about £650. Amtraktrains run to Williamsburg from Washington DC in under four hours. Trolleys, shuttles and ride-share apps operate in both Yorktown and Williamsburg; a rental oar provides more freedom. Carbon offset A return flight from London to Washington DC produces 653.5kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust encourages you to offset your travel footprint through…

When to go The weather around Greifswald is subject to the whims of the Baltic. Expect misty, damp days in winter, with temperatures regularly below freezing. In summer, days reach the low 20s Celsius; two of Germany’s top beach destinations, Rügen and Usedom, are within an hour’s drive. Dresden’s weather tends to be drier in winter, although also colder, being near the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Saxony gets hotter and busier in summer so, if you’re thinking of hiking in Friedrich’s footsteps, early spring and late autumn are best. Getting there & around British Airways (britishairways.com), Ryanair (ryanair.com) and easyjet (easyjet.com) fly direct from the UK to Berlin in about 1 hour 45 minutes, with return fares from under £100. Dresden also has an international airport but there are currently no…

When we think realistically about What sustainable travel is, it’s often helpful to consider first what it’s not. Sustainable travel is not about sailing across an ocean instead of flying, for example. Sure, the carbon emissions of a sailing boat pale into insignificance compared with those of a plane - but will a sailing boat change the travel industry? I’m afraid that, available to no more than a handful of people, it will not. That’s why this second annual Travel Green List is not an exercise in daydreaming of reducing travel emissions to zero. Instead, it’s about recognising the need for serious changes to dozens of seemingly small practices across dozens of business types, and dozens of personal choices. And it’s about celebrating those who are saying “yes” to the…

CELEBRATE LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS WITH WILD FRONTIERS In an era when there are more ways than ever to make a positive difference while travelling, there are few excuses for merely lounging in a hammock – especially when you could help make your own, alongside people with hearing disabilities. This meet-the-changemakers ethos is encapsulated by Wild Frontiers’ Adventures with Purpose tailormade trips. These include elements of charitable, wildlife and community-driven tourism, from visiting a non-profit Cambodian circus founded by refugees to staying at a community-run mountain camp in Namibia or taking part in a hammock workshop in Nicaragua. The company donates some of its profits to selected initiatives through the Wild Frontiers Foundation – and you can visit these projects on your travels. wildfrontierstravel.com CUT YOUR CARBON WITH BYWAY Travelling overland produces…

Getting there & around Taiwan’s flagship carrier China Airlines has the only direct connection between London and Taipei (china-airlines.com/tw/en). Tickets start at £1,000 return and the journey typically takes from around 16 hours. Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) services whizz between Taipei and Tainan in as little as 1.5 hours for £34 one-way. Departures operate every 20 minutes. Book ahead to guarantee a seat, especially if travelling during national holidays (en.thsrc.com.tw). Carbon offset A return flight from London to Taipei produces 806kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust encourages you to offset your travel footprint through a reputable provider. For more advice on how to find one, visit wanderlust.co.uk/sustainable-travel. Further reading & information The new edition of Lonely Planet’s Taiwan guidebook was published in September 2023. For a comprehensive travel guide…

LEARN about Breton culture during celebrations such as Quimper’s Festival de Cornouaille (festivalcornouaille.bzh) in July or Concarneau’s Festival des Filets Bleus in August (festivaldesfiletsbleus.bzh). Visit the Breton Museum in Quimper (musee-breton.finistere.fr) to explore the region’s history. TRY local and regional specialities. Finistère is known for its strawberries – especially those grown around Plougastel-Daoulas – as well as salted butter, cider, and sweet and savoury crêpes. No visit is complete without trying kouign-amann (butter cake), which originated in Douarnenez. EXPLORE the Nantes to Brest canal, which stretches over 360km and passes through many picturesque towns. Rent a paddleboard, boat, kayak or bike at Châteauneuf-duFaou or Pont-Coblant. canal-loisirs.com STOCK UP on seafood at Douarnenez. This port town’s sardine-fishing history dates back 2,000 years, and it’s a good base from which to visit…

Location Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, is about 910km southwest of Beijing. When to go Visit in spring or autumn. Summers are hot and humid, temperatures sometimes soaring into the high 30s Celsius, while winters are very cold – average January temperatures are as low as –5°C. Getting there & around Tianjin Airlines (tianjin-air.com) operates direct flights from Heathrow to Xi’an Xianyang airport on Fridays and Sundays, from around £650 return; flights take around 11 hours. Air China (airchina.co.uk) offers return fares from under £600 with a stop in Beijing. British Airways (ba.com) also flies from Heathrow to Beijing, from where various airlines connect to Xi’an; return fares start from £610 return. The city has an extensive and cheap metro system, with nine lines and more than 200 stations, featuring…

When to go With highs from 16°C to 25°C, the Azores are a yearround destination. Sperm whales and various dolphins can be spotted at any time. Blue, humpback and sei whales migrate past between March and June; spot other cetaceans June to September. July to October is best for whale sharks and manta rays. Getting there & around British Airways (ba.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) both fly direct to Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) weekly from Heathrow and Stansted, respectively, in a little over four hours. Returns on Ryanair start at around £43. Azores Airlines (azoresairlines.pt) flies from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada and Terceira, and between islands. Island-hop on a luxury yacht with Sail Azores (sailazores.pt) from Ponta Delgada or Horta (Faial), or take Atlântico Line (atlanticoline.pt/en) ferries. Whalewatching tours with Azores…

EAT local produce. Look out for creamy Lincolnshire Poacher cheese, made near Ulceby (lincolnshirepoachercheese.com); stuffed chine, a love/hate delicacy of collar bacon with parsley (available at lakings.co.uk); and Lincoln Red Beef farmed on the South Ormsby Estate (southormsbyestate.co.uk), which is also home to walking and cycling trails plus award-winning Massingberd-Mundy Gin. WALK a Wolds Walk. A range of illustrated, easy-to-follow leaflets describe routes ranging from 3km to 12km, all across the National Landscape. These can be picked up locally or downloaded. lincswolds.org.uk/exploring/walking LOOK UP to the skies. Lincolnshire has played a big role in aviation history, and still hosts air force bases – the Red Arrows are stationed at RAF Waddington – so you’ll likely spot interesting planes overhead. Visit Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby, a 1940s airfield…