Exploring three Galápagos islands — San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz — by land and sea ● Snorkelling with penguins, sea turtles, and white-tip reef sharks ● Walking lava trails among marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and giant tortoises in their natural habitat ● Immersion in Mindo's cloud forest, one of the world's great birding destinations ● Artisan chocolate and hummingbird gardens before ascending to a century-old working hacienda in the northern Andes ● The legendary Saturday market at Otavalo, where a weaving tradition older than the Spanish conquest is very much alive.

Flight-seeing over Kaieteur Falls, the world's highest single-drop waterfall ● three nights at remote Kabalebo Nature Resort, home to 250+ bird species ● Essequibo River motorboat excursion to Sloth Island for wildlife spotting ● guided tour of the Ariane Space Centre ● full-day excursion to the infamous Îles du Salut penal colony ● exploring Paramaribo's UNESCO-listed colonial centre

The Namib, world's oldest desert ● Apricot dunes at sunrise ● Kaleidoscope of cultures ● Swakopmund: charming seaside town ● Rugged Skeleton Coast ● Etosha: Africa's undiscovered wildlife gem

Reykjavik city tour ● 'Golden Circle' tour: Geysers, waterfalls ● Arctic terns, puffins, guillemots ● Bubbling mud craters ● Spectacular Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Explore medieval Transylvania with its imposing castles and fortified churches ● discover the vibrant culture and rich history of Bucharest ● wander through picturesque villages and immerse yourself in local traditions ● visit ancient fortresses and marvel at their architecture ● experience the serene landscapes and natural beauty of Moldova ● enjoy the warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage of these fascinating nations.

Prague: one of the world's most magical cites ● Karlovy Vary-elegant spa town ● Exquisite gothic and baroque Cesky Krumlov ● Bratislava, including the historic Old Town ● Beautiful Pieniny National Park

Prague: one of the world's most magical cites ● Exquisite gothic and baroque Cesky Krumlov ● Bratislava, including the historic Old Town ● Budapest walking tour ● Three nights in stately Vienna

Standing before the 8,000-strong funerary army at Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors ● Exploring the ancient bazaar quarter of Kashgar, where Central Asia begins ● Driving the Karakoram Highway to glacial Karakul Lake ● Riding the high-speed rail across the Gobi Desert from Turpan to Dunhuang ● Entering the painted caves of Mogao — the greatest repository of Buddhist art on earth ● Watching the sun descend over the wind-sculpted formations of the Yardang Geopark at dusk

Follow the route of Homer's Odyssey through the islands Odysseus sailed ● Explore Corfu's UNESCO-listed Old Town on foot, where Venetian alleyways open into hidden garden squares ● Glide across Melisani's underground lake where sunlight falls through a collapsed ancient roof ● Spend a day cooking and eating at a local home on Kefalonia, from market to table ● Island-hop by ferry through five distinct Ionian worlds, each shaped by a different history