Ravaged by violent internal and cross-border disputes, and tarnished by bad press, the small central African nation of Rwanda isn’t for the faint-hearted traveller. The embattled nation is, however, recovering and has its benefits for the intrepid, most notably in its geography and wildlife.
The mountain gorillas are a must-see and one of the best places to track them is the Volcanoes National Park, in the country’s northwest. Here, you can also trek to the summit of Mount Bisoke, where, at the summit, you can peer into a crater lake, or take a much shorter hike to the tomb of Dian Fossey, where she is buried next to her favourite gorilla Digit.
Much less visited is the Nyungwe Forest National Park, in Rwanda’s southwest. Thought to be one of the oldest forests on the continent, it is home to habituated chimpanzees, as well as about 12 other species of primates, including supergroups (those with more than 300 members) of colobus monkeys. Those interested in birds should book a guide, because there are about 310 different species flitting about in the canopy.
People don’t generally spend much time in the mountain-ringed capital of Kigali, but there’s plenty to see if you explore a little. Get up early and stroll around the Kimironko market, take a walking tour offered by the women who live in Nyamirambo, the city’s Muslim quarter, wander to the top of Mount Kigali for a fantastic panorama, and visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Park. It’s a sombre but impressive reminder of how the country has moved on.
If you thought you had to travel hundreds of kilometres across a number of borders to discover the best of Europe you’d be wrong. Located in the continent’s westernmost corner, Portugal is a a melting pot of history, culture and delicious food. Once a colonial giant controlling half of the New World, it’s one of the oldest countries in Europe, with borders virtually unchanged since 1139.
For reasons that are quite hard to fathom, there are people who write off this Iberian land as a smaller, less interesting version of Spain. They should get with the program. Portugal is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Western Europe and its pint size makes traversing from region to region a breeze.
Head to the capital Lisbon, where days can be spent looking at priceless works of arts in its galleries, while nights in the newly revived club district of Intendente are long. Make a beeline for Sintra, with its enchanting gardens and palaces, during the week to avoid the crowds, before heading to Porto, where the medieval Ribera district on the waterfront is famed for its cobbled alleys. Of course, the neighbouring Douro region is also famous for port production, and visitors can tour the grand cellars on the Douro side of the city at Gaia. Float through the canals and lagoons near the town of Aveiro, or visit the Roman town of Barcelos, where there’s a huge market selling fresh produce and the town’s ceramics (this is where the famous rooster comes from) each Thursday.
With more than 800 kilometres of coastline you can gaze out to sea from sky-high cliffs at Sagres or relax on the peaceful Azores Islands with the clear water tickling your toes. If you want to pick up the pace a bit, go hiking among the granite peaks in the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês.
Food lovers won’t be disappointed. As well as simple, traditional fare, including the grilled seafood and barbecued pork served at tascas (taverns) across the country, there are Michelin-starred chefs (check out José Avillez’s restaurants, including Belcanto in Lisbon) and rising stars, like Manuel Lino at Tabik in Lisbon, causing the country’s gourmet stocks to rise.
Exploring one of Australia’s closest neighbours isn’t quite as simple as you might think. Careful planning is essential for visitors to PNG, but even then the lack of infrastructure can throw up obstacles. The committed will be richly rewarded though. This a place where authentic experiences still abound, and indigenous tribes – from the Huli and its wigmen to the mudmen of Asaro – still live in much the same way as they have for thousands of years.
Most people will enter the country through Port Moresby, an intimidating place for many, but also the last place in the country you’ll find anything that could possibly be described as a luxury item or experience. Check out the new Parliament Haus and the Botanical Gardens if you find yourself with a few hours free.
More than likely, you’ve come to PNG to either walk in the footsteps of soldiers on the famous Kokoda Track or head to the island provinces for unbeatable scuba diving, surfing or to climb the volcano near Rabaul. But there are other areas to be explored. Not much has changed in the Highlands, with its rugged mountain ranges, fertile valley, rare and beautiful birds of paradise and more than 700 different cultural groups who live here, but mining may prove a threat to both the landscape and traditional ways.
Many of the provinces also hold festivals throughout the year, and ones like the Kenu and Kundu Festival in Alotau and the Hagen Show in Western Highlands are excellent opportunities for travellers to meet PNG’s people and celebrate their unique cultures.
It’s got 7107 stunning islands to explore and, despite the country’s populous nature, on some you’ll be able to find your isolated Robinson Crusoe moment. Boracay is beautiful but all the beach babies have ditched their usual spots to make it top of the trending lists. Personally, we prefer Palawan for island hopping and snorkelling.
You might not expect it, but there are some decent waves here. The film crew who shot Apocalypse Now back in the seventies left their surfboard at Baler, about six hours’ drive from Manila, and Philippine’s surf culture grew from there. One of the biggest waves is Pagudpud on the northern tip of the mainland, and those who make the trek are likely to have the break almost to themselves.
Divers will also return from the Philippines satisfied customers. Good vis, warm waters and huge diversity of marine life – thresher sharks and manta rays at Malapascua Island, drift and wall dives at Anilao, and whale sharks in Donsol Bay, between November and June – make it suitable for everyone, including those who want to learn.
You’ll also find all the adventure sport staples: mountain biking, rock climbing, sea kayaking and whitewater rafting. Not to be missed is a tour to the underground river at Puerto Princesa.
Three hundred years of Spanish rule certainly left their mark on the country, with some beautiful colonial architecture still standing in Manila. This is a great city to explore for so many reasons: it’s not nearly as hectic as some of Asia’s other capitals, there is fantastic eating and shopping to be had, and the remnants of the Marcos era are, unsurprisingly, fascinating.
Mention Peru and most people think Machu Picchu. It is spectacular and so are the other magical Inca cities you can visit on strenuous treks in the surrounding areas. Those who do more than merely fly in and fly out of the Sacred Valley ‘to do Machu Picchu’, though, will be richly rewarded.
The vast coastline, where the desert meets surf, is most popular in the slightly greener north (the location of cosmopolitan capital Lima), but it’s the south where you’ll find the unexpected. There are islands off the shore that act as wildlife havens, remote fishing villages and spectacular dunes that seem to stretch forever. Here’s where you’ll go to fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines, visit the Ica Valley where grape varieties like quebranta and negra criolla are grown to make pisco, and go dune buggying in the oasis village of Huacachina.
Amazon jungle takes up 60 per cent of the country, and is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. There are companies that run cruises, from basic to luxury, down the Amazon River, or you could head to the likes of Manú National Park to hang out in the cloud forest watching for spider monkeys and jaguars.
Cusco, high in the Andes and once the capital of the Inca Empire, is the perfect place to adjust to the high altitude. Take a chocolate-making class, get a good view of the whole city from the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, give a woman in colourful traditional outfits a couple of dollars so you can take a photo of her with her llama, or spend some time wandering the aisles with a freshly squeezed juice in the vast San Pedro Market. Cusco is also the place to try cuy (guinea pig) if that’s what floats your culinary boat. Whatever you do, spend some time exploring this fascinating city before you sprint off to Machu Picchu.
With a Sultan keen on green and a law that forbids any garish skyscrapers, Oman is the antithesis of its northerly neighbour, Dubai. The capital Muscat sits on a lovely harbour, with the corniche housing the Old Mutrah Souk, one of the best traditional markets in the Middle East.
The harsh geography is extraordinary, with sheer rock mountains jutting straight out of the Arabian Sea and protected secluded beaches dotting the coastline in between some of the more classy five-star hotels in the region. Head out into the countryside and things are even more spectacular.
From the vast desert dunes of Wahiba Sands and grand canyons like Jebel al Akhdar to the many wadis and the extraordinary Musandam Peninsula, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re after adventurous rock climbing or camping beneath the stars in the desert, Oman is a country to discover.
The beautiful, rich, clean and peaceful Scandinavian nation of Norway is blessed with more than just pleasing aesthetics. Its people are fit, nature-loving and the ideal company if you undertake a (nude) sauna session and sink some aquavit (a liquor distilled from potato). The cities are tidy and cosmopolitan – it is very easy to stay a while if your budget allows.
Given Norway’s sparse population density the deserted fjords, deserted caves, glaciers and mountains beckon. A raft of outdoor activities are available to ensure you make optimal use of the mountainous surrounds – kayaking, whitewater rafting and paragliding and of course snow sports (after all, Norwegians claim to have invented skiing), hiking, biking. There are some standout journeys to make: a polar bear watching boat journey in the remote Svalbard, watching the landscape roll on by as you’re aboard the train from Oslo to Bergen or a ride on a coastal steamer. For us Southerners frolicking in midnight sun will always be a novelty and catching the surreal Northern Lights during winter can only be described as special.
If you blinked three times and wondered where? when you arrived on this page, you wouldn’t be the only one. Niue (pronounced new-ay) is a tiny dot in a vast ocean. Head 2400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, and into the triangle formed by Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, and you’ll find it: all 260 square kilometres of coral atoll also known as the Rock of Polynesia.
If you’re expecting never-ending stretches of white sand backed by swaying palms, you might be a little disappointed. There’s just one beach here: Hio, at the bottom of a cliff, is tiny, but the neighbouring rock pool is an ideal snorkelling spot, full of vividly hued fish, coral and a cavernous below-surface landscape.
Travellers to Niue are looking for one thing – an escape (although you won’t be leaving the modern world completely behind, since this was the first place in the world to offer free wi-fi throughout the country). The rocky coastline and pristine reefs make for plenty of swimming, snorkelling and diving opportunities, as well as the opportunity to explore coastal caves. The drop-offs are close to shore, which is a big tick for anyone who likes to fish. Tuna, sailfish and GTs are all part of the catch, and there’s always the opportunity to join one of the local fisherman in his vaka (canoe) to see how it’s done. Spinner dolphins live permanently in the waters off the island and several operators take visitors out to swim with them or, for those around between July and October, there’s a rare opportunity to swim with nursing humpback whales. That deep water close to shore means they can be just 20 metres away from the coastline.
Back on land, trek through the interior or grab a mountain bike to do some exploring. Central Alofi is the home of a twice-weekly market (Tuesday and Friday), where you can stock up on tropical fruits or try local delicacies like uga (coconut crab).
While we love to diss their accents and make bad sheep jokes, the land of the Kiwi is blessed with scenery so otherworldly you’d think you were on the set of a Lord of the Rings film. Which is probably because you are.
For a snow or adventure sports holiday, New Zealand comes up trumps for affordability and quality. For those less enthused with getting among the cold stuff, there is hiking to be done in the tranquil mountains. Go ga-ga over a gaggle of glaciers – if you are ever going to splash out on a hell ride, this is the place to do it.
The indigenous Maori culture has been maintained, preserved and respected better than pretty much anywhere else in the world, and spending some time on a cultural tour is well worth the effort. You’ll also find the live music scene worth a look and, if you are really, really desperate (we jest), check out the national obsession, rugby. Best of all, at the end of every day, you can indulge in a tipple of a world-acclaimed sauvignon blanc or ale at one of the plethora of vineyards or microbreweries while munching on some world-class grub. Choice eh, bro?
A tropical oasis brimming with French fashion and cuisine, New Caledonia is the St Tropez of the Pacific – but don’t be fooled, this island offers much more than croissants by the beach.
Noumea is the capital and the region with the greatest French influence. The resort-like atmosphere is peppered with colonial architecture, boutique shops and al fresco dining. Further north on the main island is where you’ll find a completely different New Cal. Go horse riding in the mountains from La Foa, take a helicopter ride over the Heart of Voh, and visit the rural town of Bourail. Known for its cattle stations and cowboys, each August Bourail also hosts its annual Agricultural Fair, featuring a rodeo that attracts a crowd of around 25,000 people.
Off the main island of Grand Terre, you’ll fall in love with the stunning Isle of Pines. Known as the jewel of the Pacific, it was once a French penal colony; these days people wish they could be trapped here.
Of course, the whole shebang is surrounded by a fringing reef that encompasses a 1.3 million square kilometre marine park. If the blue stuff is your thing, you can snorkel, dive, swim, windsurf, stand-up paddleboard and kayak to your heart’s content.
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