Beneath the historic vineyards of Épernay in the Champagne district is a series of winding tunnels and hidden caves dug into the chalk. Some date back to Roman times and, apart from a period during World War I when the townspeople hid there to flee the conflict, they’ve been used to store and mature bottles of the region’s famous sparkling wine.
Until recently this labyrinth below UNESCO World Heritage-listed Avenue de Champagne was mostly off limits to the average punter. That’s now changing, with more maisons opening their doors. That includes Champagne Boizel, which has been in the same family for five generations and offers English-language tours of its tunnels at 11.30am and 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday. When you’re done, head to Atelier 1834, Boizel’s wine bar, where you can sip on its exceptional offerings by the glass.
Finding a designated driver for a vineyard crawl is always a drag. Even more so if you’re voted it. There’s no need to worry in this part of South Africa, located about 80 kilometres east of Cape Town, because here you can board the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
The vintage-style railway employs open-air trams and buses to ferry folks around the region, which boasts fine views and a 300-year history of winemaking. Choose from eight hop-on, hop-off lines taking in all the major estates. We think it’s hard to go past the Red Line, which stops at, among other places, glorious Mont Rochelle, where you can partake in wine and canape pairing. Make sure you get an early start if you want to get up close to a cheetah at Grande Provence or take the cellar tour at Rickety Bridge.
Located near the border of Myanmar, Erawan National Park plays host to
a range of natural attractions. There’s a handful of caves, including Ta Duang Cave, which features examples of ancient rock art, and wildlife including elephants and deer. But most people who visit this part of western Thailand come for Erawan Waterfall, with its seven tiers and incredible emerald-hued pools. (Erawan, if you were wondering, is the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology the falls are said to resemble.)
Set deep in the forest, the seven different levels are accessed by an ever-steeper path. The rewards are excellent though, with several of the pools home to schools of fish. The best time to visit is early in the morning – it’s a popular spot for tour groups and the pools become more muddy than miraculous when lots of people get in to swim – and during or just after rainy season (May to October).
It’s hard to believe the biggest thrills in Las Vegas happen about 30 minutes from the famous Strip. And, no, we’re not talking about a hedonistic pool party or an all-night club. This is dirty, dusty and easily the biggest injection of adrenaline you’ll have in years. Strap yourself into a dune buggy and hit the bumpy tracks of the Mojave Desert with the guys from Vegas Off Road Tours. This is definitely no ‘stay in line and follow at slow speed’ experience. Far from it, actually.
An instructor in full denim overalls and looking a bit like Jeff Lebowski offers up a few instructions before thrill-seekers hit the accelerator. “Don’t go too hard on the corners. Some dude died out here last week. Not with us, but watch your turns. Oh, and keep up.” With that he’ll shoot through in a cloud of Mojave dust. During the following two hours of insanity there are times when you’ll be sure all four wheels leave the ground, as well as moments when you – whether you’re driving or reluctantly filling the passenger seat – will find yourself screaming from a combination of fear and exhilaration. The trip ends with local craft beers and a barbecue lunch at the Pioneer Hotel. Viva Las Vegas indeed!
What’s the last thing you’d expect to see tucked away in the far-flung sand banks of the United Arab Emirates? We’re guessing you didn’t just say the world’s largest surf pool, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Wadi Adventure, a world-class water-based adventure park on the outskirts of the palm-fringed city of Al Ain. At 150m in length, with a maximum depth of 2.4m and the capacity to generate 3m waves every 90 seconds, this surf pool is one super impressive man-made accomplishment. Considering Kelly Slater, a legend of the surfing industry, has taken to the Wadi Adventure waves, you know this place is legit.
While the chance to hang 10 in the middle of the desert is as good as any reason to visit, Wadi Adventure is also home to the world’s longest man-made white-water channels. The complex has hosted the Middle East’s World Rafting Championships and serves as an elite training ground for the UAE National Rafting team as well as other kayaking professionals. Forget the water slides and kiddie pools of Wet’n’Wild, this is one seriously soaked experience in the desert.
Saddle up on this horseback adventure that traverses what might well be the world’s oldest desert, the Namib in Southern Africa. This 10-night crusade across challenging terrain requires four to eight hours of riding each day, so only experienced horsemen and women need apply. Your route begins near the settlement of Solitaire, crosses the Naukluft Mountains then continues towards the Namib Desert.
It can be rough going and, at times, you’ll need to dismount to cover tricky territory. Of course, none of that will matter once you’re galloping, wind whipping your hair, past a tower of giraffes or a herd of springboks. By the time you reach the dunes of coastal Swakopmund, you’ll have clocked in almost 300 kilometres of riding, camping under the stars in between. If you’re up to the demands, there’s little chance this horseback desert voyage will disappoint. In hindsight maybe even your glutes will thank you.
Northern Territory’s East Arnhem Land is home to the Yolngu people. This vast land has remained unchanged for more than 40,000 years and will touch you with its strong sense of tradition. With the guidance of Crooked Compass, you’ll be transported from signed tarmac roads into one of the most untouched areas of Australia.
Upon arrival to the Bawaka Homeland you’ll be welcomed by the Burarrwanga family and immersed into the Yolngu culture. Women will be guided through activities such as weaving, cooking, and crafts while spearfishing and didgeridoo making are available to the men. An exploratory hike to the cyan waters of Lonely Beach will bring home just how pristine this land is. By night, Dreamtime stories, passed down over generations, are told by a crackling fire. It’s an experience that will move you to your core.
Canada’s convention centres generally don’t come to mind when imagining indigenous cultural gatherings and celebrations, but Manito Ahbee is an event unlike any other. Held annually in Winnipeg, the festival draws its moniker from the sacred site in Manitoba’s Whiteshell National Park, where First Nations people gather to share their traditions and teachings and perform ceremonies (its name means ‘where the Creator sits’). The celebrations kick off with the lighting of the sacred fire, held at the Forks National Historic Site, which signifies the opening of its numerous events.
Witness Pow Wow – the celebration of culture and friendship among First Nations communities – where more than 800 dancers come together to show off their skills. See the square dance exhibition and the jigging competition in honour of the Metis community. Discover myriad artefacts and traditional artworks at the Indigenous Marketplace and Tradeshow, and marvel as artists put brush to canvas in live art challenges.
Chances are, if you’ve done any investigation into taking an expedition cruise into Antarctica, you’ve mainly come across journeys that start in southern Argentina and the city of Ushuaia. But if you’re not keen on long plane flights there is another option.
How does departing New Zealand sound? National Geographic Explorer’s 15-day Fiordland and the Sub Antarctic Islands expedition on the environmentally friendly Le Laperouse leaves from Dunedin on the South Island. Make sure you arrive a couple of days early, because this southern city is renowned for both its Maori and Scottish histories.
Not surprisingly, this one tracks a different course to most polar voyages, but it one that is equally as breathtaking. First, you’ll head around the southern tip of the country, passing through the Foveaux Strait, then sail north again along the epic landscape of Fiordland National Park. From Milford Sound it’s off to the Snares Islands and the journey’s southernmost point, Macquarie Island. The wildlife – elephant seals, fur seals and penguins of the king, royal and yellow-eyed varieties – is pretty special, but this remote tract of land is also home to more than 3,500,000 seabirds, including Gibson’s albatross, giant petrels and the Auckland shag (yeah, we laughed too).
Other sub-Antarctic stops include Campbell Island and Auckland Islands. All of them are explored on Zodiac expeditions and, because nearly everyone else does their cruise from South America, you might find you and your fellow guests have the whole place to yourself.
The next Fiordland and the Sub Antarctic Islands cruise departs New Zealand on 2 February 2020.
We bet you’ve never had a welcome party of 300,000 king penguins before, but that’s exactly what you can expect when you reach St Andrew’s Bay, in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.
Your arrival via Zodiac® means you can get up close to these magnificent creatures, who blanket the black sand beaches of the south-Atlantic Ocean island every November to begin their breeding and nesting season.
As the second largest species of penguin in the world, king penguins stand nearly one metre in height and are easily identifiable thanks to their glistening white chests (which they love to puff out during mating season) and striking orange-yellow plumage. And it’s not just penguins that reside on South Georgia, with black-browed albatrosses and humpback whales, plus fur and southern elephant seals all calling the island home.
Exploring this remarkable landscape with you will be a team of experienced naturalist guides, whose knowledge and expertise on the region ensures no question – no matter how tricky – will go unanswered.
The best way to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for yourself is to jump aboard a polar voyage with National Geographic Expeditions. They run a number of explorations between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, including the upcoming Beyond the Polar Circle cruise, departing 15 January 2020.
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