Our top travel destinations for 2018

Madagascar

The Big Five aren’t the only animals that are worth travelling for when it comes to African wildlife. Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, is a paradise for wildlife lovers. It’s a biodiversity hotspot with about 90 per cent of the species living on Madagascar to be found nowhere else on Earth. The island was marooned when supercontinent Gondwana broke up 180 million years ago. In the island’s forests, half the world’s chameleons and 28 species of lemur are to be found. Five-star luxe has found its way to Madagascar’s shores in the last few years. And last June saw the opening of ultra-luxe Miavana on the private island of Nosy Ankao. You can now experience this biodiversity hot spot in style.

Our Classic Madagascar tour offers a great introduction to this fascinating country, and we’ll make sure your trip is tailor-made to suit you.

Seychelles

There are island paradises and then there are the Seychelles – granite and coral islands, made up of lush forests, black-rock formations and some of the world’s best beaches. And from 24 March 2018, it’s going to be easier than ever before to get to the 115-island nation in the western Indian Ocean.

Described as a game-changer for the Seychelles tourism scene, British Airways are set to fly nonstop from Heathrow to Mahé twice a week.

Discover more about our luxury Seychelles holidays.

Tasmania

In recent years Tasmania has gladly shed its slightly twee island image. The last stop on the way to Antarctica is enjoying a renaissance. This sea-change was kicked off by the opening in 2011 of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), an innovative art gallery. The emergence of a swathe of chic resorts and hotels has also done wonders for the island’s reputation. Not to mention, the island has a growing reputation as a gourmet hot spot, thanks to its rich produce and innovative chefs at work here. This glorious wilderness off the southern coast of Australia retains its empty roads, clean air and pristine beaches, but otherwise, modern Tassie is all-change.

The Indian Himalaya

The hottest destination on the Indian subcontinent right now is Ladakh and the Indian foothills of the Himalaya in the province of Jammu and Kashmir. The big draw for travellers is the chance of spotting a snow leopard – one of the planet’s most elusive and endangered creatures. There are said to be between 4,080 and 6,590 of these shy creatures remaining in the cold, high mountains of Central Asia. Sightings are rare and exceptional but Ladakh’s Hemis National Park is gaining a bit of a reputation. In this icy habitat, 200 snow leopards are thought to live and with the help of expert trackers, you might, just might, get lucky.

We suggest a nine-night package to take in all that the Indian Himalaya has to offer.

Egypt

This isn’t the first time Egypt’s been on our ‘where to go next’ list, but it’s back because this ancient country is awash with optimism right now. There are new hotel openings to entice, such as the 39-storey St Regis in the heart of old Cairo. New tombs are being discovered regularly. A trio of rock-tombs were unearthed 200 kilometres south of Cairo and another was found on the left bank near the Valley of the Kings. And most excitingly, the world’s largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) will open in 2018 in Cairo. All that and no queues at the pyramids and temples... Get there fast, before folk flood in again.

We’ve been creating holidays to Egypt for over 30 years, take a look at our Classic Egypt itinerary for just a flavour of what we can offer.

Argentina

Argentina is having a moment. On the continent, all eyes and expectations are turning southwards. 2018 will see Norwegian Airlines opening a subsidiary flying domestic and regional services in Argentina’s interior, opening up this destination like never before. With restaurants like Tegui in Buenos Aires dishing up culinary wonders, Argentina’s food scene is getting noticed. The country was crowned South America’s leading culinary destination 2017 at the World Travel Awards. Now’s the time to explore Buenos Aires; bright-spark Salta in the northwest with its surrounding vineyards and boutique estancias; or explore the epically beautiful Lake District.