If you have a specific hobby for being outdoors or traveling, whether it’s walking, biking, golfing, or skiing, there’s a list of trips you can take this year. These are all features I’ve specialized in for 3 decades and I’m continually looking for new clothing stores and destinations to locate the world’s most productive trips. So I thought I’d start the new year by sharing some of that experience.
I give a lot of extra space to this one because, to me, it sums up the total perception of the “bucket list”: anything that definitely deserves to be done at least once in a lifetime, though preferably more than once. This list refers to specific interests; If you don’t ski, you probably don’t mind the most productive ski trips. But African safari is a wonder of life for everyone, and while I’ve met many other people and many other types of people in my life, I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t been seduced by those trips. In Array’s terms, it’s simply a “must-see. “
For first timers, you can’t go wrong with the classics, East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) or Southern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe). But If I were choosing just one trip, it would South Africa and Botswana, a perfect combination. Having been on safari many times in ten different countries, I feel pretty strongly that Botswana has the best pure wildlife viewing experience, the most unique mix of ecosystems and some of the very best—and most legitimately sustainable—luxury lodges. In particular, Great Plains Conservation (which also has amazing lodges in East Africa), a hyper-sustainability focused operator whose founder and president is a famed National Geographic documentary filmmaker, has three of the very best places you can go on safari here: Zarafa Camp, Duba Plains Camp and the totally unique Sitatunga Private Island camp. I’ve had the good fortune to stay at many of the most famous and highly regarded luxury safari lodges across the continent, but Zarafa is the only one I named one of my dogs after, because it is that amazing.
Note: I had already finished this draft and was in a position to publish it when the UK’s Telegraph published its New Year’s list of the 20 destinations to stop at in 2024. The Okavango Delta in Botswana was the only place in Africa, and “Trust me, if you haven’t been to Botswana, you haven’t beaten the last safari in southern Africa yet. This is the year to reposition it; after all, it won’t be any less expensive, and the campgrounds are bigger than ever.
South Africa adds other top-notch safari camps, the newest and largest of which is the spectacular Cheetah Plains, as well as a number of impressive reports beyond (or before) the safari: wine regions, beaches, world-class golf, the amazing city of Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, luxury trains, stellar cuisine and UNESCO’s Cradle of Humankind.
Go with: This one is a no-brainer. Micato Safaris is not only the most productive safari tour operator, it is the most productive luxury company I have ever encountered in any travel niche and I have experienced many. He is a ten-time winner of Travel + Leisure magazine’s Best Safari Company award, the only ten-time winner in any travel category, and has accumulated numerous other awards. But the most important thing is that they work miracles on a regular basis, and everyone in the safari industry needs to do business with them and do everything imaginable to keep their consumers happy. Safaris are all about access, and when you book through Micato you have the best chance of getting space in the small lodges, the best rooms, consultants and rangers, and privileged access through museums, paleontology sites, restaurants the city, art galleries, scientists. Matrix as you call it. Unlike many operators who outsource many elements, they have their own fleet of vehicles, several offices in Africa and India (and the United States) and their advisors have been with them for years. The first Micato consultant I traveled with to Kenya in the early ’90s (who was excellent) still advises them, as does a long-time South African consultant I traveled with who also took Oprah Winfrey.
Great Plains Conservation runs some of the finest – and most environmentally friendly – luxury … [+] safari lodges in Africa.
I simply planned another vacation to southern Africa for 2024 and once I got Micato involved, a room miraculously appeared at a “full” hostel I wanted to stopover at. Between each camp’s detailed experience, bush plane flights you can book yourself, and a dozen other logistically challenging moving parts behind the scenes, there’s no way to travel that relies as much on experts as safaris; Don’t even consider trying to do it yourself. Who you choose to plan your vacation could be the most important decision you ever make, and while you can go on a luxury safari to Africa (or the Indian Tiger), you can’t pass up Micato.
Just a few years ago when I heralded the deep, fluffy powder of this island nation, many people replied, “There’s skiing in Japan?”—despite the fact that they have held the Winter Olympic Games twice, in two different regions. Now the secret is out of the bag, and most skiers and snowboarders know Japan is the trip of a lifetime. The main reason is that it gets more snow than any other place on earth, so much that it boggles the mind, and it’s the kind of light, dry powder you go heli-skiing for. But Japan is also arguably the best food nation on earth, has fantastic hospitality, is incredibly safe and offers a compelling cultural immersion off the slopes. Surprisingly to many, it is also a good value, cheaper than most Rocky Mountain resorts. All these elements combine to make it the dream ski trip, and because of its newfound popularity, there are lots of new hotels and infrastructure. The two main regions to choose for are Nagano, on Japan’s main island, accessible by train or shuttle bus from Tokyo, and Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, anchored by the city of Sapporo. Hokkaido gets slightly more snow, so it has gotten all the media attention, but there’s still way more powder in Nagano than most skiers can dream of, and with fewer Western visitors, it lasts a lot longer (locals generally prefer groomed trails).
I’ve been to Japan several times and I think the Nagano experience is much more culturally authentic, with small villages, ryokans, a multitude of hot springs, exclusively Japanese cuisine, and the chance to see the famous snow monkeys bathing. It’s more scenic because you have to move between several smaller stations, while the language challenge and cultural surprise are even greater. Hokkaido is much more popular with Americans, Canadians, and Australians, it’s much more westernized (tacos and burgers can be less difficult to try). locate that Japanese food), and has the country’s most popular major resorts, of which it is a destination in itself; most of them include Niseko, Japan’s most popular (and well-known) b resort. For comprehensive turnkey planning, it’s easier, and for luxury travelers, the most productive hotels, especially new additions like the Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Park Hyatt, both in Niseko.
Japan gets more powder than any ski destination in the world, so much that its nickname is “Japow!”
Go with: To delve deeper into the culture and explore the nuances of Nagano, I would draw on the expertise of Scout Ski, an Australian yet global company that makes tailor-made ski holiday plans and specialises in this kind of local wisdom. Scout also covers ski destinations in Europe and North America, but has been a true pioneer when it comes to sending foreigners to Nagano. For Niseko and the unique technique for luxury shopping, visit Alpine Adventures, America’s largest and full-service ski travel specialist. travel agency, which means they’re ideal for locating smart airfares and the like. In fact, Alpine Adventures has embraced Hokkaido and in recent years has become Japan’s leading ski expert. They are also members of the elite Virtuoso network, which caters to consumers. with greater benefits.
There are plenty of wonderful places to take guided motorcycle trips on those days, adding pop-up spots like Mallorca, Croatia, and South Africa, plus tried-and-true classics like Burgundy, Napa/Sonoma, and just about every region of Italy. But for avid cyclists, Tuscany has been and still is, with wonderful food, amazing landscapes, world-class wineries, and plenty of captivating cities. You can just go there over and over again without taking your steps back.
It also has the world’s dream destination for gravel polishing, the fastest-growing cycling niche, a subset of the road bikes geared toward unpaved back roads that tend to be largely traffic-free. Hundreds of kilometres of the so-called “white roads”, due to the colour of the local gravel, run through Tuscany, transporting cyclists without delay to the antipodes of this touristy region. But even with tourists and even on paved roads, Italian drivers remain polite and concerned about safety when it comes to motorcyclists, a refreshing substitute for much of the world. When you take in the landscape, the olives, the grapes, the wines, the cheeses, the cities, the food, and the city gate of Florence, it doesn’t get much better than Tuscany, via motorcycle or on foot.
In addition to its world-famous paved roads, Tuscany offers many miles of gravel on its rural “white roads. “
Go with: There are a number of excellent choices when it comes to luxury guided cycling trips, but the gold standard remains Butterfield & Robinson, the company that literally invented this category of luxury active travel back in 1966. Tuscany has always been a marquee trip for the company, and they have been doing it longer than any of their competitors, with expert guides and long-term relationships that can give them access to lodging and dining that they have locked up for many years. One other specialty B&R is known for is its off-the-bike VIP experiences, from visiting closed museums to wineries, olive oil and cheese producers not normally open to the public, and again, their decades of personal relationship here really help with this. They offer several ways to bike Tuscany, from their more affordable but still excellent (I’ve done it) self-guided product to their 6-Day Tuscany Wine Country scheduled trip to their flagship 6-Day Super Tuscan deluxe itinerary…as well as private custom trips. If gravel grinding is your thing, DuVine, another top guided operator, is the only one in this upscale tier offering scheduled Tuscan White Road gravel trips. I’ve traveled with both companies and can highly recommend them.
There are regions where you can do lots of great day hikes, and long-distance hiking trails like the Appalachian or Pacific Crest that take months to complete, but in the middle are multi-day-long distance hikes of five to 12 days, doable as a vacation rather than a sabbatical. In this category, the Tour du Mont Blanc is simply amazing. It circumnavigates the highest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc, which in turn straddles the Swiss, French and Italian borders—three ultra-desirable hiking countries in one trip. You climb mountain passes and traverse the valleys in between for 8-12 days (these are the most common itineraries), so you get a literal taste of three distinct alpine cuisines, from gelato in Italy’s charming ski town of Courmayeur to fondue in Switzerland to tartiflette in France. The scenery is just amazing, the trails look like what you would imagine if you closed your eyes and pictured the most stereotypically iconic mountain footpaths, and the trips typically begin and end in Chamonix, the world’s greatest mountain town.
It’s pretty tiring, and unlike guided motorcycle tours, you can’t just stand on the side of a trail and hop on a relief van when you’re tired, so you have to be a hiker to do that. The good news is that there are still extensions, shortcuts, and daily features of varying lengths, and luxury tour operators offer round-trip services from trailheads to the most productive hotels in cities, so you can get a good night’s rest, eat well, and even do your shopping. the way. The TMB hike, as it’s called, is one of the most productive active trips I’ve ever taken, and while I don’t normally like to repeat this type of vacation because there’s something new to see, it’s one that I would thankfully do again.
Did I make fondue?
Go with: The operator I went with, National Geographic Expeditions, was excellent, but they no longer do it. Of the many guided companies that offer the TMB, my pick would be Mt Sobek, one of the longest established and most highly regarded outdoor adventure companies. Their itineraries feature better hotels, and they offer both a 12-day version that does the full traditional 99-mile loop and an 8-day “express” version. If you are on a budget but need to knock the TMB off your Bucket List, G Adventures is a reliable active travel specialist that offers does a lot of these trips using basic accommodations and less included meals, but for a price that cannot be beat (from $2,249 per person for 10-days).
This is a tough question, because true Links golf is the most productive type of golf in the world, and there is plenty of world-class Links golf here, with stunning courses located in each and every corner of the British Isles, from Wales to the Outer Hebrides. in Northern Ireland. But basically, if you need the old bucket list and haven’t been to St. Andrews, the birthplace of golfinginginging, the Old Course is the most important event, not because it’s the most productive link (it’s wonderful, but it’s not ). ), but because it is the most productive. Golfinginginging’s most sacred place, a magical city with magic in the air and more than a dozen other featured courses surround The Old. If you’ve played it or can live without it, I’d put Ireland ahead of Scotland for dream golf. ingingingArray It’s a topic that enthusiasts will argue endlessly about, but my theory is that they have too many wonderful courses to play on one. visit, combining legends ranked among the world’s top 10, 50 and 100 and hidden gems, but Ireland has the edge when it comes to natural beauty, climate, luxury accommodation, cuisine and overall hospitality. But if you love to play golf, visiting the wonderful Links courses in Scotland or Ireland (or Wales or England) is an exclusive dream.
Ireland and Northern Ireland have a higher than fair percentage of link fields, such as the BritishArray. [ ] Royal Portrush Open Venue
Cheer up: there are plenty of smart operators out there for those classics and, especially for e-booking courses like The Old, Muirfield, Royal County Down, Ballybunion, etc. , you’ll want to use a smart tour operator. I love Haversham
Multisport adventures have gained popularity because they offer more varied experiences, something new even for the seasoned active traveler, and they don’t lock you into a single box in terms of passion. They often combine cycling, hiking and one or two others. activities, mainly sea kayaking, but occasionally rafting, caving, horseback riding, snorkeling, glacier hiking, feratta climbing, zip lines and much more, adding features like yoga. All major luxury travel agencies active, especially Butterfield
But for me, the most productive way to practice multisports is to immerse yourself in an all-inclusive adventure hotel located in one of the most important destinations in the world, and no one does this style better than the Chilean company Explora, a family hotel company created of national pride, to show off the beauty, activities, food and wine that this country offers. that cuts across almost all ecosystems (Explora has also expanded to Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia, and offers package trips between its lodges).
Explora’s style is simple: it operates luxury accommodations that are, in fact, built and controlled with sustainability in mind, not the faux greenwashing that many resorts claim. These are all-inclusive boutique hotels, with perfect gastronomy and unlimited Chilean and Argentine wines. But most importantly, Explora employs its own trained local guides full-time, while many resorts around the world outsource those services. They take in not only the activities and terrain, but also the local culture and history, for a deep immersion. Each lodge offers an extensive menu of half-day and full-day activities, namely walking, which is almost world-class in what they operate, but also cycling, boating and their distinctive equestrian offerings. Array Explora also operates its own stables and breeding facilities, employing well-adapted Patagonian horses, which exemplify its spirit of doing everything well and comfortably, and doing it themselves. Some places also offer high-level stargazing, namely Atacama, home of the world’s largest survey radio telescope, where they have a private dome-shaped observatory inside the station.
The driest place in the world, Chile’s Atacama Desert, is a multi-sport destination.
Activities range from sedate to very active, and my wife and I were the only ones to sign up for a hike to the summit of 18,400-foot volcano in the Atacama Desert, which is pretty demanding day hike. I have been to three locations, Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, stunning hiking and glaciers, the Atacama Desert, the driest spot on earth and more like Mars, and Easter Island, home to the famous Moai statues and the single most interesting place I have traveled to on earth. They are all so good and so different I cannot recommend any one over the others, and my next one to visit will be Peru’s Sacred Valley, near Machu Picchu, full of ruins and great hiking. You can’t go wrong with Explora for locations, lodging, cuisine, or activities, all with a conservation ethos.
I have spent a lot of time in mountains all around the world, from the Rockies to Himalayas to Andes, and I have never seen a more beautiful mountain landscape than Italy’s Dolomites, a geological example so unique it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hiking and skiing here are exceptional as well, but the beauty of mountain biking is that the options are endless, and suitable for all abilities. You could spend a week on wide track jeep roads, you can tackle the gnarliest single track, and you can do it all by fully human power or e-bike.
Options include one of the most epic day hikes in the world, the famous Sellaronda, a circuit that climbs the 4 main steps. You can take other day tours by motorcycle or go from village to village (fabulous villages) or valley to valley. Depending on how ski resorts are measured, Dolomiti Superski’s network of ski lifts and slopes is the first or second largest interconnected system in the world, and many ski lifts and passndolas also operate in summer, creating a whole new point of mountain bike features for those who prefer not to. Do a lot of climbing. Basically, you can’t run out of features because, in one of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet, the domain boasts the most extensive network of rifugios (mountain restaurants) in Europe and the overall food is excellent, from hearty and comforting dishes to Michelin stars. Likewise, accommodation runs the gamut, from staying in rifugios to luxury Realis properties.
Go With: Surprisingly, given the number of high-end road bike tour operators in the market, no one has really done the same thing with mountain biking, and specialists for this tend to be highly regionalized local operators, Fortunately, there is just this here, Dolomite Mountains, an Italian company focused on all things Dolomites, skiing, hiking, biking and climbing. They do not have any scheduled MTB trips (they do for skiing and hiking) but they have several sample itineraries you can check out, and then they design and guide a trip just for you and your group, with excellent guides and at more reasonable prices than this kind of thing is in most other places, regardless what level of luxe you opt for. I’ve traveled with them multiple times, and I’d choose them again.