So, what’s on your holiday wish list this year?

Wish you were here?

There are so many wonderful destinations you could choose from to add to your wish list, so I thought I would share just a few of those with you.

Costa Rica

Welcome to nature’s technicolour theme park, otherwise known as Costa Rica.

Be prepared for Tarzan-like ziplines, tumbling waterfalls, white-water rafting and traversing the rainforest canopy on a rope bridge. In a country with 26 national parks and 30,000 acres of rainforest, you’ll be joined in this playground by all manner of monkeys, lazy sloths and dazzling toucans.

Head to Arenal Volcano National Park, home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, to explore by foot, mountain bike, horseback or canoe, before easing aching limbs in its lava-heated hot springs. Costa Rica is known as a sustainability pioneer and that does not come at the expense of luxury.

This is a country that has it all.

 

Japan

Timing is of the essence for anyone who wants to enjoy Sakura – Japan’s cherry blossom, which erupts into spectacular pink bloom for three weeks from late March to mid-April. Being so short-lived makes this sight even more precious, and sets the scene for the local practice of Hanami – picnicking and partying below clouds of these fragile flowers.

One of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom spots is Yoshino, where more than 30,000 sakura trees carpet the Kii mountains casting a pink hue across the hiking trails of this Unesco World Heritage Site.

Bali

Self-care has become a priority and more of us are escaping to retreats for yoga, massages and meditation as a means of resetting. Amid serene rainforests, it seems that Bali has long embraced this enlightened trend and is synonymous with wellness.

Among a plethora of offerings is the Como Shambhala Estate, inviting guests to make a long lasting commitment to change. Or, hidden in the jungle near Ubud, is the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, where you can enjoy spa treatments, chakra ceremonies and Balinese healing and yoga.

Bali is the perfect destination for those who put wellness at the forefront of there thinking.

 

Machu Picchu

If any site demonstrates the sheer prowess and ingenuity of the Inca Empire, then it has to be the mighty Machu Piccu. Hidden within the Peruvian rainforest in the Andes mountains, the ruins of this sacred citadel are often shrouded in cloud, adding to their spiritual magnetism. The sprawling archaeological site spans 125 square miles and is the reward that awaits hikers who have trekked for four days along the 26 miles Inca Trail. However, the ancient pilgrimage can also be traversed via the opulent Hiram Bingham train.

Either way, the thrill of seeing the vision of this ceremonial site is just magical.

Sri Lanka

This gem of an island is that perfect ‘it has it all’ destination. It’s fringed with glorious sandy beaches, particularly in the south, where the notable seaside town of Unawatuna sits serenely, or to the east where surfers flock to Weligama and Arugam Bay.

Then for your ‘culture fix’, visit the caves at Dambulla or take in the temples at Kandy in the north before you climb the iconic rock fortress of Sigiriya. Also experience the tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya and for an exquisite step back in time visit the cultural town of Galle in the south of the island.

 

 

Let’s Talk

Just a few wonderful destinations to whet your appetite for the joy of travel and exploring new shores.

If you would like to know more about any of these destinations or have a destination of your choice that you would like to visit on holiday, please get in touch and let’s talk.