eight to Ten days
Any of the ideas in long weekends can be expanded to a one week duration of course.
This selection of interesting weeks that we like is not a scientific selection or even a graded one – it’s a serendipitous list of travel ideas; some of them can be added together or mixed one with another where geography, or an aircraft allows. If you just want to book something yourself that’s fine, but if you want us to design something into a wider itinerary just let us know.
“Once we decided to use these two, planning our travels suddenly became easy. They came up with angles, ideas and little extras that we would never have thought about. They expanded our ideas, using their own experience, and they understood what we wanted better than we did ourselves.”
Paul Osbourne
Antarctica
Fly-cruise to the South Pole and back in 8 days. Flights operate from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, so plenty of choice.
A popular option is to fly from Punta Arenas, skipping the voyage across the Drake Passage, and land at Frei station on King George Island in the south Shetland Islands. Skipping the Drake Passage voyage means a visit can be squeezed into a week if a spirit of adventure is not matched by a surfeit of time.
Union glacier Camp – A charter flight will head for the ice runway at Union Glacier Camp, where a seasonal tented camp awaits. The camp lies within sight of Mount Vinson. A connecting flight will take you to the South Pole for a few memorable hours.
Whichaway Camp - Take a charter flight from Punta Arenas or Cape-town, heading for Whichaway, a camp lying below a 60-metre high ice cliff in Queen Maud Land. Here you can hike, ice climb and kite-ski, sleeping in heated glass-fibre pods at night. A connecting flight will take you to the South Pole for a few amazing hours.
Antarctica
Norway – sort of…
The ultimate interesting week. Fly from London overnight to either Cape-town, or to Santiago in Chile with a connecting flight to Punta Arenas in the far south of Chile. Then from either Cape-town or Punta Arenas a charter flight heads for the ice runway servicing the tented camps of Union Glacier camp or Whichaway Camp in Antarctica.
Glacier Camp is located near ot the 5000 metres of Mount Vinson, whilst Whichaway nestles in the lee of a 60 -metre ice cliff in Queen Maud Land, a vast ice region claimed by Norway. There’s ice-climbing, hiking and kite-skiing available during your stay, with nights spend in comfortable heated pods.
Then it’s time to board the charter plane back to Cape-town or Punta Arenas and then head home. A fast-paced but interesting week.
Brasil
New Year in Rio. In Brasil there’s Carnival. But the other must-do event of the year is New Year. In Rio. On the beach. It’s a long way to fly just for one night, so go out a couple of days early, take in Sugar loaf and Corcovado, then fly on to the falls at Iguassu. See both the Brasilian and the Argentinian sides of the falls – both very different – then it’s back to Rio for the 31st, to check out life on the beaches, volleyball, beach bars and music. In the evening join a party or stage your own, but either way be on Copacabana beach for midnight. When we went last year there were 2.5 million people on the beach as the fireworks started, and it stays crowded til dawn. So, make sure to allow a day to recover before catching the jet home.
Canada
Inuvik to Aklavik. Between January and April each year, the ice-roads of Canada are driveable. This is when the lakes freeze over to a depth of not less than 40cm, the thickness needed for most cars to traverse the ice. There are some 4000 kilometers of ice-roads still in use in Canada’s North West Territories, one of which is the route from Inuvik to Aklavik; the ice-road to this remote trapping and fishing settlement at one point crossing the blue-ice surface of the MacKenzie Delta.
The Ice Road to Tuktoyaktuk. Since 2017 the ice road which runs for 137 kilometres from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk has become an all-weather highway. So now the tiny Inuvialuit community can be reached all year round. Starting from the Dempster Highway, this winter road trip offers the chance to see the largest herd of reindeer in Canada. There’s also the chance to visit deserted whaling settlements, hire a local guide and go polar-bear spotting, or trek the ‘pingos’ – ice mounds. Then there’s the local culture of Tuktoyaktuk itself.
Chile
Stay on board a small expedition ship…helicopter trips from the vessel to heli-ski, or for heli-fly-fishing… using jetboats and RIBS… trekking and kayaking… an adrenalin-fuelled stay in Patagonia.
Cuba
Fly to Santiago and catch the local music… drive across the island to Havana to catch the clubs and visit the recording studios… a chance to meet local musicians…
Finland
Fatbiking in Oulanka National Park. Fatbikes are essentially bikes with low gears and chunky 10cm wide ‘fat’ tyres. Ideal for non-skiers to get into ski country. In Finland’s Oulanka National park you can cycle past ice-covered lakes, through ancient forests and across the wintry and wild taiga. In the evenings there are saunas and the chance to see the Northern Lights.
France or Italy
Riviera road trip. Start with an interesting classic car – perhaps a Mercedes 190 SL – and spend a week driving between, for example, Milan, Florence and Cap Ferat. Or visit Portofino or Monaco. The route can be as you wish it, but what makes this a special journey are the luxury touches along the way: picnic lunches put together by the chefs from the top hotels you use, and knowing that a second, modern, car will be there behind you to provide assistance if needed, refuelling and cleaning your classic car at each night-stop, and driving it for you if you feel like handing over the wheel for a day.
Greece
Island hopping for a week on your own private yacht. The crew do the work; you do the relaxing…
Greenland
Ten-day dog-sled expedition. Fly via Iceland to Kulusuk, the main town in Greenland. In some places in Greenland there as many dogs as people, and in the Qaanaaq region its possible to undertake a 10 -day trek by dogsled, crossing polar deserts and marvelling at how the Inuit exist in such a harsh and extreme environment.
Siorapaluk. This small community numbers no more than about 50 inhabitants. A few cruises head in this direction but the easiest way to visit this traditional community is by helicopter, from Qaanaaq, which in turn is reachable by an internal flight. The truly adventurous, however, can eschew the helicopter transfer and, in the spring, cover the 200 kilometers from Qaanaaq to Siorapalik on a dog-sled journey under the endless light of the midnight sun.
Guyana
From Georgetown drive into the interior… a few active and basic days travelling through the jungle, on foot, by boat, camping overnight and trekking up to Kaieteur Falls, the highest single drop falls in the world… then everything changes as, in the middle of nowhere, in the heart of the jungle alongside the falls, a waiter serves champagne and lunch on linen tablecloths, before you fly in a chartered aircraft back to Georgetown and a last night in the 150 year old Cara Hotel and a final Dinner in The Bottle Restaurant, considered the best in Georgetown. Some tough days; some luxurious days.
Haiti
La Citadelle
Although much of Haiti is difficult to reach, and travel can be demanding, La Citadelle is easily reached via a flight from Miami to Cap Haitien, in the north of Haiti. After a day or two exploring Cap Haitien and the beaches outside town, La Citadelle is just a 17 miles drive away.
La Citadelle was one of the largest Fortresses in the Americas. A massive structure, a dramatic and brooding monument to one man’s folly and a UNESCO World Heritage site it was built between 1805 and 1820, on top of Bonnet A L’Eveque hill, 3000 feet above sea level.
La Citadelle is imposing due to its hilltop location, the scale of the engineering needed to build it, the intactness of the place today, and its association with the now forgotten King Henri Christophe. With its amazing views – Cuba can be seen across the sea some 90 miles away on a clear day – it’s fascinating history and the long-lost story behind it, the site would be as world-famous as the Treasury in Jordan or Machu Picchu in Peru if it were better-known and more easily accessible.
With travel time to and from the island built in, La Citadelle can form the basis of an intriguing week-long trip to a relatively unknown part of the Caribbean.
India
Start in Delhi… fly to Khajuraho and visit the erotic temples… overnight with game drive at Panna Reserve… drive or private flight to Agra and the Taj Mahal… Ranthambore Game Reserve and tigers if you are lucky… Jaipur… on to Jaiselmer and a private camel safari… flight back to Delhi. (we have included Srinagar, Kashmir, in this trip before but current FCO advice is not to travel there at the moment…).
Kumbha Mela, Allahabad. Fly from Delhi to Varanasi, India’s holy city sprawling along the Ganges. A day here visiting the Bathing Ghats offers an introduction to India’s spiritual side before our next stop. For from here a short flight to Allahabad brings us to the site of the Kumbh Mela, just over a one-hour drive away. Held in 2019 between mid-January and early March, this 2000-year-old festival sees the largest congregation of pilgrims for a religious festival to be seen anywhere. Our accommodation is in a luxury tented camp situated on the hillside overlooking the sea of fervent devotees below. One to one time with the Saddhus adds to the experience, or if you prefer just to observe, watching the bathing and the activities from the terrace is a moving sight. After three nights at the camp, a flight from Allahabad can take you directly to Delhi and the end of a moving insight into India’s religious world.
Thiksey, Ladakh. A flight into Leh, the Ladakhi capital and then a drive to a tented camp located near Thiksey Gompa, or monastery sees the start of three days amidst the mountains and the gompas of this high plateau land. We visit the sights of Leh, and Alchi Gompa, as well as the Gompa at Hemis, arguably the most famous of the Monasteries of Ladakh. There is also time for rafting on the Indus River, as well as walking or trekking. A return flight from Leh to Delhi lands us in a bustling city which offers a dramatic contrast to the quiet of the stark Ladakhi landscape, its Gompas and its colourful people.
The Hornbill Festival, Kohima, Nagaland. A flight from Delhi or Calcutta to Dimapur, then a two- hour drive, or a 30-minute helicopter transfer, brings us to Kohima in the heart of Nagaland, in India’s far North East. Here, in the nearby village of Kisama, the Naga people hold their Hornbill Festival. 2019 dates are 01 to 10 December. The warrior tribes of Nagaland wear traditional ceremonial costumes for days of drinking, eating (there’s even a chilly-eating competition), dancing and singing. Accommodation here can be difficult to find, but our accommodation is in a luxury tented camp just a 20-minute transfer away from the festival ground. As well as visiting the festival there are also village walks for those who want to explore more of the area. After three nights at Kohima comes the drive to Dimapur airport and the flight back to the bustling modernity of Calcutta or Delhi.
Morocco
Southern Morocco Desert. Essouira is arguably the most beautiful town in Morocco, and a good place to start a southern trip. With a private car and driver, move on to Taroudant – a walled town like Marrakesh but with less hassle – for an overnight. Continue to Foum Zguid, a small town at the edge of the Sahara for an overnight break – or if time is tight then press on for an eight-hour day straight through to a desert camp at Erg Chigaga. A two-night stay here will allow time for dune-walks, camel treks, sand-boarding, and evenings spent around a campfire, with the desert dunes fading away into the night. Next comes the Draa valley and a night in Agdz before crossing through the High Atlas via the Tizi n Tichka Pass to arrive in Marrakesh. A week of walled towns and desert dunes.
Mozambique
Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort. There’s a free helicopter transfer from Pemba to this private island resort, with just 12 thatched villas, each with a private pool. The best part of a visit here, though, must be a night sleeping on nearby Quissanga Island. A transfer to the island by Dhow offers the chance of seeing dolphins and humpback whales on the way. Then there’s just two of you, with a candlelit dinner presaging a night in a four-poster on the beach. For more information www.anantara.com
Maldives
Luxury Yacht week. Spend a week aboard a luxury yacht, a floating resort with four decks, but just 19 cabins – 10 cabins and 9 suites. With a crew of 30 to look after 40 guests, the crew to guest ratio is exceptional. The week is ideal for divers accompanied by non-diving partners, as on board there is a spa, a gym, a jacuzzi and even an open-air cinema, for anyone not attracted to time in the water. But for most guests the main attraction is the diving, as the yacht holds PADI 5 Star Dive Resort status. Diving details depend on guests’ Certification level, but all diving is from the 19metre dive-boat which accompanies the yacht. There’s the chance to see various shark species, including the giant whale shark, as well as manta rays, whilst above water there’s time to explore deserted islands and local villages.
Philippines
Bangka voyage. The word ‘bangka’ translates as ‘boat’ and refers to the ubiquitous local vessels that sail around the islands of the Philippines. Typically, a bangka will have a narrow double-ended hull and 1 or 2 outriggers and depending on size might be paddled or might use an engine. A private trip on a bangka, sailing between October and November or March and August, is a basic experience. Nights are spent ashore in basic huts, and days are spent sailing, lazing and lunching on deserted beaches. There’s a chef who will cook up local seafood - think calamari and garlic prawns around a campfire. Trips start from El Nido island and a private voyage with a local islander crew provided is usually 3 or 5 days, with no fixed timetable or itinerary. With travel time between the outside world and El Nido, a week will be needed. Perfect as a get-away from civilisation but your party must be prepared for very basic conditions. Preceded and followed by a night or two in a 5-star hotel of course.
South Africa and Zimbabwe
Winelands and Waterfalls
We are cheating a bit here as, with international flights added this is going to be a little bit over a week, probably about 10 days. If you like wine it may end up nearly 14 days. Alternatively, we can squeeze it into a week, but you will have to agonise over which excitement to miss out.
Start in Cape-town, with a trip to Stellenbosch and the winelands. By private car, with a few wine samples aboard, or have a lie-in and helicopter there for wine-tasting and lunch. Back to Cape-town on the back of a chauffeur-driven Harley. From Cape-town catch a luxury train to an overnight in Pretoria before a three-day journey aboard one of South Africa’s luxury trains. Nights are spend on board, and days pass rolling across the Karoo and into Zimbabwe, through Hwange National park, with time for game-viewing, en route to Victoria Falls. See the ‘falls from the water then end up with a helicopter ride over the Zambesi before jetting back home.
South and East Africa
Motor-racing weekend in South Africa, then stopover on the way home for diving and fishing on a barefoot island paradise off the north-east coast of Zanzibar.
Spain
Bilbao to Ferrol by Rail. A slow journey this, on Europe’s longest narrow-gauge railway. It’s a 400 -mile run, constructed in 1965 as a local railway linking rural villages. The entire trip, if you choose to travel the line in one day, takes some 15 hours across the Basque country to Galicia, travelling through tunnels and along ravines, traversing the green-clad mountains of some of Spain’s most isolated regions. This is not one through train; changes of train are necessary: from Bilbao a first train runs to Santander, where a change of train takes then follows a wild route through the Picos de Europa, calling at Oviedo. From here a third train runs west, the little narrow-gauge train stopping at isolated stations in the middle of nowhere before reaching the unspoilt coast of Galicia and so to Ferrol. Whilst the trip can be done in one long day, it is far better to take several days, maybe a week or so, breaking the journey along the way, to sample the tapas, cheeses, stews and seafood of the region. The line links so many taste sensations it is a pity not to stop off and linger along the way.
Switzerland
Verbier Winter Week. – just a 90-minute drive from Geneva airport, Verbier has been described as the most glamorous resort in the Alps. For the skier the 4 Vallees region offers some 400kms of runs with over 100 lifts. There’s also heli-skiing available, whilst for the non-skier snow-shoeing, husky sled excursions, horse and cart rides and heli-touring are all available, so there’s plenty of options for an interesting week. On the last day, there’s the possibility to heli up onto a glacier for a sit-down waiter-served lunch or dinner at tables set out on the ice – an exciting way to finish a visit. Our favourite chalet here provides the perfect base. There are just 13 rooms, but 15 staff to look after guests; service is key here. So is the food: owner David is himself a trained chef and the 3 chefs here have Michelin star history. They will discuss meal preferences with guests a week before they arrive. There’s a complimentary bar, but they will also order any guest wine preferences from their wine merchant. Facilities here include a pool, spa, hot tubs and an in-house cinema. If venturing out into town there’s a 24 -hour driver service to get you there and more importantly get you home. The chalet is available for exclusive hire during the winter months.
Verbier Summer Week. – just a 90-minute drive from Geneva airport, Verbier has been described as the most glamorous resort in the Alps. Summer activities here include hiking, mountain-biking, rock climbing, paragliding and parapenting, scooter-riding, golf and tennis. There’s even wheel-sledding with huskies. So, there’s plenty of options for an interesting week. On the last day, there’s the possibility to heli up onto a glacier for a sit-down waiter-served lunch or dinner at tables set out on the ice – an exciting way to finish a visit. Our favourite boutique hotel here provides the perfect base. There are just 13 rooms, but 15 staff to look after guests; service is key here. So is the food: owner David is himself a trained chef and the 3 chefs here have Michelin star history. They will discuss meal preferences with guests a week before they arrive. There’s a complimentary bar, but they will also order any guest wine preferences from their wine merchant. Facilities here include a pool, spa, hot tubs and an in-house cinema. If venturing out into town there’s a 24 -hour driver service to get you there and more importantly get you home.
Uganda
Budongo Forest Reserve. A stay at Budongo Eco Lodge, with the Kaniyo Pabidi sector of the Budongo Forest encircling the Lodge, offers the chance to observe the wild chimpanzee population. Kaniyo Pabidi is in the north-east area of the Budongo Reserve, on the route to Murchison Falls, and is blessed with plenty of chimp-friendly trees and flat terrain that makes hiking easy. Most visitors settle for a half-day chimp experience, but during the low season – Jan-Jun and Oct-Dec a full-day, dawn to dusk, Habituation Experience is available.
D and M Travel Design is a trading name of Lightline Pilgrimages Ltd, holder of ATOL number 9693.