Places so pretty they could have been photoshopped, and with enough culture to put you in a Stendhal spin – could these be the best holiday destinations on the planet?
Banff National Park, Canada
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Gorgeous lakes and incredible mountains, every photo looks so good people probably don’t think the place is real. Banff is also home to bears, elk, deer, and bighorn sheep – an idyllic setting that ticks all the big wilderness boxes.
Fjords of Norway
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There are 1,190 drop-dead dramatically gorgeous fjords to visit in West Norway. The region is great for hiking, camping, kayaking, and there is the added benefit of being able to see the Northern lights.
Table Top Mountain, Cape Town
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To get the best out of a trip here, hike up from the Botanical Gardens (taking some time to enjoy the attraction, it is billed as one of the best gardens in the world), to go past waterfalls and a lake before you walk across Table Mountain itself. Then catch the cable car down.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
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While the Cliffs of Kerry are more rugged and bigger than Moher, at Moher visitors can walk along the side of the cliffs on the trails. The visitor centre is almost as dramatic as the cliffs themselves, and well worth a visit.
Iceland
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Volcanos, glaciers, waterfalls, caves, mountains, rivers, pools and the best aurora borealis – Iceland has it all. While many other top destinations might have a better example of one of these wonders, this is probably the only place you can find them all!
Vienna, Austria
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Incredible architecture, fantastic art, first class food, and oodles of history – plus the people are friendly people and the views are great. Vienna is the place to go if you think you want to go to Paris. Another bonus is that to get there you have to experience the glory of the alps… what a shame!
Milford Sound, New Zealand
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New Zealand is what bucket list dreams are made of! Idyllic picture postcard scenery of an astoundingly huge variety, and geological wonders galore. Here’s a taster: tropical Island beaches, Lord of the Rings mountain ranges, Norwegian-style fjords, and rain forests with cold-weather parrots.
Yosemite National Park, California
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Supersized, epic, and inspiring scenery that is worth experiencing every season! Top tips: Go in winter and you will feel like you have the park to yourself (plus the snow is a magical touch not to be missed), although some trails and roads may be closed. Brave the crowds in the spring to experience the waterfalls, which are absolutely breath taking. To escape the crowds at any time, go along any trail for about a mile and there will be far less people!
Don’t forget your travel insurance! We have single trip, multi-trip and long stay options, plus specialist wintersports insurance for adventurous travel plans! Plus kids go free on family policies!