Activity Holidays

Visiting Machu Picchu is one of the most adventurous holiday experiences anywhere in Latin America. Whether you opt for the rugged and historic 4-day Inca Trail or the more naturally beautiful 5-day Salkantay Trail, or perhaps take the less intense train ride (or more elegant Hiram Bingham train). On arrival in Machu Picchu, you can take a guided tour to learn all about the complex's temples and structures as well as the Inca civilisation that constructed them.

In Lake Titicaca, you can opt to explore the lake aboard a kayak as you are guided to the floating Uros Islands by a qualified expert.

The jungle of Peru is fascinatingly biodiverse. Staying in a lodge puts you on the doorstep of canopy walkways through the trees, canoe rides through waterways surrounded by flora and fauna, and both daytime and nighttime hikes through the jungle floor.

The jungle in Costa Rica is the perfect backdrop for an adventurous, activity-focused holiday.

Arriving at a jungle lodge after spotting monkeys and birdlife from a jungle boat cruise is an incredibly unique way to begin a stay in the jungle. Upon arrival, you can navigate the secondary canals aboard a canoe or pursue wildlife along jungle trails. For a more unique perspective on your surroundings, you can walk along the hanging bridges through the forest canopy or take a zipline through jungle clearings.

The Chilean Lake District and Torres del Paine both offer wonderful opportunities for activities. In Torres del Paine, you can hike for around 6km to prehistoric rock paintings, with fantastic views of Lake Sarmiento in the distance along the way on a relatively short hike. Ascending the River Ascencio Valley offers a more challenging hike; the trail navigates a valley, beech forest and a glacial moraine, with incredible views of Torres del Paine's famous jagged peaks upon completion. You can also take an incredible guided horse ride through the Magallanes forest and towards the Serrano River, with the incredible backdrop of the Torres del Paine massif.

Sailing past icebergs to the 40-metre face of the Grey Glacier can feel incredibly isolating and awe-inspiring.

In the Lake District, you can hike to the peak of the Osorno Volcano, which dominates many of the incredible views on offer throughout the area. Along the way, visit the Petrohue waterfalls and Lake Todos los Santos.

A holiday to the Galapagos Islands offers unparalleled encounters with some of the world's most unique wildlife. Whether you choose to explore the islands on a 4-to-7-day cruise on a comfortable boat or opt for an island-based hotel stay, your days will be packed with activities. On a cruise, guided by an expert naturalist, you will explore different islands, embarking on walks among giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and bird species. After your land excursions, you can plunge into the surrounding waters to snorkel alongside playful sea lions, sea turtles, and even penguins. From land, you can take a variety of day trips to nearby islands, although these are likely to be less flexible than boat landings.

A visit to Iguazu Falls in southern Brazil, near the border with Argentina, allows you to feel the spray of over 270 waterfalls as you walk the trails through sub-tropical greenery.

In Rio de Janeiro, you can ascend Corcovado Mountain to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, or take a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for sweeping panoramic views of the city's famous bays and beaches.

You can extend your holiday into the Brazilian Amazon to follow dense jungle trails and take canoe rides along an elaborate tangle of waterways.

Nature lovers will enjoy travelling to the Pantanal wetlands—the largest in the world—to spot caimans and giant river otters by motorised canoe, embark on guided walks in search of exotic birdlife, or ride on horseback across the open plains.

A holiday to Vietnam offers a good balance of exploring river life, historic cities, and marvellous natural landscapes.

In the south, you can glide through the narrow, palm-lined waterways of the Mekong Delta aboard a traditional boat, or head just north of Ho Chi Minh City to explore the immense, historic network of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Further north, you can trade the city streets for the undulating, terraced hills of Pu Luong or Mai Chau to cycle or hike through peaceful rural landscapes.

A true highlight of any holiday to Vietnam is an overnight cruise through the limestone islets of Lan Ha Bay, where you can take a kayak out onto the emerald waters, join an early-morning Tai Chi session on deck, or row a traditional boat into hidden sea caves.

Borneo is one of the world's best wildlife destinations, promising an adventure through primary rainforests and biodiverse ecosystems.

In the dense jungle of the Danum Valley, you can walk along a spectacular canopy walkway for a bird's-eye view of the forest or embark on guided treks to spot wild orangutans and gibbons.

There are a number of chances to get a unique vantage point of wildlife and ecosystems aboard a boat cruise. Cruising along the Kinabatangan River offers an exceptional vantage point for observing proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants gathering by the water's edge, and nighttime options are a great chance to spot the more elusive nocturnal species. In the wetlands of Santubong, you can spot rare Irrawaddy dolphins as you navigate dense mangrove forests.

At the famous Sepilok sanctuaries, wooden boardwalks allow you to closely watch the rehabilitation of rescued orangutans and sun bears.

For a change of pace, you can head to the coastal waters of Gaya Island to explore vibrant coral reefs via guided snorkelling excursions and sea kayaking, or travel into Sarawak's interior at Mulu National Park to witness the mesmerising evening bat exodus from its massive limestone caverns.