New Zealand

From rivers and caves to volcanoes and forests, there’s no shortage of stunning landscapes to explore in New Zealand.

Whale-watching in Kaikoura

The waters off Kaikoura in the South Island are so rich in a diversity of marine life that they have earned the reputation of being New Zealand’s “Natural Marineland”.

A boat trip around this marine paradise is extremely popular and offers an enviable opportunity to see giant sperm whales, migratory humpbank whales, orca, hector dolphins and dusky dolphins in their natural environment. You could try including Kaikoura in a full-day tour from Christchurch, including a visit to a winery.

Cape Reinga

Known as “the meeting place of the oceans”, Cape Reinga, in the Northland Region near the Bay of Islands, is where the Tasman Sea crashes into the Pacific Ocean.

Located on the northern tip of New Zealand, this is where the Maoris believe their spirits depart for their ancestral homeland of Hawaiiki.

An 11-hour air-conditioned coach tour from Auckland to Cape Reinga includes a drive along the rugged sands of Ninety Mile Beach, which is flanked by the Aupouri Forest. Gigantic sand dunes and stunning scenery make this a trip to remember.

Rotorua: Mitai/Rainbow Springs Night-time Combo

Spiritual home to the Maori, Rotorua is the ideal place for people seeking to learn more about New Zealand’s origins.

This cultural excursion enables visitors to meet the descendants of the local tribe of Te Arawa, hear their tribal stories and myths and enjoy an authentic and intimate Maori experience.

A visit to their ancient village in the magical forest, together with a feast of traditional and contemporary cuisine is included.

This is followed by a nocturnal visit to the spectacular wildlife park at Rainbow Springs – a must for people keen to see kiwis and other wildlife in their natural environment.

A Rotorua Sightseeing Combo pass means visitors can make the most of the wide range of other activities available in this region.

Milford Sound Nature Cruise

Described by Rudyard Kipling as “the eighth wonder of the world”, Milford Sound set in the spectacular Fiordland national park in the south-west corner of the South Island, is a huge draw for visitors from all over the world.

A two-and-half-hour nature cruise through the crystal-clear waters of Milford Sound provides visitors with breathtaking views of the stunning waterfalls, ancient rainforest, varied wildlife and majestic mountains, including Mitre Peak, one of the most photographed natural landmarks in New Zealand. An unforgettable experience!

Glacier Walk

Of the 140 glaciers that flow from the Southern Alps, only two penetrate as far as the lower rainforests, reaching just 250m above sea level.

The largest one, Fox Glacier, carves an impressive path through the mountains and a half-day guided walk here gives a real taste of this spectacular, natural phenomenon.

This half-day trip ends in the middle of the glacier where there are spectacular views of the icefall and lower glacier. Mountain gear is provided, and visitors will need a reasonable level of fitness to take part.

For the more adventurous visitor, helicopter flights and overnight guided treks staying in alpine huts are also available.

Post your comments below:

Finland

Nestled between Norway's famous fjords and the eastern reaches of Russia, Finland has a relatively low profile as a tourist destination for the UK. It's best known for its winter Lapland product, yet there's much more to recommend it.

It's a beautiful country of 180,000 islands and even more lakes. The pretty cities of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere have many sights, and it's the home of Santa, Nokia and the sauna. Plus, most Finns speak English, so it's easy to get around.

The lion's share of Finland's tourists arrive in winter, flocking to the northern area known as Lapland. While Lapland technically spans areas of Norway, Sweden and Russia too, Finland has become synonymous with these winter breaks, and the tourist facilities are most developed there.

The Father Christmas experience is a huge selling point. Families can fly there for as little as a day to meet the big man in red, take a sleigh ride and have a go at some snowy pursuits. A special Santa Claus village with an office for the man himself, a toy factory manned by elves and an exhibition explaining his secrets - like how he fits down chimneys and visits everyone in the world in a single night. Facilities are extensive, but these areas are likely to be crowded.

Smaller, specialist operators such as Specialised Tours and Scantours choose quieter options such as Harriniva, where Santa may be played by the school teacher and the elves by local kids, making the whole experience more amateur, but infinitely more Finnish.

Temperatures can drop as low as -30C, but it's usually about -15C in January (the coldest month). It is recommended that you bring plenty of layers, thermals and thick socks, although most hotels and operators will provide outerwear and boots.

There are many other activities on offer in Lapland, including snow-shoeing, reindeer sleigh rides, husky dog-sledding and snow-mobiling - or visitors can just join in a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

The atmosphere in the wilderness is really special, and Finland offers a wonderful range of activities. Christmas, New Year and February half term are really popular, and clients need to book four to six months ahead.

The magic of the Northern Lights can be seen, but to have the best chance of spotting the aurora borealis, you should travel in September, October, February and March.

Ski is a big market for the Finnish winter - particularly for beginners, with many resorts offering gentle runs. Send clients to Yllas, Saariselkä, Levi or Ruka. The new resort of Salla offers learn-to-ski and board packages.

Beyond the Lapland winter product, however, Finland isn't really known at all. This anonymity goes some way to explaining why tourists choose the fjords of Norway, Sweden's pretty Stockholm or Iceland's glaciers and thermal pools instead but Finland has plenty to offer.

It's a land of lakes and the midnight sun in summer. It's unbelievably beautiful, much flatter than either Norway or Sweden, and there are lakes and forests as far as the eye can see.

Finland's summer gateway is the capital Helsinki, a city-break destination in its own right. Located on a peninsula that stretches into the Baltic Sea, its charms are particularly lovely in summer as the sun glints off the water late into the night. It's a pocket-sized city, with only 565,000 inhabitants, but it was the European Capital of Culture in 2000, and there are many museums and galleries.

Senate Square is home to the green and white Lutheran cathedral, and the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress - set across six islands and built by the Swedes in the 1700s during the conflict between Scandinavia and Russia - is accessible by ferry from Market Square.

Architecture and design are important to the Finns, and 20th-century Finnish architectural guru Alvar Aalto left his mark on the city. There are also many ultra-modern public buildings, such as the National Opera House and the Kiasma contemporary art museum.

However, Finland in summer doesn't begin and end with Helsinki.

The old capital, Turku, hosts many music festivals in summer, and is home to Moomin World. Visitors access this island theme park, dedicated to the classic fictional children's characters, across a causeway from nearby town Nanntali.

Tampere, Finland's second city, is the gateway to its lake district where steamers spend all day chugging through the country's most stunning lakeside scenery - just make sure you don't forget your mosquito repellent.

Summer is also crayfish season, and visitors can go on fishing trips and cook their own catch, or simply visit a restaurant and feast on boiled crayfish washed down with vodka. Particularly adventurous tourists can track brown bears near the Russian border.

Lapland has plenty to offer too. The sun never sets and tourists can get active hiking, white-water rafting, cycling, canoeing and salmon fishing.

Post your comments below:

Follow the X-Factor to Dubai with Travel Creator

The X – Factor relocated to Dubai this weekend with a group finalists jetting in to audition for Danni Minogue and big sister Kylie in the hope of securing a place in the final three.

In the shows, broadcast on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October, the six finalists in the female under 25s category arrived at Dubai’s awe inspiring Atlantis, The Palm Resort to audition for not just one, but two Minogues as Danni’s older sister Kylie made an appearance to give her younger sibling a helping hand with her decision making.

The Xtra Factor’s hosts Dermot O’Leary and Holly Willoughby also made the trip and took time out of the busy filming schedule to take a dip with the dolphins in the resort’s Dolphin Bay, a lagoon where guests can get to know these beautiful creatures up close.

In addition to swimming with dolphins, guests at Atlantis can enjoy the resort’s very own Aquaventure water park, or wander the underwater halls and tunnels of the Lost Chambers and marvel at over 65,000 marine animals swimming in the placid waters. Add to this 17 restaurants, lounges and bars, serving a wide range of cuisine from around the world and it’s evident that their really is something for the whole family at Atlantis, The Palm.

Travel Creator (a division of Barrhead Travel, based in Glasgow) has partnered with Gold Medal Travel, the UK’s number one operator to Dubai to give you the chance to follow in the footsteps of Danni Minogue and the X Factor team by taking a trip to Dubai’s luxurious Atlantis, The Palm Resort.

Travel Creator & Barrhead Travel is offering a 5 nights bed and breakfast for a family of four at Atlantis, The Palm for only £789 per adult and £729 per child. The price includes return flights with Emirates from Glasgow and all pre payable taxes. Valid for departures from 23 October to 9 December 2009 – Must book by 31 October 2009.

Post your comments below:

The Nile, Egypt

Luxor is home to almost a third of the world's archaeological treasures, and the legendary Nile separates its east and west banks.

In addition to being a major stop on Egypt's historical and Pharaonic circuit, Luxor is the launch pad for scores of Nile cruises. Among its highlights are the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Karnak and Luxor temples, and the Winter Palace hotel, where Agatha Christie sought inspiration for Death on the Nile.

A typical itinerary heads south to Aswan, taking in the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel.

Refurbishments and infrastructure developments are boosting Luxor's product offering, and the pound's strength in this non-eurozone destination, coupled with some keenly priced packages, means affordable luxury for visitors this winter. Add-ons include hot air balloon rides, tours to the West Bank and the Karnak Sound and Light Show.

The seven-night Nile Cruise is now on sale with various styles of cruise, including the new five-star Royal Viking, the most luxurious in the fleet. A week in early December leads in at £899 full board.

Efforts to 'beautify' Luxor are well under way. An impressive, tree-studded, white-tiled plaza flanks the new visitor centre at Luxor Temple, and the much-maligned New Winter Palace building, an eyesore that has marred Luxor's waterfront for decades, has finally been torn down and grassed over.

Most Egypt specialists agree that the most dramatic impact will come from the creation of a new marina, five and a half miles south of Luxor City, to house the burgeoning number of cruise boats that currently clog the waterfront of the east bank.

As a result, diesel fumes will be banished from town and the move will also pave the way for a much wider corniche. The riverside strip will be lined with cafes and restaurants that afford fantastic views of the sunset over the west bank. The completion date is set for 2010.

With one five-star property re-opened following a major facelift, and the ink still wet on a new Four Seasons, Luxor's accommodation offering is on course for a long overdue shake-up.

InterContinental Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Kempinksi Hotels are all rumoured to be interested, but leading the charge is Hilton, with a $45 million refurbishment of its Nile-front property at Karnak.

With restaurants, infinity pools and alfresco bars spilling on to 170 metres of prime Nile frontage, and a world-class spa to boot, the newly refurbished Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa is the city's first true luxury offering. Guests can even book rooms with their own private spa suites.

Post your comments below: