And you thought that Spartan was tough...
Mesoamerican ball game in Mexico

This game of basketball meets football was played Olmec, Mayan and Aztec civilisations. The ancient courts were found as far apart Paraguay and what is now Arizona. It’s believed that players would use their hips to pass a rubber ball and the game would be finished by passing the ball through a vertical hoop. As the pitch would was bordered by stone buildings, the players would be covered with bumps and bruises. And they were the lucky ones. For they didn’t always use a ball. The Spanish banned the game when they found that decapitated heads had also been used. People can now watch re-enactments of the game in Mexico.

Mexico

Caballito de Totora in Peru

Believed to be the world’s first surfboard, the Caballito (little horse) is still created by craftsmen in the historic surf town of Huanchaco, Peru. Surfers cut down the Totora plant’s reeds, which grow by the water, dry them in the sun then bind them together. The Caballito was created by the fishermen of the Mochica Chimu people so that they could break through the surf and go fishing. After laying their nets, the fishermen would stand, kneel or sit on the Caballito de Totora as they rode it back to shore.

Caballito de Totora

Volcano Surfing In Hawaii

More than 2,000 years ago Hawaiians would surf down the slopes of a volcano upon wooden boards in tribute to the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. Christian missionaries put a stop to the sport in the 19th century, calling it dangerous. However, it has since been revived by Hawaiians and daring tourists and makes for an unforgettable Hawaiian adventure.

Hawaii

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Overland Safari Through Patagonia

Chilean Patagonia Argentine Patagonia Chile

  • Cruise the Patagonia fjord to the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers
  • Experience Patagonia like a local with a horse-riding excursion through the steppe
  • Explore the Perito Moreno Glacier on a cruise or ice-trekking trip
  • Discover the highlights of Torres del Paine, including the magnificent Grey Glacier
  • Witness the majestic landscapes of Chilean and Argentine Patagonia

When to go:

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Taiwan

  • Hiking in Taroko National Park
  • Taking a dip in Taiwan’s famed hot springs
  • Experiencing a handful of Taiwan’s iconic night markets – you will not go hungry on this trip!
  • Spending a few days in the capital Taipei getting a sense of the island’s unique history

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ideal length 11 nights
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Russian High Arctic

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  • Sail around the Russian High Arctic in luxury with all modern comforts onboard Sea Spirit
  • Experience a true expedition cruise to the rarely visited Franz Josef Land archipelago
  • Visit a soviet-era research facility, once a base for polar exploration
  • Look out for colonies of nesting seabirds on the rugged, steep cliffs of the islands
  • Spot polar bears, walrus and endangered bowhead whales around the archipelago

When to go:

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ideal length 13 nights
Destinations Featured in the Article
Salt lake in Los Flamencos National Reserve, desert Atacama, Chile

South America

Let our South America experts curate your perfect luxury holiday ranging from Inca trail trekking, Amazon River cruising, Samba dancing, or humpback whale sightings.

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