Feel the Fear… and Do It Anyway

Spending time in the natural world is a vital balm for the soul and one we should all try and make time for, but it’s easier said than done. Sabbaticals allow us the privilege of time to truly get away from it all. With weeks or even months to spare, looking for niche wildlife species in the rainforests of Borneo or dedicating time to learning astronomy aren’t such far-flung ideas.

WALKING SAFARIS IN ZAMBIA Become more closely acquainted with nature on a multi-day guided walking safari in Zambia’s South Luangwa, taking your time to travel between luxury mobile camps, getting much closer to the bush and its resident wildlife in the process. Exploring on foot means that you’ll not only see some of the big stuff (from a safe distance, of course) but also plenty of fascinating smaller creatures. Then head over to the Lower Zambezi National Park for a tranquil boat safari.

ANCIENT RAINFOREST IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO At the ripe old age of 130 million years old, Malaysian Borneo’s Danum Valley Conservation Area is one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in the world. Spend a few nights exploring with our expert guides and spot orangutans, Bornean slow lorises, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants. There's also the opportunity to go swimming in natural river pools, test your head for heights on a treetop canopy walk or simply relax and listen to the chorus of birds. PRIVATE ISLAND PEACE IN MOZAMBIQUE There’s a whole other world beneath the waves, so what better way to get away from the constant demands of email, Instagram and the latest must binge-watch box-set than swapping your smartphone for a snorkel? Explore the marine world and escape day-to-day life on a private island surrounded by pristine reefs just off the coast of Mozambique, where it feels as if time has stood still.

CANADA’S WILD WEST, BRITISH COLOMBIA Think nature and wildlife and your mind might jump to the Big Five-hosting savannahs of Africa, but head to Canada's British Columbia and you will find another abundance of animals great and small, and locals who can regale you with stories, myths and legends about them. Take in the watery wildlife off Vancouver Island and the elusive spirit bears of the Great Bear Rainforest, all set against a wild mountainous backdrop.

Make the world your classroom. What better way to learn a skill than on an immersive sabbatical, where you have the freedom to dedicate proper time to your pursuit? As well as being incredibly rewarding, learning new skills keeps you sharp, so don’t worry about the sabbatical-shaped gap in your CV. Fill it with all the transferable skills you picked up en route and you'll make yourself a better candidate than ever.

LEARN A LANGUAGE WITH A LOCAL Whether you’re mad about Mandarin or fanatical about French, earn yourself some serious achievement points (in both work and life) by learning a language on your sabbatical. Lessons with a friendly and qualified local are the perfect way to get it started; then, with some basics under your belt, you can practise to your heart’s content as you live like a local or travel around. How about challenging yourself to speak no English at all for a portion of the trip?

PERFECT PICTURES IN BOTSWANA Whether you're a beginner or semi pro, take your photography to the next level on a dedicated photography safari, taking the time to really capture that perfect shot – hippo yawning, lion pouncing or lilac breasted roller, er, rolling. The right lodge (we know ones with amazing hides) and a professional photographic guide are crucial to putting you in the right place at the right time, and teaching you skills you can then use on the rest of your adventures.

MOVE TO THE MUSIC IN LATIN AMERICA A universal expression of feelings and desires, dancing forms a huge part of cultures around the world, and nowhere more so than in Latin America. With the help of our expert instructors, learn to tango in Argentina, salsa in Cuba or samba in Brazil. Before you know it you’ll be wiggling your way into Rio Carnival’s sambadromo parade ground – by exclusive invitation, which we can sort. LEARN TO COOK Serving something you have lovingly made yourself is immensely soul-soothing and satisfying in equal measure. The eating part is pretty fun, too. You may have tried your hand at a pad thai, mole or pintxo (Basque tapas) at home, but it adds a whole new dimension to visit a vibrant market, pick fresh ingredients and learn to cook up an authentic culinary creation with a local cook talking you through each step. Pick up recipes and techniques from around the world to impress dinner guests for a lifetime.

MUAY THAI BOXING IN THAILAND Muay Thai (Thai boxing) is about more than getting a sweat on, focusing instead on the relationship between mind and body. Thailand's national sport dates from the 18th century, when Burmese soldiers captured famed fighter Nai Khanom Tom and gave him the chance to win his freedom by beating ten of their number. His fighting style and dance to respect his ancestors before the smack-down is the stuff of Thai legend, and you can learn some of his moves in Bangkok’s legendary boxing camps.

SADDLE-UP IN ARGENTINA Imagine yourself on horseback at an Argentinian estancia (ranch), learning how to ride, play polo and ranch. It’s a picture-perfect movie moment come to life, and you'll learn with the help of some of Argentina's finest polo players, who are so good they are known as 'hired assassins' when they play for overseas clubs.

In recent years wellness and mindfulness have become synonymous with social media braggability, but the quest for wellness was being pursued the world over long before we started Instagramming our dinners and downwards dogs. Whatever your motive - be it physical, mental, or spiritual - and however hard you want to push yourself, the extended nature of a sabbatical allows you to curate a trip to achieve those goals.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN NEW ZEALAND There’s nowhere quite like the so-called Land of the Long White Cloud to rediscover the joy of physical wellness. With ten aptly-named Great Walks to tick off (and on a sabbatical you’ll actually have time to do them all), drawing in lungfuls of good-oldfashioned fresh air and increasing your daily step count is easily achieved, not to mention fun. It also helps that the scenery is famously epic and that fresh, seasonal produce (yes, that does include the wine) is available in abundance.

YOGA INSTRUCTING IN COSTA RICA So you’ve been practising yoga for years and always dreamed of learning to lead your own class? Forget your dingy local gym and instead head to Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica. Over the course of three weeks you’ll learn practical instructor techniques, deepen your physical awareness and collaborate with your fellow students to inspire and encourage each other. While there, make the most of your stunning surroundings with fun surf lessons, challenging rainforest hikes and plenty of sunkissed R&R. SWEET SOLITUDE IN NAMIBIA Sit in total solitude (with your favourite tipple for company) under a stunning canopy of stars in the Namib Rand International Dark Sky Reserve and you’ll almost feel the stress leaving your body. To really complete the tranquillity treatment (however long that takes for you) and continue the feeling of calm, enjoy a customised menu of massages and yoga classes and test your legs on several nature walks across this vast desert, the scale of which helps put even the biggest issues into perspective.

MEDITATION AND MOUNTAINS IN BHUTAN Simply spending time soaking up the atmosphere in a country whose government measures Gross National Happiness should help improve mental wellbeing. Factor in the numerous Himalayan mountain treks and other outdoor adventures on offer here and you’ve got physical wellness covered too. And for the ultimate trifactor, add on some time learning traditional meditation techniques. We can arrange for you to join a group of devout Vajrayana Buddhists in one of the country’s many ornate dzongs (fortresses).

RETREAT IN INDONESIA Visiting a retreat needn't mean having to lock up your phone or live exclusively off green juice - unless you want it to, of course. For instance, the lovely COMO Shambhala on Bali offers various programmes (including active, Ayurvedic and cleansing) which can all be tailored to suit individual needs. With beautiful surroundings in the jungle north of Ubud, fantastic spa facilities and qualified on-site wellness and yoga experts, this is somewhere to switch off and detox without compromising on luxury.