2. INSPIRE

SEE THE GREAT MIGRATION Every year over 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and other plains game make a cyclical migration around northern Tanzania’s vast Serengeti National Park before entering into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park and, finally, heading back south again for calving season (one of the migration’s unsung highlights). Our expertise means we know the best places to see the action, as wildebeest run the gauntlet of lions and charge past your 4x4 on their journey to cross the savannah or croc-infested Mara River.

WHEN: Year-round, with Mara River crossings between July and September

CRUISE THE NILE History and literature lovers can relive the voyage that inspired Agatha Christie’s famous novel by taking a cruise down the River Nile. Spend five nights aboard the stylishly restored Steam Ship Sudan and enjoy peaceful river views and elegant accommodation. Each day, take expertly guided excursions to spectacular sites from Egyptian antiquity such as the Valley of the Kings and Queens and lesser-known, but no less spectacular, sites such as the beautifully preserved Dendera near Luxor, dating from the 4th century BC.

WHEN: Best in Northern Hemisphere spring and autumn. Summer is seriously hot

TRAVEL ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Swap the standard commute for a train ride with a little more elegance. Travelling from London to Venice on the iconic Orient Express, enjoy racing through lush French countryside and dramatic Swiss Alpine scenery, all observed from the comfort of your own luxurious cabin, which magically transforms from cosy lounge to snug bedroom for the night. While admiring the views, dine on word-class cuisine and sip chilled champagne in the elegant dining carriage.

WHEN: Best between March and November SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Seeing the Northern Lights is a classic bucket list experience. The Aurora Borealis light up the skies across Scandinavia and other northerly destinations during winter and we can arrange private and fun-filled Northern Lights tours (by dog sled or snowmobile) with you staying in cosy wilderness lodges in the snowy Scandinavian north to view these awesome technicolour displays. Then, why not complete the set and see the southern hemispheric equivalent, the Aurora Australis?

WHEN: Best between December and March (or June to September for the Southern Lights)

HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU After four days hiking at altitude through the Andes, arriving at Machu Picchu as the sun rises to illuminate the mesmerising ancient Incan citadel is a euphoric moment. That said, this is one of those experiences where the journey is as special as the destination. For the best version of that journey we always recommend forgoing the more popular Inca Trail for the little-known Lares Trail, along which you’ll enjoy staggering mountain peak panoramas and ancient Incan ruins almost all to yourself.

WHEN: Best between April and October

BALLOON OVER BAGAN Tick two things off your bucket list during one memorable morning in Myanmar. Wake up with an early breakfast before sunrise, then climb into the basket to experience the giddy feeling of being lifted into the air by hot air alone. Tick number one. As you continue to ascend, so should the sun, bathing Bagan’s thousands of stupas and earthen temples in the golden morning light. That would be an incomparable tick number two.

WHEN: Best between December and April

SAFARI IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA No other safari destination is as remarkable, or quite as varied, as the UNESCO-protected Okavango Delta. Every year the Okavango River floods huge swathes of the Kalahari Desert, and so the fertile land surrounding the delta’s waterways teems with wildlife including elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos and more. Depending on the season and your location within the delta, we can arrange safaris by traditional mokoro dugout canoe, boat, 4x4 and even on foot. As safaris go, this is the dream.

WHEN: Best between June and August JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN There’s so much to see and do across Japan’s 6,852 islands (excellent pub quiz fact) that dedicating an entire sabbatical to exploring this fascinating country could easily still leave you wanting more. There are few countries where ancient traditions and modern technology coexist so harmoniously – learn the art of ancient samurai swordsmanship one day and travel by high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) the next. With fantastic food and stunning scenery to add to the equation, Japan is a real sabbatical all-rounder.

WHEN: Year-round with cherry blossom season in March and April and autumn colours in October

ADVENTURE IN ICELAND The Land of Fire and Ice is, as its nickname suggests, a wonderfully wild, natural adventure playground. Hire a car and spend as long as you can exploring the dramatic scenery in remote corners of this diverse island. Iceland is the only place in the world where you can dive between two tectonic plates, plus it’s also home to lava tubes you can traverse through, geothermal lagoons perfect for bathing, fantastic whale watching, endless volcanoes and some seriously wacky cuisine.

EXPEDITION IN ANTARCTICA The snowy home of the South Pole is a once-in-alifetime destination and, considering the significant amount of time required to venture into Antarctica, a sabbatical is the perfect time to tackle it. We can arrange your travel by small expedition cruise ship to this magnificent icy destination, navigating along a coastline of stunning fjords while spotting elephant seals, humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, Adelie penguins, albatrosses and petrels. Alternatively, base yourself on land for kite skiing tours or even skiing to the Pole like the original Edwardian adventurers.

WHEN: Between November and February

ISLAND HOP IN THE GALAPAGOS As a destination with a dizzying number of endemic species, the Galapagos Islands are almost certainly on most wildlife lovers' bucket lists already. If not, they should be. Travel on board a small and luxurious expedition cruise ship to visit some of the 13 major islands and kayak, snorkel, hike and dinghy ride around every day, discovering amazing nuggets of information about the wildlife and habitats from expert guides as you go.

WHEN: Year-round (although it works perfectly directly after an Antarctica adventure) DELVE DEEPER IN ITALY There’s something to discover around every corner in Italy. Spend your sabbatical getting away from the crowds and under the skin of this magical country to truly discover Italy’s secret sauce (and pasta sauces). Travel to remote rural villages, ride a Vespa around the streets of Rome, play cards with locals in Puglia and learn to make pizza in Naples. With any luck you’ll even pick up the language en route (or at least the important stuff, like ‘pizza e vino per favore’).

WHEN: Best between April and November

WHEN: Year-round