Culture, Nature, Learning a New Skill

If you’re feeling suitably inspired and have started dreaming up your sabbatical itinerary already, here are a few more ideas you might want to add to that ever-growing list.

Detox at an Ayurvedic spa retreat in India Meditate in a Cambodian Buddhist monastery Soak in soothing onsen hot spring baths in Japan Bathe under the stars at a luxury safari lodge Practice tai chi with the locals in Henan, China Live like a local on guided walks around the world Enjoy nomadic life and yurt camping in Mongolia Soak up surf culture with Australian surf pros Walk Spain's Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route Master mindfulness on a feng shui course in China

Trek with indigenous Vedda guides in Sri Lanka Visit hill tribe communities in Vietnam's Ha Giang Meet the leg-rowing fishermen of Inle Lake, Myanmar Take tea with an apprentice geisha (maiko) in Japan Recieve a Baci ceremony blessing in Laos Go behind the scenes at a sumo stable in Japan Meet Lake Titikaka's floating island Uru people Learn ancient skills with the Bushmen of Botswana

Visit the Batwa people in the forests of Rwanda Experience tribal traditions with the Samburu, Kenya

Stargaze in New Zealand's UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve Kayak in Thailand's unspoilt Khao Sok National Park Climb Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo Dive the tropical Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar Explore canyons and glaciers in US National Parks Spot bears in Canada's British Columbia Hike, kayak and spot wildlife on an Alaskan cruise Cruise around the dramatic Norwegian Fjords Embrace outdoor adventure activities in Montenegro Sleep under the stars at a private desert camp

Stay on a vineyard and produce your own wine Learn the ancient art of Javanese batik dyeing Perfect your manga drawing skills in Tokyo Learn to surf world-renowned breaks in Indonesia

Visit Malaysian Borneo and learn to songket weave Practise your fishing techniques around the world Learn to cattle ranch, cowboy-style in the USA Learn to read the stars on an astronomy course Take a bush guiding course in Botswana Finally master the art of switching off from work

Make a kite with a traditional artisan in Vietnam

Enjoy a digital detox on the steppes of Mongolia Bring new cities to life with scavenger hunts Experience rural life during a local family homestay Explore Peru by bike, raft and on foot Cycle, ride and eat your way around Italy's Puglia Qualify as Junior Rangers on safari in South Africa Meet the cast of Madagascar, in Madagascar Let the children take charge of some sabbatical plans Bond with your child doing their favourite hobby

Celebrate technicolour at Holi Festival in India

Watch the fireworks over Sydney Harbour, Australia Watch the first sunrise of the new year in Japan Light a candle for Diwali in Varanasi, India Get soaked during Songkran in Thailand Celebrate gaucho life in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina Celebrate Orthodox Easter in Greece

Spend Christmas as a family in Lapland Join the musical celebrations at Rio Carnival

Learn about other religions from the locals

Take the quintessential California road trip Embark on an intrepid self-drive safari in Namibia Delve into the music scene in the USA's Deep South Explore Under-Down-Under in Tasmania, Australia Cross the Andes by 4x4 in Patagonia Cruise Cuba's colourful cities and coast in style Race Bond-style up Switzerland's mountain passes Potter around Greece's hugely historic Peloponnese Go on a self-drive adventure in Hokkaido, Japan Cruise along the scenic garden route in South Africa

See the endemic Komodo dragons of Indonesia Spot one-horned rhinos and tigers on safari in India Go snorkelling with whale sharks in Australia Track rare snow leopards in Ladakh, India Witness Sri Lanka's famous elephant gathering Spot grey whales off Baja California in Mexico Search Brazil's lush Pantanal wetlands for jaguars Help a rhino conservation project in Laikipia, Kenya Go chimp trekking in Tanzania's Mahale Mountains Learn to dive and spot turtles, whale sharks & more

Go back to basics and sleep under canvas for a week Take a street food tour in famous gastronomic cities Reach the summit of a mountain, big or small Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary Make time to read instead of watching TV Stay in an ancient palace or monastery Tick off the New Seven Wonders of the World

See somehwere from above on a light aircraft flight Go a week without your mobile phone Take part in a crazy challenge for charity

Planning a sabbatical across multiple destinations can mean taking several different climates and seasons into account. Fortunately, the team of amateur meteorologists here at Original Travel have come up with a handy guide to weather around the world. Here's a sneak preview...

“We had such an amazing adventure on our six weeks sabbatical. We covered 2,800 miles and saw places we would never have dreamed of had it not been for your help. The pre-trip planning and the support during the trip was absolutely brilliant so once again thank you. We have made many, many happy memories which hopefully our girls will remember for the rest of their lives. ”

Now that your head (and heart) is full of big dreams and grand plans, it’s time to start bringing your sabbatical to life. We’re here to help with advice and insights on the planning process; to provide tips and tricks on the practicalities; to give the lowdown on logistics and to actually make it all happen.

No two travellers plan in the same way. Some of us favour detailed spreadsheets and minute-by-minute itineraries while others just have a great long list of love-to-dos that need turning into an actual plan. Whether you’re in the early conceptual stages, already have a rough idea or own a map smothered with post-it notes, there are some essential logistics that need nailing down in order to turn your dreams into a sabbatical reality.

HOW LONG TO GO FOR How long you go for really depends on a few factors, from the length of your company's sabbatical policy to your budget, the logistics and the reality of fitting in everything you want to do. We’ve helped people searching for a ‘live like a local’ experience across Italy for three months as well as some seriously adventurous travellers wanting to spend two years ticking off every item on their global bucket list (and some extras). We can look at what you want to do, what you want to achieve, where you’d like to go and then help you come up with a plan.

WHERE TO GO WHEN You need to make sure you're visiting your dream destinations when they're at their best, and that's where our handy Where To Go When guide (page 52) comes in. Want to know the best spots for snorkelling with whale sharks in June? After an accurate prediction of when the famous Japanese cherry blossom will be in full bloom? The guide will reveal all, and our expert consultants can then help weave together the ideal tailor-made itinerary. And remember: some bucket list experiences and events get booked up WAY in advance, so plan ahead.

COMPROMISE IS KEY If you’re travelling as a couple you need to make sure you’re both happy with the places you visit. They say opposites attract, so for many couples that might be easier said than done. To help find the magic middle ground, we suggest each picking two or three can’t-miss destinations and then letting us create a route to combine those. The result? You both get your way, but potentially with wild card destinations thrown in to link the trip together. Who knows, they might end up being your highlights.

GUIDED OR GOING SOLO We’re pretty proud of our connections across the globe. We can organise expert-led activities, tours and expeditions, or we can give you some gentle guidance and let you discover for yourself. We’ve found that a bit of both generally works best and, of course, it depends on what you want to achieve. You might want a professional historian to lead you around the complexities of an archaeological site in one location, while you’re happy to stroll around temples in another all by yourself.

VISAS AND VACCINATIONS Juggling entry requirements, visa applications and deadlines when you’re visiting multiple countries can be daunting. We can help you organise all of these details so that you’ve got peace of mind as you travel around. Plus, we have a wonderful (if we do say so ourselves) Original Travel app that means everything is in one paperless place. When it comes to vaccinations, our advice is simple: visit your GP and plan way ahead of time - some vaccinations need to be done weeks or more before you travel.

BIRTHDAYS AND BIG OCCASIONS Special occasions can be the prime time for homesickness. Maybe you want to head home to see family and friends (and sleep in your own bed again for a few nights), travel to a favourite destination to celebrate your birthday, or swap a bush camp for a luxury lodge come the festive season. These occasions are also a great excuse to have friends and family come and join you on your travels, or to tick something off your bucket list, like watching the New Year's Eve fireworks over the Sydney Opera House.

TAKE A BREAK While travelling is pretty darn fun if you ask us (we may be biased), it’s not always the most relaxing pursuit. After trekking through mountains, living off-the-grid and getting your hands dirty planting mangroves, you might find that you want - and need - a little down time. We can organise (and in fact insist on) these well-timed, much-needed breaks, which allow you to reflect on the trip so far, and catch up on a little life admin along the way.

For some, a break will mean doing nothing but worshipping the sun on a beautiful sandy beach - living off a diet of daily pampering treatments and cocktails - for others it will mean staying in a city centre apartment that could (almost) be home. Alternatively, if you really don’t want to take a break, why not enjoy a little so-called ‘slow travel’ instead. Perhaps a week aboard a traditional dhow (boat) in Mozambique or several days on your bike during a cycling trip in Spain? Whatever you choose, we’re certain you’ll be thankful for the change of pace.

So you’ve taken the leap of faith. Hats off. You’ve secured the time off work, organised hundreds of ideas into a workable itinerary and finally pressed the 'book' button. Now that the travel admin is sorted, we realise there are some other life-admin-shaped things to think about too. To help you compile a to-do list, here are just a few of our top tips for ensuring life runs smoothly while you’re away.

HOME SWEET HOME The biggest worry for anyone travelling for a long time is nearly always their home. Depending on how long you are going to be away, there are various options you might like to consider. These include renting your home out, finding house-sitters, or simply asking friends to pop over and check on the boiler every few weeks – you’ll need to keep the heating on to validate your home insurance. We have personal experience organising all of the above and can give you pointers on what might be the best option for you.

SPREADSHEETS ARE KEY Some of us love them, some of us hate them, but the fact is you’re going to need at least one. We recommend making a Google sheet (so you can access it online while away) and suggest logging things like friends and family’s contact details, your online and telephone banking details (don't worry, you can password protect the sheet), and other useful information like travel and house insurance references and your passport details.

LEADER OF THE PACK Rule one when it comes to packing? Don’t panic. If you’re going away for a long time, and travelling in various different temperatures, you’re going to need more than one suitcase. We can arrange for a summer suitcase to be sent to you once you’ve finished your expedition in Antarctica, or for a bag of trekking clothes at your hotel while you island hop around French Polynesia. A little pre-planning goes a long, long way.

GO MOBILE Make sure your mobile phone isn’t locked to a specific provider – your current provider will be able to arrange this – so that you can swap your SIM card for local ones while away. Alternatively, pick up a cheap second phone for daily use and keep your main phone squirreled away as back up.

CHRISTMAS COVERED If you’re going to be away for Christmas or a loved one’s birthday, pick up a unique gift on your travels and we will help you ship it home in time for the big day. Alternatively, if inspiration fails you, remember there is always Amazon. And, of course, we’ll make sure you don’t go without a stocking on Christmas Day too.

FURRY FRIENDS Leaving pets behind as you travel is a major concern for many. Thankfully the world is full of animal lovers and many of you will find you have friends more than willing to foster your pets while you’re away. Time to apply the 'don't ask, don't get' rule. If no luck there, we can help you find paid pet sitters who, rather than putting beloved Bertie in a cage, will become his new best friend in no time.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN Accidents happen; wallets are lost, flights are missed, bones are broken. As a result, travel insurance is absolutely essential. To make sure you’re covered for a sabbatical length trip, and for all the cool stuff you’ve got planned, we can recommend specialist policies. And for all those matters out of your control – think cancelled flights and natural disasters – well, that’s where we save the day.

TARGET TEMPTATION For those of you who own your own business (or who are just selfconfessed workaholics), the temptation to check in on work emails while away can be almost impossible to resist. To help cure your e-ddiction, ask your office’s IT guru to change your email password while you’re away. And don’t worry, you can make sure your second-in-command has your mobile number for any real emergencies.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY When you’re travelling to different countries with different currencies, you need a bank account that isn’t going to charge you a small fortune every time you use it. There are several new challenger banks who won’t charge you a penny to use your card or get cash out anywhere abroad. That said, it’s always a good idea to have multiple cards from different banks with you – just in case.

We’ve already talked about the potential for anxiety when leaving everyday life and - more importantly - friends and family behind during a sabbatical, but now it’s time to get practical. Whether you want to counter those fears by taking family with you, or by having friends visit, or if you want to go totally solo, we can make sure the logistics are taken care of.

TAKING FAMILY WITH YOU

HAVING VISITORS Research shows that roughly a third of our clients who took It’s amazing how infectious the idea of travel can be. Declare a sabbatical last year did so accompanied by their partners at a dinner party that you’re setting off on a sabbatical and and children. It might seem a daunting feat to take children we can almost guarantee that half the table will promise to out of school and travel the world as a family, but if planned come and visit you in some far flung destination. Granted, properly this can be one of the most rewarding experiences not all promises will come true, but many will, and it’s an both parents and children will ever have. And that’s before opportunity for your visitors to finally make the trip they’ve mentioning the invaluable quality time spent together, and always intended (with the help of Original Travel, we hope) the family bonding and life lessons learned from as much as for you to be reunited with long lost friends. encounters with fascinating people and places around the Similarly, for families with older children, what better way to world. Time, though, for a quick spend the university Easter holidays reality check. Arguments will While we recognise that than travelling around India with still happen, and no, children do not learn how to pass their there is no ‘one-size-fits- Mum and Dad? And if you’re away for a birthday or Christmas, who GCSE’s while on safari in Kenya (but as before they will learn lots of other things). Thankfully we all’ approach when it comes to family travel, in knows, we might even be able to surprise you with a visitor or two… GOING SOLO can line up fully qualified and fully flexible tutors to travel with our experience, having For some, the whole point of taking a sabbatical is to get away from you, recommend great online the advice of those that everything and everyone, spending school courses, or even arrange ad-hoc lessons with teachers have planned or taken a much needed time truly alone. It’s an incredibly liberating feeling realising from international schools. family sabbatical before that you are not dependent on the To help with littler ones, or generally defuse arguments, you is utterly invaluable network of people around you, and that you are self-sufficient. It may we also have a healthy address even help you appreciate your book of nannies. friends and family all the more.

To put it simply, while we recognise that there is no For a taste of total isolation with space and time for ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to family travel, in self-reflection, travel somewhere away from the our experience having the advice of those who have planned temptations of Wi-Fi, where beautiful scenery and or taken a family sabbatical before is utterly invaluable. peace are the perfect companions on your journey.

As a company, Original Travel are passionate about responsible travel in all its forms, and we are determined to help our clients travel in as sustainable way as possible. To that end, we offset 100% of our clients' carbon footprints from their holiday flights, car hire and transfers, and the Original Travel Foundation - set up back in 2009 - supports a number of humanitarian projects in developing countries around the world.

Similarly, when it comes to wildlife preservation we believe that conservation and tourism are inextricably linked. At the risk of over-simplifying, if there is no conservation, then there will be fewer reasons for tourists to visit, which means fewer funds to conserve what made a place and its inhabitants (both human and animal) so special in the first place. And so on and on, in a downward spiral.

That’s why we are increasingly looking to work with suppliers who take an ethical and sustainable stance in their destinations. We're not perfect, and there's a long way to go for responsible travel as a whole, but we are determined to do our bit. For instance, we will always let you know about any suppliers who are making particularly admirable efforts to promote responsible travel, sustainability and conservation. You can then make an informed decision before you travel about where you want your money to go.

Why is this all relevant to sabbaticals in particular? Because if you’re staying somewhere for a sustained amount of time, that’s potentially a once-in-a-lifetime chance to really give back in a way beyond the merely monetary (undeniably helpful though that is). Depending on where you end up on your sabbatical travels, we can weave in a responsible tourism element, be that visiting one or more of our Foundation or partner projects around the globe, or really getting your hands dirty by living and working with a project over the course of weeks or even months (see page 38). The latter can involve some seriously hard graft, but we find that a sense of doing your bit - truly making a difference - is one of the key pieces of positive feedback from clients who have enjoyed sabbaticals with us.

So as we plan your sabbatical, bear in mind that our unparalleled network of suppliers around the globe, and our Foundation – something none of our competitors can lay claim to – mean that wherever you travel, and however long the sabbatical, we should be able to tailor-make a memorable responsible tourism experience for you that also helps an admirable cause. Win-win if there ever was.

Images clockwise from left: Local organic farm produce; Rhino relocation with Rhinos Without Borders, South Africa; Supporting local schools in South Africa, Turtle hatching in Costa Rica, Planting trees in Colombia