Adventures For The Future: The Trips To Start Thinking About Now

As a travel writer, I am used to whizzing off to some incredible places. Some of my trips may be impromptu hops to nearby destinations, other journeys take months in the planning – curating itineraries and discussing ideas for the stories I will eventually write. After some 20 years of doing this, and travelling frequently, I still am addicted to the buzz of getting on a plane, the anticipation of arrival, the new smells of undiscovered lands and the fog of heat that wraps you as you descend the plane stairs somewhere hot.

For the first time in years, I have no travel plans in place, and also have none on the horizon for the foreseeable future. Everyone is talking about this is a time of change and there are new things to come, different ways of travelling but, let’s face it, no one really knows what the future holds. I am holding out, waiting to see what will happen. Slow travel, more-considered journeying and a heightened awareness of sustainability are the phrases which have been doing the rounds in the travel industry, even before the grip of coronavirus took hold, and these will hopefully shape the way forward. 

Slowly the fog of self-isolation is slowly lifting and as countries start to ease restrictions, the path forward is beginning to emerge. Travel will undoubtedly be one of the last things to get back on track. And, in a way, that is right – holidaying is a privilege. But, let’s not forget that tourism is also essential to many economies, vital to the livelihoods of millions. Next time we jet off somewhere, let’s make it work just as much as it does for these people, as it does for us. 

Here are the places and trips that I am already thinking about for next year and beyond. Some offer isolated stays, others promise an elevated sense of adventure. Some of these choices highlight a new corner of the world or have a focus on interesting activities – in short, all the things that we are missing right now.

Magical Marrakech 

Marrakech is a destination full of surprises and I always feel as if an adventure awaits just around the corner. It’s somewhere I could visit time and time again. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the colours of the city: dusty, rose pink buildings, crumbling ochre walls, cobalt blue skies and the myriad hues of mosaics and intricate plaster-work.

One of the most opulent places to stay is the Royal Mansour Marrakech. Owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, it was built as a showcase for Morocco’s rich heritage of artisans, with every corner an immaculate showpiece for age-old craftsmanship. You stay in one of 53 riads – each stretches across three floors with its own rooftop terrace with pool – and each is exquisite.

The city resort is already planning ahead to capture what it thinks guests will be looking for post-covid, and has come up with a series of new, magical experiences. Included is a Bedouin-tented dinner under the stars, at La Pause – a luxury retreat in the Agafay desert; or watching the sun rise over the Sahara from a hot air ballon. You can book an intimate dinner under the The Tree of 1001 Candles, at Dar El Sadaka, or enjoy a private tour of photographer and perfumer Serge Lutens’ spectacular residence.

An immersive trip to Lisbon 

While I have visited Marrakech a few times, Lisbon is one of the cities I have sadly not yet got to. In my sights is the townhouse hotel AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado, which has just 28 rooms and is tucked into a charming corner in of one of Lisbon’s most emblematic squares – Praca de Muncipio.

It specialises in immersive experiences for guests, which means you can really get under the skin of the city – from a three-course dinner with wine-pairing in a local’s 18th-century home to taking part in a Pastel de Nata workshop, at Pastelaria Batalha, a family-run bakery. You can also join a guided food tasting tour of the vibrant food market – Campo de Ourique, to learn about Lisbon’s gastronomy, or, with the beach on your doorstep, you can learn how to surf with professional instructors.

Adventures in the Arctic Circle

The idea of experiencing a true travel adventure really appeals, and surely there’s nowhere better than following in the footsteps of some of the world’s great explorers with a trip to the Arctic Circle. 

Luxury tour company Ariodante offers a unique take on the isolated region with its cruises onboard an ice-breaking motor yacht, combined with a range of thrilling activities– such as swimming with orcas, wildlife spotting and submarine and helicopter explorations. You’ll sail through ice-choked northern waters, while witnessing monumental glaciers, frozen tundra, spectacular peaks and an abundance of wildlife.

Tours will be accompanied by two experts, enabling guests to learn about the Arctic Circle, in addition to a full crew with experience sailing the Arctic and a chef. Clients will be able to create their own itinerary, and with access to a private submarine and helicopter, will be able to uncover every inch of the Arctic Circle and travel to areas that commercial cruises cannot typically reach.

Get away to the Greek islands

For sheer bliss, I’d love to be heading off the one of the Greek islands right now. And, appealing to those who are willing to travel later this summer, but who will want to remain remote and private, The Greek Villas has launched its ‘Private Hotel’ experience with a new collection of 57 stunning villas to choose from across the Greek islands. 

The service will offer similar benefits to staying in a hotel, from daily cleaning to catered meals, day trip excursions and wellness offerings, so that guests can enjoy a five-star hotel experience within a secluded private villa. What’s more, giving extra peace of mind, the company has worked with Lloyd’s of London to launch a tailor-made travel and health insurance package, offered as an additional add-on to any booking. 

Vasilis Pandis, co-founder and managing director of The Greek Villas, comments: “We have seen an increase in bookings for this summer in destinations, including Porto Heli, Paros, Corfu and Mykonos, with many being long-term rentals, as travellers seek to relocate and escape cities and towns. Some bookings have even been made with guests bringing their own staff and travelling in via private jet to avoid crowds and indicating the desire for remote villas. With the Private Hotel Experience, guests can enjoy the privacy of their own villa with the luxuries of a five-star hotel. Additionally our new travel and health insurance policies, which covers COVID-19 incidents that may occur during holidays in Greece, means guests can travel with peace of mind, knowing that we have their best interests at heart.”

Art in Crete

Many of us have turned to the simple pleasures of making art, discovering new crafts and pottering around our gardens during lockdown. Harnessing the benefits of art as therapy, Artful Retreats offers a range of breaks during which you can continue your creative process. There are a variety to choose from, but taking place on the Greek island of Crete this October, and also running next May 2021, is a four-day programme, which includes morning yoga, creating art in the studio and on the estate and strolls around nearby pretty villages.

Founder Penelope Orfanoudaki comments: “With 20 years in demanding corporate jobs, art therapy was my answer to burnout and depression. Since the creation of the retreats, addressing corporate wellness and mental health in the business environment has been a dear objective to me. Artful retreats is often a host of corporate employees experiencing burnout and frustration. Time and time again art making helps them the same way it helped me.”

 Seclusion in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is one of the most spectacular destinations I have ever visited and, with its many idyllic islands, it offers a far-flung Robinson Crusoe experience. Like stepping into the Garden of Eden – the islands are lush with forest-covered peaks,  oversized blooms and tropical white sands.  You can roam around among giant tortoises on uninhabited islands, watch parrots fly overhead and swim with rainbow-hued fish.

With direct flights with British Airways from London Heathrow, the journey there has never been easier, making it the perfect escape for next winter. I’m dreaming about it already. Visit ba.com/Seychelles to find a range of holiday ideas and deals from British Airways Holidays.

Camping in Colombia

Before lockdown, this Latin-American country was being proclaimed as ‘the next big thing’. But, with its rich culture, musical heritage and delicious cuisine – not to mention some outstanding locations – Colombia has long been on my go-to list.

Offering idyllic isolation, luxury-tented-camp Corocora Camp offers a new way to experience the destination. Found in the country’s eastern savanna area – Los Llanos – which is dense with rare flora and fauna (think: giant anteaters and capybaras), it is a region which remains under the radar. Opening it up to visitors, Corocora Camp is changing that with its spirit of adventure and barefoot luxury offering. Four canvas tents, perfect for social distancing, are kitted out with telescopes and large terraces from which to spy playful howler monkeys. 

You can explore the marshes on horseback, track pumas, and make out scarlet ibis soaring overhead. Still largely wild and untouched, it is a haven for wildlife, adventure travel and profound cultural connection. With no Wi-Fi at the camp, this is a chance to totally disconnect from the stresses of life and reconnect with nature as well as the local culture. Corocora has its roots in the local community, with its own education programme, and sustainability at its heart.

Queue up for Kea Island 

It’s always good to keep an eye on new openings when planning future visits and one of the most anticipated is One&Only’s upcoming Kéa Island in Greece, an ultra-luxury development on the Aegean Sea, due to open in 2021. With 75 resort villas, as well as a limited number of homes for purchase, the Greek resort is found spread across a 60-hectare beachfront estate. It will be the second European opening from the brand, following One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro, which is slated to open this October 2020.

Kéa is the closest Cycladic island to Athens and the resort offers elegant villas with nods to Greek traditional design in its aesthetic. Home to a destination spa, inspiring culinary experiences and a vibrant beach club, it promises to be the ultimate hideaway. 

Crazy for Croatia

Finally, also new and promising great things, is the five-star Maslina Resort, a Relais & Chateaux property, on the Croatian island of Hvar. Located near one of the oldest towns in the eastern Adriatic, Stari Grad, the new opening is situated on Maslinica Bay and is due to open this summer. Surrounded by olive groves and terraced vineyards, the resort stretches across two hectares of lush pine forest overlooking the Adriatic Sea with wellbeing, family, culture and authenticity at its heart. 

Croatian architect Tomislav Alujevic has based the resort around an ecological and contemporary aesthetic. Using non-intrusive structural design and combining the use of organic and native materials, the building aims to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings. The vision for Maslina Resort was, he says: “To create a type of architecture that will serve the pure pleasure of enjoying and sharing magical moments and a breathtaking landscape.”  

Complementing the architecture, interior designer Léonie Alma Mason and landscaper Thomas Seconde also drew inspiration from the surrounding environment. Minimalist, yet refined styling and artisan craftsmanship, using natural materials were the focus. The interiors and the terrace gardens enrich the offering, they say, “affirming Maslina Resort’s passionate dedication to excellence and industry-leading innovation”.