More than ever, the year 2020 will be the year of inspiring tailor-made trips off the beaten track, to meet the unknown, in contact with nature. From the northern regions of Finnish Lapland to the World Expo in Dubai, we have selected the best destinations and trends not to be missed in the four corners of the globe.

Lapland

In the Finnish polar regions, sleddogs are an experience in their own right, to be practiced on the marked paths of snowy forests. As beautiful as your days, your nights promise unforgettable Northern Lights shows. You can observe these strange and magnificent natural phenomena from the surroundings of unusual locations, such as the intimate Beana Laponia, which gathers wooden cottages in the middle of an enchanting clearing.

Montana and Wyoming, United States

In 2020, you continue your quest for the American dream in the heart of the great unknown spaces of the West, in the states of Montana and Wyoming. A paradise for adventurers and nature lovers, the banks of the Yellowstone River guide your journey through the homonymous national park to its grand canyon and Geyser Country, the plain of 200 geysers. Also not to be missed: a visit to the ghost towns of the Wild West, an unforgettable rodeo session, and a hike in Grand Teton National Park, the natural habitat of grizzly bears, elk, and moose.

Tanzania

The best family safaris take place in the vibrant and colorful lands of the endless Tanzanian savannah. Inhabited by the Big Five, it is also home to the Great Fault of Africa, Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro caldera, not to mention the national parks of Tarangire, whose hilly baobab hill landscapes attract elephants, and Serengeti, famous for the great wildebeest migration. You end the trip with a seaside stopover on the most beautiful beaches of the Zanzibar archipelago, a former trading post on the India Highway, bordered by coral reefs. To your snorkels!

Jordan

After an unmissable visit to the heart of the eternal Nabatean city of Petra, you join the hot ochre dunes of the Wadi Rum desert for a sandboarding session. You spend the night in one of the transparent bubbles of the Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel. The next morning, you leave by jeep to visit some of the emblematic places of the site revealed by Lawrence of Arabia, before having dinner around a fire in the company of a Bedouin family from the Gebel Burdah. Registered with UNESCO since 2011, Wadi Rum is home to rare and endemic fauna, such as the fantastic sand cat.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In modernity marked by luxury, Dubai is multiplying audacious architectural projects where excess rubs shoulders with innovation. A show that appeals to lovers of contemporary art and design. It is in this futuristic setting that this year’s World Expo will be held on a 4.32 km² site! Entertain your teenagers in the many theme parks in the region, such as the Ferrari World, but above all, to climb to the top floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower and the site where the fireworks for the inauguration of the Exhibition will be held.

For some, holidays rhyme with relaxation, sun, and beach. For others, it is an opportunity to develop a passion or discover new horizons. For these people, there are many possibilities for scientific stays.

All year-round, it’s subway, work, and sleep every day. And when it’s finally time for a holiday, more than just rest, you want to take a step back? Take advantage of this free time to broaden your horizons and enrich your life? Then scientific stays are for you. Especially since there is something for every taste and every budget. Discovery of astronomy or nature, computer science or history. In a highly organized group or in a more independent way. And even a few cheap stays, but which are worth their weight in discoveries.

Norway: the spectacle of nature

A little like that, but if you feel more contemplative about your soul, a stay in the Far North hoping to see the Northern Lights seems appropriate. Hopefully”, because, we must be aware that we will not admire the Northern Lights, it is the Northern Lights that come to honor us with their visit.

But between September and May, it is possible to surprise one or the other, on the northern Norwegian side, for example. And some cruises, in particular, allow you to put all the chances on your side and to attend this magnificent spectacle of nature, all in shapes and lights, in a hypnotizing silence.

France: head in the stars

For those who like stars, countless stays offer an introduction — or improvement — to astronomy. Whether you are rather observant, with your eye glued to the telescope, an engineer, with the desire to design your rocket or simply scientific, driven by the need to understand how our universe works, there is something for everyone. Without having to leave French soil this time.

Like many other themed trips, Astro trips can be aimed at children, even small children, adults or a family audience, with always the main objective: to dream!

Mexico: in the footsteps of an ancient civilization

Whether you like history or want to return to your roots, there are several destinations that you can’t miss. Italy, the cradle of Roman civilization, of course. Classic Egypt and its pyramids. Or Greece and its countless archaeological sites.

Some agencies also offer some stays in Mexico, in the footsteps of the Mayan civilization. It will be an opportunity to discover unique archaeological sites and one of the strongest and ingenious cultures that have ever lived on Earth. It may also be an opportunity, depending on the formula chosen, to marvel at the exotic fauna and flora in your eyes.

Canada: A wild country

If you are looking to get closer to wildlife, considering walking in the footsteps of the wolf may be right for you. Especially since some agencies offer, in this context, to integrate you into research programs: in Canada, for example, along the Saint Laurent River.

In the Mauricie National Park of Canada, it is possible to test animal monitoring techniques in the field. To monitor the wolf’s evolution from a distance, without disturbing it to share a little of its life with the highest respect.

The most populated island in the Indonesian archipelago has a sense of power and serenity. Fuming volcanoes fertilize cascades of rice fields while the gods watch over the fabulous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.

The rhythm of life and the landscapes are gentle, the richness, both natural and architectural, are apparent.

Borobudur at dawn

Despite great affluence from daybreak, Borobudur appears as a paradise in comparison. The great Buddhist temple nestled in the middle of the jungle was abandoned around the year 1000, two hundred years after its construction. It is due to the struggles with the Hindus, but also volcanic eruptions, especially the smoking Merapi illuminated by the first rays of sunlight.

The voices are silent to capture this moment of eternity and the awakening of the birds, the cameras crackle! As the call of the muezzins resonates, everyone seeks the perfect alignment between the meditating Buddhas, stupas, and light on the surrounding peaks. Who would suspect that this gigantic stone mandala with its nine superposed terraces was dismantled into 1.6 million blocks?

Miles of bas-reliefs

The operation, which began under the aegis of Unesco in 1973, did not succeed until ten years later. Borobudur collapsed under the weight of centuries and foundations undermined by infiltration. Here everything refers to the cosmos and the 9, the number of achievement: the terraces, the 72 openwork stupas (7+2), the 432 niches for the Buddhas (4+3+2).

Several kilometers of carved panels represent the sacred history and daily life, so close to current conditions. A visit to a village introduces you to the riches of this volcanic land. Everything grows: vanilla, pepper, manioc, green oranges, papayas. Then comes the time for weaving from pandanus stems. The day ends with a refreshing tea and the more or less harmonious sounds of gamelan, the typical orchestra based on metallophones (xylophones with metal blades).

With the Hindu triad

On leaving the city, the temples of Prambanan seem to be the Hinduists’ response to the splendor of Borobudur. Here, no single temple, but hundreds, eaten away by vegetation and earthquakes. The main ensemble dedicated to the Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu triad recalls Angkor’s most beautiful achievements.

At nightfall, stone arrows pierce the sky while the gods remain on the lookout in their chapels. Around the terraces of the three main temples, it is a debauchery of bas-reliefs that a week would hardly be enough to detail. Head east towards Bromo, star of the 17 active Javanese volcanoes. As in Borobudur, it is necessary to get up at dawn to see the sun’s rays dissipate the mists and gradually illuminate the lunar plain and volcanic cones.

Volcanoes and pumice stones

If from the lookout, the Bromo seems modest, the effort to reach it is not, through a sea of black sand, strewn with pumice stones and after a good climb. At the edge of the crater, fumaroles hypnotize and leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

Hindus worship the volcano and throw flowers as an offering. There is nothing to stop Muslims from doing the same. Fanaticism may have its followers, but respect and animistic syncretism remain the norm in the largest Islamic country. Those who are fascinated by volcanoes will continue towards Kawah Ijen with its lake of turquoise acid and its sulfur carriers. The others will have a hard time resisting the call of Balinese beaches and sirens.

Mauritius is a small piece of land lost in the Indian Ocean, a small island that could be described as a miniature world: 45 km wide (West to East) and 65 km long (North to South), a 320 km coastline, a new international airport, and a capital where people speak English, French, Creole and many other languages.

A small jewel of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has an ideal climate with breathtaking landscapes. In Mauritius, you can gild yourself on the magnificent white sand beaches that surround the coast for 320 km, or discover the azure lagoon and its coral reef where anglers canoe. When you advance inland, you find out the second face of the island: its pronounced relief, where you can discover many mountains, fresh waterfalls, and ancient dormant volcano. The inland invites you to explore new and exhilarating colors and scents. The mixed population, a mixture of Europe, Africa, and Asia, will surprise you with its “joie de vivre,” supported by the many Indo-Mauritian festivals.

Here are some good reasons for taking a trip to Mauritius.

Scuba diving

If you are a scuba diver, you may already know this, but we cannot talk about Mauritius without praising the charms of diving in Mauritius: dives for all levels and skills, warm waters, training for beginners or those looking to reach the instructor, there is something for everyone all tastes around the island.

Tour the beaches in Mauritius

The beaches are beautiful, long, and elegant, ideal for sunbathing and relaxing. Drop the iPhone; there are so many things to observe and discover on a beach in Mauritius. Just the clumsy ballet of Mauritian families coming to picnic on the beach on Sundays is a scene to see, the Hindu rituals where women come to place flower offerings on the surface of the lagoon. The beaches are all around the island; you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your next tanning target.

Mix with the Mauritian population

Mauritius is a multicultural nation, try to set your trip with one of the country’s many religious holidays. Hindu holidays are very rich in colors, flavors, aromas, and sounds (perfect time to take pretty souvenirs in pictures). Getting in touch with Mauritians is straightforward.

Try to get into Creole and don’t be surprised when you return home when you spontaneously let an “ayo” or “marie bon” escape. You will thus discover the strong influence of the French colonial period through the expressions and vocabulary of Creole.

It is by mixing you with the Mauritians that they will tell you where the unique sites are, the excursions to do, the cheap and tasty restaurants, the ones they frequent when they can. Strong is to bet that you will end up on a Sunday on a public beach to share a picnic and a moment of intense conviviality.

People looking for adventure can now test their determination with a new type of theme trip. The theme in question?
Survival in hostile environments. Travellers are being sent to remote parts of the world and have to find their way out.

6Designed by the custom-made travel agency Black Tomato, this itinerary, entitled “Get Lost,” is not for everyone.
If you are a fan of fresh air, addicted to adrenaline and with a strong personality, you are part of the target market! On the other hand, if you fear change and open spaces, if you are afflicted with a list of phobias as long as your arm and if you need all the modern comforts, the trip is probably not for you.

A secret destination kept secret until arrival

The programme is not designed for small children. The proposed places are hostile and offer little reference points: jungle, pole, desert, mountain, wild coast, etc. The idea is to enable people saturated by social networks, and under pressure in the face of the demands of daily life, to disconnect and discover their “inner steel.”

These very special travelers are only able to choose the type of environment they want to explore, but their exact destination is kept secret until they arrive. People who are ready for anything can even rely on the Black Tomato agency’s wheel of a chance decision.

These tourists have to tap into their resources.

To begin with, travelers must complete a questionnaire and are referred to a travel expert to determine how much they want to feel “lost” and what personal goals they want to achieve. If necessary, they follow specific training sessions. They arrive at their destination via a private route and are then given the necessary equipment to make a successful shipment.

Under the remote surveillance of a task force that remains hidden, and thanks to offline navigation technology, these extreme tourists are forced to tap into their resources, intelligence, and survival instincts to reach a series of crossing points. It is possible to register as a group or alone.

My visit to the Northern part of Canada was by far one of the best entertainment trips I have ever been to across the world. Part of my hobbies and goals in life is to visit various destinations all over the world and to meet new people and learn new ways of life as well. To be honest being from British Columbia I had never ventured farther up than Prince George…

To be specific, North Canada was a good choice for national park tourism since the Country is well known for its diversity when it comes to animal life and ecosystems as well. Apart from their excellent weather, citizens, and food, their national parks are also one of the hidden treasures that one may discover when visiting the country. I was fascinated by all the different biodiversity in animals and I was even able to capture the footage on my high-tech handheld devices.

How I used my drone

To be specific, I recently purchased a drone, which I have been using to capture footage and just having fun when at home. I was not really in full compliance with the local regulations to be honest but managed to get a few good shots from my flight sessions.

This thing comes with a broad spectrum of design features that makes it ideal for capturing footage in various strategic locations. I decided to carry mine along on my trip to Canada, and I was simply amazed by the excellent functionality that this thing had to offer for my unique drone vidéo 4k footage capturing needs. The image quality was clear, and I was even able to upload the captured footage later on to my computer for access. The added benefit was that I did not need to change the batteries for new one, in fact, all I needed to do was to place the device in an electrical socket for additional power.

What I enjoyed in the tour

From the sandy beaches, glacial lakes, lush vegetation and the pristine weather, I was able to encounter these types of scenarios first hand, and I was even able to capture the footage on camera as well. As a student, its was not only important to me that I record the events on live camera, but it was also important that I document it in writing as well.

The Rocky Mountains, the untamed wilderness and the immense biodiversity that is available in the country, this was truly one of the most exciting moments in life. Not only did I get to see some of the highly rated ecosystems and environments in the world, but I also got the opportunity to learn a lot from y entire journey as a student when visiting North Canada National Parks.

On top of that, a significant portion of my time in the area was documented using my drone that comes with a high-powered camera along with excellent aerodynamic functionalities as well. For this reason, I have a full diary of my entire activities during my visit to the various national parks in Canada, and I enjoyed myself during the tour. Canada has excellent a unique ecosystem and environment as well, thereby making it one of the most famous travel destinations for students who want to learn more about the country.