BBC’S Race Across The World has returned to our TV screens.
This year the teams, including brother and sister Betty and James, start in Sapporo in Japan and cross eight borders to reach the finishing line in Lombok, Indonesia.
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Sophie Swietochowski has picked top adventure-style trips, taking you on a bucket-list journey through destinations that will feature in the hit show.
CHINA
FROM the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing to the world-renowned Great Wall that stretches more than 13,000 miles, China is full of treasures to marvel at.
G Adventures’ eight-day Beijing to Shanghai trip is a bestseller for a good reason: It ticks off all the bucket-list sights.
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You will start in the vast capital Beijing, home to 22million residents, where you’ll take in the Great Wall.
Then, after catching the train to Xi’an, you’ll take in the Terracotta Army, a group of statues that were discovered in a tomb in 1974 by a group of farmers.
The journey ends with three and a half days in Shanghai and a day trip to Suzhou, famed for its Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful in the country, and the impressive Tiger Hill Pagoda (also known as the leaning tower of China).
The China Express tour costs from £1,016pp, including seven nights’ accommodation, one lunch, transportation between destinations and tours and excursions. Flights extra.
See gadventures.com.
JAPAN
AT the start of their journey, the duos faced the neon lights and skyscrapers of Japan.
You, too, can experience that on a sushi-fuelled Japan Unrivalled tour, which soaks up the key regions, including the hot springs in Hakone and the impressive temples of Kyoto.
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Beginning in the busy capital, Tokyo, this 13-day tour heads to Isawa, where you will stay in a traditional Ryokan inn with matted rooms and communal hot spring bathing.
You will travel to the city of Takayama, then to Hiroshima via the world’s fastest train, the bullet train.
The trip continues in the culturally-rich city of Kyoto — where Geishas wander the streets in the Gion district — before heading on to Mount Koya and ending in Osaka, a city bursting with cool shops and excellent street food.
The 13-day break costs from £2,867pp, including ten nights in hotels, two nights in “special stays” like the Ryokan, seven breakfasts, a dinner, private coach transfers, bullet train ticket and some activities. Flights extra.
See contiki.com.
BALI
DOES exploring Buddhist temples and tangled forests where wild monkeys roam freely tick your box?
Then this 13-day trip to Java, Bali and the Gili Islands is for you.
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You’ll start near the contestants’ finishing point, in Jakarta, Indonesia, before trekking to the peak of Mount Bromo, one of the most famous active volcanoes in the country.
The tour then takes you to Kuta, home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with golden sands backed by a bright blue ocean.
Save your snorkelling for the Gili Islands though as sea turtles and all manner of tropical fish swim in the oceans surrounding these patches of land.
The Indonesia 360° tour costs from £1,549pp, including 12 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, two domestic flights, a private mini-van with driver, entrance to a beach club and a jeep excursion to watch the sunrise over Mt Bromo. Flights extra.
See weroad.co.uk.
VIETNAM
FOR those who want to dip their toes into an adventure getaway without breaking the bank, Intrepid’s ten-day Vietnam Express Southbound tour is a great choice for a very reasonable £829.
The capital city of Hanoi, the starting point for this adventure, is bursting with culture in the narrow paths lined by street food stalls serving noodle soups and Banh.
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You will move on to Halong Bay, before catching the overnight train to the city of Hue (an experience in itself).
World Heritage site Hoi An awaits next.
It is known for its shopping so a good place to pick up a souvenir.
Artwork, ceramics and cloth lanterns are all up for grabs.
The adventure finishes in Ho Chi Minh city with a boat excursion to Ben Tre, which will weave through the coconut trees to the rural Mekong Delta where you can sample regional dishes including the elephant ear fish.
During the whistlestop trip, you will get eight breakfasts, three lunches, two dinners, accommodation for the duration, including seven hotels, one overnight boat, one sleeper train and 12 activities. Flights extra.
See intrepidtravel.com.
