6 great guided trips
EFFORTLESS ALPSLet the trains take the strain as you scale the Alps the easy way. Zoom from London to Paris on the Eurostar, then whiz west through the French countryside, entering Switzerland from the north. After a steady climb up into the Alps, you reach mountain-fringed Lake Lucerne, your base for four nights. Soak up the scenery from the terrace of your hotel or on boat trips across the water. Visit the Swiss Museum of Transport and ride to a summit on Europe’s first cog railway. Leaving Lucerne, you board the Glacier Express, where breathtaking Alpine scenery and jaw-dropping views glide by your window, finally (regretfully) disembarking near Zermatt. After a couple of days exploring this picture-postcard Swiss village and the looming Matterhorn (via funicular railway or cable car), you’ll take the train, via Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, to Britain, where you can truthfully claim to have spent a week climbing the Alps. Glacier Express with Treyn; seven days from £895; 01904 734 939, www.railholidays.comUSA ADVENTURESBreak out the bling and the backpacks for a mix of America’s west-coast bests. Play your cards right for a winning few days in Las Vegas, with optional Grand Canyon excursions, then it’s off to a ghost town for silver mining and Old West fun and games. Dip your toe into the spectacular scenery of Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe before pootling through California’s Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Finally, San Francisco beckons, with Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and plenty of shops to round out the trip. Much of this trip is spent reclining on the coach, so this is just the ticket for those who like to kick back and watch the world go by. Contrasts of the West with Jetsave; 10 days from £1,039; 0844 415 9880, www.jetsave.comTWO-FOR-ONE WONDERSMake the most of your precious week away by seeing two wonders of the world in one trip. Fly from London Gatwick to Aqaba, Jordan, where you’ll stay for three nights. From here, you can go by 4WD into the Wadi Rum valley, swim in the Red Sea or just flop by your five-star hotel’s pool. But the highlight of your Jordan segment will undoubtedly be a trip to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Petra, an extraordinary 6th-century city, carved out of the land’s red rocks. The next day, sail to Sinai, Egypt, then hit the road across the desert to Cairo for three nights in another luxury hotel, this one with pyramids looming outside the windows. Jaunts to see the Sphinx, the tombs of pharaohs, the Egyptology museum and Cairo’s bazaars and mosques make this a history lesson you’ll never forget. Three Greats of the Ancient World with Voyages Jules Verne; eight days from £1,297; 0845 166 7003, www.vjv.comSOLO EXPLORERSTired of waiting for friends or spouses to commit? You can still take that dream trip to Machu Picchu without worrying about the dreaded single supplement – even staying in private, ensuite rooms (no sharing with strangers!). Meet your fellow travellers in an executive lounge at Heathrow, most of whom will also be travelling on their own. Together, you’ll fly to the conquistador city of Lima before heading up into the Andes to Cusco, the former Inca capital. You’ll want to spend a few days here, exploring and acclimatising – essential to minimise the risk of altitude sickness when you finally wind your way, via narrow-gauge railway, to Machu Picchu. After rambling around the Incan ruins, it’s off to the world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca, for a boat trip along the Bolivian border, rounding out an extraordinary trip you’ll definitely want to write home about. Highlights of Peru with Just You; 11 days from £2,799 with; 0844 567 8831, www.justyou.co.ukASIA MADE EASYStunning beauty, heart-breaking tragedy, mind-blowing modernity, millennia of history – Japan is as enthralling as it is impenetrable, which is why an escorted tour could be the best option. Your guide will ensure you don’t get lost on your day in Tokyo, then it’s off to the countryside to explore serene mountains, gushing waterfalls, hot springs, samurai castles and exquisite gardens. Next is a short, moving trip to Hiroshima, with its Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Memorial Park, followed by a ride on the world-famous bullet train to Kyoto. Here, your already overworked camera will need to garner its strength as kimono-clad geisha, golden shrines, ancient wooden houses and meals too beautiful to eat appear at every turn. Journey Through Japan with Archers Direct; 13 days from £2,835 with; 0844 573 4806, www.archersdirect.co.ukROYAL KNEES-UPWhere else would you want to be on Kate and Will’s Big Day than near Westminster Abbey? OK, so your hotel isn’t London, but that’s what makes this trip so affordable. Staying nearby in Stevenage or Reading, you’ll travel into London by coach on 29 April. Head straight to The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall or Parliament Square to nab the best spot for the procession (sharp elbows recommended), before leaving the chaos early in the evening. The next day, it’s back to London to shop for that essential Royal Wedding tea towel or commemorative plate. Your final day will be in Windsor, where you could pop into the castle to see if the queen has skived off from the clean-up operation at Buckingham P. Royal Wedding and London Weekend Break with Leger Holidays; four days from £229 with; 0844 504 6251, www.leger.co.uk