October marks the middle of autumn in the northern hemisphere. The shortening of the days and importance of gathering in the harvest are reflected in the wine festivals starting to take place around Europe. There's still time to catch the fall foliage displays of North America or, for something different, see the Japanese ones instead. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, things are beginning to heat up as spring approaches - perfect for a tango in Buenos Aires or a swim in the Great Barrier Reef.
Unforgettable Journeys
Papua New Guinea - Australasia
Sail between faraway islands in pristine diving waters. Join a catamaran for an adventure cruise through the islands off New Guinea, stopping to dive, trek, and visit traditional villages.
Wahiba Desert – Oman
Empty sands and all the remoteness of Arabia. Take a 4WD ride through Oman's
untouched deserts, dropping from giant dunes into rocky wadis and camping under the stars.
Big Sur – USA
The wild coastline on the road between San Francisco and LA. Driving between these two great coastal cities you'll see some of America's finest wind- and wave lashed coastlines and a lot more.
Coast to Coast - Canada
A legendary train ride east to west over the mountains. Canada's interior is a land of wide vistas so there's a lot of superb scenery to enjoy, but the mountains are the highlight of the journey.
Khyber Pass – Pakistan
A unique train trip into one of the world's wildest places. The "Khyber Steam Safari" takes you in a vintage steam train up the Khyber Pass to the Afghan border - with an army escort.
Natural Wonders
Kaua'i – USA
Nature at its finest on the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands. There's more here than big waves and flower garlands - an incredibly varied environment ripe for exploration and filled with nature.
Eden Project – England
A whole world of nature all in one place. A fascinating range of the world's natural environments, all recreated in vast transparent "biomes."
Takachihokyo Gorge - Japan
Waterfalls and colourful cliffs. Japan's forests explode into beautiful colour in fall as the momeji - Japanese maple tree - forests turn brilliant red.
Churchill – Canada
The undisputed polar bear capital of the world. Between the summer thaw and winter freeze hundreds of polar bears migrate past (or through!) this Arctic town.
Piedmont – Italy
Fall countryside and gourmet pleasures. See the Northern Italian woods at their best on a truffle hunt, as locals head for the hills in search of these rare delicacies.
Active Adventures
Soomaa National Park – Estonia
Adventure in a watery world. A huge area of Estonia is made up of bogs, and "bog-walking" is a national pastime - a fascinating way to discover a rare landscape.
Zambezi River – Zambia
Test yourself on the wildest white-water river in the world. Almost a mix of rafting and surfing, getting through the Zambezi rapids is truly hair-raising - but less taxing trips are also available.
Queensland – Australia
Scuba dive to see the treasures of the Great Barrier Reef. It's one of the most famous dive sites in the world, and still one of the best. You can also sail, kayak, or go river rafting and bungee jumping.
Yasawa Islands – Fiji
Island hop around the South Seas under your own steam. These idyllic tropical islands are never more than a short distance apart, so are perfect for kayak tours of a few days or more.
Maine – USA
Bike and hike on carriage roads built by a Rockefeller. Appreciate the dazzling fall colours in the Acadia National Park, kayak along the rocky coast, and climb Cadillac Mountain for the sunset.
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When to Go
