Africa
Mozambique
Mozambique has some of the best beaches in Africa, and this year there are several new resorts from which to enjoy them. On the mainland, Galudo Luxury Tented Camp (bespokeexperience.com) is a "fair trade" operation (the resort works closely with the local community and makes sure as much of the holiday revenue as possible stays in the local community), with nine tents overlooking the Indian Ocean.
The camp, which opens next month, faces the Quirimbas archipelago and its reef, home to some of the richest corals in East Africa, making it a superb spot for snorkelling and scuba diving. Other activities include elephant tracking with local guides, exploring mangrove forests and spending the day with a local family. In the Quirimbas archipelago itself, Rani Africa (raniafrica.com; in the UK, contact Ethos Marketing 01403 243619) has two new resorts: the family-friendly Matemo Island Resort opens this month; while Medjumbe Island Resort, which has 12 luxury chalets on an island measuring 1km by 500m, is expected to be up and running by the end of the year. Both are ideal for fishing and diving.
How much? Medjumbe and Matemo island resorts: both from £150pp per night, half-board, through Steppes Africa (01285 650011, steppesafrica.co.uk). Guludo Luxury Tented Camp: from £100pp per night, through Rainbow Tours (020-7226 1004, rainbowtours.co.uk).
Namibia
Until recently, accommodation in Namibia was almost exclusively in small guesthouses. Now, it is catching up with the rest of Africa, building boutique lodges and camps, and even some spas. The Olive Grove (olivegrove.com.na), a luxury B&B with 11 Moroccan-style rooms in the capital Windhoek, and the Gocheganas Nature Reserve including Wellness Village (gocheganas.com), 30km outside Windhoek, both opened earlier this year. Activities at Gocheganas include yoga, guided nature walks and game drives. On the eastern edge of Etosha National Park, Mushara Lodge has added two luxury villas set in their own grounds but an easy walk to the main lodge. Each has a terrace with plunge pool, outdoor shower and, naturally, spectacular views of the bush.
One to look out for is Ntwala Lodge (islandsinafrica.com) in the Caprivi panhandle, a collection of just four suites on stilts situated on a white sand island at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers.
How much? The Olive Grove: £40pp per night, B&B. Gocheganas: £120pp per night, full board. Mushara Villa: from £606 per night, full board, including all activities. Mushara Lodge: £87pp per night, half-board. All through Sunvil (020-8232 9777, sunvil.co.uk/africa).
Rwanda
Rwanda will never attract large numbers of tourists - that's part of its appeal - but the opening of three lodges this year shows how much is being invested in tourism. The new resorts are: PNV Virunga Lodge (volcanoessafaris.com/camps.html), offering tented accommodation and gorilla tracking tours into the Volcanoes National Park; Akagera Game Lodge on the Akagera river, which has reopened after a major refurbishment; and the four-star Kivu Sun on the shore of spectacular Lake Kivu - the perfect setting for a few days' relaxation after a gorilla safari.
How much? A four-night package (two nights at Volcanoes Lodge, two gorilla permits and two nights at Kivu Sun), costs £1,985 pp, including all flights and driver/guide, through Rainbow Tours (as before).
Latin America Peru
Peru remains the favourite Latin American destination, but with overcrowding at Machu Picchu threatening to damage the site, some tour operators are starting to promote alternative Inca routes. Journey Latin America, for example, organises treks to Choquequirao, in the same mountain range as Machu Picchu but virtually unknown. JLA also arranges trips to pre-Inca archaeological sites, such as Chan Chan, Sipan and Kuelap in the north of Peru.
How much: The seven-day Cajamarca itinerary (starting in the lovely colonial town of Cajamarca and including a number of visits to pre-Inca sites) costs from £851 excluding flights, (020-8747 8315, journeylatinamerica.co.uk).
Guyana
If you want to really get off the beaten track, take a look at Guyana. It receives about 2,000 foreign visitors a year -the same number that visit Machu Picchu on a busy day in summer. Why go there? To experience untouched wilder ness and see an amazing array of wildlife - this is probably the best place in the world to see jaguar. Guyana does not have the kind of upmarket colonial-style hotels you find in the rest of Latin America; instead, accommodation is in rustic lodges and, if you are staying at the Amerindian village of Surama, hammocks.
How much? An 11-day 'Hawk' itinerary with Journey Latin America (as before) starts from £1,983pp with flights (via Port of Spain, Trinidad). JLA also offers a nine-day adventure trip in Guyana, trekking through virgin rainforest to the foot of the Kaieteur Falls (five times the height of Niagara) and camping in hammocks alongside the river, from £873 (dep: Jan), excluding flights.
Honduras
The backpacking fraternity discovered the Bay Islands, off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, a long time ago; but specialist tour operators are only just starting to feature them. The largest, Roatan, is geared up for tourism and has plenty of accommodation. Roatan and the smaller island of Utila both offer fantastic snorkelling and diving.
On the mainland, Pico Bonito Lodge in Pico Bonito National Park (picobonito.com), 30 minutes from the Caribbean coast, is a collection of 22 wooden cabins hidden in rainforest and linked to the main lodge, restaurant and spa by raised wooden walkways.
How much? Roatan XXX Last Frontiers (01296 653000, lastfrontiers.com). Pico Bonito Lodge, £60pp per night, room only through Exsus Travel (020-7292 5050, exsus.com).
Asia Indochina
Ankor Wat is a must-see on most Indochina itineraries, but there are other impressive temples in northern Cambodia. The snag is getting to them - you can travel independently, but there are few places to stay nearby so it means a very long day-trip. As an alternative, Audley Travel has launched four-day "temple safaris" trips by 4WD, with overnight stays in tents (proper beds, separate toilet and shower tents). Gecko Travel also offers tours away from the well-trodden backpacker route. This month, it ran its first Hanoi to Saigon tour, taking in little-known Whale Island, Buon Ma Thuot, home to large numbers of hill tribes, and Lak Lake in the central highlands.
How much? A nine-night tour of Cambodia incorporating the three-night temple safari costs from £1,650 half-board including international flights (full board on safari), through Audley Travel (01869 276222, audleytravel.com). Gecko Travel's 21-day Hanoi-Saigon tour costs £1,730pp (dep: Nov 22), including B&B, activities, entrance fees and transport (023 9225 8859, geckotravel.com).
Australasia
New Zealand
Private islands, lodges and beach houses have become Turquoise Holiday's trademark, and the new brochure has plenty of new ones, such as On The Point, Lake Rotorua, a private log chalet with open-air hot tub, designer interiors, private beach and jetty; and Big Tom's Cottage in Hawkes Bay - ideal for families and groups.
How much? On the Point, from £225pp per night; Big Tom's Cottage, from £33pp per night (0870 4434177, turquoiseholidays.co.uk).
Australia
Staying on a cattle station is the ultimate Aussie experience, and the newly-opened Wrotham Park Station (wrothampark.com.au), 300km west of Cairns in far north Queensland, delivers the full outback package.
How much? £325pp per night, full board (Nov 1-Dec 14, closed Dec 15-Mar 31, wrothampark.com.au). The rate includes many activities (nature walks, mountain biking, picnics). Half-day station tours, horse riding, canoeing, and private half- and full-day 4WD or fishing tours are extra. A three-night Spirit of the Outback package costs £809pp. Flights from Cairns to Wrotham Park Station extra (£209pp return, £105pp one-way).
Papua New Guinea
PNG became more accessible this year thanks to Audley Travel. A typical itinerary includes the southern highlands region, with visits to tribal villages and wildlife viewing, the Karawari river area and the north coast, where you can relax on the beach and go snorkelling and diving.
How much? Two weeks (two nights in Singapore and 10 nights in Papa New Guinea) cost from £3,000pp, including all flights, accommodation and all meals, through Audley Travel (as before).
