Holidays are all about experiences, and what better way to get to know a destination than with an excursion? From desert adventures to unforgettable cable car journeys, here are some of the best excursions in the world that we offer on our Solos holidays.
1. Explore Machu Picchu
A visit to the Lost City of the Incas is one of the best excursions to take while travelling in Peru.
It’s believed to have been built in the 1450’s by Inca emperor Pachacuti as a holiday retreat, yet within a century the city would be abandoned following the Spanish conquest. The Spaniards never found it, so it was spared the destruction they brought on other Inca sites. Instead, it was slowly swallowed up by the jungle and hidden from harm.
2. Ride a jeep through Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert
Lying just south of Jordan’s ancient city of Petra, Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert is famous for its red sands, craggy mountains and smouldering sunsets.
One of the best ways to explore its other-worldliness is by taking on the dunes in a 4×4 jeep, stopping for photographs against the vast but beautiful emptiness this desert is known for.
3. Witness the Monteverde Cloud Forest
A hike to the famous Cloud Forest in Costa Rica is a must if you are interested by nature and wildlife.
One of the most famous conservation areas in Central America, it is tropical rainforest but because of its altitude (1,400 meters), it’s called a Cloud Forest. The cloud forest receives an incredible four meters of rain every year, and is home to rare and unusual wildlife.
4. Take a game drive in Kenya’s Masai Mara
Calling all wildlife lovers! African safari drives are unsurprisingly some of the best excursions in the world, with Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve arguably the king of the safari.
Here, sightings of the ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and cape buffalo) are almost guaranteed, often joined by elusive cheetahs, zebras and hippos.
5. Walk through Bali’s Tegalalang rice terraces
A stunning terraced hillside made up of lush rice paddies, lying just a short drive from Ubud, Bali’s Tegalalang rice terraces are a sight to behold.
The terraced layout that has made it one of the top tourist attractions in Bali is a traditional Balinese irrigation system known as subak. Walk along the terraces, admire the stunning scenery and pose for that perfect photo!
6. Explore Ercolano & Pompeii
Situated in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, this buried city is a must visit on your next trip to the Amalfi Coast. Discover the most significant archaeological site of Naples Bay, buried under lava and ash form Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and lay forgotten for hundreds of years.
7. Visit Chernobyl in Ukraine
With ‘dark tourism’ on the rise, and after HBO’s TV adaption becoming a huge hit, it’s no surprise that the nuclear disaster site of Chernobyl has become a popular excursion for anyone visiting Ukraine.
Having forced 234,000 citizens to flee amid radiation fears, the site is now eerily desolate. Tick off historic landmarks including Kopachi Village and its abandoned kindergarten, the power plant itself and Reactor #4.
8. Witness the spectacular Passion Play
This is a once in a decade treat, and one not to be missed!
The origins of this extraordinary play began in 1633 when the Bavarian village of Oberammergau was struck down by the Great Plague. The inhabitants prayed for their lives to be spared, pledging in return an oath to perform a play every ten years depicting the trial, suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The death rate slowly subsided and the villagers believed they had been spared and have kept up with vow since the first performance in 1634. Today, visitors from across the world join here to marvel at a cast of approximately 2,000 amateur actors from the region, as they unfold scenes of The Passion Play.
9. Cruise Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
Excursions don’t get much better than cruising between the jagged limestone peaks of Ha Long Bay, while enjoying a delicious meal.
Discover this UNESCO-listed site’s countless forested islands from a traditional Vietnamese junkboat, which pierce out of the deep blue water like blades, and soak up the beautiful, otherworldly landscape.
10. Discover Egypt’s ancient pyramids
Surely excursions can’t get much better than visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Egypt’s ancient pyramids of Giza and The Great Shpinx are a must-see for anyone keen to tick off some of the best excursions in the world.
Believed to have been built over the course of 80 years, the pyramids date back to 2,500 BC, with Giza standing at an astounding 147 metres tall. This meant it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for about 3,800 years!
