A thrilling to-do list: Eight amazing trips to get the blood pumping

Put thrills at the top of your holiday to-do list: Eight amazing trips to get the blood pumping, from paragliding in Oman to a star-gazing safari in Namibia

• ‘To-do list’ trips make up for missed travel opportunities during the pandemic 
• Luxury Gold is offering a scenic nine-day Resorts And Ranches tour in the US 
• Take in the Floriade Expo on a five-day rail tour to Amsterdam with Arena Travel 

Every week, our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth look at a brilliant holiday topic, doing all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: The travel trend for 2022 – the ‘to-do’ holiday.

Forget ‘bucket list’ holidays – an emerging trend is ‘to-do list’ trips.

Travel experts say that as a result of so many missed opportunities during the pandemic, many holidaymakers have realised there’s a whole world of adventures to be had out there and now don’t want to simply tick off destinations.

Stop off at Oman’s Zighy Bay, pictured, on Lux Tripper’s 12-night Best Of Oman And Dubai holiday

So for those who want to seize the holiday, here are eight amazing to-do trips to get the blood pumping.

Make an entrance in Oman by arriving by paraglider. A professional holds the controls as you sweep down on to the beach outside the Six Senses Zighy Bay resort.

The high-adrenaline option is part of a 12-night Best Of Oman And Dubai holiday where guests stay in four different five-star hotels and enjoy private visits to the area’s mountains, caves, canyons and big cities. From £4,350pp including flights (luxtripper.co.uk).

Cosmic: Go stargazing at Little Kulala safari camp under the dark skies of Namibia with Wilderness Safaris 

For a taste of the heavens, try a stargazing safari, taking in three stunning field camps under the dark skies of Namibia.

In the first camp, Little Kulala, the 11 safari suites have rooftop decks with bean-bag chairs for relaxed stargazing. Or lie on a Star Bed on your suite’s lower deck and use astronomy apps on tablets provided to guests.

Spotting wild animals complements the astronomy at the next two camps on a five-star itinerary. From £7,253pp including flights (wilderness-safaris.com).

Take up the chance to visit the vast New Mexico ranch built by media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner. The nine-day Resorts And Ranches tour includes excursions and spa visits from Denver and Colorado Springs to scenic Santa Fe. From £6,450pp plus flights (luxurygold.com).

Colorado Springs, pictured, is one of the stops on Luxury Gold’s nine-day Resorts And Ranches tour

The Resorts And Ranches tour also takes in ‘scenic’ Santa Fe, pictured. Prices start from £6,450pp plus flights

Bring the whole family together at Asil, a huge, modernist mansion with Mediterranean views near the old fishing port of Kalkan in Turkey. 

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom property sleeps ten and has an infinity pool, gardens, a barbecue pit and outdoor dining area. The property costs from £2,550 a week (vintagetravel.co.uk).

Soak up the glamour of Miami’s Art Deco South Beach on a mini-break in the British Airways January sale (it started early). 

Enjoy views of the old fishing port of Kalkan, pictured, from Asil mansion –  Vintage Travel is offering stays in the modernist five-bedroom property 

Discover the island of St Kitts, pictured, on a seven-night trip with British Airways 

Get flights and three nights at Riu Plaza hotel on Miami’s buzzing Collins Avenue from £499pp. 

Alternatively, discover the jetset Caribbean island of St Kitts with flights and seven nights sandwiched between a golf course and a golden beach at the Timothy Beach Resort from £599pp. 

Guests can visit hot springs, ride horses on volcanic beaches or take catamarans to the sister island of Nevis (britishairways.com/sale).

Enjoy crowd-free days on the hideaway Greek island of Halki, pictured above, with Olympic Holidays 

Head to the Greek island of Halki if you want to experience a hideaway island closer to home. With only one paved road and few vehicles, it offers quiet nights and crowd-free days. Fly to Rhodes, then join locals on an hour-long ferry to Halki harbour, where you’ll stay in the Aretanassa Hotel – known locally as the Queen of Halki and set in a former sponge warehouse. From £773pp including flights (olympicholidays.com).

Next year a once-in-a-decade opportunity is coming up for garden-lovers to visit Floriade Expo, Holland’s huge horticultural show running from April to October and featuring some 3,000 species.

A five-day rail tour includes travel from London, visits to windmills and cheese farms, and a cruise on the canals of Amsterdam. From £695pp (arenatravel.com).

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