If you liked…, you’ll love…

If you liked Iceland’s fiery side, you’ll love New Zealand

Volcanoes, lava fields, geysers and geothermal pools. You’ll not visit Iceland without encountering some form of fiery presence. It is known as the land of fire and ice, after all. If you’ve fond memories of luxuriating in a geothermal lagoon, or gazing at the raw power of nature at Geysir, where the geyser Strokkur erupts every 10 minutes or so with endless regularity, you need to head to New Zealand.

North Island’s Central Plateau is NZ’s volcanic heart with bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and conical volcanic peaks vying for attention. Geothermal wonderlands like Te Puia and Waimangu Volcanic Valley sit on the doorstep of Rotorua

The Thermal Explorer Hwy touring route from Auckland to Napier showcases this geothermal heartland along with iconic cultural and adventure experiences. Witness Pohutu erupt at Te Puia and delve into Māori culture and immerse yourself in the thermal wonderland of Whakarewarewa. Alternatively, follow Hwy 1 due south via Tongariro National Park, home to a trio of volcanoes – Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and the famed one-day hiking trail, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

And it doesn’t end with the volcanic features. Iceland and New Zealand may be almost poles apart geographically, but they share more traits that you might imagine. Get the full lowdown in our blog – If you liked Iceland, you’ll love New Zealand!

If you liked Canada’s lakes and bears you’ll love Finland

Combining the turquoise lakes and jagged mountain peaks of Alberta with British Columbia’s wildlife-rich Pacific Coast makes for a classic Canada road trip. Close encounters with grizzly bears at a wilderness lodge pair nicely with the scenic splendour of the Rockies.

While sky piercing peaks may not feature, your next bear watching extravaganza could be a lot closer to home. The taiga forests of eastern Finland are home to Eurasian brown bears as well as wolverine, elk and eagle owls. There are also an extraordinary number of freshwater lakes. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature, taking a leisurely self-drive between tranquil lakeside resorts.

Get active on forest hikes, kayaking across the lakes and mountain biking in the hills. Or simply choose to kick back and relax, pairing sauna visits with invigorating dips in the cool lakes.

Include an overnight stay in a hide set on the shores of Lake Lammasjärvi, for the best chances of observing brown bears. Rarely seen during the day, an overnight stay in a hide offers the chance to keep vigil under the midnight sun.

If you liked Switzerland by rail, you’ll love Norway

Train journeys in Switzerland are an iconic as cheese and chocolate. If you’ve enjoyed comfortably sliding past extraordinarily beautiful Swiss alpine scenery and perfectly on time, you’ll love getting on track in Norway. Rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and sheer-sided fjords bring the ‘wow’ factor as you ride the rails in Scandinavia’s scenic powerhouse.

Journey ‘Across the Roof of Norway’ on the well-known Bergen Line from Oslo to Bergen. This is Northern Europe’s highest railway line crossing the Hardangervidda plateau and a wealth of scenic highlights over 471km. A detour to Flam on Norway’s show stopping railway, the Flamsbana, is an absolute must. Nicknamed the ‘Corkscrew Railway’, wind this way and that and through 20 tunnels on the descent to the fjordside village of Flam travelling in traditional wood-panelled carriages. It’s one of the world’s steepest standard gauge railways and though the journey takes less than an hour, it is unforgettable.

In Bergen, you can extend your adventure switching from the rails to the road setting off on a road trip exploring two of Norway’s most spectacular and dramatic fjords in depth, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord. Or pair your train adventure with a classic cruise along the world’s second longest coastline and into the Arctic Circle.

To go big on your rail adventure, choose to connect a series of scenic rail journeys much of the length of Norway and down through Sweden. Travel from London via Cologne, Copenhagen and Gothenburg before you even reach Oslo. Experience another of Norway’s big hitters, the Rauma Railway, which weaves between high mountain peaks following the Rauma River from Dombas to Åndalsnes. Pass the vertical cliff face of Trollveggen and across the eye-catching stone arch of Kylling Bridge.

If you liked Australia’s weird and wonderful wildlife, you’ll love Costa Rica

Aussie wildlife is a heady mix of the loveable – koalas, wombats, wallabies – and the lethal – crocodiles, spiders, snakes. As such, it tends to both charm and thrill. If you smile every time you remember snorkelling with whale sharks, taking a quokka selfie or spotting a platypus Down Under, it’s time to consider Costa Rica.

Weird and wonderful wildlife isn’t a sideshow in Costa Rica either. It is the main event. Boasting a staggering 5% of the world’s biodiversity – that’s one-twentieth in a country a quarter the size of the UK – you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into a wildlife documentary. Take a couple of weeks to explore and you could see everything from monkeys to macaws, sloths to snakes and turtles to tapirs.

There are over 900 species of birds in Costa Rica and many tend not to hide their light under a bushel. The colours will dazzle especially if you’re lucky enough to spot a resplendent quetzal in flight. Be on the lookout for toucans, hummingbirds, tanagers, warblers, wagtails and more.

In and around the oceans, turtles, whales and dolphins provide the wonder. Visit in September or October and you could watch hatchling turtles take their first swim. Choose sometime between December and April and migrating humpbacks might delight.

Whether you self-drive or opt for private transfers, immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s natural wonders mixing stays in jungle retreats and eco-lodges with guided wildlife experiences.

If you liked the Antarctica, you’ll love the islands of Svalbard

Having fallen for the charm of Antarctica’s most famous residents – penguins – you’re ready to go in search of the king of the Arctic – the polar bear. While encountering gentoo, Adelie and chinstraps on the Antarctic Peninsula is almost a given, spotting the world’s largest land predator in the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is a more elusive experience, perhaps making it all the more satisfying.

In the Arctic, walrus, ringed and bearded seals take over from Weddell and leopard seals of Antarctic waters. Beluga whales might make an appearance as well as humpbacks. And there’s a deep-rooted human presence in the Arctic unlike it’s southern counterpart.

Wildlife may differ, but small-ship polar voyaging follows the same format in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Your home is a ice-strengthened expedition vessel of under 200 passengers, and maybe as few as 50. The adventure and route unfolds according to ice and weather conditions with a shore landing and/or Zodiac cruise aimed for each day. Cruise routes are planned but not fixed. An onboard expedition team deliver insightful lectures on wildlife, geology, biology and history. Icebergs, glaciers and ice-choked channels provide the backdrop and abundant seabirds the daily escort.