Published 28th Jun. 2021
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Planet Earth plays host to some seriously epic events. There are those that happen every year, such as Holi Festival (the world's most colourful celebration) and the Great Wildebeest Migration through Tanzania and Kenya (the largest overland migration in the world). And then there are the Once in a Lifetime events, the experiences that are only available for a limited amount of time, like a solar eclipse or the transformation of Venice from a tourist-trap to a tourist-free destination in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Read on for a roundup of some of our favourite Once in a Lifetime experiences...
Beat the Crowds: Venice
In the age of overtourism, we have seen some of the world's best-loved destinations become completely overwhelmed by travellers and Venice was among the worst affected. Then along came a global pandemic and suddenly the tourists vanished. Now, as the world is beginning to open up again, the city is essentially tourist-fee making this the ideal time to visit. Drift along blissfully empty (and clear watered) canals on a gondola tour, marvel at St Mark's Square without another tourist in sight, and get wonderfully lost in the maze of whisper-quiet streets.
Total Solar Eclipse: South Africa
It's not every day that you get to witness a total solar eclipse. On December 4th, 2021 there is set to be a dramatic total eclipse of the sun which is up there with the best Once in a Lifetime events. Travel to Antarctica (an unbelievably cool destination - literally and metaphorically - well worth a trip in its own right) or make a beeline for parts of Southern Africa (including locations in South Africa) to witness this celestial wonder. If you want to continue the sightseeing, our Africa experts can arrange for unforgettable Big Five safaris and stays in luxurious camps in the wilderness for a trip of truly epic proportions.
Art Watch: Paris
35 years ago, The late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude draped the Pont-Neuf in Paris in shimmering metallic fabric. Head to our favourite French city between 19th September to 4th October and you'll witness the wrapping of another city icon, this time the 164ft-tall Arc de Triomphe. A whopping 25,000 square metres of silvery blue, recyclable polypropylene fabric will encase the monument and transform it into a huge art installation well worth witnessing. Once you've ticked it off your list, there are galleries to explore, cute cafes perfect for people watching and leafy boulevards to wander along.
The very nature of Once in a Lifetime experiences means they don't come around too often. Our team of experts are always on the lookout for these now-or-never, needle-in-a-haystack experiences and are on hand to craft you an unforgettable itinerary so that when the time comes, you'll be able to nab front row seats for the action.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
Southeast Asia is a favourite for first-time travellers – safe, welcoming and easy to explore. Yet all too often, Cambodia is the casualty of the Indochina loop, with many simply dropping in to see the (admittedly awe-inspiring) Angkor before moving swiftly on. On my first visit, I was guilty as charged. But my return visit changed everything. Cambodia, I realised, has come of age. It’s no longer the ‘add-on’ destination, but a country that demands time, rewards curiosity and offers depth, warmth and discovery at every turn.
29th October 2025 - Cambodia Travel Inspiration
This article originally featured in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller. The world’s first tourist destination; Egypt has attracted the great and the good for more than four millennia. Tom Holland charts the ebb and flow of the country’s time travel. Egypt is where tourism began. Perhaps this is hardly surprising. By the 5th century BC, when the first tourist guide to Egypt was written, pharaonic civilisation was already more than two and a half millennia old.
29th October 2025 - Egypt Travel Inspiration
For those of us who don’t have to adhere to the constraints of the school holidays, we have a wide choice when it comes to choosing what season to travel in. Though the summer remains a top choice, thanks to the good weather across much of the Northern Hemisphere and the general societal norm of treating ourselves to a break at this time, the so-called ‘shoulder season’ is becoming ever-more popular.
28th October 2025 - Travel Inspiration
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