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Unforgettable holidaysWhere in the world?

2017 and 2018

Plan your next adventurePhotography by Getty

British Airways Global Travel Insiders

Everyone is an explorer...

We’re all dreaming of that ‘oh my god’ trip and the perfect time to take it. To help make 2017 the year you start on your bucket list, we’ve compiled some of the most unforgettable destinations and experiences.

What is your next adventure?

Summer Escape

Micro-adventure

Bucket list moment

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Shake up your summer holiday

Whether you’re looking for Caribbean-style beaches closer to home or want to indulge in a hefty dose of culture without the crowds, these alternative escapes are guaranteed to make your summer sizzle.

Lose yourself on unspoiled beaches, away from the crowds and enjoy the pace of life

Krabi

Thailand

Five amazing three-week trips

Looking for an adventure of epic proportions? From Australia to South Africa, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite exploration itineraries that deserve three weeks of your holiday time.

We can’t stop thinking about the breath-taking sight of Mount Fuji. What one place from your travels will you never be able to forget? #Japan #travel

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The best places for solo travel

Whether it’s a solo adventure before taking the plunge into the workplace, or having a long-overdue escape from the confines of the office, we’ve asked our experts for their top tips and suggestions for where to go it alone.

Europe: Reasons to love summer

Because Croatia is home to a summer-long island festival

Obonjan, a 136-acre island in the Adriatic, is about to begin its second summer festival season. From 23 June-3 September, the previously uninhabited island offers a 70-day programme of musicians, speakers, artists and wellness classes. Sleep under the pines, dance in the openair stone amphitheatre and, in the evening, pick up a telescope and stargaze from the beach.

Discover Croatia >

Because when the snow melts in Innsbruck, the real adrenaline junkies come out to play

The mountainside scenery of the Ötztal Valley is idyllic but play at the AREA 47 amusement park is fast and furious. Zoom down one of five slides in the 20,000sq m waterpark. Go cliff-diving, canyoning, kayaking. Or, if you’ve ever fancied being a human cannonball, hop in the water catapult. Just don’t collide with someone flying along the 400m zip wire overhead.

Discover Innsbruck >

Because it's the season for extreme sports in Norway

Ekstremsportveko (25 June-2 July) in Voss does what it says on the tin. The foolhardy try base-jumping or skydiving while water-bound adrenaline junkies speed downstream on a bodyboard. The signature event? The Horgi Ned, a reworking of a triathlon that replaces the flat with the steep: downhill skiing, downhill biking, whitewater kayaking.

Get a natural high in Norway >

Because it's time to eat 'little ears' in Puglia

Nestled in the tip of the Salento peninsula – the heel of Italy’s boot – is the small town of Maglie. It hosts the Mercatino del Gusto (1-5 August), a festival of food stalls, workshops and guided tastings. Wander down the Via dei Dolci (‘Street of Sweets’), learn how to make Apulian specialities such as pasta filata cheese, or sample orecchiette – a local ear-shaped pasta.

Explore Brindisi >

Boast-worthy travel destinations

What if your next adventure was guaranteed to make your mates jealous (in the best possible way, of course)? From the dramatic cityscape of Santiago to Singapore’s ‘Supertrees’, travel writer Chris Leadbeater picks ten wow-factor destinations that will get you plenty of Instagram likes.

Find inner peace at one of Kyoto’s 1,600 Buddhist temples or 400 Shinto shrines

Kyoto

Japan

It's been a long week? Now time to relax and plan your next trip. #FlyBA

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Unforgettable Caribbean hideaways

Time to banish those winter blues and top up on some Vitamin D. If you’re in need of a blast of sunshine to warm up your winter, look no further than the Caribbean – from St Lucia to the Dominican Republic there’s a destination for families and solo travellers alike

Where do pilots go on holiday?

Still looking for holiday inspiration for your big 2017 break? We asked a panel of well-travelled British Airways pilots which destinations they want to visit this year – and which new routes are on their radar.

Europe’s best hidden beaches

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside… unless, of course, it means lying towel to towel with a complete stranger on a packed beach.

Double-tap if you’d love to take a selfie in front of #Sydney’s iconic Opera House. #Australia #travel #OperaHouse

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New global foodie capitals

At the start of this year, Copenhagen’s famed restaurant Noma shut its doors after 14 years of pushing the boundaries of the dining experience. So where now in the world can we sate our appetite for original, creative dishes?

Take in the street art and architecture, and taste your way around the tapas trail

Barcelona

Spain

Make it a micro-adventure

You don’t have to be Bear Grylls to have an epic adventure. Just head off to one of these exciting cites and discover everything from ‘glamping’ to trekking and from kayaking to urban exploration.

How could anyone forget seeing this iconic #skyline? #NewYork #FridayFeeling

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North America: Reasons to love summer

Because Calgary goes rodeo-mad

Novice bareback, tie-down roping, steer-wrestling… If you don’t know your rodeo, now’s the time to learn at the Calgary Stampede (7-16 July). At 19.45 each evening, a klaxon kicks off the GMC Rangeland Derby – nine heats of four-horse wagon racing. Think thunder, dust and pounding hooves, plus the best street food.

Fly to Calgary >

Because New Orleans isn't just about Mardi Gras

Louis Armstrong grew up singing on the streets and went on to revolutionise American music. “Every time I close my eyes, blowing that trumpet of mine,” he was to say in later life, “I look right in the heart of good old New Orleans… it has given me something to live for.” Satchmo Summerfest celebrates his birthday from 3-6 August, with free live music and a ‘jazz mass’ at St Augustine Church.

How to spend 48 hours in New Olreans >

Because the circus is coming to Washington Mall

Celebrate the big 5-0 of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (29 June-4 July and 6-9 July) and join the million-plus visitors to the largest cultural event in the US capital. A series of stalls and exhibitions will take over the Mall. This year’s theme is Circus Arts, so expect tales from generations of travelling circus folk, with aerialists, acrobats, clowns and a big top.

Discover Washnington >

Because British style is booming in NYC

Husband-and-wife team Tim and Kit Kemp, who run Firmdale boutique hotels, make bed look like an appealing place – even in the city that never sleeps. Sandwiched between MoMA and Central Park, The Whitby is their second US hotel. Plus London favourite Hawksmoor also opens its doors in the World Trade Centre at the end of the year.

Experience New York >

Get active on some of America’s best hiking trails or join the crowds at the Levi’s stadium

San Francisco

California

Where do you think are the best spots for #cycling around the world? #active #holidays #Dolomites #Italy

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Where to go this summer

Looking for a little travel inspiration for your summer holiday? We’ve rounded up the best places to go over the next few months, from some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, to off-the-wall attractions and events.

Short on time?

Close to home

48 hours in Rome

Rome wasn’t built in a day – so it’s no surprise that even a few days in the Eternal City isn’t enough to take in all of its ancient sights. Here’s how to make the most of your weekend when you only have 48 hours to spare.

Further afield

48 hours in Dubai

Nowhere does excess like the glamorous, beach-lined Emirate of Dubai. A heady mix of innovation, culture and pleasure for pleasure’s sake – Dubai is often referred to as a playground – you’ll be spoilt for choice.

the big trip

48 hours in Santiago

By night the streets are thronging with partygoers, and by day the sights, vineyards, coastline and mountains are all within easy reach of Chile’s vibrant capital city. Local writer, Sarah Gordon, shares her tips for 48 hours in the city.