Travel

Slow Adventure

In Chile, adventure is what happens on the way to having an adventure. Pedal the chunky gravel
of the Carretera Austral and end up sharing a ferry with SUVs and oxcarts, or take a wrong turn
and find heaven in an anonymous orchard. Serendipity takes over. Plans may be made, but try
being just as open to experience. Locals never rush, so maybe you shouldn’t either. ‘Those who
hurry waste their time,’ is the Patagonian saying that would serve well as a traveler’s mantra.

Wine Culture

Before wine became an export commodity for the luxury set, humble casks had their place
on every Chilean table and grandparents tended backyard orchards. Now Chile has become a
worldwide producer catering to ever more sophisticated palates. Rich reds, crisp whites and
floral rosés – there is a varietal that speaks to every mood and occasion. But at home, it’s dif-
ferent. Chileans embrace the concept of la buena mesa. This is not about fancy. Beyond a good
meal, it’s great company, the leisure of overlapping conversations with uncorkings, and the gaze
that’s met at the clink of two glasses. ¡Salud!





BRAZIL

One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, ver-
dant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time
colonial towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-
fringed tropical islands. Then there’s Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems
boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are count-
less places where you can spot iconic species in Brazil, including toucans, scarlet macaws, howler
monkeys, capybara, pink dolphins, sea turtles and thousands of other living species.

Landscapes & Biodiversity
One of the world’s most captivating places, Brazil is a country of powdery white-sand beaches, ver-
dant rainforests and wild, rhythm-filled metropolises. Brazil’s attractions extend from frozen-in-time
colonial towns to otherworldly landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and coral-
fringed tropical islands. Add to that, Brazil’s biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems
boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on earth. There are count-
less places where you can spot iconic species in Brazil, including toucans, scarlet macaws, howler
monkeys, capybaras, pink dolphins, sea turtles and thousands of other living species.

Days of Adventure
Brazil offers big adventures for travelers with budgets large and small. There’s horseback riding and
wildlife-watching in the Pantanal, kayaking flooded forests in the Amazon, ascending rocky cliff tops
to panoramic views, whale-watching off the coast, surfing stellar breaks off palm-fringed beaches
and snorkeling crystal-clear rivers or coastal reefs – all are part of the great Brazilian experience. No
less entrancing is the prospect of doing nothing, aside from sinking toes into warm sands and soak-
ing up a glorious stretch of beach, with a caipirinha – Brazil’s national cocktail – in hand.

Joie de Vivre
Brazil’s most famous celebration, Carnaval, storms through the country’s cities and towns with
hip-shaking samba and frevo, dazzling costumes and parties that last until sun up, but Brazil-
ians hardly limit their revelry to a few weeks of the year. Festas (festivals) happen throughout
the year, and provide a window into Brazil’s incredible diversity. The streets are carpeted with
flowers during Ouro Preto’s Semana Santa (Holy Week), while in the north, Bumba Meu Boi
blends indigenous, African and Portuguese folklore. For a taste of the old world, hit Blumenau’s
beer- and schnitzel-loving Oktoberfest, the largest outside of Germany. Several cities, such as
Recife, Fortaleza and Natal even host Carnaval at other times of year.
The Rhythms of Brazil
Wherever there’s music, that carefree lust for life tends to appear – whether dancing with cari-
ocas at Rio’s atmospheric samba clubs or following powerful drumbeats through the streets of
Salvador. There’s the dancehall forró of the Northeast, twirling carimbó of the Amazon, scratch-
skilled DJs of São Paulo and an endless variety of regional sounds that extends from the
twangy country music of the sunbaked sertanejo to the hard-edged reggae of Maranhão.



GERMANY

Prepare for a roller coaster ride of feasts, treats and temptations experiencing Germany’s
soul-stirring scenery, spirit-lifting culture, big-city beauties, romantic palaces and half-timbered
towns.

Bewitching Scenery
There’s something undeniably artistic in the way Germany’s scenery unfolds – the corrugated,
dune-fringed coasts of the north; the moody forests, romantic river valleys and vast vineyards of
the centre; and the off-the-charts splendour of the Alps, carved into rugged glory by glaciers and
the elements. All of these are integral parts of a magical natural matrix that’s bound to give your
camera batteries a good workout. Get off the highway and into the great outdoors to soak up
the epic landscapes that make each delicious, slow, winding mile so precious.

Pleasures of Civilisation
You’ll encounter history in towns where streets were laid out long before Columbus set sail, and
in castles that loom above prim, half-timbered villages where flower boxes billow with crimson
geraniums. The great cities – including Berlin, Munich and Hamburg – come in more flavours
than a jar of jelly beans but all will wow you with a cultural kaleidoscope that spans the arc from
art museums and high-brow opera to naughty cabaret and underground clubs. And wherever
you go, Romanesque, Gothic and baroque classics rub rafters with architectural creations from
modern masters such as Daniel Libeskind, David Chipperfield and Frank Gehry.



Gastro Delights
Experiencing Germany through its food and drink will add a rich layer to your memories (and
possibly to your belly!). You’ll quickly discover that the local food is so much more than sausag-
es and pretzels, schnitzel and roast pork accompanied by big mugs of foamy beer. Beyond the
clichés awaits a cornucopia of regional and seasonal palate-teasers. Share the German people’s
obsession with white asparagus in springtime, chanterelle mushrooms in summer and game in
autumn. Sample not only the famous beer but also world-class wines, most notably the noble
Riesling.
High on History
Few countries have had as much impact on the world as Germany, which has given us the Han-
seatic League, the Reformation and yes, Hitler and the Holocaust, but also the printing press,
the automobile, aspirin and MP3 technology. It’s the birthplace of Martin Luther, Albert Einstein
and Karl Marx, of Goethe, Beethoven, the Brothers Grimm and other heavyweights who have
left their mark on human history. You can stand in a Roman amphitheatre, sleep in a medieval
castle and walk along remnants of the Berlin Wall – in Germany the past is very much present
wherever you go.



JORDAN

A safe haven in a region of conflict, Jordan has delighted visitors for centuries with its World Heritage
Sites, friendly towns and inspiring desert landscapes.

Ancient Hospitality
Jordan has a tradition of welcoming visitors: camel caravans plied the legendary King’s Highway trans-
porting frankincense in exchange for spices while Nabataean tradesmen, Roman legionnaires, Muslim
armies and zealous Crusaders all passed through the land, leaving behind impressive monuments. These
monuments, including Roman amphitheatres, Crusader castles and Christian mosaics, have fascinated
subsequent travellers in search of antiquity and the origins of faith. The tradition of hospitality to visitors
remains to this day.

Petra: A World Wonder
Petra, the ancient Nabataean city locked in the heart of Jordan’s sandstone escarpments, is the jewel
in the crown of the country’s many antiquities. Ever since explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt brought news
of the pink-hued necropolis back to Europe in the 19th century, the walk through the Siq to the Treasury
(Petra’s defining monument) has impressed even the most travel weary of visitors. With sites flung over a
vast rocky landscape and a mood that changes with the shifting light of dawn and dusk, this is a highlight
that rewards a longer visit.



Desert Landscapes

Take a ride through Wadi Rum at sunset, and it’s easy to see why TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was
so drawn to this land of weathered sandstone and reddened dunes. But Jordan’s desert landscapes are
not confined to the southeast: they encompass a salt sea at the lowest point on earth, canyons flowing
with seasonal water, oases of palm trees and explosions of springtime flowers scattered across arid hills.
Minimal planning and only a modest budget is required for an adventure.

Safe Haven

It takes tolerance to host endless waves of incomers, and Jordan has displayed that virtue amply, ab-
sorbing thousands of refugees from the Palestinian Territories, Iraq and most recently Syria. Despite con-
tending with this and with large numbers of tourists who are often insensitive to conservative Jordanian
values, rural life in particular has managed to keep continuity with the traditions of the past. While Jordan
faces the challenges of modernisation and growing urbanisation, it remains one of the safest countries in
which to gain an impression of the quintessential Middle East.

FINLAND

Inspired design, technology and epicurean scenes meet epic stretches of wilderness here in
Europe’s deep north, where summer’s endless light balances winter’s eerie frozen magic.

Call of the Wild

The Finland you encounter will depend on the season of your visit, but whatever the month,
there’s something pure in the Finnish air and spirit that’s vital and exciting. With towering forests
speckled by picture-perfect lakes, as if an artist had flicked a blue-dipped paintbrush at the
map, Suomi offers some of Europe’s best hiking, kayaking and canoeing. A fabulous network of
national parks has well-marked routes and regularly spaced huts for overnighting, and you can
observe bears and elk deep in the forests on nature-watching trips.

Summer Days

Finland’s short but sparkling sunny season sees the country burst into life. Finns seem to
want to suck every last golden drop out of the summer in the hope that it will sustain them
through the long, dark winter months, and there’s an explosion of good cheer and optimism.
With surprisingly high temperatures for these latitudes, summer is a time for music festivals,
art exhibitions, lake cruises, midnight sunshine on convivial beer terraces, idyllic days at remote
waterside cottages and bountiful market produce.

After the Snowfall

Winter has its own charm as snow blankets the pines and lakes freeze over. The best way to banish
the frosty subzero temperatures is to get active. Skiing is great through to May. Other pursuits include
chartering a team of dogs, a posse of reindeer, or a snowmobile for a trek across snowy solitudes, lit by
a beautiful, pale winter sun; catching the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) after your wood-fired sauna;
drilling a hole for ice fishing; and spending a night in a glittering, iridescent ice hotel.

City Lights

Finland isn’t just vast expanses of pristine wilderness. Vibrant cities stock the country’s southern areas,
headlined by the capital, Helsinki, an electrifying urban space with world-renowned design and music
scenes. Embraced by the Baltic, it’s a spectacular ensemble of modern and stately architecture, island
restaurants and stylish and quirky bars. And the ‘new Suomi’ epicurean scene is flourishing, with locally
foraged flavours to the fore. Beyond Helsinki, Tampere and Turku in particular are lively, engaging cities
with spirited university-student populations.