2019’s best new trips for great journeys

Croatia's Elaphiti archipelago (Croatian National Tourist Board)

Trek Croatia's crowd-free trails, embark on a classic road trip in USA, and cruise Italy's Aeolian Islands. There’s the perfect epic adventure for you out there – whether by foot, wheel, rail or sail...

1: Croatia

See the isles by land and sea

In among Croatia’s wealth of islands (there are over 1,000), the small Elaphiti archipelago harbours some of the most spellbinding and untouched sights in the Adriatic. Artisan Travel’s Elaphiti Islands Active Adventure soaks up many of them on a trip via land and sea. Begin aboard a private ten-berth catamaran as it travels north from Dubrovnik towards the Pelješac Peninsula, before stopping off at the lesser-visited islands of Ston, Broce and Sipan. Breeze past pine-scented landscapes, citrus gardens and sandy coves, then drop anchor to explore ancient ruins and Benedictine monasteries, meander crowd-free hiking trails and swim, kayak and snorkel in sparkling waters. Afterwards, shake off your sea legs in the picturesque fishing village of Šipanska Luka, surrounded by olive groves and ancient relics from when Croatia was a maritime republic.

Who: Artisan Travel (01670 785085)

When: Every Saturday & Sunday, 13 Apr–28 Sept 2019

How long: 7 nights

How much: From £825 (excl int’l flights)

2: Chile

Drive the next great road trip

Chile’s new Route of Parks is one of the conservation feats of our time: a 2,800km trail connecting 17 national parks, many newly created. It was the brainchild of the late Douglas Tompkins (founder of outdoor clothing firm North Face), who together with his wife, Kristine, donated vast tracts of private land. With it finally opening in late 2018, Pura Aventura’s Route of the Parks Uncovered helps cut a year’s adventure into a manageable chunk by self-driving the world’s wildest new road trip. Visitors will wind down from the crystalline waters of the Chilean Lake District, through the peaks of the Cerro Castillo and down to the little-seen Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. Watch condors in Coyhaique, fly into the wilds of Torres del Paine and cruise the Magallanes on one of the great wilderness adventures.

Who: Pura Aventura (01273 676712)

When: Flexible dates, best Oct 2019–Apr 2020

How long: 45 nights

How much: From £12,500 (excl int’l flights)

Full story at Wanderlust.