11 alternative holiday ideas that should be on everyone’s bucket list

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If you have a list, these should be on it.

The new year isn’t far away so it’s time to start thinking about your 2018 holidays. Are you sick of the same old resorts or tired of going to European cities that all look like variations of the same theme? Well, we’ve come up with a list of alternative holiday ideas to give you some much-needed inspiration. Whether you like party trips, active breaks or exploring up-and-coming cities, there’s something for everyone on this list. So which option jumps out at you?

1. The Azores

This Portuguese archipelago is located in the mid-Atlantic and boasts scenery that looks like it was heavily manipulated on Photoshop. It’s also a dream for active types. You can go hiking, canyoning, scuba diving, paragliding, surfing, fishing, canoeing, whale watching and more. The one drawback is that no-one will believe that your holiday snaps haven’t been doctored.

2. Spring Break in Cancun

This Mexican destination gets taken over every March by American university students who come here to party hard. If you’ve watched all those Spring Break scenes in films and wanted a piece of the action, head here around that time. Between parties, you can also enjoy white sand beaches, a day trip to the nearby Mayan ruins or snorkelling on the local reef.

3. The Jordan Trail

Talk to anyone who’s been to Jordan and they’ll tell you how much they loved it. The Jordan trail gives hikers a chance to explore its stunning landscape and epic monuments on foot. This 650km route is one of the great walks and its many sections cover everything from farming valleys to historical buildings to beautiful gorges. The highlight is undoubtedly the Petra section, where you can enjoy supersized historical sites like Petra’s Monastery.

4. Guanajuato, Mexico

This Mexican town is about to hit the limelight as the real-life inspiration for the “Land of the Dead,” a fictional location in Pixar’s upcoming movie, Coco. The brightly-coloured, colonial buildings are an Instagrammer’s dream and culture lovers will love the local arts scene. Guanajuato is more than just a top contender for “the most beautiful city in Mexico” title and it’s retained a gritty vibrancy along with its charming facade.

5. Lofoten Islands, Norway

The jagged peaks, steep cliffs and narrow fjords of the remote Lofoten Islands make it look like a location from a Thor film. If you fancy getting away from it all, seeing nature at its most dramatic or catching the Northern Lights, then this is the one for you. It’s not so much off the beaten track as off the track that will eventually take you to the beaten track if you keep going.

6. Zagreb, Croatia

Tourists landing in Croatia normally head straight for the coast but Zagreb made the Lonely Planet hotlist for 2017 due to its cosmopolitan culture, brutalist architecture and its growing food and craft beer scene. It’s probably only a matter of time before it turns into the next trendy European destination so get in now if you want to enjoy its edgy charms.

7. Pamukkale thermal pools, Turkey

This Turkish attraction looks like someone forgot to defrost the side of a mountain after the Ice Age. The white, terraced limestone hillside is full of mineral-rich pools of water in what was once a Roman and Byzantium spa city. It’s a surreal sight but you can also go walking in the warm mineral waters, which are supposed to have healing or restorative powers.

8. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Do you like active holidays where you feel like you’ve achieved something? Well, this Tanzanian mountain is the highest free-standing mountain in the world so it would make an impressive tick on any bucket list. You can take organised tours to ensure you won’t get lost or suffer a “127 Hours” moment. Climbing Kilimanjaro is definitely something that you can tell the grandkids about.

9. Cat Island, Japan

This one will fall into the love/hate category for many people! Japan is an attractive destination in its own right but Aoshima is one of 11 cat islands in Japan. It’s literally an island that’s teeming with cats, who outnumber humans by about six to one. You can actually stay on the island itself if you’re “feline” adventurous. Maybe just double check that you don’t have any allergies first…

10. The national parks of Madhya Pradesh, India

Continuing the cat theme, this national park is set in what is known as the “Tiger State” so you’ve got a good chance of spotting one of these great beasts in the wild. There are nine national parks, six tiger reserves and 25 wildlife sanctuaries to keep animal lovers amused and you can even channel your inner Tarzan with a jungle tour.

11. Matera, Italy

The European Capital of Culture for 2019 has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years thanks to major renovations. This ancient cave city is carved into a rocky hillside but it’s now a buzzing spot filled with new boutique hotels, restaurants and bars. So there’s plenty to do in between filling up your phone’s memory with shots of its amazing stone dwellings and narrow streets. Travelling can be a great experience but being well-travelled is not always a good thing, as this video proves! Homebird – 100% Irish chicken and turkey. Brought to you by Homebird.