The Top Three Travel Destinations of 2018

As we reflect on 2018, we take a look back at the best travel destinations of the year as told by the well-travelled Jacinta Blundell of Helloworld Buderim and Caboolture. From family-friendly adventures to picturesque landscapes in far off lands, Jacinta has countless adventures to share; here are her top three.

South Africa

For an animal-packed safari, South Africa has family-friendly wildlife spotting adventures bumping through the savannah and scrub of Kruger National Park and adjacent private game reserves on the hunt for the Big Five. The kids will love the mix of glamping and lodges and spotting wildlife on thrilling night safaris, and grown-ups can sip local vintage wines just outside Cape Town’s famed wine regions. African family safaris are more affordable than ever and the school holiday in September/October is a great time to visit.

Vietnam

Writer Henry Miller once said, “One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things”.

Enriching the mind and upskilling are all part of great travel adventures, and hands-on encounters are the moments that linger in your memory forever.

Vietnam is the ideal travel destination for authentic experiences, mixing with the locals and learning their traditions and techniques. Learn from the masters in a cooking class, a chopstick making lesson or a rice noodle course. Or stay with Buddhist monks in Thien Vien Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Dalat or the tribes and minority villages in central and northern Vietnam for totally life-changing experiences.

Iceland

I have been fascinated and intrigued by some of the local legends that have enlightened my travels over time, including my latest adventure to Iceland. A land rich in its own colourful legends, where a majority of the population believe in the huldufólk. While taking photos of the dramatic south coast, with its black sand beaches and volcanic sea stacks in the distance, I was told of the legend known as Reynisdrangar. The stacks were formed from three mischievous trolls as they attempted to pull a ship ashore and ended up being caught by the light of dawn, to become frozen in time. All of a sudden, a local legend can change your perspective of a landscape, and the imagination runs wild. There are many Icelandic landscapes that have equally intriguing legends and myths that surround them, and can fill many a long winter night of storytelling, and days of island exploring.

Small Group Journeys is a collection of bespoke worldwide adventures, cruises and tours designed and escorted by Jacinta Blundell.

Make an appointment to see one of helloworld travel’s specialists today or visit smallgroupjourneys.com