Ten unmissable trips to book in May

Hoi An’s sleepy streets and ancient Chinese buildings are beautiful in the day time, but it’s at night that this atmospheric town really comes alive. As the sun dips beyond the Thu Bon River, thousands of brightly coloured lanterns flicker into life, illuminating the pastel-washed buildings and the hubbub of activity in the bustling streets below.

Photograph curious gelada monkeys in the rugged Simien Mountains alongside expert photographer Renato Granieri. This is an Explore trip with a twist – we’ll explore the best of fascinating Ethiopia, but with a focus (pun intended) on photography. We’ve tweaked this best-selling trip to visit key sites at the best times of the day, and to allow for plenty of time to capture great images you’ll treasure for years to come.

Explore Tortuguero’s fascinating network of jungle waterways by boat. The complex canal system and narrow lagoons of this ‘mini Amazon’ support an abundance of birds, such as heron, stork and kingfisher. Cast your eyes up into the canopy to spot sloths, howler and capuchin monkeys and look out for the elusive tapir.

The sheer power and majesty of the Perito Moreno glacier is mindblowing. One of the world’s largest glaciers, this mighty ice mass regularly casts huge chunks of ice off into the water, causing enormous ripples around the lake and a huge cheer from anyone lucky enough to be watching!

Explore the varied hiking trails that zigzag across the dramatic landscapes and magnificent coastlines of five Azores islands. Here, waterfalls and hot springs are plentiful while tourists are not! Enjoy the peace and quiet of the small towns and their charm; little churches and squares and small roads without any crowds, traffic or mass tourism.