25 trips of a lifetime in Asia, Oceania and Antarctica, from swimming with sharks to breathing fire – iNews

In the final instalment of our 100 Trips of a Lifetime series, which also covers Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, and the UK and Europe, we offer inspiration for future escapes that could take you to Australia, Uzbekistan, Antarctica and beyond.

Ticking off Sri Lankas key sights Dambulla cave temple, Sigiriya rock fortress, Buddha relics in Kandy can be combined with leisurely pedalling through out-of-the-limelight hill country in the middle of the island. Cycling through tea plantations, villages and vivid forest scenery gives a memorably rounded picture of the country. Fifteen days from 2,599pp, including flights, exodus.co.uk

The McLaren Vale region produces reliably world-class shiraz wines. Cellar doors range from humble family-run affairs to the five-storey, psychedelic dArenberg Cube (above). Alternate sampling sessions with kayaking on the pelican-packed Coorong lagoon system and catching waves on the Fleurieu Peninsulas beaches. Twelve days from 1,338, including campervan and flights, travelbag.co.uk

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Despite the overwater bungalows and pampering clichs, much of the Maldives tourist appeal is under the water. The Lhaviyani atoll has 50 dive sites, and the teardrop-shaped Kuredu Island Resort is best placed for exploring them. One week from 1,995pp, including flights and six days unlimited diving, diversetravel.co.uk

The largely forgotten Wat Phu Khmer temple complex in southern Laos is designed to be intimidating, climbing steeply up the slope of Mount Phou Khao. Nearby, the 4,000 islands of the Mekong River are made for hammock-based chilling in riverside bungalows. Sixteen days from 2,295pp, excluding flights, explore.co.uk

On Western Australias North West Cape, rumpled red outback gives way to Indian Ocean beaches and the multicoloured Ningaloo Reef is just 100m offshore. The worlds biggest fish hang out here, and boat tours drop snorkellers in the water next to the gentle giant whale sharks. Nineteen days along the west coast from 2,699pp, including flights, austravel.com

South East Asias under-the-radar cuisine is often the surprise of staple temple-touring itineraries, so ramp up the focus on fish amok and beef loc lac. Food tours, Khmer cooking lessons, rice wine-making sessions and beach barbecues can be laced between the traditional Angkor and islands holiday. Twelve days from 2,198pp, including six food experiences, excluding flights, insideasiatours.com

The furiously evolving world of Chinese contemporary art burns brightest in Shanghais M50 gallery district. Political pop art and realism rarely seen outside of the country help tell the complex tale of modern China. Expert gallery curator guides are best placed to help unpick it. Two-hour private tours 187,contexttravel.com

By day, the islands near Phuket are all about snorkelling jaunts in warm, shallow bays and cruising past towering limestone cliffs. But sleeping under the stars on board a catamaran, before moving on to the next days island, adds a sprinkle of magic. Visitor numbers will be capped in Maya Bay once tourism restarts but those who linger until night falls will be treated to a mesmerising, bioluminescent show in the water. One week from 934pp, excluding flights, gadventures.com

The oft-overlooked, north-eastern Isaan region is where Thai food doesnt get toned down for tourists tastes. Keep plenty of water at hand at mealtimes, then spend the days flitting between weaving workshops, Khmer temples and the prehistoric cliff paintings in the Pha Taem National Park. Ten days from 1,529pp, excluding flights, eastravel.co.uk

Perfectly-formed Rarotonga, with a mountainous green interior and white sand beaches around the edge, takes an hour to drive around. Aitutaki, meanwhile, is one big lagoon with outrageously white sand bars juttinginto it. Snorkel and crack open coconuts at will. Eight nights from 2,599pp including flights, hayesandjarvis.co.uk

Its all about being close to the water in Indonesias Komodo National Park. Gliding above bounteous reefs, pulling up on deserted beaches, stopping for a snorkel and poking around coastal grottoes should warm up intrepid kayakers for an encounter with 3m-long Komodo dragons. Ten days from 1,795pp, excluding flights, pioneerexpeditions.com

Amid Palaus archipelago of green-topped rock islands in Micronesia and some of the greatest snorkelling conditions on Earth lies a lake swarming with jellyfish. These jellyfish have evolved not to sting, so breaststroking through them is like plunging into a freakish aquatic ball pool. Day tour 121pp, viator.com

With all that snow on the mountains, there is usually plenty of fast-flowing water barrelling down Nepals rivers. Single-day and multi-day rafting adventures with a Himalayan backdrop on the gorge-lined Trisuli River hit that fun, but not recklessly dangerous, sweet spot. Thirteen days from 2,399pp, including flights, familiesworldwide.co.uk

New Zealands third island is one big wildlife sanctuary. Ferny national parkland covers 85 per cent of the island and the normally elusive kiwi feels comfortable enough to appear during the day. The penguins save their cameo on the beach for dusk, however. Six days from 1,270pp around South Island and Stewart Island, excluding flights, intrepidtravel.com

Creating a bust or animal sculpture out of ice is impressive. Creating an entire townscape, with detailed skyscrapers and temples, is another altogether. Harbin turns its agonisingly cold winter temperatures into a feature, transforming the ice into a giant canvas. Six days from 1,595pp, including flights, jasmineholidays.co.uk

An 8th-century, Edo-era walking route through the mountains from Kyoto to Tokyo is the perfect excuse to explore rural Japan. Stays in guesthouses and ryokans, bathing in thermal onsens and mooching around outrageously well-preserved historic towns such as Nara intersperse the hikes. Five days from 1,155pp, responsibletravel.com

There are several tent-peg experiences in northern India Jaipur palaces, the Taj Mahal, tiger-spotting in Ranthambore National Park. Stitching them together by train adds a sense of journey. The journey is particularly impressive on the narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen, which conquers 864 bridges and 102 tunnels on its way through the Himalayan foothills. Two weeks from 1,995pp including flights, greatrail.com

New volcanic cones keep emerging on eastern Russias tumultuously wild Kamchatka peninsula. Lava fields, geysers, fumaroles and hot springs line the peninsula as landscapes alternate from barren moonscape to peaceful forest. Dodge acid lakes to climb the Mutnovsky volcano one day, raft along the Kamchatka River looking for salmon-catching bears another. Eleven days from 1,870pp, excluding flights, regent-holidays.co.uk

Not all Antarctic cruises get as faras the Weddell Sea. Amid the wildlife-spotting sessions, expect icebergs the size of shopping malls. Drifting through puts your ship in the middle of an elaborate dance of giant sculptures and slow-moving megabergs. Eleven days from 5,882pp, excluding flights, swoop-antarctica.com

It is possible to take a boat tour through the Waitomo Caves on North Island. But its much more fun to abseil down into them, zipwire across them in the dark, then float down the river in inflatable tubes through a tunnel of twinkling glowworms. Tour 103pp, waitomo.com

Every evening on Selingan Island,green and hawksbill turtles struggle up the beach, dig a hole in the sand, thenlay eggs in it. Watching these hardymums in action ends up being just as thrilling as Borneos better-known wildlife encounters with orangutans.Two weeks from 2,199pp, including flights, freedomdestinations.co.uk

The north of Vietnam is all about mountains, homestay accommodation and if you are on a motorbike gleefully splashing across small rivers. Dirt roads through thatched-roof villages and tracks hugging hillsides provide regular lashings of adventure. Nine days from 1,995pp, excluding flights, rideexpeditions.com

Between all the blue-tiled mosques, this unashamedly romantic route through Uzbekistan reads like a shot list for an Indiana Jones movie: the walled city of Khiva, the enormous Chorsu bazaar, the Emir of Bukharas summer palace and Tamerlanes mausoleum in Samarkand Eleven days from 2,299pp, including flights, rivieratravel.co.uk

There are few weirder places in the world than the Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea. You can peek into the reclusive North from the Dora Observatory, visit the park built as a commemoration to the displaced, and view the tunnels North Korea planned to invade through. Seven days from 1,675pp, excluding flights,onthegotours.com

The ascent of Luzons active Pinatubo stratovolcano starts off with a bumpy 44 ride through an astonishing valley of ash. But from the devastation of the 1991 eruption comes beauty, and the reward at the end of the trek is a dazzling crater lake. Day tour 128,barontravel.ph

To read about more amazing trips, take a look out our installments on the Americas and the Caribbean, the UK and Europe and Africa

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25 trips of a lifetime in Asia, Oceania and Antarctica, from swimming with sharks to breathing fire - iNews