25 trips of a lifetime in the UK and Europe, from driving the Stelvio Pass to waltzing in Vienna

New routes on the Orient-Express

The legendary Venice-Simplon Orient-Express is launching five new routes in May and June: Rome to London, Florence to London, Venice to Amsterdam, Venice to Brussels and Geneva to Venice. The Grand Tour journeys, taken in the original 20s and 30s rolling stock, will be as decadent as ever. Five nights from £3,930pp including hotel and train accommodation, tours and flights, theluxuryholidaycompany.com

Ski the Haute Route

Linking Chamonix in France with Zermatt in Switzerland, the Haute Route is a high Alpine ski tour challenge. You’ll cover around 180km over the course of a week, with an elevation of 6,000m, sleeping in mountain refuges along the way. It is a challenge for experienced thrill-seekers, with technical hikes, but ends with a glorious descent into Zermatt in the shadow of the Matterhorn. One week from £1,164pp excluding travel, action-outdoors.co.uk

A big get-together in the UK

The ability to gather friends and family en masse is likely to have universal appeal when possible again – and Scarlet Hall in the Cheshire village of Malpas is a venue to revel in. The Grade II listed, 17th-century manor house sleeps up to 22, with spacious entertaining areas, a heated pool, sauna, cinema and games room as well as acres of grounds. Short breaks from £4,450, scarlethall.uniquehomestays.com

A holy hike

This is a Holy year for the Camino de Santiago, with the Feast of Santiago falling on a Sunday (25 July). If restrictions allow, many pilgrims will want to make the journey in a year when many events are planned, meaning a busier route. A new, inn-to-inn walking holiday takes in some of the quieter alternatives to the Camino Frances. 12 days from £3,725pp excluding flights, pura-aventura.com

Drive the Stelvio Pass

Tackle the dramatic switchbacks of the Stelvio Pass as it zig-zags into the northern Italian Alps towards the Swiss border from behind the wheel of a classic car – a Fiat 500, Mini Cooper or MG Midget. Declared “the greatest driving road in the world” by Jeremy Clarkson, it delivers jaw-dropping views. Rather less demanding, you can spend the rest of the week exploring the flatter, but no less alluring shores of Lake Garda. One week from €1,300pp (£1,147) plus £145 for Pass tour, classictravelling.com/stelvio

Trek or climb Mont Blanc  

Depending on your level of ambition and head for heights, Mont Blanc offers varying degrees of adventure. Either tackle the Tour du Mont Blanc, which takes you through France, Italy and Switzerland in the massif’s shadow over 170km in 10 days; or go straight for the top on the 4,180m ascent of the highest peak in the Alps over the course of a week. £1,382pp/£2,311 excluding travel, muchbetteradventures.com

Sailing in the Greek islands  

Imagine draping yourself across the deck at the bow of a yacht, watching the jade-green waters of the Ionian Sea slip by as the vessel glides out of Corfu and heads south to Paxos, Antipaxos and Kefalonia. The skippered sailing holidays offered by Fish and Pips offer the chance to drop anchor for snorkeling, picnics on glorious beaches and time to explore the islands themselves, as well as stargazing at night. One week from £1,450pp for a group of six excluding flights, fishandpips.co.uk/sailing

Scotland’s North Coast 500  

Throw yourself into Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes on this loop around its northern reaches, from Applecross to Inverness via Durness and John O’ Groats. It’s a DIY adventure: tackle the 500-mile route in one go, take on just a few segments, break the journey up in luxury hotels or do it in a campervan, with a tent, or even on two wheels. En route, there are whisky distilleries, wildlife, waterfalls, white sand beaches, Iron Age relics and castles to enjoy. northcoast500.com

Head for the heights of Norway  

One of the world’s most beautiful train journeys, the Flam Railway journeys from watery fjord to mighty mountain in south-western Norway, through spectacular scenery, passing peaks and waterfalls as it climbs. Build it into a trip that heads north to Arctic Tromso and the glaciers and polar bears of the Svalbard archipelago. Eight days from £1,595pp with flights, best-served.co.uk

Cycling London to Paris

The London to Paris challenge can be tackled in an ambitious 24 hours, or on a more leisurely three- or four-day spin. Largely flat, it can be cycled via Dover, Newhaven or Portsmouth, either independently or as part of a group. Hotchillee is organising a four-day supported ride in July that arrives in Paris the day before the Tour de France, when the group will cross the official finish line under escort. From £1,750pp, hotchillee.com/events/the-london-paris

Scotland’s outer islands  

The chain of 200 Atlantic islands that comprises the Outer Hebrides – from Lewis to Barra and St Kilda – range from moors to mountains. There, you will find beautiful beaches, a strong Gaelic culture that plays out in the islands’ music, neolithic stone circles and archaeological sites and stunning sea and birdlife. A 10-night cruise on a six-berth ship aims to show off the highlights. From £4,480pp, themajesticline.co.uk

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Fly fishing in the Test Valley  

The chalk streams of Hampshire’s Test Valley are angling nirvana, regarded as the birthplace of modern fly fishing. Cast out for trout surrounded by tranquil villages and sheep-grazed meadows. Lainston House hotel is the ideal base and can organise excursions with local specialists Upstream Dry Fly. Doubles from £166 B&B, exclusive.co.uk

A private Scottish sea safari

Hopscotch from the grandeur of the 19th-century Glenapp Castle on the Firth of Clyde, to uninhabited Hebridean islands in the company of Ripley, a sea eagle that has been trained to catch fish. The sea safari also stops at distilleries, puffin colonies, gardens, golf courses, archaeological sites… whatever takes your interest. Accommodation is at the castle, and then specially pitched private glamping spots. Four nights from £3,250pp, glenappcastle.com

Northern Lights in the Arctic

While an aurora sighting can never be guaranteed, going on the hunt is part of the thrill, and the Arctic setting is just as magical. Staying in a glass igloo – such as the Aurora Cabins in Levi or Saariselka in Finnish Lapland – maximises viewing time. One week from £1,398pp half-board with flights, inghams.co.uk

Ride the Trans-Siberian railway  

This epic adventure might be just the ticket for when travel restrictions have been lifted. The options are varied, travelling from Moscow to Beijing, Vladivostok or Ulaanbaatar in a four-berth carriage or on a private, luxury, chartered train such as the Golden Eagle. Common to all options is that this one is all about the journey.Two weeks from £995pp, regent-holidays.co.uk

Italy’s highlights by rail

Take time to appreciate the antiquities and artistic institutions of Venice, Florence and Rome on a week-long journey by train. In 10 days, there is time to delve into these Italian icons, with relaxing rail transfers that reveal the countryside en route, culminating in the Eternal City. 10 days from £1,399pp with flights, citalia.com

Personal journey of remembrance  

If you have a family story you’d like to follow up or a relative to pay tribute to, Arena Travel can organise bespoke remembrance tours to and around the battlefields of the UK and Europe, with the help of military history guides. Each journey is unique. Price on application, arenatravel.com/remembrance-tours

Interrail across Europe  

Even though we have parted ways with the European Union, an interrailing adventure is still possible. It will be an even more attractive prospect once the pandemic is behind us and border restrictions have been lifted. One pass covers travel within 33 countries and can be purchased for varying durations – such as seven days’ unlimited use in a one-month period. The Global Pass is the most flexible option and is delivered straight to your mobile upon purchase. From £168, interrail.eu

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Meet Father Christmas in Lapland  

A magical experience for any child, and a white Christmas they will never forget. As well as a private meeting with Santa in his Finnish Lapland home, there is the chance to go husky sledding, toboganning, on a reindeer sleigh ride and even on a mini skidoo. The Northern Lights will be a bonus. Three days from £1,159 per adult with flights, santaslapland.com

Your own Greek island  

Take up residence on a private island in the northern Cyclades, where the 10-bedroom house has been owned by the same family for almost a century. With whitewashed walls and terracotta tiled roof, it has a kitchen garden and a sunny terrace for outdoor dining. There are several beaches and bicycles to borrow, and it is also possible to hire a chef. Nightly rates from €3,500 (£3,088) for up to 22 guests self-catering, welcomebeyond.com

Iceland’s Arctic Coast Way

On a self-drive adventure on this newly christened 900km route along Iceland’s quieter north coast, you will witness Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, the lava pillars of Lake Myvatn, deserted beaches, colourful villages, clifftop vistas and the opportunity to see humpback whales and seals on boat trips. In autumn, you might also see the Northern Lights. 11 nights from £1,575pp excluding flights, discover-the-world.com

Tall-ship sailing in the Med

Glide around the western Mediterranean on a four- or five-masted tall ship. Some of Star Clippers’ small fleet date back to the early 20th century and the historic ships sleep between 166 and 227 guests, ensuring a more personal experience than typical cruises. Itineraries in the western Mediterranean might explore the Adriatic coastline or Corsica and the French Riviera, with activities that include wine-tasting, kayaking and bike tours. One week from £1,715pp with flights, starclippers.co.uk

Wildlife tracking in Romania

Parts of the southern Carpathian mountains are the focus of a conservation and rewilding project, where bison and Eurpoean lynx are returning and 20,000 trees have been planted. The Carpathia Wilderness Reserve is being upheld as an icon for conservation in Europe by the European Nature Trust and can be explored on responsibly managed safaris. Three days from €410pp (£362) excluding travel, europeansafaricompany.com/safaris, theeuropeannaturetrust.com

Tuscan wine, food and culture

Tuscany provides a near-perfect setting for a wine pilgrimage – from the Maremma coastline to Chianti, there are many diversions, including hilltop villages, artisan food producers and, of course, the cultural big hitters of Florence, Pisa and Siena. Many wineries offer accommodation, from simple B&B rooms to grand villas, and it’s also possible to explore in a vintage Fiat 500. Four days from £782pp with accommodation, tours and tastings, grapeescapes.net

Learn to waltz in Vienna

Viennese balls are legendary, and it is possible to learn how to ballroom dance at one of the Austrian capital’s most respected schools, Elmayer. In addition to the classic Viennese waltz, private tuition is also offered for the foxtrot or tango, which students can then put into practice at the Ballsaal ballroom. One-hour sessions from €50 (£44) per couple. Time your visit for the historic ball season in January and February and show off your moves at one of the classic balls at the Hofburg or Opera. elmayer.at, wien.info

Don’t miss part two next week: the Americas and the Caribbean.