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5 Popular Travel Bucket List Items For Mature Travellers

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There’s a certain sense of serenity that comes with travelling later in life. After all, you don’t have the same pressures as you might have had in your younger years. Instead, now is the time to enjoy things at your own pace, and really take in the scenery rather than feel rushed. There are thousands of destinations across the globe that will allow you to do just that. From ancient architecture to stunning coastlines, there is something to suit everyone. Whatsmore if you think you’ve seen it all before because you’re a little older, you’ll actually find the best is yet to come. 

So, are you ready to broaden your horizons? Here are 5 popular travel bucket list items for mature travellers to inspire your next trip.

Amazon River

An Amazon River cruise is like no other. Stretching through Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, it’s an experience that truly appeals to all five senses. As you make your way along with one of the world’s longest rivers, you’ll encounter an abundance of wildlife and plants that are unique to the Amazon’s ecosystem. For adventure seekers, there’s even the chance to kayak along the river, allowing you to get up close and personal with its inhabitants. Of course, you can also just allow the cruise to do the sightseeing for you, as you’ll wake up to a different section of the world-famous river every morning. Click here to read more about Amazon cruises. 

Kerry, Ireland

Ireland is a country with a rich heritage, that spans far beyond the tourist areas of its capital Dublin. Kerry sits towards the southwest of Ireland and is packed full of lush green landscapes and rugged coastlines. The quaint town of Listowel holds a literary festival every year that brings authors from across the globe into its colourful streets. Another must-see highlight is the Ring of Kerry, which involves a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula. For mature travellers who want to explore somewhere close to their doorstep, Kerry should be your first port of all.

California, United States

The United States offers every kind of holiday, as it contains everything from mountainous terrain to golden beaches. Though it is California that arguably offers some of the best experiences for senior travellers. In the north, you have San Francisco and the nearby Napa Valley wine region. Make your way down the coast, and you’ll find the likes of Malibu and Santa Monica. Life in California is all about enjoying the great outdoors, as well as experiencing fresh, delicious food that is like nowhere else in America. 

Split, Croatia

Nestled along the Adriatic Sea is the city of Split in Croatia. It’s an area that is steeped in history, with ancient ruins dating back to the Roman Empire. The city is awash with stunning beaches too, which are equally enjoyed on a coastal walk as they are in person. Split is an ideal destination for those who love to discover and get off the beaten track. All while taking things at a slower, relaxed pace. One of the best ways to explore Split is through a river cruise, as these offer plenty of excursions, as well as the best views of the city.

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is a city that’s primarily known for being a financial hub. However, it’s also been ranked as one of the best places to live in the world. The Limmat River runs through the middle of the city, and on either side, you’ll find an abundance of museums and shops. The architecture is also particularly impressive, with The Fraumünster Church dating back to the 9th century. German is the most commonly used language in Zurich, but as English is widely understood here too, this makes it very accessible to travellers from lots of different nations.

Fantastic Ways To Explore Sydney When Travelling As A Couple

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Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, and there is plenty to see and do when you explore this fantastic destination as a couple. From romantic interludes to spectacular scenery and natural beauty, there are plenty of sights that will take your breath away when you visit this iconic city.

Below are some of the best excursions you can choose as a couple to explore Sydney and ensure that you have a trip that you will remember forever.

Explore Sydney On The Saddle

There has been a significant increase in sightseeing bike tours in Sydney that offers visitors a different perspective of the city. These guided tours are an excellent way to get orientated in the city and can take in iconic landmarks such as the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can go as part of a larger group or pay a little extra and have a personal guide all to yourself, and these tours are suitable for all levels of fitness and ability.

Cruise Around The Harbour

Another excellent way to take in the beauty of Sydney is to see the cityscape from the harbour. There are dinner cruises where you can experience the sunset while enjoying a romantic meal for two or you can also charter a yacht so you can enjoy the experience alone. There are many options open to visitors, but if you do not have experience at sailing, it is best to use the services of an experienced captain. A significant benefit to this is that they will be able to take you to the best spots using their local knowledge.

Floating In The Sky

If you want a truly magical experience when you visit Sydney, you may wish to experience a hot air balloon ride at dawn, and take in the majestic vistas as the sun rises. You will need to travel to the outskirts of Sydney for your balloon ride, and with various companies offering these services, there are plenty of choices available. TripAdvisor also has plenty of excellent recommendations on reputable tour companies offering hot air balloon rides.

A Bird’s Eye View Of The City

Another excellent way to explore Sydney and take in some of the sights that are available from a different perspective is to enjoy a helicopter ride. You can take a tour of scenic Sydney, or go further afield to somewhere like the Blue Mountains, and one thing that you will be guaranteed is spectacular views no matter where you go. There are many helicopter charter companies that you can choose from and make sure you bring along a good camera to capture some of the moments as you enjoy flying around Sydney.

A Picnic On A Deserted Beach

If you are looking to spend some alone time together and want nothing more than having the beach to yourself, you are in luck. There is plenty of choices with so much coastline offering beautiful beaches that all you need to do is hire a car and drive until you find a beautiful spot. Pack yourself a nice picnic and enjoy a day at the beach with your loved one before you head back to your hotel for dinner. However, do be careful if going in the water and check the local conditions first as there may be rip tides and strong currents you cannot see which can be dangerous.

Best Places To Work Abroad

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Source: Unsplash | Hu Chen

It’s the dream – living and working abroad. The freedom, excitement and adventure abounds. Working in a country that isn’t your home country is something that many people dream of doing, but don’t always know how to accomplish and where to go. Sure, it can seem daunting at the best of times to pack your things and hit the open road, looking for somewhere to work, but you don’t need to do it that way. In fact, there are a lot of ways you can find good places to work before you ever leave your home country. Here are just a couple of great ideas for those of you who are looking to take your travel experience to the next level.

Namibian Safari Tour Companies

For a vast country filled with diverse wild life, Namibia is probably one of the most amazing places to work abroad. Granted, a lot of Namibian Safari tour companies like to hire locals to fulfill various roles, especially when it comes to tour guides and camp/lodge management and employees, but you can sometimes luck out and get these roles as foreigners as well. Some of the most amazing experiences come from unique African countries like Namibia, where safari tours take you out into the wilderness to come face to face with some of the most elusive and beautiful animals on the continent. These tours can sometimes be basic, camping style, in tents but others can be five star lodges with glamping style accommodation or even high class hotel level suites, so there are many for you to choose from when looking for work.

Villa Jobs In Europe

There are literally hundreds of villa jobs to be found around the world but villa jobs in Europe can be very easy to come by. These jobs are similar to those in African Safari companies, where you’d be likely helping to care for either the inhabitants of a villa, or standing in for the owners to care for guests as a type of concierge or housekeeper. There are some jobs out there that specify in childcare, nannying, or full household management, so it depends on what your skills and expertise are. A particularly large portion of these jobs are in European countries like France, Spain and Switzerland which is also good for employees due to the EU’s stringent employee labour laws.

Source: Unsplash | Content Pixie

Freelancing In Thailand

Finally, one of the most popular ways to work abroad these days is quite simple – it’s to actually put your skills to work for you through freelancing. This is a great option for those who just want to work a little bit to supplement their travels without needing to worry too much or have too much stress. One of the most popular places to do this over the last few years has been Thailand. This is due to the low cost of living and reliable and high speed internet available even in rural areas. Another benefit of freelancing Thailand is that there is a big community of digital nomads in cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok, so if you work in graphics design, content writing,  virtual assisting or other internet based jobs, you have many people connect with to make your adjustment of living abroad much easier.

With so many cool places to find foreign jobs or work online, it’s no wonder so many people continue to move abroad to make a go of things. If you want to take your time and see the world, working abroad might be just the thing the doctor ordered. Enjoy!

Cruise Holidays: Range of Styles

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The cruise industry has seen amazing success over the last decade or so, and what was once largely for the rich and elderly, is now a hot favourite with families all over the world. If you are thinking of booking a cruise holiday, here are a few packages that are specifically designed for certain groups.

  • Solo Cruising– Primarily aimed at singles who wish to have a great time and meet other likeminded travellers or passengers of the same age. Many people like their own company and wish to spend time in solitude. This can also be done on a singles cruise, as no one tries to get you to interact, although there are plenty of opportunities to do just that. You are likely to find people who like the same things, and many life-long friendships started with a singles cruise, as have countless marriages.
  • Young Family Cruises– This is an expanding market, as more and more parents realise the many benefits of a floating holiday, and if you wanted to take the kids away for a few days, there are Royal Caribbean cruises from Australia offered by leading cruise tour operators. This is a wonderful opportunity for any young person to experience something unique, and regardless of their ages, there is always something to do on a cruise ship. One of the main reasons families choose a cruise is the huge number of onboard activities that their kids can engage with, and with supervision, there are no fears of losing your kids.
  • Romantic Cruises – There are many short cruises leaving Melbourne and Sydney that are designed to attract romantic couples, and the best way to book such a cruise would be to search online for a leading cruise holiday operator. Many of the passengers have grown up children and they can indulge themselves in a romantic getaway, and by meeting other couples, they are expanding their contact lists. There is some more information on choosing the right cruise, which you should find helpful.
  • Mega Cruises– A mega cruise would be a trip around Australia, which would take the best part of three months, or even a round-the-world cruise, which is designed for seasoned cruise passengers who want to see the world in style. If you and your partner are both retired and the kids have families of their own, why not go for an epic 3-month cruise? Of course, a round-the-world cruise would consist mainly of retired people, although many of the passengers are only on the ship for a portion of the voyage.

Of course, prior to booking any cruise, you should find out what you can about the package. If you have any queries, the online cruise tour company is there to help. You can search by dates or destinations, and there are always some great last-minute deals if you can leave at short notice.

5 Tips for Taking a Spur-of-the-Moment Trip

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It’s impossible to predict when an amazing travel opportunity will come knocking. Though it’s preferable to plan vacations well in advance and to book your holiday accomodations online months before you’re due to set off, sometimes a spur-of-the-moment trip comes together at the last second. To help you take advantage of a possible “chance of a lifetime,” make sure to check out our top five tips for vacationing at a moment’s notice. Read this post and then get moving!

Talk to Your Boss

Few people would consider risking their job to take a last-second vacation. Still, it is possible to “have your cake and eat it too,” if you decide to take a spur-of-the-moment holiday. Speak with your boss and explain to them why you’re requesting time off so soon. Additionally, any solutions you can offer them before you leave will likely be appreciated. If, for instance, you can finish a report on blood collection sets sooner than anticipated, your boss might not mind you heading out on a quick vacation as much.

Keep it Short

In general, the shorter the trip, the less planning is required to make it a success. It’s virtually impossible to put together a two-week trip if you only have a few hours to prepare. (And that goes double if you don’t already possess a valid passport.) On the other hand, it’s definitely feasible to organize a quick weekend getaway in a scramble. Plus, traveling on the weekends could save you the trouble of asking for time off from your boss.

Have a Goal in Mind

Unless you have a very specific place or event you want to see –– like a concert, sporting event, festival, or exhibit –– consider putting off a trip until you have more time. Fortunately, quick trips that are centered around a single event are easier to budget for –– in terms of both time and money.

Pack with a Partner

It’s very easy to forget to pack an important item –– even if you’re an experienced traveler. As such, it’s a good idea to pack with a partner, particularly if you’re short on time. Having an extra pair of eyes can help you spot a potential mistake and prevent you from taking off without a toothbrush, towel, or worse, without your wallet or cell phone!

Have Fun!

The chance to have a spontaneous trip doesn’t happen very often. So if all the conditions are met –– i.e you’ve got the time, money, and resources to pull it off –– then make it a point to soak up this rarest of vacations. Happily, some of the best decisions are the ones made in the blink of an eye.

Why You Need Travel Insurance Before You Hit The Road

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Whether you are taking a trip around the world, heading off for a sunshine break or relocating for 6 months to do some valuable volunteering work, travel insurance is an absolutely essential requirement. There are many ways in which we can justify not shelling out on travel insurance ‘I probably won’t need it’ usually the number one reason why people fail to get themselves covered. There are however, far more compelling reasons as to why you do need travel insurance and whilst it is frustrating if you don’t end up needing it, if you do you will be thankful that you had the foresight to spend the money on it.

Logistics

There is always a possibility that you could have issues with the logistics of your travel plans, and this is where your travel insurance can come in very handy. Take the case of Thomas Cook that we have just seen, a global travel giant has gone bust in a matter of days. Those with upcoming flights may be protected by ATOL and can count on a refund, but what about the hotel, the travel plans, the car rental and the internal flights in your destination? Those with travel insurance can get some money back which otherwise they would have completely lost.

Rising Costs

Because we live in the UK and we have an outstanding healthcare system, it is easy for us to be completely oblivious to how much medical care actually costs. When you are in a foreign land however there is no NHS to save you and you will have to foot the bill for whatever medical care you need should something go wrong. Falling off a quad and breaking your arm, extreme food poisoning from local street cuisine, severe sunburn or even a car accident driving on foreign roads. There are literally thousands of situations which could see you needing medical care, and in a foreign country that can very quickly become very expensive. Travel insurance will take care of all of this and will leave you only paying a small premium, when you compare this to how much a doctor’s visit, medication or a hospital stay may cost, you can see just how cost effective travel insurance can be.

Cancelled Trip

Flights can be cancelled without you having any idea why, perhaps as a result of a strike or even extreme weather. If this happens the last thing you want is to be left stranded in a foreign land, which is yet another reason why it is so important to have travel insurance. Airlines can do this at the drop of a hat and from experience they are rarely forthcoming when it comes to helping you with a fix. Having travel insurance gives you the peace of mind that you will get home safely.

Repatriation

If you or someone who you are traveling with was to have an issue which cost them their life, the cost of flying the body back home is in the millions of pounds. This is an extreme example but things can happen and should they occur, the family will of course want to bury the body back on home soil. A travel insurance company will make sure that the body is flown back home, helping you to avoid these incredible costs.

Simply put travel insurance makes a lot of sense and there is no real justification as to why you don’t shouldn’t get it.

Top Outdoor Activities To Try In The UK

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Source: Pete Linforth on Pixabay

The UK is awash with amazing sights and locations that just need to be explored. If you’re the outdoorsy type of person, it’s likely that the UK will feature highly on your list alongside other such notable destinations as Canada and the USA. The UK has a slightly different twist though – with almost every type of terrain accessible in a relatively small area of land, the UK offers up everything from beachfront to mountain top and all the treats and sights in between. Sound like your kind of thing? Read ahead for the top outdoorsy things to do in the UK. 

Cornwall

One of the UK’s most prominent beach destinations, Cornwall is a small strip of land, surrounded on three sides by ocean. The famous Jamaica Inn, popular due to Daphne DuMaurier’s novel of the same name, stands proudly at Bolventor, the ideal place to visit on a break from driving. The coastline is impressive throughout Cornwall, but particularly at notable points such as Godrevy Beach, St Ives and Land’s End. Visit Penzance to gain access to the famous St Michael’s Mount – a small island castle and village set in the sea, accessible by foot but only during low tide. Aside from this, the rest of the county is awash with small villages and ancient sites, perfect for hikes and getting a bit of exercise while exploring something unique.

Snowdonia

If you’ve ever wanted to climb a mountain – make it Snowdon. Snowdon is not only one of the easier peaks to summit throughout the whole of the UK, but it’s also got several different access routes that allow for a variety of summit options. If you’re not interested in climbing Mount Snowdon but want to visit Snowdonia, consider staying in the beautiful mountain village of Betws-y-Coed, a picturesque location where you can easily base yourself and explore other areas of Snowdonia such as Beddgelert or Llanberis. Not sure about Snowdonia? No problem – check out southern Wales and the county of Pembrokeshire for some truly stunning rugged cliff sides and trails that will have you coming back time and again.

Yorkshire

With rolling green hills and gorgeous little villages made of stone with cobbled streets, Yorkshire is one of the most unique and beautiful counties in all of the UK. Home to the spa town Harrogate, it’s got a reputation for its serene beauty as well as its history. Visit some of the tourist sites like Old Mother Shipton’s Cave or take to the trails and hike the rolling hills and area of natural beauty. One of the most enjoyable towns to visit is York, where the impressive York Minster attracts visitors from around the world alongside the birthplace of Guy Fawkes, one of the original members of the gunpowder plot.

Whatever your reason for visiting the UK, it’s easy to see that it’s got its fair share of great outdoorsy activities and destinations for all lovers of the outdoors. From mountain climbing to beach combing, there’s something for everyone in the British Isles – but don’t take it from us, come and experience it for yourself. The UK is just brimming with things to do and experience, so come and make this your new favourite outdoor holiday destination. You won’t regret it.

Top Luxury Holiday Destinations

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Source: Richard Mcall on Pixabay

Are you thinking about booking a holiday for later this year or into next year but you aren’t sure where to go? Maybe you want something a bit more luxurious but exotic at the same time and need some interesting ideas on destinations that offer the perfect blend of both. You might be surprised at the places you can go that combine serious exotic travel with touches of luxury throughout. If this sounds like the kind of thing you’re looking for this year, read ahead to learn more about some of the best locations in the world that allow you to experience a truly unique culture without skimping on luxury.

India

Believe it or not, India is one of the top countries where you can score luxurious travel deals for cheap. India is home to some of the world’s most weird and wonderful sights including the city of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal, Varanasi and more. While many people come to India for cheap backpacking trips, many others come for the luxury side of things – often allowing luxury seekers the opportunity to really get a lot of bang for their buck. Many of the old colonial hill stations have been transformed into beautiful, luxury accommodations – providing visitors with a historical and beautiful experience that is likely to rival many others around the world. 

Morocco

Morocco may not sound like the type of place where you can find luxury travel, but nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you want a city break in the likes of Fez or Marrakesh or you’re interested in getting out into the wilderness a bit more, Morocco has something for everyone. In terms of luxury travel, Morocco has a bit of everything ranging from high class beautiful traditional guesthouses known as riads – often with gorgeous decor that rivals impressive hotel chains right up to luxury beachfront resorts that offer yoga and surf lessons along with luxury accommodation that rivals some of the top resorts in the world. 

Japan

When it comes to luxury, Japan is one of the best places for it. Whether you want something seriously modern, bordering on futuristic or you are looking for something more traditional, Japan has something for everyone. Ryokans are the best option for luxury traditional Japanese travel – with sliding rice paper doors, dinners on tatami mats and roll out futon style beds, all topped off with usually an onsite onsen (traditional mineral bath) that brings the whole thing together perfectly. 

Tanzania

Whether you’re on Zanzibar or you’re traversing the African bush on safari, Tanzania is one of the most ideal places for luxury travel seekers. Resorts on the island of Zanzibar can be truly exquisite and provide ample offerings in terms of luxury accommodation and catering, often with private resort pools, private guides for safari and truly immaculate and impressive rooms to stay in. Most offer restaurants on site, even out on safari with high quality, world class cuisine, alcohol and all the trappings that befit a luxury getaway. 

So whether you’re looking for a simple holiday or a getaway to celebrate something impressive such as a ten year wedding anniversary, hopefully these top ideas for surprising luxury holiday destinations. Enjoy!

Awesome Experiences Which You Need On Your Bucket List

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Do you have a bucket list? If not then it is time to put one together, an awesome list of experiences which you’ll aim to accomplish before you proverbially ‘kick the bucket’. If you do have a bucket list then we have got some amazing experiences which you need to add on to that list, if you don’t have them already.

A bucket list should be a lifelong endeavor, after all trying to complete them in a short space of time is going to be pretty expensive and take up a hell of a lot of your time. The key to a great bucket list is quality rather than quantity, less items but ones which you will never forget. Flying around the world to complete your travel bucket list is likely to get expensive so be sure to check out JustFly.com who always have the lowest rates on flight prices. Without further ado then, here are the items which you need to get on your bucket list.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis to give their scientific name, are a truly natural wonder of the world which will blow your mind. As electrons smash together in the sky they begin to glow in colors of red, blue and white and cause whips of color to dance across the sky. You can see the Northern Lights in a number of places around the world such as Alaska, Canada, Sweden, Norway and Iceland to name just a few.

Gates of Hell

The name alone sounds good enough reason to add this to your bucket list, and in truth you’ll feel just like you are standing at the actual gates of hell when you visit this phenomenon in Turkmenistan. Found in the Karakum desert this 230 foot wide hole was caused after a Russian drilling rig accidentally smashed a hole into the Earth, the hole began leaking gas and in their wisdom the Russians set fire to the hole, with the intention of burning off the gas. Well that same hole has been burning now for 40 years and isn’t showing any signs of stopping. For an even cooler experience, take some marshmallows with you, we aren’t kidding!

Devil’s Pool

Another satanic-themed item is the Devil’s Pool, an experience only for the brave and one which you will never forget. This pool sits at the top of Victoria Falls in Zambia, one of the biggest waterfalls on the planet. Many rock pools have formed at the top of the waterfall and despite the thousands of tonnes of water which cascade down each and every second, the rock pools are relatively tranquil. If you are bold enough then you can head to the Devil’s Pool and peer over the edge of the 108 meter drop.

Macau Tower Bungee Jump

Bungee jumping is something which everyone seems to have on their list but to take things to the next level, why not head to Macau Tower in Macau, China, the highest bungee jump in the world? Instead of dropping a meer 100 feet, why not jump into the sky and drop 500 instead? That’s what you can expect from this heart-stopping bungee jump, putting to shame anyone who thought  that a simple bridge jump was enough to qualify as a bucket list item.

Volcano Boarding

Skiing, surfing and skateboarding are fun activities but not quite worthy of a spot on a real bucket list, but volcano boarding most certainly is. In Nicaragua near Leon, you will find the volcano locally known as Cerro Negro. It is here that you can sit down on a slim board of wood, and put your life into the hands of the gods as you launch yourself down the edge of the volcano, hoping to reach the bottom in one piece. Reaching speeds of up to 40mph you will skate over the volcanic rock, clinging on for dear life to a small rope which is fixed to your sled. Now that is a bucket list item!

Hit The Seven Wonders

Some people will feature one or two of the world’s Seven Wonders, but instead of that why not look to see all of them. Here is the list if you are unsure.

  • Machu Pichu – Peru
  • Great Wall of China
  • Taj Mahal – India
  • Colosseum – Italy
  • Chichen Itza – Mexico
  • Christ the Redeemer – Brazil
  • Petra – Jordan

Some tick off a couple of these, go for them all for a proper bucket list challenge.

Which of these do you most fancy adding to your bucket list?

‘Lost’ Countries Which You Need On Your Travel List

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The World is an ever-changing landscape which has seen many empires and civilizations rule over certain lands for varying periods of time throughout history. As it currently stands there are 195 countries in the world recognized by the United Nations, the newest of which being South Sudan who gained independence from Sudan in 2011. So what of the old countries which no longer exist? Many have undergone name changes after liberation from colonialism such as Ceylon which became Sri Lanka, and many simply no longer exist as they once did.

Luxury travel agent Azure Collection have been running the #DiscoveringTheLostCountries campaign to encourage people to visit these once independent nations, and here is where you can discover some of that old world in the modern age.

Ashanti Empire

The Ashanti Empire is heavily studied by historians because of the way in which it quickly gained economic and military strength after its beginnings in the 17th Century. The Royals of the empire were exiled to Seychelles by the British but eventually gained protection status and became independent once again from British rule. The empire ruled what is the modern day city of Kumasi in Ghana,and this area is still recognized as an independent state by Ghana and it even still has an emperor.

Sikkim

Sikkim is a land which is nestled in the Himalayan mountains not far from the Nepalese border. The country is now a state under Indian rule and has been since 1975, prior to that however it was an independent monarchy with quite the colorful history. Sikkim had strong links to the British, its monarchy would often be Buddhist priests and they faced a number of conflicts with neighboring groups seeking power. These days Sikkim is a fascinating place where 11 languages are spoken and the citizens are from a mixture of Nepali, Indian, Tibetans and many are of original Sikkim origin. Tourists here can enjoy the melting pot of culture and some of the most incredible mountain views which can be found in India.

Basutoland

Basutoland was once a strong empire in the south of Africa which is today known as Lesotho. In the middle of the 19th Century its ruler King Moshoeshoe I asked for help from the British to fight off invaders, and as you can probably expect, it was then colonized and in 1868 became a British territory. In 1966 it gained its independence and became modern day Lesotho, complete with a monarchy. Visitors to Lesotho can expect to see some of the most spectacular natural wonders and environments which vary from snow-capped mountains to arid deserts and lush national parks.

Tavolara

This was once the small kingdom in the world, set just off the island of Sardinia, Tavolara was just under 4 miles long and around half a mile wide. Discovered by Giuseppe Bertoleoni who named himself king and his great-great grandson is the current king of the island. The country has never been legally recognized which is why it is under Italian rule, with some areas of the island owned by NATO. Visitors will love the weather and the rich marine life which can be found when snorkeling and diving.

Vermont

Believe it or not the state of Vermont was its own independent country between 1777 and 1791. After many battles for territory the people of Vermont declared themselves  an independent state, they issued their own currency, ran their own military included a draft and even had their own postal service. In 1791 Vermont signed up to the Union and became one of the first 13 states to do so. Visitors to Vermont enjoy the glorious natural surroundings and forest land, the ski resorts and this is also where a majority of maple syrup is made, something which tourists cannot wait to discover.

Which would be your favorite ‘lost country’ to visit? Here are some more options from our friends at Azure Collection.