The Road Less Travelled

Been there, bought the T-shirt and came back? Travelling can become mundane, especially if your itinerary is limited to the usual tried and tested destinations. The next time round, take a walk on the wild side for a truly memorable experience.

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For many, it is better to be safe than to risk being sorry. Nine out of 10 Singaporeans interviewed revealed that their vacations were often limited to widely publicised destinations promoted through the mass media.

Reasons for choosing these destinations revolved around “playing it safe” and “maximizing the available budget”.

However, more than half of those interviewed expressed a strong desire to venture beyond these usual destinations.

“For the past 5 years my family has been travelling to the same old places like Thailand, China and Australia. After a while, the sights and sounds become forgettable. I think the kids are really looking forward to something different,” says Mr Joshua Lim, 35, father of two.

With tour agencies now offering competitively priced packages to a wide range of destinations, exotic vacations to lesser visited countries can now be actualised.

So during the upcoming school holidays, throw your travel guide out and get your road map out. Ditch the concrete jungle for some real fresh air in the great outdoors, family in tow.

Who needs city lights and neon signs when you have a blanket of stars to illuminate the night sky? Take geography lessons out of the classroom and into the real world.

With attractions ranging from volcanoes to northern lights, you can be sure that fond memories of your next trip will certainly not be limited to a fridge magnet.

USA - Alaska

Alaska is the largest state of the United States of America by. Yet, it remains the least densely populated state.

If crowds are not your thing, a trip to Alaska could very well be the perfect getaway for you and your family. Be prepared to gawk at magnificent scenery everywhere you turn, as Alaska plays host to more than half of the entire worlds’ glaciers.

Although sightseeing will be aplenty, do set aside time to view Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, the natural light phenomenon. Tours outside of town are organized for viewing, away from city lights.

South Africa - Cape Town

Cape Town is Africa’s most popular destination for tourism, and it is no wonder why. It’s natural setting in the Cape Floral Kingdom guarantees an incredible landscape of safari wildlife. This town is famous for its harbour, the Port of Cape Town, which is definitely worth a visit.

Be sure to put on your hiking boots and trek up Table Mountain, which is the main attraction of this bustling town. Surfing and Whale-watching are also extremely popular activities in Cape Town.

Switzerland - Zermatt

Zermatt is regarded by many as Switzerland’s top ski resort, and by others as the world’s very best. This rustic mountain village is extremely picturesque and offers skiing 365 days a year.

Take a ride on the world’s second biggest lift-served vertical drop, and a virtual guarantee of snow throughout the season. Better still, the glacier route provides lift links across the border to Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy.

The village is peaceful due to the absence of cars -- only small electric vehicles quietly hum around the streets alongside horse drawn carriages. Now, that is a charm that is hard to top.

Philippines - Palawan

Palawan is an island province of the Philippines comprising of the long and narrow Palawan Island plus several other surrounding islands. The coastline is dotted with roughly 1,780 islands, rocky coves, and sugar-white sandy beaches. Palawan is one of the Last Unexplored Islands in the Pacific.

Do make time to drop by the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park. Reputed as the country’s best dive spot, the park’s abundant marine life has earned it the title of a World Heritage Site. The reef is gradual in slope with a good variety of invertebrates, reef fishes and even Tubbataha sharks.