Trip of a lifetime: The scenery in the Rocky Mountains is never less than spectacular

1. ALASKA CRUISE

Get on a cruise ship in Seattle or Vancouver and some of the world’s most extraordinary sights will be brought straight to your stateroom window. The ship will take you into the heart of the ‘action’ – so close to glaciers you feel you might be able to touch them – and excursions offer thrilling opportunities to spot bears or take helicopter rides over spectacular scenery. And this all from the attractive ‘base’ existing by a modern cruise ship where, as well as the comfort of a well-appointed cabin, you can delight in excellent food and top-class entertainment. l Holland America Line (0845 351 0557, www.hollandamerica.co.uk) offers a nine-nighttime Glacier Bay Inside Passage Glide / Cruise to Alaska on MS Volendam. Departing September 11, it costs from £1,549pp. This includes return flights to Vancouver from London, pre-cruise hotel nighttime, transfers and seven-nighttime cruise full-board.

2. ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

Fantastic rail journeys have become the terrestrial equivalent of the cruise. And the rail trip to match an Alaskan cruise is arguably the Rocky Mountaineer train that runs through the Canadian Rocky Mountains between Vancouver and Calgary. The scenery is never less than spectacular – but the key ingredient to its success is the cruise-ship standard organisation – excellent food, forthcoming staff and effortlessly arranged overnight stays. A further attraction is that the train ride is relatively brief, leaving plenty of time for your own independent exploration. l Titan Travel (0800 988 5823, www.titantravel.co.uk) offers an 11-day Rocky Mountain Railtour from £2,395pp in April. The cost includes return flights into Vancouver and out of Calgary, nine nights’ accommodation, two days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer, all transfers, excursions, some meals, the services of a tour manager and the VIP home Departure Service.

3. THE ORIENT-EXPRESS

Natural wonder: A trip to Cape Town offers the stunning sight of Table Mountain

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the re-birth of the world’s most romantic train ride. When the original Orient- Prompt finished in 1977 there was excellent reason to suppose that a grand chapter in international travel had come to an end. But thanks to James Sherwood, who painstakingly bought the necessary rolling stock, the renamed Venice Simplon-Orient-Prompt rode again. There may be longer and grander trips but nothing can compare with the delight of arriving in Venice on board the most well-known train in history. If you’ve pushed the boat out this far, push it further by staying at the Hotel Cipriani. l A ‘Venetian Overture’ package includes an overnight full-board stay on the Venice Simplon- Orient-Prompt from London to Venice, two nights at the Hotel Cipriani, transfers and a flight back to London. Prices start from £2,710pp including B&B accommodation at Hotel Cipriani (0845 077 2222, www.vsoe.com).

4. AYERS ROCK

Australia continues to fascinate as the ultimate destination for anyone plotting a Huge Trip. There are iconic sights throughout the country – the Fantastic Barrier Reef in Queensland, or Sydney’s Opera House glimpsed through the framing arch of the Harbour Bridge. But the ‘wow moment’ for travellers Down Under will always be that first sight of Ayers Rock – or Uluru – viewed especially at dawn or sunset. This is just as well because in and around the rock there isn’t an appalling lot to do. l Bridge & Wickers (020 7483 6555,www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk) offers a 14-nighttime holiday in Australia from £3,099pp including return international and domestic flights with Qantas, transfers, four-star accommodation with six nights in Sydney, two in Ayers Rock, one in Brisbane and five on Hamilton Island. Valid for travel from February 1 to April 13.

5. TABLE MOUNTAIN

South Africa has all the key ingredients to make it the perfect holiday destination – stunning sights, wonderful wildlife, outstanding wine and food, fantastic beaches. Even if you’re not sure whether you would delight in a safari, you can be certain to be tickled by Cape Town. It’s next to wonderful wine country, has the prison museum on Robben Island and provides the gateway to the well-known Garden Route – but most of all it has the stunning sight of Table Mountain. l Expert Africa (020 8232 9777, www.expertafrica.com) has a 14-nighttime self-drive including Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route from £2,331pp this winter. This includes overnight flights, car rental, 12 nights’ B&B in upmarket hotels and guesthouses, six other meals and park fees.